West Seattle, Washington
05 Saturday
For SODO drivers on 4th S – the latest on those repairs near the stadiums that had WSDOT suggesting you avoid the area: It’ll all be done by morning, according to the latest bulletin:Read More
First, following up on Sunday’s Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing‘s work helping breast-cancer patients (our same-day coverage is here and here), NWHH executive director Shari Sewell has an update:
Nearly 1,400 walkers, runners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters came out on a beautiful morning for the Alki Beach 5k Walk & Run. We are so thrilled at the cooperation we received from the West Seattle community as well as the support of our participants. Our supporters have embraced our mission to help women get through breast cancer, and the event has grossed over $75,000, with donations still coming in. Donations can be made online at www.alkibeachrun.com. Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Dr Glenn Krieger, who has generously supported our annual event over the past few years.
And from NWHH supporter and Alki Beach 5K participant Amy Daly-Donovan, a photo and info from an “afterparty” of sorts:
From left, that’s NWHH founder Christine Smith, Amy and husband Jim, and Shari Sewell. Amy reports $1,800 more was raised at the party, for which she provides the backstory:
I signed up for NWHH’s inaugural run event in 2003 – it was a half marathon and the longest distance I’d ever run. My young & vibrant sister had recently passed away from an aggressive form of breast cancer and I wanted to do something to honor her, and liked the idea of supporting a LOCAL organization that supported LOCAL breast cancer patients. In that first year, NWHH encouraged each participant to raise $500 and I decided to try something different rather than asking for pledges. Jim and I hosted a cocktail party and asked people to come and make a donation to NWHH. That first year we raised nearly $1,400.
We decided to make an annual event of it and have been running & partying every year since. Last year, the total we have raised through the generosity of our friends and family surpassed the $10,000 mark! We are thrilled to be able to support this wonderful and much-needed organization in such a significant way. Two of my sisters and my niece and I also participated in NWHH’s Spring Fashion Show last May and had a blast.
You can find out more about Northwest Hope and Healing at nwhopeandhealing.org. ADDED TUESDAY: We’ve received a followup also from the presenting sponsor, Krieger Dentistry, regarding their ongoing efforts to help fight breast cancer – read on:Read More
Just posted in the WSB Forums by Alki Kayak Tours‘ Greg Whittaker, who had mentioned in the company’s most recent e-newsletter that they were planning a retail store:
Hey WS,
We have the opportunity to open a ski/paddlesports/vehicle rack outfitter shop here in WS, but the one thing missing is the location. We recently had an amazing space pulled out from under us.
I know someone here is connected to a space that would work, so we are looking for you.
We know what is listed, we are looking for someone with something unlisted.
Details:
Alki Kayak Tours will open the shop.Acquiring a 35 yr old ski shops worth of inventory, shop tools, merchandising.
Dealerships setup with Thule, and other leading rack manufacturers.
WE NEED A SPACE…please help!
Sincerely,
Greg Whittaker
Contact info is at their website, kayakalki.com.
The homeless-advocacy group SHARE says members will be camping outside Mayor Nickels‘ house in North Admiral tonight as a protest over funding for bus vouchers. The Seattle Post-Globe has details from a SHARE planning session this morning. Meantime, SHARE itself has been issuing news releases – here’s the latest:Read More
For everyone who uses southbound 4th Avenue S. by the stadiums while heading home from work (or other business) — the traffic advisory re: repair work has just been updated – read on:Read More
If you haven’t already seen it on the WSB Events calendar – we just got a reminder from the city that this is coming up this weekend: The Seattle Solar Tour, with six stops in West Seattle, including trailblazing “hybrid coffee shop” Red Cup Espresso in The Junction. It’s a self-guided free tour, 10 am-4 pm this Saturday (Oct. 3) – all locations, West Seattle and the rest of the city – are listed here.
As noted here two weeks ago, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is returning to West Seattle’s Admiral Theater again this year. The festival runs October 16-25; according to its website, the Admiral screenings are on the final two days, with five films on Saturday 10/24 and two on Sunday 11/25 – here’s the schedule. Tickets went on sale today; here’s info on how to buy them. ADDED 1:55 PM: Another festival note, from West Seattle’s State Sen. Joe McDermott, via Facebook: “West Seattle filmmaker Michael Culpepper‘s short After All That shows on Saturday, October 17, at 2 pm at the Egyptian Theater!” (Here’s that link.)
Saw this a short time ago in front of Easy Street while running an errand in The Junction.
(Live Fauntleroy dock camera)
Washington State Ferries says a “power problem” is detouring Fauntleroy ferries to downtown TFN. (Thanks to Christine for the original tip on this.) More shortly. 10:12 AM UPDATE: WSF just announced the power problem has been fixed and service will be back to normal starting with the 10:20 am run – but they’re warning of some delays while the ferries get back into position.
One month ago, we reported that Metro promised the 42nd/Alaska bus stop removed during construction of Capco Plaza (home of the new QFC store) would be back. Since the store’s been open almost 2 weeks but the bus stop’s not back yet, we asked Metro’s Linda Thielke for an update this morning; her reply: “The city will be the agency re-installing the bus stop at 42nd & Alaska. We expect it to be done within two weeks.”
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed and texted us about a startling sight on The Bridge about an hour ago, which appeared to involve someone getting arrested. We just checked with the Seattle Police media unit and they say that’s exactly what happened. According to Det. Mark Jamieson, it all started with a burglary report in the 3800 block of 46th SW (map) – a caller saw two men stealing things out of a backyard, including a shop saw. The caller gave police a description of the men and their vehicle, and it was tracked down on the eastbound bridge. Police held the suspects until the victim/witness could be brought to the scene to identify them, then, when positive identification was made, the two suspects were arrested. 3:50 PM NOTE: We asked Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen if the two have been linked to any other burglaries, since several passers-by say their SUV looked “packed full” – he says, “We’re still looking into that.”
AJ sent this a few days back – but since tonight would be the night, if it happens again, we’re running it now to share the intended neighborhood alert:
I just wanted to alert my fellow community members of the illegal trash dumping activities in the Sunrise Heights Neighborhood. We live off 35th and Holden behind the Chevron gas station [map] and have had people dumping remnants of what appears to be garage sale leftovers every Monday night. It’s been two weeks in a row that there has been (a lot) of cr*p outside in the alley, so we wanted to let our neighbors be aware of suspicious activities. If we can keep our neighborhood clean, why can’t trash dumpers?!
We noticed it too while driving by (before getting this note, so no photo) in the area shown in the Google Street View image above.
Just under threetwo weeks till the Eat Local Now! dinner/auction presented by organizations including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom (with co-sponsors including WSB), 5 pm Sunday 10/11 at Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction (map). One of many highlights at the event: The Jeff Fairhall Local Food Hero will be honored. The award is explained here; your nominee doesn’t have to be a West Seattleite, since Eat Local Now! is a regional event (happening here in WS this time around). Grower? Vendor? Chef? Advocate? Get your nomination in by day’s end – the form’s here – and get your ticket(s) for Eat Local Now! too (on sale online here).
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
By the time the moon rose toward the end of a beautiful weekend, we’d collected a few more photos to share. First, congratulations to Tibbetts United Methodist Church north of The Junction for its centennial celebration on Sunday:
Pictured above (thanks to Betsy Wharton at Tibbetts for sending photos) are Tibbetts Church members (back row from left) Barbara Benson, Shirley Lindberg, Betsy Wharton, Howard Bogie and (front row from left) Ted Reed – plus (continuing front row) Pat Simpson, Seattle District Superintendent, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church; Grant Hagiya, Bishop, Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church; Joanne Carlson Brown, Pastor, Tibbetts United Methodist Church; member Douglas Hom. The celebration included displays like this:
And Betsy sums up the event:
The September 27th Centennial Celebration at Tibbetts United Methodist Church began with an 8:30am coffee hour during which members old and new gathered to greet one another and watch video footage taken 50 years ago during the construction of the Sanctuary that stands today. The Worship Service included music by a large Centennial Choir and the Tibbetts Handbell Choir. United Methodist Bishop Grant Hagiya gave the sermon and Pastor Joanne Carlson Brown greeted former pastors and friends of Tibbetts who had come back for the celebration events.
A big THANK YOU to the West Seattle Community for your support of Tibbetts United Methodist Church, over the last 99 years, during this special Centennial year, and for all the years to come. We’re 100!
Also from Sunday – we got a couple of notes about two big Navy cargo ships seen off West Seattle shores for a while today. JayDee got a photo, too.
After exhaustive online research, absent the ability to get direct info from the U.S. Navy on a Sunday night, we still couldn’t nail down exactly which ships they were; we thought this Snohomish County article about three ships visiting Everett might be a clue, but the photos of those ships don’t resemble this one. We’ll check with the Navy later today. (9:45 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Mark for the answer! He tracks ship traffic with this site, and says they were the Cape Island and Cape Intrepid, both indeed with the Military Sealift Command.)
Last but not least, courtesy of “westseattledood,” a scene from Westcrest Park on Saturday, during the Copper Cross bicycle races that took over the park for most of the day:
Thanks again to everyone who shares photos and info – you can reach us via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, phone any time.
Bad weekend for more than half a dozen car owners in one local condo complex – hit by two nights of break-ins, and nowhere near the break-in report we had here earlier. Read on for the story:Read More
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Frances and John Smersh are the owners of contemporary gift and home goods store Click! Design That Fits (2210 California SW; WSB sponsor). But you could say they have a silent partner: their neighborhood.
“A necessary part of our store concept is West Seattle,” Frances says. “We would not have opened a store had we not been able to do it here.”
Obviously, it was a smart decision: Click! will mark five years in business with an anniversary party this Friday, October 2, 6-9 p.m., featuring catering by West Seattle-based Splendid Cupcake, a free etched glass from Roost for each guest — with purchase — while supplies last, and weekend sales including 25% off Smersh Design, the gold vermeil and silver jewelry that Frances designs, through October 4.
Both the retail store and the jewelry business have proven staying power, despite the fact that neither John nor Frances had a background in retail or even art.
Shari Sewell of Northwest Hope and Healing told us 1,298 had signed up by race time for this morning’s Alki Beach 5K – and our first clip shows everyone leaving the starting line, from the first runners to the last walkers. The results are now posted online, too – find them all here – and here are our clips of the first male and female finishers – Brett Kapels (Hope Lutheran School athletic director) in 16:41:
And Regina Joyce in 19:21:
Our first report from this morning, with photos, is here. Northwest Hope and Healing was founded in West Seattle, with the mission of helping newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients.
The latest edition of Costco Connection features an article on the book whose author Robert Spector spoke in The Junction this past week, “The Mom and Pop Store.” And the big photo that goes with the article shows one of the West Seattle entrepreneurs mentioned in the book, Lora Lewis from Hotwire Coffee (WSB’s 1st-ever sponsor), who says it’s her first-ever national spotlight! See the story here.
That photo is from “Kona” Greg, who works at Alki Kayak Tours (different Greg from the boss), and wants to know what a king crab was doing in 3-foot deep water off Duwamish Head – or, if that’s not a king crab (which usually roam Alaskan waters), what was it? he wonders:
I was out on a tour Friday Sept 18th and spotted this critter near the Duwamish Head channel marker. I had a guest from Penn. with me. We were in about 3 feet of water and she spotted a crab and asked me what kind it was? I could not believe my eyes when I looked down. It sure looks like a King crab to me. I am wondering if anyone has ever seen a King in Elliott Bay, or has information on what this is if it in fact is not a King. I am in, on, or under water here ALL the time and have been for the last 5 years. I have never seen anything like this. Plus as a PADI divemaster I have over 200 dives right here in West Seattle.
Here’s the other photo he sent:
The only kind of “king crab” that’s supposed to be in Puget Sound is this one – pretty but doesn’t resemble Greg’s photos at all.
(Saturday photo by Kevin McClintic)
On our way into the “Nickelsville” homeless encampment at T-107 Park yesterday afternoon to cover its “1st anniversary” open house, we met Jason Douros, co-owner of Revolution Coffee, which also had a big event yesterday – its re-grand-opening as a nonprofit. While talking with Jason, we admired the small battery-powered amp he was carrying, and he told us he’d been bringing it to the encampment weekly for music/church events. Then today, this note:
Just wanted to let you know, ironically, that my car was broken into this morning at my home here in West Seattle in the alley of 48th ST. [Admiral District] They broke my rear window out and stole the Bass and Amp I use to play down there (red Yamaha Electric Bass with a missing D string and a Roland Microcube RX amp).
No insurance to cover the window or the guitar. Dumb luck I guess, but at least I don’t have to replace the string.
Kevin McClintic happened to have sent us a photo of the musicians playing at yesterday’s event — that’s Jason, with the amp, second from left.
(WSB photo from August 2009)
One month ago, we noted that the owner of that idled 35th/Avalon (map) development, Michael Mastro, had been forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Today, the Seattle Times (WSB partner) reports on other casualties in the situation: His “Friends and Family” investors. Here’s the story. Proceedings in Mastro’s case continue later this fall; his West Seattle holdings also include the LLC that owns a parcel near the south end of Harbor Ave (proposed for a development called Aqua Bella) and the parent company of the West Water apartment-condo-apartment complex in Morgan Junction.
(Photo added 12:07 pm)
On our way to the 9000 block of 11th SW (map), where police and fire have responded to an “assault with weapons” call. More details as soon as we get them. 12:03 PM UPDATE: We’ve arrived in the area and police are looking for a suspect so we’re being kept back. Still working to get details on what happened. Huge police presence, at least half a dozen cars. 12:07 PM: Just heard via scanner that it’s a “GSW” (gunshot wound) – they have just let paramedics past the police line. No official word on the circumstances, so far, and we will add the caveat that information does evolve and change. 12:19 PM UPDATE: And in fact, the information has evolved: We’re told at the scene that they’re no longer looking for anyone – they have found a victim of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Still working to make sure no one else was involved and will add whatever else we find out.
Those are the top male and female finishers from this morning’s Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run, benefiting Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. (The official results aren’t online yet but via loudspeaker, he was identified as Brett Kapels, who finished 3rd last year, and she’s Regina Joyce.) This is the second year for the 5K, which previously had been a half-marathon; the West Seattleite who is NWHH’s executive director, Shari Sewell, told us they’d counted 1,298 signups by race time – up 30% from last year’s 1,000 participants. Brisk but beautiful morning. We’re processing our traditional video clip of EVERYONE at the start of the race and will publish that separately later. But first, a few more photos – first, right after the starting horn sounded:
A big group rounds the first bend onto the Alki bike path:
HUGE amount of volunteer help makes this happen – from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle volunteers with the stop signs:
… to the volunteers in the water booth, bundling up against the chilly breeze:
More later! (P.S. Thanks to Facebook friends – find us at facebook.com/westseattleblog – for pointing out that first finisher Brett Kapels is Hope Lutheran School‘s athletic director.) PPS – Here’s our video of everybody taking off – will feature it as an embed in the followup report when results are available.
| Comments Off on Latest in the 4th Avenue S. saga: It’ll all be OK tomorrow