West Seattle, Washington
21 Saturday
6:02 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
Today’s forecast is cloudy and breezy, potentially showery, with a high in the 40s.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on the regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
678th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras are still in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
60 years ago, in West Seattle, Carol-Ann Thornton made history in her childhood. It’s history from which many lessons remain to be learned. She is returning to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s speaker series in a week and a half to share her insights. Here’s the announcement:
‘Words, Writers, & Southwest Stories,’ a speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is excited to announce that it is hosting Carol-Ann Thornton for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, February 10 at 6:00 PM. Carol-Ann will deliver a presentation titled “Privilege and Entitlement Versus Healing and Restoration?: Exploring a Slice of West Seattle History and Beyond.” Free registration is required. Visit our website to register.
Carol-Ann is returning for her second presentation with Words, Writers, and Southwest Stories. This time, she will explore themes of acknowledging barriers and challenges past and present within the history of the West Seattle community and beyond and exploring tools and options that facilitate forgiveness, healing, restoration, acceptance, and love of one another.
Carol-Ann Sharp Thornton is the first child of color in 1962 to enter the Seattle Public Schools’ newly implemented Volunteer Transfer Program from an inner-city school to integrate a segregated school in the Alki, Admiral, and Beach Drive communities of West Seattle. She has been honored with invitations to share her life experiences as a child raised through the civil-rights era with various groups and organizations.
Carol-Ann continues to embrace her career of 29 years as a counselor and legal advocate supporting those suffering from abuse and victimization through domestic violence and sexual abuse. As a nationally licensed Evangelist Missionary, she has been able to carry her passion for education, empowerment and outreach into the faith communities regarding abuse issues. As an educator, Carol-Ann conducts frequent trainings on domestic violence and victimization to community agencies and organizations, Carol-Ann has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Services and a Master of Christian Counseling, as well as national certifications as a Domestic Violence Counselor, Criminal Justice Specialist, Christian Counselor and a Tribal Court Legal Advocate/Attorney. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctorate Executive Track as a first-year Law School student. Carol-Ann is a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board at Pierce College, and an Advisory Council member of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
To see Carol-Ann Thornton’s previous Words, Writers, and Southwest Stories presentation “Culture Shock: The Awakening of Alki and West Seattle in 1962 and Beyond,” watch this video:
Free registration is required for the February 10th presentation. Registered participants will be emailed a link to the presentation the week of the event.
With February almost here, a new round of community meetings is about to begin. On Wednesday night (February 2nd), neighborhood advocates and organization reps from West Seattle and South Park gather online at 7 pm for the February meeting of the District 1 Community Network. The agenda is still being finalized but one centerpiece topic is public safety – particularly the status of alternative programs. All are welcome to attend; video and call-in info is in our calendar listing. (Here’s our report on last month’s D1CN meeting.)
Two weeks from today, West Seattle High School softball players will spend part of the day mentoring younger players. If someone in your family would be interested, here’s the announcement:
West Seattle High School’s softball team is putting on a one-day 3-hour clinic from 12 pm-3 pm on Sunday, February 13th for girls ages 7-13 at SWAC upper field, for $30. Each age group will be split into groups of 5, according to their age. The clinic will cover beginner to intermediate skills in the infield, outfield, and hitting. No pitching and catching instruction. Proceedings from this fundraiser will go toward new uniforms and equipment for the WSHS Softball team. Please come with a signed waiver (link to be sent out in an email) and payment if you are paying in cash or check.
The steps we’re taking to minimize COVID:
*Masks will be required between taking sips and bites
*Each group will have their own bucket of balls to use
*Each high-school player will have hand sanitizer for the girls to be able to use
*There will not be a lunch break; snack and water breaks are given and a snack will be providedIf you cannot make it but would like to make a donation, scan the separate QR code to make a contribution size of your choice. Thank you so much! Here are direct links to sign up and to the donation page as well:
docs.google.com/forms/d/1jvFksepT8cahSpfG5XSfKm-dcuL0NeabWJMSu_G3vcw/edit#responses
Need a little color after this gray day? Mark Bouma from Lake Washington Physical Therapy‘s West Seattle clinic (WSB sponsor) shares that video of a new display on their walls, “Sky.” It’s work by seven artists, interpreting the title subject; see the list and descriptions here. You can admire the art at the clinic (1309 Harbor Avenue SW) until April, including during the West Seattle Art Walk (next one is February 10th). Also note that all the art is for sale!
(Added: WSB photo)
2:27 PM: A large “fire in building” response is arriving at 36th/Lander [map]. Updates to come.
2:31 PM: Firefighters just told dispatch the fire, in a residence, is under control.
2:34 PM: Some kind of “paper or plastic on the kitchen counter” is what was believed to be burning, firefighters reported. They’re downsizing the response. We’re en route to try to find out more in person.
2:56 PM: The incident commander told us at the scene that “malfunctioning equipment” in the kitchen is what caught fire. No one was home at the time, so no injuries. Damage was described as “minor.”
The road-rebuilding is done; station installation has begun. But much of the newest update from the RapidRide H Line project team is about trees.
(SDOT photo)
MORE TREES: Beyond what’s already in some of the medians, the project team has a lot more tree planting to do:
We have a policy to plant 2 new trees for 1 tree that was removed. The project will plant about 150 trees along the project area once landscaping is completed.
Our Urban Forestry team has been working with the project’s landscaping contractor to identify and finalize the locations for new trees located on and near Delridge Way SW. These locations have been marked with stakes in the median and planting strips throughout the corridor. We expect to plant these trees and restore the corridor with grass this upcoming spring.
If you would like to provide feedback on the proposed locations of these trees, please contact the Urban Forestry team at seattle.trees@seattle.gov.
SHELTER-SITE TRIMMING: The project team also notes, “If you live near a bus shelter installed by King County Metro, please be aware that pruning to a greater height of 11-12 feet of vertical clearance is necessary for bus shelter installation. If trees near your property need to be trimmed, you will receive additional notification of the schedule for this work from King County Metro. This work will be done by a Registered Tree Service Company under an SDOT Urban Forestry Permit to provide an 11 to 12’ clearance for shelter installation.” They’re expecting to schedule this work in February.
REMINDER FOR PROPERTY OWNERS: The update also includes a reminder that property owners need to keep trees and shrubs trimmed to eight feet of clearance above sidewalks. Further details about that are in the full update.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:34 AM: From JC:
I just wanted to give a heads up of another vehicle theft in the neighborhood.
My blue 2005 Dodge Dakota was stolen from Brandon, near 41st Ave SW, last night or early this morning (Sunday 1/30). It has black racks and the bed was currently super full of construction debris for the dump. Washington license plate C99823V. Police incident #22-024965.
Call 911 if you see it.
(6:05 pm update – JC has the pickup back – see comments.)
1:40 PM: Just got another reader report, this one from Kat:
We wanted to let the community know that at 5:30 am on January 29th my wife woke up to an odd sound, and she went to the window to see that two individuals were stealing our catalytic converter from our 2007 Toyota Prius. She ran out to stop them but they quickly fled in a gray sedan with very dark tinted windows and a small shark fin on top of the car. This happened at 41st and Raymond. A police report was filed.
(Saturday’s sunrise, photographed from Don Armeni by Marc Milrod)
Here’s what’s happening on January’s last Sunday:
TRAFFIC ALERT – LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURES: Today is the final Sunday during which SDOT plans to close the low bridge three times, up to half an hour each time, for tasks needed to prepare for repair work, as explained here. The closures are expected around 9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm.
CHURCHES: Many West Seattle churches are back to online-only services because of the recent COVID surge – here’s our weekly update on 20+ churches.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: Interested in Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School? You’re invited to a 10 am online open house today. Our calendar listing has info on how to attend.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food at the weekly WSFM (WSB sponsor). (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
VACCINATION CLINIC: 8:30 am-noon, Pliable is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW), all eligible ages, first/second shots and boosters, walk-ins welcome.
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The new world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues its run with a 3 pm matinee today. Read more about it here; buy your tickets here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Got an event to list in our calendar and previews? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With the regular season almost over for high-school basketball, this weekend’s games had each local high school facing a crosstown competitor:
(Chief Sealth #10, Delaney Sipila)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS @ WEST SEATTLE HS: Friday night, the Seahawks visited the Wildcats. West Seattle’s varsity teams won both games. The WSHS girls, coached by Darnell Taylor, are 9-3 after the 59-24 win. The CSIHS girls, coached by Mario Martinez, are 5-8.
(West Seattle #10, Kaydinse Piersol)
The West Seattle boys, coached by Dan Kriley, are 9-3 after their 72-39 victory over the Chief Sealth boys, coached by Colin Slingsby, who are 4-9.
(WSHS #23, Max Holliman, & CSIHS #1, Messiah Alefaio)
Both schools have home games on Wednesday – West Seattle teams host Garfield, Chief Sealth teams host Franklin.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN VS. SUMMIT ATLAS: The other crosstown-competitor basketball battle happened this afternoon, as Seattle Lutheran High School‘s boys team (no girls team this year) hosted Summit Atlas.
(Summit Atlas #3 Rafael Vazquez & Seattle Lutheran #20 Julian Nevan-Mazetti)
The Summit Atlas Orcas went home to Arbor Heights with the win, 41-38 over the SeaLu Saints.
Top scorer was SLHS #5, Khalil Joseph-Taylor (above), with 23 points – followed by SAHS #14, Yahya Ahmed, with 19.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STORE THIEF: The Beer Junction reports a costly one-item shoplift:
We wanted to put the word out that we had an incident here at the Beer Junction on January 26th. This past Wednesday afternoon, a man came into our store wearing a backward ballcap, red and black pajama pants, a bright orange rain jacket, dark patterned button-up shirt and green wired headphones.
He spent a long time looking through our coolers, asking our staff a lot of questions about the products. He left the store and returned within the hour before taking a bottle worth $350 from our cellared beer collection. He grabbed the bottle and walked out without paying. We have filed a police report with the Seattle Police Department, Case # 2022-902113. If anyone can identify this man, we ask that they let us know or give the information to the police. We appreciate the support of our West Seattle community!
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT THWARTED: Another interrupted under-the-car theft, reported by Gary:
About 6 a.m. at corner of 45th and Juneau: Catalytic converter attempted to be stolen from my car. I heard a noise that woke me up and yelled at him out the window and they sped off.
Went out and saw he had cut through a pipe, but I caught him before it was taken. Gray newer extended cab pickup truck. Young person. A police report was filed.
Though expected to be complete this morning, as of 4 pm the hoisting of the second half of the second West Seattle Bridge repair-work platform hadn’t happened yet. Only the first half.
So we waited near the east end of the low bridge for a while, decided it didn’t look like hoisting was imminent, headed back toward our car on SW Marginal Place – then looked back and saw it was up:
These platforms are in different spots than the ones used during stabilization work – further west and east. So what now? The weekly update from SDOT says now that the platforms are all up, “we can start assembling scaffolding on them and prepare for carbon-fiber wrapping work on the bridge’s exterior. Next week, we’ll also begin epoxy injection work on the interior of the bridge. We also continue our concrete scanning using ground penetrating radar in preparation for core drilling that will be happening in the next month. Core drilling allows us to create access holes to run post-tensioning cables through so that they can further reinforce the strength of the bridge’s concrete.”
The photo above is from 2019, at a North Delridge home where a crew from longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction was volunteering in the annual Rampathon, as they’ve done for more than a decade. Builders around the region are getting ready for this year’s Rampathon – but they need applicants! The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties asked us to share the announcement:
The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS), through its Rampathon program, is now accepting applications for free ramps for families struggling with mobility within their home or from nonprofit organizations whose clients or residents struggle with mobility.
Since 1993, MBAKS members and community volunteers have built more than 500 ramps to give people the freedom of movement throughout King and Snohomish County.
Applications are due March 4. Apply here.
Two pandemic notes today:
VACCINATION CLINIC: A health-care professional volunteering at the city-run vaccination clinic at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) today texted to say there’s lots of capacity for walk-ins today. Kids, teens, adults; first or second shots or boosters – just show up before 5 pm.
FREE MASKS: The federally funded free N95 masks are starting to show up in local pharmacies. We’ve received reader reports today of availability at Bartell Drugs stores in Jefferson Square and Admiral. Let us know if you’ve seen them elsewhere!
Two changes at Westwood Village:
CHICO’S CLOSES: Thanks for the tip! The Westwood Village clothing store Chico’s has closed. We reported last month that a site plan filed with the city showed America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses going into that space, though Chico’s hadn’t (at the time) announced its closure.
XFINITY OPENS: After photographing the shuttered Chico’s store, we turned around and noticed the new Xfinity store is open:
The staff told us this is opening day. We first reported almost nine months ago that this store was on the way. Hours are 10 am-8 pm daily except Sundays, when the store will be open 11 am-8 pm.
While out looking around this morning, we noticed runners with bibs, and found out it’s a a big day for dozens of hardy runners. They’re on the Tukwila to Alki Half-Marathon, which this year is offering a full-marathon round trip too. We stopped to talk with the crew at the turnaround near the Alki Bathhouse. No big banners or canopies – just a cone:
This is a volunteer-led, free run, from the same people behind the Green River Marathon. More than 60 runners signed up this year, about two-thirds of them for the half-marathon, the others for the full.
(Double-crested cormorant, photographed by James Tilley)
It’s Saturday! Here’s what’s happening (mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar):
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Two for today:
-If you’re going to/from Terminal 102 on the south end of Harbor Island this morning, you’ll be detoured because of the hoisting of the second West Seattle Bridge work platform.
-If you’re heading north on East Marginal, between the 1st Avenue S. Bridge and downtown, city crews will be working on “vegetation overgrowth” all day between Hudson and Alaska, and that might result in northbound curb-lane closures.
COMMUNITY CLEANUP: 10 am, meet at SW Marginal Place and 17th SW to join this adults-only “grittier” cleanup under the West Seattle Bridge and along the bike path, as previewed here.
VACCINATIONS: All eligible for vaccinations or boosters are welcome to today’s walk-in clinic at the South Park branch of the Seattle Public Library (8604 8th Ave. S.) – here’s the flyer.
FREE WEEKLY WRITERS’ GROUP: New participants welcome. 10:30 am – go here to register and to get the meeting address. More details are in our calendar listing.
WINE TIME: Viscon Cellars‘ (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 1-6 pm.
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: 3 pm home game for Seattle Lutheran HS vs. Summit Atlas. Fans welcome in SLHS gym (4100 SW Genesee), masks required.
OPEN MIC: Go perform at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 6 pm!
NIGHTTIME LOW-TIDE BEACH WALK: 7 pm-9 pm, visit the beach at Constellation Park (63rd/Beach Drive) so that Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists can show you what’s revealed at low tide (which is out to -2.3 feet shortly after 8:30 pm).
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The new world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues its run at 7:30 tonight. Read more about it here; buy your tickets here.
WEST END GIRLS: The monthly “drag extravaganza” at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), hosted by Cookie Couture, is back for the first time this year, 8 pm. Get your ticket(s) here.
Are we missing anything? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Instead of the bridge, this month the West Seattle Transportation Coalition chose to focus on buses and ferries. Here’s what happened at Thursday night’s online meeting:
METRO’S WEST SEATTLE FUTURE: The centerpiece of the meeting was a conversation rather than a presentation. King County transportation-policy adviser Chris Arkills, a frequent WSTC attendee, was a guest this time. First, he reiterated that Metro plans to return to the high bridge once it reopens. “The low bridge has served us well” in the meantime, but with Terminal 5 reopening to regular cargo-ship calls, other demands will be front and center. So that means schedules will be a bit in flux when West Seattle routes change over from low bridge to high bridge this summer.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
ROAD-RAGE GUNFIRE: SPD provided this brief summary tonight of an incident just before 9:30 this morning:
The victim and suspect were driving on the 1st Ave. S. Bridge when a road-rage incident occurred. The suspect followed the victim and drove in front of him. The suspect got out of his vehicle and made threats to kill the victim. The victim drove away, and while driving in the area of W Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way SW, the suspect shot at the victim. The round struck the victim’s passenger-side door. The suspect fled SB on Highway 509.
As is usual for brief initial summaries, no descriptions were included.
STOLEN CAR: Reported by Carolyn:
Hyundai Elantra Silver 4-Door, License BKG 4627
Stolen yesterday, 1/27/22, from parking garage at Arrowhead Gardens Senior Living Apartments at 9230 2nd Avenue SW (near the Fire department training center off Olson Place SW and Myers Way South).
Additional identifying marks: Pink license-plate holder and reddish-brown Arrowhead Gardens parking sticker on rear window.
If seen, contact Carolyn – text location of vehicle to 206-965-5051
But first call 911.
TRIBE’S CANOPY TAKEN: Reported tonight by the Duwamish Tribe, via Twitter:
This canopy was stolen during a break in of our storage shed yesterday among other things. pic.twitter.com/bzFqhbSa0P
— @duwamish_Tribe (@Duwamish_Tribe) January 29, 2022
The Duwamish Longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW. We’re checking with them to seek more information on what happened and what else. was taken.
Thanks to Brooke Gosztola (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the views during and after tonight’s sunset.
If the forecast is borne out, this is likely the last sunset show we’ll see for at least a few days, as clouds are expected to move in tomorrow and rain by Sunday. Though tonight’s starting off with a clear sky, the temperature is not expected to drop as far as it did last night, with an official overnight low of 28, ten degrees below normal.
ADDED: One more sunset view, sent by Erin O.:
(WSB photos)
Tonight is the official reopening night for Dumplings Of Fury in The Junction! Thanks to Morgan for the tip after DOF soft-opened last night – proprietor Ben Jenkins then told us that after continuing the soft-open into lunchtime today, they would officially reopen for dinner tonight. Three weeks ago, he told WSB that DOF was “super close” to reopening in its expanded space at California/Oregon – months after closing for what at the time was expected to only be a matter of weeks.
Tonight the restaurant will likely stay open a bit later, until 10ish, and then they’ll decide when to open tomorrow, but by Sunday they’re expecting to settle into the regular 11 am-9
pm hours (closed Mondays). What’s new, besides the expanded space? Potstickers and a gluten-free Szechuan sauce, we’re told. (Added) Here’s the menu:
(Rendering from DEIS Executive Summary, looking east on SW Genesee, east of Avalon)
What route will West Seattle’s future Sound Transit light-rail line travel, and where will its stations be? Data to shape those decisions is what you’ll find in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle and Ballard light-rail extensions. The DEIS has been public since last week – all the documents are linked here, starting with the executive summary – but the official 3-month comment period didn’t start until today. First, from today’s announcement, here’s what ST is offering so you can learn more and tell them what you think:
Members of the public are invited to attend an online open house at wsblink.participate.online, where they can review alternatives and station options, and submit formal responses. People can also provide feedback by phone, by mail, by email, or at upcoming virtual, and possible in-person, public meetings.
Virtual public meetings will take place on the following dates and times:
Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Interbay/Ballard focused)
Tuesday, March 22, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Downtown focused)
Thursday, March 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (CID/SODO focused)
Wednesday, March 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (West Seattle focused)If public health guidance permits, an in-person open house is scheduled for Thursday, March 17 at Union Station from 12 – 7 p.m. This event may transition to virtual in accordance with public health recommendations. More information on attending the public meetings is available by visiting the online open house site.
Comments may be sent via email to WSBLEDEIScomments@soundtransit.org or by voicemail at 800-471-0879.
Written comments can be mailed to:
WSBLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comments
c/o Lauren Swift
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98104The Draft EIS is available for review at the online open house. Printed copies are available for review at Union Station, and at select Seattle public libraries and community centers. A list of locations is available on the open house site.
In West Seattle, all four Seattle Public Library branches are on that list, as is Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). In addition to the ST events mentioned above, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition also plans to host a workshop about the DEIS during its March 24th meeting. The commenting deadline is April 28th; after that, the ST Board will decide what should be in the final EIS, and then after that’s out next year, board members make the final decision on routing and station locations. West Seattle light rail is currently scheduled to launch in 2032, two years later than the date projected when voters approved the ST3 ballot measure more than five years ago.
P.S. ST will be making other community appearances over the course of the comment period; we just got word that one of the first will be at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly online lunchtime event, noon February 10th, membership not required, and while a donation is requested from attendees, it’s not required either. Both members and nonmembers can register here to attend. And two days before that – at 5 pm February 8th – the Community Advisory Group for West Seattle will have its next meeting; watch here for attendance info.
A coffee stand opens next Friday at 35th/Barton. And this little stand has a big backstory.
(Photo courtesy Animated Café)
In the photo is Melanie Robbins, a West Seattle resident who is opening Animated Café in the Tony’s Market lot on the northeast corner of the intersection. She wants other young people to know you can chart your own path. She dropped out of high school just before the pandemic and went into training to be a barista (eventually getting her GED). Instead of going to work for somebody else’s coffee shop, she’s launching her own. She says a year and a half of online studies inspired many of her peers to “carve their own path in the world” too. In email before we spoke by phone, she wrote:
…I’ve watched nearly every one of my friends pursue an alternative lifestyle in order to feel less stuck in a world that seems to have forgotten about them. That means getting a job and fast-tracking their adult lives. The world that has historically valued school as the primary way of learning, and that has been disrupted. We are inspired by social media, do our research on Google, and learn how to make things on YouTube. School was day care for most kids prior to COVID. It turned into a joke during the pandemic instead of being the educational resource it is promised to be
I dropped out of high school 4 months before the pandemic started. Counter to social norms and expectations I felt extremely fortunate because this gave me a massive head start. While getting my GED I joined a program called Fare Start which taught me how to be a barista. At 16, when the pandemic started, I already had my high school equivalency, a job, and was enrolling in college all while my peers were facing the harsh reality of loneliness, fear, & a complete loss of structure. For the first time I felt like an outsider looking in. I had a clear mission, “Save as much money as possible, start a business, and take control of my life.” This seemed different from everyone else I knew at school, but I hope I can be a model for this generation of high-school students who feel stuck in time.
While in lockdown I fortified my love for everything animated. Disney+ just came out, and Hulu and Netflix had a deep library of anime. I always loved this genre of entertainment, and its popularity seemed to spike during the pandemic since people have been stuck at home looking for new shows to watch and mangas to read. 2 years later I have put every dime I earned toward that goal of taking control of my life in a world that seems so out of control. On February 4th Animated Cafe will become a reality, and I think more people my age should do the same thing versus waiting for the world to care.
She has advice for other would-be entrepreneurs, too, and it’s all on the Animated Café website. Starting next Friday, she invites you to come see what her hard work and planning has created. The “animated” theme will feature the proprietor serving guests as “Ana,” a costumed (“family-friendly”) character. “It’s going to be fun!” she promises. She’s planning to serve Dillano’s Coffee and pastries and sandwiches from Seattle’s Favorite. Animated Café will be drive-up, ride-up, or walk-up, 5 am to 5 pm for starters, until she sees what makes sense with the customer flow.
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