West Seattle, Washington
02 Friday
(2011 Alonzo family photo: Erich, Anna, and dad Bernie)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Bernie Alonzo has had the tempting smell of fresh-baked bread in his lungs since he was a kid helping in his father’s bakery. When he and his wife, Lorraine, visited friends in West Seattle, they checked out the little bakery for sale in Fauntleroy. Buying it came naturally, and he’s been baking there since 1975.
Now nearly five decades later, he’ll be hanging up his apron on February 26. While tempting pastries, breads, and cookies fresh from the oven have kept people coming back for more, old-fashioned hospitality made The Original Bakery as much community center as business.
In a profile published in 2000 in the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s newsletter, Bernie explained that he was the fourth owner since the bakery opened in 1936 in the Adams Building at 45th Ave. SW and SW Wildwood Place. The founding owner’s name is lost to history, but Bill Latta owned it from the 1940s to the 1960s, then sold it to Florian Dunbar, who sold it to Bernie.
He kept “The Original Bakery” as the name, even though it’s legally “Bakery The Original.” In the early days, small neighborhood bakeries were common, so the deed made clear that this was the original bakery in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne business area.
Bernie established a routine of weighing out ingredients the afternoon before so he could start baking at 4:00 the next morning. He opened the door to customers at 7:30, Mondays through Saturdays. Young people needing work experience (including his three children) were often the ones behind the vintage display cases. After three decades of baking alone, daughter Anna Alonzo‘s arrival in 2009 after completing culinary school lightened his load.
As tastes changed over the years, Bernie responded by shifting to healthier recipes. In 2000, he recalled one of the biggest changes.
“I never thought espresso would be such an integral part of our business,” he said. “When we bought the first espresso machine in the 1980s, many people didn’t know what espresso was!”
Bernie looked forward to special orders, somewhat because they varied his routine but mostly because they enabled him to share in birthdays, weddings, or whatever his customers were celebrating. Over the decades he donated countless cakes and cookies in support of whatever good cause sought him out. He also enjoyed giving local artists free wall space in the bakery’s seating area.
Whether making sure customers knew they could sit awhile over their favorite pastries or always baking what people most enjoyed, a big part of what The Original Bakery long offered was constancy in the midst of change.
“You try to survive in business,” Bernie said in 2000, “but having people appreciate you as an important part of the community is a real plus. It’s been a nice reward for me.”
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alonzo kids helped their dad brainstorm how to safely continue to serve customers. His solution was to add a walk-up window and reduce hours. After operating that way for two-plus years, Bernie decided the time had come for him to start sleeping in. With Anna’s top priority being to raise her daughter, she was not in a position to take on the business.
“Since we announced our closing, we have been very busy every day, which is great,” she said. “We have also had an outpouring of good wishes and appreciation from the neighborhood.
“Folks have been bringing cards and saying goodbye and we’ve had former customers come from afar to say best wishes and thank you. It’s been very heartwarming.”
Stop by if you can (9253 45th Ave. SW) before The Original Bakery closes on Sunday, February 26, at 3:00 pm.
(WSB photo, Wednesday, Cove Park entrance)
Just in – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division says Fauntleroy beaches have reopened “after water quality testing over consecutive days showed safe results.” As reported here Wednesday morning, the beaches were closed because of two overflows blamed on power anomalies at the county-operated Barton Pump Station during Monday night’s thunderstorm. KCWTD says the 101,100 gallons of wastewater that overflowed was “safely routed into a pipe that empties into Puget Sound about 600 feet offshore.” It’s working to figure out how to keep this kind of problem from happening again, noting “While the pump station is equipped with an automatic backup generator, the facility did not experience a complete power outage that would have activated the backup system. Wastewater engineers are researching ways to mitigate the effects of poor power quality, including power sags, bumps or surges on pumps, which are designed to shut down when encountering inconsistent power.”
(Added 10:09 am: WSB photo)
9:09 AM: The King County Wastewater Treatment Division says Monday night’s thunderstorms led to a “power interruption” that resulted in a “brief overflow” from Barton Pump Station on the north side of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. They aren’t saying yet how long it lasted or how much wastewater overflowed, but they’ve closed the beaches at Lincoln and Cove Parks “until water quality testing confirms the water is safe.”
2:07 PM: KCWTD has answered our followup questions. First – the overflow volume is estimated at more than 101,000 gallons. KCWTD spokesperson Doug Williams says it was actually two overflows:
The station experienced a power bump (poor power quality that was not consistent) at 7:12 p.m. that triggered a fault in the pump. The standby operator was dispatched to the pump station to reset the pumps. There were two short overflow events, one for 12 minutes and the other for 11 minutes.
We also asked how and when the KCWTD crew was notified and when they arrived:
The pump sent an alarm, which was received by Main Control at West Point Treatment Plant, and a standby operator was immediately dispatched. The operator arrived at the pump station at 7:47 p.m. The pumps were reset by 7:48 p.m. The operator left, having fixed the problem, but returned at 8:30 p.m. after another power bump caused an alarm at 8:08 p.m.
This pump station was “upgraded” in 2015, so we asked why there wasn’t some sort of failsafe or backup to prevent this:
We are still evaluating the incident and pump performance. We suspect that inconsistent power quality shut the pump down, as it is designed to protect the equipment from fluctuating power (much like a surge protector, or tripped breaker in your home). Power monitoring equipment at the station showed that there was no loss of power, so the incident was initiated by poor power quality received at the station. Since there was no loss of power, the onsite generator was not engaged. The power seemed to surge and flicker, causing two different short overflows of 12 and 11 minutes (from 7:36 – 7:48 p.m., and again at 8:19 – 8:30 p.m.).
One of the two state ferries on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is about to downsize until further notice – M/V Issaquah is out of service “due to necessary repairs,” per WSF, so M/V Sealth is taking over as the #2 boat. That means 34 fewer vehicles, as Issaquah is a 124-car ferry and Sealth holds 90. This is all taking effect in about half an hour, so waits/backups could be longer this afternoon.
Since the Alonzo family announced Tuesday that they will close The Original Bakery in Fauntleroy later this month after almost half a century of owning and operating it, legions of fans have voiced their sorrow. Some also wondered what will happen with the space at 9253 45th SW, which the Alonzos’ announcement said would be taken over by the owner of CHOW Foods, which operates Endolyne Joe’s next door. We reached Peter Levy by email – here’s what he told us:
Yes, we are moving into the Original Bakery space. Given the history of the space, what we do know at this point is that we will continue to serve morning pastries & espresso.
We are still working on determining conceptually what our plans are for the balance of the day & night operating hours. Depending on the permitting process and time required for construction, we are anticipating opening sometime in the late summer/early fall of this year.
We also asked if the pastries he mentioned would be baked on site, retaining the space’s use as a bakery: “We are in the very formative state in the process and I have no further information to provide at this time.” But, in response to another followup question, he did say the space “will have a different name” rather than being operated as part of Endolyne Joe’s, which has been at 9261 45th SW for almost 20 years.
P.S. Watch for a story here soon looking at the history of The Original Bakery, which plans to close after Sunday, February 26th.
Busiest week of the month for meetings – here are toplines from last night’s monthly meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association board.
FERRY DOCK PROJECT: No new developments in planning for the Washington State Ferries dock/terminal replacement. Meantime, FCA has sent letters and petitions of support – with more than 700 signatures – to urge the City Council to renew its longstanding opposition to expanding the doc when it’s rebuilt. This week’s WSF community meetings were also mentioned (we just covered the first one, held at noontime today, and will publish our report later today; you can sign up here for the 6 pm Thursday meeting).
SDOT WALKING TOUR FOLLOWUP: What happens next after their tour four weeks ago with SDOT director Greg Spotts (WSB coverage here)? They haven’t heard anything yet.
NEW TRANSPORTATION CONCERN: In addition to fees going up this year for Restricted Parking Zone permits, the city is no longer issuing stickers to permit holders – your license plate will go into the system, and that’s it. So how will someone know to report a violator? it was asked. (Not to mention, it was pointed out, the restricted time period in the Fauntleroy RPZ is 2-5 am, and currently Parking Enforcement Officers aren’t on duty during those hours anyway.)
SAVE THE DATE: The annual Fauntleroy Food Fest – the FCA’s annual general-membership meeting, with attendance incentives including tastes from local eateries – is currently set for March 21st at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
BOARD RECRUITING: They’ve had some attrition lately so will be going to the community soon to recruit new members.
The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets at 7 pm second Tuesdays most months, and anyone with an interest in Fauntleroy is always welcome, in person or online.
Almost 2,000 coho salmon eggs were distributed to local teachers from a Fauntleroy carport today, steps from the creek into which those that hatch will be released this spring. It’s an annual rite for Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland, volunteers with the Salmon in the Schools program, picking up the eggs at Soos Creek Hatchery in the morning, then distributing them to program participants hours later. They, and other volunteers, took the eggs to schools pre-pandemic; now teachers come to their carport for the handoff instead.
(Judy and Phil with teacher Angie from [corrected] Arbor Heights)
Once at school, the eggs are placed into tanks where students care for them and learn about them as they grow. Our Lady of Guadalupe sent this photo taken after their pickup, as 1st graders watched the tank placement:
In the spring, salmon fry are brought to the creek and released – students participate in that too, as we show you every year. This year’s participating schools, in addition to OLG, include Alki, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, Highland Park, Roxhill, and Sanislo Elementary Schools, plus Louisa Boren STEM and Pathfinder K-8s, and Westside School (WSB sponsor), plus three local preschools. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council is raising 500 additional coho eggs as backups.
According to Washington State Ferries‘ most-recent Service Restoration Plan update, “Early in 2023, WSF will begin trialing full, three-boat service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route.” How early? The plan is on the agenda for WSF’s winter community meetings, which will be held online next week, as explained in the announcement:
At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, WSF staff will discuss the ferry system’s service restoration progress, ongoing efforts to address workforce challenges as well as updates on key projects. WSF Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello will lead the meetings in coordination with the Ferry Advisory Committees, appointed representatives of ferry-served communities who advise WSF.
Both events will cover the same material and are designed to give participants the option to join the Zoom meeting that best fits their schedule. Meeting participants will be able to ask questions and provide comments.
You can register for one or both meetings via links on this page. Meantime, given that vessel availability is a factor in service restoration, we asked WSF today about repair progress on M/V Cathlamet, out of servive since the Fauntleroy crash last July. WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling says it’s expected back in service by the end of March.
(WSB photos)
Even before starting his job, SDOT‘s new director Greg Spotts (above left) invited people from neighborhoods around the city to ask him to visit for “listening tours” – and the Fauntleroy Community Association did just that. This morning, Spotts made good on his promise, despite the snow (he’d originally been booked to visit a few weeks ago, but even snowier weather forced a postponement). He and SDOT’s interim transportation-operations director Dusty Rasmussen spent more than an hour getting a firsthand look at some of Fauntleroy’s transportation challenges, which the FCA has long been nagging the city about. The tour started in the north Lincoln Park parking lot, where Spotts declared that he’s passionate about streets along parks, observing that this particular park entrance isn’t particularly welcoming to “non-vehicle arrivals.” FCA president Mike Dey talked about the ferry traffic that queues up in the afternoon and on weekends, and how some drivers flout the rules that are. supposed to keep the parking lane clear during peak hours. Others pull midblock U-turns and there was talk of whether a hardened center line might prevent that. Crossing Fauntleroy is a challenge at some spots along the park, too.
From the park, they headed southbound on Fauntleroy to the ferry dock, where the main challenge happens in bursts – getting 120 vehicles (the capacity of the ferries usually on the route) out at a time. A public-safety officer is there to direct traffic some of the time; there’s also been talk of a signal, though Dey noted that the FCA doesn’t support that. He also mentioned the planned terminal/dock replacement, and a quarter-century-old city resolution opposing expansion of the dock. Continuing south, next stop was the Endolyne business district.
There’s been some traffic calming here, after previous pushes by the FCA – more pedestrian features have been applied to the 45th/Wildwood intersection, and 45th has some speed humps. One remaining major point of concern – the hill to/from Marine View Drive and chronic downhill speeding. Spotts observed that it “looks like a ramp.”
After a stop at Wildwood Market for warm beverages, the group was planning to continue eastbound to the Fauntleroy Church/YMCA/Schoolhouse stretch of California SW – which can be perilous for pedestrians. We had to drop out before then, with another scheduled event to cover. We did hear Spotts make one commitment along the way – he promised to come back in January/February for a better look at some of the conditions Dey had mentioned.
P.S. If you’re in Fauntleroy and want to get involved with the FCA, they meet second Tuesdays at the schoolhouse (9131 California SW), 7 pm; you can watch via livestream, too – info’s at fauntleroy.net.
The new city budget raises the fee for Restricted Parking Zone permits by almost 50 percent. SDOT notes that one RPZ neighborhood in West Seattle might want to renew a bit early to save money:
Readers who live in the Fauntleroy neighborhood [should] know about an opportunity to save money on their Restricted Permit Zone (RPZ) permit renewal.
On January 1, 2023, the new citywide budget will take effect and the fee for a two-year RPZ permit will increase from $65 to $95. Fauntleroy (Zone 3) RPZ permits will expire on December 31, 2022. Anyone who lives in this zone and renews their permit (or requests a new permit) in 2022 will be charged the current fee ($65). After January 1, permit requests will be processed with the new fee ($95).
Discounted $10 permits will continue to be available for people who are income-eligible. People with disabled parking placards / license plates do not need to apply for a separate RPZ permit.
Permit renewals should be made through the Seattle Services Portal to ensure they are processed on-time before the fee increase takes effect. Any questions about permits can be sent to DOT_RPZRequests@seattle.gov.
RPZ permits do not guarantee a parking space – they just guarantee the right to park during restricted hours, if you find a space.
(WSB photos)
Tomorrow (Wednesday) night brings your next chance to see the Fauntleroy UCC Festival of Trees – a dozen creatively decorated trees with unique takes on the season. Among them, a “Star Wars” tree (with a sign inviting you to guess whose quotes are on its branches):
For those whose space taste runs back even further in time, there’s also a “Star Trek” tree:
There’s a Peru-themed tree highlighting the church’s work with immigrants:
And the church’s pastor, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski, exhibited a sense of humor with this tree:
That one has the title “Idol-a-Tree,” a pun paying homage to the ’80s music icon. Other themes include birds and Legos (the full list is here). The Fellowship Hall at the church (9140 California SW) will be open again tomorrow night (and the following Wednesday night) 7-8 pm for viewing. If you can, bring a nonperishable-food donation – people are voting for their favorite tree by placing cans and boxes around them.
From Washington State Ferries, two problems on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth (aka “Triangle”) route – first, it’s down to one-boat service until after 9 pm tonight, as M/V Kitsap had to tie up because of a crew shortage. WSF says it’s solved the problem in time for Kitsap to resume service with a “late 9:15 p.m. from Fauntleroy to Vashon.” Also affecting the route right now, Vashon is down to one slip. WSF says slip #1 is the only one usable right now because of “an issue with the hanger bar in slip #2” and says this may last several days, as repairs “are tentatively scheduled for November 29.” You can check for status changes here.
(Many decaying spawner carcasses are adding nutrients to the creek. Photo by Tom Trulin)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
For the second year in a row, volunteer watchers tallied an exceptional number of coho spawners – 254! – in Fauntleroy Creek. This count exceeded last year’s 244 by 10, putting it in the No. 2 position behind 2012’s all-time high of 274.
Volunteers saw the first spawners in modern memory in 1994 and began organized watches in 1999. This year’s watch ran Oct. 16 – Nov. 22, with fish seen October 25 – November 15.
Why such a high number two years in a row? Veteran creek steward Dennis Hinton gives a lot of credit to human intervention.
“Three out of the last four years, volunteers have had to relocate drift logs at the creek mouth to ensure spawners could get in from Fauntleroy Cove. Most years, we’ve left them alone in the belief that they would float at high tide. This year’s log jam was especially tight, however. After we got the necessary state permit, Mark Sears led a work party in mid October to clear a path, then he and Tom Trulin checked the logs daily. This diligence paid off.”
(This spawning pair displaced eggs from an earlier redd to build their own. Photo by Mark Sears)
Another likely factor, Dennis said, was that this was an especially good year for salmon returning to Puget Sound. A super pod of orcas (J, K, and L) was in the area for several days and they would not have been here without finding ample fish to eat.
Other factors: High tides, paired with low barometric pressure, gave spawners the lift they needed to enter the creek. And precipitation was sufficient to flush the creek so that they could smell fresh water.
The spawner number was not the only count of note.
“We had a real uptick in public awareness and volunteerism this year,” Dennis said. “More than two dozen watchers took turns documenting spawners and talking with visitors. Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland opened their property so that an exceptional 440-plus people of all ages could get to creek level.”
Watchers noted where they saw spawning, and volunteers will be checking those locations this winter for “home hatch” fry to emerge from their gravel redds. They also noted a lot of fingerlings from last year’s spawning as well as cutthroat trout in for the thousands of coho eggs displaced when late spawners dug out the redds of early spawners.
To learn more about the creek, current volunteer opportunities, and the watershed stewardship fund for habitat maintenance, visit fauntleroywatershed.org.
As part of a project with the Rotary Club of West Seattle, three Peace Poles have been installed so far this fall – and this is the newest, dedicated last weekend just southeast of the Fauntleroy ferry dock parking lot.
The other two are at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) and at Fauntleroy Church/Hazelwood Preschool, with more to come. Read about the worldwide Peace Pole project here.
We covered two community meetings last night – here are two brief notes from the first one, the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s monthly board meeting:
TRANSPORTATION: FCA invited new SDOT director Greg Spotts to the neighborhood for one of his “walking tours,” and he accepted. He’ll be visiting next month. Ferry-related traffic is always high on the list of Fauntleroy community concerns, so that’s likely to be a central topic.
FALL FESTIVAL REPORT: FCA doesn’t present the Fauntleroy Fall Festival but does support it, and received a report last night on the October 23rd event, the first full-fledged Fall Festival since 2019.
(WSB photo from last month’s festival)
About 2,000 people attended over the course of the afternoon. A new feature, the bunny “petting zoo” (above), was a hit. Some of the volunteers are already interested in next year; the date’s not set yet but will be soon.
The Fauntleroy Community Association meets second Tuesdays, 7 pm, most months, at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse; updates and info can be found at fauntleroy.net.
(WSB photo from 2019’s Thanksgiving dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy)
We mentioned a week and a half ago that The Hall at Fauntleroy plans to resume its full free sit-down community Thanksgiving dinner, but details were pending. Today we have the full plan for this year’s return of the 20+-year tradition, from Reed Haggerty of The Hall’s parent DSquared Hospitality:
We are back for 2022 with a full FREE meal from 12 pm-3 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy!
This event is meant for anyone who would like to attend, and everyone is welcome!
We are also asking for WARM clothes donations (NEW socks, NEW blankets, winter jackets, etc.) as well as dessert donations – mmmm pumpkin pie!
Our goal is to “Fill the van” (we would like to overflow one of our catering vans with warm clothes … It has been so cold already this year!)
In addition to donations, we are looking for volunteers to assist with setup, service, and cleanup on the day of. Please see the sign up link here.
If you know someone who would like to donate, they can bring clothing donations or dessert donations to our warehouse in SODO starting Monday 11/21-Wednesday 11/23. Our business hours are 9-5.
If the trek down to SODO is too much, we will be taking donations the day of Thanksgiving starting at 9 am at The Hall.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is at the south end of the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
Meryl Sidikman is one of the first artists you’ll see when you walk into the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show, continuing until 8 pm tonight and both days this weekend. She’s a White Center artist with a studio in Highland Park, and her booth includes brightly hued paintings including the frog and bats shown in our photo. Right around the corner in the event venue at Fauntleroy Church, you’ll see Rance Holiman:
His paintings include landscapes and portraits. We also talked with Rhonda Porter – a longtime local mortgage consultant who is also an artist; this is her first show:
Work of hers that caught our eye include Elvis (as seen in the photo) and colorful chickens. The full lineup of participating artists is in our calendar listing; you’ll also find artists showing and selling work in many other media, including textiles, jewelry, and metal. The show continues 10 am-4 pm Saturday and 11 am-2 pm Sunday; the church is at 9140 California SW.
We’ve shown you the dedications of two Peace Poles placed by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, onw at Fauntleroy Church/Hazelwood Prechool and another at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), and now you’re invited to the next one – this Saturday near Fauntleroy Creek. Here’s the announcement:
Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony “Fauntleroy Creek Crossing Peace Pole”
Saturday, Nov 5, 2:00 pm-2:30 pm
Fauntleroy Creek Ravine Overlook, 9102 Fauntleroy Way SWThe Peacebuilding Service Committee of the Rotary Club of West Seattle has chosen to present to Fauntleroy Creek Crossing a “Peace Pole” because this sacred land is a cross-road for youth going to and from school and for those who use the ferry system to travel to Vashon and points of interest near and far across the Olympic Peninsula. It is a place to simply cross paths and visit with a neighbor; a crossing for all the native habitats, including our coho salmon who swim through these waters to spawn at the Fauntleroy Creek; and a place where children can see the end of the salmon’s fragile lifecycle at this hatchery.
We now dedicate the “Fauntleroy Creek Crossing Peace Pole” as a symbol of peaceful crossing and to honor this sacred spiritual connection with the land and water. We hope you will pause here from time to time to reflect on the role that you can play to foster peace in our community, our country and our world.
Event Program:
• Welcome and Introductions
• International Peace Pole Project
• Rotary Club of West Seattle
• Fauntleroy Creek Ravine Overlook:”Story of Salmon as a Peaceful Focal Point”
• Procession to the Fauntleroy Creek Crossing
• Peace Pole Declaration: “May Peace Prevail on Earth”
• Instrumental Music
• ClosingOur community, friends, families, organizations, businesses, and clubs are all welcome to join together and celebrate.
12:35 PM: Until 3 pm today, you’re invited to visit the section of Fauntleroy Creek where dozens of salmon spawners have shown up in the past week. Much of it runs through private property, so you’re asked to first go to the public fish-ladder overlook at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW and await word from a volunteer to come down. Kids welcome if accompanied by adults; dogs OK if leashed.
3:30 PM: The only salmon we saw while there was the carcass above. Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council – who offered cookies to creek visitors – told us that fish died after spawning, not at the hands (or claws, or teeth) of a predator.
(Video by Tom Trulin)
Those are salmon spawners in the surf at Fauntleroy Cove, near the ferry dock, waiting to enter Fauntleroy Creek. As of late this afternoon, Judy Pickens from the Fauntleroy Watershed Council says, volunteer creek watchers had counted 31 spawners. On Saturday, you are invited to an all-ages “open creek,” noon-3 pm. Go to the fish-ladder overlook at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way – across and upslope from the ferry dock – where a volunteer will invite you down to creek level. You just might see one or more of the spawners, and volunteers will be ready to answer your questions. Children must be accompanied by adults; dogs are OK if leashed.
(Photo by Tom Trulin)
As reported here Tuesday, the first salmon spawners of the season have arrived in Fauntleroy Creek. To give you a chance to see them, volunteers will host an “open creek” on Saturday. Here’s the announcement sent by Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council:
Spawners in Fauntleroy Creek – and the public is invited
Salmon watchers on Fauntleroy Creek were rewarded yesterday (10/25) when they tallied five live coho spawners and one fresh carcass in the lower creek, likely the victim of predation. The five bright fish ranged between about three and five pounds. At least two had adipose fins, indicating they could have originated in this creek as “home hatch” from natural spawning or from fry reared by students and released here. Before nightfall, watchers witnessed one spawning pair. With more rain in the forecast and 11-foot or better high tides in the offing, spawners may continue to come in from Fauntleroy Cove.
The Fauntleroy Watershed Council will host an all-ages open creek on Saturday, noon-3 pm. Make your way to the fish ladder viewpoint at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW and a volunteer will invite you down to creek level. Come rain or shine to check out the habitat, get your questions answered, and maybe see a coho spawner. Children should bring a parent and dogs should bring a leash.
Watchers expect to continue on duty during the five hours after high tide until mid November.
2:16 PM: Until 5 pm – you’re invited to the return of the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, free fall fun on both sides of the 9100 block of California SW, inside and outside Fauntleroy Church/YMCA and Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Hall at Fauntleroy.
The activities list is here; the event schedule (for performances and competitions) is here. Photos and more to come!
2:40 PM: Those are three of the decorated cakes for which you can vote in the cake-decorating contest on the lower back level of The Hall at Fauntleroy; at 3 pm, you can compete in the cake walk. Just outside the room where that’s happening, it’s a fall photo booth with West Seattle photographer Holli Margell – lots of families stopping for that.
And steps to the west, The Falconer is here with amazing birds.
Over in the lot outside Fauntleroy Church/YMCA, the festival traditions include pumpkin-painting:
Birdhouse-building:
And making salmon hats – celebrating the return of coho to Fauntleroy Creek (any time now!):
Sun’s out right now, too. More to come!
3:15 PM: A first-time feature, bunny-petting (replacing the “petting zoo” of years past), is a hit – you’ll find it in the “lower playground” area behind The Hall at Fauntleroy:
Nearby, The Don’t Ask Band is playing:
The Don't Ask Band pic.twitter.com/vSfAOOpJkw
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 23, 2022
There’ll be live music inside The Hall shortly too, with the West Seattle Big Band scheduled at 3:30 pm.
West Seattle Big Band! pic.twitter.com/SyLK29ncXb
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 23, 2022
3:48 PM: And there they are, playing timeless tunes. Back out in the church/Y lot, it’s a great day to climb:
Or to talk with some of the community organizations that are there – including the Fauntleroy Community Association, debuting this new banner:
One more hour to go – we’ll add more photos later!
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: Also seen at the festival, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, educating festivalgoers about wildlife on and off our shores:
If you see a marine mammal on a West Seattle shore, alive or not, or one offshore that appears to be in distress, call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325. … From the Emergency Communication Hubs, the Fauntleroy area’s new volunteer hub captain Chris Jaramillo was at the festival:
The hubs are places you’d go to get and share information if disaster strikes and the usual methods are unavailable out of service – check this map to find the location of the hub closest to you (and if there’s not one nearby, get involved and start one!).
P.S. Speaking of getting involved, many people did that to make today’s volunteer-staffed, donation-funded festival, led by coordinator Reed Haggerty, a successful comeback. Like many events, the festival was on pandemic hiatus in 2020; last year, a drive-up/ride-up version was offered.
Before this afternoon’s festival, the first fall-fun community event in Fauntleroy this year was the Great Pumpkin Search, three hours on October 8th during which attendees searched for pumpkins hidden in and around the Endolyne business district. This was presented by the Fauntleroy Community Association and coordinated by Candace Blue, who emailed to share photos and public acknowledgments for everyone who joined forces to make this volunteer-powered event happen:
We all had such a great time, including Fauntleroy Community Association members and the hunters – children, adults, and even dogs. All 200 pumpkins were found and the special gifts were treasured. This event will definitely be a happening next year. A special thanks goes to:
Susan Lantz-Dey, who assisted every day, managed the booth and painted the booth signs
Frank Immel, who set up the booth and then stayed the whole day to assist
Bill Wellington, who let us borrow his tables
The pumpkin hiders – Paulette Eister, Claudia Levi, Catherine Bailey, Loren and MacKenzie Tapia with my 3-year-old grandson Philip, and my husband Scott Wiesemann (who also scouted all day to let us know where pumpkins were left)
Avalon Glassworks for donating a beautiful glass pumpkin
The businesses in the triangle – Endolyne Joe’s, El Camino (thanks for the bags when we ran out), and Wildwood Market
The entities that (promoted) the event – The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the West Seattle Blog, the Fauntleroy Community Association newsletter, and the Fauntleroy Community Association website
It takes a village and you all pulled through. Thank you so much!
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