West Seattle, Washington
15 Tuesday
The cover image for the map/postcard promoting this quarter’s West Seattle Art Walk events – starting with tomorrow night’s WSAW – always has a backstory. This time around, there’s a lot to tell.
The image is a painting by Frances Smersh, the West Seattle artist who is co-proprietor of Junction shop Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) with her husband John Smersh. She is also this month’s featured WSAW artist there, so you can visit Frances and her work there Thursday night (October 11th) 5-8 pm.
In conjunction with the showcase, Click! has an update for the community about the personal news they first shared three years ago – that Frances is living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
Writing on the Click! blog this week, they explain that the disease has continued to progress. “This last year Frances has struggled with more challenges that the disease has presented, and found that art is an area that she can still thrive. … With painting as her primary focus for most of the last year, she’s produced an impressive body of work!”
You can see the show during tomorrow’s Art Walk. The update continues, “She has titled her show ‘With a Little Help from my Friends,’ an acknowledgement of the extra assistance she now needs.”
After details on how Frances is doing now, the update explain how that assistance is more vital than ever:
If you or someone you know would enjoy spending time or sharing a meal with (or providing a meal for) Frances, please reach out to John and let him know what you would be up for. She loves being with people and is pretty game for most activities. Friends have started a GoFundMe page in hopes of helping with some of the extra expenses they now face; donations of any amount are hugely appreciated.
Read the full update here. And go see Frances’s show at Click! on Thursday night, 4540 California SW, 5-8 pm.
(Photo courtesy Impact West Seattle. L-R, founding members Rachel Lazar, Robin Graham, Amy Huey, Rachel Hagenson, Kristen Corning Bedford)
Ever wonder what more you can do to help with community needs, beyond random occasional donations? Here’s a new option: A women’s giving group called Impact West Seattle is launching with an event one week from today. One of the group’s founding members, Rachel Lazar, tells WSB, “Our hope is that this group will bring together this community which has grown so much over the past few years, and to give women who want to engage and give back that opportunity.” Here’s how it works. The kickoff meeting is at 7 pm October 16th at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale), and its goal is explained here; if you aren’t able to be there, you can still join Impact West Seattle by going here. Questions? Here’s the FAQ.
We’ve received this flyer from multiple people. No additional details, except that the missing man is a teacher at Madison Middle School. Call 911 with any info.
Memories, stories, and songs filled The Hall at Fauntleroy this afternoon, as family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of Jackie Dupras. Her longtime activism and advocacy included singing with the Seattle Labor Chorus; some of those who had sung with her led songs in her honor:
Jackie’s husband of almost four decades, Ed Dupras, offered a toast to his wife’s “spirit”:
The gathering was informal:
Microphones were available for anyone moved to get up and talk about Jackie; tributes included memories of her dedication to people as well as to causes. She was long active with the 34th District Democrats, who honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award seven years ago. That group’s highest-profile members were there today too:
Along with County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott, other local leaders there to remember Jackie included School Board President Leslie Harris and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. Jackie was 74.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: Steve Butts has written a detailed tribute to Jackie for the just-posted monthly 34th District Democrats’ newsletter. The agenda for the group’s monthly meeting Wednesday (7 pm October 11th, Hall at Fauntleroy) includes a time to share memories.
Next month, for the first time, Hiawatha Community Center is organizing a celebration for National Coming Out Day. It’s happening October 11th – still more than two weeks away – but they’re circulating word early not only for calendar-marking, but also because community/LGBTQ-focused organizations are invited to have a presence at the event, according to Hiawatha’s Andrea Sisco. She shared the event announcement:
Join the Hiawatha Community as we celebrate National Coming Out Day. Whether it’s coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) or as an ally, we come together in celebration and advocacy of equality and living openly. Come on over to Hiawatha Community Center on October 11th from 5-7 pm in the Hiawatha gymnasium for activities, live music, performances, food and access to resources to learn more about and demonstrate support for our LGBTQ community.
Those already planning to participate are the Give Back Brass Band and Boom Dance Studios, plus other providers of “activities and resources for all ages,” Andrea says. If your organization wants to be part of it too, you can e-mail Andrea at andrea.sisco@seattle.gov.
Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
A landmark West Seattle building dating back to the ’20s was the site last night of a celebration with that era as its theme – the West Seattle Food Bank‘s annual cocktail-party-and-more benefit A Grand Affair. At The Sanctuary at Admiral, beverages, games, and even tarot-card readings kept guests engaged:
Those in attendance at the party at the former church included at least one minister:
Talking with Husky Deli‘s Jack Miller, that’s Rev. Ron Marshall of the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, about to celebrate history of its own, with centennial festivities a week from tomorrow.. Below, our photographer also caught up with Lora Radford of the West Seattle Junction Association, WSFB development director Judi Yazzolino, and Rita Dixson, proprietor of The Bridge:
Everyone got $10,000 in mock money for the tables, with prizes up for grabs:
Proceeds help the WS Food Bank fight hunger by serving thousands of people in our community year-round. If you couldn’t be there – you can help any time in all these ways! P.S. WSB was among the co-sponsors of last night’s event.
If a student in your family is looking for scholarship money – the West Seattle VFW wants you to know the VFW’s essay contests have launched. The contests include the Voice of Democracy for 9th-12th graders, and there are two competitions for younger students too. It’s all detailed here:
If the embedded document doesn’t work for you, here it is in PDF.
Last Wednesday, we brought you the story of a hit-run crash right outside Fire Station 32 in The Triangle, with an arrest made because a firefighter saw the driver leaving the scene and gave information to police. Today, we got to talk with that firefighter, Felton Tate. He explained that even as he and his colleagues rushed to help the woman injured by the driver, he spotted the suspect’s vehicle:
We don’t know how the 34-year-old victim is doing – her dog was not hurt in the Tuesday night incident, Tate said – but online records show that the 26-year-old driver arrested for suspected DUI and hit-run spent a day and a half in jail before posting bond and being released on Thursday. Meantime – when SFD answered our original inquiry last week, they described Tate as a “new firefighter” just out of probation; that means, we learned today, he’s been a firefighter for a year. Currently he’s assigned to Engine 32, which is based at Station 32 along with three other vehicles and their crews – Ladder 11, Medic 32, and Battalion 7. He explains he wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was a kid, impressed by firefighters who responded to a kitchen fire at his grandma’s house, saying he never forgot how “helpful” they were.
That’s West Seattle artist Mindi Katzman with the AC/heating tech who came to her home last week. She explains why his visit was a full circle of sorts:
I am in the midst of a renovation at my house in the Morgan Junction.
When the contracting crew, BYD Construction, tore down the stairs, they found the most charming letter tucked away by a previous owner who was doing a little renovating in 1995. I have included the note [and pictures that accompanied it] below.
Flash forward to this past Thursday, when the AC/Heating guy [from Greenwood Heating & AC] showed up to fire up the new system.
It turns out he is the little boy in the picture all grown up, Kalin Helmbrecht, and he used to spend many weekends at the house as a child.
What were the chances of his being the one sent out to test the new system at his grandparents’ former house? They are still around and live in Beverly Park.
Thanks to Mindi for sharing the story! From breaking news to “found this in the attic,” that’s what has made WSB a community-collaborative news publication for 11 years now – here’s how to reach us any time.
Thanks to Lee for the photo and tip – that’s West Seattleite Kersti Muul, honored at the Seattle Audubon Volunteer Appreciation Dinner and Awards Ceremony, receiving the 2018 Education Award for “Extraordinary Commitment To The Education Program.” Kersti’s educational efforts have included helping people protect, understand, and appreciate local fauna and flora in many ways, including photos and information she’s shared with readers here on WSB. Congratulations!
We just stopped by West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), where those local youth are leading a rally this afternoon aimed at stopping sexual assault by raising awareness about it. It’s a project from their six-week summer program at Seattle Parks’ Southwest Teen Life Center in Westwood, titled Youth Participatory Action Research. Their message: “Sexual assault can happen to anyone.” How can adults support youth? we also asked. Parents/guardians “should be more involved in (their kids’) lives,” not just talking with them about sex in general, but also about sexual assault – what it can look like, and what consent means. Whatever your age – “educate yourself.” (You can do that through organizations like RAINN.) And they also have a message of empowerment for their peers: “Youth possess the power to make change, not just adults.” If you see this before 1:30 pm, stop by the stadium and show your support.
Almost exactly a year after “standing for peace” on the Delridge/Oregon overpass, Hate-Free Delridge members and friends returned there this evening. This time, the goal was to show support for immigrants and refugees.
It’s now been two years since the group formed in response to a racist, threatening note left at the home of a local family.
Here are some fast facts about Seattle’s immigrant/refugee population.
As mentioned in our daily preview, today was another Litter League cleanup in Morgan Junction – and organizer Jill Boone sent that photo of the turnout, neighbors who spent an hour and a half out cleaning up. Want to get on the e-mail list for future cleanups? litterleague@gmail.com
The report and photo are from proud mom Joelle Hammerstad:
West Seattle’s own Boden Hammerstad finished the 202-mile Seattle-to-Portland (STP) bike ride with his dad, David Hammerstad, last month. At just 10 years old, Boden is one of the youngest riders to finish the race. It was a long ride with temperatures in the 90s on both days of the race. Boden and his dad started out at the University of Washington on Saturday, July 14, and camped in Chehalis that night.
On Sunday, July 15, the final day of the ride, with less than 20 miles to go before the finish line, Boden took a spill, and had to get bandaged in the medic tent. (See the bandage on his arm.) He wasn’t deterred, though. He got right back up on his bike, and finished the final stretch — even passing adults along the way as he sped toward the finish line.
Boden is a rising fifth grader at Genesee Hill Elementary. He got the idea to ride the race last summer, and asked his dad to help him train to become a rider this year. He and his dad trained all spring and into the summer — going on rides sponsored by the Cascade Bicycle Club, as well as on their own. They participated in the Flying Wheels ride in June to practice for the big day. Boden’s hard work culminated in finishing the largest multi-day bike ride in the Pacific Northwest.
(WSB photos)
That cake was part of the party tonight at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), where the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association celebrated its first quarter-century with a dinner celebration tonight. (Thanks to member Gail Ann Wodzin for the tip!) Gdynia, a port city in northern Poland, is one of Seattle’s 21 sister cities (here’s a bit of backstory). And of course the dinner featured VIPs:
From left, guest speaker Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe, Gdynia city councilmember Maja Wagner, Gdynia deputy mayor Bartosz Bartoszewicz, Seattle deputy mayor David Moseley, and the association’s president Zbig Konofalski. The Sister City Association has another event coming up in West Seattle – its summer picnic is this Sunday in Lincoln Park.
2:13 PM: After 22 years, it’s time for a refresh for the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Philanthropist Adah Cruzen is donating money for a new one – and to help maintain the area around it – and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has just announced it has two options for you to vote on. They were just unveiled at a media briefing at Chamber headquarters; we’ll add video when back at HQ (3:47 pm – here it is):
Here’s the news release:
For more than two decades, the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the Fauntleroy Expressway has served as a beacon for newcomers and long-timers alike. Today, the sign continues to greet thousands of motorists and transit riders every day, but its original wooden structure is threatened, and the surrounding hillside provides a continual landscaping challenge.
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is deeply grateful to longtime Alki resident Adah Rhodes Cruzen for a gift of $100,000 designated for the installation of a new “Welcome to West Seattle” sign and a sustainable maintenance plan. Adah made the donation on behalf of the estate of her late husband, Earl Cruzen, who died Jan. 23, 2017, at the age of 96.
(Earl Cruzen, 2009 WSB photo)
Earl is recognized for bringing three groups together, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Junction Merchants Association and the West Seattle Trusteed Properties, as the Junction Development Committee. The “Welcome to West Seattle” sign, installed in September 1996, is one of the many legacy projects Earl and this group completed.
The first step for the new project was to create the Welcome to West Seattle Sign Committee (WWS Sign Committee). It is composed of these chamber members:
Tim Andes of Waypoint Sign Company
Paul Prentice, of Prentice Designs Inc.
Hamilton Gardiner of Holmquist and Gardiner PLLC
Gary Potter of Potter Construction
Pete Spalding of Verity Credit Union
Shannon Felix of Avalon Glassworks
Lynn Dennis, CEO of the West Seattle Chamber of CommerceThe Board of Directors of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce feels strongly that the committee should gather input from the West Seattle community on the design selection.
The WWS Sign Committee has identified two options, and the chamber is reaching out to the community for its feedback. On the chamber website and via other promotion, the chamber will gather votes in this fashion:
After a 10-day period for gathering community input that ends on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, the WWS Sign Committee will make the final selection and a Request for Proposals for fabrication and installation will go out to the business community.
If you are interested in applying to fabricate and install the sign, please contact Lynn Dennis, lynn@wschamber.com, (206) 932-5685.
Dennis says, “After you take a moment to read the obituary and eulogy for Earl Cruzen on the website of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, I know you will agree that the new “Welcome to West Seattle” is another sign that Earl is still here. Be sure to tip your hat to Earl as you drive by.”
Voting is already open on the Chamber website.
3:48 PM: A few more notes from the brief Chamber announcement, which you can watch above in its entirety: Adah Cruzen added that she wants everyone to know the new sign will be made from steel, so the water in the slope along the road doesn’t rot it like the current one. The Chamber says the new sign should be in place by year’s end. The firms involved with the committee in designing the two options are Prentice Design and Waypoint Sign Company, both with A, the latter with B.
The photo and report are from West Seattle Karate Academy:
On Saturday, July 21, 2018, local martial arts instructor Kris Wilder was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame for Life Time Achievement. The event was held at the Sheraton Downtown OKC, which culminated a weeklong celebration of the martial arts. The black-tie affair was attended by more than 300 guest, where the Class of 2018 was welcomed.
Kris Wilder started teaching in West Seattle 26 years ago at the West Seattle YMCA. His school is now located on the corner of Roxbury and 35th. He is the author of several best-selling books regarding martial arts, safety, and self-achievement. Wilder says, “I love teaching here, working with some of the best students, parents, and seekers you will ever find. I am honored they walk into the karate dojo every evening and give their best. And sometimes they even laugh at my jokes.”
(Seattle Channel video of this afternoon’s council meeting; domestic-workers item is at one hour in)
Passed today by the City Council: What’s described as the nation’s first city laws “that specifically protect nannies, caretakers, house cleaners, gardeners, and other domestic workers,” according to the announcement from the bill’s sponsor, citywide Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Her announcement says the new protections for domestic workers include:
*Hiring entities must pay domestic workers the minimum hourly wage;
*Domestic workers must receive proper rest and meal breaks, including a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break if they work more than five consecutive hours for the same hiring entity, and a 10-minute rest break if they work more than four consecutive hours, or pay in lieu;
*A domestic worker who resides or sleeps at their place of employment will not be required to work more than six consecutive days without an unpaid 24-hour period of consecutive rest;
*Hiring entities will not be allowed to retain a domestic worker’s personal effects and documents; and,
*The legislation establishes a Domestic Workers Standards Board, which will be made up of workers, hiring entities, worker organizations and community members. The board will convene during the first quarter of 2019, and will be tasked with recommending how to implement new labor standards, such as retirement benefits, worker’s compensation and sick leave.
The new laws take effect July 1st of next year. You can read the full announcement here; the full text of the legislation is here.
Back in 2015, the year she also became a Holy Names Academy graduate, Kelly Crum was crowned West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court Queen. Now she’s celebrating another achievement: Wednesday night at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), Kelly was announced as a member of this year’s Seafair Scholarship Program for Women court – second runner-up to Miss Seafair. Kelly is at right in the photo above with 1st runner-up Bianca Llorico (left) and the new Miss Seafair Zoraida Valdovinos (center). Their scholarships were announced at a special event hosted by the Seafair Commodores. Thanks to Kelly’s proud mom Gloria Teves for the photo and report! You will see them all in this Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade (which runs south on California from Lander to Edmunds, official start time 11 am, but the Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., Police motorcycle drill teams get going as early as 10:30 am). Kelly will be a senior at Gonzaga University this fall; she is also an alumna of Holy Rosary in West Seattle.
Two notes tonight as Saturday’s 2018 West Seattle Grand Parade gets closer:
COACH VELKO GETS HIS TROPHY: At tonight’s West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park, this year’s Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community recipient Velko Vitalich accepted the trophy, with which he’ll ride in Saturday’s parade.
The trophy was presented to the retired West Seattle High School baseball and golf coach by the Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation‘s parade chair Keith Hughes, assisted by parade coordinators Michelle Edwards and Jim Edwards, who also happen to be with the WS Big Band (musician and director, respectively).
PAWRADE UPDATE: Another reminder that before Saturday’s Grand Parade, you can be part of local history by participating, with your dog, in the first-ever West Seattle PAWrade:
The West Seattle Junction Association and Rotary are teaming up to present the PAWrade right before the Grand Parade arrives in The Junction. Prizes! Judges for the categories shown above are from local pet-related businesses/organizations, and they’ll be stationed along the route. It’s a short one, so don’t worry about Fido fatigue – it starts at California/Genesee at 11 am, between the motorcycle drill teams’ conclusion and the arrival of the rest of the parade, and proceeds to California/Edmunds – then you can go back and watch the Grand Parade! Sign up here if you’re ready to commit, or just show up at the start on Saturday!
TOMORROW: Next preview takes you to the parade lineup meeting!
That’s the question the city hopes you will answer, whatever your age, via a new survey. It was sent to WSB by Irene Stewart, the longtime West Seattle community advocate who works in aging and disability services for the city Human Services Department:
Will you be able to live independently in your current home or a home of your choice? How do you prefer to get information about services and community resources? Aging and Disability Services — the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle & King County — wants to know! You can help by taking the community survey at surveymonkey.com/r/V5WKDF8. This survey is for adults (age 18+), not just older adults or others who already use their services. Share the link with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues of all backgrounds. The survey is available until the end of July. For alternative formats or other languages, e-mail aginginfo@seattle.gov.
(Photo courtesy Senior Center of West Seattle)
From left, that’s Adah Cruzen with Senior Center of West Seattle executive director Lyle Evans and social worker Holly McNeil. The occasion: A celebration honoring a big gift for the center, which relies on donations for most of its budget. Evans tells the story:
Last month the Center was approached by a member of the community who asked what the Center needed in order to continue and enhance operations. I provided a wish list, not knowing the impact that list would have. About three weeks later, Adah Cruzen invited me to her home for lunch.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Adah, she is a lovely, unassuming woman with a gigantic heart and a very sweet demeanor. Many in West Seattle know and love her. Many also knew her husband, Earl Cruzen, the “Father” of Murals of West Seattle and local community leader. Adah talked about how Earl cared so much about West Seattle and wanted to leave a legacy gift to ensure the Senior Center was taken care of.
Adah beamed when she talked about her love of the Ukulele group and how she loves eating in the Café. She asked me how she could best support the Center. “What’s at the top of your wish list?” she asked. We then discussed the importance of our Westside Friends outreach program that helps homebound elders, as well as the importance of good food to those who may have their single most nutritious meal of the day here at the Center. Additionally, we discussed support for our many health and wellness programs, infrastructure improvements, new computers for staff, as well as implementing a Point of Sale system to enhance existing services.
Our conversation included how vitally important it is to keep elders active in order for them to remain healthy, funding of the newsletter, and a commercial ice machine. We discussed how Hatten Hall needs improvement in order to bring more large groups into the Center, and how community is built one person at a time. This list was meant to be a partial list of items that the Center needs. I was overcome with emotion when Adah said she would fund everything we’d talked about with a legacy gift of $100,000!
We at the Center envisioned a day when we could expand physical space, programs, and outreach to welcome more of the people who need us the most. We want to become even more vibrant and more essential to those we serve, to do what we do better and grander. Earl and Adah Cruzen’s gift can help make that vision a reality. Thank you, Adah and Earl, for your most generous support! We appreciate it enormously!
Just two months ago, the mural-restoration project announced an identical gift from the Cruzens. Speaking of which, we’ll have an update on that a little later this evening!
(Photo by Andrea Laughery)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Fresh paint, matching furniture, and planned décor are not the norm for families traumatized by homelessness. Those fortunate enough to find shelter get accustomed to make-do accommodations.
Not so the new library at the Mary’s Place shelter in White Center. It’s bright, comfortable, and inviting – whether a parent wants to read to her kids, enjoy a book himself, use a computer, or simply take a break to rewind.
A busy week of painting, assembling, and stocking culminated this past Saturday when the third Libraries for All project opened to Mary’s Place residents. Spearheaded by high-school senior Alina Guyon, a West Seattle resident, the project attracted help from several other volunteers, plus donations of books and laptops. The $5,250 in funding for expenses came from All the Sky Foundation.
Mary’s Place had an assortment of children’s books when Alina offered to create a real library. Starting with donated books (many from West Seattle), Alina enhanced the 250-square-foot room with computers so residents can search for jobs and stay connected with key people in their lives. The emphasis on children now includes kid-friendly DVDs.
“When families are trying to survive, education is set aside until the most pressing things in life are figured out and this break in a child’s education can create a long-term problem,” Alina said. “Having access to a library can help that child step back into school and stay at grade level.”
The 24-hour White Center Mary’s Place opened in June 2017 with a capacity of 70 adults and children. It is one of four full-service family centers that the nonprofit operates in the greater Seattle area.
(Photo by Alina Guyon)
Mary’s Place residents and members of Girl Scout Troop #40890 (photo above) helped stock the shelves with about 1,000 well-organized books. Knowing that loss and damage are inevitable, Libraries for All will replenish the supply as needed. The Mary’s Place staff will manage the library, use the projector to show movies, and maintain the computers.
The first Libraries for All project was for residents of a refugee facility near Kampala, Uganda, and the second was for children in a red-light district of Kolkata, India. Alina is weighing options for Project #4. Read more at libraries4all.com.
Now with its greatly enlarged collection of books, White Center Mary’s Place has put out a call for volunteers willing to read with children. To learn more, email volunteer@marysplaceseattle.org or call 206-621-8474.
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