Busy week for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, as we’ve been reporting. All the while, volunteers have been planning an event to honor the two women who founded the nonprofit more than a decade ago, and you’re invited:

In early August of 2007, an extraordinary and quite unexpected harbor seal baby boom hit Alki Beach and the shores of West Seattle. In the ensuing scramble to protect these vulnerable pups, writer Brenda Peterson and photographer Robin Lindsey came together as strangers, forging an enduring alliance and a grass-roots group of concerned West Seattle residents that would become the full-fledged and high-profile Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Seal Sitters.

Seal Sitters invites you to a special celebration with our founders. Hear Robin and Brenda share their many stories in a lively setting – with an opportunity to ask any and all questions about their experiences and Seal Sitters’ history.

Robin will be stepping back from her full-time Seal Sitters role. After 13 years with Seal Sitters, she would love the opportunity to show her appreciation to colleagues, volunteers, and members of the public who have shared not only their common passion to protect wildlife, but treasured friendship as well.

SEAL SITTERS FOUNDERS EVENT
Sunday, November 3, 2:00-5:00 pm
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave SW

PROGRAM
2:00 PM Doors open for a reception with refreshments and no-host bar
3:00 PM “A Conversation with Robin and Brenda”
Learn about the history of Seal Sitters in a moderated, animated chat.
Audience Q&A to follow.
The celebration continues until 5:00 PM.

THE EVENT IS FREE, BUT YOU MUST RSVP BY NOVEMBER 1 TO ATTEND.
Space is limited and registration may close earlier if capacity is reached.
RSVP here and include your name and the name of any guest attending with you. If the guest is not an adult, include his or her age.

Though that deadline is still two weeks away, the sooner you can RSVP the better, as organizers are hoping to get a tentative crowd count ASAP. And in case you are wondering, this is NOT a fundraiser – just a party!

A special ceremony today in West Seattle: Alex Anbarcioglu, a second-year UW law student who’s been working with local lawyer Brian Waid, took the oath to join the U.S. Marine Corps and is headed for Marine Officer Candidates School. USMC 1st Lt. Kathryn Cardinal administered the oath at the law office of Shane Carew, big enough to hold all the well-wishers:

Alex told the story of a relative who inspired him:

His training will be in Quantico, Virginia.

From Emily:

I’m reaching out to spread awareness of women pairing in two or more to diffuse potential threats of sexual harassment and assault.

I was an eyewitness today to an incident in the neighborhood of 40th and Edmunds where a young professional woman was the victim of sexual harassment. In said incident the woman was approached from behind and “sniffed” by a stranger, old white male in mid-70s, over 6ft tall. He said something along the lines of “I’ll be coming back for more” and stood within inches, again approaching the young woman from behind. Understandably, she was so startled she couldn’t respond or react.

Myself and another young woman immediately started screaming at the man. I raised my hands at him and yelled “what is your problem?” We both began yelling that sniffing someone was outrageous and absolutely inappropriate behavior. We reminded him it was 2019 and the other woman remarked “would you do that to your daughter?” The old man walked away and then returned to make more comments at us for “bullying him” and forcing him to “feel bad” for his actions. We demanded he apologize to the young woman that he harassed and grossly invaded her personal space and privacy. He backed down and shrugged his shoulders and walked away seeming defeated. He yelled a half-winded apology to the female and left the area.

I hope this is helpful to other woman in similar situations. I truly believe power in numbers came into play here and it was just two against one. I want to spread awareness that sexual harassment is always prevalent, it doesn’t cease even in the current Me Too Movement. Something disturbing about this encounter was that the old man knew he was in the wrong and still walked the line of perversion, daring to see if anyone would object. I encourage other ladies to stick together, even if it’s a stranger, your power will be immeasurable. I’m especially saying this to women who understandably feel like they can’t stand up for themselves in the moment of said harassment or assault. This should add a level of responsibility and accountability for one another that can only grow in years to come.

Here’s more about street harassment.

Again this year, Hiawatha Community Center is hosting a celebration for National Coming Out Day. Here’s the announcement for Thursday’s event:

This year on Thursday, October 10th from 5-7 p.m., the Hiawatha Community Center will be hosting its second annual National Coming Out Day Celebration. 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. In an effort to gather together resources for the community, we’re hosting this event not only as a celebration but also as a show of support for our LGBTQ neighbors and their journey. There will be community organizations with LGBTQ resources, music, art projects, and food. See you there!

Hiawatha is at 2700 California SW.

It’s October, and for the first time, it’s Deathsploration month. Here’s the announcement:

Deathsploration is a month-long effort to increase conversation about death and dying in Washington. Beginning on October 1 and running through November 2, community organizations and businesses in western Washington will work in partnership to create opportunities for engagement through education, art, dance, movement, death cafes, community outreach, workshops, and more.

In the United States, the topic of death and dying is not commonly paired with living. Deathsploration is an opportunity to reestablish the normalcy of death, a subtle reminder that talking about and preparing for death will not cause one’s death. Similarly, not talking about death will not keep it away. It is our hope that the exploration of death — through all the senses and on our own terms — will help people on the way to a good death.

Several of the community events that are part of this monthlong exploration are here in West Seattle – a Blessing of the Animals Friday night at Resting Waters (9205 35th SW), a Death Café on October 15th at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), the daylong conference Une Bonne Mort at the Alki Masonic Center on November 1st, and a daylong Resource Fair (followed by a dance party) at Camp Long on November 2nd.

LGBTQ youth 14-18 are invited to the first West Seattle teen meetup organized by the locally founded/based Gender Family Alliance. It’s planned for 7 pm October 9th at a residence in south West Seattle. You can contact the organizer to RSVP and get location information – our calendar listing has that info, as does the event flyer.

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The joy of a wedding in West Seattle last weekend went far beyond the bride, groom, attendants, and those who gathered to witness the ceremony and celebrate with them.

The celebration was made possible by countless community members, some of whom have never met the happy couple, Mirna and Magdiel.

The spouses are a story all their own … immigrants in their 20s from Honduras, awaiting their chance to make their case for asylum. Their road to get here, with their 3-year-old son Joshua, has been long and difficult. At the wedding, he carried the train of his mom’s gown:

The family eventually found their way to this area; Mirna has a sister in south King County. Here in West Seattle, members of the Kol HaNeshamah faith community decided to support them, through the International Rescue Committee. Mirna and Magdiel’s time in limbo has stretched – and so has that support, from housing o legal help. Right now, the U.S. government doesn’t have time to hear their asylum case until the end of next year.

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First the festival – then the gifts! The photos and report were received tonight from VIEWS:

Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle (VIEWS) is a non-partisan community organization comprised of local citizens creating programming to educate, engage, and mobilize West Seattle citizens to sustain and improve the quality of life and services available across the peninsula.

Each year after the annual Delridge Day festival, which VIEWS organizes and produces, donations are made to local non-profits. This year’s recipients were presented with checks to recognize their efforts in our community as well. Below, Pete Spalding, Chas Redmond, Ann Martin, and Larry Winkler presented a check for $350 to Tamsen Spengler with the West Seattle Timebank:

Steve Daschle with Southwest Youth and Family Services was presented a check for $500 to go toward the capital campaign at SWYFS.

Ron Angeles (also with VIEWS) joined us to present the check to David Bestock for $500 to help with DNDA’s youth programming.

Twelfth Night Productions was also a recipient this year. Here Jane Taylor, Mary Springer, and Rick Springer accept a check for $350:

Our biggest beneficiary again this year is the Delridge Community Center’s Associated Recreation Council. Daryl Look accepted the check for $1,850 to help underwrite scholarships for neighborhood youth to be able to fully participate in after school and evening programming:

Michael Taylor-Judd of VIEWS was “behind the camera” for the photos above, Pete adds.

Is someone in your household thinking about college? VFW Post 2713‘s annual competition is on! Here are the details.

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2713, in West Seattle, announces this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Students in grades 9-12 must write and record a three-to-five minute essay on “What Makes America Great” using an audio CD/flash drive and present their recording, typed essay, and completed entry form to the VFW Post by Oct. 31, 2019. Local Post winners compete at the District level, winners advance to the state. All state first-place winners receive a four day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance for their share in scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship.

Patriot’s Pen

Grades 6-8. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

The essay patriotic theme is also: “What Makes America Great” and between 300-400 words.

Both programs are approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Youth Essay

This is a VFW Washington State Department competition for students in Grades 3-5. The theme is: “How I would encourage respect to the Flag of the United States” and be 250 words or less. .

Students from the following participated in 2018: Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Madison Middle School, Holy Rosary School, Holy Names Academy, Chief Sealth High School, and home school.

VFW West Seattle Post 2713 increases awards to $1,725 for 2019/2020:

Voice of Democracy, grades 9-12, $500/$400/$250

Patriot’s Pen, grades 6-8, $150/$100/$75

Youth Essay, grades 3-5, $100/$75/$50

This program is completely voluntary, a student (including home schooled) does not have to go through their school to participate. Interested students and teachers should contact Bill Dwyer, wcajmg@gmail.com, telephone (206) 938- 5719 or Ben Skwiercz, bens@halcyon.com, telephone 425-941-4651.

All entries must be in to Farwell Roosevelt VFW Post 2713 by Oct. 31, 2019 at 3601 S.W. Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98126.

Carrying the U.S. Army flag – second one in – is Fritz Schlesser, who just graduated from U.S. Coast Guard boot camp in Cape May, N.J., and is a USCG Seaman. His proud family, in West Seattle and on Bainbridge Island, asked us to share the news.

Before applying to service, he worked in Antarctica at The McMurdo Station, a United States Antarctic research station. It was here that he had his first exposure to the US Coast Guard and their vast capabilities. He returned this summer to mainland Washington knowing his destiny.

He successfully completed boot camp in Jersey and graduated this morning at 8 am EST from Cape May!

Fritz was encouraged by the West Seattle Coast Guard community to apply and he did. There is a well respected presence of the US Coast Guard in West Seattle. This not only provides security but also sends a positive message to young men and women like Fritz.

He will start his USCG service in Boston.

Everyone’s heard the old joke about police and donuts. Here we have proof firefighters appreciate them too. The photo is from Keri, who explains, “Sending along a photo from our donut stand yesterday, when the Firefighters Union Local 27 stopped by. Such a treat for our daughter!” This was in the Admiral area; Keri adds that the donut stand was a fundraiser project for her 12-year-old daughter and two friends who split the proceeds. Keri’s daughter’s cause? Saving for college.

(Photo: 1iOpen Productions)

2:14 PM: A West Seattle teenager is attempting an endurance feat right now on the Olympic Peninsula. Sent on behalf of Riley Nachtrieb by her family:

West Seattle High School senior and Cross Country co-captain Riley Nachtrieb is running The Olympic Discovery Trail to set the first recorded FKT (Fastest Known Time) on Saturday, August 24th.

The trail is 138.5 miles spanning from Port Townsend to La Push. Riley is aiming to complete it under 45 hrs solo, supported by her family. This is not a race; there is no competition or award for completion. It is just her and her personal motivation as a new ultra-distance runner. Riley said, “I know I sound crazy, but I am very curious and want to understand how far we can actually push ourselves and where the mind goes to during a long duration like this attempt. Comfort is within the state of being uncomfortable.”

She recently completed a 27-mile trail run on the Tiger Mountain loop, with WSHS Cross Country teammates Tao Norsen and Addy Nachtrieb. This is a big step for her; however, she has been running for 4 years, and says, “After 20 miles, the pain is all the same. It just lasts longer. It’s the mental pain I’ve never met before at this distance.”

You can follow her on her Instagram (@rileyknachtrieb) for live updates on her Instagram Story!

She should be about six hours in by now.

6:12 PM: According to an Instagram update a few minutes ago, “Riley has completed over 38 miles of 140 miles” so far and should be in Port Angeles around 9 pm.

1:31 PM SUNDAY: Riley’s dad posted this on her Instagram account about half an hour ago:

I (Dad) pulled Riley from the course at 9:30am today, Sunday. I pulled her at 82 miles completed and drove her to La Push, the final mile to contemplate what a massive accomplishment this experience was for her, and a building block for her ultra career. Riley was complaining about the top of her foot last night, but said it was not a sharp pain and manageable. Today she was in difficulties running and slowing significantly. I looked at her foot and she had a contusion on the top of the foot which is now slightly bruising. Not sure what it is yet, but it’s too much trauma for me to be comfortable with her continuing. She’s not happy about it. She feels great otherwise, and besides the usual ups and downs, she felt mentally and physically strong. I decided not to let her push the injury further without me knowing what was going on. She’s frustrated, but understands. Thanks everyone for supporting her. The comments and messages we read to her, helped immensely!!!! You’ll see her out here again. She will post her own account and thoughts soon.

You are invited to an event tomorrow (Saturday, August 24th) in honor of Margaret Miaullis turning 100. The announcement:

Margaret is a 72-year resident of West Seattle and has been active in the community for many years.

She was the owner of Margaret’s Apparel in The Junction for 38 years, retiring in 2003 at age 83. During those years, she belonged to the West Seattle Chamber and Junction Merchants Association, where she did all the promotions for The Junction including the merchants’ sidewalk sales; which she turned into the West Seattle Street Festival and did all the coordinating of the festival for 21 years. Margaret was known as the “Queen of West Seattle.”

Margaret received many awards for her work in the community, including the 2005 Hall of Fame induction from the Washington Festival and Events Association. “Making a difference in West Seattle.” She was on the board of the West Seattle Senior Center for several years. Cooked meals at the center, among many other things. Was an avid golfer and captain of the West Seattle women’s golf club/team. Also, sponsored and bowled on a team at West Seattle Bowl since the 1950s. Since her retirement, for the past 15 years, she has been doing fundraising to benefit the American Cancer Society/WS Discovery Shop, raising over $40,000 and going strong.

In honor of her 100th Birthday, there will be an open house on Saturday, August 24th, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the West Seattle Eagles. Stop by and wish her a Happy 100th!!!

The Eagles’ aerie is at 4426 California SW.

Why wait until your 100th birthday to have a big party? West Seattle writer, comedian, and political activist Georgie Bright Kunkel is about to turn 99, and friends gathered on a sunny Gatewood lawn to celebrate. The guest of honor wore a tiara; host Ann Martin and the West Seattle Democratic Women – of which Georgie is a past president – provided birthday fixings from a cake to flowers to two golden “9” balloons. And a round of “Happy Birthday”:

Ann read words of wisdom that Georgie wrote upon turning 90: “Never be defined by one’s arthritis or pain or age. Keep your spirit shining out of your eyes and put your best foot forward when you go out into the world. … Never give up hope. All through history, there has always been a light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way into a better life.” But right now, Georgie told partygoers (who included local political leaders), “I appreciate everything, and life is good.”

In that photo are West Seattleites Irene Stewart and Andrea Yip, with the n4a-bestowe 2019 Aging Achievement Award, which they accepted for the city Human Services Department’s Aging and Disability Services and Age Friendly Seattle. This announcement explains:

The Seattle Human Services Department announced today that its Aging and Disability Services division — which is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County — and its Age Friendly Seattle team have been honored with a National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) 2019 Aging Achievement Award in recognition of their efforts to promote accessible events and meetings.

Age Friendly Seattle Accessible Events & Meetings was among 48 local aging programs to receive honors at the n4a annual conference, held in New Orleans, and the only one to win in the Community Planning & Livable Communities category. Age Friendly Seattle produced a 40-page Community Guide to Accessible Events & Meetings (a free download) and has coordinated and presented trainings locally and at national conferences. The most recent was a public forum at Seattle City Hall on May 30 called “How to Plan An Accessible Event,” presented by individuals with disabilities (view on The Seattle Channel).

A caller asked us about a rally at Don Armeni, so we headed that way and found the group shown in our photo, gathering in opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Hawai’i island, atop Mauna Kea (which like Mount Rainier is a 14,000-foot dormant volcano). Project opponents say the “proposed 18-story observatory … would cause irreparable harm to our sacred mountaintop …” The project was supposed to start construction earlier this month, but protests continue on the mountain. Here’s the latest from Hawai’i.

(Bettie Williams-Watson, photographed in 2018 by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

We’ve reported before on award-winning West Seattle advocate/educator Bettie Williams-Watson and her nonprofit Multi-Communities, working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse. An announcement from the mayor’s office today includes word of new funding for Multi-Communities. As explained at the start of the announcement:

Mayor Jenny A. Durkan today announced $100,000 in additional 2019 funding in the second quarter’s supplementary budget for education and prevention programs seeking to address gender-based violence in Seattle. The funding will support existing organizations to build their capacity and advance youth programming, education programs for boys and men, and programs focused on marginalized populations, including Latinx, Black and African American, and Native American and Indigenous communities.

“We must do more to prevent and end gender-based violence,” said Mayor Durkan. “We have a responsibility to invest in programs that work to stop this violence from occurring in the first place, especially for communities most impacted. Seattle stands up for survivors, and our services must be available and accessible for all. To the survivors in our city: We believe you, and we will fight for you.”

The City of Seattle invests more than $10 million annually in gender-based violence services, including prevention, legal, intervention, housing, and offender accountability services. The Mayor’s $100,000 mid-2019 investment supports upstream programming to prevent the violence from taking place at all and will focus on programming for Latinx, Black and African American, and Native American and Indigenous communities.

A significant percentage of gender-based violence fatalities occur when the victim is 21 years or younger, and these victims often meet their perpetrator in middle or high school. Additionally, language barriers, lack of culturally relevant services, threats of deportation, and fear of isolation put marginalized communities at an increased risk of experiencing gender-based violence. Women of color and Native women are two-to-three times more likely to experience a gender-based, violence-related fatality than their white counterparts.

As part of the $100,000, Williams-Watson’s organization will work in partnership with other organizations led by the Filipino Community of Seattle on what the announcement describes as “the Access to Advocacy outreach and mobilization projects. These projects work to prevent gender-based violence in marginalized communities including Native American and Indigenous, Latinx, and African American and Black communities.” We spotlighted Williams-Watson and her work in this WSB story last year.

Thanks to Faye for the photo from today’s Seattle Pride Parade downtown. She photographed West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah participating. Any other West Seattleite sightings? Send a photo and we’ll add! (westseattleblog@gmail.com) Fay also sent a photo of the city’s most prominent Pride flag:

West Seattle has two new Eagle Scouts. Above are Nicholas Gjording and Jackson Carney of Troop 282, whose Court of Honor was held tonight at Camp Long. That’s also the site of Jackson’s Eagle Scout project, restoration of the park’s Wildlife Garden, as shown here last December. He’s a West Seattle High School junior; Nicholas is graduating from Garfield HS and headed for the UW – his Eagle Scout project was at a Scout camp in South King County. Tonight’s ceremony included troop history, with the invocation given by the troop’s first Eagle Scout, Rev. Dr. Ron Rice of West Side Presbyterian Church:

Guest speakers included another former West Seattle Eagle Scout you might recognize, King County Executive Dow Constantine, who had words of congratulations for Jackson and Nicholas as well as memories of his Scouting years:

And they heard from Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden, also a West Seattleite.

Later this year, Troop 282 marks its 70th anniversary!

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

While some of our area’s longrunning community groups are grappling with where their future lies, the area’s newer “super-group” is continuing to rev up.

The District 1 Community Network – which has been in formative stages since late last year – will work through the summer, with its major initiatives now tentatively on a timeline for fall.

We sat in on the D1CN’s May 28th meeting at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse.

Organizations represented included the hosting Duwamish Tribe as well as the Junction Neighborhood Organization, Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council, Fauntleroy Community Association, West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs, Delridge Neighborhoods District Council, Morgan Community Association, Southwest District Council, Admiral Neighborhood Association, West Seattle Transportation Coalition, South Park Senior Center, and South Park Neighborhood Association.

D1CN is working on two major initiatives right now:

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