West Seattle, Washington
19 Thursday
Wanted to get you advance reminders of three big things happening tomorrow night, starting with this: The photo is from one of the final rehearsals of “Merrily We Roll Along,” the West Seattle High School student musical that opens tomorrow night. Marketing manager Sumeet Chadha sends this info too:
West Seattle High School Drama Club has been hard at work over the past few months putting together an adaption of Merrily We Roll Along. This musical features a variety of talented students singing, dancing, and performing at their best. If you haven’t checked out a West Seattle High School Production, now is the time to be pleasantly surprised at what high school theater is capable of.
“Merrily We Roll Along” shows for the following two weekends: May 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:30
Special Benefit Performance: May 14th at 8:00
$5.00 with reservation, $10.00 at the door. For tickets call: 206-252-8834
Performances at:
WSHS Theater, 3000 California Ave SW
ALSO TOMORROW – SNAP IN FAUNTLEROY: 6:30 pm is the time, Fauntleroy Church is the place, find out how to be ready for anything, as the Fauntleroy Community Association presents a free preparedness workshop with Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare.
LAST BUT BY ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS LEAST – FIRE DEPARTMENT HONORS HEROES: Tomorrow night in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at City Hall downtown, the Seattle Fire Department holds its annual awards ceremony. Recipients include a West Seattle-residing firefighter/paramedic whose story we brought you earlier this spring, Dave Pedras (read that story here).
Just got a news release from the University of Washington that reminds us, the space shuttle mission piloted by West Seattle High School Class of ’72 alum Gregory Johnson (here’s our August story) is scheduled to finally lift off next week (11 am our time Monday, per nasa.gov), if all goes as planned between now and then. The UW news release notes that Johnson graduated after studying engineering there, and that’s not the only UW link – read on!Read More
By Ron Richardson
Special to West Seattle Blog
(Emma, left, with Betty Allen)
The Tuesday group at the Original Bakery in Fauntleroy celebrated Emma Harman’s 97th birthday today, May 5, Cinco de Mayo. The Bakery is a place where, over time, folks become acquaintances, then friends. This is how I got to know Emma. Readers probably have such a place in their corner of West Seattle.
These informal groups drop in on a regular basis, share experiences, vent frustrations, gossip, tackle the problems of the world and celebrate things like folks’ birthdays. Books and articles are shared and talked about. Emma and her friends meet every Tuesday and sometimes Thursday as well.
Bernie Alonzo, owner and baker at the Original Bakery, prepared a cake for our remarkable neighbor, Emma.
Emma Taylor (her maiden name) was raised in the Eastside mining town of Newcastle. When she was a young girl, her family experienced a harsh mining strike. That experience produced in Emma a keen sense of right and wrong and launched her into the struggle for social and economic justice for the underdogs. These were the Depression years, and she was determined to enter into the struggle to create solutions.
By the late 1930s, Emma was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives.
Shannon Felix, proprietor of Avalon Glassworks in the Luna Park district, sends this news: 27-year-old 
West Seattle resident Jill St. Onge has died in Thailand, one of two tourists whose deaths are suspected to be linked to food poisoning. Ms. St. Onge worked at Shadow Land, where we took the photo at left during last year’s Junction Trick-or-Treating. She and the other woman who died, a 22-year-old from Norway, were staying at a guest house on Phi Phi Island, according to this article from a local news site, the Andaman Times. The story quotes Ryan Kells, Ms. St. Onge’s fiance, an Avalon Glassworks employee who was traveling with her. Ms. St. Onge had been writing about their travels on this personal website; the last update was a week before her death. The Andaman Times article says an autopsy is being done in Bangkok to find out more about what killed her. Ms. St. Onge and Kells were supposed to return home next week after 3 months overseas. ADDED 4:48 PM: Thanks to Shell for finding and sharing this link – a website set up by family/friends to tell more about what happened to Ms. St. Onge and what’s happening now.
West Seattle photojournalist Matt Durham – who also is assistant coach for West Seattle Little League‘s Diamondbacks and Stingers – shares those photos from the Mariners’ Little League Day at Safeco Field today:
(Clockwise from upper left) 1: West Seattle youth honor the flag during the National Anthem.
2: Cheers accompanied West Seattle’s recognition on the megatron.
3: Young baseball players were able to parade on field during before the game.
4: 15 innings didn’t deter West Seattle’s Diamondback Jack from rooting on his team.
5: West Seattle players turn their hats inside out to rally the Mariners batters.
The Mariners beat the A’s in the bottom of the 15th inning, 8-7.
You can find out more about West Seattle Little League at westseattlelittleleague.com (also via Twitter at @wslittleleague).
Eric Shalit sent us this photo late last night; things were a little busy then but we want to share it now. It’s his son Max Shalitmontagne and date Fiona, “heading off to the Garfield High School Senior Prom … on a tandem bike (courtesy of Aaron¹s Bike Repair).” They rode from West Seattle to Pacific Science Center for the occasion. Eric adds, “Max is 100% car-free by choice. He rides about 200 miles a week, commuting and having fun. Max loves cycling!”
But first, a video flashback:
Last July, WSB was at Grace Church to capture that moment on video when Margo Femiano was announced as Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival for 2008-2009. With less than three months remaining now till Queen Margo’s successor is coronated, it’s time to introduce you to the six candidates in this year’s scholarship competition: Two Chief Sealth High School students, two Holy Names Academy students, one John F. Kennedy High School student and one Mount Rainier High School student. Read on to see their photos and brief bios, shared by Hi-Yu pageant coordinator Shirley Enebrad:Read More
There were smiles as well as sadness as J.B. Webster‘s fellow Seafair Commodores joined other friends, family and co-workers in celebrating his life during a memorial service today at Alki UCC. Mr. Webster’s family granted us permission to take photographs during the service; it’s been just five days since the first report of his death after a short illness. His daughter Tyler Webster played “Let It Be” during today’s service:
His son Logan Webster also played piano at the service (“Chimes“). More images from the memorial, and details of the service, ahead:Read More
That photo of Seafair Commodore and West Seattle Realtor/community leader J.B. Webster is from the 2007 West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade, shared by fellow Realtor (and Fauntleroy Community Association president) Bruce Butterfield. Less than a week after Mr. Webster’s untimely passing, family, friends and colleagues will gather this morning at Alki UCC Church (61st/Hinds; map) to celebrate his life, at 11 am. Dozens of tributes have been left as comments on our original report — read them here; our followup story about a fund set up for his wife and children is here.
(photo from Style ’08, courtesy Northwest Hope and Healing)
Just three nights till Style ’09, the fashion-show fundraiser for West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients all around the area with some of the practicalities of life after they’ve been diagnosed. NWHH rejoined WSB as a sponsor recently to help get the word out about the event, 7 pm Thursday at Showbox SODO with local boutiques and salons among the participants; there are still some tickets left, and since it’s coming up Thursday night, we wanted to make sure you had the full story, so to speak – here’s the official news release:
– NFL veterans Nesby Glasgow and Greg Lewis are among the many celebrity models who will saunter down the fashion runway on April 30 to help raise money for breast cancer patients. “Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good” will feature the hottest spring fashion trends and collections of 10 Seattle boutiques as modeled by local celebrities and community members. All proceeds benefit breast cancer patients at Swedish Medical Center.
Other runway models include Shawn Stewart, radio personality at 103.7 The Mountain; John Maynard, former host of the Robin & Maynard Show; Brian Canlis, third generation visionary of the iconic Canlis Restaurant; and local breast cancer survivors and supporters whose lives have been impacted by this disease.
Participating boutiques include Carmilia’s, Coastal [both in West Seattle], Canopy Blue, Nuvo Moda, The Finerie, Oslo’s, Asher Anson, Lululemon, Clutch, Kick It Boots & Stompwear.
Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good
Thursday, April 30, 2009Cost
Look Good (general admission): $40
Feel Good (includes VIP reception): $125
Do Good (front row table seating for two): $500
Top Model (Choice of modeling in the show or front row table seating for four): $1,000Purchase tickets at nwhopeandhealing.org or any of the participating boutiques.
Tickets will also be available at the door.Feel Good/Do Good VIP Reception: 6 p.m.
Look Good Admission: 7 p.m.
Showbox SODO
1700 First Avenue South, Seattle
Ages 21 and overNorthwest Hope & Healing is a non-profit organization founded by Christine Smith in 2000. Christine created the Foundation while undergoing breast cancer treatment at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Her goal was to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Puget Sound area.
The mission of Northwest Hope & Healing is to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. In addition, our signature “Healing Baskets” are assembled and delivered, at no charge, to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
The goal of Northwest Hope & Healing is to assist women with the healing process so they may begin to feel whole once again. We assist women on their journeys and give them hope for the future.
Again, you can buy tickets online here, or at the West Seattle venues mentioned above – Carmilia’s (in The Junction) and Coastal (on Alki).
Monday at noon, if you happen to be outside the Jackson Federal Building downtown, you’ll see colorfully clad dancers demonstrating – to urge Sen. Patty Murray and other local lawmakers to support single-payer health-care. Helping lead the way: Dina Lydia Johnson, who’s also active with the Highland Park Action Committee (which, incidentally, meets Monday night, 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club). She’s put together a webpage with more about the demonstration – see it here.
The final word rests with Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, but the Parks Department naming committee has announced its recommendation for what to call Morgan Junction’s new park (on the ex-Fauntleroy Auto, ex-planned-monorail-station site north of ex-Video Vault-turned-Beveridge Place Pub). The recommended name, disclosed at this week’s Parks Board meeting … Morgan Junction Park. As reported here in recent months, a community petition drive had been under way to get the park nameed in memory of Tim St. Clair, the longtime West Seattle Herald reporter who died in March of last year; he lived near Morgan Junction and spent years covering issues that led up to the creation of the park, including the monorail. Supporters, including major West Seattle-area community leaders and groups, asked Parks to make an exception in the department’s naming policy, which says a park can’t be named after someone until at least three years after their death. Again, the final park-naming decision is up to Superintendent Gallagher; if you are interested in contacting him with your comments on the proposed name, you’ll find his contact info here. Whatever name is finalized, the park will be officially dedicated during the Morgan Junction Community Festival on June 13th.
Since we reported the death of well-known West Seattleite J.B. Webster earlier this week, more than two dozen people have paid tribute to him in comments following our story (see them here). And tonight there’s something new to report: Ian Lurie sends word of a fund set up to help Mr. Webster’s wife Christi and children Tyler, Logan and Eli – he’s created this webpage for it, with information on how to get a check to First Mutual Bank north of The Junction and a link for donating online. Mr. Webster’s memorial is at 11 am next Tuesday, 4/28, at Alki UCC Church (here’s a map).
Longtime West Seattleite J.B. Webster has died, friends tell WSB. He was known for many things — as a Seafair Commodore (they have a brief tribute graphic on their website right now and you can see him in Commodore jacket here), as a Keller Williams realtor, as an alumnus of West Seattle High School, where he played football. He also was involved with the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival. The memorial for Mr. Webster is next Tuesday (4/28) at Alki UCC, 11 am (61st and Hinds; map). We’re expecting to receive his obituary later today and will add it here when it’s available.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: The short obituary, e-mailed to WSB:
JB Webster, longtime West Seattle Real Estate Agent, passed away on April 22, 2009. Also known as “Call JB First,” will be greatly missed by his family, wife Christi & their children Tyler, Logan and older son Eli along with his many friends. JB’s service will be held on Tuesday April 28th, 2009 @ 11 am. Location: Alki Congregational United Church of Christ, 6115 SW Hinds
St. Seattle, WA 98116. There will be a light reception following the service.
ADDED SUNDAY: If you haven’t already seen it, this followup includes a link to a fund for JB Webster’s family. Also, friends have asked us to add these photos of Mr. Webster and family – here he is with wife Christi:
And from left, with his kids – Tyler, Logan, Eli & JB:
We’ll keep watch on the story of Scat, the White Center church cat, to bring you followups if new information is available. Meantime, if you’re ready for cheerier news, we got e-mail today from Jane, who was “found by” Zack the cat, learned he needed costly surgery (which cost him a leg), and sought help here last winter. Here’s a new pic, followed by an update:
I wanted to give our friends in West Seattle an update on Zack’s life. Zack is doing great. It has been almost four months now since we saved Zack and it is like he has always been a part of the family. The first month of Zack’s amputation was a little rough and I had to make Zack take it easy. I got him off the pain medication so he would not hurt himself running around much by not feeling the pain. Zack could jump up on the bed and chairs but he limped slowly while walking across the rug.
I did not realize that Zack could run as fast as he could. Before I could react, Zack was out the door, setting outside with Maxine. Zack quickly sprayed the perimeter of the yard marking his territory and with a little help from me he chased the mean black cat in the neighborhood, away for good.
Since Zack was neutered he no longer leaves for hours roaming, who knows where. I make sure he is not outside to long and that he gets his rest. Zack loves to run across the yard and through the bushes chasing and playing with Maxine. I do not like my cats killing birds but Maxine and Zack are both hunters. They sit under the fence and wait for the birds to drop down from the fence to the lawn. Two weeks ago I saw Zack jumping two feet in the air, happy as ever. We all went out to see what was going on and Zack had finally caught a small bird. He was so proud. Zack also loves catching spiders, flies and mice.
Zack was underweight when I found him and was not fed properly. His hair was in a bad condition. Now that Zack has been eating a proper diet, has his hair brushed daily, the new growth is coming in healthy and shiny. Zack’s whiskers were short and split and now they are finally nice and long. Zack is gaining weight and getting stronger. He never passes up a bowl of food or a chance to set in my lap. I have attached photos. It is hard to get a photo of Zack running because when he is on the go he runs to fast for the photo.
Thanks again to all of you who helped Zack.
Sincerely, Jane
Here’s another photo, this one with him on the run:
Published this morning at seattletimes.com and seattlepi.com: Stimson Bullitt died over the weekend at his home in south West Seattle. He was well-known in the region for a variety of endeavors including conservation activism and running KING-TV in what was considered its heyday, a time when it drew national fame for quality local news broadcasts and other programs; he was a son of its founder, the legendary Dorothy Stimson Bullitt. 
He also founded Harbor Properties, which currently has three project sites in West Seattle, the almost-open Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), the future mixed-use Link at 38th/Alaska, and the motel site (no design proposal yet) at 36th/Alaska. And one more note: As is written on his own website (from which the photo at left was taken), “Among honors he has received, perhaps the best known was Nixon’s ‘Enemies List’.” Stimson Bullitt was less than 2 months away from his 90th birthday.
By Ron Richardson
Special to West Seattle Blog
Maxwell Taylor Kennedy came to West Seattle to pay tribute to Al Skaret and other heroes of the 1945 USS Bunker Hill attack.
(From left, John McNeil, Al Skaret, Lou Tice, Maxwell Kennedy, Art Shipe, Wilton ‘Hoot’ Hutt, Lou Biotano. Al, Art, ‘Hoot’ and Lou were all Bunker Hill crew members)
Over the past four years our neighbor Al Skaret has been interviewed and ultimately featured in Maxwell Taylor Kennedy’s 2008 book ‘Danger’s Hour: The Story of the USS Bunker Hill and the Kamikaze Pilot Who Crippled Her’ (you can see video clips on this page of the book’s promotional website).
This past Wednesday, Mr. Kennedy, son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, came to the Pacific Institute 
in West Seattle to honor Al and crew members of the USS Bunker Hill. He gave an inspiring talk, like a good college lecturer, about the war in the Pacific, its origins, the struggle, the sacrifice and the final victory. Mr. Kennedy showed a collection of photos from the National Archives that illustrated episodes he discovered as he researched his book.
Maxwell Kennedy showed a photo of a handwritten note prepared by pilot Al Turnbull which said “Keep chute on in case wing comes off.”
Before the sun went back behind the clouds, blue sky and a big crowd graced the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) Healthy Kids Day fun at midday today – and WSB happened to be there as the Seafair Clowns rolled up. Great reminder that the heart of summer-fun season is just a few months away (the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade is exactly three months from today – July 18 – and one week before that, on 7/11, the clowns’ “cousins” [?] the Seafair Pirates will storm Alki). Back to Healthy Kids’ Day – it’s an annual tradition, with indoor and outdoor activities:
The West Seattle Y was one of 10 around the metro area to celebrate Healthy Kids Day today.
Even though the State Legislature‘s session isn’t over yet, Democratic legislative staffers have voted on this award – and given it to Rep. Sharon Nelson, serving her first full term representing the 34th District, which includes West Seattle. She’s shown above with the plaque and her legislative assistant Joe Fitzgibbon; we heard about it last night and asked him for more details – read on for the official announcement we’ve received in reply:Read More
Also from Wednesday night’s Morgan Community Association meeting (first report here) – officer elections: Pictured, from left, former president Steve Sindiong, who’s now secretary; public information officer Cindi Barker; new MoCA president Deb Barker; treasurer David Fansler; former secretary Eldon Olson; not pictured, vice president Chas Redmond, who was at the Delridge/Southwest District Councils’ joint meeting on the other side of the peninsula (WSB report here). MoCA usually meets quarterly, but has two special events coming up before the next meeting – May 4, co-sponsored with the Fauntleroy Community Association, the community meeting about The Kenney‘s new design proposals that save the cupola-topped Seaview building (here’s our Tuesday update), and June 13, the Morgan Junction Community Festival, which will start with the dedication of the new MJ park.
First: Remember Mary Griffin and Grace Puffert? Two months ago, we interviewed them about their Seattle Lutheran High School senior project — a community fashion show, showcasing “A Century of Fashion,” to raise money for Providence Mount St. Vincent, where both work as volunteers. Their show is just one week away, so we checked in with them last Thursday night, just before they gave it a trial run at The Mount. In our photo above, that’s Mary at left and Grace at right with some of the items loaned for the show. They’ve got men’s fashions, too, like this ’70s classic:
Grace and Mary hope to see you at the big show, 4 pm next Sunday (April 19th) at Seattle Lutheran (map). Just so happens – this is also Seattle Fashion Week – and while the shows aren’t in West Seattle, a few of the designers are:
That shoot outside Salty’s on Friday afternoon involved the work of Heart On My Sleeve, the Pigeon Point-based fashion/music team you met here a month ago (they also were featured in today’s Seattle Times). HOMS is part of a show at 7 pm Thursday, Fremont Studios (tickets available online). Also showing his work during Seattle Fashion Week: Blayne of Project Runway and Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) fame (he’s part of the SFW couture finale, Saturday night at 7 pm, also at Fremont Studios).
(3/16/08 photo from Doug and Anne, originally published here that night)
On March 16, we brought you breaking news about a West Seattle kayaker who got into trouble off Brace Point. The photo above was shared by local residents, as the ferry crew that helped get Scott Redfern out of the water returned their small vessel to the Issaquah. Today, we received Scott’s story, told firsthand. He also provided all the photos in the story below.
By Scott Redfern
Special to West Seattle Blog
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the rescue crew of the Washington State Ferry, the Seattle Fire and Police Departments, and Gaye Hewson, who opened her home to me. I would also like to thank my friends who have held me close to them and for their love and caring. I feel embraced by this community of West Seattle that is where I make my home. For those of you that know me but are not in touch: I am grateful, healthy and whole. I love you all.
These days are hard as winter slowly recedes. It leaves me wanting for warm and sunny days. With heart-felt sighs and grey, dreary skies, I force myself out to exercise between storm breaks, in this case in the wake of a storm.
Before I took the kayak out I went for about an hour run in Lincoln Park. I chugged up the wet, muddy slippery hills carrying the burden of my extra winter weight. Upon return from my run I look out from my apartment at the wind blown water and the white caps. My endorphins are coursing and I feel like more work. I want to push back against the depressing weather. I’ve been out there on days like this before. It seems every other day it changes direction. Today the winds and swells are moving from south to north.
Congratulations to the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) volunteers who just celebrated reaching their goal in the Partners With Youth campaign. Shown above, from left, are campaign chair Tish Hesse, board chair Walter Reese, executive director Josh Sutton, Volunteer of the Year Craig Anderson, and associate executive Samantha Bowes, photographed at this week’s YMCA of Greater Seattle annual meeting at Sodo Park (which is run by West Seattle-based Herban Feast). Josh reports:
Thanks to the generosity of over 2,000 individuals and businesses in our community, Tish Hesse announced the successful completion of our West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA’s Partners With Youth campaign. This has been a tough year for fundraising, but our volunteers and donors combined to make sure kids, teens and families in West Seattle have access to the programs and services they need. Our 160 volunteers raised $410,370 on a goal of $410,000! All of those funds stay in West Seattle, providing 4 full time YMCA staff in Sealth, West Seattle High & Madison Middle schools to help students achieve, scholarships for over a thousand families in child care and camp programs, and other essential services.
Our Annual Meeting also offered an opportunity to recognize our 2008 Volunteer of the Year, Craig Anderson of NUCOR Seattle. Craig spent hundreds of hours organizing, planning and running NUCOR’s Golf Tournament – a huge event last June with more than 140 golfers. He helped turn what had been a fun tournament for vendors & staff into a fundraiser for the Y, establishing a new $45,000 NUCOR Seattle YMCA Endowment to send low income kids & families from West Seattle to Y Camps for years to come.
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