July 2014

On June 30, Ballard Blessings in the Park at Ballard Commons Park (5501 22nd Ave NW) celebrated the final phase in Washington State legalizing marriage equality.

On this day Washington State converted domestic partnerships into marriages through referendum 74.

Blessings were offered from local clergy to all, including couples already married, as well as couples celebrating the voter's decision.

Organizer for the event and Pastor of Northwest Christian Church, Monica Myers Greenberg, said it was a great way as a group of churches to support those who were celebrating on that day.

The event was free to the public and attendees were offered food-truck snacks and free ice cream (courtesy of Umpqua Bank). There were smiles all around amid live music from Alleyoop and The Weavils. Kids face-painting was offered and Bubbleman’s bubbles added extra fun for the kiddos. In addition, Urban Utopia Photography donated services for any couple wanting a picture during the blessing.

On June 30, Ballard Blessings in the Park at Ballard Commons Park (5501 22nd Ave NW) celebrated the final phase in Washington State legalizing marriage equality.

On this day Washington State converted domestic partnerships into marriages through referendum 74.

Blessings were offered from local clergy to all, including couples already married, as well as couples celebrating the voter's decision.

Organizer for the event and Pastor of Northwest Christian Church, Monica Myers Greenberg, said it was a great way as a group of churches to support those who were celebrating on that day.

The event was free to the public and attendees were offered food-truck snacks and free ice cream (courtesy of Umpqua Bank). There were smiles all around amid live music from Alleyoop and The Weavils. Kids face-painting was offered and Bubbleman’s bubbles added extra fun for the kiddos. In addition, Urban Utopia Photography donated services for any couple wanting a picture during the blessing.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

SNOHOMISH--Nice start for the West Seattle baseball team, winning a game close to the finish against Camas, 13-12, in it's opener of the state Little League All Stars Intermediate 50-70 Tournament at Tucker Willis Fields Sunday.
"Good game, back and forth for this team," said Dave Douglas, the Westside's manager. "It's never easy with this team. A lot of plays to be made. Sometimes, you make them and sometimes you don't."
West Seattle received good pitching from four pitchers. Joe Pare started the game throwing 65 pitches, then Chris Frost, throwing 22, and Kelvin Wallace, throwing 40. Henry Ruf pitched the final inning and got the save. Wallace got the win.
"This was Joe's game to do most of the pitching," said Douglas. "Chris pitched great. Kelvin pitched great, went a little longer than I wanted but that's the way this game goes, sometimes. Henry closed it."

Seattle Police say that a man and woman drove themselves to Valley Medical Center in Kent, claiming to have been shot in West Seattle around 2:15pm

Police said that the couple was driving in the 9400 block of 15 Ave. S.W. when they were shot at by a group of males.

One of the bullets struck the man in the leg and another bullet grazed the female’s ear.

Officers are canvassing the area looking for anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or who may have been struck.

Gang Unit Detectives will be conducting the investigation as is procedure in a non-life threatening shooting.

If you witnessed this crime or have any information on this shooting, you are asked to call 911 and request to speak with an officer.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

It took some doing, but West Seattle will be advancing to the state Major age 11-12 all-star Little League baseball tournament it will be hosting starting next weekend.

West Seattle came into Saturday action needing two wins over a tough Rainier District team to capture the District 7 title and advance to state.

West Seattle did just that, edging the Rainier team, 7-5, the first game before outdistancing them in a second game slugfest, 12-10.

West Seattle had suffered its only loss of the tournament played on the Valley Ridge complex next to Tyee High School to the same Rainier team on Wednesday, 7-1.

Now the team advances to state play on its own turf at the Bar-S fields above Alki Point.

As the District 7 champion, West Seattle will open against the District 4 champion from the Vancouver area at 1 p.m. Saturday.

A win would put the Westsiders into a 12 p.m. game next Sunday while a loss would drop them into a 3 p.m. Sunday game.

The winner's bracket final is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 and the loser's bracket final for 6 p.m. Friday, July 18.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

West Seattle came from behind, thanks to a momentous Nick Hazelgrove home run that spurred a five-run fourth inning, to beat Seattle Central, 7-5, in a game they had to win in order to force a second game of the championship for the Little League District 7 All Stars Tournament at Pac West Fields Saturday.
"That was our win, that five-run inning," said West Seattle manager Isaiah Brent.

"The momentum shift from Nick's home run gave us our five runs," said Brent. "There weren't even any runners on base when he hit it out."

West Seattle wasn't even in the lead when Hazelgrove hit his blast. Jack Peterson also deserves mention as closing out a good ball game that Maddox Brent started and pitched well in, too, for West Seattle.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Doing it the hard way in the Little League All Stars 9-10 Tournament, West Seattle came back through the loser's bracket all the way to being able to throw its caps in the air and shout "champions," which is exactly what they did after beating Seattle Central, the first game, 8-5, and the second, 14-0, at Pac West Fields Saturday.

"On to state," said West Seattle manager Isaiah Brent.

These District 7 9-10s champions go to Richland for state that starts July 12.

In the second game, the one that decided it all, West Seattle rode the arm of Jack Leers through the whole thing, not to mention his bat.

"Jack Leers," said Brent, afterward, ecstatic with that player's performance in the game two championship as well as thrilled with his whole teams' great comeback through the loser's bracket of playing six games in six days, dating back to a 9-6 loss to Seattle Central that put West Seattle in the loser's bracket last Sunday.

Friday night's 4th of July celebration was kicked off with an American Flag hung below a large military helicopter.

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Westside! Westside! Westside!

Sounds like a fireworks celebration, or, a rally into war even, but it's not. It's a cheer that West Seattle does for its games so it's 9 and 10 year olds get pumped as was the case in a 13-3 win over South Highline National in the Little League All Stars 9-10 District 7 Tournament at Pac West Fields Friday.

The win over South Highline National propels West Seattle into the championship game Saturday at 10 a.m., where they face a familiar foe, Seattle Central, which knocked West Seattle into the loser's bracket last Sunday, 12-5, in its opener of All Stars.

"Playing Seattle Central is the best case scenario," said Isaiah Brent, West Seattle's manager. "Our kids know what that team can do to them if they don't come ready to play."
Brent was talking to his players right after the win over National.
"What's better than one game," he loudly asked his players.
"Two," they shouted.

With a bigger crowd than ever, and certainly more food, The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, celebrated the 4th of July with their annual picnic gathering in the courtyard behind the Log House Museum.

An estimated 65 people were in attendance as the society sold raffle tickets and announced a new partnership with Salty's Seafood Grills at the event. The Society and restaurant will be working together more closely in the future with events in both locations. Public Relations Manager and Entertainment Director for Salty's, Lennon Curtin brought musicians Ayron Jones and Michael Notticello to emphasize the new music program the restaurant has launched. Curtin also spoke about Salty's renewed effort to reach out and get more involved in the West Seattle community.