The Hallberg Memorial Bench

November 3, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Hi Rhonda, I meant to send you this long ago. Here is a bit about the memorial benches and a story Ada wrote. Please use any or all if it fits for the blog. As ever, thanks for all you do. Sincerely, Tia

My folks dear neighbor Ed Marcus arranged for a memorial for Ada and Bob Hallberg; both of them did a lot to build community, preserve our natural spaces and the history of the area.  Their memorial bench sits on Beach Drive at the foot of Jacobsen road and next to another memorial bench for a significant community activist, Suzy King. Ada and Suzy, worked to gather community involvement and support so that together they could preserve the green spaces and unobstructed views of the water that we all can enjoy today as we walk and drive along beach drive. Weather watch park, Mee Kwa mooks and more only exist today because people came together on an issue they agreed upon and they made it happen. The activism by my mother, Ada, Suzy and others made a difference. And their likemindedness override their differences. Ada’s description of “This Peaceful Spot” reminds us of the joy of having public access to the treasured beauty that surrounds us here.

This Peaceful Spot by Ada Hallberg
With my head down, I push along the rocky beach near Alki Lighthouse. A surge of the southwest wind is invigorating. I press my hands into my pocket as I plunge along. Out of the bay crisp caps of white froth appear like beaten egg whites. On the brink of the clear waves they foam against crystal water.
This is the beautiful picture I took for granted in my childhood. In my adulthood, as well – this incomparably beautiful sight, set off by the Olympic Mountains and the forest across the smooth calm of Puget Sound.
I feel the full strength of the wind as I round the Point — or, Constellation Park.
Carefully I cross the clay outcropping that folds, one over the other, even more exposed than they were ten years ago. Then, University of Washington Professor Dixie Lee Ray would often stand on the outcroppings in any kind of weather, lecturing her class on the beach’s biological and geological features:
“The crust of the earth is layered; it can fold up, it can buckle, and sometimes the parts beneath become exposed.” As one of her listeners, I wondered: was she talking about the clay? I had intended to phone her about that.
At 63rd Street I climb from the beach onto some large, black rocks; it is easy to step on one then another, until I get up to the sidewalk. I walk along and the beach is not within my view because the houses and apartments are close together.
After a half dozen blocks of walking on the sidewalk, I squeeze back down to the beach at Andover Street, using an obscured path in an overgrown area past a holly tree and over a pile of chopped wood.
I feel that I have intruded into a private space, although a few years ago the Grad family and Fred Fletcher bought this beach property and assured access for the public.
There used to be a spot on the beach here, somewhere, a bit sheltered in the wind. Ahh, yes, here it is: a quiet pool of water behind this log. Wait a minute! What is this? The body of a dead seagull in great disarray is floating, its neck all askew, its body bloated, its feathers discolored and matted. A rusty can with a partially attached label. At first I start to examine… Ohh, what’s the use!
Deliberately I look away towards the north. In my sight a davenport is sitting on the beach among the sand and rocks. Kelp is wrapping around the arm, some draped across the back; pillows are following off.
Waves dully roll in, now close to shore. There is a lethargy about these waves: the clearness gone from their crests; with slumped shoulders they push in. I turn my back and make my way to the sidewalk. Soon I will be at my destination, Carroll Street and Beach Drive. It is only a mile from where I began my walk at the lighthouse. I look forward to sitting in the small cove at the foot of Carroll Street, across from the Rustica Restaurant.
Finally arriving, I walk down to the small comfortable beach and lie among the logs. This 150 feet of waterfront is still open to the public, and most of us think it always will be; though we may be wrong about that. But for now, I will enjoy this peaceful spot.
Filed Under: Books, Parks, People

Thanks Neighbors!

August 5, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Last Tuesday night, Angeline Street closed for neighbors to spend some time together for the annual Seattle Night Out event. It was a wonderful potluck with games and shaved ice for the kids.

We even had a visit from a Seattle Police Officer and Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, Jennifer Danner.

Thank you so much to the Halbergs and all who organized the event and to all the neighbors who participated.

I hope your neighborhood had a chance to celebrate neighbors as well… and of course, we don’t need to wait for the first Tuesday in August to get together, do we?

By the way, this is the only photo I took during the gathering!

Take care, Neighbors!

Filed Under: Events, People

And now, a word from our Sponsor

February 17, 2023 by 3 Comments

Hello Beach Drive Neighbors!

It’s hard to believe that we have been writing Beach Drive Blog for 16 years now! We’re kind of proud to be one of the sleepier blogs in West Seattle, mainly focusing on our neighborhood along Beach Drive. Our hard-hitting news is typically warning of potential storms or flooding, a garage sale or possibly a lost pet. It’s obvious that this is not my full-time job and my budding art career is not enough to where I can “quit my day job”…honestly, I actually quite enjoy my day job so… I was thinking that I’m probably overdue as the sole sponsor to provide a brief commercial. 🙂

I am a licensed mortgage loan officer and have been helping people with their mortgage needs for 23 years. I am employed at a privately owned, nationwide company, New American Funding and can offer just about any mortgage you can think of. You can learn more about our programs, including our cash-buyer program, on my mortgage blog, The Mortgage Porter.

New American Funding retains servicing on about 95% of the mortgages we originate, and they were recognized as #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Mortgage Services by J.D. Power last year. In other words, your mortgage will not be sold over and over again and you will continue to receive excellent service after the closing of your mortgage.

If you, or anyone you know, are considering buying, refinancing or remodeling your home and are in need of a mortgage, I would be absolutely honored to help you!

That’s it! My commercial break is over! Thank you for reading this post and Beach Drive Blog….and now, back to your regular programing!

Rhonda Porter (aka Hitch’s human) MLO-121324 | New American Funding nmls#6606

 

Filed Under: People, Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

Father looking out for Daughter

June 21, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Today while we were walking our dog along the closed section of Beach Drive, we met Will, his cute daughter and their friendly little dog. Will is trying to drum up support to have the section along Alki Point permanently closed.

As someone who lives on that stretch of Beach Drive and having to deal with racing cars an cruisers, he would like the neighborhood to be safer for all to enjoy.

You can learn more and/or sign the petition at https://bit.ly/StayHealthyAlkiPoint

Happy Father’s Day!

Filed Under: Parks, People

Human of the Week

May 20, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Ok, we all know the real heroes have been on the front lines fighting the virus…but there are individuals deserving some thanks for making our local bubble a bit better.

Anyone that walks up or down Jacobson Road lately knows the hazard of keeping a safe 6’ from other walkers, joggers, and dogs while not getting run over by vehicle coming around a corner. The upper portion of the road only has a sidewalk on the north side. That’s if you want to call the disappearing sliver of walkway a sidewalk at all due to the ever encroaching ivy and weeds. As to the shoulder between the sidewalk and vehicular traffic, a six inch white line!

Well, our Human of the Week has been working to make things better up there.


This humble human’s not looking for recognition so no need to enlarge the pic to zoom in on his identity 😉

I caught our human trimming back the holly and hedges on the south side of the street carving out some room for pedestrians to use both sides of the road near the top. After thanking him for the effort I found out he also weed whacks over a hundred yards of the notoriously bad north side starting at the fire hydrant on the top corner. He says “I just want to give people some room!”.

If you have a person you’d like to nominate for Human of the Week (aka HOW) please contact our Chief Editor, contact info is at the bottom of this blog.

Scupper, reporting for the BDB

Filed Under: Not on Beach Drive, People, Safety Tagged With: ,

Buddhist ritual helps crabbing in Area 10

June 6, 2018 by 1 Comment

Although I’m not quite sure what the karma penalties would be for catching one of the dungy’s, it was a great sight to see this Taiwanese family repatriating 30 large crabs into Puget Sound.

The grandfather and father of the newborn (on left with mother) carefully remove bands from the claws before releasing the 30 crabs purchased from a local market.

This Buddhist ritual is meant to give good health and wellbeing to the newly born child and create harmony with nature. Pretty cool!

 

Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

Filed Under: Misc., Parks, People, Puget Sound, Scupper, Wildlife Tagged With: ,

FOUND Tomatoes & expertise on Beach Drive

April 30, 2018 by Leave a Comment

With the tease of warmer weather on the way, I imagine many Beach Drive area neighbors have tomatoes on the brain. I’m usually too late to the party and end up choosing from the picked over scrawny or wounded plants at the local nursery. Other years I’ve resorted to picking a few plants up from a big box store and wondering what type of “unfriendly” processes might’ve been used to create this mass produced Early Girl??

With that in mind, I stumbled into tomato paradise during a dog walk to Lincoln Park yesterday.

I figured this sign on the 6500 block of Beach Drive was leading the way down a driveway to a few card tables of plants. Boy was I wrong. Instead I found a couple of people working around a small green house with raised beds and several varieties of toms spread out along the garden. A polite young man greeted me and asked if he could Answer any questions I may have. I’m pretty sure he could sense that I was a tomato novice with the questions I asked… “do you have anything that thrives near water in a, um, medium large like pot about so big?”. Kyle didn’t miss a beat and grabbed a tom labeled Hot Tub. He explained that it accidentally sprouted on the west side of their house near their hot tub by the water and absolutely thrived. “Ok, I’ll take that one and also looking for a good tomato for salads?”. Kyle picked a yellow variety and explained that it retains it’s moisture better than most so it won’t mush out on your greens. He then went on to pick another variety that works perfect on a piece of bruschetta with mozzarella and olive oil… SOLD! Then came the detailed instructions in how deep to plant, prune, and size of planter/hog wire to use for stabilizing each plant for it’s anticipated size.

As was walking home with the plants, a neighbor down the block saw me and said “ah, looks like you’ve been by Kyle’s!”.

                             Kyle working on his many different varieties of tomato starters

Ok, so maybe I’m the last to know about Kyle Winslow’s Nightshade Nursery on Beach Drive. Just in case I’m not, this young man is a great source for answering any questions you may have for what toms to plant this year … and send you off with a few plants to put in the ground!

 

Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog

Filed Under: Garden, In the Garden, People, Scupper Tagged With: ,

Beach Drive Neighbor runs for City Council District 1

November 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment

GeorgeYou may know George Capestany as the person who has the three goats just off Beach Drive.

Did you know he wants to represent West Seattle on the City Council?

Here is his press release:

George Capestany  for West Seattle.  Community leader & coach, launches campaign for Seattle City Council in District 1.

SEATTLE- George Capestany, a long time West Seattle resident, active community volunteer, and US Navy Veteran launched his campaign for Seattle City Council District 1 today – Veterans Day 2014. Capestany is seeking to represent the newly established District ,  which includes the areas of West Seattle, Delridge, South Park and all the neighborhoods in between.

Capestany has pledged to be a strong voice for the citizens of West Seattle. George is focusing his campaign on representing the needs of the district 1 communities on the council, which include public safety, transportation, traffic congestion, parking, and development that affect the residents of West Seattle.  Capestany has vowed to make sure development and planning projects are in the best interest of residents and respect the unique landscape of West Seattle.

“For a long time, West Seattle residents have been left out of virtually everything that goes on at City Hall. Now we have a chance to elect one of us, a true West Seattle resident who knows our area.” Capestany said. “I will work to ensure the unique needs of West Seattle are heard and addressed.”

Capestany has pulled together a team of key business leaders and residents to assess what is important to the community. After considerable deliberation, Capestany determined he has the ability to unite all the unique neighborhoods in district 1.

Campaign Treasurer and long-time West Seattle resident, Ronald Sullivan stated, “West Seattle residents have gone too long without real representation in City politics, and as a result transportation issues are affecting the quality of life for us on the West Side.  West Seattle neighbors need to have their voices heard to ensure there are transportation alternatives, especially during the ongoing tunnel construction.  George is a proven leader who can truly represent the needs of this area on the Seattle City Council”.

Filed Under: People, Politics

Several Police Cars on Beach Drive

February 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 Moments ago, we counted six or seven police cars on Beach Drive by Emma Schmitz View Point. 

BD Police
 

From the West Seattle Blog:

If you’ve seen the police response near Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and are wondering what’s going on: Police were looking for someone reported to be possibly in danger of harming himself, and, according to scanner traffic, found him, and were calling in an ambulance to get him some help.

Filed Under: People, Safety

Beach Drive Neighbors Organizing to Control Raccoon Over-Population

May 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE MAY 17, 2011: THE TRAPPING FOR THIS WEEK HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

A number of Beach Drive neighbors are interested in dealing with an over-population of raccoons encouraged by intentional and unintentional feeding by some neighbors.  There is a flyer that is being distributed to neighbors that states "if you feed them, you are responsible for their death".   

The flyer states that raccoons "are now getting into homes, destroying our yards and our food gardens, getting into our garbage cans, KILLING our pet cats…even worse, raccoons are spreading disease, including viruses, bacteria, rabies and parasites like roundworms…"   The group is investigating having the raccoons trapped and killed until the population is reduced to "one that nature can support" before it becomes an even larger issue. Apparently trapping and relocating raccoons is not an option per Washington State law.

Here is a link to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's page on Raccoons which includes important tips on what you can do to deter them in order to prevent conflicts.   And from the UW Medicine:  Raccoons: A Public Health Risk.

More information to follow as we learn more.

UPDATE:  PLEASE KEEP YOUR PETS INDOORS SO THAT THEY ARE NOT ACCIDENTALLY TRAPPED.  

NOTE:  Beach Drive Blog is not organizing the raccoon trapping – simply reporting info as we learn about it.

It's very considerate of the neighbors to have given BDB a "heads up" about this so we are all more aware of this issue and know to keep our pets in.  None of the neighbors who are in this position want to be.

Filed Under: People, Safety, Wildlife
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