West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
That’s the mascot of the kids’ magazine “Ranger Rick” hanging out at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza during Saturday’s Community Wildlife Habitat Certification celebration. While the habitat project is more about Alki’s present and future than its past, our area’s history will be in the spotlight during one of the next few big events at the beach. More from the Statue of Liberty Plaza Project‘s David Hutchinson (who provided the photos in this report, along with Eilene Hutchinson):
Thanks to the generosity of the Alki and West Seattle Communities, 851 new engraved bricks will be installed in the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. The engraving should be completed by the end of next week with the date of installation to be set by Seattle Parks & Recreation. This is currently planned for the early part of June, weather permitting. We will notify all donors when a specific date has been set. At the same time, a number of tribute plaques will be installed and a time capsule, scheduled to be opened in 2059, will be buried at the site:
Andrea Mercado of the Log House Museum has been sorting through the many submissions for inclusion in the capsule and is responsible for this part of the project:
The proceeds from the sale of the bricks and tribute plaques has been turned over to Seattle Parks & Recreation and has been placed in a separate account. These funds, minus the cost of the new construction, will be used for the future maintenance of the Statue and Plaza.
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In case you missed it this morning, that’s video of the space shuttle Atlantis landing at Edwards Air Force Base in the Southern California desert, 13 days after it left Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA‘s been trying since Friday to bring it home, but the Florida weather just wouldn’t cooperate. West Seattle High School Class of ’72 alum Gregory Johnson piloted Atlantis during the mission, which was the last servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. Atlantis will be taken back to Florida in a week or so atop a modified 747; Johnson and his fellow astronauts will head back to the Johnson Space Center in Texas on Tuesday, when a welcome-home ceremony is scheduled in Houston.
We’ve been tracking the holiday-weekend low tides – very low today, and the next two days it’ll be lower still (per this tide chart, -3.6 at 12:07 pm tomorrow and the same at 12:53 pm Tuesday). We’ve received three close-up photos of tidal sights today – the first and second are from Minette (who also shared her baby-owl gallery following last night’s Lincoln Park owl-photo post) – and she shared info too:
The (first) one … is an image of a “Red octopus” (Octopus rubescens). This octopus is frequently found at our local beaches and people are always very happy to see it. However, it is venomous (for real!) and can deliver a nasty bite, so be careful out there, all you curious folks. The (next) one … is a sea slug (also called a nudibranch). This particular one is the Opalescent nudibranch (Hermissenda crassicornis). It can be found in great numbers at our local beaches and at all times of the year, but people rarely notice it because it’s so small.
We’ve also received photos from Rick – two views of a sun star: First, full body —
Next, close up:
Thanks again to everyone who sends photos to share — editor@westseattleblog.com any time (and if you have a sec, consider programming that into your cell-phone contact list in case you happen onto an interesting sight sometime and want to send it from your cameraphone fast).
Elana thinks the man who rather aggressively solicited for yard work may have been casing for crime. Read on for the story she e-mailed us to share:Read More
Earlier this spring, we published a series of stories about “shop cats” (and a few “shop dogs”) who reside at West Seattle businesses. Then even more news than usual started happening and we never got around to finishing the series. So we’re taking the opportunity now. (Since Keri spoke to the PB&J Textiles team, they have opened Coffee at the Heights [WSB sponsor; open 6:30 am-3 pm on Memorial Day].)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Dakota is a BIG black cat. Not fat, not even overly long; just huge. And when petted, he creates a purr that matches his stature. Murphy is a petite tortoiseshell female who, if it weren’t for her longish fur, would be utterly dwarfed by Dakota.
These two cats share their space with the humans at PB&J Textiles on Fauntleroy Way. You may see them sitting on their kitty condo in the south storefront window, or on sunny days, sprawled out and soaking up the sun on the west-facing work table. Owner Paul Binder comments: “Dakota’s black fur soaks up so much heat, he’s hot to the touch.”
Binder and partner David Robertson decided to bring cats to the shop three years ago when they were dealing with mouse issues. They were trying to decide whether to deal with the rodents via chemical or natural means and decided having a cat in the shop would be fun. They found an online ad for cats who needed to find a new home because the dog they were living with was too aggressive. The catch: The cats came as a pair. The couple giving the cats away were initially dubious about the cats living in a shop, but have since come to visit the cats and are happy with the new home.
Next Sunday, West Seattle’s major waterfront boulevard closes to traffic from Alki/63rd to Harbor/California Way, 9 am-5 pm for “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” — the sequel to last September’s Car-Free Day –and it will literally get off to a running start with the first-ever West Seattle 5K Run/Walk to raise money for local schools. West Seattle 5K is advertising on WSB for one last push to get the word out, and in case you missed the first round of announcements regarding this new event and what it’s about, here’s what it’s all about:
SHOW YOUR WESTSIDE PRIDE!
The West Seattle High School PTSA is proud to present the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk on May 31, 2009. This fun, family-friendly event will raise much needed funds to support the West Seattle High School PTSA and the PTSA’s at some of West Seattle’s other community schools. Help the PTSA at your school provide an important voice to students, parents, and staff, as well as fund important educational initiatives. We can’t do it without YOUR support!
REGISTER NOW!
Gather together your family or a group of friends for a 3.1-mile run or walk along West Seattle’s own Alki Beach. When you’re done, enjoy a car-free day on Alki courtesy of the City of Seattle and Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets.Register online or by mail. For more information, visit westseattle5k.com/registration. Registration fees are $35 for Adults, $25 for Students, and 6 and under are free.
MAKE A DONATION!
You can make a tax-deductible cash donation online at westseattle5k.com/support. Designate West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth High School, Madison Middle School, or Roxhill Elementary. Any amount helps! If you don’t see your school on this list, we encourage you to make a cash donation directly to your school’s PTSA to help those organizations continue to advocate for the kids at your school.
If you want to register by mail, obviously you’re going to want to send it in fast. Online, the deadline is 6 pm Friday – after that, you can register in person on Saturday or Sunday. The registration page explains how, where and when – as well as, for those who’ve already registered, how to pick up your bib, shirt and timing pin on Saturday. See you at the West Seattle 5K!
If you don’t already shop there – ever drive past one of White Center’s non-chain supermarkets and feel a tinge of curiosity? This just might convince you to stop someday and go inside: A close-up look at one of the “Great Markets of White Center,” at WSB’s partner site White Center Now.
Thanks to Gregory Wright for photos from Saturday’s low tide – and this morning, it’ll be even lower (bottoming out at 11:24 am, according to this tide chart) – with volunteer beach naturalists out again at Lincoln Park and south of Alki Point, 10 am-1:30 pm:
Also today: Extra fun at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm in The Junction) – it’s “Live Local Day” with free draft-mule-wagon rides, free sweet-pea flower starts for kids from Langley Fine Gardens, and free cooking demos (barbecue sauces!) – plus, here’s today’s fresh sheet. Last but not least, day 2 of Colman Pool‘s first “pre-season weekend” on the Lincoln Park shoreline, schedule here. More in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – and if you’re garage-saling, check the listings in the WSB Forums’ Freebies-Deals-Sales section (free to post YOUR future sale!).
Under investigation by Seattle Police right now: First came the report of shots fired in the California SW/SW College vicinity (map). Then, the scanner report that officers found “multiple 40-caliber shell casings in the driveway on the south side of the Blockbuster.” We’re continuing to monitor this; so far NO report of anyone having been hit by those shots.
Received from the Duwamish Tribe:
Native Film: ‘Maria Tallchief’
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
4705 W. Marginal Way SWThe ballet world that was dominated by the Russians, French, and English changed dramatically in 1948 when Maria Tallchief took center stage to the most thunderous ovation ever heard in the history of New York City theater and dance. Come watch this beautiful documentary on the life of Maria Tallchief, America’s first prima ballerina. Journey with her as she leaps from her home in the Osage Indian Territory in Oklahoma to the center stages of the world.
May 28, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
2 hours
$10
www.duwamishtribe.org
james@duwamishlonghouse.org
(206) 431-1582
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