Disaster Preparedness Month, night 16: Let’s get quizzical
We start the second half of Disaster Preparedness Month with something simple – it’s the weekend, after all. How about a quiz? Here’s one, courtesy of preparedness volunteer/organizer extraordinaire Cindi Barker – who along with Karen Berge and Deb Greer have provided much of the info for these updates, as well as powering massive segments of the West Seattle preparedness effort itself. 
The site that hosts the quiz has many others, but most relevant to us – take the quake quiz. How’d you do? Care to share your results, and any other thoughts, in the comment section? Then there’s an impromptu quiz – have you looked at the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs page so many times you’ve memorized all 9? No? Well, as long as you’ve memorized yours, you’re a winner. Make sure everybody in your house knows it too. And if you’re not already in the “3 to Get Ready” city-sponsored challenge that’s being promoted on neighborhood-news sites including WSB, this weekend’s a great time to get into it (and take the three preparedness steps); you can also set aside some time to wade into the depths of potentially life-saving info at West Seattle Be Prepared, while on your way to joining the WSBP Facebook group. We’ll be covering a special preparedness summit Saturday morning, so watch for a report on that.
Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza: Brick/plaque fundraiser update
Another view of tonight’s sunset, this time from Alki’s David Hutchinson, and it reminds us of one thing we hadn’t included in our report on last night’s Alki Community Council meeting – the latest update on the ongoing brick/plaque sale to raise money for Statue of Liberty Plaza maintenance. Since the committee that raised money for the plaza has disbanded as planned, the ACC now is accountable for this part of the project. According to information presented at last night’s meeting, since mid-November, they’ve sold more than 250 bricks, plus 4 tribute plaques; 5 plaques are still available, and an undetermined number of bricks. The next round of installation is set for early May. If you’re interested in a brick or plaque, all the info’s on the ACC website.
One more peek at tomorrow: Tool Library donations at plant sale
(Tonight’s glorious sunset, photographed by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography)
Perfect spring day/night, some sun, a little rain. In the mood for gardening? The next big event is tomorrow afternoon at South Seattle Community College‘s north side, when Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle presents its spring plant sale, focused on veggie starts. And you can get a FREE veggie start if you are one of the first 75 people to bring tools to donate to the new West Seattle Tool Library (one freebie per family)! Tools must be in working condition and cannot be gas-powered. The sale’s from 1-4 pm, unless you are a Community Harvest member, in which case you get an hour’s head-start on everyone (you can show up at noon and join right before you shop, or buy your membership online right now – go here). Plants are $2.70 for members, $3 for nonmembers. Proceeds help support Community Harvest’s work getting more fresh local produce to more people – last year alone, they harvested and donated more than three tons of surplus home-grown fruit to local food banks!
34th District Democrats’ latest round of endorsements
Breaking news (the gray whale at Arroyo Beach) caused us to miss this week’s 34th District Democrats meeting, including a candidates’ forum with the three D’s running for State House, Position 2. Big thanks to Dina Johnson for the photo (her full gallery from the meeting is here) – from left, that’s Mike Heavey, Joe Fitzgibbon, and Marcee Stone. There’s an article about the forum on PubliCola. According to the 34th DDs’ website, they won’t endorse anyone in the race until their next meeting May 12 (explained here), but they did make endorsements Wednesday night in several other races: Current State Sen. Joe McDermott for King County Council Position 8, State Rep. (Position 1) Eileen Cody for re-election, current State Rep. Sharon Nelson for State Senate, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott for re-election, and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray for reelection. (The May 12 meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy as usual, also will feature the legislative report from Sen. McDermott and Reps. Cody and Nelson, postponed when this week’s agenda got too busy.)
SPD leaders tell Alki Community Council they’re set for summer
Last year, when nerves were on edge along Alki following the May 1st shooting, West Seattle police leaders from the Southwest Precinct were at the next Alki Community Council meeting to brief the community (WSB coverage here). This year, in a pre-emptive strike, they came to the ACC last night to share updates on their work as well as spring/summer plans – coincidentally, on a night with weather so nice, the beach was still busy after the meeting, and we spotted three SPD cars in one block. At the ACC, Capt. Joe Kessler (photo left), Lt. Norm James (not pictured) and Sgt. Joel Sweetland (photo right) spent close to an hour on updates and Q/A:Read More
West Seattle dead-whale update: Towaway tomorrow
We just went out to check — the gray whale that died on Arroyo Beach two days ago is still off The Arroyos. However, as you can see in our photo taken minutes ago, it’s not particularly visible (aside from the tip of a fin) – and though the low tide of the day hasn’t arrived yet, the whale is now far enough out that it doesn’t appear the receding tide will reveal it. We’ve got a message out to NOAA for the latest, but they had told us last night that they hadn’t found a location to take it yet, so it wouldn’t be moved until that detail was locked in. We’ll add new information whenever we get it. 1:15 PM UPDATE: Nearby resident Scott took a photo at 1, right around the lowest point of today’s lowest tide, and this still is all you can see. 2:03 PM: Just got a note from one of the many people who took photos of the whale yesterday – but there are some closeup views here that you probably haven’t seen before – here’s the link. 2:33 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Brian Gorman with NOAA, and he sent the official brief media update:
The whale is now secured to a buoy near where it stranded Wednesday evening … It will be towed early Saturday morning to a location in Puget Sound that will allow researchers from Cascadia Research Collective and Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to perform a necropsy. After the necropsy is completed, the carcass will remain on the beach to decompose. Its skeletal remains will be collected and given to Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash.
He says it took a while for them to find state-owned land where the necropsy could be done and the whale left – they don’t sink the carcasses as they once used to.
2 ways to help local high schools: Judging, and eating!
First, Chief Sealth High School‘s music program will benefit from – and be spotlighted at! – the annual Tamale Dinner tomorrow night. Even if you haven’t bought advance tickets, you can show up and pay at the door. The event starts at 5:30 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at Sealth/Boren (5950 Delridge); you can enjoy the food and music (choirs, mariachi and more) for $15 adults, $10 CSHS students with ASB sticker, $7 kids 5-12, $1 discount per ticket if you buy four or more. More info at chiefsealthmusic.org.
Second, West Seattle High School‘s putting out the call again for judges to help review student marketing/advertising presentations – here’s the announcement:
You are invited to be a Marketing Judge at West Seattle High on Wed. April 28, 2010, 9:30 – 11:00 am! As a judge, you would be evaluating formal student presentations of marketing campaigns designed to promote awareness of important social causes.
For more information: Martha Tonkin – Instructor: Marketing/DECA, Fashion, Photo
206.252.8832 office, 206.283.8440 cell, mmtonkin@seattleschools.org
West Seattle shop’s discount prom dresses with double benefit
Prom season means dress-shopping for hundreds of local girls – and West Seattle’s Cherry Consignment e-mailed us with news of a plan to help more teens dress up for their dance. First, they’re offering “prom gowns in all the hot colors for spring at a fraction of the original price,” according to owner Nyla Bittermann. Second, the proceeds from the sale of those dresses “goes directly to the Ruby Room, an organization that provides free formal wear for low-income teens.” As Bittermann puts it in her news release about the dresses, “Not only will you have the time of your life at your event, but you can help someone else feel the same way.” She also tells WSB that affordable prom dresses are so hard to find, somebody came in recently all the way from Yelm!
Cherry Consignment is on the north end of The Junction (4142 California SW), and you can find out more about the Ruby Room by going here.
West Seattle Friday: Sunshine; Safeway hearing; “Miss Firecracker”
That photo’s from last Sunday, during the King County Water Taxi (WSB sponsor) celebration at Seacrest. We predict more sun-basking ahead, judging by the forecast – 60s and sunny, projected through Sunday. Also ahead today:
SAFEWAY REZONING HEARING: Since the Admiral Safeway project requires rezoning, that means a mandatory public hearing before the city Hearing Examiner. If you’ve got something to say about it, that hearing is set for this morning, 9 am, in the Hearing Examiner’s chambers at the Municipal Tower downtown. (Here’s our original March preview of today’s hearing.)
GOT ROOM FOR A NEW PET? Today the Seattle Humane Society Maxmobile is scheduled to bring adoptable pets to Petco in The Junction, 2-5 pm (more here)
‘THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST’: Tonight marks the start of the second and final weekend of Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presenting “The Miss Firecracker Contest” at Youngstown Arts Center – full details here, 7:30 pm.
SKATE NIGHT’S BACK: After a week off for Parks furloughs, Friday Skate Night is back in full swing tonight at Alki Community Center, $3, skates available on site.
BIG RUMMAGE SALE: As noted here last night, it’s the first day of the St. John the Baptist Church “Fabulous and Famous Rummage Sale” – 9 am-3 pm.
Tomorrow’s a big day in The Junction – it’s Tax-Free Sale Day (
Just announced: Plans for “Hands Across the Duwamish” tomorrow. People concerned about the upcoming
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