Yet another West Seattle traffic alert: Crash on Holden west of 35th
Just got the photo from Christopher D – it’s from a crash that originally was dispatched as a “heavy rescue” but turned out not to need that kind of attention – He wrote, “I live on Holden St by the new fire station and around 11:00 this evening heard some loud banging noises … (went out) to witness a flipped car that was still running, a fire truck and police.” He says the car hit two parked cars, and that Holden is still blocked west of 35th SW (map) as of a few minutes ago. This is one of many incidents on local roads and highways today, including the crashes that closed the West Seattle Bridge for a while earlier, as reported here; please take extra care in this rain, which has been very heavy at times.
Need a food/alcohol permit? New training/testing in West Seattle
Richard Dusatko from Alki Lodge 152 says, “We’re trying something new” – and if this turns out to be popular, they’ll do more of it:
Training and testing for food and alcohol permits will be available in West Seattle Junction on Sunday, October 24, 2010 and Sunday, November 28, 2010, at Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Ave. SW. Food permits at 10 am with the alcohol permits at 11 am. Cost $15 each. No reservation needed. Tell your friends.
Questions? Call Rick at 206-935-6818 or e-mail vinajane@hotmail.com. (He also points out the lodge will serve breakfast on those days at 9 am, $5.)
**note, e-mail address updated 10/25/2010**
West Seattle Halloween: Costume contest; glass-pumpkin design
Two more Halloween-season events just sent in for the WSB West Seattle Events calendar … Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral is having a costume contest October 29th, 3-6 pm. (That happens to coincide with the Admiral Treats and Treasures trick-or-treating event.) Meantime, a new twist on West Seattle’s artsiest pumpkins:
That photo is courtesy Shannon Felix at Avalon Glassworks, who shares this announcement:
Design your own glass pumpkin and watch it being made at Avalon Glassworks on Sunday, October 17, 2010. You choose the color, shape, and stem type and see your unique piece being created. A limited number of time slots are available for purchase on our web site, www.avalonglassworks.com/designyourown.aspx at $60 (plus tax) each. We will also accommodate as many drop-ins as possible, first-come, first-served.
Our Halloween page is almost ready to go so if you have a Halloween/harvest-themed festival ahead in the next few weeks, please let us know!
TEDxRainier to stream live Sunday at West Seattle’s Hotwire Coffee
(Promotional video for TEDxRainier – nothing about the speakers, but lots of scenery!)
Heard of the TED talks? Tomorrow, there’s an independently organized Seattle version called TEDxRainier, described by organizers as featuring “Seattle’s guiding lights in global health, environmentalism, high tech, literary arts, and culture, delivering brief lectures about their remarkable work.” TEDxRainier is happening in Benaroya Hall downtown, 10 am-6 pm, but because that only holds about 500 people (admission: $50), organizers arranged for a few locations around the region to stream the conference live. One of them is Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW, specifically sought out by TEDxRainier organizers. You’re welcome to drop by, according to Hotwire’s Lora Lewis – she’ll have it set up on one of the Hotwire computers. You can see the schedule of speakers (though it’s not broken down minute-by-minute) in the official program here.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Jefferson Square pharmacy robbery
Thanks to Jonathan for the tip on this (via one of his neighbors): The pharmacy at Bartell Drugs in Jefferson Square was robbed this morning and was closed for a few hours afterward. When we went over late this morning to check in person, the pharmacy was closed, but the store wouldn’t comment, referring us to corporate HQ, where spokesperson Rebecca Siegmund has just confirmed via e-mail:
There was a robbery at our store this morning at approximately 9:00 am. Everyone is fine and the pharmacy re-opened before noon. Due to the ongoing investigation we have no additional information to share.
We have an inquiry out to police to see if there’s any further information on circumstances or suspect descriptions.
ADDED 10:08 AM SUNDAY: A few more details from Southwest Precinct Lt. Von Levandowski – The robber “implied a gun, obtained assorted narcotics, and fled westbound on foot.” Description: White man, late 20s-early 30s, tan beanie, dark blue jacket, blue jeans, black New Balance tennis shoes.
West Seattle traffic alert: Crash closes 35th SW bridge entrance
Second Saturday in a row with a crash on The Bridge right about this time of the afternoon. Police are currently diverting people who are trying to get to the high-rise West Seattle Bridge from 35th/Fauntleroy, pointing them down Avalon, because of a crash (possibly two multiple-car crashes). In this case, though, it appears the Avalon/Admiral and Delridge entrances ARE open. Does not appear anyone was seriously injured, according to the scanner. They’re trying right now to figure out how to get tow trucks to the scene, since multiple vehicles are involved, so it’s not clear how long the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance will be closed. 2:08 PM UPDATE: According to the scanner, they’re now reopening the 35th/Fauntleroy entrance, after the crashed cars were cleared away.
West Seattle Saturday: Cove Park, Duwamish Alive! and more
View Duwamish Alive October 9, 2010 in a larger map
The fall round of Duwamish Alive! cleanups are 10 am-2 pm today; click any tree icon on the Google Map above to see a spot that could use your help too … Cove Park in Fauntleroy (the little beach north of the ferry dock) has a work party too, 10 am-1 pm, followed by community members’ chance to talk about the park’s future after the Barton Pump Station expansion (preview here) … West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has a community-chat opportunity 11 am-1 pm at Southwest Library … Same type of meeting for School Board rep Steve Sundquist, 11 am-12:30 pm at High Point Library … The fall Rummage Sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) continues 9 am-3 pm (here’s our Friday story) … Foster cats are at Hiawatha Community Center, awaiting new “forever homes,” noon-3 pm … Noon is also when the party starts at Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center to support the Northwest Folklife Festival – The Not-Its perform, and a new ice-cream flavor debuts … As previewed last night, the memorial procession for GT Towing driver “Tony” Padilla leaves the Eastgate Park and Ride at 2 pm … Preview Seattle Opera’s “Lucia” tonight at The Kenney, 6:45 pm, free, with opera chorus maestro Beth Kirchhoff and two singers … Solar Epiphany‘s new solar showroom at 6016 California SW celebrates its grand opening 10 am-4 pm … more on the calendar!
South Seattle Community College now has a Peace Garden
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
The South Seattle Community College Arboretum‘s Coenosium (“plant community”) Rock Garden is five years old – but it has a new designation as of this weekend. On Friday afternoon, garden volunteers and other supporters gathered for its dedication as a Garden of Peace. There to help lead the celebration, Dr. Laura Dorsey, founder of Atlanta-based Gardens for Peace, whose mission is “to identify and link gardens throughout the world, to foster respect for the environment and a climate of peace among all peoples” :
In our photo, Dr. Dorsey is dedicating the garden while its co-founders Bob and Dianne Fincham (who run a dwarf-conifer farm in Pierce County) and SSCC Arboretum Volunteer Coordinator Claire Hendrickson (seated, in black) look on. Applying to have the garden included in the international network was Hendrickson’s idea. The garden’s story is told here.
The garden runs heavily on volunteer power; Friday’s event was a chance for some of them to take a break and mingle. But more help is needed, Hendrickson says, every second Saturday at the garden between 9 am and noon. She can be reached at arboretum@sccd.ctc.edu or by calling 206-764-5323.
Election countdown: Seattle Public Schools Proposition 1
We’re committed to at least one election-related update per day/night between now and Election Day on November 2nd; you’ll be able to vote within days, since King County says it’s mailing ballots this Wednesday. 
Seattle Public Schools Proposition 1, a supplemental operations levy with a property-tax increase seeking to raise $48 million over the next three years. The basic language you’ll see on the ballot, plus the pro-con statements/rebuttals from the official voters’ guide, can be seen here. The district itself has an explanatory page here, including this line: “This levy is intended to fund textbooks, materials and teacher salaries per the new SEA contract.” The fine print – the actual detailed resolution approved by the School Board to place this on the ballot – can be read here. It doesn’t stipulate exactly what will be spent for whom and where. For an even-closer look at what supporters and opponents are saying, this site is set up by people advocating a “no” vote; this one is from the group that says “vote yes.” P.S. If you’re interested in discussing the levy (or any other SPS issue) with West Seattle’s School Board rep, Steve Sundquist has a community chat 11 am-12:30 pm today at High Point Library.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Be careful out there
Via Twitter, @derekjlunde just shared that photo from what appeared to be a spinout toward the east end of the West Seattle Bridge. And that’s not the only mishap working at this hour – the 911 log also notes a fairly sizable callout right now for a crash on northbound 99 by Safeco Field (update: 2 people were hurt in that one-car crash, according to the scanner, including a 17-year-old girl). Since the forecast calls for off-and-on rain most of the weekend, it’s a good reminder about one thing – after a period without rain, the first major rainfall tends to lead to slicker roads as everything that’s been soaking in starts to float out. (One traffic alert this weekend – tonight and tomorrow night, overnight, Alaskan Way will be constricted south of the ferry dock as crews work to shore up the Washington Street Landing area where the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s Rachel Marie crashed two weeks ago.)
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