day : 31/10/2010 11 results

Tomorrow (Monday) morning, the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-Downtown run starts its new schedule: morning and evening commutes only, Mondays-Fridays. Here’s the full schedule. And note that until the Rachel Marie is back in service (still undergoing repairs from last month’s crash), the Sightseer is handling the run, which means to and from Pier 55.

Video: Memorial dedicated in honor of SPD Officer Tim Brenton

October 31, 2010 10:08 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

One year after the murder of Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton – a West Seattle High School graduate – at 29th and Yesler in Leschi, hundreds of people gathered this afternoon to turn the site into a tribute to a hero, as a community-created memorial was dedicated. Officer Brenton’s widow Lisa was there with their children, including son Quinn:

The occasion was personal, not just for the family but for the Leschi neighbors who came together to make the memorial reality – and yet also formal:

Among the SPD leadership on hand, Seattle Police Chief John Diaz remembered Officer Brenton as the kind of hero we need more of:

West Seattle was represented at the dedication:

From left, Southwest Precinct Advisory Council chair Pete Spalding, SW Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, and his predecessor, now-West Precinct commander Capt. Joe Kessler. We also saw teams from the SPD Mounted Unit, which is based in Highland Park (and facing an uncertain future because of proposed budget cuts):

Also covering this afternoon’s event, our partners at the Seattle Times – you can see their report here, and fellow neighborhood-news site Central District News (see their story and photos here).

SIDE NOTE: Not specifically related to this project, but in a similar spirit – the Behind the Badge Foundation, an organization set up to help families of law enforcers killed in the line of duty, has a fundraising event this Thursday night, Dine Out to Remember Our Fallen. A percentage of proceeds from participating venues will go to BBF. Among them, according to the event’s Facebook page, are Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Salty’s on Alki, Elliott Bay Brewery, Puerto Vallarta, Christo’s on Alki, Pegasus Pizza, Talarico’s, and Brickyard BBQ, plus there’s a special benefit concert that nights at Bamboo Bar and Grill. The list of participants also includes Liberty Bell Printing in The Junction as a sponsor.

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Happening now in West Seattle: Skeleton Theatre 2010, night 1

October 31, 2010 7:57 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Till 9 pm, it’s Skeleton Theatre 2010 – “The Death of Rock” – West Seattle’s own animatronic Halloween extravaganza, at 36th/Hanford (map). Thanks to the WSB’er who just texted that photo … we’re heading over shortly to check it out and hope to add video here later.

ADDED 11:59 PM: Two clips – first, a bit of the “Beyond the Music” story of the band Bonaparte, shown on a big screen above the stage, punctuating the songs:

And a bit of Bonaparte’s quite-original, quite-appropriate musical artistry:

Even in a bit of mid-evening drizzle, an appreciative crowd filled the lawn:

Side note – if you walk up 37th along the block south of Hanford, you might see this lovely lass who looks like she should be hanging out with the band:

P.S. If you missed it tonight, Skeleton Theatre is scheduled to run continuously 6-9 pm again tomorrow (Monday) too. This is the fifth year Chris Walker and friends have put on an animatronic tour-de-force … explore the official website for the background (and to find a button to chip in a few bucks if you enjoyed the show!).

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West Seattle Halloween: 1 more pumpkin parade – and a spider

October 31, 2010 6:51 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Since pumpkins are part of the photo, we’re kicking off this final roundup of West Seattle pumpkins with this photo, and “news alert!” explanation, from Chris Henggeler:

Admiral family awakes to enormous spider in house. Local scientists believe the spider originally hitched a ride in a container from southeast Asia and disembarked at the Port of Seattle. It’s thought that the insect was exposed to toxic waste at the Aluminum Plant and has now taken up residence at the corner of 39th and Lander. The family is trapped in the house waiting for emergency services and animal control to arrive.

Will they escape? Only time will tell. In the meantime, more West Seattleites’ pumpkins for all to enjoy, trapped or not. First, from Kate, Pat, and Neil:

Next, a brainy pumpkin from Carl:

From SeaChanty51:

Adam carved this howling-wolf pumpkin:

Vanessa shares this, explaining that’s Elmo on the right:

Dan and Heidi shared their pumpkin group:

Finally, this pumpkin pic’s from EE:

One more round of BIG THANKS to all the pumpkin-photo-sharing WSB’ers – scroll through our Holidays archive to see the others shared over the past week-plus. ADDED 11:34 PM: To bookend this with spiders – one more, from Todd, who says it’s at 38th/Lander in the Admiral District:

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Happening now: Westwood Village trick-or-treating

October 31, 2010 5:30 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | Westwood

Till 7 pm, you can join this year’s final round of business-area trick-or-treating fun at Westwood Village. We wandered over during the first hour for a look at both the littlest trick-or-treaters …

… and the most-macabre treat-hander-out’ers (this next scene was from Fresh Vitamins):

Look who wound up in Westwood, perhaps taking a wrong turn on his way back to Springfield:

Also welcoming trick-or-treaters this afternoon were White Center businesses; photos are up on partner site White Center Now.

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Worried about aircraft flying low over West Seattle? New petition

October 31, 2010 3:06 pm

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| Highland Park | Safety | West Seattle news

We’ve covered discussion of this concern at recent Highland Park Action Committee meetings – and now HPAC is circulating an online petition. Received from HPAC chair Dan Mullins, with this explanatory text:

Please help keep our West Seattle neighborhoods safe
Stop dangerously low-flying aircraft.

The residents of south West Seattle are very concerned about neighborhood safety and insist that the FAA require pilots using King County Airport (Boeing Field) to follow the federal regulations with regard to required minimum altitude.

Please join us in demanding that King County Airport work with the pilots and the FAA to ensure that planes are operated in accordance with all current federal safety regulations.

Please click on the link below and sign our on-line petition and then forward this letter to your members and neighbors.

Here’s the petition link; if you click through to the site, you’ll also see more details of what the neighborhood is saying about low-flying aircraft. (We’re also checking with HPAC regarding what’s the next step – after this petition, what they hope to do next.)

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West Seattle Halloween notes: Precinct trick-or-treating, and more

October 31, 2010 2:33 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Halloween notes: Precinct trick-or-treating, and more

| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Miscellaneous notes this Halloween afternoon:

TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE PRECINCT: Didn’t have this on the WSB West Seattle Halloween list till SPD Blotter published the news this morning. Kids in costume are invited to trick-or-treat at the Southwest Precinct – and other Seattle Police precincts – 5-8:30 pm tonight. (Delridge/Webster; here’s a map.)

ADMIRAL TREATS OR TREASURES WINNER: Part of the Friday afternoon Admiral trick-or-treating event involved a drawing at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor):

That’s one of the winners, Lafayette Elementary fifth grader Aidan Ewing. The basket he won included a skateboard from Alki Bike and Board; all prizes in the baskets were donated by Admiral merchants.

SPOOKY SIGHTING AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Dina Lydia Johnson shares this photo:

The purple carrots, including the entwined pair, were spotted at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market, which also hosted a round of pumpkin decorating.

‘FACE YOUR FEARS’ INVITATION: The people currently running the “Nickelsville” homeless camp that might get a permanent site (as reported last week) are having a Halloween open house they’re calling “Face Your Fears,” inviting people concerned about the possibility the camp might move to one of seven spots (two in West Seattle). Till 6 pm, they’re welcoming visitors at their current site, University Congregational United Church of Christ, 16th NE/NE 45th (map).

ADDED 6:03 PM – HALLOWEEN AT TIBBETTS UMC: Earlier this week, we published Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) organist John Van Lierop, Jr.’s preview of the church’s All Hallows Eve plans. Today, Wendy Hughes-Jelen shares a photo and reports how it went:

Pictured here is the leadership team at Tibbetts United Methodist Church this morning: Black butterfly Elizabeth Nye (Praise Team Director), creepy organist John Van Lierop Jr. (Music Director) and Head Pirate Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown. Much of the congregation came in costume, and the handbell choir also played a “spooky” piece, also in costume. You can enjoy their photos and videos at www.facebook.com/TibbettsUMChurch

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What the R/V Thomas G. Thompson is doing off West Seattle

October 31, 2010 11:16 am

| Comments Off on What the R/V Thomas G. Thompson is doing off West Seattle

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Another example of WSB community collaboration: First, we got a note asking “what’s that white ship off Lowman Beach?” – a question we could only partially answer ourselves, replying with the ship’s ID via MarineTraffic.com (but no info on what it’s up to). Shortly afterward, without us even having noted the question publicly, Trileigh e-mailed to share the photo above and this information on what the ship’s doing:

I thought your readers might be interested in seeing the R/V Thompson, UW Oceanography’s research vessel, visible from West Seattle this morning. This is the first day of a four-day deployment as part of the ongoing PRISM project: Puget Sound Regional Synthesis Model. Readers can find out more about PRISM at www.prism.washington.edu/story/Observing+the+Sound. Pretty impressive!

Thanks, Trileigh!

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Dedication today for memorial honoring Officer Tim Brenton

October 31, 2010 10:00 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Exactly one year ago, a Seattle Police Officer with West Seattle roots was murdered in the Leschi area. Today, a memorial to West Seattle High School graduate Officer Timothy Brenton will be dedicated in the same area – a community-created memorial. The dedication is at 3 pm; here’s more information from SPD Blotter.

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West Seattle Sunday: Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2010 7:02 am

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The actual day/night is finally here – and despite all the activities of the past few days, there are still more on the schedule. For one – Skeleton Theatre, the animatronic extravaganza at 36th and Hanford, is scheduled to run 6-9 pm tonight (here’s our preview). And in addition to neighborhood trick-or-treating, two shopping areas welcome trick-or-treaters today – Westwood Village 4-7 pm and White Center 3-5 pm. More on the WSB West Seattle Halloween list. And from the regular WSB West Seattle Events calendar, pumpkin carving is a special feature of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, 10 am-2 pm, and the Halloween Ski Swap continues at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska) 10 am-4 pm. Have fun and be safe!

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West Seattle Halloween: Yet more pumpkins on parade

October 31, 2010 4:02 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Yet more West Seattle pumpkins on parade! Those two are courtesy of Steve M – he carved the Jawa, while Elizabeth carved Hello Kitty. Next one is the creation of 8-year-old Josh: