day : 28/04/2013 11 results

We start tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch with a found bicycle that seems to have been abandoned in much the way previously stolen bicycles have been:

Tim says the red Schwinn BMX bike turned up in their West Seattle yard last Sunday (April 21), adding, “These are some things (markings, etc.) on the bike that we can ask any respondents to help make sure it really is theirs.” Call 206-218-7886.

Meantime, another bike has just been stolen – from an Arbor Heights resident who doesn’t want to be identified, but found a purse, possibly left by the thief/thieves:

Arbor Heights, 10600 block of 32nd Ave SW: Sad to say, after a neighbor’s car was stolen from their driveway Thursday night, yesterday/night our bicycle was stolen from our (fenced/gated) carport. The bike couldn’t be seen from the yard or the street, and the person(s) would have had to walk up the driveway to the chest-high chain-link fence gate (complete with privacy slats) and open the gate to find the bike, so clearly someone had been scoping out the area. Icky. They even closed the gate upon leaving, likely so as not to be looked for right away. Yes, the police were notified. The officer even took the little purse that appeared when the bike was stolen. Possibly a coincidence, but since nobody here has a purse, nor do the neighbors (it was left between our two houses), one would think that it was perhaps left behind when the bike was leaving.

The bike is a 2013 black (“black/white” according to the manufacturer) Specialized RockHopper Comp, with 29″ wheels and a 19″ frame. Yeah, for a long-legged person! I’m hoping that, since this is not an average size, someone will spot it on craigslist or such, and it can come home. There is a lock on its crossbar.

Did they take the bike with a flat tire or the rickety lawnmower? Nooooo, they took the nifty, new, specialty bike. Turkeys, go save up for years and get your own bike like we did!

Here is a pic of the purse; officer looked in it, but it was empty:

If you’re missing one like this, please contact the Southwest Precinct– the officer has put the purse into evidence. Sigh, it seems like the turkeys are starting to win.

P.S.: Next crime-prevention meeting in our area is in White Center, but city residents might find the information helpful too – guests include King County Sheriff John Urquhart. The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is presenting it as one in a series of public-safety forums – 7 pm Thursday, May 2nd, at North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (flyer here).

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Cruise-ship season starts Wednesday; fewer visits, visitors expected

April 28, 2013 7:02 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(April 2011 photo of Crystal Symphony passing Luna/Anchor Park, shared by CL)
A note for Elliott Bay marine-traffic watchers: Cruise-ship season starts this Wednesday (May 1st), with a stop by luxury line Crystal Cruises‘ Crystal Symphony at Pier 66 downtown. After that, the routine of weekly arrivals and departures starts next Sunday, with Holland-America Line‘s Oosterdam at Magnolia’s Pier 91, and the full weekly lineup beginning the second weekend in May. According to the Port of Seattle’s 2013 cruise-season fact sheet, this year’s stops and total passenger count are down – the projected 188 vessel visits is the lowest number since 2004, and the expected passenger total, 852,000, is the lowest since 2007. As for the changes you’ll notice, if you watch the bay and/or docks, two ships are making their Seattle debut Oceania is joining Seattle’s summer fleet, with the mid-sized Regatta docking at Pier 66. Celebrity Cruises, meantime, moves to Pier 91, with the Seattle debut of Celebrity Solstice, described last year as one of the largest ships to ever sail from here, able to handle almost 3,000 passengers. See this year’s full Seattle cruise schedule by going here.

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New spiritual leader for St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

April 28, 2013 6:13 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

A year and a half after the departure of Rev. Peter DeVeau, West Seattle’s St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church has a new spiritual leader. Here’s the announcement we received today:

Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle announces the appointment of the Reverend Jerry D. (JD) Godwin as spiritual leader of the parish. Rev. Godwin will serve as Priest-in-Charge beginning April 30, 2013 and deliver his first sermon in that capacity on Sunday, May 5, 2013 during services at 8 and 10:15 am. The appointment was made by the Right Reverend Gregory Rickel, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia (Province VIII), following selection by the vestry of Saint John the Baptist.

Rev. Godwin has been Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, Texas since 2000, where he led a parish of nearly 2,000 members. As Priest-in-Charge, he will provide spiritual leadership for the congregation and prepare the parish for the process of calling a permanent Rector in three to five years. “What an exciting time we have ahead of us as we join hands in ministry – to discover, more and more, how God is calling us, in the power of the Spirit, to carry on the mission of his Son in our world,” says Rev. Godwin.

The community is invited to meet Rev. Godwin at two special welcoming events:

· Sunday May 5, 2013 – Eucharist at 8 and 10:15 am with luncheon reception following 10:15 service
· Sunday May 19, 2013 – Bishop’s visitation at 8 and 10:15 am with luncheon reception following the 10:15 service.

The church is on the northeast corner of California/Hanford in South Admiral.

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Who’s your choice for mayor? Monday night forum reminder

April 28, 2013 3:42 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

If you’re still making up your mind in this year’s race for Seattle mayor – plenty of time, since the primary’s not until August – tomorrow’s your first chance to see all the candidates together. West Seattle’s 34th District Democrats say all Seattle mayoral candidates (listed on the right side of the city-elections page) are confirmed for the Super South Seattle Mayor’s Forum that they’re presenting Monday night with two other Democratic groups, first announced two months ago. Tomorrow night’s event is at the Georgetown campus (6737 Corson Ave. S.; here’s a map) of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), starting with social time at 6 pm, and the forum at 6:30. (Want to send in a question in advance? You can do that here.)

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West Seattle development: Alki neighbors’ petition for ‘rowhouse’ hearing

April 28, 2013 1:03 pm

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| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Seattle city rules provide for hearings on certain types of developments – while other types only get internal reviews by planners. Then, there are situations in which hearings can be requested. That’s what’s happening with the Alki-area development site shown above, where four 3-story “rowhouses” containing 11 residential units are proposed for 2414 55th SW, a short distance inland from the beach, on a site that’s already gone through a “boundary adjustment.” Neighbor Marie McKinsey says that while she and other neighbors were doing research, they found out that the city MIGHT set a hearing if at least 50 people petition for it. So they’re collecting names right now – Alki residents interested in signing can contact her at marie.mckinsey@gmail.com. Ahead, the concerns she shared with the city:

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Happening now: From gleaming gems to grab bags, at West Seattle Rock Club’s annual show

April 28, 2013 12:01 pm

| Comments Off on Happening now: From gleaming gems to grab bags, at West Seattle Rock Club’s annual show

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Rock Club is presenting a Rock and Gem Show for all ages again this year – not just all ages of visitors, but those exhibiting and demonstrating span a wide age range too. Above, behind one of the demonstration tables, that’s Oz; next, trying out the grab bag while visiting, is August:

Displays created by collectors young and not-as-young include rocks, gems, even petrified wood:

Vendors have a few tables, too, if you’re interested in buying for your own collection – or even gifts (lots of jewelry):

Admission’s free – and there are drawings for door prizes! Just get to the Masonic Temple (40th and Edmunds) before the annual show’s second and final day wraps up at 5 pm.

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Happening now: If you don’t need it, Fauntleroy Church’s Recycle Roundup will probably take it!

April 28, 2013 11:02 am

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| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

As today’s Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup got going, their recycling partner 1 Green Planet (a nonprofit) had three trucks on standby, knowing that West Seattleites are ready to fill them up, as they have in past editions. The one in our photo above was rapidly filling with old TV sets of all ages (we’ll probably pitch in some day, having not joined the flat-screen revolution just yet). They’re there until 3 pm – free (though the church’s Green Committee, which organizes this twice a year, is glad to accept a token $ donation from anyone who offers) – look for the signs outside the church parking lot at 9140 California SW:

The list of what they’re accepting is here.

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Fauntleroy ferry update: Klahowya still out; long wait on Vashon

April 28, 2013 10:11 am

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

10:11 AM: Saturday saw big delays on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route after M/V Klahowya had to go in for repairs. But it’s fixed now, and WSF says it will be back in service just after noon.

11:04 AM UPDATE: Never mind – now WSF has posted another update saying Klahowya is NOT ready to go back into service.

2:39 PM UPDATE: WSF now says Klahowya won’t be back before Monday night. On the F/V/S run currently, according to the latest alert, “There is currently a one-hour wait for drivers departing the north Vashon terminal due to reduced capacity from operating on a tw- boat schedule, and heavy vehicle traffic waiting to board the vessel.”

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‘Design to celebrate West Seattle’ sought by SWS Historical Society

April 28, 2013 9:13 am

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Another aerial angle of West Seattle photographed this past week by Long Bach Nguyen)
If you can communicate your love for West Seattle through art, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is looking for you. The announcement from executive director Clay Eals explains:

Calling local artists for our first annual design to celebrate West Seattle!

Are you a local artist with a passion for the Duwamish peninsula? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is planning a project right up your alley.

The historical society is looking for a design that will celebrate West Seattle in all its glory in 2013. The theme could be history, nature, wildlife, individuality or attitude. The only limitation is that somehow it must “say” West Seattle.

“However you see this unique corner of the world in which we have the good fortune to spend time, we would love to see your version of that and perhaps select it to use on a limited-edition piece – a poster, bag, whatever – that would be offered for sale through our Log House Museum,” says volunteer Amanda Gilbert.

The vision is for this to become an annual undertaking, with a different design featured each year.

Interested? Here’s where to start.

(Side note: The SWSHS’s Log House Museum is hosting one of the 280+ sales that’ll be on the map for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 11th!)

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West Seattle filmmaker Jay Rowlands to premiere “Clutch” at Admiral Theater

April 28, 2013 8:58 am

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Trailer for “Clutch”)
West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater (whose future plans were reported here earlier this week) hosts special events from time to time – like this: On June 29th, a movie titled “Clutch” will have its official public premiere at The Admiral – of special significance because its writer/director/star, Jay Rowlands, grew up in West Seattle and still lives here.

“Clutch” is billed as a “dramatic action film that tells the story of a struggling small-town racer who finds out there are no shortcuts to victory lane.” The filmmaker knows firsthand about the lack of shortcuts; he’s been working on the film for more than a decade. Along with a “100 percent Northwest cast and crew,” the film includes a lineup likely to rev classic-car lovers’ motors, as described in media materials:

Over 150 vehicles were selected for filming in CLUTCH. More than half were highly coveted muscle cars, including “car stars” a 1967 Camaro Z/28 SCCA road race car, a 1969 Camaro RS/ Z/28 and a 1972 Oldsmobille Cutlass, driven by Rowlands’ co-star. A 1969 Charger, a 1966 Ford GT40, Shelby Cobras, Mustangs and many others made appearances. The vehicles, ranging from a $750,000 1969 Penske Camaro road-race car to an $8,000 1968 Camaro stunt car, total more than $5.5 million.

Tickets for the premiere are already on sale on the movie’s official website – clutchthemovie.com. And next weekend, 9 am Saturday and Sunday (May 4-5), watch for Jay on the SPIKE (channel 57 on Comcast cable) network show PowerBlock TV next Friday and Saturday (May 4-5), talking about “Clutch.”

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West Seattle Sunday: Recycling Roundup; Rock & Gem Show; Cooking Club; low-low tide; more…

April 28, 2013 7:42 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Flickr member old desolate, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Today’s low tide is even lower than yesterday: -2.7, at 1:30 pm, and that’s the inspiration for one of the activities on today’s list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

RECYCLE ROUNDUP! 9 am-3 pm, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee‘s twice-yearly event gives you the chance to recycle many items you just can’t put out for regular curbside pickup. Here’s the list; the dropoff with 1 Green Planet is, as usual, in the church parking lot. (9140 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE ROCK CLUB’S ROCK & GEM SHOW, DAY 2: If you were too busy to get to this annual extravaganza on Saturday, good news – it continues today! The official poster/flyer has the details – not just displays of rocks and gems, but also free activities, especially fun for kids. At the Alki Masonic Temple, 10 am-5 pm. (40th/Edmunds)

FAMILY BEACH SAFARI: On the Beach Drive shore across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, volunteer beach naturalists will guide you through a shore exploration during the aforementioned low-low tide, noon-2 pm. (4500 block of Beach Drive)

COOKING CLUB GOES ITALIAN: Cook up your favorite Italian recipe and bring it to share – that’s all you need to do to check out the West Seattle Cooking Club‘s 3 pm meeting today, Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).

‘HOME FOR THE HUNTS’ SKATING BENEFIT: 5-7 pm, skate at Southgate Roller Rink as part of what you could call an international fundraiser to help a family; raffles too! (9646 17th SW)

AND A TRAFFIC REMINDER: The Delridge/Thistle intersection remains closed for repaving throughout the weekend, but should reopen by tomorrow morning.

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