day : 26/01/2014 9 results

Months after first word of starfish (sea stars) dying off in many areas – particularly here in Northwest waters – scientists still haven’t figured out why. British Columbia, one of the first places where it was noticed, remains perplexed. Californians have noticed. Here in West Seattle, eco-advocate “Diver Laura” James has been taking periodic surveys in “Cove 1” at Seacrest to survey the situation. As the video shows, still pretty bleak. But this dive was more than a survey, Laura explains:

Saturday night was a bit of a departure from our regular survey dives. A researcher up at the Port Townsend marine labs has 30 healthy stars and was ready to do an experiment to help understand the transmission of the disease, but was having a bit of a hard time getting some sick subjects. Pycnopodia (the sunflower star) like the ones that we helped collect up at Mukilteo all die too fast once they are infected. So it was up to us to find some either _very_ freshly sick pycnopodia (who could make it to the labs) or more likely some of the purple stars (pisaster) that we’ve been videoing at cove 1. Luckily I’ve learned to recognize the early stages of the illness in the Purple stars and also the Orange colored mottled stars. Each has its own subtlety and can only be seen when you have spent some time studying the healthy counterparts side by side with video of the sick.

My concern on this dive started early:

West Seattle Crime Watch update: Owner finds his stolen car

January 26, 2014 9:15 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

One less stolen car to watch for: Last Tuesday, Bill reported his red ’97 Civic hatchback stolen; this weekend, he reports, he found it while “driving around.” It was stolen in the Admiral area and turned up not too far south (46th/Hanford).

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Police search for driver who approached girl near Beach Drive/Alki

January 26, 2014 8:00 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

From Kate:

My daughter was taking out the trash, when she was approached by a male stranger driving a newer white compact car. He offered her a ride. As she came in to tell me, he slowly drove south on Beach Drive and stopped a few buildings away. Then he turned around and drove back north on Alki.

She says it happened at about 7:35 pm, and she called 911. We did hear police dispatched to look around the area (described as near where Alki/Beach Drive meet). That’s all the description information we have; last report of someone being approached was January 9th in the Roxhill area, and that car was described as silver/gray.

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Followup: West Seattle Y Dolphins swim to success @ state

January 26, 2014 7:52 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Saturday morning, we shared news that the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) Dolphins swim team would be competing in the statewide YMCA championships later that day in Federal Way. Now, the team sends word of the results!

Congratulations to the following swimmers of the West Seattle Y Dolphins on their advancement to the state finals held last evening at the King County Aquatics Center.

In the above photo starting with the upper row; Coach Kyle, Ty Lindblom, Ameena Bouzerktoune, Maya DeGasperi, Emma Murray

Bottom row: Jeffery Kasahara, Michael Stewart, Darlavanh Long, Karen Woodworth, Theresa Tran

Those that advanced but not in the photo: Rose Morgan and Tyler Barker

The girls’ team placed 3rd overall and the boys placed 7th overall. Those that had qualification times swam in the Prelims session 1; the top 8 in each event advanced to the Finals. They scored 12 and under finals in session 2, and awards were held for the top 3 in each event. Then the finals were held in session 3 last evening. This was a team effort by the 12-and-under and the 13-to-18-year-olds for the team’s overall ranking. Go, Dolphins!!

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Update: 35th SW reopens after motorcycle rider hit by driver, taken to hospital

January 26, 2014 5:32 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

5:32 PM: Another crash reported on 35th SW. Radio communications describe this as involving a car and motorcycle. 35th is blocked at Othello. More to come.

5:45 PM: 35th is closed at Myrtle on the north side of crash scene and (updated) at Webster on the south side. The car’s driver was also hurt. It is in the northbound lanes while the motorcycle is down on the northwest corner (in the background of top photo).

5:59 PM: Police at the scene tell us the motorcycle rider is the only person who had to be taken to the hospital; the rider’s injuries apparently are not life-threatening, as the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is NOT being called out. They have called for tow trucks and expect the road to reopen once the car and motorcycle are cleared. Preliminary investigation, they said, showed the motorcyclist was rear-ended while trying to turn, and thrown into the path of a second car (the one in the foreground of our photo).

6:29 PM: Police are reopening 35th.

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West Seattle scenes: Sparkling jewels, drop by drop

January 26, 2014 2:52 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Here’s another way to look at the fog that has blanketed us so – relentlessly? enthusiastically? snugly? choose your adverb – recently: Up close. Trileigh Tucker, nature photographer/writer who often shares her work on WSB, headed into Lincoln Park for these photos of what she calls “dew jewels.” These first two photos are from a witch-hazelbush:

Two more views ahead:

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West Seattle development: Comment time extended for 24th SW subdivision proposal near Longfellow Creek

January 26, 2014 10:46 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| Development | Environment | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Photographed by a neighbor, the top photo shows 6536 24th SW (map), where the city is considering an application to split two lots into eight just east of Longfellow Creek.

We first wrote about it in December, and then again when the city formally published notice of that application on January 16th. That notice launched a comment period that now has been extended two weeks by request of neighbors, until February 12th.

Though this application only covers the proposed lot-splitting, city files (as mentioned in our previous reports) include plans for eight homes on those proposed eight lots. The creek runs through the front yard of homes across the street, neighbor Cyndie Rokicki points out, sharing this version of the same view as the top photo, when the water runs high in heavy rain:

She says, “The creek has gone over the banks and flooded the road 6 out of the 8 years that I have lived here. While at flood state, we are unable to get in or out of our property. My concern is, what the impact of cutting a road to establish access to the subdivision (which has an extreme slope which runs directly into the creek) will have on the already bad flooding situation, not to mention the effect of 8 more homeowners’ ability to reach their property during the flooding.”

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Update: House fire on 30th SW near Roxhill Elementary

January 26, 2014 7:48 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(UPDATED Sunday night with new information from SFD)

Seattle Fire crews are arriving at the scene of a house-fire call in the 9400 block of 30th SW (map). Via scanner, they say everyone’s safely out of the house. More to come.

7:55 AM UPDATE: The house is just north of Roxhill Elementary. The fire’s in the attic, according to radio communications, and crews believe they “have the bulk of it under control.”

8:02 AM UPDATE: Our crew has arrived and sent the photo we added above. Most of the activity is in the area of the house’s garage, they say.

Meantime, in radio communications, crews on scene have declared the fire “tapped.” No injuries reported. The Red Cross is being called to help the residents (described so far as three adults).

8:30 AM UPDATE: Firefighters are in mop-up mode.

(Firefighters who went into the attic wound up covered in insulation material that had to be hosed off)
No word yet on how this started – they’ve been awaiting the SFD investigator. We’ve just spoken at the scene with SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl, who says the residents are three members of a family and that neighbors were first to see the smoke and call it in.

9:31 AM: Added – more photos, and video of Lt. Stangl’s interview with us and the only other media crew at the scene (they were from KIRO TV). We will update the story again whenever information about the fire’s cause is available.

6:46 PM UPDATE: Fire investigators have ruled this accidental and confirmed that it started in the garage, spread to the house. Damage is estimated at $300,000 – $200,000 to the house, $100,000 to what was inside.

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West Seattle Sunday: 1 week to Super Bowl, 10+ ways to stay busy

January 26, 2014 6:30 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Image by Patrick McCaffrey)
One week until the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl! Photographer Patrick McCaffrey added the logo to his swooping-raptor photo from last November, to help keep fan spirits flying high. How to keep busy in the meantime? Today’s highlights list, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

OLG OPEN HOUSE AND SCIENCE FAIR: 9 am-1 pm, Our Lady of Guadalupe School welcomes visitors to its open house and middle-school science fair. Details here. (34th/Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with fresh produce, cheese, cider, meat, fish, baked goods, and more. (44th/Alaska)

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: The whole family’s welcome to visit Holy Rosary School (a new WSB sponsor) during today’s open house, 10:30 am-1 pm. (42nd/Genesee)

WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Game’s on! 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. Find out more about WSUFF by checking out its Facebook page. (31st/Myrtle)

HULA HOOP JAM: As previewed here earlier this month, hula-hoopers of all ages are invited to join the Spinjam at 2 pm today in the 8 Limbs studio in The Junction. (4546 California SW – entry directions on the Facebook event page)

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 2-4 pm, you are welcome to stop by A Child Becomes, which describes itself as “a non-denominational pre-school in the Admiral area located in the basement of the Admiral Congregational Church serving students ages 2 1/2 – 5.” (4320 SW Hill)

WEST SEATTLE GREEN SPACE COALITION: 3 pm at Admiral (West Seattle) Branch Library, the WSGSC will discuss updates and next steps in its focus on the future of the former substations that Seattle City Light is working to dispose of. Details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

MUSIC & COFFEE: Beth O’Connor and Anne Hindman perform live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. Musical insights in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

ARTSWEST MATINEE: First Sunday matinee for “The Little Dog Laughed,” current production at ArtsWest in The Junction, 3 pm. (4711 California SW)

WATCH THE GRAMMYS AT THE FEEDBACK: Only venue we’ve heard from that’s planning to have tonight’s Grammy Awards on the big screen, sound up – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Will Macklemore & Ryan Lewis win? Watch with friends old and new, 5 pm. (6451 California SW)

Added 8:41 am – not in West Seattle but in case you’re going:

WEST SEATTLE COMPANIES @ PHINNEY HOME DESIGN/REMODEL FAIR: The famous annual event on Phinney Ridge includes at least three West Seattle participants. Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) sends word they’ll be there, as will WEDesign (also a WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Windows and Doors. Lots of info here; full participant list here. 10 am-4 pm at Phinney Neighborhood Center. (6532 Phinney Avenue N.)

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