West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Crime Watch roundup: Mystery burglary loot & more

UNUSUAL BURGLARY LOOT: A request from Southwest Precinct Det. Shane St. John: As part of an ongoing investigation of burglaries, police have recovered “a large amount of foreign-coin currency.” They suspect it’s loot but don’t have a record of anyone reporting the theft of such currency. If you know who might have had such currency stolen (or if it might be yours), contact him: 206-233-7871.

SEARCH AT SWAC: If you were on Trenton between the Southwest Athletic Complex and Westwood Village around noontime, you might have seen this sizable police response:

SPD media-relations Det. Renée Witt said it had started with a report of several people allegedly drinking and using drugs on the north side of the sports complex. While officers investigated, she said, it somehow became somewhat chaotic – one suspect took off running, and somewhere along the line, officers found bullets, leading them to think a gun might have been in the vicinity, and a K-9 team was being brought in to look. That’s where our information trail ends; we have a followup question out and will add anything else we find out. (Added Tuesday afternoon – SPD Blotter now has details on this case.)

SATURDAY CAR PROWL: A neighbor at 21st/Roxbury reports catching an apparent car prowler in the act on Saturday morning, spotting his neighbor’s car door slightly open and someone ducking down. The watchful neighbor says the victims later reported that police found the suspect with items including stolen property.

ANOTHER CAR PROWL: John says someone went through his car, parked in his driveway at 39th and Dakota, last Thursday night: “The only thing they seemed to have stolen was a really old MP3 player (worth about $5 at most), but must have been in a hurry since they missed other things that I would have though they would have taken.” He suspects he might have left his door unlocked.

HIT-RUN NEAR THE PARK: Another reader named John is looking for anyone who might have seen the hit-run that damaged his car at his home near Ercolini Park between 11 am and noon Sunday:

My neighbor heard the noise, and looked out to see a white larger late model pickup truck backing away from our car and continuing on its way.

I was hoping you might be willing to post this note in case any other people at the park witnessed the event and might have more information on who damaged our car.

If you saw it, contact police.

Delridge Way repaving: New detour, starting Wednesday

As announced last week, SDOT plans to shift the Delridge Way repaving work to Phase 3, Thistle to Trenton, this Wednesday. The section of Delridge that will have a southbound detour during that time will be between Thistle and Holden. Above, the map; below, the update:

Beginning May 15, southbound traffic on Delridge Way Southwest in West Seattle will be detoured at Southwest Holden Street and the currently detoured stretch from Southwest Thistle to Southwest Trenton streets will be reopened. The closure will allow the contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation to reconstruct the roadway and install storm drains. The new detour, from Holden to Thistle streets, is expected to remain in place through mid July. This work is Phase 3 of the project that is rebuilding much of Delridge Way Southwest.

Traffic will be redirected (see attached map):

· West on SW Holden Street
· South on 35th Avenue S
· East on SW Thistle Street
· South on Delridge Way SW

Delridge will remain open to northbound traffic except for intersection work. Local access to businesses and residents will be maintained.

This is a five-phase project. At the end of Phase 3, construction activity will move north to Phase 4, between SW Orchard and SW Holden streets.

MAP flap: Superintendent says high schools can opt out of test

A new development this afternoon in the controversy over the testing known as MAP: Seattle Public Schools superintendent José Banda has just announced that while he wants to keep it for next year, through 8th grade, high schools can opt out. Read on for his full statement:

Click to read the rest of MAP flap: Superintendent says high schools can opt out of test…

West Seattle Weather Watch: Thunderstorms moving through

(Thanks to Linda for photo of storm moving eastward over the Sound)
1:26 PM: Seriously stormy weather blowing through West Seattle – we heard thunder a few minutes ago, and the wind’s kicked up. The National Weather Service has issued a “short-term forecast” alert that also warns hail is possible.

1:44 PM: And after all that, a sunbreak. But more might be on the way later.

5:17 PM: We’ve noted this on today’s traffic roundup (always linked from the sidebar), but it’s worth reporting here too – if you are headed south of West Seattle, you should know a tree’s come down on the southbound lanes of Ambaum:

That’s the tree on the left side of the photo, just south of SW 116th, in north Burien. Equipment to help clear it away was arriving when we were there, but if it’s not clear yet, you’ll be detoured.

Metro money mess: Transit system’s leader makes his case

(Metro Route 21 bus traveling westbound on Avalon, past under-construction apartment building)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Will Metro have to slash its services – or will some of the supplementary funding that expires next year be replaced, averting crisis?

This week might be pivotal. For starters: Today, state legislators are back in Olympia for a special session. They hold the power to give transportation-funding “tools” to local leaders – but whether they will do it is very much in question, as two West Seattle’s state legislators told the 34th District Democrats last Wednesday (WSB coverage here).

County leaders, including Metro management, hope for a show of support at a special public hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon – and through an online comment form, if you can’t make it to the hearing to speak in person.

With all this as a backdrop, the man who runs Metro, its general manager Kevin Desmond, sat down with WSB for a conversation, which we videotaped in its 48-minute entirety.

Full disclosure, it was their idea, not ours: After reading countless WSB comments about Metro, including skepticism from some suggesting the money woes are more about mismanagement than funding shortage, county Transportation Department communicators asked if we would be interested in an interview, so we worked out time to sit down at his Pioneer Square office. First, if you just want to hear for yourself, here’s the unedited video (your editor here is the voice you hear asking questions; WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand was behind the camera):

If you’d prefer to read the highlights – key points are ahead, along with more about what’s next:

Click to read the rest of Metro money mess: Transit system’s leader makes his case…

Hang up and drive! Seattle Police, others plan special patrols

“Click It or Ticket” will also be “Hands Off Your Phone, or Else” starting later this month, warns the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, which just announced: “Between May 20 and June 2, motorists in King County can expect to see law enforcement patrolling city and county roads in search of unbuckled drivers and passengers and drivers using their cell phones. Last year, during this same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols statewide issued 3,171 seat belt violations amongst the 11,047 motorists who were stopped. Similarly, last year during this time period, 1,059 cell phone violations were written.” The departments that’ll participate in these patrols include Seattle Police, says WTSC.

Five calendar highlights for your West Seattle Monday

Thanks to Long Bach Nguyen for the Alki aerial photographed during low tide on Saturday- not mega-low but low enough for exploration. Today’s lowest tide is at 1:39 pm and just short of minus one foot – still good for a walk. Here are some of the other highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP HEALTH-EFFECTS BRIEFING: With about a month left for public comment on the EPA’s proposed cleanup plan for the Duwamish River, the City Council will be briefed at 10 am today about how the proposal might affect the health of people who live near and/or use the river – and what more advocates think it should do. Here’s a preview on our partner site The South Park News; you can watch the briefing live via Seattle Channel (online or cable channel 21).

NDNC MEETS @ YOUNGSTOWN FLATS: Instead of meeting at the Delridge Library as usual, tonight the North Delridge Neighborhood Council will have its regular monthly meeting at newly opened Youngstown Flats (WSB sponsor). Time’s the same – 6:30 pm, but if you are interested in touring YF, there’s an optional tour BEFORE the meeting, at 6 pm. The main agenda items have just been announced:

DIY Bikes program – Stu Hennessey
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition – Maria Lewis
Combined Sewer Overflow Program

Parking instructions from the NDNC website: “Drivers may park in the garage off of Dakota. There is a call box on the outside of the front door with directions to call the office for entry. We should have someone stationed outside to direct attendees.” (26th/Dakota)

YEAR OF THE SEAL: Find out more about Seal Sitters‘ project at a community meeting tonight, 7 pm at Alki Bathhouse, as previewed here earlier this month. (2701 Alki SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Our calendar features Seattle Public Library branch events throughout the week, but we like to highlight them here too – tonight, for example, it’s Family Story Time, 7 pm at High Point Library. (35th/Raymond)

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:13 AM: No major West Seattle-vicinity traffic trouble reported currently as we head for the heart of the Monday commute. In the road-work department, this week is expected to see the Delridge Way repaving project move into its third phase, between Thistle and Kenyon; we should get confirmation of that from SDOT, along with detour details, within a day or so.

5:04 PM: Those detour details are out now – see the map here.

Also – a traffic alert if you head south to Burien: There’s a tree down in the southbound lanes of SW Ambaum, just south of SW 116. We have been covering it on our partner site White Center Now.

6:20 PM: And now a crash reported on southbound Delridge, between Andover and Genesee.

West Seattle rescue: Baby bird saved; what to do if you see one

From wildlife writer/photographer Trileigh Tucker, the tale of a baby bird’s rescue – and what to do if you see one in trouble:

A West Seattle neighbor was a real wildlife hero this afternoon.

From my house, I heard an unusually loud Steller’s Jay cacophony in the park, but figured it might just be a bunch of nestlings calling to Mom and Dad for dinner. Shortly after that I heard a bunch of crows shrieking up a storm, and finally realized I should probably go check it out. I should have done this right away.

Several people were standing around a baby Steller’s Jay that had been harassed out of its nest by crows, who were apparently harassing and poking at it on the ground until Guardian Angel #1 stepped in to disperse them. Guardian Angels #2 and #3 were staying with the little bird – at first they thought it was dead, but then saw it was breathing. I picked it up and it held on tightly to my finger, so I knew it might be OK. We looked up in the nearby trees for the nest, hoping to put it back, but couldn’t find it. The parent jays were nearby but didn’t seem to be at their nest.

We put him in a box, then called PAWS in Lynnwood, who said to bring it up there for rehabilitation. So Guardian Angel #2, whose name is Marjorie Severson [photo above right], a generous and kind West Seattleite who volunteered to drive the little baby jay all the way up to Lynnwood for PAWS to help him out! I’m attaching her photo with the baby bird. She truly is an angel helping out the forest creatures.

This is fledging season, when a lot of baby birds risk injury or shock. If people find a baby bird on the ground but alive, the thing to do is to put it in a dark quiet box (with gaps so it can breathe), then call PAWS: 425-412-4040. This is their wildlife number, open 8-8 seven days a week, and they’ll tell you what to do. Everyone, put this number in your cellphones!

Update: Fire at notorious 36th and Morgan house blamed on ‘spontaneous combustion’

(UPDATED 12:52 AM with fire’s cause)

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
8:09 PM: Firefighters are just starting to arrive at a possible house fire at 34th and Morgan. They’re reporting smoke and flames. We’re en route. Firefighters say the house is boarded up – so at this point, they are fighting it “defensively,” not going in. Westbound traffic is blocked on SW Morgan, so avoid the area.

(This and next two photos by Tony Bradley)
8:16 PM UPDATE: Our crew arriving at the scene says this is not at 34th despite the radio transmission – it’s at 36th and Morgan, a house that has been the source of trouble in the past.

8:24 PM UPDATE: The fire is in the basement. Though initially, noting it was a boarded-up house, firefighters were not going in, they are now searching and so far have not found anyone inside. Traffic at 35th and Morgan, and westward, is blocked. No report of injuries.

8:37 PM UPDATE: Also no sign that anyone had been inside, we are told at the scene. The Fire Marshal is en route to investigate. Meantime, we finally had a moment to dig up the background – it was last October 4th when we first reported that the house had been boarded up, five weeks after neighbor complaints had come to a head with a stolen-property case.

8:54 PM UPDATE: With the fire basically out, they have finished searching the house. Nobody inside. Neighbors tell us they have seen a couple people coming and going recently, though (which as discussed in comments had been noted even after the house was boarded up). The street is likely to open within 45 minutes or so, and authorities are trying to get Metro buses through, since this is on the 128 route.

9:05 PM: Police have just announced via radio that eastbound SW Morgan is reopening.

12:52 AM: SFD says the fire was started by “spontaneous combustion of improperly-disposed-of stain rags,” with damage totaling $30,000.

Sustainable West Seattle to debut new garden next weekend, growing food to feed those in need

A day before the West Seattle Bee Garden debuts with a celebration in High Point next Sunday, another new local community garden will debut in Highland Park on Saturday – a section of the new Westcrest Park P-Patch dedicated to growing food for the White Center Food Bank. The “Presto Garden” project is being led by Sustainable West Seattle, incorporating donations from local businesses and organizations listed in this update on the SWS website. Here’s where you come in: Many hands, light work. Be there on Saturday (May 18th) 1-5 pm for the planting party that will help make it happen. Westcrest is at 9000 8th SW (for those not familiar with the park, we’re tracking down specific directions to the planting site, and will add them here).

Dine out Tuesday to help West Seattle High School music

It’s been a big year for West Seattle High School‘s music program, especially the marching band, with two downtown parade appearances including St. Patrick’s Day, as shown in our video above. This Tuesday, you can help the program keep growing by having dinner at Abbondanza in Morgan Junction. WSHS’s first-year music teacher Ethan Thomas explains:

The West Seattle Rotary Club is hosting a dinner fundraiser at Abbondanza Pizzeria (6503 California Ave SW) to support the music program at WSHS.

Abbondanza will be donating 10% of their proceeds and Rotary Club volunteers will be waiting tables and donating their tips.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 14th, and come out and support our young musicians. The restaurant will be open from 5-9 pm.

From campuses to creek: Salmon-release season in Fauntleroy

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
The long run of beautiful spring weather has brought perfect conditions for hundreds of local students to visit the woods along Fauntleroy Creek. It’s the time of year when they release school-raised salmon fry during an intensive schedule organized by creek steward Judy Pickens. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there on Friday as students from both Alki Elementary and West Seattle Elementary students visited within the span of an hour. Above, WSES teacher Kendall Paine showed students an insect, part of the ecosystem supporting this salmon creek.

Volunteers like Bud Schwinger (below) help the students get their fish into the creek, and show them how to spot the fry:

They’re transported to the creek from schools’ tanks in buckets:

After a short walk to the water’s edge, it’s into the water – volunteer Dennis Hinton (below) helped Alki fifth-grader Steven Huynh release fry:

Yes, you can see them if you look really closely – note the three fry in the foreground, released by a West Seattle ES student and ready to swim away:

Before Memorial Day, Judy and volunteers will have helped with 17 release visits. Then, come fall, it will be time to watch for salmon spawners further down the creek – last fall, you might recall, set a record (here’s our report, with photos by Nick, from mid-November).

Chief Sealth soccer: State tournament play starts Wednesday; new summer camp announced

Chief Sealth International High School‘s soccer team opens state-tournament play Wednesday – and looking ahead into the summer, the program is offering a new camp program for 3rd through 9th graders. Just announced:

Following a 3-0 win over Ingraham last Thursday in the Metro League tournament, the Chief Sealth International High School boys soccer team is headed back to the WIAA 3A State tournament for the 2nd straight season. Reigning 2-time Coach of the Year Ron Johnson will lead the Seahawks back to the tournament after their 2nd consecutive undefeated Metro Sound Division season and as one of the true favorites to fare well in this year’s tournament. The Seahawks, ranked in the top 5 in State all season long, will travel north to play Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, May 15th at 6 pm at Veterans Memorial Stadium (on the campus of Snohomish High School; map).

Chief Sealth Athletic Director Sam Reed would also like to announce a new opportunity for area youth to experience the Chief Sealth soccer culture first-hand, with the debut of the Chief Sealth Soccer Skills Camp. Modeled in part after the long-standing success of the Chief Sealth Boys Basketball Camp, now in its 16th year, this soccer camp will take place July 22-26th and is open to all kids entering grades 3rd-9th (Fall 2013 grade level). The camp will be directed by Reed and Johnson and will feature many of the boys and girls players that have built their respective program’s into regional powerhouses. Registration is now open!

Here’s the brochure/application for the new camp (PDF).

West Seattle Sunday: Flowers; glass; asparagus; ales; Ultimate…

(Blooming border along Thistle St. Stairs to/from Lincoln Park; photo by Mark Ahlness)
May showers bring … more May flowers. And this Mother’s Day is certainly blossoming with promise. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

REMEMBERING MOM: If you’re going to Forest Lawn Cemetery and Funeral Home (WSB sponsor) to remember Mom today, they plan to have roses for mothers and to place on mothers’ gravesites, and people will be there to offer extra assistance to locate sites if needed.

FARMERS’ MARKET CELEBRATES ASPARAGUS: Cooking tips/demos, 11 am-1 pm, during the market’s regular 10-2 hours. (44th/Alaska)

FLOWERS FROM FLEURT: If you’re looking for flowers to be delivered to Mom (or anyone else for that matter) today, Fleurt (WSB sponsor) in The Junction can do it. They’re open 11 am-4 pm, with deliveries “all day – call early for the best selection,” says proprietor Sam Crowley. They also deliver potted plants, terrariums, and “other cool gifts Mom will love.” Call 206.937.1103. (4536 California SW)

GLASS-BLOWING DEMONSTRATION: Bring Mom to see art in action at Avalon Glassworks today, 11 am-5 pm. (2914 SW Avalon Way)

FAMILY BEACH SAFARI: Go out tidewalking! 11:30 am, at Emma Schmitz Overlook across from Me-Kwa-Mooks. (4503 Beach Drive SW)

SEATTLE RAINMAKERS: The Major League Ultimate team is back home this afternoon at Southwest Athletic Complex, hosting the Vancouver Nighthawks at 1 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

KALEY MARIE AT C & P: 3-5 pm, another chance to hear this teenage singer/songwriter perform, C & P Coffee Company. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: Ales for Seattle Beer Week (details here): Bring your dish to Beveridge Place Pub at 3 pm. (6413 California SW)

Update: ‘High-speed’ rollover crash sends 4 to hospital; driver under investigation for DUI

3:48 AM: Multiple medic and fire units have responded to a crash on Harbor Lane, off Harbor Avenue, a few blocks west of the bridge. Four people were in the car, according to radio communications, and two were reported to be badly hurt. More to come.

3:57 AM: Radio communications say all four people were ejected from the car after a high-speed impact that also took out a tree before the vehicle rolled multiple times.

They’re all being taken to the hospital. A man believed to be in his mid-20s was described as the most seriously hurt patient; no ages have been mentioned for the other three. Police said over the radio that they would be closing Harbor Avenue.

4:10 AM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand is at the scene. The address has been updated to the 2700 block of Harbor Avenue (map). Patrick says the vehicle is in the north/westbound lanes (headed toward Alki), and confirms what we had heard via radio, that the car took out a tree. Police have closed that side of Harbor but the south/eastbound lanes, headed toward the bridge, remain open.

4:26 AM: SFD says all four people are in their 20s, two women, two men, all were ejected from the car. While the north/westbound lanes of Harbor remain closed, and the other side open, that side MIGHT close once the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad arrives to start doing its work, police at the scene told Patrick.

7:25 AM: The road should be open before long – the tow truck was reported to be on its way.

6:44 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has just published a post about the crash, confirming that – as suggested in some of the comment discussion here over the course of the day – the 21-year-old driver is under investigation for driving under the influence.

The WSBeat: Tools of the trade? … and 5 other incidents

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*A homeless 24-year-old who hangs out in the Admiral area was spotted last weekend as he sat down at an establishment in the 2600 block of California Ave. SW. Because officers knew he was wanted on a criminal trespass warrant, they stopped to chat. A routine search of his backpack turned up a bolt cutter, hammer and box cutters (Suspect: “I use them for work.” Officer: “Where do you work?” Suspect:“I’m unemployed.”), along with 53 prescription pain killers and a plastic bag full of jewelry. He was booked into King County Jail for the warrant, possession of a drug without a prescription, and possession of burglary and auto theft tools.

Five more summaries ahead: Click to read the rest of The WSBeat: Tools of the trade? … and 5 other incidents…

West Seattle Bee Garden: 1 week till the festival! What’s ahead – and how to help

(Saturday photo courtesy West Seattle Bee Garden)
One year in the making, and one week remaining until the celebration of the new West Seattle Bee Garden, at next Sunday’s WS Bee Festival (May 19th). This weekend, writes Lauren Englund - whose dream, reported here in May 2012, started it all – the beehive enclosure is being finished, and you are welcome at a Sunday work party (starting at 10 am). And after that, it’s festival preparations. From Lauren:

For those who may not know, the High Point Neighborhood Association is hosting the West Seattle Bee Festival next Sunday, May 19th, to celebrate the opening of this space. It will include a picnic and parade! Here are some of the details:

Picnic Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Picnic Location: Commons Park at 31st Ave SW and SW Graham St
Parade Start: 11:30 am
Parade Start Location: West Seattle Elementary – 6760 34th Ave SW
Parade Route: North on 31st Ave SW from the WSE parking lot, across Morgan St, past the Bee Garden and into Commons Park. The total route is 0.5 miles.

Want to join the parade? Fantastic! Everyone is welcome. Set-up will ‘open’ at the West Seattle Elementary parking lot at 10:30 am. There will be face painting and an opportunity to make a flower for the parade. Look for a friendly face carrying a helium ballon for answers to questions. The Sound Wave marching band will be leading the way. Fun!

The picnic! Holy smokes some amazing people want to come hang out!

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Bee Garden: 1 week till the festival! What’s ahead – and how to help…

High-school baseball postseason: West Seattle HS to state

A 2-1 win over Seattle Prep this afternoon gives West Seattle High School third place in the Metro League and a state tournament berth, reports Greg Slader, who also shares the photos:

West Seattle seems to prefer the hard road into the state tournament, After losing to Bainbridge island in round one. West Seattle needed to beat Ingraham, Eastside Catholic, and Seattle Prep to advance to the state tournament. Mission complete. Pitcher Rex Lakey (#17, top photo) surrendered only one run through five innings as the defense was solid. Down 0-1 in the sixth inning, Sam Hellinger hit a two-run home run. Andy Snook pitched the seventh inning as the defense (below, Morgan’s tag at second) stepped up and completed the victory 2-1.

State regional playoffs begin for West Seattle in Mount Vernon next Saturday.

More West Seattle giving: Walk With Us to Cure Lupus on Alki

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
If you were garage-saling along Alki late this morning – you probably saw the hundreds of walkers who hit the paths/sidewalks for Walk With Us to Cure Lupus. Many were part of groups formed for the fundraising walk, like Team PlasmaLab:

The 5K is one of many around the country raising money for the Alliance for Lupus Research, seeking a cure for the auto-immune disease that ALR says affects up to 1.5 million Americans.

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day aftermath: Donations!

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day sellers who didn’t want to take unsold items back in the house had multiple options this year – giving the big sale day a long tail as a donation drive. Above, the Northwest Center truck crew is keeping later hours at their Junction dropoff spot (Edmunds west of California) – till 6:30 tonight. Here’s what they’ll take. You can also schedule a Big Blue Truck pickup for next week (or beyond).

New this year – WestSide Baby set up three dropoff spots for anyone with the items it needs. One site is the group-sale location at Hotwire/Ginomai (off the 42nd SW side, south of SW Genesee):

They’re scheduled to be there till 5 pm, same end time for dropoffs at Admiral Church (California/Hill) and Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Or, if you can get to WS Baby’s ops center in White Center at 10027 14th SW, they’ll accept dropoffs there until SIX tonight.

Beyond that, Stop ‘n’ Shop at the Senior Center (California/Oregon) is planning to be open for donation dropoffs until 7 pm tonight, and two schools have special requests that can be fulfilled on future dates – read about them, and get more details on the aforementioned sites, here.

PHOTOS: On-the-road coverage of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2013

LINKS: Web map here * Mobile map, here * Printable list/map here * WSCGSD on FB here

9:04 AM: The shopping and selling has begun! We’re on the road to stop at some of the participating sales in the biggest West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yet. We start at Sale #229, by and benefiting the Lincoln Park P-Patch (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, but it’s actually a half-block up Webster, east of the tennis courts. Lots of plants, in addition to assorted items – and, as you see in our photo, rhubarb! Next stop, Sale #232, which promises more than 30 years of Christmas decorations, and we found a table full of them:

They’re on a dead end up Trenton (and then a northbound turn) a few blocks east of Fauntleroy, 8730 43rd Place SW. Next: Our first seller-contributed photos:

9:22 AM: Sheryll shares that collage of photos from her sale, #9, at 7125 Shinkle in the High Point area. And from just south of The Triangle, in the Fairmount neighborhood, Sharonn‘s selling art:

She’s part of the block sale at #187; street address on the map is 4745 37th SW. While receiving these photos, our photographer is out of the WSB mobile newsroom, checking out the southernmost group site, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), and spotted this treasure:

C & P is Sale #218, at 5612 California SW.

9:49 AM: The photo above is courtesy of Joe, who writes, “It’s on!” His house is host to Sale #184, at 9813 32nd SW. Thanks for displaying the “official sale” sign! Meantime, a mile or so north of Joe at 8133 32nd SW, Valerie at Sale #206 shared this photo of one of her items – a propane fire pit – via the WSCGSD Facebook page:

Sale #186 has its own on-site cheerleaders!

Thanks to Laura for sharing that photo – she’s at 3108 SW Webster and says they’re offering “TVs, Epson scanner, spinner bike, (2) 12″ Torker girls bikes, solar lights, lemonade stand, girls clothes and shoes, marmoleum and bamboo flooring, juiceman, lamps …” Next photo is from Brooke, who reports that “People are in a great mood. The weather is mild and stuff is selling.”

Brooke’s sale is #192, at 5456 35th SW.

10:12 AM: Into the second hour of WSCGSD! We’ve just left a hub of selling on the north end of The Junction. One of the sites – Seattle Lutheran High School:

They are Sale #61, in the SLHS gym, just downhill (east) on SW Genesee from 42nd SW. The corner of Genesee and California is where you’ll find Sale #57, the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse/Ginomai (artist studios) group site on the southeast side of the intersection – this is just the east side of that two-courtyard sale:

On that side, in the Ginomai lot, we found this intriguing collection for very-small-car fans:

Hotwire is also a dropoff spot for WestSide Baby, which is one of the nonprofits welcoming unsold items today – look for the truck!

(Details on the nonprofits interested in leftovers, where they are, and what they are looking for, can be found here.) Across the street on the northeast side, you’ll find a big sale right outside Firefly Café and Creperie (WSB sponsor), which is Sale #54 on the map (items are on the California side too).

10:39 AM: Heading north, we stopped to say hi to repeat participants in WSCGSD – the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team! Thanks to Metro League Coach of the Year Sonya Elliott for getting the team involved again this year:

They are really hoping to sell the air-hockey table that’s behind the sign-holders in our photo! The WSHS sale is in the parking lot at 3000 California SW; on the map, that’s Sale #67.

11:11 AM: Third hour of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – we’ve just stopped by the Log House Museum on Alki, 61st/Stevens, and noted it’s not all West Seattle memorabilia:

Those are volunteers Kerry and Bob with a Beatles “Revolver” T-shirt – also seen, memorabilia from “A League of Their Own.” The museum (a great place to visit any time) is Sale #70 on the map. Meantime, we have more seller-contributed photos to share, too:

That’s from Sale #7 at 8816 16th SW, a benefit for the Trejdeksnītis Latvian folk dance group, which is raising money for travel. Also out of the WSB inbox, Michell‘s photo from Sale #80:

“We have a lot of kid stuff,” she reports. Her sale is at 4732 47th SW, in the alley between 46th and 47th.

11:47 AM: Above, that’s the big Girl Scout Troop benefit sale (#166) at 3229 Harbor Avenue SW. Multiple sellers, and even snow cones:

Meantime, if you haven’t left the house – even though rain is supposedly in TONIGHT’S forecast, today has just continued to get better – sunny, warm, a few thin clouds overhead. On to the second half of WSCGSD!

12:06 PM: Just stopped by to see Arthur (above) at Sale #4, south of Delridge Playfield at 4717 25th SW. Things were a little slow but he said he’s had a great time meeting neighbors (something we often hear about WSCGSD). Right before that, we pulled over in Luna Park to photograph Ola Salon‘s sale benefiting their neighbor, Transitional Resources:

That’s Sale #164 (2942 Avalon Way), part of a major campaign by Ola to support TR, which helps people living with mental-health challenges.

12:24 PM: Our next stop – the photo above – has some sentimental value. The West Seattle Tool Library sent people out looking for tools during WSCGSD three years ago, just before they launched. Now they are a widely admired success with so many tools, they’re selling some today – 4408 Delridge Way SW, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (there’s an off-street parking lot adjacent, if needed). The Tool Library is Sale #5 on today’s map. From there, we headed southeast into Puget Ridge:

Antique sewing machines are some of what you’ll find at the 23-household-community Duwamish Cohousing sale, on the dead end at 6000 17th SW – you can also access across from South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) in the same block of 16th, according to their listing (Sale #6).

12:48 PM: In the Admiral District, lots of tools, among other items, at 44th/Walker – thanks to Manuela for the photo from Sale #17! In North Admiral, at the northernmost sale on the WSCGSD map:

That’s Nate, at Sale #66, in the alley between 44th and 45th just north of SW Atlantic. His stuff includes what we really can only describe with all the old terms we didn’t see much of in this year’s descriptions – bric-a-brac, knick-knacks, geegaws, even tchotchkes. Even a Mr. Spock PEZ dispenser.

1:22 PM: Check the WSCGSD FB page for people announcing discounts and price cuts as we get to the final fourth of the official sale hours (some are staying open later, too).

1:53 PM: We’re in The Triangle and just stopped by Alki Lumber, Sale #194, 4422 36th SW. They’re still cooking up hot dogs to benefit West Seattle Pee Wee baseball – and the wheeling-and-dealing includes a discount on those, too. Judy Sweeney‘s at the grill:

We’ve had WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams out roving too, and we’ll have some photos to add later. Once 3 pm hits, we’ll talk more about the nonprofits that have special dropoff spots for anything that didn’t get sold.

2:55 PM: We’re back at Hotwire/Ginomai for the segue from sale wrap-up (almost 40 sellers in the courtyard here) to leftovers drop-off.

But the bargaining goes on till the last minute – within earshot of the Hotwire patio, we just heard somebody haggle a metal basket down to $1 and walk away happy. The stuff garage sales are made of! P.S. For sellers – here’s the info on who’s got special places and times through tonight (and a few beyond) for you to drop off any leftovers you don’t want to keep. P.P.S. More photos to add this evening!

ADDED: You can see those photos by going here.

West Seattle Saturday: What else is up today/tonight

(Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
In addition to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – 9 am-3 pm, maps here! – which we’ll be covering all day long, here are other highlights:

STAMP OUT HUNGER: Just like WSCGSD, this nationwide door-to-door food drive is on the second Saturday of the month every year. Whatever you are doing today, please take a few minutes first to bag up some nonperishable food to donate, and set it out by your mailbox (or door, if you use a mail slot) for your letter carrier to pick up. You can also drop it by Café Osita at 7349 35th SW, which is accepting dropoffs again this year.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY: Trileigh Tucker shares the photo of a Western Tanager (above) with word of this special day. She says they fly 3,000 miles just to build nests here. She’s drawn up a list of Lincoln Park’s birds – take a walk in the park and look for them; here’s the list. And find out more about birds and how to help them, on her website, Natural Presence.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DRILL: Volunteers around the city are joining in an emergency-communication drill this morning, 9 am-noon. West Seattle’s trailblazing volunteers are activating the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Communication Hub – north parking lot at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) – during the drill, and you’re welcome to observe. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

WALK WITH US TO CURE LUPUS: The annual fundraising 5K is on Alki again this year; same-day signups start at 9 am, and the walk begins at 10 am – details here.

MADISON STUDENTS ON STAGE! 10 am today is the second and final performance of “Honk Jr.” by Madison Middle School students, directed by Taproot Theater’s Jenny Cross at the West Seattle High School Theater; tickets $10 at the door. (3000 California SW)

TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Marty McLaren holds a community-conversation meeting at Southwest Branch Library, 10 am-noon.

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Little Rascals Preschool invites prospective families to stop by, 10 am-1 pm today. (4125 51st SW)

WSHS POSTSEASON BASEBALL: 11 am at Steve Cox Memorial Park, as per coverage here last night.

VOLUNTEER AT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Along with having a sale as part of WS Community Garage Sale Day (#70 on the map), the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is having its monthly Log House Museum info session for new volunteers, 11 am-1 pm. (61st/Stevens)

PRE-MOTHER’S DAY EVENT: Barnes and Noble is hosting an event involving several Westwood Village businesses, looking ahead to Mother’s Day. Among them: WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers. Stop by B&N 11 am-3 pm; more information here.

HIGH POINT GARDEN PARTY: A potluck picnic and garden celebration are set for 2-5 pm next to High Point Neighborhood Center – all invited. (6400 Sylvan Way)

ANOTHER MAYOR-CANDIDATE CHAT: Tim Burgess returns to West Seattle, this time for a 2:30-3:30 pm “meet with voters” event at Beveridge Place Pub. (6413 California SW)

HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED: It’s sold out, so if you don’t have a ticket, you’re out of luck, but in case you pass by the Highland Park Improvement Club and wonder what’s up – tonight’s their “Uncorked” wine-and-more benefit, 6 pm. (12th/Holden)

NORTHWEST HARVEST FUNDRAISER … tonight at OutWest Bar; details in our listing. (California/Brandon)

NOT DEAD YET: The local-favorite band plays the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) at 9:30 tonight. (6451 California SW)

Today’s the 9th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!

It’s the biggest West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yet, and the sales start in three hours! At this year’s sites, you’ll find everything from holiday decorations to wet suits to plant sales, with businesses, schools, and youth organizations participating as well as dozens and dozens and dozens of neighborhoods and individual sellers too. See the list of benefit sales here (some for organizations, some for individual situations like a couple saving for adoption). 280 sales are on the WSCGSD maps – which you’ll find here (Web, printable, and mobile versions). 3 of those sales are the group sites – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (sale #57, 4410 California SW), C & P Coffee Company (sale #218, 5612 California SW) and the VFW Hall (sale #150, 3601 SW Alaska). Happy shopping/selling! 9 am-3 pm are the official sale hours; please check atop the map page before you head out, for updates including the handful of last-minute cancellations. We’ll be out visiting some of the sales for ongoing coverage again this year, but no matter how fast we move, we’ll only get to a fraction of the sales, so whether you’re a seller or a shopper, we’d love to get a photo from you – editor@westseattleblog.com (if you prefer Facebook, please share on the WSCGSD page, where sellers and shoppers have been strategizing in advance and will likely chat throughout the day).

P.S. A full preview of everything else happening today/tonight is coming up next hour.

West Seattle Hi-Yu celebrates royalty, as new Queen is crowned

A royal night at the West Seattle Hi-Yu gala Friday – from left, new Hi-Yu Queen April Davis, her predecessor Queen Kayli Schulz, and Miss Seafair Veronica Asence, who will crown her successor in July. We photographed them before April’s coronation, so Queen April’s new sash was still waiting:

Also holding court at the gala, from the current Junior Court – from left Princess Emily, Queen Madison, and Princess Winter:

The night also incorporated a fundraising auction and the Hi-Yu White Rose Ceremony for the sisterhood of those who have reigned.

P.S. The next event on the Hi-Yu calendar: The West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club-sponsored kids’ fishing pond, 8 am June 1st at Seacrest.

High-school baseball postseason: WSHS vs. Prep tomorrow

Saturday morning baseball, anyone? It’ll be West Seattle High School vs. Seattle Prep at 11 am after the Wildcats’ win today. Team parent Greg Slader shares the report and photos:

The WSHS baseball team lost its opening-round game against Bainbridge Island. But an exciting come-from-behind game late Thursday night against Ingraham 11-7 led to Friday afternoon’s matchup against Eastside Catholic. Senior Sam Hellinger (photo above) pitched a complete game, holding the Crusaders to one run.

RBI hits by Graham French (photo above, driving in the tying run), Tim Adams, Sam Hellinger, and Morgan McCullough were enough offense to get West Seattle into the third-place Game on Saturday @ 11 am.

It was almost a crosstown matchup for tomorrow, but Chief Sealth International High School lost to Prep 4-1, tonight, and that set up Prep’s game tomorrow vs. WSHS, which is at Steve Cox Memorial Park field in White Center.

West Seattle schools: This year’s Global Ambassadors visit Schmitz Park Elementary

Thanks to Schmitz Park Elementary principal Gerrit Kischner for the photo from this year’s Global Ambassador Day – here’s what it’s all about:

Once again, Schmitz Park students had the opportunity to meet and learn from international students from the University of Washington. Schmitz Park students spend every year bolstering their geographic knowledge through our Global Passport Program, and this event allows us to meet the real people who live in the countries we study. This year’s Global Ambassador Day included UW students from Brazil, Iceland, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, France, and Italy. Our fifth graders hosted the event, demonstrating the culmination of the multiple experiences they have enjoyed. This event is conducted in cooperation and great support from the Foundation for International Understanding through Students.