day : 07/06/2009 12 results

That was the welcome sight and sound this morning at the end of the breast-cancer-fighting Puget Sound Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Walk, which filled the Alaskan Way Viaduct with walkers of all ages. As we’d noted in this story, West Seattle middle-schooler Adam Westerman, 12, was Grand Marshal of the Kids’ Run an hour before the 5K Walk — we missed his moment in the spotlight but you can see him and his mom Eddie interviewed in this KING5 story; there’s also video of Adam with KING5’s Jean Enersen in the second half of this “raw video” from the station’s site. On her website, Eddie wrote earlier this week that their team raised $16,000 (Monday morning update – Eddie says more than $17,600). We took cameraphone photos during the walk for as-it-happened coverage via Twitter (scroll down to Sunday morning “tweets” with photo links), but our favorite shot every year is the one taken as the thousands of walkers enter The Viaduct heading northbound from the stadium zone:

Last year, we wondered if that would be the last time The Viaduct was open to walkers – because of uncertainty over its fate – now we know that it’s likely to remain standing till 2015, but much construction is already happening around it – one view from today:

Congratulations to everyone who walked and ran today, and to all the survivors, those there in spirit as well as those there in person. Many walk in celebration and/or memory of special people; for us, it’s the mother-in-law I never met, the grandmother my son never met, Mildred Hickman Sand, lost to breast cancer in 1972. May the cure be near — TR

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West Seattle Garden Tour: Get a sneak peek online

June 7, 2009 10:38 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | Gardening | West Seattle news

Just found out via one of the spotlighted households that the gardens in next month’s West Seattle Garden Tour are all now described online, with photos. July 19 is the date for the self-guided WSGT; this year’s guest speaker is gardening star Ciscoe Morris, whose presentation at The Kenney at noon on tour day is included in the ticket price.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Farewell parties @ SSCC, Cooper

June 7, 2009 9:14 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Pigeon Point | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

You can’t have a farewell party without a cake. That’s one of two we saw this afternoon while stopping by two celebrations we had previewed – first, the one for Ingrid Olsen-Young, the popular veteran preschool teacher at South Seattle Community College Co-Op Preschool who’s leaving for Walla Walla. “Teacher Ingrid” agreed to take a quick break from mingling with well-wishers to pose with friend Janet Ko (thanks again to Janet for help with our preview story):

The party was, of course, at SSCC, Brockey Center to be precise; photos were shown on the big screen, and albums were out for perusal:

Now a bit northwest to Pigeon Point, where Cooper School‘s “closure celebration” opened the school to visitors this afternoon, 4 months after the School Board vote to end the Cooper Elementary “program”:

Outside, kids got the chance to bounce:

Cooper Elementary classes continue until Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of the year on June 19; between now and then, the legal challenge brought by closure opponents (first WSB story here, followup here) gets a hearing next Friday.

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West Seattle wildlife: Caught playing (o)possum

June 7, 2009 7:28 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Quick break between news stories – more in the works, but first we wanted to share that photo e-mailed by Kristina with this explanation:

My dogs and I were walking on the green area off of Bonair and we came upon a possum playing dead. It’s North America’s only marsupial! After we gave it some space it perked up and sauntered off into the trees.

Everything you could ever possibly want to know about opossums – including what “playing possum” is all about and how they got to our area in the first place – is on this helpful state-created webpage.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two cars targeted

June 7, 2009 7:06 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Updated from first publication with 10:35 pm addition of second incident) Just out of the WSB inbox:

FYI for the neighborhood.

Left the car parked outside my house last night, instead of the carport (32nd & Henderson area). This morning, found the keyhole damaged and the framing between the window and door was pried up. No other damage and they didn’t get in the car….Nothing fancy, just a 15 year old car with a fork in the front seat. Asked around and no one saw or heard anything.

Wendy B

Also note that in comments on our previous story about possible stolen items dumped in Pigeon Point, one commenter mentioned a keying spree in that area last night. ADDED 10:35 PM: From Todd in Westwood:

My wife’s 08 Subaru Impreza has been vandalized. Sometime in the last two weeks, someone has poured paint remover on the hood, doors and roof of the car. The substance was clear and sticky, we thought it might be tree sap, as we park it under two large horse chestnut trees. Once I started to wash the car, the paint came right off, just like automotive paint remover.

We have been in contact with an officer at the SW Precinct who thinks it might be random or a real amateur job. We have contacted Benjamin Kinlow at the SW Precinct a few weeks back to start the process of getting the block watch back in order.

If you’re interested in Block Watch, here’s the Crime Prevention page on the Southwest Precinct website.

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Dumped items: “Did somebody have their car stolen last night?”

June 7, 2009 3:55 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

So asked Rich in the note he sent with the photo you see above:

This new looking “Bugaboo Gecko” stroller is sitting just off the road near the 4400 block of 21st Ave SW, right by the radio tower. There are various cloth grocery bags and an umbrella. This is not the usual trash that gets dumped in this field… I tried calling the police non emergency number, 206-625-5011, but was advised to call back later by an automated voice due to a large number calls.

I hate the fact that car thieves might be using my neighborhood as safe place to ransack stolen cars.

If the stroller is yours, Rich can reunite you with it – contact us and we’ll put you in touch with him – editor@westseattleblog.com. (P.S. A note if you live in Pigeon Point – tomorrow night’s the next meeting of the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, 7 pm at Cooper School.)

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Followup: Alki gun-violation suspect out of jail

June 7, 2009 1:30 pm

| Comments Off on Followup: Alki gun-violation suspect out of jail

| Crime | West Seattle news

We’ve been following the story of the 25-year-old Army sergeant arrested and jailed Friday night after an incident on Alki – original Friday night coverage here, Saturday followup here. Just checked the King County Jail Register — he posted bail (which had been set at $1,000) and got out around 9:30 this morning. The allegation against him is listed in Seattle Municipal Court records as “carrying firearm with intent to intimidate” (which is in this section of the Municipal Code). We’ll check with city attorneys tomorrow to see what happens next.

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Celebrating West Seattle volunteers: Nominated anyone yet?

June 7, 2009 12:05 pm

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| Delridge District Council | How to help | Southwest District Council

Not sure how many were from West Seattle, but kudos to the MANY volunteers (like the green-shirted cheerleaders above) who made the Race for the Cure an incredible event again this year (our photos later, and if you have one of you and/or other West Seattleites in the event, please share – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!) Anyway, seeing them reminded us that we want to update you on the GREAT response so far to the brand-new effort to celebrate West Seattle volunteers, just launched by the Southwest and Delridge District Councils and WSB. We know the peninsula’s home to HUNDREDS of people who really rock the volunteer world to make this a better place, so while we’ve got some fab nominees now, let’s get more — take a second and send in the name(s) of the one(s) you appreciate the most! Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is June 17th; a community panel will review the entries and choose three for recognition during one of the summer’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park.

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Today: Viaduct closure for R4TC, bike ride, Cooper, orcas …

June 7, 2009 6:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

VIADUCT CLOSURE AND RACE FOR THE CURE: Different agencies have offered different times but suffice it to say — the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed from early this morning (7-ish) till 11 am, for the Race for the Cure. You can register at Qwest Field if you haven’t pre-registered; that’s what your procrastinating editor here will be doing — we’ll also be there to catch West Seattle middle schooler Adam Westerman (left with mom Eddie Westerman, a breast-cancer survivor) serving as Kids’ Run Grand Marshal. If you’re interested in a few updates from R4TC as it happens, check our Twitter feed (twitter.com/westseattleblog) – possibly Facebook too (where you’ll find us as WS Blog). One more Viaduct note: Remember the open house at Madison Middle School this Wednesday, 6-8 pm (see ad in WSB sidebar), for you to get info about the tunnel plan and offer comments on what should be studied for official reports.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always; here’s the “fresh sheet.”

TIDE GUIDES: It’s not a mega-low-tide today but low enough for the Seattle Aquarium to have uniformed Beach Naturalists at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park (south of Colman Pool), 10 am-1 pm

PLANT SALE/PET ADOPTION: Furry Faces Foundation‘s plant sale is 10 am-4 pm today, 3809 46th SW, with pet adoption on-site noon-4 pm.

NO SKILLET: Skillet Street Food will NOT be in West Seattle today – they’re taking their Airstream to the Mariners’ game instead.

HOLY ROSARY CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION BEGINS: First major event – 11:15 Homecoming Mass followed by a special luncheon (full details here).

BIKE RIDE: Tour West Seattle’s historical spots on two wheels with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society; meet at the Log House Museum at 12:30 pm.

INGRID OLSEN-YOUNG CELEBRATION: 2 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, as the beloved preschool teacher says goodbye to SSCC; see our story about her here.

COOPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FAREWELL: 2 pm, looking ahead to the scheduled closure of the school “program” later this month. Full details here.

“ORCA TRAIL” OPEN HOUSE: 4-7 pm at Alki Bathhouse – details here.

Even more events — including Day 3 of SIFF at the Admiral Theater — in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

11:22 AM UPDATE: The Viaduct did reopen before 11, in case you were wondering.

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Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists in West Seattle this summer

June 7, 2009 2:31 am

| Comments Off on Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists in West Seattle this summer

| Announcements

When low tides reveal more of West Seattle’s shore, you don’t have to figure it out for yourself – you can take advantage of this free service – here’s the official announcement we received:

The Seattle Aquarium will have uniformed Beach Naturalists at Constellation Park Marine Reserve (63rd SW and Beach Drive SW) and Lincoln Park (south of the pool) on the following low tide dates:

June 7, 10 am – 1:30 pm
June 20, 9am – 12pm; June 21, 10am – 1pm
June 22, 10am – 1pm & June 23, 10am – 2pm
July 5, 10am – 1pm
July 19, 9am – 11am; July 20, 9:30am -12:30pm; July 21, 10am – 1:30pm

They can answer questions about marine life on these two West Seattle beaches. For more information visit The Seattle Aquarium website:
www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=267

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Blood drive at West Seattle PCC store on July 3rd

June 7, 2009 2:07 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Announcements

July 3, there’s a blood drive at West Seattle’s PCC. Here’s the official announcement:

Did you know that nearly 38,000 transfusions are performed daily in the
United States? Volunteer donors are the only source of this precious
gift which can mean life for pre-mature babies, cancer and surgery
patients, accident victims and other ill and injured people.

Each day the Puget Sound Blood Center must collect nearly 900 pints of
blood to support patients within our community. Donors must be 18 or
older (16 or 17 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and
be in good general health. Because blood is separated into and
transfused as components, just one donation can help up to three people.

Hydrating well prior to donation and eating a small meal can help the
donation process if you have never donated before. And remember, you
can donate every 8 weeks -that’s up to 6 times per year! If you have
questions about medical criteria or potential deferrals, please contact
1-800-398-7888 or email our Clinical Support Specialists,
clinicalsupport@psbc.org.

Please help support the PCC Natural Market-West Seattle blood drive!
Walk-ins are welcome!

Date: Friday, July 3, 2009

Where: PCC Natural Market, West Seattle

Address: 2749 California Ave SW

Hours: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm (lunch break from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm)

Thank you for your support!

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Joe Crookston performs at Youngstown on August 8

June 7, 2009 1:33 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Announcements

Got this from Paul Fischburg:

Our beloved Joe Crookston will make a rare appearance at Youngstown on August 8th – doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8:30.

Tickets are already on sale and this concert will almost certainly sell out. Seats are limited but the magic and creativity are not! You can pick up tickets at for $15 at Fremont Place Books: 621 N. 35th St Seattle, WA (206-547-5970) e-mail: info@FremontPlaceBooks.com for info.

Or Tickets can be purchased online at: brownpapertickets.com

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