day : 19/04/2010 13 results

Disaster Preparedness Month, night 19: Secure your water heater

One relatively simple, but hugely important, home-improvement action you can take in honor of Disaster Preparedness Month: Secure your water heater, since it can supply you with fresh water for quite a while if trouble interrupts your access to the main system. The sketch at right is from a how-to page on the state Department of Health website – which points out that plumber’s tape is no longer the preferred method for securing water heaters, because “so many tanks burst through this strapping” during the 1989 Bay Area and 1994 Southern California quakes. To see how to secure your water heater, check out the state how-to here. Got yours secured already? Send us a photo so we can show the world your awesome preparedness! And while we’re talking earthquakes – a reminder that the statewide drill, recommended for everyone (work, home, school, etc.), is coming up at 9:45 this Wednesday morning. Till then, make sure you’ve completed the basic preparedness steps we’ve been reiterating each night: Take the “3 to Get Ready” challenge (city campaign, sponsoring WSB this month); explore the West Seattle Be Prepared website and memorize your Emergency Communication Hub; and if you’re on Facebook, join the West Seattle Be Prepared group.

West Seattle “reasonably quiet,” Crime Prevention Council told

(L-R, Lt. Norm James, WSCPC president Dot Beard, secretary Betty Wiberg, VP Richard Miller)
There was so (relatively) little crime to talk about at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, it didn’t even last an hour. In his meeting-opening update, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Norm James began, “Everything’s been reasonably quiet.” And he said that is particularly good news for one neighborhood, Highland Park, where burglaries have “dropped off the charts” – recent arrests seem to have ended the latest series (described in this April 1st report). More of his toplines on current West Seattle crime trends, plus a surprise presentation at the meeting, and more, ahead:Read More

West Seattle scene: Wedding wrapup at Alki

For better or for worse, through richer or poorer … through rain or shine … Mark shared that photo taken over the weekend after he spotted the truck on Alki.

Another way to mark Earth Day: West Duwamish Greenbelt walk

April 19, 2010 9:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Another way to mark Earth Day: West Duwamish Greenbelt walk
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Nature Consortium – a West Duwamish Greenbelt pond that’s home to red-legged frogs)
Thursday is the official celebration of Earth Day – the 40th anniversary of the first one on April 22, 1970 – and just one day later, you can get an up-close-and-personal look at our city’s largest remaining contiguous forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt, by joining the free monthly guided eco-hike (mild terrain) presented by the Nature Consortium, the West Seattle-based nonprofit that’s devoted to restoring the WDG. RSVP by calling 206- 923-0853 or emailing lisa@naturec.org; then meet at 1 pm Friday at the 14th SW/SW Holly (map) trailhead. P.S. Even if you’ve already seen our Duwamish Alive! coverage from Saturday – don’t miss the comments on this report – they include reports that two key participants added just today.

Followup: What researchers found inside the Arroyos gray whale

(WSB photo from Thursday)
From Wednesday through Saturday last week, we brought you the story of the gray whale that stranded and died at Arroyo Beach on the southwesternmost end of West Seattle. Cascadia Research has posted some early results from the necropsy done on the whale’s remains yesterday. Here’s their full writeup. No definitive cause of death, they write, but:

The animal had more than 50 gallons of largely undigested stomach contents consisting mostly of algae but also a surprising amount of human debris including more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape, and a golf ball. The debris while numerous, made up only 1-2% of the stomach contents and there was no clear indication it had caused the death of the animal. It did clearly indicate that the whale had been attempting to feed in industrial waters and therefore exposed to debris and contaminants present on the bottom in these areas.

The whale died shortly after Arroyos residents first spotted it off their beach on Wednesday afternoon; researchers towed it away Saturday, bound for the South Sound beach where the necropsy was done, and where it will be left to decompose, with the bones eventually to be collected and displayed by marine researchers from Highline Community College‘s Marine Science and Technology Center.

Council OKs “aggressive solicitation” law; mayor vows veto

The City Council just sent its official announcement about passing the so-called “aggressive solicitation” law proposed by Councilmember Tim Burgess, who promoted it during a speech to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce at West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct last month (WSB coverage here). The vote was 5-4; voting “no” were Councilmembers Bruce Harrell, Nick Licata, Mike O’Brien and Tom Rasmussen. But five votes aren’t enough to override the veto promised by Mayor Mike McGinn (as reported by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle TImes). Read on for the council’s announcement:Read More

One more park note: Myrtle Reservoir Park work to start soon

Barely a block from High Point Playfield (subject of our previous story), construction is finally about to start for the park atop newly buried Myrtle Reservoir. It came up in the WSB Forums last week; now Cindi Barker of Morgan Community Association has confirmation from Parks’ project manager Virginia Hassinger that the project’s going out to bid, with bids to be opened May 12th, construction to follow. (This’ll be on the agenda at MoCA’s quarterly meeting Wednesday night, 7 pm @ The Kenney.)

High Point Playfield name search: Potential tribute to trailblazer

(WSB photo of High Point Playfield, taken this afternoon)
A few days ago, the city circulated a news release seeking name suggestions for three parks around Seattle. One is High Point Playfield. The news release didn’t explain why a not-new park was in the market for a new name, but we followed up, and just got the answer – it’s the first step toward potentially naming the playfield in honor of trailblazing former Parks Superintendent Walt Hundley. Read on for more:Read More

Metro reminder of upcoming 1st Avenue S. ramp-closure reroutes

Shortly after the date was announced last month for the upcoming closure of the 1st Avenue South ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge — part of the city’s Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project — Metro provided WSB with its bus-rerouting plans (3/5 story here). They haven’t changed, but with the May 17 ramp closure less than a month away, Metro has now sent an official news release, so in case you missed the news before, here’s the full text:Read More

Triangle meeting #2: Facing the “gorilla” – & businesses’ concerns

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When the city-convened West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group gathered for its first meeting (WSB coverage here), developer Denny Onslow of Harbor Properties pronounced Triangle parking “the 500-pound gorilla in the room”: It wasn’t on the official agenda, but it was on almost everyone’s mind.

When the group gathered again this past Wednesday night at the Senior Center of West Seattle for meeting #2, the “gorilla” was at centerstage, with four potential Triangle “streetscape” concepts presented, each one including information on how it would affect the area’s street-parking inventory.

The other major headline from the meeting: While local property owner and advisory-group member Steve Huling wasn’t in attendance this time, several other Triangle business and property owners were represented in the audience, including Alki Lumber, Tom’s Automotive and Doyle’s Automotive.

Their concerns and what happens next – as the story continues:Read More

What the Alki dust is all about: Pump-station road restoration

A little while ago, a note came in asking about a big cloud of dust or smoke on the east end of Alki Beach. If you’re seeing it from a distance, here’s what it’s all about: Road-resurfacing work at the 53rd Avenue Pump Station site, final phase of the two-year-plus project. Thanks to Bob Bollen for sharing the photo – he wrote, “At last a finished road is in sight!”

West Seattle Monday: Crime council, skate dinner, Shipwreck laughs

(Sunday photo from Lincoln Park, shared by Gabe)
EAGLE-EYED CRIMEFIGHTERS: The intrepid West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has moved its meeting for this month only; it’s TONIGHT at the Southwest Precinct, 7 pm.

DINE AT DUKE’S, HELP KIDS SKATE: Tonight if you dine at Duke’s on Alki between 4 and 10 pm, a portion of the proceeds go to Lafayette Elementary to help buy new rollerskates for the PE program.

FEEDBACK LOUNGE BIRTHDAY WEEK BEGINS: This week, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrates its first anniversary, with nightly specials, new rock ‘n’ roll art exhibits and more. Today’s special: $3.65 sliders and fries, open till close.

KNIT NIGHT: Seattle Yarn invites knitters to begin the week with a night of needle arts, crafting, food and drinks, starting at 6:30 pm at Endolyne Joe’s.

ZERO WASTE: That’s the topic for Sustainable West Seattle‘s monthly community forum, 7-9 PM, Senior Center of West Seattle.

KITTY CATS IN PIRATE HATS: It’s the first-ever comedy showcase tonight at Shipwreck Tavern, 8:30 pm, presented by the “Uh-Oh Dudes.”

COUNTDOWN TO GARAGE SALE DAY SIGNUP DEADLINE: Continuing the last week of registration for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, which is 9 am-3 pm May 8 – go here (registration deadline is this Thursday night, 4/22, 11:59 pm).

West Seattle Tool Library: Help build it! Meeting April 20th

April 19, 2010 12:15 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tool Library: Help build it! Meeting April 20th
 |   Announcements

From Patrick @ Sustainable West Seattle:

Help Build The West Seattle Tool Library

With two successful tool drives behind it, The West Seattle Tool Library will be meeting again on Tuesday night, April 20, 7 pm at Uptown Espresso to discuss plans to develop the rest of our collection and plan for our involvement in The West Seattle Community Garage Sale. We’ll also be reviewing our logo designs, and establishing how we’ll promote the Tool Library as our June Grand Opening approaches. All are invited and more than welcome to attend. As always, feel free to send any ideas, comments, questions, or answers along to Gary Lichtenstein at library@sustainablewestseattle.org or visit the Tool Library’s page (sustainablewestseattle.org/tool-library) for more details.