As we have traveled through Disaster Preparedness Month with almost-nightly information since April 1st, we’ve talked a lot about getting ready. What about when – if – something actually happens? That’s the focus of the advice on this city webpage. Some of the advice on that page has to do with earthquakes, which we’ve addressed already this month, but there’s also a one-sheet with information on Sheltering In Place – which is the advice if there is some kind of chemical spill/hazmat/toxic fume problem in the area. To be able to follow that advice, you’ll want to have a roll of plastic sheeting available – something else to add to your preparedness list, for next time you visit a hardware store. But first – have you already taken the 3 steps advised in the city’s “3 to Get Ready” campaign, including making sure 3 other people know about them? Here’s the starting point; 2 more weeks in the campaign, and don’t forget to register for the prize pack! For West Seattle-specific information, the West Seattle Be Prepared website is the place to go, along with its companion Facebook group. And if you do NOTHING else this month toward personal preparedness – at least know where your West Seattle Emergency Communication Hub is, and be certain your family/friends know too.
RESERVOIR PARK, MEETING #3: Thanks to Geraldine for that photo of the West Seattle Reservoir-covering project site at Westcrest Park, taken today. Tomorrow morning at Southwest Community Center, it’s the third of four planned public meetings on the park that’ll go atop the reservoir cover – and those who attend will get the first look at the design “schematic” that Parks staff and architects have mapped out following the first two meetings. You are likely to see a sizable presence from those who use the current Westcrest Off-Leash Area – the only official off-leash dog park in West Seattle; a group member who attended the Seattle Design Commission discussion of the plans last week says the off-leash park will be affected, and they have drafted a list of issues they want to be sure are addressed by the design.The park meeting starts at 10 am tomorrow; here’s a map to SWCC. (Here are our reports from the first two meetings – December, and February.)
ALSO TOMORROW: Seattle Public Schools‘ hottest topic of the moment is its budget, and if you have concerns about that, or any other SPS issue, your next chance to talk with West Seattle’s rep on theSeattle School Board, Steve Sundquist, is coming up tomorrow afternoon – 2-3:30 pm at High Point Library.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted at 6:54 pm for our original cameraphone pic) ORIGINAL 3:46 PM REPORT: On our way to the “assault with weapons” call at Graham/Lanham. Just got a call from someone who says one person’s been stabbed – we are working to confirm. 3:53 PM UPDATE: We’ve just arrived at the scene. Still lots of police. Christopher Boffoli is here too and tells us that the victim has been taken to Harborview (which has also just been mentioned on the scanner). SW Graham is closed off less than a block east of 35th SW because of the police action. 4:05 PM: TV helicopter over the scene (in case you heard helicopter noise elsewhere and wondered). Make that two TV helicopters. 4:14 PM UPDATE: According to Officer Renee Witt in the SPD media unit, police got a call around 3:30 that a woman had been stabbed, apparently in the 6000 block of Lanham – she was found outdoors. A male suspect was seen running away, wearing a “yellow inside-out hoodie.” Officer Witt says a few people apparently followed the man to Lanham/Graham and he went into a house here; they’re trying to get him to come out. At the scene, you can see police taking people into and out of at least two squad cars, questioning them. 4:24 PM UPDATE: Two witnesses say they believe police HAVE arrested the man, so we’re still trying to get official confirmation on that. They did not have information on the victim’s condition so we’re checking with SFD regarding whether the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or not. 4:41 PM UPDATE: Suspect is indeed in custody; police also tell us the weapon was a “short-bladed knife.” SW Graham is now open again, though the police are still on Lanham north of Graham. They say they’ll be wrapping up soon, after a few more scene photos. 7:38 PM UPDATE: Police have now posted a report on SPD Blotter. It says the 40-year-old victim – who was walking with her 9-year-old daughter at the time of the attack – and 22-year-old suspect are NOT believed to have known each other. Her injuries are described as life-threatening; her child was not hurt. The suspect is jailed for investigation of assault. We have cross-referenced the name on the jail register that we believe is that of the suspect; no previous record aside from a traffic violation.
Wide variety of events on the list this time around: The newsiest event will be the third public meeting for the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project, 10 am at Southwest Community Center(here’s one of our earlier previews); also on Saturday, a Duwamish River blessing, plus free Tai Chi for a BIG occasion. School benefits this weekend include Lafayette Elementary‘s first-ever Sports Swap on Sunday (donations accepted tonight/tomorrow) and Holy Rosary’s HEART Auction on Saturday. Plus – a poetry reading at Southwest Library on Sunday! Those are among more than SIXTY! events/activities are on the list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music, bodacious brunches, plus lunch ‘n’ dinner:Read More
If you scroll almost all the way down to the bottom of this update just published at SPD Blotter, you’ll see where the rubber meets the road – and the ticket meets the mailbox – for West Seattle drivers: Seattle Police are deploying their “photo speed van” on 35th SW, and while it’s a “warning period” right now, starting next month, you’ll get tickets WITHOUT warning. The speed van’s already been used in a pilot project in local school zones – here’s our story from October 2008, when it was shown off outside Gatewood Elementary(photo above is from that event).
(WSB photo from July 18, 2009)
The heart of West Seattle’s summer fun is less than three months away – and a weekly part of it during July and August is theSummer Movies on the Wall series in the courtyard between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Wolff. Once again this year, Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis is organizing the series and looking for your movie suggestions. Nothing too adult, but nothing totally kids-only-oriented, either. We’re still looking for our lists of what’s been shown the past few years and will add them when we find them, but in the meantime, don’t worry TOO hard about duplicating – you can browse our Movies on the Wall coverage category (click the link below the headline of this story) if you really want to look back – just suggest what you think would be fun for an all-ages crowd, lawn chairs and popcorn – add comments to this story. Dates for this year’s series are on the official website – six consecutive Saturdays, July 17-August 21. (Also note that the movie series is on Facebookhere and Twitterhere.) 12:01 PM UPDATE: Lora has sent the list of movies from the past four years – click ahead to see it:Read More
Two paving updates this morning: First, that’s a photo from last fall, when the city wrapped up reconstruction/repaving on 16th SW between Findlay and Brandon. SDOT has just sent out a reminder that it’s also going to rebuild the block between Brandon and Dawson this year, but not till summer – between mid-July and mid-September – so that fewer South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) attendees will be inconvenienced. The SDOT alert today says “A northbound detour similar to what was implemented in 2009 will be required again for work this year.” More info’s online.
Meantime, a welcome sight for Alki drivers (not to mention the people who live in the affected area): Mike Heavey sent the photo at right last night, from the Alki Avenue stretch by the 53rd Avenue Pump Station project. Restoration of the road is the final phase of work; we’d noted earlier this week that the blacktop was being put in place, and as Mike’s photo shows, it’s almost all done. That puts the project length at 26 months; as you can see in that link, it was estimated at 20 months when work started in February 2008. The project tripled its size (all underground)
(Seagull & sea star, photographed earlier this week by Kristina at Constellation Park)
Ever feel like you bit off more than you can chew? No worries; the highlights today from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar aren’t too overwhelming. If you love to browse but can’t wait for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 8th (official registration tally later today, now that signups are closed), St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church is entering the second 2-day stretch of its big rummage sale, 9 am-3 pm today (and tomorrow), California SW & SW Hanford … The West Seattle Garden Club meets in a new location, Delridge Community Center, 10 am-2 pm, “Our Patio Garden” study session in the morning and “Vegetable Gardening 101” in the afternoon … Several notable school events: Dropoffs begin for the Lafayette Elementary playground-benefit Sports Swap (details here) … Sanislo Elementary family and supporters are having a Celebrate Sanislo party/mini-auction 6-10 tonight at Alki Masonic Temple … West Seattle High School‘s talent show is at 7:30 in the school theater … the Chief Sealth High School baseball team’s spaghetti dinner/auction starts at 6 in the cafeteria (Sealth/Boren) … And Hiawatha Community Centershows you how worms can help save the planet during Eco Family Fun Factor, 6 tonight. More later in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!
(Quick 360-degree look at Lowman Beach Park this morning, from its NW corner, atop the seawall) By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It seems like a no-win situation: To keep millions of gallons of wastewater from spilling into Puget Sound every year, a beloved park on its shore might have to be compromised, perhaps even sacrificed.
But the neighbors and fans of Lowman Beach Park (map) who crowded into the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting Wednesday night insisted they could turn the search for a Combined Sewer Overflow solution from no-win to win-win – provided they are brought more deeply into the process, getting detailed data they can use to independently evaluate the possibilities, then suggesting and supporting an acceptable alternative.
But is it too late? With the county reiterating it’s “on a track” to choose its preferred alternative this summer, Wednesday night’s Morgan discussion was the last scheduled public meeting; it wasn’t even scheduled until after the proposed alternatives received an at-times emotional reception last month (here’s our story). Now, residents are asking the county to schedule more, and asked for the creation of a “stakeholders’ group.”
More on what they said, what they heard, and what happens next, ahead:Read More
which is the advice if there is some kind of chemical spill/hazmat/toxic fume problem in the area. To be able to follow that advice, you’ll want to have a roll of plastic sheeting available – something else to add to your preparedness list, for next time you visit a hardware store. But first – have you already taken the 3 steps advised in the city’s “3 to Get Ready” campaign, including making sure 3 other people know about them? 
Wide variety of events on the list this time around: The newsiest event will be the third public meeting for the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project, 10 am at 
If you scroll almost all the way down to 
Two paving updates this morning: First, that’s a photo from last fall, when 
Meantime, a welcome sight for Alki drivers (not to mention the people who live in the affected area): Mike Heavey sent the photo at right last night, from the Alki Avenue stretch by the 53rd Avenue Pump Station project. Restoration of the road is the final phase of work; we’d noted earlier this week that the blacktop was being put in place, and as Mike’s photo shows, it’s almost all done. That puts 
But the neighbors and fans of Lowman Beach Park (
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