day : 25/04/2010 11 results

It’s a two-way story here on the 25th night of our Disaster Preparedness Month coverage: Since the West Seattle peninsula doesn’t have a hospital, what happens if disaster cuts us off from off-peninsula services? First – looking ahead, now is the perfect time to put out the call for volunteers in the Public Health Reserve Corps, to spring into action if necessary in a crisis. Read all about it here. From that webpage, here’s who PHRC is looking for right now:

Licensed medical volunteer roles:

* Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners
* Clinical Social Workers
* EMT/Paramedics
* Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses
* Marriage and Family Therapist
* Mental Health Counselors – Registered or Licensed
* Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
* Physicians and Physician Assistants
* Psychiatrist
* Psychologist
* Registered Nurses
* Veterinarians

Non-medical, non-licensed support volunteer roles:

* Administrative Support
* Call Center Operator
* Chaplains/Spiritual Care Worker
* Pastors
* Support Volunteer

The PHRC has formal mobilization protocol, but also, the folks behind West Seattle Be Prepared note that in case of crisis, people with medical skills will also be VERY MUCH WELCOME at the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs (here’s the map). One other note from the WSBP site: This page is devoted to information about medical and first-aid help, including a link to Google Maps with the nearest hospital and veterinary facilities.

Nightly reminders: Join the West Seattle Be Prepared group on Facebook … take the 3 to Get Ready challenge (city campaign sponsoring WSB this month) and sign up for the prize pack!

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Seattle Times collaboration: The cost of graffiti vandalism

April 25, 2010 11:52 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

That Seattle Times video about Seattle’s “Graffiti Rangers” is part of a package of stories that just hit the Times site, including a contribution from WSB. It’s been seven months since we and other neighborhood-news sites around the area became part of the J-Lab Networked Journalism Project – an experiment to see how small and large news organizations could work together – and while offshoots of that collaboration have been visible here in other ways, such as Times photos we’ve sought permission to run, and links from the Times home page directly to WSB coverage of big West Seattle stories, this is the first official collaborative project. A Times reporter has taken a look at the graffiti-vandalism “big picture” – and six of us partner sites have contributed stories and vignettes about what’s happening in the neighborhoods. You can see it all here.

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West Seattle business news: Knows Perfume sets May 13 opening

April 25, 2010 10:24 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two months ago, we brought you the story of Christen Cottam (photo left) and her new store Knows Perfume, on its way to The Junction at 4536 California SW. Tonight, Knows Perfume has announced via Facebook and Twitter that it’s set May 13th for its grand opening. That’ll be the next West Seattle Art Walk night, by the way, and Knows plans to participate. Here’s our original story on the perfume-store plan.

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Fighting graffiti vandalism: The house by The Bridge

April 25, 2010 9:49 pm

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| Announcements

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At the north end of Delridge Way Southwest, one of West Seattle’s four major north-south arterials, sits the house by The Bridge.

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Though it looks for all the world as if it should have a Delridge address, it’s officially on 23rd SW. Technicalities aside, it’s seen by thousands of Delridge drivers who stream by every day on their way to one of West Seattle’s two bridges – the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, aka “the low bridge,” or the newly rechristened Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge, aka “the high bridge.”

The house is not exactly a beloved landmark. By some estimates, it’s sat empty for more than 20 years – it’s had the same owner for 21. It’s got a history of complaints, most recent one a case closed last summer. One year ago, it was the first stop on a “problem properties” tour organized by Mike Dady, then-co-chair of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council – he’s on the left in this photo, with Councilmember Tim Burgess:

Since that tour, both city councilmembers who participated – Sally Clark was the other – have helped pass code changes that give the city new tools to deal with abandoned, trouble-magnet buildings. Two of the houses on the tour have since been demolished. But the house by the bridge carries on. Because of the code changes, its owner could tear it down – but has never pursued a permit to do so.

Now, where it fits into the graffiti-vandalism photo: A few weeks back, it sported big new tags. A neighborhood activist sent us this photo, which we’ve partially blurred because our policy is generally not to show tags in their entirety:

The puffy lettering was explained at a recent crime-awareness meeting as the work of simple vandals, without a gang connotation. Nonetheless, it needed to be painted out, and at that meeting, Delridge Neighborhoods District Coordinator Ron Angeles said he was pretty sure it was scheduled for a paintout shortly – and indeed, within a few days, it was gone.

For now.

And therein lies the rub, and the brush, for the neighbors. It’s hard work to keep this up. Some tools are available – in Angeles’s office at the Neighborhood Service Center, about a mile south of the house, the “red wagon” is there for the borrowing:

It’s a citywide program – detailed here. But it comes with a long list of caveats – Angeles shows us the printouts while we take photos of the wagon and its contents; they’re in the Paint It Out brochure offered by the city.

Tagging is a crime that stirs passions because it has so many victims – those who are forced to look at it, day after day, until and unless it gets painted out. In a WSB discussion of West Seattle graffiti vandalism, “Pie” wrote: “I wish someone could explain to taggers that the only people they are impressing are the other moronic taggers. 99% of the people in the neighborhood who see the crap aren’t impressed – we don’t understand the idiotic need to spray an ugly symbol on public or private property to “claim” it. If someone could get that through their heads, that no one but you and your idiot rivals cares, I doubt tagging would be long for the world.”

In the same discussion, “Dick” countered: “It’s just paint! Who cares? You shouldn’t associate us graffiti writers with gang members. There’s a very distinct line. They do it to mark their territory. While we do it for the rush, fame, or what have you. Comparing us to real criminals such as drug dealers, murderers, rapists etc is just absurd. You’re really going to get so upset over a millimeter thick layer of paint?! I can’t tell who is the one acting like a child. Us writers, or you guys…”

Without a voice in the discussion, the house by the bridge sits. Today with a big gray patch – from the last paintout – interrupting its faded brick-red exterior; tomorrow? Depends on whether anyone shows up with a spray can tonight.

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Stabbing update: Victim said to be stable; suspect’s bail, $1 million

April 25, 2010 9:18 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Two updates tonight in the High Point stabbing case from Friday afternoon — already reported in the comment section following our original story, but we realize not everyone checks back: First, we now have two reports that the 40-year-old victim is in stable condition; we’d checked with police earlier today and that’s also the newest information they had. Second, while we won’t find out about possible charges against the suspect any earlier than tomorrow, the King County Jail Register says the 22-year-old suspect’s bail is set at $1 million. Many people have asked if there’s anything they can do to help the victim and her family; we’ll publish any updates we get along those lines, but haven’t heard anything yet.

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Followup: Pigeon Point’s stolen signpost is replaced

April 25, 2010 5:45 pm

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| Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

Just in time for next Saturday’s neighborhood Spring Clean event, the people of Pigeon Point have a new signpost. It’s been 3 weeks since someone cut down and stole its predecessor, Braveheart spoof and all, but now, Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding shared the photo, telling the PP neighborhood list, “A big thank you to Nick for building the new sign post and to Jim for the new Welcome to Pigeon Point sign that tops it.” (Real-estate-shingle-type signposts like this one are routinely used to promote Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meetings and other major events in West Seattle’s northeasternmost neighborhood.)

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Happening now: Beer Fest benefit at West Seattle Nursery

April 25, 2010 2:09 pm

| Comments Off on Happening now: Beer Fest benefit at West Seattle Nursery

| Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

First, the beer part of Beer Fest – Cole and Tyler from Prost West Seattle are at West Seattle Nursery, where proceeds from their beer sales till 5 pm today will benefit the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project (as will a portion of today’s WSN proceeds). They’re selling pretzels, too, and spreading the word about their upcoming World Cup viewing sessions – if Germany or the USA is playing, you’ll see the game at Prost, starting with USA vs. England (11:30 am June 12), provided the game’s not outside legal serving hours (6 am-2 am). Back to today’s nursery event: If you don’t know every little detail about the WSWHP – Dolly and Grace are there to answer questions:

You can also join the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project group on Facebook to stay connected with this effort to eventually get the entire peninsula certified as wildlife habitat – just like Alki was, last spring (here’s our story about the May 2009 celebration).

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Happening now: At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market

April 25, 2010 12:37 pm

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| West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

Got glasses, cell phones or ink cartridges to recycle? The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will gladly take them off your hands. Just go to their booth at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (on the east side, immediately behind KeyBank) before 2. And if you don’t see this in time, they’ll be doing it again later. (P.S. The motorcycle is a reminder of the Kiwanians’ upcoming Charity Poker Run/Classic Car Show, May 15th – more details here.) Glorious day at the Market in the sunshine …

We always link the newest “Ripe ‘n’ Ready” list in our Sunday morning preview story – if you missed it, here’s the link. Never know what you’ll find …

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Happening now: Sports Swap at Lafayette Elementary

April 25, 2010 12:16 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

In the mood to shop for sports equipment? Till 4 pm, Lafayette Elementary‘s the place to be. They’ve been collecting donated and consigned items leading up to this day, for the first-ever Sports Swap fundraiser, raising money for their ongoing playground project. Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is participating too – in our photo, that’s Adam and Ryan from M2SO. The items on sale are all over the sports map – including kids’ bikes:

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West Seattle business news: Feedback Lounge’s 1st birthday

April 25, 2010 8:01 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

(L-R, Feedback Lounge co-owner Jeff Gilbert, general manager Bradi Jones, co-owner Matt Johnson)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you can make it to the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) sometime today/tonight, go ahead and break out in song: “Happy Birthday,” or better yet, “Birthday,” would be appropriate. Today’s the 1st anniversary of Opening Night for Morgan Junction’s rock ‘n’ roll bar/restaurant.

The Feedback’s proprietors have already published a wry-laughter-inducing list of the Top 20 Lessons from their first year – you can read it on the Feedback site. But there’s of course more to the story, so co-owners Jeff Gilbert and Matt Johnson agreed to clear some time for us earlier this week to sit down and look back, while also looking ahead.Read More

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West Seattle Sunday: Nursery Beer Fest, school Sports Swap, poetry

April 25, 2010 6:07 am

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| West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Pretzels among the plants, photographed last May during West Seattle Nursery‘s first Beer Fest with Prost West Seattle – and this afternoon they’re doing it again, 1-5 pm, with part of the day’s proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project … This morning/afternoon, Lafayette Elementary raises money for its ongoing playground project with its first-ever Sports Swap sale, 9 am-4 pm at the school (map) … At Southwest Library this afternoon, bring your own poetry or your favorite authors’ work to perform and/or simply appreciate, in celebration of National Poetry Month, 2-3 pm (here’s the official flyer) … The former football star nicknamed “The Throwin’ Samoan” speaks at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) at 11:30 this morning, and lunch is part of the deal (full details here) … And of course it’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market day, 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska – with new items including “Rocksalmic Vinegar” (explained in the Ripe ‘n’ Ready list). … More on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!