Disaster Preparedness Month, night 30: The recap
This is it – the end of Disaster Preparedness Month. All but one night this month, we brought you tips, links, recommendations about making sure you and your loved ones are better prepared just in case of the unthinkable. 
HUGE thanks to the West Seattle preparedness-volunteer crew – including Karen Berge, Deb Greer, Cindi Barker, Ron Zuber, and everyone who works on the Emergency Communication Hubs in neighborhoods around the peninsula. And thanks to you for taking a few minutes to read. These haven’t sparked massive discussions online but they weren’t meant to – they were meant to get you thinking and hopefully preparing, and if at least a few West Seattleites added something to their kit, memorized their nearest Hub, signed up for 3 to Get Ready (left) – that’s what it’s all about. Here are the recap and regular links one more time:
*Archive of all Disaster Preparedness Month stories on WSB, newest to oldest
*West Seattle Be Prepared website – resource-rich, full of links and maps and information, WS-specific
*West Seattle Be Prepared Facebook group – join!
*3 to Get Ready, the city’s preparedness campaign (sponsoring WSB to get the word out), continuing 1 more week
And as noted in the first week of DP Month, the city has two classes in June in West Seattle – an earthquake-retrofitting class in Admiral on June 1, a SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) class in Delridge June 8. Disaster Preparedness Month may be ending, but any day can be Preparedness Day.
2 more Lowman Beach updates: “Save (the) Park” meeting, more
First update: A community meeting is now scheduled for those concerned about the county’s three proposals for controlling Combined Sewer Overflows at Lowman Beach’s Murray pump station.This was just posted as a comment after yesterday’s update:
Save Lowman Beach Park!
Please Plan on attending our Community Meeting at Puppy Perfectors in White Center next to Schuck’s Automotive/O’Reilly’s -9629 17th Ave. SW – May 10th at 7:00 pm
Guest speaker Attorney Bill Williamson with Williamson Law Office and Gary Gill a Civil Engineer, experienced with City of Seattle.
We need your support and ideas to save our 101-Year-Old Lowman Beach Park Gem!
Thank you,
Gary Cobb-Cobb Construction/Regional Realty
gary@regionalrealtyllc.com
Also, we received another update from Martha Tuttle at King County Wastewater Treatment Division, who had told us yesterday that another public meeting would be scheduled – today she’s got a more detailed announcement, though no actual dates yet:
In the coming weeks, the King County CSO project team will be posting technical information on King County’s CSO Beach Project Website, planning a workshop to review alternatives (which will include tours of West Seattle pump stations), and planning additional opportunities for local stakeholders to participate in in-depth discussions of the issues in the Murray Basin. Please monitor the Project Website for upcoming events and further information.
High Point meeting: ‘Tensions’ acknowledged, ‘healing’ sought
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
What to do to calm High Point concerns amid what even its Seattle Housing Authority manager acknowledged last night are “tensions between groups amongst our young people”?
There was no consensus among those who spoke emotionally and powerfully at last night’s community meeting, sponsored by the High Point Neighborhood Association, originally meant to address questions and concerns about the stabbing of a 40-year-old woman along a local street last Friday.
But there was one clear message taken from the standing-room-only, even sitting-on-the-floor meeting: Hundreds of High Point neighbors wanted to talk about it – and about the circumstances surrounding the incident that brought police and fire to the neighborhood two hours before the meeting, when a 16-year-old boy, identified during the meeting as Somali, was beaten in a fight near HP Neighborhood Center, site of the meeting.
At the front of the room were HPNA leaders, Southwest Precinct police leaders, and SHA managers. The rest of the room was filled to overflowing with residents and community advocates – at right, that’s the end of the line waiting to get in, before the meeting.
“I know we come here tonight with many emotions,” began HPNA president Jennifer Cobb. Indeed, those emotions permeated the 2-plus hours that followed – the meeting might have run longer, but it was pointed out that some of those in attendance had to get to 8:30 pm prayers.
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Another West Seattle business opening: Donna Ryan Photography
Her business isn’t new, but the location is. Tomorrow is opening day for Donna Ryan Photography in the former Swee Swee Paperie (which now operates online) storefront in The Junction, just east of Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor). Donna tells us the doors swing open at 11 am tomorrow (Saturday 5/1). The photo at left, which she provided, demonstrates not only her main stock in trade, but also her new sideline: As mentioned here last month, she will be selling children’s clothing from the Tea Collection. Along with selling apparel and scheduling in-studio photo shoots, Donna will continue to shoot on location – and is planning to offer in-house Portrait Parties, described in her grand-opening news release as “a combination of a fun get-together and photo shoot.” Donna, by the way, is also the official photographer for the West Seattle Junction Association – you may remember her from Santa shoots the past few seasons, and she’s also taken photos for some of the features on wsjunction.org. You can find out more about her business at donnaryanphotography.com; she’s opening with a Mother’s Day promotion – “All Moms who stop in and make a purchase of $50 or more will get a voucher for $20 off a future purchase.”
Excited about Summer Concerts in the Park at Hiawatha? Donate!
(WSB photo from August 2009)
Many fabulous West Seattle summer events are free to enjoy – but that’s because sponsors and supporters have put up money to cover the costs. One of them, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series- which WSB is co-sponsoring again this year – is seeking community support as well as more business sponsors. Here’s an update from ANA president Katy Walum:
Planning is well underway for the 2nd Summer Concert Series in Hiawatha Park! Last year’s concerts were a huge success and very well attended by the community. This year’s concerts follow a similar format and run for six weeks from July 29th through September 2nd. Again, all concerts are Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30PM and are FREE to the community. You can expect to hear music from local artists that is fun, relaxing and has wide appeal. Pack a picnic, relax on the lawn and listen to some music with your neighbors!
Admiral and West Seattle businesses like PCC, the West Seattle Blog and Weitzel Construction have contributed to help fund this music event. Additional businesses have pledged support but we are still shy of our fundraising goal. We could use your help! If you own a business in the community and would like to contribute to the event, or if you can offer a personal donation, please e-mail Dave Weitzel at dave@weitzelconstruction.com or submit your credit card donation through our website: www.admiralneighborhood.org. All credit card donations are tax deductible and processed through DNDA (Delridge Neighborhood Downtown Association), our fiscal sponsor. Our website will direct you to theirs where you can enter your personal information.
***IMPORTANT***
Please enter “ANA” or “Admiral Concerts” into the comment section after you’ve entered your credit card information. This will insure your donation is directed to the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s (ANA) Summer Concert Series. Thanks so much for your support; we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood and at the concerts this summer!
Katy also tells us they’re still screening performers – they don’t need any more suggestions/applications, as they had lots of interest, but they haven’t made final decisions just yet.
Take a field trip to learn about native plants in Lincoln Park
Thanks to everyone for sending all kinds of event announcements to WSB so we can share them via the WSB Events calendar. This one is a unique jaunt through a local gem, with limited space, so we’re sharing it immediately:
May 9th. 9 to 12, Lincoln Park field trip. Learn more about the diversity of native plants in the forests of our park and about community efforts to protect and maintain that diversity. Stewart Wechsler is an experienced and knowledgable naturalist and field trip leader, who has done an extensive inventory of the natives in Lincoln. Sharon Baker is the volunteer forest steward and organizes and leads restoration work parties in the park through the Green Seattle Partnership. We will walk (slowly) up to 4 miles on good trails with some elevation gain. Sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society. Call Sharon at 206 935 1769 or e-mail sbaker@uw.edu to sign up and get details. Limited to 15 participants.
Happening now: Plant/bake sale at Providence Mount St. Vincent
April showers bring May flowers – and April plant sales can bring April flowers … there’s an example from the Providence Mount St. Vincent (map) plant sale/bake sale/mini-bazaar happening right now, till 4 pm. Arlene Carter from The Mount took photos just as things got under way, and sent them to share. She says, “Lots of home-baked goodies, wonderful bedding plants and fun things to buy. All proceeds benefit the residents and programs of The Mount. Sponsored by the Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation Auxiliary.
Any time you have an event under way, we do our best to get in-progress updates here (and elsewhere, particularly Twitter) but we just can’t be EVERYWHERE, so you are ALWAYS welcome to send a “happening now” photo to anything here that works for you.
Countdown to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 8 days
Quick updates on the sixth annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, 9 am-3 pm on Saturday, May 8 – one week from tomorrow! For avid preparers who just can’t wait to get The Map, it will be available online no later than 9 pm tomorrow (5/1). Like last year, it’ll be available in two formats: Printable (multipage PDF, with the sales mapped and numbered, north to south, and full text of the short “ads” for each sale) and online Google Map (doesn’t print well, but you can use it to chart your own course – click each sale location and its address pops up with “ad” info). We will have a limited number of pre-printed maps at several locations around the peninsula by Monday, but please save those for shoppers with no access to a printer – the map is designed to be printed on plain ol ‘ 8 1/2 x 11 paper so whatever you DO have access to, it’ll be just fine. As of right now, the almost-final total is projected to be 201 sales (another record), with hundreds more sellers when you add in group-sale sites. In addition to the nonprofits (mentioned in our previous update) that are having their own sales, some individual sellers say they are donating all or part of their proceeds – watch for map listings mentioning the Orca Network, West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Relay for Life, Northwest Epilepsy Foundation, American Cancer Society, Washington Chapter of the National MS Society (among others). And we want to mention again that the West Seattle Tool Library will be accepting donations at four locations PLUS sending teams out on “scavenger hunts” to buy tools from sales – if you’re not selling, but you have tools you can donate, read about the Tool Library here and drop them off while you’re out on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. LAST NOTE: If you can print the 8 1/2 x 14 official poster and put it up at your workplace, school or business (outside WS? fine! we’re inviting the world!), THANKS – here it is, ready to print!
Also tonight: Vietnamese Cultural Center remembers fall of Saigon
The Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle has hosted several major events in the past few years. We were there most recently for a New Year’s event that also celebrated the 34th District Democrats‘ recognition of the Vietnam Heritage and Freedom Flag (shown above). Tonight, there’s an event to which the center wants to invite you. From Ducly Bui:
You and yours are cordially invited to the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, South Vietnam, to the Communist Party. It will be a Candlelight Vigil in remembrance of the South Vietnamese and the US soldiers who gave up their lives for the freedom of Vietnam.
Time : Friday 30 April 2010 at 7:00 PM
Place : Vietnamese Cultural Center, 2236 SW Orchard St.
Here’s a map to the center; we published a feature story about it in 2008.
Disaster Preparedness Month, night 29: Taking it 1 step at a time
On this second-to-last night of our Disaster Preparedness Month coverage: Feeling overwhelmed by all the advice and exhortations, knowing there is so much you need to do, but not knowing where to start? Here’s help. 
Morgan Junction preparedness volunteer (and emergency responder when wearing his professional hat) Ron Zuber shares a calendar created by the Santa Rosa (California) Fire Department, but NOT specific to that locale – every step is absolutely applicable here (among many other places). It is a week-by-week calendar that offers several steps you can take EACH WEEK – at your leisure during that week – for six months. Print it out, put it on the fridge, check off the steps as you take them; every bit of progress you make is progress toward making sure you and your loved ones could make it through a disaster. HERE’S THE DOWNLOAD (Word doc). Meantime, those other regular reminders – tons of resources online at West Seattle Be Prepared, including the map to West Seattle’s Emergency Communication Hubs (memorize yours!); take the extra online step and join the Facebook group that’s part of West Seattle Be Prepared; plus – there’s still time to get in on the “prize pack” for the city’s 3 to Get Ready campaign (sponsoring WSB as part of Disaster Preparedness Month). Again, don’t get overwhelmed – every small step you take, means you’re more prepared than you were before.
High Point meeting toplines – plus, how to help the victim
The full, long story will take a while to write, so for now, a few toplines from tonight’s High Point community meeting, organized by the High Point Neighborhood Association to discuss safety concerns in the aftermath of last Friday’s stabbing: Overflow crowd (photo shows a corner at the front of the big meeting room) at High Point Neighborhood Center, with HPNA leaders up front along with Southwest Precinct top leadership and Seattle Housing Authority reps. … The nearby assault that sent a 16-year-old boy to the hospital 2 hours earlier was a topic of discussion too – he was said to be Somali, and his injuries were described as serious … Asked why the suspect in last Friday’s attack was not charged with a hate crime, police explained that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office makes the final decision, but so far, they said, their investigation had not turned up evidence it was a hate crime … SHA management acknowledged there are “tensions” between groups of teenagers and promised more programs at the center and in nearby Commons Park in time for summer … A long line of people spoke at the meeting, with many different perspectives: Some criticized HP management. Some criticized police; some complimented them. Some criticized troublemakers’ parents. Others challenged HP residents to get to know each other better. … Now, a note that was NOT discussed at the meeting, because of its length (2 1/2 hours) and intensity: HPNA president Jennifer Cobb just sent word of the announcement they forgot to make as the meeting wrapped up:
We are collecting donations for the woman who was attacked. Make checks payable to the High Point Neighborhood Association and drop off at the High Point Center or mail to HPNA – 6400 SW Sylvan Way/Seattle, WA 98126 by Friday, May 14th.
As we’ve reported, the 40-year-old victim is home now; the 22-year-old suspect is charged with first-degree assault, jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, and scheduled for arraignment in two weeks. Again, our full story on tonight’s meeting is in the works.
West Seattle Bookshelf: The latest Top 5 lists
Lists courtesy of Square One Books
Looking for something to read, and/or wondering what’s hot? Every week, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her independent West Seattle bookstore’s 5 best-sellers in each of 4 key categories:
Adult:
1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
2. The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama by David Remnick
3. In the Green Kitchen by Alice Waters
4. The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
5. Changes by Jim Butcher
Paperback:
1. The Stieg Larsson Mysteries by Siieg Larsson
2. Guernica by Dave Boling (who read at Southwest Library tonight)
3. The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow
4. The Secret Son by Laila Lalami
5. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
Children/Young Adult:
1. Savvy by Ingrid Law
2. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
3. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
4. How to Train Your Dragon Series by Cressida Cowell
5. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary by Jeff Kinney
Teen:
1. Whisper by Phoebe Kitandis (West Seattle’s Very Own Author!)
2. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green
3. The Cirque du Freak Series by Darren Shan
4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Update: Police search for assault suspect in High Point
(WSB cameraphone photo added 4:33 pm)
FIRST REPORT AT 3:58 PM: Thanks for the tips on the “multiple medic response/14” at Lanham/Morgan – which usually means an incident with multiple victims. On our way. 4:10 PM UPDATE: Police at the scene referred us to the SPD Media Unit, which tells us they received a report of an assault about half an hour ago. A 16-year-old boy had been assaulted at a basketball court by the High Point Neighborhood Center/Commons Park; “a large crowd had gathered, was not being cooperative with officers,” Officer Renee Witt says. They are still looking for the suspect, who was said to have punched the victim and then walked away; only description, a red shirt. Despite the Medic 14 dispatch, Officer Witt says only one victim is reported – but she also stresses, this is “very preliminary information.” (Neighborhood Center will be the scene of a community meeting coming up at 6 pm, to discuss last week’s stabbing nearby; police were invited, as well as neighborhood leaders and community members.) ADDED 4:20 PM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Helen Fitzpatrick confirms only one patient was transported to the hospital, but doesn’t have any condition info. The scene is mostly clear now.
“Save Lowman Beach”: New legal fund; another meeting planned
Eight days after a contentious crowd (WSB story here) asked the King County Wastewater Treatment Division to extend the public process in deciding what to build to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) 
at Lowman Beach‘s Murray Pump Station, there’s no indication yet that will happen. So one neighbor has set up a legal fund. Linda Ann Cox e-mailed to announce the fund, saying “I am not convinced that anything will happen unless we can take legal action and MAKE the government stop and listen to the community.” She started the fund with $100, but says they need at least $1,000 to get something going. Community members have voiced displeasure with all three options (detailed here) that the county is evaluating regarding CSO control; all involve underground storage, with some above-ground components: The two least-popular would involve burying a storage tank by either digging up much of Lowman Beach Park, including its tennis court and century-old trees – “restoration” is promised if that is chosen – or forcing residents to leave homes/apartments across the street from the park. Cox says the account is at US Bank and it’s called “Save Lowman Beach Park.” Contributions can be made at US Bank branches or by mailing her a check payable to the fund name, 6523 California Ave SW #228, Seattle, WA 98136. Meantime, we have a message out to KCWTD to ask about the results of their “discussions back at the office” (as explained last week) regarding more public meetings, and will add any update we get here. (Also, the West Seattle Sound Angels website set up by park neighbor Dr. Ron Sterling continues to track community advocacy and information-seeking.) 3:25 PM UPDATE: Just got a call back from KCWTD’s Martha Tuttle. She says there WILL be another community meeting to discuss the data that neighbors have been requesting regarding all the potential CSO-control alternatives, including the ones that were ruled out. No date or location set yet; she says that should be announced next week. FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: Thanks to Amanda for forwarding e-mail sent by the county to its list for those interested in not only the Murray CSO project but also Barton (by the Fauntleroy ferry dock) and two others in the north end – the public comment period has been extended to May 14. The comment form is here.
Highland Park Action Committee: Gardening, park, traffic …
From last night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting: Urban gardening was in the spotlight, and Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (photo right) spoke to the group. She talked about CHoSS’s origins, with local fruit-tree gleaning, which gathered more than three tons of fruit for the White Center Food Bank last year. Now the organization’s added many other activities, including classes over the next few months, training gardeners to go out and work with neighbors over the summer to get more gardens started. The Edible Garden Tour‘s on the schedule again this year; Aviva says 4 gardens are signed up and they’re looking for more. You can contact Aviva through the CHoSS website at gleanit.org … ALSO AT HPAC: SDOT will soon start surveying traffic on the east leg of SW Holden in Highland Park (map); HPAC has requested traffic calming in the area and the survey is the next step … HPAC chair Dan Mullins recapped Saturday’s meeting about the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project (the three design concepts are now posted on the project webpage); Kay Kirkpatrick and Monica Cavagnero talked about kinetic-sculpture artist David Boyer, who’s been chosen for the “1% for Art” feature at the site … And it was reported that last Saturday’s Highland Park Improvement Club wine event was a big hit.
Highland Park Action Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of each month, 7 pm, preceded by potluck/mingling, at the historic Highland Park Improvement Club building.
West Seattle Thursday: High Point meeting, Dining Out for Life …
Busy day/night: Events this morning include Seattle School Board member Steve Sundquist holding a community chat, West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 10 am, and the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly meeting at West Seattle Golf Course‘s banquet room, with guests including State Sen. Joe McDermott – registration at 11:15 am, RSVPs were due yesterday but you can try 935-3216 ASAP to see if there’s room … 5 West Seattle restaurants are participating in Dining Out for Life/Seattle (here’s the list along with info on whether they’re donating part of lunch proceeds, dinner proceeds, or both) … Tonight’s events are topped by the High Point Neighborhood Association‘s community meeting (6 pm, High Point Neighborhood Center) in the wake of last Friday’s attack on a local woman; 
HPNA plans to announce how the community can help her … West Seattle-founded Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients around the region, raises money with its Style ’10 fashion show at Showbox SODO tonight (tickets still available online; several West Seattle boutiques participating; photo from Style ’08) … “Guernica” author Dave Boling reads and sells books at Southwest Branch Library 6:30 tonight, co-sponsored by Square One Books (WSB sponsor) … If you’ve got a daughter 8+, a special talk about puberty is set for 7 tonight at Southwest Community Center … 6 pm, Pathfinder K-8 has its Health Fair (and PTSA meeting).
Four 
Also announced today, the date for the West Seattle Triangle parking discussion, promised by city planner Susan McLain during 
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