That clip from the West Seattle-based site Bike Hugger was pointed out to us by Liz, sister-in-law of Doug Wood, identified by family members as the bicycle rider who was rescued from beneath a car after a collision on Admiral Way Thursday morning (here’s our original report) – the clip features him being interviewed on his “banana” bike. Liz e-mailed today to say, “I just spoke to his wife (my sister Laura) and Doug is doing well today. His three youngest children (he has six altogether) were able to visit him today for the first time, which lifted his spirits greatly.” We then got a short note later from Laura Wood, who provided a link to more information about her husband, focusing on his work with pianos. (She had joined the discussion in the comment section following our Thursday report [here and here], as did the wife of the driver with whom her husband collided.) Formal results of the investigation into the crash aren’t likely to be available for quite some time.

Reminder: West Seattle 5K and Alki “Summer Streets” Sunday

May 22, 2010 5:29 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

That’s a new, enhanced map from the city webpage for Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets, showing tomorrow’s detours and special features, and giving us new fodder for one more reminder before the big day arrives: From SW Maryland near Don Armeni, to 63rd SW by Cactus, Alki Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic tomorrow from 9 am-5 pm (except for an inside lane to be used mostly by the King County Water Taxi shuttle – and the city website notes that extra shuttle service will be added). The day begins with the second annual West Seattle 5K Run/Walk, organized by and benefiting the West Seattle High School PTSA, co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB. If you haven’t registered yet, you can sign up tomorrow morning starting at 8 am by the bathhouse. After the WS5K, a full day of activities unfolds along Alki, starting around 11 am – you can see some of the activity locations listed on the map above; one waterfront business that always goes all-out on the “car-free day” is Coastal Boutique – here’s what they’re planning. If you have any questions about vehicle access and parking, here’s a link to the FAQ on the Summer Streets site.

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West Seattle Soccer Club wraps spring season with Sounders guest

May 22, 2010 4:36 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy Bob Watford of iSportPhotos)
Two updates from Tim McMonigle of the West Seattle Soccer Club:

Tomorrow is the last day of our spring season. We have been very fortunate to have had great weather on Sundays this season, so hopefully tomorrow will cap the season off well. Also, Zach Scott from the Sounders FC plus the Washington Youth Soccer Hummer will be visiting EC Hughes playfield on Sunday. Zach should be there around 2 pm and stay for about an hour to hang out with the players and watch the games.

Also, a reminder that registration for the fall season runs from June 1-30, and we are expecting our largest registration ever. Please register early. There are also multiple soccer camps being offered in West Seattle this summer. WSSC is sponsoring two UK International camps. You can find this info on the right side of our home page at www.westseattlesoccer.org. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to wsscboard@gmail.com

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Happening now: Westwood Village Street Fair 2010, till 7 pm!

May 22, 2010 11:10 am

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

(scroll down for newest updates and pix)

First major outdoor West Seattle festival of the season, and the sun decided to defy the forecast! Dog show under way till 1 pm, JP Patches expected noon-2 pm, raffles (including a big prize from WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers), come down and say hi – you’ll find us next to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with lots of West Seattle info. The street fair’s on till 7 pm, headquartered in the lot between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1 Imports.

12:12 PM UPDATE: Finally adding photos. It is a spectacular day and there are plenty of people here – great to meet everyone who has stopped by our table to say hi! Lots of dogs too – this is a dog-friendly event, and not just because a dog show has been under way:

If you stop by our table, we have a list of summer events around West Seattle that you can pick up if you’d like something to tack up to remind you of the highlights – plus some flyers about other things happening around the area. Meantime, JP Patches has just arrived as well and is onstage now – he posed for pictures as he walked toward the stage – here you see him with West Seattle Chamber CEO Patti Mullen, who’s tabling for the Chamber next to us:

1:11 PM: This is also a good chance to come down and learn a little more about local nonprofits – White Center Food Bank is here, as are reps from WestSide Baby:

If you come down, be sure to enter the drawings – we have entry forms at our table (across from Sleep Country and Radio Shack, under the red/white canopy, rainbow tablecloth, bouncy slides behind us). Right next to us, there’s a booth for the newly reopened Evergreen Community Aquatics Center in White Center. And among the many folks who’ve stopped by to say hi were a couple of young ladies handing out info about ReFRESH Southwest – the Delridge Day/Sustainable West Seattle Festival that’s coming up two weeks from tomorrow (June 5th, 1-5 pm, Delridge Community Center).

1:31 PM UPDATE: Here’s a full schedule of what’s ahead for the rest of the day/evening here:
Right now: Active X (sponsored by 24 Hour Fitness)
2 pm: Drawing
2:30 pm Fashion show (presented by Chico’s)
2:55 pm: Drawing
3 pm: Stephen Clark (magician)
3:25 pm: Drawing
3:30 pm Video Arcade Bus arrives
3:50 pm: Pizza-eating contest (presented by Giannoni’s Pizza)
3:55 pm : Drawing
4 pm: Live music – Another Perfect Crime
4:25 pm: Drawing
4:30 pm: Live music – Memphis Radio Kings
5 pm: Drawing
5:30 pm: Drawing – Wyatt’s Jewelers gold/diamond pendant
5:35 pm: Live music – Red Hot Blues Sisters

ADDED 2:45 PM: More scenes from the fair so far, starting with JP Patches signing autographs:

Toby Matasar from Eats Market Cafe, which is selling drinks and treats including popsicles:

And this is the Wyatt’s Jewelers pendant that a lucky winner will get after the 5:30 pm drawing:

The Chico’s fashion show is under way right now. Here’s a shot from the early going (Heather is the model):

3:15 PM: We also have some photos from Highland Park photographer extraordinaire Dina Johnson – these are some of the more unusual dogs spotted at the event:

Reminder that we have the schedule of events higher up in this story – live music starts at 4 pm.

4:38 PM: Thanks to Tiffany for sharing that photo of her Jetson, with the news that he won 1st for Best In Show at the Westwood Village dog show earlier here at the Street Fair. She explains, “He’s a 4-month-old Deaf Double Merle Australian Shepherd Mix” and says you can find him on Dogster, here. We’ll be publishing a wrapup story late tonight with more Westwood highlights (including some video). Meantime, it’s music time:

5:08 PM: The Memphis Radio Kings – who performed at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) last night as part of KEXP Hood-to-Hood – are onstage now (the stage is at the Bed Bath Beyond side of the lot).

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Salmon season! Arbor Heights Elementary at Fauntleroy Creek

May 22, 2010 9:26 am

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | Wildlife

(Photos courtesy Craig Harrold)
By the end of next week, more than a dozen groups (mostly from local schools) will have visited Fauntleroy Creek to release salmon, with guidance from creek steward Judy Pickens, in addition to the proud teachers and parents who accompany them. It’s an annual tradition, after the kids watch the fish grow from eggs, usually placed in aquariums in hallways or classrooms. One of the groups that released salmon this past week was from Arbor Heights Elementary School, and parent Craig Harrold shared a few of the scenes from their visit. Above, that’s Jesse inspecting one of the fry; next, Alec carefully pours water and fish into the creek:

With the students were Arbor Heights kindergarten teacher David Wilkie (below left) and 5th-grade teacher Ruben Gonzalez (below right):

According to the latest creek update on the Fauntleroy Community Association website, the groups participating this year are releasing about 1,800 fry to join the “home hatch” at the creek. This is also the time of year when smolts migrate toward Puget Sound, and the online update says monitors have seen 23 so far – up from last year’s 18.

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West Seattle Saturday: Westwood Village fair; SIFF; science; sales…

May 22, 2010 8:19 am

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Some blue sky! Here’s hoping that holds. The Westwood Village Street Fair happens 11 am-7 pm, with bouncy toys for kids, live music and other events (dog show 11 am-1 pm, JP Patches noon-2 pm, fashion show 2:30 pm among them) – we’ll be there to cover it live. … At West Seattle Thriftway, you’ll find the Children’s Hospital Adventure Lab 10 am-2 pm; it’s free to check out, but bring some money for the Saturday Thriftway barbecue, which will raise money today for Children’s … Also on the fundraising front: Three schools have rummage sales today – all relatively close to each other, if you want to hit them all – Roxhill Elementary, Community School of West Seattle, Shorewood Christian, and Furry Faces Foundation has its annual plant sale (3809 46th SW) … With just weeks to go in the school year, today marks one of your last few chances to meet West Seattle’s school board rep Steve Sundquist for an informal community chat (11 am, High Point Library) … And it’s day/night 2 of Seattle International Film Festival screenings at the Admiral Theater. Details on all of the above – and lots more – on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

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West Seattle preparedness: Communication Hub drill today

May 22, 2010 1:36 am

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| Preparedness | West Seattle news

This isn’t likely to be something you accidentally encounter and get concerned about – but just on the very slight chance you happen onto somebody who’s participating, we’re giving you the heads-up about the “Rattle in Seattle” neighborhood-preparedness simulated-earthquake drill this morning. It’s meant to test the backup communications system that’s been organized (as explained on West Seattle Be Prepared). Want to know more? Read the official news release, ahead:Read More

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More KEXP Hood-to-Hood scenes, Caspar Babypants to Militant Child

May 22, 2010 1:20 am

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The broadcast ended before sunset, but the live music rocked on long into Friday night during KEXP Radio‘s Hood-to-Hood Challenge victory party for West Seattle (the result of this neighborhood donating more than any other during last year’s pledge drive). Top photo, Caspar Babypants (West Seattleite Chris Ballew) delighted the family crowd late this afternoon at Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor), where kids got to create art while not jumping with the beat to performers that also included The Board of Education and The Not-Its (see our video clip from their set in our midday report).

(P.S. You’ll get to see Caspar Babypants and The BOE on a West Seattle double bill August 19 during Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, co-sponsored by WSB.) Then early Friday night, before the 21+ venues geared up bigtime, an art-and-music showcase at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge brought people in from the rain:

That’s Militant Child, with “Dance With Me,” one of the tracks you can hear in its entirety on her MySpace site. Speaking of audio – if you missed any of the live broadcast that ran from 6 am till early evening, it’s archived here – for example, you can try 10:30 am Friday, May 21, to look for the segment featuring Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band performance (we had video in our first report – here’s one more photo):