From West Seattle Rotary: Totem-pole progress; berry-sale updates

(WSB photo from December 2009)
Two items from the Rotary Club of West Seattle: First – rededication of the Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole may happen as soon as August, now that the pole is being readied for restoration following the theft last November and recovery out of state (here’s our May story on the case’s resolution). The latest, from Josh Sutton:

Staff from Artech took the pole today from Parks and Rec storage to a local fumigation company. Next week it will be transported to their warehouse for restoration. In agreement with Parks & Recreation, the Rotary Club of West Seattle has hired Artech for the preservation, restoration and reinstallation of the Totem Pole stolen from Rotary Viewpoint Park last November. We look forward to setting a date in August for the community to celebrate the pole’s rededication.

Shortly after the totem pole was recovered, we did a story about Artech and some of the similar work they’ve done – you can see it here. Meantime, a big boost for the Rotary berry sale (WSB sponsor):

The Rotary Club of West Seattle wants to thank Charlie’s Produce for donating use of a midsized refrigerator truck during our Club’s Strawberry Sales & Pickup this weekend. With the pending construction, Admiral Safeway couldn’t sit a 40′ trailer there for six weeks, like past summers.

These buckets of Skagit Valley strawberries are freshly picked, hulled and packed in their own juices, so keeping them cool is essential to maintaining their quality. Even if you didn’t pre-order, we still have buckets for sale this weekend. Friday, 1-6 pm, Saturday 9 am-3 pm at Admiral Safeway, back lot.

We are taking Raspberries and Blueberries orders for mid July. West Seattle Rotary’s Berry Sale raises money for local scholarships and our Holiday Kids Shopping Spree. Thanks to our buyers, to Admiral Safeway, and Charlie’s Produce for your support!

They’ve got online ordering this year – the links are on the WSR home page.

8 Replies to "From West Seattle Rotary: Totem-pole progress; berry-sale updates"

  • Lachlan June 24, 2010 (1:38 pm)

    Nice- and a perfect bookend to the totem news would be a move to prosecute the guy who took it to begin with.

  • RickP June 24, 2010 (1:41 pm)

    Are there any Native American Artists working on this project? I would hope so…

  • Carson June 24, 2010 (2:55 pm)

    Wishful thinking Lachian. The next guys knows all he has to do is pay a little cash…if he is caught the next time

  • DML June 24, 2010 (3:40 pm)

    Re: The Totem Pole. Still absolutely disgusted by the lack of legal follow through on this. Sends a great message, no?
    Especially duplicitous seem to be the Rotary Club themselves. This will always leave a bad taste every time we drive by and makes the “rededication” absurd. It will always be a testament to Big Thievery now.

  • miws June 24, 2010 (4:14 pm)

    Thanks for the update. I passed by there on the bus last Saturday, and was wondering the status.

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    Just finished reading the linked article from May. I apparently missed it when my computer was down the first couple of weeks of May, and missed it again after getting back online and trying to play catch-up on WSB.

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    Since I was unable to comment then, I have to add to what others said on that comment thread, about how disappointing it is this thief was not charged with a crime. Totally unbelievable it was only a misdemeanor, and not a felony. And what about properety damage in regards to the grass being torn up at Rotary Park? No surprise the Totem has to be deloused after being handled by the thief.

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    All that being said, looking forward to the Pole being back in it’s rightful place.

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    Mike

  • M. June 24, 2010 (10:52 pm)

    Any news about the other Totem Pole? Wasn’t that one stolen from Renton?

    • WSB June 24, 2010 (11:04 pm)

      Somewhere very early in the coverage, I linked to a Renton story about how they were handling it – I believe its original carver was going to spruce it up, so to speak. But the prosecutor said at some point that they didn’t believe charges were likely in that case – lack of evidence, or something. I have not followed up on it for a while though, it may be back up for all I know – will ping a good source on it – TR

  • Aaron June 25, 2010 (2:07 pm)

    @ Carson, why does it have to be the next guy? The same guy could figure out where he went wrong the first time & do it again.

    He probably wouldn’t even be a suspect because no one would believe he would be dumb enough to do it twice.

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