Update: Armored police vehicle at 36th/Morgan
10:26 PM: Thanks to everyone who has texted/e-mailed about this, and to Jason for sharing photos. We’re still working to see what police can/will say about camouflaged officers with an armored vehicle in the 36th/Morgan vicinity tonight. All indications are that it is not a “standoff”-type situation – this kind of presence is not unusual when an arrest and/or search warrant is involved, for example. But we have no official comment yet; just wanted to let you know we’re checking on it, and will add any information we do obtain.
12:22 AM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says the Eastside Narcotics Task Force was searching a residence – not SPD. No arrests reported at this point, but since it wasn’t SPD, we’ll have to pursue more info with ENTF next week.
Big day Saturday for WestSide Baby – and you can be part of it
Tomorrow is WestSide Baby‘s annual fundraising tea – and while the tea itself is sold out, two adjacent events are not, according to late word from WS Baby’s Nancy Woodland. First: The Little Gym of West Seattle is holding a Rainy Day Playdate Camp from 2-4:30 pm tomorrow for children age 3-10 (potty-trained). The cost is $25 with a $15 sibling discount. Nancy explains, “The camp was created as a possible child care option for WestSide Baby supporters attending the 10th Annual Benefit Tea but it’s open to anyone who wants a great place to leave their children for a few hours of fun tomorrow!” You can save a space by calling 206-937-0311 right now and leaving a message. Then tomorrow night, tickets are still available for the first-ever WestSide Baby benefit Cocktail Party – 7-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. $30 per ticket, available right now online at WestSideBaby.org, or at the door. Nancy says, “The evening promises great appetizers, fun drinks, cool drawings, a program to share WestSide Baby, and a lively opportunity to give.”
Milestone nears for Avalon Glassworks ‘Feed the Core’ fundraiser
(Courtesy Aguero Photo)
This is the third year of Avalon Glassworks‘ “Feed the Core” fundraiser for White Center Food Bank, and it’s getting close to a milestone, according to a news release we received today – 34 more apples to sell till the amount of money donated hits $10,000. The apples sell for $80, with half of that covering the production costs and the other half – $40 per apple – going to WC Food Bank, which can buy up to 200 pounds of food for that sum. So far, they have sold 216 apples! Once they hit 250, and therefore the $10,000 mark, AGW owners Shannon and Jon Felix are planning a celebration – and hoping that’ll be possible by early summer. P.S. If you can’t get to Avalon Glassworks in person (2914 SW Avalon Way), the apples are available online.
Newest state ferry Salish to be visible from West Seattle shores
(WSDOT photo, December 2010)
The state’s next Kwa-di Tabil Class ferry, the Salish, will be visible off West Seattle shores on Monday, according to an announcement from Washington State Ferries. Under tow, the Salish will make its first trip out of Todd Pacific Shipyards starting around 8 am Monday, headed for Everett Shipyard, “for final outfitting and system testing prior to conducting dock and sea trials,” according to WSF. When it’s ready, the Salish will join the 1st ferry built in its class, the Chetzemoka, in serving the Port Townsend-Whidbey Island run.
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In case you wondered too: Concrete re-do on 1st Avenue ramp
4:50 PM: In the WSB Forums, via a comment, and a phone call, we’ve been asked about what looks like a re-do of some concrete work on the new 1st Avenue South onramp/offramp to the Spokane Street Viaduct section of the West Seattle Bridge. SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner confirms that’s what it is: “Yes, the contractor is taking out a piece of the barricade on the First Avenue S Ramp and will redo it. One end was off by five inches. It’s at no cost to the city and it won’t affect the project schedule.”
ADDED 8:41 PM: Thanks to Scott for pointing out in comments that the Seattle Times (WSB partner) has just put up a story with additional details.
AlkiMoves: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Erik LaSeur of AlkiMoves, the only practicing Feldenkrais teacher in West Seattle. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves: Erik’s wellness work at AlkiMoves is based upon the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian-born Israeli scientist and judo master. Erik says what differentiates the Feldenkrais method from most of the health/wellness field is that this isn’t a therapy — rather, it’s a method of learning: “We use movement as a means of learning because it’s easier to measure movement as opposed to thinking, feeling, and sensing. This is the same kind of organic learning we all did when we were infants.” From his work at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 
he says he’s been able to help people dealing with balance problems and neurological challenges:”I’ve had great success working with people who live with Fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis. What keeps people coming back is their curiosity about learning to be their own best healers.” He says he gets referrals from massage therapists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists: “People usually seek me out after they’ve tried everything else and are still in pain, or something physically bothers them.”
The other members of the AlkiMoves staff are Anna Oeste and Mary Morrison. Sessions are held for groups of seven at a time. Erik also works with small companies to help them lower health-care costs by teaching more-efficient, less-painful ways to work, whether it’s lifting heavy weights or sitting at a keyboard. Erik is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and a member of the West Seattle Champions BNI group, is treasurer of the Northwest Region of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, and is a member of Feldenkrais Teachers in Seattle.
We thank AlkiMoves for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Potential plea bargain for 2nd suspect in Highland Park attack
Two weeks after the sentencing of one defendant in the Highland Park hate-crime attack (WSB courthouse coverage here), there’s word the second suspect might also enter a plea instead of going to trial. A hearing scheduled today for 21-year-old Jonathan Baquiring was instead postponed till next Friday, and a new document in the online court files explains the delay as: “Parties likely have reached a plea bargain.” A hearing is now tentatively set for next Friday morning; Baquiring’s trial had been set for February 22nd. He is charged with robbery and malicious harassment in the May 2010 attack on Shane McClellan, the teenager beaten and tortured for hours on a Highland Park staircase. The other defendant, 23-year-old Ahmed Mohamed, admitted with his guilty plea that he “maliciously and intentionally … caused physical injury” to the victim because of his race; Mohamed was sentenced to almost six years in prison.
West Seattle school news: Westside, HP Elementary, WSC Preschool
Three notes about local schools – starting with video from Westside School (WSB sponsor), where the Garfield High School Lion Dance Team performed at a Lunar New Year assembly this morning, introduced by Westside’s Chinese-language teacher Steven Whiting. (Westside has an open house coming up next week for its new middle school – 6 pm February 9th).
Second, special visitors at Highland Park Elementary School:
(Highland Park Elementary event photos by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
Cinnamon, a six-week-old dairy calf from Monroe, was the surprise guest on Thursday as part of Harvest to Table education in Seattle Public Schools. Health Intervention Specialist Helen Walsh told WSB, “This month we are highlighting dairy and how important it is for our bodies. Next month, we will be doing potatoes, and who knows what we will be doing for that!” Also visiting along with Cinnamon, Kelsey Schubach, a Dairy Ambassador for the Dairy Farmers of Washington:
She talked to students about what cows eat and how they are milked, and widened some eyes by explaining that cows have four stomachs.
Last but not least – a student art display in The Junction:
Art from West Seattle Christian Preschool is now hanging at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, where proprietor Lora noted that Hotwire’s newly repainted walls are an even-better backdrop for art. Hotwire is one of the stops on the monthly West Seattle Art Walk – next week’s edition is less than a week away, next Thursday night (February 10th), 6-9 pm.
West Seattle Friday: Theater x 3; ‘Birds + Bees + Kids’; more
(Photo by Little Red Wheelbarrow, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: A benefit for the Phan/Harm family, survivors of last September’s shootings, happening tonight in Tacoma: “TacSea! TacSea! A Celebration of Music, Art, and Life,” full details on the official flyer (PDF) … The Pathfinder K-8 PTSA presents its second special talk about puberty, with Amy Lang of Birds and Bees and Kids, 6-8 pm at the school, RSVP to lashannaw@gmail.com … Friday Night Skating rolls on at Alki Community Center, $3/person, bring your own skates or borrow theirs, 6:45 pm-8:45 pm … At Senior Center of West Seattle this morning, it’s a drop-in Chair Yoga class, 11 am-12:15 pm, $5 members/$7 nonmembers … Three theater productions tonight: “Emilie” @ ArtsWest, 7:30 pm (get tickets online here); “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” @ West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm (update – got a call from WSHS that prices on their website are wrong and tickets are now just $5!); “The Real Inspector Hound” @ Chief Sealth International High School Little Theater, 7 pm (free).
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