day : 21/09/2011 10 results

First of at least three reports we’ll be publishing about tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting:

The acronym CSO – combined-sewer overflow – has loomed large over some western West Seattle neighborhoods in the past couple years, and tonight we learned that the state mandate to reduce CSOs will affect eastern West Seattle too, since the existing storage systems for the overflows “just aren’t enough.”

Bicycle commuter: ‘Never in my life has any other human being so directly and purposefully threatened my life’

September 21, 2011 9:16 pm

| 180 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Was it part of what some fear is a “war” between drivers and bicyclists? An isolated incident? Or? A commuter who bicycles to his West Seattle workplace says he was almost killed by a truck driver this morning, just before the final leg of his trip, and he believes it was deliberate. He has since written and sent a letter to the mayor, published in its entirety below:

Dear Mayor McGinn,

My name is Kit Newman and I am writing you to inform you about a most outrageous incident I experienced on my bike commute this morning. I have been a resident of the City of Seattle for 21 years now and nothing like this has ever happened to me.

I live in the Central District at 22nd avenue and Yesler Way. I work at a small architecture firm on California Ave. SW in West Seattle. I have been commuting by bike between the CD and West Seattle most days for the past 4 years. My normal route takes me down Jackson street to the water front and then south along East Marginal way to reach Spokane street and thus over the little bridge to West Seattle. This incident happened along the southbound lane of East Marginal way very near the Coast Guard port facility and the US Customs warehouse. Having just crossed the intersection of S. Holgate St. and E. Marginal right in front of the entrance to the Hanjin container port terminal, I proceeded south in the southbound lane of East Marginal. There were many bike commuters from West Seattle coming the northbound direction in the temporary bike lane along the west side of the street. Seeing the southbound lane ahead was clear of any vehicle traffic, I elected to ride in that lane rather than against the opposing bike lane traffic coming northbound. The long line of opposing vehicle traffic in the northbound lane of E. Marginal was stopped at that time because a freight train was using the rail crossing at S. Holgate behind me.

As I proceeded in the clear southbound lane ahead, to my utter astonishment, one of the several 18 wheeler container trucks that were stopped in the traffic of the northbound lane, pulled out of that lane, crossed the double yellow center line between lanes and proceeded to accelerate coming northbound head on to me in the southbound lane!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car found fast; pickpocket victim fights back

September 21, 2011 6:39 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight. First, the story of a stolen car found – engine still running! – before its owner knew it was gone; second, a young pickpocket victim fights back. Both ahead:Read More

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West Seattle waters: Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft relaunched

September 21, 2011 3:33 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Almost two years after we first heard the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft‘s story from its namesake’s husband, Guy Smith, he sent this update last night (the “today” references mean Tuesday):

Bird and seal watchers may be interested to know that after a 7-month absence, the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft is back on its anchor by the Alki Lighthouse. After its initial launch in November 2008, the little 24-square-foot refuge has been a lot like the cat with 9 lives. Four times it broke loose and 4 times it was found and retrieved through people finding it, reading the ID tag and then calling with the location. The 4th time it broke loose was caused by the big February storm this year when the anchor line, buoy, and raft all ended up on a rocky stretch of beach about half way to Lincoln Park. Unfortunately, rough water precluded retrieval by sea and steep banks precluded retrieval by land. The frame was cut up and abandoned, but the buoy and flotation were salvaged.

After what seems like too long a delay, the raft was reframed yesterday and launched today. The anchor line was rebuilt with stainless steel cable and hopefully will better withstand the forces of Mother Nature. But we know from experience that something will break loose again; the question is not “if” but “when”. The thing about a raft is that while it’s unmistakably a raft on the water, when it breaks loose and ends up on a rocky beach, it blends in and is not easy to spot. We really appreciate the efforts of those who have spotted our wayward raft in the past and have phoned us with its location.

Today our neighbors helped with the re-launch and now we are all awaiting sea life visitors. A seagull was quick to check it out, but we’re looking for more interesting visitors; visitors like seals with pups, the rare otter during daylight but probably more at night, cormorants that always fish alone but which rest in groups, and the harlequin ducks which always appear in pairs. It’s noteworthy that other diving ducks that winter at Alki Point, like buffleheads, goldeneyes, grebes, guillemots, mergansers and surf scoters, always fish together in groups, diving together and surfacing together, but they never get on the raft.

The wildlife protectors at West Seattle-founded Seal Sitters have said they wish more people would set up rafts like this one – as they are the least-dangerous resting places for seal pups and other marine mammals.

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West Seattle businesses: Sweet Anthem perfume shop to open

September 21, 2011 2:16 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

West Seattle is about to get its second perfume shop. Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes will open next month in a Morgan Junction live-work storefront at 6021-B California SW, according to an announcement we just received. The owner and perfumer is Meredith Smith, whose “handmade, ethical (and) vegan” Sweet Anthem line has been available online since 2007. The announcement adds:

Meredith uses natural and synthetic ingredients that are local and sustainable, working with a local, carbon neutral energy company to find petrol-free alternatives to synthetic notes. The Sweet Anthem line includes pure parfum oils, eau de parfums, solid perfumes, soaps, ambient room sprays and bath oils. Meredith produces these products in the shop.

The announcement also says Sweet Anthem will carry “other local indie fragrance lines culled by Meredith,” will have a “custom fragrance bar (where) DIYers can create their own fragrance from a menu of 200+ fragrance notes,” and will offer Perfume Making 101 classes. The grand opening is set for 11 am-8 pm daily, October 12-15, after which the regular hours will be 11 am-6 pm.

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Go back to school – as a volunteer! New WSB feature

September 21, 2011 12:33 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish requests for volunteer help – and over the years, some have asked, what about a regular feature listing such needs? Here’s a start: Fauntleroy resident Judy Pickens (right), who volunteers her time and talent to a variety of endeavors, offered to gather and report information on volunteer needs at local schools where the need is greatest. Here’s her first contribution, with more to come. So – go back to school, as a volunteer!

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

With the school year now under way, teachers and support staff are beginning to identify volunteer needs. Those needs are especially acute at area schools where work schedules, child-care responsibilities, and/or language factors greatly affect parents’ availability to help.

Two such schools kick off this occasional column, compiled in cooperation with volunteer coordinators for selected West Seattle and White Center schools. Listings will be for one-time events a few weeks out and for ongoing needs.

To inquire about any of the following opportunities to enrich our public schools, contact the volunteer coordinator noted under the name of each school. Expect to complete a standard security-clearance process – and to know that you have made a difference in the lives of students.

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Followup: West Seattle deck fire brings thanks, and a warning

September 21, 2011 11:11 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

An owner of the Beach Drive-area home where firefighters put out a deck fire (WSB coverage here) yesterday afternoon sent the following e-mail to both warn others, and thank the heroic neighbors who spotted the fire:

I am one of the homeowners who deeply appreciates the help of our neighbors who called 911 yesterday. Here is what appears to have happened: Our deck was being refinished. After the worker (who doesn’t smoke) left, it appears that the rags and cans of deck stain were heated by the sun, burst into flame and ignited the siding and the deck. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire just as the flames broke through the windows and began to reach inside! Now, we are dealing with repair and lots of cleanup. Thanks to our neighbors and our very fast and professional fire department!

The homeowner says it’s worth taking a look around your home/condo/apartment to be sure you don’t have any unattended cans at risk of doing the same thing. If you do – but they’re not in active use, so you just want to get rid of them – here’s how/where to do that.

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WSB on FB: About Facebook’s ‘newsfeed’ change…

September 21, 2011 9:55 am

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

WSB has been on Facebook and Twitter for nearly four years – long before most other news organizations (among others) hopped on. We’ve rolled through their changes, and hey, the services are free; they have the right to experiment. We made one big mistake ourselves, starting out on FB as “WS Blog” with a personal profile and maxing out on “friends” before realizing several months ago we really were supposed to be “West Seattle Blog” with a no-“fan”-limit page.

But Facebook’s latest change seems to be putting a roadblock in front of people who are just trying to find out “hey, what’s the latest?” …

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West Seattle Wednesday: Preparedness; paving; produce…

September 21, 2011 8:52 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst for photographing and sharing today’s spectacular sunrise. Now, a few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

PRACTICE PREPAREDNESS: It’s Preparedness Month! A drop/cover/hold drill is scheduled for 10:15 am.

PAVING SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION: Pushed back a day, that “spot paving” work on a block of California SW south of Edmunds in The Junction is expected to start this morning. We just drove by and took the photo above – looks like they are on schedule to get going shortly. This is expected to take two days.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUESTIONS/CONCERNS? Community conversation with School Board president Steve Sundquist at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way), 11 am-12:30 pm.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN: High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau, fresh organic produce sold where it’s grown.

SAVVY SEATTLE WOMEN: The next free workshop offered by Savvy Seattle Women: A Homeowners’ Network will be on Wednesday, Sept 21st, 6-7:30PM.
Topic: Community Property: Does it Really Mean 50/50?
Presenter: Sharon E. Best, Attorney at Law
Location: Prudential Northwest Offices, 4700 42nd Av SW, Suite 600
The event is open to the general public and also provides an opportunity for networking among local businesses. Bring your business cards and mingle! Free refreshments and free parking, too!

SPECIAL MIDWEEK WINE TASTING: Bin 41 wine shop has a special tasting with Valerie Aigron of Cave de Rasteau from the Rhone region of France, 6-7:30 pm.

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Tonight’s agenda includes the Fauntleroy Expressway Seismic Retrofit Project briefing – if you’ve missed it at other neighborhood meetings recently, catch it here, as its most-serious traffic effects get closer. 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

LIVE THEATER AT ARTSWEST: “Amy’s View” continues at ArtsWest Playhouse in The Junction, 7:30 pm.

ROLLER PROM! Rat City Roller Prom fundraiser for White Center Food Bank, Southgate Roller Rink, 8-11 pm (tickets and other info on this Facebook page).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Ryan Cox in jail again

September 21, 2011 1:48 am

| 31 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

As noted in our West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting report, Southwest Precinct leadership mentioned noteworthy arrests. But they did not foreshadow an arrest local police would make just a few hours later – the one that has landed 33-year-old Ryan Cox back in jail.

Cox is known mostly for his arrests in 2009 and 2010 following graffiti vandalism all over West Seattle, usually a homophobic slur written in black marker. Three times, he was arrested, found not mentally competent to stand trial, and sent to Western State Hospital for an evaluation. Inbetween the second and third graffiti-vandalism arrests, he was arrested for tire-slashing, and pleaded guilty.

In the year since his last vandalism arrest, we have kept a periodic eye on the King County Jail Register and court records, but hadn’t noticed him turn up. Then a few hours ago, we got a tip that police had just arrested him at West Seattle Thriftway. We checked online records and found Cox had spent almost two weeks in jail last month, arrested for and pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. The details of that case are not available online, so until we can check with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office later this morning, we can’t find out what it’s about, but the Seattle Municipal Court website says a “failure to appear” arrest warrant was issued for Cox a week ago. That’s one of two reasons listed for him being booked into the jail at 11:30 Tuesday night; the second is “violation of a no-contact order.” Total bail: $8,450.

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