It’s a highlight of the City of Seattle Neighbor Appreciation Day every year – open house at local fire stations. We stopped by three West Seattle stations that welcomed visitors on Saturday. At Station 37 in Sunrise Heights, we found not only Engine 37 and crew, but also members of the West Seattle See Dogs puppy-raising club, there to help their four-legged charges get acclimated to firefighters, as WSSD’s Ruth Oldham explained. That’s Corbitt the puppy with firefighter Joe Clegg, who also entranced the young humans by demonstrating equipment including a camera:

We usually see firefighters in their full gear, as they work to put out fires, treat injured/sick people, and more, so this is also a chance to meet them face to face – like Ladder 13 driver Matt Reilly:

He was on duty at Station 11 in Highland Park during the open house. Ladder 13’s been there almost two years, but isn’t expected to be there much longer, because (as per the original announcement) it was added to cover a potential response gap caused by the lack of a westbound onramp to the Spokane Street Viaduct – and the new onramp will open this summer. Once the ladder truck has departed, we’re told, Station 11 – permanent home to Engine 11 – will get some upgrades, including earthquake-safety work (explained here).

Our final stop was Station 32 in The Junction, which is on deck for a complete rebuild in the not-too-distant future (explained here):

Station 32 is home to Ladder 11, Engine 32, and Medic 32 – plus this very shiny pole:

We had just missed the big rush of visitors, the crew told us, so we took the opportunity to peer at some of the equipment:

32, 37, and 11 are three of West Seattle’s five fire stations, along with Station 29 in North Admiral and Station 36 right by the north end of Delridge Way SW (where it meets the West Seattle Bridge).

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2 Crime Watch followups: Sled returned; stolen car found

February 11, 2012 8:08 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

~~While we hope for~~ Just got good news in the missing/stolen dog case, and we have MORE good news tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch followups: Two thefts reported here last month are resolved – and one turned out not to have been a theft at all! One involved a sled, one involved a car, and we have details on both, ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Dog missing after car break-in FOUND

February 11, 2012 4:05 pm

| 58 COMMENTS

| Crime | Pets | West Seattle news

4:05 PM: Two cars were broken into this afternoon after 1 pm outside the Walgreens at 35th and Morgan, according to Matt, and the only thing taken from his was the family’s Boston Terrier, seen in the photo above. He adds: “$500 reward. No question. He is like my wife’s child and she is inconsolable.”

8:13 PM: Matt reports in comments that their dog has been found! He adds to everyone who helped look and offered well-wishes, “THANK YOU ALL!”

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Next chapter in the Arroyos whale’s tale, after almost 2 years

February 11, 2012 1:30 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The skeleton is 40 feet long and weighs 1,400 pounds. It’s surrounded by a wooden structure mimicking the exact structural space and framing of its eventual home at Highline Community College’s MaST (Marine and Science Technology) Center in Des Moines [map]. New kinds of riggings and connectors are being created to attach and hang it, and some of its bones are still laid out on the floor.

And it’s magnificent.

The “Arroyos Whale,” (so called by MaST Center manager Rus Higley [pictured above] and his crew) came to our attention in April 2010 when WSB extensively covered its stranding on a beach in The Arroyos in far-southwest West Seattle. Since then, it’s gone through quite a transformation, and The Arroyos Whale is giving us opportunities for research and education.

The whale is being called “The Arroyos Whale” rather than a name like “Willie” or “Shamu” for a very specific reason.
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West Seattle Saturday: Fire-station tours, Soul Jambalaya, more!

February 11, 2012 9:11 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Surf scoter we saw off Me-Kwa-Mooks during a walk on Friday afternoon)
17 highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE OPEN HOUSE: Come visit Community School of West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 22nd/Roxbury, 10 am-2 pm

(updated) NEIGHBORHOOD APPRECIATION DAY AT 3 FIRE STATIONS: Open house 11 am-1 pm at Seattle Fire Department‘s Station 11 (Highland Park, 16th/Holden) and Station 37 (Sunrise Heights, 35th/Holden). Added: We doublechecked the list distributed by SFD yesterday – it ALSO includes Station 32 (The Junction, 38th/Alaska), so that’s THREE stations open for tours in West Seattle (among others citywide).

STORYTIME: 11 am, storytime at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble, all ages welcome, treats for younger readers.

NEIGHBORHOOD APPRECIATION DAY AT SOUTHWEST POOL: Noon- 2 pm, including free refreshments and a free public swim at 1 pm (2801 SW Thistle).

TOUR THE VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: On SW Orchard north of Home Depot, open to the public every Saturday noon-3 pm.

MORNING GLORY BRUNCH: Skylark Café and Club hosts the Morning Glory Drag Queen Brunch on the second Saturday of each month. From the announcement: “The fun starts at noon. Tickets are available … at the door. Jeffrey Robert starts the show with some stand-up comedy, then Magnolia Crawford and guest performers do a fabulous show while diners enjoy their brunch and drinks! It is a pretty unique and fun way to start a weekend.”

PERFUME PARTY: 1st annual Valentine’s Tea Party hosted by Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes from 12-4 PM, promising perfume, candy, and flowers, with local vendors/creators including Sweet Anthem’s Meredith Smith. RSVP for the event on Facebook (6021-B California SW)

SICHUAN SATURDAY AT SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: 6000 16Th SW, 1-4 pm, north side of South Seattle Community College campus: “The Cultures and Landscapes of Western Sichuan.” See photos and learn about the people and culture of China’s southwest province and Washington’s sister state. Learn about NW efforts to help the area recover from the 2008 earthquake. UW Professors Stevan Harrell & Daniel Abramson will speak. Suggested donations: $7 Adults, $5 SCG Members and Students

LEARN ABOUT BEES AT BARTON ST. P-PATCH: Barton Street P-Patch invites gardeners to a buzzworthy event this Saturday: a “master gardener lecture on keeping mason bees (pollinators, not honeybees), 2-4 pm. Bring your own seating!” The garden’s at 34th/Barton.

SECOND MEETING FOR ‘OCCUPY WEST SEATTLE’: 2-6 pm, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church, 7141 California SW.

VIGIL FOR JIM SWEENEY: The longtime community supporter/Alki Lumber owner will be remembered with a vigil tonight at 7 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (35th/Myrtle), followed by his memorial service at 2 pm Sunday, also at OLG. (Here’s our story with Mr. Sweeney’s obituary and 40 tribute comments from readers.)

SOUL JAMBALAYA: Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School present “Soul Jambalaya” – a musical celebration of gospel, blues, jazz, funk and reggae. The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Clinton Fearon, Septimus and others will take the stage at Chief Sealth High School Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle) at 7 pm. Admission is free – donations (going to the schools’ music programs) will be accepted.

DEBUSSY FESTIVAL: Music Northwest Concert Series 2011/12 – Debussy Anniversary Festival I: The Piano Music, 7:30 PM. Pianists Natalya Ageyeva, Duane Hulbert, Jane Harty. Preludes Books I and II (selected), Suite pour le piano, Estampes, Images, L’isle Joyeuse. Held at Olympic Recital Hall on the south side of the South Seattle Community College campus. See website for tickets and more information.

2ND TO LAST PERFORMANCE OF ‘ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT’: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest.

JAZZ: Elizabeth Dawson will perform jazz music at Salty’s on Alki from 8 to 10 pm with pianist Edward Weber, in the Cafe Bar. There is no cover.

DANCE PARTY: Monthly Candylandia dance party with DJ Cotton Candy at the Benbow Room inside Heartland Café in the Admiral District, 9 pm. More info on the Facebook invite

AT ALKI TAVERN TONIGHT: Burley Mountain, local alt country/alt rock band, sends word they’re playing the Alki Tavern (every second Saturday). $3 cover and drink specials. Hear them at myspace.com/burleymountainband

LIVE AT SKYLARK: ’80s Invasion (80s new wave tribute band) sent word they’re on tonight’s slate at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm.

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