From Danny McMillin:

I’ve never seen a Eurasian Collared-Dove until this morning. I spotted a pair while photographing an eagle on Alki Point. I’m curious to know if anyone else has seen these doves in West Seattle; and if so, where and when.

As a bonus, Danny included the eagle (pursued by a crow):

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Continuing tomorrow: Rock and Gem Show; Green Home Tour

| Environment | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

That’s Logan, and he’s proof the West Seattle Rock Club‘s annual Rock and Gem Show is for all ages – whether you’re helping out, as he is, or just visiting. Interactive, too. If you missed it today, the show (no admission charge!) continues 10 am-6 pm tomorrow at the Alki Masonic Lodge, 40th/Edmunds.

Activities as well as exhibits – and a silent auction, too, according to the official show info. Another free event you can enjoy in its second day tomorrow, the Seattle Green Home Tour, with four West Seattle stops, including the LD Arch Design (WSB sponsor) “Lemon Drop Addition”:

That’s architect Parie Hines and landscape designer Keri DeTore (yes, same KDT who also writes for WSB!), who is working on a “green roof” for the chicken coop. Here’s the Green Home Tour map with all four West Seattle sites (and one not too far away):

If you want to check out tour sites outside West Seattle, our preview story has a link to the Seattle-wide site, as well as lots more info on the WS stops. Tomorrow’s hours are 10 am-4 pm.

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West Seattle Junction Tax-Free Day (& more), midway through

April 21, 2012 2:24 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just look for the balloons to see who’s participating in Tax-Free Sale Day in The Junction – continuing till 6 tonight! Above, co-proprietor John Smersh outside Click! Design That Fits, a WSB sponsor as is Fleurt, now open in its new location further up the same block:

Other WSB sponsors participating: Brunette Mix and Hotwire Online Coffeehouse. On the other side of the 4500 block of California, CAPERS‘ Lisa Myers shared photos of recycled pillows they’re showcasing:

The full list of participants is here. And while they’re not on the Tax-Free Day list, it is a special occasion at Easy Street Records – “Record Store Day”!

Easy Street has live music coming up this evening – The Young Evils at 7:30 pm and Reignwolf at 9 pm. Back to Tax-Free Day, restaurants are offering specials too – also on the list.

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Donated yet? West Seattle Kiwanis food drive till 3 pm

April 21, 2012 1:49 pm

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| How to help | Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

You have an hour-plus to join in the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s one-day food drive for the WS Food Bank, if you haven’t already! We stopped by West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), where we found Kiwanis member Linda Cox and two Chief Sealth International High School Key Club members, sophomores Sharon and Kat. You’ll find volunteers at other stores around West Seattle too, including PCC Natural Markets and Metropolitan Market (also WSB sponsors), and remember, your donation (food OR cash) to local food banks counts extra till the end of the month, because of the Feinstein Challenge. (Thriftway also has a raffle raising money for the WS Food Bank, raffling off a $500 shopping spree – details in the WSB Forums.)

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Photos: Duwamish Alive! in West Seattle, South Park, beyond

April 21, 2012 1:43 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news

Hundreds of volunteers have been hard at work over the past three-plus hours doing cleanup and restoration work not only in the Duwamish River watershed, but on the river, as part of the semiannual Duwamish Alive! mega-work party. We stopped by Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park as volunteers got ready to head out for the day – note the Alki Kayak Tours URL on some of the kayaks; they’re involved with this part of the cleanup every year:

(If you were part of any other work parties, we’d love to add another photo or two, since this is the only one we could visit – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)

ADDED 4:23 PM: Thanks for answering the call! Two people sent photos from the Pigeon Point/West Duwamish Greenbelt work party – Trissa shares this photo of her son Atticus, who she says volunteered along with his Uncle Thomas:

Amanda ‘s photos start with Norman Baker singing to the volunteers who were clearing out invasives (having art or music is a trademark of events like this when Nature Consortium is involved):

And she says this reptile made an appearance too!

Missed the chance to pitch in today? Lots more work parties coming up around the area. Tomorrow, for example, there’s an Earth Day cleanup at Dakota Place Park (Dakota/California), 1-4 pm.

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: One more photo – thanks! Karen shares the picture from the T-107 cleanup:

T-107 is one of the Port of Seattle’s local parks, by the way.

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West Seattle schools: Denny marching band in Tacoma parade

April 21, 2012 1:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Parade season already! Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark sends news (and the photo) from the marching Dolphins’ big event today:

I am very pleased to share that the Denny All Star Band did a great job marching in the Tacoma Junior Daffodil Parade today! Our All Star Band includes students from our local elementary schools who have been a part of our Spring Break Music Camp with Mr. Pimpleton and Mr. Morales. Congratulations to the students and a special thank you to all of the volunteers who have helped this week!

1:34 PM P.S. Turns out – some of those musicians were headed here to the Gathering of Neighbors (in the Sealth/Denny Galleria), where we’ve been since mid-morning, for an encore performance. ~~We recorded part of it on video and we’ll add that here later.~~ Here’s the video:

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Video: Gathering of Neighbors 2012 @ Chief Sealth

April 21, 2012 12:38 pm

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| Gathering of Neighbors | West Seattle news

East to west, north to south, people from all over West Seattle are at the Gathering of Neighbors right now, till 3, in the Chief Sealth International High School Galleria, and the place is abuzz with conversation. Above, that’s Ariana Rose Taylor-Stanley and Galena White from Delridge Produce Cooperative. On the north side of the Galleria, till 1, special presentations on preparedness:

That’s Debbie Goetz from the city’s Office of Emergency Management. Every speaker’s been announced by West Seattle Be Prepared‘s Cindi Barker, hollering from the staircase over the Galleria:

No, no one called 911, but police have stopped by too – chatting here with award-winning Pete Spalding, who’s on the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council:

(added) Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum came to answer questions about some of the group’s high-profile projects, such as Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (this year’s performers to be announced soon!)

West Seattle’s own South Seattle Community College, represented too:

Lots more to see and do. We’re by the door, so say hi (as many already have done) on your way out! Entertainment starts at 1 pm, and the day began with a special leadership summit, including an hour we have on video that we’ll add – along with more photos! – later. Admission’s free; parking’s right out front off SW Thistle, and once you’ve parked, look for the path to the Galleria, to the left (west) of the gym.

1:24 PM UPDATE: The tables are breaking up – and the event’s moving on to food (pizza and bake sale) and entertainment – look for all that toward the north side of the Galleria!

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Video from one of the performances – members of Twelfth Night Productions sang several songs, in this clip, a comic Monty Python song from “Spam-A-Lot”:

One other performance clip – student marching-band musicians – is at the end of this story. We also recorded two events earlier in the day, during the invitation-only leadership summit – here’s “Neighbor Power” guru Jim Diers:

Second, the Leadership Panel moderated by Ron Angeles, featuring Sili Savusa of the White Center Community Development Association, Aileen Sison of White Center B.O.S.S., Tony Fragada of the Alki Community Council, and Kirk Mead of the Admiral District Business Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:

Gathering of Neighbors was organized and coordinated by a volunteer group this year – VIEWS.

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About that West Seattle Bridge backup this morning…

April 21, 2012 12:05 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Photo courtesy Mary from Service Dog Academy)
Sorry we missed the chance to bring you real-time updates during what by multiple accounts was a bad hour or so on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge this morning. We are trying to reach SDOT to see what they can tell us, but a couple of WSB’ers have mentioned road work – possibly painting crews – which were not mentioned in any advance traffic advisories, so far as we can tell; there were no scheduled closures for the weekend, nothing till another round of overnight-only southbound 99/Viaduct closures during the weeknights next week. Though everything seems to be OK now – at least according to the cameras on the WSB Traffic page – let us know if you encounter otherwise. (And if/when you can, please text or voice-call about something like this – even if we’re offline for a bit, which we were because of a panel discussion before the Gathering of Neighbors today, the text/voice calls break through IMMEDIATELY, whatever we’re doing, 24/7 – 206-293-6302 – consider putting it in your phone “contacts” list; traffic is “breaking news” too! Thanks!)

12:26 PM UPDATE: Rick Sheridan from SDOT says it wasn’t their fault:

We’re sorry to hear drivers were delayed. While we are restriping the high-rise bridge today, the earlier collision was the cause of the traffic problem. According to staff on site at the time, traffic was backed up prior to beginning our work and delayed us as well.

Once emergency response dealt with the incident, traffic problems dissipated. The SDOT live cameras show traffic is flowing smoothly now.

The only crash on the 911 log was at 6:53 am (though it doesn’t show non-injury crashes or stalls).

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Planning to sell on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day?

April 21, 2012 10:03 am

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| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

If so … the sign-up clock is ticking: West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day registration deadline is Wednesday night, 11:59 pm … and then we get busy making The Maps! Sale day is always the second Saturday in May, which means this year it’s May 12th, exactly three weeks from today, 9 am-3 pm, all over the peninsula. More than 140 sales ready to go already, from block sales to group sales to individual sales (plus the multi-seller sites at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and C & P Coffee Company [WSB sponsors] – contact them directly to see if there’s still room). Need the registration form? It’s all online – no postage stamp or envelope or check needed – just go here. Thanks!

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West Seattle Saturday: Gathering of Neighbors, Tax-Free Sale Day, Duwamish Alive!, lots more

April 21, 2012 7:38 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Doug B for sharing two photos of a fish-catching osprey (the second one is at the end of this long list of things happening today). So much to do, the ability to fly might be helpful. From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, here goes!

RECORD STORE DAY: Easy Street Records in The Junction is already open for the day if you want to get started. Special events include a photo exhibition plus The Young Evils live at 7:30 pm and Reignwolf live at 9 pm. (California/Alaska, of course. Thanks to Lissa for her note that there was a line outside by 7 am!)

NICKELSVILLE FUNDRAISING PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Till 11 am at Seattle Lutheran High School gym (41st/Genesee) – details in the WSB Forums.

FREE BARBECUE: West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor; California/Fauntleroy/Morgan) continues its Customer Appreciation Event all weekend, including a free grilled lunch today, and the ongoing produce tent sale, plus a raffle benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Speaking of which…

KIWANIS CLUB ONE-DAY FOOD DRIVE: 9 am-3 pm, drop off donations of food and/or money for the West Seattle Food Bank with the Kiwanis/Key Club volunteers you will find at local grocery stores including WSB sponsors Metropolitan Market, PCC Natural Markets, and WS Thriftway.

TAX-FREE SALE DAY IN THE JUNCTION – AND FOOD DEALS TOO: The list of participants has grown since the first announcement – check ’em out on The Junction’s website. All day long and into early evening, participating stores/restaurants have deals for you, to commemorate another Tax Day just past – the “tax-free” part involves 10 percent discounts – look for the red balloons.

OPEN HOUSE AND EARTH DAY AT FLEURT: While you’re in The Junction, stop by WSB sponsor Fleurt, which is not only participating in Tax-Free Sale Day but also celebrating its new location AND Earth Day – from proprietor Sam:

We will have cupcakes provided by Sugar Rush Bakery and a raffle for a chance to win a custom made Terrarium ($100 value). Special Reminder: Earth Day is Sunday April 22nd. Fleurt encourages you to drop off your old vases and containers that will be repurposed at Fleurt, or donated to the West Seattle Senior Center. Our gift to you for recycling is a mini plant. Dropoff both Saturday and Sunday.

Fleurt’s new location (sneak peek here) is at 4536 California SW.

DUWAMISH ALIVE! This is the big day for the spring edition of the all-over-the-Duwamish-watershed cleanup/restoration work, and hundreds of volunteers will be working at a variety of sites, 10 am-2 pm (see the map on our partner website The South Park News).

ROCK AND GEM SHOW: Rock on! The West Seattle Rock Club‘s annual show is happening this weekend at the Alki Masonic Temple (40th/Edmunds), 10 am-5 pm both days – lots of info on the club’s website.

APRIL POOL’S DAY: Southwest Pool is open again and celebrating this annual event with free activities and safety education, 10:30 am-noon today (2801 SW Thistle).

GATHERING OF NEIGHBORS: These are the neighbors you might never have met, but whose ongoing volunteer work has changed your life, your neighborhood, in so many ways. A variety of local groups and advocates are gathering in the Chief Sealth International High School Galleria 11 am-3 pm, with a special preparedness-focused resource fair till 1 pm, ongoing tabling by all participants till 3 pm, and entertainment 1-3 pm. Wondering who you’ll find? Here’s our preview, first published Thursday night.

EARTH DAY AT DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE: Special events all day! Here’s the calendar-listing page. 11 am-4 pm (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

WALKING ON LOGS WORK PARTY: Noon-4 pm today – as previewed here. Too busy to help today? Sign up to be part of the planting party NEXT Saturday!

WINE TASTINGS: 2 on the schedule today – at Admiral Safeway noon-4 pm and a special 3-5 pm tasting with Obelisco Estate at West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor, with a special offer for first-time customers this month).

POSSIBLE FLYOVER: The Mariners’ Salute to Armed Forces accompanies their 1 pm game today. Many years, that’s sent military aircraft over West Seattle.

WORKOUT FOR LONI: They’ll be smiling through the sweat at Allstar Fitness 2-5 pm this afternoon during special fundraising workshops to benefit cancer-fighting fitness instructor Loni McIntosh. Details in our recent story.

FREE REMODELING/CUSTOM HOME-BUILDING WORKSHOP: Call to see if there’s still room! Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) presents another one of its free workshops, 2:30-4 pm.

PIANOMANIA! AT KENYON HALL: As the announcement from KH describes it, it’s their “celebration of all things pianistic.” The lineup is on the Kenyon Hall website. Two shows today, 3 pm this afternoon and 7:30 pm tonight (7904 35th SW).

‘CASH MOB’: Curious Kidstuff in The Junction is scheduled to be “mobbed” by supporters at 4 pm today – here’s our preview from earlier this week.

THEATER TONIGHT: Twelfth Night Productions‘ “Love Letters” at 7:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and ArtsWest‘s “Exit, Pursued by a Bear” at 7:30 pm in their theater.

And back to Doug B’s osprey …