day : 29/09/2012 11 results

That’s Skittles the seal pup, nicknamed by Seal Sitters, who spent much of this past week trying to protect the too-thin pup while s/he tried to rest along Alki-area shores. The last update from Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey noted that Skittles was resting on an offshore platform/raft as night fell on Thursday. And that has led her to put out this reminder:

We would like to stress that people need to stay away from the two platforms when seals are resting there. We are getting increased reports of harassment, forcing the pups at times to abandon the rafts. Seal Sitters wants to remind everyone that disturbing a marine mammal – whether on shore or in the water or on a platform – is a violation of federal law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is considered a disturbance or “take” if you so much as wake up a pup. Please stay 100 yards away when possible. Our hotline has been flooded with calls about kayakers, paddle-boarders and boaters in motorized craft getting to close. We have advised people to email us photographs of anyone who is close enough to disturb these resting seals and we will forward them on to NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement for investigation. Alki Kayak has been very proactive in telling rental clients to stay away from any pup on shore or on the rafts. We hope that kayakers and paddle boarders will help spread the word among themselves to stay back.

These pups DESPERATELY need rest to survive. They are already struggling and can’t afford to waste precious calories. We don’t want these pups forced on shore where it is even more dangerous for them. PLEASE keep a distance when you are out in the Sound. It is truly a matter of life and death for these pups. And if anyone spots a pup on the beach, please call our hotline immediately at 206-905-7325 (SEAL).

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West Seattle High School alums: Don’t let traditions die!

September 29, 2012 7:48 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle High School alums: Don’t let traditions die!

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Are you a graduate of West Seattle High School? During this WSHS Homecoming Weekend, your fellow WSHS alum Jim Biava has a message, with a request:

Attention all West Seattle High School Graduates!

Congratulations to all West Seattle High School Alumni for having made it this far and for your successes, whatever they may be! Many of us West Seattle High School Alumni still live in West Seattle the place we call home. It’s a wonderful place to live.

The West Seattle High School Alumni Association benefits all of us in our community. The Alumni Association helps many students get the needed resources to continue their education to improve their lives. This year the Alumni Association awarded over $64,000 in scholarships. We facilitate keeping in touch with fellow classmates from whatever year you graduated. The Annual All-School Reunion, the Hall of Fame, the Scholarship Awards, the publication of the Chinook, and the Membership Chairperson who keeps us connected are direct benefits that the Alumni Association provides to all Alumni. The WSHS Alumni Association is the glue that keeps our community together.

The WSHS Alumni Association needs your help now.

We are the reportedly the largest High School Alumni Association in the country. However, we find ourselves with a few open and vital positions on the Alumni Board. We need people like you to join us and keep the Alumni Association the proud and benevolent association that it is. We need fresh new ideas and new faces to join us in keeping the tradition going that started many years and generations ago.

It takes a little time, one meeting a month, and some work. The personal satisfaction of helping your community and the camaraderie you receive are priceless!

Please contact Jim Biava at 206-387-2683 or e-mail to jim@JimBiava.com for more information on the opportunities. The Alumni Association is counting on you.

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Fire response in South Delridge: Barbecue trouble

September 29, 2012 6:13 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

6:13 PM: If you’re seeing/hearing the fire response to the 9400 block of 20th SW, near 20th/Cambridge (map) – according to radio communication, it’s a small fire that firefighters believe began with a barbecue. No report of any injuries.

6:52 PM UPDATE: Firefighters on scene confirmed they were dealing with a barbecue-caused fire, no major damage.

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New 5K: First-ever West Seattle Monster Dash in 4 weeks

September 29, 2012 3:48 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Tomorrow, the Beat the Burn 5K (and festival!) is set for Jack Block Park. But that’s NOT the last 5K of the year in this area – a new one has just been announced, the West Seattle Monster Dash, on October 27th. It’s a benefit for the West Seattle Co-Op Preschools (WSB sponsor) – and it’s planned for a course in upper Lincoln Park. It’s a Halloween theme, organizers say, “so costumes are STRONGLY encouraged,” and they’re planning prizes for best individual and group costumes. Registration info’s here.

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Update: Elsie the dog back home, for ‘ransom’

September 29, 2012 2:58 pm

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| Crime | Pets | West Seattle news

2:58 PM: Elsie‘s owner says she is missing and believes she was stolen out of his yard this afternoon in the 2800 block of SW 102th (just east of Arbor Heights, in the county), though he did not see it happen, so he doesn’t have any suspect description to share. He describes Elsie as “an extremely loving pit bull of about 60 pounds, ‘fawn’ coat, and pink lips.” If you see her, you can call him at 206-661-7427 – he says that number is also on her collar, light green with pink flowers on it. We are also crossposting to the WSB Pets page.

9:16 PM: Elsie’s owner says she’s home: “She was in fact taken from my property by car, and after much searching and fretting, she was returned for a small ransom.”

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Happening now: In-person RapidRide/Metro info at Westwood

September 29, 2012 12:49 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

If you’re still looking for printed timetables and/or answers to questions about the bus changes that took effect today – including the launch of RapidRide C Line – look for the red-and-yellow bus at Westwood Village, and the balloon-decorated tent next to it. Metro reps will be there till 4. County Councilmember Joe McDermott was there in the early going, right after 11, as was “RapidRide Man”:

For info links related to today’s changes – check our roundup from last night.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary, car-prowl alerts

September 29, 2012 12:20 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

We have two reader reports to share, both with break-in alerts. The first one is from an Arbor Heights resident:

Just wanted to give an alert out: My house on 35th Ave SW & 114th Ave SW was broken into (Friday) between 8 am and 2 pm. They came in through a side window, stole my computer, iPod & ransacked some rooms and then left through the front door. My dog was home in her crate, luckily they did not take her or hurt her (but they were not deterred by her either because she was crated).

And from the 1500 block of 42nd SW in North Admiral:

About 415 am we heard our dog bark incessantly. We didn’t think much of it until the morning when we went into our vehicle that was parked in front of our home, and it had clearly been rummaged through. Meaning, everything from inside the glove compartment and console had been pulled out. There was no visible damage to the car and nothing of significance was stolen. We believe our dog scared him/her off and we also believe that whomever it was exited through our backyard, as our dog eventually began barking toward the back of the house. Be on alert!

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West Seattle Saturday: Drug Take-Back Day; ‘Meet RapidRide’; tour Lincoln Park…

September 29, 2012 8:33 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

We featured that very regal dog’s photo – shared by Evie, who took it outside PCC (WSB sponsor) – on the WSB Facebook page last night, asking for captions (check ’em out here; a couple commenters note the dog’s named Aslan). Seemed like a fun way to unleash a weekend. Now, here are today/tonight highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

YARD/GARAGE SALES: Weather’s still nice, so the season’s not over! Find the newest (free!) listings in the WSB Forums. And if you’re having a sale – here’s how to announce it there.

SCHMITZ PARK WORK PARTY: Help get the park/forest ready for fall/winter! 9 am-noon.

BLOOD DRIVE IN THE JUNCTION: 9 am-3 pm, the Bloodmobile is scheduled to be at 42nd/Alaska. Details here.

GUIDED TOUR OF LINCOLN PARK: Think you know the park well? Join Friends of Lincoln Park for a closer look, 10 am-noon, details here.

DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY: 10 am-2 pm, get your expired/unneeded medications to the Southwest Precinct for the latest edition of Drug Take-Back Day. More details, and a map, in the listing.

FREE YOGA! Longtime WSB sponsor SoundYoga presents one of its periodic free sessions, 10:30 am.

‘MEET RAPIDRIDE’ AT WESTWOOD: As we showed you first thing this morning, RapidRide is indeed up and running in West Seattle. Come get questions answered, take a closer look at a bus, and meet RapidRide Man, 11 am-4 pm at Westwood Village.

FOOD BANK DRIVE AND BLACKSMITH DEMONSTRATION: Both happening at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) today – the food drive for White Center Food Bank is all day, the blacksmith demonstration (info here) is 1-3 pm.

VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: At Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon), 11:30 am-noon – details here.

JUST SHAKE IT! Benefit dance party at The Bridge, 4-9 pm – read about it on the FB event page.

SWYFS GALA: Tonight, Southwest Youth and Family Services is “Celebrating West Seattle” with their annual fundraising gala, with doors opening at 5:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Ticket info here.

NIGHT HIKE AT LINCOLN PARK: Owls, raccoons, and more … depending on who shows up … wildlife-wise, and you! With naturalist Stewart Wechsler. 6:30 pm. Details on his website.

LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC: Check the WSB calendar for all the listings.

‘ANDREW JACKSON’ CONTINUES: At ArtsWest, 7:30 pm tonight, the “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” run continues.

WATER TAXI FOR WSU-OREGON GAME: The county’s added one extra late run for tonight’s Cougars-Ducks game.

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High-school football: West Seattle HS Homecoming 2012

September 29, 2012 7:15 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Under the direction of new music teacher Ethan Thomas, the West Seattle High School Band made its marching debut Friday night, at halftime during the WSHS homecoming game at Southwest Athletic Complex.

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
The band’s debut was one of the bright spots, considering the game was a 47-7 loss for WSHS. But it had its moments on the field:

(West Seattle’s #2 Siddique Newkirk gets some yardage with help from teammates Thomas Tuong, left, and Garrisson Smith)
More of Nick Adams’ WSB photos, with game notes, ahead:

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Video: RapidRide C Line service officially begins in West Seattle

September 29, 2012 5:24 am

| 30 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

For posterity’s sake, we went to Westwood Village to record the start of the first-ever RapidRide C Line trip. The online Trip Planner said 4:58 for the station on SW Barton west of 26th; driver Arthur told us his schedule said 4:57. His bus was parked in the Metro holding area a block west alongside Roxhill Park when we went over to say hi.

“Brand-new bus,” he told us. “Smells new.” Indeed, it did.

Arthur says this is his first RapidRide route; previously, he drove the articulated buses on routes including West Seattle’s 21 and 22.

P.S. No passengers at the first stop for the first run, but then again, it’s Saturday. Our coverage of the RapidRide debut and other local route changes continues later today; as noted in our final reminder story last night, Metro plans an informational event at Westwood Village – by Barnes and Noble – later today, with a RapidRide bus and even RapidRide Man (whom we photographed at countless community events in recent months), 11 am-4 pm.

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High-school football: Chief Sealth wins big over Franklin

September 29, 2012 12:50 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Seahawk Spirit triumphed not only in the stands but also on the field Friday night at Memorial Stadium downtown, where Chief Sealth International High School trounced Franklin HS in varsity football, 60-26.