month : 10/2012 361 results

Aircraft concerns? FAA, port announce new meeting date/place

October 29, 2012 10:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Aircraft concerns? FAA, port announce new meeting date/place
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

The Port of Seattle has announced the new date for what was originally an October 23rd meeting to talk with South and West Seattle residents about concerns related to “existing flight procedures” – such as noise and flight patterns. The rescheduled meeting to include representatives of the FAA, port (which runs Sea-Tac Airport), and county (which runs Boeing Field) is now scheduled for 6:30-8:30 pm Tuesday, November 13, at the auditorium of Cleveland High School (5511 15th Avenue South; map).

Followup: ‘Drumming works!’ Salmon show up in Fauntleroy Creek

“Drumming works!” So exhorted Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens late today, one day after leading the annual “drumming to welcome the salmon home” event at the creek overlook. As noted in our coverage of the event (photos and video here), Judy told the gathering that so far, seven spawners had tried to make it up the creek, but all turned into otter chow. However, today was a different story – in the early evening, Judy sent photos by volunteer Dennis Hinton and this report:

It’s dark now but Dennis and a new watcher, a Boy Scout after a merit badge, are still down there, which suggests the fish have continued to come from a late-afternoon high tide.

As of 5:30 PM, we had seen 10 spawners through and above the fish ladder, where they’ll have a chance to spawn and their offspring will have a chance to survive late-winter rains. The fish are a good 18″, robust, and beautiful. I’ve put out the call for watchers to get on the schedule and help document these beautiful fish.

Want to help watch? This story from last week explains how to sign up.

Final Harvest Festival report: Junction Association’s ‘big thank you’

(13-month-old Nathan Boggs, photographed on Sunday by Nick Adams for WSB)
In our two reports here on WSB – “as it happened” coverage and post-event photo gallery – plus Facebook and Twitter updates, we showed you how successful the first-ever Junction Harvest Festival was, in many ways. The West Seattle Junction Association agrees it was spectacular, writes director Susan Melrose, in a note to say “thanks”:

The Junction Association was thrilled and amazed by the success of the Harvest Festival. What a day filled with smiles, friends, and fun. Our community embraced this event and each aspect flourished. I LOVED the parade led by the WSHS Marching Band! The best part is that this event made so many in our community happy and gave folks yet another reason to get together. When the Junction Association’s board decided to expand this event, the #1 goal was to give the neighborhood something great. I’m glad that we succeeded.

Big thank you to the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance for bringing the Harvest, community groups for bringing truly awesome activities, our volunteers for helping make it happen, and the businesses in The Junction who have made all this possible. Thanks to all who came and brought their energy, smiles and laughter.

Cheers to the First Annual Harvest Festival!

Susan Melrose
Junction Association Director

Vote notes: Deadline; Sealth ‘mock election’; dropoff van

With eight days till the official nationwide Election Day (though voting-by-mail has been under way for a week and a half), three notes today:

checkbox.jpgDEADLINE REMINDER: In case you missed this in today’s daily preview, last chance to register to vote if you aren’t already registered in this state – get yourself to these locations downtown or in Renton by 4:30!

STUDENT MOCK ELECTION: When results of a national student “mock election” for president come out next Monday, they’ll include results from voting tomorrow right here in West Seattle, as announced by Chief Sealth International High School teacher Noah Zeichner:

Students and teachers at Chief Sealth International High School will be taking part in a national mock election on Tuesday, October 30th. Students will use a state-of-the art online voting system as they participate in a mock election program sponsored by the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI), a national civic education program based at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. With approximately one million students expected to vote nationwide during the two-week voting period from October 22-November 1, the YLI Mock Election is the largest secure, student-only online mock election in the nation. Results of the YLI National Mock Election will be available the morning of Monday, November 5, 2012.

BALLOT DROPOFF VAN: Still no dropoff box in West Seattle – but the county will bring back its dropoff van starting this Friday, same spot as the primary, southwest side of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot. 10 am-5 pm Friday-Monday (November 2-5), you’ll find it there, and 7 am-8 pm on Election Day (Tuesday 11/6).

Building Roxhill Castle: Days away – last call for help

October 29, 2012 2:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Building Roxhill Castle: Days away – last call for help
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The Roxhill Park playground “community build,” for a new Roxhill Castle, starts Friday. From volunteer organizer Mat McBride, one last call for help (including setup work tomorrow):

We need some tools and supplies
Most of the tools for the build are covered by the West Seattle Tool Library, because they are awesome. They don’t have everything though, and we need some specific tools, lumber, and other building supplies. The Tool Library has a list of what we still need, and you can lend or donate tools, or make a financial gift. Your gift to the library will help build the park, And it will still be at the library after. You might need it for Your next park project. You can email micah@wstools.org to talk about specifics, or just make a 501c3 tax deductible online donation; click here and they can buy it directly. The link to donate is at the bottom of the page, and any amount is welcome. I have tested the theory, it works great.

We also need shelter, you know, in case it rains. The West Seattle Junction Association has set us up with a bunch of great pavilions, but we might need more. You know, in case it rains. Do you have a pop-up shelter?

We need help with set-up
Can’t wait to start working on the project? You don’t have to! We need to get the worksite ready for a horde of volunteers. We’re planning on Tuesday, October 30th. If you’d like to help set up, e-mail roxhillcastle@gmail.com. It’s like a VIP pass, no one else will be allowed in early.

We still need volunteers
All kinds of tasks – light duty, general labor and technical work. We are building this park from scratch, not a kit. If you know folks who are good at building things from scratch, Well, have we got a deal. Seriously, tell your friends about this page, right here.

A huge Thank You to everyone who has signed up for this project
It quite literally would not have happened without you. There’s a new page on the project website dedicated to that. Have a look, Roxstar. Note – this is a large project and some names (individuals are based on the Doodle signup page) may be missing or incorrect. Please update me if so, I think it’s important.

Check out the community website for the project here.

Followup: Details on Sunday’s West Seattle (etc.) orca visit

(Photo courtesy Jeff Hogan NWFSC, taken under permit #13136)
Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, first to let us know on Sunday about the latest sightings of orcas in West Seattle waters, shares that photo taken while he was on a NOAA research boat later in the the day. He reports:

We followed them from roughly Alki all the way up to Mukilteo. We had all the members of J Pod, K Pod and a few L-Pod whales as well. Didn’t see any foraging, but just lots of slow travel and socializing. Collected several fecal samples in addition to all the photo identification work.

He identifies the whale in the photo as K21, a male (if you didn’t already know that because of the large dorsal fin) born in 1986, according to this page on the Center for Whale Research website. J, K, and L pods are the “Southern Resident” groups who live in this region, though they sometimes forage much farther away.

Update: $75,000 bail for Ryan Cox, jailed for baseball-bat attack under investigation as a hate crime

(UPDATED 5:11 PM with new information following bail hearing – see end of story)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A repeat offender who gained regional infamy in 2009 for prolific West Seattle graffiti vandalism involving an anti-gay slur is back in jail right now, under investigation for an alleged hate crime.

While WSB policy is generally to not identify suspects until they are charged, the circumstances of this case and the history of the suspect have led us to make an exception. The suspect is 34-year-old Ryan J. Cox, arrested on Saturday and accused of hitting a man with a baseball bat on Friday as he and the victim were leaving a Metro bus in the Luna Park area. The man told police that he believed he was attacked because of his sexual orientation, and that Cox had been hurling insults at him on board the bus.

Though police could not find a suspect after the attack – in which the victim said he was hit four times, leaving raised welts on his back – they encountered Cox on Saturday at the Solstice Park tennis courts across from north Lincoln Park, an area he has been known to frequent, and the encounter led to the arrest. That part of the story was first told to WSB by a reader who asked for anonymity. He wrote on Saturday:

Read More

West Seattle Monday: K-5 STEM dine-out benefit; voter-registration deadline; ‘spooky storytime’…

October 29, 2012 9:49 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: K-5 STEM dine-out benefit; voter-registration deadline; ‘spooky storytime’…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo of Longfellow Creek, by Laura James)
Fairly quiet day on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar and the WSB Halloween page … time to recover from weekend activities including the first-ever Harvest Festival (our coverage is here and here), but we have a few things:

DINE OUT TO HELP A SCHOOL: All day/night, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy will donate part of today’s proceeds to West Seattle’s new K-5 STEM school.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The final deadline for voter registration is today – details on the King County Elections page.

FERRY DRILL: As mentioned here on Friday, an anti-terrorism drill is planned today on board a state ferry somewhere between Vashon and Edmonds – and if it happens to be off West Seattle shores at the time, you might notice unusual air/sea activity.

SPOOKY STORYTIME: 7 pm tonight at High Point Library (35th/Raymond), Halloween story time! Details here.

NIGHTLIFE: Pub quiz night at Shadowland, 8 pm … Flat Earth Society DJ’ing at West 5 features Jody McKane spinning tonight, 9 pm.

Check the calendar for a few more recurring events!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last Monday in October

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:52 AM: Wet weather is the main challenge for the morning commute so far. A few notes:

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its fall/winter schedule now (and using Melissa Ann for the next three weeks, with Rachel Marie getting some work done)
-Routes 120, 55, and 22 have some changes (see our story from last night)

Let us know what you encounter out there – we’ll also update this story any time there’s a traffic/transit note between now and the end of the evening commute.

8:16 AM: Crash just reported on northbound I-5 at I-90.

8:47 AM: A crash on northbound I-5 just south of the West Seattle Bridge is no longer blocking lanes. Haven’t heard of any trouble from the “near I-90” report.

West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, report #2: Who was who

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Report #1, as-it-happened coverage with photos plus parade video, is here)

Thousands thronged The Junction on Sunday for its first-ever Harvest Festival – melding the West Seattle Farmers’ Market with business-district trick-or-treating. We covered it “live” as it unfolded over four hours, but there’s more to show, in these two-dozen-plus photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams. Above, 4-year-old Joseph Cho (“The Flash”) awaits fruit in a market booth. Next, hay was a playground for a little dinosaur, 11-month-old Noah Wootton, and friends:

Grownups and pets got into the spirit too:

That’s Jim Rogers with Olaf, who is masquerading as Al Capone. 19 more festival scenes, ahead:
Read More

Fauntleroy’s annual salmon welcome, ‘circle of life’ and all

October 28, 2012 10:34 pm
|    Comments Off on Fauntleroy’s annual salmon welcome, ‘circle of life’ and all
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

“The circle of life” took on multiple meanings at this afternoon’s Fauntleroy Creek “drumming to call the salmon home” event. First – the circle of those who came to celebrate the annual return, about three dozen participants by our count. Second, the phrase was part of a “call-and-response” inviting participants to share a significant event in their lives since last year’s gathering. And third – organizer and creek/watershed steward Judy Pickens noted that while seven spawners had been counted so far, none had made it up the creek – otter(s) had eaten them. Nonetheless, the celebration was on – with drums of many sizes and types:

That provided a mentoring opportunity, too, as Irene Stewart demonstrated:

Singing accompanied the drumming – that’s organizer Judy at center, music leader Jamie Shilling at right:

(video added) The gathering had begun with Judy recalling the first returning salmon (nicknamed “Harry and Louise”) almost two decades ago, followed by Jamie leading a song:

Mary led young welcomers through a recounting of the story of baby salmon’s comings, goings, and growing:

As noted here last week, volunteer watchers will be keeping an eye out for the salmon in the weeks ahead.

Treehouse Lounge to open at Admiral District’s Mind Unwind

(Photo courtesy Krystal Kelley)
A new wine/beer lounge opens Halloween night in The Admiral District – and it’s intended to be a treat, says entrepreneur Krystal Kelley, whose Mind Unwind gallery/gathering space at 2206 California SW will also now be home to the Treehouse Lounge. It’s in the gallery of the loft, previously a “greatly unused space,” and Krystal says she’s been working on it for about a month, with colleagues J. Conrad Nivens and Zac Hutchins. It’ll be open Wednesdays through Sundays, 5 pm to midnight, with Happy Hour 6-8 pm – and Happy Hour all night ($5 house wine/draft beer) on Grand Opening night Wednesday. Read the rest of the Treehouse Lounge story on the Mind Unwind website; Treehouse Lounge also is on Facebook, here.

West Seattle weekend scene: Seeds of creativity on 40th SW

After you’ve converted a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern – or pumpkin curry, or … – the question remains: What to do with all those seeds? You can simply roast them, or, try what the neighbors on 40th SW near The Junction did again this year, getting together for a Pumpkin Seed Cookoff. Kerry White shared photos and info – above, the winners: Kerry reports, “Bob took the Judges’ Award, Aubrey got the Most Entertaining Seed, Paul was first, Will second, and Brady third.” As for what they created, Kerry says, “The winner was ‘A Sweet Surprise’ that was super crunchy. Second place was Buffalo; third place was a jerk seed. Most entertaining was a candied seed loaf, and the judges’ award was pumpkin-seed-ale caramels.”

Congratulations to the creative cooks of 40th SW!

Reminder: Routes 120, 55 add more buses starting tomorrow; plus, Arbor Heights change

In case you missed the news last week: Starting tomorrow, Metro adds two am-commute buses and two pm-commute buses to each of two West Seattle routes, 120 and 55, as explained in this news release. The news release doesn’t mention the schedule details, but, from e-mail sent to riders, here they are again:

The two new morning trips on Route 55 are scheduled to leave from the Admiral District at 6:37 and 8:20 AM, and arrive on Seneca Street at Second Avenue at 7:08 and 8:51 respectively. The added Route 55 afternoon trips are scheduled to leave from Blanchard St in Belltown at 4:54 and 5:17 PM.

The two new morning trips on Route 120 are scheduled to leave from the Burien Transit Center at 6:26 and 7:14 AM, from Westwood Village at 6:50 and 7:39, and arrive on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle at about 7:25 and 8:15 respectively. The added Route 120 afternoon trips are scheduled to leave from southbound on Third Avenue at Pike Street at 4:45 and 5:11 PM.

We are continuing to launch a daily “traffic/transit today” story that is open for comments and editorial updates throughout the day as needed – what you’re seeing, and what we’re hearing about – look for it each weekday by 7, and linked throughout the day/night in the BIG STORIES list on the WSB sidebar.

P.S. For those who have been asking about Arbor Heights changes – Metro’s Victor Obeso said at the Sustainable West Seattle Transportation Forum (WSB coverage here) two weeks ago that they’d be working on tweaks – AH resident Vic noticed this up at Junction Bay 6 this weekend and shared the photo:

We have not received a reply from Metro yet about other Arbor Heights changes

West Seattle Whale Watch: Orca sightings!

(Added Monday: Video by Ed Brooks, shot from Magnolia as the whales headed back north; link discovered via Orca Network Facebook page)
11:41 AM: We are hearing from multiple sources that orcas are headed this way again! First word that we received came from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales when we saw him here at the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – and other tips have come in too. Let us know if you see them!

12:57 PM UPDATE: Donna from The Whale Trail says they’re currently “milling around” mid-channel between Me-Kwa-Mooks and Blake Island.

2:23 PM UPDATE: Just got a text – “On Bainbridge ferry heading into Elliott Bay. Orcas EVERYWHERE.”

As-it-happened coverage: 1st-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, report #1

10:41 AM: The sun is out for the start of the first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – with lots of people already out and about to enjoy the special middle-of-the-street Farmers’ Market, plus homemade carnival-style activities like pumpkin bowling (above), at our booth with WestSide Baby and West Seattle Bowl (dubbed WSB X 3) on the east side of California/Alaska. You’ll find art by Curious Kidstuff:

And the Community School of West Seattle is here with chickens and a turkey!

20-plus organizations and businesses are offering activities – and right in the heart of Walk-All-Ways, get your questions answered by Farmers’ Market folks – we loved the corncob hat:

Lots of costumed kids and adults out already – and we’re still just under an hour away from the costume parade leaving Junction Plaza Park at 11:30 am, followed by trick-or-treating noon-2 pm – and 2 is when the festival ends, so get down here fast.

More coverage to come!

11:24 AM UPDATE: The costume parade is about to start – the WSHS Marching Band has been warming up, and we discovered that someone who has a lot of experience with parades – Jim Edwards, co-coordinator of the West Seattle Grand Parade – is helping this one get off on the right foot. (The parade looped all the way around the festival site – here’s Jim on his motorcycle:)

And part of the band:

And the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court:

(added) Video of the parade as it began from Junction Plaza Park:

12:25 PM UPDATE: Hour and a half to go – didn’t think it was possible, but there are even more people here now. Costume-watching continues:

And the Batmans helping each other across the street:

Costumed grownups as well as kids. We’ll have parade video later as well as a second roundup of photos beyond the ones we manage to get into this as-it-happened narrative. Come down and hang out with your neighbors! Also check out the RE/MAX Haunted House over on 44th – which has been drawing lines:

1:30 PM UPDATE: Half an hour to go. So many people have come by the booth – pumpkin-bowling, asking questions about WestSide Baby, saying hi, picking up West Seattle Bowl coupons – thank you! (And if you’re still here or stopping by before 2, we have some of our free WSB ice-scrapers left to give away.) The crowd has been terrific. But the weather’s turned cloudy and cooler, so our respite from the rain might only last as long as the festival …

2:04 PM UPDATE: Starting to fold up – the streets have to be cleared so they can reopen within a couple hours. We will have at least one more report later with lots more photos, and parade video. Thanks to everybody who came to the festival – and all the volunteers/businesses/organizations who made the fun activities happen and provided treats, free.

ADDED: A community-contributed photo – Lisa Secord sent this photo of her 11-year-old son, Brendan Lancaster, dressed as “Great Granny” – she reports the reactions were priceless:

One more business-district trick-or-treat event – Westwood Village, 5-7 pm on Halloween.

West Seattle Sunday: Junction Harvest Festival; salmon drumming; free yoga; more

It’s finally here – the first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm – click the map above for the printable PDF version! And we have a break in the rain, for the occasion. But before we get to on-the-scene coverage – a quick overview of the day:

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

(Market setup, photo taken about 8:40 am)
10 am-2 pm, West Seattle Farmers’ Market in the street (California SW)
10 am-2 pm, free fun activities presented by businesses and organizations
11:30 am, costume parade led by West Seattle High School Marching Band from Junction Plaza Park
12 pm-2 pm, business trick-or-treating
12 pm-2 pm, gently haunted house @ RE/MAX, 4727 44th SW

*Come see us, WestSide Baby, and West Seattle Bowl (“WSB x 3”) for pumpkin bowling and (while they last) ask for your free WSB ice scraper (winter preparedness!).

FREE YOGA: WSB sponsor SoundYoga sponsors free yoga every so often and today’s the day! 11 am (5639 California SW)

FALL WINE RELEASE: Stottle Winery (tasting room at 3400 Harbor SW, street level of ActivSpace) continues its fall wine-release event, noon-5:30 pm.

HALLOWEEN ‘TOXIC TERRORS’ BOAT TOUR: Might still be room – leaves Harbor Island Marina at 1 pm, gate C – details here.

WHITE CENTER BUSINESS TRICK-OR-TREATING: 2-6 pm at participating shops/restaurants in the business district.

HALLOWEEN DOG PHOTOS: Halloween photos of the dog(s) in your life, at The Wash Dog (WSB sponsor). FREE – you take the photo with your own camera; Wash Dog supplies the setting – hay bales, pumpkins, dog costumes to borrow (or bring your own).

LIVE MUSIC: Zarni performs at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW), 3-5 pm.

MARRIAGE-EQUALITY FUNDRAISER: 4-6 pm at OutWest Bar (California/Brandon) – details here.

DRUM TO CALL THE SALMON HOME: The yearly event at Fauntleroy Creek Overlook (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy, across and up the embankment from the ferry dock), 5 pm – bring whatever you want to call a drum (or just bring your voice for chants/songs – all ages welcome)! The coho are already showing up at the creek mouth.

Reminder: Road closures, bus changes for Harvest Festival today

October 28, 2012 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on Reminder: Road closures, bus changes for Harvest Festival today
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT “live” camera looking north on California at Alaska)
Just a quick traffic/transit reminder: California and Alaska are closing in the heart of The Junction from early this morning till mid-afternoon, for the first-ever Harvest Festival. That also means Metro bus reroutes. The festival runs 10 am-2 pm, but setup starts early since it includes the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, to be set up in the middle of California SW instead of its usual location, as well as a variety of activities. More coverage to come!

High-school postseason: Saturday’s volleyball, football

October 28, 2012 4:50 am
|    Comments Off on High-school postseason: Saturday’s volleyball, football
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Results from postseason play in two sports on Saturday:

VOLLEYBALL: Busy day for local teams in tournament play at Chief Sealth International High School. First, West Seattle High School lost at 11 am to Seattle Prep, 3-0 , then faced Sealth at 1 pm – that ended with the Seahawks winning, 3-0. WSHS subsequently won over Lakeside at 3 pm, 3-1, while Sealth went on to play Eastside Catholic at 5 pm, falling 3-0. (Added Sunday morning – per the Sealth Athletics Facebook page, the Seahawks “will be back in action next Thursday (5:30 pm) at Sammamish HS vs. Bellevue in the 1st round of the District II tournament.”)

FOOTBALL: WSHS lost to Bainbridge at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, 47-20.

(WSHS senior Brennan Newquist scoring one of the Wildcats’ first two TDs)
Toplines ahead:Read More

West Seattle Karate Academy students’ tournament success

October 28, 2012 4:32 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Karate Academy students’ tournament success
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

Congratulations to more local martial-arts participants! Kris Wilder, owner/head instructor of West Seattle Karate Academy, shares the report and photo:

Several members of the West Seattle Karate Academy traveled to Puyallup to compete in the Washington State Isshinryu Karate Tournament. From left to right, Issac (Bronze in individual kata and Gold in Synchronized kata), Sprocket (Silver in individual kata), Sadie (Silver in individual kata and gold in synchronized kata), Wyatt (Gold in synchronized and silver in individual kata), Brandon (Bronze in individual kata and a Gold in synchronized), center, Master George Shin, and left, Kris Wilder. A good time was had by all the competitors and parents alike.

British Columbia earthquake, but NO tsunami warning for WA

9:49 PM: There’s a lot of conflicting information circulating right now so just in case you are confused or worried – yes, there WAS a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in B.C. but NO, there is NO tsunami warning for our state, anywhere. Here is the actual warning, ONLY for areas from the northern tip of Vancouver Island northward – Vancouver itself is not even affected. The warnings unfortunately are confusingly written – but “information only” for our area means nothing more than “we thought you might want to know that this warning is in effect SOMEPLACE ELSE.” Also, note that while “tsunami” no doubt conjures images of the terrifying events in Japan, much more often, it is barely a ripple. That said, *IF* there is ever a tsunami alert for someplace you are, do NOT wait around to see if it’s a ripple – get inland! – but once again, NO WARNING AFFECTING OUR STATE TONIGHT. We will of course keep watch. And this is always a great reminder for preparedness. (More on that in a separate story later!)

10:04 PM: To illustrate the above point, Canadian sources report a 44-centimeter-high wave at Langara Island in the Queen Charlottes Haida Gwaii area. Here’s how far away that is from us (and Vancouver):


View Larger Map

The newest version of the tsunami alert now includes an ADVISORY for the rest of the B.C. coast – still nothing for our state. Read it here, and watch for updates at tsunami.gov. (We will add that link to the WSB Weather page tonight so it’ll always be there for reference.)

11:12 PM UPDATE: A few more notes – while there is an *advisory* for Southern Oregon and Northern California (here’s the latest update, from half an hour ago), still nothing for any part of Washington. In B.C., they still haven’t seen anything higher than 50 centimeters (not even 2 feet high). As noted in comments, there’s an alert for Hawaii – here’s live coverage from a TV station there.

11:27 PM UPDATE: The alert for parts of B.C. and Alaska is downgraded to an advisory.

12:24 AM UPDATE: We’re continuing to listen to the Honolulu TV stream referenced above. Whatever they are going to get is expected to arrive in about an hour.

1:43 AM UPDATE: Still nothing of note in Hawaii, according to that TV stream. The warning is still in effect; the advisory for Alaska/BC has been canceled.

3:14 AM UPDATE: Hawaii still OK but no “all-clear” yet. No definitive word on how the remote areas near the epicenter fared, but we did hear via the Hawaii live stream a phone interview with a woman who was at a wedding in the area when the quake hit.

West Seattle coyote sightings: Another reader-report roundup

Mark Wangerin thinks that might be the same coyote he’s photographed before in the West Seattle Golf Course/lower Camp Long area. This photo is from Thursday. And it leads off the latest list of sightings reported by WSB’ers – read on:

Read More

For Veterans Day this year, say ‘thank you’ with a card

Veterans Day is two weeks away – and this year, it can be more meaningful than ever … if you choose to join in an organized effort to say “thank you” to those who have served. From Andrea Geraghty of West Seattle American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 – and note that you can visit the Auxiliary at the Harvest Festival tomorrow:

Have you wondered how to show your support for Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is November 11th and honors the men and women who have served in the United States armed services.

Who is a Veteran?
Veterans are people who served in the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in times of war or peace.

Who do you know who is a veteran?
Maybe it is your mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, neighbor, or teacher. You can be very proud of them. Many have given much to keep us safe and free.

Have you thanked a veteran today?
This year, considered writing a thank-you card to a Veteran thanking them for their service to our country.

The West Seattle American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 invites children (and adults) to make a card for a Veteran for Veterans Day. Cards can be dropped off at the American Legion Hall 3618 SW Alaska St (through the mail slot at the front of the building) or if your school is interested in doing it as a school project, we would be happy to pick them up.

**We will also be at the Harvest Festival on October 28th; look for the dark blue canopy, cards can be dropped off there any time between 10:00-2:00 and join us for fun activities.**

Please drop off cards no later than Thursday, November 8, 2012. Contact Andrea Geraghty at alaunit160@gmail.com to make arrangements for pickup from schools by November 1, 2012.

The thank-you cards will be distributed to Veterans currently living in the West Seattle area and Veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

(Cards: Please do not include personal address/contact information; this will not be a pen-pal. Cards should be no larger than one 8 ½ x 12 sheet of paper folded in half (cards may be folded smaller). No envelopes.

Thank you, West Seattle; if you’re interested in learning more about the American Legion Auxiliary, please contact us at alaunit160@gmail.com.