West Seattle, Washington

15 Tuesday

52℉

month : 04/2013 341 results

West Seattle coyotes – and other urban wildlife – on Highland Park Action Committee agenda Wednesday night
April 23, 2013 6:19 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | Highland Park | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Video sent by Bob Mohr, recorded by son Jack, in Genesee Hill around sunset Monday, between 55th/54th/Genesee/Dakota)
While that short clip of a coyote on the run in a West Seattle neighborhood – watch the sidewalk at :25 and :40 – isn’t from Highland Park, that neighborhood’s plan to talk about coyotes and other urban wildlife tomorrow night would seem to be of interest to all. A federal wildlife biologist is on the Highland Park Action Committee‘s agenda, 7 pm Wednesday at HP Improvement Club (12th/Holden), and all are welcome. Also on the agenda: The proposed Duwamish River cleanup plan, and why, with a month left for public comment, it should matter to you.

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Followup: Campaigning for transportation $ in the Legislature
April 23, 2013 4:07 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Photo courtesy ‘Keep King County Moving’ Coalition)
Following up on our Monday report about transportation-funding proposals approved by the House Transportation Committee, two notes:

First – as promised, the “Keep King County Moving” coalition of political and organizational leaders hit the road for Olympia this morning to urge approval of the package. Among them were two West Seattleites seen in the photo above – County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Second – a little more information on part of the proposal that sparked some discussion among WSB commenters following our Monday story. It would include funding to “split” Metro RapidRide Lines C and D – which currently are really one line going between West Seattle and Ballard. We asked the King County Department of Transportation if any more details were available, and spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok replied today:

This is a proposal for capital improvements. It calls for $15 million to split the RapidRide C and D lines to improve reliability and provide additional direct service to growing job centers in the South Lake Union and SODO neighborhoods.

The approach under consideration would have the C Line running between West Seattle and South Lake Union. The D Line would operate between Ballard and SODO. There is no specific routing sketched out at this point – that is something we would want to work with businesses and the city on if this legislation passes. Also, this proposal does not include added service hours or bus terminal/transit center space in South Lake Union that would be required to support these changes so this concept would need to be part of a broader legislative package that includes sufficient operating revenues.

Again, the bills are HB 1954 and HB 1955. 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon says the next move is up to the Rules Committee.

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West Seattle scene: Spirit of Kingston out on test run at Seacrest
April 23, 2013 2:02 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

This is our closest look yet at Spirit of Kingston, the future West Seattle Water Taxi vessel, since the King County Marine Division took possession last month – it’s been parked behind a fence at the county’s also-new maintenance barge while crews have been in training, but today we happened to be at Seacrest during one of its test runs. We’re checking with the county Department of Transportation to see if there’s an update on when it’ll be put into service to replace the older and breakdown-prone Rachel Marie.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 36 hours to register!
April 23, 2013 11:52 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 36 hours to register!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Haven’t gotten around to registering your sale for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2013 yet? Just 36 hours left to register! It’s 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 11th, one big day of sales big and small all around the peninsula – a chance for “person-to-person recycling” as well as meeting neighbors, making friends, finding treasures … We have 200+ sales so far, from Admiral to Alki to The Arroyos, Pigeon Point to Highland Park, and beyond, from individual homes to block sales, business sales, benefit sales, school sales … If you don’t have room for your own sale, or just don’t have THAT much stuff to sell, be sure to check directly with group-site organizers Hotwire Coffee or C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsors) ASAP! But if you ARE signing up your own sale: Go here, before the deadline (11:59 pm tomorrow [Wednesday 4/24] – that’s when we get busy making the maps so shoppers all over the region can get them a week in advance).

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Seattle Fourth of July fireworks ‘a go’; will stay on Lake Union
April 23, 2013 10:29 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(July 4, 2012, photo by Jamie Kinney – Lake Union fireworks as seen from Admiral Way Bridge)
10:29 AM: Just announced at City Hall – 4th of July fireworks are definitely ‘a go’ – and they’re staying on Lake Union. So says the Metropolitan Seattle Chamber of Commerce, making the announcement in conjunction with Mayor McGinn, Seafair, and others, including contributions from Microsoft and Amazon. You can watch live here. The show will change fireworks providers (Western Display is the new one) and TV-broadcast partners (now it’s KIRO 7), and those speaking at the briefing say this is a multi-year commitment, so you won’t hear “we might not have fireworks” again next year.

ADDED 10:45 AM: Of note, since West Seattle hosts its share of citywide-draw events (Seafair Pirates Landing, for example) – in response to a question, the mayor says they’re expecting stepped-up security at “probably all our events” this summer, not just the fireworks, in the wake of Boston. So you might see explosives-detecting dogs (which are already fixtures at ferry docks), for example. Also – the briefing (linked in the first part of the update) is over now.

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West Seattle Tuesday: ‘Celebrate Lincoln Park’; Block Watch Captains; soccer; STEM plan…
April 23, 2013 9:34 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: ‘Celebrate Lincoln Park’; Block Watch Captains; soccer; STEM plan…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Bob Michaels for the view of this morning’s beautiful sunrise … those clouds are just memories now, and the sun’s shining full force. The WSB West Seattle Event Calendar has the full slate of what’s up today/tonight, and here are five highlights:

BIG SOCCER GAME: Division-leading Chief Sealth International High School – also ranked #2 statewide! – hosts division #2 Ingraham at Southwest Athletic Complex, 4 pm today. (2801 SW Thistle)

FORUM FOR CAREGIVERS: Merrill Gardens (WSB sponsor) continues its series of forums for caregivers – tonight’s topic at MG-Admiral Heights is communication in multiple-caregiver situations. 6 pm; details here. (2326 California SW)

CELEBRATE LINCOLN PARK, PART 1: You’ve probably walked its paths, through the forest, along the shore – but do you know its history? Details about its wildlife? (Yes, even the squirrel photographed today by Machel Spence:

The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s two-part “Celebrate Lincoln Park” begins tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy with an event to help you learn about the park (prelude to a Saturday event AT the park) – 6:30 to 8:30 pm, free, details here. (9131 California SW)

CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN: Also known as CPTED, it’s what you’ll learn about tonight if you go to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network‘s monthly meeting – you don’t have to be a captain, or even a Block Watch member (though BW’s are highly recommended for EVERY neighborhood), to be there. Details on the WSBWCN website; 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct meeting room. (Delridge/Webster)

K-5 STEM STRATEGIC PLAN: 6:45-8:15 pm tonight, current and future K-5 STEM families are welcome to come hear – and comment on – the presentation of the school’s five-year plan. (5950 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TRACKER: Clear but chilly Tuesday start
April 23, 2013 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TRACKER: Clear but chilly Tuesday start
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
You probably won’t need to scrape your windshield – but there’s some frost out there this morning (for us, atop a hill, it was just on top of the car).

Meantime, today/tonight road-work reminders, from the full-week list we published in Monday morning’s traffic tracker:

*SW 106th repaving in Arbor Heights is planned for today and tomorrow – details here
*Highway 99 north of downtown continues various overnight closures nightly through Thursday night – details and detours here

METRO RIDER NOTE: An e-mail advisory this morning says, “Metro’s Customer Information phone line at 553-3000 is temporarily out of service.”

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Tour historic Colman Estate Sunday – if you sign up by Thursday
April 23, 2013 6:24 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Historic Seattle)
Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals sends a reminder – if you want to join this Sunday’s rare tour of the historic Colman Estate in West Seattle, you need to sign up by Thursday!

The Laurence Colman Estate Tour is right around the corner, on Sunday, April 28. What better way to spend a spring afternoon in West Seattle?

Organized by Historic Seattle and co-sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, this rare opportunity provides an in-person glimpse of the home of one of the legendary families of the Fauntleroy neighborhood, West Seattle and Seattle as a whole.

Under new ownership, the four-floor Colman Estate sparkles with panoramic views and a vivid rhododendron garden.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society members can register for the tour at a discount. Sign up now, while there are still slots available. The deadline is Thursday, April 25.

You don’t have to be a member to take the tour, though. For details and registration, go here.

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Baseball ‘battle of aces’: West Seattle HS vs. Eastside Catholic
April 23, 2013 6:08 am
|    Comments Off on Baseball ‘battle of aces’: West Seattle HS vs. Eastside Catholic
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

An extra-innings loss on Monday for West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team – 4-3. The summary and photos are courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):

In a battle of aces, West Seattle found themselves down 0-3 in the sixth inning when Cameron Slader #6 (top photo) hit an RBI double into the gap. Morgan McCullough #3 followed with another hit as the varsity team tied Eastside Catholic through seven innings 3-3. But Eastside was able to score in the top of the eighth inning to hand West Seattle their second league loss on the season. Sam Hellinger pitched Seven innings for a no decision, Cameron Slader went 1-2, RBI, run scored, walk; Morgan McCullough (next photo) went 1-3 with two RBIs:

Next game is Wednesday @ Chief Sealth (Southwest Athletic Complex) – 3:30 pm.

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Tuesday night, K-5 STEM unveils its plan for the future
April 22, 2013 9:01 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This time last year, the first families to seek enrollment at K-5 STEM at Boren were getting word of their assignments. Now, as the trailblazing public school goes into the final months of its first year, the K-5 STEM school community is ready to look ahead at its strategic plan, to be presented by staff members, with time for feedback to follow. If yours is a K-5 STEM family now – or planning to be next fall – you’re invited; 6:45-8:15 pm at the school (5950 Delridge Way SW); more info here.

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Video: One week later, West Seattleites again ‘Run for Boston’
April 22, 2013 8:04 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Tonight’s group heading out, northbound on California)
Last Monday night, the shock of the Boston bombings was still fresh when Lori and Tim McConnell of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) organized a group run as a way for people here to deal with that shock, and grief. Tonight – after a week in which so much has happened – they again invited local runners, this time to join a week-later nationwide “Run for Boston” tribute. The crowd that showed up spanned all ages and paces:

In that photo, they’re looking up at Tim, who didn’t get a group photo last Monday, but stepped outside their second-story store to make sure not to miss the overview this time:

Lori sported her keepsake shirt from running the Boston Marathon five years ago:

At least one other Seattle group ran tonight too, as well as others coast to coast.

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Six West Seattle, White Center restaurants in Dining Out for Life
April 22, 2013 4:22 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Six West Seattle and White Center restaurants are signed on for this year’s Dining Out for Life fundraiser for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Participants in West Seattle are Buddha Ruksa, Eats Market Café, Skylark Café and Club, and Talarico’s; participating restaurants in White Center are Company and Proletariat Pizza. The event is this Thursday (April 25th), and all six of are participating at dinnertime, donating 30 percent of their proceeds (at Skylark, it’s 50 percent).

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Delridge RapidRide, splitting RR lines C and D, 47th/Admiral safety, more in bills passed by State House Transportation Committee
April 22, 2013 2:23 pm
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

From Olympia: 34th District House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon – who is on the House Transportation Committee – says the committee passed a package of transportation-funding bills today, and tells WSB he “was able to help amend the bill to add some projects of local significance.” Keep in mind, this isn’t anywhere near final approval, but right now, here’s some of what he says the bills now contain:

*$125,000 for safety improvements at the notorious 47th & Admiral intersection.

*$500,000 for safety improvements on the West Seattle Bridge bike trail

*$33 million for improvements to Metro Route 120

*$15 million to split RapidRide C and RapidRide D – this will significantly improve reliability on both routes and add a new bus connection between West Seattle and South Lake Union

*Authorization for King County to seek the full 1.5% motor vehicle excise tax for transit (60%) and local roads (40%), subject to voter approval. This will enable Metro to maintain current levels of service.

That last one is related to the dire dollar situation outlined by Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond at his media briefing three weeks ago (WSB coverage here). Regarding the biggest proposal on the list, Route 120 improvements, Rep. Fitzgibbon says the money is proposed to “leverage nearly completed speed and reliability enhancements supported by the State Regional Mobility Grant Program to serve a rapidly growing ridership base of over 8,000 daily riders. Implementing RapidRide in the corridor would provide additional enhancements such as real-time information and off-board fare payment. An investment of service hours would be required to get to frequency levels of 10 minutes or better in the high commute times and 15 minutes all day.” We’re still waiting for all the fine print on today’s action to appear online; the bills involved are HB 1954 and 1955, according to Rep. Fitzgibbon, who says their next stop is the Rules Committee.

ADDED 4:02 PM: A group of local politicians and advocates is planning to head to Olympia tomorrow morning to lobby for this to make it the rest of the way through the Legislature. They’re planning a 10:30 am media briefing; County Executive Dow Constantine and City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw are among them.

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Earth Day and beyond: What to do if you spot a honey-bee swarm
April 22, 2013 12:58 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Honey-bee swarm photographed in Genesee last year by Ute Herzel-Harding)
On this Earth Day, here’s a simple way to take action – save this information about what to do if you encounter a honey-bee swarm. Don’t panic – don’t be afraid – do report them to beekeepers who can give them a new home, which is what some bees are looking for at this time of year. Here’s expert advice from Puget Sound Beekeepers Association president Krista Conner, who happens to be a West Seattleite:

Puget Sound Beekeepers Association wants you to be prepared to help the bees!

With recent losses of bee populations worldwide, seeing a few bees around the garden is something to celebrate. But what do you do when a few thousand bees show up?

Most swarms are the size of a football, more or less.

Longer days bring a surge of blooming trees and flowers which create a short window of time for healthy honey bee colonies to split and create new colonies. This split happens when honey bees swarm: roughly 10-15 thousand bees and their queen will leave an existing colony and land upon a tree branch or side of building. Once there, this mass of bees can resemble a very large pine cone or football shaped mass. Swarming is the natural process that honey bee hives go through to create new colonies and spread their genetics to new locations.

Honey bee swarms are vulnerable outside the hive to weather, animals and more importantly people. They need to find a new home quickly. In a rural setting this is usually a hollow tree but in the city with loss of habitat this can take the form of a wall or attic of a house where they become a problem for homeowners.

If you encounter a swarm it is important to remain calm and to call a beekeeper quickly before the bees leave to a new home or take up residence in an undesirable location. It is important to not kill or disturb the honey bees by spraying pesticides or even water on them.

Puget Sound Beekeepers Association offers the community a “swarm list” – a list of beekeepers who are willing to collect swarms. The swarm list should be your first resource to manage a honey bee swarm. Swarm collection usually is provided for free if the bees are within easy reach and are not inside a wall or house. Follow the directions on the list for confirming help is on the way. While you wait for the beekeeper, the best thing you can do is get your camera ready and make sure people stay 10-15 feet away from the swarm.

When a beekeeper arrives they will remove the swarm by transferring them into a hive box. Bees in a swarm are less likely to sting because they have nothing to defend and are gorged with honey so they have energy to build a new colony. The beekeeper may work bare-handed or in a full suit to transfer the football sized swarm of bees into a hive with a shake of a branch or by the handful if they are on a wall. Once the majority of the bees are in the hive the beekeeper will wait for any stray bees to find their way into the hive box before closing the hive up to take to their new home.

Here and anywhere in the greater Seattle area, please refer to the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association swarm list to find a swarm-catching beekeeper: pugetsoundbees.org/psba-swarm-list

Thanks for helping the bees!
Puget Sound Beekeepers Association

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Also tonight: Parks Levy Opportunity Fund public hearing
April 22, 2013 10:52 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

An announcement from the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council reminds us of one other event tonight – the citywide public hearing on how the next round of Opportunity Fund dollars from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy should be spent. The levy’s Oversight Committee – with two members from West Seattle, chair Pete Spalding and Dorsol Plants – is having the hearing 6-9 pm at Miller Community Center (330 19th Ave. E.; map) on Capitol Hill (here’s the Parks announcement), and it’s a chance for people to speak out in support of projects that didn’t make the tentative cut as well as those that did. (Here’s a Parks FAQ about how the hearing’s supposed to work.)

Currently, the two projects in our region that are on the committee’s draft list for funding (see it here) are at Camp Long and in South Park – but the committee hasn’t drawn up its final list yet, and even once it has, there’s the possibility of funding from other related sources. Ahead, the GSNC’s pitch for why it’s hoping for a show of support tonight regarding the projects in its area:

Read More

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West Seattle Monday: Run for Boston; Delridge Grocery; high-school sports; more
April 22, 2013 9:00 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Gary Jones for sharing the beautiful bald-eagle view from Alki! As we take off into a new week, here’s some of what’s ahead today:

BAKERY NOUVEAU OPENS ON CAPITOL HILL: Our fellow community-collaborative news site CapitolHillSeattle.com reports that Bakery Nouveau‘s Capitol Hill location planned to open its doors at 8 this morning. (15th & John)

PET FOOD DRIVE ALL WEEK: West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) is among the schools back in session today, and that means its pet-food donation drive continues. As reported here just before spring break, community members are welcome to drop off donated pet food as a contribution to the drive, too. (11215 15th SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL: Go support the division-leading West Seattle High School varsity baseball team while they get a TV spotlight. From parent Greg Slader:

Monday’s game at Hiawatha featuring Metro Division leaders West Seattle 10-1 (Sound Division) and Eastside Catholic 9-2 (Mountain Division) will be on TV! Comcast Xfinity “on Demand” will be filming for a Future episode of High School Sports Seattle.

That game’s at 3:30 pm at Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW). Check the Metro League schedule for other games.

RUN FOR BOSTON: One week after the Boston Marathon bombings, support/tribute runs are happening around the country tonight. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is organizing one that’ll start from its store at 6 pm. All welcome, no matter what your pace. (California/Charlestown)

DELRIDGE GROCERY: The monthly meeting for those involved – or interested in getting involved – with the future co-op grocery store is at 6:30 tonight, Delridge Library, with a focus on volunteer help – not just for when the store opens, but now, as preparations continue. Here’s our preview. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Tonight you and your kids are invited to enjoy story time at High Point Library – 7 pm, free! (35th/Raymond)

Nightlife – trivia and pub quiz at multiple locations! – and more, on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-school day; big road-work week
April 22, 2013 6:03 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Spring break for Seattle Public Schools (and independent schools following its calendar) is over, so please watch out for school buses, kids walking/biking to school, and the usual campus dropoff spots.

This week brings a fair amount of road work, too:
*Highway 99 north of downtown has various overnight closures tonight through Thursday night – details and detours here
*North of the tunnel, Highway 99 has lane restrictions and sidewalk closures starting today, as part of the Mercer project – details here
*SW 106th repaving in Arbor Heights is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday – details here
*California SW repaving between Dawson (signage goes to the northwest side) and Findlay is scheduled for Thursday and Friday – details here
*Delridge/Thistle weekend-long closure is scheduled to start Friday night – details here

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Two-part ‘Celebrate Lincoln Park’ begins Tuesday night
April 21, 2013 10:32 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Young female Cooper’s Hawk photographed in Lincoln Park recently by Trileigh Tucker)
Think you know everything there is to know about West Seattle’s treasured Lincoln Park? We’ll be so bold as to guarantee you’ll learn something new Tuesday night, during the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s first event in the two-part “Celebrate Lincoln Park” series. Come to The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) to learn about its past, its future, its wildlife, and its ecological importance, via informational tables and speakers. Tables will be set up at 6:30 pm; 7-8 pm, you’ll hear from Seattle Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams, local historian Judy Pickens, Seattle University Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Trileigh Tucker, and Friends of Lincoln Park President Sharon Baker.

Then next Saturday (April 27), it’s part two – and there are new details since we first published the announcement:

Celebrate Lincoln Park, Part II on Saturday, April 27, will take advantage of a minus 2.6-foot tide to help park visitors see and learn about sea life along the beach, in the water, and in the forest. Volunteer beach naturalists and Seal Sitters, plus staff from the Seattle Aquarium, will be on hand. Local experts in birds, marine life, plants, ecology, nature photography, and art will lead nature walks and creative activities in the forested upper part of the park. Bring your binoculars, sketchbooks, pencils, etc. Special activities will be available for children. The four-hour window for participating will be 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, with walks and workshops beginning at 11:00, noon, and 1:00. All activities will start in the south part of the park. Signs and volunteers will direct visitors to activities.

For both parts of Celebrate Lincoln Park, everything is free.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen ‘dog’; found stroller; more
April 21, 2013 6:08 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes this time around. First up, a “dog” stolen from a porch along 59th SW across from Alki Playfield:

That’s local guitar teacher Richie Jenkin and “Fire,” the big stuffed dog who has long been a fixture on his porch – till now:

I was out of town and upon my return I saw that my “dog” Fire, who sits on my porch 24/7 bringing moments of amusement and pleasure to many folks as they walk to and from the beach, had disappeared. I hope whoever took Fire is enjoying, yet I would somehow love to have Fire back if they care to return, no questions asked.

On the flip side, a suspected stolen item that’s been found – by Ted:

Folks should contact me – ted.ellis@gmail.com – for a Baby Trends stroller that appears was dumped in front of my house after a potential garage break in or something? Seems like whomever left it was using it to carry stuff they may had taken and decided to dump it. Any break-ins in Arbor heights or Shorewood – would probably have been where it came from.

Ted’s note came in earlier this weekend – so it wouldn’t be related to this, but we did want to note that police responded to at least one Arbor Heights burglary today: 3200 block of SW 100th, reported around 1 pm. No other details.

And from a WSB reader who didn’t want to be identified, a car-prowl report:

Just wanted to alert readers of West Seattle Blog that my car was broken into last night, near the corner of Murray Ave SW and Lincoln Park Way SW, just north of Lincoln Park. They pried my window open, rummaged through the glove-box and the other compartments of my car. Fortunately, I had nothing of value inside and so nothing was taken. I was half-expecting them to leave me $5 out of pity.

Another reminder that the next crime-prevention meeting is Tuesday night, all welcome at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct – details on the WSBWCN website.

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Happening now: Heels for Hounds – shoes, tunes, sips, tastes
April 21, 2013 4:00 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Luna Park | Pets | West Seattle news

Lots of time left to get to Ola Salon in Luna Park for Furry Faces Foundation‘s first-ever “Heels for Hounds” – not just a silent auction of some cute shoes (casual as well as fancy, as shown in the photo above), but also wine tasting, appetizers, and live music, all to benefit animal advocacy:

Ola’s at 2942 SW Avalon Way.

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From the WSB Pets page: Lisa and Elliott find each other
April 21, 2013 3:56 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

Sometimes despite all the searching, your lost pet just can’t be found. The WSB Pets page archives include still-open reports that may never be closed. And then there’s the tale of Lisa and Elliott. Posting as “Elle,” Lisa reported her cat Diesel missing four months ago. That’s Lisa in the photo, but not Diesel – well, not ENTIRELY Diesel. Marianne from Friends of the Animals Foundation explains:

Elliott is the cat living under the porch of a Alaska Junction business on the Pets page earlier in the week. Lisa thought he might be her beloved cat Diesel and went on a search for Elliott.

She managed to trap the cat with the help of Kathleen, a WS cat rescuer. I run Friends of the Animals Foundation and had room for Elliott in our cages at Next to Nature. Lisa did some research with the help of Elliott’s microchip and found out his sad story. He was adopted from the Humane Society in January and quickly jumped off of the porch of his new home and disappeared. He was apparently on his own for the past four months. When Lisa contacted his owner, she decided that she didn’t want him.

Lisa fell in love with Elliott and with the help of Joy Turner, pet communicator, found out that Diesel’s soul is in Elliott. Elliot even climbed into Diesel’s old shirt. Elliott’s new full name is Elliott Yi Talarico (named after the businesses in the alley).

Marianne points out that Elliott did not have to spend months living in the alley – if someone had taken him to a vet sooner to check for a chip, he would have had a new home sooner. Be sure to get a found animal checked for a chip – she points out that all clinics will do that for free, and will help you connect with the Seattle Animal Shelter. Marianne also says big thanks go to Emma, who called attention to Elliott’s plight.

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Taste of West Seattle update: 45 food and drink participants!
April 21, 2013 3:12 pm
|    Comments Off on Taste of West Seattle update: 45 food and drink participants!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

45 local food-and-beverage businesses are signed up to be part of this year’s Taste of West Seattle, the West Seattle Helpline fundraiser that’s now just under a month away (May 16th, The Hall at Fauntleroy) – the poster at right (click it for a full-size PDF) just went up around the area, and the full list of participants can be seen on page 2 of this PDF. Helpline executive director Tara Luckie told us at this past week’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting that tickets are still available – $45 general (cheaper than the door price IF they don’t sell out, which they did last year), $90 for VIP (early admission, special seating, special raffle). “Not only are the food and drinks amazing,” Tara says, “but it’s a community effort of local establishments and West Seattle residents coming together to raise funds for families in need in West Seattle.” Tickets are available online here (note it’s a 21+ event).

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West Seattle weekend scene: Coast Guard offshore
April 21, 2013 1:28 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to David Schneider for sharing the photo, taken today off Beach Drive. He writes, “Looks like they were practicing today. Saw what looks like Coast Guard helicopter hovering just 50+ feet off the water, then dropping line to a boat below…” No incidents reported that we’ve heard of, so training is the likely explanation.

SIDE NOTE: The Coast Guard website spotlights USCG response in the aftermath of the bombings in Boston – noting that Boston is “uniquely a maritime city” (which certainly could be said of Seattle as well).

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