Late lunch? Early dinner? Concession booths are part of what awaits you at the Arbor Heights Elementary carnival, on till 6 pm; our photo’s courtesy of a parent volunteer. The community is invited; lots of bouncy rides, too, with wristbands on sale. Even if you’re not going for rides, games, and food, remember they’re collecting items for Northwest Center – gently used household items and clothing, in particular.

ADDED: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand stopped by for a few more photos:

The sun came out to match that tropical-themed bouncy slide! And to make dunk-tank duty a little less chilly – that’s kindergarten teacher David Wilkie in the rainbow wig:

The donation drive filled two trucks, we’re told.

Just two more weeks of school for AH and other Seattle Public Schools campuses. Not that anyone’s counting …

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West Seattle weekend scene: HPIC’s new rain garden

June 1, 2013 4:11 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Environment | Highland Park | West Seattle news

What was long just another stretch of asphalt in the Highland Park Improvement Club parking lot is now a brand-new rain garden, after today’s planting party gave it the finishing touches. As explained on the HPIC website (where you also can see the Rain Dog Designs vision for the garden), “every little bit helps” to get toxic runoff water out of the drains that run right into the Duwamish River and Puget Sound. (You can find out about possibilities for your own little corner of West Seattle, by checking with RainWise.)

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Happening now: 2-location Alki Lighthouse centennial celebration

June 1, 2013 2:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Big day at the Alki Point Lighthouse – its 100th anniversary, and the first day of this year’s summer season of free 1-4 pm tours on Saturday and Sunday. Local US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers are the people who staff the lighthouse for those tours. Today, you can even see knot-tying demonstrated outside the gate:

Also till 4 pm, a celebration at the Log House Museum just half a mile away – including lighthouse coloring sheets for kids, which are being put up as they’re completed:

The now-famous handmade lighthouse cookies are ready and waiting at the museum too, while they last:

More photos and info to come, including our conversation with RADM Keith Taylor, who, as USCG 13th District commander, lives on the lighthouse grounds, but not for much longer, as he’s retiring later this month. (This’ll be a separate story on Sunday.)

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Pop-up pond and first-time fishing with West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club and Hi-Yu

June 1, 2013 9:15 am

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| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

Just before the 8 am whistle blew and fishing began at the annual West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Kids’ Fishing Pond, all eyes were on the collection of bamboo poles prepared for the young participants (14 and under). Then it was off to the trout-stocked temporary pond:

Good turnout right from the start in the morning sunshine, so if you’re going, don’t wait – it’s happening till 11 am, first 100 kids or as long as the fish last, at Seacrest (1660 Harbor Avenue SW). And while you’re there, say hi to Hi-Yu royalty:

Junior Court Princess Emily was the first one there. Hi-Yu would also love to see you at next Monday night’s general meeting, as they gear up for the heart of the summer event season – 6:30 pm June 3rd, St. John the Baptist Church Hall, California/Hanford.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Girl Scouts @ Camp Long

June 1, 2013 9:02 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Girl Scouts @ Camp Long

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle people

Thanks to Kris Rouse for sharing photos from the Girl Scouts gathering last night at Camp Long:

Friday night was a beautiful night for a campfire. West Seattle Girl Scouts gathered for a traditional campfire complete with good ol’ camp songs & s’mores. Deyette Swegle organized a terrific gathering for the Girl Scouts of Chinook Service Unit at Camp Long … Several Junior Girl Scouts were recognized for their achievement of the Bronze Award; acknowledgement was made for two girls’ earning the Silver Award and Ann Manning’s group of Cadettes, the winning of the Mt. St. Helens Award at the recent Girl Scout Cascade Challenge. The evening was concluded with an Eternal Flame candle ceremony led by Lynn Zahniser.

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West Seattle Saturday: Welcome to June – lots going on!

June 1, 2013 6:30 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Male rufous hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
A fun Saturday ahead, as a new month begins – full lineup is on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including these highlights:

TRAFFIC REMINDERS: The Delridge/Holden intersection is closed until Monday morning, and the 520 Bridge is too.

KIDS’ FISHING POND: 8 am-11 am this morning at Seacrest, the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club presents the annual chance for kids to try fishing in a pop-up pond stocked with trout. Meet the West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, too! Free. (1660 Harbor Avenue SW)

SCHOOL SALE: 8:30 am-4 pm, it’s Shorewood Christian School‘s second day of a big rummage sale to raise money for computer equipment. (10300 28th SW)

MASTERS’ TRACK MEET: Competition in a wide range of athletic events, 9 am-5 pm, as noted in our calendar listing; West Seattle Stadium. (35th SW just south of Avalon Way)

FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: 10 am-4 pm, it’s the first day of the second weekend of the animal-advocacy group’s plant sale. Hundreds of plants of all types. More info in this WSB Forums post; you can also donate to a pet-food drive (food or cash) while stopping by. (3809 46th SW)

RAINGARDEN EVENT IN HIGHLAND PARK: 10 am-1 pm, three big hours with a variety of opportunities – help plant the new raingarden at Highland Park Improvement Club; tour neighboring gardens; find out more about how you can do something similar at your house. Here’s our preview. (12th/Holden)

‘MINI SWAP MEET’ IN WHITE CENTER: Just over the line, 10 am marks the “soft open” of a new place to buy and sell items – vendors wanted, they tell us. Here are details from our partner site White Center Now. (9800 14th SW)

ENDOLYNE CHILDREN’S CHOIR IN CONCERT: 11 am, it’s the choir’s spring concert at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church – details in our calendar listing. (California/Hanford)

LIGHTHOUSE CENTENNIAL, TWO-LOCATION CELEBRATION: Today when the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) opens at noon and the Alki Point Lighthouse starts its summer season of weekend tours at 1 pm, both will be celebrating the lighthouse’s centennial. Be sure to visit both, particularly the museum for its newly expanded exhibit about the lighthouse, and for today’s special activities, including coloring sheets for children and special handmade lighthouse cookies as treats (explained/shown here), and a 2 pm program; at the lighthouse itself, tours are the central attraction.

DON’T FEED THE TOX-ICK MONSTER! Learn about how to help solve Puget Sound’s worst pollution problem – something with which you can make a big difference. Noon-12:45 pm at MaST, West Seattle’s “Diver Laura” James will show you how. (In Redondo, but also the home of the Arroyos whale skeleton, worth the drive – here’s a map!)

KITTY HARBOR OPENS: Noon-6 pm, it’s the first day of adoption season at Kitty Harbor – find out all about them online. (3422 Harbor Avenue SW)

FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm, tour Fire Station 32 in The Triangle and find out more about its future rebuild; there’s more info in our preview from last month. (37th and Alaska)

MEET THE ARTIST: 1-3 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, meet Nytom at the Makah Visions art exhibit – details in our calendar listing. (4205 West Marginal Way)

ARBOR HEIGHTS CARNIVAL: 3-6 pm, everybody’s invited to the Arbor Heights Elementary carnival – and it’s also a donation drive for Northwest Center – bring your donations! Details in the calendar listing.

TRIO LEXICON AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, “A Delectable Evening” features Trio Lexicon – two singers and a pianist – presenting songs about food and drink – details in the calendar listing, including how to get reservations. (7904 35th SW)

7TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT SKYLARK: The “Seven Deadly Sins” are the theme – come dressed as one! – party starts at 8 pm, guest DJs plus headliner Eighties Invasion; details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

No, this isn’t everything – you’ll have to check out the calendar to see the rest!

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West Seattle scene: Auction donation served up at Firefly Café

June 1, 2013 2:13 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Something independent local businesses don’t always get enough credit for is their community spirit and generosity. So many donate to local nonprofits and schools, including offering items to be auctioned off as fundraisers. So what happens AFTER the auction? Here’s one example: Friday night at Firefly Café and Creperie (WSB sponsor) on the north end of The Junction, a crepe party was the culmination of a donation that Firefly proprietor Charell Estby made to the Holy Rosary School Heart Auction – a private party for 10 kids with crepes and beverages. So she closed to the public a bit early and hosted the group you see above.