We’re five weeks away from the 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, May 10th, 2014 – that one day of the year when sales of all sizes, all around West Seattle, draw shoppers from as close as next door and as far away as Eastern Washington (really!). Registration opened up earlier this week and more than 60 sales are signed up already, including the group site in the courtyard at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction e-mail info@hotwirecoffee.com if you don’t have room or stuff enough for your own sale and you want a spot in the courtyard). Registration will continue a few more weeks (we haven’t set the ending date yet), and then we close it to make the map, online and printable versions, so it’ll be available at least a week ahead of time. Want to have a sale and be part of a one-day, one-peninsula festival of person-to-person recycling? Here’s the registration form. Sale hours on May 10th, by the way, are 9 am-3 am – if you want to start early and/or end late, you’re welcome to, but we ask that every sale at least be open for that six-hour window. a href=”http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1716531-ST42Cqi4qx” target=”_blank”>Here’s the form!

West Seattle Crime Watch: Break-in followed by kindness; theft updates; more

April 5, 2014 7:53 pm

| 37 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

The most recent West Seattle Crime Watch reports that community members wanted to get the word out about:

CAR BREAK-IN: Another car prowl at Lincoln Park – but it was followed by a gesture of kindness. From Rebecca:

I know that this is pretty routine, but I had my blue Nissan Versa broken into (Friday) morning between 10:30 and 11:30 in the south parking lot of Lincoln Park. My front passenger-side window was smashed and my purse was stolen. I had shoved my purse under the passenger seat but they must have spotted it. It is a light tan and black Nine West “mom” purse, if anyone spots it on the street.

My four-year-old son and I live in West Seattle but my mom is visiting from NY. I was trying to show her how beautiful Lincoln Park is. She was able to see how kind and sweet my neighbors are when strangers stopped and offered condolences. One little girl even urged her mom to give us ten dollars. My son is going to use it to buy a toy.

(Thanks also to Kurt for a tip on this, just before we received Rebecca’s note.)

Four more reports ahead and a nearby FYI: Read More

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Saving Fairmount Ravine’s trees: Cleanup-followup report

April 5, 2014 4:46 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

Thanks to Keith Schieron for sharing the photos and report:

This morning we held an event to cut ivy and other invasive species in the Fairmount Ravine.

This event was held as a followup to last month’s Fairmount Ravine cleanup event. While last month we focused on garbage, this weekend we focused on getting the ivy and other invasive species under control. The Seattle Parks Department supplied tools and hand outs about the value of the native trees and forests here in our lovely city.

We had nine volunteers out to help, including two of our longest-serving volunteers, John Lang and Blair Constantine, who have been part of the Fairmount Ravine yearly project for twenty-one years!

The group cleared ivy from the base of nearly thirty trees and we built the spirit of community that makes living in West Seattle so special.

Thanks to all of the volunteers for sharing their Saturday morning with us!

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Memorial service Monday for Morey Skaret, Fauntleroy storyteller

April 5, 2014 1:52 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The memorial service for Fauntleroy legend Morest “Morey” Skaret, 100, is set for 10 am this Monday (April 7th) at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW). As noted in his obituary, as published in The Seattle Times, Mr. Skaret had been a West Seattleite since childhood. He also served with the Seattle Police Department for more than 40 years; our photo at right is from 2012, when he was honored by the Seattle Police Relief Association. Mr. Skaret was known by many as a storyteller; some of his stories are on HistoryLink.org, like this one. Fauntleroy writer/editor/community advocate Judy Pickens edited Mr. Skaret’s book of life stories, “Morey’s Bench“; we asked her for a few words in his memory:

“Nothing reveals the grain of a life and the time of its living quite like personal stories. And to loved ones, friends, and neighbors, no one can tell a story better than Morey Skaret.”

I wrote those words in 2003, when Morey and I culminated publication of “Morey’s Bench,” a collection of his stories spanning his early years on a homestead in Alberta, through his settling in Fauntleroy in 1937, to his long retirement overlooking the ferry terminal. Throughout the process, I could never convince him that people would want to buy the book. When the dust settled, however, we had reprinted it three times to satisfy demand.

With Morey’s passing on March 27, loved ones, friends, and neighbors have those stories and many “Did I ever tell you about…” moments with him as fond memories. Those not fortunate enough to have a copy of the book may find a sampling of his stories at www.historylink.org/?keyword=Skaret&DisplayPage=results.cfm&Submit=Go.

If you have a story to share, Mr. Skaret’s online guestbook is here.

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West Seattle Garden Tour poster-art winner announced: Congratulations, Sue Madill

April 5, 2014 12:46 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Gardening | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The announcement just in from Clay Swidler of the West Seattle Garden Tour:

The West Seattle Garden Tour is thrilled to announce Sue Madill as the winning artist chosen for the WSGT’s 20th Anniversary Poster! The original painting will also be for sale at one of the nine gardens featured on this year’s July 20th garden tour. (Location to be announced.) Congratulations, Sue!

This year’s tour is on July 20th – more info here.

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Photos/updates: The city’s Neighborhood Summit @ Seattle Center

April 5, 2014 9:14 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)

FIRST REPORT, 9:14 AM: We’re just arriving at Seattle Center to check out the Neighborhood Summit (agenda here) that’s a fulfillment of one of Mayor Ed Murray‘s campaign promises – under way at the Exhibition Hall (3rd/Mercer) until 1 pm.

(Video feed no longer active but keeping box as a placeholder for archived video Monday)
We’ll be adding some photos and updates, but for starters, clicking the “play” button above should take you to live coverage from Seattle Channel, including remarks from the mayor before 9:30 or so. If you’re there and posting to social-media channels, #SNS2014 is the hashtag. More to come.

10:03 AM UPDATE: We’ve been here for about 45 minutes. The mayor has spoken, stressing that this isn’t a self-contained event, but meant to be “the beginning of the conversation.” Here’s a 15-second Instagram video clip we took, panning the space here at the Exhibition Hall, as he spoke:

We’ve seen West Seattleites from Admiral, Arbor Heights, Fairmount, Genesee, Morgan, North Delridge, Pigeon Point, Westwood; we’ve seen South Park’ers. We’ll have a photo gallery later; we’ve put up cameraphone pix on our Twitter feed at twitter.com/westseattleblog (you should be able to see it even if you don’t use Twitter – that’s the web address). There IS password-free wi-fi here, and it seems to work pretty well.

10:32 AM UPDATE: Former City Councilmember Jim Street (above, at podium on the stage, with the mayor at left) is speaking and taking Q/A; most of those who’ve spoken seem to have issues more for current councilmembers – including land use – microhousing and rowhouses have come up. Now, a question about crime/public safety, which Street again can’t answer as he’s not a current councilmember. (Maybe the council should have been here. If they are, we haven’t seen them yet.)

11:34 AM UPDATE: We had to leave midway through, but coverage continues in the video window above (currently, it’s a discussion about the search for a new SDOT director) and on Twitter. Re: council presence, the mayor subsequently mentioned Councilmember Sally Bagshaw was there – not surprising since she chairs the Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee – and there was a Twitter mention of Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.

The first declared candidate for the West Seattle-specific City Council seat in next year’s elections (District 1), Chas Redmond, was there too (above right, with North Delridge’s Dorsol Plants at left).

12:23 PM UPDATE: Mayor is giving closing remarks (it’s open another half-hour, but speeches/discussions are ending onstage) and says more than 600 people participated in person, in addition to others online or watching the stream. He also gives a shoutout to Kathy Nyland, who put it together.

5:26 PM: Finally getting a chance to add our photos – interspersed above and below.

Above, Amanda Leonard and Holli Margell from North Delridge. Next, Sharonn Meeks from Fairmount and Cindi Barker from Morgan:

Cindi was also there for official “peer networking” regarding preparedness. Next, SPD’s crime-prevention coordinator for the Southwest (and South) Precinct, Mark Solomon:

Next, Jim Cavin from Admiral and Mary Fleck from the West Seattle Green Space Coalition:

Below, from left, Amanda Kay Helmick and Joe Szilagyi from WWRHAH and the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, with Deb Barker from Morgan:

Pete Spalding from Pigeon Point:

She’s not from West Seattle but much WS-related information has been shared over the years on the Seattle Schools Community Forum website by Melissa Westbrook:

(A few more to add – stand by)

Meantime, here are a few links potentially of interest:

–“Live blog” coverage by city staff, with notes, curated tweets (including a couple of ours) and photos

-Coalition for an Affordable Living Seattle was handing out flyers outside, headed “Developer impact fees now! Growth controls now!” with a URL that isn’t working, but we found them online here

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West Seattle Saturday: Save trees; play games; help schools; fight hunger; citywide Neighborhood Summit; more…

April 5, 2014 7:57 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(No such thing as too many eagle photos. Thanks to Ryan O’Keven for this view of two!)
Happy Saturday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, some of what’s up now through nighttime:

BIRD WALK IN LINCOLN PARK … with Audubon. Starts at 8 am; details in our listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FOOD DRIVE: The Kiwanis ONE food drive is today – watch for Kiwanians, Key Club members, and Scouts at local grocery stores, as previewed here, 9 am-3 pm.

SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMIT: Not IN West Seattle, but EVERYONE is invited to the Neighborhood Summit happening 9 am-1 pm today at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall downtown; here’s the agenda. We’ll see you there for at least part of it – text us if you’re going! 206-293-6302. (3rd/Mercer)

ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY CLEANUP: 9 am-noon at the school:

It is that time of year again to give the face of the school grounds at Arbor Heights a little love. This is a great time to gather for a working playdate, have some coffee and baked goods, and work together to clean the grounds, entry, walkways, flowerbeds, etc. as we enjoy our last few months before construction begins. Bring your gardening gloves and tools or use what’s provided and come and join us!

(37th SW/SW 104th)

FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK … would love to have you help them rescue part of the park from invasive plants/weeds, starting at 9 am. Details here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FAIRMOUNT RAVINE IVY-FIGHTING FOLLOWUP: Starting at 9 am, Fairmount Ravine needs your help to get free of some of the tree-choking ivy in this beautiful ravine that also frames a road used by many to get between Admiral and Alki. Details in our preview. (Fairmount/Forest)

SANISLO BOOK SALE: 10 am-2 pm, the big annual book sale benefiting the 4th grade camping trip at Sanislo Elementary – a major outdoor-educational opportunity. Books for all ages will be on sale. (1812 SW Myrtle)

TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren invites anyone who wants to talk with her about Seattle Public Schools issues to come to the common house of Puget Ridge Cohousing 10 am-noon today. (7020 18th SW)

INTERNATIONAL TABLETOP GAMES DAY, #1: Uptown Espresso in Delridge is now also a “Gameporium “and is celebrating ITGD 10 am-midnight, with game-playing and game-learning. (Delridge/Andover)

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S 4TH ANNIVERSARY SALE & DISCOUNT WEST SEATTLE 5K REGISTRATION: Come help West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) celebrate its 4th anniversary with a big sale and other special events, including – today only – one last chance for the discount registration price for the May 18th West Seattle 5K (benefiting and organized by the WSHS PTSA). More in our calendar listing. (California/Charlestown)

VOLUNTEER AT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The next orientation for prospective volunteers at the home of West Seattle’s history is today, 11 am-1 pm, and there’s lots for you to help with! See for yourself, here. (61st/Stevens)

INTERNATIONAL TABLETOP GAMES DAY, #2: Meeples Games isn’t open yet but will be presenting a free, public event in honor of the occasion, at Alki Bathhouse. Details here. 1-5 pm. (61st/Alki)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SPAGHETTI DINNER/AUCTION: The night after the team’s win over Rainier Beach:

… you can support them at a spaghetti dinner tonight, 5-8 pm at West Side Presbyterian Church, $10 donation per person. Photo by Greg Slader, above, shows Spencer Elder pitching in Friday’s game. (3601 California SW)

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL DINNER/AUCTION: 5-9 pm, you’re invited to help Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School celebrate this special night – details in our calendar listing. (20th/Roxbury)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ‘TASTE OF THE ARTS’: Visual, performing, and culinary arts combine for this unique benefit – here’s our preview. 6-10 pm, starting at St. John’s Episcopal Church and moving next door to the WSHS Theater. (California/Hanford/Stevens)

‘TAKING ROOT’: For Earth Month, West Seattle Meaningful Movies presents the story of Wangari Maathai (who came to West Seattle several years ago to plant trees with students). Neighborhood House’s High Point Center – come meet your neighbors at 6:30, film at 7. Details here. (6900 Sylvan Way)

‘A … MY NAME IS ALICE’: Another performance tonight at 7:30 pm for Twelfth Night Productions‘ show at Kenyon Hall; details here. (7904 35th SW)

This is just part of the list – check out the calendar for more, including music tonight.

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