West Seattle, Washington

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day : 05/05/2014 9 results

Shop for a cause during West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! Join WestSide Baby’s Kids Shopping Squad
May 5, 2014 10:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Shop for a cause during West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! Join WestSide Baby’s Kids Shopping Squad
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Five days and counting until the 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, 280+ sales of all sizes, all over our area this Saturday, May 10th (online map here; printable guide/map debuts tomorrow). While you’re out shopping and browsing, maybe you’d like to do a little extra shopping for the nonprofit that helps local babies and kids? In addition to accepting unsold items, this year WestSide Baby is also inviting you to take its wish list, buy items that are on it, and donate them. From WS Baby:

WestSide Baby is thrilled to accept items left over from garage salers at the end of the day on May 10th. Our drop-off locations are below for Saturday for extended hours and our facility will re-open again on Monday at 9 am.

However, we also believe children in need deserve a chance to get more than leftovers! With that in mind, WestSide Baby is excited to launch our first-ever Kids Shopping Squad (KSS) on May 10, 2014, during West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. The KSS is for people who want to help local children in need by finding great deals on things like children’s clothing, books, and safety equipment. WestSide Baby provides essential items for local kids. There will be hundreds of those items available throughout West Seattle at garage sales! We collect these gently used things, sort them and then add them to orders placed with us by more than 80 social-service agencies. We know that many people love the thrill of garage-sale shopping and we believe many are generous enough to purchase a few bargains to donate to us directly. To add to the fun, an anonymous donor will donate one package of diapers for every person that signs up (up to 15 Squad members!) A few key points:

Ø KSS members can “sign up” simply by sending a name and email address to Shana Allen, Volunteer Manager at WestSide Baby –
shana@westsidebaby.org

Ø The KSS are “shoppers” – while we will definitely take sale leftovers at day’s end at the locations below or in the week following, the KSS are meant to be buying things.

Ø The KSS should utilize the WSB shopping list provided – we most need the items on that list.

Ø Items can be dropped off between 10-6 pm at any of the following WS Garage Sale day dropoff locations

o Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW; off the alley behind)

o Westside Dermatology/Edward Jones location at 4740 44th Ave SW

o WestSide Baby’s donation facility @ 10027 14th Ave SW

We hope a number of shoppers will sign up to help local children in need on May 10th. If all goes well, we may extend the KSS through the summer garage-sale season throughout the city. We also have a few additional activities available for volunteers on May 10th – contact Shana Allen if interested or fill out the volunteer form at westsidebaby.org.

The shopping list is simple:

1. Size 5T-12 clothes (especially pants)
2. Pajamas (all sizes)
3. Youth size shoes, sizes 1-6
4. Strollers, high chairs, baby swings, portable cribs

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Street robberies; gunfire; car prowls
May 5, 2014 7:15 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

We noticed several street robberies on the Seattle Police crime reports map for the past week-plus, so we’ve rounded up the reports on those, and details of an incident listed as a “drive-by.” We also have a reader report about car prowls, and altogether, these add up to the West Seattle Crime Watch report ahead:

Read More

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West Seattle development: 1st land-use signs at future Aegis site
May 5, 2014 5:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips today that the first city land-use-permit-application signs have gone up on the future Aegis Living (former Life Care Center) site at 47th/Admiral/Waite. We’ve been reporting on Aegis’s purchase and plans for the site since last fall, including a conversation with its CEO last November and most recently, back in February, the company’s official announcement that it plans a new complex with 76 assisted-living and memory-care units. The land-use application that is now filed, leading to the signage that just went up, is NOT for the new complex, but rather, just for demolition of the existing building. Formal notice hasn’t yet been published in the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin (the next one will be sent on Thursday), so there’s no comment deadline yet.

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Help welcome historic West Seattle totem pole to its new home: Log House Museum sets the date
May 5, 2014 3:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(First 2 images courtesy Log House Museum/Southwest Seattle Historical Society)
The date is finally set for a gala ceremony welcoming the former top-of-Admiral Way totem pole to its new home on the east side of the Log House Museum: Friday, June 6th.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals announced the plan today, centering on a “public unveiling ceremony featuring public officials, the Duwamish Tribe, and the student bodies of both Alki and Schmitz Park elementary schools.” Part of 61st SW by the museum (61st/Stevens) will be closed for the event, so that overhead photos/video can be recorded. You’re welcome to be there and be part of it. The pole’s history:

Carved by Boeing engineers Michael Morgan and Bob Fleischman from a log harvested from Schmitz Park, the totem pole stood at Belvedere View Point Park from 1966 to 2006. It is a nearly exact replica of a totem pole carved by the Bella Bella tribe of British Columbia and brought to Belvedere View Point Park 75 years ago, in 1939, by West Seattleite and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop owner J.E. “Daddy” Standley.

Recognizing the deteriorated condition of the 1966 totem pole, Seattle Parks and Recreation removed it in 2006 and replaced it with a differently designed and unpainted story pole carved by a descendant of Chief Seattle.

SWSHS’s restoration and display plan has been in the works since then; the pole was taken to restoration experts Artech two years ago, as reported here. Its return will coincide with a new mini-exhibit called “Reaching the Sky: Totem Tales of West Seattle.” You’ll find lots more information about the June 6th event and the pole’s history in the full announcement on the LHM/SWSHS website – see it here. Also, Eals will speak about it at this Thursday’s monthly lunch meeting of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

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Updated: Apologies after SDOT tweet calls West Seattle Bridge drivers ‘scumbags’
May 5, 2014 1:18 pm
|      122 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

1:18 PM: If you haven’t already seen this via The Seattle Times or via Reddit … someone at SDOT thought it was funny that the eastbound bridge was backed up this morning while the westbound bridge was closed for a rollover/spinout crash (as reported here), and proclaimed drivers on the eastbound side to be rubberneckers. If you use social media, you may know it’s considered cool for government agencies to use humor (major case in point, SPD/pot/Doritos). What do you think?

P.S. We have a question out to SDOT’s communications director for his thoughts. The West Seattle Transportation Coalition has already had something to say.

P.P.S. The “scumbag hat” reference is to this meme.

(You might also recall it was just a few months ago SDOT said it only had interns to staff the Transportation Management Center during peak hours – see this December story).

2:42 PM UPDATE: We contacted both SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan and Mayor Murray’s commmunications director Jeff Reading. Their responses both just came in. From SDOT’s Sheridan:

The use of the hat meme was not intended to insult drivers but to highlight a roadway problem and help drivers make decisions about their trips. We apologize to anyone that was offended by the tweet.

Our traffic management center personnel typically use humorous memes to highlight problematic situations for drivers. The staff member was trying to note that rubbernecking near a collision site was creating delays.

We have removed the tweet from our Twitter feed. The staff member’s supervisor will also reinforce the department’s standards for social media. Again, we apologize if anyone was offended.

And from Reading in the mayor’s office:

It’s never acceptable for a city employee to ridicule members of the public. I understand the tweet in question was meant humorously, but many — myself included — took it quite differently. Mayor Murray holds a high standard of respect for communications with the public across all city departments. We will ensure that this type of offending humor is not repeated in communications to the public by City of Seattle employees.

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West Seattle school scenes: Arbor Heights flamingos; Denny’s ‘bluehair’ & actors
May 5, 2014 11:59 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Three scenes from two local schools:

FLOCK OF APPRECIATION AT ARBOR HEIGHTS: You might already know that it’s Teacher Appreciation Week. At Arbor Heights Elementary, it began with a flock of flamingos! Thanks to our anonymous parent correspondent for sharing the photo.

DENNY PRINCIPAL GOES DOLPHIN BLUE: Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark‘s sporting a “new” look:

Assistant principal Patricia Rangel explains:

This week the students at Denny International Middle School and throughout Seattle’s middle schools are going to be taking the Math and Reading portion of the Measurement of Student Performance (MSP) state exam. As a way to show his support and remind his scholars of the immense pride he has in them, Principal Jeff Clark dyed his hair and goatee Dolphin blue for the second year in a row. This comes on the heels of Denny also learning that it was a recipient of the 2013 Washington Achievement Award with special recognition in Math growth from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. It seems this Dolphin pride will not be washed out anytime soon.

DENNY DRAMA DEBUT: Not long after we received the note above, Clark himself sent an announcement about another student/staff achievement:

It is a real pleasure to share that the new Denny International Middle School drama program had their first performances on Friday and Saturday.

>

Congratulations to the scholars who performed so well in the Denny Drama production of “This is a Test!” Dr. Butterworth did a fantastic job preparing our scholars to perform this one-act comedy written by Stephen Gregg. Thank you to all of you who came to see the performance—it was funny and very well-done. Go, Dolphin Drama!

Later today, more school news – anything big from YOUR campus? Let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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Four calendar notes for your West Seattle Monday
May 5, 2014 9:52 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Robin, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Early-bird busy day, with three breaking-news incidents (fire coverage here, crash updates here) before 8 am. Now, highlights from the SCHEDULED events for the rest of the day:

COUNCIL CONSIDERS MINIMUM-WAGE PROPOSAL: 2:30 pm today at City Hall, the City Council Minimum Wage and Income Inequality Committee takes its first official look at the minimum-wage-increase proposal announced last week by Mayor Murray. Agenda’s here; you’ll be able to watch live via Seattle Channel, online or cable. (4th/5th/Cherry)

CYCLE U 10TH ANNIVERSARY RIDE/PARTY: Meet at Cycle U at 5 pm for a bike ride commemorating 10 years in business, followed by a 7 pm party. (3418 Harbor SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Tonight’s story time for families is at High Point Library, 6:30 pm. (35th/Raymond)

HI-YU MEETING AND CANDIDATES’ ESSAY READING: West Seattle Hi-Yu‘s monthly meeting is tonight at 7 in the hall at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church – interested community members welcome! – and it will include another judged event for the three Senior Court candidates, reading essays aloud. (California/Hanford)

LOOK AHEAD … to tomorrow, next week, next month, on our main calendar page.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: West Marginal reopens after rollover/pole takeout; bridge crash earlier
May 5, 2014 6:47 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SCROLL DOWN for updates on the morning’s major incidents)

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:47 AM: Spinout/flipped vehicle just reported blocking both lanes on the westbound bridge, westbound end before fork to Fauntleroy.

7:08 AM: No injuries reported. Westbound traffic has been diverted to the Admiral exit.

7:23 AM: Tow truck’s there but the scene isn’t cleared just yet.

7:43 AM: The westbound bridge JUST reopened – crash scene is clear.

7:52 AM: Another “non-injury rollover” reported, this time on West Marginal Way SW at Puget (map). A pole is down, per scanner. Both directions are reported to be blocked; City Light is en route.

8:32 AM: Our crew was told one person was taken to the hospital. South of the crash scene, northbound drivers are being turned around at the Alaska Marine Lines lot. SFD has cleared the scene; City Light is there now. (Also, thank you to Cathy and Nikki for updates – Cathy warns that the north-side turnaround for southbound drivers is precarious, so again, avoid the area TFN.)

9:09 AM: Photos added. Still closed, and with the pole/wires involvement, it might be a while. We’re continuing to monitor.

11:25 AM: Scanner discussion says one lane is now open each way on West Marginal.

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Video: Second fire in one week at Arbor Heights house
May 5, 2014 5:22 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

5:22 AM: Fire crews are back at the house in the 10000 block of 39th SW in Arbor Heights (map) that caught fire last Tuesday.

5:34 AM: The fire is reported to be under control, per scanner traffic. Just added video from neighbor John (who also called to tip us about the fire – thank you). The cause of last week’s fire had yet to be determined, as of our most recent check with SFD last Friday.

5:53 AM: Added that photo from our crew on scene. SFD says no injuries, since house was vacant.

6:03 AM: Metro says the northbound Route 21-EX is rerouting off SW 100th because of this, between 37th SW and 40th SW – use stops “east of 37th or west of 40th,” per text. Meantime, SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl has just provided an on-scene media briefing. She confirms that they still hadn’t finished investigating last week’s fire – one of the home’s two residents is still in the hospital. A crew will stay on scene here through the day on “fire watch” (as had been done last week).

6:44 AM: The bus reroute is over. Most fire vehicles have been dismissed from the scene. (Added: Our video of Lt. Stangl’s briefing, in which she discusses the possibility it “rekindled.”)

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