West Seattle, Washington
23 Monday
Seen hazily in the distance from a ferry this morning, Mount Rainier was beautiful … yet always, also, vaguely ominous. It’s a volcano. And it’s NOT extinct. So … what if? That’s the scenario for a disaster drill coming up this Saturday morning (May 17th, 9 am-noon), involving West Seattle preparedness volunteers and others around the area. Local activity will be focused at Ercolini Park west of The Junction and at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. As officially announced:
Neighborhood emergency preparedness groups across Seattle assisted by amateur radio emergency communicators will test skills Saturday in an exercise based on a simulated major mudflow and ash release from Mt. Rainier. This exercise titled “Mud and Ash Everywhere” is the spring version of this semiannual event. The goal of this exercise is to practice preparedness and response actions that will contribute to community resiliency in surviving a significant disaster.
Heard a bit of scanner traffic on this – stolen toilet tank? – and thought we’d misheard. However, SPD Blotter’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, who gets to see the reports and knows a good story when he sees one, tells the tale this afternoon:
Seattle police are looking for a man who put the bathroom of a West Seattle Subway out of commission Sunday night after stealing the restaurant’s toilet, making off with a key, and flooding the restroom’s sink.
According to Subway employees, the man and his family walked into the Subway restaurant in the 4700 block of 42nd Ave SW and ordered food around 7:45 PM. While employees were preparing the family’s meal, the man went into the Subway’s bathroom and was gone for quite some time — so long, in fact, that his wife knocked on the bathroom door and asked what was taking him so long. The man’s family then left the restaurant without him.
A short time later, the man emerged from the bathroom carrying a large, black plastic garbage bag and quickly left the restaurant.
An employee later walked into the bathroom and found the toilet tank missing. The employee also found the still-running bathroom sink stuffed with paper towels, and discovered the bathroom key had also been liberated from the lavatory.Subway staff told officers the missing toilet tank was worth $550. Officers also spoke to several witnesses at the scene who provided information identifying a possible number one suspect in the case. Southwest Precinct burglary/theft detectives will handle the investigation.
12:47 PM: On our way to check out multiple reports of a bee swarm at Westwood. We mention it in advance because beekeepers have asked us to mention as often as possible, please do NOT panic, do NOT try to poison them – swarming is natural, especially this time of year, and the best thing to do is to contact somebody on the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association‘s swarm list to come remove them – if you can’t just wait them out. Here’s our recent story about all this.
1:31 PM: We are here and a beekeeper (above, in hat) is too. He says this is a relatively small group, maybe 20,000. They break off from a hive and hang out 15 minutes to 2 days until a scout brings back word of a suitable new spot. He will hang out after collecting these so the scouts come back. Photos shortly.
2:01 PM: Photos added. The beekeeper, Clay Cook (who is on this year’s list of PSBA beekeepers to call about swarms), says it’s home turf for him since he works part-time at Westwood Village. He said that bees swarming like this generally would have left their original hive not far away, so any of the “scouts” that scattered while he was up there and didn’t make it into his box would likely find their way back to that nest.
It was heartening to see people stopping and remarking how cool it was to see the bees, instead of getting scared and bolting (of course, it’s understandable if you’re allergic; one passing driver slowed down and then, when informed that the buzz was about bees, said she needed to get out of there since she is).
You’ll recall that, when announcing recent concrete-panel-replacement work on SW Charlestown west of California and SW Genesee east of Avalon, SDOT mentioned it would be followed up by work to improve traction on those steep hills. The department has just announced a work schedule for those two stretches and one other in West Seattle that had recent panel replacement (as well as others around town):
The Seattle Department of Transportation will grind the concrete street surface to improve traction for safety at multiple locations around the city from May 15 through May 29. Work will take place during weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. with the exception of some weekend work, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Dates for each location are subject to change depending on work progress or other factors. Flaggers will be on site at road closures to provide local access and guidance. The locations were selected based on traction vulnerability due to heavy rain, snow or ice.
May 17-18:
Olson Place SW between SW Cambridge Street and First Avenue South (one lane of traffic open in both directions)Work zone is in the northbound lanes of Olson Place SW between Fourth Avenue SW and Second Avenue SW.
May 20-21:
SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and Delridge Way SW (local access only)Work zone is SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and 30th Avenue SW.
Eastbound traffic detoured via SW Avalon Way, SW Yancy Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Andover Street, and Delridge Way SW.
Westbound traffic detoured via Delridge Way SW, SW Andover Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Yancy Street, and SW Avalon Way.
May 22-23:
SW Charlestown Street between 49th Avenue SW and California Avenue SW (local access only)Work zone is SW Charlestown Street between 47th Avenue SW and 45th Avenue SW.
Eastbound traffic detoured via 49th Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and California Avenue SW.
Westbound traffic detoured via California Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and 49th Avenue SW.
SDOT’s full news release also includes the three non-West Seattle stretches where this work is scheduled.
Can major cuts in Metro Transit be avoided, in the aftermath of Proposition 1’s defeat? As reported last week, Mayor Murray has said he’s working on a plan, which at last report is expected to be announced tomorrow (and as a result, the I-118 signature-gathering campaign is on hold). Now, we’ve just received a media advisory saying that County Executive Dow Constantine “will hold a news conference today to announce a program for funding of Metro Transit service.” He’s making that announcement downtown at 3:30 pm. No hints yet about what that’ll entail.
P.S. However it all shakes out, it’ll certainly be a hot topic at tomorrow night’s monthly meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, with the mayor’s transportation point person Andrew Glass Hastings already a scheduled guest. That’ll be at 6:30 pm Tuesday, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.
(Orange-crowned warbler photographed by Trileigh Tucker. Saturday BTW was Migratory Bird Day!)
Welcome to the brand-new week! A few things on the calendar for tonight:
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center room 103. Preview via NDNC: “Monday’s agenda will focus on the Delridge Plan Update that DPD is currently working on for North Delridge. David Goldberg, DPD staff for the Plan Update, will attend.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)
STORY TIME FOCUSES ON GARDENING: 6:30 pm story time at High Point Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS PTSA: Last meeting of the year, 7 pm in the Confucius Center on campus. (2600 SW Thistle)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL POSTSEASON GAME: 7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, Chief Sealth International High School plays Nathan Hale. (1321 SW 102nd)
‘FREE MUSIC MONDAY‘: No admission for Skylark Café and Club‘s show tonight, 9:30–10:30 pm, live music featuring Audio Chunk. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:01 AM: Quiet, sunny commute right now in and beyond West Seattle. An earlier problem on the Highland Park Way hill is reported to have cleared – please let us know if you’re seeing otherwise.
7:20 AM: We’re on our way to check firsthand but in the meantime, we just got a call that traffic is OK coming up the Highland Park Way hill toward HP, but that it’s still blocked headed out (downhill).
7:41 AM: Still closed and the closure might last a while – it appears that the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is on scene.
7:53 AM: Andrea reports in comments that an uphill lane has been opened for downhill traffic – that’ll still be slow going. Meantime, unusual hazard reported via scanner at Delridge/Roxbury – “man who keeps running in and out of traffic.”
8:26 PM: The aforementioned person is now the subject of a medical call. Meantime, we’re headed back to Highland Park Way for a status check. Haven’t heard back from SPD for more details on the crash. One more note – if you are I-5 bound, there might be something of a distraction on the southbound side just north of the bridge – a vehicle-fire call.
8:31 AM: Our crew says the top of the hill is completely closed off – we’re not seeing the possible downhill lane. Meantime, Seattle Fire spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl tells us the crash victim is a 34-year-old man taken to the hospital “in serious condition.” And the aforementioned southbound I-5 incident near I-90 is now described as a truck fully involved in flames – lots of smoke too (see this traffic cam)
9:01 AM: Again, the I-5 situation is on the southbound side, but certainly a distraction if nothing else on the northbound side:
Here's another look SB 5 near I-90. Backup mainline and express about 3 miles. Use 99 or 405 if N enough. pic.twitter.com/qak2TeEdpf
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 12, 2014
RT @wspd2pio: Minor injury from SB I-5 truck rollover that caught fire, pic.twitter.com/I5Ld5wiuXV
— WA State Patrol (@wastatepatrol) May 12, 2014
10:26 AM: SPD spokesperson Patrick Michaud says the Highland Park Way scene is now clear. He says the driver suffered a “life-threatening head injury.”
Thanks to Lynn Hall for sharing the view from Alki as dusk approached tonight. Looking a week into the future – next Sunday (May 18th) brings a doubleheader to the beach: West Seattle 5K (co=sponsored by WSB) starts the day, followed by the SDOT-organized Summer Streets festival (still known informally as “car-free day” though its scope scaled way down years ago). As has been the case since 2011, Alki Avenue is only closed in the heart of the beach zone – 56th to 63rd – once the race wraps up around 11 am. Here’s this year’s map:
No full list of activities/festival participants yet – we hope to see that by midweek – but as noted here last month, the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club is leading a costume/bicycle parade for the second year, 1 pm from 63rd/Alki, so get ready for that! (And sign up for the WS5K if you haven’t already.) See you at the beach …
8:17 PM: If you saw/heard all the Seattle Fire units heading for Alki – it was a “saltwater rescue” call in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW (map), but there’s good news; the response has been canceled except for one engine.
8:26 PM: Via Twitter, Vanessa reports it appears to have involved a kayaker, who seems to be safe onshore, while another kayaker is towing an empty kayak in.
They’ve met with the city, and with the developer. Next step: Meet with you. While pursuing an appeal of city decisions about the 30-apartment, no-offstreet-parking plan at 6917 California SW in Morgan Junction, “a small group of neighbors has continued to advocate for possible solutions with the Department of Planning and Development and the developer,” and invites you to hear and talk about what’s next. Their invitation: “Come to this meeting to hear updates and vote on some proposed mitigation solutions for our community!” The meeting is set for 7 pm Thursday (May 15th) at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Neighbors’ appeal hearing is still on the schedule too, rescheduled for May 20th (9 am, Hearing Examiner‘s chambers at the Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue downtown).
(Just before Engine 37 left; police were east of it, at 7-11 driveway)
4:40 PM: A 28-year-old woman hit by a driver at 35th and Barton is about to be rushed to the hospital. According to scanner traffic, she was knocked to the ground and hit her head. Lots of police and fire there, so avoid the intersection for a while.
4:56 PM: The scene, at the southeast corner, has cleared quickly. No further details.
Eight days until the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents Lou Whittaker at his alma mater, West Seattle High School, for a screening of the documentary about his half-century-plus mountaineering achievements, “A Life in the Mountains.” The event is at 6:30 pm Monday, May 19th, at WSHS, and you can buy tickets in advance online through the Log House Museum PayPal account – $10 if you’re a SWSHS member, $15 if you’re not – or get your ticket at the door that night. Less than 3 weeks later, at 10:30 am June 6th, the museum celebrates the permanent display of the totem pole that spent decades at the viewpoint on the northeast end of Admiral Way (details here). The LHM/SWSHS website includes frequent newsy updates on its events, including volunteers canvassing the museum’s neighborhood today with heads-up about the totem-pole event (since it’ll include a street closure) and the LHM’s participation in West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yesterday.
We’ve written about it many times, but had never before managed a firsthand look at West Seattle’s Walker Rock Garden, a backyard full of rock art from sculptures to stepping stones, created by the late Milton and Florence Walker over more than 20 years starting in 1950 as a labor of love, now a legacy in search of a new owner. It was traditionally open to the public on Mother’s Day, but not for the past few years – until today.
You can stop by until 3 pm (5407 37th SW); the broker who has long represented the home, Brad Cooper, says there’ll be another chance to visit this summer, so don’t worry if you can’t get there on short notice.
We were there about an hour ago, with a steady stream of visitors walking carefully around the yard, looking at the colorful creations. We’ll add a few more photos later.
Thanks to Lex for the photo and report:
Did you know that West Seattle High School has an Ultimate Frisbee team? I wanted to let you know that the varsity team just finished 2nd place in the B Division at playoffs (Saturday). In 1st was Ladies and Gentlemen (Juanita & Lake Washington High School).
It’s been a big year for the WSHS team, which last month placed third in its division at the annual Spring Reign competition (belated thanks to Alanah for that news, which we failed to report at the time). The spring high-school-based coed league is run through DiscNW.
(South Seattle College Arboretum, photographed by Flickr member “old desolate,” shared via WSB group)
Lots of fun options for you and Mom or whomever else you’re hanging out with on this sunny-so-far Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MOTHER’S DAY AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open 10 am-2 pm as always, and you’ll find some special happenings for Mother’s Day, including free chard starts at the Langley Fine Gardens booth, according to market management. (44th/Alaska)
FREE LATTE FOR MOM: While you’re in The Junction, bring Mom to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) for a free short almond-and-rose latté. (4410 California SW)
GLASSBLOWING: Bring Mom to Avalon Glassworks to watch glassblowing, free, in the studio adjacent to their retail space, 11 am-5 pm.
WALKER ROCK GARDEN OPEN: As published here on Saturday, as soon as we got word of it, this West Seattle treasure, which hasn’t announced an open-to-the-public day in a few years, welcomes you noon-3 pm today – an “open” day at the garden used to be a Mother’s Day tradition. (5407 37th SW)
PAINT WITH MOM: Check with Mind Unwind in The Admiral District to see if there’s still room in this 1 pm event. (2206 California SW)
WORMS! … which are so good for your garden, as Seattle Tilth Master Gardeners will show you in this 1:30 pm event at Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
LIVE MUSIC WITH YOUR COFFEE: Ginny Reilly on acoustic guitar, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: 3 pm, free concert featuring music of German, Czech, Austrian composers, West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. (2306 42nd SW)
‘HAIR’ MATINEE: The Age of Aquarius is back with the classic musical onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 3 pm. Ticket and show info here. (4711 California SW)
BINGO! What mom doesn’t love bingo? (Well, OK, there are probably a few.) A special Mother’s Day edition of the Booze, Balls, Bingo drag-bingo fundraiser is happening at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) at 5:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
(Sealth senior Izac Bauer sliding toward third)
In the second of two playoff games involving local varsity-baseball teams Saturday, Chief Sealth International High School lost to Seattle Prep, 12-0.
(Sealth junior Garret Smith about to put out Prep’s Will Hall)
Earlier in the day, as reported here, WSHS defeated Lakeside.
NEXT GAME: Sealth plays Nathan Hale tomorrow, 7 pm, also at Steve Cox Field in White Center.
A (relatively) short but scary drama played out Friday afternoon on Pigeon Point – a search for two children who got lost. We did not have enough information to report on it until now, with the details that accompanied the photo:
Yesterday afternoon a large amount of SPD officers converged on the greenbelt behind Pathfinder (K-8) in search of two missing girls (ages 3 & 9). The younger one had run into the woods and her older sister followed to find her. They couldn’t find their way out and were missing for 2+ hours. Officers spent a long time searching the greenbelt for the children. Thankfully, they were found by Officer Nicholson. They were barefoot, soaking wet, and shivering. She carried them both out and returned them home. The girls were very cold and scared but safe.
I wanted to share this picture with your blog readers. All of the officers who searched for these children exude the professionalism and compassion that makes the Southwest Precinct truly outstanding.
Officer Jenifer Eshom
Southwest Precinct
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
8:54 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us about police investigating a report of gunfire near 18th and Thistle after 7 pm tonight. We found them looking at the pickup truck you see in the photo above. One of its tires went flat, possibly because a bullet hit it. Police also found a bullet hole in the pickup’s bumper:
The pickup’s driver, a teenage boy, was not hurt. No suspects so far.
ADDED 8:50 AM: Lots more details just released by Seattle Police via SPD Blotter:
On 5/10/14, just shortly after 7:00 p.m. officers were initially dispatched to a report of a male saying that he was being chased by seven people who were armed with guns and knives near 16 Ave SW & SW Holden St.
The suspects were in a black, medium-sized truck with tinted windows. Officers arrived in the area and observed a person flashing gang signs to a truck that matched this description. Officers contacted the person flashing gang signs and while doing so, multiple 911 calls were received of shots fired in the immediate area.
Officers arrived in the area and located the truck in question at 18 Av SW & SW Thistle St. The pickup truck had a flat tire. The driver, a 17-year-old white male was detained. A closer inspection of the truck revealed a bullet hole in the left front tire and on the passenger side of the rear bumper.
Officers located a scene in the 7700 block of 18 Av SW, in the alley to the east. Three shell casings were recovered. The 17-year-old male claimed he didn’t know anything and had no idea why anyone would shoot at him. He did admit to driving down the alley. Officers obtained consent to search his vehicle and a small bag of methamphetamine was recovered.
The subject was investigated released from the scene. The original caller could not be located nor were any other victims found. This appears to be related to ongoing gang activity centered near the 8400 block of Delridge Way SW. The suspects were described as black and Hispanic male teens.
The West Seattle High School varsity-baseball team opened this year’s playoff run with a 3-1 win over Lakeside today. Greg Slader shares the photos and summary:
Catcher Graham French (photo below) led the offense with RBI doubles in the first and third inning to give the Wildcats the lead.
His clutch hits scoring two runs would be plenty for pitcher Ben Wexler (photo above), who threw a complete game and only gave up one run, in the top of the seventh, when West Seattle already had a 3-0 lead.
Next game is Tuesday 4 pm vs the winner of Bainbridge vs Ingraham. All Metro playoff games are at Steve Cox Field in White Center.
That’s where Chief Sealth IHS is playing Seattle Prep right now; we’ll have a report on that game later.
UPDATE: Bainbridge will be the opponent on Tuesday.
(Photo by Fred Ueckert of FJU Photography)
What used to be a West Seattle Mother’s Day tradition is coming back tomorrow after skipping a few years. Brad Cooper, the real-estate broker who has long represented the Walker Rock Garden property in West Seattle, says it will be open for Mother’s Day tomorrow, noon-3 pm. The rock creations comprising the “garden” were a labor of love by the home’s longtime residents, the late Milton and Florence Walker, as explained in this “West Seattle 101” chapter republished on WSB.
(2011 photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
Three years ago, it was put up for sale, but records indicated no deal was made, and it went off the market until late last year; the listing is still “active,” meaning no buyer so far. It used to be open to visitors on Mother’s Day, as well as other scattered times of the year, but hasn’t had announced opens on Mother’s Day or another day recently. But Cooper just e-mailed to ask us to let you know that it will be open tomorrow. It’s at 5407 37th SW (map).
If you are a seller with leftovers – or a shopper who bought some things with donations in mind – here’s what you need to know, now that the official West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day sale hours are over:
WESTSIDE BABY: Here’s what WS Baby is looking for:
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
There’s a truck at the Ginomai lot east of Hotwire (enter off 42nd SW south of Genesee) waiting for you (photo above) until 6 pm, as well as other locations – details here.
BOOKS FOR DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (AND OTHERS): Unsold books? There are five ways to drop off books that can be used by middle-schoolers (or by other students, or other age groups to whom they’ll be funneled) – including a truck van in The Junction until 6 pm today.
(Added: WSB photo taken 4 pm)
Details here, including options in the days ahead, if you can’t get to the dropoff spot today.
NORTHWEST CENTER: Extended hours at the dropoff spot in The Junction, 44th and Edmunds – until 6:30 pm tonight.
(Added: WSB photo taken 4 pm)
(More info here, including links to the “what they’ll take/what they won’t” list.)
STOP ‘N’ SHOP: The Senior Center’s Stop ‘n’ Shop Thrift Store says it’s staying open until 7 pm to accept items. Drop them off in the front (east side of California just south of Oregon) or in the alley in back.
And if your sale is extending its hours, you’re welcome to post in the comments! A few sales made that part of their official descriptions – which any sale is welcome to do, so long as it at least is open for the official 9 am-3 pm period. Whether you shopped, sold, donated, or any/all of the above, thanks for being part of the 10th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!
LINKS: Web map here * Mobile map here * Printable list/map here * Updates on WSB FB here
9:09 AM: Again this year, we’ll be out and about photographing some of today’s 280 West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day sales, and incorporating your photos too, as well as updates. We start at Sale #245 (4211 SW Sullivan, photo above), which happens to be the closest to WSB HQ – lots of kids stuff (remember you can be part of the WestSide Baby Shopping Squad, buying kid stuff and donating same-day) – and now we’re hitting the road. But first, just in via Twitter:
My first score at the West Seattle Community Garage Sale! So happy!!!
@westseattleblog
#westseattlegaragesale pic.twitter.com/5Mfp9t2GPA
— Steve Ercolini (@theercs) May 10, 2014
You can tweet a photo too – we’re at @westseattleblog.
9:23 AM: Two sellers just did:
First time participating in the @westseattleblog garage sale! pic.twitter.com/JLDVuuVirN
— Kate Christian (@drkatedmd) May 10, 2014
(The tweet above is from sale #230, 5033 41st SW, and they add, “We have donuts!”)
@westseattleblog #99 sale happening now. Trek 930 bike. pic.twitter.com/n2Yn4PSK5t
— Bonnie Harper (@Rbsharper) May 10, 2014
9:32 AM: Lots more participation in eastern West Seattle this year – we just checked out multiple-household Sale #13 at 8659 Delridge (just north of Trenton) – billing themselves as “the best-looking garage sale crew you’ll see all day” – Sarah, Michael, Kenna, and Jeremy:
From Sale #51 at 2336 44th in North Admiral, via Facebook:
E-mailed by Myrna at Sale #72 (in the garage off the alley at 3612 48th SW):
We meantime have headed southwest – including a stop at one of the westernmost sales, #227 at 9821 51st Ave SW, pretty good traffic though it’s down a long and winding road almost to the Sound. They’ve already sold half their outdoor stuff, but there’s more inside:
Reports like this are fun too:
We're off to explore the @westseattleblog community yard sale day on the bikes we got at last year's sale!
— Kellie Phelan (@KelliePhelan) May 10, 2014
10:04 AM: Second hour! At the Taproot School benefit sale inside the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, we just met Spider-Man.
(He also goes by Austin.) And in Arbor Heights, we stopped by Sale #150 at 99th and 35th:
Even further south, an invitation via Twitter:
Come on by # 285 half way up SW 112th. Between 26 and Ambaum South of #WhiteCenter. @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/N1fWnhvw3B
— Ed (@theedhenry) May 10, 2014
Meantime, we just stopped by the Lincoln Park P-Patch benefit sale (the P-Patch is at Solstice Park behind the tennis courts across from the park’s north end), #236.
Not only do they have plants – a bake sale, too.
10:46 AM: A friendly helper awaits you at Sale #121 at 4048 56th SW:
Thanks to Jill for e-mailing the photo! Options on Alki and Beach Drive this year – among them, the Log House Museum benefit sale:
That’s Sale #138 at 61st/Stevens. Clay sent the photo. Not far away, we stopped at a sale that’s been part of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day for each and every one of its 10 years:
Raising money for the American Cancer Society (via Relay for Life), that’s Sale #83 at 4136 Beach Drive, just south of Weather Watch Park. Lots of sales on Beach Drive this year – just browse the map! We headed on northeastward around the shore, and stopped right across from Seacrest (home of the West Seattle Water Taxi and WSB sponsor Marination ma kai) at Sale #178, 1617 Harbor Drive:
So glad the weather is behaving!
11:25 AM: Thanks to Denette for this photo from Sale #74, a multifamily sale at 3442 40th SW:
We’ve just taken another swing through eastern West Seattle – starting with Sale #10 on Pigeon Point (3814 20th SW), the northeasternmost sale this year, in a just-renovated 105-year-old house!
Go say hi to Eric and Sarah. Quirky item spotted at their sale – a Coca-Cola bottle from China.
Toward the southeastern end of West Seattle, Kathrine sent this photo from Sale #18, which seems to encapsulate all you can find at a yard sale, all in one frame:
You’ll find that sale at 8816 16th SW. Inbetween the two aforementioned sales is the Delridge Grocery Co-Op benefit sale:
They’re raising money to open a grocery store in the 5400 block of Delridge Way later this year – the sale is just south of their future site, in the open space at 5448 Delridge, #30 on the WSCGSD map. A few blocks south, Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor) has a big sale going, raising money for scholarships. Look for the signs outside and near 5050 Delridge Way SW.
Inside the gym:
Next – from Twitter, Sale #232 at 6050 42nd SW is looking for YOU:
Only had 3 sets of people to our sale Pls come by #232 Guitars amps clothing @westseattleblog @westseattlegaragesale pic.twitter.com/mBtuBaGxnj
— Sarah J. Baker (@SarahJBaker1) May 10, 2014
Now headed into the second half of WSCGSD!
12:31 PM: More of the photos you’ve shared on the WSB Facebook page and via e-mail. From the former, a high-fashion item:
That’s a Gloria Sacks velvet jacket available at Sale #11, 8438 8th SW. Cool people and good stuff all over eastern West Seattle. P.S. Thanks to everyone who’s sharing not only the address but their map number when sending/posting photos.
1:05 PM: Been to Seaview? Melody at Sale #201 says they still have “awesome things” – this is a GARAGE sale, on the alley:
6303 45th SW. Not far south, Christine sends a photo, from “A quiet moment at sale #153 in the Gatewood area. Selling girls’ Specialized bikes, kids’ lemonade stand, demilune table, and more!”
Christine’s sale will be open until 5 pm – while the official WSCGSD hours are 9 am-3 pm, as long as sellers are open for those hours, it’s up to them if they want to also list earlier and/or later hours, and some do (check the map and the listing packet).
1:30 PM: An hour and a half left for most of the sales, which is still tons of time to at least get out into your expanded neighborhood – might be a neighbor with a sale just a block or two away. From comments: “#157 still has lots of baby clothes and more left. Great prices” – that’s in the High Point area, 5630 34th SW. Meantime, one of the sales that’s posted photos on the WSB FB page, #126 at 2715 49th SW, calls itself “sale of the century” and the “mother of all yard sales”:
They put out tents this morning just in case – the weather, however, has been perfect, not too hot, not too cold. Clouding over a bit now, but we still see blue-sky breaks.
2:07 PM: Last hour – we’ve just stopped at West Seattle High School (Sale #69, 3000 California SW), where a fundraising sale’s been under way throughout WSCGSD:
You can also sign up for next weekend’s West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB), organized annually by the WSHS PTSA, the first big West Seattle-presented/benefiting run/walk of the season, 9 am Sunday 5/18 along Alki.
That’s race director Jeff Mensing. P.S. Congratulations to the WSHS varsity-baseball team, which won its first playoff game 3-1 this morning vs. Lakeside – more on that in a separate story later.
2:30 PM: Also on California SW, one of today’s two big group sites, where we’re told it’s been a great day – the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor)/Ginomai Art Center courtyards/lots, 4410 California SW and immediately east:
This is also a signup spot for a May 18th event – the Zumbathon benefiting Transitional Resources:
And Hotwire/Ginomai is a dropoff site for leftovers or purchases you’re donating – reminders on that and other sides are coming up in a separate story at 3 pm, covering the WSCGSD aftermath. The other big multi-seller site is C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), #213 at 5612 California SW. Meantime, one update from comments: “Everything is half off at sale 166! 28th and Webster. Back in the alley.”
Before we get going on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day as-it-happens coverage, quick look at the calendar highlights:
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: Lots of previous previews – bottom line, 9 am-3 pm, it’s sale day all over West Seattle; get the map here.
STAMP OUT HUNGER: Put a bag of nonperishable food items (no glass, please) in a bag out by your mailbox, or your door if that’s where your mail is delivered, before you head out for the day – letter carriers collect the donations on this special day every year.
BLOOD DRIVE: The Bloodmobile welcomes donors at Westwood Village (Barton entrance) 9:30 am-3:30 pm, closed 11:30 am-12:30 pm for a break, details here.
BICYCLE RODEO/BLOCK PARTY: 10 am-1 pm in the Roxhill area, for kids and their families – details here. (27th/Roxbury)
FREE KETTLEBELL CLASS: 10:30 am on Alki – details here.
HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: West Seattle HS has a playoff game at 10 am this morning, Chief Sealth IHS plays Seattle Prep at 7 tonight, both games at Steve Cox Field in White Center.
MARITIME FESTIVAL: If you’re going downtown, it’s the annual Maritime Festival, featuring the tugboat races! 11 am-5 pm, details here.
FREE WORKSHOP IN REMODELING/CUSTOM HOMEBUILDING: 2 pm at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) – details here, including how to call to check if there’s still room. (California/Findlay)
BRIDGE-BUILDING FOR KIDS: 3-5 pm at Delridge Branch Library; details here. (Delridge/Brandon)
LEGO MANIA! At Admiral (West Seattle) Branch Library, 3-4:30 pm, details here.
LINCOLN PARK COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL FUNDRAISING AUCTION: Amazing array of items you can bid on – details and a link in our calendar listing. Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 6-8:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
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