(Ford at right is the suspect’s car; at left, parked car that was hit)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:27 PM: A driver is in custody, under investigation for DUI, after a multiple-scene crash north of Morgan Junction.

(Taxicab that was hit, ending up on southbound California)
First scene was on the southbound side of California just south of SW Raymond (map), where the suspect is reported to have hit a cab, then driven eastbound on SW Raymond, going over a traffic circle, and coming to a stop after hitting a parked car on Raymond between 42nd and 41st.

(Traffic circle, with shrubbery torn out when car went over it)
Police, fire, and witnesses all tell us no one was hurt; witnesses say the allegedly intoxicated driver stayed at the second scene and seemed aware of what he had done. SFD has cleared the scene but it might take a while for the wrecked cars to be cleared on Raymond; the taxi on California is already gone. Thanks to everyone who texted and tweeted about this.

UPDATE, 5:49 PM SUNDAY: The driver, 39 years old, spent five and a half hours in jail before getting out this morning; his bail was $1,000.

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Ferry update: WSF down one boat, trying to catch up, on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route

September 20, 2014 9:15 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

M/V Tillikum remains out of service on Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route, explained only as “due to operational constraints.” In the newest update, WSF says it’s adding more sailings on M/V Evergreen State to try to catch up. This all comes on the eve of WSF’s fall schedule taking effect tomorrow; no word yet on whether they’ll be back to 3 boats by then.

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One more nudge: Recycle Roundup tomorrow at Fauntleroy Church

September 20, 2014 7:59 pm

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| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Twice a year, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee brings in 1 Green Planet to collect dozens of types of items that are recyclable but not routinely picked up in your curbside service. Tomorrow is this year’s second Recycle Roundup, 9 am-3 pm at the church parking lot (9140 California SW; map). Here’s the list of what you can drop off, with a few notes about what you can’t. As usual, no charge for your dropoff (the Green Committee does accept donations to help cover the cost, if you are so moved; they’ll also be offering a flyer with some green-living tips).

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More West Seattle volunteering: Tilden 5th graders @ Dakota Place

September 20, 2014 7:46 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

(Photo courtesy Karin Beck)
Meet some of the youngest volunteers helping keep local parks from being strangled by overgrowth. These are fifth-graders from Tilden School (WSB sponsor), and their teacher Karin Beck shares the update:

In 2010, Tilden School officially adopted Dakota Place Park. Since then, the students and faculty have been removing invasive species, weeds, and trash from the park grounds. This week, the new crop of fifth graders began their role as park stewards, something they’ll continue throughout the school year. Additionally, this community service project will tie in with an ongoing learning partnership with IslandWood and Nature Consortium. The goal is for these kids to be more aware of their impact on nature and to understand their ability to create positive change.

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West Seattle schools: K-5 STEM, Arbor Heights volunteers work to make things ‘a lot’ safer

September 20, 2014 4:14 pm

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| Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)
Way back in January, when the Seattle Schools Traffic Safety Committee convened at the Boren Building, they heard K-5 STEM parents and staffers warn that existing safety challenges in and around the parking lot would only intensify when Arbor Heights Elementary moved in starting this fall. And it’s indeed been busy, to say the least – so this morning, volunteers gathered for a “parking-lot party” to fix what they could – a lot of painting, for example (top photo), and weeding/de-mossing.

Bigger issues remain to be solved, beyond the scope of a weekend work party – see our report on this past week’s Delridge District Council meeting for more on that – but progress is progress, one step (or paintbrush) at a time.

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Happening now: Open house at Seattle Police Mounted Patrol HQ in West Seattle

September 20, 2014 1:22 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

The first arrivals at the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit‘s second annual Open House found it pretty exciting to meet the horses face to face. Above, Officer Laura Wollberg and Chance impressed a young visitor. You’ll find the horses and officers in and around their barn on the west side of Westcrest Park in Highland Park – Charlie got a last-minute touchup:

Along with meeting the horses and seeing demonstrations (one riding demo should be under way now, and another’s at 4, plus you’ll see how they go through “desensitization training”), you can get a behind-the-scenes look at barn operations. You might call this the pantry:

Some of the inventory, being put to good use:

For today’s open house, human treats are on hand too – free hot dogs and chips:

We asked the unit leader Sgt. Jim Scott (below, with Dozer) if visitors need to know anything else. He reminded us there’s parking inside the gate, too (that’s on the right when you drive in from 8th, where an SPD vehicle is marking the entrance).

The open house continues until 5 pm today.

P.S. It’s been three years since the Seattle Police Foundation, a nonprofit that supports events like this, stepped up to coordinate a community campaign to support the Mounted Unit.

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Walk to End Alzheimer’s: Group from The Kenney raises $1,600

September 20, 2014 12:55 pm

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| The Kenney | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Photo courtesy The Kenney)
Among the hundreds of people who joined in the Pacific Northwest Walk to End Alzheimer’s today were four residents of The Kenney (WSB sponsor), along with staffers and family members. They raised $1,600 and walked the full two-mile route along Lake Union. Proceeds from the walk – more than $270,000, in early estimates – go toward “the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association,” according to the event website. The rise in cases of Alzheimer’s and dementia has led some retirement centers to make big changes; The Kenney added its Memory Care Community in 2012.

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Happening now: ‘Carnival of Community’ @ Holy Rosary School WestFest

September 20, 2014 11:48 am

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The big day of fun is well under way at Holy Rosary School on the north side of The Junction – as noted again in today’s West Seattle Saturday preview, the WestFest “Carnival of Community” is on until 10 pm. Rides, games, a food court with tables that we’re sure have filled since our photo was taken earlier:

That festive table card with the onstage-entertainment lineup can also be seen here – looks like Raymond the Magician is up next at noon, followed by the Sundancers at 1, and more.

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West Seattle Saturday: Parking-lot party for school safety; Mounted Patrol open house; WestFest; Lincoln Park mega-meet; more!

September 20, 2014 6:25 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Flowers outside the White Center Food Bank, photographed on Friday)

Sunny, warm forecast for the first day of the last weekend of summer! Good thing, considering everything that’s on our calendar for West Seattle today/tonight, including these highlights:

MEGA-MEET AT LINCOLN PARK: The annual Sundodger Invitational cross-country meet for high-school and college runners is happening in Lincoln Park today, starting with packet pickup for athletes at 7:30 am and racing at 9 am – the expected schedule is in this doc, with the courses mapped here. This is a BIG event, so if you’re in the park area or thinking of heading there, keep this in mind. Also note, that doc says buses will be parking in the Chief Sealth IHS vicinity after dropping off racers. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

HELP 2 SCHOOLS GET SAFER, WITH 1 ‘PARKING LOT PARTY’: People-power is needed to help with safety features and cleanup in the parking lot serving the Boren Building, home to K-5 STEM and Arbor Heights, so even if you can only drop in for a little bit, that can make a big difference. 8 am-noon; details here. (5950 Delridge Way SW)

SHOP SEAVIEW’S RUMMAGE SALE! 8 am-4:30 pm, Seaview United Methodist Church invites you to shop its big rummage sale – details in our calendar listing. (4620 SW Graham)

OFF THE BEACH AND INTO YOUR BUCKET: Bring a bucket and join Puget SoundKeeper Alliance for the International Coastal Cleanup Day event at Alki Beach, 9 am-noon. Check in at Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st/Alki)

DRIKUNG SEATTLE OPEN HOUSE: This Tibetan Buddhist community invites you to visit on the first day of its new location for Saturday meetings, the Senior Center of West Seattle. 9:15 am-noon; more in our calendar listing. (Oregon/California)

WESTFEST AT HOLY ROSARY: 10 am-10 pm, it’s the second, final, and biggest day of the WestFest community festival at Holy Rosary School. Today starts with special Toddler Time events/features; you’ll find details, and today’s entire entertainment schedule, here, including a talent show, a chance to show off your pet, and more. (Various locations on campus at 42nd/Genesee)

LAST ‘DOG DAYS OF SUMMER’ SWIM SESSION: Last chance for your dog(s) to swim in the closed-to-humans-until-next-year Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club pool. Proceeds benefit youth at the club. Today’s session is 10 am-1 pm. Details are on the club website. (11003 31st SW)

FREE ‘LITTLE WING’: 11:30 am at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the 4-to-6-year-old program at the new School of Rock is offering a free session, instruments provided – call to see if there’s still room. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

MEET THE MOUNTED PATROL UNIT: Horses and humans at the headquarters of the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit, opening their doors for the second annual Open House, with the help of the Seattle Police Foundation. Noon-5 pm, with riding demonstrations planned at 1 and 4 pm, and free hot dogs promised; look for more details here. Alongside Westcrest Park. (9000 8th SW)

WHO’S AFRAID OF BLACK CATS? Not the folks at Kitty Harbor, which are featuring them in a special adoption event noon-5 pm; details here. (3400 Harbor SW)

‘MEN IN SONG’ RECITAL: Voice and piano, 7 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation; details in our calendar listing. (7100 California SW)

GARY BENSON: Solo musician performing live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – see our calendar listing. 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘AN EVENING WITH JAMES LEE STANLEY’: Tonight at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)

MLK’S LAST NIGHT, REIMAGINED … is how “The Mountaintop,” the current production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), is described. Curtain time tonight is 7:30 pm – see for yourself. (4711 California SW)

BURLESQUE & SIDESHOW … is some of what you’ll find in “Burly Broads & Beardo’s” at the Benbow Room, 8 pm; details in this Facebook event listing. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MY SISTER’S MACHINE: Return of the 1989-1994 rockstars, in a show also featuring West Seattle’s own Bent Richard, 9 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. (6451 California SW)

JUDE: Performing live at The Cask (WSB sponsor) in The Admiral District, 9 pm. (2350 California SW)

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Friday night football: Sealth hosts Hale; WSHS vs. Garfield; Lutheran vs. Lummi

September 20, 2014 3:19 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

All three local high-school football teams played Friday night, but only one was at home:

SEALTH VS. HALE: The night’s lone home game left Chief Sealth International High School cheerleaders and fans with reason to cheer – a hard-fought win, first of the season, 28 to 26 over visiting Nathan Hale. Huge night for #11 Daron Camacho, with three touchdowns for the Seahawks, the first one just three plays in.

#12 Weston Reed threw to Czai Terrell for Sealth’s other touchdown.

Camacho also ran a two-point conversion after that TD, and after one of his own. Here are the game stats from our partners at The Seattle Times. Sealth plays Ballard next Friday at Memorial Stadium, 7:45 pm.

WSHS VS. GARFIELD: West Seattle High School is still looking for its first win of the season after falling to Garfield 41-13 at Memorial Stadium.

(added Saturday pm) Thanks to Lawrence Kane for sharing photos from the WSHS-Garfield game. First: “#40 Joey Kane, LB, stripping the ball from #5 in a TD-saving tackle at the end of the half”: