month : 08/2015 304 results

West Seattle Tuesday: Parks superintendent back in WS; bees; paddling; Kenney Walk-A-Thon; more…

August 18, 2015 10:21 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Today’s sunrise from Seacrest, by Julia Phipps)

Happy Tuesday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

KENNEY WALK-A-THON: Underway now, and continuing until 1 pm. Visit The Kenney (WSB sponsor) to support the first-ever walk-a-thon on its Seaview Lawn – northwest side of the campus – supporting its Resident Care Fund. Bid on silent-auction items, too! (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

OPEN-HIVE DEMONSTRATION: 11 am, be at the West Seattle Bee Garden to see what happens in the hive! (31st SW & Graham)

IS THIS ON YOUR SUMMER BUCKET LIST? Second-to-last Tuesday night this summer for Alki Kayak Tours & Mountain to Sound Outfitters‘ weekly paddle races/demos, 6-8 pm. (1660 Harbor SW)

MEET THE CITY’S NEW PARKS SUPERINTENDENT: Second West Seattle stop on Jesús Aguirre‘s “listening tour” is Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center, 6:30 pm tonight. (6400 Sylvan Way)

EVENING BOOK GROUP: High Point Library‘s monthly group gathers tonight, open to all, 6:30 pm, reading “Year of Wonders” by Geraldine Brooks. (35th SW & Raymond)

LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s options on the calendar include the Tuesday Tuneup benefit at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm, and Shadowland‘s Starlight singer/songwriter showcase, 9 pm.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen TW’s stolen black Accord?

Out of the WSB inbox this morning, from TW:

I discovered my car stolen from my apartment’s off-street parking last night near Westcrest Park. It’s a black 1996 Honda Accord, license plate ALM 8630, with some distinctive damage on the right rear end (corner dented above the tail light). Please let me know if you see it around anywhere; the last time a car got stolen, a WSB tipster led the police to it. Would be great if you guys could do the same again!

If you do see this or any other stolen vehicle, please call 911 first, and then an FYI here would indeed be great.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: What’s up for Tuesday, plus previews

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning!

ROAD WORK ALERT FOR TODAY: The Seattle Public Utilities project near Westwood is scheduled to continue today, to “pave 22nd Avenue SW between SW Barton Place and SW Barton Street from 7:30 am until as late as 6 pm. This work will require intermittent lane restrictions on SW Barton Place where it intersects 22nd Avenue SW [map], and on SW Barton Street between 21st Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW.”

REMINDER – WEEKEND CLOSURES: First, you might see northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct backups while Highway 99 closes both ways from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley St. in lower Queen Anne next weekend, Friday night (August 21) to early Monday (August 24) – details and maps here. Here in West Seattle, Alki/Harbor Avenues will be closed next Sunday morning (August 23) for the Alki Beach 5K (9 am start, but the closure will kick in sooner, and watch for the no-parking signs, too).

West Seattle wading pools: Season over for 3, after this week

August 18, 2015 2:36 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

It’s been a hot summer in Seattle, and the city-run wading pools have helped countless kids cool off. But their season is short, so we’re reminding you that three of West Seattle’s four wading pools will be closed after this week: The E.C. Hughes wading pool’s finale is Friday (August 21st); for Hiawatha, it’s Saturday (August 22nd); and for Delridge, it’s Sunday (August 23rd). Our area’s only seven-days-a-week wading pool, at Lincoln Park, is open daily until September 7th, which is also the last day of the year for Highland Park Spraypark and for outdoor Colman Pool. (See hours and addresses for all of the above by going here.)

West Seattle scene: Another sunset sky full of beauty

August 17, 2015 9:27 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to James Bratsanos for sharing tonight’s sunset view … still a month-plus of summer nights left, even as the sun makes its exit a little earlier each evening, already almost an hour earlier (8:18 pm tonight) than the latest summer sunset (9:11 pm on July 1st).

P.S. Check the sunset/sunrise and moonset/moonrise times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page, any time.

Highway 99 tunnel machine: WSDOT’s contractor starts ‘reconnecting’ its biggest pieces

(Late-afternoon screengrab from WSDOT webcam)

Five months after parts of the Highway 99 tunnel machine were lifted out of its “access pit” along the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the state says its contractor reports they’re getting close to putting the repaired parts back in. From WSDOT’s update today:

Seattle Tunnel Partners has begun reconnecting the two largest pieces of the SR 99 tunneling machine’s front end. On Saturday, Aug. 15, crane crews from Mammoet lifted the machine’s bearing block into place atop the cutterhead and drive unit. The newly reconnected front end of the machine will remain at the surface while Hitachi Zosen installs its motors. When installation of the motors is complete, Mammoet will lower the 2,000-ton piece back into the pit. … STP’s most recent schedule indicated the lowering of pieces would begin in early August, but some parts had to be remanufactured due to tight tolerances – measured in millimeters – that need to be met as the machine is reassembled. Those new parts have since arrived and been successfully installed. … Once the machine is in the pit, crews will begin the lengthy task of reconnecting wires, hoses and other parts to the portion of the machine that remains in the ground. A series of tests will follow to ensure the machine is ready to resume mining.

So far, WSDOT says, its contractor still “has a plan in place to resume tunneling in late November as scheduled,” but it notes that it “cannot verify the contractor’s schedule.”

BIZNOTE: Chipotle sets West Seattle Junction opening date

When last we checked with Chipotle to see if its West Seattle Junction opening date was set yet, the company was aiming for late August. After three people sent notes today asking for an update, we first checked the 4730 California SW storefront – it looks nearly done; the menu’s even up. So we contacted the Chipotle media team, who say it’s opening September 10th. Hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily.

FOLLOWUP: Duane Atwood pleads guilty, sentenced in indecent-exposure case

One year after 38-year-old Admiral resident Duane Atwood‘s arrest, he has pleaded guilty and been sentenced in one of the two cases against him – indecent exposure and failure to register as a sex offender. Making a periodic check of the files, we discovered Atwood was sentenced last Friday. He pleaded guilty in connection with an incident in July of last year on Beach Drive near Cormorant Cove Park, in which he called out a question to a woman who was walking by his vehicle, then exposed himself when she approached to reply. The victim got his license-plate number, which eventually led investigators to Atwood. They subsequently discovered he had moved back to the area four years earlier without re-registering as a sex offender as he was required to do because of a 2000 conviction in another West Seattle case, an arson/burglary incident found to have been committed with sexual motivation.

Last Friday, Superior Court Judge Judith Ramseyer sentenced Atwood to one year for the indecent exposure/failure-to-register case, as recommended by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Though he has already been in jail longer than that, he remains there because of an unrelated charge filed five months after his indecent-exposure arrest. We reported on that case last December, when he was charged with felony harassment, accused of repeatedly calling an acquaintance in the middle of the night in 2012 and 2013, progressing from sexual innuendo to threats of rape and murder. The online court docket says he was scheduled for trial in that case later this month, but the date’s been postponed to October.

West Seattle scene: Downed tree at Lincoln Park, post-storm

August 17, 2015 1:12 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Thanks to Barbara for the photo from the north-side beach at Lincoln Park – part of a big tree, apparently downed during last Friday’s storm.

She observes, “Must have been a mighty roar going down.” The final official rainfall total for Friday afternoon, by the way, was 1.2 inches.

West Seattle schools: Why students are at many elementaries today

August 17, 2015 12:01 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The first day of classes for Seattle Public Schools is still weeks away, but hundreds of students are on site this week at many schools in West Seattle, for Kindergarten Jump Start. It’s a voluntary “weeklong experience for new kindergarteners and their families to learn about their new school.” Most participating schools will have half-day sessions all week, 9 am-noon. According to the district flyer, schools participating in our area are Alki, Arbor Heights (at Boren), Concord, Fairmount Park, Gatewood, Highland Park, Lafayette, Pathfinder, Roxhill, and Sanislo.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Another stolen van; more stolen patio furniture; stolen boat

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports this morning:

ANOTHER STOLEN VAN: Both vans stolen last week and reported here were spotted and returned to their owners; maybe you’ll be the one to find the van taken from Staci‘s home:

Our gray 2004 Toyota Sienna was stolen last night from the street in front of our house, 21st & Roxbury, between the hours of 12:00 am – 8:00 am. License plate 660 XPY.

If you see it, call 911.

MORE STOLEN PATIO FURNITURE: From a Highland Park resident:

My Pier 1 Bird cage hanging chair with a beautiful flower woven into the back was stolen with the turquoise cushion attached last night around midnight. My dogs barked and they chased something that I thought was a raccoon. It must have been the people stealing the chair. It was out of view and I didn’t check around because I thought they were chasing an animal and called them back in. My house is on the 9000 block of 13th Ave SW.

That’s the second stolen-patio-furniture report we’ve published in recent days. Meantime, as we finished this, we just got word of this theft:

STOLEN BOAT: From Marlo:

*Stolen boat out of Jack Block Park.*

We last used it three weeks ago. It’s a 22-foot Four Winds. We were headed out today to volunteer our boat for a family camp in Olympia to give tubbing rides to the kids when my husband noticed it was not there.

West Seattle Monday: Highland Park Elementary ‘town hall’; library updates; more

August 17, 2015 9:00 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Cedar waxwing, photographed Friday before the rain by Mark Wangerin)

Happy Monday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, and time-sensitive reminders:

WEST SEATTLE (ADMIRAL) LIBRARY CLOSURE: The 2-week closure at Seattle Public Library‘s West Seattle (Admiral) branch starts today, as the exterior accessibility improvements move to front-steps replacement. If that’s your regular branch, here’s what you can do in the meantime. (2306 42nd SW)

DEADLINE FOR JUNCTION PLAZA PARK ART PROJECT: Artists’ responses with qualifications are due today. Details in our original report.

PLAY GAMES! On today’s calendar at Meeples Games (new WSB sponsor) – “My Little Pony Academy 101” at 4 pm, “Android: Netrunner League” at 6:30 pm, and more. (3727 California SW, upstairs)

AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm today, check out this month’s afternoon book group at Southwest Library. They’ll be reading “Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher” by Timothy Egan. (35th SW & Henderson)

WSHS ATHLETE/PARENT MEETINGS FOR FALL SPORTS: First one is today, for football and girls’ swimming, 6 pm. If you missed the reminder we published earlier this month about all the meetings, here’s the full slate. (3000 California SW)

HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY TOWN HALL: One year after a community conversation about how to lift up Highland Park Elementary whether you’re part of the school community or not, a “town hall” is scheduled tonight (here’s our preview from two weeks ago) to see how things are going. All welcome. 6:30 pm at the school library. (1012 SW Trenton)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library – bring kids of all ages. (35th SW & Raymond)

‘AFTER HOURS’ FINALE: The last episode in the cabaret-style series with ArtsWest artistic director Mathew Wright and “Seattle’s leading ladies” is tonight, 7:30 pm, this time featuring Katherine Strohmaiercheck here for ticket availability. (4711 California SW)

QUIZ NIGHT: 7:30 pm at The Skylark – free, with cash prizes. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SEE THE FUTURE: Preview tomorrow, the rest of the week, next week, next month, beyond … here.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & alerts; 14th Ave. S. in South Park reopens after fire response

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No West Seattle incidents right now, but if you use 14th Avenue S. in the South Park area, note that a house-fire response TheSouthParkNews.com coverage here is blocking at least part of the road, just south of the SP Bridge, between Cloverdale and Director.

ROAD WORK ALERTS FOR TODAY: As announced last week, the Seattle Public Utilities project near Westwood has repaving work scheduled starting today, to “pave 22nd Avenue SW between SW Barton Place and SW Barton Street on August 17-18, from 7:30 am until as late as 6 pm. This work will require intermittent lane restrictions on SW Barton Place where it intersects 22nd Avenue SW, and on SW Barton Street between 21st Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW.” SPU’s paving work on Orchard east of Delridge also is scheduled to continue today, with “closure of the westbound lane on SW Orchard Street (east of Delridge Way SW) between 7:30 am and 4 pm.”

6:45 AM: The closure zone in South Park has extended south to Concord to give vehicles more room to turn around, per scanner traffic.

LOOKING AHEAD – TWO CLOSURES TO REMEMBER: Highway 99 will be closed both ways from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley St. in lower Queen Anne next weekend, Friday night (August 21) to early Monday (August 24) – details and maps here. Also, Alki/Harbor Avenues will be closed for a few hours next Sunday morning (August 23) for the Alki Beach 5K.

7:27 AM: 14th Avenue S. has reopened in South Park. SFD is still at the fire scene but has moved off the arterial.

8:32 AM: Quiet commute so far, otherwise. We continue to monitor via a variety of sources – your tips are much appreciated (if on the road, of course, wait until you get where you’re going, unless you’re a passenger) – that’s how we first heard about this morning’s South Park fire, for example: 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 hotline, text or voice, for whatever’s happening *now*. Thank you!

Port neighbors seek full environmental review of Terminal 5 project, while city re-opens time for comments after losing some

You’ve probably seen those signs around Admiral and east Alki. They’re not for a political campaign – they’re for the citizen-advocacy campaign to get the Port of Seattle to change its mind about part of the process leading up to its planned modernization of Terminal 5; the web address on the signs points you to this online petition.

Though Terminal 5 has made headlines in the past several months for the short-term lease that brought in part of Shell’s Arctic-drilling fleet, this isn’t related to that. This has to do with the port’s long-term plan for the sprawling terminal in northeast West Seattle, as reported here more than a year ago – the plan to make it “big-ship ready,” as the phrase goes. Not that the ships that called at Terminal 5 until its closure a year ago weren’t big – but they weren’t as big as the ones that are expected to dominate the business in the years ahead.

Right now, the port says it doesn’t need a full environmental review for the proposal, because ultimately, it contends, the volume won’t be any larger – it’ll just come on bigger, and fewer, ships. Port reps defended that contention when they spoke at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s meeting last month (WSB coverage here, including first mention of the neighbors’ petition campaign). Nearby residents cited multiple reasons why they believe a full environmental review – which includes issues such as traffic and noise, not just ecological effects – is warranted.

A new twist since that meeting: The city reopened the comment period on a certain part of the process – the “shoreline substantial development application” – because it lost a month’s worth of citizen comments sent in via the Department of Planning and Development‘s online system. DPD spokesperson Wendy Shark confirmed this to us when we inquired via e-mail:

An upgrade to the Land Use Information Bulletin (LUIB) application was made on June 29. Before the upgrade, comments sent via the link posted in the LUIB were forwarded directly to the Public Resource Center. That didn’t happen after the upgrade. The issue was brought to our attention by members of the public when they noticed that their comments had not been uploaded to our electronic library. We corrected the problem on July 29.

Here’s the revised official notice – if you used the form attached to the previous notice to send in a comment after June 29th, you’ll want to send it again. And if you haven’t commented on it yet, neighbors point out that unless there’s a turnabout on the environmental-impact review issue, it could be your only chance to comment on those impacts. The notice summarizes the project as:

Shoreline Substantial Development Application to allow improvements to existing container cargo facility (Terminal 5). Project includes removal and replacement of portions of pier structure, including crane rails, decking and piling, dredging of approximately 29,800 cu. yds. of sediment, and under pier shoreline stabilization. Project also includes installation of an electrical substation and utility upgrades. Determination of NonSignificance prepared by the Port of Seattle.

That last part is what the neighbors take most issue with – that’s the declaration (read it here, and read the “environmental checklist” here) that they don’t think a full environmental impact review is needed. Even if the terminal’s container volume is the same as before, or even less, many other factors have changed, they point out – population and traffic, for example, and that’s why they think a study is merited.

For now, September 4th is the new deadline for comments on the modernization project – via this form, or via e-mail at prc@seattle.gov.

COUNTDOWN: One week away from 2015 Alki Beach 5K

August 16, 2015 6:52 pm
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 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photo from 2014 Alki Beach 5K)

Run with your family and friends – and/or bring them to be your cheering section! One week from today, you can run, or walk, in the Alki Beach 5K, which raises money for Northwest Hope and Healing to help cancer patients. More than a thousand people are expected to leave the finish line at 9 am next Sunday, August 23rd, on Alki Avenue near 61st SW, running (on the temporarily closed-to-vehicles road) to Anchor Park and back. You have until this Friday morning to register online and get the discount registration rate – do that here right now. (Kids under 6 are free.)

VIDEO: What preservationist David Rogers showed, and told, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society

August 16, 2015 4:46 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

In a time of rapid growth and change – there is still room for, and ways to, preserve historic structures. That’s what David Rogers showed and told the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s two special gatherings this week – one at its Log House Museum, whose restoration he supervised, and one during a dinner gathering in The Junction. Missed them? SWSHS shares video of both – see the embedded highlights above, and also via its page about his visit. Rogers is proprietor of Logs & Timbers, LLC, in Rhododendron, Oregon, near Mount Hood. Some of his other projects include a historic cabin in the San Juans and a homestead cabin in a park near Ellensburg.

LAST CALL! Admiral library closes for 2 weeks starting tomorrow

August 16, 2015 2:13 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

One more reminder (thanks to Forest for the suggestion): Today’s the last day the Admiral (officially “West Seattle”) branch of the Seattle Public Library will be open, until August 31st, including its book drop, so if you have something to drop off or pick up, get there before 5 pm today. While the library’s remained open during accessibility-improvement work so far, the 105-year-old branch has to close while the front steps are replaced. Here’s the info on how and where you can transact library business in the meantime.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Roxhill-area police response; vehicle theft & attempted theft; stolen/found bikes…

In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

POLICE INVESTIGATE GUNFIRE REPORTS: Thanks to those who texted us (206-293-6302, any time) about possible gunfire heard in the past hour in the Roxhill/Westwood area, and then the ensuing police response. We found officers investigating at 27th/Roxbury; they had not yet found any evidence of gunfire, such as shell casings or property damage, nor were any victims reported, so far. Witnesses reported a red car might have been involved, and police are investigating that. We’re continuing to check back on what if anything they’re finding.

From the WSB inbox:

STOLEN CAR: From Margaret in Highland Park:

Our car was stolen out of our driveway last night some time between 10 pm and 8 am on 13th Ave SW between Trenton and Henderson. It is a purple 2014 Honda CR-V AWD. South Carolina license plate KIR 919. Police report has been filed this morning.

Please call 911 if you see it.

ATTEMPTED CAR THEFT: From Todd and Amy in Seaview:

We know we are late to report but someone tried to steal our 2002 Dodge minivan last Wednesday night/Thursday morning. It was parked in the alley between 41st & 42nd Ave SW and Graham (just north of Morgan Junction). I came out Thursday morning 8/13 to find the car had been ransacked, the ignition switch lying on the floor and a hole in the steering column.

Looks like the anti-theft device did its job. Apparently they didn’t want our old cassette tapes, CDs or wetones. Why they wanted an old mom van is beyond me. This little incident is going to cost over $1500 bucks to repair. I suspect since they couldn’t get our car started they went and got Ray’s van instead (which sounds like it wasn’t too far away from ours). A police report was filed Thursday morning.

STOLEN BIKE, FOUND BIKES In addition to filing a police report if your bicycle is stolen, please let us know – lately we are receiving an increasing amount of reports of bicycles discovered, abandoned, and while we are advising the finders to report police know, you might be able to get it back sooner if there’s a match here. So far this weekend, we have a report of a bike theft at an apartment building in the 3000 block of 63rd SW in Alki, with another bicycle, a black Schwinn, abandoned nearby and tagging found on a railing; also a Schwinn bicycle (color unspecified) abandoned behind a building at Delridge/Andover; and a blue Trek bike found in an unspecified area of West Seattle.

ADDED 2:41 PM – FOLLOWUP: Thanks to a reader for finding Ray‘s stolen van, reported in Crime Watch on Thursday night. She called 911 last night after reading the report here and connecting it to the van that had turned up on her street near Morgan Junction – and Ray confirms today that police contacted him last night to say it had been found. (The other stolen van in that CW roundup also was found, as updated there.)

West Seattle Sunday: Music, dogs, dance, Lucha Libre, more…

Thanks to Brian Baum for the photo, snapped during a surprise seal sighting off Beach Drive. Today’s calendar highlights start a little further south:

LINCOLN PARK NEEDS YOU: Join Friends of Lincoln Park for a maintenance work party, 9 am-noon. Details here. (Fauntleroy/Rose)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, go see what’s fresh! We hear berries will be big again this week. Among the more-unusual items we found last week were Chinese spinach (a variety of amaranth, green-and-purple leaves) and small, sweet green table grapes. (On California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

RIDE TO DUWAMISH REVEALED INSTALLATIONS & FESTIVAL: Join West Seattle Bike Connections on a ride to Duwamish Revealed art installations and the Water Festival (see below), meeting up at Jack Block Park at 10:15 am – details here. (2130 Harbor SW)

WATER FESTIVAL: Noon-6 pm today at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park, the Duwamish Revealed-presented festival’s second and final day includes a 2 pm performance by Ballet Folklorico Angeles de Mexico, seen in this preview we recorded during the recent DR media tour:

Then at 3 pm, it’s Lucha Libre Volcanica‘s luchadores with masked wrestling! For the day’s full schedule, go here. (7900 10th Ave. S.)

‘DOG DAYS’ BEERFEST & ADOPTION EVENT: 1-4 pm at West Seattle Nursery, join Furry Faces Foundation and AARF for a fun afternoon featuring beer, hot dogs, adoptable dogs, and more. Details in this WSB Forums post. (California/Brandon)

CHAMBER MUSIC AWARDS RECITAL: From Music Northwest:

Outstanding young players (ages 8-18) will be presented in an awards recital featuring music of Mozart, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Piazzolla and much more.

2 pm at Olympic Hall on the south end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)

‘INTO THE WOODS’: Last chance to catch Twelfth Night Productions present this Tony-winning musical!

(Photo by Gary Wigle)
3 pm at West Seattle High School‘s theater. (3000 California SW)

ROCK AT THE SKYLARK: 6 pm all-ages show with Mister Master, Waking Things, The Swangos, at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

WHAT ELSE? You can see for yourself on our calendar.

VIDEO: Where some of Friday’s rain went, after it fell

From “Diver Laura” James – the underwater view of Friday’s inch-plus rainstorm. That’s the outfall near the popular diving area off West Seattle’s Seacrest Park, and it’s a reminder that toxic urban runoff is a major pollution problem for Puget Sound. Here’s some of what you can do to make it less toxic.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ tonight, ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ for this year’s finale next Saturday

8:41 PM: The courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is full, with minutes to go until it’s dark enough for the second-to-last West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of the year – “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Since early arrival is a must to snag a seat, there’s usually pre-movie entertainment, and tonight featured comedians including Scott Losse, whose Chihuahua shared the stage with him the whole time:

We also caught up pre-movie with reps from two of tonight’s sponsors, including the West Seattle Helpline and HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor):

Helpline benefits from tonight’s raffle (there’s a different nonprofit beneficiary each week, with tickets sold before the movie, one of two ways that nonprofits raise money on movie night – moviegoers also have the chance to buy concessions from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society). If you didn’t make it tonight – next Saturday is your last chance this year: “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Gates open at 6:30 pm, and the movie’s at dusk – tonight, that’s looking to be around 8:45 pm, so it’ll be a little earlier next week.

11:02 PM: Movie’s over – cleanup’s under way. See you next Saturday!

NEXT WEEKEND: Nature Consortium’s Arts in Nature Festival is back!

(Owl puppet from 2011 Arts in Nature Festival Species Parade)

Music, dance, art, nature, a beer garden, food trucks, and the Species Parade — it’s all in the works for Camp Long next weekend, as West Seattle’s own Nature Consortium brings back the Arts in Nature Festival, 11 am-9 pm Saturday and 11 am-6 pm Sunday (August 22-23). After taking a year off while the organization changed leadership, with Merica Whitehall succeeding founder Nancy Whitlock as executive director, NC invites you to explore the festival’s big slate of activities, which you can preview here – be sure to follow all four tabs, Saturday, Sunday, all weekend (where you’ll find the food trucks listed, including Full Tilt Ice Cream and FT’s new venture, vegan Luchador Taco Co., plus Thai-U-Up, a frequent sight at Roxbury/30th, and Highland Park-founded Athena’s), and “around the next corner.” Arts in Nature is a festival where you can participate and experience, as well as watch and listen. Proceeds support the nonprofit Nature Consortium’s work, restoring the West Duwamish Greenbelt as well as offering arts education to youth; you can buy tickets in advance online.

P.S. Want to enjoy the festival for free? Volunteer!

Congratulations! Honors for West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 282

The photo and report are from Kevin McMahan:

West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 282 completed their annual summer outing at Fire Mountain Camp near Mount Vernon. The boys received the distinct recognition of Honor Troop, took first place in the camp wide Lake Challenge challenge, and won Best Baton design competition. The boys spent the week working on merit badges, team work, and honing their outdoor skills.

Troop 282 has a long history – going back into the 1940s.