West Seattle, Washington

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day : 15/07/2017 7 results

DOCKED IN WEST SEATTLE: Missile-defense radar ship Pacific Tracker
July 15, 2017 9:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Port of Seattle | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:19 PM SATURDAY: Remember six years ago, when the bulbous SBX was a floating fixture here for a few months? Tonight, another missile-defense radar vessel is visiting West Seattle – the SS Pacific Tracker. It and the SBX are both featured in this 2014 roundup of “The Wild Radar Ships That Make Missile Defense Possible.” Thanks to Paul Nicholson for today’s tip and photo; the Northwest Seaport Alliance schedule shows the Pacific Tracker scheduled to be in port in Seattle until Monday; MarineTraffic.com shows it berthed right now at Terminal 5. MT also shows it came here from Honolulu; it and another missile-defense ship were reported to be there last month “after participating in a first-of-its-kind test intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target high over the Pacific on May 30.”

MONDAY UPDATE: Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells us it’ll be here about a week: “It’s taking on some provisions for the crew, fuel and water. It may have some light maintenance performed, as well.”

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SUMMER FEST WEEKEND: Here’s where to find the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow
July 15, 2017 8:46 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

You might already know this, but more than a few people have asked us, so we’re publishing this reminder: Even though West Seattle Summer Fest booths have taken over the usual Farmers’ Market spots on California between Alaska and Oregon, the market DOES happen tomorrow. Just for this one Sunday a year, you’ll find it in the lot where it used to be located – behind KeyBank, Bin 41, Pharmaca, etc. along the south side of SW Alaska, west of California. Hours are the same as every Sunday, 10 am-2 pm.

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: West Seattle Summer Fest 2017, day/night 2, report #2
July 15, 2017 4:56 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO, PHOTOS: West Seattle Summer Fest 2017, day/night 2, report #2
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Bus reroutes: C Line here, Route 22 here, Route 37 here, Route 50 here, Route 55 here, Route 57 here, Route 128 here, Route 773 here … Previous coverage: Saturday report #1 here, Friday report #2 here, Friday report #1 here, Summer Fest Eve here)

4:56 PM: That’s a screengrab taken a few minutes ago from the SDOT camera (see it “live” here) pointed north at California/Alaska, where we are headquartered for the duration of West Seattle Summer Fest 2017. The streets are buzzing, and bubbling – a busking clown has been here with a bubble machine, and a boombox, all weekend, and it’s kept things iridescent, to say the least,, all weekend. Meantime, the biggest attraction in the Information Booth/Community Tent right now – dead birds, courtesy of Seattle Audubon.

Music continues on the main stage, on California north of Oregon, and tonight’s headliners are West Seattle’s own Brent Amaker and the Rodeo at 10 pm. Before then, you can see:

Genders – 5:30
Sisters – 6:30
Charms – 7:30
Porter Ray – 8:30
Memway – 9:30

Here’s Golden Gardens, the 4:30 pm band:

There’s also special evening programming at GreenLife in Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska) – the film “Transition 2.0” at 8 pm. That’s also the closing time for kids’ rides tonight (price info is here).

5:26 PM: You can admire art and buy art at Summer Fest … and you can make some! The Community Mural is being created in the Kids Zone by Wells Fargo:

You can buy yard art … we spotted this critter:

And outside Fleurt on the east side of California between Oregon and Alaska, this coffee cup:

On the west side of that block, you can find West Seattle merch – the famous yellow-star logo, including T-shirts – at CAPERS.

6:25 PM: The crowd milling around Walk All Ways keeps growing. Some are watching the father-and-son buskers performing steps away. Sign says the little guy’s 5:

One comment we’ve heard over and over this weekend – the weather’s perfect. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. Don’t be alarmed if you wake up tomorrow and discover it’s cloudy – forecast says that’ll burn off.

ADDED 8:48 PM: The sun has set and tonight’s headline performance is a little over an hour away. Meantime, here’s an aerial view, looking south along California from the beer garden/mainstage zone, courtesy of Paul Weatherman:

Paul says the photo is from about 7 o’clock tonight.

NOTE: For coverage of Saturday night’s headliners Brent Amaker and The Rodeo, go here!

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BABY ORCA! Second calf for Springer
July 15, 2017 4:29 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife


(Springer and new calf, photographed by Lisa Spaven, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

It’s a birth announcement from Canada that has many here in West Seattle and around Puget Sound rejoicing too:

The heroic rescue in Puget Sound fifteen years ago of the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) and her return home 300 miles north to Johnstone Strait will be celebrated July 21-23 at Telegraph Cove, British Columbia.

Just in time for the celebration, Springer has a new calf! The calf was first spotted by CetaceaLab on BC’s north central coast on June 5th and confirmed by a Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) research survey. Springer’s first calf, Spirit, was born in 2013.

“Celebrate Springer!” brings together the 2002 rescue team to give first-hand accounts of how Springer was identified, rescued and rehabilitated. She was taken by jet catamaran to the north end of Vancouver Island and reunited with her Northern Resident family.

“Springer’s story is an inspiration on many levels,” said Paul Spong of OrcaLab. “It proved that an orphan orca, alone and separated from her family, can be rehabilitated and returned to a normal productive life with her family and community; and it showed that disparate parties with diverse interests can come together and work together for the common goal of helping one little whale.”

Fifteen years later, Springer is still healthy and now has given birth twice. They are most often seen on the north central British Columbia coast and occasionally return to Johnstone Strait in summer.

The public is invited to Telegraph Cove at 11 AM on July 22 to hear “Springer’s Story,” a slide show narration by members of Springer’s rescue team, followed by a panel discussion. At 4 PM, the new Telegraph Cove Whale Trail sign will be dedicated and at 5:30 PM, the public is invited to join in for a salmon dinner on the Boardwalk.

“We can hardly believe it has been 15 years since Springer was reunited with her family. We encourage everyone to come and celebrate this milestone with us at the Whale Interpretive Centre in Telegraph Cove,” said Mary Borrowman, director of the Center. “The most exciting news is the confirmation that Springer has had another calf and we hope we will be fortunate enough to see this famous mother with her family this summer.”

“Fifteen and half years ago Springer was orphaned, 300 miles from home, starving, sick and completely alone,” said Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard, director of the Cetacean Research Program at Ocean Wise. “Her rescue, relocation, reunification with relatives and transition to motherhood is an incredible story. I see it as testimony to both the resiliency of killer whales as a species and to the wonderful things we humans can do when we work together on behalf of — rather than against — nature.”

“The few, well-documented records that we receive of Springer each year are testament not only to the success of her rehabilitation and reintegration with her population but also to the dedication of cetacean researchers up and down the more remote regions of our coast,” said Jared Towers, DFO’s killer whale research technician.

“The Springer success story continues to be an inspiration for all of us working on conservation in the Salish Sea,” said Lynne Barre, the lead for orca recovery at NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast regional office in Seattle. “The partnerships created during Springer’s rescue provide a strong foundation for international cooperation as well as coordination between government, state, tribal, and non-profit groups to benefit both Northern and Southern Resident killer whales.”

“Springer’s reunion is an unqualified success – the only project of its kind in history,” said Donna Sandstrom, director of The Whale Trail and co-organizer of “Celebrate Springer!” Telegraph Cove event. “To get the little whale home, we had to learn how to work together, as organizations, agencies and nations. Above all, we put her best interests first. Community members played a key role in shaping Springer’s fate. We hope her story inspires people to join us in working on issues facing our endangered southern resident orcas today, with the same urgency, commitment, and resolve.”

Find out more at The Whale Trail.

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HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle Summer Fest 2017, day two – Saturday report #1
July 15, 2017 10:48 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(DAY 1, REPORT #1 HERE … DAY/NIGHT 1, REPORT #2 HERE … SCHEDULE LINKS HERE … BUS REROUTES HERE)

10:48 AM: THAT is how you get your West Seattle Summer Fest on … Bear the dog knows how. And if you bring your own canine companion, don’t miss the gelato at the Camp Crockett (WSB sponsor) booth:

They’re on the west side of California between Oregon and Alaska. Here’s the overall festival-zone map:

If you’re looking for a specific vendor, stop by and ask us in the Info Booth (California/Alaska, look for the giant INFORMATION banners). For specific links to what’s up today, see our West Seattle Saturday daily preview. A few notes: Music starts at 11:30 am, with performers from the School of Rock; at Sustainable West Seattle‘s GreenLife expo in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), the next presentation is about “minimalist consumption,” at 11 am, with West Seattle Timebank and the Community General Store. And parading around the festival, based at GreenLife, it’s a giant inflatable orca:

Festival shopping goes until 6 tonight, rides and food (everyone keeps asking us about corn on the cob –
none this year that we’ve found, sorry!) until 8-ish, music until 11 pm.

12:06 PM: The music has begun! Above, that’s video from School of Rock performers on the main stage (north of SW Oregon) about half an hour ago. Another place you’ll find music:

The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ pop-up “instrument petting zoo” is inside the ArtsWest lobby, west side of California south of Alaska, until 2 pm. Stop in and try something! Then wander a little further south on the west side of California, and you will see the friendly people in the Explorer West Middle School booth:

You can play a game there – draw a ball, get asked a question, and win some candy.

12:48 PM: One week from today, the Float Dodger 5K will be on the run from Admiral to The Junction, followed by the West Seattle Grand Parade. You can sign up for the 5K here at Summer Fest – look for the booth on the east side of California between Oregon and Alaska – that’s where we found Tim and Lori McConnell of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), which is presenting the run/walk again this year:

Another note – if you’re looking for cotton candy and/or snow cones, they’re in the ride zone on Alaska west of California.

1:18 PM: Again today, there’s pop-up entertainment all around – the DNG Dancers just put on a show at California/Alaska:

Seen in the crowd – cool balloon hats:

The balloon artist is midblock on California between Alaska and Edmunds – at least when last we saw him.

Meantime, it’s getting close to showtime for the one Summer Fest event we’re involved in besides hanging out at the Info Booth – the mayoral-candidates forum, coming up at 2 pm. Junction Plaza Park is a bit hidden behind some of the food vendors, north side of Alaska between California and 42nd – we’ll see you there.

4:15 PM: The forum is over – thanks to everyone who was there, watching, and/or asking questions, plus the candidates! 14 in all showed up. Several left before the forum was over because of another event. Sustainable West Seattle had someone recording video and we’ll point to it when it’s available. We’re now about to get going with today’s second report!

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West Seattle Saturday: Summer Fest day 2; final Med Fest; see the mayoral candidates; chat with your School Board rep; more…
July 15, 2017 8:19 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

West Seattle Summer Fest is again the big event of the day and night, in the streets in the heart of The Junction:

(“Live” image of festival zone, courtesy of SDOT info-map camera – refresh page for newest image)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUMMER FEST TODAY/TONIGHT:
Official festival hours – 10 am to 6 pm – here’s the vendor/merchant list
Ride hours – 10 am to 8 pm (prices here)
Kids Zone activity schedule – see the schedule here
Food hours – 10 am to ~8 pm
Music – Starts with School of Rock performers at 11:30 am, concludes with headliner Brent Amaker and The Rodeo at 10 pm (here’s the schedule)
Mayoral forum – ~15 of the 21 candidates for Seattle Mayor will be in the forum we’re moderating at the Sustainable West Seattle GreenLife Expo, 2 pm
GreenLife presentations – see the schedule here
Community Tent organizations – see the list here

Also, don’t miss Pet Junction (by Next-to-Nature), Art Dive (California just north of Oregon), the new band-merch tent by the main stage, the beer garden by the main stage … and as you pass by, wave hi to us in the Info Booth (California/Alaska – we’re on the north-facing side).

Here are the highlights of what else is happening today:

DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB REGATTA: Now through noon, as previewed here, it’s the second annual regatta for our area’s only rowing club – all welcome at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park. (10th Ave. S. & S. Elmgrove)

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT: Register by 10 am – go here – to play in the noon tournament at The Bridge, raising money for Shamrock Charities. (California SW/SW Graham)

FINAL MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FESTIVAL: As we reported in our recent interview with founder Saroya Poirier, this is the final year of the 30-years-running two-day belly-dancing festival in and around Hiawatha Community Center. Dancing and shopping, 11 am-7 pm today – schedules are linked here. (2700 California SW)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark are open 11 am-8 pm; Delridge and Hiawatha wading pools are open noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)

COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC: Final day this year that the pool is scheduled to be closed to the public because of a swim meet – open again tomorrow.

TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Got a question, concern, compliment, idea, etc., for something related to Seattle Public Schools? Drop-in community conversation with West Seattle/South Park’s Seattle School Board director Leslie Harris, 3-5 pm at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: “Hamlet” presented by GreenStage at High Point Commons Park, 7 pm, details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

ROO FORREST & FRIENDS: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘IN TRANSITION 2.0’: Special outdoor-movie presentation at West Seattle Summer Fest GreenLife, 8 pm – details in our calendar listing. At Junction Plaza Park. (42nd SW/SW Alaska)

INDIE ROCK AND PUNK & ROLL: That’s what’s on the slate tonight at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm-midnight. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral)

MUCH MORE … just check our complete-calendar page.

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UPDATE: SFD says ‘discarded smoking materials’ sparked West Seattle house fire in 3200 block 41st SW
July 15, 2017 6:02 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news


(Added: WSB photos, unless otherwise credited)

6:02 AM: Seattle Fire crews are heading to the 3200 block of 42nd SW for a possible house fire. The first crews arriving report seeing smoke from the back of a house. Updates to come.

6:07 AM: SFD has updated the location to 3200 block of 41st SW [map].

6:14 AM: Crews are fighting the fire, which is reported to be in the attic. So far, everyone is reported to be safely out of the house.

6:24 AM: SFD reports the fire is under control.

6:33 AM: The flames flared up in the attic but are now reported to be again under control. We’re adding photos as we get them from our crew at the scene.

6:49 AM: The response is starting to wind down. One resident was treated for minor injuries. SFD’s investigator is on the way to look into how the fire started, and that information won’t be available until later (we’ll update when it is). So far, we’re told at the scene that it appears to have started on the exterior and spread to the attic.


(Added: Seattle Fire Department photo showing the back of the house)

6:57 AM: The fire has just been declared “tapped” and some of the units are leaving the scene.

12:38 PM: SFD’s report on the cause: “Fire investigators ruled the fire as accidental, and determined the cause was from discarded smoking materials. The estimated loss to the structure is $150,000 and contents is $50,000.”

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