West Seattle, Washington
13 Sunday
If you had a ticket for this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour last month (WSB coverage here), you helped support six nonprofits, who officially received their share of a record-setting WSGT donation tonight. The announcement:
Tonight the West Seattle Garden Tour held their “Summer Finale” to thank the 2017 gardeners, sponsors, and committee members who produced the annual garden tour. The highlight of the evening was hearing from representatives of all six tour beneficiaries, who each spoke about how grants from the tour will fund their special projects.
This year WSGT donated the largest annual gift in the 23-year-old organization’s history — $26,800 was raised collectively for six beneficiaries. The non-profits to receive a grant in 2017 are City Fruit, Seattle Children’s PlayGarden, West Seattle Bee Garden, One Reel / Pianos in the Parks, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, and ArtsWest.
Since its inception in 1995, West Seattle Garden Tour has been one of the premier garden tours in the Northwest, as well as a fundraiser. In the last twenty-three years, the all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization has donated $377,514 to local non-profits in support of their horticultural, educational, and artistic missions. The 2018 tour will be on Sunday, June 24.
In the photo atop this report, from left, are Jan Clow (West Seattle Garden Tour), Mathew Wright (ArtsWest), Chris Weber and Gaylynn Kiser (One Reel), Krista Conner (West Seattle Bee Garden), Sara Maxwell and Adana Protonentis (Seattle Children’s PlayGarden), Willard Brown (Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association), and Carrie Ferrence (City Fruit).
Just in case you heard all the sirens a short time ago and wondered – what was a relatively sizable Seattle Fire dispatch to the 3000 block of SW Raymond in High Point was downsized quickly when a kitchen fire (according to radio communication) turned out to be nothing more than that. One engine was kept on the call.
P.S. Likely unrelated but we also got a text asking about a burning smell in the Admiral area. No other fire calls working anywhere in the city right now, so that one’s a mystery.
9:08 PM: A Seattle Police officer has been taken to the hospital to be checked out after a collision on southbound Harbor/Avalon/Spokane by the West Seattle Bridge. Police say the officer was headed southbound when the other driver, who was not seriously hurt, hit the patrol car. More when we get it. (Thanks to the person who texted to let us know about this.)
9:22 PM: According to a sergeant at the scene, the officer was not on an emergency call when this happened; he was driving at a regular speed. He was headed southbound, we’re told, while the other vehicle was northbound and starting to turn westbound. Our crew says towing crews have just arrived, and traffic has been getting through the intersection.
9:16 AM MONDAY: SPD tells us the officer was evaluated but not admitted; his injuries were minor.
(WSB photos from Saturday morning. Above, EC Hughes hub)
Hundreds of volunteers all around the city spent their Saturday morning being sure they’re ready for something we all hope never happens – a disaster that takes out regular means of communications and forces Emergency Communication Hubs to set up and spring into action.
(Above, West Seattle Junction hub)
The scenario citywide was: Sixth day after a big earthquake. Three of West Seattle’s hubs were part of it. For the Sunrise Heights hub at EC Hughes Playground and the Junction hub behind Hope Lutheran Church, it was their first drill. We visited both. “If we can’t communicate, we can’t allocate,” observed Junction hub captain Delores Kannas. “Our big goal is to match resources with needs. … Different people will show up, and it will evolve.”
The mission of the hubs is to facilitate neighborhood resiliency, recognizing that after a massive disaster, official rescuers will be overwhelmed, and neighbors will have to figure out how to help each other, while also prioritizing any huge needs that might be able to draw outside help.
Besides tracking incoming requests, in ways as simple as notes on a fence, hub volunteers also communicate by radio, with each other and with city emergency officials, so volunteer amateur-radio operators are always a big part of drills.
An important part of your emergency preparedness is to know your nearest hub – here’s the updated map:
Click on the one that looks to be closest. You can also find the 13 hubs’ locations listed here (below that same map), on the West Seattle Be Prepared website, where you’ll find lots of other information to help you be ready, just in case.
The largest construction project in Admiral right now just marked a milestone. The 80-unit Aegis Living senior-residences project at 47th/Admiral/Waite had a “topping-off party” this past Thursday to celebrate the placement of the last beam and end of framing on the building, almost a year after work began at the site with demolition of the former Life Care Center building. Part of the party was lunch, from nearby Spud Fish and Chips:
That has a special significance because, as noted in our early coverage of the project, this company incorporates tributes to familiar neighborhood features, to help the comfort and enjoyment of its memory-care residents, and Aegis spokesperson Charlotte Starck tells us that the memory-care dining area of this building will “have a Spud’s influence in its interior that will spark fond memories for West Seattle residents every time they dine.” Construction is expected to continue through the winter and, after the licensing process, the building is likely to open by summer 2018. We first reported Aegis’s plan in fall 2013.
One week from tomorrow, August 7th, is the deadline for comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA)’s proposed Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) upzoning. That was one of the main topics at this quarter’s Morgan Community Association meeting, which also included a Lowman Beach Park seawall update and a preview of a community cleanup next weekend:
Singing @ Pianos in the Parks. This one is west of Alki Bathhouse until ~6 pm. pic.twitter.com/M28eyCmWzN
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 30, 2017
As featured in our West Seattle Sunday preview, the final Pianos in the Parks one-day installation of the season is happening right now at Alki – just west of the Bathhouse, to be specific (61st/Alki). It’s there until 6 pm. Above, piano-playing was accompanied by vocals when we stopped by a little while ago. Each one-day stop has showcased a different piano, uniquely decorated and designed by an artist – Angelina Villalobos, for today’s Alki piano:
According to today’s schedule, Scarlet Parke should be performing right now, and ARC Dance Company is scheduled at 5:15 pm.
Yesterday, Pianos in the Parks stopped at Steve Cox Memorial Park, and we covered it for our partner site White Center Now.
Earlier this week, package thefts were rampant, and right now it seems to be bicycles – be sure yours is secured. In addition to the two stolen bicycles in this earlier item, we’ve received these three reader reports since then:
JUST IN – BIKE THEFT IN RIVERVIEW: Dannie texted this moments ago: “A 20-30 something (person with) longer-blonde-dyed hair, black spaghetti strap tank top, black baggy pants, overnight bag, stole my husband’s black mountain bike from in front of our home. SHE WAS LAST SEEN RIDING SOUTH ON 12th AVE SW.” Dannie called 911 and says police are currently searching too.
BIKE THEFT IN ARBOR HEIGHTS AREA: Jon says his wife’s teal Cannondale bicycle was stolen between 8:30 pm last night and 12:30 am today. “It has an older made-in-the-USA frame and a heavy-duty double-kickstand. If you find it, please let us know, 206-915-9721.”
CAR BREAK-IN: Received today from Michael, who was visiting West Seattle when someone broke into his car: “On the evening of 7/28/17 or the early morning of 7/29/17 my vehicle was broken into in front of my friends’ home while I was house sitting for them. They live on 20th ave SW. The contents taken included a orange North face pack (Terra 65L), a black diamond tent (mega mid), a Kelty sleeping bag (cosmic 20), a two tone blue Outdoor research jacket (diode), a red Outdoor Research hard shell jacket (Whiteroom) and a orange neo air xlite thermarest sleeping pad. The case number is 17-277635. My number is 4106523961. I work as a guide and an outdoor educator for youth so this person is messing with my livelihood.”
11:34 AM: Until 3 pm, you’ll find Gwen and Muriel at 36th SW and SW Dakota [map], selling treats and collecting donations for the Seattle Humane Society for the fifth year in a row. You have three ways to help – buy some of their baked goods; donate items for the animals (dog/cat food, wet or dry; toys; new scratching posts); donate money for the Humane Society (cash or checks). The girls have done this every year since they were Schmitz Park 4th-graders; this fall, they’ll be Madison Middle School 8th-graders. (Thanks to Gwen’s mom Andrea for the photo taken as today’s event got under way.)
8 PM: Andrea sent this update on the results:
Heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful people who came out to support the bake sale today, and to the West Seattle Blog for promoting it.
Through the sale, these wonderful young women raised over $532 for Seattle Humane Society, as well as over 100 pounds of dry food, dozens of cans of wet food, and many many animal toys.
Thanks so much for everyone’s support!
Congratulations to Muriel, Gwen, and the beneficiaries of their hard work!
Three bicycles were stolen from Mark‘s garage in North Admiral Thursday night/early Friday. One has since turned up in the Junction QFC dumpster, spotted by employees – intact – and reported to police, with whom he already had filed a report, so that’s how he got it back. The other two are still missing:
#1 – Silver/gray and blue 2014 Giant Trance 27.5 1, serial number starting with GR313, XL frame, wide tires. Mark notes that the “bike’s rear wheel was in my possession when it was stolen, so if it shows up, it will either be missing a rear wheel or have mismatched wheels – should be easy to spot.” Photo:
#2 – Silver/gray and red 1998 Giant Iguana SE, L frame, wide tires. Mark notes, “This is a 1998 Iguana with some of the original Rock Shox, so it’s pretty easy to spot. Has been updated with bar ends, deeper-dish Vuelta wheels, and outfitted with a rear rack and bag + fenders for commuting.” Photo:
If you see/find either, contact police and refer to incident 17-276013.
Welcome to the last day of the last weekend in July – here are some highlights:
GWEN AND MURIEL’S BENEFIT BAKE SALE AND PET-DONATION DRIVE: It’s the fifth year for Madison Middle School 8th graders Muriel and Gwen, raising money for the Seattle Humane Society by selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more. You also can bring wet and/or dry dog and/or cat food, animal toys, or new scratching posts to fill the barrel they’re sponsoring. Cash and check donations for the SHS are welcome too. 10 am-3 pm. (36th SW/SW Dakota)
(Piano that was at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center on Saturday – different one will be at Alki today)
PIANOS IN THE PARKS – AT ALKI: 10 am-6 pm today, a specially decorated piano will be at Alki Beach Park, available for you to play between guest performances and other scheduled events:
Piano design and painting by Angelina Villalobos
10:00 am — Yoga in the Park
11:15 am — Free Youth Piano Lessons with Yelena Balabanova
12:15 pm — Classical piano performance with Yelena Balabanova and guests
1:00 pm — KING FM presents Young Artist Award Finalists
2:30 pm — Random Acts of Art Song with Seattle Art Song Society
4:00 pm — Scarlet Parke
5:15 pm — Performance by ARC Dance Company
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction, see what’s fresh! (California between Oregon and Alaska)
WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark are open 11 am-8 pm; Delridge wading pool is open noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)
GIANNONI’S PIZZA ANNIVERSARY: 11 am-9 pm today and Monday, Giannoni’s Pizza in Westwood Village continues celebrating its 10th anniversary! Here’s how. (2600 SW Barton)
SUNDAY FUNDAY: Log House Museum offers arts, crafts, and snacks for kids, 1-3 pm in the courtyard. The museum’s hours today are noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, you are invited to tour Alki Point Lighthouse with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary – 3:40 pm is the latest you can arrive for the day’s final tour. (3201 Alki SW)
GET ON STAGE/GET INVOLVED: Open-mic event presented by Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), next door at The Skylark. Sign up at 3 pm, music starts at 4. All ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MONTY BANKS WITH THE DRIFTWOOD TRIO: 7-10 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … on our full-calendar page.
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