West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Mayor Jenny Durkan has promised to listen to small businesses, taking early action to set up a Small Business Advisory Council that just had its first meeting.
On a smaller scale, she has been visiting community business districts, including an hourlong walking tour in the heart of the West Seattle Junction on Saturday before her town-hall event at the Senior Center.
We’ve already published our “town hall” coverage, but we were also along for the walking tour – here’s what we saw and heard:
Lora Swift (above right), executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association, met with mayoral staffers in advance to plan the tour, which started at West Seattle Performing Arts (4210 SW Edmunds). A kids’ dance class was under way when the mayor and her entourage arrived; she had a bouquet of flowers and high-fives before she left.
This was after she posed with students and parents for a “smile and say West Seattle!” photo op.
6:44 PM: A “full response” was heading to a possible house fire in the 3500 block of SW 108th in Arbor Heights – but now most units are being canceled, as the first units to arrive say it’s a “large illegal outdoor fire” that is not threatening any structures.
6:55 PM: The address was corrected to the 10800 block of 36th SW. Our crew has just arrived and was told that the fire was in a big pile of construction debris behind a house.
7:05 PM: The last engine has left and the call is closed.
In case you wondered about the short-lived call at Springline Apartments (3220 California SW) about an hour ago, Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB. Kitchen fire, he reports, and it was out pretty quick. No injuries reported; the SFD units you see in his photo have cleared the scene.
(Orcas seen with West Seattle in background, 2009 photo by Terry Wittman)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Our theme for this year is matching our learning with action,” says The Whale Trail‘s executive director Donna Sandstrom.
She made that declaration toward the start of her West Seattle-based, but far-ranging, organization’s latest event, an educational/social/inspirational gathering at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) a month and a half ago. The featured topic was the salmon on which Southern Resident Killer Whales – our region’s endangered resident orcas – depend. How to help ensure their survival, and that of the SRKWs, was the focus of guest Jeanette Dorner, executive director of the Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, speaking to TWT for the third time. Dorner said she has been working for 20 years to restore salmon in Puget Sound, starting with a salmon stream along her parents’ property in Pierce County.
The orcas eat salmon that come from all over the region, so “what we can do … there’s a seed of hope in that,” Sandstrom said. “It may take decades to take down a dam,” but there’s other action that can be done right now. She shared views of whales and salmon – which have “been in the news a lot lately.” Mainstream media coverage can leave people a bit confused and without context about the biggest issues facing salmon here, she warned. “Many people are not aware that we have a federal recovery plan for Puget Sound salmon,” Dorner noted. “We have a road map in the salmon recovery plan … there’s a chapter for every watershed.” She said the plan wasn’t written by “a bunch of NOAA scientists in a back room,” it was written with assistance of communities. The Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan has a 10-year update, in fact.
Her main focus: Habitat. That’s what affects salmon the most, she said.
ORIGINAL REPORT, SUNDAY AFTERNOON: The photo and report are from Michelle:
Our 2003 Saab (silver/license plate 147UJZ) was stolen from our driveway on Friday morning. We live on the 3400 block of 38th Avenue SW. My husband was headed to the pool and decided to warm it up for a few minutes and went back inside to get the rest of his things. Big mistake! It was at least a two-person job. My neighbor’s camera shows a car waiting in front of their house until the Saab was stolen.
We want to warn others to be more careful than we were. We never imagined someone would come onto our driveway at 5:45 a.m. and steal our car. Lesson learned.
If you see the car, call 911.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Michelle says the car was found in Auburn last night.
Mike e-mailed to say he’s called it in, and he advises that people and pets keep their distance. He saw the raccoon, appearing “severely injured” as he described it, on SW Dakota between 47th and 49th SW. Here’s what the Seattle Animal Shelter (aka “animal control”) says about injured/ill wildlife. Other animal-involved situations? Info here.
Spring is almost here and we’re continuing our series of youth-sports signup announcements. Today, three from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor)! First, baseball/T-ball:
YMCA baseball/T-ball for Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grades is designed to help players learn basic skills such as batting, catching, throwing and basic game play. All kids are encouraged to play by getting equal chances to bat, run bases and play in the field. Our coaches emphasize participation, skill-building, sportsmanship, teamwork, fitness, friendship, family involvement and fun. Season starts April 23! Learn more and sign up.
Next, flag football:
Y Flag Football for grades 1-5 is all about having fun, being active and learning football skills. Kids learn the fundamentals of the game including rules, skills and how to work together. Plus, flag football helps develop coordination, self-confidence and sportsmanship. Season starts May 4. Learn more and sign up.
And finally, volleyball:
In addition to being a fast-paced and exciting game, volleyball for grades 5-8 fosters strong team bonding on and off the court. This league focuses on sharpening skills, learning the rules all in a fun, non-competitive environment. Season starts April 16. Learn more and sign up.
(Dunlin, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Welcome to another blustery Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street, in the heart of The Junction. (California/Alaska)
AUDUBON SOCIETY NATURE CAMP MEETUP: 1-4 pm at Ounces in North Delridge, come find out about Seattle Audubon‘s new Nature Camp in West Seattle. John the Falconer will be there with birds until 3 pm. More info here. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WORKSHOP: 2-3:30 pm at Admiral UCC Church, walk-ins welcome if you didn’t pre-register for this free workshop – “learn how to protect a targeted person and de-escalate an incident of harassment or hate speech.” (4320 SW Hill)
SEED SWAP: Get ready for gardening season! 2-3:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, it’s the fourth annual Great Seattle Seed Swap, presented by Seattle Farm School – details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
CLOSING PERFORMANCE: 3 pm matinee concludes Twelfth Night Productions‘ run of “Next to Normal” at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: 3 pm meeting at Delridge Library – all welcome. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
ANDREA AND JOSEPH: Jazz, blues, and more, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). (5612 California SW)
THERE’S MORE … on our complete-calendar page!
(Photo courtesy Aaron Wells Photography)
2:06 AM: If you’re hearing the sirens: An initially sizable “rescue” response for a crash at Olson Place and SW Cambridge [map] is being downsized. Per scanner and SFD tweet, a driver hit a tree and wall, but isn’t trapped in the vehicle as originally feared.
2:14 AM: No major injuries – the medic unit has been dismissed too.
ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Photo from the scene added above, courtesy of Aaron Wells Photography.
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