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PHOTOS: On-the-road coverage of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2013

LINKS: Web map here * Mobile map, here * Printable list/map here * WSCGSD on FB here

9:04 AM: The shopping and selling has begun! We’re on the road to stop at some of the participating sales in the biggest West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yet. We start at Sale #229, by and benefiting the Lincoln Park P-Patch (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, but it’s actually a half-block up Webster, east of the tennis courts. Lots of plants, in addition to assorted items – and, as you see in our photo, rhubarb! Next stop, Sale #232, which promises more than 30 years of Christmas decorations, and we found a table full of them:

They’re on a dead end up Trenton (and then a northbound turn) a few blocks east of Fauntleroy, 8730 43rd Place SW. Next: Our first seller-contributed photos:

9:22 AM: Sheryll shares that collage of photos from her sale, #9, at 7125 Shinkle in the High Point area. And from just south of The Triangle, in the Fairmount neighborhood, Sharonn‘s selling art:

She’s part of the block sale at #187; street address on the map is 4745 37th SW. While receiving these photos, our photographer is out of the WSB mobile newsroom, checking out the southernmost group site, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), and spotted this treasure:

C & P is Sale #218, at 5612 California SW.

9:49 AM: The photo above is courtesy of Joe, who writes, “It’s on!” His house is host to Sale #184, at 9813 32nd SW. Thanks for displaying the “official sale” sign! Meantime, a mile or so north of Joe at 8133 32nd SW, Valerie at Sale #206 shared this photo of one of her items – a propane fire pit – via the WSCGSD Facebook page:

Sale #186 has its own on-site cheerleaders!

Thanks to Laura for sharing that photo – she’s at 3108 SW Webster and says they’re offering “TVs, Epson scanner, spinner bike, (2) 12″ Torker girls bikes, solar lights, lemonade stand, girls clothes and shoes, marmoleum and bamboo flooring, juiceman, lamps …” Next photo is from Brooke, who reports that “People are in a great mood. The weather is mild and stuff is selling.”

Brooke’s sale is #192, at 5456 35th SW.

10:12 AM: Into the second hour of WSCGSD! We’ve just left a hub of selling on the north end of The Junction. One of the sites – Seattle Lutheran High School:

They are Sale #61, in the SLHS gym, just downhill (east) on SW Genesee from 42nd SW. The corner of Genesee and California is where you’ll find Sale #57, the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse/Ginomai (artist studios) group site on the southeast side of the intersection – this is just the east side of that two-courtyard sale:

On that side, in the Ginomai lot, we found this intriguing collection for very-small-car fans:

Hotwire is also a dropoff spot for WestSide Baby, which is one of the nonprofits welcoming unsold items today – look for the truck!

(Details on the nonprofits interested in leftovers, where they are, and what they are looking for, can be found here.) Across the street on the northeast side, you’ll find a big sale right outside Firefly Café and Creperie (WSB sponsor), which is Sale #54 on the map (items are on the California side too).

10:39 AM: Heading north, we stopped to say hi to repeat participants in WSCGSD – the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team! Thanks to Metro League Coach of the Year Sonya Elliott for getting the team involved again this year:

They are really hoping to sell the air-hockey table that’s behind the sign-holders in our photo! The WSHS sale is in the parking lot at 3000 California SW; on the map, that’s Sale #67.

11:11 AM: Third hour of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – we’ve just stopped by the Log House Museum on Alki, 61st/Stevens, and noted it’s not all West Seattle memorabilia:

Those are volunteers Kerry and Bob with a Beatles “Revolver” T-shirt – also seen, memorabilia from “A League of Their Own.” The museum (a great place to visit any time) is Sale #70 on the map. Meantime, we have more seller-contributed photos to share, too:

That’s from Sale #7 at 8816 16th SW, a benefit for the TrejdeksnÄ«tis Latvian folk dance group, which is raising money for travel. Also out of the WSB inbox, Michell‘s photo from Sale #80:

“We have a lot of kid stuff,” she reports. Her sale is at 4732 47th SW, in the alley between 46th and 47th.

11:47 AM: Above, that’s the big Girl Scout Troop benefit sale (#166) at 3229 Harbor Avenue SW. Multiple sellers, and even snow cones:

Meantime, if you haven’t left the house – even though rain is supposedly in TONIGHT’S forecast, today has just continued to get better – sunny, warm, a few thin clouds overhead. On to the second half of WSCGSD!

12:06 PM: Just stopped by to see Arthur (above) at Sale #4, south of Delridge Playfield at 4717 25th SW. Things were a little slow but he said he’s had a great time meeting neighbors (something we often hear about WSCGSD). Right before that, we pulled over in Luna Park to photograph Ola Salon‘s sale benefiting their neighbor, Transitional Resources:

That’s Sale #164 (2942 Avalon Way), part of a major campaign by Ola to support TR, which helps people living with mental-health challenges.

12:24 PM: Our next stop – the photo above – has some sentimental value. The West Seattle Tool Library sent people out looking for tools during WSCGSD three years ago, just before they launched. Now they are a widely admired success with so many tools, they’re selling some today – 4408 Delridge Way SW, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (there’s an off-street parking lot adjacent, if needed). The Tool Library is Sale #5 on today’s map. From there, we headed southeast into Puget Ridge:

Antique sewing machines are some of what you’ll find at the 23-household-community Duwamish Cohousing sale, on the dead end at 6000 17th SW – you can also access across from South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) in the same block of 16th, according to their listing (Sale #6).

12:48 PM: In the Admiral District, lots of tools, among other items, at 44th/Walker – thanks to Manuela for the photo from Sale #17! In North Admiral, at the northernmost sale on the WSCGSD map:

That’s Nate, at Sale #66, in the alley between 44th and 45th just north of SW Atlantic. His stuff includes what we really can only describe with all the old terms we didn’t see much of in this year’s descriptions – bric-a-brac, knick-knacks, geegaws, even tchotchkes. Even a Mr. Spock PEZ dispenser.

1:22 PM: Check the WSCGSD FB page for people announcing discounts and price cuts as we get to the final fourth of the official sale hours (some are staying open later, too).

1:53 PM: We’re in The Triangle and just stopped by Alki Lumber, Sale #194, 4422 36th SW. They’re still cooking up hot dogs to benefit West Seattle Pee Wee baseball – and the wheeling-and-dealing includes a discount on those, too. Judy Sweeney‘s at the grill:

We’ve had WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams out roving too, and we’ll have some photos to add later. Once 3 pm hits, we’ll talk more about the nonprofits that have special dropoff spots for anything that didn’t get sold.

2:55 PM: We’re back at Hotwire/Ginomai for the segue from sale wrap-up (almost 40 sellers in the courtyard here) to leftovers drop-off.

But the bargaining goes on till the last minute – within earshot of the Hotwire patio, we just heard somebody haggle a metal basket down to $1 and walk away happy. The stuff garage sales are made of! P.S. For sellers – here’s the info on who’s got special places and times through tonight (and a few beyond) for you to drop off any leftovers you don’t want to keep. P.P.S. More photos to add this evening!

ADDED: You can see those photos by going here.

West Seattle Saturday: What else is up today/tonight

(Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
In addition to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – 9 am-3 pm, maps here! – which we’ll be covering all day long, here are other highlights:

STAMP OUT HUNGER: Just like WSCGSD, this nationwide door-to-door food drive is on the second Saturday of the month every year. Whatever you are doing today, please take a few minutes first to bag up some nonperishable food to donate, and set it out by your mailbox (or door, if you use a mail slot) for your letter carrier to pick up. You can also drop it by Café Osita at 7349 35th SW, which is accepting dropoffs again this year.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY: Trileigh Tucker shares the photo of a Western Tanager (above) with word of this special day. She says they fly 3,000 miles just to build nests here. She’s drawn up a list of Lincoln Park’s birds – take a walk in the park and look for them; here’s the list. And find out more about birds and how to help them, on her website, Natural Presence.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION DRILL: Volunteers around the city are joining in an emergency-communication drill this morning, 9 am-noon. West Seattle’s trailblazing volunteers are activating the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Communication Hub – north parking lot at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) – during the drill, and you’re welcome to observe. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

WALK WITH US TO CURE LUPUS: The annual fundraising 5K is on Alki again this year; same-day signups start at 9 am, and the walk begins at 10 am – details here.

MADISON STUDENTS ON STAGE! 10 am today is the second and final performance of “Honk Jr.” by Madison Middle School students, directed by Taproot Theater’s Jenny Cross at the West Seattle High School Theater; tickets $10 at the door. (3000 California SW)

TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Marty McLaren holds a community-conversation meeting at Southwest Branch Library, 10 am-noon.

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Little Rascals Preschool invites prospective families to stop by, 10 am-1 pm today. (4125 51st SW)

WSHS POSTSEASON BASEBALL: 11 am at Steve Cox Memorial Park, as per coverage here last night.

VOLUNTEER AT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Along with having a sale as part of WS Community Garage Sale Day (#70 on the map), the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is having its monthly Log House Museum info session for new volunteers, 11 am-1 pm. (61st/Stevens)

PRE-MOTHER’S DAY EVENT: Barnes and Noble is hosting an event involving several Westwood Village businesses, looking ahead to Mother’s Day. Among them: WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers. Stop by B&N 11 am-3 pm; more information here.

HIGH POINT GARDEN PARTY: A potluck picnic and garden celebration are set for 2-5 pm next to High Point Neighborhood Center – all invited. (6400 Sylvan Way)

ANOTHER MAYOR-CANDIDATE CHAT: Tim Burgess returns to West Seattle, this time for a 2:30-3:30 pm “meet with voters” event at Beveridge Place Pub. (6413 California SW)

HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED: It’s sold out, so if you don’t have a ticket, you’re out of luck, but in case you pass by the Highland Park Improvement Club and wonder what’s up – tonight’s their Uncorked” wine-and-more benefit, 6 pm. (12th/Holden)

NORTHWEST HARVEST FUNDRAISER … tonight at OutWest Bar; details in our listing. (California/Brandon)

NOT DEAD YET: The local-favorite band plays the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) at 9:30 tonight. (6451 California SW)

Today’s the 9th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!

garagesaledaysmalllog5.jpgIt’s the biggest West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yet, and the sales start in three hours! At this year’s sites, you’ll find everything from holiday decorations to wet suits to plant sales, with businesses, schools, and youth organizations participating as well as dozens and dozens and dozens of neighborhoods and individual sellers too. See the list of benefit sales here (some for organizations, some for individual situations like a couple saving for adoption). 280 sales are on the WSCGSD maps – which you’ll find here (Web, printable, and mobile versions). 3 of those sales are the group sites – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (sale #57, 4410 California SW), C & P Coffee Company (sale #218, 5612 California SW) and the VFW Hall (sale #150, 3601 SW Alaska). Happy shopping/selling! 9 am-3 pm are the official sale hours; please check atop the map page before you head out, for updates including the handful of last-minute cancellations. We’ll be out visiting some of the sales for ongoing coverage again this year, but no matter how fast we move, we’ll only get to a fraction of the sales, so whether you’re a seller or a shopper, we’d love to get a photo from you – editor@westseattleblog.com (if you prefer Facebook, please share on the WSCGSD page, where sellers and shoppers have been strategizing in advance and will likely chat throughout the day).

P.S. A full preview of everything else happening today/tonight is coming up next hour.

West Seattle Hi-Yu celebrates royalty, as new Queen is crowned

May 11, 2013 3:52 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu celebrates royalty, as new Queen is crowned
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

A royal night at the West Seattle Hi-Yu gala Friday – from left, new Hi-Yu Queen April Davis, her predecessor Queen Kayli Schulz, and Miss Seafair Veronica Asence, who will crown her successor in July. We photographed them before April’s coronation, so Queen April’s new sash was still waiting:

Also holding court at the gala, from the current Junior Court – from left Princess Emily, Queen Madison, and Princess Winter:

The night also incorporated a fundraising auction and the Hi-Yu White Rose Ceremony for the sisterhood of those who have reigned.

P.S. The next event on the Hi-Yu calendar: The West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club-sponsored kids’ fishing pond, 8 am June 1st at Seacrest.

High-school baseball postseason: WSHS vs. Prep tomorrow

May 10, 2013 10:29 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Saturday morning baseball, anyone? It’ll be West Seattle High School vs. Seattle Prep at 11 am after the Wildcats’ win today. Team parent Greg Slader shares the report and photos:

The WSHS baseball team lost its opening-round game against Bainbridge Island. But an exciting come-from-behind game late Thursday night against Ingraham 11-7 led to Friday afternoon’s matchup against Eastside Catholic. Senior Sam Hellinger (photo above) pitched a complete game, holding the Crusaders to one run.

RBI hits by Graham French (photo above, driving in the tying run), Tim Adams, Sam Hellinger, and Morgan McCullough were enough offense to get West Seattle into the third-place Game on Saturday @ 11 am.

It was almost a crosstown matchup for tomorrow, but Chief Sealth International High School lost to Prep 4-1, tonight, and that set up Prep’s game tomorrow vs. WSHS, which is at Steve Cox Memorial Park field in White Center.

West Seattle schools: This year’s Global Ambassadors visit Schmitz Park Elementary

May 10, 2013 9:57 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Schmitz Park Elementary principal Gerrit Kischner for the photo from this year’s Global Ambassador Day – here’s what it’s all about:

Once again, Schmitz Park students had the opportunity to meet and learn from international students from the University of Washington. Schmitz Park students spend every year bolstering their geographic knowledge through our Global Passport Program, and this event allows us to meet the real people who live in the countries we study. This year’s Global Ambassador Day included UW students from Brazil, Iceland, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, France, and Italy. Our fifth graders hosted the event, demonstrating the culmination of the multiple experiences they have enjoyed. This event is conducted in cooperation and great support from the Foundation for International Understanding through Students.

‘Lofts’ project at 4535 44th SW passes 1st round of Design Review

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

We learned a lot more about the “Lofts at the Junction” project last night during its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting, which ended with the board giving it clearance to move to the next phase of the process.

For one, while it does include about 40 apartments on a lot of less than 4,000 square feet at 4535 44th SW, it does not have all the attributes of so-called “microhousing” – each of its units will include a private kitchen and bath.

For two, the Nicholson Kovalchick Architects-designed project is now envisioned with an “industrial loft” type of look, and a brick facade, as shown in the “character sketches” (above is the 44th SW view) – completely different from what was shown in the design “packet” prepared for the meeting and shown here two weeks ago.

The Design Review process has drawn more consistent public interest lately, and this meeting brought another full house of about 40 in the upstairs meeting hall at the Senior Center of West Seattle.

Boyd Pickrell from NK Architects led the presentation, which was weighted toward context for the site and an overview of the project’s goals:

Read More

West Seattle Crime Watch bulletin: Seen this burglar?

Just in from Justin, word of a burglary this afternoon just west of The Junction:

My neighbors’ house was just broken into at about 3:15 pm today. Several officers responded but didn’t find the guy. He also broke into a lady’s house a few blocks north.

My neighbor has a security camera so got a good description. The police would like help spotting the guy; he can’t be far.

Black male, both large and tall, wearing baggy pants, white tennis shoes, grayish hoodie, was wearing a black knit cap, had a “very overstuffed” backpack.

This happened on the 4700 block of 46th Ave SW. Thank you, let’s get this guy!

Call 911 with tips.

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow: Updates and reminders!

Just 19 hours till the start of selling and shopping – or, as we call it, person-to-person recycling – at West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2013! Here are some last-minute reminders/updates:

WHAT IS IT? Not one big sale – but LOTS of sales, of all kinds, all over West Seattle, tomorrow (Saturday, May 11), 9 am-3 pm. (Sellers registered between April 1st and 24th, so you can’t just get on the map at the last minute. We open registration around 4/1 every year, and keep it open for three weeks.)

WHERE? The registered sales are all on the map, which we have in two versions shown on and linked from this page:
-Clickable/zoomable online map
-Searchable, too (the “search” button is now back in view on the online map)
-Printable 14-page PDF with the sale listings

WEATHER? Partly sunny, 70s, says National Weather Service

MOBILE? Yes! Access the map on your phone using this link – it includes list and map versions, and you can even check directions to specific sales.

WHERE ARE THE BIGGEST SALES? Everywhere! Browse the listings to see who’s having a group sale, block sale, school sale, etc. There are three “group” sites, with multiple sellers – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW), C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), and the VFW Hall (36th/Alaska).

WHO’S RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY? We have a list of the sales that listed themselves as fundraising for a cause – see it here.

ANYBODY SELLING PLANTS? Yes, they are – you could almost call this a garage and garden sale day. Here’s that list.

WHAT HAPPENS TO STUFF THAT DOESN’T GET SOLD? This year, three nonprofits and a school are all interested in any leftovers that sellers are interested in donating, and they have special dropoff spots and hours. We’ve just updated the information – adding a book-collection request on behalf of Denny International Middle School; see the details here.

CHECK TOMORROW MORNING FOR UPDATES … We’ve had a few last-minute cancellations, and while we can’t change the “printable” (PDF) map, we are noting those sales as “canceled” on the online map, and listing their numbers atop the WSB page that hosts it as well as at westseattlegaragesale.com.

PRE-SALE CHAT … continues to happen on the WSCGSD Facebook page.

Have a GREAT time – and send photos! editor@westseattleblog.com (or share on FB)

West Seattle food/drink notes: New wine-tasting spot; North Delridge food-truck stop

Two food/drink notes to share this morning:

LA ROMANZA BISTRO PAIRS WITH SIREN SONG WINES: This weekend in The Junction, it’s your next chance to try out the new Siren Song Wines tasting room inside La Romanza Bistro Italiano (4521 California SW; WSB sponsor). It’s open 3-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays. In our photo above, that’s La Romanza proprietor Aimee Pellegrini and Siren Song’s Kevin Brown.

NEW FOOD-TRUCK STOP: Delridge Way has been a popular area for many of the city’s food trucks to park when not out serving their wares. Now, though, we have word that a popular truck is adding a Delridge stop to its schedule: Starting next Monday, 11 am-2 pm, TFN, you can find the new Orleans cuisine of Where Ya At Matt in the parking lot of West Seattle Corporate Center (Delridge/Andover), also known as “the building with the big flag.”

West Seattle traffic alert: Delridge Way work next Wednesday

May 10, 2013 11:35 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: Delridge Way work next Wednesday
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Another “spot repair” project just announced for a stretch of West Seattle roadway:

Seattle Department of Transportation’s paving crews will replace concrete roadway panels on Delridge Way Southwest at 23rd Avenue Southwest (near SW Graham Street) on Wednesday, May 15th. Two-way traffic will be maintained. Drivers may encounter some congestion in this area during the work.

This project is being funded by SDOT’s annual paving program and the Bridging the Gap transportation initiative approved by Seattle voters.

Nine days till West Seattle 5K! Can you volunteer that day?

May 10, 2013 11:27 am
|    Comments Off on Nine days till West Seattle 5K! Can you volunteer that day?
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

If you’re not running or walking in the fifth annual West Seattle 5K on Sunday, May 19th, can you help out? Plenty of volunteer power is a must to make sure everything goes well:

West Seattle High School is looking for adult volunteers next Sunday (May 19th) to help with the 5K race. If you are able to help Sunday morning between 7:30 am to 12:00, or anytime inbetween, it would be much appreciated. Please send an email with your name and time you are available to ‘wshs5kvolunteers@gmail.com’ Any and all help will be much appreciated.

Registration is still open for WS5K (which WSB is co-sponsoring again this year), too – go here.

West Seattle Friday: Hi-Yu coronation/auction/ceremony, and more

Rise and Shine

(Young bald eagle, photographed last week by Danny McMillin and shared via the WSB Flickr group)
With almost 300 of your neighbors – or maybe you AND almost 300 of your neighbors – getting ready to host sales on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow, we’re mentioning it everywhere we can. Like here. But as always, there’s lots more going on, too – here are notes for today/tonight:

WV POST OFFICE REOPENS: We added the update to our coverage of yesterday afternoon’s pickup-truck crash at the Westwood Village post office: The branch IS open today as usual. (P.S. Don’t forget to put out your food donation tomorrow for the Stamp Out Hunger door-to-door postal carriers’ food drive!)

BAKE SALE AND MINI-BAZAAR: Happening all day, till 4 pm, at The Mount. (4831 35th SW)

MAYORAL CANDIDATE IN WEST SEATTLE: It’s a busy campaign season with eight people on the August primary ballot for Seattle Mayor, so every time we hear about one of them coming to West Seattle to meet with potential voters, we’ll tell you about it. Tonight, Peter Steinbrueck is at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, 6-8 pm.

‘BOBCAT BOB’ AT C & P: Tomorrow, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is a group site for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, but tonight, it’s a coffeehouse with live music – courtesy of fan favorite “Bobcat Bob” Rice. He performs 6-8 pm. (5612 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU AUCTION, CORONATION, WHITE ROSE CEREMONY: Tonight, 7-10 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Life Center, help West Seattle Hi-Yu raise money and celebrate royalty past and present, with the White Rose Ceremony and the coronation of the new queen. Details and ticket link here. (35th and Myrtle)

More on the calendar!

WestSide Baby donation-drive followup, new diaper partnership, and WS Community Garage Sale Day request

May 10, 2013 9:01 am
|    Comments Off on WestSide Baby donation-drive followup, new diaper partnership, and WS Community Garage Sale Day request
 |   West Seattle news

More words of thanks today from WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland, who sends an update including the launch of a new diaper partnership AND a reminder of what WS Baby is looking for as a spotlighted nonprofit on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow:

About one month ago WestSide Baby put out an urgent cry for help securing donations. Thanks to this amazing community, the donations have been flying in and this is fantastic because we are filling an increasing number of orders, with a record week of 450 last week.

In addition to the many gently used things donated (like all that we hope comes from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday), WestSide Baby collects and purchases disposable diapers. About 200,000 will be donated by families this year. We gave out 540,000 last year though and the difference has been made up by our purchases and corporate donation gifts. We are so thrilled to launch a new program, Side by Side Northwest, which is a partnership between WestSide Baby and Eastside Baby Corner (in Issaquah) to receive a gift of 2,000,000 diapers over two years for distribution throughout King County. It is our first partnership of this kind and we are one of only six named Regional Diaper Bank Affiliates established through this gift by the National Diaper Bank Network.

We have learned that we need to ask, just as so many families need to ask for help. You have taught us that you will respond and we so appreciate that. Because of you, we are ready to scale up our impact to do more right here and to start to serve communities of great need such as those in the Central District and Rainier Valley. These diapers are an incredible jump start for the next two years. Believe it or not, we will still need your diaper support and we continue to need your donations of other gently used items such as children’s clothing and equipment like portable cribs, strollers, high chairs and car seats.

For this weekend, we are particularly hoping donors will drop off reusable car seats (those less than six years old) at collection sites during the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day. We’ll still take them all but we have a two story high mound of car seats for recycling that will be cleared away (shortly) so we’ll be especially thrilled to get those we can use rather than recycle.

WestSide Baby’s special WSCGSD dropoff spots/hours can be found here.

Followup: Last chance for Arbor Heights-grown tomato plants!

Remember the call for plant pots at Arbor Heights Elementary, for teacher Marcia Ingerslev and her farming first-graders – and the great response? The tomato plants – and some radishes too, we’re told – have been on sale after school this week and you’re welcome today as they sell plants one last time before Ms. Ingerslev has to haul the remainders off to be donated! The parent volunteer who shared the photo says it’s your chance to “be a proud new home to a grown-from-seed tomato plant (or radish) for a donation that goes fully to the farm program.” It’s a short sale window – about 3 pm to 3:30 pm, we’re told – but if you can make it over to Arbor Heights (37th and 104th), the plants await you, at a $2 donation each.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday on the move

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:47 AM: Happy Friday – and, might we say, happy West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day Eve! So far so good.

8:30 AM: I-5 might not be your best choice if you are heading out now, reports KING 5’s Tracy Taylor, tweeting about a backup from the Convention Center to Boeing Field.

9:12 AM: For low bridge and bicycle path commuters – there is a crash at East Marginal/S. Spokane, just east of the low bridge, involving a semi-truck on its side, per an image our friends at KING 5 has shown. Avoid the area.

11:36 AM: No injuries in that crash, by the way. Looking ahead: Road work on Delridge just announced for next Wednesday.

12:05 PM: Someone asked about the East Marginal Way status in comments; SDOT tweeted that the scene was clear as of an hour ago.

(Photo by ELLEN M. BANNER/THE SEATTLE TIMES; republished with permission)
12:56 PM: Adding a photo from that scene, courtesy of our partners at The Seattle Times.

Video: Northwest Hope and Healing’s ‘Style ’13’ success

From words of hope, to walks of celebration, the “Style ’13” fashion fundraiser by and for West Seattleite-founded/led Northwest Hope and Healing was a success – so we hear from Captive Eye Media‘s Edgar Riebe, who shared the video highlights from last night’s event at Showbox SODO. Edgar says NWHH announced a fundraising total of $120,000, more than last year – we will check today for any additional details. Next big benefit for NWHH is the annual Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk, August 25th.

Why officers are at 24th and Holden right now

2:01 AM: Via text and e-mail, several people have asked us about some kind of police operation at 24th and Holden, including use of a loudspeaker/megaphone to try to get someone to come out. Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says King County is serving a warrant – in other words, trying to arrest somebody and/or conduct a search – and SPD is not involved. So we don’t know what or who the subject of the warrant is, but we will ask the Sheriff’s Office later this morning.

12:21 PM: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says it was NOT their operation – their SWAT team WAS out last night but in an entirely different part of the county. So we’re still trying to find out what this was about.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Rock thrown; home broken into; items stolen; items found

Thursday’s West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports, starting with one we just received from Preston:

We were driving home tonight and passed in front of Caffe Ladro on SW California at 9:45. The passenger rear window exploded as someone threw a fist sized rock at us.

Three witnesses at Caffe Ladro said a man on a dark maroon bicycle wearing a long-sleeved shirt with white on it was standing on the side of the cafe drinking beer. He was in and out and came in through the back of the cafe. He then stood in the breezeway between the adjacent buildings. We stopped at the end of the block and he got on his bike and rode north down California. Police were called and they are sweeping the area. The dark maroon bike has a flashing light on the back and the suspect was wearing a blue shirt with white and a backpack.

If anyone has any clue as to who this may be – someone that would be at Caffe Ladro at 9:45 at night drinking beer and on a bicycle – please call the police.

(The coffee shop, it should be noted, does not serve alcohol.)

A home on Charlestown Hill was burglarized this morning – while somebody was at home. Marty reports:

My ex-husband’s house was broken into around 6:30 this morning. The back door was kicked in and our dog was found by a neighbor around 7 a.m. Our 17 year old daughter was in the house alone (dad had already gone to work), sleeping downstairs in the basement as this was happening. A neighbor found the dog, called my number which is on her tag. I live in Queen Anne, so called my daughter and woke her up to go get the dog. She heard a lot of noise upstairs and in her sleepy state, assumed it was her dad still at home. As she approached the stairway and called out for him, the person upstairs left out the front door. The only items taken were about 40 CDs from the living room. A very scary situation, which could have ended badly but fortunately did not.

Burglary, by the way, is the topic announced for the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – Seattle Police burglary detective Jill Vanskike “will go over some of the factors that attract burglars to specific homes, common points and methods of entry, target hardening and the protective devices most effective at preventing burglaries. Also, tips on measures you can take to aid in the recovery of stolen property …” The meeting is at 7 pm Tuesday, May 21st, at the Southwest Precinct.

Back to Crime Watch – Gretchen reports an overnight theft:

We had one of our wine-barrel planters stolen off our berm (Wednesday) night. Took either one very strong person to tip the dirt out or two people. Those suckers are heavy! Happened between 10 pm and 4:30 am. We live near 17th and Thistle.

And a reader who doesn’t want to be identified found what looks like discarded crime loot in the Fairmount Springs area:

A duffel bag full of a boy’s baseball equipment turned up in our alley this morning, with some of the contents strewn about our yard. There is no name or phone # anywhere in the bag. I would like to get it back to the owner–looks like a lot of valuable equipment.

You can e-mail the finder at dgmob@outlook.com.

West Seattle scene: Seeing RED at Lincoln Park

Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for sharing the photo from today’s Keller Williams Realty RED Day volunteer event at Lincoln Park (mentioned in our “West Seattle Thursday” daily preview). Laura works with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, which partnered with KW to clean up the beach and dig up invasive plants, among other things, during today’s work.

Taste of West Seattle: Only 1 week away

May 9, 2013 9:33 pm
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 |   How to help | West Seattle news

It would take you months to get to all the West Seattle food and drink establishments you’ll be able to sample in one night, one place, next Thursday, during the Taste of West Seattle: Almost 50 of them, including breweries and wineries! Through the West Seattle Helpline, all proceeds go to local families facing emergencies. Just buy a ticket (and see the participant list) at tasteofwestseattle.org – they’re not expecting to have any left to sell at the door – and show up at The Hall at Fauntleroy on Thursday (May 16th), 6:30-9 pm – half an hour before that if you buy a VIP ticket (which also includes VIP seating and entry in a VIP raffle).

Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk, May edition

May 9, 2013 6:45 pm
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 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

It’s West Seattle Art Walk night till 9 pm – a beautiful night to traverse the peninsula and enjoy art at a variety of venues. One is Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, whose co-proprietor John Smersh shared the photo of their featured artist, Amy Huber, explaining:

Amy Huber is showing two bodies of work for this show: Organically Controlled. The images she’s posing in front of are her “sketchbook experiment”. Each pair of illustrations starts with an original drawing of something recognizable. The second drawing is an abstract started from where the ink bled through to the next page in her sketchbook.

She’s also showing her “Stress Paintings”. Amy works as a graphic designer at Nordstrom; when she’s trying to work out an idea at work she’ll often doodle absentmindedly on post-its. The patterns that emerged proved strong enough to be recreated as original paintings on canvases.

We’ve also made a stop in North Delridge – more on that in a moment. The map with all of this month’s venues can be found at wsartwalk.com.

ADDED 7:00 PM: Earlier today, we showed you around Youngstown Flats (see the photo tour here), a new WSB sponsor that’s leasing apartments in North Delridge. One big aspect of the project is its art – on every floor – and tonight the 14 artists and their work are being celebrated. One is Sara Everett, who also curated the work:

She posed for us in front of two of her pieces near the Dakota entry, both evoking greenery such as that you would find along nearby Longfellow Creek.

That’s Oval/Burst by Carla Grahn, which you’ll see right when you walk into the main entry. You can meet her and many of the other 13 artists, while touring the building and enjoying refreshments, till 9 tonight (26th and Dakota).

P.S. A note from Art Walk organizers:

This quarter the postcard/walking map and Art Walk Here posters feature the artwork of Emily Williamson. Emily was a West Seattle artist who passed away recently; her life touched the lives of many in our community. Her cheerful art is a reminder of her beautiful spirit and the brief time that we have to live and create!

Emily’s artwork was featured at Mind Unwind during March. Read remembrances of her life here.

9 nights after mayoral forum, 34th District Democrats host multitude of other candidates

Seattle Port Commission races often get little attention, but deserve more, candidates told the 34th District Democrats at their monthly meeting in Fauntleroy last night. Most of the meeting was devoted to a candidates’ forum moderated by chair Marcee Stone-Vekich, with various races from Burien City Council to Southwest Sewer District – not including Seattle Mayor, since the 34th DDs co-sponsored the campaign’s first major forum just last week in Georgetown. (Here’s our coverage of that event, including video of the entire forum.)

Our video above features the three Port Commission candidates who showed up, from left: Commissioner John Creighton, candidate Michael Wolfe, and recent commission appointee Stephanie Bowman.

Part of the forum included unopposed (so far) candidates, among them King County Sheriff John Urquhart, who was elected last year to the remaining year of his predecessor’s term, so has to run again this year:

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