West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
There’s an update today regarding an event that’s been on the calendar a while: Walk with Us to Cure Lupus, this Saturday at Alki, now has a celebrity emcee – Seattle Seahawks defensive back Jordan Babineaux (photo courtesy ALR) – who has long been active in the cause. There’s still time to register to be a walker and/or sponsor for the event, which raises money to help the Alliance for Lupus Research; they’re hoping to raise $30,000 with the Seattle walk, and the web page shows pledges just past the halfway mark. The walk starts at the Alki Bathhouse at 10 am Saturday (last-minute signups at 9); here’s our coverage from last year; here’s how to register (or sponsor a walker who’s already signed up!).
This Sunday afternoon, you’re likely to see a lot more people than usual on the sidewalks of 35th SW and SW Thistle, through Gatewood and Westwood – part of a “Fun Run” (or walk) celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe Church‘s 50th anniversary, with many other special events to come. Read on for the full announcement and an explanation why the route will take parish members to Chief Sealth International High School‘s permanent site:Read More
Even before the King County Wastewater Treatment Division indicated this past week that it’s pushing back its timetable for deciding how to control Combined Sewer Overflows at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station, concerned community members had scheduled a “Save Lowman Beach” meeting for tonight. 7 pm, Puppy Perfectors, 9629 17th Ave. SW (map) in White Center (original announcement here). Also tonight: West Seattle See Dogs‘ regular meeting and a special workshop for “Dream a Sound Future” – details on both are here. And long before evening falls, you can head over to Hiawatha to cheer on West Seattle High School vs. Seattle Prep as high-school baseball tournament play gets under way. (added) Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer is in the playoffs, also playing Seattle Prep today, 3:30 pm at Interbay. More in the WSB West Seattle Events calendar! (“Sun dog” at left, photographed by April Bolding)
ORIGINAL 11:06 PM REPORT: Traffic is getting by but slowly and no tow truck is here yet, police and fire on scene. Looks like at least one other vehicle involved. 11:10 PM: Police say 1 person was taken to the hospital but wasn’t seriously hurt. Tow truck just arrived. 11:30 PM: Tow crew has righted the truck. Traffic is light enough that it’s getting around. Debris on road so will take a while to clear here. 1:56 AM: Substituted above for what was a cameraphone photo, you can watch a 3-minute video sequence which includes our initial look at the scene followed by a condensed version of the three-step process needed to turn the truck back over – onto its side, then rotated, then back onto its wheels.
Tina e-mailed to report her silver 1991 Subaru Legacy LS Wagon stolen from outside their home on 44th SW near Hinds (map). But there’s more to the story – as her husband writes:
To the person who stole our family’s 1991 Subaru station wagon (license plate # DP 02112), I want you to know something about us. I depend on my wife to drive now because an aggressive brain tumor that was discovered a few months ago left me more than 50% blind. The prognosis for this tumor is a 50% survival rate for six months to one year. We’ve been relying on the Subbie for transportation to my radiation and other medical appointments, and now for transportation for my elderly mother who just had a stroke and needs 24 hour custodial care. We can’t afford to buy a replacement because I’ve been 100% disabled since 1987 and my wife can’t work while providing 24 hour care for my mother. If you truly feel that you deserve and/or need our car more than we do, I’m so very sorry indeed.
The theft has been reported to police. MIDNIGHT UPDATE: KING 5 News picked up this story and talked with Tina, as well as one of the commenters – see their story here.
Here’s hoping Alki isn’t trashed by tomorrow morning the way it was this morning, by several accounts. First, Kristina posted it about it on the WSB Facebook wall; then we discovered Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey had written about it on Blubberblog (with a call for volunteer help) – and before we could get down to Alki to check it out ourselves, David Hutchinson had sent three photos along with this writeup:
Alki Beach, as usual, is a popular destination on sunny weekends like this. It’s a great place for a picnic, a walk, or to just sit on the sand and take in the view. A reoccurring problem during these busy times is the overflow of garbage that tarnishes the experience for visitors and residents alike. Saturday was one of those days and by evening, the garbage cans were overflowing.
David continues:
Throw a few hungry gulls and crows into the mix and you end up with a less than ideal situation. The photos were taken just east of the Alki Bathhouse at about 8:45 Sunday morning. This was despite the fact that there are 2 dumpsters nearby. Unfortunately, people seem unwilling to walk the extra distance to these as both were virtually empty. Seattle Parks & Recreation has installed a number of large, new style garbage containers along the promenade between 59th Ave SW and 64th Ave SW, but these get little use. They have a small “porthole” opening with a stiff rubber hinge that discourages people from using them. Similar scenes were noted at a number of locations up and down the beach.
With the ongoing budget crisis at Parks, there is probably little hope that this situation will dramatically improve in the short term. When you go to the beach for a picnic, it would be a good idea to come prepared by bringing a plastic garbage bag from home. There are 2 green dumpsters just east of the Bathhouse for garbage and 1 blue dumpster west of the Bathhouse for recyclables.
A Parks employee arrived shortly after 9:00 to empty the cans and suggested that if anyone has concerns or suggestions, please send them to Seattle Parks & Recreation. Contact information can be found at www.seattle.gov/parks/contact/default.htm
This also happens to be a weekend between furlough days for Parks, as explained here – but that’s no excuse for people who won’t walk a few extra feet to a trash container, or pack out their own trash if they don’t find anywhere to throw it.
ORIGINAL 3:16 PM REPORT: It’s not on the City Light hotline, but there’s an outage in parts of eastern West Seattle. We’re driving 35th, and lights are out north and south of Morgan, though Morgan itself is on. 3:26 PM: We are on Delridge, and lights are out Juneau to Trenton. 3:42 PM: Beware while driving – we saw a near-crash at Delridge/Orchard when someone didn’t stop. 3:53 PM: Some commenters say they are back on. City Light media just called us back, saying 6559 customers are/were affected, and tree trouble is blamed.
8:46 PM POSTSCRIPT: Just added a photo we took while stopped at Orchard/Delridge, covering the outage. City Light has a brief item on its Power Lines site, confirming the outage lasted about an hour, blaming it on a tree, and upping the total number of homes/businesses (“customers”) affected to almost 7,000. Thanks to everyone who tipped us off about this, and everyone who added info here via comments; first note was from Al at 30th/Thistle – many followed, via e-mail, text, Twitter and Facebook – we’re here for breaking news 24/7; all the ways to reach WSB are listed here.
West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day was a banner day for the West Seattle Tool Library – Patrick Dunn from Sustainable West Seattle reports they more than doubled their tool stock, with 72 donations and 67 tools purchased by the roving “scavenger teams” (spotlighted in our WSCGSD coverage), for a grand total of 139 tools added to the previous stock of 100, for 239 total (as of this morning). The sewing machine and circular saw in the photo above were part of the haul – and here’s more:
At day’s end, they took everything over to the Tool Library’s headquarters at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – that’s Patrick Dunn putting stuff away:
Here are the “essentials” they still need:
Electric Pressure Washer
Electric Chipper
Canning Supplies
Bike Repair Stand
Portable Table Saw
Food Dehydrator
Chisels
Large Push Brooms
If you can donate any of the above, contact info is here (note they’re still seeking volunteer help too). Upcoming chances to donate include EVERY Sunday TFN at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market – 10 am to 2 pm – and the Sustainable West Seattle Festival/Delridge Day event at Delridge Community Center on June 5th. One week after that, the lending library will have its Grand Opening – June 12.
That’s Athena Frederick of Stroller Strides-West Seattle with Jakson and Taylor – first to arrive for Mother’s Day photos on the newly covered patio at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. That’s not the official backdrop – after Athena stopped for a WSB photo op, she, the kids, and dad Paul moved on to the “studio” on the patio, with photographer Wyn Bielaska:
That group included others who started to arrive as Athena and family were getting ready for their pic. Part of the proceeds from today’s sessions – available till 4 pm – go to WestSide Baby. (P.S. Photographer Wyn will be showing at Bakery Nouveau starting with this Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk – more info on his show here; more Art Walk info here.)
Two late additions to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar are coming up tomorrow, so in case you hadn’t heard previously, here’s a look ahead:
DREAM A SOUND FUTURE: Seattle Parks’ Environmental Learning Centers (which include Camp Long) and Sustainable Seattle are co-sponsoring a regional competition to envision our area’s future – read all about it here. If you’re interested in entering “Dream a Sound Future,” you’ll want to be at the next West Seattle workshop for prospective entrants – Monday night, 6-8:30 p.m., at Southwest Community Center, 2801 SW Thistle. (Elementary/middle/high-school students interested in participating have their own version of the challenge, with a showcase planned at the upcoming Sustainable West Seattle Festival/Delridge Day on June 5th – entry deadline is May 25; read more here.)
SEE DOGS: “It takes a community to raise a guide dog,” as Ruth Oldham says, and your next chance to join this community is 6:30 tomorrow night at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW.
We will be joined by volunteers and young puppies from our Phinney Ridge group, Guide Puppies of Seattle. There is bound to be lots of fun and energy! The West Seattle See Dogs club is actively looking for volunteers to spend a year or so teaching puppies good house manners and introducing them to the world. Come and meet our raisers and greet puppies in training. We also are always in need of folks who can support our various activities and events.
Want to know more? Here’s a Facebook event listing with contact info.
First: Thanks to Chris for sharing this link: Three of the four teachers honored recently with the Alliance for Education‘s Swain Excellence in Teaching Award are from West Seattle schools – Denny’s Marcus Pimpleton and Madison’s Stephanie Poole and Alisha Taylor. More info, plus a photo from the recent ceremony, can be found here.
Second: Jeanne Merritt from Madison Middle School shares news of a memorable visitor:
Madison Middle School eighth graders had a special treat recently when a former teacher came for a visit.
That teacher was Jesse Hagopian. He, his wife and their one-year-old son arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti two days before the big earthquake hit. Mr. Hagopian had taken a one year leave of absence from Seattle Public Schools to care for his baby. He accompanied his wife, an HIV educator who was working with health professionals there.
The family escaped safely from the earthquake, although half of the hotel was in ruins. Mr. Hagopian and a guest doctor treated wounded people who arrived throughout the night, and his wife translated for the doctor. At Madison he shared photos of the devastation, a brief history of Haiti, and ideas of how students could continue to help rebuilding efforts.
Students were visibly moved by his personal account.
After a week in Haiti Mr. Hagopian and his family caught an evacuation flight home.
Our regional-news partners at the Seattle Times told the Hagopians’ Haiti story here.
The forecast suggests an encore for the sunny weather that preceded last night’s super sunset (photographed by Alki’s David Hutchinson) – perfect for Mother’s Day activities including professionally photographed pics on the patio at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), noon-4 pm, part of the proceeds benefiting WestSide Baby; glass-blowing demonstrations at Avalon Glassworks – meet and talk with the artists as they create art glass! – 10 am-4 pm; shopping at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (here’s this week’s fresh sheet), 10 am-2 pm; and two special events at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), the Girls Rock benefit 3-6 pm and Team Tracy benefit 7-10 pm (both all ages, which is Skylark’s usual Sunday mode) – they’re both explained here – or you could just stay at Skylark all day if you start with brunch (9 am-3 pm). P.S. If you’re thinking Mom’s Day dinner also/instead, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) has the wildly popular Sunday ribs on the menu at 5, Mother’s Day music at 6.
Two quick notes to share in West Seattle Crime Watch news this morning. Turns out these two latest reports are from the same area. First, from Emily:
Just wanted to get the word out that the car prowlers are back in my neighborhood. I live around 37th and Graham [map] and it’s the third time in the past few months my car has been broken into. The first time they broke in, they got some coffee-soaked change, the second and third time, nada! (Car owner learned her lesson of leaving spare change in car).
And from Vanessa, about two blocks north:
Just noticed over the last couple of days, someone has cut what they can off of the utility poles for the copper. Our alley is between Findlay SW and Juneau SW and between 36th SW and 37 SW. [map]
Side note – The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council has announced its guest speaker for the next meeting (7 pm May 18, Southwest Precinct) – Lt. Woodrow Perkins of the Liquor Control Board.
West Seattle’s Croft Place Townhomes (map) was one of three hubs on Saturday for the first-ever “Spring Into Bed” – a citywide one-day volunteer work party to build new food gardens all around the city. With Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association leading the charge, the plan was to build 10 gardens – here are the raised beds going up early Saturday afternoon at Croft Place:
After five hours of garden-building, volunteers were invited to South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) for a celebration with food and music. Highlights elsewhere in the city included, according to a news release from Mayor McGinn’s office, an expansion of a container garden on City Hall’s 7th-floor balcony, where 60 pounds of donated tomatoes were grown last year.
It wasn’t just West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – for dozens of people, it was a sail day: This was part of the Seattle Yacht Club Tri-Island Vashon Race, according to Beach Drive Blog – and Gary Jones shared photos taken from Alki. For those who didn’t have their own boats to sail, a Washington State Ferries ride would have yielded a great view too:
Off the peninsula, today’s biggest event was the culmination of the Seattle Maritime Festival – not just the tugboat races, but also a wide variety of maritime-related displays and contests at Pier 66. Among them, the “Quick and Dirty Boatbuilding” competition, with Chief Sealth International High School physics students in the fray. West Seattle resident Joe Follansbee shared the photo after covering the Maritime Festival for Fyddeye (of which he’s editor). Their task was previewed in the CSIHS Daily Bulletin: “Hannah Hodges, Stephanie Patterson and John Paul Altamirano will be participating in the ‘Quick and Dirty Boat Building Contest’ at the Seattle Maritime Festival. These students have $100 and three hours to build a boat that floats and race it through a course on Elliott Bay.” (We’ll be checking to see how they did!)
Thanks to Vince Stricherz for sharing photos from the Habitat for Humanity Women Build event in High Point today!
Vince reports, “More than 20 women gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day by helping to build a house for Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County. The event was sponsored by Lowe’s.”
The worksite is along SW Morgan, about a block east of 35th SW.
First – a few spots are STILL selling – like the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) – that’s F3’s Teri, photographed earlier today with some of the merchandise. Now, the question of “what to do with unsold stuff?” – a couple options:
NORTHWEST CENTER: This nonprofit has been informally partnered with WSCGSD since even before WSB started coordinating the annual event. From Denise at NW Center:
Consider helping your local community by donating to Northwest Center. The Big Blue Truck will be collecting items at 44th & Edmunds at their donation station drop off. They will be open late on Saturday til 6:30 pm to accommodate donors. All donors will receive a $3 off coupon to Value Village. Regular hours Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Learn more about the programs your donations support at www.nwcenter.org Need to schedule a pickup for next week? Visit www.bigbluetruck.org
WESTSIDE BABY: Got kids’ clothes or other items for little ones? They’ve got a long wish list. They’re accepting dropoffs till 4 pm today – or contact them for dropoff hours Monday and beyond. We published the list on Friday here.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: They’re still accepting donations at 44th/Edmunds – right by the aforementioned NW Center donation site – till 5 pm, so if you have unsold tools (or tools you’d just like to unload), as long as they are in good working order and not gas-powered, take ’em over! They’ve already scored some great additions today, we’re told, including an air compressor and sewing machine.
LOOKING FOR FREEBIES? You could certainly run along the map routes again, since more than a few folks just put out leftovers marked “free” – don’t take anything that’s NOT clearly marked “free,” of course – Cheryl, for example, left this comment earlier:
UPDATE on sale #183 (4018 SW Trenton) — Everything that is left out on my lawn is now FREE, FREE, FREE. Please come and get it. Tools, books, pictures, lamp, magazines, kid costumes, Vornado fan, Zenith 19″ TV with remote, etc. Nothing is broken, just don’t want/need any more.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE? Feel free to post a comment here or on the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Facebook page – perhaps you can match up with somebody who didn’t sell whatever it is you’re looking for.
Meantime, thanks to everybody who participated in one way or another – we know some sales did very well, others heard crickets, but by most reviews it was another beautiful day to get out and meet friends old and new, face to face.
(First running report is here; second is here; Google Map of sales here; printable map here; changes listed here; scroll down for frequent updates & new pix)
1:53 PM: That’s Georgia at the register for sale #96, 5202 21st SW. Traveling around to some of the sales today, we’ve definitely seen lots of family involvement. And then there’s your extended “family”:
1:56 PM: …that term definitely applies to the fine folks at the Highland Park Improvement Club, one of today’s multi-seller sites, sale #154 at 1116 SW Holden.
2:15 PM: It’s enough to bring a tear to the eye of any parent of a teenager … all those stuffed animals you just don’t need any more. They’re part of what we found at the West Seattle High School Grad Night Team‘s sale, #34 at the school parking lot (3000 California SW).
2:27 PM: In the mood for cupcakes, lemonade, or both? Team B’s Knees, raising money for the Northwest Epilepsy Foundation, has both, sale #11, 2119 42nd SW.
2:34 PM: That’s the CoolMom sale at Cycle U (WSB sponsor), 4550 Fauntleroy, where everything is now half price.
2:40 PM: Sale #131 at 4620 SW Graham is the Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool group – lots of girls’ clothes left when we stopped by in the final hour.
3:07 PM: Over already! Stand by for an update on what to do with unsold stuff, if you’re interested in donating it … and if you had a sale, or found something cool, or both, please still feel free to send photos; we’ll continue adding coverage to the official WSCGSD website (and probably here too).
Thanks to the caller who let us know about this scene that turned more than a few heads at a busy intersection – an SUV collided with the back of the southbound Route 21 bus at 35th and Barton. Police at the scene say nobody appeared to have been seriously hurt; a Metro supervisor told us they’ll have a media liaison call with information; in the meantime, the right southbound lane was blocked, but traffic was getting around OK. 7:44 PM: We did hear from the aforementioned liaison, who said the SUV driver was cited for an “illegal lane change,” and confirmed that no one was hurt.
(First running report of the day is here; Google Map of sales here; printable map here; changes listed here; scroll down for frequent updates & new pix)
Almost halfway through the 6th annual edition of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – already? – and we’ve seen lots of shoppers out and about; we’re making the rounds to get photos but thanks also to those who have sent pix from their sales, like John Smersh from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), sale #12 at 2210 California SW in the Admiral District, where they’ve got half-price lighting as well as handbags on sale, and more. A few miles south on California, an individual sale with proceeds going to a cause close to many hearts:
That’s Krista at sale #161, 7717 California SW, where proceeds are going to the Orca Network. More to come – we’re about to hit the road and check out the high-school sites, among others. 11:52 AM: A shot from a bit earlier:
Carla and Brian are at Ginomai, 42nd and Genesee, sale #78, a multi-seller site and also the place where you also will find a West Seattle Christian Church group raising money for a well-drilling trip to Guatemala. On with the photos:
12:13 PM: That’s a photo Stephen shared from sale #159 at 7729 30th SW, where he says there’s still “plenty left to buy” … that’s also the word from our Twitter pal @cheapsleeps on SW Southern near 37th, who has baby-boy clothes galore – that’s sale #165. Meantime, just got a note from a seller with a specific item of interest:
12:20 PM: Natasha says that vanity at sale #187, 8802 35th SW, is $100 “or best offer”! Which reminds us that prices have just been marked down at one of our recent stops:
12:27 PM: Chief Sealth PTSA is raising money, and donating part of the proceeds to several of the clubs at the school, and now that it’s after noon, it’s 2 for 1, as the signs say (thanks to the student volunteers for taking a moment out to be in the photo). They’re sale #128 on the map. Now on to High Point:
12:37 PM: At Bridge Park Retirement Center (WSB sponsor), the big lot sale (#139 on the map) is raising money for Relay for Life of West Seattle (a cancer-fighting fundraising event, coming up June 18-19). Lots of cool stuff.
1 PM: Old beer signs, anybody? That’s part of the unique slate of stuff at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), sale #59 at 3803 Delridge. The sale is BEHIND Skylark – so pull into the parking lot on its north side and go around back. We’re starting the afternoon report next – (update) here’s the link.
(Need the map? Updated Google version here; make note of the changes for printable version here – and scroll down for newest photos/updates)
8:59 AM: Sale Day begins! – that’s the >Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard at 4410 California SW, sale #79, where you’ll find dozens of sellers and the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale – be sure to check out the Ginomai courtyard right behind it, too.
9:13 AM: Sale #51 at 3432 39th SW has declared itself “Area 51,” and Will says not only have aliens landed, they’ve got Vikings selling lemonade.
9:31 AM: Thanks to Eric for sending word from Schmitz Park Elementary School, participating in WSCGSD this year for the first time, sale #43 at 5000 SW Spokane – lots of stuff inside and out (and homemade soup while it lasts).
9:42 AM: Michelle at sale #143, 6900 California SW, might feel a little tired already – though we exhort “no earlybirds,” the shoppers in the photo above showed up at 8:30.
9:54 AM: The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, sale #15 at 5050 SW Grayson, is at a different location this year – some great vintage stuff including the classic magazines with which Shari Sewell posed. Speaking of vintage, check this out …
10:06 AM: Sale #77 at 4160 California SW (just north of the Hotwire/Ginomai multi-seller sites) has vintage radios among other things. That’s Mike, posing with one of his sale items – which is from the ’30s.
10:26 AM: The West Seattle Tool Library scavenger teams are hitting the streets, looking for tools to buy for the soon-to-debut lending library. You are also invited to donate tools at four locations today (including the Alki Bike and Board sale, #19 on your map) – full details here.
10:40 AM: Barbara, Patrick and Carol Jean are having fun in the sun at Sale #89, 4815 1/2 Erskine Way, behind Uptown Espresso in The Junction – we ran by there while checking out the Tool Library folks practically across the street.
11:11 AM: Thanks to Klaire for sending photos from her sale at 4069 28th SW, #74 on the map – there’s barbecue stuff and art too, among other things, besides what you see in the photo. We are also posting standalone updates for every sale we photograph, or get photos sent from, at westseattlegaragesale.com – so if you’re taking time to browse, or still deciding whether to go out! – check there too.
11:16 AM: The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is one of two groups with sales at 40th and Edmunds in The Junction – they are number #91 on the map. And in the same lot, at #90:
11:25 AM: That’s the official “WTF” table at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation sale, also at 40th/Edmunds. Who knows what … etc. … you’ll find? *Now we’re moving on to our second running report of the day; here’s the link.*
(Today’s sunrise, photographed by David Rosen of SlickPix Photography)
Aside from breaking news (if there’s any), we’ll be focusing on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day most of the day here, but of course there’s plenty else going on. Here’s the direct link to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, with the list. Also please remember that this is Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive day, so leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox or mail slot for your letter carrier to pick up. Have a great day!
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