West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories

The WSBeat: Arrest warrants; officer bitten; jammed prints…
August 2, 2013 9:01 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled in the past several weeks by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”

*Around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, a citizen called 911 to report a suspicious vehicle lingering near Arbor Heights Elementary. Two people had exited the vehicle and disappeared behind some portable classrooms. Officers discovered that one man was wanted on a $10,000 misdemeanor warrant and booked him into King County Jail.

*On the afternoon of the 28th, a driver ran into three parked vehicles near 35th and Webster. He and his girlfriend were uncooperative and provided false names — perhaps because the driver was wanted on a no-bail felony escape warrant (extraditable from all fifty states). He was booked into King County Jail.

Four more summaries ahead:

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: August’s first Friday; road work, closure alerts
August 2, 2013 7:15 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Two reminders and a look ahead – First, a road-work reminder; city crews will continue repaving the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW. Second reminder – the I-90 bridge closes for the Seafair airshow 1:15 pm-2:40 pm today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Third, a look ahead to next week: Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (August 6-7), the Highway 99 Battery Street Tunnel will be closed overnight for work – southbound 10 pm-5 am, northbound approximately midnight-5 am (the actual start time will be 2 hours after the Mariners game ends).

1:47 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Tim for the tip – a spun-out van is on the outside edge of the crest of the eastbound high bridge – here’s an image grabbed from the camera a few minutes ago:

Remember that since it hasn’t rained for a while, the roads will be slick with oil and other material that’s soaked in since last time. (And even as we update this story, we hear someone losing traction as they round the corner near HQ …)

6:07 PM: Thanks to multiple tipsters for mentioning a crash that has affected the westbound bridge – though we can’t tell from available traffic cameras whether it still is; one car apparently wound up off the highway near Walking on Logs. Kevin says City Light was there when he went by. No injuries, judging by the absence of an SFD listing on the 911 log.

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The Dusty 45s take Hiawatha concert crowd for a spin
August 1, 2013 10:31 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(First photo by Jason Grotelueschen; others by Patrick Sand)
Fiery finale for The Dusty 45s tonight, concluding a hot night – despite clouds and a bit of breeze – in the second week of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha!

Lots of fun for the little ones – even free facepainting (which will be offered again later in the series):

And the band played on:

Guitars on the sidelines, too, courtesy of Frank Gross and West Seattle’s own Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor):

Once again this week, Merrill Gardens (also a WSB sponsor) brought coloring books for young artists:

Next Thursday night, it’s the duo Impossible Bird – 6:30 pm Thursday, August 8th, on the east lawn at Hiawatha (along Walnut Avenue, south of SW Lander, north of the east side of West Seattle High School).

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Apologies yet again
August 1, 2013 10:30 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

We are in the “you can’t make omelets without breaking a few eggs” technical mode – that’s no excuse, but there’s really nothing else we can say about being offline for a few hours. Some people had trouble seeing the site earlier in the day too – and that has to do with the nature of the problem, which involved the ultimate destination you’re pointed to when you ask your computer or phone to take you here. As of right now, everything’s pointed to the correct place. It’s been a fairly quiet day, so you haven’t missed much, but again, we’re sorry – even on slow days, we work hard to have interesting information here, updated at least every few hours, so we’re behind now and we’ll be catching up on a few things overnight as a result. – Tracy & Patrick, WSB co-publishers

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Landmark nomination to be considered for Arbor Heights Elementary
August 1, 2013 3:52 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Keep in mind, this is basically a required, routine action, triggered by impending demolition/rebuild – as is similar consideration for Genesee Hill. Nonetheless, public notification is mandatory, and here it is, as just sent by the Department of Neighborhoods, which includes the Landmarks Board:

The Landmarks Preservation Board will consider landmark nomination for Arbor Heights Elementary School at 3701 SW 104th St. The meeting will be on Wednesday, September 4 at 3:30 p.m. in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue, 40th Floor in Room 4060.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments.

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New rules for school fundraisers: District’s explanation
August 1, 2013 2:59 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools has new rules about school fundraisers, and they’ve stirred up some concern today. The citywide PTSA Council mentioned them briefly in a newsletter that went out this week:

Starting in the Fall 2013, Seattle Public Schools will take a 10% cut, up to $1000, for the use of school grounds if the fundraising activity takes place during school hours (read: Walk-A-Thons, etc). (We’re trying to think of it as a “use fee” for the space).

That was in turn forwarded to WSB by several outraged parents. So we asked SPS spokesperson Teresa Wippel about the rule change. She explains:

To comply with state law, Seattle Public Schools developed new procedures for school-based fundraising. If fundraisers occur during the school day and involve students (for example, a walkathon or readathon), we are required to ensure that students receive a portion of the proceeds. We worked with PTSA leadership during the past school year to create these procedures, which are aimed at making sure that our students retain a portion of the proceeds for events that they participate in. As a result, if a PTSA fundraiser is an activity that is co-sponsored with ASB, 10 percent – up to $1,500 – goes to the school’s ASB fund. Of course, the ASB fund may be used for many of the things the PTSA supports, such as field trips and sporting and social events.

If the activity is carried out in accordance with all three items listed below, it is a PTSA event; thus the PTSA retains all proceeds:

A) outside of regular school time (after school, evening or weekend)

B) the PTSA does the event planning, organizing, money-handling

C) the event is advertised as a PTSA fundraiser (i.e. Adams PTSA, Ballard Athletics Booster Club).

We also asked when this was approved by the School Board. Answer: It wasn’t – it’s an administrative action. Meantime, a commenter on Seattle Schools Community Forum pointed out that something similar came around three years ago – and was overturned shortly after coming to light.

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Junction crash victim identified: Larry Keller, 1950-2013
August 1, 2013 12:33 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s Larry Keller, the 62-year-old man killed in The Junction last Friday morning when his motorcycle collided with an SUV. Police have not yet released findings in the investigation. But Mr. Keller’s family wanted to thank the community for its condolences, and to “reach out to the driver of the SUV and let him know that we are grieving for him as well as my brother.” That driver was not seriously hurt. Meantime, near the California/Oregon crash site, there is a simple tribute to Mr. Keller:

His sister Lori told us about her brother: Lawrence John Keller was born September 8th, 1950, and grew up in West Seattle, graduating from WSHS. He was a real “people person,” Lori says, known for his loud, contagious laugh. He was a motorcycle and muscle-car enthusiast – the motorcycle he’s on in the photo above is not the one he was riding at the time of Friday’s crash; it was one of several that he owned, including vintage models. He worked in construction and general labor for most of his life. He is survived by sister Lorene Sutherland of Kent and nieces Misty E. Roberts of Issaquah and Camille E. Sutherland of Kent. Memorial plans are not yet finalized.

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West Seattle STEM PTA proposes ‘two viable alternatives’: Fairmount Park, or K-8 at Boren
August 1, 2013 10:51 am
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As West Seattle’s public STEM elementary school approaches the start of its second year, Seattle Public Schools is preparing to make decisions including a permanent home for that school. Two months ago, SPS went public with a preliminary proposal to house STEM in the current Schmitz Park Elementary, once it’s vacated in 2016, when the new Genesee Hill school is ready. This week, the STEM PTA announced two counterproposals, in advance of a round of meetings starting with one that the PTA’s executive board is convening next week: Move STEM to the Fairmount Park building when it reopens, expanded, in 2014, or keep it at Boren and expand it to K-8. The proposals are detailed in this letter, which PTA president Robin Graham shared with WSB on request after circulating it within the school community:

West Seattle STEM proposal


(If you can’t see the embedded document, get the PDF version here.) The K-8 idea has percolated for a while; yesterday, even before the STEM PTA went public with its letter, there were related discussions in this thread on the Seattle Schools Community Forum website. The district’s website has information here about what’s officially called the Enrollment Planning/Growth Boundaries process – including a community meeting planned at West Seattle High School on September 25th, before decisions are finalized later this fall.

UPDATE: As noted in comments, the meeting on Monday is now at Boren, NOT SW Library, so that more participation can be accommodated.

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West Seattle Thursday: Dusty 45s at Hiawatha; free Shakespeare…
August 1, 2013 9:17 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Just in case the clouds really do persist through the day and into the evening – there’s a color splash from last night’s sunset, thanks to Lynn on Alki. Now, a look ahead to the rest of the first of August:

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Today at 11, bring preschool-age kids to the Southwest Branch Library for story time! (35th/Henderson)

COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: Every Thursday this summer, 5-7 pm, drop by for a work party and/or tour at COWS, on the north side of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus – details in the calendar listing.

THE DUSTY 45s AT HIAWATHA: Week 2 of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha; tonight, the stars are The Dusty 45s – free, 6:30 pm, east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut Avenue side, south of SW Lander), with dinner available (bring $ if interested) via the annual benefit barbecue raising money for scholarships to Hiawatha programs. P.S. If the weather gets worse instead of better, the concert could be moved into the gym – check WSB late in the day for updates.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: Greenstage presents “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” free, 7 pm at Lincoln Park. (Where in the park, you ask? From the GS website: “Our performance space is located in a meadow just SW the sports fields and tennis courts.”)

LOTS OF NIGHTLIFE – with tonight’s listings on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar including Duos Lounge, Skylark Café and Club, The Cask, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), OutWest Bar, Terrible Beauty, and The Benbow Room.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes, as August begins
August 1, 2013 7:11 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes, as August begins
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to August, and another murky morning, with the forecast including a chance of showers. Today’s road-work alert: City crews are scheduled to start a two-day repaving project in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW.

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Oh, buoy! King County’s new water-quality monitor off Lincoln Park
July 31, 2013 11:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Beach Drive Blog for first word of this – a new buoy off Lincoln Park that’s gathering water-quality information around the clock. After seeing BDB’s story this afternoon, we asked the county if it had an announcement to share:

A new marine water quality monitoring buoy launched this week by King County will provide a wealth of data about water conditions on Puget Sound to scientists and the public alike.

At more than seven and a half feet in diameter and standing three feet tall with a seven-foot-tall mast, the yellow, donut-shaped buoy is firmly anchored in about 550 feet of water just less than half a mile off Point Williams in West Seattle. The buoy was deployed July 30th by staff with the King County Environmental Laboratory’s Field Science Unit.

The water quality monitoring system on the buoy consists of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, nitrate and depth sensors that collect data measurements every 15 minutes.

These sensors are suspended about three feet below the buoy. Collected data are sent via a cell phone in near real-time to the County’s marine mooring webpage where the public can access the data, at green.kingcounty.gov/marine-buoy/default.aspx.

Water quality sensors and communications equipment were repurposed from a former monitoring system that stopped functioning about one year ago.

The new water quality monitoring system is one of four locations in Puget Sound that collect data every 15 minutes.

Collected data are integrated into the County’s monthly marine monitoring program in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of marine water quality dynamics.

The county link doesn’t seem to be working right now, but this one from the BDB report is – just click the green circle off West Seattle.

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Election 2013: Mayoral candidate Sen. Ed Murray speaks in West Seattle
July 31, 2013 10:24 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

With less than a week until voting ends and vote-counting begins in the August 6th primary, one of the 9 candidates for Seattle Mayor came to West Seattle tonight to speak to supporters. State Sen. Ed Murray, a former West Seattleite, campaigned tonight at the Alki Masonic Temple on the east edge of The Junction. We arrived mid-event, noting about 60 people on hand, so can only note a few points from his speech: Critiquing the incumbent mayor, Murray repeatedly referred to contentiousness – “frayed relationships with regional partners,” “arguing” with the City Council – and framed himself as someone who “brings people together.” Regarding a contentious issue from his last sessions in Olympia, Murray said he was hopeful an agreement for transportation funding would be worked out with legislators before year’s end, or, almost certainly in the next session of the Legislature, because Eastside legislators, he said, don’t need Metro cuts any more than we do on this side of Lake Washington. After he finished speaking, his former fellow state senator, this area’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, took the microphone to close the event.

So far as we know, Murray is the only mayoral candidate with a final-days-of-voting event planned in West Seattle (this one, by the way, was organized by local supporter Nils von Veh, not by the campaign); if you know of anyone else, please let us know so we can include it in the calendar and also cover it – even if it’s just informal campaigning, from doorbelling to sign-waving – editor@westseattleblog.com.

Whoever you’re voting for, next Tuesday night is the deadline to get your ballot in – and if you don’t want to mail it, as noted here two weeks ago, ballot dropoff vans will be available this Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday at West Seattle Stadium and Greenbridge – details here.

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Remembering Dorothy Mae Olding, 1913-2013
July 31, 2013 8:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Dorothy Olding lived to just five months shy of 100 years old, and her family wants to be sure those who know her have heard the news:

Dorothy Mae Olding
December 22, 1913 – July 24, 2013

Dorothy grew up in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High School in 1932. She is preceded in death by husband, Elmer “Shorty” Olding and son, Terry Olding (WSHS ’71). She is survived by her children, James (Carol) Olding (WSHS ’54), Donna (Dick) Bennett (WSHS ’55) and Sally Renee (WSHS ’63). She is also survived by 11 grandchildren (including Scott Davis – WSHS ’76, Ron Davis – WSHS ’78 and Jacki (Davis) Equall – WSHS ’79), 17 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren with another on the way.

At Ms. Olding’s request, there will be no service.

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Followup: Hit-run survivor Sarah says recovery ‘scary’ & ‘humbling’
July 31, 2013 7:12 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Message chalked on Fairmount Avenue during run to show support for Sarah, one week after she was hit)
Two weeks ago, we reported on the crowdfunding campaign to help Sarah – previously known only as “Red” – the runner hit and left by the side of Fairmount Avenue early one June morning, seriously injured, found by two West Seattle Good Samaritans. It was started by Sarah’s friend Ed Lorah, who today sent a message directly from Sarah and her husband:

With very full hearts, David and I want to thank you all for your overwhelming kindness and support. We are deeply and profoundly touched by the warmth and generosity extended to us in this unexpected challenge and chapter.

I am home now and at least able to take on short walks around the house (versus long runs through West Seattle or large work challenges). This recovery is a very slow, sometimes scary, and very humbling process, but with all of the love, patience, and generosity that is being sent our way, I feel better-equipped to meet the challenges. Thanks again for your support and encouragement!

Sarah

More than $8,000 has been raised so far; donations toward Sarah’s medical bills are still being accepted here. The case remains unsolved.

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Driver in deadly Delridge rollover charged with vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment
July 31, 2013 4:35 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

43-year-old William Kelly Edmon is now charged with vehicular homicide and reckless endangerment in connection with last Saturday night’s deadly crash at Delridge and Kenyon. Prosecutors say he was allegedly under the influence while driving the 1988 Chevy S-10 truck that ran a red light at a witness-estimated 50-60 mph, collided with a Honda CR-V, and rolled over, ejecting 43-year-old Michael Fisher, who had been riding in the back of the pickup, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people were hurt in the crash, as we reported Saturday night; one was the CR-V’s 55-year-old driver, the other a 40-year-old riding in the pickup’s passenger seat.

Edmon’s bail remains set at $1 million, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which says his arraignment is set for August 14th. As noted in our Monday followup, Edmon has a record including DUI arrests. More details when we get the full paperwork on this shortly.

ADDED 5:31 PM: The court documents say the bail request is because Edmon is considered a “grave danger to the community and a flight risk.” His record includes 13 instances of driving with a suspended license, dating back to 1990; he was convicted of DUI in 1998 and 2010, with an amended DUI in 2007; other cases listed on the court documents include inattentive driving, ignition-interlock violation, reckless driving, property destruction, harassment, hit-and-run, malicious mischief, and several “failure to appear” charges along the way. Regarding the license suspension, the charging document says, “The defendant’s privilege to drive has been suspended for quite some time.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Car break-in, purse theft, shopping spree’
July 31, 2013 2:48 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

How fast do criminals move? This fast, reports Rich, sharing that surveillance photo with the subject line we used in the headline – car break-in (followed by) purse theft (and) shopping spree:

My wife’s car was broken into this morning around 8:00 am in front of the Link Building in The Triangle, and the thief made off with her purse. In the time it took to notify all of the authorities, she and her male accomplice had already run up thousands of dollars in charges in Westwood and White Center businesses. She and her partner hit Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples, O’Reilly Auto Parts and the Safeway on Roxbury, each time buying several hundred dollars in gift cards and other items (computers, seat covers, floor mats, Kindle covers, framed art…)

The thief is a white female, mid to late 20’s, about 5’5″, with straight shoulder length auburn hair. She’s wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a black hoodie sweatshirt. The most distinguishing item the store clerks have mentioned, because it’s so out of place, is the expensive handbag she’s carrying (my wife’s stolen bag), which is a large brown leather Michael Kors. The male accomplice appears to be late 30’s to early 40’s, balding, with what looks like a beard. He’s wearing jeans and a gray short sleeve collared shirt.

If you have any information on these reprobates, please contact the Police Department at 206-233-2623, and reference case number 2013-272983.

We asked Rich how he got the surveillance images so fast: “When we were shutting down the cards, the credit card companies were telling us where they were active. I found out 25 minutes after they hit O’Reilly, and contacted the manager there. He jumped right on it and found the perps.” He says video from two other stores confirms it, too. P.S. Besides the number he gave – if you see these people, you can also call 911, if it’s a current sighting.

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West Seattle businesses: Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home getting its new location ready
July 31, 2013 12:50 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The only business that is moving because of the 4755 Fauntleroy Way (Whole Foods, etc.) megaproject – Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home – is getting its new location ready. Howden-Kennedy’s Len Burton-Hardin told us during West Seattle Summer Fest, when the Rotary Club of West Seattle (which he leads as its current president) joined us in the Info Booth, that HK had just received the keys to its new home at 35th and Ida in the Gatewood area (formerly Michael’s Barber Shop, whose owner retired), and today he sends word that sign work has begun at the new location, adding, “We hope to be in the temporary location by August 26th.” It won’t be an exact replica in size or scope; Burton-Hardin explains that the funeral business is changing, as families’ needs and interests change, and the need for a large chapel is no longer what it was, so they’ll be focusing the new Howden-Kennedy facility more on life celebrations than somber memorials. They will be opening their office first at the new location, and then adding new facilities on the site. Howden-Kennedy is just seven years short of its centennial!

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Ultramarathon benefiting injured Marines to go through West Seattle and South Park Aug. 11th
July 31, 2013 12:32 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news


View Larger Map

That map represents the West Seattle/South Park leg of a run we have just learned about via this announcement:

Residents are invited to cheer Marines from Always Brothers as they run 100 miles Aug. 10 and 11 from Seattle to Orting and back to honor military heroes from Washington State and to raise money for research of brain diseases and injuries experienced by veterans.

A group of Marines and civilians, some local and some from other parts of the U.S., will depart Leschi at 6 a.m., Aug. 10, and run through Mercer Island, Renton, Maple Valley, and Enumclaw before stopping at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Soldiers Home in Orting. After a short break there they’ll continue along the outskirts of Puyallup and on through Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, South Park and West Seattle, where they will be joined by a police escort as they cross the West Seattle bridge and finish, as a group, at CenturyLink Field at 9 a.m., Aug. 11.

This is the third year Always Brothers, a non-profit fraternal organization made up of Marines, other veterans, and their supporters, has hosted a 100-mile, 24-hour ultramarathon to benefit Marines and their families. This ultramarathon, unique in that it is not a race, will raise money for One Mind for Research™, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to curing brain diseases, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS).

“My original inspiration for working to improve diagnostics and treatments for brain injuries was the incredible number of soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI and PTS,” says ONE MIND’s CEO Gen. Pete Chiarelli (Ret.), Seattle native and former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. “We are proud to be supported by veterans’ organizations like Always Brothers to aid our mission of dealing with these ‘invisible wounds’ in both the military and civilian populations.”

Some runners will run the entire 100 miles while others will run as part of a team, with each team member running 5 to 25-mile legs. No matter the distance each participant runs, the ultramarathon is not a race. Participants will stick together the entire way, raising awareness of brain diseases and the stigma associated with them.

“Running 100 miles in 24 hours won’t be easy, but it’s nothing compared to what soldiers with PTS and TBI face,” says Marine Dan Neilsen, Maple Valley resident and vice president of Always Brothers. “We invite anyone and everyone to cheer us along the route, come to the north plaza of CenturyLink Field at 9 a.m. on Aug. 11 to watch us finish, or support the run financially at active.com/donate/AlwaysBros100OneMind.”

People interested in supporting virtually, or following the runners online can receive social media updates using the hashtag #100forONEMIND on Aug. 10 and 11.

As you can see in the map above, the West Seattle leg will primarily be on West Marginal Way SW, and organizers estimate they’ll be in the vicinity around 8 am August 11th, a week from this Sunday.

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Wildlife notes: Harbor-seal birth on video; octopus decision Friday
July 31, 2013 11:43 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Two notes of interest to sea-life lovers:

HARBOR-SEAL BIRTH: If you haven’t already seen that video – which we first noticed on the website of our friends at KING 5 – it might be of interest: The surveillance system at Elliott Bay Marina, across the bay in Magnolia, recorded a harbor seal giving birth to a pup this past Monday. (In case you wonder before hitting “play,” the video is taken from a distance and does not seem graphic or intrusive, at least to us, and we’re fairly sensitive/squeamish.) KING quotes the harbormaster as saying the mom and pup headed into the water about three hours later. Harbor seals, of course, are the primary species with which West Seattle-based Seal Sitters deal; one more reminder that they have a beach cleanup coming up 9 am-noon this Saturday – this post on their Blubberblog explains how to RSVP and participate.

OCTOPUS-PROTECTION DECISION: This Friday in Olympia, the state Wildlife Commission is scheduled to make its decision about whether/how the Great Pacific Octopus should be protected. Here’s the 44-page presentation that commissioners will review – proposing options from no protection to a complete moratorium on any octopus fishing in Puget Sound. This traces back to last November’s controversy over an octopus caught in West Seattle waters. The young diver who caught it subsequently advocated in Olympia for protecting the species. The decision is scheduled to be made at 1 pm; the meeting will be live on TVW.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Politics; produce; performing; more
July 31, 2013 9:45 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Dan for the photo of the “disappearing” crane (at Spruce, formerly “The Hole,” Fauntleroy/Alaska) as seen, or not seen, on this foggy Wednesday morning. Five highlights for the day/night ahead:

MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE: The Puget Sound Blood Center‘s Bloodmobile is at Our Lady of Guadalupe today, 1-7 pm (closed for a break 3-4 pm), with walk-up donations welcome. (35th/Myrtle)

CIRCUS 101: For ages 6-11 – “spend an hour learning the basics of juggling, balance, slapstick, and clowning with teaching artists from Teatro ZinZanni” at High Point Branch Library, 2-3 pm, free, no registration required. (35th/Raymond)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm every Wednesday, buy organic produce just steps away from where it was grown. Info in our calendar listing. (32nd/Juneau)

ED MURRAY CAMPAIGN RALLY: The only mayoral campaign rally we have heard of in West Seattle in the days before primary election day is happening tonight, on behalf of State Sen. Ed Murray, who grew up in Alki. All are welcome, organizers say, and there is no cost; more info here. 6:30-8:30 pm at the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction. (40th/Edmunds)

OPEN-MICROPHONE NIGHT RETURNS TO MIND UNWIND: 9 pm at Mind Unwind in the Admiral District, it’s the return of the last Wednesday of the month open-microphone night, hosted by Jasmine Azpiri: “Come share your musical talents, poetry, spoken word, story telling, comedy or your sideshow talents!” (2206 California SW)

Lots more on the calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates; alerts for later this week
July 31, 2013 7:11 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
If you’re heading southbound on 99 from north of West Seattle, there’s a problem at the 1st Avenue South Bridge. Otherwise, the major outbound routes are OK – aside from the fog. If you are driving California SW in the Morgan Junction area, it’s the second day for repaving work between Fauntleroy and Graham. Then tomorrow and Friday, crews will move to the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW.

I-90 BRIDGE CLOSURES AHEAD: If you missed the note last night – though this year’s Seafair air show is Blue Angels-less, it still will require I-90 bridge closures each day, this Friday through Sunday. The times are a bit different, too, says WSDOT: 1:15 pm-2:40 pm each day.

TUNNELING UNDER WAY: No traffic effects at this point but “Bertha,” the Highway 99 tunnel-boring machine, is now officially on the job, as of late yesterday. This WSDOT webpage breaks down the sections in which the work will be done.

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Police say body found in railroad car at West Marginal Way plant, but ‘not suspicious’
July 31, 2013 2:44 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Officers are in the 5400 block of West Marginal Way SW right now, waiting for the Medical Examiner to come for a body found in a railroad car, according to the Seattle Police Twitter feed:

Deceased man found inside railroad car at cement factory. Death appears to be accidental –NOT SUSPICIOUS. … Body appears to be several days old … it’s possible death did not occur in Seattle. Identity of the deceased & cause of death to be determined & released by the medical examiner. No indications of foul play.

The address given by police, and shown on the Seattle Fire 911 log, cross-references to the Lafarge plant. SPD also tweeted that the railroad car has been in Eastern Washington recently, so that’s why they say the death might have occurred elsewhere.

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Bring diapers to West Seattle Outdoor Movies this Saturday – help WestSide Baby finish ‘Stuff(ing) the Bus’
July 30, 2013 10:54 pm
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 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Not only is it a family-fun movie this Saturday night at West Seattle Outdoor Movies – “The Muppets” (2011) with a “Wallace and Gromit” short – it’s also a chance to help families all over our area. Saturday’s spotlight nonprofit is WestSide Baby, and you’re invited to help them reach the summer’s “Stuff the Bus” goal by bringing diapers:

WestSide Baby is pleased to be the recipient organization this Saturday evening! Please bring diapers and change for the concessions and raffle! Thanks to the event sponsors and the West Seattle Junction Association, we will receive proceeds from all of the concessions as well as from a raffle conducted by the event organizers. WestSide Baby provides essential items for local children in need and we operate the largest diaper bank in the Pacific Northwest. On July 21 we held our one big community diaper drive of the year, Stuff the Bus 21 and we still need 25,000 diapers to reach our goal of collecting 250,000 diapers from this event. Diapers are expensive and are not covered by food stamps. This week NBC News announced a recent study showing the adverse impact of Diaper Need on maternal mental health. Diapers matter to families in need.

So bring some Saturday night! Even if you’re not staying for the movie (AND the free barbecue presented by West Seattle Christian Church)! WS Outdoor Movies happen in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor), with the film screening around dusk, probably just after 9 pm this week.

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