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Spotlight Stories

State alert: Wednesday drill to test oil-spill-response readiness
October 22, 2012 9:45 am
|    Comments Off on State alert: Wednesday drill to test oil-spill-response readiness
 |   Environment | Preparedness | West Seattle news

The state Ecology Department just sent advance word about a drill planned for this Wednesday, off Blake Island on the other side of Puget Sound from West Seattle’s west-facing shores. While Ecology says it’ll be happening on the west side of the island – which would mean, facing Kitsap County – we’re publishing the alert in case unusual boat/aircraft traffic and other sightings catch your eye while participants are heading to and from the site:

Anyone spotting oil skimming vessels, containment boom and other response equipment on the west side of Blake Island in Puget Sound Wednesday Oct. 24 shouldn’t be alarmed.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is testing the ability of six area oil companies to mount a rapid, aggressive and well-coordinated response to a major oil spill in central Puget Sound.

No oil will be discharged during the drill.

Harley Marine Services is sponsoring the multi-party oil spill preparedness drill with its cleanup contractor Marine Spill Response Corp. MSRC is a private, non-profit company supported by oil terminal and shipping company members.

More details, including “who’s participating,” ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Monday: Art; food; networking; more…
October 22, 2012 9:18 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: Art; food; networking; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Saturday morning photo looking toward The Olympics, by Nick Adams for WSB)
Welcome to the final full week of October (already)! Showers are expected later today.

MONDAY ARTISTS: Watercolorists are invited to join this established group, 9:30 am Mondays at Island View Apartments across from West Seattle High School.

LA LECHE LEAGUE: The breastfeeding-support group meets on fourth Mondays (that means today) at 10:30 am, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church @ 7141 California SW.

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub – the rules are, use the weekly theme to make something and bring it to share. This week’s theme: African.

WEST SEATTLE WOMEN IN CHARGE: The business-networking group will meet in the evening for the first time – 6 pm, Freshy’s in The Admiral District. Details and map here.

SEATTLE LUTHERAN OPEN HOUSE: The high school at 40th and Genesee north of The Junction welcomes prospective families to an open house at 6:30 pm tonight.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET: The popular class by Kathy Abascal starts a new series at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) tonight at 7.

FAMILY STORY TIME: At High Point Library, 7 pm.

And as always, there’s MORE on our calendar – for today, tonight, and beyond! Plus, check the WSB Halloween page for special events this week and next.

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Update: New wave of ‘Hum’ reports overnight; CalPortland response
October 22, 2012 9:15 am
|      63 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:15 AM: After starting the day with an inbox full of reports regarding the recurring noise that’s come to be known as “The Hum,” we’ve been checking around. You’ll recall that the last time this happened, the distinctive sound was traced to vacuum-type equipment from an offloading operation at the CalPortland terminal on the Duwamish River, and as reported here last week, they have been working on figuring out ways to muffle it. Is this the same sound? Hard to tell. Our early watch headed in that direction and couldn’t determine conclusively. We checked with Highland Park Action Committee leadership, which has been in frequent contact with CalPortland; they say management e-mailed them over the weekend to say said they have placed more noise blankets around the machine while awaiting a new muffler, and they are working on more interim measures. We have an inquiry out to them too to see if there’s even an offloading operation currently under way. So no conclusions, but wanted to let you know we’re checking on it. The city remains your official contact for noise concerns – find info on that here.

1:08 PM UPDATE: From Pete Stoltz at CalPortland, one of the people we met with at the facility last week along with HPAC leadership:

We are in the process of offloading a vessel that arrived at our Cement Terminal on Saturday Morning October 20th. The schedule for offloading is weather dependent because we cannot offload when it is raining. This ship requires about 84 more hours of offloading operations. We currently predict offloading will be complete on October 25th, weather permitting.

We have been monitoring the posts on the West Seattle blog and read the latest posts from your readers regarding the noise this morning. We recognize their concerns and take them seriously. We also understand that recent noise measurements showing that the equipment technically complies with noise code requirements does not resolve those concerns. That is why we have continued our effort to muffle the noise from the machine since we first learned it might be the source of the “hum” on September 26th.

As you reported in your recent update we replaced one of the two silencers on the machine and ordered a replacement for the second silencer. Unfortunately, the new silencer has to be custom made for the machine, but it is on order and scheduled to arrive and be installed before the next ship arrives for offloading during the first week of December. Due to the physical properties of noise, our noise consultant expects that installation of the second silencer should result in a more substantial reduction in noise than can be achieved with replacement of only one silencer.

In addition to the installation of the new silencer, we fashioned an additional baffle and attached it to the air discharge port and wrapped the old silencer in sound blankets. We also installed additional sound proofing material on other parts of the machine. On Saturday, the crew constructed and installed additional panels around the silencers made of plywood and foam insulation (photo attached), and are continuing to construct and install additional panels in an effort to enclose that area of the machine in an effort to improve the situation.

We appreciate our neighbors’ patience and recognize and understand the frustration expressed in the comments on the blog. We are continuing to take steps to reduce the noise from the machine, both short- and long-term, and will continue to provide additional updates on the status of our progress on this effort.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates on getting around
October 22, 2012 6:58 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Good morning! Starting a new week – and here’s today’s place for your traffic/transit (all modes, land or sea) updates, as well as anything we have to report, updated throughout the day. So far, nothing out of the ordinary.

8:11 AM: We’re watching all the usual sources, from Twitter to cameras, and still nothing unusual on the bridges/roads. One reminder: This is the last week before the West Seattle Water Taxi switches to its fall/winter 5-day-a-week, commute-times-only schedule NEXT Monday. Also, while we’ve had a few comments about bus capacity being OK in the early going, an 8:10 am rider has weighed in via Twitter with capacity concern – adding that to the comment thread.

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West Seattle Bike Connections: Bicyclists, get connected!
October 22, 2012 3:20 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

IMG_4666

(Bicyclists on the low bridge; September 2012 photo by Don Brubeck)
Whether you are a daily commuter, a weekend rider, or somewhere inbetween, a brand-new group called West Seattle Bike Connections invites you to pedal on over and join in. You might have seen the announcement and discussion in the WSB Forums, or maybe on Facebook. And this week, you can check out WSBC in person. The announcement shared by Don Brubeck:

Thursday, October 25 from 6:45 – 9:45 am, rain or shine

West Seattle Bike Connections will be meeting, greeting and treating bike commuters at the West Seattle lower bridge where the Alki, Duwamish, and West Seattle Bridge Trails converge. Homemade cookies, Halloween treats, and information about how to get involved in our mission to Provide advocacy and assistance for those traveling by bicycle to, from, and around West Seattle. We want to give West Seattle a strong voice in the 2012-13 Seattle Bike Master Plan Update.

More info about that – including a WSBC meeting next Saturday – is here.

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West Seattle businesses: Allstar Fitness says operations ‘strong,’ unchanged by Chapter 11 filing
October 22, 2012 1:30 am
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS Health Club/ex-Athletic Club/ex-Allstar Fitness

Management at Allstar Fitness says it plans to send a letter to its members explaining that its recent Chapter 11 filing is not affecting and will not change membership services and operations. We sought out Allstar management/ownership after receiving inquiries from members who said the filing was the subject of rumors; we also have reviewed court documents. The filing in the Western Washington division of United States Bankruptcy Court, under the company’s official name West Seattle Fitness LLC, actually happened in late August, as Allstar general manager Ramon Velasquez pointed out in a conversation with WSB researcher/editorial assistant Katie Meyer. He says the club’s daily operations, including hours, classes, and staff, have not and will not be affected by the proceedings, and that the forthcoming letter to members will include that information. Velasquez told WSB that memberships will not be affected and that there has been no interruption in employee wages, health coverage, vacations, etc. He says the club’s operations are strong and that last month was their best September ever for memberships. (Chapter 11 is a bankruptcy filing for reorganization, as explained on this federal-government page.) Photo: King County Assessor website

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Reader-report roundup
October 21, 2012 9:22 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Six reader reports to share in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup. First, the photo at left goes with this report from David, who originally posted this in the WSB Forums:

(Saturday) we parked in the free parking behind Jak’s and had brunch, then went to the computer store on California – we were parked from about 11 AM – 1 PM. When we came back to the car, the front passenger window had been smashed, and a black Kipling backpack with a smartphone and Nikon digital camera that was on the floor on the passenger side was gone. We have lived here for 6 years and park there all the time – never thought we’d have to worry mid-day, with cars and people all around. Sure would be nice to hear if anyone saw anything or finds the backpack.

Five more reader reports ahead: Read More

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You be the judge: Underwater pumpkin-carving at Alki
October 21, 2012 6:34 pm
|    Comments Off on You be the judge: Underwater pumpkin-carving at Alki
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

(2011 photo courtesy Joyce Merkel)
Just out of the WSB inbox – one of the season’s most unusual pumpkin-carving competitions:

The annual Boeing Seahorse and Marker Buoys Dive Club Underwater Pumpkin Carving will take place Saturday, October 27th at the Alki Picnic Shelter on 63rd and Alki Avenue. Divers will enter the water at around 10:00 AM and will have one hour to carve their pumpkin in a minimum of 10′ of water. We need the public to help us judge the carved pumpkins. Judging will begin shortly after 11:00 AM. Categories are Artistic, Biggest, Scariest, Better off as Pumpkin Pie, and Best use of Sea Life. We hope to see you there!

We’ve added that to the WSB West Seattle Halloween 2012 page; if you’re having a public Halloween-themed event, and it’s not on that page, please send us the info – thanks!

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Next Sunday: Be part of history – 1st Junction Harvest Festival!
October 21, 2012 4:00 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle fashion | West Seattle news

The Junction is decorated for autumn – with wreaths and orange ribbons on lightpoles – and that’s a reminder that we’re just one week away from the first-ever Harvest Festival. 10 am-2 pm next Sunday, October 28, the streets will be closed, not just for trick-or-treating (noon-2 pm), but also for a special out-on-the-street edition of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (same time as always, 10-2), plus a costume parade (11:30 am, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band) and FREE craft/game activities sponsored and presented by local businesses and organizations (10-2). See you there!

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Happening now: Fall/Halloween dog portraits @ West Seattle Nursery
October 21, 2012 3:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

That’s photographer David Walega coaxing Evander Holyfield the boxer/mastiff to pose under the portrait tent at West Seattle Nursery this afternoon. Till 4 pm, you can take your dog to see David there – it’s a benefit for Art For Animals’ Sake, as explained in the WSB Forums. P.S. If you don’t see this till later and therefore missed it, David tells us he’ll be doing pet portraits again December 1-2 at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, also for AFAS – more details on the MU calendar.

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Happening now: Barton Street P-Patch Harvest Festival
October 21, 2012 2:36 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | Westwood

One more hour to join the revelry at Barton Street P-Patch in Westwood, finishing its first full spring/summer season and still growing strong:

The Harvest Festival/Potluck is on till 3:30 pm. If you haven’t seen the garden yet, go check it out … this time last year, they were still in the midst of construction, and now, it’s down to the finishing touches.

If you followed the garden-design saga last year, you’ll recall the successful campaign to save the big tree in the background of that view. The garden’s at 34th and Barton, east of the 7/11 and biodiesel station, south/southeast of Tony’s Produce.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Miles For Midwives on the move
October 21, 2012 12:38 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Miles For Midwives on the move
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

“Looks like we have more strollers than ever!” was one of the announcements just before Miles For Midwives, the first of two fundraising “fun runs” today at Lincoln Park. A group we estimated at around 100 took off from just west of the south parking lot, and headed south/southwest toward the water on a two-and-a-half mile loop around the park. This was the fifth annual Miles For Midwives, but the first at Lincoln Park; its proceeds will benefit two midwivery organizations in our state, the Washington affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Midwives’ Association of Washington State. (Today’s second Lincoln Park “fun run” is coming up at 2 pm, the 5K “Lions’ Loop” for Shorewood Christian School.)

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Another bus change proposed: Sound Transit 560 to/from Westwood only
October 21, 2012 11:23 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Route 560 bus photo by Flickr member Atomic Taco)
You might not think twice if you pass a particular Sound Transit Express bus parked on the southwest side of Westwood Village this Thursday (October 25), 5-7 pm … it’s not there for a break, it’s there for an open-house meeting. ST is taking comments on its draft Service Implementation Plan for next year, including a proposed major change to where you would catch Route 560 to go to Sea-Tac Airport, a route that went through schedule cuts last year (at which time there was also a warning of 2013 changes). Here’s how the change is described in the plan’s “executive summary”:

• West Seattle-Airport Connection: Route 560 (Bellevue-Westwood Village)

The objectives of this proposed restructure include avoiding duplication with King County Metro service, improving ST Express productivity and providing a convenient full-time connection between the West Seattle/Highline areas and Sea-Tac Airport. King County Metro is developing a major transit hub at Westwood Village Shopping Center, located on Southwest Barton Street near the south city limits. ST Route 560 will duplicate service on the new RapidRide C Line between West Seattle Junction and the Westwood area when the new Metro route starts in September 2012. Sound Transit and King County Metro staff have developed a proposal for a Route 560 Westwood-Airport connection that eliminates this duplication and provides a much longer span of service to the airport.

560 currently ends in The Junction, as shown on this map. You can offer comments as well as ask questions at the Thursday open house (the bus will be at 29th/Barton, ST says), and/or via e-mail at fastride@soundtransit.org. The formal public hearing on all the proposals in the draft plan is scheduled for 12:30 pm November 1st at Sound Transit’s downtown board room (details here).

P.S. The proposal also is summarized in a Sound Transit newsletter – see it here.

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West Seattle Sunday: P-Patch party; pet portraits; 2 Lincoln Park fun runs; more…
October 21, 2012 8:56 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Sonya, taken during Saturday’s Alki Stairway Walk)
The forecast suggests a showery Sunday. Here are some of your options, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

PLANTING PREP AT LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, join the Friends of Lincoln Park work party as another area of Lincoln Park is prepared for next month’s Green Seattle Day. Details here.

BREAKFAST WITH THE EAGLES: You’re invited to a hearty breakfast at the West Seattle Eagles‘ hall, 9-11:30 am (membership not required – more info here).

MILES FOR MIDWIVES: Fundraising fun run/walk at Lincoln Park, 10 am, preceded by a 9:45 am “lollipop run” for kids (onsite registration is underway now). Starts in the south end of the park, by shelters 1-2.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round! 44th/Alaska in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm. (And remember that NEXT Sunday, it’ll be in the middle of California SW, as part of the first-ever Harvest Festival.)

BREAKING THE SILENCE: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, the community is invited to join an event at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) helping understand, educate about, and prevent domestic violence. 3940 41st SW; more info here.

BARTON P-PATCH HARVEST FESTIVAL AND POTLUCK: The P-Patch’s construction is almost complete – after the first big season of gardening – and its new arbor will be unveiled as part of a community potluck celebration; bring something to share! 1-3:30 pm, Barton and 34th.

PET PORTRAITS, PET TAGS, ANIMAL MASSAGE: It’s all part of a benefit for Art for Animals’ Sake this afternoon, with photographer David Walega, at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon), 1-4 pm – details in this WSB Forums post.

DAKOTA PLACE PARK CLEANUP: The day after the indoor open house, the outdoor area of Dakota Place Park is scheduled to get autumn TLC from volunteers, and you’re invited to help. California/Dakota, 1-4 pm.

SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL FUN RUN: Second fun run of the day at Lincoln Park! 2 pm – details here.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Fauntleroy Church hosts a free “blessing of the animals” at 3 pm in the sanctuary (9140 California SW; details and ground rules here).

‘BENEATH A WING DARKENED SKY’ WITH THE CABIRI: Dinner-theater cabaret (for audience members 16 and up) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm. Tickets available online.

Find more choices for today – on our calendar!

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Video/photos: Duwamish Alive! volunteers, from the river to the greenbelt
October 20, 2012 11:34 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Video and photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Twice a year, hundreds of volunteers join forces across multiple sites along the Duwamish River and its watershed for Duwamish Alive!, a day devoted to caring for the vital waterway used by wildlife as well as industry and recreation, as well as the area that feeds into it. Today was the fall edition, with work parties at five sites; WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams went to the West Duwamish Greenbelt on Pigeon Point, to T-107 Park on the river, and to the Brandon Street Natural Area on Longfellow Creek; some of the sights are in the video above, and some in photos like these:

That’s Masha Sukneva working with an orange honeysuckle, while others worked on mulch:

More ahead:Read More

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Schmitz family asks School Board to keep Schmitz Park Elementary open
October 20, 2012 7:54 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(County Assessor’s Office photo of Schmitz Park Elementary, undated)
On November 7th, the School Board is expected to approve the final wording for the BEX IV Levy to go to voters next February – and its current draft calls for building a new Schmitz Park Elementary on the old Genesee Hill School site, to open in 2015. District staffers have not presented a plan for what would subsequently happen to the current crowded Schmitz Park school, but last week, West Seattle’s board rep Marty McLaren said the namesake family had told her they were against closure of the school, which is on land donated by the family. Today, we received a copy of the letter that Schmitz family members have just sent to the board; you can see it here, and we have transcribed it below:

October 19, 2012

Seattle School Board
(mailing address)

Subject: Schmitz Park Elementary School Proposed Closure

*The Schmitz Family of West Seattle strongly opposes the proposed closure of Schmitz Park School, for reasons detailed below.

*The Schmitz Family of West Seattle strongly supports the “One Voice” recommendations developed by the coalition of West Seattle PTA leaders.

For the sum of one dollar ($1.00) and over 50 years ago, Dietrich Schmitz, Emma Schmitz Hartmann, Dr. Henry Schmitz and Ferdinand Schmitz II deeded to the Seattle School District seven-plus acres of land adjacent to Schmitz Park for a new Schmitz Park Elementary School. The intent of this generous “gift” was for there to be a public elementary school on that land in perpetuity – and the Schmitz family requests that this “gift” be honored and respected by you as today’s elected School Board members.

The letter continues after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle weekend scene: Josh Lucas at Fleurt
October 20, 2012 7:28 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Actor Josh Lucas shopped at Fleurt in The Junction this afternoon, reports starry-eyed proprietor Sam Crowley, who shared the photo with this report:

Dreams come true. My favorite celebrity crush – Josh Lucas – stopped into Fleurt this morning for his grandma’s birthday flowers. Picked out some candles too. … His wife was in Fleurt a few weeks ago and told Josh how much she loved it, and told him to get the flowers from me.

Lucas’s career is detailed on this iMDB page; he has Puget Sound roots, including relatives in the region and Gig Harbor High School as his alma mater (1989).

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West Seattle weekend scenes: ‘Alki From Above’ stairway walk
October 20, 2012 6:18 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks to West Seattle walkers/writers Jake and Cathy Jaramillo for sharing photos from this afternoon’s “Alki From Above” stairway walk, the third in a three-walk series presented by Feet First and West Seattle InMotion. They report about 20 people joined them; above, the group walked along Alki Avenue below the Bonair stairs; uphill, here they are on the 53rd SW stairway:

And on 51st SW past College Ravine:

The Jaramillos publish the Seattle Stairway Walks website, and have written the Seattle Stairway Walks book, due out in February.

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New rental (and classes!) venue: Dakota Place open house a hit
October 20, 2012 5:46 pm
|    Comments Off on New rental (and classes!) venue: Dakota Place open house a hit
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Even in the mid-afternoon rain, the historic California Avenue substation building – part of Dakota Place Park, which itself was dedicated three years ago – drew a crowd to its open house today. And it wasn’t just the free barbecue –

– though that was a hit too! Hiawatha Community Center is organizing some classes here through Seattle Parks, but it’s also available to rent for parties and meetings. As Hiawatha’s Tiffani Melake showed us, the big room has two screens, and the smaller room had a wall-mounted flat screen – there’s sound equipment too.

With the 1930 building – capacity up to 215 – all spruced up, the park is now complete. Here’s how to find out about renting it: For banquet rentals Fridays-Sundays, call Seattle Parks at 206-684-7254; for weekday rentals, Hiawatha CC is handling them at 206-684-7441.

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Followup: Dog that bit North Delridge woman deemed ‘dangerous’
October 20, 2012 1:06 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

Last weekend, we reported on a North Delridge case involving a woman bitten in the face by a neighborhood dog – injured so badly, she had to go to the hospital. The Seattle Animal Shelter had not cited the dog’s owner at the time, pending more investigation; we just talked again with SAS’s enforcement supervisor Ann Graves, who says they determined the animal met the criteria to be deemed a “dangerous dog” and cannot be allowed to stay in city limits. She says her agent just went out this morning to check back, and verified with the owner that the dog is no longer in the residence or in the city. If it comes back, Graves says, the owner will be charged with a criminal misdemeanor (here’s the full text of the city law) – so if neighbors see it back in the neighborhood, they should report it. (She added that the 10-day in-house quarantine of the dog, to check for rabies, “ended without incident.”)

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Happening now: Learn, watch, hang out @ ‘Reach Out’ emergency-preparedness
October 20, 2012 11:11 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

11:11 AM: Fun morning so far at “Reach Out” – the volunteer-organized preparedness event happening till 2 pm at Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th). We and others who are tabling and talking are in the school cafeteria; next door in the gym, presentations are happening almost continuously – here’s what’s still ahead:

Now till noon – JoAnn Jordan with SNAP! (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare)
Noon-12:30 pm – Lunch break (Bigfood has a truck outside, selling lunch)
12:30-1:15 pm – Seattle Red Cross
1:15 pm-1:35 pm – Seattle Animal Shelter
1:35 pm-2 pm – Seattle Fire Department

Many other organizations are here too – including the volunteers behind the West Seattle Be Prepared Emergency Communications Hubs:


View West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs in a larger map

Each of those locations is a “hub” where preparedness volunteers will set up in case of disaster – know your nearest one, so you can go there and find out if all other channels of communication are down. Again, this is on till 2 pm – and we’re told a fire truck just arrived (for visits, not crisis) – looking out the window, we see it’s Engine 37 from Sunrise Heights:

More to come!

11:57 AM: Just wrapping up, the SNAP demonstration with JoAnn Jordan:

SNAP is a city-sponsored program with workshops around the city all year – keep an eye on their calendar to see when one’s coming to West Seattle. Back outside, Engine 37 continues to be a hit:

12:50 PM NOTE: Still time to come visit – the event’s on till 2, and the “preparedness with pets” presentation from the animal shelter at 1:15 pm is up next.

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West Seattle Saturday: ‘Reach Out’; Halloween carnival; Scream & Skate; more
October 20, 2012 8:32 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: ‘Reach Out’; Halloween carnival; Scream & Skate; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Friday photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Will we see orcas again today off West Seattle shores? Impossible to say – until and unless somebody reports a sighting. Whales can’t be scheduled – but lots of other things can, and here are some of them, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (note, these are just highlights – follow the calendar link for MUCH more):

RESCUE THE ROSES! 9 am-3 pm, an event previewed here earlier this week – about 60 rose bushes remaining in what was a long-beloved rose garden at 61st and Beach Drive are offered for $10 each (raising money for a church group) – you dig.

EMERGENCY REACH OUT! Many reasons to come to this community-volunteer-organized West Seattle preparedness expo at Arbor Heights Elementary 10 am-2 pm today – demonstrations, life-saving info, and from 10 am-noon, a free espresso cart with treats. We’ll be there covering it “live” – preparedness is one of our favorite topics.

WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Interested in attending independent K-8 Westside School (WSB sponsor)? You’re welcome to visit 10 am-noon today. Details and map here.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILY SYMPOSIUM: Workshops, resource fair, and more, for families attending any schools, any grade. Free! 10 am-3 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) – details here.

DUWAMISH ALIVE! The twice-yearly mega-work party happens at five sites on and near the river today, 10 am-2 pm. If you want to show up as a last-minute volunteer – the sites are listed/mapped on the official website.

SKI AND SNOWBOARD SWAP: 10 am-6 pm at the VFW Hall in The Triangle, presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters.

FAMILY FUN AT HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER: Louie Foxx’s One-Man Side Show is the featured Family Fun entertainer at 10:30 am – $5/person at the door.

MUSICAL STORYTELLING – AND EDUCATORS’ DAY – AT BARNES & NOBLE: Two special events today at the Westwood Village bookstore – 11 am, musical storytelling with Katy Webber of Musikal Magik. Rhythm instruments are provided so you can dance and play along! … Also, Educators’ Appreciation Day, noon-4 pm: “Lots of freebies for the classroom, a raffle, the opportunity to learn about fundraising, and info about Nook!”

ALKI STAIRWAY WALK: Third of three guided West Seattle walks with Feet First, 1-3 pm, meet at the bus stop near 49th and Spokane – this one is guided by Cathy and Jake Jaramillo of Seattle Stairway Walks.

DAKOTA PLACE PARK OPEN HOUSE – INDOORS! The newly renovated historic substation building is ready for classes as an extension of Hiawatha Community Center, and ready for rentals too – come see its makeover! 2-5 pm open house today (and we’re told there’s a catered barbecue, too). California and Dakota.

NON-TOXIC HOUSE CLEANING: 2 pm workshop at Delridge Library (Delridge Way just south of Brandon).

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: 4-8 pm in and around the school hall (34th and Myrtle), all welcome! Details on activities (from bingo to bouncy houses) here.

SCREAM AND SKATE! Pathfinder K-8 fundraiser skating session 5-7 pm at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center – prizes for the best costumes! More info here.

TURKEY DINNER: You’re invited to join in at the West Seattle Eagles‘ Hall tonight, 5:30 pm, $8, proceeds benefiting the Children’s Hospital Guild. More info here.

WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK HARVEST DINNER/AUCTION: Tonight’s the year’s biggest fundraiser for the WC Food Bank, whose service area includes part of West Seattle as well as WC and surrounding areas, at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center. Sold out! (But you can donate to WCFB any time by going here.)

ANGELS ON THE RADIO, AN EVENING OF WINE, WIT, AND SONG: Music and Siren Song Wines (WSB sponsor) at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, 6 pm, featuring Seattle band Willow & The Embers and writer Nicole Hardy. Details here.

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Dakota Place Park: Get the inside story on Saturday
October 19, 2012 11:24 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Many big events tomorrow (Saturday) – including a sneak peek inside a newly remodeled building that belongs to YOU:

(Photo courtesy Tiffani Melake/Hiawatha Community Center)
The city-landmark substation building that is part of Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota north of The Junction) is finally fixed up and now featuring classes and events as a satellite of Hiawatha Community Center. It’s also available for rentals, and on Saturday you can explore for yourself during its first public open house – 2 to 5 pm on Saturday. Read about the substation’s history here. (The park itself, minus the then-awaiting-remodeling building, was dedicated almost exactly three years ago; the substation building had been empty for almost three decades, since the last power equipment was removed.)

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