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Spotlight Stories


  • Shooting

    DEADLY SHOOTING: Man killed in Triangle

  • Schools

    SCHOOL CLOSURES? Big crowd for WS board rep

  • Orcas

    SEE THEM SWIM: Orca mom & baby video!

Planning a West Seattle Sunday Market in Highland Park: Want in?
May 24, 2010 9:20 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

“Much like the Fremont Sunday Market, in miniature.” That’s how Tiffany Silver-Brace describes the West Seattle Sunday Market she is organizing for the lot at the Highland Park Improvement Club, starting June 27th and continuing every Sunday, 9 am-1 pm, through the summer. She’s looking for interested vendors, explaining:

Items to be sold must be either locally grown or produced eggs/bread/flowers/fruit/veg, etc… Other items to be sold must be hand-crafted, and can be anything such as clothing, household items, art, health and beauty supplies, etc. Vendor tables will be $25.

I am really hoping that this will be successful, as it will be located on a street with high traffic volume and would be the only market of its kind in the area.

A Facebook page for the West Seattle Sunday Market is now up and running – you can see it here. If you are interested in selling at the market, Tiffany also can be contacted at 206-919-2758 or silverbrace@gmail.com.

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Want to talk about the Water Taxi? ‘Town Hall’ set for June 9
May 24, 2010 7:37 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

That’s the view from top-deck aft on the way back to West Seattle aboard the Rachel Marie less than an hour ago (8-minute crossing!). Though it’s been running almost two months now, this was our first chance to ride the King County Water Taxi this season (we’d toured the boat at a Ballard shipyard while renovations were under way). Whether you’ve tried the new vessel/new dock or not, you probably have some thoughts about the service – and as we noticed in a flyer posted on board, a Town Hall is coming up in West Seattle to give you a chance to talk about it with King County Councilmember and Ferry District Board Chair Jan Drago. It’s set for 7 pm June 9 at Alki Community Center; here’s the official flyer, from the KCFD website.

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Helicopter circling over West Seattle
May 24, 2010 5:31 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

Don’t yet know what it is – except it’s not TV news, and not Guardian One. 7:23 PM NOTE: No conclusions reached (we tried calling Boeing Field and couldn’t get a live person on the phone) – but do note there’s a disaster drill involving state ferries tomorrow.

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Colman Pool to open Saturday – but Parks plans still in flux
May 24, 2010 3:47 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

This Saturday, outdoor Colman Pool at Lincoln Park is scheduled to open for the first of three “pre-season weekends” – with its full season scheduled to start June 19th. The operative word here is “scheduled.” There’s no question it will be open this weekend (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – Memorial Day). After that – same limbo as other programs, awaiting word of what midyear budget cuts Seattle Parks (and other city departments) will have to make, and what will and won’t be affected. As noted here last week, that also means that the question of whether city wading pools will or won’t open is also up in the air – even though a schedule has been published, the city website pointedly notes that the pools’ fate is pending Parks’ midyear-cut announcement on June 1st (one week from tomorrow). So in the meantime, if you love to swim, be sure to visit Colman during the three-day weekend – the special “preseason” schedule is on this webpage.

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Also tonight: Diaper donations and “Mommypreneur” networking
May 24, 2010 2:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Also tonight: Diaper donations and “Mommypreneur” networking
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Local moms who are also entrepreneurs are invited to an event tonight at WestSide Baby, 5:30-7:30 pm, in conjunction with Help A Mother Out, described by WestSide Baby as “an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers, children and families in need one diaper at at time.” This event is a run-up to a big event coming up at The Little Gym in West Seattle (WSB sponsor) on June 5th (2-4 pm) as part of HAMO’s diaper drive to collect 20,000 diapers. So tonight, bring a box of diapers and/or products that you’d want to offer as a door prize at the June 5th event.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car found nearby – on its side
May 24, 2010 1:44 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

David Rosen from SlickPix Photography shared that photo of an SUV found tipped on its side, empty, just after 2 am today at 46th/Brandon (map). Police now confirm that was a case of car theft – Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James tells WSB the vehicle was stolen from the same block where it tipped after hitting a parked car. He adds, “A male suspect wearing black was seen fleeing on foot after the accident to a waiting white van.”

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Volunteers make the world go ’round! See how to celebrate them
May 24, 2010 12:52 pm
|    Comments Off on Volunteers make the world go ’round! See how to celebrate them
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

trophy.jpgThe next round of West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards – co-sponsored by the Southwest District Council, Delridge District Council, and WSB – is about to kick off. We’re giving you a week’s advance notice here so you can start thinking about the volunteer(s) you think need to be publicly celebrated – unsung heroes whose efforts make West Seattle such an incredible place to live, work and play. Nominations (using a simple online form) will open June 1st and close on June 21st. We’ll have the form linked here at WSB; but just so you know, we don’t have any role in judging – that’s handled by a volunteer committee with reps from the district councils. Once they’ve made their choices, the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards will be announced and presented to the recipients during the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Concert in the Park on the Hiawatha Community Center east lawn, the evening of July 20th. (Wondering who’s already been honored? Here’s our report from the 1st round of awards last summer; here’s our report from the 2nd round, announced during last December’s West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting.)

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James Vann at Axia Financial: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
May 24, 2010 12:15 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, James Vann with Axia Financial. As is customary, new sponsors are invited to tell you about their business: James is a licensed independent contracting Home Mortgage Consultant and grew up in West Seattle. James has been in the mortgage business for more than 7 years. He is a 4th-generation graduate of West Seattle High School, with immediate family still living in WS; James and his wife Andrea live with their 1-year-old son Jackson in Kirkland. His family used to own Vann’s Restaurant, which was located in the Junction, open for more than 60 years. James holds his mortgage license under the umbrella of Axia Financial LLC, based in Bellevue. Locally owned and operated, Axia Financial is a distinguished mortgage banker dedicated to assisting clients with their mortgage-financing needs. James prides himself in offering excellent customer service and adheres to the highest ethical standards. In today’s current marketplace, it’s imperative to have several different options for securing financing. The In-House mortgage platform that Axia provides makes for a smooth closing and streamlined process. To go along with In-House underwriting, doc drawing and funding teams, our correspondent lender list includes Bank of America, Chase, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Flagstar, Suntrust, and Axia Financial. This list doesn’t include the long list of lenders that Axia can also broker out to if needed for a specific scenario that doesn’t fall within our In-House lenders box. He has an array of mortgage services that he can provide which include Conforming and JUMBO loans, FHA, VA, commercial loans, No Money and Low-Money down payment options, construction and Rehab loans, Reverse Mortgages and FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER strategies and financing. James adds, “If you or any friends, family members or co-workers are looking to buy a new home and/or refinance their current home loan, please don’t hesitate to call me to do a quick mortgage analysis. This only takes a few minutes of your time and could save you hundreds of dollars monthly. If you mention WEST SEATTLE BLOG, I’m offering a reimbursement of your appraisal fee through closing or donate $250 to a school of your choice.” (A loan constitutes any first or second lien residential mortgage. Loan completion constitutes funding and disbursement of the loan through a title company. The school of choice may not be affiliated with Axia Financial, LLC.) Here’s how to reach James Vann425-605-8507 or james.vann@axiafinancial.com.

We thank James Vann and Axia Financial for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

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New King County tax idea to counter possible crimefighting cuts
May 24, 2010 10:54 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Late last week, various citywide-news outlets reported the future was uncertain for County Executive Dow Constantine‘s proposal to raise the sales tax to avoid cuts in criminal-justice services. Today, there’s a new proposal, this time from the King County Council – involving property taxes. It would ask voters to reduce four existing levies and approve a new one specifically to pay for criminal-justice programs. Five council members are listed as sponsors, including Councilmember Jan Drago, who represents West Seattle; you can read the full proposal here. Read on for the official county news release:Read More

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West Seattle Monday: Baby Story Time, SIFF @ Admiral, parks …
May 24, 2010 6:34 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: Baby Story Time, SIFF @ Admiral, parks …
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Nothing huge on today’s calendar … but some events of note: At the Southwest Library, it’s Baby Story Time at 11:30 am (full details here) … The Seattle International Film Festival‘s week of screenings at Admiral Theater continues with films at 7 and 9 there tonight (here’s the schedule) … And if you want to find out the latest on how the Parks and Green Spaces Levy money’s being spent, its volunteer Oversight Committee meets at Parks HQ downtown tonight at 7. … More of tonight’s events, from bingo to live music, are listed here.

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West Seattle 5K postscript: Sightings, results, acknowledgments
May 24, 2010 2:07 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Our main report on the West Seattle 5K, with video of the winners and of all starters, can be seen here)

Just crossing the finish line at Sunday’s West Seattle 5K – like any race/run/walk – is an accomplishment. From left, with the big smiles, that’s Irene Stewart (former School Board member), Sharon Nickels (wife of former mayor Greg), and Stewart’s husband Bruce Butterfield (Fauntleroy Community Association president). Just before the finish line, we also spotted Stroller Strides‘ Athena Frederick (and, of course, kids in stroller), whose business includes workout classes that routinely meet on Alki:

More than a few kids crossed the finish line under their own power, like this little girl:

We didn’t see her number, but since we can see this next guy was 111, we know that’s 8-year-old Oliver, who finished in 29:33:

For everyone who wore timing chips, the results are available now online – see them here. For those too impatient to wait for that, there was quite the crowd around the posted result sheets immediately afterward:

We reported the top female and male finishers, and showed video of their finish-line crosses, in our Sunday morning coverage. Another note – according to the online results, the oldest finisher was 81-year-old Philip Norton of Seattle, crossing the line in 58 minutes. And last but not least – on behalf of the organizers, the West Seattle High School PTSA, Jo Bader sent out an acknowledgment note last night – including our fellow co-sponsors, dozens of volunteers, and more – click ahead to read it:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 stolen cars to be on the lookout for
May 23, 2010 11:17 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

2 stolen-car reports to pass along – who knows, one could turn up on your street. First, from Robert:

1997 Honda Civic EX stolen from driveway in Delridge/Puget Ridge neighborhood (21st Ave SW) Thursday approx. 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
586 XVC: white, 2-door, tinted windows, sunroof. If spotted, please dial 9-1-1- then text me at 206.462.2972

And from Amber:

Our 1999 Dark Green Chevy Suburban WA License Plate 117-SPU was stolen from our driveway last night 5/22/10 from 3200 block of 46th Ave. SW. Our other car was broken into the same night but not taken. I am hoping someone took it for a joy ride and has left it in some other neighborhood, It is not new so
not sure why they would want it; otherwise it is a gas guzzler, but came in handy for our use for carpooling.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: A visit, a fundraiser, a rainbow
May 23, 2010 10:59 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: A visit, a fundraiser, a rainbow
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | WS & Sports

West Seattle Soccer Club players at Hughes Playfield in Sunrise Heights got to meet a pro this afternoon – that’s Seattle Sounders FC defender Zach Scott and son Kalei, who visited as WSSC’s spring season wrapped up. (WSSC’s Tim McMonigle previewed the visit and fall registration – which starts June 1 – in this WSB report on Saturday.) Also from this afternoon:

That’s part of the mini-bazaar set up inside the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ in The Junction, for the season’s first big Pencil Me In For Kids‘ fundraiser. Creative Memories, Party Lites and Tupperware purveyors all were on hand, donating part of their proceeds to the nonprofit that raises money to buy school supplies for kids in need. Find out more about PMIFK here. Meantime, one last Sunday afternoon view:

If you were outside – perhaps at Seattle Summer Streets on Alki, as we were (here’s our afternoon coverage) – you probably got caught in the 4 pm-ish drizzle. It was a classic sun-rain mix, and as shown in Max’s photo, it brought along a rainbow. (The forecast for next week looks fairly mixed, so far, too.)

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Followup: Memories of West Seattle restaurateur Neal Saffer
May 23, 2010 9:15 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

After publishing an item Thursday night about the death of former Beach Drive restaurateur Neal Saffer, we heard from his daughter Diane, who shared the photo you see at right, along with a little more history about the restaurant her father ran for a quarter-century (the second paragraph was her response to a followup question):

My parents first moved to West Seattle in 1950. My grandparents, Waite and Crystal Quesnell, originally owned and operated the restaurant, and my parents Neal and Marge Saffer took it over the year of the Seattle World’s Fair.- Century 21. Over the years, many teenage boys had their first job at Quesnel’s and many of those young men continued to be lifelong friends of my parents. All the many waitresses have also become lifelong friends of my parents. My parents closed in February 1986 and was converted to living quarters, where my parents resided until 2004 when they moved to Port Orchard. …

Quesnel’s restaurant was at 4703 Beach Dr SW – the tall tan building on the water side of Beach Drive, at the foot of Jacobsen road. The restaurant was on the main floor, with bathrooms and storage & prep room in the basement, and we lived upstairs from the time I was 12 yrs old. In her later years, my grandma Crystal lived in the little house next door at 4701 Beach Dr until she passed away. The restaurant had a great view of the water, and the islands. It was a small, family dining room with 12 tables, and my dad cooked steaks on a charcoal broiler. There was a window at the charcoal broiler and people would look in and my dad would say hi to them when they first walked in the door. My mom was the hostess, and I began working there at 12 as a bus person, and later a waitress. They also owned The Shack Drive-In on Harbor Avenue and the grocery store next to it. Some West Seattle residents will remember those as well.

(That’s the same Shack from which Java Bean Coffee‘s sign came.) Mr. Saffer died last week of heart failure at age 86 and was buried Friday at Dignity/Forest Lawn east of High Point.

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Alki ‘car-free day’ aka Seattle Summer Streets, report #2
May 23, 2010 1:58 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Our first report on “car-free day” is here; our coverage of the West Seattle 5K is here)

(South/east end of the Alki closure; if you are trying to drive westbound, you’ll be detoured up California)
Back to the beach after a break for other news. Good news: Sunny! Not-as-good news: Admiral is of course taking the detoured traffic, and much busier as a result; parking is challenging too. Take the Water Taxi shuttle from The Junction (or elsewhere) if you can – but do come down; it’s a lot warmer and great weather for a walk, ride, etc.

2:52 PM UPDATE: The section of street across from Coastal is the busiest – with a skateboarding ramp, a tent-covered inflatable “surfing” zone, and other activities.

A short distance east, there’s live music outside at Christo’s on Alki (and a few blocks west, a band was playing outside at Bamboo Bar and Grill, too).

3:22 PM: Craziest thing we’ve seen so far actually looked crazier in the prep than in the execution – the “skateboard slingshot” in that short clip. Otherwise, just a steady stream of foot-powered folks going by, except for the Water Taxi shuttles and local residents’ cars in the eastbound inside lane:

3:46 PM UPDATE: Another clue it’s not completely balmy – the beach-volleyball players are wearing long pants:

Also notable, it’s the first car-free day/Seattle Summer Streets since the 53rd Avenue Pump Station project (which started in early 2008 – the first of these events was in September 2008, second in May 2009):

Still time to take a walk in the middle of the street – which doesn’t reopen till 5. The breeze is picking up, though, so bring a jacket/sweater. 5:36 PM UPDATE: All over now … couple more things to add, first, our video of the Dizzy Crabshaw Band outside Christo’s at mid-afternoon:

And the chalk art outside Coastal:

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High-school baseball: Seattle Lutheran = Final 4; WSHS season ends
May 23, 2010 1:27 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Two local high-school baseball-playoffs notes: Seattle Lutheran is in the 2B Final Four, scheduled for next weekend in Yakima – thanks to Dan I for the tip; the SLHS scores page on SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner) reports they beat Northwest Christian (Lacey) 8-0 and Napavine 8-2, both games yesterday. Meantime, a heartbreaker for West Seattle High School yesterday, as they lost to Enumclaw 13-8 in Mount Vernon (here’s the Times‘ report).

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Also happening: Bikes, plants, rummage sales, “Pencil Me In…”
May 23, 2010 12:55 pm
|    Comments Off on Also happening: Bikes, plants, rummage sales, “Pencil Me In…”
 |   Gardening | How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

A few more things happening in addition to Summer Streets (car-free day) on Alki, which began with the West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage here) — Just after 11, we stopped by Holy Rosary Church, to check on Bicycles for Humanity – volunteer Karin Goncalves said they were accepting donated bikes till about 12:30, but if you missed the window, as noted here earlier, a few other churches are part of the effort till late today (see the list here). Also right now, a couple of big fundraising sales, including plants from Furry Faces Foundation:

They’re raising money for animal advocacy (including spaying/neutering) with plant sales till 4 pm at 3809 46th SW (map) – adoptable pets are there today too! Also from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:

*PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS’ FIRST FUNDRAISER OF THE SEASON: 3-5 pm at West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW) – Creative Memories, Party Lights, Tupperware with 10%-50% of proceeds going to Pencil Me In For Kids (mission explained here).

*SALES AT COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE AND SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: Both have rummage sales. CSWS (22nd/Roxbury) till 4 pm, Shorewood (on 28th SW just south of Safeway) till 5 pm.

*FINAL PERFORMANCE OF “TELL ME ON A SUNDAY”: 3 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.

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West Seattle 5K, report #1: And the winners are … everybody!
May 23, 2010 9:35 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(added 12:12 pm: clip shows the race start, 1st runner to last walker, about 2 1/2 minutes in all)

ORIGINAL 9:35 AM REPORT: The West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) has 1,120 runners this year, 75 more than last year, according to the semi-official count from organizers. We’re waiting now for the first finishers. The sunbreaks are mostly gone but it’s still dry. 10:03 AM: Runners and walkers are still coming across, 39 minutes later. Here’s the first finisher, crossing the line, announced at 16:08:

That’s David McCulloch, finishing a full minute faster than last year, when he was the 6th male. The first female runner crossed at 17:41- Lauren Breihof from Western Washington University. (added 11:07 am, here’s video of her finish – the audio is incorrect, she was indeed the 1st female) – 16 seconds better than her time from last year, when she was the 3rd female:

(photo added 11:36 am) Shortly after the first finishers crossed, the inflatable start/finish line started to lose a little of its air – so volunteer power came to the rescue!

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
When the results are available online (they’re not yet, as of just past noon) – you’ll find them linked here. We’re also reviewing our photos for more memorable moments and will add some in a second wrapup later!

10:40 AM: The 5K’s over and all its trappings are being packed up; the Summer Streets festivities officially begin around 11 – it’s still dry, but chilly, so bundle up!

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Alki ‘car-free day’ 2010 – Seattle Summer Streets – report #1
May 23, 2010 8:32 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Before we start adding photos and updates, we start with the reminder: 9 am-5 pm, it’s the third annual city-organized “car-free day” on Alki, starting with the West Seattle 5K walk/run (co-sponsored by WSB; final signups are under way now; the race itself starts at 9:20). The closure/detour map is here. Don’t let a little drizzle discourage you. 8:53 AM UPDATE: At the beach now – and so are sunbreaks! Also happening, as West Seattle 5K emcee Marty Riemer (see photo just added below) just announced, people who ignored the “no parking” signs are about to get towed (see photo just added above).

Race time has just been revised to 9:25 – all the better, since more sun is coming out with each moment that goes by.

11:04 AM: See our race coverage in this separate story. Meantime, the Summer Streets setup is complete – here’s the skateboard ramp in place across from (and sponsored by) Coastal, and some other exhibitor/participants including Mountain to Sound Outfitters:

We’ll launch a separate Summer Streets story for the afternoon.

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West Seattle preparedness: “Rattle in Seattle” drill a success
May 23, 2010 8:14 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle preparedness: “Rattle in Seattle” drill a success
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

The preparedness volunteers who gathered at Ercolini Park to join in Saturday’s “Rattle in Seattle” drill (explained here) admit at least one person was a bit startled – walking by and overhearing radio transmissions, incoming and outbound, like this (listen closely – it’s only 10 seconds long):

That particular “catastrophic failure” was supposed to involve the 35th/Myrtle reservoir/water tower site. But that was just one of numerous hypothetical catastrophes reported in the drill, which took on an old-time disaster-movie feel after you’d been watching/listening long enough – gas-station fires, and more. Most important of all – each of these volunteers was tracking what was being reported in her/his neighborhood:

They are the “focals” – key contacts/organizers – for the Emergency Communication Hubs around West Seattle, mapped on the website we’ve told you about many times before, West Seattle Be Prepared. If a true disaster happens and takes out standard lines of communication, overwhelming city services (that line was heard at one point during the drill, “City services are maxed out”), volunteers will set up at the “hubs,” equipped with the radios they used during this drill, to join a communication network that not only will make sure authorities are aware of what’s happening, but also will communicate, neighborhood-to-neighborhood, what’s needed – so that other volunteers can be dispatched where they’re needed, whether their expertise is first aid, search-and-rescue, or something else.

The Communication Hubs are also where you will be able to go to find out what’s happening and to seek help – and that’s why it’s important to have them in all neighborhoods, so that you or someone representing your family/block/etc. wouldn’t have to go far, even if you had to walk or bike. But they only work through volunteer power – and there’s room for lots more help – start by joining the West Seattle Be Prepared Facebook group – if you’re not on FB, there’s contact info on the main WSBP website too.

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Reminder: Bicycles for Humanity today – got one to donate?
May 23, 2010 6:49 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Today’s the day for the Bicycles for Humanity donation drive, collecting bikes for South African villages where they’re urgently needed – and dropoffs start even earlier than the original announcement we published earlier this month. 7:30 am-noon, you can take a bicycle to West Seattle’s Holy Rosary Church to donate. (Other churches in Seattle are collecting later, in case you miss that window.) If you missed the explanation of what it’s about, the news release is ahead:Read More

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Crime Watch: Plant thief; cars prowled; 2-time break-in victim
May 22, 2010 11:08 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three Crime Watch notes to pass along – click ahead:Read More

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Update on bicyclist Doug Wood, injured in Admiral crash
May 22, 2010 8:32 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That clip from the West Seattle-based site Bike Hugger was pointed out to us by Liz, sister-in-law of Doug Wood, identified by family members as the bicycle rider who was rescued from beneath a car after a collision on Admiral Way Thursday morning (here’s our original report) – the clip features him being interviewed on his “banana” bike. Liz e-mailed today to say, “I just spoke to his wife (my sister Laura) and Doug is doing well today. His three youngest children (he has six altogether) were able to visit him today for the first time, which lifted his spirits greatly.” We then got a short note later from Laura Wood, who provided a link to more information about her husband, focusing on his work with pianos. (She had joined the discussion in the comment section following our Thursday report [here and here], as did the wife of the driver with whom her husband collided.) Formal results of the investigation into the crash aren’t likely to be available for quite some time.

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