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Spotlight Stories


  • Remembering

    WSB CO-FOUNDER DIES: Remembering Patrick Sand

  • Zoning

    ZONING CHANGES: Check your neighborhood

  • Kenney

    TOWER LIGHT’S BACK ON: The story behind it

1st report: Confucius Institute celebration at Denny Int’l MS
April 26, 2010 1:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Denny International Middle School in Westwood is abuzz with excitement right now – in two languages – Mandarin and English. Dignitaries from China are part of a high-powered delegation visiting the school right now to celebrate the launch of the Confucius Institute language program – to be based here at Denny until the new Denny/Sealth campus is open a few blocks east. The visit began with a classroom tour (photo above) and is now moving on to a big assembly, with students from Denny, Chief Sealth International High School, and Beacon Hill International Elementary, as well as dignitaries galore (including state schools Superintendent Randy Dorn). This will conclude with processions, including a lion dance, from Denny to the new Denny-Sealth campus in a little more than an hour, and as we mentioned earlier today, that means SW Thistle will be briefly closed in the area. “A very historic day for the state, city, and Seattle Public Schools,” as Karen Kodama, SPS international education administrator, has just proclaimed this to be. More to come! ADDED 3:16 PM: We’ve got lots of photos and video to put in a second report, but while we work on that, here are the Denny and Sealth musicians playing short version of both the China and USA national anthems at the new Sealth/Denny campus as the event ended:

ADDED 4:54 PM: And here are two of Christopher Boffoli‘s photos: First, from the start of the procession down SW Thistle from Denny to the new Sealth/Denny campus – lion dancer/break dancers from Franklin HS, followed by Denny/Sealth musicians – video of the parade will be in our second report:

From the auditorium event, Madame Xu Lin, who leads the Confucius Institute from its headquarters in China, with Superintendent Dorn:

She told the Denny audience this is the first middle-school-based Confucius Institute she has visited on the occasion of its grand opening.

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Viaduct, bridge, budget: Get involved this week with 3 big issues
April 26, 2010 12:01 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Not a lot to preview for tonight – the regular Monday highlights are all on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – but here’s an advance reminder of some biggies later this week:

TUESDAY – ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT OPEN HOUSE: The south-end Alaskan Way Viaduct work starts later this year, and nearby projects such as the city’s Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project are about to kick into higher gear. What does this mean for how you get around? The people with the answers will all be in the Madison Middle School Commons 6-8 pm Tuesday, waiting for your questions.

TUESDAY – SOUTH PARK BRIDGE CLOSURE MEETING: The bridge continues on the county-announced track to permanent closure June 30th. So what’s being done to help drivers and South Park businesses survive until a new one is built – if it’s built at all (financing is still no sure bet)? The draft closure plan will be unveiled and explained tomorrow night at the Machinist Union Hall in South Park (map), 6 pm. More info here.

WEDNESDAY – CITY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING: This isn’t in West Seattle, but so far, it’s the closest scheduled hearing on the city budget, and many people already are rumbling about drastic effects of potential cuts – like the dire warnings we reported recently about what Parks may face. So if you have a strong opinion about ANYTHING in the city budget – what shouldn’t be cut, what should – advocates on a wide variety of issues are all but begging you to show up for this hearing, sponsored by the mayor and City Council, at the New Holly Gathering Hall on Beacon Hill (map). 5:30 pm – signups start at 5.

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11 candidates announced for Seattle Police Chief
April 26, 2010 11:49 am
|    Comments Off on 11 candidates announced for Seattle Police Chief
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The mayor’s office announced this morning that three women and eight men are in the running for Seattle Police Chief, including 3 candidates from SPD – here’s the list:

Judy Bradshaw, Chief of Police — Des Moines (IA) Police Department
Rick Braziel, Chief of Police — Sacramento (CA) Police Department
Adam Burden II, Former Assistant Chief of Police — Miami (FL) Police Department
Ronald Davis, Chief of Police — East Palo Alto (CA) Police Department
John Diaz, Interim Chief of Police — Seattle (WA) Police Department
Rick Gregory, Chief Administrative Officer/Acting Public Safety Director — New Castle County (DE)
Clark Kimerer, Assistant Chief of Police — Seattle (WA) Police Department
Anne Kirkpatrick, Chief of Police — Spokane (WA) Police Department
Jim Pugel, Assistant Chief of Police — Seattle (WA) Police Department
John Romero, Chief of Police — Lawrence (MA) Police Department
Lisa Womack, Former Chief of Police Elgin (IL) Police Department

Here’s the full announcement. Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler is among those on the search committee; video of its meetings, including the most recent one last Wednesday, are archived here.

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Traffic alert: Confucius Institute celebration this afternoon
April 26, 2010 8:45 am
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Confucius Institute celebration this afternoon
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | Westwood

We just got full details of a big event this afternoon that not only is significant for West Seattle students and educators, but also will briefly affect traffic on a busy street, so here’s the heads-up: As part of a celebration of the new Confucius Institute language program based at Denny International Middle School – until the new Denny/Sealth campus is open – there will be two processions from the current Denny to the under-construction Denny/Sealth in the 1:45-2 pm vicinity, and SW Thistle will be closed (map) while that’s happening. The first procession is a lion dance around 1:50 pm; the second will include marching-band members and an international delegation of dignitaries. It’s a short route from Denny to the new campus, but Thistle is often busy between 35th and Delridge, so this is your advance alert. (P.S. For more on the Confucius Institute in West Seattle, here’s the letter Denny principal Jeff Clark is sending home with students.)

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Sanctuary at Admiral wins classification change, of sorts
April 26, 2010 7:50 am
|    Comments Off on Sanctuary at Admiral wins classification change, of sorts
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Almost eight months after The Sanctuary at Admiral applied to officially change the designation of how its church-turned-events-venue building (42nd/Lander) can be used, the city has granted the request, according to this morning’s Land Use Information Bulletin. The new designation is “theater and spectator-sports facility,” but as explained in our story when the application was made public last September, that’s not what it sounds like – it’s just the classification they had to seek for the sort of events they host (weddings, parties, etc.). Now that the decision’s in, there’s a deadline of May 10th for appeals, as explained on the official notice. The Sanctuary became an official city landmark last year.

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Disaster Preparedness Month, night 25: Getting medical help
April 25, 2010 11:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

It’s a two-way story here on the 25th night of our Disaster Preparedness Month coverage: Since the West Seattle peninsula doesn’t have a hospital, what happens if disaster cuts us off from off-peninsula services? First – looking ahead, now is the perfect time to put out the call for volunteers in the Public Health Reserve Corps, to spring into action if necessary in a crisis. Read all about it here. From that webpage, here’s who PHRC is looking for right now:

Licensed medical volunteer roles:

* Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners
* Clinical Social Workers
* EMT/Paramedics
* Licensed Practical Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses
* Marriage and Family Therapist
* Mental Health Counselors – Registered or Licensed
* Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
* Physicians and Physician Assistants
* Psychiatrist
* Psychologist
* Registered Nurses
* Veterinarians

Non-medical, non-licensed support volunteer roles:

* Administrative Support
* Call Center Operator
* Chaplains/Spiritual Care Worker
* Pastors
* Support Volunteer

The PHRC has formal mobilization protocol, but also, the folks behind West Seattle Be Prepared note that in case of crisis, people with medical skills will also be VERY MUCH WELCOME at the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs (here’s the map). One other note from the WSBP site: This page is devoted to information about medical and first-aid help, including a link to Google Maps with the nearest hospital and veterinary facilities.

Nightly reminders: Join the West Seattle Be Prepared group on Facebook … take the 3 to Get Ready challenge (city campaign sponsoring WSB this month) and sign up for the prize pack!

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Seattle Times collaboration: The cost of graffiti vandalism
April 25, 2010 11:52 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That Seattle Times video about Seattle’s “Graffiti Rangers” is part of a package of stories that just hit the Times site, including a contribution from WSB. It’s been seven months since we and other neighborhood-news sites around the area became part of the J-Lab Networked Journalism Project – an experiment to see how small and large news organizations could work together – and while offshoots of that collaboration have been visible here in other ways, such as Times photos we’ve sought permission to run, and links from the Times home page directly to WSB coverage of big West Seattle stories, this is the first official collaborative project. A Times reporter has taken a look at the graffiti-vandalism “big picture” – and six of us partner sites have contributed stories and vignettes about what’s happening in the neighborhoods. You can see it all here.

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West Seattle business news: Knows Perfume sets May 13 opening
April 25, 2010 10:24 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two months ago, we brought you the story of Christen Cottam (photo left) and her new store Knows Perfume, on its way to The Junction at 4536 California SW. Tonight, Knows Perfume has announced via Facebook and Twitter that it’s set May 13th for its grand opening. That’ll be the next West Seattle Art Walk night, by the way, and Knows plans to participate. Here’s our original story on the perfume-store plan.

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Fighting graffiti vandalism: The house by The Bridge
April 25, 2010 9:49 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Announcements

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At the north end of Delridge Way Southwest, one of West Seattle’s four major north-south arterials, sits the house by The Bridge.


View Larger Map

Though it looks for all the world as if it should have a Delridge address, it’s officially on 23rd SW. Technicalities aside, it’s seen by thousands of Delridge drivers who stream by every day on their way to one of West Seattle’s two bridges – the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, aka “the low bridge,” or the newly rechristened Jeanette Williams Memorial Bridge, aka “the high bridge.”

The house is not exactly a beloved landmark. By some estimates, it’s sat empty for more than 20 years – it’s had the same owner for 21. It’s got a history of complaints, most recent one a case closed last summer. One year ago, it was the first stop on a “problem properties” tour organized by Mike Dady, then-co-chair of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council – he’s on the left in this photo, with Councilmember Tim Burgess:

Since that tour, both city councilmembers who participated – Sally Clark was the other – have helped pass code changes that give the city new tools to deal with abandoned, trouble-magnet buildings. Two of the houses on the tour have since been demolished. But the house by the bridge carries on. Because of the code changes, its owner could tear it down – but has never pursued a permit to do so.

Now, where it fits into the graffiti-vandalism photo: A few weeks back, it sported big new tags. A neighborhood activist sent us this photo, which we’ve partially blurred because our policy is generally not to show tags in their entirety:

The puffy lettering was explained at a recent crime-awareness meeting as the work of simple vandals, without a gang connotation. Nonetheless, it needed to be painted out, and at that meeting, Delridge Neighborhoods District Coordinator Ron Angeles said he was pretty sure it was scheduled for a paintout shortly – and indeed, within a few days, it was gone.

For now.

And therein lies the rub, and the brush, for the neighbors. It’s hard work to keep this up. Some tools are available – in Angeles’s office at the Neighborhood Service Center, about a mile south of the house, the “red wagon” is there for the borrowing:

It’s a citywide program – detailed here. But it comes with a long list of caveats – Angeles shows us the printouts while we take photos of the wagon and its contents; they’re in the Paint It Out brochure offered by the city.

Tagging is a crime that stirs passions because it has so many victims – those who are forced to look at it, day after day, until and unless it gets painted out. In a WSB discussion of West Seattle graffiti vandalism, “Pie” wrote: “I wish someone could explain to taggers that the only people they are impressing are the other moronic taggers. 99% of the people in the neighborhood who see the crap aren’t impressed – we don’t understand the idiotic need to spray an ugly symbol on public or private property to “claim” it. If someone could get that through their heads, that no one but you and your idiot rivals cares, I doubt tagging would be long for the world.”

In the same discussion, “Dick” countered: “It’s just paint! Who cares? You shouldn’t associate us graffiti writers with gang members. There’s a very distinct line. They do it to mark their territory. While we do it for the rush, fame, or what have you. Comparing us to real criminals such as drug dealers, murderers, rapists etc is just absurd. You’re really going to get so upset over a millimeter thick layer of paint?! I can’t tell who is the one acting like a child. Us writers, or you guys…”

Without a voice in the discussion, the house by the bridge sits. Today with a big gray patch – from the last paintout – interrupting its faded brick-red exterior; tomorrow? Depends on whether anyone shows up with a spray can tonight.

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Stabbing update: Victim said to be stable; suspect’s bail, $1 million
April 25, 2010 9:18 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

(Friday afternoon photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Two updates tonight in the High Point stabbing case from Friday afternoon — already reported in the comment section following our original story, but we realize not everyone checks back: First, we now have two reports that the 40-year-old victim is in stable condition; we’d checked with police earlier today and that’s also the newest information they had. Second, while we won’t find out about possible charges against the suspect any earlier than tomorrow, the King County Jail Register says the 22-year-old suspect’s bail is set at $1 million. Many people have asked if there’s anything they can do to help the victim and her family; we’ll publish any updates we get along those lines, but haven’t heard anything yet.

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Followup: Pigeon Point’s stolen signpost is replaced
April 25, 2010 5:45 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

Just in time for next Saturday’s neighborhood Spring Clean event, the people of Pigeon Point have a new signpost. It’s been 3 weeks since someone cut down and stole its predecessor, Braveheart spoof and all, but now, Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding shared the photo, telling the PP neighborhood list, “A big thank you to Nick for building the new sign post and to Jim for the new Welcome to Pigeon Point sign that tops it.” (Real-estate-shingle-type signposts like this one are routinely used to promote Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meetings and other major events in West Seattle’s northeasternmost neighborhood.)

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Happening now: Beer Fest benefit at West Seattle Nursery
April 25, 2010 2:09 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Beer Fest benefit at West Seattle Nursery
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

First, the beer part of Beer Fest – Cole and Tyler from Prost West Seattle are at West Seattle Nursery, where proceeds from their beer sales till 5 pm today will benefit the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project (as will a portion of today’s WSN proceeds). They’re selling pretzels, too, and spreading the word about their upcoming World Cup viewing sessions – if Germany or the USA is playing, you’ll see the game at Prost, starting with USA vs. England (11:30 am June 12), provided the game’s not outside legal serving hours (6 am-2 am). Back to today’s nursery event: If you don’t know every little detail about the WSWHP – Dolly and Grace are there to answer questions:

You can also join the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project group on Facebook to stay connected with this effort to eventually get the entire peninsula certified as wildlife habitat – just like Alki was, last spring (here’s our story about the May 2009 celebration).

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Happening now: At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market
April 25, 2010 12:37 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

Got glasses, cell phones or ink cartridges to recycle? The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will gladly take them off your hands. Just go to their booth at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (on the east side, immediately behind KeyBank) before 2. And if you don’t see this in time, they’ll be doing it again later. (P.S. The motorcycle is a reminder of the Kiwanians’ upcoming Charity Poker Run/Classic Car Show, May 15th – more details here.) Glorious day at the Market in the sunshine …

We always link the newest “Ripe ‘n’ Ready” list in our Sunday morning preview story – if you missed it, here’s the link. Never know what you’ll find …

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Happening now: Sports Swap at Lafayette Elementary
April 25, 2010 12:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Sports Swap at Lafayette Elementary
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

In the mood to shop for sports equipment? Till 4 pm, Lafayette Elementary‘s the place to be. They’ve been collecting donated and consigned items leading up to this day, for the first-ever Sports Swap fundraiser, raising money for their ongoing playground project. Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is participating too – in our photo, that’s Adam and Ryan from M2SO. The items on sale are all over the sports map – including kids’ bikes:

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West Seattle business news: Feedback Lounge’s 1st birthday
April 25, 2010 8:01 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

(L-R, Feedback Lounge co-owner Jeff Gilbert, general manager Bradi Jones, co-owner Matt Johnson)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you can make it to the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) sometime today/tonight, go ahead and break out in song: “Happy Birthday,” or better yet, “Birthday,” would be appropriate. Today’s the 1st anniversary of Opening Night for Morgan Junction’s rock ‘n’ roll bar/restaurant.

The Feedback’s proprietors have already published a wry-laughter-inducing list of the Top 20 Lessons from their first year – you can read it on the Feedback site. But there’s of course more to the story, so co-owners Jeff Gilbert and Matt Johnson agreed to clear some time for us earlier this week to sit down and look back, while also looking ahead.Read More

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West Seattle Sunday: Nursery Beer Fest, school Sports Swap, poetry
April 25, 2010 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Nursery Beer Fest, school Sports Swap, poetry
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Pretzels among the plants, photographed last May during West Seattle Nursery‘s first Beer Fest with Prost West Seattle – and this afternoon they’re doing it again, 1-5 pm, with part of the day’s proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project … This morning/afternoon, Lafayette Elementary raises money for its ongoing playground project with its first-ever Sports Swap sale, 9 am-4 pm at the school (map) … At Southwest Library this afternoon, bring your own poetry or your favorite authors’ work to perform and/or simply appreciate, in celebration of National Poetry Month, 2-3 pm (here’s the official flyer) … The former football star nicknamed “The Throwin’ Samoan” speaks at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) at 11:30 this morning, and lunch is part of the deal (full details here) … And of course it’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market day, 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska – with new items including “Rocksalmic Vinegar” (explained in the Ripe ‘n’ Ready list). … More on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!

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Disaster Preparedness Month, night 24: How often to practice?
April 24, 2010 11:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

Just a little encouragement as we enter the final week of Disaster Preparedness Month. Even the pros work to prepare. The scene above is from the Joint Training Facility in the southeasternmost corner of West Seattle – scene of the Fire Muster competition featured here on WSB earlier tonight. That’s an area of the site used for search/rescue training – just last month, Christopher Boffoli shot this video of firefighters participating in monthlong training exercises:

Telling the story in that clip is Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen, who explained that firefighters go through that training annually. But what about you and your family-preparedness plans – how often should you review? At least “every few months” seems to be the consensus. Set a day and time and hold everyone to it. You could alternate practicing earthquake drills, fire evacuation plans, and going over the information about where you would all meet if you weren’t together when disaster struck (this is where West Seattle has an advantage, with the Emergency Communication Hubs – be sure everyone knows “your” location). Don’t just make a plan once, or pack a kit, and forget about it until you realize rustily – oops – should have practiced.

Got questions about this or other preparedness issues? Great place to ask: West Seattle Be Prepared group on Facebook.

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West Seattle coyotes: Seaview sighting
April 24, 2010 11:52 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle coyotes: Seaview sighting
 |   Coyotes | Seaview | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Erin sent this tonight:

Just saw a coyote walking and then running between 48th and 50th on Graham St. [map] He disappeared into a private yard. Just wanted to send out the warning to small-pet owners!

Yes, we know they are relatively common, and certainly no cause for hysteria – here’s info on “coexisting with coyotes” – but every so often, it’s worth the reminder, for newcomers, or people who just haven’t heard about it before. (Then there’s the occasional cautionary tale like this one from Shorewood, too.)

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2 weeks till West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 200 sales!
April 24, 2010 9:24 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

We’ve tallied up the signups for the sixth annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coming up in two weeks – Saturday, May 8, 9 am-3 pm – and it’s another record: 200 sales, even though we didn’t offer postal-mail signups this year. On WSCGSD, you’ll find the sales all over the peninsula, on the map that we’ll have available for download (and a limited number of preprinted hard copies, pickup locations TBA) next Saturday – from individual sales, to organizations, to entire blocks, plus locations with multiple participants (Hotwire Coffee [WSB sponsor], C & P Coffee, Highland Park Improvement Club). The soon-to-open West Seattle Tool Library is participating too – but instead of selling, they’ll be accepting tool donations at 4 locations scattered around West Seattle, and also sending teams out on a Tool Library Scavenger Hunt to find and buy tools at participating sales. We’re organizing the list now as we start making the map, and we’re seeing a variety of block and business sales too – some of the many highlights include a block sale at what participants describe as “the neighborhood squished between the West Seattle Bridge and Avalon Way.” We’ll be highlighting many more in our nightly updates between now and sale day – meantime, one thing you can do to help is to make sure your co-workers, friends, relatives, anybody interested OUTSIDE West Seattle knows about the big day too – we’re advertising in regional publications and sending announcements, but nothing beats word of mouth, and you probably know garage-sale lovers who’d be excited to spend the day in shoppers’ paradise. When we finish the official poster in a day or two we’ll post a link here too so you can print one out for posting at work etc. if you can. Thanks! Keep an eye on WSB, as well as westseattlegaragesale.com and the WSCGSD Facebook page, for updates.

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Caspar Babypants & the co-ops: Sold-out South Seattle CC concert
April 24, 2010 8:41 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Story, photos and video by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

That’s Chris Ballew, aka Caspar Babypants, and his band performing a selection of tunes culled from his three albums, including the audience favorite and anthemic singalong “Little Broken Truck,” at a sold-out benefit concert this morning for the South Seattle Community College Parent Cooperative Preschools scholarship fund.

While today he spends more time playing to legions of adoring kids (and parents), Ballew – now a West Seattleite – came to fame as front man for Presidents of the United States of America, post-grunge, modern-rock darlings of Seattle during the mid-1990s.

The sold-out concert at the Jerry Brockey Center on the SSCC campus attracted more than 550 people — each paying a $5 cover.

All proceeds directly benefited the Mary E. Phillips Scholarship Fund that provides tuition assistance to co-op students. Over the past year, the fund awarded $9,700 to families in need. Co-op Parent Education Instructor Judy Hall tells WSB that scholarship requests have increased over the past year because of the economy.

The SSCC Cooperative Preschools have five sites around West Seattle, listed here; the program is explained here.

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School news: West Seattle High School talent show highlights
April 24, 2010 8:25 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Jay Kelly for sending the link to the video he just posted on YouTube, with highlights of another event we featured in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, the West Seattle High School talent show – multiple performers, less than five minutes! The show was held at the WSHS Theater last night. (Anyone else with clips? We’d be happy to add links, and school news of all kinds is always welcome – westseattleblog.com/contact) ADDED 11:53 PM SUNDAY: Marie sent us a note pointing out this link to three boys’ cover of “Baby,” crowd singalong and all. ADDED 1:28 PM MONDAY: The winners were Vicious Puppies Crew – and ArtsCorps directs us to this clip from their winning performance:

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“What a catch”: Dumpster fished out of the water at Alki
April 24, 2010 7:08 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to WSB Forums member HMC Rich for sending the photos, one of which he headlined “What a catch.” There’s probably also a joke in here about “dumpster diving” – in this case, the dumpster itself apparently did the diving. We don’t know HOW it wound up in the water at Alki, but there it was – right off the heart of the boardwalk near 62nd/Alki – requiring expert intervention:

Rich says, “Seattle Parks and Ken’s Towing fished it out.”

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Practicing today, saving lives tomorrow: Fire Muster competitors
April 24, 2010 6:44 pm
|    Comments Off on Practicing today, saving lives tomorrow: Fire Muster competitors
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video

A long day of competition for more than 200 Fire Cadets/Explorers – future firefighters, as the city called them in the announcement – has wrapped up at the Joint Training Facility in southeastern West Seattle. We dropped by toward the start of the day, first as the participants rallied along with the pros they work with – then as the competition began. It’s not all about simulating dragging people heroically out of burning buildings – here’s the stuff most fire scenes are made of, under-appreciated yet vital – hooking up to the hydrant:

Other skills in which they competed included mass-casualty triage, search and rescue, and a Combat Challenge Relay, described by the city as “four-member teams … carrying a hose bundle up the tower, hoisting a section of hose, search and rescue, and repositioning a charged hose line.” Cadets and Explorers are 14 to 21 years old. ADDED 12:25 AM SUNDAY: Our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times covered the event too.

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