(This morning’s high tide met high winds! Photo by David Rosen, SlickPix Photography)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, as we say farewell to winter:

FIRST SPRING SUNSET: Spring equinox arrives at 4:21 pm our time – watch at Solstice Park with Alice Enevoldsen!

REMEMBER, THE VIADUCT’S CLOSED AGAIN: Alaskan Way Viaduct shutdown scheduled till 6 pm; the closure often ends earlier on Sunday, so watch here (and our new Facebook page – “liked” it yet? – plus Twitter) for updates if it does reopen sooner.

FLOWERS AND FOOD AT THE MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska),

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUMMAGE SALE: Garage Rock rummage sale at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 11:30 am-6 pm.

BOWLING BENEFIT FOR AMANDA KNOX DEFENSE FUND: 2-4:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, a community fundraiser for the costs her family continues to incur. (Official flyer here). Questions? Al or Julie at tootdelafruit@gmail.com or almco@aol.com

ZUMBA FOR WEST SEATTLE YMCA PARTNERS WITH YOUTH: Spend up to two hours Zumba’ing 5-7 pm tonight (or any portion thereof) to raise money for the Y initiative that supports so many programs in the community – details in our preview.

LIVE MUSIC TODAY/TONIGHT: Jamtime at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm … Locöl hosts the Jacob Lakatua Quartet, 8 -11 pm (here’s the Facebook invite) … Note that Skylark Café and Club is NOT presenting live music tonight – instead it’s closing after brunch for floor repair (open till 3 pm).

(Low-tide sights from Machel Spence earlier this week – “Super Moon” rises 7:30 tonight)
VERY busy Saturday! Here are some highlights of things to do/places to go, starting with a traffic alert – all from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

VIADUCT CLOSURE: The Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed till 6 pm tonight, scheduled for closure again 6 am-6 pm Sunday, for inspection/maintenance/quake-gate testing.

RAVINE CLEANUP: Fairmount Ravine Preservation Group will sponsor the 19th Annual Spring Cleanup and Reforestation of Fairmount Ravine. Gather at 8:30 for delicious Tully’s coffee and hot cocoa along with donuts. Cleanup is usually completed within two hours. Meet your friends and neighbors at the top of the ravine Forest St. and Fairmount Ave., just east of Hiawatha Park). Beware that currently there is utility construction at this intersection. You can walk through intersection but need to park nearby. Wear boots and gloves. Bring a pruning saw if interested in removing ivy from trees. We extend a special invitation to those who use the ravine to access the waterfront; please donate an hour of your time to keep this greenbelt healthy and pristine.

‘STREET SCRAMBLE’: Alki Street Scramble, registration starts 8;30 am 62nd/Alki, details here

ADMIRAL CLEANUP: Admiral Neighborhood Association Adopt-A-Street cleanup, meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), 9 am (breakfast snacks/beverages and sack lunch provided, tools and vests too)

BUY BOOKS, HELP STUDENTS: Sanislo Elementary‘s 4th Grade Used Book Sale, 10 am-2 pm (Facebook event page here), raising money for their camp fund.

ATOMIC BOYS’ ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Atomic Boys in the Admiral District celebrating its third anniversary: Food, Fun & Games! Nifty drawings for kids of all ages! (yes, grown-ups too) Wear your Atomic Boys shirt for something neat-o! (10 am-6 pm)

WEST SEATTLE NESTFEST: Remodeling workshop including WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and WEDesign, Senior Center of West Seattle presenting information about remodeling with family needs in mind, 10 am (registration information here)

‘KEEP SEATTLE BEAUTIFUL’ CLEANUP: This one started as the “Clean Up Your Act, Seattle” cleanup, meet 8111 First Avenue South, 10 am, with King County Councilmember Joe McDermott joining in and Waste Management (whose HQ is at the meeting site) providing free breakfast.

FUNDRAISER CAR WASH: Rainbow Girls of West Seattle are holding a car wash on Saturday, March 19, 2011 from Noon to 3:00 pm at the Alki Masonic Hall – 4736 40th SW. Donations are gladly accepted. Rainbow is a service organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20.

BOOK SIGNING: Barnes & Noble is proud to welcome members of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society to our West Seattle store for a book signing event on March 19th. Society members will be signing copies of their latest “Images of America” series book, about West Seattle, 1-3 pm

CELEBRATE PURIM: Kol HaNeshamah welcomes the community to its Purim celebration Saturday evening, March 19. We will have a child-oriented Celebration and Megilla Reading from 6:00-6:45: come hear the story of Purim told with the help of puppets!!! At 7:00 p.m. come see “Shushan on the Roof” as our congregants retell the story of Purim in costume and set to the music of the famous musical. Dress in costume (there will be prizes) and bring Hamantashen to share if you like (there will be more prizes for the most original or unusual!). For those who would like to help transform the Purim celebration into a force for good, bring small change to go into our tzedakah grogger! Kol HaNeshamah shares space with the Alki UCC and is located at 6115 SW Hinds St.

SCRABBLE FOR CHARITY: Play Scrabble, raise money for nonprofits, weekly tournament at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 3:30 pm

FREE BOAT SAFETY CHECKS: Coast Guard Auxiliary boat safety checks at Don Armeni boat ramp, 3-5 pm

And that’s not even everything – check the calendar for more.

(Look who joined Lincoln Park beachcombers on Thursday! Photo shared by Trileigh Tucker)
NO SCHOOL! No classes in Seattle Public Schools today.

FREE GUIDED ECO-HIKE: Nature Consortium guided eco-hike in West Duwamish Greenbelt, meet at 14th and Holly, 1 pm

FREE MOVIE NIGHT: The Highland Park Improvement Club presents another Movie Night! Doors open at 6:30 pm, movie starts at 7. Popcorn, candy and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Our movie license does not allow us to publish the movie title, so here’s this month’s hint: Adam Sandler’s 2008 movie for kids. Movies will be shown in the dance hall, with chairs available for seating. Or, bring blankets, pillows, folding chairs (that won’t scratch the floor) and camp out on the floor!

ALL ACCESS AT YOUNGSTOWN: ALL ACCESS Winter 2011 showcase (+ Massive Breakdance Battle presented by Arts Corps)
* 6 pm – 8:30 pm
* Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW
* Free, All- Ages, Open to families and community!
* Massive Breakdance Battle Pre-Lims, Hip Hop Dance, Songwriting, Rock School Showcase, FEEST organic food +knowledge, Hip Hop emcee/music showcase, DIY Fashion
* *Donations for arts programs accepted at the event
Each quarter ALL ACCESS classes end with a showcase, where youth have an opportunity to demonstrate their hard work on stage in the Youngstown theatre, with their families and the community in attendance.

‘DISTRACTED’: The second weekend of the newest production by ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction – full details here.

TRAFFIC REMINDERS: Northbound 1st Avenue South will be closed overnight at SW Spokane (under the Spokane Street Viaduct), 8 pm-5 am. And don’t forget that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 6 am-6 pm BOTH days this weekend for its twice-yearly maintenance checkup.

BENEFIT WINE TASTING: As noted here yesterday, Bin 41 in The Junction will donate all proceeds from the $5 fee for its 5:30-7 pm tasting tonight to Japan quake relief.

BRANCHING OUT: 8 am-2 pm, Certified arborists (including WSB sponsor Stonehedge Tree Service‘s Mark Harman) are pruning 10 White Oak trees in Lincoln Park as a gift to the city – they get together annually to celebrate Arbor Day, but explain that time in April would be bad time for pruning, so they’re out today. Plant Amnesty will be there too with information about proper tree care. This is just south of the ballfields.

OPEN HOUSE: Join nurse practitioner Chris Porter, ARNP, for an Open House today at his new clinic, 3623 SW Alaska, 206-937-5747, 12:30 – 6 pm.

ANNEX WHITE CENTER/NORTH HIGHLINE TO SEATTLE? The Regional Development and Sustainability Committee of the Seattle City Council considers whether to move toward a North Highline annexation election this fall, City Hall, 2 pm (here’s the agenda)

SPECIAL SERVICE: At Kol HaNeshamah: Special Friday evening Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire and to acknowledge the struggles around labor issues occurring in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the US, we will focus on Jewish ethical teachings on labor and the dignity due the laborer during our Shabbat service.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

We received that mysterious photo taken at Walking on Logs on behalf of “The Fork.” Ready to dig into corned beef and cabbage, perhaps? It’s all tied to whythefork.org, promising the mystery will be revealed next Monday. Till then, grab your lucky shamrock, and here goes the morning preview.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is one of the places where the wearing and drinking of the green will be the order of the day. On the border between West Seattle and White Center, Mac’s Triangle Pub is planning a St. Patrick’s Day night to remember, starting at 6 pm (here’s the Facebook event page).

WATER TAXI BACK ON SCHEDULE: After almost a full day without West Seattle runs, because the Rachel Marie was filling in for Melissa Ann on the Vashon run, everything returned to normal mid-afternoon Wednesday, so it’s expected to be back on schedule this morning.

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The May 22 “car-free day” (Seattle Summer Streets) is among the agenda items for tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting, 7 pm, Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds).

BRUSH UP AND LISTEN UP: High Point Library presents a “Clean Your Teeth!” Story Time! AmeriCorps volunteers Zara Friedman and Emily Johnson, who work at a local clinic, will present a dental care themed story time 11:30 am-12 pm. The presentation will include a mix of stories, songs, games, and props to teach young children about dental care. It’s a free program for caregivers and children ages 3-5.

WEST SEATTLE CELLARS WINE TASTING: This week’s free Thursday night tasting, 5:30-8 pm, focuses on French wines.

OPEN MIKE NIGHT: It’s that time again at Freshy’s Coffee. You get a discount on wine and beer if you show up to perform; it all starts at 7 pm, and “anything that pertains to open mike is welcome.”

ECSTATIC DANCE: Every Thursday, 7:30-9:15 pm, VFW Hall at 3601 SW Alaska , freeform movement to recorded music from around the world. More details – www.ecstaticdanceseattle.com

And even more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar …

(Hummingbird nesting at The Kenney – thanks to Katie Krause for sharing)
Fairly quiet day on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Tonight’s marquee meeting is the Delridge District Council, which always precedes its 7 pm business meeting with a broader 6 pm discussion about issues and ideas (you’re invited to that too). On the business-meeting agenda are the issues raised by medical-marijuana dispensaries, particularly the one that was briefly reported to be moving into a commercial space in the 5200 block of Delridge (here’s our report on that from last weekend) and a briefing on the county’s sewer-overflow-control “green stormwater infrastructure” plan for part of Sunrise Heights and Westwood. Last week we reported on early testing work related to that, including drilling next to Westside School (WSB sponsor) – we later received a photo of how that work drew an audience:

(Photo courtesy Maryann Petrocelli)
The Delridge District Council’s meeting is as usual at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way.

FREE WORKSHOP: Feel overwhelmed when it’s time to find and choose a home-service professional? Tonight the Savvy Seattle Women take on the topic, and you’re welcome to be there, 6 pm @ Prudential NW Realty in Jefferson Square. More info online.

‘ONE WORLD’ DISCUSSION: The facilitated-discussion series continues at the Senior Center of West Seattle with gender as today’s topic: “How have male and female roles changed over time? In what ways have you experienced sexism, personally or societally?” 10:45-noon.

SOLVING SCHOOL CROWDING: Before its regular meeting tonight, the Seattle School Board has a work session focusing on Capacity Management – how to deal with issues including school crowding, which is a particular challenge for several West Seattle elementary schools right now (including the ones where new portables have arrived to help handle the overflow). The public is welcome to observe work sessions, though there’s no public-comment period; 4 pm, district HQ in SODO.

(Monday morning rainbow photographed by Kenna Klosterman from Alki)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Learn about SPD’s Victim Support Team, and current area crime trends, 7 pm at Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster).

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: AKA Food Fest – come renew/start your FCA membership and enjoy bites from local eateries, 6 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California SW.

POETRY WORKSHOP: Starts at 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – details here.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN ENROLLMENT: Open enrollment starts for Seattle Public Schools, continuing through April 15. Here’s how it works.

VIADUCT PROJECT BOSS @ ROTARY: Rotary Club of West Seattle lunch with guest speaker Ron Paananen from the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, noon at Salty’s on Alki

ROCK ‘N ROLL TRIVIA: Rock music trivia every Tuesday night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm.

(Squirrel photographed in Lincoln Park by Machel Spence)
To assist you in feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, despite the hour of sleep lost to Daylight Saving Time’s arrival, we start with a photo of a critter who actually is (or was at the time of the photo) bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Now on to the highlights:

TRAFFIC NOTE: If you are headed north of downtown, note that a section of Highway 99 north of The Viaduct/Tunnel is closed until about 11 am for the St. Patrick’s Day Dash.

NATURE CONSORTIUM BRUNCH: The weekend full of fun fundraisers continues with the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium‘s annual fundraising brunch, noon at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE FINALE: Last day of cookie sales at local stores – details here (including link to find the sale nearest you)

AWARD-WINNING FARMERS’ MARKET: As reported here last week, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Nonprofit of the Year – and you can enjoy it today, 10 am-2 pm, in The Junction (44th/Alaska).

‘DISTRACTED’ MATINEE: At 3 pm, you can catch an afternoon performance of “Distracted” at ArtsWest in The Junction – full details here (P.S. Everyone’s invited to see ArtsWest announce its next season lineup, tomorrow night at 7:30 pm.)

DONATION-DRIVE REMINDER: Today’s a great day to shop for something to give to the donation drive for foster kids reported here last Thursday, organized by West Seattle High School senior Kellen Gearon – details and dropoff sites here.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

(Shared by Kolus Photo – juvenile bald eagle photographed along the Beach Drive shoreline)
Not only do you “spring forward” tonight – you’re going to need wings to get from event to event, today and tonight. But it’ll all be worth it. Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME KICKS IN TONIGHT (2 AM SUNDAY): This is the “spring forward” half of the old “spring forward/fall back” saying – at 2 am Sunday, it becomes 3 am Sunday, as we move into Daylight Saving Time.

RUMMAGE SALES, SECOND AND FINAL DAY: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) continues its mega-sale 9 am-3 pm, West Side Presbyterian Church continues its mondo-sale 9 am-2 pm.

FUNDRAISING GALAS: Doors open for Pathfinder K-8‘s annual auction at 5 pm, Brockey Center at SSCC (more info here) … At Kenyon Hall, doors open at 6:30 pm for the West Seattle Community Orchestras’ first-ever fundraising gala – dining, dancing, music, fun – a few tickets are left; info’s here.

DELRIDGE PLAYFIELD CELEBRATION: 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, join the party officially dedicating this newly renovated field – music, speeches, refreshments, soccer, and disc games are planned for the festivities.

GARDENING: Class, lunch and work party at and for the Community Orchard of West Seattle, starts at 10 am, topic “Annual Planting” – details and RSVP info here. Not only is that all happening on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus, so is the Community Harvest Seed Swap and Sale, 2 pm-4 pm, lots more information online at www.gleanit.org/seedswap2011.html

ASK AN EXPERT AT THE WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY,: Also at the north end of SCCC, Ask-an-Expert at the West Seattle Tool Library, for the Do It Yourselfer! 10 am-noon, north end of South Seattle Community College campus (6000 16th SW) – details on the Facebook event page

WALK OR PARADE FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY: The Sound Steps St. Patty’s Day Walk rounds the track at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW) at 10:30 am (register at 10 am, walk up to 3.1 miles). Families welcome! … Downtown at 12:30 pm, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade includes West Seattle-area participants (“Divine Marigolds” production, Denny International Middle School musicians, Holy Family School reps) – get the route map and other info here.

SEE A SHOW! Second and final performance of Lafayette Elementary‘s “Music Man Jr.” at 7 pm at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW); ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) is in the first weekend of “Distracted,” 7:30 pm.

MEET YOUR LEGISLATORS: Town Hall meeting with the 34th District’s delegation to Olympia (Sen. Sharon Nelson, Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon) at High Point Community Center, 10-11:30 am

CLASSICAL CONCERT: Music Northwest presents Low Notes: Music for Cello and Horn, 7:30 pm at SSCC’s Olympic Hall.

CRYSTAL-ART EVENT: At Alki Arts, 2-7 pm, details here

LAST WEEKEND OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES: Find them at local stores – (details here including link to find the sale nearest you)

Like pretty much everyone else, we will be continuing to watch the Japan earthquake situation throughout the day (and for many days to come), and we’ll have local information as relevant – relief efforts, etc. – but in the meantime, there is a lot of West Seattle information and news to continue to share. Here are the key events from today’s calendar:

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES: It’s that pre-spring weekend when two local churches have their big rummage sales – Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW; WSB sponsor) from 9 am – 4 pm today, 9 am – 3 pm tomorrow; and West Side Presbyterian (3601 California SW) from 9 am-5 pm today and 9 am-2 pm tomorrow. Each of these sales has hundreds of people contributing, so you never know what you might find.

GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY AUCTION: Tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), 5:30-9 pm, it’s the fundraising auction for Gatewood Elementary‘s PTA, “Bids for Kids.”

PET ADOPTION: Seattle Humane Society is at Pet Pros West Seattle (Westwood Village) with adoptable pets, 2-5 pm.

WINE TASTING : At Bin 41 wine: Wine tastings from around our state are spotlighted this month, tonight from Woodinville Winery, Patterson Cellars, with winemaker John Patterson, 5:30-7 pm.

FRIDAY NIGHT SKATING: Every week at Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens), it’s Friday Night Skate. Cost is $3 per person. You may bring in your own clean skates or borrow them from us. Time is from 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. For more information please call 684-7430.

GAME NIGHT: Uptown Espresso (4301 SW Edmunds) in The Junction, 6-11 pm, bring your own board games or try the ones on hand at the coffee shop.

(Photo of sea lions on barge buoy, taken from Water Taxi on Tuesday, by “expatom”)
We’ll be tracking the weather all day – good news is that it’s expected, so far, to calm down in time for tonight’s monthly West Seattle Art Walk. We’ll feature a few highlights in a preview later, but in the meantime, you can review featured artists and venues by going to the WSAW website at wsartwalk.com … Also tonight: The Holy Rosary Parents Club-presented screening of the documentary “Race to Nowhere” at Admiral Theater, 6:30 pm … Southwest Seattle Business and Professional Women has a movie screening tonight too, benefiting its scholarship fund – “Iron-Jawed Angels,” 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center … Afternoon events: All are welcome to say goodbye to longtime Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow, now days away from retirement, at a 1-3 pm party at the precinct (cake and coffee) … At City Hall, the Parks and Seattle Center Committee‘s 2 pm meeting today (agenda here) has items of interest to West Seattle, including updates on the citywide Golf Plan and the Parks and Green Spaces Levy (including purchase of the site for Puget Ridge Edible Park) … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

(UPDATED THURSDAY AFTERNOON with reply from the fire truck’s owner)

Don’t know yet how long it’s been gone or where it moved off to – we hadn’t traveled 44th SW in The Junction for at least a few days – but the semi-famous front-lawn fire truck is now gone, exactly one month after we published this story after hearing from owner Gary Elliott. He had said the city gave him a deadline of March 15th (city records confirm this) to either move it or get a permit – or face fees and fines – and that he intended to move it, and move it, he seems to have done. (He had told us it ran “perfectly” when he drove it from the northwestern Oregon that sold it to Seattle, 45 mph all the way.) We have sent him a note to inquire about its fate. We’ll update this story with any reply we get; meantime, here’s the truck as shown in our original December report:

THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Short reply from truck owner Gary Elliott just came in:

Removed the fire truck Tuesday, started right up and drove it to Belfair, where we are going to be in the Tahuya Day parade? I hope the city likes the brown lawn.

(Belfair is in Mason County in the South Sound; the parade is in July.)

(‘Distracted‘ cast members photographed by Michael Brunk for ArtsWest)
Feeling “Distracted“? The newest production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) may be your antidote. The Lisa Loomer-authored play opens tonight, 7:30; ArtsWest in The Junction – details here … Tonight, the 34th District Democrats‘ monthly meeting is headlined by City Council President Richard Conlin, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy; find the agenda here … “You don’t have to be a Master Gardener to join us,” say the West Seattle Garden Tour Committee‘s leaders – dig into this year’s planning tonight, 6:30 pm (e-mail info@westseattlegardentour.com for the location) … West Seattle CoolMom talks garden planning at 7 pm, C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor; 5612 California) … Feel like dancing? Balorico Studios has a new “spinning and styling” class for women starting tonight at 7 at Kenyon Hall, get info here … Or, like singing? Karaoke debuts at The Bridge tonight, 9:30 pm, with Tony B … If you’re looking for tips on how to look for work, another free job-search workshop is 4:30 pm today at South Seattle Community College‘s WorkSource center, focusing on interviewing basics … And we should also note, this is Ash Wednesday. LOTS more on the calendar – just go here.

(Crocuses photographed by Tina Doherty)
Welcome to a soggy Fat Tuesday (here’s the forecast). It’s also “second Tuesday,” which means community meetings – the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s agenda has a long list of items including a briefing on the Lafayette Elementary playground project, 7 pm at Admiral UCC Church (California/Hill), while the Fauntleroy Community Association board meets at 7 pm in The Hall at Fauntleroy (also site of the FCA’s March 15th Fauntleroy Food Fest annual meeting and membership drive next week), and the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Association has organized a Block Watch meeting for tonight – whether you are a Block Watch captain or you have a neighborhood that needs a Block Watch, you’re invited to meet with neighborhood reps, SPD reps, and West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network reps, 6 pm at Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) … The Kenney has an open house for its Ballymena independent-living units tonight, with a tour and beverages, 5 pm (RSVP to Karmen, 206-938-6941) … At High Point Branch Library (35th/Raymond), 6-7:45 pm, members of Poetrybridge will be on hand to comment on poets’ works in progress – call to register (206-684-7454) … Capers Home in The Junction kicks off its new Design Department with free classes for customers, including one at 11 am today, “Divining Your Style” (register by calling 206-932-0371) … Also at midday today, another brown-bag talk on “Developing Personal Safety Nets,” Alki Arts (call 206-659-0665 to register) … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

Two warnings from the WSB inbox tonight: First, an odd telephone call that turns out to be a scam attempt that’s been going around a while; second, a Craigslist post for a West Seattle rental that yielded a bizarre reply. Read on for details on both:Read More

(Photo by Kenna Klosterman, from last week’s storminess; rain is forecast to return tonight)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: New Block Watch captains are invited to the last multi-neighborhood training session before longtime Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow retires this month – it’s at 6 pm tonight, Southwest Precinct meeting room, RSVP information on the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network site … The Little Pilgrim School at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) starts accepting registration forms for next school year today, with morning/afternoon classes for 2-5-year-olds (206-932-5600) … Local business owners are invited to check out Happy Hour at the new restaurant/lounge Avalon while networking with the Westside Professionals (WSB sponsor), 5-7 pm (2940 Avalon Way) … With construction of the new South Park Bridge starting soon, a community celebration is planned tonight, 6-8 pm at the Machinists Union Hall, 9135 15th Place S. (flyer here) … Monday night Karaoke with Kelli debuts at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) tonight, 9 pm … More on the calendar!

The din of reminders probably won’t start up before tomorrow or Tuesday, so we’ll mention it tonight, since things are quiet: Daylight Saving Time begins next Sunday morning (already!). At 2 am March 13, you set the clock forward an hour. Then on November 6th, you’ll turn it back (“spring forward/fall back”). Some history, from NASA.

(Just 2 weeks to the spring equinox! Photo by Lisa Stencel)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

MAYOR VISITS WEST SEATTLE: Got something to ask/say to Mayor McGinn? Q&A at Southwest Library at 1:30 pm will conclude his Sunday afternoon West Seattle visit, which starts at Roxhill Park at 12:30 pm. (Here’s our preview from Friday.)

GET YOUR CAR WASHED, HELP SEND STUDENT SINGERS TO CARNEGIE HALL: 9 am-4 pm, rain or shine, Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir members and friends are washing cars for donations to help fund their upcoming trip to sing at Carnegie Hall this Easter – you’ll find them at Alki Auto Repair (2504 Alki SW), $10 suggested donation.

RIDE YOUR BICYCLE WITH SPOKESPEOPLE WEST SEATTLE: Meet at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) for the Spokespeople WS 11 am ride through West Seattle’s main business districts along California SW, including a stop at the WS Farmers’ Market. Details here.

SPEAKING OF THE FARMERS’ MARKET: Violinist Pasquale Santos is scheduled to serenade marketgoers today. There’s also a new farmer, Olsen Meat and Potatoes, per the West Seattle Farmers’ Market page on Facebook. The market’s at 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm.

WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE TRYOUTS: Minors and Majors both try out today at Hiawatha Playfield – details in our preview and on the West Seattle Little League website.

SOCCER PICKUP GAME: The weekly adult/”big kid” soccer game, 10:30 am Sundays, is now on renovated Delridge Playfield – and it’s on Facebook, too.

VOLUNTEER AT THE SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN! There’s an orientation for volunteers today, 1 to 4 pm, including a 2-hour tour & presentation on Chinese gardens and 1 hour of volunteer training. Go to the Garden office at north end of South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW). To RSVP for the training and to learn about different opportunities, please visit this area of the garden website.

‘HARRY POTTER’ EVENT @ THE ADMIRAL: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” showing at Admiral Theater, 3:40 pm, with prizes for costumed moviegoers and a special Harry Potter-themed Mini Cooper on display (it’s for sale too) – details here

More on the calendar!

(Pileated woodpecker, photographed in Lincoln Park by Machel Spence)
Ready to be as industrious today as that woodpecker? Today’s the day for the Thistle Street Stairs community-organized cleanup on West Seattle’s longest stairway (meet at 10 am, 46th and Thistle) … if you’re in the early-learning field, the White Center Providers Group is presenting an all-day Early Learning Fair and Conference at WC Heights Elementary (first speaker at 9:15 am, details here) … Play Scrabble and help local nonprofits – new day! Charity Scrabble at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) moves to 3:30 pm Saturdays starting today … Looking to liven up your cooking repertoire? West Seattle-based, nationally acclaimed food writer Kim O’Donnel is at the 4th Avenue Costco today with her “Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook,” 4:30-6 pm … Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has its 2011 Chili Cookoff tonight, starting at 5:30 (votes by donation), followed by monthly Movie Night (“The Life of Brian” this time), suggested donations $5 person/$12 family, community welcome as well as congregation members … Our Lady of Guadalupe School has its annual fundraising auction tonight (this year’s theme: Beach Party), details here … Today is one of the periodic Free Women’s Health Exam days at West Seattle Community Clinic for women 40-65 who are uninsured or underinsured (call 206-937-9722 to see if any appointments remain, or to get information about next time) … The memorial for longtime West Seattleite Andrew Fife is today; details here. … Check the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for more listings.

(Kathleen says the eagle landed on her roof on Thursday, “posed for a few pictures, and flew away”)
Our look ahead to today/tonight starts in The Junction, where a new weekly Game Night is ready for another go-round at Uptown Espresso (Edmunds/Erskine/California), 6-11 pm, bring your own board/card/dice games or use the ones you’ll find there … Bin 41‘s next wine tasting is 5:30-7 pm tonight, kicking off Washington Wine Month with winemaker Marcus Miller from Airfield Estates … On Puget Ridge, the monthly “Meaningful Movies” series will screen “The Economics of Happiness” at 7:30 pm, common house at Puget Ridge Cohousing (18th and Myrtle) … In North Delridge, the Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) live-music bill tonight includes My My Hey Hey‘s Neil Young tribute at 11 pm (more on the Skylark calendar) … Can’t wait for Southgate to reopen? No waiting required for weekly Friday night skating at Alki Community Center, 6:45-8:45 pm, BYO or use theirs ($3/person) … Peek ahead to the weekend (and beyond) on our calendar.

(Jumping spider photographed in Lincoln Park by Machel Spence)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

THE DOG WHO SAVES ORCAS: Tonight is the rescheduled “Tucker and the Orcas” presentation at the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), 7 pm. Presentation and ticket information on the website for sponsoring organization The Whale Trail.

CHIEF SEALTH’S BIG GAME: The Chief Sealth International High School boys’ basketball team plays in the Tacoma Dome tonight, as one of the final 8 teams in the state 3A tournament. 7:15 pm vs. Bellevue.

WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISER: Fantasy Casino Blackjack at Pyramid Alehouse (1201 1st Avenue S. in SODO) to raise money for this year’s West Seattle High School Grad Night celebration, 5:30-9 pm, appetizers, prizes, raffles, $35 at the door if you haven’t bought your ticket already (5 and under free).

BRIGHT HORIZONS PARENT-INFO SESSION: Interested in the new child-care center opening in Link (WSB sponsor) this spring? The Bright Horizons team will be at Cupcake Royale in The Junction (4556 California SW), 4-7 pm – drop in Q/A, no formal presentation. (Here’s the official flyer.)

SCHOOL TOURS: Arbor Heights Elementary kindergarten tour at 9:30 am, Chief Sealth tour at 1 pm, Madison Middle School at 6:30 pm.

‘OPEN MIKE’ AT FRESHY’S: 1st and 3rd Thursdays are “open mike” nights at Freshy’s Coffee. Starts at 7 pm.

(WSB photo from Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” on Alki last year, 5/23/2010)
Short list from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today/tonight: The Southwest District Council, which includes reps from community councils and other major organizations around western West Seattle, meets at 7 pm, board room at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW). The agenda includes a briefing on this year’s Alki “car-free day” (aka Seattle Summer Streets), coming up May 22nd (as first noted here a month ago when West Seattle 5K registration began) … Also tonight at 7, the meeting at West Seattle High School for feedback on interim principal Ruth Medsker, as previewed here … 7 pm is also the starting time for the “project knitting” class at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW ($10) … Up early? Run your own small business? The Westside Professionals business-networking group (WSB sponsor) welcome you, 8 am, The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way (or find out about them any time on Facebook).

P.S. (added 7:17 am) – It’s an early-dismissal (2 hours) day for Seattle Public Schools students.

We have traffic alerts large and small, to start the day … reminder in case you missed our update last week, the Fairmount/Forest intersection continues to be a major digging zone, and Craig – who shared those shots from Monday – says they’re down about 25 feet. The emergency work to replace a broken sewer main (blamed for this sinkhole) is expected to continue at least another week. … On a larger scale, SDOT says the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will be CLOSED AGAIN TONIGHT for the fourth time in the past week as part of the ongoing widening project – 10 pm-5 am, that’s the section of the bridge between I-5 and Highway 99. The Harbor Island offramp from the bridge will be closed those same hours tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday night.

Also tonight:

SECOND P-PATCH DESIGN MEETING: Bigger plots? Smaller plots? Keep the tree? Remove the tree? Much still to be decided as the planning of the 34th/Barton P-Patch design continues – but this is the last community meeting at which it’s all still on the table. 6:30 pm, Southwest Community Center (2801 SW Thistle; here’s our coverage of the first meeting).

FAMILY STORY TIME AT DELRIDGE LIBRARY: Tonight, children’s librarian Amy leads Story Time at the Delridge/Brandon library branch, 7 pm.

‘TASTE OF DREAM DINNERS’ OPEN HOUSE: Sample the March menu at Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) and see what it’s like to assemble a dinner – drop in at 5:30, 6 or 6:30 pm (call 206-938-5999 if you have questions ahead of time), 4701 41st SW on the east side of outer Jefferson Square.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TRIVIA: Tuesday nights mean rock trivia with cash prizes at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 6451 California SW, 8 pm.

More on the calendar!