West Seattle, Washington
21 Friday
(WSB photo from February 13th)
Tomorrow (Tuesday) night is the second and final community meeting for the design of the new 34th/Barton P-Patch – the public meeting after that will unveil the design that results – so the volunteers who are working on the project are hoping to see you tomorrow night, regardless of whether you were at meeting #1 (which drew a sizable turnout, as we reported two weeks ago). 6:30 pm tomorrow, Southwest Community Center.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Story now includes video of mayor’s reaction post-override, as well as other updates including the new referendum effort)
(Council meeting video from Seattle Channel updated 4:08 pm)
9:38 AM: Live now on the Seattle Channel (cable 21, online at www.seattlechannel.org), the City Council’s special meeting to consider overriding the mayor’s veto of tunnel-related bills. It’s starting with 30 minutes of public comments. First up: West Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Patti Mullen. The Chamber is on the record as supporting the tunnel, which she called “the best solution for Seattle … and for West Seattle.” Second up, also from West Seattle, Vlad Oustimovitch, presenting the letter you first read here 2 weeks ago, signed by him and other Stakeholders Advisory Group members from the original process that ended with the tunnel being announced as the “preferred alternative.” More to come; we’ll add notes of interest along the way, along with the vote when it happens.
9:49 AM: Council President Richard Conlin had noted that they had double the number of signups from tunnel opponents wanting to speak than from tunnel supporters, so supporters got 10 minutes, and tunnel opponents are now starting their 20 minutes. They include both elevated and surface supporters, as well as those who favor retrofitting the existing viaduct.
10:12 AM: Public comment’s over. Councilmembers are commenting, starting with President Conlin. “I understand some people don’t like the tunnel. It wasn’t my choice, for a long time,” he begins, going on to note that the contracts the mayor has vetoed “are in the best interest of the people of Seattle” and should be supported even by tunnel opponents because “they provide legal protections for the people of Seattle.” Councilmember Sally Clark says for her, it’s also about “protecting” the citizens, even as she acknowledges the city remains split on the subject of the tunnel itself. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is next to speak: “On this project, I am still baffled as to why all of you still support this.” He says the project itself will lead to increased “greenhouse-gas emissions,” even as a state law requires they be reduced in the years ahead. He then addresses the topic of jobs, which many speakers on both sides brought up: “This project isn’t the answer … 480 jobs for a $2 billion project.” He says money would be better spent on other projects including I-5 work. He then says he’s disturbed by a “lack of outrage” over “priorities on what we are spending our money on” and mentions state cuts in education and health-care funding. And he calls for a public vote, saying that it would cost $50,000-$100,000 to add a tunnel question onto the August ballot. He plans to introduce a measure later today asking for that vote and pleads for the five votes he says he needs for it to move on.
10:24 AM: Now, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who says he appreciates that Councilmember O’Brien has been against the tunnel from the start, and clear about it; he then pokes at the mayor for allegedly not being consistent. For some, it’s jobs, says Rasmussen, but “on this 10th anniversary of the earthquake, it’s about lives … we have a 
responsibility to protect people’s lives,” regarding replacing the viaduct. He mentions the new automated-closure gates on viaduct entries, saying, “This viaduct is fragile and we can only prop it up for so long.” After him, Councilmember Nick Licata, saying that those who support the surface option “don’t have any leaders” and accusing them of subterfuge for not being clear that’s what they’re backing. “Yeah, (the tunnel) may go over, we don’t know, but we do have $2.2 billion (for it) … but we have zero (state dollars) for the surface and transit option. … It’s easy to be against this. It’s hard to be FOR something.” (He is the most fiery speaker we’ve seen yet.) He concludes, “If you think cutting off our nose to spite our face is a good strategy … it is a stupid strategy!” (PHOTO CREDIT: Erika Schultz/Seattle Times) The gallery gets heated, and then Councilmember Bruce Harrell stands up and chides, “Look at us with our signs disrespecting one another … This is not Seattle at its best.” He insists the city “is not liable” for overruns. “I would never support anything that would put us on the hook for cost overruns.” Harrell restates that he respects those who oppose the tunnel, but hopes they will know that regarding the council’s vote, “We’re doing it with conviction, integrity, and a (belief) that long after we are dust, we’re leaving something better for our children and grandchildren.”
10:38 AM: Councilmember Jean Godden says, after noting the longrunning debate, “Now we have had the Seattle Process and it’s time to make a decision.” Council President Conlin follows with the stats on that “process” – 700 public meetings, 15,000 public comments (after showing photos of the collapsed elevated freeway from the 1989 Bay Area quake, and AWV damage after the 2001 Nisqually quake). “The region has been engaged in a passionate debate … for 10 years. … We have come to a common solution, and the (city) has crafted a set of agreements that protect our residents and work for our state and regional partners. … As the anniversary of the Nisqually quake reminds us, this is not just a transportation project, this is about safety. … We were elected to make decisions … as stewards (of the city).”
10:46 AM: Veto overridden, 8-1 (O’Brien the dissenter). To read the full legislation – go here.
3:11 PM: The mayor is speaking with reporters now – watch it live here. He insists the public should be able to vote on the tunnel – either through the proposal that Councilmember Mike O’Brien is introducing this afternoon, or through the referendum announced to gather signatures to put today’s council vote on the ballot. (We’ll add video of the mayor’s Q/A event here when it’s available for embedding. Added – here’s the video:)
3:48 PM: The new “Protect Seattle” coalition of anti-tunnel groups that wants to put the council-approved agreements on the ballot as a referendum have posted their announcement online, here.
4:54 PM: West Seattle tunnel supporters Vlad Oustimovitch, who was the 2nd speaker before the council this morning (as noted above), and Pete Spalding co-wrote a pro-override editorial in today’s Seattle Times (WSB partner) – here’s the link. Also, here’s a written copy of Oustimovitch’s testimony for the meeting.
(WSB photo from last month)
Topping today’s lookahead: The West Seattle Water Taxi‘s schedule changes starting this morning, as announced last week. (And that means its shuttle buses change too.) Here’s the new schedule; you’ll note the first run from Seacrest to downtown is five minutes earlier, and the last run from downtown to Seacrest is five minutes later.
Also on the “getting around” front – tonight is another scheduled closure for the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, 10 pm-5 am, the section of the West Seattle Bridge that’s between I-5 and Highway 99. More highlights:
50-SOMETHING SINGLES: 4-8 pm event at the Senior Center of West Seattle – free to drop in (live music at 5 pm with Band Jam), or have dinner for $8 (strawberry waffles and sausage at 5:30 pm). More singles info – call Lee 206-938-5017 or Mary 206-935-2162.
LAST MONDAY NIGHT SKYLARK SCRABBLE: Fundraising Scrabble at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (details here) – $5 to play, benefiting charity. After tonight, it moves to 3:30 pm Saturdays (karaoke is moving in on Mondays).
PARENTS’ ROUNDTABLE: 6-7 PM at Fauntleroy Children’s Center, a roundtable discussion for parents to share their experiences, questions, comments regarding making the decision for kindergarten. Child care is available with advance notice, 206-932-9590.
WEST SEATTLE SEE DOGS: Find out about raising a guide dog puppy! 6:30 to 7:45 pm
Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) lobby. (Check out WSSD online via Facebook.)
FAMILY STORY TIME: High Point Library, 7 pm – songs, rhymes, games with children’s librarian Amy.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!
(Walker Rock Garden photo courtesy Lita Gill)
Just six weeks after first word it was going up for sale, West Seattle’s quirky Walker Rock Garden apparently has a buyer. We checked its website for word of upcoming “open” dates for the site, and discovered an undated “breaking news” item declaring: “The property is now under contract so do not wait to come and see the Walker Rock Garden. DO IT NOW!” No future “garden open” dates are listed as of right now, but the Walkers’ granddaughter Lita Gill had told us in a previous exchange that you can contact the listing agent directly to ask (Brad Cooper, 206-383-0197). She told WSB in January that while they hoped to find a buyer who would preserve her grandparents’ rock creations, they wouldn’t require it as a condition of sale. Earlier this month, the property, with a small home on a double lot, was listed for $392,000. We have an inquiry out to see if they’re commenting on the in-progress sale. Meantime, Michael tipped us this past weekend to a new online story with more details on exactly how the Walker Rock Garden’s stonework was crafted – you can read it here.
In case you missed it earlier tonight — as part of their coverage of the Nisqually Earthquake’s 10th anniversary tomorrow, our friends at KING 5 News talked to the preparedness gurus behind West Seattle Be Prepared – Cindi Barker, Karen Berge, and Deb Greer (not pictured above, but if you click “play” you’ll see the story). As we often mention, it’s vital that you check out their website and know where your nearest Emergency Communication Hub is – in case of catastrophe, if all other channels of communication go down, you can go there to find out what’s going on and how to get help. Watch the KING 5 story above (and/or read the text here), then check out the Hubs page and the rest of West Seattle Be Prepared. (And if you can get involved in this all-volunteer effort that’s setting an example for the rest of the city as well as for our entire peninsula, please do – they would love more help.)
The WestSide Baby fundraising double-bill (WSB coverage here) gave birth to an Oscar party that’s being enjoyed right now – as WS Baby leader Nancy Woodland explained while sharing photos, “At this year’s Tea, one loyal WestSide Baby Tea Table Captain, Toddy Dyer, won a Oscars Party at Burien’s Tin Theater. She turned it into a diaper drive and a group of 40 women gathered to celebrate the awards and Toddy’s birthday!!” Some of the diaper donations, more priceless to WS Baby than any golden statuette:
WS Baby helps families in West Seattle, White Center, Burien, and elsewhere in south King County – here’s how you can help them, any time!
Peg Prideaux of West Seattle lost her dog Luis (above) this month to what she describes as a rat-borne disease – and says a neighbor’s dog died of the same thing just weeks earlier, so, she says, “I’m on a mission to warn others.”
She says the dogs had never had contact with each other, but both died of what was believed to be leptospirosis. Peg explained in a note to WSB, “Dogs usually contract the disease by coming in contact with rat urine, which can be found in still water such as a backyard rain puddle. In both cases the dogs threw up; then appeared to recover; then later became ill a second time. One of the dogs had killed a rat; the other dog is believed to have come in contact with rat urine in the yard. This disease can fool you. It first appears as a simple, 24-hour ‘doggie flu,’ after which the dog appears to be normal and well while the disease works in the background. Then the dog becomes ill a second time — in my dog’s case, about a week later. At that point he went from seemingly healthy to irrecoverable in just over a day.”
Her dog was euthanized ten days ago. “I’m on a mission to warn others, because when two healthy dogs die within 10 weeks of each other from the same rat-borne illness, it’s a cause for concern in the neighborhood. Also, leptospirosis is said to increase in spring, which is right around the corner.” Just this morning, she says, a dead rat turned up in the same area, near 38th and Graham [map], found by neighbors out walking their dogs.
She suggests pet owners “within a several-block radius of 37th and Juneau [map] to see a
veterinarian immediately if their dogs vomit a meal,” and make sure you point out that two nearby dogs have died of leptospirosis. “Earliest possible detection is essential to saving your pet. Please don’t hesitate about taking your dog in.”
She says leptospirosis can also affect humans and adds that there’s a vaccine against some strains – ask your vet about it. There’s more information about leptospirosis on the Centers for Disease Control website; here’s the page about pets, and here’s the page about humans. There’s even more information on the King County Public Health website, which notes
2 quick West Seattle Crime Watch reports this afternoon from Gatewood and Arbor Heights. First, from Justine:
We switched cars with our business partner last Friday night and thought they were driving our car to the airport, it turns out they took a cab and left our car on the street in front of their house at approximately 39th and Southern [map]. When we went back to pick it up tonight, it was gone, and it had not been towed. We’d love it if you could let the neighborhood know, and if anyone spots a black Nissan Maxima with black leather interior, license number 469 UNP, please let the police know.
From an Arbor Heights resident:
A neighbor just came to my door to report that several vehicles on the block of 35th Ave. SW south of SW 102nd St. [map] were car prowled last night. The rear windows were either shot or punched out with a tool, according to police. Unclear if anything was taken, or if this was vandalism.
P.S. As we finished editing this update, we heard the police-radio dispatch for the aforementioned stolen Maxima, which reminds us that Seattle Police continue to keep a list of stolen cars via the Twitter account they launched earlier this winter, @getyourcarback – it’s featured on our Crime Watch page, if you’re not a Twitter member and ever want to check the list.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: If you haven’t checked out the comment discussion – Justine found her car, thanks to Gary.
As the RapidRide “C” Line bus service gets closer to its West Seattle debut, currently set for September of next year, Metro is locking in the details for stops, stations, bus lanes, and the rest of the accompanying “facilities,” working in tandem with SDOT, since the facilities are on city streets and sidewalks. We have been reporting here on the concerns that two business districts along the route have had regarding street parking that will be removed for bus lanes. While Triangle business owners along SW Alaska had most of their concerns quelled (as reported here), Luna Park business owners (whose concerns we first detailed last December) have just received final word of the plan for their area. It’s largely unchanged from the proposal that was discussed again at their most recent merchants’ meeting.
The plan is outlined in a letter sent to Luna Park businesses this week (read the 2-page PDF here), signed by Metro director Kevin Desmond and SDOT director Peter Hahn. It finalizes the plan for a bus lane that will mean no on-street parking along the east side of Avalon 6-10 am weekdays between the bridge and SW Bradford. That had drawn strongest objections from Luna Park Café owner John Bennett and Java Bean Coffee owner Tony Hoyt, both of whom do much of their business in the mornings. The letter notes that the restrictions “will affect 355 linear feet of curb space …” The county and city reps who had attended Luna Park merchants’ meetings had previously described the affected area as 15 parking spaces; by the city’s 15-to-19-feet-per-space measure, that’s between 19 and 23 spaces.
There is one potential change: Desmond and Hahn write that “… with this letter, we commit to reassessing whether an additional RapidRide stop at the existing northbound (bus) stop at SW Charlestown Street [map] would be warranted to meet the needs of more riders.” Luna Park business owners had taken the previous proposal as adding insult to injury, as there was no RapidRide stop planned in the business district, or anywhere north of SW Yancy, a few blocks uphill.
We’re checking on how soon the decision on that potential stop will be made; work along Avalon Way might start as soon as “late spring,” according to the letter (again, you can read it in its entirety here).
That one-minute video is the work of Bonnie Levin and 20 of her preschoolers at West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor). They have entered it in Verity Credit Union‘s “Cartwheel for a Cause” contest – and it just needs your vote, to have a chance to win – Bonnie explains:
It was a chance to teach my 3 year old students about service, community and those less fortunate. We made this video in honor of First Place School in the Central District. If you’re not familiar with First Place, it is a program for families living with, or at risk of, homelessness. They provide education and, in most cases, housing for the *entire *family. It’s a fantastic program that is in need of extra funding. If we win this contest, we plan on donating the entire sum to this organization. …
Here’s how to vote
1) go to http://www.veritymom.com/cartwheel-for-a-cause/
2) look at the right side of the page for the “ballot”
3) vote for video #20 (Bonnie Levin)Only one vote per valid e-mail address is necessary.
PLEASE help! These little guys worked really hard on this project and it’d be so wonderful for them to see it through to the donation phase.
(Male Anna’s hummingbird, photographed by Danny McMillin through his Alki living-room window!)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today/tonight: The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct (the bridge straightaway between I-5 and Highway 99) closes tonight (and tomorrow night), 10 pm-5 am, as part of the ongoing construction project … If you drive the 520 Bridge, you’re going to need a “Good to Go” electronic-tolling pass soon (or else you’ll pay higher tolls billed by mail), and you can buy one today at WSDOT’s booth at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm (44th/Alaska) … Enjoy organ music? A benefit recital is planned at 3 pm today at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California Ave SW, by Paul Richard Olson, organist/choirmaster at Grace Church in Brooklyn Heights, New York (suggested $15 donation for Lutheran World Relief) … West Seattle Rainbow Girls invite girls 9-13 to an afternoon of “royal treatment” – dressup, arts/crafts, and games – 2:30-4:30 pm at Alki Masonic Hall, 40th/Edmunds (more info? call Jan, 206-849-7906) … P.S. Haven’t heard of any big public Oscar parties in West Seattle but if you have, let us know!
(2009 photo of the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft hosting a visitor)
If you have a lost/found item, we’ll usually direct you to the WSB Forums (or to the WSB Pets page if it’s a pet). But then there are the occasional very unusual items that turn up or go missing … like the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft off west Alki. Joy’s husband Guy Smith sent word last night that, 2 days after he reported it missing, it’s been found, thanks to helpful Beach Drive residents Trish and Dawnie, who he wanted to thank publicly for being good neighbors: “They spotted the buoy and raft moving north, and when it got close enough they disconnected the buoy and anchor lines and hauled that part up to their bulkhead. They tried to drag the raft higher, but it is too heavy. We hauled away the easy part, but left the raft tethered to a rock until we get help to move it. Here’s hoping it stays in place.” Rafts like this – vulnerable to the elements no matter what their owners do – are considered valuable as a place for seals and other wildlife to rest, away from the potential dangers on shore.
To close the night, more wildlife photos shared by WSB’ers. First, on the heels – or paws – of Linda‘s coyote closeups, Mike in Gatewood caught three on camera this morning (take a very close look at the second photo). He wrote:
WSB, we love our coyotes. My wife and daughters have been watching them frolic in our backyard for the last half hour. Our cats were really scared at first, but they too have joined the wildlife viewing. One will occasionally walk away, but return. While we have had an occasional sighting before, we have never seen two at once, much less three. Happy viewing.
And for the second time today, we are graced by a photo from Machel Spence – this time a robin on still-snow-dotted branches:
Finally, an unusual photo from Lincoln Park – an unlucky Pacific Giant Octopus that washed up. We’re putting it after the jump because, while it’s not gory, you might find it disturbing:Read More
The final tally’s in for the West Seattle High School Foundation-sponsored dinner/auction fundraiser nine days ago (WSB coverage here), and foundation president Christy Rowe says it was a success, with new sound equipment in the works for the school as a result:
The Second Annual WSHS Auction held on February 17th at The Hall at Fauntleroy looks to have net $17,000 from our event! Considering we had less people attend than last year, we feel very happy with these results. The WSHS gym and Commons areas will be getting new and upgraded sound systems for the benefit of students for assemblies and sporting events and this equipment will also benefit the Alumni Association when they hold their annual All-School Reunion. These improvements will also benefit the community at-large when these spaces are used for other events. Thank you to parents, staff, local businesses and community members for your continued support at WSHS!
From Auburn: In a hard-fought game, the Chief Sealth International High School boys beat Lincoln HS this afternoon as the state 3A basketball tournament continued. Final score: Sealth 63, Lincoln 56. The Seahawks are in the final 8, off to the Tacoma Dome next to play Bellevue at 7:15 pm Thursday. (Here’s a PDF with the brackets.) More to come.
ADDED 6:18 PM: After the jump, our game summary, and video reaction from Sealth principal John Boyd:Read More
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
Just published at partner site White Center Now: WCN/WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz reports that Mayor McGinn turned up in downtown WC today for a walking tour, even as his office has publicly reiterated he believes it’s too expensive for Seattle to annex WC (and environs) right now. The City Council will decide in the next few months whether to call for an annexation election this fall – next step is a committee meeting on Tuesday.
Via Facebook, Tracey wondered early this morning about what appeared to be an extensive police search in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne area (45th/Wildwood). We’ve been pursuing information ever since, and just received a reply from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen:
Our officers were out in the area looking for car prowlers. They found one in this area who was in the process of breaking in to a car. The bad guy ran and other officers moved in to contain the area. Canine officers responded, tracked the suspect and we were able to arrest him. The stolen property was recovered as well. This was great proactive work on the part of our officers to help bring down crime in West Seattle and give the bad guys credit for all their hard work.
Southwest Precinct leadership has said time and again that car prowling is the toughest crime trend to get under control. P.S. Look for a followup later this weekend on a separate case – the status of the still-in-jail “active” car-prowl suspect whose arrest they recently announced.
(Erin, Cheryl, and Mary from Twilight Artist Collective, powering along at Link)
So you’ve spent months working on curating, installing, and in some cases creating, ALL the art for an entire new block-long mixed-use development. Could be grounds for fatigue. Do the proprietors of Twilight Artist Collective look tired? On the contrary, they were positively perky when we revisited them the other day, checking on the progress of their work at Link (now about a month away from opening) in The Triangle. The Junction photo mural is one of the newest pieces; the stairwell mural is also finished (here are our previous photos while it was still a work-in-progress), featuring birds and bees, among other touches:
Other birds you’ll see in Link include seagulls on the 4th floor, courtesy of Mary:
Link’s lobby is showcasing art too, including this “bridge to nowhere”:
The Twilight team tells us their installation work should be done this week. Link continues pre-leasing, with move-ins to start next month; its three retail tenants are also preparing to open – Chaco Canyon Organic Café and Breathe Hot Yoga in April, Bright Horizons in May (we’re taking a closer look at them later this weekend, in advance of their next “parent information night” coming up this Thursday).
(Photo by Machel Spence)
1:41 PM: Still some snow on the ground (at least where we are!) — and maybe a little more tonight, according to the newest forecast, which says up to an inch might fall “mainly over the higher hills and away from the water.”
2:46 PM: And in fact, it’s lightly flurrying here in Upper Fauntleroy (and elsewhere, judging by what we’re seeing on Twitter).
6:31 PM: A “winter weather advisory” is in effect 7 pm tonight to 9 am tomorrow, as part of that same alert about potential snow.
Ever check the city’s “Construction Lookahead“? It lists what’s in the works for road closures, as we continue steering through the maze of Spokane Street Viaduct work, Alaskan Way Viaduct work, and more. Checking it last night, we noticed the dates have quietly been set for the next Alaskan Way Viaduct semiannual inspections – since those are almost-all-weekend shutdowns, you might want to mark your calendar now: Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, 6 am-6 pm both days.
Story and photos by Ellen Cedergreen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
As raucous as the West Seattle Senior Center‘s “Rainbow Bingo” was on Friday night – it had a sentimental moment too: 
A special dedication in memory of one of its most loyal patrons: Evelyn ‘Jean’ Roberts. Jean died last November after a brief illness (her obituary was published here), and her friends and family came out in full force last night to dedicate a new Bingomatic machine they purchased in her honor.
The new machine will help guarantee a fundraising-bingo future for the Senior Center, which lost $86,000 of its funding last year. The center relies on bingo fundraisers to cover a significant part of its budget.
The theme of Friday night’s fundraiser was “Mardi Gras,” and the vibe was jubilant.
Sylvia O’Stayformore (above) called numbers fast and furious, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (below) were on hand to verify “bingos,” sell raffle tickets, and give out spankings for any false “bingos” — which they did to much fanfare from the crowd.
Half of tonight’s raffle proceeds went to the raffle’s winner and the other half went to the Senior Center; bingo winners received a prize from the prize table for their win. Any ties were taken care of by a “bingo-off.”
(From left, Jean Roberts’ children Craig Roberts, Andrea Crisler, Patti Oquist)
Right before the bingo began, Jean Roberts’ son, Craig Roberts, gave a warm dedication. He commented on Jean’s dedication to the Senior Center and said she loved both bingo and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Other friends on hand remembered her wonderful singing voice and her overall love of life. She reportedly had a great sense of humor; one of her bands was called, “Three Satans and an Angel.”
In addition to the Senior Center’s big “win” scoring the Bingomatic, regular player (and SC volunteer) Carolyn took home a prize – a queen-size comforter kit:
The next Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 8th, but if you are looking to get your bingo on before then, the Senior Center also hosts bingo every Friday at 11 am for $6.
(Thanks to Dawn for the tip about the Bingomatic dedication!)
Another West Seattle creation to check out if you go to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (WSB sponsor) this weekend – Mari and Andrew Malcolm (whose home was on the West Seattle Garden Tour last year) have an award-winning display – their Seaside Succulents container display (above) won the award for Best Re-Characterization of Recycled Material. It includes “fantastic old crates and metal containers” from Admiralty House Antiques. Besides checking them out at the show, you can also check out their website. (Looking way ahead, they’re planning a sale on June 18 and succulent-container workshop June 25.)
Also happening today:
CLEANUP WITH FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: Join the Admiral Neighborhood Association this morning for their quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup, and you get free breakfast AND lunch. Meet at 9 am, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – coffee and treats before the cleanup, sack lunch to take with you afterward.
SEOLA PARK WORK PARTY: EarthCorps volunteer event, 10 am-2 pm, Marine View Drive SW/35th SW, help pull invasives and plant natives. Full details here.
CHIEF SEALTH’S SECOND STATE-TOURNAMENT GAME: Since they won Friday night, the boys’ basketball team plays again today, 3 pm vs. Lincoln High School at Auburn High School.
BEER TOUR: Washington breweries’ open house, including Elliott Bay in West Seattle and Big Al Brewing in White Center, noon-4 pm (Google map here)
YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER TURNS 5: As first noted here a week and a half ago, Youngstown Arts Center‘s fifth birthday party is today! 4:30 pm-1 am – full details here
CHILI COOKOFF 6 pm, Brickyard BBQ, first-ever chili cookoff – $5 to eat and judge all chili. Live music, beer specials. 206-933-3109 for more info.
FINAL FAREWELL: Funeral for Jeremy Peck, 4 pm at Alki UCC, followed by a wake at the Masonic Hall, 6:30 pm
More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*Around 3 p.m. Saturday at 16th and Holden, an officer recognized a man driving by as a habitual offender who was wanted on a $5,000 warrant. When he spotted the officer, the man stopped his car and threw the keys between the seats (ostensibly giving reason that he should be rooting around near the floorboards). After hesitating, he finally complied with officers’ order to exit the vehicle and show his hands. After he was taken into custody, one of the officers found a .45-caliber Colt with a magazine holding six cartridges. Its location? On the driver’s side floorboard, in easy reach. The 21-year-old, a convicted felon, is forbidden by law from possessing a firearm. He was booked into King County Jail on the warrant and for investigation of weapons violations.
*The non-member was caught on video sneaking into a local fitness club Friday morning of last week around 7:30. While he was in the shower, employees locked up the locker where he had stashed his clothes. The man didn’t wait around for police (possibly because of the crack cocaine later found in his pocket): When he discovered he couldn’t access his duds, he ran out of the building and down a wooded trail wearing only a towel.
9 more summaries after the jump:Read More
| 8 COMMENTS