Practicing today, saving lives tomorrow: Fire Muster competitors

April 24, 2010 6:44 pm
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 |   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.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Boat stolen near Lincoln Park

Out of the WSB inbox:

Our boat was stolen sometime in the middle of the night [Friday night/today]. It is a blue and white 20 ft SeaDoo Utopia Jet boat on a trailer.

The boat was stolen near Lincoln Park on 46th Ave. SW between Thistle and Rose streets [map]. Please report this if you see this boat on land or on or near the water. A police report has been made.

West Seattle homeowner gets Rebuilding Together boost

Got a note this morning from someone wondering what was happening with all the activity around that Admiral District home. Answer: Green-shirted volunteers from Rebuilding Together Seattle, working as part of the group’s 20th annual Spring Rebuilding Day – one of more than 25 projects around the city, with 1,000+ volunteers (staffers from Greenpoint Technologies in Kirkland supported the West Seattle work). RTS is a group that donates volunteer help for repair/cleanup-type projects so that people dealing with challenges such as disabilities or low income can stay in their homes. You can find out more, including how to volunteer for future events, by going here.

Update: Cigarette-sparked fire at Delridge/Thistle building

April 24, 2010 11:37 am
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli, added 12:50 pm)
11:37 AM: Christopher Boffoli checked out the call in the 8400 block of Delridge (map). Big response but ultimately a very small fire: Fire Department crews at the scene told him that “improperly extinguished smoking materials” outside the building burned into the crawlspace. ADDED 12:50 PM: Added photos. Christopher reports, “The firefighters told me this could have been a much different story. You could actually see on the ground outside of the building where cigarette butts had ignited the mulch (below) and smoldered right into the building’s crawl space. They said it looked like it had been burning for a while and if that fire had spread to the evergreen bushes above and/or if it had been at night when people wouldn’t have so readily smelled and seen the smoke, that it might have been a much bigger fire. They said the landlord was coming out to repair the door the SFD broke down to get in and that they were going to encourage him to provide a receptacle outside for people to put their cigarette butts into.”

Happening now: West Seattle Reservoir park meeting; artist named

10:18 AM: We’re at Southwest Community Center, where more than 100 people are at the third public meeting for the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project. First big announcement: An artist has been chosen for the art project that will be at the new park site – David Boyer, from Reno. He makes kinetic sculptures that move in the wind, according to Parks reps (there’s more info about his work at his website). Project manager Susanne Friedman also sought at the start of the meeting to dismiss rumors that the project would take away part or all of the Westcrest Off-Leash Area. She also said the city arborist has turned thumbs down on a disc-golf course in the park’s forested area, though that doesn’t rule out disc golf elsewhere on the site. Now they’re about to unveil the current design concept alternatives, which will be discussed in small groups afterward.

11:07 AM: Attendees are now marking up their thoughts on black/white printouts of the three park-design concepts that have been shown. Key features of all three include a community garden area – which might or might not be a P-Patch site – plus an “expanse” of lawn atop the new reservoir lid, and one option would move the Off-Leash Area’s small/shy dog area, though it was stressed again in response to a question, NOTHING will be taken away from the dog park – one option even calls for an added trail to connect with it. Unless something dramatic happens when the small groups “report back” shortly, our next update will be a full report on the meeting, the discussion, and what’s next, later. 12:45 PM: One addition first – we’d asked for the graphics from the meeting as soon as we could get them, and the project team provided them on a flash drive so we could download them – here’s the “short form” of the presentation, with all three design concepts plus the project priorities. They’ll be broken out individually in the aforementioned full report later. ADDED: We’re adding highlights of the hearing incrementally:Read More

A home of their own: Westside Unitarians get keys to new church

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After 20 years without their own building, the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation finally has one.

Friday was WSUU’s first full day of owning the former Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church building at California/Othello (map).

Congregation leaders and members didn’t waste a minute of Day 1. At 9 am Friday, a group was on the site whacking weeds that were starting to get out of control, and when we visited to speak with church leaders between 5 and 6 Friday night, another work party was busy tidying up the church’s side yard along Othello, looking for all the world like they weren’t likely to leave before dark (if then):

The building needs work inside too before the first scheduled service in 4 1/2 months – but the Westside Unitarian Universalists couldn’t be more excited – read on:Read More

West Seattle Saturday: Water blessing, Fire Muster, park meeting

(Photo courtesy Windermere West Seattle in The Junction)
From the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list for today, one-of-a-kind events: 9 am-4 pm at the Joint Training Facility on the southeastern edge of West Seattle (map), you’re invited to come watch the Fire Muster, with 200 Fire Cadets/Explorers, ages 14-21, competing – it’s explained here. 10 am at Lincoln Park‘s south beach, Restita DeJesus of the Seattle Wushu Center in West Seattle will lead a free observance of World Tai Chi/Qigong Day, no experience required … 11 am at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park (map), a blessing will be offered for the Salish Sea – the Northwest’s waters – with local healers joining in; more hereAs previewed again last night, the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project’s third public meeting is at 10 am at Southwest Community Center (map), with the first look at the design direction that’s being taken following earlier meetings … Got something to shred? Do it at the free “Spring Clean” event offered this afternoon by Windermere-Fauntleroy (details here) … LOTS more, including the second/final day of donation dropoff before the first-ever Lafayette Sports Swap tomorrow – the full list is here. (ADDED 10:44 AM: Windermere in The Junction says they have the shredder truck right now – till noon – drop off in the parking lot behind their office – they shared a photo of the truck which we’re adding atop this story.)

West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary alert; suspected drug deals

Two quick Crime Watch notes tonight, one from Westwood and one from Highland Park – read on:Read More

Disaster Preparedness Month, night 23: “Shelter in Place”

April 23, 2010 11:50 pm
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 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

As we have traveled through Disaster Preparedness Month with almost-nightly information since April 1st, we’ve talked a lot about getting ready. What about when – if – something actually happens? That’s the focus of the advice on this city webpage. Some of the advice on that page has to do with earthquakes, which we’ve addressed already this month, but there’s also a one-sheet with information on Sheltering In Placewhich is the advice if there is some kind of chemical spill/hazmat/toxic fume problem in the area. To be able to follow that advice, you’ll want to have a roll of plastic sheeting available – something else to add to your preparedness list, for next time you visit a hardware store. But first – have you already taken the 3 steps advised in the city’s “3 to Get Ready” campaign, including making sure 3 other people know about them? Here’s the starting point; 2 more weeks in the campaign, and don’t forget to register for the prize pack! For West Seattle-specific information, the West Seattle Be Prepared website is the place to go, along with its companion Facebook group. And if you do NOTHING else this month toward personal preparedness – at least know where your West Seattle Emergency Communication Hub is, and be certain your family/friends know too.

2 meetings tomorrow: Reservoir-lid park; school board rep chat

April 23, 2010 7:31 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

These are both in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, both happening tomorrow:

RESERVOIR PARK, MEETING #3: Thanks to Geraldine for that photo of the West Seattle Reservoir-covering project site at Westcrest Park, taken today. Tomorrow morning at Southwest Community Center, it’s the third of four planned public meetings on the park that’ll go atop the reservoir cover – and those who attend will get the first look at the design “schematic” that Parks staff and architects have mapped out following the first two meetings. You are likely to see a sizable presence from those who use the current Westcrest Off-Leash Area – the only official off-leash dog park in West Seattle; a group member who attended the Seattle Design Commission discussion of the plans last week says the off-leash park will be affected, and they have drafted a list of issues they want to be sure are addressed by the design.The park meeting starts at 10 am tomorrow; here’s a map to SWCC. (Here are our reports from the first two meetings – December, and February.)

ALSO TOMORROW: Seattle Public Schools‘ hottest topic of the moment is its budget, and if you have concerns about that, or any other SPS issue, your next chance to talk with West Seattle’s rep on the Seattle School Board, Steve Sundquist, is coming up tomorrow afternoon – 2-3:30 pm at High Point Library.

Update: Woman stabbed in High Point, man arrested

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted at 6:54 pm for our original cameraphone pic)
ORIGINAL 3:46 PM REPORT: On our way to the “assault with weapons” call at Graham/Lanham. Just got a call from someone who says one person’s been stabbed – we are working to confirm. 3:53 PM UPDATE: We’ve just arrived at the scene. Still lots of police. Christopher Boffoli is here too and tells us that the victim has been taken to Harborview (which has also just been mentioned on the scanner). SW Graham is closed off less than a block east of 35th SW because of the police action. 4:05 PM: TV helicopter over the scene (in case you heard helicopter noise elsewhere and wondered). Make that two TV helicopters. 4:14 PM UPDATE: According to Officer Renee Witt in the SPD media unit, police got a call around 3:30 that a woman had been stabbed, apparently in the 6000 block of Lanham – she was found outdoors. A male suspect was seen running away, wearing a “yellow inside-out hoodie.” Officer Witt says a few people apparently followed the man to Lanham/Graham and he went into a house here; they’re trying to get him to come out. At the scene, you can see police taking people into and out of at least two squad cars, questioning them. 4:24 PM UPDATE: Two witnesses say they believe police HAVE arrested the man, so we’re still trying to get official confirmation on that. They did not have information on the victim’s condition so we’re checking with SFD regarding whether the injuries were believed to be life-threatening or not. 4:41 PM UPDATE: Suspect is indeed in custody; police also tell us the weapon was a “short-bladed knife.” SW Graham is now open again, though the police are still on Lanham north of Graham. They say they’ll be wrapping up soon, after a few more scene photos. 7:38 PM UPDATE: Police have now posted a report on SPD Blotter. It says the 40-year-old victim – who was walking with her 9-year-old daughter at the time of the attack – and 22-year-old suspect are NOT believed to have known each other. Her injuries are described as life-threatening; her child was not hurt. The suspect is jailed for investigation of assault. We have cross-referenced the name on the jail register that we believe is that of the suspect; no previous record aside from a traffic violation.

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Sports Swap, park meeting, more…

wswllicon3.pngWide variety of events on the list this time around: The newsiest event will be the third public meeting for the West Seattle (Westcrest) Reservoir Park project, 10 am at Southwest Community Center (here’s one of our earlier previews); also on Saturday, a Duwamish River blessing, plus free Tai Chi for a BIG occasion. School benefits this weekend include Lafayette Elementary‘s first-ever Sports Swap on Sunday (donations accepted tonight/tomorrow) and Holy Rosary’s HEART Auction on Saturday. Plus – a poetry reading at Southwest Library on Sunday! Those are among more than SIXTY! events/activities are on the list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music, bodacious brunches, plus lunch ‘n’ dinner:Read More

Police “photo speed van” to target West Seattle speeders on 35th

groupbyvan.jpgIf you scroll almost all the way down to the bottom of this update just published at SPD Blotter, you’ll see where the rubber meets the road – and the ticket meets the mailbox – for West Seattle drivers: Seattle Police are deploying their “photo speed van” on 35th SW, and while it’s a “warning period” right now, starting next month, you’ll get tickets WITHOUT warning. The speed van’s already been used in a pilot project in local school zones – here’s our story from October 2008, when it was shown off outside Gatewood Elementary (photo above is from that event).

West Seattle Summer Movies on the Wall: Time for suggestions!

(WSB photo from July 18, 2009)
The heart of West Seattle’s summer fun is less than three months away – and a weekly part of it during July and August is the Summer Movies on the Wall series in the courtyard between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Wolff. Once again this year, Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis is organizing the series and looking for your movie suggestions. Nothing too adult, but nothing totally kids-only-oriented, either. We’re still looking for our lists of what’s been shown the past few years and will add them when we find them, but in the meantime, don’t worry TOO hard about duplicating – you can browse our Movies on the Wall coverage category (click the link below the headline of this story) if you really want to look back – just suggest what you think would be fun for an all-ages crowd, lawn chairs and popcorn – add comments to this story. Dates for this year’s series are on the official website – six consecutive Saturdays, July 17-August 21. (Also note that the movie series is on Facebook here and Twitter here.) 12:01 PM UPDATE: Lora has sent the list of movies from the past four years – click ahead to see it:Read More

West Seattle roads: More 16th SW rebuilding; Alki almost done

April 23, 2010 10:03 am
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 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Two paving updates this morning: First, that’s a photo from last fall, when the city wrapped up reconstruction/repaving on 16th SW between Findlay and Brandon. SDOT has just sent out a reminder that it’s also going to rebuild the block between Brandon and Dawson this year, but not till summer – between mid-July and mid-September – so that fewer South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) attendees will be inconvenienced. The SDOT alert today says “A northbound detour similar to what was implemented in 2009 will be required again for work this year.” More info’s online.

Meantime, a welcome sight for Alki drivers (not to mention the people who live in the affected area): Mike Heavey sent the photo at right last night, from the Alki Avenue stretch by the 53rd Avenue Pump Station project. Restoration of the road is the final phase of work; we’d noted earlier this week that the blacktop was being put in place, and as Mike’s photo shows, it’s almost all done. That puts the project length at 26 months; as you can see in that link, it was estimated at 20 months when work started in February 2008. The project tripled its size (all underground)

West Seattle Friday: Rummage sale, garden club, 4 school events…

(Seagull & sea star, photographed earlier this week by Kristina at Constellation Park)
Ever feel like you bit off more than you can chew? No worries; the highlights today from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar aren’t too overwhelming. If you love to browse but can’t wait for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 8th (official registration tally later today, now that signups are closed), St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church is entering the second 2-day stretch of its big rummage sale, 9 am-3 pm today (and tomorrow), California SW & SW Hanford … The West Seattle Garden Club meets in a new location, Delridge Community Center, 10 am-2 pm, “Our Patio Garden” study session in the morning and “Vegetable Gardening 101” in the afternoon … Several notable school events: Dropoffs begin for the Lafayette Elementary playground-benefit Sports Swap (details here) … Sanislo Elementary family and supporters are having a Celebrate Sanislo party/mini-auction 6-10 tonight at Alki Masonic TempleWest Seattle High Schools talent show is at 7:30 in the school theater … the Chief Sealth High School baseball team’s spaghetti dinner/auction starts at 6 in the cafeteria (Sealth/Boren) … And Hiawatha Community Center shows you how worms can help save the planet during Eco Family Fun Factor, 6 tonight. More later in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!

Morgan crowd to county sewer team: “You can’t destroy the park”

(Quick 360-degree look at Lowman Beach Park this morning, from its NW corner, atop the seawall)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It seems like a no-win situation: To keep millions of gallons of wastewater from spilling into Puget Sound every year, a beloved park on its shore might have to be compromised, perhaps even sacrificed.

But the neighbors and fans of Lowman Beach Park (map) who crowded into the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting Wednesday night insisted they could turn the search for a Combined Sewer Overflow solution from no-win to win-win – provided they are brought more deeply into the process, getting detailed data they can use to independently evaluate the possibilities, then suggesting and supporting an acceptable alternative.

But is it too late? With the county reiterating it’s “on a track” to choose its preferred alternative this summer, Wednesday night’s Morgan discussion was the last scheduled public meeting; it wasn’t even scheduled until after the proposed alternatives received an at-times emotional reception last month (here’s our story). Now, residents are asking the county to schedule more, and asked for the creation of a “stakeholders’ group.”

More on what they said, what they heard, and what happens next, ahead:Read More

Disaster Preparedness Month, night 22: “Everyone’s responsibility”

April 22, 2010 11:56 pm
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 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

Just in time for Disaster Preparedness Month, the city-run Seattle Channel now offers embedding code for its videos – including the one you can watch above, a Seattle-geared preparedness overview, with practical advice, including what to do in case of earthquake. We found it by following links from the city’s 3 to Get Ready” campaign, which is being advertised on WSB and other news sites around the city to keep preparedness top-of-mind this month. Set aside 15 minutes to watch it – being ready is “everyone’s responsibility,” as the host points out – nobody can do it for you. Then take time to check out West Seattle-specific resources you won’t see in the video, like the info-rich volunteer-created West Seattle Be Prepared website, and its centerpiece, the community-created Emergency Communication Hubs (you know yours by now, right? right?).

3 South Seattle Community College presidency finalists announced

April 22, 2010 11:23 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

More than a year after Dr. Jill Wakefield was promoted from the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) presidency to the role of chancellor for the entire Seattle community-college system, there are now three finalists to succeed her at SSCC – including the man who holds the job in the interim. The finalists’ official campus visits will start next week. Read on for the official announcement:Read More

West Seattle mystery? Searching for the meaning of the purple fish

We haven’t been able to find the answer to this question – so we’re hoping maybe you know. Karen shared the photo above, earlier this month, after seeing fish like that all over The Junction; in a note tonight, Mark is the latest to ask:

Does anyone know what is the meaning of the “purple fish” graffiti that has been sprayed on many different walls and surfaces at the Junction and other places? I’ve also seen them at the 35th & Fauntleroy intersection. They may well be other places around W. Seattle, and maybe other places in the city as well. They are about 12-18 ” long, and look like they were made with a fish-shaped stencil and a can of purple spray paint.

We’ve tried search phrases from purple fish to purple shark. No luck. But maybe you know the story…

University of Washington students’ research trip to The Mount

An unusual scene at Providence Mount St. Vincenttoday – Arlene Carter shares photos and the story:

A team of five UW mechanical engineering students visited Providence Mount St. Vincent (The Mount) today to gather information for their senior project. Their goal is to design a lift to be used in developing countries that would cost less than half of what our “developed world” machines cost, without sacrificing safety or functionality. The students, Kim Phasavath, Mark Bae, Thanh Mai, Marcus Lew, and Joe Grogan, learned how The Mount’s mechanical lifts work from Mount employee Penny Garrett, a Resident Assistant. Penny demonstrated how to use each kind of lift, with students playing the role of patient. She explained features that work well and ones that could be added to improve the safety and efficiency of lifts. The students will present their results to their class and share them with The Mount at the end of spring quarter.

West Seattle Bookshelf: See what’s hot right now

April 22, 2010 9:00 pm
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 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Lists courtesy of Square One Books

Looking for ideas of what to read? Again this week, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her independent West Seattle bookstore’s 5 best-sellers in each of 4 key categories:

Hardcover:
1. Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
2. The Bridge by David Remnick
3. The Harvard Psychedelic Club by Don Lattin
4. In the Green Kitchen by Alice Waters
5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Paperback:
1. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
2. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
3. The Widow Cliquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar Mazzeo
4. The Not So Big Life by Sarah Susanka
5. The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor League Veteran by Dirk Hayhurst

Children/Young Adult:
1. Savvy by Ingrid law
2. Mama, Is it Summer Yet by Nikki McClure
3. Smile by Raina Telgemeir
4. Warriors: Ravenpaw’s Path by Erin Hunter
5. The Stone Rabbit Series by Erik Creddock

Teen:
1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. Graceling by Kristen Cashore
3. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
5. Light #1 The Morpheus Road Trilogy by D.J. MacHale

Square One is in Jefferson Square.

Restrict low-bridge openings at rush hour? New “voluntary” plan

(March 2010 photo taken during bridge tour, courtesy City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen)
Three weeks ago, we brought you the letter the city sent to the Coast Guard asking again for restrictions on opening the “low bridge” – this time, because its vehicle usage is about to increase dramatically, especially in the afternoon, with the May 17th closure of the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound high-rise West Seattle Bridge. (Here’s the detour map.) At last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, Pigeon Point rep Pete Spalding asked about the status of the request, and SDOT’s Stuart Goldsmith indicated they’d gotten word it wouldn’t be granted. That’s just been confirmed today by SDOT communications manager Rick Sheridan, but he says there’s a “voluntary” plan:

Though we have not received official written notification, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has indicated that it will not support a suspension of peak hour openings of the lower Spokane Street Swing Bridge. In order to minimize traffic disruptions after the First Avenue S on-ramp closure, the parties involved in the decision agreed to a voluntary system for minimizing p.m. rush hour openings of the bridge. Waterway users, the Port of Seattle, the USCG and SDOT have jointly agreed to this. SDOT will monitor the impacts of bridge openings on traffic during this phase of construction and, should a sustained pattern of traffic disruptions occur, the Coast Guard is committed to working with the city to address the issue.

Looking ahead to increased traffic on the low bridge as the Spokane Street and Alaskan Way Viaducts’ construction projects approached, the city asked in 2008 for the peak-hour restrictions, and was turned down (WSB coverage here) without any “voluntary” attempts to make it happen. Meantime, if you’re tracking all the effects of various construction projects in the metro area, including the two viaducts, here’s the latest update from SDOT.