West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
Thanks to Greg Wright for sharing photos from his low-tide sightseeing on Sunday; just before 1 pm today, the tide will be just as low as it was around noon yesterday (chart here), and that’s the lowest tide of the month before the low tides start getting higher again. A few more of Greg’s photos, ahead:Read More
It’s been a big year for West Seattle churches with big history to celebrate. Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Baptist Church celebrated centennials within the past year – Alki UCC celebrates its centennial next weekend (and posted in the WSB Forums recently seeking wedding photos to feature) – centennial events are about to begin at Holy Rosary with a Homecoming Mass/Luncheon June 7 (details here) – and since Tibbetts United Methodist Church (left) has 100 candles on its birthday cake too, they’re inviting you to a big event coming up next weekend:
Tibbetts Has Talent!
Tibbetts United Methodist Church is hosting its Centennial Talent Show & Ice Cream Social on Sunday, May 31st at 3pm. This fun-filled celebration includes a variety of drama, music and more.. and will be held in Adams Hall, entrance by the reader board sign. There’s an ice cream social following the Talent Show featuring fantastic flavors from Husky Deli. We hope you’ll join us!
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW (map).
FIRST REPORT, 10:28 PM: Just got a note about a hit-run driver damaging cars near Charlestown Cafe. Stacy reports, “Many in the street trying to figure out what happened. Glass all over the road on California.” Listening to the scanner, police are now checking on a report elsewhere in West Seattle of a driver getting out of a car and discussing having been in a crash. More info as/if we get it. (added later – here’s an account from Ranette, one of the hit-run victims):
I was driving the first car hit by this driver. Driving south on California, I had been at the PCC with my friend. I heard the tires screeching behind us and then felt the hard impact (back of my car). I tried to keep from hitting the cars parked on California Avenue. I think I glimpsed a dark car. I pulled over and we got out. There were a lot of people outside who had heard the accident. A few had seen it and described a dark or black hatchback hitting my car then trying to regain control to take a quick left off of California onto Bradford??? (street north of Andover). Apparently, the driver did not have much control and knocked down a stop sign which hit two parked and unoccupied cars (but I did not see this only informed by witnesses and police officer). The driver kept going. The police officer said they had just heard of a car with the same description driving on three wheels. What a horrible feeling to be in an accident like this. It felt like the car came out of nowhere and hit us so hard. It is especially disturbing that the other driver left the accident location. My friend and I were wearing our seatbelts, as usual, and we are so glad we were. The rear of my car is pretty damaged but not so bad that I could not drive home.
SECOND REPORT, ADDED 11:34 PM: Received a note from a Harbor Ave resident troubled by what she saw tonight and wondering if there are any Block Watch groups in her area. We referred her to Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow but also are sharing her story as it relates to some of what was discussed at the Alki Community Council meeting last Thursday – read on (1:52 am note, we’re also adding info just received from police on BOTH these incidents):Read More
Thanks to Benita for the tip that in turn led us to the news that West Seattle has two softball teams in state tournament play – West Seattle High School and Seattle Lutheran High School. WSHS is in the 3A tournament, starting play Friday vs. Columbia River at SERA Fields in Tacoma (brackets here); SLHS is in the 2B tournament, starting play at 9 am Friday vs. La Salle at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima. Both teams are mentioned in this story posted today on the West Seattle Thunder Fastpitch organization site, noting that 22 current and former WS Thunder players are in state play, representing schools including WSHS and SLHS. Good luck to all – we’ll post updates!
With the retiring of the colors, this year’s West Seattle Memorial Day commemoration at Dignity Memorial/Forest Lawn concluded a few hours ago. Veterans young and old were among those at the event – from a man in a “KOREA VET” cap, heard discussing the North Korea missile test, to Iraq War veterans like City Council candidate and former Highland Park Action Committee chair Dorsol Plants (who served for five years, until 2007). Another younger veteran on hand was Christopher Shea, commander of American Legion Post 160, which presents this ceremony each year; he recounted the reason for the holiday:
Today’s special guest speaker was Vietnam War veteran Margarita Suarez, who recalled her harrowing work as a nurse, sharing memories with a message that had some in tears:
The simple spirit of patriotism imbued the service, including singalongs led by guest vocalist Tom Carlisle:
And Scouts from Troop 284 performed wreath duty (listen for the crows):
Other participants in the ceremony included Pastor Tom Isenhart and musician Jim Edwards, who played “Taps.” This is the 82nd time the Post has presented this service — one of the longest-running Memorial Day events in the Seattle area.
(Above photo by Tony Bradley, added 12:51 pm)
(photo by neighbor Nathan, added 12:36 pm)
ORIGINAL 12:13 PM REPORT: Thanks for the calls, texts, e-mails, etc. – on our way to a house fire in Arbor Heights, 35th/108th (map). More momentarily. Several reports describe it as “big.” 12:19 PM UPDATE: From Seattle Fire spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen: When firefighters arrived, they found a fully involved 2 story single family residence and two cars on fire. Nearby homes were threatened so they went into defensive mode, protecting them. A 34-year-old man — found outside the house — has “life-threatening injuries” from burns, but she says everyone else got out OK. And she says the fire is under control. 12:24 PM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick has just talked with Vander Houwen at the scene and she says people are being kept far back (traffic is closed for blocks around) because there IS (as posted in comments) “a SUSPICION of a meth lab being involved.” This is as close as we’ve been allowed to get:
12:39 PM UPDATE: In comments, Cliff writes:
We live across the street we left as soon as we could. I heard people yelling and went out my front door to see the house behind our neighbor’s house fully engulfed in flames. And I could hear small explosions taking place. We took our valuables and pets and left immediately. For years our neighbors have suspected drug activity in the house. I would not be anywhere near the fumes.
Another neighbor, Nathan, has sent photos via Twitter and we have added one at the top of this report. More than half a dozen police cars are at the scene as well as the sizable Fire Department presence. As of about 12:40 pm, the SPD Arson and Bomb Squad also has arrived. 12:54 PM UPDATE: Tony Bradley has sent photos – closest ones we have seen yet – we have added one at the top of this report and here are a few more:
Investigators have not been able to get into the house as hot spots remain but the Arson/Bomb Squad specialists are likely to try shortly, according to what we are being told on the scene.
1:12 PM UPDATE: Just in case you have seen “shots fired” reports anywhere: We asked, and there is NO indication any gunshots were involved here, according to what authorities are telling us at the scene. That early report of “sounds like gunshots” is believed to have been from potential small explosions neighbors heard while the flames were raging. Police spokesperson Mark Jamieson tells WSB the first call to police was from a neighbor who thought he heard a shot — minutes before smoke from the fire started pouring skyward — but it’s now believed that was likely a popping sound related to the fire. He also says he has no information at this point on any possible past drug activity at the house and at this point, “this is a fire call, with SPD assisting.” If investigators find evidence of a crime, of course, that status may change, and we will continue to monitor. We are also still at the scene, where the media’s been allowed to get a somewhat closer look at the fire aftermath.
1:40 PM UPDATE: Here’s one of those photos we just got – first of the house and cars, post-flames:
No official word yet on the condition of the burned man but he was said to be in pretty bad shape as he was rushed to Harborview Medical Center.
3:11 PM UPDATE: No official updates from fire/police recently but we’re going back to the scene to see if there’s anything new to learn there. Meantime, here are a couple clips from earlier in the afternoon – first, SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen giving the toplines as they were known at the time:
Second, an even closer view from the same vantage point of the photo we added at 1:40 pm (above):
3:42 PM UPDATE: Roads in the area have just been reopened. Not much fire/police presence left at the scene. Adding another aftermath photo:
6:03 PM UPDATE: Latest from the Fire Department: The cause remains “undetermined,” and spokesperson Vander Houwen says she’s unlikely to have final word on the cause tonight – she says investigators still need to do “additional interviews” as they try to sort out what happened. The damage estimate at this point is $250,000.
10:01 PM UPDATE: This evening’s police update is basically “we’re still working with the Fire Department, but it remains primarily their investigation, and there’s nothing new to say” (our paraphrase). Our next update most likely won’t be before tomorrow morning, at which time we’ll start a new followup story. But in the meantime, we are reposting this comment that has just come in from “Neighbor”:
I’m not sure what all was written above but I’ll tell you my story and I was the first one to get to the burn victim.
I was doing yard work when I heard someone yelling help me, help me. I live on the next street over and ran to help him. I was the first person to get to him and he was sitting on the door steps of the house directly next door screaming for help. As I approached him he got up and started walking towards me and I along with another neighbor were trying to get him to sit down. He had terrible burns on his chest, hands, arms, some on his head, and really it was so crazy I was not trying to see where else. His skin was peeling off, really terrible terrible. He sat for a moment in the road from 108th to his house but then got up again and continued to the main street. Again we were trying to get him to sit but he was yelling help me (there was nothing at all we could do at that point we were waiting for help to come). He then started yelling to give him a car…..aparently he thought he would drive himself to a hospital. A man in a van stopped in the road and he got out to see if he could help. The burn victim then made a dash to the car (which I believe and someone else also agreed that there were kids in the back of that car) which was still running in the middle of the street to steal it so he could drive to a hospital. The owner of the car had to forcefully get the victim away from his car which was really sad to see because as we all knew the victim was in total shock. He then made his way up the street and finally sat at the corner of 36th and 108th street until the first fire truck showed up and then he walked down to it where they started treating him.
The stuff about the meth lab. NO, the house was not a meth lab, police and firemen I spoke with have all said there was nothing at all that indicated it was. The reason that got out is because there had been major concern that it might be by neighbors and police who were very familiar with the victim. In fact a police officer asked him very directly if there was a meth lab before sending in firemen!
There were many many explosions and so far all thoughts about what those were are speculation. There have been people who said that they saw spray paint cans exploding and there were two cars with gas cans that probably exploded. More explosions sounded like either firecrackers or maybe bullets but who knows for sure!
I spoke just an hour ago with fire units still at the house and from talking to them and seeing the damage it looks like it started at the car he was probably working on in his carport. The car lid was open and the damage was clear that it started there.
There was damage to the house directly next door but not really too much. Some homes have smoke issues but they all seem to be minor.
We heard that the mother was not in town and had just recently paid off the house and they were doing remodels on it like a new deck last week and new windows.
Also talking to one of the first responders they said that he had about 70% burns on his body (yes I can say it looked like that), and that due to the chest burn, the amount of burned body, and the possibility that he inhaled when he was on fire or burning he has a very serious uphill battle for his life. Those are not my words those are the words of a first responder who worked on him.
I am absolutely horrified by what I saw today and for what that man is going through. There has been lots of speculation about him being a guy who was not the best of neighbors but everyone I’ve talked to is nothing but concerned for his well being and feel horrible about it. I can tell you that everyone in the neighborhood is pulling for him and he and his family are in our prayers!
I don’t know if that clears anything up, but I’ve never been this close to a story like this and I thought I’d tell it the way I saw it and I saw the whole thing from the beginning.
More tomorrow, including, we hope, an update on the burn victim.
Crime takes no holiday … Michael shares news of what happened to his family’s van this weekend:
Our mini van was vandalized sometime Saturday Night/Sunday Morning 5/23-5/24. Someone smashed one of the door windows. Nothing was stolen and there is nothing of apparent value in it other than baby gear. Second time in a couple months our van has been targeted. Location 34th Ave SW between Andover and Charlestown [map].
WHAT’S DIFFERENT: No school, no mail, no government offices (with a few exceptions), no banks, Metro on a Sunday schedule, King County Water Taxi on a Saturday schedule (as are the shuttle buses that feed it), community centers and libraries closed
WHAT’S THE SAME: Trash/recycling/yard waste pickup, Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry on regular schedule, West Seattle liquor store open, Colman Pool open, Southwest Pool open
WEST SEATTLE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE: 2 pm, Forest Lawn (details here)
COFFEE, ANYONE? We don’t usually compile a complete list for this holiday – Thanksgiving and Christmas are a different story! – but we can tell you that our coffee-shop sponsors, Hotwire Coffee and Coffee at the Heights, are both open today: Hotwire is open 7 am-6 pm (and is now offering smoothies, too!), C-a-t-H is open 6:30 am-3 pm.
That’s the mascot of the kids’ magazine “Ranger Rick” hanging out at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza during Saturday’s Community Wildlife Habitat Certification celebration. While the habitat project is more about Alki’s present and future than its past, our area’s history will be in the spotlight during one of the next few big events at the beach. More from the Statue of Liberty Plaza Project‘s David Hutchinson (who provided the photos in this report, along with Eilene Hutchinson):
Thanks to the generosity of the Alki and West Seattle Communities, 851 new engraved bricks will be installed in the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. The engraving should be completed by the end of next week with the date of installation to be set by Seattle Parks & Recreation. This is currently planned for the early part of June, weather permitting. We will notify all donors when a specific date has been set. At the same time, a number of tribute plaques will be installed and a time capsule, scheduled to be opened in 2059, will be buried at the site:
Andrea Mercado of the Log House Museum has been sorting through the many submissions for inclusion in the capsule and is responsible for this part of the project:
The proceeds from the sale of the bricks and tribute plaques has been turned over to Seattle Parks & Recreation and has been placed in a separate account. These funds, minus the cost of the new construction, will be used for the future maintenance of the Statue and Plaza.
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In case you missed it this morning, that’s video of the space shuttle Atlantis landing at Edwards Air Force Base in the Southern California desert, 13 days after it left Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA‘s been trying since Friday to bring it home, but the Florida weather just wouldn’t cooperate. West Seattle High School Class of ’72 alum Gregory Johnson piloted Atlantis during the mission, which was the last servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope. Atlantis will be taken back to Florida in a week or so atop a modified 747; Johnson and his fellow astronauts will head back to the Johnson Space Center in Texas on Tuesday, when a welcome-home ceremony is scheduled in Houston.
We’ve been tracking the holiday-weekend low tides – very low today, and the next two days it’ll be lower still (per this tide chart, -3.6 at 12:07 pm tomorrow and the same at 12:53 pm Tuesday). We’ve received three close-up photos of tidal sights today – the first and second are from Minette (who also shared her baby-owl gallery following last night’s Lincoln Park owl-photo post) – and she shared info too:
The (first) one … is an image of a “Red octopus” (Octopus rubescens). This octopus is frequently found at our local beaches and people are always very happy to see it. However, it is venomous (for real!) and can deliver a nasty bite, so be careful out there, all you curious folks. The (next) one … is a sea slug (also called a nudibranch). This particular one is the Opalescent nudibranch (Hermissenda crassicornis). It can be found in great numbers at our local beaches and at all times of the year, but people rarely notice it because it’s so small.
We’ve also received photos from Rick – two views of a sun star: First, full body —
Next, close up:
Thanks again to everyone who sends photos to share — editor@westseattleblog.com any time (and if you have a sec, consider programming that into your cell-phone contact list in case you happen onto an interesting sight sometime and want to send it from your cameraphone fast).
Elana thinks the man who rather aggressively solicited for yard work may have been casing for crime. Read on for the story she e-mailed us to share:Read More
Earlier this spring, we published a series of stories about “shop cats” (and a few “shop dogs”) who reside at West Seattle businesses. Then even more news than usual started happening and we never got around to finishing the series. So we’re taking the opportunity now. (Since Keri spoke to the PB&J Textiles team, they have opened Coffee at the Heights [WSB sponsor; open 6:30 am-3 pm on Memorial Day].)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Dakota is a BIG black cat. Not fat, not even overly long; just huge. And when petted, he creates a purr that matches his stature. Murphy is a petite tortoiseshell female who, if it weren’t for her longish fur, would be utterly dwarfed by Dakota.
These two cats share their space with the humans at PB&J Textiles on Fauntleroy Way. You may see them sitting on their kitty condo in the south storefront window, or on sunny days, sprawled out and soaking up the sun on the west-facing work table. Owner Paul Binder comments: “Dakota’s black fur soaks up so much heat, he’s hot to the touch.”
Binder and partner David Robertson decided to bring cats to the shop three years ago when they were dealing with mouse issues. They were trying to decide whether to deal with the rodents via chemical or natural means and decided having a cat in the shop would be fun. They found an online ad for cats who needed to find a new home because the dog they were living with was too aggressive. The catch: The cats came as a pair. The couple giving the cats away were initially dubious about the cats living in a shop, but have since come to visit the cats and are happy with the new home.
Next Sunday, West Seattle’s major waterfront boulevard closes to traffic from Alki/63rd to Harbor/California Way, 9 am-5 pm for “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” — the sequel to last September’s Car-Free Day –and it will literally get off to a running start with the first-ever West Seattle 5K Run/Walk to raise money for local schools. West Seattle 5K is advertising on WSB for one last push to get the word out, and in case you missed the first round of announcements regarding this new event and what it’s about, here’s what it’s all about:
SHOW YOUR WESTSIDE PRIDE!
The West Seattle High School PTSA is proud to present the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk on May 31, 2009. This fun, family-friendly event will raise much needed funds to support the West Seattle High School PTSA and the PTSA’s at some of West Seattle’s other community schools. Help the PTSA at your school provide an important voice to students, parents, and staff, as well as fund important educational initiatives. We can’t do it without YOUR support!
REGISTER NOW!
Gather together your family or a group of friends for a 3.1-mile run or walk along West Seattle’s own Alki Beach. When you’re done, enjoy a car-free day on Alki courtesy of the City of Seattle and Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets.Register online or by mail. For more information, visit westseattle5k.com/registration. Registration fees are $35 for Adults, $25 for Students, and 6 and under are free.
MAKE A DONATION!
You can make a tax-deductible cash donation online at westseattle5k.com/support. Designate West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth High School, Madison Middle School, or Roxhill Elementary. Any amount helps! If you don’t see your school on this list, we encourage you to make a cash donation directly to your school’s PTSA to help those organizations continue to advocate for the kids at your school.
If you want to register by mail, obviously you’re going to want to send it in fast. Online, the deadline is 6 pm Friday – after that, you can register in person on Saturday or Sunday. The registration page explains how, where and when – as well as, for those who’ve already registered, how to pick up your bib, shirt and timing pin on Saturday. See you at the West Seattle 5K!
If you don’t already shop there – ever drive past one of White Center’s non-chain supermarkets and feel a tinge of curiosity? This just might convince you to stop someday and go inside: A close-up look at one of the “Great Markets of White Center,” at WSB’s partner site White Center Now.
Thanks to Gregory Wright for photos from Saturday’s low tide – and this morning, it’ll be even lower (bottoming out at 11:24 am, according to this tide chart) – with volunteer beach naturalists out again at Lincoln Park and south of Alki Point, 10 am-1:30 pm:
Also today: Extra fun at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm in The Junction) – it’s “Live Local Day” with free draft-mule-wagon rides, free sweet-pea flower starts for kids from Langley Fine Gardens, and free cooking demos (barbecue sauces!) – plus, here’s today’s fresh sheet. Last but not least, day 2 of Colman Pool‘s first “pre-season weekend” on the Lincoln Park shoreline, schedule here. More in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – and if you’re garage-saling, check the listings in the WSB Forums’ Freebies-Deals-Sales section (free to post YOUR future sale!).
Under investigation by Seattle Police right now: First came the report of shots fired in the California SW/SW College vicinity (map). Then, the scanner report that officers found “multiple 40-caliber shell casings in the driveway on the south side of the Blockbuster.” We’re continuing to monitor this; so far NO report of anyone having been hit by those shots.
Received from the Duwamish Tribe:
Native Film: ‘Maria Tallchief’
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
4705 W. Marginal Way SWThe ballet world that was dominated by the Russians, French, and English changed dramatically in 1948 when Maria Tallchief took center stage to the most thunderous ovation ever heard in the history of New York City theater and dance. Come watch this beautiful documentary on the life of Maria Tallchief, America’s first prima ballerina. Journey with her as she leaps from her home in the Osage Indian Territory in Oklahoma to the center stages of the world.
May 28, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
2 hours
$10
www.duwamishtribe.org
james@duwamishlonghouse.org
(206) 431-1582
(photo courtesy Eilene Hutchinson)
Years of hard work — neighbors’ efforts, volunteers’ coordination — culminated in a celebration today at Alki Bathhouse, as Alki was officially certified by the National Wildlife Federation as Community Wildlife Habitat. But that’s just the beginning, as volunteer Mary Quackenbush pointed out – next, a campaign to have all of West Seattle certified – so wherever you live in West Seattle, listen up later this year for how to get involved with that. “It’s really easy,” Mary said. But in the short run – it was time for the Alki community to celebrate – including project chair Dolly Vinal:
She received the certificate from NWF representative Courtney Sullivan – listen to the hearty round of applause echoing around Alki Bathhouse:
The NWF rep explained in this video clip — with some amazing numbers — what an achievement it was for Alki to get to this point, six years after launching the project:
Before the ceremony ended, other key team members who helped make the certification reality came forward – note in the foreground, one of the Alki Wildlife Habitat Project’s special touches, gourds like those hung at Seacrest Pier for the purple martin, as coordinated by Alki Kayak Tours‘ Kara Whittaker:
Making the rest of West Seattle a wildlife habitat might not be that hard, considering that groups from all over the peninsula were represented at today’s celebration — Friends of Lincoln Park (here’s our story on one of their recent work parties) had Cathy Davis and Sharon Baker on hand:
Sharon shared a card from the Healthy Parks, Healthy You project that notes you can burn 340 calories in an hour by digging, gardening and mulching – whether at a work party (listed weekly at greenseattle.org) or in your own yard. On the flip side of the calorie count, it wouldn’t have been a party without cake – this was donated by Alki Community Council vice president Randie Stone:
City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (who chairs the council’s Parks Committee) joined the party too, receiving a certification sign for his own Alki-area property, joking that it might have been designated as wildlife habitat because he doesn’t mow enough and it just looks wild:
Next step – before that West Seattle-wide effort gets under way (likely in fall, Mary said, given the prime planting conditions then) — there’s a work party planned for next Saturday, 9 am-noon, at Seacrest, to get more mulching done on a native-plant area there that’s part of the AWHP.
Thanks to Kim and Jordan Petram of Fauntleroy for sharing these photos of a baby owl and its parents in Lincoln Park tonight – Kim says they were spotted in the trees “north of the north parking lot.”
Looking at birdweb.org – we’re thinking these are barred owls (experts, please weigh in)? Also note – Camp Long naturalists often lead owl-watching walks in Lincoln Park; check the newly issued summer brochure (registration starts Tuesday) or the online signup system SPARC for upcoming opportunities.
We have information tonight on a police response that turned some heads in the Admiral District early this afternoon. Thanks to the folks who called and e-mailed to ask about it; at the time we got those notifications, we went to check it out in person, but police were gone. However, SPD media-unit Officer Mark Jamieson looked into it for us later and says a suspect “wanted on a warrant” was spotted in the 4300 block of Admiral Way around 12:38 pm; “a foot chase ensued, and the suspect ran eastbound toward the 7-11, then witnesses thought he may have run toward the (gas) station, possibly into a laundromat. Additional officers came to the area to assist with containment, so that explains the number of cars. Suspect was located and arrested for outstanding misdemeanor warrant out of Snohomish County. It looks like he may have been caught near the Admiral Theater.”
From the sun-splashed courtyard on the north end of the South Seattle Community College campus, stretching into several rooms of the adjacent Horticulture Building, today’s first-ever West Seattle Edible Garden Fair drew hundreds to learn more about how to “grow your own groceries,” as the promotional slogan went. We visited in the final hour; organizer Aviva Furman from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle said they’d had a great day. Same thing we heard from many participants – like Sandy Pederson from Urban Land Army:
She’s posing there in front of her Land Link map (explained here) but ULA also presented the “Bucket Brigade” container-gardening table, so popular they ran out of plants and soil, after making dozens of container gardens! Of course, urban farming isn’t just about the plants: Thinking about livestock? Even if you have a small yard, you can keep up to three goats:
Chewee and Amanda were having a bit of a food fight when we stopped by. What they eat, we were told, comes from the Seattle Urban Farm Cooperative, whose mission is “to satisfy demand for local, organic feed and supplies for urban farmers”; check them out on Facebook. Back now to the concept of growing your own: Need some help? These guys have just gone into business:
Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby are known as The Shibaguyz (on Twitter, @shibaguyz), the Lazy Locavores and the Urban Farming Project (contact info here) – not only are can they consult on your urban-farming project, they’re also having an heirloom tomato sale the next two Saturdays (May 30 and June 6; watch for more info here – more than 1,000 plants, they told us!). Now, you can’t grow plants really well without good soil, so Carrie’s hints about worm composting were invaluable:
She said keeping a worm bin, like the one in the photo, is a lot easier than you might think (here’s info). Bottom line, besides growing tastier, affordable food, edible gardening is also a matter of increased self-sufficiency – which is why it synergizes so well with the display Deb Greer and Karen Berge set up:
That’s a map of the neighborhood-gathering places around West Seattle designated just in case of major emergency. The website they maintain to get out information about West Seattle preparedness, as part of this effort we’ve been covering, is down at the moment but we’ll link it here when it’s back. (Yes, Deb and Karen are gardeners too, and were even giving out samples of organic carrot seeds.) In addition to the outdoor displays, there was a busy slate of simultaneous indoor presentations all day long (as listed here). It all wrapped up just an hour and a half ago.
The Garden Center at SSCC, by the way, adjacent to today’s fair setup, is open 11 am-3 pm every Saturday.
We promised we’d let you know as soon as we found out what last night’s helicopter-over-Alki police search (original WSB coverage here) was all about – and Seattle Police media-unit Officer Mark Jamieson has just provided details: At 2:12 am, a call came in from the 3000 block of 59th SW, where somebody saw “two males” who “hopped a fence,” followed by the sound of something crashing. A few minutes later, Seattle Public Schools security answered an alarm at nearby Alki Elementary, and then came a report that the possible suspects were seen running westbound on Stevens (just west of the school). The helicopter was available, so it, and K-9 officers, joined the search. The suspects were described as 2 white males, around 16 years old, wearing dark clothing. Around 3:05 am, the search was called off; police went back to the school and found a broken window on the south side of the school, but it hasn’t been determined yet whether entry was actually made and whether anything was taken.
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