West Seattle, Washington
29 Monday
(Steller’s Jay, photographed Saturday by Mark Wangerin)
It’s spring-break week for Seattle Public Schools (and the independent schools following its schedule), but the rest of the calendar isn’t entirely quiet – a few highlights for today/tonight:
DROP-IN BRIDGE: Lifelong Recreation presents drop-in bridge every Monday, 9 am-noon, at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) – details here.
ART FOR TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS: Looking for a new activity for your little one(s)? 11 am-noon on Mondays? You’re welcome to bring her/him/them to this free, fun activity at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (Sylvan Way & Lanham) – details here.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE’S GARDENING SERIES CONTINUES: This spring, Sustainable West Seattle is offering monthly community forums focused on sustainable gardening – and tonight, it’s “Designing the Perfect Garden.” The event starts at 6 pm, at the Community Orchard of West Seattle, on the north end of the South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
ARTSWEST ANNOUNCES NEXT SEASON’S LINEUP: It’s a much-awaited night each spring – the night when ArtsWest (4711 California SW) announces the productions for its next season. 7:30 pm tonight at the playhouse, but check ahead if you haven’t already RSVP’d, to see if there’s still room.
NIGHTLIFE: Tonight’s listings will give your brain a workout – two trivia options and pub quiz – see what’s happening where, here!
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
8:19 AM: If you’ve seen a big emergency response go by, it’s for a “heavy rescue” call at 48th and Andover (map) – a car has flipped. More to come.
8:29 AM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli reports from the scene that two cars were involved and both drivers are being taken to hospitals. The driver from the Prius that flipped was described via radio as 48 years old and conscious but reporting shoulder pain.
8:51 AM: Authorities say it appeared the Prius was headed southbound and hit on the passenger side – where its airbags deployed – by the eastbound Civic. Avoid the intersection for a while; the tow trucks hadn’t arrived as of our last scene check a short time ago.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Traffic might be a bit lighter this week, since it’s spring break for Seattle Public Schools – though many independent schools are in session, as their spring breaks are already over. Here’s hoping for a trouble-free commute; if you spot a problem and can share the news safely (after arriving at your destination – or on the road IF you are a passenger, not a driver), as always, we appreciate comments, texts, e-mails, whatever works. Thanks!
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
There may be a decision today on what will, or won’t, be done with the dead fin whale (an endangered species) that has drawn hundreds to the shore of Burien’s Seahurst Park the past two days. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams returned to the beach on Sunday and shows us a scene of tributes and mourning as well as curiosity. Among those bringing flowers, 7-year-old Faith Hunter:
There was also the smelly reality of a multi-ton carcass, as Lucas Brooks noticed:
Some simply stood quietly to observe, and pay respects:
Fishing buddies Kyle Thope, right, and Corey Wiggins took a closeup look:
Ruby Rose (photo below) said she was gleaning information from the whale.
She told Nick, “I can receive information through my heart and my hands, and sometimes my third eye. … Whales are living libraries downloading information to me.” Others learned from the scene in a more conventional manner – Steve Knapp was there with his 7-year-old daughter Sera:
Generosity’s breaking out all over West Seattle – and starting at a very young age! Renée Metty from The Cove School sends word of a big gift from her little students:
The Cove School delivered 2 barrels of toys and clothes for Treehouse for Kids. Our Junior K visited Treehouse last month so they could see where their donations would go and to see what Treehouse needed. The Junior K decided to run a drive for Jeans and toys for our school. The whole school brought in donations and our Junior K went back (Friday) to deliver the items. In addition to basic items like food, clothing and toys, The Cove School is committed to contributing time and talents. As one of our values, generosity is one of the core elements to success.
Treehouse provides advocacy and assistance for foster children.
(Brandon St. Greenspace volunteers during October 2012 Duwamish Alive!; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Next Saturday is the twice-a-year Duwamish Alive! cleanup/restoration work-party day – and as usual, you can choose from multiple work-party locations to get involved with helping take care of West Seattle’s river and its watershed. Organizers like to know how many people to expect – so if you are interested in helping out on Saturday, go here and mouse over “Sign Up” to see the drop-down list of eight possible sites where you can help, from West Seattle to South Park to Tukwila, 10 am-2 pm April 20th.
6:46 PM: Thanks to those who asked about a significant police presence in High Point – turns out a Seattle Police car is one of two vehicles involved in a crash at Sylvan and Lanham. WSB’s Katie Meyer reports that the scene is clearing; no serious injuries reported – the officer is being checked out after reporting getting bumped around a bit.
7:47 PM UPDATE: Added Katie’s photos from the scene. As you can see, both cars ended up off the road – and, Katie adds, while both had significant damage, both were driven back onto the road. A tow driver helped clear debris:
Officers at the scene say the crash circumstances remain under investigation.
The West Seattle Bee Garden is now five weeks away from its scheduled opening – with, as reported here last month, a parade and picnic to which the entire community is invited. Right now, it’s work party season: the photo above is from a blessing given during the first work party last weekend, at the Bee Garden’s site next to the P-Patch in High Point’s Commons Park. As Bee Garden instigator Lauren Englund noted, “We removed 3500 square feet of sod during the rainiest weekend on record at Sea-Tac since 1948! Woohoo!”
Lauren was planning to follow up on that work party by picking up the Bee Garden’s hives from Daniel Sullivan of Shipwreck Honey and procuring the bees from a beekeeper in Burien.
What’s also been happening is a revision of financial goals. Community donations are still very much appreciated, and what’s been received so far has enabled the project to reduce its fundraising goal – so it’s now a four-digit number instead of five. The IndieGoGo page for the project still shows the old goal rather than the reset $8,000; Lauren says they’re still looking to fund educational signs, beekeeping equipment, two additional locally built beehives with frames, a small solar panel, demonstration supplies, a webcam with wi-fi to place at the hive entrance, and refreshments for volunteers during ongoing work parties. You can help by contributing here; you can sign up for weekend work parties by going here; and you can also be part of the celebration May 19th, 11 am-3 pm – details here.
For the rest of your West Seattle Sunday – three highlights from our calendar:
PENNY POLL IN THE JUNCTION: On the eve of Tax Day, how do YOU think federal budget dollars should be spent? West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice is conducting a “penny poll” at its booth in The Junction at noon today – details here.
CLASSICAL CONCERT: The Ladies’ Musical Club invites you to its free concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 3-4 pm; details here.
And more music:
INDIA SPENCE AT SKYLARK: The young musician’s proud mom Machel Spence shares the poster/photo and word that India is performing her first solo show at Skylark Café and Club at 4 pm.
(Saturday photos by Nick Adams for WSB, unless otherwise credited)
Dead or alive, an endangered fin whale is a rare sight in Puget Sound. So the one that turned up dead at Seahurst Park in Burien on Saturday (here’s our previous report) was something Jesavel Garcia said she would tell her grandchildren about – the reason why she took a self-portrait with the whale in the background. She had company:
And for researchers, it was quite a sight as well:
Up close, you could see its baleen:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
That photo is courtesy of David Hutchinson, who was one of the volunteers from West Seattle-based Seal Sitters who went to the scene; Robin Lindsey has written about it on the group’s Blubberblog site. More photos and information ahead – including troubled waters for funding of response and research in cases like this:
If you’re waiting for information about your child(ren)’s assignment in Seattle Public Schools next year – the information is reported to be available online right now. So posted WSB Forums member Ghar72 last night, including this link. More than 51,000 students are expected to enroll for 2013-2014, according to Melissa Westbrook‘s saveseattleschools.blogspot.com report about a district briefing last Thursday.
10:57 PM: A multiple-vehicle crash has temporarily closed the eastbound WS bridge ramp to southbound I-5, and emergency responders are also blocking some soutbound lanes of I-5. Traffic cameras here and here show the scenes. At least one occupant of the involved vehicles has been taken to a hospital.
11:55 PM: Accident scene has been cleared; the ramp to southbound I-5 has re-opened.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
9:07 PM: For the second time today, police are investigating a stabbing – this time, near Delridge/Thistle, with a female victim who is reported to have multiple stab wounds. Police are looking for a suspect who is reported to be someone she knows. They will be searching with a K-9. More to come.
9:15 PM: Radio exchanges indicate the victim was stabbed at least twice. Medics are taking care of her and will take her to Harborview Medical Center.
9:50 PM: No word of an arrest so far.
1:06 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams now confirms a man has been arrested and booked into the King County Jail; no word on the victim’s condition.
9:59 AM UPDATE: SPD Blotter reports on the incident this morning, with some additional information: The suspect is described as the woman’s ex-boyfriend; two children were in the apartment where it happened but were not injured.
If there’s a break in the clouds – or if you decide to drive to somewhere you can find one – our Skies Over West Seattle contributor Alice Enevoldsen says the Northern Lights should be out there somewhere:
A big solar wind “gust” just passed over the Earth, so tonight is prime aurora viewing. Check spaceweather and softservenews but it could even be worth driving somewhere out from under these big clouds.
(Photos courtesy Isa Sorensen)
Since we report so often about marine mammals here on WSB, we’re mentioning this even though it’s south of our coverage area, after getting a call from someone who wanted to make sure we knew about it: A fin whale has washed up on the beach at Seahurst Park in Burien; KIRO TV quotes experts as saying they believe it died after being hit by a vessel. Isa Sorensen gave us permission to share some of his photos.
Coincidentally, tomorrow will mark exactly three years to the day since a gray whale stranded and died off southwesternmost West Seattle, in The Arroyos. That’s less than four miles from Seahurst, if you were going by water. KIRO says Cascadia Research Collective will do the necropsy; it has researched other such cases in years past (including one in Tacoma in 2009). Fin whales, by the way, are rare in Puget Sound – so rare, they’re not even on The Whale Trail’s list of commonly sighted species;
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
11:14 AM: A man has been stabbed six times in the 1700 block of SW Barton. More to come.
11:19 AM: Per SFD radio with medics, the victim is male and despite the half-dozen stab wounds, is conscious and alert. They’re taking him to Harborview Medical Center.
11:30 AM: The wounds are considered to be life-threatening, responders are saying.
11:53 PM: From WSB’s Christopher Boffoli at the scene: The victim is a 61-year-old man and a suspect is in custody, according to police, who describe the circumstances as an argument between friends.
Yet another “just in case you were wondering” – and the inbox indicates some were: The big “water rescue” callout on Alki this past hour south of Alki Point turned out to be more or less a false alarm and was canceled fairly quickly – Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB and says the last medic unit left on scene (in his photo above) told him the call was for a kayaker that was briefly in trouble – fell out of the kayak but was dressed for the cold water and got to shore OK.
Thanks to everybody who e-mailed us to point out the new “For Sale” sign outside the former Life Care Center of America site at 47th and Admiral. It’s been more than two months since the facility closed; there’s been widespread speculation that some sort of development would follow, but so far, there’s nothing showing in city files for the site, so this is the first public sign of something happening at the property. We’ve tried to find the listing online, but so far, it’s not coming up anywhere, even on the website listed on the sign; we have left messages for the brokers and hope to hear back. The property is currently zoned as LR1, explained in the city code as primarily intended for “low-density multifamily housing” such as townhomes and rowhouses.
(St. John’s rummage sale, photographed Friday by WSB’s Katie Meyer)
Sales top the lists dominate the list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – but that’s not all:
FIRST, A TRAFFIC REMINDER: From the eastbound bridge, the ramps to northbound I-5 and Beacon Hill are closed this weekend, to reopen no later than early Monday morning – details and detours here.
AQUARIUM SOCIETY AUCTION: Aquarium enthusiasts from all over the area are at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (4400 42nd SW) today for the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society‘s annual auction – check-in is under way now and bidding starts at 10 am. Details here; general public welcome.
ST.JOHN’S RUMMAGE/BAKE SALE: Today’s the second and final day of the St. John the Baptist Church Rummage Sale, on till 3 pm at 3050 California SW, next to West Seattle High School.
HOPE LUTHERAN RUMMAGE SALE: A benefit rummage sale is also under way until today at Hope Lutheran Church (42nd/Oregon in The Junction), supporting church members’ missions in Mexico – details here.
WEST SEATTLE LIONS’ PLANT SALE: Steps away from the Hope sale, the West Seattle Lions Club‘s 19th annual plant sale continues till 3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle.
GARDEN CENTER OPENS: The Puget Ridge Garden Center opens for the season today at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), 11 am-3 pm. Details here.
WEST SEATTLE NURSERY OPEN HOUSE: “Bees, Birds, and Bouquets” is the theme of this year’s open house at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon), 11 am-3 pm; details here.
TEA PARTY AT THE LONGHOUSE: Native and English teas and more at the annual Princess Angeline Native Tea Party at the Duwamish Longhouse (4505 W. Marginal Way), 1-3 pm, with your hostess, the princess’s great-great-grandniece, Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen – details here.
‘CHARLIE BROWN’ CONTINUES: Second night for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” produced by West Seattle’s own Twelfth Night Productions, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. You can buy tickets online here.
LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC … in our nightlife listings, all on the calendar!
(Sam Cook, WSHS #30, getting ready to hit)
Second win in a row on Friday for West Seattle High School‘s baseball team over Rainier Beach – this time 13-0. Greg Slader shares the photo and summary:
West Seattle varsity baseball adds to their division lead, now 8-1 in league play. On a very cold and wet day, the entire team contributed to Westside’s effort to complete the sweep of Rainier Beach. Wexler, Rex, & Snook combined for Five innings of shutout pitching. Sam Hellinger hit a long home run into the trees, and the rest of the team added to the offense for 13 runs in Five very cold innings. Did I mention it was cold? ‘ Next game is on Bainbridge Island , Monday @ 3:30.
If you’re wondering about a large Seattle Fire Department call-out in the 6300 block of High Point Drive SW, all units are being dismissed from what has now been reported via the scanner as “Food on the Stove.”
Your calendar likely is already marked for the 9th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, May 11th – but here’s one more date, particularly if you are thinking about having a sale but haven’t signed up yet: Wednesday, April 24th. That’s the last day of registration – we need some lead time to make the map so that it’s available with plenty of preparation time for everyone interested in shopping to decide where they want to go! So far, more than 110 sales are on the list – individual sales, block sales, school/business/organization sales – it’s a big peninsula and there’s plenty of room for more. If you have questions, about selling OR shopping, here’s the WSCGSD e-mail address: garagesale@wsb.blackfin.biz. And if you’re ready to register: Here’s the link! If you want to have a sale but don’t have the room, remember that the courtyard/parking lot area between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW) and Ginomai art center will be a group site, organized by Hotwire’s Lora Swift – e-mail her at info@hotwirecoffee.com to reserve a free space. And C & P Coffee Company is a group site again too – inquire at the shop for the plan (5612 California SW). More updates as sale day gets closer; watch for updates on the official website and the official Facebook page., as well as here on WSB.
From Tara Luckie, who chairs the West Seattle Rotary‘s New Generations committee:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle is taking nominations for the Service Above Self Award. We highly encourage anyone to nominate a young adult for their service. The recipient of the award will be honored at a West Seattle Rotary meeting in June. Applications must be in no later than May 15, 2013.
Eligibility for award:
Youth and young adults up to age 30
Service experiences that exemplify “Service Above Self”
Be a member of the West Seattle community (live, work and/or attend school in West Seattle)Make a nomination by completing the online form now! Directions on applying for the award are provided in the online form.
| 2 COMMENTS