September 2013

When: Sunday, September 22, 2013
Time: 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm
Where: Westcrest Park, 8600 8th Ave. S.W. Entry

Invite from SPD's Mounted Patrol:

This is a great chance to meet the Seattle Police Department's Mounted Patrol and watch demonstrations (2 and 4 pm) of some of their excellent riding abilities at their stable in West Seattle. The demonstrations are likely to be unique in that they show off some crowd control maneuvers and are informative about how they train their horses to so this very different type of work. The Officers are also a pleasure to talk to as they love their jobs and understand the importance of Community Policing, so are glad to talk about their jobs, horses and the Patrol.

A picnic lunch will be available, courtesy of the Seattle Police Foundation.

We do ask though that you observe the following due to the location of the stable: 1) please no dogs (except service animals); 2) do not park in the Westcrest dog park parking lot (parking will be provided behind the barn, please car pool if possible); 3) Contact us on Facebook if you are bringing a group.

The second annual West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival will close the streets and bring merchants and other booths out to celebrate fall on Sunday, Oct. 27th from 10am to 2pm.

The weekly farmers market will be out on the street for this event, local non-profits and businesses are providing free kids activities and games, the West Seattle High School marching band will be back to lead kids and others in a costume parade, and Junction brick-and-mortar businesses will host their long standing Trick-or-Treat event.

The organizers are hoping to get even more people involved this year.

You can:

1. Host a Booth: Have your non-profit, school, business or club host an activity booth.
2. Volunteer: The first shift helps close the streets at 6am and second shifts helps direct booth hosts at 8am.
3. Sponsor: The budget is low and this is a free event with volunteer staff, but closing the street is still expensive, and sponsors will help make this event possible.

Details on these ways to get involved are at www.wsjunction.org.

The Whole Foods Development at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW is held up until the Seattle City Council votes on the alley vacation that was opposed by Mayor Mike McGinn.

That vote is expected to come late this year or early next year.

But in the meantime the buildings on the site, notably the Alaska Street Texaco gas station (more recently a Shell station since moved across the street), and the former Howden Kennedy Funeral home are set to be torn down. That process begins at 3901 Alaska Street sometime late this year or early next year too even though the schedule published online states it was to begin in August.

Now that we are well into September that timetable is no longer accurate. We've asked the developers for more specifics on exactly what will happen and when but so far they have not gotten back to us with specifics.

Following the tear down the contractor will remove the gasoline storage tanks but beyond that, everything hinges on that City Council vote.

While speeding through a school zone never deserves applause, those who have chosen to do so are, in a round-about way, helping make roads near schools safer in Seattle.

On Sept. 4, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced the city expects to bring in $14.8 million in speeding ticket revenue by the end of 2014 from automated school zone speed cameras used throughout the city, and that the money will be used for improvements including new sidewalks, improved street crossings and traffic calming measures at over 20 different schools.

“Keeping children safe as they travel to and from school, as well as throughout their neighborhood, is a top priority,” McGinn said during a press conference. “This substantial new investment will help us make lasting improvements and encourage everyone to be safe on our roads.”

UPDATE Sept. 17
A registration party for the West Seattle Monster Dash at West Seattle Runner located at 3727 California Ave Suite 2-A on Saturday September 28th, from 12:00pm - 4:00pm.

The Monster Dash is a chip-timed 5k and kid's fun run through Lincoln Park on the Saturday before Halloween. 100% of proceeds go to support high quality, low cost preschool education through the SSCC Cooperative Preschool Program.

This is your only chance to register at the early-bird rate of $25 per person *without* paying service fees on active.com.

As an added bonus, West Seattle Runner is offering 10% off all in-store purchases to anyone that registers that day.

Original Post Sept. 5
Back for the 2nd year is the Monster Dash 5K Walk/Run and Little Monster's Dash coming up near the end of October on 10/26. It hosted by and will benefit the South Seattle Community College (SSCC) Cooperative Preschool and will run through Lincoln Park.

Arrival of Puppy Truck
Sunday, September 8th, 12:30 pm
610 SW 152nd St, Burien

The nine puppies (ages 8 to 11 weeks) bred at the California campus
of Guide Dogs For The Blind will be delivered to
raiser families from around the region. Come meet our bundles of joy
and learn how you can become involved.

Raise a Puppy-Change a Life
Tuesday, September 10th
6:30 pm to 7:45pm
The Kenney
7125 Fauntleroy Way SW

West Seattle See Dogs, a local puppy raising club for Guide Dogs for the Blind
Is looking for volunteers to spend a year or so teaching puppies good house manners and introducing them to the world.
As a puppy raiser, not only will you discover the delight of a four-footed,wet-nosed companion, you will join a community of like-minded people all working toward improving the quality of life for people who are blind.

Call Ruth Oldham at 206-953-0268 or email seedogs@comcast.net

Join the City of Burien, City partners and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the Seahurst Park Ecosystem Restoration Project Phase 2. The project’s purpose is to improve marine habitat for salmon, restore natural sediment processes, restore the beach to pre-seawall conditions and restore recreational features of the park.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 16, 2013
• 10 a.m. -- Tours of the restoration site and open house events begin at the Environmental Science & Marina Technology Lab, located within Seahurst Park.
• 11 a.m. -- Groundbreaking ceremonies, refreshments

WHERE: Seahurst Park, 1600 S.W. Seahurst Park Road, Burien

Event speakers include Congressman Jim McDermott, State Sen. Sharon Nelson, State Rep. Dave Upthegrove, Seattle District Commander Col. Bruce Estok and Burien Councilmember Joan McGilton.

About the project:

We are the Westside Wildcats and we are raising money to support our junior football and cheer league.

All money will go towards player scholarships, safer gear, and other franchise expenses.

Join us for some fun, exciting raffle items, and a delicious breakfast.

September 8, 2013. 9 am to Noon
Masonic Lodge - 4736 40th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

Only $6 per individual. $25 for the whole family (immediate family)

website: www.westseattlejrfootball.com

From Seattle Public Utilities

Editor's note: Despite this morning's soaking rain event, which has since dried up, local weather guru Cliff Mass says the major storm won't start until tonight, and it will continue through to Friday morning. Below, Seattle Public Utilities gives both builders and residents tips on how to prevent urban flooding via the storm drains.

With a big, late-summer storm expected to bring occasional downpours and localized flooding today (Thursday) and Friday, builders are being asked to inspect and maintain storm drain “socks.”

“The predicted weather system will not be huge by winter storm season standards, but for a time of the year that is normally dry it will be powerful,” Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) meteorologist James Rufo-Hill said.

Update, 11:45 a.m.

The power outage map hasn't been updated, but it appears that street lights are back on, at least at Market and 22nd.

According to Maria Gonzalez of American Family Insurance, the Ballard Square Building was one of the victims of the power outage. But it appears to be well now.

Also, Ballard drivers were apparently possessed according to another tweet, which reminds us, of course, of this video.

Original

There's a power outage on Market St in the downtown core of Ballard, between 24th and 15th. It started at around 7:15 a.m. and is expected to be back on by 1:30 p.m.

In Seattle overall, there are 18 outages affecting 290 people. We saw some street lights out earlier, so be careful at intersections. Treat the lights like a stop sign if they're out.