Beach Drive neighbors Kathy Ludwick & Dan Callan asked to share this on the blog:
Someone on our beautiful Puget Sound waterfront has been practicing their golf swing out over the beach. This is the third time we have collected them over the past year.
We have lived on this beach for 20+ years and have never seen this problem until now. As you can see from the two balls in the center of the photo, with time & tidal action they do fall apart. Which means more plastic in our oceans. Whoever is doing this, please stop. It’s not a harmless pastime in terms of the health of the Sound.
Thank you,
Kathy Ludwick & Dan Callan
Golf Balls on the Beach
September 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Deflated birthday balloons causes massive response off Emma Schmitz memorial park
June 14, 2015 by 3 Comments
A rescue response of about two dozen vehicles and several coastguard/police boats converged along the shores of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook at around 10:00PM tonight. A witness called in what they thought was a parachuter dropping into the sound about 200 yards off the beach. After 40 minutes of searching, divers and boats at the scene radioed in a large bouquet of mylar balloons floating in the water. Surprise! Close to a hundred or so spectators lined the street to witness the non-event unfold.
A rescue diver assesses the theater…
It was actually nice to see a false alarm for once on this stretch a beach that’s witnessed it’s share of tragedies.
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
Scupper on the trail of the Polar Pioneer oil rig
May 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Our intrepid reporter, Scupper, Captain of S/V Pointless, is currently on trail of the Polar Pioneer.
Shell’s controversial oil rig is en route to Terminal 5 in West Seattle.
Stay tuned for more pictures from Captain Scupper as I will continue to update this post with photos as I receive them.
UPDATE 2:28 PM: You can barely see West Seattle in the background as the Polar Pioneer makes her way closer to Terminal 5.
Captain Scupper says, “There goes the neighborhood.”
UPDATE 2:39 PM:
Captain Scupper of S/V Pointless has just sent in this picture of the Polar Pioneer with Seattle in the distance.
Along with this close up photo taken of the oil rig from the deck of Pointless.
Captain Scupper does not see any kayakers from Portland…yet…
UPDATE 2:47 PM:
Captain Scupper has just sent a bunch more photos… they are all starting to look the same to me. Here’s a nice one of the Polar Pioneer posing in front of the Seattle skyline.
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UPDATE 3:05 PM:
Captain Scupper thinks he heard over the VHF that the Polar Pioneer is going to start drilling at this spot in Elliott Bay!
Just another day in the life of living on Beach Drive…
April 16, 2015 by 2 Comments
…actually, in the ten years we’ve lived on Beach Drive…this has to the first time I’ve seen this!
It appears to be a photo shoot. I can barely make out the name on the back of the boat “Endurance” with a couple letters following. Any more info on this? I love it when Delta Marine test drives their mega-yachts in our back yard… Endurance looks like it could a model from Hampton Yachts?
Awoken by a barking sea lion…low flying helicopter over a motorboat… just a typical week! 😉
Waking up to the beautiful sounds of a…
April 15, 2015 by 1 Comment
…barking Sea Lion! This morning around 5:30 am, our household was jolted awake by the song of very loud sea lion. As I write this post, he (or she) is currently barking it up in front of Emma Schmitz View Point – enjoy!
Unusual carcass washes up on Beach Drive shore
April 1, 2015 by 1 Comment
A local neighbor reported this washed up shark carcass to Washington Fish & Wildlife late this morning while walking his dog along Emma Schmitz Viewpoint…
Beach Drive resident Mark Snyder spotted the nearly 6 foot hulk after peering over the edge of the seawall to see what all the bird racket was about.
A spokesperson from WSFW believed that it may be related to a species of Thresher shark they’ve been seeing due to the warmer than usual waters off the coast. She also mentioned that ocean going ships will often snag an animal from distant waters and deposit them on inland shores as they reduce speed. A Wildlife boat has been dispatched for tomorrow morning to drag the shark back to the Armeni ramp for proper disposal.
Mark is often seen sail boarding on the windiest of days around here and told us that “this will definitely make me better at my sport, I’d hate to fall out there and meet one of these guys!”
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
It’s a great day for a regatta
March 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I am guessing this sail boat race is the Corinthian Yacht Club South Sound Series, just passing Lincoln Park and heading to Three Tree Point. If you know differently, please chime in!
Routine maintenance on Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook sea wall
February 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A Seattle Park & Rec crew performed some routine and temporary repairs today along the aging sea wall.
Winter storms and runoff has caused erosion in several areas behind the 1927 wall… and in front of the 54″ sewer main where the crew will back-fill with gravel.
The permanent fix is still in the paper stage with the Seattle division of Army Corp of Engineers. I’m waiting for a response regarding any progress and will report on any new developments.
UPDATE: 1:32 PM
Melissa Leslie of the US Army Corps of Engineers informed me that there are no updates at this time.
The feasibility report is still under review at our Division office. Once the project is approved we will then start the design phase to reach 100% design. Seattle Parks is probably just be conducting maintenance at this time.
Scupper, reporting for Beach Drive Blog
Woman’s Body recovered off Emma Schmitz View Point
January 8, 2015 by 2 Comments
7:05 am. A major response from the Seattle Fire Department is taking place right now for what is being called a “salt water rescue” off of SW Oregon Street and Beach Drive.
Scupper is on the scene. We should have more information soon.
UPDATE 7:06 AM: Very sad news, West Seattle Blog reports that a body has been recovered.
UPDATE: 7:17 AM: A Beach Drive neighbor out on a routine walk saw the body and went to another neighbors home for help and to call 9-1-1. The body was found at the lower section of Emma Schmitz by the south flight of stairs.
Scanners report that it is a woman. News crews are on the scene and the coroner is in route.
UPDATE 8:39 AM: According to West Seattle Blog:
“SPD spokesperson Sgt. Sean Whitcomb has briefed us. This is NOT currently being investigated as a homicide, but is considered a “suspicious death,” so SPD is investigating with the Medical Examiner, which has a crew on scene. The woman is believed to be in her 50s but that is just a guess so far – apparently no ID on her…”
UPDATE 8:54 AM: Speculators on the scene believe the deceased woman, who is described as having a heavy build and grey hair, was not in the water for long. We are told that attempts were made to resuscitate her.
UPDATE January 11, 2015: The woman has been identified as Carolyn Arnold. No other information is known at this time.
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