Are you a Block Watch “Captain” or Organizing a Seattle Out Event on Beach Drive?

Nightout

I’m having residents all over Beach Drive contact me regarding Seattle Night Out which takes place next Tuesday, August 5, 2008.   If you are a Block Watch Coordinator/Captain or if you are having a Seattle Night Out gathering along Beach Drive, please let me know so that I can send people in the right direction–to the gathering closest to them. 

“Night Out” is a national Crime Prevention event. It is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts, and unite our communities. It is a great chance to learn about crime prevention, while also celebrating your community and spending time with your neighbors. 

Seattle Night Out is NEXT WEEK

Can you believe it?  Hopefully you have something planned within your block/neighborhood to participate in this event celebrating community and safety.   The Seattle Police Department would like to know if you are planning a Seattle Night Out event no later than August 2, 2008 and Night Out takes place the evening of Tuesday, August 5, 2008.

I sent an email this afternoon to those on my distribution list.  If you are a Beach Drive neighbor and would like to be added to my email list or are interested in the Block Watch/Night Out get together please let me know.

We will also need volunteers to hand out flyers, get the word out, etc.   

Last years event was a pot luck and great fun.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact me

Southwest Precinct Police Appreciation Day is TODAY

Today, from 10 am – 8 pm by the Delridge Home Depot, is your opportunity to let our local Seattle Police Officers that we appreciate their work in protecting our neighborhoods and families.    This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to our community for those who dedicate so much for us.   West Seattle Blog has more information here.

Don’t forget, 2008 Seattle Night Out is Tuesday, August 5.  We just a couple weeks to plan for this fun event with neighbors–who’s in?  This year, the SPD is participating with  Office of Emergency Management’s SNAP (Seattle Neighborhood Actively Prepare) to help inform us on emergency preparedness for our neighborhoods.   Watch for an email soon regarding this event.

Pet Warning: Watch Out for Foxtails

This warning about foxtails is from Beach Drive neighbor, Sandi:200pxhordeum_murinum_in_voorhis_eco

Last Friday our dog Tazi got into the foxtail plants across from La Rustica and got covered with Foxtail "spikelets". One of the "spikelets" got into his ear canal. He went absolutely CRAZY !!!

We didn’t know what was wrong as there was nothing visibly wrong so we initially thought he had been stung by a wasp or something. Then he went into a state where he just kept shaking his head and crying. We still thought it might be a bee or wasp sting. By about 5 pm, we decided to take him to the Vet and found out it was a Foxtail Spikelet that had worked it’s way down so far that the sharp "point" had contacted his ear drum. If we hadn’t gotten it removed it would have punctured his ear drum. It ended up costing over $350 to get it out of his ear and he had to be sedated because the pain was so bad and it was so close to his ear drum !!!! $85 of the cost was because we took him up Friday night to have it checked AFTER he had eaten, so we couldn’t get it removed that night because the wouldn’t sedate him with food in his stomach. We had to wait until the next day, 120pxhordeum_murinum_spikelet_clustso there was an additional charge as well as the anti-inflammatory and pain killer medicine to get him through the night before we could take him back to the vet on Saturday Morning.

All Pet owners should be aware that this is a VERY DANGEROUS plant and it can KILL a dog or cat if it the spikelet gets into the wrong orifice (and Tazi is short hair). Sandi

Photos from Wikipedia.  Click here for more information about Foxtails.

Another Accident on Beach Drive

Earlier a neighbor reported how their car was smashed along Beach Drive with no note or contact from the "guilty party".   Just this morning, on my way home from the grocery store I was stunned to see someone drove through Emma Schmitz Memorial View Point.  Smashing a park bench, taking out a bus stop sign and ripping apart bushes along the street.   A resident said she heard it happen last night but did not see the car.

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It’s amazing the vehicle was able to drive away and must have significant damage.

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A gentleman who works for the parks department just happened to drive by and stood the bus sign up.   There is glass all over the road from the damaged vehicle.   Both the Seattle Parks Department and Police Department have been notified.

Update:  WSB reports in the comments below that there was a 911 "aid" call at 4:02 am.   Unsure if someone actually hit and ran–sounds like someone might have been rescued. 

Southwest Precinct Public Safety Newsletter

Get the latest copy by clicking here: Download southwest_precinct_public_safety_newsletter_june_19_2008.pdf

Graffiti Update

Img_6313 It appears this morning the Seattle DOT is replacing the public signs that were tagged with graffitiIf you notice graffiti remaining after this morning, you may want to contact the proper authorities.  The City of Seattle has an on-line resource for reporting graffiti here.

If graffiti is on your private property, it is your responsibility to promptly remove it so that it does not encourage more tagging.   

Beach Drive Blog is not showing photographs of graffiti on this site.   This only promotes and possibly encourages the punks by publicizing their vandalism.

Graffiti at Beach Drive and Jacobsen

It looks like we’ve had some punks "tag" the new home being constructed at the base of Jacobsen as well as some public street signs.    Graffiti is vandalism and when it’s done on public property, the City of Seattle wants you to report it (which has been done in this case) to 206-684-7587.   By the way, this is also the same number you c an use for illegal dumping.

The Seattle Police Department states that

"Graffiti is created to be seen by others, so the best thing to do if it appears on your property is to paint it out thoroughly and immediately."

Speaking of vandalism, Seattle Night Out is just a few months away and it’s probably a good time to start planning neighborhood events and to renew our Block Watch efforts.   

Ideas?

Did you witness a car accident this week on Beach Drive?

This message from Beach Drive neighbor, Judy:

A young man living with us this summer has his car rammed on Beach Drive at the north end of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park sometime between 8 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. this morning.  There is quite a bit of damage to the back left tire, fenders, etc., with white paint left.  No note was left.  We’re wondering if anyone saw or heard anything. 

Please contact Judy if you noticed someone ramming a car earlier this week.

Official Barking Dog Report: Nasty Wind and Waves

Latest Puget Sound Marine Forecast:

…GALE WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM PDT TUESDAY…

TONIGHT…SW WIND 25 TO 35 KT BECOMING N 10 TO 20 KT NORTH PART AT TIMES. WIND DIMINISHING LATE TONIGHT. WIND WAVES 4 TO 6 FT EASING TO 2 FT LATE. SHOWERS AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.

My first report from the Marine Forecast was that the gale warning would last until 11 Istock_000002610704medium_1 tonight (just prior to our high tide of 11:21 pm).  In light of how nasty this has been and that the wind and waves are still going strong, I think this justifies a "barking dog" report.

The City of Seattle says things will lighten up after midnight:

REST OF TONIGHT…WINDY. SHOWERS THIS EVENING…THEN NUMEROUS SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE 40S. SOUTHWEST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH THIS EVENING…DECREASING TO 10 TO 20 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

To be on the "safe side" we are dragging out our pumps and preparing for worse case scenario.   What are you doing?