Even though the SPD stood us up at our gathering, I’m going to call our Night Out a great success.   I’m estimating we had at least 50 neighbors from around the Beach Drive Neighborhood.    Lots of great food, conversation along with old and new friends. 

Allison was wonderful by allowing us to bombard her nice lawn.    And Angeline neighbors were terrific by bringing over tents, tables and chairs.    I enjoyed meeting folks that the blog has helped by finding missing pets or boats!

The next step is creating a Block Watch since there is obviously a lot interest in it.    I’m hoping that we can coordinate between other Block Watch groups within our area (Alki – Beach Drive – Fauntleroy).

This is such a great community!

This video was shot at Alki last night (I believe).  A group of people get into a brawl and then take off (looks like they headed towards the Beach Drive neighborhood (west of Alki).   

This is the time of year when we get an increased volume cruisers in "our hood".

The video is disturbing and you don’t need to watch it.   It concerns me that the folks who filmed this waited 5 minutes into filming before calling the police.   You have to wonder where their priorities are:  good YouTube video-content or protecting your neighborhood?   

I hope Seattle Night Out 2007 is a huge success tonight and that we have a lot of blocks participating. 

Hat Tip to West Seattle Blog.

If your neighborhood is not celebrating a "night out", please turn your porch light on to show your support for Seattle Night Out against crime.

I’m hoping to avoid possible confusion regarding the Seattle Night Out 2007 event taking place on August 7.   I know I’m posting information about our neighborhood’s block party event, it is intended to be for "Block Watch" purposes and to get to know immediate neighbors better.   It is not a "block party" where everyone from West Seattle drops by.   This is coordinated with the Seattle Police Department and the Fire Departments in effort to curb crime by getting to know your immediate neighbor better. 

If you’re block/area of Beach Drive is having a block watch event to celebrate Seattle Night Out 2007, I’m happy to post it.

You can also check with the Seattle Police Department to see if your block is has any events planned or if you would like to coordinate one.

August 7 is America’s Night Out Against Crime.   I think it would be great if we could coordinate and have a block party to get to know our neighbors better, promote safety and crime prevention.   

If we are going to have our neighborhood formally participate, we need to let the Seattle Police Department know prior to July 27, 2007.

If you have any ideas on how we can make this a fun event, or if you’re willing to assist in the planning, please let me know.

Also, if you’re planning a Night Out for your block, please give me a shout so I can post it.   Thanks Neighbor! 

I just read this article in the Seattle Times about how starting this month, the sidewalks in front of a property is the home owner’s responsibility for maintaining.

"Lots of people are surprised they are responsible, and then there is the reality of how to pay for sidewalk repair when you are strapped with all kinds of other maintenance needs," said Liz Ellis, with the Seattle Department of Transportation Sidewalk Safety Repair Program….

"Generally the city has an easement, but the property itself belongs to the homeowner," said Gregg Hirakawa, spokesman for Seattle’s Department of Transportation.

The easement’s there so the public can traverse what’s actually private property."

If you attended the Emergency Preparedness Event yesterday at West Seattle High School…would you mind sharing some of the information with your neighbors at Beach Drive Blog? 

You can either send me an email with the details and I can post it for you…or, if  you’re a Beach Drive neighbor and want to post the information on your own, let me know and I’ll add you as an author to BDB. 

This would be excellent information to post on this blog so many people can have access to it.

June 23, 9:00 a.m.  – 1:00 pm,

West Seattle High School Theater, 3000 California Ave. SW

The Hanukkah Eve Windstorm of 2006 was another wake up call for many West Seattle residents and neighborhoods…are we really ready as a peninsula community for the next "big one"?

The Southwest Police Precinct Advisory Council has been concerned about this and working to facilitate emergency preparedness though local community groups. As a result, on Saturday, June 23, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., they will be holding a public meeting on West Seattle Emergency Preparedness. The event will take place at the West Seattle High School Theater and commons area.

To refresh memories on the significance of preparedness, keynote speaker Ken Jones, KING-5 News Senior Photographer, will share his experiences in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. After an overview of the Office of Emergency Management’s new citizen preparedness program Seattle Neighbors Actively Prepare (SNAP), West Seattle specific information will be provided by the West Seattle Police Precinct, the Seattle Fire Department and community sheltering locations.

Communications information will be provided by the West Seattle team of the Seattle Auxiliary Communications Service, which is the HAM radio citizen network organized for emergency support, Jack Mayne of the West Seattle Herald, and internet use suggestions from the West Seattle Blogger.

Several examples of differing levels of community preparedness will also be presented, featuring a speaker from Vashon Be Prepared, one of the best organized community groups in the area.

The final part of the workshop will have people break out into their geographic areas and neighborhood groupings, so they can talk about what might be done to help their neighborhood be prepared for what might come next.

This event is also sponsored by the Southwest and Delridge District councils, which are made up of 17 different community groups. Program details are available at www.morganjunction.org or by calling Cindi Barker at 206-933-6968.