Please do! I'm wondering if the large mound was in the middle of the pond. BDB readers (all 3 of them) would be thrilled to learn some of the historic tidbits you have about our area. Please share!

Great point Judy! I must admit that I've wandered off my own tidelands now & then and really shouldn't. As far as I'm aware, no city parks along Beach Drive allow for pets on/off the leash to be on public tidelands.

Good to know TR!

This is great news! I hope the family of Mrs Guy can take some solace that safety improvements are actually taking place at the park. I'll be heading along the park tonight to see how effective the three lights are. We should be expecting some additional signage near the top of both stair cases soon according to the email statement made by Seattle Police representative Mark Solomon... "Improve the signage at the Schmitz Overlook – there is one Parks Dept. sign with hours posted on the south side of the area; I’d like to see one at the north area and one in the middle by that center stairwell. I’ll follow up with my contact at parks about that."

Thanks Susan, that's what "she" said!

Talked to helpful rep from Seattle City Light and found that they would have no problem installing lights over both sets of stairs (using the existing poles) at no cost as long as the SPD tells them it would benefit the community and or the police when patrolling. Next call is to SW Precinct!

You make a great point Tyler. I'll see what city light has available in the form of solar lighting during my scheduled call this morning. I'm thinking that this is just the beginning of an uphill battle to get anything done at all for increased safety. The SPD has been pretty steadfast on declaring this strip "safe" thus heading off any public support. We also face some residents that may oppose any lighting due to it's effect on beach sea-life. The area just around the southern stairs has been where I've personally noticed the most drug use/dealing and where the '93 slaying took place. Figured that would be a good place to start. We'll see what are options are!

Hello Amy, I walked down there and posted a few photos on the blog's FB page to back up your good ideas: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.393566244006815.106776.115271968502912&type=1 I agree that a park with such late hours owes it to the public to be adequately lighted!

RKW, Our thought is to add only enough light needed to keep sidewalk itself from being pitch black. From the article you linked to: "Researchers Barbara Nightingale and Charles Simenstad of the University of Washington in Seattle write that studies in the Pacific Northwest show potential changes in fish migration behavior and the distribution of fish in areas lit at night. These changes could increase the mortality risks for salmon, herring, and sand lance. Juvenile chum and their predators appear to congegrate below night security lights, perhaps delaying migration" There are two or three existing street lamps that could be used to add the minimal needed to add a layer of safety to the park. I posted pics of the existing lamps on the Beach Drive Blog Facebook page.

Mrs Smith, I think you'll find a majority of people will agree with you about occupying the lower section as much as possible during the day. Not sure where that's going to discourage the drug scene at night though. Pot smokers aren't the issue here.

Thanks Tracy, I'll start there on Monday!

My pleasure! Thanks for sharing TR.

Yep, those little sea-lice were tough little buggers to pry off the pinks we caught...

Great article "Scupper's Buddy"! I haven't been tuned in on the threat these farms pose until now. Blows my mind that they choose from a color chart what hue they want the meat to be... I think we may need to "occupy" the pens off Manchester.

Out of luck Rocky, Eastern Grey Squirrels only have 2 to 3 yung-uns per litter. I also learned they're swimmers and use their tails as rudders...therefore on my personal protected species list :) http://blogshevik.com/squirreltale/natural-history/eastern-grey-squirrel/ Watching the Husky game? Go Dawgs!!

Ground-dwelling squirrels are ecologically valuable, and they play an important role in the Pacific Northwest landscape. Conservation of these animals is becoming increasingly important because many of the ground squirrels, especially the... blah blah blah. Due to the emphasis of sustainability in our region, I'm waiting for Peanut to have a few litters first!

I like it "Big Ranch in the Sky" :)

Maybe our beloved bovine will end up back at the ranch on Vashon :)