West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
At left is Lafayette Elementary‘s incoming principal Shauna Heath, with assistant principal Karmen Nordhougen. We photographed them toward the start of tonight’s meet-and-greet event for Heath. It was her first official chance to mingle with the school’s community since her hiring was announced three weeks ago (three months after current principal Jo Lute-Ervin had announced she wasn’t coming back for a second year). As Heath told WSB during a followup interview, she is an Admiral resident, looking forward to biking to work, after two years of commuting to Kent to lead an elementary school there. Her letter to the Lafayette community, looking ahead, is in the newest PTA newsletter (viewable as a PDF, here).
Thanks to April Long for sharing her photo of a rainbow over the West Seattle Water Taxi a little while ago. That led us to check the forecast, which brings good news – the weekend is looking better: “Partly sunny” is now the forecast for both days, starting with Saturday, which is the day of the Westwood Village Street Fair, 10 am-7 pm, including live music, kids’ activities, and more (see you there!), as well as graduation day for both local public high schools. Here’s the latest forecast.
SDOT has just sent word that the Spokane Street Viaduct overnight closures scheduled for later this week have been rescheduled – and that means the reopening of the 1st Avenue South ramp from the eastbound side has been pushed back a few days:
The overnight closure of the eastbound traffic lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct, along with the left westbound lane, previously scheduled for the nights of Wednesday, June 13, and Thursday, June 14, has been canceled. The closure has tentatively been rescheduled for Monday, June 18, and Tuesday, June 19. The closure will begin at 10 p.m. both nights and continue until 5 a.m. the following morning. (Westbound traffic will be maintained during this period in the remaining westbound lane.)
The previously announced Monday, June 18, overnight closure of the westbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I-5 and SR 99 has tentatively been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 20, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Thursday, June 21.
On the morning of Thursday, June 21, the eastbound off-ramp at First Avenue S will be reopened.
This changes the timetable on the master list of SSV *and* Highway 99 closures that we had published for this week – so we’ll update those and link the revised list here when we’re done.
P.S. If you missed our report from the work zone, published last weekend, check it out here.
It’s graduation season, which means hundreds more West Seattleites are headed for college. If there’s one in your house – you might consider packing them off with a copy of Gatewood resident Ellen Bremen‘s new book. It’s called “Say This, NOT That to Your Professor: 36 Talking Tips for College Success,” published by NorLights Press and released nationwide. Ellen is a professor herself – tenured Communication Studies faculty at Highline Community College – so she should know. She writes online, too, as The Chatty Professor. She says her book breaks new ground:
This book is a first in the college success genre to a) tackle the student-professor dynamic (if you can believe that); b) give students the exact appropriate, professional words to say to deal with challenging, but common everyday classroom issues, such as absences, late work, grades, boring classes; and c) lift the veil on college policy in a conversational way that takes students insight the faculty mind, empowering them to feel informed when tackling tough issues or standing up for themselves with professors.
But don’t take her word for it. She’s linked to some reviews, too. You can of course buy the book online.
Got room? A quick announcement:
Pathfinder K-8 School continues to seek host families for 5th grade students from Chengdu China. The students will arrive on July 3rd and depart on July 14th. During weekdays students will attend a special program at Pathfinder School. Evenings and weekends are free for you to explore our culture with your Chinese students. Students come with their own spending money, insurance and a thirst for American experiences. Please contact Lisa Clayton, lclayton@seattleschools.org, ASAP if you are interested.
(From left, Tao and Jason; photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
First, he brought in the Rock-afire Explosion animatronics.
Then, he painted the windows (while leaving peek-a-boo spots through which passersby peer, continually).
He’s on notice his temporary digs at 4724 California SW will be replaced by a 7-story building. (No worries, he’s bought his own building anyway.)
Does Jason Rudolph of Sound Advertising Group sound busy enough to you?
Nah. Now he and two of his team members have launched the West Seattle Podcast.
And they’re inviting you in to see it all – and be part of it all! – during this Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk.
This Thursday, Seattle City Council President Sally Clark is the guest speaker at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch – and you don’t have to be a member to attend, Chamber president Dave Montoure reminds us. So he’s issuing an invitation to anybody interested – not just to come listen, but to ask questions during the Q/A section of lunch. Want to ask about development? Job creation? Transportation? Or? Be at The Kenney (WSB sponsor; 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11:30 am-1 pm this Thursday. If you’re a Chamber member, the cost for lunch is $25; if not, $35, and everyone has to RSVP – you can do it online or call the Chamber office at 206-932-5685.
After a burglary wave a few months back, some promising news about crime was heartening to the 20-plus people in attendance at last night’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting.
Southwest Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis said West Seattle-area burglaries/car prowls were at a “historic low” in May – “the bad guys just aren’t playing here right now.” The Pigeon Point neighborhood itself is “pretty quiet right now,” he added. Attendees were invited to ask questions – and their biggest concerns involved speeding through the neighborhood (which includes a couple of straightaways). Before Lt. Davis left, a meeting attendee called out that he wanted to express thanks for everything that Seattle Police have done while being “severely tested” recently – and that sparked a round of applause.
Much of the rest of the meeting included other public-safety topics, from Block Watches to traffic calming:Read More
Just in case we don’t get to see the Olympics today, there’s a photo we took Monday morning. Otherwise, there’s no looking back – lots going on tonight. From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, some highlights for today/tonight:
TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: Another overnight closure planned for the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 stretch between Battery St. Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am (here’s our full list of this week’s closures, including the all-weekend, both-ways AWV/99 closure).
PRE-MEETING POTLUCK FOR ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: This isn’t business as usual for ANA, but president Katy Walum said at last week’s Admiral District business gathering that given recent troubling events around the city, it might be a good time for people to get to know each other better, spend a little more time face-to-face, rather than just rushing in at the last minute and jumping right into a meeting. So at 6 pm, lower-level meeting room at Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill), you’re invited to a potluck – bring something to share – before tonight’s 7 pm meeting. You can even come to the potluck and not stay for the meeting. More info in this update on the ANA website.
‘FINDING KIND’ AT MADISON: Free screening of “a great film to watch with your favorite student,” as organizers describe it, 6:30 pm, Madison Middle School (45th/Spokane) – details here.
PREPAREDNESS CLASS: Tonight at High Point Library Branch (35th/Raymond), Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP) offers a free class. 6:30 pm, details here.
LEARN ABOUT JUICING: Tammy at Alki Juice and Java across from Seacrest Boathouse invites you to a free 6:30 class tonight – details here.
DESC PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Members of the community advisory committee for DESC’s Delridge Supportive Housing project toured two of the agency’s buildings last week and will present a briefing tonight, along with a discussion of how DESC screens tenants. 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
MEET LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY’S NEW PRINCIPAL: 3 weeks after the announcement that Shauna Heath will lead Lafayette Elementary School next year (here’s our followup interview with her), tonight she’ll be at a “meet and greet” for the school community, 6:30 pm (details here).
CHIEF SEALTH’S LAST PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR: Cupcakes at 6:45 pm, Chief Sealth International High School PTSA meeting at 7. Agenda details are in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)
WEST SEATTLE WRITERS: Monthly meeting, 7 pm, Ginomai (42nd/Genesee) – details here, including a request to bring work to read to the group.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Its monthly board meeting is at 7 pm tonight, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), all who live/work in Fauntleroy always welcome.
SCHMITZ PARK SHAKESPEARE: Schmitz Park Elementary teacher Craig Parsley sends word that his students’ annual Shakespeare performance is tonight, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” onstage in the SP cafeteria, 7 pm (and they’re performing for their fellow students at 1 pm), 5000 SW Spokane.
DJ NIGHT AT THE RINK: Two West Seattle-based DJs bring music – and visuals – to Southgate Roller Rink tonight, 8:30-11 pm. Details here.
STARLITE SINGER/SONGWRITERS’ NIGHT: Tonight and every Tuesday night at Shadowland, 9 pm.
| 4 COMMENTS