day : 17/06/2012 10 results

Traffic update: Northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 open again

| Comments Off on Traffic update: Northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 open again

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

WSDOT says the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 has reopened early, but the southbound direction will stay closed till 5 am tomorrow as planned.

P.S. Here’s our day-by-day list of closures for the week ahead, also including the city’s Spokane Street Viaduct plus the bike-trail work by the “low bridge” the next two days.

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Across the bay: See the Seattle Great (Ferris) Wheel light show?

| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

Just got an e-mail tip that the Seattle Great Wheel – aka the Seattle ferris wheel – that’s been drawing so much attention across the bay was testing its full-color light show tonight. Our “tipster” didn’t have a camera handy but, searching Twitter and YouTube, we found this clip that someone posted. Vertical video, but wow! The wheel is scheduled to open June 28th, if you hadn’t yet heard.

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: “Mz Cher,” who published the YouTube video, notes in a YT comment that she had posted Instagram photos, too. Here’s one:

Just last Thursday, when City Council President Sally Clark was speaking to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, she was asked “Where did the (Seattle Great Wheel) come from?” since for some, its appearance was something of a surprise, with little advance publicity. Clark’s answer was not extensive, but as noted in comments here last night, the project did get city approval last November – here’s the written decision (which briefly mentions the prospective lights, though not as in “multi-colored display,” on page 10).

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: KING 5 seems to have found some video from their tower cam – see it here.

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Countdown to the Seattle plastic-bag ban: 2 weeks away

June 17, 2012 8:45 pm

| 77 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

(Graphic from a city flyer available in 15 languages, here)
A visit to the grocery store tonight reminded us that the city’s plastic-bag ban takes effect in exactly two weeks – starting July 1st – so it’s probably just about time for a barrage of reminders to start kicking into high gear. The City Council passed it six months ago, so you’ve had time to stock up on reusable totes if you don’t want to pay the nickel charge for paper bags, which is noted on both the city graphic above and the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) home page (their line “We don’t want to have to charge you; please remember your bags!”) – note that it’s a nickel MINIMUM, so it’s up to stores to decide whether to charge you 5 cents, or more, for a paper bag. Metropolitan Market (also a WSB sponsor) already has an incentive program for bringing your own bags – Admiral store director Glen Hasstedt explains, “Metropolitan Market has a program called Nickels for the Neighborhood. For every reusable bag a customer brings in to use at checkout, Metropolitan Market donates a nickel to a local organization whose endeavors support of our environment or ecology.” (Last year, they chose People for Puget Sound as the beneficiary, and donated $5,280.)

**Tuesday 6/19 update: This program is evolving starting July 1st, according to Metropolitan Market – they’ll continue to make donations, but the individual stores will be making decisions on beneficiaries, and you won’t be asked about it at the checkout stand. MM’s Brad Halverson says they’re also very proud to have a high rate of bag reuse already, long before the ban kicks in.**

(back to original story) Still have questions about the bag ban? Here’s an FAQ from Zero Waste Seattle; there are more informational links on City Councilmember Mike O’Brien‘s website.

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This year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float debuts – and wins

June 17, 2012 6:18 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(Saturday photo courtesy West Seattle Hi-Yu)
The 2012 West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float, with the theme “Secret Garden” (chosen last December, from an idea by Riley Fredericks), has made its debut – and brought home an award. At Saturday’s parade in Marysville, the Hi-Yu float was honored for “Best Floral Display,” as reported on the Hi-Yu website. Its next scheduled parade appearance is in Port Orchard on June 30th; three weeks after that, you’ll get to see it here at home in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on July 21st.

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West Seattle news from 95 years ago: Grumpy about road work

June 17, 2012 1:57 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Click photo to see larger image – the resulting image may also be zoomable)
Laurie in Admiral found more newspaper pages from 1917 during her ongoing remodeling project and – as she did with the ones we featured here three weeks ago – she shared them with WSB. The top story for “The West Seattle Press” on February 14, 1917, involved an uproar over the cost of completing Admiral Way – here’s a closer look at part of the top story:

We’re not sure exactly which stretch of Admiral was being discussed. But here’s a Seattle Municipal Archives photo from less than a year earlier, looking toward Pigeon Point over where Admiral Way begins now:

(Click photo to see larger image on the city’s website)
And here’s one from a different stretch to Admiral in 1916 – though the archives don’t identify exactly where:

Back to the 95-year-old newspaper pages, we have a few other things Laurie shared from her discoveries – three ads, starting with another look at what land cost back then:

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Tour the Duwamish River by kayak: 5 tours in community series

June 17, 2012 12:46 pm

| Comments Off on Tour the Duwamish River by kayak: 5 tours in community series

| Environment | South Park | West Seattle news

You don’t have to go it alone if you want to get a good look at the Duwamish River – join one of this summer’s guided, educational community-kayaking tours presented by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG, Alki Kayak Tours, the Seattle Aquarium, Sound Citizen, and the National Wildlife Federation. Two leave from West Seattle, and the other three from South Park. Kayaking experience is not required, and all gear is provided; it’s $45 per person (plus a $5 donation to DRCC/TAG). Also note that participants under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult.

The tours are all 6-8:30 pm (and you’re welcome to bring a picnic dinner):

*July 19 and September 13: Meet at T-107 Park in West Seattle (4700 W. Marginal Way SW)

*August 2, 16, 30: Meet at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park (7900 10th Avenue S.)

You can reserve your spot on a tour by contacting Alki Kayak Tours at 206-953-0237 or tours@kayakalki.com.

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West Seattle Sunday: Happy Father’s Day!

June 17, 2012 10:44 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Father’s Day wildlife viewing, anyone? Guy shared the otter photo from east Alki – where you never know what you’ll see, and when. If your plans aren’t all set but you’re looking for something with a little more of a schedule, a few options from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Under way now, till 2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska.

FRESH VEGGIES/FRUIT IN ADMIRAL: Marguerite Lynch and her teenage sons are selling organic produce, with part of the proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank, till 1 pm. She says, “We will have mixed lettuce bags, fresh picked peas, strawberries, kale, mustard greens, and honey!” 44th/Hill, just west of Admiral Congregational Church.

CAT/KITTEN FOR DAD? Two options today: 11 am-3 pm, Friends of the Animals Foundation is at Next to Nature in The Junction with adoptable cats and kittens (more info here); noon-6 pm, Kitty Harbor on Harbor Avenue just north of the bridge is open for adoptions.

FATHER-AND-SON GLASS-JELLYFISH DEMO: Richard Lowrie and son Levi Lowrie are in the house at Avalon Glassworks, 11 am-4 pm, to demonstrate and answer questions about the creation of glass jellyfish. On Avalon Way just south of the bridge.

BLUEGRASS AND OLD-TIME MUSIC: Jamtime plays C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 1-4 pm, 5612 California SW.

DANCE WITH DAD: Today’s the day for the monthly Afternoon Tea Dance at Camp Long Lodge (5200 35th SW), 1-4 pm – details here.

(LONG)HOUSE CONCERT: The Duwamish Tribe invites you to enjoy the music of Native flutist Paul Che-oke-ten Wagner and Sin Fronteras in concert at the longhouse; doors open 3:30 pm; details and map here.

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West Seattle road-work update: 35th/Avalon bus stops

June 17, 2012 6:03 am

| 29 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

At Saturday’s Westwood Village Street Fair, someone who stopped by the WSB booth asked us what’s up with the seemingly endless work on the bus stops at 35th/Avalon – RapidRide-related work that’s been anything but rapid. Just so happens that SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner has provided this “progress report”:

After some unforeseen challenges that delayed work on the RapidRide bus stops at 35th Avenue SW and SW Avalon Way, the contractor has begun pouring the new sidewalk on the west side of the street, and hopes to reopen the sidewalk on the west side of the street by the end of the week of June 18.

In the interim, the temporary west-side sidewalk has been more clearly delineated to make it safer for pedestrians. The temporary sidewalk is also ADA-compliant with temporary ramps for wheelchairs to maneuver between the section of the sidewalk still open and the temporary sidewalk. In addition, a police officer will be present through the week of June 18 while construction activities are occurring to ensure safety and smooth the flow of traffic.

The big challenge has been on the east side of 35th, where a wooden utility pole was found to be rotted and in need of replacement, but only after the sidewalk had been torn up. It took a number of weeks to secure and place the replacement pole, but that is now done and construction activities have resumed. The contractor hopes to pour the sidewalk on the east side the week of June 18, and it should be reopened to pedestrians by the first week of July (hopefully sooner).

Both bus stops will be reopened as soon as the contractor has completed their piece of the work, although both will again be temporarily closed for several days later in the summer when the RapidRide shelters are put in place.

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Congratulations, West Seattle High School Class of 2012!

June 17, 2012 3:01 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A couple times during Saturday evening’s West Seattle High School graduation ceremony at Memorial Stadium, the rain came down … but that didn’t keep the caps from eventually going up:

The ceremony program listed 237 graduates; here’s our video of everyone in the opening processional:

Before everything got under way, some of the adult participants paused to reflect – from left, school board director Marty McLaren, WSHS principal Ruth Medsker, and interim superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield:

The program didn’t list valedictorian(s)/salutatorian(s), but 29 students were listed as National Honor Society members, with grade-point averages from 3.2 to 4.0 as well as participation in activities such as meetings and community-service events.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Crash on Roxbury, 1 hurt

June 17, 2012 1:21 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo was taken from Roxbury Safeway property looking northeast onto the scene on Roxbury)
1:21 AM: Big emergency response to 28th and Roxbury, where one vehicle is reported to have rolled over. More shortly.

1:36 AM: The crash is just north of the Roxbury Safeway. The car is on its side; both directions of Roxbury are blocked at the moment.

1:55 AM: 1 person was taken to the hospital by private ambulance. Police and sheriff’s deputies are searching a few blocks south for a suspect believed to be related to the crash – possibly a hit-run driver; they reported finding a car “in a ditch.”

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