day : 07/06/2013 8 results

At tonight’s West Seattle High School All-School Reunion, hundreds of alumni were on hand from nine decades. But the spotlight shone brightest on the Class of 1963, celebrating its golden anniversary. While we were there, class members were posing for photos grouped by the elementaries they had attended – as you’ve probably guessed from the sign, the people in our picture had gone to nearby Lafayette Elementary. All around the WSHS Commons, where the Class of ’63 met, there were displays with historical photos:

Other classes met in various locations around the school, before attendees gathered in the theater for the program to announce scholarships and Hall of Fame inductions. Outside, for the first few hours, the traditional display of classic cars, like this gleaming Ford Mustang:

Thanks to reunion chair Jim Biava of the WSHS Alumni Association for sharing this electronic copy of the program – it includes the names of tonight’s honorees. Keep a eye on the association’s new website for future alumni events.

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Saturday: 4 West Seattle community cleanups await your help

June 7, 2013 8:54 pm

| Comments Off on Saturday: 4 West Seattle community cleanups await your help

| How to help | West Seattle news

Nothing big on your calendar tomorrow? Here are four ways you can make a difference with just a few hours on Saturday morning:

WALKING ON LOGS: This 9 am-noon cleanup is happening alongside the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge, as previewed here last Monday. Site access requires directions – e-mail Nancy ASAP at nldriver@q.com.

ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET: Admiral Neighborhood Association president David Whiting e-mailed us today with an invitation for you to join their quarterly cleanup – 9 am-noon, meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), with treats before and after, tools provided. (42nd/Admiral)

DELRIDGE WAY: 10 am-noon, North Delridge Neighborhood Council Beautification Committee chair Lisa Taylor Whitley invites you to be part of the crew – meet at Delridge Community Center bags, gloves, and trash pickers will be provided. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

FRIENDS OF MORGAN JUNCTION PARKS: 10 am-noon, as previewed here yesterday – be part of this group’s first-ever cleanup event at Morgan Junction Park, tools provided. (California SW & SW Beveridge)

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Highland Park Spraypark sneak peek: Opening ‘very close’

June 7, 2013 4:06 pm

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| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Thanks to Kelly Goold, Seattle Parks‘ project manager for the Highland Park Spraypark, for the sneak-peek photos taken while it was being tested. We’ve been checking with him on the spraypark’s status; he tells WSB this afternoon that opening day is “close,” but right now, they’re waiting on a part:

Construction is complete, and the spraypark is fully functional (and very cool). However, there are some minor problems with the water quality system, and we need to be overly cautious in dealing with this. The manufacturer is supplying a new part and it will be installed as soon as we get it … we are very close.

The Parks and Green Spaces Levy-funded spraypark replaces the old Highland Park wading pool, which has been closed for five years. Sprayparks are considered more economical and sustainable – no staffing required; less water evaporation.

Speaking of wading pools – their season starts two weeks from tomorrow; here’s the citywide schedule.

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Metro service change tomorrow: How RapidRide will be ‘adjusted’

June 7, 2013 2:31 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of RapidRide bus in The Triangle shortly after C Line debut last fall)
Tomorrow is “service change” day for Metro – one of several each year. When we published the West Seattle changes earlier this week, commenters wondered what Metro meant by saying “the RapidRide C and D Line schedules will be adjusted.” Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer promised to find out – and here’s the followup information he has just shared:

RapidRide C and D lines: A new southbound weekday trip to Westwood Village leaving Bay 3 at the Alaska Junction at 5:12 a.m. will be added. Also, in an effort to balance passenger loads, the RapidRide C and D line schedules will be adjusted during the morning peak period.

What does this mean?

1) We’re adding an early morning trip to help connect with service to the airport.

2) The other changes are to actual trip times northbound from West Seattle to downtown. The net number of trips is identical (except for the partial added early morning trip), while having more buses run during the period where ridership data showed more need.

This has the effect of allowing 11 trips instead of 10 between 7:45 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. (when passenger loads were higher) and 12 trips instead of 13 between 4:59 a.m. and 6:59 a.m. (when passenger loads were lower).

Another way of looking at it, after June 8, C Line weekday buses to downtown Seattle are scheduled:

· about every 8-12 minutes from 5:30-9:24 a.m.

· about every 15 minutes starting at 9:24 a.m. (15-minute service previously started at 8:39 a.m.)

Updated schedules will be posted online later Friday, and riders can view the adjusted trip times to be ready for Monday. Though the RapidRide C/D line service is interconnected, D Line morning trips are staying roughly the same as they were since February.

Since launching, we continue to closely monitor operations and watch for opportunities to better serve passengers within our budget.

We appreciate everyone’s continued support and ridership, and ask for patience as riders and drivers transition to the adjusted trip schedule.

Reminder that Sound Transit also makes its periodic service changes tomorrow – including a major change to Route 560.

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Video: Harbor Island Training Center dedicated; Vigor-South Seattle Community Center partnership

June 7, 2013 12:59 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Today brings the second ribbon-cutting in two days involving South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – but this one wasn’t AT the college; instead, it happened a few miles north at Vigor Shipyard, where the new Harbor Island Training Center has just been dedicated. It includes a computer lab, classroom space, and industrial training floor, and its purpose, as explained in the announcement, is to provide students with the industrial skills they need to get family-wage jobs at the region’s industrial manufacturers.” Those jobs are available – but companies such as Vigor have trouble finding skilled workers to fill them, so this will help “bridge that disconnect,” as Vigor’s senior VP of HR Sue Haley puts it. SSCC already had welding and manufacturing programs, so the partnership made perfect sense. Vigor Industrial CEO Frank Foti and SSCC president Gary Oertli were among those who spoke:

Other local leaders on hand included City Council President Sally Clark and State House Transportation Committee Chair Judy Clibborn, in the photo below with SSCC president Oertli:

Enrollment information and other details about the new training center can be found on this SSCC webpage.

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Agenda out for Wednesday discussion of ‘Nickelsville’ site’s future

June 7, 2013 11:44 am

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| Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

The agenda is out for next Wednesday’s meeting of the City Council’s Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee – and, as first reported here last week, it includes a discussion about the future of the site that currently houses the “Nickelsville” encampment – as described on the agenda:

Options Related to Future Use of the “Glassyard” property located south of Highland Park Way Southwest between 2nd Avenue Southwest and South Myrtle Street

The two ordinances listed for discussion are CB 117791, Councilmember Nick Licata‘s proposal to expand the types of sites citywide that could host encampments – which is still moving toward a formal public hearing June 25th – and CB 117792, Mayor McGinn’s proposed alternative (if the Licata bill is not passed) that would appropriate money for an environmental study of making the “Nickelsville” site semi-permanent. The Wednesday (June 12) committee meeting is at 2 pm at City Hall and starts with a public comment session that can pertain to this or any other item on the agenda, and will be live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 or online) if you can’t be there.

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West Seattle Friday: WSHS All-School Reunion; SLHS graduation; SSCC wines; more…

June 7, 2013 9:43 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey photographed by Patrick McCaffrey)
A bird’s-eye view of some of what’s up today/tonight:

WINE TASTING AT SSCC: One day after the new Northwest Wine Academy building officially opened, you can visit 2-8 pm to try the new spring releases – details here. (6000 16th SW, east side of the northernmost parking lot)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ALL-SCHOOL REUNION: Classic car show at 4:30 pm, and then the doors open at 5 for this year’s event. Details in our preview. (3000 California SW)

WSHS CLASS OF ’63 FIFTIETH REUNION: The WSHS Class of 1963 not only will gather at the aforementioned event tonight, they’re also planning a big dinner tomorrow – details in our calendar listing.

‘BOBCAT BOB’: Popular musician Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice plays C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) tonight, 6-8 pm. (5612 California SW)

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: “Wreck-It Ralph” tonight at Eastridge Church in West Seattle, 7 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (39th/Oregon)

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: The first of our area’s 2013 commencement ceremonies is tonight at 7:30 pm, at Seattle Lutheran High School’s Menashe Family Gym. (41st/Genesee)

‘SWEET, SWEET MUSIC’: The newest Bronwyn Edwards-led edition is onstage tonight at Fauntleroy Church, 7:30 pm, with the theme “Saints and Sinners.” More info here. (9140 California SW)

Even more on the calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday on the move

June 7, 2013 7:36 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing unusual as the Friday morning commute moves toward its peak. Looking ahead to the weekend – here’s the city’s weekly roundup of big events and closures (nothing in our immediate area).

8:37 AM: Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction for the tip that the 42nd/Alaska lights are on flashing red. That means 4-way stop. And as we were writing this, we got a call from someone that Fauntleroy/Alaska is out too.

3:28 PM: For RapidRide riders – a little more clarification from Metro regarding the changes starting tomorrow.

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