day : 27/04/2015 11 results

A video posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Apr 25, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT

The West Seattle Bee Garden is getting ready for its biggest season yet, despite a disappointing discovery over the weekend – vandalism against its student-and-teacher-made mosaic sign. We first reported it after hearing from garden volunteers on Saturday, and then went over to follow up, not just on the vandalism, but on what’s ahead at the garden.

Bee Garden founder Lauren Englund (above) tells us that they are gathering financial and time/skills support to fix the mosaic, but can still use more. Both sides were damaged when someone hit it with a brick – it’s a two-sided sign greeting Bee Garden visitors as they enter and exit on the south side of the garden, which is at 31st/Graham, on the north side of High Point Commons Park. This is the side not shown in our weekend coverage:

If you can offer help to restore it, please e-mail westseattlebeegarden@gmail.com.

Now, looking ahead: Besides the third annual West Seattle Bee Festival in less than three weeks, other activities at the garden this spring/summer include a series of storytimes, 10 am Tuesdays from June 16th through August 18th. On June 23rd, July 14th, July 28th, August 11th and 18th, a beekeeper will be there for a hive demonstration, too.

The bees at the garden now made it through the winter, and will soon be joined by more, as Lauren installs another hive this Thursday. Volunteers made big progress with the garden itself – weeding and planting – last weekend and plan to be out again next weekend.

In June, something new and big will be added to the garden, a pergola designed by Josh Chambers, the architect of the bee enclosure. Before then, seven more school field trips to the bee garden are planned – one all the way from Wallingford! The garden also is getting some enhancements including hive-monitoring equipment so that the garden can participate in research and you can track hive details online, plus sound equipment so that Lauren or beekeeper Krista Conner can narrate and answer questions during demonstrations.

In the meantime, plan to visit for the Bee Festival on May 16th – Deborah Vandermar of the High Point Events Committee is hard at work on that, Lauren says – and later in the summer, the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association will have a Kids’ Day, which Lauren tells us “will have lots of beekeepers onsite, providing activities for kids (scavenger hunt for pollinator-friendly plants, etc.) and multiple hive demonstrations.” Also assisting, Nathalie Gelms, the children’s librarian from the High Point branch. Keep track of all this by checking in at westseattlebeegarden.com.

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Terminal 5 updates: Vehicle carrier due in; new security proposal

April 27, 2015 7:25 pm

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| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

Two updates on the Port of Seattle‘s Terminal 5 in West Seattle:

VEHICLE CARRIER ON THE WAY: The vehicle carrier Ryujin is expected at T-5 tonight (unrelated to the Foss/Shell operations for which a third of T-5 is currently leased.). Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB, “It will be delivering 2,400 autos that will be stored there for up to a few weeks. There may be other car-carrying vessels over this time frame as well. At some point they will be loaded back on to the vessel and off to their planned destination.” (MarineTraffic.com shows the Ryujin currently near the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. *Tuesday 6:49 am update – It’s just now passing Port Angeles.*)

SECURITY CONTRACT FOR T-5: One of the items on the agenda for tomorrow’s Port Commission meeting at Sea-Tac Airport is authorization for up to $3 million to be spent for T-5 security over the next 5 years. Here’s the agenda document:

The memo says security used to be the responsibility of whomever was leasing the terminal; since the lease expired last summer, the port has contracted with security guards, which cost almost $100,000 in the last three months of last year. They’ve already sent this proposal out to bid, with a contract to be awarded later this week, and expecting it will cost $400,000 to $600,000 a year. The memo also says the current “interim tenant” – which would be Foss – is picking up 25 percent of the security costs. The commission meeting is at 1 pm in the airport’s conference center and also is streamed live online.

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VIDEO: West Seattle swimmer Wayne Kinslow’s milestone – 1,000 consecutive days of swimming off Alki

April 27, 2015 4:55 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Maybe you’ve seen Wayne Kinslow swimming off Alki and wondered if it was just somebody on a dare. Nope. Wayne swims off Alki every day. And we do mean, EVERY day. Today happened to be his THOUSANDTH consecutive day of swimming off Alki – that’s almost three years without missing a day, rain or shine or snow. Among those capturing the historic occasion – Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:

During a quick post-swim interview, Wayne, who’s an Alki resident as well as Alki swimmer, received a trophy of sorts:

Here’s a closer look:

He’s still swimming tonight too, as mentioned in our daily calendar highlights, and invites you to join him in celebrating the milestone – meet up at the Alki fire rings around 6:30, group swim set for about 7 pm, then a potluck and bonfire. By the way, according to a NOAA buoy, today’s water temperature in Elliott Bay is about 51 degrees.

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Meet City Councilmember John Okamoto, just appointed for remainder of Sally Clark’s term

April 27, 2015 4:49 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(City of Seattle photo: Councilmember John Okamoto’s swearing-in today)
The newest member of the Seattle City Council is 61-year-old John Okamoto of Seward Park, chosen today by his new colleagues to fill the unexpired term left when Sally Clark resigned to take a job at the University of Washington. Okamoto is a former city employee, including a recent sting as interim Human Services Director. Here’s the official city announcement; here’s Okamoto’s application material. Okamoto has pledged not to run for election this fall, as the Council had requested of applicants, so he will serve until the election is certified in late November.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen truck; swapped plates; bicycles found/sighted; mail theft

April 27, 2015 3:42 pm

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| Crime | Highland Park | Luna Park | West Seattle news | Westwood

West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share:

LUNA PARK TRUCK THEFT: Bob discovered this morning that someone had taken his white Chevy Blazer from what’s supposed to be a secure garage at City View Apartments in the Luna Park area. License plate 105YGD – call 911 if you see it.

STOLEN PLATES: From Andi:

This morning I discovered someone had swapped my back license plate on my car with someone else’s. I have reported them as stolen, so if anyone sees plates ASU6665 call the police. The ones they put on the car were ANK8876, and the officer said he recognized them from a call this morning. I live on Trenton & Delridge [map] if anyone saw anything.

This happens more often than you might think, so it’s always worth a quick glance at your plates every time you go out to your vehicle, if it’s parked outside.

POSSIBLE STOLEN BICYCLES: Two posts in the WSB Forums regarding bicycles –
**Vintage Puch bicycle found in a Westwood/Roxhill-area backyard
**Redline bicycle frame spotted in Admiral in unusual circumstances

HIGHLAND PARK MAIL THEFT: In the 9400 block of 10th SW (map), Fran A spotted several mailboxes open this morning, with mail littered on the street, including an envelope that was supposed to contain her husband’s new driver’s license.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Alki Trail safety-improvement realignment

April 27, 2015 3:25 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:25 PM: Announced by SDOT this afternoon:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will realign the Alki Trail at the driveway of 3400 Harbor Avenue Southwest (several hundred yards north of Spokane Street). Moving the trail away from the building at the driveway will improve visibility for drivers exiting the building parking lot and for bicyclists and pedestrians using the trail. Please see the [above] aerial visual with realignment super-imposed.

Construction is scheduled to begin tomorrow, April 28, and take up to three weeks to complete. Work will occur weekdays from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. with pedestrians and bicyclists detoured away from the building into an adjacent temporary pathway currently used to provide on-street parking. A single general traffic lane in each direction will be maintained, although they lanes will be narrowed to accommodate the work zone and temporary trail through the area. Access to building storefronts will also be maintained.

We had been asked recently about some parking changes in the area and are following up to ask if that was related to this.

ADDED 6:19 PM: SDOT’s Marybeth Turner responded to our question about the parking changes:

To make way for the trail’s new location, the truck load zone in front of 3400 Harbor Ave SW will be relocated approximately 23 feet to the south. Two on-street parking spots, one just north of the driveway and one just south of the driveway (for the relocated load zone) will be permanently removed.

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BIZNOTE: Tony’s Market in Westwood will open this Friday

April 27, 2015 1:14 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

We finally have an answer to the question we’ve been asked most often these past several weeks: “When is the Tony’s Market produce stand at 35th and Barton opening for the season?” Since photographing the new tent almost three weeks ago, we’ve gone by every day, but no one’s been there. We finally spotted proprietor Joey Genzale outside the stand while driving by about an hour ago, so we changed course and stopped to ask him what’s up. First, the opening date: This Friday, May 1st. Second, why the delay? In addition to putting up the new tent, the parking lot needed some work. So if you’re a Tony’s fan, now you know.

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West Seattle development notes: Whittaker’s 1st crane; Harbor Ave., Beach Dr. projects

April 27, 2015 11:29 am

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| 4755 Fauntleroy | Development | West Seattle news

Four development/land-use notes so far today:

FIRST CRANE @ THE WHITTAKER: As previewed last week, the first of two tower cranes planned for The Whittaker on the east edge of The Junction is going up today. It’s on the south side of the project and when we went by around 9:30 am, the installation operation was centered off the street at 40th/Edmunds, with no additional traffic effects except for some intermittent truck maneuvering. We’ll be checking back on it for an update later. This makes three cranes currently working in West Seattle, with the one at Broadstone Sky on the west side of 40th/Edmunds and the 4435 35th SW project.

ADDED: Above this line, our photo from noontime; below, a midafternoon photo courtesy of Eddie:

No date yet for the north-end crane.

1201 HARBOR SW: From today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, the city has approved the land-use permit for a 4-unit rowhouse at this location (map) in an “environmentally critical area” (ECA). That opens a 2-week appeal period; the LUIB notice includes links to the decision and information on appealing.

ALSO ON HARBOR SW: The construction-permit application is in for 3005 Harbor SW (map), a six-unit apartment building; that’s two fewer apartments than were planned when this project was first mentioned here in early 2014.

6001 BEACH DRIVE: Further south along the West Seattle shore, applications are in to demolish the single-family house that’s currently at this location (map) and build a replacement. The same project also has filed a land-use-permit application, because it’s in an ECA; that application says the house will have “surface parking for five vehicles.”

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West Seattle Monday: Bike-commuting workshop; baseball; more…

April 27, 2015 9:31 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Need some Monday inspiration? West Seattle wildlife photographer extraordinaire Mark Wangerin says it took two hours of hiding in the bushes to get that image, and the one below, of a male Rufous Hummingbird. So with that dedication in mind … we present five Monday highlights (no hiding required) from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SEALTH-WSHS BASEBALL GAME: 4 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex, watch our area’s two biggest high schools face off in baseball – Chief Sealth IHS hosting West Seattle HS. (2801 SW Thistle)

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO COMMUTE BY BIKE? 6-7:30 pm at Delridge Library, West Seattle Bike Connections invites you to a free workshop to find out – perfect timing, with Bike Month starting on Friday. No RSVP needed, just show up. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

WAYNE’S 1,000 CONSECUTIVE SWIM: Wayne Kinslow, the guy who swims off Alki every single day, will hit 1,000 consecutive days – almost three years without missing a day! – today. According to a Facebook notice, he’s inviting you to join him to celebrate, and to swim! Meet at the Alki fire pits at 6:30 pm, group swim around 7, potluck/bonfire afterward (bring a side dish or drinks). (60th/Alki)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. (35th/Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: Every Monday night at 6:30 pm, weekly on-air “meeting”:

The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club (WSARC) weekly net @ W7AW Repeater, 441.800, input +5, tone 141.3

Echolink and IRLP are also available -see westseattlearc.org for more info. The repeater is located at High Point.

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‘Am I doing enough?’ West Seattle Co-op Preschools presenting free expert talk Wednesday to reassure, enlighten parents

April 27, 2015 8:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Young child(ren) in the house? Another big event this week presented by West Seattle Co-op Preschools is for you, and it’s free. “Building the Foundation for Lifelong Learning: Starting in the Early Years, Birth through Preschool” is set for 7 pm Wednesday (April 29th) at Olympic Hall on the campus of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle:

What does soul-engaging, creative, relationship-rich, brain-expanding learning look like? How do schools foster it…or not? How can my family foster it – beginning in infancy and through the preschool years – so that my child is more than “ready” to enter kindergarten, but is ready to thrive? At this special public event, our guest speaker Anoo Padte will help you answer these questions, give practical tips, and calm the common parent fear: “Am I doing enough?”

Anoo Padte is a teacher, education consultant, and mother. At the Art of Education, she coaches parents on choosing the right school and develops personalized education plans that empower parents to identify schools, enrich and be involved in a child’s education. She teaches math and science and is found tinkering, creating art and cooking with her two sons.

Olympic Hall is on the south end of the SSC campus at 6000 16th SW.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Last Monday in April

April 27, 2015 6:16 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! A new month will start before the week ends. But first, let’s get through Monday. Transportation-related notes:

ROAD-WORK UPDATES: Newest 47th/Admiral project info here; newest Delridge/Orchard project info here.

WHITTAKER CRANE: The first of two tower cranes for The Whittaker at Fauntleroy/Edmunds/Alaska is expected today, according to what the project team told us last week. We’ll be checking the area later to see if it’s bringing any additional traffic effects.

THINKING ABOUT TRYING TWO WHEELS? Bike Month is almost here, and Bike To Work Day is two weeks from Friday. Might be time to try two wheels. Tonight at 6, you’re invited to explore the concept at a free bicycle-commuting workshop presented by West Seattle Bike Connections at Delridge Library.

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