day : 19/07/2015 8 results

When SDOT announced the Vision Zero safety strategy earlier this year, the announcement included a map showing plans for several streets in the Admiral area to be slowed to 20 mph (see page 15). Some street painting pointing out the new maximum was done today – but, as you can see in the photo sent by Ramona, some of the new street markings came out backward – 20 HPM instead of 20 MPH. We went over to see for ourselves before reporting this, and indeed, two sets with “HPM” instead of “MPH” are on the northbound (downhill) side of Fairmount Avenue through the ravine, north of the bridge. Ramona noted that others are in the correct order, but as to why these two were left backward – or not even caught – we’ll be checking tomorrow with SDOT. (We asked Ramona if she was certain it was a city crew; she said her surveillance camera shows the truck was in the area from 12:43 pm to 1:33 pm today.)

MONDAY 12:52 PM UPDATE: While SDOT has yet to respond to our questions about this, Ramona let us know late this morning that crews were there to fix the mistakes; we subsequently traveled the length of Fairmount and confirmed that everything now reads MPH rather than HPM.

2:22 PM: Here’s the SDOT response, from spokesperson Rick Sheridan:

Over the weekend employees of the Seattle Department of Transportation applied roadway markings in eight locations to highlight neighborhood speed limits of 20 miles per hour. The employees incorrectly marked two locations. We are in the process of correcting these markings now and will complete the work by midday Monday. The department will reinforce with its markings crew members and supervisors the need for accuracy in completing this and other work.

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A little paint, a lot of safety: Pigeon Point’s new street mural

July 19, 2015 6:30 pm

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| Pigeon Point | Safety | West Seattle news

Something new on the street at the intersection of 21st and Genesee on Pigeon Point (map) – a mural, meant for safety more than beautification, though it certainly offers the latter. What you see above is the finished product (though our photo, taken in afternoon shadows, doesn’t do it justice); this morning, we stopped by while it was a work in progress:

That photo shows just a few of the neighbors who pitched in today to get it painted.

Toni Wells, current chair of the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, led the charge along with Ned Sander, renowned for his neighborhood signage, and Alon Bassok. Neighbors had hoped for a traffic circle at the intersection, but that wouldn’t have worked for the school buses turning to head to Pathfinder K-8. So this was painted, with SDOT permission and community donations of time and money.

The mural incorporates elements inspired by the nearby greenbelt and Duwamish River, with the help of Native artist Roger Fernandes. The most important element: Neighborhood spirit, embodied in the chalk addition we spotted when checking back late this afternoon:

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‘Singles’ next for West Seattle Outdoor Movies, after big opener

July 19, 2015 5:09 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

The Seattle grunge-rock love (sort of) story “Singles,” from 1992, is up next at West Seattle Outdoor Movies, Saturday night (July 25th) on the wall in the courtyard at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. That’s where a sizable crowd watched “Zoolander” open this year’s WSOM series last night – many were staked out more than an hour in advance:

Each movie night’s sponsors bring something unique – last night’s slate included Quadrato with pizza and The Beer Junction with root-beer floats:

Longtime WSB sponsor Westside Dermatology was a sponsor last night too. Rainier Roller Girls were both the pre-show entertainment and the raffle beneficiary (bring a few bucks for raffle tickets if you can – the movie itself is free):

And every week, concessions will be sold by (and benefiting) the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which brings along its “guess how many Lincoln Logs” jar:

Next week, we’re co-sponsoring “Singles” with Elliott Bay Brewing; live music is the preshow entertainment, courtesy of “Stay Tuned, The Band“; raffle beneficiary is Northwest Center. The movie’s at dusk; gates open at 6:30. Preview the rest of the season’s slate (with sponsors and entertainment) here.

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West Seattle Grand Parade 2015, report #4: The royalty

July 19, 2015 1:53 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Continuing our photo coverage of Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade:

The Seafair participants in the parade always include the Scholarship Program for Women contenders, and this year they include Lorelei McFadden (above), last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court Queen. She’s in the running to become the 66th Miss Seafair; the winner will be announced Tuesday night. This year’s Hi-Yu royalty, of course, rode in the parade on their “Around the Sound” float:

Before the parade, local and visiting royalty enjoyed breakfast at Brookdale Admiral Heights, which was invaded for the occasion by the Seafair Pirates, who snagged a photo-op outside with the reigning Miss Seattle, Taryn Smith, a 2015 graduate of West Seattle High School:

And away from the buffet table at breakfast, we found out what a pirate really does before getting down to a day of plundering, pillaging, and parading:

(Thanks to Anne Weglin at Brookdale for the pirates-and-princesses tip.) More parade photos to come – here’s what we’ve published so far:

*2015 parade report #3: Rotary Kiddie Parade
*2015 parade report #2: The winners
*2015 parade report #1: First look

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PHOTOS: Cool sights on a hot day @ West Seattle Garden Tour

July 19, 2015 12:42 pm

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| Gardening | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 12:42 PM: Nine local homes have hundreds of visitors trekking through their front and/or back and/or side yards today on the West Seattle Garden Tour, continuing through 5 pm. We just visited a featured stop north of Morgan Junction, where even this bit of water looked invitingly cooling.

Wherever you go, stop to admire the smallest details – like the mix of colors here in this tiny patch of peppers:

The WSGT (with co-sponsors including WSB) is a unique fundraiser – proceeds are split among local nonprofits; this year’s beneficiaries will be ArtsWest, CityFruit, Plant Amnesty‘s Urban Forest Symposium, Seattle Chinese Garden Society, Lettuce Link, Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. (Arts-, horticulture-, and education-related nonprofits can find out here how to apply for consideration.)

SECOND REPORT, 5:31 PM: We stopped by another garden on the tour, this time in Westwood. Many wonderful touches, both in the plants and the art/decorations:

One of the signature features of the West Seattle Garden Tour is that so many of the featured gardens are charming yet not imposing – you can appreciate the creativity and take away an idea or two.

This year’s tour is now over – watch for word of 2016 plans!

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UPDATE: You can keep helping WestSide Baby ‘Stuff the Bus’

July 19, 2015 11:23 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

A photo posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Jul 19, 2015 at 11:06am PDT

11:23 AM: Just checked in on the WestSide Baby “Stuff the Bus“ diaper-drive kickoff – our Instagram photo above looks inside the bus that’s in the parking lot at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor). As of just after 11 am, it held 12,697 diapers – a good start, but just a drop in the diaper bucket, so anything and everything you can contribute will be a big help. If you can’t make it to HomeStreet (41st/Alaska), your nearest Safeway is collecting diapers today too. Updates to come!

12:51 PM: A little more than an hour left in today’s kickoff event – stop by the bus and commemorate your donation with a cute photo like this one:

This year’s theme (and hashtag) is #Smile4Diapers.

2:26 PM UPDATE: As of the top of the hour – 28,800 diapers and many more to be counted from the satellite dropoff locations.

We’ll be adding photos and more info on what you can do as the drive continues. (added) Here are the victorious smiles of today’s crew at The Bus:

Help them get closer to the half-million-diaper goal this week … donate money via text or Web, as explained here, or drop off diapers at ongoing locations.

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West Seattle Sunday: ‘Stuff the Bus’ diaper drive; WS Garden Tour; Farmers’ Market back in the street; MedFest; more…

July 19, 2015 7:38 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: ‘Stuff the Bus’ diaper drive; WS Garden Tour; Farmers’ Market back in the street; MedFest; more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Didn’t have enough fun on Saturday? Welcome to Sunday! Your options include:

PANCAKES! The White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Holy Family School is just getting under way, and continues until 1 pm (so you can even have “pancake lunch”). $7 at the door; kids 5 and under eat free. You’ll be able to buy drawing tickets for baskets benefiting local nonprofits. (20th/Roxbury)

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR: You can start touring today at 9 am and your ticket book gets you admission to nine great local gardens until 5 pm today, plus the noontime guest expert lecture at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Don’t have your ticket book (which includes a map to the gardens) yet? Buy it 8:30 am-11:30 am at Metropolitan Market (also a WSB sponsor; 41st/Admiral).

(WestSide Baby bus in Saturday’s WS Grand Parade – look for it at 41st/Alaska today)

STUFF THE BUS FOR WESTSIDE BABY: This is the big kickoff day for WestSide Baby‘s big diaper drive – headquartered today at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm, but you also can drop off diapers at other spots including local Safeways. If you haven’t already, go buy some diapers and have the fun of bringing them in and helping “stuff the bus.” Or donate diaper-buying $ via text or Web! (41st/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET BACK IN THE STREET: After a brief return to its old lot during West Seattle Summer Fest, the WS Farmers’ Market is back in the middle of California SW today between Oregon and California. Same hours as always – 10 am-2 pm.

JUBILEE DAYS CONTINUES WITH PARADE: In White Center, the Jubilee Days festival continues its street fair today on 17th SW between Roxbury and SW 100th and features the annual parade, 11 am-noon on 16th SW, heading north from SW 112th to SW 100th.

MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FESTIVAL: This longrunning annual festival offers nonstop belly-dancing performances on outdoor and indoor stages at Hiawatha Community Center, 11 am-5 pm, plus vendors. No admission charge. Here’s our Saturday coverage, which includes the schedule link. (2700 California SW)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, something you can only do on certain summer dates – like today! – visit the historic Alki Point Lighthouse and take a tour with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. Last tour departs at 3:40 pm. (3201 Alki SW)

BURGER-EATING CONTEST: The White Center flagship location of Zippy’s Giant Burgers is having one at 2 pm – show up to sign up at 1 pm; details on our partner site White Center Now. (9640 14th SW)

WAIT, THERE’S MORE: As usual, that’s not everything – you’ll see even more on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Mesmerizing moonset, with Venus

July 19, 2015 12:27 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

After our area’s biggest day of summer fun – a mesmerizing moonset, with Venus in view. Thanks to David Hutchinson for the view from Alki Beach, above; below, Gary Jones caught a slightly later view from Alki Point: