Quick note from the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting that just wrapped up in High Point: Co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick mentioned that Sound Transit has released results of its recent survey seeking input on prioritizing what might go into its next ballot measure, and she pointed out that a potential West Seattle light-rail route had received the most support in the survey. Here’s what we subsequently found online: You can see all the results here. (Or embedded below:)

From page 10: The potential route that had more supporters than any other, anywhere in the region, was an elevated line between West Seattle Junction and Downtown Seattle, with 5,198 votes. In second, light rail between Ballard and the U-District, with 4,751 votes. Sound Transit says 25,000 people took the survey, which we mentioned here several times before it closed two weeks ago. Next step for Sound Transit: Deciding what to include in the “ST 3” ballot measure that’s expected to be sent to voters next year.

P.S. Main topic of tonight’s WSTC meeting was the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 modernization plan; full report coming up.

VIDEO: Carrie Akre opens 2015 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha

July 23, 2015 7:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

7:02 PM: As forecast, the clouds cleared and the sun shone in time for tonight’s first Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. Hundreds are on hand to see and hear West Seattle-residing singer Carrie Akre:

You still have time to get to the park (east side of Hiawatha Community Center) to enjoy the show until 8 pm or so. If you can’t get there tonight, you have five more concerts to enjoy, over the next five Thursday nights – courtesy of the Admiral Neighborhood Association – see the schedule here.

10:20 PM: We recorded this song:

Akre returned to West Seattle last year, as noted in this WSB story from November.

Share This

What Seattle Police SWAT officers are doing in South Delridge

July 23, 2015 4:41 pm

| 54 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks for the texted tips about Seattle Police SWAT officers at 9200 16th SW. Unlike last week’s West Seattle sighting, this was NOT training – this is for real. They’re carrying out a search warrant, police said at the scene. Too soon for details, they said, but they described it as a “drug-related warrant.”

City records show an auto-repair business licensed at the site through the end of last year.

Share This

Kids helping kids: ‘Stuff the Bus’ drive stops at Fauntleroy Children’s Center

July 23, 2015 3:41 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news

That’s Pablo and he’s one of the Fauntleroy Children’s Center students who helped “Stuff the Bus“ when WestSide Baby‘s diaper drive made a stop at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse today.

These might just be the youngest bus-stuffers to participate in this year’s drive.

We’re told that the FCC community gathered 4,000 diapers to contribute! The young donors got a chance to hang out in the bus a bit, too.

The heart of this year’s drive started with last Sunday’s donation event at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction and – since WestSide Baby serves families outside this area too – continues on Capitol Hill this weekend (9 am-2 pm Sunday at St. Joseph’s, 732 18th Ave. E.). If you haven’t donated yet, go here to find out how to help.

P.S. Congratulations to Fauntleroy Children’s Center for recently getting re-accredited for five more years by the National Association for the Education of Young Children! Director Kim Sheridan says, “We have been accredited since 1987 and are currently the only center in West Seattle with NAEYC accreditation.”

Share This

Congratulations! Players from West Seattle make it to US Youth Soccer National Championship semifinals

July 23, 2015 1:47 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(From left – Miguel, Abel, Jimmy, Akili)

Congratulations to four West Seattleites who are part of a regional soccer team that’s had a huge year, culminating in a trip to the national championships in Tulsa. From Nikki:

Would like to share that 3 local players from West Seattle are headed to the semifinals of the US Youth Soccer National Championship on Saturday.

Akili Kasim (goalkeeper from West Seattle High School), Abel Kidane, and Miguel Macias Garibay (field players from Chief Sealth International High School) are all part of Seattle United 98 Copa. The team is led by Coach Jason Farrell and Club Director (also a longtime resident of West Seattle) Jimmy McAlister.

Seattle should be proud: This team has won some great titles in the last 10 months. From the far west title, Division 1 state title, Dallas Cup champs, and in June, won US Youth Region 4 title, now headed to the semi-finals of the us youth soccer National Championship.

Seattle United is the group champs – they have won all three games this week and will head into the semi-finals Saturday at 8 am (6:00 am Seattle time).

The photo above was taken after today’s game, which was delayed for more than three hours because of thunder and lightning. You can see the scores and track their progress on this page of the national-championships website.

Share This

SATURDAY: Free self-defense seminar for women and girls at Straight Blast Gym

July 23, 2015 12:16 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Safety | West Seattle news

Just found out from Sonia Sillan at Straight Blast Gym Seattle (WSB sponsor) that there’s room for more participants in their free “Warrior Woman” self-defense seminar 11 am-2 pm this Saturday (July 25th). From the Facebook event page, the description:

This seminar isn’t your typical self-defense seminar. Our goal is to leave you with more knowledge, feeling more empowered, and understanding what self-defense really means (both mentally and physically). We’re going to show you a wide range of practical techniques and more importantly, the concepts that are critical to learning how to avoid becoming a victim of violence. No experience necessary; open to all women, and girls age 10+.

Go here to sign up – click on the calendar box for the 25th and it’ll lead you through. (Or cal 206-420-1834.)

Share This

Memorial next Tuesday for Dolores ‘Dee’ Barnecut, 1926-2015

July 23, 2015 11:43 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A memorial is planned next Tuesday for Dolores Barnecut, who died two weeks ago at 88. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:

Dolores M. Barnecut succumbed to cancer on July 9, 2015, surrounded by her family.

“Dee” was born in Seattle on July 26, 1926, and was the only daughter of the late George and Margaret Anderson. She graduated from West Seattle High School, Class of 1944, and she married her high-school sweetheart, Richard J. Barnecut, in 1947. Dick and Dee lived in West Seattle for the entirety of their 68-year marriage.

As the consummate wife, mother and homemaker, Dee was always in your corner and selfless in her commitment to those she loved. She was a happy person, humble to a fault, and she presided over a happy household.

Dee was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle, where she served on the altar guild. The family vacation home on Hood Canal was a special place for her. She was a loyal fan of Husky football and held season tickets for almost fifty years. As the nest emptied, Dee had the opportunity to evolve and nurture her artistic side, and she developed into an accomplished and prolific watercolorist.

Dee will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her sense of humor, and her tenaciously positive outlook on life. She was a purveyor of unconditional love before that term became fashionable, and she gave her children what all parents must: roots and wings. Mom was tired at the end but she faced her final illness pragmatically and with her characteristic wit, dignity, and toughness. She will be missed and never forgotten.

Dee is survived by her husband, Richard, four adult children and their spouses: Margaret (Paul) Abrahamson, James (Jamie) Barnecut, Mary Ellen (Ron) Smulski, and Andrew (Lisa) Barnecut. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Tom Smulski, Jill Smulski, Jenny Abrahamson, Rachel Barnecut, Nick Barnecut, and Angelina Barnecut.

A memorial service honoring Dee’s life will be held at St. John The Baptist Episcopal Church on Tuesday, July 28th at 3:00 p.m. with reception to follow at the parish hall. The church is at 3050 California Avenue SW. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the charity of your choice. Sign Dolores’s online Guest Book at Legacy.com and/or at emmickfunerals.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Share This

West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha; port @ WS Transportation Coalition; Design Review x 2; Shakespeare…

July 23, 2015 10:26 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha; port @ WS Transportation Coalition; Design Review x 2; Shakespeare…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Erik Walum)

The next big summer series starts tonight! Though the weather looked a little suspicious earlier, it’s improving! So first, our spotlight event:

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA – SERIES BEGINS: 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, come see/hear local singer Carrie Akre as the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB) opens – first of six Thursday nights. Free! (Walnut/Lander)

Also from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

SHOW YOUR STRIPES – TIGER ART VISITS! 1-3 pm at High Point Library, a traveling show of tiger art visits, on behalf of the Woodland Park Zoo‘s newest exhibit. Details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARMSTAND: 4-7 pm, it’s the second week for the fresh-produce farmstand presented by the Delridge Grocery Coop and friends, in the Super 24 lot. (5455 Delridge Way SW)

GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE! INFO NIGHT: Come to West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) at 6:30 pm tonight to learn about the free couch-to-half-marathon training program. (2743 California SW)

DESIGN REVIEW DOUBLEHEADER: From our reminder earlier this week, tonight’s Southwest Design Review Board meetings at the Senior Center of West Seattle are:

6:30 PM – 4801 Fauntleroy Way SW. 21 apartments, 7 live/work units, 950 sf of retail space across from the south side of The Whittaker. Previous WSB coverage here.

8 PM – 4700 SW Admiral Way, the Aegis Living proposal for an 80-unit assisted-living center on the site of the former Life Care Center. Previous WSB coverage here.

That’s what’s on the SWDRB online schedule, anyway (last week the scheduled hearings were flipped at the last moment without notice – we’re checking to verify tonight’s order). The Senior Center is at Oregon/California.

PORT OF SEATTLE @ WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. At the heart of the agenda, as provided by WSTC leadership:

6:45-8:00: Port of Seattle, Bari Bookout, Director of Seaport Commercial Strategy and George Blomberg (Sr. Enviro. Program Mgr.: Discuss future plans for T5 and transportation issues as they relate to West Seattle.

· Which stakeholder groups have you involved in the conversation about improving the WS Bridge Transportation Corridor — between the WS hill and I-5?

· To help alleviate pressure off the low bridge, and reduce freight-blocking congestion on the high bridge, would the Port be willing to move some budget money toward commuter infrastructure improvements?

· Have you explored Seattle impact fees, and other supplementary funding options with the city, county, state and federal governments to help pay for transportation infrastructure improvements?

· Train horns are intended to be noisy, typically between 85 dBA and 115 dBA at 100 ft compared to a jet airplane at 600 ft altitude causing 120 dBA. Will the port install quiet zones at public street train crossings to mitigate train horn noise?

· Regarding T5 expansion traffic impacts: Please walk us through your justification that a $230M expansion project, that appears to significantly increase multimodal congestion in an already heavily congested area, didn’t require an EIS? In other words, how do you know that this will work for you as well as residents and other businesses in WS without due diligence?

(6400 Sylvan Way SW)

LIVE/WORK IN ADMIRAL? THIS IS FOR YOU: The next “focus group” about crime/safety/policing in a local neighborhood is at 6:30 pm tonight at the Southwest Precinct – this time, focusing on the Admiral area. Backstory here. (2300 SW Webster)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: Greenstage presents “The Two Noble Kinsmen“ at 7 pm in Lincoln Park. Free! Follow the signs from the main parking lot. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WHAT, THAT’S NOT ENOUGH? Check our calendar for more!

Share This

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency opens public-comment period on Nucor air permit and emission-calculation change

July 23, 2015 9:27 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A month-long public-comment period is now open for two matters related to Nucor, the steel mill in North Delridge – renewal of its Air Operating Permit and also a proposed Order of Approval for a change in the way it “determines the amount of sulfur dioxide” that it’s releasing. While the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says these involve NO change to what Nucor is, and is allowed to, emit, they want to hear from you if you have something to say, so we’re republishing the notice that just arrived in our inbox:

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; weekend previews; streetcar scene for ‘Throwback Thursday’

July 23, 2015 7:38 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing out of the ordinary so far in today’s outbound commute.

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: According to Metro’s alert for Saturday night’s Seafair Pirate Run and Torchlight Parade downtown, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about an hour – time approximate but the race runs approximately 6:30-7:30 pm – and the southbound side won’t be affected at all. Remember that the parade itself spans the length of downtown, Seattle Center to the International District, mostly on 4th Avenue, and that will result in closures for most of the evening.

ADDED 8:05 AM – TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY: From the Seattle Municipal Archives, dated August 1916, a streetcar scene, identified only as Donald Street: