day : 17/01/2016 6 results

WSDOT has been warning about lane closures on Highway 99 north of downtown for a long time – and now, they’re about to start. Just so everyone’s clear, they start tomorrow night, so they will not affect the Monday commutes (which will be lighter than usual anyway, because of the holiday). Here’s the latest info from WSDOT:

Drivers and bus riders should anticipate longer-than-normal commutes as construction crews reduce each direction of State Route 99/Aurora Avenue North by one lane between the Aurora Bridge and just north of Mercer Street. The median lanes in each direction will close for four to five weeks starting 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18.

Closure details

*Beginning 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, a single median lane will be closed in each direction of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North between the Aurora Bridge and just north of Mercer Street

*Lane closures will remain in place for four to five weeks, until mid-February

*An additional lane in each direction will close at night and during several weekends including Jan. 23-24

During the first phase of this two-phase project, when the median lanes are closed, the southbound bus-only lane will open to all traffic. Drivers should use caution since buses will travel – and stop – in the lane with other vehicle traffic.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation need access to the median lanes to build four large sign foundations for the future SR 99 tunnel.

WSDOT encourages drivers and bus riders to plan ahead as additional congestion is expected on Aurora Avenue North. Consider alternative travel modes such as ride-sharing or carpooling, or traveling in off-peak times. Keep informed by using King County Metro’s rider alerts or trip planning tools as well as WSDOT’s travel tools and SDOT’s traveler information page.

34th District Democrats: Looking ahead to the elections, and looking into the heart of a regional emergency

January 17, 2016 5:58 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Most of what happened at the first 2016 meeting of our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, involved two topics: This year’s elections, and the city/county-declared homelessness emergency.

First, the elections:

Marcee Stone-Vekich, starting her fourth year as chair, noted that U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott‘s decision not to run for re-election caught her by surprise. “And I’m hoping another fellow named McDermott may run for that seat” – referring to County Councilmember Joe – a statement that drew applause.

Joe McDermott is usually at the 34th DDs’ meetings but missed this one due to illness and as of this writing has not announced whether he’ll run or not; in November, he won re-election to the County Council, unopposed. Other candidates in other races were in attendance, though:

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Time to start looking toward baseball season! Here’s 1 way

January 17, 2016 3:35 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Ready to get the bats and gloves out of storage? West Seattle Baseball is registering players now:

West Seattle Baseball is a 100%-volunteer organization dedicated to teaching kids the game of baseball and giving them opportunities to get out on the diamond. In addition to regular-season play, all kids ages 7 and older participate in post-season tournaments. Those kids wanting to continue playing have opportunities to play baseball well into the summer in programs such as All Star programs for ages 8-12 years old as well as summer recreation programs including the West Seattle Crush at the Pee Wee fields. West Seattle Baseball also hosts several summer all-star tournaments in West Seattle featuring some of the top teams in Western Washington.

West Seattle Baseball welcomes players of all experience levels. West Seattle Baseball is proudly affiliated with the national PONY Baseball organization. Our goals include teaching the fundamentals of baseball and good sportsmanship while building a sense of community among players and their families. Practices begin in March, and the West Seattle Baseball regular season runs from the beginning of April to early June.

To find out more and/or sign up, go to westseattlebaseball.com.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Abandoned bike found, and 4 other reader reports

January 17, 2016 12:15 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Reported by your neighbors around West Seattle:

BIKE FOUND – STOLEN FROM YOU, PERHAPS? Anthony found a new Novarra bicycle leaning against a fence north of Lincoln Park on Friday night, apparently abandoned, as tends to happen to stolen bicycles. If this might be yours, please e-mail him details about the color/model/accessories of the one you’re missing – anthonymedeiros1958 (at) gmail.com

HIGHLAND PARK CAR BREAK-IN: Reader report received this morning:

My husband’s car was broken into and vandalized last night. Went to bed around midnight and woke up around 8 am. Found glove-box contents strewn about the seat; a broken phone holder was stolen. We’re right across the street from Highland Park Elementary, 8600 block 10th SW.

ADMIRAL CAR BREAK-IN: From S:

Just wanted to report our car was broken into late night Saturday the 9th, possibly early that Sunday morning. They stole a mahogany Martin guitar. It was in the Admiral District off 42nd and Lander on the side of The Sanctuary. We have sent a police report, just now getting the word out as we had to leave out of town the next day.

Side note: Learn more about the newest tactics car prowlers/thieves are using, by coming to the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm Tuesday at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

HIT AND RUN: From Jon:

Car hit and run: At around 10 am on Sunday 1/10, an unmanned parked car was hit from behind on 55th between Genesee and Dakota. The force of the impact pushed the car into the street. Witnesses saw a black 4-door Hyundai sedan drive away with something (its bumper?) dragging. I imagine there is significant damage to the front of this car. If you see a car that matches this description, please call the Seattle police. Much thanks!

ILLEGAL DUMPING INTERRUPTED: Jim reports interrupting this truck trying to “offload its contents on private property around noon Saturday in North Shorewood – pretty distinctive-looking ’90s Ford pickup:”

That’s just over the city limits line, so it’s been reported to the King County Sheriff’s Office.

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West Seattle Sunday: What’s up as your holiday weekend continues

January 17, 2016 9:04 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Good morning! The Steller’s Jay photographed by Mark Wangerin is in honor of the Seahawks – we couldn’t find a bird in West Seattle that was blue AND green. As you can do with most of our photos now, click this one if you’d like to open it in a much-larger, “lightbox” view (then click outside that window to return to the page, no “back” button required).

TAILGATE PARTY: Doors just opened (at 9) at Highland Park Improvement Club. All ages welcome. (12th SW and SW Holden)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, on the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm on Sundays. Working on a list of projects for the new year? Check it out, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

CAT ADOPTIONS: Kitty Harbor is concluding a special mid-winter adoption weekend, noon-3 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)

JAMTIME, LIVE: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)

WEST COAST SWING DANCE: You’re invited to join the Seattle West Coast Swing Dance Club at Alki Masonic Center tonight. DJ/instructor is Andy Vanosdale; there’s an intermediate lesson at 4 and 5 pm, dancing 6-10 pm, newcomer/novice competition, too. $7 members, $11 guests. More at seattlewcswing.org. (4736 40th SW)

BUILDING HEALTHY CONNECTIONS: Find out how at the Emotional Fitness Zone‘s January meetup, 4-6 pm. RSVP/fee required – more info here.

FOOD DRIVE: The “ton-and-a-half” drive at Straight Blast Gym of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is extended because the West Seattle Food Bank isn’t picking up until Tuesday – so you have two days left to donate:

A photo posted by Straight Blast Gym (@sbgseattle) on Jan 16, 2016 at 12:50pm PST

(5050 Delridge Way SW)

LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED TOMORROW … so if you need something, go today. If you’re new to the area, here’s a list/map of branches, including the five in West Seattle and South Park.

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WEATHER ALERT: ‘Coastal flood advisory’ in effect until noon

January 17, 2016 8:20 am

| Comments Off on WEATHER ALERT: ‘Coastal flood advisory’ in effect until noon

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(ADDED: WSB photo, Sunday high tide at Don Armeni Boat Ramp)
It’s a blustery Sunday, and one weather alert is in effect – a “coastal flood advisory” until noon today. The rain and wind are accompanying one more “king tide” – 12.4 feet at 10:27 am – and the alert warns that as a result, “low-lying areas next to Puget Sound … will likely see a few inches of water for an hour or two around high tide.”

P.S. If you have an urgent road/sidewalk hazard to report (tree down, etc.) – 206-386-1218 is SDOT’s around-the-clock dispatch. We were just asked for that number so we’re sharing it again.

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