day : 15/05/2016 10 results

High Point and South Park are two of four neighborhoods whose Seattle Public Library branches will get Friday hours back as of July 1st. Here’s the SPL announcement:

Thanks to funds from the seven-year, 2012 voter-approved Library levy, The Seattle Public Library will restore Friday operating hours to four neighborhood branch libraries whose hours were reduced during recession-related budget cuts.

The High Point, International District/Chinatown, South Park, and University branches will all have restored Friday hours as of July 1.

“We are so glad to be able to restore hours at these four branches,” City Librarian Marcellus Turner said. “Expanding Library hours in neighborhoods that currently have limited access continues to be a priority.”

When the levy passed in August 2012, 15 of the Library’s 27 locations were closed on Fridays and Sundays. In 2013 the levy funded the restoration of Sunday hours at all locations and the expansion of the Columbia and Northgate branches into branches operating seven days a week, but patrons often tell the Library they wish more branches were open on Fridays.

Last year, the Library Board prioritized adding open hours at several branches when a limited amount of funds became available from inflation savings from the levy. The $378,000 in levy funds to restore Friday hours at the four branches were approved as part of the Library’s 2016 Operations Plan.

The branches were selected after an administrative review of traditional Library statistics, community demographics, income distribution, transportation links, key partnerships, internet and Wi-Fi sessions, and review by a Library staff team involved in the city’s Race and Social Justice Initiative and more.

The new open hours at the four branches will be: 1 pm-8 pm Monday and Tuesday, 11 am-6 pm Wednesday through Saturday, and 1 pm-5 pm Sunday. The HP and SP branches’ Friday closures started six years ago, this archived WSB story reminds us.

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ROAD WORK REMINDER: Overnight partial bridge closures start Monday night

May 15, 2016 9:40 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

One more reminder that tomorrow night – 9 pm Monday to 5 am Tuesday – brings the first closure of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge for the re-do of a project from 4 years ago: Earthquake-safety cushioning for the section officially known as the Fauntleroy Expressway. To replace the cushions, the bridge deck has to be jacked up from beneath, and so westbound traffic will have to get off at the Delridge exit (if not sooner). Eastbound traffic won’t be able to get on from 35th/Fauntleroy, but will have access from the Avalon/Harbor ramp. There’ll also be some lane closures under the bridge, daytime as well as nighttime, but no more than one lane closed in each direction, SDOT says. We’ll have daily reminders in our weekday morning traffic watch; this week the closures are scheduled to run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, and subsequently Sunday nights through Thursday nights. Also, SDOT notes, “There will be NO bridge closures on Friday or Saturday nights. On evenings of Mariners or Sounders games with attendance of 20,000 or more, weeknight closures won’t begin until 11 pm.” (The project backstory is here.)

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Sign spat: Luna Park Café proprietor fighting $500 citation for nearby A-frame

May 15, 2016 6:58 pm

| 74 COMMENTS

| Luna Park | West Seattle news

(One month after Luna Park Café was cited for an A-frame sign here, apartment complexes from Columbia City and The Triangle were back)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

You might have noticed fewer advertising A-frame signs on streetcorners in recent weeks.

For a while earlier this year, it seemed every intersection in West Seattle had a cluster on weekends – mostly advertising the bigger new apartment complexes around town, even a building in Columbia City, six miles away.

Then the city cracked down and issued warnings – with one local entrepreneur as a sort of bycatch.

John Bennett, owner of Luna Park Café, got a $500 citation for an A-frame sign his restaurant had long placed at Harbor/Avalon/Spokane (same location as the top photo), half a block from his café, meant to catch the attention of people coming off the bridge to head toward the West Seattle waterfront.

He’s fighting the citation and has an appeal hearing this week.

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Remembering Raymond W. Tofteland, 1964-2016

May 15, 2016 5:08 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends will gather June 18th to celebrate the life of Raymond W. Tofteland, who died a week ago. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing now:

Raymond (Ray) Wayne Tofteland died peacefully in his sleep May 8, 2016 in Seattle at the age of 51 from complications of renal disease.

Raymond was born August 7, 1964, in Minot, North Dakota, to Lawrence (Larry) and Eileen Tofteland. His family moved to Seattle in 1968. He attended Arbor Heights Elementary School, Denny Middle School and graduated in 1983 from Rainier Beach High School. He married his high-school sweetheart Melissa Whipple in 1991, and rejoiced when their beloved daughter Ashlee was born in 1994. While Raymond and Melissa divorced in 2005, they remained good friends. As his health declined, he moved in with Melissa and Ashlee, who took care of him.

As a boy, Raymond started earning money by mowing lawns. After graduating, he worked for La Mexicana making tortillas. In 1989 he started working at the Jefferson Square Safeway in West Seattle. Many years later, he transferred to a University District Safeway. He was on medical leave for the past two years, but was a Safeway employee for 27 years.

Raymond loved to fish (especially at Ilwaco), camp, go on road trips and barbecue. He spent many happy hours teaching Ashlee to make a campfire and to fish. He loved hanging out with friends and family around campfires, on his sister’s boat or just at home.

Raymond was preceded in death by his father Lawrence (Larry) Tofteland. Left to mourn are his daughter Ashlee Tofteland; his mother Eileen Tofteland; his ex-wife Melissa Tofteland; his brother Mark Tofteland; his sister Melissa (Missy) Speer-Tofteland; his nephews Gabe, Levi, and Luai; and his nieces Tara, Amanda, Jameila, and Sophia.

Letters of condolence may be sent to the Toftelands at 10441 57th Ave South, Seattle, WA 98178.

A celebration of life will be held June 18th in Olympia. Please call or text 206-913-7148 for more information or check Facebook for the “Celebration of Life for Raymond Tofteland” event.

Raymond’s last wish was for his remains to be taken to North Dakota, where his father is buried. Please consider donating to help make this final trip with his daughter a reality at gofundme.com/raymondtofteland

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

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Special WordsWest event Wednesday: Kids’ Night!

May 15, 2016 3:39 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Get ready for summer reading season this Wednesday night with a special early start for the monthly WordsWest Literary Series event – this time around, it’s Kids’ Night! Here’s the official announcement, if you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

On May 18, 2016, WordsWest will have a special, early 6 pm start and feature Kelly Jones, author of “Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer,” and Dana Simpson, author of the “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” comic series and collections, winner of the Washington State Book Award and the PNBA Award. Not only that, Jenny Cole of Burien’s Page 2 Books will share a Favorite Poem and host a Summer Reading Table. Yummy treats will be served! This evening is partially funded by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

Kelly Jones is a former librarian and bookseller who has worked with writers of all ages. She keeps much-loved, but fair…ly ordinary chickens at her home in Shoreline, Washington. Her debut novel “Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer,” about 12-year-old Sophie and her magical chickens, was illustrated by Katie Kath and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer was named an ALSC Children’s Notable Book for 2016, a 2016 Mathical Honor Book, a 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Master List nominee, and a 2016-2017 Georgia Children’s Book Award Finalist; Kelly was named a 2016 Children’s Choice Debut Author finalist by the Children’s Choice Book Awards.

Dana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from the Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit. Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip “Ozy and Millie.” After winning the Comic Strip Superstar contest in 2009, she developed the comic strip “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” (originally known online as “Heavenly Nostrils”), currently syndicated in nearly 200 newspapers. There have been three “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” book collections, to date. The first, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, won a 2015 Washington State Book Award. The second, Unicorn on a Roll, won a 2016 Pacific Northwest Book Award. A third book, Unicorn vs. Goblins, was released in February 2016.

Every third Wednesday at C & P Coffee Company, WordsWest hosts literary events that range from readings by published local and national authors, to guided writing explorations. Each month we also host a community member to share his or her favorite poem as part of the Favorite Poem Project. WordsWest is curated by West Seattle writers Katy E. Ellis, Susan Rich, and Harold Taw.

C & P (a WSB sponsor) is at 5612 California SW.

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West Seattle coyotes: Junction sighting

May 15, 2016 2:31 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

We just happened to be at the West Seattle Farmers Market an hour or so ago when a text came in (206-293-6302, any time) with that photo of a coyote spotted nearby, by Hope Lutheran (42nd/41st/Oregon). No telling whether the coyote was trying to find its way to the market, church, or somewhere else, but yet another reminder that they live among us and they’re out in the daytime too. The best advice from the state’s excellent infoguide is to scare them away if you see them; our texter said a passing car had already done that.

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West Seattle 5K 2016: One week from today!

May 15, 2016 12:53 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle 5K coverage)

Whether you’re there to cheer, to run, to walk, to roll, you’re invited to Alki next Sunday morning (May 22nd) for the 2016 West Seattle 5K. It starts by 61st SW and SW Alki – usually after some opening stretches at and around Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza – and around quarter past 9, everybody heads out along Alki Avenue, which is closed to vehicles until late morning. The WS5K is presented by the West Seattle High School PTA, and this is its eighth year. If you’re not registered yet, you can do it online until Thursday, do it at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) during packet pickup noon-6 pm next Saturday, or show up at 8 am on race day and sign up (at a higher price). WS5K co-sponsors include WSB – see you there!

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Stories, songs, more for your West Seattle Sunday

May 15, 2016 9:37 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Male Western Tanager, seen at Alki Point after wintering in Mexico, photographed by Gary Jones)

Happy Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for the hours ahead:

ALKI ELEMENTARY DONATION DRIVE CONTINUES: WSCGSD leftovers? Or just some general spring cleaning? The “Clothing for the Cause” textile-donation drive benefiting Alki Elementary continues – just take your items to the trailer on the south side of the school. They’re not only accepting clothes, but also other textile items – sheets, towels, etc. (3010 59th SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

JAMTIME: Bluegrass and old-time music, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with Jamtime, 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘SOUTHWEST STORIES’: 3 pm at Southwest Library, the free monthly “SouthWest Stories” series brings you the chance to hear from and talk with Carol-Ann Thornton, as previewed here last night.

BOOGIE-WOOGIE: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, Arthur Migliazza performs, described as “the hottest young Blues and Boogie-Woogie pianist around.” More in our calendar listing, including how to make your reservation. (7904 35th SW)

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UPDATE: Missing girl back home

May 15, 2016 3:03 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

8:50 AM: We have word the missing girl is back home.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:03 AM:

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VIDEO: Local hurdlers’ success @ Metro League track championships

May 15, 2016 2:29 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(110 hurdles at Metro championships – video by Doug Cooper)

More athletic achievements for local students – this time at the Metro League track championships.

Doug Cooper, who coaches hurdles for the West Seattle High School track team, shared the videos and news of some big achievements in that sport:

Chaaka Trahan, a senior at West Seattle High School, ran a sizzling time of 14.20 seconds in the 110m high hurdles to win the league title in the event at Friday’s Metro League Championship meet at the SWAC track.

Trahan also won the Metro League title in the Long Jump with a jump of 22’7, and then added a third title to his collection for the day when he and fellow standout hurdler Cass Elliott and sprinters Rylee Farrison and Miles Hairston teamed up to smash yet another school record in the 4×400 relay and bring home the Metro League title in the process.

If all that wasn’t enough, Trahan added a 2nd place finish in one of the very best Metro League 300 hurdles finals in recent memory:

(300 hurdles at Metro championships – video by Kelsey Lenzie)

Trahan and Elliott finished 2nd (39.49 seconds) and 3rd (39.63) to Nathan Hale’s Tremaine McAdams (38.49). These times from their race on Friday vaulted Elliott, Trahan, and McAdams into the top 5 fastest recorded times in the entire State this season.

Trahan and Elliott led a strong cast of athletes on West Seattle’s Boys team to a 4th-place overall finish in the 16-school Seattle Metro League, which is considered by many to be the most competitive league in the state. All of them along with a great girls’ team which finished 8th in the league will be back in action at SWAC Track near Chief Sealth IHS this upcoming Wednesday (5/18) and Friday (5/20) for the Sea-King District Championship meet. Both meets kick off at 4:00 pm.

Cooper added that Trahan’s 14.2 in the 110 may have broken a half-century-old WSHS record – 14.3 by Al Karlberg in 1965 – but more research needs to be done, he explains, because “hand times were used back then and automated or converted automatic times are used now.”

He also adds that Quinn Wiley, a Chief Sealth International High School hurdler who trains with WSHS because Sealth has no hurdles coach on staff, won the girls’ 300 Metro League title – despite never hurdling until this year! She had, Cooper says, “one of the best times in the state, 45.93 seconds!”

Other WSHS and CSIHS track athletes did well at the championships – as you’ll see if you review the results list here.

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