day : 26/05/2016 11 results

Thanks to Vicki for the photos – again this year, West Seattle’s Boy Scout Troop 284 has been at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor), getting it ready for Memorial Day, with flags and crosses for veterans’ graves.

As mentioned here earlier this week, you are invited to the annual traditional ceremony on Monday afternoon, 2 pm, at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW), honoring those who served and are serving, presented by American Legion Post 160 and community partners.

New running event for West Seattle: Orca Half on September 25th

May 26, 2016 7:51 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

We’ve already reported that the city’s bringing back a “car-free day” street party to West Seattle this year, after a year off, on September 25th. And now we know that, like six previous such days, this one will include a running event. Today we got first word of the Orca Half, explained by its organizers:

Part of the Orca Running family of races, the Orca Half is a half marathon along the shores of West Seattle, starting and finishing on Alki. The race is brand new for 2016 and is being organized in cooperation with Seattle Summer Parkways to encourage people to take advantage of the city’s largest public spaces – the streets! Runners will enjoy the use of traffic-free roads for the first portion of the run on Alki. Registration opens on June 1st.

According to the race website, registration will be limited to 450 people, ages 15 and up, and participants will have to finish the half-marathon within four hours; it starts at 8:30 am and the course will close at 12:30 pm. We haven’t yet found the exact course on the website but we did find this description: “The course is 100% along the West Seattle waterfront, from Alki to Lincoln Park.” (On September 25th, the road closure will be from 63rd/Alki to Don Armeni, and Seattle Summer Parkways will include other events for which SDOT is leading the planning process.)

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UPDATE: West Seattle light rail sooner – 2030? Sound Transit board considers ST3 changes

May 26, 2016 2:37 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

TOPLINE, 3:37 PM: Sound Transit said the big objections to the draft ST3 25-year proposal involved timelines – such as, West Seattle light rail in 2033. So this afternoon, board members proposed changes that include, as seen in the list below, moving that timetable up by three years:

****************************************

From earlier, here’s how it unfolded, and what happens next:

FIRST REPORT, 2:37 PM: We’re in the Sound Transit board room on the south side of downtown, with a full house of people interested in the forthcoming Sound Transit 3 ballot measure for a variety of reasons – from journalists to advocates to elected officials and beyond. Public comment’s been under way since shortly after ST board chair King County Executive Dow Constantine convened the meeting (see the agenda here) at 1:30, and has just wrapped up. Much of it has focused on concerns from and related to the east and north sides of the area. This is all leading up to an expected vote one week from today on finalizing an ST3 measure to send to voters in November. You can watch live via the embedded stream above and we will add notes of interest from here on out. First up, Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff will talk about how they might “reduce delivery times” (relevant for WS, where light rail is proposed for 2033 arrival, in the ST3 draft) – including talking to communities before making specific proposals, so they know if they’re walking into a minefield. Also: “establish a transparent schedule for … timely decision-making … throw it up on the Web for all to see,” and other process tweaks, such as fast-tracking permits. In the end, Rogoff added, a “culture change” would be needed, overall, to help speed things up.

2:54 PM: Now, a quick update on the ST3 finance plan. It has “additional capacity to accelerate the program you have under consideration,” the board is told. That’s followed by board members from each of five “sub-areas” proposing changes to the overall plan.

First list of changes includes proposing moving West Seattle light rail up to 2030 – three years sooner than the draft plan released in March.

3:13 PM: The proposed changes are “fully affordable” and meet “sub-area equity,” the board is now told. Next step: The board will consider on June 2nd whether to include any or all of these changes in the ST3 plan. Chair Constantine says, “It’s clear to me … that the will of the board is to move forward with these changes,” so he’ll have them written up by that meeting. The final vote on what to send to voters in November, he says, will be on June 23rd. And with that, this discussion is over and the ST board is moving on to other items.

3:37 PM: The meeting has just adjourned, and Sound Transit’s just sent a news release that points us to this summary of the proposed changes. The only other mentions of West Seattle: “The scope of a study of high-capacity transit between West Seattle and Burien would expand to explore potential future service to Renton via Tukwila.”

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West Seattle A la Mode Pies: Window wrap today; your name suggestions sought for ‘boozy milkshakes’

May 26, 2016 1:46 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photo)

As A la Mode Pies proprietor Chris Porter puts it, this is a big day/night for him and his growing company. Above, the window wrap is going up right now at their future West Seattle Junction expansion location on SW Alaska just east of California SW, on the ground floor of Junction 47; in honor of that, he’s inviting you to suggest WS-centric names for the “boozy milkshakes” they’ll be offering. (With Husky Deli ice cream!) You might recall hearing about the milkshakes, pies, and more when we first reported last month on Porter’s plan for A la Mode Pies to expand here.

As part of the introduction to this community (which will be its second shop, after Phinney), A la Mode Pies also will be at the sold-out Taste of West Seattle food-and-drink fundraiser tonight in Fauntleroy, benefiting the WS Helpline. Porter himself will be at another event – the Puget Sound Business Journal “Business of Pride” event, at which he says A la Mode Pies will be recognized as one of the 25 largest LGBTQ-owned businesses in the region.

Now – your help needed! Porter is inviting WSB readers to suggest names for the five “boozy milkshakes” that West Seattle A la Mode Pies will offer.

Here’s the criteria:

· Hyper Local – Submissions might be influenced by a West Seattle neighborhood, a popular West Seattle destination, tourist attraction, or local saying. The name could also include something West Seattleites take pride in – like the largest employer, historical reference, or pillar of the community.

· The more whimsical, irreverent, and catchy the better.

· Relates to the ingredients in the shake (see descriptions below). Does the proposed name provide a hint as to what the boozy milkshake might taste like?

· Short-and-Sweet. Ideally, each submission will be no more than 2-3 words, as it needs to fit on a menu.

Here’s a description of each proposed boozy milkshake:

1. Cinnamon Apple – Vanilla Ice Cream, Cinnamon Whiskey, Hard Cider – served with cinnamon & sugar pie fries

2. Grasshopper – Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Vodka, Crème de Menthe – drizzled with chocolate ganache

3. Banana – Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Coffee Liquor, Rum, Fresh Bananas – drizzled with homemade caramel

4. Key Lime – Vanilla Ice Cream, Key Lime Juice, Tequila, Triple Sec – served with crushed graham crackers

5. Blue Hawaiian – Coconut Ice Cream, Fresh Blueberries, Malibu Rum, Crushed Pineapple – topped with toasted coconut

Got one suggestion – or five – or more? Please post in the comment section (if you’re reading this from the home page, either click the headline and scroll down, or click the word comment/s under the headline). Decisions will be made within a week or two. Meantime, Porter hopes to have A la Mode Pies open in The Junction in September.

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West Seattle’s Admiral Theater to get a ‘group hug,’ as renovation work nears

May 26, 2016 12:32 pm

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| Admiral Theater | West Seattle news

(June 2015 photo by Jean Sherrard, courtesy SWSHS)

Remember that scene at the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge last year, with hundreds of local students photographed in what Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals dubbed a “group hug,” to commemorate the start of its restoration? Something similar is about to happen for another West Seattle landmark – again on the first Friday in June. This time, it’s West Seattle’s only moviehouse, the Admiral Theater. Hundreds of area students will gather outside the theater at midmorning on June 3rd (one week from tomorrow) for another “group hug,” to be photographed from above, as the theater gets ready to launch its renovation project. No street closure, but things will be a little crowded outside the gas station/mini-mart next door; Eals tells us that’s where they’ll be gathering.

(WSB photo from February)

Speaking of the Admiral’s renovation work, which ultimately will turn it into a fourplex with lots of upgrades to its lovable-but-worn interior, readers have been asking about its status. So we checked with The Admiral’s Dinah Brein, who says the city permit process has had them in a holding pattern. “They are backed up 4-6 weeks. We initially were hoping to start first couple weeks of May, but now they won’t probably review until the end of June. At that point, depending on if they have any questions, comments or concerns that we need to address, we will have to resubmit again for their approval. We are thinking that we should be good to go no later than end of August, which would be good because the movies slow down until mid-October for the holidays.” That’ll be close to a year after the originally hoped-for timetable for getting the work started; the agreement between the theater’s owners and longtime operator Far Away Entertainment was announced early last year.

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Alki Point Lighthouse tours start this weekend

May 26, 2016 11:24 am

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(2011 aerial of Alki Point Lighthouse and its grounds, by Long Bach Nguyen)

A West Seattle icon is about to reopen for weekend tours. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary sends word that its members will resume leading free tours of Alki Point Lighthouse on Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, but most of the rest of the summer, it’ll be Saturdays and Sundays (plus two Monday holidays, Independence Day and Labor Day, which will be the last tour day of the season). Hours are 1 pm-4 pm, with the last group entering the site at 3:40 pm; all ages are welcome, but visitors have to be at least 6 years old to go up to the very top of the lighthouse tower. You’ll find the lighthouse where Alki Avenue SW meets Beach Drive SW; here’s a map. (Questions? alkilighthouse@cgauxseattle.org)

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HE’S BACK! Lou Cutler returning to Pathfinder K-8 for annual ‘Laps with Lou’ fundraising run

May 26, 2016 10:54 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, June 2015)

When Lou Cutler took that last lap around the Pathfinder K-8 field last June, shortly before retiring from his job as the school’s PE teacher, it seemed like the end of his annual Make-A-Wish fundraising runs, joyful occasions in which the entire school community took part. But it turns out the tradition isn’t ending after all – Lou will be back at the school on Pigeon Point on Friday, June 3rd (one week from tomorrow), to do it again! Since this time of year also brings his birthday, he leads a lap for every year he’s been on the planet, and this year it will be the momentous number 65. Lou tells WSB, “Easiest way for me to explain this all is that I am having so much fun, I don’t want the run to end. The spirit is certainly willing and the cause is great, so I’ll be ready!” Maybe a little more walking, a little less running, but all the better for anyone and everyone who wants to join in – all are welcome – just drop by Pathfinder next Friday morning, at or after the scheduled start time of 8:45 am. Make-A-Wish points out that Lou’s run “has raised more than $60,000 — that’s enough to grant 12 wishes to local kids with life-threatening medical conditions!” (Outside the run, he’s been a wish-granting volunteer for more than 20 years.)

P.S. Here’s where you can go to donate specifically in honor of Lou’s run.

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6 highlights for your pre-holiday-weekend West Seattle Thursday

May 26, 2016 9:31 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Look closely at Don Brubeck‘s photo and you’ll see seven Great Blue Herons fishing on the Duwamish River. Getting ready for some fishing yourself? Or other holiday activities? Before we get to the Memorial Day weekend, here are highlights from the calendar for today/tonight:

FREE KINDERMUSIK: 1 pm at My Three Little Birds (WSB sponsor) in south Morgan Junction, bring the little one(s) for free Kindermusik today! (6959 California SW)

SOUND TRANSIT 3: 1:30 pm at the Sound Transit board room downtown, the ST board will talk about possible changes to the draft ST3 plan, which currently calls for light rail to West Seattle in 2033, before voting on the final ballot measure next week. Here’s the agenda; we plan to be there and will bring you as-it-happens updates on whether any changes are proposed for the West Seattle part of the 25-year plan. (401 S. Jackson)

COMMUNITY CANNABIS CONVERSATION: 2-4 pm, a chat about cannabis, geared toward seniors with questions, as explained in our calendar listing, at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (SW Oregon/California SW)

BETWEEN 11 AND 25? Vote ASAP in the Youth Voice, Youth Choice “participatory budgeting” that the city’s trying out this year! One easy way to do it – go see volunteer Nancy Folsom at Delridge Skatepark, 3:30 pm-5 pm. Details in our report from earlier this week, which has the online-voting link too. (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee)

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: The 11th annual eat-and-drink benefit for West Seattle Helpline tonight is sold out – so this is just a reminder, if you’re among the ticketholders, or if you pass by The Hall at Fauntleroy and wonder what the big crowd is about. It starts with VIP admission at 6 pm, general admission at 6:30 pm. (9131 California SW)

T-5 DRAFT EIS @ TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meets at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with two major agenda items: NW Seaport Alliance deputy CEO Kurt Beckett talks about the Terminal 5 Draft Environmental Impact Statement that’s now awaiting your comments, plus, WSTC board elections – four spots with one candidate each, two spots with no candidates, so they’re looking for people to serve. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

THAT’S JUST THE START … find many more listings for today, tonight, and beyond, on our complete calendar.

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BIZNOTES: Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu transition complete; plus, 3 anniversaries

May 26, 2016 9:00 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle biznotes this morning:

ELITE BJJ TRANSITION COMPLETE: At 5050 Delridge Way SW, the new look is in place and the gym’s new beginning as Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is under way. During last Sunday’s celebration, we photographed proprietor/coach Sonia Sillan in a brand-new workout space inside the 5,800-square-foot gym:

The website is all new, too – westseattlebjj.com – where you can find out more about the classes that Elite BJJ offers for all ages, all fitness levels, no contracts required.

Also in biznotes today, three anniversaries:

COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE PROJECT TURNS 7: You’re invited to the seventh-anniversary party coming up for the Community Acupuncture Project of West Seattle. 3-5 pm on Saturday, June 4th, music – Sid Law, performing live – and food are planned for the party at the clinic, 4545 44th SW.

SPIRA POWER YOGA TURNS 5: Also on June 4th, Spira Power Yoga in The Admiral District celebrates its fifth anniversary with a day of free classes (8 am, 9:30 am, 4:30 pm per their online schedule) and prize drawings for participants. Spira also has made a video in honor of the occasion, explaining the philosophy of being a “peaceful warrior.”

CUDDLE CLUB TURNS 1: In Morgan Junction, The Cuddle Club has just celebrated its one-year anniversary. And proprietor Lashanna Williams has expanded the business to add massage therapy and energy work, in addition to cuddling, Reiki, meditation, and crystal classes, plus special events. Details are on the recently remodeled Cuddle Club website.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; bridge closure; Memorial Day preview…

May 26, 2016 6:35 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:35 AM: Good morning! As the holiday weekend approaches, previews/updates:

*The west end of the bridge closes for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion work again tonight, 9 pm-5 pm, and then the next closure will be Tuesday night (May 31st) – Friday and Saturday are regular off-nights, and SDOT tells us that Sunday and Monday also will see NO work because of the holiday.

*‘Rolling slowdowns’ for movie filming are expected today for one last day on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, 9 am-3 pm.

*As first mentioned here on Wednesday, sewer repairs will mean lane closures along a stretch of 35th SW for about two weeks starting next Tuesday.

*Metro and the West Seattle Water Taxi will both be on Sunday schedules on Memorial Day.

8:38 AM: Thanks to Mike for the tip – police and tow trucks are at the scene of a crash involving a bus in the Delridge triangle, north of Roxbury. It wasn’t on the 911 log, which means no injuries of note.

10:42 AM: Thanks to David for the tip on the Seneca closures that SDOT tweeted about:

Recurring closures at the Seneca St Exit on northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct. Expect delays.

— seattledot (@seattledot) May 26, 2016

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West Seattle whales: Sighting this morning

May 26, 2016 6:33 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Out of the WSB inbox, from Kevin:

I was running this morning and saw a whale just west of Don Armeni park. It was headed westward, slowly. The whale was young/small, but definitely a whale, not a porpoise or something. It was big, just seemingly small for a whale by my estimation. If I had to hazard a guess, 15-20′ long??

Anyhow, wanted to report it given the story last month of the whale off Vashon. The whale spouted, and I watched its back crest out of the water as it surfaced and went back down. Time was 5:20 am.

Reminder: If you see a marine mammal you think is in trouble – be sure to notify the local marine-mammal stranding network, Seal Sitters MMSN, at 206-905-SEAL.

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