day : 17/06/2016 13 results

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

About an hour before sunset at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza tonight, West Seattleite Samuella Samaniego reverently removed the Orlando sympathy sash and banner she had placed on the statue five days earlier.

With Kevin J. Auld piping (hear him in this video clip), it became a simple, solemn ceremony.

Hundreds signed what became a two-piece banner after its earlier removal and return; Sam says she will be sending the messages off to Orlando, where six days now have passed since 49 people were killed.

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West Seattle weather: Sunset rainbow

June 17, 2016 10:42 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to the anonymous reader who texted that photo, taken from Cormorant Cove at sunset. We got a closer look in the next photo e-mailed by Chris Frankovich:

Bonus pre-sunset view – Paul Panzl shared this scene from Genesee Hill a few hours earlier:

Thanks as always to everyone sharing photos – from beauty to breaking news and beyond – editor@westseattleblog.com or, text 206-293-6302.

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HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle Relay for Life 2016

June 17, 2016 10:22 pm

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| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

A lap around the track by cancer survivors is a traditional part of the start of the annual West Seattle Relay for Life, under way right now at West Seattle Stadium, until 9 am tomorrow. This year, the lap was followed by the survivors walking under a human arch:

At the stadium (4432 35th SW), visitors are welcome until the gates close for the night at 11:30 pm, and then again at 5; participants, however, will be on the track all night, or taking breaks for activities including movies at 12:30 and 2:30 am. When morning arrives – remember, it gets light early this time of year! – the schedule calls for special laps including “Bubbles of Hope” at 5:30 am and a “pajama lap” at 7 am, followed by 7:30 am yoga and a closing ceremony at 8:30 am. If you stop by, here’s one way you can help:

A textile drive is under way throughout the event, collecting clothing and other textile items as part of the cancer-fighting fundraiser. This year, more than 20 teams are taking part in R4LWS, including Key Club members from Chief Sealth International and West Seattle High Schools.

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See you Saturday @ Morgan Junction Community Festival 2016

June 17, 2016 9:23 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

One more reminder – 10 am-5 pm Saturday, whatever the weather (might be a little showery), the Morgan Junction Community Festival is on!

Live music all day, the legendary Bubbleman @ 11:30 am, local authors’ reading/meeting/greeting all day, Bark of Morgan dog parade and contests at 1:30 pm, food and ice-cream carts, dozens of community groups/businesses/vendors to see and meet, even a chance to “paint” the building at the future park-expansion site, 3-4 pm … You’ll find it all in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) and around/behind the Beveridge Place Pub and Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor)/Whisky West buildings next door.

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West Seattle illegal tree cutting: Criminal, civil action both possible, Councilmember Herbold reports

June 17, 2016 5:11 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | Environment | West Seattle news

(March WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

If you’ve been wondering what’s going on with the investigation of the illegal Duwamish Head Greenbelt tree-cutting in East Admiral – City Councilmember Lisa Herbold confirms it’s continuing, and that criminal and civil action are both possible. From an update she published today:

… The Seattle Police Department is continuing its investigation to determine if there is probable cause for criminal prosecution and will prepare a case to submit to the King County Prosecutor. The King County Prosecutor has jurisdiction over criminal felony prosecutions. The Police Department has conducted interviews and distributed flyers in the adjacent neighborhood for any information or leads. Last month, the Parks Department removed blackberry bushes for evidence of any previous cutting beyond the recent example, but didn’t find any additional tree cutting.

Separately from this effort to prepare a potential criminal violation, the City Attorney’s Office is also working to pursue potential civil action. It is likely that the office will issue one or more demand letters in the next few months, asking potentially responsible parties to pay the City damages and fines. If the King County Prosecutor declines to prosecute, the City Attorney’s Office may – at that time – decide to pursue a criminal action. Responsible parties may (1) be required to pay the City damages, civil fines and penalties, including restoration work, and also (2) face criminal penalties. It appears that the City has between 18 and 30 months during which to timely file a court case.

The City Attorney’s Office and Seattle Police Department are reluctant to publicly disclose additional information or additional specifics on their timeline as they believe that doing so could limit the effectiveness of the investigation and any prosecution or civil actions. …

Herbold’s update continues with details of the laws that could apply, and potential penalties – read it in its entirety here.

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Last Shell-support vessels leave West Seattle’s Terminal 5, headed for Arctic retrieval

June 17, 2016 4:27 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Foss. Above, Aiviq departing this morning)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More than a year after the first Shell support vessels arrived at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in West Seattle, the last of them have departed – headed for the Arctic, but not to drill.

We just confirmed this with Foss Maritime, which leased space at T-5 in February 2015, a half-year before Shell’s decision to abandon its Arctic-offshore-drilling plans.

While the protester-targeted drilling platform Polar Pioneer (which left T-5 almost exactly a year ago) did not return to T-5 after its Arctic efforts were stopped, assorted support vessels did, including the three that left today.

Our inquiry followed a tip from Jon in Luna Park, who reported seeing the three vessels – Aiviq, Dino Chouest, and Ross Chouest, heading out this morning.

(Dino Chouest departing this morning, with Ross Chouest at left)

Paul Gallagher of Foss Maritime, terminal manager for T-5, just confirmed the departures:

The three remaining Edison Chouest Offshore support vessels departed Terminal 5 this morning bound for the Arctic.

Over the past few months, the T5 team has been working closely with Edison Chouest and Fairweather LLC to prepare the vessels for the summer season and their mission to retrieve all of the mooring gear left on the seafloor by the Shell exploration rigs.

It is worth noting that the T5 team and associated partners (Jones Stevedoring, ILWU, Global Diving, Ness Cranes, Waste Management, USSA Security, etc.) had no recordable or lost time injuries during the project since we began in February 2015. I truly appreciate all the hard work and attention to safety which was evident in our day to day operations and engagement with our subcontractors and customers.

We are still looking for other business opportunities for the Terminal 5 facilities, but we do not have anything firmed up or contracted.

Under lease terms made public by the Port in February 2015, Foss’s lease is for $550,000 a month.

Separate from the interim Foss lease, Terminal 5 is proposed for a quarter-billion-dollar project to expand its capacity, and the comment period for that project continues until July 8th.

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Where transportation fits into ‘Seattle 2035’ comprehensive plan

June 17, 2016 3:22 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Years in the making, the city’s “Seattle 2035” comprehensive-plan update is moving toward finalization. With transportation being one of West Seattle’s hottest issues, you might be interested in that specific section of Seattle 2035, which gets a briefing at the City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee next Tuesday (June 21st) at 2 pm. The map above, setting a goal of 35% single-occupancy-vehicle trips for our area, is in both of the following documents linked to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting:

*Presentation (slide deck)
*Memo

The documents go into added detail about the focus on “mode share” – moving the same number of people with fewer vehicles – and other parts of the transportation philosophy in the proposed plan. Following up on this briefing, and in advance of others before committees handling topics that correlate to other parts of the plan (the dates are all in the slide deck linked above), a public hearing on the overall Seattle 2035 plan is set for June 27th, 6 pm, at City Hall – full details here, including how to comment on the plan via e-mail before then.

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Congratulations to South Seattle College’s 900+-member Class of 2016!

June 17, 2016 1:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo courtesy South Seattle College)

921 graduates from the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Class of 2016 are on their way to the next phase of their lives, after last night’s 46th annual SSC Commencement Ceremony at Benaroya Hall downtown. Here’s the class breakdown from SSC’s Ty Swenson:

South Seattle College conferred a total of 921 awards this year, including 463 associate transfer degrees that enable students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities in Washington and beyond to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

Another 277 graduates earned associate degrees and certificates that prepare them to enter the workforce immediately.

Forty-nine earned their bachelor’s degrees, including the first class to obtain a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Sustainable Building Science Technology.

And 132 graduates earned their high school diploma or equivalent, taking a significant step toward increased earning potential and future educational opportunities.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist rower Mary Whipple was the featured speaker.

P.S. If you’re thinking about going to SSC – registration continues for summer quarter, which starts June 27th.

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Final day for ‘from our coast to yours’ Alki Statue of Liberty sash/banner

June 17, 2016 11:33 am

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| Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

After five (interrupted) days, Samuella Samaniego says she plans to take down the Orlando-solidarity/sympathy sash and banners at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza tonight at 8 pm. She adds, “A bagpipe musician has made himself available for the removal. I realized (that) if I did not do something different (for the removal), it might end up feeling like I was simply taking down a petition that had all the signatures it needed. The people who lost their lives, and/or their loved ones, who now have to find a way to live with the loss, should be honored with something more than cutting the ties that have kept the memorial secured to the Statue.”

We visited this morning to take the photos you see above; the panels are covered in names and messages so there’s not much room to add new ones, but if you want to see them before they’re gone, or to be there this evening as a tribute, now you know.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Blue Thunder wins West Seattle Girls Softball 12U championship

June 17, 2016 10:49 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to the texters who shared the news and photo:

Just wanted to pass along that our 12U team “Blue Thunder” won the West Seattle Girls Softball championship (Wednesday) night. We beat the “Flamethrowers” in a nailbiter of a game. It was 5-5 going into the last inning. We scored 5 in the top of the inning and shut them out in the bottom of the inning. Final score was 10-5.

You can find out more about WSGS on the web and (with more championship news) on Facebook.

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Murray CSO project to add Sunday work

June 17, 2016 10:36 am

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| Utilities | West Seattle news

Just in from the King County Wastewater Treatment District, as the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project across from Lowman Beach continues advancing toward completion by year’s end:

King County’s contractor for the Murray CSO Control Project will begin working on Sundays inside the facility building starting as early as this Sunday, June 19th.

Work will occur during daytime hours and will be limited to quiet, indoor activities. A small crew will be conducting electrical and mechanical work inside the building using handheld equipment. This work will not exceed noise levels outlined by City noise ordinance. You may notice crews going to or coming from the site.

Thank you for your continued patience during construction. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns by email, by calling the project hotline at 206-205-9186, or by stopping by our booth at the Morgan Junction Community Festival this Saturday from 10 am-5 pm.

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VIDEO: Food Lifeline’s new South Park center ready to ‘stamp out hunger’

June 17, 2016 8:50 am

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| South Park | West Seattle news

Hopes and dreams for Food Lifeline‘s new Hunger Solution Center in South Park (815 S. 96th) were written on a blackboard during last night’s celebration. The party of course included a ribboncutting, with FL CEO Linda Nageotte deploying the oversized scissors:

More after the jump: Read More

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; weekend previews

June 17, 2016 7:24 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)

7:24 AM: Good morning. Quiet Friday so far. So here are the weekend reminders:

SATURDAY VIADUCT CLOSURE: The northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will close for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. The closure is set to start around 4 am Saturday and could run as late as 3 pm but authorities promise to reopen roads as soon as all the runners clear each section. (The race website’s full list of closures projects a 10:30 am reopening.)

MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: The small dead-end side streets Beveridge and Eddy are part of the festival zone off the west side of California north of Fauntleroy, 10 am-5 pm Saturday.

NEXT BRIDGE CLOSURE SUNDAY NIGHT: No closures on Friday or Saturday nights as usual for the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-safety work on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge; Sunday night’s closure will be the regular 9 pm-5 am hours.

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