day : 17/11/2016 14 results

11:48 PM: The emergency response that is backing up southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct traffic right now involves a C Line bus driver, according to Jon, who e-mailed us right after someone else texted about the traffic situation. He says his wife was on the bus and reported that the driver had a medical emergency, possibly a heart attack, right after the bus got onto the Viaduct from Columbia. The call is on the SFD log as a “med 7 response” (major medical situation) but there’s been no official information yet. If you are headed this way, avoid SB 99 for now.

12:06 AM: Still nothing official on this, not even a traffic alert, and nothing on the scanner, so we are not likely to be able to get followup information until tomorrow. The closest traffic cam shows traffic moving, slowly, southbound just north of the scene, with police-car lights visible.

12:38 AM: That traffic cam shows the emergency response has cleared, as has traffic.

FRIDAY, 3:30 PM: Metro reports that the driver died, and that passengers took heroic action both to try to save him, and to get the bus under control. Here’s their news release.

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Delridge Neighborhoods District Council expands, even as city ties are severed

November 17, 2016 8:53 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Delridge District Council | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Even as the City Council gets closer to finalizing the city budget containing the resolution formalizing the mayor’s slashing of ties with neighborhood district councils, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council is charging forward, and even growing.

Here’s what happened at its meeting last night:

DISTRICT COUNCIL’S FUTURE: Chair Mat McBride says that so far, discussions have focused on having the group work more as a cooperative as it goes forward, centered on how the groups at the table can “assist each other” in meeting their goals for the Delridge community. Certainly the group might still seek the occasional city presentation, but those likely won’t be as common, as the focus will remain more intra-Delridge.

One member asked what engagement with the city will look like from now on. “What do you think it should look like?” asked Pete Spalding. “I think it’s up to us now.”

Other topics of discussion included where to meet – an issue now that the city will no longer be providing the ~$500 annual funding that covered costs of renting meeting venues. It was decided that at least for the first quarter of next year, the group will meet at Highland Park Improvement Club. The meetings will still be 7 pm on third Wednesdays. As per longstanding tradition, DNDC won’t meet in December, so its next meeting will be January 18th.

What about the area covered by the council? asked one member – should it be smaller? larger? Could be bigger, McBride acknowledged. Some wondered if South Park might be a good addition. In the meantime, the list of member groups/organizations/institutions grew by one last night: Read More

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HAPPENING NOW: 4 Morgan merchants’ Ladies Night shopping event

November 17, 2016 7:19 pm

| Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: 4 Morgan merchants’ Ladies Night shopping event

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

In our photo above is Malika Siddiq, proprietor of Lika Love Boutique (6031 California SW), northernmost stop on tonight’s “Ladies Night” shopping event in Morgan Junction. As previewed here, all four participating shops are offering specials and treats – at Lika Love, you’ll find cupcakes:

Heading south from Lika Love, next stop is Nurture by Nature Spa (6307 California SW). Then continue on to Second Gear Sports (6529 California SW; WSB sponsor):

Proprietor Mark Bremen says they’re geared up for ski season. And you’ll find something for Seahawks/Sounders fans too:

Don’t miss tonight’s southernmost stop, My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), where you’ll find proprietor Jennifer Young, at left in our photo below with Brynne:

Need fall footwear for YOUR little bird(s)? That’s just some of what you’ll find:

If you haven’t gone yet – get a “passport” to be stamped at all four businesses, and that’ll get you entered in a gift certificate drawing.

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UPDATE: Turkey donation drive in The Junction

November 17, 2016 4:34 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Turkey donation drive in The Junction

| How to help | West Seattle news

4:34 PM: Judi Yazzolino from the West Seattle Food Bank shared that photo of the first donor at this afternoon’s turkey dropoff drive in The Junction. Go get a frozen turkey and just look for the van and the Food Bank folks before 7 pm outside Easy Street!

They also will welcome $15 (cash or check) to buy a turkey – the WS Food Bank is hoping to provide 300 turkeys before Thanksgiving.

5:22 PM: More young donors:

They brought nonperishable food donations, which are also being accepted though the donation drive is focused on turkeys.

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TRAFFIC ALERTS: Heavier traffic tonight @ Fauntleroy ferry dock; lane closure Friday on West Seattle Bridge

November 17, 2016 3:40 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:40 PM: Two more traffic alerts:

FERRY ALERT: Washington State Ferries sends an alert that traffic headed for the Fauntleroy terminal is expected to be heavier than usual because boat trouble has suspended the south Vashon Island run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance). So far, WSF tweets, it’s already a one-hour wait. The south Vashon run isn’t expected to resume before tomorrow.

BRIDGE ALERT: SDOT has just sent word that one lane will be closed on the Spokane Street Viaduct side of the West Seattle Bridge all day tomorrow: “From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 18, travelers can expect the eastbound left lane of the Spokane St Viaduct to be closed between 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S while crews conduct roadwork repairs. This work is to implement a permanent repair on a temporary patch crews did earlier this week.”

9:36 PM UPDATE: WSF says the Tahlequah-Point Defiance run will be back in service (with M/V Tillikum) on Friday, so the Fauntleroy terminal will be back to its usual volume.

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BIZNOTE: Illusions’ new look is no illusion

November 17, 2016 3:26 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The awning-replacement project is finally finished at Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW; WSB sponsor). The old blue-and-white awnings were more than 30 years old, and while Illusions had been thinking about changes “for the better part of ten years,” the issue was finally forced this spring by “major leaks in the brick” of their 67-year-old building … a problem that even interfered with their Christmas-tree display last year because of leaks in the far south corner of the salon. Here’s their montage of the facade’s evolution since Illusions opened in 1978:

A photo posted by IllusionsHairDesign (@illusionshairdesign.inc) on Nov 16, 2016 at 12:52pm PST

Along with the new awnings, the new illuminated-logo signage changes colors at night.

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VIDEO: South Seattle College faculty rally for raises

November 17, 2016 1:29 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos/video)

1:29 PM: Faculty members at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and other schools in the Seattle Colleges District are rallying today on the eve of mediation in their contract talks. Main sticking point is money – the faculty have received only what their union calls “sporadic and small” cost-of-living increases in recent years.

We asked faculty member Tish Lopez to summarize what faculty members are seeking:

Lopez also says, “Currently, our salary is so low that most faculty cannot afford to pay rent for a typical one bedroom apartment in West Seattle,” adding that administrative salaries have grown while faculty salaries have not, and that they hope this walkout as well as similar actions at Seattle Central and North Seattle Colleges “will help to move administration to reconsider the asks from the union and that continued denial to do so” will be seen “as an attack on the quality of education provided and insulting to those who provide it.”

In a prepared statement, a district spokesperson acknowledges that the pay isn’t what it should be, and says the problem is that:

Community colleges in Seattle, Olympia, and the Tri-Cities all receive the same base funding per student. The funding formula does not account for our region’s high operating costs or the differences in cost of living. This is having a direct effect on the student experience and limits our ability to adjust wages. Our employees are doing similar work as other state employees across the state, yet they are denied an opportunity to have the same quality of life. A regional pay structure, like those instituted for the highway patrol and Washington State Department of Transportation, could provide the necessary relief. In essence, we believe that a state system that funds colleges at the same amount is inadequate for high-cost urban areas, such as Seattle.

The two sides have been talking for more than half a year; Seattle Colleges says its most recent offer includes “increases of at least 11.1 percent for full-time faculty and 7.8 percent for part-time faculty over the three years of the contract (July 2016 through June 2019).”

8:01 PM: Commenters describing themselves as faculty members take issue with the district statement about what it’s offering, as quoted above. Here’s the district statement, along with a statement we received from a faculty/union rep who e-mailed us about today’s rally, from which we also quoted:

District statement
Faculty/union statement

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: Street, ramp closures tonight for surface Spokane St. paving

November 17, 2016 12:45 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT traffic cam – refresh this story page for newest image)

SDOT has just confirmed that the much-delayed paving of surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge ****IS ON**** for tonight. That means lane closures starting at 2 pm, and a complete closure of SW Spokane starting at 6 pm, along with ramp closures from/on the high bridge. Here’s what SDOT says will be happening between 6 pm and midnight:

Westbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and E Marginal Way.

Eastbound SW Spokane Street will be closed between 11th Ave SW and SW Manning Street.

The ramps from southbound SR-99 and westbound Spokane St Viaduct to Harbor Island will be closed.

Detours will be in place:

o Westbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured down E Marginal Way to the 1st Ave S Bridge and back up W Marginal Way.

o Westbound traffic on the Spokane St Viaduct and southbound traffic on SR-99 destined for Harbor Island will be detoured across the West Seattle Bridge to Delridge Way SW to access Harbor Island from the west.

o Eastbound through traffic on SW Spokane St will be detoured locally on Harbor Island to continue eastbound via SW Manning St.

Full details here.

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West Seattle restaurants: Arthur’s is on the way to ex-Angelina’s space in Admiral

November 17, 2016 11:45 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photo)

Another new restaurant is on the way to The Admiral District. The space at 2311 California SW where Angelina’s closed in May is going to become Arthur’s. We reached Rebecca Rice, who is opening Arthur’s in partnership with Sara Levin, and here’s what she told us:

We at Arthur’s are really excited to get things underway here in West Seattle — my business partner and I have spent many years as West Seattle residents and we’re looking forward to realizing a dream that serves our beloved neighborhood.

We are currently working with a village of friends and family to bring a comfortable, inviting, and beautiful place to enjoy food, drink, and relaxation from morning until evening. With breakfast served all day seven days a week, a menu that reflects the rise in interest in clean eating alongside early morning, afternoon, and nighttime café staples, and an approachable and beautiful bar (and dining!) space, Arthur’s is looking forward to contributing to an already vibrant and cozy part of West Seattle.

Arthur’s is “aiming for a mid-January open.”

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West Seattle Thursday: Drop off turkey donations; see dance, music, theater; shop; more…

November 17, 2016 11:16 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Keri Watson, who says the eagle subsequently dropped the seagull when harassed by an osprey)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

FALL WINE RELEASE: 1-7 pm today and each of the next two days, the Northwest Wine Academy on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus is open for its fall-release tastings. Free to taste; free parking; wine is available for purchase. More info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

DROP-OFF TURKEY DONATION DRIVE: 4-7 pm outside Easy Street Records in The Junction, the West Seattle Food Bank will be there so you can drive up, ride up, walk up and donate a turkey and/or $15 to cover the cost of one. (California SW/SW Alaska)

MORGAN JUNCTION LADIES NIGHT: 6-9 pm at Second Gear Sports and My Three Little Birds (both WSB sponsors) as well as Lika Love and Nurture by Nature, it’s the Ladies Night/Shopping Extravaganza, with treats and specials at the participating shops, as well as a gift-certificate drawing you can enter with a flyer stamped at all four stores, and more, as previewed here.

FAIRMOUNT PARK ELEMENTARY PTA: 6:30 pm general-membership meeting, with free child care provided by the YMCA. (3800 SW Findlay)

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at The Kenney – this month’s meeting has been moved up a week because of next week’s holiday. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

TALK ABOUT CUBA TRAVEL & FISHING: 7 pm at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), presentation and Q&A about traveling to and fishing in Cuba, as previewed here last night. (42nd SW/SW Oregon)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)

AFRICAN ALL-STARS: 7:30 pm performance at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – dance and rhythm: “The artists are professionals from the best dance companies of both Guinea and Congo, West Africa.” Ticket information is in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

‘PETER AND THE STARCATCHER’: Opening night for ArtsWest‘s winter production; curtain time, 7:30 pm. Ticket info is part of our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

BELLY-DANCE SHOWCASE: Monthly free Alauda showcase at The Skylark, 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

EVEN MORE … happening today/tonight/beyond. Check our complete calendar!

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UPDATE: Fauntleroy reopens south of Alaska after gas-leak response at construction site

November 17, 2016 9:46 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | WS breaking news

9:46 AM: We’re on the way to check out a Seattle Fire response at Fauntleroy/Alaska that’s closed some traffic lanes, according to what we’ve heard on the scanner (real-time 911 is down, so the nature of the call isn’t visible). Avoid the area for now; updates to come.

9:52 AM: The traffic camera we’ve added above shows Fauntleroy fully closed right now south of Alaska. Scanner discussion indicates this is a gas-leak situation and Puget Sound Energy is on the way.

10:03 AM: Our crew has arrived and talked with SFD; they confirm it’s a gas leak at The Whittaker construction site. PSE has arrived. SW Alaska remains open; (added) SW Edmunds is, too.

10:38 AM: The camera view above shows that traffic is being allowed on Fauntleroy again.

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West Seattle development: Arbor Heights project gets Design Review Board date; approvals in for Alki, Junction projects

November 17, 2016 9:13 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Four development notes this morning:

DATE SET FOR ARBOR HEIGHTS PROJECT @ DESIGN REVIEW: We first told you back in April about a plan for nine live-work units replacing a former church building at 4220 SW 100th in Arbor Heights. The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting on the project is now penciled into the city schedule – 6:30 pm January 5th; details including the design proposal should appear on this page soon.

And from today’s edition of the city’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin:

KEY APPROVALS FOR ALKI TOWNHOUSES: A 7-unit townhouse project replacing houses at 1706 and 1708 Alki Avenue SW has received key approvals, and that opens an appeal period. Details are in the notice.

APPROVALS FOR 41ST SW PROJECTS: One year after we reported on a new 7-unit proposal for what once was the site of a community-challenged 40-apartment proposal at 4439 41st SW, it’s received key approvals, opening an appeals period. The notices are for two addresses – a four-unit townhouse building at 4437 41st SW, two townhouses and a single-family house at 4439 41st SW.

STREAMLINED DESIGN REVIEW FOR 4534 40TH SW: A four-townhouse proposal at 4534 40th SW is now open for comments as part of the Streamlined Design Review process – no meeting, but if you have something to say, you have two weeks to say it. The notice explains how.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

November 17, 2016 7:03 am

| 1 COMMENT

| 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)

7:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents right now in/from West Seattle and vicinity. Road-work reminders:

FAUNTLEROY/HUDSON: We noticed lane reductions here while driving through the area last night, and Hudson itself was blocked. Looked like something ongoing.

PAVING ALERT: It’s not raining, which means the lower Spokane St. paving plan for today might be on, scheduled to start after 9 am. We’ll be checking. Here again are the details.

4TH AVENUE REMINDER: For the next few months, 4th Avenue has lane closures on the south side of downtown because of the Yesler Way bridge replacement. This came up in comments yesterday. The long-term alert is here.

One more note:

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: WSTC has changed its night/location for this month’s meeting – 6:30 pm tonight at The Kenney. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

7:54 AM: Big response for a possible fire at Highland Park Way and Kenyon, but it’s just been canceled, except for two units, as they haven’t found the reported fire yet.

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VIDEO: Hanging out by the outfall with Diver Laura

November 17, 2016 12:49 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Environment | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Diver Laura‘s been out again testing apparel and equipment off our shore, and this video is of note not only as a reminder that the stormwater from our streets and roofs ends up in Puget Sound … but also for the fish that were hanging out with her by the outfall. “Hordes of shiner perch,” she explains. “They’ve been like that for a couple weeks, hanging out in droves.”

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