Followup: City Council not likely to talk again about White Center annexation for months

(Video from today’s council discussion)
Bottom line to today’s Seattle City Council briefing on possible annexations: While they’re planning to continue to pursue annexing two areas around South Park, now collectively known as “Sliver-Q,” council staffers suggest that even talking about the status of North Highline “Area Y” – including White Center – be put on hold till all that is settled, no sooner than late 2013. Just because Area Y said no to Burien doesn’t mean an automatic “yes” for Seattle, the councilmembers were reminded. Details are on our partner site White Center Now.

West Seattle Tuesday: Greenway design; crime prevention; real-estate careers; aging forum; avalanche awareness; more

Thanks to Machel Spence for the photo from Lincoln Park! Here’s a look at what’s up for the rest of today/tonight

ROXHILL CASTLE HELP: As noted here on Monday, every day this week, the Roxhill Castle turret project – final part of the playground construction – can use help, 10 am-2 pm daily all week. Details here.

DISCOVERY SHOP: From the cancer-fighting nonprofit shop at 4535 California SW in The Junction:

Our popular Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles event starts today with many one of a kind items on display and available. The all volunteer run, non profit American Cancer Society shop is open Sundays 11 am to 3 pm and all other days 10 am to 4:30 pm.

WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING: Noon today at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), the Chamber’s annual lunch meeting has a big agenda including introducing the new Board of Directors, revisiting 2012 successes, and looking ahead to 2013. If you haven’t already made a reservation, call the office to see if there’s room.

TOUR K-5 STEM AT BOREN: Final scheduled tour for the new elementary at 5950 Delridge Way SW, 1 pm.

PRUDENTIAL REAL-ESTATE CAREER NIGHT: Wondering if real estate might be the right career for you? Prudential Northwest Realty (WSB sponsor) is presenting a “Career Night” event at 6 pm tonight at their offices in Jefferson Square, 4700 42nd SW, Suite 600. Details here.

OPEN FORUM ABOUT AGING & FAMILY DYNAMICS: Big topic for so many families, the change in dynamics as they care for aging family members. Come talk about it during an open forum, 6 pm at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor; 2326 California SW).

SAFETY IN THE SNOW: Avalanche awareness is the topic of a free event at Mountain to Sound Outfitters tonight in The Triangle, 6:30 pm, 3602 SW Alaska. Details – and signup link – in our Monday preview.

DELRIDGE GREENWAY DESIGN: 6:30 tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, come to a city-led meeting to find out about the design for the Delridge Greenway, an off-arterial route that would be safer for walking and biking. Find project details here.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Tonight’s guest speakers will deal with park safety and victim assistance, as previewed here. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), all welcome.

(added) SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The announcement for tonight’s 7 pm meeting:

Bring your Green Project Incubator grant ideas to tonight’s Sustainable West Seattle meeting at the Senior Center in Alaska Junction (4217 SW Oregon St. around the corner from California Ave. SW.

At our February Sustainable West Seattle meeting, groups or individuals with a proposal will be asked to present their idea and to interact with the audience describing their idea and the impact that project will have on the community. We will hand out comment cards to everyone for each project and as each presenter gives their idea, we will ask everyone to add a comment or suggestion to their card. At the end of all presentations we will ask the presenters to staff a table where they can further explain their project. The comment cards will be given to the presenters at their tables so that the reaction and additional suggestions can be integrated into their proposal.

We will also have a listing of all the proposals on a white board and will hand out stickers and request that everyone place stickers next to the various projects listed based on their priority. We will use a weighted system so everyone will get about 10 stickers and can distribute them as they wish, e.g. all 10 could be used to support a single project or the stickers could be distributed among several projects.

Nightlife and lots more on the calendar!

What’s ahead on the roads and underground? South Portal Working Group briefed


By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

WIth the south mile of the Alaskan Way Viaduct gone and the tunneling to the north about to begin, WSDOT is planning to consolidate the quarterly meetings of its citizen/business advisory groups.

The groups, it should be noticed, are far from perfunctory. The map above – showing the traffic reconfiguration in the works for the about-to-start “timber bridge” project on Highway 99 – is an example of the groups’ value, the result of a recent request by one West Seattle member.

More on that, ahead. First: After gaining some reassurances that their issues won’t be lost in the ensuing shuffle, members of the South Portal Working Group – which has focused on what’s happening and coming up in the West Seattle/SODO areas — agreed that would be OK with them.

That was the final point on the agenda of that group’s most recent meeting, held in the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project headquarters’ 23rd-floor conference room downtown. The group had been meeting in Sound Transit‘s board room, but that location was described as “unavailable … for a while.”

Toplines from the wide-ranging agenda – tolling, tunneling, even RapidRide ridership – ahead, along with the details on the map’s origins and the project launch:

Read More

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-work/school Tuesday

(“Live” cam looking at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; more cams here)
It’s back to work and school today – Seattle Public Schools’ newly abbreviated midwinter break is over – with no road closures. However, looking ahead to this weekend, there are closures planned both for the Delridge repaving project – Friday night to Monday morning, the postponed Delridge/Trenton intersection closure – and Highway 99 (we’re doublechecking on what’s listed here).

West Seattle schools: Sanislo Elementary celebrates books

Just before the 4 1/2-day midwinter break that ends today, Sanislo Elementary celebrated books and reading in a big way. Above, school librarian Craig Seasholes shows us books that were part of a donation from Westwood Village Barnes and Noble – given last Thursday by Sanislo students to their classmates as part of “International Book Giving Day.” It was also Global Reading Challenge day for teams of Sanislo 4th-5th graders:

Beatriz Pascual-Wallace from the South Park branch of the Seattle Public Library, which presents the “quiz bowl”-style GRC, presided as judge as teams answered questions about this year’s 10 books. Team names are among the fun aspects of the Global Reading Challenge – here are the Enchanted Flaming Shadow Pigs:

We’ll be checking today to see who won. Sanislo is one of seven West Seattle elementary schools participating in the Global Reading Challenge again this year, according to the list on the SPL website. The citywide semifinals are the week of March 11th, and the citywide final – always an exciting event in a packed auditorium at the Central Library downtown – is set for 7 pm March 26th.

Beach Drive boat trouble: Small boat moved; debris cleanup ahead

The smaller of two boats that got into trouble along the Beach Drive shore and ended up just south of the Harbor West Condos was moved to the beach on the building’s north side this afternoon. As night fell, its owner had his van and a trailer down on the Harbor West ramp and was in what sounded like an extensive discussion with someone about whether he would be able to get the boat onto the trailer tonight – the tide was all the way out at sundown. We’ll check back later. Meantime, residents say the state Department of Ecology is expected tomorrow to clean up the major debris from what remains of the trimaran Nunga Nunga Nue, which the man was trying to tow with the smaller boat after reportedly getting it for free as a fixer-upper. Back on Wednesday, Beach Drive Blog found the boats and owner (who told them it was “not an emergency”) off Emma Schmitz Viewpoint; Thursday, we learned the problem had moved about half a mile north to the water by Harbor West, with the boats alternating between grounded and mostly submerged over the ensuing days.

Compounding all this to some degree is a sewage problem beneath Harbor West (BDB photographed a warning sign posted on the north side Monday), though we are told this predates the boat situation – we’ll be checking with authorities when government offices reopen tomorrow.

West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 more car-crime reports

Another stolen Subaru to watch for – topping tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup of reader reports. From Jeff:

Our car was stolen from in front of our house near 50th and Edmunds sometime between 10:00 pm last night and 9:00 am this morning. It’s a green 1998 Subaru Legacy wagon with a roof rack, license number 961 VBQ. Please call the police if sighted.

Thanks to the Seattle Police for being extremely helpful and prompt. An officer was here to take my report within half an hour of my call, and by the time I checked it had already been posted online. I really appreciate their responsiveness!

Ahead, two car prowl reports, from the Alki/Beach Drive vicinities:

Read More

West Seattle Kiwanis brings back free Seattle Symphony concert

(January 2011 photo)
Two years after the last Kiwanis Club of West Seattle-presented free concert by the Seattle Symphony, the orchestra is coming back next week – Tuesday, February 26th. Here’s the announcement:

The Seattle Symphony will perform a free Community Concert this month as, part of the Orchestra’s ongoing commitment to provide free opportunities for West Seattle to experience the transformational and inspiring impact of live music. The program, while sure to delight symphony fans of all ages, should have special appeal to youngsters.

The evening concert will take place at West Seattle’s Chief Sealth International High School, 2600 SW Thistle St. at 7:30 pm on February 26. Ample parking is available onsite. Admission to the Community Concert is free and tickets are not required.

Assistant Conductor Stilian Kirov will lead the Orchestra in a charming program of 19th- and 20th-century masterworks, including Béla Bartók’s Rumanian Folk Dances for Orchestra; Maurice Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin; and Johannes Brahms’ popular Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 & 6.

Talented 16-year-old violinist Amelia Sie, who hails from Bellevue, will also perform the first movement of Sergey Prokofiev’s virtuosic Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor.

The announcement continues ahead, including the full program:
Read More

West Seattle traffic update: I-5 ramps reopen

Just drove westbound on the bridge from I-5 and verified what WSDOT says – the ramps to I-5 and Beacon Hill from the east end of the eastbound bridge are open again. Next closure for this project isn’t till 3/1-4 and will affect the ramp to southbound 5.

Safety in the snow: Avalanche class in West Seattle tomorrow

Going skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing in the weeks ahead? Do this first! From Greg Whittaker at Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle:

Join Mountain to Sound Outfitters in a free Avalanche Awareness Course on Tuesday Evening at 6:30 pm.

This course is designed as an Awareness Course and is not a certification. It is a great primer if you are getting ready to travel in the local backcountry via ski, snowshoe, or snowboard this spring for the first time, or if you are an experienced veteran looking for a good presentation. Techniques and equipment will be presented, and for those interested, there will be gear available at special pricing.

Signups required, and can be found here.

M2SO is at 3602 SW Alaska.

Will the city expand with annexations? Council briefing tomorrow

That’s one of two maps accompanying the last item on tomorrow morning’s Seattle City Council briefing agenda (9 am, City Hall downtown) – an update on possible annexations, as first reported on partner site White Center Now last week. Seattle leaders have a lot to talk about, since White Center and vicinity (“Area Y” on the map above) voters said no to Burien last November, and the Boundary Review Board rejected a bid for the Duwamish Triangle to be annexed by Tukwila. While it’s expected our city will pursue the Duwamish Triangle and the South Park “sliver by the river,” White Center and vicinity remains a wild card – the city has long had dibs on it but elected officials have repeatedly declared annexation unaffordable, and allowed Burien to pursue it first. There’s still an enticement dangling, but not for long – sales-tax credit to offset the cost of annexation, if it’s in the works by the start of 2015. Will the city pursue big, or small, or not at all? If you can’t be there tomorrow (note that it’s not a vote, just a briefing), you can watch live at 9 am via Seattle Channel (on-air or online).

West Seattle traffic alert: Water break on California’s north end

11:26 AM: Another water-pipe problem beneath a local road – this time, at Ferry on the north end of California SW. Thanks to Trecia and Brian (who sent the photo) for the tips on this. A crew’s been on scene for a few hours, and Brian says the road remains open: “There are traffic cones and SPU personnel diverting traffic. Folks are able to get by in both directions, although there are a few honks because it is tight.”

4:37 PM: Drove by about an hour ago and the crew’s gone; no trace but a patch in the road.

West Seattle Rotary offering scholarships to high-school seniors

High-school senior in the house? The Rotary Club of West Seattle is offering scholarship money and awaiting applications:

Continuing education of our young people is so important that every year the Rotary Club of West Seattle awards Scholarships to two or three graduating Seattle Area (preference given to West Seattle) high school seniors towards their college education.

The deadline for applications is fast approaching (April); if you know a deserving West Seattle senior, please visit our website to fill out the application. It is open to any senior student in the West Seattle area.

In summary, the name of the scholarship is the Gambriell Scholarship and requirements follow:

· Available to any graduating high school senior student.
· Based on financial need and academic merit.
· Student would not otherwise be able to attend college without these funds.
· Preference given to West Seattle residents.
· This year each recipient will receive $3,000 to $5,000, depending on number of recipients.
· Funds must be used on tuition and fees to accredited post-secondary educational programs.
· Date due for applications is April 30, 2013.
· Recipients chosen by May 31, 2013.
· Applications should be returned to the address on the application.

The application form, along with more information, is on the WS Rotary’s home page at westseattlerotary.org.

Roxhill Castle’s ‘artist-in-residence’ needs helping hands ASAP

The Roxhill Castle playground is close to opening at Roxhill Park (as noted during the recent organizational meeting for a new community council) – and this week, its “artist in residence” needs help for finishing touches. Mike Henderson e-mailed to say the main castle’s turret – which project organizers told us emerged as something special during the volunteer build last fall – is “in the final push”:

It’s going really well thanks in large part to a small group of great volunteers. We are in the final push this week and need extra people for mosaic work, sponging down the installed tile, and the final grouting. Every day, 10-2, with Saturday the 23rd being the day to grout. We have all the tools needed on site and all the tasks are easy to learn. The only limitation is having to climb a ladder to get onto the scaffolding.

He shared the photos of parts of the turret:

If you can help any day this week, please e-mail Mike at centerforawesome@gmail.com. (And since 10 am is fast approaching as we publish this, if you’re able to help today, you can likely track him down on site; the park is south of SW Barton, across from the southwest side of Westwood Village.)

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT, MONDAY: I-5 ramps closed; no Water Taxi; Metro changes

(“Live” cam looking at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; more cams here)
6 AM: We’re watching traffic more closely than usual this morning, because WSDOT’s continuing to work on the I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Special Bridge Repair project, which means:

*Eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramps to I-5 are closed
*Eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramp to Beacon Hill is closed
*You have to exit at 4th Avenue S. if you’re not exiting at NB 99 or 1st Ave. S.
*At 4th, WSDOT promises a trooper/flagger and adjusted signal timing

They’re ahead of schedule, and expecting to reopen the ramps by 3 pm today, but till then, you’ll have to detour or use alternate routes. Detours for getting to I-5 are outlined here. (Or from south West Seattle, take Highland Park Way to get to NB 99 and, at the north end of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge, take the Michigan exit to reach I-5.)

Also this morning:

*First commute since the Metro “service change” on Saturday; biggest change, Route 50 – here are full details
*No Water Taxi service because of the Presidents Day holiday
*School’s out for most (if not all); Seattle Public Schools resume classes tomorrow

We’ll add updates; yours are appreciated too (if you can comment or text/call – 206-293-6302 – legally & safely, e.g. as a passenger, or once you get to your destination). Thanks!

4:41 PM NOTE: As published in a separate update, the I-5 ramps did reopen before 3 pm. And the day has been devoid of traffic trouble.

Call for artists: Next ‘Homemade Brigade’ in West Seattle

February 18, 2013 3:05 am
|    Comments Off on Call for artists: Next ‘Homemade Brigade’ in West Seattle
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Local artists are invited to come sell their creations at the next “Homemade Brigade,” March 2nd at Freshy’s in The Admiral District, according to Krystal Kelley from event partner Mind Unwind:

The Homemade Brigade is a community partnership between Mind Unwind and Freshy’s Coffee. The Brigade is comprised of artists who create goods and art pieces in small batches by hand. Most of the artists featured in the past use recycled and reused materials, but this is not necessary.

For artists, come sell your wares. Entrance fee includes table, you keep all your sales…there is no commission. Table fee is $15 per artist. Register early, space is limited!

Follow this link to register.

For art enthusiasts, come buy local art that is creative and inspiring. Support local art and business!

West Seattle Crime Watch: Car-theft, car-prowl reports

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight – first, Lizz reports a car theft:

Hey, my car was stolen from the corner of 9th and Thistle in the Highland Park area, in the middle of the night between 2/15-2/16, not sure what time. It is a light blue Honda Civic ’91, with a fuzzy steering wheel, cherries and a yellow air freshener tree hanging from the front mirror. There is no side mirror on the right side. The license plate number is 530YTG. Please keep an eye out, and if spotted, please call the police and Tina at 206-321-5660. Thank you!

And from Diane, a car prowl:

I want to report that we had our car prowled (Charlestown &52nd Ave SW) sometime late last night 2/16/13 or early this morning 2/17/13. The car was unlocked and there was nothing of great value in it but the contents of the glove box were strewn all over and my dog barrier was broken. It seems they did not take the change from the door pocket but did make off with some leather gloves and I’m hoping nothing else.

Yet another reminder – your next chance to bring neighborhood-crime concerns/questions directly to local police, and to hear about the latest trends, is Tuesday night (February 19th) at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council’s meeting, also including guests discussion Seattle Parks security/safety and the SPD Victim Assistance Program. 7 pm at the precinct (Delridge/Webster), all welcome.

One more reminder for tomorrow: No Water Taxi

February 17, 2013 9:21 pm
|    Comments Off on One more reminder for tomorrow: No Water Taxi
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

If you are thinking about taking the West Seattle Water Taxi tomorrow morning just in case the I-5/Beacon Hill ramp closures bring extra bridge backup – just a reminder, you can’t; both Water Taxi runs are out of service on Presidents Day.

P.S. 7-day-a-week WT service resumes April 8th.

Video: Chief Sealth Percussion Ensemble to state competition

That just-published video shows a winning performance – the Chief Sealth International High School Percussion Ensemble, led by student leaders Farhan Vohra and Francisco Leon, under the direction of CSIHS band director Marcus Pimpleton – as they won the Elliott Bay Music Educators‘ Solo and Ensemble competition last weekend at Seattle Pacific University. In April, they will represent the Seattle area in the large percussion category at the WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble competition in Ellensburg. Congratulations!

West Seattle Bridge I-5 ramps to reopen by 3 pm Monday

(“Live” traffic cam for east end of WS Bridge; see more cameras @ WSB Traffic page)
WSDOT says the ramp work at the east end of the West Seattle Bridge will be done early – but not before the morning commute, so this advisory includes information you need for tomorrow morning:

The ramps from the West Seattle Bridge to Interstate 5 will open much sooner than expected, but Monday morning commuters will still need to add an extra 15 minutes to their drive.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation are making excellent progress and will reopen all of the ramps to I-5 from the Spokane Street Viaduct and lower Spokane Street by 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18.

The closure began on Friday, Feb. 15 and was scheduled to last until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Crews have worked around the clock to remove and replace aging expansion joints and also jacked sections of the ramp to repair slabs of concrete.

While President’s Day is Monday, not everyone has the day off work. In anticipation of heavy traffic on the detour route, the City of Seattle has retimed the light at 4th Avenue South and a trooper from the Washington State Patrol will flag traffic during the Monday morning drive.

Until the ramps reopen, 4th Avenue S. is where you’ll have to get off the eastbound bridge if you haven’t already exited at 1st or to NB 99.

P.S. The next scheduled closure in the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project is Friday night 3/1 until Monday morning 3/4 and will only affect the ramp to southbound I-5 from the east end of the bridge.

New West Seattle business: SW Skate Shop at Westwood Village

With the Roxhill Park skatespot set to open soon – it’s the perfect time for a new skate shop across the street in Westwood Village. SW Skate Shop is in its second week of business on the breezeway (east of Bed Bath Beyond). We stopped in today and met Ian Mandt, the manager, and Luke Constant:

They told us the shop’s focusing on local brands whenever possible, and it’s carrying boards, components, apparel, even local art – check out Jason Singler‘s work, displayed on the walls (and available for purchase, too):

Mandt says their hours are somewhat flexible for starters, noon-6 weekdays, 11-5 weekends.

Why there’s a big police response on Beach Drive

If you’ve seen the police response near Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and are wondering what’s going on: Police were looking for someone reported to be possibly in danger of harming himself, and, according to scanner traffic, found him, and were calling in an ambulance to get him some help.

West Seattle sale season! Tibbetts sets the rummage-sale date

The days are longer, the temperatures are higher, and rummage-sale/garage-sale season is in view! Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has just announced the plan for its big spring sale:

Spring Rummage Sale
Friday, March 8th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and
Saturday, March 9th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

“A” is for Appliances
“B” is for Baby stuff
“C” is for Cookware
“D” is for Dresses
“E” is for EVERYTHING . . .

Everything you could possibly want or need, all at prices “not of this century.” This twice-yearly event is coming right up and will feature usual bargains galore! Furniture, bikes, BBQs, and garden items outside. Plenty of clothing for all ages, jewelry, toys, games and other great stuff inside.

Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW, online at tibbettsumchurch.org and on Facebook here.

SIDE NOTE #1 – The ninth annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by WSB, isn’t far away either: Saturday, May 11th. Watch for our registration-dates announcement next month.

SIDE NOTE #2 – If you are having your own sale, any time of year, here’s how to list it for free on WSB.