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Spotlight Stories

Followup: Seattle, Tacoma ports ‘relieved’ by tentative contract deal
February 21, 2015 7:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

One day after the tentative contract agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association (terminal operators) was announced, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma have sent their official comment:

The ports of Seattle and Tacoma are relieved to hear of the tentative deal between the ILWU and PMA.

Operations at our terminals will resume Saturday evening. We are uncertain how long it will take to move the remaining cargo on our docks and awaiting vessels, and to assess the effects this has had on our gateway.

Our combined ports support more than 200,000 jobs throughout the region, many of them depending on the freight moving through our terminals.

We will do everything we can to support our customers in getting this gateway back to our high standards of reliability and efficiency.

MarineTraffic.com shows no container ships at anchor in Elliott Bay right now, but three off Manchester, a holding zone for Tacoma. No word, meantime, when ratification votes will happen.

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VIDEO: Why Seal Sitters filled in as Otter Sitters for a while
February 21, 2015 5:58 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing the video of a river otter (yes, the otters you see here are RIVER otters, not sea otters, which stick to the open ocean). He explains:

The otter was responded to by Seal Sitters earlier this month at Duwamish Head. While not classified as a marine mammal, our theme is “Share the Shore,” so volunteers kept an eye on him while he was using the beach. Thought you might also want to take a look at him going through his normal grooming routine.

Drive carefully on Harbor and Alki Avenues, because river otters do cross the road, as we’ve noted here before – their “dens” are generally inland, but they go out into Puget Sound looking for food.

P.S. Speaking of Seal Sitters, if you’d like to volunteer with the group, sign up ASAP for the next training session – four weeks from tomorrow, March 22nd, but spots are limited and usually fill up in advance. All the info you need is here.

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‘Skies Over West Seattle,’ special edition: Join Alice to look for the conjunction at sunset tonight
February 21, 2015 2:07 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

2:07 PM: In the most recent edition of Skies Over West Seattle, sky-watcher extraordinaire Alice Enevoldsen mentioned a spectacular planetary conjunction visible around sunset right now. Last night, clouds obscured it, but tonight – Mars and Venus – might be a different story, so Alice will be at the south end of the Lincoln Park shore, near the swings, 5:30-6:15 pm – more details on her Alice’s Astro Info website.

8:41 PM: Did you see it? By twilight, Venus was visible below the crescent moon, and Mars was in view – albeit faintly, if you weren’t using binoculars/telescope – alongside. Jeff Johnson shares this photo:

You’ll also see photos on Kevin Freitas‘s post about going out to sky-watch.

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You can help! WestSide Baby’s benefit tea is one week away
February 21, 2015 12:01 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! WestSide Baby’s benefit tea is one week away
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy WestSide Baby)
WestSide Baby‘s biggest fundraiser of the year is one week from tomorrow – its 14th annual Benefit Tea, on Sunday, March 1st, 2-4:30 pm in the conference center at the Hilton by Sea-Tac Airport. You still have time to get ticket(s) online and help support WS Baby in its ever-expanding mission of helping local children – $40/individual, $300/table of 10, $600/VIP table of 10 with extras. From the organization’s update:

The 2015 Tea centers on need in our community that is often kept hidden from sight, and understanding how together we can help children grow up safe and healthy. Raising Change President and CEO Kathy LeMay will highlight the afternoon with a keynote address focusing on the role of compassion in philanthropy. LeMay’s work has taken her around the world, fighting for human rights and social justice.

The Tea offers guests an opportunity to give and many opportunities to walk away with gift packages, including roundtrip airfare for two on Alaska Airlines. WestSide Baby will also sell hand-crafted glass “BabyCakes,” created by Avalon Glassworks, with one hiding a $1,000 diamond and white gold pendant compliments of Wyatt’s Jewelers.

As WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland points out, “Across King County, poverty is growing and most of us do not realize the challenges families face right in our own neighborhoods. Families don’t always advertise when they are struggling and need help. The infant behind you may be sitting in a wet diaper and living out of a car with her parents, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. These are our neighbors, and by getting these children the essentials they deserve, they will grow up safe, warm and dry, and their parents won’t be forced to choose between buying diapers and paying rent.”

P.S. Here’s our coverage of last year’s WS Baby Benefit Tea.

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South Park Bridge update: Back in service as of very early Sunday – for now
February 21, 2015 10:57 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news

(What’s shown above is the newest image from the SDOT camera in South Park – refresh this page for an update)
10:57 AM: The South Park Bridge remains “stuck in the open position,” according to both SDOT via Twitter and a check of the 14th Ave. S/Cloverdale traffic cameras (including the one above). No ETA for repairs so far. So if you have to get across the Duwamish River, use the West Seattle bridges or 1st Avenue South Bridge. We’ll update when it’s fixed.

(P.S. Refresh this story/page for the newest image – what you see above is pulled directly from what’s on the SDOT site.)

1:52 PM UPDATE: SDOT now says the bridge might be closed “until Tuesday.” As you can see in the image above, there are now barricades to keep surface traffic entirely off the bridge.

3:47 PM UPDATE: From King County Roads, which operates the bridge:

6:23 PM: Another update from KC Roads:

King County has determined that the cause of this morning’s South Park Bridge mechanical malfunction was a faulty transmission pump that will need to be rebuilt or replaced under warranty. Replacement parts are expected to arrive Tuesday. In the meantime, the county is evaluating whether the bridge spans can be safely lowered to allow for vehicle traffic.

Until the bridge reopens, motorists should use the 1st Avenue South Bridge as a detour. The county understands how important the bridge is to the community and motorists – every effort is being made to get the bridge reopened to both vehicle and marine traffic as quickly as possible.

The new bridge has been in use for eight months.

2:38 AM SUNDAY: Now King County reports the bridge is back in service, and KING 5 confirms it, though the repairs haven’t made yet, so we’ll keep close watch on this.

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West Seattle Saturday: Play, shop, listen, learn, cheer, more…
February 21, 2015 6:52 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Backyard black-capped chickadee photographed by Danny McMillin; shared via WSB Flickr group)
Welcome to the weekend! Lots of ways to enjoy/explore your community today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more!):

PICKUP SOCCER: West Seattle Sunday Soccer plays on Saturdays too, 8 am at Delridge Playfield. (4458 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S NEW LOCATION ‘GRAND OPENING’: 10 am-6 pm, it’s the first of two big days for the grand opening of the new West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) location. Vendors, raffles, more, all previewed here earlier this week. (2743 California SW)

WSUU BOOK SALE: Second day of the Westside Unitarian Universalists‘ three-day sale is on 10 am-4 pm today. (7141 California SW)

WORKING THROUGH GRIEF? 10 am-noon, first of 13 meetings of the GriefShare support group at Grace Church – find out more in our listing. (10323 28th SW)

LAST CALL FOR SOUTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE: 11 am-2 pm, it’s the last chance to sign up for Southwest Little League, whose announcement notes, “All boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 16 are welcome. If your child lives or attends school between SW Juneau St. and 128th St. SW you are probably within the Southwest Little League boundary. More information about signing up for Southwest Little League is available at our website.” Signups are at Steve Cox Memorial Park. (1321 SW 102nd)

GREAT START PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-1 pm, you’re welcome to visit! (4620 SW Graham)

VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: 11:30 am at Delridge Branch Library, bring your family for storytime in Vietnamese. As is always the case for library activities/events, it’s free. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

ROOM IN YOUR HOME/HEART FOR FELINE FRIEND(S)? Dozens of adoptable cats/kittens mean another offseason opening for Kitty Harbor, noon-3 pm only, explained here. (3422 Harbor SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED TODAY: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Alki museum is usually open on Saturdays but won’t be today. They’ll be happy to see you on Sunday, noon-4 pm, though!

BASKETBALL PLAYOFF GAMES: Two district-tournament games involving local teams (though both games are out of the area): 1:15 pm at Bellevue College, the West Seattle High School girls play Cleveland; 4:15 pm at Mount Vernon Christian, the Seattle Lutheran HS boys play Shorewood Christian.

FREE WORKSHOP ON REMODELING/CUSTOM BUILDING: 2 pm at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), come learn from and talk with the pros. A few seats available last we heard, so call 206-932-3009 to RSVP, ASAP. More info here. (California/Findlay)

SEATTLE PRIDE AAU BASKETBALL TRYOUTS: It’s the first session of spring/summer tryouts for Seattle Pride AAU basketball – all at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym; here’s the full schedule:

BOYS
Grades 4th-6th –
Saturday Feb. 21st – 5-6:30 pm
Sunday Feb. 22nd – 3-5 pm
Grades 6th-8th –
Saturday Feb. 28th – 5-7 pm
Sunday March 1st – 3-5 pm

Grades 9th-12th –
Sunday March 1st – 5-7 pm
Sunday March 8th – 5-7 pm
LAST CHANCE TRYOUT – Monday March 9th – 7-9 pm

GIRLS
Grades 6th-8th –
Sunday Feb. 22nd – 5-7 pm
Saturday Feb. 28th – 3-5 pm

Grades 9th-12th –
Sunday March 1st – 7-8:30 pm
Sunday March 8th – 3-5 pm
LAST CHANCE TRYOUT – Monday March 9th – 5-7pm

You can pre-register online. (4100 SW Genesee)

BOY SCOUT TROOP 284 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION: 5:30 pm at South Seattle College‘s Brockey Center, Troop 284 celebrates its centennial with a reunion/celebration. Full details in our preview, including ticket info if you don’t have yours already. (6000 16th SW)

NIGHT 2 FOR ‘GODSPELL’: 7:30 pm, see the Twelfth Night Productions performance of the classic musical at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

KATHERINE TERRIEN IN CONCERT: New music-venue startup The Amplify Project at The Junction Church presents this all-ages concert headlined by Katherine Terrien, 7:30 pm (doors at 7), to raise money for families in need. More details in our calendar listing. (4157 California SW)

‘NEVERMIND’ LIVE AT SKYLARK: 9 pm (doors at 8), Nirvana‘s legendary “Nevermind” album songs will be performed live at the Skylark, in order, by Star Anna, The Valley, Dirty Dirty, Stereo Creeps, Maklak, and Patrick Galactic – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MORE LIVE MUSIC … see the listings on our full-size calendar.

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Basketball postseason: Seattle Lutheran wins; next game Saturday
February 20, 2015 11:03 pm
|    Comments Off on Basketball postseason: Seattle Lutheran wins; next game Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

In the Tri-Districts high-school basketball tournament tonight in Mount Vernon, a win for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys, 63-52 over Tulalip Heritage. That means the Saints play there again tomorrow, this time for third place, 4:15 pm Saturday vs. Shorewood Christian.

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West Seattle road-work alert: Admiral Way paving next week
February 20, 2015 9:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Mike for the tip on this – SDOT hasn’t sent a communitywide notice on this yet, but he and neighbors just received flyers saying that “grind-and-pave” work is planned for two days next week on Admiral Way between 34th SW and Olga, 7 am-4 pm Tuesday and Wednesday (February 24th and 25th). Here’s a map.

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Dock dispute: Tentative contract agreement announced by union, terminal operators
February 20, 2015 8:26 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Prague Express, photographed by David Hutchinson on 2/13/2015, one of several days it spent at anchor)
8:26 PM: After more than half a year without a contract, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has reached a tentative agreement with the West Coast terminal operators, according to this joint announcement sent out by both sides (from the Pacific Maritime Association here and the ILWU here):

The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union today announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports. The deal was reached with assistance from U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh. The parties will not be releasing details of the agreement at this time. The agreement is subject to ratification by both parties.

“After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry,” said PMA President James McKenna and ILWU President Bob McEllrath in a joint statement. “We are also pleased that our ports can now resume full operations.”

More to come. (Thanks to Verne for the tip.)

ADDED 10:48 PM: Mayor Murray‘s reaction, sent to us and other local-news organizations:

The agreement reached between the ILWU and the PMA is good news for our region’s economy and the tens of thousands of jobs and economic activity that depend on our west coast ports. I want to thank the work of Secretary Perez to help bring both sides together to find an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry. I also want to thank the tireless efforts of Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti, who helped to organize my west coast colleagues over the last few weeks to support the negotiations. Together, we did everything we could to encourage the two parties to come to a fair agreement and get our ports moving again.

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Highway 99 tunnel-machine update: ‘Taking a break’ for cleanup
February 20, 2015 5:35 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Image downloaded from repair-pit camera after 5 pm today)
22 feet down, 35 to go for the Highway 99 tunnel machine, one day after it broke through the wall of the pit from which its cutterhead will be lifted for repairs. But it’s idle for now, as explained in this late-afternoon update from WSDOT:

After a few days of steady digging, Seattle Tunnel Partners is taking a break from mining so crews can clean out the bottom of the access pit. As expected, a mixture of dirt, concrete and water came into the pit along with the tunneling machine during Thursday’s breakthrough. Crews are using vacuum trucks and other tools to remove the material.

Once Bertha’s cradle is cleaned off, crews will continue moving the machine forward. Bertha must travel an additional 35 feet before STP and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen can begin the disassembly process. Since mining resumed late Tuesday, Bertha has moved nearly 22 feet.

Meantime, the SDOT director’s report we mentioned in an earlier story includes a few related notes. For one, SDOT director Scott Kubly writes, the city’s plan to independently evaluate the Alaskan Way Viaduct is proceeding: “Initial consultant scope, to be completed by early to mid-March, focuses on technical review of 2010-2014 studies of the viaduct and serviceability/safety for use of the viaduct structure.” Later in the report, he writes, “Bridge engineers responded to a report that concrete had fallen off the Alaskan Way Viaduct near Seneca Street. No significant defect was noted and it appears to be the continued minor deterioration of the aging structure.” (The date when this happened wasn’t mentioned.)

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You can help! Pathfinder K-8’s 21st annual auction in 4 weeks
February 20, 2015 4:44 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! Pathfinder K-8’s 21st annual auction in 4 weeks
 |   How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

4 weeks to go until Pathfinder K-8‘s big annual auction fundraiser, and tickets are still available, as are donation opportunities. Here’s the update we were asked to share:

Calling all Pathfinder families and alumni! Pathfinder K-8 will be celebrating our 21th Annual Auction, “Starry Night,” on Saturday, March 21 (5:00 pm) at The Hall at Fauntleroy. All money raised will go directly to the unique programs at Pathfinder that support our expeditionary learning, like our Earth Project, tutoring, camping trips and environmental education. Pathfinder educates students to become passionate, lifelong learners, respecting themselves, others and the environment.

We have received several generous donations from West Seattle businesses and Pathfinder supporters. Our students and families are also creating original works of art and gift baskets for our auction. Donations are being accepted until March 2. It will definitely be an exciting evening of giving and community building.

Tickets are on sale at: http://pathfinderk8ptsa.org/auction/ which is also where you’ll find contact information if you would like to donate something.

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Admiral, 35th, Roxbury, Fauntleroy updates among West Seattle notes in SDOT director’s report to City Council
February 20, 2015 1:52 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Toward the end of each week, the following week’s City Council meeting agendas go public, and they often yield interesting reading. This afternoon, we found several West Seattle notes in the agenda-attached report that SDOT director Scott Kubly will officially present to the council’s Transportation Committee next Tuesday:

47TH/ADMIRAL SIGNAL: Construction is approaching; Kubly’s report says “pre-construction” is planned for next Tuesday (February 24th), and the “notice to proceed” is expected the second week of March.

35TH SW CORRIDOR SAFETY PROJECT: Mark your calendars – proposed design alternatives will be shown within a few weeks, if this schedule is kept: “Dates for our second round of 35th meetings have been tentatively set for March 4 and 5.”

SW ROXBURY SAFETY PROJECT: Right after 35th, we’ll find out what’s in store here: “Staff aiming to release recommendations to the public on March 10 or 11 and highlight improvements aligning with Vision Zero.” (That’s the new city initiative that was much-discussed following our report last week.)

FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD: This update has a list of bullet points, as follows:

*The project team met with two businesses last week to discuss the 60% design and impacts to their property frontage

*In addition, the project team met with SPU to discuss project drainage requirements

*One property owner has continually expressed his disagreement with the bicycle facility and reduction in left-turn access for small businesses

*The project manager is meeting with SCL to determine cost and scope of designing the civil improvements associated with the undergrounding of the power distribution

*The design is on hold until cost of SCL undergrounding is resolved

The SDOT director’s report also includes notes on construction projects’ effects on the right of way, including this one that’s just getting started in West Seattle:

3210 CALIFORNIA SW CONSTRUCTION: Demolition for this 134-apartment, block-long building is wrapping up – our photo is from the end of last week; this week, debris-clearing has been under way. We learned this week from the contractor that this project will NOT have a crane; Kubly’s report explains why, saying, “Contractor unable to obtain crane easement from neighbors – no flyover rights.” The report also notes that “sidewalk and parking lane (will be) closed the next 11 weeks.”

The Transportation Committee meeting during which this report will be presented also includes the resolution creating a Transit Advisory Board, among other items; it’s at 9:30 am Tuesday at City Hall, and will also be live online and on cable, via the Seattle Channel.

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You can help! Play golf to support WSHS basketball training
February 20, 2015 12:52 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! Play golf to support WSHS basketball training
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team had a promising season, making it into the playoffs until a season-ending loss last Saturday, and is already looking at how to improve next year. Toward that end, head coach Keffrey Fazio sends word of a benefit golf tournament April 11th at Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent to raise money for the players to attend the University of Gonzaga‘s basketball-team camp. The tournament will have an “8 am shotgun start, 4-person scramble format with handicaps enforced.” You can register online by going here.

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Followup: Arraignment postponed for ex-gym owner Sam Adams
February 20, 2015 11:02 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

gavel.jpgIn case you’re tracking the charges filed against former gym owner Sam Adams, he was supposed to appear in court this week to answer them, but his arraignment has been postponed. New date, 8:30 am March 12th, King County Courthouse downtown. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced two weeks ago today that his office had filed criminal wage theft and fraud charges against Adams in connection with half a million dollars in allegedly unpaid taxes and wages related to his former athletic-club operations. Those included the West Seattle Club, which he bought during the Allstar Fitness bankruptcy proceedings in early 2013 and operated for a year and a half until relinquishing it to the building owner last fall.

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West Seattle Friday: ‘Godspell’ opens; HPIC movie night; WSUU book sale; music; more…
February 20, 2015 9:27 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Monday’s sunrise, by John Westrock, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Lots to do tonight! This is just some of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORTS: Heading into Oscars weekend, get a look at the short films that are up for Academy Awards, 5 pm tonight (and the next two nights) onscreen at the Admiral Theater. (2343 California SW)

IF THERE’S A POST-SUNSET CLEARING … tonight brings a don’t-miss conjunction, according to the latest “Skies Over West Seattle.” Per the WSB Weather page, sunset’s around 5:40 pm.

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Doors at Highland Park Improvement Club open at 6, children’s short at 6:15 pm, main feature at 7. Hints here. Admission free; concessions available for purchase; BYO chair/blanket or sit in one of HPIC’s chairs. (12th/Holden)

MARDI GRAS AT SW TEEN LIFE CENTER: 13-19-year-olds are invited, 7-10 pm event at Southwest Teen Life Center to celebrate that “Mardi Gras is more than just beads.” Details in our calendar listing. (2801 SW Thistle)

WSUU BOOK SALE: The Westside Unitarian Universalists‘ three-day sale starts with a 7-9 pm event tonight, $5 to browse the books while enjoying music and light appetizers; also a no-host bar. (7141 California SW)

OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘GODSPELL’: 7:30 pm, Twelfth Night Productions presents the classic musical:

(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
This is the first night of its run at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

BLUEGRASS AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, North Carolina-based Nu-Blu takes the stage at Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)

LIVE MUSIC: Salty’s, Skylark, Feedback, and Benbow listings are on the calendar for tonight.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch, plus weekend alert
February 20, 2015 6:51 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and happy foggy Friday! While we watch this morning’s traffic, a new alert for this weekend (and next):

1ST AVENUE SOUTH TRAFFIC ALERT FOR NEXT 2 WEEKENDS: Received overnight from SDOT:

First Avenue South alongside Safeco Field is getting some restorative work done on two upcoming weekends, weather permitting. Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation are repairing the street following work on underground utilities.

The southbound, left hand lane at Atlantic Street will be closed from 7 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 until Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. The center turn lane on the south side of Atlantic will also be closed both days, but will be open at night. Police Officers will assist traffic. The following weekend, Feb. 28 and March 1, the paving crews plan to work at the same location and during the same hours.

And in case you missed it:

HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL MACHINE’S BREAKTHROUGH: The machine made it through the repair-pit wall on Thursday – but this leg of its journey isn’t over yet. (ADDED 7:40 AM: View into the pit this morning:)

Also:

DELRIDGE/ANDOVER PROJECT’S NEW START DATE: As reported in our coverage of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, the work at Delridge/Andover/23rd is now set to start March 2nd.

7:33 AM: If you’re traveling northbound 99 north of downtown, two lanes are blocked at Howe St., so it’s slow going.

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Basketball postseason: Seattle Lutheran boys lose to Lummi Nation in district-playoff game
February 19, 2015 10:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Basketball postseason: Seattle Lutheran boys lose to Lummi Nation in district-playoff game
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Also in district basketball postseason play tonight, the Seattle Lutheran High School boys lost to Lummi Nation, 62-48 in Mount Vernon. They play again there tomorrow, facing Tulalip Heritage at 6:30 pm.

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Basketball postseason: West Seattle girls fall short vs. Juanita in district semifinals
February 19, 2015 7:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photo: Foreground, WSHS & Juanita’s leading scorers, Emily Fiso and Tea Adams; background at right, Charli Elliott)
7:58 PM: So close – but not close enough. In a game that just ended at Bellevue College, the West Seattle High School girls fell just short against Juanita, which got the district semi-final win, 51-48. The Wildcats were down by as much as 13 but fought back in the second half, falling just three points short. They play next for district third place, 1:15 pm Saturday vs. Cleveland, also at Bellevue College.

ADDED 1:12 AM: Here’s how Thursday night’s game played out:

Read More

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Delridge Neighborhoods District Council: Road-project postponement; port-tour update; substation situation; more
February 19, 2015 7:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge Neighborhoods District Council: Road-project postponement; port-tour update; substation situation; more
 |   Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

Updates were the order of the night at last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center:

(WSB photo from January, when the barricades/cones went up in the future work zone)
DELRIDGE/ANDOVER PROJECT: Alicia Molina from SDOT said the start of this six-week project – originally planned for this week, as previously reported – has now been postponed until March 2nd. Once the work gets under way, the first three weeks will be focused on the Delridge/Andover intersection, including some pedestrian detours; then “the sidewalk section” will be the focus of the second three weeks, and the connection from Delridge/Andover/23rd will be closed for part of that time. 23rd will be closed to vehicle traffic at times, she says, but there won’t be much other effect on vehicle traffic. The sidewalk – to be shared by walking/running/bicycling traffic – will more than double in spots, six feet to 13 feet, she said.

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West Seattle schools: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend turned children’s-book author, visits Sanislo Elementary
February 19, 2015 4:51 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(First 3 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Before his appearance tonight at the Central Library downtown, basketball legend turned award-winning author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made a side trip to West Seattle, delighting the students of Sanislo Elementary School, even autographing a basketball (held by Sanislo principal Bruce Rhodes, photographed with 5th grader Robert Chambers, student host for the event).

Right now, he’s promoting his newest book written for a youth audience, “Streetball Crew Book Two: Stealing the Game.” An earlier book, “What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors“, won the NAACP’s award for Best Children’s Book.

Sanislo third-graders are reading “What Color Is My World?” for Black History Month; Abdul-Jabbar asked if anyone could tell him who invented potato chips, and when a student gave him the answer (George Crum), he said he was pleased she’d paid attention to the book and would see her at her Ph.D. graduation someday. By the way – that was part of his message to the kids: It’s never too soon to start thinking about college. One student declared he wanted to play basketball in college and Abdul-Jabbar said, that’s great, but what are you going to *study*? P.S. If you’re trying to remember, we’ll save you the search – he left the NBA in 1989, at age 42, with a long list of achievements you can read about here.

P.S. Here’s a Sanislo library pic from Abdul-Jabbar’s feed, with a reminder about his SPL event:

And a pic our crew Instagrammed while there:

Seated, center, in the IG photo is Sanislo librarian Craig Seasholes, who’s brought many a memorable event/writer to the library over the years.

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2015 Election: Tom Koch joins the District 1 City Council race
February 19, 2015 2:37 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The list of contenders for the new District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) City Council seat has just grown again: The ninth person now in the running is Tom Koch, who describes himself as a “land-use expert(,) former preschool teacher, and current small-business owner.”

In his announcement, Koch says, “Having worked on land use issues for 29 years, I can tell you there is much more we can be doing in our city to protect our neighborhoods. … No one currently in this race has the same level of ‘hands-on’ experience I would bring to the council when dealing with issues of affordability and development. I am not afraid to say that developers aren’t paying their fair share and we can do a better job promoting smart and fair growth in our city. … Currently, we subsidize developers through a combination of higher taxes and degraded services. We can’t afford more massive projects which refuse to pay their own way. Let’s do the right thing, use our authority to mandate development impact fees and end this absurd practice.” Koch says he also has worked for “both a democratic congressman and county supervisor” and “is a seven-time game show contestant including Jeopardy, Sale of the Century, and Wheel of Fortune.” Like the other eight candidates, he is a West Seattle resident.

IN THE DISTRICT 1 RACE NOW: Tom Koch (declared 2/19/15), Dave Montoure (declared 2/17/15), Lisa Herbold (declared 2/11/15), Shannon Braddock (declared 2/11/15), Brianna Thomas (declared 2/11/15), Phillip Tavel (declared 2/4/15), George Capestany (declared 11/11/14), Amanda Kay Helmick (declared 10/20/14), Chas Redmond (declared 12/20/13). Filing deadline is May 15th; primary election is August 4th. Along with voting on the D-1 position, West Seattle/South Park also will vote on the two “at-large” spots, Positions 8 and 9.

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West Seattle Bridge traffic-alert update: Eastbound lanes open again after gravel spill
February 19, 2015 12:58 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

In case you’re about to head outbound – from the scanner, there’s word of a gravel spill on the eastbound bridge, possibly tracing all the way back to The Junction, and police are saying they’ll likely be closing the middle lane on the bridge near the 1st Avenue South exit. On the 1st/Spokane SDOT live-video camera (find it from the lower right of the travelers’ map), you can definitely see traffic stopped on the inside eastbound lanes and flashing lights starting right before the 99 overpass.

1:24 PM: After a brief full closure, all eastbound lanes are open again, per SDOT.

2:09 PM: Metro Routes 21 and 50 were routed off the 1st Avenue South offramp for a while, too, and have just returned to normal. Regarding the gravel, MistiLynn tells us via Twitter, “It was heavy gravel, more like plum-sized rocks …”

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VIDEO: Highway 99 tunnel machine breaks through access-pit wall
February 19, 2015 11:39 am
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

11:39 AM: If you’ve been on the Alaskan Way Viaduct this morning and noticed a dust cloud – the Highway 99 tunneling machine is “preparing to break through” the wall of its repair pit, according to a Twitter update a few minutes ago. Earlier this morning, WSDOT published a web update saying the machine had moved 14 of the 20 feet it needs to go to break into its repair pit. It had warned that they expected the machine to overheat and have to stop down, but aside from a stopdown reported last night so other work could be done in the pit, there’s been no word of that happening. WSDOT says it’s switched the pit camera to more frequent updates – every five minutes – so you can check in here (left-center frame).

12:44 PM: And while we were away from the desk for a bit:

Online, WSDOT adds:

This is just the beginning of the repair effort being led by Seattle Tunnel Partners and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen. The machine will continue to move forward in 6 ½ foot increments, stopping to build rings on its way into the pit. When the front end of the machine is fully exposed, crews will begin the disassembly process. STP has told us that taking the machine apart and lifting it to the surface will take significant time and effort.

ADDED 5:22 PM: WSDOT offers this video including the first glimpse of the machine’s cutterhead (most visible around 1:15 in):

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