West Seattle, Washington
08 Sunday
You may have heard about this tragedy in regional media – a 48-year-old woman and her 7-year-old son were pulled from the Skykomish River yesterday; he survived, but she died at a Snohomish County hospital. Thanks to information that started with a note from a friend, we have learned the woman was from West Seattle: Arden Balyeat. As friend Cori Myka explained on Ms. Balyeat’s Facebook wall, she and her son “were crossing a river when he got pulled in an eddy. She rescued him, but was not able to save herself.” Friends are planning a wake this Saturday afternoon, likely at her home, though Cori told us the venue may change, and suggested watching this Facebook page (from which the photo at left was taken) for details; they also are working to set up a fund for Ms. Balyeat’s son. ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: This Everett article has a few more details on what authorities believe happened.
It’ll take us a few hours to do the story justice in long form so for now, we’ll just publish a quick topline: More than 100 people filled the air-conditioned Youngstown Arts Center auditorium for tonight’s long-awaited Neighborhood Plan Status Check meeting. The photo above doesn’t even show them all – the floor of the auditorium held the groups for Admiral, Delridge, Highland Park/Westwood and Morgan Junction (as well as Georgetown), while the stage held the biggest group of all (not pictured here), for The Junction. One thing you can do RIGHT NOW, whether you attended or not – take an online survey. Meeting organizers say the neighborhood that’s turned in the most so far is Ballard with about 150 – certainly West Seattle can beat that! Go here; deadline is August 11. And watch for our full report (focused on The Junction – the heart of WS – with scenes from the other tables too) later.
From the city’s recap of the mayor’s heat-wave briefing today:
Case managers in the Human Services Department will begin calling senior citizen clients to check on their welfare. City workers, including police officers, are determining ways to keep the homeless hydrated. Seattle City Light is monitoring electrical demand. Although the utility has reached peak demand for July, the city still has adequate supplies. The utility is contacting its largest customers to request they limit their nonessential uses of electricity.
Libraries are open regular hours, and the city points out that Delridge, High Point and Southwest branches have A/C. Some wading pools will extend their hours – Lincoln Park, which would normally close at 8, will stay open till 8:30; E.C. Hughes, which would close at 7, will stay open till 8; Delridge and Hiawatha, which usually close at 7, will stay open till 7:30.
Two door-to-door alerts to share this afternoon – read on:Read More
The National Weather Service has just updated its forecast – and the “excessive heat warning” has now been extended till 6 pm Friday. (That air-conditioned 6 pm meeting at Youngstown re: West Seattle’s future is looking even better …)
Just in from Sharonn Meeks, one of the facilitators for the big meeting tonight that we’ve been writing about for weeks (Neighborhood Plan Status Check – here’s our latest preview): It’s moved across the street to AIR-CONDITIONED Youngstown Arts Center. Still at 6 pm. Please come to not only discuss West Seattle’s future – but also to get out of the heat!
(Monday photo by Kevin McClintic)
Thanks to City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his staffer Brian Hawksford (both West Seattleites, incidentally) for sharing a report they received on the Seattle Police “crosswalk sting” at California/Dawson yesterday (here’s our original report). Turns out it was one of two conducted in the city yesterday afternoon – the other one was earlier, on lower Queen Anne. Neither spot had been “worked before,” according to the report they forwarded, which includes this excerpt:
From 3 PM to 4 PM, the squad worked the crosswalk at California & Dawson. Here we wrote 16 pedestrian right of way citations, plus 7 proof of insurance, 3 expired tabs, 1 seat belt, 1 no front plate, and 1 green arrow, for a total of 29 citations. Additionally, we issued a pedestrian right of way warning.
As noted in yesterday’s report, 92-year-old Rosemary MacCorkindale was killed crossing at that same spot last fall. Between the two locations worked yesterday, the forwarded report says, 221 crossings were made in all — 133 by officers and 88 by citizens — and 14.5% resulted in citations. SPD says the operation showed a “need” for such enforcement at both locations, so they’ll likely be back.
That photo just looks so cool and blue … thanks to Gary Jones for sharing his pic of the US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf as it arrived in Elliott Bay for Seafair (as previewed here). ADDED 6:25 PM: Gary has video of the arrival too:
Meantime, this afternoon’s biggest Seafair arrival, the Blue Angels, are reportedly running late – latest estimate, 3-3:30 pm at Boeing Field. Now, as for the heat: The newest forecast is still calling for up to 100 today, even hotter tomorrow; we’re compiling a keep-cool list in the WSB Forums (read it and/or add your suggestion/s here). Meantime, the mayor’s having a media briefing about the city’s heat-wave response in about an hour.
Bus riders who work downtown or who can get away at midday will want to know about this one – not just listening to politicians, but also a chance for you to ask questions — read on:Read More
Followup to our first report yesterday about the proposal to convert the Highland Park wading pool into a “spray park” with Parks and Green Spaces Levy dollars: As expected, we have more information – including budget concerns – after covering last night’s meeting of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee (which has three West Seattle members), and two other West Seattle headlines emerged from the meeting too – including an update on the Camp Long project (for which a public meeting has just been set August 19) — along with information on how the levy’s Opportunity Fund will work – read on for details:Read More
The city’s proposal to enable the building of dozens more “backyard cottages” – allowed now only in Southeast Seattle but potentially to be allowed around the rest of Seattle – sparked a lot of discussion during presentations at recent community-group meetings in West Seattle, so we’re sharing this announcement just forwarded by the Department of Neighborhoods‘ Delridge District Coordinator Ron Angeles: A public hearing on the plan is now set for 5:30 pm on September 15 in the council chambers at City Hall downtown. In the meantime, the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee will get a briefing at 9:30 am August 12 – that committee meeting, like most, will have a “general public comment period” beforehand if there’s anything you’d like to say. You can also send your thoughts to council members via their website, and if you’re just catching up on the backyard-cottage proposal, you can read up here.
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Today we welcome one of our newest sponsors, STS Remodeling. WSB customarily offers new sponsors the chance to tell you about their businesses, and here’s what STS Remodeling would like you to know: “STS is a local, full-service general contractor specializing in unique construction projects for clients who have high expectations of craftsmanship, customer service, project management, and value. Founded by Craig Haveson in 1999, STS has been deciated to keeping customers happy with the highest level of satisfaction. With a wide range of remodel projects, custom home builds & condominium rehabilitation, there is no job that is too big or small. As result of our versatility in projects, we are able to meet the unique needs of each individual and are able to specialize in a wide variety of industry sectors. Our team is at the center of our success. Led by a dynamic group and staffed by the best and brightest in the field, our core values of integrity, hard work, and safety shines through. Offering career positions in this thriving company has drawn the top-notch craftsmen to the company. With one of the lowest employee-turnover rates in the industry,
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We were just about to update our calendar with word of a September 4th blood drive at the local Prudential Northwest Realty office (more on that later) when this came in – Puget Sound Blood Center needs help NOW because of the weather: They’ve had to cancel blood drives “scheduled for un-air-conditioned venues” (no donating anywhere it’s 80 degrees or more indoors) and that’s cost them almost 200 donations. Read more about how/where to help.
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN’S WEEKLY SALE DAY: Every Tuesday through the summer, 4:30-7 pm, fresh produce is on sale at 32nd/Juneau (map), grown in the big beautiful “market garden” tended right there. Here’s our story from opening day two weeks ago.
MUSIC AT ALKI PLAYFIELD: Can’t wait until Thursday night for the next installment of the Admiral Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (6:30 pm, Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey)? Get an early fix of outdoor music tonight, 6 pm, Alki Community Center Playfield.
PLAN WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS’ FUTURE: We’ve been talking about this for weeks (here’s last night’s preview) and tonight’s the night. After talking to local neighborhood advocates, we can tell you we are not exaggerating when we say it’s the most important meeting you’ll attend all year. 10 years after the oft-referred “neighborhood plans” for five West Seattle neighborhoods (and Georgetown) were created, are they working? What’s the best course for those neighborhoods’ future? Even if you’re not sure you have anything to say, come to listen, to understand, to support (or even oppose). 6 pm, Delridge Community Center NEW LOCATION: YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER – air-conditioned! (updated 3:23 pm)
BLUE ANGELS’ ARRIVAL: For our fellow fans of the Navy aerial demonstration team that’ll be performing during Seafair (practicing Thursday, shows Friday-Sunday, remember the I-90 bridge closures), #7 arrived Monday (here’s KIRO video) and the other 6 are scheduled to land at Boeing Field this afternoon (2 pm estimate but could be earlier or later) *3:55 pm update, they’re running late, sometime in the next hour to hour and a half…
PASSING WEST SEATTLE’S NORTHERN SHORES TODAY: Another Seafair sight you may see – the U.S. Coast Guard’s first Homeland Security cutter, USCGC Bertholf, is scheduled to arrive today to be part of Fleet Week. (We’re checking with USCG District 13 to see if there’s an approximate time.)
King County mails ballots for the August 18 primary tomorrow. WSB is offering close-up looks — asking the same 3 West Seattle-specific questions — at candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you like lone-wolf councilmember Nick Licata, you might love David Bloom, one of 5 candidates for Position 4, which Jan Drago is leaving to run for mayor.
The progressive community activist — who has advocated on behalf of affordable housing, the homeless and other social issues for 30 years — would add a second vote to stop the Mercer Street revision and instead direct money to neighborhood projects.
He’d let the city’s plans for a streetcar network and the deep-bored tunnel fall by the wayside. He’s also against plans for a new city jail.
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