Metro riders: 2 rounds of changes coming up in October
If you ride Metro buses, two events coming up next month may affect the way you get around. Many are wondering how the October 21st-31st Alaskan Way Viaduct closure will affect routes between West Seattle and downtown, and while Metro is working on that, they also want to be sure you keep your eyes on the upcoming October 1st “service change,” just a week and a half away.
One big change will be, as reported here recently, trips will be added to Route 54, which Metro says will mean they’re “increasing frequency from 30 minutes to every 15 minutes during weekday, midday, and Saturdays to match the existing 15-minute service now offered during weekday commute periods. This is a similar level of service that will operate to and from West Seattle when the RapidRide C Line debuts a year from now.” Three other routes with Viaduct connections will get added trips in the October 1st service change – 18 Express, 120, and 358. Then, there are the reroutes on 10 routes, some serving West Seattle, that will start October 1st and last for at least four years, as well as temporary reroutes for that Viaduct closure:
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Building West Seattle’s newest P-Patch: Every little bit helps
(Photo courtesy Barton Street P-Patch)
The “web” continues to take shape at West Seattle’s newest P-Patch (Barton/34th), but unlike spider webs, this is no solo effort – it takes a community of gardeners and helpers, and Terri Lindow sends word they’re looking for more assistance, even in simple ways:
The Barton Street PPatch is seeking more community to help build our community
garden! If you are interested in learning to build mortar and reclaimed chain link walls (a family-friendly “mud pie” activity), want to swing a sledgehammer, spend some quality time with a wheelbarrow and some wood chips, or would like to provide snacks for our workers, you are invited to stop by. Over the next 6 weeks we’ll be holding work parties Saturdays 9:30-3 pm and Sundays 11-3 pm. All are welcome!
For more about the Barton Street P-Patch’s progress, check out their Facebook group. There’s also info on the city Department of Neighborhoods website, where Barton is P-Patch #85.
Pencil this in – in front of Potter Construction: New sculpture
(Photo courtesy Potter Construction)
The giant pencil on that truck is a West Seattle-based artist’s sculpture with the “write” stuff, and tomorrow, it’s scheduled to get a new home, in front of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). Here’s the announcement:
At 9 AM on Tuesday, September 20, West Seattle business owner Gary Potter of Potter Construction will begin installation of a larger-than-life sculpture of a yellow pencil on California Ave. SW. The 13.5-foot sculpture is to be installed on the street-side facade of Potter Construction’s main office at 5606 California Ave. SW. Beyond a visible way to display Potter Construction’s inspired knowledge and experience in the art of home remodeling, Potter sees this as an opportunity to be on the cutting edge of community art projects that have a positive effect on West Seattle neighborhoods.
This playful facsimile of an everyday pencil with its bright pink eraser is the creative collaboration of Rock Brothers, under the direction of artist and West Seattle resident Stephen Rock. The sculpture is made from one solid log and was hand-tooled by the three brothers on a very large lathe in their workshop in Ellensburg, WA. The colorful, hand-painted pencil was first seen as part of a larger Rock Brothers’ sculpture titled “Brush Pile” in a juried outdoor exhibit at Cal Anderson Park in 2010. This installation of multiple large-scale paintbrushes, pens, and pencils was part of MadArt in the Park’s mission to “bring art into our lives in unexpected ways and to create community involvement in the arts.”
Beginning tomorrow, every visitor and passerby of Potter Construction’s office at 5606 California Ave SW will experience this blend of joyful art with Potter Construction’s inspired commitment to enlivening everyday lives.
You can scroll down this page to see how the giant pencil was used in the aforementioned “Brush Pile” installation.
West Seattle road work: Avalon Way to get ‘spot paving’ too
SDOT was already planning to be over here doing “spot paving” on California SW in the block south of SW Edmunds tomorrow and Wednesday (as reported here). Now comes word that SW Avalon Way will follow, between 35th SW and SW Spokane (map), on Thursday and Friday, 9 am-5 pm, weather permitting. SDOT’s announcement says, “One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open. Bicycles will merge with general traffic within work zones. All sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open.”
Advisory committee chosen to review tunnel-tolling scenarios
It’s a popular question: So when the Highway 99 tunnel opens, how much will the toll be? That has yet to be decided – but the City Council has just appointed 15 “community representatives” to an Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management for the future Alaskan Way Viaduct Central Waterfront replacement. Here’s the official announcement, with the list of appointees. They’re tasked with working with the city and state “to review potential traffic impacts on city streets and I-5 for different tolling scenarios for the SR 99 tunnel; explore ways to refine tolling strategies to meet state funding goals and minimize diversion; and also investigate strategies to reduce or mitigate diversion.” They’re supposed to come up with “preliminary tolling and traffic recommendations” by the end of next year.
Caution, work zone ahead: Sewer work in Beach Drive area
Heads-up in the north Beach Drive area Wednesday and Thursday. From King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division:
On Sept. 21, crews with King County’s clean-water utility will begin a two-day project to replace corroded equipment inside a sewer structure on Southwest Spokane Street between Beach Drive Southwest and 62nd Avenue Southwest [map].
For safety reasons, the work is scheduled between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when system flows are lowest. Though most work will take place below ground, neighbors might experience noise and glare associated with construction vehicles and generators. During work hours, traffic will be reduced to one lane of local access on Southwest Spokane Street. Flaggers will be on site to assist drivers.
It’s possible some work may need to occur during daytime hours on Sept. 26. People with questions can contact Heidi Sowell, King County Wastewater Treatment Division community services planner at Heidi.Sowell@kingcounty.gov or 206-684-1207 or 711 TTY.
West Seattle mom leads #Ask5for5 to fight African food crisis
(Photo by Mike Fiechtner)
Sarah Lenssen of Seaview is mom to three kids, two of whom are from Ethiopia. This week – to help save the lives of starving children in their homeland and other food-crisis-ravaged nations in the Horn of Africa – her #Ask5for5 campaign is being spotlighted on dozens of websites. Sarah explains that #Ask5for5 is “simple: anyone who wants to participate gives $5 and then asks 5 friends to give $5 and they each ask 5 more friends to give $5. So far 754 people have donated over $23,000 for victims of the drought and famine. 100% of the funds multiplied up to 5 times by government grants and are being administered by local organization World Vision in the Horn for relief efforts.” She started it about a month ago, and then sought other online writers to feature it during Social Media Week, which kicked off today. If you have a website and are willing to feature Sarah’s ready-to-publish “guest post” about #Ask5for5 – you can see it here, including contact information. And/or, if you would like to donate, you can do that here.
West Seattle Monday: Welcome to the final days of summer
(Photo by Justin Atwell from Saturday’s Delridge Skatepark grand opening; WSB coverage here)
Summer’s making a comeback this week, we hear (forecast and lots more on the new experimental WSB Weather page), right before fall arrives. Meantime, here’s what’s up tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page:
LIBRARY EVENTS RESUME: This is the first full week of Seattle Public Library branches’ regular weekly events, after a small break that followed the weeklong furlough. Today: 2 pm, Southwest Library‘s Afternoon Book Group (reading Evelyn Waugh‘s “Brideshead Revisited”; 7 pm, High Point Library, family story time.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: This club for people who enjoy cooking meets 2:30 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Bring your creation with the ingredient of the week: Seasonal fruit.
ADMIRAL BUSINESSES’ MEETING: Business owner/merchant in the Admiral District? Reminder that today’s the meeting with Admiral Neighborhood Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 4 pm refreshments and 4:30 pm meeting, Porterhouse.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE TALKS ECONOMICS: Think outside the economic box; come be part of Sustainable West Seattle‘s community forum on alternatives to growth economics, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7 pm – full details here.
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATION: Meets 8-9:30 p.m at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor). Topic: Nutrition, with Carol Cartnell from the city of Seattle. From the invitation: “You might like to come with an idea that you have on ways to get kids to try new foods, incorporating cooking into the classroom, or balanced-meal/portion-size strategies. Come and share an evening with other preschool educators; we hope to see you there!”
This Friday is your last chance to nominate someone for the 
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