day : 22/06/2012 12 results

Neighbors launch ‘West Seattle Raingardens’ website as county starts block-by-block bioswale meetings

| Utilities | West Seattle news

This weekend, King County Wastewater Treatment Division will send staffers to Sunrise Heights and Westwood for 29 separate block meetings over the course of two days to discuss details of the plan for “green stormwater infrastructure” to reduce combined-sewer overflows (CSO) downhill – officially known as the Barton CSO Control Project. The schedule and locations are shown here, on a flyer distributed to residents recently to get the word out about the meetings, and listed in this news release. The county says the bioswale project will divert enough rainwater out of the combined-sewer system to reduce the number of overflows into Puget Sound from the Barton Pump Station in Fauntleroy – a reduction required by the state and federal governments.

Meantime, one group of skeptical Sunrise Heights neighbors has launched a website to spotlight their questions and concerns about how the bioswales will affect their neighborhood. We reported their story in March (our report details their concerns about the bioswales); last month, they met with county staffers downtown, at which time they were told these block meetings were in the works. Their new website is westseattleraingardens.com. Its front page exhorts neighbors, “If you have questions or concerns about the Barton CSO project, please don’t remain silent. Silence implies acceptance. Please attend the Open Houses, ask the hard questions and carefully note how your questions are answered – or not.” The site includes a “Take Action” page which links to an online petition asking King County Executive Dow Constantine to stop the project, currently scheduled to start construction next year.

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The WSBeat: From the ‘pigeon drop’ to the crow report

June 22, 2012 8:09 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block (whenever)?”:

*Beware of scammers and the “Pigeon Drop” scheme. If someone approaches you, claims to have inherited money in a foreign country, but needs your help in donating it to a good cause, just say no. On the 7th, a woman was approached at a Westwood Village coffee shop and before the day was done she had driven (with the suspects) to her bank and handed them $20,000 worth of cash and jewelry. Both suspects were described as black females, one with her hair in a “greasy” curly perm who carried a green satchel with three zippers. The other wore purple-framed glasses, a gray leather coat, lots of silver-colored rings and carried a black purse with a circle design.

*In the evening on Saturday the 9th, an alcohol and marijuana-impaired Montana resident was booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault after he yelled profanities at children in a High Point park. When an older child told him to leave them alone, he began yelling at her, screaming nonsense, claiming she was his girlfriend. As the children left the area, the suspect followed them until he was confronted by a parent. He punched the parent in the shoulder. In return, the parent punched him in the face, knocked him down, and called 911.

Six more summaries ahead:Read More

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West Seattle schools: Lafayette’s farewell to Joyce Kuespert

June 22, 2012 7:07 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

During this morning’s end-of-year awards assembly, the Lafayette Elementary community said goodbye to Joyce Kuespert, who attended Lafayette in her childhood and then went on to teach there for more than 31 of her 40 years as a teacher. She will be gone but not forgotten – every year, the school’s best first-grade reader will receive an award named after her. The plaque was displayed during the assembly:

As of this afternoon, school’s out for summer for students at Lafayette and the rest of Seattle Public Schools!

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Morgan Junction Community Festival tomorrow: Rain or shine!

June 22, 2012 4:34 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The sun hasn’t emerged in tomorrow’s forecast YET but we hope you’ll come visit the Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) no matter what kind of weather we wind up with. Cindi Barker from the Morgan Community Association says they have tents for the band stages if necessary, and people with booths at the festival are usually under tents anyway (we’ve got ours ready to go). Prep work is continuing at the site – which includes Morgan Junction Park, the lot behind Zeeks/Feedback (just walk southwest of the park to get there), and Washington Federal across California. Here’s what you need to know:

*The entertainment schedule (mostly live music, but including The Bubbleman at 11:30)

*“Bark of Morgan” dog parade and contests, starting at 2 pm

*Here’s the festival site map – note a Metro RapidRide bus and Seattle Fire truck are both expected. Visit the MoCA info booth in the park (marked on the map) for Bite of Morgan food-sample information/location list/tickets (free but first-come, first-served).

*Festival hours are 10:30 am-7 pm; vendors/exhibitors will likely be closing around 6 pm, so the final hour is mostly just music and unwinding. Stick around Morgan Junction and enjoy the local businesses, many of which are sponsoring the festival – have dinner, and/or drinks, lots of after-partying awaits! P.S. One lunchtime idea – there’ll be a barbecue outside nearby West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), with proceeds benefiting the volunteer-produced, nonprofit festival.

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West Seattle traffic alerts: Next week’s 99 closures

June 22, 2012 3:42 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

WSDOT has just announced next week’s Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 closures:

Tuesday, June 26 – the morning of Friday, June 29 – The southbound SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct will close between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Freeway from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. The on-ramps from Elliott Avenue and Columbia Street to southbound SR 99 also will close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly.

Friday, June 29 – morning of Sunday, July 1 – The southbound SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct will close between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Freeway from 11 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Sunday.

As we’ve been doing, we’ll meld these with the Spokane Street Viaduct closures for next week (announced by SDOT yesterday) to create one ongoing list we can permalink from the sidebar here – we’ll add that all-in-one, day-by-day/night-by-night link here when it’s ready.

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West Seattle businesses: Jefferson Square Kits Cameras closes

June 22, 2012 3:18 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The Kits Cameras store at Jefferson Square has gone out of business. After a texted tip (thanks!) we went over to investigate and found a sign on the door, saying yesterday was its last day in operation.

Court documents available online indicate that its parent company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (We’ve sent an inquiry to corporate PR, but haven’t heard back.) As the door sign says, if you have photo prints or camera repairs you were expecting to pick up at this shop, you should instead contact Cameras West downtown, 206-628-0066.

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West Seattle ‘police dogs’ gain fame via Facebook

June 22, 2012 1:37 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

If you follow the WSB Facebook page and/or the Seattle Police Department Facebook page, you’ve probably seen the photo of those 2 Bichon Frises already today, but in case you don’t, we’re sharing it here too. SPD put it on FB in honor of Take Your Dog To Work Day; we shared it on the WSB FB page, without having any clue at the time that the dogs – as we were informed a while later – are West Seattleites! We’ve also heard the photo was shown on NBC’s Today show this morning and is expected to reappear in an NBC News Take Your Dog To Work Day photo feature.

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Design Review for 3829 California next week: See the proposal now

June 22, 2012 12:45 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Next Thursday night, the Southwest Design Review Board considers a three-story, 30-unit apartment building proposed for 3829 California SW (map), currently home to one-story multiplexes (as shown in our original report from June 5). The proposal’s graphics/background “packet” is now available via the city website. Since this is an Early Design Guidance meeting, the image above, taken from the packet, is NOT a final design proposal, but rather roughed out for “massing” – size/shape. Here’s how the packet describes the project:

The proposed development will create an urban infill apartment building with partially underground parking under the structure. Basement level provide parking for 20 cars and garbage and bike storage.

The ground level of the preferred scheme consists of a residential lobby and eight residential units with a variety of studio, one, and two bedroom units. The apartment service and utility area is located on this level.

The second and third floors house 11 residences each, with a mix of studios and one bedroom units.

The roof of the building will be accessible and act as an amenity space for tenants with opportunities for entertaining, community gardening and relaxation.

Parking is required for this project, as it does not fall within a frequent transit corridor nor an urban village overlay. One space is provided per unit via underground and surface parking, both accessed from the alley.

The Design Review meeting is scheduled for 6:30 next Thursday (June 28) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction). As always, the meeting’s open to all and includes a public-comment period – as long as the comments focus on design issues – after the architects have made their presentation and been quizzed by the board members.

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Cove Park closed as Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project revs up

June 22, 2012 11:59 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Fauntleroy | Utilities | West Seattle news

Down the driveway from the fence in our photo’s foreground, Cove Park north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock is now closed for about two years of construction work, as King County starts major work on the $24 million Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project. That includes site preparation – removing Cove Park’s artwork “for safe storage,” relocating the beach driftwood, and putting up a safety fence. (The park is to be restored after the project, following extensive talks with the Fauntleroy Community Association.) The county says work hours generally will run 7 am-5:30 pm. But they are NOT anticipating ferry-lane closures during this initial phase. Once the project is done, the pump station’s capacity will be 50 percent more than it is now, with all-new equipment, including an emergency generator.

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Another long-distance charity bicycle ride for West Seattle boy, dad

June 22, 2012 9:58 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

In the photo with Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor), you might recognize Cal Prinster and dad Gordon Prinster, who stopped by ABB Thursday to pick up “the last couple things” for their next adventure. Last summer, they shared the news here as they wrapped up a 1,732-mile bike trip to the Mexican border, raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Tomorrow, Cal and dad head out on another bicycle odyssey – this time, aiming to reach New York City by summer’s end! Here’s a one-minute preview produced by Cal (who’s going into 7th grade at Madison Middle School next year), showing their planned route:

We asked Gordon if they’re having any kind of sendoff. He says no – “We’ll just quietly roll out into the rain Saturday.”

TO DONATE: Go to this page on the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation site – and be sure to enter “Cal Prinster” as the “honoree” so PBTF will know he inspired you!

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West Seattle Friday: Happy last day of school!

June 22, 2012 8:13 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Baby eagle in the Duwamish Head Greenbelt, photographed this week by Kathy Weitz)
We know many independent-school students in West Seattle are already out – but today is the long-awaited final day for Seattle Public Schools students, so we wish them and their families “happy summer!” Here are other highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY: That’s what AmericanWest Bank in The Junction is celebrating today, with free refreshments 11 am-2 pm at their branch (41st/Alaska) and a food truck on site if you’re interested in buying lunch there (Raney Brothers BBQ).

WORLD HARMONY RUN AT THE MOUNT: At 2 pm, the World Harmony Run Torch visits Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW).

LIVE MUSIC: Pat Smith at 3 pm at Bridge Park (3204 SW Morgan), RSVP requested … “Bobcat Bob” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 6-8 pm (5612 California SW) … Jazz singer Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW), 8-10 pm … Sightseer, Lush Tones, and More of Anything at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm … Jason Sees at the Heartland Café‘s Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), 9 pm … The Dolly Rottens and Death’s Three Daughters at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW) at 9:30 pm …

SATIRICAL SONGS: That’s what you can expect at “Live from the Starving Ear” with Roy Zimmerman tonight at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm.

SUNSET NATURE WALK: Naturalist Stewart Wechsler leads a Lincoln Park walk to commemorate the “latest sunset of the year,” meet at 8:45 pm; details on his website.

FYI – BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS’ PARTY: If you see police around the VFW Hall in The Triangle, don’t worry, it’s actually a happy occasion – they might be stopping in to say hello to the Block Watch captains of West Seattle, whose first-ever Appreciation Party, organized by the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network (with co-sponsors including WSB), is happening there tonight, including dinner and dancing.

FYI – ROTARY INSTALLATION BANQUET: That’s the big event at The Hall at Fauntleroy tonight, 6-9 pm, as the Rotarians celebrate outgoing president Sue Lindblom and incoming president Andy Horner.

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Video: The Kenney bids CEO Kevin McFeely farewell

June 22, 2012 7:59 am

| Comments Off on Video: The Kenney bids CEO Kevin McFeely farewell

| The Kenney | West Seattle news

Students, teachers, and school staffers aren’t the only ones marking farewells as this week comes to an end. Thursday afternoon at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), a reception honored departing CEO Kevin McFeely, who’s leaving after 9 years to run The Hearthstone in Green Lake (as reported here a month ago). Among those offering tributes at the celebration, marketing director Karmen Hudson: