day : 03/12/2012 10 results

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

New life is ahead for three old homes near Westwood Village.

Instead of being torn down to make way for townhouses or apartments – or big new homes – they will be transformed into three new/almost-new, modestly sized, energy-efficient homes, as part of a program financed by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

We visited the site a few days ago, as the owners/builders – Green Canopy Homes – and WSHFC reps met the neighbors to explain the project :

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Seal Sitters among 5 West Seattle groups receiving city grants

December 3, 2012 8:11 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
That’s Sweet Pea the seal pup, who Seal Sitters kept watch over at Lincoln Park last week – amid recurring problems with off-leash dogs (read the story on Seal Sitters’ site here). The all-volunteer group formally got some good news today – when the city Department of Neighborhoods officially announced the latest round of city grants to community groups, they included a $15,000 “Small and Simple” city grant for an educational program designating 2013 the “Year of the Seal,” culminating in a Harbor Seal Day event with the unveiling of a sculpture at Alki depicting a mom and pup (briefly mentioned at October’s Southwest District Council meeting).

The city’s announcement also included, from the Small and Simple Fund, $20,000 for the Nature Consortium to bring back the Arts in Nature Festival next year (with a $60,000 community match), $20,000 for the High Point Commons Park P-Patch to add “an educational beehive enclosure (apiary) and pollination garden” (with a $28,000 community match), and $5,600 for restoration in Schmitz Park Preserve where help is needed beyond what volunteers can do.

From the Large Projects Fund, $52,200 is being awarded to the North Delridge Neighborhood Council for the Dakota Street End project to enhance Longfellow Creek access, with a $62,000 community match.

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West Seattle trees: Jacobsen Road removal; Seaview arrival

December 3, 2012 4:29 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Environment | Safety | West Seattle news

In case you missed the Seattle Parks announcement on Friday – tree removal is under way along Jacobsen Road (uphill from Beach Drive); Parks says more than 20 alder trees that are in bad shape are being taken down by contractor Asplundh. En route to check on that work, we happened onto another area where trees were being planted:

That was the scene along SW Graham in Seaview this afternoon – not far from the neighborhood project mentioned here back in October; we’re checking to see if it’s related.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two close calls, plus, gift stolen

December 3, 2012 2:19 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon. The first one may not be connected to a crime, but police were called – as they ask residents to do when something suspicious is happening NOW – reports Jason, who wanted to get the word out fast:

My partner was just out walking our dogs and was followed about 30 feet back by a Pacific Islander male, in his mid-30’s, around 5’7″, bald, black hoodie, baggy jeans, scruffy facial hair. He followed him around the block and would stop around corners and trees just to follow again as soon as my partner started walking. This was in the area of Henderson and 20th. He was last seen walking along Henderson. Police are sending a car out to look around.

Ahead – another close call, and a case of package theft:Read More

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School crowding: District sets meeting to discuss short-term plan

December 3, 2012 1:50 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Since it’ll take a few years for the BEX IV levy projects to kick in – providing voters approve the measure next February – Seattle Public Schools is working on a “what to do about school crowding BEFORE then” plan. They’ve just announced a community meeting on the topic for one week from tomorrow, December 11th at district HQ in SODO:

Enrollment is growing at Seattle Public Schools, with almost 50,000 students this year. Projections show continued year-to-year increases in enrollment for the next five years, with an enrollment of more than 57,000 students by the 2021-22 school year, if current trends continue.

While the School Board approved a list of projects that would be funded if the Building Excellence (BEX IV) levy is approved by voters in February, tax payments will not start before 2014.

In the meantime, the District is developing a Short Term Capacity Management Plan, which will outline recommended changes to schools to ensure the District has enough seats to meet enrollment next fall. This plan will likely include some minor renovations and could add portable classrooms for next year.

The District invites the public to learn about the latest recommendations at a community meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions. District leadership continues to meet with school communities in each region.

In addition, the Seattle School Board will hold a Work Session Wednesday, Dec. 5 to study both the Short Term Capacity Management Plan and the New Student Assignment Plan (NSAP) Transition Plan for the 2013-14 school year.

Both issues are scheduled to be introduced at the Jan. 9, 2013 School Board meeting, with board action on both short-term capacity management and NSAP Transition Plan scheduled for the Jan. 23, 2013 board meeting.

The district has two webpages you can check for more information on these topics: BEX IV here, Capacity Management here.

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Marriage, marijuana, charter schools: How West Seattle voted

December 3, 2012 12:15 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

With final election results certified last week, analysts are digging deep into the official numbers. Our partners at The Seattle Times have drawn up maps showing how the vote went on three key ballot measures – marriage equality, marijuana, and charter schools. With permission, we’ve excerpted the West Seattle views – for marriage Referendum 74 (approved with a 7-point margin statewide), above, and marijuana Initiative 502 (approved with an 11-point margin statewide), below, dark green meant 60 percent or more voted to approve, light green meant 50 to 60 percent, and as you can see, both measures were very popular in West Seattle. (Click any image to get the full zoomable regional view as a PDF.)

For charter-schools Initiative 1240, below this paragraph, which passed by one percentage point statewide, West Seattle was mostly against it – dark red meant 60 percent or more voting no, pink is a 50-60 no vote, and the shades of green are the same “yes” percentages as the above two measures:

The Times also did a map for the governor’s race – click here to see it (PDF). And they have four separate updates analyzing the regional vote in these issues/races, on their Politics Northwest page. And if you want to check out the numbers in as-granular-as-it-gets form, the local precinct breakouts are available via the King County Elections website.

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Orcas pass this way, northbound

December 3, 2012 10:31 am

| 18 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Added: Photo by Mike Scharer)
FIRST REPORT, 10:31 AM: According to a post on the Orca Network‘s Facebook wall, orcas were off Maury Island as of less than an hour ago, headed northbound – which means, headed this way. Let us know if you see them; we’ll be on the lookout too.

(Added: This photo and next one by Gary Jones, as orcas passed Alki Point)
11:49 AM UPDATE: Shirley just posted a comment from The Arroyos saying they’re visible but very close to the Vashon side. So – if you have good binoculars (or find Donna from The Whale Trail – she has extras) – you may be able to see them from Lincoln Park, Beach Drive, etc. soon.

1:23 PM UPDATE: Donna called a few minutes ago to say there were two groups, one off north Vashon, one passing Blake Island. Commenters are seeing them too, including Gary Jones seeing some near Alki Point. For our part, we just came back from a shore check from the point to Jacobsen Road, and apparently just missed them.

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Christmas Ship heads to West Seattle, with big Alki party

December 3, 2012 10:12 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

(Christmas Ship setting sail one night in 2009, by Michelle Edwards)
A big highlight of the holiday season is just days away: The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival (WSB sponsor) drops anchor off West Seattle shores this Friday and (twice) Saturday. Its first stop is 9:15 pm Friday at Don Armeni Boat Ramp; then on Saturday, 4:35 pm at Lowman Beach Park, and 5:25 pm at Alki Beach (Bathhouse vicinity). Every stop is festive, but the Alki visit will include a major celebration onshore, starting more than an hour before the Christmas Ship and its fleet arrive. The Alki Advisory Council, the citywide ARC, and Seattle Parks are sponsoring a 4-6:30 pm celebration with choirs, caroling, hot drinks, and pastries at the Alki Bathhouse. Besides the singers onboard the Christmas Ship itself – scheduled to be the Dickens Carolers for all three West Seattle stops Friday/Saturday – you will also see and hear the Endolyne Children’s Choir (featured in our video coverage of this past Saturday night’s Junction Tree Lighting), the Seattle Lutheran High School Band, the Seattle Women’s Chorus, and the Hope Lutheran Church Band. Everybody welcome!

SIDE NOTE: If you want to see – and/or ride aboard – the Christmas Ship the rest of the season, the schedule has a multitude of options; see it here.

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West Seattle Monday: Schools, ferries, Hi-Yu, and – broccoli

December 3, 2012 8:10 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo added 9:28 am: Admiral District decorations are up!)
Welcome to the first work/school week of December. Fairly quiet on the calendar for today/tonight, as we all recover from the first major weekend of holiday events, but here are a few highlights:

MONDAY ARTISTS: Watercolorists welcome – from beginners to experts – to this group that meets weekly, 9:30-noon, at Island View Apartments (across from West Seattle High School). Details in the calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: Today’s ingredient – bring a dish made with it – is broccoli. 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); club info here.

TALK TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD: West Seattle/South Park school-board director Marty McLaren‘s next community-conversation meeting is tonight, 6 pm, at High Point Neighborhood Center (6400 Sylvan Way).

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Big weekend for the Junior Court and Hi-Yu volunteers, at the West Seattle Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, Junction Tree Lighting, and Hometown Holidays Sunday – and tonight all are welcome to the Hi-Yu Holiday Open House meeting, 6:30 pm at St. John the Baptist Church Hall (California/Hanford), with float designs on the agenda.

COMMUNITY MEETING FOR FAUNTLEROY-VASHON-SOUTHWORTH FERRY ROUTE: It’s on the other side of the Sound, but if you have concerns/issues/questions, it’s the place to be, 6 pm in Port Orchard. Topics include King County’s Barton Pump Station expansion project and its effects on the neighboring ferry dock. Details, map, agenda, here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First Monday in December

December 3, 2012 6:52 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:52 AM: Watch out for standing water! That’s the big commute advice this morning. And a reminder for those who travel to/through the Fauntleroy ferry-dock area – today is the scheduled start of at least two weeks with the north tollbooth and lane closed, as announced last week.

7:02 AM UPDATE: If you get on northbound 509/99 from just east of West Seattle, WSDOT reports a crash is partly blocking the ramp from Cloverdale.

7:26 AM UPDATE: That problem is easing. This next one may not affect you since it’s south of the West Seattle Bridge, but it’s a picture you have to see to believe …

Can’t make this up…shopping cart blocking the right lane of SB I-5 before the W. Sea. Freeway. twitpic.com/birixe

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) December 3, 2012

8:07 AM NOTE: Reminder that Jacobsen Road is expected to have tree-cutting crews at work starting today, per this announcement from Seattle Parks last week.

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