day : 05/11/2013 12 results

The election results aren’t going to change, so we’re moving on to a few other things – like this photo texted tonight by John M, two salmon he reports spotting in Longfellow Creek, near Dragonfly Pavilion. Longfellow is tougher on salmon than Fauntleroy Creek (which hasn’t seen spawners yet this fall), but there’s always hope – and it’s a reminder about doing what you can to minimize toxic runoff.

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: John has sent two video clips – we’ll work on embedding them later, but for now, here are links to these fairly short clips (which might help with the ID questions that have come up in comments) – here and here. (The end of the second clip shows one fish’s full colors.)

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Election 2013 update: Ed Murray leads for Seattle Mayor; incumbents lead in City Council results

November 5, 2013 8:09 pm

| 33 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Though this was published Tuesday night, you can still get the NEWEST results at any point afterward, by clicking the headline for each race*

(ADDED – KIRO-TV raw video of Ed Murray’s speech after 1st round of results)
UPDATE, 8:15 PM: The first numbers are in. Ed Murray has a big lead in the Seattle Mayor’s race; incumbents are leading in the City Council races. Results below.

UPDATE, 8:30 PM: Citywide reporters say Mayor McGinn is conceding. (Or something similar to it.)

SEATTLE MAYOR
Mike McGinn 43 percent
Ed Murray 56 percent

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 2
Richard Conlin 54 percent
Kshama Sawant 46 percent

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 4
Sally Bagshaw 83 percent
Sam Bellomio 16 percent

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 6
Edwin Fruit 12 percent
Nick Licata 87 percent

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 8
Mike O’Brien 64 percent
Albert Shen 35 percent

Next round of results, Wednesday around 4:30 pm. See separate WSB stories for other results.

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Election 2013 ballot measures: Seattle council districts winning; I-522 losing; more

November 5, 2013 8:08 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Though this was published Tuesday night, you can still get the NEWEST results at any point afterward, by clicking the headline for each race*

8:24 PM UPDATE: Here’s where we’re tracking key ballot measures. Though King County only updates once tonight, the state numbers on I-522 will change throughout the night as multiple counties come in, so we’ll update those as long as they keep changing.

STATE INITIATIVE 522 (GMO labels on food) – 9:02 pm update
Yes 45 percent
No 55 percent

STATE INITIATIVE 517 (changing initiative procedures) – 9:02 pm update
Yes 40 percent
No 60 percent

Other state-ballot-measure/advisory-vote results are linked here

SEATTLE CHARTER AMENDMENT 19 (electing councilmembers by district)
Yes 64 percent
No 36 percent

SEATTLE PROPOSITION 1 (public campaign financing)
Yes 46 percent
No 54 percent

KING COUNTY PROPOSITION 1 (Medic One)
Approve 83 percent
Reject 17 percent

KING COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENT 1 (Office of Public Defense)
Approve 59 percent
Reject 41 percent

Also of interest:

SEA-TAC PROPOSITION 1 ($15 minimum wage)
Yes 54 percent
No 46 percent

Other results from around King County and its cities and other jurisdictions are here – or, in a quick all-in-text page, here.

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Election 2013: County Executive, Seattle School Board, Port Commission results

November 5, 2013 8:07 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

*EDITOR’S NOTE: While this was published Tuesday night, you can still get the NEWEST results at any point afterward, by clicking the headline for each race*

8:39 PM UPDATE: We’re adding numbers to this story now; meantime, the headline for each race links to its designated results page on the King County Elections website:

KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Dow Constantine 78 percent
Alan Lobdell 22 percent

*Note: This is the largest victory margin ever for a County Executive, reports Constantine, who tweeted:

I thank the voters for their overwhelming endorsement of our work to reform KC government and put it back on sound financial footing. -DC

— Dow Constantine (@kcexec) November 6, 2013

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD POSITION 4
Suzanne Dale Estey 48 percent
Sue Peters 51 percent

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD POSITION 5
Stephan Blanford 88 percent
LaCrese Green 12 percent

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 1
John Creighton 69 percent
Pete Lewis 31 percent

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 2
Courtney Gregoire 83 percent
John Naubert 17 percent

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 3
Stephanie Bowman 70 percent
Michael Wolfe 29 percent

SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION POSITION 4
Tom Albro 58 percent
Richard Pope 42 percent

After tonight’s one batch of King County results, the next one isn’t due out until late Wednesday afternoon.

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West Seattle biznews: About those Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real-estate shingles you’re seeing

November 5, 2013 8:04 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A new name started turning up today on a whole lot of real-estate shingles around West Seattle (and elsewhere). It’s the name you see on the signage with which we photographed Mike Gain today – a year and a half after his company Prudential Northwest Realty announced it had been bought by an entity affiliated with tycoon Warren Buffett. Now, it has a new name, described as “inspired” by that affiliation: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate. The change was celebrated at a company gathering at the Museum of Flight, where we found local agents including (below, from left) Travis Duty, Sean Jolly, Sonya Wind, Jeralee Knittel, and Steven Henke:

Gain is president/CEO of the newly rechristened company, which includes more than 350 agents working from six offices, in West Seattle as well as Burien, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, and Lynnwood, and is a WSB sponsor.

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Will legislators pass transportation package this time? Special session starts Thursday

November 5, 2013 5:23 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

State legislators get another chance to make transportation-money moves that could keep Metro Transit from slashing service as threatened. They’re going back for a special session on Thursday, as ordered today by Gov. Inslee. Main purpose: To pass incentives for Boeing to build the 777X here. And a transportation package is listed as one of the “elements” of those incentives. The State House passed a transportation-funding package last session; the State Senate held it up. Local leaders are voicing their hopes it’ll go through this time; via Facebook, County Councilmember Joe McDermott (a former state senator) says, “I implore the Legislature to find a compromise during the upcoming special session and avert this catastrophe.”

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Traffic alert: Full details of this weekend’s 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct (and beyond) closures

November 5, 2013 3:38 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

South Atlantic Street overpass visualization

(SDOT rendering of future South Atlantic St. overpass, via Flickr)
We’ve already mentioned this weekend’s planned Highway 99 closure, mostly for work on the Atlantic Street Overpass – but there’s more to it than The Viaduct. Here’s a detailed reminder from WSDOT, including details of a partial closure north of the Battery Street Tunnel:

Crews working above, below and on the ground will close State Route 99 through Seattle this weekend.

In SODO, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will unveil the permanent concrete shape of the South Atlantic Street overpass above SR 99 by removing temporary steel and timber beams that supported construction.

North of downtown, contractor crews working for the Seattle Department of Transportation will install a sewer line under the road for the Mercer Corridor project and grind the pavement in the southbound lanes of the Battery Street Tunnel.

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West Seattle coyotes: Camp Long event to explain how ‘we humans can learn to live with them’; plus, 2 sightings

November 5, 2013 2:09 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Unless you’re a brand-new WSB reader, you likely know we have been sharing coyote reports and information here for more than five years (all archived here, newest to oldest). If you have questions – or are just curious to find out more about them – mark your calendar for an event next week at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center (not far from where Mark Wangerin photographed the one shown above, this time last year). Here’s the announcement:

Coyotes live in our neighborhoods and we humans can learn to live with them. Camp Long and the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife team up to give tips and insight into co-existing safely with these wild dogs. Learn how they live and how humans can avoid and resolve conflict with them.

Camp Long Lodge (5200 35th SW)
Wednesday, November 13th
7 PM to 8:30 PM
FREE

SIDE NOTE – RECENT SIGHTINGS: Before receiving this announcement, we had two sightings in queue for publication, so we’ll mention them here:

*This morning, Jason reported: “Saw a fairly large coyote last night, around 8 pm, at 50th ave and Dawson St in Seaview. He ran into an alley between Dawson and Hudson, and 50th and 51st.”

*From Melissa yesterday, “Just had a coyote head up the hill here on Othello, heading up to Riverview Park. And in the time it took me to type that, it just came back down the street. Couldn’t get a picture. It was moving pretty fast. I don’t think it’s full grown, since it isn’t as big as the last one I saw.”

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West Seattle restaurants: Opening day at Redline WS

November 5, 2013 11:52 am

| 31 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

One week after our sneak peek inside sports bar/restaurant Redline WS, it’s officially open as of today. We stopped by for a photo a short time ago, after getting word they’re ready for customers. Here’s manager Chris Ramsey with the beer taps:

They’re open 11 am-2 am for starters; the menu is now online. You’ll find Redline WS on the ground floor of The Residences at 3295, on the southeast corner of 35th/Avalon, with some parking available in the building’s garage.

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West Seattle Elementary School success: ‘How did this happen? Not overnight’

November 5, 2013 10:59 am

| 26 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

When you think of scores and schools – you might think of sports. We certainly hear about those numbers far more often than on the ones that come from the classroom. So we were glad to hear from West Seattle Elementary School in High Point, excited to share the news of its ongoing academic success. The following is by WSES Ritchie Garcia:

West Seattle Elementary has had a dramatic turnaround of student performance on state exams since 2010. Over the last four years, science scores have increased from 3% to 70% passing rate.

Fourth- and fifth-grade reading scores went from 41 percent and 32 percent, respectively, to 70 percent and 73 percent passing rate.

Students have made significant progress in math as well:

We have a diverse population at our school as well as 90 percent of students receiving free and reduced lunch. Our success is significant because we are an achievement gap school that is making a difference for its students. Walking through the hallways in the building, you’ll see classrooms full of students completely engaged in learning and enjoying the school day.

How did this happen? Not overnight, would be the best response. Four years ago, West Seattle Elementary received a Race to the Top grant and experienced a restructuring of staff and administration.

Unlike a charter school that can create a new school culture overnight with its bylaws and self-selecting parents who agree to adhere to that school culture, it takes time (sometimes several years) to change the culture of an existing school. To change a culture, it has to be school-wide and requires strong leadership and partnership with the community, which is why there can be schools with great teachers and low-performing students. It takes a vision and intentional effort to redefine the culture of a school.

I have seen many public schools in affluent neighborhoods raise thousands of dollars through their community to procure materials, hire more teachers, etc.; that amount of fundraising makes it hard to communicate to students in impoverished areas that we are either a meritocracy or there is equity in the public school system. We can help bring some equity to our school by raising money through donations that help build capacity.

How did West Seattle attain success? Some teaching staff stayed throughout the four years and some have moved on. What has been consistent throughout is the leadership in the building and an implementation of systems school-wide. We do not teach a scripted curriculum nor to the test, but we do teach to meet state and common core national standards.

It is not all about increasing test scores, either. In K-2, teachers have instilled a passion for learning, and have taught students the roles and responsibilities of being a student as well as meeting learning standards. More students are arriving in the upper grades inquisitive and enjoying the learning process making it easier for all students to succeed. Many schools have great teachers but it takes more than just great teachers to change a culture or climate. It takes time.

Because we are a green school in an urban area and have made significant academic gains, we have been given an opportunity for our population of students to participate in a science field experience at Islandwood, with our students learning from scientists while conducting their own investigations as well as create a service learning project with Nature consortium. This is a learning experience in which students of low socio-economic status rarely get to partake.

WSES is crowdfunding to make sure the Islandwood experience can happen, as mentioned in our recent roundup of school fundraisers in our area (another one’s in the works, by the way). Here’s the link.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Election Day; keeping kids safe; WWRHAH

November 5, 2013 9:13 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Flicker photographed by Danny McMillin during Saturday’s windstorm, persevering at suet feeder)
Busy Tuesday – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

ELECTION DAY! Last chance to vote. King County ballot-dropoff vans are at West Seattle Stadium (4332 35th SW) and Greenbridge in White Center (9720 8th SW) 10 am-8 pm.

(Photo added 11:20 am – Tracy & Donnie @ Greenbridge ballot-dropoff van)
You can also get your ballot into postal mail, but if you do that, be sure it has a stamp (which isn’t needed if you drop it off at a van or one of the fixed dropboxes around the county). As usual, one round of results is expected after voting ends, usually about 8:15 pm, and we’ll publish highlights here on WSB immediately. P.S. We’ve heard so far from one venue promising election coverage on the big screen – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor); calendar listing here.

FASHION SHOW/LUNCH: 11:45 am, have lunch at the Senior Center of West Seattle and see the newest fashions from Chico’s. RSVP – info’s in the calendar listing. (California/Oregon)

FREE HIP-HOP CLASS FOR KIDS – 3 CHANCES TONIGHT! Kids 6-12 are invited to a free hip-hop class at any of three times, at two city-run community centers in West Seattle this evening – 5 pm at Delridge CC (4501 Delridge Way SW), 6 pm at Hiawatha CC (2700 California SW), 7 pm back at Delridge CC.

SAFETY INFO FOR FAMILIES: Tonight’s the special presentation at Hope Lutheran School, organized after recent incidents left many local families worried about kids’ safety and how to talk with them without leaving them more fearful than knowledgeable. 6:30-8 pm including Q/A time. The school is adjacent to the church. (42nd/Oregon)

WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm, it’s the monthly meeting of WWRHAH, with this agenda as shared by chair Amanda Kay Helmick:

6:15-6:20: Introductions & Community News
6:20-6:25: Infrastructure Committee Update: Update from Committee Leader, Chris Stripinis.
6:25-6:35: WSTC: Vote/motion to endorse the work of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition by WWRHAH.

6:35-7:10: Roxhill Park Enhancements: Brainstorming session of ideas to improve and enhance Roxhill Park with future grants, along with Seattle Parks & the Friends of Roxhill to advise on what may or may not be feasible.

7:10-7:40: Roxhill Park & Westwood Village safety. What can be improved in that regard? With Seattle Parks, the Friends of Roxhill, Daystar Retirement Village, Andy Thompson; Assistant General Manager of Westwood Village, and Officer Flores of the SPD SW Precinct’s Community Policing Team.

RESCHEDULED INTERACT CLUB KICKOFF: Last week’s meeting had an emergency last-minute postponement so it’s on for 6:30 pm tonight at Southwest Youth and Family Services; here’s our original preview. (Delridge/Alaska)

ZONING EXCEPTIONS FOR NEW SCHOOL AT GENESEE HILL? The committee convened to consider “departures” – zoning exceptions – proposed for the new school meets for the first time tonight at 6:30 pm, Schmitz Park Elementary. (5000 SW Spokane)

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8:30 pm, tour John F. Kennedy Catholic High School (WSB sponsor) in Burien, including the new science lab. Details in our calendar listing. (140 S. 140th)

FAMILY STORY TIME: Tonight, bring the family for story time at Delridge Branch Library, 7 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday travels

November 5, 2013 6:30 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday travels

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Election Day; if you spot any sign-wavers on streetcorners or overpasses, please let us know (but NOT by texting or calling while driving, please, it can wait until you get to where you’re going – unless you’re a passenger!); we’ll be out looking for last-minute voteseekers, but sighting reports always help.

Meantime, another reminder about the bus-stop change in effect downtown for many West Seattle riders, through next Tuesday – details here.

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