West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thank you to everyone who shared photos from this evening’s spectacle to the west – above, from Owen Reese; below, from Leslie Dierauf:
Views via Twitter, too:
@westseattleblog wow, shot of alki from pioneer square…! pic.twitter.com/d0Y9D6KtwD
— Darren (@heydtrain) May 28, 2014
Seriously, looks like Bob Ross has been painting #WestSeattle from heaven. Home sweet, home. @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/lRURi7mco1
— Zithri Ahmed Saleem (@ZithriSaleem) May 28, 2014
Tomorrow’s forecast looks a little unsettled, too.
At left, that’s Raindrops the cat. She is the inspiration for a benefit show at Skylark Café and Club this Friday night – the return of the West Side Glory variety show, which in turn was an evening spinoff from Seattle’s original drag brunch. West Seattleite Jeffrey Robert is hosting and producing, and proceeds benefit West Seattle’s Kitty Harbor cat/kitten shelter, which saved Raindrops after Jeffrey rescued her from a local road. So here’s how the story goes:
Back in December, Raindrops made an appearance on the WSB Lost/Found Pets Page, described as having been found on the bridge, though that wasn’t quite right, it turns out – Jeffrey says she was on the top of the overpass bridge connecting the West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99.
She was badly hurt, too – including a broken leg. Jeffrey (photo at right) says she didn’t look like she was going to survive. He contacted Kitty Harbor, who arranged for surgery, and eventually she found a forever home. He plans to tell the entire story during West Side Glory on Friday night. They still don’t know how Raindrops ended up on that busy road – whether she was dumped, or maybe fell from a car she climbed into. But there she was.
Even if you’re not interested in a tale about a kitty – you might want to see the all-star lineup taking the stage starting at 9 pm Friday, including West Seattle’s rising-star comic Mona Concepcion and local burlesque performer Sibyl Darling. Along with the aforementioned performers, the lineup includes David Johnson, Emmett Montgomery, Beka Barry, Olivia LaGarce, Cherry Tart, Cherry Sur Bête, Honey Bucket, Abbey Drake, Deb Seymour, Peggy Platt, Sylvia O’Stayformore, Bella Luna & Michelle Pannell, SuperNova-Majesty, Matt Clear, “and more TBA” – plus a prize raffle.
It’s 21+ – Jeffrey allows, “We get a little bit naughty” – suggested donation $15. If you need a reminder, here’s the Facebook event page. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
Just in from King County Public Health – its inspectors closed the Thai Landing on Alki restaurant this afternoon. Here’s the notice published online:
Thai Landing on Alki
2620 Alki Av SW, Seattle, WA 98116Closed: May 27, 2014 at 1:00 pm
Reasons:
Potentially hazardous foods at unsafe temperatures
Foods not protected from cross-contamination
Equipment/utensils not properly sanitized
Handwashing facilities inaccessible
Failure to correct repeated violations
The county will announce when it’s cleared to open again; you can check its status here.
We took that photo this morning after WSB’er Kevin McClintic pointed out new “photo-enforced” signage on Roxbury, though SDOT had been saying the new school-zone speed cams by Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School were not going in until fall. Turns out, they’re going in now – but won’t be activated until September, with warnings being issued for a month before ticketing begins in October. Here’s the announcement just in from SDOT:
To improve pedestrian safety, contractors working for the City of Seattle will be installing photo enforcement cameras at five locations during May and June. They will be located near the following schools: Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School in West Seattle, Dearborn Park Elementary in Southeast Seattle, Bailey Gatzert Elementary in Central Seattle, and Eckstein Middle School in Northeast Seattle.
The cameras will issue citations to drivers that exceed the school zone speed limit of 20 mph. The school zone speed limit is in effect for typically one hour in the morning as students arrive at school, and one hour in the afternoon when the school day ends. Flashing beacons have been installed to emphasize the times when the school zone speed limit is in effect. The cameras will issue warnings for 30 days beginning September 2 and will start issuing citations in early October.
According to SDOT’s construction flyer (see it here), work on the Roxhill and Holy Family cameras starts tomorrow. Revenue from the cameras goes to safety improvements in school areas, by city law.
P.S. The city first announced almost a year ago that these two cameras were on the way. The Gatewood Elementary zone on Fauntleroy Way already has speed enforcement, in place for a year and a half.
Seattle Public Schools is out with enrollment projections for next school year, and the district continues to grow, one reason they’re adding facilities including the expanded Fairmount Park Elementary (above), closed in 2007, reopening this fall. The district expects 52,400 students this fall, 1,300 more than the current school year, and says:
This continues the five-year trend of enrollment growth that began in 2009, after a decade of declining enrollment. During the last five years, enrollment grew by more than 5,000 students – from 46,000 in 2009 to 51,000 this year. Next year’s expected enrollment growth of 1,300 students means the district will be serving 6,400 more students next year than in 2009.
Here’s a chart of district-wide enrollment over the past decade:
The district says a continuation of this trend could mean enrollment past 60,000 by the year 2020.
Meantime, here are West Seattle’s school-by-school enrollment projections for next year, taken from this district-wide list:
Alki Elementary – 390
Arbor Heights Elementary – 341
Chief Sealth International HS – 1,235
Concord International Elementary – 420
Denny International MS – 948
Fairmount Park Elementary – 290
Gatewood Elementary – 429
Highland Park Elementary – 396
K-5 STEM – 361
Lafayette Elementary – 546
Madison MS – 799
Pathfinder K-8 – 486
Roxhill Elementary – 372
Sanislo Elementary – 275
Schmitz Park Elementary – 608
West Seattle Elementary – 443
West Seattle HS – 1,008
(We’ll add a comparison to this year, once we’ve verified with the district that we’re looking at the most recent set of 2013-2014 numbers. So far the most notable change appears to be a drop of ~70 students for Gatewood, but keep in mind, Fairmount Park will be brand new and many of those students are coming from somewhere else.)
With Memorial Day weekend opening the gate to summer, festival season is in view. This year, the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki is earlier than usual – Saturday, June 28th. On a visit to the beach this morning, we noticed the newly placed promotional banners, making their annual appearance. There will of course be pirate sightings before then; according to their online schedule, they’ll be in the Portland Rose Parade this weekend (as will the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band).
SIDE NOTE – ALSO IN JUNE: Two more big-event dates for your June calendar – the Westwood Village Street Fair on June 14th and the Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) on June 21st.
(West Seattle tidepool photo from mid-May by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Back from the holiday weekend? Or, still relaxing? Whichever’s the case for you, there’s a calendar highlight of potential interest on today’s list:
LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Low tide at 10:46 am today is down to -1.5 and brings the debut of this year’s Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists schedule. South of Alki Point and on the beach at Lincoln Park near Colman Pool, you’ll find naturalists to help you knowledgeably and carefully explore the shore, 9:30 am until 12:30 pm today (see our calendar listing for other upcoming dates, including tomorrow, when low tide will be even lower).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Not that we’re expecting mega-warm temps today, but as we saw on Saturday, you don’t need mega-warm temps for kids to get excited about playing in the water. So we’re reminding you that Highland Park Spraypark is now open daily 11 am-8 pm until September 1st. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am, from newborns to year-olds, wee ones are welcome at Southwest Library – it’s a story time just for them. (35th/Henderson)
FIGHTING AUTO THEFT: What’s the Seattle Police plan to fight auto theft? Hear directly from SPD – and ask your questions – at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. You don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend – all welcome. (Webster/Delridge)
LIVE MUSIC: From 5:30 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) with Justin Kausal-Hayes, to 9 pm with Shadowland‘s singer-songwriter showcase, and other venues along the way, lots of music tonight – see the listings on our calendar!
Robinson Newspapers has announced the death of publisher Gerald “Jerry” Robinson, 94, of Burien. According to the company’s 1987 history book West Side Story, 
Mr. Robinson’s publishing career began in 1952, when he bought the White Center News; in the early ’70s, he took over the West Seattle Herald, subsequently merging it with the WC News, and then bought the Highline Times. He later acquired the Ballard News-Tribune, and his company last year combined the three print publications to create the Westside Weekly. Our photo at left is from 2009, when Mr. Robinson received the Community Service Award from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce; accepting the award, he told Chamber members that he had tried to retire once, but felt “useless” when not working, because, he explained: “Nothing is as fulfilling” as being of service to others. Mr. Robinson continued to write weekly columns until recently. No memorial service has been announced yet; the online announcement says a detailed obituary is to be published later.
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Quiet on the roads here and beyond so far.
TRAFFIC NOTES: No major West Seattle road work announced for this week. SODO/Pioneer Square drivers/riders, take note that the Mariners are home all week (7:10 pm game tonight).
7:18 AM – ‘LOW BRIDGE’ ALERT: Via scanner – what the dispatcher described as a “disabled tractor-trailer” on the westbound low bridge.
7:44 AM: That’s clear now, according to SDOT.
West Seattle High School senior or Madison Middle School 8th grader in the family? Just two days to get in on this fundraiser:
Pre-order a lovely flower lei that is created and shipped directly from Hawaii for your graduate and help support West Seattle High School Music Department. We are also offering candy leis made in Westside and Madison colors! Both will be available to pick up right before the ceremony at the SW Athletic Complex before the seniors line up for commencement on June 14th, and for the Madison promotion at WSHS on June 18th. Below are the options available:
*Single Purple Orchid Lei -$22*
*Single White Orchid Lei – $22*
*Single fragrant Tuberose and Purple Orchid Lei -$25*
*Candy Lei made in WSHS Wildcat colors – $8*You can view pictures of each, and place your order (here).
All leis must be *pre ordered and paid* for by Wednesday, May 28th. There may be a limited number of extras at the event. If you have any questions, please email Cathy at wshsptsavparts@gmail.com
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