West Seattle, Washington

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month : 05/2014 323 results

Will the West Seattle Car Show continue? New organizers start planning & ask for your help
May 22, 2014 4:22 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo of West Seattle Car Show in The Junction)
Though its founder is gone, the West Seattle Car Show is likely to go on. Its future was uncertain after the sudden, early death this past March of Michael Hoffman, who launched the show in 2008 and made it happen each year since, but after reaching out to seek your opinion last month, two local car-care businesses (both WSB sponsors) are moving forward with plans to keep it going – and asking for your help:

Following up on the West Seattle Blog poll regarding the West Seattle Car Show, published April 30, 2014, thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response. It is clear that the car show is an enormously popular community event.

Swedish Automotive, Inc. and West Seattle Autoworks are pleased to announce that we are moving forward with preparations for the West Seattle Car Show, scheduled for September 14th, 2014, to be located in the West Seattle Junction!

There are many details and pieces to put in place between now and then, and this is where we need your help … If you volunteered for the West Seattle Car Show in previous years (or would like to volunteer this year) or have key pieces of information regarding preparation for this event, and you are willing to share yourself as a resource, please email wscarshow@gmail.com with your contact information and a brief description of how you can help. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Watch for updates as the planning continues!

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Progress reports on trouble spots and more @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council
May 22, 2014 3:26 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

Even before Tuesday night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Southwest Precinct police leaders had promised that the Roxhill Park/Westwood Village area would be one of three emphasis spots for beefed-up summertime prevention/enforcement efforts. Westwood in particular dominated the discussion, though precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske said his “summer plan” had not yet won final approval from department leadership.

SUMMER PLAN: With the recent warm weather, “Alki’s starting to get real busy for us,” Capt. Wilske began, saying he plans to have extra officers there on Friday and Saturday nights for starters, as well as increased patrols for Roxhill/Westwood and for Lincoln Park.

One of his strategies, also mentioned at earlier community meetings, is to get officers onto bicycles, at least part-time. He said he’s hoping to have bikes and gear for up to 12 officers. “They’ll be patrol officers, I can’t exempt them from 911 response, (but) they’ll have bikes so when they have down time they’ll be able to get into one of these emphasis areas and start riding.”

WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn said the recent trouble with shoplifting, threats, and more, tends to involve “the same people over and over again.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Nicholas Broughton’s bail back to $100,000 – in a new warrant
May 22, 2014 1:28 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

On this second consecutive day of Guardian One visits to West Seattle, you might remember a helicopter search near The Junction one night almost four months ago, when a stolen pickup truck was driven through a fence, and the suspected driver was found inside a nearby house where he used to live. The man arrested that night, 32-year-old Nicholas Broughton, was charged with hit-run, trespass, possession of a stolen vehicle – and got out of jail two weeks after his arrest, posting bond after his original $100,000 bail was cut to $25,000 by King County Superior Court Judge Catherine Shaffer.

Less than a month after that first arrest – as reported here – more charges were filed against Broughton in a separate case, alleged ID theft involving credit/debit cards stolen in car prowls (with at least one West Seattle victim). Superior Court Judge Patrick Oishi denied prosecutors’ request to raise Broughton’s bail after those charges were filed, even though they told him about Broughton’s lengthy criminal history and record of failing to appear.

So now, three months after that second round of charges, we discovered via a routine check of online files that an arrest warrant is out for Broughton today because of … a failure to appear. Court records show he didn’t show up for a case-setting hearing yesterday. If and when he’s found – the bail amount will be that original $100,000, as approved yesterday by yet another Superior Court Judge, Jim Rogers. We’d assume 911 would want to hear about it if you see him – mention the warrant. (The photo above, originally shown in our March report, is from the state Corrections Department, taken during a previous prison stay by Broughton.)

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Road-work irony: Traction work on hold because … crew couldn’t get traction
May 22, 2014 11:58 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Genesee closed on Tuesday, before crew discovered things weren’t working out)
The latest on the road-work saga we’ve been following over the past few days, with the help of neighbors in the work zones: SDOT confirms the work to improve traction on the steep hills of SW Genesee (east of Avalon) and SW Charlestown (west of 46th) is indeed on indefinite hold – because the crews, well, couldn’t get traction. SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner elaborates:

The asphalt grinding work to improve traction is on hold until further notice.

The contractor was able to grind the level portion of Southwest Charlestown Street (45-46th), but encountered difficulty with the equipment as the contractor’s crews moved onto the hill (46-47th). The contractor explains that this type of grinding generally takes place on wide, level highways and the equipment was not built with steep grades in mind. The newer, higher power model machine they tried was unable to climb the hill and grind at the same time, even with support from an auxiliary vehicle. The contractor is looking at alternate machinery and methods to see if there is a way to improve traction on the remaining locations on Southwest Charlestown Street, Southwest Genesee Street, and West Dravus Street.

The problem was not encountered in the first work zone, on Olson at the east end of Roxbury, when crews were there last weekend – as you probably know, it’s not nearly as steep.

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Update: Why Guardian One was up over southern West Seattle
May 22, 2014 10:59 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

helicopterwatch.png10:59 AM: Just checked with Seattle Police; the Guardian One helicopter is helping them look for a domestic-violence suspect. That’s all we know so far; thanks for the texts about Westwood/Roxhill chopper sightings.

11:23 AM: No update on the search but the scanner indicates Guardian One is off to another case elsewhere in the city. On their Twitter feed, the helicopter crew describes the West Seattle assignment as having assisted in a case involving a “foot pursuit.” We’re also checking with Seattle Public Schools regarding commenters’ reports of shelter-in-place at Chief Sealth IHS.

11:48 AM: Still trying to get more info on the incident itself, and whether the suspect was arrested, but we did confirm with CSIHS by phone that the brief “shelter-in-place” has since been lifted.

12:15 PM: SPS spokesperson Lesley Rogers tells us Denny IMS and Roxhill Elementary also were in “shelter in place” for about 20 minutes, and that it was lifted an hour ago. (Added: An Explorer West MS [WSB sponsor] parent tells us they got word that school also took precautions for a similar amount of time.)

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5 options for your pre-holiday-weekend West Seattle Thursday
May 22, 2014 10:06 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Spotted towhee, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
With the holiday weekend in view, things are getting quieter. Almost quiet enough to hear the birds sing in the middle of a busy day (some of them start before dawn – 4:15 am, today!). But we’re still seeing gems on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including:

TOUR THE LONGHOUSE WITH THE DUWAMISH TRIBE’S LEADER: 1-2 pm, with discounted admission as part of Museum Week, you’re invited to tour the Duwamish Longhouse with Cecile Hansen, longtime elected chair of the Duwamish Tribe and great-great-great-great-grandniece of Chief Seattle. More info in our listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

NATURE, AFTER SCHOOL: Explore Camp Long with naturalist Stewart Wechsler, 3:30-4:30 pm, reservations suggested – details on his website. (5200 35th SW)

PITCH IN AT THE COMMUNITY ORCHARD: 5-7 pm Thursdays, you’re invited to tour and help out at the Community Orchard of West Seattle on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, as explained here. (6000 16th SW)

GOOD EVENING, STARSHINE: Checked out the acclaimed production of “Hair” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) yet? 7:30 pm is your next chance; info here. (4711 California SW)

LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s highlights include rockabilly at Salty’s (WSB sponsor), world/funk/acoustic/soul at Skylark Café and Club. (Are your entertainment venue’s listings in our calendar? No? Listings are free – just send the info to editor@westseattleblog.com at least a week in advance – thank you!)

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What you’re missing if you don’t read the newsletter with your Seattle City Light bill
May 22, 2014 9:26 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

We usually take it directly to recycling (and really should sign up for e-billing, since we always e-pay) but for some reason, when ours arrived this week, we looked at the newsletter – and discovered something we hadn’t heard. It’s small, but if you have routines around bill payment, you might want to know: Seattle City Light is changing meter-reading routes, mostly south of downtown, and that’s changing the billing dates. Go here to read about it and see how/whether yours is changing, either by clicking on a map or entering part of your account number.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday info and updates
May 22, 2014 6:25 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:25 AM: The holiday weekend is almost here! First, it’s time for Thursday’s traffic watch.

4:24 PM: Fairly quiet day on the roads, until now. Big emergency response has closed 14th Avenue South in South Park between Cloverdale and Henderson – a driver hit two pedestrians. Neither has major injuries, according to SFD. (Update: It reopened relatively quickly.)

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Who pays for your ‘free’ parking and when? Junction changes to go before City Council committee
May 22, 2014 3:39 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

There’s a lot more to the free-parking lots in The Junction than just striped asphalt without pay stations – Junction businesses pay special assessments to maintain them. This Friday, some proposed changes in the rules for those assessments, four years in the making, have the West Seattle Junction Association going before a City Council committee. After spotting the item on the agenda for the Finance amd Culture Committee, with WSJA director Susan Melrose listed as scheduled to speak to councilmembers, we talked to her Wednesday to find out more:

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Save the date: Be ready to talk about land use/development on June 4th
May 21, 2014 10:56 pm
|    Comments Off on Save the date: Be ready to talk about land use/development on June 4th
 |   Delridge District Council | Development | Southwest District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Local community leaders have been working on more ways to convene discussions about one of our area’s hottest current topics, development. And while covering tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting (full report to come separately), we got semi-early word of an event in the works, and wanted to let you know to save the date: On June 4th, DNDC will join the Southwest District Council on the SWDC’s regular meeting night, to host City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, who chairs the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee (which this week alone has handled issues from small-lot development to microhousing). Some details are still being worked out, including the venue/time, but if you want to hear about and talk about where things stand and where they’re going, save the night of June 4th.

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Christmas in May! Local nonprofits’ Holy Rosary Tree Lot gifts
May 21, 2014 9:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Christmas in May! Local nonprofits’ Holy Rosary Tree Lot gifts
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Every year, Holy Rosary School sells Christmas trees not only to raise money for its programs, but to donate part of the proceeds to local nonprofits. Tonight, this year’s beneficiaries accepted checks for $1,752.92 each. From left, West Seattle Helpline, represented by new executive director Kate Stannard; Salvation Army‘s Hickman House shelter, represented by Mary Libby and Carmen McRoy from the SA; and the West Seattle Food Bank, represented by Judi Yazzolino. Only seven months until next Christmas (but who’s counting?)!

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No, the ferry’s not in trouble. It’s the new M/V Tokitae.
May 21, 2014 6:45 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(Added: Photo of Tokitae this evening, courtesy JayDee in Upper Alki)
We’ve received some questions about a ferry that seemed stalled in the water off Alki Point earlier this hour. No, it’s not in trouble. We checked via MarineTraffic.com; it’s the new Washington State Ferries vessel M/V Tokitae, built at Vigor on Harbor Island and scheduled to go into service next month.

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West Seattle real estate: 3060 Avalon up for sale again
May 21, 2014 4:45 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle real estate: 3060 Avalon up for sale again
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Nine months after a real-estate/development group bought the 12-unit apartment building at 3060 Avalon Way for just under $1 million, they’ve put it up for sale for more than twice that. The 9,500-square-foot site is listed for $2,552,000, with the listing mentioning renovations since last year’s sale, and also: “With the ability to build up to 65 feet in height on the property. The land value today is approximately the same as the asking price for the apartment building, giving the buyer an opportunity to earn income while processing permits at the City of Seattle.” The building is sandwiched between two sites that have had development proposals in the past few years – apartments at 3062 Avalon (which the DPD site notes were canceled last year) and 104 units of microhousing at 3050, and a few lots east of a project that just won a key approval last week, 100+ apartments at 3078 Avalon.

P.S. If you like stats and numbers, they abound in this background brochure about the 3060 Avalon property, which takes a broader look at the West Seattle and citywide apartment market, too.

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You asked for them, you’ll see them! West Seattle Outdoor Movies’ 2014 lineup goes public
May 21, 2014 1:53 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(Trailer for “The Goonies,” scheduled for August 16th)
You made suggestions … organizers discussed, searched, decided, confirmed … and now, as just announced by Lora Swift of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), next to the courtyard transformed into an under-the-stars movie theater six Saturday nights each summer, we have the lineup for the 2014 edition of West Seattle Outdoor Movies – we’ve linked each movie’s name to a trailer clip (except for the much-requested “Goonies,” :

Saturday, July 19th: Gravity (2013) PG-13

Saturday, July 26th: Spice World (1997) PG

Saturday, August 2nd: Sleepless in Seattle (1993) – PG

Saturday, August 9th: The Blues Brothers 1980 – R

Saturday, August 16th: The Goonies (1985) – PG

Saturday, August 23rd: Frozen (2013) – PG

Again this year, pre-show entertainment will be featured, and Lora’s starting the search now; you’ll get the chance to buy tickets for raffles to benefit local nonprofits; and PB&J Textiles will sponsor concessions, with those proceeds also going to local nonprofits. This year, the WSOM committee is inviting nonprofits to request inclusion on the recipient roster; e-mail Lora for more information on how that works – lora@hotwirecoffee.com – and she asks that you “include contact information and short paragraph and/or weblink about the non-profit.” If you are or know of a potential pre-show act, same address, and that’s also where to inquire if you’re interested in applying to help with sound this year.

New to West Seattle/never been to WSOM before? Admission’s free, since the series is supported by sponsors (including WSB). Gates open early; you bring a chair and/or blanket and stake out a spot; movies start at dusk, which means the time gets earlier as the six-week series goes by. (Scroll through this WSB archive to see some of our past coverage.)

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West Seattle ‘low bridge’ included in proposed heavy-haul road network
May 21, 2014 1:16 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Click image to see the full-size map on the city website)
An emerging city transportation project potentially involves both the West Seattle “low bridge” (officially the SW Spokane Street Swing Bridge) and lower Spokane Street from East Marginal Way eastward. The proposal to create a “heavy-haul corridor” turned up toward the end of this news release sent by Mayor Ed Murray‘s office late Tuesday afternoon about a “Maritime/Manufacturing Summit” held Monday. The news release included a link to the map you see above and noted, “In cooperation with the Port of Seattle, roads along this corridor will be rebuilt to new heavy haul standards” to “enable permitted vehicles carrying overweight loads to travel on designated routes.”

While described in the mayor’s news release as having been announced at the summit, the heavy-haul-network concept has been under discussion for a while; we’ve found earlier mentions including a letter of support this past March from the city Freight Advisory Board, pointing out that the “heavy haul” vehicles’ per-axle maximum weights would be below vehicles already using city roads, including trash trucks and Metro buses.

For followup questions, the mayor’s office pointed us to SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan. He says that “rebuil(ding)” the corridor means that “SDOT will assess whether some roads in the heavy-haul network would benefit from an additional layer of paving to account for more frequent use by heavy vehicles and the appropriate time to accomplish that work.” As for where the proposal goes next: “The mayor will submit legislation to the city council this summer to establish a heavy-haul permitting system, to include a fee structure and any necessary terms and conditions of the permit.”

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In case you wondered about the helicopter …
May 21, 2014 12:44 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

Texts indicate some in Arbor Heights noticed the Guardian One helicopter checking something out in the North Shorewood/White Center area in the past half-hour; we’ve published an update on partner site White Center Now but are mentioning it here too – King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates says they were looking into an assault case that was a disagreement between people who knew each other, and they’ve moved on.

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HomeStreet Bank in West Seattle: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
May 21, 2014 11:20 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor: HomeStreet Bank, now open in The Junction. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves, so here’s what HomeStreet would like you to know:

HomeStreet Bank is local! We are based in downtown Seattle and are one of the largest community banks headquartered in Washington. HomeStreet began in the University District in 1921 as Continental Mortgage and Loan Company, later becoming Continental Savings Bank in 1986 when we became a full-service bank. We changed our name to HomeStreet Bank in 2000. (However, many people will still recall getting their mortgage at Continental Savings Bank!) We have expanded our services further over the years, adding business banking and lending, investment services, and more. HomeStreet offers a wide variety of financial products and services, including:

• Personal Banking
• Business Banking
• Mortgage Lending (including renovation loans and reverse mortgages)
• Commercial Lending (including a new small business loan program as well as SBA financing)
• Investment and Insurance Services for consumers and businesses
• Cash Management Services for businesses of all sizes
• Private Banking
• Residential Construction Financing
• Commercial Real Estate financing (apartments, retail space, office & industrial)

HomeStreet Bank has 82 deposit branches and lending centers in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Hawaii.

Community involvement has always been a high priority for HomeStreet. Many of our employees support the needs of local community organizations by creating active partnerships, hands-on service and providing leadership. As a relationship-focused bank, we always try to go the extra mile for our customers while providing personal service that is oftentimes not expected. We pride ourselves in our employees’ ability to make decisions on their own.

HomeStreet Bank is proud to be a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. We are also proud supporters of the West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Food Bank, WestSide Baby, and Nature Consortium. Being new to the West Seattle community, we are very excited at the opportunity to get involved in the neighborhood. This year we sponsored the Taste of West Seattle and will be sponsoring Summer Fest and West Seattle Outdoor Movies. We are also thrilled to be hosting this year’s Stuff the Bus Diaper Drive for WestSide Baby!

HomeStreet Bank’s West Seattle branch is located at 4022 SW Alaska Street and we would love for you to stop in! Check us out online at: www.homestreet.com or “like” our Facebook page.

We thank HomeStreet Bank for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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New Arbor Heights Elementary: The appeal decision is in
May 21, 2014 9:40 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

No formal environmental review for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School project that’s replacing the crumbling original 65-year-old school. That’s what the district originally had decided, issuing a Determination of Non-Significance; more than two dozen neighbors appealed the decision, arguing their case at a May 8th hearing (WSB coverage here), and now the appeal ruling is in, starting with an introductory letter by Superintendent José Banda:

(If you can’t see the Scribd embed above, here’s the document as a PDF.) If you want to skip ahead, the conclusions of Margaret Klockars, the hearing examiner who handled the case, start on page 7, after a recap of what the district originally decided and the points that were argued. Bottom line: While Klockars agreed that the checklist leading to the original Determination of Non-Significance had a few errors and omissions, she believed the supplemental information provided later by the district showed no major impact in areas of concern from traffic to trees, so the DNS conclusion “was not erroneous.”

SIDE NOTE: As reported here last night, the district has set a community meeting June 2nd for questions/answers/updates on the project, which will start after the school year ends and everything is moved out of the to-be-demolished buildings. AHES will hold classes at the Boren Building for the next two years, with the new school expected to be ready for fall 2016.

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Park District Q/A at Delridge District Council; Steps at Stevens community meeting #2; more, for your West Seattle Wednesday
May 21, 2014 8:55 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Can you pick out our peninsula in this pic? Sunset from the sky, by Bill Schrier, shared via Flickr)
Happy Wednesday! The sun’s supposed to be back later. Meantime, your calendar highlights for today/tonight:

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: Everybody loves a story, especially the littlest among us. Bring yours! 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. (2306 42nd SW)

TACOS FOR BASKETBALL: 5-9 pm, it’s an all-you-can-eat taco-bar benefit for West Seattle High School‘s basketball program at Pecado Bueno in The Junction – details here.

STEPS AT STEVENS, SECOND COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP: Tonight, see three potential design concepts for the proposal to create a new, safer pedestrian path into West Seattle High School from California SW. The community-proposed project now has its own website; if you missed the first community design workshop, here’s the presentation from that meeting, including potential inspiration for the steps and art elements. 5-7 pm at WSHS. (3000 California SW)

AFTER THAT … WSHS PTSA MEETS: Right after the Steps at Stevens workshop, it’s the final West Seattle High School PTSA meeting of this school year, 7 pm. (3000 California SW)

SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT? BRING YOUR QUESTIONS: Tonight, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council focuses on something you’ll vote on in August – whether to create a Seattle Park District as a permanent way to raise more money for city parks, instead of another fixed-term levy. From DNDC chair Mat McBride:

Continuing our civic engagement series, we are hosting Councilmember Jean Godden, chair of the Parks Committee. She will discuss parks, and how the MPD factors at the City Council level. We also have presenters for the Yes and No campaigns relating to the MPD. Time is allotted for each speaker to answer questions from the community. This is an important conversation, and possibly the best chance for folks to hear from all sides of this big decision in one forum. All are invited and welcome.

Full agenda here. DNDC meets at 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

LOOK! UP THERE! Tonight – assuming the sky really does clear – you’ll see the last quarter moon, according to Alice Enevoldsen‘s most-recent edition of Skies Over West Seattle.

WHAT NEXT? You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to see what’s happening tomorrow.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday info and updates
May 21, 2014 7:05 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
“Uneventful” commute so far, as WSDOT’s Twitter account put it.

ROAD WORK: SDOT confirms that crews are expected back at Charlestown hill (west of California) today, between 46th and 47th.

7:31 AM: Crash reported (via the SFD 911 log) at Olson/Myers – no word how/whether it’s affecting traffic on the hill to/from 509.

8:08 AM: That call is closed on the 911 log and we haven’t heard anything further.

8:53 AM: SPD is/was back on bus-lane enforcement today, according to this Twitter exchange.

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School Road Safety Plan: 1st West Seattle discussion
May 21, 2014 1:43 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Tuesday night at Southwest Branch Library, a handful of community members met with SDOT reps and consultants to brainstorm the city’s in-the-works School Road Safety Plan for next year and beyond. Whatever emerges in the future plan will get funding from the city’s increasing arsenal of school-zone speed cameras, noted SDOT’s Jim Curtin, who recapped the pre-existing plan to add two more in West Seattle this fall, both on Roxbury, near Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School. The plan remains to have them in place by September, with a monthlong grace period and ticketing starting in October. Those are two of five to be added at schools around the city this year, joining 4 in place, 1 of those in West Seattle, on Fauntleroy by Gatewood Elementary (existing cameras are in black on the SDOT map below, with the next round of additions in blue):

More than a dozen additional ones are expected around the city next year, Curtin said, with 60 schools being studied right now. The camera revenue has to go to school-safety improvements by order of the City Council.

The consultants at the meeting were from Toole Design Group, which is working with SDOT on the plan. They explained that this is in the opinion-gathering stage, and collected reaction to some possible plan components including traffic calming and different types of crosswalk signals. They promised more meetings in West Seattle; tonight’s attendees suggested one of those meetings be held on a weekend so that people with school-age children might be more likely to attend.

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West Seattle sea scene: Buoy tender USCGC Henry Blake
May 20, 2014 9:53 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle sea scene: Buoy tender USCGC Henry Blake
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Guy Smith on Alki Point for sharing the photo of the 175-foot buoy tender USCGC Henry Blake, seen between our peninsula and Bainbridge Island today. We noticed it while out for a midday walk on Duwamish Head, but didn’t have binoculars or zoom lens or even MarineTraffic.com handy at the time; Guy’s e-mail tonight with the photo enabled us to identify it via its number, WLM-563. It’s based in Everett and was commissioned there in 2000, according to the Henry Blake’s official USCG fact sheet, which notes, “Henry Blake’s primary mission is servicing navigational aids, but it also provides marine environmental protection and search and rescue.” Closer view:

P.S. Bonus info – here’s a closer look at the Coast Guard’s “black-hulled fleet,” including this ship, and how the USCG’s ships are color-coded.

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Teamwork! Morgan Junction ‘triangle property’ blossoms with community, church collaboration
May 20, 2014 8:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

What once was something of an eyesore is getting beautified, bit by bit, reports Barry White with Friends of Morgan Junction Parks, who also shared the photos:

A delegation from Peace Lutheran Church again joined Friends of Morgan Junction Parks in our ongoing restoration project of the Junction triangle property. The two groups first teamed up last September to clear brush and weeds from the overgrown site. The groups continued that work (on Sunday) and began the process of arborizing some of the many shrubs that sprang up from the fruit of the strawberry tree (arbutus unedo), with the long range plan of training the shrubs to match the structure of the parents and create an extensive shaded canopy on the site. A sunny afternoon aided the labor of the small but dedicated group and we accomplished nearly every task on our list. Thanks to everyone who turned out.

See more photos on the FoMJP Facebook page.

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