day : 07/08/2014 12 results

Maybe you saw it on the SPD Blotter – a bizarre rampage of sorts on Wednesday that started in West Seattle and moved into other parts of the city before the suspect was arrested. We followed up today in search of specifics which were missing in that overall summary but were contained in the partial report we obtained. The 37-year-old suspect, shown in public databases with a West Seattle address, was reported to have started by showing up outside Providence Mount St. Vincent, ranting and yelling first about the facility and then, “about North Korea,” in a manner described by one witness as “almost mad or crazy.”

And more road work: SDOT to try traction improvements again on Charlestown, Genesee

August 7, 2014 9:34 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Transportation seems to be the theme tonight. One more round of road work announced by SDOT for next week – this is another try at the traction improvements that didn’t quite work out the first time around on two of West Seattle’s steepest hills, back in May (with a different method). Tonight’s announcement:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will conduct shot blasting to make traction improvements at two locations in West Seattle and one in Magnolia next week. Shot blasting will propel a high-speed stream of abrasive material at the street surface to roughen it and create a better grip for vehicles. Dates are subject to change. Flaggers will be on site at road closures to provide local access and guidance. This work will be completed in a single weekday at each location and will take place between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. The following describes the scheduled roadway closures:

Aug. 12: SW Charlestown Street between 49th Avenue SW and California Avenue SW (local access only)
· Work zone is SW Charlestown Street between 47th Avenue SW and 45th Avenue SW

· Eastbound traffic detoured via 49th Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and California Avenue SW

· Westbound traffic detoured via California Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and 49th Avenue SW

Aug. 13: SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and Delridge Way SW (local access only)
· Work zone is SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and 30th Avenue SW

· Eastbound traffic detoured via SW Avalon Way, SW Yancy Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Andover Street, and Delridge Way SW

· Westbound traffic detoured via Delridge Way SW, SW Andover Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Yancy Street, and SW Avalon Way

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West Seattle road work: SW Roxbury paving next week

August 7, 2014 6:21 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

During this past week’s two meetings on the SW Roxbury Safety Project (WSB 7/31 coverage is here, 8/4 coverage here), SDOT’s Jim Curtin mentioned that paving was imminent for the stretch between 25th and 27th SW. And indeed, the announcement has just arrived:

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will work on Southwest Roxbury Street on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 12 and 13 of next week. They will pave the stretch of Roxbury between 25th Avenue Southwest and 27th Avenue Southwest, working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. One travel lane in each direction will remain open. A Police Officer will be stationed at each intersection to assist traffic. All sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Crash on NB 35th at Henderson

August 7, 2014 5:33 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:33 PM: Thanks to the person who texted about a crash on northbound 35th SW at Henderson (by the library), blocking at least one lane. We’re off to check it out – update to come.

5:47 PM: Confirmed at the scene that one lane northbound is blocked, all others open. No injuries. One of the vehicles involved is on the other side of the fire truck in our photo, above; the scene will be clear when that vehicle is towed.

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Move RapidRide route to California SW in The Junction? SDOT is looking at it

August 7, 2014 3:48 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

Should the outbound RapidRide C Line run on California in the heart of The Junction instead of jogging onto Edmunds, 44th, and Alaska? Checking out a reader tip that this was under consideration, we asked Metro – which in turn pointed us to SDOT, whose Marybeth Turner confirms it:

We have been looking for projects to improve the speed and reliability for the RapidRide C Line. One of the projects that was identified is to move the stop on California and Alaska to the east so the RapidRide bus can use California Avenue. This would save about a minute of travel time.

We are currently conducting a feasibility analysis to see if there is enough room and the what costs are involved. No decision has been made on whether this project will go forward. … We plan to reach out to the community to discuss the options this fall.

Back in 2008, when RapidRide’s West Seattle route was still under development, there was some talk of having it turn onto Alaska from California, but concerns voiced at the time included how it would affect the walk-all-ways intersection.

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Barton eviction fight: Court hearing tomorrow afternoon

August 7, 2014 2:02 pm

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| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(July 18th WSB photo: Jean and Byron Barton, center, in the house’s basement, with police and supporters)
Tomorrow afternoon, a King County Superior Court judge will preside over a hearing related to Triangle Property Development‘s attempt to take physical possession of the Morgan Junction house where Byron and Jean Barton are still living, three weeks after deputies evicted them. We know this because the advocacy group that has been campaigning to keep the Bartons in the house has sent word of a protest outside the courtroom before the hearing. Triangle’s court filing – reported here on July 29th – is the latest development in the case; the Bartons also have legal action pending, contending that the house was illegally foreclosed on before being auctioned off last April, which is when Triangle bought it. The Bartons re-entered the house near 41st and Holly shortly after deputies removed them on July 18th, including carrying Byron Barton, who uses a wheelchair; that means Seattle Police could arrest them for trespassing, but a week and a half ago, Mayor Murray told them on July 21st to “stand by” while the case went through the courts.

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Followup: USS Constellation’s final voyage to start tomorrow; special Foss website will track the tow

August 7, 2014 12:35 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(US Navy photo: USS Constellation in Elliott Bay during Seafair, 1996)
New information today about the last voyage of the USS Constellation, the aircraft carrier that’s about to be towed away from Bremerton after a decade, and that will pass West Seattle shortly after the start of its 18,000-mile tow to a Texas shipbreaking yard. Foss Maritime – whose ocean tug Corbin Foss is scheduled to tow the “Connie” – just let us know about a special website it’s set up to chronicle the journey; see it here. The trip is now set to start early tomorrow afternoon (Friday, August 8th), according to Foss, which says harbor tugs will bring it from Bremerton, and rendezvous with the Corbin Foss off Blake Island. You’ll be able to see it from West Seattle (primarily Beach Drive/Alki) once it’s out of Rich Passage and northward-bound into Puget Sound. The Constellation is one of the last few non-nuclear carriers to be scrapped; it’s been mothballed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard since it was decommissioned in 2003. It (and the Corbin Foss) will stop at Long Beach, California – last U.S. port – around the 16th.

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New playground for Pigeon Point! Pathfinder project gets grant, announces ‘paint party’

August 7, 2014 12:13 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Click image to see full-size site plan/design by Johnson Southerland as PDF)
The new playground for Pigeon Point is getting ever closer to reality. Pathfinder K-8 Playground outreach co-chairs Holli Margell and Toni Wells are sharing the following update that includes a chance for you to help out at an upcoming “paint party”:

The Pathfinder Playground Revamp was awarded the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund large grant! Thanks to the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods for helping us really get the ball rolling with our new design. Our playground is now 40% funded, and our fundraising team has kicked into gear to help us get the rest of the way there.

August Paint Party:

August 21st, the playground is getting a little facelift in preparation for our new design. With a Capital One $4,000 grant for the school, we are having a work party to do projects all over the school–and the playground is one of them. That means we can get started painting the braided stream and adding new features like a labyrinth and accurate US map. The foursquares, hopscotch, and old marking will be refreshed too.

Are you ready to help us on August 21st? We need 6-8 folks ready to help lead the volunteers for the day, help organize supplies the day before, and a few creatives to help us make stencils to add some critter prints to the playground. Interested? E-mail pathfinderplayground2014@gmail.com – thank you!

New design (above):

The school district is still working on the feasibility of the fence changes, but we expect that to be part of phase one. If fundraising needs are met, and the bids come in as expected, the equipment and surfacing of the blue areas will also be included in Phase 1, which could start Summer 2015.

The playground is on the north side of the Pathfinder campus at 1901 SW Genesee (map).

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Hiawatha concert, DIY Bikes under the bridge, wildfire benefit, more for your West Seattle Thursday night

August 7, 2014 11:11 am

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

A special stop for bicycle commuters is among the highlights for tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DIY BIKES – UNDER THE BRIDGE: Per the following announcement:

Bicycle commuters coming home from work tonight may find a surprise under the West Seattle Bridge. The West Seattle Tool Library’s Fixers Collective and DIY Bikes will be doing their monthly workshop under the West Seattle Bridge” “It’s been a long summer so far and many of our daily bicycle commuters have not found the time to work on their bicycles or take them into a local shop. We are coming to the riders to make ourselves more available.” The West Seattle Tool Library and DIY Bikes are projects of Sustainable West Seattle.

HEALTH AND HARVEST: 5-7 pm tonight and every Thursday, you’re welcome at the Community Orchard of West Seattle for a lesson in urban gardening, teamed with a mini-work party. Northeast side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)

BENEFIT FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON FIRE VICTIMS: Proceeds tonight at Matador-West Seattle (and five other restaurants elsewhere in the city) go to a fire benefit organized by Band of Brothers Northwest – details in our preview. (4546 California SW)

WATCH THE GAME AT THE CASK: Tonight’s pre-season Seahawks game is onscreen at The Cask (WSB sponsor) in The Admiral District, 6 pm. (2350 California SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Tonight, it’s The Guessing Game, 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha (along Walnut), free – BYO chair/blanket, picnic, etc. Presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association – here’s our preview with a peek at the band. (2700 California SW)

MORE MUSIC … see individual West Seattle venues’ listings for tonight on our calendar!

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Second Design Review Board meeting set for 7520 35th SW clinic

August 7, 2014 9:51 am

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| Development | West Seattle news

No meetings scheduled this month for the Southwest Design Review Board – if there’s no project ready to review, they don’t meet – but one is now on the city docket for next month: 6:30 pm Thursday, September 4th, has just been penciled in as the second “Early Design Guidance” session for the proposed eye-care clinic at 7520 35th SW. The first one last month (WSB coverage here) raised so many questions about configuration of the site and the clinic building – which will be entirely medical/commercial, no residential component – that the project team was sent back to the drawing board.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates

August 7, 2014 6:21 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Today’s traffic (etc.) watch is on.

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West Seattle wildlife: Whale sighting; coyote report; raccoons…

August 7, 2014 2:02 am

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| Coyotes | Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

It’s a wild place we live in … three reader reports to share:

WHALE WATCHING: Heard about the humpbacks in the area this past week or so? Colleen saw one and shared the photo:

A little late since this was Saturday night…..While boating with friends from West Seattle to Bainbridge Saturday evening around 5:15, we spotted a whale … We were so excited, our pictures are not that good. … It was awesome and unbelievable to be so close (our friends turned off their Bayliner’s engine as we watched the whale).

COYOTE REPORT: From Paul in North Admiral:

Just thought I’d pass on news of a coyote sighting in front of my house (Monday) morning on 42nd Ave between Seattle and Atlantic Streets in North Admiral. 4:30 am, I was leaving to go fishing, and a neighbor was walking his dog. We all must have come upon the coyote at the same time, and it took off running. Healthy looking adult. I’ve seen one here before, but it’s been several years.

RACCOONS: From Sean in Gatewood:

Spotted this mom and four youngsters at 8:30 (Monday) morning in my backyard. Very cute, but I’d prefer they dig holes elsewhere.

The state has advice on dealing with raccoons and coyotes – the former, here; the latter, here. (And lots of other species too – see the sidebar on either of those pages for the links.)

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