day : 12/09/2014 13 results

(Embed removed for technical difficulties – see map here)

Our “Skies Over West Seattle” correspondent Alice Enevoldsen says tonight brings the best chance in years of aurorae – “Northern Lights” – in our area, so now that it’s dark, we’re starting a sky watch. Above, a map Alice made overnight with suggested West Seattle-area viewing spots, if you can’t just hit the road and drive away from the city.

9:04 PM: From Alice via Twitter:

@westseattleblog SKY IS OFFICIALLY GETTING REDDER in the NE

— Alice Enevoldsen (@AlicesAstroInfo) September 13, 2014

9:30 PM: Tweeted by Patrick:

@westseattleblog Faint green hue off to my north here in high point

— Patrick kelly (@MetPatrick22) September 13, 2014

10:41 PM: Hope is fading, Alice tweets:

we're down below Kp 4. That may be it for tonight.

— Alice Enevoldsen (@AlicesAstroInfo) September 13, 2014

We’ll be watching for a while longer, just in case.

12:58 AM: No miraculous appearance, so far as we can tell, combing Twitter (and elsewhere) for reports, and checking comments. (Alice tweeted about an hour ago that she’d seen some meteors, though. A clear sky always has SOMETHING worth watching.)

5:32 AM: We’ve been up all night but no sign of major Northern Lights (as commenters from all over the region were saying, too). Maybe tonight? We’ll be watching, again.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Taxi fire at Olson/3rd

September 12, 2014 7:48 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Added: Photo, courtesy of Jason)
7:48 PM: Traffic alert for the east end of Roxbury – Seattle Fire crews are handling a “car fire” call at Olson/3rd (map) that’s described on the scanner as a “taxicab on fire.” Not sure how it’s affecting traffic yet, but we’re checking it out.

8:04 PM: Fire’s out. Affected the front end of a cab that’s in the outside lane of the uphill (southwestward) side of the Olson hill, so traffic headed toward White Center is affected more than downhill/outbound. No injuries reported.

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Ready to rummage? Second-Time Sale in Fauntleroy this weekend

September 12, 2014 7:33 pm

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Among the events on our calendar for Saturday that are so big, preparation had to start today – the Second-Time Sale at Fauntleroy Church. We stopped by while volunteers were getting everything in place today, including all those pillows (and more). The sale runs 9 am-3 pm Saturday (with a bake sale!), 11 am-1 pm Sunday, “in and around Fellowship Hall” at the church, 9140 California SW.

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Power outage along Roxbury, repairs under way

September 12, 2014 6:32 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

6:32 PM: More than 50 homes/businesses in pockets along Roxbury, between 35th and 20th, are without power, but Seattle City Light crews tell us it shouldn’t last much longer. It’s affecting signals, though, including 30th/Roxbury, so be careful and treat any nonworking signal intersection as a four-way stop. The cause is listed as “equipment failure,” apparently in a vault.

7 PM: The map suggests the easternmost pockets have been restored.

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Traffic alert: Paving on East Marginal Way, north of the bridge, next week

September 12, 2014 4:00 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Transportation

A much-used West Seattle-downtown route, particularly for bicycle riders, is set for paving work next week, according to this announcement from SDOT:

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will pave in the 3100 block of East Marginal Way South [map] on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.

On Wednesday, bicycles may use the designated bike lane. On Thursday bicyclists may ride on the sidewalk, being cautious of pedestrians and giving pedestrians the right of way. For information on bus service, look for Rider Alert notices at bus stops.

This is an area where a deadly bicycle/truck collision last year led to city promises of safety improvements.

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Hot tub at Southwest Pool shut down for weeks of repairs

September 12, 2014 3:45 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

While the pool itself isn’t affected, the hot tub (spa) alongside city-owned Southwest Pool in Westwood has been shut down, Seattle Parks has announced:

Effective immediately, the spa at Southwest Pool will be closed for several weeks for the repair of the spa’s drain assembly.

To remain in compliance with federal law and Washington state health regulations, a temporary repair is not possible. A permanent repair requires replacement of the drain sump, patched cement, plumbing, tile work and more.

The spa will remain closed until this extensive work can be completed.

The entire Southwest Pool building was closed for a week of maintenance work recently, but apparently (we’re checking) this didn’t come up until after that.

ADDED 3:45 PM: The reply to our question: “The pool was closed in August so the gym floor could be refinished. There was no pool maintenance scheduled at that time. The spa maintenance is a new issue.”

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Seafair Clowns and friends visit West Seattle Elementary for school-supplies giveaway

September 12, 2014 1:49 pm

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| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
For the 10th year, Seafair Clowns stopped at a local school for a big supplies giveaway. Today was the big day, and this time, the recipients were students at West Seattle Elementary in High Point. Seattle firefighters and police were there to help too:

That included Fire Chief Gregory Dean:

And West Seattle’s own “Officer Lumpy” got a big smile from West Seattle Elementary principal Vicki Sacco:

Also part of the event – Stoneway Concrete and Gary Merlino Construction.

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Weekend time! 6 highlights for the rest of your West Seattle Friday

September 12, 2014 1:26 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

(From upper Lincoln Park, by Mark Ahlness, via the WSB Flickr group)
Before we get much further into the afternoon – a quick look at half a dozen highlights ahead through tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HIGH-SCHOOL AEROSPACE-CAREER EXPO: New timespan for this event, 3-4:30 pm – otherwise, details are in our preview. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

DELRIDGE GROCERY’S FRIDAY FARMSTAND: The fresh-produce stand just south of Delridge Library is open again, 4:30-7:30 pm, with farm-fresh fruit and vegetables. (5435 Delridge Way SW)

INSTAGRAM PICNIC ON ALKI: If you’re anywhere near Alki tonight, your chances of winding up in someone’s photo are greater than ever (or perhaps you’ll be taking the photos): Seattle Instagramers are invited to gather for a picnic near Statue of Liberty Plaza to celebrate the group’s 3rd anniversary, 6 pm. (61st/Alki)

‘KIWI MEETS THE SEA’ WINE, OYSTERS, MUSIC: That’s all in one event at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) tonight, with the wines of New Zealand’s much-honored Villa Maria and local Taylor Shellfish Farms oysters, 6:30-7:30 pm; plus music (6-9 pm) by The W Brothers, guitar and mandolin. (1936 Harbor SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: One game in town tonight – West Seattle High School hosts Washington at Southwest Athletic Complex (2601 SW Thistle), 7 pm. That’s also when Chief Sealth International High School visits Rainier Beach at Southeast Athletic Complex.

NIGHT 2 FOR ‘THE MOUNTAINTOP’: 7:30 pm is curtain time for the new production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), the Seattle premiere of “The Mountaintop,” directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton. Buy your ticket(s) online, here. (4711 California SW)

MORE TO SEE AND DO … just check our calendar.

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Video & as-it-happened coverage: Mayor Murray’s public-safety-spending plan, and how he’d address homelessness

September 12, 2014 12:08 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

(Added – archived video of briefing)

TOPLINES:
-Mayor promises 50 more SPD officers will be on street by end of 2015
-100+ neighborhood “micropolicing” plans in the works
-Re: homeless encampment sweeps, he says policies haven’t changed since before he took office

(added) OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE HERE

As-it-happened notes after the jump:

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Admiral Neighborhood Association toplines: Saturday’s Adopt-A-Street cleanup welcomes you! Plus, traffic-signal update, more…

September 12, 2014 11:11 am

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| How to help | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Live/work in Admiral? Tomorrow you can join the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup, with rewards – treats before/after from the Admiral Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor). Meet your fellow volunteers outside the store at 9 am Saturday. Don’t worry about bringing bags or equipment – it’s all provided. Young volunteers welcome, too.

The Adopt-A-Street cleanup is part of what was on the agenda at this past Tuesday’s ANA meeting. Centerpiece item: The long-requested, soon-to-be-installed 47th/Admiral traffic signal.

Toplines from that discussion, and more, ahead:

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Followup: Your student-benefiting West Seattle wildlife calendar awaits, now in local stores!

September 12, 2014 9:54 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The 2015 West Seattle wildlife-photo calendar featuring images by Mark Wangerin – a frequent WSB contributor (thank you!) – is now available. It’s been about four months since we shared the news that this 12″ x 12″ calendar was in the works, as a fundraiser for environmental programs at Chief Sealth International High School, where Mark taught from 2002 to 2012. Now the calendar is on sale at local stores including J.F. Henry, Merryweather Books, and Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, and West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. According to Mark House Publishing, if you’re interested in a bulk order of the $14.99 calendar, that “can be personalized with logos and/or contact information for no additional charge” (markhousepublishing.com or 206-660-6982).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: 42nd/Dakota crash; other Friday notes; weekend preview

September 12, 2014 7:03 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)
No trouble on the major roads through/from West Seattle so far. But 42nd/Dakota has an unusual sight, until it’s towed:

See our coverage from the 6 am hour here (or if you’re reading this on the main page, scroll down to the previous story).

WEST SEATTLE CAR SHOW ON SUNDAY: The 7th annual West Seattle Car Show is two days away and will close California to traffic between Oregon and Edmunds starting early Sunday morning and continuing until late afternoon. That includes Metro bus re-routes.

OVERNIGHT CLOSURES ON/NEAR HIGHWAY 99 NEXT WEEK: Listed in the new “Construction Lookahead,” which says that, between the West Seattle Bridge and the stadium zone, Highway 99 will be closed northbound 10 pm Wednesday (September 17th) to 5 am Thursday (September 18th), and southbound 10 pm-5 am Thurs. night-Fri. morning (Sept. 18th-19th). The ramp from the eastbound bridge to NB 99 will be closed overnight Mon., Tues., Wed. (Sept. 15-16-17).

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Update: Driver to hospital after going sideways at 42nd/Dakota

September 12, 2014 6:14 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: WSB photo)
6:14 AM: Emergency responders are arriving in the 4000 block of 42nd SW on a “heavy rescue” call that involves a flipped car, according to someone who called us (thank you).

6:19 AM: Some of the units have been canceled – the person in the vehicle, reported to be on its side, got out without having to be cut out. No word on injuries yet; our crew is en route.

6:34 AM: Just added a photo. The car – reported to be owned by a rental company – is up on the sidewalk, and police are trying to figure out how that happened. Its driver is being taken to the hospital by private ambulance. Police say he told them he was westbound and remembers hitting the traffic island just before the car landed on the sidewalk on the north side of Dakota, a few houses east of California. No traffic effects now but once a tow truck arrives, that will cause some 42nd/Dakota logistics challenges for a bit.

8:42 AM: Car’s gone, scene clear.

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