Election 2015: Phillip Tavel joins District 1 City Council race
9:42 PM: Another West Seattleite has announced he’s joining the District 1 City Council race. Phillip Tavel sent his official announcement tonight, describing himself as an “attorney and entrepreneur.” Tavel says he is ready to “make tough decisions for our community and our city” on “existing projects,” singling out the Highway 99 tunnel: “Stopping the existing tunnel project is the most responsible decision we can make. The remaining project money should be used to increase transit and implement a lower-cost alternative that actually delivers on the promise to reduce traffic.” He lists a professional background including teaching high-school physics, co-founding an entertainment company, and working as a trial lawyer, now in private practice, as well as serving as a court-appointed advocate for children. He also leads the long-running Wednesday trivia night at Talarico’s in The Junction. This is not his first run for office; Tavel ran for District Court Judge last year.
We are waiting to hear whether he’ll accept our invitation to join previously announced candidates Chas Redmond, Amanda Kay Helmick, and George Capestany in the District 1: First Look candidates’ forum, presented by WSB, tomorrow (Thursday) night at Highland Park Improvement Club, doors open at 6:30, forum at 7.
12:01 AM UPDATE: Tavel has confirmed he’ll participate.
Seattle Public Schools tech ‘Town Hall’ set for March 2 @ WSHS
Something to say about tech at school? Here’s your chance:
Seattle Public Schools wants to give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback and input into the district’s Technology Vision process. To accomplish this we are scheduling five “Town Hall” meetings around the District. One in each of the five major regions …
WEST SEATTLE REGION: Monday, March 2, at West Seattle High School cafeteria
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. so that attendees can browse sample results from the Tech Summit. The structured meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Interested individuals who are unable to attend any of the Town Hall meetings are encouraged to submit their vision, ideas, and comments to techvision@seattleschools.org
NOAA decision is in: ‘Lolita,’ last surviving captive Puget Sound orca, to be included in endangered-species listing
(January 17th WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Two and a half weeks ago, hundreds rallied at Alki Beach to support freedom for the last surviving captive Puget Sound orca, best known as “Lolita.” The rally was partly in anticipation of a federal decision on whether to include Lolita in the endangered-species listing that already covers her wild family members. Today, this federal news release announces, the decision is in:
NOAA Fisheries will issue a final rule to include Lolita, a captive killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium, in the endangered species listing for Southern Resident Killer Whales that spend much of the year in the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia.
While Lolita will now share the endangered listing status of the population she came from, the decision does not impact her residence at the Miami Seaquarium.
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Weekend lookahead: 5th annual ‘Soul Jambalaya’ at Sealth/Denny
(2013 photo courtesy Denny IMS: Septimus collaborating with Marcus Pimpleton & Denny musicians)
Best way to go through football withdrawal this weekend: Stay busy. Our calendar has many possibilities, including this fab FREE concert on Saturday night: The 5th annual Soul Jambalaya music extravaganza, featuring, again this year, not only student jazz musicians from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School directed by Marcus Pimpleton, but also guests including Total Experience Gospel Choir, Septimus, and Westside Blues. It’s an exceptional night of music in multiple genres including jazz, gospel, funk, and blues, 7 pm Saturday in the Sealth Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle); donations accepted to support student music programs.
West Seattle power-outage update: Underground cable to blame
10:57 AM: The power outage affecting more than 60 homes on western Charlestown Hill is in its 10th hour and the estimated time of restoration has been pushed back again until after 1 pm. We’re waiting to hear back from Seattle City Light on details regarding the “equipment failure” listed on the outage map as its cause, and we’ll add an update here when that information is available.
1:33 PM: Still out, according to SCL map, which now describes restoration as “pending.” SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen tells WSB, “The crew working on this outage is still trying to determine what piece of equipment failed. This can be a challenge with underground facilities where you can’t just look at the cable and see whether it is intact or damaged. They work through a progression to identify the section of line where the problem exists, including checks on transformers and connections. In some cases, it can require digging up the last section of cable to find the damaged spot and make the repair.”
3:37 PM: Just checked the outage map, and this is no longer listed – if you don’t have your power back, though, be sure City Light knows!
4:46 PM: Update from SCL’s Thomsen – an underground-cable failure caused this outage, as was also the case in an early-morning outage in southwest West Seattle about two weeks ago.
7 possibilities for your West Seattle Wednesday, morning to night
(Working waterfront of the Duwamish River, photographed by Don Brubeck, shared via Flickr)
Midweek highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ARBOR HEIGHTS KINDERGARTEN TOURS: 9 am-10 am – if you’re not signed up for today, check our listing to see other upcoming dates, and how to RSVP. Remember AHES continues at Boren for one more year, so that’s where the tours are. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
SPANISH STORY TIME @ MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: 11:15 am on Wednesdays, My Three Little Birds in Morgan Junction offers Spanish story time. (6959 California SW)
HOME OFFICE/CO-WORKING MEETUP: Noon at West Seattle Office Junction – get out of the house and into a meetup to network, share ideas, take a break from the usual surroundings. Details in our calendar listing. (6040 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, all welcome. Agenda items include City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and further discussion of the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, including whether its utilities should be undergrounded (here’s our coverage of the most-recent discussion). Other topics will include the Port of Seattle’s upcoming “West Seattle working waterfront” community boat tour. (Oregon/California)
JIM PAGE AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Jim Page performs 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – find out more about his music here. (5612 California SW)
NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN MEETINGS: What can you do about climate change? For starters – 7-9 pm, join this twice-monthly gathering at Admiral Bird. (California/Admiral)
4000 MILES, WEEK 3: It’s the third week of performances for this Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor). Curtain time 7:30 pm; get tickets online. (4711 California SW)
WHAT ELSE IS UP? Please browse our calendar for more of what’s going on today/tonight, and beyond.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates/alerts
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Good morning!
As we start today’s commute watch, there’s word of trouble in the bus lane on northbound 99, just tweeted by Kevin:
7:06 AM: The truck has moved on, according to SDOT, and the lane is open again.
7:35 AM: A note from Lisa calls our attention to a power outage on western Charlestown Hill. Does not appear to be in an area with any traffic lights, according to the City Light outage map (which blames “equipment failure” and projects the power will be back soon), but you might encounter repair crews in that area.
8:30 AM: From Helga in comments: “E Marginal backup from Atlantic to Spokane for the 3rd day in a row.”
8:38 AM: Traffic reporter Tracy Taylor @ KING 5 found a camera for it:
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