day : 19/09/2015 8 results

Seems a long time since Tuesday, when the Seattle Education Association and Seattle Public Schools reached a tentative agreement and SEA suspended its strike. It won’t be officially over until and unless the membership approves the contract deal. Voting is planned during the union’s general membership meeting on Sunday, 3 pm at Benaroya Hall downtown. This time, the vote is expected to be by ballot, not voice; the process is explained on the SEA home page. The SEA news release notes, “It could take hours of debate and questions before the vote.” We asked a union spokesperson if the meeting would be open to the media; the reply, no, but they might open it for announcement of the results, which we’ll report whenever/however they’re available. (WSB photo: Picketing outside district HQ last Monday, after strikers marched downtown from Denny/Sealth)

VIDEO: 2nd open house for SDOT’s Admiral Way Safety Project

September 19, 2015 9:54 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB video & photos by Katie Meyer)

That’s the public meeting that wouldn’t have happened if not for community demand. At the first open house for SDOT’s SW Admiral Way Safety Project back in May at Alki Elementary (WSB coverage here) – at which many concerns were detailed, sometimes testily – Admiral Neighborhood Association president David Whiting stood up and asked SDOT reps to commit to a second public meeting, then and there. They did. And so, nine days after going over plan revisions at the ANA’s regular monthly meeting on September 8th (WSB coverage here), SDOT held a standalone open house at Hiawatha Community Center this past Thursday.

It started and ended with discussion time around the room, where these boards were shown – with some options that weren’t in the deck at the ANA meeting:

The slide deck included in the presentation on our video is here:

The only thing we can’t show you is what Mayor Ed Murray told attendees at the start of the meeting – we had equipment trouble, so our video picks up shortly after that. He told those gathered that their concerns had caught his attention. He didn’t stay, but as you can see in the video, SDOT director Scott Kubly did, as did the staffers who led the presentation, Dawn Schellenberg and Sam Woods, and traffic engineer Dongho Chang.

The points of contention continue to be whether proposed changes are necessary and/or whether they will address the key factor in collisions along the road, drivers losing control (and/or impaired) and hitting parked cars. The need for bicycle lanes continued to be debated; while the road is not heavily used by riders now, the city, and riders, say that’s to be expected because it’s not a safe/comfortable option in its current configuration. While the city’s new options would keep much of the on-street vehicle parking that was previously proposed for removal, the potential loss of a center turn lane as a result drew some concerns.

If the goal is to slow drivers down, why not use speed humps? Chang explained that they’re dangerous on slopes.

The questions/answers continued; SDOT says it’s still open to comments on the revised plans until October 1st – a link for e-mail feedback is on the project webpage – then they will work on a “final” design, with fall/winter implementation and “evaluation” next year:

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PHOTOS: Denny, Concord International in Fiestas Patrias parade

September 19, 2015 7:35 pm

| Comments Off on PHOTOS: Denny, Concord International in Fiestas Patrias parade

| South Park | West Seattle news

Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for sharing photos from today’s Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park – during which the Denny contingent celebrated a special anniversary for the academic-support program Proyecto Saber:

I am proud to share that the Denny Dolphins had a great time celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Proyecto Saber as we marched in our favorite parade, Fiestas Patrias in South Park!

A special thank you to our superstar Proyecto staff, Liz Olsen, Herman Garcia, and Diana Burga! Our Dolphin Scholars did an excellent job representing their school as a part of the special neighborhood celebration.

A big shout out to our friends at Concord International Elementary School, Ms. Nestor, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Bautista from El Centro de la Raza, and Ms. Clausen, who danced in her Salvadorean attire.

Go Dolphins! Viva Proyecto!

The parade featured hundreds of participants – also including custom cars and horseback riders!

As explained online, the Fiestas Patrias parade and subsequent festival in South Park – along with a festival continuing downtown at Seattel Center tomorrow – celebrate “the Latin American countries that celebrate their independence throughout the month of September. Belizeans, Brazilians, Chileans, Costa Ricans, Salvadoreans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Mexicans, and Nicaraguans from all over the Pacific Northwest come to enjoy their beautiful cultures with great food, dance, music, and more.”

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TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle Bridge bus-lane marking work starts tonight, first of four nights

September 19, 2015 6:29 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Since the city sent first word Friday afternoon of the plan to paint red markings in the bus lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, we’ve followed up to get the work schedule, which wasn’t in the announcement. If you’re driving the eastbound bridge overnight any time in the next four nights, be on the lookout for crews. SDOT spokesperson Norm Mah tells WSB it’ll be done over the next four nights:

The prep will begin Saturday night at 9 pm and go probably until 5 am. Then the painting is scheduled to begin Sunday night at 9 pm until 5 am to have the least impact on traffic. The work will continue Monday and Tuesday nights same hours and expected to be completed and ready for the Wednesday morning commute.

The city has marked bus lanes with red paint in four other spots so far. This is apparently one of the action items in the long-awaited “West Seattle Bridge-Duwamish Waterway Corridor Action Report” that will be presented at the City Council Transportation Committee‘s meeting on Tuesday morning at 9:30 am; the report itself is not yet attached to the agenda.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Bike stolen; fire extinguishers returned

September 19, 2015 5:09 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

STOLEN BICYCLE: Travis hopes you will be on the lookout for his bicycle, stolen from the back patio of his house between 10:45 pm Friday and 9 am today near the corner of 38th SW and SW Hinds. The serial number starts with M13; the bags were not on the bike at the time; a report is filed with police, so call 911 (and then comment here!) if you see it. (8:38 PM UPDATE – it’s back.)

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS RETURNED: Back on Tuesday, we published a report that two fire extinguishers had been stolen from SFD Engine 32 while its crew was out on an emergency call. Last night, we received word that they’ve been returned to the station – with a note of apology. (We added that info to the original story last night, but are mentioning it here since most probably wouldn’t be checking back for an update.)

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BIZNOTE: Changes at Cycle U’s West Seattle location

September 19, 2015 1:30 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Cycle University‘s West Seattle branch is getting out of the retail business – but you’ll still be able to shop there, as another bike shop takes over the retail space, while Cycle U continues with cycling-fitness classes, bike-fitting, coaching, and bicycle-skill classes. Cycle U proprietor Craig Undem says they’re partnering with Woodinville Bicycle, which will open its second shop at the Cycle U WS location as Westside Bicycles. That’ll be in an expanded retail space on the main floor at 3418 Harbor Ave. SW, while Cycle U’s offerings will be in a remodeled basement studio, starting in early October. In the meantime, Cycle U’s having a “blow-out liquidation sale” of its merchandise. Undem says in the announcement, “I can’t thank the West Seattle community enough for the support and patronage these first 6 years from our start at the Senior Center and the Huling Brothers Jeep location. We always wanted to offer more bikes and accessories but were working with a limited budget. Woodinville Bicycle has been one of the top shops in the region for 10 years and has the resources to really outfit a top level bike shop. This will allow us to focus on what we do best.” Cycle U moved to Harbor Ave. in 2012. (King County Assessor’s Office photo)

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FOLLOWUP: Warning period recalibrated for West Seattle’s new speed-camera zone. Also: New price for school-zone tickets

September 19, 2015 11:59 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Once it was determined that Seattle Public Schools would start this past Thursday, we published a reminder about West Seattle’s new speed camera zone, its fourth one, on Delridge Way SW by Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and interim Arbor Heights Elementary (as first confirmed in June). We have since obtained followup information about the warning period for that camera – and it includes news of the new increased fine for school-zone speeding. From Chris Steel of SPD’s speed-camera program:

The new sites [this one and others in the city] will have a 30-day warning period starting on the first day of school, 9/17/15. Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit while the school zone beacons are active will receive a Courtesy Warning Notice. This notice explains the school zone safety program and advises the driver:

· This is a Courtesy Warning Only
· There is No Penalty for this Notice
· These is No Response needed
· This Notice will not be reported to the Department of Licensing

The notice goes further on to explain that once the warning period ends, the current fine for this violation is $234. This is an increase from last school year as mandated by the Washington Supreme Court and in effect as of July 1, 2015.

Again, the “grace period” applies only to the ticketing *camera* in the STEM/AH zone – if an officer tickets you, or if you get an in-person or camera ticket in any other flashing-beacon school zone, it’s official from the school year’s start. (Here’s the map of speed cameras citywide – West Seattle has three that were in use before this school year, Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary and two on SW Roxbury, by Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School.)

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West Seattle Saturday: Gear Grab, 2nd-Time Sale, WestFest, more!

September 19, 2015 7:44 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(9-year-old Ole Gutierrez of the Fire Breathers, photographed by Tom Madden last weekend)

The spotlight photo is in honor of the West Seattle Soccer Club‘s recordsetting fall season (2,000+ players, 340+ volunteer coaches) starting its second weekend. In all, lots going on today! Here are the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PORT OF SEATTLE BOAT TOUR: If you’re going on this, you should already have RSVP’d; we’re just mentioning it as a reminder. The port’s free boat tour for West Seattleites, to show off the “working waterfront,” leaves Pier 66 downtown at 9:30 am.

SECOND-TIME SALE: 9 am-3 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church. Volunteers worked hard Friday to get everything ready:

(Volunteer Baiba Morris gets a pile of linens ready for this weekend’s sale. Photo courtesy Judy Pickens)
The sale continues for a few midday hours on Sunday, but today’s your best chance at the best deals. (9140 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE GEAR GRAB: 10 am-4 pm, outdoor gear at an outdoor sale! Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Cyclery, and Mountain to Sound Outfitters are teaming up for this giant parking-lot clearance sale, rain or shine, as previewed here. (42nd SW parking lot south of SW Oregon)

WESTFEST: 10 am-10 pm, it’s the second and final day of Holy Rosary School‘s annual fundraising festival. Family fun, food, and other festivities. See the entertainment schedule – and get other festival info – by going here. (42nd SW & SW Genesee)

FABULOUS FAMILY FUN SERIES: The series is back, at High Point Community Center! Louie Foxx performs at 10:30 am. Admission prices and other info, check out our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)

FIESTAS PATRIAS PARADE: 11 am in South Park – if you love parades, you don’t want to miss this one. Followed by a festival at SP Community Center; details here. (14th Avenue S.)

STORYTIME: Melissa at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village says, “Splat the Cat will be our very special guest star at our Saturday Storytime! Come say hi to our fun, furry friend, and listen to his great stories! 11 am in the Kids’ Department.” (2800 SW Barton)

EVENING WALK WITH THE OWLS, RAVENS, & OTHER LIFE FORMS: 6:30 pm nature walk in Lincoln Park with naturalist Stewart Wechsler – details on his website. (8265 Fauntleroy Way SW)

BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN ROAD SHOW: 7 pm at Easy Street Records, music and advocacy on behalf of this “non-profit, volunteer-based organization focused on protecting America’s last wild buffalo population,” in southwestern Montana. More in our calendar listing. (SW Alaska & California SW)

MORE LIVE MUSIC: Bavarian music for Oktoberfest at Elliott Bay, Roo Forrest & Friends at >C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), Katherine Terrien at The Junction Church, and a multi-act bill at Skylark – find all those listings on our complete calendar.

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