West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
Shopping for wine to go with Thanksgiving dinner? You have one more chance tomorrow afternoon/evening to taste and buy the fall releases from the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). We stopped by tonight toward the end of the second of the three sessions. You have 6 wines to choose from – and handy order forms available to use at checkout:
Here’s the wine list:
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon – Columbia Valley
2014 Chardonnay – Yakima Valley
2014 Reserve Chardonnay – Yakima Valley
2013 Reserve Red – Red Mountain
2013 Merlot – Red Mountain
2014 Viognier – Yakima Valley
One fun feature of Northwest Wine Academy events, a behind-the-scenes view of the winemaking process – these barrels are steps away:
And there’s a “sensory” area where you can learn about details of the process at the only Western Washington college to teach winemaking. Tonight, as is a tradition for the second night of every NWA release, academy alums who have gone on to open their own wineries were offering tastes too – Kitzke Cellars among them:
Don’t miss the final day tomorrow (Saturday), 2-7 pm, with tasty appetizers offered along with the wine – you know SSC is famous for food-making as well as beverage-making. The NWA building is on the east side of the north lot on campus, 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge – look for the sign by the lot entrance on 16th.
P.S. This is one of the many events featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – where you’ll find many more events for tomorrow and beyond, including open houses and bazaars, and chances for holiday giving as well as buying, celebrating, etc.
We’ve seen/heard a few mentions of a loud jet over West Seattle around 5 pm – turns out longtime WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli got a photo of it. He says the jet hit the afterburners “as soon as it turned to the southeast,” adding, “It was too dark to see any markings but based on the longer, twin seat canopy and the wider wing leading edge it appeared to be an F/A-18F Super Hornet.” Some readers noticed something similar last Sunday, and we saw/heard one (which also struck us as F/A-18-esque) while walking along Duwamish Head on Veterans Day morning – tweeted about it for the record. With Boeing‘s presence here and multiple military bases, could be many explanations, but we don’t have a line on one currently.
Thanks to everyone for the texts and other messages. Police have been out at several spots in north West Seattle, from Harbor Avenue up to Admiral, investigating hit-and-run damage done to parked cars. We don’t have all the exact locations; police theorize one driver might be to blame, but as of when we caught up with them, they hadn’t found a suspect yet. No injuries reported. But if you discover damage to your vehicle – be sure to report it. (Thanks to Katie for the photo above, taken around 5 pm at 46th/Admiral.)
If you don’t know them already, above are Fran Yeatts and Rick Jump, executive directors of the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, photographed at last night’s WS Chamber of Commerce “After Hours” event at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village. We’ve checked with both organizations about Thanksgiving turkey needs and here’s where they stand:
WSFB – OK on turkeys thanks to some unexpected deliveries/donations – but they will of course welcome any that you can drop off at their HQ (SE corner of 35th and Morgan, donations through the garage entrance off Morgan) 9 am-3 pm weekdays. This weekend, you can also donate nonperishable food via the food drives at the Junction True Value (4747 44th SW; WSB sponsor) open house on Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, and the Beer Church Turkey Bowl at WS Bowl (39th/Oregon) on Saturday night, 6:30-8:30 pm.
WCFB – Bring turkeys!!!! As mentioned previously, special turkey drive at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) this Sunday, 10 am-noon – look for the truck outside – or at their HQ (10829 8th SW) 9 am- 5 pm weekdays.
Both also can always use cash donations, as in many cases – though NOT the case with turkeys! – they have special agreements and can make donated dollars go further. For WSFB – donate online here; for WCFB (which serves WS south of SW Myrtle) – donate online here.
Two more weekdays until the election is certified, and a recount is expected to follow. As of today’s ballot count, Lisa Herbold is now 32 votes ahead of Shannon Braddock for the new Seattle City Council District 1 seat:
Lisa Herbold – 12,445 – 49.74%
Shannon Braddock – 12,413 – 49.61%
It’s the only not-yet-settled race left in this election. The full results list shows 27,733 ballots counted, of 60,991 sent out. (Almost 300 additional ballots came in but have problems such as unverified signatures.) After the initial count on Election Night (November 3rd), Braddock had a 733-vote lead.
A busy round of biznotes, starting with a throwback photo and the reason for it:
DISCOVERY SHOP TURNS 25: The nonprofit shop at 4535 California SW in The Junction, which is a WSB sponsor, is having its quarter-century birthday tomorrow:
The Discovery Shop, a resale store benefiting The American Cancer Society, will celebrate 25 years in business on Saturday, November 21 with refreshments and special sales throughout the store. While you won’t find any acid wash jeans or MC Hammer pants so popular when the store first opened, you will find quality, gently used men and women’s contemporary clothing from retailers such as Nordstrom, Chico’s as well as antiques, collectibles and housewares.
In the same West Seattle location since opening November 1990, the Discovery Shop is a story of retail success and longevity, quite an accomplishment for a store run entirely by volunteers! And thanks to their dedication throughout the years, this one store has generated over 2 million dollars for cancer research and patient treatment programs. The volunteers, who do everything from sorting and cleaning donations, merchandising and pricing to ringing sales and bookkeeping, are the heart and soul of the store. Currently, more than 70 volunteers help staff the store seven days a week, including a few who have been volunteering since the early days.
How long ago was it that the store rang up its first sale? Well, it’s the same year Microsoft released Windows 3.0, Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson threw a no-hitter in the Kingdome where the Seahawks also played and the cult hit Twin Peaks premiered on TV. It was also the year in which smoking was first banned on all domestic flights. “With the continued support of the West Seattle community, we are looking forward to another 25 years selling quality, unique donated items. But most importantly, providing hope for a cure,” says Board Chair Winni Field. “Thanks in part to the Discovery Shop and American Cancer Society, 14 million cancer survivors are celebrating birthdays this year!”
THE WESTY TURNS 1: The sports bar in Westwood is also having an anniversary party tomorrow:
We want to take this time to thank the West Seattle Community for the overwhelming support throughout our first year here at The Westy. We want to invite everyone to come help us celebrate our first year this Saturday, November 21st.
To celebrate we will be offering our Happy Hour drink specials all day long. We are continuing our tap takeover featuring Reuben’s Brews and in addition will be tapping a few limited kegs that we have acquired for a special occasion. We will also be releasing our first limited batch of two barrel-aged cocktails. One such cocktail features two spirits with recipes created by us, and will be available as a component flight to try both spirits on their own, a mini-unaged variation, and the barrel-aged version. Available while supplies last. Beginning at 7 pm we will begin hosting Skee Ball tournaments, which are free to enter and will have some great prizes. Everyone in attendance will be entered in a raffle for prizes being given away throughout the day.
We wouldn’t be here today without all of your support and can’t begin to thank you all enough. We look forward to this Saturday and many future anniversaries to come.
The Westy is at 7908 35th SW.
OUR SECRET GARDEN … is a new flower/antique shop having its grand opening at Junction 47 tomorrow, 3 pm-7 pm. The building announcement via Facebook says: “You can find them located on the south side of the East Building, overlooking the pathway from California Ave to 42nd Ave.”
WEST SEATTLE LANDSCAPING … is closing its bricks-and-mortar store, say owners Jeff Detweiler and Andrew Rupp, who sent this announcement that their last day will be Sunday, and a closing sale is under way now:
West Seattle Landscape and Stone Supply (aka egreen landscaping and materials ) will be closing the store at 9010 Delridge Way on November 22nd. “After 12 years of selling and delivering landscape supplies and stone to all our many friends and customers in West Seattle, we’ve lost our battle to create a good outcome with a property with multiple issues and are closing the store. We’ll be having our closing sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Friday 12 – 5, Saturday and Sunday 10-4. I have a lot of bagged decorative gravels, and pebbles, tons of Basalt rockery rock, paver samples, etc. etc. all at big discounts! The GOOD news is that while the store is closing we’ll still be in business as a web and phone-based delivery-only service. You’ll still be able to get all the products we’ve been selling for 12 years, along with some new ones we never stocked at the store! Our new website should be up and running at www.westseattlestone.com by January 1. Until then, you can still find us at egreenlandscaping.com, and our phone will remain 206-763-7625 as well. I really want to thank all of our loyal customers who have supported us for 12 years, and hope you’ll continue to do so in our new venture going forward.
MEANDER’S KITCHEN … is apparently closed for good – “in (the White Center) locale,” per its Facebook page, three months after the “closing or not?” kerfuffle. Thanks to the reader who e-mailed to point this out.
P.S. Go browse the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide to preview which businesses are having holiday open houses this weekend (and to find tons of other holiday-season events and info)!
(Thursday night sunset near Alki Point – photo by David Hutchinson)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (browse it before the weekend – so much happening!) and our regular year-round calendar:
WINE RELEASE: 2-7 pm, it’s fall release time at Northwest Wine Academy on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Info here. (6000 16th SW)
FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: At Highland Park Improvement Club – “doors open at 6 pm, with a children’s short at 6:15 and the main movie at 7 pm. Free admission. Volunteers will be selling popcorn, candy and other movie fare. Bring blankets and pillows or sit in our chairs. This is an all-ages event. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors.” See our listing for movie hints. (12th SW & SW Holden)
‘THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT’: Free movie! This documentary tells the story of inspirational women, geared for middle-school age and up. The showing’s at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall. No admission charge but you need to save your seat(s), and you can do that here. (9140 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s listings include Timothy Michaels, 6:30 pm at Admiral Bird (California SW & SW Admiral Way), and Beth & Friends, 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT AT STRAIGHT BLAST GYM: 7 pm tonight! “3 hours of epic fun and pizza” at Straight Blast Gym of Seattle, plus a movie and … dodgeball! 7 pm. Ages 5-13. Go here or call the gym at 206.420.1834 ASAP to see if there’s room left. (5050 Delridge Way SW)
‘THE DEAD GUY’: 7:30 pm, final performance of West Seattle High School Drama Club‘s student production, in the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
FREE WEST COAST SWING DANCE: 8:30 pm lesson, 9 pm-1 am dance with the Seattle West Coast Swing Dance Club at Alki Masonic Center – free! More info in our calendar listing. (40th/Edmunds)
(Photo of J-53 by Mark Sears – NOAA research permit 16163-01)
The baby boom among Puget Sound’s orcas has given new hope to the humans who love them. You’ll hear more about them – and the Southern Resident Killer Whale adults – at The Whale Trail‘s next Orca Talk event, just announced for 7:30 pm December 3rd at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor):
Over the past year, six new calves have been born to the Southern Resident Killer Whales (J, K and L pods). What does that mean for this endangered population – how healthy are they overall? What have we learned over the past year, and what are the most pressing questions still to be addressed?
Join us to hear the latest findings and future research directions, presented by Dr. Brad Hanson, NWFSC lead killer whale researcher.
This is the second in the 2015/2016 Orca Talk series hosted by The Whale Trail in West Seattle. The event also features updates from Robin Lindsey (Seal Sitters), and “Diver Laura” James (tox-ick.org). Come early and share some holiday cheer!
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry – this will likely sell out.
Haven’t heard of The Whale Trail before? At the heart of it, as executive director Donna Sandstrom describes it, it’s “a series of sites where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 30 million people each year. The Whale Trail is currently adding new sites along the North American west coast, from BC to California. The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Seattle Aquarium, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the Whale Museum.”
Back to tickets for the event – $5 suggested donation; kids free. Go to this Brown Paper Tickets page.
The family of longtime West Seattleite Richard A. Whitney is sharing this remembrance:
Our Hero, Richard Allen Whitney, passed away a True Veteran this past Veterans Day, 11/11/15.
He was born in Seattle, where he attended Highland Park Elementary, Denny Middle School, and Chief Sealth High School.
He was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam in 1967 and served two years. During his tour, he was exposed to Agent Orange and became very ill. He has since then had a liver and kidney transplant and lived beyond the years the doctors expected. He overcame many medical obstacles throughout his life and will be forever a medical miracle.
Whitney met his lovely wife, Liz Whitney, at Marv’s Broiler in White Center in 1981, and they have been happily married ever since!
He is survived by his wife Liz; mother Marie Clay; brother Ron Whitney; daughter and son Shannon and Patrick (PJ) Whitney. He also had the opportunity to meet his five grandkids as well who all adored him! Whitney coached Shannon in softball for more than 10 years as well as coaching SWAC football for PJ. He was very well known around our neighborhood, as all the kids loved to come to his house to play. He was a produce manager for QFC and retired from the Westwood Village store in West Seattle.
He loved his family, camping and the outdoors. He will forever be in our hearts and will be truly missed. There will be a memorial in the spring and his family will have the details posted when available.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Five WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:13 AM: Good morning! Still no high-bridge cameras working, but from all the other info sources, no incidents so far.
FROST ALERT: If you will be heading out via a car you park outdoors – you’ll need to do some ice-scraping:
Icy windshield alert. pic.twitter.com/WrtzVDSUwS
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 20, 2015
7:59 AM: Traffic alert for tomorrow:
Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to close one southbound lane on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, SR99, at the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel on Saturday, Nov. 21. The on- and off-ramps will remain open. The crews will repair a guardrail starting at 3:30 a.m. and complete the work before 5 p.m.
BUS STOP CHANGES DOWNTOWN STARTING MONDAY: In case you haven’t already seen Metro’s alerts about Third Avenue – here’s what’s changing and what’s not.
(October 2015 photo of planned charter-school site at 35th/Roxbury)
The organization that’s been planning a charter school in Arbor Heights tells WSB tonight that it’s continuing to move forward, despite the state Supreme Court‘s
decision not to reconsider its ruling against public funding for charters..
After word tonight of the court’s denial of motions for reconsideration, we contacted a spokesperson for Summit Public Schools, which has been planning for almost a year to remodel the church/ex-supermarket property at 35th/Roxbury into Summit Atlas. The response:
Today’s news does not change Summit’s plans to move forward with opening Summit Atlas in West Seattle. We are hopeful the legislature will make this right for our kids.
In fact, more than 400 students, parents and educators from Washington’s public charter schools participated in a day of action in Olympia on Thursday, urging legislators on both sides of the aisle to fix the glitch that allowed the state Supreme Court to rule against the more than 1,100 kids currently enrolled in charter schools.
Summit students participated in a civics lesson, toured the Capitol, rallied on the lawn, met with legislators and testified in front of the Senate.
Summit students, families and staff learned on the drive home from Olympia that the state Supreme Court denied both Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s and the Washington State Charter Schools Association’s motions to reconsider the unfair September ruling.
We remain hopeful that our state legislature will ultimately do the right thing for our students.
While we are disappointed in the court’s decision, this does not change our promise to keep our doors open and continue to provide a free, high quality, personalized high school experience that prepares every student for college. We look forward to being able to offer West Seattle students and families this important public school choice.
The West Seattle school, planned to eventually be 6th-12th grades, would not open before next fall; the Summit students mentioned in the response would have been from one or both of the schools opened in Tacoma and Seattle’s International District earlier this fall. We broke the news of the charter-school plan in early January when it turned up in the city’s online files; in June, the site was purchased by Washington Charter School Development for $4.75 million with the intent of remodeling it to house the first Summit Atlas students.
Two updates from the world of West Seattle food and drink:
PECOS PIT BBQ UPDATE: Nine months after we first told you a Pecos Pit BBQ restaurant was planned for the former Beni Hoshi Teriyaki spot at 35th/Fauntleroy, we have another update. Spokesperson Nick Nordby says the restaurant is expected to open in spring. They’re still working on outdoor deck seating and a drive-through (exiting onto Genesee, according to a document in the city file) as well as indoor seating. Nordby says founders Ron Wise and Debra Wise have teamed with Salty’s (WSB sponsor) proprietor Gerry Kingen to expand, starting with this location, but serving “the same famous Pecos Pit BBQ found on 1st avenue for decades, along with some new habit-forming options. Offerings include our traditional pork, beef, and chicken sandwiches in a decidedly sloppy style, plus beef brisket, and hot links,” along with “stuffed smoked potatoes … and a ‘Walkabouts Bowl’ filled with the meat of your choice plus cheese, cold slaw and sauce” and salads. You can even buy bulk, smoked meats including Pecos pork, beef brisket, turkey legs, and smoked chicken.” They’re aiming for a full liquor license, he adds. No word yet how soon work will start.
WESTSIDE PUBLIC HOUSE GOES DARK: We haven’t been able to directly confirm that Westside Public House at California/Edmunds in The Junction is gone, but all signs point that way. The pub at California/Edmunds hasn’t been open since Sunday night – just days after its first-anniversary celebration – and a peek through the windows reveals most furnishings gone. Its website and phone line are both down. No message on the door, no message on the still-up Facebook page, but its Tuesday night trivia provider posted on their FB page that they got word it had closed after Sunday night. The pub’s year in the space followed three years by A Terrible Beauty; before that, Table 35 was there for 10 months and Ama Ama for 21 months. (WSB file photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The GameStop robbery was happening just as this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting was wrapping up. So keep in mind that Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis was speaking about trends before that – almost presciently. His briefing preceded the night’s guest speaker, Metro’s chief of Transit Police.
LOCAL CRIME TRENDS: Busy month since last meeting. Headline – the arrest of a suspect in the serial arsons, which were Topic 1 at the previous WSCPC meeting. Robberies are up – “the individuals are like zombies, they activate themselves and they’re committing everything under the sun, car prowls, robberies …” In particular, he mentioned, car prowls are up “and I know (West Seattleites) are sick of it.” He reiterated the top advice – don’t leave ANYTHING in your vehicle. Nothing at all. “I just can’t stress enough – take (your stuff) with you.” Every time something is found inside a car, that encourages thieves to come back. Alki, High Point, North Admiral, and Pigeon Point are the hottest spots for car prowls right now: “The numbers right now aren’t horrific, but they’re horrific enough that people are being affected.” Parks get hit hard, too.
The briefing segued quickly into attendee Q/A: First one was a question about the neighborhood crime stats on the SPD website, wondering why they all use different scales, meaning that if you compare areas, one might look worse than it really is. Capt. Davis said they’re aware of that and hoping to find a way to work with it.
Next Q brought up the West Seattle Crime Watch saga of someone who put their stuff in the trunk and was prowled while shopping at Westwood Target. Capt. Davis acknowledged that some car prowlers do just break in on spec, basically. “It is really, really tough right now and about all we can do is something like an operation we did earlier this year – we identified more than 100 individuals that we deal with over and over again, and arrested a lot of the individuals who are prolific in this area. When we (did that) we saw every category of crime drop. .. But as soon as they get out of jail, we see that activity spike up again.” Now, he said, they’re working with prosecutors and judges to try to urge them to keep the criminals behind bars – and for longer. “That’s what we’re after right now – sometimes it takes time, but it’s well worth it.”
Asked about car thefts, he talked about use of the license-plate reader to detect dropped-off stolen cars.
Two people who identified themselves as first-time WSCPC meeting-goers said that they had just moved to West Seattle a few weeks ago and were trying to figure out how to stay safe and wondered if there was any reason that repeat offenders’ mugshots weren’t made available.
New information today in the case of the 30-year-old man arrested at an Arbor Heights house Tuesday night on suspicion of robbing the Westwood Village Game Stop store earlier that night. His bail is set at $100,000 after his appearance in a jailhouse courtroom downtown this afternoon. And the probable-cause documents say police suspect him and a 39-year-old relative – who is not in custody – of committing this robbery, and are investigating them in connection with three other robberies/major thefts in the past six months:
With the election headed for certification next Tuesday – after which a recount will surely follow in the City Council District 1 race – today’s results have Lisa Herbold gaining three more votes over Shannon Braddock:
Lisa Herbold – 12,437 – 49.73%
Shannon Braddock – 12,409 – 49.62%
A few hundred ballots with problems (unverified signatures, for example) are still being dealt with. In all, about 28,000 ballots were turned in by District 1 voters, who number almost 61,000, and that’s a ~45% turnout. You’ll notice by doing the math, more than 2,000 did not vote in this race at all; 164 are tallied as write-ins, though the county doesn’t report whose names were written in.
The updated-daily WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide includes a full list of what’s happening for WS Junction Hometown Holidays this year (we’re again among the co-sponsors), and there’s something new: On tree-lighting night – Saturday, December 5th – SW Alaska will be closed in front of Junction Plaza Park, so you’ll have more room to gather around the tree and park to enjoy the ceremony! It’s been elbow-to-elbow for years now, and the park itself is fairly small, so this is a big move to make room for more people to join the fun. Music, caroling, and more – full schedule TBA – 5 pm on the 5th. Also this year, that same night will bring a rolling Holiday Party at Junction stores, 4 pm-8 pm, with sips and snacks and specials all around, so come prepared for shopping and fun before and after the tree lighting.
1:39 PM: Just got this text:
Flock of big white swans (tundra?) swimming off Arroyos heading north. Big white with long black bills, very beautiful, local birders will want to see them. I am at Seola Beach so they already passed us – couldn’t get a picture, they are majestic, someone should try for a good photo from maybe Brace Point if they get up that far.
We’re going to go look, though, given our odds with orcas, that’s no guarantee.
2:35 PM: Struck out on the bird search, too. We went down to a viewpoint near Brace Point – no unusual birds in view. A little choppy with the wind out of the north, too. But a beautiful afternoon to visit the beach anyway!
Six ways to spend your West Seattle Thursday night (see MORE on our complete calendar):
LINCOLN PARK NORTH PLAY AREA RENOVATION: 5:30-6:30 pm open house at Southwest Teen Life Center – come see what’s possible and offer your ideas too. (2801 SW Thistle)
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: One week before the holiday, break bread with the SW Teen Life Center crew, 6:30 pm (right after the aforementioned open house, same address). **From the WSB Holiday Guide**
4106 DELRIDGE AT DESIGN REVIEW: Tonight’s the last scheduled Southwest Design Review Board meeting of the year – 6:30 pm, mixed-use 4106 Delridge Way SW goes back to the board. At the Sisson Building. (California SW & SW Oregon)
MORGAN JUNCTION SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA: As previewed here earlier this week, what began as the third annual Ladies Night for Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) has broadened to include three other Morgan Junction businesses – My Three Little Birds, Lika Love, Nurture By Nature. Start at SGS and get your “passport”; more info in our calendar listing. (6529 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: 6:30 pm potluck, 7 pm meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle, learn about timebanking and get involved if you’re not already! (California SW & SW Oregon)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL’S ANNUAL MEETING: 7 pm in the parlor at Alki UCC, with the agenda including:
1) SPD Operations Lt.. Ron Smith w/ intern about Alki Policing Plan; SPD’s letter of support for Constellation Park; Beach Drive resident SDOT upcoming Street Fund application; public disclosure application for Block Watch membership
2) Approval of September Minutes
3) Election of Officers and Board for 2016
4) Approval of letter draft to Seattle Parks about summer volleyball activity concerns
5) Perch Project Update (SolTerra) by Action Alki Alliance
6) Water Taxi Route Update
(6115 SW Hinds)
Photo of the leaves-on-driveway starfield courtesy Yel0Rose, via the WSB Flickr group
Washington State Ferries sends word that it’s canceling some runs this hour on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route because M/V Cathlamet needs repairs, through at least the 11:55 trip from Fauntleroy. This boat was in the #3 spot, so check the schedule here for other times that might be affected. We’ll update when more info’s available.
After other proposals surfaced and stalled in recent years, the mixed-use project making its way through the city system for 35th and Graham in High Point has just hit another milestone: Official application for a land-use permit, as announced in today’s edition of the city’s Land Use Information Bulletin. This means a two-week public-comment period has opened.
(From the second Early Design Guidance meeting’s information packet)
After two Southwest Design Review Board meetings – find the reports here – the project at 6058 35th SW is now proposed as two 4-story buildings, with a total of 102 apartments, 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and an underground garage with 109 parking spaces. The notice is here; you can use this form to send in a comment – December 2nd is the deadline. Meantime, this project, currently named “Upton Flats,” still has to go back to the Design Review Board at least one more time; no date yet.
P.S. This development only covers a fraction of the sprawling vacant space at 35th/Graham, specifically the 35th SW frontage and part of the corner; the rest of the site is still planned for an 11-building, 52-unit townhouse development, under the address 3420 SW Graham, shown in the image above, to the east of the 6058 35th SW buildings.
One more quick reminder so word can circulate to those in need: Once again this year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving will bring the annual Eastridge Church giveaway of turkeys and bags of groceries. You don’t have to sign up or show anything – it’s available to all comers while supplies last. The line forms outside Eastridge, which is on the southeast corner of 39th SW and SW Oregon, and the giveaway starts at 9 am Saturday (November 21st). Read more about it on the church website.
P.S. This is part of a long list of Thanksgiving-related events/info in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
(Five WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The high-bridge cameras aren’t working yet, so they’re still not back in our array of camera views. Meantime, no major incidents in or from West Seattle right now.
The Seattle School Board has approved the final revised list of “bell time” changes for next school year. First, the announcement, followed by the current and future times for all schools in this area:
The Seattle School Board voted 6-1 Wednesday evening, to adopt a Transportation Service Standard that would revise arrival and departure times for the 2016-17 school year. The changes to bell times will authorize the superintendent to implement the cost-neutral plan as recommended by the Board, allowing minor modifications as necessary for implementation. Additionally, the district reviewed recent community feedback and made the following adjustments:
· Change #1: Adjust all tiers 5 minutes earlier
· Change #2: Add a modification that allows the Superintendent to decrease the number of 3rd Tier schools if “actual routing during spring 2016” can adjust schools while maintaining the no cost option. We will be asking for schools to volunteer to be considered (through the principals) as we realize this may be considered disruptive by school communities and they may not wish to go through this process. Any changes would be announced prior to the end of the school year.The recommendation reflects Seattle Public Schools’ extensive community and stakeholder outreach over the past year. This is in response to a resolution approved by the School Board in March of 2014 in response to ongoing discussions between School Boards and Superintendents since 2008, around the benefits of shifting to later start times for adolescents.
“We will become the largest district in the country to make this switch, and hopefully we will set a trend,” said Board Director Sharon Peaslee. “This is a historic moment.”
The Resolution directed the Superintendent to determine feasibility, costs, impacts and logistics of shifting to later start times for adolescents, for implementation in the 2016-2017 school year, while continuing to simplify the transportation standards and align them with the Student Assignment Plan. The Bell Time Analysis is the outcome of this directive.
Transportation costs will increase in 2016/17 due to enrollment growth, boundary changes and Special Education program service updates. That amount is estimated to be $182,500.00.
It’s a big change for many local schools. From the citywide list in the last pages of this district document, here are the West Seattle times, now and next year (note that these are the actual start/end times, not the bus arrival/depart times that bookend them in the doc, and also remember that “this year” refers to this school year (2015-2016), while “next year” refers to next school year):
HIGH SCHOOLS
Chief Sealth International HS
*This year – 8:40-3:10
*Next year – 8:45-3:15
West Seattle High School
*This year – 7:50-2:20
*Next year – 8:45-3:15
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Denny International MS
*This year – 7:50-2:20
*Next year – 7:55-2:25
Madison MS
*This year – 7:50-2:20
*Next year – 8:45-3:15
K-8 SCHOOLS
Louisa Boren K-8 STEM
*This year – 9:30-3:40
*Next year – 9:35-4:05
Pathfinder K-8
*This year – 8:40-3:10
*Next year – 8:45-3:15
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Alki
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Arbor Heights (at Boren this year, new building next year)
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Concord
*This year – 9:30-3:40
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Fairmount Park
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Gatewood
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Highland Park
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Lafayette
*This year – 9:30-3:40
*Next year – 9:35-3:45
Roxhill
*This year – 9:30-3:40
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Sanislo
*This year – 9:30-3:40
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
Schmitz Park
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
West Seattle
*This year – 8:40-2:50
*Next year – 7:55-2:05
It’s been four years since a district transportation-plan change pushed Concord, Lafayette, Roxhill, and Sanislo to 9:30 am start times; we covered Sanislo’s fight against it. Now, three of the four will be moved to the district’s near-universal 7:55-2:05 elementary schedule – all except for Lafayette.
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