day : 23/02/2016 11 results

FOLLOWUP: Chief Sealth Ethics Bowl teams visit Olympia

February 23, 2016 11:56 pm

| Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Chief Sealth Ethics Bowl teams visit Olympia

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Tuesday was the big day that Chief Sealth International High School‘s Ethics Bowl teams had been anticipating for three weeks – their trip to Olympia as one of the trophy-winning schools in the competition. Thanks to teacher Noah Zeichner for the photos and report:

Nine students from CSIHS spent the day in Olympia today getting an close-up view of state government.The trip was a reward for placing 3rd in the High School Ethics Bowl in January.

The first stop was the Supreme Court where they listened to oral arguments. The Chief Justice welcomed the group, which also included students from Rainier Beach, Lakeside, and Seattle Academy.

After lunch, the students had a chance to meet all 9 Supreme Court Justices. The students shook their hands and had a chance to ask questions.

They also talked with Nick Brown, the Governor’s Legal Counsel and with Representatives Hunt and Zeiger, the winners of the first-ever Gabrielle Giffords Award for Civility in State Government. Other highlights of the day included tours of the Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol Building.

Read more about this year’s Ethics Bowl competition here.

Share This

West Seattle’s second licensed marijuana store will likely be the first to open

February 23, 2016 7:26 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: 1416 SW Roxbury, in which Origins will open)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The second recreational-marijuana store licensed in West Seattle will likely be the first one to open.

A week and a half ago, we reported on the first store license, for 5440 California SW. That building is set to undergo some remodeling and proprietor Maryam Mirnateghi didn’t expect to be open for up to two months.

Now, the second West Seattle license has been granted, for Origins at 1416 SW Roxbury, #D – and its proprietor told us today that he expects Origins will be open within two weeks, as soon as the city grants a permit to change the use from a medical office.

Sean Miller explains that they formerly operated a medical-marijuana outlet in the same building, as well as one in South Park, both now closed. Origins will be licensed for medical marijuana as well as recreational, but Miller says that component doesn’t go into effect until July.

His company, he says, is being evaluated for two other licenses, including a location over the city/county line but just blocks away in White Center, at 9823 15th SW, and one on the Eastside.

Asked what will set his store apart, Miller said, “The biggest thing that we’re trying to do with Origins is, bring a better name and a better feel to the industry. Right now you walk into a recreational store and you feel kind of dirty and like you’ve done something wrong before you’ve done anything … We’re trying to create an atmosphere like a Starbucks, you walk in and feel really welcome.” He says that includes a “very high-end build … with slates and cork floors. When people look at it, they think it’s a jewelry store because of the level of finish. We want to do that with multiple locations and legitimize the industry,” for customers of all income levels.

He’s expecting to be open along the lines of 10 am-8 pm Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays. No website yet, he says.

P.S. As mentioned in our previous story, you can look for other application locations on Mark’s map – one still pending in West Seattle is the site of longtime medical provider Northwest Patient Resource Center at 35th/Roxbury.

Share This

‘SCREENAGERS’: See it for free Thursday

February 23, 2016 5:47 pm

| Comments Off on ‘SCREENAGERS’: See it for free Thursday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

That’s the trailer for “Screenagers,” which you can see for free this Thursday night in West Seattle, with a bonus – a chance to talk with filmmaker Dr. Delaney Ruston afterward. Local entrepreneur and mom Jackie Clough is organizing it in connection with the upcoming launch of SeattleTeenBlog.com. It’s a subject right at the heart of 21st-century parenting:

This documentary explores how learning, playing, and socializing online affects teens’ developing attention span, self-esteem and moral instincts. SCREENAGERS examines the risks of failing in school, social isolation and digital addiction. The film explores solutions to handle screen time and provides parents with tools to help young people develop self-control and find balance in their digital lives.

It’s at 7 pm Thursday (February 25th) at Fauntleroy Church’s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW). No ticket required, but please RSVP so they know how many seats to set up – you can do that here. (Jackie advises arriving a few minutes early.)

Share This

And the winner is … Cynthia Turner’s poster art chosen for West Seattle Garden Tour 2016

February 23, 2016 4:18 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Gardening | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s the winning art chosen for this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour poster. Here’s the announcement from tour organizers:

The West Seattle Garden Tour received nearly 30 art submissions in response to this year’s artist competition. We are pleased to announce West Seattle artist Cynthia Turner as the winner for her piece entitled “Wild, Wild Flowers.” Her original artwork using a medium of cut paper, gel medium, acrylic on canvas board, will be auctioned on the day of the tour (July 17) to benefit WSGT’s 2016 designated beneficiaries. Cynthia’s art work along with several other ‘honorable mentions’ will also be on display during the June 2016 West Seattle Art Walk.

From Turner’s artist statement: “Using my personal ethos of using mostly up-cycled and re-purposed materials, as well working within the West Seattle Garden Tour’s theme of ‘The Art of Gardening,’ I set out to make a piece that was slightly mid-century in feel, using paper that I found or already had on hand. With this piece, I tried to create a feeling of a wild garden that was designed by nature and happenstance, yet is also clean and graphic.” Read more about Turner and her work here; find out more about this year’s tour here.

Share This

Dogs in city parks: What the new plan might and might not include

February 23, 2016 2:28 pm

| 55 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The city’s moving toward a new proposal for dogs in Seattle parks – and this Thursday night, the Seattle Parks Board of Commissioners will hear how Parks leadership is leaning.

That briefing document prepared for the Parks Board hints at what might be in the proposed People, Dogs, and Parks Strategic Plan, due out soon for public comment. It’s been a subject of discussion in several community meetings we’ve covered recently, starting with the Delridge District Council‘s meeting last November.

For one, the document says Superintendent Jesús Aguirre is NOT expected to call for “unfenced, (certain) hours-only” offleash periods in parks. It also says he’ll recommend limiting the number of dogs that can be brought to a park to three per person. And he’ll recommend that development of additional off-leash areas go “through regular new park development and/or existing park redevelopment processes.”

One more note from the briefing paper: “Beginning this month, there will be a two-person team, one Animal Control staff and one Parks and
Recreation staff, patrolling parks with the sole purpose of enforcing leash and scoop laws.”

The draft plan is now expected to be made public next month, with public meetings in April and May, and a final plan in June. Meantime, the board meeting this Thursday starts at 6:30 pm at Parks HQ downtown (100 Dexter Ave. N.).

Share This

Highway 99 tunnel machine is digging again, says WSDOT

February 23, 2016 12:47 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:47 PM TUESDAY: Just in from WSDOT – it’s “conditionally lifted” the suspension order for its Highway 99 tunnel contractor, and the tunneling machine is digging again. Here’s the announcement:

Seattle Tunnel Partners has received conditional permission to resume tunneling operations on the SR 99 Tunnel Project. STP resumed mining today after WSDOT conditionally lifted the “suspension for cause” that halted mining and barging-related activities last month following two safety incidents.

As part of the conditions for lifting the suspension for cause, STP will be permitted to tunnel forward and install approximately 25 concrete tunnel rings. During this time, they must demonstrate that they have implemented a number of changes to ensure they can safely continue mining. These changes include:

Updated tunnel work and quality plans, including calculations of the amount of soil removed during excavation of each tunnel ring.
Realignment of key personnel within their quality assurance program.
New quality assurance protocols.
New personnel at key positions within the tunneling operation.
Restructured daily tunneling meetings that include additional participants and protocols.

WSDOT made the decision to conditionally lift the suspension for cause after its team of tunneling experts evaluated documentation submitted by STP over the past several weeks. While mining can resume, barging activities are still restricted pending submittal of additional documentation.

Share This

UPDATE: Jackknifed truck in The Junction

February 23, 2016 11:20 am

| 32 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Photo by Andi Szilagyi)

11:20 AM: Avoid California/Alaska – a jackknifed truck is blocking most of the intersection. No injuries. Police have arrived to direct traffic.

11:24 UPDATE: The camera view now shows the truck has moved a bit and is now blocking one northbound lane, north of the intersection.

11:36 AM: A tow truck has just arrived.

11:44 AM: Scratch that – it’s actually Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, which will be taking a report, and is hoping to get the truck moved further along within the next quarter-hour or so:

Share This

West Seattle Tuesday: 5 events, 4 moonset views

February 23, 2016 10:03 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Dan Ciske)

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of this morning’s beautiful moonset – the “Snow Moon” that rose right after sunset last night went down right around sunrise today; we’re featuring four views (remember, you can click a photo to open a larger view in “lightbox” mode). Should be another gorgeous moonrise tonight – just after 7 pm, according to the WSB West Seattle Weather page. Here’s what else is ahead tonight:

CHIEF SEALTH IHS SHOWCASE: 6-7 pm, as previewed here last weekend. All welcome as Chief Sealth International High School showcases its programs, both academics and athletics. (2600 SW Thistle)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH DINNER: Right across the street from the school, the CSIHS Black Student Union is presenting an all-community Black History Month dinner at Southwest Teen Life Center tonight, 6-7:30 pm. Details here. (2801 SW Thistle)

(Photo by John Kalinoski)

CRIME, SAFETY, TRANSPARENCY: Southwest Precinct police will brief the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network at 6:30 tonight about the latest crime/safety concerns around the peninsula – and WSBWCN leaders have booked a special guest: SPD’s new director of transparency and privacy, Mary Perry. All welcome – you don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend. (2300 SW Webster)

(Photo by Lynn Hall)

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOUSING LEVY? Later this year, you’ll be asked to vote on an expanded Seattle Housing Levy that the mayor says is a key part of this year’s work to alleviate the housing-affordability crisis. Hours after he went public with his first proposal, it was discussed at a meeting in West Seattle – where participants asked city reps to come back for a longer discussion/briefing. Tonight’s the night. If you have comments/questions, the place to be is the Senior Center of West Seattle, 6:30-8 pm. (California SW/SW Oregon)

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)

WEST SEATTLE CROCHET AND KNIT CIRCLE: Don’t just sit home with your yarn … bring it to Uptown Espresso in The Junction for this weekly meetup, open to all, regardless of skill level. Starts at 7 pm. (California/Erskine/Edmunds)

MORE NIGHTLIFE: Music, trivia, karaoke – see the times/places on our complete calendar.

Share This

Two days until Highly Capable Cohort ‘pathway’ meeting @ Madison Middle School

February 23, 2016 9:13 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

For years, West Seattle families whose children qualify for the district’s top-level advanced-learning program, APP, had to send them off-peninsula to be part of that program, as it was only delivered at non-West Seattle schools. Then last year, Fairmount Park Elementary opened, and included what the district now calls the Highly Capable Cohort. Next year, Madison Middle School will serve HCC students, expanding this into a local “pathway,” and this Thursday night is a chance for local families to learn more about it. In case you haven’t already heard about it via school or via our calendar:

Thursday, February 25th, 7-8:30 pm

Next year Madison Middle School will become an HCC (Highly Capable Cohort formerly known as APP) pathway option school, an exciting next step in West Seattle’s advanced learning options that began with the opening of Fairmount Park Elementary last year.

This event provides an opportunity to learn more about the new middle school pathway in West Seattle and the preparations underway for its successful launch in the fall. Topics include course offerings, class structure, and the options following middle school, along with any questions you may have. Speakers will include representatives from the Advanced Learning Office, Madison administration and faculty, and both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School.

Madison is at 3429 45th SW.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Frosty Tuesday

February 23, 2016 6:34 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:34 AM: No traffic incidents in/from West Seattle so far. It’s clear and chilly, though, and if you have a vehicle parked outdoors, you might have to scrape your windshield.

7:06 AM: Note for tonight – Seattle Sounders FC home game (vs. Club America), 7 pm, so even if you’re not going to the game, be aware the stadium zone in SODO will be busy.

8:01 AM: SDOT has fixed what is usually the fourth camera in our traffic-watch stack above – the view of the Fauntleroy approach to the bridge. If your view is still stuck on February 19th, try refreshing – we’ve doublechecked and it should now be showing a current (and busy!) view.

Share This

UPDATE: Police checking out possible gunshots in North Delridge

February 23, 2016 12:00 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

MIDNIGHT: Via scanner: Police are checking out multiple reports of possible gunshots heard in North Delridge. They haven’t found any evidence of gunfire yet (shell casings or property damage). If you heard them but hadn’t called 911, please do, because that helps them zero in on what might have happened and where.

12:41 AM: Still no indication any evidence was found. If you spot anything in the morning, call it in.

TRENDS: Last week’s SPD SeaStat citywide briefing slide deck included a map of where gunfire was confirmed in the previous four weeks. It shows five incidents in the SW Precinct – including South Park – between January 19th and February 15th. (That cutoff date was just before last week’s two incidents in Highland Park, outside the 7-11 on February 16th and outside a house in the 7900 block of 16th SW on February 18th.)

Share This