day : 20/04/2016 9 results

West Seattle weather: Thunderstorms tonight, after spectacular sunset

April 20, 2016 9:42 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Added: Lightning photo by Chris Frankovich)

If you were looking south around 9 pm (we were headed home from a community meeting), you might have seen the lightning too – or at least heard the thunder rumbling in the distance since then. It all followed this sunset:

You can see the clouds gathering in that view from Chris Frankovich. Next, from Beach Drive, a wider view from Claudio Gonda:

And from The Junction, Renate Child shared her view, adding, “I love where I live.”

Forecast for tonight says breezy with a chance of (more) thunderstorms and showers; tomorrow, partly sunny, but cooler than it’s been for these past four consecutive 80+-degree days!

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BASEBALL: Another win for Chief Sealth IHS

April 20, 2016 8:27 pm

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| West Seattle news

Another baseball victory for Chief Sealth International High School, 4-0 over Seattle Prep. Sealth head coach Ernest Policarpio says Nik Turcinec “pitched a complete shutout game. Exciting all the way around!” That’s 7 innings, and four strikeouts. Offensive stars for the Seahawks included David Johnson, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Kyler Gaither, 1 for 1 with an RBI and two walks. Sealth and Seattle Prep face each other again on Friday, 3:30 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

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VIDEO: West Seattle High School students celebrate all-gender restroom they made happen

April 20, 2016 5:08 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

“IT’S OPEN!” shouted the students who just dedicated a “new” restroom at West Seattle High School this afternoon. They pitched for an all-gender restroom – and now they have one. Its grand opening was marked with a tissue-cutting ceremony.

We talked with two of the students, who explained this has been in the works since last school year, and they plan to talk with the School Board about making this happen at other schools:

“This is a big deal,” said Brennon Ham, an advocate who works with the Gay Straight Alliance at WSHS, in the note sending us word of the event on the students’ behalf, lauding their work: “They researched, organized, and advocated for their school to have a gender-inclusive restroom available for students of all genders. They recently gave a presentation to their principal and to folks at Seattle Public Schools, garnering support for this special change in the West Seattle community. This is a big deal (and) especially important to highlight in the wake of the terrible things happening in North Carolina. It would be so special to show the world that the youth of West Seattle are doing it right and doing it with love.”

Also at the after-school celebration, WSHS principal Ruth Medsker, who is working to get the retrofitting that is expected to convert the previously unused three-stall restroom into two enclosed stalls.

It wouldn’t have been affected by the new city ordinance requiring that all public single-stall restrooms be labeled “all-gender,” but it’s certainly in the spirit.

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EARTH DAY: Community-cleanup time! Here’s how to help in North Delridge

April 20, 2016 2:53 pm

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| How to help | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

With Earth Day coming up, we have word of several community cleanups around West Seattle. Rather than lumping them together, we’re going to spotlight each one, starting with this one announced by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council:

The North Delridge Neighborhood Council long ago became the Adopt-a-Street owner of northern Delridge Way for purposes of once-a-quarter (or so) trash pick up.

We are calling on neighborhood volunteers to join us Saturday, April 23rd to help spruce up Delridge Way sidewalks and stairways.

Trash bags, gloves, pickers and other supplies are provided. You are also welcome to pick up trash bags and use them to pick up trash on your own street instead. You will just need to let me know where your full bags are located so I can coordinate pick up by the city.

This is a great family activity and you can participate for as little or as much time as you have to spare.

For those interested, we will be meeting a half hour early at Uptown Espresso for a neighborhood coffee social (and donut holes!) prior to heading out.

Date: Saturday, April 23

Time: 9:30 – coffee social; 10:00 – head out for trash pickup

Location: Meet at Uptown Espresso [Delridge] by 10:00 am

If you would like to help pick up trash at a different time or location, I am happy to deliver bags and supplies to you. Email Contact@ndnc.org if you’d like to arrange picking up bags with (beautification chair Kirsten Smith.

Thanks for participating in your community!

More announcements to come! Having a cleanup but not sure whether you’ve sent us word of it? editor@westseattleblog.com soon as you can – thanks!

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Called 911 and ended up on hold? This might be why

April 20, 2016 1:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Since we talk about crime/safety issues often, we also often hear about people’s experiences with calling for help when something happens. Often the discussion is about interaction with calltakers/dispatchers and why they seem curt sometimes; we’ve covered community-group discussions about how 911 works and best practices for citizens calling something in (you can find that info online here).

But lately, anecdotally, we’ve heard more about people being on hold waiting to talk to someone – and today, we’ve found out a likely factor: SPD’s Communications Center – “the primary answering point for all police, fire, and medical emergencies within the city limits” – is not in its usual quarters.

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West Seattle development: Design Review preview for 1606 California & 4532 42nd; also, projects @ 5458 California; 5414 Delridge Way; 9205 35th SW

April 20, 2016 11:51 am

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| Development | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle development/construction notes:

(1606 California SW rendering by Roger H. Newell AIA)

DESIGN REVIEW DOUBLEHEADER TOMORROW NIGHT: Two projects go before the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow (Thursday, April 21st) night at the Sisson Building (Senior Center) in The Junction. At 6:30 pm, it’s the second review – two years after the first – for 1606 California SW, a three-story building with 15 apartments and 21 offstreet parking spaces replacing two residential structures; see the design packet here. At 8 pm, the six-story, 54-unit, 50-parking-spaces proposal for 4532 42nd SW goes in for a third Early Design Guidance meeting, required because of the tree tussle; see the design packet here. As always, both projects will have public-comment periods. (California SW/SW Oregon)

LIVE-WORK UNITS PROPOSED FOR 5458 CALIFORNIA SW: Design Review would be required, according to city files, for a proposal that’s in the early stages for 5458 California SW, seeking to replace a 107-year-old house-turned-commercial offices with seven live-work units. This happens to be the headquarters of Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor); we checked with Ventana and they replied that they are tenants: “We have no knowledge of the owners’ plans for the property. We are in the process of identifying another location for our business, as our lease expires a year from this summer. We intend to stay in West Seattle, and hopefully in this neighborhood.” The early “site plan” in city files shows three units would face California, behind the northbound RapidRide stop, and four would face Findlay.

NEW PROPOSAL FOR 5414 DELRIDGE WAY SW: The proposal that went through Early Design Guidance last year to replace a house on this site has itself been replaced. A new proposal, with a new architect (it’s now Lisa McNelis; it had been NK), is now in the early stages, with its site plan showing a 3-story, 2,400-square-foot commercial building in front of a four-townhouse residential unit. The owner is still listed as Eric Christianson, who operates Community Care next door.

‘PET AFTERCARE’ AT 9205 35TH SW: City files show a proposal for the former West Seattle Refinishing site described as follows: “convert detached garage to commercial use … establish use as animal shelter for pet aftercare and disposition, construct tenant improvements in existing commercial building.” The documents point to Resting Waters, whose website says they expect to start providing “aquamation” services in June. We’ll be contacting them to find out more.

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West Seattle Wednesday: WordsWest, Morgan Community Association, Delridge District Council, more…

April 20, 2016 9:26 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Alki sunset photographed by Jay Strevey)

Sunset-watching, community-group participation, and more – here’s what’s up in the hours ahead, trom the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

NETWORKING AT LUNCHTIME: Bring your lunch and ponder telecommuting/coworking/networking while getting ready to be Viaductless for two weeks. Or, drop in even if you’re a regular on-the-peninsula worker/entrepreneur. Noon-1:15 pm at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – more here. (6040 California SW)

BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP: Monthly meeting 1-3 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction – info in our calendar listing. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)

FAMILY FUN AT ROXHILL: 6 pm tonight, it’s Family Health and Fitness Night at Roxhill Elementary:

There will be food, prizes, Zumba, community organizations, fitness activities, and giveaways! It will be a fun night for the whole family.

(30th SW/SW Roxbury)

COED ULTIMATE FRISBEE: 6 pm pickup game every Wednesday night at Fairmount Park Playfield, all welcome. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this month featuring “Poetry in Music and Music in Poetry” with Jenifer Browne Lawrence and Lana McMullen; “Favorite Poem” by Victoria Melton, Seattle Public Schools music teacher. More info in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm monthly meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. The agenda:

7:05 p.m. Welcome & Introductions

7:15 p.m. DNDC Updates & Announcements
· CNC Report
· Update on NSF Project
· West Seattle Grand Parade
· Other announcements

7:30 p.m. Northwest Seaport Alliance Terminal 5 EIS

7:40 p.m. Neighborhoods SLI (Statement of Legislative Intent)

8:00 p.m. Southwest Youth & Family Services

8:15 p.m. Councilmember Lisa Herbold

8:50 p.m. Other DNDC Business
· Next month Neighborhood Street Fund Project Reviews and Ranking

(4408 Delridge Way SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm quarterly meeting at The Kenney. Agenda:

7:00 Introductions and Morgan Minute Updates

· April 28, 2016: Morgan Junction Business Mixer at Zeeks Pizza
· Morgan Junction Sidewalk Improvements
· Morgan Junction Park Expansion status
· Murray CSO Update

7:05 Introducing Morgan Junction HALA Focus Group members

7:15 Old Business

· Lowman Beach shoreline retaining wall (David Graves)

· Morgan 2015 NPSF award status
· June 18, 2016 Morgan Junction Community Festival
o – – Music and Entertainment Lineup – –

8:00 New Business

· SW District Council updates
· 2016 Morgan NSF prioritization
· Seattle Summer Parkways

8:30 Adjournment

(7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: 7 pm at American Legion Post 160. Guest speaker tonight: Michael Waite, running for State Treasurer. (3618 SW Alaska)

TONIGHT’S SUNSET: 8:07 pm is the official time (you can always find it on the WSB West Seattle Weather page)

LOTS OF NIGHTLIFE! See the listings on our complete calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates; 9 days to Viaduct closure

April 20, 2016 5:58 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

5:58 AM: Good morning! The list of upcoming traffic alerts is longer this morning:

ROAD REPAIRS ON 26TH SW: Starting Monday, south of Westwood Village, with some detours/re-routes, explained here.

FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY CLOSURES: The nighttime closures on the west end of the bridge start one week from tonight. We’re still awaiting an update from SDOT with final word on lane closures under the bridge.

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSURE: And we’re now 9 days away from the Alaskan Way Viaduct being closed while the Highway 99 tunneling machine goes beneath it – that’s set to start before the morning commute on Friday, April 29th. The online clearinghouse of closure info is at 99closure.org – even a page where the state promises to post tunneling progress reports once or twice a day during the closure.

8:22 AM: Crash at 35th/Holden … but it is reported to have cleared quickly.

8:55 AM: If you are a Water Taxi rider – this afternoon on the downtown dock, it’s your chance to get a look at the upcoming Colman Dock overhaul:

King County Water Taxi and WSF staff will be at Pier 50 from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. to share the latest design for the Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock. This includes the design of the new Water Taxi facility. Please stop by to learn more and ask questions.

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Hours after enforcement request, a crash

April 20, 2016 1:18 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Puget Ridge | Safety | West Seattle news

Right now police are at the scene of a one-car crash on Puget Ridge, on 21st SW north of Dawson. What we’ve heard via the scanner so far is that it’s a mystery – the car was found with airbags deployed, but no one inside (which is why a “rescue” callout was quickly canceled). The location is notable because just a few hours ago, as reported in our coverage of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, a neighbor brought police a petition asking for speed enforcement on that stretch of 21st, which is now part of the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway.

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