day : 26/10/2016 9 results

11:08 PM: Thanks for the photo and the tips – Fauntleroy and Raymond [map] is one of the spots that has flooded worse than usual during tonight’s deluge. (We’ve already advised one person who called about it to report it to Seattle Public Utilities, whose 24-hour dispatch is 206-386-1800.) We’re also hearing about deep water at spots including Harbor/Spokane. So if you’re headed out any time soon, be extra careful, and if you see what looks like a totally flooded roadway ahead, you’re advised not to drive/ride through it.

\11:30 PM: And just five minutes after we published that, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for areas including Seattle, until 2:15 am. Meantime, Darlene mentions in comments that the Delridge ramp to the bridge is swamped too.

12:15 AM: Michelle reported in comments that her husband and neighbors cleared the Fauntleroy/Raymond drains, and she sent a photo:

Meantime, another “standing water” report on the scanner – 9200 block of 35th SW.

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‘They saved his life’: Family of child hurt in windstorm shares ‘positive news’

October 26, 2016 9:13 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo from October 14th)

Twelve days after a little boy was rushed to the hospital with a serious injury suffered during the October 14th windstorm, we are hearing for the first time from his family. We had a short followup last week, and then today received this:

Dear West Seattle Community,

We are a local family and the parents of the 4-year old boy who was injured by the falling tree in Fauntleroy Park on October 14. We have so appreciated the kind words and thoughts on the West Seattle Blog and from our local community that we wanted to update you all on his status. We have tried to maintain his confidentiality, but we felt compelled to share more information, especially since we now have positive news to share.

Our boy suffered serious injuries, including a fractured skull, brain injury and broken femur. He was stabilized by the Seattle Fire Department, transported by Medic One, treated at Harborview Medical Center ED and Pediatric ICU, and is now in in-patient rehabilitation at Seattle Children’s. Thanks to the fantastic care of numerous providers, and to the love and support of his family, friends and community, he has made great strides in his recovery. He is a sweet, tough, energetic little boy and we are happy to report that he is talking, eating, smiling and playing. We are hopeful that, in time, he will make a full and complete recovery.

We are enormously fortunate to live in a city with quality emergency care. SFD and Medic One were quick to arrive and professionally assess, stabilize and transport our boy. HMC was hands-down exceptional from start to finish; we now understand why it is a nationally renowned Level 1 trauma center. And Children’s is, well, Children’s – we could not ask for a better place for our boy to recover and improve. Collectively, they saved his life, his body, his brain and his spirit.

Our boy has a long way to go, though, so we appreciate the continued hopes, thoughts, prayers, meditations, words, rays of light and all other ethereal forms of support the people of West Seattle have so kindly shared. Please know that, even if you do not know his name or address, he and we receive them all.

We remain deeply grateful for the love and compassion of our wonderful community.

Thank you.

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REZONING: ‘Focus group’ looks at draft maps, with dots but without a deep dive

October 26, 2016 6:19 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Less than a week after the city went public with proposed rezoning maps for the city’s “urban villages,” the feedback process remains diffuse.

Last night, for a firsthand look at how part of it is working, we went to one of the “focus groups” that have been meeting monthly on related matters involved with the initiative known as HALA, the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda. (We wrote about the recruitment process last winter.) This group has been focused on areas including the West Seattle Junction. More on that shortly, including an alternative way to comment if you are having trouble with the site the city set up at hala.consider.it.

And today, the city announced that Mayor Murray will preside over a live Q/A about HALA via the mayoral Facebook page tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 10:45 am. Since it’s not a two-way video connection, you are asked to post questions now, either via this “event” page or via your Twitter account, with the hashtag #AffordableSeattle.

Now, to the background. Read More

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APOLOGIES: Mega-outage for our otherwise-reliable longtime server-management company

October 26, 2016 5:51 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Please accept our apologies for WSB being inaccessible for three-plus hours – if you missed our explanation on social-media channels, our server-management company WiredTree suffered some kind of catastrophic outage. It affected many sites as well as ours – we were able to see by monitoring Twitter mentions that we were far from alone. WiredTree hasn’t fully explained it yet, but the company is usually spectacularly reliable and responsive, and has been for the 8+ years we have been with them. We do have backup sites that we would have deployed if this had gone on any longer, or if there had been a major breaking story (luckily it was a quiet afternoon aside from the downpours) – including our White Center site, whitecenternow.com, whose server is with a different company, and the westseattleblog.wordpress.com backup site we used during our technical transition last winter. But now we’re back, so we’ll be publishing the stories we were working on when the site became inaccessible, soon as they’re ready – thanks again for your patience.

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CITY BUDGET: South Seattle College contingent campaigns for 13th Year Promise scholarship expansion

October 26, 2016 1:01 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

(South Seattle College photo: 13th Year scholar Blanca Olivera speaking to City Councilmembers last night)

Two major events at City Hall last night. While we were covering a Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda “focus group” meeting talking about proposed rezoning (story to come), the City Council was listening to public comment about the budget. Among those commenting: A South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) contingent there to ask the city to contribute to expansion of the 13th Year Promise scholarship program. SSC communications director Ty Swenson shares the photo and report:

It was democracy in action at a Seattle City Council public hearing at City Hall as South Seattle College students, faculty, and leadership spoke to the council about the impact of our college’s 13th Year Promise Scholarship, and encouraged passage of a proposal to expand the program to three more high schools.

Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell has submitted a budget proposal that would expand the 13th Year Promise Scholarship to additional high schools over 2017 and 2018 with city support.

Currently offered to all Rainier Beach, Chief Sealth International, and Cleveland high school graduating seniors, the 13th Year Promise Scholarship provides one year of tuition-free college at South along with support services. It has increased access to higher education for area youth, particularly those from underrepresented groups including first-generation college students, low-income students, and students of color. The program began in 2008, and to this point has been funded by donations to the college’s foundation.

Speaking on behalf of the proposal to city council were South Seattle College President Gary Oertli, South Foundation Chair (and West Seattle resident) Catherine Arnold, Mathematics Instructor Heidi Lyman, and students Ken Bert and Blanca Olivera, both attending college through the 13th Year Promise Scholarship.

The potential expansion schools include West Seattle High School. The program expanded to Chief Sealth in 2011; CSIHS was the second school, and Rainier Beach was added in 2014.

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Emphasis patrols, graffiti vandalism, and a one-block crime study @ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network

October 26, 2016 11:45 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

From last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting @ the Southwest Precinct:

WHERE POLICE ARE FOCUSED: Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis says their current emphasis patrols to get a step ahead of car prowlers include The Junction and Morgan Junction. As he has said at earlier community meetings, they made progress in former hotspot Highland Park over the summer. Data helps them figure out the hotspots – so if it happens to you, even if nothing is taken, please report it. And, he reiterated, please reduce car prowlers’ incentive by keeping stuff out of your vehicle.

Capt. Davis also said police are patroling Roxhill Park and some other area parks, as well as keeping an eye on certain people and places. He made mention of last week’s arrests near South Park, after officers spotted a stolen car linked to multiple West Seattle robberies.

By the way, court documents show that the adult suspect arrested in that incident, 19-year-old East Admiral resident Ayub M. Rage, is now charged with one count of second-degree robbery and one count of attempted second-degree robbery for two incidents last Thursday – a holdup at the Admiral 7-11 and an attempted holdup at the 41st/Admiral Chevron. His bail is set at $75,000, though prosecutors had requested $200,000.

Also discussed last night: Read More

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BIZNOTE: Work begins for Ulta Beauty at Westwood Village

October 26, 2016 10:14 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo)

A few people are asking about the work that’s now under way at the former Pier 1 Imports space in Westwood Village. In case you missed our original story back in June: It’s being remodeled into an Ulta Beauty retail-and-salon location. Back when we discovered that in building-permit files, Ulta wouldn’t confirm it, but not only has the permit been granted and work started, they’re even advertising for help at the new store. We’re checking on a projected opening date.

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7 options for your West Seattle Wednesday

October 26, 2016 9:04 am

| Comments Off on 7 options for your West Seattle Wednesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

(Engine 37 firefighter with Fauntleroy Fall Festival-goer last Sunday)

FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: 11:15-11:45 am at Delridge Library, bring preschoolers to meet firefighters and learn about fire safety during a fun special story time. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

ENTREPRENEUR MEETUP: Noon-1:15 pm, it’s free meetup day at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor). Bring your lunch if you want to and go meet new people! (6040 California SW)

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: 3-4:30 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, talk with others who know exactly what you’re going through. (4217 SW Oregon)

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT HOMELESSNESS: Come to tonight’s Highland Park Action Committee-presented panel discussion (in place of the regular monthly HPAC meeting) ready to learn, listen, and talk, 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th SW/SW Holden)

POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly Poetrybridge event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) features Rayn Roberts and Chris Jarmick, plus a community microphone. (5612 California SW)

SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: Live music at Whisky West in Morgan Junction, 7-9 pm. No cover; 21+. (6451 California SW)

KNATHAN RYAN: At Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm, Knathan Ryan of The Bruised Hearts Revue celebrates a night of acoustic sounds. No cover; 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

P.S. This is the ONLY day/night of the week with nothing in the WSB West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide – but check it out when you can, as we’ve added even more to the list of what’s up (for all ages!) between now and next Tuesday. And if we’re missing something, there’s still time for us to add it – e-mail the info (plain text in your message) ASAP to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates, alerts, previews

October 26, 2016 6:59 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates, alerts, previews

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

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

6:59 AM: Good morning! The rain’s back. No incidents reported right now in/from West Seattle.

Reminders/notes:

SCHOOL’S OUT EARLY: 2-hour early dismissal for Seattle Public Schools today.

FERRY MEETING TOMORROW: If you use the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route, your chance to talk with Washington State Ferries about problems/solutions is 5-6:30 pm Thursday at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).

WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: This is the last week of 7-day operation – the weekday-only schedule starts Monday (Halloween). Meanwhile, the WSWT will be on an extended schedule Thursday night because of the Sounders FC playoff match.

NEW METRO BOSS: Rob Gannon, who has been interim general manager of Metro Transit since March, is now its official GM.

HARVEST FESTIVAL ON SUNDAY: The Junction’s Sunday road-closure pattern will be expanded on Sunday (October 30th) because of the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm – closer to the Summer Fest footprint, with California closed to motorized-vehicle traffic between Edmunds and Oregon, and SW Alaska closed between 44th and 42nd. Look for an updated preview later today.

7:17 AM: SDOT’s traffic center reports a crash at Myers Way and 1st Ave. S., at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.

7:35 AM: Texter reports a fenderbender on the EB high bridge. No SFD dispatch.

8 AM: SDOT says it’s a stall in the center lane.

8:20 AM: Bridge incident is clear.

8:30 AM: Crash blocking right lane in NB Battery St Tunnel.

8:39 AM: And SDOT says that has cleared.

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