West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
So much happened in West Seattle this weekend … but we would argue, this is the most important. On the Duwamish River and in its watershed, hundreds of volunteers gathered to offer some help via the twice-yearly Duwamish Alive! habitat restoration and cleanup gatherings. All sizes of volunteers, including Paislee Kelm and Nash Randow-Kelm:
They were working at Herring’s House Park on the river – explained on the Duwamish Alive! website as “a 15.5 acre location created in 1999 primarily as habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon as they journey to Puget Sound.” It’s across from the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, one of nine areas where people gathered on Saturday, one of two visited by WSB photojournalist Leda Costa – more of her photos ahead: Read More
Runners, walkers, and bikers stopped along Alki for a while this morning to try to figure out what Martin Garthwaite and Alex Miller were doing in that human-powered watercraft going back and forth along the boardwalk seawall. They weren’t rowing, and they weren’t pedaling. They were using the fishBOOT, which “swims like a marine mammal,” as its inventor Garthwaite explained, and as could be seen once it was out of the water – one moving part, a flexible hull, and “a big flipper”:
The fishBOOT is a means to an end – call it a small fish in a big project. Garthwaite is using it to research the principles behind what he calls the fishBOAT. That would be an unmanned vessel – a waterborne drone – with many possible uses and benefits including using less fuel. He explained some of it to us as he and Miller came back to the beach:
Miller has his own track record with unmanned watercraft, as a member of a team we’ve reported on here before, AMNO & CO, award-winning ROV competitors. He said the difference between that work and this project involves many factors, from water flow to math. We hope to follow up on where this project goes!
With the Seahawks on the road, the biggest football event in the city happened at West Seattle Stadium this afternoon.
Hundreds came to watch as the Snoop Youth Football League and its founder, music and TV star Snoop Dogg, joined with Seattle Parks and local football organizations to present the first West Coast Clash. (Above is a play from the opening game, the Ravens vs. the Cowboys.)
As promised, Snoop was on the sidelines as the second game sent his Diamond Valley Steelers from Pomona, California, up against Seattle’s Rainier Ravens.
Snoop has been coaching youth football for more than a decade, as chronicled in an online documentary series earlier this year. He was being tracked by a Netflix crew during today’s event.
The celebrity coach wasn’t the only draw at today’s event – youth football-and-cheer leagues are popular in neighborhoods around the city, including ours.
Also spotted at WS Stadium today – Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, who is also, as the Seattle Globalist noted earlier this year, a youth football coach.
By the way, final score of the big game, per this online broadcast, Ravens 24, Steelers 7.
Now that this weekend’s big events have wrapped up, we’re looking ahead to Hallo-week, and we’re continuing to update the WSB West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide. Additions this weekend include the confirmation that the popular animatronic show Skeleton Theatre will be back (October 31-November 1st) and the Duwamish Longhouse Halloween Party next Sunday night. Plus you’ll find info on myriad other events including the Junction Harvest Festival, also one week from today. If you’re having a Halloween/harvest/fall/Dia de Los Muertos event open to the public between now and November 1st and it’s not already listed, please send us info ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
2:50 PM: The Fauntleroy Fall Festival might be the only place you’ll hear a Prince cover with ukuleles:
Prince tribute with ukuleles at Fauntleroy Fall Festival… pic.twitter.com/uMOk2ivuCC
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 23, 2016
The Back Porch Apostles are playing in the Fauntleroy Church/Y parking lot right now, which is one of the centers of activity during the festival, continuing until 5 pm. Lots of kid activities in the lot, including an annual favorite – making salmon hats, in honor of nearby Fauntleroy Creek:
On the north side of the lot, Seattle Fire Engine 37 from Sunrise Heights was visiting, along with the local Seattle Police Mobile Precinct:
Another center is The Hall at Fauntleroy on the other side of the 9100 block of California SW. Inside – more music plus the cake-decorating contest, to be followed by the cakewalk. We were totally surprised to see the cake on the left:
(3:40 pm note – the truck cake on the right won the “advanced” division!) More festival updates to come – here’s the schedule of what’s happening, where, and when, and here’s the list of food/drink available for purchase (everything else here is free).
3:30 PM UPDATE: Some of the festival activities are hidden gems – you have to wander into the church lobby to find the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ “instrument petting zoo”:
In the Vashon Room of The Hall at Fauntleroy, meantime, it’s cakewalk time!
And on the east side of The Hall, the West Seattle Big Band will be playing at 3:45 – lots of room to dance!
4:09 PM UPDATE: Evidence of that last statement:
The WSBB plays until 5 pm, when the festival wraps up. It’s always musically abundant – in addition to offering the instrument “zoo” mentioned above, the WSCO had a Brass Sextet (plus percussionist) performing in the church’s fellowship hall:
Thanks to Toni Reineke (third from the left) for sharing that photo. One more festival center we haven’t mentioned yet – outside Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, to the west, pony rides, music, a playground, and a petting zoo with goats among other fuzzy friends:
The festival is a collaboration between community groups, institutions, organizations, and businesses, running on volunteer power and donations. If you would like to donate and missed the chance at the festival, just go here.
P.S. Some of the festival faces – first, Fauntleroy Creek watershed steward Judy Pickens, who’s a legend with the salmon hat-making:
Festival partner Fauntleroy Community Association:
The D Squared/Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes/Hall at Fauntleroy team:
And Lonjina Verdugo from Wildwood Market, soon to open in Fauntleroy:
Next event in Fauntleroy – gather to drum and sing the coho home to the creek, 5 pm next Sunday (October 30th) at the fish-ladder overlook across from the ferry terminal.
The most-important agenda at the quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting this past Wednesday was the briefing on the then-impending release of the draft rezoning maps for Morgan Junction and West Seattle’s three other “urban villages.” We covered that part of the meeting in this report on Thursday, when the four maps went public for Morgan, Admiral, Westwood-Highland Park, and The Junction. So today, we’re publishing the rest of the toplines from the MoCA meeting, which touched on many other topics, with updates that might interest you even if you don’t live/work in Morgan:
LOWMAN BEACH SEAWALL, WITH A SURVEY FOR YOU
10:57 AM: We have just received reader reports about two stolen cars you are asked to help look for:
SILVER HONDA CIVIC: Russell says his brother’s 3-door silver Civic, license #AZH2263, was stolen from 13th/Webster this morning. He adds, “Also, he is a construction worker. There was a copious amount of hand tools and power tools. Possible that people will be pawning his tools soon.”
BLACK AUDI Q7: Received by text: “Our Black 2015 Audi Q7 was stolen last night (Saturday) sometime between 11pm and 7 AM (Sunday) from the North Admiral neighborhood (45th Ave SW). The license plate # is VM8672.” One distinctive thing: “Right rear lower door panel was missing showing white plastic panel attachments.”
Call 911 if you see either car.
UPDATE: The Audi’s owners texted to say that thanks to this post, it’s been found.
(WSB photo – Jimmy and Johnny Rolfe with Java)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Nook is taking over what was the Mind Unwind/Treehouse Lounge space in the north end of The Admiral District.
It’ll be a “cozy, quaint” neighborhood bar/lounge/small-plates space run by brothers Jimmy and Johnny Rolfe, with whom we talked this weekend as they worked on the space, which they just bought on Friday from Krystal Kelley, Jason Nivens, and Zac Hutchins. (Kelley’s art collaboration with students will continue – more on that below.)
Many West Seattleites will know Jimmy from his roles at Matador, from West Seattle bartending to his current corporate beverage/bar-operation responsibilities. Johnny has a culinary background. Since the space at 2206 California SW [map] is limited – “not much of a kitchen” – their food offerings will be small plates.
But The Nook will have a full bar, along with beer and wine – with a “local focus,” the brothers say, in an “eclectic array” of offerings. When you add in the second-floor loft space, there’s seating capacity for about 70 people. It will be open to all ages, with a couple of screens that also will likely display an “eclectic” mix – “might be golf one day, snowboarding another,” say the Rolfes. And there’s some outdoor seating, too.
Hours? They’re still deciding, but ultimately they plan to “let the neighborhood tell us” what hours make sense. And they hope to be open within a few weeks.
Now, the future of Mind Unwind, which opened in the then-newly built space almost five years ago as an art/events space, with the addition of Treehouse Lounge less than a year later: Kelley says it will continue as a nonprofit foundation working with students on art and other creative projects – she’s been primarily working at elementary-school campuses anyway.
Meantime, The Nook is working on its online presence (remember, the deal just closed!) and we’ll add a link when they’re up.
(Morning beach scene, photographed by Don Brubeck)
Good morning! First, this weekend’s road-work reminder:
LOWER SPOKANE STREET DETOURS: Through tonight, you need to be aware of the detours if you’re headed for Harbor Island or using other parts of the surface route east of the low bridge – details are in this SDOT alert.
Now, the happenings – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. The WSFM is open year-round. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
SKI SWAP: 11 am-4 pm, it’s the annual West Seattle Ski Swap, presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters at Post 160 next door. (3618 SW Alaska)
SNOOP YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE FEATURING COACH SNOOP DOGG: It’s the West Coast Clash – Seattle Ravens vs. Pomona Steelers – at noon at West Seattle Stadium, presented by the Snoop Youth Football League – whose founder Coach Snoop Dogg will be on hand – and Seattle Parks. Lots of background in this Seattle Medium preview. Tickets $5 youth/$10 adults. (4432 35th SW)
JUNCTION EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION HUB OPENS: Noon-3 pm, a special chance to go get familiar with West Seattle’s newest volunteer-powered Emergency Communication Hub – the 13th Hub is in The Junction, in the parking lot at Hope Lutheran Church. (42nd SW/SW Oregon)
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: 2-5 pm in and around Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, The Hall at Fauntleroy, Fauntleroy Church/YMCA, it’s three big hours of fun – see the activity list/schedule here! Everything’s free except the food if you choose to indulge – here’s the list of what’s being sold and at what price. Go have a great time! (9131-9140 California SW)
LIZ NAVARRO @ C & P: Texas singer-songwriter performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
MAGGIE LAIRD @ SKYLARK: All-ages show, 6-9 pm, $5 cover, at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
10:21 PM: Via text and scanner, we heard reports of “shots or fireworks” in Riverview/Highland Park a few minutes ago. Police headed to the area to check them out and heard some after arrival; they’ve told dispatch what they heard sounded like “firecrackers.” Any time you hear what you think might be shots, by the way, police have said over and over at community meetings, they want you to call it in – the more calls they get, the better their chances of figuring out the location/source.
10:55 PM: Now police are off to check out another report, four possible shots heard in the 1000 block of SW Portland.
Thanks for the tips about the new signs announcing Metro‘s plan to remove two bus shelters on the west end of the south side of SW Alaska in The Junction’s transit hub.
(WSB photo)
This is part of the “problem-solving project” we first told you about back on October 6th, after a walking tour involving reps from Metro, Metro Transit Police, Seattle Police, the city Department of Human Services (HSD), the West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) and some of its merchants, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, and the WS Chamber of Commerce.
The major complaint involved loitering in those shelters and in the nearby parking lot, with multiple police calls resulting from fights, disorderly conduct by intoxicated people, and maintenance issues. According to a preliminary follow-up report from Metro planner Dale Cummings that was sent to walking-tour participants, a Metro ridership study showed removal of those shelters was feasible because the RapidRide shelters on the east end of the block – which are NOT proposed for removal – get most of the use. Cummings wrote, “Since the RapidRide bus stop was added at The Junction, ridership at this bus stop that serves Rts. 37, 50, 55, 128 has dropped to around 400 boardings per day.”
The Junction had already taken steps to try to reduce the problems through changing the environment, including removing some of the vegetation and seating areas on the southeast corner of Alaska and 44th. The organization also planned to evaluate lighting in the parking lot, and to look at how to remove access to electrical outlets that have been in place by the SW Alaska bus shelter dating back to the Farmers’ Market use of the parking lot.
According to the Metro notices that just appeared in the shelters, they are to be removed in mid-November. We’ll be following up with the Junction Association about any other impending steps from the “problem-solving plan.” Meantime, if you have a comment for Metro about the impending removal, the notices point you to its Customer Service division – contact info is on this page of the Metro website.
MONDAY AFTERNOON NOTE: We’ve spoken this afternoon with Junction Association director Lora Swift and, as noted in comments, she confirms that despite Metro’s posting of all four structures west of the parking-lot driveway behind KeyBank, the two on the west are the only two slated for removal. We also talked about the other area challenges discussed during the October 6th walking tour and will have updates in our upcoming followup – we’ve been waiting all day for Metro to answer some questions before finishing the story.
(WSB file photo)
Just hours to go until this year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival – tomorrow (Sunday, October 23rd), 2-5 pm, at venues on both sides of the 9100 block of California SW (Fauntleroy Church/YMCA/Schoolhouse; here’s a map). Tonight, we have two things you might be wondering about in advance – the activity schedule, and the food!
Here’s the schedule:
Activities are free. The only things you need to bring money for – entirely optional – are the food and drink offerings. See the list here (PDF) – vendors this year are Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), Tuxedoes and Tennis Shoes Catering, Stuffed Cakes, Bird on a Wire Espresso, and The Tamale Guy. Plus, the Fauntleroy Church Youth Club will be having a bake sale.
Just got a question about unusual aircraft noise – here’s the alert from the Boeing Field website:
SPECIAL NOISE ALERT – OCT 22
The Boeing Company has informed us that they plan a single nighttime flight test with a KC-46 tanker and two Navy F-18 jets on Saturday, Oct. 22. This test is part of the Boeing KC-46 refueling tanker program operating out of King County International Airport/Boeing Field. Both Navy F-18 aircraft are scheduled to leave the Airport next week and are not expected to return in 2016.
The testing program has been under way for months – we wrote about it last December.
Denny International Middle School‘s learning garden got a re-launch today with the help of dozens of volunteers.
Denny science teacher Anastasia Sanchez is the staff leader on the project, and West Seattle-based Little Red Hen Project is helping get the garden growing again. The key word here is “help” …
Volunteers of all ages were there to help today, and the goal is to get regular work parties going. So watch for word on how you can dig in! The garden is expected to be a great resource for lessons from biology to food justice and more.
3:20 PM: Thanks to Monica Zaborac for the tip and photo – two humpback whales are in the area again! She saw them from a ferry near Southworth, just west of Vashon Island; at least one Orca Network commenter says they’re visible from here (take your binoculars).
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Meg McDonald of Wild Northwest Beauty Photography caught one of the humpbacks breaching in Colvos Passage along the west side of Vashon Island; her image is added above.
Perfect pumpkin-carving weather as the Solstice Park P-Patch gardeners host this year’s Fall Festival, until 5 pm. They’re also selling everything from dried herbs to plants to treats – this is just one of the tables:
And if you wander uphill into the P-Patch itself, you can admire fall flowers like these:
Like all P-Patches, this one is managed by its own (volunteer) gardeners, but not all have special events like this one. The plants, by the way, include starts for your own garden as well as perennials – go see for yourself next to the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW before the afternoon ends!
(WSB photos/video)
After riding 3,200 miles in seven weeks, from Boston to Seattle, Stephanie McGinnis and Merrick McGinnis got a big welcome at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this morning. Not just family and friends, but also firefighters, because Stephanie is a captain with the Port of Seattle FD and Merrick is a firefighter with South King Fire & Rescue, so there was quite a crowd to cheer as they rode up:
Just bicycled in from Boston: @PortofSeattle FD Captain Stephanie McGinnis, SKCFD firefighter Merrick McGinnis pic.twitter.com/Q1HOYHttS1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 22, 2016
As briefly seen in our clip, two fireboats were just offshore to enhance the celebration, from the Seattle Fire Department and South King County:
(SFD’s Engine 29 crew was there too.) Stephanie and Merrick planned the journey for 10 years and chronicled it online, from their early September departure in Boston to their arrival yesterday at their Renton home – with the last ceremonial leg taking them to the shore of Puget Sound this morning:
The most important thing you’ll see while reading about their journey – it was more than a ride. It was a fundraiser for five health-related organizations:
We are so fortunate to be able-bodied to make this trip possible. Many of our loved ones aren’t as fortunate, though. This coast-to-coast trip has become a way for us to raise funds for incredible causes near and dear to our heart. We know many individuals who suffer from debilitating diseases, but some of these conditions have impacted the lives of our loved ones more severely than others.
There are five foundations we have chosen to raise money for: the Washington State Association of Firefighters (WSCFF) Burn Foundation, the Seattle Brain Cancer Walk, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, and the Evergreen chapter of the ALS Association.
Their website includes donation links for all five organizations – find them here.
So what’s next for the pedaling pair of firefighters? They’re excited to meet their 3-week-old grandson!
It’s a perfect fall morning, which is great news for the hundreds of volunteers out helping with the fall edition of Duwamish Alive! at nine locations along the river and in its watershed, from West Seattle to Tukwila. Our first photo, above, is from WSB’s Leda Costa at Herring’s House Park. More later!
(West Seattle from Columbia Center on Friday night – photo by Mike Mulligan)
Happy Saturday! We start with a traffic/road-work alert:
LOWER SPOKANE STREET DETOURS: The work that was postponed last weekend is happening right now, so be aware of the detours if you’re headed for Harbor Island or using other parts of the surface route east of the low bridge – this SDOT alert has the details.
But why leave? So much is going on right here on the peninsula. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FAUNTNEAU TRIANGLE WORK PARTY: 9 am-noon, help start the transformation of the Fauntleroy/Juneau/39th triangle – more info in our calendar listing.
THIS YEAR’S LAST FREE TAI CHI @ ALKI: Final scheduled Saturday session this year for free Tai Chi at Alki Beach with Caylen Storm, 9 am. (61st/Alki)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! As previewed here, work parties all around the Duwamish River watershed. Nine locations from West Seattle to Tukwila, 9:30 am-2 pm.
CLICK! HOBO TRUNK SHOW & HOLIDAY LAUNCH: 10 am-2 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), the holiday launch of Hobo handbags and wallets (photo added 11:56 am):
Full details here. (4540 California SW)
KITCHEN AND BATH TENT SALE, FINAL DAY: OK, here’s one reason to go off-peninsula for a bit … Abbrio in SODO is sponsoring WSB right now to make sure you know about this big sale that wraps up today, 10 am-4 pm, “over $400,000 (list) worth of brand name fixtures, faucets, appliances and accessories that we’re selling below our cost! American Standard, Grohe, Moen, TOTO and much more! Everything is new, in factory boxes and in great condition. We have a wide variety of surplus, obsolete (mfr. changed model #s) and display merchandise – priced to sell at up to 75% off suggested list!” (5964 6th Ave. S.)
DRUG TAKEBACK DAY: 10 am-2 pm, bring your unwanted/unneeded/expired prescription drugs (no liquids) to the Southwest Precinct for anonymous, no-questions-asked dropoff as part of the twice-yearly Drug Takeback Day. Could be life-saving. (2300 SW Webster)
FIREFIGHTERS RETURN FROM RIDE: Around 10 am, if you see fire engines and a fireboat near Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, don’t be worried – it’s part of a celebration for local firefighters returning from a cross-country charity-benefiting bicycle ride. (61st/Alki)
DENNY LEARNING GARDEN REVIVAL: 11 am-4 pm, join The Little Red Hen Project and friends at Denny International Middle School as they work to revive its learning garden. Your help would be most welcome; here’s our preview. (2601 SW Kenyon)
VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: 11:30 am-noon, bring kids 3+ to Delridge Library for stories, songs, and rhymes in Vietnamese. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
OUNCES’ SOFT OPEN: Noon today is when the doors are expected to open at Ounces in North Delridge; here’s our most recent preview. They’re planning two soft-open weeks before grand-opening festivities the weekend of November 4th. (3809 Delridge Way SW) Update: Opening postponed.
MAKE ART! 1-3 pm, drop-in paint-by-numbers at Southwest Library, part of the annual Community Art Showcase (admire the art that your neighbors are displaying, while you’re there). Free. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 1 pm at West Seattle Stadium, it’s the Seattle Lutheran High School Homecoming Game, vs. Quilcene. (4432 35th SW)
SOLSTICE P-PATCH FALL FESTIVAL: Also featured in the WSB West Seattle Halloween/Fall/etc. Guide – 2-5 pm – “Rain or shine, we will be @ SW Webster and Fauntleroy Way SW (next to Lincoln Park Annex tennis courts) – Pumpkin Carving/Painting, Plant Sale, Refreshments, Organic Produce/Home Preserves, Local grown apples. Come and join the fun.”
JAMES LEE STANLEY: Singer/composer/comedian, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Details and ticket info are in the calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
THREE BANDS: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, “junkyard jazz” with Band of Certainty, X-RAY, Manta Chordata. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Have a great day/night, whatever you plan to do! And check back with WSB for 24/7 news/event coverage.
(WSB photos)
At Southwest Athletic Complex last night, what began with a celebration of Chief Sealth International High School seniors ended with the varsity football team’s first win of the year.
Final score – Sealth 44, Franklin 8. Star of the game was #8, sophomore Donnie McMillan, with four touchdowns:
Two interceptions resulted in TDs – first, in the second quarter, #3, junior Lavontae Maxwell picked off a pass from Franklin’s #1, freshman QB Milton Hopkins, and ran it back.
Then at the start of the second half, Sealth’s #5, junior Diego Jackson, also picked one off Hopkins and ran it in:
Sealth’s #11, freshman Bishop Jackson, also had a TD. All of Franklin’s scoring came in the last minute, a TD with a 2-point conversion.
As mentioned above, it was Senior Night for Sealth – congratulations to the seniors on head coach Luther Carr III‘s roster: Kyler Gaither, Colby Gemmill, Angelo Hererra, Yafiet Kidane, Basilio Leon-Roman, Chase McNelly, and Anh Trinh.
This will of course be on our Saturday highlights list but in case you’re up tonight looking ahead to tomorrow … the Solstice Park P-Patch gardeners rescheduled their Fall Festival because of last weekend’s weather worries and are hoping to see you, 2-5 pm Saturday. Everybody’s welcome! Karen from the P-Patch says, “We’ve worked really hard on making it great this year. We have wonderful plants and fall garden starts. Also, really unique organic produce and herbs for cooks, that can’t be found in the markets.” The hillside garden itself, across from the north end of Lincoln Park, is a sight to see, too.
(May 2016 photo contributed by Chris, showing one traffic-choked morning at south section of the project zone)
The final official list isn’t out yet, but West Seattle Bike Connections says its proposal for improvements at Harbor/Avalon/Spokane/Manning topped the list last night when the citywide Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee voted on which proposals should get Neighborhood Street Fund money.
The proposal won top ranking from the Southwest District Council in neighborhood-level voting. Here’s the SDOT document explaining the proposal by WSBC’s Jodi Connolly, and estimating it at $352,000; here’s a WSBC report from February detailing the intersection’s challenges.
WSBC president Don Brubeck summarizes it as “The project will improve driver sight lines, traffic signals, and signage for safety for people crossing Harbor and Avalon on foot and on bikes. It’s a blind corner at the Spokane ramp to Harbor Ave SW for people driving low vehicles. At SW Manning to Avalon Way, the signage is confusing for the little pocket left turn bike lane and right-only vehicle lane.”
He adds – and note that one key change was made after SDOT’s version of it came out – “This grant application had strong community support, including Alki Community Council, Nucor Steel, Luna Park neighbors (who have their own Neighborhood Park & Street Fund project to improve the appearance and commemorate the history of this gateway to West Seattle). Our grant is for safety for people crossing the street on foot and on bikes. The Luna Park businesses has concerns about parking loss at Avalon and Manning by Luna Park Cafe. We discussed that, and modified the request so that no street parking spaces would be lost on Avalon (the SDOT link shows it before that modification). David Whiting, president of Southwest District Council and a founding member of West Seattle Bike Connections, helped us present to the council and obtain their recommendation.”
Following up on Brubeck’s note, we asked SDOT for an official list from last night’s meeting, but spokesperson Norm Mah said that wasn’t available yet: “This list of project recommendations has been transmitted to the Mayor for final approval. SDOT expects project applicants will be notified next week about final funding selections, with an official public release shortly thereafter.” A list tweeted by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways shows the only other West Seattle project to make the citywide top 10 was the “26th SW proposal” for the walking corridor between Chief Sealth International High School and Westwood Village.
Last Friday night, some in our area were cleaning up after a few hours of tree-toppling wind; tonight, nothing more serious than beautiful sights to share. Above – thanks to the Arbor Heights texter who sent the rainbow photo! Below – thanks to Gary Gates, who often shares sunset sights via Twitter:
Couldn't get down to Alki but even the view from California Ave was stunning. @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/PeOd9JjUbp
— Gary Gates (@DrGaryJGates) October 22, 2016
As for tomorrow – good news is that the day starts with a “partly sunny” forecast, which is great news considering everything that’s on the calendar, including the Duwamish Alive! and Denny IMS Garden work parties.
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