day : 02/02/2017 11 results

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

Tonight’s ceremonial “groundbreaking” for West Seattle’s first charter school, Summit Atlas, happened indoors. That’s where the first phase of work to convert the former church/supermarket site at 9601 35th SW will happen – starting next week, according to Summit officials.

It’s been two years since we broke the news that this school was on the way, after discovering an early-stage plan in city files. Tonight, Summit displayed renderings of how the campus will look once they’ve added Phase II, an addition so there’s eventually room for full sixth through 12th grades:

Right now, they have about 125 applicants, split between the sixth and ninth grades with which Summit Atlas will be launched in August, Summit officials told us tonight. They’re accepting applications through March 10th, with a lottery set for the next day if they have more applicants than spaces (they had told us last summer they expected to launch with about 100 students in each of those two grades). The school’s executive director (principal) is Katie Bubalo:

We introduced you to Bubalo in this story last August, when the school year began at Summit Sierra in the ID, one of the two schools Summit (based in California) has already opened in Western Washington. Summit told us that the changes made to their building there are similar to what they plan here. A Summit Sierra 9th grader, Jayla Foster, spoke at tonight’s event:

She said she hopes to become a doctor, and appreciates the “personal attention” the school offers.

Summit Atlas originally was slated to open in fall of last year, but was pushed back a year amid the battle over state funding for charter schools. While a bill passed to provide money from a lottery-related source, charter opponents went to court again and that suit hasn’t been resolved yet. Charters also have support from donors such as those funding the organization that bought and is fixing up the 35th/Roxbury site for Summit Atlas.

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West Seattle weather: Thursday night snow!

February 2, 2017 9:48 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Along 35th north of Roxbury. Snow! pic.twitter.com/JFO0NGXXUs

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) February 3, 2017

9:48 PM: Snowing in south West Seattle – we first encountered a flurry while heading back from a meeting in White Center, and now it’s a rather serious snow shower in Westwood – the road’s already slick. Seeing any where you are?

10:07 PM: Back at HQ now. Still snowing, and sticking, and not mentioned in the National Weather Service forecast discussion. We had been tracking a now-expired “special weather statement” that had said only there might be a bit of freezing rain, and even that hadn’t been expected outside the far South Sound.

10:28 PM: It’s very lightly snowing now where we are – and the snow on the street is melting, so this probably isn’t the blizzard of the century. We’re adding a few photos that we’ve received. First, from Darlene in The Junction:

And from Steph in Gatewood:

No official forecast updates so far, but we’ll be keeping watch through the early-morning hours to see what happens next.

12:22 AM: Thanks to Jay in Sunrise Heights for this photo:

While the snow has stopped, it’s sticking around on planting strips and atop cars, at least up here. The NWS now says “evaporative cooling” might have played a role in the semi-surprise snowfall. The temp’s above freezing so far, but be ready to take it very slow when you head out in the morning, since it can be slippery without icing over.

6:22 AM: From here, we’re tracking weather in morning-traffic coverage. Right now – rain. And what was left of the snow is melting.

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West Seattle scene: Louisa Boren STEM families get ready for Friday show of support

February 2, 2017 7:36 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Louisa Boren STEM families get ready for Friday show of support

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos)

Tonight at Uptown Espresso in North Delridge, families from Louisa Boren STEM K-8 are making signs for a show of support tomorrow (Friday) morning, to show their support for all students, including refugees and other immigrants.

At least 17 schools around the city are participating, according to organizers.

(Signmaker Eleanor)

The STEM group plans to be outside the school (5950 Delridge Way SW) 9:15-9:35 am.

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FERRY ALERT UPDATE: Sealth back in service on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route

February 2, 2017 4:10 pm

| Comments Off on FERRY ALERT UPDATE: Sealth back in service on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

4:10 PM: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route of Washington State Ferries is back to reduced capacity again because of a boat breakdown. M/V Sealth is having steering troubles and is out of service for repairs TFN. Updates and schedule alerts are here; you can monitor boat status via Vessel Watch here.

4:50 PM: Via e-mail, WSF says there’s now a two-hour wait at Fauntleroy.

6:46 PM: WSF says the Sealth is now back in service.

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Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick out

February 2, 2017 3:28 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

3:28 PM: The Port of Seattle has announced that CEO Ted Fick has resigned:

The Port of Seattle Commissioners accepted the resignation of CEO Ted Fick today in public session. The special meeting was called for this specific action.

“We accept the resignation of Ted Fick, and acknowledge his desire to return to the private sector,” said Commission President Tom Albro. “We are currently working through the details of his departure and will defer further comment until those details are resolved.”

Chief Operating Officer Dave Soike will serve as interim CEO. Soike has over 35 years of experience at many levels and lines of business at the Port of Seattle. A public process for a replacement will begin later this year.

This comes one week after he was reported to have gone on paid leave. Fick, hired a little over two years ago, was “the Port’s first CEO from the private sector,” according to his now-taken-down bio page on the port’s website.

ADDED 4 PM: The port announcement now includes a link to Fick’s resignation letter.

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UPDATE: QED Coffee, Sound & Fog join nationwide ACLU fundraiser

February 2, 2017 3:04 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

3:04 PM: One of West Seattle’s newest coffee shops, QED Coffee (6032 California SW), just sent word they’re joining the nationwide Friday-Sunday coffee-shop fundraiser for the ACLU. The coffee-industry publication Sprudge organized the benefit, as explained here, where you’ll also find the list of 400+ cafés participating nationwide so far. Sprudge’s announcement explains, “Today (the ACLU is) defending innocent refugee and immigrant families impacted by the recent executive orders — tomorrow they could be defending you, because they are committed to defending all of us.” Matt from QED tells WSB, “A portion of sales, as well as any extra monies that people want to give, we will be donating” after the weekend. (If any other West Seattle/White Center coffee shops join, please let us know.)

4:19 PM: Sound and Fog Coffee/Wine Bar (4735 40th SW) just sent word they’re in, too, Friday-Sunday.

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Seen off West Seattle: USS Turner Joy, towed for maintenance

February 2, 2017 1:12 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo! This is the USS Turner Joy, which, as he points out, is usually on display in Bremerton – it’s an official Naval Museum, decommissioned in 1982 after 23 years of service, including involvement in what became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964 (read the ship-specific history here).

Today, according to our friends at the Kitsap Sun, the Turner Joy is under tow to the Lake Union Drydock Company for about a month of maintenance work.

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Want to be on the city’s new Community Involvement Commission?

February 2, 2017 12:30 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

When the mayor announced last summer that he was cutting city support for Neighborhood District Councils, he promised to create a citywide Community Involvement Commission. Half a year later, the call for members has finally just gone out:

Mayor Edward Murray and Seattle City Council are seeking community members to serve on the City’s new Community Involvement Commission (CIC). Created by Executive Order 2016-06 and established by ordinance last November, this Commission will advise the City on policies and strategies to advance equitable public engagement and civic participation.

“All residents, including those representing under-represented and under-served communities must have the opportunity to participate in the City’s decision making and planning processes, “said Mayor Murray. “This new commission will guide the City’s efforts to create policies and initiatives that are more inclusive for residents. If Seattle is to become a more equitable place for all, we must bring more voices at the table to ensure that we are representative of Seattle’s diversity.”

The 16-member commission was created by an Executive Order issued by Mayor Murray to advise the City on priorities, policies, and strategies related to equitable civic engagement and public participation in City decision-making processes. It will also provide feedback on the development of City departments’ community involvement plans.

“The Community Involvement Commission will provide an opportunity for residents across Seattle to weigh in on the most effective ways to engage in the political process,” said Councilmember Tim Burgess. “City government is most effective when we include a diverse array of experiences and prioritize equitable representation and inclusion in our decision-making processes.”

The Board will be composed of 16 members – seven appointed by City Council (by Council District) and seven appointed by the Mayor with one of his appointments reserved for a young adult through the Get Engaged program. The final two members will be selected by the Commission once established. All the appointments are subject to City Council confirmation.

Initially, the Commission will meet monthly at Seattle City Hall. Commissioners will serve without compensation and must commit approximately 3-6 hours per month to Commission business.

If you are interested in being considered, complete the online application by Wednesday, March 1 by 5 pm. If you cannot submit the application online, contact Seattle Department of Neighborhoods at 206-684-0464 and an application will be mailed to you or you can pick one up at its office (Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 4th floor) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If mailing the application, it must be postmarked by March 1. Mail it to: Tom Van Bronkhorst, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, PO Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649. Translated online and paper versions of the application in Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese are available.

For more information or questions, contact Tom Van Bronkhorst at (206) 233-3954 or email NewDON@seattle.gov. You can also learn more about the Community Involvement Commission on our website.

The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. Women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, young persons, senior citizens, persons of color, and immigrants are encouraged to apply.

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Make Valentine history in The Junction this Sunday

February 2, 2017 10:31 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(West Seattleites Bobby Whittaker and Aurora Bennett, photographed by Leda Costa)

You can get a fun, free Valentine photo – like the one above – this Sunday, courtesy of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. With the Campbell Building’s landmark nomination getting its first hearing before the Landmarks Preservation Board this month, SWSHS’s “We Love The Junction” campaign is using it as a backdrop for photos this Sunday during the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Here’s the official announcement:

The “We Love The Junction” Task Force of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has a fun and unique way for you to obtain a free digital valentine with your sweetie and show your love for the Junction at the same time.

It’s called “Be My Junction Valentine.” Here’s how it will work:

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday, February 5, 2017, the task force will be at West Seattle Farmers Market taking FREE valentine photos at the northeast corner of the Junction in front of the Campbell Building, 4554 California Ave. SW. (main tenant: Cupcake Royale).

You – with a companion, with your family or even by yourself – will be able to pose for a valentine photo while holding a sign with the “We Love The Junction” logo.

The photo will be digitally placed into a heart-shaped template and e-mailed to you in time for you to circulate it – and post it on social media – on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, as your 2017 valentine greeting. The “We Love The Junction” Task Force also will post the photos on Facebook.

The first 25 people to have their “Be My Junction Valentine” photos taken will receive a free Cupcake Royale “Babycakes” cupcake – one cupcake per photo.

Those getting their “Be My Junction Valentine” photos taken also will come away with a flier describing how they can write to the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board about their support for landmark status for the Campbell Building and Hamm Building.

The flier also will include logistical information on showing support by attending the Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, meeting of the landmarks board at City Hall downtown.

The landmarks board’s Feb. 15 meeting starts at 3:30 p.m., but hearings on designation of the Hamm Building (built in 1926) and nomination of the Campbell Building (built in 1911/1920) likely will take place later in the afternoon and early evening. More precise times for the hearings will be known when the agenda is released the week prior to the meeting.

Here’s our recent preview of that meeting. For more on this Sunday’s photo event – which will happen rain or shine! – go here.

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What’s up for your West Seattle Thursday

February 2, 2017 9:49 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen, looking north from the south end of the California SW straightaway)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: 5-8 pm. Got a project planned? Or, want to find out about membership? The WSTL is open 5-8 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

CHARTER SCHOOL GROUNDBREAKING: Summit Atlas is having a ceremonial groundbreaking event at the Arbor Heights site where it’s renovating a former church/supermarket building to open West Seattle’s first charter school in August. 5:30 pm. (9601 35th SW)

PATHFINDER MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm at Pathfinder K-8 – prospective middle-school families are welcome. (1901 SW Genesee)

SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 7 pm, prospective elementary families are welcome to this open house at Shorewood Christian School. (10300 28th SW)

FLY FISHING FILM TOUR: Online tickets are sold out but check at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) shop in The Junction to see if they still have tickets for tonight’s Admiral Theater screening. (2343 California SW)

SOME’TET: Jazz and more at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! on our complete calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates

February 2, 2017 7:02 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| 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)

7:02 AM: Good morning. Trouble on northbound 99 as we start – a crash reported just north of the West Seattle Bridge, blocking one lane.

7:06 AM: That crash has been cleared quickly, to the shoulder.

WEEKEND CLOSURE ALERT: If you use Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, you need to know about a closure planned this Sunday – SB 99 from Valley Street to the BSTunnel will be closed 8 am-5 pm Sunday (February 5th).

9:11 AM: Trouble at Highland Park Way/2nd – semi-truck trailer has gone sideways. Thanks to John for this photo:

Looks like traffic is getting around.

10:21 AM: Just passed the scene. The trailer has been restored to an upright position and the truck is in the center of the road. Police are still there too. But it looks like it will be clear soon.

2 PM: The Sunday closure of SB 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, mentioned above, has been canceled because rain is expected, and will be rescheduled.

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