West Seattle, Washington
26 Monday
9:53 PM: It’s been a great week for spectacular sunsets. In case you didn’t have a full view of tonight’s sunset – the photo above is courtesy of David Hutchinson.
ADDED 10:16 PM: More! Thanks to Greg Snyder for this time-lapse view of the golden pre-sunset transforming into a pink post-sunset:
And James Tilley captured the sun just before it finished disappearing behind the Olympics:
ADDED 11:30 PM: From Jim Borrow:
Thanks to John Vair for the photo and report:
Over a period of 4 years starting in June 2013, the Boy Scouts from local Troop 284 rebuilt trail steps in Camp Long that rise along the Glacier Climbing Wall on the east side of the camp.
Four of the Scouts led phases of the rebuild as their Eagle Scout projects: Bennett Pagliarini, Michael Pennie, James Vair, and Jonathan Vair.
Originally constructed out of wood timbers by the Works Progress Administration in 1940, the stairs had become worn, broken, and difficult to traverse. The Scouts constructed the new steps from recycled granite sidewalk curbs formerly used in downtown Seattle, and completed the project on June 11.
Seattle Public Schools classes may be over for the year, but the School Board still has work to do, and its agenda for tomorrow (Wednesday, June 28th), starting at 4:15 pm at district HQ (3rd/Lander in SODO) has these items of interest:
SOLAR POWER FOR ARBOR HEIGHTS, DENNY: When the new Arbor Heights Elementary was designed, there was a mention that it would be solar-ready for the future. According to an item on Wednesday’s board agenda, the future is approaching – AH and Denny International Middle School are two of six schools around the district planned for a pilot project. The documentation says AH is proposed for “1 ballasted rooftop array consisting of a total of 412 modules of 72 cell monocrystalline, 345W format” and Denny for “3 roof-penetrating rail-mounted rooftop arrays consisting of a total of 408 modules of 72 cell monocrystalline, 345W format.” The project has a price tag of more than $2 million but the district is getting a grant covering half a million, and says the sites were chosen for energy savings that will provide a “positive cash flow.” You can read the documentation here.
SCHOOL-BUS PADDLE-CAM TICKETS: The district’s been working on this for a while and now is looking at going full-speed-ahead with cameras on school-bus paddles, to detect violations and send tickets. One of those tickets will cost you $419. Of that amount, the agenda document says, $69 will go to the provider American Traffic Solutions. They’re expecting more than 9,100 violations a year, to be processed by the King County Sheriff’s Office (which also will get a share of the proceeds). Total expenses are projected to be more than half the expected revenue, so the district expects to net about $1.3 million a year.
CAPACITY: The board meeting will start with a “work session” at 4:15 pm, and part of it addresses the topic of “capacity.” No documentation in the agenda yet, but “capacity” is the umbrella topic that includes the possible move of Louisa Boren STEM K-8, so we’ll be monitoring.
(The three proposed painted-curb-extension designs SDOT wants you to vote on)
Two months ago, SDOT told the Alki Community Council (WSB coverage here) that more changes were coming to the western stretch of SW Admiral Way — specifically, to crossings at six intersections.
At the time of the April briefing, details weren’t finalized. Now, they are – and perhaps the biggest one is that 59th/Admiral will be converted – tentatively – to an all-way stop. Here’s the update SDOT sent us today (also note that it includes a “poll” seeking your vote on the design for painted curb extensions – the three options above):
Following the SW Admiral Way restriping completed in late 2016, we’re improving pedestrian crossings at 6 intersections along the corridor this year:
SW Lander St (at 53rd Ave SW)These improvements are intended to provide a safer and more comfortable pedestrian environment along SW Admiral Way and were informed by feedback from the community. The crossing treatments work to:
Shorten crossing distances
Reduce speeds of turning vehicles
Improve access to key destinations throughout the corridor, including schools, transit, and parks
We’re aiming to have all 6 improvements completed by the end of 2017, with the crossing at 59th Ave SW on a slightly faster timeline. This crossing will be implemented in two phases. Before the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, our crews will install new signage and signal changes to convert the intersection to an all-way stop. After a couple of months, we’ll evaluate the all-way stop. If it’s performing well, we’ll install phase 2 improvements, which include curb extensions and a red flashing all-way stop beacon.
Five of the six projects will also feature decorative painted areas, and we’re asking community members to weigh in on their preferred design. We’ve added a poll to our project website for community members to vote for their favorite option.
Questions or comments? Dawn Schellenberg at dawn.schellenberg@seattle.gov or (206) 684-5189.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share this afternoon:
STOLEN CAR: Rene‘s car, with disabled-person license plates, was stolen from a carport in the 3700 block of Beach Drive. It’s a silver 2002 Toyota 4Runner, plates DP 35458. Call 911 if you see it.
PROWLER IN WESTWOOD: From Stuart near 32nd SW and SW Barton, this video and a still from it:
Last night at 10:25 pm, a prowler rode his bike up to the front of our house and spent about a minute along the side of the house presumably looking into our bedroom windows. He rode up, checked down the side of the house, and then rode away. Our windows were closed and locked, so we hope this ended there. Incident was reported to police. Description of person involved – Hair: Hat with print on front, Top: Hoodie sweatshirt, Bottom: Sweat pants, Shoes: Appeared to be dark-colored shoes. Age: Looked 20-40. Build: Medium build. Race: Hard to determine. Sex: Male, Other details: The video shows a necklace with what appears to be a pendant. BMX-style bike with the seat post set high.
P.S. One more mention – the next briefing on area crime trends is at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, open to all, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
Just one week until Independence Day! West Seattle’s biggest event of the holiday is happening again this year – the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade – and we have updates today from volunteer parade coordinator Emily Williams of West Seattle FIT4MOM:
*Councilmember Lisa Herbold to kick off the Parade
*National Anthem Singer: Kaylen Stancik (School of Rock student)
*In addition to Admiral Neighborhood Association selling popsicles and bottled water as a fundraiser, two food trucks will also be parked in the Loop at Hamilton Viewpoint: Little J’s Dawg House and Mini the Dough-Nut.
*Still looking for donations to help support the parade [here’s the link]
Looking forward to a great holiday event!
The parade starts at 44th SW/Sunset SW (map) at 10 am Tuesday, July 4th. All kids and their families are welcome to participate – just show up! Everyone’s welcome to line the parade route and watch – it ends at Hamilton Viewpoint Park with classic field games. And to Emily’s last point – every little bit helps – the parade continues to grow, and so do the permit fees charged by the city, as well as other expenses.
Thanks to the person who just called to let us know: She’s seeing brown water in Seaview (she’s near 45th SW/SW Juneau), and it’s because Seattle Fire crews are continuing to test hydrants. She’s already contacted Seattle Public Utilities (their hotline is 206-386-1800) to be sure they know too. (Yesterday, it was west of The Junction; the day before, Arbor Heights.)
(Pigeon guillemot – photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Tuesday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:
FREE LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY: 12:30 pm at Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW) and High Point (35th SW/SW Raymond) Libraries, free lunch for kids/youth, as part of summer programs to be sure they don’t go hungry when school’s out. (Watch for more information later today on WSB about summer food programs around the area.)
DISASTER SKILLS WORKSHOP: Be prepared! 6-8 pm, city-presented disaster-skills workshop at High Point Community Center. Free! Pre-registration required – sign up here ASAP. (6920 34th SW)
ADMIRAL THEATER BENEFIT: The project to restore its historic murals will benefit from tonight’s showing of “Legends of the Road,” which tells the story of Chief Sealth (pre-International) High School students’ 5,100-mile bicycle/baseball trip in honor of the historic “barnstorming” by Negro Leagues baseball players in the first half of the 20th century. 5:30 pm $100 VIP ticket for pre-movie mingling, 6:45 pm $20 ticket for the movie and Q&A afterward. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick is here to introduce the screening – and here’s his video invitation courtesy of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:
Here’s our Monday report on a conversation with Bob and former Chief Sealth teacher Gary Thomsen, whose students did the research and road trip. Tickets available at the door and online. (2343 California SW)
BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: 6:30 pm at Southwest Precinct, the last meeting until fall for the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network. Along with neighborhood crime-trend updates, you’ll find out about the revived SPD Community Service Officer program. All welcome – you don’t have to be a BW captain or even member. (2300 SW Webster)
TUESDAY NIGHT SUP-PER: 7 pm at Alki Kayak Tours, SUP and kayak race – details in our calendar listing. (1660 Harbor SW)
BUSHWICK BOOK CLUB: Live music at Parliament Tavern, starting at 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LOTS MORE … for today, tonight, and beyond – on our complete-calendar page!
First day of summer vacation for Seattle Public Schools students, and some summer-camp decisions have yet to be made. If a 3rd- through 8th-grader in your house is interested in basketball, here’s an offer: Four days of training with the West Seattle High School girls-basketball team – which benefits from the proceeds – focusing on “integrating individual skill into game concepts, (concentrating on) dribbling, shooting, ball handling, footwork, and game-situational skills and drills.” 9 am-noon each day, Monday, July 17th, through Thursday, July 20th, at the WSHS Gym (3000 California SW). $100 for the whole week – you can register right now here, and then pay here. Questions? wshsgirlsbball@gmail.com
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported so far in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes in the area.
8:05 AM A crash is reported on SB Highway 99 just before the West Seattle Bridge exit.
8:50 AM: This was actually a stalled vehicle and it’s been cleared from the travel lanes.
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