day : 16/08/2017 10 results

WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Smoke-free color

August 16, 2017 8:50 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Smoke-free color

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photo of tonight’s sunset – colorful without wildfire-smoke enhancement. It was also spectacular before the sun emerged from the clouds, as Don Brubeck‘s photo from Alki shows:

Five weeks left in summer … the autumn equinox is at 1:02 pm our time on September 22nd.

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VIDEO: Ribboncutting for West Seattle’s first charter school Summit Atlas, five days before first classes

August 16, 2017 7:53 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Big crowd tonight for the ribboncutting celebration at Summit Atlas, West Seattle’s first charter school, about to start classes inside a renovated – and soon to be expanded – ex-church/ex-supermarket at 9601 35th SW. The school is starting with sixth and ninth graders, adding a middle- and high-school grade each year until it’s a full 6th-through-12th campus; its soon-to-be-students were invited to help cut the ribbon tonight (our video above pans along the line).

By the time we toured the school last month, almost 200 students were enrolled. As with other charter schools in our state, this one receives public funding and does not charge tuition; it’s leasing the building and site from Washington Charter Schools Development, a donation-funded nonprofit that bought it for $4.75 million from its former owner, Freedom Church/Jesus Center, which subsequently bought and moved to a new campus in Skyway. We first reported on the charter-school plan in early 2015, after discovering it in city permit files. When the state approved Summit’s plan in August 2015, the plan was for it to open in fall 2016, but the court/legislative fight over funding charter schools led to a one-year delay.

Classes at Summit Atlas start 8:15 am Monday for ninth-graders, same time Tuesday for sixth-graders. This is the third school in Arbor Heights, joining Arbor Heights Elementary – which will start its second year in its new building next month – and Westside School (WSB sponsor), which is heading into its third year at its AH campus.

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PHOTOS: Hate-Free Delridge ‘standing for peace’ on overpass

August 16, 2017 4:48 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news

4:48 PM: On the Delridge Way pedestrian overpass at SW Oregon, Hate-Free Delridge is keeping its promise of “standing for peace.” The photo above shows the signs and their holders facing southbound traffic; several are facing the northbound lanes too, with signs including “Words Not Warheads” and “Peace and Justice on Earth.” Their plan, as first announced Sunday – with the explanation “We need to be heard. We need to speak out” – is to be here until about 6 pm, and you’re welcome to join them. Lots of honking from passing drivers so far.

(added) Susan Lebow of HFD explains what it’s about:

5:08 PM: More people continue arriving to join the demonstration, all ages including a family with two kids who just walked up.

Added above, a photo of the side facing northbound traffic (some of the signs, political and festival, were hanging on this side long before the event).

5:36 PM: The signs span many sentiments – now from left to right on the NB-facing side, No H8, Peace and Love, Enough!, Black Lives Matter, Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Respect Indigenous Rights, (“no” symbol) Naz, No War No Hate, Words Not Warheads, Hate-Free Zone, “Sure He’s An Ignorant Bigot, But He’s Our Ignorant Bigot, Support Bigot Trump,” No War, Build Unity, Peace and Justice on Earth, and a few with lettering just out of our reading range. The only sound of dissent we’ve heard, hanging out here by the overpass for 45 minutes – someone in a dugout at Delridge Playfield behind us yelled “Trump all the way!” likely out of earshot for those up on the overpass.

6:01 PM: This was scheduled to end about now, but demonstrators are still up on the overpass, and new signs have continued to appear. One that we just noticed says, “We Love You, Heather,” in remembrance of Heather Heyer, the woman killed by the driver who plowed into the counter-demonstrators at the white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last weekend.

6:07 PM: It’s now breaking up. If you’re wondering “what’s next?” we’ve just been told that Hate-Free Delridge and other groups will join West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice in The Junction on Sunday, noon-1 pm, and you’re invited to that gathering too – bring a sign if you want to.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Woman attacked south of The Junction

August 16, 2017 3:16 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two neighbors on the south side of The Junction contacted us today to let us know about this report from their neighborhood e-mail list. We are republishing it with permission:

I just wanted to let you guys know about some stuff that happened last night in front of our house between 9-9:15 pm.

A young Asian girl in her twenties was walking back to her car that was parked in front of the house when a man came out of the alley and approached her. He demanded her papers because he believed that she was a “commie.” After she refused, he violently pushed her to the ground. I saw this happen and ran outside to see if she was ok. At that time he said something and walked off and went down the stairs to 41st. I didn’t have a phone on me and didn’t report it but I told her that she needed to report it. I tried to get as much information out of her as possible but she was shaken up and wanted to get home as soon as possible. She regularly parks in the neighbor(hood) since she works in the Junction.

She later contacted me and gave me this description: ‘He was a middle-aged white male with glasses, long wavy black and white hair, wearing a t-shirt and khaki shorts. He didn’t seem taller than 5’9″. Didn’t seem drunk.’

Another neighbor encountered the man shortly thereafter and wrote:

He came down the stairs to 41st Ave SW and turned south. I was checking my mail right after a TV show ended at 9 pm. He approached me saying that he was just attacked by a group of Asians and that I shouldn’t go up the street (towards Safeway). … He was around 55 years old and my height 5’-9” with glasses. I didn’t notice his clothing. He kept saying that the attackers ‘weren’t like him and I’. I assume he was meaning white. He also mentioned something about the attackers not being citizens. It’s my opinion that he has a mental issue. He continued walking south on 41st Ave SW.

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ADMIRAL REPAVING: The bumpy backstory

August 16, 2017 2:00 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Monday photos courtesy Tim Nelson)

The repaving work that’s under way this week on the west section of SW Admiral Way has more of a history than most other “spot paving” projects SDOT announces shortly before they start. When Admiral Way rechannelization west of California SW was first brought up in 2015, calls for repaving resurfaced, but it wasn’t part of the project, and it wasn’t even part of the SDOT long-range plan (see this map). But the road has had persistent bumps, sinks, and other problems, especially near Schmitz Park, and some residents have been persistent about urging that SDOT get something done, including Tim Nelson, who shared the photos.

Last May, we reported on a sinkhole, thanks to a tip, and it was finally filled days later, but that’s continued to be a trouble spot – one of several revealed as SDOT ground off the old pavement yesterday:

Nelson says he has been trying to get something done about this section for a year and a half. He rides a motorcycle and has as a result been extra-aware of the bumps and holes. After getting nowhere with SDOT, he contacted City Councilmember Lisa Herbold; this is from a response she sent him in late June:

… in response to yours and my requests, Transportation Maintenance Division Director, Rodney Maxie, conducted several site visits in West Seattle last week, including this segment of Admiral. In response to my follow up questions last week, when several Admiral Way constituents visited me at my office hours on Friday, SDOT told me the following:

“Mr. Maxie, or one of his Pavement Maintenance leads will follow up with an assessment of Admiral Way. Depending on the ensuing assessment, Mr. Maxie may request a follow-up site visit with the residents who have sent in complaints about the pavement conditions on these blocks. While this street is not prioritized as an AAC project, Rodney will be looking to see whether it might be a good candidate for nearer term spot improvements.”

And then, last week, this week’s work was announced. Meantime, work is still ahead for nearby intersections, including the conversion of 59th/Admiral to an all-way stop; we are checking with SDOT on the newest timetable for that, since it had been announced as “before school starts.”

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WEST SEATTLE CAR SHOW 2017: Last call for discount pre-registration!

August 16, 2017 12:51 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from West Seattle Car Show 2016)

The 10th annual West Seattle Car Show is close – August 26th, one week from Saturday – and if you’re interested in being part of it, this is your last call for discount pre-registration, which is due this Friday. The show presented by West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive is set for 10 am-3 pm on the north side of South Seattle College, whose Automotive Technology program it supports. Here’s part of the plan for this year’s show, in addition to checking out the cool wheels on display:

This year we will have the State’s “Don’t Drip and Drive” campaign at the school, performing free leak inspections for visitors during the show hours, and ASA will be also hosting a “Lights on for Safety” event and performing exterior bulb checks and free replacement at the same time (in the auto program at the school). There are scheduled tours of several programs at the school, beer, wine, coffee and soft drinks available during the day in the Wine Academy (also hosting tours), along with kids’ activities. Food trucks will be announced soon! Live music from the Disco Cowboys, playing classic rock. Raffles and giveaways during the trophy ceremony.

That’ll be at 3; the show starts at 10. SCC is at 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge.

P.S. WSB is again co-sponsoring the show; West Seattle Autoworks, Swedish Automotive, and South Seattle College are all WSB sponsors. It’s free to be a spectator, and bring a non-perishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank if you can!

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ATTENTION, ARTISTS: West Seattle Art Walk’s looking for you

August 16, 2017 11:49 am

| Comments Off on ATTENTION, ARTISTS: West Seattle Art Walk’s looking for you

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Interested in being showcased during the West Seattle Art Walk this fall? Speak up fast! The announcement:

We’re seeking artists for the upcoming Q4 Art Walk:

The West Seattle Arts Council is currently seeking artists to submit their work for the upcoming Q4 (Oct/Nov/Dec) digital and printed Art Walk promotional materials. This includes the printed walking map postcards and posters that will be displayed around West Seattle.

This is a great opportunity for artists to have their work prominently featured and promoted in our community! Please submit your work through (this) link. The deadline to submit is Thursday, August 17th.

To find out more about the West Seattle Art Walk, visit the website.

The West Seattle art walk is a monthly art event that is held the second Thursday of each month 5pm to late year-round. The art walk is hosted by the local West Seattle merchants who feature a wide range of art and showcase our vibrant artist community.

Thanks! We look forward to reviewing the submissions!

And even if you’re not an artist – here’s another way to get involved:

Are you interested in learning more about the Arts Council and West Seattle Art Walk? Our committee meetings are always open to anyone who would like to get involved promoting arts in West Seattle. Our next meeting will be held on Friday, August 18th 9 am at Uptown Espresso (Edmunds/California). We would welcome the community spirit of adding more art here in West Seattle.

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Ways to spend your West Seattle Wednesday

August 16, 2017 9:16 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mount Rainier at dusk, from behind Alki Point, photographed by Jim Borrow)

Just some of what’s up for your West Seattle Wednesday:

KID-FRIENDLY PARK WALK: First of two West Seattle events today/tonight with “Discovering Seattle Parks” author (and WS resident) Linnea Westerlind. 11 am, join her for a walk through Jack Block Park. (Meet at first parking lot near the restrooms. Harbor Ave. SW and SW Florida)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARKS: 3 local wading pools are open today – Lincoln Park is open 11 am-8 pm; EC Hughes, noon-7 pm; Hiawatha, noon-6:30 pm. Highland Park Spraypark is open 11 am-8 pm. (Find addresses here)

BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library, geared toward babies up to 1 year old. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Fresh produce, grown steps away, available for purchase 4-7 pm at the weekly High Point Market Garden Farm Stand. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

STANDING FOR PEACE: Hate-Free Delridge invites anyone interested to join their demonstration on the pedestrian overpass between Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and Delridge Community Center, 4:30-6 pm today, as previewed here. (Delridge/Oregon)

RIBBONCUTTING: West Seattle’s first charter school Summit Atlas is celebrating the upcoming start of its first school year with a ribboncutting event 5-6:30 pm. (9601 35th SW)

YOUNG WRITERS’ PERFORMANCE: Southwest Youth and Family Services presents the Young Writers’ Workshop BOOT tonight, 6-7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, followed by a chance to meet the artists. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

BOOK TALK/SIGNING: Second event today/tonight for “Discovering Seattle Parks” author Linnea Westerlind, 6 pm at Kenyon Hall – free presentation. (7904 35th SW)

OPEN MIC AT SKYLARK: Sign up at 7:30 pm, perform at 8:30 pm, at the weekly all-ages-until-10 pm (21+ after that) open-microphone night at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

DEADGRASS: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern, Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia tunes performed bluegrass-style. (4210 SW Admiral)

FERRY SUPERSTRUCTURE PASSING BY: As previewed on Tuesday, you might see the superstructure of the new state ferry Suquamish passing by West Seattle, headed from Tacoma to Harbor Island, tonight or early tomorrow.

SEE OUR COMPLETE CALENDAR … by going here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; Admiral repaving continues

August 16, 2017 7:20 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:20 AM: Good morning! No West Seattle (or nearby) incidents or major slowdowns reported so far.

REPAVING CONTINUES: Through Friday, SDOT is repaving SW Admiral Way between Lander and Stevens [map]. The work started yesterday and is scheduled to resume at 9 am today; we’ll be taking a closer look later today.

MARINERS’ DAY GAME: 12:40 pm at Safeco Field, the Mariners host Baltimore.

NEW FIRE STATION 32: And one more reminder … the new FS32 at the site of the old one (37th/38th/Alaska) was occupied as of yesterday, so if you drive/ride/walk SW Alaska, note that for the first time in about 2 years, you might be seeing SFD units roll out of that site.

8:47 AM: SDOT reports a crash at West Marginal Way and SW Spokane. No SFD medic dispatch, though. And if you’re headed to/through downtown, as pointed out in comments, there’s a police incident blocking part of 5th. SPD says they’re using a robot to “check out a suspicious item at 5th and Pike.”

9:04 AM: SPD says the downtown investigation is over and roads are open again.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray Civic; diapers and bike rack taken

August 16, 2017 12:12 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN CAR: From Sharon:

Gray Honda Civic 1994

My boyfriend’s car was stolen from our parking spot. If you’ve seen this car around or have any helpful information, please contact (425) 238-7683 or 911. Thank you for your help!

When: Between Sun 8/13 11 PM and Mon 8/14 9 PM
Where: Parked in the alley between 42nd and California, SW Dawson and SW Brandon
Make/Model: 1994 Honda Civic, gray
Plate Number: ACS9183
Incident #: 2017-300892

STOLEN PACKAGE, AND BIKE RACK: Joyce says these happened the same night last week:

We had a package taken from our front door Sometime between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. It was a large box so it probably seemed like a good pick. However, it contained 2 boxes of Honest Company diapers. If the thieves have a baby then maybe it was a good find. If anyone happens to see these discarded somewhere, please let me know.

Also, our bike rack was stolen from our car. It was a Yakima holdup 2. If you see anything resembling that it would be helpful to know. Thanks so much!

Joyce is in the Fairmount Park area.

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