day : 28/09/2017 11 results

It was a beautiful and busy night for the first-ever West Seattle Junction Wine Walk, a perfect pairing of wineries and merchants. The idea was so popular, tickets sold out long before the sipping started. Tonight’s participants included West Seattle wineries – north Morgan Junction’s Viscon Cellars (top photo), whose team poured at CAPERS (where ticketholders began their night) and south Admiral’s Welcome Road Winery , featured at Carmilia’s Boutique (below):

Music mixed with wine at Thunder Road Guitars, whose featured winery was Nine Hats:

Click! Design That Fits – which celebrates its 13th anniversary this Saturday – hosted Treleaven/Red Earth Wines:

Menashe and Sons Jewelers had Coral Wines pouring:

Along with the winery/merchant teams, the Junction Association’s volunteers helped power the night:

Joanie Jacobs coordinated them:

Yes, there will be a second Wine Walk, West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Swift tells WSB – next May. (Watch for other opportunities to explore The Junction in the meantime, such as the monthly West Seattle Art Walk on second Thursdays, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sundays, and the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival coming up October 29th!)

Tonight’s other pairings are all listed here. And our customary disclosure – the businesses and wineries mentioned above include WSB sponsors: Viscon Cellars, Welcome Road Winery, Thunder Road Guitars, Click! Design That Fits and Menashe & Sons Jewelers.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Whale-watching at dusk

September 28, 2017 9:13 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the photo – whale-watchers were out at Constellation Park at dusk, as Southern Resident Killer Whales that had been making their way south all day finally got this far. No telling where they are now, but if they continued southbound, we might see them heading back this way tomorrow … any time you spot a whale, please let us know via our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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HAPPENING NOW: Play new card game ‘Goatfish’ with its West Seattle creators

September 28, 2017 7:02 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

At left, that’s Lillian Gray, who created the card game “Goatfish“ with her dad Chad Gray and is at Meeples Games right now with him and others, ready to show it to, and play it with, you. We brought you their story last Sunday night. Since then, the Goatfish Kickstarter crowdfunding page has launched and already surpassed its initial goal, though they are now going for a “stretch” beyond that. Here’s a look at some of the cards:

You are welcome to stop by Meeples (3727 California SW) before 9 pm tonight to test out “Goatfish” and meet its creators.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit says it’s on track after board vote

September 28, 2017 5:00 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(Sound Transit graphic from 2016 WSB coverage)

The Sound Transit board just took another step toward making light rail to West Seattle a reality – first major move since the approval last May of the draft expansion plan. Here’s the news release we just received:

The Sound Transit Board today approved the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, establishing a $285.9 million budget for preliminary engineering for the project and giving the green light to move forward with extending light rail to some of the most densely-populated neighborhoods in the region.

Also in a related action, the Board executed a $24.4 million consultant contract with HNTB Corporation to begin project development services.

“With the approval of this important step for the West Seattle and Ballard light rail extensions, Sound Transit moves forward to implement the system expansion plan that voters approved last November,” said Sound Transit Chief Executive Officer Peter Rogoff. “We look forward to working closely with stakeholders and communities to decide on the project details rapidly and bring light rail to more communities on schedule and on budget.”

The West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions are part of the Sound Transit 3 Plan that voters approved last fall. The project includes extending light rail to West Seattle by 2030, building a second downtown tunnel in conjunction with the extension to Ballard, and beginning service to Ballard by 2035. This fall, Sound Transit will initiate technical work on the project, and in early 2018 embark on a community engagement process to reach early consensus on a Preferred Alternative by early 2019.

West Seattle Extension

The project assumes connecting West Seattle to Downtown Seattle via Alaska Street, Fauntleroy Way, Genesee Street, Delridge Way, Spokane Street, and the SODO Busway. The extension also includes a new connection to the existing Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel south of the International District/Chinatown Station, a new rail-only high-rise bridge over the Duwamish Waterway, elevated alignment over SR 99 and the South Spokane Street Viaduct, and an elevated alignment in West Seattle. This extension would serve five station areas.

Ballard Extension

The project would connect Ballard’s Market Street area to Downtown Seattle, then cross Salmon Bay on a new rail-only bridge near the existing Ballard Bridge. The extension would continue south on an elevated guideway through the Interbay corridor along 15th Avenue Northwest and Elliott Avenue West before transitioning to a new Downtown Seattle light rail tunnel. The new tunnel would run through the Uptown and South Lake Union neighborhoods along Westlake Avenue to Sixth and Fifth Avenues before reaching the International District and connecting to the existing Link tracks at South Massachusetts Street. This extension would serve nine station areas.

Sound Transit’s consultant team, HNTB, will be responsible for providing planning, engineering, operational, environmental and community outreach technical services to support the first phase of project development work for the West Seattle and Ballard extensions. Other firms on the HNTB team include Jacobs Engineering, CH2M, EnviroIssues, Fehr & Peers, Hewitt Architects and LMN Architects.

More information about the West Seattle and Ballard project, including how to sign up for project updates, is available at www.soundtransit.org/wsblink.

That page in turn links to several others including this one with current timelines for the planning, design, and construction process.

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UPDATE: School-bus crash at 30th/Genesee, no one hurt

September 28, 2017 4:07 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

4:07 PM: A two-vehicle crash at 30th SW/SW Genesee involves a school bus, but no one is hurt, per scanner – not the students, nor their driver, nor the other vehicle’s driver. We’re headed that way to see if we can find out more.

4:25 PM: SFD has left. The bus and police are on 30th just north of Genesee.

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Technology Matching Fund grant will help West Seattle nonprofit Education for All be a ‘bridge’ for immigrants

September 28, 2017 2:48 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tonight the city’s Technology Matching Fund celebrates its 20th anniversary with a 5:30 pm gathering at El Centro de la Raza (2524 16th Ave. S.). While the party’s not in West Seattle, the latest round of recipients included two local nonprofits – and this story takes a closer look at what the money means for one of them.

(City of Seattle photo from gathering of matching-fund grant recipients)

By Marika Lee
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

For some, tasks such as uploading a resume or printing important documents seem simple. But not when everything is in an unfamiliar language and computers are not yet an everyday part of your life.

“A lot of things get lost in translation and having someone who speaks your language when you are trying to navigate a new email account, for example, is much easier,” said Ahmed Rodol of the East African West Seattleites he helps.

Rodol is the development director for South Delridge-headquartered Education for All, one of the most-recent grantees for the city’s Technology Matching Fund.

“(Education for All) was intended to be a bridge between immigrants that are here and the resources that are available. Also, to help them compete in the work environment and help them be confident enough to seek the American dream and be self-sufficient,” Rodol said.

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FOLLOWUP: Clearer look at ‘design elements’ for new West Seattle Junction park; survey still open

September 28, 2017 2:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Click for larger view in PDF)

Last Sunday, we published a reminder about a city survey asking your thoughts on 36 possible “design elements” for the new West Seattle Junction park (4700 block of 40th SW). Commenters noted that the graphic showing those options remained difficult to read, and we promised to ask Seattle Parks for a larger, clearer version (since none existed on the Parks website at the time, either). Since then, they’ve provided a high-resolution version, and also added it to the project website – if you click the image above, you’ll go directly to the largest-available PDF version. In addition, the survey, which was supposed to close back on Monday, remains open. So here’s one more chance for your thoughts – the survey asks you to choose 10 of the 36 elements that you most would want to see in the park, which will be designed next year and developed in 2019.

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SATURDAY: Lantern Festival & Competition

September 28, 2017 12:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | Westwood | WS culture/arts

Now that it’s Thursday afternoon, it’s time to look ahead at some of the weekend highlights, in case you haven’t already seen them in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. We start with the Lantern Festival and Competition in the Galleria at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), featuring a chance to win prizes for handmade lanterns, and performances including a lion dance. The Van Lang Vietnamese Cultural and Language School is presenting the free event and hoping you’ll be there, 4:30-8:30 pm – all ages welcome! (Check our West Seattle Saturday lineup that morning for schedule specifics; it’ll wrap up with a lantern handout and night walk with lanterns starting at 8 pm).

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@ Highland Park Action Committee: Roundabout update, crime & safety, and Westside Neighbors’ Network

September 28, 2017 10:39 am

| 29 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Toplines from last night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting:

ROUNDABOUT UPDATE: $500,000 of funding is in place so far for the proposed roundabout at the top of the Highland Park Way hill – the $200,000 announced at the Find It Fix It Walk in May, and another $300,000 from the Move Seattle levy. They’re now awaiting word on a state grant of more than $1 million, with hundreds of community members expressing support as well as city, county, and state elected officials plus U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal. HPAC co-chair Michele Witzki says they hope to find out in November whether that grant will happen – it would virtually finish the funding for the roundabout. “This is exciting!” resounded around the room. Co-chair Gunner Scott noted that it’s far from the area’s only transportation need, though (as also discussed during the FIFI Walk). Witzki said that they’re awaiting a city report that will show the status of some of those other projects.

CRIME UPDATES: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith told HPAC that car prowls in Highland Park are down 49 percent from this time last year but “crimes against persons” – anything from domestic-violence assault to lewdness incidents like indecent exposure – are up five percent.

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West Seattle Thursday: Hurricane help, art, wine, ‘Goatfish,’ Transportation Coalition, more…

September 28, 2017 9:03 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Hurricane help, art, wine, ‘Goatfish,’ Transportation Coalition, more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo courtesy South Seattle College)

Welcome Week continues at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), and an event today starts our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SSC RESOURCE AND INVOLVEMENT FAIR: South Seattle College students are invited to Clock Tower Plaza 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. to “meet other students, discover campus clubs and resources, register to vote and win PRIZES! Join us for fun, snacks and selfies!” (6000 16th SW)

ART SHOW SUBMISSIONS: First of three days to bring your visual-art piece(s) for display at the Southwest Library‘s annual Community Art Showcase, which starts Sunday. Details here. Open 10 am-8 pm today. (9010 35th SW)

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Lunch meeting 11:15 am-1:15 pm at West Seattle Golf Course with local leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense – details/contact info in our calendar listing. (4600 35th SW)

HURRICANE HELP FOR PUERTO RICO: Second drop-off event at Hiawatha Playfield, 3-7 pm, with local coach Rey Delgado collecting donations before his trip to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico next week – details here, and check the comments for an update. (2700 California SW)

WESTSIDE NEIGHBORS’ NETWORK WINE TASTING: 5:30-7:30 pm at Ephesus Restaurant, enjoy a wine tasting and appetizers, free, and find out more about the Westside Neighbors’ Network. (5245 California SW)

RECYCLED PAPER COLLAGE WORKSHOP: 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with artist Linda McClamrock. Our calendar listing includes registration info. (5612 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION WINE WALK: The first-ever Junction Wine Walk is sold out! We’re mentioning it just in case you (if you’re not among the lucky ticketholders) are in the area and wonder what’s going on. 6-9 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House/High Point, with guests from SDOT, talking and taking questions about West Seattle projects, as previewed here. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

PLAY ‘GOATFISH’ WITH ITS CREATORS: 6:30-9 pm at Meeples Games, West Seattle father and daughter Chad and Lillian Gray will introduce you to the card game they’ve created and are crowdfunding for, Goatfish, as previewed here. (3727 California SW)

AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: 7-10 pm, Jamie Nova SKY, Late September Dogs (acoustic), Annie O’Neill: “A night of soulful acoustic rock bands that feature powerful female vocalists.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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