day : 10/04/2018 10 results

‘The time is now for our program not to fall, but to rise’: Chefs, students, faculty fight to save South Seattle College Pastry/Baking Arts

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON with decision delay)

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At least a million dollars has to be sliced from the budget for South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), says its interim president, who has until tomorrow to decide whether to kill one of its signature programs to save some of that sum.

Just days ago, faculty and students in that program, Pastry and Baking Arts, were told it was on the chopping block. This afternoon, dozens of them crowded into the board room at SSC – along with culinary luminaries from around the region, including the founders of Bakery Nouveau, Macrina Bakery, and Essential Baking Company – to plead for it to be spared.

SSC interim president Peter Lortz and his cabinet gathered for the informal meeting that he described as “impromptu,” intended to “give everybody who wants to speak a chance to speak.”

In addition to singing the praises of the well-regarded, decades-old program, some speakers also decried the lack of notice that ending the program was a consideration.

Share This

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Ryan Cox case delay

April 10, 2018 6:31 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(August 8th WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

Three months after a judge ordered him to Western State Hospital, Gatewood stabbing defendant Ryan Cox is still waiting for a spot there to open up. As we reported in January, a judge ordered Cox to the state hospital for up to 90 days of treatment to attempt to restore competency to stand trial. He is charged with second-degree assault in an incident that left a man seriously injured last August. A status hearing for Cox was scheduled for this week; a court document filed yesterday says the hearing is postponed until July 16th. We checked with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to find out why, and they tell us he is “still waiting for admission,” which is currently expected to happen around April 30th. The up-to-90-days treatment clock won’t start until he is admitted. WSH has long been reported to have backlogs leaving patients waiting,

Share This

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Low bridge has reopened

April 10, 2018 4:57 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT camera image of crash scene)

4:57 PM: If you’re headed this way, avoid the low bridge for a while – it’s still blocked by a westbound crash, according to the live camera accessible via the SDOT map. (Thanks to Patrick for the tip.)

P.S. This is advice for motorized-vehicle drivers – it looks like the bicycle path remains open.

5:53 PM: Per scanner traffic, the bridge has reopened both ways.

Share This

ADVANCE ALERT: I-5 exit closure now planned for this weekend

April 10, 2018 4:33 pm

| Comments Off on ADVANCE ALERT: I-5 exit closure now planned for this weekend

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Heads up if you will be south of here at any point this weekend – WSDOT has rescheduled the closure of the northbound I-5 exit to the West Seattle Bridge exit for 9 pm this Friday night (April 13th) through 5 am Monday morning (April 16th). It’s part of a busy spring/summer of work dubbed “Revive I-5”; you can read the backstory here, and you can go here to see the list of other work planned on area state highways in the days/nights ahead.

Share This

FAUNTLEROY CREEK: Our Lady of Guadalupe students’ morning research visit

April 10, 2018 1:36 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photos by Dennis Hinton)

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

Sixth-grade science students from Our Lady of Guadalupe School, with teacher Jackie Ellis, descended on lower Fauntleroy Creek this morning to do the annual stonefly exoskeleton count and learn about other research on the creek.

Stonefly larvae are a major food source for juvenile salmon and an indicator of water quality. This is the time of year they take wing, leaving their exoskeletons behind.

Teams counted a total of 42 exoskeletons on trees, bridges, fences, and the ground in the study area. Last year’s count, done nearly a month later, was 28. Torso size averaged a typical 4 cm.

Environmental analysts with Seattle Public Utilities were on hand to summarize the city’s ongoing bacteria study in the creek, which is monitoring electrical conductivity and temperature to help identify sources of water pollution.

“In terms of what we’re sampling, Fauntleroy Creek has some of the cleanest water in all of Seattle’s urban creeks,” analyst Chapin Pier said. “This student research provides additional data, from another perspective.”

Dennis Hinton and Pete Draughon told the class about the spring out-migration study that’s been going on since 2003. Using soft traps in the upper and lower creek, these volunteers have caught and released 18 smolts so far as they head to saltwater, compared to 15 this time last year. Monitoring will continue through May.

Next up on Fauntleroy Creek will be Salmon in the Schools releases involving at least 750 students. The first of 20 releases in Fauntleroy Park will be April 26.

The watershed council’s Fauntleroy Stewardship Fund has received $4,275 in donations since March 1 to enable timely work to keep this outdoor classroom safe for students and healthy for aquatic life. The fund’s initial goal is $30,000.

Share This

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018 registration update!

April 10, 2018 12:51 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018 registration update!

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

80 sales and counting as the first week of registration for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2018 wraps up (with two more weeks to go, so you still have time to think about having a sale, but don’t procrastinate too long!). Sale day is Saturday, May 12th. From North Admiral to North Shorewood, Arbor Heights to Sunrise Heights, South Delridge to Seaview, Alki to Highland Park, just about every neighborhood is represented already. Some shoppers tell us they enjoy just walking to the nearest sales, meeting neighbors they don’t know already, while of course, there are the super-shoppers, who use the map/list (which will be available a week in advance as always) to plot a route looking for treasures. If you’re selling and ready to sign up – have your up-to-20-words “ad” written in advance! – just go here.

P.S. We also want to remind you that Stamp Out Hunger, letter carriers’ door-to-door, mailbox-to-mailbox food drive – is the same day as WSCGSD again this year (both are always on the second Saturday in May), so whether you will be shopping or selling, set out your bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox/door/etc. first thing that morning.

Share This

Native leaders to speak at Bethaday Community Learning Space tomorrow

April 10, 2018 11:51 am

| Comments Off on Native leaders to speak at Bethaday Community Learning Space tomorrow

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Just found out about this event set for tomorrow afternoon at Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center:

The Racial Equity Team (RET) – a People of Color-led group of lobbyists of color and community organizations focused on helping communities of color – invites you to our Tribal Lunch and Learn where Native leaders will speak on Native issues in Washington.

Many folks have taken for granted the original people of this land. The genocide of Native peoples continues through widespread discrimination and systematic lack of resources. As we strive to help our brothers and sisters in the Native community, we must first better understand their communitywide needs from those who have firsthand knowledge.

Who:
Senator John McCoy (left), one of the few Native American legislators currently serving
Former Senator Claudia Kauffman (right), first Native American woman in WA legislature
Aren Sparck, Cup’ik, Government Affairs Officer of Seattle Indian Health Board
Eir Cheeka, Early Native Learning Coordinator, WCCDA

When: April 11, 12-1:30 PM

Where: Bethaday Community Learning Space, 605 SW 108th St

This legislative session, the RET watched several bills pertaining to Native communities: HB 2267 – Indigenous Peoples Day; SB 6384 – Wanaput Band at Priest Rapids; SB 6131 – Providing tuition waivers equal to 50% cut to students who are enrolled members of a federally recognized Tribe; $150k budget request for Native Action Network; and HB 2761 – Improving child placement stability that includes Indian Child Welfare Act.

It is tremendously important that we work together to better understand and serve our Native communities in Washington state. Hearing from Native leaders is the first step in this process. We hope to see you there.

Thanks to Mark Ufkes for forwarding the announcement.

Share This

West Seattle Tuesday: South Delridge, Fauntleroy community meetings, and more!

April 10, 2018 10:44 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern Flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Here are the highlights of what’s happening around West Seattle for the rest of today/tonight:

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE SPECIAL MEETING: As we reported on Monday, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is proposing cancellation of its Pastry and Baking Arts program. A special meeting of the president and cabinet is planned at 2 pm:

South Seattle College’s president and cabinet are holding a special meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. on April 10 in the President’s Boardroom (RSB 30) to hear from Pastry & Baking Arts faculty, students, alumni and supporters. The meeting is open to the public. That feedback will help inform the president’s decision on making a closure recommendation to the chancellor.

(6000 16th SW)

SPRING BREAK PROJECT? Maybe the West Seattle Tool Library has what you need. It’s open 5-8 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

SOUTH DELRIDGE COMMUNITY GROUP: Everyone who lives and/or works in South Delridge is welcome at the monthly South Delridge Community Group meeting, 7 pm at Two Fingers Social. And even if you can’t make it to the meeting, SDCG would love to see you at Saturday morning’s community cleanup. (9211 Delridge Way SW)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Everyone who lives and/or works in Fauntleroy is welcome at the monthly Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting, 7 pm at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (meeting room right inside the front door). This month’s agenda is in our calendar listing. (9131 California SW)

‘PARKS AND RECREATION’ TRIVIA NIGHT: 7 pm at Ounces: “How much do you know about the gang from Pawnee, IN? Trivia is FREE to play! Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd!” (3809 Delridge Way SW)

FREE LEGAL CLINIC: Call this morning to see if there’s an appointment available during the free community legal clinic offered at the Senior Center of West Seattle, with appointments starting at 7 pm. (4217 SW Oregon)

SEE OUR FULL CALENDAR for more of what’s up (including library activities)! And let us know what’s going on with your organization/school/business/etc. – e-mail event info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

Share This

Restaurateur to keynote Westside Awards

April 10, 2018 9:36 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Three weeks until May 1st, your chance to start the day by cheering for this year’s Westside Awards winners – and to hear from restaurateur Joe Fugere, just announced by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce as the keynote speaker for the awards breakfast. He’s also an advocate for Seattle’s small-business community, currently co-chairing the mayor’s Small Business Advisory Council. Fugere founded Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Columbia City in 2004 and now has five locations around the Seattle area, along with the Hollywood Tavern in Woodinville. He received White House recognition in 2010 for contributing to economic recovery. The Chamber says he will talk about “the importance of values and purpose when running a successful business” as well as “leaning forward … the power of getting outside your comfort zone as a business owner.” (Read more about him and Tutta Bella here.)

If you missed the announcement – this year’s winners are Husky Deli as Business of the Year, Alair as Emerging Business of the Year, Senior Center of West Seattle as Nonprofit of the Year, and Lora Swift as Westsider of the Year. The awards breakfast starts at 7:30 am May 1st at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor). Here’s how to get your ticket(s)!

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Tuesday watch

April 10, 2018 6:52 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Tuesday watch

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:52 AM: Good morning. We start with a crash on the NB 1st Avenue S. Bridge, reported to be blocking the left lane. No transit alerts. Weather-wise – the rain is back.

7:22 AM: some progress on the 1st Ave S. Bridge – tow truck on scene.

7:45 AM: All clear.

Share This