West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(WSB photos)
At 8:45 tomorrow morning, you’re invited to be at the new Burien PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) store as it opens for business. We went to tonight’s media preview so we could show you a sneak peek – and find out what the new West Seattle store might have in common with this one. Short answer to that: Pretty much everything, as this is the prototype for all new PCC stores, we’re told. With, of course, perennially popular features like the bulk items:
And newer features like a taqueria and pizzeria:
Back to the classics – a space for classes:
And if your time is too short to prep and cook from scratch, you’ll have meal-kit options:
Beverage options:
And for yogurt lovers:
The centerpiece in the produce area holds a special significance:
An official “pineapple cutting” will start the opening ceremony at 8:45 tomorrow morning, and the first 112 people there will get free fresh organic pineapple. The store opens at 9 am. It’s in what used to be a Albertsons at the Five Corners Shopping Center, 15840 1st Avenue S. It’s 25,000 square feet, the same size planned for the new West Seattle store, expected to open by “late summer” next year.
Just found out about this from Seattle Police at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting: The “supercar” rally promoted in the video above is due to take an Alki lap on Saturday morning. It’s called the ZwingRally, and it promises a luxury experience for up to 120 “super cars” and their drivers/passengers at $1,250 per person for the weekend. On Saturday morning at 9:15 am, according to the ZwingRally website, they’ll head out from downtown to Alki, and then after “a lap,” they’re headed south to Portland. We’ll be pinging the organizer to see what else we can find out.
Two reader reports of package theft in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
ALKI THEFT: From Tosa:
My package got stolen from my door step on 5/21 around 4:14 pm. Nearest cross street to my home – 60th Ave SW & Admiral Way:
(Description)
Hair: Black beanie hat
Top: Blue shirt, black jacket
Bottom: Black pants
Shoes: Black shoes
Age: 55
Sex: Male
Race: White
Physical Build: Stocky
Other: He is carrying a black backpack and looks like he’s delivering packages. I have reported this information to the police.
The man only took one of the two packages on Tosa’s doorstep – the one from Nordstrom.
HARBOR THEFT: Laura says multiple neighbors have been hit at her building:
Our neighbor had a package stolen a couple days ago. More neighbors had the same thing happen too. Photo (is) of person walking away with one of the packages – Harbor Ave SW & Fauntleroy Way SW.
Just in from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor):
Seattle Colleges’ Chancellor Shouan Pan announced Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap will serve as the next president of South Seattle College (SSC), effective July 1, 2018. Dr. Pan’s decision came after a nationwide search and consideration of feedback from multiple sources.
Rimando-Chareunsap has been with SSC since 2000 and currently serves as vice president of student services. She will succeed Interim President Peter Lortz and Gary Oertli, who retired as SSC’s most recent president in August of 2017.
“Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap is uniquely prepared and qualified to lead South Seattle College,” Chancellor Pan said. “The college has a proud history and the collective power to overcome future challenges and seize new opportunities. Rosie’s commitment to SSC and student success, her passion for equity-minded leadership, and her sensitivity to people and attentiveness to the task position her well to lead SSC at this time.”
With a B.A. in English and Ethnic Studies from Washington State University and an M.A. of Public Administration from University of Washington, Rimando-Chareunsap earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from WSU. Her roles at SSC have included director of student outreach, associate dean of student achievement and vice president of student services.
Beyond SSC, Rimando-Chareunsap serves on the Executive Committee of the Washington State Student Services Commission, White Center Community Development Association Board, and the Seattle University Student Development Administration Advisory Board. In addition, she serves as Secretary of the National Asian Pacific Islander Council of the American Association of Community Colleges.
“I am honored and humbled to take on this leadership role for South Seattle College, especially after 18 years as a member of this community of dedicated and passionate educators,” Rimando-Chareunsap said. “I look forward to serving our students, communities, and city from this position, and helping SSC be at the forefront of transforming the lives of our diverse neighbors.”
Dr. Rimando-Chareunsap was one of three finalists for the job. SSC is headquartered on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge and also has a Georgetown campus.
(WSDOT photo, looking north at southbound – upper – tunnel deck, earlier this month)
The Highway 99 tunnel, you’ve no doubt heard here and elsewhere, could open as soon as this fall. One last thing remains to be decided: The toll(s). Now, it’s time for public comment. Received this afternoon from the Washington State Transportation Commission:
The public process of setting toll rates for the State Route 99 tunnel is starting and the Washington State Transportation Commission is seeking public comment on toll rate options under consideration. Interested persons can provide comments to the commission at upcoming public meetings in Seattle or they can provide comments electronically starting today, Tuesday, May 22.
The commission has spent more than a year studying and assessing all aspects of tolling the SR 99 tunnel, including various toll rate levels, possible toll exemptions, estimated traffic diversion to city streets, and effects of tolling on freight movement. Based upon this analysis, the commission has developed three possible toll rate options, on which it now wants the public to weigh in.
The Legislature made the decision to toll the tunnel in 2012 (RCW 47.56.862). The commission is charged with making sure tolls generate enough revenue to cover specific costs as required under the law, including toll operations, maintenance, and debt payments associated with the construction of the tunnel. In 2018, the Legislature directed that initial toll rates will not cover future repair and replacement costs, such as for the roadway and ventilation systems for the SR 99 tunnel. Proposed future toll rate increases would need to be re-evaluated if the Legislature determines these costs should be covered by toll revenue.
Toll Rate Options
The three toll rate options currently under consideration would be in effect from when tolling begins in 2019 through at least June 2020:
Option A:
Toll rates range from $1.50 – $2.25 during peak travel times and $1 overnight.
The midday toll rate is $1.25.
There are four different toll rates over six time periods on weekdays.
Beginning in July 2022, toll rates increase 3 percent, every three years for all days of the week.Option B:
Toll rates range from $1.50 – $2.25 during peak travel times and $1 overnight.
The midday toll rate is $1.
There are four different toll rates over eight time periods on weekdays.
Beginning in July 2020, there will be annual toll rate increases of 3.5 percent for five years that will apply to the weekday rates only.Option C:
Toll rates range from $1.50 – $2.25 during peak travel times and $1 overnight.
The midday toll rate is $1.25.
There are five different toll rates over seven time periods on weekdays.
There are no toll rate increases during first five years of tolling. Then there are three toll rate increases of five percent each, taking place in July of 2024, 2029, and 2034, for all days of the week.Public Comment Opportunities
The commission will hold public input meetings in early June in Seattle to gather comments on the three toll-rate options under consideration. The meetings are as follows:
· Monday, June 4
4 – 5 p.m.: Open house on tunnel project and tolling
5 – 6:30 p.m.: Public input meeting on tolling options
Seattle Public Library, Washington Mutual Foundation Room
1000 4th Ave., Seattle· Tuesday, June 5
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Open house on tunnel project and tolling
6:30 – 8 p.m.: Public input meeting on tolling options
High Point Community Center, Multipurpose Room
6920 34th Ave. SW· Wednesday, June 6
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.: Open house on tunnel project and tolling
6:30 – 8 p.m.: Public input meeting on tolling options
Phinney Center, Blue Building, Room #7
6532 Phinney Ave. N, SeattleMore information on the tolling options under consideration, and additional ways the public can comment, can be found on the commission’s web site under “pending actions” at: wstc.wa.gov. The Transportation Commission is taking public comment on these tolling options until July 17. An official proposal will be announced in mid-July 2018, followed by an additional public comment period before toll rates are finalized in fall 2018.
Here’s the direct link to the page with feedback options – scroll down. The “commission feedback form” link doesn’t appear to be working properly at the moment, so we’re sending a note to report that.
(WSB photo: Verity team at this morning’s breakfast)
You might have noticed that Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) is getting a jump on community involvement, even before opening their first branch in West Seattle. They’ve gotten involved with community events from the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Instruments of Change to Bike Everywhere Day. This morning, Verity hosted an event of its own, gathering West Seattle community leaders for a brainstorming breakfast at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction.
Attendees were asked three questions:
*What makes West Seattle unique – how is it different from other neighborhoods?
*What role can Verity play in the community?
*What do you need from a bank that you’re not getting now?
Verity CEO John Zmolek participated, and presented Senior Center executive director Lyle Evans with a $1,200 donation for the center’s foot-care program:
Verity CU expects to be open in the former Radio Shack storefront on California south of Oregon before West Seattle Summer Fest (July 13-15). During the festival, they’re planning a variety of activities out front of what will by then be the newly opened branch.
(Early design concept for proposed Highland Park Way roundabout)
Tomorrow night, the Highland Park Action Committee gets an update on the long-in-the-works roundabout proposed for Highland Park Way and SW Holden. SDOT’s James Le is expected to be at the meeting with the newest information. After last month’s meeting, HPAC chair Charlie Omana learned from SDOT that SDOT has been “performing a survey of existing site conditions which should be completed within the next month. Once the survey is complete, project design can proceed, and SDOT intends to engage the public with multiple opportunities for feedback.” But, he added, only $200,000 of the project’s estimated $2.5 million cost has been committed. SDOT says it’s applied for a grant from the WSDOT City Safety Program but won’t hear until later this year. (It’s been half a year since the project was turned down for a different WSDOT grant.) Omana says, “After 5 years of working on this project in its current capacity, to have only $200k committed is disappointing. HPAC is concerned about the effects that increasing construction costs will have on the feasibility of this project over time. … HPAC will continue pushing to bring this project to fruition sooner rather than later.” And that includes Wednesday night’s discussion (7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden).
(House Finch, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for your Tuesday:
DINE OUT, SUPPORT STUDENTS: WingStop in Westwood Village will donate 20 percent of your purchase today (10:30 am-10:30 pm) to the Chief Sealth International High School ASB, if you show this flyer. (2600 SW Barton)
DROP-IN CHESS: 4:30-5:30 pm at High Point Library, kids are invited to drop in and play chess! (3411 SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, tonight’s WSBWCN agenda focuses on updates from local police and Block Watch issues. But you don’t have to be part of one to be there! All welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Bring the kids – all ages – to enjoy story time before bedtime. 7 pm at Delridge Library. (5423 California SW)
SHAMBHALA MEDITATION: All welcome, 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Meditation followed by tea and socializing, and group discussion. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WSCO CONCERT, WITH FOND FAREWELL: 6 pm concert doubleheader for the West Seattle Community Orchestras at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium – including this farewell:
Longtime West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) Executive Director and Orchestra Manager Mariane Hermanson will be retiring from those roles as of the end of the 2017-2018 season.
Mariane began with the organization in its fledgling years. Her participation was enabled by a Department of Neighborhoods Social Justice grant secured the Westside Symphonette, WSCO’s predecessor organization. At the time, only about 60 adults and students participated in two orchestras. Mariane has been the major force in helping the organization grow significantly, to where it now encompasses three orchestras, a concert band, and a percussion ensemble as well as instructional classes for adult and student beginners. The group now serves around 250 musicians annually!
Mariane will be honored at tonight’s season-ending double-header concert. It’s been a great 12-year run! WSCO will definitely miss her!
Other concerts details here. Free, though donations are always welcome! (2600 SW Thistle)
‘GEEKS WHO DRINK’ TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at Whisky West (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. (6451 California SW)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … via our complete-calendar page.
(WSB file photo, Highland Park Spraypark)
It’s sunny, it’s warm, and Memorial Day weekend is days away. That means spraypark season is almost here! West Seattle’s only spraypark, at Highland Park playground (1100 SW Cloverdale), opens Saturday, May 26th, and will be open daily, 11 am-8 pm. (That’s also the first day of the first pre-season weekend for Colman Pool, but wading pools don’t start until almost a month later – Lincoln Park wading pool will be the first to open, on June 23rd.)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle. No transit alerts either.
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