day : 26/09/2018 9 results

West Seattle light rail: Here’s what the Stakeholder Advisory Group wants to send to the next level of review

| Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two levels of review down, one to go until the Sound Transit West Seattle to Ballard light-rail-extension project focuses on a “preferred alternative” for environmental study.

At their 3+-hour meeting tonight, members of the project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group made its recommendations for which alternatives its members want to see advance to the third level of study, segment by segment – Ballard/Interbay, Downtown, Chinatown/ID, SODO, and finally, West Seattle – seated in four groups, with the results collected and announced after each segment discussion.

For West Seattle, here’s how it concluded, with two of the three Level 2 tunnel-inclusive options recommended to remain under review in Level 3:

The alternatives that are advancing are from among five under review in Level 2, including the ST “representative project” (the all-elevated plan that was originally outlined before the ST3 ballot measure).

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Tonight’s tech trouble: Thank you for your patience

September 26, 2018 9:19 pm

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| West Seattle news

WSB is back up after a couple hours of unplanned downtime. While we’ve been out covering the night’s major news – working right now on our stories about light rail and the mayoral visit – our ace technical person was working to fix the technical trouble. You might notice reduced functionality in a few corners of the site for now as the repair work continues; please let us know if you encounter any major trouble – thank you!

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Meet the creator of TimeBanks USA in West Seattle!

September 26, 2018 9:10 pm

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| High Point | West Seattle news

Late-breaking news from the West Seattle Timebank: The man who founded and leadsTimeBanks USA will be in West Seattle on Sunday (September 30th), and you’re invited to meet him. Dr. Edgar Cahn also is a legal professor and served as a speechwriter for Robert F. Kennedy, among other roles on his resumé. Timebanking is growing locally and this is your chance to learn about its history and its future, 1-2:30 pm Sunday at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW). Refreshments provided; everyone welcome!

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West Seattle preschool A Child Becomes launches its biggest service project ever, hoping you’ll be part of it

September 26, 2018 3:52 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The nonprofit preschool A Child Becomes (WSB sponsor) in North Admiral is teaching its students a lifelong lesson … helping others. They hope the wider West Seattle community will assist – you can watch the short video above to see why.

The preschool’s director, Michelle “Teacher Shelley” Neal, has educated thousands of students since founding A Child Becomes 30 years ago, and has witnessed daily how a quality early education can make a huge difference in young people’s lives. The curriculum blends education and outreach; Shelley and her staff teach social emotional skills, literacy, math, science, foreign language, and involve their students in numerous service projects each year. The school explains that “Shelley believes that practicing compassion, teaching it, and giving the students a chance to also practice compassion ‘hands on’ can help make us all happier more connected people. The service projects at A Child Becomes are a huge part of their curriculum.”

Now they’ve launched the biggest one yet: Building a preschool in South Africa.

That’s where Shelley’s husband Ralph is from, so for more than 20 years, they have traveled there each year. The school says:

Shelley and Ralph have witnessed the extensive poverty in South Africa that still continues after apartheid. They personally have always wanted to do something to help. There is an enormous gap between the wealthy and the poor in South Africa. There is a tremendous amount of corruption in the government and the Department of Education do not provide funds to most of the black children in the country. Unfortunately many of the children who are lucky enough to go to school, enter underprepared and drop out by 4th grade.

Shelley and Ralph chose to build a preschool in a region they felt, through statistics, has the most need. This area is in the Eastern Cape, the region where the Xhosa nation lives and that was also Nelson Mandela’s homeland. This unique opportunity to help young children who desperately need access to early education is also a way for the children of South Africa to connect their compassion to children across the world. Teacher Shelley is finally building her dream.

She visited the area in July and tells the story here of meeting the children that the “sister school” will serve – read about it here. But her dream is bigger than just one location, as explained here. And yes, she and her school already have service projects close to home – via programs including the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Backpack Program, Toys for Tots, and the seniors at Brookdale Admiral Heights.

Last school year they began their involvement in REACH! South Africa by collecting shoes, clothing, and classroom supplies. Now they’re expanding to a community campaign to help set up the first efficiently planned preschool – and scrolling down this page, you’ll see how, as well as how you can help, if you choose to. The benefits for the West Seattle students of A Child Becomes are explained too.

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YOU CAN HELP! Fauntleroy Creek’s fall salmon-watching starts soon

September 26, 2018 1:57 pm

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| Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(2012 WSB photo)

Last year, four salmon spawners were spotted in Fauntleroy Creek. But each fall, hopes run high and anything can happen – it’s only been six years since 274 showed up in 2012. Right now, watershed stewards are seeking more volunteers to help keep watch. Here’s the announcement from Judy Pickens:

Whether or not coho spawners come into Fauntleroy Creek always depends on their having survived saltwater conditions. If they do come in, watchers need to be on duty to document them.

This year’s watch will start October 22 and continue until mid-November or until no more spawners have come in for one week.

Spawners are most likely to be present in the fish-ladder area during the five hours after daytime high tide, so the watch window varies day to day. Using a simple form, volunteers document activity for a half hour. Written details and a brief training session will be provided to new watchers.

Children are welcome with a parent, and teens may watch on their own. For questions and to sign up, email judy_pickens@msn.com or call 206-938-4203.

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DEVELOPMENT: Junction, Alki projects set for next Southwest Design Review Board doubleheader

September 26, 2018 12:01 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

So far, the Southwest Design Review Board does not have a meeting scheduled in October – but it’s tentatively set to start November in a big way, with two projects’ Early Design Guidance encores in one night on November 1st. 4508 California SW – a 7-story, 79-apartment mixed-use project with 20 offstreet-parking spaces – is set for the 8 pm slot; you can see a draft version of the design packet here (PDF). The night will start at 6:30 pm with 3015 63rd SW, an 3-story, 11-unit apartment building with 19 offstreet-parking spaces. We covered the Junction project’s first review last month here; we couldn’t cover the Alki project’s first review, but you can read the city report here. Both reviews on November 1st will be at the board’s usual meeting site, the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon)

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Mayor in Highland Park, big school and light-rail decisions, and more for your West Seattle Wednesday

September 26, 2018 10:30 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bee with passiflora cerulea blossom, photographed last weekend in West Seattle by Elaine Dale)

Some of what’s important for West Seattle today/tonight is happening off-peninsula – all part of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

CITY COUNCIL BUDGET BRIEFINGS: 2 days after the mayor presented her proposed budget, City Councilmembers start their work reviewing, and likely changing, it. The first session for today is under way now; the second session starts at 2 pm. This agenda covers what’s happening at both, including links to slide decks. You can watch via Seattle Channel or at City Hall. (600 4th Ave.)

ROXHILL PARK WALK: Walk with Sound Steps at 3 pm: “Join your neighbors for a walk on the Longfellow Creek Trail, through Roxhill Park on a .5 mile loop – stop there or continue on for another loop for 1 mile total. Meet at the trail entrance on Barton.”

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: Weekly farmstand open for you to buy organic produce grown where it’s sold, 4 pm-7 pm. (32nd SW & SW Juneau)

WHICH LOCAL SCHOOLS WILL BE IN THE BEX V LEVY? 4:30 pm, as previewed here (including agenda link), School Board members have a work session at district HQ aimed at reaching consensus on which projects voters will be asked to fund via this six-year levy next February. Open to the public, but no comment period. (3rd & Lander)

LIGHT RAIL – WHICH ALTERNATIVES MOVE ON? 5-8 pm in the Sound Transit board room downtown, the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the West Seattle (and Ballard) light-rail extension will decide which potential routes/station locations advance to the next level of review. Public welcome, but there’s no comment period. Agenda isn’t available as of this writing – we’ll add a link when it is. UPDATE: Go here. (401 S. Jackson)

‘DISRUPTIVE PLAY’ BOOK LAUNCH: 6-8 pm at ArtsWest in The Junction, as previewed here, join local author Shepherd Siegel, Ph.D., in celebrating his just-published book “Disruptive Play.” (4711 California SW)

MAYOR JENNY DURKAN IN HIGHLAND PARK: Months in the making, the mayor’s appearance before the Highland Park Action Committee is set for 6:30 pm at HP Improvement Club. Here’s the most-recent HPAC letter outlining what they expect her to address. Interim Human Services Director Jason Johnson is also on the agenda. All welcome, doors open at 6:15 so you can get a seat. (1116 SW Holden)

THE BILLY JOE SHOW: Local favorites play Parliament Tavern tonight, 8-11 pm, no cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

THAT’S JUST THE START … there’s more on our complete calendar.

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Making music: WSHS @ Husky Band Day

September 26, 2018 9:45 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The photo and report are from West Seattle High School music director Ethan Thomas:

The West Seattle High School Band participated in the 66th Annual Husky Band Day at the University of Washington vs Arizona State football game on Saturday, 9/22. They participated alongside over 2,500 students representing 32 High Schools from across the state as well as the 200+ member Husky Marching Band. They combined to perform during halftime and played 5 songs, including the Husky Fight Song “Bow Down To Washington.” Two students from each high school were featured in an Honor Band as they performed “Believer” by the band Imagine Dragons. The Honor Band Students from West Seattle High School were Emma Laplante on Clarinet and Lola Demurger on Alto Saxophone. Also featured were two members of the WSHS drumline, Nate Wuethrich and Adam Chin, for a combined performance with the Husky Drumline.

You may notice in the picture that several of our students do not have uniforms. Due to the growth of the music program at WSHS in the past few years, we are in need of additional uniforms. We will be raising money over the next few months to purchase more uniforms to support the continued growth of our program. Visit the WSHS music department website at www.wshsmusic.org to find out more.

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