FOLLOWUP: Seattle Public Schools’ BEX V levy: Alki rebuild, West Seattle ES addition top the local list

After an hour-long Seattle School Board work session this evening, the district’s draft list for next year’s BEX V capital levy still includes two major West Seattle projects: a $53 million rebuild for Alki Elementary and $22 million addition for West Seattle Elementary. Smaller projects are also proposed for seven West Seattle campuses. Here (as first published in our preview last night) is the agenda with slide deck/documents:

(If that embedded version doesn’t work for you, go here.)

They began with the explanation of, and discussion about, weighting the proposed projects by equity. This generated quite a deal of discussion, including some wondering about demographic change in the immediate future, and whether the projections made now would hold true over the course of the six-year levy as affordability challenges continue to send lower-income residents out of the city. Another topic of discussion: The lack of alternate/interim sites elsewhere in the city is starting to affect options for what can be built where/when, district manager Richard Best said. “I’m concerned that we may not be thinking creatively and out of the box,” observed board president Leslie Harris (who represents West Seattle/South Park on the board). Some projects, said Best, would be “built in place” (with students not having to leave) – such as the proposed West Seattle Elementary addition. (Though it wasn’t a topic of discussion at this meeting, it’s been noted that Alki Elementary would move to the old Schmitz Park Elementary site during a rebuild.)

Harris asked for staffers to clearly point out any major changes from the previous meeting; the biggest, said Best, is in the “building systems and repairs” list, where they’ve added more “smaller” projects so they could “touch more schools.” This list had involved projects at 27 schools at the September 26th work session, said best, and now it’s about double that, including these West Seattle projects:

Boren STEM – K-8 HVAC – $4,034,016
Gatewood – Playgrounds – $175,000
Gatewood – Exterior Door – $150,000
Sanislo – Site Improvements – $ 383,297
Sanislo – Ceiling Fan $300,000
West Seattle – Exterior Door $ 142,977
West Seattle HS – Roof $ 8,979,237

Also:
Schmitz Park – Seismic – $472,910

Athletic Field/Lighting
Madison MS – $2,600,000

Board members agreed that the overall levy list – totaling $1.4 billion – looked “solid.” But as the hourlong meeting concluded, they also stressed that “community input is still welcome,” as board member Eden Mack put it. Board contact info is at lower right on this page. And watch for word of a public hearing on the levy in late October; BEX V, and the district’s next three-year Operations Levy, will go to voters next February.

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CONGRATULATIONS! ‘Player of the Week’ honors for Dontae McMillan of Chief Sealth IHS

October 10, 2018 6:14 pm

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

(WSB photo: #8 Dontae McMillan in last month’s Huling Bowl win over WSHS)

Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School football standout Dontae McMillan, announced today as a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Player of the Week. He’s led the Seahawks to four consecutive wins. From the WIAA announcement: “The running back ran for 279 yards on 21 carries and scored four touchdowns, as the Seahawks took down Lakeside 48-31. His longest run of the night was a 94-yard scramble on third down.” Every week, the organization honors “varsity athletes who exhibited an outstanding performance for the previous week (based off nominations).” This Friday night at 7 pm, you can see McMillan and his teammates play Sammamish at home at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

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An update from Click! Design That Fits, featuring Frances Smersh on West Seattle Art Walk night, 3 years into her Alzheimer’s journey

October 10, 2018 4:14 pm

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| Health | West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The cover image for the map/postcard promoting this quarter’s West Seattle Art Walk events – starting with tomorrow night’s WSAW – always has a backstory. This time around, there’s a lot to tell.

The image is a painting by Frances Smersh, the West Seattle artist who is co-proprietor of Junction shop Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) with her husband John Smersh. She is also this month’s featured WSAW artist there, so you can visit Frances and her work there Thursday night (October 11th) 5-8 pm.

In conjunction with the showcase, Click! has an update for the community about the personal news they first shared three years ago – that Frances is living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Writing on the Click! blog this week, they explain that the disease has continued to progress. “This last year Frances has struggled with more challenges that the disease has presented, and found that art is an area that she can still thrive. … With painting as her primary focus for most of the last year, she’s produced an impressive body of work!”

You can see the show during tomorrow’s Art Walk. The update continues, “She has titled her show ‘With a Little Help from my Friends,’ an acknowledgement of the extra assistance she now needs.”

After details on how Frances is doing now, the update explain how that assistance is more vital than ever:

If you or someone you know would enjoy spending time or sharing a meal with (or providing a meal for) Frances, please reach out to John and let him know what you would be up for. She loves being with people and is pretty game for most activities. Friends have started a GoFundMe page in hopes of helping with some of the extra expenses they now face; donations of any amount are hugely appreciated.

Read the full update here. And go see Frances’s show at Click! on Thursday night, 4540 California SW, 5-8 pm.

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Viaduct-to-tunnel transition: Toll decision expected next week

October 10, 2018 3:31 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSDOT photo)

The Highway 99 tunnel is set to open in early February, after three weeks of road-realignment work following the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s permanent closure on January 11th. It’ll be toll-free for a trial period at the start. Once that’s over – what will you be charged? That decision is expected to be made by the State Transportation Commission next week, after one last public hearing (11 am Tuesday, October 16th, in Olympia). Here’s the plan, with rates ranging from $1 to $2.25 (provided you sign up for Good To Go):

If you can’t be at that hearing but have something to say, the commission is taking written comment through tomorrow – scroll down this page to find out how.

P.S. Reminder that more prep work brings a closure oF SB 99 this weekend – details here.

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BIZNOTE: Saigon Pho, and other Alki notes

October 10, 2018 1:32 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Ever since the first tip that Saigon Pho (2632 Alki SW) had apparently closed, we’ve been checking on it; more than a week has gone by, and it hasn’t reopened. No explanatory/farewell sign, and we haven’t been able to reach the restaurant’s proprietor, but a peek through the window shows furnishings and other items stacked and boxed. While that building’s site has long had a mixed-use redevelopment proposal, newer documents in city files show a plan to expand the neighboring preschool/day care into the building.

Saigon Pho, which opened in early 2010, would be the sixth Alki business to close in a little over a year, along with:

Sushi Samurai
Alki Cleaners
Marée Bistro
Alki Urban Market
Tully’s Coffee

The latter three spaces are all posted with FOR LEASE signs. At the ex-sushi spot (2758 Alki SW), an application is in the city system to add second-floor apartments to the building, as was proposed in 2009.

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Do it for the Southern Resident Killer Whales: Be part of Duwamish Alive!

October 10, 2018 12:19 pm

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| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from spring 2018 Duwamish Alive!)

One week from Saturday, the fall multi-site Duwamish Alive! event asks you to spend a few hours helping the river, which also will help the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales who need the salmon supported by healthy habitat. Here’s the reminder:

What is the connection between the Duwamish River and our local Orca? The Duwamish River is home to 5 species of salmon, including the vital Chinook, which is a critical food source for Puget Sound Orca. Orca depend on the dwindling Chinook runs for the majority of their diet, and Chinook depend on healthy salmon habitat in the Duwamish.

Duwamish Alive! on October 20th will have volunteers working throughout the Duwamish Watershed to improve the health of our green spaces, creeks and especially our Duwamish River, which provide salmon critical habitat. Volunteers are needed at many local sites which provide critical habitat for our community and our river.

Duwamish Alive! celebrates the connection of our urban parks and open spaces to our river, wildlife and community. Starting at 10:00 am, volunteers of all ages, at multiple Duwamish sites throughout the watershed from river to forest, will participate in a day of major cleanup and habitat restoration in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and orca.

A special opening ceremony will be held at T107 Park, across from the Duwamish Longhouse at 10:00, with special honoring of George Blumberg and Willard Brown for their work in restoring the Duwamish.

Opening Ceremonies:

T107 Park 9:45 – 10:30 am
Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribe
James Rasmussen, Presentation of Honors
Chris Wilke from Puget Soundkeeper, Stewardship
Sameer Ranade from Front and Centered Highlighting I-1631

Longfellow Creek at Greg Davis Park 10 am
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon from the 34th District, State House

Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation groups, businesses, and government entities, recognizing that our collective efforts are needed to make lasting, positive improvements in the health and vitality of the Green-Duwamish Watershed. Twice a year these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at 14 sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of Seattle and Tukwila communities.

To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and to the contact for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org This is a family-friendly event for all ages – tools, instruction and snacks are provided.

The two sites with opening ceremonies are only two of many along the river and its watershed.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Flu shots, schools, buses, Disaster Trivia, more!

October 10, 2018 10:48 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Merlin, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Looking ahead at the rest of your Wednesday – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FLU SHOT CLINIC: Need a flu shot? The community is welcome at this afternoon’s Denny International Middle School clinic, as well as students/staff/families. 2-5 pm. Form in our calendar listing. (2601 SW Kenyon)

SCHOOL BOARD TALKS LEVY PROJECTS: As previewed here last night, the School Board’s final work session on next year’s BEX V levy is happening at district HQ, 4:30-5:30 pm. Public can observe this meeting but not comment; when the levy proposal is officially drafted soon, there’ll be a public hearing. (3rd & Lander)

RAPIDRIDE H LINE/DELRIDGE REDESIGN OPEN HOUSE: Metro Route 120 is still moving toward becoming RapidRide H Line in 2021. Tonight you’re invited to drop by an open house 5:30-7:30 pm at Mount View Elementary in White Center:

Metro and Seattle will share updates on the project, including the future route proposal and station locations, and seek feedback on RapidRide station amenities and improvements that make it easier for people to reach transit. The City of Seattle will also share its early design for a reimagined Delridge Way Southwest with bus lanes, landscaped medians, crosswalk improvements, protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenway connections, signal upgrades, paving, water and sewer pipe upgrades, spot parking and bike lane removal, and public art.

(10811 12th SW)

WRITING CIRCLE: 6-7:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, write with Hugo House! Author Jeanine Walker is the host. (2306 42nd SW)

SUPERINTENDENT VISITS: Seattle Public Schools‘ new superintendent Denise Juneau is at Youngstown Cultural Arts Tonight as her “Listening and Learning Tour.” It’s a two-part event, 6-6:40 pm with youth, 7-8:30 pm general “town hall.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)

HELP SALMON BY SEARCHING FOR THEM: 6:30 pm orientation for volunteers who can help Puget Soundkeeper‘s salmon watch on Longfellow Creek in North Delridge. (Contact morgan@pugetsoundkeeper.org for location)

POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly PoetryBridge event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm features Tobin Marsh and Richard Wells. (5612 California SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy; the agenda includes Get Out The Vote plans plus a time to share memories of longtime member Jackie Dupras. (9131 California SW)

DISASTER TRIVIA: 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria, as previewed here. Call 206-937-3463 for a reservation to be sure your team has a table! 21+. (4718 California SW)

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Why Puget Sound Energy is asking you to use less natural gas today

October 10, 2018 9:49 am

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| Utilities | West Seattle news

If you have natural-gas service, it’s supplied by Puget Sound Energy, and they’ve sent customers a message asking for conservation today because of a pipeline rupture in Canada. If you haven’t already seen the message, you can read the full version on PSE’s website. (PSE also is asking its electricity customers to use less, but that doesn’t apply in our area as local electricity comes from Seattle City Light.) Here’s Canadian coverage of the pipeline rupture, which happened near Prince George, British Columbia [map] – and even more info here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

October 10, 2018 7:06 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY … is today.

LOOKING AHEAD: Friday (October 12th), no classes for Seattle Public Schools and those who keep the same schedule … This weekend brings a southbound 99 closure – details here.

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TONIGHT: Learn how to help salmon by looking for them

October 10, 2018 12:23 am

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

(WSB photo from November 2014)

Again this fall, Puget Soundkeeper is hoping for help with its salmon survey. There’s an orientation tonight (Wednesday) for potential volunteers. Here’s the announcement, including how to RSVP:

Puget Soundkeeper is searching for dedicated volunteers to survey the Coho salmon that return to Longfellow Creek in West Seattle.

During the salmon run each fall, a population of Coho salmon enters the Duwamish River from Elliott Bay, and then swims up Longfellow Creek to spawn. As Coho migrate through urbanized waterways like Longfellow, they encounter a chemical cocktail of toxic runoff from roadways and other paved surfaces. These chemicals severely disorient adult Coho and result in “pre-spawn mortality” in many individuals, meaning the salmon die before reproducing. Previous surveys conducted by the City of Seattle and NOAA on Longfellow Creek have found pre-spawn mortality rates of up to 90% amongst females, an alarmingly high statistic. Examining the number of salmon that return to Longfellow Creek every year and documenting the pre-spawn mortality rate are great indicators of the health of our local waterways. Data gathered from these surveys shared with NOAA, the City of Seattle, Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County.

Volunteers will attend an orientation meeting (tonight) Wednesday, October 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm in West Seattle.

Requirements:

· The nature of this work is geared toward adults only.

· Surveying is a weekly commitment that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The salmon run begins in mid-October and finishes mid-December, during which there will be a survey every day. Volunteers will be divided into teams of 2-3 people and assigned a weekday to conduct their survey.

· We’re looking for adventurous volunteers! Surveying requires handling fish carcasses found in the creek (with gloves) and dissecting the female salmon to check for eggs.

· Volunteers should be in good physical condition. Surveying in Longfellow Creek requires climbing up and down steep muddy embankments and wading through shallow water on uneven terrain.

· Surveying is conducted in varying weather conditions. If conditions are dangerous (e.g. a downpour), we will cancel on that day. Otherwise, we survey rain or shine.

· Volunteers will be provided with surveying kits and waders (unless you have your own pair). Data collected during the survey will be uploaded by the volunteers into Puget Soundkeeper’s database.

Salmon surveys are a great way to observe one of nature’s most amazing migrations and experience scientific field work. The data we collect from these surveys help us understand the effects of toxic runoff on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species and determine the best methods to protect them in the future!

RSVP here: pugetsoundkeeper.org/event/salmon-monitoring-at-longfellow-creek-west-seattle

Contact Morgan (morgan@pugetsoundkeeper.org) with additional questions.