day : 13/02/2019 9 results

(Photos provided by WestSide Baby, showing their White Center HQ)

The snow has affected us all in a variety of ways … especially people in need and the nonprofits who serve them. Here are two ways you can help one local nonprofit, WestSide Baby, get back up to speed:

WestSide Baby provides essential items to local families in need. We have been closed for 6 days in the past two weeks. This means volunteers, staff (mostly) and donations have not been able to get to us. At the same time, the children and families we serve are also experiencing this horrendous weather, shut in time, lost wages and the diapers continue to be needed! (Letter from Executive Director Nancy Woodland here.)

Please consider sending diapers to help the families inevitably hit hard by lost wages or donate $$ now and we will do that for you.

And please volunteer to help us fill orders for families!

Thursday: Valentine’s Day/Night Out February 14 11 am-8 pm
Saturday: Special additional hours 1-4 pm
Monday: Presidents Day 10-1 (possibly longer if interest)

Please email Volunteer@Westsidebaby.org if you are interested. It’s also super helpful if you fill out this application. If you are sending minors age 14-17, without an adult, they need to fill out a Minor Consent Form.

Although parking on the street is still a bit of a challenge (4×4 vehicles fine), we have shoveled out the parking lot; we invite anyone 9-99 yrs old who wants to volunteer to come!

Volunteer work is at WS Baby’s White Center HQ, 10002 14th Avenue SW.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW AFTERMATH: Wednesday evening updates, from trash to transportation

February 13, 2019 7:39 pm

| 41 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

7:39 PM: Evening updates ahead, including what we are hearing about Thursday:

Our photo of a side street near WSB HQ tells much of tonight’s story, from uncollected solid waste to slush that might refreeze by morning. Here’s the latest:

TRASH/RECYCLING: SPU says crews could not get to all Mon./Tues. customers
METRO: Some buses still rerouted; more details here
WATER TAXI: West Seattle route on 2-boat schedule
RIDE2: (update) Resumes normal WS service Thursday
SCHOOLS: Thursday announcements here

8:01 PM: Here’s Metro’s summary of the plan for tomorrow:

Metro is continuing to restore service wherever possible, with some snow reroutes still operating and delays likely, as recovery efforts move into Thursday.

Routes that will not operate on Thursday
On Thursday, the following six routes will not operate: 37, 78, 237, 243, 244 and 330.

The snow (etc.) rerouting link is in our list above. (added) Here are full details … Meantime, as also linked above, here’s the official SPU statement if you are a Monday/Tuesday residential trash/recycling/etc. customer who didn’t get picked up today:

Our trucks had significant challenges getting to all Monday and Tuesday areas today, even with chains and extra crews. If you are a Mon/Tues customer and your garbage was not collected today, it will be collected next week. You may set out additional bags for free. Customers whose collection was missed may also bring their garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste to our north or south transfer stations for free. Extended hours tomorrow and Friday-until 7:30. We know it’s frustrating when your waste is not collected so we thank you for your continued patience as we recover from the series of winter storms.

9:40 PM: The overnight forecast looks a little less frozen – lows “near 30” in the city – but the city’s out treating the roads; check out the “past hour” lines on the map.

10:42 PM: Just in, and updated in list above, West Seattle Ride2 service will resume on Thursday.

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SCHOOLS: Thursday plans

February 13, 2019 4:30 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Updated 6:07 am) The Thursday announcements are here:

(WSB photo: Gatewood Elementary, late afternoon)

DISTRICTS
Seattle Public Schools – 2 hours late Thurs., buses on snow routes, no preschool or Head Start.
Highline Public Schools – 2 hours late on Thursday. Alternate bus stops.
Vashon Island SD – 2.5 hours late Thurs. Buses on emergency routes.

INDEPENDENT/PAROCHIAL/OTHERS
Westside School – Open Thurs. at regular times – 8:15 am for Middle School, 8:30 am for Lower School, 8:45 am for Preschool/Pre-K. No buses, no before-care.
Explorer West Middle School – 10 am start Thurs., doors open/study hall 8 am
Holy Rosary – 2 hours late Thurs., no AM preschool or BASE
Holy Family Bilingual School – (update) 9:30 am start Thurs., BASE at 8:30 am
Summit Atlas – 2 hours late Thurs.

COLLEGES
South Seattle College – (updated) All campuses opening 10 am
UW – Normal operations Thurs. at Seattle and Tacoma; Bothell decision pending

PRESCHOOLS/DAY CARES
Fauntleroy Children’s Center – 2 hours late Thurs.

P.S.
Some schools start prescheduled midwinter break Thursday, including OLG, Hope Lutheran, and Kennedy.

206-293-6302 with additions – text or voice – thank you!

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HIGHWAY 99: Offramp update; Viaduct demolition plans

February 13, 2019 3:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

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

Two Highway 99 updates this afternoon:

(Monday afternoon view from construction-zone camera, looking south across new offramp)

REMEMBER THE RAMP? The tunnel’s been open for more than a week now, but the Dearborn/Alaskan Way offramp – to allow people traveling from West Seattle and points south to exit NB Highway 99 before the tunnel – is still under construction. The culprit, as you might expect – the snow. We asked WSDOT’s Laura Newborn today if there’s an update on the offramp’s expected opening: “There’s still weather-dependent work ahead of us. We do believe it will be next week but can’t say yet what day.”

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT DEMOLITION: This too has been delayed a bit by the snow. WSDOT now says it’ll start later this week, at multiple spots including the Columbia/1st ramp. They’ve also added webcams focused on the Viaduct so you can watch the work.

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FOLLOWUP: Friends of Delridge Triangle invites you to community design workshop

February 13, 2019 2:09 pm

| Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Friends of Delridge Triangle invites you to community design workshop

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Friends of the Delridge Triangle)

What’s next for the Delridge Triangle? You can help answer that question. Here’s the announcement we received today:

Friends of the Delridge Triangle — an all-volunteer, grassroots gathering of neighbors — is pleased to announce that it has selected Seattle-based MAKERS to lead a community design process for a reimagining of the Delridge Triangle right-of-way space at 9200 Delridge Way SW.

The greater Seattle community is invited to a series of public workshops to help imagine new ideas for the space. Save the date for the first: mid-morning on Saturday, March 23 at Highland Park Improvement Club. Everyone is welcome.

Soon, we’ll also have a pre-workshop survey available for you to share your thoughts about the space, the design and our community. Learn more and sign up for our email list for the latest information at delridgetriangle.org.

The Delridge Triangle lies at the center of South Delridge. With Highland Park to the east and Westwood-Roxhill to the west, the right of way is central feature of our neighborhood, and the nearest public open space for many families living in South Delridge. Friends of the Delridge Triangle seeks to activate the voice of the community to create a safe and inclusive public space for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

MAKERS is an architectural and urban design firm based in Seattle, providing services to clients throughout the US. Founded in 1972, the firm was selected for its community-centered approach and experience with public projects, including the Barton Street P-Patch.

This project has been funded by community volunteering, pledges and commitment from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Neighborhood Matching Fund.

It’s been two years since a community discussion (WSB coverage here) identifying problems and possibilities preceding this process.

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PARKS & POOL: City plan for West Seattle facilities today

February 13, 2019 12:47 pm

| Comments Off on PARKS & POOL: City plan for West Seattle facilities today

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle weather

12:47 PM: Looking for something to do in the hours ahead? Here are the announced plans for Seattle Parks facilities in West Seattle:

Southwest Pool – via email:

The Seattle Parks Department has again made the decision to operate on a limited schedule due to snow and challenging road conditions. Swim lessons and all evening programs are cancelled. Swim lesson participants will receive a credit on their Parks account for the missed lesson.

Consider coming in to swim today. A workout for the adults or a Public Swim this afternoon for the kids. (Children under 6 or under 48 inches need to have an adult in the water with them.)

o (Now until) 1:30 Adult Swim
o 1:30-2:30 Water Exercise
o 2:30- 4:30 Public Swim
o 4:30-6:30 Lap Swim

(Regular admission fees apply)

Community centers are open for drop-in activities – Hiawatha, South Park, High Point, Delridge, Alki until 6 pm.

West Seattle Golf Course – “closed for golf but are open for sledding and snow play.”

Camp Long visitor center – open until 3 pm.

As for what’s closed/canceled, see the Parks update here.

4:36 PM UPDATE: Southwest Pool has had to close early because of a non-weather problem.

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VIDEO: City briefing, with updates including request for you to help clear sidewalks near schools

February 13, 2019 12:28 pm

| 36 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle weather

That’s Gatewood Elementary – closest one to us, so we photographed it after hearing city leaders implore community members to get out and help clear sidewalks outside schools around the city, in hopes that will help them safely reopen tomorrow, along with other steps that are being taken. Get out right now with a shovel and do what you can, Mayor Durkan urged – along non-school streets, too, since, she noted, it’ll be easier to clear now than after the expected “hard freeze” tonight.

Other toplines from the daily briefing (following the video):

–Seattle Public Utilities general manager Mami Hara reiterated the info from earlier about catching up on Monday/Tuesday solid-waste customers today, one-day delay for others as the week continues, free transfer-station visits for those who’ve gone more than a week since pickups, and hopes of being back on schedule next week. She also reaffirmed that they’re trying to collect recycling in WS (and North Seattle) neighborhoods where it was missed on Monday of last week.

(Added 2:18 pm – emailed photo of downed wire/cable in Fauntleroy along Brace Point Drive)

–Seattle City Light general manager Debra Smith said that they have about 300 “jobs that are open” – cables/wires to check on, not outage-related, and that most are “communications” cables/wires (“but do assume those wires are live and dangerous” until assessed by SCL). She also said the outage map is lagging again, and their vendor is working on that.

–SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe said that his crews are out treating streets again to prevent the feared freezeover, as well as clearing streets near schools. He also urged people to be careful about trees brought down by the heavy/melting snow, saying calls of that nature have been up in recent days.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW AFTERMATH: Trash, recycling pickup has resumed. Here’s the latest plan

February 13, 2019 9:24 am

| 34 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

9:24 AM: Just seen in Gatewood: A Waste Management truck. Several commenters in our morning report also mentioned their pickups had happened already, from North Delridge to Fauntleroy. To recap, here’s what the city has said since last night:

Solid waste crews plan to collect garbage from Monday and Tuesday customers (today), February 13th. Crews also plan to collect recycling from Monday customers in Northwest and Southwest Seattle (today). Customers missed last week may put out additional waste at no additional charge.

Collecting garbage from Monday customers whose waste was not picked up the last two Mondays is the priority. Therefore, recycling and food & yard waste not collected from Monday and Tuesday customers (today) will be collected next week, on February 18th and 19th. Customers may put out double the usual amount of recycling and food & yard waste at no additional charge.

All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Wednesday customers on Thursday, Feb. 14

All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Thursday customers on Friday, Feb. 15

All garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected for Friday customers on Saturday, Feb. 16

(For the above three, too) If your collection was missed last week, you may put out double the usual amount of recycling and food/yard waste at no additional charge.

…Additionally, Seattle residents significantly impacted by delayed pickups, due to icy residential streets, may visit the transfer stations for free February 13-16th. Customers are asked to indicate they are Seattle residents whose solid waste services have been delayed due to weather for more than a week.

There are some caveats on those free transfer-station visits – go here for the latest on that.

Meanwhile, Seattle Public Utilities (for whom Waste Management picks up residential solid waste) will be part of another 11 am mayor-and-department-heads briefing today, and we’ll add any new info that results. You can watch for the live stream here.

4:35 PM: Here’s the latest. We’ll update later this evening.

7:26 PM: Just in from SPU via Twitter:

Our trucks had significant challenges getting to all Monday and Tuesday areas today, even with chains and extra crews. If you are a Mon/Tues customer and your garbage was not collected today, it will be collected next week.

Customers whose collection was missed may also bring their garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste to our north or south transfer stations for free. More info here: https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2019/02/06/solid-waste-collection-resumes-feb-6/ … We know this can be frustrating. Thank you for your continued patience.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER/ETC.: Slushy Wednesday AM updates

February 13, 2019 6:03 am

| 27 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

(SCHOOLS: Here’s the Wednesday closures/changes list … TRASH/RECYCLING: Pickup today for Mon./Tues. customers … LIBRARIES: Expecting to resume normal hours today)

6:03 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far. Here are the toplines/infolinks:

METRO SERVICE: Back to almost-normal route list but with changes plus these alerts:
METRO ROUTE 37: No 5:48 am and 7:11 am trips
METRO ROUTE 55: No 6:31 AM, 6:48 AM, 7:30 AM and 8:34 AM trips
METRO ROUTE 56: No 6:43 am, 7:33 am, 8:41 am trips
METRO ROUTE 57: No 7:20 am trip
METRO ROUTE 113: No 7:34 am trip
METRO ROUTE 116: No 6:33 am, 7:13 am, 8:00 am trips and no 4:26 pm trip from downtown
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Back to 2-boat schedule
RIDE2: Not operating today
TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Our compilation of local cameras
SDOT CITYWIDE CAMS ETC. PAGE: Year-round “travelers” map with cams/more.

6:27 AM: Temperature’s above freezing, so slush continues to be this morning’s big challenge … Road closure: Lorilyn says city crews have 45th/100th blocked off in Arbor Heights for work.

6:57 AM: It’s not exactly backed up yet, but for the first time in some days, the cameras show the high bridge is busy. And yes, the snow has set back the opening of the NB Highway 99 ramp into downtown – we hope to get an update today at a WSDOT media briefing that’ll focus on the start of Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition.

7:13 AM: If you’re riding Metro, be sure to check the reroute list as well as alerts.

7:25 AM: Commenter Jenjm82 reports, “Train blocking Spokane at 2nd ave, BNSF. Not even moving at this point.” (Added: Camera confirms, still stopped.)

7:55 AM: Spokane Street’s moving again; Jenjm82 says the train got moving again after 25 minutes.

8:56 AM: As Metro gets back to more of its regular routes, still some challenges out there. Chris emailed about the 120: “Most of the 120s are passing my stop because they are completely full. Some folks have been there for over an hour. … I gave up and am working from Uptown. I have seen 6 (!) go by without stopping. One stopped to let a couple of people off, but they did not let anyone on.” He says if you need to catch it you might try being creative – take the SB 120, “then get off at an upstream bus stop, then get on the northbound 120.”

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