day : 26/07/2019 8 results

TRAFFIC/PARKING ALERT: Why those signs say ‘parade’

July 26, 2019 11:12 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/PARKING ALERT: Why those signs say ‘parade’
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you looked closely at one of the no-parking signs lining part of Harbor Avenue SW, you might have wondered why they say “PARADE,” considering ours was last weekend, and the route was nowhere near Harbor. It’s because Terminal 5 is a storage area for some of the floats participating in the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown Saturday night. As we’ve shown in past years (2015 here, 2016 here), the floats have headed toward downtown in a convoy on Saturday morning (8-9 am-ish), then back post-parade.

VIDEO: Band Jam 2019 shakes it up at Southwest Athletic Complex

6:51 PM: The drums are booming and the spectators are cheering at Southwest Athletic Complex as the 2019 Band Jam marching-band showcase proceeds.

Before Seismic Sound, the drumline that’s on the field right now, the Junior All-City Band performed:

Among the other bands coming up at this free event, the award-winning All-City Band themselves, whose director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton hatched the idea for this pre-Torchlight Parade showcase a decade ago. In the SWAC lot right outside the stands, something new this year, food trucks, so even if you haven’t had dinner yet, grab the family and come on over (2801 SW Thistle). You’re also invited to buy 50/50 raffle tickets to support the ACB.

7:11 PM: The band from nearby Kennedy Catholic High School followed – they were in West Seattle just last Saturday for the WS Grand Parade, as was the group on the field now, the Rainbow City Band (with their flag team Spinout), which so far has gone from Lady Gaga to Macklemore to Bruno Mars.

7:40 PM: Yet another band seen in the Grand Parade last Saturday, from Sumner High School in Pierce County, followed:

The event is in an intermission right now, with the Seahawks’ drumline Blue Thunder due to play at 8 pm, and the All-City Band to follow.

8:05 PM: But first – Sounders FC’s Sound Wave is on the field.

8:35 PM: Also from the stadium zone, Blue Thunder:

8:44 PM: And the grand finale, the hosting All-City Band, is taking the field.

($505 raised for them by tonight’s raffle, too!)

12:30 AM: We’ve finished adding visuals above.

Final 2019 week for EC Hughes Playground wading pool, closing early for play-area project

That’s a rendering of the new play structure planned for West Seattle’s EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden). To get it built, Seattle Parks will have to close the EC Hughes wading pool early this summer; one week from today will be the final day of the season. Here’s the announcement from Parks:

Construction for the new play area at E.C. Hughes Playground begins in August and is anticipated to be complete and open for play in early 2020. Because of the proximity of the construction site to the wading pool, Friday, August 2, 2019 will be the last day the wading pool will be open for the 2019 season. The closest wading pool/spraypark is the Highland Park spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale St. The restrooms will remain open for the majority of the construction, however, they will need to close for a short period when the pavement leading up to them is demolished and replaced.

The play area renovation project will update aging equipment with play structures accessible to children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12. The intent is to enhance the safety and play area accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new play area is anticipated to open early 2020.

Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to Seattle Parks and Recreation for maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

For more information on the project please (go here). For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations, please contact Katie Bang at katie.bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.

The old play equipment had to be taken out of service earlier this summer due to safety concerns.

‘Sesame Street’ at Lincoln Park: Setup day & traffic updates

1:25 PM: The trucks in our photo are part of the crew that’s at Lincoln Park setting up for tomorrow’s “Sesame Street” 50th-anniversary event, expected to draw 4,000 people (who had to register in advance) over the course of the day. Inside the park, the baseball field south of the wading pool/play area is the hub of activity:

Here’s the newest update on likely afternoon traffic effects: Washington State Ferries had been told last night that the trucks on Fauntleroy Way would clear out for the afternoon no-parking period (2-7 pm) after all. But then, WSF spokesperson Hadley Rodero told WSB this afternoon, the production company instead said they were trying to hire off-duty police to direct traffic around the trucks this afternoon instead. We’ll be checking back at the scene after 2 pm. (added) Here’s the live traffic cam:

Also note if you’re driving to the park, the staging has also taken over some of the spaces toward the north end of the north lot.

2:59 PM: The camera shows the trucks have since moved out of the staging lane. Heading down the hill to see if anything else remains aside from standard Friday afternoon traffic.

3:40 PM: Verified that nothing remains in the queueing lane. (Saw a private car getting towed, though, with an SPD Parking Enforcement officer right behind.) Just the “usual” Friday afternoon ferry backup, almost to the north edge of Lincoln Park as of about 15 minutes ago.

Band Jam, Chief Sealth All-Class Reunion, and more for your West Seattle Friday

July 26, 2019 11:51 am
|    Comments Off on Band Jam, Chief Sealth All-Class Reunion, and more for your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Visitor on Puget Ridge – photo sent by Alison)

Before we get further into Friday, six highlights for the hours ahead:

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Another sunny, warm “open” day for the pools: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open until 8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) is open noon-7 pm, Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) is open noon-6:30 pm, and the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open until 8 pm.

TALK WITH YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER: 2-7 pm, it’s Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s July district-office-hours session at the Southwest Customer Service Center. Drop-ins welcome as long as you get there by 6:30 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

CHIEF SEALTH ALL-CLASS REUNION: 5-9 pm at the south end of Lincoln Park beach, all Chief Sealth alums welcome at this year’s all-class reunion! More info in our most-recent preview. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

BAND JAM: The annual marching-band extravaganza hosted by the All-City Band is back at Southwest Athletic Complex, 6:30 pm, free. Come cheer for them in a way you can’t quite do on a parade route! Expected participants are listed in our preview. (2801 SW Thistle)

WHATEVERLY BROTHERS: Live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)

LUCKY BROWN & THE SG’s: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SEE MORE … on our complete calendar!

UPDATE: Pedestrian hit by driver at Jefferson Square

10:27 AM: A sizable SFD/SPD response in the Jefferson Square parking lot right now after a driver hit a pedestrian – “while backing out,” according to the dispatch. Our crew is there and says the victim is being readied for transport to the hospital by SFD medic unit. This happened toward the southwest end of the lot.

10:31 AM: An AMR ambulance has arrived, which means the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. Access to Jefferson Square is limited until this all clears.

6:22 PM: We’ve just heard from a relative of the victim, who is a 93-year-old woman and remains in the hospital with serious injuries. (See comment below.)

YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle VFW ‘Refresh’ tomorrow

July 26, 2019 9:58 am
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 |   How to help | Triangle | West Seattle news

Another Saturday preview: Just last summer, West Seattle’s VFW post celebrated its centennial. This year, it’s getting a little community help in sprucing up its headquarters (3601 SW Alaska). The more help, the better, if you can donate some time between 10 am and 4 pm tomorrow (Saturday, July 27th). Besides serving local veterans, the building also hosts community events. Just show up! If you have questions, contact info’s in our calendar listing for the event.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:59 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in our area so far. One transit alert:

FERRY TRAFFIC ALERT: From Washington State Ferries:

Passengers traveling through Fauntleroy this weekend should prepare for potential delays getting to the tollbooth starting tomorrow. Washington State Ferries has learned that the city of Seattle has permitted event staging in front of Lincoln Park from 6 a.m. Friday, July 26, through 6 a.m. Sunday, July 28, as part of Sesame Street’s Road Trip event. This may block Fauntleroy Way ferry staging lanes between Southwest Kenyon and Southwest Monroe streets, possibly leading to extensive backups.

Travelers should give themselves extra time to get to the terminal. As a reminder, ferry traffic queues that extend beyond Lincoln Park continue on Fauntleroy Way. Drivers should avoid using nearby 47th Avenue to get in line.

STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners continue their series against the Tigers tonight, 7:10 pm.