day : 04/09/2019 9 results

It’s a topic everyone’s got an opinion about – development, particularly housing. What should (or shouldn’t) we be building more of in Seattle? And longer-term – should zoning change to allow more, denser housing in more places? Here’s your chance to sound off in an official city survey. We found the Housing Choices Survey tucked into the middle of the Department of Neighborhoods’ newest newsletter. A related Office of Planning and Community Development webpage explains what it’s about:

Housing Choices is an initiative to create more market-rate housing options, in more places, for more people. Our Housing Choices Background Report provides information about the private housing market in order to start a conversation about this topic. We are now reaching out to hear your perspectives about housing choices, better understand the issues and opportunities, and explore potential responses. Your input, along with additional data and analysis, will inform future recommendations for addressing key issues.

Our Housing Choices survey will help inform near-term actions as well as longer-term recommendations that we hope to present in early 2020.

You can answer the survey’s questions (note that some are optional) by going here.

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PARTY! C & P Coffee Company invites you to ‘We (Heart) West Seattle’ celebration

September 4, 2019 6:49 pm

| Comments Off on PARTY! C & P Coffee Company invites you to ‘We (Heart) West Seattle’ celebration

| How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

If you don’t already have your ticket(s) – Cameron from C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) wants to be sure you know about this upcoming community benefit:

We Heart West Seattle Benefit Party, September 14th
From 4 – 7 pm

Pete and I are excited to announce what we hope will be an annual event supporting the West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Helpline, and WestSide Baby.

There will be food from local restaurants; West 5, Peel and Press, Husky Deli and Joanie’s Catering as well as live music and incredible auction items.

Tickets are $25.00 for one drink of choice and amazing food options and can be purchased at the coffee shop (5612 California Ave SW) or online.

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Team Read seeks teens to tutor kids in West Seattle

September 4, 2019 3:25 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo by Lisa Bontje)

Got teen(s) in your house? As the new school year gets going, here’s their chance to make a difference by helping younger kids:

Team Read is currently recruiting local teens to tutor 2nd and 3rd grade students who are reading at least one year below grade-level proficiency.

We will be hiring 75+ middle and high school students for reading coach positions, and will offer after-school programming at four tutoring sites in/around West Seattle this year (2 more than last year): Roxhill Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, High Point Branch Library and Concord Elementary.

Reading coaches tutor two days a week, gaining valuable work skills and the satisfaction of changing the lives of children in their community, while also acquiring tangible benefits such as (minimum wage) pay, college savings, or service hours. Team Read staff and alumni will be recruiting at local schools over the next several weeks. Teens can also learn more and apply online here.

Deadline: 9/20 for returning coaches, 9/25 for new coaches. Open to all 8th-12th graders who meet the qualifications outlined on our website.

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UPDATE: Flipped-car crash at 49th/Spokane

September 4, 2019 12:37 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

12:37 PM: Another collision reported in north West Seattle – this time at 49th and Spokane, and the dispatcher described it as involving an overturned vehicle. No major response as everyone is reported to be out of the vehicle. We’re on the way to find out more.

12:59 PM: Photo added. No injuries. That’s the only vehicle involved, driven by a teenager, according to police, who are still talking to the people in the car to figure out how it happened.

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: ‘The West Seattle Elementary difference’ starts new year with Be There Rally

September 4, 2019 12:34 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

For the fourth consecutive year, West Seattle Elementary students got a first-day-of-school welcome like no other: The “Be There Rally.” 2016 was the first time community members were invited to greet and inspire the students. The event has continued growing in size and reputation, and this year drew more citywide dignitaries than ever. More on them later. First – WSE principal Pamela McCowan-Conyers got to tell the crowd all about her school:

She repeatedly referred to “the West Seattle Elementary difference” – not just the students’ success, but also her staff’s qualifications, including 8 board-certified teachers and 3 teachers who are “studying to become administrators,” as well as her assistant principal Sahnica Washington. She also touted supporting the students by supporting their parents.

That family support also comes from the Seattle Housing Authority, which manages the community surrounding the school, High Point. SHA executive director Andrew Lofton (lower left in photo above) was among this morning’s high-profile participants, saying that this year SHA will support the district’s emphasis on reading proficiency – a banner for SEATTLE SUPER READERS hung over the school entrance – the way it previously supported improved attendance.

West Seattle Elementary has more than 400 students, so there was a long line to high-five and applaud.

It all happened with perfectly chosen music courtesy of DJ Akim Finch (who is also a WSE employee), spinning classics including Earth, Wind and Fire‘s “September,” McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” Aretha Franklin‘s “Respect,” Pharrell Williams‘ “Happy.”

Once all but the last few stragglers had entered the school, the principal was convening a meeting for families inside the school. But before that, the dignitaries exited with their own high-fives for community members. They included Police Chief Carmen Best, Superintendent Denise Juneau, Mayor Jenny Durkan, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, and Seattle School Board President Leslie Harris. Pre-ceremony photo ops abounded, too:

That included the smallest member of the SPD Mounted Patrol, Li’l Sebastian:

Eventually, the visitors all moved on, and it was time for the West Seattle Elementary “Husky scholars” to get to work.

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Reader report: Admiral/46th collision

September 4, 2019 11:52 am

| 30 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

11:52 AM: Thanks to Al for the photo and report – the emergency response at Admiral/46th is for a collision involving a driver and pedestrians. No major injuries but one person is being taken to a hospital by private ambulance. We’ll check with SFD for condition info shortly.

2:30 PM: SFD info on the victims: “24-year-old male evaluated, and did not require transport. Approx. 49-year-old female transported via AMR to area hospital in stable condition.”

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SAVING ORCAS: The Whale Trail bringing renowned author Erich Hoyt to West Seattle

September 4, 2019 11:13 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Big event ahead for West Seattle-headquartered The Whale Trail. Just announced:

Erich Hoyt, internationally renowned author and marine conservationist, is returning to deliver a new series of talks about orcas and marine conservation. ‘Orca Tour 2019’ follows the sell-out 2014 and 2015 tours and will focus on Erich’s efforts to protect marine mammal habitats worldwide and how they might support the conservation of orcas in the North Pacific. The talks, as well as the release of Erich’s expanded new edition of “Orca: The Whale Called Killer,” are especially timely given the recent loss of three southern resident orcas.

“Orca: The Whale Called Killer” charts Erich Hoyt’s adventures and conservation work, which began with killer whales off the B.C. coast and was followed by two decades of orca research in Kamchatka, Russia. As co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and policy lead for the Healthy Seas program of the U.K.-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), Erich co-directs a 10-year project to map the habitats for 130 species of marine mammals across the world’s oceans. His book, “Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises,” has helped set the standard for marine biodiversity conservation work.

“This is a rare chance to hear from Erich in person,” said Donna Sandstrom, Executive Director of The Whale Trail and a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s Task Force on Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery. “Erich has been thinking about how to protect orcas as long as he has been writing about them, starting in the 1980s when he contributed to the successful effort to protect Robson Bight, a critical habitat for the northern resident orcas. Erich’s talk will inspire and inform our efforts to protect J, K and L pods, here, where his work began.”

Erich added: “It’s special for me coming back to the Northwest to celebrate this new edition of my book—the work that set me on a life path. In my talks, I will introduce a global context for addressing threats and supporting marine habitat conservation. Much has changed for the orcas here. People know the individuals and their families and appreciate their precarious existence—especially the endangered southern residents. We all want to do more to help them.”

The Orca Tour is organized by The Whale Trail and local sponsoring organizations. “Orca: The Whale Called Killer” and Erich’s other books will be on sale at each event. A Q &A and book signing will follow each presentation.

Orca Tour – WEST SEATTLE
Who: The Whale Trail presents “Orca Tour 2019” with Author and Conservationist Erich Hoyt, sponsored by Sound Community Bank
What: Presentation and talk given by Erich Hoyt on “Healthy Seas for Whales and Dolphins” and book signing of new edition of “ORCA: The Whale Called Killer”
When: Thursday, September 19, 7 PM
Where: Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave SW, West Seattle
Tickets: $15 General Admission • $10 Students/Seniors/Kids under 12
Advance Tickets: erichhoyt.brownpapertickets.com

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7 for your West Seattle Wednesday

September 4, 2019 9:22 am

| Comments Off on 7 for your West Seattle Wednesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern Flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Besides the first day of school for everybody who hadn’t already gone back, here are other highlights for today:

INTERESTED IN SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE? Info session this morning at 10 am for professional/technical studies at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). You’ll find out about nine programs! (6000 16th SW)

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: Even disasters on the other side of the country – like Hurricane Dorian – affect supplies here. If you can donate, there’s a mobile drive at Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood today, 1-7 pm (closed 3-4 pm for break). Walk-ups welcome. (39th SW/SW Thistle)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Ninth week for this year’s weekly farm-stand sessions, selling fresh produce and flowers, all grown by local residents at the mini-farm next to the stand. 4 pm-7 pm. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Greenspace is the centerpiece topic as SWDC reconvenes, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. All welcome! (4217 SW Oregon)

NEW NONPROFIT YOGA: Poseurs is expanding to West Seattle, starting tonight:

What: Poseurs Yoga
When: Wednesday, September 4 and September 11, 6:15 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
Where: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center

Pay-what-you-can yoga at Youngstown! This is an hour-long, vinyasa-style class. Bring your own mat if you can—there’s a limited number of extras available. Our suggested donation is $10 to $25, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

(4408 Delridge Way SW)

JAZZ! Every Wednesday night at Whisky West. No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)

THE LOOSE HEELS: Country @ Parliament Tavern! 9 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! See our complete calendar here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-school Wednesday

September 4, 2019 6:45 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:45 AM: Good morning! First, a word about the cameras – the main West Seattle Bridge cameras (and some others that SDOT operates) have been down for more than a week, so what you see above is the best available.

Back to school today for:

Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Highline Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
West Seattle Montessori School & Academy
Westside School (WSB sponsor)

Also today:

Charlestown hill surfacing work west of California is expected to begin

And a big reminder:

35th/Avalon intersection closure 9 am Friday-6 am Monday

7:33 AM: Stalled vehicle reported on eastbound bridge. Also, two Route 55 cancellations.

8:37 AM: Ferry cancellation coming up later this morning. From WSF: “The 11:30 am sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon is cancelled today, Wed, Sept. 4, due to unscheduled maintenance requirements to the #1 vessel Kitsap. The next sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon will depart at 11:50 am with the #3 vessel Cathlamet.”

8:50 AM: New lane-blocking problem on the eastbound bridge from Fauntleroy; police just dispatched.

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