year : 2019 3571 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch

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| 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)

6:59 AM: Good morning! One incident so far – a crash blocking one lane on the NB 1st Ave S Bridge.

WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERTS: None in West Seattle, but the SDOT roundup of potential traffic-affecting events through the weekend might be of interest.

7:29 AM: 1st Ave S Bridge is clear.

West Seattle scene: Author Valeria Luiselli visits WSHS Spanish class

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The photo is from West Seattle High School teacher Joy Patman, who reports “a pretty cool visitor” to her Spanish 4 class this past Wednesday: Author Valeria Luiselli, who spoke hours later at Benaroya Hall downtown. She explains that the author “wrote a very timely book a year and a half ago called ‘Tell Me How It Ends,’ which documents in question form the immigration crisis as it relates to undocumented minors arriving at the Mexican-American border and being interviewed for asylum. We were able to purchase a set of these books last year. SP4 read it this quarter, worked together on projects over the last week and (Wednesday) had the experience of engaging the author in Spanish in a round table discussion.”

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police search after reported street robbery

April 18, 2019 10:15 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tip about a police search tonight north of The Junction. The tipster reported that “two men in their 20s were robbed at gunpoint at about 8:20 pm by two others, also in their 20s. A victim knocked on my door to call 911. … Apparently phones were stolen.” We went to the search area (41st/42nd/Dakota/Bradford) but police there wouldn’t comment on the circumstances, sowe went to the precinct where the desk officer confirmed the search was related to a street robbery and that the robbers were after phones. No injuries reported, and so far no word of arrests, but we’ll follow up tomorrow.

Delridge Neighborhoods District Council talks elections, festivals, and more

April 18, 2019 9:55 pm

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| Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

A few notes from last night’s lightly attended Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting:

FORUM OR NO FORUM? Rather than have a candidates-side-by-side forum for the District 1 City Council race, DNDC will invite candidates in for one-at-a-time conversations during the next few meetings – say, one candidate at the meeting’s start, one at the end, to discuss Delridge-specific issues.

AS FOR THOSE ISSUES: One of next month’s biggest events in eastern West Seattle, the Bee Festival, will likely be an opportunity to check in with current community concerns. DNDC chair Mat McBride will be there. It was suggested he might consider a tried-and-true tactic from other community events, for example, inviting festivalgoers to create/add to a list of what’s on their minds.

SPEAKING OF FESTIVALS: Pete Spalding provided an update on Delridge Day in August, which continues to grow, this year adding Sustainable West Seattle‘s GreenLife (previously featured at Summer Fest in The Junction) and including e-bike tours with SWS’s Stu Hennessey (of Alki Bike and Board, a WSB sponsor) and skating lessons/competition overseen by Skate Like A Girl. Live music, too, plus returning features like Seattle Police “Picnic at the Precinct” demos and visitors.

(WSB file photo)

DELRIDGE GROCERY: Doris Rahmig says the progress she reported at February’s DNDC meeting continues, with the co-op close to signing a contract with DESC for the space it’s long held for them at Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW).

FUTURE TOPICS: Though DNDC has been focusing on neighborhood conversations rather than governmental guests, the Port of Seattle is interested in visiting a future DNDC meeting to talk about the Terminal 5 modernization work that’ll start soon.

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets the third Wednesday most months, 7 pm, currently at Neighborhood House High Point.

BIZNOTE: ‘Psychic Barber’ moving soon, about to be displaced by development again

April 18, 2019 8:09 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

You might know Rick Cook best for his iconic “Psychic Barber” neon sign (read the backstory here), but he’s also known for getting displaced by development. It’s happening again, so he’s sent this announcement of his impending move:

I will be moving Rick’s Barber Shop once again for “progress” (38 micro apts.) from 6016 California Ave SW to 4845 California Ave SW. Former home to a hair place and a psychic place. I love irony. Phone # will remain the same, move will be last week of May. A bit more than of a block north of Rite Aid, (my old location) and two buildings south of 7-11. (Soon to be 60+ micro apts.with no parking). Hope this is my last move for “progress.”

Rick’s been in his current location a little over six years, and he’s been in business in West Seattle for 40+ years. We asked if the “Psychic Barber” sign will go along in the move; yes, he said, “But I’ll have to get a new one made to accommodate the window.”

FOLLOWUP: Lafayette Elementary Leopard Leaders’ centennial challenge

April 18, 2019 5:14 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Lafayette Elementary is celebrating its centennial, and, as we reported in January, its Leopard Leaders are celebrating with a donation drive to help others – with your partnership. Here’s how it’s going; the update is from 5th grader Thea Harnish:

Here is an update on how the Lafayette community is progressing on their goal to collect 100 pairs of socks and shoes per grade level to donate to youth in need through Westside Baby and YouthCare. We have surpassed our goal for socks with a current collection of 792 pairs of socks. But we need more help with the shoes. We have 175 collected toward the goal of 600.

We have been fundraising through popcorn sales and gift wrapping as well as requesting donations from businesses in person to buy new shoes. Please see attached a photo of part of the collection. We have raised over $1000 to buy shoes.

With Earth Day around the corner, we are hoping to get the word out to sort through your shoes and see what doesn’t fit anymore and what you can donate. Even adult sizes can work for Youthcare, which supports kids 12 to 21 who live on the streets of Seattle. The deadline is fast approaching and shoes can be dropped off at Lafayette Elementary during school hours, Attn: Leopard Leaders.

Lafayette’s entrance is just north of the northwest corner of California and Lander.

1 month until the 7th annual West Seattle Bee Festival!

April 18, 2019 3:37 pm

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| High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(2017 photo courtesy West Seattle Bee Festival)

It’s your chance to “bee” in a parade,among other things – the 7th annual West Seattle Bee Festival is now exactly one month away. 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, May 18th, you are invited to the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north end of High Point Commons Park and vicinity for fun including music, kids’ activities, an Urban Survival Skills Fair, and the aforementioned parade (11:30 am, costumes welcome, everybody follows the Big Bee around the park). See more here and set your calendar to “bee” there.

From SPD Blotter: Why police were called to Delridge P-Patch

April 18, 2019 1:35 pm

| 31 COMMENTS

| Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Didn’t hear about this one until it turned up this afternoon on SPD Blotter:

Police were called to a dispute at a West Seattle P-Patch on Wednesday after a gardener hosed down a man who tried to treat the patch as his personal compost bin.

Just before 4:30 PM, officers responded to the 5000 block of 25th Avenue SW and met with the gardener. The woman told police she was working in the P-Patch when she saw a man dumping a tarp full of leaves, collected from his yard two houses away, onto P-Patch property.

She confronted the man and accused the man of illegally dumping the leaves. The man shrugged, walked off, and returned a short time later with another pile of leaves.

The woman told police she squirted the man with a garden hose as he was dumping the leaves, and that the man then started coming toward her. She alleged the man tripped her, knocking her to the ground.

Police contacted the man, who was sitting on a bench in the P-Patch, and he disputed the woman’s account, saying he had pursued her because he was trying to get the hose away from her. Officers noted the man’s shorts appeared wet.

The man said there was no sign regarding dumping, and agreed not to enter the P-patch again.

And now a PSA regarding dumping compostable items at P-Patches: “I would say it’s frowned upon,” says Department of Neighborhoods spokeswoman Lois Maag. “While we can’t condone spraying your neighbor, you should just use your own compost bin.”

DEVELOPMENT: Another project in ‘Early Outreach’ pipeline, 2347 44th SW

April 18, 2019 12:51 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Another West Seattle project has appeared on the city list for the “Early Outreach” design-review process, which calls for informal community feedback before the project design is too far down the road. This time it’s 2347 44th SW [map], described as four single-family houses with four offstreet-parking spaces, replacing a 110-year-old house. The Early Outreach program calendar shows a community site walk scheduled one week from tonight, 5:30 pm Thursday, April 25th.

P.S. We were at the “Early Outreach” meeting earlier this week for the Junction 7-11 site mixed-use project and expect to publish that report later today.

1 more week to register for 15th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!

April 18, 2019 11:59 am

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| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Friendly reminder if you are still deciding whether to have a sale on Saturday, May 11th, which will be the 15th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – registration is open for one more week, until next Thursday, April 25th, when we get busy mapmaking! So far we have more than 150 sales registered – from individual sales to block sales to business sales, moving sales to “kids outgrew their stuff” sales, “vintage” sales, furnishings, collectibles, sports gear … if you’re looking for something and don’t mind that it’s used, WSCGSD will be the day to find it. We publish the map in clickable and downloadable versions a week in advance so shoppers can plan, and that’s why we cut off registration. So if you’re ready to sign up a sale, don’t procrastinate – just go here now!

What’s up for your West Seattle Thursday

April 18, 2019 9:59 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Wednesday sunset, photographed by Lynn Hall)

First, from the WSB Easter/Passover/Etc. Guide:

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICES: More than half a dozen local churches that sent their schedules to us have special services tonight. Our guide has times, places, descriptions.

Now, from our year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

‘COME AS YOU ARE’ HAPPY-HOUR BENEFIT: 6-8 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, happy-hour benefit for the West Seattle High School PTSA – details here. (2656 42nd SW)

ENVIRONMENTAL SLAM: Student competition at Youngstown Cultural Arts Station, 6:30 pm:

The Environmental Slam is a regional, student-focused, community event that features short presentations by middle and high school youth on a local and actionable environmental issue of their choosing. Student teams or individuals present their environmental issue in front of a live audience in the spirit of a “slam” style performance which is characterized by a short (5 minutes) informative and entertaining presentation. The Slam is intended to educate both the community audience and the students themselves as they research and develop their presentation.

(4408 Delridge Way SW)

FIND OUT ABOUT THE TIMEBANK: All welcome at the West Seattle Timebank‘s meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle – find out about timebanking! Details here. (4217 SW Oregon)

ORCA TALK: Worried about our local orcas? 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), ind out the latest about them and efforts to help them at The Whale Trail‘s Orca Talk. Featured speaker: “Recovering the Southern Residents: lessons learned from other populations,” by Dr. Timothy Ragen. More info in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

SUPER KREWE: Brassy live music, 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $8. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! See it on our calendar and in our seasonal guide.

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: What the Stakeholder Advisory Group recommended – and didn’t

April 17, 2019 10:07 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 10:19 AM THURSDAY with finalized Sound Transit graphics summarizing the SAG recommendations)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When Sound Transit managers insisted it would be OK to mix and match elements of a potential West Seattle to Ballard light-rail plan, they might not have envisioned the level of mixing and matching that went on tonight at the first of four milestone meetings.

Members of the all-volunteer Stakeholder Advisory Group concluded their 14-meeting role in the planning process with a jumble of recommendations – and, for a few segments, non-recommendations. So if you were hoping to hear and see something simple like “they voted to recommend the (x) line,” sorry, it didn’t go that way.

First, here are the toplines as visually summarized at meeting’s end, one set if third-party funding was available to cover costs (tunneling) beyond what the ST3 taxes/fees collect, one set if not:

~~We’ll get clearer versions of those tomorrow~~ (10:19 am, finalized graphics substtuted above – from this PDF), ~~but at the meeting we could only grab quick pics as they went by. In case you found them hard to read,~~ here are the basics of SAG feedback for the three West Seattle segments, east to west:

-Crossing the Duwamish River – support was for doing it south of the existing bridge, no matter what

-Getting to the Delridge station – study either what was originally called the purple (Pigeon Point tunnel) or blue alignment if third-party funding is available, the blue alignment if not, and in both cases, modifying blue with the southernmost Delridge station location

-In The Junction, the with-third-party funding option would be a tunneled station at 41st or 42nd; the without-extra-funding option would be a modified version of the elevated “representative alignment” (red) that could either end at Fauntleroy or at Jefferson Square, or saving money by tunneling but consolidating the Junction and Avalon stations.

In general, the orange (some called it yellow) line was completely cast aside. So was the notion of taking the Junction end any further west than 42nd. To elaborate on the above, here’s our video of the recap at meeting’s end, when those slides were shown:

Two hours of discussion led up to all that, and we have that on a separate clip, which we’ll add in the hours ahead, along with more on how the SAG got there. So check back for more of the story But first, what’s next:

-The Elected Leadership Group meets 9:30 am Friday, April 26, to make its recommendations, taking into account what the SAG said tonight as well as the 2,700 “scoping” comments received (here’s the PDF summary/”themes” report on those).

-The Sound Transit Board has the final say in May on what goes into environmental studies. The next major public-comment period won’t be until “late 2020.”

ADDED 3:33 AM THURSDAY: If you need a refresher on the aforementioned red vs. orange vs. blue routes, see pages 22-26 of the meeting deck (PDF).

Now, here’s our video of the discussion that led to the aforementioned recommendations (as well as those on other segments of the West Seattle to Ballard line):

April 17, 2019 9:26 pm

| Comments Off on CAN YOU HELP? Chief Sealth IHS seeking programmers and engineers to volunteer

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

(WSB photo, November 2016: TEALS founder Kevin Wang and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray at left, visiting CSIHS)

The TEALS program is still going strong at Chief Sealth International High School, whose principal Aida Fraser-Hammer sent this announcement:

Chief Sealth International High School is extremely excited to announce that we are entering our 4th year of partnership with the Technology Education And Literacy in Schools (TEALS) Program, which provides support to students who want to explore computer science in the classroom.

We are now planning for the 2019 – 2020 school year and as in years past, we are reaching out to the West Seattle community in search of software programmers or engineers willing to share their programming skills with our students. Volunteers are needed in the classroom as team-teachers 2 days per week for the next school year. No teaching experience is necessary; all training and additional supports will be provided by the TEALS program.

TEALS volunteers have enjoyed a successful partnership with Sealth by exposing students to challenging coursework which has been extremely successful in getting students hooked into computer programming and interested in pursuing higher education in the field of computer science. Volunteer training is provided during the summer and involvement in the classroom varies. Volunteers can team-teach or simply help out in the Computer Science classroom. They commit to two days per week during the 1st period of the day which allows them to maintain their regular work schedule.

Past volunteers have provided classroom support to students and have enjoyed helping teach CS in the classroom. Others have actually used the opportunity as a testing ground to explore a career in teaching. In fact, two-year Sealth volunteer Jon Fincher saw TEALS “as a chance to explore my interest in a more formal teaching role. It wasn’t long before I was fully stuck in. Within a few months, I knew teaching was going to be my post-tech career. I went back to school to get my CTE (Career Technical Education) credentials to follow my passion.” Although only a few TEALS volunteers explore teaching as a second career, all report, as Fincher does, “When I see a student ‘get it’, and see them take what they learned and do something I never thought of, I get as much satisfaction as they do.”

Interested CS professionals are encouraged to explore more at the volunteer section of the TEALS website (https://www.tealsk12.org/volunteers) or contact Chief Sealth teacher Luke Azinger (ljazinger@seattleschools.org or 206-252-8550) for more information.

BIZNOTE: Naked Crepe en route to former West Seattle Cyclery space

April 17, 2019 6:31 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks to @Fanta_Box for the tip via Twitter that the sign went up today for another new West Seattle Junction business. The former WS Cyclery space at 4508 California SW – vacant for 16 months – will become Naked Crepe. It’s a new venture for Jacques Nawar, proprietor of Pizzeria Credo a few doors down, according to online records. He’s not in tonight for comment but the staff there tells us Naked Crepe will be open in about a month. (The space is part of a building scheduled for redevelopment but that’s a slow-moving process.) West Seattle’s previous creperie was also in The Junction, Firefly, open for about two years where Itto’s Tapas is now.

Another big unauthorized-camping cleanup under way in southeast West Seattle

April 17, 2019 3:39 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Environment | Safety | West Seattle news

Police mentioned to community groups including the Highland Park Action Committee last month that the unauthorized-camping area near 1st Avenue S. and SW Kenyon, along the west side of Highway 509, was scheduled for a cleanup. Today, it began. We found the cleanup under way when we went down to the area after hearing an in-passing mention on police radio. Our photos show the cleanup activity visible from the roadside, with heavy equipment much like the operation on the east side of Myers Way last fall:

Roadside trees were posted with this notice, indicating a fairly wide area [map] planned for cleanup today and tomorrow:

In addition to that area, “No Parking” signage stretched northward along 1st and to the west along Highland Park Way east of W. Marginal. To find out more about the cleanup, we contacted city homelessness-response spokesperson Will Lemke, who replied: “The area was posted as a ’72-hour removal,’ which means occupants of the area were given 3 days’ notice and received advanced outreach ahead of the clean-up. Shelter is available for everyone living unsheltered at the site and we will store suitable possessions (not destroyed by water, soiled, etc). Navigation Team was concerned about the accumulation of garbage and waste on site, and the impacts to the natural environment.” He said six people were found in the area before the cleanup: “There were 30 shelter beds available today — including 24/7, enhanced shelter options. 6 people on-site. No word yet if they took shelter.”

FOLLOWUP: King County Parks levy will be on your August ballot

April 17, 2019 2:16 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle politics

(WSB February photo)

Two months after King County Executive Dow Constantine, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and others came to Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center to unveil the successor to the expiring county parks levy (WSB coverage here), it’s officially on its way to the ballot. The County Council voted 8-1 today to send it to voters in August. As noted in the announcement of today’s vote:

The proposed levy would generate an estimated $810 million over six years. It would cost the owner of a home that has an assessed property value of $500,000 about $7.70 per month.

King County Parks would use proceeds from the levy to:

*Build and design regional trails, including missing links and crossings over rivers and highways
*Acquire more open space lands that provide recreation opportunities for people and protect forest lands, water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife
*Improve trailheads by adding parking and signage
*Repair hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails
*Replace turf on 11 ballfields
*Rehabilitate play area equipment in six parks
*Maintain park infrastructure, such as pathways, roofs, fencing, and electrical systems

The full ordinance text is here. Though the levy is expected to generate more than double the $396 million of its expiring predecessor, the fine print shows property owners will be paying less per $1,000 – 16.8 cents is the starting rate in the new levy, compared to 18.7 cents in the old one.

Police tower on the way, and other news from West Seattle Crime Prevention Council

April 17, 2019 11:59 am

| 81 COMMENTS

| Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The Seattle Police portable observation tower that drew a mixed reception elsewhere in the city will be deployed in West Seattle.

That’s what Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis told the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting last night.

The tower recently turned up in a Rainier Valley supermarket parking lot, but not for long. In West Seattle, police intend to use it in the expansive parking lots at Westwood Village and the Delridge Home Depot – both hot spots for theft, with strong-arm robberies also a problem at the former. Capt. Davis said the tower, sold as SkyWatch, will be backed by emphasis teams on the ground including the bicycle squad. No time frame yet.

Also at the lightly attended (five members of the general public) meeting:

April 17, 2019 10:39 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photos by Mark Wangerin: Red-breasted Sapsucker in Fauntleroy Park. Scroll down for another photo showing who else was watching)

First, a reminder of our special seasonal guide:

HOLY WEEK/EASTER/PASSOVER: Events all week, from services to egg hunts (and a few extras) through Easter Sunday are listed here.

And now, from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library – bring little ones up to one year old! (3411 SW Raymond)

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MOVIES: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, this week’s movie is “Each Dawn I Die” (1939). $1 members, $2 nonmembers, free popcorn! (4217 SW Oregon)

LIGHT RAIL: Big night on the road to West Seattle/Ballard light rail. 5-8 pm, the Stakeholder Advisory Group meets at the Sound Transit board room downtown to discuss what it will recommend for environmental studies of routing and station locations. Here’s the agenda. No public-comment period but the meeting is open to public observation. (401 S. Jackson)

GROUP RUN: 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor). Free; all welcome! (2743 California SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Quarterly meeting, all welcome, with a variety of topics including the status of the Morgan Junction Park addition site. Here’s the agenda. 7 pm at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), lower level. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Neighborhood House High Point, come talk about what’s up in east West Seattle. Here’s the agenda. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

(Watching the Red-breasted Sapsucker – a Barred Owl!)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: Final “National Poetry Month” edition, as this is WordsWest‘s final season. Don’t miss it! 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), poetry greats Mark Doty and Ilya Kaminsky. (5612 California SW)

OPEN MIC: Alan Sobel hosts open-mic night at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction. Signups start at 7. All ages! (4752 California SW)

CEPHALOPOD: Funk/jazz jam at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

WHAT ELSE? Plenty. See our seasonal page and full calendar!

SATURDAY: Community Fair to celebrate Roxhill Park and Bog

April 17, 2019 9:49 am

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Sunshine is in the forecast for Saturday! If you’re not volunteering anywhere as part of Duwamish Alive! you are invited to this community celebration:

Celebrate Earth Day at Roxhill Park Community Fair!
Saturday, April 20th from 11:00 – 1:00

Location: Roxhill Park, parking lot on 29th Ave SW at Barton Street SW

– FREE fun activities and crafts for all ages.
– FREE turkey dog lunch for the first 100 visitors.

Join us in celebrating our local natural areas, Longfellow Creek and its wildlife.

Did you know West Seattle has the city’s largest natural area, its only river, one of its last bogs, and is connected to our orca?

Learn about Longfellow Creek, the Duwamish River, Roxhill Bog, and how its wildlife and salmon are a valuable asset to our area and environment.

All ages are welcome; come rain or shine!

This is a free event, hosted by: Duwamish Alive Coalition, Green Seattle Partnership, Seattle Neighborhood Group, Roxhill Park Champions, Seattle Parks

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

April 17, 2019 6:56 am

| 4 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)

6:56 AM: Good morning! No traffic alerts so far.

TRANSIT ALERTS: The 6:44 am Route 37 did not run.

STADIUM ZONE: Mariners play a day game, at 3:40 pm vs. Cleveland.

West Seattle scene: Schmitz family descendant brings students back to park

April 17, 2019 1:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Once again this year, close to Earth Day, West Seattle’s forested Schmitz Preserve Park served as an outdoor classroom for visitors from Scriber Lake High School in Edmonds.

As we noted last year, longtime educator Chris Brown has a special reason for bringing students here – in addition to the park’s characteristics as an oasis of nature in the city, perfectly suited to the experiential learning that is a hallmark of the school in Edmonds. He’s a member of the Schmitz Family, whose donated land created the park more than a century ago. He was welcomed again on Tuesday, as he was last year, by Vicki Schmitz Block (below left):

Schmitz Preserve Park is one of West Seattle’s semi-hidden gems, with main entrances are on the east side of Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens) and off Admiral Way east of the historic bridge. (Here’s a map.)

VIDEO: SYML @ Easy Street Records

April 16, 2019 9:06 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Before his sold-out show in Columbia City, SYML – Seattle-area musician Brian Fennell – took the stage this evening at Easy Street Records in The Junction. WSB’s Jason Grotelueschen dropped in for a bit of video. SYML’s first album officially goes on sale in early May; tonight’s Easy Street audience got a preview. (Here’s the story behind the name, among other things.)

ROAD-WORK UPDATE: Avalon project, after 2 days

April 16, 2019 7:35 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

That’s the traffic revision on Avalon at Genesee, as we saw it while driving through late this afternoon, on the second day since the year-plus Avalon/35th/Alaska repaving/rechannelization project started gearing up. We’ve also received an update from SDOT‘s project spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth:

After assessing the project corridor today, we will be staging our equipment at 30th Ave NE from SW Avalon Way to the nearest driveway. This location was chosen because it minimizes impacts of people traveling from SW Avalon Way to the Delridge neighborhood. Local Access and Driveway access on 30th Ave SW will be maintained via SW Yancy and SW Genesee streets. Crews will be storing equipment and materials for our work in Zone B at this location. We expect this closure to last up to 3 months.

Additionally, we have a no left turn in place for southbound SW Avalon Way at the SW Genesee St intersection. The no left turn is in place for safety of people driving due to the inability for a left-turn queue during construction as we begin work near the SW Genesee St intersection.

Zone B is the Genesee-to-Yancy section of Avalon where work will be done first; early next month, work will start on 35th between Avalon and Alaska. For more project details, including the rest of the phasing, see the preview we published last Friday.