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year : 2019 3571 results

10 for your West Seattle Saturday
May 25, 2019 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on 10 for your West Seattle Saturday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Barred Owl, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Staying close to your nest for the holiday weekend? Here are some options:

FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at 8 am at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to get your holiday weekend off to a running start. (2743 California SW)

TAI CHI AT THE BEACH: 9 am by Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, join Caylen Storm for weekly Tai Chi. No fee; donations welcome. All ages/abilities. (2701 Alki SW)

MEMORIAL DAY POPPIES: 9 am-3 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160 distribute Memorial Day poppies. Donations go to help local veterans. (4201 SW Morgan)

WEST SEATTLE LINUX USERS GROUP: All with Linux interest are welcome at the every-other-week meeting, 9 am at Fauntleroy YMCA. More info here. (9140 California SW)

BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am, bring the little one(s) up to 12 months to High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)

COLMAN POOL: Third preseason weekend for West Seattle’s outdoor saltwater public pool, on the beach at Lincoln Park. Noon-7 pm; see the session-specific schedule here. (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW)

TEEN ARTS & OPPORTUNITIES FAIR: 4:30-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, by teens, for teens, with workshops, performances. Full details here. Free! (4408 Delridge Way SW)

ROB KNEISLER: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, no cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)

WEST END GIRLS: Drag extravaganza at The Skylark, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, tickets here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

PREMIERE! 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, “The Grindylow tour documentary film premiere with Mad Cap Pusher, Black Cheer performing.” $7. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … by browsing our complete calendar.

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SPORTS: Southwest Titans girls’ lacrosse program keeps growing
May 24, 2019 10:21 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: Southwest Titans girls’ lacrosse program keeps growing
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photos)

One year ago, we reported on the Southwest Titans lacrosse program for girls, just getting its start. Now they’ve wrapped up another season – with a winning record! – and want to get a jump on inviting new participants next year. They shared this update on their program and the sport in general:

Lacrosse for the last decade or so has been regarded as the fastest-growing sport in North America. A sport that’s mostly known for being played on the East Coast has exploded across the US. From 2001 to 2017, participation in the sport more than tripled, from roughly 250,000 players nationwide to well over 825,000. Specifically for girls from ages 5-14, participation more than doubled from 81,000 to nearly 164,000, and the Southwest Titans Girls Program helped contribute to those growth figures in 2018!

We started with a 10U program with 14 girls on the team from ages 7 – 10. After a successful inaugural season, we grew to a program of 26, fielding a 10U and 12U team for 2019, still with every girl coming from West Seattle (primarily Genesee Hill Elementary). For next year in 2020, we have hopes of expanding to having a team for girls as young as 5 and as old as 15. And our reach goal for a few years from now would be looking at potentially starting a high-school club program for the girls in 2022, so we are setting our sights on recruiting as much as we can, in preparation.

We start registration in late fall (November) and our optional preseason practices start up in February. Our preseason work is an hour long, up to 2x a week. Our official season begins in March for all our teams and wraps up the first weekend in June. We play games all across the county and really aim to build community, with carpools and snacks together after games. We offer scholarships for registration, have equipment rentals, and can/will provide equipment for any girl that needs it (no matter the reason). We practiced during the season this year at Pathfinder K-8 in Pigeon Point and played most home games at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center and will likely do the same in 2020.

8U (Grade K-2 or ages 5 to no older than 9 on 8/31/2020)

10U (Grades 3/4 or ages 8 to no older than 11 on 8/31/2020)

12U (Grades 5/6 or ages 10 to no older than 13 on 8/31/2020)

14U (Grades 7/8 or ages 11 to no older than 15 on 8/31/2020)

Girls’ lacrosse differs from the boys in that the girls’ game is more about finesse and speed. Girls have to use their stick skills and speed to get through traffic and stick checks from defenders but don’t have to worry about anyone lowering their shoulder to lay a hit. Girls are also taught to play defense a little more thoughtfully and with precision to avoid being yellow-carded for unsafe play; unlike the padded boys, girls can’t run in front of a shot or pass or use their body to impede a player or the ball. Both are amazing sports to watch/play but are night and day in how things unfold on the field.

Many women that played lacrosse also grew up playing soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter before lacrosse in the spring. We appreciate and strongly encourage multi-sport athletes in our program, as we know we could not be as successful as we have been without the athletic background our girls have. The transferability of skills and concepts helps develop a well-rounded athlete and really strengthens their “Sports IQ.”

That growth at the youth level over the years has led to a wave of competitive collegiate club programs being seen across the west coast. And as those club teams become more successful, more colleges are rewarded with NCAA-sanctioned Women’s Lacrosse teams.

We are a recreational program that is focused on just getting girls in the area to try something new (and hopefully fall in love with it). However, the expansion collegiately matters as it helps feed the growth cycle with players graduating and then transitioning to coaching and/or founding new teams so opportunities continue to arise for kids that are looking to play, no matter their age or desired level of competitiveness.

The photos in this story include the 3rd/4th-grade and 5th/6th-grade girls teams with the Titans; we caught up with them last week at the Pathfinder field on Pigeon Point. Find out more about the team, registration, season schedules, and more by going here.

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West Seattle High School students take poet’s questions to the street
May 24, 2019 9:05 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School students take poet’s questions to the street
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

The photos are from West Seattle High School world-languages teacher Joy Patman, who explains:

Spanish 4 students have been working on a poetry unit. This week and next they are focusing on the poetic contributions of el gran poeta Chileno, Pablo Neruda, by watching the movie “The Postman” and also looking at several questions included in his book, The Book of Questions. (Thursday) we took the poet’s questions to the streets surrounding wshs to share with the greater community.

Side note: “The Book of Questions,” published after Neruda’s death, is the all-time best-selling title for Port Townsend-based Copper Canyon Press.

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Memorial service June 7 for Earl ‘Matt’ Anderson, 1940-2019
May 24, 2019 8:08 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

A memorial service is planned June 7th for Earl M. Anderson, known as “Matt.” Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing with the community:

Earl Mathias “Matt” (Mathers) Anderson was born on March 13, 1940 to Chester and Clara (Barstad) Anderson in Glasgow, Montana.

Over time he attended First Lutheran Church of Glasgow, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, Silverdale Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1958 and shortly thereafter met and married Judith “Judy” Arlene Fulcher, earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, and spent the bulk of his career at Boeing working on a variety of aircraft

Matt lost his beloved wife Judy to cancer in 1983, leaving Boeing shortly thereafter for computer programming contract jobs in Massachusetts, Alabama, and Texas. A career highlight was working for NASA on the Challenger Space Shuttle program.

Matt relocated to Hood Canal, where he built a home before eventually settling on Dyes Inlet. Matt passionately loved water sports, games, skiing, classical music, and was known for his quirky sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, deep love of faith and family and applying a critical lens to the status quo.

Matt passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2019. He is survived by beloved longtime girlfriend Cheryl Atwood of Edmonds; son Philip (Shelly) Anderson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, daughters Terese (Wayne) Machmiller of West Seattle and Janine (Peter) Douglass of Renton; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and Cheryl’s beautiful family. Remembrances may be made to Bridge Ministries in Bellevue, Kaiser Palliative Care, or Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Memorial Service: Friday, June 7, 3:00 pm, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California Avenue SW.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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UPDATE: Why police are at vacant apartments near Westwood Village
May 24, 2019 6:54 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

(WSB photos)

6:54 PM: Here’s what brought all those police to the vacant-and-slated-for-redevelopment apartment site in the 2200 block of SW Barton, just southeast of Westwood Village. Police tell us at the scene that a stolen car was ditched outside the building and suspects were seen going into the building, so, with a bullhorn and K-9 team, they’ve been trying to get the suspects to come out.

7:04 PM: Our crew has since left but we’re hearing by radio that police have gone in and aren’t finding anyone, so far.

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BIZNOTES: 2 new West Seattle businesses + another with new hours
May 24, 2019 4:20 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Three West Seattle biznotes:

SPRUCE MODERN APOTHECARY: The photo is from the folks who just opened this new business at 4156 California SW, offering “mindfully curated green beauty, wellness and lifestyle goods, as well as a holistic skincare studio. …. We want to welcome our community to come check us out!! We fill a need in West Seattle and the city for sustainable home goods, plant based wellness, and lots of nontoxic skincare and general self-care items for everyone.” They’ll be open Memorial Day, though usually they’re closed on Mondays. Hours 10-6 Tuesdays-Saturdays (“occasionally 7 in summer”), 10-5 Sundays.

LOCUST CIDER: That’s who’s taking the ex-Alki Urban Market space at 2820 Alki SW, according to a liquor-license filing that appeared online today. Locust Cider is based in Woodinville and has a taproom in Ballard. Reached via e-mail, their executive team promises more info next week, so stand by for a followup.

TALARICO’S ADDS LUNCH: Talarico’s Pizza in The Junction (4718 California SW) wants you to know it’s just expanded its hours, now open 11 am-2 am Tuesdays-Sundays (3 pm-2 am Mondays)

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About the helicopter over Fauntleroy
May 24, 2019 3:03 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Gone now but we’re mentioning it because the other one might show up later: That was just the obligatory pre-holiday-weekend TV-news chopper ferry-traffic flyover.

P.S. Two-hour wait at Fauntleroy right now, per WSF.

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1 WEEK AWAY: Lou Cutler’s annual Pathfinder K-8 laps for Make-A-Wish
May 24, 2019 1:07 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Health | How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo from 2018)

Next Friday’s the big day! For the 16th year, Lou Cutler will spend a day running laps around the field at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point to raise money for, and awareness of, Make-A-Wish. Even though he retired as Pathfinder’s PE teacher four years ago, Lou continues returning to the school in advance of his birthday and running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet; this year, that means 68! Students, staff, parents, and community members are welcome to join him – even just for one lap. Or, just show up on the sidelines (1901 SW Genesee) to cheer; he’ll get going just after 9 am next Friday (May 31st). And if you can, donate/pledge on behalf of Lou, who has been a longtime Make-A-Wish volunteer, actually helping “wishes” come true for ailing kids as well as raising money for the organization. Here’s his page on the Make-A-Wish website.

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AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Here’s what’s happening next, plus ‘almost finished with first large zone’
May 24, 2019 11:31 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Luna Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from SDOT, the weekly Avalon/35th project update, including this map:

The best news is actually at the end of the update SDOT sent, regarding progress, so we’re featuring it first:

We are almost finished with our first large zone. We are working as efficiently as possible and are wrapping up work in Zone B (SW Yancy to SW Genesee streets) faster than anticipated. We intend to begin work throughout Zone A (SW Spokane to SW Andover streets) as early as June 3.

Some work has already begun there, as you probably know. That starts off the full update:

Crews began work on curb ramps and base repairs on the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Manning St to SW Charlestown St (Zone A) on Monday, May 20. During construction, we will maintain access to SW Orleans St. SW Manning St will be closed through the next few weeks. Local access will be maintained to the alley. Businesses are open. Follow signs for Avalon Business District parking off SW Avalon Way.

That’s at the north end of Avalon, under the bridge, while the east side of Avalon is temporarily off-limits. Earlier this week, Luna Park Café proprietor John Bennett sent photos of those signs, including a bit of humor:

Now back to the SDOT update:

The west side of SW Genesee St at SW Avalon Way is closed through Wednesday, May 29. This will allow crews to conduct utility work and pavement reconstruction. Similar to the previous closure on the east side of the intersection, crews will need to work across multiple lanes of traffic in the intersection for a few weeks. We will continue to maintain one lane in each direction on SW Avalon Way.

Crews began trenching and laying the new water main on the east side of 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St (Zone E). We will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on 35th Ave SW between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St through approximately November 2019.

Crews anticipate paving the west side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Genesee St (Zone B) on Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29. Advance notice will be provided for driveway impacts.

If you’re a new arrival or just tuning in, this is all part of one big project that will result in full repaving of Avalon, plus rebuilding/repaving/water-main replacement on 3 blocks of 35th south of Avalon, and repaving of one block of SW Alaska west of 35th.

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6 for your holiday-weekend-begins West Seattle Friday
May 24, 2019 11:07 am
|    Comments Off on 6 for your holiday-weekend-begins West Seattle Friday
 |   WS miscellaneous

(Thursday sunset, photographed by David Hutchinson)

The holiday weekend begins! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can check out 24/7 – highlights for the rest of your Friday!

SNACK, CHAT, SOLVE: Fun for ages 11-14 at Southwest Library, 3:15 pm. (9010 35th SW)

GARY BENSON: Solo performer @ C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)

‘DETENTION LOTTERY’: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church: “This immersive drama takes you inside a courtroom for a look at what detainees face in the U.S. immigration-enforcement system.”

(In the photo by Jesús Hidalgo, an “ICE agent” escorts a “detainee” away during an experiential performance of “The Detention Lottery” at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in June 2018.) Free admission. (9140 California SW)

GARAGE ROCK PSYCH & POP GET-TOGETHER: That’s what’s promised with The Knights of Trash, The Decibels, The Cheap Cassettes at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

4 BANDS: 9 pm at The Skylark, Grim Statistic, Brad Yaeger, Beef Supreme, Spectres of Chaos. $8. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MORE MUSIC: 9 pm Fridays starting tonight at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction. (4752 California SW)

SEE THE FULL LIST … for today, tomorrow, and beyond via our complete calendar.

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Seen off West Seattle: USS Nimitz, heading out, followed by a submarine
May 24, 2019 10:02 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

10:02 AM: Thanks for the photo and tips! That’s the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), northbound in Puget Sound. It’s been at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton for maintenance for the past year-plus. It’s homeported at Naval Base Kitsap. (Added: The Kitsap Sun says it’s out for training.)

12:44 PM: Thanks to everyone who has since sent photos of the submarine that headed out shortly after the Nimitz; the photo above is by Jim Borrow. While we’ve had occasional submarine sightings over the years, they’ve been more frequent lately.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday-weekend Friday watch
May 24, 2019 6:58 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday-weekend Friday watch
 |   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)

6:58 AM: Good morning. Last day before Memorial Day weekend, and so far, no incidents or transit alerts in our area.

WEEKEND NOTE: Sunday morning, 7-9 am, the NB Highway 99 tunnel will be closed to motorized vehicles as it’s part of the route for the Emerald City Ride.

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VIDEO: Now, it’s study time, after Sound Transit board decides what West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail routing deserves a closer look
May 23, 2019 9:26 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

(Added Friday morning: Sound Transit’s meeting video)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After an intense year and a half of discussion – capped by a four-and-a-half-hour meeting – potential routing/station locations for Sound Transit‘s West Seattle-to-Ballard light rail are heading into the environmental-study process.

The Sound Transit Board finalized a list of “preferred alternatives” and other possibilities to study – after an extended debate that included two votes on whether to use the word “preferred” in describing the ones that would require third-party funding.

But first – from the motion that won final approval (PDF here) – the language that spells out what will be studied for the West Seattle end:

West Seattle (Avalon and Junction) Preferred Alternative

Elevated stations – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest on Fauntleroy Way SW with both elevated Alaska Junction station options oriented north/south and staying east of the Alaska Junction on Fauntleroy and in the vicinity of 41st/42nd Avenue SW.

Preferred Alternative with Third Party Funding

Tunnel station – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest with both tunnel Alaska Junction station options oriented north-south in the vicinity of 41st Avenue SW and 42nd Avenue SW. Based on current information, these alternatives would require additional third-party funding.

Additionally, the Board directs staff to evaluate potential cost savings opportunities and look for opportunities to minimize community impacts and create a high quality transfer environment for both the Avalon and Alaska Junction station locations.

West Seattle (Delridge) Preferred Alternative

N of Genesee station – Elevated guideway runs south adjacent to Delridge Way SW to an elevated Delridge station on a diagonal between Delridge Way SW and 26th Avenue SW north of SW Genesee Street. Continues west on an elevated guideway along SW Genesee Street.

Additionally, the Board directs staff to explore refining the Delridge station location, prioritizing a further south location and looking for opportunities to minimize potential residential impacts, create a high quality transfer environment, optimize transit-oriented development (TOD) potential and reduce costs.

Other DEIS alternatives

S of Andover station – Elevated guideway follows Delridge Way SW south to an elevated Delridge station south of SW Andover Street. Continues south along Delridge Way SW and then runs west along SW Genesee Street.

The Board directs staff to conduct an initial assessment of the following alternatives, which were suggested during the scoping period, to establish whether further detailed study in the Draft EIS is appropriate:

Yancy/Andover alignment – An alignment along the Yancy/Andover corridor with a Delridge Station serving Youngstown.

Pigeon Point Tunnel – A refinement of the Pigeon Ridge Tunnel alignment that was previously evaluated in Level 1 and Level 2 screening. This alignment would include a refined Duwamish crossing location that includes a tunnel through Pigeon Point with a further south Delridge station location. Based on current information, this alternative would require additional third-party funding.

The assessment and recommendation for further study shall be brought back to the Sound Transit Board for review and potential action.

Duwamish Crossing Preferred Alternative

South crossing – Elevated guideway crosses over the Spokane Street Viaduct, curves west and parallels the West Seattle Bridge on the south side. Crosses over the Duwamish Waterway on a high-level fixed bridge on the south side of the existing bridge, then rounds Pigeon Point and heads south along Delridge Way SW.

Other DEIS alternatives

North crossing – Elevated guideway curves west and parallels the existing West Seattle Bridge on the north side. Spans the Duwamish Waterway on a high-level, fixed bridge on the north side of the existing bridge, then crosses over the West Seattle bridge ramp, passes over the Nucor Steel property and runs south along Delridge Way SW.

The Board directs staff to conduct an initial assessment of the following alternative, which was suggested during the scoping period, to establish whether further detailed study in the Draft EIS is appropriate:

Pigeon Point Tunnel – A refinement of the Pigeon Ridge Tunnel alignment that was previously evaluated in Level 1 and Level 2 screening. This alignment would include a refined Duwamish crossing location that includes a tunnel through Pigeon Point with a further south Delridge station location. Based on current information, this alternative would require additional third-party funding.

The assessment and recommendation for further study shall be brought back to the Sound Transit Board for review and potential action.

Ahead, the rest of the story:

Read More

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Taste of West Seattle 2019 serves up helpings of hope
May 23, 2019 8:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

8:41 PM: Beautiful night at The Hall at Fauntleroy, inside and out, as the West Seattle Helpline hosted its annual Taste of West Seattle, raising money for emergency assistance that helps keep people from becoming homeless. Dozens of local food and beverage venues/providers were there with samples and sips – like Mission Cantina (WSB sponsor) with esquites con nopale:

Flying Apron‘s offerings included chocolate cupcakes with curry frosting:

The tasting tables were spread throughout the Hall and across its grounds, including both of its big rooms:

Serving up chicken paella, Colleen and Kim from Dream Dinners West Seattle (WSB sponsor):

Lots of beverages too – winemaker Ben Viscon of Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) was pouring:

Michelle, Brie, and Shauna from Pecos Pit BBQ (WSB sponsor) were dishing up all-beef spicy hot links and mac ‘n’ cheese:

We have a few more photos to add – plus, we’re awaiting the results of Taste-goers’ voting – more later!

ADDED LATE THURSDAY: Also at the Taste – Husky Deli‘s Jack Miller:

And from Salty’s (WSB sponsor), Victor was serving aleppo-pepper-crusted ahi:

New participants included Indulge Desserts, a relatively recent arrival at 35th/Henderson.

ADDED FRIDAY: Update from the Helpline:

The winners for best…

Taste – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes
Veggie Taste – Mission Cantina
Pour – The Bridge
Mocktail – All In
Sweet – Bakery Nouveau

Though there are still some donations and matches coming in, so far we have raised over $57,000. This is enough to keep over 160 families safe and stable in their homes while they recover from unexpected hardship!!

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ORCA ALERT: Early evening whale watching
May 23, 2019 7:37 pm
|    Comments Off on ORCA ALERT: Early evening whale watching
 |   West Seattle news

Transient orcas are again passing West Seattle! Kersti Muul says they’re off south Blake Island, headed northbound. Let us know if you see them!

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BIZNOTE: West Seattle Habit Burger update
May 23, 2019 6:26 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Lots of questions about when The Habit Burger Grill will finally open its West Seattle location at the ex-KFC (35th/Avalon). No exact date yet but we have reason to believe it will be open by June 2nd, because the West Seattle Food Bank made this announcement today:

Bring the family and join the West Seattle Food Bank on Sunday, June 2nd from 5 – 7pm, to welcome the new Habit Burger Grill to Avalon & 35th. Have a great chargrilled meal and 100% of the proceeds will go to providing the 11,500 individuals we serve with nutritious food and other much needed services.

That dovetails with what the franchisees told us a few months back when we checked in, that they would, just before their grand opening, “host a couple charity events by partnering up with local non-profit organizations in the Seattle/West Seattle area. We will be giving them 100% of the sales from those events.” We of course have an inquiry out to see if we can find out more about their timeline but in the meantime, plan to help out the Food Bank on June 2nd!

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Roundabout cost jump, + neighborhoods team up, @ Highland Park Action Committee
May 23, 2019 2:41 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

$7.3 million.

You could almost hear the proverbial jaws drop last night when SDOT announced that new estimated cost for a Highland Park Way/Holden roundabout. It’s more than triple the long-cited estimate.

SDOT’s James Le presented the update to the Highland Park Action Committee meeting. Past chair Michele Witzki, who has long worked on advocacy for the project, could barely contain her shock: “I am so frustrated right now. I am beyond frustrated. … It’s almost impossible to get money when you keep on moving the target. … You keep on putting more roadblocks in the way of making this happen.”

As the one-sheet distributed by Le (PDF here, embedded below) says, there’s an option – a $3 million signalization plan.

But that’s not funded either.

Read More

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ALMOST SUMMER: West Seattle’s only spraypark opens Saturday
May 23, 2019 1:19 pm
|    Comments Off on ALMOST SUMMER: West Seattle’s only spraypark opens Saturday
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo)

Saturday is the first day of the season for Seattle Parks sprayparks, including Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), the only one in West Seattle:

Seattle Parks and Recreation will operate 9 sprayparks across Seattle this summer. Sprayparks open daily starting Saturday, May 25 and will operate through Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., unless thunder and lightning are present.

Wading pools don’t open for another month – you can see the full citywide schedule, including opening dates, here.

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West Seattle scene: Seattle Storm visit @ Highland Park Elementary
May 23, 2019 11:47 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos)

Chellie LaFayette‘s 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade PE students at Highland Park Elementary had an extra-special lesson this morning, with guests visiting from the reigning WNBA champs, the Seattle Storm, including center Mercedes Russell!

Russell and members of the coaching staff took the students through drills and were then scheduled for some Q&A.

The visit was part of a Storm partnership with Kaiser Permanente.

P.S. The team opens its season at 12:30 pm Saturday, hosting the Phoenix Mercury at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

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Taste of West Seattle, WSTC, music, more for your Thursday
May 23, 2019 10:44 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Steller’s Jay, photographed by Mark Wangerin. You’ve probably heard its shack-shack-shack call)

The holiday weekend nears! But here’s what’s happening first:

LIBRARYLAB DROP-IN: 4-5:30 pm at Southwest Library. “Self-directed STEM challenges (in) an all-ages program that introduces science, technology, engineering, and math concepts through play, experimentation, and discovery.” (9010 35th SW)

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: Tonight’s the night! The West Seattle Helpline‘s annual food/drink fundraiser at The Hall at Fauntleroy is always a hot ticket. If you didn’t get yours in advance, some WILL be available at the door, the Helpline just confirmed. VIP entry 6 pm, general admission 6:30 pm. 21+. (9131 California SW)

COMMUNITY ART JOURNALING: 6 pm class at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Tickets still available when we checked. (5612 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Tonight’s WSTC agenda includes a post-session update from local legislators Sen. Joe Nguyen and Rep. Eileen Cody, plus a briefing in the downtown waterfront as it takes shape post-Viaduct. All welcome. 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

WEST SEATTLEITE ON JEOPARDY! As previewed here on Wednesday, you can see West Seattle resident Laura Schulman on “Jeopardy!” tonight. (corrected) 7:30 pm, channel 4.

LIVE IN-STORE: Justin Townes Earle has a new album about to be released, and he’s playing Easy Street Records solo at 7 pm, free, all-ages. (California/Alaska)

TUNES AT THE TAVERN: Into the Cold, Lower Heights at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! It’s all listed on our full calendar.

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Support local students and get a ‘really cheap date night’ too
May 23, 2019 9:49 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

Sanislo Elementary‘s annual auction is a little over a week away. Sanislo is a small school that is hoping for wide support to help its students. From PTA president Ebony Lee:

We are asking our local community, West Seattlelites, to PLEASE purchase tickets to our annual auction happening Saturday, June 1st. $40/pp for dinner (catered by Drunky Two Shoes BBQ White Center), dancing, live entertainment and an excuse to dress up ’80s is PRICELESS & a really cheap date night! ALCOHOL will be available for purchase so the event is 21 yo +. Please help us raise funds to update the school’s VERY OUTDATED library. Sanislo Elementary School is a very diverse “Small school with Big ideas” and Title I (about 60% of the student population is eligible for free/reduce lunch, 10% of whom experience homelessness). Sanislo is located within the Puget Ridge community near South Seattle College. Thank you for the support!

You can get your ticket(s) here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
May 23, 2019 6:55 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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)

6:55 AM: Good morning. No incidents or alerts in our area so far. Foggy here in south West Seattle but as you can see on the cameras above, some areas have sun.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Junction ‘preferred alternative’ that’s being floated before Thursday board meeting
May 22, 2019 10:40 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

Earlier, we published a reminder that the Sound Transit Board meets tomorrow afternoon downtown to decide which West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail routing/station-location proposals should go into environmental studies. As you might recall from our coverage of the board’s System Expansion Committee meeting two weeks ago, there was some disagreement about whether to designate “preferred alternatives” at all for parts of the line, including The Junction. Tonight, at least two proposals some board members are circulating would propose these “preferred alternative” (without and with extra $) for The Junction and vicinity:

West Seattle (Avalon / and Junction)
Preferred Alternative
 Elevated stations – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest on Fauntleroy Way SW with elevated Alaska Junction station options oriented north/south and staying east of the Alaska Junction on Fauntleroy and in the vicinity of 41st /42nd Avenue SW. (To be determined)

Preferred Alternative with Third Party Funding
 Tunnel station – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest with tunnel Alaska Junction station options oriented north-south in the vicinity of 41st Avenue SW and 42nd Avenue SW. Based on current information, these alternatives would require additional third-party funding. (To be determined)

The proposals – all by board members from outside Seattle – include concern that waiting until after environmental studies to determine these (and some other) “preferred alternatives” could add a year and a half to the timeline. (They were forwarded to West Seattle community advocates by a representative from the office of Mayor Jenny Durkan, who is an ST board member.) Again, as detailed in our preview earlier, the meeting is 1:30-5 pm Thursday at the downtown board room (401 S. Jackson), with a public-comment period toward the start.

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