West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
It’s a beautiful night to get out and see art … and artists! … from the fall West Seattle Art Walk list:
(Photo courtesy Click!)
FRANCES SMERSH AT CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: “With a Little Help from My Friends” is the painting exhibition featured tonight at Click!, created by the shop’s co-proprietor Frances Smersh, photographed with friend and fellow artist Michelle Ting. As noted this week on the shop’s blog, this is Frances’s fourth year living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and while she has to rely more on family and friends for everyday assistance, she continues to shine with creative expression, including this work. Stop by before 8 tonight at 4540 California SW.
Also, two stops toward the south end:
(WSB photos from here)
BONNIE KATZ SAILORS @ MITSUI GROUP: Did you know that Fitness Together-West Seattle proprietor Bonnie Katz Sailors is also a visual artist? She’s featured tonight at Mitsui Real Estate Group until 8 pm (6021 California SW). Bonnie’s show “Postcards from Washington” is centered on her oil-painting landscapes.
MEGAN SIMMONS @ VISCON CELLARS: Stop in for wine – tasting fees are waived for those out on the Art Walk – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW) before 9 pm and meet Megan while admiring her paintings.
3 businesses mentioned above – Viscon Cellars, Click! Design That Fits, Fitness Together-West Seattle – are WSB sponsors.
Six months after we reported Gyro Heroes was coming to the ex-Baskin Robbins at 4111 SW Admiral Way, it’s not open yet, though signage has been up a while. After weeks of going by almost daily in hopes of finding someone to ask “what’s up?” we finally happened onto someone there today. They’re currently awaiting inspections, we’re told, and hope to finally open within a month.
Waste Management says it’s getting back to normal after temporarily halting pickups because of the natural-gas-supply concerns raised from this week’s pipeline rupture in Canada. Here’s the WM update for Seattle customers:
Good news! All Waste Management trucks will be back on the road Friday; Puget Sound Energy has cleared us to fuel our clean air trucks. If we missed you Thursday due to PSE’s gas line problem, check below for our recovery plan. These plans are established in consultation with the cities we service and as required by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.
City of Seattle
Residential – Thursday customers will receive service Friday, Oct. 12. Friday customers will receive service Saturday, Oct. 13.
Commercial – Thursday evening customers will receive service as usual. All other Thursday customers will receive service Friday, Oct. 12 or Saturday, Oct. 13.
Earlier, we published Puget Sound Energy‘s update that it’s getting back to normal.
Though Metro Route 120 isn’t scheduled to become the RapidRide H Line until 2021, key design and planning decisions are being made soon because it’s a lot more involved than swapping out buses. One big relatively new feature of the project – Delridge Way will be repaved, all along the north half-or-so that wasn’t part of the 2013 south half-or-so repaving project. As shown last night at the SDOT/Metro open house in White Center – the first major update since the one we showed you back in January – other changes big and small are in the works. If you weren’t there, you’ll want to take a look, whether your use of Delridge involves driving, walking, biking, and/or bus-riding. First, here’s what SDOT showed at the open house:
(If that version doesn’t work for you, here’s the PDF.) And here’s what Metro showed at the open house – our display starts with the routing but that’s the last four pages:
(Here’s the PDF version.)
Talking with Metro and SDOT reps at the open house, we learned that while things are currently in the 10 percent design stage,” they will soon be at 30 percent design, so most of the feedback they get now will be addressed in the phase after that – the 60 percent stage. That’s expected to be reached next spring. In the meantime, get your thoughts in now – including the station locations and whether you have any requests about making them easier to reach – here’s the “online open house” you can use to do that.
Just in from Puget Sound Energy – our area’s natural-gas utility – an update following Wednesday’s call for conservation:
Thanks to a combination of efforts from our customers and partnering with other Northwest utilities, the natural-gas system has stabilized and Puget Sound Energy is beginning to return to normal operations following the rupture of the Enbridge natural gas pipeline Tuesday evening in British Columbia, Canada.
We are now reaching out to business customers who curtailed their usage to let them know that they may resume normal gas use. While our calls for conservation are over for both business and residential customers, saving energy is encouraged. Tips can be found here.
Efforts made by our residential and business customers were critical in helping to stabilize the system. Although PSE is returning to normal operations, we will continue to monitor the natural gas system as Enbridge works on their supply pipeline.
While the natural gas supply was impacted due to this incident, there is no damage to the PSE gas system or safety hazard to our customers from the pipeline failure in Canada. There was no loss of electric or natural gas service as a result of this incident.
The pipeline that ruptured was part of a twin-pipeline system, and its undamaged twin has received the go-ahead to restart.
(Wednesday night moon at dusk, photographed by James Tilley)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FALL ART WALK: New quarter, new venue list:
Tonight’s Art Walk runs 5 pm to “late,” as usual. Be sure to note the venues that offer food/drink specials as well as those with artists. Special spotlight on Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) – our preview explains why. Also: Judith Rayl‘s photography show “Reconciliation: Exploring Beautiful Intersections Between Nature and the Human-Made” opens at Wallflower Custom Framing (4735 42nd SW; WSB sponsor). See more artist previews on the official WSAW website!
‘COMING OUT DAY’ CELEBRATION: First-ever celebration at Hiawatha Community Center, 5-7 pm, as previewed here. (2700 California SW)
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 6 pm at Southwest Library, this month’s event co-presented by the library and Southwest Seattle Historical Society offers you the opportunity to “hear Cherie Tucker read from her historical novel, ‘Hope Chest‘.” (9010 35th SW)
SECOND THURSDAY OUT! 6 pm, meet at the Senior Center of West Seattle to start this monthly night out for LGBTQ community members and friends. (4217 SW Oregon)
OPEN MICROPHONE: Singers and musicians of all genres are welcome at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘SKELETON CREW’: 7:30 pm curtain time at ArtsWest. Tickets available online by going here. (4711 California SW)
AS ALWAYS, THERE’S MORE … see our complete calendar here.
10:19 AM: If you’re wondering why police are currently searching in Arbor Heights: The search, including a K9 team, is in a wide area centered on 41st/100th but also stretching to the south and east. They’re looking for a woman suspected of assault in what’s described as a case of domestic violence. Partial description: 36-year-old white woman with dark hair, wearing a red shirt. If you have any information, call 911.
10:56 AM: No further updates; we’ll be checking later with police to see if they ever found the suspect, whose workplace was reportedly going to be checked too.
11:09 AM: SPD Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB that the suspect was taken into custody and is being taken to King County Jail to be booked for investigation of assault.
(WSB photo from July 2018 story: Gregor Terjung with daughter Gail Spores)
Back in July, we brought you the story of the family that runs Terjung’s Studio of Gifts in The Junction deciding to close after half a century. They hadn’t set a final closing date at the time, but now they have. Here’s the announcement:
After 50 years in West Seattle, Monday, October 29th will be the last day of business for Terjung’s Studio of Gifts. Open hours are from 9:00a – 6:00p.
Starting October 15th through close of the store, remaining merchandise will be marked 50% off with an extra 10% for all holiday items. Come by to take advantage of the further discounts and say farewell to Gregor and Gail.
The store is at 4547 California SW.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
LOOKING AHEAD: No classes for Seattle Public Schools tomorrow (Friday, October 12th) … Friday night through early Monday. southbound 99 is scheduled for closure, and there are NB I-5 lane closures planned too.
8:22 AM: Jen reports in comments, “Stalled vehicle in left lane heading eastbound on bridge just after bridge entrance from Fauntleroy.”
(Waste Management photo)
Another local effect of that natural-gas pipeline rupture near Prince George, B.C.: Waste Management‘s natural-gas-powered trucks are idled, so if you have Thursday solid-waste pickup from WM, the company says you won’t get it tomorrow. Here’s the news release WM sent tonight:
There will be no garbage, recycling or compostables collection service for most Waste Management customers in King and Snohomish counties on Thursday, Oct. 11, due to a natural gas pipeline rupture in British Columbia.
The pipeline rupture has interrupted the flow of natural gas for Puget Sound Energy, which delivers natural gas for Waste Management trucks. The duration of the suspension is unclear.
Areas that will not have Waste Management service on Thursday, Oct. 11, include Algona, Auburn, Federal Way, Kirkland, Mill Creek, Redmond, Seattle, Snoqualmie, and the unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties.
Services have not been interrupted in or around Marysville (including Arlington, Granite Falls or the unincorporated area), Skagit County or Kitsap County because Waste Management uses different fuel suppliers for trucks in these areas.
“Waste Management has deployed our top logistics experts to do everything possible to address the situation and activate contingency plans,” said Jackie Lang, public affairs manager for Waste Management. “Our teams are focused on one goal – minimizing disruption for our customers. The best resource of information, as updates are available, is the Waste Management website at wmnorthwest.com.”
Here’s the WM service-alert link. This morning, we reported on Puget Sound Energy‘s call for gas customers to conserve because of the pipeline problem; PSE is now asking for that conservation to continue Thursday.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Community group meetings are often excellent ways to learn a little about a lot of things – and not just about what’s happening in the group’s home neighborhood. So it went at the October board meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association on Tuesday night, with 10 topics of note:
BUDGET MEETING WITH COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD: FCA president Mike Dey said City Councilmember Lisa Herbold convened representatives of at least a dozen neighborhoods a night earlier to talk about the budget. They are being invited to sign on to a letter supporting increases in fines/fees to support SDCI monitoring vacant buildings proactively. Also discussed: Funding for paving. SDOT might delay some West Seattle repaving (Roxbury and part of 35th) until 2023 because the Avalon repaving is going to stay on track (Delridge repaving also is in the works); Herbold wants support for pressing to keep all the repaving on track. Dey said they also talked about the need for more police but Herbold felt that would be tough because of the back pay in the new police contract; he said Herbold suggested that they should focus on recruiting now and depending on how that goes, come back in the second half of the year and talk about more staffing.
SCALE HALA MHA EIS APPEAL: The citywide coalition challenging the environmental impact report for Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning has raised almost $200,000 and needs about $20,000 for the lawyers who are handling the appeal, to which FCA is a party. The Hearing Examiner’s ruling is due before Thanksgiving.
HISTORIC BUILDING? There’s talk of investigating a landmark designation for the commercial building that holds Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), the Original Bakery, and other businesses. They’ll be talking with Historic Seattle. The 1926-built building is more significant for its history than its architecture. The idea is in a very early stage.
After an hour-long Seattle School Board work session this evening, the district’s draft list for next year’s BEX V capital levy still includes two major West Seattle projects: a $53 million rebuild for Alki Elementary and $22 million addition for West Seattle Elementary. Smaller projects are also proposed for seven West Seattle campuses. Here (as first published in our preview last night) is the agenda with slide deck/documents:
(If that embedded version doesn’t work for you, go here.)
They began with the explanation of, and discussion about, weighting the proposed projects by equity. This generated quite a deal of discussion, including some wondering about demographic change in the immediate future, and whether the projections made now would hold true over the course of the six-year levy as affordability challenges continue to send lower-income residents out of the city. Another topic of discussion: The lack of alternate/interim sites elsewhere in the city is starting to affect options for what can be built where/when, district manager Richard Best said. “I’m concerned that we may not be thinking creatively and out of the box,” observed board president Leslie Harris (who represents West Seattle/South Park on the board). Some projects, said Best, would be “built in place” (with students not having to leave) – such as the proposed West Seattle Elementary addition. (Though it wasn’t a topic of discussion at this meeting, it’s been noted that Alki Elementary would move to the old Schmitz Park Elementary site during a rebuild.)
Harris asked for staffers to clearly point out any major changes from the previous meeting; the biggest, said Best, is in the “building systems and repairs” list, where they’ve added more “smaller” projects so they could “touch more schools.” This list had involved projects at 27 schools at the September 26th work session, said best, and now it’s about double that, including these West Seattle projects:
Boren STEM – K-8 HVAC – $4,034,016
Gatewood – Playgrounds – $175,000
Gatewood – Exterior Door – $150,000
Sanislo – Site Improvements – $ 383,297
Sanislo – Ceiling Fan $300,000
West Seattle – Exterior Door $ 142,977
West Seattle HS – Roof $ 8,979,237
Also:
Schmitz Park – Seismic – $472,910
Athletic Field/Lighting
Madison MS – $2,600,000
Board members agreed that the overall levy list – totaling $1.4 billion – looked “solid.” But as the hourlong meeting concluded, they also stressed that “community input is still welcome,” as board member Eden Mack put it. Board contact info is at lower right on this page. And watch for word of a public hearing on the levy in late October; BEX V, and the district’s next three-year Operations Levy, will go to voters next February.
(WSB photo: #8 Dontae McMillan in last month’s Huling Bowl win over WSHS)
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School football standout Dontae McMillan, announced today as a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Player of the Week. He’s led the Seahawks to four consecutive wins. From the WIAA announcement: “The running back ran for 279 yards on 21 carries and scored four touchdowns, as the Seahawks took down Lakeside 48-31. His longest run of the night was a 94-yard scramble on third down.” Every week, the organization honors “varsity athletes who exhibited an outstanding performance for the previous week (based off nominations).” This Friday night at 7 pm, you can see McMillan and his teammates play Sammamish at home at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
The cover image for the map/postcard promoting this quarter’s West Seattle Art Walk events – starting with tomorrow night’s WSAW – always has a backstory. This time around, there’s a lot to tell.
The image is a painting by Frances Smersh, the West Seattle artist who is co-proprietor of Junction shop Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) with her husband John Smersh. She is also this month’s featured WSAW artist there, so you can visit Frances and her work there Thursday night (October 11th) 5-8 pm.
In conjunction with the showcase, Click! has an update for the community about the personal news they first shared three years ago – that Frances is living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.
Writing on the Click! blog this week, they explain that the disease has continued to progress. “This last year Frances has struggled with more challenges that the disease has presented, and found that art is an area that she can still thrive. … With painting as her primary focus for most of the last year, she’s produced an impressive body of work!”
You can see the show during tomorrow’s Art Walk. The update continues, “She has titled her show ‘With a Little Help from my Friends,’ an acknowledgement of the extra assistance she now needs.”
After details on how Frances is doing now, the update explain how that assistance is more vital than ever:
If you or someone you know would enjoy spending time or sharing a meal with (or providing a meal for) Frances, please reach out to John and let him know what you would be up for. She loves being with people and is pretty game for most activities. Friends have started a GoFundMe page in hopes of helping with some of the extra expenses they now face; donations of any amount are hugely appreciated.
Read the full update here. And go see Frances’s show at Click! on Thursday night, 4540 California SW, 5-8 pm.
(WSDOT photo)
The Highway 99 tunnel is set to open in early February, after three weeks of road-realignment work following the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s permanent closure on January 11th. It’ll be toll-free for a trial period at the start. Once that’s over – what will you be charged? That decision is expected to be made by the State Transportation Commission next week, after one last public hearing (11 am Tuesday, October 16th, in Olympia). Here’s the plan, with rates ranging from $1 to $2.25 (provided you sign up for Good To Go):
If you can’t be at that hearing but have something to say, the commission is taking written comment through tomorrow – scroll down this page to find out how.
P.S. Reminder that more prep work brings a closure oF SB 99 this weekend – details here.
Ever since the first tip that Saigon Pho (2632 Alki SW) had apparently closed, we’ve been checking on it; more than a week has gone by, and it hasn’t reopened. No explanatory/farewell sign, and we haven’t been able to reach the restaurant’s proprietor, but a peek through the window shows furnishings and other items stacked and boxed. While that building’s site has long had a mixed-use redevelopment proposal, newer documents in city files show a plan to expand the neighboring preschool/day care into the building.
Saigon Pho, which opened in early 2010, would be the sixth Alki business to close in a little over a year, along with:
Sushi Samurai
Alki Cleaners
Marée Bistro
Alki Urban Market
Tully’s Coffee
The latter three spaces are all posted with FOR LEASE signs. At the ex-sushi spot (2758 Alki SW), an application is in the city system to add second-floor apartments to the building, as was proposed in 2009.
(WSB photo from spring 2018 Duwamish Alive!)
One week from Saturday, the fall multi-site Duwamish Alive! event asks you to spend a few hours helping the river, which also will help the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales who need the salmon supported by healthy habitat. Here’s the reminder:
What is the connection between the Duwamish River and our local Orca? The Duwamish River is home to 5 species of salmon, including the vital Chinook, which is a critical food source for Puget Sound Orca. Orca depend on the dwindling Chinook runs for the majority of their diet, and Chinook depend on healthy salmon habitat in the Duwamish.
Duwamish Alive! on October 20th will have volunteers working throughout the Duwamish Watershed to improve the health of our green spaces, creeks and especially our Duwamish River, which provide salmon critical habitat. Volunteers are needed at many local sites which provide critical habitat for our community and our river.
Duwamish Alive! celebrates the connection of our urban parks and open spaces to our river, wildlife and community. Starting at 10:00 am, volunteers of all ages, at multiple Duwamish sites throughout the watershed from river to forest, will participate in a day of major cleanup and habitat restoration in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and orca.
A special opening ceremony will be held at T107 Park, across from the Duwamish Longhouse at 10:00, with special honoring of George Blumberg and Willard Brown for their work in restoring the Duwamish.
Opening Ceremonies:
T107 Park 9:45 – 10:30 am
Cecile Hansen, Duwamish Tribe
James Rasmussen, Presentation of Honors
Chris Wilke from Puget Soundkeeper, Stewardship
Sameer Ranade from Front and Centered Highlighting I-1631Longfellow Creek at Greg Davis Park 10 am
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon from the 34th District, State HouseDuwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation groups, businesses, and government entities, recognizing that our collective efforts are needed to make lasting, positive improvements in the health and vitality of the Green-Duwamish Watershed. Twice a year these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at 14 sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of Seattle and Tukwila communities.
To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and to the contact for the site of your choice, or email in**@***********ve.org This is a family-friendly event for all ages – tools, instruction and snacks are provided.
The two sites with opening ceremonies are only two of many along the river and its watershed.
(Merlin, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Looking ahead at the rest of your Wednesday – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FLU SHOT CLINIC: Need a flu shot? The community is welcome at this afternoon’s Denny International Middle School clinic, as well as students/staff/families. 2-5 pm. Form in our calendar listing. (2601 SW Kenyon)
SCHOOL BOARD TALKS LEVY PROJECTS: As previewed here last night, the School Board’s final work session on next year’s BEX V levy is happening at district HQ, 4:30-5:30 pm. Public can observe this meeting but not comment; when the levy proposal is officially drafted soon, there’ll be a public hearing. (3rd & Lander)
RAPIDRIDE H LINE/DELRIDGE REDESIGN OPEN HOUSE: Metro Route 120 is still moving toward becoming RapidRide H Line in 2021. Tonight you’re invited to drop by an open house 5:30-7:30 pm at Mount View Elementary in White Center:
Metro and Seattle will share updates on the project, including the future route proposal and station locations, and seek feedback on RapidRide station amenities and improvements that make it easier for people to reach transit. The City of Seattle will also share its early design for a reimagined Delridge Way Southwest with bus lanes, landscaped medians, crosswalk improvements, protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenway connections, signal upgrades, paving, water and sewer pipe upgrades, spot parking and bike lane removal, and public art.
(10811 12th SW)
WRITING CIRCLE: 6-7:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, write with Hugo House! Author Jeanine Walker is the host. (2306 42nd SW)
SUPERINTENDENT VISITS: Seattle Public Schools‘ new superintendent Denise Juneau is at Youngstown Cultural Arts Tonight as her “Listening and Learning Tour.” It’s a two-part event, 6-6:40 pm with youth, 7-8:30 pm general “town hall.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)
HELP SALMON BY SEARCHING FOR THEM: 6:30 pm orientation for volunteers who can help Puget Soundkeeper‘s salmon watch on Longfellow Creek in North Delridge. (Contact mo****@**************er.org for location)
POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly PoetryBridge event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm features Tobin Marsh and Richard Wells. (5612 California SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy; the agenda includes Get Out The Vote plans plus a time to share memories of longtime member Jackie Dupras. (9131 California SW)
DISASTER TRIVIA: 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria, as previewed here. Call 206-937-3463 for a reservation to be sure your team has a table! 21+. (4718 California SW)
If you have natural-gas service, it’s supplied by Puget Sound Energy, and they’ve sent customers a message asking for conservation today because of a pipeline rupture in Canada. If you haven’t already seen the message, you can read the full version on PSE’s website. (PSE also is asking its electricity customers to use less, but that doesn’t apply in our area as local electricity comes from Seattle City Light.) Here’s Canadian coverage of the pipeline rupture, which happened near Prince George, British Columbia [map] – and even more info here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY … is today.
LOOKING AHEAD: Friday (October 12th), no classes for Seattle Public Schools and those who keep the same schedule … This weekend brings a southbound 99 closure – details here.
(WSB photo from November 2014)
Again this fall, Puget Soundkeeper is hoping for help with its salmon survey. There’s an orientation tonight (Wednesday) for potential volunteers. Here’s the announcement, including how to RSVP:
Puget Soundkeeper is searching for dedicated volunteers to survey the Coho salmon that return to Longfellow Creek in West Seattle.
During the salmon run each fall, a population of Coho salmon enters the Duwamish River from Elliott Bay, and then swims up Longfellow Creek to spawn. As Coho migrate through urbanized waterways like Longfellow, they encounter a chemical cocktail of toxic runoff from roadways and other paved surfaces. These chemicals severely disorient adult Coho and result in “pre-spawn mortality” in many individuals, meaning the salmon die before reproducing. Previous surveys conducted by the City of Seattle and NOAA on Longfellow Creek have found pre-spawn mortality rates of up to 90% amongst females, an alarmingly high statistic. Examining the number of salmon that return to Longfellow Creek every year and documenting the pre-spawn mortality rate are great indicators of the health of our local waterways. Data gathered from these surveys shared with NOAA, the City of Seattle, Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County.
Volunteers will attend an orientation meeting (tonight) Wednesday, October 10th from 6:30-8:30 pm in West Seattle.
Requirements:
· The nature of this work is geared toward adults only.
· Surveying is a weekly commitment that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The salmon run begins in mid-October and finishes mid-December, during which there will be a survey every day. Volunteers will be divided into teams of 2-3 people and assigned a weekday to conduct their survey.
· We’re looking for adventurous volunteers! Surveying requires handling fish carcasses found in the creek (with gloves) and dissecting the female salmon to check for eggs.
· Volunteers should be in good physical condition. Surveying in Longfellow Creek requires climbing up and down steep muddy embankments and wading through shallow water on uneven terrain.
· Surveying is conducted in varying weather conditions. If conditions are dangerous (e.g. a downpour), we will cancel on that day. Otherwise, we survey rain or shine.
· Volunteers will be provided with surveying kits and waders (unless you have your own pair). Data collected during the survey will be uploaded by the volunteers into Puget Soundkeeper’s database.
Salmon surveys are a great way to observe one of nature’s most amazing migrations and experience scientific field work. The data we collect from these surveys help us understand the effects of toxic runoff on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species and determine the best methods to protect them in the future!
RSVP here: pugetsoundkeeper.org/event/salmon-monitoring-at-longfellow-creek-west-seattle
Contact Morgan (mo****@**************er.org) with additional questions.
Morgan can tell you where to be for tonight’s orientation, too!
That’s the agenda/document packet for tomorrow’s Seattle School Board work session on the BEX (Building Excellence) V levy that’s scheduled to go before voters next year. (See it here – 40 pages, PDF – if the embedded version above doesn’t work for you.) It’s the last work session scheduled before the board/district drafts a levy recommendation for one more round of public comment before it’s finalized and sent to the ballot. And as was the case for the previous board work session two weeks ago, a $53 million rebuild for Alki Elementary and $22 million addition for West Seattle Elementary are the only major local projects on the “recommended” list of capacity/condition-related projects, which could total $795 million citywide.
There are a few other points of West Seattle interest in the agenda documents, such as a note on the second-to-last page that even though Madison Middle School is experiencing double-digit enrollment increases (and has four new portables this year as a result), a Madison addition isn’t being recommended and instead boundary changes might be considered years down the line to send more students to Denny International Middle School and fewer to Madison. The public is welcome to sit in on – no comment period, though – tomorrow’s work session at district HQ (3rd and Lander in SODO), 4:30-5:30 pm.
Several readers have asked when the sidewalk in front of the 4312 SW Admiral Way 7-11 – missing for many weeks – will be restored. We took the question to SDOT, whose spokesperson LeAnne Nelson looked into it and replied:
The 7-11 hired contractors to repair the sidewalk, but they removed the sidewalk without any Street Use permits, so they were issued a citation and required to submit a traffic control plan and field review; that’s due to the amount of sidewalk removed. They were not allowed to work until both were approved, which happened last week, I’m told. Our inspector has called the contractor to ask for a completion timeline.
We will check back on that if there’s no work-crew sighting at the site soon.
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