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Spotlight Stories

FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth returning to three-boat schedule by mid-morning Thursday
July 22, 2015 5:46 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

After three days on a 2-boat schedule because of repair work elsewhere in the system, Washington State Ferries says the “Triangle” route will be back to 3 boats tomorrow:

The Tillikum will rejoin the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route by mid-morning, Thursday, July 23. The route will return to the regular, three-boat schedule at that time. Thank you for your patience during the recent temporary downsizing of this route.

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Retired Marine’s ‘Valor Run’ to stop in West Seattle on Saturday
July 22, 2015 3:41 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | Westwood

Tomorrow morning, retired U.S. Marine Corps Major Bridget Guerrero starts a four-day, 160-mile run around Puget Sound, and it will include a stop Saturday at Westwood Village, according to a notice circulated to merchants there. (Thanks to Donna at Giannoni’s Pizza for the tip.) The photo is courtesy of our friends at MyEdmondsNews.com, who wrote last weekend about Maj. Guerrero’s plan, part of Valor Run, an organization honoring military women lost in Iraq and Afghanistan; 160 have died since 9/11, so Guerrero’s run will include one mile for each. According to the webpage about her run – where you can make a donation – “Bridget’s goal is to raise $5,000, which will be split between Valor Run, Inc. and the USMC Scholarship Foundation for a scholarship given in the name of USMC MAJ Megan McClung.”

Guerrero starts running tomorrow morning on Whidbey Island and will conclude her run Sunday in Dupont, southeast of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Her full route can be seen here, and you are invited to run with her at any point along the way. She is expected to arrive at Westwood Village sometime between 12:30 pm and 3 pm on Saturday. An “honor station” will be set up for the occasion in the center of WWV across from Carter’s, according to the notice circulated to merchants, which says it will be supported by Warrior Pointe as well as by a local family, relatives of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jarod Newlove, killed in Afghanistan five years ago.

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West Seattle scene: Shooting shoes at Seacrest
July 22, 2015 1:56 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

If you’ve been to Seacrest today and noticed the photography crew … including support RVs along Harbor Avenue to the east … here’s what’s up: After getting a tip from Sunny, we headed over for a look. It’s a photo shoot for Timberland Shoes. A crew member told us the bicycles in our photo are among the props and also mentioned they’ll be shooting tomorrow at nearby Don Armeni (where “no parking” signs are already up).

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Headed for the November ballot: County ‘Best Starts for Kids’ levy
July 22, 2015 12:14 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

The County Council has just voted to send “Best Starts for Kids” to the November ballot. As explained on the county website, it’s a “six-year levy lid lift at a rate of 14 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which would raise about $58 million in the first year and a cumulative $392.3 million, at a cost to the average King County homeowner of about $56 per year.” King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed it earlier this year as a way to help give more young people a better chance at a trouble-free life with prevention/intervention early on, instead of just casting them to the wind in the early going and finding them in trouble with crime, addiction, etc. later. Here’s the full county announcement explaining the levy and today’s vote.

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Your West Seattle Wednesday: Shop; talk; network; tell stories …
July 22, 2015 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on Your West Seattle Wednesday: Shop; talk; network; tell stories …
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(West Seattle and Mount Rainier, seen from the Bainbridge ferry route; photo by Elizabeth Bourne)

Highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SCIENCE FUN AT DELRIDGE LIBRARY: 11:30 am-12:30 pm for ages 5-12, “Professor Ficklestein’s Physics Phactory.” Details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

NETWORK! Noon at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), our area’s only coworking center. Even if you love whatever form of nontraditional work you’re doing, take a break from the home office and go meet others to share ideas and inspiration. (6040 California SW

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND, WITH ROAR: Remember it’s a double freshness feature at the High Point Market Garden Farmstand this summer, 4-7 pm Wednesdays – not only can you buy the fresh organic produce grown right there on site, but the ROAR Mobile Farmstand is visiting too as shown in our coverage from opening day last month. Elliott from ROAR wants to make sure you know this:

ROAR market provides Puget Sound Coop-sourced local veggies to complement the P-Patch gardeners’ offerings. … Specifically, we’d like to raise awareness around the fact that residents of the Seattle Housing Authority in the High Point Neighborhood are eligible for vouchers that subsidize the cost of our produce. Vouchers are to be distributed in the August edition of The Voice; they are available at the Neighborhood House in High Point; and residents of Housing Authority in High Point can access vouchers at the market, too. The voucher offers half-off all produce up to $10.

Find the High Point Market Garden and ROAR produce today at 32nd/Juneau.

CRIME/SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE ALKI AREA? Tonight is YOUR “focus group” with a research assistant who’s working on behalf of the Southwest Precinct – come talk about your concerns regarding crime, safety, police presence and/or lack of it. 6-7 pm at the precinct. (2300 SW Webster)

POEMS AND STORIES AT C & P: Rayn Roberts is the featured reader for Poetrybridge‘s monthly event tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – plus, the community microphone! 7 pm. (5612 California SW)

MORE ON THE CALENDAR, AS USUAL … see for yourself here.

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5 West Seattle stops on new Parks superintendent’s listening tour; also, online survey that’s open now
July 22, 2015 9:13 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Seattle Parks‘ new superintendent Jesús Aguirre is moving into the job with a “listening tour.” As just announced via the department’s Parkways website, it starts July 28th in South Park and includes five West Seattle stops (all 6:30 pm events)

· Hiawatha Community Center, Aug. 11
· Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, Aug. 18
· Alki, Aug. 19
· Delridge, Aug. 25
· High Point Community Center, Oct. 28

All are billed as chances for you to tell Superintendent Aguirre your ideas about Seattle Parks. An immediate way to do that is via an also-just-announced online survey – we just previewed it; just five questions. Go here to take it.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates
July 22, 2015 7:07 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, nothing major happening in the outbound commute. Looking ahead:

SATURDAY NIGHT VIADUCT CLOSURE: Exact times haven’t been announced yet, but the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for a few hours Saturday in connection with the Seafair Pirate Run (6:30 pm); that precedes the Seafair Torchlight Parade, which brings surface-street closures through downtown until late evening, particularly the parade route itself on 4th Avenue from Seattle Center to the International District.

ALKI ART FAIR SATURDAY/SUNDAY: Watch for a preview here later today. No street closures, but the beach will be busy, and there is a transportation note – free shuttle bus; details on the festival website’s home page.

7:40 AM: The bridge is “almost at a standstill,” notes one bus rider; no incidents that we’re seeing/hearing about.

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Mayor’s housing plan: First council discussion; plus, clarifying what’s proposed for single-family neighborhoods
July 21, 2015 11:16 pm
|      55 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The week after Mayor Murray went public with his housing proposals – concurrent with release of a report by the advisory committee appointed to examine the issue – the City Council got its first official briefing:

The Seattle Channel published video today of Monday’s first meeting of the council’s Select Committee on Housing Affordability – the creation of which was announced last week, at the same time as the mayor’s proposals and the Housing Affordability and Livability Advisory committee (HALA) report.

For this update on the plan, we also sat down with a West Seattleite from the HALA committee, Cindi Barker, to talk through a few of its more-confusing points. (She was not on the committee as a West Seattle representative, but as a member of the City Neighborhood Council.)

First – some toplines from Monday’s council meeting. Early on, a city staffer offered an understatement, saying it will be a “long conversation” because “some of the suggestions do step outside of the comfort zone.”

Much of the briefing focused on the backstory of how this all happened.

One major issue of interest brought up by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen was the oft-quoted contention that the city has enough “capacity” for all the new housing it needs, without any upzoning.

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AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: Official state hearing for what would be West Seattle’s first charter school
July 21, 2015 6:12 pm
|      55 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

SUMMARY: Twenty people spoke tonight at the only local hearing the Washington Charter School Commission will have for Summit Public Schools‘ proposal to open West Seattle’s first charter school in a supermarket-turned-church building in Arbor Heights. Only one was a charter-school critic. Another voiced some skepticism. The other 17, including Summit employees and even a recent graduate from a Bay Area Summit school, voiced strong support. The speakers were chosen in a drawing; when they were done, time remained, and many more numbers were called, but almost all those ticketholders seemed to have vanished. Meantime, the commission will make its decision in mid-August and is still taking written comments.

Below, our as-it-happened coverage of tonight’s meeting:

*************

6:12 PM: We’re at what will become, if the state Charter School Commission approves, the home of the first charter school in West Seattle, where three commission members are in attendance for an official public hearing/forum on the proposal. Summit Schools, a California-based charter operator, wants to open a middle-/high-school campus at 9601 35th SW, just purchased by a charter-development firm from Freedom Church (which is leasing back the space until the project gets under way). We’ll be reporting live as the hearing goes.

Joshua Halsey, executive director of the commission (whose members include West Seattleite Steve Sundquist, former member of the Seattle Public Schools board), has just welcomed attendees and explained the process, that the commission will vote to approve or reject Summit’s application in mid-August. Two other commissioners are here, including Trish Millines Dziko, who leads the Technology Access Foundation, which has its headquarters in White Center.

Halsey says speakers will have up to 2 minutes each (longer if they need translation services). A stenographer is here to record the comments. A rough estimate of the crowd? Maybe 100 people, seated in the Freedom pews. Written comments are being accepted, by e-mail and postal mail, between now and July 31st, Halsey says.

And with that, Jen Davis Wickens, Summit’s chief regional officer for Washington, begins her presentation. (We spoke with her for our most-recent story on the proposal, which we’ve been covering since the first of the year, after finding out about it via an application in city Department of Planning and Development files.)

She first shows, on the big screens here in the cavernous former supermarket, a shot from “signing day,” a celebration of college acceptance among Summit schools.

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West Seattle Urban Farm Tour: See whose homes rule the roost!
July 21, 2015 5:44 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

That painting by JoEllen Wang will soon be a familiar sight – it’s on posters for the West Seattle Urban Farm Tour that’s just been announced by WS-based Seattle Farm School, whose Katie Stemp shares the news:

I’m organizing a one-day tour of urban agriculture sites all around West Seattle. It will be Saturday, August 8 from 10 am – 3 pm and include more than 15 locations including private homes, community gardens, school gardens, and organizations that promote and support urban farming here in our community! It’s only $12 for adults and FREE for all kids under 18! Very family-friendly!

Buy your ticket online here, where you’ll also find more info about the tour.

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FOLLOWUP: City goes public with its new development map
July 21, 2015 3:38 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Three weeks ago, we noted the city Department of Planning and Development‘s announcement that a development-tracking map was in the works. Today, the map has gone public.


(Screengrab from DPD’s ‘Shaping Seattle’ map)
It’s called “Shaping Seattle,” and you can click any dot on the map to see aspects of a project that’s in or has gone through Design Review, including the most-recent design proposal, a timeline of meetings and decisions, and how to comment on the project. We just spun through what it shows for West Seattle and noted a few glitches – a project you see on the map might be active, or stalled, or even already built, and that won’t be readily obvious unless you follow the development files day in and day out (one example of “stalled,” 2310 California SW), so be sure to read the fine print and check the dates. But take a look for yourself by going here. This comes eight months after a private technologist, Ethan Phelps-Goodman, created something similar, Seattle In Progress; we talked with him recently and he’s continuing to refine and add on to what he’s created.

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U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian lineup set for Seafair Parade of Ships past West Seattle, plus tours
July 21, 2015 2:11 pm
|    Comments Off on U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Canadian lineup set for Seafair Parade of Ships past West Seattle, plus tours
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(US Navy file photo of USS Boxer)

One week from tomorrow, it’s the next Seafair event you can watch without leaving West Seattle – the Parade of Ships, sailing past our shores on Wednesday afternoon, July 29th. And today, we know which ships are participating: Comprising this year’s Seafair fleet are the U.S. Navy’s 844-foot amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4 – it looks like an aircraft carrier) and guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Dewey (DDG 105), plus one U.S. Coast Guard vessel – 378-foot CGC Midgett – and three Royal Canadian Navy ships, 440-foot HMCS Vancouver, 181-foot HMCS Whitehorse, and 181-foot HMCS Brandon. (Read more about them on the Seafair website.)

The ships will pass West Seattle in the 1 pm vicinity on July 29th, then past downtown around 1:45 pm, and circling back to their docks. Then the following day, tours start. From the Seafair website:

PIER 66

U.S. Navy:
Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Gridley
Guided-Missile Destroyer USS Dewey

U.S. Coast Guard:
High-Endurance Cutter CGC Midgett

Thursday, July 30 – Saturday, August 1
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.


Sunday, August 2

12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

*****

PIER 69

Royal Canadian Navy:
HMCS Brandon

HMCS Whitehorse

Thursday, July 30 – Saturday, August 1
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.


Sunday, August 2

12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

*****

PIER 90

U.S. Navy:
Amphibious Assault Ship USS Boxer (LHD 4)

Royal Canadian Navy:
HMCS Vancouver

Thursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 2
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

See the Seafair website for important info before you go take the tours, which are free. For the Parade of Ships – just find a spot along the shore, from Alki to Jack Block (or of course downtown).

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West Seattle food: Pellegrini Italian Market now open in The Junction
July 21, 2015 11:56 am
|      48 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Customers Shelly and Casey, sitting at the window in Pellegrini Italian Market)

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

For months, people have been asking what’s going on at the former La Romanza Bistro site at 4521 California SW in The Junction – especially once mosaic tile started to cover the facade.

Finally a sign went up. And then, Pellegrini Italian Market opened for business quietly during the recent West Seattle Summer Fest, just in time to take advantage of the additional pedestrian traffic traveling casually along California Avenue.

The venture is brought to you by the Pellegrini family, proprietors of Beach Drive restaurant La Rustica. Aimee Pellegrini – “official daughter,” as well as the marketing arm of the family’s business operations – says the Pellegrinis took into consideration the changing face of the neighborhood when deciding on their concept for the space.

“We thought, ‘What’s missing in West Seattle? Well, there’s not really an Italian market in West Seattle,’ explains Pellegrini.

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Design Review: Junction, Admiral projects to be reviewed this Thursday; plus, our report on last week’s reviews of 4532 42nd SW and 5414 Delridge Way SW
July 21, 2015 10:48 am
|    Comments Off on Design Review: Junction, Admiral projects to be reviewed this Thursday; plus, our report on last week’s reviews of 4532 42nd SW and 5414 Delridge Way SW
 |   Development | West Seattle news

This Thursday, the Southwest Design Review Board meets again in West Seattle, just one week after its last meeting – a two-week gap is more common, but the recent schedule’s been tousled. We have toplines from the two reviews at last week’s meeting, but first, a quick look at the projects on the agenda this week:

6:30 PM Thursday – 4801 Fauntleroy Way SW. 21 apartments, 7 live/work units, 950 sf of retail space across from the south side of The Whittaker. Previous WSB coverage here.

8 PM Thursday – 4700 SW Admiral Way, the Aegis Living proposal for an 80-unit assisted-living center on the site of the former Life Care Center. Previous WSB coverage here.

Both meetings on Thursday night (July 23rd) are at the SWDRB’s usual meeting spot, the Senior Center of West Seattle (entrance on Oregon SW just east of California SW); both have public-comment periods. Design packets are not yet posted for the projects (though they are supposed to be by now, this close to the meetings) – check back at the pages we’ve linked to each address above.

Last Thursday (July 16th), we covered the board’s reviews of two projects, in reverse order of how they had been listed on the DPD website, 4532 42nd SW first and then 5414 Delridge Way SW, because of what a DPD rep said was a mix-up involving notices sent by postal mail. Ahead, summaries and results of the two reviews, both of which were for the Early Design Guidance phase, which means the board looked at characteristics such as size and shape, NOT a finished look for either building:

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West Seattle Tuesday: Something to say about the proposed charter school? Say it tonight! Plus 6 more events
July 21, 2015 9:45 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Something to say about the proposed charter school? Say it tonight! Plus 6 more events
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Never got a chance Sunday night to share one of Lynn Hall‘s lovely images of the sunset painting the then-approaching clouds after that 95-degree day, so … better late than never. And now, we look ahead to what’s up today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library, bring your baby up to 1 year of age and enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes, free as always. (35th/Henderson)

STOP ‘N’ SHOP OPEN HOUSE: 3-5 pm, the thrift shop at street level in the Sisson Building, also home to the Senior Center of West Seattle, invites you to come have treats and see the newly air conditioned shop. Details in our calendar listing. (4504 California SW)

CHARTER SCHOOL HEARING: Six months after we first reported on the plan for what would be West Seattle’s first charter school – a middle/high school hoping to open for 2016-2017 – members of the state Charter School Commission will be at the proposed location tonight, 6 pm, for a forum/hearing including community comments as well as a presentation about the school; the commission will decide next month whether to approve the charter. Dinner and child care available. Official announcement here; our most-recent coverage of the proposal is here. (9601 35th SW)

FREE TRACK RUN: 6:15 pm, meet at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) for a free group run! (2743 California SW)

I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE … (something) as lovely as a tree … workshop, for free. 6:30 pm at High Point Community Center. Find out how to choose the right tree for the right spot. Details in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)

WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS: 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, all welcome – details in our calendar listing. (Oregon/California)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm, bring the toddlers and preschoolers along for stories, songs, more at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

NIGHTLIFE AND MORE … our daily highlights are just a sampling of what you’ll find on the complete calendar.

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Remembering ‘Big Steve’: Celebration of life Saturday for Stephen B. Murray, 1944-2015
July 21, 2015 9:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A celebration of life is planned in West Seattle this Saturday for Steve Murray, whose family is sharing this remembrance with the community:

Stephen B. Murray, 70, passed away on July 6, 2015 at the UW Medical Center in Seattle, with the love of his life, Linda Mae, by his side.

Steve was born in Chicago on December 28, 1944 in the elevator at the hospital.

He left Chicago and moved to Seattle in 1968. Steve began his 40-year career in the natural gas industry in 1969 at the Washington Natural Gas Company, later to become Puget Sound Energy. The last 9 years of his career were spent at Pilchuck, a gas service provider.

Steve was an easy-going, very likable man, always quick with a clever quip, or a smart remark. His sense of humor could defuse many a situation. He never realized how many friends he really had.

Although a devoted Seahawks and Mariners fan, he never masked his love for the Chicago Blackhawks, and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. When asked about the Cubbies, he used to say “someone’s gotta love ‘em.” He followed up his Cubs devotion with a bright blue and red tattoo on his arm of their logo. Watching hockey was a favorite pastime, and he always enjoyed golfing, and took more than a few golfing road trips.

But the true loves of his life were his family. And it was an extensive one, spread from coast to coast.

Steve is survived by wife and best friend of 34 years, Linda; his daughters, Jennifer (Johnson) and her husband Mike, Amanda (Mason) and her husband Doug, and son Spencer and his wife Jessica (Sutyla), as well as 7 grandchildren.

He leaves behind his siblings, brother Mike and sister-in-law Judy, sister Mary Pat (Arostegui) and brother-in-law Vince, brother Mark, brother John and sister-in-law Connie, sister Maureen (Carlson) and brother-in-law Mark, and brother Matthew and sister-in-law April (Cody). Stephen also leaves many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, John and Patricia, and his oldest brother, Jerry, in 2014.

A Celebration of Life will be held in West Seattle on Saturday, July 25th, from 12 – 3 p.m. at 6040 California Ave SW.

Please come, share your condolences, share a story, share your favorite Steve(ism), and share a laugh.

If we could all be as nice to people as Big Steve was, the world would be a better place.

(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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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Showery Tuesday edition
July 21, 2015 7:22 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Showery Tuesday edition
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:22 AM: It’s raining for the first time in a long time, so be careful out there. That’s the big commute news so far this morning.

7:29 AM: Via Twitter, Liz says traffic’s backed all the way up the hill on Fauntleroy. We’re not seeing any reports of an incident or stall, so might just be the rain.

8:28 AM: If you head toward Top Hat, Boulevard Park, and beyond to Burien for work/shopping/etc., be aware of a power outage involving almost 8,000 homes and businesses – shown on the Seattle City Light map here.

8:52 AM: Trouble on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to southbound I-5:

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West Seattle coyotes: Heard but not (yet) seen
July 20, 2015 10:53 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Just out of the WSB inbox from Bob:

I just wanted to let you know the coyotes in Schmitz Park have very vocal the past two nights. We have not seen them yet but our dog has been on alert in the back yard. You might want to let the neighbors know to watch their cats and small pets.

We share coyote reports when we get them, not to be alarmist, but because not everyone realizes they live among us, and if you realize that they do, you have a better chance of taking measures to ensure we and they stay a healthy distance apart. This info from the state can help.

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Congratulations! West Seattle’s Alina Guyon chosen to become a Girl-Up Teen Advisor
July 20, 2015 9:52 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s Alina Guyon, a West Seattleite chosen by the United Nations Foundation to be a Teen Advisor for Girl-Up. She is one of 20 girls chosen, and the only girl from Washington State. More about what she’s doing:

Girl-Up advocates for adolescent girls in developing nations; they focus on the countries where it is hardest to be a girl. They stress the importance of education for girls, health and safety.

To become a teen advisor, a girl first needs to be nominated by someone from outside her family. A letter is submitted to describe why the applicant would be a good candidate, and describes her past experience advocating for girls in developing nations. Girl-Up then selects 100 girls to complete an extensive application, including essays, videos and photos.

Why focus on adolescent girls? Statistics show that investing in girls between the ages of 12-15 has tremendous long-term benefits. A girl who is educated is less likely to be married as a child; she will have a better income and can provide for her family. She is more likely to value education for her children, which breaks the cycle of extreme poverty. Adolescent girls are agents of change.

Alina’s first task was to travel to Washington DC for a United Nations Leadership Summit. She even met First Lady Michelle Obama after her talk supporting Girl-Up. In the coming year, Alina will advocate for policy change on behalf of adolescent girls, meet with our state representatives and senators, and encourage students to start Girl-Up clubs. Girl-Up clubs meet to raise awareness of girls rights and support girls who need it the most.

If you are interested in learning more, go to www.girlup.org. Contact sherylguyon@gmail.com if you have any questions or are interested in starting a Girl-Up club.

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All-City Band’s big week in West Seattle! Photos at Seacrest tonight; hosting Band Jam at SW Athletic Complex on Friday night
July 20, 2015 7:12 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Right in the middle of a wildly busy summer season of parades and other performances, the Seattle Schools All-City Band is at Seacrest Park tonight for its annual photo session – which tends to spark some curiosity, including potential future members:

Its members are high-school-age musicians from all over the city, led by Marcus Pimpleton, the acclaimed music leader from Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School.

All-City Band put on an award-winning show in the West Seattle Grand Parade this past Saturday, and next Saturday, they’ll be in the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown. But first – the big, fun, free annual pre-parade tuneup event happens this Friday here in West Seattle, and you’re invited as always: It’s “Band Jam,” 7 pm Friday (July 24th) at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, the stadium across from Chief Sealth, featuring not only ACB but also some of the bands that will join them in the Torchlight Parade. Never been? Check out our past coverage.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Library sets dates for 2-week closure
July 20, 2015 5:34 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Library sets dates for 2-week closure
 |   West Seattle news

Last month, when the Seattle Public Library announced upgrade work was ahead for the West Seattle (Admiral) branch, it said a two-week closure would be needed as part of the project, likely in September. The dates have just been announced, and it’s coming up sooner – the second half of August. Here’s the announcement:

The West Seattle Branch and book drop, 2306 42nd Ave. SW, will be closed from Monday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 30 while the front steps are being replaced as part of an exterior construction project to improve access to the branch.

The branch is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31.

While the branch is closed, patrons may choose any other Library location as a pickup location for items placed on hold and may return materials to any branch. If patrons don’t select an alternate branch, their holds will be sent to the Southwest Branch, 9010 35th Ave. SW, 206-684 7455.

Other nearby branches are:

· Delridge Branch, 5423 Delridge Way SW, 206-733-9125
· High Point Branch, 3411 SW Raymond St., 206-684-7454

Exterior construction work started June 15. Improvements include:

· Rebuild front steps
· Redo ramp from rear parking lot to main front entrance
· Redo ramp from rear parking lot to lower-level meeting room
· Add lighted handrails to ramps and steps
· Resurface parking stalls on north end of the lot

The project is expected to be completed in late September.

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FOLLOWUP: Admiral Way Safety Project expects next parking study soon, updated plan in ‘late August’
July 20, 2015 4:06 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Admiral Way Safety Project expects next parking study soon, updated plan in ‘late August’
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you’ve seen temporary traffic cameras up along west Admiral Way in the past week or so – yes, they’re related to the SDOT proposal for changes along the road between California and 63rd, including removal of 200 parking spaces and channelization changes. In our followup published last week featuring one of the meetings City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has had with local groups both pro and con, we mentioned we had questions out to SDOT. Today, we talked with project manager Emily Ehlers. She says they’re expecting the promised followup meeting with the community to be in “late August.”

Between now and then, they’re expecting two sets of data – one gathered by temporary cameras like the one you see above, five of which she says are in place, recording pedestrian activity in the project zone. That data, according to Ehlers, will help them decide if new crosswalks and flashing-beacon-type signage are needed. The other set of data will involve the next parking study, which she says has not started yet – you might recall that SDOT raised eyebrows by basing its first round of recommendations on parking-usage studies done in the winter, so, agreed to community demands to do a study in the summer too. She says they’re working with a consultant to get going on that and she expects it to happen soon. Ehlers added that they are receiving lots of community feedback and said that’s part of what they’re working with, too – so you have plenty of time to e-mail her at emily.ehlers@seattle.gov.

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SATURDAY: Westcrest Park celebration to include bouncy house, art dedication, obstacle course, food truck, music…
July 20, 2015 2:37 pm
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 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

2:37 PM: When Seattle Parks officially opened the five-years-in-the-making Westcrest Park expansion almost two weeks ago, they mentioned a July 25th celebration. That’s coming up Saturday, and today Parks shared more details: Music, balsa-wood planemaking, a bouncy house, and an obstacle course from Camp Long will all be part of the 11 am-1 pm party next Saturday. Plus the dedication of Flyers (part of which is in our photo above), the park expansion’s wind-spun public art by David Boyer. If you’re new – this all happened because the city decided to bury what had been an open-air reservoir in this area of Westcrest Park, and that made room for more park space on top, including a new permanent play area.

6:16 PM: We’ve verified a few more details with Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor: The What Up Dog food truck will be there (maybe you’ve seen it recently at Don Armeni Boat Ramp) and music will be by Correo Aereo.

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