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Spotlight Stories


  • Parade

    WS GRAND PARADE: Scroll our video, photos!

  • Float Dodger

    FLOAT DODGER 5K: See how Saturday began!

  • RTCC

    REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER: WS in future?

West Seattle bees: Another swarm; this one found its own new home
May 13, 2014 5:57 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Another honey-bee swarm in West Seattle today, this time in North Admiral, this time on private property, where Meredith made that sign to let passersby know about the bees. A beekeeper from the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association “swarm list” was expected within a few hours, but this time, the bees found their own new home, Meredith reports. While handling the Westwood Village swarm we covered yesterday, beekeeper Clay Cook had explained that they might hang out in a temporary spot like this for 15 minutes up to 2 days, until one or more “scouts” return with word of a perfect new home – so apparently in this case, they found one.

P.S. If you spot a swarm, don’t call an exterminator – let them be or call a beekeeper (here’s this year’s list)!

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Peggy Washburn Fine Art Photography: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
May 13, 2014 4:09 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Peggy Washburn Fine Art Photography. New local sponsors are offered the chance to share information about themselves and what they do, and here’s what Peggy would like you to know:

Peggy Washburn’s work has been acquired by many permanent collections including the Bibliothéque nationale de France (National French archives), The Ralph Lauren collection, The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Museo Nazionale della Fotografia, and Seattle University. Along with numerous gallery shows, nationally and internationally, her work has been exhibited at The Frye Art Museum, The Whatcom Museum of History and Art, and Museo Nazionale della Fotografia. Peggy is represented by the Linda Hodges Gallery in Seattle and The Ricco Maresca Gallery in New York.

Peggy was teaching and working as a fine-art photographer, painter and mixed media artist when Marita Holdaway of Seattle’s Benham Gallery noticed her work in 1993, offered to represent her, and invited her to join the gallery’s Resident Artist program. When her second child was born in 1995, she expanded her work to include portraits, and for nearly two decades to follow has balanced between worlds. She continues to work as an artist and fine art photographer and is available for portrait sittings by appointment.

To inquire about portrait sittings, commercial or fashion work, please contact Peggy – 206-323-6705 – peggy (at) peggywashburn.com. For inquires pertaining to available artwork, please contact The Linda Hodges Gallery in Seattle.

We thank Peggy Washburn Fine Art Photography for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Walk-to-school celebration at Roxhill Elementary this Friday
May 13, 2014 3:34 pm
|    Comments Off on Walk-to-school celebration at Roxhill Elementary this Friday
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

On the heels – and toes! – of last week’s Walk-To-School Day events at two West Seattle schools, there’s another celebration coming up this week. Feet First shares news of an all-school Walk To School Day for Roxhill Elementary this Friday. The 9 am festivities will include Walking School Buses, a special dropoff on the northwest side of Roxhill Park so kids who usually take the bus can join in the last few blocks, local leaders including 34th District State Rep. Eileen Cody and School Board Director Marty McLaren, and even the marching band from nearby Denny International Middle School. Routes to Roxhill have seen recent safety improvements (such as these) as the result of a Safe Routes to School grant, and that’s part of the reason for the celebration.

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West Seattle development: Work begins at 4435 35th SW
May 13, 2014 12:42 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(Rendering courtesy GGLO – looking across the project site, south to north)
Another major West Seattle project is officially beginning – this time, in The Triangle, at 4435 35th SW (map), where Trinsic Residential Group has sent an announcement saying it’s broken ground. Not major work yet – we went over to check – but definitely stirrings:

The six-story, 159-apartment, 151-parking-space mixed-use building (no name yet) won final land-use approval five months ago, after going back into the city review process with a new owner and new architect, more than four years after a previous proposal for the site stalled.

Trinsic says this is its first Northwest project, with a mix of “studios, one bedroom, two bedroom, and townhome units,” designed by GGLO. The rendering above, first shown here last year, includes a public pedestrian hillclimb that’s part of the project, described by Trinsic as intended to “mend the broken link between 36th Avenue and the transit station on 35th Avenue SW … a notable display of public-private partnership that addresses the long-term outlook for the site.” The project also includes “a through-block, open pedestrian corridor which guides pedestrians from the transit stop to the hill climb at the west end of the building (and) an iconic elevator lobby tower with communal meeting and hang-out spaces at every floor.” Other features mentioned in the Trinsic announcement include “storage spaces for small and large recreational equipment” and a “plan to provide outdoor gear for rent including paddle boards, kayaks, cruiser bikes and other gear.” The general contractor is Compass Construction, whose banner you might have noticed on the fence at the site within the past week. (Compass is also the contractor for 4730 California, the mixed-use project under construction midblock between Alaska and Edmunds in the heart of The Junction.)

The lone building on the 4435 35th SW site formerly housed The Bridge, which moved last year to its new home at California/Graham in Morgan Junction.

SIDE NOTE: Lost track of all the development underway/recently completed in West Seattle? We mapped it – see it here. (We’re adding the newest project reported here, just last night – 4800 40th SW.)

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Mayor’s plan to avoid Metro cuts in Seattle: Vote on car-tab fee and sales tax
May 13, 2014 9:59 am
|      92 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

9:59 AM: “This is a crisis and we’re responding to the crisis,” is how Mayor Ed Murray described the proposal he’s just made public about how to raise money in Seattle to keep Metro Transit from cutting Seattle service:

$60 car-tab fee plus 0.01% sales tax increase is the same mix that comprised Proposition 1, which, while rejected countywide, was approved by a strong majority of Seattle voters, as was mentioned repeatedly during the briefing just concluded. Here is a one-pager from the mayor’s office, breaking down the new proposal:

During the briefing at City Hall, the mayor was flanked by West Seattleites – County Executive Dow Constantine (whose Monday announcement paved the way for this) and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – and surrounded by more than a dozen other local political, community, and business leaders. Rasmussen explained that this will be considered as a “transportation benefit district,” as was Prop 1. It’s expected to be on the November ballot.

Murray described the tax proposal as a temporary solution. How temporary? he was asked: “They will last as long as there is no other source.”

How will it be ensured that Seattle dollars stay in Seattle? The mayor said, “There will be a ‘no supplant’ clause,” which will require that the county does not route the money elsewhere. Constantine followed up by declaring: “The answer is because, that’s the deal.” Added detail from the one-pager above:

Under this plan, King County Metro would collaborate with the City of Seattle to finalize use of funds and recognize the City’s authority to allocate funds, while the City recognizes the need to honor Metro’s Service Guidelines with flexibility to address specific demands.

And potentially of high interest here in West Seattle, where development projects are being approved without parking because of their proximity to transit that might or might not be available into the future, the mayor said he would create a new area of SDOT focused on transit as it relates to increasing density in the city.

As noted previously, if you have questions about this or other Seattle transportation/transit issues, you have a great chance to get answers by being at tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way).

ADDED 10:54 AM: The official news release is here. It does not include details of the SDOT/transit/development point that the mayor mentioned, so we are following up with his staff to get details on that.

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West Seattle Tuesday: How to get involved with your neighborhood, your school, transportation/growth advocates…
May 13, 2014 9:05 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Monday photo by Mark Wangerin)
Another beautiful day under way – and then a big night for community meetings (as is always the case on the second Tuesday of the month) – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

BLOODMOBILE: 10 am-4 pm (closed for noon-1 pm break), it’s at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), walk-up donors welcome. (California/Stevens)

SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT METRO’S PLANNED CUTS? As announced last month, tonight is the first County Council committee hearing, and the closest one to West Seattle – 6 pm in the board room at Union Station downtown. (401 S. Jackson)

CAL-SEATTLE @ JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm in the downstairs meeting room at the Senior Center of West Seattle, two guests are on the Junction Neighborhood Organization agenda announced by director René Commons: John Fox from CAL-Seattle (Citizens for an Affordable Livable Seattle), who “has been tracking growth of Seattle neighborhoods and growth targets established by the city of Seattle. What can be done by our neighborhoods to manage smart growth? Vote to be taken if JuNO will support this citywide effort”; also, from the city Department of Neighborhoods, district coordinator Jenny Frankl. (California/Oregon)

MAYOR’S TRANSPORTATION REP @ WS TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, the WSTC agenda includes guest Andrew Glass Hastings, transportation adviser to Mayor Ed Murray, who this morning will announce his proposal for raising money to keep Metro from slashing bus service in Seattle. Other agenda items as published on the WSTC website include confirmation of board members. (6400 Sylvan Way)

TALKING WITH TEENS ABOUT POT: 7 pm in the West Seattle High School library, as previewed here last week, come talk with experts about talking with teens about marijuana. (3000 California SW)

PRECINCT COMMANDER @ ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske is a guest at the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s monthly meeting. Also on the agenda shared by ANA president David Whiting, the Steps at Stevens project for better pedestrian access to West Seattle High School, and plans for participation in this July’s West Seattle Grand Parade. (42nd/Lander)

WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB: The announcement:

Please join us for our May meeting….Tuesday, May 13th, 7 pm, WSHS Library. We would love to see you. The more people involved, the more we can help the students and the school! Please check out our website, westseattleboosterclub.org, and follow us on Twitter, @WSBoosterClub, or contact us at westseattleboosterclub@gmail.com. We hope to see you on Tuesday!

(3000 California SW)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board meeting in the conference room at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, all welcome. (9131 California SW)

DENNY IMS PTSA: 7 pm at Denny International Middle School, the PTSA plans a potluck, “thank you” celebration, and change of cabinet. (26th/Kenyon)

PUBLIC HEALTH CAFE: “Nanotechnology & Nanotoxicology” – come hear and talk about it at 7 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café; details in our calendar listing. (38th/Alaska)

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High-school baseball postseason: Chief Sealth wins
May 13, 2014 8:59 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Last night’s victory for the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks varsity-baseball team keeps them going in the Metro League tournament. They defeated Nathan Hale HS, 4-3. Coach Ernest Policarpio says this morning they’re awaiting word on who they play next – the game is at 7 pm Wednesday, and will be against whomever loses this afternoon’s game between West Seattle HS and Bainbridge (4 pm, at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, venue for all games in this tournament).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday on the move
May 13, 2014 6:21 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As we start today’s traffic watch, some news notes:

BUYING BUS SERVICE? Following up on King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s Metro announcements Monday, Mayor Ed Murray is set to go public with his plan at 9 this morning. And then tonight at 6, it’s the closest public meeting a County Council will have on the cuts that are in the works all the while. And at 6:30 here in West Seattle, the mayor’s transportation adviser is the guest at the next West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting.

ROAD WORK AHEAD: Announced Monday by SDOT – traction-improvement ahead for three local stretches of road, starting this weekend.

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New Junction development proposal: 4-story mixed-use at 4800 40th SW
May 12, 2014 9:50 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

The newest Junction development proposal we’ve found in city online files isn’t a total surprise. The site is 4800 40th SW, now in the city system with an early-stage proposal for a four-story mixed-use building. The site is currently home to Bella Mente Preschool, which – as reported here two months ago – is moving to a new location (6007 California SW) after losing its lease because the site was to be sold and developed.

The site is in the vicinity of a sizable amount of future development. It is kitty-corner from the 150-unit 4745 40th SW project that appears to be starting soon, with heavy equipment and temporary power on site; it’s south across Edmunds from the parking lot of the Masonic Center, which itself is bordered on two sides by the future development The Whittaker.

This new proposal at 4800 40th SW, with an early filing just last week, has a site plan in online files showing only its ground floor so far – residential units facing 40th, live-work units facing Edmunds, a lobby on the 40th/Edmunds corner, and parking off its east-side alley. City files show the same prospective developer/architect team as 4745 40th SW, Alliance and Encore.

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Celebration of life next Saturday for ‘Roxy’ Fultz-Tovey, 1955-2014
May 12, 2014 8:29 pm
|    Comments Off on Celebration of life next Saturday for ‘Roxy’ Fultz-Tovey, 1955-2014
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A celebration of life for a woman known best as “Roxy” is planned this Saturday in Skyway. Shared by her family:

Roxanne (Roxy) Lee Fultz-Tovey passed away at age 58 in her home in Tacoma. She was born December 2, 1955, to the late Virgil Fultz and Gloria Bruce.

Roxy moved to West Seattle around 1975 after attending Western Washington University; she then went to dental hygienist school. Roxy made lots of lifelong friends during the 20 years she lived in West Seattle. After working as a dental hygienist for 5 years, she then went to work for the Boeing Company, where she finished out her working career, until 2009.

Roxy was married to Mark Tovey from 1994-2005 and has a stepdaughter, Erin Tovey of Spokane, who she loved very much. Roxanne is also survived by her grandmother Jessi Bruce of Tacoma, brother Bruce Fultz of Tacoma, brother Troy Hoffmaster of Hastings, Nebraska, nephew Coltn Hoffmaster of Port Townsend, aunt Virginia (Ginger) Steffenson of SeaTac, cousin Stacy Hardy of Moses Lake, and cousin Danay Mims of Enumclaw.

Celebration of life to be held Saturday, May 17th, 2:00 pm, at Skyway VFW, 7421 S. 126th St. Roxy’s favorite color was purple – it would be great if you have something purple to wear. Please make any memorial donations to the Lupus Foundation.

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

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Jump into Seattle Parks’ outdoor-swimming-season preview
May 12, 2014 7:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Jump into Seattle Parks’ outdoor-swimming-season preview
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Walking along the Lincoln Park shore this evening, we noted that sign inside the front door of Colman Pool, posted after last season ended, looking ahead to the season that’s about to begin. Just today, in fact, Seattle Parks published its roundup of the dates for the start of outdoor-swimming season. We’ve already reported the start dates for local wading pools (Lincoln Park first, on June 21st – assuming that’s a 70-degree day! – others to follow) and for Highland Park Spraypark‘s second season – May 24th, which also is the first day of the first pre-season weekend at Colman Pool (schedule here). Read the citywide breakout here, and check out Parks’ Summer Guide here (PDF).

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Money for Metro: King County Executive Dow Constantine says he’s creating ‘clear path’ for cities to buy more transit-service hours
May 12, 2014 3:58 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

King County Executive Dow Constantine has just outlined a three-part plan regarding Metro‘s future, ranging from a way for cities to avoid service cuts within their borders, to a way to counter the claims that Metro doesn’t spend its money wisely, to a way to figure out how to improve customer satisfaction.

First, Constantine said he remains “fully committed to a regional transportation solution.” And he says a statewide package remains “desperately needed … but doing nothing while we wait on Olympia” is not an option. So, he says he’s “creating an enhanced Metro program for cities … to have a clear path for” buying additional hours of Metro service. He says this is intended as “a bridge” until a permanent funding solution is found: “Until the Legislature acts, I cannot ask cities to accept cuts that they are willing locally to prevent.” He says this won’t prevent the first round of Metro cuts this fall but if cities choose, might be able to hold off subsequent rounds. (The four West Seattle bus routes slated for “deletion” aren’t scheduled to go away, for example, until September of 2015.)

He says he’s also calling for “new transparency” in how Metro spends and is run, to “clear the air” and “get the right information” to people to refute a perception that Metro doesn’t spend its money well. He says Metro’s costs are 99 cents per mile, while the industry standard is 98 cents per mile, and “growth in Metro costs is now well below the national coverage, 19th out of our 30 peers.” Constantine says he’s calling for a financial audit of Metro’s reserves and capital-spending plans. He says Metro spends cash on buses rather than go into debt.

And he says he’s forming a new customer-service panel to find out “how to make the experience of riding Metro, even better.”

The first part of his announcement would seem to pave the way for Mayor Ed Murray‘s expected announcement tomorrow of a Seattle-only tax-increase proposal. Voters in the city approved Proposition 1, though it was defeated countywide because of a strong “no” vote outside the city; that was pointed out by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who was among those joining Constantine at the news conference that has just ended.

4:13 PM: Here’s the full county news release. And Mayor Murray’s office has just sent word that his announcement is set for 9 am tomorrow.

5:18 PM: And carrying over the footnote from our earlier item previewing this story – you’ll be able to follow up on the county news today and the city news tomorrow morning, by hanging out with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition tomorrow night.

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What if? West Seattle preparedness, communications volunteers to join in citywide Mt. Rainier-scenario disaster drill this Saturday
May 12, 2014 3:30 pm
|    Comments Off on What if? West Seattle preparedness, communications volunteers to join in citywide Mt. Rainier-scenario disaster drill this Saturday
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

Seen hazily in the distance from a ferry this morning, Mount Rainier was beautiful … yet always, also, vaguely ominous. It’s a volcano. And it’s NOT extinct. So … what if? That’s the scenario for a disaster drill coming up this Saturday morning (May 17th, 9 am-noon), involving West Seattle preparedness volunteers and others around the area. Local activity will be focused at Ercolini Park west of The Junction and at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. As officially announced:

Neighborhood emergency preparedness groups across Seattle assisted by amateur radio emergency communicators will test skills Saturday in an exercise based on a simulated major mudflow and ash release from Mt. Rainier. This exercise titled “Mud and Ash Everywhere” is the spring version of this semiannual event. The goal of this exercise is to practice preparedness and response actions that will contribute to community resiliency in surviving a significant disaster.

Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Tale of the theft that tanked
May 12, 2014 2:14 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Heard a bit of scanner traffic on this – stolen toilet tank? – and thought we’d misheard. However, SPD Blotter’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee, who gets to see the reports and knows a good story when he sees one, tells the tale this afternoon:

Seattle police are looking for a man who put the bathroom of a West Seattle Subway out of commission Sunday night after stealing the restaurant’s toilet, making off with a key, and flooding the restroom’s sink.

According to Subway employees, the man and his family walked into the Subway restaurant in the 4700 block of 42nd Ave SW and ordered food around 7:45 PM. While employees were preparing the family’s meal, the man went into the Subway’s bathroom and was gone for quite some time — so long, in fact, that his wife knocked on the bathroom door and asked what was taking him so long. The man’s family then left the restaurant without him.

A short time later, the man emerged from the bathroom carrying a large, black plastic garbage bag and quickly left the restaurant.
An employee later walked into the bathroom and found the toilet tank missing. The employee also found the still-running bathroom sink stuffed with paper towels, and discovered the bathroom key had also been liberated from the lavatory.

Subway staff told officers the missing toilet tank was worth $550. Officers also spoke to several witnesses at the scene who provided information identifying a possible number one suspect in the case. Southwest Precinct burglary/theft detectives will handle the investigation.

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West Seattle bee season continues: Swarm at Westwood
May 12, 2014 12:47 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

12:47 PM: On our way to check out multiple reports of a bee swarm at Westwood. We mention it in advance because beekeepers have asked us to mention as often as possible, please do NOT panic, do NOT try to poison them – swarming is natural, especially this time of year, and the best thing to do is to contact somebody on the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association‘s swarm list to come remove them – if you can’t just wait them out. Here’s our recent story about all this.

1:31 PM: We are here and a beekeeper (above, in hat) is too. He says this is a relatively small group, maybe 20,000. They break off from a hive and hang out 15 minutes to 2 days until a scout brings back word of a suitable new spot. He will hang out after collecting these so the scouts come back. Photos shortly.

2:01 PM: Photos added. The beekeeper, Clay Cook (who is on this year’s list of PSBA beekeepers to call about swarms), says it’s home turf for him since he works part-time at Westwood Village. He said that bees swarming like this generally would have left their original hive not far away, so any of the “scouts” that scattered while he was up there and didn’t make it into his box would likely find their way back to that nest.

It was heartening to see people stopping and remarking how cool it was to see the bees, instead of getting scared and bolting (of course, it’s understandable if you’re allergic; one passing driver slowed down and then, when informed that the buzz was about bees, said she needed to get out of there since she is).

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West Seattle road work: Traction-improvement work announced for stretches of Genesee, Charlestown, Olson
May 12, 2014 11:02 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

You’ll recall that, when announcing recent concrete-panel-replacement work on SW Charlestown west of California and SW Genesee east of Avalon, SDOT mentioned it would be followed up by work to improve traction on those steep hills. The department has just announced a work schedule for those two stretches and one other in West Seattle that had recent panel replacement (as well as others around town):

The Seattle Department of Transportation will grind the concrete street surface to improve traction for safety at multiple locations around the city from May 15 through May 29. Work will take place during weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. with the exception of some weekend work, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Dates for each location are subject to change depending on work progress or other factors. Flaggers will be on site at road closures to provide local access and guidance. The locations were selected based on traction vulnerability due to heavy rain, snow or ice.

May 17-18:
Olson Place SW between SW Cambridge Street and First Avenue South (one lane of traffic open in both directions)

Work zone is in the northbound lanes of Olson Place SW between Fourth Avenue SW and Second Avenue SW.

May 20-21:
SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and Delridge Way SW (local access only)

Work zone is SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Way and 30th Avenue SW.

Eastbound traffic detoured via SW Avalon Way, SW Yancy Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Andover Street, and Delridge Way SW.

Westbound traffic detoured via Delridge Way SW, SW Andover Street, 28th Avenue SW, SW Yancy Street, and SW Avalon Way.

May 22-23:
SW Charlestown Street between 49th Avenue SW and California Avenue SW (local access only)

Work zone is SW Charlestown Street between 47th Avenue SW and 45th Avenue SW.

Eastbound traffic detoured via 49th Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and California Avenue SW.

Westbound traffic detoured via California Avenue SW, SW Admiral Way, and 49th Avenue SW.

SDOT’s full news release also includes the three non-West Seattle stretches where this work is scheduled.

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Avoiding Metro Transit cuts: New plans expected today, tomorrow
May 12, 2014 10:04 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Can major cuts in Metro Transit be avoided, in the aftermath of Proposition 1’s defeat? As reported last week, Mayor Murray has said he’s working on a plan, which at last report is expected to be announced tomorrow (and as a result, the I-118 signature-gathering campaign is on hold). Now, we’ve just received a media advisory saying that County Executive Dow Constantine “will hold a news conference today to announce a program for funding of Metro Transit service.” He’s making that announcement downtown at 3:30 pm. No hints yet about what that’ll entail.

P.S. However it all shakes out, it’ll certainly be a hot topic at tomorrow night’s monthly meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, with the mayor’s transportation point person Andrew Glass Hastings already a scheduled guest. That’ll be at 6:30 pm Tuesday, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.

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Five possibilities for your West Seattle Monday
May 12, 2014 9:31 am
|    Comments Off on Five possibilities for your West Seattle Monday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Orange-crowned warbler photographed by Trileigh Tucker. Saturday BTW was Migratory Bird Day!)
Welcome to the brand-new week! A few things on the calendar for tonight:

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center room 103. Preview via NDNC: “Monday’s agenda will focus on the Delridge Plan Update that DPD is currently working on for North Delridge. David Goldberg, DPD staff for the Plan Update, will attend.” (4408 Delridge Way SW)

STORY TIME FOCUSES ON GARDENING: 6:30 pm story time at High Point Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)

CHIEF SEALTH IHS PTSA: Last meeting of the year, 7 pm in the Confucius Center on campus. (2600 SW Thistle)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL POSTSEASON GAME: 7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, Chief Sealth International High School plays Nathan Hale. (1321 SW 102nd)

‘FREE MUSIC MONDAY‘: No admission for Skylark Café and Club‘s show tonight, 9:30–10:30 pm, live music featuring Audio Chunk. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; Highland Park Way crash; I-5 fire
May 12, 2014 7:01 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:01 AM: Quiet, sunny commute right now in and beyond West Seattle. An earlier problem on the Highland Park Way hill is reported to have cleared – please let us know if you’re seeing otherwise.

7:20 AM: We’re on our way to check firsthand but in the meantime, we just got a call that traffic is OK coming up the Highland Park Way hill toward HP, but that it’s still blocked headed out (downhill).

7:41 AM: Still closed and the closure might last a while – it appears that the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is on scene.

7:53 AM: Andrea reports in comments that an uphill lane has been opened for downhill traffic – that’ll still be slow going. Meantime, unusual hazard reported via scanner at Delridge/Roxbury – “man who keeps running in and out of traffic.”

8:26 PM: The aforementioned person is now the subject of a medical call. Meantime, we’re headed back to Highland Park Way for a status check. Haven’t heard back from SPD for more details on the crash. One more note – if you are I-5 bound, there might be something of a distraction on the southbound side just north of the bridge – a vehicle-fire call.

8:31 AM: Our crew says the top of the hill is completely closed off – we’re not seeing the possible downhill lane. Meantime, Seattle Fire spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl tells us the crash victim is a 34-year-old man taken to the hospital “in serious condition.” And the aforementioned southbound I-5 incident near I-90 is now described as a truck fully involved in flames – lots of smoke too (see this traffic cam)

9:01 AM: Again, the I-5 situation is on the southbound side, but certainly a distraction if nothing else on the northbound side:

10:26 AM: SPD spokesperson Patrick Michaud says the Highland Park Way scene is now clear. He says the driver suffered a “life-threatening head injury.”

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One week to Alki doubleheader: West Seattle 5K; Summer Streets
May 11, 2014 9:46 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Thanks to Lynn Hall for sharing the view from Alki as dusk approached tonight. Looking a week into the future – next Sunday (May 18th) brings a doubleheader to the beach: West Seattle 5K (co=sponsored by WSB) starts the day, followed by the SDOT-organized Summer Streets festival (still known informally as “car-free day” though its scope scaled way down years ago). As has been the case since 2011, Alki Avenue is only closed in the heart of the beach zone – 56th to 63rd – once the race wraps up around 11 am. Here’s this year’s map:

No full list of activities/festival participants yet – we hope to see that by midweek – but as noted here last month, the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club is leading a costume/bicycle parade for the second year, 1 pm from 63rd/Alki, so get ready for that! (And sign up for the WS5K if you haven’t already.) See you at the beach …

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Update: Water-rescue response off Alki downscaled
May 11, 2014 8:17 pm
|    Comments Off on Update: Water-rescue response off Alki downscaled
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

8:17 PM: If you saw/heard all the Seattle Fire units heading for Alki – it was a “saltwater rescue” call in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW (map), but there’s good news; the response has been canceled except for one engine.

8:26 PM: Via Twitter, Vanessa reports it appears to have involved a kayaker, who seems to be safe onshore, while another kayaker is towing an empty kayak in.

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Next up for 30-apartment, no-offstreet-parking 6917 California SW: Community info meeting Thursday
May 11, 2014 7:55 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

They’ve met with the city, and with the developer. Next step: Meet with you. While pursuing an appeal of city decisions about the 30-apartment, no-offstreet-parking plan at 6917 California SW in Morgan Junction, “a small group of neighbors has continued to advocate for possible solutions with the Department of Planning and Development and the developer,” and invites you to hear and talk about what’s next. Their invitation: “Come to this meeting to hear updates and vote on some proposed mitigation solutions for our community!” The meeting is set for 7 pm Thursday (May 15th) at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Neighbors’ appeal hearing is still on the schedule too, rescheduled for May 20th (9 am, Hearing Examiner‘s chambers at the Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue downtown).

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Update: Pedestrian hit by driver at 35th and Barton
May 11, 2014 4:40 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Just before Engine 37 left; police were east of it, at 7-11 driveway)
4:40 PM: A 28-year-old woman hit by a driver at 35th and Barton is about to be rushed to the hospital. According to scanner traffic, she was knocked to the ground and hit her head. Lots of police and fire there, so avoid the intersection for a while.

4:56 PM: The scene, at the southeast corner, has cleared quickly. No further details.

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