Next round of wayfinding kiosks: Help plan Admiral!
First came Fauntleroy – next, Admiral and Alki are on deck for the West Seattle Trails Wayfinding and Kiosks project, which includes a $100,000 city grant. The first meeting to plan Admiral kiosks (similar to the one shown in a Feet First website photo at left, the pilot kiosk on Delridge) is scheduled for tomorrow – here’s the announcement from Chas Redmond:
The first of several planning meetings to help determine the location, content, and art for wayfinding kiosks to be installed in the Admiral neighborhood area will take place this Friday, November 20, at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
This meeting and others to follow will allow residents and other interested individuals to help define and create the content and art for two six-foot high, three-feet wide wayfinding kiosks which will be part of a West Seattle-wide wayfinding system.
The system already has three kiosks in various stages of development in the Fauntleroy area. The two Admiral kiosks will also be joined by three Alki-area kiosks. These five kiosks are part of the West Seattle Trails Wayfinding and Kiosk project which previously produced the West Seattle Trails map.
That map has been updated by the way – take a look here.
Shining Stars Gala in West Seattle this week, and why it’s needed
This Saturday at The Hall at Fauntleroy, it’s a brand-new event – the “Shining Stars Gala” for the Washington chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Uncomfortable subject – but if you’ve been following our coverage a while, you’ve heard us say it’s one that gets swept under the rug too often. In fact, the annual report from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office is out today, and while suicides are down – the rate is still more than double the homicide rate, though you’d never know because of a misguided taboo on news coverage of suicides: 210 suicides in King County last year, 85 homicides. It’s a higher number than even traffic deaths at 163. (See the ME’s full report here.) Back to the Shining Stars Gala: It’s the AFSP chapter’s first annual auction benefit, 7:30 Saturday, with hors d’oeuvres, silent & live auctions, dessert and entertainment. There’s ticket info online.
West Seattle wildlife: Fauntleroy Creek intruder
While salmon-watchers along Fauntleroy Creek watch for the next arrival of live fish – the ones who’ve visited so far are doing what come naturally – including dying. But while visiting the creek this morning, we learned from Dave McCoy of Emerald Water Anglers that the one you see above wasn’t a coho after all – but a blackmouth chinook. “Hatchery fish trying to get up here and mix it up with the wild ones,” he explained. We caught up with him, Denny Hinton and Judy Pickens while a class from the Providence Mount St. Vincent Intergenerational Center was getting a lesson about salmon – including the chinook carcass – and then a presentation from Judy (in the background):
Denny and Dave then headed off to check out a report of fish near the creek mouth on Fauntleroy Cove.
(Added Judy in e-mail after we first published this story: “Fauntleroy is a coho creek, so having this type of chinook (king) come in is a first. Instead of migrating to the ocean, blackmouth stay in Puget Sound all year and their black gum line is the reason for their name. This fish was under five pounds – small for the species – and it had no adipose fin, indicating that it originated in a hatchery.” She says the carcass “was returned to the creek where its nutrients will benefit the next generation” and adds an update on this year’s watch: “After several days of no fish, this year’s salmon watchers went home, having documented a total of 18 fish. But more were spotted this morning near the mouth and, with especially high tides through the weekend, spawning season may not be over!”) Great day to be out by the creek, despite the fairly heavy rain – and nearby streets are resembling creeks, like upper Fauntleroy Way north of the salmon overlook:
By the way, the wind advisory is still up, till midnight, and the forecast suggests it may kick up again before then.
SPD Officer Britt Sweeney tells her story for the first time
Less than three weeks after the Halloween night shooting that shook the city and took Officer Timothy Brenton‘s life, his partner Officer Britt Sweeney is telling her story. That video clip is from Wednesday night’s Q13 FOX newscast; Sweeney talked with anchor David Rose during a taping of the station’s “Washington’s Most Wanted” show. She told the station she’s still hoping to get back to work as soon as possible.
Update: School board approves attendance maps, with few tweaks
The Seattle School Board has finally voted late tonight on the attendance maps that are a key component of the new Student Assignment Plan, and for West Seattle, it went along the path that local board rep Steve Sundquist had outlined at his meeting this morning (WSB coverage here) — no major map changes for West Seattle, just a couple of tweaks, but he reiterated that he wants to look into possible “rule changes” including making Gatewood, West Seattle and Sanislo Elementaries “dual feeder” schools whose families could choose to follow the north (WSHS/Madison MS) or south (Chief Sealth/Denny IMS) track. The maps ultimately passed unanimously; we expect word late tonight or early tomorrow on when the maps will reflect tonight’s amendments. 12:27 AM UPDATE: Word from the district is that the maps will be updated “by next week.” They’ve just issued the official news release detailing tonight’s vote and other action – read on:Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch: Car keyed; robbery suspects charged
First, a quick CW report from Nicole:
I read the West Seattle Crime (Watch) frequently since our home was burglarized back in August. Wanted to report that our SUV was vandalized night of November 16 — someone keyed along the entire length of the car. It was parked on the street on 41 between Dakota and Andover. This just continues the disturbing trend of property theft and damage that our neighborhood is experiencing.
Second, a quick followup on last Thursday’s arrest of four teenagers who are believed to be linked to West Seattle/White Center convenience-store robberies as well as the Rainier Valley robbery after which they were arrested. All are now charged – only in connection with that robbery, so far – the three 16-year-olds are charged as adults, the 13-year-old as a juvenile. We will continue to watch the case to see what happens as they move through the system, including whether they are charged in the local holdups.
Can you help Rob avoid a rabies shot?
Out of the WSB inbox – a request for help, from Rob:
I was hoping that you could help me in our search for the owner of a dog that was on leash outside Prost on California Ave on Monday, November 16th at around 5:45 pm. At about this time, I was bitten on the face by this dog and ended up in the emergency room with severe lacerations to my upper and lower lips.
It is required that hospitals report all dog bites to King County Health, who called me this morning and told me that if I wasn’t able to locate the dog and the owner, they would recommend that I get a rabies vaccination. The treatment would be painful and I would like to avoid this if at all possible. I need to find the owner to obtain some information that would allow me to avoid any more pain.
Rob’s story continues – read on:Read More
Last call for West Seattle Volunteer Recognition nominees!
Thanks to everyone who has nominated someone (some have nominated more than one!) for the next round of West Seattle Volunteer Recognition, sponsored by the Delridge District Council (which meets tonight! 7 pm at Youngstown), Southwest District Council and WSB. Today’s the deadline – so we’re issuing one more call for you to throw a name into the ring, one of those many, many West Seattleites who works so hard for nothing more than maybe the occasional “thank you” in exchange. Give ’em the chance to get big public kudos and a hearty round of applause at the West Seattle Community Tree Lighting in The Junction on December 5th. Online nomination form is here; more details here.
Update: “Derelict housing” bill passes City Council committee
(Photo from April tour of problem spots in the Delridge neighborhood)
We reported here yesterday on two measures going to Seattle City Council committees this week, both providing potential tools for problems like the ones viewed on the North Delridge tour joined by those committee’s chairs last April. The proposals have both been approved by those committees – today’s action on the “derelict housing” bill was reported by Councilmember Sally Clark herself, in comments on yesterday’s story:
PLUNC just approved the derelict housing legislation. It will go to the Full Council (Dec. 7). The North Delridge tour was a great motivator. It gave us great examples of where the policy change could make a difference. Thanks!
During the April tour, many participants were surprised to hear that city rules kept many rundown structures from being demolished before there was a plan to replace them; it was suggested that an empty lot might be safer. City leaders explained there had been a fear at one point that the city’s “affordable housing” stock might be depleted too rapidly if that sort of demolition had been allowed to run rampant. Meantime, here’s a news release sent by council staff about both votes – read on:Read More
Before school-map vote, West Seattle board member unveils plan
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With hours to go until the Seattle School Board votes on attendance-area maps as part of its new neighborhood-based Student Assignment Plan, West Seattle’s board rep laid his cards on the table during a meeting this morning at Delridge Library.
Steve Sundquist told the 20 people who turned out to make their cases that he is not inclined to propose major map changes to remedy potential problems — but he does have a few ideas on other ways to fix them. (There was one small map quirk he addressed at the start of the meeting, involving four homes “on a cliff” at the far south end of California SW, saying he thought he’d have an amendment ready to fix that.)
Read More
Triangle tour: Councilmember Rasmussen joins Fairmount neighbors
With almost $40,000 in the city budget to work on planning for what many consider the gateway to West Seattle, the Triangle area, leaders of the nearby Fairmount Community Association continue to work to make sure key players get a firsthand look at the area as it stands now. Four weeks after showing city planner Robert Scully around the area, Fairmount reps (from left in top photo) Nancy Driver, Joan Jeffrey and Sharonn Meeks hosted City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen this morning. He’s been involved in many of the discussions to date, but acknowledged during the half-hour tour that you get a different perspective while walking around. One corridor pointed out, the street that many walk from the homes around Providence Mount St. Vincent to the east, all the way down to the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) in the background of the photo:
Go all the way down 37th to Fauntleroy, and you’ll meet Seung, who recently opened 37th Shoe Repair:
Rasmussen took interest in the recent commercial developments opening in the area, which also includes Cycle U in a former Huling building on the Triangle’s west edge, and the SW Alaska storefront where Alki Kayak Tours is about to open Mountain to Sound Outfitters:
Fairmount’s concern is to make sure there’s an open public process involved with drawing up a vision for The Triangle before too much more piecemeal development happens; they’d like to see an independent urban designer involved, while the city currently is only funding staff time. Rasmussen also advised reaching out to as many local businesses as possible – from the large, like Alki Lumber, to the small, like the new shoe-repair shop, and observed so many spots along the Triangle’s streets that could be brightened with a little landscaping here, a little removal of broken pavement there. We’ll keep tracking the process.
Madison Middle School chosen “School of Distinction” again
View Larger Map
From Nina Chambers at Madison Middle School – they want to make sure everyone’s heard about this honor they received this fall:
Madison Middle School scores 2 years running as School of Distinction! Madison Middle School is one of “10 [district] schools … recognized by PDK-WA , in collaboration with the Center for Educational Effectiveness, for sustained improvement as measured by seven years of WASL test scores. Specifically, they are among the top 5 percent of schools making the greatest improvements in student achievement on the WASL,” writes Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson (Classroom Connection, Nov 17, 2009.)
Madison was awarded School of Distinction by OSPI in 2007-2008, and is a 2008-2009 Great School awardee (“Great Schools — Great Teachers — Great Leaders”) as the award title changed & sponsorship was assumed by Center for Educational Effectiveness/PDK this past year. We are proud of Madison Middle School’s students, teachers & their record of academic excellence! Go Bulldogs!
Junction traffic camera goes up – but won’t be on for a while
Six months after news of three new traffic cameras on the way to West Seattle (here’s our May story), installation is under way – but don’t expect to see the images immediately. We took the photo at left while driving through The Junction on Monday; Marybeth Turner with SDOT confirmed late yesterday that the contractor, Signal Electric, was installing a pole and camera. She added, “The contractor expects to complete the installation of this camera this week. We expect the camera will go live in March 2010. Cameras are not being turned on one at a time — the contractor will complete the various elements in the expanded system, test and coordinate them, and will turn them on all at once.” That expanded system also is scheduled to include a camera at 42nd/Alaska and one near the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Current cameras citywide are linked here (we’re still checking on when the West Seattle Bridge cameras will be working again).
Today/tonight: School maps, creek help, Delridge Council, more
SCHOOLS: 10 am, Steve Sundquist, West Seattle’s rep on the school board, is at Delridge Library for a community chat bound to be dominated by the proposed school-attendance maps the board will vote on tonight (6 pm, district HQ in SODO).
WATER: Could reclaimed wastewater mean a brighter future for West Seattle’s Puget Creek and other local natural areas? The project manager of the county’s Reclaimed Water Program will be at Sanislo Elementary‘s library at 7 pm to give an overview of the county’s plans to improve wastewater treatment, and what that could mean for the local ecology. (As noted on the Sustainable West Seattle website, neighbors at the meeting also will talk about a possible Puget Ridge pocket park.)
DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: Come hear what community groups from around eastern West Seattle are up to, and see which neighborhood-traffic-related projects are being reviewed for a potential share of city funding – 7 pm, Youngstown Arts Center.
THE BIRTHDAY THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: It’s the 10th “39th Birthday Party” and fundraiser for King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine, this time with another momentous occasion less than a week away (his swearing-in next Tuesday). 5:30 pm, Kell’s Irish Pub downtown.
NO NEED TO PLAY ALONE: Alki Community Center invites you to Family Game Night tonight – board, video and challenge games. 6:30-8:30 pm ($5 activity fee).
Even more on the WSB Events calendar!
Youth Violence Prevention Initiative: Zeroing in on solutions
From tonight’s Youth Violence Prevention Initiative community dialogue at Chief Sealth High School: Attendees of all ages talked about solutions as well as the problem. We visited during the breakout sessions midway through the two-hour-plus event, and noticed the theme was jobs – a young person with a job is a productive young person, learning life skills and staying out of trouble. With the youth-unemployment rate higher than the adult-unemployment rate, it was suggested that job creation could be an important piece in solving the youth-violence puzzle.
Another topic tonight – the fact West Seattle doesn’t have an agency dealing full-time with substance abuse. Violence and substance abuse are often connected, participants noted, so more attention on that problem could bring progress.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen van – and newest stats
STOLEN VAN: Stephanie hopes you can help track down the van her husband needs for his blacksmith/metal-arts work: “Our 1986 Toyota van (silver with black steel racks with red tops on four corners) was stolen last night, 11/16. It’s a work van, really important. We live on 12th Avenue near Elmgrove [map]. Anyone who sees this van, please call it in. Thanks.”
NEWEST STATS: Just as Stephanie‘s note came in, a short meeting for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council was wrapping up. The key information presented – the newest West Seattle crime stats:
Car thefts: “Up a little bit” – 2 recent arrests, too
Car prowls: Up a LOT – 30 more in West Seattle in the past month, than a month earlier
Residential burglaries: DOWN a LOT – 47 in West Seattle in the past month, down from 62 in the previous month
Some interesting context to those trends – and some reasons for hope they might all be on the downside soon – read on for more details:Read More
Another proposed amendment to the West Seattle school maps
Since our update this afternoon looking ahead to tomorrow’s scheduled Seattle School Board vote on maps for the new Student Assignment Plan, including a letter with one proposal for amending them, we’ve received another suggested amendment. Janne Endreo and David Broadstone say they’ve sent the proposed “Equitable Enrollment Amendment for West Seattle” to all board members, explaining:
It is a proposal for boundary changes just for the middle and high school assignments (not elementary). As parents who have students at both Madison, Sealth and WSHS, we are well aware that any changes to a Student Assignment plan will affect our whole community. Our goal is that both “sets” of our secondary schools in West Seattle be the best schools possible, and that all kids will want to attend.
This proposal helps to balance some of the school-wide inequities which resulted from the most recent changes in the Student Assignment plan- most notably the 35% projected enrollment cuts at Madison & WSHS, as well as the diversity imbalance in all our secondary schools, and the issue of keeping as many kids as possible in a “walk zone” with their closest neighborhood school.
They say the amendment’s goals are:
1. To balance enrollment more equitably between the Denny/Sealth and Madison/WSHS secondary schools;
2. To keep as many students as possible in their neighborhood “walk zones”; and
3. To keep as much diversity as possible in all of our schools.
Proposal:
Re-assign the “No Walk” areas (as shown on the High School Walk Zone maps in the SPS Data Book) to the middle and high school secondary schools for:
1. Gatewood’s assignment area- The southern portion of Gatewood (which is south of WSHS’s red-lined “Walk Zone” area) to be assigned to the closer secondary schools of Denny and Sealth;
2. West Seattle Elementary’s assignment area- The northern portion of WS Elementary (which is north of Sealth’s red-lined “Walk Zone”) to be assigned to the closer Madison and WSHS schools.
You can see their proposed maps here (Chief Sealth/Denny) and here (WSHS/Madison). Again, tomorrow night’s board meeting is 6 pm at district HQ in SODO; West Seattle board rep Steve Sundquist has a community chat scheduled for 10 am tomorrow at Delridge Library; e-mail feedback on the maps, whether you love them/hate them/want to change them, is being accepted at newassign@seattleschools.org as well as in individual board members’ boxes (addresses all here).
Thank you to everyone who has shared news so far of holiday events around West Seattle – we’ve put it all together in Version 1.0 of the 
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