West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
A big component of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy that voters approved last year is the $15 million Opportunity Fund – money that’s not earmarked right out of the gate – open for proposals and applications, most likely to be initiated by neighborhoods. Right now, the PGSL Oversight Committee is reviewing proposed criteria for that fund – the guidelines that will spell out how proposed projects can be reviewed. The draft criteria won’t be public until next Tuesday – day after the committee’s next meeting – but the date/time/place for a public hearing on those draft criteria is set now, and if you have an interest in this park-project money, you’ll want to be there: 7 pm November 9, at Parks HQ downtown. (Thanks to two West Seattleites on the Oversight Committee, Pete Spalding and Cindi Barker, for making sure we got this announcement so we could share it with you!) The full timeline for Opportunity Fund decisions can be seen here.
Kids helped cut the ribbon this afternoon with Jennifer Cargal of Friends of Dakota Place Park, during a community celebration dedicating the park (map), which contains a historic substation building. As we’ve noted here, the park’s been open about two months, but the people who worked so hard to help make it happen wanted to take a moment to celebrate what’s taken more than five years to accomplish:
Though the landscaping and art are in place, there’s one more phase for Dakota Place – completion of the city-landmark substation building’s interior renovations, so it can serve as a satellite facility for Hiawatha Community Center. The Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee decided recently (WSB coverage here) to allocate $400,000 for that.
First – Thanks to Nancy Woodland – who you know from WestSide Baby, but is acting here as an Alki Elementary PTA volunteer, sharing that photo and this report:
This morning more than 100 Alki Elementary kids, teachers and parents were joined by the Seattle Fire Department to celebrate Walk This Way Day. With support from Safe Kids, students were reminded how easy it is to walk or bike to school and how important it is for drivers to use caution when kids are present. Parent drivers were even surprised to be handed a cookie along with information about bus zones, speed limits and drop-off protocol!
Second – The annual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser at Lafayette Elementary is tomorrow, and organizers say it’ll be bigger than ever, in more ways than one. The biggest way: The school has 60 more students — two additional classes (kindergarten and 1st grade). Kids, teachers and other school staffers will be participating, along with community volunteers, between 9 am and 3 pm on the school playground (along Lander, west of California). This year, the Walk-A-Thon has more than 100 business/community sponsors – including WSB; we are proud to be able to co-sponsor community events, so when you go around recruiting sponsors for yours, be sure to contact us too!
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Still working to get more information on this – police and fire units have been in the 6000 block of Lanham Place – police say the Fire Department asked them to assist with a report of “2 small children that fell out of a window.” We have a crew arriving there and also will be checking with SFD for more information – stand by for more details. 4:04 PM UPDATE: WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli is at the scene. Neighbors tell him two children fell from a third-story window. One is said to be 4 years old. We don’t know the other’s age, nor the condition, yet. 4:10 PM UPDATE: Dana Vander Houwen with SFD tells us the children are both 3, one boy and one girl, who fell 25 feet into “soft bark” and both have “non-life-threatening injuries” – both were taken to Harborview Medical Center. 4:55 PM UPDATE: We also have a photo from Tony Bradley, who says the children reportedly were playing near the window just before they fell and may have pushed on the screen.
We’ve been chronicling what started as a federally mandated project to upgrade the drain system to new safety standards, and turned into maintenance/repairs for an unforeseen problem. Now Seattle Parks says Southwest Pool will reopen Nov. 2, after passing a key inspection today, and there’s a special offer to thank patient patrons – read on:Read More
Thanks to Brady for pointing this out last night via Twitter, and Creighton for sending a photo this afternoon: The Marines are at Jefferson Square, moving into the storefront immediately southeast of Bartell Drugs, next to GNC. We didn’t have time to stop in but it looks like set-up work is being done inside, so the office isn’t open yet.
This time the call comes from whale expert Jeff Hogan – he says they’re close to shore and they’re heading back north – we also received a Twitter report about half an hour ago re: a sighting at Three Tree Point. Off to the beach! Send pix if you get them! ADDED 3:40 PM: Shaky zoom but we got some :11 into the clip above. Thanks to everyone for sharing sighting info. Here’s channel 4 chopper video:
Also a great link – orca video from a kayak! Thanks to Scott for sharing the link via Twitter – go here.
Amy Beaudoin of West Seattle Natural Energy says it’s the future of renewable energy – a way to save power and money. Today, her company is installing West Seattle’s first grid-tied vertical access wind turbine at a Fauntleroy home. She says they’re excited this is finally happening – permits have been in the works for months. We’ll be back later for an update once the turbine’s up and running.
Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, William H. Raleigh, D.D.S. Situated at the corner of California and Genesee (map), Dr. Raleigh‘s dental office is becoming a landmark among the new nearby developments full of condos and retail spaces. Dr. Bill Raleigh and his staff believe the comfortable and caring atmosphere of their practice adds a friendly touch that ties in well with Junction families, friends and neighbors. For patients who don’t walk to the office, there is parking available behind Dr. Raleigh‘s office with a ramp from the parking lot for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. Please visit them on the web at www.drbillraleigh.com to see if you recognize Dr. Raleigh and his staff from around the community and to learn more about the practice. If you have any questions, their phone number is 206-935-5210, or you can e-mail drbillraleigh@aol.com. We thank William H. Raleigh, D.D.S., for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, with info on joining, is all here.
Thanks to the folks at Roxhill Elementary School for sharing that photo of teacher Christopher Robert and this report about his big honor:
Congratulations to Kindergarten teacher, Mr. Robert, who was selected as a Symetra Hero in the Classroom! This program, which is sponsored by Bellevue-based Symetra Financial and the Seattle Seahawks, selects 24 out of the district’s 3,100 teachers each year and honors them for making a positive difference in the classroom. Mr. Robert represented Roxhill at the Oct. 18 Seahawks game versus the Cardinals, where he was honored on the field in front of 68,000 fans. Mr. Robert instills the joy of learning in his students. Through his exceptional gift as a teacher, his students achieve at a high level. Every child works hard to excel and feels such pride as they do so. The delight in his children’s eyes as they demonstrate that they can read, write and do math is magical and lights up a room! Through his guidance, modeling and instruction, Christopher also teaches his students how to become better citizens in our global society. Not only is he a Hero in the Classroom, but he also is a hero in the entire school. He provides incredible leadership and in a wide variety of ways, relentlessly works for excellence for all for every student. Mr. Robert is a true inspiration. We are so proud to have
him at Roxhill Elementary!
You can find out more about the Heroes in the Classroom program here.
From Wednesday night’s Morgan Community Association meeting: Clean water, neighborhood planning, traffic safety, and a Fauntleroy Way road-work update – read on:Read More
In the WSB Forums, there’s word orcas have just been spotted off Fauntleroy. We retweeted a report much earlier that they’d been seen off Alki Point, but thought it was too late so didn’t mention it here (till now). Get those binoculars!
(photo added 8:33 am)
The “heavy rescue” callout at 17th/Roxbury is from a crash (map) has Roxbury blocked eastbound at 17th (and 17th is affected southbound). There’s a heavily damaged pickup truck visible at the scene – investigators tell us that’s one of two vehicles that were involved; its driver was one of two people taken to the hospital. 9:52 AM UPDATE: Tony Bradley sent photos of the scene as firefighters worked to get the driver out:
*LOTS* of events/activities today/tonight on the WSB Events calendar – these are just 3 of the highlights: A 3:30 pm dedication ceremony at Dakota Place Park (map) … Design Review for The Kenney (6:30 pm, presentation JUST posted online, including image above) and Admiral Safeway (8 pm, presentation online), public comment welcome/encouraged as always, both reviews at Youngstown Arts Center, 4408 Delridge (map) … Crime-fighting info for southern West Seattle at the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, 6 pm, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map).
By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There were three times more city and county transportation officials than neighbors at Delridge Community Center tonight for the meeting about the new snow plan, but the many questions made up for the empty chairs.
The central Lincoln Park playground photo above – sent by Hillary – is the first one we’ve heard of (let us know if you’ve already seen one somewhere else). This comes one week after the city announced it would start putting up signs announcing the new rule banning guns at park facilities where children/youth are likely to be present, but the announcement (see it here) hadn’t specified a timetable, aside from the plan to have all affected facilities posted by December 1st. Hillary was surprised by the sign and added these comments in her e-mail to WSB:
I saw the sign for the first time today, and was very disturbed by both the content and the placement of the sign. We moved from the East Coast over a year ago, and settled near Lincoln Park because of the peaceful community ambience of the Fauntleroy/Arbor Heights area. Had I seen these signs in Seattle parks as a prospective home buyer, I would have chosen the ‘burbs, assuming there must be firearm problems if there have to be signs on playgrounds. (Which, now that I live here, know is not the case). Signs and laws don’t dissuade gang members from wielding their guns in any public location, unfortunately. As far as I’m concerned, the only things these signs accomplish are decreased property values and creating unnecessary fear in law-abiding citizens.
I had to respond to my 2 year-olds questions about “The sign with the gun on it” today…. Maybe they should also post “No Drugs” and “No Sex” signs at the park. I’d love to have to explain those things to him while he’s still in preschool. (I am, of course, angrily sarcastic).
You can expect to see dozens more signs like that around West Seattle, since the city announcement last week said the signs would be posted at:
* 26 community centers
* four environmental learning centers
* 10 pools
* 30 wading pools and water play areas
* two small craft centers
* two specialized facilities (tennis center, performing arts center)
* 139 playgrounds and play areas
* 213 ballfields
* six late night recreation sites
* three teen life centers
* 82 outdoor tennis and basketball courts
* two skateparks
* five golf courses
P.S. The mayoral candidates were asked about the park gun ban during tonight’s debate on KING5 – watch their answers, starting here.
ADDED 4:45 PM THURSDAY: Some commenters asked about the cost of the signs. We asked the Parks Department for the information, and Joelle Ligon replies:
So far, we have ordered 150 signs for a cost of $2,500. We anticipate ordering another (approximately) 350 signs for another $5,200. We will also order some replacement signs for ones that are vandalized or damaged in some other way, which we anticipate will cost in the $250 range. The grand total for the cost of fabricating all the signs is around $10,000.
The cost of installing them is included in the jobs of our installation maintenance crews, who do this type of work normally.
(digital version of the rendering substituted Thurs. morning for photo taken Wed. nite)
From the Fairmount Community Association meeting at The Mount tonight: Harbor Properties unveiled that updated rendering of its apartment/retail project Link, while announcing it’s obtained financing, with construction likely to start at the 38th/Alaska site by mid-November. Link includes 200 apartments and 14,000 square feet of retail; Harbor executive vice president Denny Onslow told the 30-plus Fairmount attendees that they haven’t signed up any retail tenants yet but are open to ideas; The north side of the building (left side of the rendering) suggests ground-floor cafe space; the building has some ground-floor housing on both the 38th SW and alley sides – “We want to put some activity into the alley,” says Onslow. He adds that construction should take about 17 months “and that’s really fast.” The contractor, Exxel Pacific, is the same one that built Harbor’s Mural (WSB sponsor), which Onslow says is now 95% rented. The financing is from U.S. Bank and an unnamed “private investor,” both of whom have worked with Harbor before, and according to Onslow, “this will be one of the few apartment buildlngs being built in Seattle right now.”
He says it was once envisioned that this and the so-called “Hole Foods” site would be built simultaneously, as “bookends” to the Triangle, but now that the latter is in limbo, they have stepped up the look of Link a bit, with a metallic finish on its north and south sides to provide reflectivity, and lighting. Also tonight, Harbor Properties confirmed to WSB that it is no longer pursuing a purchase of the 36th/Alaska motel property, though it does own some land north of that site on the same block, and it also owns the site at 37th/Alaska that’ll be used for construction staging (shown here) – slated to become more parking for Link when construction is done. (Also at the Fairmount meeting, crimefighting info from Southwest Precinct reps – that’ll be in a separate report.)
Just got this note from Frank:
We are in the 37th Ave SW and Hanford (map) area and just had a really large decorative pumpkin stolen from our yard.
Thieves were driving a dark red/maroon colored newer pickup that has red plastic panels/rails that go from bed of truck up to cab. If seen call West Seattle police. Suspects are in their teens and wear baseball caps.
Tie down your lawn decorations so they hopefully make it to Halloween!
How busy is the West Seattle Food Bank these days? Tonight we have new information from Pete Spalding, president of the West Seattle Food Bank board, with numbers from last month, just compiled:
700,000
pounds of food distributed so far this year31%
increase in “unduplicated household visits”30%
increase in visits from children25%
increase in visits from infants25%
increase in visits from adults19%
increase from the same time a year earlier10%
increase in visits from seniors
Pete adds, “As you can see, our numbers continue to grow each month, and we have been very blessed that the West Seattle community has been so generous to those in need. Just wanted your readers to know that because of them we continue to be able to open our doors and have the resources to serve the clients that continue to come our way.” In addition to joining in fundraisers for the West Seattle Food Bank (like the Beer Church‘s Turkey Bowl on Nov. 21, which we’re co-sponsoring), you can also donate through their website – westseattlefoodbank.org.
SDOT is still sending ’em out, and we’re sharing them in case you miss the info elsewhere: In addition to the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure 6 am-5:30 pm Saturday and 6 am-6 pm Sunday, there are some other events with possible traffic effects around the city – read on:Read More
VOLLEYBALL: From West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy:
Westside’s Volleyball team will face Rainier Beach in the final home match on Thursday @ 7 pm at WSHS. This will be the Senior Night for 4 Senior players- Jaimi Tapia, Diana Goldberg and 2009 Captains Mariah Doll and Jess Harrison. West Seattle defeated Rainier Beach in 5 close games in their previous meeting. The Wildcats have clinched the #2 Seed for the Metro Tournament and a guaranteed spot in the District championship tournament.
SOCCER: Sandy reports, “The WSHS girls’ soccer team beat Nathan Hale (Tuesday) 4-2. If they win their next two games (against Sealth and Ingraham) they will play NH again for the Metro Sound Division title.”
FOOTBALL: Voting’s still open in KIRO’s Game of the Week competition. The West Seattle HS homecoming game vs. Chief Sealth, Friday night, 7 pm, WS Stadium, is in the running, as is the Seattle Lutheran match at Tacoma Baptist (7 pm Friday), so whichever WS high school you root for, you’ve got a reason to vote; go here.
Today, we continue our city-candidate closeups; we took a look at them all before the primary election, and this week, with the general election nearing, we’re checking back in with the finalists in five city races – mayor and council – one race (two candidates) per day. Since tonight, the Seattle Times (WSB partner) co-sponsors the next live TV debate in the mayor’s race – 7 pm, KING5 – we’re publishing our mayoral candidate interviews today. (Editor’s note – This was originally published early this morning along with the Mike McGinn interview, but our database ate it before most saw it.).
By Jack Mayne
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan wants a tunnel to replace the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, thinks the city budget can be trimmed to avoid new taxes and add 100 more police officers, and vows to be accountable to the voters for his stewardship of the city for the next four years.
What he did not say in an interview but was revealed in a financial filing last week was his campaign is in the hole by $95,000 and has outspent opponent Mike McGinn by over five-to-one.
Mallahan is a vice president for T-Mobile. “As a young man, I always planned on entering public service,” he says.
VIADUCT CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: Looking ahead to this weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure, WSDOT wants to give you a heads-up about two signs you may have seen: They’re not entirely accurate. Kristy Van Ness explains why:
We’ve placed two variable message signs as you head north from West Seattle toward downtown, alerting drivers of this weekend’s closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. But… there’s a character limit on those signs, so they state that the viaduct is closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. We are still going to open the Viaduct at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, so those heading to the Sounders game can use the structure if needed, but just couldn’t fit those extra characters on the sign!
(added 1:52 pm) By the way, a big ceremony is scheduled this Saturday morning for the signing of the tunnel agreement approved by the Seattle City Council earlier this week. The media invite hasn’t gone out yet but we got the tip from Chas Redmond, one of the West Seattleites who are on the “portal working groups” hashing out what will be happening AROUND the tunnel. WSDOT tells us those groups may not reconvene for another month or so.
WATER TAXI REMINDER: King County just sent out a short reminder that, as scheduled all along, the Water Taxi route between West Seattle and downtown is still scheduled to end its season on Halloween. (Just this week, the City Council gave its approval to the plan for dock work to be done in the offseason, looking ahead to planned year-round operation of the route; we’re checking to find out the timetable on that.)
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