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Sustainable West Seattle explores where transportation’s going
February 23, 2011 5:58 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

Timing was perfect for Sustainable West Seattle‘s transportation-focused community forum last night – this is another pivotal time for our region, trying to envision the future through a cloud of present-day problems, like budget cuts that threaten transit even as more people try to move away from cars.

The main room at the Senior Center of West Seattle held a sizable crowd for the forum – but in case you weren’t there, we recorded the entire forum on video, two hours broken into three pieces of about 40 minutes each, all included in this story. Top clip has SWS’s Brian Allen introducing the event before introductory remarks from each panelist: West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, moderated the forum and answered questions, as did panelists Chris Arkills, the transportation expert on King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s team; Martin Duke from Seattle Transit Blog, Brice Maryman from SvR Design, and Peter Hahn, director of SDOT. (As you’ll hear Rasmussen joke, Hahn would’ve been excused if he had been fidgety, with his department having triggered its Snow/Ice Plan.) For the second 40 minutes, the panelists quizzed each other a while, then moved on to answering audience questions:

The clash of economic reality and transportation needs was a recurring theme – Arkills, for example, had dire warnings of looming Metro cuts, if “a sustainable funding base” is not found. And then there were those who just wanted help cutting through the thicket of information to find out what’s really happening with major projects right now:

You’ll have more opportunities ahead to speak out about transportation in our area – for example, as King County’s Arkills reminded attendees, Metro will start a new process this fall of opening the entirety of West Seattle’s bus-route network for discussion – looking ahead to the RapidRide era that’ll start in fall 2012, do other changes need to be made to serve the peninsula better? As for the city, Mayor McGinn mentions a West Seattle light-rail line now and then – will that turn up on the ballot sooner rather than later? And watch the City Council – SDOT’s Hahn said part of the Transit Master Plan will go to Rasmussen’s committee this Friday (watch here for that agenda). Also watch the community-association meeting announcements we feature here, since agencies like WSDOT, SDOT and Metro often make the rounds of those meetings with presentations on current and future topics.

(P.S. We don’t know yet how soon they’ll turn it around, but Seattle Channel was on hand recording last night’s forum on video, too.)

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Helicopter over southeastern West Seattle: Sheriff’s Office case
February 23, 2011 2:19 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news | Westwood

2:19 AM: We’re hearing a chopper in the distance, and via Facebook/e-mail, we have a few other reports, from Westwood to Highland Park. Checking on it. (If you are seeing ground police activity anywhere in that area, let us know – sometimes that’s the main clue.)

4:39 AM NOTE: The helicopter left shortly after we published this. As for what it was doing – no reply yet from police, but whenever we do finally get info later this morning, we’ll add it to this …

11:38 AM NOTE: Heard back this morning from Lt. Ron Rasmussen at the Southwest Precinct, who couldn’t find any evidence it was related to an SPD case. So now we’re checking with King County Sheriff’s Office, to whom the lone law-enforcement chopper in the area (Guardian One) belongs, in case it was a county case that just happened to spill over here.

4:23 PM NOTE: We finally got a bit of information, but not much. King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart says it was a KCSO case – but he hasn’t been able to rustle up the information on anything beyond, an arrest was being made. Not a big deal, he insists.

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West Seattleites in Olympia for ‘Focus Day’ school-funding support
February 23, 2011 1:36 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

(Photo by Melissa Edwards)
Presidents Day was no holiday for some local families who traveled to Olympia to advocate for education funding – amid a continuing budget crunch. Schmitz Park Elementary PTA President Fiona Preedy shared a report:

West Seattleites were well represented at the PTA Focus Day held in Olympia on Presidents Day, with Gatewood, Schmitz Park, and Lafayette parents rallying to ask legislators to better fund K-12 education.

Thanks to all the families that gathered, chanted, and made the rounds of legislators. Gatewood families – Erika Schreder and Greg Peters with Hannelore and Sarah, and Grace Bennett with her son Henry and his friend Elias; Schmitz Park families – Emily Carlson with Oliver, Emily, and Oscar, Melissa Edwards with her son Keaton, Fiona Preedy with Rowan and Aidan; Lafayette’s Lisa Schubert and her daughter Mai Li.

We had a great time, learned a lot about how government works, and we hope that we had an impact on how Olympia views funding our children’s education.

If you’d like to know more – here’s the Washington State PTA page about budget advocacy. If you want to support the cause, here’s what Schmitz Park PTA legislative chair Naheed Nizam advises:

Contact Sen. Sharon Nelson, Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and ask them not to impose any further cuts on K-12 funding. In addition … remind our legislators that “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex” – Washington State Constitution, Article 9, Section 1.

Links to all three legislators’ pages – with their contact info – can be found here.

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West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network gets the 411 on 911
February 23, 2011 12:54 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A lesson in how to call 911 – what to say, what not to say, when to call, when not to call – comprised the heart of Tuesday night’s West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meeting at the Southwest Precinct.

Teaching the lesson, Kayreen Lum, a King County 911 program manager. We’ve heard this lesson before, from different presenters, before different groups, but every time there is something new to learn:Read More

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Remembering Ron Richardson: Standing-room-only memorial
February 22, 2011 10:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

About 250 people filled the biggest room at The Hall at Fauntleroy this afternoon to celebrate the life of Ron Richardson, the historian/retired teacher/political activist (and so much more) whose cancer battle ended earlier this month at age 75.

“Continue on,” he had exhorted his daughter Carrie Lynn Richardson in a recent note, she recalled. Continue on, life did – with every chair filled, and dozens standing around the edges of the room, even as snow fell intermittently outside, and orcas swam by just off the Fauntleroy shore. Ron’s son Dan Richardson looked out over the crowd from the front of the room as the memorial began, and marveled, “Unbelievable.”

The man known for honoring the fact that everyone had a story to tell was paid tribute with a multitude of stories, from not only family members, but also from former colleagues from his years as a schoolteacher and sports coach, and from his former fellow board member at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Judy Bentley, who observed of Ron’s involvement with so many of its endeavors, from preservation campaigns to walking tours: “He just kept showing up.”

Ron’s own history yielded tales of all manner of achievements, from his multiple road trips during his son and daughter’s childhood – Carrie Lynn said she had been to all 48 continental states by the time she was 15, before she ever took a plane trip – to his 1970s work to get a school built in the jungles of Ecuador.

Speaking again at the end of the memorial’s formal program, her brother Dan recalled their father as a “hero” for keeping a positive attitude during his 16-month fight against the disease that ended his life. It was clearly not just a chin-up positive attitude, but one even with humor, as a Steve Goodman recording was played before those in attendance were invited to share food and stories with each other (and in composition books around the room), the classic “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request.”

Then there was an unspoken tribute few might have noticed – revealed by the presence of this car in the parking lot behind The Hall:

We heard Spc. Dickison’s story from Ron the first time we met him, almost three years ago. The famous sign in his front yard (which we had first noticed a year earlier), charting the tolls of the ongoing war in the Middle East, picked up a new number, in honor of Pfc. Dickison, after his mother knocked on the front door one day. After meeting him, we published Ron’s story about that in May 2008.

To that point, a eulogizer today noted that Ron’s many qualities included embodiment of Joseph Campbell’s exhortation to “Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world.” Those who gathered to remember him today, amid that particular sorrow, were invited to participate joyfully in the celebration as well.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: New snow warning; transit advisories
February 22, 2011 5:23 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WEDNESDAY MORNING NOTE: The storm warning was slightly amended late last night but is still in effect; see the new version here.)

(Photo taken 6:25 pm, sleet/hail/ice pellets/etc. still on the ground outside Southwest Precinct)
5:23 PM: As another brief shower of sleet/hail/ice pellets/snow/etc. passes through, the major transportation agencies are ending the day with advisories to be ready for anything tomorrow. Here’s the Metro advisory; here’s the Sound Transit advisory. But at this point, those are mostly intended for tomorrow morning; we’re not expected to get major snow in West Seattle tonight (we’ll update, of course, if that changes, and thanks in advance for sharing news of what you’re seeing where you are). The National Weather Service has raised the alert level to “Winter Storm Warning,” though, with this declaration:

A DEEPENING UPPER LEVEL LOW COMBINED WITH ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE THAT WILL BE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH WILL GIVE SNOW LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY TO ALL OF WESTERN WASHINGTON… INCLUDING THE LOWLANDS.

5:40 PM UPDATE: From the mayor’s office:

The latest weather forecasts call for snowfall of 2 to 6 inches beginning Wednesday afternoon, followed by freezing temperatures through the end of the week. That pattern is very similar to the snowstorm that hit Seattle during Thanksgiving week last year. While we learned a lot and made improvements following that storm, it’s impossible to predict exactly where and how this week’s storm will hit hardest.

With that in mind, we are activating the city’s snow and ice plan. The Seattle Department of Transportation began by pre-treating streets with anti-icing solution today. Crews will go to 24-hour work shifts beginning Wednesday morning. Because Wednesday afternoon’s commute is expected to be difficult, it may be a good day to work an alternate shift, telecommute or make other travel arrangements if possible.

5:48 PM UPDATE: And SDOT is out with its own statement, including snow-plan specifics:

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is gearing up for snow expected to arrive in the Seattle area on Wednesday, February 23. As of 4 a.m., ten snow plows will hit the streets in the north sector of Seattle and eight plows will move into action in the south sector. Starting at 9 a.m., SDOT will go into a full 24-hour response plan to keep roads open, buses moving and critical emergency services accessible.

The response plan calls for deploying 30 trucks with plows, which will be prepositioned throughout the city in key locations such as elevated structures and certain trouble spots on major arterials. The department starting pre-treating major roadways with salt brine this afternoon in preparation for the storm. Additional details concerning SDOT’s response will be forthcoming as more information about the impending storm becomes available.

Motorists are advised to use caution when driving in snow and ice, especially on Seattle’s many hills and bridges. For up-to-date information on the City’s response and roadway conditions, please visit: http://Seattle.gov/transportation/. Motorists can also check on current traffic conditions and roadway images on SDOT’s Traveler’s Map.

As a reminder, property owners are responsible for clearing sidewalks adjacent to their properties after a snowstorm. SDOT encourages residents and businesses to have snow shovels and materials on-hand to keep walkways clear and safe for pedestrians.

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Charges in West Seattle murder of entertainer Hokum W. Jeebs
February 22, 2011 4:01 pm
|      42 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(2/16/2011 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has announced it has charged 19-year-old Angelo Felice with first-degree murder in last Wednesday’s stabbing death of the 60-year-old Fauntleroy entertainer best known as Professor Hokum W. Jeebs (birth name Robert Stabile). He is scheduled to return to court March 8th to answer the charge. (Update: His bail has been raised to $1 million.) The charging documents allege that Felice killed Jeebs “while committing and attempting to commit the crime of robbery.” They also say that blood found on Felice’s shirt and on a knife found on the back deck of the house matched Jeebs’s DNA. The story of how the two were acquainted with each other, and what allegedly preceded the murder, is a complicated one – we will transcribe the court documents, minus names that aren’t those of the suspect and victim.

4:14 PM UPDATE: We’re transcribing the documents and updating every paragraph or so, after the jump.

5:03 PM. Transcription is finished. (Be forewarned that the narrative is graphic in spots.):Read More

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Update: Orcas pass West Seattle again; photos!
February 22, 2011 1:27 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo added 6:20 pm, taken by Jon from state ferry near Southworth – more to be added)
ORIGINAL 1:27 PM REPORT: From Orca Network, a report that the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry spotted “a lot of orcas” off Alki Point less than half an hour ago, heading south. Looking waterward, we see a big group of small boats in mid-Sound off South Bainbridge/North Blake Island – can’t tell if they’re following whales, though. Let us know if you see ’em! (P.S. And if you love orcas, don’t miss The Whale Trail‘s special event @ Duwamish Longhouse this Thursday night – details here.)

6:21 PM: Jon shared photos he took from near Southworth – THANKS!

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Update: West Seattle snow? Showers today, maybe heavier snow tomorrow
February 22, 2011 12:33 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

ORIGINAL 12:33 PM REPORT: The National Weather Service has us under a Winter Storm Watch as of midmorning (read it here), and weather analyst Cliff Mass is just out with his take, which begins ominously (or cheerily, if you are a snow fan): “Folks, this is serious.” Unsettled weather is continuing as we speak – watching Twitter, brief sleet/hail/snow-type showers have cropped up this past hour from Ballard to Silverdale – but the major snow threat kicks in tomorrow morning, according to the NWS. Updates to come!

1:37 PM UPDATE: A few flakes are flurrying here in Upper Fauntleroy at the moment. (And a few minutes later – it’s picking up a bit.)

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From the creative-gardening department: Seola’s planted pothole
February 22, 2011 11:43 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | Transportation | West Seattle news

Dawnelle just shared this photo, explaining:

Someone planted spring flowers in our long-term pothole here on Seola Beach Drive SW! I doubt that the pothole patrol will ever fix it, it’s been there for a couple of years now. Looks nice, huh?

We’re not sure whose jurisdiction the planted pothole’s in – Seattle, Burien, and unincorporated King County all have shares of that general area – but, for those within city boundaries, here’s the latest on the pothole-repair picture.

ADDED 12:56 PM: Heard back from Dawnelle, who says this is on the city side.

WEDNESDAY MORNING NOTE: Dawnelle says in comments that the pothole-repair crew showed up this morning.

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Earthquake wake-up call: Be prepared, and know your nearest Hub
February 22, 2011 10:55 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news


View West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs in a larger map

We had been planning a reminder story about this anyway, given that next Monday is the 10th anniversary of the big Nisqually earthquake, but New Zealand’s deadly quake brings the point home again, and an immediate reminder seems in order: Quakes strike without warning; they strike big cities as well as small villages. Don’t put off preparedness thinking you’ll “get around to it.” Do realize that the official agencies, like police and fire, will be so busy/overwhelmed, it’s not wise to expect they will reach you immediately and/or be able to tell/show you what to do. (This page explains that further.)

In West Seattle, we are lucky to have dedicated volunteers who, as reported here over the past three years, are working to help make sure we’re all able to help each other, and ourselves, in some semblance of an organized manner even in case of mega-catastrophe. A key component of the effort: The West Seattle Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs – now nine in number, and located on the Google map above (which is taken from the West Seattle Be Prepared website). If you’ve missed previous coverage – these are nine places (and yes, they’d love to have more, but more volunteer power is needed) around West Seattle where you will be able to go to get and share information in case disaster takes out all the regular channels. Know your nearest hub; make sure your family does, too. And have your disaster kits ready – at home, in your car (note that the New Zealand quake struck in the middle of a busy workday, as did, for that matter, the Nisqually quake). Here are some hints from 3 Days, 3 Ways. You can also go to this WSB archive to browse our coverage (newest-to-oldest) of local preparedness efforts – drills, and the daily tips we ran during Preparedness Month last April (more ahead this year, but don’t wait till April to be ready!).

P.S. Preparedness efforts for yourself and your family are priority 1 – but if you can devote time/effort beyond that, get involved with West Seattle Be Prepared; contact info is here.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Transportation – where’s it going? Plus: 911
February 22, 2011 9:29 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Pye42, from the West Seattle Blog Flickr photo pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – Bikes? Buses? Trains? Cars? Feet? Or? Tonight, Sustainable West Seattle‘s monthly community forum tackles transportation, and where it’s going. And as previewed here last week, the panel includes SDOT’s director Peter Hahn and the West Seattle-residing City Councilmember who chairs the Transportation Committee, Tom Rasmussen. Be at the Senior Center of West Seattle (enter off Oregon, east of California), 7 pm … Also tonight, another perennially hot topic: Calling 911 – when to call, what to say, what if it doesn’t sound like you’re being taken seriously? The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network hosts guests from King County 911 and SPD, and reiterate that ALL are invited, not just blockwatch captains/participants – be at the Southwest Precinct meeting room (off Webster west of Delridge), 6:30 pm … Historian and community advocate Ron Richardson will be remembered at 2 pm today, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9141 California SW) … A brown-bag talk on “developing personal safety nets” is set for 11:30 am today at Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW); call 206-659-0665 to register … Enjoy writing/telling stories? Tonight is Writers and Tellers night at two venues in White Center/West Seattle – full details here … Free live music at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW; WSB sponsor) tonight, four acts starting at 8 pm, listed on the Skylark calendar … More on our calendar!

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Neighborhood alert: Arrow turns up in Beach Drive-area backyard
February 22, 2011 12:23 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Every so often, we hear a “shots fired” report – sometimes it’s bullets, sometimes fireworks. But we can’t recall hearing about someone discovering an arrow, till now: A Beach Drive-area resident (5400 block of SW Edmunds; map) found a “full-size arrow” in the backyard on Monday morning. “Not sure what the deal is and we’re not concerned that we were targeted but we have two small dogs and that arrow would have definitely injured them as well as one of us had we been out in the backyard at the time it arrived. Don’t know when it was shot but suspecting it was after dark.” Main concern here is that “there are a lot of little kids and animals in our neighborhood,” so of course it’s been reported to police.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: A little snow, a little sleet …
February 21, 2011 10:28 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

The forecast and “special weather statements” warned it would get wintry – and it just did. Via Twitter, Diane reports 10 minutes of snow in Admiral. We got sleet – enough to briefly whiten the car top/hood and part of the street (iPhone photo at left) – here in Upper Fauntleroy. Kim says it was just rain in The Junction. The latest weather predictions suggest the best chance of bonafide snow is Wednesday night/Thursday. Here’s the newest “special weather statement” detailing the potential timeline; here’s the latest analysis, and some recent sightings, from Cliff Mass. And if you’re still confused about the difference between hail, sleet, graupel, snow, and other types of frozen precipitation – maybe this’ll help.

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Followup: ‘Clean Up Your Act, Seattle’ instigator needs you 3/5
February 21, 2011 10:07 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | South Park | West Seattle news | White Center

Remember Michael Merta, whose anti-litter letter was published here three weeks ago? He’s mustered some support and is now – with one local leader’s encouragement – inviting you to join in a cleanup, among other things. Here’s his update:

About three weeks ago I wrote an open letter about the worsening problem of litter in the Seattle area. I’ve received many responses to that letter from other concerned citizens since then. I have still not heard back from any of the city, county, or WSDOT officials that I complained to, about their plans if any, to deal with the problem.

I have been contacted by King County Councilman Joe McDermott’s office, and they have asked me to organize a cleanup through the Facebook page that I created around this issue.

The Councilman’s office has contacted Waste Management to provide support, tools, and supplies for the effort, and we are tentatively planning it for Saturday March 5th between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please see the Facebook page for further details, or contact me at michaelmerta@hotmail.com

It is unclear to me, and it is also unclear to officials in Councilman McDermott’s office, just who is responsible for routine litter patrol, and in which areas of town. There may be areas where indeed, no agency is currently responsible. Since I first complained about this to the various agencies, there has been no litter removed from the sites I’ve identified. It seems as if our local government does not have the resources, or has not allocated the resources to solve this problem, so we as citizens need to figure something out here.

Obviously, one cleanup event cannot solve this problem. In my opinion, it’s going to take a comprehensive effort involving frequent citizen cleanups, state and local government organized cleanups, increased fines, and increased code enforcement. A kind of full-on campaign, we could call it “Keep Seattle Beautiful.” I’d like some help with getting such a campaign started. We could all start by writing about our concerns to our local politicians. mayormcginn.seattle.gov, Dow.Constantine@kingcounty.gov

In a city that prides itself on being “green” and environmentally friendly, it seems we have allowed plain old litter to make a comeback. Today, as I was driving across the First Avenue bridge (one of the areas I first complained about) I noticed someone decided to drop off an old couch on the side of the road (see photo above). Funny thing about litter, you leave it there and it seems to multiply.

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Fauntleroy tree ‘encroachment’: Reminder to check before cutting
February 21, 2011 9:45 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Walking through Fauntleroy Park one day last fall, Steve Hodson was surprised to hear the sound of chainsaws. Walking toward the south ridge of the park, he came upon a tree-cutting company taking down trees and dropping the debris on a recently restored hillside, crushing the new vegetation.

Hodson, who has been a park steward for many years, pointed out to the tree-cutters that they were dropping debris on a newly restored site.

Read More

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Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza: Post-waves cleanup; bricks update
February 21, 2011 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza: Post-waves cleanup; bricks update
 |   Alki Statue of Liberty | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo by Eilene Hutchinson)
Over the weekend, Alki’s David Hutchinson shared a photo of the debris tossed onto the Alki park and shore by the wild wind-whipped waves (second-to-last image here). Tonight, he sends word of a cleanup at the plaza – and the latest on brick sales, which help pay for maintenance:

Today, volunteers from the Alki Community Council removed sand and other materials deposited on the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza by Saturday’s windstorm. The ACC agreement with Seattle Parks & Recreation makes a commitment to provide volunteer work parties to help with the maintenance of the Plaza. Parks will be replanting the landscape beds surrounding the Plaza in the coming months making use of funds from the sale of bricks and plaques the ACC has turned over to the City. Only 90 additional bricks are available and orders received by April 1st will be installed by Parks in late May or early June. Orders received after that date will be installed in the fall. Go to www.sealady.org or e-mail libertyplaza@msn.com for additional information.

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West Seattle schools: Hope Lutheran’s tournament success
February 21, 2011 3:52 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Hope Lutheran’s first-place drama team; photo from Facebook, used with permission)
Another West Seattle school with something to celebrate: Hope Lutheran School is back from its annual trip to the regional Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament (LEST) in Portland, a three-day competition in sports, arts, and more, with some big honors. For one, Hope won the Service Award for its recent food drive (here’s the recap published here) – 7,100 pounds of food collected for local food banks, more than a third of the entire total of all participating schools! Hope also won the Drama Award, first place for “The Audition.” Individual achievements included Alex Okabayashi, 2nd place in spelling among fifth-graders, chess players Isaiah Dowding Albrecht (4th place for sixth-graders) and Ryan Okabayashi (5th place for seventh-graders), and more:

Music Blue Ribbon performances
– Hope Vocal Ensemble (video here)
– Aaron Abeyta – clarinet
– Cooper Honeyman – piano
– Kassandra Krohn – piano
– Samantha Hood – vocal

Swimming
– Taylor Phelps Young – 4th place 25-yard freestyle, 4th place 25 yard backstroke
– Haley Beebe – 4th place 50 yard breaststroke, 5th place 50 yard freestyle
– Lanee Hagen – 2nd place 50 yard freestyle, 5th place 50 yard backstroke

Art Award
– Gratia Doerr
– Sean Glavin
– Tyler Ayala-Turner
– Abby Fitzpatrick

Thanks to Mike Jensen for sharing the Hope LEST recap; 19 schools from five states participated this year.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Road-rage witness request, and more
February 21, 2011 11:48 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share this morning – including a call for witnesses to a reported case of “road rage” – read on:Read More

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West Seattle safety: Signal ‘warranted’ for Avalon/Yancy/30th
February 21, 2011 10:16 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

The narrow-Y intersection of Avalon, Yancy, and 30th, south of the Luna Park business district (map), has long been a frustration, and danger, to pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and bus riders. But there’s a glimmer of hope. A resident who’s been talking with the city about getting a signal there, Liz Johnson, sent first word that the city agrees the intersection needs help. Liz shared this from city traffic engineer Valerie Lee:

SDOT recently completed a signal warrant study for the intersection of SW Avalon Way, 30th Avenue SW and SW Yancy Street. The study results showed this intersection met the MUTCD* manual signal warrant 1.

SDOT will put this location on our warranted signals location list. Every year, more signals are warranted than we have funding to build. Towards the end of each year, all warranted locations compete for the following years’ new signal fund.

At the end of 2011, SDOT will consider the traffic volume, pedestrian volume, and collision history as well as the cost of the signal to determine which of the warranted locations will receive a new signal in 2012.

*The MUTCD is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a federal document that defines the national standard for municipalities to follow when installing any traffic control devices.

We checked with SDOT about the length of the waitlist; Marybeth Turner from the communications team tells WSB, “Our Traffic Management Division reports that we now have 15 traffic signals on the list. We are usually able to install 2 to 4 new signals each year, depending on the funding available.” This is the same intersection that got pedestrian flags almost three years ago. (P.S. For comments, the city has this e-mail address: traffic.signals@seattle.gov)

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Be on the lookout for snow showers
February 21, 2011 7:54 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Mark Pierson)
It didn’t happen last time – but just in case it does this time, you should know the National Weather Service issued another “special weather statement” late last night warning about the chance of snow showers this week. Cold air and incoming systems suggest this might happen any time between tonight and Thursday, and snow or no snow, it’s going to be cold, with lows possibly in the 20s Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights.

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Video: ‘Soul Jambalaya’ talent feast, for (and with) Denny students
February 20, 2011 10:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

If you weren’t among the 200 or so people in the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium Saturday night, you missed something truly breathtaking in the three-hour, multi-act “Soul Jambalaya” event, a celebration of African-American history (musical and otherwise) to benefit Denny International Middle School musicians. We were there from start to finish, recording video so you can enjoy (or re-enjoy) highlights. Our top clip is the show-opener, the entire Denny-student-performed “The Stolen Ones and How They Were Missed” by Marcia Tate Arunga, explained in this story by Jack Broom from the Seattle Times (WSB partner). From Denny principal Jeff Clark‘s morning-after note today:

I was so proud of the students who performed the scene from our play based on the book, The Stolen Ones and How They Were Missed by Marcia Tate Arunga. Ms. Tate Arunga — and the many talented artists she brought with her — did a beautiful job working with our students and community; we are very grateful for their time and many talents. Thank you also to Ms. Patricia Rangel, who coordinated all the details of this play so effectively.

Under the direction of Denny music-program leader Marcus Pimpleton, who put together “Soul Jambalaya,” the Denny Jazz Band wowed the crowd too:

Pimpleton also leads the band program at Sealth, whose Jazz Band 2 was featured as well – here’s one of their numbers (with soloists identified at the end of the clip):

Sealth’s drummer guested with Septimus, a veteran Seattle group that was among the non-student acts on the bill:

Septimus was in reggae mode for that song, though they also played some blues; a pure reggae performer was on the program, too, even more reggae from Jamaican native Clinton Fearon:

And there were two stage-shaking, crowd-rousing gospel performances, too – including Seattle’s own Total Experience Gospel Choir, led by Pastor Pat Wright:

The brothers-and-sisters group Oliver Generations of Faith brought their own style to the Sealth stage:

While Marcus Pimpleton joked to the audience toward show’s end, “You got $10,000 worth of music,” admission was free, and voluntary donations were collected for Denny musicians’ upcoming California travel. (You can still donate – here’s where to send a check.) Two more acknowledgments from principal Clark’s post-show note:

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who came last night to support the students at Denny and Sealth at our Soul Jambalaya event. The event was a huge success! …

This whole event was the creation of Mr. Marcus Pimpleton, who, as he always does, did a phenomenal job pulling together such a fantastic event. Mr. Pimpleton has a team of volunteers who help with set up, backstage, and with countless other things–thank you, volunteers. Last night, Mr. Pimpleton said, “This is what being an International School is all about.” I absolutely agree. Thank you, Mr. Pimpleton, for all that you do for our children, our school, and our community!

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@ Alki Community Council: Alki Art Fair plan; skyscraper signs
February 20, 2011 9:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Karen Berge
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Though the city budget cuts to Alki Community Center threatened the Alki Art Fair‘s future, as previously reported here, it’s expected now to continue – with volunteer power (and that means you!).

That’s one of the biggest items discussed this past Thursday night at the monthly meeting of the Alki Community Council. City Council President Richard Conlin was there too – his first of two West Seattle visits in a three-day span – as were Southwest Precinct police leaders, who discussed crime trends as well as police-staffing plans for Alki this summer. Read on for details:Read More

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