West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Parade

    WS GRAND PARADE: Just two days away!

  • Teacher

    STAR HONORS TEACHER: WSHS educator’s big win

  • RTCC

    REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER: WS use?

Live: Mayor’s briefing on Highway 99 tunnel concerns
July 15, 2010 2:59 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

(FRIDAY NOTE: The embedded video now will take you to the archive of the Thursday briefing)

ORIGINAL 2:59 PM REPORT: As noted here this morning, Mayor McGinn is having a “strategic infrastructure expert” speak to the media at City Hall this afternoon to present information described as potential risks of the proposed Highway 99 tunnel. Seattle Channel plans to stream it live online and sent the code to embed it on other websites, so in case you’re interested in watching/listening live, here it is (just click the “play” arrow). We’ll add notes (and what we assume will be an eventual news release link) if you just want to come back and read about it later. It’s scheduled to start at 3 pm.

3:33 PM: The consultant’s statement was fairly short and he’s now taking questions. Click ahead for toplines:Read More

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West Seattle Summer Fest: Big thanks – and feedback request
July 15, 2010 12:53 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox, from the West Seattle Junction Association:

Thank you West Seattle for a great time at Summer Fest 2010! What a weekend!

The West Seattle Junction Association organizes this event to be a neighborhood festival and celebration (and the historic sidewalk sale), but it could not have reached this level of success without the involvement of our community. I’d like to say a big Thank You to the following groups who helped make Summer Fest an event for all:

Our Sponsors truly make this event possible since, believe it not, this event is not free to produce! Thank you sponsors for their community spirit. The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce staffed the Information Booth all weekend, offering valuable information about the festival and West Seattle, while also providing the first stop for lost families and first aid. West Seattle Blog (sponsor) also helped in this endeavor while reporting live from the Info Booth. The Seattle Police Department was awesome on so many levels – helping lost families, monitoring the crossing of Oregon St, and overall having a strong presence at the festival. I believe this was the best kids’ area yet and Pathfinder School continued to host the FREE Art Activities – four years running. Thanks to Coffee to a Tea for donating more than 1500 cookies for kids to frost and decorate in this area. West Seattle Helpline coordinated the Community Tent where local organizations and non-profits received a free table at the festival. Twilight Artist Collective organized the Art Dive tent – thanks for all the great art! The West Seattle Nursery (sponsor) and Sustainable West Seattle coordinated the first ever GreenLife: A Garden and Sustainability Expo. And lastly, thank you to Cleanscapes and Starbucks, who sponsored the handling of recycling, composting and trash and were responsible for a super clean event!! West Seattle Summer Fest was a true collaboration of community.

We work to produce an event that is successful for all, and feedback from the community is a guiding force. I have read (and appreciate) all the comments on the WSB about the festival and they will certainly be a consideration for next year. If you would like to submit comments directly, please e-mail info@westseattlefestival.com.

Thank you,
Susan Melrose, Director
West Seattle Junction Association

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‘House on the move’ update: What the ‘No Parking’ signs are for
July 15, 2010 10:30 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
3 weeks after we brought you first word – thanks to a tip from Larry Nitkey – that this old house at 4516 42nd SW (part of the site of a future development project) is going to be moved to another lot in West Seattle, the big overnight move is coming up early this Sunday. And if you are on the route, you are probably seeing “No Parking” signs by now. JayDee e-mailed WSB to say he spotted them yesterday along 44th near Charlestown, but we didn’t make the connection immediately until a Facebook note from Jenny this morning. Our partners at the Seattle Times have mapped the entire route here; they also published a great story with lots more about the home’s history here. (Note added later: There are apparently two sets of “No Parking” signs in that general area – one for the July 24th West Seattle Grand Parade bus re-route, one for this event, so look at the fine print if you have to park near one!)

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West Seattle Wednesday: Alki dogs; traffic reminder; tunnel talk
July 15, 2010 9:15 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Melanie for sharing great-blue-heron photos so awesome we had to share two. And beach news is in the morning preview: When the Alki Community Council meets tonight, one of its agenda items is a discussion of off-leash dogs at the beach – a rep from Seattle Animal Shelter will be on hand; another special guest is Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Benjamin Kinlow. ACC meets 7 pm, Alki UCC church (61st/Hinds). … TRAFFIC REMINDER: 10 pm-5 am tonight, Highway 99 closes both ways along a stretch through SODO for installation of more overhead signs … And speaking of 99, Mayor McGinn seems to be going full-bore with doubt-raising about the proposed tunnel – this afternoon he’s invited media to a briefing we’re planning to cover, with a “strategic infrastructure expert” who’s going to talk about what the invite calls “risks associated with the state’s proposed deep-bore tunnel project.” … One other note from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Drop-in gardening at St. James Annex (9421 18th SW) with Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle, 6;30 pm – a great chance to do some gardening if you don’t have space of your own. And now, Melanie’s other cool heron photos, as we fly off into the day:

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34th District Democrats: Initiative 1098 briefing, and more
July 15, 2010 8:07 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgFrom last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting in Fauntleroy: The main event was a presentation in support of higher-earners-income-tax initiative I-1098, which the group already has endorsed; meantime, they took stands on two other ballot measures – read on for the details:Read More

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Reminder: Spokane Street Viaduct lane closure starts Monday night
July 15, 2010 1:34 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Many of the traffic-alert signboards that are now up in and around West Seattle say simply “Lane closing 9 pm Monday on the West Seattle Bridge” – and since that doesn’t tell the whole story, as evidenced by a couple notes on our Facebook wall, here’s another reminder: Starting at 9 pm next Monday, and continuing for up to six weeks, the outside lane on the eastbound side of the Spokane Street Viaduct – aka the West Seattle Bridge between Highway 99 and I-5 – will close, roughly between 1st and 4th Ave. South, so that work can be done to connect the new 4th Ave. offramp. But the eastbound lower roadway will reopen along that stretch – so you potentially can skip the whole thing by getting off at 1st Avenue South. It’s all explained here. 3:15 PM NOTE: We told SDOT many of the notes we’d received indicated some confusion with the signs’ terminology; they indicate it’ll be changed to say “Upper Spokane” rather than “West Seattle Bridge.”

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Pro soccer player helps High Point learners kick it up a notch
July 15, 2010 1:22 am
|    Comments Off on Pro soccer player helps High Point learners kick it up a notch
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

That’s midfielder Tafara Pulse from the Seattle Sounders Women team, visiting High Point’s Commons Park on Wednesday night for the second weekly summer soccer-learning session presented by High Point Community Center.

The players are 7-to-14-year-olds, in the midst of a free six-week session learning the ever-more-popular game. Gorgeous night to be out on the field.

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Update: Power flickers, outages reported around West Seattle
July 14, 2010 9:50 pm
|      56 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

(Scroll down for morning update on suspected cause)
9:50 PM: Getting multiple reports via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook of power flickers – and apparently at least one actual outage in Highland Park. Checking.

9:57 PM UPDATE: Reported outages include areas of High Point, Fairmount Park, Highland Park. As pointed out by Pete in comments, and shown on the 911 log, there’s a transformer fire reported in the 8100 block of 1st Avenue South, which is between West Seattle and South Park (map) by Highway 509. P.S. If you’re in south West Seattle – those are the White Center Jubilee Days fireworks you’re hearing right now (we can hear them in Upper Fauntleroy, *not* something related to this.)

10:18 PM UPDATE: City Light’s official update calls this a “large” outage in West Seattle, but doesn’t yet list a cause. Still checking.

10:45 PM UPDATE: Just got a call back from City Light media liaison. They still don’t know what caused this, he says, so they don’t know how soon it will be fixed. Crews are currently out following the trail of the outage, which affects about 900 homes/businesses right now (large area but spotty in its effects, as we saw while driving around looking). He says the system “tried to right itself by cycling” – but it “locked out” and “the circuit remained open.” We’ll keep checking for updates.

10:54 PM UPDATE: Getting some reports of power coming back on. Let us know if yours was out but has returned.

11:27 PM UPDATE: Still no official word on the cause – we’ll see what we can find out from the SCL communications team in the morning. But more people have reported getting their power back.

12:03 AM UPDATE: … but not everybody, as comments indicate – part of Highland Park is still out of power.

1:09 AM UPDATE: Paula just texted to say the outage continues in her part of eastern WS. City Light has now briefly mentioned the outage here, but no new info.

1:44 AM UPDATE: And after about four hours, that area’s back too, according to another text just received from Paula. (Thanks again to everyone for sharing news on what’s happening where you are!)

8:11 AM UPDATE: City Light says it believes the outage was caused by a tree/power line conflict in the greenbelt near 4th SW/Cloverdale (northeast of West Seattle Reservoir).

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Update: Car crashes through fence at 35th/Avalon
July 14, 2010 9:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL 9:27 PM REPORT: This call was originally dispatched as a “heavy rescue” but has already been downgraded after crews reported nobody was trapped in a vehicle after all – according to the scanner, it’s a car over an embankment at 35th and Avalon; thanks to those who texted us the tip. We just arrived and the fire units have all cleared, which suggests no injuries; will have a photo of the car (and info on traffic effects, if any) shortly. 9:39 PM UPDATE: Photo added, courtesy Mike Heavey (who we’d just seen while covering the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting an hour ago). Meantime, WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from the scene that police say the driver went through the fence – northbound side of the street, about 100 yards south of the stalled (and recently sold) development site – while swerving to avoid another vehicle. Nobody hurt; no traffic effects.

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West Seattle people: South Seattle CC sendoff for Mike Munson
July 14, 2010 9:25 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Another notable farewell: Co-workers and other well-wishers gathered at South Seattle Community College this afternoon to say farewell to Mike Munson (photographed with wife Marsha), the longtime SSCC public-information director who’s about to retire. He’s not only worked to get the message out about West Seattle’s only college, but has also been SSCC’s rep on local groups such as district councils. His going-away gift: An autographed apron:

Co-workers say the apron is appropriate, because cooking is one thing he’s hoping to do more of!

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Admiral Neighborhood Assoc.: Politics, parade, concerts, traffic …
July 14, 2010 7:27 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

About 25 people gathered Tuesday night at Admiral Church for the monthly meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association.

The agenda included a forum for local political candidates, a discussion of the “rechannelization” proposal for Admiral Way (as a follow-up to SDOT’s open house earlier in the afternoon), an update on a possible pedestrian signal at 47th SW & Admiral Way, a recap of the successful 4th of July Kids’ Parade, and an overview of the group’s final preparations for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB, beginning 2 weeks from tomorrow).

Read More

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Junction Neighborhood Org.: Real Change’s side of the story
July 14, 2010 3:30 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Last time the Junction Neighborhood Organization met, two months ago, the group got a wide-ranging and candid briefing from a Seattle Police officer whose focus is on The Junction. He had harsh words for Real Change and its vendors (part of this WSB story on that meeting). The organization took exception to the characterization. So last night, when JuNO met again, Real Change staffers took their turn to address community concerns about people selling the paper (who may or may not be actual vendors). Read on:Read More

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West Seattle coyotes: Another new believer
July 14, 2010 3:02 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Out of the WSB inbox, from Michael:

I recently read about a coyote being spotted running at 37th and Juneau. Didn’t think it was possible, but this morning at 4:45am, I say one running down 38th between Juneau and Raymond [map]. I thought that was the last I would see of the animal but a few minutes later it came running back up the street in the opposite direction. If I weren’t for the fact I know they like to eat cats and small dogs, I’d welcome this bit of wildlife in our midst!

How to coexist with coyotes – read it here; past WSB coyote coverage – see it here.

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Update: Hazmat response wrapping up on Harbor Island
July 14, 2010 1:29 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL 1:29 PM REPORT: A big Fire Department response is dealing with a hazmat situation on the north end of Harbor Island (13th SW/SW Florida), and while SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says no injuries are reported, scanner discussion indicates traffic trouble in the area. The situation involves a “substance leaking from a container” in a rail yard – no other details yet. 4:24 PM UPDATE: From SFD via Twitter: “Hazmat incident on Harbor Island is wrapping up. 3 units standing by until a contractor can come take care of the issue. No injuries.”

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West Seattle Junction Car Show: Don’t let that application idle
July 14, 2010 12:50 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Award-winning Camaro from 2009 West Seattle Junction Car Show)
With West Seattle Summer Fest in the rear-view mirror, the next big all-day-street-closing event in The Junction is the 3rd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show, just two months away. Organizer Michael Hoffman from Liberty Bell Printing says they’re already 50 percent over the number of registrations they had by this time last year – so if you’re not pre-registered, you’ll be left in the dust. You can get an application here, or if you prefer, stop by Liberty Bell (4736 California SW) or call 206 935-1212. Michael says they’re expecting to hit the maximum possible number of cars, 300 (last year, they had 257). As for car-show visitors, we asked Michael about other highlights beyond the cars themselves: They’re working on some marine possibilities, like a second hydroplane, maybe even a rocket boat; different antique fire trucks; and after some gripes about last year’s music, a new DJ is on board, Michael says, with the ’50s-’60s music that seems to be the optimal soundtrack for classic-car shows. 8 am-4 pm in The Junction, Sunday, September 19th (with co-sponsors including WSB)!

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Fauntleroy Community Assoc.: RapidRide, pump station updates
July 14, 2010 11:29 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | Utilities | West Seattle news

From last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting: FCA is continuing to pressure Metro to address concerns about the plan for the RapidRide bus stops at (and across from) the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Last month, the group got its first look at 60-percent-complete design for the stops, which bring Fauntleroy Way down to one lane each way by the terminal, leading to traffic concerns, including big backups behind stopped buses. FCA has sent King County Executive Dow Constantine a letter describing the design as “unacceptable,” but president Bruce Butterfield said last night that nothing’s come of the letter yet. FCA’s Susan Lantz-Dey, who’s on a RapidRide advisory committee, says the next step is to start a working group with local residents, Metro, and SDOT. No date/place for meetings is set yet. The night’s other major topic: Future upgrade work at the Barton Pump Station on the north side of the ferry dock – read on for that:Read More

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Traffic alert: Highway 99 closure, detours later this week
July 14, 2010 9:52 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in from WSDOT:

Drivers should expect delays and detours on northbound and southbound SR 99 in SODO starting on Thursday, July 15, and ending on Friday, July 16. Crews will close all lanes to install a sign bridge over both directions of SR 99. The new sign bridge will support two electronic message boards.

Thursday, July 15 – morning of Friday, July 16
· All lanes of northbound and southbound SR 99 at S. Lander Street will be closed from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.

DETOURS
Northbound:
Trucks: East Marginal Way S., to Alaskan Way S. to S. Atlantic Street, to First Avenue S., to northbound SR 99.
General traffic: First Avenue S. at the First Avenue S. Bridge, to the northbound SR 99 on-ramp near the stadiums.

Southbound:
Trucks: First Avenue S. off-ramp, to S. Royal Brougham Way, to East Marginal Way S., to southbound SR 99.
General traffic: First Avenue S. off-ramp, to southbound SR 99 at the First Avenue S. Bridge.

(Addendum from WSDOT: Eastbound West Seattle Bridge offramp to northbound 99 also will be closed)

This work is part of the SR 99 Intelligent Transportation Systems project.

And remember that next Monday night, 9 pm, is the start of the up-to-six-weeks, round-the-clock closure of one lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge east of 99, between 1st and 4th Avenues, to connect the new 4th Ave. So. offramp.

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Update: 2-car fire near Fairmount Park was accidental
July 14, 2010 9:16 am
|    Comments Off on Update: 2-car fire near Fairmount Park was accidental
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

That’s the aftermath of a fire that burned two cars in the 3900 block of SW Brandon (map) early this morning. We checked with Seattle Fire spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen after a TV news report early today suggested this was being investigated as a crime – she says that’s NOT the case; the fire was accidental – cleaning supplies stored in the trunk of one car corroded some wiring and ignited flames, which spread to the second car before the fire was put out. No injuries.

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West Seattle Wednesday: High Point produce; 34th Dems; more…
July 14, 2010 8:56 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: High Point produce; 34th Dems; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

That photo’s from the sizzling sunshine of last Wednesday afternoon, when the High Point Market Garden farm stand opened for the first time this season. Today, round 2 – look for the tent next to the big, beautiful mini-farm at 32nd/Juneau, 4-7 pm. Also happening in High Point today – the library branch invites teens to come play games, 2-3:30 pm, and HP Community Center sponsors round 2 of soccer instruction, 6 pm at Commons Park. … Tonight at The Hall @ Fauntleroy, the 34th District Democrats will discuss I-1098, the income-tax initiative, and are also scheduled to hear a briefing on Burien issues (here’s the agenda), 7 pm … Also at 7, Fine Films at Freshy’s is showing “The Triplets of Belleville” tonight, in honor of Bastille Day … and in White Center, the Jubilee Days carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park starts at 7, with fireworks at dusk.

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Race for the 34th: Candidate conversation – Mike Heavey
July 14, 2010 8:22 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   34th District State House 2 | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(EDITOR’S NOTE: With two weeks till ballots are mailed for the August 17th primary, we’re taking a closer look daily at the candidates in two contested local races. This week, we are bringing you stories about WSB conversations with the four contenders for 34th District State House, Position 2. We began Tuesday with Joe Fitzgibbon (story here); today, Mike Heavey.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When a candidate takes his/her turn speaking at a political group’s endorsement meeting, you might liken it to a baseball slugger stepping to the plate, ready to hit one out of the park.

When Mike Heavey spoke to the 34th District Democrats the night they decided who to endorse in the 34th District State House Position 2 primary, his speech – which startled some people to the point of audible gasps – was more like an announcement he wasn’t taking a swing in this particular stadium: He said he wouldn’t seek the endorsement, facing two rivals who were “known quantities” in that arena.

By name alone, Heavey, a 30-year-old West Seattle resident, is hardly unknown. His father is a former state senator and current King County Superior Court Judge. He has been working for King County Councilmember Jan Drago in recent months, representing and/or assisting her at high-profile events dealing with current top-of-mind issues like the South Park Bridge.

But when we talked about that notable night during our recent conversation at a coffee shop in White Center, he had no regrets about withdrawing from that particular endorsement process. Instead, he told a family story or two about triumph despite the absence of a certain endorsement or two.

Read More

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West Seattle scene: Post-sunset celestial splendor from Alki
July 13, 2010 11:55 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

From Alki photographer David Hutchinson – Venus, the crescent moon, and the Olympics, on what might be the last crystal-clear night for a while.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: That midday search, and more
July 13, 2010 11:31 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

After several notes scattered over the course of the afternoon/evening, we finally have information on the big police presence that several people noticed in Highland Park and south White Center at midday today: Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith tells us tonight that it started with a report of a “domestic-violence disturbance” in the parking lot of Walgreens at 15th/16th/Roxbury. The suspect, a man in his late 20s, ran; he eventually was found hiding in bushes two blocks away, but matters were complicated by the fact the victim was uncooperative, says Lt. Smith, and tried to keep officers from finding the suspect. Once he was found, he was booked into King County Jail in connection with an outstanding warrant. Also tonight, two reader reports – a stolen car, and a car prowl – read on:Read More

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West Seattle scene: Farewell to a Fauntleroy fixture
July 13, 2010 10:25 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Farewell to a Fauntleroy fixture
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(From left, Jack Block, Vicki Schmitz-Block, David Haggerty, Dicki Crumm)
Before tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting (toplines in a separate report), FCA board members and friends had a special mission down the hill at Endolyne Joe’s – paying tribute to Dicki Crumm, who’s been Joe’s general manager since it opened in 2003. Dicki’s leaving Joe’s, “to take some time away from the business.” FCA president Bruce Butterfield (not pictured) presented her with a certificate of appreciation and carried the tribute on to the start of the board meeting, reminiscing about Dicki’s community involvement and how much it’s meant to FCA over the years. (Wednesday morning P.S.: The certificate actually proclaims Dicki an honorary Fauntleroy resident, “with all the privileges and responsibilities pertaining thereto”!)

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