Another reminder: Viaduct closures this weekend
If you missed (or forgot) our alert last week: The Viaduct will be closed all day Saturday and much of the day on Sunday, for its next round of safety checkups. According to the official WSDOT info page, The Viaduct will close at 6 am both days, reopening at 7 pm Saturday, 3 pm southbound/4 pm northbound on Sunday. The earlier reopenings on Sunday are because of the evening Seahawks game; West Seattle gamegoers have an additional transportation option — special Water Taxi service that day, 3 pm-9:30 pm.
Traffic alert
Heading westbound on The Bridge up the Fauntleroy end, just passed a fresh two-car fender bender in the left eastbound lane. Traffic was starting to back up. Beware if you have to head out from that end of the The Bridge. 8:17 UPDATE: May not be causing too much headache; you can check Fauntleroy eastbound just past Alaska on this city cam.
No “Gathering” till next year
The community-connection organization Megawatt has called off this year’s “Gathering of Neighbors” showcase, which had been scheduled for November 3rd. An e-mail announcement sent out last night by Megawatt leaders says the group has been focused on a “strategic planning process” and adds: “We are incredibly proud of our community events and programs, and over the next few months will work to support these programs by focusing on and building our organizational infrastructure. As part of this process, we have made a strategic decision to postpone … Gathering of Neighbors until 2008.” Megawatt says it will continue offering its community “field trips,” including an artist-studio tour on October 25th; more info on the Megawatt website (and the listings are on our frequently updated West Seattle-wide Events page too). For anyone who already signed up for the now-canceled Gathering of Neighbors, Megawatt says it will refund the table fees within the next few days.
They’re not just going after “House” after all
Earlier this week, we discussed the notice (however official or unofficial) that frequent WSB contributor “The House” got on the windshield of his parked-on-the-planting-strip car in Westwood. At the time, he suggested that police should be focusing instead on the seemingly abandoned RVs lining nearby streets. Tonight, good news for “House” and neighbors — we spotted Seattle Police enforcers in action (on Trenton west of the Westwood Village turn-in) along RV Row:
Get ready to walk the (Art) Walk
Great news – looks like decent weather to stroll The Junction during tomorrow night’s monthly West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk. The official Art Walk blog lists participating artists, with a reminder that you can get a free glass of bubbly at West 5 if you mention you’re Art Walk-ing; we’ve also heard from Dan at Ginomai on the north end of the route (Genesee/42nd) and he says, “We have a number of studio open houses as well as an additional 3 West Seattle artists showing in our community room. Free off-street parking lot to begin your walk from!” 6-9 pm tomorrow.
Traffic alert: Truck/train track trouble just east of WS
If you are heading home from downtown or heading toward South Seattle, this could affect you: South Spokane Street/East Marginal Way is blocked by a truck that’s flipped onto the train tracks. This is under the bridge, so if you’re not taking surface streets, you should be OK.
Reader recommendation request, revised: Home wireless net
UPDATE from originally posted RRR: WSB reader Kmac wants advice on the best HOME wireless internet provider. Kmac elaborated in a comment on our previous post:
… I’m looking for PROVIDERS of wireless internet service at HOME. I really don’t want to call Comcast and sometimes I can’t go out and need to stay home. Yes, I’m one of the few folks still without internet service at home and bizarre, bizarre – I only have one wireless network close to home I can “link” to, but I have to be out on my balcony. I think I remember a year or so ago a company new to WS offering internet service, but they weren’t offering it everywhere – at least not yet in Alki. So…that is my need….wireless internet at home that isn’t from Comcast.
The company Kmac refers to is likely Clearwire. How’s that working for WS users? And how about the wireless phone companies who also offer wireless broadband? Plus — any little-known options? Comment away!
Reader recommendation request: Best West Seattle wi-fi
REVISION FROM ORIGINAL POSTING: WSB wants to know your favorite spot for free wi-fi in WS (originally attributed to a reader who actually was asking about home wireless internet, so we are posting a separate item). Back when we were all quaking in anticipation of Freeway Fright ’07, we had intended to come up with an official list — but as we all know, FF ’07 never did explode into a commutastrophe, so we dropped the effort. Some readers noted their faves at the time in comments on this post, and Jerry at JetCityOrange pointed everyone to a WS-wi-fi Google Map he put together on his “About West Seattle” page. Various other websites aren’t necessarily reliable — this one, for example, lists at least two WS places that have been closed a while (Bikes & Brew and Carosello). So what’s your fave? Let’s see if we can crowdsource the latest list.
Happy homecoming
We promised you an update once it was confirmed: The cat pictured at right, found at 35th/Thistle and taken care of for more than a week before its finder e-mailed us for help, is now home. His name is Max; his owner saw Max’s photo on WSB just before catching a plane out of town but managed to get a housesitting friend to go retrieve Max and bring him home. Gotta love a happy ending.
A few more days to go for La Rustica fire repair/remodel
A member of the family that runs the well-regarded Beach Drive Italian restaurant La Rustica had told us they hoped to reopen last night, after adding some remodeling work to the repairs following last month’s small fire. However, the work’s not quite done yet, so LR was still closed last night; our family contact says they are “working hard to open ASAP,” adding “the kitchen remodel is looking great!” and noting they have a big reservation for Saturday night & “intend to keep that reservation.”
Best food in the Seattle school district?
Dori, the Denny Middle School Lunch Lady, says that’s what she serves every day, and she invited the architects and school administrators overseeing the Denny-Sealth construction project to come have lunch. She was one of about 35 people who came to tonight’s overview of the latest plans for the Denny-Sealth shared-campus project with some serious concerns over the initial plans. The plan presented showed one kitchen which would serve both schools, to be located between the gym and the common areas. As Dori said – a kitchen with no windows or adequate ventilation is not a good idea. What she wants is for the planners and architects to see the existing Denny lunch room and kitchen, which she calls a “kitchen done right.”
Read More
Denny-Sealth campus consolidation meeting: School sparks
Just back from the school district-organized Denny-Sealth project update meeting at CSHS. Sparks flew, especially on the issue of why this meeting was called with only days’ notice. Another one is set for later this month. Our full report will be posted here later tonight.
Election countdown: 4 weeks away
Election Day is November 6 — exactly four weeks away. Discussion and debate are revving up, particularly regarding the biggest ballot measure in the election — Sound Transit/RTID Proposition 1, also known as “Roads and Transit.” Pros here, cons here, but, you may ask — what’s in it for West Seattle? You can get the full picture at the next meeting of Sustainable West Seattle, Monday night (October 15th) at Camp Long, during a Q/A forum with supporters and opponents. Meantime, the 34th District Democrats gather for their regular monthly meeting tomorrow night at The Hall @ Fauntleroy. They are not only making plans for getting out the vote in November — they also are dealing with their official role in the changing of the legislative guard in our area. The resignation of West Seattle’s State Senator Erik Poulsen is now official, and the 34th District Democrats must recommend proposed replacements to be appointed to the Senate seat till the next election. Precinct officers from around the district will gather this Saturday at High Point Community Center to formally recommend three possible appointees. West Seattle State Representative Joe McDermott is considered the leading candidate for that appointment; if he gets it, attention then moves to the House vacancy that would ensue. A candidates’ forum is expected to happen October 24th, probably also at The Hall @ Fauntleroy. The 34th DDs have tons of information about the Senate/House/etc. appointment process, including the 7 candidates who are seeking the potential House job, on this page.
The next big West Seattle retail trend?
We’ve had a cascade of cupcakes, a plethora of pet stores … now, perhaps, a surge of supplement shops. A year after Super Supplements moved into The Junction, a new permit granted for space in Westwood Village (we haven’t done the backwork yet to figure out which space “E8” refers to) reveals the impending arrival of “Fresh Vitamins.” A quick websearch shows they have several other outlets around the metro area.
Two Tuesday night notables
JUNO MEETS AGAIN: If you live in or around The Junction, it’s your chance to get in on the ground floor of a great group — tonight’s the second meeting of JuNO (Junction Neighborhood Organization). They’re gathering at the Senior Center (Cali & Oregon) at 6:30. Click for the updated meeting agenda flyer.
DENNY/SEALTH CONSOLIDATED CAMPUS – WHERE’S IT AT? Find out from school district reps at tonight’s meeting in the Chief Sealth HS Little Theater (also 6:30). Will anything have changed from the intense schedule laid out at the summer meeting organized by the Westwood Neighborhood Council? Will the website mentioned on the district flyer be up and running any time soon? These and many other questions about this nine-digit project will hopefully be answered.
Several other noteworthy gatherings tonight too, including the Fauntleroy Community Association and Admiral Neighborhood Association; these and many more listings are always accessible on our ever-growing Events page.
Help make The Junction a prettier place
The West Seattle Junction Association Beautification Committee is soliciting bids for some landscaping work to spruce up various spots in the heart of West Seattle, including the well-known “flagpole corner.” Click ahead to read the request for bids — interesting reading even if you don’t expect to be bidding — and to see a sketch of the areas involved:Read More
When 
—
| 5 COMMENTS