September 2011

On their blog, the Seattle Department of Transportation highlights the recently finished changes to 20th Avenue NW.

This summer, SDOT added bike lanes on either side of the road to help both bicycles and cars.

"The recent changes on 20th Avenue NW demonstrate how SDOT is better supporting cycling while still addressing the needs of drivers," according to SDOT. "As part of Bike Master Plan implementation, we removed the center turn lane to install bike lanes while also preserving on-street parking. These bike facilities run for a half mile in both directions on 20th Avenue NW from Market Street to NW 65th Street."

SDOT took this approach to 20th Avenue NW because of its low volume of traffic and small number of turning movements, providing an opportunity to improve bicycle access along the street without affecting vehicular traffic flow, inhibiting access to residential side streets or removing parking.

George John Stimac beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully at his home on August 30th, 2011.

He was born in Ronald, Washington on April 22, 1930. He graduated from Cle Elum high school in 1948 with a track scholarship to Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. In April 1951, he was the third man on the four man relay track team which competed in the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. His team took first place in the two mile relay setting a national record that shattered the previous record by Drake University ten years earlier. During his high school and college years he set many track records.

In June 1953 he graduated from WSU College of Pharmacy. He was immediately drafted into the army for the Korean conflict. Upon his discharge in May 1955 his pharmacy career began. He came to Ballard working for Art Olson Pharmacy.

In 1959 he married a Ballard gal, Beverly Olson. They had three children. Beverly passed away in July 1989.

He purchased Market Street Pharmacy and had a thriving business there for over 38 years.

Ballard Elks Lodge's eighth annual Car Show will take place on this Labor Day Monday.

The best car wins a trophy and everyone gets to have fun.

With lots of car, a BBQ and Beer Garden, warm weather and the beach, there will be something to enjoy for everyone.

Admission to this day event is free but donations are gladly accepted.

The Ballard Elks is located at 6411 Seaview Avenue.

For more information about the Ballard Elks, visit www.ballardelks.org.

The coming three-day Labor Day weekend should be a good one with warm sunny weather and some of the city’s most popular annual events taking place. The Seattle Seahawks will kick off the weekend Friday night with 60,000 football fans cheering them on against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. Saturday, Seattle’s 41st Annual Bumbershoot Festival, offering the range of music and arts, gets underway at the Seattle Center with no less than 50,000 people expected to attend each day. Also on Saturday, the Huskies will take on Eastern Washington at Husky Stadium and is expected to draw 70,000 Dawg supporters. And last, but not least, on Saturday, nearly 1,000 women will take part in the Seattle Celebrating Life! Dragon Boat Festival on Lake Washington and at Stan Sayers Park.

The Seattle Department of Transportation urges event-goers to consider reducing their impact on the environment by leaving the car at home and trying one of the many alternate modes of transportation available - Metro Transit, the West Seattle Water Taxi, the Sounder commuter train, Link light rail, car pool, bicycle or even walking, if feasible.

Friday, September 2

Press release:
Sustainable West Seattle is taking on a monster of a problem in Puget Sound with a new campaign that empowers citizens to curb toxic runoff.

The group is hosting a series of free educational events September – November.  Audience members will be eligible to win up to $1,000 in prizes like water cisterns, landscape consulting, car wash gift certificates, oil changes, bus passes, and more.

Toxic runoff comes from many everyday sources, including soap, paint, fertilizers and herbicides, and even dog poop.  According to the Department of Ecology, toxic runoff is the No. 1 threat to the health of Puget Sound.  Each year, 14 million pounds of pollutants wash from our streets and driveways directly into our rivers and streams, and ultimately into the Sound.

“Most people I talk to think that polluted runoff from our streets and driveways go to facilities to remove contamination,” said Cate White, leader of Sustainable West Seattle’s toxic runoff outreach group. “However, that isn’t true.  Most runoff is not treated. Our campaign helps people understand how they can reduce that flow of toxic runoff.”

King County deputies are already lining up for the White Center storefront deputy position only days after County government said it was coming back, and days before the job has even been officially posted.

That’s the word from KCSO Capt. Joseph Hodgson, addressing the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council on Sept. 1.

“Thanks to some great work by the community and some help from the (King County) council and executive’s office we are getting our storefront deputy back – it’s going to be tremendous,” Hodgson said.

While details are still being ironed out for the position, Hodgson said the successful candidate will have a lawful eye dedicated to White Center 40 hours a week, and hopefully be in place by Oct. 1 (although delays are possible).

The storefront deputies in West Hill and Boulevard Park currently work four 10-hour days from Tuesday to Friday, and he said White Center’s deputy will likely do the same, sharing information and resources with the storefront deputy at the Greenbridge housing complex and White Center’s community service officer.

The Aggressive Driver Response Team Is still at it out there. Here's their latest report.

Posted by Detective Jeff Kappel

On August 31st officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team issued the following citations: 

Holy Family Elementary School – 20 mph zone

2 at 33 mph

1 at 32 mph

2 at 31 mph

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 52 mph

1 at 49 mph

3 at 48 mph

1 at 47 mph

2 at 46 mph

2 at 45 mph

1 Stop Sign

On September 1st officers from the Aggressive Driver Response Team issued the following citations:

West Seattle Bridge – 45 mph zone

1 at 78 mph

1 at 72 mph

1 at 70 mph

1 at 67 mph

1 at 65 mph

1 Drive On Shoulder

1 Suspended Driver’s License

SW Admiral Way – 30 mph zone

1 at 54 mph

1 at 48 mph

3 at 47 mph

3 at 46 mph

1 Cell Phone

West Marginal Way SW – 40 mph zone

1 at 53 mph

The Seattle Police Department encourages all motor vehicle operators and bicyclists to be familiar with and obey all local and state traffic laws and to always drive with due regard for all others on the roadway.

Press release:
On Labor Day , Monday, September 5, most Metro Transit service
will operate on a Sunday schedule. If a route does not normally
operate on Sunday, there is no service on Labor Day. Sunday/Holiday
fares < will be in effect on Labor Day.

Metro offices, including the Customer Information phone lines and
pass sales counters, will be closed on Labor Day.

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi , will operate on a Sunday schedule,

Jennifer Hall, Special Education instructor for West Seattle High School shared these thoughts about the start of the new school year and their first day (after a mandatory furlough day):

We had a great day, and it seemed like all of us were really `pumped' to get back to work! We have some City Year volunteers with us this year. They're such caring, personable young people! They can only do good! They are wearing the red t-shirts, and sitting up front in the staff photos.

TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE PHOTO CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

West Seattle High School teachers, administrators and support staff were back on the job for a full day today, after being furloughed on August 31. We had a wonderful, collegial day to work with each other, and plan the best possible start for our 2011-2012 school year.

We are excited to welcome new and returning students back to school on September 7! Last year was a good year for West Seattle High School.

Anthony Haroldlee Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge of second degree murder with a firearm enhancement in his arraignment at the King County courthouse on Sept. 1, according to the prosecutor's office.

25-year-old Smith was charged with the Aug. 16 shooting death of Sweetheart Failautusi in White Center, and remains in jail on a $1 million bail.

Smith's case setting hearing will be on Sept. 15.

The sentencing range if convicted is 16 to 24 ½ years in prison.