August 2012

The 2012 King County Primary Election ballots have been sent out, and the deadline for submitting your vote is Tuesday, Aug. 7.

While voters can spend the stamp money and simply put their ballot in the mail by Tuesday, there is a local option to drop it off at a ballot van in West Seattle, located at the West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th Ave S.W.).

The van will be there on Aug. 3, 4, 6, 7 (Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday). Their hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Along with a number of primary elections, citizens can also vote on the Seattle Public Libraries Levy and Children and Family Services Levy.

For additional information, visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx.

Write-in candidate for 34th District, Position 2, House of Representatives joins the field
Vashon resident Mark Cavener (Democrat) is getting the word out about his run for the 34th District Position 2 seat against Joe Fitzgibbon, who appears unopposed on the ballot.

Seattle Department of Transportation announced the upcoming traffic changes West Seattle drivers will encounter from Aug. 6 through Aug. 17.

The following traffic changes will occur during the next two weeks for work on the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project:

The eastbound travel lanes on the Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed at First Avenue South overnight on Friday, August 3, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. During the closure, all eastbound traffic will exit at the First Avenue South off-ramp. Motorists wishing to access the I-5 or Columbian Way on-ramps can continue eastbound on surface S Spokane Street to Sixth Avenue S, where they can connect to the ramps.

Staring Monday, August 6, First Avenue S between S Horton and S Spokane Streets will be reduced to one lane in each direction 24/7 for approximately eight weeks.

The westbound travel lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between I-5 and SR 99 will be closed for two nights next week, Monday, August 6, and Tuesday, August 7. The closures will begin both nights at 10 p.m. and run until 5 a.m. the following morning. Click the links below for detour maps:

Update for 12 p.m., Aug. 3
In a followup conversation on this morning's fatal crash in White Center, Sgt. Cindi West said investigators found no indication of alcohol, drugs or speeding involved on either drivers' part.

West said the female driver (who was headed eastbound on 106th in a Ford Bronco when she ran into the male victim pulling out of his driveway) had an 8 year old in the vehicle, but they were not injured. Charges are not expected to be filed against the driver.

The victim, a man in his 70s, was dead by the time paramedics arrived.

Original post
According to the King County Sheriff's Office, one man is dead after a collision near the intersection of S.W. 106th St and 9th Ave S.W. in White Center.

Sgt. Cindi West said the victim was pulling out of a private driveway when he was t-boned by an eastbound driver on 106th.

We will update as we get more information.

Recently, the Department of Planning and Development recently identified throughout the city of Seattle about 800 unreinforced masonry buildings (URM), which, in the case of an earthquake, could have serious damage caused to them, according to a press release.

About 60 of the buildings are in Ballard alone, located heavily in the Ballard Ave corridor between Market St and 17 Ave NW. Buildings include the Conor Byrne Pub, Portalis Wine Shop and Wine Bar, Old Town Alehouse, Bastille Restaurant and others, most of which have commercial uses. Several of these buildings were built around 1900.

Details and a full list of URM buildings can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@emergprep/documents/web_informational/dpdp022285.pdf.

When the Great Wheel on Seattle's waterfront is in operation after dark, it is normally lit but it's capable of much much more. In fact it is outfitted with thousands of LED lights and a sophisticated computer driven system that can display a stunning array of patterns and sequences.

In honor of Fleet Week the Great Wheel will offer a series of special displays each night beginning tonight at 10pm. The display will last about 30 minutes.

If you are along the Harbor Ave side of West Seattle you will be able to take in the show.

The Wheel's impressive lighting system was introduced on the fourth of July, but has not displayed a show since, despite popular request. The owners of the wheel feel that this special occasion is the perfect opportunity for another light show.

“Lighting up the wheel is a fun way to honor this wonderful Seattle tradition, as well as the brave men and women who are fighting for our country,” said Kyle Griffith, one of the owners.

Fauntleroy resident Alex Bergler, 19, graduated Aviation High School last year. Just before he did, he organized a high-performance exotic car show for his senior project & animal fundraiser, "Angle of Attack, an Aerodynamic Kinship Between Exotic Automobiles and Aircraft". It was held at Boeing Field's parking lot, and well-attended. He leaned on some of the pals he has made from the weekly car gathering he's attended for two years who show their Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other 12-cylinder gems. It is called "Exotics at Redmond Town Center", or "ERTC". You can read the West Seattle Herald story about the event here.

The Seattle Museum of Flight asked him back, and to lean on his buddies again to appear with their vehicles, this time to coincide with Seafair events including the Air Show. The cars, part of the museum's "Need For Speed Festival" which ties into the Blue Angels, will be on display from around 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, both Saturday and Sunday.

Press release:

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington State Parks Foundation invite the public to attend ShellFest 2012 at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 18 at Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Pl. S. The event features fun activities for the whole family, including low-tide beach walks led by local experts, touch tanks, ice tables, children’s activities, craft booths, face painting, paddle making, videos and more.

Lunch is free and provided by Taylor Shellfish, with a suggested donation of $5 for individuals and $10 for families that will go to the Washington State Parks Foundation. Admission is free. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the event.

Additional event sponsors include the Department of Health, the Puyallup Tribe, Taylor Shellfish, Washington Sea Grant, Flute Quest 2012 and Westport Aquarium.

The Monogram Club, former West Seattle High School lettered varsity athletes providing scholarships to new alumni there met at Salty's on Alki Thursday, Aug. 2, for a special luncheon. They recognized two citizens. Each, you might say, beat the odds, Kayla Burt and Joe Epler.

Kayla Burt

Guest speaker Kayla Burt is an Alki resident and former UW Huskies basketball leading scorer. At a small get-together at her home, she went into cardiac arrest and was clinically dead, shortly before New Year's Eve, 2003. Her heart stopped for five minutes.

Luckily she had eight teammates over, hanging out for the holiday. At 11:23 p.m. she was sitting down on her bed, then collapsed face down. Her eyes were rolled in the back of her head. She was purple and seemed lifeless her pals recalled. Two performed CPR.

As King County prepares to construct the new Combined Sewer Overflow Facility near Lowman Beach, which will start next year they are getting the site ready. An early step is the erection of a fence prior to the deconstruction of the onsite buildings coming this fall. Lowman Beach Park is at 7071 Beach Drive. s.w.

The county is inviting the public to help paint the mural that will cover the construction site fence for at least the next year. A mural painting teaching artist from the Nature Consortium will be onsite to explain mural design and help painters get started. Materials and templates will be provided, and if you'd like to take part they are urging you to wear your "painting clothes."

The event will begin at 10am and conclude at 3:30pm.

Families and children of all ages are welcome, and there is no obligation to stay for the whole day. You can paint for a while, enjoy a snack and then go enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

King County is building the Murray CSO Control Facility to protect public health and clean up Puget Sound.

King County Murray CSO Control Facility Fence Art Paint Party
August 18, 2012 at 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

SLIDESHOW. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR MORE

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels took off at Boeing Field at 10:00 a.m. and about 1:30 p.m. to practice over the Seattle area to perform for Seafair. About 25 adults and children gathered for a close-up view at Ruby Chow Park, just northwest of the runway, holding cameras with powerful telephoto lenses, binoculars, and toy planes as the jets roared overhead. While it was just a practice run, onlookers seemed to agree it looked perfect.

For lane closure info, click here.

From the Seafair website:

U.S. Navy Blue Angels Schedule

PRACTICE/DEMO - Friday, Aug. 3, 1:30 p.m.- Fat Albert, 1:40 p.m.- Blue Angels

PERFORMANCES -Saturday, August 4 & Sunday, August 5, Fat Albert-1:30 p.m., Blue Angels - 1:40 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels