October 2012

A major stretch of State Route 99 in Seattle will be closed this weekend to allow crews to inspect and reinforce the Alaskan Way Viaduct and upgrade expansion joints on the Aurora Bridge.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) coordinated closure schedules to keep traffic moving before and after Sunday’s 6 p.m. Sounders game at Century Link Field.

“This critical work on the viaduct and the Aurora Bridge requires major closures, but more than 60,000 fans need to get to the match and back home,” said WSDOT Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program Deputy Administrator Matt Preedy. “We scheduled the work so crews would not disrupt traffic before and after the game.”

Alaskan Way Viaduct closures

Both directions of SR 99 between the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge will close at 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.

SR 99 will reopen by 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, two hours before the start of the Sounders FC match with Portland at CenturyLink Field.

Monday, Oct. 1
Volleyball
West Seattle 3, Cleveland 0
West Seattle won all three games in last Monday's match against Cleveland.

Ingraham 3, Chief Sealth 2
The Seahawks were edged out by Ingraham in another Metro League match played Monday.

Boys golf
Seattle Prep 143, West Seattle 103
Bailey Fuentes shot a 40 for fifth place to lead West Seattle this past Monday.

Tuesday, Oct. 2
Volleyball
Seattle Luth. 3, Tacoma Baptist 1
Seattle Lutheran of West Seattle won a battle against Tacoma Baptist last Tuesday.

Girls soccer
Chief Sealth 6, Rainier Beach 0
Chief Sealth rallied past Rainier Beach in a big way Tuesday.
West Seattle 3, Ingraham 0
West Seattle shut down Ingraham for a Metro League win on Tuesday.
Foster 7, Evergreen 0
Evergreen fell to Foster in a 7-0 rout Tuesday.
Mt. Rainier Luth. 3, Seattle Luth. 1
Seattle Lutheran lost in Tuesday's all-Lutheran showdown.

Wednesday, Oct. 3
Volleyball
West Seattle 3, Rainier Beach 0
West Seattle swept Rainier Beach away this past Wednesday.

Boys golf
Lakeside 112, Chief Sealth 29

Paving maintenance in the City of Seattle is part of the voter-approved, $365 million Bridging the Gap Levy passed in 2006, and it is finally Delridge Ave S.W.’s turn for some much needed attention.

Starting in January of 2013, Seattle’s Department of Transportation will start a nine to 12–month repaving project from S.W. Orchard St. to S.W. Henderson St. There are several changes coming along with the new concrete.

In a sparsely attended public information meeting at Chief Sealth on Oct. 2, SDOT employees set up to answer questions and explain the process.

Changing bus routes has meant adjustments for many people and Metro has endured many complaints since the new RapidRide C Line launched this week. Metro announced on Oct. 5 that starting Monday, October 8, they are adding two morning and two afternoon peak commute-time trips to the new RapidRide C Line.

Riders will see more RapidRide C Line peak service with trips every 8 to 9 minutes during the highest ridership commute times – about 7:00 to 8:30 AM and 4:30 to 6:00 PM.

Higher than expected peak time ridership demand emerged this week Metro acknowledged.

In a press release they said, "Customer reports, early ridership data, and field observations helped to confirm that there was strong transit demand to justify adding trips."

Metro noted hundreds of additional commuters on RapidRide and other bus routes from West Seattle compared to tallies from this past spring. They said their planners and service coordinators will continue to actively monitor ridership, operation and performance, and will make adjustments to service as needed.

Correction: This post incorrectly listed the Chamber luncheon time and date. Councilmember Burgess will attend the Oct. 10 luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce luncheon set for Oct. 10 will feature Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess presenting the steps of the budgetary process for the city.

Those attending are urged to bring your questions, your business cards, and meet Tim and network with other meeting attendees, and become more informed about your community and the political processes of the city.

Register online: http://westseattle.wschamber.com/events/details/october-monthly-meeting…
Or contact the Chamber Office: 206-932-5685

WSCC October Afterhours at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights
Thursday, October 18, 2012
5:30 – 7:00 PM

Join us for the WSCC October Afterhours at Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights. Merrill Gardens has developed several successful retirement and care centers. Discover this remarkable facility, network, and enjoy another fun afterhours with the Chamber.

Press release
Tribute Times Two
Anthems of Activism: Pete Seeger and Steve Goodman

Two shows!
Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at the Historic Admiral Theater in West Seattle benefiting Northwest Folklife

“PETE: The Songs and Times of Pete Seeger,” led by Peter McKee: 4 p.m.
and “Steve Goodman: Facing the Music,” led by Clay Eals: 7 p.m.

“Tribute Times Two,” an energetic afternoon and evening of live music focusing on the songs and inspiring lives of two folk-music masters, is on tap Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at the Historic Admiral Theater in West Seattle.

This extraordinary experience, coming just three weeks before the Nov. 6 general election, will emphasize the themes of peace and justice in song. It will take the form of a double bill:

 4 p.m.: “PETE: The Songs and Times of Pete Seeger,” a one-man, multimedia performance led by Seattle banjo player Peter McKee, honors the songs, the times and commitment of the legendary musician.

Among the cuts that happened to transit on Saturday, Sept. 29, people who work and residents that live along Seaview Ave, between the Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens, may be left hanging.

That’s because the only bus line that serviced the strip, Route 46, was cut due to low ridership.

But according to Gail Luhn, president of the Shilshole Liveaboard Association, people relied on the service. She recently met with King County Councilmember Larry Phillips to express her concerns and to explore the possibility of other options that can serve the residents of Shilshole Bay Marina, retirement condos and others. She said that many in the Marina were low-income and had no other means of traveling, and that she had mobility concerns for those who were elderly who lived in retirement communities such as Sunset West. In addition, she said there was a small contingent of middle and high schoolers who will now have to hoof it to the nearest stop to get to school.

Without the 46 service, these residents will need to travel approximately a mile, down by Ballard Locks, for the nearest transit access. For some, this is not an option.

King County officials painted a dire picture at a North Highline Area Unincorporated Council (NHUAC) information session Oct. 4 of decreased services to North Highline residents if they don’t approve annexation.

K.C. Councilmember Joe McDermott even raised the possibility that North Highline’s roads would gradually turn to gravel because of the lack of county maintenance.

NHUAC has formally endorsed annexation to Burien and McDermott also read a letter of endorsement from King County Executive Dow Constantine at the Oct. 4 meeting (the letter is attached at the top of the story).

North Highline residents will vote on annexing to Burien in the upcoming Nov. 6 election. Seattle officials had previously named North Highline as a potential annexation area but have not gone forward with the process.

Information meetings sponsored by the city of Burien have featured City Manager Mike Martin talking about annexation from Burien’s perspective.

King County officials painted a dire picture at a North Highline Area Unincorporated Council (NHUAC) information session Oct. 4 of decreased services to North Highline residents if they don’t approve annexation.

McDermott even raised the possibility that North Highline’s roads would gradually turn to gravel because of the lack of county maintenance.

NHUAC has formally endorsed annexation to Burien and McDermott also read a letter of endorsement from King County Executive Dow Constantine at the Oct. 4 meeting.

North Highline residents will vote on annexing to Burien in the upcoming Nov. 6 election. Seattle officials had previously named North Highline as a potential annexation area but have not gone forward with the process.

Information meetings sponsored by the city of Burien have featured City Manager Mike Martin talking about annexation from Burien’s perspective.

But the NHUAC meeting included Councilman McDermott, Sheriff Steve Strachan, county analyst Karen Freeman and state Sen. Sharon Nelson. Martin, Burien Fire Chief Mike Mars and Assistant Burien Police Chief Carl Cole also participated in the panel.

We brought you the news on Sept. 21 that several neighbors living around the intersection of S.W. Morgan St. and 36th Ave. S.W. were living in fear of having personal property stolen - and possibly worse - at the hands of a group of people living in a "flophouse" (as described by the neighbors) at the intersection.

As of Oct. 4, all windows are boarded up, "No Trespassing" signs are posted on the front door and fence, and it appears the troublesome tenants have decided to move on ... at least for now.

Neighbors believe the flophouse tenants were busy stealing and trafficking stolen goods and dealing drugs. Lt. Pierre Davis with the Southwest Precinct, at a recent meeting, confirmed he was aware of several people who frequented the home and they had known criminal pasts.