April 2021

Aiming at a moving target; Running a restaurant during a pandemic is more than challenging
Dan Austin has made it work, largely by helping and getting help from friends

Over the past year, being a bar or restaurant owner has been rough. The pandemic alone is enough to make any business owner apprehensive. But in places where people can spend more time, voices can get loud, and folks are less than six feet away it's even harder. Dan Austin, owner of Peel and Press in the Morgan Junction and The Flightpath Tavern in Boulevard Park has met them all, often through creativity, opportunity and with the help of good friends.

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UPDATE: Two people died in Burien hit and run; Driver charged with two counts of vehicular homicide

Update Friday April 9

King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Irene Plancarte-Bustos with two counts of vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, attended vehicle hit and run, and reckless driving.

Her arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 22 in the GA courtroom of the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

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How a Seattle game of ‘telephone’ became a worldwide art event
What started early in the pandemic with a secret message grew into a global project with nearly 900 pieces of art — and debuts this Saturday

By Margo Vansynghel / Crosscut.com

April 9, 2021

Growing up in Portland, Nathan Langston used to relish the game of telephone: The mystery of the initial secret message. The whispers traveling person to person. The big reveal of how much the message had warped in translation. But, most of all, Langston loved being in the starting position. “I was always the kid that wanted to go first and create some crazy message,” he says. 

Now 39 years old, Langston — a Seattle-based artist and UX designer —  kicked off another round. This time, it involved more than 900 grown-up participants in nearly 500 cities across the world, all playing a part in a virtual art project called Telephone. 

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Application process open to use Spokane St Swing Bridge for lifesaving medical appointments
Restaurants and retail applications open later this month

information from Seattle Department of Transportation

People seeking lifesaving medical treatment, on-call medical workers, West Seattle restaurants and retail businesses, and people using vans, shuttles or official carpools with a state-issued rideshare license plate can soon apply to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for access to the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge).

This access is on a temporary and limited basis. People must apply, provide their license plate, meet eligibility requirements, and be approved by SDOT before using the low bridge.  

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"Forward Washington" plan would include funding for West Seattle Bridge and Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation Corridor
Highland Park Way/Holden Street SW traffic control would be allocated $2.5 million; White Center pedestrian improvements also part of the plan

In the recently unveiled WA House and Senate Transportation package known as “Forward Washington,"  there are funds allocated to several westside projects that would, if passed, have a major impact on local transportation.

In the plan the legislature proposes to authorize $25 million for the West Seattle High-Bridge Repair and $54 million for the Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation (BIRT) Corridor. Additionally the long sought funding for the Highland Park Way SW /Holden Street roundabout would be funded as well. The description of the project may however be outdated and actually in reference to the signal project, since the last estimate for the roundabout was far higher.

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Low level West Seattle Bridge access eases a bit as more people will be allowed to cross
Allowed trips will double to 900; West Seattle restaurants and retail get a helping hand in the form of more allowed trips

It's been some time coming but finally more people will be able to cross the low-level West Seattle Bridge, at least until Terminal 5 opens likely in the first quarter of 2022.

The Seattle Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that applications will open later this month for people with lifesaving medical appointments, restaurants and retail struggling during pandemic, on-call medical workers, and additional types of vans and shuttles to access the Low Bridge. Weekend morning all-access hours will also be extended by 3 hours to allow crossing  up to 8 a.m instead of ending at 5 a.m on Saturdays and Sundays.

160 businesses have been part of a pilot program for the last few months to assess demand. Now the list is being expanded.

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It's official! SPS votes to make it Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex

The board of the Seattle Public Schools voted unanimously on April 7 to add the name Nino Cantu to the Southwest Athletic Complex at 2600 SW Thistle Street. As Westside Seattle reported first the name change honors the beloved ground and event manager who passed away in October 2018. 

The effort was led by Denny Middle School Lunchroom Manager Doree Fazio-Young, and assisted by Denny Principal, Jeff Clark and others.

Fazio-Young wrote, "Two and 1/2 years ago almost to the day I stood on the Football Field at Southwest Athletic Complex doing a tribute to My Best friend Nino Cantu with his family and friends and a lot of the community we gave him a send off which was in true Nino Fashion a standing ovation.

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