day : 11/10/2013 12 results

Reader report: A 12-year-old girl told her parents – who in turn told police – that she was followed around 8 pm tonight in Gatewood, near 39th/Webster (map), by a van described as “light-colored, beat-up,” driven by a man described as “middle-aged, with dark brown hair.” She reported the van followed her for a few blocks as she walked home from a friend’s house and at one point flashed its lights at her; she started running when she noticed it, and hid on the side of her house because nobody was home yet. Her father then arrived and saw the van as the girl ran to the parent’s car; the van took off at that point. The family just wanted to share the alert; we’re checking to see if police have anything to add.

PACK YOUR BAG! Day 10: Another round of cleanliness

October 11, 2013 9:24 pm

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| Preparedness | West Seattle news

Here’s tonight’s installment of what to put in your “Go Bag” – which we’re building one day at a time during Washington Disaster Preparedness Month, with the help of West Seattle Be Prepared:

Put these basic hygiene items in your kit today: toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, comb, hand sanitizer. A ziplock bag is a great way to keep all these together.

WEEKEND ALERT: We’re still only a third of the way in and this weekend is another perfect opportunity to catch up, even if you are starting from scratch (first thing to do: find the suitcase or backpack that will be your “Go Bag”). So Saturday’s installment will be published here by 9 am tomorrow, so that you can go shop, whether you’re looking for the next item, or catching up on what’s gone into the bag so far, or both.

Catch up with previous installments by going here. The most recent installment is always linked atop the BIG STORIES list in the sidebar on the right side of WSB pages.

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West Seattle schools: Next draft of proposed boundaries goes public

October 11, 2013 6:52 pm

| 58 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(UPDATED MONDAY with link to district survey about the new draft)

Tonight, the next draft of proposed Seattle Public Schools “growth boundaries” is out, as part of the agenda for next Wednesday’s School Board meeting, at which they are to be officially introduced.

See the maps here; changes from the first draft are described in this document.

One big change: The district says it’s addressed concerns that the High Point area was being split between the reopening Fairmount Park Elementary (which feeds Madison Middle School) and West Seattle Elementary (which feeds Denny) by keeping most of the High Point community feeding into WSES and Denny.

What hasn’t changed: K-5 STEM at Boren is still proposed for evolution into K-8 STEM at Boren, to be permanently sited at the mid-Delridge building that once was Louisa May Boren Junior High School. … Once the new Genesee Hill elementary school is built, the current Schmitz Park site is still proposed for evolution into an “early learning center … to serve students in special education development preschools along with typical peers.”

The department also has compiled comments received on the first draft of the proposals, including those voiced during the round of public meetings that included the one September 25th at West Seattle High School (WSB coverage here) – see them here, organized by the schools (in alphabetical order) to which they refer – 96 pages of comments!

Timeline: From the accompanying materials attached to the agenda:

New boundaries, as well as location of services and programs, will be implemented in phases in alignment with the BEX IV construction schedule and enrollment changes. Some changes will be implemented beginning in 2014-15; others cannot be implemented for several years because they are dependent on completion of BEX IV projects. As BEX IV projects come online and additional capacity becomes available, implementation of Growth Boundaries will be phased in.

We’re still reviewing the supporting materials. The board meeting is at 4:15 pm Wednesday (October 16th) at district HQ in SODO, but this item isn’t scheduled to come up until after 6 pm – the agenda is here.

ADDED MONDAY: As a commenter has noted, the district has just gone public with a survey to ask what you think about the second draft – take the survey here.

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West Seattle restaurants: Cassis’s Alki location now official

October 11, 2013 4:50 pm

| 33 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

“It’s been a bit of a long haul getting to this point but now all of the cylinders are running and we’re very excited.” So says Jef Fike, proprietor past and future of Cassis, mentioned here back in January, after <Rebekah Denn broke the news he hoped to revive his fabled French restaurant on Alki, nine years after it closed on Capitol Hill. We’ve checked in with him a time or two since then, and today he confirmed to WSB that the Alki location is now official, and as long rumored, it’s 2820 Alki SW, where Alki Arts closed its beach location at the end of September after its lease wasn’t extended.

Fike told WSB today that he has “signed a lease and taken possession of the gallery space. Plans are done, permits are now being applied for and we intend to open in February 2014. It will be a full restaurant and bar which should seat 45-50, including the bar seating.” No website yet but he’s launched a Facebook page. He’s “also doing a pop up dinner on November 11th at Cafe Grub on Queen Anne Hill to begin to introduce our food to the city. We’re hoping to find a West Seattle location for a second one in January.”

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West Seattle coyotes: Sunrise Heights double sighting

October 11, 2013 4:48 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Out of the WSB inbox this afternoon, from Ann Marie:

There’s a couple running around right now around 28th/27th & Kenyon. [map] I’ve seen them twice now this afternoon…bring your cats in!

As always – we share this “coexisting with coyotes” info including how to scare one off if you see one (or two!).

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Heroic teen keeps fire from spreading at North Delridge home

October 11, 2013 3:50 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

What started as a house-fire call this afternoon – but was quickly downgraded – seemed so small when we went by, we weren’t even going to mention it – until our followup question to Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore brought news of a heroic teen:

At 1:38 p.m. a 911 call came into a firefighter/dispatcher reporting a dryer fire at a home located in the 5900 block of 26th Avenue SW in West Seattle. When Engine Company 11 arrived they found the exterior-dryer-vent fire was extinguished thanks to the quick work of a teenage occupant of the house. The teen used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames on the outer wall of the 2-story house before crews arrived.

While the exterior flames had been extinguished, the fire worked its way into the wall. Firefighters were able to cut holes into the wall and knock down all of the flames and hot spots. The damage estimate is several thousand dollars. There were no injuries.

Moore says the vent fire started with lint – which brings an important reminder to check the one at your home; here are safety tips from the National Fire Prevention Association.

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Free Seattle Symphony concert, and more options for the rest of your West Seattle Friday

October 11, 2013 1:45 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

If you haven’t checked our calendar yet today – five quick highlights for this afternoon/evening:

TIBBETTS RUMMAGE SALE, DAY 1: Hannah was helping out at the Express Pay Line when we stopped by the Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) rummage sale this morning. Just like a grocery express line – if you have just a few items, the express line’s for you here. Meantime, here’s one of the unique items we found – an antique tea set!

The sale’s on until 4 pm today and 9 am-3 pm tomorrow (Saturday), 3940 41st SW.

WINE AND CHOCOLATE WITH THE ROTARY: As previewed here – tasty benefit to help the Rotary Club of West Seattle raise money for community projects like the Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. The Sanctuary at Admiral, 5 pm. (2656 42nd SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Chief Sealth IHS is on the road vs. Nathan Hale, 6 pm at NE Athletic Complex (10750 30th Ave NE) … West Seattle HS is home vs. Ingraham, 7 pm at SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle)

SEATTLE SYMPHONY, FOR FREE: Community concert at Chief Sealth International High School tonight, all welcome, no admission charge. 7:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)

SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: Live music and dessert at Fauntleroy Church, this time featuring bluegrass by Pickled Okra. 7:30 pm; details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)

COLLEEN RANEY CD-RELEASE PARTY: Seattle-born singer in the Irish tradition, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

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Your baby can be a teacher: ‘Roots of Empathy’ seeking families

October 11, 2013 12:16 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

From Amy Cooper, who will be teaching “Roots of Empathy” at Alki Elementary, which is introducing the program this year:

Are you the proud parent of a 2- to 4-month-old baby? You and your baby could be a Roots of Empathy family!

Roots of Empathy is an award-winning program for elementary-school children which has been bringing the wisdom of parents and babies into classrooms since 1996 and is currently in nearly 100 classrooms in the Seattle area. The program helps children learn about a baby’s needs and development, and lets children see a loving relationship grow between parent and baby.

The heart of Roots of Empathy is the neighborhood parent and infant who join the Roots of Empathy Instructor in the classroom for Family Visits. There are 9 visits during the school year, approximately once a month, and each is about 30 minutes long.

The program celebrates the power of the family in the development of the baby as a person. Classes are taught by a certified Roots of Empathy Instructor trained to give lessons on how a baby grows, naming and talking about feelings, and thinking about the feelings of others. The Instructor will ask you to share with the students how it feels to be a parent and to talk about how your baby is growing and learning.

Your baby will be loved by every student and be a star in the school and your family will be helping to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies.

We are currently looking for Roots of Empathy families to join Alki Elementary’s three kindergarten classrooms in their first year of offering the program at Alki. If you are interested, please contact Amy Cooper at 206-390-6065 or by e-mail at akcooper07@yahoo.com. You can also read more about the Roots of Empathy program at rootsofempathy.org.

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Wondering about those temporary cameras in Arbor Heights?

October 11, 2013 9:46 am

| 28 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

9:46 AM: Lots of questions about temporary installations along/near 35th SW in Arbor Heights, including the one in our photo – a tall, skinny pole fastened to city poles and signs, topped by small cameras. We at first thought this might be related to more city improvements for safety along the route to Arbor Heights Elementary School, and asked SDOT if the cameras were theirs; they said no, not theirs (but they have been getting questions too!). We found a phone number on one of the boxes and tried it; received a call back from a rep at IDAX, which owns the equipment. The cameras are “counting cars,” he explained, as part of a traffic analysis related to AH Elementary. We’re checking with the school district right now to see if it’s part of the preparation for building the new AHES (this is the last year the existing building will be in use) or for something sooner (the school has just implemented a new pickup/dropoff traffic plan, as noted in its newsletter), and we’ll add whatever we find out. The IDAX rep, meantime, said that they are keeping the cameras up through today so they can compare traffic today (with no classes at the school) to measurements from a school-in-session day like yesterday.

11:24 AM UPDATE: SPS spokesperson Tom Redman tells us it’s “for the traffic study we are performing as part of our SEPA checklist requirements” for construction of the new AHES. (SEPA is short for the State Environmental Policy Act, as explained here; traffic is one of the factors considered in SEPA reviews of projects.)

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Update: Costume swap at City Mouse in The Junction tomorrow

October 11, 2013 8:41 am

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| Environment | Holidays | West Seattle news

Since we first told you about the Halloween-costume swap coming up tomorrow at City Mouse Studio and Store in The Junction, proprietor Donna has made a change: Even if you haven’t already dropped off a costume to swap, you can just bring your gently used kids’ costume(s) to the store starting at 10 am tomorrow and swap on the spot. Have a greener Halloween and join in! (P.S. Did you see Donna on KING 5 this morning? Our friends there spotted the story here and reported from her store at 4218 SW Alaska to share the news about National Costume Swap Day. If a clip turns up online, we’ll link it here.)

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High-school sports: West Seattle HS soccer teams shut out opponents

October 11, 2013 8:28 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to West Seattle High School soccer parents for updates on two Thursday games, both of which included the Wildcats holding their opponents scoreless:

The varsity team played at Addams Playfields in North Seattle. Karin Beck shares the photo and report:

The WSHS girls’ varsity team tied Nathan Hale, 0-0. Shutout keeper was Sarah DuLong. Next game is against Chief Sealth, 3:30 pm on October 15th at Walt Hundley Playfield.

That’s the field next to High Point Community Center, and it’s also where the JV team played their NH counterparts Thursday; Anne W. shares a photo and report:

WSHS Westside girls’ JV soccer wins over Nathan Hale, 2-1. Goals were scored by Madison Larsen (pictured) and Delia Finney.

We welcome game reports from any and all high-school sports – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Friday

October 11, 2013 6:31 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

First, a word about the camera view: The east-facing West Seattle Bridge camera has been offline for days; the west-facing one is switched to a low-bridge view as of this writing, but SDOT could change that at any time; some other cameras are shown on/linked to the WSB Traffic page.

SCHOOL’S OUT: No classes today for Seattle Public Schools or Highline Public Schools (White Center, Shorewood, southward).

DETOUR REMINDER: The repaving detour on Delridge Way between Roxbury and Henderson did change directions as of Thursday afternoon – southbound traffic now continues through, while northbound traffic is detoured.

CITYWIDE WEEKEND ALERTS: Who’s at which stadium and when? That’s part of SDOT‘s roundup of weekend events citywide that might affect traffic.

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