11:43 PM: Don’t know yet what has brought Guardian One back to West Seattle tonight but it’s helping with a search in the Southwest Athletic Complex/Chief Sealth IHS vicinity. More as we figure it out.
12:00 AM: Guardian One left shortly after that update; scanner traffic indicated police had been searching for (at least) three suspects and found two.
12:30 AM: Tweets by Beat finally has the initial classification on the call – robbery. Notable considering there was a robbery about 24 hours earlier in Roxhill Park, as noted here; no helicopter for that one because it wasn’t reported until later, when the victim made it home a few miles away.
7:24 AM: Comments mention G-1 back in the area in the 2 am hour, this time further south. The helicopter crew subsequently tweeted: “Assisted KCSO Deputies on search for subject who ran from traffic stop and possible unreported stolen car.”
When Betina found her car had been prowled overnight, she noticed an odd detail:
My car was broken into last night/early morning between 2:00 and 7:00 AM (Saturday, 9-12-15) near the intersection of SW 104th Street and 32nd Ave. SW in Arbor Heights. The car was parked in the driveway.
I found that the rear passenger quarter glass window was smashed, the driver door was left open, and the hood was also left open (not left wide open, but they did not latch it closed after they were done peering into the engine compartment). Nothing of any significance was stolen and there was no damage to the car, except the window. It does not appear that the person/prowler/thief was very interested in any personal items in the car or they were very neat, because everything was still in the glove box, console, etc.
I find it interesting that the hood was open, but no attempt was made to steal the car itself (no steering column damage). Maybe this car did not fit their esteemed criteria.
LIKA LOVE’S LOCATION: After reverting to all-mobile for a while when its previous storefront in The Junction became Pagliacci Pizza‘s expansion zone, Lika Love Boutique has a new permanent bricks-and-mortar location, at 6031 California SW in Morgan Junction.
The space was briefly Meander’s Kitchen‘s first WC location and, before that, Papa’s Pub, at 9635 16th SW. NB is planning to be open 10 am-11 pm tomorrow – a little earlier than usual so you can see the Seahawks game.
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS CLOSED SUNDAY: Your next chance to shop at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) in The Junction will be Tuesday – proprietor Frank Gross sends word TRG will be closed tomorrow (in addition to its regular Monday closure) for renovations. Some rearranging has to be done, he explains, for a new infusion of inventory in the bass department.
Just in, the first update of the day from either side in the Seattle Education Association / Seattle Public Schools negotiations, which resumed today for the first time since SEA went on strike Wednesday. This update is from the district:
The SPS and SEA bargaining teams resumed negotiations today.
The district presented a new offer today that added funds specifically designed to address the 20-minute addition in the student day (grades K-12).
Negotiations are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
The district continues to be ready to continue bargaining so that school can begin for our 53,000 students. The district will provide updates as they become available.
SEA has confirmed via text message that talks resume tomorrow. We had asked via e-mail if they had any further comment to characterize today’s talks; so far, they have not.
EARLIER: Four hours before this update, we published a recap roundup of where things stood going into today’s talk, plus various strike-related notes; see it here if you haven’t already.
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: The district is having a media briefing at 3 pm. So it’s a good bet we’ll hear then about the plan for tomorrow.
It’s on! The West Seattle Soccer Club‘s fall season started today, and it’s another record-setter: 2,036 young players signed up to participate, 343 volunteer coaches on board to help them. Some played today, some play tomorrow, and some start next weekend; you can find schedule and other league info via westseattlesoccer.org.
Did you feel it? We heard from one person south of Alki Point who said they did – a 4.0-magnitude earthquake at 3:22 this afternoon, epicenter east of North Bend. Lots of info here – and if you DID feel it, tell the scientists by filling out this form. The quake gives us a reason to remind you that September is Preparedness Month – and at the very least, you need to know where your nearest Emergency Communication Hub is.
WestFest is almost here and it’s going to be FABULOUS! Come and join us at Holy Rosary School (4142 42ND AVE SW) from 6 pm-10 pm on Friday 9/18 and 10 am-10 pm on Saturday 9/19!
· Last call for discounted wristbands! If you haven’t yet purchased yours yet, stop by the Holy Rosary School office (at the above address). Prices do go up at the event, so get yours now!
· BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: TODDLER TIME!
Bring your preschoolers to Toddler Time at WestFest! Holy Rosary is bringing the Carnival of Community to our younger West Seattle residents this year! From 10 am-12 pm on Saturday, they can enjoy a discount on 3 rides exclusively for them! We are also featuring a clown who will twist up creative balloon animals. There are a lot of food options to add fuel to all this activity, so stick around for lunch and treats too! At 3:00, enjoy Raymond the Magician!
· We brought the book sale back, so bring your family and friends to WestFest to browse! You can “Fill A Bag For $2, Or A Donation” during the last 2 hours of the sale (4 p-6 p) on Saturday.
· We are proud to announce our 2015 Stage Lineup:
FRIDAY
6:30 PM Comerford Dancers – Celtic Arts Northwest
7:30 PM Ruby-Seattle U Redhawk
8:30 PM Inner Voices
SATURDAY
10:30 AM Toddler Time Tunes w/Friendly Clown
12:00 PM Mode Music Studio- Student Performances
2 :00 PM lo: Eclectic Mix Live Music
3:00 PM Raymond The Magician
4:00 PM Cavalcade of Pets! – Step right up and introduce your animal on center stage
5:00 PM Intermission
6:00 PM West Seattle’s Got Talent – Who’ll take the prize?
7:00 PM Mode Music Studio- Rock Bank
8:15 PM Raffle Winners Announced!
9:00 PM Acid Tounge
· You can also play some bingo, try many delicious food options and treats, proudly wear a WestFest shirt, try your luck at the Cakewalk, play games and enjoy the rides—there are too many activities and choices to name them all! Come and experience all the Carnival of Community has to offer your family!
3:27 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a full-size response to the 8600 block of 9th SW in Highland Park for a possible house fire. More to come.
3:32 PM: The first units on scene say it appears to be just a fireplace problem, so the response is being scaled back. Our crew, on arrival, has confirmed: Fire in fireplace, flue not opened, smoke got out of control, no problem otherwise.
Will Seattle Public Schools finally open next week? Too soon to say, but the weekend began with reason for hope.
Today (Saturday), negotiations were scheduled to resume between the Seattle Education Association and SPS, after three days of SPS’s first contract-related strike in 30 years. It’s the first face-to-face bargaining since early Tuesday evening, when SPS made an offer that SEA considered to be nothing new and then answered by announcing the strike (which had been authorized in a unanimous voice vote on September 3rd). Classes were to start last Wednesday for SPS students, but instead, schools have remained closed, while the 5,000-member SEA picketed Wednesday and Thursday (saying Day 2 had 97 percent participation) and did service projects Friday.
(WSB photo, Friday afternoon @ Alki)
As of this writing, neither side has said publicly how today’s talks are going. But here’s what happened after Friday’s service projects and other activities (including the afternoon Alki Beach Read-In):
*At 4:20 pm Friday, SEA announced via text/tweet that negotiations would resume Saturday “after productive talks with mediators (Friday).”
*The SEA announcement came one hour after SPS’s 3 pm media briefing, third day in a row the district had offered one for reporters. We recorded it on video, as we had done the two previous days:
(We went to district HQ daily to get the newest available information and would do the same for SEA briefings if any were offered; we’ve instead been in contact with them via e-mail as well as in person when a union spokesperson and bargainers turned up in the gallery at Thursday’s SPS media briefing.)
Each day, SEA has published what it refers to as its strike newsletter, distributed in hard-copy format to striking members. Friday, all three editions also turned up online. The third edition included the union’s attempt to clarify the difference between the two sides’ pay offers:
The union also has reiterated that pay is far from the only unsettled issue, also listing online these topics:
Fair teacher and staff evaluations…
Reasonable testing…
Educator workload relief…
Student equity around discipline and the opportunity gap…
The administration’s proposal to make teachers work more for free
Before talks stalled last Tuesday, progress had been reported on issues including recess – while the union had originally sought up to 45 minutes of guaranteed recess, it and the district agreed to 30.
The district website has a page, including PDF document links, with what it says are the most recent proposals from each side on each issue – you can see it here. There is no corresponding page on the union website that we have found – if there is, please let us know and we’ll add it. The two sides both say the bargaining began in May, though a teacher writes in today’s Seattle Times that the district did not make its first proposal until August 17th. The SEA contract expired at the end of August.
When will families know if there’s school Monday?
That question was asked at Friday afternoon’s briefing. The district says it has no “drop dead” time to make that decision but acknowledged that it would try to make an announcement at a reasonable-enough time for families to make plans.
What happens to calendar dates such as end of school and graduations?
Must missed days be made up? State law requires 180 days of instruction, and the state will grant no exceptions to that law because of a strike. Decisions about when strike-lost school days will be made up will be part of final negotiations after a strike. Possible make-up days include scheduled snow make-up days, break periods and next summer.
What about graduation if there is a strike?
State law requires that seniors be in school 175 days before graduation. Graduation for the class of 2016 is scheduled for June 11 and 12. Any delay of the school year may impact graduation. The length of delay can have impacts on the graduation schedule as well as the cost of makeup days.
Two notes about sports
High-school sports continue because the coaches are in a different union. Athletic directors, however, are in SEA and are on strike. Meantime, a middle-school parent forwarded us a district manager’s message about middle-school athletics:
All middle-school athletic events will be postponed until the strike is resolved and school begins. Next week’s coaches meeting is cancelled until further notice. Once the strike is resolved we will work with the athletic directors to make any appropriate decisions regarding fall sports season.
Other notes:
*If school is still out Monday, according to this Facebook invitation we received, a “school-in” is planned outside district HQ. This is community-organized so far as we can tell, not an official union event; we mentioned in Friday coverage that we’d heard of a possible Monday rally if the strike wasn’t resolved, but we’ve heard nothing further on that.
*Some businesses are offering discounts to striking teachers. We’ve heard directly from The Westy in Sunrise Heights, which says it’s offering them a 20 percent discount as long as the strike lasts. And Cupcake Royale in The Junction sported a chalkboard sign we noticed Friday offering strikers a free “Babycake.”
(ADDED 7:11 PM) More notes:
*SPS & SEA say talks are over for the day and will continue Sunday – we have started a new report here.
*Reminder that if school isn’t back in session Monday, the city is expanding child-care offerings at community centers, including, in our area, Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, South Park – details here.
*A concert benefiting strikers has been announced for Sunday night in the U-District – here’s the Facebook event page sent to us.
BENEFIT BARBECUE: Just a few more Saturdays in summer, so benefit-barbecue season is almost over:
Michele is THE ruler of the grill at Thriftway – which donates the proceeds from these barbecues, and today’s beneficiary is the Humane Society of Seattle-King County. Fresh-grilled burgers and hot dogs are available until 3:30 or so.
12:21 PM: Thanks to everyone who messaged us about police activity on 35th SW. Because of it, the road is basically closed right now between Roxbury and Barton. Our crew is arriving and we’re working to find out what this is about. Avoid the area. More to come …
(Added, WSB photos: Above, officers talking with the man near 35th/Roxbury) 12:24 PM: This apparently involved a person, apparently in crisis, in the middle of the street, yelling. Police have just taken him into custody and an ambulance is being sent in. Police tell us the road will be reopened shortly.
(Above, the man getting onto a gurney, to be placed in the ambulance) 12:40 PM: According to commenter Bradley and a witness who talked to our crew, among other things the man was shouting, he had been urging/daring police to shoot him. So far as we know, the incident ended without injury.
It’s become a tradition at the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club pool – just before it’s drained and cleaned after the season ends, it’s opened to local dogs for a fun(draiser). More than a few people have messaged us in recent weeks to ask if it’s happening again this year, and finally we can say “yes,” after receiving the photo and announcement from Cori Roed:
It’s that time again, The Dog Days of Summer at the Arbor Heights Swim & Tennis Club. Tuesday 9/22 – Saturday 9/26.
Weekdays 5-7 pm
Saturday 11 am-1 pm
Donation to AH Teams via cash or check to AHSTC
Suggested: $10/dog or $25 for a pass for the week.
Your donations allow us to purchase equipment and keep our team fees low. Thank you!
11003 31st Ave SW – Please drive slowly on 31st, no matter HOW excited your passenger is. See you on deck!
No, you don’t have to be a member. And no, you can’t go in too – dogs only.
(Black turnstones, just back from Alaska, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights of what’s happening around West Seattle and vicinity:
DAY OF SERVICE: AMERICAN LEGION & VFW POSTS – 9 am-3 pm, The Mission Continues: Seattle 1st Platoon will be helping with restoration work at American Legion Post 160 and VFW Post 2713 in The Triangle. Community members are invited to help; details in our calendar listing.
(added)WEST SEATTLE SOCCER CLUB KICKOFF: First weekend of a huge season: “A record 2,036 players and 343 volunteer coaches have already registered to play and serve with us this season!” per the West Seattle Soccer Club website. Many players are participating in a jamboree with games at four local fields 9 am-2:50 pm, and that’s just part of what’s happening today; for some teams, games start this weekend (today AND tomorrow) too.
GRIEFSHARE RECOVERY/SUPPORT GROUP: 10 am, the first of this fall’s series of meetings for people who are mourning a loved one. Saturdays at Grace Church; details in our calendar listing. (10323 28th SW)
SAN GENNARO FESTIVAL: 10 am-10 pm in nearby Georgetown, it’s the third annual San Gennaro Festival. This West Seattleite-founded festival offers Italian food, music, and more. (S. Angelo & Ellis S.)
VOLUNTEER FOR THE SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY! 11 am today, it’s your next chance to find out about all the ways you could help the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – show up at the Log House Museum for today’s monthly orientation. More info here. (61st SW & SW Stevens)
(added)GOOD LUNCH FOR A GOOD CAUSE: 11 am-3:30 pm (or so), West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs to raise money for the Humane Society. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
HOLY FAMILY STREET FAIR: 11:30 am-8 pm, the first of two days for this year’s street fair presented by Holy Family Catholic Church/School. No admission charge; entertainment, vendors, food. (20th SW south of SW Roxbury)
DUWAMISH REVEALED PRESENTS … “Revealing Coast Salish Cultures: Journeying by Canoe and Art,” produced in collaboration with Welcome to Our Native Land, noon-6 pm at Terminal 107 Park and the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. Our area’s First People welcome canoe families from around the region; check our calendar listing for the other activities through which you can celebrate and explore Native culture. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
SALSA ON ALKI: Could be your last chance to dance this summer. 4:30 pm-10 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza – details in our calendar listing. (60th SW & Alki SW)
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