More details to come, but first the scores, since both games are now over: Chief Sealth High School (1-2) blanked Cleveland for its first win, Sealth 30-Cleveland 0 at Southwest Athletic Complex … O’Dea beat West Seattle High School (2-1) 39-7 at West Seattle Stadium.

10:51 PM: Tonight’s win was actually Chief Sealth’s first since October 2007 – which was also against Cleveland. We’ve added a photo of tonight’s scoreboard at left. Sealth’s next two games are on the road (here’s the season schedule) – they’ll be at Ingraham at 7 pm next Friday.

ADDED 11:27 PM: More now from the WSHS game: West Seattle’s only touchdown came when quarterback Ellison Tran ran the ball in on the keep just a few minutes into the first quarter. The score came on West Seattle’s first possession of the game. The Wildcats moved the ball 75 yards on 11 plays.

Update: Chopper was from TV, for the West Seattle HS game

September 18, 2009 8:27 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Helicopter | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 8:27 PM REPORT: Getting messages about the chopper over The Junction and beyond. We’re still checking to be sure but chances are it’s a news chopper for the West Seattle High School-O’Dea game at West Seattle Stadium. Will update with whatever else we find out. Co-publisher Patrick is at the game (tweeting it at @wsblive – halftime was O’Dea 18, West Seattle 7) but it’s impossible to tell from there – choppers have such strong cameras these days, they can shoot from very high. There’s nothing on 911 in terms of fire/medics which bolsters the theory, but we’re also checking with police. 8:33 PM UPDATE: Confirmed from a friend who works at KING5, it’s their chopper, covering the game. As our friend notes, their chopper will be out somewhere every Friday night – so on Fridays, if you hear a chopper before 9 pm or so, it just might be for football, but thanks again to everyone who checked in via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter – you just never know. 9:15 PM SIDE NOTE: Longer story to come, but the game just ended – O’Dea 39, WSHS 7.

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Happening now: Proletariat Pizza open; Westfest begins

September 18, 2009 6:18 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | White Center

We’re off to get photos of both, but in the meantime, this quick note.

(photo added 10:59 pm – Proletariat Pizza proprietors Stefanie and Mike, and daughter)
As of a little more than an hour ago, it’s opening night for Proletariat Pizza on 16th SW in the main White Center business district, and cash only for starters, according to neighbor Full Tilt‘s post in the WSB Forums. Meantime, speaking of food:

(Friday night photo)
That’s the outdoor food court at Westfest (WSB sponsor) at Holy Rosary School (map here; event schedule here) and open tonight till 10, then 10 am-10 pm tomorrow. More to come!

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Westfest & Car Show edition

September 18, 2009 3:28 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

Holy Rosary School‘s big fall festival Westfest (WSB sponsor) starts at 6 tonight … the 2nd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB) takes over Junction streets all day Sunday … WSHS Grad Night has a fundraising car wash tomorrow, which is also when you’ll find the first in a series of monthly Family Fun events at High Point Community Center … Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association invites you to the LINKS Community Barbecue tomorrow afternoon … the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) has announced fun events for America on the Move week – just part of the SEVENTY events/activities in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club – read on!Read More

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Update: Suspected pharmacy robber nabbed at Schmitz Park Elem.

September 18, 2009 1:27 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Finally got official police details on what all those sirens were about last hour – thanks to the people who e-mailed us about it: According to Seattle Police media unit Det. Jeff Kappel, robbery detectives were looking for suspects “in cases they were working” around noon when one bolted and ran onto Schmitz Park Elementary (map) grounds. One eyewitness report we received by e-mail says the person jumped a fence to get onto school grounds:

Lunch time and the older kids were on the playground. Man jumped the fence and hid behind the backboard. Police cars arrived told kids to get down and they all responded immediately. All are safe and the man with the gun was handcuffed and taken away. … Staff and students responded extremely well.

Nobody was hurt and police confirm the man was taken into custody. Det. Kappel says he’s not sure which case the suspects were associated with, but three people are in custody. We’re working to find out more and will add additional details as we get them. 1:46 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Rhonda in the Schmitz Park office. She reiterates that everybody’s OK and back in class now and “did an amazing job.” She also says principal Gerrit Kischner (who’s on the phone with police as we speak) will send an official e-mail to Schmitz Park parents to let them know about the incident. 2:55 PM UPDATE: As provided by Ezra in the comment section below (and also sent to us in e-mail by another parent), here is the note sent to parents by the principal:

Dear Schmitz Park Families:

I want to share with you information regarding an incident that has affected our school community. I am sending you this letter to update you on the facts and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support our students.

At approximately noontime today, Seattle Police Department arrested an unarmed robbery suspect on our school property during recess for third, fourth and fifth graders, and the police are conducting an investigation. Your child may have witnessed or knows another student who witnessed this event.

Student followed policy directions very well and playground monitors moved quickly to move students to safety. Following the incident, police gave the all-clear to allow Kindergarten, first and second graders onto the playground to begin their recess. We have discussed the incident with our students with the information available to us at this time.

Providing your students with a safe learning environment remains a top priority at Schmitz Park Elementary School. It is important that we continue to work together towards this unified goal. We are committed to safety within our community.

Additionally, classroom teachers will continue to discuss personal safety and safe practices regarding getting to and from school and reporting unsafe situations. Our counselor, Alben Tufel, has been made available to talk with students as well. Depending on the age of your child, this is also a good time to discuss how rumors spread and how we can work together to keep each other safe. I hope you will take the time to have similar conversations at home with your child.

Our plans for emergency drills this year include plans to conduct a lock-down drill. Please be assured that the safety and security of our students is our number one priority. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

As you will note, the principal’s note says the suspect was not armed. We are still working to get more information from police regarding any additional details they can share with us on the case – particularly what the suspects were wanted for, separate from the brief escape. 5:36 PM UPDATE: A little bit of new info – according to Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James, the suspect arrested on school grounds was being sought in connection with the Westside Pharmacy post-shutdown holdup the other day (here’s our original story on that). 8:42 PM UPDATE: More details now on SPDBlotter. Two arrests in all but police originally had questioned three people. The one who jumped the fence at Schmitz was indeed the robbery suspect; the other one arrested was the alleged getaway driver. Both men are 23.

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Problem found at Southwest Pool, closure extended till Oct. 5

September 18, 2009 12:15 pm

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| West Seattle news

Just in from Seattle Parks – Southwest Pool won’t be reopening any earlier than October 5th. The federally mandated drain-upgrade work revealed a major problem in need of immediate repairs. More details shortly when Parks sends an official news release. 3:06 PM UPDATE: The news release is now published on Parkways.

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3 quick notes: Radio drill tonight; veg plants tomorrow; move it!

September 18, 2009 11:47 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

RADIO DRILL TONIGHT: Just a note that the West Seattle Community Hubs (explained here – a GREAT website) are testing a radio system that neighborhood reps will use in case of catastrophe – in case for example you are a radio aficionado, or pass someone involved in the drill, and overhear something that sounds alarming, 5:30-7 pm tonight, don’t worry, it’s only a drill.

PLANT SALE TOMORROW: If you are thinking about fall veggie gardening, Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle wants to see you at St. James Place (9421 18th SW) noon-3 pm tomorrow for its fall veggie-start sale. And bring your extra produce for donation to food banks!!!

AMERICA ON THE MOVE WEEK: West Seattle /Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) has a week of special events planned – the main goal, consume 100 calories less and walk 2,000 steps more every day. Here’s the full list of special events – first ones are a family boot camp and fun walk tomorrow on Alki.

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Mayor proposes gun ban at many Seattle Parks properties

September 18, 2009 10:39 am

| 41 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Big news in West Seattle with so many Parks Department properties here: Mayor Nickels is proposing a gun ban in parks facilities “intended for children and youth.” (The prospect of new city rules on guns in parks also came up at an Alki Community Council meeting this summer, during discussion of recent incidents involving firearms, like this one in June, although it does not appear the ban would include beach parks like Alki.) Here’s the full text of the city announcement, plus information on how to formally comment on it:Read More

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High-school football: All 3 West Seattle teams playing in WS

September 18, 2009 10:04 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Quick look at this weekend’s games: West Seattle High School (2-0) plays O’Dea – remember that big win last year? – at 7 tonight, West Seattle Stadium (map). Chief Sealth High School (0-2) plays Cleveland at 7 tonight, Southwest Athletic Complex (map). Tomorrow at 7 pm, Seattle Lutheran High School (1-1) faces Northwest Christian (Lacey) at WS Stadium.

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Happening today: Baby Maarten’s benefit sale at Peace Lutheran

September 18, 2009 6:30 am

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| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news

That’s the biggest of three rooms of donated items going on sale starting at 9 this morning at Peace Lutheran Church (NE corner of Thistle/39th; map), with the proceeds to help Maarten, a 1-year-old fighting a brain tumor. You first saw Maarten’s story here two weeks ago; now the big sale is here, today and tomorrow. Lots more information at the Help Maarten website, including an update on how he’s doing, and how you can help if you can’t make it to the sale – but if you can, not only will you find the giant room of stuff you see in our photo, but also in other rooms, musical instruments, furniture, even artworks – we dropped by as organizer Claudia and other volunteers were working Thursday night to get it all organized. And a bake sale too!