West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
(WSB photo from last Sunday’s WS Farmers’ Market, by Katie Meyer)
The Seattle-King County Public Health Board has just postponed its planned discussion of proposed permit-fee increases, to take comments for at least two more months. We heard about the controversy over some of the fee increases, thanks to a reader who pointed us to protests from regional farmers-market vendors like organic-meat producer Skagit River Ranch, which called the proposed increases “outrageous” in an open letter posted via Facebook. Businesses quoted anonymously in a county roundup of “stakeholder” feedback had comments including, “It is discouraging for vendors to get higher permit fees for selling healthier food – unhealthy food should pay more.” The county says it hasn’t reviewed fees/rates since 2008 but needs to raise rates to cover costs. Other types of businesses with proposed public-health fee increases include animal shelters and some other pet-related businesses. Whatever your thoughts about the fee changes – which are less dramatic in some categories – the county says it’s taken them off the agenda for next week’s board meeting and will take comments until mid-December (this page explains how to have a say).
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli, taken after suspect was in custody)
Right about this time yesterday, an intense police search including Seattle Police SWAT and the Guardian One helicopter was under way after gunfire was reported over the west side of Fairmount Ravine (WSB coverage here). Five schools sheltered in place as a precaution. Finally, police reported an arrest. After checking nearby homes and cars, they determined no one had been shot. Today, in hopes of finding out more about what happened and why, we obtained the official report – with addresses/names redacted – from SPD, and have just transcribed the bulk of the narrative:
Two days after our first report that the next Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closures are happening next weekend, WSDOT has new details today. Here’s the schedule:
First, a section of 99 on the NORTH end of downtown will be closed all next weekend:
·10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 through 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20: SR 99 will be closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street for utility and paving work.
Then, it’s the previously announced closure between the West Seattle Bridge and the BSTunnel, daytime only, both days next weekend:
·6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19: The SR 99 closure will be extended south to Spokane Street to allow WSDOT bridge inspectors to conduct their semiannual inspection of the viaduct. Preliminary inspection results will be released once they are available.
Two other notes:
*8 am-noon Saturday morning (October 18th) the closure will stretch to North 39th St. for a fundraising walk.
*And while all this is happening on Highway 99 – the 520 Bridge will be closed too (11 pm Friday night, Oct. 17th, until 5 am Monday, Oct. 20), which means I-5 and I-90 will be extra busy.
As always, traffic updates are a priority here, given the peninsula’s transportation challenges, so we’ll have extra weekend coverage during the closures.
Went out this morning to check on the three largest demolition sites working in West Seattle:
ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: At the Arbor Heights site, the buildings are now all gone. Teardown work here started the Friday before Labor Day, but didn’t really rev up for another week. Seattle Public Schools says work will stop down for much of the winter before the second phase, construction, begins. A decision is also pending on whether the new $42 million school will be built to 500 or 650 capacity. During the two-year construction period, AHES is sharing the Boren Building with K-5 STEM.
Now to the district’s other big WS project:
ON GENESEE HILL: The future home of the Schmitz Park Elementary program is now five weeks into the demolition phase. As shown in our photo, just a bit of the main building of the former Genesee Hill Elementary is still standing, toward the east side of the site. This school will be built for 650 students.
And on the private-development front:
‘THE WHITTAKER’ SITE UPDATE: Back on Wednesday, we reported on the start of abatement and demolition work at the site of West Seattle’s biggest current project, The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW). The work has focused so far on the middle section of the site, between 40th (above) and Fauntleroy – yesterday, that included the wooden building that was the original home of West Seattle Produce (which has long since moved across the street):
A project spokesperson tells us the major demolition work is likely still more than a week away. The site also holds a former auto dealership, former used-car lot, former gas station, and former funeral home. The mural on the side of the dealership is to be digitally re-created on a wall of the new development, which will have almost 400 apartments over street-level retail, plus almost 600 off-street parking spaces.
A new distinction for the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Arboretum will be celebrated tomorrow, and you’re invited. SSC shared the photo above and this announcement:
On Saturday, October 11, the Coenosium Rock Garden feature at South Seattle College’s Arboretum will be inaugurated as an American Conifer Society (ACS) Reference Garden, with a dedication ceremony running from 1-3:30 p.m.
The celebration starts with welcome messages from Seattle Colleges Chancellor Dr. Jill Wakefield and Van Bobbitt, lead faculty member of South’s Landscape Horticulture program. To follow, special recognition will be given to individuals who helped make the Coenosium Rock Garden possible. The feature is known as one of the largest dwarf conifer collections in the United States. The inauguration will wrap up with remarks from David Olszyk, president of the ACS Western Region, followed by refreshments and tours of the Coenosium Rock Garden.
South’s 5-acre arboretum, established by the South Seattle College Foundation in 1978, functions as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom for the college’s Landscape Horticulture students. Professional horticulturists, hobby gardeners and other college programs are often found exploring the free garden sanctuary as well.
(Thursday’s sunset; photo by Don Brubeck)
A semi-quiet day/night on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SIDE MOPS …. as in, Mothers of Preschoolers. 9:30 am monthly meeting at West Side Presbyterian. New arrival? Want to know more? Contact info is in our calendar listing. (3601 California SW)
ROLLER SKATING! 6:30-8:30 pm at Alki Community Center, $3 per skater. (5817 SW Stevens)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: West Seattle High School is home tonight vs. Roosevelt, 7 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex (2601 SW Thistle); Chief Sealth International High School is on the road, 7 pm vs. Ingraham at Northwest Athletic Complex.
WINE TASTING: Vin du Lac Winery is coming from Lake Chelan to meet you at The Cask (WSB sponsor) tonight, 6-8 pm – event details in our calendar listing. (2350 California SW)
MUSIC AND MORE NIGHTLIFE: See individual listings on our calendar!
Fall is fundraiser season, especially for local schools – if you haven’t sent info about yours yet, please do (editor@westseattleblog.com)! This morning, we have a reminder about Chief Sealth International High School‘s 6th annual Passport to Excellence Dinner and Auction. It’s a combined benefit presented by Sealth’s PTSA and Athletics, as well as by Denny-Sealth Performing Arts. The auction is just three weeks away – 5:30 pm Saturday, November 1st at Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Early-bird tickets, at the lowest rate, are available through Monday – buy online here. Organizers are happily accepting donated auction items – “goods, services, and experiences- all unique and practical are welcome”; those too can be offered online by going here (through October 22nd). And businesses interested in being an event sponsor can e-mail sahamilton@Q.com to get details.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! Foggy again, and that’s helping keep things slow (also delaying Fauntleroy-Southworth-Vashon ferries up to 25 minutes). Note that Seattle Public Schools have no classes today.
35TH SW REPAVING: SDOT will continue repaving 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury (map) today.
WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the citywide alert list for this weekend.
(added) MORE DETAILS OF NEXT WEEKEND’S HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURES: Here.
From three stops on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk map, all in The Junction:
West Seattle High School artist Audrey Martin was showing work in a tent. A ShelterBox tent, to be specific, set up in Junction Plaza Park for Art Walk night, as a pop-up location for the work of Audrey and other student artists, presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Rotaract group. Also in The Junction, an early Halloween:
Artist Todd D. Martin has “Haunted” work on the walls at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – which was decorated spookily for the night, including lights and sound effects. Luminarias too! From there, we headed to Wallflower Custom Framing (also a WSB sponsor), which is hosting work by Patri O’Connor this month:
It’s always a party at Wallflower on Art Walk night – proprietor Courtney Sievertson (right) had another special guest – Heidi Herr from Admiral Bird:
Heidi brought beverages and soup. While the treats offered at many Art Walk venues are generally just for WSAW night itself, most shows are up for the entire month, so if you missed them tonight, stop by sometime soon! The list and map are on the WSAW website. (And set a reminder for the November Art Walk – great time to find unique holiday gifts – Thursday, November 13th.)
(Murray CSO storage-tank-site excavation, photographed Monday by Richard)
An alert for Lowman Beach-area residents: The contractor for King County’s Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project plans four hours of late-night work tomorrow night. The county sent the notification this afternoon; the work involves pipe inspections that have to be done under certain tidal and pipe-use conditions, and those conditions happen 11 pm Friday night until about 3 am Saturday. Workers will be inspecting pipes beneath two manholes, one on the south side of Lowman Beach Park, one alongside the CSO project site on Lincoln Park Way. A map is part of the notification document you can see here (PDF). The county says neighbors are being notified, and reminds anyone with questions/concerns that they can call the 24-hour project hotline at 206-205-9186.
Also, a reminder: This Saturday is also scheduled to be the first of several Saturdays with extra excavation work, as previously announced.
(TOPLINES: Gunfire reported, no one shot, one man taken into custody)
(Added: WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli; we’ve obscured face of man who was being treated)
2:53 PM: Police and fire are rushing to the 2100 block of Arch Place SW (map) – a dead-end road near Fairmount Ravine – on an “assault with weapons” call. Scanner report indicated shots were heard, but no report yet on victim(s). More to come.
3 PM: Via Twitter, SPD has confirmed that they have no report yet on whether there’s a victim – although emergency-radio discussion indicates there may be someone “down.” Police/fire are not certain yet whether it’s safe to go in – please note that, if you are anywhere in the area.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand: Where fire crews are waiting, a few blocks away for safety)
3:07 PM: Scanner indicates police do not believe it’s safe to get close to the area. In comments, it’s reported that West Seattle High School and Lafayette Elementary are in shelter-in-place mode; let us know if you hear of any others. (added a moment later) Via Twitter, Seattle Public Schools says Madison, Schmitz Park, Alki also sheltering in place.
3:19 PM: Again, there is still no word of whether anyone is hurt. Police are still not sure of the status of the person who was reported to be shooting, so that’s why the abundance of caution. We have a crew in the area near where emergency responders are staged in case they’re needed – adding a photo, but take note, that’s a couple blocks south of the actual scene, since everyone is being kept back for safety. You might hear/see a law-enforcement helicopter there shortly. The suspect they are trying to find is described only as a white man in his 30s, blue shirt.
3:27 PM: The Guardian One helicopter has joined the search.
3:41 PM: Again, this is happening in a greenbelt area around a dead-end street in north Admiral, over Fairmount Ravine. That’s where police are concentrated. There is a report now via scanner they might have heard more shots. Still no confirmation whether anyone anywhere has been hurt.
3:55 PM: One person is in custody. We had heard via scanner that police had found a man – who we believe lives in the area – that they were looking for.
(WSB photos from here down are by Christopher Boffoli)
4:05 PM: Police have declared the scene “secure.” Our crews at the scene got word there might be one patient related to this – how they were injured, we don’t know yet.
4:14 PM: Schools are no longer sheltering in place. Police are still checking homes in the area to look for anyone possibly hurt.
4:28 PM: Police are reopening northbound Fairmount. They also are still checking the area (including some parked cars) to make sure there isn’t anyone hurt anywhere. An SPD media-relations detective is expected at the scene shortly for a briefing, and we will of course add whatever more we learn then.
4:57 PM: That hasn’t happened yet. Guardian One came back for a while but has been cleared again. Meantime, we’re adding some photos from the ravine part of the investigation.
5:17 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Drew Fowler has just finished his media briefing – we have it on video and will upload when photographer’s back at HQ. (Added: here it is)
The toplines: Police first got a report of multiple shots fired, but couldn’t figure out where callers’ stories and locations differed. Eventually, with Guardian One’s help, they found one male suspect in the ravine. They have not found anyone who was a shooting victim. The suspect had some cuts and was treated by firefighters; now SPD is taking him to a hospital for a mental evaluation. They say he had a shotgun and handgun. They don’t know how many shots he fired but described them as “numerous”; some bullets hit cars.
ADDED 9:54 PM: SPD Blotter has a summary of the incident; no additional information except that the man arrested is described as 30 years old. We’re adding a few more photos and a short video clip from this afternoon’s investigation/search:
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce took its lunch meeting on the road today – or, more like, to the shore, at Port of Seattle-owned Jack Block Park, where attendees heard from Stephanie Bowman, co-president of the Port Commission.
She introduced new port CEO Ted Fick, in his second week on the job. His first task is to “take a fresh look at the port and how we do business,” explained Bowman.
Her topics: First, the just-completed cruise-ship season, a “thriving industry” with 197 ship calls this year – and, she noted, an industry full of spending visitors, helpful for a “sales-tax-(dependent) state.” Second, Sea-Tac Airport, where international travel is vital, and a terminal serving it is being rebuilt, and where, she said, the baggage-handling system is being improved, too, thanks in part to a “big grant from the federal government” – helping with a $400 million project.
The big issue of specific West Seattle interest: The fate of Terminal 5 (closed since midsummer, as reported here in July), steps away from today’s luncheon location.
That’s the photo that won West Seattle’s “Diver Laura” James – the “citizen scientist” and advocate whose work is often featured on WSB – a kayaking trip on the Duwamish River with music star Macklemore. The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition just announced that Laura’s photo won its “River for All” contest. Debris/trash from the river is part of the photo, and yet, she meant for it to be anything BUT a message of despair over its extreme pollution. Writing about the photo concept on her website, she explained:
Usually images of marine debris are somewhat hopeless. A mermaid caught in a fishing net, lying (presumed dead) on a sandy beach. Beaches covered in trash. Dead birds with belly full of plastic. These images, as powerful as they are, don’t always work for me. My message is one of strength and hope. Empowerment. Dream big. That was the concept behind this shot.
And yes, as a prolific producer, Laura created a behind-the-scenes video:
BtS Duwamish #riverforall Photo Contest shoot from Laura James on Vimeo.
Here’s the DRCC announcement about the photo contest; here’s the gallery of other entries; and here’s why Macklemore is involved – his own essay about the river that forms much of West Seattle’s eastern border, declared by its admirers and protectors to be “a river for all.”
P.S. And as noted here on Wednesday, you too can be a Duwamish River ally and protector – just sign up to commit four hours during Duwamish Alive! one week from Saturday.
P.P.S. If you haven’t read Laura’s post yet – note that, beyond the contest, she writes about looking for collaborators for other visual projects to tell the river’s story.
That’s the venue list/walking map for tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk – click it for a full-size version. The Art Walk tops our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ART WALK NIGHT! 19 venues from Admiral to Sunrise Heights – the list changes each quarter, so take a look and see who’s ready to welcome you, 6-9 pm. Many artists/venues are previewed on the official Art Walk website – among them, West Seattle High School students presenting their work at Junction Plaza Park. WSB sponsors featuring artists include Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, where you’ll see Todd Martin‘s annual Halloween show ; at Wallflower Custom Framing, you’ll find West Seattle painter Patri O’Connor (along with beverages and soup from Admiral Bird); and Shelli Markee is at Click! Design That Fits, and co-working hub West Seattle Office Junction is highlighting art by Don DeLeva.
Also:
SOUTHWEST YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES OPEN HOUSE: 2-6 pm, come enjoy a barbecue and find out more about the resources you can access via SWYFS – details in our calendar listing. (Delridge/Alaska)
SEALTH OPEN HOUSE/CURRICULUM NIGHT: The annual event for Chief Sealth International High School students’ families is tonight, starting with dinner at 5 pm, open house at 6 pm. Details in the school newsletter. (2600 SW Thistle)
SECOND THURSDAY OUT: LGBTQ community members and friends are invited to the monthly event at the Senior Center of West Seattle (and dinner in The Junction), 6-9 pm. (Oregon/California)
WINE TASTING AND MUSIC: 7-9 pm, enjoy both at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details here. (5612 California SW)
LOTS MORE GOING ON! See for yourself on our calendar.
Young writer in the house? Here’s a chance to win money and recognition! From Kyle Geraghty at the West Seattle VFW:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2713 of West Seattle is holding its annual youth competitions. All students in public, private, and home school are invited to compete. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded for each grade and are invited, with their families, to the VFW holiday party later this year to receive their prizes. First place winners from all contests will advance to higher levels and greater prizes. The competitions are:
Youth Essay – Grades 3rd-5th
Topic “What can I do to make our country better”
Prizes: 1st $50, 2nd $25, 3rd $15
Rules and entry forms herePatriot’s Pen – Grades 6th, 7th, 8th
Topic “Why I appreciate America’s Veterans”
Prizes: 1st $50, 2nd, $25, 3rd $15
Rules and entry forms hereVoice of Democracy – Grades 9, 10, 11, 12.
Topic “Why Veterans are Important to our Nation’s History and Future”
Prizes: 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd, $25
Rules and entry forms here
The VFW says all submissions must be turned in by November 1st to the West Seattle VFW at
3601 SW Alaska St. Seattle, WA 98126.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We start with advisories:
35TH SW REPAVING: Today and tomorrow, SDOT will be repaving 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury (map). Sorry for the short notice – we hadn’t heard about it until checking with SDOT after spotting a portable sign on 35th yesterday afternoon; after our inquiry and initial report, they sent an advisory. (Though it says work hours are 8:30-5, the mobile sign said 7-7.)
VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: VP Joe Biden arrived at Boeing Field Wednesday evening and is here until mid-afternoon. He is expected to travel from downtown to Renton for an 11 am event at Renton Technical College, then back downtown to the Convention Center for a Democratic fundraising lunch, then to Boeing Field for takeoff in the 2 pm hour. Until then, be on motorcade alert.
Meantime, on the (non-campaign) trail:
POP-UP STOP FOR BICYCLE RIDERS: As noted in our late-night biznotes, West Seattle Cyclery plans a trailside stop under the bridge 6-9 am-ish today with “coffee, snacks, and on-the-spot service.”
(ADDED: Photo courtesy of West Seattle Bike Connections president Don Brubeck, who reports, “Lots of people were stopping for juice, coffee, bananas, baked goods and bike advice. A flat was fixed while I was there, and Brad (left) tells me I need a new bottom bracket.”)
ADDED 9:51 AM: Regional media reports via Twitter that VP Biden is or is about to be on the move to Renton. This means temporary stops along southbound I-5 (including the West Seattle Bridge ramp to it).
ADDED 2:44 PM: The vice presidential visit is ending – right about now (or perhaps it’s happened already) the motorcade is heading back to Boeing Field, which means more temporary stops on and near I-5.
(WSB photo: Gatewood Elementary, SW Myrtle side)
Three and a half hours after publishing our Wednesday update on the Friends of Gatewood “keep a teacher” fundraising drive, we updated it with the official district announcement that the drive had met its goal. But the final word comes from the parents who organized and took action so quickly, and their public message of gratitude:
Today we received the wonderful news that we raised enough funds to keep our teacher that ensures that there will be no relocation on October 10th as the district letter originally mandated. Friends of Gatewood raised $66,758.52, the Go Fund Me account that was created last night raised around $1000. The online donation site will be closed since we met our goal.
This accomplishment is shared with many, many people with our school, West Seattle and supporters beyond. The vigor, concern and passion expressed by so many people made this goal a reality; the process exemplifies that improvements need to be made in many areas, that the problems are real and complex, and that our students and teachers will not take the brunt of the inadequacies of an imperfect public school system.
All schools are unique by virtue of the individuals who occupy them. Gatewood Elementary’s infrastructure is more unique than the typical public elementary school. We stand by our students’ needs and our teachers to set them up for success. Thank you a hundred times over for answering the call for help.
With gratitude,
Friends of Gatewood
Nicole Sipila
Laura Kincade
Natasha Turcinovic-Hissong
Previous WSB coverage:
Wednesday 10/8
Monday 10/6
Saturday 10/4
Friday 10/3
First report, Thursday 10/2
A round of West Seattle biznotes tonight:
CHILI COOKOFF COMPETITORS SET: The Junction Association says it’s filled out the field with nine restaurants ready to face off in a cookoff, the Chili Competition that’ll be part of the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) on Sunday, October 26th:
The 2nd Annual Chili Competition has its official slate of contestants. Thank you for helping to make this West Seattle Food Bank fundraiser possible.
Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
Feedback Lounge
Husky Deli
Quadrato
Shadowland
Terra Cole Butchery
The Swinery
West 5
Husky took the title last year; you can help choose this year’s winner by buying a flight of chili during the event 11 am-1 pm on festival day. (The festival itself runs 10 am-2 pm, including the Farmers’ Market moved out into California SW for the occasion, plus a costume parade at 11:30 am, trick-or-treating at noon, and kids’ activities for the duration. See you there!)
SPEAKING OF QUADRATO … the Junction sandwich/pizza shop at 4302 SW Oregon, owned by Cary Kemp (who also owns Pizzeria 22 in The Admiral District), celebrated its 1st anniversary this week.
AND SPEAKING OF FIRST ANNIVERSARIES … also starting Year 2 is Second Gear Sports in Morgan Junction. Their announcement:
Second Gear Sports is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend! We have been so mightily embraced and supported by the entire community and we feel incredibly fortunate! On October 11, starting at 10 a.m. we will have cake, giveaways, and special discounts. At 2 p.m., Joe Albert from Bellevue’s FiveLo will be bringing a host of Seahawks-inspired gear, including their popular 12th Man ArmSox.
Second Gear is at 6529 California SW.
WEST SEATTLE CYCLERY ON THE ROAD: Actually, on the path:
Tomorrow, Thursday morning, West Seattle Cyclery will be under the West Seattle Bridge with our tent serving a little coffee, snacks and providing on the spot service. We should be set up after 6 am. We will be there until around 9-ish. We know that bike winter commuting in Seattle can be tough so we will be doing this on Thursday mornings a few times a month.
They’ll announce future dates online.
Seven West Seattle development notes:
ABATEMENT/DEMOLITION WORK BEGINS AT THE WHITTAKER: If you have driven past the site of The Whittaker (400 apartments plus retail including Whole Foods Market) at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW, you might have noticed the heavy equipment beginning work. A project spokesperson confirms that they have “officially started abatement work,” adding that the “auto body shop on 40th is scheduled to be demolished sometime tomorrow.” Major demolition is about two weeks away, if all goes as planned, and construction is set to start next month.
Six smaller demolition/construction projects of note, with permits granted or applied for in the past week or so:
4101 SW OREGON: In The Junction, the demolition permit has just been granted for a project first mentioned here almost a year ago; an 87-year-old house will be demolished and replaced with a 4-unit rowhouse.
4316 SW THISTLE: The application is now in for a “lot boundary adjustment” at this corner parcel, on the books as two lots, as mentioned here in July, though holding one house for more than a century. That house is planned for teardown, and replacement with two single-family houses including “accessory dwelling units,” which means four residences in all. (For “accessory dwelling units” to be legal, the city rules say, the property owner has to live on site, either in the main house or ADU.)
6540 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: In Morgan Junction, this 98-year-old house is proposed for demolition and replacement with a new single-family house.
9007 45TH SW: In Fauntleroy, this 71-year-old house is planned for demolition and replacement.
6047 47TH SW: In Seaview, this 71-year-old house is planned for demolition and replacement.
6470 MARSHALL SW: Also in Seaview, this 95-year-old house is planned for demolition and replacement.
From West Seattle, south along the Duwamish River, and even to a few spots southeast of where our map ends, October 18th is the fall edition of Duwamish Alive! – 11 work parties to help the river, its watershed, and everyone/everything living in/along them. You only need to commit four hours that day – registration is at 9:30, then you’ll be helping out 10 am-2 pm. Here’s where to go to choose your site and sign up.
2:30 PM: Police are at Gatewood Elementary right now investigating a report that a child threatened a teacher with a knife. No one has been hurt; we’re there and we have talked to staff. They don’t expect this to interfere with normal dismissal this afternoon. (And if you’re noticing a TV helicopter, this is the report they’re checking out.)
2:46 PM: The district has issued a short update via Twitter: “No injuries at Gatewood after teacher reportedly threatened w/knife. Special-needs student being taken to hospital for evaluation.” Per police-radio communication, the student is 9. As noted in our ongoing coverage of the Gatewood teacher-funding situation, the school has an inclusion program for EBD (emotional/behavioral disorder) students.
Two road-work alerts we’ve discovered since today’s traffic watch:
35TH SW: Big lighted signboard advises road work is scheduled for 35th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury tomorrow and Friday, 7 am-7 pm. No SDOT announcement otherwise, so we have a message out to find out more, and will add the details when we get them. 2:24 PM update: SDOT says it’s paving and is about to send out this announcement:
Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will work on 35th Avenue Southwest between Southwest Roxbury and Southwest Cambridge streets on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 9 and 10. They will grind and repave the asphalt part of the street. (The street is part concrete and part asphalt.) One lane will remain open in each direction. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SDOT tells us there is also a tentative plan, weather permitting, to pave 35th between Morgan and Juneau the week of October 21st.
(back to original report) ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT INSPECTION CLOSURES: Found in the fine print of the weekly Construction Lookahead, the next Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closures are penciled in for 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19.
(1:44 PM UPDATE: SPS says in a statement that “Gatewood teaching staff will remain intact” because of the fundraising campaign – full statement is at the end of this story)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
They’re raising the money, but they’re angry about it.
While one group of Gatewood Elementary parents filled the chairs at School Board director Marty McLaren‘s regular community-conversation meeting last night, another led a fundraiser at a private home, toward their goal of raising $90,000 – described by some as “ransom” – to keep Seattle Public Schools from removing a teacher from their school.
Though they learned about the planned cut less than a week ago (here’s our original report), their fundraising campaign – including a hastily organized Saturday bake sale – has brought in $52,000.
That impressed McLaren, who opened last night’s meeting by saying, “I just want to acknowledge the extraordinary show of force that the Gatewood community has made … my sense is that many people from West Seattle proper have really invested in this. It’s really something.”
But also really something the parents can’t believe they have had to do.
“I am outraged,” declared one attendee. “I am just outraged that a major-city school district would try and pull a stunt like this … I cannot believe we are being asked to pay for a teacher salary. This is a major city, I cannot imagine this happening anywhere else in the country.” She drew applause.
“We’re being held for ransom for someone else’s mistake … and it feels precedent setting,” said another. “I don’t want a single dime of that money to go to the district that has a record of poor judgment and misuse … I feel it’s going to happen to another school.”
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