VIDEO: Louisa Boren STEM K-8 move ‘off the table’ – ‘it’s your building,’ district says at meeting that then dives into BEX V levy
(WSB video of meeting, unedited)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 will not be moved.
Seattle Public Schools associate superintendent Dr. Flip Herndon said it at the start of tonight’s meeting at the school – a followup to a boisterous June meeting in which the possibility was not ruled out.
And then he said it again. It’s not an interim site – it’s “your building,” he told the families and staffers gathered in the cafeteria.
To be crystal clear, he said, the only scenario in which STEM K-8 might move from Boren would be if that had to be done temporarily because the building was to be remodeled or rebuilt.
That is NOT currently planned – not even proposed. Besides the reassurance, most of the meeting turned into a discussion of planning for the district’s BEX V levy – which, as of a September School Board work session, has ~20 schools citywide on a “menu” for possible remodels/rebuilds, and STEM K-8 isn’t even on that list, which (from the September packet) is as follows:
Read More
If you saw what looked like a meteor …
… it might have been. Our hotline received two voicemails from people who saw what looked like a meteor or fireball around 7:35 pm. Looking around online, we saw a Reddit mention of a sighting from Ballard. We asked around on Twitter, and got replies including:
Here’s more on the Orionids.
FOLLOWUP: Two 17-year-olds charged as adults in 2-location gunfire incident
(WSB photo: Suspects’ car, after it crashed in Upper Fauntleroy last Wednesday night)
A routine check of the King County Jail Register revealed that two 17-year-olds are now charged as adults, six days after their arrests in a case that started wth gunfire in Delridge and on Puget Ridge and ended with a crash and search in Upper Fauntleroy (WSB coverage here). They are Daniel A. Moore and Jaydze Sabala. Charging documents say police got a call just before 9:30 last Wednesday night from someone who said that three boys she knew “from school” had shot at her twice – once while she and her boyfriend were driving to the Delridge 7-11, shattering a car window, then while she was at her home near 21st/Graham, doing other damage to the boyfriend’s car parked outside (as shown in our coverage that night, police found casings in the street). She said her boyfriend and Sabala had been having some kind of dispute.
After getting the description of the suspects’ vehicle, police spotted it on Delridge, speeding up to 70 mph; they say the driver tried to get away but finally crashed into a parked car at 39th/Cloverdale. Sabala was driving and was ordered out of the car and arrested; Moore ran; a third passenger, not listed as charged, was taken into custody. Police say Moore was soon found hiding nearby, in possession of a 9mm handgun, a loaded magazine, and some loose 9mm rounds. When a detective interviewed the boyfriend of the person who originally called police, he is reported to have claimed he was in a dispute with Sabala over a vehicle, and that Sabala had shot at him at least six or seven previous times, only one of which had been reported to police.
Moore and Sabala are both charged with one count of drive-by shooting; Moore is also charged with unlawful firearm possession, and Sabala is also charged with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The documents say neither has a criminal record. Both were booked into King County Jail, with bail for each set at $150,000; according to a check of the register before finishing this story, Moore posted bond and got out less than an hour ago, while Sabala is still in. Both are West Seattle residents, according to the addresses on court documents.
COUNTDOWN: Five days to West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2017
(2016 Harvest Festival photo by Leda Costa for WSB)
Of all the fun stuff in the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide – the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival is the biggest (just look at all these photos from last year!), and it’s now just five days away (10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th).
Some notes as it gets closer:
*Can you volunteer? Lora Swift of the West Seattle Junction Association – which presents the festival – says, “We’re still hoping to fill a couple volunteer slots at the kids’ music tables and the Farmers’ Market Applepalooza.” Here’s how to sign up.
*Planning to be part of the costume parade (11:30 am)? Make maracas or a music box at Junction Plaza Park (also the parade starting point, NW corner of 42nd/Alaska) first – 10 am-11:30 am.
*Four of the nine competitors in this year’s Chili Cookoff (the West Seattle Food Bank benefits from your $10 for 9 tastes, and you get to vote for the winner – KeyBank corner of California/Alaska starting at 11 am) are new – Duos Catering, Pecos Pit BBQ (WSB sponsor), Girls Gone BBQ, and Fresh Bistro. They’re going up against defending champs The Westy Sports and Spirits (WSB sponsor) and return competitors Easy Street Café, Elliott Bay Brewing Company, Husky Deli, and Brookdale Senior Living.
The festival starts with the Farmers’ Market in its usual mid-street spot and other local businesses and organizations offering free fun activities on California, which will also be closed to traffic, south of Alaska – see the list on the WSJA website. Business and booth trick-or-treating starts after the costume parade, at noon. And don’t miss the Root Beer Garden on the Easy Street corner of California/Alaska!
WSB is a co-sponsor of the Harvest Festival – see you in The Junction on Sunday. Weather looks dry.
LIBRARY CHANGES: New printing/copying system on the way to all locations
If you use a Seattle Public Library branch for printing/copying services – take note that a new system will be installed at all locations next month. Here’s the announcement we just received:
This November, The Seattle Public Library is upgrading to a new print and copy system to offer patrons more options for printing. Public printers and copiers at all Library locations will be replaced.
The new system will:
· Allow payment by credit card at print release kiosks
· Make change for cash payments
· Offer a wide variety of paper sizes
· Provide color printing
· Provide higher speed printing and copying
Replacing the current print and copy system will begin Monday, Nov. 6 and should be completed by Monday, Nov. 27.
Patrons will no longer pay for print services online — all payments can be made through the print release kiosk at the copier or printer. Copy machines will now accept both credit and cash payments.
Printing and copying prices will remain the same:
· $.15 for a single-sided black and white page (8.5″ x 11″ and 8.5″ x 14″)
· $.30 for a single-sided black and white page (11″ x 17″)
· $.50 for a single-sided color page (8.5″ x 11″ and 8.5″ x 14″)
· $1 for a single-sided color page (11″ x 17″)
For more information, visit our Using Library Equipment page, call the Library at 206-386-4636 or Ask a Librarian.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Cigarette dispute sends 1 man to hospital, 1 man to jail
We had a request out to Seattle Police this morning for information about an assault of some kind at 42nd/Alaska on Monday afternoon. The response – this post on SPD Blotter:
Officers arrested a man Monday afternoon in West Seattle following an assault that left a man with serious facial injuries.
Witnesses called 911 just after 4 p.m. to report of a fight in the 4200 block of SW Alaska Street. When officers arrived they found a 54-year-old man who was bleeding heavily from his nose. His left eye was swollen shut. The man said he was assaulted by “the local boys” over a cigarette.
Dispatch later received a phone call that said the suspect was inside an apartment in the 4500 block of 42 Avenue SW. Officers went to the apartment and found a 37-year-old man who confirmed he had punched the victim once following a dispute over a cigarette.
Seattle Fire Department Medics treated the victim for his facial injuries and determined he may have also sustained a possible broken rib. A private ambulance took the victim to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of assault as well as an unrelated warrant for assault.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seen this white Subaru Outback?
In West Seattle Crime Watch, a stolen car to watch for. From Emily and Winn:
Our 2013 white Subaru Outback was stolen from in front of our house on SW Hinds in the Admiral neighborhood overnight. Has Maryland plates (02141CF) and a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker. Please report it immediately to the police if you see it! I have reported this information to the police. Thank you!
SIDE NOTE: Citywide, through last week’s SeaStat update, 2,813 vehicle thefts have been reported so far this year – and that’s a 10 percent drop from the same period last year.
West Seattle Tuesday: Costume swap; STEM K-8 site update; Councilmember Herbold @ Block Watch Captains Network; more…
(Red-breasted sapsucker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
One week until Halloween and the fun gets into high gear starting tonight. First, from the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide:
OCTOBER 24: Halloween Story Time and Costume Swap, 7 pm at Delridge Library: “Families are invited to join children’s librarian Miss Bea for Halloween stories and fun plus a costume swap! Bring Halloween costumes and accessories your children have outgrown and swap them for others that are new to you. Please bring only items that are in good condition and are appropriate for children. For families and children ages 6 and under.” (5423 Delridge Way SW)
And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8 SITE UPDATE: As previewed here Monday, the long-promised followup to last June’s meeting about whether Seattle Public Schools wants to move the school to a new site. 6 pm at the school. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT: 6:30 pm at Hope Lutheran School (WSB sponsor):
Is my child ready for kindergarten? We will provide information regarding kindergarten readiness and what to look for in kindergarten from our Preschool Director Mrs. Figgins, as well as hear more about our kindergarten program from our highly experienced teacher, Mrs. Neafcy.
(4456 42nd SW)
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD @ BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is the special guest at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. Got a question for her, especially about safety/crime issues? This is the place to be. All welcome – you don’t have to be involved with a Block Watch to attend. You’ll also hear a crime-trend briefing from precinct leadership. (2300 SW Webster)
32,000+ syringes/needles in first 15 months of city program that includes 2 West Seattle dropboxes
The city’s out with a progress report on its efforts to handle discarded needles/syringes, which is a two-part program that includes dropboxes placed earlier this year in locations including West Seattle’s Roxhill Park and Westcrest Park, as well as cleanups in response to complaints. First, Seattle Public Utilities shared this map of where it’s received the most requests/complaints:
This news release from SPU explains not just the stats but also that they’re surveying people in multiple ways to decide how to improve the program:
In its first 15 months of operation, Seattle Public Utility’s pioneering Sharps Collection Pilot Program has collected and safely disposed of 32,012 hypodermic syringes, improving both the safety and cleanliness of the city’s neighborhoods.
Since February, people disposed of 26,647 syringes in nine SPU sharps disposal boxes around Seattle. (See attached map.) Another 5,365 needles have been removed from public property since the program began, in August 2016, in response to 1,113 complaints. Complaints were filed online, with the City’s Find It, Fix It app, or phoned in to 206-684-7587.
It is believed Seattle is the first U.S. city to combine syringe complaint response and disposal boxes as a standalone sharps program.
Read More
CITY BUDGET: Next phase of council review starts today
(Added: Click “play” to watch live Seattle Channel feed while meeting’s in session – in recess as of 11:07 am, resuming 2 pm)
9:07 AM: The next phase of the City Council‘s work on the next city budget starts today, with meetings at 9:30 am and 2 pm to consider specific changes that made the first cut for review. The agenda now has the documents attached for the potential changes they’re considering.
It starts with SDOT and a proposal to cut an item on which we’ve reported – $3 million for a pilot project to remotely operated one of the city’s five drawbridges. Councilmembers were told that if all five bridges were operated remotely, that could eventually save $1 million – but at $3 million for one bridge, the initial investment would be steep. Other SDOT-related proposed changes include $150,000 for the Summer Parkways program (which included the annual Alki “car-free day,” which didn’t happen last summer) and $500,000 for pedestrian improvements proposed by the South Park Safety Task Force. SDOT is one of 19 departments that’ll be addressed today.
Other proposals of interest include reclassifying three vacant Office of Planning and Community Development positions to assign them to “community planning,” and expanding the Ready to Work jobs program for adult English Language Learners to southwest Seattle (which generally means West Seattle/South Park). Also from the budget documents, you can learn what’s being proposed for changes in Seattle Parks facilities fees next year – not a lot of changes in our quick review.
You can follow along with all this via Seattle Channel, streaming and televising (cable 21) the meetings live at 9:30 am and 2 pm. Comments? council@seattle.gov
11:09 AM: The morning session ended a few minutes ago and the council will be back in session at 2 pm. We’ve embedded the live Seattle Channel feed above – click “play” button to watch.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! Two things you should know about as we head for the heart of the commute: A northbound I-5 crash downtown (at Pine) has just cleared, but there’s a residual backup. Also, SFD is responding to a reported car fire at Delridge/Trenton.
8:02 AM: A texter advises NOT taking the low bridge to get to the ramp to I-5/99, because there’s a stalled semi.
| 3 COMMENTS