West Seattle, Washington
01 Monday
9:25 PM: Just got the first announcement of a school change for Thursday, so we’ll start building a list. Please text or call 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com with updates – thank you!
2 HOURS LATE THURSDAY
Hope Lutheran School starting 2 hours late, no morning extended-care program or half-day preschool
(added 9:59 pm) Highline Public Schools starting 2 hours late – full details here
(added 10:12 pm) Kennedy Catholic High School starting 2 hours late – full details here
(added 5:27 am) South Seattle College, 10 am start
(added 5:44 am) Summit Atlas starting 2 hours late
(added 6:44 am) Highline College starting at noon
(added 6:47 am) The Bridge School starting 2 hours late
(added 6:57 am) Holy Rosary School starting 2 hours late
(added 6:57 am) Our Lady of Guadalupe School starting 2 hours late
SCHOOLS CLOSED THURSDAY
(updated 6:34 am) Vashon Island School District just changed its status to “all schools closed”
After a two-day closure because of staff illness, Southwest Pool will reopen tomorrow, but not yet on its full schedule, according to the announcement we received tonight:
Southwest Pool will run limited operations on Thursday, December 1st.
We still have multiple staff members out sick. We are able to run limited programming including our afternoon swim lessons. The day will look like:
12-3:30 Adult Swim – No WX or 3pm Lap
4-5:30 Lessons
5:45-6:45 Lap Swim
Public Swim CancelledWe are working to return to full operation as soon as staffing allows. Check the pool webpage or call 206-684-7440 for updates.
Tonight we photographed one of the first big West Seattle Christmas light displays up every year … at the home of Ken Arkills in Fauntlee Hills.
The house is on a corner lot, so there’s a lot to see on multiple sides.
You can see it at 39th SW and SW Trenton [map].
If you have lights to show everyone, or happened to see a notable display, please let us know – again this year, we hope to showcase lights every night through Christmas. Photos are welcome but if you don’t have them, just tell us where we can find the lights to photograph them ourselves – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photo courtesy Southwest Seattle Historical Society)
Two holiday-shopping notes tonight from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – first, TONIGHT is the deadline to order Log House Museum 25th anniversary apparel in time to get it before Christmas (as first mentioned here two weeks ago) – you can order here. They’ll have another batch for sale after that, through year’s end, but not available before Christmas, so if you’re interested, order now.
Second, the museum’s gift shop will be open the next three Saturdays, with a holiday sale – half-price books and glass souvenir ornaments (photo above). You can shop local, support a nonprofit, and celebrate local history. The museum and gift shop are at 61st/Stevens, and you can visit the shop noon-4 pm December 3, 10, and 17.
Right now some wet snow is falling, but not sticking, and the temperature’s a few degrees above freezing. There’s a chance of more-serious snow overnight, the National Weather Service warns, so it has a Winter Weather Advisory in effect again, currently set to expire at 4 pm tomorrow.. The NWS’s analysis (aka “forecast discussion“) says colder air is on the way and that could mean, if not snow, icy streets, so if you have to head out in the morning, leave yourself extra time. The NWS says things will be “unsettled” into next week, but there should be breaks in the moisture, including parts of Friday and Saturday.
(Seattle Police photos)
Seattle Police have arrested a man found in the stolen pickup shown above near Highland Park Elementary, passed out, partly unclothed, with drugs and a loaded gun. They say people at the school and in the neighborhood reported the man around 7:40 am for “lewd conduct” at 11th/Cloverdale. Officers found the 26-year-old man, a convicted felon, inside the pickup “which appeared to have been spray-painted white,” with his pants pulled down. His girlfriend was trying to wake him up. After learning the pickup was stolen, they arrested him, and a subsequent search turned up what SPD lists as “a 24-gram brick of cocaine, 115 grams of methamphetamine in individual baggies, a 55-gram rock of methamphetamine, 149 fentanyl pills, and ammunition.”
He’s currently in the King County Jail. Court records show he’s already awaiting trial on four King County charges from 2020 and 2021 – 2 cases of attempting to elude police, one of possessing a stolen car, one of possessing drugs.
The video and report are from Amy:
We live in a townhouse in the alley behind Juneau Street Market. Our neighbor’s mailbox was broken into on Monday night and his mail was stolen. (The thief also checked our mailboxes and checked out our neighbor’s house.) We have video of the thieves approaching and of the break-in. (above) … Our neighbor has reported the incident but we wanted the West Seattle community to be aware.
This is the framegrab with the clearest view of both faces:
We’ll add the incident # when we get it.
Those are some of the founding members of the new PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) launched for West Seattle Elementary. Elle sent the photo and report:
West Seattle Elementary is excited to announce the launch of its Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): Friends of West Seattle Elementary (also known as FOWSE).
Readers may be surprised to hear that unlike every other public elementary school in West Seattle, West Seattle Elementary did not have an established PTO until the 2022-23 school year. In partnership with the Alliance for Education, a non-profit that supports excellence in education by advancing educational justice and racial equity for students in Seattle Public Schools, and West Seattle Public Schools Equity Fund, WSE has been building the groundwork to establish and govern such a group for several years.
FOWSE aims to support WSE students in their academic success by building a strong community between teachers, staff and families, and providing additional resources through fundraising efforts and volunteers to help close the achievement gap. WSE Principal Pam McCowan-Conyers said, “Establishing a PTO at West Seattle Elementary is a pivotal step to creating an equitable learning environment where parents, teachers and staff partner on how best to serve the unique needs of our students”. The group had its inaugural meeting on November 7th and interested community members and/or parents are invited to attend their next meeting January 9th @ 5 PM at High Point Community Center.
If you’re a parent at the school or community member interested in getting involved with the PTO or simply learning more, visit the PTO website, make a donation here (select ‘Friends of West Seattle Elementary – 23602‘ under group dropdown) or send them an email at friendsofwse@gmail.com for more information.
West Seattle Elementary is in its second year at the former Schmitz Park Elementary while an addition is built at its permanent High Point campus.
If you’re a parent at the school or community member interested in getting involved with the PTO or simply learning more, visit the PTO website, make a donation here (select ‘Friends of West Seattle Elementary – 23602’ under group drop down) or send them an email at friendsofwse@gmail.com for more information.
(2020 photo from first year of the drop-off drive)
This Saturday (December 3rd( is one of the busiest days of the holiday season – so much happening – but if you can take a few minutes to stop by this student-organized drop-off food/coat drive, it would make a big difference toward keeping people from going hungry. Here’s the organizers’ announcement:
3rd Annual Drive-Through Holiday Food Drive!
My name is Atticus and I am a sophomore at Raisbeck Aviation High School. My brother Dominic, who is an 8th grader at Hope Lutheran, and I are once again doing a food drive to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank during the holiday season.
Just drive up and pop your trunk! Monetary donations are also appreciated.
We are also collecting new or gently used coats of all sizes which will be placed by WIN (Westside Interfaith Network) at their welcome table, every Saturday in White Center.
Thank you once again for helping us support the members of our community during these times!
They’ll be in the lower Hope Lutheran lot, off SW Oregon east of California, 10 am-3 pm Saturday.
(Beauty in fallen leaves and lingering flowers, photographed by Caity Gerhardt)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar, here are notes for the rest of today/tonight:
SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSED: The city-run pool at 2801 SW Thistle is closed again today for staff shortage because of illness.
LAST DAY FOR YOUNGSTOWN ART SHOW: Drop in today if you haven’t yet seen “The Shapes of Our Community” at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
DONATION DRIVE FOR TREEHOUSE: One of the donation drives we’re spotlighting in our calendar and Holiday Guide has just one week to go – toys and other gifts for foster youth served by Treehouse, collected at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Stop in to see the dozen-plus decorated, donated trees on display at Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) before 5 pm, and if you like one (or more) consider bidding for it in the Rotary Service Foundation‘s benefit auction next week!
LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists. (And see what’s new!)
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm trivia at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Andy sent this stolen-car report, hoping you might see it abandoned somewhere:
I wanted to report that my red 1999 Honda CR-V was stolen sometime between 3 am-530 am this morning. It had been parked right in front of our house on SW Dawson Street (west of California Ave/Rite Aid).
We looked out to see if there was snow. No snow, no car, either!
Police have been contacted, and I’ve spoken to an officer directly. They’re on the lookout. Hopefully someone spots it!
1999 Honda CR-V (Red)
License Plate: AYB4627
THURSDAY UPDATE: Found – see comment.
6:07 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 30th.
WEATHER
The Winter Storm Warning alert issued late last night during another blast of snow is still in effect through 11 am, but the forecast is back to rain, and the temperature – currently in the high 30s – is currently more conducive to that. The forecast suggests the next chance of snow here is late tonight.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro buses are on regular routes and schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is back to its full schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route is back to 2 boats – check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The south route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
12:08 AM: Remember when the forecasters warned they wouldn’t really know what was coming with this system until it got here? We’re seeing another blast of unpredictability – a heavy snow shower just coated the cars again up here. And although the National Weather Service dropped the Winter Weather Advisory alert, now it’s issued a Winter Storm Warning, through 11 am Wednesday, saying we could see up to three inches of snow after all.
2:18 AM: The snow’s been coming and going; checking the traffic cams, things look slushy more than snowy. One more note: The National Weather Service has canceled the Wind Advisory – strong wind never did show up in this area.
2:40 AM: Metro has put its Central Seattle buses on snow routes. Our area – considered part of the South Seattle sector- remains on regular routes. (Check here for the latest.)
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