West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
Two reader reports tonight:
ANOTHER HYUNDAI TAKEN: Texter reports:
My light blue Hyundai Elantra was stolen off Glenn Way SW last night. Plate BJY4666. Police report # 23-295212.
PACKAGE THEFT: The photo and report are from Lance:
Had a package stolen off my porch this afternoon @ 2:37 pm.
8400 block of 36th Ave SW.
Tomorrow night, it’s a pre-Halloween thriller – the October West Seattle Art Walk, with a freebie:
Art Walk director Mia Manzulli sent the photo and tells WSB, “Art Walk visitors on Thursday night can get a head start on their Halloween celebrations by picking up a glow stick at businesses along the way.” Here’s the list/walking map for October, with venues where you’ll find art as well as food/beverage stops which offer specials on Art Walk night:
If you’re wondering who you’ll see and what kind of art they make – some of the featured artists are spotlighted on the West Seattle Art Walk website. Several stops feature multiple artists, like the Alki Arts pop-up at California/Oregon, and Jet City Labs (4547 California SW). The peak time for artist receptions is 5 pm to 8 pm, but some venues start earlier. And as previewed here, you can enjoy music tomorrow night too – three Art of Music performers and venues with mini-concerts 6 pm to 7:45 pm, one in each Junction (Admiral, Alaska, Morgan) – details are here. (WSB is a community co-sponsor of the Art Walk – see you tomorrow night!)
Tonight’s featured West Seattle Halloween display looks great both day and night. Above is a daylight photo Jesse sent of the display at 46th/Thistle, just east of Lincoln Park:
We have 35 skeletons and one 15′ Phantom. This includes four 12′ Skeletons, one 12′ Inferno Skeleton, animal skeletons, and several 5′ and 3′ skeletons. There are several 5′ skeletons climbing the house too. All of them are also lit up at night. There will be more additions in the coming weeks.
We went by tonight for this view:
We’ll be showcasing more displays as Halloween approaches – please send suggestions, with or without photos, to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo)
We photographed Danitra Hunter, Telitha Floyd, and Fundisha Tibebe at the West Seattle Food Bank this afternoon, at the first People’s Budget Voting Pop-Up in our area since Participatory Budgeting (PB) moved to the voting stage. Danitra – a West Seattle artist/writer we’ve introduced you to before – is a Community Engagement Partner in the PB process, which has been slowly unfolding since the “racial reckoning” of 2020. The city budget allocated $27 million for community members to decide how to spend, and that long process is culminating now, with voting, Here’s the announcement from the city Office of Civil Rights:
As the historic Participatory Budgeting process comes to a close, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) and third-party administrators Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) acknowledge and appreciate all the work the broader Seattle community has graciously offered to arrive at this point. This includes community members and groups that advocated for this major City investment in truly safe, healthy, and thriving community-driven solutions equaling $27.25 million. The PB process has been designed and led by communities that are often not included in critical decisions impacting their lives. SOCR and PBP thank them for their time and engagement.
To ensure that the PB process was genuinely community-driven, it moved at the pace of community. Intentional vetting and feasibility assessments of community-developed proposals were prioritized, leading to delays in the timeline. SOCR is grateful to the community for their patience and continued diligence during one of the largest participatory budgeting programs in the United States.
SOCR and PBP look forward to hearing from community members as they vote for their preferred proposals from (now) to November 12th. In mid-November, PBP will announce the winning proposals, and in January 2024, the Seattle City Council will put forward standalone legislation appropriating the $27.25 million to the City departments implementing the proposals.
Seattle community members can visit PBSeattle.org link to vote and keep updated on PB events. Any person age 15 or above who lives, works, or plays in Seattle is eligible to vote.
You can also vote on paper ballots, in person, at pop-ups including the one that Danitra is leading right now at the food bank (35th/Morgan) until 7 tonight. She is planning another pop-up tomorrow (Thursday, October 12th) at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), 36th/Snoqualmie, 4-8 pm. Remember, the voting age for this is 15 and up, so bring your teen(s)! Danitra says she particularly wants to engage student voters and will be working to do that at local schools as well as at pop-up events.
Thanks to CJ for the photo. For the second time today, SFD and SPD have responded to a crash near the southwest end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. This, too, was reported as a single-vehicle crash, no major injuries.
When the Seattle School Board meets later today, they’ll hear from numerous people signed up to speak about a districtwide controversy: One month into the new school year, some elementary students at 40 schools around the district are suddenly being shuffled to different classrooms with different teachers. Some are being moved to split-grade classrooms. We’ve heard from parents at two of the West Seattle schools that are affected. The district explains the situation in this post from last Friday, saying it has to “balance” class sizes in order to get millions of dollars in state funding:
Every fall, all Washington school districts review class size and staffing ratios. To focus on early learning, Washington state law encourages school districts to staff kindergarten through third grade at a smaller class size.
Seattle Public Schools values smaller class sizes for our youngest learners. Our review showed a staffing imbalance that needs to be corrected to meet state requirements at several schools.
What this means for Students and Families
To balance our educator staffing, some students may be moved to new classrooms or have a new teacher by the end of October.
If this adjustment means a change for your elementary or K-8 school, you will receive a separate message from your principal.
Why is this year different?
In previous years, SPS was able to provide extra funding to schools to minimize classroom staffing assignment changes. However, due to the current budget shortfall, SPS is unable to cover that cost for the 2023-24 school year.
The focus is on maintaining the 17:1 staffing ratio for K-3 general education classrooms to secure full state funding. This is a districtwide ratio that includes the classroom teacher and additional educators such interventionists and specialists.
To ensure SPS is eligible to receive $3.6 million in Washington state funding, we must have appropriate staff-student ratios for our elementary grade classrooms.
One of the local schools affected is Alki Elementary; a parent there forwarded us the newsletter in which principal Mason Skeffington explained how it would play out for Alki (which is holding classes at the former Schmitz Park Elementary because of the future rebuild). He explained that the staff-planning process starts with enrollment projections in spring, and continues with “actual student numbers” in August. Alki, the principal wrote, is currently “over … target” in kindergarten class size “but otherwise at or below classrooms caps in all other grade levels.” He wrote that he spent a week of meetings with district officials “pleading our case for why our current staffing makes the most sense for students and learning,” but “received a directive to adjust my class sizes” to what the district wanted to see. The results include two split-grade classes. The principal indicated that families would receive information on “shifts and changes to class placements” yesterday, and tomorrow will be “‘moving day’ where students will join new homeroom classes and have a chance to get settled into their new classroom spaces and routines.” There are no classes district-wide on Friday – in-service day for staff – but the principal also promised that a support staffer “will be on site next week and available to meet with students and classes to help process feelings connected to this adjustment.”
We’ve also heard from a Roxhill Elementary parent who told us that at their child’s school, “A 3rd/4th split class has to be created, which will affect 3rd-5th grade students who have to be moved around and potentially switch teachers. Luckily, we are not losing any staff, but it’s obvious that this will cause a huge disruption for students and teachers.” This parent says, “We want to encourage people to write to the board, watch (tonight’s) meeting and advocate for stability.” Board contact info is online here; tonight’s meeting starts with public comment at 4:30 pm – the agenda is here – you can watch the meeting livestream here. As for other local schools affected – we’ve asked the district for a list of schools but so far have not received it.
1:36 PM: For the second day in a row, SFD has responded to a house in the 8400 block of 42nd SW – which also has a side on SW Thistle – because of a gas leak. We don’t know Tuesday’s circumstances, but this time it’s described by firefighters as a small line – less than two inches – damaged by “digging in the back yard.”
1:40 PM: Police are being called to block SW Thistle just east of the scene, at 41st, and at California to the west.
1:56 PM: Puget Sound Energy (the gas utility for this area) is reported to have arrived.
2 PM: Firefighters just told dispatch that “the leak is secured.”
2:25 PM: SFD has closed out its response and the street has reopened.
(SDOT photo, via Twitter/X)
When the cylinder that has just been returned to the West Seattle low bridge was removed last January, SDOT explained that the bridge’s maritime openings would take longer. So we asked today whether those times will return to their previous shorter durations. Spokesperson Chris Miller says no:
The time required for opening the bridge under a one-cylinder operation remains unchanged.
This weekend, in addition to reinstalling the cylinder that was removed earlier this year from the east pier housing, we undertook the task of removing the other cylinder for refurbishment. Both cylinders were originally put into service simultaneously, and the early indicators of failure observed on the first cylinder are also apparent on this one. While we initially had plans to overhaul both cylinders, the failure of the first one has now made the rehabilitation of these cylinders our top priority. Our current plan is to refurbish the second cylinder removed from the east pier housing. Once that cylinder is reinstalled, we will conduct the same process to refurbish the west pier cylinders.
The extended opening times will continue until all the cylinders are refurbished and reinstalled.
That timeline is still being worked out.
11:02 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “rescue extrication” response to what dispatch describes as a “single-vehicle rollover” crash near the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. First on scene says it’s “off the road on the right side.”
11:07 AM: Another arriving unit described the vehicle as “on all 4 wheels” and reported the person inside had gotten out OK, so the “rescue extrication” response is being canceled.
(Fall colors, photographed by Gill Loring)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SAFE BANKING FOR SENIORS: 1-2:30 pm workshop at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – please contact the center to RSVP.
PEOPLE’S BUDGET VOTING POP-UP: 1-7 pm at West Seattle Food Bank (35th/Morgan), a “People’s Budget Voting Pop-Up” with West Seattleite Danitra Hunter there to explain this year’s Participatory Budgeting and assist you with voting on how to spend millions of city dollars.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska) … trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run at 6:15 pm.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: In-person meeting at 7 pm at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) – see the agenda here; scheduled speakers include state school superintendent Chris Reykdal.
COFFEEHOUSE POETRY: 7 pm, it’s the monthly Poetrybridge event at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
LIVE PIANO MUSIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather October 28 to celebrate the life of Gerald (Jerry) Andersen. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
Jerry passed away on September 26 after a 2½-month battle with a bacterial infection.
He was born in Seattle on January 15, 1938 to Earl and Mabel Andersen. He was the youngest of their two sons. Started school on Queen Anne Hill but the family moved to West Seattle while he was in grade school. He was a proud graduate of West Seattle High School, class of 1956.
After high school he briefly attended the University of Washington, but went to work for Boeing in 1958. Started at Plant 2, but then went to the Auburn Plant. He worked there for 40 years and retired in 1998.
He met his wife, Marie, in 1966 and they were married later that year. The following year they moved to Auburn and bought a new house which they still lived in.
Jerry loved pheasant hunting and fishing. He spent many weekends in Eastern Washington with his Dad and Brother hunting for birds. He and Marie purchased an English Springer Spaniel in 1967 who of course loved going hunting also. Over the years they had several Springers and did some dog showing and a little breeding. They owned several Champions.
But his main love was salmon and halibut fishing. He fished at Sekiu, Washington, for many years and had his own boat. In the ’90s he was able to fly up to Alaska with friends and went fishing there. He fell in love with the state and the fishing. So when he retired, they bought a travel trailer and drove the Al-Can Highway to Alaska. Over the years he met some wonderful people there and of course enjoyed the fishing. He caught some large salmon and many halibut, including one 98 pounds. He and Marie were so fortunate to keep going north until 2019.
He joined the newly built Auburn YMCA and thoroughly enjoyed going there to work out and use the pool. He met many nice people there and may have spent more time visiting than exercising.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marie. By his sisters-in-laws, Carol Andersen, Margaret Minar & Kathryn Minar. By his brother-in-law, Jim (Kerry) Minar. By his nieces Becky Patterson & Debbie( Paul) de Muelenaere. By his great nieces and nephew, Michelle Patterson, Christina (Derek) Franz & Ryan de Muelenaere, and by his great-great-nephews Alex & Owen Franz.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Jerry on Saturday , October 28th, at 1:00 p.m. It will be held at the Federal Way Senior Center. The address is 4016 S. 352nd, Auburn.
RSVP by October 19 to sportsmaness@aol.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jerry’s memory to the Auburn Valley YMCA, 1620 Perimeter Rd South, Auburn WA 98001
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, October 11th.
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE OVER
In case you missed it – the West Seattle low-bridge closure that was projected to last until Saturday instead ended Tuesday morning, So it’s open again to all users.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain expected, high in the upper 50s. Sunrise today is at 7:22 am; sunset, 6:29 pm.
(Monday photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today. Remember – no West Seattle service this weekend.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
Police are dealing right now with what’s described in radio exchanges as a flipped silver Lexus RX SUV. It was reported in the lot downhill behind Ounces at the north end of Delridge – apparently having come down that slope. Dispatch said two people were trying to right the car and the person who called 911 was told “don’t call police.” Took a while to get officers there – initially no one was available, so they had to dispatch from another precinct, but canceled that when West Seattle officers became available. The first on scene reported finding the flipped vehicle, empty, no one in sight. It had temporary plates, and when dispatch ran them, they checked to the appropriate car, but we haven’t heard whether it turned out to be stolen or not – will have to check on that later this morning.
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