day : 05/11/2023 9 results

SCHOOL CLOSURES? District’s ‘system of well-resourced schools’ plan debut approaches, as does end of local rep’s time on the board

The early agenda for the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors‘ November 15 meeting is online. This meeting will attract more attention than most meetings, because SPS Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is scheduled to unveil his plan for dealing with a budget crunch by transforming the district into “a system of well-resourced schools.” That is expected to include a proposal to close and consolidate some schools.

Four school-board seats are on the citywide ballot for Tuesday’s election, so the eventual fate of the plan could be decided by a majority-new board. One of the two board members who aren’t running for re-election is our area’s representative, Leslie Harris, finishing her second term, staying involved until the end (and, she promises, beyond). Weekend before last, she held her final pre-election community-conversation meeting. The anticipated battle over likely closure proposals was on many minds, including Harris’s.

She admitted it feels “bizarre” to realize she won’t be among those making the decision. But before she steps down, she has a truckload of questions she suspects won’t be answered when the proposal is first presented – such as what the cost will be for securing buildings and for eventually reopening them, and is it true that charter schools would get dibs on renting a mouthballed school building? She also recapped some of the issues she had raised at a budget “work session” two days before her community meeting, such as a lack of “guiding principles” for the decisionmaking.

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REMINDER: Southwest Library to close for two weeks starting Monday

November 5, 2023 8:01 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

(Southwest Branch, WSB file photo)

As announced a month ago, the Southwest Library closes for two weeks starting tomorrow, so Seattle Public Library can install a new electric HVAC system. Once that’s in place, the branch will be fully air-conditioned and more-efficiently heated, according to SPL. The branch is expected to reopen Monday, November 20th. Its book return will be closed until then, too. If you’ve put something on hold and haven’t arranged to get it rerouted, it’ll be held until the closure’s over. And a reminder that our area has four other SPL branches – High Point, Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), and South Park; the King County Library System’s White Center branch isn’t far, either.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Purse-snatching robbery reported in Admiral District

November 5, 2023 6:30 pm

| 35 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

6:30 PM: Police are investigating a reported purse-snatching robbery in the Admiral District in the past half-hour. We haven’t heard the exact location – the victim was to meet officers in a “parking lot … near the bank” by Admiral/California (which has four banks in the vicinity). The robbers were reported to have pushed the victim down and stolen her purse. (So far, no SFD dispatches for medical assistance.) The robbers have been described so far as two Asian males, one Asian female, all in masks, dark clothing, around 18 years old, fleeing in a “4-door black or blue sedan.”

7:50 PM: As noted in comments, the call log puts this report in the 2600 block of California, which suggests the Safeway lot (which has both Chase and Umpqua banks on its west side).

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SPORTS: West Seattle HS volleyball on to next level of postseason play after finishing #2 in Metro League

November 5, 2023 4:45 pm

| Comments Off on SPORTS: West Seattle HS volleyball on to next level of postseason play after finishing #2 in Metro League

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

Last night’s Metro League volleyball championship match was closer than the final score – Seattle Prep over West Seattle High School, three sets to none – would suggest.

During the faceoff in the Chief Sealth IHS gym, the first two sets’ scores were close – 25-23 and 26-24.

The third set was almost seesaw until a 10-10 tie – and Prep started pulling away after that, taking the set 25-16.

Next up for the Wildcats and head coach Scott Behrbaum, a district-tournament game at 7:30 pm Thursday (November 9) vs. either Bellevue HS or Eastside Catholic (who they beat 3-0 earlier on Saturday to get to the Metro final). They’ll be playing at Lake Washington High School (12033 NE 80th, [corrected] Kirkland).

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SURVEY: Live in Fauntleroy? Questions for you

November 5, 2023 2:41 pm

| Comments Off on SURVEY: Live in Fauntleroy? Questions for you

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

The Fauntleroy Community Association is the only neighborhood council in West Seattle that regularly surveys people in its service area, and they’ve just launched the newest survey, explaining, “This information allows us to understand what is important to our community members and helps the FCA board set priorities.” If you live in Fauntleroy, you likely received a postcard in USPS mail inviting you to answer the survey; if not, you can find it online at fauntleroy.net/survey. If you don’t have time to take it now, it’s open until December 4; FCA promises to publish the overall results online.

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UPDATE: Crash at 35th/Fauntleroy end of bridge

November 5, 2023 12:01 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Screengrab from SDOT camera)

12:01 PM: Thanks for the tips. The westbound Fauntleroy Way end of the West Seattle Bridge is blocked right now for an emergency response because of a crash.

12:09 PM: The outside westbound lane is open again; the other westbound. lanes remain blocked while officers await both tow and cleanup crews.

(WSB photo)

12:21 PM: Since we missed the initial dispatch on this while away from the desk, we just went to the scene to ask about the circumstances. We’re told the driver who caused the crash was having a medical emergency and is being taken to a hospital.

12:27 PM: A tow truck has just removed that car (the white one).

12:41 PM: The scene is clear. We’re following up with SFD on the transported driver’s condition.

1:53 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says they treated a 45-year-old woman at the scene – she did not require hospitalization – along with the 35-year-old man who was taken to Harborview. We just got a call from someone who said he’s the latter driver, explaining he suffered a seizure but will be OK.

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WHALES: Orcas in the area

November 5, 2023 7:42 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

A large group of orcas is southbound off south Bainbridge Island, Kersti Muul just texted, saying they might be Southern Residents.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 options

November 5, 2023 6:16 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Squirrel at Lincoln Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Sunday’s here, and with it, the start of four months of Pacific Standard Time. The sun will set today at 4:45 pm. But there’s much to do before (and after) then – the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, the rest of what’s happening today/tonight:

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Now they’re running on Sunday mornings too – meet at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: Big meet at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 9:30 am-12:30 pm – the USATF Pacific Northwest Open & Masters Cross Country Championships.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering fall fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. The market will be in its usual location on California north of Oregon, with the Halloween celebration centered in the block south.

FOOD DRIVE AT THE MARKET: As previewed here, a representative of the nonprofit Farmlink will be at the market today, collecting food and encouraging monetary donations for the West Seattle Food Bank.

SMALL BIZ POP-UP MARKET: 10 am-2 pm at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW).

FAUNTLEROY FINE ART & HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW: Last chance to shop this sale! Third and final day, 11 am-2 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) –

our calendar listing includes the artist lineup. Here’s some of what we saw on day 1.

ALKI BIKE & BOARD DONATION DRIVE: Today is the second day of a donation drive for Treehouse foster youth at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW; WSB sponsor) – go here to see what they’re collecting. Donation dropoffs during store hours – today, that’s noon-5 pm.

COOPER ARTISTS’ HOLIDAY SALE: Shop arts and crafts made by the artists who live in the Cooper Artist Housing at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), noon-4 pm.

‘BALANCE DUE’: Second part of Admiral Church‘s three-part community-education series about “the history of West Seattle’s colonization and its impact on the land, water, and the people.” 12:30 pm. More info in our calendar listing. (4320 SW Hill)

LIVE MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor): Musicians for the West Seattle Food Bank, featuring Christy McWilson and Jasper Tollefson, 3-5 pm.

LIVE AT EASY STREET: The Darts, Carrion Kids, Sinister Six, 4 pm free in-store, all-ages show at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW).

‘TOLTON: FROM SLAVE TO PRIEST’: 6:30 pm at Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee), you’re invited to come see this play telling the story of America’s first Black Roman Catholic priest – more info in our calendar listing.

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for our upcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Third 7-11 robbery in less than two weeks

November 5, 2023 3:23 am

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Police are at the Harbor Avenue 7-11 right now, investigating an armed robbery reported just after 3 am. So far all they’ve learned is that there were four robbers – at least one with a “long gun” – who held up the clerk, pointing a gun at his head, and got away in a “white sedan.” All were wearing masks. This is the third West Seattle 7-11 robbery in less than two weeks, after Avalon on October 24th and California/Charlestown on October 28th.

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