day : 28/11/2023 11 results

8:53 PM: Thanks to the Arbor Heights Elementary families who forwarded this note sent tonight by acting AHES principal Alana Haider regarding an incident that was reported around 2:40 pm :

Shortly after school was dismissed this afternoon, you or your student may have noticed the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle Fire Department on our campus while they responded to a threatening incident.

An unknown adult in a car sprayed a substance that SPD believes may have been pepper spray toward several students and their families while they were walking on the sidewalk. The unknown adult immediately drove west on 105th and was not seen again as we dealt with this situation.

A teacher on duty immediately alerted the school office and called 911. The SPD and paramedic teams appeared about five minutes later. They tended to the individuals who had been sprayed or who were nearby. I am thankful to say that the students and families who were involved in this incident received treatment and are recovering.

There is nothing I take more seriously than the safety of our students, staff, and school community. We will continue to be prepared to respond to urgent situations in our school.

All Arbor Heights staff on duty wear safety vests. Mr. Frink and I will specifically station ourselves on 105th near where the incident occurred tomorrow morning and again at dismissal. Other staff members (in addition to the usual duty assignments) will be vested up and join those on assigned duty.

Please remember that in addition to reporting concerns to Arbor Heights staff, our families may use the SPS Safe Schools Hotline 206-252-0510 to report any threats to SPS schools. This phone number is managed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. …

We have a message out to SFD to find out how many people were treated, but might not hear back tonight because they’re dealing with a huge fire elsewhere in the city. According to recorded dispatch audio, the initial callout mentioned at least two victims, a 4-year-old and an adult woman. As for the person who sprayed the substance from their vehicle, there was a partial early description in therecorded audio – a Black man in a black hat in a gray 4-door car. An officer told dispatch that at least one nearby house appeared to have a security camera that might have recorded the incident, but no one was answering the door. If you have any information, contact SPD – their tip line is 206-233-5000, and this is considered an assault – and refer to incident # 23-342749.

ADDED: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB they treated one person, a 10-year-old girl.

Share This

West Seattleite goes to great lengths to rescue tossed-aside photos. Are they yours?

November 28, 2023 8:20 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news

Were they stolen and dumped? Or just lost? A reader is hoping to get photos to their owner:

They were in a torn-apart photo album (no cover or binder). They were strewn all along Admiral Way, sort of near Schmitz Park. I even crawled under a couple vehicles to get some. They were very wet and covered in debris. My daughter and I just spent hours cleaning and drying them one by one.

If these might be yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you with the finder.j

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Junction Post Office mailbox stolen

November 28, 2023 6:03 pm

| 50 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Thanks to everybody who tipped us today that the West Seattle Junction Post Office‘s parking-lot mailbox had disappeared. All that’s left in its place – bolts. Took us all day but we now have confirmation from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service that the disappearance is a case of theft: “We do believe the box was stolen overnight. We are working on the investigation of the theft,” Postal Inspector John Wiegand tells WSB – no other details so far. Meantime, USPS regional spokesperson Kim Frum told us it will be replaced, but she doesn’t have a timeline yet. It’s been seven months since this mailbox and its counterpart outside the Westwood Village Post Office were both downsized – to what were described at the time as more-secure mailboxes. This isn’t the first time thieves have taken an entire West Seattle USPS box – consider the saga of the Admiral/Belvidere box that’s been stolen twice.

Share This

ELECTION 2023: Official final local results

November 28, 2023 4:38 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Three weeks after voting ended on Election Day, King County has certified the final results. Here’s how the three key incumbentless local races ended up:

SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 (46% turnout)
Rob Saka – 18,382 – 54.15%
Maren Costa – 15,431 – 45.46%

KING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 8 (41% turnout)
Teresa Mosqueda – 33,921 – 55.01%
Sofia Aragon – 27,553 – 44.68%

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6 (45% turnout)
Gina Topp – 173,596 – 88.58%
Maryanne Wood – 21,796 – 11.12%

(Here’s the full countywide results report for all races and measures.) Generally the newly elected leaders won’t take office until the start of the year. For example, City Council spokesperson Joseph Peha tells us their public ceremonies will be either January 2 or 9, but they will take the oath of office in late December in low-key private ceremonies as the result of a city rule requiring that “to create overlap in case of an emergency like an earthquake, etc., (so) there can be continuity of government.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bedroom burglary attempt; car break-ins

November 28, 2023 2:45 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BURGLARY ATTEMPT: A North Delridge resident whose home was targeted by a would-be burglar emailed us this report:

I have been trying to spread the word because it is pretty frightening and now I can’t sleep.

(Monday) morning, around 12:45 am, someone attempted to enter a downstairs bedroom from the window. The bedroom was occupied and the entry point was inside our fenced yard. The house and yard was lit and it would have been clear there were people inside. The occupant of the bedroom awoke and confronted them and they left. She said it was a heavyset light-skinned man with brown hair and a beard wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He appeared to be in his 40s. He did not appear intoxicated. Police came, but didn’t find anything.

We later noticed the intruder had moved a furniture item to the window to help get in. It would be difficult to guess that this window existed from outside the fence and we suspect the house must have been cased earlier.

Additional lights and cameras are now up, but I’m not sure when we’ll be able to sleep again.

We are located in North Delridge near 26th and Hudson.

CAR BREAK-INS: Two readers reported seeing the aftermath of break-ins along Beach Drive, including Peggy, who emailed to report: “At least 4 cars were broken into along Beach Drive between Constellation Park and La Rustica on Sunday night, and a couple more on Monday night. Folks should be careful not to keep valuables (or anything) in their cars, particularly in plain sight.”

Share This

PARK PROJECTS MEETING, REPORT #3: The pickleball plan

November 28, 2023 12:46 pm

| 124 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Slide with schematic plan for Lincoln Park pickleball courts, shown at city’s online meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If Seattle Parks managers have given any thought to reconsidering the plan for pickleball courts in Lincoln Park, it wasn’t on display during Monday night’s online meeting about that and other area projects.

Two-thirds of the hour-long meeting was spent on recapping and explaining the plan – basically the first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes, with the other project updates inbetween, (Those were detailed in our first two reports on the meeting, here and here.) First, Parks and Recreation Superintendent AP Diaz spent most of his opening remarks on the pickleball project, after an introduction from the consultant who facilitated the meeting (which had almost 150 people signed into the video feed).

Diaz rhapsodized about Lincoln Park’s attributes – from “majestic trees” to Colman Pool (whose short season, he hinted, may be revisited) – before veering into an explanation of why they didn’t hold an in-person meeting: “It’s a busy time of year, darker, colder, (wanted it to be) as accessible as possible (to) as many people as possible.” As for why have a meeting at all, Diaz said it was for updates on “everything that’s going on,” to “try to get on the same page with these projects” and to “dispel rumors and myths” with “accurate information.”

The points he stressed toward that goal:

Share This

PHOTOS: Humpback whale in Elliott Bay

November 28, 2023 12:17 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

12:17 PM: A humpback whale is in Elliott Bay off Duwamish Head “in the ferry lanes,” according to a text we received a short time ago from Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see it!

1:21 PM: From John via email, “Several sightings of blows and tail fin out from Smith Tower, ferry terminal and orange cranes.”

4:14 PM: Thanks to Marina Clough of @westseattleviews for sharing her photos of the humpback breaching near the downtown waterfront!

Share This

The list for your West Seattle Tuesday

November 28, 2023 10:03 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(This morning’s fog – photo by James Bratsanos)

Here’s what’s up for the rest of today:

EX-DUMAR SUBSTATION = HOUSING? The Seattle City Council Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting previewed here yesterday is under way right now – you can watch live via Seattle Channel.

COFFEE, TEA, RESOURCE INFO: Monthly 10-11 am event at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

SO THIS IS SENIOR LIVING? Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) hosts a discussion including other senior-living facility/program reps, 5-7 pm, so you can get your questions answered in one stop. RSVP info is in our calendar listing.

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

(Monday moonrise photo by Mike Burns)

LEARN ASL: Free class, 6 pm at West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW) – info’s in our calendar listing.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: Run with friends old and new on these long nights! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

THE CLAY CAULDRON: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance or drop in to work on your project(s).

SING! Singers have an open invitation to join the Seattle Metropolitan Singers – “all treble voices welcome” – just attend one of their rehearsals, Tuesdays 7-9 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW); also, 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).

BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!

You can look ahead any time via our event calendar – if you have something to add to it (or to our Holiday Guide), please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

GIVING TUESDAY: Two requests from Puget Ridge, both to invest in the future

November 28, 2023 9:22 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Gardening | Holidays | How to help | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Today is the holiday-season occasion known as Giving Tuesday – with the spotlight on donations. We feature giving opportunities year-round on WSB, including the list of donation drives in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. But we received two requests for Giving Tuesday mentions, both coincidentally on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, so we’re sharing them with you:

SANISLO ELEMENTARY: The Sanislo PTA wants you to know that even a little gift will make a big difference for their small-but-mighty school:

Sanislo Elementary School is one of the smallest schools in Seattle Public Schools, and it is right here in the heart of West Seattle. We know our tiny school escaped the chopping block for this next year’s school consolidation push, but we are trying to prove that our tiny school (fewer than 200 students) is an important part of our community.

The Sanislo PTA is doing a GIVING TUESDAY fundraiser, and we are hoping for just $2,000 in donations from at least 30 donors. It’s a modest goal, but these funds go a long way with our small school. Our PTA funds everything from afterschool activities (improv classes, Ultimate Frisbee team, movie nights, and cultural celebrations) to basic classroom necessities (snacks, reading materials, classroom supplies).

We are a Title 1 school, which means a considerable majority of our students are from low-income families. Sanislo is certainly one of the under-resourced schools described by the district, but that doesn’t mean we can’t offer our students the support, community, and education they deserve. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to create, learn, and grow within the community that supports them.

So, help us support them. Anyone can contribute to our fundraiser at our Member Planet Donation site. memberplanet.com/campaign/sanislopta/givingtuesday_34 or through our Venmo Platform — @Sanislo-Pta .

Small schools are on borrowed time in Seattle, and we want to prove that because we have strong roots in our community and are willing to water our potential with our own generosity, our students will grow and thrive without uprooting them and transplanting them somewhere new.

The Sanislo PTA’s gardening analogy fits with the fact that the other fundraiser we were asked to share is for a garden so big it’s a public park – Puget Ridge Edible Park has a donation drive going today:

(WSB file photo)

Our story started with a Seattle City Parks acquisition levy that passed with big voter support. Our Puget Ridge neighborhood organized to apply for a grant to acquire a 3/4 acre parcel that is one of the last standing undeveloped agriculture-based land. For the past 8 years this land has been regenerated through permaculture techniques to provide free, self-harvest food to the public.

We also distribute food through our farmstand and to food banks. It is our goal to share the methods we had set forth to make this project a reality. Organizing the community to have open communications on a variety of topics through an email group was the first step to our success. Finding a few motivated gardeners with some knowledge and background was not hard. Starting awareness events and work parties began to gel a core group capable of making great progress over the years of development. The park has been a learning center for local backyard gardeners as well as schools. We have also seen similar projects started from this project. Our only real financial support has been the Seed Money Campaign.

Donate to PREP here.

Puget Ridge Edible Park is at 18th/Brandon.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Admiral Safeway threat, unfounded

November 28, 2023 8:44 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks for the tips. Admiral Safeway is open again after a threat determined to be unfounded. Here’s what SPD spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan: “Police responded to a reported bomb threat (there) around 7:00 a.m. Officers arrived and found most occupants of the business had already evacuated. An employee reported a suspect called and stated an incendiary device was placed inside the business and would be detonated if the suspect was not provided what was requested. Police completed a search of the business and did not locate a device. Business has reopened and there were no reported injuries.”

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday begins with ‘freezing fog advisory’

November 28, 2023 6:03 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:41 AM: Two-car crash reported on eastbound West Seattle Bridge near Delridge ~~exit~~ ramp.

8:51 AM: All lanes but one are blocked per police.

Earlier:

6:03 AM: That frost-covered side street (seen in Gatewood an hour after sunup on Monday) might be replicated this morning, so drive, ride, and walk carefully on this cold Tuesday, November 28th. We in fact are under a “freezing fog advisory” alert from the National Weather Service until 10 am. After that, we’re expecting another mostly sunny day, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise today is at 7:32 am; sunset, 4:21 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.

Water Taxi – Regular schedule today.

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):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – another 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 that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!

Share This