Many months into Seattle Public Schools‘ march toward seemingly inevitable school closures/consolidations to close a budget hole, a few things were clarified at tonight’s School Board meeting. For one, they’re only talking about elementary schools, so the plan that Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is working on might be more accurately titled “A System of Well-Resourced Elementary Schools.” For two, while they insist there’s no specific list yet, the likelihood is that about 20 of the district’s 70 elementaries will be proposed for closure/consolidation:

But the district’s chief operating officer Fred Podesta insisted, “We weren’t looking for 20 schools to close, we’re looking for 50 schools to keep open.” They also outlined how a “well-resourced school” would be staffed – about 500 students, with full-time art, music, and PE teachers (though not full-time nurses):

The well-resourced schools plan – minus a specific list of schools – was discussed with board members after they moved down to tables with district managers; they voted unanimously at the meeting’s end to accept the plan outline, which was not, it was stressed, an “approval.” First, lots of questions; West Seattle/South Park board director Gina Topp, for example, asked Dr. Jones how he came to decide that closures/consolidations was the way to go. “A smaller footprint is going to allow us to do more things,” he replied. Other board directors asked hypotheticals regarding criteria for choosing which schools would be proposed for changes; the replies seemed to indicate that enrollment size will be the major driver.

Wondering about local elementaries’ sizes? West Seattle/South Park has 11 SPS elementaries – we’ve listed them with the enrollment projections for next year as noted in this budgeting document:

Alki (currently at the former Schmitz Park Elementary building, awaiting its appeal-delayed rebuild/expansion) – 267
Arbor Heights (rebuilt and expanded in the past decade) – 450
Concord International – 264
Fairmount Park (closed in the ’00s, reopened and expanded in the ’10s) – 366
Gatewood – 402
Genesee Hill (rebuilt and expanded in the past decade) – 439
Highland Park – 238
Lafayette – 494
Roxhill at EC Hughes (renovated six years ago) – 240
Sanislo – 164
West Seattle (recently expanded) – 330

So what’s next? Meetings:

We’ll publish the list of community meeting dates and places as soon as it’s made public. Meantime, Dr. Jones spoke repeatedly of bringing a detailed closure/consolidation proposal to the board “sometime next month,” no specific date yet. See tonight’s slide deck in full here. Again, this would be a plan to start in the 2025-2026 school year, NOT next school year.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: Baby owl assisted at Lincoln Park

May 8, 2024 9:57 pm

| 53 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Wildlife

(Photos courtesy Kersti Muul)

That baby Barred Owl was in a bit of a predicament tonight at Lincoln Park. We got a text from someone who said the owlet seemed to have fallen out of its tree, and what should they do? We in turn texted local wildlife advocate Kersti Muul to ask her. She ended up heading to the park and helping the fuzzy little critter.

The folks who originally texted explained this followed a youth-baseball game:

The West Seattle Baseball team Husky Deli Pintos were walking back and a group of kids and parents spotted the owl and were amazed seeing the baby and the mama owl fending off the crows trying to harass them. We probably watched it all for 10 minutes. Thanks for connecting us to Kersti; she went right down and got the owl! She knew right where the nest was. What a neat and sweet West Seattle story!

Kersti tells us she’s hoping the owlet can be returned to its nest quickly.

Share This

3 days to 500+ sales on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this Saturday! Here are two more mini-lists

May 8, 2024 9:27 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Time for our daily reminder that 500+ of your neighbors – maybe you’re among them? – will be hosting sales this Saturday on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! If you haven’t seen the map yet, it’s here (where you’ll also find a link to the printable guide). We’re continuing to compile mini-lists – tonight, sales for pet people! First, the sales mentioning pet item(s)

#36: 7031 13th Ave SW
#88: 4116 California Ave SW
#115: 5000 SW Charlestown St
#144: 5002 SW Andover St
#169: 3225 47th Ave SW
#243: 4707 45th Ave SW
#278: 5940 36th Ave SW
#287: 8308 35th Ave SW
#331: 9600 34th Ave SW
#382: 4117 39th Ave SW
#428: 7571 46th Ave SW
#490: 9809 39th Ave SW
#514: 3528 SW 107th St

These sales’ descriptions mention dog item(s) specifically:

#11: 8115 12th Ave SW
#16: 4712 25th Ave SW
#41: 1600 SW Graham St
#58: 3303 56th Ave SW
#98: 3420 60th Ave SW
#120: 4851 46th Ave SW
#148: 2214 42nd Ave SW
#185: 2205 44th Ave SW
#208: 2768 44th Ave SW
#298: 6547 30th Place SW
#299: 3005 SW Barton St
#334: 3420 37th Ave SW
#488: 6043 48th Ave SW

And at one sale, #156 at 3435 47th Ave SW, you can bring your pet for a portrait – that sale is both a fundraiser (for Hazelwood Preschool) and a launch party of sorts for PAWparazzi, described as “a new West Seattle-based pop-up mobile pet photo studio.” That’s not the only sale with “something extra”; we’ll spotlight more of those tomorrow. Meantime, a reminder that both the clickable map of sales and the link to the printable guide (PDF, 32 pages) are accessible here. (Links to our previous mini-lists – including fundraisers, businesses, sales with lemonade stands, and sales with extra days – are on the map page, too.)

Share This

SPORTS: Postseason games today for three local teams

May 8, 2024 8:01 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

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

(WSB photos)

One of the three local high-school teams that played Metro League postseason ballgames this afternoon and evening is still standing: The West Seattle High School softball team. Our photos are from the first of the two games they played today at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, an 11-1 win over Eastside Catholic. Above, Julia Herron at the plate – she hit a triple today. Below, Tangerine Zurek threw a complete game, giving up only five hits and one run.

A few hours later, the Wildcats lost to Roosevelt, 14-0. WSHS’s next game is at 3:30 pm Friday vs. the loser of tonight’s Blanchet-Prep game.

Also in softball today, Chief Sealth International High School lost a must-win game vs. Holy Names at NCSWAC this afternoon, 15-0.

Chief Sealth’s baseball team also came to the end of its road at the Metro tournament today, losing to Blanchet 2-0 at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

Ford Rains pitched the complete game, giving up 2 runs on only 1 hits and 1 walk. The Seahawks almost rallied in the final inning – Mason Filitaula drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and made it to third.

But a double play ended the game.

P.S. The WSHS baseball team is off until Saturday, when it plays Ballard for the Metro championship, also at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd), at 7 pm.

Share This

VIDEO: Seattle City Light shows off new curbside chargers for EVs

May 8, 2024 6:24 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

You might have noticed a few of those unique parking signs around the peninsula. They mark curbside spaces for users of Seattle City Light‘s new public Level 2 curbside chargers. SCL invited media to a demonstration on Tuesday at the one installed in the 2100 block of California SW, one of the locations we first mentioned after spotting the city permit application more than a year ago. Citywide, the pilot project is installing 58 chargers at 31 locations – two chargers at most sites – and 25 of those sites are now operational, five in West Seattle, including this one.

The program uses a few different types of chargers – this one is tailored expressly to installation on metal utility poles. It’s first-come, first-served, up to four hours of parking for EVs that are being charged (longer if they’re parked overnight). They envision the average user, driving 25 miles a day, would use a charger like this once or twice a week, for up to four hours. These are (corrected) 9.6-kilowatt-hour chargers, not high-speed; the cost to the user is 21 cents per kilowatt-hour, so that’s (corrected) about $2 an hour, which SCL’s Jacob Orenberg says would get the average EV driver about 30 miles. You need to use an app, special card, or pay by phone to get access to the cord. Here’s how it works.

To reduce the chances of vandalism and theft that have plagued City Light’s first generation of public chargers, features include the cables staying inaccessible until activated, and the fact that these Level 2 cables have very little content of value, Orenberg said, maybe “a buck worth of copper.” The installation and activation took longer than originally hoped, he also said, for reasons inclluding designs that needed to be “reconfigured,” leading to “permits that needed to be redone,” and contractor scheduling delays, “no one thing.” But now that they’re available, SCL say, “use has far exceeded our expectations,” so far. You can see the five West Seattle locations (plus the city’s Junction fast-charger station, and future Morgan Junction charging lot) on this map.

Share This

Seattle Symphony to join Chief Sealth Chamber Orchestra for free community concert

May 8, 2024 4:15 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Here’s your chance to see the Seattle Symphony without leaving West Seattle and without buying tickets – plus, talented student musicians too. We received the announcement today:

On Tuesday, May 14, the Seattle Symphony returns to West Seattle and shares the stage with the Chief Sealth International High School Chamber Orchestra for a FREE 60-minute Community Concert featuring works by an array of composers, from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Elisa Kain Johnson, a recent alum of the Symphony’s Merriman-Ross Family Young Composers Workshop!

Admission free, but RSVP recommended – go here. Chief Sealth IHS is at 2600 SW Thistle; the auditorium is on the west side of the campus.

Share This

The Alpine Diner and Big Mario’s in White Center: Welcome, new WSB sponsors!

May 8, 2024 2:41 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

Today we welcome two new WSB sponsors, The Alpine Diner and Big Mario’s, neighbors sharing the space at 9635 16th SW in White Center. As new sponsors, here’s what they would like you to know:

If you’ve ever had the privilege of enjoying an après ski (that is, the meal and company following a long day of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or otherwise enjoying the alpine), you’ll know there’s something a little magical about a lodge: Enjoying a hot meal in a cozy place after a day of exposure is deeply satisfying.

That’s exactly the emotion we set out to capture at The Alpine Diner & Big Mario’s White Center. Every choice, from our menu to our decor, is designed with warmth in mind. At Alpine Diner, the sister to Seattle favorite Lost Lake Café, we’ve crafted a menu of family-friendly familiar favorites: Burgers, breakfasts, hearty dinners, and monthly specials inspired by the season.

Cross the open threshold into neighboring Big Mario’s, and grab the famous NY-inspired slice popular enough to garner a cult following in Seattle.

Need to take a break from the table? Hit up the game room shared by both restaurants.

We’ve been asked: Why White Center? And our answer is simple: Because we couldn’t imagine a better environment to welcome our own families. It’s Seattle’s newest up-and-coming neighborhood — We’re situated directly next to Southgate Roller Rink, a favorite stop to many venturing south of downtown. New businesses are popping up every day, bringing new life and opportunity for Seattleites of all ages. It’s the perfect backdrop for some of the city’s favorite diner fare.

We hope to see you for your next meal: In our dining room, it’s always time for après. The Alpine Diner is open 9 am-10 pm Mondays-Fridays, 8 am-10 pm Saturdays-Sundays; Big Mario’s is open 11 am-midnight Sundays-Thursdays, 11 am-2 am Fridays and Saturday.

We thank The Alpine Diner and Big Mario’s White Center for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!

Share This

New public-safety director for mayor’s office: West Seattleite Natalie Walton-Anderson

May 8, 2024 1:14 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

At the top of the list of mayor’s-office cabinet/staff changes announced today is a new role for a West Seattle resident: Natalie Walton-Anderson is the new director of public-safety for Mayor Bruce Harrell. Until recently, Walton-Anderson led the criminal division in City Attorney Ann Davison‘s office, appointed by Davison in 2021. Today’s announcement also notes her background includes management roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. You can likely expect to see her at next Tuesday’s mayoral public-safety forum for District 1, 6 pm at Concord International Elementary in South Park (RSVP required – the link is in our calendar listing).

Share This

WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Daytime low-low tides arrive

May 8, 2024 12:30 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

One of the best places for a low-low tide view, if you’re not going down to walk on the beach, is Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block of Beach Drive SW). Above, the view a short time ago, looking north, and below, what we saw looking south:

As noted in our daily preview list, the tide bottomed out at -2.8 feet at 11:43 am today; the next two days (here’s the chart), it’s even lower, -3.2 feet at 12:24 pm tomorrow (Thursday, May 9), -3.0 feet. These are the lowest low tides of the month, but there’ll be some decent ones Memorial Day weekend too – that’s also when the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will make their seasonal debut, with two West Seattle locations (see the schedule and sites here).

Share This

PREVIEW: 11 Muse Fest performances highlight May’s West Seattle Art Walk

May 8, 2024 11:34 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

As you plan how to enjoy the clear, warm weather in the days and nights ahead, one more big event not to miss – Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk, featuring 11 musical performances comprising this year’s Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices music festival! Here’s the lineup:

As noted on the poster, the performances are concurrent, 6-7:45 pm, at venues from North Admiral to Morgan Junction. Muse Fest is part of The Art of Music, coordinated by John Redenbaugh, providing live music during many Art Walk nights each year; Sue Quigley is co-producing tomorrow night’s event (and performing too!). You can find more information about the artists by going here.

Meantime, dozens of venues are part of the Art Walk itself, showing art and/or hosting artist receptions and/or offering food/beverage specials. Here’s the spring list:

The Art Walk’s “official” hours are 5 pm to 8 pm, but artist receptions may start/end at different types – each venue sets its own hours – so scroll through the May previews here to see who you’ll find, where, and when.

Share This

WHALE SIGHTING: Humpback in Elliott Bay

May 8, 2024 11:02 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | Whales

If you’re heading out for the low-low tide (-2.8 feet at 11:43 am), you can do some whale-watching too – Kersti Muul just texted with word that a humpback whale is “smack in the center of Elliott Bay.” Let us know if you see it!

Share This

Low-low tide, ferry-dock meeting encore, postseason. sports, more for your West Seattle Wednesday

May 8, 2024 10:08 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Goslings seen along Harbor Avenue – photographed by David Hutchinson)

Here’s what’s up for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LOW-LOW TIDE: It’s out to -2.8 feet at 11:43 am – even lower tomorrow afternoon, as the tide table shows.

TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

FERRY DOCK MEETING: Another chance to catch up on the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement project during today’s noon online meeting with Washington State Ferries. Our calendar listing has the registration link.

POSTSEASON SPORTS: In softball, WSHS plays Eastside Catholic at 1:30 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). … In baseball, Chief Sealth IHS plays Bishop Blanchet at 4 pm Wednesday, at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center).

SCHOOL BOARD: Another budget update, with the school closure/consolidation plan now a month away, plus public comments including two topics on which we’ve reported this week, WSHS’s Chinese teacher and Junction FC at Southwest Athletic Complex, all part of the meeting at district HQ downtown (3rd/Lander), viewable live here, 4:15 pm; here’s the agenda.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: DO fix what IS broke, to reconfigure the saying. Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.

FREE GROUP RUN + EVENT SPOTLIGHTS: The weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run welcomes all levels, 6:15 pm.

TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: This month’s meeting is in person at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 6:30 pm pre-meetijng program, 7:30 pm meeting including an update from the district’s three state legislators – here are agenda details.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

SAN FERMIN AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Live in-store show and signing, 7 pm. (4559 California SW)

POETRY: Another literary night at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm – PoetryBridge‘s gathering!

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (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 so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Wednesday info

May 8, 2024 6:02 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, May 8.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Sunny today, high in the low 60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:40 am; sunset will be at 8:32 pm.

ROAD-WORK ALERT

*SDOT’s info page for the Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project is updated with more details about the ongoing work at Delridge/Oregon, which is narrowed as a result:

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT AHEAD

Regional outlets had brief mentions of a visit to Seattle by President Biden on Friday, reported to be flying into Sea-Tac (not Boeing Field). No other details as of early today, but we looked up the airspace advisory issued last night, and it spans a window of 7:15 pm Friday to 2:45 pm Saturday.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Low bridge: Open.

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

High Bridge – Here’s 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:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic. (We’re aware that the low bridge hasn’t shown up in this feed since the recent closure, and we’re awaiting SDOT’s explanation.)

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

Share This