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Arbor Heights 564 results

Update: ‘Assault with weapons’ call in Arbor Heights
November 30, 2013 3:26 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

3:26 PM: Emergency crews are rushing to the 9700 block of 33rd SW (map). It’s an “assault with weapons” call per 911 log.

3:31 PM: Most of the units are being called off, per scanner. Our crew is still on the way to seek details at the scene.

3:38 PM: Whatever this was, radio traffic indicates no serious injuries. Police are talking to at least two people. Our crew is awaiting a chance to get info.

3:43 PM: Police say two roommates got into a fight; one accused the other of stabbing him. They’ve confirmed, no serious injuries. A private ambulance has arrived. Noisy scene because pets at the home were audibly agitated, including a dog and a goose.

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Happening now: Volunteers in action at Arbor Heights Elementary
October 19, 2013 9:55 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

You’re never too young to volunteer, and here’s photographic proof: Students Lowen and Meah are working right now at Arbor Heights Elementary School‘s Fall Cleanup. The parent volunteer who shared the photo says they’re among at least 10 kids who are helping out; the work party continues around the AHES campus until noon.

ADDED 11:25 AM: More volunteers – Taytum, two-almost-three; Tiffany, parent; kindergarteners Derek and Kieran:

Any time you want to help out – browse the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which is where we list community cleanups as well as a multitude of other events, from live music to neighborhood meetings to library programs and way beyond!

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Help review zoning ‘departures’ for new Arbor Heights school
October 18, 2013 11:31 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From the latest edition of the city Land Use Information Bulletin, members are now being recruited for a committee that will review zoning “departures” – exceptions, basically – for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School. From the official notice, here’s what they want for the committee makeup:

1. A person residing within 600’ of the proposed site.
2. A person owning property or a business within 600’ of the proposed site.
3. Two representatives of the general neighborhood.
4. A representative-at-large to represent city-wide education issues.
5. Two representatives of the Arbor Heights PTSA.
6. A representative of the Seattle School District.

The proposed “departures,” according to the notice, involve “greater height, less-than-required parking and on-site bus loading.” If you’re interested in being part of the review committee, the notice explains how to apply; do it by the November 6th deadline. (Under the current construction schedule, this is Arbor Heights’ last year in the current, much-deteriorated building.)

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Roxhill Park/Westwood Village safety on WWRHAH’s next agenda
October 17, 2013 2:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo from Monday night: Medic unit just outside Roxhill Park)
So you can plan early – the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council has just gone public with the agenda for its next meeting on November 5th, including safety at Roxhill Park and Westwood Village, following recent incidents such as the Monday night assault and ongoing concerns. Read on for the agenda:

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Wondering about those temporary cameras in Arbor Heights?
October 11, 2013 9:46 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

9:46 AM: Lots of questions about temporary installations along/near 35th SW in Arbor Heights, including the one in our photo – a tall, skinny pole fastened to city poles and signs, topped by small cameras. We at first thought this might be related to more city improvements for safety along the route to Arbor Heights Elementary School, and asked SDOT if the cameras were theirs; they said no, not theirs (but they have been getting questions too!). We found a phone number on one of the boxes and tried it; received a call back from a rep at IDAX, which owns the equipment. The cameras are “counting cars,” he explained, as part of a traffic analysis related to AH Elementary. We’re checking with the school district right now to see if it’s part of the preparation for building the new AHES (this is the last year the existing building will be in use) or for something sooner (the school has just implemented a new pickup/dropoff traffic plan, as noted in its newsletter), and we’ll add whatever we find out. The IDAX rep, meantime, said that they are keeping the cameras up through today so they can compare traffic today (with no classes at the school) to measurements from a school-in-session day like yesterday.

11:24 AM UPDATE: SPS spokesperson Tom Redman tells us it’s “for the traffic study we are performing as part of our SEPA checklist requirements” for construction of the new AHES. (SEPA is short for the State Environmental Policy Act, as explained here; traffic is one of the factors considered in SEPA reviews of projects.)

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West Seattle traffic alert: Pickup crash blocking SW 106th
October 10, 2013 1:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | Shorewood | West Seattle news

We’ve added this to our daily traffic watch already, but are also noting it separately here because a somewhat busy route connecting Arbor Heights, Shorewood, and White Center is blocked right now – SW 106th by 32nd, where a pickup truck has gone off the road and dented a fence on the north side of 106th. At least one person is being taken to the hospital by private ambulance.

3:51 PM UPDATE: Just checked – and the road is open again.

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Motorcycle rider to hospital after late-night crash in Arbor Heights
October 2, 2013 1:58 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

Thanks to the reader who texted photos from a late-night motorcycle crash in the 11000 block of 35th SW in Arbor Heights (map) and reports the rider “hit some mailboxes on the right side of the road and then crashed,” apparently after swerving to avoid a trash can in the road. The photo above shows those mailboxes. Radio communications with medics after the crash described the rider as 41 years old and believed to have been traveling at high speed at the time of the crash.

Via Twitter, SFD verified that the motorcycle rider was in stable condition with arm fractures when taken to the hospital.

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Video: Transit advocacy, development discussion top Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting
September 11, 2013 12:25 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Development | Neighborhoods | Transportation | West Seattle news | Westwood

Our video from last night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting shows two of the meeting’s central discussions. In order, here’s what and who you’ll see on the video:
*From the start, Elena Perez for Getting It Right for West Seattle, the group lobbying for changes in the 4755 Fauntleroy Way project, proposed for ~370 apartments, ~600 parking spaces, a Whole Foods Market, and other TBA retail, before its Mayor McGinn-opposed alley vacation comes to a City Council vote this winter.

*21:47 in, chair Amanda Kay Helmick starts the discussion of forming a West Seattle Transit Coalition, born from WWRHAH’s intense focus on Metro cuts and changes affecting the area (such as the eventual Highway 99 tunnel), so that the peninsula has a unified voice. They have drafted a letter and have been circulating it among community groups; they plan to “ask for the moon” of what West Seattle needs regarding traffic, rather than complaining about what’s missing now. The possibility of requiring development impact fees for transit funding was also brought up. Next step is likely an organizing meeting later this month.

Before these discussions, the meeting started with an in-depth discussion of the concept of organizing and producing Roxhill Park Day next year, with both a mega-work party and a neighborhood festival, funded with the assistance of a hoped-for city grant (applications due soon). You can find more background on the WWRHAH website.

Next month, WWRHAH is scheduled to return to its first-Tuesday meeting schedule; you can watch for announcements at wwrhah.org, which is also where WWRHAH secretary Joe Szilagyi‘s meeting minutes will be published when they’re ready (at which time we’ll add a link here too).

ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: As promised, here’s the link to the newly published meeting minutes/notes on the WWRHAH site.

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Quick note: No landmark status for Arbor Heights Elementary
September 4, 2013 9:05 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

As Arbor Heights Elementary approaches teardown and rebuild, it had to be reviewed for potential city-landmark status. As originally reported here last month, that review before the Landmarks Board was set for today – and tonight, one of the board’s newest members, Deb Barker of Morgan Junction, mentioned at the Southwest District Council meeting that the board decided unanimously NOT to consider AH for landmark status.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Arbor Heights search, arrest
September 2, 2013 11:12 am
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

11:12 AM: In case you’re wondering about the police presence in Arbor Heights – officers responded to what apparently was a call about prowlers, and have been trying to track down multiple suspects. Per the scanner, it sounds as if at least one possible suspect is in custody. We don’t know if there was an actual break-in, but have a crew in the area trying to find out more.

11:26 AM UPDATE: Police tell us neighbors called in the report of suspected prowlers spotted in an alley and yards (added: in the 35th/105th area). At least one person is being taken in for questioning. Scanner traffic also indicates police are looking for a car that is believed to be related to the case, described as a silver Impala with chrome wheels.

2:34 PM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis confirms that the suspect was booked into jail – and lauds the “great work by neighbors.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Robbery suspects charged
August 26, 2013 3:14 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

The three men arrested last Wednesday night after allegedly holding up a woman in Arbor Heights and trying to rob a man in Fauntleroy have just been charged. 22-year-old Hassan I. Abdirizak, 19-year-old Abdulkamir A. Ahmed, and 21-year-old Najib A. Aden are each charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of attempted first-degree robbery. Though investigators say they are suspected in other robberies – the documents say “additional charges are likely” – the charges filed today are for the Arbor Heights and Fauntleroy incidents and a robbery earlier that same night on Beacon Hill. The documents do not mention any other West Seattle incidents; Ahmed is alleged to have claimed the three, and others, were involved in 7 holdups on Capitol Hill. The documents do confirm what we found in research last week – no known criminal history for Abdirizak and Ahmed, but Aden was arrested in June for theft and harassment. Accordng to police, the car in which the three were found in Arbor Heights (WSB photo above) belongs to Aden’s aunt. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked that bail remain set at $250,000 each (8:12 pm update: that’s where it stayed); the three, none of whom lists a West Seattle address, are scheduled to be arraigned on September 9th.

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Got a dog that loves to swim? Arbor Heights pool’s postseason for pooches approaches
August 26, 2013 2:38 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Pets | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Cori Roed)
It’s an annual tradition – AFTER Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club closes its pool for the year, its teams will raise money by inviting dogs over to swim again this year! The pool at 11003 31st Avenue SW plans five 2-hour sessions:

Tuesday, Sept. 17th 5-7 pm
Wednesday, Sept. 18th 5-7 pm
Thursday, Sept. 19th 5-7pm
Friday, Sept. 20th 5-7 pm
Saturday, Sept. 21st 10 am-12 pm

There are a few prerequisites – see them, along with other details, on the official flyer. No people in the pool (again, this is AFTER the human swims end for the season) but dog owners will have to stay at the club while their pets are in the pool. $10/donation per dog or $25 for a pass for the entire five-day run.

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Update: Suspects in Arbor Heights robbery linked to others, police say
August 21, 2013 11:43 pm
|      52 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

11:43 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent tips/questions about police activity in north Arbor Heights, near 35th/Roxbury. Police have detained three people; we’re working to find out what for.

12:10 AM: Our crew at the scene has learned so far that this is a robbery investigation. The original scene is apparently near 35th/104th; closer to Roxbury, police were searching a car. No details beyond that.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The car (in our photo above) was impounded to be searched for evidence; one item recovered, per scanner traffic, was a purse belonging to a victim. Commenter “Neighbor” confirms this was a street robbery; we expect to get more details from police later this morning and will ask if there’s any suspicion it’s related to the holdup about 24 hours earlier in Admiral (reported here, with backstory on other recent cases).

10:15 AM UPDATE: Police say the suspects were responsible for three robberies/assaults last night – and are believed to be linked to other cases. From SPD Blotter:

Three men are now in custody following a series of robberies that stretched from Holly Park to Fauntleroy to Arbor Heights last night in a span of about 90 minutes.
The first robbery occurred at a bus stop at Beacon Avenue South and South Holly Street just after 10:00 pm. A woman was waiting for a bus when she was approached by a suspect armed with a black semi-automatic pistol. The suspect had a bandana covering his face, and demanded the victim’s cell phone. The victim handed over the phone and the suspect pushed her to the ground before he fled the area on foot. A witnesses driving by stopped to assist the victim and called 911. Officers conducted a search, including with a K9, but the suspect was not located. The victim had a few bruises on her elbow and hand, but did not require any medical attention.
Later, at about 11:10 pm, officers from the Southwest Precinct responded to a report of an assault with a weapon at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood Place, just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The adult male victim told officers he was walking to catch a ferry when he was confronted by an unknown male suspect. The suspect said something to the victim and then struck him on top on the head with the butt of a gun. The suspect then ran off without taking anything from the victim. Officers contacted the victim. He declined any medical treatment and left to board his boat. The suspect was not located.
About twenty minutes after that, 11:30 pm, officers from Southwest responded to the Arbor Heights neighborhood for a report of an armed robbery. A woman was walking in the 10400 Block of 35th Avenue SW when a suspect wearing a white hooded sweatshirt approached her from behind, grabbing her purse from her shoulder, yelling at her “Give it to me! Give it to me!” He then pointed something at her forehead, which the victim believed was a gun. The victim screamed for help and the suspect ran off east on 104th. Moments later, the victim and a neighbor saw a car drive by them with the suspect inside. Arriving officers made a high risk vehicle stop at SW 98th Street and 35th Avenue SW and took three males into custody.
Officers observed a woman’s purse inside the car, along with a blue bandana and several cell phones. A black handgun was observed under the front passenger’s seat. The suspect car was photographed and then towed to the processing room awaiting a search warrant.

The victim positively identified the suspect wearing the white hooded sweatshirt as the suspect who had robbed her minutes earlier and positively identified her purse in the car.

Detectives from the Robbery Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for the follow up investigation. It is very possible that this trio of suspects are responsible for a number of armed street robberies that have occurred in various neighborhoods citywide this summer.

Detectives spent most of the night interviewing the suspects.

The suspects, ages 19, 21 and 22, will be booked into the King County Jail following their interviews with detectives.

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From WWRHAH: Planning TLC for Roxhill Park; traffic safety updates
August 14, 2013 10:30 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

It has a new playground … a new skatepark … and now, Roxhill Park is in line for a big day of TLC from neighbors, led by the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council (WWRHAH). The nascent plan is one of many topics tackled at last night’s WWRHAH meeting, per the detailed meeting notes published by council secretary Joe Szilagyi. As it has been throughout the council’s months of existence, traffic safety was high on the discussion list too, particularly SW Roxbury issues. If you’re in the WWRHAH area, make plans to be there in person next month (usually the 1st Tuesday – this month was an anomaly – watch wwrhah.org for meeting updates).

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New Arbor Heights Elementary preview: ‘Community cornerstone’
August 8, 2013 10:33 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As the recommended design for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School made its public debut last night, the community Q/A expanded beyond the facility’s look and layout.

AH principal Christy Collins reassured the community that, although the school is moving toward an “eSTEM” (environment, science, technology, engineering, math) curriculum, it will remain a neighborhood school. And, Collins said, the new facility will even better serve the school’s role as a “community cornerstone” in Arbor Heights.

Also: While there are still School Board formalities ahead, district reps reiterated that the project remains on its accelerated timeline, with AH scheduled to move to temporary quarters at Boren right after the coming school year, so construction work can get going.

Now, as for the design, here’s how the presentation unfolded:

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Landmark nomination to be considered for Arbor Heights Elementary
August 1, 2013 3:52 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Keep in mind, this is basically a required, routine action, triggered by impending demolition/rebuild – as is similar consideration for Genesee Hill. Nonetheless, public notification is mandatory, and here it is, as just sent by the Department of Neighborhoods, which includes the Landmarks Board:

The Landmarks Preservation Board will consider landmark nomination for Arbor Heights Elementary School at 3701 SW 104th St. The meeting will be on Wednesday, September 4 at 3:30 p.m. in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue, 40th Floor in Room 4060.

The public is invited to attend the meeting and make comments.

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New Arbor Heights Elementary: Community meeting August 7th
July 12, 2013 10:39 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Questions about Seattle Public Schools‘ plan for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School? The district has announced a community meeting with updates and Q/A. It’s set for 7 pm August 7th. Here’s the announcement:

Dear Arbor Heights community,

Seattle voters approved the Seattle Public Schools Building Excellence IV (BEX IV) Capital Levy in February 2013, which includes the project to replace the existing Arbor Heights building with a newly constructed elementary school building on the Arbor Heights site.

The meeting will be presented by representatives of Seattle Public Schools capital projects team and Bassetti Architects and will include information about the projects’ early design progress. You will be able to learn more about the project scope, schedule, existing conditions and design explorations, ask questions and give feedback.

This will happen at the current AH Elementary, 3701 SW 104th.

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Roxbury safety, Metro concern, more @ Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights council
July 10, 2013 1:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Roxbury safety, Metro concern, more @ Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights council
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

Last night was a busy night for community-group meetings. We made it to Fauntleroy (story here) and Admiral (story to come), but for coverage of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Council, we point you to this thorough summary just published on the WWRHAH website by council secretary Joe Szilagyi. Topics included how to advocate for a safer SW Roxbury, one Arbor Heights neighborhood’s push for a traffic circle (here’s their online petition), and asking the city to help the county stave off those potential Metro cuts. Watch WWRHAH’s website and Facebook group for TBA info on the August meeting.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Arbor Heights burglary
June 27, 2013 1:39 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

Jen sends word of a midday break-in at her home in the 10400 block of 35th SW – she says she was gone between 11:15 am and 12:15 pm, and somebody kicked in the door, stealing a computer and jewelry boxes. If you saw anything suspicious, she says, please call police (who a reader says are currently in that general area).

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West Seattle Crime Watch roundup: Alan Polevia out of jail; 4 reader reports
June 23, 2013 8:51 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

Topping tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

(WSB photo, June 11th)
12 days after his arrest in Arbor Heights, the latest in a series of incidents also including a March manhunt in Shorewood and a February escape from Harborview while handcuffed, repeat offender Alan Polevia is out of jail. We’ve been checking daily as promised but commenter Tophat Topcat spotted it first; the jail register shows Polevia posted bond and was released just after 4:30 pm. As reported here Thursday, his bail was down to $2,500 after he went to court Wednesday and had about $5,000 of bail reduced to “personal recognizance.” The $25,000 additional bail set after the arrest was dropped earlier – the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told WSB a week ago it didn’t get evidence in time to “rush-file” a charge related to the June 11th arrest, though something’s still possible in the future. How far in the future, hard to say; the March charges he finally answered on Wednesday were filed six months after this West Seattle incident. The condition of his release in connection with that case is that he live at his father’s apartment in the 11900 block of 16th Ave. S. in Burien “for the duration of (the) case.”

Meantime, we have four reader reports from this week – read on:

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West Seattle Crime Watch update: Arrest after police search in Arbor Heights
June 11, 2013 3:02 pm
|      76 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand – top photo substituted for earlier phone photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:02 PM: We’re still trying to sort out exactly what’s happening with a big police response in the 32nd/106th area of Arbor Heights. Radio communications indicate it’s a search for a burglary suspect. More as we get it.

3:26 PM UPDATE: The original scene is now clear – but we’re checking out another address where a suspect may have been spotted, in the 32nd/105th area.

3:37 PM UPDATE: … and we’ve found the police all back at the original house, where the suspect might be hiding. So this remains an active investigation, but focused at the moment on one particular location.

4:03 PM UPDATE: Police are focused on the back yard of a house at 32nd and 106th; they have a K-9 team, too.

4:19 PM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick Sand has spoken at the scene with SW Precinct Lt. Ron Smith (photo above, in blue). He says this was called in as “suspicious circumstances” – a man was spotted riding a bicycle, towing another bicycle, in possession of two backpacks. More tactical police reinforcements have arrived. Lt. Smith also confirmed they believe the suspect is 32-year-old Alan Polevia (we had heard the name on the scanner but wanted to confirm before publishing) – target of a search in Shorewood earlier this year, and prior to that, known for escaping from custody at Harborview while in handcuffs.

4:33 PM UPDATE: Suspect is out and in handcuffs.

5:24 PM UPDATE: We’re adding photos. Identity confirmed; police are checking on warrants. King County Jail records show Polevia spent three days in jail when finally arrested in late March, three weeks after the Shorewood search. On March 28th, he was charged with burglary and theft in connection with an incident that was reported here, involving a scooter taken in the 5000 block of 37th SW, and a search that eventually ended at 36th and Morgan. He didn’t appear for arraignment, so a warrant was issued for his arrest in April, according to court records.

8:57 PM UPDATE: Polevia is on the King County Jail Register as of about an hour ago, held on the aforementioned warrant and two others, as well as for investigation of unlawful firearm possession related to today’s events. This likely means he’ll have a bail hearing tomorrow; we’ll check with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the morning. We have added one more photo, above, from this afternoon’s arrest.

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Carnival, donation drive at Arbor Heights Elementary
June 1, 2013 4:18 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Late lunch? Early dinner? Concession booths are part of what awaits you at the Arbor Heights Elementary carnival, on till 6 pm; our photo’s courtesy of a parent volunteer. The community is invited; lots of bouncy rides, too, with wristbands on sale. Even if you’re not going for rides, games, and food, remember they’re collecting items for Northwest Center – gently used household items and clothing, in particular.

ADDED: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand stopped by for a few more photos:

The sun came out to match that tropical-themed bouncy slide! And to make dunk-tank duty a little less chilly – that’s kindergarten teacher David Wilkie in the rainbow wig:

The donation drive filled two trucks, we’re told.

Just two more weeks of school for AH and other Seattle Public Schools campuses. Not that anyone’s counting …

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Community invited to tomorrow’s Arbor Heights Elementary carnival
May 31, 2013 3:10 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(2009 Arbor Heights carnival photo, shared by since-retired teacher Mark Ahlness)
The weather has brightened just in time for big weekend events, and here’s another one: Tomorrow’s carnival at Arbor Heights Elementary. The entire community is invited, we’re told. You’ll find a 27-foot pipeline slide, obstacle course, bouncy houses, mini-golf course, dunk tank, indoor games, concessions, more. Wristbands are $15 for unlimited rides, with 5 game/concession tickets included. And – even if you’re not coming to ride or play games, they’re having a clothing drive for Northwest Center, and will gladly accept donations of gently used clothes, shoes, and household items. AH Elementary is at 37th/104th; the carnival is scheduled for 3-6 pm.

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