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Spotlight Stories

VIDEO: Supporting the arts with a sidewalk surprise
May 27, 2020 11:30 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s soprano Ellaina Lewis, performing a surprise show in a West Seattle neighborhood this past weekend. L’Nayim Austin explains:

My husband and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary this weekend. Since we are social distancing, we couldn’t celebrate in the usual way (dinner and show). So, as a surprise for my husband, I commissioned a West Seattle friend and opera singer, Ellaina Lewis, to perform a short opera outside our home (following social distancing recommendations).

It was a lovely performance enjoyed by my husband, and everyone else in the neighborhood. The weather cooperated, and Ellaina’s beautiful soprano voice was magical. Two neighbors took videos.

Perhaps next time one of your readers needs a bit of celebration, they might consider hiring a local artist for an outdoor serenade. A little art during these times goes a long way to raise the soul.

(In the other clip, she sings an Elvis Presley classic.) P.S. Happy anniversary to L’Nayim and husband!

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ONLINE TONIGHT: SDOT @ HPAC
May 27, 2020 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on ONLINE TONIGHT: SDOT @ HPAC
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you live and/or work in Highland Park, Riverview, or South Delridge, your community council HPAC invites you to the monthly meeting online tonight at 7 pm, featuring guests from SDOT. The main topic: The newly unveiled details of the Highland Park Way/Holden Safety Project. A brief West Seattle Bridge update is planned too. See the agenda, and how to access the meeting via Zoom or phone, by going here.

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Wednesday notes, 10th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
May 27, 2020 5:58 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:58 AM: Good morning – the 65th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. We start again with a road-work reminder – SW Roxbury repaving between 16th and 18th continues today. Here’s our preview; here’s the westbound detour map:

And here’s the nearest traffic camera:

On with our other featured cameras for the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Delridge/Spokane/Chelan, and the restricted-access low bridge (note: SDOT cameras have been having intermittent outages):

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

TRANSIT

Metro – Reduced schedule; reduced capacity; check here for next departure

Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues

Sound Transit reminder – Link light rail and Sounder trains will start charging fares again June 1st (next Monday)

During the stay-home order, we’re not live-monitoring morning traffic, but we’ll update with word of incidents, so please let us know what you’re seeing – comment or text (but not if you’re drivingl!) 206-293-6302.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Suspect charged in Peel & Press burglary
May 26, 2020 11:26 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

A suspect is now charged in the May 9th burglary at Morgan Junction restaurant Peel & Press – a repeat offender who was already awaiting trial for a business break-in attempt in South King County. 33 year old Rafael S. Meyers is charged with second-degree burglary in what prosecutors describe as a “brazen and sophisticated” crime, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the restaurant while apparently trying to break into the neighboring Starbucks. The charging documents say police identified Meyers with the help of a nearby resident who had video of someone coming and going in an alley by the businesses north of Fauntleroy, and gave police information on a related vehicle, including its plate number. Police say the man in that video matched the man seen in Peel & Press’s security video (frame grab at right). They got a search warrant for the vehicle and found it last Wednesday in the driveway outside Meyers’ Fauntlee Hills home, with him inside, and took him into custody. The court documents also say police found suspected heroin and paraphernalia on Meyers, and that a GRIZZLY hat like the one shown in the security video was in his car. He was booked into jail, and got out a day later after posting bond in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Online records show Meyers has an extensive record, though much of it is for non-felonies. He’s awaiting trial on a charge of attempted second-degree burglary from last August in Auburn. Charging documents from that case say he was arrested after tripping an alarm while trying to break into a business there. His next hearing in that case is scheduled for June 3rd. He also was arrested in February of last year for allegedly tagging a railroad car in SODO. The charge, a misdemeanor, was dismissed in November because of witness issues. Documents from a car-prowl case in 2011 describe Meyers as a “well-known graffiti suspect” who was at the time also known for downtown car prowls. In the new case, he is due back in court June 8th for arraignment.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Cool clouds, with warmup on the way
May 26, 2020 10:42 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to James Tilley for the photo, taken from Alki, looking south – he identifies those as Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, explained here. Otherwise, the big news about the weather is that the next three days are expected to bring highs at least in the 70s – possibly 80s on Thursday.

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CORONAVIRUS: Tuesday 5/26 roundup
May 26, 2020 9:00 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s the post-holiday-weekend roundup of local virus-crisis news:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*7,896 people have tested positive, up 17 from yesterday

*544 people have died, up 2 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 7,582 and 529.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

GOVERNOR SPEAKS TOMORROW: All eyes are on Olympia, with five days now left until the stay-home order’s expiration date. Gov. Inslee plans a media briefing at 2:30 pm tomorrow, described only as “an update on the state’s COVID-19 response.” It’ll be streamed here; we’ll carry it live too.

OUTDOOR-RECREATION CLARIFICATION: A memo from the governor today clarified Phase 1 (in which King County remains) and Phase 2 for these types of outdoor recreation:

– Staffed outdoor tennis facilities public and private
– Guided ATV, paddle sports, and horseback riding
– Guided fishing
– Go-cart tracks, ORV/motocross facilities, and participant-only motorsports
– Gondolas
– Zoos

HEALTH AUTHORITIES’ BRIEFING: State and county health officers have been offering regular media briefings by phone; you can listen to the audio for today’s briefing by going here. Topics included breakdowns of yet more newly public data.

PREMIUM PAY FOR GIG WORKERS … during the pandemic? That’s the proposal from City Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Andrew Lewis.

ANTHEMIC IN THE PANDEMIC: The band Alcohol Funnycar released its first new song in 24 years – a music video with some West Seattle and White Center locales, and an anthemic-in-the-pandemic theme:

GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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WEDNESDAY: Chief Sealth International High School celebrates Class of 2020
May 26, 2020 7:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Chief Sealth International High School is the next local high school to celebrate its Class of 2020 in this year of coronavirus-canceled commencement ceremonies. 11 am-2 pm on Wednesday, CSIHS staff and seniors will see each other for the first time in 2 1/2 months during a drive-thru cap-and-gown pickup. CSIHS principal Aida Fraser-Hammer tells WSB, “Along with caps & gowns, the students will get their honor cords, awards and certificates, medallions, class photos, yard signs, and some special surprises.” Logistics are on the school website.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: See who’s on the Community Task Force and Technical Advisory Panel, plus, what else is happening
May 26, 2020 3:55 pm
|      60 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As we first reported last weekend, the mayor has set up a community advisory group for the West Seattle Bridge project, and it’s being formally announced today. So are details of the technical advisory group that was already in the works. We also have a general update on what’s up with the bridge, two months after it was closed.

First, the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force. It’ll be co-chaired by Greg Nickels, the West Seattle-residing former mayor who’s remained active in transportation advocacy, and Paulina Lopez, a longtime South Park community leader/advocate. From the announcement:

… we are launching the Task Force to ensure that the many voices and concerns of the community are not only heard, but consistently advocated for.

The group is comprised of elected officials and representatives from West Seattle businesses, neighborhood groups from the Junction to Georgetown to South Park to Highland Park to SODO, and industrial and maritime businesses and their workers.

Members will help ensure transparency, clear communication, and broad community engagement and understanding around both traffic mitigation efforts and the future path forward for the West Seattle
High-Rise Bridge as we address new data, public input, fiscal challenges, and many other important factors that will inform consideration of repair versus replace scenarios.

Here’s who else is on the Community Task Force:

Read More

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Coast Guard icebreaker USCGC Healy
May 26, 2020 3:37 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo. That’s USCGC Healy, one of the Coast Guard’ two icebreakers. It’s based in Seattle and currently doing sea trials to get ready for its next mission.

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No, this is NOT a new ‘Stay Healthy Street’
May 26, 2020 2:30 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Someone apparently tried to set up a rogue “Stay Healthy Street” near Lincoln Park. A neighbor sent us a photo of that sign at 46th/Thistle and said there’s another one a few blocks north at 45th/Trenton. Since the city hasn’t announced any additions to the program in a few weeks, we asked SDOT, which replied: “This street is not one of our Stay Healthy Streets, and we did not place this sign here. We will send a crew to retrieve these sings and also look out for any missing signs at nearby Stay Healthy Streets.” The only official ones in West Seattle remain the originally announced one in High Point (and a bit south), the Puget Ridge/Highland Park stretch, and Beach Drive/Alki Avenue west of 63rd SW (wrapping around Alki Point).

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ROAD WORK UPDATE: Roxbury repaving begins
May 26, 2020 12:45 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The SW Roxbury repaving project between 16th and 18th SW has begun. Crews had started with the westbound lanes when we went over to check at midmorning. The work could last up to a week; both directions of Roxbury will be repaved. Westbound traffic is being detoured, as shown on the map in our preview.

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DEVELOPMENT: Comment time for 3417 Harbor SW apartments
May 26, 2020 11:11 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo, 3417 Harbor SW project site)

The next phase of public comment is beginning for the last project seen by the Southwest Design Review Board before in-person meetings were suspended in March (WSB coverage here). It’s 3417 Harbor SW (map), currently described as a “5-story, 115-unit apartment building (with offstreet parking) for 68 vehicles,” on a site that currently holds a house that’s been serving as a commercial office. The project’s land-use application has been formally submitted, so that opens a 2-week comment period (through June 8th); the notice explains how to comment. The project also still has to go through the second phase of Design Review – no timeline for that yet; we’ve been tracking the proposal for more than a year.

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HELPING: Two more chances to donate blood in West Seattle
May 26, 2020 10:34 am
|    Comments Off on HELPING: Two more chances to donate blood in West Seattle
 |   Coronavirus | Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Our regional blood supplies need a boost now that more health-care services are resuming. If you can donate, this month’s West Seattle pop-up drive has two more days to go this week – Wednesday (10 am-6 pm) and Friday (9 am-5 pm). at Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW). You can book an appointment online by going here, or by phone – call 800-398-7888, Ext 1 – or email, schedule@bloodworksnw.org.

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ONLINE TODAY: Talk local real estate with West Seattle Realty
May 26, 2020 9:45 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

How will the local real-estate market be affected by unexpected factors such as the coronavirus-related economic crunch and bridge closure? Right now, the market’s busier than you might expect, and there’s much to talk about. So at 4 pm today, West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor) hosts an online/phone discussion, all welcome, as previewed last week. Email info@westseattlerealty.com and you’ll get the info you need to participate.

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Remembering Susan Kay Harris, 1949-2020
May 26, 2020 9:04 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends have said goodbye to Sue Harris and are sharing this remembrance with the community:

Susan Kay Harris, age 71, died peacefully at home on May 23rd. She is survived by her children Sean (Courtney Harris-Campf), Colleen, Becky (RJ Masters), Marianne (Pat McGah), and CJ (Morgann Harris), six grandchildren, and her siblings Rita Meyers and Chuck Pepka. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Joseph, her parents Ruth and Ray Pepka, and her sister Rose Ann Hallett.

Sue was born in Kokomo, Indiana and moved with her family as an infant to Seattle. Raised in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, Sue attended St. Paul Catholic School, Forest Ridge, and Seattle University. Pepe, as she was known to her camp friends, loved her summers working at CYO camps, and it was there that she met Joe.

After they were married in 1973, Sue and Joe moved to West Seattle to begin their family together. Sue remained a staple in the neighborhood, all the way until the end of her life. Sue loved that her house, “the big blue house,” was a place that everyone was welcomed, where people would gather together, and kids could often be heard playing on the third floor. Sue and her neighbor, long-time friend Teresa Brown, would always comment that between the two of them they collectively raised their nine kids.

Sue worked at Holy Rosary School for over 25 years as the school librarian. Sue loved Holy Rosary. She loved the people at Holy Rosary. She would always rave about the amazing teachers and staff she got to work with and how proud she was of all the school does. Everyone could count on Sue to have a good book recommendation and some M and M’s to share when they visited her in the library.

In the last three years, Sue was an absolute trooper as she dealt with stage 4 breast cancer and the intense pain that came with it. She was always someone who loved life, and she continued to love her life even through the chemo and treatments. During which, she took her whole family to Hawaii, traveled to Portugal for a cruise, continued to coach basketball at Holy Rosary, watched Survivor every week, and maintained a decades-long love of the Mariners (especially Edgar!).

Sue was a constant caregiver and loved to be a host to whomever walked through her door, even in her final days. She was happiest when talking to neighbors, students, life-long and new friends near and far, and above all, spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

The celebration of her life will be held at Holy Rosary Church at a later date once it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fr. Mallahan Endowment Fund at Holy Rosary School, a fund that Joe and Sue helped to create, or to Camp Gallagher or the Kaplan Cancer Research Fund.

Please share memories of Sue and condolences with her family at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Susan-Harris.

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Tuesday notes, 10th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
May 26, 2020 5:53 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:53 AM: Good morning – the 64th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. We start with a road-work reminder – SW Roxbury repaving between 16th and 18th is expected this week. Here’s our preview; here’s the detour map:

We’ll be checking later this morning to see if it’s begun. Meantime – the cameras for the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Delridge/Spokane/Chelan, and the restricted-access low bridge (where SPD enforcement continues):

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.

You can see all local traffic cams, including the new ones in West Seattle, here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

TRANSIT

Metro – Reduced schedule; reduced capacity; check here for next departure

Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues

Sound Transit reminder – Link light rail and Sounder trains will start charging fares again June 1st

During the stay-home order, we’re not live-monitoring morning traffic, but we’ll update with word of incidents, so please let us know what you’re seeing – comment or text (but not if you’re drivingl!) 206-293-6302.

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Rescue call on Harbor Island
May 26, 2020 12:37 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

In case you saw/heard the big Seattle Fire response on Harbor Island this past half-hour: SFD sent a “rope rescue” callout to help get a man in his 60s with “a medical issue” off a vessel. No other details.

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CORONAVIRUS: Monday 5/25 roundup
May 25, 2020 9:13 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Quiet holiday – but of course we still have a few notes for the nightly roundup:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*7,879 people have tested positive, up 60 from yesterday

*542 people have died, up 2 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 7,529 and 523.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

AWAITING UPDATES FROM OLYMPIA: Now 6 days are left until the stay-home order’s current expiration date, so we’ll be keeping close watch on any and all Olympia briefings this week. None have been announced yet.

GOT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-RELATED QUESTIONS? District superintendent Denise Juneau‘s next “town hall” meeting/Q&A opportunity is tomorrow, 4:30-5 pm – details here.

NEED FOOD? Next local distribution is in the parking lot at Holy Family Catholic Church (20th/Roxbury) on Saturday (May 30th), 10 am-2 pm, all welcome.

GUARANTEED SOCIAL DISTANCING: Thanks to SuzAnne for the photo, taken today in The Admiral District:

GOT INFO? PHOTOS? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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MEMORIAL DAY 2020: Heroes honored at West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center
May 25, 2020 8:07 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Vietnamese Cultural Center director Lee Bui for the photo: “Flowers and fruits to honor the heroes at Fallen Soldiers Memorial at Vietnamese Cultural Center today. Special for heroes of the Vietnam War.” (The center at 2234 SW Orchard is open to the public weekly during non-pandemic times.)

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VIDEO: ‘Taps Across America’ in West Seattle and beyond
May 25, 2020 5:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Last night, we mentioned Taps Across America after a few readers told us about it. Here are some videos sent by participants:

The sender tells us that’s “Chris Svehaug playing Taps on Tillicum. He’s standing in front of his Norwegian immigrant grandfather’s 48-star flag. Ole was a proud American who served in the Navy in WWII.” … Below, West Seattle High School juniors Henry Parker on baritone sax and Jonah Elbaum on trumpet

A clip from Fauntleroy:

(added) One more West Seattleite – Kevin Freitas:

And through the quirks of the internet, our preview from last night led to a few people from other areas of the U.S. sending us their clips. This one from North Carolina has special merit – 95-year-old World War II veteran Henry W. Hoell Sr., his wife of 79 years Rosa, grandson William Gore playing the trumpet and his children, Lydia and Naomi.

The original announcement noted that CBS will share some of the videos on its national newscast tomorrow night.

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RESTAURANTS/BEVERAGE BUSINESSES: Matador reopening; Beveridge Place holiday hours; meet West Seattle Local Foods
May 25, 2020 2:25 pm
|    Comments Off on RESTAURANTS/BEVERAGE BUSINESSES: Matador reopening; Beveridge Place holiday hours; meet West Seattle Local Foods
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Three food/drink notes:

MATADOR REOPENING … for takeout and delivery, starting this Wednesday (May 27th). Hours will be Sunday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm, Friday 4 pm – 11 pm, Saturday 2 pm – 11 pm. Also: “Happy Hour will be available to call-in or walk-up guests only from 4 pm-6 pm and 9 pm – close, and only eligible with the purchase of a cocktail.” Matador will have Cocktails To Go along with new family-style menu items – find the menu online. You can call 206-932-9988 for pickup, or order online here for pickup or delivery. They’re also on Postmates. And you can read about their new safety procedures here.

BEVERIDGE PLACE HOLIDAY HOURS: Expanded hours today for Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW):

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 – Expanded Hours 1-7 pm!
Today’s Feature: $10 Growler Fills available!

Our BPP Online store is open. You can order and pay for craft beer growlers, beer cans/bottles, wine bottles, cider bottles, mead bottles, specialty soft drink bottles, & snacks!
The online store is located here.

Pickup is at the front door or drive-thru back ramp. (Regular BPP hours are 3-7 pm weekdays, 1-7 pm weekends.)

WEST SEATTLE LOCAL FOODS: Looking for new options? The tenants at the commercial kitchen at 4611 36th SW have joined forces to sell their specialties under the banner West Seattle Local Foods. You can order online via this website – but note it’s a weekly event – order by noon Tuesdays for pickup on Thursdays. Meats, salads, desserts, pot pies, more.

We’re still updating our ongoing restaurants/beverage-businesses list – let us know if you have changes!

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MEMORIAL DAY 2020: Poppies @ Post 160
May 25, 2020 12:55 pm
|    Comments Off on MEMORIAL DAY 2020: Poppies @ Post 160
 |   Holidays | Triangle | West Seattle news

Usually right about now on Memorial Day, local veterans and other community members would be gathering at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) for the annual remembrance ceremony. It’s not happening this year, so instead, you’ll find American Legion Post 160 commander Keith Hughes, an Army veteran, at the post (3618 SW Alaska) with the traditional poppies. If you’re in the area, he’ll be there until about 5 pm.

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NEED FOOD? Seattle Public Schools’ meal distribution IS available today
May 25, 2020 11:48 am
|    Comments Off on NEED FOOD? Seattle Public Schools’ meal distribution IS available today
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Paula for the reminder. Despite the holiday, meal distribution is happening as scheduled today at Seattle Public Schools’ ongoing sites – that includes Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon), West Seattle HS (3000 California SW), and West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW), until 1 pm.

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