West Seattle, Washington
12 Friday
2:17 PM: Ashley hopes you will be on the lookout for her stolen e-bike, taken from the Marq West apartments on Avalon: “My e-bike was stolen last night. It’s a Magnum green step-through e-bike with a basket on the back. Has a Harry Potter decal on the right side below the battery mount.” She says someone else’s bike was stolen too, and there was an attempted motorcycle theft as well.
3:06 PM: Since we published that report, we’ve received this, from Amanda:
Please be on the lookout for a stolen electric bike. My roommate Elliot‘s electric bike (black colored, still had their white helmet on it) was just stolen from the parking lot of the Rite Aid on California Ave.
Someone in the parking lot was kind enough to snap a video after they noticed the chain being cut, by someone in a black T-shirt and red shorts.
I’ve attached the clearest picture from the video, of the thief riding away with the bike.
No incident # in either theft yet but we’ll add if/when we get those numbers. (UPDATE: For the theft reported by Ashley, it’s 24-155579.)
Festival season continues one week from today with the Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, 10 am-2 pm Saturday, June 15 – maybe you’ve seen the new posters around:
Post-pandemic, MoCA presented a smaller-scale festival, but this year more of the original features are back, including booths with community organizations and businesses. Free entertainment will fill the festival, starting with the back-from-retirement Bubbleman at 10 am – see the full lineup here. And you can find out more about the plan for an all-wheels area in the park at a design open house hosted by Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association. It’ll all happen in and around Morgan Junction Park – on the west side of California just north of the intersection with Fauntleroy – next Saturday.
8:37 AM: Thanks for the tip. Washington State Ferries has only one boat running on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route, because M/V Kitsap is having mechanical trouble. That leaves only M/V Kittitas in operation.
10:08 AM: If you’re waiting, you can check Vessel Watch to see how close (or far) the ferry is.
12:40 PM: Per text alert from WSF, the Kitsap is returning to service at 12:45, on a run from Vashon to Southworth.
(Blooming dogwood, photographed by Jerry Simmons southeast of The Junction)
Welcome to a summerish weekend! Here are the highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S FREE GROUP RUN: The store is where you and other runners will meet up for the weekly free group run at 8 am. (2743 California SW)
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event every Saturday but please RSVP.
DELRIDGE STRENGTH COMMUNITY WORKOUT FUNDRAISER: Work out at Delridge Strength (5050 Delridge Way SW), 9 am, by donation to help Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) move out of light rail’s path – details and RSVP link in our calendar listing.
FUNDRAISING PLANT SALE: One last plant sale for Amy‘s Lung Force Walk team, 9 am-noon – details in the calendar listing. (3703 SW 107th)
STORYTIME AT SEOLA POND: 10 am, first in a series of “read-alouds” at Seola Pond (map) with local teacher Isabelle – bring a blanket to sit on.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market’s fourth season offers produce, plants, condiments, prepared food, more. (9421 18th SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Student-grown plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.
STORYTIME AT THE BEE GARDEN: 10 am at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham), Seattle Public Library librarians will lead storytime.
WEST SEATTLE DISCOVERY SHOP SALE: 50 percent off everything in the store, 10 am-4:30 pm, raising money for the American Cancer Society. (4535 California SW)
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
LOOP THE ‘LUPE: Today’s the day! Obstacle-course 5K (elite or family wave), or 5K fun run, or Senior Saunter, or Kids’ Dash, all options with staggered starts 11 am-1 pm for this fundraising event benefiting Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s social-outreach work. Music, food, drinks at Loop the ‘Lupe central on Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle) too! Packet pickup/last-minute registration starts onsite at 10 am. Full details here.
BAGELS AND PIZZA AT THE P-PATCH: You’re invited to Barton Street P-Patch (34th/Barton) today for fresh-baked bagels (11 am-1 pm) and/or pizza (4-6 pm, live music too) – donations support the garden.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Third weekend of the season – open 11 am-8 pm, free, every day, whatever the weather. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Also the third weekend for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
MAKERS’ ART MARKET AT ALKI: 30+ artists/vendors, noon-5 pm at the beach.
GEORGETOWN CARNIVAL: Your neighbors across the river would love to see you noon-10 pm today for all manner of fun, on Airport Way South between Lucile and Vale – see our calendar listing for more info.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
PET ICE-CREAM SOCIAL: Just in time for potential 80-degree weather – frozen treats for pets are in the spotlight at Mud Bay-Admiral (2611 California SW), noon-4 pm.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.0 feet at 12:45 pm (here’s the monthly tide table). Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 9:30 am-1:30 pm.
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: With everything going on in Seattle Public Schools, it’s a key time to be heard by the board, and our area’s rep Gina Topp will be at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) 1-2 pm for listening and Q/A.
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY SPRING RELEASE: Four new wines are released today and the tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.
PRIDE STORYTIME: Miss Lacey hosts Pride Storytime for all ages, 4:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm performance for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
AZUQAR! DANCE NIGHT: At The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), “a Sapphic Dance Night for BIPOC + Allies,” billed as a pre-Pride kickoff. 8 pm – more info here.
BEATS: Saturday night, DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ Jeremy Linden spins. (4547 California SW, alley side)
KARAOKE: Saturday nights, you can sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
Planning a happening? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
11:54 PM: A crash on the westbound West Seattle Bridge is blocking most lanes near the Admiral Way exit. No injuries, according to SFD, so its units are clearing quickly, but police remain on scene and are arranging for at least one tow truck.
12:33 AM: Haven’t heard or seen an all-clear, but the live camera shows the bridge traffic flow moving normally.
12:49 AM: Not clear yet. Officers just told dispatch they’re temporarily diverting all WB traffic off the bridge at Admiral.
1:02 AM: Reopened, police just informed dispatch.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Community-group meeting seldom have surprise endings. Wednesday night’s District 1 Community Network meeting did, as a scheduled discussion about logistics quickly pivoted into a disbandment decision.
More on that later. First, here’s what else happened:
HIGHLAND PARK WAY HILL PROJECT: James Le from SDOT, who led the project presentation and discussion at HPAC last month (WSB coverage here), did the same at the D1CN meeting. He was joined by project teammate Willow Russell. We’ve written about this project several times since it emerged four weeks ago – four years after SDOT decided to shelve a possible uphill bike lane for the stretch. Le recapped the three options – all of which would replace the current outside downhill vehicle lane: A protected bike lane, a multi-use path, or eventually both. This was the last scheduled public presentation during the feedback period, which is scheduled to close in a week.
After a relatively short presentation, the SDOT reps fielded questions.
If you’re interested in taking your little ones to organized storytimes, take note of these additions to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
READ-ALOUDS AT SEOLA POND: Isabelle, a teacher who lives in Arbor Heights, is hosting “community read-alouds” for kids and their chaperones at Seola Pond three times a month through August. The first one is tomorrow (Saturday, June 8) at 10 am. “All ages and family members are welcome – I recommend bringing a blanket to sit on and be ready to make lots of friends with other kiddos.” Other dates are June 15, 29; July 2, 16, 27; August 10, 14, 24 – all at 10 am. If you haven’t been to Seola Pond before, here’s where to find it.
PRIDE STORYTIMES: Miss Lacey, a local nanny, is hosting Pride storytimes this month and has set the first date – 4:30 pm tomorrow at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond). She says all ages are welcome; dates and times for two more Pride storytimes later this month are yet to be announced.
STORIES AND MORE WITH THE REAL PURRDIE BURRDIE: Storytelling is part of four family-fun events that West Seattle artist and author Danitra Hunter – creator of the Purrdie Burrdie character – will be presenting at local parks, four consecutive Saturdays, 1-5 pm, starting June 22. We’ll take a closer look at her plan as this gets closer but you can set your calendar, for starters.
(added 10:49 pm) STORYTIMES AT THE BEE GARDEN: Thanks to Lisa for sending this after seeing our original mention of the three above! Per this announcement, Seattle Public Library librarians will be at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham) at 10:30 am Saturday mornings in June for outdoor storytimes.
Congratulations to eight more headed-for-college student-athletes! The report and photo are from West Seattle High School athletic director Corey Sorenson:
We had our Spring Senior Signing Day for West Seattle High School the other day. In photo, left to right:
Marisela Giomi – Competitive Cheer: Northern Arizona University
Carmen Cruz – Women’s Basketball: University of Puget Sound
Aleister Alfstad – Men’s Soccer: Lewis & Clark College
Devon Ghali – Men’s Soccer: Lakeland University
Nate Schiavo – Men’s Basketball: Grays Harbor College
Milo Stover – Men’s Golf: Bellevue College
Sabin Tomlinson – Men’s Baseball: Long Beach City College
John Langen – Men’s Baseball: Wenatchee Valley College
(WSB photo, 2023 Loop the ‘Lupe)
If you were waiting to make weekend activity decisions – one last reminder that tomorrow (Saturday, June 8) brings Seattle’s only obstacle-course 5K, right here on the peninsula – Loop the ‘Lupe. It’s actually five events – your choice of which one to be part of – with start times staggered over two hours (11 am to 1 pm) at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle): Elite Wave of the obstacle-course 5K at 11 am, Family Wave of the obstacle-course 5K at 11:40 am, fun-run (obstacle-free) 5K at noon, Senior Saunter walk at 12:15 pm, Youth Dash at 1 pm. You can still register online – the prices and individual event signup links are here. You can also go to the field to cheer the runners/walkers and join the celebration, with live music plus food and beverages available for purchase. Loop the ‘Lupe (for which WSB is media sponsor again this year) raises money for Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s community-outreach work (as explained here).
(Photos courtesy Duwamish Rowing Club)
The Duwamish Rowing Club wants you to know it’s relaunching its program for high-school students this summer! From the announcement:
Duwamish Rowing Club is a volunteer-led organization dedicated to providing affordable rowing opportunities on Seattle’s only river. Our organization operates on a site generously donated by a neighbor to introduce rowing to the youth in our community and cultivate a space that fosters discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and enhances personal growth and self-confidence. Our adult rowers support our youth programs by donating time and subsidizing program costs.
During the pandemic, our youth rowing program was temporarily halted. In February 2024, our volunteers relaunched our youth rowing team through a partnership with Rainier Prep Middle School, a charter school a few minutes from our boat house. Throughout winter and spring, a sixteen-week rowing program introduced 16 students to rowing, first through an eight-week on-land coached program utilizing rowing machines at their middle school, followed by another eight-week on-water coached program. Financial support from the George Pocock Rowing Foundation allowed us to hire our new coaches, Lead Youth Coach McKenna Niemer and assistant youth coach Jay Olson. The Washington State Parks Boater Program donated 24 life vests to help us meet our safety requirements to welcome students to not only the Duwamish River, but also to the greater rowing community.
This June, we are shifting our focus to high school athletes, offering a new introductory summer program to get new rowers ready for our fall rowing season.
You can read more of what they’ve done so far and what’s ahead by going here. This flyer has information on two sessions for teens this summer, including dates and costs.
1:30 PM: “All opinions are welcome.” That declaration is part of the invitation on the flyer for Rethink the Link‘s “route walk” of the proposed Delridge light-rail station vicinity (and beyond) on Sunday. They’re looking ahead to a community forum requested by King County Executive and Sound Transit Board of Directors chair Dow Constantine (we checked with ST this week and there’s no date set for that yet). They’ll be gathering at the West Seattle Health Club (28th/Andover) at 10 am Sunday (June 9). The map is on the group’s website in case you can’t join the walk or prefer to explore on your own. The group in general contends there are better alternatives for moving more West Seattleites across the Duwamish River, such as improving existing transit service. The Sound Transit Board is on a track to finalize a light rail route later this year, but first the agency has to release the Final Environmental Impact Statement, expected in the next few months. This is the second major public “route walk” that Rethink the Link has offered since it formed last year.
3:04 PM: This afternoon, Sound Transit sent its email list a note reiterating what we noted above – no date yet for the West Seattle light-rail final EIS to be published. From that email:
… We expect to publish the Final EIS later this year, which will include responses to comments received on the Draft EIS. While we’re getting close, we do not have a date set for publication yet. We will share more information about specific timing for the availability of the Final EIS when we can.
After the Final EIS is published, the Sound Transit Board will select the project to be built. Their decision will consider the years of technical study and public engagement since 2018. In the past, we gathered your feedback through station planning and neighborhood forum events, scoping and Draft EIS comment periods, community briefings, and one-on-one meetings. Following the Board’s decision and the Record of Decision by the Federal Transit Administration, the project will move into the design phase.
What is the design phase? The design phase will focus on advancing detailed design of the guideway and stations and preparing for construction. This includes refining what the facilities will look like, how the stations fit within neighborhoods, and how people will move through the station. We look forward to engaging with you as the design advances. …
Unusual sight on the seawall in the Alki area this morning – a possum! Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo. Nicola also told us about it this morning, and then we heard from local wildlife helper Kersti Muul, who says she’s been to the shore to assess it but it’s moved down to the rocks, has “normal gait” and “is preening,” so it doesn’t seem to be in need of help and will be left alone. Don’t know much about possums (aka opossums)? Here’s the WDFW infopage.
(Seen at low-low tide Thursday – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead – from the WSB inbox and Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE DISCOVERY SHOP SALE: 50 percent off everything in the store today and tomorrow, 10 am-4:30 pm, raising money for the American Cancer Society. (4535 California SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, until 3 pm.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open 11 am-8 pm. Free! (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.3 feet at 12:02 pm (here’s the monthly tide table). Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 9:30 am-1:30 pm.
VISCON CELLARS: The tasting room/wine bar is open tonight for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
AT THE SKYLARK: Eve’s Black Heart, Hypno-techs, Mutual Stoke, Pink Steam. 7 pm, $15 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Gary Benson & Ellen Reed at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), 7 pm, no cover.
SHOWCASE AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm performance for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
DJ AT REVELRY ROOM: DJ Jules Esquire, 9 pm-1 am! (4547 California SW)
ROCK-N-ROLLER SKATE: “Make It Loud!” returns at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), roller skating to live bands, featuring Thrones, DEAD (all the way from Australia), Von Wildenhaus. $18 cover, $5 skate.
LATE-NIGHT SINGING: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
REMINDER – EARLY CLOSING TIME CONTINUES AT ALKI: Through late September, the park officially closes at 10:30 pm.
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Recent ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ production, photo by Kent Cohen)
Before we get to today’s happenings, in case you haven’t already seen this one in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, it’s your next chance to support student theater. With budget cuts, Chief Sealth International High School Drama has to raise money to carry on, so a fun(draiser)’s coming up a week from tomorrow:
SUPPORT CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA!
Saturday, June 15, 2024 – 2:00-5:00 pm – “Behind the Curtain” theatre tour, performances, food, and art-sale fundraiser
Featuring over 90 pieces of art (paintings, drawings and collages on paper) for sale by noted California artist Barbara Embree
Full theater tour including backstage, Little Theater, and tech/costume room (where YOU can sign The Wall that students have been signing since the ’60s!), no-extra-charge raffle of art piece and gift certificate to local restaurants, live music AND a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s (Hamilton) wonderful and provocative 15-minute musical “21 Chump Street” in the Little Theater at 3:30 pm
Come and support Sealth Drama and let us take you on a dramatic journey you won’t forget!
$20 Sealth Family Members (current students and family members) $35 Everyone Elsebayfestsealththeatrecompany.ludus.com
If you can’t attend but would like to donate, you can use the same website! Just click the “Donate” tab on the green menu bar at the top of the page. And Thank You!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, June 7.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the low 70s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:12 am; sunset will be at 9:04 pm.
(Thursday sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
WEEKEND ALERT & ONGOING ROAD WORK
*The Highway 99 tunnel is closing both ways from 10 pm tonight until 6 am Saturday.
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Later-night runs tonight and Saturday. 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: Here’s the main view:
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.
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!
Good deals for a good cause – that’s what you’ll find the next two days at the Discovery Shop in the West Seattle Junction. The shop is a nonprofit operation, raising money for the American Cancer Society. For the next two days – Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8 – everything in the store will be half-price. Manager Patricia Bolton says this is a very important sale for the shop, and it happens just twice a year. The shop will be open both days 10 am to 4:30 pm, at 4535 California SW.
Amid everything else going on, with the school-closure proposal still pending, Seattle Public Schools is also updating its “strategic plan,” and the School Board has a survey going in relation to that. The original deadline was tomorrow; today the district announced it’s added another week, so you can answer the survey through Friday, June 14. It includes these five open-ended questions:
-How should we be able to describe a graduate of Seattle Public Schools?
-What should students in Seattle Public Schools know and be able to do?
-What does equity in education mean to you, and how should we measure it?
-What’s good about SPS or something working well for students that we should keep doing?
-What is something that needs improvement in SPS to better support positive student outcomes?
You’ll find links to the survey here, in six languages.
6:20 PM: Thanks for the coyote-sighting reports! We’ve received three recently –
–Kathleen emailed today to report, “We saw a small coyote in our yard on 39th between Andover and Dakota at 6:30 a.m. this morning.”
-A texter reported two coyotes at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point on Monday.
–Charrie saw that one via a security camera on their front porch at 60th/Charlestown on May 24.
This is not cause for alarm but rather awareness, which is why we have published reader coyote sightings from time to time over the past 15+ years – not everyone realizes they’re here living among us (or is it, we among them?). Authorities say the best way to ensure we and they can maintain a healthy distance apart is to not provide food sources – which can include anything from pet food to unattended small pets. Here’s more information on coexisting with coyotes.
ADDED 10:15 PM: Aaron has since sent this video recorded by his parents in Gatewood on Wednesday, a coyote running as a crow chased it:
Notes about two redevelopment sites on Alki Avenue:
2236 ALKI SITE WALK TODAY: We neglected to include this in today’s event list but mentioned it a week and a half ago – 4 to 6 pm today is the “site walk” at 2236 Alki Avenue SW [map], proposed for teardown and redevelopment, with half a dozen townhomes. Project team members will be at the site to answer questions.
MORE TIME FOR COMMENT ON 1790 ALKI: The land-use application for this four-floor, 12-apartment proposal to replace two vacant houses at 1790 and 1794 Alki Avenue SW [map] was announced last week as open for comment until June 10; today it was “re-noticed” and now it’s open for comment until June 19. Here’s the design proposal.
Thanks for the photos! Lincoln Park is one of the places to which beachgoers flocked during the low-low tide today, second of four days with the tide out to at least -3 eet. The photo above is from Tom Trulin; the photos below are from a texter who was out on a field trip with Gatewood Elementary students. While Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists were there, the school group encountered someone else:
Our class ran into the WLRD Science team from King County DNRP [Department of Natural Resources and Parks], who showed us lots of the animals they found while doing toxicology monitoring! Great bonus learning for our field trip.
The lowest point of tomorrow’s low-low tide (Friday, June 7) will be at 12:02 pm, -3.3 feet (here’s the tide table).
(Traffic enforcement on Sylvan Way, 2021 reader photo from Sam)
First of two reports from last night’s District 1 Community Network meeting: Traffic enforcement is returning to West Seattle. Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Nathan Shopay said they’ve been talking with SPD’s Traffic Unit and they were going to get some spot enforcement efforts, as schedules allow. No dates/times/locations yet, but don’t be surprised if you happen to see a motorcycle officer with a radar gun in one of the local hotspots sometime soon. Years ago, SPD had regular traffic-enforcement operations, and SPD Blotter even used to regularly publish lists of where they’d been and what the fastest speeds detected had been (example: this 2011 story mentioning 55 mph on Admiral Way). Our story on the rest of the D1CN meeting – including the group’s decision to disband – is in the works for later, likely tonight Friday.
11:25 AM: After the recent round of community meetings – including the one we covered last Saturday – the next step in Seattle Public Schools‘ plan to close some elementary schools is for superintendent Dr. Brent Jones to propose which ones. That’s supposed to happen sometime this month; the exact date for an announcement hasn’t been set yet, though a “Well-Resourced Schools Update” is on the agenda for the board meeting next Monday (June 10). In the meantime, a citywide opposition group is leading a letterwriting campaign, and rallying option schools too, as district leaders have said – as reported in our Saturday story – that those are also “on the table.” Option schools include K-8s; West Seattle has two, Pathfinder on Pigeon Point and Louisa Boren STEM in Delridge. The Pathfinder PTSA sent us this, from the citywide group All Together for Seattle Schools:
At last week’s SPS school closure and consolidation plan meetings, parents asked high-ranking district officials what the plan is for option schools and alternative programs. The responses received has given us a high degree of confidence that SPS plans to eliminate most or all option K-5 and K-8 programs in schools. While SPS has not addressed this publicly, we are proactively making it known to SPS leadership that this would be a mistake. Option schools and alternative programs (all of them! including dual language and highly capable cohort) promote positive academic outcomes for their students, help create an environment that sparks innovation in learning, and given their waitlists, could actually increase SPS enrollment. Canceling such esteemed school and program options is short-sighted, non-inclusive, and costly, and will impact all families/students.
Now is the time for all of our schools to consider aligning together in coalition to stop this action. … What parents/caregivers can do now:
-Write to the superintendent and school board. Tell them why we need to support diverse learning options in our school district. Use this sample email and include a story about your own experience showing why you think alternatives help students learn and thrive in school.
-Reach out to all the parents and community members that you know who care about this issue and ask them to do the same. Consider organizing your own school community to educate them about what is happening.
Contact All Together for Seattle Schools to get involved in this citywide effort to avoid a massive mistake around school consolidation.
As reiterated in the recent community meetings, SPS leaders say closures starting in 2025-2026 – which they believe could save up to $2 million per closed school – are unavoidable to help address a $105 million budget deficit. If you want to talk about this with our area’s school-board rep – or anything else SPS-related – West Seattle/South Park board director Gina Topp‘s next community-conversation meeting is this Saturday (June 8), 1 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
5:55 PM: Just checked the SPS website again, and since we last looked this morning, next Monday’s board meeting has been canceled, aside from a closed-doors special session dealing with a personnel issue.
(WSB photo, Alki during Wednesday’s low-low tide)
Here are highlights of what’s happening in the hours ahead!
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Need plants? The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
MEDICARE INFO: Cut through the confusion with this educational presentation, 11 am at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.4 feet at 11:21 this morning (here’s the monthly tide table). Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 9:30 am-1:30 pm.
LUNCH & LEARN ABOUT YOUR HEALTH: Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor) continues its free online series of lunch-and-learn online events, this time with easy steps you can take to support recovery from “long COVID.” 12:30-1 pm, RSVP and more info in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar now open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – drop by to sip and nosh!
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at what’s now the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Levantine Cuisine.
FUN FAIR: Free family celebration at West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW) back playground, 5-7 pm, presented by the West Seattle Public School Equity Fund.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.
FREE ROLLER SKATING: Summer-kickoff event, 5:30-8 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
PIANO BAR: Music and merriment at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) with Larry Knapp and friends, doors open at 6:45 pm, music starts at 7.
SILENT BOOK CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: It’s your monthly night to read with others at your choice of a long list of cool local venues, 7 pm.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
COMMUNITY MEETING: North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting for people in White Center and vicinity, 7 pm, online – agenda and connection info is in our calendar listing.
‘WWE: THE MUSICAL’: Student-written/directed/performed “satirical musical” at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), doors at 7 pm, show at 7:30 pm, last performance! Admission free, charity donations encouraged.
‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm opening performance for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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