West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with another stolen car getting found – 
Carissa reported her Audi was stolen in early October; she e-mailed again to say it was found last Thursday night at Sea-Tac Airport. One odd detail from Carissa: “There were tools in the back with paperwork for Queen City Sheet Metal Company.” (Just to see what’s trending now, we checked the police-report map for the most recently reported car thefts in West Seattle: A truck was stolen late last night from the 3400 block of 40th SW; a car was stolen early yesterday from the 5200 block of 19th SW; and one was taken late Sunday night from the 6700 block of 12th SW. That’s the entirety of the detail available – which is why we welcome reader reports with more info.)
Ahead, six more reader reports – including a neighborhood where burglars seem to strike on a certain day of the week:Read More
Though Halloween is eight days away, the biggest events are this weekend (as you can tell if you check the WSB West Seattle Halloween page). And the first-ever West Seattle Junction Association-presented Harvest Festival this Sunday (October 28th, 10 am-2 pm) just keeps getting bigger. Note the brand-new map/poster above (printable PDF here) – in addition to helping you figure out where to find your favorite Farmers’ Market booths along California SW (the streets are closing, so they’re moving out into the street), it also lists events beyond the costume parade (11:30 am from Junction Plaza Park), trick-or-treating (noon-2 pm) and ongoing activities (entire 10-2 duration) already announced. West Seattle Eagles invite you to a pumpkin-spiced-pancake breakfast at their HQ near the Junction Post Office, and ReMAX invites you to a “gently haunted house” at their HQ on 44th, noon-2 pm. We’re among the businesses/organizations presenting one of the activities (look for WSB X 3 – us, WestSide Baby and West Seattle Bowl with pumpkin bowling!), so we’ll see you there!
As we continue daily transit/traffic updates – including reader reports – crowded buses have continued to be a concern, particularly Route 120. Just in from Metro, word that more buses are on the way:
King County Metro Transit is adding buses to meet increased ridership demand between West Seattle, Burien and downtown Seattle.
Starting Oct. 29, eight additional commute time buses will be added to routes 55 and 120. Two more trips will be added to each route during the morning and evening weekday commutes.
“We’re seeing double-digit demand over last year on this corridor, and demand increases even in the face of tight budgets,” said Kevin Desmond, Metro Transit general manager.
Thanks to everyone who has shared photos of the rainbow sightings to the north a short time ago – Stacy sent the double rainbow from Seacrest, and we’ll add others shortly. As mentioned in our morning preview, the forecast says thunderstorms with ice pellets are possible. (But een as we write that – some blue sky is headed this way along with more clouds …)
ADDED 3:42 PM: More rainbow photos! (Plus, a final batch added in early evening, from the ones tweeted to us…)Read More
Whenever you can spare five minutes, watch that video shown last Friday night at the Seattle Police Awards banquet, sponsored by the Seattle Police Foundation. It tells a story never before told publicly – what happened before Café Racer killer Ian Stawicki‘s murderous day came to an end in West Seattle on May 30th (here’s our as-it-unfolded coverage from that day). It explains the Medal of Courage awarded to Southwest Precinct Officer Scott Luckie and to Detective Scotty Bach for what they did in West Seattle on May 30th – and includes their firsthand stories as well as some (not graphic) in-car-camera video from that day. Officer Luckie, we learned, was the first uniformed officer on the scene where Stawicki was found – and he moved in, as the video explains, without backup. Your WSB co-publishers were among the journalists in attendance last Friday night and requested a copy of the video; now it’s been uploaded for public view. Officer Luckie was not able to attend Friday’s banquet to accept his medal in person (it was explained that he had something else major going on in his life – a wedding!).
(Photo by Patrick Sand for WSB)
1:23 PM: Big response right now to the 2300 block of Halleck, which is in Upper Alki (map), for a reported house fire. Police are headed that way too, to help with traffic control. More to come.
1:33 PM UPDATE: First crews on scene reported (via scanner) “light smoke” and a suspicion that this is an electrical fire. They say it is under control.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:53 PM UPDATE: Some crews have been canceled. We’ve added a photo from WSB’s Christopher Boffoli. There’s word of one possible injury – WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who also went to the scene, says medics are checking out someone with a possible knee injury (neighborhood person, not firefighter), but we don’t know the circumstances.
1:59 PM UPDATE: The injury is now reported not to be related to the fire. Have added another photo, this time from Patrick, showing the actual structure where the fire happened – construction has been under way there.
(Leathers and Associates rendering of new Roxhill Park play area)
Some volunteers have stepped up since the last announcement seeking volunteers for the “community build” that is required to get Roxhill Park‘s new Castle in place November 2nd through 6th – but there’s still room on the roster, says organizer Mat McBride:
Hey do-gooder, the Roxhill Park Needs You. This park may go unrealized for the lack of a few more folks willing to give just a little more. There are currently about 68,000 people over the age of 18 in West Seattle. To date, this project has about 140 volunteers. A lot, but not nearly enough. If you are one of the 67,860 adults in West Seattle who hasn’t yet signed up, don’t assume someone else will do the good work for you. Trust me, I do a lot of volunteering, I’ve run the numbers, and That isn’t happening.
I am asking you for 4 hours. If you care about parks, kids, social justice and equity, community, or crime – I’m asking you for 4 hours. Give this project 4 hours of your life and you will have made a difference. Sound like a stretch? It isn’t. This park has a direct link to all of these things. This place matters. In return, you’ll get fed by a local joint you love. You’ll get some great exercise (oh, hello calorie-rich holiday season, I wasn’t expecting you so soon). You will get the immense satisfaction of having joined in something larger than yourself and making a difference (I am not exaggerating this).
I’m asking for just 4 hours. Claim your place here: http://doodle.com/gusyyykv9zzrdksy
Can’t do 4 hours, but still want a part of the action? This project has partnered with the West Seattle Tool Library, who will provide some of the tools and supplies that will build this park. We don’t have enough of either right now, and your gift or donation to the Tool Library will help the build the park and the library at the same time (our greatest needs are: ladders, air compressors, sliding compound miter saws, cordless impact drivers, and electric impact wrenches). To make a gift or donation to the West Seattle Library, contact Micah Summers, the Tool Library director – micah@wstools.org.
The community website for the project is here. P.S. Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
(Remodeling under way inside Bamboo, which provided the photo)
After a rocky summer, Alki’s Bamboo Bar and Grill is closed most of this week, to reopen Friday, and is announcing new, local ownership. Two months ago, after a shooting outside, its management – then-ownership wasn’t present – called a community meeting to answer questions and make promises (WSB coverage here). Today, they’ve sent a news release saying they’re keeping the promises they made.
(Photographed on Alki by Machel Spence)
Weather could get wacky later – the forecast currently warns of possible thunderstorms with ice pellets. Meantime, some of the highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
FREE LUNCH! The Rotary Club of West Seattle invites you to lunch at noon at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor):
Robert Walker is the President of the Population Institute, where he directs the organization’s advocacy and public education activities, including its work on issues related to health, economic development, sustainability and the environment. He also serves as the chief spokesperson for the Population Institute, including frequent interviews on radio and television. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, and lectures frequently on the subject of world population. Join us at noon for lunch and to meet members of our club, then listen to a great presentation by our speaker and out by 1:30. And the best thing is lunch is on us.
NEW PARENT, OR EXPECTING: It’s the monthly orientation today for those interested in joining West Seattle PEPS (Program for Early Parenting Support). 1:30 pm, Bright Horizons (4530 38th SW).
DROP-IN CHESS FOR KIDS/TEENS: 4-5:30 pm at High Point Library (details here).
ONLINE CRIME REPORTING: Tonight the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network invites you to come hear about the Seattle Police program that enables you to use an online form to report certain types of crime. 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), everyone welcome – you don’t have to be a blockwatch captain or even member.
FIND OUT ABOUT RAISING A GUIDE PUPPY: West Seattle See Dogs invite you to drop by their twice-monthly meeting, 6:30 pm at The Kenney (WSB sponsor).
NIGHTLIFE: Karaoke at Skylark; trivia at The Feedback; live music at Locol; singer/songwriters at Shadowland … go to the calendar and click on any of those individual listings to get times and more info.
In The Junction, several storefronts on the west side of California between Alaska and Edmunds have been awning-less for a few days. We took this photo the other day but before we collected followup information, Breezygirl asked about them in a comment last night, and JWWS helpfully pointed her to this item on Bakery Nouveau‘s website, which explains it’s a round of fall cleaning, with new awnings to follow.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning – no incidents reported so far. During am/pm commute or the rest of the day, if you see/hear about something that others should know, this is as usual the place to comment (when you can do so safely, of course – no texting and driving).
ADDED TUESDAY PM: Just to make sure you don’t miss it – Metro has announced it’s adding buses to the 120 and 55 as of next Monday.
Congratulations to all the high-school athletes in West Seattle who have just completed the regular season of fall play. Now, many move on into the postseason – and here’s the schedule information we have for this week so far, compiled via school reps and the Metro League website. In most cases, this is division competition to determine how the district playoffs will go:
VOLLEYBALL
Chief Sealth International High School (Metro Sound Division #2) plays Thursday at 7:30 pm (opponent TBA)
West Seattle High School (Metro Sound Division champs) plays Saturday at 11 am (opponent TBA)
FOOTBALL
Sealth plays Seattle Prep 5 pm Friday @ Memorial Stadium
WSHS plays Bainbridge 5 pm Saturday @ Memorial Stadium
SOCCER
Sealth hosts Blanchet at 6 pm this Wednesday
(updated) WSHS plays Holy Names at 7 pm Friday at Ingraham
CROSS-COUNTRY
Both Sealth teams qualified for the district meet, this Thursday at Lower Woodland
SWIMMING
WSHS and Sealth in qualifying meet 3:30 pm Friday at Helene Madison Pool
Please let us know about changes/additions! Our coverage so far this season (and preceding seasons) is archived here.
| 25 COMMENTS