The WSBeat: Theft by tow truck? Plus, pullover rage; mic drop; more
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of our periodic feature The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge, or the beach, or …
*Thursday afternoon, a man in a silver Audi drove erratically on Delridge — so oddly that a female driver pulled over to let him pass. Instead, he pulled up behind her, got out of his car with a black handgun, pointed it at her and said, “I’ll blow your head off!” She hit the gas and he kept following, pulling alongside her in the 5400 block of Delridge, yelling and waving the gun. (At times during this incident, the man was described as wearing a skull mask.) When he saw her talking into a phone he suddenly broke off his chase, driving off southbound on Delridge. The license plate allowed officers to identify the driver, whose non-masked description matches the vehicle’s owner–a twenty-year-old Westwood-area resident. He is at large.
*Also on Thursday, a tow truck (with a company logo) showed up in the 5100 block of 47th early Thursday, and one of two men inside jumped out and started a car on the street…not with a key, but with a screwdriver. A citizen saw this and confronted the pair, who claimed to have permission to take the vehicle, which belonged to an elderly gentleman in the neighborhood. Suspicious, she called 911. Officers first called the towing company, and the person who answered the phone denied that the vehicle was on their lot. Officers found differently when they arrived at the business and saw the car in question on a flatbed truck. The two men at the scene told some convoluted stories “that made no sense,” according to the officer’s report. Upon running their names, officers found that one had a felony escape warrant from the Department of Corrections. (He was also carrying a gram of heroin.) This man, a North Admiral resident, was booked for the warrant, and for investigation of vehicle theft and drug possession. The other man, who claimed he had been duped into towing the car by the arrestee, was released at the scene.
Four more summaries ahead: Read More
You can help! Be part of GreenLife at West Seattle Summer Fest
Less than two weeks now until the biggest event of the year in West Seattle – Summer Fest, happening in The Junction Friday-Sunday, July 10-12. If you’re not already part of it as a vendor or volunteer, here’s a chance to help make it happen: Tamsen Spengler from West Seattle Timebank says not only can her group use some of your time, the sustainability expo GreenLife – where WST and other organizations will be headquartered – has volunteer openings too. Go here to find out how to pitch in.
Sneak peek inside today’s ‘If These Walls Could Talk’ tour home
(WSB photos)
3-5 pm today, as noted in our West Seattle Sunday preview, the doors swing open at a West Seattle home with history – the North Admiral house built by J.E. “Daddy” Standley, founder of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the downtown waterfront. It’s this year’s “If These Walls Could Talk” tour presented by and benefiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. We took a quick peek inside during the noontime VIP presentation – getting a sense of the home’s “then and now”:
The “then and now” aspects are also underscored by this group – 90-year-old Joe James, grandson of “Daddy” Standley, and Katy Walum, whose family has owned the house for a decade – kids Olivia and Henry are growing up there:
As befitting a mellow Sunday afternoon, we found music, courtesy of The Ukes:
No advance reservations/tickets required – just get over to 1750 Palm SW between 3 and 5 pm; tour admission is $10 SWSHS members, $15 nonmembers. And if you’re not sure why the house was such a traffic-stopper in its day – read about it here!
West Seattle parade season too! What’s ahead 2 of the next 3 Saturdays
With the Pride Parade happening downtown today, it’s a good time for a reminder that the heart of West Seattle parade season is almost here – the two biggest parades of the year are happening on two of the next three Saturdays:
*4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: Bring the kids, bring the parents, bring the grandparents, bring the pet(s) … and BRING DIAPERS for WestSide Baby! This Independence Day tradition starts at 10 am next Saturday on the 4th – just show up at 44th/Sunset (map) in North Admiral to be part of the 21st annual parade, which winds along a few neighborhood streets before heading eastbound across California and ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, for festivities including sack racing – a great way to start the holiday. Show up as red-white-and-blue as you can!
The Kids’ Parade is coordinated again this year by Jackie Clough from Alki Party Treasures (WSB sponsor). Bring a few bucks to buy treats from the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the park.
*WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Saturday, July 18th, starting around 11 am at California/Lander and continuing south to California/Edmunds – find a spot anywhere along the way (although do note there’s a lot of construction south of Admiral, so a few blocks are out of commission for parade-watching). Besides the annual favorites from motorcycle drill teams to marching bands to the Hi-Yu float, you never know who you’ll see:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle presents the parade, along with the 11 am “Kiddie Parade” that precedes it in The Junction (show up at Genesee/California to be part of that!).
Care about the Duwamish River and its watershed? Be at Camp Long on Tuesday
This Tuesday in West Seattle, you’re invited to an open house about the Duwamish River watershed – the next step in an umbrella strategy announced by the county and city last year. Here’s the invitation:
People with an interest in enhancing and revitalizing the Green/Duwamish Watershed are invited to share their ideas at a series of upcoming open houses hosted by King County, City of Seattle and the University of Washington’s Green Futures Lab.
King County, the City of Seattle and the University of Washington’s Green Futures Lab seek input on a strategy to create a healthy, prosperous future in the Green/Duwamish Watershed.
Public participation is vital. It will lead to greater understanding of current projects, priorities and plans in the watershed. Input will also help foster development of a framework to support better outcomes for local cities, forests, farms, rivers, diverse communities, and Washington State’s industrial core. The focus of the strategy is protecting, preserving and enhancing the watershed’s air, land and water.
Each meeting will focus on a specific section of the watershed. Meetings take place from 5 to 7 p.m. (The first one is the only one in West Seattle, as follows:)
Tuesday, June 30
Duwamish River and Nearshore Communities
Camp Long (West Seattle)
Environmental Learning Center – Main Hall
5200 35th Ave SW
Short presentations at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. will ensure everyone gets an overview of this exciting opportunity. Participants will be able to visit several information stations, and meet one-on-one with strategy representatives to ask questions and share feedback:
· What priorities are not currently represented in our maps and fact sheets?
· What are aspirations for the Green/Duwamish Watershed communities?
· What are the threats to healthy air, water, land and people in the Watershed?
· Where and what are the opportunities for the Green/Duwamish Watershed Strategy to create a robust, connected open space system?
For more backstory, check out this page on the county website.
West Seattle Sunday: Ye Olde Curiosity Shop founder home tour; Farmers’ Market cooking; staying cool in the (wading) pool; more…
(Alki Point Lighthouse, by Long Bach Nguyen)
The beautiful lighthouse is just one place you can go today for summer Sunday fun. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FARMERS’ MARKET IN THE STREET, WITH COOKING DEMO: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the third week of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market‘s new location in the street, and to celebrate, local author Amy Pennington is preparing recipes from her new cookbook “Fresh Pantry,” 11 am-12:30 pm. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
STAYING COOL – WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK: Second day of the season for the Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm, and you can visit the Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) those same hours.
FAREWELL PARTY: As reported here last month, Holy Rosary Church is saying farewell to longtime pastor Father John Madigan. The party starts today after 10:30 am Mass. (42nd/Genesee)
DUWAMISH NATIVE FOODS, NOW AND THEN: Noon-4 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, free, including shared meal at 3 pm – learn about edible beach plants. Details here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, free tours with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. (3201 Alki SW)
‘IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK’ HOME TOUR WITH SWSHS: Tour the 109-year-old home of Joseph Standley, founder of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, 3-5 pm, with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – $10 members, $15 nonmembers at the door. Park on the street or one block away at Admiral Congregational Church. More info on the SWSHS website. (1750 Palm SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Roma Ransom performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
IVORY & GOLD AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, this acclaimed musical duo is back. So are artisanal root-beer floats and ice-cold lemonade, if you’re worried about the heat in historic Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)
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