West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary attempt; CR-V stolen/found; car-prowl loot to watch for; found bicycle, motorcycle helmet…

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

EARLY MORNING BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Richard, who lives near Gatewood Elementary:

Someone attempted to break in our house last night at approximately 12:23 AM. We captured the attempted break-in on our video surveillance system.

We called 911 after we realized this was not a false alarm from our video surveillance system.

Based on our video, he appeared to first climb over our patio railing (not an easy feat), then attempted to open our patio door (which leads to our kitchen). He then walked to our front door and attempted to open it. He then sat on our front yard for a minute and left just before the police arrived.

Seattle police arrived promptly, asked us a few questions, and looked around our yard and surrounding area. Very pleased with their response and handling of the situation.

If and when we get images from Richard’s surveillance video, we’ll add them.

CR-V STOLEN, FOUND, WITH LOOT FROM A CAR PROWL: From Rachel:

On Sunday 8/28, my 2000 Honda CR-V was stolen on SW Holden St / Delridge Way SW. I’ve also had my license plate taken twice in the past 6 months. Appears to be a commonly stolen vehicle in the area.

Vehicle was recovered yesterday, 8/29, in an apartment complex’s parking lot a block away from the theft location. The inside was coated by the thief with what appears to be WD-40. SPD officer said this is to prevent leaving fingerprints behind.

They took the few emergency supplies kept in the vehicle (fire extinguisher, cables, etc) and left behind a large tool box. Turns out the tool box belonged to my neighbor who had his work van broken into on 8/28 (also on SW Holden St).

Another car prowl victim is asking you to keep watch for some of the items she lost –

SEEN THESE STOLEN DOCUMENTS? Sarah M is hoping a few not-worth-anything-to-anyone-else items might turn up:

My 2004 Corolla was prowled sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning. It was parked in my lot, just SE of Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Edmunds.

I’m hoping someone will find some of the documents that were taken – mostly car-related info of no value to anyone but me. Including a red vinyl Toyota car care manual. I’ve already looked all over the nearby blocks, dumpsters, etc. Also taken, as you may notice this item and then the docs – the prowler carried everything away in a black bag with a bright “Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious” (from Sound of Music) printed on it in bright letters.

I don’t expect to get the “valuable” items (Bluetooth, etc.), but I’m asking if anyone finds docs with my name on it to let me know. Thanks!

FOUND BICYCLE, MOTORCYCLE HELMET: A Roxhill-area resident has found both of these items in recent weeks and think they were both stolen and dumped:

Please comment if you think either might be yours.

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Longtime West Seattleite Joe Sutter, ‘father of the 747,’ 1921-2016

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Boeing photo, republished with permission)

Boeing has announced the passing of a legend, Joe Sutter, 95, who also happened to be a longtime West Seattle resident. Mr. Sutter is best known as “the father of the 747,” but the message from Boeing Commercial Airplanes president/CEO Ray Conner adds that he had accomplished much more:

This morning we lost one of the giants of aerospace and a beloved member of the Boeing family. … Joe lived an amazing life and was an inspiration – not just to those of us at Boeing, but to the entire aerospace industry. He personified the ingenuity and passion for excellence that made Boeing airplanes synonymous with quality the world over.

Early in Joe’s career, he had a hand in many iconic commercial airplane projects, including the Dash 80, its cousin the 707 and the 737. But it was the 747 – the world’s first jumbo jet – that secured his place in history.

Joe led the engineering team that developed the 747 in the mid-1960s, opening up affordable international travel and helping connect the world. His team, along with thousands of other Boeing employees involved in the project, became known as the Incredibles for producing what was then the world’s largest airplane in record time – 29 months from conception to rollout. It remains a staggering achievement and a testament to Joe’s “incredible” determination.

Long after he retired, Joe remained very active within the company. He continued to serve as a consultant on the Commercial Airplanes Senior Advisory Group, and he was still a familiar sight to many of us working here. By then his hair was white and he moved a little slower, but he always had a twinkle in his eye, a sharp mind and an unwavering devotion to aerospace innovation and The Boeing Company. Fittingly, he was on hand to celebrate our centennial at the Founders Day weekend. He was one of a kind.

Joe was loved. He made a difference in the world. He made a difference to us. We will miss him and cherish our time with him.

Here’s a biographical tribute video from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which awarded Mr. Sutter its Lifetime Achievement trophy in 2013:

He also told the story of the first jumbo jet in a book published in 2007 and titled simply “747.”

ADDED 8:26 PM: The Seattle Times has added more information to its report on Mr. Sutter’s passing, including quoting his son as saying he had a bout with pneumonia just before his death.

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You’re invited to collaborate on a greener schoolyard for Gatewood Elementary – garden renovation, too

August 30, 2016 5:51 pm

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| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

You can help Gatewood Elementary get greener – by helping plan playground improvements and/or renovating the school garden. Here’s how:

Help us imagine and design a greener schoolyard at Gatewood Elementary!

We are applying for a Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) grant to design playground improvements to renovate active play spaces and provide more opportunities for connection with nature and outdoor learning. Think shade trees, natural play areas, wildlife habitat, etc.

We want your input and need your help to win the NMF grant, as we need to demonstrate community match/engagement through pledges of volunteer time. Could you attend any evening design meetings next spring (there will likely be three meetings, Jan-Apr 2017)? If you are a Gatewood family, neighbor, or interested community member, please join us! Children and teens are more than welcome.

To pledge your time, please email Sandy Lennon (sandylennon@comcast.net) with names (of all participating family members), address/zip, phone, email, and the amount of time you can offer. If you don’t want to share all contact info, an email or phone contact is fine.

We are also hoping to begin rejuvenation of our school garden to be an awesome learning garden, outdoor classroom, and permaculture demonstration project. If you’re interested in helping with this project, we’d also love to hear from you.

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YOU CAN HELP! Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Adopt-a-Street cleanup Saturday

August 30, 2016 2:52 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Early alert: If you’re not going out of the area for the Labor Day weekend, give a little volunteer labor to clean up our community! The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup is Saturday (September 3rd). From ANA president Larry Wymer:

WHERE: Metropolitan Market (2320 42nd SW) — Meet at the outdoor awning area across from the floral department

WHEN: Meet up between 8:45-9:00 am; clean up 9 am-noon

GOODIES FOR YOU: Coffee, doughnuts, brown-bag lunch (all provided by Metropolitan Market)

SUPPLIES FOR YOU: Garbage bags, gloves, grabber tools, safety vests, etc.

Even if you can’t stay for all three hours – a little help goes a long way.

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BIZNOTE: Back-to-school-&-sports shopping? Second Gear Sports remodels, adds delivery

August 30, 2016 1:19 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Fall means back to school AND back to sports. West Seattle’s sports-consignment store, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor), has recently remodeled to add more retail space and new fixtures so that more of their items are easier to browse and discover. The new fixtures were obtained from three regional Sports Authority stores that shut down – it’s enabled SGS to get more merchandise up off the floor and higher up for visibility as well as accessibility.

Also, Second Gear Sports has launched pickup and delivery service for large items, via their new wrapped vehicle that you might have seen around town.

SGS is at 6529 California SW and will be celebrating its third anniversary this fall.

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Tiny Trees Preschool opening @ Camp Long

August 30, 2016 11:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

(Photo courtesy Tiny Trees – classroom-building work party at a non-WS site)

We’ve already reported on two of the schools opening this fall in West Seattle – the new Arbor Heights and Genesee Hill elementaries – and here’s one that’s opening WITHOUT a new building, without any building at all, in fact: Tiny Trees Preschool.

Tiny Trees got big attention last year for announcing its plan to launch outdoor preschools in Seattle city parks, and the list of parks now includes West Seattle’s Camp Long, where the nonprofit plans two classes starting next month. Teacher Anne Churchill, a West Seattleite, tells WSB that teachers and other staff will partner with parents later this week to set up the outdoor “classroom” areas they’ll be using at Camp Long “to make a quality education in reading, math and science affordable for families and to give children a joyful, nature rich childhood – one full of play, exploration and wonder.” They’re expecting the two classes at Camp Long to serve up to 64 children.

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South Seattle College’s big construction project: About the Integrated Education Center

August 30, 2016 10:30 am

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| Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you went to South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) this past Saturday for the West Seattle Car Show, and hadn’t been there recently, you might have noticed the sizable construction project on campus, along 16th SW.

(WSB photo, taken last week)

The $32 million Integrated Education Center project is a major addition for the campus on Puget Ridge. We asked SSC spokesperson Ty Swenson for an overview; here’s the information he provided:

The new 57,550 square foot Integrated Education Center (IEC) will replace the existing Cascade Court Building (CAS) and provide for expanded growth in our health care programs and needs for basic skills training, which includes English as a Second Language (ESL), adult basic education and high school completion.

(Rendering by McGranahan Architects – looking east from 16th SW, showing pedestrian walkway and plaza improvements)

Three stories in total, the IEC’s first floor will have general purpose classrooms and computer labs. The second floor will be dedicated to health care programs and the third floor will house faculty and staff from various disciplines. There will be small collaborative spaces found throughout the building intended for small group meetings or projects, and there will be three outdoor spaces – one at the front entrance, a balcony on the west side of the first floor and a roof garden on the west side of the second floor.

The IEC will integrate classroom and lab space for the health care programs, adult basic education, and ESL programs as well as a supporting faculty suite. Co-location of these programs will increase the efficacy of vocational-focused ESL training, I-BEST (where we teach basic skills in reading, math and/or English while simultaneously providing job training) and nursing NAC-LPN-RN ladders to better serve ethnic minority students and students with emerging English skills.

This energy-efficient building will provide plenty of natural light and an atmosphere that is welcoming, conducive to learning in many modes and a great place for students, staff and faculty to engage in collaborative ways.

The IEC’s location offers an opportunity to improve the visibility and identity of South Seattle College along 16th Ave SW. The project was designed to provide a balance and transition between the scale of the campus and neighboring homes. With the removal of Cascade Court, pedestrian movement and outside gathering spots will be created and improved. An open pedestrian walkway from our main entrance above 16th Ave. SW will lead to an expanded Clock Tower Plaza, considered the campus’s core and main gathering spot for students.

Construction is expected to continue through next May, followed by college staff/programs moving out of Cascade Court, which will be demolished in summer/fall 2017.

P.S. You can check in on the progress via the official construction-site webcam.

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What’s up for your West Seattle Tuesday

August 30, 2016 9:00 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

The calendar tends to quiet as Labor Day approaches, but we have a few things to highlight:

ONE MONTH TO APPLY! The deadline for artist/craft vendors to apply for the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Show is now exactly one month away, September 30th. Details are in our calendar listing.

TUESDAY TAI CHI: 6 pm at Alki Beach Park – weather permitting – it’s the new Tuesday night edition of free Saturday Tai Chi with Lao-Shi Caylen Storm. (60th/Alki)

NEW ORLEANS ROADHOUSE & HONKY-TONK JAZZ: That’s the description of what Joe Ross and The Bird Watchers will be playing tonight at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District, 8 pm, no cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

BABY KETTEN KARAOKE: 9 pm at The Skylark, it’s karaoke “with flattering sound systems, songs that you actually want to sing but can’t find anywhere, and magical song slips that self destruct if ‘Grease megamix’ is written on them.” (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SEE THE FUTURE … via our full WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll also see how to send an event to be listed).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; W. Marginal Way crash

August 30, 2016 6:52 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:52 AM: Thanks for the text – a crash on West Marginal Way at Dakota (map) is affecting traffic. Here’s what SDOT tweeted:

UPDATE: Turns out we have a visual. Traffic is alternating at W Marginal Way SW & SW Dakota St. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/iowLhK3VKc

— seattledot (@seattledot) August 30, 2016

No major injuries so far as we know – the crash drew a one-engine SFD response.

FURTHER SOUTH ON W. MARGINAL WAY: In case you missed the alert last night, paving work is scheduled for a stretch of Highland Park Way today and tomorrow, at W. Marginal.

7:37 AM: Update from SDOT: “Both NB lanes and one SB lane are now open at W Marginal Way SW & SW Dakota St.”

FAUNTLEROY/ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE WORK DONE: If you haven’t been through the Fauntleroy/Endolyne business area in a few days, we checked on Monday and the traffic-calming work that started last week is done:

Our photo shows the major change – the block of Brace Point Drive between 45th and Wildwood is now one way eastbound, with angle parking and painted “curb bulbs” (the biggest is just out of our shot, to the right).

7:47 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the West Marginal/Dakota crash scene is completely clear.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Reminder that it’s already back-to-school season … on the north end of The Junction, Seattle Lutheran High School and Holy Rosary School are already back in session; Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon) starts tomorrow. Here’s our list of the “early” starters; the first day for Seattle Public Schools is one week from tomorrow – Wednesday, September 7th – and remember the schedule changes for many schools, as listed here on Monday.

8:57 AM: One more back-to-school reminder – school buses are out practicing their routes starting today.

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