@ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network: Police updates; how 911 works
From Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting at the Southwest Precinct:
NEW CRIME-PREVENTION COORDINATOR: Last October, we noted that the new city budget called for each Seattle Police precinct to have its own Crime Prevention Coordinator – Mark Solomon, assigned to the Southwest and South Precincts, has been one of two doing double duty. And now, the plan has become reality – precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis announced at the WSBWCN meeting that Jennifer Burbridge, who worked extensively with the precinct and community groups as a Seattle University graduate student, got the job. The centerpiece of her work during that longterm assignment was development of the Micro-Community Policing Plans. We’ll have a separate story Thursday morning with more about Burbridge and her new job.
Also at the meeting, local crime updates and a version of what you might call 911 101: Read More
COUNTDOWN: 1 week until registration starts for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2017
Today’s afternoon/evening sunshine was a welcome reminder that this really is spring. Another seasonal reminder: The 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is getting closer. It’s on the second Saturday in May every year, since its launch in 2005 – three years before we took it over – and this year, that’s Saturday, May 13. Registration always begins in early April and we’ll be opening that exactly one week from now, on Wednesday, April 5th – so look for the link to go up here and at westseattlegaragesale.com when we’re ready. Signup time will last at least three weeks.
If you’re new: WSCGSD is one day of many sales all around the peninsula – many sales in many sizes, and many types of locations – garages, yards, courtyards, schools, businesses, neighbors joining forces for block sales … as long as it’s open at least 9 am-3 pm, the official WSCGSD hours; some choose to start early and/or end late, and you can include that in the listing for your sale in the WSCGSD map packet, which we make available a week in advance so shoppers can plan. So get ready for the year’s biggest day of person-to-person recycling and neighborhood mingling … the countdown continues.
FRIDAY NIGHT: ‘West End Girls’ @ The Skylark
(Cookie Couture onstage – photo by Kingmon Creative)
“If you follow drag queens at all, you know that basically all drag happens on Capitol Hill.” So says West Seattle resident and drag performer Cookie Couture, who is presenting a show – Friday night at The Skylark in North Delridge – aimed at changing that: “West End Girls: A Drag Extravaganza.” “The queens I’ve corralled for this event are some of the best in the city & represent how truly eclectic the drag scene (in Seattle) is.”
Hosted by Cookie, who is most often seen at Kremwerk as host and curator of “ArtHaus: Drag Battle Royale,” the announced performer lineup for Friday is:
Arson Nicki
Betty Wetter
Butylene O’Kipple
Chico Johnson & Miss Kitty Franzia
Fraya Love
Hellen Tragedy
Londyn Bradshaw
Old Witch
Friday night will start with the brand-new episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” onscreen at 8 pm; the show starts at 9:30 pm. Tickets are $8 in advance – available online here – or $10 at the door. The Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
WEST SEATTLE RESTAURANT NOTES: Arthur’s, B’s Po-Boy, and…
Three quick West Seattle restaurant notes tonight:
ARTHUR’S GRAND OPENING PUSHED BACK ONE DAY: Don’t show up at 2311 California SW tomorrow morning to be the first to dine at Arthur’s – co-proprietor Rebecca e-mailed today to say they’re opening Friday instead: “Arthur’s is pushing the official opening date back just one day to March 31st. We are excited to see everyone this Friday starting at 8 am!” (Here’s our most-recent report on the new restaurant, which we first mentioned back in November.)
B’S PO BOY TAKING LONGER: We first told you in January about the plan for Cajun cuisine in the ex-Fatburger spot at 2738 Alki SW, and as happens so often, the original timetable for B’s Po Boy was optimistic. We checked back with co-proprietor Deborah, who tells WSB, “We are experiencing construction delays. We are still moving forward, but it is looking more like a June opening.”
SOUTH DELRIDGE NOTE: An early-stage plan in city files suggests a restaurant is proposed for 9211 Delridge Way SW, which has had identities from Dollarwise to dispensary in recent years. No details yet.
FOLLOWUP: Spokane Street bike-path lights expected to be working by Friday night
(WSB photo from last Friday morning)
As reported here this morning, the promised cleanup is under way along Spokane Street, east of the low bridge, including the area where a bicyclist was attacked last week while riding home from West Seattle. She and others, including West Seattle Bike Connections, pointed out that lights were out on that stretch of the trail and had been out – and reported as out – for months; Seattle City Light said the cleanup, and the sweep of tents encroaching on the path, would facilitate repairs. Today we checked back with SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen, who told us the lights should be working by week’s end:
We have had workers out there this week, making repairs to lights and wiring where they could work safely. We continue to coordinate our work with the City, which is cleaning up the site to allow our workers better access to the equipment they need to fix. We expect to complete repairs and have the lights back on before dark Friday night.
Meantime, the cleanup operation will continue tomorrow; we went back through the area about an hour ago and there’s clearly still work to do, with bags of trash remaining along the south side of westbound Spokane, just east of where a backhoe was clearing a large dumpsite under the elevated roadway during our visit this morning.
Westview Dental: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!
Today we’re welcoming our newest WSB sponsor, Westview Dental. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they do:
Spring is here! The grass is growing, the trees will leaf, the flowers will bloom, and the smiles will be out! Does your smile need to be checked out to make sure it is healthy and ready for summer?! Welcome to Westview Dental!
Dr. Garret Reed and his team are here to offer you a preventative approach to dentistry, while focusing on your individual needs in a welcoming environment. The Westview Dental Team stays on top of the latest dental techniques and procedures so you can have the best dentistry has to offer. The office provides a full range of cosmetic dentistry for those looking for small enhancements to life-changing smiles.
The team at Westview Dental will strive to make your experience more than just “a visit to the dentist.” They will focus on your comfort by adding enjoyment and laughter to your experience. Westview Dental focuses on family dentistry, welcoming anyone from 6 months of age to over 100. Whether you have no teeth or many, you’ll always find a dental home here. We are here waiting for your call and to welcome your smiling face!
Westview Dental is at 5429 California SW; call 206-935-8800.
We thank Westview Dental for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
UPDATE: Hole repair on 35th SW; repaving still not planned until 2023
12:27 PM: Thanks for the tips – first police were out, and now SDOT is at the scene of a worse-than-usual pothole, rut, whatever you want to call it, on 35th SW north of SW Webster [map].
We have been working on a deeper look at the state of 35th SW, not just from firsthand observation, as we travel along it multiple times daily, but because of many reader inquiries. So stand by for the newest information on that; in the meantime, when there is an emergency hazard like this, call 206-684-ROAD (or 911). Pothole reports otherwise can be made (if you don’t use the Find It, Fix It app) via this web form, and you can check here to see if the one you’re reporting is already on the map.
ADDED 2:23 PM: The SDOT map for major paving projects still has 35th SW listed as 2023, confirms City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office. (See it here.) But they have been hearing a lot about 35th SW too, says legislative assistant Newell Aldrich, and stressing that “it’s a dangerous situation, that we’ve had communications from constituents saying their cars were damaged by large potholes, and ask(ing) SDOT to re-consider the planned 2023 paving schedule and attend to this as soon as possible.” Councilmember Herbold is working on a formal request to SDOT direct Scott Kubly, Aldrich says. Meantime, we also asked SDOT directly if there are any spot paving projects – a block here, a block there, as has been done around West Seattle in recent years – scheduled for 35th this year.
ADDED 7:25 PM: SDOT spokesperson Sue Romero reiterated that 35th SW is not in the schedule until 2023 (same link as the one Councilmember Herbold’s staff pointed to, in the paragraph above):
The southern portion of 35th Ave SW, from SW Roxbury St to SW Morgan St, is included in SDOT’s nine-year AAC paving plan. SDOT continues pothole repairs and spot paving work to keep 35th serviceable until funds allow the reconstruction work to move forward scheduled for 2023.
Here’s an overview of how much paved road the city has, and how it evaluates pavement condition. Followups to come!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Trailer stolen; carport prowlers on video; repeat offender wanted again
STOLEN TRAILER: K just e-mailed to say this was taken last night from Othello/Fauntleroy:
As shown in the photo, the plate is 7052-VJ.
(Added 1:10 pm) STOLEN TRUCK: From Carol:
Our 2005 Ford F-250 was stolen around 4 or 5 am this morning. It is a white pickup , diesel, Super duty, crew cab with a black roll bed cover. License #B66224G. It was parked in front of our house just off of Admiral Way on 64th Ave SW.
CARPORT PROWLERS: From 48th/Hudson, David shares this video and report from Tuesday:
So it looks like they’re working in pairs, one guy checks one car and the other guy checks the next car. They obviously don’t care about flashing lights, security cameras or video surveillance warnings. As I suspected they appear to be hitting the same areas night after night and are working in teams. They have hoodies on and are carrying backpacks. They’re in and out in 5 seconds or less. They’re looking specifically for unlocked cars because you can see them check the doors, so make sure you lock your car every night. Online report made to police.
ANOTHER WARRANT FOR JESSICA DETRICK: A texter says today that neighbors in Highland Park believe they’ve seen Jessica Detrick around again. Court records, in fact, show she is again wanted on a warrant. Detrick is a convicted burglar known for taking along her dog. When last we checked on her a month ago, she was arrested on a warrant for not complying with conditions of the drug treatment included in her sentence last year. A subsequent hearing, prosecutors said, resulted in a condition that she would go back to inpatient treatment and would stay in jail until a bed was available at a treatment facility; apparently something went wrong along the way, because she’s listed on the jail register as “released” March 15th, and the warrant (dated March 17th) says she was due to enter inpatient treatment that day but did not. This is a $15,000-bail warrant, as was the last one.
HAPPENING NOW: Cleanup begins along Spokane Street, five days after bike-path attack
(WSB photos)
That’s the scene along Spokane Street a short distance west of East Marginal Way, as the city-promised cleanup begins, five days after a bicyclist was attacked along the bike path in the area. While there to see what’s happening, we caught up again with Sgt. Eric Zerr from the SPD-led Navigation Team, which is on scene along with workers from departments including SDOT, Seattle Parks, and Human Services.
Sgt. Zerr told us that the cleanup is starting there and heading east under Spokane, all the way to Airport Way, over the next few days. The area where heavy equipment is digging right now had been used as a dumpsite – he believes the campers in the area were told at one time that if they took their trash there, it would be picked up, but that apparently didn’t happen or stopped happening.
The RV campers – whose site, unlike the tent sites along the bike path, is not slated for sweeping yet – have been told to get their trash out to curbside and it will be picked up as part of the operation. We also saw individual cleanup workers closer to the low bridge; they, according to Sgt. Zerr, are picking up individual pieces of litter such as needles/syringes. As for detours, the bike path was still open while we were there, but be aware of possible detours later – the tent-camp sweep did not appear to have begun. We’ll be checking back this afternoon. We’re also checking with City Light about the plan to repair the lighting in the area; Sgt. Zerr mentioned they were expected on scene too.
BACKSTORY: In case you’re just tuning in to this – which is happening just east of West Seattle – our previous coverage:
*Friday, March 24 – Bicyclist’s warning after attack on path; city’s response
*Monday, March 27 – Interview with Navigation Team leader as city gets ready for cleanup, sweep
*Tuesday, March 28 – Update on cleanup plan
4 for your West Seattle Wednesday
(Brant flying past Lincoln Park’s Point Williams – photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
What you should know for your West Seattle Wednesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSURE: Today’s the day we warned you about:
All locations of The Seattle Public Library and the book drops at Central Library will be closed (today) for a staff in-service day. Regular operating hours will resume (tomorrow).
Need a library? The King County Library System’s White Center branch is close, 1409 SW 107th.
FREE TAX HELP: Tonight’s session of free drop-in help with your tax return is 5-8 pm at the West Seattle Food Bank – explained here. (35th SW/SW Morgan)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 7:30 pm signup, 8:30 pm performances at The Skylark. Free. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIBUTE TO TRIO: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern: “A fabulous mix of Seattle-based performers pays tribute to TRIO, the original recording by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, in honor of its 30th anniversary.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:39 AM: Transit notes so far this morning:
-Route 37’s 6:15 am (from 35th/Alaska) run didn’t happen
-The Vashon Water Taxi is canceled this morning because of a “mechanical issue” (the regular backup boat, M/V Spirit of Kingston, is not available because it’s in the middle of a 5-week maintenance period)
No road incidents in our area so far.
6:56 AM: If you use the bicycle trail along surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge – and/or surface Spokane Street itself – reminder that today is the scheduled start of two days of trash cleanup in the area, as we’ve been reporting since Friday. Last word from the city is that the detours won’t start until after 9 am.
11:02 AM: We were there a little while ago and the main eastbound and westbound lanes, and bicycle path, had yet to be affected, though the cleanup has begun. We’ll check back later.
Also: King County has confirmed the Vashon Water Taxi will be back in service for its pm runs.
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