West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents 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?” We skipped a roundup in mid-December, so there are several incidents from that time toward the end:
*On December 27th, officers were dispatched to a North Admiral apartment where an elderly man who needs a wheelchair had been beaten all over his body by his adult son. Dad also had a severe contusion over his left eye and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Son had fled the scene before officers arrived.
*On the 28th, on Marine Ave. SW, a man saw a stranger in a neighbor’s car. He pulled the man out (the suspect’s three friends scattered) and held him while he called 911. Before officers arrived, the friends returned. One punched the victim in the chin, causing him to let go of the suspect. The suspects were described as four thin white males, about 17-18 years of age, wearing all dark clothing.
*On the afternoon of the 30th, a car broke down on the lower West Seattle Bridge. The driver pushed it clear (though the vehicle was sparking and smoking) and then walked away, dropping a small handgun in a construction tool belt nearby. A bit later (after officers found a stun gun in a holster in the vehicle), a woman (claiming to be the driver’s girlfriend) and another man arrived. She gave officers the boyfriend’s name, but she was evasive and nervous. A records check showed that her boyfriend was a convicted felon (prohibited from having a gun) and was wanted on two warrants. The car was left at the scene and the weapons taken as evidence. The gun had a magazine loaded with five .22 caliber rounds.
*A dog walker called 911 after finding a shotgun in a wooded part of Me-Kwa-Mooks park on the 28th. An officer confiscated the firearm.
11 more summaries ahead:Read More
As promised in the campaign for the library levy last year, its passage means Seattle Public Library branches closed on Sundays to save money can reopen on those days again – and as announced last month, today is the first open-again Sunday. From hereon out, Delridge, High Point, and South Park library branches will be open 1 pm-5 pm on Sundays. The library system says this is the first time in at least a century that all of its branches are open Sundays. Special Sunday celebrations are planned over the next few months, too (as listed here) – first one in this area will be at High Point next Sunday (January 13th).
(From Thursday: U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zachary Painter)
Before it’s decided if Shell’s grounded drilling rig Kulluk can and will resume its tow back here for offseason maintenance, an effort is afoot not just to tow it off the Alaskan island where it’s stuck, but to move it 30 miles to a “safe harbor” for inspection. The Kulluk, which spent almost a year at Harbor Island’s Vigor Shipyards, got into trouble in bad weather more than a week ago, while being towed back here. Finally, after problems with tow lines and its tow vessel Aiviq – which spent time here last year too – the Kulluk went adrift and grounded New Year’s Eve on Kodiak Island (map), carrying more than 100,000 gallons of fuel, none of which is believed to have spilled. A “unified command” has since been set up to manage the salvage operation, and the Anchorage Daily News has a report on its Saturday briefing, saying that if the attempt to move the Kulluk is successful, then they’ll decide whether to resume towing it here.
SIDE NOTES: Seattle weather analyst Cliff Mass says the decision to tow it through stormy weather and seas was “misguided” and explains why; the Dutch Harbor Fisherman, meantime, has reported that the motivation for trying to move the rig out of Alaska involved taxes. One other link: The “unified command” organized for the salvage operation has its own website at kullukresponse.com, with a variety of materials and documents, including a partial transcript of the Saturday briefing.
The return of a lost Golden Retriever to her family tonight reminded us that today is the 5th anniversary of the WSB Lost/Found Pets page. In keeping with our mentioned-earlier resolution to “make WSB more useful in 2013,” particularly by making sure everyone knows about free services offered here beyond 24/7 news, a few words about it: We haven’t kept count, but anecdotally, the page at westseattleblog.com/pets has helped at least a couple hundred pets reunite with their people. We never expected to have a lost/found pets sideline, 
but as WSB readership/participation grew after our turn toward news in winter 2006-2007, we started receiving requests to list them; on January 5, 2008, we launched the dedicated page as an easy-to-find place for listings, whether you’ve found a pet or lost one. Last year, we upgraded its format so each listing would have its own web address, enabling it to be shared if necessary (as with every story or page here on WSB, mouse over the “Share This” link for a simple way to share it via Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, and/or dozens more sharing-service options). Once there’s a reunion, please let us know so we can update the listing and remove the details. We share our home with pets (the two cats in the photo above, both adult shelter cats when we adopted them) too, and are glad WSB can be of assistance in getting wayward animal friends home. Hope you don’t ever need to use the Pets page, but if you do – e-mail info (and photo if available, jpg preferred) to editor@westseattleblog.com.
Three weeks from today, on January 26th, you are invited to Southwest Super String Saturday – a free event celebrating students, families, and music teachers from Roxhill, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, Sanislo, Concord, Highland Park, and West Seattle Elementary Schools, plus Denny International Middle School. It’s presented by Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras (SYSO, a WSB sponsor), which explains:
This event showcases the efforts of students, professional music coaches and Seattle Public School music teachers who are part of the SYSO in the Schools program.
SYSO in the Schools provides free small-group lessons during the school day and out-of-school time to young musicians who have historically had inequitable access to music education. This program has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of students in orchestral music playing at higher levels of musicianship. Students have also gained self-confidence, built their skills in self-discipline, concentration and collaboration, and have had higher levels of academic achievement and school engagement.
As Carmela Dellino, former Roxhill Elementary principal and current SPS Executive Director for West Seattle Schools, explains: “We are so pleased to have SYSO’s continued support of the young string musicians in our Southwest Seattle schools. The free coaching provided by SYSO gives these students access to high quality, individualized music lessons that families in this area might not otherwise be able to afford. When I was principal at Roxhill Elementary, I saw students who, because the SYSO coaches were there to nurture their musical skills, not only persevered in their instrument playing, but brought that same focus to other areas of study. These skills prepare students, even at the elementary level, for college and career.”
Activities at Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday include: a mini-concert by the Youth Symphony Orchestra performing Emmanuel Charbrier’s España and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in d minor, Op. 47.; violin, viola, cello and bass master classes led by Youth Symphony musicians; chamber ensemble demonstrations; parent education sessions; and information from SYSO partner the West Seattle Community Orchestras. All students attending Super String Saturday are eligible for a full or partial scholarship to SYSO’s Marrowstone-in-the City summer program.
For more information about Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday, please contact Kathleen Allen, SYSO Director of Education, Communications and Partnerships at kathleen@syso.org or 206-362-2300. To learn more about SYSO and all of its programs supporting young musicians visit syso.org
On January 26th, you’ll find this all happening 10 am-1 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).
Just out of the WSB inbox:
My friend’s car, in my possession, was stolen from in front of my house in Highland Park, 7000 block of 13TH AVE SW (Between HOLDEN & KENYON) last night.
The car is a 1993 Honda Accord, teal/light green, license AAX 1269. The back bumper is covered with bluegrass/music stickers. It was last seen by a neighbor in front of the house at 10:30 PM 1/4. Wasn’t noted missing until 4:00 PM today 1/5.
As we always note, many stolen vehicles are found within a relatively short distance – so if it happens to you, after you’ve notified police, let us know too so that we can also get the word out.
Thanks to Gary Jones for sharing photos from the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race (from Des Moines Marina, then back) as some of the sailboats passed Alki Point.
It’s part of this year’s Southern Sound Series of races (all listed here, on the same page where results should be linked later).
Watch for more sailboats off west-facing West Seattle three weeks from today – January 26 is the date for the Blake Island Race.
Till 3 pm, Dianne Ainsworth – in our photo with husband Todd – is continuing to collect donated blankets at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor; 35th and Webster) to help people in need at Nickelsville and Union Gospel Mission stay warm. When Todd sent us the announcement a few days ago, he said that if you miss today’s dropoff window, you can still bring donated blankets to WSAW during its regular business hours.
Just a few weeks into winter, here’s another chance to look ahead to spring – West Seattle Baseball has begun registration for the Spring 2013 PONY Baseball season. Here’s the announcement from Fritz Araya:
West Seattle Baseball, longtime youth-sports organization in West Seattle created from the merger of West Seattle Pee Wee and Southwest Pony Baseball, announces the opening of priority registration for youth baseball for the 2013 season. The following divisions are open for registration.
Shetland (ages 5-6)
Pinto (ages 7-8)
Mustang (ages 9-10)
Bronco (ages 11-12)
Pony (ages 13-14)
The announcement continues ahead:Read More
Thanks to Mark Wangerin for sharing the photo of a killdeer at Jack Block Park earlier this week – one of about 30 he says were there that day. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for today:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Another reminder – the southbound I-5 and Columbian Way (Beacon Hill) ramps to the West Seattle Bridge are closed all weekend. Here’s why.
BLANKET DRIVE HAPPENING NOW: As previewed earlier in the week, West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) at 35th and Webster is collecting blankets today, to help homeless people stay warm here in the heart of winter. Bring donations by before 3 pm.
CHRISTMAS-TREE RECYCLING HAPPENING NOW: Haven’t put your tree out yet? Here’s one way to help a local youth group by taking it to them instead of having it sit on the curb (or driving to the transfer station). The sixth annual West Seattle Rainbow Girls Christmas tree recycling fundraiser is happening now at the Alki Masonic Hall, 40th and Edmunds, till 2 pm. Suggested donation $5; no flocked trees, please.
DRUM, DANCE, SING OPEN HOUSE: Free introduction to this program for ages 3 and up at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), noon-1 pm – details here.
REMODELING EXPO: Not happening in West Seattle, but lots of West Seattle participation – including WSB sponsors NCompass, Potter Construction, and Ventana Construction. At the Convention Center all weekend (info here) – till 8 pm tonight (and again tomorrow).
BENEFIT FOR JOSHUA WATLER: Also in the “not in West Seattle, but lots of WS participation” – at Bison Creek Pizza in Burien (630 SW 153rd) tonight, starting at 5, a silent auction/raffle benefit is happening to help area community organizer Joshua Watler in the fight of his life, against leukemia. Details on our partner site White Center Now.
LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: Check our calendar page for listings from C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), Skylark Café and Club, The Cask, and The Benbow Room.
A one-point win for the West Seattle High School boys-varsity basketball team topped a full Friday night slate, with WSHS and Chief Sealth International High School boys and girls teams all playing on their respective home courts, and Seattle Lutheran High School‘s two varsity teams on the road. First: WSHS boys varsity. Our photo above is from the early going; the game was won in the final seconds, according to this report from Coach Keffrey Fazio:
The West Seattle Boys Basketball team improved their record to 5-5 on the season with a clutch home win last night against number-five-ranked Franklin Quakers, 70-69. Senior LaTrey Newsome made two game-winning free throws with three seconds left to seal the deal for the Wildcats. Newsome finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. West Seattle was powered by senior Jimi Martin, who finished the game with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Also for the Wildcats, junior DeAndre Love finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. This win is arguable the biggest win in WSHS basketball in 15-plus years.
The Wildcats travel across town to face Rainier Beach on Tuesday (1/8/13) 7pm, and then back home against O’Dea Friday (1/11/13) 6 pm.
Before the boys’ game, the WSHS girls faced Franklin.
They fell, 55-38.
Meantime, the girls varsity at Sealth emerged with a Friday night win, 49-36 over Nathan Hale (stats here), but the boys’ team was defeated, 43-38.
Finally, the Seattle Lutheran games at Tacoma Baptist, both losses for the Saints: 27-21 in the girls game, 46-42 for the boys.
1:55 AM: The marker on the map is for Craig in southeastern Alaska, the reference point that authorities are using for a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit about an hour ago, around 60 miles west-southwest of Craig. Nearby areas of Alaska and B.C. had tsunami warnings; there was a tsunami advisory stretching as far south as the British Columbia-Washington border. See the warnings/advisories here. No word of any trouble so far. P.S. If you’re wondering how our area’s been doing with quake activity – we found this Pacific Northwest 2012 wrapup online.
2:02 AM: The USGS is now calling the quake 7.5.
2:37 AM: The tsunami advisory that had run south to the BC-Washington border is now canceled. Two months ago, there was a 7.7-magnitude quake in the Haidi Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlottes) region to the south of this quake’s location – we wrote about it here.
3:10 AM: If you needed a jolt to work on preparedness – here is a link we haven’t mentioned since that last regional quake: West Seattle Be Prepared, laden with information including your nearest “emergency-communication hub.” Know it, just in case.
3:23 PM: The last warnings up in Alaska/BC are no longer in effect.
Road-work reminders tonight as 2 big projects get ready to begin:
2 RAMPS TO WESTBOUND WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSED ALL WEEKEND: From right about now till 5 Monday morning, WSDOT is closing the ramps to the West Seattle Bridge from southbound I-5 and from Columbian Way (Beacon Hill). It’s the start of the Spokane St. Interchange Vicinity Special Bridge Repair project, which will close different parts of the Spokane/I-5/Columbian Way interchange during 10-plus weekends over the next few months. (Next weekend’s closure will only affect the ramp from Beacon Hill.)
YEAR-LONG DELRIDGE REPAVING STARTS THURSDAY: In case you missed the first announcement of the start date two weeks ago (here’s our December 21 story), SDOT sent the announcement around again late today – to make extra-sure everyone knows that Thursday is Day 1 for the mile-and-a-half-long repaving project on Delridge from Orchard to Roxbury. The basics are here; even more background is here – most important thing you need to know is that northbound traffic will be maintained along the entire stretch, but there will be southbound detours. The work will be done in five phases lasting 2 to 3 months each; the first phase will be Henderson to Trenton, and the southbound detour is shown here:
The official construction notice has work-hours details for residents in the affected area, among other information.
We’ve received a few calls asking what TV crews are doing at Westwood Village. Here’s what we’ve learned about the story, which you will likely see in various citywide media tonight: It involves the video above, made public by the lawyer representing a West Seattle man who was hit at Westwood Village two years ago by a police officer he had bitten. The video is from the dashboard camera of the officer’s patrol car.
It happened on December 29, 2010, outside the Marshall’s store, where police had stopped to check out an unoccupied car left at curbside with the engine running. Ahead, a statement and other documents that lawyer James Egan provided, plus a report with SPD’s comment:
(12/21/12 photo at 42nd/Alaska, by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
After those recent stoplight problems along the RapidRide route – 35th/Alaska, 35th/Avalon, 42nd/Alaska, California/Fauntleroy are the ones we’ve covered – SDOT has been investigating, and has concluded it is related to the “transit signal priority” programming along the way. When we inquired about the recurring problems last week, SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner said we could expect an update after the holidays – and this afternoon, here it is:
SDOT partnered with King County Metro on the planning, design and construction of transit-related improvements that would reduce delay and improve the speed and reliability of Rapid Ride buses. Both agencies did extensive testing of the programs that support Transit Signal Priority (TSP) prior to implementation. During this testing period none of the issues we are currently experiencing occurred.
Once implemented, however, we began to experience issues at several locations. We were able to trace the problems back to the TSP equipment, but have been unable to determine why the equipment is causing these random malfunctions.
We are working closely with the software manufacturer to uncover the cause. Their latest version of the software does appear to have resolved most of the issues. However, we will be conducting thorough tests through January to ensure these problems do not occur again. Assuming we are satisfied that the issues have been resolved, we hope to implement the new software in early February.
In the meantime, to prevent these issues from recurring, we have temporarily disconnected the linkage to Metro’s equipment.
(12/17/12 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
As reported here last month, the December “king tides” included a day (December 17th) with the highest water level ever recorded in Seattle. Now, another round of “king tides” are on the way in mid-January (see the Seattle tide chart here – the highest high tide is expected January 14th), and the state is hoping you can help document them – read on for the announcement:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
What Seattle Police Captain Joe Kessler has just done is almost unheard of, he says:
SPD commanders almost never return for an encore at a precinct they have led before.
Yet this week, two years and three months after he turned over command of West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct to Capt. Steve Paulsen, Capt. Kessler got it back, while his successor/predecessor moved on to lead the Beacon Hill-headquartered South Precinct.
“It’s like walking back into (your family’s) home after being away at college,” he observed.
We visited the precinct at Delridge and Webster Thursday to talk with Capt. Kessler about his return, what he’s been doing since leaving West Seattle, and what’s in store now that he’s back:
Two theft reports to share this morning, from West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports. First, a car theft reported by Kristen near 13th and Cloverdale:
I was hoping to get the word out there that my boyfriend had his car stolen between 12:30 am – 4 am this morning from right in front of our house. It is a 1997 Green Honda Civic license plate AGX 4662. I literally looked out the window and saw it right before bed and it was gone just a short time later when he was leaving for work. I know there have been quite a few car thefts in the area lately and am just trying to be as proactive as we can at getting the word out there, with the hopes of getting it back.
If you see it, please call 911, as advised by SPD’s @getyourcarback tweet about this theft.
**ADDED 11:18 AM** In comments, DJ Allyn suggested a map of area thefts. This data is not always reliably available but the city’s police-report map looks fairly up to date now (yesterday, for example, it wasn’t) – here is a screengrab showing the 11 thefts it lists for December 28th through today:
(back to original 10:47 am report) Also out of the WSB inbox – the second catalytic-converter-theft report this week:
Just want to report that the catalytic converter was stolen from my Toyota Tacoma, sometime between Wednesday, January 2nd, mid-morning and 6:00 pm (Thursday, January 3rd). The pipe was cut and a couple of rubber rings were cut and a piece of metal bent to remove the converter. The truck was parked on 36th Ave SW, between Hanford and Hinds. The alarm was on, but it wasn’t activated by the theft.
SIDE NOTE: In our ongoing New Year’s resolution to share more reminders about WSB site features you might have missed – here’s a note about our Crime Watch page, which is another way to catch up on links to recent crime-related reports AND also a place to see the latest SPD West Seattle/South Park incident tweets. You also can access the archive of front-page crime reports here.
Thanks to Craig Howard for the barred-owl photo from the Bonair hill (between North Admiral and Alki) taken Wednesday night – he explained that “we’ve looked for owls there ever since you reported on owls buzzing people. We found a barred owl in the dark we tried to follow around from tree to tree – it stayed close. I think it might have been eyeing our dog. Got a wonderful shot of it, and thought your readers might enjoy it.” Meantime, highlights for today/tonight:
INTERCHANGE PROJECT CLOSURES: Yet another reminder that the Spokane St. Interchange Vicinity Special Bridge Repair project starts this weekend. We first reported on this in November; 11 weekends have closures planned in the next few months, but NOT the same ramps, and NOT every weekend. This weekend, from 10 pm tonight through 5 am Monday, two ramps will be closed: Southbound I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge, and Columbian Way (Beacon Hill) to the bridge. Here’s the latest update, with a map.
BLOODMOBILE AT PCC NATURAL MARKETS-WEST SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): As the holiday season wraps up, Puget Sound Blood Center is on the road to replenish supplies. Walk-ups welcome – California and Stevens, 9 am to 3 pm (closed for break 11 am-noon).
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Big day/night with home games at our area’s two biggest high schools. First, the West Seattle High School schedule for today/tonight vs. visiting Franklin HS, from the Metro League website:
3:15 pm Girls JV Game
4:45 pm Boys JV Game/C Game
6:15 pm Girls Varsity Game
8:00 pm Boys Varsity Game
And the Chief Sealth International High School schedule for today/tonight vs. visiting Nathan Hale HS, also from the league website:
3:15 pm Girls JV Game
4:45 pm Boys JV Game
6:15 pm Girls Varsity Game
8:00 pm Boys Varsity Game
Seattle Lutheran High School teams are back in action tonight too, on the road at Tacoma Baptist.
LIVE MUSIC: See the WSB Event Calendar‘s section for today, where we have listings for C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) and Skylark Café and Club. (If your venue has live music, keep us updated so we can include it in our calendar! editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
It’s the last day before everyone is back at school – Seattle Public Schools classes resume Monday. Also of note:
WEEKEND RAMP CLOSURE REMINDER: 10 pm tonight through 5 am Monday, the ramps to the West Seattle Bridge from southbound I-5 and from Beacon Hill (Columbian Way) will be closed as the Spokane St. Interchange Bridge Repair project begins. Latest update here.
ROUTE 50 ON REROUTE TILL MID-FEBRUARY: We checked on this with Metro yesterday since the Avalon/Genesee stoplight is almost ready to go – here’s the story.
Any traffic/transit updates today, let us know – we’ll also be updating as needed.
When Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield tweeted that photo today from aboard the International Space Station – two weeks after his arrival – his caption noted that you might see Pike Place Market if you look closely. Never mind the market; West Seattle’s in the heart of the photo! We wouldn’t have seen this if not for West Seattleite Bill Schrier retweeting the picture. Click here for a larger version via Twitter. (The ISS, according to this NASA webpage, is in “low Earth orbit,” more than 100 miles up, making one full orbit of Earth every hour and a half.)
Those awaiting Metro Transit Route 50‘s debut on its “real” route will have to wait six more weeks. When it launched three months ago as part of a major restructuring tied to the debut of the RapidRide C and D Lines, Metro announced temporary reroutes that it said would be in place until the Genesee/Avalon stoplight was up and running for the westbound trip and turning-radius issues were fixed in Admiral for the eastbound trip. Now that the Genesee/Avalon stoplight is close to its debut, we asked Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer today if that meant the “real” Route 50 is close too. He tells WSB it’ll be six weeks longer, because they will be changing the bus size:
The Route 50 reroute is scheduled to continue until the Feb. 16 service change, at which time westbound buses will start traveling the original planned route on southbound Delridge Way and westbound on Southwest Genesee Street. The change will happen then because we can switch to a shorter bus that can better make the southbound right turn at that intersection.
At the same time, Route 50 also will shift to the original planned route in the Admiral district, as the shorter buses will be able to make the right turn from Southwest Admiral Way to California Avenue Southwest.
Because of the signal delay – it was at one point expected to be in place before the fall Metro changes – North Delridge has not been served by westbound Route 50, intended as a long-overdue east-west connection in that area.
(11/24/2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Bright lights and big hearts! We’re talking about not only West Seattle Lights mastermind Jim Winder and the hosting Helmstetler Family, who put on the famous music-synched Christmas-light show for free, but also about the show’s fans, who donate money and food to designated beneficiaries – Jim has just sent this season’s official announcement:
West Seattle Food Bank:
Cash: $1315 – up $421 from 2011’s $895
Food: 1100 lbs – down 333 lbs from 2011’s 1433 lbsNW Parkinson’s Foundation:
Cash: $1194, up $329 from 2011’s $865Total for the three years:
West Seattle Food Bank:
Cash: $2642
Food: 3599 lbsNW Parkinson’s Foundation:
Cash: $2441Cash Total For Three Years: $7,173!!!! This includes the $1,200 for the Kingstons, $500 for Teachout Family, and $391 for Pushing Boundaries.
Thank You West Seattle, and see ya later this year!!!!
Jim Winder
West Seattle Lights
If you didn’t get around to donating to this year’s beneficiaries, but appreciated the light show, you can still use the direct links from the WS Lights page – just go here.
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