One more case you might be able to help solve: Seattle Police are out with photos of one suspect from yesterday morning’s home-invasion robbery in the 7900 block of 4th SW in Highland Park. They say he was photographed while using one of the victim’s cards at a “nearby” ATM:
He is described as an Asian male, 5′ 8″, 165 pounds, average build, wearing eyeglasses and dressed in a hooded sweatshirt. He also has a thin mustache. An ATM camera captured his image while he was attempting to use the victim’s ATM card at a nearby location. The photo images also capture him driving the victim’s stolen white 1995 Ford van, Washington license plate 65327 DP (Disabled plate). The van is wheelchair equipped and has no hubcaps.
Roxhill Elementary School‘s distinctive “R” needs some help. And Westwood Neighborhood Councilleader Donn DeVore (who shared the photo above) is offering the perfect chance for you to pitch in and make sure that a building working on teaching kids the “three R’s” – and then some – can be proud of its own “R” once more:
Calling for volunteers on September 11th/12th from 10 am to 2 pm. Need a minimum of 8-10 people (4-5 each day) to help sand, prime and re-paint the Roxhill Elementary School ‘R’ on SW Roxbury Street. The school doesn’t have the budget for this.
If people are interested in volunteering, please have them contact me at donndevore@hotmail.com.
As summer sails closer to its sunset, it’s the return of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, topped by the West Seattle Outdoor Movies finale showing of rainout-rescheduled “Star Trek,” at dusk Saturday night in the Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard … There’s a summer finale tonight too, the last of the Outdoor Concerts at The Mount, with The Haggis Brothers, (optional) dinner at 5, (free) concert at 6 … But the weekend’s biggest event is Sunday morning on Alki, with Northwest Hope and Healing benefiting from the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run (online signup deadline 11 am today!) … Even more going on – like Seattle Parks’ “Big Day of Play” on Saturday, with free shuttles from West Seattle – just click ahead for this week’s West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Café and Club (with weekend delights including brunch both days, live music both nights)!Read More
Less than two weeks after the sad saga of Primo, the second Alki seal pup of the year has arrived, according to the newest update on the Seal Sitters‘ “blubberblog” website. Little “Windy” was on the beach until 8 pm or so, Seal Sitters writes; if you spot “Windy” (or another pup) anywhere on the West Seattle shore in the days ahead, please be sure to call Seal Sitters at 905-SEAL.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
If you drove through The Junction tonight and spotted the huge crowd spilling into the street from Easy Street Records – big night for music fans. The store hosted – free! – the public debut of Fistful of Mercy, a new group with three names you might recognize: Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur, and Dhani Harrison. Hundreds showed up for a glimpse and a listen:
Fistful of Mercy is based in Venice, California. They’ve got a website – but it looks like you’ll find out about them right now on the band’s Facebook page. ADDED 10:17 PM: From comments, here’s video shot and uploaded to YouTube by “k”:
And Christopher’s clip from the crowd-in-the-street perspective:
A onetime Junction eyesore is getting a big dose of beautification. We told you two weeks ago about the High Point Community Center-supervised mural-creation project, making paintings that would be put up in the passageway on the west side of California SW in The Junction, near Northwest Art & Frame and Puerto Vallarta – now, they’re up, after some hard work by volunteers on Wednesday.
A dedication plaque will go up soon, and the walkway path itself will be repainted too, to complete the facelift, which should be done sometime next month.
Just got that photo from Josh Sutton of the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), e-mailing us on behalf of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, whose members are busy with a big volunteer project right now:
A dozen Rotary Club members are busy sorting over $8,000 worth of school supplies for elementary students in need across West Seattle. Pencil Me in for Kids is a project of the West Seattle Rotary. We raise money throughout the year and work with school staff to be sure that students have the supplies they need to be successful in class. Tonight we sort the supplies by school, and on Friday we’ll deliver them to local schools.
You can find out more about Pencil Me In For Kidsby going here; donation information’s here.
With 13 Seattle communities having regular art walks, including West Seattle, even devoted art lovers might have trouble keeping track. That’s why City Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office just launched a new website spotlighting them all – click the neighborhood name and you’ll get more information on its art walk. See the new site here. (The next West Seattle Art Walk, by the way, is just two weeks from tonight, on Sept. 9th.)
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Stacey Riley of Stacey Riley Interiors. She says her approach to design is to be both fun and flexible. Stacey explains, “I think design should be a successful endeavor between client and designer, of course. But having fun and choosing a designer that they have a good connection with is equally as important. There are so many beautiful things to look at and select from in the design world, and this experience should be fun! Also, if they have kids and/or pets they should try to select someone that is patient and also has kids and pets! Which I do.” Stacey adds, “Most of my clients have said that I am fun to work with, and that I always keep their needs in mind before style. Fashion is important when planning a design, but function is always more important. Clients also feel that they can work with me at their pace. If they need to take a break or just take a breather mid-project, it will be easy to get back in touch with me and begin working again.”
Stacey says she believes a third-party perspective can bring solid results. She says working with clients and being able to step back from a given project has given people the ability to let clients work through their own ideas or be open to her suggestions. As a pet lover, she is also aware of what pet-friendly material are out there and how your new design can work for the whole family. Stacey also has a column, Dish on Design, which appears in the West Seattle Herald. You can find Stacey Riley Interiors online at staceyrileyinteriors.com, or call 206-200-5951.
We thank Stacey Riley Interiors for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
When the Aurora Bridge Fence Projectaffected traffic on northbound 99 last Sunday, we heard from West Seattleites who got stuck in backups – so we’re passing along the advisory that just came in for THIS Sunday, in case you were planning to use 99 – which will have closures in both directions that day – read on:Read More
2 quick reminders about Sunday’s Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run, benefiting Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients: First, 11 am tomorrow is your deadline to register online – you can do that here. Second, a reminder that Alki SW will be closed approximately 8 am-11 am Sunday for the 5K – this is a CHANGE from past years; the run got so big (1,400 last year) that it needs to be on the street, same course as the West Seattle 5K.
The Seattle Fire Department has just announced the cause of this morning’s 6 am garage fire in the 5400 block of 23rd SW – “accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction.” Their update adds, “Damage estimate: $100,000.” Here’s our original breaking-news coverage with photos and video; the video above is shared by our friends at KING5, sent to them by viewer “edgallo“; here’s the last shot we took before leaving the scene this morning, looking into the gutted garage as the smoke cleared:
(Photo courtesy Toni Reineke, Westside Symphonette) Westside Symphonette “welcomes all musicians – beginning to advanced, young to antique.” So writes its founder/co-conductor Toni Reineke in her announcement of its new season, which starts September 14th. If you’re interested in being part of this community orchestra, it’s registering musicians now. Read on for the full announcement:Read More
So, it’s a little cloudy. Bring a sweater along with your blanket/chair and be at Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn for the second-to-last Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (co-sponsored by WSB), 6:30 pm. In concert tonight: Camille Bloom (seen in the above video clip performing one of her album tracks). Mark your calendar for next Thursday night too, when the Hiawatha series concludes with the West Seattle Big Band onstage. (PS – We’re checking on rain plans, since moments after we published this, a shower began …)
(Meantime, two more outdoor concerts in West Seattle between tonight and next Thursday: Tomorrow, 6 pm, the Providence Mount St. Vincent Friday night series concludes with The Haggis Brothers; next Tuesday night at Alki Playfield, it’s the Board of Education, which was part of last week’s well-attended double bill at Hiawatha.)
Update from Seattle Policeon a “home invasion” robbery they’ve been investigating in the 7900 block of 4th SW this morning: Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB they don’t believe it was random – they think this house “was targeted”: Someone knocked at the house around 3 am; a woman in her 60s answered, a man with a gun forced his way in, tied her up; two other people who were home – a man in his 30s and his girlfriend in her 20s – came out, and they too were tied up. Police believe at least three robbers were involved; they stole “items including rifles and handguns” as well as two cars, a gray 2005 Toyota Camry (license 9224*DP) and 1995 white Ford Windstar (license 6532*DP). The only description they have, according to Det. Jamieson, is that the man who knocked was described as “Asian”; no other descriptions so far, but detectives are continuing to do interviews.
(Added top photo 6:47 am, sent from Belvidere by anonymous contributor; photo below was added at 6:27 am – Wendy Hughes-Jelen photographed the smoke from High Point)
6:15 AM: On our way to the house fire call in the 5400 block of 23rd SW. If you’re hearing/seeing choppers, it’s TV. This is just east of Delridge, near/at the intersection with Brandon (map). 6:21 AM: Fire is “knocked down” per scanner – but the smoke could be seen from quite some distance, according to some of the people who’ve called (thanks!). 6:30 AM: “A large garage with vehicles inside” is what burned, according to SFD’s Helen Fitzpatrick, who says nobody was hurt – everybody got out of the adjacent house OK. 6:36 AM: Here’s what’s left of the garage, which is behind the house:
In case you wondered – this is NOT affecting traffic on Delridge, which is open and running just fine. 23rd is blocked, but it’s not a major through street at that point anyway. One wall of the garage is still smoldering. 7:02 AM: The media briefing at the scene (we’ll add that video when it’s back at HQ) has mostly reiterated what we’ve already reported – nobody home; contents of garage a loss (but exactly what was in there is still being sorted out). The family who lives there was home at the time and called in the fire. Investigators are working to find out how it started.
7:58 AM: The above video clip is Battalion Chief Jay Hagen, who spoke to media at the scene. Here’s also a short clip of firefighters still hosing off the smoldering garage:
Beautiful Wednesday night images from Christopher Boffoli: Sunset behind the Olympics was followed closely by this moonrise from behind Alki (seen from the water):
If you saw a woman with short white hair, perhaps a notebook too, roaming the 3200 block of California purposefully over the weekend – that just might have been City of Seattle Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner.
She’s the most powerful city official you’ve (probably) never heard of, and she announced at the end of last Wednesday’s combined hearing on that block’s three-years-in-progress “upzoning” request that she would make a site visit before writing a report on the request and ruling on a related appeal, “probably (visiting) on the weekend.” (Whether last weekend or next, we won’t know till her report.)
“But if you see me,” she warned, “do NOT approach me.”
Though you are not asked to rise when she enters her chambers on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown, Tanner’s role is similar to that of a judge. She listens to sworn testimony, sometimes to public comment, in hearings on matters that may sound mundane from a distance, unless you are the one whose livelihood and/or property will be directly affected by the ruling – as is the case for most of those involved in this case, both the neighbors along the blocks immediately behind the block proposed for a zoning change, and those who own the dozens of parcels that would be eligible for higher buildings and larger commercial spaces if the zoning is changed.
On Wednesday of last week, the rezone proposal occupied the Hearing Examiner’s docket for the entire day, which began with most of the 30 or so seats in her chambers filled – mostly with the aforementioned neighbors, wearing lime-green ribbons – and ended seven hours later with most of the seats empty.
MARINATION MOBILE LOCATION UPDATE: As reported here earlier this summer, the 35th/Graham location that’s been home to the Marination Mobile food truck on Saturdays is about to get dug up for a cleanup, and they have to move. Kamala from Marination Mobile just e-mailed us to say that they WILL be at the same site this Saturday, 11-2 as usual – and then they’re hoping they will be across SW Graham at Hans VW Repair‘s lot on subsequent Saturdays. “WE LOVE WEST SEATTLE!” she adds.
HEARTLAND CAFE CHANGES:Heartland Café‘s proprietor Jay Wergin shared this photo with news of an expansion:
Wergin says the bar space has expanded “to include natural light and gaming. … This is a soft opening to what will eventually be a full-service bar offering live entertainment, draft beers, pull tabs, sports on multiple TVs, and a great gathering place.” It’s got pool and darts, as you see in the photo – but no worries, The Benbow Room is still “plenty dark and pirate-ship-like,” he reassures its fans. And it’s now open Mondays 3 pm-2 am; they’re offering a $1 discount on any drink to restaurant-industry employees on both Sunday and Monday nights.
INTERNATIONAL BACON DAY COMING TO THE SWINERY: If you don’t frequent the WSB Forums, you may have missed our mention there on Tuesday of the news release sent by The Swinery – they’re planning to throw quite the party in honor of International Bacon Day (we checked, there really is such a thing) on Saturday, September 4th. Here’s the announcement, promising, among other things, free bacon-chocolate-chip cookies.
YOSHIO’S TERIYAKI CLOSES: This is a couple weeks old but we hadn’t noted it before, so in case you wondered, yes, Yoshio’s Teriyaki on the northeast corner of Delridge and Andover is out of business. We pulled over today for a closer look at the note on the door, and that’s what it says. It had been for sale for more than a year; we reported on the listing in February of last year.
As mentioned here about this time last night, Chief Sealth International High School got the go-ahead for teachers and other staffers to move in – and today, they did just that. Above, unpacking was still under way in the Proyecto Saberroom, where we found teachers including Delfino Munoz around mid-afternoon. And the Southwest Precinct had just sent over its second tour-group-in-blue:
Speaking of colors, they play a role in the Sealth scheme – just look down the hallway:
With two weeks to go till the first day of classes – and 13 days to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 am Sept. 7 – there’s still plenty of work under way, inside and out, but it’s clearly the home stretch – here’s a view from the front steps down toward the new Galleria:
Your first official chance to get a peek inside is just a week away – next Wednesday night, as a fundraiser for the Friends of Sealth scholarship fund, you can be part of a behind-the-scenes tour – reservations required, and you can make yours online at the new Friends of Sealth website. One month from today, a community open house will include tours, too – 10 am Sept. 25th.
ORIGINAL 5:20 PM REPORT: Police and fire are heading to a reported crash involving a Metro bus and SUV at Delridge and Myrtle (just north of the Home Depot/Arco/Shell intersection). No word yet if anyone is hurt, but given the location and the fact it’s evening commute time, we’re posting this as a heads-up. 5:30 PM UPDATE: 2 more fire units are being sent – seven people are reported to have minor injuries. Per the scanner, police are closing northbound Delridge at Orchard.
(Photo added 6:27 pm, originally posted to our Twitter account @westseattleblog) 5:55 PM UPDATE: We are here, road just reopened both ways. Will add photo shortly. SUV was towed; bus drove a short way north and is still in outside SB lane with a supervisor vehicle in front of it. (And yes, that was a TV chopper over the scene for a while – channel 7.)
This afternoon we’re welcoming one of our newest sponsors, Envy on Alkiskin boutique. In the WSB sponsor-welcome tradition, here’s what they want you to know about Envy on Alki: With personalized service from owner and aesthetician Trudy Muller, Envy on Alki has become Alki’s premier skin boutique, featuring services for both women and men, ranging from face and body waxing to facial treatments, peels, and enhancement services, such as, brow and lash tinting. As a native of West Seattle, Trudy is active in her community and currently working with others in her Alki neighborhood to raise money for breast cancer and prepare for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure with Team Tracy (the3day.org/goto/Trudy.Muller). Clients not only come from the West Seattle area but also travel from all over Washington for the personal touch and services provided by this quaint boutique. Should you find yourself needing to be pampered, or to provide a unique experience to share with others for any occasion – whether a celebration, a gift to your bridesmaids, or just a night out on the town – Envy on Alki also provides private parties. Appointments are highly recommended (which we suggest you make in advance) to ensure your much-deserved quality time with Trudy. If by chance Trudy is available for a walk-in client, you might catch her at her most shining moment, should you need a quick brow or bikini wax. Don’t underestimate this little boutique located in the heart of Alki at 2613 58th Ave. SW (map), because what you’ll find is a quaint boutique marbled with lots of character and tons of personality!
We thank Envy on Alki for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
As summer sails closer to its sunset, it’s the return of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, topped by the 
Stacey explains, “I think design should be a successful endeavor between client and designer, of course. But having fun and choosing a designer that they have a good connection with is equally as important. There are so many beautiful things to look at and select from in the design world, and this experience should be fun! Also, if they have kids and/or pets they should try to select someone that is patient and also has kids and pets! Which I do.” Stacey adds, “Most of my clients have said that I am fun to work with, and that I always keep their needs in mind before style. Fashion is important when planning a design, but function is always more important. Clients also feel that they can work with me at their pace. If they need to take a break or just take a breather mid-project, it will be easy to get back in touch with me and begin working again.”
With personalized service from owner and aesthetician Trudy Muller, Envy on Alki has become Alki’s premier skin boutique, featuring services for both women and men, ranging from face and body waxing to facial treatments, peels, and enhancement services, such as, brow and lash tinting. As a native of West Seattle, Trudy is active in her community and currently working with others in her Alki neighborhood to raise money for breast cancer and prepare for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure with Team Tracy (
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