West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
We start off this West Seattle Crime Watch reader-report roundup with Sean asking you to help find his car:
My 1997 Honda Accord Wagon, dark green, license plate # 327 VUF, was stolen last night, between 10 pm and 9 am on the 3300 block of 30th ave SW, right off Harbor Ave. and the WS bridge. Police said it will likely be left in the neighborhood. Please keep a lookout.
West Seattleite Lauren is looking for her car too – stolen just a bit outside this area:
know this is a long-shot, but my car was stolen from near 1st Ave S. and Holgate (Sodo) this past Thursday. I live in West Seattle, so I thought I would e-mail just to see if anyone would keep an eye out for it. The SPD told me they have a 95% recovery rate, but so far I’ve heard nothing, so I’m starting to lose hope. I moved here this past February from Texas, so my car still has Texas plates. It’s a 1997 white Honda Civic 2-door coupe with TX plates 721-GVR. There’s a slight dent in the hood on the driver’s side. If anyone would keep an eye out for it and call the police if they see it, I would really appreciate it.
Three more reports ahead – hit-run, mail theft, and harassment:Read More
Thanks to “B-squared” for sharing the unique sunset view – with Fauntleroy’s famous white waterfowl in the foreground. The forecast looks promising for the outdoor events ahead – Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (with The Local Strangers) on Thursday night, Alki Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday, and West Seattle Outdoor Movies (with “Young Frankenstein”) on Saturday night.
(Air Force One at Boeing Field, right after sunset)
5:54 PM: President Obama is now in Seattle and will soon be leaving Boeing Field, bound for Hunts Point on Lake Washington. Live TV pictures show that traffic is now stopped awaiting his motorcade. He has two fundraising events on the Eastside tonight, and then will be staying overnight (in Bellevue, according to KING 5) before Air Force One flies out tomorrow morning.
6:11 PM: Motorcade’s on the way to the Eastside, so any traffic effects here shouldn’t last much longer.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
4:55 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s been texting us about police activity in Highland Park, 18th and Myrtle vicinity. Lt. Pierre Davis explains that “SPD units assisted Renton PD with a stolen vehicle that ended up in our jurisdiction. A high-risk stop was conducted. 3 are in custody.” High-risk stop is when you see police with guns drawn.
5:35 PM: Just added photos. This is barely a block east of Sanislo Elementary, in case you’re trying to place the location:
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The most conspicuously vacant site of the ex-Huling Auto (briefly Gee) properties in West Seattle may not be vacant much longer: 
A development proposal and sale are being explored.
A mixed-use (apartments and retail) project is on the drawing board. The city Department of Planning and Development website has an early-in-the-process entry for a potential project with “five floors of residential over 55,000 SF retail” and “Parking for 534 cars (underground)” at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW.
That’s the site stretching along the west side of Fauntleroy from Edmunds almost to Alaska, including the former Chevrolet showroom and lot.
Here’s what we have found out from John Wunder of Associates West Real Estate, longtime representative for the Huling properties:
Some have asked if the Paddle to Squaxin tribal canoes are still on Alki, where they landed Monday afternoon as a stop along the journey to the big annual gathering, to be held in the Olympia area this year. We went back over to Alki to be sure we had the correct answer: Yes. Departures aren’t planned until tomorrow morning, when they will head to the next stop, hosted by the Puyallup Tribe; the Muckleshoots are the hosts here – all the stops are on this map. (Our coverage from Monday is here and here.)
ADDED: Stately sunset view with a canoe’s bow in silhouette, from David Hutchinson:
Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Jerry Howard from John L. Scott West Seattle at 5242 California. Here’s what he’d like you to know about what he does:
If you’ve been thinking about a career change, Jerry is currently offering classes on becoming a real-estate agent. He’s an award-winning trainer and coach. Jerry has been mentoring, coaching, and training real-estate agents for more than 15 years. He has conducted hundreds of classes on various Real Estate subjects and personally coached and trained many new and experienced agents that have built and maintained a successful real-estate business; in fact, he has trained three agents that went on to become John L. Scott Rookie of the Year, and two more that were runners-up. If you have ever thought about a career in real estate, John L. Scott West Seattle would be the place to start. If you’re interested in finding out whether selling real estate is something you’d like to do, you can fill out Jerry’s online survey, here.
And if you are buying or selling a home, Jerry adds that the sales team at John L. Scott has been in business here in West Seattle since 1968. He joined the John L. Scott family in 1992. Jerry adds, “With the best marketing programs available in the industry, John L. Scott is widely recognized as one of the nation’s largest and most productive real-estate companies and is a consistent leader and innovator in real-estate technology. We are committed to providing the highest level of service to buyers and sellers in the Puget Sound area. We pride ourselves on our professional, ethical, and effective approach to real estate.”
Contact Jerry by going here – and get on the road to your successful real-estate career here.
We thank Jerry Howard of John L. Scott 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.
1:37 PM: The Hiawatha wading pool is opening late today because of somebody’s dangerous, inconsiderate act. Christine sent a note, saying that while it’s not big news, it is “sad for kids” that somebody got broken glass in the pool, requiring a cleanup operation before it could be filled on this sunny, warm afternoon. We checked with Seattle Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter, who confirmed, “it is closed and the staff are working on it. They discovered a vodka bottle broken in the pool when they arrived at work this morning. They hope to be finished cleaning by around 2 p.m. and then start filling.” (updated) In the meantime, Lincoln Park is open today, as is South Park (location here).
2:30 PM UPDATE: Cleanup done and the pool’s open again.
3:08 PM UPDATE: Parks’ Potter just sent another update:
There was apparently still some glass in the pool even after going over it with a shop vac, and someone cut her foot. The pool is closed again, this time for the day, and the staff will continue to go over it square inch by square inch until they have every grain picked up.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Still causing problems – another update from Dewey Potter @ Parks this morning:
The crew has swept the pool with a sweeper and still don’t think they have all the glass. A power washer is arriving there right about now, and they will power wash the pool. It will continue to be closed for at least two more hours, and the staff will update the hotline when the work is complete and the pool is filling. The hotline number is 206-684-7796.
Lincoln, 8600 Fauntleroy Way SW, is open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
EC Hughes, 2805 SW Holden St., is open from noon – 7 p.m.
Where just 10 nights ago, there had been partying – this morning, there’s bidding. The auctioneers of James G. Murphy Co. are presiding as the now-closed Rocksport Bar and Grill sells off everything from kitchen equipment …
… to sports memorabilia:
(Here’s the online catalog.) The Rocksport closed for good a week and a half ago, with a looming July 31st deadline to clear out of one of the two buildings that will be demolished starting as soon as August 10th (here’s our most recent report on the project) to make way for two seven-story mixed-use buildings along 42nd/Alaska/California. The auction is on right now, till everything (or most of it) goes. More photos ahead:Read More
(WSDOT aerial from last Friday, shared via Flickr: Highway 99 work zone south of the Alaskan Way Viaduct)
Quick look at what’s happening today/tonight before the morning gets much older:
SOUTHBOUND VIADUCT/99 CLOSURE AGAIN TONIGHT: 9 pm-5 am, Battery Street Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge. In case you’ve missed earlier advisories, this will be the pattern, WSDOT says, five nights every week (Sun.-Thurs., weather permitting) until fall, as they continue reinforcing the section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct under which the tunnel-boring machine will pass. P.S.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: It’s almost local, since Boeing Field is so close. As noted here last night, President Obama is due to arrive there sometime in the 5 pm hour, and is headed for two fundraisers at a private home on Lake Washington. The airport advisory says he’ll leave in the 9 am hour tomorrow.
NIGHTLIFE: Tonight’s lineup includes Trivia That Rocks at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm; there’s also trivia at The Bridge, 8:30 pm; Shadowland hosts the weekly Starlight songwriters’ showcase, 9 pm; and Baby Ketten Karaoke at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar!
The date is set and the call is out for Elvis Presley-tribute performers: “Get your King on” at the second annual West Seattle El-Fest: E Meets West! coming up 8 pm August 10th at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), whose Jeff Gilbert shares the official announcement:
Calling all Elvis tribute singers/performers – we’re paying tribute to the King of Rock & Roll and we want YOU to take part.
We’re looking for guys and gals, 21 & older – to put on your Elvis gear and belt it out during our annual Elvis tribute show on Friday, August 10th, 8 PM at the Feedback Lounge.
Created by Jeff Gilbert (co-owner of the Feedback) and Helen Anne Gately (Elvis tribute singer/collector/die-hard fan), our 2nd Annual El-Fest puts you on stage with backing music tracks by Saraoke for a chance to win a custom handmade cape and crown worthy of the King himself (courtesy of the famed costume designer K.D. Schill).
All performers will get an Elvis gift bag and a Feedback Lounge gift certificate. Elvis fans will get a chance to vote for their favorite tribute singer and get their pictures taken with a number of Kings!
To sign up to perform, contact Helen at hag68@yahoo.com to reserve your spot in the spotlight.
We’ll also have a vintage Elvis memorabilia display (courtesy of the lovely Ms. Gately), Elvis food and drink specials, party favors, music and more for El-Fest: E Meets West. The event is free to participate or just watch. Come get your King on!
Busy night on the scanner so far. Big calls have included a briefly major response to a reported possible shooting in Admiral, which turned out to be a complete false alarm (the caller apparently was actually just asking about a shooting investigation from last year). 
But the biggest so far has netted one arrest during an intensive search in the Riverview area: Police arrested a suspect after a hit-run crash near 12th and Orchard (map) involving a reported stolen car. According to scanner traffic and reader reports, it unfolded this way: First police noticed the car driving erratically along various streets in eastern West Seattle. That came to a stop when the car hit a parked truck. The driver and two passengers were reported to have fled the scene. Police, including a K-9 team, started searching. A man in his early 20s, believed to be the driver, was arrested; Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams tells WSB he will be “booked for investigation of auto theft and outstanding warrants.” The passengers, at least one of whom was female, are still at large as of this writing.
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
Seal Sitters will be on the lookout today for another sighting of the first pup of harbor-seal-pupping season. First responder Robin Lindsey says the pup showed up on West Seattle shores Monday – and she says that brings important reminders for beachgoers:
We received a report of a pup about 1 pm, and our responders arrived within minutes of the call. We found a newborn seal resting in the rocks and dozing peacefully. However, we were told that before we arrived someone had tried to put the pup back into the water. Marine mammals are protected by Federal law (the Marine Mammal Protection Act) and it is illegal to touch, feed, move or disturb a marine mammal.
The pup was nicknamed Georgie by 10-year-old Bob, visiting from LA, who found the pup. His relatives called the hotline. Georgie is very young, possibly only a day or so old. The photo (above) of the pup yawning enabled us to get an idea of the age of the pup. The pup only has two very tiny front teeth and later we did see the umbilicus cord still attached. It is essential that people stay as far away as possible if they see a seal pup. If the pup’s mom sees too many people, dogs or disruption around her pup, she may very well abandon him – a certain death sentence.
Harbor-seal-pupping season is now upon us! We will be integrating new volunteers throughout the season. If folks are interested in volunteering, they should contact us through the website or blog. And if anyone spies a pup, please keep people and dogs away and call our hotline asap @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL).
You can see another photo of Georgie in Robin’s report, here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than two dozen women who own/run businesses in West Seattle made a slew of new friends Monday morning.
They gathered at Mind Unwind in the Admiral District for the first major meeting of West Seattle Women in Charge.
We reported on the new group last month; it’s the brainchild of Alki Arts‘ Diane Venti (below left), now collaborating with Mind Unwind‘s Krystal Kelley (below right):
After a pilot organizational meeting, they launched a Facebook page, set the date for this meeting, and got more than three dozen RSVP’s. Twenty-six women showed up Monday to talk and nosh and listen, to admire, maybe even to conspire.
Though many didn’t know each other before, in many cases, they knew of each other. As each in turn introduced herself and talked about her business, there were oohs and aahs.
“What a great group of gals!” someone exclaimed after the introductions ended, and shortly before another round of conversation began.
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