West Seattle scenes: The summer that keeps on showing off
What seems like the endless summer just keeps putting on amazing shows like this, even with the fall equinox now exactly one month away. Thanks to everyone sharing photos – we start with three and expect to add more – above, by Michael Copeland, shows the later stage as the sky glowed pink; next, the orange heart of the sunset, from BCH in Fauntleroy:
And early on, Chas Redmond sent this photo from Alki Point:
ADDED: Even more photos – like this one from Tom, taken on Beach Drive:
***Other views ahead!***
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Update: West Seattle Water Taxi now BACK ON for tonight
5:12 PM: Just in from King County: The West Seattle Water Taxi is canceled for the rest of this evening.
5:32 PM UPDATE: Now the county says never mind, they’re putting the Rachel Marie into service and the WS WT will resume as of 5:45.
West Seattle development: Proposal for Admiralty House site
One month after the “closing sale” for Admiralty House Antiques, with owner Fred Dau deciding to fully retire and sell the site (as he told us in this interview), we were asked if there’s any news about what’s happening there now. Here’s what we have found: The building already has a sale pending, according to the online listing ($1,050,000) for the 2,200-square-foot building on a 5,700-square-foot site, recorded as two lots, zoned NC2-40 (mixed-use retail and residential up to 40 feet). We don’t know the buyer’s identity, but city records show a development proposal already has been submitted for part of the site, proposing a 3-unit rowhouse, with its address changed to 4304 SW Walker (Admiralty House is 2141 California SW). The project page on the city website has this notation: “Existing retail building to remain w/ no work or changes.”
Update: Seattle Police car involved in collision at 48th/Andover
In case you wondered about a big police presence in the Genesee area this past hour – Seattle Police are trying to sort out a collision involving one of their cars and an SUV (not pictured) near 48th and Andover. No serious injuries, we’re told, and nobody had to go to the hospital. We don’t know anything at this point about the circumstances of today’s crash, but commenters brought up safety concerns about this intersection back in April, when a crash left a car upside-down.
P.S. Thanks to the WSB’er who texted us about the SPD involvement – otherwise, this was noted only as a “motor vehicle accident” on the Fire Department log, not an indicator of unusual circumstances, and we might have missed it. Text or voice: 206-293-6302 any time.
6:50 PM UPDATE: More info has just been published on SPD Blotter:
A female officer sustained minor injuries in an intersection-related collision today in West Seattle. At approximately 12:26 p.m. today a Southwest Precinct patrol officer was driving her marked police car eastbound on SW Andover Street approaching 48th Avenue SW, an uncontrolled intersection. At the same time a civilian-driven passenger vehicle was approaching the same intersection northbound on 48th Avenue SW. The two vehicles collided in the intersection and both drivers sustained minor injuries.
The civilian was treated and released from the scene by fire department medics. The officer was transported by police vehicle to an area hospital for follow up evaluation and treatment. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene.
There were no citations issued at the scene pending further investigation and collision reconstruction.
Traffic Collision Investigation Squad detectives responded to the scene and continue to actively investigate.
West Seattle scene: Out with the old, in with the … old
Three months after we first reported that the six-years-vacant Chuck and Sally’s Tavern in Morgan Junction will be transformed into the new home of The Bridge, the project is entering a new phase – serious exterior work.
We’ve been noticing it all week, especially the upper row of windows revealed by the removal of some of the old siding. So we asked The Bridge’s Rita Dixson how things are going:
We are making great progress … we have re-habbed the transom windows that had been covered up for years – so nice to be able to restore some of the original architectural charm of the building! We are planning on breaking ground (today) or Friday for the kitchen foundations, as well as continuing on with re-vamping the exterior facade.
For a comparison, see the “before” photo in our May story. One of the renderings shown here in June shows how the revealed windows figure into things:
The Bridge is losing its current site on 35th just south of Avalon because of a mixed-use project (about 160 apartments and a roughly equal number of parking spaces, 15,000 square feet of retail) in the works for 4435 35th SW, which had a second Design Review Board meeting in June (WSB coverage here), four years after its first one.
Update: Seal Sitters sculpture installation on Alki
9:56 AM: With early-morning help from Seal Sitters volunteers, a life-size bronze sculpture of a harbor-seal mother and pup is now at its permanent home on the east end of the Alki Beach promenade. The work started early this morning and isn’t done yet – sculptor Georgia Gerber came from Whidbey Island to make sure her creation made it safely into its spot:
The sculpture, funded by grants and donations, is part of the Year of the Seal project, explained here. We’ll be revisiting the installation site later for an update; we’re told it’ll be fenced off for a while so that part of the materials can “set.” More to come.
ADDED: As promised, we went back to check:
We found volunteers Ralph and Betty in the process of what you might call sculpture-sitting; the installation will remain taped off until sometime Friday.
Meet Chief Sealth’s new principal Aida Fraser-Hammer on Monday
Less than two weeks until classes start at Chief Sealth International High School and other Seattle Public Schools. As announced in early July, Chief Sealth will have a new principal for the new school year, Aida Fraser-Hammer. And she has just announced an invitation to the Sealth community to drop by next Monday (August 26th) for a “meet and greet”:
On Monday August 26th, 2013, the doors of Chief Sealth International High School will be open for you!!!
Come on in anytime between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm to Meet ‘n Greet Principal Aïda Fraser-Hammer and her administrative team, Andra Maughan, Clint Sallee, and Cheryl Sullivan.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!! BRING THE KIDS!!
The district’s first day of school is Wednesday, September 4th.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes; I-5 ramp-closure preview
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Don’t forget your sunglasses; we’re heading into the 80s today, say the forecasters. Road-work notes:
*The Dumar/Orchard closure is scheduled to continue again today
*The northbound I-5 exit to West Seattle Bridge will be closed tonight overnight to get ready for the weekend-long closure – here’s the latest from WSDOT’s Broch Bender:
*10 pm Thursday (tonight) – 5 am Friday – Crews will close the ramp to mobilize equipment necessary for replacing two expansion joints and resurfacing approximately 550 feet of the ramp.
*7 pm Friday – 5 am Monday, Aug. 26 – Crews will close the ramp to traffic. During the closure they will sawcut out two 50-year-old bridge expansion joints and replace them with modern equivalents. They also will hydroblast off a 550 foot section of rutted out roadway and replace it with new concrete.
Here’s the detour map. And here’s the schedule of other closures ahead for the same area.
9:26 AM UPDATE: A stalled vehicle on the eastbound “low bridge” is slowing things down, SDOT tweets.
Update: Suspects in Arbor Heights robbery linked to others, police say
11:43 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent tips/questions about police activity in north Arbor Heights, near 35th/Roxbury. Police have detained three people; we’re working to find out what for.
12:10 AM: Our crew at the scene has learned so far that this is a robbery investigation. The original scene is apparently near 35th/104th; closer to Roxbury, police were searching a car. No details beyond that.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The car (in our photo above) was impounded to be searched for evidence; one item recovered, per scanner traffic, was a purse belonging to a victim. Commenter “Neighbor” confirms this was a street robbery; we expect to get more details from police later this morning and will ask if there’s any suspicion it’s related to the holdup about 24 hours earlier in Admiral (reported here, with backstory on other recent cases).
10:15 AM UPDATE: Police say the suspects were responsible for three robberies/assaults last night – and are believed to be linked to other cases. From SPD Blotter:
Three men are now in custody following a series of robberies that stretched from Holly Park to Fauntleroy to Arbor Heights last night in a span of about 90 minutes.
The first robbery occurred at a bus stop at Beacon Avenue South and South Holly Street just after 10:00 pm. A woman was waiting for a bus when she was approached by a suspect armed with a black semi-automatic pistol. The suspect had a bandana covering his face, and demanded the victim’s cell phone. The victim handed over the phone and the suspect pushed her to the ground before he fled the area on foot. A witnesses driving by stopped to assist the victim and called 911. Officers conducted a search, including with a K9, but the suspect was not located. The victim had a few bruises on her elbow and hand, but did not require any medical attention.
Later, at about 11:10 pm, officers from the Southwest Precinct responded to a report of an assault with a weapon at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood Place, just south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The adult male victim told officers he was walking to catch a ferry when he was confronted by an unknown male suspect. The suspect said something to the victim and then struck him on top on the head with the butt of a gun. The suspect then ran off without taking anything from the victim. Officers contacted the victim. He declined any medical treatment and left to board his boat. The suspect was not located.
About twenty minutes after that, 11:30 pm, officers from Southwest responded to the Arbor Heights neighborhood for a report of an armed robbery. A woman was walking in the 10400 Block of 35th Avenue SW when a suspect wearing a white hooded sweatshirt approached her from behind, grabbing her purse from her shoulder, yelling at her “Give it to me! Give it to me!” He then pointed something at her forehead, which the victim believed was a gun. The victim screamed for help and the suspect ran off east on 104th. Moments later, the victim and a neighbor saw a car drive by them with the suspect inside. Arriving officers made a high risk vehicle stop at SW 98th Street and 35th Avenue SW and took three males into custody.
Officers observed a woman’s purse inside the car, along with a blue bandana and several cell phones. A black handgun was observed under the front passenger’s seat. The suspect car was photographed and then towed to the processing room awaiting a search warrant.
The victim positively identified the suspect wearing the white hooded sweatshirt as the suspect who had robbed her minutes earlier and positively identified her purse in the car.
Detectives from the Robbery Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for the follow up investigation. It is very possible that this trio of suspects are responsible for a number of armed street robberies that have occurred in various neighborhoods citywide this summer.
Detectives spent most of the night interviewing the suspects.
The suspects, ages 19, 21 and 22, will be booked into the King County Jail following their interviews with detectives.
West Seattle scenes: Late-summer sunset and moonset
This was a day bookended by a beautiful sunset and a glorious moonset. Above, thanks to Scott Bessho for the sunset photo from Lincoln Park; below, thanks to Greg Anderson for sharing this morning’s memorable moonset, over a ferry bound for Southworth:
Tonight’s sunset and moonrise were just two minutes apart, and if you’re up early tomorrow and have a view to the west, you can check out the next moonset. You can always find the sun/moon rising/setting times, plus forecasts, tides, and more, on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
West Seattle writer Nicole Hardy’s new book now on sale; local reading ahead
In early 2011, we mentioned the big buzz West Seattle writer Nicole Hardy was getting for an essay published by the New York Times – so big, an agent and book deal followed. Two and a half years later, that book has just gone on sale, and Hardy is preparing for appearances including its launch party and, next month, a hometown reading. Her book, officially released Tuesday, is titled “Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin“; like her now-renowned essay, Hardy’s book is a first-person account of what it’s like to be a single Mormon woman without marriage and motherhood on the horizon, and without being particularly desperate to change that, despite the traditions, teachings, and pressures of her faith community.
In addition to her acclaimed writing, which includes two collections of poetry as well as her newly published memoir, you might know Hardy from her work at West Seattle restaurants Circa and Ma’ono. But right now, her writing is in the spotlight, with 2 months of readings ahead, and this Friday night, her official book-launch party is happening at Hugo House on Capitol Hill, 6:30 pm (details on the Hugo House website – and/or RSVP via Facebook). And she now has a West Seattle reading/signing in the works, too – Twilight Gallery in The Junction, which has been offering an increasing number of literary events lately, will host Hardy on Thursday, September 26th, at 7 pm.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The author notes this morning in a comment below that her book is arriving TODAY at West Seattle’s only new-books outlet, Westwood Village Barnes & Noble.
West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Serial burglar pleads guilty
(WSB photo from 48th/Findlay arrest scene last February)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Half a year ago, you might recall the saga of what appeared to be a one-man burglary wave – 25-year-old Justin Wood, arrested twice, for two burglaries, one week apart, while he was already facing prosecution for another, and then confessing to more than 20 more break-ins. Wood’s bail eventually was set at an extraordinarily high amount for a “nonviolent criminal” – half a million dollars.
We lost track of Wood’s case until a WSB’er’s note last night informing us he had pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. So we dug up the court documents to find out more about the plea bargain struck in this case:
Last Thursday, Wood pleaded guilty to seven counts of residential burglary, one count of attempted residential burglary, and two counts of theft of a firearm, from incidents between September of last year and February of this year, all at residences in West Seattle. The burglaries to which he has confessed happened all over the peninsula, from North Admiral to Westwood, according to addresses and summaries in the court documents, which say some loot was recovered, but a lot was pawned, apparently so Wood could feed a heroin habit. He was found in possession of heroin during one of his final arrests back in February. Some of the burglaries were committed while he was out on personal recognizance after a December arrest for a November burglary last year.
Documents show the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office plans to recommend a variety of concurrent sentences that, if the judge agrees, will add up to 8 1/2 years total. Wood’s sentencing is scheduled for October. He’s been back in jail six months as of tomorrow, with his bail still at that half-million-dollar level set shortly after he went back in.
West Seattle outdoor entertainment ahead: Fly Moon Royalty; Spyrographs; ‘Spinal Tap’
Here’s what’s ahead for West Seattle’s weekly free summer entertainment events this week – two of which are season finales:
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Still two more shows to go in this series, with Fly Moon Royalty onstage tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm, as the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented concerts (with co-sponsors including WSB) continue on the east lawn at Hiawatha (along Walnut Ave. south of Lander).
CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: It’s ’60s nostalgia at 6 pm Friday night as The Spyrographs take the stage for this year’s fourth and final outdoor concert on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. On the menu for (optional) dinner at 5:30 pm – salmon or chicken Caesar salad.
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Saturday is the grand finale for this summer’s series (with co-sponsors including WSB), with the ’80s classic “This Is Spinal Tap” screening Saturday at dusk (around 8:30 pm; gates open at 6:30) on the big screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor). The movie’s free, but if you can, please bring $ for concessions and raffle supporting local nonprofits.
First news of the 2013 holiday season: West Seattle Lights contest
Christmas might be four months away – but there’s only three more months for Jim Winder, the mastermind of the West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular synchronized light show, to get ready, and today, he’s sharing news of a contest for this year: Name the new animated MC – and the contest (simple to enter!) is NOT just for kids. Play the minute-long video above for details, and/or read on for this and other announcements about this year’s show:
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West Seattle Crime Watch: Van full of work tools stolen
Be on the lookout for his van full of work tools, stolen from the Westwood Village area. It’s a white 1995 Econoline utility van, no back or side windows, two ladder racks that – at least at the time of the theft – carried two yellow ladders. License plates are Washington B88338H; there’s no signage on the van, the owner says, but there’s a “crease in the back passenger side corner panel.” It was taken sometime between 10 pm Monday and 6 am Tuesday near 24th and Barton (map), and has been reported to Seattle Police, so if you see it or have information about it, call 911 (as SPD advises in its tweets about this and all stolen vehicles).
Signs of what’s ahead for your West Seattle Wednesday night
Thanks to the Fauntleroy Community Association for allowing us to republish that photo from the FCA Facebook page – FCA past president Bruce Butterfield took it after finding old West Seattle street signs at Seattle Antique Market on the downtown waterfront. P.S. The city still sells old signs direct to the public, too – info’s here (and if you follow the “inventory” link, you’ll see it was updated just a week ago). Now, on to the future in our belated daily roundup – six events you might want to know about for tonight:
HEALTHY FAMILIES CELEBRATION: Fun, food, more this evening at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center, 5-8 pm – details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
PUB RUN: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is the launch point for a pub run sponsored by Adidas tonight; meet at the shop (California/Charlestown) at 6:30 pm, try on Adidas shoes if you’re interested, head out on a 3-mile run, meeting at Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta (California/Hinds) afterward, where, WSR says, Adidas buys the first round of beer and provides free pint glasses to all, as well as prizes for highest scorers in “trivia games about running, adidas and West Seattle Runner.”
SUBSTATIONS MEETING: If you’re near one of the former substation properties whose future will be determined soon by Seattle City Light, you might want to come to tonight’s meeting, 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – see our preview from last night to find out about the locations – some are on tonight’s agenda, while some will be discussed at a different meeting next week. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
NATURE WALK: Explore Lincoln Park with naturalist Stewart Wechsler – looking and listening for owls and more. 7 pm; details in our listing.
‘UNPLUGGED!’: The Seattle Classic Guitar Society‘s open-microphone event is 7-9 pm tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
CYRCUS NIGHT: 9-11 pm Wednesdays at Shadowland in The Junction, it’s a free aerial-arts and circus show – details here. (California/Oregon)
Demolition under way at Lowman Beach sewer-overflow project site
(WSB photo taken Tuesday afternoon)
The next phase of pre-construction work is under way this week across the street from Lowman Beach Park – the county has begun demolition of the six residential buildings vacated more than a year ago on the inland side of Beach Drive, where an underground storage tank will be built to reduce combined-sewer overflows from the Murray Pump Station across the street. The county began “deconstruction” and salvage work weeks ago (with a requirement that “at least 25 percent of the materials from the site” be salvaged, and now has brought in the heavy equipment to tear down what remains of the former residences. As announced by King County at last month’s Morgan Community Association meeting, “After the buildings are down, the contractor will fill in the foundations with soil to ensure the site remains stable and safe until facility construction begins later this year.”
Celebration of life Saturday for Don Lenning, 1946-2013
A memorial is planned Saturday (August 24th) to remember Don Lenning, a lifelong West Seattle resident who died this week at age 66. Here’s a remembrance shared by his family:
Donald Gene Lenning
December 4, 1946 – August 19, 2013
Don graduated from West Seattle High School in 1965 and remained a lifelong resident of West Seattle. He was a University of Washington Graduate and served his country honorably in the Vietnam War.
Don is survived by his wife Kris and daughter Alexa. He is also survived by three sisters, Audrey Anderson, Margaret Norberg, and Loretta Kirby, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Don fought a long and courageous battle against cancer; he recently led his Sundancers team at the West Seattle Relay for Life event.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to his caregivers including Dr. Milder and the Swedish Medical Center staff. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society
There will be a Celebration of Life Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 2:00 pm at the West Seattle Golf Course. Don was an avid golfer.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
Not too late for Seattle Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
While many schools start up two weeks from today (!) the Seattle Public Library wants to make sure kids and their families are aware its Summer Reading Program isn’t over yet. And they can get credit for reading they’ve already done:
If you know a child who has or will read 10 books this summer, bring them to your local library branch to fill out their Reading Certificate. Each finisher receives PRIZES! They will receive a free book of their very own, a family pass to go to the Burke Museum for FREE and their name on our Wall of Champions. If they haven’t read 10 books, that’s okay. They can receive a cool window cling for reading 5 books!
Our area has four SPL branches – find the one nearest you by going here. The Summer Reading Program officially ends on August 31st, but that’s still ten days away.
West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 robbed at gunpoint in North Admiral
Two robbers and two victims in a holdup late Tuesday night: We heard fragments of this via the scanner, 
and now we’ve heard directly from one victim, whose name we’ll abbreviate to “M.” He wrote, “My friend and I were robbed by two armed men at gunpoint; they asked for our phones. It took place on California and Ferry [map] at around 10:45 pm; be careful and be on the lookout.” He says the robbers approached from behind, “displayed their weapon and said ‘this is a stickup,” then walked us down the hill far enough to be in the shadow, and took our things.” He described one as Hispanic, 5’8″, in a gray hoodie, the other African-American, 5’10”, in a “purple Husky hoodie,” both male, both wearing shorts. Last we heard on the scanner, poilce hadn’t found the robbers, but we’ll doublecheck later this morning.
4:54 AM: Commenter Eric asked about a recap of other recent armed street robberies. Checking our files and the SPD map (which only has a “robberies” category, so note that not all incidents showing with that icon are holdups like this):
–Monday night (August 18th), 5800 block of SW Lander (no details online, will check with SPD)
–Thursday morning (August 15th), 2600 block of SW Thistle, knifepoint holdup, phone stolen, arrest made when phone tracked by GPS (23-year-old suspect Tyler Lambert has been charged and is still in jail)
–August 3rd, 30th and Myrtle (this case and the next one were both covered in this story)
–August 1st, 5200 block 16th SW
ADDED: We procured the Monday night Alki robbery report from SPD, as noted in comments. The report says it happened at Whale Tail Park just before 6 pm Monday; the victim was listening to music on his iPhone when he was approached by three people (no descriptions are included in the section of the report we received, except that one was female). One of them asked the victim if they could use his phone to make a phone call. The victim handed over his phone, and the robber/thief said “it’s mine now.” While he did not display a gun or say he had one, the report says the victim said he had reason to believe he did. The three then ran southbound from the park; the victim went to a friend’s home nearby and called his mom, who called 911 an unspecified time later, after she and her son drove around looking for the robbers. No injuries reported.
Is one of these former substations near you? Seattle City Light meetings tomorrow & Tuesday
That map, first shown here last month after a presentation to the Admiral Neighborhood Association, spotlights nine Seattle City Light-owned properties from West Seattle to Burien to Seatac that the utility doesn’t need any more. Now the city has to decide what to do with them – sell them? transfer them to another city department? or? – and here’s where you come in: Two community meetings are planned in the next week for questions and comments.
First: To see the addresses, go to this page; click on any or all of the addresses on the left side of the page, and you’ll see photos/info come up on the right.
Second: If the Andover, Delridge, Dumar, and/or White Center (which is actually located in Highland Park) sites interest you, you’ll want to be at the meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday, August 21st) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7-9 pm. If you’re interested in the Dakota, Fauntleroy, Ambaum, and/or Glendale sites, they’ll be the focus of a meeting one week from tonight (Tuesday, August 27th) at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 7-9 pm. The city also promises a more-formal hearing in October in West Seattle, before the decisionmaking moves to another phase.
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