West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight. We start with a story that unfolded over the past hour or so:
In a Monday WSCW roundup, we mentioned two stolen cars that SPD had put the word out about via @getyourcarback – we hadn’t heard at the time from either car’s owner, but since dispatchers broadcast the information and said the vehicles were missing in “William sector” (western West Seattle), we republished the Twitter reports. Later in the day, the blue Civic’s owner, Paul, e-mailed us to say that was his car. Fast forward to about an hour ago, when Barb in Gatewood texted us to say she was catching up tonight on WSB stories and realized that the unfamiliar car that had been in front of her house since yesterday was Paul’s. She called police; they arrived; Paul headed there from his house near Fauntleroy Park, about a mile away. He called as we were writing this, saying it seems to be in OK shape – ransacked, but the baby stroller and car seat were still there, and it runs OK: “I’m shocked that it was stolen, and shocked to have it back.” (And he says: Thanks, Barb!)
We also have a followup tonight in the saga of the stolen car found Monday afternoon when it crashed into a Highland Park fence.
We requested and obtained the police report today. The suspect arrested a few blocks away is just 13 years old; the report starts with the basics reported here Monday, that he was followed and detained by a witness a few blocks away. Police say that after being read his rights, he confessed to stealing the car because he found it with a key in its ignition. He started driving around and eventually was speeding in the 8100 block of 11th SW, then lost control and went up over the sidewalk and planting strip and into the fence and ivy – “threading,” as the report put it, between a fire hydrant and the parked motorcycle belonging to the witness who chased and caught him running away. The report says the suspect was booked into the Youth Services Center for investigation of auto theft, and that police were recommending additional charges of hit-and-run and property damage. We will follow up to find out if the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office formally charges him.
Finally, a case of vandalism in a local parking lot – while a teacher was picking up treats. Keith writes:
My wife’s car was keyed this morning at the Roxbury Safeway down near White Center. So frustrating. She makes only teacher pay and works hard for a living. This happened while picking up cookies for her class as a gift. She wrote on Facebook this morning, ‘My car got keyed this morning at Safeway. I am so sad. But I guess the day can only get better.’
This isn’t big time property damage, but an unnecessary reckless act. She always allows adequate space for other cars around her, this made no sense.
Before we published this, Keith wrote with an addendum, “It isn’t just the car door. They keyed the whole side length of the car from the taillight all down to the front. There was no vehicle either side of her car when she arrived, or left.”
(Babypants is back! WSB photo from CB’s 2012 Hiawatha appearance)
For the second night in a row, we have a summer-music lineup to share with you – this time, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s free Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, as announced by series organizer Katy Walum:
July 24th – Eclectic Approach
July 31st – Caspar Babypants
August 7 – The Guessing Game
August 14th – Radio Raheem
August 21st – Jessica Lynne
August 28th – Funky 2 Death
The series runs for six Thursday nights, 6:30 pm, on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut Avenue south of Lander) – BYO chair/blanket, and a picnic dinner if you feel like it! We’ll have info later on this year’s planned added attractions.
7:41 PM: 54 customers (households, since it’s in a residential area) in Gatewood are out of power right now, according to the Seattle City Light outage map (screengrab above). It’s currently estimating restoration around 10:30 tonight, but take note, that’s usually more guesstimate than estimate. The map lists “bird/animal” as the cause.
1:23 AM: City Light’s map shows the outage is over.
(7:24 PM UPDATE: Southbound 99 has reopened)
There is an incident blocking all lanes of East Marginal Way SB just south of Spokane St. Use Alt routes pic.twitter.com/ivmFKEWfY9
— seattledot (@seattledot) June 10, 2014
(Above, SDOT tweet with traffic-cam screen grab shortly after crash happened)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:16 PM: Southbound 99 is closed most of the way from downtown southward because of a crash that happened south of West Seattle. With commute time approaching, we’ll be tracking this. The crash was at East Marginal/S. Nevada (map); the detours on SB 99 are just north of the southbound Battery Street Tunnel, and again at Atlantic in the stadium zone (for people who get onto 99 from Western). SFD says three people were hurt – one critically, one seriously, one less seriously. More to come.
ADDED 3:33 PM: The southbound alternate routes will be slow going too – here’s the “live” camera looking at 1st Avenue South in SODO:
Here’s a SODO view of 4th Avenue:
3:44 PM: SPD tweets that this will be a factor throughout the evening commute:
Marginal Wy south bound will remain closed around the collision for approximately 3 hours. Use other routes to enter/exit town.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 10, 2014
Metro says, “Routes 21 Express, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125 and the RapidRide C Line (are) currently rerouted off of the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct and not serving the stop on westbound Columbia St at 2nd Av. Use the temporary stop southbound on 3rd Av just north of Columbia St, until further notice.”
4:39 PM: Check the comments for updates from people on buses, etc. One thing also comes to mind if you are pondering an alternate route – If you can get to Beacon Hill, you can get to the West Seattle Bridge that way, too.
5:19 PM: And of course there’s the West Seattle Water Taxi from Pier 50 downtown. After a question via text (206-293-6302 any time), we asked on Twitter, and the county Transportation Department replied that there’s still plenty of room. Meantime, SPD says the closure could go as late as 7 pm.
5:46 PM: Here’s the closest camera to the crash scene:
Also keep in mind that it’s the Mariners vs. the Yankees at Safeco Field at 7 pm tonight, so the south side of downtown was going to be busy even before all this.
6:34 PM: No update yet – as you can see on the camera just above, the crash scene has not yet been cleared.
7:10 PM: It’s almost ready to reopen, says SDOT:
The incident on E Marginal Way s/o S Spokane St has cleared. SPD getting ready to clear traffic.
— seattledot (@seattledot) June 11, 2014
7:24 PM: The cameras show southbound 99 is open again – here for example is the view from the north end of the remaining elevated Viaduct:
Thanks to everyone for sharing information these past few hours!
Last year, the signal boxes – this year, the retaining wall. The newest newsletter from Youngstown Cultural Arts Center notes that the arrival of summer means a new public-art project involving local youth in the Work Readiness Arts Program, which last year resulted in colorful sea-life designs on otherwise drab and vandal-targeted signal boxes (see video above):
This year, volunteers and students will work with artists Louis Chinn and Tess Gamez to design and paint the 210-foot retaining wall across from the Delridge Skatepark, adding depth, color and art along the busy thoroughfare. The goal is to create a mural that honors the rich history of the Delridge area, and celebrates the bright future being created as a community.
Youngstown has launched an online survey asking for suggested themes and elements for the mural – you can share your ideas here.
(Iris, photographed by “old desolate,” shared via WSB Flickr pool)
Last big night of neighborhood meetings before many groups take summer breaks. So go get involved! Three meetings – including one for ALL of West Seattle – are part of our highlights list for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FABIO AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: He’s back! A year and a half after his last visit, model turned nutrition guru Fabio is at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral this afternoon, 3-7 pm. (42nd/41st/Admiral)
SENDOFF FOR ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: Tonight, 6-8 pm, you’re invited to the goodbye party at soon-to-be-demolished-and-replaced Arbor Heights Elementary School, as previewed here. (3701 SW 104th)
STORYTELLING: Storytellers’ workshop and open-microphone event at Chaco Canyon Organic Café, starting at 6 pm – details in our listing. (38th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: So, what about Bertha? The rest of 99? Washington State Ferries? Other state transportation facilities/projects affecting our area? WSDOT secretary Lynn Peterson is tonight’s guest, as previewed on the WSTC website. 6:30 pm, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral. Summer events are in tonight’s spotlight – including the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha plan (presented by ANA, co-sponsored again this year by WSB) and the 4th of July Kids’ Parade (here’s our update from last weekend). All welcome. (42nd/Lander)
FREE COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL CLINIC: Appointments start at 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – see our calendar listing for info on how to make one. (California/Oregon)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with the announced agenda for FCA including “discussion of boats at Cove Park, an upcoming community survey, lifetime FCA memberships, the handrail at Fauntleroy School, motorcycle noise, the Fauntleroy Food Fest, abandoned City Light substations, and traffic issues.” (9131 California SW)
P.S. As always, you’ll find even more, including nightlife listings, if you take a quick look at the calendar.
P.P.S., 12:46 PM: Added:
The South Seattle College Culinary Council is excited to announce our inaugural Pop-up Restaurant Fundraiser! All proceeds will go toward improving and benefiting South’s Culinary Program.
The featured guest chef for this special evening will be Executive Chef Brandon LaVielle of Emerald Cove Catering. Brandon is a graduate of the SSCC Culinary Program and has over 10 years of industry experience. Brandon has created an amazing menu featuring fresh and local ingredients. We have also collaborated with the Northwest Wine Academy to offer complimentary tastings from wines they will be presenting at the NWWA Annual Spring Release on June 12-14, 2014. Come join us for an incredible evening of food, wine, and networking benefiting a great cause!
WHEN:​Tuesday, June 10, ​6:30 pm
WHERE:​Alhadeff Grill, ​South Seattle College, ​6000 16th Avenue SWCAPACITY:​We are limiting the number of guests to the first 30 who RSVP.
PRICE:​$50.00
RSVP REQUIRED:​ Go here
Melodie VanHouten and her team at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction are hosting WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” event this summer (Sunday, July 20th) but you don’t have to wait that long to donate diapers for WS Baby – the need is great year-round, and they’re accepting diaper donations at the branch right now. Drop ’em off Mondays-Saturdays at 41st/Alaska.
P.S. According to the WS Baby online wish list, newborn-size diapers and pullups 3T-4T and 4T-5T are what they need most right now.
Just in from SDOT:
Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will work today through Thursday on seasonal maintenance of landscaping under the Southwest Spokane Street Bridge (the lower, swing bridge to West Seattle) along the bike trail. Bicyclists will be required to dismount and walk through areas where the crews are working.
Tomorrow, June 11, crews plan to close one lane on Klickitat Avenue Southwest which provides access to Harbor Island. The closure will allow landscape crews to work safely in roadway medians.
Friends and family of Joe Ceccarelli will gather this Saturday to remember him. They’re sharing this announcement to invite all those who knew him to be there:
Joseph A. Ceccarelli, longtime resident of West Seattle, died unexpectedly of pneumonia on May 7, 2014, at the age of 50. Joe had many friends in the community and will be missed. There will be a memorial service at Arbor Heights Community Church (10213 41st Ave SW) on Saturday, June 14th, at 2 pm.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(L-R, Raegan Jarvis, LaVera Shields, WSHS music director Ethan Thomas, Chris Newcombe)
Thanks to Elizabeth Shields for sharing the news (and photo):
Congratulations to West Seattle High School sophomores LaVera Shields and Raegan Jarvis, recipients of the Newcombe Foundation Instrument Grant.
The Newcombe Foundation believes every child should have the ability to learn how to play a musical instrument as a tool to foster creativity and extended learning. Chris Newcombe, founder of the Newcombe Foundation, believes the Instrument Grant allows students to benefit from the many intellectual, social, and educational advantages that a background in the arts can provide for them. LaVera Shields is the recipient of a new trumpet and Raegan Jarvis is the recipient of a new viola. Both girls were very excited and honored to receive the brand-new instruments. They are looking forward to playing their new instruments in the upcoming WSHS Band spring concerts at 7:00 p.m. June 11, 2014.
That’s tomorrow! P.S. Read more about Chris Newcombe (a student himself!) and his foundation here.
(FOR COVERAGE OF THE P.M. SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE, PLEASE GO HERE)
(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far this morning, the trouble appears to be outside the city – nothing in the way of your in-city commute.
In transportation news, Mike Lindblom at The Seattle Times (WSB partner) follows up on the County Council’s showdown over putting later rounds of Metro cuts on hold. The 5-4 vote delaying or potentially canceling the second through fourth rounds of cuts drew County Executive Dow Constantine‘s first-ever veto almost immediately. Here’s the story. (The deepest West Seattle cuts, deleting four routes, are in the fourth round, originally scheduled for September 2015.)
Congratulations to the West Seattle Girls’ Softball 15U champs, the Cheetahs, who won the division championship last night at Fairmount Playfield, 8-6 over the Tamales. Above, Cheetahs catcher Caitlin crossing home plate; below, that’s Tamales player Sofia (left) waiting to high-five Jaeley as she comes in.
Cheetahs pitcher Kaley:
And Tamales pitcher Erin:
The WSGS league includes some Vashon Island players, and we’re told a group came over from Vashon to see the game. While the WSGS season, which starts in April, is ending this month, registration will start up again early next year for girls 8 through 15 – keep an eye on WestSeattleGirlsSoftball.com. (Thanks to Juan Hernandez for the tip about the big game!)
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