West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
9:31 PM: This might not last too long but in case you got stuck in the backup or have seen it – a crash on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct is requiring a debris cleanup, and traffic is temporarily stopped because of it (live cam here). That includes police blocking the ramp to northbound 99 from the West Seattle Bridge. So if you have to head toward downtown – take note.
9:41 PM: Just got info from Seattle Police via Twitter:
The viaduct is closed NB between WSB and Seneca St due to collision. Road is estimated to be closed for an hour.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) November 19, 2014
We’re adding the live camera as an image atop this report, so you can see firsthand when it clears.
10 PM: Per scanner, police were trying to figure out how to get cars off 99. In the meantime, they also say a street sweeper will arrive in 10 minutes or so.
10:45 PM: Now open again.
6:10 PM: Thanks to the Arbor Heights Elementary and K-5 STEM parents who forwarded this, which they said they’ve received from school staff via e-mail and robo-call this past hour or so:
There has been a report of an attempted child luring in the vicinity of our school. The vehicle is a black F-150 Ford pickup, driven by a heavy-set, older black male. The license of the truck is B060—. The police were notified, and the subject is a registered sex offender. The suspect has not been apprehended. Please be aware and talk with your children about keeping safe. More information to follow tomorrow.
That’s the entirety of the notice, at least in the version forwarded to us. STEM and AH are currently sharing the Boren Building at 5950 Delridge Way SW. We are checking with police, who will be at tonight’s Crime Prevention Council meeting (7 pm at the precinct, Delridge/Webster) if we don’t reach them sooner.
7:06 PM UPDATE: Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske has been looking into this for us. He finally found the incident report and says it happened yesterday – it was originally called in as a different type of incident, and while investigating that, they say, a child told them of being approached by the person described in the alert, so they are now looking for that person. (We only had a quick comment to speak with him before the WSCPC meeting – if we’re able to get any more info afterward, we’ll add.)
8:49 PM UPDATE: So far what we’ve found out, from covering the Crime Prevention Council meeting, is that this was reported yesterday afternoon and the report is categorized missing child/suspicious vehicle (again, the child is safe, and was not abducted or otherwise harmed, we’re told). The registered sex offender who is believed to be the suspect does not live in the West Seattle area. The report carries the address 26xx SW Kenyon, which is the Denny IMS vicinity, but short bits of info on police reports can carry the address from which an incident is reported instead of where it happened, so we’re still awaiting confirmation of where exactly the child was approached. (Added: 6900 block Delridge, per police)
WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: We’re continuing to follow up with police and Seattle Public Schools. In comments, two STEM parents have shared this text of a followup message from their principal:
I received several inquiries about a school messenger sent out by Arbor Heights yesterday concerning an alleged child luring incident. The information contained in the message was shared by a parent, and we were not able to confirm several details after conferring with SPS security or the police, and so we were advised not to send an alert. Because of the questions, I am sending out an update of information we were able to confirm.
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On Monday, November 17 the driver of a black Ford 150 truck with a roof rack was acting suspiciously while talking with a 7th grade Denny Scholar on his walk to school. The driver was reported as being a heavy set older African American male. The incident was reported to the police.
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As always, communicate with your children regarding good safety practices.
9:09 AM: We’ve been talking with SPS spokesperson Stacy Howard over the past hour. She confirms that a local parent saw the suspicious vehicle, reported it to police, and then directly contacted schools. Howard says there is supposed to be a protocol for what steps are gone through to send a school-wide alert, and they are sending a reminder to school administrators about that today.
Emerald Water Anglers is about a lot more than fishing. The new West Seattle Junction shop has just joined the WSB sponsor team, which means EWA gets a chance to tell you what it’s about:
(L-R, Reid, Jon, Dave in the Emerald Water Anglers shop)
Proprietor Dave McCoy‘s company has been in business a long time – and now it’s taken the next step, a retail storefront. His emphasis is on having a high-quality sporting-goods store in and for West Seattle, there to help you experience the outdoors in any way you choose. Along with fishing gear, you’ll find hiking gear, ski wear, and lots of merchandise from Patagonia.
Fly fishing, though, is how Emerald Water Anglers gained its fame, and the shop offers fly-fishing classes, with a particularly popular class geared toward women. You can also check into one- or two-day immersion classes taught up in Snoqualmie, and you can even learn to fly-fish from a paddleboard. This winter, fly-tying classes will be offered (check in at the store and/or online for dates/times and availability).
Emerald Water Anglers offers a busy slate of other events, and next month will include two of special note – Patagonia ambassadors will be there on December 10th to talk about winter wear (watch the EWA website for how to RSVP) and Santa Claus will be there December 20th for DIY photos.
Dave says a shop in West Seattle makes perfect sense for a variety of reasons – most of his staff also lives here, and the neighborhood is full of water and green spaces, a perfect fit for everyone who loves the outdoors and wants to take care of it as well as enjoy it. Speaking of sustainability, Dave’s also proud of having one of the first all-LED-lit businesses in the city.
You can also find out about Emerald Water Anglers‘ guide services at the shop, which is on the southeast corner of 42nd and Oregon, on the ground floor of Oregon 42, and online at emeraldwateranglers.com – by phone, 206-708-7250.
We thank Emerald Water Anglers 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.
As mentioned earlier, it’s food-drive season, with Thanksgiving approaching. Another chance tomorrow for you to give – and to get something in return. From Shawn Findley, general manager of Marination ma kai (WSB sponsor) at Seacrest:
Marination is currently holding a canned food drive for Food Lifeline. We are accepting donations through November 24th. In an effort to bolster donations, we will be giving out a free taco to anybody who brings in a donation to Marination ma kai tomorrow (Wednesday), November 19th.
Non-perishable, shelf stable food items that are high in protein; canned fruits or vegetables; infant formula and baby food are some of the items of greatest need.
Ma kai’s hours tomorrow are 9 am-8 pm.
The last house on the west side of California between Dakota and Andover is 96 years old but isn’t likely to reach the century mark. Now in the city files for that site at 4031 California SW – a lot-boundary adjustment proposal (involving two lot numbers, though county files say this is on the books as a 3-lot site) and an early-stage plan to replace the house with a 4-unit rowhouse building. Neither has appeared in the Land Use Information Bulletin yet, so the clock hasn’t started running on the comment period.
Two more chances for you to put the giving in Thanksgiving:
WS FOOD BANK NEEDS 400 *MORE* TURKEYS: Tomorrow, 4-7 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), it’s the West Seattle Food Bank’s 2nd Turkey Drive of the season. Says WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino, “Thriftway has plenty of 10-12 lb. turkeys for you to purchase and donate. Too busy to shop? We’ll be set up outside the store for you to just drive through, hand us your turkey or $15 and we’ll buy the turkey for you! Our goal is to collect 500 turkeys to provide to our families for their holidays and we’ve collected the equivalent of 109 turkeys so far.” Any individual or business that would like to match what we collect at Thriftway tomorrow night, please call Judi, 206-932-9023.
BOWL WITH THE BEER CHURCH ON SATURDAY: It’s the 16th annual Beer Church Turkey Bowl, and founder Kendall Jones is amazed at that number. So are we. But you’ll be even more impressed by at least one of the numbers in the official reminder:
On Saturday, November 22 at 5:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, Beer Church hosts the 16th annual Turkey Bowl. The event is a fundraiser and food drive benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. In the past, the event has raised as much as $6,000 and gathered over 3,000 pounds of food. Organizers hope to meet or exceed those totals this year.
There are still a limited number of lanes available for groups interested in bowling. To reserve a lane, email Kendall Jones (beerchurch@gmail.com). The cost is $180 per lane in the form of a donation to West Seattle Food Bank. Each lane can handle up to eight bowlers.
Whether you bowl or not, everyone is welcome to stop by the bowling alley and support the cause by dropping off food donations, participating in the raffle, and having a tasty beer.
“We take over West Seattle Bowl – all 32 lanes – for three hours of bowling fun,” says Kendall Jones, who has organized all 16 events. “Also, there is a target raffle, which is kind of like a silent auction without all the stress: you buy raffle tickets for $1 and decide which prizes you’re interested in winning.”
Within the larger event, local breweries bring teams and compete in the Battle of the Brewers. Local pubs and bars bring teams and compete in the Beer Church Bar Brawl. There are trophies involved and the competition is fierce. Well, not really. It’s really just about creating a fun way for people to support the Food Bank.
Beer Church is the charitable arm of the Washington Beer Blog (washingtonbeerblog.com), which Kendall and Kim Jones operate out of their West Seattle home. The blog is a leading source for news and information related to the Pacific Northwest craft beer scene.
“A decade ago, I regularly volunteered at West Seattle Food Bank,” says Kendall Jones. “Back when they were in the old location, I helped unload the truck and stock the shelves on Tuesdays. Every week we would pack that building full of food, and then within a couple of days it would all be gone. That’s when I realized how important West Seattle Food Bank is to my community. Anything Beer Church does to support the Food Bank pales in comparison to the massive, ongoing efforts of the staff and volunteers.”
Thanks to Mark Wangerin (of benefit calendar fame!) for that photo of a surf scoter in local waters! Wading into our calendar highlights for tonight:
WEST SEATTLE HACK NIGHT: 6:30 pm at WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor), as previewed here on Monday. Register if you’re thinking of going – our calendar listing shows how – so they know who to expect! (6040 California SW)
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle. “Let’s ring in the season with a lively discussion of what JuNO has accomplished to date and what we can accomplish in the coming year. This would be a good meeting to invite a neighbor that has not yet been to a JuNO meeting,” suggests director René Commons, also asking attendees to bring a treat to share and a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank. (Oregon/California)
HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8 pm, all-school open house for Hope Lutheran, which serves preschool-8th grade. (42nd/Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: No special guests on the agenda tonight – bring your concerns and ideas, and hear about crime trends in Q/A with local police leadership. 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. (Webster/Delridge)
ALAUDA BELLY-DANCE SHOWCASE: 7:30 pm, free, all ages, Skylark Café. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
BLUES TO DO: Vicki Stevens and Sonny Hess headline the weekly blues showcase at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. (6451 California SW)
OR, IF YOU WANT TO DO THE SINGING … two venues with karaoke are on our nightlife slate for tonight; see them (and more) by going directly to our calendar!
Saturday night at Highland Park Improvement Club, you can enjoy food, beverages, and music while supporting student music programs via the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ fifth annual “Fall for Music” fundraiser. Tickets are on sale online, and WSCO has sent an update:
The weather may be getting colder, but our planning committee has designed a fun and family-friendly evening to bring out the warmth of the season. Doors open at 6 pm
Guests will walk in to a fall-themed scenery infusing the gathering, to celebrate and harvest the music education for our student musicians. The soiree will also include a silent and live auction, along with a 50/50 Raffle; new this year, our Wine Cellar Raffle.
Our attendees will enjoy a wide variety of scrumptious and flavorful fare such as Indian samosas with cilantro chutney, Thai chicken skewers, grilled veggie platter, pesto pasta salad, assorted local cheeses with grapes & crackers, olive oil poached shrimp cocktail platter, and much more. A dessert buffet with chocolate truffles, pies, cake, and cookies will also be offered.
Our bar will present delicious beverage concoctions like Veuve Clicquot champagne, and top liquor like Grey Goose Vodka, Makers Mark Bourbon, and local microbrew selection, just to name a few. Children are welcome to attend the event and we will supply non-alcoholic beverages.
Several WSCO musicians will showcase their love of music through small ensembles, featuring a flute ensemble and a performance led by student violinist playing fiddle tunes. After the auction, there will be an open jam session performing jazz standards. We invite all levels of musicians to bring their instruments and participate and have fun!
The West Seattle Community Orchestra continues to fill a much-needed role in the community for all ages. New this season WSCO has opened two music programs: Wind Symphony for musicians with experience of 6 years and a Student Beginning Strings Class. The goal is to provide more opportunities to explore their music abilities and become more familiar with classic repertoire.
Advance tickets are on sale now!! Adults $25/each; Students (K-12) $10/each; Seniors (65 & over) $10/each, 5 and under FREE. Purchase your ticket at www.WSCOrchestras.org. For more information about The West Seattle Community Orchestras, please email info@WSCOrchestras.org
HPIC is at 12th/Holden.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:07 AM: So far, nothing out of the ordinary on the routes through/from West Seattle as the sun rises on our Tuesday.
7:39 AM: Even around the rest of the region (we monitor the regional traffic reports as well as local emergency-service logs, etc.), nothing much so far.
7:56 AM: If you missed the big bright sunrise about an hour ago, here’s Brian‘s view from High Point:
Sunrise, sunset, breaking news, traffic IF you’re not the driver … photos welcome at editor@westseattleblog.com.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
12:25 AM: Seattle Fire is en route to a possible house fire in the 6300 block of 36th SW (map). The first units on scene say they’re seeing smoke from the attic.
12:31 AM: Our crew will be there shortly. Firefighters say they’re seeing flames from the attic. They also say a resident of the house told them everyone has gotten out OK.
12:35 AM: Firefighters report having searched both floors of the house to make extra-sure no one’s inside, and “all clear” so far.
12:41 AM: Just heard from our crew on scene. Small house, just north of the 35th/Morgan U-Haul’s west side. Lots of smoke. Bit of flame visible. Via scanner, we’ve heard firefighters declare it under control.
12:59 AM: They’re calling for the Red Cross to assist the home’s residents. Our crew says the fire marshal (investigator) is just arriving, so it’s too soon to say how this started. SFD confirms that no one was hurt and says they’re expecting to have a “fire watch” at the scene all night in case of flare-ups.
1:26 AM: Some of the SFD units have been dismissed from the scene. Meantime, our crew is back and we are adding several photos, as well as substituting one for the previously published cameraphone photo that had been atop this story.
10:35 AM UPDATE: SFD’s Lt. Harold Webb says the fire’s cause was determined to be “accidental/electrical.” (Radio discussion during the firefight had included a mention of knob-and-tubing wiring in the 96-year-old house.) No dollar estimate for the damage so far.
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