West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports in this roundup – including one case of suspicious activity that wasn’t what it seemed to be. First, two burglaries (plus where police reports say others have happened) and a car prowl:
HIGHLAND PARK BURGLARY: From Cam:
7700 block of 17th Ave SW. Wednesday, Dec. 9, i came home to find back door ajar and the power turned off. the house was ransacked and discovered a number of apple electronic items and camera equipment missing. keep your eyes peeled and report any clues.
GATEWOOD BURGLARY: Vanessa says this is the getaway car used by burglars who hit a home near 39th SW & SW Kenyon in Gatewood on Sunday afternoon.
She says the red SUV was parked in her neighbors’ driveway and that a man ran from the side of the house “with the TV in hand.” Police were called and arrived quickly; a door and window were damaged, she says.
OTHER BURGLARY REPORTS: Though we’ve only found one since Monday on the SPD Police Reports map – – early Wednesday morning, a nonresidential break-in in the 4400 block of Fauntleroy – Tweets by Beat, collected on our Crime Watch page, reveal 11 others reported since Sunday (no details available in SPD’s online records, just times/locations, which is why reader reports are so helpful – editor@westseattleblog.com):
-Tonight, 7300 block 16th SW
-Tonight, 4800 block 21st SW
-This morning, 39th SW/SW Elmgrove
-Wednesday night, 7700 block 17th SW
-Wednesday night, 3000 block 52nd SW
-Early Wednesday, 37th SW/SW Oregon (commercial)
-Early Tuesday, 2500 block SW Trenton (commercial)
-Monday night, 4700 block 41st SW
-Monday night, 1700 block California SW
-Monday afternoon, 8500 block 14th SW
-Early Monday, 7200 block Detroit SW
CAR PROWL: From Kristiana:
Our car was rifled through last night at Spokane and 48th SW. Nothing of value to steal and no damage, but stuff was strewn on the seats and a door was left cracked open.
Yes, it’s been reported to police – even if nothing (or “nothing of value”) is taken, it’s important to file a report, and you can even do that online.
WHAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE: From a reader:
A package was delivered to our front door just after dark, and I wasn’t able to get to the door for a couple of minutes. When I went outside to retrieve the package, a young couple was walking down the sidewalk, shined a flashlight down the front walkway to my house, got into a Budget rental truck parked nearby and drove away relatively rapidly without saying anything.
Having received a recent SPD SW Precinct report concerning car prowls and package theft, which stated “Thieves will often follow or watch for FedEx, UPS, US Mail and other delivery trucks and then target a home after a delivery is made,” I was suspicious so I stood there watching what they were doing.
I started to call the SW Precinct’s non-emergency line (feeling like I was maybe be overly cautious) and then saw the same Budget truck drive by under a streetlight on the next block behind our home and heard them stop. So I called 911, thinking this was now too suspicious to not report immediately. The 911 operator took all of the information and said an officer would be sent to the area. I opted to not have an officer follow up, however, I had a call back from an officer within about 15 minutes.
They had stopped the truck, and it was a Budget rental truck being used by UPS as they had run out of vehicles for delivery. The officer verified their info and left a message for me per this.
It was such a relief to know how this ended, but it was also a good wakeup call on being careful with deliveries and reporting suspicious activity if something doesn’t seem right.
I’m also extremely impressed and very thankful with how quickly the SW Precinct followed up on this and reported back. Kudos to them!
ADDED: After reading this, @SudsyMaggie shared this photo of a UPS-deployed Budget truck she’d seen recently:
@westseattleblog Spotted a UPS-rented budget truck on First Hill this week. Took a picture it was so unusual! pic.twitter.com/kCAJjlSp8K
— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) December 11, 2015
You’ll be able to find out this Saturday (December 12th) at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center, when Southside Revolution Junior Coed Roller Derby hosts a “Star Wars“-themed bout just days before Episode 7 premieres. Doors open at 5:30 pm; tickets at the door will be $10 adult, $5 ages 6-12, kids 5 and under free. From the announcement:
Bout one is Southside Revolution’s Cadets battling it out with the Kitsap Derby Brats Rawkettes. The second bout will find the Southside Revolution’s Rebels facing off with the Kitsap Derby Brat’s Bomb Squad.
The game of roller derby is played on quad roller skates with “jammers” scoring points by passing the opposing team’s “blockers.”
Come in costume for a chance to win two opening day tickets to the movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Southgate is at 9646 17th SW.
7 PM: In our Instagram video, those are The Silver Belles, with Christmas-carol parodies – making the rounds in The Junction during tonight’s holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. You have two more hours to get out to Art Walk venues – here’s the map:
(Click image to see larger version of the map/venue list)
Our first stop was Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor), where it’s the seventh annual Puny Picture Show:
Wallflower is across from Jefferson Square, on the lower level of Mural, at 4735 42nd SW.
(added) Among the artists – photographer Michelle Smith Lewis:
If you don’t get there tonight – as is the case with many Art Walk displays – you can check out the art later in the month; many come with puny prices, too, lots of double-digits, so they would make great gifts.
More to come!
7:15 PM: Open for Shop Late Thursday and the Art Walk tonight, VAIN (WSB sponsor) at 4513 California SW – which is a shop as well as a salon, if you aren’t already aware! Sandra Farmer is here for the opening of her ceramics show “Polarity“:
The 4500 block of California SW is an epicenter of Art Walk creativity, on both sides of the street. It’s also where you’ll find local authors tonight at Merryweather Books (4537 California SW):
In our photo is Alice Ann Kuder, holding her book “Since I Last Saw You,” which she describes as “a novel which conveys an inspirational message within a heartwarming story about love, loss, and gratitude.” And steps away at CAPERS, we found Chief Sealth International High School teacher Heather and daughter Sparrow helping with sales of the student-program-benefiting West Seattle Wildlife Calendar:
The calendar features wildlife photos by retired Sealth teacher Mark Wangerin – whose beautiful bird photos are often seen here on WSB.
7:37 PM: More music on tonight’s Art Walk – Red Jacket Mine Duo just started their set moments ago at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor):
Thunder Road is at 4736 California SW and just celebrated its fourth anniversary. We’re off next to see artist Mark O’Malley at Basin Pacific Insurance (4210 SW Oregon, in the building immediately east of Shadowland), who sent us a handwritten invite to come check out his art depicting West Seattle scenes.
8:22 PM: That’s Mark, above, with some of his work, painted on old jigsaw puzzles – which you wouldn’t know unless you turned them over. His show will be up at Basin Pacific past tonight, and many of his pieces are for sale, including whimsical depictions of many local businesses – all with one extra touch (hint: meow). He doesn’t have a website but you can reach him via e-mail at markostudio@aol.com.
Meanwhile, photographer Mark Wangerin had arrived at CAPERS when we peeked in again on our way back south along California:
Follow the calendar link above if you missed this but want a copy for a holiday gift, or your own wall … it’s a limited run, so don’t wait too long.
We then made one last stop, Twilight Gallery and Boutique (immediately west of Easy Street Records), where the artists included Su Laing, with work fusing comic-book heroes to religious icons/stories:
Twilight’s ongoing displays and collections also include jewelry, wallets, and wearables, among other items. Always so much to see on the Art Walk – every month, second Thursday, 6-9 pm, and many of the venues keep the work up through the month.
In case you’ve been in an office all day – yes, it’s been stormy! Even some mid-afternoon thunder. And, with some blasts of ferocious wind, more tree trouble:
@westseattleblog My Madrona Tree vs My House (Fauntleroy & Graham) Ugh. pic.twitter.com/FMoqPL8nQ1
— Lara G (@LaraG123) December 11, 2015
Lara adds that she’s found it almost impossible to book a tree-removal service. (Any tips?)
Linda says she came home to find a car on her street in Morgan Junction with apparent tree-branch damage, and sent these photos:
Meantime, we went to the shore to see what would happen around late-afternoon high tide, what with the “coastal flood advisory.” South of Alki Point, wind-fueled waves brought salt water up over the seawall again:
Another advisory is in effect for early tomorrow morning; 5:37 am brings an 11.6-foot high tide in this area.
West Seattle’s newest paid-parking lot is also the first one, so far as we can tell, that’s not in one of the Junctions. Thanks to WSB commenter WSince86 for the tip about the change for the lot behind Spiro’s Pizza at 3401 California SW. We asked Spiro’s for comment; their reply only confirmed that the lot is free to Spiro’s patrons during the hours the restaurant is open. You’ll find that in the fine print on the sign, but the rest of the time, it’s pay to park, and payments must be made by phone – no pay station, no money box. This neighborhood, like other parts of the West Seattle core, is densifying; the lot and restaurant are in the area that was part of the 2007-initiated rezone that among other things facilitated the development of Springline, the block-long apartment building now under construction to the north in the 3200 block of California SW.
Pier 1 Imports confirms to WSB that it’s closing its Westwood Village store, its last one within Seattle city limits. We inquired after two reader tips, including one pointing out a listing seeking a new tenant for the Westwood space. Here’s what company spokesperson Melissa Simon told us:
Pier 1 Imports will close our West Seattle location in late February 2016. Pier 1 Imports continually reviews new and existing store locations to make sure we’re operating as efficiently as possible. Where necessary, based on that review, we make the strategic business decision to close certain locations on a case-by-case basis. We care about our shoppers in Seattle and have enjoyed serving them over the years. We look forward serving them at our other area locations in East Bellevue and Tukwila on Southcenter Parkway.
The Texas-based company had said earlier this year that it would close about 100 stores, leaving it with around 1,000, but did not release a closure list at the time.
1:07 PM: Thanks to the texter who just sent word of wires down on the road at Lincoln Park Way and 47th SW (map), as almost-continuous storm bursts blow through. They called 911 and as verified on the online log, Seattle Fire is on the way.
1:21 PM: Handled quickly – by the time we got there to look, SFD was leaving and the road was clear.
The forecast suggests the weather will calm down by nightfall – as it did yesterday – so keep that in mind as we preview what’s coming up for the rest of the day and tonight. First, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, it’s the WS Art Walk, holiday edition!
(Click image to see larger version of the map/venue list)
HOLIDAY ART WALK HIGHLIGHTS: Preview artists and venues at wsartwalk.com. 6-9 pm, all over West Seattle. Here are some of the highlights:
CERAMICS AT VAIN (WSB sponsor) – Opening night for “Polarity” by Sandra Farmer – details here. (4513 California SW)
‘PUNY PICTURE SHOW’ AT WALLFLOWER: Always a favorite, the “Puny Picture Show” returns to Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) for a seventh year – biggest one yet! And it’s a benefit, as explained here. (4735 42nd SW)
AUTHORS AT MERRYWEATHER BOOKS: Buy and read books by West Seattle authors – and meet some of them tonight at Merryweather Books during Art Walk! (4537 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE CALENDAR AT CAPERS: You’ve seen many wonderful wildlife photos by Mark Wangerin here on WSB, like this one:
Tonight, the West Seattle Wildlife Calendar featuring his images will be sold by students from Chief Sealth International High School – for whom it’s a fundraiser – at CAPERS, during the Art Walk. And we’re told Mark will be there too! (4525 California SW)
MUSIC AT THUNDER ROAD: Red Jacket Mine Duo plays live at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) during tonight’s Art Walk. (4736 California SW)
HOLIDAY SMALL WORKS SHOW AT TWILIGHT: Here’s what you’ll find at Twilight Gallery during tonight’s Art Walk.
‘SANTA AL’ IN THE JUNCTION … Don’t be surprised by Santa sightings during tonight’s Art Walk!
GROWING VISIBILITY OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS: Featured exhibition at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Gallery tonight. (6000 16th SW)
In addition to the Art Walk, tonight’s holiday events include:
‘SHOP LATE THURSDAY’: Late hours (open until 9 pm) at participating Junction stores listed here.
CRAFT FAIR AT LAFAYETTE: Craft Fair and Art Show at Lafayette Elementary, 5:30-7:30 pm. Students and adults selling homemade goods to the community. (California SW & SW Lander)
MIX, MINGLE, & JINGLE: 5:30 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral, it’s the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s annual holiday party – register ASAP. (42nd SW & SW Lander)
And from our regular year-round calendar:
GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE – INFO NIGHT! 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), you’re invited to find out about the next Get Fit, West Seattle series, free sessions to get you from couch to half-marathon. Details in our listing. (2743 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL INFO NIGHT: For incoming 9th graders and their families – next fall will be here before you know it! Find out everything you need to know, and get your questions answered. Starts at 6:30 pm in the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8 pm, families interested in Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) are invited to an open house – details in our listing. (10015 28th SW)
THE DEEP CUTS WITH DJ KINGBLIND: 7 pm at Maharajah Cuisine of India in The Junction – details in our listing. (4542 California SW)
WINE TASTING AND MUSIC: 7 pm on second Thursdays, it’s wine tasting and Brazilian music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details in our listing. (5612 California SW)
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ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:30 AM: We’ve been following up on a situation brought to our attention by a Roxhill Elementary School parent – a water shutoff at the school yesterday. We didn’t hear about it until after school was out for the day, but contacted the district immediately, and they couldn’t find any reports of water problems at the campus while checking around last night. First thing this morning, Seattle Public Schools staff started investigating, and here’s what spokesperson Stacy Howard tells us happened: The city was doing water testing/work in the area, and that led to some water discoloration. Instead of following the usual protocol to put up signs marking the faucets as temporarily off-limits until the city finishes flushing the system, Howard says – a process that would usually just take an hour or two – a staff member turned off the school’s water entirely, and unnecessarily. At one point, apparently, a parent learned of this and went to Target to ask if they would donate bottles of water for the kids. Today, the misunderstanding and the water are both cleared up, the water is back on, and fine, according to Howard. We still have a message out to Roxhill principal Sahnica Washington to ask if there’s anything else parents should know about what happened, and we also are checking with Seattle Public Utilities to see what kind of work was being done.
UPDATE, 9 PM: SPU said it wasn’t doing any work. Principal Washington attributed it to a hydrant replacement nearby in the short letter she was planning to send to families – here’s the copy (PDF) we received from SPS.
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:47 AM: No incidents so far this morning on routes through/from West Seattle.
8:44 AM: Wrapping up what’s been an incident-free commute. Thanks again to everyone who shares the news when something does happen (as long as you can safely text or call – from the passenger seat or when you get to where you’re going) – 206-293-6302 any time.
A day that began in tumult – lightning, thunder, rain, wind – ended peacefully and tunefully, in calm weather, on the Harbor Island shore, as the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship made its first West Seattle stop of the 2015 season, at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsoor). A cozy crowd watched from inside, while other spectators stood on the shore. Here’s some of what they heard from Choir of the Sound, singing on board, amplified for those ashore to enjoy too:
Two more West Seattle stops are ahead for the Christmas Ship, both on Saturday night (December 12th) – Lowman Beach 4:20-4:40, Alki Beach Park 5:10-5:30, with The Dickens Carolers singing; see our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for other events happening on Alki before/during the visit. If you want to experience the Christmas Ship from on board, schedule and booking information can be found here.
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