West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
Thanks for the beautiful Tuesday evening views! Greg Snyder got the moonrise (above); JayDee photographed the shades-of-silver semi-sunset (below):
Photo to share? editor@westseattleblog.com (or tag us on social media, @westseattleblog, so we’ll see it) – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
No arrest yet in the West Seattle arsons.
That’s what Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis told the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network tonight, almost one full week since the last fire in the string of half a dozen arsons that have been under investigation for more than two weeks. Here’s video of his update:
That most-recent fire was early last Wednesday, set in a recycling bin outside a house at 40th SW and SW Morgan, half a mile from the October 12th firesetting shown on surveillance video made public last Thursday:
Capt. Davis told the more than 30 attendees that the investigation remains open and active, with multiple agencies working on it. Call 911 or 800-55-ARSON if you have information.
He was asked about last Saturday’s double shooting, in which a 24-year-old man was killed and a 34-year-old man seriously wounded, with a 25-year-old suspect arrested hours later. Capt. Davis had no additional information on that beyond pointing out that – as we reported after the suspect’s bail hearing – the victims and suspect were known to each other.
Also brought up by attendees:
(White Center Now photo from Sunday night)
Two nights ago, on our partner site White Center Now, we reported on a stabbing at 15th and Roxbury in White Center, as King County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives searched for three men who stabbed a 26-year-old after he got off a bus. What we didn’t know until tonight is that the victim is an employee at two West Seattle restaurants. The co-proprietor of one, Ma’Ono’s Marjorie Chang Fuller, forwarded us the YouCaring page that seeks help for the victim’s recovery, with this update:
Ramon Aspeitia is a highly respected and extremely hard working employee at both Shadowland and Ma’ono in the West Seattle Junction neighborhood. He was viciously attacked by 3 men and brutally stabbed in the back on his commute home after work Sunday Oct 25th around 6:30 pm at his bus transfer in White Center. He is currently in Harborview Medical Center, fighting to be stabilized and to regain feeling in the lower half of his body. We are all hoping for a full recovery and he could use your thoughts and prayers at this time. This is gonna take a tremendous toll on his family and of course his 2 children. We’re asking the community to help in any way they can. Every bit will help his family with the medical and monthly bills while he recovers. His family will greatly appreciate anything you can do to help..
Big takeover just announced: Walgreens is buying Rite-Aid for $9.4 billion. Walgreens has two West Seattle stores, in High Point (35th/Morgan) and South Delridge (15th/Roxbury); Rite-Aid has two stores in WS too, south of The Junction (California/Hudson) and at Westwood Village (25th/Barton). The official news release says that Rite-Aid will continue operating as a subsidiary of Walgreens, “initially” under the Rite-Aid name, so there’s no indication of closures/consolidations at this point. The aforementioned stores represent four of West Seattle’s six standalone chain drugstores right now – the other two, in Admiral and The Junction, belong to Bartell Drugs, which is headquartered in West Seattle – and a seventh is on the way, the CVS store to be built at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW.
Suddenly we have three coyote reports to share – so here goes.
FROM JAF: A coyote crossed 35th SW at Brandon “at approximately 2 pm on 10/27. Poor thing ran east across 35th in traffic to get away from me (pulling in garbage cans). Luckily, cars stopped for it.”
Not long before that, and not too far away:
FROM JOHN … who included this photo:
He saw that coyote “at the corner of 37th and Graham, 1:20 pm today.”
And this happened around 11:30 last night:
FROM JOEY: “Coyote spotted on 34th running toward Barton and the P-Patch. On its way, it attacked a small animal (cat?). Horrible sounds. Little animal got away and ran toward west side of 34th.”
(The most important thing you can do if you see a coyote, the state reminds us on this info-sheet, is to scare it away – for its sake, for your sake, for pets’ sake. They’re everywhere – but they’ll keep their distance if they perceive it’s too risky to get close.)
Three West Seattle biznotes this afternoon:
HAPPY 3RD ANNIVERSARY, COPPER COIN: The Admiral eatery is celebrating its third anniversary, and manager Gregg Graham e-mailed to say they’re planning specials all day tomorrow, including:
*A tasty, special one-off ‘Copper IPA,’ brewed for the occasion by Lowercase, and offered at 1/2 price all day Wed.!
*The debut of a new slew of awesome artisan sandwiches, served up on our fresh house ciabatta baked at the Coastline bakery and also offered 1/2 price all day Wed!
Copper Coin is at 2329 California SW.
WINGSTOP MOVING AHEAD: Almost three months after Eats Market Café moved out of Westwood Village, citing lease loss, there’s movement in the plan for Wingstop to move into that space. City files now show an application to proceed with “tenant improvements” for the chicken-wing franchise restaurant.
JUNIPER TO EX-PICA: Almost seven months after the abrupt closure of Pica in The Junction – also described as a lease-loss situation – a new tenant is about to open in that space at 4155 California SW:
That sign in the window announces Juniper, A Natural Nail Bar. No website yet, but via Facebook, Juniper says, “We are proud to be the first nontoxic nail bar in West Seattle!” and mentions a November 4th opening date.
The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route will be back to its regular capacity as of mid-afternoon – Washington State Ferries says M/V Issaquah is repaired and will be back in service as of 2:20 this afternoon. It’s been out of service for two days following its latest breakdown.
Quick advance mention in case you haven’t seen this on the calendar: One last West Seattle stop on Seattle Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre‘s listening tour – which otherwise made the rounds in this area 2+ months ago – is happening tomorrow (Wednesday) @ High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 6:30 pm. Bring comments/questions about what’s working for you re: Parks, and what’s not. (Here’s our report on one of his local stops in August.)
For the first time in a few years, a new apartment building is proposed for the south/east side of the heart of SW Avalon Way: An early-stage application has just appeared in city files for 3039 SW Avalon Way (map), to replace the duplex in the photo above. The north/west side of the street has seen far more action in recent years, with three projects in various pre-construction stages (30, a fourth under construction, and a fifth complete, but on the south/east side, nothing’s been proposed since the completion of Vue at 3261.
The documents on file so far for the new proposal say “approximately 60” units are envisioned for 3039 Avalon, with 20 underground parking spaces. Prolific multifamily-specialist firm NK Architects is attached to the project, which will, according to notations, go through Design Review. The site is zoned MR (midrise) like most of this stretch of Avalon. Since this is in the early stages, no formal application is in yet, so there’s no official comment period, but if you have an early comment, you can e-mail PRC@seattle.gov and refer to project #3022717.
To see what other new projects and updates we’ve reported on lately, scroll through the WSB development-coverage archive here.
(At Hiawatha. Photo by Patrick O’Brien, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIMES: Two this morning – 10:30 am at Southwest Library (35th SW & SW Henderson) and West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW)
(IN THE) SKIES OVER WEST SEATTLE: Full moon tonight is the last “supermoon” of the year, rising at sunset, per Alice Enevoldsen‘s most-recent “Skies Over West Seattle” update.
DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION: Community conversation/panel discussion at 6 pm, Delridge Community Center, with students, educators, and community leaders. Details in our calendar listing. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: As detailed on the group’s website, WSBWCN will hear from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis during tonight’s meeting, with info about recent high-profile cases including the deadly shooting and local arsons. Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon also will be there, with seasonal advice. It starts in the precinct meeting room at 6:30 pm – all welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
FREE COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL CLINIC: Appointments start at 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – call ASAP to get one; the info’s here. (California SW & SW Oregon)
LOOKING AHEAD TO HALLOWEEN EVENTS … see what we’ve just added to the West Seattle Halloween 2015 Guide!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:12 AM: Metro says delays related to a crash downtown, in which a bus hit a pedestrian – who was not seriously hurt – are subsiding. No other incidents affecting this area so far.
FERRY REMINDER: M/V Salish continues on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run in place of the twice-the-vehicle-capacity M/V Issaquah, so delays are continuing.
SHORT SCHOOL DAY TOMORROW: Seattle Public Schools students have an early-release day tomorrow (Wednesday), and will be out two hours earlier than usual.
WEEKEND REMINDERS: Next Saturday and Sunday, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed 6 am-6 pm each day for its twice-yearly inspection. And Saturday night is also when we’ll “fall back” an hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time.
8:10 AM: SDOT’s traffic center says an aid response on SW Morgan at Lanham might cause some delays. No word whether it’s eastbound or westbound.
8:54 AM: Some hope for the ferry run returning to normal soon:
Update: The Issaquah is out on sea trials in Elliott Bay. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a clean bill of health.
— WA State Ferries (@wsferries) October 27, 2015
11:32 PM: Thanks to the reader who just texted that photo and word of the rollover crash at Fauntleroy Way and SW Findlay, saying the driver hit the parked vehicle and flipped their own. The Seattle Fire response closed fairly quickly, so as far as we know, no serious injuries.
7:27 AM: The driver is under investigation for DUI.
10:08 PM: We’ve had a few questions about what appears to be a search off Alki Point. The US Coast Guard has tweeted that there’s a search for someone in the water in Rich Passage, off south Bainbridge. (added) According to a USCG news release (read it here in full), a 54-year-old Bainbridge Island man is missing after his 15-foot fishing boat turned up empty and adrift more than three hours ago. He apparently had launched from the Port Orchard Marina.
9:46 AM TUESDAY: The search was reported to still be under way as of early this morning.
10:16 PM TUESDAY: As noted in comments, the USCG says it searched far and wide but finally had to suspend the search at 1:43 pm today.
8:50 PM: In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN SUV: Have you seen Matt‘s stolen dark blue Chevy Tahoe? It was taken from his driveway in the 6000 block of California SW sometime midday last Friday (October 23rd). License plate 899-ZBW. If you see it – call 911.
9:51 PM UPDATE: See comments – SPD found Matt’s SUV and are reported to have made an arrest, too.
(back to original report) CRIME UPDATES AT BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: Want to hear firsthand updates about the recent arsons and Saturday’s shootings? And/or ask questions? The West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meets tomorrow (Tuesday, October 27th) for the last time this year, and has announced that Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis will be there with updates, as well as Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who, WSBWCN says, “will focus on prevention and things you can do to make your property less of a target for arson or property theft. Come learn about things you and your neighbors can do to be vigilant.” 6:30 pm, SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster), all welcome – you don’t have to be a BW captain or even a BW member.
(WSB photo from 2014 dinner)
One more look ahead to Veterans Day: Once again this year, West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 invite “all active duty, reserve, national guard, military veterans and their families” to the annual Veterans Day Italian Dinner at the Legion Hall in The Triangle, 3618 SW Alaska. Free, no RSVPs needed – just stop by between 5 and 7 pm on Sunday, November 8th.
That’s the plaque we first told you about back last month – a special project of the Chief Sealth Class of 1965 in their 50th-anniversary year, granite with brass nameplates honoring all the fallen service members from Chief Sealth. Ron Templin explains, “The left-hand row of brass name plates were for Vietnam, the center row is for Iraq, and the right-hand row is for Afghanistan.” He says the plaque will be presented during Chief Sealth International High School’s Veterans Day assembly at 10:15 am November 5th: “The family members of these brave soldiers are invited to attend.”:
VIETNAM
Sigrid Karlstrom ’61 family notified
Lewis Nelson ’62
Allan Potter ’64
Luigi Frank Albanese ’65
Thomas Foster ’65
Thomas Harding ’65
Richard Krogh ’65
Norman Chaney ’66
Dick DeGraaf ’66 family notified
David Lauritsen ’66
John Rauen ’66
Mark Knollmeyer ’67
Donald Douglas ’68
Clarence Risher ’68IRAQ
Tracy Melvin ’95 family notifiedAFGHANISTAN
Jarod Newlove ’03 family notifiedIf anyone knows family members of these service members, please let them know about this Memorial Plaque presentation.
Ron can be reached at: r_templin@yahoo.com
(WSB photos from Saturday morning)
3:15 PM: We’re just out of the jailhouse courtroom downtown, where the 25-year-old West Seattle man arrested hours after Saturday morning’s 23rd SW double shooting has just had a bail hearing. After multiple reports of gunfire, police say, they found two men in the street – a 24-year-old who was dead at the scene, and a 34-year-old man who survived, but with life-threatening injuries. After a short hearing, the judge set bail at $1 million; the defense argued for $100,000, noting that (as reported here Saturday) the suspect has no felony convictions; he is currently being prosecuted for a drunk-driving arrest. We don’t yet have the probable-cause documents, which are likely to have some information on what led police to arrest this man blocks away from the shooting scene; once we do, we’ll update this story.
3:29 PM: Moments after we published this, the probable-cause documents came in. They say the suspect and the victim who was killed were former friends who had been in a dispute for five years over a $200 debt. The victim, according to court documents, called his brother, who also is described as part of the debt dispute, to say the suspect “had, or was about to jump him” at the scene where the shooting later happened. The brother had been downtown but rushed to the scene, where he first saw the suspect’s car, a white Ford Crown Victoria (which was impounded at the arrest scene on Saturday morning):
The brother said it was thought that a fight was going to happen – instead, he told police, the suspect pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, so he ran, saying he then heard gunfire, and when he went back to the scene, officers were there, and the victim was lying in the street. The documents go on to say that police were familiar with the suspect and his car and knew that he lived in the 2600 block of SW Holden; they got a warrant to search the car and house. The car, found at the house, had gunshot damage. The court documents also say that while police were there, the suspect called, talked to his mother and to them, and said he would return to turn himself in, admitting he’d been involved in the shooting, and saying he had used a .40 caliber Glock handgun. Detectives say they found “several guns” in the house, including one of that type. Prosecutors have until Wednesday to file charges.
Another big part of Sunday’s West Seattle Harvest Festival success – the biggest Costume Parade yet! How do you get a parade through a crowded festival? Ken Iverson from the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club reveals a big part of the secret:
(Photos courtesy WSARC)
The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club was proud to have 9 of its members provide radio communication and coordination for the 2015 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival Parade. Members included Jon, KG7WSN, Brian, KG7WRK, Tom, N7OEP, Adeline, KG7EUL, Meredith, KG7EUM [youngest WSARC member but holding a full General Class license], Dave, AF7CW, Jim, WS7JIM, Ken, AB7X and all coordinated by Tammy, WA7TZ who was our ‘net control.’Members with hand-held radios positioned themselves at the beginning, middle and end of the parade, and reported the progress of the parade.
You can see our parade video in our as-it-happened Harvest Festival coverage.
P.S. If you’re a local amateur radio operator – you’re welcome to join WSARC’s weekly check-in, tonight and every Monday night at 6:30 pm.
(WSB photo from Sunday, with 4 of the chili contenders, L-R: Todd from Elliott Bay, Amber from Freshy’s, Dave from West 5, Matt from Easy Street)
First of two followups this afternoon on Sunday’s mega-successful West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB): Full results, including fundraising, from the festival’s chili competition. We reported the winner in our as-it-happened coverage – here are the full results, from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:
Thank you so much (to the participants) in our very successful 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off. The West Seattle Food Bank and the clients we serve are most appreciative. We raised an incredible $2,025 in tastings and single serving sales and $357 in straight donations, for a total of $2582! Now for all of the voting results! Congratulations to Jeremy at Shadowland for taking home the beautiful trophy and bragging rights for a year with 41 votes. Here’s how the rest of the votes came in:
Elliott Bay Brewery with 36
The Westy with 26
Easy Street Café with 20
Husky Deli and West Seattle Brewery with 17 each
Freshy’s with 13
West 5 with 6
Everybody who bought a flight for a $10 WSFB donation got a vote; the participants all donated a huge vat of custom-cooked chili plus somebody to serve it, so it was a big contribution, and everyone was a winner, really, with the competition’s popularity – “where’s the chili?” was the most frequently asked question in the info booth.
If you’re headed toward the Fauntleroy ferry dock (or beyond) from points north any time soon, take note that southbound Fauntleroy Way is blocked in the 7100 block, by The Kenney (WSB sponsor), after what looks like a two-car crash. No serious injuries and so Engine 37 is getting ready to leave, but we’re not sure how long it’ll take before the crashed vehicles are cleared.
We’ve already reported two of the many topics covered at the quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting this past week – but there was much more.
Those topics included the recent arsons – the most recent one had happened in Morgan Junction earlier that day, so everyone was on guard. Engine 37 firefighters came to share fire-deterring tips (as circulated here earlier in the week); Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis came with an update on the investigation (we recorded it on video and added it to the update we’d published a few hours earlier).
SPD was originally on the MoCA agenda to talk about the area’s “micropolicing plan” and the new citywide Public Safety Survey, both with Seattle University involved, so Seattle U research intern Jennifer Burbridge, who’s been working with the SW Precinct and neighborhood groups, joined the presentation.
Morgan’s key areas of concern:
(Male surf scoter, photographed last week in Fauntleroy by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for tonight:
BOOKTOBERFEST: 6-8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, meet and mingle with fellow book lovers in another Booktoberfest event presented by the Seattle Public Library. 21+. (6413 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC: Gary Benson with special guest Nelson Wright, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA/QUIZ: Questions await you at 7:30 pm at The Skylark (free and all ages; 3803 Delridge Way SW), at 7:30 pm at Christo’s on Alki (2508 Alki SW), and at 8 pm at Shadowland (21+; California SW & SW Oregon).
WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW AND BEYOND? See our complete calendar here.
Just two weeks until school’s out for Veterans Day on November 11th, and we’ve heard of at least one special school-holiday event: Melinda Fredricks and the West Seattle High School Cheer Team invite kids K-5 to the annual Mini Cheer Camp, 10 am-1 pm that day in the WSHS Gym. If you’re interested, you’ll want to register your kid(s) TODAY – because it’s the deadline to guarantee a T-shirt.
Campers will enjoy a day of fun and excitement learning cheers, jumps, making crafts and spending time with the WSHS Cheer team! All campers will receive pom =-poms, a hair bow, T-shirt, pennant, and photo with the cheerleaders! All campers are also invited back to show off their new talents at the Girls Varsity Basketball game Friday, December 4th, at halftime!! We are looking forward to seeing many returning campers as well as many smiling new faces. Bring your friends!! The more the merrier!!
Here’s the official flyer. Contact Melinda ASAP for a registration form and/or if you have questions – melindafredricks@comcast.net
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