day : 31/05/2016 11 results

DRIVE-BY CAR PROWLING: Shaun reports:

At roughly 1:28 am my wife witnessed this van driving down our street and stopping and opening car doors. Driver didn’t get out of van, just reached out of window to check if doors were open. We called it in, and followed at a distance. Once it stopped we got a picture of the van.

The License plate is: 01508 or 10508 – it was a specialty plate.

Shaun didn’t mention what part of West Seattle this happened in – we’re following up. (Update – Shaun says this was in Morgan Junction, and that they’ve since been told by police that the van was found and impounded, but no arrests so far.)

BROKEN WINDOW: In Admiral, two people reported seeing a broken window on a Jeep parked in the PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) parking lot this morning, and “some contents” strewn outside.

And in the day’s biggest broken-glass incident:

ATM-THEFT AFTERMATH: We followed up with South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) about the considerable damage done by the ATM theft early this morning. SSC spokesperson Ty Swenson told WSB that the thief/thieves “seriously damaged” an external and internal set of entrance doorways made of glass. The north entrance of the Jerry Brockey Student Center was closed for several hours, and the missing sections of glass and door frame were boarded up:

By late morning, Swenson said they “were able to open the undamaged set of doors at the north entrance, so people can access the Brockey Center from the north. Load bearing pillars at the entrance were not damaged. Our facilities department is currently assessing the damage and working with a local glass supplier to get a bid. We do not have a solid timeline on the repair or cost at this time.” While they don’t have surveillance video of the actual theft, he said, they do have video of the truck that was involved, and we hope to have that for a Crime Watch update tomorrow.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Chief Sealth IHS Green Team honored as Conservation Champion for project that might go district-wide

May 31, 2016 7:58 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

(In photo: Students Katia Oliva, Clarissa Perez, Brandon Edwards; Sealth grad & former Green Team president Jessie Dirks; teacher Noah Zeichner; YMCA Earth Service Corps instructor Tyrell Dozier)

Thanks to Nicole Sipila from the Chief Sealth International High School PTSA for sharing the news that the CSIHS Green Team has been “recognized as a 2015-16 Conservation Champion for their work to get water-bottle-filling stations installed in our school. We should have quotes for the work (this) week and we hope to see them in place before the 2016-17 school year. Great job!” Teacher Noah Zeichner, who provided the photo above from a school-board meeting last month, says the project has been in the works for two years, “when members realized they could reduce the use of plastic water bottles in their school if students had the ability to fill up reusable water bottles. … Not only did they get the green light to purchase filling stations at Chief Sealth, additionally they convinced the school board to pursue a $200,000 grant for filling stations in every single Seattle Public School.”

Nicole also shared this district-produced PDF with photos and profiles of other schools recognized around the city this year, including, from our area, Alki Elementary, Arbor Heights Elementary, Concord International, Pathfinder K-8, and West Seattle High School. Congratulations to all!

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UPDATE: Seattle Police say non-emergency line is OK again

May 31, 2016 6:52 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

6:52 PM: We hope you won’t need this info, but in case you do, just tweeted by Seattle Police: “We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with the nonemergency line. Please call 206-583-2111 or 911 if you need assistance.”

11:18 PM: As of about an hour ago, the problem is fixed, SPD tweeted, so you can use the non-emergency line again – 206-625-5011 – if you need to. But if something is happening NOW, police always urge, call 911.

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West Seattle schools: YMCA expanding preschool at new location

May 31, 2016 4:50 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though the old location of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) preschool has been demolished as the Y gets ready for Thursday’s groundbreaking on its expansion, it’s still offering preschool, and has announced an expansion. The new location for the Y’s preschool is the former E.C. Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights, and the Y is adding four classes of “quality and affordable ~~half~~full-day, year-round child care for children ages 2.5 to 5 years old between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.” The program is described as “values-based with an emphasis on building self-reliance through our core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.” Teachers are experienced and professional, and the curriculum includes enrichment activities such as Spanish, swim lessons, cooking classes, and music time. Open enrollment is under way, including tonight during an open house that starts shortly, 5 pm-6:30 pm. EC Hughes is at 7740 34th SW; if you can’t stop by tonight, contact Sissi Kamalii at 206 201 0696, skamalii@seattleymca.org, or Emilia Varga at 206 399 5704, evarga@seattleymca.org.

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New signs for the West Seattle Bridge: Will ‘zones’ help problems clear faster?

May 31, 2016 1:12 pm

| 46 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 4:26 PM with information we requested on project’s cost)

1:12 PM: If you got into trouble somewhere on the West Seattle Bridge – would you be able to clearly describe your location to a 911 dispatcher? SDOT is about to install signs that it hopes will help more people answer “yes,” resulting in most incidents clearing more quickly: The bridge will be broken into nine “zones,” each with signage that will be installed this weekend. Read the full announcement ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2016: Here’s the lineup!

May 31, 2016 12:00 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

It’s going to be a West Seattle Outdoor Movies season to remember! As reported here recently, the mega-popular series of free Saturday night movies is moving at the end of this summer, so you’ll watch the first five movies in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (California/Genesee; WSB sponsor) courtyard as always, and then the sixth in the new Triangle Festival Street by the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), where the movies all will be shown next year. Now … this year’s lineup! Thanks for your suggestions. Drumroll … it all starts a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away:

July 16th: “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (featuring pre-show Star Wars trivia)

July 23rd – “Monty Python and The Holy Grail”

July 30th – “School of Rock”

August 6th – “Skyfall” (featuring pre-show James Bond trivia)

August 13th – “The Lego Movie”

August 20th – “Princess Bride” (first movie in the Festival Street by the Y)

(The titles are linked to the movies’ trailers.) More soon about what to expect each night – but the basics are: It’s free, though you’re encouraged to bring money for concessions and raffles benefiting local nonprofits; the movies start at dusk, which means a different start time each week. The movies are made possible not just by presenters and volunteers’ hard work but also by the support of many local businesses who sign on as sponsors, including us at WSB. See you at the movies!

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FOLLOWUP: Comment time for future Chungee’s restaurant rezone in Morgan Junction

May 31, 2016 11:16 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Nine months ago, we reported that the proprietors of Capitol Hill’s Chungee’s Drink ‘N Eat were seeking to rezone and remodel their Morgan Junction home in order to convert it into another branch of their popular restaurant and bar. Rezoning requires City Council approval, and today’s Land Use Information Bulletin brings word that the official comment period on this part of the project is now open for two weeks – here’s the official notice. The rezoning proposal for the site, 6921 California SW, is the same as it was last August – seeking a “contract rezone” from Lowrise 2 to Lowrise 2 – Residential Commercial, the same zoning as parcels to the south, as noted in our report last August. “Contract rezone” means it’s related to a specific proposal, not just a general designation change. If you’re interested in commenting, you can use this form linked from today’s notice; deadline is June 13th. (King County Assessor’s Office photo)

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4 options for your West Seattle Tuesday

May 31, 2016 10:03 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Recent view of West Seattle and beyond by Long Bach Nguyen)

Quick look at what’s on the calendar for today/tonight:

FREE LEGAL HELP: Two sessions at the Senior Center of West Seattle – 2-4 pm (info here) and 7-9 pm (info here) – both require appointments and each has a different number to call, so follow the respective links to get it. (California SW & SW Oregon)

JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: Live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), “acoustic hits of the last 4 decades.” 5-8 pm, no cover. (1936 Harbor SW)

BILLY JOE & THE RC’S: Live at Parliament Tavern every Tuesday, 8 pm, featuring Billy Joe Huels and Robin Cady of The Dusty 45s, along with Rod Cook. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE: 9 pm every Tuesday at Shadowland. (California SW/SW Oregon)

THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday updates; bridge closures resume

May 31, 2016 6:39 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday updates; bridge closures resume

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:39 AM: Good morning! Welcome to the first day after the long Memorial Day weekend and the last day of May. We’re launching a bit late because we’ve been out covering the case of the stolen-and-recovered ATM. In terms of getting around, here’s what you need to know for starters:

*The Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion work bridge closures resume tonight, 9 pm-5 am, with westbound traffic exiting at Delridge and eastbound traffic detoured to entrances other than 35th/Fauntleroy.

*Starting today, sewer repairs will block part of 35th SW between Juneau and Raymond, as announced last week.

*Starting today, Washington State Ferries is changing the “process” it implemented to try to speed things up at Fauntleroy. The new plan is explained here.

*Also scheduled to start today, Seattle Parks work to fix the handrail along a stretch of Constellation Park/Charles Richey Viewpoint on Beach Drive – the work isn’t in the road but vehicles and crews could cause some congestion.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ATM stolen from South Seattle College, found in Arbor Heights backyard

May 31, 2016 5:19 am

| 37 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Crime | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 11:38 AM with new info from SPD)

(WSB photos. Added: ATM-theft scene outside SSC’s Brockey Center)

5:19 AM: As day breaks, police are following the trail of a stolen ATM. The cash machine was taken from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge a few hours ago.

5:29 AM: The investigation has led police to a north Arbor Heights neighborhood where they have just recovered it.

5:45 AM: Police have pointed us to the backyard of a house at 39th SW and SW 97th, regarding where it was recovered – they say it’s the large white item in the background of our photo. And if you’re in AH, that’s a TV helicopter. No arrest(s) reported so far.

6:09 AM: Just talked to SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson, who says officers are waiting on a search warrant before going in and actually taking possession of the stolen ATM. He says he can’t yet confirm what led police to the house; discussion we’d been monitoring for hours via scanner indicated it was a satellite tracking device, relatively new technology developed as ATM theft started to spike.

6:53 AM: Apparently at least one TV helicopter also has been over the theft scene on Puget Ridge, too. We expect a bit more information from police later this morning and will update when that’s in.

11:38 AM: And here’s that information! Just posted to SPD Blotter by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee:

Police recovered a stolen ATM from the backyard of a West Seattle home Tuesday after a thief in a pickup truck smashed his way into a college building and made off with a safe filled with cash.

Officers responded to South Seattle College in the 6000 block of 16th Avenue Southwest just before 2 AM after receiving reports of a break-in. At the scene, they found someone had broken through locked gate and driven a pickup truck through a glass door on campus to get to an ATM. After dismantling the cash machine, the thief loaded the ATM’s heavy-duty cash safe into their truck and fled.

Police found the unopened safe in the yard of a home in the 3900 block of Southwest 97th Street, where robbery detectives later detained and interviewed one male resident. Detectives released the man and continue to investigate the case.

Detectives are still looking for a white Chevrolet pickup truck with a crew cab, believed to have been used in the break-in at the college.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the SPD Southwest Precinct Burglary Unit at 206-233-2623.

Here’s a closer look at the item in the yard that we now know was the ATM’s safe:

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NIGHT OUT 2016: Get $ for your block party

May 31, 2016 1:47 am

| Comments Off on NIGHT OUT 2016: Get $ for your block party

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Thinking about a block party for this year’s Night Out, now two months away (Tuesday, August 2nd)? The city Department of Neighborhoods invites you to apply for a grant from the Small Sparks Fund. Community groups can ask for up to $1,000 to pay for “Night Out activities such as outreach materials, cultural entertainment, music, food, and kids’ activities.” You need to register in the city’s application system, and then you have until July 1st to apply. Find out more here.