day : 26/06/2016 8 results

(UPDATED 3 PM MONDAY 6/27 with police-report details on home invasion)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:56 PM SUNDAY: Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

HOME INVASION ROBBERY: This happened near 18th SW/SW Elmgrove [map] on Monday afternoon; the first we heard about it was when the victim e-mailed us days later, and the police-report details aren’t available online. But the victim wants to be sure the neighborhood knows about it:

It happened Monday afternoon at 2 pm. I was in my bathroom in the basement when he came in with a gun. He immediately asked me to FIND THE DOPE.

He had already been in the house when I was in the shower but he wasn’t finding what he thought i had. He led me to another room and told me again and again to find the DOPE.

I was shaking and begging him not to hurt me and somehow I found a backpack and that made him happy so he told me to lie on the floor and be quiet for 10 mins. … He took all my jewelry and electronics including phones etc. They took everything.

A neighbor told the victim about seeing a white truck in the alley and “watched 3 men in hoodies enter (the victim’s) yard.” That’s all the description information we have at this point; we’ll pursue the full police report tomorrow.

ADDED 3 PM MONDAY: Added details from the police-report narrative – The report says the robber was described as a black man, about 30, “dark baseball hat, satin-like green jacket that looked like a Sonics jacket.” No vehicle was mentioned. The victim’s husband was reported to have been home and asleep, and the robber might have entered through an unlocked door or window.

(back to original Sunday night report) LICENSE-PLATE THEFT: From Ross:

Last night (or possibly earlier), our license plates were stolen from our Honda CR-V that we rarely drive. It was parked on 37th between Juneau and Findlay. We’ve reported the theft to the police, but wanted to get the word out. A Washington D.C. license plate was swapped onto the back of our car.

MAIL THEFT: It happened to Sarah south of Westwood, and she has some helpful advice to share about reporting cases like hers:

A neighbor found my empty package on 26th Ave SW just south of Roxbury. Inside my rifled package was another empty envelope that belonged to someone who lives just off 26th on 106th Ave. I left their empty envelope on their doorstep with a note attached. My package was supposed to contain a scarf I ordered from Scotland. The other empty envelope looked like the person had attempted to use their own mailbox to mail a check or something worth stealing. I didn’t file a police report but did call the USPS Inspection Service on Saturday afternoon. After a brief phone tree, a lady answered and took my statement and said a file had been created for my case. She also said to alert other neighbors that reporting mail theft to them is a really good idea because the more complaints they receive, the more likely they are to open an investigation for our zip code, 98106. If anyone wishes to file a complaint they are encouraged to call Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 (press 3). Here is the webpage I used.

THANKS ... for sharing Crime Watch information. If it’s happening NOW – call 911! Then let us know, when you can. Our 24-hour tipline is 206-293-6302, text or voice. If it’s not happening now, e-mail is the next best thing, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Westbound West Seattle Bridge crash

June 26, 2016 9:47 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:47 PM: Not only is it the time of night when the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is closing for Fauntleroy Expressway work – there’s also a westbound crash right now, too:

Collision on West Seattle Bridge blocking Off Ramp to Harbor Island. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/k6EGArITLk

— seattledot (@seattledot) June 27, 2016

If you have to head this way any time soon – wait, or think about an alternate route. Thanks to Evin for first word of this via Twitter.

UPDATE: From SDOT:

UPDATE: Collision on the West Seattle Bridge off-ramp to Harbor Island has cleared.

— seattledot (@seattledot) June 27, 2016

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MONDAY: Downtown hearing for West Seattle 3-lots-into-18 subdivision proposal on SW Holden

June 26, 2016 7:39 pm

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| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Almost four years after an 18-house development proposal surfaced in the city permit system for the site above – now identified as 2768 SW Holden [map], previously 2646 SW Holden – there’s an “open-record hearing” downtown tomorrow morning. (We first mentioned it a month ago.) This has to do with splitting the site, currently on record as three lots, into 18, before the homes are built. The hearing is for anyone with something to say about the proposal and is set for the city Hearing Examiner‘s chambers starting at 9 am Monday, 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown (700 5th Avenue). The project has been making its way through the city system since a “site plan” was filed in summer of 2012; the 18-house plan passed “streamlined design review” in early 2013, and other key approvals were granted in 2014.

The site stretches across more than one and a half acres between SW Holden and SW Webster, with one house remaining on the site (barely visible in our photo above). It had been on and off the market for a while and records show it sold within the past month for $2.2 million, not far below its previous asking price, to Jabooda Properties, an LLC with Mercer Island and Renton addresses. Neighbors have voiced concerns along the way including traffic, noise, and drainage effects; each house is planned with a two-car garage, and the subdivision entrance/exit will be from SW Holden. City planners’ report recommending approval is here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle rowers at nationals

June 26, 2016 5:33 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(From left, 2012 Olympic rower Henrik Rummel, Nick Angelillo, Reece Schulz, and Coach Conal Groom)

Thanks to Regina Arceo-Schulz for the photos and report on local rowers’ achievements at the Youth Nationals in mid-June:

US Rowing had the Youth Nationals at Mercer Lake, New Jersey. There were several West Seattle rowers competing for their boathouses. An alumni of Holy Rosary School and member of West Seattle’s Troop 282 Boy Scouts, Reece Schulz, won first place in the nation for Men’s Lightweight Youth Doubles with his partner, Nick Angelillo. JT Schulz, also an alumni of HRS and an Eagle Scout with Troop 282, received ninth place for Men’s Youth Open Quad.

(JT Schulz, center, Troop 282’s latest Eagle Scout, with the troop’s Scoutmaster Steve Shelver and Committee Chair Mike Grueter)

Another Holy Rosary alumni, Stephen Fellin (no photo available), represented Pocock Center in the Men’s Lightweight 8+.

Congratulations to all!

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West Seattle weekend scene: Smaller-scale fundraiser

June 26, 2016 4:09 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Smaller-scale fundraiser

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo and report: “Four WSHS band members were practicing at Alki (Playfield) just now. Getting ready to head to the beach for busking to raise money for a new tuba.”

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The OTHER Presidential visit: Bill Clinton in West Seattle today

June 26, 2016 2:27 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

2:27 PM: One day after President Obama‘s departure, one of his predecessors paid a much-lower-key visit to Seattle – including a stop here in West Seattle. Thanks to Jerry for the tip on this one. He was walking his dog in Fauntleroy when, he said, he saw some unusual vehicle activity and he swore he saw President Bill Clinton in the back seat of one of the vehicles – he waved, and the man waved back. We just did a bit of searching; nothing in citywide media, but then we found first a Politico story mentioning the former President was fundraising in Seattle today – no specifics – and then these photos posted on Facebook by King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles as proof. The hosts mentioned in that post are the owners of the historic Laurentide estate in Fauntleroy.

5:29 PM: Found a page for this on the Hillary Clinton campaign website, where contribution levels for this event were listed as ranging from $1,000 to $27,000+.

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FOLLOWUP: See inside Shelby’s Bistro and Ice Creamery, readying to open in July

June 26, 2016 11:19 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Shelby Varden sees California Avenue SW through the West Seattle Junction as having some of the flavor of Disneyland’s Main Street USA.

By the time the West Seattle Grand Parade comes marching and rolling down that street next month, he expects to have Shelby’s Bistro and Ice Creamery open right at the end of the route, on the northeast corner of California and Edmunds.

We brought you first word of the plan back in early April, but it was a quick update, after numerous readers spotted signs of activity at the 4752 California SW site, in what had been the abruptly closed Westside Public House, following the abruptly closed Terrible Beauty, among other predecessors. When we briefly caught up with Varden in the early stage of the remodel, he invited us to check back when his establishment was closer to opening – now set for July 19th – and we recently did just that.

Varden (above right) and recently hired chef Justin Reed (above left) gave us a tour of the space – now about 75 percent of the way to completion – and a preview of what they’re planning: Read More

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Options for your West Seattle Sunday!

June 26, 2016 7:56 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey in flight, photographed by Chris Frankovich)

Happy Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FIELD DAY WRAPS UP: The 24-hour event with amateur-radio operators in the field at the south end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) runs until 11 am, and the participating organizations say visitors are welcome. (6000 16th SW)

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION: 9:30 am service, followed by social time, will celebrate Alan and Lois Gardner as they prepare to retire from West Seattle Christian Church, as previewed here on Friday. (4400 42nd SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Featured at the 10 am-2 pm market today, cooking demonstrations by local cookbook author Amy Pennington, featuring seasonal vegetables, 10:30 am-noon – details here. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

CAPERS’ ANNIVERSARY SALE: While you’re in The Junction, stop by CAPERS Home (WSB sponsor) to check out the ongoing anniversary sale – “everything in the shop and on special order” is on sale! 11 am-5 pm. (4525 California SW)

FAMILY SUNDAY FUNDAY: Free yoga class at Westcrest Park in Highland Park, taught by Nicole Koleshis, noon, followed by 1:30 pm potluck barbecue. (9000 8th SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history welcomes your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: While you’re in the beach zone, make it a two-fer, and tour West Seattle’s historic lighthouse, 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:40 pm), with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Free! (Alki SW/Beach Drive SW)

JAMIE JARAMILLO AT C & P: R & B-influenced musician performs live, no cover, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

And a traffic reminder for tonight:

BRIDGE CLOSURE: 9 pm-5 am, the west end of the West Seattle Bridge will be closed as work continues on the Fauntleroy Expressway seismic-cushion re-replacement project. Crews are now working in the Avalon/Spokane/Harbor area so that’s where you should be mindful of surface-road effects overnight as well.

Not West Seattle but, the city’s biggest event today is downtown:

SEATTLE PRIDE PARADE: 11 am, from 4th and Union to 2nd and Denny. Full parade info here, including route details.

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