West Seattle, Washington
14 Wednesday
STOLEN CAR & NEARBY PROWL: Lonnie just reported this in a comment – we confirmed it via @getyourcarback (which does not include car-theft locations, so we don’t know which ones are West Seattle cases unless you tell us): “Sometime after midnight Sunday night and by early Monday morning, my friend Todd had his black locked VW Passat (Lic. #ARG9180)stolen from in front of his residence at the s/w corner of 46th and Juneau St. and his neighbor had their car broken into also during the same time.”
STOLEN MAIL: Cary reports this happened in Arbor Heights last night:
We’re on 44th Ave SW just south of 100th and at 8:20ish (pm) a black (large) SUV pulled up and took a piece of outgoing mail from our mailbox (bill to PSE). The police have been called but please be on the lookout for this car – it might be a 4Runner/Pathfinder. The kid who got out to take the piece of mail was young (18-20s), caucasian or hispanic, and wearing a dark shirt. The car also left behind a diaper in the middle of the street!
COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION: Reminder that Night Out is next Tuesday, and it’s not too late to register your neighborhood party with SPD.
9:20 PM: Thanks for the tips, and thanks to BW for the photo- a crash has left a car atop the jersey barrier on the West Seattle Bridge near the Luna Park curve.
9:25 PM: No word on injuries so far, but scanner reports indicate multiple parts of the jersey barrier have been pushed into the westbound lanes.
9:40 PM: SDOT says this is blocking the eastbound bridge completely near its westbound end – right now the live video on the “West Seattle Bridge @ Delridge view” (find link from lower right of that page) is verifying that. One westbound lane is getting by (this is west of the Admiral exit, so you can get off there and avoid it entirely). Looks like a tow truck has arrived.
10:36 PM: The eastbound side has reopened at the crash scene on the curve over Avalon. Looks like one lane each way.
Thanks for sharing the views of the Seattle Fire Department fireboat Leschi putting on a spray show off Alki Beach during tonight’s sunset. The photo above is from Morgan Herzog (who you probably know from The Beer Junction); below, Irene Stewart texted us this video:
We don’t know exactly what brought out the fireboat but it must have been a grand sight with the Paddle to Nisqually canoes lining the beach nearby. Meantime – we will also likely get a fireboat show next Tuesday afternoon (August 2nd) when the Seafair fleet parades past West Seattle shores.
(WSB photo: Little car, big hit, at last year’s West Seattle Car Show)
This year’s West Seattle summer fun has a long way to go, so we’re reminding you here and there about what’s yet to come. We are exactly one month away now from the West Seattle Car Show, which is moving up this year into August, and happening on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. It’s on Saturday, August 27th, 10 am-4 pm, on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus for the second year, and signups are happening right now. Whatever kind of motorized vehicle you have, there’s probably a trophy for it:
Alt fuel/EV
Motorcycle
Ladies/Female owned
Junior (under 21)
Best “un-restored”/survivor (any class)
Judge’s choice – best stock
Judge’s choice – best modified
People’s choice / Michael Hoffman award
Sponsor’s choice
SSC choice – for best student car (judged by SCC staff)
1954 and under domestic
1955 – 1959 domestic
1960 – 1964 domestic
1965 – 1969 domestic
1970 – 1974 domestic
1975 – 1989 domestic
1990 – current domestic
Truck
European
Asian
Go here to sign up. There’s room for more vendors and sponsors, too. The show is presented again this year by West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive (both WSB sponsors) and they have a LOT planned, not just vehicle-viewing – see last week’s preview for details.
After a ceremonial groundbreaking this afternoon, site-clearing work is expected to start next week at 4515 41st SW, future site of Quail Park Memory Care Residences, whose owners say it will be West Seattle’s first standalone center for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
It’s been almost four years since we first reported that this type of facility was being considered for the site. It’s had other proposals, including a 7-story apartment building and a park-and-ride facility with apartments, but this is the one that finally went through, passing Design Review about a year ago.
Living Care Lifestyles says that when Quail Park “opens in fall 2017, it will be the only free-standing community dedicated to the care of dementia and Alzheimer’s residents in an area encompassing 35 square miles.” It will have 48 rooms, with up to 66 residents, and a staff of about 60. The announcement also notes that “Staff at Quail Park will be the first team in the state trained in cultural competency when it comes to caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors. Training will be through Northwest LGBT Senior Care Providers Network and SAGE National Resource Center. The community is being constructed and will operate with sustainability at the forefront. The facility will be Gold LEED Certified, and benefit-eligible employees will receive ORCA Access cards to help lessen the transportation impact on the (area).” LGC Pence is the general contractor; John Lape Architecture designed the 4-story complex. West Seattle Chamber of Commerce leaders participated in this afternoon’s ceremony.
(UPDATED 7:33 PM with Thursday’s departure time)
Many on the sand already, ~20 queued at the Alki waterline to come ashore #paddletonisqually pic.twitter.com/jDsKVLr3rm
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 27, 2016
1:08 PM: That’s the scene at Alki Beach as we write this a few minutes past 1 pm, with canoes continuing to arrive at the Muckleshoot Tribe-hosted stop along the route of the Paddle to Nisqually. As previewed here Monday, up to 100 canoe families are expected from tribes all over the region – they left the Suquamish Tribe-hosted stop on the west side of the Sound this morning, and will be here overnight until heading out tomorrow. Dozens are here already, some already hoisted up and carried onto the sand, some in queue on the waterline.
1:25 PM: The line of canoes continues to stretch further westward. Hundreds of people are on the beach, some from canoes that have already been brought ashore, some from support crews, plus spectators. This is the first time the canoes have come to Alki during the annual journey since 2012.
4:51 PM: More photos added.
We’re heading back to the beach for a late-in-the-day view as well as the latest on tomorrow’s departure plan.
7:33 PM: With the visitors all celebrating with the Muckleshoots tonight, we checked with security watching over the canoes at Alki, regarding tomorrow’s departure time. He said 8 am. They head to Point Defiance in Tacoma tomorrow, the map shows.
11:47 AM: Just in from Seattle Police via Twitter:
Officers searching for suspect pictured, after he robbed a bank in the 4000 block SW Alaska St. Call 911 if seen. pic.twitter.com/o3Y8v4CxaZ
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 27, 2016
The search is under way now; we’re on our way to find out more.
12:01 PM: SPD had said only “4000 block of SW Alaska,” where there are two banks; our crew has just confirmed it was the Bank of America branch, which has a note on the door saying it’s temporarily closed. No police visible in the area – bank-robber searches often fan out fast – so we haven’t yet obtained additional details.
1:11 PM: SPD has since tweeted that the suspect shown in the photo is in custody.
Today we’re welcoming Junction Flats Apartments, newly opened in the West Seattle Junction, as a new WSB sponsor. New local sponsors get the chance to let you know what they’re about:
Junction Flats is at 4433 42nd SW, with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. Its features include large windows, in-unit washers and dryers, a 24-hour fitness room, rooftop deck (photo above), and barbecue area. And Junction Flats is pet-friendly, with a dog run and pet-wash station. Read more about the Junction Flats amenities here.
Another major attribute: Junction Flats Apartments is within walking distances of a multitude of services, from stores to restaurants to schools, but since it’s “just on the edge” on the north side of The Junction, it’s a quiet setting. Its logo is based on the historic Junction photo at right – the meeting of the tracks (click the photo to see how the two images are linked).
Junction Flats is owned by longtime West Seattleites; Paul Cesmat and Steve Butler (photo above) are West Seattle High School graduates who have been business partners for more than 30 years.
Find out more about Junction Flats Apartments at JunctionFlatsSeattle.com, or call 206-420-8222.
We thank Junction Flats Apartments 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.
(For “Woodpecker Wednesday,” photographer Mark Wangerin shares this view of a Northern Flicker)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, coverage archives, inbox – highlights for the day/night ahead:
CANOES ARRIVE: As previewed here on Monday, this year’s regional canoe journey, the Paddle to Nisqually, will bring up to 100 tribal canoe families to Alki Beach starting around noon; the Muckleshoot Tribe is hosting them here and they’ll head back out Thursday morning, headed south. This is the first Alki stop on the journey since 2012. (59th SW/Alki SW)
OFFICE JUNCTION MEETUP: West Seattle’s only coworking center hosts weekly free meetups for local at-home workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, coworkers … drop by at noon, bring your lunch if you want, get inspired and refreshed. (6040 California SW)
QUAIL PARK GROUNDBREAKING: A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new memory-care center in The Junction, a $22 million project expected to open next year, is scheduled at 2 pm today. (4515 41st SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, the weekly farm stand selling fresh produce next to the mini-farm where local residents grow and harvest it. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
IRISH SET DANCING: Lesson at 6:30, dancing 7-9 pm at Kenyon Hall with the Puget Sound branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE, WITH CRIME/SAFETY ‘FOCUS GROUP”: 7 pm meeting at Highland Park Improvement Club. It starts with SPD researcher Jennifer Burbridge‘s “micro-community policing plan focus group,” which she’s been conducting in neighborhoods around West Seattle; another big topic, “developing our own Neighborhood Design Guidelines for Highland Park.” See the full agenda on the HPAC website. (12th SW/SW Holden)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 8:30 pm, 21+, free weekly open-microphone event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE OPTIONS … on our complete calendar, for today/tonight/beyond.
(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)
6:30 AM: Good morning! As we start the day, one look ahead to the weekend:
SATURDAY BUS ALERT: The Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown will bring bus reroutes on Saturday night (July 30th), including Route 21 and RapidRide C Line. Go here for the full reroute list.
8:28 AM: Still no traffic incidents of note in or from West Seattle.
(FIRST PUBLISHED 1:53 AM, UPDATED 12:10 PM)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“When you have two beautiful mixed race babies and you find this on your front porch. I am just thankful they can’t read yet.”
That’s how Stephanie Endres began her message to social-media friends late Tuesday night, after returning to her Pigeon Point home and discovering a racist, threatening hate note on her porch.
You can see it here – too much profanity for us to publish it as is, but here’s a redacted transcription:
I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS BULLS–T. U NEED TO GET YOUR N—— LOVING A– OUT OF HERE, AND ALL THESE BLACK LIVES MATTER BULLS–T. YOU F—— AROUND AND TEARING UP OUR RACE HAVING ALL THESE N—– BABIES. F—— N—— LOVER!!!! U AND ALL THESE N—— NEED TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY THAT’S OURS! ONE DAY YOUR KIDS WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE BEING ON THIS LAND. F—— N—– LOVERS!!!!!!!!!! WHITE LIVES MATTER F—— N—– LOVERS!!! GO TRUMP!!!
We don’t publish crime victims’ names without their permission; Endres granted hers, as well as permission to republish what she posted on Facebook. Multiple people contacted us after reading it, including her friend Brandy, who wrote, “She is a pillar in our community advocating to prevent homelessness. She has two beautiful bi-racial children and is now afraid for their safety. Please spread the word and inform our community.”
Stephanie’s advocacy, in fact, was featured here on WSB last fall, when she raised money to collect and distribute backpacks for kids in need. She is founder of Stephanie’s Lifeline/HOPE (Homeless Outreach Prevention and Education).
Last night, she concluded her post about the note: “This hate has got to stop. The coward who left this couldn’t even do it while we were home. Truly makes me uncomfortable to know people like this are in my neighborhood/community.”
When we reached her to follow up on others’ messages about her post, she told us, “We found the note around 930 pm and I have notified the police and filed a report. It will be treated as a hate crime and they will be investigating it.”
We will follow up on that later today.
ADDED 12:10 PM: SPD has just summarized this on SPD Blotter, including the answer to the question we’ve had out to them since this morning: “Police collected the letter and evidence and are now investigating the letter as a case of malicious harassment, Washington’s hate crime statute.”
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