West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglars on camera; abandoned bike; WSCPC tomorrow; taken the survey yet?
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: For the second time this week, a townhouse near 26th and Brandon has been broken into, and this time, the victim says, they have photos of the burglars as they entered the yard:
After entering via that gate, the victim says, “they used a neighbor’s ladder to get into my third-floor window and then left through the front door, through the neighbor’s yard.” They were last seen reported to have been “jumping into a dark-colored Acura.” While the images don’t show their faces, the victim hopes someone might recognize them by what they were wearing. If you have any information, contact SPD and refer to case 16-375915.
ANOTHER ABANDONED, LIKELY STOLEN BICYCLE: The photo is from Bill:
Bill says, “This bike has been at the Lander Street entry bike rack at the Admiral Safeway for some time now.”
And two reminders:
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL TOMORROW: 7 pm Tuesday is your monthly chance to bring crime/safety concerns directly to local police, and to hear from a guest speaker – this time, the topic is law-enforcement training, which factors directly into how fast agencies can hire new officers and put them on the street. All welcome, Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster.
PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY: If you missed the weekend announcement – the citywide survey that will shape micropolicing plans is now open for a second year. It’s scheduled to remain open through November but if you have a little time, answer it sooner rather than later – publicsafetysurvey.org.
WATER TAXI: Record ridership year, with 2 1/2 months to go
(Infographic provided by King County Department of Transportation)
The King County Department of Transportation says its West Seattle and Vashon Island Water Taxi runs already have passed last year’s total of 515,000 boardings, with two and a half months left in 2016. 339,479 riders were on the WS run, with 175,575 to/from Vashon, the county says, noting that this year’s spikes included the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure last spring and busier summer months than usual – 24,000 extra riders in June, July, and August.
(Water Taxi boarding @ Seacrest on May 2nd, Viaduct closure’s lone Monday. WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
You might recall that the West Seattle run used to shut down entirely during the fall and winter months, but that changed six years ago, and it now runs five days a week during the cooler months; this year’s weekday-only schedule starts on Halloween, two weeks from today.
Also coming up this fall: The King County Council will decide whether to approve County Executive Dow Constantine‘s proposal for stable, permanent funding for the Water Taxi, shifting $9 million in levy money that had been going to buses, but not increasing what taxpayers pay.
Read the official ridership-milestone announcement here.
Another crash with a street-sign casualty
2:51 PM Several people have asked us about police and fire at 34th SW/SW Thistle this past hour – it was logged as a low-level car-crash response (“Motor Vehicle Incident”) but the photo above, sent in via text (thank you!), shows one casualty … a street sign. At least the second time in less than a week that a car’s taken out a sign (following last week’s Alki crash). No medic unit sent to this one, which indicates no major injuries, but we’re doublechecking with SFD to be sure.
3:25 PM: SFD confirms it was a 2-car crash with no injuries.
CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Gunshot victim turns up at hospital
The gunshots heard near 30th/Roxbury early Saturday had a victim. There was no “assault with weapons” response because no one was found at the scene, but thanks to a tip from Tim, we were able to follow up today, and confirmed with King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West that a shooting victim showed up at Highline Hospital around 1:30 am Saturday. Sgt. West says, “He had multiple gunshot wounds. He had been driven to the hospital by a friend. The victim was later transferred to Harborview and is in serious but stable condition. He is a 30-year-old Seattle man. The shooting appears to have occurred somewhere near SW Roxbury and 30th Ave SW. Just prior to the victim showing up at Highline Hospital, SPD received numerous 911 calls of gunshots being heard in the area.” She says they don’t have any information about the circumstances of the shooting, or any description of the person(s) who did it. If you have any information that could help with the investigation, call 911.
NOW OPEN! Lincoln Park’s renovated north play area
The new equipment at Lincoln Park‘s North Play Area is officially open! We just went over for a look – the new kid-size “cable ride” (zipline) is open too. Here’s the announcement from Seattle Parks:
Lincoln Park play area is open. The renovated north play area features ‘tree house’ elements, a cable ride, new play equipment, a plaza and interactive information on migratory birds that can be found in Lincoln Park. The park also features inclusive and accessible play elements for all such as a group saucer swing, an accessible cable ride, an accessible sand table, and a small alcove for sensory sensitive children.
Pathways between the shelter and the play area, additional plantings around the play area, and the accessible pathway connection to Fauntleroy Way SW is anticipated to be completed by the end of October 2016.
The Seattle Park District provided the funding for this renovation. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for Seattle Parks and Recreation including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.
Extra touches in the play area include bird photos/info – including this one with a photo by Trileigh Tucker, the local photographer/writer who has long shared photos here on WSB:
(P.S. The Northern Flicker photo on another sign is also by Trileigh, and she says there’s a raven photo by Mark Ahlness, another local photographer who’s shared images here too.)
Meantime – as mentioned in the Parks announcement above, the play area also features “inclusive and accessible” elements.
You might recall those resulting from participation by former Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) students who had been advocating for exactly that type of a play space (here’s our original report, and our December followup). If you’re not familiar with the location of the north play area – walk into the park heading north from the north end of the central parking lot at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, or from the northernmost kiosk-enhanced entrance along Fauntleroy a bit further north.
HAPPY HUNDREDTH! Marie Prichett shares her secret to long life
West Seattle has another centenarian! Marie Prichett‘s family shared the photo and report about her 100th birthday celebration:
Surrounded by friends and family members who came from Seattle, Southern California, and points in between, Marie made a stylish grand entrance in a midnight-blue lace cocktail dress. A sit-down dinner was served, complete with birthday cake, and there was live music from the Roaring Twenties by “The Double Barrs.”
Born in Spokane in 1916, Marie graduated from the University of Washington in 1937. She married the late Cecil Prichett in 1940, and they had two children, Jack and Anne. Marie has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Marie taught school, first in Bellingham and later in California, retiring in 1977. She moved from Oakland to Seattle in 2004 to be near her family. Marie has traveled all over the world, including extended solo travel in retirement, after Cecil died. These days, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, and regularly participates in games and social activities at Brookdale.
What does Marie say is the secret to long life? “Good luck,” and she wishes good luck to everyone.
Marie’s 100th birthday party was on October 8th at Brookdale West Seattle. We love to share community members’ milestones – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Here’s where in West Seattle you can be part of Duwamish Alive!
(WSB file photo from a past Duwamish Alive! event)
If this isn’t already on your calendar – the Duwamish River will benefit from just a few hours of your time next Saturday (October 22nd). Five sites along the river and in its watershed are in need of volunteers for the fall edition of Duwamish Alive!, 9:30 am-2 pm on Saturday. It’s one of the two days each year when hundreds of people volunteer to help our area’s only river. Here’s how:
Join our community effort to restore native habitat within the Duwamish Watershed on Saturday, October 22nd, while celebrating the connection of our urban forests to our river and salmon. Starting at 10:00 am volunteers will gear up at multiple Duwamish sites including one of our largest urban forests – the West Duwamish Greenbelt – to participate in planting and removing invasive weeds in an effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon and the Puget Sound. Volunteers are still needed at:
Pigeon Point Park
Roxhill Bog, headwaters of Longfellow Creek
Delridge Wetlands, tributary of Longfellow Creek
Longfellow Creek at Greg Davis Park
Herring’s House Park, along the river
(outside West Seattle) Hamm Creek/Duwamish Substation, along the river
To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and RSVP to the contact for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org
Other work sites include a river cleanup by kayak, shoreline salmon habitat restoration, and native forest revitalization while enjoying our autumn. Families, company groups, clubs, individuals, schools, community organizations, are encouraged to participate, and no experience is necessary.
The workday at all 15 sites begins at 9:30 with volunteer sign-in and concludes at 2 PM. Refreshments, tools, and instructions will be provided. All ages and abilities welcomed.
West Seattle Halloween Guide 2016 now up!
Two weeks until Halloween, and dozens of special events are on the way. As of early today, our annual West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide is up, so you can find them all in one place: Not just trick-or-treat events, but fall festivals, haunted houses, costume contests, pumpkin carving, bar parties, Dia de Los Muertos events, nd more. The guide is at westseattleblog.com/halloween. The guide will continue to evolve between now and November 1st – adding events as we hear about them, and removing the ones that have already happened – so keep checking in. And if we’re missing YOUR public seasonal event – please send info as soon as you can – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can add it; thank you! (Photo: Reader-contributed jack-o-lantern pic from past Halloween)
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates & 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)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported right now in/from West Seattle.
7:30 AM: Just spun through the live video feeds from the city map – all WS views look OK.
As for road-work alerts – the city called off the Harbor Island closures for the Spokane Street repaving project last weekend because of weather concerns, so we’re waiting to hear where that stands this week. Admiral Way striping west of California still has some work to be done, particularly at the Alki end of the project zone. If you see any other road work of note, please let us know, when you can, since it’s not all pre-announced … 206-293-6302 text or voice, editor@westseattleblog.com e-mail – thank you!
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