West Seattle, Washington

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month : 10/2017 325 results

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: 1st Ave. S./Spokane intersection reopens after bicycle/truck collision
October 10, 2017 4:49 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:49 PM: Thanks for the tips: If you use 1st Avenue South to get to/from, or instead of, the West Seattle Bridge, be advised the intersection is closed right now, after a collision that SPD says involved a bicycle rider and a semitruck.

5:39 PM: Per scanner, 1st/Spokane is now reopening, all directions. Right now, though, we don’t have any information about the condition of anyone involved in the collision.

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: As noted in comments, SPD provided some information in a blotter post today; the collision involved a bicyclist and dump-truck driver. The bicyclist is a 61-year-old man whose injuries are described as life-threatening.

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WHO LEFT A DOG TO DIE? Reward offered to find person who threw dog from car in West Seattle
October 10, 2017 2:43 pm
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Pets | West Seattle news

The Seattle Animal Shelter just sent this alert, seeking help in finding the person who threw an ailing dog out of a car in West Seattle near Fairmount Park Elementary School last month:

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons who failed to provide veterinary care for a dog then abandoned him in West Seattle. The dog was in clear medical distress and was suffering when someone tossed him from a stopped vehicle.

On Sunday, Sept. 24, a witness observed the dog being tossed from a purple Dodge minivan by someone described as a heavyset African-American man with dreadlocks. This incident occurred in the 5600 block of 38th Avenue SW [map]. A Seattle Animal Shelter officer responded and transported the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic. Unfortunately, the dog did not survive. Abandoning an animal and failing to provide medical care necessary for an animal’s health or to alleviate its pain are crimes, said Seattle Animal Shelter Executive Director Ann Graves.

“This is a very disturbing case of callousness and an act of animal cruelty,” Graves said.

If you recognize the dog or the description of the van or know who is responsible for abandoning this dog, please call Seattle Animal Shelter’s acting manager of field services, Don Baxter, at 206-386-4288 and reference case number C04542592. Any information about the person who did this is vital to solving this case, Graves said.

“Abandoning an animal that is suffering and in desperate need of medical attention is unconscionable and a clear violation of our state’s animal cruelty statutes,” said Dan Paul, Washington state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “We are grateful the Seattle Animal Shelter was able to respond quickly and hopeful that this reward brings forward anyone with information about this heinous act of cruelty.”

First degree animal cruelty is a Class C felony punishable by five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.

The Seattle Animal Shelter enforces both SMC 9.25.081 and RCW 16.52.205, which make it illegal to abuse or neglect an animal. If you feel that an animal is being neglected or abused, please contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387).

The dog was gray and white, male, and, in the only photo provided by SAS, appears to be dying or already dead, so be forewarned if you decide to click.

ADDED 4:31 PM: Full description of the dog, as an alternative to viewing the photo, from SAS: “Adult (estimated age 4-6 years), unneutered male, American Pitbull Terrier, gray/blue in color with white on the neck/chest, feet, and a blaze marking up the muzzle.”

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NEED A FLU SHOT? Two school clinics Wednesday
October 10, 2017 2:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

Thanks to school nurse Alison Enochs for the heads-up on these flu-shot clinics tomorrow afternoon (remember that Wednesdays are early-release days all year in Seattle Public Schools, so this is basically happening “after school”):

DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL GALLERIA (2601 SW Kenyon): Rite-Aid is presenting this flu-shot clinic. No cost if you have insurance, $34.99 if not. 1:30-5:30 pm Wednesday (October 11th).

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL (3000 California SW): 3-6 pm Wednesday. Bring your insurance card (all plans except Cigna will be billed); if you don’t have insurance, no cost for people under 18 (who need a patient-consent form signed by a parent or guardian, available at the clinic), $30 for 18 and up.

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VIDEO: 59th/Admiral ‘improvements’ made things worse, Alki Elementary parents say
October 10, 2017 12:57 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Our video is from 59th and Admiral, during the Monday morning walk to school at Alki Elementary, just north of the intersection. It’s been a little over a month since SDOT changed the intersection to an all-way stop – previously, east-west traffic didn’t have to stop unless the north-south signal on the east side of the intersection was activated by pedestrian(s). It’s the first phase of what SDOT announced as a two-way “crossing improvement.” Some say it’s been anything but.

Parents from Alki Elementary have formed a Traffic Safety Task Force. They met with us at the intersection before school at Monday morning to show us what they say are more-dangerous conditions since the change, with some drivers still seeming confused about how the intersection is supposed to work, resulting in, for example, turns made through the crosswalk while pedestrians are still in it:

In the parents’ correspondence with SDOT so far, it’s been reiterated that the department is evaluating the changes over a six-month period before deciding whether to make them permanent and to continue to Phase 2. The parents say this is more urgent than that – we’re going into the dark, rainy months and even on the clearest winter day, many will be crossing before sunrise, and the intersection is challenging enough now.

The one marked crosswalk at the intersection already serves as the only marked crossing on Admiral Way from 49th to 59th, all part of the Alki Elementary attendance zone.

What they want, as Merkys Gomez from the Task Force summarizes: “An all-way traffic signal (i.e. traffic light) that is pedestrian and vehicle activated with no-turn-on-red signs, and red light and speeding cameras for ticketing, at a minimum, during school commute times. We also need appropriate signage installed indicating that this is a school zone, with flashing beacons.”

While the city hasn’t added red-light cameras in a long time (West Seattle has two, at 35th/Avalon and 35th/Thistle), it’s continued to slowly expand the list of speed-enforcement cameras in school zones; in West Seattle, they are installed along Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary, along Delridge Way SW near Louisa Boren STEM K-8, and along SW Roxbury near Roxhill Elementary (which is scheduled to be vacated next school year) and Holy Family School. Even more elementaries have flashing “20 mph school zone” beacons, minus cameras, nearby, including Genesee Hill, Highland Park, and Gatewood.

This morning, the Traffic Safety Task Force parents were scheduled to meet with at least one SDOT official to continue discussing their concerns. But the request for a full-service signal has already been turned down – here’s what SDOT spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg told the Alki parents via e-mail:

Unfortunately, at this time traffic operations do not meet Federal Highway guidelines for full signal installation so this is not a resolution we can move forward.

Noting that 47th/Admiral has a full signal, without a school zone in the immediate area, they are asking for an explanation of where 59th/Admiral doesn’t meet “guidelines.” They also want to know how SDOT is collecting “public input” during the six-month review, as they haven’t seen any calls for it yet.

By the way, as shown in our video above, the intersection does have a crossing guard – but not guaranteed; the parents say that if the guard has an off or sick day, they’re not replaced. Not that the guard’s presence in the roadway prevented all rule-breaking, we noticed while we were there. SDOT told the parents that when a traffic officer was at the intersection in the early going after the all-way-stop change, SPD saw “99 percent compliance,” but didn’t provide data, so the parents are asking for that too.

ADDED TUESDAY EVENING: Nearby resident Tim has since recorded video at the intersection and provided it to the Alki Elementary Traffic Safety Task Force as well as to us, via this YouTube clip.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Stolen West Seattle ATM found; where the forklift came from
October 10, 2017 11:43 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo from Sunday morning)

Continuing to pursue several West Seattle Crime Watch followups, we just got an update on Sunday morning’s ATM theft at the 44th/Edmunds Chase drive-up in The Junction: Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson tells us the stolen ATM was “recovered (Monday) morning at a location in the South Precinct,” so that precinct is now handling the followup investigation. He also provided the narrative from Sunday morning’s original theft report. The report says that the ATM was already gone when police arrived, responding to the 911 call “that a forklift was being used to steal an ATM machine.” Police were told that the ATM was “loaded into a Penske moving truck which left in an unknown direction.” The report says the forklift – which, as we reported Sunday, was left behind – had been stolen from a construction site in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW (which would be about four blocks east of the theft location), and was eventually taken back to that site by private tow after it was checked for prints and other evidence. At the time the report was filed, police were working to get access to the camera that potentially had video of the theft. Meantime, as we added yesterday to Sunday’s report, Chase says replacement plans are already in progress and the ATM location should be back in business by the end of the month.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Admiral, Fauntleroy, South Park community meetings, and more
October 10, 2017 9:58 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(This rainbow made a brief appearance early Sunday, seen looking north from Upper Alki. Photo by Don Brubeck)

Somewhere over the rainbow … your neighbors are working to make West Seattle the best place it can be. Second Tuesday of the month means at least three community-council meetings in our area most months. They’re on the list of calendar highlights for today/tonight, with more:

PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER AT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE HIGH POINT: 10:30-11:30 am preschool-enrichment event: “‘Sense-Sational’ Science Show with the Pacific Science Center.” Geared toward kids 3-5 but all ages welcome. Free. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

SOUTH SEATTLE FIBER ARTS CLUB: Knitters, crocheters, quilters, etc. are invited to drop in at Highland Park Improvement Club and work on their projects with the South Seattle Fiber Arts Club, 11 am-1 pm. Free and open to the public. (1116 SW Holden)

RECYCLED-PAPER-COLLAGE WORKSHOP: 6-8 pm with Linda McClamrock at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – check our listing to see how to register. (

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral. Guests include Judie Messier from the Westside Neighbors Network “virtual village” forming in West Seattle to help people “age in place.” This year’s Admiral District Trick or Treating event will be discussed, too. All welcome. (42nd SW/SW Lander)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm FCA board meeting at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse; all welcome. (9131 California SW)

SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at the South Park Neighborhood Center, with the featured guest Sgt. Eric Zerr from the city’s Navigation Team. All welcome. (8201 10th Ave. S.)

AND THERE’S LOTS MORE for today/tonight/beyond … check it out on our full calendar.

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FROM THE LOST/FOUND PETS PAGE: WSB readers help bring Poppy the cat home after 3+ weeks
October 10, 2017 9:00 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

If you don’t check in on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, you might have missed this news, so we’re mentioning it here too: Poppy the Siamese cat is home. More than three weeks after disappearing from Pigeon Point – we posted owner Teresa‘s notice on September 17th – he turned up near the “low bridge” yesterday morning. In the comment section of Poppy’s post, bicyclist Alan explained that he had seen another rider looking for a Siamese cat who had run across the bike path and hidden in the bushes. Alan told the other rider about Poppy. That rider, John, contacted Poppy‘s people (Alan had called too); Teresa later posted, “I was able to go to the exact location you described and find him. … He has lost quite a bit of weight but seems to be in pretty good shape other than that.” As another comment pointed out, Poppy’s people had gone to great lengths to have the entire peninsula on the lookout for him.

We are glad the WSB Lost/Found Pets page – the only West Seattle-wide lost/found pets page, with hundreds of reunions since 2008 thanks to caring readers – could help; e-mail info/photo/contact # to editor@westseattleblog.com if you are looking for/have found a pet.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
October 10, 2017 7:24 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:24 AM: No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

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BE READY: Seattle City Light reminds us that storm season is nearing
October 9, 2017 9:02 pm
|    Comments Off on BE READY: Seattle City Light reminds us that storm season is nearing
 |   Preparedness | Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photos. Above, closeup look at the fuse that can blow to ‘isolate damage’)

Though the weather’s been relatively calm otherwise, Friday’s breeziness might have reminded you that windstorm season is getting closer. And with – sometimes without – wind, comes power trouble. That’s why Seattle City Light invited media crews to its SODO yard (the one next to the West Seattle Bridge on 4th Avenue South) today. The message was twofold: City Light is working to upgrade technology to shorten outages – and urges you to be ready for them. Here’s spokesperson Scott Thomsen:

The briefing included an explanation of what some describe as “transformer explosions” – they are actually fuses that blow protectively:

When a tree falls into power lines, or heavy ice and snow weigh down branches that then cross two or more power lines, it creates a short circuit. The resulting power surge that could damage equipment. Utilities have circuit breakers and fuses in place to protect equipment, such as the transformers that reduce the voltage of electricity from the distribution grid to the service level voltage for your home or business. Those breakers open and fuses blow to isolate damage and protect other equipment, which reduces the likelihood of prolonged power outages for entire neighborhoods.

Once power is out, crews have to both fix the problem and route power around it. New technology is being tested that will automatically handle the latter. In the meantime, SCL continues to take preventive measures such as tree-trimming and vegetation-clearing along 600 miles of power lines every year.

Though SCL is also starting to install automated meters that will give the system a better idea of who’s out and where, they still ask you to call when the power goes out – 206-684-3000 – keep that number in your phone. And check out these preparedness checklists – before the weather gets into the potential-outage zone.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 1965 Valiant stolen; another hole-in-gas-tank case; more
October 9, 2017 7:35 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with the theft of a classic car:

STOLEN 1965 PLYMOUTH VALIANT: You would know it if you saw it. Devon sent that photo with this report:

One of our daily drivers was stolen from outside of our house within the last month and police have had no luck tracking it down. The thieves broke into our home, found the keys, and as well as taking other valuable things from inside, they took our car. It is a 1965 Plymouth Valiant 4 door that is a creamy white color and has areas on the doors where it is just primer (white). It was taken from 28th Ave SW between SW Holden & SW Webster. We made a police report as soon as it happened with the Southwest Precinct and the case number is 17-343770. It is a one-of-a-kind car in this area and we’re hoping someone has seen it or knows something! Thank you.

ANOTHER HOLE-IN-GAS-TANK CASE: Last Wednesday, we mentioned a report of multiple punctured gas tanks. Nick reports it happened to him today:

This morning around 9 am, my Toyota Tacoma truck had its gas tank drilled out and emptied of 17 gallons of gasoline while I volunteered at Fairmount Park Elementary. This was in front of 5437 Fauntleroy Ave SW, near SW Findlay St.

I plugged the hole with a bolt and made it to the Toyota dealer in SODO, where I was told this has been happening lately, especially to pickups. I filed a police report, but with no suspects or witnesses, I don’t see the vandals being caught…yet. Keep an eye out for people lurking around vehicles with a drill…

BROKEN CAR WINDOW: This too is not the first such report we’ve received lately. Kyle sent the photo and report from Arbor Heights:

This morning I came out to my car to find the rear windshield had been broken. We live on 100th and 39th.There are never any valuables kept in the car; as a result no items were taken. This appears to be just vandalism. We thought that we lived in a safe neighborhood and we have a street light right in front of our house, but now we are thinking we need to invest in a security camera.

He later sent an update, mentioning finding a one-inch marble inside the car, suspecting that is what was used to break the window.

P.S. Next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – when you can bring neighborhood concerns to, and hear about crime trends/crimefighting emphases from, local police – is a week from tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17th, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct.

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PORT PROJECT: Removal of 2,000 creosote pilings to start this week
October 9, 2017 5:04 pm
|    Comments Off on PORT PROJECT: Removal of 2,000 creosote pilings to start this week
 |   Environment | Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

5:04 PM: A $6.8 million Port of Seattle project to remove 2,000 creosote pilings from the north end of Terminal 5 is about to start. Port commissioner John Creighton mentioned it in his “State of the Port” speech to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce last month, and port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB it’s about to begin:

he Port of Seattle will remove more than 2,000 creosote treated piles and 5,000 sq. ft. of overwater coverage from Elliott Bay, off the north end of Terminal 5, beginning this week.

The port has worked with the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State departments of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Muckleshoot and Duwamish Tribes to plan and execute removal of the piles/overwater cover. The work is being done in advance of a Superfund cleanup project being undertaken by the Lockheed Martin Company in the same area.

Removal of the piles is required as part of a lease termination agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.

Through 2016 the port has removed 11,420 creosote treated piles and is on track to remove 80 percent of all creosote treated piles from port-owned facilities by 2026.

The Terminal 5 pile removal project is expected to be completed by the end of March, 2018.

There’s more backstory in this document from a Port Commission meeting back in June, and we have followup questions out about exactly how the pilings will be removed and disposed of.

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Port spokesperson McGraw has answered those questions with information from the contractor’s Demolition Work Plan – read on for the details: Read More

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TWO DAYS AWAY: West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief
October 9, 2017 3:00 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

As announced last week, this Wednesday, October 11th, is a multiple-venue fundraiser for hurricane and earthquake victims, West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief, organized by three local service clubs – the West Seattle Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. Five restaurants are donating part of their proceeds, 5-9 pm, according to organizers:

Be’s Restaurant (4509 California SW; checking on hours, since it usually closes earlier)
Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW)
Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya (4203 SW Alaska)
Puerto Vallarta (4727 California SW)
Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta (3401 California SW)

At those venues, you also can drop off checks for direct donations to disaster relief – made out to the Rotary Service Foundation with the specific codes and designations mentioned on this page. We’ll have another update tomorrow.

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UPDATE: Suspect in custody after Admiral assault, short standoff
October 9, 2017 12:55 pm
|      100 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WS breaking news

12:55 PM: If you’re wondering about the police response in Admiral – they are dealing with a woman reported to be in crisis, reported to have a knife, according to scanner traffic. This is happening near 41st SW and SW College [map]. An “assault with weapons” SFD response also has been dispatched. More as we get it.

1:01 PM: Still per scanner, they are trying to talk the woman into dropping the knife. We don’t know if anyone has been injured.

1:08 PM: Please avoid the area; the police presence is continuing to grow.

1:20 PM: We’ve spoken to a witness who lives near the scene. We’ve also learned that another woman was injured and has been taken to the hospital – she’s who the SFD response was for – and the woman with whom police are dealing is a suspect. The witness tells us that he first saw two women, one of them clearly having been injured and yelling for help, the one that police are now trying to take into custody. SWAT officers have arrived.

(Photo added – officers taking suspect into custody)

1:25 PM: Our crew confirms what we just heard via scanner – the suspect is in custody.

1:35 PM: Lieutenant at the scene tells our crew that the victim has “cuts,” not life-threatening injuries. The suspect will be booked into jail; she is described as having surrendered voluntarily (no force used, though police had a Taser-equipped officer standing by as well as SWAT). 41st SW has just reopened.

2:48 PM: Christopher Boffoli, one of two photojournalists who were at the scene for WSB, recorded this video of the suspect’s surrender and arrest:

We will follow the case through the system.

3:54 PM: Here’s what has just been posted on SPD Blotter. The only detail in it that we didn’t have is the suspect’s age, 26.

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ELECTION 2017: Not registered to vote? Today’s the deadline to sign up online!
October 9, 2017 11:25 am
|    Comments Off on ELECTION 2017: Not registered to vote? Today’s the deadline to sign up online!
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Though November 7th is Election Day, ballots go out a lot sooner – October 18th, less than a week and a half away. If you’re not already registered to vote, today is the last day to do it the easiest way – online. If you’re into procrastinating, you can do it in person until October 30th, but why wait? Find more how-to info here.

P.S. Besides the mayor’s race, you’ll also be voting on:
-Two citywide City Council positions
-City Attorney
-Three School Board positions
-Three Port Commission positions
-County Executive
-County Sheriff
–County Proposition 1
-Two judges
–Three state “advisory measures,” including one about the education-funding tax increase

P.P.S. The only major West Seattle forum of the general-election campaign is one week from Thursday – 6:30 pm October 19th, presented by the WS Chamber of Commerce and WS Transportation Coalition, focused on business and transportation issues, at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska), with candidates for mayor and City Council Positions 8 and 9 expected.

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6 ways to spend the rest of your West Seattle Monday
October 9, 2017 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on 6 ways to spend the rest of your West Seattle Monday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Photo by Peter Commons)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE: If you can donate blood, you’ll find the mobile donation van at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) today, by the Clock Tower, 10:30 am-4:30 pm, closed for a break 12:30 pm-1:30 pm. Walk-ups welcome. (6000 16th SW)

PHYSICAL THERAPY NIGHT: Monthly assessment event at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)

NEW ALL-GENDER SCOUTING GROUP: Tonight’s the first evening meeting for the new all-gender scouting group, part of the Baden-Powell Service Association, forming in West Seattle: “The group is divided into Chipmunks (age 2-4), Otters (age 5-7), Timberwolves (age 8-11), Pathfinders (age 12-17), and Rovers (ages 18+).” 6-7:15 pm at High Point Library. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

FREE FAMILY ZUMBA CLASS: 6 pm at Lil’ Bug Studio, a new series of family Zumba classes is starting, and the first one is free. (10007 13th SW)

EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. This month’s title is “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante. All welcome! (2306 42nd SW)

MONDAY NIGHT MEDITATION: 7 pm at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor): “Each week we will explore a different aspect of Buddhist psychology and the practical ways we can apply it within our modern, busy lives.” This week, the topic is “Consideration for Others.” (5639 California SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
October 9, 2017 6:59 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
 |   West Seattle news

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

6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Monday. While it’s a federal holiday, it’s not observed locally, so transit and schools are on normal schedules.

8:39 AM: ‪A stalled/stuck semitruck is blocking Genesee’s eastbound lane 2 blocks west of Delridge. SPD is directing traffic‬.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Weekend’s end
October 8, 2017 11:42 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Weekend’s end
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Jim Spraker)

Thanks for the Sunday sunset photos!

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)

The week will start with sunshine, the forecast says, before the clouds take over.

(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)

If the forecast holds true, this might have been our last colorful sunset for a while.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Neighbors’ TLC for Dragonfly Park
October 8, 2017 9:22 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Neighbors’ TLC for Dragonfly Park
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photos courtesy Friends of Dragonfly Park)

Some of your neighbors spent part of the weekend giving TLC to some of the peninsula’s special spots – among them, Dragonfly Park in North Delridge, just upslope from Longfellow Creek. Above, the volunteers from Friends of Dragonfly Park who weeded and mulched on Saturday morning.

Laura Bruco from Friends of Dragonfly Park says they’ll “likely have another event within the next few weeks” since they didn’t have quite enough mulch and burlap to accomplish everything they had hoped to. They’re also expecting Seattle Parks to bring in equipment to do some work on the open areas soon too. After that, Laura says, “we’ll be focusing on fundraising and planning for new plantings next year.” You can find the group online here, and you can reach Laura at lauramaybruco@gmail.com. (And there’s more backstory in the garden-work-party announcement we published earlier this week.)

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West Seattle weekend scene: 2017 Blessing of the Animals @ St. John’s
October 8, 2017 7:39 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

16 dogs and their people showed up for this afternoon’s Blessing of the Animals, presented in the West Seattle High School parking lot every fall by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. It’s always held on a Sunday near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and the faith leaders offering blessings usually include a Brother from the Order of Saint Francis – this year, Br. Paul Dahlke:

Also blessing the animals in attendance, Rev. Kate Wesch, on her first Sunday as St. John’s new Rector:

Her daughter Avery was there too, with Riley, who she’s been dog-sitting:

This was the 10th year for the blessings at St. John’s, dating back to 2008.

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VIADUCT CLOSURE OVER: 99 open both ways
October 8, 2017 5:08 pm
|    Comments Off on VIADUCT CLOSURE OVER: 99 open both ways
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

Crossing the eastbound West Seattle Bridge about 10 minutes ago, we noticed the ramp to NB 99 was open again, unannounced. And now WSDOT has confirmed the closure is over – Highway 99 is open again both ways.

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UPDATE: ‘Lightning arrester’ causes power outage on Duwamish Head
October 8, 2017 4:27 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

4:27 PM: Thanks to the texter who just mentioned that some residents along Harbor and Alki Avenues in the Duwamish Head area have been without power since midday. The Seattle City Light map says 91 customers – no businesses in that area, so the number would all be residences – are out, and currently estimates restoration by early evening. “Equipment failure” is blamed.

6:19 PM: City Light map says everyone’s back on. (If you’re NOT – be sure to call SCL at 206-684-3000 to be sure they know!)

ADDED MONDAY MIDDAY: While at an unrelated City Light media event today, we asked spokesperson Scott Thomsen for further info about this outage’s cause. He tells us, “It was caused by a failed lightning arrester.” (Don’t know what that is? Here’s an explanation.)

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HIT AND RUN? Motorcyclist found injured in West Seattle; family seeking information
October 8, 2017 1:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Very early Friday morning, a motorcyclist was seriously hurt on the southeast edge of West Seattle. His family is looking for information on what happened. From Tonya:

My husband was involved in a probable hit-and-run accident on his motorcycle, sometime between 2-3 AM, Friday, October 6th, right where SW Roxbury turns into Olson Place [map]. He was found unconscious and injured after being thrown off his bike, and doesn’t remember the incident at all. If anyone was in the area or has heard anyone talking about seeing this, please contact the police!

Tonya says her husband was headed south/east, toward 509, and rides a copper Harley. His injuries include a fractured vertebra. If you have information for police, the incident number is 17-371222, according to Tweets by Beat.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Junction Chase drive-up ATM stolen
October 8, 2017 8:58 am
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

8:58 AM: Don’t bother trying to go to the Chase drive-up ATM at Edmunds/44th in The Junction – our photo shows what you’ll find. A texter said the ATM was taken before 6 am and that a forklift was still at the scene then (we checked with TrueValue across the street and they told us it wasn’t theirs). We are working right now to find out more from police.

9:16 AM: We couldn’t find officers in the area, though two SPD vehicles were nearby, so we went to the Southwest Precinct to ask. The desk officer told us the theft happened around 3:30 am and confirmed a forklift was left at the scene and has since been impounded; no other details yet because everyone working the case is still out. This is the second such theft in The Junction in less than a year, after the US Bank ATM heist a block away last January, also early on a Sunday morning. (added) And it’s the third in West Seattle in a year and a half, after an ATM was stolen from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in May 2016 and turned up in an Arbor Heights yard.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: No new information available from police yet. But we asked a regional spokesperson for Chase whether/when the ATM would be replaced; she said plans are already in the works and that it would be “later this month.”

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