West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

43℉

day : 27/12/2017 10 results

Two emergency calls you might have wondered about
December 27, 2017 9:46 pm
|    Comments Off on Two emergency calls you might have wondered about
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We monitored two emergency calls in the past hour that were both downgraded relatively quickly but had initially sizable responses, so in case you wondered:

-SPD/SFD call to 42nd/Alaska (Junction Plaza Park/QFC side) just after 9 pm initially went out as “assault with weapons” and police were requesting a K-9, but then they discovered that the victim had been injured more than an hour earlier so any possible suspect was long gone. We don’t know the circumstances but the injury was not major enough for medic-unit transport; a private ambulance was called.

-SFD call to 25th/Barton (north of Westwood Village) at 8:45 pm turned out to be a fireplace problem rather than an actual fire.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Honda Grom motorcycle
December 27, 2017 8:28 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Honda Grom motorcycle
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Steve hopes you will keep an eye out for his motorcycle, stolen today:

2015 Honda Grom, black with an orange stunt setup
License plate: 5E7102
Police Report # 17-475056

It was stolen between 9:30 am – 5:30 pm on 12/27/17 from my apartment’s garage in North Admiral, West Seattle. If you see it, please call 911.

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READER REPORT: The case of the stolen-and-bought-back ski boots
December 27, 2017 6:30 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The crime didn’t happen in West Seattle, but the resolution did, with the assistance of Southwest Precinct officers, and Zach (a WS resident) wanted to share the story:

3 days ago, on Christmas eve-eve, downtown underneath the viaduct, someone smashed my wife and I’s car window and absconded with our ski bag.

In the bag: ski boots, pants, jacket, etc. An intolerable expense to replace. However, as the days went by it was less about losing the “stuff,” as it’s just stuff, and instead, the angst hinged on the nuisance of the insurance claim and getting the glass repaired, and above all, the feeling of obtrusion my wife and I felt. Our karma, we thought, was past due. Insert the SPD.

Yesterday, the day after Christmas, I perused OfferUp (a safer Craigslist) for my recently stolen ski boots. Alas, there they were! I messaged the “owner” of my boots and he agreed to sell me the boots. Amazingly, I got him to meet me at the Home Depot right across the street from the Southwest Precinct. I called the precinct for help and I was quickly connected with Larry Longley, to whom I divulged my story. He asked us, an hour before I was to meet the ski boot “owner,” to stop by the Precinct to see how SPD could help me safely retrieve my ski boots.

In addition to Larry Longley: Officers Andre Constantine, Jack Johns, Ryan Levens, Garth Lindelef, and Ken Mazzuca were there with my wife and I at the precinct. They were gracious with their time, curious, and extremely helpful. They were fervent in their mission to help law-abiding citizens, yet were buckled by bureaucracy. They unmasked my issue as thus: I could not prove these boots were mine (disclaimer, take a picture of all your valuables) and because we couldn’t prove the man meeting me stole them, we were stuck on how to proceed.

With the officer’s guidance, we devised a plan and operated within the boundaries of the law: I was to go meet the “owner” (thief) and ask him a barrage of ski-related questions – that he clearly wouldn’t be able to answer – in order to fluster and redirect him, all the while, the officers did a civil standby (an amazing service I had no idea existed) to make sure I wasn’t harmed. It worked flawlessly. With the police officers behind me, I effectively confronted the thief and got him to admit the boots weren’t his, I then gave the thief $10 to complete a transaction so he wouldn’t file a complaint of theft (incredulous, right?) and I victoriously went on my way.

Thank you Seattle Police Department, for your patience and inclination to help. Keep up the good work!!!

(Though we can’t find an official SPD page about “civil standbys,” here’s a local lawyer’s explanation.)

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BIZNOTE: 2018 to bring ownership changes at Swedish Automotive, West Seattle Autoworks
December 27, 2017 2:47 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: L-R, Dave Winters, Sandra Wanstall, Todd Ainsworth, Chris Christensen, Nathen Huie)

You might recall that back after Swedish Automotive moved into its bigger, greener location at 7901 35th SW seven years ago, its old location at 7501 35th SW – four blocks north – was taken over by West Seattle Autoworks.

The two businesses (both longtime WSB sponsors, and co-sponsors of the annual West Seattle Car Show) have retained close ties, and now they’ll be closer than ever: Early in the New Year, WS Autoworks co-founders Todd Ainsworth and Chris Christensen will become the new owners of Swedish Automotive, whose longtime owners Dave Winters and Sandra Wanstall are retiring.

With that change, West Seattle Autoworks will be co-owned by Chris and lead tech Nathen Huie, who has worked there with Chris and Todd since they all moved from Alki Auto Repair in 2010.

This has been in the works a while – Dave has been in the vehicle-repair business in West Seattle for more than 30 years, and when he and Sandra started talking about retirement a few years ago, they looked for the right people to take over, first talking with staff members, and then Chris and Todd.

With the ownership changes, Todd will be at Swedish full time; Chris will split his time between the two locations. Nothing else is changing, we’re told – both locations will remain open, and the makes/models of vehicles they work on will remain the same – at Swedish, it’s Volvo, Saab, Subaru, and Mini; at WS Autoworks, “everything else.”

And you are invited to come help celebrate everyone’s new roles at an open house/farewell event set for 5-8 pm Monday, January 8th, at Tap Station (35th/Kenyon, right across from Swedish).

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GRATITUDE: The Christmas People say thanks for your 2017 help, and look ahead to 2018
December 27, 2017 1:16 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy publisher of Here Comes Noodle)

A message of gratitude today from The Christmas People – who, as previewed here, served a free Christmas dinner in West Seattle as well as distributing hundreds of meals to people in need elsewhere in the city, made possible by many donations:

More than 100 families from the West Seattle Community made merry the hearts of hundreds of homeless people during the Christmas holiday by donating a total of 7600 cookies, making financial donations, and giving 360 hours of combined labor in the kitchen, serving, sitting with those who were alone, sorting cookies, delivering meals to shut-ins, and delivering meals to the shelters in Seattle we serve at Christmas. In addition to the cookies, we served 150 meals in the Alki Masonic Center Dining Room, and we also delivered 1600 cookies on Tuesday to three shelters: Mary’s Place, Compass Center and Union Gospel Mission.

The Christmas People, in conjunction with Alki Masonic Center, are planning next year’s event in 2018 beginning Saturday, December 22, to Tuesday, December 25, with a complimentary meal for homeless, seniors, and others who need a meal on Tuesday, December 25 from noon to four.

A special thank you to members of the West Seattle Community for their outpouring of support and to the West Seattle Blog for outstanding support.

Fred Hutchinson and Ruth Bishop, Co-Founders

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Golf course closed
December 27, 2017 12:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Though the snow stopped more than 48 hours ago, some effects linger. The latest: The snow aftermath has the West Seattle Golf Course closed today, along with the city’s three other golf courses. We went over to verify and found a sign on the clubhouse door, plus the still-snowy scene you see above.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Lights, music, fitness!
December 27, 2017 10:56 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Don Brubeck – looking over the Duwamish River early today)

Highlights for the rest of your Wednesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

SOUTHWEST POOL: Multiple public sessions between noon and 8:30 pm – see the schedule here. (2801 SW Thistle)

HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW: Most local music/lights displays continue through New Year’s (see the list in the Holiday Guide), but tonight is the last special custom characters-in-lights show at the Uehara-Bingen home on Alki, 6:30 pm, “kid-friendly,” all welcome. (1736 Alki SW)

WEST SEATTLE GET FIT – INFORMATION NIGHT: 7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), get a jump on your New Year’s resolution to get fit – find out about this free program to get you from “couch to half-marathon.” (2743 California SW)

THE BILLY JOE SHOW HOLIDAY COCKTAIL PARTY: Enjoy music from Billy Joe Huels of the Dusty 45s at West 5 tonight starting at 7 pm. Tasty drinks/food available, but no cover. (4539 California SW)

ALAN SOBEL AND TIM CASHMAN: Special musical performance at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction, 7:30 pm. (4752 California SW)

MAURICE & HIS THING: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern, blues and rhythm with Maurice Caldwell. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

New Year’s events? Or something else coming up? Send info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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FRIDAY: Give blood, help a college student
December 27, 2017 9:40 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

If you can give blood this Friday at a mobile donation drive in West Seattle, it’ll help a local college student as well as potentially saving lives. University of Washington-Bothell health-studies student Dennise Lopez, a Chief Sealth International High School graduate, is hosting a Bloodworks Northwest drive to earn scholarship money, noon-6 pm Friday (December 29th) at Roxbury Safeway (9620 28th SW). From her announcement:

During the holiday season, your donation is more important than ever … the Blood Center sees a 15 percent decrease in donations, yet they need to collect even more blood (1000 units a day) to maintain supplies through the holidays. The Bloodworks Northwest (formerly Puget Sound Blood Center) bloodmobile will be at the parking lot of Safeway on Roxbury on Friday, December 29th, from 12:00 pm to 2 pm, and 3:00 until 6:00 pm. Walk-ins are always welcome, but reservations are preferred. … To help ensure success of the blood drive, please make a reservation by calling or texting Dennise Lopez at 206-851-9976, or e-mail lopez.dennise2015@gmail.com.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER TODAY: Between-holidays Wednesday watch
December 27, 2017 6:59 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/WEATHER TODAY: Between-holidays Wednesday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:59 AM: Good morning! It’s a few degrees above freezing, might see some light snow but the National Weather Service says there’s not much moisture in the area. No traffic incidents so far in/from West Seattle. And remember that Metro remains on a “reduced weekday” schedule.

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UPDATE: Did you get Kate’s package?
December 27, 2017 1:10 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

1:10 AM: Next year, we might need a special board just for connecting people and misdelivered packages. In the meantime – it’s not Crime Watch, and it’s not Lost/Found, so here’s Kate’s note:

Can you post a note to see if anyone received a package from Pasadena CA for 60xx California Ave SW #304 …. or something close it it? My brother sent me a Christmas gift and USPS says it was delivered on Saturday 12/23 but I have not received it. I live in a secure building with 8 units and we have never had issues with stolen mail so I am hopeful this is a case of misdelivery.

If you did get Kate’s package, let us know … she’d happily come pick it up.

4:48 PM: Resolved – see Kate’s comment.

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