West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with an update on a high-profile recent case:
(October 9th WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ADMIRAL STABBING SUSPECT ARRAIGNED: Kierra Ward, charged with attacking an Admiral woman who was out for a walk with her baby October 9th, was arraigned today. She pleaded not guilty to first-degree and second-degree assault charges (the second is for allegedly threatening to stab the man who tried to get between Ward and victim Sarah Hanson). Ward remains in King County Jail, bail set at $400,000, with her next hearing November 8th.
P.S. The crowdfunding campaign to help Sarah care for her baby and work from home while recovering has more than surpassed its goal.
Also:
READER REPORT – CAR PROWL: Lori reports a car prowl overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in Arbor Heights: “34th & Roxbury. Broke into our car that was in our driveway, didn’t get much. Sunglasses and handful of change. Other cars in area had windows wiped clean of condensation to see inside. Please advise neighbors to not keep valuables in vehicle.”
And a followup:
ATM REPLACED: We noticed today that the ATM stolen two and a half weeks ago from the Chase drive-up in The Junction is back in business – probably not its first day, since we noticed crews at work several days ago, but didn’t get to check back until now.
While SPD told us the day after the theft that the stolen ATM had been recovered, there’s no word of arrests so far.
(WSB file photo: Halloween Rainbow Bingo @ Senior Center of West Seattle)
Though this Friday’s Halloween Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle is listed in our Halloween Etc. Guide – it’s sold out. Except for a sudden opening, as Mary Beth Ingersoll messaged us to say:
Our most popular Rainbow Bingo of the year is our Halloween Theme in October, tomorrow night, Friday, Oct. 27th. It has been sold out since September 30th, but we have some tickets! (This will be our 35th sold-out date in a row!)
I just got word that a table for 6 won’t be able to make it and we’d sure like to fill it. The first person to call me – 206.932.4044 extension 4 – with payment of for the 6 seats of $18/ea= $108.00 can have it.
And if you already have tickets:
Additionally, there will be a costume contest for those that decide to dress up with 1st place winner with a prize of 4 free VIP tickets and a party package for 8 people!
New ’round here? The Senior Center is in The Junction at 4217 SW Oregon.
Just last week, when we published an update on Olympia Coffee Company‘s future space in the Rally live-work units (California/Charlestown), a commenter asked about other businesses there. Today, we’ve heard from one that’s planning to open one week from tomorrow – Supply Chain, 3830 California SW. Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle is getting a bit of bling with the addition of new jewelry and accessory gallery Supply Chain, opening on California Avenue November 3rd. Curated by West Seattle resident and proprietor, Katie Meurk, Supply Chain will feature a thoughtful selection of artists and styles handmade in the United States.
Katie is an avid jewelry collector herself. Supply Chain combines her passion for art, community and self-expression through jewelry. “I love the story behind a piece, and jewelry in particular can evolve with each wear. It is an art form that we get to live in every day.”
Carrying a rotating collection of designers including Abacus Row, Future Glory, Lizzie Fortunato, and Hannah Keefe, Supply Chain will highlight the inspiration, production process, techniques and materials of each piece.
Katie looks forward to Supply Chain becoming an active member in the West Seattle community and the lives of its residents; helping shoppers mark special occasions with the perfect gift, enhancing the collections of passionate jewelry buyers, and becoming a destination for style inspiration.
Supply Chain will be open 11 am-7 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; 10 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city has notices for two West Seattle projects:
DESIGN REVIEW FOR 5242 & 5248 CALIFORNIA: When we reported two weeks ago that a Southwest Design Review Board meeting was set next month for the newest proposal at 5242 California – currently home to a partly vacant strip mall – it was in city files as a 9-townhouse project. Turns out that’s only half the site. The other half, now with the address 5248 California, also is proposed for 9 townhouses, and an underground garage is planned with 18 spaces – in the “preferred” massing (size/shape) option shown above, taken from the early version of the meeting packet, by Hybrid Architecture. As “The People’s Court,” the project is set to go to the SWDRB at 6:30 pm Thursday, November 16th – the official notices for its two halves are here and here. (Both explain how to comment now, or you can wait until the meeting, which will be at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon.)
COMMENT TIME FOR APARTMENTS @ 6016 CALIFORNIA: Back in August, we mentioned an apartment-building proposal for 6016 California SW, which is already bookended by teardowns, and has one business left last time we checked, the legendary Rick’s (Psychic) Barber Shop. The project is now at a stage where you have two weeks to comment. It’s also increased the unit count to 36 “small efficiency dwelling units” (microapartments) and two live-work units. Here’s the official notice; here’s how to comment.
(File photo: Unloading car full of donations from past drive)
Neighbors in need will be thrilled to get your donation of coats and other winter clothing this fall – and an easy way to give is via the Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency‘s annual drive for West Seattle Helpline, now in its first week. Here’s the announcement:
Week one of our annual clothing drive in support of the West Seattle Helpline is now under way. So far we have one full barrel of much-needed winter clothing to help our less-fortunate friends and neighbors.
Dave Newman State Farm Insurance agency will continue to collect clean donations of clothes, coats, and shoes until January 1st. The dropoff location is 3435 California Ave SW [map].
For those who have donations but are unable to transport their clothes, coats and shoes to the donation location, pickup may be available. For further information, contact the State Farm office at 206-932-1878.
Dave Newman’s office is open 9 am-5 pm weekdays.
Highlights from the Highland Park Action Committee‘s last meeting until January (since the fourth Thursday conflicts with winter holidays in November and December):
(South Operations Center rendering, from city website)
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES DRAINAGE & WASTEWATER SOUTH OPERATIONS CENTER: SPU project manager Tom Fawthrop presented details of the new facility at the bus yard at 4500 W. Marginal Way SW. It’s a retrofit/remodel project. SPU wants a center here to “position ourselves to be (on this side of) the bridge in case of The Big One” plus reduce the distance their crews go to serve this part of the city – one-fourth of Seattle, Fawthrop pointed out.
(Glaucous-winged gull at Lowman Beach, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Here’s what’s ahead for the rest of your Thursday! First, from the WSB Halloween Etc. Guide:
TODDLER PUMPKINPALOOZA 10 am-noon, for ages 1-5 at High Point Community Center: “Join the center staff and enjoy age-appropriate Halloween games, booths, face painting, art and craft activities, and snacks.” $5. (6920 34th SW)
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PARTY: 6-7:30 pm at Delridge Community Center. Free: “Our 3rd annual Glow in the Dark Party! Snacks, games, and music are just the beginning of the fun. Come glow with us! Wear your costume, face paint, or anything that will illuminate the party. This event brought to you by the Delridge Advisory Council.” (4501 Delridge Way SW)
And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOME SAFETY AND FALL PREVENTION: 10 am class at the Senior Center of West Seattle – info here. (4217 SW Oregon)
COPPER COIN’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY: 11:30 am-11 pm – here’s how the Admiral restaurant is celebrating. (2329 California SW)
MAYORAL CANDIDATES @ WSDW: 11:30 am at West Seattle Golf Course, it’s the WS Democratic Women‘s meeting, with mayoral candidates Cary Moon and Jenny Durkan scheduled to answer questions approximately 12:30-1:15 pm. Open to the public, though it’s too late to get in a lunch order. (4600 35th SW)
MONSTER DASH EARLY PACKET PICKUP: Already registered for Saturday’s West Seattle Monster Dash? Or, still need to sign up? Stop by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) 4-6 pm today. And get a discount on your WSR purchases while you’re there! More info here. (2743 California SW)
BUSINESS RESOURCES: This month’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce After-Hours features “roundtable discussions that explore the challenges of the business community and the resources available to deal with the challenges.” 5:30 pm at Pershing Hall/American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. (3618 SW Alaska)
WINE NIGHT AT ENDOLYNE JOE’S: First “Wine Night” at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) in Fauntleroy – 6-8 pm. Wine and ticket details here. (9261 45th SW)
FORUM ON TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is devoting this month’s meeting to a “forum on transportation alternatives for seniors and people with disabilities.” More info here. Special location: Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 7-8:30 pm, the open house at Seattle Lutheran High School on the north end of The Junction “will feature a tour of the facility, as well as interaction with Seattle Lutheran’s faculty and administration.” Enter through the gym. (4100 SW Genesee)
ORGAN & DRUM JAZZ … with The Suffering F-Heads at Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUSIC AFTER FOOTBALL: 8:30 pm-11 pm at Hawks Nest West on Alki, live music with Zechariah Valette after Thursday Night Football. (2806 Alki SW)
5:52 AM: 30th SW is closed for about a block north of Barton [map] right now by a big police response (thanks for the tip). Officers at the scene could only say that someone was assaulted and has been taken to Harborview Medical Center; the Seattle Fire log shows a medical response in the 9000 block of 30th SW just before 4 am. More information as we get it.
6:01 AM: Just talked to SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson. He is still working on getting details, including whether someone is in custody, but says this started as “some kind of disturbance or argument between two men, and one was assaulted by the other.” The victim has life-threatening injuries.
6:07 AM: SPD confirms a suspect is in custody.
8:10 AM: Police have just released more information via SPD Blotter:
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding an early morning assault incident in West Seattle. An adult male has been taken into custody and transported to police headquarters where he was interviewed, along with three other witnesses.
Just before 4:00 am two men, acquaintances, were in the 9000 block of 30th Avenue SW. One of the men jumped on the back of the other man attempting to take his cell phone. A struggle ensued, and the man who attempted to take the phone experienced a medical emergency. Officers arrived on scene within three minutes, located the victim, and rendered aid. Seattle Fire responded and transported the man to Harborview Medical Center, where he is in stable condition, expected to recover.
30th SW had reopened when we checked around an hour ago.
The next West Seattle business to mark its anniversary by giving gifts instead of receiving them is Peel & Press (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. The announcement is from the always-community-minded proprietor Dan Austin:
We are so thankful for all of the support that West Seattle has shown Peel & Press the last three years. Building up this restaurant with the help of many fantastic employees has been incredibly rewarding. We feel blessed to be embraced by our community and to be shown so much love and encouragement. We recognize that earning your support is more than providing great food, drinks, and during service every visit, but is also giving back. During our Three-Year Anniversary Weekend (October 27-29th) we will be giving back 10% of our sales to the West Seattle Food Bank in the form of turkeys and chickens. Last year we did this for one day and were able to buy a quarter-ton of turkeys and chickens. Let’s see what we can do with a whole weekend to provide a great holiday meal for those in need!
Peel & Press is at 6503 California SW – see its hours here.
Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for sharing this letter that he and Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer sent to families tonight, so that we can share it with the wider community:
Dear Denny and Chief Sealth Families:
We are continuing to actively share any safety information related to any of our scholars when they are out in our community on their way to and from school.
Today, three middle school scholars were getting off the Metro bus at 35th Ave. SW and SW Elmgrove St. An adult male followed them off the bus and continued following them in a suspicious way. A neighbor observed this and called the police, who responded right away and are now investigating. We are very proud of how our scholars responded to this situation and appreciative of the neighbor who called the police.
Please be assured that the safety and security of our scholars is a top priority at both Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
THURSDAY MORNING NOTE: The helpful neighbor’s wife has added more information via this comment.
(WSB file photo from Admiral District trick-or-treating)
Less than a week until Halloween – and only two days until trick-or-treat events begin! From the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide:
PRESCHOOLER TRICK-OR-TREATING: All kids 5 and under are invited to Holy Rosary School 10 am-11:30 am on Friday, October 27th, to trick or treat in the school classrooms, with “a mix of candy and non-candy items.” (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
JUNCTION TRICK-OR-TREATING: Noon-2 pm Sunday, October 29th, during the second half of the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival
ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: 3-6 pm on Halloween (Tuesday, October 31st) – look for the sign featured in our preview
WESTWOOD VILLAGE TRICK-OR-TREATING: 4-6 pm on Halloween
Any Halloween/harvest/fall events missing in our guide? Not too late to let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
ORIGINAL OCTOBER 25TH REPORT: After a reader tip, we just confirmed this with a staffer at the West Seattle Papa John’s Pizza: It’s closing as of the end of the week – last day Sunday, October 29th. We’re also told they’re closing earlier each night until then, at 9 pm.
ADDED OCTOBER 30TH: As of today, the location is indeed closed, with this note on the door:
No word yet what’s next for the building/site at 5252 California SW.
We took that photo this morning before 8 am at 59th/Admiral, where, after weeks of concern over the effects of SDOT changing it to an all-way stop, a crew showed up pre-dawn and changed it back without warning or even a “traffic revision” sign (as subsequently reported in our morning traffic coverage). Then at noontime, we got a tip that a crew was back to add signs and do some other work, so we went over and found this:
Before that, we had asked SDOT’s Dawn Schellenberg this morning what’s next for the intersection now that it’s suddenly been “changed back” – which doesn’t answer all the safety concerns that parents at nearby Alki Elementary had voiced. Her reply just arrived in the form of a copy of the following e-mail to them and other concerned parties:
Many of you have followed the SDOT ‘Signal to All-way Stop’ pilot project at SW Admiral Way and 59th Ave SW, installed August 31. As part of our Vision Zero efforts, the Department is considering alternative crossing designs at various intersections throughout the city. The SW Admiral Way and 59th Ave SW location was selected for an All-Way Stop, curb bulbs and additional marked crosswalks based on community input received through the SW Admiral Way Safety Project during the SDOT Walk and Talk last August; and a review of traffic volumes, operations and crossing use.
Once installed, we committed to monitoring the crosswalk for up to six-months to determine whether the new All-Way Stop design was a good fit for the intersection. Over the past month and a half, we collected feedback from community members as well as the Traffic Safety Task Force at Alki Elementary regarding their concerns on how drivers and pedestrians are adjusting. Through our evaluation of the new design we concluded that the benefits of the All-Way Stop are similar to the original Pedestrian Signal. With that in mind, coupled with some community members’ concern, we decided to revert to the original design.
Unfortunately, an internal snafu within in the Department resulted in the premature start of the work. The community should have been alerted prior to the installation and ‘traffic revision ahead’ signs placed. We deeply regret any inconvenience this caused drivers and pedestrians this morning. Signs are now in place.
Going forward, here’s what you should except as we install phase 2 (see graphic below):
· Two decorative paint and post curb bulbs
· One decorative paint and post median at 59th Ave SW
· Two new crosswalks
· Two Flashing ‘School, 20MPH’ signsAs promised, we’ll accelerate installation of the curb bulbs, median and crosswalks to get them installed within the next two months, weather permitting. The flashing signs are expected to be installed during first quarter 2018, once equipment has arrived.
Councilmember González (Citywide, Pos. 9) and Councilmember Herbold (District 1) have engaged with us on this matter, and both continue to advocate for pedestrian safety along SW Admiral Way. We have committed to maintaining good communication with both Councilmembers, their staff, and the community; and they have conveyed the expectation that we work towards implementing solutions in lockstep with community.
We can note firsthand that the change without warning was a little more than “inconvenience” – going through the intersection both ways on Admiral at noontime, we experienced near-collisions both ways involving people turning and expecting us to stop. Meantime, here’s the graphic Schellenberg mentioned:
The initial change to an all-way stop was also installed pre-dawn, but that was with four weeks of warning that the change was going to happen. It’s all a followup to the rechannelization of much of Admiral west of California, with initial work done a year-plus ago.
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
Back in July, we told you about a proposal for the land holding that 109-year-old house at 7111 California – four townhouses, each with an accessory dwelling unit, for a total of eight units. Now that’s been revised to five townhouses – two facing California, one behind it, two behind that, with four offstreet parking spaces on the alley, according to the newest “site plan” on file with the city. The parcel is zoned Lowrise 2.
(WSB photo from February)
Our current most-inquired-about-by-readers West Seattle business-in-progress is Best of Hands Brewery and Barrelhouse, the brewery/taproom coming to the cow-topped ex-deli space at 35th and Webster. So we checked in to see where they’re at, and have just heard back from co-proprietor and brewer Nicholas Marianetti:
We just received issuance of our construction permit last Friday, October 20th. We can now begin the buildout process. However, due to new King County regulations, we are awaiting the approval of our plumbing plan — which is needed before we can install all new drainage and venting, and upgrade the water service to the building — we were given a tentative date of November 9th. The bulk of the construction won’t begin until the plumbing is complete, but we will be tackling tasks that we could not complete prior to the construction permit issuance in the meantime. Because the permitting is out of our hands, and we’re not yet running on our contractors’ schedules, we’ll have to get back to ya’ll in regards to an official timeline or opening date.
Marianetti also says they’re working on their “initial branding and logo systems” with design firm Blindtiger. It’s been eight months since we first reported on the Best of Hands plan for the building that had held John’s Corner Deli until last January.
(Anna spotted the little rock with a big message in The Junction, and shared the photo)
Busy morning already – time now to look ahead to the rest of today and tonight. First, from the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide:
PUMPKIN-CARVING BASH: 6:30-8:30 pm, Pumpkin-Carving Bash raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank, co-sponsored by Origins Cannabis (WSB sponsor) at Heylo Cannabis in SODO. 21+. $10 tickets – treats, games, prizes, music by DJ Iggy – at this Eventbrite link. Meet at Origins in West Seattle, 4800 40th SW, at 6 pm to take their free trolley.
And from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (which you can use to look ahead days, weeks, even months at a time, any time):
UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA-RELATED BEHAVIORS: Seminar presented by Quail Park Memory Care Residences of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) at Spruce Apartments, 2-4 pm – here’s how to RSVP. (4555 39th SW)
LONGFELLOW NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS DROP-IN MEETINGS: SPU is planning more “natural drainage” – such as roadside raingardens – in eastern West Seattle, and there are two locations for concurrent drop-in sessions 4-6 pm where you can get information and ask questions. (Corner of 30th Ave SW and SW Barton AND corner of 24th Ave SW and SW Kenyon)
UTILITIES & MORE @ HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, it’s the monthly meeting of Highland Park Action Committee, with agenda highlights including the Seattle City Light meter changes, Seattle Public Utilities’ West Marginal Way SW operations center project, and more, as detailed here. (1116 SW Holden)
POEMS AND STORIES: The monthly Poetrybridge event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is at 7 pm tonight, with featured readers Margaret Roncone & Sam Roxas-Chua. Plus, the community microphone! (5612 California SW)
MOSTLY ACOUSTIC MUSIC: 7:30 pm-11 pm at Parliament Tavern – King Moon, Whisperer, William Hall & The Raccoons. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(WSB photos)
Staffers from the Westwood Village QFC and executives from parent corporation Kroger cut a ribbon this morning to celebrate the completion of its $2.8 million remodel. The party also included gifts for the day’s first customers, and cake:
Kroger also presented $1,000 checks to two area nonprofits: WestSide Baby and White Center Food Bank, whose Mercy Budiansky and Angela Beard accepted the gifts:
Among the remodeling work: All-new fixtures, some exterior refreshes, as well as changes to the meat/dairy sections.
Minutes from now – at 9:30 am – the City Council‘s second day of the second round of budget-change reviews will start with a variety of proposals related to homelessness and other human-services issues.
You can see the list on the agenda – each item has a link to the “green sheet” briefly discussing what’s being proposed. The council’s just discussing at this point, not voting, so you have time to let them know what you think.
Last night, homelessness-related issues were a big topic as West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who is chairing the council’s Budget Committee this year, spoke with the WS Block Watch Captains Network at the Southwest Precinct.
Many wondered about proposals that would in effect allow camping in parts of city parks – the areas that are not “activated.”
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this Wednesday.
7:12 AM: Now that the weekend is in view, time for a couple reminders:
SATURDAY & SUNDAY – SW Edmunds is scheduled to be closed at 40th SW for a continuation of the paving work that started weekend before last.
SUNDAY – The West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival will close an additional block of California to traffic south of the Farmers’ Market, so the Sunday closure zone for this week only will be between SW Oregon and SW Edmunds.
7:19 AM: If you use 59th/Admiral, we have multiple reports that the pedestrian-activated stoplight has been reactivated, after weeks of controversy over the effects of SDOT changing the intersection to stop-all-ways. We are heading over for a look.
8:10 AM: Confirmed – without advance notice, the Admiral stop signs are gone and the signal is back to pedestrian-controlled for crossing Admiral. Separate story later – we will be checking with SDOT.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: We have published a followup with what SDOT says is next.
(WSB video of meeting, unedited)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 will not be moved.
Seattle Public Schools associate superintendent Dr. Flip Herndon said it at the start of tonight’s meeting at the school – a followup to a boisterous June meeting in which the possibility was not ruled out.
And then he said it again. It’s not an interim site – it’s “your building,” he told the families and staffers gathered in the cafeteria.
To be crystal clear, he said, the only scenario in which STEM K-8 might move from Boren would be if that had to be done temporarily because the building was to be remodeled or rebuilt.
That is NOT currently planned – not even proposed. Besides the reassurance, most of the meeting turned into a discussion of planning for the district’s BEX V levy – which, as of a September School Board work session, has ~20 schools citywide on a “menu” for possible remodels/rebuilds, and STEM K-8 isn’t even on that list, which (from the September packet) is as follows:
… it might have been. Our hotline received two voicemails from people who saw what looked like a meteor or fireball around 7:35 pm. Looking around online, we saw a Reddit mention of a sighting from Ballard. We asked around on Twitter, and got replies including:
I saw it. At 7:37 I was heading WB on the bridge and super bright glowing green thing fell from sky to the NW then flamed out.
— Lori Kothe (@Kocreate) October 25, 2017
I was rowing on Lake Washington and saw it above UW stadium. It was green and burnt out in about 4 seconds. It was amazing.
— Adam Day (@AdamDayLA) October 25, 2017
We are in the throes of the Orionid meteor shower. It peaked this past weekend but it lasts a couple more weeks.
— Newman, Ted 🎃 (@deuce4922) October 25, 2017
Here’s more on the Orionids.
(WSB photo: Suspects’ car, after it crashed in Upper Fauntleroy last Wednesday night)
A routine check of the King County Jail Register revealed that two 17-year-olds are now charged as adults, six days after their arrests in a case that started wth gunfire in Delridge and on Puget Ridge and ended with a crash and search in Upper Fauntleroy (WSB coverage here). They are Daniel A. Moore and Jaydze Sabala. Charging documents say police got a call just before 9:30 last Wednesday night from someone who said that three boys she knew “from school” had shot at her twice – once while she and her boyfriend were driving to the Delridge 7-11, shattering a car window, then while she was at her home near 21st/Graham, doing other damage to the boyfriend’s car parked outside (as shown in our coverage that night, police found casings in the street). She said her boyfriend and Sabala had been having some kind of dispute.
After getting the description of the suspects’ vehicle, police spotted it on Delridge, speeding up to 70 mph; they say the driver tried to get away but finally crashed into a parked car at 39th/Cloverdale. Sabala was driving and was ordered out of the car and arrested; Moore ran; a third passenger, not listed as charged, was taken into custody. Police say Moore was soon found hiding nearby, in possession of a 9mm handgun, a loaded magazine, and some loose 9mm rounds. When a detective interviewed the boyfriend of the person who originally called police, he is reported to have claimed he was in a dispute with Sabala over a vehicle, and that Sabala had shot at him at least six or seven previous times, only one of which had been reported to police.
Moore and Sabala are both charged with one count of drive-by shooting; Moore is also charged with unlawful firearm possession, and Sabala is also charged with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The documents say neither has a criminal record. Both were booked into King County Jail, with bail for each set at $150,000; according to a check of the register before finishing this story, Moore posted bond and got out less than an hour ago, while Sabala is still in. Both are West Seattle residents, according to the addresses on court documents.
(2016 Harvest Festival photo by Leda Costa for WSB)
Of all the fun stuff in the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide – the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival is the biggest (just look at all these photos from last year!), and it’s now just five days away (10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th).
Some notes as it gets closer:
*Can you volunteer? Lora Swift of the West Seattle Junction Association – which presents the festival – says, “We’re still hoping to fill a couple volunteer slots at the kids’ music tables and the Farmers’ Market Applepalooza.” Here’s how to sign up.
*Planning to be part of the costume parade (11:30 am)? Make maracas or a music box at Junction Plaza Park (also the parade starting point, NW corner of 42nd/Alaska) first – 10 am-11:30 am.
*Four of the nine competitors in this year’s Chili Cookoff (the West Seattle Food Bank benefits from your $10 for 9 tastes, and you get to vote for the winner – KeyBank corner of California/Alaska starting at 11 am) are new – Duos Catering, Pecos Pit BBQ (WSB sponsor), Girls Gone BBQ, and Fresh Bistro. They’re going up against defending champs The Westy Sports and Spirits (WSB sponsor) and return competitors Easy Street Café, Elliott Bay Brewing Company, Husky Deli, and Brookdale Senior Living.
The festival starts with the Farmers’ Market in its usual mid-street spot and other local businesses and organizations offering free fun activities on California, which will also be closed to traffic, south of Alaska – see the list on the WSJA website. Business and booth trick-or-treating starts after the costume parade, at noon. And don’t miss the Root Beer Garden on the Easy Street corner of California/Alaska!
WSB is a co-sponsor of the Harvest Festival – see you in The Junction on Sunday. Weather looks dry.
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