West Seattle, Washington

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day : 18/04/2018 10 results

UPDATE: Since you asked about the helicopter …
April 18, 2018 10:48 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

10:48 PM WEDNESDAY: We don’t know what exactly Guardian One was doing flying a long track back and forth – north to south and back again – over the peninsula for a while this past hour, with a couple smaller circles in different spots, but the scanner’s been absolutely quiet in the area, so, given that and the fact the focus wasn’t on any one spot, we’re fairly certain it wasn’t related to anything happening out there currently. (We even headed out on the ground to check, but didn’t find any spots of activity.) Flight-tracking software shows it has since headed north, then east, and is now over the Eastside. Though Guardian One works with law-enforcement departments all over the area, it belongs to the King County Sheriff’s Office, so we’ll check tomorrow to see if there’s anything they can tell us about the mystery flight.

ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks to KCSO’s Sgt. Ryan Abbott for checking into this for us. He forwarded the reply from Air Support: “We were flying patrol, no call or anything significant.”

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CONGRATULATIONS! Duwamish Rowing Club youth compete in Oregon regatta
April 18, 2018 8:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Sarah Blum for the update and photos from a recent competition involving youth from our areas one-of-a-kind Duwamish Rowing Club:

The youth of the Duwamish Rowing Club competed for the first time at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Dexter Lake, 15 miles southeast of Eugene, OR, and came home winners.

They have been in training through the winter and rowing four days a week since March.

On Saturday April 14th their junior novice quad won silver with rowers: Hazel Dahlquist,
Jessica Schwarz, Eve White, and Rheea DeLora, and led by Coxswain Lilly Kurtz. They had two different heats and won second in the final heat:

Rowers Molly McDonald and Rheea DeLora won silver in their junior doubles race:

Hazel Dahlquist and Laurel Glassley received a hard-won bronze medal for their junior doubles race:

The Duwamish Rowing Club is very proud of all of our youth rowers, their dedication and hard work has paid off. There are more races to come as they look forward to Youth Regionals in May. We are grateful for all the support we received from the community at our FUNdraiser April 7th. Our website is DuwamishRowingClub.org and we are constantly in need of community support and donations.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Yet another older Subaru Outback stolen; plus, red Nissan Pulsar taken (update: found)
April 18, 2018 5:42 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 5:42 PM: The two older Subaru Outbacks stolen since last night and reported here have both been found – but now there’s word of ANOTHER being taken. We just talked with Alice, who says her white 1996 Outback was taken from her parking space behind an apartment building in the 4000 block of California SW this afternoon. A police report is filed. Plates (updated) AWC6441. Distinguishing features include a passenger-side dent and a “2016” rear-bumper sticker. If you see it, call 911.

DETERRING THIEVES: Even before getting the call from Alice, we had asked Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner if she had any recommendations. The Club, she says, “does work if effectively installed.” (Alice told us she usually uses one but had it off at the time because she was just briefly stopping at home.) Plus, “An alarm is also effective, if the vehicle has one- if neighbors call when they hear it and if it is consistently on.” Here’s the official SPD auto-theft-prevention tipsheet.

ADDED 8:39 PM: Since this story is still atop the site, we’re adding yet another car-theft report that’s come in – Matt reports, “Our friend’s car was stolen from the garage of the LA Fitness just outside Alaska Junction. The car is an ’89, red Nissan Pulsar NX … We’re in contact with the police who’ll be coming to our house to file an official report shortly. They’ve verified that the car was not towed.” (added) Plates 874YVU.

ADDED SUNDAY, 4/22: The Pulsar was found this weekend in the Admiral Bartell Drugs lot, and we are told the finder had seen it reported here.

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Families, Education, Preschool, Promise Levy: What the mayor is asking you to pay for
April 18, 2018 4:34 pm
|      80 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo: November 2017, South Seattle College)

When Mayor Jenny Durkan came to South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on her second day in office last November, she signed an executive order to expand the free-college program that’s brought hundreds of students to SSC in recent years, but it wasn’t clear at the time where the money would come from. Now it is. Today she announced that funding her Seattle Promise plan – free community college at more campuses, for more students – would be part of a levy this fall that also will replace two expiring levies, the Families and Education Levy (passed in 2011) and the Seattle Preschool Program levy (passed in 2014). From the announcement:

Under Mayor Durkan’s plan, homeowners of a median assessed value property ($665,000 in 2019) would pay approximately $20.75 a month or $249 a year. For the first time, qualified low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans with a service-connected disability will be eligible for an exemption.

So what exactly would that get you? Not just college – that’s actually only a fraction. More than half the money would go to the preschool program. Here’s the full plan (PDF). Page 9 in that report has this breakdown of what percentage of the levy money would go to which programs:

The mayor is proposing that the levy go to voters on the November ballot.

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POWER PROJECT: Seattle City Light to start South Arbor Heights/Arroyos work soon; informational ‘open house’ next week
April 18, 2018 2:25 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Utilities | West Seattle news

Seattle City Light says it’s starting work soon on its project to replace underground cables for “enhanced electrical reliability and efficiency” in South Arbor Heights and The Arroyos, so if you have questions about the project, a drop-in open house has been announced for one week from today: 5:30-7 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). SCL says the work “will require installing new conduits, vaults, and other associated work. Streetlights will also be replaced as part of this work.” The work is expected to start in early-to-mid-May, on California SW between SW 106th and 107th. This will be a long-running project, per SCL: “Civil construction is estimated to last approximately 1 1/2 years. Additional streetlight work will follow.”

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 more stolen Subarus (update: both found!); plus, WSB reader finds ‘Oscar’
April 18, 2018 1:02 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three auto-theft-related reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – starting with two more stolen vehicles to look for:

STOLEN IN ALKI AREA: Someone took Paul‘s white 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback from the 2000 block of Alki Avenue SW between 11 pm last night and 8 am today. Plates: ATV0897. Also: “It’s got a Backcountry.com goat sticker, and a PLU Alumni sticker.” (3:56 PM UPDATE – Just found in Junction area!)

STOLEN ON 39TH SW: Mimi‘s blue 1996 Subaru Outback was taken between 3 am and 7 am on 39th SW near SW Oregon. Plates: BJL4075. (3:35 PM UPDATE – Just found in the Alki area!)

If you see either one, call 911. Thanks to someone who did that last night, a stolen car mentioned here earlier this week has been found:

‘OSCAR’ FOUND, THANKS TO A WSB READER: As promised, we followed up with SPD about the search for auto-theft suspects near Westcrest Park late last night, and the report narrative confirms it’s something we heard on the scanner just before the search – police were tipped by somebody who recognized the car because it was shown here on WSB:

It was the Jeep Cherokee whose owner nicknamed it “Oscar,” as confirmed today by her dad Wade. Meantime, the police-report narrative confirms the search resulted in one arrest, a 37-year-old man found hiding in the greenbelt nearby (who crawled out, the report said, after being warned the K-9 might bite him). Whether he was linked to the theft is not yet clear but he turned out to have a felony warrant, the report says, adding that he was booked into jail after a stop at Harborview because he said he had used heroin and felt ill.

1:29 PM: We’ve learned that the suspect is 41 and is being held for investigation of obstructing (police) as well as a warrant related to a drug case.

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WHAT YOU’LL SEE AT SEA: This year’s Seattle cruise season starts with arrival tomorrow
April 18, 2018 12:05 pm
|    Comments Off on WHAT YOU’LL SEE AT SEA: This year’s Seattle cruise season starts with arrival tomorrow
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

From our “what you saw/will see at sea” file – tomorrow you’ll see the first cruise ship of the season in Elliott Bay, on its way to (and from) Pier 66 on the downtown waterfront. The Norwegian Sun, currently docked in Victoria, B.C., is scheduled to be here on Thursday for a 5 pm departure on a cruise that will take it through the Panama Canal and on to Florida. According to the Port of Seattle, this will be one of 215 cruise-ship visits this season (here’s the schedule), bringing in 1.1 million passengers, half a billion dollars in revenue, $19 million in state/local taxes. Norwegian Cruise Line will make an even bigger splash on May 30th, when its Norwegian Bliss becomes the largest cruise ship homeported on the West Coast – 1,082 feet long, 4,000 passengers, 1,716 crew members.

P.S. We asked port spokesperson Peter McGraw when the Sun will sail in tomorrow. Reply: Around 3 am.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Dine out & help preschoolers; Morgan, Delridge, Roxhill community meetings; WordsWest; more!
April 18, 2018 11:01 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Dine out & help preschoolers; Morgan, Delridge, Roxhill community meetings; WordsWest; more!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Another view of dunlin, from Mark Wangerin – see his photo of them in flight here)

Big day/night ahead! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

MOD PIZZA FUNDRAISER FOR ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL: Through 10 pm tonight, dine at MOD Pizza in The Whittaker (WSB sponsor) and part of the proceeds go to Alki Co-op Preschool, if you show the flyer (you can use your phone to do that) linked in our calendar listing. (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MOVIE: “War of the Wildcats” is on the screen at Senior Center of West Seattle, 1 pm. $1 members/$2 nonmembers. (4217 SW Oregon)

LAST DAY FOR TAXES! Volunteer tax preparer Michelle says free tax help will be at the West Seattle Food Bank again tonight 5-9 pm since the IRS added a day to the deadline: “We can also help prepare paper returns or amend 2015 and 2016 tax years. Please bring photo ID and social security cards for everyone on the tax return in addition to your tax documents. For more information, see freetaxexperts.org.” (6516 35th SW)

ROXHILL PARK EVENT IDEAS? Bring them to Daystar at 6 pm tonight and talk with your neighbors about how to make them happen, as previewed here. (2615 SW Barton)

JEFF FERGUSON’S TRIANGULAR JAZZTET: Live music at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. “Comprised of Jeff Ferguson – drums, Brian Flanagan – guitar, Michael Grimes – bass, the trio welcomes frequent guest artists to perform jazz standards and originals.” 21+. No cover. (6451 California SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: MoCA’s quarterly meeting, 7 pm in the downstairs meeting rooms at The Kenney. See the info-packed agenda in our calendar listing. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: As previewed last week, tonight’s meeting includes a presentation on the new building proposed to replace the one destroyed by fire at the Lam Bow Apartments a year and a half ago. 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club, all welcome. (1116 SW Holden)

POETS AT WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), as previewed here, poets Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Susan Rich are the featured readers. Free! (5612 California SW)

WILLIAM’S WEDNESDAY WIZARDRY TRIVIA: 7:30 pm, just on the other side of Highway 509, Tin Dog Brewing hosts music and movie trivia. No fee, but “donations accepted.” (309 S. Cloverdale)

AS IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH … there’s more on our complete calendar!

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Explorer West Middle School students present water-saving proposals to Seattle Parks
April 18, 2018 9:49 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

As Earth Day approaches, the spotlight on environmental consciousness brightens, and today we have a report on how students at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) are working with Seattle Parks to make a difference by saving water – and money. The report and photo are from the school:

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department is making an effort to examine park water usage and implement ways to conserve and reclaim water. Seattle has the highest water and sewer rates in the country.

Students at Seattle’s Explorer West Middle School were invited to share their ideas on water conservation and reclamation to the Seattle Parks Department. Four teams of eighth graders researched solutions and brainstormed ways to be more conscious with Seattle park water usage.

Three executive staff members of Seattle Parks attended the presentations at the school. As a result of this meeting, the teams have been invited to present their findings and ideas to the Seattle Parks Department Board of Commissioners on May 10th at 6:30 pm. Interim Parks Department Superintendent, Christopher Williams, will also be in attendance.

One student noted, “The average Seattle citizen uses fifty gallons of water daily. Water is a limited resource that we need to preserve. There are simple ways to preserve water, but these plans need to start somewhere.”

The students wrote comprehensive research essays and collaborated on their live presentations. Their innovative ideas ranged from water irrigation management; low flush and composting toilets; rainwater cisterns; sustainable wading ponds and spray parks instead of pools; and creative ways to reinvent golf course water usage.

“Students volunteered for the opportunity to pass along inventive approaches to water consumption and conservation,” said Explorer West Social Studies Teacher Tim Owens. “It was a stimulating conversation.”

By using these suggestions, the Seattle Parks system could preserve our precious water. Hopefully in the future, these propositions will benefit our park system and move towards ending our ongoing worldwide water crisis.

“I was impressed by how passionate the students were about the subject matter,” said Joelle Hammerstad, Seattle Parks sustainable operations manager. “The presentations were well-researched and engaging. They even introduced us to new products that we didn’t know about, which inspired us to do some of our own follow-up research.”

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
April 18, 2018 6:58 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:58 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

One transit note: The 6:41 am Route 55 bus did not operate, according to Metro. That’s the second day in a row that the 55 missed a run.

7:57 AM: WSDOT reports a crash blocking the left lane on the NB 1st Ave. S. Bridge.

8:17 AM: Cleared.

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