West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Three more reports to share before night’s end:
ANOTHER OCCUPIED BREAK-IN: Just before getting word of the arrests in the 11th/12th/13th SW burglaries, we were looking into another “occupied burglary,” early today in the 9000 block of 16th SW. But this wasn’t related, police told us – they believe the intruder was “looking for shelter,” entering a house that had a prior incarnation involving drugs, and his description was different – “unknown race,” 5’10”, slender. No arrest reported.
POSSIBLE BURGLARY ATTEMPTS: Anonymous reader report:
Location: 12th Ave SW between SW Holden St. and SW Kenyon St. (7700 block of 12th Ave SW)
I awoke at 5 am this morning and opened my shades. An hour or so later, I looked out my kitchen window and a screen was leaning against my garage door that hadn’t been there earlier. I went to my next-door neighbors and saw that the screen had been removed from one of their windows. I spoke with my neighbor and scary thing is that they were home during this attempt. It sounds like their dog barking may have scared the suspect off.
PACKAGE TAKEN: This reader report includes a screenshot from a brief video clip showing someone taking a package from outside an apartment at West Ridge Park on Delridge south of Holden:
The package contained work boots.
10:09 PM: Police have blocked off an area just south of the Southwest Precinct/Home Depot vicinity because of a standoff with a man who is reported to be armed with a gun and machete, at a building on 24th SW. No injuries reported but you will want to avoid the area. We’re monitoring.
10:30 PM: Per radio, police have called in negotiators and SWAT and continue trying to get the man to surrender.
10:32 PM: And he’s now in custody. No injuries reported.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: This incident is now summarized on SPD Blotter. The rifle seen with the suspect, who is 33 years old, turned out to be a BB gun.
Just a little over a month until hydroplanes race at Seafair – and the West Seattle Junction got a bit of a preview today when defending national champion Miss HomeStreet visited the West Seattle branch of its sponsor, HomeStreet Bank (also a WSB sponsor). The public was welcome to visit this afternoon, which is also when we photographed branch manager Nam Le and his staff with the hydro:
Then tonight, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce converged on the branch (and the hydro) for this month’s After Hours.
Though it’s midsummer, there was a little Christmas atmosphere in one corner – “Santa Al” and The Christmas People, Rev. Fred Hutchinson and Ruth Bishop:
They invite you to Christmas in July, a benefit dinner and auction July 22nd at the Masonic Center – full details in our calendar listing. That by the way is also the day WestSide Baby is hosting its annual Diaper Drive Bash:
Nam (above, with WS Baby’s Toni Sarge) and his team are hosting a diaper drive at the bank – just drop off diapers at 4022 SW Alaska (see the hours here).
Big turnout for a special storytime tonight at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – in honor of Pride Month, Mama T was the guest for Drag Queen Story Hour.
Via Instagram, she said, “I love being able to work with children while opening their minds and hearts to the magical and diverse world we live in!”
P.S. The Pride Month toiletry-donation drive for LGBTQ+ youth continues at the Y (3622 SW Snoqualmie) through Saturday.
Thanks to Holly for the tip! That banner has gone up over a Revel live-work unit at 3217 California SW [map], announcing that Oh’s Sandwiches is on the way, with Vietnamese sandwiches and coffee. Checking it out after that tip, we spotted someone doing exterior work this afternoon. They told us they’re hoping to have the shop open next week; Oh’s hasn’t finalized its hours yet but for starters it’ll probably be morning through late afternoon.
That’s video from WSDOT, recorded inside the Highway 99 tunnel during a first-of-its-kind test today. From WSDOT’s project spokesperson Laura Newborn:
This morning, Seattle Tunnel Partners, the contractor for the SR 99 tunnel, successfully completed the first test of the tunnel’s deluge sprinkler system. In this two-minute test, 6,400 gallons of water poured out of the overhead sprinklers along a 216 foot section of the upper road of the double-deck tunnel. The tunnel is divided into 208 fire safety zones and the fire suppression system is designed to activate sprinklers within the safety zones – or more simply, at the point of a fire. Today’s test spanned two safety zones.
Seattle Tunnel Partners has many more systems tests and safety tests ahead before the tunnel is finished. After all tests are complete and all tunnel systems are a ‘go,’ WSDOT must close the viaduct through Seattle to finish building ramps and realign SR 99 into the new tunnel. Given the amount of testing still ahead, it remains too early to give an exact date for tunnel opening, but the tunnel could open to traffic as soon as this fall.
As we reported after covering a media briefing near the tunnel’s south entrance last week, Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and tunnel will be off-limits to downtown-bound traffic for up to two extra weeks beyond the viaduct-to-tunnel transition closure, to finish the main route into downtown.
2:54 PM: Thanks for the tips: Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Strand confirms that police have “a suspect in custody for the Highland Park burglaries/assaults. All of the information at this point is lining up and looks like we have the right guy.” The break-ins happened on 11th SW, 12th SW, and 13th SW a short distance north of SW Roxbury in the early-morning hours of June 17th and 19th. The suspect is still being questioned and has not yet been booked into jail.
3:08 PM: A bit more information – police say “the victim in one of the break-ins recognized the suspect on the street and called 911. Officers took the person into custody and turned them over to detectives. Detectives have not yet linked the suspect to all of the cases, but continue to investigate.”
Thanks to Kathy for the tip: West Seattle will be the site of one of the marches set around the country this Saturday to protest federal asylum-seeker-detention policies. The announcement invites people to gather “at the pavilion in the southwest corner of” Lincoln Park at 10 am Saturday and says the march will then head along Fauntleroy Way starting at 10:45 am. We have a message out to the organizer looking for more details.
(WSB photo, Summer Fest Eve 2017)
Just confirmed by Lora Swift at the West Seattle Junction Association – the ever-effervescent Bubbleman will be back for Summer Fest Eve on July 12th, two weeks from tonight. He’ll perform in the heart of The Junction, at California/Alaska, that night at 6:30 pm, after the streets are closed for festival setup. Even if you’re not much for bubbles, Summer Fest Eve has long been a great time to come wander the streets, and this year there’ll be more going on than ever. Many restaurants and bars will be setting up their outdoor spaces – more than two dozen this year! – including West 5 (WSB sponsor), which is continuing its 15th-anniversary celebration, and will bring back the Yadda Yadda Blues Band.
Summer Fest Eve also is West Seattle Art Walk night, and will include extra artistic touches including the start of a community mural project that will last for the entirety of Summer Fest – look for it near California/Oregon, with artist Stacey Sterling there to guide you. Artists will be creating chalk art on the streets during Summer Fest Eve, too.
P.S. Want to be a busker during Summer Fest Eve, or any other time at the festival (Friday-Sunday, July 13-15)? You get priority for time slots and designated locations if you sign up in advance – the form is live now!
A reminder from Metro – the new “single fare” (no morey additional surcharges for zones or travel during peak commute hours) starts Sunday (July 1st):
Metro’s new fare of $2.75 aims to make riding transit more convenient and avoid confusion over fare payment that leads to delays in boarding. A single fare for adult riders also lowers the potential for fare disputes, which will help improve safety.
Metro’s fares for youth, seniors and disabled riders, and those enrolled in ORCA LIFT will not change. More information can be found on Metro’s fares page.
“A simple $2.75 flat fare makes Metro service easier to use and more accessible for hundreds of thousands of riders who depend on us every day,” Metro’s General Manager Rob Gannon said. “Just have your fare payment ready, either by ORCA card, cash or mobile ticket – no more having to think about which zone or whether you’re riding peak or off-peak.”
Metro adopted a simple fare after receiving more than 11,000 responses to two public surveys, including one in which 80 percent expressed support for a flat fare. Metro previously had one of the nation’s most complex fare structures, with one zone for the City of Seattle and another for all areas outside of the city, as well as extra charges during the morning and evening commute. Metro’s simple fare also aligns more closely with other regional transit agencies, which do not have surcharges during peak hours.
About 65 percent of Metro boardings will see no change or pay 50 cents less under the new structure. Fares for off-peak travel will increase by 25 cents – affecting about 35 percent of Metro boardings.
At the beginning of 2018, Metro increased funding for Human Services Tickets for riders with lower-income or no income. Metro also is working with ORCA agency partners to reduce the replacement card fee for ORCA LIFT customers from $5 to $3 and eliminate the $3 initial card fee for seniors and people with disabilities. Metro continues to evaluate ways to make fares easier to understand and pay.
(Photo by Deborah Kasperson)
Here are the highlights of what’s ahead for your Thursday:
PROFESSOR FICKLESTEIN’S ENERGY EXTRAVAGANZA: Fun free show for ages 4-12 at Southwest Library, 11 am. Details in our calendar listing! (9010 35th SW)
STATE SENATE CANDIDATES’ FORUM: It’s the centerpiece of the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly meeting in the Rotary Room at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). 11:15 am registration/social time, noon forum. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch. Free admission for WSDW members, $5 room/program charge for non-members. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)
SUMMER MEALS FIELD DAY: Free food and fun activities for kids, noon-3 pm at Roxhill Park. Kickoff for United Way’s Summer Meals program. (29th SW/SW Barton)
CHAMPION HYDROPLANE VISITS WEST SEATTLE: 3-5 pm, you’re invited to come see the defending national-champion hydroplane Miss HomeStreet at West Seattle’s HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) branch. (4022 SW Alaska)
TALK ABOUT CRIME/SAFETY/POLICE: Live/work/study in Westwood, Roxhill, Arbor Heights? 5 pm tonight, Seattle U researchers invite you to a conversation at Southwest Library that will help shape your local microcommunity policing plan. (9010 35th SW)
DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME: Pride Month continues at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) with Mama T reading stories 6:30-7:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: All welcome at the monthly WSTC meeting, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
READ THE KORAN IN 4 WEEKS: The next session of Rev. Ron Marshall‘s long-running course starts at 7 tonight at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle. Details in our calendar listing. (4105 California SW)
MORE! on our complete-calendar page.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.
7:54 AM: SFD has sent an engine to a crash reported at 48th SW and SW Spokane.
Not far from WSB HQ, neighbors were awakened by the sound of metal hitting metal, then a car alarm blaring – after a hit-run driver damaged that car parked on SW Thistle west of 42nd SW and took off. Police were called. The car was described as a silver Dodge Challenger and the damaged car’s owner tells us police might already have found it nearby. But they’re still interested in information – case # 2018-235713.
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