West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight:
BURGLARY ALERT: E. in South Delridge e-mailed to report, “Just witnessed an attempted burglary on the 9000 block of 16th Ave. SW. Police responded, no one caught. Just a heads up. People should keep an eye out tonight for suspicious activity.”
THIEF ON CAM: Kirsten says this security-cam video recorded in the Admiral District early today shows the (thoroughly covered) thief who stole from her porch and prowled two vehicles, getting away with:
Skateboard
Fold-up camp bench chairs
Paper prescriptions
Sunglasses
Bowling ball, shoes and league shirt
Coat
SEEN THIS QUILT? Ben‘s car was stolen in the University District last week and found in West Seattle, off West Marginal Way. But what had been inside was missing … including this quilt made by his mom and grandma to commemorate his graduation from high school:
He’s circulating the photo far and wide – maybe it’ll turn up dumped somewhere, or on sale at a thrift shop … Police report # if you have any info is 2018-435916.
(2017 Alternative Giving Fair photo courtesy Judy Pickens: At this table, donations were being accepted for gift cards to help low-income families of local elementary students)
This Sunday, you’re invited to the annual “shopping” event where you can spend money yet leave with empty hands, a full heart, and gifts that count double. Stop by the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall between 11 am and 4 pm Sunday (December 2nd) for the third annual West Seattle Alternative Giving Fair. As Judy Pickens explains it:
This all-ages community event will be a convenient way to select holiday gifts that keep on giving through the nonprofit programs they support.
The 20+ local and international nonprofits coming to the fair are working to reduce hunger and homelessness, enhance education, care for the Earth, and strengthen families and communities. They will welcome donations of any amount in the name of hard-to-buy-for relatives, grandparents, friends – anyone on your list – and will provide something for you to present during gift exchange.
The organizations scheduled to be there:
Compass Housing Alliance
Earth Ministry
Fauntleroy Church Homelessness Task Force
Fauntleroy Watershed Stewardship Fund
Food Lifeline
Friend to Friend America
Habitat for Humanity
Hope of Children & Women
Islandwood Scholarship Fund
Mary’s Place
Reading With Rover
Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project
SeaVuria Girls to Girls
Senior Center of West Seattle
Southwest Youth & Family Services
The Whale Trail
Tiny Homes Project
West Seattle Food Bank
West Seattle Helpline
White Center Food Bank
Winter Wear Project
YouthCare
Fauntleroy Church is at 9140 California SW.
(WSB photos)
6:08 PM: Sylvan Way is blocked both ways by a crash in the 6900 block [map] that briefly drew a sizable SFD “extrication” response. Everybody’s out, per radio communication. More info to come.
6:17 PM: Police are searching for someone in connection with this and the Guardian One helicopter has joined the search. Our crew says apparently one of the drivers fled – two vehicles were involved. Two children are hurt and will be taken to a hospital.
6:29 PM: We’re told the children’s mom also will be taken to a hospital. But none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
6:52 PM: Police have detained a man near 25th/Myrtle.
7:03 PM: We’ve confirmed with police that the man is being questioned in connection with the crash; G-1 has tweeted that, too.
7:26 PM: Our crew tells us Sylvan has reopened.
11:56 PM: SPD says the man was arrested for suspected DUI as well as hit-run.
1:18 AM: Husband/dad of pregnant woman and kids hit by the suspected drunk driver says in a comment that they’ll be OK.
(WSB file photo)
Just three nights until this year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting, Saturday night (December 1st) at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska)! We’ve already mentioned the plan is different from years past – primarily that the stage performances will span a few hours during the Night Market, instead of being clumped together preceding the tree lighting. So here’s what’ll happen onstage and when:
4:00 pm Mode Music Studios – holiday singalong
4:30 pm The Not-It’s
5:15 pm Endolyne Children’s Choir
5:45 pm School of Rock West Seattle
6:00 pm Jack Menashe and Linda Menashe, bringing Santa and grandkids onstage to light the tree
The Night Market will be bigger than ever, with dozens of vendors/artists in closed-for-the-occasion SW Alaska by the park – we’ll preview that lineup tomorrow! (And you’ll find many more seasonal events in our frequently updated West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
A collision at 16th and Trenton involved a school bus and a car – but no one was seriously hurt, police told us at the scene, and the students have already been transferred to another bus. This photo sent by a tipster shows the bus that was involved and the bus sent for the students.
The scene is not yet fully clear – a tow truck and cleanup crew are still awaited, according to radio communication.
One year ago today, Mayor Jenny Durkan took the oath of office at a series of ceremonies around the city, including one in West Seattle. This week, she’s on another citywide tour, which included a brief lunchtime stop at the Senior Center of West Seattle. No speech or open-microphone Q&A this time – she did that at Cupcake Royale down the block just two weeks ago.
Senior Center executive director Lyle Evans (with the mayor in the photo above) tells us, by the way, the center’s upstairs café remodeling should be complete next week.
Another change just announced – new since the briefing we covered Monday night – for the viaduct-to-tunnel transition: Now TWO ramps in the stadium zone will close on January 4th, a week before the mainline closure.
WSDOT had already announced plans to close the SB 99 offramp to Atlantic Street starting January 4th; today, the state says the NB 99 onramp from Royal Brougham will also be closed starting January 4th: “This additional week will allow the contractor more time to perform critical work (including unburying tunnel on- and off-ramps) that has the potential for some unanticipated challenges, giving crews additional flexibility during the mainline closure.” WSDOT’s short time-lapse video above shows the construction of the tunnel ramps that will be “unburied” at that time.
Today’s full update is here, including a note that the NB 99 transit lane in SODO will be shortened by a third of a mile starting December 14th, for repair work.
12:48 PM: Last night, we reported on the letter sent home by two schools after a student was “inappropriately approached” at a bus stop on Delridge on Monday. Today, SPD has just published a report of an arrest following a luring attempt on Tuesday, saying they’re investigating to see whether the suspect might be linked to other incidents:
A 25-year-old man was arrested last night for attempting to lure a 14-year-old girl in West Seattle.
Just before 6:00 pm Tuesday, officers responded to 16th Avenue SW and SW Holly Street where a 14-year-old girl reported she had been grabbed by an unknown suspect minutes earlier. The victim told officers the suspect had followed her off a Metro bus near South Seattle College. According to the victim, the suspect approached her, grabbed her hand, and told her to come with him, but she was able to pull away. The suspect eventually left the area after the victim stated she would scream. The victim was not injured.
The victim provided a description of the suspect and officers searched the area, locating the man at 16th Avenue SW and SW Holden Street minutes later. He was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for investigation of luring. Detectives are investigating the case, and are reviewing whether the man may be involved in any other similar incidents.
We just checked the register; the suspect remains in King County Jail.
3:46 PM: New information – at a hearing this afternoon, the suspect’s bail was set at $100,000, with the judge finding probable cause to hold him for investigation of attempted second-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He is due back in court Friday. Court documents describe him as “a suspect in an indecent liberties call” two weeks ago but have no further details; the jail register shows he was booked three times earlier this year, for a DUI case, a trespass case, and a car-prowl case.
(WSB photo from Monday)
Many have asked what they can do to show support for the neighbors shaken by anti-Jewish vandalism in their Sunrise Heights neighborhood, first reported here on Monday. While the neighbors have reiterated that they are grateful for the expressions of support but don’t need anything donated, local advocates are planning a show of support by rallying in The Junction this Sunday, and you’re invited. The announcement from Hate-Free Delridge:
No to Anti-Semitism — in West Seattle and Everywhere
Recently in the middle of the night someone wrote anti-Semitic graffiti in the alley behind two West Seattle homes.
Join Hate-Free Delridge and Friends for a demonstration against anti-Semitism and in support of our Jewish neighbors this Sunday, December 2, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, in the West Seattle Junction, at the corner of California Ave. and Alaska St.
Bring signs, for example:
No to Anti-Semitism – in West Seattle and Everywhere
We stand with our Jewish neighbors
Hate has no home here
Resist all attempts to divide us
Jews and Allies against Anti-Semitism
Oppose all targeting of minoritiesWe’ll also bring signs to share.
We hope you will join us,
Hate-Free Delridge
(West Seattle Chamber of Commerce photo: Board chair Pete Spalding, outgoing CEO Lynn Dennis, incoming CEO Julia Jordan, 2019 board chair Lauren Burgon)
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has a new CEO on the way. Here’s the announcement we received this morning:
The Board of Directors of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce announced today the appointment of Julia E. Jordan as the Chamber’s new CEO, effective January 1, 2019. Current CEO Lynn Dennis will step down on December 31st after leading the Chamber for five years.
Jordan brings to the West Seattle Chamber an ability to understand the needs, challenges, and aspirations of businesses of all types and sizes, based on more than 15 years of experience in chamber and downtown management. She recently served as the President and CEO of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, a position she held for nearly three years.
Jordan’s extensive experience and enthusiastic vision made her the unanimous choice of a search committee comprised of members of the Chamber’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
“I am excited to be given the opportunity to serve the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce as the next CEO.” said Jordan. “It is an honor to follow such a visionary leader as Lynn Dennis and a privilege to work with a diverse board with such enthusiasm for our mission. I’m looking forward to meeting each of our members and having an opportunity to continue collaborating with regional chambers for the betterment of our collective businesses.”
Jordan holds a BS in Economics/Business Administration from UC Santa Barbara, and recently completed the three-year Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) Academy for Chamber Executives.
The opportunity to meet Julia and bid a fond farewell to Lynn will be celebrated at the Chamber’s signature event, “Mix, Mingle & Jingle,” dedicated to raising funds to continue the Chamber’s mission of being the leading advocate for the West Seattle business community. Join us on Thursday, December 6th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Sanctuary at Admiral and connect with new and old friends, share delicious beverages and appetizers, do a little holiday shopping at the silent auction, or take a turn at the wine toss! Details and registration are on the Chamber’s website, or by calling 206-932-5685.
The Chamber announced Dennis’s departure plan two months ago; she joined the Chamber in early 2014. Most recently, Jordan worked for a software and marketing firm.
(Black Turnstone in flight, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Midweek! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, your Wednesday highlights:
LOW-CODE APP DEVELOPMENT MEETUP: 6 pm at West Seattle Coworking (WSB sponsor):
This Meetup is for people of all skill levels, from all backgrounds, to come together and learn the powerful art of low-code app development. We’ll spend a couple hours each Meetup exploring real world applications of PowerApps, Power BI and Microsoft Flow. Come by and get your hands dirty creating cross-platform apps for your personal lives and business needs.
(6040 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK WAY/HOLDEN CHANGES: As previewed here, SDOT is coming to Highland Park Improvement Club meeting at 6:30 pm to talk about the changes planned for this intersection while the city continues to seek funding for a roundabout. All welcome. (1116 SW Holden)
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), Bruce Beasley, Suzanne Paola, and Carol Guess are this month’s featured writers. More info in our preview. Free! (5612 California SW)
THE BILLY JOE SHOW: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern – local favorite!
The Parliament is a 21+ venue. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning. No outbound incidents reported so far. One transit alert – Metro sent a belated announcement that the 5:52 am Route 55 didn’t run.
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