West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Three notes tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE REPORT INVESTIGATED: We just went over to South Delridge to investigate a report of police investigating possible drive-by gunfire. We found officers near 16th and Cambridge; they told us they had not found any evidence of gunfire so far – no shell casings, property damage, and/or victim(s). ADDED: A texter, however, reported three casings. We’ll check for the report in the morning.
DRUG SUSPECT OUT: Thanks to the tipster who spotted this even before we made our nightly jail-register check. One day after being charged, High Point drug suspect Richard S. Schaan is out of jail. He posted bond tonight on $50,000 bail.
WEEKEND MYSTERY SOLVED: On Saturday night, we got a few tips about police searching parts of Gatewood and Sunrise Heights with a K9 team. We spotted them on SW Thistle but despite driving several blocks in areas where the tipsters had seen police, we never found the original scene.
No related call turned up on Tweets by Beat, either. But an emailed question on Sunday finally revealed the original scene, and we were able to find out from SPD today that it was a case of domestic violence – those are usually kept off the public logs. The suspect they were seeking was finally found and arrested in White Center and booked into jail.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just concluded this past hour at the Southwest Precinct, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network‘s first post-summer-hiatus meeting, with a featured presentation delving deeper into how 911 works.
WSBWCN co-founder Karen Berge led the meeting, with some new participants among the ~20 attendees.
POLICE BRIEFING: “Our summer wasn’t as problematic as anticipated,” began precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis. He talked about trying to track serial offenders “post-arrest,” and ongoing strategies including “area saturation … targeted enforcement … (and) public awareness.” They also use data to “track repeated call locations” which often help them find the aforementioned “serial offenders.” Crime in the area is down overall about 10 percent from a year earlier; he stressed the importance of “report, report, report,” even if it’s something small and simple. That helps police know where in the area – the SW Precinct covers West Seattle and South Park – to focus the types of strategies he mentioned.
In Q&A, he was first asked if LEAD had been implemented yet.
We’ve received several questions about the temporary fencing in place at Alki, including this section between Statue of Liberty Plaza and Alki Bathhouse, so in case you were wondering too, it’s the start of a project we previewed on Labor Day – improving accessibility to various areas of the park, including installation of a ramp. As mentioned in the notice in our earlier story and on the park website, the city is under federal orders to up its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Work is expected to continue until January.
Just in from SDOT:
Crews will be paving on SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to 35th Ave SW (Zones A-C) overnight tonight, Tuesday, September 24 and tomorrow night, Wednesday September 25.
On Tuesday, September 24 crews anticipate paving the west half of the street starting at SW Spokane St and traveling south to 35th Ave SW.
On Wednesday, September 25 crews anticipate paving the east half of the street starting at SW Spokane St and traveling south to 35th Ave SW.
This work is very weather dependent, and we will provide an update tomorrow if our Wednesday night paving is delayed due to rain.
A reader in Arbor Heights sent us that photo a few days ago, wondering if that sign on SW 100th west of 35th meant a speed camera was on the way. We hadn’t heard of one – SDOT hasn’t installed any new ones in a few years – so (after going over to see the sign firsthand), we inquired. SDOT spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg told WSB today, “The sign is fake. We’re asking our crews to remove it.” As for new speed-camera installations, sh also told us, “We’re currently evaluating several locations across the city for new school-zone speed cameras and should know more next year about which locations may move forward for implementation.”
12:48 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for updates on the Southern Resident Killer Whales that started the day in the South Sound and are finally close to our area – she says the orcas are northbound in Colvos Passage (west side of Vashon Island) and likely to emerge around 1 pm. So have your binoculars ready and let us know if you see them!
1:24 PM: Kersti says in a comment that the whales are now visible from west-facing West Seattle if you look toward north Vashon – but they could go out of view for a while if they stay west of Blake Island.
In The Junction right now at California/Alaska, firefighters’ Fill the Boot donation drive for MDA is in its first day. We saw the crew from Highland Park-based Engine 11 there a little while ago; firefighters are rotating until 5 pm, and will collect there 9 am-5 pm daily through this Friday.
(Photo by Alex)
For the third consecutive week, we’re declaring this #TurkeyTuesday as an excuse to decorate the day’s highlight list with the latest reader-sent photos of The West Seattle Turkey, which has been hanging out on our peninsula for five months now. Meantime, the calendar highlights:
HELP FIREFIGHTERS ‘FILL THE BOOT’ FOR MDA: Until 5 pm tonight, and again daily through Friday, you’ll find West Seattle firefighters in The Junction, collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (California/Alaska)
WELCOME WEEK AT SSC: Special events all week as students are welcomed back to South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). Today, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, singer/songwriter Young-Chhaylee performs at Clock Tower Plaza on campus. (6000 16th SW)
(Turkey meets squirrel – photo by David Waller)
PHOENECIA GRAND OPENING: As we reported last weekend, the restaurant’s new Junction location opens to the public tonight, 4-10 pm. (4717 42nd SW)
LUNA PARK CAFE SUPPORT: Local bicyclists are leading a “bike-in” to dine at Luna Park Café tonight, 6:30-8 pm, to show their support for one of the businesses grappling with access challenges during the Avalon Way work, but you don’t have to ride to participate! (2918 SW Avalon Way)
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 911: Tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting features a manager from the SPD 911 center, as well as local crime/safety updates. 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct. (2300 SW Webster)
GET ‘UNSTUCK’: 6:30 pm workshop tonight, West Seattle Golf Course banquet hall. Info in our calendar listing. (4470 35th SW)
(Photo by Bill Vetter)
CITY BUDGET 101: Tonight’s District 1 Community Network meeting at the Duwamish Longhouse, 7 pm, is scheduled to feature city budget director Ben Noble explaining the budget process, which has just kicked off. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
(Photo by Monica Zaborac)
BE SAFE … might be a turkey crossing the street!
ADDED 10:39 AM: One more turkey photo just received:
(Photo by Brooke Eakes)
The search is over! Here’s the announcement from West Seattle Community Orchestras:
After a very productive, year-long process, the WSCO board is pleased to announce Anna Wittstruck as WSCO’s new Symphony Orchestra Conductor. Audience members who attended the Symphony’s spring concert are already well aware that we are in for an exciting season under her direction!
Anna comes to us with wide-ranging orchestral experience. Since 2017, she has served at the University of Puget Sound as Assistant Professor, Director of Orchestra. Prior to that appointment, she served for two years at Stanford University as Acting Assistant Professor, in roles as Interim Music Director and Conductor of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonia. As part of her developing international experience, she has conducted concerts across the United States as well as in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Wittstruck is also an active orchestral musician whose performances as a cellist span from the Beijing Modern Music Festival to the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Princeton University and a PhD in musicology from Stanford University, where she helped create the Stanford Youth Orchestra, an international program for advanced high school students.
Anna has chosen a French theme for the Symphony’s December 6 concert, including the Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saens, Debussy’s Petite Suite, a Pavane by Faure, and selections from the ever-popular suites from Bizet’s opera Carmen.
It’s not too late to join us! Rehearsals begin October 1, held Tuesdays at Chief Sealth International High School. More info on our website, www.wscorchestras.org, or you can contact info@wscorchestras.org.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning!
PAVING TONIGHT: If the weather permits, SDOT plans overnight paving on Avalon tonight.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners’ home game vs. Houston, 7:10 tonight, so the West Seattle Water Taxi runs later.
7:27 AM: Per radio dispatch, police are responnding to a crash reported on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge from Fauntleroy.
7:33 AM: SDOT’s been panning the nearest camera but hasn’t found that crash yet; now they’re saying it might be on the westbound side instead. Eastbound flow from the Fauntleroy end looks normal.
7:57 AM: There’s an oil slick on the westbound bridge in that area so beware if you’re inbound – the westbound bridge will be CLOSED at Admiral while that’s cleaned up.
8:11 AM: SDOT camera image showing westbound bridge blocked/detoured at Admiral:
8:32 AM: Now some of the fluid is reported to be getting into the EASTBOUND inside lane, so police are planning to block off that lane. Avoid the Fauntleroy entrance to the EB bridge if you want to steer clear of potential ensuing backups.
9:04 AM: Cleanup continues.
10:01 AM: Not clear yet.
10:09 AM: The eastbound lane closure is about to be lifted, per radio exchange.
UPDATE: We were away from the desk but per Twitter, the westbound side reopened shortly after noon. As for who’s to blame, SPD tells us the oil was from the first one-car crash.
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