West Seattle, Washington
23 Friday
(WSB photo from 2019 Westside Awards breakfast)
Last year, Alki Lumber was honored as Business of the Year in the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Westside Awards, which also recognize Emerging Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, and Westsider of the Year. Who will it be this year? You are invited to make nominations – chamber membership is NOT required. Use this short form for each nomination; go here to see the criteria and lists of past winners. explains the criteria for each category. You have until the end of February to nominate someone (but why wait?). Once the winners are chosen, they’ll be honored at the annual Westside Awards breakfast, which this year wiil be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 7:30 am April 28th.
Three items in Crime Watch:
(1/26/2019 SDOT cam framegrab showing investigation scene)(January 2019 SDOT image)
SENTENCING TOMORROW: 89-year-old Roger Mize will be sentenced tomorrow for shooting another man to death almost a year ago shortly after both boarded a C Line bus in SODO. Mize pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter; prosecutors are recommending a 7 1/2-year sentence. As we reported last year, Mize and the victim, 51-year-old Ronnie Tyler, got into a fight aboard the bus after Mize took offense at Tyler walking past him. He pistol-whipped the victim and then shot him. Mize was arrested for shooting another man in 2013 but was never charged; that victim survived.
Two reader reports:
MAIL THEFT: From Chris, whose Arbor Heights neighborhood has been hit by mail theft before:
We have a new mail thief that struck every mail box this morning at 5:20am on SW oceanview Dr.
I can’t quite make out the make and model of the car this time.
Chris says the thief’s car is the dark one at the top of that image.
CAR PROWL: Gatewood again. This report is from Christine:
Just wanted to let you know that our 2004 Audi was rifled through this morning while I was up and making breakfast for my daughter around 6:15 am. I almost caught them because I heard a car with a loud motor rumbling outside and began to walk to the front door but by the time I got to the window and saw the light on in our car, they took off.
The car was parked in the front of the house and accidentally left unlocked but luckily nothing of value was in there. All they took was our Leatherman multi-tool set. The sound of their car certainly drew attention so surprised they’re out casing when people are up and getting ready for work and school!
4:20 PM: If you’re about to head this way from downtown – avoid 1st Avenue S. Per tipsters as well as SPD dispatch, a truck is blocking both southbound lanes just north of the West Seattle Bridge ramp, apparently after hitting a utility pole.
5:09 PM: Still backed up. See the almost-live camera image here.
6:31 PM: Scene’s not clear yet but the live video version of that camera shows more traffic being routed around it.
8:03 PM: The camera shows that entire block of 1st closed off now, and NB traffic coming off the westbound bridge being detoured too.
10:36 PM: We’re still monitoring the live video feed from the scene. It’s without power now and City Light is working in at least one bucket truck. The block is still closed to traffic.
1:13 AM: No change. We’re going off-watch for a while but you can check the camera link to see if it’s reopened.
6:54 AM: SDOT tweeted around 5:30 that it was open again.
From SDOT‘s weekly Construction Lookahead, two notes:
NB 99 TUNNEL CLOSURE: The northbound tunnel’s maintenance closure has been rescheduled from this weekend to next – now set for 10 pm January 24th to 8 am January 25th.
SB 1ST AVE. S. BRIDGE: The southbound 1st Avenue South Bridge will be completely closed for repair work for four nights in February – 2/7, 2/8, 2/14, 2/15, 9 pm-8 am nightly.
Last February, we reported on a proposal for 4 four-story houses on that sloped site at 2530 55th SW (map) in Alki, site of a street-closing slide in 2013. Today’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin brings the official notice that the city has approved the plan, which will include 4 offstreet-parking spaces. The decision (PDF) explains the conditions under which the city approved the project despite the site’s challenges. The approval opens a two-week appeal period through January 30th; this notice (PDF) explains how to file one.
11:46 AM: Just received two reports of brown water in Arbor Heights – 35th/102nd is one location mentioned. We’re checking with Seattle Public Utilities; we’ll update when we hear back. If you’re experiencing it, be sure to call SPU at 206-386-1800, even if you know someone else already has reported it.
1:40 PM: Just heard back from SPU’s Ingrid Goodwin, who explains:
SPU crews had to perform an emergency water-main shutdown around 10:30 am today on 35th Ave SW between SW 100th ST and SW 104th St to repair a broken water main. Water was restored (back on for customers) around 11:30 am. As you know, shutting off water can sometimes cause temporary discolored water for customers. As of about 1 pm, our Operations Response Center reports receiving one call from a customer in the area about discolored water.
Thanks to “West Seattle Local” for the view of the snowy Olympic Mountains, looking over the peninsula and through The Great Wheel from downtown. Down here, the snow’s mostly (if not all) melted, and it’s a “getting back to normal” day. Highlights for the rest of today:
CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)
BACHELOR’S DEGREE @ SOUTH: 4 pm info session about getting a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing, (6000 16th SW)
COUNTRY-POP AT PACIFIC ROOM: Live music with Audrey Collins, 6-9 pm at the Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki. No cover. All ages. (2808 Alki SW)
ILENE ENGLISH READING/BOOK SIGNING: The author of “Hippie Chick” will be at Paper Boat Booksellers tonight at 6 pm.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Open board meeting at 7 pm, community members welcome, at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)
BELLY DANCING: Jet City Raqs at The Skylark in North Delridge, 7 pm. All ages. Details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘HARVEY’ OPENING NIGHT: First of three nights for this year’s student-directed West Seattle High School production – the classic play centered on a giant rabbit. 7:30 pm curtain at the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’ OPENING NIGHT: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, “a quartet of fierce women — Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle — lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.” Check for tickets here. (4711 California SW)
Have an event for our calendar? Send the info! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another regional effect of the some-got-it-some-didn’t snow – reduced blood supplies, as some donors couldn’t get around and some mobile drives had to be canceled. Antoinette points out that Bloodworks Northwest has told local donors they’re having two drives in West Seattle in the next several days, so if you can donate, please consider doing it – the blood bank is especially short on O positive and negative, A negative, B positive and negative, and AB negative. The drives are Saturday at Westwood Village (SW Barton side), 9 am-3 pm (closed 11 am-noon for a break), and Monday at Admiral Safeway (2622 California SW), 11:30 am-5:30 pm (closed 1:30-2:30 pm). Walk-ins are welcome, or you can find the drives here and make an appointment.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! Schools are back to regular schedules today. No traffic incidents or transit alerts for our area so far.
| 2 COMMENTS