West Seattle, Washington
09 Friday
10:59 PM: For the second night in a row, police are investigating confirmed gunfire in West Seattle. Right now they have SW Charlestown blocked off in the 48th SW/49th SW vicinity, after finding shell casings following reports of gunshots. At least one person has reported bullet damage to their car. No injuries reported. The shots are believed to have been fired from a vehicle that sped away eastbound on Charlestown, but no description so far.
11:29 PM: Officers also have told dispatch that a house on 49th SW has bullet damage.
ADDED FRIDAY: Police say bullets hit one vehicle and two houses, and that they recovered more than a dozen shell casings. Meantime, an area property owner tells WSB:
There were 4 gunshots fired in the same location Tuesday, September 14th at 4am. Multiple neighbors heard the shots and called 911. SPD was dispatched but did not find anything. Neighbors report that they heard/saw a car speed away down Charlestown but did not get a description. I own a rental house in the area and found two bullet holes in the side of the house and one bullet was found in the bedroom. This shattered a window and broke a closet door. Luckily, the house is vacant at the moment – otherwise this may have been a bigger issue besides vandalism. Upon discovering the bullet and bullet holes we called SPD.
(WSB photo, February 17)
Back in February, a three-hour SWAT standoff played out at Westwood Village, ending with two arrests. Rafael Meyers and Jerry Plute Jr. were eventually charged with second-degree burglary for breaking into the building east of Target, punching holes through the walls between Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), Sport Clips, and the vacant space north of them, stealing a gun among other things. Meyers was arrested first; Plute eventually was taken into custody on the roof. The two were let out of jail after one day, when a judge declined prosecutors’ request to set bail. Seven and a half months later, Plute has reached a plea bargain and will be sentenced tomorrow, while court documents indicate that an agreement is in the works for Meyers. Plute, a 35-year-old Top Hat resident, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, first-degree criminal trespass (a gross misdemeanor), and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is recommending a suspended 1-year sentence when Plute, who has no felony convictions, appears before King County Superior Court Judge David Steiner tomorrow afternoon. The files do not indicate yet what’s in the potential plea bargain for Meyers, but it may include other cases, as the notation on the most recent hearing notes mention a “global disposition.” Meyers has other burglary cases pending including a burglary at Peel & Press in Morgan Junction last year.
While we usually include weekend road-work alerts in both our Friday morning traffic watch and our weekend-morning “what’s up” lists, these SDOT alerts for this weekend are worth an advance mention too. First, West Marginal Way near the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, more work both days this weekend:
This weekend, we’ll continue working on the new pedestrian signal at the Duwamish Longhouse as part of the West Marginal Way SW Improvements project. We’ll begin work as soon as 6:30 AM and finish as early as 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday. This work is anticipated to have minor traffic impacts, but you may see traffic slowdowns and lane reductions in the area.
Second, Sunday work toward the east end of the Roxbury corridor:
This Sunday, October 3, we will be doing a fall clean-up of the SW Roxbury St and Olson Place SW medians. We will be performing a garbage sweep, weeding, hedging, and mulching of the landscape. Traffic impacts include closure of the inside lanes on SW Roxbury St and parts of Olson Place SW. We anticipate this work to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude as soon as 3:30 PM. Please use caution while traveling in the area.
Thanks to Lynn Shimamoto of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network for the photos and report:
This happened around 1 pm at Don Armeni. Seal Sitters was tending to a harbor seal pup at the boat ramp when a truck from the Seattle Aquarium pulled up. Liz Boggs and Chris Van Damme invited us to watch the release of an octopus. The 28-pound male octopus nicknamed “Licorice” had been residing at the aquarium, but now it’s hoped he will find a mate and live out his days in Elliott Bay.
Two months ago, “Licorice” – a Giant Pacific Octopus – played a role in the Seattle Kraken pro-hockey team’s expansion draft.
(WSB photo, southbound view of Delridge/Holden)
Major work is done on the repaving/utilities project along Delridge Way to prepare for next year’s conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line. In addition to the new concrete pavement, some sections have seen major changes – medians, striping, signals, sidewalks … Questions have popped up in comment threads over recent weeks, so we’re talking with SDOT tomorrow morning to get some answers. But in case more questions about this project are out there, we’re inviting you to either post yours below or email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to get answers. (Just the Delridge RapidRide-related project, please, as we’re talking specifically to people on that project – thank you.)
(Photo courtesy The Missing Piece)
Alex and Lauren, proprietors of The Missing Piece café/game lounge at the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury, are about to celebrate two milestones concurrently – their “grand opening” and first anniversary! Here’s their announcement:
We’re inviting our friends and neighbors to stop in to try out our coffee and sample our cozy atmosphere. If you’re doing the math – yes, it also happens to be our one-year Anniversary, but crazy times call for crazy Grand Opening schedules! We’ve arranged several special treats that you might want to stop by for, including the following:
-Raffles for games, coffee, teas and even a private room rental package
-Our fall “Roll Your Discount” sale (take up to 12% off all game purchases based on your dice results)
-A small selection of store-branded merchandise available for purchase for the first time
-The inaugural “Piecing It Together” meta event where you can earn prizes just by hanging out with us and doing activities in the store. This event will become a recurring staple on our calendar afterward, so you can keep the prizes flowing
This will be happening all weekend (October 2-3); The Missing Piece’s hours are 8 am-10 pm both days.
Just in from The Admiral District’s businesses:
(Graphic sent last year, applicable again this year)
Admiral District businesses regret to announce that the annual trick-or-treating event will once again be cancelled for 2021. With the rise of the delta variant, the decision has been made to err on the side of caution. Our businesses are concerned that many children are unvaccinated and the activity of going door-to-door for treats would pose an unreasonable risk to the health of our community. Currently the vaccine is only available to children 12+. We look forward to hosting the event again in 2022.
Tomorrow’s the day that tolls go up for two state-highway facilities, including the 2 1/2-year-old Highway 99 tunnel, This summer, the Washington State Transportation Commission – which sets toll rates – decided to raise tolls 15 percent in all dayparts. So here’s what that means:
As explained in this announcement following the WSTC’s vote in August, Tacoma Narrows Bridge tolls are rising tomorrow too. Tunnel tolls are required to cover a certain portion of costs, and the previously planned 3% tunnel-toll increase next July 1st is still going forward too. After that, another increase might not be necessary for about three years.
(Sunflowers, some of the last summer flowers standing – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s planned for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SHOW OFF YOUR ART: Today’s the first of three days that you can drop off art for the Southwest Artist Showcase at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), which is open noon-8 pm.
BUSINESS NETWORKING: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly After Hours event, hosted by multiple businesses, is 5:30-7:30 pm at The Bridge (6301 California SW).
CANDIDATES ON HOMELESSNESS: The Seattle Times is presenting more online candidate forums focused on homelessness tonight, starting at 5:30, including candidates for Seattle City Council and City Attorney – register here for the viewing link. (Update: The 5:30 pm debate is for King County Council District 3 – not our area. then Seattle City Attorney at 6 pm and Seattle City Council Position 9 at 6:30 pm, per co-sponsoring organization We Are In.)
OPEN JAM THURSDAY: 6 pm at Best of Hands Barrelhouse (35th SW/SW Webster).
SMOKEY T AND THE LARKS: Live music at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm, also featuring Mountain Holler and Active Measure. No cover, all ages.
Only a month until Halloween! A West Seattle Girl Scout troop has a fun fundraiser going – here’s the announcement:
Join Girl Scout Troop 41169 in the thrilling Halloween tradition of Boo’ing- dropping tricks and treats on the porch of a special friend, neighbor or your own kids! Our Girl Scouts are excited to get the Halloween spirit started this year and spread some fab-boo-lous fun around West Seattle!
After a successful yard sale this summer, the troop is still working to earn their way to Savannah, Georgia; which in addition to being the birthplace of Girl Scouts is often considered one of America’s most haunted cities. Spooooky!!
Our boo buckets are kid, tween, mom, teacher, and Pinterest approved! They are packed full of unique activities to keep your little ghosts busy all month! We’ve got crafts, STEM activities, tricks and treats galore!
Want to spread the Halloween cheer but don’t have a little goblin in your life? Our troop is working to donate additional boo buckets to a local non-profit for kids in need. When you purchase, make a note in the comments that you’d like your bucket delivered to a kid who would enjoy it and we’ll make sure someone deserving gets it!
Some of the Girl Scouts have also created additional items that would complement your boo bucket, or be great on their own! Check out our website for tic-tac-toe sets, mummy surprise balls, scrunchies, and decorative ghost garlands.
Pick up in Genesee neighborhood on 10/9 – or our troop would be happy to make a super stealthy delivery to West Seattle or Burien addresses for an additional $5 (details on website)
7:10 AM: Thanks for the tip – backup at the east end of the Roxbury corridor because of a crash at Olson/Cambridge. SFD has cleared from the scene, though. (Added) CJ describes the crash as SUV vs pole.
Earlier:
6:04 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Rainy, cool, breezy – with another 60-ish high (yesterday’s high was just 58)..
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Final week for northbound 26th SW closure between Roxbury and Barton; then the closure shifts to southbound.
25th SW & Barton – More county-led RapidRide prep work.
Delridge project – No major work this week.
(added) This weekend – Rescheduled work on I-5 southbound, Friday night through Monday morning, between Yesler and I-90.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules today – except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips. Reminder – the fall “service change” is Saturday; here’s our preview of West Seattle changes.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
555th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – Note: We asked SDOT about the camera angle again last week, and it’s been readjusted:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are movable bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
10:06 PM: Police investigating gunfire reports in north West Seattle have found evidence – at least nine shell casings. Dispatch noted 911 calls from areas including the 2600 block of 36th SW and the 2300 block of Harbor SW. One officer just radioed in that they’ve found at least nine shell casings “at the viewpoint.” (Whether that’s Admiral Way Viewpoint, Hamilton Viewpoint, or someplace else, they didn’t mention.) No injuries or property damage reported so far.
11:48 PM: Admiral Way Viewpoint, per a reader.
Jessica has been leading volunteer cleanups at Alki Beach on first Saturdays for more than a few months. When she sent us the announcement of the next cleanup this Saturday (October 2nd), she mentioned something more – the launch of a new coalition for volunteer cleanup groups, and a website where you can browse all their events. They’re welcoming others – “West Seattle, and ultimately beyond” – to get their cleanups on the list. The site is CleanupSEA.com, and that’s where you’ll find, for example, info about joining this Saturday’s Alki cleanup (10 am-1 pm). And if you have a cleanup and/or group to add to the site, here’s how to reach them.
Family and friends will gather next month to remember Dick McBrady. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
Richard Joseph “Dick” McBrady
1933 ~ 2021Dick passed away at home on the morning of July 17th with his wife, Paula, at his side. He went to be with his Lord and Savior after battling Vascular Dementia.
He was the middle child of Joe and Millie McBrady, born on 10/21/1933. He grew up in Ballard and graduated from O’Dea High School. While attending Seattle University, he was drafted into the Army in 1957, the same year he married Geri Rosholt. They had 2 sons, Greg and Kevin.
Dick worked many years at Sears and Roebuck and sold so many suits in the 1st and Lander Men’s Department that Corporate visited him to see what he was doing. Dick was a born salesman. He went on to work in the Garden and Pet Industry for many years.
He married the Love of his life, Paula Tunison, on November 5, 1977. They moved to Wenatchee after opening a pet store, Village Pets, which they owned for over 20 years. They moved back to Seattle and Dick worked for his brother, John, in his business O’Rings West.
Dick loved to dance and he and Paula danced every week of their 43-year marriage until Covid started. He was always positive, ready with a smile and fun to be with. If a Party hadn’t started, it did when Dick walked in the room. He loved life, he loved his Family, his Faith, his Friends and his many pets over the years.
He is survived by his wife Paula, sons Greg (Katy) and Kevin, granddaughters Qwynn and Anna, his brother John and his wife Sandi, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sheila.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or CHI Franciscan/VM Hospice. Many thanks to Comfort Keepers for their loving care of Dick.
Inurnment Memorial Service & Army Funeral Honors will be at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent at 10:30 am on October 21, 2021.
To share your condolences and memories of Dick with family and friends, please visit his Tribute Wall at EmmickFunerals.com/obituary/Richard-McBrady
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
The candidates for Seattle Mayor – Lorena González and Bruce Harrell – spent an hour this afternoon answering questions about homelessness and housing, and are scheduled to take on the same topic at another event tonight.
We watched the noontime forum, presented by the Resolution to End Homelessness. Its founder/board president Kyle Bergquist moderated. The organization recorded the event; the video is below, followed by our notes:
3:24 PM: Thanks for all the tips on this (and to Noelle for the tweeted photo): A RapidRide bus is blocking part of the 35th/Barton intersection. Avoid the area for a while.
3:40 PM: Police are being sent for traffic control; dispatch just told officers that Metro has “someone on the way.”
4:06 PM: An officer just told dispatch that the intersection “will be open all ways in about a minute.”
The report and video are from Shikher:
We’ve lived here for three years and love our West Seattle community. I wanted to bring attention to the community regarding a situation yesterday in the alley outside of my home. My wife was waiting with my 8-month old daughter for me to join them before we went out on our daily walk. As my wife was waiting, she was feeding my daughter in our stroller outside our home when she was unassumingly approached aggressively by a woman who hissed and tried to bite her. While my wife was still shocked by what had just happened, the woman said, “go back to your country,” in a racist rant as she quickly fled north up the alley.
I’m just happy that I was close by, and this woman did not continue to harass and attack my wife and infant daughter. Things could have gone much worse, and we are thankful that the woman did not further harm our family.
I was not far behind my wife and noticed something had happened, but by the time I got there, the woman had fled up the alley and began to grab trash bins purposefully and started to push them over, causing garbage to spill into the alley. I can only assume that this attacker suffers from a drug or mental illness; however, that does not give her the right to attack and intimidate others without taking responsibility for her actions.
I did start to yell at the woman a distance after I checked that my wife and daughter were safe after such an unprecedented attack. I immediately called 911 to report the attack, and the woman continued north up the alley until she disappeared towards California Ave.
This was a completely unprovoked act of racism and aggression, which has been reported to the Seattle Police under incident 21-256569. I only hope to gain attention to this verbal and physical attack, so perhaps this person can be found and held accountable for her actions. I shared her likeness and the attached video with the Seattle Police, hoping they could somehow locate her.
I wish that no person in this community has to face what my wife and daughter dealt with yesterday. We are of Indian descent, but It’s just extra disappointing, especially since my wife and I were born and raised in the Seattle area. Seattle, Washington State, the USA is our home, and we don’t know any different. Being told to ‘go back to your country’ is a racist and vile thing to say to anyone, regardless of skin color, religion, or race. Thy physical intimidation and attack were also horrendous, and I’m glad things did not escalate. I’m just sad that my daughter, who isn’t even a year old, had to watch some deranged woman come and intimidate and attack her mother. We love our community and hope that this does not happen to anyone else in the future.
This happened in north Morgan Junction, east of California and north of SW Graham.
Thanks to Cindi for the tip. The mobile clinic Pliable will be at Neighborhood House High Point this Saturday (October 2nd) for a Pfizer booster clinic (refresher: here’s who can get boosters now). 8 am-noon, 6400 Sylvan Way SW, indoors. If you’re eligible for a booster, sign up for an appointment here.
Back when Seattle banned single-use plastic bags for grocery stores and many other businesses nine years ago, some pointed out they would still be able to get them nearby, with unincorporated King County right next door. Starting this Friday, that changes, as the statewide plastic-bag ban goes into effect, nine months later than originally scheduled. Here’s an overview from the state Department of Ecology; take note of this part:
If customers choose to use compliant plastic or paper bags offered by a merchant, the law requires the business charge 8 cents per bag. That 8-cent-charge is not a tax; it is a sale kept entirely by the merchant to provide an incentive for customers to bring their own bags and to recoup the costs for the more durable compliant bags.
Food banks and pantries, and individuals receiving food stamps, WIC, SNAP, or other government assistance are not subject to the 8-cent charge. Some single-use plastic bags are exempt from the law, including plastics to wrap meats and produce, bags for prescriptions, and newspaper or dry-cleaning bags.
(Camp Long – photo by Rosalie Miller)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PANDEMIC BRIEFING: State health officials plan a briefing and media Q&A at 11:15 am. You can watch the livestream here.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES ON HOMELESSNESS: As previewed here, the two candidates for Seattle Mayor are scheduled to discuss homelessness at an online forum, noon-1 pm. Register here to get the link.
WINE EVENT: Explore Mexican wines during a 5 pm event at Molly’s Bottle Shop (3278 California SW); info in our calendar listing.
WOMEN, WINE, WILLS: Free event hosted by estate-planning attorney Jenny Ling at The Princess and The Bear in west South Park (309 S. Cloverdale), 6 pm – sign up here.
OPEN MIC: The weekly open mic at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) – signups start at 7:30 (but the line often forms earlier, the club says), performances at 8:30.
SING: The second karaoke night of the week at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor) is now on Wednesdays, 8 pm-1 am.
Are we missing something? If it’s happening today/tonight, text our hotline ASAP, 206-293-6302 – thanks!
Seattle Parks and Recreation community centers continue the process of gradually reopening for programs and services. High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW) wants you to know it’s ready to welcome your participation again, HPCC’s Paula Pablo emailed to say they’re offering a variety of options, including:
Adult Tae Kwon Do
Dance classes for ages 2-6
Piano
Senior classes
Winter Activity Camps
Drop-In Basketball
Best way to find out more is to call 206-684-7422.
6:03 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Showery, cool yet again – with another 60-ish high..
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Final week for northbound 26th SW closure between Roxbury and Barton; King County crews expect to close southbound net week.
25th SW & Barton – More county-led RapidRide prep work.
Delridge project – No major work this week, SDOT says.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules today – except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips. Reminder – the fall “service change” is Saturday; here’s our preview of West Seattle changes.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
554th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – Update – we asked SDOT about the camera angle again last week, and it’s been readjusted:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
(WSB file photo)
One of the headlines from tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting: The Fauntleroy Fall Festival will return next month, but with pandemic modifications. It’ll be a drive-up/ride-up event, 2-5 pm Sunday, October 24th, in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot (9140 California SW). Organizers plan stations where you can stop for some take-home versions of festival traditions – paper salmon hats, birdhouses, pumpkins. They’re planning an RSVP system where you can sign up for an arrival time slot, to avoid traffic jams. More info to come soon.
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