day : 20/09/2021 10 results

Three incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:

APARTMENT BURGLARY: This happened at the Bridge Park senior-living apartment complex in High Point early Saturday. We tried to get the full report from SPD today but so far have only the brief summary, which says:

On 09-18-2021 at 0056 hours, officers responded to a retirement home regarding a suspect who broke into an occupied bedroom window. On arrival, officers learned that the suspect shattered an exterior window and gained access to the victim’s bedroom. The suspect then fled out the front door after being confronted and into the interior of the building. The suspect attempted to gain access to more occupied rooms as he moved down the hallway, until he was able to gain access to another occupied room. Officers, who were actively searching for the suspect, heard the victim calling for help inside. Officers were able to gain access to the room and the suspect was taken into custody and booked into King County Jail for investigation of burglary. There were no injuries to any victims.

CAR PROWLS: Matt‘s street got hit by two rounds of car prowls last Tuesday night/Wednesday morning and he put together a narrated video with security-camera footage – see it here.

VANDAL ON WHEELS: We heard a dispatch this evening about someone tearing up the park next to Delridge Community Center by driving a dune buggy on it. A bit later, a reader sent us this video:

Incident number is 21-248038.

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It takes a village to nurture a creek – the Fauntleroy Watershed Council can’t do it alone

September 20, 2021 7:26 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo by Dennis Hinton)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Every fall, volunteers watch Fauntleroy Creek for signs of coho salmon swimming home to spawn.

The creek is one of just a few in the city to which salmon still return.

(“Wally,” a 2016 Fauntleroy Creek coho photographed by Mark Ahlness)

It’s hospitable again thanks to human helping hands decades ago, from volunteers who formed the Fauntleroy Watershed Council.

As they celebrate the council’s 20th anniversary, the dedicated volunteers at the heart of the group are hoping now to welcome more neighbors into the fold – whether for one-time events or recurring involvement. There’s much to be done – today, for example, volunteers were out clearing logs from the mouth of the creek (top photo), so any returning spawners don’t face a “roadblock.”

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: 25th/Barton intersection

September 20, 2021 5:41 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

While the city’s share of the RapidRide H Line preparation project along Delridge Way is winding down, the county’s share is continuing. As part of that, we got word today that work is starting at the intersection of 25th SW and SW Barton, and that means a closure on the souths side of the intersection. From the announcement:

Over the coming weeks, crews will be removing the existing pavement and ADA curb ramps, upgrading utilities, installing new roadway panels and ADA curb ramps, and making improvements that will serve current Routes 60, 120, 125, and 560, and the future RapidRide H Line. This work is expected to last for approximately three weeks. Typical hours of work are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with occasional weekend and night work.

During this work:

25th Avenue SW will be closed to northbound and southbound traffic at SW Barton Street.
Detours will be in place for people driving, walking, and rolling. Please follow posted detour signage.

Meantime, the northbound 26th SW closure continues between Barton and Roxbury, and we’re told that is expected to switch directions to the southbound lanes within a few weeks.

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AFTERNOON TRAFFIC ALERTS: Crash at 35th/Morgan; signal at Delridge/Spokane

September 20, 2021 4:12 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:12 PM: Thanks for the tip. Avoid 35th/Morgan for a while – a crash is reported to be blocking two lanes. No SFD dispatch so far, but police are there. They’re calling for SDOT to clean up debris.

4:35 PM: That scene is reported to be cleared. But now police have told dispatch that the signal is flashing at Delridge/Spokane (the 5-way).

5:05 PM: The backup from that is big, we’re hearing via Twitter – one driver says getting through the area took 40 minutes.

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WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: Doc Maynard out for repairs

September 20, 2021 3:34 pm

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| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(MV Doc Maynard – WSB file photo)

The Spirit of Kingston is replacing Doc Maynard on the West Seattle Water Taxi run until further notice. After Metro sent that announcement this afternoon, we asked spokesperson Al Sanders why. He explains, “The Doc Maynard is going to the shipyard for repairs to the vessel’s propeller. The issue was discovered during the morning run and it was taken out of service.” The swap is notable since the Spirit of Kingston’s 149-passenger capacity is only about half that of Doc Maynard, but Metro says ridership has been averaging “well below” 149. Sanders says there’s no estimate yet how long Doc Maynard will be out of service.

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CORONAVIRUS: Seattle Public Schools dashboard shows 97 more cases this past week

September 20, 2021 1:56 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools‘ weekly COVID-19 dashboard update is up. It shows 214 total cases reported among students and staff since the school year began – 97 more than the 117 reported in last week’s update. The individual school numbers don’t show week-to-week change on the dashboard, but here’s what we have compared to last week’s numbers:

Chief Sealth International High School – 8, up 2
Lafayette Elementary – 7, up 1
Denny International Middle School – 6, up 2
Roxhill Elementary – 6, up 3
Highland Park Elementary – 5, up 1
Gatewood Elementary – 3, unchanged
Pathfinder K-8 – 3, up 1
West Seattle High School – 2, up 1
Madison Middle School – 2, both newly reported this week
Genesee Hill Elementary – 1, unchanged
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 1, unchanged
Sanislo Elementary – 1, unchanged
West Seattle Elementary – 1, newly reported this week

Still no cases reported at Alki, Arbor Heights, Concord International, or Fairmount Park elementaries. The school-by-school numbers are not separated into students/staff, but in the Southwest Region (West Seattle/South Park), 41 of the 46 cases are listed as students, 5 as staff.

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NOT HAPPENING: Fall Recycle Roundup. Here’s what to do instead

September 20, 2021 12:04 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

A few have asked about the date for Fauntleroy Church‘s next Recycle Roundup. Though a date had tentatively been set for one this fall, organizers weren’t able to get their usual partner to commit, so it’s NOT happening. While awaiting the next time they do get one scheduled, here’s what you can do if you have recyclables beyond what is accepted at curbside: Use the “Where Does It Go?” lookup. It will point you to options including scheduling an extra-cost special curbside pickup. If you’re looking specifically for electronics recycling, here’s who’s in the Take It Back Network, including some drop-off spots as close as SODO.

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WEST SEATTLE MONDAY: What’s up as the week begins

September 20, 2021 10:30 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Fall arrives at 12:30 pm Wednesday (September 22nd) and the trees are already starting to turn – we saw the one above along the Hiawatha track on Sunday night. Meantime, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox, here’s what’s happening:

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: Today is the first day of the weeklong dine-out benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank. 27 food/drink establishments are participating – some by donating a percentage of proceeds, some with specific menu items. The venue list and other info – be sure to get your “passport” first time you participate this week! – can be found here.

SOUTHWEST POOL: Just a reminder that West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool (2801 SW Thistle) is open again – here’s the schedule, which starts on Mondays with lap swimming at noon and concludes with water exercise at 7 pm.

CITY COUNCIL: Weekly meeting at 2 pm; here’s the agenda, which includes information on how to participate in public comment.

FRESH HOP WEEK: Special weeklong event at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), which opens at 4 pm today.

OPEN D&D: Weekly drop-in event at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 6:30-10 pm.

QUIZFIX TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) – prizes!

Got something for the calendar, one-time or recurring? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Dr. Paul K. Smits, 1941-2021

September 20, 2021 9:04 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Dr. Paul Smits and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Longtime West Seattle dentist, Paul Kari Smits, of Bellevue, passed away in Seattle on September 10th from complications of prostate cancer; he fought the disease courageously for ten years.

He was born in 1941 to Paul Aire Smits, DDS, and Ina Kari Smits and grew up in Aberdeen, WA.

He attended the University of Washington and graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for two years and, while there, met his future wife, Joyce (Becker) Smits. He then served two years in the Army Reserve while establishing his private dental practice in West Seattle. Paul cared for his patients for over 45 years, becoming friends with many.

Paul loved spending time outdoors with Joyce and their three sons, especially on the ski slopes. An avid photographer, he documented everything from their travels in the U.S. and around the world, to his grandchildren’s sporting events and celebrations. He was quick to laugh and tell a story and will always be remembered for his warm, friendly personality and dedication to his family and patients.

Paul is loved and will be forever missed by Joyce, his wife for over 50 years; sons Tyler, Ryan, and Kyle, and their wives Lori, Christina, and Jessica; grandchildren Gavin, Audrey, Ella, and Lily, all of whom live in the Seattle area; sister Karen (Morgan Kari) of Woodland Hills, CA; brother- and sister-in-law René and Jan Robert of San Ramon, CA and their family; and his many friends.

His family would like to thank the doctors and many other Virginia Mason caregivers who provided medical care and compassion to Paul.

Donations in memory of Paul may be made to Zero Cancer at zerocancer.org or a charity of your choice.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday notes

September 20, 2021 6:12 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: Good morning! Dry day expected.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW remains closed between Roxbury and Barton.

Delridge project – Winding down.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules today – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips.

For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

545th 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 – The camera’s back, now pointed west:

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.

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