West Seattle, Washington
05 Friday
Three weeks ago, we reported on an arrest following a police standoff at the Cal-Mor Circle apartment building in Morgan Junction. The 44-year-old suspect was accused of two incidents at Junction businesses, first threatening bank staff unless they gave him money (which they didn’t), then threatening to kill a store employee who asked him to put on a mask. His case ended up referred to Seattle Mental Health Court, where it was dismissed because he was incompetent to stand trial. The judge ruled that the suspect was unlikely to have competency restored in the time allowed by state law for a non-felony charge. He got out of jail after 11 days.
We’re mentioning this tonight because the same man was arrested again early today, same place, again after police obtained a warrant, this time serving it with SWAT help. The suspect is accused of going into nearby West Seattle Thriftway late last night and getting into a confrontation with staff who had previously barred him from the stsore, eventually trying to steal an item and brandishing a two-foot chain when they tried to stop him. (That turned the incident into robbery.) With the help of security video, police identified the suspect and went to his apartment to arrest him, which they did just after midnight. This afternoon a judge found probable cause to hold him for investigation of second-degree robbery. But the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that’s also what happened in September, when he was arrested for a similar shoplift-turned-robbery at the gas-station mini-mart south of Thriftway, In that case, probable cause also was found for holding him on suspicion of second-degree robbery – but the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office never got followup documents from SPD, so they were unable to charge him. Days later, Municipal Court charges were dismissed in Mental Health Court for the same reason as the case earlier this month – competency and inability to hold him long enough for restoration to be likely.
In this case, he’s due back in court tomorrow for a bail hearing.
Every year, we invite you to share locations – with or without photos – of West Seattle light displays worth a trip to see. We share them nightly, and in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, through New Year’s Eve. We’re starting tonight with the first recommended display – which we also photographed last year: Ken Arkills‘ home at 39th/Trenton in Fauntlee Hills [map].
Ken’s brother Jim Arkills emailed us to ensure we knew Ken’s display is up and shining for another year. It’s on a corner, so there’s a lot to see, on both sides! That includes many characters, both animated and static. Here’s one inspired by a famous scene in the movie “Christmas Story”:
Fauntlee Hills has other brightly lit homes, as it does every year, but none quite this bright. And our photos only show a fraction of it all.
If you have – or have seen – lights we should showcase, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – with or without photos. Thank you!
5:50 PM: Thanks for the tip. Another power outage has hit Brace Point – 166 homes out since just after 2 pm, according to the Seattle City Light map. No cause listed yet, but this area’s had repeated underground cable failures, and SCL is working on replacements and upgrades over the next two-plus years.
7:31 PM: SCL now lists the cause as “equipment failure.”
1:02 AM: 72 homes are still mapped as out.
While we mentioned Giving Tuesday in our daily preview list, we otherwise haven’t emphasized it since we try to provide opportunities for EVERY day to be Giving Day. But we do have a request for help from one community-based campaign – Poogooder, described by founder Lori Kothe as an “audacious idea to launch a community dog poo bin program to help end wayward dog poo for a happier, healthier community and planet”:
In our first year, Poogooder has grown to nearly 100 active dog poo bins in West Seattle stewarded like Little Free Libraries, with a growing steward waitlist (currently almost 50!). Poogooder has become an amazing phenomenon as we collectively work to reframe dog poo from problem to opportunity for good, but it takes a village. To-date, Poogooder has been funded personally by me plus many small donations, mostly through GoFundMe and Venmo.
People can “say thanks” via the Venmo QR code on the bin lids (Venmo @Poogooder), but we need a funding boost now to fulfill the waitlist and keep Poogooder going. Consider giving to Poogooder this #GivingTuesday to help meet our campaign goal by the end of the year, regularly donating via Venmo, and giving in other ways listed at Poogooder.com. Poogooder is not currently a registered non-profit so donations are not tax deductible, but all donations go directly to support the program, as it is currently 100% donation and volunteer driven. We’re exploring additional funding models such as grants and partnerships, and welcome ideas from anyone interested in helping Poogooder sustain and scale.
Beyond monetary donations, people can do some good today and every day by doing these three things:
1. Always pick up after your dogs and carry the bagged dog poo with you.
2. Never put dog poo in private garbage cans without explicit consent.
3. Remember to tie the bag and treat Poogooder bins and public garbage cans with care (dog poo NEVER goes in recycling, food & yard waste, or personal compost bins).Poogooder is a community project where neighbors offer to maintain the bins and transfer the contents to their personal garbage for free, not a paid service, so please show stewards you care by not overflowing the bins, being sure your bag goes entirely in, and closing the lid to keep the rain out. If a bin is full, walk your bag home or check the active bin map at poogooder.com/active-bin-map for a nearby bin. We also need volunteers to help with the program and to sign up to be “bin buddies” to support stewards as needed. Join the movement and learn more at Poogooder.com.
After seeing an SPD summary reporting another bone found at Alki – this time on Sunday, by someone swimming – we followed up on that discovery and the one a week earlier. In both cases, the finder(s) suspected the bones might be human, so they called police, who in turn took the bones to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. That office is part of Public Health-Seattle/King County, whose spokesperson Gabriel Spitzer tells WSB that “the bones found on Alki beach on 11/22 and 11/28 turned out to be non-human bones.” Spitzer adds, “We do appreciate residents bringing these to the attention of law enforcement, because it’s often difficult for people to spot the difference between human and non-human remains, and it’s better to be sure.”
1:15 PM: Thanks to Lisa for the tip. Police and fire are at 35th SW and SW 106th [map] for a multiple-vehicle crash. No major injuries reported so far, as no medic unit has been sent. Avoid the intersection for a while.
1:53 PM: SFD has closed the call (we’re following up with them regarding injuries) and an update from Lisa shows a tow truck clearing the intersection.
6:07 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB that two women were treated at the scene and taken to a hospital via private ambulance, in stable condition: one 65 years old, one 27 years old.
Thanks for the tip. Another Junction restaurant closure – Café Mia at 4317 SW Oregon. Its namesake proprietor announced that last Sunday was the bistro’s final day of operation – in that location. She said she had decided to close as her lease neared its end, but that she plans to reopen elsewhere, “probably not” in West Seattle. Café Mia had been in the space for four years, best known for brunch. (P.S. If you’re wondering about the photo, the handwritten info on the door is the menu, not a farewell note.)
(WSB photo: Duwamish River, seen from the West Seattle Bridge on Monday afternoon)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:
GIVING TUESDAY: Our Holiday Guide has an ongoing list of seasonal opportunities to donate money/items, so that’s one way you can get into the spirit of today’s annual give-a-thon!
LAST CALL – PUBLIC-SAFETY SURVEY: Your annual chance to share thoughts about various public-safety issues ends today.
LAST CALL – NAME A FERRY: Today’s also your last chance to vote on the finalists for naming the new hybrid-electric ferry to be built on Harbor Island.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: 8 am-8 pm daily through December 9th, visit the Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) lobby to see the decorated, donated trees that’ll be auctioned on the last night. (Get a preview in our coverage from last week.)
COMMENT ON PROPOSED KING COUNTY COUNCIL MAP: At 2 pm online, the proposed redrawn map for King County Council districts gets a public hearing. West Seattle remains in Council District 8, but borders to the south and north would shift. Go here to find out how to comment/participate.
HANUKKAH, NIGHT 3: No public West Seattle events until Sunday.
DEMONSTRATION: Scott continues leading weekly sign-waving for racial justice 4:30-6 pm Tuesdays at 16th/Holden – signs available if you don’t bring your own.
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: 8 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
Hometown Holidays fun in the West Seattle Junction is just beginning, but with the biggest events coming up soon, the call is out for people who can give the gift of time: Volunteers! You can help with the Night Market and Tree Lighting on Thursday, or in a variety of other ways, says WSJA executive director Chris Mackay. Just go here, see what they’re looking for and when, and sign up for whatever interests you!
6:04 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
ROAD WORK
20th/Roxbury – Work continues on the SW side of the intersection.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.
Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is running a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
617th 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.) No change for the holiday.
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. South Bridge openings are also 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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