West Seattle, Washington
06 Saturday
2:38 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police tell us they are dealing with a person in crisis, possibly armed, near 36th/Roxbury, and have blocked Roxbury in that area. They tell us nearby Summit Atlas middle/high school is in lockdown as a result. No injuries reported thus far but avoid the area.
3:27 PM: Not resolved yet. A dispatcher recapping the situation described it as having started when the person “brandished a rifle at a neighbor’s window” and was then seen by officers with “a pistol.” They are reported to be inside a house.
4:06 PM: As noted in comments, Summit Atlas has since let out for the day. Meantime, SWAT team officers have joined the response. The person who’s the focus of all this is reported to be a man in his 60s.
5:04 PM: Not resolved yet. Note for traffic purposes that Cambridge also is blocked west of 35th SW.
5:34 PM: Officers are continuing to use a PA system to ask the man to surrender.
5:58 PM: If you just heard an explosion in the area, that’s a “flash-bang” deployed by SWAT. … Shortly after that, another one.
7:13 PM: They’ve now advised the man via the PA that they have obtained a search warrant and if he doesn’t come out, they’re going in.
7:31 PM: Still trying to convince him to surrender, with another flashbang, in the standoff’s sixth hour.
8:01 PM: Now seventh hour. Police report the man has been firing a “pellet” gun among other erratic behavior.
9:01 PM: Eighth hour. SWAT officers are continuing to try different tactics, and continuing to tell him via PA that he’s under arrest and needs to surrender.
10:02 PM: Ninth hour. No change.
10:14 PM: SWAT officers reported to dispatch that they’ve moved in and are taking him into custody. They’re calling for SFD to come check him out for exposure to gas (which they used multiple times earlier) and for “Taser deployment.”
10:26 PM: Officers tell dispatch he’ll be taken to the hospital.
Thanks to Mike Munson for the photo from Lowman Beach Park, where crews are in their third week of what’s expected to be an eight-month project, removing the failing seawall and the adjacent tennis court, and restoring a more natural shoreline, as was done on the south end of the beach years ago, We asked project manager Janice Liang about this work, and she explained that it’s related to another component of the project, daylighting the end of Pelly Creek: “The Contractor is currently installing new storm drain structures (as seen in the photo) to connect to the existing 18″ Pelly Creek storm drain on the uphill side. The pipe will be daylighted at a pipe outfall midway of the site, with exposed stream beds connecting down to the beach.” For a view of what the finished project is supposed to look like, you can find design documents here.
11:14 AM: Washington State Ferries has just taken M/V Cathlamet – #3 boat on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run – out of service because of “oropulsion issues,” That’s the ferry that just went back into service three weeks ago after a month-plus of repairs and maintenance. Updates to come.
ADDED SATURDAY: The Cathlamet returned to service early this morning, so the run is back to three boats.
(Thursday photo by Troy Sterk)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PRESENTATIONS: City departments continue presenting their proposals to the City Council. Today’s agendas for the morning (under way now) and afternoon (2 pm) sessions include SDOT and Seattle Parks. You can watch via Seattle Channel.
OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: 3-10 pm, the start of a big weekend at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), including live music starting at 6:30 pm.
BINGO: Usually on Thursday nights at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor) but this time it’s on Friday night, 7 pm.
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tonight’s Chief Sealth International High School game vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) will start at around 7:45 pm – after the Lincoln/Cleveland game, which starts at NCSWAC at 5 pm. … Other games tonight, from the Metro League schedule – West Seattle High School plays on the road at Bishop Blanchet, 7 pm … That’s also the start time for O’Dea vs. Seattle Prep at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW);
FIREFIGHTERS ‘LIGHT UP THE NIGHT’: Happening tonight, as announced by SFD:
Seattle Fire will join fire departments from across the nation to honor all firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice. From 8-8:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1, all of Seattle’s 33 fire stations will “Light the Night” in red to honor fallen firefighters by pulling fire engines, ladder trucks, medic units and aid cars out in front of the apparatus bays and turning on the emergency lights. Neighbors are invited to observe this remembrance event from the sidewalk at their local fire station. All fire apparatus will stay in-service to respond to incidents during this event, and may not be present during the time period allotted if units are on an emergency response.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE BEACH: 8 pm at J&J Public House (2808 Alki SW), live music led by Grammy winner Andrew Gouché. $10 cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT DRUNKY’S: 8 pm doors, 9 pm show, $10 cover at Drunky Two Shoes BBQ (9655 16th SW) in White Center.
Learn! Build! Compete! If you have an 8th- through 12th-grader in the family who is interested in robotics, SkunkWorks Robotics invites you to an open house Saturday afternoon.
Skunk Works Robotics is a team for 8-12 graders who want to work hard, have fun and build competitive robots. We are having an open house on October 2nd at 1 pm at the former Beverly Park Elementary at 11427 3rd Ave S. in north Burien.
Skunk Works has been competing for 16 seasons and has won multiple awards including 3 last season: Excellence in Engineering Award, Designer’s Award and the Skills Competition Award.
The organization draws from all over the region and usually has participants from several school district. Here’s the open-house flyer.
6:03 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Sunny, cool, breezy – with yet another 60-ish high (yesterday’s high was 62)..
ROAD WORK
26th SW – The closure between Roxbury and Barton is expected to shift to southbound next week.
25th SW & Barton – More county-led RapidRide prep work.
Delridge project – Some work remains but nothing big.
(added) This weekend and beyond – Rescheduled work on I-5 southbound, Friday night through Monday morning, between Yesler and I-90 … Work on West Marginal both days this weekend, plus work at the east end of the Roxbury corridor on Sunday – details on both of those are here. … Next week, the county’s RapidRide work will close 15th SW south of Roxbury.
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” starts tomorrow; here’s our report on West Seattle changes.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL
Tolls have just gone up.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
556th 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: Thanks for all the comments about the camera angle; we mentioned it to SDOT and it’s been fixed:
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.
Thursday night’s second online city-candidate debate on homelessness featured the two candidates for Seattle City Council citywide Position 9, the spot that Lorena González is leaving to run for mayor. The event concluded the series presented by The Seattle Times and We’re All In. Here’s what Sara Nelson and Nikkita Oliver had to say, in response to questions asked by Times reporter Sydney Brownstone. Note that everything below is our paraphrase/summary, not a direct quote unless it’s within quotation marks.
With two weeks until voting begins, the candidates are in the midst of a blitz of campaign forums. Candidates for Seattle city offices appeared in two more Thursday night – both specifically to address the topic of homelessness, On Wednesday, Seattle Mayor candidates debated the topic twice. We covered the first one, presented by the Resolution to End Homelessness; the second one, Wednesday night, kicked off a two-night series presented by The Seattle Times (here’s their coverage) and We’re All In. On Thursday night, the series included two half-hour forums. We watched both. Below are our notes on the first one, with Seattle City Attorney candidates Ann Davison and Nicole Thomas-Kennedy, moderated by Times reporter Sydney Brownstone. (We’ll have a separate report on the second one.) Note that everything below is our paraphrase/summary, not a direct quote unless it’s within quotation marks.
QUESTION: What role should the City Attorney play in addressing homelessness?
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:
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