West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
(WSB photos)
Pitcher Felix Schlede got the win for West Seattle High School tonight in a Metro League playoff game against Bishop Blanchet, striking out 13 in six innings on the way to the Wildcats’ 5-2 victory. They played in intermittently showery weather at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.
The big inning for WSHS was the fifth, when they brought in three runs.
Next up, the league-leading Wildcats play Eastside Catholic at 7 pm Saturday, also at Steve Cox.
With five days left until the return of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – this Saturday, May 14th – we’re getting down to specifics. The map/list has been public since Saturday, so you can see who has what, where. And we’re publishing some lists of certain types of sales from among the 320+ registered, starting now. First – the sales with all or part of the proceeds intended as benefits – here are the beneficiaries listed by the sellers:
#56 – Hope Lutheran Youth fundraising for travel
#70 – Emerald City Pet Rescue (including the kid-made $1 painted rocks in the photo above)
#72 – Boy Scout Troop 284
#78 – new nonprofit Hazelwood Preschool
#115 – Girl Scout Troop 42860
#211 – WSHS Earth Club (note that this sale’s location has changed – it will be at WSHS)
#221 – Esperanzas Unidas (youth-made art kits to raise $ to educate girls in Honduras)
#232 – Seattle Humane
#248 – Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (this sale starts on Friday)
#255 – Kitsap Humane Society
#270 – Delta Kappa Gamma’s scholarship fundraiser for women in education
#303 – Solstice P-Patch’s fundraising plant sale
(Did we miss anyone? Let us know – we reviewed all 320+ registrations but there’s always a chance we missed making a note.) Official sale hours are 9 am-3 pm Saturday, but some start earlier and some end later – see the listings for those notations, and be sure to re-check the map page for late changes and cancellations before Saturday – lists like this will be cross-linked there too.
(WSB photos)
It’s playoff time, and the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer team played O’Dea this afternoon at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. The result was a 3-0 season-ending loss for the Seahawks.
The score was a flip of the two teams’ last meeting two weeks ago, which Sealth took, 3-0. The Seahawks end the season with 11 wins in 16 games.
Stephen sent the photos and report, with a question for other drivers:
I was driving eastbound on Spokane (after I turned right from Avalon) around 3:15 pm today and as I go under the higher bridge, wet concrete started falling like a waterfall. There are rocks mixed in the concrete and broke my upper right windshield. I just wanted to see if other drivers got hit as well. There was a yellow pickup truck behind me and I am sure it got dinged.
Stephen hadn’t yet reported it to SDOT. For any kind of city-road/bridge-related problem, 206-684-ROAD or 684-Road@seattle.gov. (If it’s an urgent hazard after-hours, 206-386-1218 or 911.) We’ll follow up with SDOT tomorrow.
CARJACKING ARREST FOLLOWUP: On Friday, we reported on the Harbor Island-vicinity arrest of a woman suspected in a carjacking north of downtown. The 25-year-old suspect remains in jail, bail set at $5,000 though the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says they requested $75,000 bail. We’ve obtained the probable-cause documents, which say the carjacking victim was pulled out of her parked Subaru Forester near 8th Avenue North and Thomas Street (map) just before 3:30 pm Friday. Police got word about 10 minutes later that the car was “seen driving up on railroad tracks, and (the carjacker) was seen fleeing the Subaru.” The car was found abandoned on tracks southeast of the low bridge. Police searched the area and even used the Guardian One helicopter to look, but didn’t find anyone – until they got word someone had been robbed of their wallet somewhere in the Harbor Island vicinity, and that led them to the suspect.
JESSICA BEACH: Last week we reported on the robbery charge filed against 34-year-old Jessica M. Beach for threatening staff at the South Delridge T-Mobile store while stealing merchandise. We mentioned a separate assault case that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had filed against her the same day, but weren’t able to immediately obtain information. Today we have those charging documents. She was charged with third-degree assault for hitting a man in the head with a golf club April 21st while he was trying to detain an alleged associate of hers after a burglary in Burien. Beach remains in jail, bail set at $150,000 total for the robbery and assault cases.
One reader report today …
ANOTHER CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Jerry Simmons, who often shares photos here and elsewhere online, is the latest victim. Thieves took the catalytic converter from a truck used in his plumbing business:
Jerry says this happened in the Fairmount Park area.
Two updates from downtown this afternoon on public-safety issues of note:
POLICE HIRING: Last night we previewed tomorrow’s City Council Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting, for which the agenda includes two divergent proposals by Councilmember Lisa Herbold – the committee’s chair – and Councilmember Sara Nelson. This afternoon, a news release announces that they have agreed to work together on the issue, though previously Nelson had noted that Herbold declined to co-sponsor her proposal, a resolution supporting hiring incentives such as bonuses; Herbold had proposed an ordinance that would cover moving expenses for new SPD hires and some other hard-to-fill city jobs, and pay for a police recruiter. The news release says both councilmembers have agreed to work with Mayor Bruce Harrell on “a unified approach and path forward to passing legislation related to hiring incentives in support of improving public safety.” He is quoted as calling both councilmembers’ original legislation “two thoughtful proposals.” Nelson now plans to offer a “friendly amendment” to Herbold’s proposal that would add money for “SPD’s recruitment advertising and outreach budget.” The mayor, meantime, promises to propose a “more comprehensive recruitment strategy … before summer.”
REPEAT OFFENDERS: According to another news release, Seattle Municipal Court judges have agreed to City Attorney Ann Davison‘s request to exclude certain repeat offenders – aka “high utilizers” – from the Seattle Community Court program. The announcement says they’ve agreed to this somewhat under protest – “The court strongly disagrees that Community Court has not been effective in dealing with the ‘high utilizer’ individuals.” The program, less than two years old, is described as intended “to assist individuals booked into jail on low level misdemeanor charges through access to services in the community instead of sitting in jail waiting for a court date.” Previously, the court had said it was “evaluating” Davison’s proposal.
That simple rocking chair has huge sentimental value – but it got a new home by mistake this past weekend. Erik says his neighbor is hoping to get it back:
My neighbor had her garage cleaned up this weekend and her daughter’s blue rocking chair was mistakenly given away (Admiral neighborhood). If you were given the chair or know someone who was could you reach out to my neighbor Lauren at 206-271-5484, it’s a very sentimental piece they’d love to get back. Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to help.
Big event for local yarn aficionados starting Wednesday – here’s the announcement from Seattle Yarn (5633 California SW):
Destiny Itano and Cheryl Lea of Seattle Yarn are celebrating their fourth year as owners of Seattle Yarn at 5633 California SW in West Seattle! They are also one of 20 local yarn stores in the PNW participating in the Puget Sound Local Yarn Tour, an amazing annual tradition that’s been going on for 16 years. The tour is 5 days and starts this Wednesday, May 11. Many fiber art aficionados make the annual trek, trying to make it to as many stores as they can in a few days to have their “passport” stamped. In past years, many tour participants have been “finishers”, having reached all 20 stores!
Also: There is a daily prize drawing, a free knitting pattern, free crochet pattern, locally dyed yarns, a new and exclusive yarn from Indigodragonfly, a selfie station designed by Destiny’s son – a local artist, conversations with master fiber artists, and, of course, deals! I would also encourage folks who appreciate fine arts to come by and check out some of the beautiful display knitted pieces – which are stunning! And everyone loves the ever growing family of gnomes and bears, knitted by Elspeth and crocheted by Winter.
(Gnomes and bears NOT for sale)
Seattle Yarn will be open extended hours for the tour, May 11-15: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 8 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
11:14 AM: Just announced by Metro:
Scheduled repairs to the Seacrest Dock in West Seattle will close the dock during the midday sailing hours between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm from Monday, May 16 through Thursday, May 19. Should work complete early, notification regarding service resumption will follow.
We’re following up to see what the repairs entail.
ADDED 2:14 PM: Water Taxi spokesperson Al Sanders tells us it’s actually maintenance: “The time is needed to complete the final phase of dock maintenance at Seacrest Park which had been scheduled for mid-April but was delayed due to supply chain issues. The contractor is planning on three days of work with one day as a buffer, so it is possible to resume service earlier based on their success in executing the work.”
(Sunday clouds, photographed from Lincoln Park by Paige Canfield)
Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead:
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm online, councilmembers look at the week ahead and recap the past week. No public-comment period, but the agenda explains how to watch/listen.
SPORTS: Two high-school playoff faceoffs today: At 4 pm, the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer team plays O’Dea at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); at 7 pm, the West Seattle High School baseball team plays Bishop Blanchet at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd).
OPEN D&D: Drop in to play 6:30 pm-10 pm Mondays at Meeples Games (3727 California SW).
TRIVIA X 3: Three scheduled options tonight for trivia players – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have something coming up that should be listed on our calendar and in our daily previews? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you haven’t already seen this on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – you can dine and dance (or sit and listen) this Friday night while giving student musicians a boost:
West Seattle High School Big Band Dinner Dance
Friday, May 13th from 6-9 pm
West Seattle High School Courtyard (Commons if inclement weather)Featuring the West Seattle Big Band, with performances from our high-school musicians, including our Jazz Bands. Dinner will be provided by Thai U Up, with dessert from our very own WSHS culinary students.
Dinner/Dance tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door for adults and $20 students/children; $10 dance-only tickets are available. wshsmusic.org
Not only a community performance, this event will help Raise Funds for Fundamentals! Money raised will help us build our foundation with instrument purchases, sheet music, and coaching. We will have direct donation opportunities and a raffle for some really nice baskets filled with gift cards, opportunities, services, much more. We are still accepting donations if you or your business would like to donate!
Please visit wshsmusic.org for reservation and payment instructions. Any questions, donations, concerns can be sent to westseattle.musicboosters@gmail.com.
As explained on its website, the WS Big Band was originally formed by WSHS alumni 26 years ago.
6:03 AM: Good morning and welcome to Monday, May 9th.
WEATHER
The National Weather Service again predicts a mostly cloudy day, chance of showers, high in the 50s.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule, but watch @kcmetroalerts (new account) for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
Check the West Seattle Water Taxi status here.
Ferries: WSF continues using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT
Mariners are home vs. Philadelphia at 6:40 pm.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
777th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
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.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Mary reports her pickup truck was stolen late Sunday night:
I have a 2007 dark blue Chevy Silverado truck that was stolen out of the front of my house around 46th and Erskine … The license plate C43764G. Please keep your eyes out for it!
2:25 AM UPDATE: Here’s the police report # – 22-115989.
TUESDAY UPDATE: Mary reports it’s been found.
We’re still checking countywide and West Seattle COVID stats at the end of each weekend, so here are the current trends: Cases are up countywide for a seventh week, at a slower rate; hospitalizations are barely above the previous week; deaths continue decreasing. Here are the specifics, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:
*16 percent more cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 946 new daily cases countywide (up from 796 when we checked a week ago)
*1 percent more hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 11 new hospitalizations daily (up from 10 a week ago)
*6 percent fewer deaths countywide in the past two weeks than the two weeks before (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 1 death daily (same as the two-week average last week)
For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (these are the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge):
*687 cases between 4/18 and 5/02, up from 435 between 4/3 and 4/17
*5 hospitalizations between 4/18 and 5/02, down from 6 between 4/3 and 4/17
*No deaths between 4/18 and 5/02, same as between 4/3 and 4/17
And checking vaccination rates:
*80.9 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (unchanged from a week ago)
*85.7 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*48.8 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .2% from a week ago)
*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (reminder, 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 88% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 52.9% have had a booster
98116 – 92.8% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 64.6% have had a booster
98126 – 83.5% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 54.7% have had a booster
98136 – 93.7% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 67.8% have had a booster
98146 – 83.1% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 47.8% have had a booster
VACCINATION AND TESTING, UPDATED HOURS: No pop-up clinics on the near-future schedule, so you can look for vaccination locations via this statewide lookup. If you want to get tested and don’t have a kit at home, public testing sites include the city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, 9 am-5:30 pm Mondays-Saturdays), the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday), and the Curative van at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, 8 am-noon Tuesday-Friday). … If you need to report self-test results, that’s explained on this page.
Two weeks ago, we reported on a discussion of Seattle Police‘s staffing/hiring struggles in the City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold. This Tuesday, the issue is back on the committee’s agenda, as are measures proposed by Herbold and by citywide Councilmember Sara Nelson. Herbold is proposing covering moving expenses for hires in SPD and some other city departments, while Nelson is proposing a resolution supporting hiring incentives such as bonuses. Both measures could be voted on at this meeting. Also on the agenda: An SPD report, as required by the council, on the department’s “efforts to identify a non‐sworn response for 911 call types that the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform categorized as appropriate for a civilian response.” The report notes that’s not so simple, as most calls turn out to be something other than what they were dispatched as, so SPD says it’s launched a project “to develop a risk assessment matrix to help determine which calls can be safely off‐loaded to an alternative response (though risk will never be completely eliminated).” This and the two councilmembers’ hiring-related proposals are on the agenda for the 9:30 am Tuesday (May 10th) meeting, which also explains how to watch/listen, and how to comment.
From Sale #141 in the north to Sale #326 in the south, from Sale #119 in the west to Sale #317 in the east, the 16th West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day will bring together neighbors peninsula-wide next Saturday, May 14th. As announced here last night, the map/list is ready, with addresses and descriptions for all 320+ registered sales. The online-map page includes info on how to use it, including how to search for keywords in sale descriptions – if you’re looking for, say, toys, or antiques, or camping gear, or plants, etc. Over the next five days and nights, we’ll spotlight sales including unusual items, benefits, block sales, and more – also keep checking the map page before sale day as that’s where we’ll note any map changes (such as last-minute cancellations) and other helpful info. We’ll be spending the week telling everyone for miles around about WSCGSD – if you have family/friends/co-workers who would enjoy spending the day on our peninsula, invite them over too!
The spring season for high-school sports is coming to an end, and that means it’s playoff time. The Metro League schedule shows two games tomorrow for local teams that are having great seasons – at 4 pm Monday, the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer team plays O’Dea at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); at 7 pm Monday, the league-leading West Seattle High School baseball team plays Bishop Blanchet at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd).
P.S. Softball playoffs start Tuesday at NCSWAC, but the bracket doesn’t yet show which teams are playing which games.
Thanks to Carl Furfaro for the photos of a River Otter on the beach at Lincoln Park this morning, enjoying a breakfast of fish. This gives us the opportunity to remind you of two things: One, yes, what you see here in and near West Seattle waters are River Otters, not Sea Otters, which are more common in the open ocean. Two, you might see a River Otter crossing a local street – especially streets by the water, like Alki Avenue – to get to an inland den, so while driving, be watchful for wildlife as well as people. This one, however, headed back into Puget Sound, perhaps for a second course:
P.S. Carl has a website with photos of other local wildlife – see them here.
Three reader reports in Crime Watch this afternoon:
STOLEN VAN: From Kristina:
My brother-in-law’s van was stolen last night/this morning near the Highland Park Corner Store. Silver 2002 Ford E350, dent on driver side door, Thule box on top. Florida plate 60JMU. Police report # 22-115372.
4:46 PM: Update from Kristina – the van’s been found.
HIT-RUN DAMAGE: From Lindsay:
At approximately 4 am our car was involved in a hit-and-run (crash) while parked on the street. We live on 42nd Avenue between Hinds and Hanford. Our neighbor heard the crash and called the police. The police came and said it looks like our SUV was hit by someone going in reverse since there were pieces of tail lights on the street. If anyone sees a vehicle with damage to the back or saw anything please call it in. Incident # 22-115321.
CAR BREAK-IN: From Jessica:
(Thursday) at 1:03 AM at 1156 Alki car prowlers broke into and tried to steal our car. We have some pictures of them from surveillance footage. They were here for about 10 minutes, left, and came back with a car and a third person.
She says they only ended up stealing sunglasses but: “The key hole on the driver’s door and the ignition were significantly damaged and now unusable.”
(Image from SDOT traffic camera)
1:25 PM: Thanks for the tip. Police and SFD are at the scene of a flipped-car crash on the westbound side of SW Roxbury at 15th. Texter says everyone got out OK, which is why there was no big “rescue extrication” callout. Updates to come.
1:38 PM: We’re told at the scene that one woman is being taken to the hospital via AMR ambulance, which means her injuries weren’t life-threatening. No sign of another vehicle involved, but we can’t find out for sure as no other information is available on the circumstances – the only officer left at the scene is there for traffic control while they await a tow truck. An SDOT incident-response truck is there now, and westbound traffic continues routing around via one inside lane.
2:04 PM: The scene is clear and all lanes have reopened, as shown on the SDOT camera. Meantime, commenter Courtney has an eyewitness report.
(2017 WSB photo)
Remember those goats and other art under the bridge in 2017? Those were “art interruptions,” temporary installations as part of a city program. Next round is in the works, as this week the city announced the artists chosen to create some along one of West Seattle’s greenways:
The Office of Arts & Culture in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation has commissioned four emerging public artists to create temporary art installations along the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway for Art Interruptions 2022. The artworks will be installed on city-owned infrastructure and offer passers-by a brief interruption in their day through moments of surprise, beauty, contemplation, or humor.
The artists selected are:
Va’eomatoka “Toka” Valu
Clare Johnson
Malayka Gormally
Tommy SegundoLook for the latest artworks in Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway summer of 2022! Artists were selected by a panel of artists, community members, and city staff. Art Interruptions is an ongoing program funded by the SDOT 1% for Arts Fund.
You can find a map of the greenway here.
(At Lincoln Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Happy Sunday, and Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s what’s on the list today:
ROAD-WORK ALERTS: Here’s what SDOT has planned for today:
On Sunday, we’ll be replacing two traffic signs on SW Spokane St in the westbound direction. We anticipate this work to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude as soon as 5 PM. We’ll need to reduce the two travel lanes to a single lane and there may be delays for people driving.
DONATION-ONLY YOGA CLASS: 9 am at Jet City Labs (4546 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re still listing these – see today’s list here.
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN PEONY FESTIVAL: Again today, you can celebrate spring flowers at the garden on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-4 pm, with performances throughout the day, and more.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – at the weekly WSFM. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
FUNDRAISER PLANT SALE: 10 am-5 pm at 13257 5th Ave SW in Burien, a second day for the sale to support Weed Warriors’ restoration work at the Myers Way Parcels in West Seattle.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Does Mom enjoy history? Here’s someplace to take her today. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has reopened its museum on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm, (61st/Stevens)
‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Final performancee of Twelfth Night Productions‘ musical, 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Get tickets here.
‘ALMA’ AT ARTSWEST: First time Benjamin Benne‘s play is being performed in Seattle! 3 pm curtain at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Get your ticket(s) here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
KUNDALINI YOGA & MEDITATION: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio (7356 35th SW) – details here.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to list on our calendar? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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