West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
Two weeks from today, it’s the 4th of July, and two major events are returning.
(WSB photo, 2019 West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade)
WEST SEATTLE 4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: We mentioned back in April that this is returning; now that it’s close, it’s worth another reminder. This is a non-motorized (except for the fire truck and pickup truck that have led it in past years) parade, no pre-registration required – just show up with your kids of all ages, and you’re in! Red, white, and blue clothing/decorations encouraged. The parade starts from 44th/Sunset in North Admiral [map] at 10 am and moves along a few neighborhood blocks before crossing California to end at Hamilton Viewpoint Park with activities to wrap up the morning of fun.
LAKE UNION FIREWORKS: Seafair is bringing back the big show – Seattle’s only Independence Day fireworks display – this year, and much of it will be visible from north-facing West Seattle if you don’t want to journey across the bay for an up-close view. The fireworks go off over Lake Union starting around 10:15 pm.
(Gatewood Elementary art seen on the fence at Lowman Beach this weekend)
No Juneteenth celebrations in West Seattle that we’ve heard of (please let us know if we’re missing something); the South Seattle Emerald has a list of what’s happening elsewhere in the city. Meantime, here’s what we do have for today:
CLOSURES: Most government facilities/services are off for the holiday. One exception: Seattle Public Library branches are open today, as they closed for the holiday on Sunday instead.
ILLUSIONS SALE ENCORE: Now until 2 pm today, it’s an encore day for the sale of fixtures, equipment, and merchandise from the now-closed Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW). They invite you to “make an offer … everything must go.”
CLEANUP AFTER THE CLEANUP: As previewed here, community volunteers are working now until noon in the recently cleared area along SW ndover/28th SW.
TENNIS LESSONS: Last-minute word from the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club that they have openings in “the first session of our 2-week youth tennis lesson program” – two sessions that start at 12:30 pm and 1:15 pm today. Registration info is here.
OPEN D&D: Drop in to play 6:30 pm-10 pm Mondays at Meeples Games (3727 California SW).
COMEDY NIGHT: Have a few – or more than a few – laughs at Otter On The Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 7 pm – details and ticket info are in our calendar listing.
ZEN SITTING/MEDITATION: Free weekly event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm.
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 that should be listed on our calendar and in our daily previews? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:07 AM: Good morning; welcome to Monday, June 20th, the day most government facilities/offices are observing the new local/federal Juneteenth holiday.
WEATHER
Partly sunny forecast, high around 70.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on a reduced schedule today for the Juneteenth observance.
Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
PARKING HOLIDAY
For neighborhoods with paid street parking, today it’s free as part of the Juneteenth observance.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
820th 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 (one of four new cameras!):
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.
12:35 AM: Police are investigating two reported shootings right now in West Seattle. SFD is arriving at 26th and Juneau for a report of a gunshot victim there. This was a short time after King County Sheriff’s Office deputies got a call from someone who said they were taking a shooting victim to a Burien hospital and subsequently learned the shooting was reported to have happened in the city, near 16th/Cambridge. We don’t know if these reports are linked in any way. More info when we get it.
1:15 AM: We haven’t heard anything more regarding 16th/Cambridge, but at what’s been revised to 25th/Juneau, SFD told dispatch that police reported one person ‘obviously deceased.” We don’t know yet if this is a homicide investigation.
2:01 AM: No official information from police yet but listening back to radio recordings, the area where the person died was described as an encampment. And right now, police are continuing to canvass the area for cameras.
3:22 AM: Here’s what SPD just posted:
(SPD photo)
Detectives are investigating after a man was shot and killed at a Delridge encampment early Monday morning.
At 12:20 a.m., a 911 caller reported someone had been shot in an encampment near 26th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Juneau Street.
Officers arrived and located the male shooting victim, who had sustained significant injuries. Seattle Fire Department Medics responded to the scene and declared the man deceased.
Members of SPD’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded to process the scene for evidence. Homicide detectives also responded and will continue to investigate.
Anyone with information about this incident should call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
This is the first homicide case in West Seattle since the deadly Alki shooting one year ago.
ADDED TUESDAY: The King County Medical Examiner identifies the victim as 37-year-old Dylan Hunter and says he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
UPDATED WEDNESDAY: Though at the time that ID was announced, this was the only shooting death reported in the city, police are now saying they’ve discovered another one that happened at an encampment in Ballard, and that’s apparently the one linked to the name mentioned here yesterday.
Topping our weekly COVID update – the Western States review workgroup affirmed today what the FDA and CDC said in the past few days, that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe and effective for children 6 months to 4 years old. Here’s the full announcement. That means the shots might be available starting this week for the newly eligible age group – we’ll publish word of any pop-up clinics we hear about. You can also watch this statewide lookup. Now, on to this week’s updates, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:
*20 percent fewer cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 995 new daily cases countywide (down from 1,250 when we checked a week ago)
*21 percent more hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 18 new hospitalizations daily (up from 15 a week ago)
*21 percent fewer deaths in the past two weeks than the two previous weeks (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 2 deaths daily (same two-week average as 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):
*848 cases between 5/30 and 6/13, down from 954 between 5/15 and 5/29
*9 hospitalizations between 5/30 and 6/13, down from 10 between 5/15 and 5/29
*1 death between 5/30 and 6/13, down from 2 between 5/15 and 5/29
VACCINATION: Boosters are recommended for everyone 5 and up. Checking vaccination rates:
*81.4 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*86.2 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*50.6 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .5% 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 – 88.5% completed initial series (up .2% from a week earlier), 54.5% have had a booster (up .4%)
98116 – 93.3% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 66.4% have had a booster (up .5%)
98126 – 84.0% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 56.5% have had a booster (up .5%)
98136 – 94.1% completed initial series (same as a week earlier), 69.5% have had a booster (up .5%)
98146 – 83.4% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 49.1% have had a booster (up .4%)
TESTING: 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 except some holidays – open on Juneteenth Monday) and the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday except holidays, and it will be closed Juneteenth Monday). … If you need to report self-test results, that’s explained on this page.
Two 2-wheeled reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE: Maybe you can help Joseph find the motorcycle he uses to get to and from grad school:
It’s a blue 2021 Honda CB300R. stolen from the 7100 block of 34th SW early this morning. We’ll add the report # when we get it. (ADDED: SPD incident # 22-156850; the motorcycle’s plate # is 9G3441.)
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN BICYCLE: John sent the photo:
It was left alongside a stairway in Highland Park. Contact us and we’ll connect you.
5:06 PM: Police have told dispatch they’re closing the intersection where Sylvan Way meets SW Morgan [map] because of a crash. SFD has responded too.
(Photo sent by Gary)
5:26 PM: We’ve just arrived in the area. Morgan/Sylvan is blocked right at Lanham. Two cars are involved, one flipped. That car’s driver is being taken to the hospital via AMR. Not life-threatening injuries.
em>(WSB photo)
Lots of debris to clear from the street.
7:08 PM: We don’t have an update on the street – it should be open by now, though – but we do have an update on the person taken to the hospital – man in his mid-30s, in stable condition when transported, according to SFD.
4:40 PM: 78 homes are out of power north of The Junction, between (roughly) 40th and 41st SW and Charlestown and Genesee. Fire and police have been dispatched to check out what at least one caller said sounded like an “explosion.” Updates to come.
4:57 PM: One resident says his house was out for about 10 minutes but has power back. SCL’s map still shows 78 out. SFD apparently didn’t find anything at note, as its response has closed.
6:30 PM: Only one home is shown as still out. See comments below for neighborhood reports on what happened and how it was fixed.
(WSB photo from a 2019 water-rescue callout)
Summer weather is finally about to arrive, and with it, more people will be out on the water. That makes this prime time for reminders. First one is from the WSB inbox, sent by Jay:
It’s drowning season. The weather is nice and people both new and experienced are going out to Alki on paddleboards and kayaks not appreciating how cold the water is.
At a bare minimum the safety gear is a life jacket and a leash for paddleboards. A wetsuit, even a thin one, is helpful as well (dress for the water, not the air). A whistle can get people’s attention when you have a problem.
But life jackets don’t look cool in Instagram photos, and a lot of people think the water is just cold and not as dangerously cold as it really is. Or they get overconfident.
(A day before emailing) I rescued a paddleboarder who had been in the water more than five minutes and had given up trying to get back on the board. If it weren’t for a beachgoer who had seen her fall in and called my attention, there’s a good chance she would have died. She had no life jacket and no leash.
There were a dozen paddleboarders out when I was paddling and zero of them besides me had a lifejacket or leash on their ankle.
Second reminder is from the Seattle Fire Department – how best to help them help someone in trouble in the water, whether you’re helping from land or from a boat. Read SFD’s advice/recommendations here.
(WSB photo, Saturday)
Erik Bell, who organizes community cleanups at least once a week in West Seattle, has an invitation for you tomorrow, if you have Juneteenth off – a community cleanup to follow up on the city cleanup of the SW Andover/28th RV encampment. Here’s the invitation for the 10 am-noon Monday cleanup, in case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
We’ll be tackling the neighboring streets around the West Seattle Health Club which was just cleared of a long-standing RV encampment. Although it looks clean from the casual drive-by, the gravel parking strip is littered with a myriad of ground-in micro trash and broken glass, the city was only able to come get the large trash items.
We could use an army of folks to come in and give this neighborhood the love it deserves after years of neglect, so come for as little or as much as you’d like…and bring a friend!
What to expect: This has been a long-term RV encampment so has years worth of junk ground into the gravel. If there are any left over tents around we will steer clear of any of those and just focus on the roadway parking strip and sidewalks. Pickup sticks, buckets, vests, gloves and bags will be provided and the resulting trash will be reported for pickup by Seattle Public Utilities.
Parking: We should be able to park back along Andover by Monday but I’ll make updates as the cleanup approaches.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns or carpooling opportunities. I can be reached at 206-852-9552
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
E-BIKE THEFT: Breck suspects his stolen Nakto Elegance will be abandoned since it requires a key. The theft was recorded on security video at 2:48 am Saturday:
This happened along Fairmount Avenue. The police report # is 22-913449.
CAR PROWLER ON WHEELS: Brianna reports, “Around 8 pm (Saturday), I saw a white Honda Civic driving down 21st Avenue SW from Trenton to Roxbury; vehicle would slow down and try each car door to see if unlocked.” Brianna says the car’s plate started with CCJ5.
(‘Jay’ the bald eagle, photographed by David Hutchinson)
Here’s what’s ahead for your Sunday, which is Father’s Day as well as Juneteenth, which is a city and federal holiday this year for the first time:
CLOSURE: Most government services are observing Juneteenth on Monday, with one major exception today: All Seattle Public Library locations are closed.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s list here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – and plants at the weekly WSFM. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
NEW VENDOR: The market offers condiments, too! As noted here, West Seattle-made Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce debuts at the WSFM today with a 10 am ribboncutting ceremony.
FATHER’S DAY POTTERY SALE: 10 am-2 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4111 47th SW)
COLMAN POOL: Second day for the outdoor pool on the Lincoln Park shore (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society museum< is open on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm, (61st/Stevens)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Weekly tours are back, as reported here – might be a good place to take Dad today. First tour at 1 pm, last at 3:45; here’s how it works.
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 3 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Halcyon the Mermaid plays Celtic harp music.
MIKU, AND THE GODS. At 3 pm, it’s the first matinee performance of this world-premiere play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), tickets available here. (Read our story about playwright Julia Izumi 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).
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 update it daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Rather than grieving on the first anniversary of the fire that ravaged its community-owned building, Highland Park Improvement Club is throwing a party.
Next Saturday is June 25th, one year since the early-morning HPIC fire. That afternoon and evening, at nearby Riverview Playfield (7226 12th SW), HPIC is presenting Reset Fest, with live music, food, and fun for all ages. (So far the forecast looks promising – sunny and 70s.) It’s also a chance for you to see and hear about the plans for HPIC’s rebuild (here’s our most-recent report) – architect Matt Wittman will be there to present the design and answer questions. Plus, the celebration is a fundraiser as HPIC, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, starts seeking what it’ll take to rebuild beyond the basic insurance coverage. Be at Riverview for the party between 2 pm and 7 pm next Saturday.
(WSB photo)
We’ve reported before on Fauntleroy Church‘s support of Camp Second Chance, the city-sanctioned tiny-home encampment in southeast West Seattle. The support led to a shopping trip at Big 5 Sporting Goods in Westwood Village on Friday, which provided major discounts for church contributions to help buy shoes for camp residents. Fauntleroy Church volunteer Judy Pickens tells the story:
Picking out new shoes that fit just right is a rare luxury for people living on the edge of homelessness, but three tiny-home residents of Camp Second Chance got to do just that Friday at Big 5 Sporting Goods in Westwood Village.
The shoppers are among the 40+ people living in the sanctioned camp at 9701 Myers Way S. Managed by the Low Income Housing Institute, the camp provides a supportive bridge between the streets and long-term housing.
In 2018, Fauntleroy Church, United Church of Christ (9140 California Ave. SW), began enriching camp life with such amenities as towels, bedding, and electric blankets. During the height of the pandemic, the church also provided games to encourage socializing and art supplies for creative expression.
On Friday, donations from church members financed the first of several shopping trips to fit residents with comfortable, practical, and NEW shoes. Members of the congregation’s homelessness task force met the residents at Big 5, where staff were eager to serve them. The church gave each shopper a dollar limit, which the store extended with a discount.
More camp residents will get their turn at shoe shopping as the camp’s case manager identifies those most in need.
In our photo above are church volunteers Joan and Cathy (at left and right) with case manager Marjorie (second from left) and CSC residents.
The UW Urban Freight Lab has some questions for you, if you can spare a few minutes for a survey. Here’s how they explained it in their note asking if we’d consider publishing the survey link:
In collaboration with the Seattle Department of Transportation, we are currently running a survey of consumer shopping behaviors in West Seattle. Our goal is to understand how people shop, travel to stores, and make online purchases in 2022 and relate this information back to the transportation system. The survey should take about 5 minutes to complete and participants can enter into a drawing for a $50 gift card.
We went through the survey before publishing this; the questions we saw included ones about shopping and dining as well as how/whether the bridge closure has changed your transportation habits. It’s an anonymous survey and starts here.
Thanks to volunteer help, the West Seattle Junction Association‘s rainbow Pride flags are flying today.
They’re scheduled to be in place until 6 pm. Other Pride events continue at various West Seattle venues throughout the month – see this section of our Event Calendar. A highlight will be 2-4 pm next Sunday (June 26th), the third annual Pride March in Morgan Junction.
11:02 AM: We’re at Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), where the first Morgan Junction Community Festival since 2019 has just begun. As we’ve been previewing, the Morgan Community Association is presenting is an abbreviated edition – just two hours, until 1 pm. Two performers are scheduled – longtime festival favorites – The Bubbleman (who’s about to start), and acoustic musician Gary Benson. About half a dozen community organizations are here tabling too (as are we). Updates to come!
11:15 AM: MoCA says this may be The Bubbleman’s final show ever, after 40+ years – so they have a community card you can sign to wish him well.
11:40 AM: Bubbleman has wrapped up, with MoCA vice president Phil Tavel leading the crowd in a shouted “THANK YOU, BUBBLEMAN!” Music starts at noon; in the meantime you can visit the community organizations that are here:
The Whale Trail (above), Southwest Seattle Historical Society, CleanupSEA, Poogooder (first photo below), Westside HEY, 34th District Democrats, designers of the future park addition Board & Vellum (secon photo below), and us, all under canopies ringing the park.
You can also learn more about how to get involved with the Morgan Community Association (whose next quarterly meeting is July 20th).
12:03 PM: Gary Benson is performing now – quiet acoustic ballads, so people can visit the booths or sit on the park grass/benches and chat.
12:11 PM: And the sun has just made a guest appearance!
12:58 PM: And that’s a wrap. “Our festival will be returning more robustly next year,” MoCA promised in the closing announcement. (We’ll be adding more photos later.)
10:32 AM: A sizable Seattle Fire response is headed for a house in the 5000 block of 25th SW [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
10:35 AM: This has been quickly downsized – turned out to be a fire in the backyard.
(WSB photos)
Two days after the city cleared the mostly-RVs encampment site along SW Andover/28th SW, eco-blocks were installed this morning. The neighboring West Seattle Health Club had announced pre-sweep that to “avoid the return of the encampment, the West Seattle Health Club is partnering with our neighboring businesses to place cement eco-blocks along the surrounding area.” After a tip early this morning, we went over around 7:30 am and found two workers in gear from neighboring Nucor finishing the placement, which they said they’d started about two hours earlier.
Blocks are also in place along the west side of 28th.
As the camping was illegal – though not enforced for six-plus years – this is too. We asked SDOT about it on Thursday and spokesperson Ethan Bergerson replied:
Seattle Municipal Code 15.04 states that it is unlawful to place objects or structures in a public place without first securing a written permit. SDOT does not issue permits to obstruct public streets, sidewalks or parking spaces with concrete blocks because this can cause problems such as parking spillover onto adjacent streets, blocking utility access, conflicts with other transportation needs, or accessibility barriers which violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, the desire to prevent others from using a public space is not a valid reason for seeking a permit in and of itself.
Blocks like these have been installed, however, in other areas of the city, either post-sweeps or preventively. Some are also in place along part of a formerly much-camped area of 1st Avenue South in southeast West Seattle.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and preview archives:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: The eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct is closed for pothole work, as previewed here; also from SDOT, “Signs and Marking crews will be marking and repainting speed humps on 45th Ave SW and SW Trenton St. Contingent on scheduling availability they will also be working on SW Webster St and 12th Ave SW. We anticipate minimal impact to traffic as these are low volume, non-arterial streets.”
TRACK AND FIELD MEET: Regional Masters championships at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), 8:30 am-3 pm – schedule here.
PRIDE FLAGS: They’ll be up 9 am-6 pm in The Junction today, thanks to volunteer help.
VACCINATION POP-UP CLINIC: 10 am-1 pm, Seattle Public Schools students, staff, and families can get COVID vaccinations at the Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW) commons – walk-in is OK if you don’t already have an appointment.
ILLUSIONS POST-CLOSURE SALE: 10 am-4 pm, fixtures, equipment, and more from the now-closed Illusions Hair Design salon are being sold – one day only!
Cash/Checks ONLY! Displays, fixtures, chairs, holiday decor, tools, lighting, kitchen appliances, audio equipment, TV’s, bookcases, telephones, DVD player, aluminum trash cans, washer/dryer, baskets, chairs, misc salon supplies, perm rods, brushes, combs, NEW & used Mannequin heads & stands, stations, gently used AND BRAND NEW curling irons & blow dryers…. AND SO MUCH MORE!
(5619 California SW)
MORNING MUSIC: Marco de Carvalho and Friends, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: 11 am-1 pm at Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), the first Morgan Junction Community Festival in three years, short and sweet, with The Bubbleman performing at 11 am, followed by the music of Gary Benson, plus community tabling, as previewed here. Free!
KAYAK DEMO: 11 am-3 pm, Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is hosting an in-water kayak demo at Alki Kayak Tours (1660 Harbor SW) – as explained in our calendar listing.
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: 11 am-4 pm, get everything you need for your garden – see our calendar listing for the types of plants offered, all to benefit an all-volunteer nonprofit devoted to keeping pets and people together, (3809 46th SW)
COLMAN POOL: Opening day for the outdoor pool on the Lincoln Park shore (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Open to visitors noon-3 pm, as noted here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society museum is open on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VINTAGE CLOTHING POP-UP: 1-6 pm at The Brocante Beach House (2622 Alki SW).
PAINT KINDNESS ROCKS: 2-4 pm family-friendly volunteering event at The Pearsalls’, as explained in our calendar listing. (3264 57th SW)
PRIDE PARTY: Queery presents a Pride party at West Seattle Brewing‘s Tap Shack (2536 Alki SW), 2-9 pm.
LOW TIDE: One more low-enough-to-be-interesting low tide – today’s tide is out to -2.4 feet at 2:39 pm. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks from 1 pm to 4 pm.
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: You’re invited to drop in at the Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW) 3-5 pm and discuss Seattle Public Schools issues with this area’s elected school-board director Leslie Harris.
FISH STICKS BASEBALL: See the DubSea Fish Sticks play the Everett Merchants tonight at 6:05 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 107th), with advance tickets available here.
AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm doors, 8 pm music – here’s what’s happening tonight:
Festival of Friends Events presents: Bandmixers – Discography performance series featuring curated cover bands showcasing select tracks from some of rock music’s most iconic albums. Performing bands are made up of musicians from within the Festival of Friends Events recreational musician community. Our Volume 4 installment includes music from Fleetwood Mac’s – Rumours, Radiohead – The Bends, The Cranberries – Stars/Best Of, and Def Leppard’s – Pyromania.
21+. $10 at the door. More info here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(added) LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Purple Strange performs live in store at 7 pm. (California/Alaska)
MIKU, AND THE GODS. 7:30 pm, it’s the third performance of this world-premiere play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), tickets available here. (Read our story about playwright Julia Izumi here.)
AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, The David Duvall Trio performs Let It Be: The Beatles Songbook at historic Kenyon Hall. Our calendar listing explains how to get tickets.
DRAG SHOW AT ADMIRAL PUB: Saturday’s the night for Dolly Madison‘s show at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 9 pm.
Something to add, for today/tonight or beyond? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seattle Parks‘ new regional crew chief and the Southwest Precinct‘s day-shift commander were guests at the Alki Community Council‘s June meeting, held in-person and online last night.
SEATTLE PARKS’ CREW CHIEF: Insights beyond Alki were shared by Kristy Darcy, recently promoted to crew chief for Seattle Parks’ southwest area, a position left open when Carol Baker retired from a 40+-year career. First – for everyone wondering about the tall grass at local parks – for one thing, it’s growing faster than usual everywhere because of the wet, cool weather. For two, even though they’ve just done a lot of hiring, they still don’t have all the staff they need to keep up with the 85 parks and 13 athletic fields for which they’re responsible. They’re trying their best to catch up, though.
They’re also catching up with gardening – two gardener positions have been filled and they have someone working in that role full-time for the first time in two years. This past week, the newly hired gardeners were working to get the grounds of Colman Pool ready for its opening tomorrow (Saturday, June 18th). Next week, they take on the flower beds near the Alki Bathhouse – Darcy, who used to be a Parks gardener, ordered 1,400 annuals, and they’re hoping for volunteers to show up and help plant them next Friday – just show up, noon-4 pm June 24th.
Darcy shared one odd anecdote from Alki (we also heard a bit about this from a reader) – that someone tried to pry the plaque off the Denny Party monument at 63rd/Alki early Thursday. A person driving by apparently scared off the would-be plaque thieves.
In all, the staff has gone from 14 to 30 people, Darcy said, and they have two extra people to help at closing time, particularly helpful now that the early closing time for summer (10 pm) is in effect.
SOUTHWEST PRECINCT: Lt. Michael Watson, second-watch (day shift) commander, was there to answer questions about Alki. He noted that the summertime “emphasis patrol” is back, and also that the 10 pm closure doesn’t just apply to the beach – Don Armeni Boat Ramp is also being closed at 10 pm too, to try to cut down on the racing and other vehicle-related problems. The motorcycle crash earlier in the week near Don Armeni was brought up, but no new information emerged. Lt. Watson did mention something that’s come up at other community meetings – if your security camera captures “criminal activity” and a suspect can be identified from it, that could be enough for “probable cause” for an arrest.
The Alki Community Council meets on third Thursdays at 7 pm most months – watch alkicommunitycouncil.org for updates.
Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
STREET ATTACK: According to a brief summary from Seattle Police, a person was walking in the 5000 block of California SW, south of The Junction, around 6 am Thursday, when he was attacked. The report says a person described only as male approached him, demanded money, and hit him in the jaw, then striking him with a baseball bat, knocking him out. The victim regained consciousness and walked home, then notifying authorities. SFD responded to treat him, and then he was taken to the hospital via private ambulance. The victim told police nothing was stolen because he wasn’t carrying any cash.
(added 8:41 pm) STOLEN VEHICLE: From Michael:
My nephew’s car was stolen early this morning, 9000 block 18th SW. Toyota RAV4, black with front and back bumper damage, UW Huskies special “Purple” license plate #32334B. Please call 206.406.2147 if you see it anywhere.
Also tonight, we have documents from charges filed recently in three West Seattle cases:
SCHOOL BURGLARIES: Back at the start of the year, we reported on two potentially linked school burglaries, with the suspect arrested at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and found with a stolen vehicle containing instruments suspected to have been taken in a burglary at Pathfinder K-8. The suspect was released from jail after a day and a half and is finally now charged. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 28-year-old Jeremy S. Fredrickson with second-degree burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of stolen property. The charging documents say the car, stolen in Renton a week earlier, contained “numerous band instruments having “Seattle Public Schools” stickers, power tools, axes, machetes, a bucket full of keys, and several burglary tools.” The inventory in the charging documents lists more than 20 instruments with a value totaling up to $24,000. Fredrickson, whose record included firearms convictions more than a decade ago, has been arrested twice – each time jailed for just a day – since the burglary arrest, but is not currently in custody.
HOME BURGLARY: The KCPAO charged 29-year-old Joshua I. Millar with one count of residential burglary for a break-in last week in the 5600 block of 25th SW. The charging documents say he was found in the house after tripping an alarm by entering through a window after removing its molding to gain access; neighbors held him until police arrived. Millar had two warrants at the time and has been in jail since the arrest on June 9th, with bail set at $10,000.
STOLEN CAR: The KCPAO has charged 25-year-old Jesus E. Rodriguez-Ramirez with possession of a stolen vehicle. Around 4:30 am on June 10th, police found him asleep in a stolen 2000 Ford Ranger, spray-painted black, parked along the 7100 block of Detroit SW, in what the charging documents describe as “an area well-known for the presence of stolen vehicles.” The truck had been stolen one week earlier from what prosecutors describe only as “an apartment complex south of Seattle.” They note that Rodriguez-Ramirez has a prior conviction for the same crime, and that damage to the truck’s ignition, as well as the hasty paint job, left the victim with a bill for at least $3,000. The defendant remains in jail, with bail set at $5,000.
6:10 PM: At least one person is hurt and headed to the hospital after a driver crashed into a tree at 40th and Morgan. Police have told dispatch the crash is blocking westbound Morgan.
6:26 PM: Just went to the scene. It’s actually a three-vehicle collision. First car. a Subaru reported stolen.
Police say they were following it when its driver hit a pickup truck, injuring that driver.
The Subaru then hit a tree. A parked vehicle was damaged in all this. Police are questioning the driver of the reportedly stolen Subaru.
7:21 PM: The scene is clear.
8:41 PM: SFD tells us the person taken to the hospital was a man in his early 30s, in serious condition when transported.
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