WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Musical accessories stolen; bicycle thief on camera; bike found
Also in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, three reader reports:
MUSICAL ACCESSORIES STOLEN: From Kelly:
Sometime between midnight and 4:35 pm today (7/11), my car, a white Subaru Outback, was prowled in front of my home on 39th Avenue SW, near West Seattle Bowl. The thief/thieves got away with two musical instrument cases. One is a Iron Cobra model kick pedal, and the other is a DW model carrying case that was filled with microphones, cables, and various guitar and percussion parts and accessories, small hardware like pliers and screwdrivers, towels.
If anything turns up (I searched the nearby streets and alleys) please contact me, Kelly, at 206-478-3752. Thanks very much!
BICYCLE THIEF ON CANERA: Joe‘s bicycle was stolen from his back yard near 35th/Morgan:
Here’s a photo of the bicycle, in case you find it abandoned somewhere:
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN BIKE: Terrie found this:
We found a bike on our street that looks like it might have been stolen and dumped. Tires are flat and it might be damaged but maybe someone wants it back?
If it might be yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
Roof rescue at Hiawatha
(Texted photo)
Unusual call for firefighters tonight – a roof rescue at Hiawatha Community Center. A 14-year-old boy got stuck on the roof and firefighters from Engine 29 and Ladder 11 were called to get him down, which they succeeded in doing a short time ago. No other details on why he was up there or how he got up there – the center, as we’ve reported, has long been closed.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Armed man arrested outside Rep. Jayapal’s home
6:49 PM: A 48-year-old man is jailed at the Regional Justice Center tonight, bail set at $500,000, after he was arrested outside the Arbor Heights home of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, armed with a handgun. Police say he was arrested just before 11:30 pm Saturday after a 911 call reporting someone driving by, yelling obscenities. According to probable-cause documents, a neighbor said the shouting included something like “Go back to India, I’m going to kill you.” Police say the suspect was standing in the street when they arrived, hands in the air, a .40-caliber Glock handgun holstered on his waist. The court documents say he told them he knew who lived at the house, and that he wanted to pitch a tent on their property. Public records including the probable-cause documents show he lives several blocks from where he was arrested. Today was his first appearance; he is not yet charged, but is being held for investigation of malicious harassment. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office argued successfully for the amount of bail that was set, but their request for a criminal harassment protection order was denied. The KCPAO says the suspect has no known criminal history, and a check of records verifies that.
8:37 PM: Rep. Jayapal’s office has sent a statement:
Congresswoman Jayapal confirms that incidents occurred at her Seattle home on Saturday night when she was present. The Congresswoman and her family are safe and appreciate the many calls and good wishes she is receiving from constituents. She is very grateful for the swift and professional response from the Seattle Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the FBI investigators who are working together diligently on the investigation and ensuring that she and her family stay safe. Because this is an ongoing investigation, she will not be commenting further at this time.
WEDNESDAY EVENING UPDATE: According to the county jail register, the suspect was released late today and as far as we can tell has not been formally charged so far.
FOLLOWUP: Terminal 5 ‘quiet zone’ not expected to be ready before next year
With windows open on warm summer nights, more people are noticing train horns. Several recent reader notes led us to check on the status of the “quiet zone” that’s part of the Terminal 5 modernization project – and while we were working on it, a mini-briefing turned up as part of a T-5 update at the District 1 Community Network‘s July meeting (WSB coverage here). The “quiet zone” is a package of crossing-safety improvements aimed at making it less likely that train operators will have to sound their horns at crossings along a six-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of track between T-5 and Riverside Mill.
The port’s project manager Curtis Stahlecker talked about it at D1CN’s meeting last week, and brought the rendering shown above. The track will have fencing on both sides, and two of the five current crossings in the “quiet zone” will be permanently closed, he said. Changes to the three remaining crossings include that #1 will be gated, and only pedestrians will be allowed to cross it; #5 will be a private, one-way-only crossing. Stahlecker was careful to remind everyone that train horns won’t be prohibited in the “quiet zone”; it’s hoped the changes will render them unnecessary, but if operators think they need to sund horns, they will still be able to.
Now the question is – how soon will the “quiet zone” be ready? At one point, it was expected to be ready before T-5’s first berth opened. That didn’t happen. Then back in February, SDOT told the West Seattle Transportation Coalition that the project would start after the West Seattle Bridge reopened. Just a few months before that, a port contingent had told HPAC it was expected to be ready in early 2023. But now it’s looking like construction will have barely begun by then, according to SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali‘s reply when we asked for a status report (SDOT is responsible for getting the “quiet zone” built):
The project is currently at 95 percent design and expected to reach 100 percent this summer. The project team is finalizing design comments related to the rail crossing, which requires communication and approval from partner agencies, including the Port and BNSF. The project is estimated to advertise early this fall and issue notice to proceed for construction before the end of the year.
One more important reminder, the “quiet zone” won’t address all local train noise – it’s aimed at Terminal 5 rail traffic; trains you hear in our area may also be serving other facilities, such as industrial businesses along the Duwamish River. But this is the most progress that has been made in efforts related to reducing train noise, which date back many years (we first wrote about one community effort in 2008).
SDOT urges you to ‘Slow the Flock Down’
Back in May, we covered the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board‘s monthly meeting for an update on the campaign launched in West Seattle to try to encourage drivers to stop for pedestrians. At that meeting, SDOT noted that the campaign was part of a state-grant-funded effort to also encourage drivers to slow down, qnd talked about some possible new slogans. One has just gone public: “Slow the Flock Down.”
Billboards are planned around the city, including one in West Seattle, at the north end of Delridge Way, as well as other types of advertisements, and yard signs. You can read the full SDOT announcement here, including this explanation of why they’re focusing on speeding:
Speed is the most critical factor in the frequency and severity of crashes. How fast a person is driving affects their field of vision, how quickly they can react, and the amount of time it takes to come to a complete stop. Driving the speed limit can mean the difference between life and death. The faster someone is driving, the more likely they are to be involved in a crash and the greater damage they can do. A person hit by a car traveling 30 miles per hour is twice as likely to be killed than someone hit by a driver going 25 mph.
BIZNOTE: New ownership for John L. Scott Real Estate’s Westwood office
Scott Henry and Chantille Henry have a classic West Seattle story: They have been together 42 years, meeting as teenagers at Husky Deli.
For 17 of those years – since 2005 – they’ve been partners in business as well as life and love. That’s when they founded the John L. Scott Real Estate Westwood office (a WSB sponsor) with other partners. It’s evolved over time, and they’ve been sole owners for the past three years.
That’s about to change. The John L. Scott Ballard-Madrona Group office has acquired John L. Scott Westwood. The 51 Westwood office brokers will join The Madrona Group’s roster of 16. But home sellers and buyers won’t see much of a change – the office in central Westwood Village will remain open, and Scott Henry will stay on as managing broker for the first year of the transition.
We talked with the Henrys about their decision to sell the office. It’s been more than a business for them over the years – also a springboard for community events, such as the annual free shredding/food-drive day supporting the White Center Food Bank. But “we thought it was time to roll back our responsibilities a little” while continuing that community involvement. Once the transition is over, Scott will have “just one full-time job” – selling real estate with son Daniel. Chantille is assisting with the transition too but then plans to “take a few months off to figure out what’s next.”
They’re proud of working to increase the brand’s visibility in the area (their office serves part of Burien too), with ~450 transactions a year. “We’ve built up a nice reputation, and have great agents we’re super-proud of.” They say new owners Jason Fox and Joe Kiser are “like-minded (and will) support agents like family.”
And the Henrys promise their support for West Seattle will continue: “We love our community and we’re still part of it.”
Fire response on Harbor Island
In case you’ve seen/heard the big response on Harbor Island – an electrical fire was reported aboard a Navy ship at Vigor Shipyard. The fire’s just been declared “tapped” and they’re dismissing units.
Four chances to ‘Play-Along in the Park’ with West Seattle Community Orchestras
The heart of summer is the time to be outdoors as much as possible – and that’s why the West Seattle Community Orchestras are bringing back Play-Along in the Park, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, July 12th)! Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Community Orchestras’ second annual Play-Along in the Park is here! Dust off your instruments and join us this summer for a series of FREE music-playing sessions!
Sessions run every Tuesday, July 12-August 2 at Lincoln Park, 6:00-8:00 PM.
You do not have to be able to attend every week to join. This series is designed for you to join when you are able and experience the joy of playing in an ensemble!
You will be expected to bring your own music stand and chair.
Each week there will be two different groups.
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM is for musicians looking to play an easier repertoire of music. Has it been years since you’ve picked up that violin but you’re interested in reliving the magic of playing in an ensemble? This time slot is for you! This music is classified at a beginner level.
But if you’re looking for more of a challenge, or play regularly and just want to enjoy playing in the summer evening with a group, join us from 7:00-7:45 PM for a slightly more difficult repertoire, at an intermediate level.
Please feel free to join us for one OR both time slots!
If you have any questions, please reach out to info@wscorchestras.org
Registration is open now! form.jotform.com/211898433133154
If you’re wondering “where in Lincoln Park?” – the meadow near the north (largest) parking lot.
TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Welcome to Monday
6:01 AM: Good morning; welcome to Monday, July 11th.
WEATHER
The forecast is for a sunny and breezy day, high possibly in the 80s.
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 canceling some evening trips, as announced last night.
Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – and WSF says that probably won’t change before next spring. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
841st 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 recently installed 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? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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