West Seattle, Washington
04 Wednesday
10:15 PM: Police and fire are at the scene of what’s reported as a car/motorcycle collision in the 1300 block of Harbor Avenue SW. Avoid the area.
10:23 PM: The rider is being taken to Harborview.
Updates on three encampments in eastern West Seattle:
26TH/JUNEAU: As reported here, the 26th/Juneau encampment – site of a deadly shooting in June – was posted Friday with notices it would be swept as soon as today.
The photo shows various city vehicles we saw there around midmorning; they were in the greenbelt, with entry taped off, so what they were doing wasn’t in view. We went back after 1 pm and all were gone. We’ll be following up tomorrow to see if that was the extent of what’s planned.
Meantime, the city confirms that other area encampments are on their radar.
26TH/28TH/BRANDON: Inquiries we made about this site last week were bounced between Parks, SDOT, and the mayor’s office. From that last stop, here’s what mayoral spokesperson Jamie Housen told WSB about the camping in the area of 26th/28th/Brandon:
The City is also aware of these sites and has conducted periodic inspections. … The general area of the south side of Greg Davis Park has a handful of sites that have been logged in our database over the course of several months. The Unified Care Team will continue to do trash mitigation in this area and keep an eye on the site.
We’ve also been CC’d on one neighbor’s ongoing correspondence with the city regarding that area, much of which has been handled through SDOT parking enforcement. Today, the neighbor noted that there’d been gunfire in the area just before midnight last night, and said police found two shell casings. The gunfire report is verified in the SPD weekend summaries, saying the evidence was found in the roadway on Brandon between 26th and 29th, but officers didn’t find anyone who saw what happened.
Then tonight, we received a note from another area resident who believes an encampment’s encroachment onto the road contributed to a hit-run she witnessed:
At about 5:45 tonight while traveling east at 30th and Brandon I noticed a young boy walking west on Brandon on the opposite side of the road. I then noticed a vehicle traveling west and watched in horror as it hit the little boy. He was thrown up onto the hood of the car and in spite of me honking. screaming and waving at the driver she glanced at me and kept right on going. The little boy got up from the ground and went running eastbound on Brandon but I was unable to determine what happened to him when he got to 26th. I think he was running because he was in shock.
Folks when traveling on Brandon please take care, especially near the newest homeless encampment which is where this happened. Drivers treat this stretch of roadway like it is a main arterial with plenty of room to pass in each direction past pedestrians. It is not and the encampment encroaches on the road way as well.
I hope that little boy is ok. I’ll be thinking about him and his poor parents tonight.
There were no medical calls to that area but there was one in that timeframe to the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 parking lot about a child hit by a vehicle. The call closed very quickly; SFD says a 10-year-old boy was evaluated and “did not require transport” but does not have information on whether the collision happened in the lot or might have been the one on Brandon.
WEST MARGINAL PLACE: This encampment is on a cul-de-sac that abuts the bicycle/foot path west of the low bridge. The reply to our inquiry about its status: “Yes, the City is aware of this site, and while we do not provide remediation dates in advance as the calendar changes frequently (…) it is scheduled for remediation in the next several weeks.” One neighbor says he was told that could happen as soon as this week; no-parking signs are up for tomorrow through August 30th, citing “work crew” as the reason, but no sweep-alert notices are in view in the area, as would usually precede a sweep.
(Thursday morning photo by Mark Dale)
8:23 PM: Four days after the state ferry M/V Cathlamet crashed into an offshore structure at the Fauntleroy terminal, the captain who was on duty is reported to have resigned. That’s according to the Kitsap Sun, which cites an all-staff email sent by Washington State Ferries chief Patty Rubstello. According to the report, the memo also says the drug/alcohol tests given to the Cathlamet’s crew after the Thursday morning crash were all negative. The damaged vessel has been at WSF’s Eagle Harbor facility on Bainbridge Island since Thursday afternoon; that’s also when the Fauntleroy terminal went back into service, after it was determined ferries could safely use it with the damaged vessel-guiding “dolphin” out of service.
9:37 PM: We just talked to WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling, who confirms the captain’s resignation and the crew’s drug/alcohol-test results. He still doesn’t have information on how long the captain had been with WSF. He says the resignation happened “over the weekend”; WSF had told us on Friday that Thursday was the last day of the captain’s scheduled workweek.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Sterling tells us today that the now-former captain had been working for WSF for 36 years.
Six months to the day after Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Greg Wong as his choice to lead the Department of Neighborhoods, he’s made another announcement about Wong … bumping him up to Deputy Mayor. The announcement says Wong’s appointment follows the resignation of Kendee Yamaguchi, who had been a deputy mayor for seven months.. Department of Neighborhoods deputy director Sarah Morningstar will lead DoN while a new permanent director is sought; she’s been with the department for four years, after 16 years as an educator. Wong had spoken to the District 1 Community Network about his DoN plans just last month.
Thanks to Lorabeth for that photo of a storm cell visible from Admiral about an hour ago. Since then, at least part of the peninsula has seen a brief rainshower! @WestSeaWX says it might not be the only one we see before the day’s out.
Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC, is offering a 12-week intensive therapy program and sponsoring WSB to ensure you know about it. Here’s who it’s for:
You are an adult at a crossroads in your life and are looking for more intensive therapy than is available seeing a therapist once a week or less. You have experienced mis-attunements and/or trauma in your early life and have struggled to untangle the coping mechanisms that no longer work for you. Perhaps you don’t know yourself or even know how to know yourself. Perhaps you just keep ending up in relationships that repeat past patterns no matter how hard you try not to. The idea of spending years in weekly therapy to get anywhere feels like too little. You need a therapist who gets it and has been through it themselves.
I offer a unique intensive 12-week online program for a small group delivered via telehealth for anyone in Washington. Each week will include a Discovery Group focused on exploration of the self and developing skills; an Experience Group focused on practicing and playing with new ways of relating to others; and individual psychotherapy to support you with your individual needs as you move through the program (partial package available if you already have a therapist).
Program Dates: The first group session will be held on 8/16/2022 and the final group session will be on 11/3/2022.
Schedule: Groups will be held via Telehealth on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm.
Details: Visit the Program Details page for more information about the program.
First Step: The first step to register is to schedule a 20-minute consultation with me at thecenterofyou.net/booking.
I specialize in working with adult clients who have experienced complex trauma and mis-attunements in the childhood environment. This could be anyone and specifically includes folks previously diagnosed with PTSD, personality disorders, dissociative disorders and substance use disorders. I welcome neurodivergent and gender diverse clients.
I understand what it’s like to experience complex trauma in the childhood environment, and I am both neurodivergent and gender non-conforming / queer. If you’re looking for a therapist who gets the nuances and experiences of recovery, I may be your person. I welcome you to reach out for a free consultation to see if we’d be a good fit for each other.
I chose to become a clinical social worker because of the values of the profession, the emphasis on deep exploration of the human experience, and the emphasis on the person in their environment. In other words, I see you as an individual who has developed in the context of your family of origin, social, cultural, biological, and environmental factors. Traditional medical model diagnoses are focused on observed behavior of an individual at a particular moment in time, and can devalue your perspective and experience. Therefore, my approach is to empower you to know yourself and support you in tailoring the processes for untangling, reorganizing, and living fulfilling lives that bring you peace.
Reach Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC, via TheCenterOfYou.net and 206-705-3101.
We thank Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
12:38 PM: The Seafair Fleet Week Parade of Ships is in view from West Seattle, coming from the north and heading east in Elliott Bay toward the downtown waterfront.
The Seattle Fire Department fireboat Leschi is spraying to welcome them, off Alki.
(WSB photos from here unless otherwise credited)
In addition to the U.S. Navy’s USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), the Canadian ships HMCS Yellowknife (706) and HMCS Saskatoon (709) are participating, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s participants are USCGC Terrapin, USCGC Osprey, and USCGC Henry Blake. USCG helicopter flyby, too.
1:02 PM: Now passing Duwamish Head. (Added – ship photos:)
1:39 PM: Now along the downtown waterfront; the U.S. Navy ships will be open for tours at Pier 90 (Magnolia) starting tomorrow, while the Canadian and USCG ships will be at downtown piers – see the full schedule here.
Five reader reports received for West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:
THREE STOLEN CARS: Please be on the lookout for all of these. First report:
Stolen 2016 Subaru Crosstrek from 14th Ave SW and SW Cambridge street area last night. License plate BKZ1717. Currently does not have storage topper on roof. Please contact Heather at 513-709-9205 if found.
–Molly reports a dark-blue Honda Pilot stolen last night in Gatewood, license BYP8289. (TUESDAY UPDATE: Found.)
-And from Ashley (image is as-sent):
My neighbor’s little red Honda Civic hatchback was stolen this morning around 4:45 a.m. at the 4800 block of California Avenue.
We’ll add the license-plate # if/when we get it. UPDATE: BSN9988
ARMED PROWLER: The security-camera image and report are from Leah:
House prowler around 2:00/2:30 am on 25th Ave SW, off of Delridge. Man was armed with a hatchet (out in the open in his hand) and possible gun. White, mid to late 50s, long curly hair in a ponytail.
ADDED: incident # 2022-200434.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: Via email:
I’d like to report a catalytic converter theft from our SUV parked outside our house on 41st Ave SW between 100th and 102nd. I believe this happened Saturday night the 30th. I first noticed it the following morning when I got in the car to go to work. I did see a suspicious character with a loaded backpack on 106th and 39th Saturday evening. Please see attached photo of the remaining exhaust.
(2019 photo by David Hutchinson)
ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: You probably know by now that the U.S.Navy’s Blue Angels are performing at Seafair this Friday-Sunday, and practicing Thursday. Since they’re based at nearby Boeing Field during their Seafair visits, their arrival is also a matter of West Seattle interest, and we’ve received a few questions about the arrival schedule.
During their last visit in 2019, they came here directly after the previous weekend’s air-show appearance in Colorado. This past weekend, they were at an airshow in Dayton, Ohio, but instead of heading here, they went back to their home base in Pensacola, Florida, last night. So when do the Blue Angels get here? According to Ted Huetter of the Museum of Flight, which hosts a big weekend Jet Blast Bash centered on their visit: The #7 advance plane arrives sometime 12:30 pm Tuesday (and will be providing “influencer rides” – like the ones that result in the TV “what it’s like to fly with a Blue Angel” stories every year – starting Wednesday morning). The other six are due in around 1:30 pm Wednesday. Times are always subject to change. One note: Instead of parking at the Museum of Flight, this year the Blue Angels’ jets will be by the Boeing Field terminal. As the MoF notes on this page, you can watch the takeoffs from their parking lot Thursday and Friday, but Saturday and Sunday the MoF lot will be an admission-only zone as part of Jet Blast Bash.
P.S. In case you’ve wondered about this, no, I-90 will NOT be closing for Blue Angels flights/practices. Starting in 2019, they made changes to avoid having to do that.
TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Seafair says the other 6 Blue Angels are due in closer to 12:30 pm Wednesday.
Here are highlights for the hours ahead:
BLOCK DROP NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP: The Block Drops (providing equipment for a DIY cleanup) continue at a different location daily, with equipment available until 6 pm. Today’s location is the Charlestown water standpipe (40th/Charlestown).
PICK UP NIGHT OUT MATERIALS: Having a block party tomorrow night for Night Out? Pick up materials at the Southwest Precinct community room 10 am-2 pm today (2300 SW Webster).
PARADE OF SHIPS: Watch U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy ships sail by in the Seafair Parade of Ships, as previewed Sunday. It’s officially happening on the downtown waterfront at 12:30 pm so the ships will pass north-facing West Seattle shores sometime in the preceding hour.
WADING POOLS: Three local city-run wading pools will open today, EC Hughes at 2805 SW Holden noon-7 pm; same hours for South Park at 8319 8th Ave. S. And Lincoln Park at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, noon-7 too. (The Highland Park spraypark continues its daily schedule, 11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale.)
COLMAN POOL: Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shore is also open noon-7 pm.
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), explained in our calendar listing.
MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm.
PLAY PINBALL, FREE! The Admiral Pub‘s 16 pinball machines are open for free play 7-10 pm Mondays. (2306 California SW)
PLAY TRIVIA! 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 preview lists? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, August 1st.
WEATHER
Sunny and warm today, high in the 80s expected.
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF is on the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
862nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 41 days until the week SDOT hopes to reopen it.
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 – camera malfunctioning, as are a few others in eastern West Seattle (they’ve been reported to SDOT)
Highland Park Way/2nd SW (one of four recently installed cameras):
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, many with video options; 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.
| Comments Off on UPDATE: Harbor Avenue collision