West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Five months after announcing the search process for a permanent police chief, Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s office announced today that those involved in the process are close to choosing three finalists. Those finalists will be forwarded to the mayor on September 8th, and a public Q&A session with the finalists will be held a week later. Questions for that event are being accepted here. Adrian Diaz has been serving as interim Seattle Police Chief since Carmen Best announced her resignation two years ago.
Four Five reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
TRUEVALUE BREAK-IN: After a tip we called to ask about this, and store staff told us it happened at the 44th/Edmunds store between 3 and 4 am today, Three burglars who appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s broke in through the front door and made off with a large amount of Sawzall blades and a small safe. Security video shows their faces were obscured because they were wearing hoodies, They left in a newer-model Jeep Gladiator pickup with Bill Pierre tags. Police responded but lost them after a short pursuit, If you have any tips, SPD incident # is 22-226293.
ITTO’S BREAK-IN: Another early morning burglary at a Junction business, this time around 5 am Thursday at Itto’s Tapas.
The burglar is shown from 3:05 to 4:16 and again from 6:05 to 8:00. We don’t yet have the report number for this.
(added 10:30 pm) ADVANCE AUTO PARTS BREAK-IN: One more business burglary to add:
I work at Advance Auto Parts and our window was shattered (see photo) sometime before 7 am this morning. Not sure if it was tied with TrueValue. The only thing holding the window together in the photo is the window banner. Then at about 3:30 pm we had 2 males come into our store and steal a part that was supposed to be delivered to another shop.
CARS VANDALIZED: We received multiple reader reports about three cars with smashed windows on Beach Drive near Constellation Park. One of the people who contacted us, Michelle, said, “A neighbor came out of his balcony and told us it happened around 4 am this morning and they filed a police report.” The brick was left behind under the front of this car:
Incident # is 22-226269.
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN BICYCLE: From Justin:
There’s an abandoned bike at the top of the steps where 8th avenue SW and SW Kenyon intersect. It’s a nice bike and I’d guess the owner would want to see it returned.
That crash on Harbor Avenue by Don Armeni Boat Ramp was briefly dispatched as a “rescue extrication” call a few hours ago, but all units were dismissed within three minutes when it was determined no one was trapped and no one was injured. As our photo shows, the primary need at the scene was for cleanup.
Thanks to Eric for the tip. Till Dawn is soft-opening today at 5048 California SW, but note that it’s a very soft open – mostly for coffee (Boon Boona), no food or games yet. But at least it’s an opportunity to see inside what its founders intend to be a “super-nerd bar”:
Once Till Dawn is up to full speed, its regular hours will be 8 am-10 pm Tuesdays-Sundays. (We first reported on this plan for the former vehicle-licensing space last October.)
We’ve already previewed a multitude of big events this weekend – street parties and more – but if you’re watching the water, you might see these four aquatic attempts:
(WSB photo from 2021)
THE GREAT CROSS-SOUND RACE: Sound Rowers and Paddlers will be back in the water on Saturday for their almost-annual big race from Alki to South Bainbridge Island and back, starting at 9 am.
BIG SWIMS: The Northwest Open Water Swimming Association sent word of three big swims to West Seattle this weekend:
On Saturday 8/27, Amanda Winans will attempt to swim the “Bert Thomas swim” from Old Town Dock Tacoma to Lincoln Park in West Seattle, finishing at the point where Colman Pool is (30.2 km/18.8 mi). This swim was pioneered by Bert Thomas in 1959 and has been completed once since by Andrew Malinak in 2015. Amanda is from West Seattle (now lives in Wallingford) and grew up biking to Lincoln Park and swimming at Colman as a kid. Tracking will be at track.rs/nowsa. Start time is 5 am, and her expected finish time at Lincoln Park is 3-4 pm.
On Sunday 8/28, we have two swims both finishing at Alki Lighthouse but coming from opposite directions! Emma Gaulke-Janowski will start at Pt Robinson light on Vashon at 6 am and swim to Alki light (21.2 km/13.2 mi), starting at 6 am with an expected finish time of 11 am -12 pm. Chelsea Lee will attempt the Amy Hiland swim, from Bremerton to Alki light (16.8 km/10.4 mi), starting at 7 am with an expected finish time of 12 – 1 pm. Both swimmers are from West Seattle and have been training open water at Alki for about 2 years. Tracking for these swims will be at track.rs/nowsaEmma and track.rs/nowsaChelsea
(Photo by Rosalie Miller – “the three bi-lobed stigma of the female flower of bedding begonia”)
Here are notes for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED: Reminder that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s museum at 61st/Stevens is only open Saturdays and Sundays, noon-4 pm, no more Fridays.
WADING POOLS CLOSED: Cloudy and cool, so the city does not plan to open the wading pools today. Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm, too.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park is open to the public today, noon-7 pm.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Levi Said performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
MUSIC AT KENYON HALL: Rebecca Kilgore & the Ray Skjelbred Trio live at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm, tickets available at the door last we heard.
CLASSICAL HOUSE CONCERT: In the Admiral area, 7;30 pm. See our calendar listing for more info.
MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm doors, 9 pm music, Harper Conspiracy, AR Band, BOG.
(3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have something to add to our Event Calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Looking for music lessons? Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) is looking for you – and offering an incentive to sign up now:
It’s almost back-to-school season and that means it’s time to fill up those after-school hours with activities for the kids – and if you’ve got some aspiring rock stars/singer-songwriters/composers in the family, there’s no better after-school activity than private music lessons at West Seattle’s Mode Music Studios.
Through the end of August, the team at Mode will be offering a free tee shirt or tank top*, featuring a limited edition design by Seattle’s own Make Don’t Break Co, to any new student who signs up for lessons starting in the fall!
Mode offers lessons in instruments from guitar and piano to melodica and oud, and all Mode teachers are professional working musicians. You might have seen them at West Seattle Summer Fest, where they not only had a booth but also were proud to have two student bands, K.A.M.P.S. and It’s All Happening, open for former Mode student band THEM and Mode teacher/mentors Naked Giants, respectively.
Mode is proud to provide music education for interested subjects of all ages and experience levels, so don’t hesitate to sign up today! Just fill out the sign up form on their website and you’ll hear from one of Mode’s welcome team members, who can help you decide on the perfect lesson plan and instructor for you.
*sizes adult XS-XXL, while supplies last
Go here to find out about lessons and registration!
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, August 26th.
WEATHER
The big cooldown is here. Clouds are expected today, and the high could be only in the low 70s. (Thursday’s high was 89, two degrees short of the record for that date, and 12 degrees above normal.)
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
Bike-lane work is expected to start today along the recently paved section of SW Andover between 26th and 28th. Here’s the construction notice.
*Also note the 35th SW paving mentioned below is expected to start this morning – 35th SW between Alaska and Edmunds.
WEEKEND ROAD WORK
Here’s what SDOT has announced – a lot:
Expect minor traffic impacts on Harbor Island at the SW Manning St and SW Klickitat Way intersection this weekend.
While we remove the work platforms on the eastern span of the high bridge, people accessing Terminal 102 will be rerouted as a safety measure to avoid the work area. These traffic impacts will occur during the day on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28. Those travelling east and westbound on SW Spokane St will not be impacted. Detour signs will be in place for those travelling to and from Terminal 102.
As part of the Reconnect West Seattle project, we will be completing several projects this weekend.
-We’ll be paving California Ave SW between SW Walker St and SW Hill St on Saturday and Sunday. This work is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 4PM. There will be minor traffic impacts however please anticipate delays
-Starting Friday through Sunday, we’ll be paving 35th Ave SW from SW Edmunds to SW Alaska St. Both directions of traffic will be maintained, but drivers can expect delays in the area. Work is anticipated to begin at 7 AM and conclude by 4 PM
-To improve visibility, our landscaping crews will be working on SW Roxbury St between 9th Ave SW and 14th Ave SW to clear vegetation. Work will begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 3 PM. There will be minor traffic impacts, however you may experience delays while traveling through the areaWeather permitting, we will be installing intersection markings on two intersections starting Friday night at 9 PM through Saturday morning at 7 AM. The intersections we will be marking are:
-1st Ave S and East Marginal Way S
-2nd Ave SW and Highland Park Way SWTraffic lanes will be closed as needed and they will be restored after the intersection markings have been painted. Please anticipate delays and navigate the area with caution.
As part of necessary maintenance work, we will also be replacing concrete panels on 16th Ave SW and SW Webster St. This work is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday and is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 4 PM. Traffic in all directions will be maintained, but drivers can expect delays in the area.
WEEKEND REMINDER
Also, remember that two street-closing events are planned Saturday – Admiral Junction Funktion, noon-9 pm on California north of Admiral Way, and Lowrider Block Party, noon-6 pm on 17th SW between Delridge and Roxbury. In White Center on Sunday, the WC Block Party will be happening on 16th SW, noon-6 pm.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
887th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 23 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it – September 18th. Here’s our report on another visit to the work zone Thursday.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; 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:
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 FOLLOWUP: Seattle Police chief search almost over