West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

38℉

day : 04/09/2022 9 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business-burglary attempt; charges filed in park assault, stolen-vehicle cases
September 4, 2022 11:15 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

One more West Seattle Crime Watch reader report tonight, followed by charges filed in two cases:

BUSINESS-BURGLARY ATTEMPT: From Peel & Press proprietor Dan Austin:

Someone pried the lock off my back door last night at Peel & Press. They were unable to gain entry to the building. Yet another expense that won’t be covered by insurance…

After that initial report, he sent this security-video image of a suspect and vehicle in the lot behind his restaurant:

Peel & Press has been hit by burglars before.

ASSAULT CHARGE FILED: We’ve heard a lot about trouble in Junction Plaza Park. One recent incident has resulted in a felony charge. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 53-year-old Chet M. Bilderback with second-degree assault for allegedly hitting another man in the head with a board in the park last Sunday. When they arrived at the park, they talked with Bilderback and found the bloody board but couldn’t find the victim, so the suspect wasn’t arrested. They finally heard from the victim the next day, after he had sought medical attention. That gave them probable cause to arrest Bilderback, who they found near Junction Plaza Park one day later (Tuesday); he’s been in jail since then, in lieu of $7,500 bail. Court documents say he does not have any prior felony convictions.

CAR THEFT CHARGE FILED: The KCPAO has charged 46-year-old Malcom C. Marx with possession of a stolen vehicle after police found him in a stolen Chevy Silverado. Charging documents say they were familiar with Marx’s criminal history, including auto-theft-related convictions, and spotted this vehicle, missing its front plate, in his South Park driveway on August 25th. After subsequently seeing him driving it in Highland Park, they caught up with him on West Marginal Way. They verified the vehicle was stolen and noted it was “running without anything in the ignition.” They also found shaved keys, black checks, and a stolen e-bike in the car. They arrested Marx and took him to jail. The next day, over prosecutors’ objections, a judge released him on personal recognizance. Four days later – last Tuesday – the KCPAO filed this charge. Marx is still out of custody.

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STRIKE? Here’s who’s saying what tonight in Seattle school standoff
September 4, 2022 8:27 pm
|      91 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Will Wednesday bring the start of classes or the start of a strike in Seattle Public Schools? As of tonight that’s not settled yet. Here’s who’s saying what:

DISTRICT: Suggested that the union sign a Memorandum of Understanding saying school will start on time, talks will continue, and whatever pay raise is decided will be retroactive to September 1st.

EDUCATORS: The Seattle Education Association called the MOU offer “upsetting” and “infuriating” in a message to its membership, explaining, “The MOU makes this just about money. Yes, respectful pay is on the table, but it’s also about the thousands of students whose needs went unmet last year and the thousands of educators who are burning out because of our unsustainable workloads.”

POSITIONS: Here’s the SEA one-sheet with what they say they’re seeking and being offered; here’s the SPS positions.

WHAT’S NEXT: SEA members continue their strike authorization vote online through Tuesday morning. Tomorrow, they’re planning a gathering for picket-sign-making and other potential “strike prep” at Judkins Park in the Central District, and Tuesday afternoon, by which time they will have announced vote results, they’re planning a 4:30 pm rally at district HQ in SODO.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Music murals vandalized; yard prowler
September 4, 2022 6:35 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MUSIC MURALS VANDALIZED; Thanks for the tips. We’re not showing the vandalism, but at least three music murals in West Seattle have been vandalized – the Chris Cornell and Mother Love Bone murals on the south side of Easy Street Records in The Junction, and the Chris Cornell signal-box mural near 35th/Alaska. That’s sadly far from the first Hansen signal box to be defaced. He painted the Chris Cornell box four and a half years ago. The Easy Street mural was painted by Son Duong.

HIGHLAND PARK PROWLER: April reports a prowler Saturday afternoon in their yard on 14th SW between Thistle and Elmgrove, She says he “entered our side yard via a latched gate, closed it behind him, and proceeded into our backyard … carrying a small tool bag. When we confronted him, he said he was trying to get away from the cars on the road and asked to cross the yard and exit through the alley. We allowed him to do that, and told him to never enter our property again.” She sent this thumbnail-size photo.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: C & P Coffee’s Food Bank-benefiting garden party
September 4, 2022 6:05 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: C & P Coffee’s Food Bank-benefiting garden party
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A beautiful afternoon in the garden at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), all for a good cause – benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Hosts Pete and Cameron Moores open their coffeehouse for countless community events and organized this one to help the WSFB’s mission to keep people fed and housed.

If you missed today’s party, you have another special chance to help the food bank next week – as previewed here, local service clubs will collect nonperishable food Saturday (September 10th) at local grocery stores.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: HPIC’s final pre-bridge-reopening A-boards
September 4, 2022 3:17 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

SW Holden, between 16th SW and Highland Park Way SW, just might be the West Seattle street most burdened by bridge-detour traffic these past 2 1/2 years. But a group of artists affiliated with the Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) chose to try to lighten the spirits of pass-through drivers and riders rather than resenting them, by installing roadside A-board art. Now – exactly two weeks before the bridge’s scheduled September 18th reopening – they’ve done it one more time. Here’s the announcement and photos:

we did a low key install this morning of our final set of A-frame reader signs before the High Bridge detour ends.

We have been consciously staying away from any bridge mentions during the hard times of the detour, but now we want to have a celebratory note on bridges and connections restored.

Highland Park poet Judith Camann penned our “Burma Shave” style message:

Life is a bridge
a Connection
Without taking sides.

The “B-sides” are drawings of some fantastical bridges, hiding the HPIC initials.

We have had a great time expressing for our neighbors hosting the detour traffic, and writing and painting together – and look forward to seeing you all down the road.

Kay Kirkpatrick
Monica Cavagnaro
Kelly Lyles
Judith Camann

If you missed the previous displays, here are some of the stories from our archives:
March 2022
April 2021
October 2020
August 2020

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YOU CAN HELP: Chief Sealth IHS cheerleaders’ fundraising car wash
September 4, 2022 12:32 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Chief Sealth IHS cheerleaders’ fundraising car wash
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just got belated word that Chief Sealth International High School‘s cheerleaders are having another fundraising car wash right now. Until 3 pm, you can take your vehicle to Les Schwab-West Seattle (Fauntleroy/Alaska) and get it washed, by donation. They’re accepting cash, Venmo, or donations online via SchoolPay – here’s the team link; here’s the link to support an individual cheerleader, if you know one – to buy new uniforms and other equipment.

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Future of Click! Design That Fits to be settled soon
September 4, 2022 11:15 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Click! Design That Fits)

Today, Click! Design That Fits in The Junction is closed in memory of co-founder Frances Smersh, who passed away one year ago today.

Frances’s husband and Click! co-founder John Smersh says the future of the shop (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) is about to be decided, one way or another.

As reported here four months ago, Click! has been up for sale. John has a prospective buyer, but there’s a third party to the deal: “While we’d like to remain optimistic that our potential new owner and our landlord will reach an agreement on a lease, at this time the landlord is asking for a rent increase that would be unsustainable for our business model, and as such our deal may fall through. We are reviewing all possible options but are faced with our own lease expiration and as such have been liquidating remaining inventory at 20-40% off.”

So one way or another, Click! will be closing “within the next several days,” he says – whether temporarily or permanently, that depends. If the former, “new ownership could take over as soon as October 1, after a short break for transition.” If the latter: “If we don’t reopen under new ownership, we will remain closed, grateful for the 18 years of love the West Seattle community has graced us with. We are honored to have been trusted with curating a collection of gifts and home accessories for our friends and neighbors.”

John says the current plan, subject to change, is for Click! to be open – with the liquidation sale continuing – 11 am-6 pm Wednesday (September 7th) and 11 am-8 pm Thursday (September 8th, open late for the West Seattle Art Walk).

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: Labor Day weekend, day 2
September 4, 2022 6:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lincoln Park, photographed by Sally Mosher)

Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening (and not) today:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: No announced street work today; please let us know if you spot anything happening!

CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s list here.

BEACH CLEANUP: Join Jessica at Alki, new day – first Sundays, 10 am to 2 pm. Meet outside 2452 Alki Avenue SW to fan out. Equipment provided if you don’t have your own,

FOOD DRIVE: Donate non-perishable food at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) today, 10 am-12:30 pm.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open with late-summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, prepared food, and more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.

THUNDER ROAD GUITARS EXPANDS TO SUNDAYS: As noted earlier this week, Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) is now open Sundays, too – 11 am-5 pm.

MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS CLEARANCE SALE: 11 am-5 pm today, shop for deals on gear to enjoy the rest of the season before M2SO (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) shifts focus for the mountain season!

WADING POOL/SPRAYPARK: With a warm, at-least-partly-sunny afternoon expected, the wading pools will likely be open – after 9 am, you can verify at 206-684-7796. In West Seattle, the only wading pool still in operation is in central upper Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm. Regardless of the weather, Highland Park Spraypark will be open 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale).

COLMAN POOL: Second-to-last day this year for the outdoor pool on the Lincoln Park shore (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), open 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 TOURS: Last chance this year to join the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers for lighthouse tours, first site entry 1 pm, last entry 3:45 pm; more info here.

C & P COFFEE GARDEN PARTY FOR WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: 3-6 pm, as previewed here. (Updated) Tickets available at the door. (5612 California SW)

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 for our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: Aurora alert from Alice
September 4, 2022 1:59 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

1:59 AM: If you’re seeing this in real time – expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen says the aurora’s out there, if you look north, and particularly if you have a long-exposure camera.

P.S. Alice’s webpage with resources for aurora info, viewing advice, etc., is here.

ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Alice tweeted these images:

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