West Seattle, Washington
08 Friday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
So far three candidates have formally announced campaigns for the Seattle City Council District 1 seat, which Lisa Herbold is leaving after two terms, one of four district-elected councilmembers not running for re-election. We’re sitting down with all announced D-1 candidates for early “get to know you” video-recorded conversations that we’re publishing on Sunday nights. We began with Rob Saka last weekend and continue tonight with Maren Costa.
We sat down with Costa, a former Amazon and Microsoft employee who’s lived in West Seattle for 20 years, this morning at her home north of The Junction. Here’s our unedited half-hour conversation:
If you don’t want to, or don’t have the time to, watch/listen, here’s our summary:
7:35 PM SUNDAY: For the second time in eight nights, a business has been robbed in the strip mall on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury. Police are at A Pizza Mart, which reported being held up about half an hour ago. The lone robber is described so far as a white man in his early 20s, tall and thin, wearing a “white track suit,” armed with a gun, He is reported to have gotten away in a black Toyota Prius, last seen headed northbound on 35th SW. No other details yet, according to the sergeant with whom we spoke at the scene. The previous robbery happened at neighboring Global Smoke & Vape last weekend. If you have any information on tonight’s robbery, the SPD incident # is 23-054944.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: From the police-report summary: “At 1856 hours, an employee was working at the counter of a carryout food establishment when he observed the suspect enter the store. The employee believed the suspect was a customer and began speaking to him. The suspect produced a handgun, pointed it at the employee, and demanded money from the register. The employee complied. The suspect exited the store and fled the scene. Another employee followed the suspect and observed him entering the passenger side of a vehicle before it left the area.”
We’d venture to say that more people than usual had donuts for breakfast these past four weeks, after The Original Bakery in Fauntleroy announced that today would be its last day in business, as proprietor Bernie Alonzo heads into retirement after almost 50 years. WSB readers have been sending photos of the bakery’s popularity these past few mornings, like this texted photo showing the line stretching around the building and into the parking lot today:
The impending closure led to some sweet reminiscences, like these from the “Pierson Clan,” who also sent photos:
We have enjoyed the bakery for so many years and wanted to share our story. We have been Lincoln Park residents for over 40 years and patronizing The Original Bakery since we moved to West Seattle. Five generations of our family have enjoyed the pop-up cinnamon rolls that we originally purchased from the Frederick & Nelson bakeries. I remember my grandmother serving them at breakfast when I visited Edmonds as a child.
Bernie acquired the contract to bake them for Frederick’s for several years before they closed. Fortunately he continued to bake them at the bakery and we have ordered them ever since.
(Ann Pierson and Bernie Alonzo)
I picked up my final 2 boxes last week and delivered some to the delight of my aunt and uncle, who are in their 90’s. The bakery has been an integral part of our family and community for decades and we wish Bernie his well-deserved retirement and happy next adventures to the bakery family.
As reported here, the bakery space will be taken over by the parent company of neighboring Endolyne Joe’s, whose owner told us that it will have its own identity and will serve pastries, but beyond that, they hadn’t finalized plans. The space has been a bakery since 1936.
2:11 PM: Seattle Fire is heading to a report of a possible fire at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd and Juneau).
2:14 PM: First crews on scene report “a little smoke.” Everyone is reported to be out of the church.
2:20 PM: “Heavy smoke and a small amount of fire” is reported by firefighters in the upper story of the church building. … Fire is declared under control.
2:24 PM: They’re now telling dispatch the fire was contained to one room and it’s “tapped” (out). Adding photos from our crew on the scene. … No report, so far, of injuries. The church has undergone major remodeling in recent years, funded by proceeds from selling part of its large original lot for housing development, while retaining open space known as an unofficial park.
2:35 PM: We talked to pastor Shaun Mattson, who confirms there’s an apartment on the top floor but says its residents weren’t home when the fire started; some people were in the church for a post-service get-together when they smelled smoke, called 911, and got out – he confirms no one’s hurt. SFD’s fire investigator is on the way.
5:46 PM: We followed up to see what the investigation found. SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond says, “Our fire investigators have determined the fire to be accidental due to a candle.” Damage estimate – $120,000.
12:53 PM: From Drew:
Our powder blue 2013 Hyundai Elantra was stolen off the street in front of our house yesterday around 5:15 pm in daylight. We live near 36th SW and Raymond. The car sped away southbound on 36th being followed by a black sedan. Police report incident # 23-053981.
We’ll add the plate number when we get it. (Update: ATT2589.) (Monday update: Found.)
2:07 PM: Another stolen car report – this one from Cameron:
2019 white Kia Sportage, WA CDH9042, was stolen from in front of our house last night (2/25 or 2/26) sometime between 7 pm Saturday night and 4 am Sunday morning. Tillman and 37th
SPD incident # is 23-054407.
Though the snow we got early this morning – covered here – wasn’t deep, it was wet, so you might find post-snow problems today such as that fallen tree branch near 50th/Dakota. (Thanks to Nancy for the photo.) While the snow has stopped for now, and the “winter weather” alert has expired, the National Weather Service warns that snow showers are possible at times during much of the week ahead. For now, though, the sun is emerging, and the streets that got an overnight coat of snow are now just wet/slushy. The meltoff should continue with a high forecast in the 40s. Meantime, we’ve had one calendar-event cancellation so far today – the vaccination pop-up at OLG – and we’ll continue updating the daily preview with any other changes we find out about.
7:19 AM: SFD crews are responding to what the first on scene are describing as “a single RV fire with a trailer full of pallets” at Harbor Avenue/Harbor Lane. Harbor is closed both ways.
7:25 AM: Firefighters have told dispatch the fire is under control. (Added: This Twitter video shows part of the response.) They have also just reported finding one person, described as “badly burned,” about 100 feet away. They’re calling for a medic unit.
7:50 AM: The SFD fire investigator is now being sent, and firefighters just told dispatch the fire’s out. As reported here, all RVs on Harbor Avenue were gone by midmorning (corrected) Thursday, the date announced for a city “remediation”; in comments on that story, it was noted that an RV and truck full of pallets had returned yesterday.
8:05 AM: The injured person is being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
8:11 AM: The southbound side of Harbor is reopening.
11:32 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond says the burn victim, a 41-year-old man, was in serious condition when transported, and that their investigators ruled the fire was accidental.
12:33 PM: We asked on followup for a specific cause. Reply: “A propane heater.”
(‘Live’ SDOT camera over Walk-All-Ways)
Here are highlights of what’s scheduled today – if we get word of any weather-related changes, we’re updating as the day goes on (and if you have updates to share, please text 206-293-6302):
ORIGINAL BAKERY’S LAST DAY: As we’ve been noting, the bakery at 9253 45th SW in Fauntleroy is closing its doors after today. It’s scheduled to be open 7:30 am-3 pm.
(8:53 am – canceled) COVID VACCINATIONS: 9 am-2 pm, free vaccinations for ages 5 and up at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Walmesley Center (35th & Myrtle) – no appointments needed.
ONLINE RELIGIOUS SERVICES: We’re continuing to update these – see today’s lineup here.
ANIMATED CAFE STORY TIME: 9:30 am in the building next to the coffee stand’s lot at 4518 Fauntleroy Way SW. Sign up in advance here.
CHIEF SEALTH DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: 10 am-8 pm, a portion of proceeds – dine-in, take-out, gift cards, meat shop – at Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) will go to the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer team.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market offers late-winter produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska) P.S. Look for TLC of West Seattle with a challah-braiding booth today!
ADOPTABLE DOGS: Meet-and-greet with Forgotten Dogs Rescue, 11:30 am-2 pm at Mud Bay (2611 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE CLASSIC NOVELS (& MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: Monthly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3 pm – see our calendar listing for info on this month’s discussion topic.
‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: The one-woman play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) has its last performance today, 3 pm. Get your ticket(s) 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).
YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy, 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
LATIN SUNDAYS: DJ at The Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 9 pm.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Newest images from ‘live’ SDOT cameras, above and below)
1:04 AM: After rain and wind, we’re noting that the weather has transitioned to snow. Definitely the wet snow the National Weather Service had predicted (in its Winter Weather Advisory), though, because it’s audible. The temperature has dropped steeply, too – 39 two hours ago at Boeing Field, 32 now.
1:22 AM: City crews are out – we’ve heard one of the trucks rattling past the nearest two-arterial corner.
–Here’s the map you can check to see what’s been plowed/treated.
–Here’s the map with citywide traffic cams.
–Here’s the page with our breakout of West Seattle (and vicinity) cameras.
1:51 AM: Crash reported on the westbound West Seattle Bridge near the Delridge offramp.
2:53 AM: David just texted this photo of his snowy yard at 44th and Charlestown:
3:25 AM: Though city crews are out, cameras still show snow on arterials – and we have this pic of 47th/Admiral from CW:
The forecast still calls for this all to end later this morning, so crews will eventually catch up with the main roads/highways. It’s dangerous right now, though – on southbound I-5 at Holgate, responders are at the scene of a crash in which SFD says two people have been killed.
3:53 AM: SFD just ordered all units to chain up.
7:15 AM: The snow has stopped in the past few hours and the melt-off is audible.
| 39 COMMENTS