day : 19/04/2023 13 results

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

SUITCASE GRABBER: If you see a dumped suitcase, it might be Kandie‘s:

My suitcase was stolen around 5:15 today right in front of my house at 34th and Myrtle while I was unloading my car. A maroon sedan w/dark tinted windows pulled up guy jumped out grabbed suitcase and they sped away. It contained 90 percent of my personal belongings, shoes, jewelry, clothes etc. – I couldn’t get a license plate in time. Picture is of the smaller suitcase for reference.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The report has preliminary tracking number T2300848.

PACKAGE THIEF The report and photos are from Alan:

This person took 3 packages from our porch. About 11:00 am, which was 30 minutes after FedEx delivered one.

Dressed all in black, hat and face covering. Driver waited in the white car. Pigeon Point on 23rd Ave.

No report # yeet for that one or this one:

VANDALISM: A Highland Park resident reports her house was egged and wonders if it’s happened to anyone else recently. She wasn’t home when it happened so doesn’t have an exact time.

REMINDER: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner has about 100 more steering-wheel locks to give away to Hyundai/Kia drivers at risk of theft, 2-4 pm Thursday at the precinct (Delridge/Webster). She says it only took about an hour and a half Saturday to give away that amount, and 50 people were in line when the giveaway started.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Deadly West Seattle Bridge crash, 4 weeks later

April 19, 2023 10:54 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

Four weeks ago today, two 18-year-olds died in a crash on the West Seattle Bridge. They were killed early March 22nd by a wrong-way driver going eastbound on the westbound lanes. Readers have been asking what’s happened since then. The wrong-way driver, who survived, is still at Harborview Medical Center, listed in satisfactory condition. We don’t know much about him other than that he is 36 years old and has a West Seattle address. He is not yet charged, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is not commenting on the status of the case, but police have said he will be booked into the King County Jail when discharged from the hospital. There’s no indication of how soon that will happen, as we don’t have details of his injuries, just his condition. The victims, Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, have been lain to rest and remembered at a memorial service in Snohomish County.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle’s Cettolin House recommended for designation as city landmark

April 19, 2023 9:16 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo from slideshow prepared for today’s meeting)

Pending final city approval, West Seattle will have another city landmark. This afternoon, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend giving landmark status to the Cettolin House, 4022 32nd SW [map]. The house was built in the ’20s and ’30s by Italian immigrant Fausto Cettolin, inspired by the architecture of his homeland. He worked as a steelworker at the nearby mill and spent decades working on the home and grounds in his off-hours. He and wife Erma Cettolin raised six children there, the youngest of whom, Virginia, attended today’s hearing.

There wasn’t much discussion; it was largely a recap of what led to the board’s also-unanimous vote last month to consider the designation. Historic-resource consultant David Peterson recapped his extensive nomination document, which details the history not only of the house but also of the neighborhood. (See a shorter slideshow here.) Board members said mostly that they concurred with the staff recommendation that the house and its grounds merited designation, for the same reasons they previously supported advancing its nomination for consideration.

Though it was not a topic at the board meeting, it’s been noted – including by its current owners, who sought the designation – that the Cettolin House is potentially in the path of West Seattle light rail. City landmark status does not necessarily protect a building from demolition. We’re asked Sound Transit how they deal with historic landmarks; while promising a more specific answer, they pointed us to this section of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle/Ballard Link Extensions project, which talks in general about “mitigation” if “historic resources” are affected, adding, “Designated Seattle landmarks and districts that would be directly modified would be subject to review and issuance of a certificate of approval from the Landmarks Board and/or District Review Boards.”

NEXT STEPS: Finalization of the Cettolin House’s landmark designation requires a City Council vote approving the “controls and incentives” that will be worked out for it.

SIDE NOTES: Before this, West Seattle’s most-recent landmark designations include two mixed-use buildings in the heart of the West Seattle Junction, the Campbell Building (northeast corner of California/Alaska) in 2017 and the Hamm Building (northwest corner of California/Alaska) in 2018. When the designation is finalized, the Cettolin House will be one of a handful of West Seattle private homes with landmark status, including the Beach Drive “Painted Lady,” the Hainsworth House, and the Bloss House. (Here’s the full city list of landmarks.)

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YOU CAN HELP: Benefit bookfair for Tilden School

April 19, 2023 7:07 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

Book purchase in your future? Through Sunday, do it at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) and you can not only be supporting a local independent business, but also be supporting local independent Tilden School (WSB sponsor). Here’s their announcement:

Paper Boat Booksellers is hosting a book fair / fundraising event for Tilden School this week until Sunday, April 23. Selected books earmarked for the school library will be available for purchase in a designated section and held at Paper Boat. For all other purchases, mention “Tilden” at checkout to ensure a portion of the purchase price will go toward additional purchases for the Tilden library!

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CONGRATULATIONS! Easy Street, Papa Tony’s, The Mount, Claiborne Bell win Westside Awards

April 19, 2023 4:59 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Westside Awards, announced this afternoon by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:

Annually, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents the Westside Awards honoring three local businesses and one individual who demonstrates results-oriented leadership, a cornerstone of a thriving economic region. We received an outpouring of nominations from the community for the 2023 Westside Awards and this year’s winners are:

Westside Business of the Year: Easy Street Records

Westside Emerging Business of the Year: Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce

Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year: Providence Mount St. Vincent

Westsider of the Year: Claiborne Bell

We will be honoring this year’s winners and nominees at the Annual Westside Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, 7:30 am-9 am, at The Brockey Center at South Seattle College. Please join us for networking, a delicious buffet breakfast, recognition of all the nominees and to hear directly from this year’s winners. Early Bird Pricing for tickets is $55/person – Early Bird Pricing in effect through April 29th, and $65/person – April 30th or later. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Wednesday, May 4th at midnight. Get your tickets at wschamber.com.

You can see all of this year’s nominees listed in the full announcement, here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Young mom chosen Rotary Club of West Seattle’s Student of the Semester

April 19, 2023 4:09 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Rotary Club of West Seattle)

The Rotary Club of West Seattle continues honoring local students for their achievements, and with this announcement, points out that honors go to students in alternative programs as well as conventional high-school paths:

Twice during this school year 2022-23, Fall and Spring, the West Seattle Rotary has presented a Student of the Semester (SoS) Award to a student chosen by the Southwest Youth and Family Services (SWYFS) GED Prep Program. These are outstanding students who are expected to earn their GED by the end of the school year and go on to an accredited post-secondary program.

They receive an award certificate, $100, and a chance to be chosen as the SWYFS GED Prep Student of the Year (SoY). The SoY winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship from West Seattle Rotary during a ceremony on June 13th. On April 11th, West Seattle Rotarian Alan Mitchell presented the Spring SoS award to Jessica Delker during the Club’s lunchtime meeting at the West Seattle Golf Course. She was introduced by Case Manager Amanda Alvarado and presented a brief, highly evocative bio.

Jessica was also accompanied by her 11-month-old son Joel (above), her mother, and her partner.

Jessica exemplifies the high potential of teenagers and young adults who are enabled by SWYFS to follow an unconventional pathway to a high-school degree, college, and career, despite daunting life circumstances. West Seattle Rotary worked with Amanda and other leaders in the SWYFS GED Prep Program to tailor the SoS and SoY awards for its students’ special needs.

You can read more about the SWYFS – based in North Delridge – education programs here.

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City Attorney Ann Davison to speak at Alki Community Council on Thursday

April 19, 2023 2:04 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Now in the second year of her term, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison has been working on some major initiatives – from dealing with “high utilizers” to suing the carmakers whose vehicles have become frequent targets of thieves. Has her office’s work made a difference for neighborhoods? You can hear from her firsthand during Thursday night’s Alki Community Council meeting, in person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) or online. You can RSVP here; video/phone attendance info is in our calendar listing. (Photo: Davison at SW Crime Prevention Council last November)

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VIDEO: Meteor over West Seattle, caught on camera

April 19, 2023 12:08 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kevin Freitas for sharing the video from last night – a meteor fireball streaking across the sky, seen on his sky-watching setup near The Mount. The American Meteor Society‘s page for this “event” shows dozens of reports around the region. (If you ever see one, here’s how to report it.) Kevin describes his setup as a “modified Wyze v3 cam” atop the roof of his home.

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ORCAS: Whales off West Seattle

April 19, 2023 10:47 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

10:47 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip. Orcas are in our area again – northbound in Elliott Bay shipping lanes, at last report. Whether these are transients or southern residents, that’s not known yet. Let us know if you see them!

11:35 AM: Update from Kersti, after she posted in comments that they were southbound – Washington State Ferries’ M/V Kittitas reports it’s seeing “at least two adult females and two juvenile orcas” right in front of the Fauntleroy dock.

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UPDATE: Repaving on SW Alaska

April 19, 2023 10:27 am

| 45 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

10:27 AM: Thanks for the tips about a traffic backup in the heart of The Junction. We went down to check it out and found the reason – repaving work in the outside westbound lane of SW Alaska between 42nd and California. An officer is there directing traffic. We’re checking with SDOT about project details.

3:26 PM: SDOT tells WSB this one lane on one block was all they were doing, and that it should be finished this afternoon – indeed, the traffic cam shows (framegrab above) that it is.

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Morgan Community Association and more for the rest of your Wednesday

April 19, 2023 10:17 am

| Comments Off on Morgan Community Association and more for the rest of your Wednesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jerry Simmons – taken last week near Charlestown/41st)

Highlights of the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LANDMARKS BOARD HEARING: As previewed here, 3:30 pm online or in-person at City Hall downtown, the city Landmarks Preservation Board considers whether to recommend designation of the Cettolin House in West Seattle as a city landmark. Attendance/commenting info is in the agenda.

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Ages 2-6 welcome to drop in and play, weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), 3:30-5 pm.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t toss it – fix it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

TRIVIA x 6: Here’s where to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … at 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Live, work, shop, study in Morgan Junction? Get community updates at MoCA’s quarterly meeting, online, 7 pm – attendance link and agenda highlights are in our calendar listing.

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

KARAOKE AT BENBOW ROOM: 9 pm-2 am – info in our calendar listing. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Planning an event – presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, or … – that could be featured on West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Tell us about it! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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5 speakers announced for Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s spring celebration

April 19, 2023 9:29 am

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Got your ticket(s) yet for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s May 5th celebration? SWSHS has announced five women as the spotlight speakers:

West Seattle is thriving – and not just because the bridge has reopened. It is also because of community leaders and their ability to foster meaningful connections, forge strong coalitions, and work together to promote the well-being of all who call the Duwamish Peninsula home.

On Friday, May 5th the Southwest Seattle Historical Society will celebrate those who are making lasting impacts across West Seattle. Guest speakers from organizations across the Peninsula are the highlight of the 2023 Spring Gala – Celebrating Connections, Together We Thrive.

The event takes place at Salty’s on Alki from 6 – 8:30pm, will feature music from the Chief Sealth International High School Jazz Ensemble, will open with a blessing from Duwamish Tribal Councilman, Ken Workman, and of course, feature Salty’s food and a cash bar with Cinco de Mayo themed margaritas.

“We hope our guests enjoy the opportunity to visit with each other and our speakers throughout the event, to celebrate and create new connections,” said Elizabeth Rudrud, the Historical Society’s Programs and Outreach Director. “It is also an opportunity to have fun, bid on unique West Seattle experiences during our live auction, and support the Log House Museum and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.”

The Spring Gala is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Funds go to operational costs, programs and collecting and preserving local history. “The event is open to everyone and we think this is a great opportunity for our neighbors across the Peninsula to learn more about what we are doing and why it matters.” An online auction will be held in advance of the Gala on May 1 – 4.

The event is designed to be a social mixer but also features a program with community leaders who serve diverse communities from Alki Beach, the Junction, Delridge, Highpoint and South Park. The historical society announced its speakers this week. Full bios of the speakers, and registration information for the Gala and online auction can be found at www.loghousemuseum.org.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society Spring Gala Guest Speakers Include:

Stacy Bass-Wolden, co-founder of Alki Beach Pride. Alki Beach Pride has a mission is to unite Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community and celebrate Queer culture in a dignified way that acknowledges the intersection of race.

Joanna Florer, West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group. The West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group is a community-based organization with a mission to create a larger Duwamish Peninsula trail system, with a spur to the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, focused on native species restoration, serving the hiking and walking community with space for other uses.

Mesha Florentino is co-director of Housing and Finance for the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. DNDA is a non‐profit organization devoted to social, racial and environmental justice dedicated to preserving and increasing affordable housing for a range of incomes, enhancing the natural environment, and providing such vital resources as arts and cultural opportunities, education and youth programs for our neighbors.

Rosa Lopez, organizer, Reconnect South Park. Reconnect South Park is a grassroots coalition that wants to remove the segment of SR-99 that cuts through South Park and create a land trust to ensure the 40 acres it will free up are developed equitably.

Christine Mackay, Executive Director, West Seattle Junction Association. The West Seattle Junction Association is a nonprofit which produces community events throughout the year including Art Walk, Wine Walk, Summer Fest, Outdoor Movies, Harvest Festival, and Hometown Holidays. The Junction helps to keep the streets of the Junction safe, clean and beautiful.

Here’s the direct link for tickets.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday morning

April 19, 2023 6:03 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday morning

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, April 19th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Similar to the past few days – showers, chance of pm thunderstorms, high around 50. Sunrise 6:13 am, sunset 8:05 pm.

SCHOOL STREET

Today’s the day that SW Lander between California and 45th is scheduled to start the “School Street” test – explained here.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).

Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday late-night runs starting this week.

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations. The Seattle-Bremerton run has a smaller boat because of the weekend Walla Walla incident, so that might mean some spillover to the Fauntleroy-Southworth run.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the camera at the top:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – looking southwestward toward it:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!

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