West Seattle, Washington
31 Saturday
Got your shopping bag(s) ready? Or – for sellers – your tables? We’re now only four days away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2023! This Saturday, May 13th, 9 am-3 pm (with some sales starting earlier, some ending later). The clickable, zoomable map of ~400 sales is here; the printable list is here. We’re publishing several mini-lists before sale day, starting tonight with sales that described themselves as benefits:
#16: 3703 SW 107th – plant sale benefiting Lung Force Walk
#32: 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW – plant sale benefiting Solstice P-Patch Giving Gardens
#34: 9055 39th SW – sale benefits Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk
#55: 8436 Fauntleroy Way SW – sale benefits women educators
#65: 6613 Holly Pl – bake sale benefiting BSA Troop 284
#73: 5637 42nd SW – sale benefits The Mount
#89: 5902 41st SW – sale benefits Kitsap Humane Society
#160: 7132 30th SW – sale benefits Dragons girls’ soccer team
#195: 5030 35th SW – sale benefits Best Buddies of Washington
#211: 4121 53rd SW – sale benefits NatureConservancy and Trust for Public Land
#220: 4845 48th SW – part of sale proceeds go to Puget Sound Goat Rescue
#251: 4006 52nd SW – sale benefits Rain City Ropeworks jump-rope team
#264: 4136 47th SW – sale benefits breast-cancer research
#283: 3435 47th SW – sale benefits Hazelwood Preschool scholarship fund
#323: 4139 51st SW – part of proceeds go to West Seattle HS music/theater
#343: 4720 SW Edmunds – sale benefiting unspecified charity
#391: 4408 Delridge Way SW – sale at and for West Seattle Tool Library
#398: 4712 25th SW – part of proceeds to support Ukraine
We’ll link this from the map page so you can find it again if you need to. More lists tomorrow!
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Debra Alderman)
This summer, thanks to U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers, weekly tours will again be offered at a West Seattle icon – Alki Point Lighthouse. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:
Visit Alki Point Lighthouse and celebrate its 110th birthday during 2023!
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers will be offering free lighthouse tours most Sunday afternoons between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. (No tours July 2nd.).
First visitors enter the site at 1 p.m. Last tour begins at 3:45.
Address: 3201 Alki Avenue SW
Questions: alkilighthouseteam@gmail.com
You can also check here for updates, and watch our Sunday event lists.
(April photo of encampment, taken by an Arrowhead Gardens resident)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The growing encampment in the woods east of the north end of Myers Way [map] is currently the Southwest Precinct‘s second-highest call-generating location, police say. And that’s a major reason why it’s high on the priority list for a future site cleanup.
That’s what a room packed with dozens of concerned residents at Arrowhead Gardens – the senior-living complex across the street from that encampment – heard from a panel of city reps in a meeting Monday afternoon. You can see it in its entirety in the video below, recorded and provided by AG resident John Walling.
Resident Diane Radischat facilitated the meeting, with a city panel including Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner and Operations Lt. Dorothy Kim, the precinct’s City Attorney liaison Joe Everett, Tom Van Bronkhorst from the city’s homelessness-response-focused Unified Care Team, and another UCT rep, Marta Idowu, the Civil Rights Advisory Commission Liaison for the Mayor’s Office.
Danner began with a reminder of when to call 911: “SPD is very data-driven … we rely on our community to make sure the data is accurate … if you see any kind of criminal or suspicious activity, we want you to report it.” She said that in many cases, the “data” – records of 911 calls – doesn’t match what they hear at meetings like this, and indeed as the meeting went on, several people mentioned incidents that they hadn’t called in at the time.
But it was stressed that aside from criminal or suspicious activity, SPD is not the agency to call just to report an unauthorized encampment’s existence.
This was a case of auto theft via tow, reports Madyline, who says this happened at 9th/Kenyon in Highland Park:
Our silver Lexus ES330 with a license plate number of BRG8989 was stolen last night. There are scratches along the passenger side doors and damage to the bumper. The car was parked near our mechanics and was not in running condition. They broke a window (broken glass along the road) and then force-towed the car (there are drag marks on the road). I’m assuming that they are going to try and scrap it, so I would love tips regarding where to call around about that. Also, the items of note on the car were an orange rain jacket, and a car-seat base. Please let us know if you find either of those items dumped.
The frame grab is from a video camera at the mechanic shop, Madyline adds, showing a black pickup towing the Lexus, and, “They also dumped a trailer that they had stolen. The report number is 23-125937.”
TUESDAY REPORT: Seen in The Junction today – SDOT crews repainting road markings. Warmer weather this time of year tends to launch a lot of work like this that couldn’t be done during the cold, rainy season, so be extra watchful, and be aware you may need a few extra minutes to get where you’re going.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: We asked SDOT for some context. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson replied:
Each year, we repaint over 1,500 crosswalks across Seattle to keep markings bright and visible. This work requires dry weather, and so as you guessed the spring and summer is re-painting season. This is made possible thanks to funding from the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle.
This year, we’re repainting about 160 crosswalks in Seattle City Council District 1. Our signs and markings crew have already completed roughly 125 of these crosswalks, and have about 35 crosswalks left to paint.
Breaking news got in the way of today’s full event list – you can check our West Seattle Event Calendar to see everything that’s ahead – but there are two community meetings we want to mention:
PARKS @ ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: For those interested in the projects happening at Hiawatha, the Admiral Neighborhood Association plans to discuss them tonight with a Parks representative. All are welcome at the meeting, which is in-person only, starting at 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). SPD also is expected to be in attendance as usual, so you also have an opportunity to ask about recent incidents/concerns.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Toward the south end of the peninsula, tonight’s also the regular meeting for the Fauntleroy Community Association board. Community members are always welcome. It’s a hybrid meeting, so you can attend either in-person at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) or online – you can register via the FCA website.
10:38 AM: Police are investigating a robbery reported in The Admiral District, and that had West Seattle High School sheltering in place for a short time – we’re told that has just ended. The call was logged to the 2600 block of California SW, but so far we haven’t found officers in the area. We’ll add more details as we get them.
11:37 AM: We checked with businesses all around the block in person and by phone. A Safeway staffer says that the incident was at their store but says it did not turn out to be a robbery. The only element discernible from archived dispatch audio is that police were looking for a suspect described as a Black man, mid-20s, 5-8, 150 to 170 pounds, wearing a black stocking cap, black jacket, white T-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes – and carrying a crossbow.
4:48 PM: Here’s the preliminary summary from SPD:
At 0958 hours, officers responded to the 2600 block of California Ave SW where a male subject with a crossbow entered the store and stole merchandise. Staff told police the subject had an unloaded mini crossbow in his hands as he was filling his backpack. The suspect left in an unknown direction on foot prior to police arrival.
8:58 AM: For the second consecutive day, police and Seattle Public Schools authorities are investigating a social-media post construed as a “potential threat.” Thanks to the Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School parents who forwarded this message from the schools’ principals:
Dear Chief Sealth and Denny Families and Staff,
We want to provide some information about a social media post shared among our community that is causing concern. Overnight, we received notifications regarding a potential threat.
We are working with Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security. The police department and district’s Safety and Security Department are investigating. At this time, we have not determined any credibility to the post.
School will continue as scheduled today, Tuesday, May 9. As a precaution, SPD will have officers on the Denny and Chief Sealth campuses today. We will also have additional district security staff at our school.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff is my top priority. We are committed to doing everything to keep our students and staff safe. Thank you to the students and families who reported this concern to administrators. Please talk with your students about the importance of reporting any threats they hear or see immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Principal Morales & Principal Lam
Chief Sealth International High School & Denny International Middle School
The notice was timestamped 8:17 am. This comes the day after a similar notice was sent to West Seattle High School families. We’ll be following up.
10:21 PM: The principals sent a followup note later in the day, in which they wrote, “SPS staff has determined that the post is not a credible threat. Denny and Chief Sealth were not in harm’s way because of the social post. … The three students involved are facing consequences. Denny school staff are working with the students and their families to help the students understand that making remarks like these is a very serious matter.” The note went on to recommend resources for discussing appropriate and safe online behavior with young people.
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 9th. After a six-day closure, the ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to northbound State Highway 99 is open again, as we first reported earlier this morning:
WSDOT says the concrete poured Saturday cured more quickly than they expected.
TRANSIT
Metro – Downtown-bound buses should be back on regular routing this morning. Otherwise, regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening.
Water Taxi – Continuing the spring/summer schedule.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations on short notice, so check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
OTHER 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 view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:
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.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny, high in the low 60s, getting warmer every day for the rest of this week – still looking sunny and warm for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday! Sunrise was at 5:40 am; sunset will be at 8:32 pm.
If you see trouble 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!
As we reported Monday afternoon, the Washington State Department of Transportation said its repaired ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge to northbound Highway 99 would be open by 5 am … and WSDOT just announced that it reopened at 2 am. So if you’re headed for NB 99 at this early hour, you can get there from the bridge again. This ends the closure that started last Tuesday evening after at least five drivers suffered tire blowouts because of a 5′ x 4′ hole in the 64-year-old ramp.
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