West Seattle, Washington
05 Friday
Two weeks after three teenage boys were arrested following three Alki/Beach Drive robbery/carjacking attempts and a police chase, two had detention reviews today. The one we labeled suspect #1, the 14-year-old allegedly driving the stolen car while leading police on that chase, will stay in juvenile detention at the Youth Services Center. The other 14-year-old, suspect #2, is now on electronic home monitoring. Today’s hearing for suspect #3, who is 16, was postponed until next Monday; his detention status will be reviewed then. Each of the three is charged with one count of first-degree attempted robbery and one count of second-degree robbery, plus one auto-theft-related charge. The robbery and attempts were reported to 911 within the span of eight minutes just before 10 pm on December 18th – first 2800 block of Alki, then 59th/Admiral, then the 5700 block of Beach Drive.
Though school was out for two weeks, high-school basketball teams kept playing, and now the regular season has a month to go. Tonight West Seattle High School hosted Eastside Catholic. We went to WSHS for the varsity games.
(WSB photos. #10, freshman Seneca Lucas)
The Wildcat girls opened with a win, 43-32, after a strong fourth quarter.
(WSHS #21, junior Alyssa Neumann, and #4, senior Carmen Cruz)
They’re now 6-5 on the season.
(WSHS #20, junior Colby Timmons)
Head coach Darnell Taylor‘s team plays at Seattle Prep next, 4:30 pm Saturday.
After the girls’ game concluded, the WSHS and ECHS boys took to the court.
(WSHS #23, senior Pawlose Aschalew)
In this one, Eastside Catholic, which arrived undefeated, stayed that way, winning 78-63.
(WSHS #3, senior Bo Gionet)
The Wildcat boys’ season record is now at 6-5.
(WSHS #0, junior Alex Pierce, #13, senior Nathan Schiavo, #2, sophomore Sully Janiwade)
Head coach Dan Kriley‘s team also plays at Seattle Prep on Saturday, 6 pm.
Three more business notes:
‘DRY JANUARY’: The Beer Junction proprietor Corey Leitch sent this announcement:
If you’re taking the month off from full-strength booze you can still come and hang at The Beer Junction! We’ve got two full fridges full of non-alcoholic treats for you to sip and enjoy while you spend time outside the house.
Beers from Athletic, Bravus, Self Care, Best Day and so many more, plus NA ciders, cocktails, CBD sodas and a great selection of soft drinks. Doing Dry January doesn’t mean you can’t go out and enjoy a drink with your friends or decompress after a long day. Come in and have a drink with us this month!
P.S. – we always have this huge selection of NA drinks, year round, in case that’s always your thing!
HOMESTREET WRAPS UP ARTSWEST SPOTLIGHT: Every month, HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) spotlights another local business or organization – this past month, it was ArtsWest (also a WSB sponsor), so managing director Inji Kamel (below right, with HomeStreet’s Joyce Leslie) stopped by today:
There’s a drawing each month at the bank for a prize from the spotlight business/organization; Inji drew the winner today – prize this time is two tickets to any of ArtsWest’s remaining plays this season. (Next up is “Born With Teeth,” opening February 1.)
NEW CLINIC: Dr. Laura Jewett, DPT, emailed us to announce her new business, West Seattle Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy. Dr. Jewett explains, “It’s located inside Dragonfly Yoga at 3270 California Ave. SW.” You can read more about her and the clinic here.
4:04 PM: Seattle Fire has a “water rescue response” headed to Lincoln Park for a report of a possible paddleboarder in trouble off the north side of the park. Updates to come.
4:07 PM: Responders say they’re seeing two kitesurfers off shore who do not appear to be in distress.
4:13 PM: SFD and Coast Guard boats are arriving in the area to doublecheck, but so far there continue to be no sign of anyone in trouble, and the two kitesurfers who are visible are coming in to shore at Lowman Beach.
4:19 PM: Responders have verified that the kitesurfers are OK and no one else was out on the water, so the response is now being canceled.
(WSB photo, December 29)
Last Friday, we covered a two-scene West Seattle incident that had started with a carjacking in Burien. The stolen vehicle, the Chevrolet Suburban shown above, had been tracked to Alki; when King County Sheriff’s Office deputies/Burien Police moved in, the driver and an accomplice took off. The driver was arrested at Harbor/Spokane after getting out of the car when it was stopped at the light; the juvenile left inside got behind the wheel and took off, crashing into a semitruck at West Marginal/2nd SW a short time later. The juvenile was taken to the hospital in critical condition and we don’t yet know his status, but we did get information today about the suspect who was arrested. He is 20 years old and in the King County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail; tomorrow is the deadline for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to rush-file charges. According to documents from his bail hearing, he is a White Center resident who got out of jail a year ago after being sentenced for stabbing a mini-mart clerk in the Northgate area. Those documents say he stabbed the clerk twice in November 2021 after being told to leave the mini-mart because he wasn’t wearing a mask (a few TV reports ensued). According to the documents from the 2021 case, police found him because a security-camera image was circulated and officers recognized him from previous contacts; they got a warrant and arrested him at the North Seattle apartment where he was living at the time. After a year in jail, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to nine months, less time than he had already served, so he was released.
(December photo courtesy WCFB)
We’ve been reporting on the progress at the new location of the White Center Food Bank (which also serves part of West Seattle). Now, you’re invited to the new WCFB headquarters’ grand-opening party:
Join White Center Food Bank (WCFB) for one of the most significant miles in our organization’s history: The GRAND OPENING of our new home! With the support of our community, we now own a newly remodeled, centrally located facility right in the heart of downtown White Center.
The Grand Opening Party features delicious food & drinks from White Center restaurants Gõ Seattle Grab & Go & El Catrín, amazing speakers, and great music.
This celebratory event not only introduces the community to the expansive features of the new space but also serves as an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate this remarkable achievement for the White Center community.
Date: Friday, Jan 12
Time: 5-7 PM
Event Location: White Center Food Bank, 10016 16th Ave SWThis new facility will bring together an incredible array of community programming, hosted both by the food bank and partner organizations. WCFB wants people from all walks of life to enter through our doors together, so that everyone feels comfortable receiving food whenever they need it.
“We’re excited for this next chapter to better serve the community and revitalize this part of the neighborhood. We hope that our supporters will continue to show up alongside us to ensure our community thrives.”- Carmen Smith, Executive Director.
To RSVP and learn more, click here.
WCFB had to move out of its longtime location at 8th SW and SW 108th because of a new affordable-housing/community “hub” project that is set to be built there. They’re set to open the new HQ for business next Monday.
(Photo courtesy Beth Dayo)
The new year is bringing changes large and small for the local fitness-business scene. Here’s the first announcement we’ve received for 2024:
Bend N Move owner Tamara Gillest has sold her Yoga studio to Beth Dayo, former owner of Be Pilates. Beth has combined Pilates, Yoga, and Meditation into the business and moved the location (from its previous spot at 2735 California SW in Admiral) down to 3850-A Delridge Way SW. Pilates, Yoga and Meditation are now at the bottom of Pigeon Point, a short drive down Admiral for previous Admiral Neighborhood clients.
For now, the newly relocated studio will be known as Bend N Move powered by Life in the Body (the name of Dayo’s previous business).
(Highland Park Way/Holden pole installation, overseen by ‘Where’s the Party?’ jay – photo by Kay Kirkpatrick)
Here’s the daily preview, mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair it instead of replacing it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
BASKETBALL: Four varsity home games tonight. At West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), girls (5:45 pm) and boys (7:30 pm) both play Eastside Catholic; at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), girls (5:45 pm) play Ballard, boys (7:30 pm) play Lakeside.
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run, 6:15 pm.
GET FIT INFO NIGHT: Also at West Seattle Runner, 6:30 pm, it’s info night for the free Get Fit “couch to half-marathon” training program – bring your questions! Or email lori@westseattlerunner.com to ask (and/or sign up).
TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7 pm trivia at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW, White Center) … Trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: Online meeting of community advocates from around District 1, 7 pm, all welcome – attendance link (video or phone) and agenda info can be found 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)
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, 2020 Polar Plunge)
Loved the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim? Do it again as part of a fundraiser for Special Olympics Washington! The Polar Plunge is returning to Alki Beach next month. It’s a “winter beach party,” highlighted by the “plunge,” with food, drinks, and music, starting at 10 am Saturday, February 24th. Costume contest too! Registration is open now for individuals and teams – you can go here to sign up. This is one of four Polar Plunges that Special Olympics Washington is presenting this winter – the others are January 13th in the Tri-Cities, March 1st in Wenatchee, and Marh 9th in Anacortes.
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, January 3rd.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, more rain possible, high near 50. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:57 am, and the sun will set at 4:30 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you’re wondering where the boat is.
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
ROAD WORK
As previewed here, pole installation for the permanent Highland Park Way/Holden signal is expected to result in lane closures today and tomorrow.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
(The video options on SDOT’s camera map still don’t work; SDOT tells us they’re working on it, but they don’t know how long it’ll take.)
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – 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: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
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