West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
Four notes in Crime Watch:
CARJACKING SUSPECT CHARGED: Two felony charges are now filed against the man arrested near Harbor/Spokane on December 29 when he bolted from a stopped Suburban that had been carjacked in Burien and tracked to West Seattle. 20-year-old Edil N. Pineda-Mencia is charged with first-degree robbery and attempting to elude police. He and a juvenile accomplice are accused of approaching a woman as she was loading laundry into the Suburban in the 15700 block of 1st Avenue South in Burien, pointing a gun at her and demanding her keys. According to charging documents, a restaurant security camera recorded the carjacking. Meantime, the Suburban had a tracking device. An hour later it pinged to a Top Hat address that turned out to be near Pineda-Mencia’s residence. Deputies didn’t catch up with it in time, but called in the Guardian One helicopter, and half an hour later the vehicle pinged to the 2300 block of Alki Avenue SW. Deputies and SPD officers converged on the area, the helicopter headed that way, and they found the vehicle in the Don Armeni Boat Ramp lot, from which it took off. Heavy traffic at Harbor/Spokane thwarted the escape and deputies say Pineda-Garcia ran from the stopped car, but didn’t get far. Meantime the juvenile moved to the driver’s seat and sped off, crashing the Suburban on West Marginal a short time later. The charging documents say the juvenile had not been identified, and was still in critical condition, four days after the crash, when Burien Police referred the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The charging papers also note a BB gun was found outside the burning vehicle. Meantime, Pineda-Garcia – who has an assault conviction, as we reported Wednesday – remains jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Three reader reports:
STOLEN PICKUP: Zack‘s pickup truck was stolen in SODO but he’s asking people here to watch for it too:
My 1999 Toyota Tacoma was stolen from an employee parking lot in SODO sometime over the past week. Liscense plate # B78655U. Police case number #2024-000236
PACKAGE THEFT: The video and report were sent this evening:
I wanted to share with the community that we had several packages stolen from our porch around 4 pm today in the Gatewood neighborhood.
The video is not very clear, but my teen daughter was home alone and she described the thief as female, dyed red hair, red sweats, white sneakers, black top, and black face mask. Got in a black van or truck. My daughter was upstairs at the time, and opened her window to call out, but was unable to stop them.
CAR PROWLING ON WHEELS: Sent by Beetle:
SUV caught driving by and checking car door handles on 18th Ave in highland Park area. . Set off car alarm a couple cars away from mine and sped off.
The weather looks promising tomorrow for the next “work party” at the West Seattle Bee Garden on the north edge of High Point Commons Park. If you can spare a little time, 10 am-noon Sunday, you can make a big difference in getting the garden ready for the new year. Lisa from the Bee Garden says the work party “will be led by our wonderful volunteer Katherine M. I invite you to join her in continuing the work to reclaim the beds and pathways from weeds, making room for new plantings in the coming months. As usual, dress for the weather (chilly) and bring a bottle of water. We have many pairs of work gloves, weeding tools, some light snacks, and our gardening crews provide great company.” No pre-registration required – just show up (here’s a map).
A new business in South Delridge is celebrating its grand opening this weekend. Misfit Strength Studio has opened in the former White Center Glass space at 9443 Delridge Way SW. Co-proprietors Kyla Helgeland Alexander and Thomas Alexander have owned Optimal Health in Admiral, mostly focused on personal training, for the past five years. You might also remember Thomas from Equilibrium Fitness in the mid-2010s. They bring a variety of skills and experience to their work – Kyla says, “I am a retired midwife who specializes in pregnancy, postpartum, and core and pelvic floor function. I am also an aerialist and instructor at both SANCA and New Moon Movement Arts (previous Versatile Arts). Thomas has done extensive continuing education on many topics including corrective exercise and back pain, and he is also a massage therapist specializing in fascial therapy. We also do CPR & First Aid certification.” The name Misfit Strength Studio is intended “to express that we tend to attract clients that don’t feel comfortable or don’t want to be in a typical gym setting. We want this to feel like a safe space for all people, all body types, and all ability levels.” Along with training and workshops, Kyla says, “We are also very excited that the size and ceiling height will allow us to also offer circus training! We are coordinating with a local rigger to get aerial points installed, and we will have a small spring floor for partner acrobatics.” You can stop in, see the space, and meet the owners as their grand-opening open house continues tomorrow (Sunday, January 7), 10 am-6 pm.
5:37 PM: Thanks for the tip. A police and fire response in the 1700 block of Alki Avenue has the street blocked. We’re working to find out what’s happening.
5:46 PM: The initial dispatch was for what responders were told was a “vehicle vs. pedestrian collision.” … We don’t know the pedestrian’s condition, but the SFD medic unit was dispatched without transporting, which can mean injuries weren’t life-threatening.
6 PM: All SFD units have cleared the scene.
6:13 PM: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells us the pedestrian, a man in his mid-50s, had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital by private ambulance.
Orcas are headed northbound past West Seattle, approaching Brace Point, Kersti Muul just texted.
P.S. If you missed their Elliott Bay visit Friday, we received reader photos last night and added them here.
Thanks to the reader who texted the report and photo:
Driving down Jacobson around 9:30, I came upon 4 adults standing around a dead eagle, turns out one of them was Kersti Muul, a Wildlife Biologist.
The adult male was found laying in the intersection of 56th SW by a couple who live nearby, who moved it to the sidewalk.
Kersti’s examination concluded that he was electrocuted, which probably explains the power flicker earlier this morning.
Another bystander assisted Kersti in bagging the majestic bird for transport to the next stage of its existence.
Later we heard from Kersti, who explained:
Male of the pair that frequents and feeds off Me-Kwa-Mooks and always perches in the little greenbelt adjacent to Jacobson. … Female can retain territory and recruit a new partner. This pair did not have a nest.
I examined it and found injuries consistent with electrocution.
I surmise it cross-phased the two phase power lines that run up Jacobson. Due to line configuration at 56th, the lines are very close together.
Sad..this pair is always present when watching orcas go by. I love listening to them and actually just recorded them the other day.
The eagle’s death may be the cause of a relatively short-lived 145-customer outage in the area this morning – it was gone from the map before we could write about it, but Beach Drive Blog has a framegrab of the outage zone.
(WSB photo, today)
Thanks to the gardener who emailed to share the news that the West Genesee P-Patch on the north end of The Junction is being closed and removed, with work expected to start for the long-planned adjacent housing development. We last wrote about the project more than a year ago; the 3/4-acre site at 4401 41st SW currently holds a parking lot and a former church school. City files now show a different prospective developer now with a plan for 26 townhomes, fewer than the 2022 proposal; county files do not show a finalized sale of the West Seattle Christian Church-owned property (we’re checking with the church on its status). But nonetheless, the garden is being cleared now through Monday. They’re inviting community members to help remove “vegetation, gardening supplies/ materials from our giving garden network to ensure produce & resources goes to good homes & NOT wasted.” The announcement continues: “1st Come; 1st Served! The garden is open to you from dawn till dusk to harvest & gather herbs/ tomato cages/ plant starts/ produce to donate/ burlap sacks/ corrugated metal sheeting on fence/ pavers/ wood/ etc. Please be respectful by returning the land into a safe open space. Do NOT leave behind debris, ‘pack it in – pack it out.’ Please bring your own pots, tools, gloves, supplies for transfers.” The church donated the streetside site for a P-Patch in 2009 – when it opened with a mayoral visit and celebration
12:03 PM: No photos yet but thanks to Tiah for asking via a comment – all those sailboats off west-facing West Seattle are part of the year’s first race, the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race. 65 registrants, according to the TTPYC website. The route (mapped here) goes from Des Moines to, of course, Duwamish Head, and back.
(Reader photo)
12:23 PM: Thanks to those who have since sent pics!
(Reader photo)
(Photo by Gene Pavola)
ADDED 2:39 PM: Jamie Kinney recorded some aerial video as the boats rounded Alki Point:
Thanks to Steve Pumphrey for the photo, looking across Elliott Bay at the stadium’s sign of support for the University of Washington football game, playing Michigan on Monday night for the national championship. So far we’ve heard from one West Seattle establishment having a watch party on Monday – at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), doors open at 4 pm (game time is 4:30 pm), and Isidro’s Mexican-food truck will be there. They promise the sound will be on. Any place else? Let us know and we can build a list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
ADDED 11:26 AM: First addition just texted – Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) says “we’ll be showing it on all TVs, including our 10′ projection screen in the front room, with sound!”
ADDED 3 PM: We’ve also heard from The Good Society (California and Lander), whose proprietor Nick says, “We will have the National Championship with sound on Monday!” And a texter says, “The Westy will definitely be featuring the Husky Championship game.” (7908 35th SW)
ADDED SUNDAY: Via text – “The Bridge will have the game on all 15 TV’s and both projectors with sound. Mot a bad seat in the house!” (California/Graham)
ADDED MONDAY: Via text – “UW watch party at Super Deli Mart on 6 TV’s with sound. 9% off all pints during game.” (35th/Barton) … Via email from Christo’s on Alki (2508 Alki SW) – “We will be showing the game on all 8 TV’s with sound throughout! Come early and secure your spot!” … Via text – Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) “is showing the Huskies game today on all TVs with sound including the big screen.”
(Goldeneye family, photographed at Jack Block Park by Steve Bender)
Welcome to the first weekend of 2024! Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE GROUP RUN: Start your Saturday with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run! All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event but registration required.
TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Independent K-5 Tilden School (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) welcomes prospective families 10 am-noon today. Come see how Tilden’s “integrated curriculum embraces opportunities for students to weave the many threads of their education together.”
THE BRIDGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Cooperative elementary The Bridge School (10300 28th SW; WSB sponsor) invites you to come “learn about our whole-child, hands-on learning approach to learning, small classes, outdoor education, and emphasis on the arts” during today’s open house.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Back open post-holiday:
We are open 10 am-2 pm on Fridays and Saturdays! We have all your indoor plant needs, with pots, advice and more! Plus, any last-minute winter outside plants you might need. Check us out!!
The Garden Center at South Seattle College provides Landscape Horticulture students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of plants while gaining real-world retail experience. Plants available for sale are selected, propagated, grown and presented by Landscape Horticulture students. Additional plants are brought in from local growers. Proceeds benefit Landscape Horticulture Program projects.
The selection includes perennials, ground covers, shrubs, some annual edibles and flowers, as well as indoor plants. Cash and electronic payments accepted. The Garden Center is located in the North Parking Lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th Ave SW)
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
INTRO TO ARM BALANCING & INVERSIONS: Workshop at Dragonfly (3270 California SW), 10:30 am – info in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is back open, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WOMEN’S RETREAT: Sangha with Maari Falsetto, 1-6 pm – check to see if any spaces remain.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-6 pm, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) has home games today – girls vs. Nathan Hale at 3 pm, boys vs. Roosevelt at 6 pm.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show starts at 5 pm on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Admission prices vary – tickets and info here.
BURGERS & BEATS: Saturday night food and music at Revelry Room – burgers start at 6, DJs at 9. (4547 California SW, alley side)
THE VEROY MEROY HOLIDAYS SPECIAL: 7 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – tickets and info here!
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
LIVE MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE BREWING: Urban Achievers start playing at 8 pm. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)
Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? If the community’s welcome, get your event on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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