West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
5:09 PM: Seattle Fire crews have been on scene this past hour at what was described as an encampment fire between their Joint Training Facility and tiny-house village Camp Second Chance, on the west side of Myers Way. They’ve found one person with burns and are sending them to Harborview Medical Center by private ambulance. The rest of the response is winding down. It’s on fenced property so we couldn’t get a closer view than the apparatus lights through the trees.
ADDED 6:39 AM TUESDAY: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB the burn victim was a man around 60 years old who was in stable condition when transported. She says a firefighter also suffered minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.
3:51 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a “scenes of violence” response to The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW) for what was initially dispatched as a report of a man in the parking garage, “stabbed with scissors.” We’re waiting to hear what responders have found.
3:59 PM: Firefighters waiting for the green light to go in have just been told by dispatch that SPD hasn’t found the reported victim yet.
4:03 PM: SFD has reduced the response; it still has units standing by at nearby Station 32 in case they’re needed.
4:10 PM: “No patient found,” so the response is being canceled.
Four weeks after Sound Transit‘s CEO Julie Timm announced her plan to leave, ST has announced a prospective interim CEO. Goran Sparrman served as acting Seattle Department of Transportation director under two mayors last decade, the second time for about half a year in 2018. At that time he was described as having “come out of retirement” but apparently he didn’t go back into it, as the Sound Transit announcement says he’s most recently worked as an executive at infrastructure firm HNTB (which the city hired in 2020 to design a potential West Seattle Bridge replacement). He’s also a former director of Bellevue’s city Transportation Department. The announcement also notes he’s a licensed professional engineer. The Sound Transit Board will consider appointing Sparrman to be acting CEO for a year at a special meeting this Thursday (January 11th). The year ahead will be pivotal for West Seattle’s planned light-rail extension, as the ST board is expected to decide later this year on the routing and station locations. We’re following up on ST regarding the time of Thursday’s meeting as well as what salary they’re proposing for the interim CEO.
ADDED TUESDAY: The meeting is set for 3 pm Thursday – here’s the agenda.
Both Highland Park Elementary and Public Health – Seattle & King County have sent announcements about a big health/wellness fair at the school this Saturday (January 13), 10 am-2 pm, open to the entire community, not just people who are connected to HPES. Among the services available are childhood vaccines; flu, COVID, and mpox vaccines; blood-pressure and blood-sugar checks; mammograms; and health-insurance enrollment if you don’t already have it. A free lunch will be available and other giveaways, including winter jackets. This flyer has more details (including the phone number for a mammogram appointment – other services are walkup) on the overall event; this flyer has more details on the available vaccinations. HPES is at 1012 SW Trenton.
Thanks to those who have texted and emailed about that tree, toppled onto the northbound side of the 26th Avenue SW neighborhood greenway on the west side of Delridge Community Center. Neighbor Derek says the city has been notified, and notes that this isn’t the first to fall in that spot – another came down in May 2022. (Worth noting with wind in the forecast – if a tree falls onto a street or sidewalk, you can report it to SDOT at 206-684-ROAD, after-hours at 206-386-1218.)
(Saturday photo by James Bratsanos)
Here’s the list for the rest of your Monday:
CREATIVE BALLET FOR KIDS: Classes with teacher Marika start today at Dakota Place Park, three age groups, sessions at 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm. Here’s the flyer with info.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm at City Hall, the weekly meeting in which councilmembers talk about their plans for the week ahead, this week also including briefings on topics including what councilmembers have the power to do, and city priorities at the State Legislature‘s session. Here’s the agenda. Watch live via Seattle Channel.
FREE TODDLER GYM: 3-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW),
Toddler Gym Playtime for ages 1-6 years old. Parent supervision is required. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3 pm-5 pm. Starting Monday 1/8 and currently planned to end at the beginning of April.
BLUE ANGELS JET VISITING: As previewed here, sometime between 3 and 3:45 pm, one of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is expected to land at nearby Boeing Field for a meeting about this year’s Seafair Air Show.
HUSKY-WATCHING: The University of Washington plays Michigan for the national college-championship at 4:30 pm. Here are (updated) EIGHT West Seattle options for watching. (Any to add? Text us at 206-293-6302, or comment below!)
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: Representatives of more than a dozen local preschools are ready to talk with prospective families at tonight’s West Seattle Preschool Fair, 5:30-7 pm in the gym at Hope North (4100 SW Genesee). No registration required – just drop in.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.
INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION ON ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community invites you to Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) for introduction to meditation. 7 pm.
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Two options tonight – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather Tuesday (January 9) to remember Huntley Mann. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with his community:
Huntley Shaw Mann Jr. went peacefully to be with Jesus on December 20th, 2023. He was the only son of Huntley and Ina (Whitehead) Mann. He was 91 years old. Huntley was born and raised in West Seattle and spent most of his life there.
Huntley loved to fish and hunt. His love for fishing and the outdoors began when he was a kid, spending summers in Alaska and Southern California helping his dad on his fishing boat. The love for fishing followed him throughout his life.
He met Marlene Hill at West Seattle High School and they married in 1952. After getting married, he served his country in the Navy overseas. Huntley was trained as a machinist at the Edison School in Seattle. He had the gift of being able to fix anything. Huntley and Marlene were blessed with seven beautiful daughters, 23 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
For 35 years, he took his family and friends on camping trips throughout Washington state, teaching them the art of fishing and boating. Baker Lake Resort was one of his favorite places and holds many loving memories with fishing stories, boating activities and camping fun with family and friends.
Huntley was a faithful friend to many and a constant support to his family over the years. He filled voids and helped so many, quietly, not wanting any accolades. Later in life, he regularly got together at the Metropolitan Market with his friends to share a morning cup of coffee, fellowship, and catch up on the latest West Seattle news. In his later years, he became an avid reader of all genres; historical, mysteries, and thrillers were among his favorites.
Huntley loved his family, a hot cup of tea with his grandma’s Scottish Shortbread or a good chew and all the family dogs that passed through his home over the years. He always had a treat for them when they visited. His grandkids could always count on an Almond Roca treat and a cribbage game when they came to visit.
During his last days when asked what words of wisdom he wanted to share with his family, he said, “Don’t do drugs and Go to Church!”
He always said “I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere.” And he was!
He will be forever missed, but his legacy lives on in the hearts and lives of his family and friends and all who loved him. Our hearts rest in the knowledge that our dad is alive and well in the arms of Jesus!
Huntley is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Marlene; his seven daughters – Rhonda (Shane) Stanley, Denise (Saeed) Mahboub, Desiree Kjorsvik, Roxanne (Jon) Tunison, Deanna (Steven) Smith, Rachel (Jon) Daniels and Marlo (Michael) Maddy; 23 grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren.
There will be a graveside service for Huntley on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Forest Lawn, 6701 30th Ave. SW). Following the service, a celebration of life gathering will be held at the Mann house.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, January 8th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain expected, breezy tonight, high in the upper 40s. Also, a Wind Advisory alert has been issued for 4 am-10 pm Tuesday. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:56 am, and the sun will set at 4:35 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
More work on the signal at Highland Park Way and Holden this week – mast arms for the permanent signal. Lane closures are expected.
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.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
(The video options on SDOT‘s camera map are working again.)
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; 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 a problem 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!
1:17 AM: SFD and SPD are at 26th/Barton to investigate what dispatch said was a stabbing called in by King County Sheriff’s Deputies – a 30-year-old man with an upper-arm stab wound.
1:14 AM: The victim is reported to be aboard a C-Line bus, though we don’t know if the stabbing happened on the bus. The attacker was first reported to be at a bus shelter but hasn’t been found so far; he was last reported walking eastbound. The victim’s injuries are described as not life-threatening.
1:31 AM: Police just told dispatch that they’ve determined the stabbing happened off the bus.
1:42 AM: They’ll be searching with a King County Sheriff’s Office K-9 that’s been called in from the Eastside. … The man they’re looking for is described as Black, 6’l, medium build, half-inch beard “with a little gray in it,” gray beanie, shoulder bag, dark sweatpants.
Here’s what happened when the District 1 Community Network – representatives of various groups and organizations around the area – met this week for the first time this year, with Deb Barker of the Morgan Community Association facilitating.
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: D1CN’s first guests were from Sound Transit, recapping the newest information presented regarding the West Seattle light-rail extension – early station designs. ST is still on track to publish the West Seattle project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement “the middle of this year,” Leda Chahim said – the board (which is getting some new members) will vote after that on final routing and station locations. The presentation went through the station-planning info shown at recent meetings including the West Seattle Transportation Coalition in November (WSB coverage here) and October’s “open house” in The Junction (WSB coverage here). ST’s station-planning lead Sloan Dawson headed up the recap, showing what were largely the same station design outlines presented at WSTC (with a few extra notations about bus access), starting with the Delridge station, northwest of the Delridge/Andover intersection.
Questions included how many buses the stop zone at the station would hold simultaneously – answer, three. Also: How is Metro involved in planning? Dawson said they’re “closely coordinating.”
The Avalon station is where the line starts going underground, with a “retained cut” station and then the tunnel leading into The Junction.
This station “straddles” 35th SW, with an entrance on each side of that street. Barker noted that Metro will be visiting the WSTC this year, so watch for that if you have questions about how bus service will interface with light rail. Dawson said that among other things, they’re working on street cross-sections to show more clearly how the station areas are supposed to work..
The Junction station will be “cut and cover,” spanning 41st SW.
Buses from California, Alaska, and Fauntleroy would converge on the station. There would be a new signalized intersection at 41st/Alaska. Jefferson Square would be “acquired and demolished.” That led to one commenter voicing concerns about how business tenants would be compensated compared to property owners; Chahim said it’s a complex conversation and that they haven’t discussed specific dollar amounts with specific businesses yet.
Time ran too short for detailed discussion but ST reps also noted “concepts” for projects to enhance walking and biking access to the stations. Next up in the process – they’re analyzing more than 2,000 responses to the station-planning survey that closed just before Christmas. They also promised another “engagement” event in West Seattle in the months ahead.
‘NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE’: Another light-rail-related agenda item later in the meeting – Marty Westerman spoke on behalf of the Rethink The Link group advocating for this alternative to Sound Transit light rail. They contend that the light-rail extension “will make West Seattle to downtown rider experience worse” and that the massive expense and construction-related pollution, among other aspects, are not worth it. They say ST only projects 400 fewer car trips as a result and contend that beefing up bus service would “make more sense.” One attendee asked how the ST3 vote could be “undone” to allow this. Westerman said that’s not necessary, as the ST Board has the power to “ignore the voters” and do whatever they think is right, for example.
TRIBAL ART UNDER THE BRIDGE: Here’s our previous coverage about this. Facilitator Barker recapped how she found out about this by reading a City Council agenda back in November. The new City Council will have to make a final decision on the matter, which involves $133,000 for the Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes to create art on columns under the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. The Duwamish Tribe – whose longhouse is barely a mile away from the site – was not consulted, though the city said a different art project would involve the Duwamish. Barker invited Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe to the meeting. He said that “to our shock, this proposal was going through” on the “last Duwamish Village site in Seattle.” He said the two tribes involved “are good people” and do have some Duwamish ancestry, adding that his tribe supports native art, but “this place is home for us and for somebody else to come in and say they’re going to establish their territory (here) … doesn’t sit well with us.” He said they were grateful to Barker for bringing it to their attention. He was asked how the fight for federal recognition is going; “we continue this fight … our attorneys are pushing forward for an acknowledgment, a summary judgment that (the Duwamish) would be recognized … My fear is that if we as a Duwamish people fail to get our names on the registry of recognized tribes, we will go the way of the Aztec and Inca and people will say they have ‘ancestry’ but there won’t be an actual Duwamish people any more.” Back to the art matter, city reps said at the time of the bridge proposal that they would work with the Duwamish on a separate public-art project; Workman said that will involve sidewalk art. No date set yet for the council’s next consideration of the project with the Suquamish and Muckleshoot, Council Bill 120726; the Transportation Committee shelved it on December 5th and will have to vote before it could go to the full council.
CITY COUNCIL VACANCY: This is now open to applicants as noted in our coverage Tuesday of the council’s first meeting – but you have to apply by end-of-day Tuesday (January 9). Barker noted that a public forum will be held as part of the process and wondered if D1CN participants might be interested in sending in questions. When a similar forum was held in 2019, it was noted, 18 groups asked questions.
COMMUNITY NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Kay Kirkpatrick from HPAC said they’re excited about the construction of the permanent signal at Highland Park Way and Holden … Facilitator Barker said her organization, Morgan Community Association, will have a hybrid meeting at 7 pm January 17th, at Westside Unitarian Universalist (7141 California SW) … The Fauntleroy Community Association expects a guest from Parks at its 7 pm meeting Tuesday (January 9) to talk about the Lincoln Park pickleball-court plan. That’ll be at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
D1CN’S NEXT MEETING: 7 pm Wednesday, March 6, in-person, location TBA.
(WSB photos)
More than 120 players tried out this past week for our area’s new “pre-pro” soccer club, West Seattle Junction FC. It’s been three weeks since club leadership went public with plans to start playing this May in the USL2, joining more than 120 teams nationwide (including future crosstown rival Ballard FC, the current league champions). Also this past week, the team’s owners announced Junction FC’s head coach, Erik Oman, who was working with the prospective players who turned out for tryouts at Delridge Playfield:
Junction FC describes Coach Oman’s background as “impressive,” and provides these highlights:
Erik holds numerous licenses including US Soccer A license, his Premier Diploma for coaching, and a National Goalkeeper coaching license. With over 30 years of coaching, including a 15-year collegiate coaching career with University of Northern Colorado, UW, University of Montana, Colorado College, and the US Air Force Academy. He has coached numerous National team and professional players and mentored hundreds of coaches as a national coaching educator. Since returning to Seattle in 2007, Erik has been in various high-level leadership roles, most recently serving as the League Technical Director for the Washington Premier League as well as the League’s Academy program serving top players across the State.
Junction FC’s announcement quotes the new coach as saying, ““I saw in West Seattle an amazing community with the potential to build a passionate following for a team and a group of owners who were truly dedicated to their community and the development of the game there.” Ownership-team members were there for Friday’s tryouts too:
From left in our photo are Kaitlyn Jackson, Jessica Pierce, and Tom Gaffney, who say the team was formed by “soccer enthusiasts that have supported our youth soccer community for over 25 years.” They plan to start Junction FC with the men’s team (U23) this year and add a women’s team next year. They’re still working on finalizing the plan to play home matches at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex; they’re aiming to start ticket sales next month.
Also ahead this week: The next general gathering of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, in person on Tuesday (January 9th). Among other agenda items, ANA says it’s a chance to talk with police about community-safety concerns. Here’s the preview sent by ANA:
Join us Tuesday as we begin 2024 with updates from the Southwest Precinct, a conversation highlighting a campaign to create a more safe and livable, people-oriented district. We will also be giving previews and dates for 2024 events as well as presenting volunteer opportunities to get involved with us. The gathering will be held at Admiral Church, 4320 SW Hill St., at 7 pm.
Here’s our report on what happened at the ANA’s last general gathering, in November.
That video is from new District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s first newsletter, and it includes some news – his council-committee assignments beyond what’s already been announced (new Council President Sara Nelson said Tuesday that Saka will chair the Transportation Committee). He promised to carry on the weekly-newsletter tradition started by predecessor Lisa Herbold, and sent his first one on Friday. (If you didn’t receive it, read it here.) In the newsletter video, Saka says he’ll be vice chair of Public Safety (which will be chaired by new District 7 Councilmember Bob Kettle) and a member of two other committees, Housing and Human Services and Sustainability, City Light, and Arts & Culture.
In addition to council committees, councilmembers serve on various regional entities, and a document filed in the city system shows that Saka will be appointed to serve on the King County Regional Transit Committee, the Puget Sound Regional Council‘s Economic Development Board, Executive Board, and Transportation Policy Board, plus the SeaShore Transportation Forum, Watershed Forums for WRIA 8 and 9, and the Move Seattle Levy Oversight Committee.
NEXT MEETINGS: This week the new council has its first briefing meeting, at which members talk about what they’re doing in the week ahead, at 2 pm Monday (including a staff presentation on what the council has the power to do and an update on the process of filling the council vacancy). Then on Tuesday at 2 pm, it’s their second official weekly meeting (here’s the agenda). Both will be streamed by Seattle Channel.
The video is from Natalie, sent late last night:
Caught this video tonight of two coyotes, one in our yard and one on the sidewalk. You can see a rabbit run away on the sidewalk right as a coyote chases an animal (likely rabbit) in our yard, which also gets away. We are on 46th between Graham and Raymond. Thought this might be interesting to know and see.
We publish coyote-sighting reports – with or without video/photos – for awareness, not alarm, and recommend that everyone read up on coyotes, including urban coexistence, via infopages like this.
(Highland Park Way/Holden pole installation last Wednesday – photo by Kay Kirkpatrick)
Another SDOT alert for people traveling in the Highland Park Way/Holden intersection vicinity – the next phase of the installing the permanent traffic signal:
We recently installed new metal traffic signal poles at the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St intersection. We will now add the mast arms, which are cross bars that attach to the poles and extend out over the street. These mast arms will hold the new permanent traffic signals.
This work is scheduled for the week of January 8, though that could shift based on weather and crew availability. Our work hours are from 7 AM – 4 PM and the installation process and other related work should take about three days.
Alternating traffic lanes will be closed during installation, but there will always be one lane open for cars to get through. There will also be temporary sidewalk closures and detour routes for people walking.
The permanent signal replaces the cable-suspended lights that were installed shortly after the March 2020 West Seattle Bridge shutdown started overwhelming the intersection with detour traffic.
The next session of “Write Your Story” – a series of free workshops for young readers/writers – is open for registration, and this time it’s happening in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement from founder Julia Douthwaite Viglione:
Winter / Spring 2024 Enrolling now!
Theme: Friends
Who is invited? People age 8-12 who like stories
When? Every Tuesday, January 16 – April 2, 2024, 4:30—5:30 pm
Where? Upstairs activity room, Curious Kidstuff toy store, 4740 California Ave SW
Stories we’ll read:
“The Brownie of Fern Glen” by Kate Forrester
“The Queen Bee” by the Brothers GrimmWrite YOUR Story, est. 2012, is a free workshop led by local writers for local kids. “We read, we write, and we have a lot of fun.” For info or to enroll, contact: juliawsea@gmail.com
(Saturday photo by Dan Ciske)
Here’s what’s ahead for the last day of the first week of 2024:
P-PATCH CLEARING: As reported here, the West Genesee P-Patch (4401 41st SW) is shutting down because of an impending construction project, and its remaining plants and other items need good homes, so it’s open dawn to dusk if you want to help ensure nothing goes to waste.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering early-winter vegetables and fruit as well as cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.
WEST SEATTLE BEE GARDEN WORK PARTY: 10 am-noon, show up and give a little TLC to the West Seattle Bee Garden in High Point (here’s where to find it).
MISFIT STRENGTH STUDIO GRAND OPENING: This new business continues its grand-opening open house today, 10 am-6 pm, as reported here. (9443 Delridge Way SW)
MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), live music and encouragement to support the West Seattle Food Bank with monetary and/or food donations.
ASTRA LUMINA: The celestially inspired light show continues on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Tickets and info here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Triangular Jazztet plays The Alley (4509 California SW) as usual, 8-10 pm.
Something in the future for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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.
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