West Seattle, Washington
28 Monday
(WSB photo)
8:25 PM: That was the scene in the 4000 block of SW Henderson [vicinity map] a short time ago, as police investigated gunfire in the Fauntlee Hills neighborhood. They told us at the scene that no one was hurt, but they found two shell casings in the street, and bullet damage to at least one parked car. They say the shooter left in a vehicle. We’ll add anything more we find out; if you have any information, the SPD incident # to refer to is 25-028468.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Police have released this summary:
At 1941 hours, the complainant was inside his house located at the 4000 BLK of SW Henderson St. The complainant heard his vehicle being tampered with in his driveway. The complainant looked out and saw his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend tampering with his vehicle. The complainant screamed at the two suspects, and they ran to a black Mercedes. The male suspect pulled out a gun and shot at the complainant. The suspects then drove away. The complainant didn’t have any injuries. Officers arrived and processed the scene. The suspects weren’t located.
(Seattle Police Department photo)
Six weeks after Mayor Bruce Harrell nominated Shon Barnes, then police chief in Madison, Wisconsin, to take over the Seattle Police Department, Chief Barnes has started work. SPD says his first day today was busy “with meeting new colleagues, media interviews, and getting to know the community.” Barnes, 50, is quoted as saying he will “be making sure we’re establishing a culture of excellence and procedural justice within the department.” Also still ahead: The City Council confirmation process.
(2024 photo by Tom Trulin)
“(W)e set multiple salmon records in 2024 – for participation in our annual drumming, spawners coming into Fauntleroy Creek, salmon watchers, and students learning in the watershed.” That’s the headline from the Fauntleroy Watershed Council‘s annual report for 2024, just released today. Fauntleroy Creek [map] is one of the few salmon-bearing creeks in Seattle city limits, after a volunteer-led effort revived it around the turn of the millennium; every year it gets various volunteer assists, from counting spawners to watching for “home-hatch” fry to helping hundreds of schoolchildren learn about the fish’s lifecycle through the Salmon in the Schools program. See the full report (only eight pages – not your typical “annual report”!) here, and find out how to get involved with the watershed here.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
HVAC SYSTEMS TARGETED: The West Seattle Junction Association is circulating this alert to businesses; we’re republishing it with permission:
… Seattle Fish had their refrigerator/HVAC system vandalized over the weekend. Someone had punctured it to drain the oil and relieve pressure. The would-be thief must have been scared off, as they not did take the system.
Last night, however, these thieves returned and broke into the back area of CenturyLink and stole two units. If your system is exposed, especially at street level, please take warning. There are thieves targeting these systems for scrap metal. We have alerted our security patrols to pay extra attention in the alleys. Please protect your property.
Seattle Fish Company and the CenturyLink facility are both on the west side of the 4400 block of California SW.
ASSAULT/ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED: A 42-year-old man is in jail, accused in a shoplift-turned-robbery at Jefferson Square Safeway late last night. We requested and obtained the report narrative from police. It says police were called after 11 pm and told a man had thrown an employee into a shelf, hit a customer, took items, and left the store. Employees told them it began with the man yelling and causing a disturbance in the store. When confronted, he hit the person who confronted him “three times in his head with a toy guitar” (who the confronter was is not clear because of redactions). Earlier, officers were told, the suspect was seen “stuffing his backpack with stolen food products and merchandise”; he was reported to have become upset and lashed out when seeing an employee “recording him.” Nobody wanted/needed medical attention after all this, but the recordings helped police recognize the suspect from a different call, and they arrested him after spotting him walking near 35th/Avalon a half-hour later. The report says he was wearing the same clothes as during the store incident – and that officers also found the “toy guitar” as well as items stolen from Safeway.
TIRES SLASHED: This is from an anonymous reader:
I live at California and Hinds. I routinely park my car on 42nd. This morning two of my tires were slashed and the hood of my car scratched by a sharp object. As was another vehicle in the same block.
This happened around 11 pm last night 01/29/25. If anyone saw anything or knows of who may have committed this crime please contact the Seattle Police, two incident reports have been made.
I am beyond sickened that someone would do this. Destroying someone’s property with malicious and violent intent is a crime. Doing it in such an aggressive manner shows that it was done premeditated … let people know to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior, and Tesla drivers, no matter what your political leanings are, turn on your Sentry Modes.
We have a followup question out to confirm whether that means their vandalized car is a Tesla and if they know whether the other one was. (UPDATE: Yes, they say, both targeted cars are Teslas.)
Thanks for the photos, both sent this afternoon:
ISS OVER ALKI: The photo is from Steven Rice, who explains, “This was around 6:15 pm. The International Space Station was visible for well over 5 minutes (moving from right to left) and reached a height of 48°. I also noticed the sandbags in place awaiting the coming tides.” If for some reason there’s a break in the clouds tonight or tomorrow, here are the next ISS-viewing opportunities over Seattle.
DUCK ACROSS THE BAY: That photo is from a texter who looked across Elliott Bay from West Seattle and spotted the giant “rubber duck” atop the Lumen Field Event Center, where the 61-foot-tall duck has been placed as a promotion for the upcoming Seattle Boat Show.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, the West Seattle restaurant Circa (2605 California SW). When new sponsors join, they get the chance to tell you about themselves – so here’s Circa‘s story:
With nearly 27 years in the Admiral District, Circa is a community hub filled with cheerful regulars, from-scratch cooking, and the best service in town.
Co-head chefs Bill and Gretchen Evans have owned Circa for the past 9 years, although Gretchen worked as a server for a decade before purchasing. Born and raised in New Orleans, Bill brings his own style and quality to many dishes at Circa, while Gretchen’s PNW roots keep things local and dialed in. Their 3 teenage boys attend West Seattle High School and keep them constantly engaged in and working with the West Seattle community at large.
Circa is open 7 days a week at 9 am! Weekday breakfast has a variety of dishes, from omelets & scrambles to pancakes and country fried steak. Beignets and Anson Mills white corn grits show Bill’s southern influence. Biscuits & Gravy and our vegetarian Potato Works can’t be beat. The Standard breakfast is anything but, with Stiebrs Farms eggs, Daily’s bacon, and house-made biscuit or coffee cake as a bread option.
At 11:30 they go right into lunch, where you can try many specialty sandwiches, salads, fish-n-chips, and soups (including Bill’s famous Gumbo YaYa). Happy hour starts at 2:30 and runs until 5:00 M-F!
Every Thursday, besides the regular menu, Circa offers the very popular 3-Course Thursday Lunch menu for $27! You choose between 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. Different every week. Always delicious and very fun. A great deal, too.
Weekend brunch brings all the specialty breakfast dishes and plenty of lunch items and runs from 9 am-2 pm (dinner resumes at 5:00). Fried oyster benedict, crab cake benedict, Eggs Sardou, all kinds of omelets, and much more. Weekend brunch has been served at Circa since 1998, so it’s always lively and the coffee stays hot and full by the fantastic and long-term waitstaff.
Thank you for your patronage, West Seattle!
We thank Circa (2605 California SW) for supporting community-collaborative news by sponsoring WSB. If you’re interested in joining our sponsor team too, call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(File photo from past ‘king tide,’ by David Hutchinson at Alki)
While most are focusing on the possibility of snow this weekend (no alerts yet!), it’s also of note that Sunday will be one of three days this year with the highest predicted high tide – 12.9 feet – one of the so-called “king tides.” That’s what’s expected at 7:42 am Sunday (February 2), as well as on the mornings of December 6-7. Will that truly be the year’s highest tide? Shore-watchers know that atmospheric conditions can affect what actually happens; you can track the actual water levels via this page, which you can always find linked from the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
(More photogenic West Seattle crows, this time photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor during Tuesday’s sunrise)
Here’s our list of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BILLION-DOLLAR BAKE SALE: Today’s the big day for education-funding advocacy in Olympia. If you didn’t head south to join in, this page has other ways to get involved from afar.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three events tonight at this venue – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Levantine Cuisine.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Also a regular Thursday feature at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – details here.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: And then, run or walk the neighborhood with the Run Club, leaving from HPCS at 6:30 pm – info here.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s warm, cozy tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
DENNY INTERNATIONAL MS OPEN HOUSE: 5 pm open house for prospective Denny 6th-grade students and families. (2601 SW Kenyon)
WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: Also welcoming prospective students and families tonight is West Seattle Elementary, 5:30 pm. (6760 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE HS OPEN HOUSE: And the open house for incoming students and families at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) is also tonight, starting at 6 pm.
KIDS’ KARAOKE: New at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 6 pm – bring the whole family to sing and have dinner!
RESCHEDULED WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online, the rescheduled presentation about “The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll,” as previewed here – registration required to get the link.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run departs from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy – details in our calendar listing.
THE GITS AT EASY STREET: Listening party and signing for the re-release of The Gits‘ iconic debut album “Frenching the Bully,” 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW)
PARENTS’ CUP-FILLING WORKSHOP: Free workshop’s meeting this week is online, 7-9 pm – details in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Kingblind & Teenage Rampage, starting at 8 pm.
Are we missing anything for today/tonight? Also – looking ahead – are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
After we published the reunion announcement for Chief Sealth‘s Class of 1965 earlier this week, we heard from the class that graduated 10 years later, trying to get the word out about their milestone reunion too:
Attention, Chief Sealth High School Class of 1975 Graduates!
The date, time and location for this auspicious occasion – our 50-Year Class Reunion, has been secured. Classmates have already begun registering for this epic event. Deposits are due, so early registration would be greatly appreciated. The registration form is attached. You can find detailed information on the flyer posted on the Chief Sealth High School Class of 1975 Facebook site. Below are a few of the details for our awesome event:
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Location: The Museum of Flight, 9404 East Marginal Way South – Skyline Room
Catering: Buffet dinner catered by McCormick & Schmick’s
Cost: $90 per person (up to 150 attendees, then $98 per person); cost includes free entrance for a self-guided tour of the Museum day of the reunion
Attire: Casual
Parking: Free
RSVP: Advance registration only – send your registration form in now!We anticipate this to be an affair to remember! Looking forward to seeing you May 17th!
Debra Zueger Taylor
d_taylor_97@comcast.net
Reunion Committee Chair
9:44 AM: Crash involving a Metro bus blocking the southbound bus lane at Delridge/Andover. Live camera shows a Route 125 bus is involved. No serious injuries reported.
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning – it’s Thursday, January 30, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, then rainy, high in the mid-40s, low in the low 40s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 7:37 am and 5:08 pm.
TRANSIT
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi – Also on a regular schedule today.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Salish as the “bonus boat.”
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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