West Seattle, Washington
09 Thursday
After a mostly gray day – at least where we were – the sun made a late appearance, as shown in Brooke Gosztola‘s photo above and Bob Burns‘s photo below:
Tonight you might see another bright sight – flashes of lightning. Thunderstorms are mentioned in tonight’s National Weather Service forecast as a possibility, and we saw a flash far to the south about half an hour ago; radar also shows that type of activity in the South Sound and potentially heading this way.
The report and photo are from a reader:
I’m reaching out to share some unfortunate news: My truck’s light bar was stolen from the Maris apartment garage in West Seattle. If anyone notices a suspicious individual trying to resell a light bar or has any leads regarding its whereabouts, I would greatly appreciate your help. The thieves cut the wire and removed the mounting bracket, so it may be evident that it was taken. The brand of the light bar is Vision X. Any information or tips would be incredibly helpful in recovering it. Thank you! Police incident # 25-259113.
The victim says they’re trying to get building video to narrow down the exact theft time. The location is 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW.
4:35 PM: Seattle Fire has a full response in the 2500 block of SW Barton, describing it only as a “commercial building.” We’re headed that way to find out more.
4:42 PM: We’ve confirmed the original dispatch was for a “kitchen fire” at Westwood Village McDonald’s. Many of the responding units have been dismissed. One person is reported to have been treated for burns and/or smoke inhalation. The fire was quickly put out.
4:49 PM: Our crew at the scene reports it was believed to be a fire in a fryer. No major interior damage but there’s cleanup to do so the restaurant will be closed for some hours, possibly the rest of the night.
4:59 PM: SFD has closed out the call and its remaining crews are departing.
5:08 PM: SFD says the person who was treated is an “adult male” who has been taken to a hospital and is “in stable condition.”
2:16 PM: The sun is back and the Children’s Moonlight Festival is on until 5 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard, north of The Home Depot). A lion dance by Vovinam Burien is yet to come; activities under way now include food and face-painting, as well as karaoke. If you haven’t been here in a while, enter just east of the center’s under-construction building fronting Orchard.
3:49 PM: We’re back at HQ. The lion dance has concluded (video added) …
… but there’s still lots of fun – the lantern parade is ahead:
There’s a little fun fishing going on:
Storytelling too – the 20+ kids in attendance were photographed with performers dressed as the main characters in a legend telling the story behind the celebration this time of the year, the moon and her friend, a banyan tree:
The legend was recounted by emcee Tammy Dang:
Attendees were welcomed by center director/founder Lee Bui:
And performances were preceded by the U.S. and South Vietnam anthems, plus a moment of silence for “fallnn heroes who fought for freedom”:
Besides special events like this, the center is open for visits most Saturdays, (corrected) noon-3 pm.
If you saw the four-crew SFD response that headed down Jacobsen Road – a major route to and from Beach Drive – here’s what it was about: A natural-gas line break, blamed on “residential construction” workers. 45 minutes after the dispatch, the response has just wrapped up and the remaining three SFD crews are leaving.
One day after a federal-court hearing attended by an overflow crowd of supporters, Chittakone “Alan” Phetsadakone is out of ICE detention and home in West Seattle, a family friend reported in an update on this crowdfunding page. As we reported on Wednesday, he is a native of Laos who was detained by ICE at what was supposed to be a routine immigration hearing. He filed for a restraining order to stop their plans to deport him and to get him released from federal custody; his wife of more than 20 years works at Sanislo Elementary and that school’s community organized a show of “silent support” to fill (and, we’re told, overflow) the courtroom downtown on Friday. The online court docket shows that Phetsadakone’s motion was granted, so after weeks in detention in a federal facility in Tacoma, he is home this morning with his wife and their three children. This is not the final word on the case, though. Federal Judge Jamal Whitehead‘s order calls for a status report in the case by next Tuesday to determine what happens next. Phetsadakone is reported to have been in the U.S. since he was brought here as a two-year-old refugee, more than 40 years ago. The federal government is reported to be seeking deportation because of what the family friend describes as “a non-violent offense [when he was a teenager] for which he has taken full responsibility and long since served his time.” He had been in ICE detention since July.
9:41 AM: Police say a suspected hit-run driver is in custody after a deadly collision early today near the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s what SPD just published:
A 66-year-old man was killed early Saturday in a pedestrian hit-and-run on the SR-99 to Spokane Street off-ramp.
SDOT received reports of an object on the off-ramp. The Seattle Response Team was dispatched and confirmed the object was an unresponsive man. SDOT immediately called for police and Seattle Fire Department medics to respond.
Officers arrived shortly before 4 a.m. and found the man with a significant head injury. Seattle Fire Department pronounced the man deceased at the scene.
Police secured the area, and detectives with the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad responded to investigate. Detectives determined the man had been struck by a hit-and-run driver. During the investigation, officers located a vehicle in the area with front-end damage and arrested a 53-year-old man in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad at 206-684-8923. Incident Number: 2025-258906
Regarding a specific location, a reader whose tip we were just starting to investigate said the “offramp from westbound viaduct to low bridge” was blocked during the investigation. We don’t yet know exactly where the suspect was found but will update when we do.
10 AM: According to police-radio archives, the suspect was arrested outside Vigor Shipyard on Harbor Island, after the car “with significant damage” was found there following an anonymous tip called in to police.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: The suspect remains in jail; as of this morning Seattle Police had not referred the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, so he might not have a hearing today. Meantime, the Medical Examiner has identified the victim as 66-year-old Ghide H. Hadgu.
MONDAY EVENING: The suspect has been released.
(‘Fogbow’ photographed by Katie at Lincoln Park)
Welcome to the weekend! Here’s our West Seattle list for today, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox (if anything changes because of the air quality, please text us at 206-293-6302):
GARAGE/YARD SALES: See this weekend’s listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a login for that section, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) leads Saturday 8 am free group runs!
PUGET SOUND ZEN CENTER FALL DAY-SIT: 8 am at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) – registration and details here.
BENEFIT SALE: Girl Scout Troop 41843 is “holding a large, multi-family fundraising sale” 9 am-4 pm today (30th SW/SW Kenyon)
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am outdoor meditation at Schmitz Preserve Park (5551 SW Admiral Way) – register here.
LAFAYETTE PLAYDATE: Kindergarten and new-student families are invited to a 9-11 am playdate at the Lafayette Elementary playground (California SW/SW Lander).
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed immediately by this 10 am walk, which you can join even if you didn’t go on the introductory walk. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: The Garden Center at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW, north end of campus), is open 10 am-3 pm.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, in and around the courtyard at Hope Academy in South Delridge (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, body-care products, more!
MASTER GARDENERS, LAST WEEKEND: Have a garden-related question? They likely have the answer! Last Saturday that they’ll be at The Home Depot (7345 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-2 pm.
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FOR THOSE WHO’VE LOST THEIR SPOUSE … class at Grace Church (10323 28th SW), 10:30 am-12:30 pm.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – free weekly in-person group for writers of all levels. For location info, go here.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
COLMAN POOL POST-SEASON SESSIONS: 12-7 pm swim sessions at Lincoln Park‘s heated saltwater pool (on the shore, this weekend and next weekend, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open noon-4 pm on Saturdays. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER, WITH CHILDREN’S MOONLIGHT FESTIVAL: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here, and today from 2 pm to 5 pm there’s a special event – the Children’s Moonlight Festival, with crafts, treats, performances, and a mini-parade. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open for you to enjoy wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar, and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area.
WEST SEATTLE PUZZLE SWAP: Drop into High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) 2-4 pm. “Bring a puzzle, take a puzzle and meet other puzzle enthusiasts! All puzzles to swap must be in good condition.” More info in our calendar listing.
FREE MASSAGE CLINIC: “Short, specific” massages for walk-ins at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), 3-5 pm.
SALSA & BACHATA ON ALKI: Tonight’s edition of the big dance event is the last of the season, and starts with a lesson at 4:30 pm.
LUNA GIRLS PAINTINGS AT ALKI ARTS: Artist Lezlie Jane created the famous Luna Girls on Alki sculptures on the West Seattle shoreline and now has made paintings inspired by them. They’re at Alki Arts (6030 California SW) all month, with an opening reception 5-7 pm tonight.
EASY STREET SHOW CANCELED: The previously scheduled Liam St. John in-store performance is off, per ESR.
FIRST WEEKEND WITHOUT ALKI BEACH FIRES: Reminder that beach-fire season ended Labor Day, so this is the first weekend the fire rings are supposed to be out of service at Alki.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm (doors at 7), Pete Marshall & the New Broke West, The Mrs. Bill Larsens, The Rallies. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s Soul Focus FM at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
SATURDAY NIGHT SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight, with rotating DJ Josh and DJ NightMere, 21+, at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Our Saturday list concludes with 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Photos by Oliver Hamlin
For West Seattle Blog
In the first local high-school home football game of the season on Friday night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Chief Sealth International High School cruised 33-6 past the visiting squad from Hockinson (which is near Vancouver, WA).
Sealth moved to 1-0 on the season as head coach Daron Camacho‘s team held a 19-6 lead after three quarters, and then added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Officials had decided to start the game about 15 minutes early, due to concerns with deteriorating air quality due to wildfire smoke, which caused cancellations of games throughout the state. One of these unfortunate cancellations is West Seattle High School‘s season opener against La Salle in Yakima on Saturday: We were told by WSHS head coach Anthony Stordahl — who was also in the stands at NCSWAC watching the game on Friday night — that their Yakima road game is canceled due to smoky conditions east of the Cascades.
But at SWAC on Friday night, the host Seahawks put on a stellar show for their fans, including fellow students who had just returned to classes this week after summer break.
Sealth took an early 7-0 lead after a short run by sophomore Loto Amituanai (#26).
With 6:28 left in the first quarter, the Seahawks extended the lead to 10-0 with a field goal by senior kicker Ogi Petronijevic (#1).
Early in the second quarter, senior quarterback MJ Filitaula (#12) scored on a TD run to make it 16-0, where the score remained after a failed attempt at a faked extra point (following a penalty on the first extra point try).
Hockinson responded with a long TD reception by Mark Hogan Jr. (#3) with 5:42 left before halftime, and after a fumbled 2-point conversion attempt, the score was 16-6.
Sealth added a Petronijevic field goal to take a 19-6 lead into the locker room at halftime. Here’s the team storming back onto the field for the second half:
After a scoreless third quarter, the Seahawks extended their lead to 26-6 after a short TD run by Filitaula and a successful extra point try with 10:45 remaining.
Then, after an interception and long return, Sealth scored on a TD pass from Filitaula to freshman Marquis Tovia (#3) to make the final score 33-6.
Senior Jessie Gilmore II (#9):
Junior Eli Policarpio (#7) picking up a fumble and celebrating:
Policarpio and Tovia:
Sealth’s defense makes a big stop on 4th down:
Junior Kaeson Filitaula (#8) after a crucial interception:
Next up for Sealth is Franklin on Friday, September 12, followed by the huge annual Huling Bowl rivalry game against West Seattle HS on Friday, September 19 (both games at SWAC).
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