West Seattle, Washington
24 Tuesday
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
(November 6 SPD photo)
STOLEN-TRUCK CRASH DRIVER CHARGED: The 31-year-old man arrested after crashing a stolen Ford Ranger into a tree at Fauntleroy/Juneau a week and a half ago is now charged. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed felony charges of stolen-vehicle possession and DUI against David Rivera-Frausto of Bellevue. The charging documents say he has an extensive criminal history including a prior auto-theft-related charge, burglary, and car prowling. He tried to run after the crash, police say, but an officer happened to be nearby, recovering an unrelated stolen car, and saw the Ranger going “50 to 60 mph” just before hitting the tree. Rivera-Frausto allegely claimed a friend had been driving the Ranger, which had been stolen from a Tukwila register, but police say they found no evidence of another person in the driver’s seat. Rivera-Frausto remains in jail, in lieu of $75,000 bail.
GUNFIRE INVESTIGATION: A brief report summary released by police tonight says they found evidence of gunfire last night in the 9400 block of 27th SW after a 911 caller reported one possible shot. According to police-radio recordings, the call around 6:38 pm came from the unit they confirmed was hit by a bullet. No injuries and no suspect description.
ACCUSED BUSINESS HARASSER ARRESTED: Via SPD Blotter, police reported a November 5th arrest of a man who allegedly violated a court order requiring him to stay at least 1,000 feet away from a business in The Triangle. When they found him that morning, officers say he was only 350 feet away. SPD says “the suspect has repeatedly been seen harassing, laughing at, mocking, flipping off, and threatening the employees of the business,” and that he’s been trespassed from other businesses in the area; this business tried that first and then had to escalate to obtaining a court order. The SPD post adds that he “has previous felony convictions for Assault, Harassment-threats to kill, and narcotics violations.” After this arrest, the 42-year-old suspect, Dawit Y. Gebre, was booked into jail, and subsequently charged with two city-code crimes, court-order violation and drug possession, Jail and Municipal Court records show he spent eight days in jail, originally in lieu of $2,500 bail, then was released this past Thursday after a judge granted his request for personal recognizance; the docket says the city “did not object.” Gebre is due back in Municipal Court early next year.
The Admiral Neighborhood Association usually holds its every-other-month gatherings on second Tuesdays, but this time it’s on the third Tuesday – two nights away. Different location this time, too – West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor), whose spacious headquarters double as a venue for performances, art receptions, and as in this case, community meetings. As previewed on the ANA website, the meeting is expected to include an update from SPD (bring crime/safety questions if you have them), the latest on plans for the Admiral Winter Wonderland holiday celebration, and a vote on next year’s officers. All are welcome, 7 pm Tuesday.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s board met this past week, for a meeting mostly featuring short updates, no guest presenters:
CROSSING FLAGS: FCA has long been placing these at various crossings in the area, and they’re depleted, president Frank Immel said, particularly by the ferry dock; board member Bill Wellington said he’d noticed one flag basket was on the ground rather than on the pole (he has 50 that can be used for replenishment) – Immel said he has fasteners. So the problem will be addressed
CROSSING AT SW ROSE: The FCA is still concerned about its design (as shown earlier this year) – some wondered if it’s “overdesigned” – though pleased it does contain a pushbutton-activated signal for crossers. Vice president Catherine Bailey also said she’s glad this will calm/slow traffic. Immel said he’d had a few questions out to SDOT for a while but no reply yet. They’re hoping project-team reps will come to a future meeting.
CULVERT UPDATE: With Seattle Public Utilities‘ 45th SW Fauntleroy Creek culvert-replacement project looming, board members wanted to talk about where they and the community are at with readiness for it. One attendee who recently moved from the project zone said his former neighbors are worried about the logistics of the work, which is expected to close 45th SW to through traffic for two years. Board member Alan Grainger noted that the bottom line remains, “we’re going to have a much-improved environment for the salmon.” There’s still concern, however, that not enough people know this is coming, and more people who live in the area need to come to a meeting and see how it’s going to work and ask questions.” (SPU had a meeting last month; here’s our coverage.) FCA thinks the community should be getting more, and more-frequent, messages about it, and plans to suggest that to the city.
FERRY DOCK: Immel, long the FCA’s point person on ferry issues, recapped the final Community Advisory Group meeting held recently (WSB coverage here) and the general outline with which WSF is going into environmental studies. The project is not yet fully funded, and that’s a big issue, Immel observed.
COVE PARK: Some of the art in the small beach park north of the ferry dock has been damaged, board member Mardi Clements said, and is working on what can be done about it – the raven’s “sun” was stolen (not the first time that sculpture’s been damaged), and there’s a chunk smashed out of the canoe. They’re talking to the county, which now controls the site, about repairs.
$ UPDATE: Grainger, who serves as treasurer, said the Fauntleroy Fall Festival was within about $600 of breaking even, so FCA is contributing to cover that gap.
SURVEY THIS YEAR? FCA is the only community council that regularly surveys residents and businesses. (See the 2023 results here.) Before the next one, they want to focus on building up their email address database. They talked about ways to simplify it, maybe asking people to rank community issues, adding their own priority if it’s not on the list. Board members thought it might be best to develop a “mini-survey” this time.
DIGITAL PROFILE: The group is still grappling with maximizing its online channels – in brainstorming, some wondered, could they find a volunteer? Or maybe send email to its subscriber list more than the current once a quarter – provided there’s good information that’s worth readers’ while.
WHAT’S NEXT: No December meeting, so they’re reconvening in January (6 pm Tuesday, January 13).
With high-school basketball season starting soon, Chief Sealth International High School Basketball is not only practicing, but also launching “Play It Forward” – supporters sent this explanation of what it’s all about and how the wider community will benefit too:
Chief Sealth Basketball Launches “Play It Forward,” A Community Effort to Boost Students and Spirit
Something special is taking shape at Chief Sealth International High School this fall.
The school’s basketball teams have united to launch a new initiative called Play It Forward, a community-based campaign that blends basketball, service, and hope. The goal is to raise $8,000 by November 30, to equip student-athletes with needed gear while also inspiring them to give back through community service.
For every $100 raised, players will complete one hour of service, tutoring younger students, volunteering at local events, or helping neighbors in need. The idea is simple but powerful: when the community invests in its youth, those same young people invest right back
.
Like many of our local public schools, Chief Sealth has faced some difficult years, yet the students continue to demonstrate remarkable talent, heart, and leadership on and off the court.“Our kids show up every day with heart and purpose, and they hear all the things about being the ‘other’ school in West Seattle,” says Boys Head Coach Ja’Lyn Combs. “As someone who works in the building and preaches community to our students and staff, what better way to invite the community to be more involved in some of the great things happening with our student-athletes.”
Play It Forward is designed to give these students visible reminders of that pride. From warm-ups, backpacks, and uniforms to transportation to games outside of the Metro League, these things remind them that they belong, that they matter, and that they represent something bigger than themselves.
“Basketball is just the starting point,” said Combs. “We’re building young men and women who understand discipline, service, and pride in where they come from. Every hour of community work our players do matters. It’s how we change the story for Sealth because there is nothing like giving back to the community that shows up to support you.”
Both the Boys and Girls coaches are deeply invested in mentoring student-athletes beyond basketball, helping them build confidence, character, and community awareness.
Meet the Coaches Leading the Charge
Girls’ Head Coach Wilfredo Pablo is a Chief Sealth graduate who returned to give back to the school that shaped him. He also runs Trill Drills and Skills, a local youth basketball academy focused on fundamentals, fun, and personal growth.
Boys’ Head Coach Ja’Lyn Combs, now in his second year, brings championship experience from the Garfield High School basketball program and works as the Restorative Practice Coordinator for Chief Sealth’s Restorative Practice Program.
“This is more than a fundraiser,” added Girls Head Coach Will Pablo. “It’s about keeping the community spirit going and helping these young people build pride, unity, and a sense of belonging, reminding everyone that Chief Sealth’s story is one of growth, resilience, and strength.”
How to Get Involved
Community members are invited to donate, attend games, and follow the students’ progress as they “play it forward” through service projects and team milestones.
To contribute or learn more, visit our fundraising page here!
Chief Sealth Girls Basketball | Metro League
Chief Sealth Boys Basketball | Metro LeagueBecause a win for our students is a win for the Community, and a win for our future.
Both varsity teams’ first games of the season are set for December 1st.
(Photo courtesy Puget Soundkeeper)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Nearly 60 volunteers gathered Saturday at Dragonfly Pavilion for a salmon-season Longfellow Creek cleanup event hosted by Puget Soundkeeper and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. The event was a way for community members to become stewards of their environment, said Tanya Balaji, a Stewardship and Education Manager with Puget Soundkeeper.
Balaji, who has a background in oceanography and biology, has been working with Puget Soundkeeper for just over a year, and says it’s been a great experience. Volunteers were signing up through Friday night, even during the downpour, and according to Balaji, there were surprisingly few cancellations.
(WSB photos from here down)
The cleanup had two goals. First, to help clean up the waterway and surrounding area ahead of winter. “Restoration work helps nurture a better habitat,” Balaji said. It is also a chance to highlight the yearly Salmon Survey, involving a rotating group of volunteers who check on Longfellow Creek every day of spawning season, counting live and dead salmon. (We’re expecting the total seasonal count to be made public on Monday.)
During the event, volunteers were encouraged to stop by and chat with the survey teams, to learn more about vital conservation efforts. In addition to keeping track of the population, the survey teams are on the lookout for Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS), a sometimes devastating condition caused by chemical runoff from car tires. URMS is specifically dangerous to coho salmon, and Puget Soundkeeper’s teams are monitoring it as a key step toward protecting waterways.
A team of four survey members, including Puget Soundkeeper volunteer Tallie, found two salmon, a male and a female, just before noon Saturday. After wading into the creek and retrieving the fish, survey members perform a quick necropsy on the salmon.
Tallie said they’re searching for three key features. First, whether or not the tail is still present. Because survey teams work on different days, they mark salmon they’ve already recorded by severing the end of the tail. If the salmon still has a tail, they check for an adipose fin, a small fin located on the back of the fish. Salmon grown in hatcheries have this fin removed, which allows the team to determine which salmon are wild, and which trace to hatcheries.
Finally, and in a show that drew a crowd of volunteers, they check each salmon to see if it’s spawned. Here’s Tallie, holding up a small female salmon to cheering from the crowd, as she revealed that it did manage to spawn.
“I didn’t think I would like it at first,” said Tallie, who’s been volunteering for two years, “but it’s kinda cool to see.” Overall, she says the season has been good, though Saturday was an outlier, with no living salmon spotted by noon.
Beyond keeping the environment clean, events at Longfellow Creek also help keep younger people active in their communities, said Mark Dorsey, who attended Saturday with a group of students from Unleash the Brilliance. Founded in 2008 by Mark’s brother Terrell, Unleash the Brilliance is a nonprofit that aims to help youth stay engaged with their education, especially youth facing challenges that may result in reckless behavior, said Dorsey.
He says it’s been incredibly rewarding to see younger people get involved in stewarding their environment. “Before, you’d see kids just standing around on their phones,” Dorsey said, “But now they’re competing to see who can pick up the most trash, or plant the most trees. They’re all competing to see who can do better.”
For more information, to donate, or to volunteer with Puget Soundkeeper, check their website here. For more information about Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, go here.
3:08 PM: Police are closing Alki Avenue between 61st and 62nd after a hit-run crash that is reported to have injured a 2-year-old child. The victim is reported to be ‘awake and alert’ so the initially large SFD response is being reduced. Police are looking for a gray Toyota RAV-4 with a dent on the passenger side, plate possibly starting with CDX.
(Added: Photo by Cami MacNamara)
3:27 PM: Police just told dispatch that they’re reopening Alki Avenue. Medics were taking the child to a hospital; we’ll be following up with SFD for an update.
4:25 PM: SFD tells us the victim was a 5-year-old boy who was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center. We’ll follow up with SPD to find out whether they found/find the driver.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The missing man has been found; we’ve removed his photo.
Previously:
Every year we put together – and frequently update – a mega-list of local holiday events and info, the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We’ve just published the first 2025 version, featuring everything we’ve received (or found) info about, so far. The Holiday Guide covers pre-Thanksgiving through New Year’s and breaks down the contents into lists including Thanksgiving (starting with holiday-food ordering deadlines), holiday bazaars/sales/business open houses, concerts, other performances, Santa photo ops, Christmas Ship visits, Christmas tree sales, donation drives/fundraisers, holiday decorations, public Hanukkah celebrations, local shopping spotlights, more … We also spotlight practical information as each holiday gets closer – which grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops are open, for example.
As always when we launch the guide, some of this info isn’t available yet (like “which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving?”) but we’re continuing to research and gather, so as more info and announcements arrive, we’ll continue updating the guide. This year and every year, your help is VERY important – you might see something we haven’t seen/received yet, or you might be planning something for your organization/school/church. Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com and we’ll get it listed. We’ll include White Center and South Park events if the info is sent to us, but West Seattle is the focus. We’re here to help make sure you know about all your options all season long! You can find the guide any time at westseattleblog.com/holiday, as well as on our menu/navigation bar, whichever device you’re using. Check back often because we’ll be updating at least once a day!
(Photographer Jerry Simmons captioned this, ‘Hanging On’)
Here are today’s highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings!) and inbox:
VACCINE CLINIC: Last of the community clinics for flu and COVID shots at local schoold, 9 am-3 pm at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW), info in our calendar listing,
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run starts at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Weekly games are back at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: Small-group class at 9:30 am at Mama Be Well (4034-A California SW); preregistration info is in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual in its regular spot on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in late-fall produce season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, garlic, more – plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, more.
KNEIGHBORHOOD KNIVES: The knife-sharpening pop-up is back at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW), 10 am-5 pm.
FREE NIA CLASS: New start time – 10:15 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).
FOOD DRIVE AT ALKI UCC: 11 am-3 pm, this month’s drop-off donation drive outside the church focuses on food – details including the wish list are in our preview. (6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
(Photo by Ana Del Claro from this year’s Fauntleroy Art Show)
FAUNTLEROY ART SHOW: Last of three days for the show/sale at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) – participants are listed in our calendar listing. Open 11 am-3 pm today.
FOOD DRIVE & SIGN-HOLDING: West Seattle Resist‘s Sunday 11:30 am-1:30 pm sign-holding events also include a drop-off food drive through the rest of the year. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
SAUNA AND BEER: Noon-5 pm, the portable sauna from Good Day Sauna will be at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) for $25 sessions.
HOLIDAY PHOTOS AT THE ELVES’ COTTAGE: Noon-4:30 pm again today, preregistration required. (2332 California SW)
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 1-2:30 pm, Explorer West Middle School (10015 28th SW; WSB sponsor) opens the doors: “Families exploring middle school options are invited to visit Explorer West (grades 6–8) for a brief program, self-guided tours, and classroom activities. All are welcome.”
DISASTER PREP FOR THE MOBILITY IMPAIRED: How can you prepare for the unthinkable if you’re mobility-impaired? Preparedness coach Alice Kuder will show you, 1 pm at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)
SUNDAY SCIENCE PARTY: 2 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW):
Why do people have allergies? Could getting dirty actually be good for you? Should you feed your baby all sorts of food? What does it take to be a scientist these days? At the Sunday Science Party, you can get answers to all of these questions and more, grab some free snacks, and join real scientists for fun activities. Thanks to our partners Solving for Science and the University of Washington School of Medicine Immunology Department.
Free.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Relax and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
MUSIC NORTHWEST CONCERT: Live chamber music, themed “Music for the Hopeful Soul,” at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) – 3 pm concert, program notes in our calendar listing. Donation suggested.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Greensleeves student showcase 3-5 pm, harp and Irish flute, free, all ages. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
JON GUERRA IN CONCERT: 5:45 pm, doors open for Jon Guerra and Friends at Trinity Church, co-presented by All Souls, details in our calendar listing. (7551 35th SW)
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, free to play. (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday nights are live-music nights with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could add to the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
| 1 COMMENT