West Seattle, Washington
26 Wednesday
Today we’re welcoming new WSB sponsor Welcome Road Winery, whose proprietors Leigh McMillan and Kristen Dorrity invite you to their tasting room at 3804 California SW.
Here’s what Welcome Road Winery would like you to know: We are local to West Seattle and make award-winning wine from Washington’s renowned Yakima Valley, and our tasting room is fun and friendly place (with a French ski lodge theme) to taste wine or kick back with a glass on the patio. We also throw great parties and events.
Welcome Road Winery‘s tasting room is for fun-loving wine drinkers who want to taste fabulous wine or enjoy a glass and bite of cheese in a laid-back, friendly, and fun environment. People come back because they love the wine, but also because they have a great time in our tasting room. Typically there is a lot of laughing with friendly people and our room is relaxed and unpretentious.
Our award-winning wines are made in the French winemaking tradition, but with Pacific Northwest spirit. They are elegant and bold, but play nicely with all types of food – from BBQ to holiday dinners to grilled seafood. We are known in particular for our Bordeaux-style blends featuring Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Welcome Road is the epitome of a boutique, urban winery – making just 700 cases of wine per year. Winemaker Leigh is a graduate of the WSU Enology program and works in marketing during the day, while co-owner Kristen practices law. We were inspired to start a winery after visits to wine country throughout France and eastern Washington. We are honored to work with some of the best grape growers from the renowned Yakima Valley, including the great folks at Dineen Vineyards and Two Mountain. These guys have years of experience and consistently produce great fruit. Yakima Valley‘s arid climate, rocky landscape, and ample sunshine make for fantastic grape-growing conditions. We are proud to make wine from this outstanding fruit.
Welcome Road Winery is a member of Seattle Urban Wineries and supports WestSide Baby and Genesee Hill Elementary School. See the Welcome Road wine list here. The Welcome Road Winery tasting room at 3804 California SW is open Fridays 5 to 8 pm and Saturdays 1 to 7 pm.
We thank Welcome Road Winery for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Everybody got out OK after this car went off 34th SW near SW Cloverdale and onto its side on the sidewalk. Often these types of crashes are dispatched as “heavy rescues” but the people in the car were out before SFD and SPD arrived so it was a smaller, short-lived response. Police were still talking with them to determine what happened and said everyone was being “cooperative.”
The RapidRide line through Delridge is now projected to open in 2020 – one year later than suggested as recently as a few months ago. And it’s been officially declared the H Line. That’s according to new information on the SDOT website (hat-tip Seattle Transit Blog, which says this was presented downtown last night at a Seattle Transit Advisory Board meeting), including this list of the names and start dates for all the currently envisioned expansion routes:
Also posted by SDOT, this detailed report on the expansion routes and what’s next – you’ll find the H Line on page 24 and 25:
We’ll be checking with SDOT to see when the next community discussion/presentation about the H Line is planned. West Seattle’s first RapidRide route, the C Line, launched service in September 2012.
(Looking north along the East Waterway at the mouth of the Duwamish River – photo by Don Brubeck)
Busy morning – but there’s still time for this lineup of highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BURGERS FOR MENTORS: Empower Mentoring Program gets part of the proceeds today at Zippy’s Giant Burgers in White Center, open until 9 pm – details in our calendar listing. (9614 14th SW)
FREE TAX HELP: 5-9 pm at the West Seattle Food Bank/Community Resource Center, courtesy of United Way of King County volunteers. Details in our calendar listing. (35th SW & SW Morgan)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: The Fauntleroy Boulevard project is the big agenda item when WSTC meets at 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, as previewed here last weekend. (6400 Sylvan Way)
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WORKSHOP: 6:30 pm, free workshop at Fauntleroy UCC Church “to learn practical, safe alternatives to doing nothing in bullying or harassment situations.” (9140 California SW)
ORCA TALK: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this Orca Talk presented by The Whale Trail and Seal Sitters will bring you the “rare firsthand story of an orca rescue,” as previewed here. (5612 California SW)
METROPOLITAN MARKET REMODEL TALK: The Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) Admiral remodeling work is about to resume, and as reported here last Friday, company leadership knows customers have questions and concerns about what’s changed so far and what’s next, so they’re inviting you to a gathering at the store 7-8:30 pm tonight to talk with the CEO and store director, preview what’s next, and enjoy some bites. (41st/42nd/Admiral)
TRIVIA NIGHT: Monthly trivia at Tap Station, 7 pm. All ages welcome. Prizes! (7900 35th SW)
OF COURSE, THERE’S MORE … for today, tonight, and beyond, on our complete-calendar page!
(Reader photo texted from High Point area)
10:21 AM: The snow shower’s apparently moving north to south – we heard from Alki and Admiral a little while earlier, and now it’s finally arrived down here in Upper Fauntleroy. If you’re on Twitter, you saw @westseawx predict this very early today. It’s not expected to hang around – and the air temp is well above freezing, 39 degrees – but Kim in High Point says it’s sticking on her lawn, so we’ll see how it goes.
10:37 AM: Sticking (at ~300 feet).
10:53 AM: And melting, with some blue sky moving in from the west. Forecast says this might happen tomorrow morning too.
THURSDAY NIGHT NOTE: Here’s a Special Weather Statement officially warning more snow showers are possible.
Just announced by WSDOT – the next inspection closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. It’s scheduled to close both ways between the West Seattle Bridge and the north end of the Battery Street Tunnel between 6 am and 6 pm Saturday, March 4th, and Sunday, March 5th. Part of 99 will close for non-inspection reasons north of the BSTunnel – that Saturday, construction crews will be working on SB 99 between the tunnel and Valley Street in South Lake Union “so construction crews can complete the work needed to reopen Harrison Street.” And on that Sunday morning, the annual Hot Chocolate 15K will extend the closure north of the BSTunnel, while a Project Belltown walk in the BSTunnel will extend the NB lane closure until about 1 pm. Full details here.
Parenting is sometimes joyful, sometimes frustrating … and some expert advice can help with the latter. Next Tuesday (February 28th), in collaboration with West Seattle Cooperative Preschools, Parent Map is presenting Dr. Laura Kastner in West Seattle, explaining how to “Tame the Tears: Parenting Positively.” She’s speaking at 7 pm at Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus on Puget Ridge. Dr. Kastner is author of “Getting to Calm: The Early Years,” and is a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the UW. Organizers explain:
Dr. Kastner will draw on her experience to offer parents much-needed tools for success in their parenting journey. Parents will learn tips to help encourage positive behavior, manage those dreaded tantrums and teach emotional intelligence. Walk away with the tools to better manage emotions and strengthen the bond between child and parent.
Discounted advance tickets are available online now.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:20 AM: Chilly but quiet morning so far. No incidents in/from West Seattle.
TONIGHT: Interested in the Fauntleroy Boulevard project? Be at tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting (6:30 pm, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, 6400 Sylvan Way).
7:52 AM: Metro just announcef that the 7:38 am Route 57 “did not operate this morning.”
8:17 AM: Texter says the Avalon/Spokane signal is flashing again.
9:59 AM: WSDOT has just announced two things of note – first, overnight lane closures on I-5 this Saturday night:
Late night drivers should expect delays on northbound Interstate 5 starting Saturday night, Feb. 25, into early Sunday morning, Feb. 26. Washington State Department of Transportation crews need to close several lanes of the freeway between State Route 599 and I-90 to perform routine maintenance on the overhead messaging signs.
Crews will close up to four lanes beginning with the left lane at 10 p.m. Traffic will be reduced to one lane by midnight.
The northbound I-5 off-ramp to Corson Avenue/South Michigan Street will also be closed beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday. All lanes and ramps will reopen by 6 a.m. Sunday.
Also, the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s next inspection closure is set for March 4-5, with some extra closures both days on Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel.
11:13 AM: And more work announced for THIS weekend. From WSDOT:
Drivers heading into Seattle by way of the 1st Avenue South Bridge on Saturday morning should prepare for possible delays.
Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will close the two right lanes of northbound State Route 99 at the bridge from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, for bridge deck repair work.
The 1st Avenue South Bridge will still open to boat traffic during the maintenance work. If a vessel requests an opening, crews will clear and open the bridge for the vessel, then reset traffic control, which could prompt further delays.
9:33 PM: Just got a text from someone in the Alki area saying they felt an earthquake that hit about half an hour ago in the Hood Canal area. Preliminary info indicates it was magnitude 4.2, which is stronger than the mild earthquakes which otherwise aren’t so uncommon in the region. The epicenter is described as west of Belfair. (The US Geological Survey map puts it under Hood Canal.) Will add anything more we find out.
10:26 PM: No damage reported, according to authorities near the epicenter:
Yes, Mason County, we had an earthquake! We had some alarm systems go off but no reports of slides or other damage as of now. Be safe!
— Mason County Sheriff (@MasonCoSheriff) February 23, 2017
10:33 PM: Much further away, but still in our region, another quake tonight – 4.8 magnitude, off northwest Vancouver Island (here’s the USGS page). And we’re reminded that the 16th anniversary of the 6.8 Nisqually quake is next week. So we’re going to take a moment to remind you again of your Emergency Communication Hubs – memorize the nearest one, so you know where to go in case of something big:
6:48 PM: The Fauntleroy Boulevard project through The Triangle is suddenly a hot topic, and tonight we have word of two more chances for you to find out more about it. Along with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, February 23rd, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center) and the new Fauntleroy Way Neighborhood and Business Association‘s meeting a week from tonight (Wednesday, March 1st, 7:30 pm at Rudy’s Barbershop/Realfine Coffee), SDOT just announced two “Walk-and-Talk” tours along the route.
Project spokesperson Rachel McCaffrey says, “These walking tours will be an opportunity for us to share the latest design, discuss early construction planning, introduce the project team to the public, and gather feedback. We’ll include light refreshments from Fauntleroy businesses along the way.” She says it’s “the same tour on two different dates: Thursday, March 16, from 12-1:30 PM, and Saturday, March 18, from 10:30 AM-12 PM. The tours will begin outside of LA Fitness, at 3900 SW Alaska St, and end at West Seattle Brewing Co., at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW.” Also, watch your postal mail for a postcard about this (see it here) – she says it’s being sent to a “swath” of the area (we have a followup question out asking exactly where said “swath” is).
ADDED 11:57 AM: We have the reply to that: “We mailed the postcard to approximately 8,560 addresses roughly in the boundaries of SW Charlestown St, 45th Ave SW, SW Juneau, and 26th Ave SW. We’ll also announce the event via our email newsletter, which has about 300 subscribers.”
(Rendering courtesy Hewitt Architects)
One week from tomorrow, the Southwest Design Review Board will consider the newest plan for the 108-apartments-and-grocery-store project featuring a new PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) store at the site of the current one. Last week, architects Hewitt gave a “sneak peek” to the Admiral Neighborhood Association (WSB coverage here); today, their full “packet” for next week’s meeting is online, full of images for various parts of the project plus detailed information on everything from its floor plans to its landscaping. The 77-page packet is on the city website, and we’ve downloaded it to embed below:
This could be the final Design Review meeting for the project at 2749 California SW, which has already had two Early Design Guidance reviews. It’s at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 2nd, at the Sisson Building/Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon); if you can’t be there to comment in person, you can also comment on the project by e-mailing the assigned city planner, crystal.torres@seattle.gov.
(From left, Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith, Capt. Pierre Davis, and West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For those interested in more alerts about repeat offenders (like the ones we wrote about last weekend) – police might soon be sharing that kind of information publicly.
That was one revelation from last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, along with a guest presentation about what to do in case of an “active shooter” situation.
More than 25 people were at the WSCPC’s monthly meeting at the Southwest Precinct, including two groups of neighbors from areas of North Delridge and Puget Ridge. Here’s how it unfolded:
CRIME TRENDS: “We’ve arrested a significant amount of people out there,” began precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis. Much of the property crime is linked to drug use, he noted, because users need to get money and “just don’t care.” So “don’t leave valuables in your car,” he reminded people. That would “help us out” in terms of discouraging criminals.
(Moments before we published this report, two flyers with related SPD crime-prevention advice came in:
Car-prowl prevention advice is here; auto-theft prevention advice is here.)
And make sure your valuables are identifiable, in case they are stolen (by burglary, for example). He mentioned repeat offenders, saying “we’re ready to start putting their faces out to the general public … so you guys can see exactly what these individuals are up to and what they look like … they don’t like it, they’ve told us they don’t like it … we’re going to ramp it up.” Read More
Thanks to Cindi for the tip: The AAA West Seattle store in Jefferson Square has announced it’s closing after March 31st, consolidating operations into the company’s Magnolia location (1523 15th Ave. W.).
AAA moved to Jefferson Square in 2012, displaced from its previous location on the southwest corner of 42nd SW and SW Alaska because of the Junction 47 development. No word yet on what will follow; the vacancy is shown on this marketing flyer.
(Direct link to draft Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village rezoning map)
While the Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village was the first of West Seattle’s four urban villages to get a city-coordinated Community Design Workshop about its HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning proposals, that November 9th event was so soon after those proposals were released that it was little-publicized and lightly attended. But community volunteers have continued to review the WW-HP proposals (see the official “draft rezoning map” above) and are inviting you to a meeting one week from tonight to collaborate on a community response while the comment period remains open. Here are the details, from Kim Barnes:
The Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village community volunteers will hold a followup short presentation and discussion centered around the city workshop held on November 9th, and community led workshop held on November 30th, 2016.
All members of the public interested in collaborating a full response to the MHA legislation and upcoming EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) that will provide the rezoning proposal of Westwood Highland Park are invited to attend.
Please note that this is a community led meeting and city employees will not be in attendance.
Please join us Wednesday, March 1st to get in the loop and collaborate. Topics covered in this tight
90 minute meeting will include:o A very brief overview of the MHA Principles. Brief overview of the proposed up-zoning for the Westwood Highland Park Residential Urban Village.
o Where is the City information? Where to find the resources to learn more.
o Overview of the Revised Timeline for public input on the draft EIS.
o Review and discuss the Community Feedback gathered on November 9..What’s missing and why.
o Discuss what other neighborhoods across the city are doing—how they are formulating their own community response.
o Agree to a next-steps plan to collaborate knowledge and resources to develop a full response to the EIS in the coming months.
o Formulate a request to the City to present the draft EIS for our urban village as soon as it’s published.
o If time allows: Review the Urban Village up-zone map and 3D model presented in late November at HPIC.
What this meeting is not:
o A city-sponsored meeting with experts in the areas of MHA legislation, zoning, etc.
o A forum for comments or complaints regarding MHA and HALA to be conveyed by the volunteers to the city.
Date/Time: March 1, from 7 pm-8:30 pm, doors open 6:45 pm
Please rsvp for an anticipated head count to: kim.barnes.la@gmail.com
Location: Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 SW Holden Street
The city’s official notes from the November 9th meeting, by the way, were finally posted online about a week ago, and you can find them linked from this page (where the Junction and Admiral notes will apparently eventually appear, too).
Here’s a simple way to help refugees arriving in our area. Hope Lutheran Human Care Ministry, along with the Lutheran Community Services Northwest refugee-settlement program, is making “welcome baskets” for local refugee families. The next two Saturday mornings, you’re invited to bring donations for those baskets. Here’s what they need:
New or Like-New Items Only
Donations Needed:
Kitchen Kit: Pots & pans, cutlery, plates, bowls, drinking glasses, cups, tea kettles
Household Kit: Warm blankets, dish towels, hot pads
Hygiene Kit: Feminine products, toothpaste, soap, razorsCollection Site: Hope Lutheran Church (main entrance), 4456 42nd Ave. SW [map]
Collection Dates/Time:
Saturday, February 25, 2017 @ 9-Noon
Saturday, March 4, 2017 @ 9-Noon
Questions? Contact Elissa at esommer (at) hopeseattle (dot) org or 206-937-9330.
(Pigeon guillemots at Fauntleroy ferry dock – this photo and next are both by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights of what’s up for the rest of today/tonight in West Seattle, from our calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Bring your baby (up to one year) to High Point Library for stories, rhymes, and songs, 11:30 am-noon. Free as always. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
ENTREPRENEUR MEETUP: Running your own business? Starting one? Thinking about it? This week’s free Wednesday midday meetup at coworking center West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) is for you. Noon-1:15 pm, just drop in, and you’re welcome to bring your lunch. (6040 California SW)
JUNGLE CRAFT & GAME: 2:30 pm at Southwest Library, “do a fun jungle craft and learn about the environment with an iPad game.” (35th SW & SW Henderson)
FREE TAX HELP: 5-9 pm at West Seattle Food Bank/Community Resource Center – details here. (35th SW & SW Morgan)
SAUCONY FREEDOM RUN: Join the weekly 6:15 pm run from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) and try out new shoes – details here. (2743 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club – from the agenda (detailed version on the HPAC website):
*SPD Update & HPIC Update
*Your Voice, Your Choice – Neighborhood Parks and Street Fund Presentation
*HPAC Community Ideas Fund Brainstorm Session
*Update on Myers Way Encampment
*HPAC Executive Committee Election
*Community Announcements
(12th SW & SW Holden)
POEMS AND STORIES: It’s the monthly Poetrybridge night at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)
THE HASSLERS: Live Americana music at Parliament Tavern, 8-11 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
TRIVIA AT TALARICO’S: West Seattle’s longrunning trivia night, hosted by Phil Tavel, 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizza. (4718 California SW)
CHECK OUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT’S HAPPENING – by going to our complete-calendar page.
Three local high-school teams are heading into the regional/state playoffs, and this morning we finally have the slate for the next games for all three.
The final opponent to be filled in was for the West Seattle High School girls. Now we know they’ll play Edmonds-Woodway HS in regionals at noon Saturday (February 25th) at Bellevue College (3000 Landenholm Circle SE). It’s a must-win game for them to advance to state (here’s the bracket).
Right after the girls’ game, the West Seattle HS boys play a regionals game against Timberline HS, 2 pm at Bellevue College. They are guaranteed at least one game at the state tournament, however this one turns out (here’s the bracket).
Also at 2 pm Saturday, the Seattle Lutheran High School boys play Napavine HS in a regionals game at WF West HS (in Chehalis). They too are guaranteed at least one state-tournament game beyond this (here’s the bracket).
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning! Midpoint of midwinter break for Seattle Public Schools and others following the calendar. No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.
8:39 AM: Trouble on the NB I-5 collector/distributor – an SFD medical response at Dearborn.
Another youth-sports league is getting ready for its 2017 season: The tryouts for Seattle Pride AAU boys’ basketball (explained here) are about to start, with 4th- through 8th-grade boys invited to try out this weekend:
Saturday, February 25th – 4th-6th Boys – 4-5:30 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Saturday, February 25th – 7th-8th Boys – 5:30-7 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High SchoolSunday, February 26th – 4th-6th Boys – 4-5:30 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Sunday, February 26th – 7th-8th Boys – 5:30-7 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
High-school boys’ tryouts start one week later:
Freshmen – 15U
Sunday, March 5th – Frosh/15U Boys – 4-6 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Thursday, March 9th – Frosh/15U Boys – 5-6:45 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Friday, March 10th – Freshman / 15U Boys – 5-6:45 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High SchoolSophomores/Juniors/Seniors – 16U, 17U, 18U
Monday, March 6th – Seniors, Juniors, & Sophomore Boys Only- 7-9 pm @ West Seattle High School (3 courts)
Thursday, March 9th – Soph/Juniors/Unsigned Seniors – 7-9 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
Friday, March 10th – Soph/Juniors/Unsigned Seniors – 7-9 pm @ Seattle Lutheran High School
To register early, sign up here. See the official tryouts flyer here. (Photo courtesy Seattle Pride Basketball)
(WSB photos: Above, this afternoon; below, Monday afternoon)
Seattle Public Utilities was back today at the 24th SW/SW Kenyon intersection where a Waste Management truck got stuck (as first reported here Monday afternoon, thanks to a reader tip, and updated until the truck was taken away three-plus hours later).
SPU spokesperson Marieke Rake tells WSB that they found a damaged stormwater pipe beneath the street, and that’s what they believe caused the sinkhole (their term, “void”). She added that an SPU maintenance team is cleaning the downstream pipe to remove debris,” and within a few days they’ll “have an estimated pipe-repair timeframe.”
We start with two incidents at the Junction 7-11 in the past three days – the information in both cases is from police reports we obtained today:
STABBING: Police were called around 2:30 am today to check out a fight. On arrival, they found a man sitting outside the store, bleeding from his face. He said he didn’t know who had attacked him, and had no description to provide. A store employee told police he saw someone in a black hoodie kicking the victim, who was on the ground, but that’s all he would say. Seattle Fire arrived to check out the victim, who said he didn’t want to go to the hospital, but was eventually convinced to agree to go. The private-ambulance crew who subsequently arrived discovered that the victim had a stab wound in his armpit, and he was handed over to an SFD medic unit for transport. His wounds were described in the report as not life-threatening.
SHOPLIFT TURNS TO ‘ARMED ROBBERY’: Thanks to D for spotting this in Tweets by Beat. The call was classified as “armed robbery” but the report describes it as a case of shoplifting turned violent. Just before 11:30 Saturday night, a store employee called to report an attempted assault. He said a man and woman had come into the store, shoplifted, and when he tried to stop them from leaving with stolen items – including a toothbrush and aluminum foil – the man threw a large yellow “wet floor” cone at him, and it hit him in the head. The suspects are described in the report narrative only as a black male and white female, but the man was recorded on video during a visit to the store to make a purchase moments before the shoplifting attempt.
Also today:
STOLEN VAN FOUND: Last night, we heard a dispatcher broadcast an FYI about a stolen van, “taken in William sector,” which meant it was a West Seattle theft. We matched it to this tweet on SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter feed and re-tweeted it, as we do if we happen to hear something identified as a West Seattle case. Then today, a reader e-mailed to note that a Puget Sound Energy van appeared to have been abandoned on an Arbor Heights street. The plate sounded familiar – turned out to be that same stolen van. The reader called police this afternoon, and we went by as SPD was checking it out:
The @getyourcarback feed includes vehicles reported stolen all over the city, but still, unfortunately, without any location info in the tweets (so we don’t know what’s from WS unless we hear a scanner mention) so that’s why we ask, if you’re hit by vehicle theft, please let us know so we can report it here.
Also today – very early today:
CAR PROWLING: Got a text around 2 am – “Just saw two males car prowling near Beach Dr SW and Douglas. In a small dark colored car with what sounds like glasspack muffler. Traveling south. We’ve called police.”
Meantime, other followups/updates:
DETRICK ARRESTED: As noted in comments, the day after we mentioned convicted burglar Jessica Detrick had a warrant out for her arrest, police found her Sunday and booked her into jail. She’s still there as of right now, in lieu of $15,000 bail.
STOLEN URN FOUND: Kayla tells us her friend’s stolen urn has been found, as have “some” of the ashes it held.
STOLEN VAN FOUND: And in case you missed the mention in comments, the distinctive van reported stolen last week has been recovered.
5:31 PM: Thanks to Annie for the photos/tip: Traffic is alternating on one lane along SW Barton at 40th because of that crash. We just went by; SPD and SFD are there now.
5:40 PM: There’s no place on that side of the street to stop safely, so we weren’t able to ask anyone about injuries. But SFD has closed its part of the call now, and no medic unit was dispatched, which indicates that if anyone was hurt, it wasn’t serious.
8:21 PM: We weren’t able to check back but Annie tells us the scene is clear now, as of about an hour ago.
Unusual aircraft sightings – from helicopters to commercial jetliners – often bring questions, and we try to get answers. Twice today, here in Upper Fauntleroy, we noticed loud flyovers; both times, we looked them up on our favorite flight tracker, and they were commercial flights from Sea-Tac. The second one, an hour or so ago, brought in questions, so we asked Sea-Tac Airport spokesperson Perry Cooper if anything unusual was happening at the airport. Cooper had information about the most recent flyover (which showed on our tracker as a Delta flight to Shanghai) and we thought we’d share it in case you heard/saw it too:
We were, and have been, in south flow today; however, the tail winds for south flow were too strong at the time for this widebody aircraft and the pilot requested to take off to the north. So, for only this aircraft, the traffic was spaced out so he could take off to the north. Due to the fact the rest of the traffic was coming into south flow, they directed the aircraft to turn quickly to the west to get out of the traffic flow as soon as possible. This pattern would be similar to what we see when the Blue Angels practice in the summer, and they direct traffic to turn more quickly to the west in north flow to stay out of their practice pattern. Some of our own Port staff were out in the field today and noticed it when it happened as well.
P.S. One of the people who also noticed this points out that Sea-Tac has a noise-complaint hotline. Reversing it in web search, we discovered the Sea-Tac and Boeing Field numbers are part of a city-prepared one-sheet with info on all types of possible noise, not just aircraft – you might want to save it.
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