West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen snowman; car break-ins
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports, starting with another case of a stolen holiday decoration:
#1 – Ann-Marie says her 4-year-old daughter is broken-hearted after someone stole her 5-foot-tall decorative snowman from their front yard in Arbor Heights sometime Wednesday. Here’s what “Monroe” the snowman looks like. “Please bring him back. Our daughter is so upset.”
#2 – Chance‘s car was broken into, back window shattered, sometime during the day Wednesday near the 15th/Roxbury Walgreens. “My SUV has an alarm; didn’t deter them.”
#3 – Meredith reports car break-ins north of Morgan Junction last night:
I just wanted to let you know that last night there were two cars (could be more) in my lot on the corner of Juneau and California were broken into and all of its contents stolen. It’s an apartment complex and has happened twice in the last 6 months. They were able to disconnect my stereo system and break in with the doors locked. Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone else in the neighborhood has any information or also had their cars broken into.
If your car was broken into but nothing taken, please be sure to report it to police anyway so at least there’ll be accurate stats of what’s happening – you can even do it online.
P.S. Right after we published this, Becky sent an alert about suspicious activity on Beach Drive, so we’ve added it:
We live on Beach Drive, near Cormorant (Cove) Park. My husband was up early Wednesday morning (4:30 am) when he saw a couple of people looking in the windows of parked cars, including a UHaul van parked in the parking lot of the condos out on the pier. The individuals hadn’t done anything criminal but were acting suspiciously. He startled them by saying Good Morning, and they quickly moved on. Again there wasn’t anything to report to the police but we thought the neighborhood should be made aware of this early morning activity and keep an eye out for anything else that is unusual.
As we e-mailed back, police *do* encourage calls about suspicious activity – if they are too busy with major incidents to respond, the dispatcher will say so, but do make a call.
Today’s Viaduct-and-vicinity updates: See the ‘settling’ map; King St. crack in Pioneer Square
(SCROLL DOWN for newest updates)
2:58 PM: That map (click the image to see the full-size version) is the main Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 Tunnel update so far today, six days after first word that some areas in the vicinity have “settled” more than an inch. You might have seen a version of the map on Publicola this morning; the version released by WSDOT this afternoon has added context and a slightly different color scheme. It shows settling of almost an inch and a half in some areas, but does not show the areas of “uneven” settling, says WSDOT, and the text of their update makes it clear this does not show what’s happened on The Viaduct itself:
Crews from WSDOT and Seattle Tunnel Partners are conducting ongoing surveys of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and ground to determine whether settlement is continuing near the SR 99 tunnel access pit. In general, the surveys include:
Twice daily manual measurements at the bottom of both the east and west columns of the viaduct.
Approximately every other day measurements of deep survey points. These are survey points more than 80 feet underground.
Ground surveys of sidewalks and streets from Alaskan Way to Second Avenue and from Yesler Way to South King Street. Some areas are surveyed twice a day; other areas are surveyed once every two to three days.
Surveys of some buildings. Data is collected both manually and automatically and monitored daily.
The data from the ground surveys and deep survey points are represented on a survey point data map. This map does not represent data from building surveys or the surveys of the viaduct.
The map is a computer-generated approximation to show visually the survey results that were shared with the public on Dec. 5, which indicates approximately 1.4 inches of ground settlement near the access pit and a lesser amount of settlement in the surrounding area. It does not show differential settlement, which is uneven settlement that occurs underneath a particular building or structure.
Lastly, the map does not present conclusions about the effect of dewatering. Additionally, the colors have been modified to better show the change in settlement from high to low.
We asked WSDOT earlier today if the tunnel contractor was continuing with access-pit digging, estimated two days ago to have another day to go before they reached a point where they’d stop to evaluate. The reply said only that the December 9th update still applied. We’ve been watching the “live” construction camera, and the excavation equipment does seem to have been in action as the day goes on.
ADDED 4:15 PM: New development – a crack in King St. downtown, not far east of the “rescue pit.” A briefing by the mayor is expected soon.
West Seattle holiday giving: Help the Schmitz Park Elementary Student Council help foster children through Treehouse
We’re continuing to share local holiday giving opportunities, both via the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and via spotlights like this one, received from Schmitz Park Elementary 1st-grade teacher Emily Veling and librarian Lesley Vannini, both advisers to the SPES Student Council:
Student Council members at Schmitz Park Elementary have been busy organizing, marketing, and supporting a holiday donation drive. One of our goals at Schmitz Park is serving our community, and we hope to do this by collecting new toys to help foster kids through Treehouse. These young leaders hope to help all kids have a special holiday season. So far, we have collected hundreds of gifts for our community.
Read more about the Schmitz Park Student Council effort – and see more photos – in this story on the Treehouse website. You can drop off toys for the drive at Schmitz Park (5000 SW Spokane) through next Monday (December 15th).
Admiral Theater update: More first-run movies on the way
(WSB photo, added Thursday afternoon)
If you don’t often check the schedule for West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater, you might not have noticed yet, but the success of the “Interstellar” premiere run is bringing more first-run movies to The Admiral.
One big example: “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” (trailer above) is on the way, starting December 16. As for the theater’s future – very much up in the air as of our update last month – the latest is that the current management is “in talks with the landlord to move forward with the lease toward a hopeful renovation.” Stand by for updates.
P.S. Following up on a reader question, we asked theater manager Dinah Brein if they’re planning a Christmas movie again this year. Doesn’t look like it, she says, given how busy they’ve been with all of the above, but she’s expecting to have a holiday donation drive of some sort later this month.
West Seattle Weather Watch update: Now a ‘high wind warning’
(Added: Photo from Alki this morning, by Brian Youngstrom)
Minutes ago, the National Weather Service upgraded the weather alert for this afternoon/evening to a “high wind warning.” It’ll officially be in effect 4 pm-4 am, but the wind isn’t expected to hit our area until after 6 pm. The NWS says the wind is expected to rise to south/southwest 25-40 mph, with gusts possible to 60. Read the full alert here.
City’s ‘no parking necessary if built near frequent transit’ rule proposed for a rewrite
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:30 AM: What’s officially on the city Department of Planning and Development books as “Director’s Rule 11-2012 Parking Reductions Based on Frequent Transit Service” is getting a rewrite. This city policy is the reason some development projects in recent years – here and elsewhere in the city – have been approved to be built with few or no offstreet-parking spaces. If you’ve never read it, see it here or below:
A notice in today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin says that because of a “recent” decision by the city Hearing Examiner, DPD proposes to rescind (cancel) this rule “and write a new one in 2015.” Which decision? The notice doesn’t say; we’re inquiring with DPD. But we wouldn’t be surprised to hear it’s the one we reported on December 1st, involving the Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development (NERD) appeal of 3078 SW Avalon Way – since parking figured into the challenge and the decision. We’ll add anything more we find out from DPD.
5:35 PM: DPD spokesperson Bryan Stevens has replied to our questions:
Yes, the notice which proposes to rescind Director’s Rule 11-2012 is related to the recent Hearing Examiner decision on the proposal at 3078 SW Avalon Way. It may have been a little premature though, as the Hearing Examiner’s decision isn’t final until the appeal period on that decision has lapsed, which is December 22. However, our proposal to rescind would not occur until sometime after December 26, after taking public comments.
The Hearing Examiner took issue with the averaging technique allowed in Director’s Rule 11-2012, a method sometimes used by applicants to demonstrate whether their site was located close to frequent transit service, thus not requiring parking if located within an urban village. The Hearing Examiner felt the averaging technique within the rule allowed too much leeway in how to determine if a site was located near frequent transit service compared to what the actual code required. Projects under review still have the ability to apply the Director’s Rule while it’s in effect. However, those few projects that may currently be applying the averaging technique shown in the rule will be advised of the recent Hearing Examiner’s decision and could be at risk of a similar appeal.
However, the frequent transit service parking reduction will continue to remain in effect within the Land Use Code. To qualify under the existing code definition, an area must have transit service headways in at least one direction of 15 minutes or less for at least 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, and transit service headways of 30 minutes or less for at least 18 hours every day. Most projects within an urban village apply this method, which may be the only method for demonstrating frequent transit service if the Director’s Rule is rescinded.
You can help! White Center Food Bank needs people for two upcoming daytime distributions
The White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle too, is looking for extra holiday help:
Are you available on a weekday morning? The White Center Food Bank needs volunteers for a distribution to hand out holiday food Thursday, December 18, from 9 am to 1:30 pm and Monday, December 22, from 9 am to 12:30 pm. Set-up time is included in the shift. We expect to see 125 families each of these times. Contact Audrey Zemke at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or (206) 762-2848.
Not free those days, but want to help? Volunteering info is here; ways to donate are here.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Search after mini-mart robbery
7:26 PM: Thanks to Chris for the tip – police converged on the 76 station/mini-mart at California/Andover a short time ago because of an armed robbery. We don’t have a description or other details, but the search is on, and we’ll add any other information we’re able to get. No word of any injuries.
8:37 PM UPDATE: Just got a little more information from police. Two people robbed the store; their faces were covered, so the only descriptive information so far is that they were believed to be a male and a female, possibly teens to early 20s. The male robber showed a handgun. Police are pursuing active leads.
Seattle School Board votes to make interim superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland permanent
(Dr. Larry Nyland, photographed in High Point by WSB’s Patrick Sand on December 1st)
At a special meeting tonight, the Seattle School Board voted 5-2 to make interim Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland permanent. Here’s the announcement from the district:
The Seattle School Board has selected Dr. Larry Nyland as the permanent superintendent for Seattle Public Schools. Nyland has held the interim role since last summer. The 5-2 vote, allows Board President Sherry Carr to negotiate a new contract with Nyland, which the board will vote on January 7, 2015. If approved, Nyland’s contract would be extended through June 17, and would switch from interim to permanent at the end of June 2015.
“I have chosen to evaluate Dr. Nyland not only on his last 17 weeks in Seattle Public Schools, but his past 40 years in education,” said Sherry Carr, Seattle School Board President, applauding his career successes and need for stability in the district.
“We have a lot of work to do to support systems, and to better support students, said Interim Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland. “I look forward to working with them. Thank you.”
This stirred some controversy in advance because instead of conducting a search, or at least announcing they would not do a search, the board revealed the proposed hire via a meeting agenda published just before the long Thanksgiving weekend. Dr. Nyland appeared at a previously scheduled forum in West Seattle the following Monday (WSB coverage here); just before that forum, the district announced it would move the hiring vote back one week, to tonight, to give the public a chance to comment.
West Seattle Crime Watch followup: 2 stolen cars, found
Though it would be better if the cars hadn’t been stolen at all, we’ll still categorize today’s West Seattle Crime Watch update as good news: The two stolen cars most recently reported here both have been found. Deb‘s husband’s Civic, taken from Westwood last weekend, turned up last night at Hiawatha, “ignition jacked but otherwise OK.” And Stephanie‘s CR-V, stolen from Highland Park, was found at the Auburn Outlet Mall, where she says it had been “parked for four days … the only thing they took was our car seat.” That car also needs ignition repairs. In last week’s SeaStat crime-trends briefing, SPD reported 368 cars stolen citywide over the preceding 30 days, and 275 stolen cars found.
Weekend transit/traffic alert: Tower-crane arrival at 4435 35th SW
(WSB photo, added Thursday)
2:04 PM: If you ride Metro, you might have seen this just-sent advisory, warning that southbound C Line, 21, and 50 buses will be routed off 35th SW between Avalon and Alaska this weekend between 5:30 am Saturday (December 13th) and noon Sunday (December 14th). We just confirmed that southbound 35th will be blocked in the area because of the tower-crane installation for Trinsic Residential‘s 159-apartment mixed-use development at 4435 35th SW (south of KFC). Northbound traffic on 35th will NOT be affected, according to the alert, but whether you bus, drive, bike, or walk, you’ll want to avoid southbound 35th in The Triangle until the installation is over. (We’ll check on it as the weekend goes.)
3:25 PM UPDATE: Metro has updated its advisory to say this will affect BOTH directions. And Trinsic says its expected hours of work will actually be 7 am-5 pm *both* days.
Reader report: Windblown holiday ‘duck-oration’ rescued
The big blast of wind isn’t expected until tomorrow. But we got a preview late this morning – strong gusts that among other things caused a “duck” to fly the coop. Patricia shares the story and photos:
My wife and I have a large rubber-duck collection and recently discovered an inflatable for Christmas – a rubber duck with a Santa cap. Only thing was that there was only 1 in Washington, in Puyallup. I drove down the next day to adopt it and proudly display in our yard.
Today, with the high winds, I heard a loud noise and discovered the duck was gone!!!! Had someone stolen it???
After a quick search I saw yellow through the houses. The duck had flown the coop, over our house and into the trees on our slope!! I couldn’t reach it and it was tangled in the trees. Then I noticed it… a utility truck with a cherry picker was just up the street. I scooted over to the nice gentleman and asked him the strangest question.. “Can you help me get my duck out of the trees?”
The nice man was Sean, and he turned his truck around and lined it up to the swinging duck.
In moments he had plucked it from the tangled branches and returned it to the safety of the ground. I made repeated attempts at a tip, but he wouldn’t take it, saying it was his pleasure to help.
Sean, thank you for your help in saving our runaway duck!
Patricia Throop and Angela Bennett
Be sure to get YOUR ducks in a row, to be ready for tomorrow, when the High Wind Watch will be in effect, with possible gusts to 65 mph.
Ready to roll! First-ever bout Saturday for new local roller-derby league Southside Revolution
(Photo courtesy Southside Revolution)
After months of recruiting and training – maybe you saw them at West Seattle Summer Fest! – the new co-ed junior roller-derby league Southside Revolution hosts its first bout this Saturday at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. From the announcement:
Since the league was initially created in August, 2014, Southside Revolution has been recruiting and training for the last 4 months. The league consists of 2 teams: The Cadets are a team of girls and boys ages 8-12, playing positional-only roller derby. The Rebels is a team of girls ages 11-17, playing full-contact roller derby. Southside Revolution is a member of the Northwest division of the JRDA Junior Roller Derby Association.
For the December 13th bout, Southside Revolution’s positional and full-contact teams will take on NWO Junior Roller Derby teams from Chilliwack, BC. Doors open at 5:15. Bout 1 starts at 5:45 with Southside Revolution Cadets vs. NWO TNT. Bout 2 starts at about 7:10 with Southside Revolution Rebels vs. NWO Honey Badgers. Tickets are available at the door the day of the bout.
The rink is at 9646 17th SW, less than a block south of Roxbury.
West Seattle Wednesday: Meet up; sing out; bingo; more!
(WSB photos: High tide this morning at Alki. No flooding, just high water)
Here are the highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
GET OUT OF THE (HOME) OFFICE! Go meet your fellow independent workers at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – noon-1 pm, it’s the weekly, free co-working/home-office meetup. (6040 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE SINGING GROUP: Just go sing! All are welcome at this monthly event at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 5 pm.
FREE COMMUNITY STAIR CLINIC: 6:30-8 pm at Alki X-Gym (WSB sponsor): “Join PJ Glassey as he gives his insider knowledge about the success he’s gained through stair climbing,” especially helpful if you’re training for the Big Climb Seattle or similar events. Check ASAP to see if there are any spots left – e-mail PJ at pjxgym@gmail.com. (3213 Harbor SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ HOLIDAY PARTY: In place of the regular monthly meeting, it’s a time to celebrate, for members and their families/guests. 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy; details on the group’s website. (9131 California SW)
BOOZE, JINGLE BALLS, AND BINGO – BENEFIT! Drag bingo for charity, 7 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (6451 California SW)
‘JUDY’S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS’: Holiday production continues tonight at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 7:30 pm. Buy tickets online here. (4711 California SW)
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday before the storm
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Relatively calm weather right now – which is expected to change later – and nothing out of the ordinary reported on the roads/paths in our area, so far.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: In the latest update on the Viaduct/tunnel project and concerns about “settling,” WSDOT reported that the tunnel contractor was expected to dig a few more feet – probably until sometime today – before stopping to evaluate and decide what to do next. … Lots of info at last night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting (as you know if you follow WSB on Twitter) – watch for full reports later today …
7:34 AM: The “low bridge” is closed, SDOT has tweeted (you can check the lower-right image above to see when it reopens). Progress toward earlier warning of impending closures is part of what emerged at last night’s WSTC meeting – right now, SDOT basically can only tweet when the opening (for marine traffic) is happening.
REMINDER – FINAL DAY OF BIG POUR: Watch out for big truck traffic again today headed to and from the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Project at Lowman Beach. We checked with King County Wastewater Treatment’s Doug Marsano late Tuesday and he confirmed the pour would wrap up today.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Why it’s a good idea to check your plates! And 2 other reader reports
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
Stephanie reports a stolen car:
Stolen 1998 Honda CRV. Stolen on Dec. 2nd from the 1100 block of SW Holden Ave. Stolen CRV has the following feature/options: Roof rack, tinted windows, 5 spd manual transmission, rear mounted spare tire. WA State Lic. Plate 370YKH
Amy reports an attempted burglary in Sunrise Heights/Gatewood:
Someone attempted to break into my apartment at 35th Ave SW and SW Webster St today. When I came home my apartment key wouldn’t work and I had to call a locksmith. The locksmith said that someone had attempted to jimmy the locks but couldn’t get past the deadbolt.
The type of theft you might not notice happened to Katie:
I live down on Beach Drive around Mee Kwa Mooks Park and I had my plates stolen and replaced last week. Through strange twists and turns, my plates were recovered by the Tukwila Police Department and the plates that were nicely put on my car were also stolen from a silver 2002 Honda from West Seattle. The really nice SPD officer who (responded) said they have seen more and more of these types of theft. He said when the thieves switch plates it buys them time since most people don’t check their plates very often (sometimes only once a year to change their tabs).
So just a heads up to your readers to check their plates! The Seattle PD has been investigating more and more of these and say if you discover your plates are incorrect to stop driving and immediately call the non-emergency line for help.
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