West Seattle, Washington
21 Friday
4:25 PM: The biggest sports event in West Seattle today has another hour-plus to go (until 5:30ish) at Alki Beach, this year’s “home” for the University of Washington Huskies. They’re hosting Oregon, on 2 courts. No admission charge; good crowd. More photos, and scores, later.
8:46 PM: The Huskies tweeted that they took the match, 3-2. As promised, more photos:
Here’s the roster. Checking the schedule, this appears to have been the one and only “home” match for the Huskies this year, the third one for the beach-volleyball program at UW, so they’re not expected back at Alki this year. We’ll check to see about next year.
The spring edition of Duwamish Alive! has just wrapped up. We stopped at two of the dozen-plus volunteer sites, and this was the first:
Dozens of volunteers gathered before the 10 am work-party start time at Greg Davis Park along Longfellow Creek in North Delridge. Supporting the Duwamish River means supporting its watershed and the waterways that feed into it, like Longfellow. A special 9:30 am kickoff event here included words from 34th District State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (below), who’s hailed as an environmental champion, as well as from Chauncey Foster (2nd below) and Sharon Leishman (3rd below), both from the Duwamish Alive! Coalition:
The main message is that supporting your local urban forest and waterway(s) matters all year long, not just on special days like this one and the fall Duwamish Alive! date – get involved. Every little bit helps – no matter how young (or not-as-young) you are:
You’ll also see “the next generation of stewards” in our second report, coming up in a few hours.
Next: ex-sbstation
Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo: That’s the USAV General Brehon B. Somervell, aka LSV-3, based in Tacoma, heading north past West Seattle’s western shores this morning. The ship is assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve‘s 805th Transportation Detachment. We don’t know where it’s headed, but as of right now, MarineTraffic.com shows it passing Whidbey Island.
(WSB video and photos)
Great day for a bike ride, and this is a big one – Cascade Bicycle Club‘s second annual Ride for Major Taylor. Our video shows the riders taking off from Chief Sealth International High School this morning – after, of course, photo ops!
(Above: Don Brubeck, president of West Seattle Bike Connections)
It’s a fundraiser for the Major Taylor Project, a youth-development program serving hundreds of middle- and high-school-age students at schools including Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School. The namesake and inspiration is Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, the first African American cyclist to become a world champion. They’re riding through South King County – not a race, but a 24-mile ride – and the official finish line is Big Al Brewing in White Center.
It’s been six years since we first reported on Lori and Tim McConnell‘s plan for a store to serve West Seattle’s running community – and as they celebrate another anniversary, West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is going strong. We stopped in to photograph them and new shop dog Myrtle as they greeted participants arriving for the weekly Saturday morning group run:
This is WSR’s second anniversary since the move to a larger storefront at 2743 California SW. As noted in this WSB West Seattle Event Calendar listing, their anniversary sale/celebration continues all weekend, with discounts, treats, and raffles. WS Runner is open today until 6 pm, 11 am-5 pm on Sunday.
P.S. WSR is again presenting the Float Dodger 5K before the West Seattle Grand Parade this year – Saturday, July 23rd – this year starting on the nearby Hiawatha track. Registration is already open, online or in person at WSR.
(West Seattle tulips: From the WSB Flickr group, by Flickr member Yel0Rose)
Spectacular Saturday ahead … weather-wise as well as in terms of your many, many options, including these:
RECORD STORE DAY @ EASY STREET: Biggest day of the year at Easy Street Records in The Junction, and it starts at 7 am. In the very-early-morning hours, the store posted this Instagram video showing prospective shoppers how things are laid out inside. See our preview for details, including events this afternoon and evening. (California SW/SW Alaska)
6TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION @ WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: The 8 am group run with Pearl Izumi starts the second day of the celebration at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), continuing during store hours 10 am-6 pm – details here. (2743 California SW)
BOY SCOUT TROOP 484’S MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE: 8 am-4 pm at Admiral Congregational Church:
Bake sale too! More info here. (California SW/SW Hill)
RIDE FOR MAJOR TAYLOR: It’s not a race, it’s a ride, so departures from the starting line at Chief Sealth International High School start at 9 am – that’s also when you can register to participate, if you haven’t already. See our preview for more info. (2600 SW Thistle)
SEASON STARTS FOR TAI CHI ON THE BEACH: 9 am, first 2016 session of Tai Chi on the Beach with Lao-Shi Caylen Storm, free. Details in our calendar listing. (Near the Bathhouse, 60th SW/Alki SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! KICKOFF & RESTORATION/CLEANUP EVENTS: The spring edition of Duwamish Alive! gets going with a 9:30 am kickoff event at Greg Davis Park in North Delridge (2600 SW Brandon), and continues with volunteer restoration/cleanup events 10 am-2 pm at multiple locations from West Seattle to Georgetown to South Park to Tukwila. Pigeon Point Park was said to be most in need of additional volunteers – so if you’re not signed up somewhere yet, just go there at 10! Full event details and addresses are on the official website.
KAREN KONZUK COLLECTION LAUNCH @ CLICK! 10 am-5 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, jewelry-maker Karen Konzuk‘s new Stellar collection launches. Find out more on the Click! website. (4540 California SW)
MIOPOSTO BRUNCH: Second weekend for brunch starting at 10 am at Mioposto in Admiral (WSB sponsor) – you might need fuel to keep going with this schedule of events. (2139 California SW)
CLOSING DAY FOR JF HENRY: 10 am-6 pm, it’s the last day of the retirement sale at JF Henry Cooking and Dining, whose owners say they’re closing after today. (4445 California SW)
PEONY AND BAMBOO FESTIVAL: 10 am-4 pm, the first of two days for this springtime celebration at the Seattle Chinese Garden just north of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus on Puget Ridge. See the schedule here, including 11:15 am lion dance, followed by Bubbleman. (6000 16th SW)
APRIL POOL’S DAY: 10:30 am-noon, free and fun chance to learn about water safety and go swimming at Southwest Pool. More info here. (2801 SW Thistle)
DELRIDGE STEWARDSHIP/WETLANDS GROUNDBREAKING: 11 am, with students and community leaders joining in the celebration, explained here. (23rd SW/SW Findlay)
WSHS BASEBALL @ THE SAFE: 12:30 pm, the West Seattle High School baseball team plays in the annual High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field, facing Olympic HS (from Bremerton). Admission is free; Safeco garage parking is only $5. Go cheer for the Wildcats. (1250 1st Ave. S.)
TEA PARTY @ THE LONGHOUSE: The annual Duwamish Princess Angeline Native Tea Party is hosted by Princess Angeline’s great-great-grand-niece, Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen. Native and English Teas and more, $10 suggested donation, 1-3 pm; details here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
NANCY PEARL @ FULL TILT: The Northwest’s legendary librarian, Nancy Pearl, is a guest scooper at Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center at 2 pm, celebrating the first in a series of new flavors honoring local icons. Part of the proceeds will go to the White Center Library Guild. (9629 16th SW)
HUSKIES VS. DUCKS AT ALKI: 2:30 pm-~5:45 pm on two courts at Alki Beach, the University of Washington beach-volleyball team plays its first-ever home game, hosting regional rivals, the University of Oregon. Admission free; more info in our preview. (57th SW/SW Alki)
ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: Relax with live music – a mix of covers and originals – at the end of a busy day. Roo Forrest and Friends are performing at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT … there’s even more for today/tonight on our calendar (and for tomorrow, next week, beyond!).
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, and a followup from a car theft reported this morning:
ALKI CAR PROWL: From Amy:
When I got into my car today at 2:00 PM, I noticed it had been broken into. I don’t know if it happened on Thursday night or this morning. The car was parked on the street on the 3100 block of Alki Ave. SW.
The door by the driver’s seat was unlocked, though I am always careful to lock it. No visible damage was done and nothing was taken (I don’t keep any valuables in the car), but it was clear the car had been searched (the trunk was popped open, the glove compartment and ashtray were open).
SUNRISE HEIGHTS CAR PROWL: From Morgan:
Unfortunately sometime last night/ this morning our neighbors’ SUV had its window smashed in. Nothing was in the car, so nothing was taken, but it was rifled through. This happened on 34th Ave SW between Webster and Holden. The police have been notified.
HIT-RUNS: A resident of SW Findlay between California and Fauntleroy says their car suffered hit-run damage around 5:30 am and while they don’t have enough evidence to put out a call for a certain type of car, theirs is “light gold/tan” and should have some front-passenger-side damage. They also wish the many drivers who use the street as a cut-through would please slow down.
FOLLOWUP – CAR FOUND: Shortly after we published a Crime Watch report this morning about two stolen cars, we heard from a neighbor who had spotted one of them. Rebecca‘s red Subaru wagon turned up just blocks away from where it had been stolen in Gatewood. She said it was “a mess inside,” but drivable, and shared these words of thanks:
Thank-you, neighbor Bonnie, for reading the blog and reporting back. I feel lucky to live in a community like West Seattle. Thanks to Officer Houston (sp), who came knocking around 3 hours of initial report (I did not even think they would send an officer out for a car theft). And a big shout out to the West Seattle Blog, which serves such a critical role as a conduit of information and a forum for the West Seattle Community. You are the best!
As far as we know, the gray Mercedes also reported stolen this morning hasn’t been found yet.
(WSB photo: WSHS pitcher Anthony Coats)
Go root for the West Seattle High School Wildcats at Safeco Field tomorrow! There, they will face Bremerton’s Olympic HS after a tough loss at home to Roosevelt HS this afternoon. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and the next three photos:
Friday afternoon was a little chilly, but another nice afternoon for baseball. This game would see 24 hits between the two teams and 16 runs scored. Junior Ryan Kimsey started on the mound for West Seattle against senior Tomiz Medina for Roosevelt. The Rough Riders would score in the first three innings to take an early 5-2 lead and then tacked on another two in the top of the 5th. West Seattle would come alive in the bottom of the 6th inning, with three hits, two walks and 4 runs scored. By the end of the inning it was all tied up. Unfortunately, the Wildcats would fall short and ended up losing 7-9.
Jamie Maples (photo above) and Anthony Coats had three hits each to produce 5 RBI’s between the two of them.
Defensively, Nathan Johnson (photo above) made two great catches in center field to keep the game close.
Remember to come out to cheer on West Seattle at Safeco Field, Saturday at 12:30 pm, as they play in the High School Baseball Classic. Gates open at 11:30 and parking in the Safeco parking lot is only $5; admission to the game is free. Hope to see you all there.
Now that we all know April 29th is the date the tunneling machine is set to start going under the Alaskan Way Viaduct – closing it precautionarily for “about two weeks” – that date will be top-of-mind for a while. Something else that’s big for the city also starts two weeks from today: This year’s cruise-ship season. The first ship on the schedule, Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam, will be here that day. But it’s docking at Magnolia’s Pier 91, not the Viaduct-side Pier 66. According to a Port of Seattle fact sheet, this year’s season will bring the most passengers ever – just under 960,000. The 203 ship dockings aren’t a record, though; that number peaked in 2010, with 223. Last ship on the Seattle schedule this year will be the Star Princess, on October 21st.
(See this map on the WSDOT site by going here)
JUST IN, 1:59 PM: WSDOT promised we’d get two weeks notice of the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s two-weeks-or-so tunneling shutdown, and that notice just arrived: The state says the closure will start before the morning commute on Friday, April 29th. Here’s the full announcement.
WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW: We’ll be adding to this over the next hour or so – backstory plus useful info links.
*How to lessen the pain (advice and links)
*As you’ve probably already read in previews here and elsewhere, specific plans include:
• WSDOT and SDOT will actively monitor highway and street traffic, adjusting signal timing, updating electronic message boards and
deploying additional incident response teams as needed.• King County Metro is rerouting 12 routes and deploying 22 buses to help maintain schedules.
[See page 2 of this PDF for West Seattle specifics including a larger version of the map above.]• Police officers will provide manual traffic control at key chokepoint intersections.
• King County Water Taxi will add five extra round trips to its Vashon route and will provide additional parking and connector shuttle capacity for West Seattle route passengers. [See this brochure for info on extra parking, etc.]
We also will beef up our regular traffic coverage for closer watch of West Seattle-tailored alternate routes and more during the closure. At least one alternate route is available for this, that wasn’t available for 2011’s “Viadoom” 8-day closure – the South Park Bridge.
BACKSTORY: It was almost exactly 3 years ago that we first reported a Viaduct closure was possible when the tunneling machine went beneath it, thanks to a tip from West Seattle Bike Connections president Don Brubeck.
REMINDER: As announced earlier today, that’s not the only closure West Seattleites will be dealing with – the Fauntleroy Expressway bearing-pad-re-replacement closures will start two days earlier.
(Alki Trail turns pink! Photo by Don Brubeck)
If you haven’t already checked our calendar – here are highlights of what’s yet to come this afternoon/evening in West Seattle:
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S ANNIVERSARY SALE: Today through Sunday, West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) celebrates its 6th anniversary, and you get the gifts, including sale prices and refreshments. Details here, including tomorrow morning’s group run. Open until 7 pm tonight. (2743 California SW)
BASEBALL: 3:30 pm, West Seattle High School hosts Roosevelt HS at Hiawatha. (2700 California SW)
WINE TASTING AT VISCON CELLARS: 5-9 pm, the tasting room for West Seattle winery Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) is open! (5910 California SW)
MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: With bees! Doors to the Highland Park Improvement Club open at 6 pm, special event at 6:15 pm, movie at 7 – full details here. (12th SW/SW Holden)
FAMILY BOOT CAMP AT THE Y: 6:30-8 pm – details here. Members free, community participants $5. Bouncing, jumping, lots more lively ways to have fun and be fit. (4515 36th SW)
4 STOPS FOR LIVE MUSIC: Dave Holo Trio at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 5-8 pm (1936 Harbor SW); C & P Coffee; the rhythm-section members of Polyrhythmics join Lucky Brown tonight at Parliament Tavern, 9:30 pm (4210 SW Admiral Way).
(2015 photo by Ron Creel – that long greenbelt in the middle of the photo, west of the river, is the West Duwamish Greenbelt)
Lots happening in West Seattle tomorrow, but nothing bigger than the spring edition of Duwamish Alive!, the twice-yearly mega-work party to help the Duwamish River and its watershed. As already previewed here, the multi-site restoration/cleanup party has a big 9:30 am kickoff at Greg Davis Park in North Delridge. From 10 am-2 pm, hundreds of volunteers will help out at sites from West Seattle to Tukwila. Not too late to sign up here. We’re told one of the West Seattle sites most in need of some more helping hands is Pigeon Point Park (next to Pathfinder K-8 School), where you can help the West Seattle-headquartered Nature Consortium continue restoring part of the West Duwamish Greenbelt. You can go directly here to let them know you’ll help there!
(2012 WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli, during original bearing-pad-replacement work)
Since January, we’ve been warning you that dozens of closures are ahead for the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, for the work to re-replace hundreds of earthquake-safety cushions, officially known as bearing pads. (Here’s the backstory.) SDOT announced earlier this month that the work would likely start in late April, and this morning the contractor has sent word of the specific dates and times, starting April 27th. Note that the announcement includes not only nighttime closures of the west end of the high bridge (formally called the Fauntleroy Expressway), but also lane closures on Spokane Street beneath it – daytime as well as nighttime. Here are full details:
C A Carey will be closing the Fauntleroy Expressway (West Seattle Bridge) from 9 pm to 5 am. The bridge will be closed westbound at Delridge Way and eastbound at 35th Ave SW.
In the evenings, under-bridge traffic (Spokane Street) will be reduced to one lane in both directions east- and westbound. C A Carey will be out flagging along with the closed lanes. Expect delays if traveling under the bridge. Carey will also be working during the day to reduce traffic under the bridge to one lane in both directions, and flagging as needed. Hours for the lanes are westbound Spokane St are 7 am to 6 pm and eastbound Spokane St are 9 am to 6 pm Monday thru Friday.
This work will start on April 27, 2016 and continue through July 15, 2016.
Daytime (Lane) Closures
Spokane St eastbound 9 am to 6 pm
Spokane St westbound 7 am to 6 pm
Mondays thru FridaysNighttime Closure
Spokane St (lane) eastbound 6 pm to 6 am
Spokane St (lane) westbound 6 pm to 6 am
Fauntleroy Expressway [bridge] 9 pm to 5 am
Sundays thru Fridays
Throughout the closures, we will include reminders (and any changes/updates) in our weekday morning traffic/transit watches and weekend previews, and will also add the overall information to the WSB Traffic page.
9:17 AM: The morning began with two stolen-car reader reports. First, from Rebecca in Gatewood:
I just wanted to alert the neighborhood that our car was stolen (parked on the street in front of our house) during the late night/early morning of April 14-15th, between 10 pm-6 am. It is a 1995 red Subaru wagon with a bumper sticker ‘Art Saves Lives’. Lots of nicer, newer vehicles parked on the street, but ours was most likely easy to break into. If you see it, please contact the police. Another reminder to be on alert. Report any suspicious activity.
And from Pamela:
Sometime early this morning, our 2015 dark gray Mercedes SUV was stolen from our driveway on Beach Drive. 2 bikes were left at the top of our driveway, I assume from the thieves.
We’re checking back with both to get the license-plate numbers – although, as with the vehicle in this case last week, thieves can and do swap plates. Please call 911 if you see either of these stolen cars or a vehicle you suspect was stolen and dumped – they are often just used as transportation between crime scenes rather than as something to strip or sell for monetary value.
9:46 AM: Two updates – first, we’ve been alerted that Rebecca’s car has been spotted, not far from where it was taken. The finder has called police, and we’ve e-mailed Rebecca. Second, we have the plate and a little more description for Pamela’s stolen vehicle: 2015 Mercedes ML350, license plate AZE7438.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
ROAD WORK: 30th and Yancy both are closed at Avalon now that the SDOT project at that intersection has moved from the west side to the east side.
Were you at Easy Street Records for that historic show on Record Store Day 2015 – The Sonics, with special superstar guests (including Eddie Vedder, 22:26 into the video) – benefiting KEXP? The station just released that video of the show – which figures into Record Store Day 2016 (this Saturday!) in a big way, as announced by ESR, with the vinyl release of “The Sonics Live at Easy Street.” From ESR’s Rod Moody:
This LP will be available at all stores participating in Record Store Day, but we are the only store in the world that will be selling the Easy Street Special Edition, a limited edition of 500, which will include the following:
* Custom-screened, hand-numbered outer sleeve
* Copy of signed set list
* Ticket for the event
* Download card good for two free bonus songs from the concert not included on the album
* Detailed liner notes by Easy Street president Matt VaughanThe Sonics’ Record Store Day in-store last year was one of the biggest and most awesome events we’ve ever put on, featuring guests such as Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready, Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden), the Screaming Trees’ Mark Pickerel and Van Conner, Emily Nokes (Tacocat), Chris Ballew (Presidents Of The United States Of America, Caspar Babypants), Matt Lukin (Mudhoney), and many others (including myself!). The album was mixed by legendary NW producer Jack Endino and it sounds fantastic.
Over the weekend, if you’re visiting KEXP’s new home @ Seattle Center, you’ll find an Easy Street pop-up store there, noon-9 pm Saturday and 10 am-6 pm Sunday.
At the Junction store on Saturday, Greg Vandy from KEXP’s “The Roadhouse“ and the online mag American Standard Time will have a book signing and Q&A 3 pm-6 pm. Then Acapulco Lips‘ record-release in-store performance is at 7 pm, “also the debut of their West Seattle-based label, Killroom Records.”
Record Store Day kicks off at ESR (California/Alaska if you somehow didn’t know that already) at 7 am with “hundreds of exclusive, limited titles in all shapes, colors & sizes,” most of which will only be available that day. (Good thing they sell coffee, too.)
We’re now exactly one month from the 12th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Saturday, May 14th, many sales of many sizes all over the peninsula, 9 am-3 pm. We at WSB have been coordinating it since the fourth year and are excited about another awesome day in which West Seattle becomes the epicenter of person-to-person recycling.
In Week 2 of registration, the list has grown to 110+ sales, north to south, east to west; at apartments, townhomes, houses, businesses, retirement centers, schools, and of course the multi-seller courtyard sales at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) /Ginomai Art Center and C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Some are selling to raise money for nonprofits, some are selling to de-clutter and make a few dollars, some are selling just for the fun of seeing who shows up. You’ll find almost everything for sale somewhere – clothes, shoes, furniture, baby gear, books, dishes, toys, art, plants – just spotted a listing for an outboard motor, and one for a car! We’ll highlight more items in the weeks ahead.
If this is your first year – we close registration relatively early (we’ll announce the end date before the end of next week) so we can make the map/listings available a week in advance, to help people figure out where they want to go – some garage-sale devotees come from as far as Eastern Washington! So if you’re going to sell, better to sign up sooner rather than later. Just be sure you have your listing info (up to 20 words this year) ready, and head to the registration form here. (If you have just a bit of stuff to sell, you can inquire directly with Hotwire or C & P about one of their spaces.)
If you think the West Seattle Art Walk is just a Junction event – not so!
NEW STOP IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Brand new on the Art Walk map/list tonight, Brace Point Pottery, at 42nd/100th in Arbor Heights. Three artists are featured tonight, including Warren Pope and his “Sea Creatures”:
Two potters are also featured – studio proprietor Loren Lukens and Konstantin Reutov (photo below):
As with most WSAW venues, Brace Point Pottery is open until 9 – plus you’re invited to visit during studio open-house hours 10 am-5 pm tomorrow and Saturday.
ADDED 7:24 PM – SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: The gallery at SSC is in the Brockey Center toward the south end of campus. This month’s exhibit is “Butterflies: A Fantastically Queer Journey,” including Bianca Wright‘s photographs of transgender women and graphic designer Allan C. Carandang, whose work on display includes bright and bold images of drag performers:
The artists weren’t there yet when we stopped by a little while ago, but we talked with gallery coordinator Akiko Masker. She talked with us about the gallery’s mission to encourage and support diversity, working with the Queer Straight Alliance not only in relation to this exhibit but also for an event coming up at SSC on April 30th, Queer Con. “Butterflies” (which includes nude images) will be on display in the gallery until then; admission is free, and gallery hours are usually Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-4 pm (tonight, until 9)
See the map/list of tonight’s Art Walk venues in our daily preview.
(WSB photo from Tuesday)
Back on Tuesday, we brought you first word of a Bellevue Police raid at a house in Highland Park. BPD didn’t have a lot to say that day, but now they do:
Bellevue police Tuesday arrested five people suspected of being part of a large identity theft ring that allegedly operated out of a residence in West Seattle. Investigators with the department’s Special Enforcement Team were conducting surveillance on a residence in the 9400 block of Ninth Avenue SW in West Seattle when they saw two people leave the residence and get into a stolen car.
After obtaining a search warrant for the residence and vehicle, they arrested five people in the residence, including the two who had gotten into the stolen car earlier. They arrested the suspects, two women and three men, on suspicion of crimes including possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and identity theft.
During the search of the residence, police found credit cards, Washington drivers licenses and personal and financial documents of dozens of people. They also found and seized equipment used to make fraudulent identifications and financial documents.
In the stolen vehicle they found multiple crowbars, suspected stolen credit cards, gloves, screwdrivers and a brass knuckle-shaped stun gun.
(Bellevue Police photo)
Multiple shaved keys and narcotics were recovered inside a small backpack that officers had observed one of the suspects place inside the vehicle. A stolen credit card was also recovered from the center console. Investigators were able to link the stolen vehicle and one of the suspects to an April 7 vehicle prowl in Bellevue.Investigators are contacting victims, including multiple Bellevue residents, and the investigation is being forwarded to the King County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of charges.
We’ll keep an eye on the case to see if any local crimes turn out to be part of it.
Washington Huskies alum/fan? Oregon Ducks alum/fan? Get your beach chair(s) ready, because the regional rivalry hits the sand this Saturday on Alki Beach. One of our routine Google Alerts delivered news of the Huskies-Ducks beach-volleyball match at 2:30 pm Saturday. It’s the first-ever “home” match for Washington, which will consider Alki its “home” this year. Admission is free; this story from gohuskies.com explains who plays who when on which court.
Two biznotes this afternoon:
LOCAL REP ON MAYOR’S COMMERCIAL-AFFORDABILITY COMMITTEE: A West Seattle entrepreneur is one of the members of a new committee just announced by Mayor Murray to tackle a topic that resonates here as well as in other neighborhoods: How to ensure that small independent local businesses can afford to keep operating in our city.
The local member is Frank Gross, proprietor of Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. He was there (city photo above, third from left) as the mayor announced the new Commercial Affordability Advisory Committee in the International District. The committee, says the city, “will consider a broad range of solutions to commercial affordability, including incentivizing the construction of smaller commercial spaces, further activation of public spaces to the benefit of food trucks and other small businesses, and inclusion of affordable commercial storefronts in more affordable housing projects.” Read the full announcement – and see the full list of committee members – here.
ADDED 7:47 PM: We stopped by Thunder Road this afternoon to ask Gross about the committee (and to take the photo we’ve added above). He says he participated in a discussion with the city and the West Seattle Junction Association and was contacted about the committee as a springboard from that. He says he hopes the committee’s work will make a difference; he knows the search for affordable space is tough, as you might recall, his shop was previously in a smaller space between Admiral and The Junction, and he feels lucky to have found its current spot toward the south end of the heart of The Junction. He says the committee will have its first meeting before the month is out.
NAME CHANGE FOR ADMIRAL SALON: A new sign atop what was Shanti Salon and Spa at 2138 California SW announces its new name: Ella & Oz Salon. Its staff tells us that Ella & Oz “remains an Aveda salon offering a full menu of hair services along with enhanced Aveda rituals. Additionally, their team is joined by an Aveda-trained, professional esthetician offering skin treatments including facials, body wraps, as well as full waxing services.”
12:13 PM: Demolition of the former Fire Station 32 is finally under way, six months after we reported that the project to rebuild FS32 is nine years behind the schedule in the original plan for the voter-approved 2003 Fire Levy. The new station, to be built at the same 38th SW/SW Alaska site, will look like this:
(From Fire Station 32 “schematic design” packet dated August 2013, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson)
Until the new station is ready, temporary Station 32 remains on the site of a future city park on 40th SW between Alaska and Edmunds. Among the equipment based there is Ladder 11, which we spotted driving by its former home while we stopped for our photos this morning:
The project is budgeted at $18.6 million. Construction is supposed to last about a year.
3:14 PM: We went back to check on the progress, and the crew was having a tough time knocking down the tower, even using a piece of debris as something of a battering ram.
As of 3 pm, it appeared they were stopping down for the day, but we’re going back to doublecheck.
12:35 PM FRIDAY: We went by the site three times this morning. No activity spotted during visits one and two – then, when we went back an hour after #2, the tower was down.
FRIDAY EVENING: Some of the building is still standing; the photo above this line was taken looking over the fence on SW Alaska, after the crew finished for the day.
Be on the lookout for Kit‘s van:
My 2003 white Ford E250 van was stolen between midnight Wednesday and 3pm Wednesday (the 13th) from the covered parking at 4540 45th Ave SW, The Westerly Apartments. The parking area actually faces Glenn Way. It has some body damage on the passenger side, and it has a bumper sticker on the back that says “Film is Truth.”
I have reported it to the police.
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