West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
Quick advance mention in case you haven’t seen this on the calendar: One last West Seattle stop on Seattle Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre‘s listening tour – which otherwise made the rounds in this area 2+ months ago – is happening tomorrow (Wednesday) @ High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 6:30 pm. Bring comments/questions about what’s working for you re: Parks, and what’s not. (Here’s our report on one of his local stops in August.)
For the first time in a few years, a new apartment building is proposed for the south/east side of the heart of SW Avalon Way: An early-stage application has just appeared in city files for 3039 SW Avalon Way (map), to replace the duplex in the photo above. The north/west side of the street has seen far more action in recent years, with three projects in various pre-construction stages (30, a fourth under construction, and a fifth complete, but on the south/east side, nothing’s been proposed since the completion of Vue at 3261.
The documents on file so far for the new proposal say “approximately 60” units are envisioned for 3039 Avalon, with 20 underground parking spaces. Prolific multifamily-specialist firm NK Architects is attached to the project, which will, according to notations, go through Design Review. The site is zoned MR (midrise) like most of this stretch of Avalon. Since this is in the early stages, no formal application is in yet, so there’s no official comment period, but if you have an early comment, you can e-mail PRC@seattle.gov and refer to project #3022717.
To see what other new projects and updates we’ve reported on lately, scroll through the WSB development-coverage archive here.
(At Hiawatha. Photo by Patrick O’Brien, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIMES: Two this morning – 10:30 am at Southwest Library (35th SW & SW Henderson) and West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW)
(IN THE) SKIES OVER WEST SEATTLE: Full moon tonight is the last “supermoon” of the year, rising at sunset, per Alice Enevoldsen‘s most-recent “Skies Over West Seattle” update.
DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION: Community conversation/panel discussion at 6 pm, Delridge Community Center, with students, educators, and community leaders. Details in our calendar listing. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: As detailed on the group’s website, WSBWCN will hear from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis during tonight’s meeting, with info about recent high-profile cases including the deadly shooting and local arsons. Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon also will be there, with seasonal advice. It starts in the precinct meeting room at 6:30 pm – all welcome. (2300 SW Webster)
FREE COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL CLINIC: Appointments start at 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – call ASAP to get one; the info’s here. (California SW & SW Oregon)
LOOKING AHEAD TO HALLOWEEN EVENTS … see what we’ve just added to the West Seattle Halloween 2015 Guide!
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:12 AM: Metro says delays related to a crash downtown, in which a bus hit a pedestrian – who was not seriously hurt – are subsiding. No other incidents affecting this area so far.
FERRY REMINDER: M/V Salish continues on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run in place of the twice-the-vehicle-capacity M/V Issaquah, so delays are continuing.
SHORT SCHOOL DAY TOMORROW: Seattle Public Schools students have an early-release day tomorrow (Wednesday), and will be out two hours earlier than usual.
WEEKEND REMINDERS: Next Saturday and Sunday, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed 6 am-6 pm each day for its twice-yearly inspection. And Saturday night is also when we’ll “fall back” an hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time.
8:10 AM: SDOT’s traffic center says an aid response on SW Morgan at Lanham might cause some delays. No word whether it’s eastbound or westbound.
8:54 AM: Some hope for the ferry run returning to normal soon:
Update: The Issaquah is out on sea trials in Elliott Bay. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a clean bill of health.
— WA State Ferries (@wsferries) October 27, 2015
11:32 PM: Thanks to the reader who just texted that photo and word of the rollover crash at Fauntleroy Way and SW Findlay, saying the driver hit the parked vehicle and flipped their own. The Seattle Fire response closed fairly quickly, so as far as we know, no serious injuries.
7:27 AM: The driver is under investigation for DUI.
10:08 PM: We’ve had a few questions about what appears to be a search off Alki Point. The US Coast Guard has tweeted that there’s a search for someone in the water in Rich Passage, off south Bainbridge. (added) According to a USCG news release (read it here in full), a 54-year-old Bainbridge Island man is missing after his 15-foot fishing boat turned up empty and adrift more than three hours ago. He apparently had launched from the Port Orchard Marina.
9:46 AM TUESDAY: The search was reported to still be under way as of early this morning.
10:16 PM TUESDAY: As noted in comments, the USCG says it searched far and wide but finally had to suspend the search at 1:43 pm today.
8:50 PM: In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN SUV: Have you seen Matt‘s stolen dark blue Chevy Tahoe? It was taken from his driveway in the 6000 block of California SW sometime midday last Friday (October 23rd). License plate 899-ZBW. If you see it – call 911.
9:51 PM UPDATE: See comments – SPD found Matt’s SUV and are reported to have made an arrest, too.
(back to original report) CRIME UPDATES AT BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: Want to hear firsthand updates about the recent arsons and Saturday’s shootings? And/or ask questions? The West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meets tomorrow (Tuesday, October 27th) for the last time this year, and has announced that Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis will be there with updates, as well as Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who, WSBWCN says, “will focus on prevention and things you can do to make your property less of a target for arson or property theft. Come learn about things you and your neighbors can do to be vigilant.” 6:30 pm, SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster), all welcome – you don’t have to be a BW captain or even a BW member.
(WSB photo from 2014 dinner)
One more look ahead to Veterans Day: Once again this year, West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 invite “all active duty, reserve, national guard, military veterans and their families” to the annual Veterans Day Italian Dinner at the Legion Hall in The Triangle, 3618 SW Alaska. Free, no RSVPs needed – just stop by between 5 and 7 pm on Sunday, November 8th.
That’s the plaque we first told you about back last month – a special project of the Chief Sealth Class of 1965 in their 50th-anniversary year, granite with brass nameplates honoring all the fallen service members from Chief Sealth. Ron Templin explains, “The left-hand row of brass name plates were for Vietnam, the center row is for Iraq, and the right-hand row is for Afghanistan.” He says the plaque will be presented during Chief Sealth International High School’s Veterans Day assembly at 10:15 am November 5th: “The family members of these brave soldiers are invited to attend.”:
VIETNAM
Sigrid Karlstrom ’61 family notified
Lewis Nelson ’62
Allan Potter ’64
Luigi Frank Albanese ’65
Thomas Foster ’65
Thomas Harding ’65
Richard Krogh ’65
Norman Chaney ’66
Dick DeGraaf ’66 family notified
David Lauritsen ’66
John Rauen ’66
Mark Knollmeyer ’67
Donald Douglas ’68
Clarence Risher ’68IRAQ
Tracy Melvin ’95 family notifiedAFGHANISTAN
Jarod Newlove ’03 family notifiedIf anyone knows family members of these service members, please let them know about this Memorial Plaque presentation.
Ron can be reached at: r_templin@yahoo.com
(WSB photos from Saturday morning)
3:15 PM: We’re just out of the jailhouse courtroom downtown, where the 25-year-old West Seattle man arrested hours after Saturday morning’s 23rd SW double shooting has just had a bail hearing. After multiple reports of gunfire, police say, they found two men in the street – a 24-year-old who was dead at the scene, and a 34-year-old man who survived, but with life-threatening injuries. After a short hearing, the judge set bail at $1 million; the defense argued for $100,000, noting that (as reported here Saturday) the suspect has no felony convictions; he is currently being prosecuted for a drunk-driving arrest. We don’t yet have the probable-cause documents, which are likely to have some information on what led police to arrest this man blocks away from the shooting scene; once we do, we’ll update this story.
3:29 PM: Moments after we published this, the probable-cause documents came in. They say the suspect and the victim who was killed were former friends who had been in a dispute for five years over a $200 debt. The victim, according to court documents, called his brother, who also is described as part of the debt dispute, to say the suspect “had, or was about to jump him” at the scene where the shooting later happened. The brother had been downtown but rushed to the scene, where he first saw the suspect’s car, a white Ford Crown Victoria (which was impounded at the arrest scene on Saturday morning):
The brother said it was thought that a fight was going to happen – instead, he told police, the suspect pulled out a gun and pointed it at him, so he ran, saying he then heard gunfire, and when he went back to the scene, officers were there, and the victim was lying in the street. The documents go on to say that police were familiar with the suspect and his car and knew that he lived in the 2600 block of SW Holden; they got a warrant to search the car and house. The car, found at the house, had gunshot damage. The court documents also say that while police were there, the suspect called, talked to his mother and to them, and said he would return to turn himself in, admitting he’d been involved in the shooting, and saying he had used a .40 caliber Glock handgun. Detectives say they found “several guns” in the house, including one of that type. Prosecutors have until Wednesday to file charges.
Another big part of Sunday’s West Seattle Harvest Festival success – the biggest Costume Parade yet! How do you get a parade through a crowded festival? Ken Iverson from the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club reveals a big part of the secret:
(Photos courtesy WSARC)
The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club was proud to have 9 of its members provide radio communication and coordination for the 2015 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival Parade. Members included Jon, KG7WSN, Brian, KG7WRK, Tom, N7OEP, Adeline, KG7EUL, Meredith, KG7EUM [youngest WSARC member but holding a full General Class license], Dave, AF7CW, Jim, WS7JIM, Ken, AB7X and all coordinated by Tammy, WA7TZ who was our ‘net control.’Members with hand-held radios positioned themselves at the beginning, middle and end of the parade, and reported the progress of the parade.
You can see our parade video in our as-it-happened Harvest Festival coverage.
P.S. If you’re a local amateur radio operator – you’re welcome to join WSARC’s weekly check-in, tonight and every Monday night at 6:30 pm.
(WSB photo from Sunday, with 4 of the chili contenders, L-R: Todd from Elliott Bay, Amber from Freshy’s, Dave from West 5, Matt from Easy Street)
First of two followups this afternoon on Sunday’s mega-successful West Seattle Harvest Festival in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB): Full results, including fundraising, from the festival’s chili competition. We reported the winner in our as-it-happened coverage – here are the full results, from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:
Thank you so much (to the participants) in our very successful 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off. The West Seattle Food Bank and the clients we serve are most appreciative. We raised an incredible $2,025 in tastings and single serving sales and $357 in straight donations, for a total of $2582! Now for all of the voting results! Congratulations to Jeremy at Shadowland for taking home the beautiful trophy and bragging rights for a year with 41 votes. Here’s how the rest of the votes came in:
Elliott Bay Brewery with 36
The Westy with 26
Easy Street Café with 20
Husky Deli and West Seattle Brewery with 17 each
Freshy’s with 13
West 5 with 6
Everybody who bought a flight for a $10 WSFB donation got a vote; the participants all donated a huge vat of custom-cooked chili plus somebody to serve it, so it was a big contribution, and everyone was a winner, really, with the competition’s popularity – “where’s the chili?” was the most frequently asked question in the info booth.
If you’re headed toward the Fauntleroy ferry dock (or beyond) from points north any time soon, take note that southbound Fauntleroy Way is blocked in the 7100 block, by The Kenney (WSB sponsor), after what looks like a two-car crash. No serious injuries and so Engine 37 is getting ready to leave, but we’re not sure how long it’ll take before the crashed vehicles are cleared.
We’ve already reported two of the many topics covered at the quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting this past week – but there was much more.
Those topics included the recent arsons – the most recent one had happened in Morgan Junction earlier that day, so everyone was on guard. Engine 37 firefighters came to share fire-deterring tips (as circulated here earlier in the week); Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis came with an update on the investigation (we recorded it on video and added it to the update we’d published a few hours earlier).
SPD was originally on the MoCA agenda to talk about the area’s “micropolicing plan” and the new citywide Public Safety Survey, both with Seattle University involved, so Seattle U research intern Jennifer Burbridge, who’s been working with the SW Precinct and neighborhood groups, joined the presentation.
Morgan’s key areas of concern:
(Male surf scoter, photographed last week in Fauntleroy by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for tonight:
BOOKTOBERFEST: 6-8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, meet and mingle with fellow book lovers in another Booktoberfest event presented by the Seattle Public Library. 21+. (6413 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC: Gary Benson with special guest Nelson Wright, live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA/QUIZ: Questions await you at 7:30 pm at The Skylark (free and all ages; 3803 Delridge Way SW), at 7:30 pm at Christo’s on Alki (2508 Alki SW), and at 8 pm at Shadowland (21+; California SW & SW Oregon).
WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW AND BEYOND? See our complete calendar here.
Just two weeks until school’s out for Veterans Day on November 11th, and we’ve heard of at least one special school-holiday event: Melinda Fredricks and the West Seattle High School Cheer Team invite kids K-5 to the annual Mini Cheer Camp, 10 am-1 pm that day in the WSHS Gym. If you’re interested, you’ll want to register your kid(s) TODAY – because it’s the deadline to guarantee a T-shirt.
Campers will enjoy a day of fun and excitement learning cheers, jumps, making crafts and spending time with the WSHS Cheer team! All campers will receive pom =-poms, a hair bow, T-shirt, pennant, and photo with the cheerleaders! All campers are also invited back to show off their new talents at the Girls Varsity Basketball game Friday, December 4th, at halftime!! We are looking forward to seeing many returning campers as well as many smiling new faces. Bring your friends!! The more the merrier!!
Here’s the official flyer. Contact Melinda ASAP for a registration form and/or if you have questions – melindafredricks@comcast.net
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and welcome to a brand-new week. No incidents in or from West Seattle, but after a stormy night, things are reported to be slow out there.
VIADUCT CLOSURE NEXT WEEKEND: We’ll be reminding you daily – the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s next twice-yearly inspection closure is next weekend, 6 am-6 pm each day, Saturday (October 31st) and Sunday (November 1st).
ADDED 7:40 AM – STATE FERRY ALERT: Also a reminder of what we reported last night – M/V Salish has replaced M/V Issaquah on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run because the latter vessel has mechanical trouble again, and that means reduced capacity, because the Salish holds about half the vehicles the Issaquah does.
While recent days have brought major cases to West Seattle Crime Watch, the bulk of crimes in our area remain property crimes, and we have three reader reports to share tonight.
CAR PROWL: Rachel reports, “We are in the 8100 block of 24th Ave SW and our truck was broken into in our driveway. Non-damage, but they stole some men’s Ray-Ban sunglasses and our brand=new baby bag that had some clothes and diapers from our newborn. I know it’s a total long shot, but here is a picture of the bag in case anyone finds it. It was a gift and the best bag.”
ANOTHER CAR PROWL: Dale says, “Early Sunday morning, someone broke the side window of our small SUV. The alarm may have scared them off as nothing was taken. This is near 36th and Juneau. We’ve filed a report with the police.”
BURGLARY: From Kayla:
While I live slightly outside of West Seattle limits, I have friends who have seen the suspect vehicle all over Alaska Junction and want to get the word out.
My home (in the 10200 block of) 24th Ave SW was burglarized at 3:30 PM on Wednesday the 21st. My neighbor witnessed a white male, medium build, about 5’11”, in a metallic gold Toyota 4Runner parked in front of my home, which is sheltered and down a long driveway. He smashed my back door window to get in. Stole a safe with Social Security cards, birth certificates, passports, checks, credit cards, and wills. There was also an extensive collection of foreign currency and a key to each of our cars. Outside the safe he stole my class ring- silver with a pink stone and a picture of crossed tennis rackets, and my school’s mascot, an Indian. It was from Sterling High School class of 2003. There was also a medium K-bar knife and a gold ring with purple stones. I would appreciate it being posted in case anyone finds my things.
NEXT CRIME-PREVENTION MEETING: Tuesday (October 27) is the last meeting of the year for the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network – you don’t have to be a BW captain (or in a BW at all) to attend; all are welcome. 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster.
Have you voted yet? If not – please don’t let it slide. You have more than a billion dollars in levies to decide, as well as three City Council positions, four School Board seats and Port Commission spots, and more.
*If you’re not registered – you can still do it by end of day tomorrow, but you have to do it in person, in Seattle or Renton – location details here.
*If you are registered and you have your ballot – you have to get it dropped off or in the mail by Tuesday night, November 3rd. Once again, King County Elections will have ballot-dropoff vans at West Seattle Stadium and outside Greenbridge Library in the final days – Saturday, Oct. 31, and Monday, Nov. 2, 10 am-5 pm, and Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 3 – 10 am-8 pm.
For those who wondered about the multiple-unit fire callout in the 4500 block of Beach Drive SW, just south of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park: We’re at the scene; small fire inside the house, out very quickly, and the units still here are wrapping up; the front of the house is being ventilated with a fan.
5:11 PM: Seattle Fire has just sent an “automobile rescue” callout to a crash in the 2700 block of 53rd SW, near Schmitz Park\.
5:13 PM: First units on scene say no one’s hurt and everyone’s out of the car, so the response is being scaled back.
5:42 PM: Just checked out the crash scene. As you can see in the photo we added, the car just missed hitting a utility pole – but did hit a car in a driveway on the downhill curve at 53rd SW and Admiral Way.
3:15 PM: More trouble today for M/V Issaquah, the largest of the ferries regularly assigned to the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. It’s out of the mix for repairs again, leaving the older, smaller, slower M/V Evergreen State and Tillikum, and canceling some runs. Watch the ferry bulletins page for updates.
3:39 PM: WSF just announced they’ll get back to three-boat service soon with M/V Salish replacing the Issaquah – its vehicle capacity is half the Issaquah’s, though.
10:16 AM: We’re in the heart of The Junction – middle of Walk All Ways at California/Alaska – and the West Seattle Harvest Festival is under way! From our spot, if you look north, it’s the Farmers Market (above), and if you look south, it’s harvest activities (cast a line at Emerald Water Anglers [WSB sponsor], below):
The activities continue all the way until 2 pm, as does the market; at 11 am, you can buy a flight of chili ($10, goes to the West Seattle Food Bank) and vote for your favorite; at 11:30 am, it’s the Costume Parade from Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska; at noon, you can trick-or-treat at Junction businesses! In the meantime, stop by our booth for our Halloween stickers, while they last:
In the costumes we’re seeing so far, “Star Wars“ wins the day. We’ve seen new costumes – Kylo Ren from Episode 7) mingled with the classics – Princess Leia in her Episode 4 gown:
And pint-size Wookiees like this one:
Queen Amidala (Episode 1) showed up too:
Finally, a Jedi!
Plus – space, not so long ago and not so far away:
11:02 AM: The chili competition is under way! Get to the KeyBank corner of California and Alaska, donate $10 (all goes to the WS Food Bank), and get samples of the contenders – here’s who made, donated, and is serving chili for the occasion:
Easy Street Café
Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
Freshy’s
Husky Deli
Shadowland
The Westy Sports and Spirits
West 5
West Seattle Brewing Company
Vote for your fave, and we’ll find out later who won! Activities are continuing, on Alaska and on California south of the Farmers’ Market … and the Harvest Festival Costume Parade is coming up at 11:30, starting from Junction Plaza Park, with the West Seattle High School Marching Band in the lead – it’ll wind through the market and festival. Lots of kids and grownups in costume here from the start:
Check out this ensemble costume:
And luchadores!
(Later – an entire luchador family:)
Business trick-or-treating starts at noon. More to come – we’re reporting live for the duration – but first, stay tuned for parade coverage.
11:39 AM: This is the biggest Harvest Festival Costume Parade we’ve ever seen – by far! – and it’s still winding its way through the market and festival, now heading southbound on the west side of the street. Video:
Longer version, iPhone video via YT:
11:50 AM: Now it’s almost time to trick or treat, as the parade turns the corner eastward onto Alaska and back to the park. Be sure to go see the businesses north of the closed-street zone, too! We still have stickers to give away, and on the other side of our booth is the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association team (don’t tell them we told you, but THEY have candy). Speaking of merchants – this is the first Harvest Festival since Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) moved to The Junction, and look who’s at their storefront on the east side of California between Alaska and Edmunds:
And just when we thought we’d seen it all today … we’ve just seen Santa Claus.
12:37 PM: We are in the heart of trick-or-treating.
The “harvest activities” continue too – art projects, like this one at the booth for Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
West Seattle Nursery had a DIY photo booth with harvest/autumn greenery:
“Plinko” was the game in the Westside School (WSB sponsor) booth:
And more costumes!
All around us, we’re seeing friends and neighbors greeting each other – same vibe as West Seattle Summer Fest here in The Junction – glad the weather has held, after an early morning shower.
1:00 PM: Last hour for the festival and the market – if you haven’t been here yet, hurry! We found some street art:
Also just announced: The chili competition winner – Shadowland got the most votes!
In 2nd and 3rd, Elliott Bay and The Westy. They’re still tallying how much money the chili raised for the WS Food Bank. We can verify it was a hit – not only did we get a steady stream of people asking us where to find it, we’re told they sold out of sample flights long before they ran out of would-be voters.
1:29 PM: Half an hour to go. Rabbit Stew is playing old-time Americana right here at California/Alaska, drawing some dancers and toe-tappers now and then:
Many of the market vendors got into the spirit too. Thanks to the folks who pointed out Whistling Train Farm’s themed signs:
2 PM: The festival flew by! Market’s wrapping up too. Thanks to everyone who came to The Junction, everyone who offered activities and treats, everyone in the parade … Adding more photos when we’re back at HQ.
4:32 PM: Just finished adding more photos, above. Here’s the last costumed child we photographed before the end of the festival, with her non-costumed dad:
Sabrina, daughter of County Executive and lifelong West Seattleite Dow Constantine and wife Shirley Carlson, is just two weeks shy of a year and a half old.
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