West Seattle, Washington
25 Tuesday
Those are the cheery carolers who showed up this afternoon outside a house near Madison Middle School, to make the season brighter for a seriously ill neighbor. We mentioned the call for carolers here late last night; Marcia wanted to surprise her friend Harold, a retired police officer who loves Christmas. We counted at least 25 people of all ages:
Marcia was going in and out of Harold’s house to be sure he was seeing the carolers – and thto show him some of the singing that she recorded on her tablet. She reports he was touched and called it the best Christmas gift he’d ever received.
5:20 PM: Just forwarded by multiple Chief Sealth International High School parents, this letter sent to families by principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:
I want to notify you of an incident which occurred today at our school. A few minutes before the start of school today, a teacher found a magazine from a .22 caliber gun in his classroom. There were 2 bullets in the magazine.
The teacher immediately brought the magazine to my office and we immediately began an investigation to determine how and when the magazine got there, to whom it belonged and the location of the gun that the magazine fit into. Naturally, our first concern was for the safety of all students and staff.
After a thorough investigation, we were able to quickly identify the location of the gun, the student who brought it to campus, and that the gun was not loaded. The student was arrested and charged with bringing a gun on campus and possession of a stolen gun. Please know that everything was handled in a safe and secure fashion without putting any of our students or staff in danger. The student was removed from campus without resistance. I want to applaud the security and the teacher for their prompt response to the situation.
This is the only notification/announcement we’re seeing – nothing from Seattle Police or Seattle Public Schools. So we have a variety of questions to follow up on, and will add anything more we subsequently find out.
5:40 PM: While the letter says the incident happened “before the start of school” – which suggests, in the 8 am hour – the e-mail is time-stamped 4:49 pm, and the only reference to the incident we’re finding on Tweets by Beat is this call, time-stamped 4:25 pm. (Added clarification at 6:21 pm: The automated tweet was at 4:25 pm; it says the incident was “reported” at 3:52 pm. That is likely the time the report was finalized in the system, as we subsequently got confirmation it happened and was called in in the morning.)
5:46 PM: We did just reach Det. Patrick Michaud at SPD media relations, to get some additional details: The student is 15 years old and was taken to juvenile detention. The gun was a .22-caliber handgun and it was indeed confirmed as stolen; the letter’s use of the word “charged,” however, is inaccurate, as it would be up to prosecutors to decide whether to file charges. The police report says the school called SPD about this at 11:25 am.
That photo courtesy of West Seattle Nursery is a view from their original building, looking at the crane that has arrived for their expansion project next door. Today’s milestone: The walls are starting to go up. (See more photos on the WSN website.) It’s been a little over two months since work started in earnest, with demolition of the small old house on the lot to the north of the current nursery (they offered to give it away to anyone who could move it, but nothing worked out). The expansion, designed by LD Arch Design and built by Ventana Construction (both West Seattle businesses and WSB sponsors), is expected to be done by spring; find more details here.
Thanks to Eddie for the tip: Cleanup work is under way at the overgrown, vandalized ex-church at 3025 SW Avalon Way. The site came up for discussion in WSB comments when we reported an early-stage 60-apartment proposal nearby. Still nothing on the books for this site, and we verified with the crew on site that they’re contractors hired for cleanup, no construction involved. (The city page for the site shows a history of complaints about its conditions in recent years.)
Six months ago, Mayor Murray announced he was breaking up the Department of Planning and Development. Now, the two-way split is about to become official. If you’re interested in land use/development/construction/related issues, here’s what the city says you need to know:
Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photo of the snowy Olympics emerging this morning! Now, looking ahead to the rest of the day – from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
FOOD TRUCK BACK AT C & P: 11 am-2 pm, you get another chance to try Napkin Friends, the “latke-sandwich food truck,” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), parked out back. (5612 California SW)
GRAB YOUR LUNCH AND TAKE IT TO … the free weekly networking meetup at our area’s only coworking center, West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), a few blocks south – details here. (6040 California SW)
HOLIDAY CRAFTS/WRAPPING FOR TEENS: Another drop-in session for teens to make gifts and wrap them at Hiawatha Community Center, 2:30-4 pm each day. Details in our listing. (2700 California SW)
COLLEGE PREP WORKSHOP: Trust us, if someone in your household is looking ahead to college, there’s no such thing as being TOO prepared. So check out this 4 pm workshop at High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)
DO A GOOD DEED – CAROL! As we noted late last night, a West Seattle woman is asking for volunteer carolers to join her for a few minutes to make a very ill neighbor (who is a retired police officer) happy – meet at 4:30 pm in the 3600 block of 48th SW.
‘CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!’ Community Christmas party tonight at Trinity West Seattle, 6:30 pm. “Everyone is welcome! There will be pictures with Santa, ‘Santa’s Workshop’ (crafts and activities for kids), live music by Lindstrom & Company, and a dessert bar.” (7551 35th SW)
HOLIDAY MUSIC: Sounds of Christmas concert at Hope Lutheran Church, 7 pm: “Join us for a fantastic evening of music performed by the Hope School Choir, Glee Club, Bell Choir, and the Seattle Lutheran High School band. All are welcome and encouraged to come join the festivities!” (42nd SW & SW Oregon)
34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: 7 pm at the American Legion Hall in The Triangle, it’s the group’s holiday party, with guest Sen. Mark Miloscia, who’s running for state auditor. (3618 SW Alaska)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: 7:30 pm home games for the girls-varsity teams at West Seattle HS (vs. Lakeside; 3000 California SW) and Chief Sealth IHS (vs. Rainier Beach; 2600 SW Thistle).
AND ONE MORE LOOK AT THE OLYMPICS … got this from John Bartell moments after we had published this, so, adding!
Thanks again to our photo contributors – editor@westseattleblog.com or if it’s breaking, you can also text 206-293-6302!
(SCROLL DOWN FOR W. MARGINAL WAY SW CLOSURE UPDATES)
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:09 AM: Though there’s been no alert from SDOT, we’re told West Marginal Way SW is still closed near the Duwamish Longhouse, following a crash last night that was reported to have taken out a utility pole.
7:38 AM: Our crew has just verified that it’s indeed closed both ways in the 4700 block while Seattle City Light crews work on repairs:
The pole is down by the Herrings House Park entrance on the river side of the road.
8:10 AM: Here’s a view showing the work right over the Duwamish Trail:
8:34 AM: Now there’s a crash at W. Marginal Way and Puget Way. Multiple sources say it involves a semi-truck.
9:09 AM: For now, we’ll continue updating the W. Marginal situation here. We’re also checking with City Light on why this has been an all-night-and-beyond repair job.
9:31 AM: City Light’s Scott Thomsen explains why this has been so complicated:
The crash involved a semi tractor-trailer. It obliterated the pole.
First, crews had to wait for the semi to be removed before they could start work.
They also have had to take extra safety precautions because the location is right next to a railroad line. That’s why the crews have been using the roadway as their work zone. Other safety considerations are in place because of an adjacent high-voltage transmission line.
Then there’s the complicated nature of the repair because of the equipment that particular pole was hosting.
That pole was carrying two feeder circuits and switching gear. It uses our heaviest, most robust wire, so replacing the lines requires more equipment and lineworkers.
Because of the location and the weight of all that gear, the pole was reinforced with a support pole and multiple guy wires on the opposite side of the road.
Crews continue to work on replacing all of that equipment and expect to finish about noon.
11:57 AM: Thanks to the commenter who reported that W. Marginal Way SW now has one lane open each way.
ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: We asked SDOT about the lack of signage and other alerts. Spokesperson Norm Mah replied: “While Seattle City Light had appropriate traffic control near their major electrical repair response, advance warning signage on the roadway likely would have been beneficial for providing earlier warning to the traveling public. We will work with SCL to ensure they incorporate that for future emergency repair responses that require temporary roadway closures.”
Can you spare some time – and your voice – for some special holiday cheer? At 4:30 pm Wednesday, carolers are gathering in the 3600 block of 48th Ave. SW – just west of Madison Middle School – to surprise a neighborhood resident who we are told is very ill and receiving home-based hospice care. We’re also told he’s a retired police officer who “loves Christmas.” His friend Marcia is organizing this and says, “It would just take a few minutes and would be a chance to give back to someone willing to give all.”
Updating the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide with more events from now through New Year’s, including …
(Photo courtesy Cocoa Cris Cringle)
Easy Street Records will again host Cocoa Cris Cringle, as a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank, and Cocoa Cris e-mailed us today to make sure we knew in time to share the news – it’s his 7th annual “Theatrical Holiday Photo Funomenon“! 4-9 pm this Saturday (December 19th), “shop for records, enjoy hot cocoa, and prepare to have a truly unique holiday photo experience … Cocoa welcomes families, individuals, groups, and most pets. … Suggested donation $15-$20, superflexible. Includes 3 poses with a variety of hats, props, and a fog machine. One printed photo to take with you, and shots with your smartphone or camera.” Easy Street is in the heart of The Junction on the NW corner of California/Alaska.
P.S. Other new additions to the guide include Santa at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) with multiple appearances during the last week before Christmas; details on Highland Park Improvement Club‘s not-to-be-missed New Year’s Eve celebration, including the legendary Not-So-Silent-Night Parade; and New Year’s yoga at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor). We’ve also just received more listings for Christmas Eve/Day church services, and we’re making our Christmas list of restaurants/coffee. Anything to contribute to the guide, happening between now and New Year’s Day? E-mail us the info ASAP so we can get it in – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
6:51 PM: Thanks for the tips that a crash response is blocking West Marginal Way SW near the Duwamish Longhouse (4700 block). We don’t have details of the crash but we’d suggest avoiding the area for now.
7:50 PM: SDOT update via Twitter:
Hearing that @SeattleSPU is replacing a broken power pole at W Marginal Way SW & S Alaska St. Lanes remain subject to closure.
— seattledot (@seattledot) December 16, 2015
7:14 AM: As you can see from the comments, the road apparently remains closed – we’re off to see if we can find out why.
7:37 AM: City Light is still working right at the Duwamish Longhouse (4700 block W. Marginal Way SW) and we’ve verified, the road is indeed still closed at that point, both directions.
8:01 AM: Please see our daily traffic watch for continuing coverage of the closure, as repair work continues.
Thanks to Jissy for the tip – the much-asked-about Westwood Village drive-up mailbox is back. Just last Friday, the USPS confirmed to WSB that it was done repairing the box that was damaged by fire in late August, and would bring it back “soon.” Its arrival is just one day after what was expected to be the busiest mailing day of the holiday season. The USPS had told us that the box couldn’t simply be replaced because it didn’t have a surplus mailbox of this type; this was the second time this year it needed repairs – first time was after a driver hit it in March.
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with a story that’s still developing:
GUNFIRE & SEARCH: For the second consecutive afternoon, police are investigating gunfire, with no injuries reported. This time it happened at or near the Seamart store at 16th and Holden. Police we talked to there say that one person was reported to have left on foot northbound afterward while a vehicle described as a green SUV – in which the shooter reportedly was riding – headed south.
What’s believed to be that vehicle has turned up in downtown White Center, on 16th south of Roxbury, but police are still looking for the person believed to have been driving. We’ll update with anything else we find out about this incident.
All that happened as we were putting together a roundup with other reports from the inbox, so on with those:
CAR PROWL ON VIDEO: Mike‘s surveillance camera caught what happened early Monday morning on the street outside his home in the 6300 block of 41st SW:
Mike is a firefighter and says the thief/thieves “got some of my Firefighting gear. Brand new boots (still in the box) and gloves worth about 500. Some DVDs.”
ANOTHER CAR PROWL: Bill says this happened last night near 41st and Barton in Upper Fauntleroy:
After removing Christmas tree from car at 8:30 pm 12/14, I forgot to lock the vehicle. Approximately at 1 am on 12/15, just before going to bed, I was in the kitchen getting a drink. I looked out to where my car was parked, I noticed a pick-up truck suspiciously parked in the middle of the street next to my vehicle. I went out to my car noticed that the driver side door was ajar, and the contents of my glove compartment and middle console compartment were dumped on the seats. Some personal items, a pair of Nike sunglasses ($75) and a tray of coins/change < $5.00. The prowler sped off when he saw me, but I got a pretty good look at the vehicle and have reported its description to the police.
CAR PROWL/HOUSE BREAK-IN CONCERN: Mia at 42nd and Findlay writes, “Over this past weekend, we experienced our 3rd car break-in (we’ve also had a couple home break-ins in the past 5 years). Fortunately, we didn’t have any valuables inside the car, but we’re very worried that we are being watched, or, rather, there is a very shady crew combing our streets on a regular basis.”
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Mioposto. Here’s what this new West Seattle restaurant would like you to know:
Mioposto – translated, “My Place” – is the new kid in the Admiral neighborhood. This wood-fired Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen on the corner of California & Walker offers up a warm, rustic, and inviting vibe with brick walls, massive wood beams, open kitchen, and eclectic Soho whimsy.
From its locally built wood-burning oven, Mio’s menu features soul-satisfying flavors from the Italian hearth. Handmade individual-size pizzas, Panini, and house-baked bread are born from their prized dough recipe created over two years. Seattle Times food critic Providence Cicero has awarded Mioposto three stars and describes their pizza as “These oven-blistered beauties have thin, foldable crusts, ballooning edges, and a bread-like chew.”
Mioposto is more than pizza, however. Their wood-burning oven is the heart of their open kitchen, which sports 14 comfortable ‘backed’ stools to watch the show.
From the fire come roasted Hood Canal Clams, Calamari Puttanesca, and roasted vegetables. A 12-ounce Rib Eye Steak with gorgonzola that is SO GOOD it should only be served on a Sunday (Mio offers it every day of the week). The Bresaola is sliced paper-thin and dressed with Corto extra-virgin olive oil, shaved Grana padano, and lemon. Their Melanzane is roasted and marinated eggplant, layered with fresh mozzarella, and drizzled with Mint Pesto.
Also, surprisingly from the Fire, Heat, and Smoke, comes their original Fire & Ice Cocktail with its smoked sweet vermouth ice and Woodinville Rye Whisky. And their house-made Limoncello (owner’s recipe) is the golden finish to your dining indulgence. Mioposto is family-friendly, drop-in-on-a-random-Tuesday dining. It’s a haven for those single diners who want to belly-up to the pizza bar, and for others wanting a “date night” dining experience, their lineup of handcrafted cocktails, wine, and beer assures it to be adult-friendly, too. Watch Seahawks, Mariners and Sounders while sipping on a Nitro Draft and enjoying their Ceci.
Owners Jeremy & Tiah Hardy state, “At Mio, we make food that’s meant to be shared. We envision a place where friends and family come together to indulge in great food & drink, rub elbows at the table, share stories and laugh loudly. If a wine glass gets knocked over, don’t worry about it!”
And about their new location, “We love West Seattle and have been waiting a long time to become part of this great neighborhood. We have great respect for the strong community culture here and are excited to contribute and make it our neighborhood.”
Mioposto ~ Wood Fired Pizzeria, Italian Kitchen & Bar – 2139 California Ave SW. Open 4 pm to 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday – open 4 pm to 11 pm Friday & Saturday – Happy Hours daily from 4 pm to 6 pm – miopostopizza.com.
We thank Mioposto 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.
Six development-related notes from around West Seattle:
NEXT DESIGN REVIEW MEETING SET: Aegis Living‘s proposed assisted-living center at 4700 SW Admiral Way goes back to the Southwest Design Review Board on February 4th (6:30 pm at the Sisson Building). It’s on the boards for 81 units, 36 parking spaces, and the proposal page now mentions “removal of an exceptional tree” (although a report just added to the project file today puts the tree in question just below the “exceptional” threshold). This will be the project’s second meeting before the Southwest Design Review Board; the last one was in July.
Meantime, the permit/application pace is picking up, perhaps the pre-holiday rush – a few of note:
5029 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Early-stage proposal to demolish a single-family house and garage and replace it with four single-family houses and a duplex.
7329 BAINBRIDGE PL. SW: Early-stage proposal for six rowhouse units – a fourplex and a duplex.
1706 ALKI SW: The application is officially in for this teardown-to-seven-townhouse proposal we mentioned in August, so watch for the official comment period to open.
7717 HIGHLAND PARK WAY SW: The application is also officially in – with comment period ahead – for this teardown-to-five-single-family-house proposal we first mentioned three months ago.
MORGAN JUNCTION LOT SPLIT: Lots of lot splits in the city files right now but 6504 44th SW is somewhat high-profile – it’s right behind the Morgan Junction building that’s home to five businesses on the southwest corner of California and Fauntleroy. It’s proposed for splitting into two parcels, 7,332 sq. ft. and 5,668 sq. ft., with “existing structures to be removed.” No official plan on the books yet for what will replace them; the location is zoned single-family. Comments are being taken through Sunday (December 20th); here’s how to comment.
The latest show of support for Muslims, amid a regional and national surge in Islamophobia, happened this morning at Chief Sealth International High School, right before classes started for the day.
The rally was organized by Sealth’s Black Student Union, as announced in the school’s Daily Bulletin. A crowd we counted at more than 70 students and teachers gathered on the steps along the east side of the school auditorium to display signs and chant.
Leading the chants was student Abshira Sala, who summarized the rally’s message afterward:
Part of the rallying cry was “Justice for Hamza” – referring to citywide concerns related to the recent death of 16-year-old Somali-American Hamza Warsame on Capitol Hill. Meantime, a hate-crime investigation is under way in the case of a ride-share driver who reported being harassed and assaulted by a passenger picked up last week in what was described as “southwest Seattle.”
In addition to today’s rally, recent shows of support for local Muslims included a resolution passed by the City Council yesterday, and a regional gathering of faith leaders at a north-end mosque last Friday, with West Seattle’s Rabbi Zari Weiss of Kol HaNeshamah among them.
(Photo by Flickr member SurferLucas, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
TEEN HOLIDAY CRAFTS/WRAPPING: 2:30-4 pm today and daily through Friday, teens are invited to this drop-in event at Hiawatha Community Center, to make gifts and/or wrap them. (2700 California SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. This month’s book is “Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by Kate Atkinson. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
MADISON CONCERT: 7 pm in the gym at Madison Middle School. From the PTA bulletin: “Madison’s music students have been working hard and are excited to entertain you! All are welcome!” (45th SW & SW Spokane)
‘BLUE HOLIDAYS’ SERVICE: From the seasonal-church-services section of the Holiday Guide – 7:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation – “Christmas and other seasonal holidays can be a painful time. The loss of loved ones, the anguish of a broken relationship, the insecurity of employment, the weariness of poor health, the pain of isolation, or the pressure of holiday preparations and activity – all these can make us feel alone in the midst of celebrations of the season. We will hear and share stories, prayers, readings, songs, and silence. The service will be followed by light refreshments and fellowship. Everyone is welcome.” (7141 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE: Karaoke, trivia, and live music at four venues in our listings – all on the complete year-round calendar.
And this note:
REMINDER FOR THE NORTH ADMIRAL AREA: Today is the day the city says Fire Station 29 will be moving from its temporary home of nine months (across SW Hill from Admiral UCC Church) back to its permanent HQ, after seismic and other upgrades. (2139 Ferry SW)
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: As you can see on the traffic cams, it’s foggy as we head into the heart of the commute. No incidents in the area so far.
7:17 AM: Crash at 35th and Willow, with one SFD engine responding.
7:21 AM: The “low bridge” has just closed to surface traffic, according to @SDOTbridges.
7:35 AM: And it’s open again.
7:40 AM: … and closed to surface traffic again.
8:03 AM: Just reopened.
P.S. In case you missed it on Monday, this is what’s happening at the Highway 99 tunnel “access pit” alongside the Viaduct now.
When King County went to all-mail voting seven years ago, it was hailed as a way to make voting easier, bound to increase participation. That hasn’t turned out to be the case, especially this year – countywide, 75 percent of registered voters sat out the August primary, 60 percent didn’t vote in November.
Is inconvenience the problem? West Seattle, for example, hasn’t had a permanent ballot dropbox – one where you could take your ballot any time, free – since this one:
That’s our photo of the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center ballot drop in 2009, months before it was removed. Now, either you drop your ballot in the postal mail, with a stamp, or you wait for the county’s dropoff van to come by for three of the last four days before the voting deadline.
That might change as soon as next year. Today, the County Council approved “a motion requesting the development of a plan that will expand access while ensuring geographic equity and convenience for voters,” according to a news release from County Councilmember Rob Dembowski, who made the motion. Also quoted is County Elections Director-elect Julie Wise, saying, “Additional ballot drop box locations are a priority for my office and will be a great start in expanding access for the voters of King County.” The announcement notes that 39 dropboxes were authorized around the county at the time by-mail voting began, but budget cuts led to far fewer boxes (though that wasn’t the reason cited when we inquired in 2010), so county councilmembers are seeking a plan for more, and they want it to include:
1. A proposed number of additional drop-off locations to ensure geographic equity;
2. Proposed sites for the drop-off locations;
3. Estimated costs; and
4. An implementation timeline.B. The plan should include an analysis of the feasibility and desirability of using all public library locations in King County, including Seattle Public Libraries and the King County Library System, as a means to ensure geographic equity and convenience for voters.
C. The plan should include an option for deployment of the expanded drop boxes for the November 2016 general election.
The plan is due to the council by next April. Documents from today’s council meeting note that the county provided 25 dropboxes this year, and only 13 were fixed; the other 12 were the temporary, just-before-election vans, including the ones deployed to West Seattle and White Center (which also used to have a fixed dropbox, at its main county library branch).
The week and a half before Christmas is prime time for light-lovers – and we are glad to have new views of the Davis family display at 46th SW & SW Genesee [map]. Duane Davis explains, “These were taken from the balconies of the new house across the street (approx. 15 ft – 40 ft above the sidewalk). There are over 6,000 LED and 4,000 incandescent light in my bushes, trees, and on the house. Our neighbors have joined in the festivities, making the drive between Genesee and Dakota very nice with lots of lights.” We’re adding this to the Christmas-lights section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, and would be happy to add more – do you have a dazzling display to share, whether it’s yours or somebody else’s? We’d love photos but will also welcome simple address/neighborhood info so we can go out and photograph it ourselves – editor@westseattleblog.com or text to 2062936302 – thanks!
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Julie Mierzwiak is thrilled to be at the helm of her own coffee shop, serving her own community, after almost a decade working as a barista for others. Six months after she announced plans for Realfine Coffee at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW, next to Rudy’s Barbershop, the shop is open (thanks to Dan for the tip!). Julie told us she’s been planning her own shop for years – she just didn’t know where it would be, until she found this space. The remodeled space, once home to Maestro Motors (now a short distance west on Fauntleroy), is full of West Seattle connections, Julie says – West Seattle workers did the remodeling and plumbing; even the espresso machine, by Synesso, was handmade by a West Seattleite (in Georgetown). Meantime, her coffee is Herkimer, from a small-batch roaster in North Seattle; her baked goods are from Standard Bakery; there’s a case for Molly’s sandwiches/wraps on the counter; and beer is available – local, of course (including Schooner Exact, which got its start in WS). There’s also seating – two large shareable booth-type spaces on the street side, and barstools at a counter on the other side. Realfine is open 6 am-7 pm weekdays, 7 am-6 pm weekends.
(WSB photo)
3:07 PM: On 18th SW in Puget Ridge, north of Myrtle, police are investigating gunfire that hit a car. No one in that car (or elsewhere) is hurt, but it clearly has a bullet hole; its driver veered off the road after the bullet hit. Police are still in the area looking for shell casings and suspect(s) and talking to witnesses. More as we get it.
3:11 PM: According to scanner traffic, at least two casings have been found in the 7000 block of 18th. (The car that was hit is the Volvo in our photo.)
3:41 PM: Following up on discussion in the comments, we confirmed that Sanislo Elementary, near the scene, sheltered in place briefly, but that’s been lifted, and they are dismissing “normally,” per principal Bruce Rhodes, with whom our photographer spoke at the school.
3:52 PM: We just checked with SPD and there’s no further information available yet about circumstances, suspect, etc.
3:55 PM: Update on that: it’s now described as believed to be related to a “domestic dispute.” No arrest so far.
Two quick West Seattle Junction biznotes:
SOUND CREDIT UNION OPENS: Six months after we reported that Sound Credit Union would open a branch at 4730 California, SCU says it’s now open, with “a 24-hour deposit-taking, walk-up ATM, (and) Saturday hours.” It’s the Tacoma-headquartered credit union’s third location in Seattle, 24th in all, and its membership is open “to anyone who lives or works in Washington State.”
DUMPLINGS OF FURY SIGNAGE: Thanks to Kathleen for the tip via Twitter that the sign on the upcoming eatery at 4302 SW Oregon was going up this morning. We went over at midday for a photograph:
When last we checked in with the proprietors, they were hoping to open around the first of the year.
This is one of the West Seattle Food Bank‘s most-heartwarming and belly-filling days of the year – the day they welcome a big gift from Nucor Steel and its employees.
This year, employees collected 5,200 pounds of food – more than 2 1/2 tons! We stopped by as they were unloading. They also donated cash and checks that with additional/matching donations from the company brought WSFB a check totaling $21,708.
Your help is appreciated too – for example, if you’d like to donate a turkey or two for Christmas, the food bank tells us next Monday is the optimal dropoff day. They’re on the southeast corner of 35th and Morgan, with donors welcome to use the garage entry off Morgan south of 35th. More info about donating can be found here.
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