West Seattle, Washington
17 Wednesday
One of many followups we’re working on today – a streetlight at 25th and Trenton on the north side of Westwood Village was hit by a car over the weekend, as pointed out by Paul (who shared the photo) and by Charlie, who also observed that the light is on the detour used around the clock for southbound traffic during the Delridge repaving project‘s first phase. Seattle City Light‘s Suzanne Hartman notes that crews went to the scene on Saturday afternoon just to secure everything for safety, adding, “We will put a rush on getting the streetlight repaired because it is essential lighting.”
(SPD deputy chief Nick Metz with the mayor; photo by Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times, republished with permission)
Just in – results announced from last Saturday’s first-in-20-years Seattle gun “buyback” event:
Saturday’s gun buyback event collected 716 guns in less than four hours, and handed out $68,000 in gift cards. Mayor Mike McGinn, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle-King County Public Health Director Dr. David Fleming, and Deputy Chief Nick Metz of the Seattle Police Department briefed members of the media this morning on the results of the gun buyback operation.
The news release continues after the jump, including the sponsor/partner shoutouts (West Seattle’s Nucor Steel and Skylark Café/Club owner Jessie SK among them), and what’s next:
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the Friday evening photo from Duwamish Head. Before we get into today’s preview – David sent it along with this question:
Maybe someone can tell me where all the gulls go at twilight? My wife & I frequently see dozens of them heading past Duwamish Head traveling west toward Bainbridge Island. Reminds us a little of the bat flights out of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
Got the answer? Please post it in the comment zone – thanks! (Or you can e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com and we’ll share it.) Now, what’s up for today, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MONTHLY LA LECHE LEAGUE MEETING: Support for breastfeeding moms, wherever they are on the journey from expectant to weaning, 10:30 am on fourth Mondays at the WSUU church, 7141 California SW.
WSHS BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School‘s teams host Seattle Prep tonight, and boys’ head coach Keffrey Fazio posted this on the WSB Facebook page:
The West Seattle HS Basketball program is doing a “BLACKOUT” the gym night (tonight) at 6 pm. The boys and girls varsity teams host Seattle Prep. There will be prizes and give-aways all night! Boys at 615 pm, and girls at 8 pm. Adults $6, kids $4. Wear your BLACK and come support your Wildcats!
HEALTHY GROCERIES FOR DELRIDGE: A co-op grocery store is getting closer to reality, but the Delridge Produce Cooperative (whose project is no longer just about “produce”) still needs time and talent from anyone interested in helping. The monthly meeting is at 6:30 pm tonight, Delridge Library – details here.
‘ON STAGE’ CONVERSATION AT ARTSWEST: The artistic process behind the new ArtsWest production “Shirley Valentine” is explored in this free conversation at the theater tonight, 7:30 pm – details here.
NIGHTLIFE – TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHT! Three West Seattle venues have trivia/quiz nights on the calendar – OutWest Bar at 7:30 pm, Christo’s on Alki also at 7:30 pm, and Shadowland has pub-quiz night at 8 pm.
INTERESTED IN BEING A SOFTBALL UMPIRE? One more mention of this story we published a few weeks back – because it’s training time. The West Seattleite who is now umpire-in-chief for the region put out the recruiting call, with softball season approaching.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
5:58 AM: As we start a new week, there’s just one traffic alert for scheduled work: One more week with southbound 99 closed from Battery St. Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, 10 pm-5 am tonight and each of the next three nights, for SODO overpass work.
7:25 AM: Multiple reports of a crash or stall on northbound 99 in the stadium zone – JayDee says it’s by Royal Brougham. Commenters say it’s a major backup – avoid 99.
7:43 AM: WSDOT just tweeted that the problem’s been cleared. Backup may take a while longer, though.
7:51 AM: Metro has just sent a text advisory:
Due to high volumes of traffic this morning, expect delays in transit service to downtown Seattle.
Two updates from West Seattle-based Seal Sitters this weekend – first:
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
That’s Ruby, a visitor who had already been through a lot before turning up here, as Robin Lindsey explains:
On Tuesday morning, Seal Sitters’ hotline received an anxious call about a seal pup at the little cove just north of Salty’s. The woman was afraid off-leash dogs would scare the pup back into the water. When we arrived minutes later and taped off a perimeter, we noticed a red tag partially obscured on the pup’s rear flipper. This type of tag indicates an animal that has gone through rehab. The pup, nicknamed Ruby, was a victim of human harassment on a beach in Steilacoom in July. Among other things, Ruby had been poked with sticks over the course of the few days she tried to rest on the beach. Other, more well-intentioned souls poured water over her. The week or so old pup was taken to PAWS for a long rehab and released on McNeil Island on October 2nd.
We are thrilled that Ruby is in our area under the protective watch of our volunteers and the West Seattle community. We feel confident that she will be infinitely safer on our turf. Ruby has been sighted the past three days fishing at Jack Block Park, her red tag visible as she swims in the shallows. We will be posting regular “pupdates” of Ruby sightings on blubberblog.
Should anyone see Ruby (or any other marine mammal onshore), please call our hotline immediately at 206-905-7325 (SEAL).
Robin has already posted about Ruby twice on Seal Sitters’ “Blubberblog” – see both updates here.
Second – you might have heard a regional-media report last night claiming a harbor seal found dead on the beach in Ballard had been “shot” and/or “decapitated.” SS checked it out and Robin says authorities found NO evidence of human involvement in the seal’s death – its state of decomposition was not unusual. She explains in detail, here.
(Click the picture for larger version)
That photo is by Nick Lucey, host and producer of upcoming seasons of “Into the Drink,” currently shown on National Geographic International. The image came our way via “Diver Laura” James, who explains:
The two huge balls of light are a couple of the videographers from the show; they are hoping to have a Northwest episode this season and some of the footage they shot will hopefully be in it… I was taking them on a tour of Seacrest Cove 2. We were visited repeatedly by a beautiful harbor seal and treated at the end of the dive by massive schools of fast moving herring. So if folks were walking along the shoreline last night, and saw the lights in the shallows, that is what was going on!
Heads up for whale fans: The Orca Network‘s Facebook page has various posts/comments today tracking a group of transient orcas last reported to be headed northbound through Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island. So, in case they pass Beach Drive/Alki Point, we’re mentioning it here. Let us know if you see them!
(Photo taken about a block from shooting scene while police searched)
2:26 PM: Big police response in the area of 32nd and Othello (map), where neighbors tell us a home was shot at this afternoon. No one is reported to have been hit or hurt.
2:31 PM: Police on the scene have confirmed that shots were fired into a house and say they have recovered some “evidence.” Again, no injuries. No motive reported at this point – police believe it was random.
5:36 PM: From the update published late today on SPD Blotter:
… At about 1:15 pm today a blue Chevy Blazer or similar type SUV drove by a residence at 32nd Avenue SW and SW Othello. The suspect(s) inside the SUV fired shots at the house, striking a fence post, a tree branch, the front door and living room window, before driving away southbound. The bullets that hit the door and window ended up inside the house. An adult man and woman were inside the house at the time, but there were no injuries.
Southwest Precinct officers responded quickly and conducted an area search, but the suspect vehicle was not located. Evidence was collected at the scene, and officers are continuing to investigate.
(WSB photo from Summer Streets on Alki, May 2012)
When West Seattle 5K organizers announced earlier this month that registration had opened for the fifth annual edition of the big benefit walk/run on Alki, we asked if WS5K would again segue into Seattle Summer Streets – the annual city-sponsored “car-free day.” This week, race director Jeff Mensing says, they received confirmation from the city that it is indeed planned that way this year – so you can mark your calendar for May 19th, to start off with the run/walk, continuing with activities in the heart of Alki. The West Seattle 5K is a benefit for the West Seattle High School PTSA; registration and sponsorship information (WSB is a sponsor again this year) is all online at WestSeattle5K.com.
They formed as the Delridge Produce Cooperative, but the co-op plan has moved beyond that, working toward taking the commercial space in the future DESC building to set up a neighborhood grocery store. The project needs lots of community help, so you’re invited to a meeting tomorrow, as announced:
The supermarkets may not want us but we can give our community something better that can be a benefit to all of West Seattle and its surrounding communities! Keep the money and the jobs where it belongs – local cooperative ownership can be good for all, especially in these economically difficult times.
Please join us and share your talents and ideas regarding a grocery store on the Delridge corridor! Our next meeting is Monday, January 28th at the Delridge Public Library from 6:30 to 7:30. We have come a long way but have much to do!
The library is on Delridge just south of Brandon (map).
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
At South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) on Saturday night, the sold-out Gifts From The Earth gala made history – raising a record $185,000, reports communications director Kevin Maloney, thanks to everything from the beautifully set tables, to impeccably prepared/presented feasts …
… to generous partygoers/donors/auction bidders and sponsors …
No wonder SSCC president Gary Oertli was beaming:
In addition to showcasing the skills of the students in SSCC’s renowned Culinary Arts, Wine Studies, and Hospitality programs, the gala also included celebrity chefs, more than two dozen Northwest wineries, and emcee Margaret Larson, as detailed here.
(Photo by Ilona Berzups, titled “Seagull, exit stage right,” shared via WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – highlights for today/tonight:
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 9 am-1 pm, tour OLG‘s preschool-8th grade school at 34th/Myrtle, details here.
AUTHOR SPEAKS AT TU B’SHVAT BRUNCH: West Seattle Torah Learning Center hosts Israeli author Doron Kornbluth at 10 am brunch marking the nature-oriented holiday; details and RSVP info in the calendar listing.
HOME DESIGN AND REMODEL FAIR: Not in West Seattle, but lots of West Seattle participation at the Phinney Neighborhood Association‘s famous Home Design and Remodel Fair, 10 am-4 pm, including WSB sponsors Ventana Construction, Ncompass, and WEdesign – 6532 Phinney Avenue N.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Go see what’s fresh this week, 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm.
HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10:15 am to 2 pm, tour HRS, with 8th graders as your guides. 42nd/Oregon.
MENCHIE’S FROZEN YOGURT CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN ADMIRAL: 11 am-10 pm, the party’s at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt (WSB sponsor; 2620 California SW), including free yogurt 11 am-1 pm, free birthday cake at 7 pm, and a full schedule of fun inbetween/during/after – it’s all listed here.
A CHILD BECOMES PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: The preschool located at Admiral Congregational Church (4320 SW Hill) welcomes visitors 2 pm-4 pm today.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: A rare Sunday meeting for the club – and it’s freestyle; the recipe theme for you to make and bring something is “Anything Goes.” 3 pm, Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).
‘SHIRLEY VALENTINE’ MATINEE: First weekend for the newest production at ArtsWest in The Junction, and first matinee today – 3 pm. You can get your ticket/s online.
JAZZ TRIO AT LOCOL: 7:30 pm, Chad McCullough on trumpet, Matt Weiner on bass, Eric Eagle on drums. Never been to Löcol? Map and details here.
Even more for today/tonight, on the calendar!
The weekend after this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service – one service project continued today at Denny International Middle School: A three-level stairwell mural celebrating where the students have come from, and where they’re going. On the first level – the 6th graders’ floor – a reminder to never forget your roots:
On the second level, the 7th graders’ floor, a work in progress honoring the scholars as they take shape and grow up:
And on the third level, the 8th graders’ floor, the art parallels their growth as they get ready to take flight (to the left of the totem pole, we’re told, the Space Needle will be depicted):
According to Seattle Public Schools, MLK Day of Service work at Denny, with other beautification projects as well as the mural, included district/school personnel and CityYear team members, as well as volunteers from Starbucks.
Police say they started trying to pull over that car in West Seattle after discovering it was stolen – but it didn’t stop until it crashed into a pole outside the White Center Taco Time at 16th and 102nd. That’s all we know so far – we saw one person being arrested at the scene; scanner traffic suggested at least one other person had fled and was being sought. More info as we get it.
Thanks to Toni T. for sharing the gleaming downtown view from tonight’s sunset. That gives us the opportunity to add three photos received Friday night but put on hold because of semi-breaking news:
That photo and the next one are by Annika Bowden.
And here’s one by John Hinkey (who also contributed the swimmer/boarder view in today’s calendar preview), with a Bremerton ferry rounding southeast Bainbridge Island:
Rain’s on the way back, per the newest forecast.
If you weren’t part of the standing-room-only crowd at The Whale Trail‘s speaker-series launch two nights ago at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – good news – “Diver Laura” James, who also participated on behalf of toxic-runoff-fighting Tox-Ick.org, recorded video of the orca presentation by Mark Sears! (Next Whale Trail guest speaker: Lynne Barre from NOAA Fisheries on February 21st, 6:30-9 pm, again at C & P.)
(Photo by Cathy Jaramillo)
If you haven’t already spotted this event in the WSB calendar – it’s time to step up and sign up to be part of Stairway Walks Day on February 9th, with volunteer Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassadors leading walks on routes from West Seattle-residing Cathy and Jake Jaramillo‘s new book “Seattle Stairway Walks.” Three of the routes are in West Seattle, and while the guided walks are free, you have to sign up because there’s a cap on participants – same goes for the routes in other neighborhoods, in case you want to take the opportunity to celebrate public stairways off the peninsula. Just go to this page on the Brown Paper Tickets website and sign up for free “tickets” for whichever walk interests you (preview the routes here) – they all run 10 am-noon on Saturday 2/9, two weeks from today.
That’s the “instrument petting zoo” from the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra‘s “Southwest Seattle Super String Saturday” event today at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), a celebration of symphonic music for and by students – including the SYSO’s free mini-concert:
Afterward, SYSO musicians coached students from the eight participating Southwest-region schools – we peeked in on one session in Sealth’s Little Theater, where Alex and Jack from SYSO were working with viola players:
(WSB was a media sponsor for today’s event.) Find out more about SYSO and its programs at syso.org!
Seattle Lutheran High School‘s basketball teams play at Crosspoint Academy in Kitsap County this afternoon – after facing the 2B division leaders from Bear Creek School at home last night. BC won both games – 34-13 over the girls (stats here), 54-41 over the boys (stats here).
The week ahead is busy, too – the Saints are on the road against Chief Leschi on Tuesday, then back home Thursday to play Auburn Adventist Academy (SLHS alumni get free admission that night).
(Spotted off Alki on Friday by John Hinkey)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE SUPER STRING SATURDAY: Today’s the day, 10 am-1 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), including a free 10:30 am mini-concert – everyone’s invited! – by musicians of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, which is presenting this event, and coaching for young musicians who are part of SYSO’s local school programs. (WSB is a media sponsor of this event.)
STORYTIMES: At 11 am, Barnes and Noble at Westwood Village, Melissa says, “Skippyjon Jones will be hanging out with us! Everyone’s favorite chihuahua wannabe will be there to shake paws and make friends while we read his stories!” … And at 11:30 am, it’s Vietnamese storytime at Delridge Library (Delridge south of Brandon) – details here.
OVERWHELMED BY DEBT? Come talk about it in a conversation sponsored by Occupy West Seattle, noon at Dubsea Coffee (8th SW in Greenbridge, just south of Roxbury), details here.
OPEN HOUSE: Bright Beginnings preschool at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW) welcomes interested families today, 1-3 pm.
JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY: 5 pm tonight, the West Seattle-founded Derby Brats’ Galaxy Girls – one of the top junior derby teams in the world – host another top team, the Portland Rosebuds, at Southgate Roller Rink; details here.
DAUGHTERS OF THE DEAD SEA AT SKYLARK: The West Seattle band headlines tonight’s slate at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm.
Much more for today/tonight on the calendar!
8:59 AM: Today’s the day for the city’s first gun “buyback” – an invitation to citizens to turn over unwanted/unneeded firearms in exchange for compensation – in 20-plus years. It’s happening 9 am to 3 pm in a parking lot at 600 7th Avenue downtown [map], but could end earlier if they run out of the gift cards that are being offered. They’re also offering gift cards for “high-capacity magazines,” but only if turned in along with the weapon for which they were procured. The full FAQ about today’s event is here on the website of the Seattle Police Foundation. Among the sponsors/donors enabling today’s event is West Seattle’s Nucor, where the city says the guns will be melted down, to be turned into rebar.
3:27 PM: Big turnout, says SPD, though no total will be made public till a mayoral news briefing Monday.
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Police now say the Roxhill Park incident reported here earlier involved the arrests of eight teenagers, and they’re investigating whether any are linked to the holdups earlier this week. From Jonah Spangenthal-Lee‘s update tonight on SPD Blotter:
Southwest Precinct officers seized a gun, impounded two cars, and arrested eight teenagers in Roxhill Park Friday evening, and are now investigating possible connections between the teens and several burglaries and robberies, including two recent armed muggings in Roxhill Park.
Following the muggings earlier this week, Southwest Precinct officers stepped up patrols around the park.
Today, around 4 pm, patrol officers noticed a dozen teens milling around the area of the park where gunmen had robbed two groups of middle schoolers.
When police tried to contact the group of a dozen teens Friday evening, several of them took off running. Officer were able to catch up to eight of the teens, who are all between 14 and 18 years old.
Officers arrested and booked an 18-year-old man into the King County Jail on a weapons charge after police found a handgun and a box of ammo in the car he’d been driving. Officers released the seven other teens at the scene, but police are now examining links between several of the teens and several robberies and burglaries in the West Precinct.
Police also seized two cars from the park and are obtaining warrants to search the vehicles. At least one of the cars may be associated with a recent robbery case.
This all actually started unfolding before 4 pm; the release of seven suspects corresponds to what Det. Jeff Kappel told us this afternoon. Our first report on Wednesday afternoon focused on the Tuesday robbery of middle-schoolers in the park; later on Wednesday, police revealed a similar holdup had happened Sunday. The victims included students of Denny International Middle School, whose principal Jeff Clark sent a letter to school families later Wednesday; a more widely distributed letter came yesterday from regional Executive Director of Schools Carmela Dellino, including safety tips.
ADDED 11:16 PM: The 18-year-old suspect is facing charges of carrying a concealed pistol without a license and being a minor in possession of a pistol, both misdemeanors, with bail set at $1,000 for each charge, $2,000 total. His prior Seattle appears to include mostly driving violations, but a Pierce County record accessed online says he was arrested a week ago in Pierce County on suspicion of burglary and possession of a stolen gun.
ADDED 4:31 PM SATURDAY: According to the King County Jail Register, the suspect is out of jail as of about three hours ago.
Nothing new yet on the Roxhill Park investigation from this afternoon – but here’s what else came in today:
ADMIRAL ASSAULT: The victim does not want to be named, but wonders if anybody knows the suspect (do NOT post the info in comments if you do – contact the police, with the number you’ll see in a few paragraphs):
Last night at the Yen Wor, right after last call, I was assaulted by a man outside of the bar. He followed me across the street where my car was parked and basically beat me at a boxing match (I stink at boxing). The punches were well-targeted and strong, and I have several stitches under my left eye where my glasses broke and cut into my skin and both eyes are black and blue.
The assailant is a white military-looking guy in his mid to late 20’s, in muscular shape and standing about 5′ 7″. He was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt with red “NRA” lettering on the front and some kind of patriotic/flag/eagle on the back and a black Marine-style stove pipe hat with a pin on the front. He has close cropped hair, again very much looking like he’s fresh out of, or wishing he still was in, the military. There’s really no better way to describe him, he looks like he’s on leave from the Marines.
Again, the assault happened on the north side of College, in the parking lot behind the Blockbuster. … I gave chase north on Admiral and called 911, but he’s way faster than me and he had something to run from. If you know who this is, please share his name/location with Southwest Precinct. The police report is 2013-027975.
STOLEN CARS: Two to report:
*For the second time in six months, Cari‘s been hit by car theft near 40th and Edmunds on the east side of The Junction. This time, green ’96 Subaru Legacy wagon, WA plate AIU7166. Another Subaru was stolen from her there last year and found on Capitol Hill three days later. The car stolen overnight has gray bumpers/fenders, a Luna Park sticker on the right sun visor, and “lots of old 80s/90s rock cassettes inside.” Any sightings, call 911.
*From Gloria – a car stolen AND a car found. First, this 1996 Honda was stolen from the 8100 block of 13th SW on Wednesday:
Then, she says, it was found Thursday in the 4100 block of 20th SW on Pigeon Point, “stripped of front-rear bumpers, front fenders, hood, middle console. Obviously it was stripped very quickly, recovered less than 24 hours after having been stolen. And somewhere nearby. There has to be a neighbor that is noticing suspicious behavior in a garage in their area.”
Minutes after Gloria sent us that report, she found out that a family friend was hit by auto theft last night in the 9000 block of 5th SW – the missing vehicle is a green ’98 Honda Civic, license plate 767 JEN.
Finally, two reports of prowling and other suspicious activity, plus car prowlers – after the jump:Read More
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