West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
Salmon sightings to report:
FAUNTLEROY CREEK: One day after the annual gathering to call the coho home, the first one has made it to the creek’s spawning reach, reports Judy Pickens on behalf of the volunteers watching the creek. It did not want to pose for a clear photo, so the one above is the best available for now. Three others have turned up – one dead, two alive – by the creek’s mouth. Now that the salmon have shown up, watch for word of “open creek” time this Saturday when you can go try your luck at spotting one!
LONGFELLOW CREEK: Jacquelyn sent this sighting from Longfellow Creek by Dragonfly Park:
Here’s info on Longfellow salmon-seeking.
48-year-old Michael J. Mullen is back in jail. Last June, he was arrested and charged with unlawfully possessing a “heavily altered” shotgun (photo in our coverage) that he was brandishing at people in the alley behind businesses on the west side of the 4700 block of California SW. He was released from jail two days after that arrest, and the case has continued slowly proceeding through the court system. Last Thursday morning, he was arrested for allegedly threatening his roommate at their house west of The Junction. Court documents say the roommate called police after Mullen had threatened to go get his gun, after hours of ranting about people allegedly refusing to provide him with information about a woman he was obsessed with. He’s been in jail since Thursday, charged with misdemeanor domestic-violence harassment, bail set at $50,000. He is scheduled for a mental-health evaluation and competency hearing next week, at his lawyer’s request.
(Photos by Jason Grotelueschen for WSB)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One more time, the two candidates for Seattle City Council District 1 are side by side tonight answering questions, with two more weeks of voting ahead.
This district has the highest number of ballots received so far – more than a thousand – according to brand-new numbers from King County Elections.
But 67,000+ ballots are still out there. So right now, Phil Tavel and Lisa Herbold are at Arrowhead Gardens, the fourth forum/debate event in West Seattle in eight days.
We’re there, for coverage we’ll bring you tomorrow. First – this story is about the third event, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association on Saturday morning, moderated by your WSB co-publishers. Here’s the video:
Ahead – quick summaries of the hour-long Q&A:
(Photo courtesy Debora)
Puget Sound Energy confirms that they’re repairing a gas-line leak on Genesee west of Avalon. Nearby residents says the leak was first noticed over the weekend. But it didn’t rise to a level requiring an emergency response, and PSE didn’t send a repair crew until today. The utility told us that no customers are affected; they’re still investigating the cause.
We reported briefly Saturday night on a police search following a business robbery at 35th/Roxbury. Today we’ve obtained the report; here’s what police say happened at the Cheap Smokes and Beer store (9450 35th SW):
Around 9:15 pm, three people entered the store – described as males, all wearing masks and gloves. One, wearing a black jacket, black pants, and red mask, jumped over the counter and started hitting the clerk, at least eight times. The second robber, wearing a gray jacket, black pants, and white mask, also jumped over the counter and began stuffing cigarettes into a purple bag. He then took the register off the counter and gave it to the third robber. All three took off with the register, cigarettes, and the victim’s Galaxy S4 phone, in a case that also had his ID and other cards. They were last seen headed northbound; a subsequent K9 search suggested they had then gone into the alley east of the building, but the trail ended there, so it’s possible they got into a vehicle. The clerk had a “small lump on the right side of his forehead” but told officers he didn’t need medical attention
(WSB photo, November 2018)
ORIGINAL REPORT: In our coverage of Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s South Park walking tour last Tuesday, we mentioned she was expected to be in West Seattle for one this week. That’s now been confirmed; the West Seattle Junction Association says the mayoral visit on Friday afternoon will include a public meeting/conversation at Cupcake Royale (California/Alaska) at 4:30 pm. Durkan has been touring with Police Chief Carmen Best and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins to underscore the importance of public-safety spending while her budget plan is under City Council review; as noted in our daily highlights, councilmembers are looking at the Seattle Police budget this afternoon. Last fall, you’ll recall, the mayor and Chief Best held a community Q&A at Cupcake Royale (WSB coverage here).
TUESDAY: The community conversation is now expected to start at 5 pm.
1:50 PM: Thanks to Karen for sending the photo! That’s the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), headed northbound in Puget Sound again, just two and a half weeks after its latest return.
1:57 PM: A closer look just came in from Gary Jones (thank you!) at Alki Point:
The Nimitz’s recent voyages have all been training for its next deployment.
(WSB photo from past West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival)
We know, the weekend’s just ended, but so much is happening next weekend, we’re going to spend the whole week looking ahead to it. Today we’re continuing previews with another one focused on the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. It runs concurrent with the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm Sunday (October 27th), and while the market remains on its usual block of California SW, the street closure will extend south to SW Edmunds, with the extra block full of activities provided by local businesses, schools, and organizations, who provided these descriptions:
*Create King and Queen crowns
*Decorate tea-light lanterns with leaves, glitter, etc. and put the handles on. Made out of school milk cartons!
*Bean Bag into Pumpkins Toss
*Jack o’ Lantern Face basketball hoop shoot.
*Tea light crafts
*Turkey hands: kids will draw their hands and paint them to look like turkeys
*Pumpkin faces: kids with paint a paper plate with two holes for eyes and they can paint
*Photo booth with Halloween props
*Hula hoops for contests to see who can last the longest and just general fun with a large photo backdrop so parents can take pictures
*Kids coloring placemats.
*Spin a wheel or pick up a pumpkin (and look underneath) to see if they win a prize or a 4oz Pumpkin yogurt cup
*Fly casting for kids!
*”Mock” election for kids to try out ranked-choice voting.
*Spin wheel for small prizes!
*Cookie Decorating
*Coloring pages
*Marshmallow/toothpick building, hand turkeys, and large Pinko
*”Build your own sushi” table with hot glue guns (adults will be there to help assemble), cotton balls, felt and markers etc. Come on over and build your own nigiri and temaki’s!
*Math games for students and they will win free prizes and candies
*Coloring and origami
*Sensory bins
*Food systems-based trivia for all ages. Prizes will include a selection of goods
*Spinning wheel that kids can spin to win fun prizes
*Spooky tic-tac toe with painted rocks. Winners will receive a prize!
*Learn to row with a coach.
*Button making and a guitar for kids to try out
*Cow Toss Corn Hole
*Mini putt-putt golf green with small prizes for making a hole in one.
*Goal with a goalie that kids will be able to pick up a lacrosse stick and take shots on goal!
*Allow kids to harvest seeds off plantings and create seed packs that they can take home and plant in their home gardens
*A spin wheel, ring toss, Plinko board
*Witch hat hoop throw and obstacle course.
*Decorate lunch sacks to look like Turkeys
*Decorate mini pumpkins
*Pie Face – kids dig through whipped cream with their mouth to pull out the candy corn and pumpkin candy. Each has their own pie dish to dig in
*Ring toss the Pumpkin – we line up pumpkins and they use a hula hoop to ring toss a pumpkin
*Connect 4
*Jenga and Corn Hole
*Color your own teddy bear and a photo booth.
*Cornhole, stickers, coloring.
*Getting kids involved in jump roping
*Photo booth
*Fishing booth where kids get fishing poles to catch Goldfish crackers.
*Applepalooza (Farmers’ Market taste testing and voting)
*Photo Booth with costumes and cut out dancers and coloring!
*Coloring pages and a fun spinner wheel trivia game
Also – the costume parade at 11:30 am, trick-or-treating at noon, and the chili cookoff (as previewed here). We’ll be in the Info Booth at Walk-All-Ways just like West Seattle Summer Fest – see you there!
(Hawk meets ‘owl,’ photo by Mark Dale)
A few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY COUNCIL TALKS POLICE BUDGET, CRIMINAL JUSTICE: 2:30 pm at City Hall, as the council’s second level of budget review continues – see the agenda here. Public comment period included; livestreamed at Seattle Channel. (600 4th Ave.)
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP CATCHUP: Something to say about the ongoing cleanup operation in our area’s only river? Interested in catching up on what’s happened so far? 5 pm at South Park Community Center, be there. Child care, refreshments, interpretation available. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES: Arrowhead Gardens hosts a forum with Lisa Herbold and Phil Tavel, 6 pm, public welcome. In the community room on the east side of the complex. (9200 2nd SW)
FREE IMPROV CLASS: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse with Play It Out – details and RSVP info here. (9131 California SW)
3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: We have listings for these three Monday night options!
*Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW), 7 pm, $2/person, 21+
*The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm, free, all ages
*Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Oregon), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+
MUCH MORE ... for all ages; browse our complete calendar!
From the United Way of King County, now recruiting for volunteers to help with tax prep in our area (and elsewhere):
Every year in Washington State, low- and middle-income families and individuals struggle to pay the bills and keep food on the table. During tax time, it can make an unstable situation even worse. Not only is Washington’s tax system the most regressive in the nation, but predatory tax preparers could charge upwards of $300 for a tax return, and may not tell their clients about certain credits or saving opportunities they might qualify for.
Clare visited one of our United Way tax sites. She was a single mother of two making $30,000 a year. She struggled to pay her housing and grocery expenses. During her time with our Free Tax Campaign volunteers, she received a $3,000 refund at absolutely no cost. This meant that she was able to meet some of her basic needs to support her two children.
In 2019, our amazing volunteers helped 21,975 people by bringing back $30.1 million in tax refunds and credits in the process. For many of our clients, this helps them to cover the cost of basic needs like food and shelter. For this upcoming tax season, we’re hoping to make an even bigger impact in our community. To do this, we need your help.
We rely on our talented team of volunteers to make this possible. Join us and fight against poverty. We provide free comprehensive training that will boost your skills, and help reach the people who need it most. No prior tax experience needed!
Find a Free Tax Prep location near you and get involved (here).
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:11 AM: Good morning. No current incidents or alerts.
The first returning salmon of the season has been spotted at Fauntleroy Creek. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it far before dying. But her appearance gives hope that others will show up during favorable high tides starting this week. With that as context, creek advocate Judy Pickens and musician Jamie Shilling led drumming and singing this evening to call the coho home.
It’s an annual tradition, with all ages welcome.
The short gathering is always whimsical as well as reverential – including “Habitat,” to the tune of long-ago hit “Lollipop”:
This year, something extra – it’s the 25th anniversary of the revived creek’s first modern-day spawners, Harry and Louise. The 30+ people who participated tonight were invited to sign a commemorative card.
You can do the same at next weekend’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival (at the church, Y, and schoolhouse, 2-5 pm Sunday, October 27th). Pickens told the backstory:
Meantime, volunteers have begun monitoring the creek for signs of more potential spawners. Once there’s a sighting, an “open creek” visitation opportunity will be announced.
Thanks for the tip: Summit Atlas, the charter middle/high school at 35th/Roxbury, has told families it will be closed tomorrow because of a water problem. The email sent to families says the city had to shut off the school’s water supply because of “a major breakage in the water main.” We haven’t heard of a break in the area but the school email also mentions plumbers trying to fix it, so it might be just a campus problem; we’ll check with Seattle Public Utilities tomorrow.
(Reader photo from Megan)
8:09 PM: Now SFD is sending a “rescue extrication” response to a flipped-car crash reported at Delridge/Holden.
8:11 PM: SDOT says the southbound lanes of Delridge are blocked. Via radio communication, SFD reports one person is injured but out of the vehicle, so the response is being downsized, no extrication needed.
8:18 PM: Reader photo added – thank you; Megan adds that this is between Holden and Kenyon. As shown, a second vehicle was damaged; it was parked, police have reported over the air. The medic unit originally assigned to the call has been dismissed, so no major injuries.
10:58 PM: SFD says the 42-year-old driver was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
7:31 PM: Another crash on the Highland Park Way hill. This one is reported via radio communication to be two vehicles, head on, blocking the southbound lanes. SPD and SFD are on the way.
7:41 PM: Someone who just passed the scene reports it’s a car and minivan. Firefighters have reported that everyone involved is “conscious and alert.”
10:25 PM: Despite that initial assessment, three people were eventually taken to the hospital, SFD tells us. From one vehicle, a 51 year old man in critical condition; from the other, two women, 45 and 67, both in serious condition.
Signs like that one are up along SW Avalon Way, both sides, between the bridge and 35th SW, declaring no street parking for three weeks, around the clock starting tomorrow. SDOT says that’s needed for the “final striping” of the repaved street, originally planned for spring. We asked the project team to clarify:
While it’s standard practice to stripe a street within a few weeks of asphalt paving being complete, we are not always able to add in final striping if paving takes place to close to winter months. As our final asphalt paving of SW Avalon Way happened ahead of schedule, we are able to stripe the corridor during a good weather window.
The three-week parking ban is apparently just in case a “good weather window” hits during that time:
In order to stripe the corridor, we need to place “no parking” signs along SW Avalon Way. As “no parking” signs must be up for 72 hours prior to their enforcement and the wet weather is unpredictable during the fall, we have placed the current signs along the corridor to allow us to stripe as soon as we have a dry weather window. There may be opportunities for signs to be lowered if inclement weather is forecasted.
As for the frequently asked question of when the whole project will be done: “We’ll be finishing major work at the SW Avalon Way and 35th Ave SW intersection this November. We expect to continue concrete work along 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St through the fall with anticipated wrap-up in summer 2020, as planned.”
(WSB photo, August 2019)
Two months ago, kid-rock superstar Caspar Babypants closed out the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series with another lawn-filling performance; next Sunday, he opens Kindiependent‘s new Sunday family concert series at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). This show is at 1 pm, right before the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, but the other nine shows in the twice-monthly series will be on Sunday mornings, 10:30 am. Tickets are required for everybody over 6 months old – series passes are on sale here; tickets for the Caspar Babypants show are on sale here. (Second show: The Not-Its, 10:30 am November 10th.)
West Seattle Community Orchestras invite you to a night full of great music as well as food, fun, and fundraising:
Sassy, Brassy, Classy; A bountiful harvest dinner & auction: October 26, 2019
Join the West Seattle Community Orchestra (WSCO) on Saturday, October 26th for WSCO’s biggest event and fundraiser of the year! The evening will include chamber music performed by WSCO members, a performance by the West Seattle Big Band, and a silent auction featuring experiences from the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Teatro Zinzanni, and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra to name a few. There will also be a chance to win a $400 gift certificate to Canlis. Support WSCO programs while having a blast at our 2019 Gala event!
WSCO provides community musicians of all ages and abilities with opportunities for performance and growth. Join them for an evening of fun as you support them in continuing to provide FREE TUITION to all K-12 students!
Tickets are available online.
Saturday, October 26, 2019 | Alki Masonic Hall
6:00 PM Doors Open
7:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Dessert Dash & Raise the Paddle
Thanks for the tip. We just checked out a big but short-lived emergency response on the northeast end of the Home Depot lot, which is also immediately north of the Southwest Precinct. Police told us there was a report of someone injured in a fight – possibly with a weapon, which is why SFD’s call was designated “Scenes of Violence/Aid” – but the purported victim declined treatment and the response was downsized quickly, wrapping up just as we arrived.
Burglary is down, but not out, in the Southwest Precinct jurisdiction (West Seattle and South Park). So the last West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year got in-depth advice on how to make homes as burglary-resistant as possible.
First, those in attendance Tuesday night got an update from precinct leadership. Operations Lt. Steve Strand said burglaries are down eight percent this year compared to last, but had a spike a few weeks back. He acknowledged that many people are catching prowlers or thieves on security video and sharing that with neighbors, but not reporting it to police, so if they get a call such as “hey, that guy who’s been prowling (a specific area) is here now,” they have no idea what you’re talking about – so report everything to them too.
Also in precinct updates: Police met earlier in the day with the new Westwood Village Business Block Watch … The Anti-Crime Team had been out looking for a “prolific three-county auto thief” and “almost had him” when a chase and crash ensued; an attendee asked why the suspect’s photo couldn’t be distributed so everyone could be on the lookout, and precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis explained they didn’t want to tip their target about the search … Davis also noted that “shots fired” incident are down this year, 32 so far.
One community concern was brought up – drug dealing near Solstice Park. Capt. Davis invited the resident to call him and get a “long-term project” started. That sort of exchange is what the WSCPCC meeting is all about – come to this meeting, get your questions answered, “this is why we do this.” They’d like to see better turnout, too (Tuesday was single-digit, not counting precinct/police personnel).
One reminder: Drug Take-Back Day is next Saturday, October 26th – 10 am-2 pm as usual. Bring your unwanted/expired prescription medication to the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
BURGLARY PREVENTION: Detective Jon Flores spoke first. He’s in his 12th year with SPD, all in Southwest Precinct, previously patrol and Community Police Team. Here’s what should happen if you’ve been burglarized:
-Report it. Even if it’s something like, your neighbor’s out of town and you think they’ve been broken into.
-Leave the scene undisturbed. Police will be searching for fingerprint evidence, DNA evidence. “When our officers are there, we need it to be as undisturbed a possible.”
-Video is a big deal. Not that it’s going to prevent you from being victimized but it’s a “great tool for identification.” Check with neighbors whose cameras might have caught the suspct – officers will canvass but might not get to everyone.
-Case gets assigned to burglary/theft unit. When it arrives on his desk, he’ll review – evidence? fingerprints? video?
Something you can do now just in case:
-Document serial numbers. It might help police recover stolen property. Highly recommend – model numbers, photos of valuables like jewelry. That too might help them find it.
Print cards – or items with prints – go into evidence. Not a guarantee it’s going to lead to a match but they get examined. Can you get prints from, say, a candy wrapper? asked WSCPC president Richard Miller. Generally no, says Flores, adding that 206-233-2623 is the SW Burglary Unit, if you have a tip. Got video of someone behaving suspiciously? Doesn’t necessarily have to be a confirmed crime for SPD to possibly be interested in it.
Also: Cases labeled “inactive” don’t mean closed forever. Cases can be fluid. May be reopened.king cou
And then – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner and her North Precinct counterpart Mary Amberg took over. Here’s the slide deck from their presentation (or here in PDF):
Highlights:
(Dark-eyed Junco, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Sunday highlights:
WATER TAXI’S FINAL WEEKEND DAY: After next Friday, the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on its fall/winter schedule, so today is its final weekend day of the year.
TLC FOR LINCOLN PARK: With Friends of Lincoln Park, 9-noon. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Freshness and flavors abound, 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
REFRACT SEATTLE: Celebrate art glass with open tours of studios including two in West Seattle, 11 am-3 pm. See the details here.
‘SUNSET BABY’ CLOSING PERFORMANCE: Last chance to see this – 3 pm curtain tonight at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), “Sunset Baby” by Dominique Morisseau. Ticket info here. (4711 California SW)
ART SALE & FOOD DRIVE: Local artists’ work, 4-7 pm reception, and nonperishable donations for the West Seattle Food Bank! All happening at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – info here. (5612 California SW)
DRUMMING TO WELCOME THE SALMON HOME: 5 pm, an annual tradition to call the coho home to Fauntleroy Creek – join in singing and drumming, all ages welcome! Bring a drum if you have one, or just your voice if not. (Fauntleroy/Director)
(Saturday evening photo by Jim Borrow)
PUBLIC ART EVENT: Music plus paintings by Lezlie Jane, in the gallery @ Brace Point Pottery in Arbor Heights, 6-8 pm. (4208 SW 100th)
BLUEGRASS JAM: 7-10 pm at Whisky West, monthly jam with live bluegrass music. 21+. (6451 California SW)
DRUNKEN OWL THEATER: 7 pm at Parliament Tavern, actors read works by local playwrights. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
NORTH CORNER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, featuring the Aspen String Trio. Concert details here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
SEE IT ALL … this is just part of what you’ll find for today, tonight, and beyond on our full calendar.
9:49 PM: Not a lot of details on this but in case you are seeing/hearing the police activity around 35th/Roxbury – a robbery was reported at the commercial building on the northeast corner. A K9 team is helping with the search. No other info so far.
12:05 AM: We haven’t heard anything further, aside from a description that this was a “strong-arm robbery” at one of the businesses; we’ll pursue the police report when available Monday.
Three local high-school football scores to report. The weekend began with Chief Sealth International High School playing at Bainbridge Island Friday night; the Seahawks lost 10-7 … West Seattle High School played this afternoon at Sehome in Bellingham, losing 40-0 … Seattle Lutheran High School was home at West Seattle Stadium today vs. Quilcene, losing 56-8.
NEXT WEEKEND: Friday (October 25th), WSHS is home at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) vs. Sammamish, 7 pm … CSIHS plays Roosevelt at Memorial Stadium downtown, 7:45 pm … Saturday (October 26th), SLHS‘s homecoming game is at WS Stadium (4432 35th SW) vs. Rainier Christian, 1 pm.
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