West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
This summer’s big events are getting closer – and the Alki Art Fair (co-sponsored this year by WSB) has a request right now:
Did you know that the Alki Art Fair includes a silent auction?
Want to promote your business/product while also helping us raise money?
Please consider a donation. Past auctions have included lots of original artwork, gift certificates for local health+beauty services/ restaurants/ shops/ performances and more, and fun items for home and garden use.
Please email info@alkiartfair.org if you can help.
The fair is set for July 23-24 along the Alki Beach Park promenade.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:23 AM: Another quiet morning so far, second-to-last weekday of Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break. One road-work note: SDOT says the 30th/Yancy/Avalon project will switch to the east side of the intersection today. During this phase of the project, 30th and Yancy will both be closed at Avalon.
NEW METRO SURVEY: This one’s about late-night bus-riding. If you use the bus between midnight and 5 am, Metro really wants to hear from you. Even if you don’t, your replies could be helpful. Take it here.
Tonight’s West Seattle High School baseball recap is from Caryn Johnson, along with a big reminder about Saturday at The Safe:
This afternoon West Seattle lost a heartbreaker to Bishop Blanchet at Hiawatha. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, but just couldn’t hold on in the end, losing 3-6. Carson Wright pitched a great game for West Seattle and Daniel Lo came in to close out the 7th inning. But in the end, the bats of West Seattle just couldn’t produce enough runs to come out ahead.
Next game, Friday – West Seattle hosts Roosevelt at Hiawatha at 3:30PM
Remember that West Seattle will be playing Olympic HS (from Bremerton) on Saturday, April 16th at Safeco Field in the High School Baseball Classic at 12:30. Entry to the game is free and parking is $5 in the Safeco parking lot. Come out and cheer on the Wildcats!!
Thanks to Krista Livingston for the photo and report:
This coyote was jumping around, playing in our yard (edge of Schmitz Park) at Charlestown and 52nd Ave SW. I know you get lots of sightings. Thought the neighbors would like to know the coyotes are out day and night.
If you scroll through our archive of coyote sightings, you will definitely be able to verify that. And if you do see one, please remember that the best thing to do for your sake and theirs is to scare it away – as explained in the state’s one-sheet about coexisting with coyotes.
Neighborhood House‘s High Point Family Resource Center sends a reminder of the “education conversation” tomorrow, the only West Seattle event scheduled as a prelude to Mayor Murray‘s upcoming education summit:
This community meeting is a great opportunity for West Seattle families to engage with the City on a number of school related topics. The meeting will include:
· Mayor Murray Video Introduction
· Community-Led Topics
· Discussion Break-Out Groups
· Interpretation Services
· Light dinner, tea and coffee – catered by Banana Grill
All are welcome, 5-7 pm Thursday, 6400 Sylvan Way SW. (The summit itself is set for Saturday, April 30th, at Garfield Community Center.)
(WSB photos)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Almost a year after the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock was finished, and adjacent Cove Park restored and reopened, a loose end dangles: The future of the little white beachfront house at 8923 Fauntleroy Way SW, immediately north of Cove Park.
King County bought it to use as a construction office during the three-year pump-station project.
Now, as was revealed in a discussion at last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, there’s a chance its site could become a slice of city parkland – at little-to-no cost for the city. Sort of an expansion of Cove Park, though that is actually a community-maintained, SDOT-owned street end.
Some neighbors are adamantly opposed to the idea, wanting the house to remain in use as a single-family residence, and were at the FCA meeting to say that directly to Chip Nevins, acquisition manager for Parks, who was there, he said, as early “due diligence” in determining the site’s fate.
Nevins explained that while Parks generally wouldn’t have an interest in acquiring Fauntleroy-area property, since the area is already “rich” in parkland – including Lincoln Park a short distance north – it would be hard to resist a chance to get something like this for free or near-free. If someone was told “do you want to make the park bigger and it won’t cost you any money, why wouldn’t you?” he asked.
Assessor’s records show the county bought the 2-bedroom, 1-bath, 1948-built house and its 35-foot-wide, one-third-acre lot (tidelands included) for $950,000 in 2008. Now, it’s considered surplus, and that status, as with most government agencies, triggers a disposition process. Nevins said the county has suggested a sort of swap might be possible – its pump station includes some land leased from SDOT that, like Cove Park, is technically part of the Barton street end, but if it could get possession of that land – through a street-vacation process – the city could wind up with 8923 Fauntleroy Way in return.
This would be something of a complicated process, not just because of the street vacation, but also because Parks would want to figure out if there is community interest in acquiring the beachfront site. So a public meeting will be organized, and some other means of feedback will be set up. City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was at last night’s meeting – to “observe” this item, she explained – and indicated she’d already been hearing from “both sides”; if a street vacation is involved, it ultimately would require approval from the City Council, so she and her colleagues also would be getting feedback.
If the site was accepted by Parks, what would be done with it? one attendee asked. Nevins suggested at one point that at the very least they would probably want the county to pay to have the house demolished, so that wouldn’t become the city’s responsibility. Beyond that – maybe open space? Or at least some plantings? One neighbor expressed concern that while the current administration might decide on that, someone down the line might decide to build a picnic shelter or other facilities that could attract more, and more problematic, usage.
Nevins reiterated that many questions remain to be answered – such as, has the city been making money in permit payments for the county’s usage of the pump station site, and would that be revenue lost in this prospective deal? (If we’ve found the correct city legislation, it appears the county pays the city $84,387 a year.)
And, he added, many layers of process remain to be gone through. The public meeting would likely happen before summer, though, so stay tuned; if the city and county moved forward with what in essence would be a “trade,” the process would likely take up to two more years.
(WSB photo from Alki’s first-ever “car-free day” in September 2008)
Last month, we reported that the city’s “car-free day” events – now called Seattle Summer Parkways – would include a West Seattle date this year, after skipping our area last year. At the time, the date hadn’t been set. Now, it has, according to the official webpage: Sunday, September 25th. That’s a long way off, so details are all but nonexistent, except that the city has posted that it’ll be happening on Alki. Just telling you now so you can get it on your calendar!
(BACKSTORY: The first such event, called “Car-Free Day,” was in September 2008; then for six years, it was scheduled on the same May day as the West Seattle 5K run/walk.)
(Otherwise charming garden photo originally provided to WSB to illustrate this now three-year-old event announcement has been removed by site owners under protest following threats from lawyer claiming that those who provided it were not authorized to do so.)
Lots of excitement back in February when the first-ever Westside Plant and Garden Art Fair was announced. Now, it’s just a few weeks away, and organizers have sent the highlights of what you’ll find during the event, 10 am-4 pm Saturday, April 30th, and 11 am-3 pm Sunday, May 1st:
This community event will be held at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, 7141 California Ave. SW, and promises to have something for adults and children alike, including:
*Hundreds of perennial, herb, veggie and berry starts.
*Garden art created by local artisans Sarah Barrick, Brian Brenno, Terri Goodwin, Carol Farnham, Elaine Moore, and Linda Thorson.
*Gardening advice from local Master Gardeners as well as from Jenny Mandt, Garden Coach at West Seattle Nursery.
*An opportunity to sample OMG! Artisanal Olive Oils & Vinegars, the perfect accompaniment for the season’s fresh greens. Phil Harris, creator of Seattle’s OMG! Flagship Store, will be on hand to share his recipes.
*A “low-mileage” garden tool, accessory and book sale which will also include sustainable freshly cut local bamboo stakes in 6’ and 8’ lengths.
*A Garden Cafe serving fresh baked goods each day.
*Creative children’s activities.
And much more … For further details and schedules, visit WestsideGardenFair.weebly.com.
Two updates on two early-stage projects we’ve mentioned before, both in what’s becoming a very busy corridor along Edmunds between 40th and Fauntleroy:
4754 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: New names and a new size for the project proposed for the parcels currently holding the Capitol Loans pawn shop and the parking lot to its north. We first reported last December that a seven-story building with 125 units and 90 offstreet parking spaces was proposed. Now, after a new filing with the city, it’s described as 133 residential units, 134 offstreet parking spaces (on two underground levels), still seven stories (the site is zoned for up to eight). The developer is now listed as Holland Partner Group, a Vancouver (Washington)-based company best known for apartment complexes; the architect is now Mithun (it was Caron). This will have to go through Design Review, but no date’s set yet.
Less than a block away, another update:
4800 40TH SW: When we reported on a proposal for this 40th/Edmunds site two years ago, but it went idle as its prospective developers moved their attention next door to 4801 Fauntleroy Way SW. That 53-unit mixed-use project which has since passed both phases of Design Review. Now, a new site plan has just been filed to reactivate 4800 40th for redevelopment; the city filing has only the summary, “demolition of existing structures on site, and construction of a new multi-family residential building with (1) level of below-grade parking, and (4) levels above grade. The ground floor will consist of both residential and commercial uses” – no unit count mentioned so far.
That video will fill you in on the Major Taylor Project, beneficiary of a big bike ride that starts in West Seattle this Saturday. You’re invited to be part of it, per this announcement we just received:
Cascade’s Ride for Major Taylor is fast approaching this Saturday, April 16. Now in its second year, the 25-mile pledge ride will take hundreds of riders through the culturally rich communities of West Seattle, Delridge, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, and White Center before returning to the finish line celebration at Big Al Brewing in White Center.
Registration remains open until Wednesday (today), April 13 at 11:59 p.m. Day-of registration will be available for an additional fee from 9-10 a.m. at the start line at Chief Sealth International High School.
The Ride for Major Taylor is a pledge ride in which students, families and community members are encouraged to raise support for Cascade’s Major Taylor Project. Registration fees and all pledged support helps provide bikes, cycling gear, tools, snacks and much more for participating students across 14 Puget Sound area schools throughout the year.
Full route and additional information available at cascade.org/rideformajortaylor.
Named after Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, the first African American cyclist to achieve world champion status, the Major Taylor Project is a year-round youth development cycling program for middle and high school students. The Major Taylor Project uses afterschool cycling clubs as a forum for helping students develop confidence, goal setting abilities, bicycle maintenance and handling skills, and deep connections with their peers and communities. The program serves more than 300 students in King and Pierce Counties annually.
“This is a really special day for the Major Taylor Project and the students,” said Major Taylor Project Director Ed Ewing. “Like all the event rides that they work so hard to complete, this ride is their chance to show support for each other and share with their communities how much cycling has helped them grow as young people.”
Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School are the two West Seattle schools participating in the project.
(Tuesday night’s surprise sunset colors, photographed by JayDee from Upper Alki)
Some of what’s up for your Wednesday:
WEST SEATTLE TRIO @ WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR: As mentioned here last night, the award-winning underwater-robotics team AMNO & CO. is part of today’s White House Science Fair, and the live stream starts on the White House website at 10 am our time – it’ll be here.
LIBRARY STORY TIMES: Spring break is a great time to check these out if you haven’t gone before and have the chance to do it today/tonight. Three today – Preschool Story Time, 10:30-11 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW); Baby Story Time, 11-11:30 am at High Point Library (35th SW/SW Graham); Somali Story Time, 5-5:30 pm, also at High Point Library.
FREE HEALTH WORKSHOP: Noon at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), learn about “energy enhancement” as part of the Y’s ongoing Wellness/Disease Prevention series. Free! More info here. (4515 36th SW)
LOCAL BIZ MEETUP: Noon-1:15 pm at West Seattle’s only coworking center, Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – local businesspeople are invited to come network – take a break, get a change of pace and place! (6040 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE/WHITE CENTER VIETNAMESE TEA TIME & CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP: 1-3 pm, new addition to the calendar, at Greenbridge Community Center:
Please come to meet with friends, exchange information, storytelling, entertainment, singing, and planning for future meetings. We can help with language support (translation/interpreter) or settle the bills such as electricity, water , cable TV, internet. Hosted by Tram Chung, a family support worker serving Vietnamese elders and caregivers in West Seattle, White Center, Burien, and South King County.
(9800 8th SW)
PLAY GAMES! Star Wars and D&D game groups play at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor) tonight – see the schedule on the right side of the Meeples homepage. (3727 California SW)
COED ULTIMATE FRISBEE: New 6 pm drop-in game with the folks who bring you West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee. 6 pm at Fairmount Park playfield – rain cancels. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BOSTON SENDOFF & WEEKLY GROUP RUN: Going to Boston for the Marathon? Join the weekly group run at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) tonight at 6:15 pm, followed by a celebratory sendoff – details here. (2743 California SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political organization meets at 7 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy. The agenda (see it here) includes this weekend’s Legislative District Caucus and candidate forums for three statewide positions. (9131 California SW)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 8:30 pm at The Skylark (all ages until 10, then 21+) – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE! See for yourself on our complete WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far. Notes for today include:
AFTERNOON BASEBALL: The Mariners play the Rangers one more time at Safeco Field, 12:40 pm.
30TH/YANCY/AVALON PROJECT: SDOT announced earlier this week that this work could switch from the east side of the intersection to the west side as soon as today – we’ll head out to check shortly. (8:28 am update – SDOT tells us the change will be made TOMORROW, Thursday.)
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE NORTH OF DOWNTOWN: Another overnight closure of SB 99 north of downtown is set for overnight tonight, 10 pm-5 am, between Valley and Thomas.
SPRING BREAK CONTINUES … for Seattle Public Schools, which reopen next Monday (April 18th).
(2015 AMNO & CO. photo – from left, Nicholas Orndorff, Clara Orndorff, Alex Miller)
Tomorrow morning, you can watch live online as the next White House Science Fair celebrates young achievers from our area – AMNO & CO., the underwater-robotics team of Clara Orndorff, 19; Nicholas Orndorff, 16; and Alex Miller, 17. We’ve reported on their success several times in the past few years – including this international-competition win last summer – but it doesn’t get much bigger than a trip to the White House. AMNO & CO. will be part of President Obama’s sixth and final White House Science Fair starting at 11:15 am our time on Wednesday – see the list of participants from all over the country, here.
First of two reports from tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, which wrapped up this past hour at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:
(Photo courtesy King County Wastewater Treatment Division)
King County Wastewater Treatment Division reps assured FCA that the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project will be done by the end of the year – the county, in fact, they insisted, is “highly motivated” to finish it by then. The facility itself, a million-gallon tank meant to keep most combined-sewer overflow from spilling into Puget Sound, should be operational by early October. That isn’t the end of the project – next fall and winter will bring restoration of Lowman Beach Park, where an underground pump station is undergoing upgrades and where construction trailers and some other project support has been staged; a ribbon-cutting and celebration is expected to happen next spring.
In the far more immediate future, 6,000 homes in the area are about to get a mailer with the final timeline, and you’re invited to an “information session” at the site two weeks from tonight, Tuesday, April 26th, 5 pm-7 pm.
BACKSTORY: After five-plus years of talking and planning, construction began more than 2 1/2 years ago with demolition of the block of residential buildings that had been on what’s now the tank site. When operational, it’s expected to reduce the number of Puget Sound-polluting overflows – which typically happen during major storms – from an average of five a year, to one.
Getting followup information on criminal cases often takes a while. This is one example. But now we know a lot more about the suspect arrested on Beach Drive last Wednesday, including where the case stands and how the incident began.
38-year-old Joshua C. Utecht is the man police arrested on Wednesday afternoon, found hiding under a deck/porch, allegedly after crashing a stolen Honda CR-V (described in court documents as having “stolen, swapped plates”) on Atlas Drive and bolting downslope to where he was found with the help of a K-9 team.
Utecht has since been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and reckless driving. He also is being held on a warrant for escaping state Department of Corrections supervision. Court documents say he has been under DOC supervision for eight years, during which time he was found guilty of two robberies and a burglary. He had been under supervision since getting out of prison less than two years ago. And he is a fugitive from Louisiana.
The probable-cause document and police report say this all started with a call to police when a man and woman were seen acting suspiciously earlier Wednesday afternoon in the 6700 block of SW Holly and near 48th and Eddy. An officer arriving in the area spotted a suspicious vehicle in an alley between 47th and 48th, Juneau and Raymond. The officer checked its license-plate number and discovered the plate had been reported stolen. He spotted the woman who had gotten out of the car and yelled at her to get back into it; she just kept walking. Meantime, the car took off, headed northbound “at a high rate of speed” and went down Juneau to where it turns into Atlas, crashing into a garage, car, and pole in the 5900 block. Passengers pointed police to where they said a man had fled the car and headed downslope toward Beach Drive, dropping a folding knife – locked in the open position – as he ran.
Meantime, police discovered the stolen plate – missing since early March – didn’t match the car, whose ID number revealed it to have been stolen in January. After Utecht was found hiding on Beach Drive, he told a sergeant that the car was “borrowed.” He also said the woman who he had left behind in Seaview wasn’t involved in anything bad, while describing himself with an unflattering expletive. His last known address, as listed on the police report, was in the Alki area. He’s being held without bail on the escape charge, while bail for the new charges was set at $30,000. (We also looked up the case related to the escape charge. The “escape” – which, when related to supervision, is more like “not reporting in” – isn’t described, but the case itself traced back to November 2009, with Utecht found in White Center in a car stolen from Beacon Hill, then eluding a King County Sheriff’s Deputy in a high-speed chase, which ended with the car abandoned in Seola Beach and Utecht found by the Guardian One helicopter after running through a ravine and hiding in a shed.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One of the West Seattle Junction’s historic murals is history.
The mural called “Midnight Call” was removed today from the south side of 4711 44th SW.
By the time we noticed the removal work in progress, while passing through The Junction earlier this afternoon, most of it was down already, and a short time later, the remaining panels were gone. The mural by Don Barrie depicted a horse-drawn fire rig leaving a long-ago firehouse nearby, as explained toward the end of this page about some of Barrie’s work.
It was removed with regret, we heard from Mark Swanson, son of the namesake of the building’s main tenant, Don Swanson Insurance, telling us his dad was so proud of the mural. Swanson says the building’s owners are having some exterior work done, and the mural already was rotting – it had to be taken down and couldn’t be saved. As you can see in this photo from five years ago, it was also faded – compare it to the photo below, from the mid-’00s:
(Image Credit: Seattle Online)
While checking into the situation, we noticed vandalism on another mural on the west side of 44th SW, “Press Day” – tagging vandalism in brown paint over its lower-right corner. And that is almost directly across 44th from the “First Duwamish Bridge” mural, which, as first reported here in February, was badly defaced by vandal(s) with black spray paint. The West Seattle Junction Association has continued to work on figuring out whether it can be saved; director Susan Melrose told us today that they have a $5,000 bid for repair work, but no plan yet on how to proceed.
You might be surprised to hear the murals aren’t publicly owned. They were commissioned a quarter-century ago as part of a project that won a national award in 1992, as noted here, but most have deteriorated to some degree, with no central plan for care or preservation. One exception: The parade mural on the side of the Junction Post Office, restored in 2007.
Coincidentally, the West Seattle Art Walk committee had been working on a plan for a walking tour of the murals sometime later this year. Now, there’s one less mural to see.
It’s already been a month since we took that photo of JF Henry Cooking and Dining proprietor Tom Henry putting up the banner for his store’s Retirement Sale – and countdown to closure. At the time, he wasn’t sure when they would close for good, but now the date is set – this Saturday (April 16th) is the sale’s last day, and the store’s last day. As first reported here last month, rather than sell the 31-year-old business, Henry decided to rent out the space; it was announced days later as the new home of the West Seattle branch of John L. Scott Real Estate.
Contacting us with word of the closing date, Tom Henry also shared the message he has posted on the store’s door, which is more than a farewell:
Greetings and Happy Spring!
As we approach our last week here at JF Henry we would again like to sincerely thank you for all the many years of support.
We are truly blessed to have had this opportunity to live, work & raise our family in such an incredible community as West Seattle.
I hope all of us continue to be aware of our responsibilities in supporting our local businesses in West Seattle. We have an amazing selection of stores, restaurants & professional services that are mostly locally owned and operated by our neighbors. I truly believe by choosing to buy locally we all make an incredible difference in the health and prosperity of our business district.
Carol, Betty, Patty & I are looking forward to a lot more time for family, friends & fun. We will continue to live in and love West Seattle! See ya around the neighborhood.
All the Best!
Tom
Through the final day on Saturday, JF Henry (4445 California SW) is open 10 am-6 pm daily.
(WSB photo)
11:28 AM: Thanks to the person who tipped us about this (text/call 206-293-6302, 24/7): The guns-drawn police response in the 9400 block of 9th SW in south Highland Park is a Bellevue Police case, with Seattle Police assisting. We were told at the scene that it involves a Bellevue warrant related to auto theft. That’s all we know so far, but we’re checking with BPD and will update later if we find out anything more.
6:37 PM: We just heard back from BPD’s public-information officer, who says, “I can confirm that investigators with our Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) were in that area investigating a vehicle theft and serving a search warrant on a residence.” Officer Seth Tyler added background on the SET, saying that it “addresses specific types of repeat crimes with an innovative, proactive approach. The team targets prolific, active criminals in an effort to lower the overall rate of reported crime. The team conducts plainclothes surveillance of targeted areas and surveillance of known active criminals and then coordinates with the King County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure that arrested suspects remain in custody. Additionally, SET works frequently with the investigative units of other agencies to help address multijurisdictional offenders.”
ADDED THURSDAY: More info from Bellevue PD – we’re publishing a separate followup.
Two neighborhood councils meet tonight, and that’s part of what’s on the highlight list:
LOW TIDE: Low enough for a beach walk if you’re able to take a break, -0.8 feet at 3:39 pm, which is a little higher than when we took the photo above at Alki on Monday afternoon.
MATH BUDDIES: Teen volunteers are at West Seattle (Admiral) Library 4-5 pm to play math-related games and activities with K-5 students, Just drop in! (2306 42nd SW)
DREAM DINNERS’ OPEN-HOUSE DEAL: If you’re new to Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), you have two chances tonight to make three family dinners for half-price ($24.99 total). Sign up here for 5:45 pm or here for 7 pm – both have a few spots open as of this writing. DD-WS is on the east side of outer Jefferson Square. (4701 41st SW, Suite 110)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library, bring the kids and enjoy stories, songs, and rhymes with the children’s librarian. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral. Agenda highlights are in the preview we published last weekend, from housing to transit. (42nd SW/SW Lander)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (in Room 6B this month). The FCA agenda includes an update on the Lowman Beach pump-station project, vanpool parking, and the future of the publicly owned house by Cove Park. (9131 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE AND MORE … to see what else is up, please check our complete calendar!
(WSB photo from last October’s Find It, Fix It walk in Delridge)
At this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting – as noted in our coverage last week – we learned Mayor Murray’s Find It, Fix It Community Walks for this year would likely include one in the Roxhill area. Today, that’s just been confirmed. The exact date isn’t set yet, but the mayor’s office just announced this year’s list, and Roxhill is on it for sometime in July. (The first Find It, Fix It walk in West Seattle was in Delridge last October.) Read the full announcement after the jump, including how to get involved in advance:
Earlier this month, we shared the news that the Seattle Lutheran High School robotics team, Team SeaBot, was advancing in regional competition. Now the school sends word they’ve qualified for the first time for the FIRST Robotics World Championships later this month in St. Louis, and are raising money to get there:
The team qualified with a rank of 22 of 158 teams in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. The top 30 teams will represent the Pacific Northwest. The St. Louis competition includes teams from across the U.S. and around the world.
Over 400,000 elementary, middle and high-school students are involved in FIRST Robotics activities nationally. For students, FIRST Robotics combines the excitement of athletics with the rigors of technology, math and science resulting in a team of students who learn important skills: STEM skills; branding/marketing their team; teamwork and communication; building and programing; and real-world engineering skills. Students make professional connections with adults who are led by volunteer mentors who give time and talent teaching students valuable skills.
Team SeaBot is one of the oldest continually active teams in Washington State. Each year, in January, the team creates a brand new robot to meet required needs of the year’s competition. Team SeaBot has enjoyed great success in the past and has won several awards; this is the first time they have qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championship.
SeaBot Robotic Team needs to raise $15,000 to get to the World Championships in St. Louis. If you’d like to help with a donation, please go here. We are excited for this opportunity and grateful for the support of our community.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:43 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far.
(UPDATED TUESDAY AFTERNOON with a few more details from SPD)
10:33 PM: Police and fire are just arriving at an “assault with weapons” callout reported to be a shooting in the 9400 block of 16th SW.
10:39 PM: Two suspects are reported to have run away from the scene and a K-9 team will be helping search for them. No word yet on the victim.
10:44 PM: We’re arriving at the scene and it’s more like 15th/Roxbury – there’s tape up on the east side of the Walgreens parking lot. Via radio, we’re hearing that the shooting victim is a 53-year-old man shot once in the lower left leg.
A week and a half ago, a man was shot in the leg directly across Roxbury from here; two suspects are in jail in connection with that shooting.
10:58 PM: All we know about the suspects so far is that they were last seen fleeing north on 15th SW from the Walgreens vicinity on the north side of Roxbury, and searchers are headed that way.
11:07 PM: Police say the victim was inside the Walgreens when they arrived; the shooting, however, was outside, and investigators found the shell casing.
They say the victim told them he has no idea who shot him or why. He’s on the way to the hospital via SFD Medic 32.
11:57 PM: More photos added. No word of any arrests so far – tracking from the scene did not pick up a trail; we’ll follow up.
ADDED 3:40 PM TUESDAY: A few more details via SPD Blotter, published a few minutes ago:
… (The victim) said he was walking around the back of the building when he was approached by two teen boys. He described the suspects as Latino with one wearing a baseball hat. One of the boys fired a gun striking the victim in the left leg. The victim last saw the two suspects running away on 15th Ave. SW.
Officers followed a trail of blood to the back of the store and found one .32 caliber shell casing. Medics took the victim to Harborview Medical Center where he is recovering from his injuries. If you have any information in this case, please call (206)233-5000.
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