West Seattle, Washington
22 Wednesday
11:14 AM: Just got a text from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales that orcas are reported northbound between Lincoln Park and Alki Point – and per Ron‘s tweet, below, they are apparently toward the north end of that range:
Orcas NB just spotted north of the buoy between lighthouse and Bainbridge. @westseattleblog @orcanetwork Viewed from Gatewood balcony
— Ron Creel (@roncreel) December 31, 2015
Sometimes they change direction, stop or slow – let us know if you see them on this beautiful sunny last day of 2015! (206-293-6302, text or voice, is always the best way to reach us when something is happening *now*.)
11:42 AM: Update from Jeff – the aforementioned area is where he’s seeing them, between Alki Point and Bainbridge, headed north. But he advises viewing from a higher elevation; he’s been watching from the blufftop spot at Seattle/Sunset in North Admiral.
Before we get to the event list – the mountains, putting on another show as 2015 wraps up! Above, Wednesday evening’s sunset glow on the Cascades, from Monica Zaborac; below, this morning’s sunrise glow on the Olympics, first one from Chris Kanit:
And from G. Adams:
Thank you to everyone who’s contributed to another awesome year of community photography! Now, highlights for your West Seattle New Year’s Eve, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (which includes New Year’s Day events too):
WHICH RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN? Here are the ones that answered our calls for information about New Year’s Eve and/or New Year’s Day hours.
LAST SWIMS OF THE YEAR: At Southwest Pool, two sessions today – adult/senior swim at noon, senior water exercise at 1:30 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
NEW YEAR’S EVE WALK: From Emerald City Wanderers:
Walk with us to bid adieu to 2014 and welcome 2015! It’s a great way to enjoy New Year’s Eve and Day, walking with family, friends and other kindred spirits. We’ll have 5 and 10 kilometer walks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, different routes each day. And there’ll be hot soup to chase away any chills.
Start any time between 4 and 7 pm, from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church; no fee, noncompetitive. Bring a flashlight. (3050 California SW)
NOT-SO-SILENT-NIGHT PARADE: You’re invited to join in the classic neighborhood parade, starting at Highland Park Improvement Club at 6 pm. “Assemble in the parking lot at 6 pm. Bring noisemakers, flashlights, lanterns – whatever is necessary! Parade starts when everyone is ready!” Followed by the Sage Comet Performance in the HPIC parking lot. (12th SW & SW Holden)
AFTER THE PARADE – CORNER BAR, COSTUME CONTEST, MORE: Continuing at HPIC, “DJ Doctor Lehl and DJ Evan will host The Dance Extravaganza from 8 pm until 2016, administering to our needs. 9 PM Costume Contest! We encourage everyone to dress up or come in costume. There will be cash prizes ( for the best costumes: 1st Place: $100, 2nd Place: $50 and 3rd Place: $25! Results to be determined by our unimpeachable judges and popular acclaim. We are doing this early enough so that the kids can also participate. Keepsake photos by RL Carroll. Your favorite local beer on tap, wine by the glass and a Champagne Bar with liqueurs and fresh fruit. Non-alcoholic drinks also available.” (12th SW & SW Holden)
KID-FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY: 7 pm-9 pm, ending with the East Coast ball drop, at Admiral Bird – details in our listing. (California/Admiral)
NEW YEAR’S EVE SERVICE: At Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Gatewood: New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl Service, 7 pm. “As the year draws to a close, we invite you to join in the long-celebrated ceremony of the Burning Bowl; an opportunity to come together in community, to release the closing year, and to set intention and create open space to welcome the New Year. A spiritual ceremony involving fire as a cleansing ritual, this service incorporates letting go of the negative and unnecessary while clearing space for new possibilities in our lives. The burning bowl ceremony will be held in a quiet, contemplative setting encircled with music, readings, silence, and chanting. Everyone is welcome!” (7141 California SW)
BAR PARTIES: We’ve heard from two venues (anyplace else? comment!)
The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
9 pm: Hostile Makeover, Smashing Flannel
21+
Buy your ticket here
Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way)
NYE Spectacular with Parliamentality House Band, 9 pm, 21+. Ring in 2016 with the Parliamentality House Band featuring Bobby Heinemann (bass), Colin Higgins (guitar), Marc Fendel (alto sax), Kevin Nortness (tenor sax) and Olli Klomp (cosmic dust collector). They’ll be dropping the funk all night long as we welcome the New Year. No cover! Champagne toast included!
LAST NIGHT FOR WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: Final night of this year’s schedule for the now-legendary music-synched lights. On until midnight! Don’t forget a nonperishable-food item to drop in the bin in front of the house for the West Seattle Food Bank – or go to the WSL website to see how to help. (3908 SW Charlestown)
AND ABOUT THE FIREWORKS … of course you have many spots in West Seattle with great views of the Space Needle fireworks across the bay. Just don’t wait until the last moment to go look, especially if you’re thinking of a sea-level spot … it can be gridlock on the road and shoulder-to-shoulder on the shore as midnight gets closer.
Family and friends will gather on Sunday to celebrate the life of Margaret “Margy” Fitzpatrick. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing:
Margaret Ann (Hull) Fitzpatrick
Margy passed away on December 23, 2015, age 68, following a courageous battle with melanoma. Her tenacity and positive attitude throughout her illness were inspirational to those around her.
A native Seattleite, Margy attended Holy Names Academy and earned a BA in nutrition from Fort Wright College. Her company, Fitzpatrick’s Interiors and Upholstery, has been an established and very successful business in West Seattle for more than 40 years, and will continue to operate under the leadership of her daughter Tricia.
Margy was an avid skier, swimmer, and triathlete who loved the opera and Bernese Mountain Dogs. She was always looking for the next exciting life experience, and took full advantage of all opportunities presented to her. She is survived by her brother Bob (Lou) Hull; sister Kathy (Ron) Coulter; her four children, Bill (Christine), Tricia, Bridgett, John; grandson Spencer; dog Annie and cat Ally.
There will be a celebration of Margy’s life on Sunday, January 3. For more information, please contact Tricia Fitzpatrick, fitzpatricksupholstery@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Holy Names Academy Class of 1965 Endowment, 728 21st Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:25 AM: Happy New Year’s Eve! After another below-freezing night, be mindful of icy spots on some roads, as well as the potential need for windshield-scraping.
ANOTHER TRANSIT REMINDER: Metro continues on a “reduced weekday” schedule for one final day; tomorrow, New Year’s Day, it’ll be on a Sunday schedule. No Water Taxi tomorrow, either.
8:50 AM: WSDOT is using the quiet time to remind everyone of the Highway 99 closures that start in mid-January, north of the Battery Street Tunnel but likely to affect things on this side too. Details are here.
11:49 AM: Via e-mail, Chuck says, “Heads up, there is a motorcycle cop doing traffic enforcement right now on the Admiral Way hill from the WS bridge to the viewpoint park.”
12:33 PM: Beware of icy hills! We’ve been on Admiral and Highland Park Way hills in the past couple hours, still very frosty, and not likely to change much before nightfall, so avoid them tonight too.
ORIGINAL 8:30 PM REPORT: Two traffic alerts:
DELRIDGE/THISTLE CRASH: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo from a car vs. moving van collision on Delridge near Thistle. They report an ambulance was on scene (as well as SFD Engine 11, which has since cleared, according to the fire log). We’re off to check whether the vehicles have been cleared yet.
CALIFORNIA WAY BLACK ICE: Another texter wanted to warn others about black ice on California Way, which connects Harbor Avenue and California Avenue SW – slick enough that they briefly lost control and almost collided with another vehicle. The temperature’s expected to fall below freezing again tonight, so this could be a concern in other places overnight and tomorrow morning. (Note – Minutes after publishing this, we received another text reporting a crash in that area – nothing on the 911 log so we are off to check on that too.)
9:02 PM (UPDATE ON BOTH INCIDENTS): California is closed just north of Hamilton Viewpoint. Delridge should be clear by now – we stopped there while heading here and a tow truck was at work in the SB lanes. Police told us one man from the moving van was taken to the hospital.
9:34 PM UPDATE: While two people have mentioned a flipped vehicle on the California hill between Harbor Avenue and Hamilton Viewpoint, we could not get close enough to verify, with SPD also blocking the road just southwest of Harbor [map] and the reported flipped vehicle not in view from either end. Whatever happened, there’s been no medical callout. While heading away from the area on Harbor, we did see an SDOT sand/plow truck headed toward it. By the way, if you’re looking for an alternative between Admiral and Harbor/Alki, we wouldn’t recommend Fairmount Avenue – that’s what we tried, and it’s icy much of the way, even slushy toward the north end.
10:20 PM UPDATE: Deborah sent a photo of the flipped vehicle:
She says, “No injuries. Lots of nice people stopped to help or inquire. Great police and tow truck support. All clear now.”
(Photo by Teresa Wippel/MLTnews: From left, WSHS’s #1 Akili Kasim & #4 Chaaka Trahan, MTHS #23 Khyree Armstead, WSHS #1 Nate Pryor)
7:46 PM: School’s out until next Monday, but it’s not a full vacation for some local high-school basketball teams. This afternoon in Mountlake Terrace, the West Seattle High School boys’ varsity team had its first loss of the season, 49-43, to the host team in the MTHS holiday tournament. … The WSHS varsity girls remain undefeated, 9-0 after a victory over Olympic HS in East Bremerton earlier this week, 76-31 … Last night, the Seattle Lutheran HS boys beat The Northwest School, 51-26 (thanks to Mike Jensen for the score report) … The Chief Sealth International High School varsity basketball teams have been off since December 18th; while the girls don’t play again until next week, the boys are playing tonight at North Kitsap, and we’ll add the score to this story when it’s in.
ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: Final score – North Kitsap 72, Chief Sealth 58 … Plus, more on the WSHS boys’ game, courtesy of our friends at MLTnews.com – here’s their video of the game webcast (and we’ve added a photo atop this roundup).
Two more West Seattle Crime Watch package-theft reports just in, and both include visuals of the thieves:
GENESEE HILL THIEF: The photo and report are from Angela:
Around noon today, we drove around to retrieve a package from our neighbor’s house – they were out of town and had asked us to keep an eye out because they’d been informed the package was to arrive while they were gone. When we drove around to grab the package, we witnessed a tall white male, walking down the street with a similar package, and once we confirmed the package was no longer on their front porch, we drove up next to the individual and asked him where he was going with the package. He turned right back around and said he’d put it back. We got out of the car, took the package from him and he continued to walk toward SW Genesee – then headed west up Genesee Hill. We pulled around and confronted him, told him to leave the area, and took a picture of him. It’s likely that he’s still roaming the streets – he said he felt stupid and apologized, and would not attempt to do this again. We searched the area about 15 minutes later and couldn’t find him.
Description
White Male
Roughly 6′ 2″ tall
Wearing a paperboy-style hat – gray
Black flannel-material jacket
(Average) build
Blue water bottle in hand
Either blue or green eyes, not brown
Scruffy in look – probably early- to mid-30’s in age
If you know who this is, the police report to reference is 15-450056.
LINCOLN PARK THIEF: Near Lincoln Park, a Tuesday theft was caught on video shared by the victim:
That video starts with a blue car heading right to left; forward the video to 1:28, where you’ll see someone walking into the video from the left, going down stairs, running back up with packages, and hopping into that same car, which takes off. The package’s owner explains:
On Tuesday, December 29th, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, this video shows at around 2:25 pm a Blue CRV slowly drove past our house, looked at recently delivered packages and then dropped off a thief (out of view) who stole the packages from our porch and then jumped back in the Blue CRV. Be on the look out for this guy and the car around West Seattle! A police report has been filed and any information you may have, or if you see the car and/or the man in the video, please contact Officer Jenkins, referencing incident 15-449867.
It was one of the biggest Seattle-city-government stories of 2015 and it’s going to be even bigger in 2016: How will the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda – aka HALA – affect you, your neighbors, your future neighbors? What do you need to know? How can you be part of the discussions and decision-making? The Morgan Community Association is hosting a briefing geared for all interested West Seattleites, right after an abbreviated version of their group’s quarterly meeting on January 20th, and they’ve sent early word so you can get it on your calendar:
Our first meeting of 2016 starts off with a bang! We will have a short regular MoCA meeting from 6:00 to 6:45 pm to do normal business and officer elections. At 7:00 pm we will transition to a West Seattle-wide presentation on two topics which will affect all neighborhoods; the implementation of the HALA “Grand Bargain” and upcoming code changes governing Mother-in-Law apartments and back yard cottages. All West Seattle community people are invited to attend and learn more about these and how to stay informed and get engaged. It is expected that the Mother-in-Law/Backyard Cottages code changes will go before City Council in late February, so now is the time to learn more.
Here’s the agenda for the HALA briefing/discussion:
Special West Seattle-wide Meeting: “HALA” – What’s It All About ??
7:00-8:00 pm
HALA: An Overview, The Grand Bargain, Focused Outreach and Next Steps
Jesseca Brand, City of Seattle Planning8:00-9:00 pm
Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADU’s or Backyard Cottages) and Attached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs or Mother-in-law Apartments)
Nick Welch, City of Seattle Planning
The meeting will be in the lower level meeting rooms at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.
Even if you didn’t feel it, the Vancouver Island earthquake late last night is another wakeup call reiterating the message that we all need to be ready, because someday we’re going to shake in a big way. So here are two maps you need to see. First, from West Seattle Be Prepared:
KNOW YOUR NEAREST WEST SEATTLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION HUB: Especially if you’re new to WS, this might be news to you. Preparedness volunteers in our area have been regional leaders in this unique aspect of preparedness – organizing “hubs” where you can go in case of catastrophe, to get information and seek help if the regular communication channels are down/damaged/unreliable. Click a spot on the map to get information on the location where volunteers plan to set up a hub if and when disaster strikes. If you don’t see one relatively close to you, that’s only because no one has come forward to lead the way in your area – here’s how you can help! And take some time to browse the WSBP website, which is an excellent resource packed with a variety of preparedness-related info.
Now, the second map you should see. You might have already taken a look, as this new city map was circulating in the days just BEFORE the quake:
SEATTLE NATURAL HAZARD EXPLORER: The city-produced map takes you through a variety of types of “natural hazards,” including earthquake risk, as explained in Seattle Times science reporter Sandi Doughton‘s story earlier this week. You can see the map (really, it’s more than a map) fullscreen by going here; in the condensed version above, you can use the arrows at the bottom to scroll through types of hazards. In each category, click the “i” at top right to open up a text box with information at the bottom of the map, including a tab that explains the map’s legend for that section. Among other things, the earthquake-risk view shows where the Seattle Fault travels through our peninsula.
If you can do it, our top recommendation for your to-do list today is to enjoy our spectacular West Seattle scenery. Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo of the Olympic Mountains’ best-known peaks, The Brothers, fully visible and snow-covered on this sunny morning. Now here’s what else you might consider for your list, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TECH HELP: West Seattle (Admiral) Library offers free one-on-one help with tech tools and services they have available, noon-3:45 pm today. Unlike most library events, you have to make an appointment in advance – our calendar listing explains how. (2306 42nd SW)
(added) BASKETBALL LIVE STREAM: If you can’t get to Mountlake Terrace High School to cheer on the undefeated West Seattle High School boys’ varsity basketball team vs. MTHS, you can watch the live stream at 3 pm – go here. (WSHS beat Marysville-Pilchuck in the MTHS Holiday Tournament on Tuesday, 60-43.)
WEST SEATTLE GET FIT: At 6:30 pm, it’s one more informational session for the free program at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) taking you “from couch to half-marathon” in the new year. Our preview has the details. (2743 California SW)
EXPRESS YOURSELF: Open-microphone night at The Skylark, one more time before it’s 2016 already. 8:30 pm (after 7:30 pm signups) – more info here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
PLAN YOUR NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY: West Seattle options – from parties to parading to plunging, with workouts and walks (and more!) inbetween – are atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide. Still time to add anything we’re missing – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Another between-holidays, no-school commute, but we’re on watch just in case. It’s been below freezing overnight, so be aware of potential iciness.
TRANSIT REMINDER: Metro continues on a “reduced weekday” schedule through tomorrow, and then will be on a Sunday schedule for Friday (New Year’s Day). Also on Friday, no Water Taxi.
(UPDATED NOON WEDNESDAY – scroll down)
(Photo courtesy Jim)
8:43 PM: A big Seattle Fire response is on the way to the 1300 block of SW Spokane [map], where a boat is reported to be on fire at an address that crossreferences to Jim Clark Marina. More to come.
8:57 PM: Avoid the area – SFD has even asked for the railroad track to be closed by BNSF.
(This photo and those below are by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli, added 10:28 pm)
They’ve had to lay hundreds of feet of hose to get to the burning boat(s), according to scanner traffic.
9:04 PM: The fire is reported to be under control. No word of any injuries. Our archives show it’s been five years since the last major fire at this marina.
9:18 PM: Media crews at the scene, including ours, are being kept behind a safety line; via the scanner, we’re hearing fire crews dealing with dock-safety issues too, and also a “small” flareup on the boat, which, a marina tenant told our photographer, is a 32-footer. We’re told Seattle Fire’s public-information officer is on the way.
9:36 PM: Two vessels are reported (monitored via scanner) to be “a complete loss.”
9:44 PM: The loss of two boats has just been confirmed at the scene by SFD, in a media briefing. (video added, with SFD spokesperson Corey Orvold)
(WSB video by Patrick Sand)
A third boat was damaged. Investigators are on the way to find out how the fire started; the Coast Guard and EPA also are en route to check on whether there’s been a fuel spill or any other environmental effects.
The dock will remain closed tonight, so other boat owners thinking of coming down to check on their boats won’t be able to reach them.
10:21 PM: SFD has just tweeted that the two boats that burned have sunk and that two others were damaged.
ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: More views of the fire and how it was fought, on the Duwamish and on the shore. The two photos below are by Aaron Bocchetti, the video by Michelle Edwards.
No announcement yet of how it started.
WEDNESDAY NOON UPDATE: SFD’s Orvold tells us there’s still no word on the cause: “The fire investigators are working with the marina’s owner to bring the boats to the surface so they can further their investigation. This process could take a while.” We were at the marina around 10:30 am and noticed a USCG helicopter circling to inspect the scene from above.
Checking marina fire aftermath from the sky, @USCGPacificNW pic.twitter.com/MnkYGuKoYU
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 30, 2015
Some damage to the boathouse is visible. See this comment below for more information on one of the damaged boats.
No rain expected this New Year’s Eve, but the weather isn’t good news if you have respiratory challenges – the National Weather Service has issued an air-stagnation advisory for Seattle and vicinity, in effect 10 pm Wednesday through 10 am Monday. This means, as the advisory notes, that “due to limited movement of an air mass across the advisory area, pollution will increase to dangerous levels.” No burn ban so far, but that could change (you can check here or on the WSB West Seattle Weather page). It’ll be colder than usual, too – highs in the 30s, lows in the 20s.
“I can’t stand that this is happening in my neighborhood. We have kids walking around. Screw these guys.” So wrote Colton Lloyd in the WSB comment that informed us he had uploaded that surveillance video to YouTube, showing the December 15th gunfire outside Seamart at 16th and Holden in Highland Park. We reported on the incident that day, while police were searching; they found shell casings outside the store, and found a possible suspect vehicle in White Center, but we had few other details until now. After seeing the surveillance video that Colton, an employee, posted, we followed up with SPD and obtained the official report, which has more details, including what officers found at the scene besides casings:
Our routine check of city files show two sites where plans are apparently changing – one on Alki, one in Delridge:
(King County Assessor’s Office photos)
MORE UNITS FOR 1118 ALKI: When a potential development plan emerged in September at 1118 Alki Avenue SW, it was proposed for five units. Now a new early-stage plan proposes to replace the single-family houses at 1118 and 1122 (95 and 73 years old, respectively) with a six-story, 11-unit building with 17 off-street parking spaces behind the building (which is described on a document as both “apartment” and “condominium”). No formal application yet but we’ll watch the files. Real-estate records show 1118 Alki, listed at $1.9 million, is in the process of being sold “pending feasibility.”
POTENTIAL LIVE-WORKS AT 5448 DELRIDGE: More than a year ago, we noted a plan for this site between Cottage Grove Commons and Martin’s Way – proposing a one-story office building with a “pre-fab metal frame.” Now, a document filed this month seeks “paid coaching” with the city regarding “setbacks, unit count, design review for live-work project.” In the meantime, city files also show the city’s been investigating work at the site allegedly beyond the scope of current permits.
On New Year’s Eve-Eve, you can jump-start your 2016 fitness plans with West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor). WSR co-proprietor Lori McConnell says they’ve scheduled another info night for their free West Seattle Get Fit couch-to-half-marathon program, tomorrow (Wednesday, December 30th) at 6:30 pm:
We will train participants to complete a half marathon in June (there are several to choose from). Participants will start with one mile on Saturday, January 2nd, at 8 am at West Seattle Runner. This is a program for beginners! It is free. Participants can run as a group on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings and will get a plan to follow. We will also provide several free clinics along the way to increase knowledge for runners. We do have walkers do the program as well, so walkers and runners are welcome.
WSR is at 2743 California SW.
Looking to learn more in 2016? The Field Trip Society sends word it’s headed this way for the first time. From “field tripper in chief” Cambria Cox:
We offer classes and adventures for curious grownups … a great way to kick off the new year is to learn about fermenting and probiotics at our workshop on January 10th at the Puget Ridge Co-housing Kitchen from 2:00 – 4:00. Hadar Iron from In Ferment will be teaching the class. You can learn more about us and see our winter schedule at fieldtripsociety.com.
P.S. More places you can find classes/workshops in West Seattle:
–WS Community Centers (WSB sponsor)
–Continuing Education at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)
–Seattle Farm School
(Other suggestions?)
(Red-breasted merganser, photographed by Matt Olson)
While getting ready for the changing of the calendar – see the New Year’s Eve/Day listings in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – there’s plenty to keep you busy today/tonight too. From our regular year-round calendar:
GIVE A LIFE-SAVING GIFT: As previewed here on Monday, today’s the day you can donate blood and help local college student Dennise Lopez, who’s co-hosting the drive, earn scholarship money. 10-noon and 1-4 pm at Holy Family. (20th SW & SW Roxbury)
MORNING MOVIE: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” will be shown at Southwest Library, 11:30 am. Snacks provided! (35th SW & SW Henderson)
‘LET IT GO … LET IT GO …’: Sing along with “Frozen” when the movie’s shown at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 3 pm. (2306 42nd SW)
DROP-IN CHESS: 4:30 pm at High Point Library, kids/teens of all skill levels welcome.
Q & A 4 FUN: Trivia at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No incidents reported in our area so far this morning.
TRANSIT REMINDER: Metro continues on a “reduced weekday” schedule through Thursday, and then will be on a Sunday schedule for Friday (New Year’s Day).
Thanks to the West Seattleite who just shared this story. They can be very convincing, or intimidating – as learned by the person whose story we published last May – but some may not be aware of this:
I thought that the residents of West Seattle might like to know that there are phone scammers (identity thieves) a’ trolling.
Around 3:30 this afternoon I received a call from someone who claimed that he was a lieutenant with the Seattle police department. He alleged that there was a warrant for my arrest, because (are you ready?) I had failed to show up for jury duty on 15 December after having been mailed a summons on December 2, 2015.
This miscreant tried to get me to give him my credit card number to pay the $800 “fine” which he informed me would be refunded to me when I appeared in court tomorrow at 3:00 PM.
Additionally, he informed me that if I failed to pay today, I would be arrested on the warrant when I appeared AND I would have to spend the New Year’s holiday in jail!
I said that I’d be sure to bring my toothbrush when I appeared tomorrow.
I was, by this time, screaming and profane. “Lt. Fred Burns” then informed me that I was failing to follow a direct order by an officer and that I could be arrested for that and because I was being so uncooperative he was going to send a squad car and the deputies would be executing the warrant immediately.
I said, “Please go for it! I’m going to go get dressed properly for my impending incarceration!” I then hung up on him!
The King County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning back in September, too.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
RECOGNIZE THOSE BENCHES? If you do – you might be able to solve a case of illegal dumping that happened around 10:30 pm Saturday night in Westwood, on 24th SW near Thistle. Dumping is a problem in more than a few spots around West Seattle, but this time a surveillance camera caught it happening:
The camera’s owner says, “I’ve reported a lot of dumping and graffiti in the neighborhood but first time we recorded dumping live. … It’s about the 4th time dumping has occurred in that exact spot on our lot in the last 9 years.” If you have any information that might help track down the dumpers – the video’s been provided to police, too – contact them and refer to case #15-447815.
Also from the WSB inbox:
CAR PROWL: From Jeremiah in Gatewood, at 39th SW and SW Orchard:
Our Honda Element which we leave virtually empty and unlocked was gone through last night. The glove box was left open and papers were everywhere. Nothing of value is ever left in the car. It looks like several other cars on the block were hit.
STOLEN ITEMS RECOVERED: One night earlier, Collin‘s cargo trailer was broken into in the 5400 block of 48th SW, and tools were stolen. Hours later, they got some of them back, and he says this is how it happened: His wife Amber mentioned the theft on Facebook, and got a message that tools resembling theirs were spotted on OfferUp – someone in Burien was trying to sell them. Collin and Amber went to a Burien Police station and in the meantime managed to arrange to meet the sellers to see if they could identify their tools before officers moved in – Collin says they wanted to meet up in a public place but the sellers invited them to their house instead. With police following, they headed over. Almost instantly, he was shown his own pressure washer – which even had his surname written on the bottom. He relayed a message to his wife outside to have police move in, and they did. He’s not sure whether they made arrests or are compiling evidence for a wider investigation, “but all in all we recovered more than probably 99.9% of the people ever burglarized.”
(WSB photo from last year’s Rainbow Girls tree-cycling event)
The West Seattle Rainbow Girls just announced they’ll have a by-donation tree-recycling dropoff again this year, on the day after New Year’s: Next, Saturday, January 2, 9 am-2 pm, in the parking lot outside the Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Ave SW. Cash donations accepted. No need to cut your tree into sections – as is requested for city tree-cycling – but no tinsel or flocking, please.
Yes, coyotes do emerge in the daytime. The photo is courtesy of Michael, who says, “Just saw this guy at 12:30 at 35th and Hinds!! End of 35th arterial.” [map] We also had a text about this time Saturday, mentioning one seen “running down at Admiral at 53rd.” Though they’re believed to do most hunting at night, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s “Living With Coyotes” one-sheet advises they do go out in daylight if they’re hungry. Remember, authorities advise that the best way to encourage them to keep their distance is to do your best to “haze” them if you see them – yell, wave your arms, throw rocks.
Archived WSB coyote reports are here, newest to oldest.
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