West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
(WSB photos and video by co-publishers Patrick Sand and Tracy Record)
2:28 PM: From cake judging to drumming to pumpkin-painting, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is on! 9100 block of California SW (Fauntleroy Church, Y, Schoolhouse), both sides of the street:
Even behind the schoolhouse – which is where you’ll find the critters, including Gideon the miniature donkey and Buttercup the miniature horse:
Don’t miss a thing, now until 5:30 pm. Even if you’re from elsewhere on the peninsula, friendly folks like Fauntleroy Community Association president David Haggerty are here to welcome you:
Lots of activities to keep kids busy – this is no spectator festival! They can build birdboxes:
That’s in the church parking lot, where you’ll find some of the live music until the big tent, too. (added) Here’s a quick Instagram clip of Lauren Petrie, popular for playing at dances around West Seattle and beyond:
Festival info’s all in our West Seattle Sunday preview.
6:03 PM: Festival’s over; we’re continuing to add photos and video. Here’s Dance! West Seattle (headquartered in Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, performing today in the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall):
That’s from their preview of the annual “Magical Doll Maker” holiday production, as explained here. Back across at The Hall, the cakewalk was a hot ticket:
It followed the judging of cakes created by community members – the big winner, this owl cake:
The owl cake was the creation of Aine McMahon-Grace:
In addition to Aine’s creation, the ferry cake caught our eye:
And there was a “beginners” category including these two:
Back over in the church parking lot, central festival venue, the Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) booth was selling pulled-pork sandwiches, with Elliot (below, center) on hand to help:
Fall in Fauntleroy is also about celebrating salmon, and again this year, creek/watershed steward Judy Pickens assisted young festivalgoers in the creation and decoration of salmon hats:
You can help call the salmon home by joining the annual drumming/singing event at the Fauntleroy Creek Overlook (across from the ferry dock) next Sunday (October 27th), 5 pm.
Back to today’s festival – other volunteers in action included Kathleen Steele and Pat inside the Fauntleroy Y (WSB sponsor):
Outside, FCA board member Kathleen Dellplain was on balloon duty:
And it’s not the Fauntleroy Fall Festival without a stiltwalker sighting:
Also with a great overview of the festival – young wall-climbers!
Remember the pumpkin-painting at the start of our story? By mid-afternoon, there were painted pumpkins aplenty:
Besides the mentioned-earlier salmon-homecoming event next Sunday, lots more coming up in Fauntleroy – watch fauntleroy.net (and the WSB calendar) for event updates, including between-festivals fundraisers for the FFF.
The spokesperson for the unions that have given strike notice to QFC, Safeway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer says no deal yet. That’s from a media-advisory e-mail sent by Tom Geiger, who says about 30 hours remain in the 72-hour notice given to the chains on Friday night; he also says workers plan a rally at 7 tonight by the “countdown clock” set up at Westlake Park downtown. A strike would NOT affect Metropolitan Market, Thriftway, or PCC (WSB sponsors), though they are unionized; they have separate contracts with their workers.
More simple additions for your “Go Bag” – what you need to get by in case of catastrophe – as we arrive at Day 20 of our day-by-day packing project, in honor of Washington State Diaster Preparedness Month. Today’s instructions from West Seattle Be Prepared:
You’ve been packing food; time to put in plastic silverware, plates, bowls and/or assorted plastic containers with lids. I would recommend 1 plastic plate, one spork, and one plastic container with lid per person, but most folks have paper plates on hand and those would work as well. A small kitchen knife could be added. You don’t have to stock up a kitchen – just something to hold that soup and canned foods you’ve put in.
Catching up? Previous installments are archived in reverse-chronological order here. Plus – get another preparedness-info boost at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network – go here for details.
The most recent West Seattle coyote reports shared by WSB readers:
*From Greg this morning: “Saw a few coyotes today at Brandon and 29th along the Longfellow Creek entrance.” [map]
*From Christopher on Saturday afternoon: “Pretty sure I just saw a coyote in the alley between Fauntleroy and 39th and Graham and Morgan.” [map]
*From Karen on Friday: “2 coyotes seen on 98th & 39th Ave SW, 5:30 pm Friday Oct. 18th, just 2 blocks off the top of Fauntleroy Park.” [map]
*From Chris, also early Friday evening: “Just saw a lone coyote poking around in the alley behind our house at 30th and Webster. It headed off down Webster.” [map]
*And on Thursday, Rachael reported that her “neighbor just saw a coyote on 10th & Elmgrove in Highland Park.” [map]
To wrap up this roundup, something new: Ron, who reads WSB daily from his residence in Mexico, sends “coyote news from elsewhere” on occasion. This week, he e-mailed a link from TV’s “Dog Whisperer,” headlined Five Ways to Keep Your Dogs Safe From Coyotes.
Thanks to Joan for the reminder that the state is midway through a public-comment period on whether to charge tolls on the I-90 bridge, so if you have an opinion, now’s the time to share it. This week, there are two public meetings – 4:30-7:30 pm tomorrow at Mercer Island High School, 4-7 pm Wednesday at the Northwest African American School in Seattle. Full details on both are on this page, along with links where you can sign up NOW to speak at either meeting. You can also comment by e-mail: i90eiscomments@wsdot.wa.gov.
Tolling has been proposed on I-90 to, in part, raise money for the new 520 bridge; this PDF includes more on this round of the comment process as well as the options that are under consideration – not with price tags, but with configurations, such as “just toll from Seattle to Mercer Island” or “just toll the HOV lanes.” This round of commenting runs through November 6th; a final decision is expected in 2015.
(Lincoln Park in the fog, by Michelle Riggen-Ransom, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Not far from where that photo was taken, Fauntleroy’s big Fall Festival happens this afternoon, and it’s at the heart of today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITYWIDE TRAFFIC ALERTS: In a Saturday comment, GMT mentioned that 4th is closed at Jackson on the south side of downtown; that northbound detour, scheduled to be in effect until late tonight, is part of the citywide-alerts roundup you can see here if you’re planning on heading off-peninsula today.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The market is in its usual spot 10 am-2 pm today BUT remember that NEXT Sunday (October 27), it will move into the streets as part of the second annual West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. (44th/Alaska)
WORK PARTY AT CHINESE GARDEN: 10 am-noon, you are invited to help keep the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden beautiful. It’s just north of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
GEAR SWAP, DAY 2: 11 am-3 pm, Mountain to Sound Outfitters‘ annual winter gear swap concludes. Not at the store – a few doors down, at American Legion Post 160 Hall. (3618 SW Alaska)
DAKOTA PLACE PARK NEEDS YOU! The park just north of The Junction can use some TLC going into late fall/winter, so your help 1-3 pm today will be much appreciated. Details here. (California/Dakota)
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: 2-5:30 pm today, in and around Fauntleroy Schoolhouse and Fauntleroy Church/Y! Music, performances, pumpkin-painting, pony rides, a percussion jam for teens … Lots of info in our previews:
*Festival lineup here
*Focus on “green” activities and music here
*Dance! West Seattle preview here
*Baking a cake to bring for the cakewalk (pre-festival)? Info here
The venues are right across the street from each other, 9131 and 9140 California SW (map); there’s parking behind the schoolhouse, and the RapidRide C Line stops right by the church/schoolhouse. See you there!
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: The theme for today’s meeting is “On a Stick,” so cook a recipe that qualifies and bring it to the 3 pm WSCC meetup at Beveridge Place Pub. (6419 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AND MORE ON THE CALENDAR … what we’ve spotlighted above is only PART of what’s up today/tonight; go here for the rest.
(Video and most photos added postgame)
The annual Huling Bowl game – cross-peninsula high-school varsity football, West Seattle vs. Chief Sealth – is over, and for the second consecutive year after a long WSHS win streak, Sealth keeps the trophy, breaking the game open in the second half and winning 49-19. Our as-it-happened coverage from West Seattle Stadium is below; post-game video with the Luther Carr-coached Seahawks jubilantly claiming the trophy is above, and we will be adding numerous photos below in the hours ahead, so check this story again in the morning to see what happened not only during but also before the game:
******
ORIGINAL REPORT, BEGINNING AT 7:04 PM: The big game is on – Chief Sealth Seahawks vs. West Seattle Wildcats, varsity football with the Huling Bowl trophy at stake.
We’ll be updating from West Seattle Stadium as it goes.
7:18 PM: First score of the game, with 4:43 left in the first quarter – Chief Sealth, touchdown by #7, LeeAndre Dickerson. Extra point is good, 7-0 CSIHS.
7:35 PM: First quarter’s over, score still Sealth 7, WSHS 0.
Lot of turnovers.
8:02 PM: Second touchdown in the game is also #7, LeeAndre Dickerson, for Sealth, seen in our Instagram clip:
No point after; score’s now 13-0 Sealth, with 2:26 left in the first half. The marching bands have left the stands to get ready for the halftime show.
8:14 PM: The Wildcats are on the board, with #12 Carter Golgart scoring a TD with :25 to go in the first half.
Attempted two-pointer failed afterward; score now 13 CSIHS, 6 WSHS.
8:19 PM: It’s halftime – still Sealth 13, WSHS 6. (added)The bands took the field.
Instagram clip from the combined bands’ performance:
Band directors Marcus Pimpleton (Sealth) and Ethan Thomas (WSHS):
8:38 PM: The second half has just begun. Good fan turnout on both sides.
8:46 PM: Sealth #42, Marquise Givens (above), just scored a TD, with the point after by #34, Edgar Marquez. It’s now Seahawks 20, Wildcats 6, with 9:48 left in the third quarter.
8:49 PM: And after #59, Sam Tino, came up with the ball again for Sealth, #2, Brady Crane got a 45-yard TD on the reverse. Point after good. Now 27-6 Sealth with 9:26 to go in the third quarter.
9:00 PM: West Seattle answers with another touchdown by #12, Carter Golgart (above), but the 2-point conversion attempt failed. It’s now Sealth 27, WSHS 12 (two-point conversion failed), 5:33 left in 3rd quarter.
9:09 PM: It’s a night for scoring two TDs, at least for the three players between both teams who’ve had TDs so far. Now there’s another for Sealth by #42, Marquise Givens. It’s 36 CSIHS, 12 WSHS.
9:18 PM: Third quarter is over, still 36-12 Sealth. Meantime, thanks to CSIHS’s Twitter crew for informing us that #42 has the wrong name on the printed roster – those two TD’s are the work of Marquise Givens, and we’re editing the above updates to reflect that.
9:20 PM: Another Sealth TD with 10:18 to go in the game. #41, Allen Delker.
9:30 PM: With 7:23 to go, a quarterback-keeper TD by #12 Weston Reed. It’s now Sealth 49, WSHS 12.
9:36 PM: The Wildcats answer – West Seattle’s #5 Carter Mensing with a TD, 4:39 left in the game. 49-19 Sealth. Some spectators have left but a lot of dedicated fans remain. Last year, by the way, was the first time in memory that Sealth won the Huling Bowl – that was a close game (19-15). Two minutes now remain in this one.
9:46 PM: It’s final, 49-19 Sealth over WSHS for the Huling Bowl. Trophy to come.
****
ADDED: Pre-game scenes – WSHS staff including Principal Ruth Medsker were at the grill for the free barbecue:
Wildcat-spirit treats were part of a bake sale to raise money for the cheer squad:
Speaking of whom:
We photographed their CSIHS counterparts practicing pre-game:
Back in the parking lot, the tailgating continued:
A short time later, the home team’s band marched in, and it was on:
****
Next week, the final games of the regular season. It’s West Seattle’s homecoming game on Thursday (October 24) at Southwest Athletic Complex, against Nathan Hale; Sealth is on the road Friday (October 25th) vs. Ingraham at Northwest Athletic Complex.
Thanks to “Diver Laura” James for sharing photos from today’s fall edition of Duwamish Alive! cleanup, more than half a dozen work parties on and around the waters of the Duwamish River.
If you missed the chance to help out today – the next Duwamish Alive! events will be in the spring, and you can watch the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for numerous community-cleanup opportunities between now and then.
The big tent went up this morning in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot, one of the three main venues for tomorrow afternoon’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival, 2-5:30 pm. This afternoon, we have the festival lineup, shared by Judy Pickens – from activities to live entertainment to food/drink:
For a larger view, the full-size PDF is here. Weather looks promising; the Seahawks already have played this week, so there’s no football distraction; no excuse not to come be part of it on Sunday afternoon, in and around the church/Y building and the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street (9100 block California SW).
P.S. If you’re a cake-baker, there’s still time to create one for the Cake Walk (prizes!) – here’s how.
This time around in the day-by-day “Go Bag” building series – featured on WSB so you can do something meaningful during Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month – today’s bag-building step involves something you can’t buy at the store, though you might still have to spend a little money to make it happen if you don’t have anything to use to copy or scan. From West Seattle Be Prepared:
Make copies of your important papers and put them in a waterproof bag in your kit. Here’s a list of what to consider including: identification cards, insurance policies, birth certificates, passports, glasses prescriptions. Also include a picture of each family member and pet; these can be especially helpful should you get separated and have to search for each other later.
And in today’s reminder that our most common type of disaster – Wyoming, seldom hit by earthquakes according to US Geological Survey records, had one on Friday, magnitude 3.6; today, a magnitude 6.5 quake hit in the Gulf of California.
Catching up? Previous installments are archived in reverse-chronological order here.
As noted last night, Tuesday’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will focus on emergency preparedness; details here.
The stars of the show, the pumpkins – priced in small, medium, large – were arrayed as if they were the greeters when we stopped by the Lincoln Park P-Patch Pumpkin Festival about an hour ago. The P-Patch isn’t actually at the park – it’s at what was the Lincoln Park Annex before it was renamed Solstice Park, a little bit uphill from the tennis courts on the east side of Fauntleroy Way (look for the festively decorated sign before turning). Right across from the pumpkins, before you get to the plants, bulbs, and bake sale, is this quilt:
$2 gets you a raffle ticket, benefiting the P-Patch Trust. This is all continuing until 1 pm, so get there fast!
Back on Wednesday, the first day of the “soft launch” for the new ‘Zaw take-and-bake pizza shop at 35th and Fauntleroy, Jennifer shared that photo of her son Owen with pizza maker Aidan, as they picked up the first of dozens of free pizzas given away via RSVP. No more freebies, but today is the shop’s official opening day; hours are 2-9 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2-8 pm Sundays-Thursdays. Here’s their menu, all takeout – pizza, salad, take-and-bake dessert, and beverages, including wine and beer. ‘Zaw is a local chain with eight other locations in Seattle and on the Eastside.
You’re never too young to volunteer, and here’s photographic proof: Students Lowen and Meah are working right now at Arbor Heights Elementary School‘s Fall Cleanup. The parent volunteer who shared the photo says they’re among at least 10 kids who are helping out; the work party continues around the AHES campus until noon.
ADDED 11:25 AM: More volunteers – Taytum, two-almost-three; Tiffany, parent; kindergarteners Derek and Kieran:
Any time you want to help out – browse the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which is where we list community cleanups as well as a multitude of other events, from live music to neighborhood meetings to library programs and way beyond!
Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing another excellent view of last night’s moonrise! It’ll be a while before we see the sun today, but there is MUCH to do, so get on out into the fog and check out some of the following:
TRAFFIC ALERT: No word if the fog is affecting this, but the weekly road-work “lookahead”listed lane closures on the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge this morning, until 1 pm, for inspections. The WSB Traffic page includes camera views from the bridge, if you want to check for backups.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, it’s an all-school open house at Westside School (WSB sponsor):
Prospective families will have an opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the campus as well as speak to teachers about their program. In addition, Westside School is offering weekly tours by reservation. The PreK-8th grade application deadline is January 14, 2014.
Westside is at 7740 34th SW.
LINCOLN PARK P-PATCH PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: Just uphill from the tennis courts across from northern Lincoln Park, you’ll find the Lincoln Park P-Patch and its Pumpkin Harvest Festival – with carving and pie pumpkins, a bake sale, seeds and bulbs, and more – details in our calendar listing. 10 am-1 pm. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! You can volunteer at one of several sites along the Duwamish River and/or in its watershed, from West Seattle to South Park to Tukwila, for today’s 10 am-2 pm twice-yearly work party. Details here and in our preview, which includes a map of the sites.
GEAR SWAP: 10 am-6 pm today, come see what’s available at the winter gear swap presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters. But don’t go to the store – the swap is happening a few doors down at the American Legion Hall. (3618 SW Alaska)
PET ADOPTION EVENT: 10 am-2 pm at Umpqua Bank in the Admiral District – details here. (2620 California SW)
CASPAR BABYPANTS LIVE: The monthly Family Fun Series at High Point Community Center resumes with this morning’s 10:30 am performance by Caspar Babypants – details (including ticket prices) in our calendar listing. (6920 34th SW)
OPERA PREVIEW: The West Seattle chapter of the Seattle Opera Guild comes to The Kenney (WSB sponsor) for a preview of “Daughter of the Regiment.” They’ll also be selling the new “Entertainment” book as a benefit. 3:30 pm. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
‘WAG THE DOG’ – AND MORE: If the now-over government shutdown, the impending elections, or both have you in the mood to talk politics, start your night with the Admiral Theater‘s screening of this classic political satire, 4 pm.
Tickets are $8, OR you can see it as part of a $30 package with the 7:30 pm performance of ArtsWest‘s “The Taming” and a post-play discussion, as explained here. (The Admiral’s at 2343 California SW, ArtsWest is at 4711 California SW)
HULING BOWL: West Seattle High School is this year’s host for the crosstown football clash with a trophy at stake, and it’s starting things off with 5:30 pm tailgating at West Seattle Stadium before the 7 pm game against Chief Sealth International High School. (4432 35th SW)
UKULELES AT THE FEEDBACK: “Seattle’s loudest ukulele band” The Castaways‘ CD release party is tonight at 9:30 pm, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). (6451 California SW)
Exactly three weeks until the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Lunch – perfect time to get your ticket. SWSHS has landed a well-known West Seattleite, broadcaster Dave Beck, as speaker; here’s the newest update on the November 9th event:
With an inspiring program featuring Dave Beck, a dessert dash, a silent auction full of intriguing items, good friends, great food, a historic West Seattle setting, and “the best view of Seattle in Seattle,” the annual Champagne Gala Lunch is a can’t-miss date.
In fact, it promises to be as fun as its centennial theme: “Tripping the Lighthouse Fantastic”!
The event, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 9th, at Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave. SW.
Tickets are $75 adults, $45 teens 13-18, $25 children 4-12, and children under 4 free. Order yours by visiting loghousemuseum.info and using the “Make a Donation” button toward the bottom of the home page, specifying that your donation is for ticket(s) to the gala.
Beck, the featured speaker, has been a genial fixture of Seattle’s public-radio airwaves and classical-music scene for 28 years, and he has deep roots in West Seattle.
His parents’ livelihood stemmed from Boeing, and from age 10, Dave grew up in Fauntleroy, attending Gatewood Elementary School, Denny Junior High School, and Chief Sealth High School before graduating in music from the University of Washington.
He has lived in West Seattle since 1996, first in Westwood and since 2006 in Admiral.
Best known for his award-winning, on-air conversations with local, national and international luminaries in all fields of culture, Dave is an accomplished and busy cellist who recently joined KING-FM as on-air classical-music host.
From 1985 through the summer of 2013, he carved an impressive career as producer, host and music director at KUOW-FM for insightful programs that included “Weekday,” “KUOW Presents,” and “The Beat.”
For the Champagne Gala Lunch, Dave will bring a constellation of stories from his interviews of well-known West Seattleites, as well as reflections on why he and his family chose – and continue to choose – West Seattle as their home.
You can also call 206-938-5293 to reserve seat(s) at the SWSHS gala, and if you’re still deciding, go here, where you’ll also find a video invitation by Beck, and a two-minute video history of event sponsor Nucor Steel. (WSB is a media sponsor for the gala – see you there!)
12:39 AM: Big Seattle Fire response now on the way to what was reported to be a possible townhouse fire in the 2600 block of SW Holden – but the first crew on scene was told it’s apparently out.
1:03 AM: The call is closed.
Three sights around West Seattle tonight:
We start with the mesmerizing moonrise, photographed by Carolyn Newman. (This means Saturday morning could bring a wonderful moonset IF the fog keeps its distance; you can check moonrise/moonset, and sunrise/sunset, times on the WSB Weather page.) Right before tonight’s moonrise/sunset, we were in The Junction, where we spotted firefighters from Junction-based Ladder 11 asking people to help them Fill The Boot for MDA:
(This photo & next one, by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Their donation collections at California/Alaska were just steps away from where Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) was celebrating Anniversary #9:
Proprietors Frances and John Smersh were there until 9 pm with snacks and sips for everyone who stopped in to help them celebrate. It’s been three years already since they moved the shop south from the Admiral District to its current home at 4540 California SW in The Junction.
Two weeks to go as we continue building a “Go Bag” one day at a time, with the help of West Seattle Be Prepared, as a meaningful way to observe Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month.
Today’s inspiration, if you need some – a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in Utah. Yes, they happen everywhere. But we have the advantage of knowing The Big One is expected here someday, so we can prepare.
So – about that bag. Next thing to put into it, according to WSBP – more food:
Today you should put cans of vegetables, beans, chili, or stew in, especially things that do not require heating or more water to prepare, just in case. Seriously, even SPAM is not a bad idea. The focus for today is to have veggies and proteins in your bag, so whatever you like, put it in!
If you’re falling behind, or still haven’t started, another weekend is hours away and that’s a great chance to catch up. This is something that could make a life-or-death difference in case of a disaster. So if you need to review, revisit, or get started – our previous installments are all archived in reverse-chronological order here.
P.S. We’ve just been reminded that next Tuesday’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network will focus on emergency preparedness, in which many of the group’s members/leaders are involved. Details here.
7:29 PM: This means a strike could happen as soon as Monday night for union workers at Safeway, QFC, Albertsons, Fred Meyer. This does NOT involve all union grocery workers in our area – those chains have not reached a contract agreement; other stores have separate contracts in effect. The unions that just gave the chains 72 hours’ notice say they’ll brief the media at 9 pm; we’ll add more info to this story when that happens.
1 AM: The 9 pm briefing was at Westlake downtown, where the potential strikers unveiled a big countdown clock. Here’s an update from our partners at The Seattle Times.
(WSB video of Justin Wood being taken from courtroom post-sentencing)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In King County Superior Court this past hour, Judge Julie Spector has just given 25-year-old West Seattle serial burglar Justin Wood a sentence of less than 4 years under the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative law, after emotional pleas from several of his victims – and after giving him her own furious rebuke.
We published multiple reports about Wood’s crimes earlier this year. He is the burglar arrested twice in one week (one scene, at 48th/Findlay, is in the photo at right), as reported in February, at which time we learned he had confessed to numerous burglaries, and was already facing charges in a case from last fall. In August, we reported on the plea bargain that led to this afternoon’s sentencing.
Judge Spector mentioned before the hearing that she had received letters from many other victims in the two months since Wood pleaded guilty to seven burglaries as well as attempted burglary and two gun thefts. He has no felony history; the state had recommended the “high-end” sentence of about 7 years.
“This has been my case from the very beginning,” said deputy prosecuting attorney Darren Thompson. “We’re in an interesting situation because the defendant confessed to 28 residential burglaries” among other things. “Mr. Wood actually came forward… he drove around with (a detective) and showed him all the victims’ houses … to be fair, some of them would never have been solved (otherwise).”
He added that the state also left it open for the defense lawyer to request a “prison-based DOSA,” – Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative – since “Mr. Wood obviously suffered from a drug addiction when these crimes were committed.” But, “these are crimes that cannot be fixed… (if he) served the 44 months (that such a sentence would involve), it would not be enough.”
And that was clear, once the victims in the courtroom came forward to tell their stories, mostly through tears and/or anger.
The first victim to speak to the judge said he had a message directly for the criminal: “You should know that you violated my life in a very personal way. … My life has changed since the day you broke into my family’s home and you stole part of our lives. You didn’t just steal money and objects but part of our lives … Among the items … were a couple that really hurt … You stole my wedding ring. That can never be replaced. … not with the same one that I put on my finger the day I got married.” The man struggled with tears. “You stole $80 from my 7-year-old son’s wallet. Can you imagine …”
He broke down again and apologized for that to Judge Spector, who told him not to apologize. So he continued:
“Can you imagine my son, one of the happiest kids on earth … he worked really hard to save that money and was so proud … can you imagine how upset he was when I had to tell him someone broke into our house and took his money.”
Others in the courtroom were audibly crying by that point.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”
*On Wednesday the 9th, officers investigated an altercation between friends in the 6500 block of 44th SW. But it was quickly apparent that the real issue was the living conditions of the 64-year-old homeowner: Feces covered the bathroom floor and the kitchen was littered with dirty dishes. Paper goods piled on top of the stove were deemed a fire hazard. A cat was found in the basement; its litter box was a solid block (from “months of not being changed,” the officer speculated). And the officer saw no food or water available for the cat. Adult services has been requested to visit the man and evaluate his situation, and Animal Control has been requested to check on the cat’s welfare.
*On the 3rd, an officer on the Spokane St. Viaduct clocked a westbound car going 49 mph in the 35 mph zone. He caught up to the car and activated his lights, but the driver sped off at speeds up to 80 mph. She refused to yield and almost rear-ended a car at the intersection of 35th SW and Fauntleroy. The officer stopped the pursuit but later found the car in the 3800 block of Belvidere SW. The registered owner was driving with a suspended license and had multiple speeding tickets. The car was impounded.
Five more summaries ahead:Read More
For more than a week, we’ve been tracking demolition on the site of Equity Residential‘s two-building West Seattle Junction project. Above is the east half, at 42nd/Alaska, where final cleanup is under way. Susan Melrose of the WS Junction Association tells WSB they’ve been notified that demolition will begin Monday on the west-side building at California/Alaska:
Note the protective enclosures on the trees; Melrose also says that sidewalks around that building will be closed TEMPORARILY for next week’s demolition work.
First, she shares the notice from the general contractor, Andersen Construction:
Demolition of the West Building located at 4706 California Avenue SW will commence on Monday 10/21/13. The sidewalks and parking located along California Avenue and SW Alaska Street will be closed to pedestrians during this time. Demolition work will be complete by 10/25/13.
Next, Melrose’s update, stressing that this is a temporary closure:
The Junction Association is working with the construction company to minimize impacts to our neighborhood and to keep The Junction walkable. I would like to convey to the neighborhood that this will be the only time that the sidewalks on California Ave and Alaska St will be closed. The next 18 months might be noisy and at times inconvenient, but your loyal Junction businesses look forward to your continued patronage. The demolition of this building is a notable day in Junction history.
Some of that history was discussed in this WSB update, which included a half-century-old aerial photo of the area.
Project backstory: The Equity buildings are both planned at seven stories, totaling about 200 apartments, with more than 200 underground parking spaces and ground-floor retail (no tenants announced yet). The project went through the city approval process under its previous ownership, Bellevue-based Conner Homes, which put it up for sale in August 2011 (WSB coverage here) and closed the sale to Chicago-based Equity Residential in December 2011 (WSB coverage here). The businesses in the two buildings were cleared out in summer of last year, but construction was delayed – without explanation – until now.
From the latest edition of the city Land Use Information Bulletin, members are now being recruited for a committee that will review zoning “departures” – exceptions, basically – for the new Arbor Heights Elementary School. From the official notice, here’s what they want for the committee makeup:
1. A person residing within 600’ of the proposed site.
2. A person owning property or a business within 600’ of the proposed site.
3. Two representatives of the general neighborhood.
4. A representative-at-large to represent city-wide education issues.
5. Two representatives of the Arbor Heights PTSA.
6. A representative of the Seattle School District.
The proposed “departures,” according to the notice, involve “greater height, less-than-required parking and on-site bus loading.” If you’re interested in being part of the review committee, the notice explains how to apply; do it by the November 6th deadline. (Under the current construction schedule, this is Arbor Heights’ last year in the current, much-deteriorated building.)
| 7 COMMENTS