West Seattle, Washington
25 Friday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Amid a wave of persistent crime affecting local businesses, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce convened a public-safety forum for its members last night.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, and District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who chairs the Public Safety and Human Services Committee – answered questions for about an hour with more than 20 people in attendance at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. On behalf of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, restaurateur Dan Austin moderated, asking questions submitted in writing in advance.
First, here’s our video of the hour-long event:
If you can’t or don’t want to watch, here’s our summary of how it went:
First question, what’s being done about burglaries and other crimes happening at businesses?
From the “in case you wondered too” file – several people have mentioned a film crew at Don Armeni Boat Ramp today. We haven’t been able to get there to check but the reader who sent that photo reports that they’re working on a “Taco Time commercial.” Taco Time has shot in West Seattle before – here’s our mention of a shoot 14 years ago.
The fourth candidate to announce a campaign for the Seattle City Council District 1 seat is the first one who’s run for it before. Twice, in fact. Phil Tavel has just announced he’s running again. In 2015, Tavel finished third in the nine-candidate primary; in 2019, he made it to the general-election ballot, but Lisa Herbold won a second term. Now she is leaving the council and Tavel is making a third run for the job. He is a lawyer and administrative-law judge and former small-business owner who lives in Arbor Heights. According to his announcement (which you can read in full here), Tavel says he would “bring a deep passion for neighborhood small businesses to City Council, as well as nearly 20 years of working in the Criminal Justice System helping those in need. … As an Administrative Law judge and public defense attorney, I’ve seen how local government is failing all of us – especially our most vulnerable. Seattle City Council needs to stop saying ‘yes’ to everything and re-focus on the basics, like keeping our neighborhoods clean, safe, and prosperous for all. … Seattle deserves a City Council that is committed to delivering on its most fundamental promises.” His announcement notes that a new contract with Seattle’s police union “is now more than two-years overdue and must be finalized before we can even start to rebuild our police force.” In the announcement, Tavel also says, “The City must repair its broken system of public outreach and neighborhood councils so that City Leaders can more easily hear the concerns and thoughts of those people that they are meant to be serving.” We plan to talk with Tavel later this week for our next Council Candidate Chat – watch for that Sunday night (March 5th). He’s also having a campaign-kickoff event at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 6 pm Friday, March 10th.
Tavel is the fourth candidate to send an official campaign announcement, after Rob Saka earlier this month and Maren Costa and Preston Anderson last month. Formal filing week is May 15-19, so the field of candidates won’t be finalized until then; the primary election is August 1st.
(Barred Owl, photographed near Schmitz Park by Maria Johnson)
Looking ahead for the rest of today/tonight:
DONATE SOCKS: Last day for the sock drive – new, please – at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), open until 4 pm.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials and chess for all levels of expertise. For more information, contact Conwell: conwell@conwelld.net.”
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon, it’s the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is also viewable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
‘WRITING WITH THE DUWAMISH RIVER’: Not West Seattle, but of local interest: The four-week course previewed here starts tonight, 5-7 pm, at Hugo House on Capitol Hill (1634 11th Avenue). More info in our calendar listing.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
TRIVIA X 3: Three establishments where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can always see the future via our event calendar – if you have something to include on it, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The report and photo are from JP:
My 1995 Jeep Wrangler was stolen from the carport of my apartment building at 4301 SW Mills St. early Friday morning around 3 AM. It is painted with black truck-bed-lining enamel so it is not shiny. License CCN9198. SPD incident # 2023-52484.
Family and friends will gather March 12 to remember Phillip J. Morris. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community:
Phillip J. Morris, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend passed away suddenly at the age of 82 on February 9, 2023.
Phil was born on November 13, 1940 to James and Marjorie Morris. He grew up in West Seattle and graduated from West Seattle High in 1959. He was a member of the first Little League team in West Seattle. He graduated from Central Washington University and during his career he worked for Boeing, Pfizer, and spent many years at Todd Shipyard. He loved to ski (which he did until he was almost 80), hike, travel, working on home improvement projects, and was an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners.
He is survived by his wife Baiba, son Brad (Glynis), step-daughter Laila (Scott), grandchildren Ty, Malia, Ruby, and Micah Morris, and Lauren and Jenna Collins.
Memorial service will be held on March 12th at 3 pm at Fauntleroy Church, 9140 California Ave. SW.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6 AM: Good morning! It’s the last day of the month – Tuesday, February 28th.
WEATHER
As predicted, we got some snow overnight. Not major. , rain showers later, high in the 40s.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
Readers at tonight’s Bruce Springsteen concert at Climate Pledge Arena report The Boss showed some love to the West Seattle Food Bank again, as he did six years ago. A texter says the WSFB got a shoutout from the stage at the end and a pitch to donate – if you weren’t there but want to help anyway, here’s how! We’ll check in with WSFB in the morning to find out more.
Two West Seattle events in the next week welcome musicians as well as spectators:
PIANO BAR AT ‘THE JEWEL OF THE JUNCTION’: Pianist Larry Knapp invites you to the next monthly edition, this Thursday (March 2):
I will be your host at the piano with three of Seattle’s finest jazz artists joining me.
TONY FOSTER, Piano
MICHAEL BARNETT, Upright Bass
ERIC EAGLE, DrumsAt Piano Bar, we feature music of the Great American Songbook and the early jazz era. Bring your friends and come join the fun! Proceeds benefit the West Seattle Senior Center. 7-1 pm March 2 at the Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon), $10.
Tickets available at the door or you may click on the link below to secure your tickets online.
NEW OPEN MIC: And from Cole, an invitation to a new weekly open mic starting next Monday (March 6):
My name is Cole and I am the organizer and host of the BedHead Open Mic, a new weekly event hosted at the West Seattle Church Of The Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau)!
During our first month, we will be accepting donations for the development of Maarten Park, in honor of our friend and neighbor Maarten Verburg who passed away on February 13th after a nearly year-long battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Our first open mic will be held on Monday March, 6th. Sign up at 6:30 PM. Performances at 7 PM.
More information is here. For an explanation of Maarten Park, see the obituary we recently published for its namesake.
Four items in this West Seattle Crime Watch update:
CAR STOLEN FROM BUSINESS: From Todd at Swedish Automotive (35th/Kenyon; WSB sponsor) – a car belonging to the business has been stolen:
We had a customer bring the car back and put the keys in our after-hours drop box, but didn’t make sure they went into the secure slot, only back into the bin with the envelopes, and an unknown person with a mask, driving a dark gray Mitsubishi, drove in, snooped around and found the keys. Even though we captured it all on our Ring cameras, we can’t make out the plate number on the Mitsubishi. A short time later they returned on foot, walked up to the car and drove off in it. It is a blue Subaru Outback Lic # BWV1040 (it can be seen in the photos and video). Police case # 23-55795 if anyone has any info or recognizes the Mitsubishi or sees our Subaru.
Next, two followups:
DELRIDGE INTRUDER: The man arrested for allegedly unlawfully entering a Delridge home pleaded not guilty today to misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and attempted criminal trespass. The second charge is because he is accused of trying the door at another residence nearby. Bail is set at $2,000 for 45-year-old Bruce S. Prather, who also is scheduled for a competency hearing next week. Also of note, though the victim said police later told him they found a gun on the suspect, there is no mention in the police report or charging documents of any weapon. The documents do say the defendant was found with a driver license, debit card, and unopened packages that did not belong to him.
STOLEN-CAR CRASH: The 15-year-old arrested after a police pursuit ended near Delridge/Willow has been held in the Youth Services Center, after a judge found probable cause for investigation of possession of a stolen car. A decision on charges is expected shortly. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says he has a conviction on his record, for Felony Rendering Criminal Assistance in the First Degree, but regarding sentencing, his lawyer had “made a motion for deferred disposition, which was granted Feb. 8 by the court on multiple conditions – including no new probable cause offenses of law violations.” We’ll update if we get charging information tonight. (8:44 PM UPDATE: The documents aren’t accessible yet but the court files show he is charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle and reckless endangerment.)
And a “stolen-likely-dumped” report:
MISSING YOUR WHEELS? From Eric:
4 tires/wheels were left in the middle of our alley (Saturday night/Sunday morning).
These are very new, aftermarket wheels with like new Bridgestone tires.
Very likely stolen but not sure how they ended up here (near Morgan Junction).
I have them in my yard now; hopefully the rightful owner can get them back.
If they might be yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative (5444 Delridge Way SW) continues expanding the days/hours it’s open. Starting March 7th, they’ll be open on Tuesdays, 3-7 pm, This is thanks, the DGC announcement notes, to volunteer power – the DGC is an all-volunteer organization. If resources permit, the DGC announcement says, they hope to expand Saturday hours, too. For now, they’re open 3-7 pm Fridays and Mondays, 9:30 am-3 pm Saturdays, 11 am-3 pm Sundays. The store is open to all, but member-owners get a 10 percent discount the first Friday through Monday of each month, and once they add the extra day next week, that will extend to the first Tuesday of the month too. You can find out about membership here, and about volunteering here. (DGC also continues to sell “Essentials” produce boxes and uses volunteer help to deliver them on Saturdays, too.)
That photo was tweeted by @missmisti as snow showers moved through West Seattle this morning – big fluffy flakes for a while. More are on the way, according to the National Weather Service‘s newest regional alert – another Winter Weather Advisory, for 10 pm tonight through 10 pm Tuesday night. The heart of it:
Snow showers expected. Total snow accumulations of a trace to 2 inches for most locations. Isolated areas may receive 2 to 3 inches where heavier or more persistent snow showers develop. … The heaviest snowfall may occur between 6 to 10 AM Tuesday, which could affect the Tuesday morning commute.
11:48 AM: It’s been the most popular business-related question in the WSB inbox for weeks: When is the Westwood Village McDonald’s reopening? It closed six months ago for what a corporate spokesperson told us would be a “major transformation.” At least from the outside, the work has appeared complete – drive-up menu boards illuminated, among other things – so we’ve tried repeatedly to get official word on the reopening, but no reply from corporate spokespeople. So we’ve been going by daily to check. This morning we found a work crew member who told us his company had been told their work has to be finished in time for a “March 1st opening.” That’s this Wednesday. Not an official answer, but in lieu of corporate comment, it’s the best we have.(Let us know if you find it open sooner!)
4:59 PM: Commenter says it appears to be open now.
7:05 PM: We just went by. The entrances are coned off again, but it looks like more of a private party inside – balloons, etc.
(Snowy Sunday morning along the Duwamish River – photo by Ann Anderson)
Highlights for this afternoon/evening, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MONDAY MOVIE: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), “Terry’s Greatest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of,” today featuring “She Had to Say Yes.” Free popcorn! Advance registration required – our calendar listing explains how.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm, councilmembers preview the week ahead (here’s the agenda) and get another briefing on the ongoing State Legislature session. You can watch online or on cable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Free Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, even first-time players. $5.
MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
PLAY TRIVIA! Three scheduled options tonight for trivia players – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have a West Seattle/White Center event for our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo)
Thanks for the tip. That was the scene we found this past hour in a yard at 24th/Thistle. The police response drew attention as this is just east of Chief Sealth International High School. Police told us at the scene that the pickup was stolen; a resident told us that the driver abandoned it and got into a waiting semitruck cab that then left the scene. No injuries reported.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, February 27th.
WEATHER
Possible snow showers this morning, rain showers later, high in the 40s.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
BACK TO SCHOOL
For Seattle Public Schools and others that had midwinter break all week last week, classes resume today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
So far three candidates have formally announced campaigns for the Seattle City Council District 1 seat, which Lisa Herbold is leaving after two terms, one of four district-elected councilmembers not running for re-election. We’re sitting down with all announced D-1 candidates for early “get to know you” video-recorded conversations that we’re publishing on Sunday nights. We began with Rob Saka last weekend and continue tonight with Maren Costa.
We sat down with Costa, a former Amazon and Microsoft employee who’s lived in West Seattle for 20 years, this morning at her home north of The Junction. Here’s our unedited half-hour conversation:
If you don’t want to, or don’t have the time to, watch/listen, here’s our summary:
7:35 PM SUNDAY: For the second time in eight nights, a business has been robbed in the strip mall on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury. Police are at A Pizza Mart, which reported being held up about half an hour ago. The lone robber is described so far as a white man in his early 20s, tall and thin, wearing a “white track suit,” armed with a gun, He is reported to have gotten away in a black Toyota Prius, last seen headed northbound on 35th SW. No other details yet, according to the sergeant with whom we spoke at the scene. The previous robbery happened at neighboring Global Smoke & Vape last weekend. If you have any information on tonight’s robbery, the SPD incident # is 23-054944.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: From the police-report summary: “At 1856 hours, an employee was working at the counter of a carryout food establishment when he observed the suspect enter the store. The employee believed the suspect was a customer and began speaking to him. The suspect produced a handgun, pointed it at the employee, and demanded money from the register. The employee complied. The suspect exited the store and fled the scene. Another employee followed the suspect and observed him entering the passenger side of a vehicle before it left the area.”
(Photo sent by Liz Wilhelm)
We’d venture to say that more people than usual had donuts for breakfast these past four weeks, after The Original Bakery in Fauntleroy announced that today would be its last day in business, as proprietor Bernie Alonzo heads into retirement after almost 50 years. WSB readers have been sending photos of the bakery’s popularity these past few mornings, like this texted photo showing the line stretching around the building and into the parking lot today:
The impending closure led to some sweet reminiscences, like these from the “Pierson Clan,” who also sent photos:
We have enjoyed the bakery for so many years and wanted to share our story. We have been Lincoln Park residents for over 40 years and patronizing The Original Bakery since we moved to West Seattle. Five generations of our family have enjoyed the pop-up cinnamon rolls that we originally purchased from the Frederick & Nelson bakeries. I remember my grandmother serving them at breakfast when I visited Edmonds as a child.
Bernie acquired the contract to bake them for Frederick’s for several years before they closed. Fortunately he continued to bake them at the bakery and we have ordered them ever since.
(Ann Pierson and Bernie Alonzo)
I picked up my final 2 boxes last week and delivered some to the delight of my aunt and uncle, who are in their 90’s. The bakery has been an integral part of our family and community for decades and we wish Bernie his well-deserved retirement and happy next adventures to the bakery family.
As reported here, the bakery space will be taken over by the parent company of neighboring Endolyne Joe’s, whose owner told us that it will have its own identity and will serve pastries, but beyond that, they hadn’t finalized plans. The space has been a bakery since 1936.
2:11 PM: Seattle Fire is heading to a report of a possible fire at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd and Juneau).
2:14 PM: First crews on scene report “a little smoke.” Everyone is reported to be out of the church.
2:20 PM: “Heavy smoke and a small amount of fire” is reported by firefighters in the upper story of the church building. … Fire is declared under control.
2:24 PM: They’re now telling dispatch the fire was contained to one room and it’s “tapped” (out). Adding photos from our crew on the scene. … No report, so far, of injuries. The church has undergone major remodeling in recent years, funded by proceeds from selling part of its large original lot for housing development, while retaining open space known as an unofficial park.
2:35 PM: We talked to pastor Shaun Mattson, who confirms there’s an apartment on the top floor but says its residents weren’t home when the fire started; some people were in the church for a post-service get-together when they smelled smoke, called 911, and got out – he confirms no one’s hurt. SFD’s fire investigator is on the way.
5:46 PM: We followed up to see what the investigation found. SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond says, “Our fire investigators have determined the fire to be accidental due to a candle.” Damage estimate – $120,000.
12:53 PM: From Drew:
Our powder blue 2013 Hyundai Elantra was stolen off the street in front of our house yesterday around 5:15 pm in daylight. We live near 36th SW and Raymond. The car sped away southbound on 36th being followed by a black sedan. Police report incident # 23-053981.
We’ll add the plate number when we get it. (Update: ATT2589.) (Monday update: Found.)
2:07 PM: Another stolen car report – this one from Cameron:
2019 white Kia Sportage, WA CDH9042, was stolen from in front of our house last night (2/25 or 2/26) sometime between 7 pm Saturday night and 4 am Sunday morning. Tillman and 37th
SPD incident # is 23-054407.
Though the snow we got early this morning – covered here – wasn’t deep, it was wet, so you might find post-snow problems today such as that fallen tree branch near 50th/Dakota. (Thanks to Nancy for the photo.) While the snow has stopped for now, and the “winter weather” alert has expired, the National Weather Service warns that snow showers are possible at times during much of the week ahead. For now, though, the sun is emerging, and the streets that got an overnight coat of snow are now just wet/slushy. The meltoff should continue with a high forecast in the 40s. Meantime, we’ve had one calendar-event cancellation so far today – the vaccination pop-up at OLG – and we’ll continue updating the daily preview with any other changes we find out about.
7:19 AM: SFD crews are responding to what the first on scene are describing as “a single RV fire with a trailer full of pallets” at Harbor Avenue/Harbor Lane. Harbor is closed both ways.
(Added: Reader photo)
7:25 AM: Firefighters have told dispatch the fire is under control. (Added: This Twitter video shows part of the response.) They have also just reported finding one person, described as “badly burned,” about 100 feet away. They’re calling for a medic unit.
(Added: Reader photo)
7:50 AM: The SFD fire investigator is now being sent, and firefighters just told dispatch the fire’s out. As reported here, all RVs on Harbor Avenue were gone by midmorning (corrected) Thursday, the date announced for a city “remediation”; in comments on that story, it was noted that an RV and truck full of pallets had returned yesterday.
8:05 AM: The injured person is being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
8:11 AM: The southbound side of Harbor is reopening.
11:32 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond says the burn victim, a 41-year-old man, was in serious condition when transported, and that their investigators ruled the fire was accidental.
12:33 PM: We asked on followup for a specific cause. Reply: “A propane heater.”
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