West Seattle, Washington
16 Wednesday
(EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re continuing to update the story – scroll down for the latest)
11:10 AM: Thank you to Michelle for the updates on the case of the trimaran in trouble off Beach Drive; this is the fourth day, but apparently possibly final, as her newest photo (above) shows that someone is here to tow it assist. Earlier this morning, she had sent a photo showing both the trimaran and its owner’s smaller boat were swamped:
Beach Drive Blog was first to report on the plight of a boat some commenters recognized as having been offered recently for free in a Craigslist ad.
(This photo and next, by Nick Adams for WSB)
12:21 PM UPDATE: Photojournalist Nick Adams is at the scene for WSB and says the Department of Ecology is on site; with the tide out, as his photos show, the boat’s apparently basically wreckage on the beach.
The photo above shows what commenter KMF pointed out – part of the boat has broken away.
12:40 PM UPDATE: Nick reports a salvage company is coming from Lynnwood. The mast is a big worry – neighbor Michelle adds via e-mail that there’s concern it will crash into a unit at Harbor West if not moved away soon.
4:40 PM: Update from Michelle – a crew has arrived on scene. And the rising tide shows another view of the boat’s “blown-out” side:
The next high tide isn’t till after 10 pm. And Michelle tells us the crew just chain-sawed the mast. (P.S. Turns out we have TWO nearby-residing Michelles who have kindly been sharing photos and information. Thanks to both!)
6:28 PM: As the sun sets:
From the neighbor, who says, “The owner is still down moving things, but the crew is gone.”
(Fauntleroy Park photographed by Flickr member Walkabout Wolf, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for the rest of your Saturday:
TRAFFIC REMINDER: Can’t mention this one often enough – the eastbound east end of the bridge is closed past 4th Avenue South – so make alternate plans to get to I-5 or Beacon Hill. The closure is scheduled to last till early TUESDAY morning. More info here.
METRO SERVICE CHANGE: As Metro Transit makes one of its periodic “service changes,” with adjustments around the system, the major West Seattle change is that Route 50 is, for the first time since its launch, starting its “real” route. Here’s our Friday update with details.
WEST SEATTLEITES AT HOME SHOW: Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) is among the exhibitors at the Seattle Home Show – look for them if you’re going! (It runs through February 24th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.)
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: 2 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center, 2236 SW Orchard (just north of Home Depot), all welcome for festivities including a lion dance.
‘THE LINE’: Documentary screening at St. John the Baptist Church, 6:30 pm (California/Spokane) – details here.
JAZZ AND SWING AT KENYON HALL: Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators play tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm – details here.
‘LOVE LETTERS’: Third of four performances for the Fauntleroy Players’ production at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), 7:30 pm.
WESTSIDE BURLESQUE: 9:30 tonight at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge SW), promising, among other things, “strange prizes.”
LIVE MUSIC: The calendar has listings for Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Poggie Tavern, and Benbow Room – see them all here.
That’s the traffic cam from the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street Viaduct and it’s closed to traffic right now, not scheduled to reopen until early TUESDAY morning. This is part of WSDOT’s I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project, which has a rolling list of various ramp-closure configurations most weekends through spring. Until this reopens, you will be diverted off the eastbound bridge at 4th Avenue South – no access to the I-5 or Beacon Hill ramps. (The westbound side is NOT affected.) Find detours and other information here.
Two close games in a row for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ basketball team. Two nights after their one-point last-seconds win over Auburn Adventist (WSB coveage here), the Saints went into double overtime in La Conner tonight – losing to LC 56-53. Here are the game stats as published by our partners at The Seattle Times.
(WSHS’s Lexi Ioane)
It’s a season to remember for the West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team, and tonight it ended at Bellevue College with the Wildcats losing to Juanita High School, 63-36. With head coach Sonya Elliott chosen as Metro League Coach of the Year as her team won their division and moved into the playoffs, the memories are many. As for tonight’s game ….
(WSHS’s #10 Charli Elliott, #24 Lydia Giomi, #21 Gabby Sarver)
The game was the second tough one this week for the Wildcats, who led at the end of the first quarter and stayed close through the second, despite having trouble hanging onto the ball.
(WSHS’s Shelby Walker)
In the second half Juanita became more assertive, grabbing the ball and maintaining a full-court press till the end.
7:51 PM: In North Delridge, police are searching after a report of a street holdup near 28th and Adams (map), per scanner traffic, in the Dragonfly Park area. The victim reported being held up by two people. We don’t have descriptions at this point but are publishing this preliminary information just in case you see the search – for which a K-9 team has been summoned – and wonder what’s going on. Updates when we get them.
10:41 PM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams tells us that the suspects are “four teenage males – at least one of whom was wearing a mask. Officers are attempting to get more specific descriptions. No one is in custody.” This is being investigated as an armed robbery, Lt. Williams says, because a gun was reported to have been displayed.
Just got word that the Discount Smoke and Beverage armed robbery we covered two nights ago is indeed believed to be the work of the White Center serial robber first reported on partner site White Center Now – and that a suspect is now in custody in connection with the robbery spree, including both holdups at the 35th/Roxbury shop, and four in the unincorporated area. That’s the word from King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, who says the 49-year-old man was arrested last night in a trailer in the 11000 block of 18th SW. Here’s the list of robberies in which he’s suspected:
January 11th, the White Center Mini Mart in the 1500 blk of SW Roxbury,
January 13th, the Zip Market in the 10600 blk of 16 Ave SW,
January 30th, the 76 Gas Station in the 2800 blk of SW Roxbury,
February 1st, the Rainbow Mini Mart in the 11400 blk of 16 Ave SW,
the Discount Smoke Shop in Seattle Wednesday night and on January 21st
Sgt. West says search warrants were served this morning at the suspect’s house and “on a relative’s house in the 9700 blk of 32 Ave SW February 1st, and his vehicle.”
Reporting for WCN, we first learned, and reported, January 31st that a serial robber was at work in the area, after KCSO said a holdup the night before at the 76 station/mini-mart on the county side of 30th/Roxbury was at least the third one by what they believed to be the same suspect:
The surveillance photos at the top of this story were released by KCSO last week.
P.S. Sgt. West says the suspect was caught through work done by detectives from south-end Precinct 4 who were determined to crack the case and staked out some area convenience stores, looking for a specific vehicle believed to be linked to the robberies. Once they had a plate, they had a name, and their work on Wednesday night right after the 35th/Roxbury holdup made the connection and led to the arrest.
7:44 PM UPDATE: Looked up some background on the suspect, who we won’t identify until and unless he is charged. He admitted to holdups in August 2005 in the same area – at the same 76 station he allegedly robbed recently, and at the nearby 28th/Roxbury Shell. He was sentenced to 50- and 45-month prison terms, but the documents don’t indicate if they were concurrent. We’ll check Tuesday (Monday’s a holiday) on when he got out of prison.
(UPDATE: Saturday coverage is here)
While it looked like all might be well with the trimaran that’s in its third day of trouble off Beach Drive – it was afloat when Beach Drive Blog added new photos this morning – apparently not. We’ve just heard from Jessica, who happened onto the scene, unaware this has been going on a while (here’s BDB’s first report from Wednesday, and our update from yesterday), and e-mailed the photo above with a request for help on behalf of the boat’s owner. She says, “He needs to get his boat patched and fixed so he can possibly leave with the 8 am high tide!! ANYBODY WHO CAN HELP HIM would be ssssoooo NICE!! He’s stranded next to the apartments that go out on the water. His race is against TIME/ TIDE. He needs help with whatever anyone is able to help him with!!!! … Someone please help him!!” She says he told her the Coast Guard couldn’t help and just referred him to a boat-towing service which charges $1,000 he doesn’t have, and that the battery on his smaller boat is now dead.
If you ride Metro Transit, remember that tomorrow is the next “service change” – with the biggest change in this area being Route 50 switching to its originally intended route. Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer has just sent some information on how that’ll work – read on:Read More
Just received from the White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of West Seattle, and they describe the request as urgent:
The White Center Food Bank depends on donations of bread, produce, meat and non-perishable food to help feed the clients. Can you or someone you know fill this important position at the White Center Food Bank by volunteering one morning/early afternoon shift a week as driver? Volunteer drivers must be able to lift 35 pounds & have a valid drivers license with no driving infractions. Training and food bank van provided. Commitment of six months requested. Contact Audrey Zemke at (206) 762-2848 or audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org to volunteer or for information. Come ride along and help out for a shift to see what it’s like if you’re curious.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More new developments today in the saga of the federal Homeland Security-funded Seattle Police surveillance cameras installed from Alki to Fauntleroy and destined for other waterfront spots in the city as far north as Ballard.
The agenda is now out for the first City Council committee briefing on the cameras since WSB broke the news of the unannounced installations January 29, following questions about the cameras that readers started noticing the preceding weekend.
We first reported here two days ago that the briefing is set for the Council’s Public Safety, Technology, and Civil Rights Committee next Wednesday afternoon; agenda details, and more of our correspondence with committee chair Bruce Harrell, later in this story. It’s the same committee that, as reported in our second story after discovering the camera network, gave its blessing last May to Seattle Police receiving the $5 million Homeland Security grant that is funding it with a “wireless mesh” communications system. That briefing mentioned cameras but in the port-security context, with no mention they would be installed in recreational/residential areas like Alki.
First: What the ACLU is asking, in a letter sent yesterday afternoon to the mayor – who finally spoke out about the cameras back on Monday, telling WSB they wouldn’t be activated without a “thorough public vetting” – and council. The letter from executive director Kathleen Taylor is summarized by an ACLU spokesperson as follows:
The ACLU expresses concern over the City of Seattle’s practice of accepting federal grants to acquire and implement surveillance technology with no public input or oversight by elected city officials.
The ACLU is calling upon the City’s elected leaders to re-examine the extensive surveillance camera system being implemented along Alki and the waterfront. The ACLU also is calling upon elected leaders to develop a public process with public input and full disclosure of plans when the city is considering acquisition of surveillance technology and implementation of surveillance programs.
You can read the entire letter here. Taylor writes that the ACLU “supports the use of technology that improves policing and keeps us safer (but not) the use of devices that collect, store and share data about legal behavior and innocent conduct.”
We’ll also be checking on any formal response to the ACLU’s letter. Meantime, the agenda is out for the City Council committee briefing next week:
Thanks to the WSB’ers who tipped us to a police investigation on 48th SW near SW Findlay in Seaview, reporting police at the scene with guns drawn. One person was detained when we got there; from Seattle Police media relations, Det. Mark Jamieson said it started as a call from someone who heard a knock on the front door and then heard someone apparently trying to break in at the back of the house. Whether or not this will turn out to have been a bonafide burglary attempt, with a full-fledged arrest, he won’t know till the report’s in a bit later, so we will check back. Seaview has been hit hard by burglaries lately; this is just a few blocks from one reported in West Seattle Crime Watch earlier this week, at 46th/Brandon.
POSTSCRIPT: Please see the comments, verifying this was a burglary attempt, with an arrest. We don’t know the suspect’s name, though, so we cannot check on status.
Today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with video that might help solve a car theft:
CAR THEFT ON VIDEO: Tracy published this video to YouTube. He got it from a neighbor’s camera after his navy blue 2012 Subaru Outback (WA plate A128625) was stolen Thursday morning near 33rd and Hinds (map). The video shows Tracy’s car being driven away, and Tracy suspects the two males shown earlier in the clip are the thieves. If they aren’t, they are certainly witnesses, because, Tracy explained in an online chat answering our followup questions, the street in the video is a dead-end driveway and his house is the only thing they would have been walking toward. Tracy says a witness who saw the car go by afterward noticed two males inside. If you see the car and/or know who the people in the video are, contact police.
BURGLARY ATTEMPT THIS MORNING: From Mel in Westwood/Roxhill:
Just wanted to let the blog know that we had an attempted break in at our house today, it’s in the 34th/Henderson area [map]. Happened about 9:15, I had just left the house for work about 8:40. We live on an alley and they came in through our alley gate We have an alarm and it stopped them. they kicked in our door and then the alarm went off, and we have a sturdy door that we must now replace. They kicked it and heard the alarm and ran, according to the police. Alarm company called me, police were dispatched and showed up pretty quickly–i had asked my neighbor to head over and check things out and she met them. They waited for me to get home. they had checked the place carefully. They said there has been an uptick in burglaries in this area, and to especially be on the lookout for old u haul trucks, as these scumbags are using them to clear out entire houses. They also walked the house with me and gave me other safety tips re doors, locks, using 3 inch screws to secure your door/deadbolts, etc. Nice guys.
A reminder that a new neighborhood council is forming in Mel’s area – Westwood/Roxhill/Arbor Heights for now – and public safety will be on next month’s agenda. If you’re interested, the Facebook group is here, and the invite for the March 6th meeting is here.
Ahead, three more reports, including a hit-run victim looking for witnesses, and two reports of suspicious circumstances:
A memorial is planned February 23rd on Bainbridge Island for Emily Williamson, known and loved by many in West Seattle, especially for her work at Many Moons Trading Company, gone too soon at age 42. Her family shares this tribute; at the end we’ve added information about an art exhibit in her memory:
Emily Jean Williamson, blithe spirit and treasured daughter, sister, and friend, died on February 13, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.
Emily was born in Seattle on April 28, 1970 to Ron and Ethelyn Williamson. She grew up on Bainbridge Island and graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1988. In 1992 she graduated from Evergreen State College.
After graduation she moved to Seattle and worked in a variety of jobs from being a bike messenger to taking care of children at a day care center in downtown Seattle. She also founded Fuzzy Caterpillar, a party-planning service for children’s events. And after she moved to West Seattle, she became a favorite with customers at Many Moons Trading Co. where she displayed a talent for matching people with just the right outfit. But most notably Emily will be remembered for creative energy and her whimsical paintings created seemingly effortlessly and featuring flowers, birds, and a variety of inscrutable owls.
Emily was preceded in death by her father Ron Williamson and is survived by her mother Ethelyn Williamson, her sister Jennifer, her brother David, nephew Grant Forster, niece Lauren Forster, her kind and caring housemates in West Seattle, and myriad friends.
There will be a Memorial Service at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island on Saturday, February 23, at 1 pm. Shuttles will be available for those on the 11:25 am ferry from Seattle. Look for the daffodils. Donations may be made to Arms Around Bainbridge at www.armsaroundbainbridge.com.
Also in Emily’s memory, Mind Unwind in West Seattle is putting together an exhibit of her art for next month at their upstairs Treehouse Lounge, and asking those who have some of Emily’s work to loan it for the show. We stopped by during West Seattle Art Walk last night to see what’s already been dropped off – including this:
You’re invited to include a story about Emily with the artwork dropped off 5-midnight Wednesday through Sunday till month’s end; 2206 California SW. The exhibit will be spotlighted there during next month’s WS Art Walk (March 14), too, and artwork will be returned to its owners in April.
Thanks to Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems for sharing the photo of a short-lived rainbow Thursday night – so short-lived, it was NOT one of those rainbows photographed by seemingly everyone under the (also short-lived but now returned) sun. Let’s hope it’s an omen for a great Presidents Day weekend. Here are a few highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT REMINDER FOR TONIGHT (AND THE 3-DAY WEEKEND): One more time – 10 pm tonight through 5 am Tuesday, the I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Special Bridge Repair project will close the east end of the West Seattle Bridge – which means you’ll have to get off at 4th Avenue South, if not sooner. To get to I-5 or Beacon Hill, detours will be required – lots of maps on the state’s official info page.
WINE TASTING: Northwest Wine Academy‘s Friday afternoon tasting at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), 1-5 pm.
STORYTELLING: The monthly “Our Stories, Our Voices” program presents Rosa Hernandez at White Center Cultural Center in South Delridge (9421 18th SW), light meal at 6 pm, program at 6:30, more info here.
FREE MOVIE AT HPIC: “Charlotte’s Web” at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden) – doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7, details here.
SALAMANDER LOVE NIGHT: Perhaps the most romantic of naturalist Stewart Wechsler‘s nature walks, 6:30 pm at Camp Long – details on his website.
FINAL FRIDAY FOR ‘SHIRLEY VALENTINE’: Last weekend for the current production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor; 4711 California SW); showtime tonight is 7:30 pm.
‘LOVE LETTERS’ ONSTAGE IN FAUNTLEROY: Also at 7:30 pm, the Fauntleroy Players present “Love Letters” in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW); tickets at the door.
SLHS BOYS’ BASKETBALL: The Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ next tournament game is at 7 pm at La Conner (Skagit County).
WSHS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School girls’ next tournament game is at 8:15 pm vs. Juanita High School, at Bellevue College.
NIGHTLIFE … includes three bands at Skylark Café and Club (8 pm) and Video DJ Andy at OutWest Bar (9 pm) … more on the calendar.
That’s just one of many videos Russian news organizations are circulating, showing what’s reported to be a meteor that streaked through Central Russian skies late last night our time.
While the videos are everywhere this morning, but information isn’t as abundant – so we wanted to let you know that West Seattle’s own Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen has been researching it – here’s the latest update on her Alice’s Astro Info website. (After we tweeted that link, a member of the WSB Twitter community, Kelley Bevans, summarized it as a “Russian meteor cheat sheet.”) Alice also is writing a periodic “Skies Over West Seattle“ roundup for WSB – the asteroid flyby (apparently NOT related to the meteor) was in the very first edition.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
The Friday morning commute is off and rolling. But there’s a big closure all weekend – details below our 99 view …
The I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Bridge Repair will close the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct after the 4th Avenue S. ramp starting at 10 pm tonight, scheduled to continue until early TUESDAY morning, so you won’t be able to get to I-5 or Beacon Hill from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; detours are listed here.
Two more notes: The Delridge/Trenton intersection closure has been postponed; Seattle Public Schools are out today for their newly shortened mid-winter break; they are also off Monday.
10:09 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Ivy for the tip – a crash blocking traffic at 35th and 102nd in Arbor Heights.
Alki Arts is always a hot spot on the West Seattle Art Walk map, and last night was no exception. Portraits by Cheryl Zahniser (photo above) and Jeremy Bell is now on display in honor of Black History Month. And singer/playwright Tina Vernon provided the music:
As gallery co-owner Diane Venti explained via Facebook, Vernon is in Seattle “to perform later in the month as part of Seattle’s Hansberry Project.” It’s one of Vernon’s three home bases, according to her bio; she is premiering her one-woman play (with music) “Wanted,” February 27-March 3 at Theatre Off Jackson.
P.S. Next West Seattle Art Walk is March 14 – but even if you didn’t get out last night, many of the exhibits continue for at least the next few weeks, so review the venues on the WSAW website, and check them out when you can.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
A whole lotta love flowed at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) this afternoon, during a Valentine’s Day celebration with treats and tunes. Above, Margit Killenger, Helen Gilman, and Norma Lewis were busy reading Valentines. Kermit Franks wore his – a photo of his sweetheart Faye, who died last year:
Months before Mrs. Franks’ death, the couple celebrated their 70th-anniversary .
The Kenney’s residents are loved by the staff, too – activity director Denise O’Toole had a smile for Kenney resident May Commeree:
Love-ly music filled The Kenney’s commujnity room, courtesy of Sid Law:
He had a rapt audience:
The Kenney itself was created from an act of loving kindness – as told in its history here.
With costumes and decorations from hearts to wings, runners and walkers gathered on Alki tonight for the first Cupid 5K, a fundraiser for the fight again human trafficking, previewed here last week.
The plan was to split into two groups – the Cupid-lovers and Cupid-haters – and travel separate courses through the area, then meet up for afterparties at Celtic Swell and Alki Starbucks. Organizers told us 121 people had signed up.
Proceeds are going to the anti-trafficking/slavery A21 Campaign.
They are the C & P in C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – Cameron and Pete Moores – and they are celebrating a milestone tonight: Ten years in business! Valentine’s Day 2003 is when their coffee house, community gathering spot, arts hub, discussion-group hotspot, etc., opened in the century-old Craftsman it inhabits at 5612 California SW. Tonight they are greeting friends old and new during a party that was wall-to-wall people when we stopped by for a photo – including a kids’ fishing game on the back porch, and Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice performing somewhere amid the revelers. C & P hosts a wide range of events every month – keep an eye on the calendar here. Congratulations, C & P!
While WSB has a special page to help reunite lost/found pets and people, we usually point the occasional the “pet in need of a home” notice toward the WSB Forums. This one, though, just screamed – meowed – front-page news … or perhaps mews:
Greetings …I am Magoo.
I am the current resident of 1311 Alki Ave SW as well as the neighbor to the Notorious Alki Tavern.
The land my home is on has been sold to developers and will be torn down along with the tavern.
So years living next to the Best Biker bar in West Seattle has brought me years of joy and excitement.
Watching everyone come and go on sunny summer days and hearing all of their tall-tales…
watching the Blue Angels scream across the water…they always make me hide under my box… seeing only the locals bundle up on cold winter days to go for a walk on the beach… enjoying curling up and watching the reflection of the sun off the buildings downtown… and hearing the sound of the seals out on the buoy barking all night long.
I loved watching the world pass me by from my tiny 1911 baby blue beach hut on Alki Ave SW.
With the selling of the land I now need to think about my next move in life. I have decided I am looking for a nice quiet place to retire and write my memoirs of my life next to the tavern.
I came to the beach in West Seattle as a kitten so I have…well…it’s is rude to talk about age so let’s just say I have lots of stories.
I am like a classic Mercedes…as long as you maintain the engine…the car will run forever.
My engine is strong, but I need a little extra tlc…just like a high-mileage car.
The man that lived here with me was a great mechanic and he took great care of me.
After learning the land was sold, he passed away … it truly broke his heart to know he had to leave his familiar home.
Now I am left without someone to type for me; my nails get caught in the keys… So… if you would be interested in helping me write my memoirs as well as take care of me…
the usual… feed me pet me love me… clean up after me… but most of all love me…
Please contact my assistant at: 206-388-8828
She will get you on my calendar for an appointment.
Magoo’s assistant, Kelly, says those who knew and loved Magoo’s dearly departed human also are “contacting artists to paint the side of the house in nothing but pink flamingos … if anyone knew JD and would like to show their appreciation and celebrate his life, they are welcome to place a pink flamingo anywhere around his little beach house.”
(2011 WSB photo of Fairmount Park Elementary School, 38th and Findlay)
As Seattle Public Schools gets ready for construction on three West Seattle sites (and others around the city), now that the BEX IV levy has passed, the schools are going through the city landmark-nomination process – generally routine if major changes or demolition is planned for buildings of this type and age (almost half a century, in this case). The review of Fairmount Park Elementary‘s nomination is on the agenda for the next Landmarks Board meeting, 3 pm next Wednesday on the 40th floor of the Muni Tower downtown. While FP is not slated for demolition, it is scheduled for major work, including an added classroom wing, so it can reopen in fall 2014, seven years after the district closed it.
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