West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
4 reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN KAYAK: From Alex:
My kayak was stolen from the roof rack of my car on the night of Sept. 2. It’s a dark green NC-15 with yellow seat. My car was parked on 48th Ave SW. Police report is T18010975. We’ve had a streak of car/yard prowls in the recent weeks.
STOLEN BIKE: From Trissa:
We live on Pigeon Point which is experiencing a recent spike in thefts from sheds & yards. Sometime during the week of August 18-26th, someone stole our son’s bike from our front shed. We didn’t notice it was missing right away, so we didn’t check our security footage before it was recorded over. … Since others have had luck getting their bikes back, here’s a picture. The serial number which is embossed on the bottom of the frame is AHAX8J6025. It is a Haro 16” Flightline mountain bike. The police case number is 2018-907913.
STOLEN PURSE/KEYS: If you see a green crossover purse cast aside somewhere … it might be Lynette‘s purse, stolen from her car. She’s canceled her credit cards but is hoping the purse might still contain some keys she would really like to get back.
FOUND BIKE: Diane found a likely-stolen-and-dumped bicycle described as “a racing bike, FELT Z 80, blue, with white handles. It was stuffed in the blackberry bushes behind my house, in the alley.”
(Spotted sandpiper, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
What’s ahead for the rest of your Tuesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE YMCA CLOSURE CONTINUES: Just a reminder that West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) remains closed for work this week but the Fauntleroy branch is open as usual.
RIBBONCUTTING @ ROXHILL ELEMENTARY AT EC HUGHES: As previewed Monday, 11 am ceremony followed by tours of the renovated historic campus in Sunrise Heights. (7740 34th SW)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS WORKSHOP: Interested in applying to South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), especially as a transfer student and/or to get professional/technical training? This 5 pm workshop is for you – full details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm monthly meeting at Neighborhood House High Point – agenda info’s here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
THE WHALE TRAIL: Tonight’s Orca Talk, as previewed here, will teach you about harbor porpoises in the Salish Sea – as well as providing an update on the Southern Resident Killer Whales. 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – get your ticket in advance. (5612 California SW)
‘GEEKS WHO DRINK’ TRIVIA: 8 pm at Whisky West (WSB sponsor). More info here. (6451 California SW)
THERE’S MORE! Our complete calendar is here; if you have something to add, please e-mail us the info, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
It’s a big week for school-age kids and their families. But if you have a baby in the family – this invitation is for you! The photo and announcement are from Becky Huntley:
Babies, babies, babies! Bring your parent (or grandparent) to our Parent-Infant class. You will find fun things to explore (or examine!), bubbles, stories and music time. Your grownup will find other adults to talk with … and a professional parent educator to answer questions, offer support and the latest information about child development and guidance. We meet Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 on the South Seattle College campus beginning Sept 12. Contact Becky at huntleybecky (at) gmail (dot) com for information – and see our website at www.westseattlepreschools.org
SSC, if you’re not already aware, is in West Seattle – 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Here’s our list of who goes back when – several local schools start today.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners’ homestand vs. Baltimore continues tonight, 7:10 pm.
Two events are ahead this week as the process of planning Sound Transit West Seattle (and Ballard) light rail gets back into high gear: On Wednesday (September 5th), the Stakeholder Advisory Group meets for the first time in more than a month, and is expected to get technical-evaluation information that’s long been clamored for. That meeting is set for 5-8 pm at Sound Transit’s board room downtown (401 S. Jackson) – no agenda yet but watch for it here. Then next Saturday (September 8th) is your chance to jump in deeper, at the next “neighborhood forum,” set for 9-11:30 am at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym (4100 SW Genesee). How that’ll unfold is explained here. Feedback from the forum goes to the stakeholder group before its recommends at month’s end what should move to the third and final level of review
One more Labor Day weekend event to recap: The “Work It, West Seattle” bike ride. The photo and report are from Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections:
The highlight of our Labor Day weekend ride (Saturday) was meeting Jack Block and Vicki Schmitz-Block at Jack Block Park. Jack told us about the sawmills, shipyards, and creosote plant and the docks. Great to hear his stories of skipping afternoon classes at WSHS to go down to the dock to unload bananas with other kids, starting his longshoreman career at age 15, and eventually becoming a Port Commissioner and working to clean up the pollution and create the park named after him.
We had great presentations by historian Judy Bentley about the Delridge working-class neighborhoods and the steelworkers union; Phil Hoffman about the sawmills at Alki and logging; Dora-Faye Hendricks at the Nucor Steel plant; and 10-year old Asher, resident at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, about Cooper School and the artists who live and work there now.
This was a Cascade Bicycle Club ride hosted by West Seattle Bike Connections and Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Jeff McCord and Valerie Kendall from SWSHS lined up the speakers.
Your next chance to get involved with WSBC is its monthly meeting, 6:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, September 4th) at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) – here’s the agenda preview.
The photo and announcement are from Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, sent by Lynn Shimamoto:
Seal Sitters’ “Share the Shore” banners are once again hanging along Alki Avenue. The banners were designed several years ago as a Seal Sitters outreach project with the help of a city grant. They are to remind everyone that this is the start of pupping season, when newly weaned harbor seal pups show up on West Seattle beaches. Indeed, we anticipate “Jam,” the still-nursing pup who has been frequently seen with mom ”Pearl,” will soon be weaned and vulnerable as he/she tries to rest and warm up on the beach. Please, if you see a seal: stay back, keep dogs off the beach, and call Seal Sitters at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325).
Seal Sitters is part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We respond to marine mammals dead or alive in West Seattle from Brace Point to the Duwamish River, including Harbor Island.
A new flag flies over the Alki Masonic Lodge tonight after a Labor Day tradition: A ceremony retiring the flag flown for the past year and raising a new one.
The flag ceremony was performed by VFW Post 1263 (Renton)’s Darrell Pilat and John Rickenbach. Speakers included Laurel Glassley, Worthy Advisor of the West Seattle Rainbow Girls, who read a brief history of the American flag:
And Brian Rivers, DeMolay Master for the Cascade Region, had a short speech about patriotism.
This is the 7th year the lodge has changed flags on Labor Day – usually accompanied, as was the case today, by a barbecue:
The Alki Masonic Lodge’s history goes back to 1906.
So far today we’ve had one bicycle reunion. How about another? Be on the lookout for SGK‘s stolen bicycle:
My bicycle was stolen from my backyard (30th and Myrtle) the night of 9/2. It a blue GT with yellow decals. Flat handlebar, thumb shifters, Ultegra shifting and a very worn seat with white tape on the nose.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
The renovations are done and classes start Wednesday at what is now Roxhill Elementary at EC Hughes (7740 34th SW). But first – you are invited to the ribboncutting ceremony tomorrow, followed by school tours. It begins at 11 am, with Roxhill principal Tarra Patrick providing a welcome, followed by speakers including new Seattle Public Schools superintendent Denise Juneau and three West Seattleites, School Board president Leslie Harris, Seattle Council PTSA co-vice president Manuela Slye (who shared tomorrow’s program – thank you!), and Friends of Roxhill president Shawna Patterson Lystra. The school’s renovation was completed earlier this summer (here’s our report with a look inside), as was the separate community-led playground upgrade.
BACKSTORY: It’s been three years since we first reported on the possibility that Roxhill would move to Hughes. Roxhill’s original building has long been in bad shape – as discussed at this 2012 meeting – and a $73 million rebuild remains on the long list of possible projects for next February’s BEX V levy. In the meantime, as reported here in June, the district will use the Roxhill building for special-education and alternative-high-school programs. The city-landmark EC Hughes building, meantime, had long been used as a district surplus/interim building until independent Westside School (WSB sponsor) leased it for five years until building its own campus in Arbor Heights.
From the WSB inbox, two reports of dumped-and-likely-stolen bicycles:
34TH/ROXBURY: From Cass:
This red Sekine bike showed up in our yard this morning. I’m hoping the owner reads the blog and can get it back. It’s on the Roxbury side of the 34th SW and SW Roxbury corner.
EMMA SCHMITZ OVERLOOK: Sent anonymously:
Seen while walking in Emma Schmitz park – at the bottom of the north end of the “soon to replaced” sea wall – stolen and dumped? – looks like the brand is Nishiki.
UPDATE: This bike’s been reunited with its owner, per comments!
BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: (We hope it never happens to you but if your bike – or anything else! – is stolen, PLEASE report it to police – if it’s found but there’s no record, they can’t make a match. Here’s how. And then please let us know so we can include it in Crime Watch – thank you!)
(Labor Day birding, anyone? David Hutchinson photographed one of two Ruddy Turnstones that he says have been drawing birders to Constellation Park)
No traffic report this morning (check cameras here) because of the holiday – but we do have the transit/transportation toplines, to start the holiday highlight list:
METRO: Buses are on Sunday schedules.
WATER TAXI: West Seattle runs on an “extended Sunday” schedule (since the Mariners play tonight); Vashon is not running.
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is on the “weekend summer” schedule.
SOUND TRANSIT: The 560 Express bus is on a Sunday schedule.
STREET PARKING: In areas with city pay stations/metering, today is a “free parking day.”
Here’s open/closed/etc. info for the holiday:
SEATTLE PARKS CLOSURES: The what’s-closed/what’s-not list is here.
SPRAYPARK & WADING POOL: Last day of the season for Highland Park spraypark, 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale), no matter what the forecast … It’s also the last scheduled day for the Lincoln Park wading pool, same hours (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) if the forecast is for a warm afternoon. We’ll update at midmorning. (OPEN!)
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES … are closed.
REGULAR SOLID WASTE PICKUP? If you are a Monday customer, yes.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: Holiday.
A few events today:
SEATTLE LABOR RIDE/POKER RUN: Again this Labor Day, riders are invited to join City Councilmember Lisa Herbold on this motorcycle ride and “poker run” celebrating the history of the labor movement. $20 entry fee benefits the Labor Archives of Washington. The ride starts at Chelan Café in West Seattle at 9 am, with registration starting at 8 am. All riders welcome, any size motorcycle or scooter. (3527 Chelan SW)
FREE BURGERS: As noted on our partner site White Center Now, Li’l Woody’s in White Center is offering free burgers 2-5 pm today. (16th SW/SW 98th)
GRAND OPENING: The new Bohemian Studios location at the 4801 Fauntleroy Apartments (WSB sponsor) building is throwing a Grand Opening party 3-6 pm today. (Edmunds/Fauntleroy)
Have a great Labor Day! If there’s breaking news, best way to tip us is text/voice at 206-293-6302, 24/7 – thank you!
1:13 AM: If you’ve got Shelter 4 on the Lincoln Park shore booked for a Labor Day picnic – be forewarned. Kevin sent the photo late Sunday night:
We were down there walking this evening around 10 pm and came across one of the most disgusting messes that we’ve ever seen. It’s quite heartbreaking to see a public space in our neighborhood treated with so little care.
We made some attempt at cleaning up, but it was very dark and my phone was about to die and it provided the only light. We made a dent, but the size of the mess was quite overwhelming. I’ve called Seattle Parks about it also, but safe to say they won’t get the message until Tuesday – hopefully there’s some recourse from them to whoever had the reservation. Words can’t do the mess justice. … I can only imagine the poor folks who show up tomorrow for a Labor Day picnic and have to deal with that before they can have their own day – at least it will be light.
I’m sure people leave picnic sites in an untidy state quite often, sadly… but the absolute magnitude of this mess and the disrespect to others left us dismayed and angry.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: Commenters who’ve since been to the park say this has been cleaned up. Given that so many unused items were among what was left behind, some wondered if what happened was an abrupt emergency departure. The archived real-time 911 log shows a medical response at the park at 4:42 pm, but there’s no way to tell whether it was related.
Just in case you wondered … here’s what we found while checking school calendars online.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Harbor School (WSB sponsor)
Holy Family (half day)
Holy Rosary (half day)
Hope Lutheran (half day)
Our Lady of Guadalupe (half day)
Vashon Island School District (except kindergarteners)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Seattle Public Schools (except kindergarten)
Highline Public Schools (except kindergarten)
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Tilden School (half day; WSB sponsor)
West Seattle Montessori School & Academy
Westside School (WSB sponsor)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Kindergarteners in Vashon Island School District
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Kindergarteners in Seattle Public Schools and Highline Public Schools
ALREADY BACK: Seattle Lutheran High School in The Junction, Summit Atlas charter middle/high school
Anything to add? Let us know – thank you!
Last Wednesday, we brought you the story of a hit-run crash right outside Fire Station 32 in The Triangle, with an arrest made because a firefighter saw the driver leaving the scene and gave information to police. Today, we got to talk with that firefighter, Felton Tate. He explained that even as he and his colleagues rushed to help the woman injured by the driver, he spotted the suspect’s vehicle:
We don’t know how the 34-year-old victim is doing – her dog was not hurt in the Tuesday night incident, Tate said – but online records show that the 26-year-old driver arrested for suspected DUI and hit-run spent a day and a half in jail before posting bond and being released on Thursday. Meantime – when SFD answered our original inquiry last week, they described Tate as a “new firefighter” just out of probation; that means, we learned today, he’s been a firefighter for a year. Currently he’s assigned to Engine 32, which is based at Station 32 along with three other vehicles and their crews – Ladder 11, Medic 32, and Battalion 7. He explains he wanted to be a firefighter ever since he was a kid, impressed by firefighters who responded to a kitchen fire at his grandma’s house, saying he never forgot how “helpful” they were.
Thanks for the tips about that big police response midblock on California SW between Alaska and Edmunds. We got there just as they were wrapping up. They tell us they were called about a man harassing passersby and people in businesses; when the first officers on the scene made contact with the suspect, he was uncooperative and they called for backup. He is now in custody; no injuries reported.
That’s West Seattle artist Mindi Katzman with the AC/heating tech who came to her home last week. She explains why his visit was a full circle of sorts:
I am in the midst of a renovation at my house in the Morgan Junction.
When the contracting crew, BYD Construction, tore down the stairs, they found the most charming letter tucked away by a previous owner who was doing a little renovating in 1995. I have included the note [and pictures that accompanied it] below.
Flash forward to this past Thursday, when the AC/Heating guy [from Greenwood Heating & AC] showed up to fire up the new system.
It turns out he is the little boy in the picture all grown up, Kalin Helmbrecht, and he used to spend many weekends at the house as a child.
What were the chances of his being the one sent out to test the new system at his grandparents’ former house? They are still around and live in Beverly Park.
Thanks to Mindi for sharing the story! From breaking news to “found this in the attic,” that’s what has made WSB a community-collaborative news publication for 11 years now – here’s how to reach us any time.
Got questions about the upcoming Avalon Way rechannelization/repaving project, but couldn’t get to the recent SDOT open house? You have another chance for Q&A when the Southwest District Council meets on Wednesday – it’s one of three major items on the SWDC agenda. Project communicator Adonis Ducksworth is scheduled to brief the SWDC. Also on the agenda, The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom, with an update on local orcas (she’s also on the Governor’s Southern Resident Killer Whales Task Force). And on the “announcements” section of the agenda is the proposal to form a council that advocates for the areas that comprise City Council District 1, which has historically had three neighborhood-district councils – Southwest (western West Seattle), Delridge (eastern West Seattle), and part of Greater Duwamish (South Park). All are welcome at the SWDC meeting, which is at 6:30 pm Wednesday (September 5th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
A reader texted that while on business in the Luna Park area off Manning this morning, they found empty Amazon packages, possibly evidence of theft. The addresses were for an apartment in the 2200 block of Alki, a house on the 5600 block of 37th SW, and the Amazon Locker outside Jefferson Square Safeway. They called police but absent reports from the theft victims, the calltaker would only refer them to the illegal dumping hotline. So the finder asked us to put out a general package-theft alert.
(Pileated woodpecker, photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)
The holiday weekend continues! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CLEAN UP MORGAN JUNCTION: All ages welcome as the Litter League meets up at 9:30 am at the Morgan Junction BECU ATM to fan out and clean up. Just a little time makes a big difference. Bring and wear gloves – everything else supplied. (6540 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction, see what’s fresh! (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
POOLS: Will today’s weather be warm enough for Lincoln Park wading pool to open? We’ll update when Parks decides. Meantime, Colman Pool will be open noon-7 pm as the end of its season nears – today, tomorrow, and next Saturday-Sunday. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LAST CHANCE TO TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: This is it! Last Sunday afternoon of the season for free tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. 1 pm-4 pm, but don’t get there any later than 3:45 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WORKSHOP: 2 pm at Admiral UCC – details in our calendar listing. (4320 SW Hill)
CORREO ARREO: Award-winning Latin American music group live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
GOT AN EVENT TO LIST? E-mail us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By the end of the year, Washington State Ferries is under orders to deliver its next Long-Range Plan to the state Legislature. First, WSF will make the draft version public soon, in time for a round of open-house meetings in the communities it serves. The dates and locations are already set, including one here in West Seattle – Monday, September 17th, 5-7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). The new Long-Range Plan is supposed to cover the ferry system’s future through 2040.
(July photo by Barry J. White)
A little over a month after winning the state championship, the West Seattle Little League 12-year-old All-Stars have another moment in the spotlight: They will be co-throwers of the ceremonial first pitch at Wednesday’s Mariners/Orioles game at Safeco Field. According to the media highlight list for the upcoming homestand, the first pitch for the 7:10 pm game will spotlight the WSLL boys along with the girls of the Kirkland Little League Softball team who also won their state championship.
You and your friends/neighbors/family members are more than welcome at both of these:
(August Litter League photo courtesy of Jill Boone)
MORGAN JUNCTION LITTER LEAGUE: Tomorrow (Sunday, September 2nd) morning, 9:30-11 am. From Jill Boone:
We meet at 9:30 at the ATM lot in front of Domino’s and by the Shell station. I’ll be parked there with litter grabbers, bags and vests. Bring your own gloves. Bring a bucket if you want one. For kiddos, I have small vests, a few small grabbers (for toddlers) and some small buckets.
We need adults or teens who can walk to C&P and back or from the start to the UU Church and back and up and down Fauntleroy from the intersection! Families with small kids do the immediate area and bus stops. Kids are amazing at grabbing cigarette butts with those small grabbers!
Bring the family! It’s fun and it’s a way for small kids and big kids to do something to benefit their community. Pups are welcome if well-behaved and leashed.
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ADOPT-A-STREET: Next Saturday (September 8th), 9 am-noon. From ANA president Larry Wymer:
Want to spend a few hours helping (and meeting) your Admiral neighbors clean the streets in the Admiral core around California Ave & Admiral Way? If so, then we look forward to seeing you at Metropolitan Market (2320 42nd Ave) the morning of Saturday, September 8 between 8:45-9:00 for our quarterly ADOPT-A-STREET clean up. Metropolitan Market is generous enough to provide coffee & pastries — and even a brown bag lunch. Supplies provided: Garbage Bags, Gloves, Grabber Tools, Safety Vests, etc.
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