West Seattle, Washington
22 Monday
12:09 AM: Multiple 911 calls about gunfire sent police to 9th SW/SW Henderson, just west of Westcrest Park, and officers have reported via radio that they’ve found shell casings south of the intersection. No injuries reported so far, and also no description of suspect(s).
12:29 AM: Unrelated so far as we know, but here’s another call that’s drawn a police response of note: A resident in the Aura Apartments (35th SW just south of Avalon) reported someone broke into their apartment and ran out, westbound, with a laptop. Police are searching the area, with a K0 unit dispatched too.
(SDOT map – see it in PDF here – with streets to be slurry-sealed marked in red)
In our coverage of last month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting, we mentioned SDOT was planning to slurry seal those streets this summer. Now, Adonis Ducksworth from SDOT sends word the work is about to start:
Starting as soon as next week, we will be slurry sealing streets in the Highland Park, South Park, RoxHill, and South Delridge neighborhoods. This is maintenance work we do every summer. It is not road repair work.
Earlier this spring and summer, we sent 2 mailers to impacted neighborhoods. Last week, we did our first initial round of door-to-door outreach. Later this week, impacted streets will see the NO PARKING signs go up. The impacted residences will also receive a more detailed schedule for their street.
For more information about the project, please visit our website.
Slurry seal is a protective seal coat which extends the life of pavement. It is a thin, tough layer of asphalt emulsion blended with finely crushed stone for traction.
This is a cost-effective method to renew the road surface and seal minor cracks and other irregularities. This preventive maintenance process protects the pavement from moisture penetration and oxidation.
Similar to painting a house, slurry seal creates a protective layer which preserves the underlying structure and prevents the need for more expensive repairs in the future.
The photo and words of gratitude for the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps are from Paula Huffman:
The morning of July 22, over 20 dedicated youths showed up to clean out a garbage and invasive plant mess in a greenbelt along 14th Avenue SW in Highland Park. This group provides restoration services for wetlands, greenbelts, and city raingardens. Supervisor Carmen Martinez says the group works for cookies and other refreshments. Carmen can be contacted at 206-816-2856. Highland Park residents really appreciate this group!
Bryan sent that photo Saturday night but we had just missed police by the time we got there, so we pursued followup information today: SPD confirms gunfire on 16th SW near SW Holden around 8 pm Saturday. Multiple calls came in to 911 from people who heard it; one witness reported seeing someone in a vehicle firing a gun “into the air.” No one was hit/injured and no property damage was found, but officers did find shell casings. One area resident told us police were also canvassing the neighborhood to see if anyone had security video of the incident.
4:56 PM: Police have blocked 9th SW between Trenton and Henderson as they try to get someone out of a residence there. We don’t know yet exactly what happened that led to the call but police are using a bullhorn to ask that someone come out so they can resolve a no-contact-order violation. avoid the area TFN.
5:28 PN: The suspect has emerged from the residence and is now in custody, per police radio.
5:37 PM: They’re now getting ready to reopen the road.
ADDED: The 60-year-old man taken into custody was booked into the King County Jail.
4th of July aftermath reports:
GUNFIRE, NOT FIREWORKS: We heard part of this call around 1:30 am but not enough until we could confirm with police. Now we have that confirmation. Near 9th SW & SW Henderson, a report of gunfire led police to discover that “a residence was struck several times” plus shell casings were found (at least 15, according to radio communication we heard at the time) in the intersection. No injuries reported.
FAIRMOUNT PLAYGROUND RESTROOM DAMAGED: Seattle Parks has just confirmed that the damage done to the comfort-station building at Fairmount Playground was the result of fireworks. It’s closed as a result:
(WSB photo, this morning)
Parks says it will put up fencing around the building while the interior damage is repaired.
The building is just a few years old, and cost more than $325,000.
LINCOLN PARK: Toward the south end of the beach, someone blew up a trash can:
That photo came in via text this morning.
BEACH DRIVE FIRE: No structure fires in West Seattle on the 4th or so far today. “Brush fire” is the most common categorization for open-area fireworks fires and this one around 6:30 pm at Beach Drive/Jacobsen Road was the only one:
The tipster who sent the photo said it was a fireworks-sparked fire.
Beautiful afternoon to play at Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), and some bonus fun is happening until 3 pm.
This is the launch event for the Free Summer Meals program involving a variety of partners, including United Way of King County and Seattle Parks, to make sure that kids/teens who rely on free/reduced-price meals at school don’t go hungry during school vacation.
Starting Monday, free food is available – no questions asked – at a variety of sites around the city, including several in West Seattle. Use this lookup to find the one nearest you.
As of Friday, summer vacation is on for just about every kid in our area. That doesn’t mean a happy, carefree time for all … some kids and teens who depend on free and reduced-price meals at school are at risk of hunger. But the United Way of King County and regional partners want those young people and their families to know there’s summertime access to free food. Not only can you get info online via freesummermeals.org – which lists where and when kids and teens can get fed this summer -you also can go to the kickoff celebration noon-3 pm Saturday in Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale). United Way says, “This event is great for families to receive a free meal and participate in fun activities, such as a bounce house, face painting, and an obstacle course! We will also have a few guest speakers, including Batman for the kids!”
Thanks to the nearby resident who just sent that photo of another Highland Park Way/Holden crash this past hour. No injuries reported, so no Seattle Fire dispatch. The next phase of safety improvements at this problematic intersection isn’t clear; as reported here in May, SDOT told the Highland Park Action Committee that the cost of a long-proposed roundabout has jumped to $7 million, and even “just” a signal would cost $3 million. No funding has been identified for either.
(SIDE NOTE: HPAC’s next meeting – with crime, safety, and transportation on the agenda – is tomorrow night, 7 pm, at Highland Park Improvement Club.)
Less than an hour after summer officially arrived this morning, Highland Park Elementary started celebrating with this year’s Field Day.
PE teacher Chellie LaFayette invited us to stop by and see the variety of activities students are enjoying.
The sun came out just in time. Field Day is in two sessions – this morning, the third- through fifth-graders; this afternoon, the younger students.
One request for people in the neighborhood – and maybe even beyond – see that big inflatable black-and-white ball in the photo above? Chellie also had a rainbow-striped version but it vanished this morning. Like this, only multicolored:
If you find the missing ball, please take it to the school office (1012 SW Trenton).
9:20 PM: Seattle Fire is downsizing the “rescue extrication” response that was dispatched minutes ago to Highland Park Way near SW Portland [map]. But one vehicle’s reported “on its roof.” We’re en route.
9:36 PM: Photo added above. The flipped car is one of two involved. Trying to confirm radio communication indicating one was parked. No serious injuries reported.
9:42 PM: Police tell us that the flipped car was parked when the person driving another car hit it. (added below – photo of that other car)
They confirm no serious injuries, no one taken to the hospital. Highland Park Way is closed at the crash scene right now.
10:25 PM: Per police radio, Highland Park Way is reopening, both directions.
From Katherine:
My car was stolen out of my driveway in Highland Park last night or early this morning. It is a green Honda CR-V, 1999. License plate is ANV7277. Has Hillary Clinton and Rat City Brass bumper stickers. Please be on the lookout!
If you see it, call 911.
1:47 PM: Police have 9th SW blocked near SW Kenyon in Highland Park right now – both ways, according to radio communication, so avoid the area. This started as a report of a domestic-violence incident; police are trying to talk with a possible suspect but he is inside a residence and reported to be refusing to respond.
2:04 PM: Photo added; the standoff continues, and 9th remains blocked between Kenyon and Elmgrove (map). We don’t have details of the original incident but it apparently did not involve serious injury, as there has been no SFD medic dispatch to the area.
2:39 PM: Situation is wrapping up; police have gone into the house. 9th SW should be at least partly reopening shortly.
3:49 PM: We followed up with police. They tell us the suspect wasn’t in the house when they went in. Also, no injuries involved in the original incident, which involved “threats.”
(WSB photo)
10:29 PM: A man riding that motorcycle collided with a car driver about an hour ago at Highland Park Way and Holden and was taken to Harborview Medical Center, police tell us. No other details on the circumstances but apparently not life-threatening injuries as authorities are about to clear the scene.
10:58 PM: Thanks to Anneka for that photo from shortly after emergency responders arrived. A bystander asked us the status of the roundabout proposed as a safety improvement for the intersection; here is our most-recent report, from the May meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee, when an SDOT rep announced the cost estimate had skyrocketed to $7+ million.
This Friday, the centennial celebration at Highland Park Improvement Club continues with this month’s Corner Bar. The announcement is from Dina Lydia, who also created the groovy poster art above:
Time Travel to “CounterCulture” Corner Bar at H.P.I.C.
In this Centennial Year, Highland Park Improvement Club honors each decade of its history at our free monthly Friday Corner Bar.
Friday June 7th, we celebrate the years 1959-1968 in music, art, fashion, decor, games, and happenings.
PRIZES will be sprinkled for retro fashion savvy and trivia knowledge.
Photo Ops galore! Groovy wardrobe and props are free to borrow.
Neighbors are invited to bring mementos for Show and Tell.
1962 Seattle World’s Fair? Rock concerts? Campaign buttons? Lava lamps?
Doors of the EnGroovement Club open at 6pm
Kids welcome until 9
HPIC is at 1116 SW Holden.
Received via text: “Our house was broken into today in West Seattle on 12th and Holden. They took laptops, a Nintendo switch, multiple Kindles, and iPods and an iPad while I slept. They stole our red 2006 four-door Toyota Camry.” We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
$7.3 million.
You could almost hear the proverbial jaws drop last night when SDOT announced that new estimated cost for a Highland Park Way/Holden roundabout. It’s more than triple the long-cited estimate.
SDOT’s James Le presented the update to the Highland Park Action Committee meeting. Past chair Michele Witzki, who has long worked on advocacy for the project, could barely contain her shock: “I am so frustrated right now. I am beyond frustrated. … It’s almost impossible to get money when you keep on moving the target. … You keep on putting more roadblocks in the way of making this happen.”
As the one-sheet distributed by Le (PDF here, embedded below) says, there’s an option – a $3 million signalization plan.
But that’s not funded either.
(WSB file photo)
Saturday is the first day of the season for Seattle Parks sprayparks, including Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), the only one in West Seattle:
Seattle Parks and Recreation will operate 9 sprayparks across Seattle this summer. Sprayparks open daily starting Saturday, May 25 and will operate through Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., unless thunder and lightning are present.
Wading pools don’t open for another month – you can see the full citywide schedule, including opening dates, here.
(WSB photos)
Chellie LaFayette‘s 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade PE students at Highland Park Elementary had an extra-special lesson this morning, with guests visiting from the reigning WNBA champs, the Seattle Storm, including center Mercedes Russell!
Russell and members of the coaching staff took the students through drills and were then scheduled for some Q&A.
The visit was part of a Storm partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
P.S. The team opens its season at 12:30 pm Saturday, hosting the Phoenix Mercury at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.
(WSB photos)
Full house at Highland Park Improvement Club last night for the centennial edition of HPIC’s annual wine-celebration fundraiser Uncorked.
The event has grown – not only in attendance (it sells out every year) but also in scope – used to be the attendees brought the wine; this year, the wine was all provided, from 10 wineries. Eventgoers enjoyed a spread of appetizers, too:
And more opportunities to support HPIC – a community-owned-and-operated venue that hosts countless events and classes every year – were available via a silent art auction and basket raffle:
Community sponsors (including WSB) supported the event too. HPIC was incorporated in November 1919, originally the Dumar-Outland Improvement Club (read more history here). Next monthly event is the Corner Bar on Friday, June 7.
Love wine? Love community? The two are paired this Saturday night at Highland Park Improvement Club‘s Uncorked! wine-tasting fundraiser. This is HPIC’s centennial year, so the party is extra-special.
Here’s what happens when you show up at HPIC starting at 5:30 Saturday (May 18th):
Upon entrance, you will receive a 2 commemorative wineglasses for tasting Old and New varietals. You will be invited to enjoy special tastings, while you peruse the raffle baskets and purchase raffle tickets. You can gaze upon the art donated by local artists, whose work will be up for bidding through our deservedly competitive (and fun!) Silent Art Auction. As always, an array of excellent, epicurean food will be provided for your noshing pleasure.
During the wine tasting, you’ll get an opportunity to taste side-by-side the same varietal from the Old World and the New World. Tables will enjoy a fun and enlightening journey that explores the differences between Old and New. Following the tasting, a select amount of the wines presented for tasting will be available for purchase by the glass, or by the bottle (to take home) at a discounted rate. And, for the beer-lovers who attend, we will be selling a selection of quality beers.
And again this year, we present Wine Roulette, where you purchase a chance to win a high-value bottle of wine for the bargain price of a ticket.
Our annual winetasting event is a big fundraiser for the club, and all the money received goes to support building and site improvements. This year we are installing our long dreamed for wish-list item, the audio updgrade (previewed last year!), that will enhance experiences like Uncorked for years to come.
HPIC – at 1116 SW Holden – also is home to countless community events, classes, and meetings year-round. With five days to go, you have two ways to be part of it:
Buy a ticket
Become a sponsor (we’re among the community businesses and organizations already on the list)
See you there!
That’s the note up at DutchBoy Coffee in Highland Park (southeast corner of 16th/Holden). Proprietor Jenni Watkins has announced she’s closing the stand after almost 2 1/2 years. “I am the 4th business owner to operate a coffee stand on my corner and I tried to be the last one,” she told WSB by e-mail. “Sadly the way our world works, with business taxes, beverage tax, and the increasing cost of rent I cannot remain open. … I hope someone can carry on the neighborhood magic somehow. I want to let my customers know how they changed my life in great ways & I’ll miss serving great coffee.” As the sign says, she plans to stay open a few more weeks, so you can stop by to wish her well.
Craig Rankin from the Highland Park Action Committee sent this report on, and photos from, today’s community cleanup:
Thanks to everyone who participated in this morning’s cleanup along the south side of Highland Park Way.
The group managed to pick up roughly 20 bags of garbage, and a large assortment of debris including tires, furniture, and a chopped-up Lime bike.
If you haven’t planned YOUR neighborhood cleanup yet, there’s still time to get city support – here’s how.
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