silent is fuck West Seattle Blog… | 2023 | June | 25

day : 25/06/2023 9 results

9:42 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police, reportedly including SWAT, are at an apartment building in the 3600 block of Beach Drive SW. It all started with a report that a resident armed with a gun had threatened a neighbor around 7 pm. No injuries reported so far.

10:02 PM: Meantime, a separate incident at Alki has police blocking off an area near 59th/Lander. We’re not certain exactly what this is about, though there was a dispatch for a “fight with weapons” about half an hour ago.

10:14 PM: The Alki situation is also getting some SWAT officers. It reportedly involves domestic violence, and as with the other situation, a suspect reported to have a gun.

10:33 PM: Neither situation is resolved yet. The one near 59th/Lander is actually at a residence on Marine (east of 59th). SWAT remains at both scenes. If you’re near either, you may hear PA messages meant to encourage surrender, and possibly the “flashbang” type noise devices SWAT often uses.

10:50 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that the Beach Drive suspect is in custody, so some of the units that have been there are headed to the Marine/Lander standoff.

11:48 PM: The Marine/Lander situation is still ongoing. Officers have told dispatch they’re communicating with the suspect.

12:05 AM: Officers have told dispatch their suspect is in custody. They have a warrant to search the residence, which is what they’ll be doing next.

10:39 AM: Both suspects were booked into jail, we’ve confirmed. The Beach Drive suspect is a 49-year-old man held for investigation of felony harassment; the Marine/Lander suspect is a 44-year-old man held for investigation of assault and unlawful imprisonment.

TUESDAY: SPD has recapped the Beach Drive incident on SPD Blotter.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Bridge vehicular-homicide suspect moved from hospital to jail

June 25, 2023 7:37 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three months after the West Seattle Bridge crash that ended two young lives, the driver charged with killing the two 18-year-old victims has been booked into jail. The King County Jail roster shows 36-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales was booked Saturday, as was expected to happen as soon as he was released from the hospital. He is scheduled to appear in King County Superior Court tomorrow for arraignment on the charges filed against him three weeks ago – two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving. Lopez-Morales’s bail is set at $250,000. Prosecutors say he was driving 100 mph, under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, going the wrong way on the westbound West Seattle Bridge, when he smashed into the car in which Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, Snohomish County residents, were heading to Alki Beach in the early-morning hours of March 22nd. Before being booked into jail, Lopez-Morales was at Harborview Medical Center for more than a month and then, according to court documents, moved to rehab at UW Medical Center.

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Crash on Admiral Way

June 25, 2023 5:35 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

Thanks for the photo. The driver of that vehicle crashed through a wall in the 5700 block of Admiral Way just before 5 pm, leading to what was initially a “rescue extrication” response, quickly downsized. No serious injuries reported.

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WEDNESDAY: West Seattle facilitator hosting ‘civic conversation’ about AI

June 25, 2023 5:00 pm

| Comments Off on WEDNESDAY: West Seattle facilitator hosting ‘civic conversation’ about AI

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Been seeing the seemingly endless headlines about AI – artificial intelligence – but not sure how you feel about it? Or, maybe you’re already using it, and excited about its possibilities. Or, perhaps you’re somewhere between worried and terrified of where it might take us. However you feel about AI, if you’re interested in a facilitated “civic conversation” about it, your West Seattle neighbor James Boutin is hosting one this Wednesday evening (June 28th), 5-7 pm, at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). When James sent us the announcement for the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, we asked why – what’s his stake in AI? He replied that first and foremost, “I’m a citizen who cares a great deal about democracy and believes the public is in desperate need of public spaces to talk openly about the speed at which AI technology is advancing (among many other issues important to our world).” He also is “an educator and facilitator who is hoping to get more practice under my belt in facilitating these types of conversations. I just completed a master’s program on facilitation and conflict studies at the Processwork Institute of Portland, OR, and I’m dedicated to practicing the skills I learned about holding open forums out in the world.” (His website is here.) James suggests a $15 donation “to help me cover the costs of preparation and spreading the word, but folks are also welcome to donate less or come for free.”

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: Mystery sighting, fledglings, more

June 25, 2023 2:34 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to readers’ contributions, here’s another West Seattle bird gallery – starting with a mystery bird that several people have asked us about in recent weeks. The photo above is from Heather, who said, “This guy has been hanging around the Fauntleroy Park area (near Cambridge entrance) for the past month. Anyone know the story of this lone pheasant friend?” Please comment below if you do! Meantime, less mysterious sightings include fledglings – Ann Anderson photographed a House Sparrow:

And this Steller’s Jay is from Robin Sinner:

Two from James Tilley – first, a Bald Eagle:

And a Common Loon:

Jon Anderson says these Band-Tailed Pigeons are fans of his feeder;

Finally, a hummingbird photographed by Brian Michel:

You can find info about these and other bird species seen in our region – with photos and even audio of their calls – by going here. P.S. We also feature bird photos periodically in our daily event lists, published every morning – thanks again to everyone who contributes!

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Scenes from West Seattle Garden Tour 2023

June 25, 2023 12:24 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Gardening | West Seattle news

(Photo sent by Bill Schrier)

That house in North Admiral is the northernmost of 10 stops on this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, happening until 5 pm today. It’s an annual celebration of not just what’s in bloom, but the creativity with which some gardeners have used the available space on their property. We visited a stop in the south, a home in Arbor Heights:

(WSB photos from here down)

Homeowner Greg Olsen told us his daughter designed the garden around the house, which was built 12 years ago, and required some excavation so “not a plant was left on the site.” Now, beautiful collections of plants are everywhere, front, back, side:

Olsen said most of the open space originally was covered with sod – no budget left for landscaping – but over the past decade, with his daughter’s help, it’s been transformed.

He thinks they’re largely done – “until she has a new idea!” (Gardeners will identify with that sentiment – you’re never really “done.”)

Other stops on the tour this year are in the Alaska and Morgan Junction areas, Gatewood, Genesee Hill, the Arroyos, and Puget Ridge, where the Seattle Chinese Garden is featured. You can visit there today – or any other day – without a Garden Tour ticket book; it’s at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus at 6000 16th. WSGT organizers tell us they’re offering tour attendees tastings at the nearby Northwest Wine Academy, too.

One important aspect of the Garden Tour: Both through ticket-book sales and a silent auction of this year’s competition-winning artwork, it raises money to support other nonprofits. They’re still seeking applicants for next year’s grants – here’s how to apply.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 12 notes

June 25, 2023 6:34 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

It’s the first Sunday of summer. Here’s what’s on the list for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR – SOLD OUT: Just an FYI that today’s the annual West Seattle Garden Tour, 9 am-5 pm, but if you don’t have a ticket, it’s too late – they sold out far in advance.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm; the market offers summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, plant starts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

SOUL SPA: Inner Alchemy is hosting Soul Spas on Sundays at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) during Farmers’ Market hours, 10 am-2 pm: “a fun community experience of meeting our talented local healers, makers, and artists right alongside the Farmers’ Market. Mini-sessions, shopping, connecting, and Timmy cooking brunch!”

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day, shine or rain. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day, except for chilly/cloudy days. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.

PEACE POLE DEDICATION: 12:15 pm outside Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle), all welcome.

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second Sunday of the season for free tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse (3201 Alki Avenue SW), 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:45 pm).

PASTRY POP-UP: Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) hosts Pastry Boy for a sweet pop-up, 2-5 pm.

CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: Monthly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3 pm. See our calendar listing for info on this month’s topic!

FREE YOGA CLASS: 6 pm outside Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), presented by Dragonfly. Donations accepted, as explained here; go here to register.

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire near Lincoln Park

June 25, 2023 3:28 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Police dispatched after 911 callers reported hearing gunfire in the Lincoln Park vicinity Saturday night confirmed it. The reports came in around 11 pm. Officers told dispatch they had found at least one casing; a nearby resident reports that police found at least five (in the street on Fauntleroy Way, radio exchanges indicate). No injuries reported.

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UPDATE: Construction-site arson at 18th/Roxbury, second fire there in 11 months

June 25, 2023 1:33 am

| 27 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

1:33 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to 18th and Roxbury. Updates to come.

1:39 AM: Arriving units report flames from the first floor of a three-story building.

1:42 AM: SFD describes the building as an under-construction townhouse.

1:46 AM: The fire is reported to be under control, an “exterior fire.” Meantime, we don’t know if it’s the same site, but there was a fire at under-construction townhouses in that same area last July.

1:50 AM: They’ve told dispatch that traffic is closed westbound on Roxbury starting at 17th.

2:20 AM: The fire’s out and no injuries are reported. SPD and SFD are investigating whether it was a set fire.

(WSB photo)

10:24 AM: We just went over to the site (including the photographer who covered last year’s fire). This fire was in the northeast building on the site; last July’s fire (linked above) was in the southeast building.

11:27 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond tells WSB, “Fire investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set and has been referred to Seattle Police Arson and Bomb Squad.”

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