West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Wise holiday decorators are getting their lights up early – who knows how many more mostly dry days you’ll see before Christmas? Putting them up early, however, is one thing – planning your display for months, another. But that’s the story behind the lights-synchronized-to-music display in that real-time video shared by Jim Winder – who worked at the home of friends to make The Helmstetler Family Holiday Spectacular happen at 3908 SW Charlestown (across from the water tower; here’s a map). The video clip is just ONE song – Jim says it’s a six-song set Sundays-Thursdays, 6-8 pm, and they’re planning between 10 and 15 on Fridays and Saturdays, 5-9 pm. Go watch the show — and listen to the soundtrack on 101.9 FM — and you’ll find out from Santa and elves just how many lights this took (Jim does reveal there’s ONE MILE of extension cords involved, with “56 individual channels controlled by my laptop”). As impressive as the video seems, Jim insists, “It is MUCH better in person. The video does not do it justice at all. I use all LED lights, and they are quite vivid.” Thanks, Jim, for sending early word of this seasonal show; we’re spotlighting Christmas lights every night – you can send your own photos/video OR let us know where to find photogenic lights to photograph ourselves (here’s all the ways to connect with WSB) – and will keep a running list of addresses on the West Seattle Holidays page.
City Councilmember Tim Burgess‘s staff sends word that the “chronic nuisance” ordinance – one of two proposals that address some of the problems flagged in the Delridge problem-properties tour last April – has won unanimous approval. Here’s what Burgess wrote about it on his website; read the bill here.
As of this writing, Pierce County police-killing suspect Maurice Clemmons (right) isn’t in custody yet, 
but there’ve been more than half a dozen searches in Seattle today – as shown in this Google Map assembled by @captaingentry, circulated via Twitter (having listened to scanner activity most of today, we can confirm these are locations where police have been). So far, none of these major searches have been in West Seattle, but it’s vital for everyone citywide to be on the lookout, as he could be anywhere. If you are an instant-info fan like we are, you can watch tagged Twitter traffic by using this link – those whose tweets you’ll see include citywide and neighborhood journalists who are or have been at the various search scenes (and you don’t have to have a Twitter account to use that page). Reminder – the tip line is 866-977-2362, and here’s the link for how to help the murdered officers’ families. 5:57 PM – The family of murdered SPD Officer Tim Brenton has issued a statement expressing sympathy and asking for the same support for those families that they have received. Meantime, a new search location is unfolding right now – in Renton – few details yet.
2:51 AM UPDATE: Until there’s more information, we’ll make a quick note here – there’s been a shooting south of Beacon Hill that may be linked to the case. When something is confirmed, we’ll post a separate update.
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-admin/post-new.php
With the first Hometown Holidays weekend coming up, The Junction is getting its holiday trimmings today. (See wsjunction.org for full details on Saturday’s tree lighting, Sunday’s HH fun – including Santa photos – and the ongoing $6,500 giveaway). Meantime, from Fauntleroy, we have a post-Thanksgiving thanks to share, from Carol at Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering:
I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who donated pies and desserts to the Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hall at Fauntleroy. We served over 250 people this year. The many delicious desserts were enjoyed by everyone. The room was warm, appetites were satisfied and the spirit of the season was all around. We really appreciate the community support.
If you’re seeing smoke near The Bridge – it’s a truck fire in the 3200 block of 16th SW on Harbor Island (map). Heavy black smoke, as you can see in the cameraphone photo we just received (thanks!). 11:59 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, @brucecmoore says the smoke’s turned white, so firefighters are getting a handle on it fast. No report of injuries so far. Thanks also to everyone who’s e-mailed reports on this. 12:07 PM UPDATE: Zach sent photos from Pier 56 across the bay:
There are some traffic effects too – @romabit tweets that they’re stuck on Harbor Island. 12:57 PM UPDATE: We can confirm firsthand that at least one path off the island is still blocked by police – the fire scene is under an elevated ramp – here’s what’s left of the truck (the cab in particular was incinerated, but scanner traffic indicated the driver got out OK):
1:33 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Jesse Doerr for a clearer photo of the scene.
Jesse also reports:
Witnesses on the scene say that the truck collided with one of the supports of the overpass onto Harbor Island and caught fire. The driver got out safely and seems to only have minor injuries to his hand. Quite a big fire though, the flames were coming up under the road and visible on top shooting up around both sides.
Traffic on Harbor Island is just now loosening up, as police found a way to route around the fire-aftermath scene.
(During our interview, we asked for “a video message to your fans” – there’s the result)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Two months ago, West Seattle radio personalities Marty Riemer and Jodi Brothers got axed from their long-running show without getting so much as a chance to say goodbye.
But this duo known for humor as well as music seems to be having the last laugh. Truly.
Some fans are still finding out they’re no longer on The Mountain; the short item we published about the abrupt end to their tenure there, mostly pointing to what our partners at the Seattle Times reported, is still drawing a few new comments each week – apparently thanks to a Google quirk, where the search query “what happened to Marty Riemer?” points you to our blurb first.
But hundreds of fans have long since rediscovered them on Facebook – starting with the day they got the boot, when Marty reported it with this status update:
Since then, on his page, he’s posted videos and invitations to events – including the one they plug in the video clip atop this story – a Marty Riemer Funny Festival that they’re staging wholly independent of any media sponsor. The FB page has even revealed personal news, like his wife’s pregnancy. So, of course, sent our interview request via Facebook, resulting in a rendezvous on a recent rainy afternoon (where you’ll also find Marty emceeing this Saturday’s tree lighting):Read More
From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin: More than a year after demolition of the big old house at 4532 42nd SW (map) – just north of Capco Plaza — the official city decision is published approving the mixed-use project replacing it (July rendering above) with 35 residential units and 3,000 square feet of commercial development: Read the decision here. The documents say changes were submitted in September to address the concerns brought up at its last Southwest Design Review Board meeting in July (as covered here):
These included an irrigation component as part of the landscape plan, a widened sidewalk along the entire 42nd Avenue SW façade, extending the height of the Prairie Stone bases of the columnar design elements along the 42nd Avenue SW façade, and the insertion of Prairie Stone headers above the windows of the commercial storefronts on 42nd Avenue SW, as well as providing these Prairie Stone headers along both the north and south ground-level facades to be consistently co-extensive with the areas of brick façade. The Director finds that these changes when implemented will adequately address the concerns and meet the recommendations of the Design Review Board as expressed at the July 23, 2009, Board meeting.
Now that the decision’s been published, there’s a two-week period in which appeals can be filed – the deadline is December 14; the official city notice explains how.
This final day of the month is relatively quiet — nothing major on the calendar. But the first public meetings for two West Seattle park projects – both funded by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy – are happening later this week, so here’s an early reminder: 6:30 pm Wednesday night, Fairmount Playfield playground improvements, 
for which $170,000 is budgeted, will be discussed at High Point Library (map). Then at 7 pm Thursday night, the new $3 million Westcrest-adjacent parkland created by the now-under-construction covering of West Seattle Reservoir (right) will be the topic at High Point Community Center (map). Lots more this week too – your next chance to get involved with neighborhood groups including the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, Highland Park Improvement Committee and Westwood Neighborhood Council (check out their remodeled website!) – it’s all on the WSB Events calendar (and all the holiday excitement – revving up for the West Seattle Christmas Tree Lighting this Saturday – is on the West Seattle Holidays page).
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