day : 08/12/2012 9 results

West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: Crash at east end

December 8, 2012 10:21 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

10:21 PM: Another traffic alert – one-car crash at east end of eastbound West Seattle Bridge has police closing the Columbian Way and northbound I-5 exits. Might be a while – scanner traffic also has mentioned some damage at the “gore point” as well as a small oil spill from the crash.

10:56 PM: Scanner traffic says everything’s open again.

West Seattle traffic alert: Crash blocking southbound Delridge

9:35 PM: Seattle Police are blocking southbound Delridge at Findlay because of a crash at Delridge/Juneau. According to scanner traffic, a car hit a parked car – and the driver is reported to have left the scene. No word of any injuries, so far – a Seattle Fire engine was responding but has just been canceled since “the patient fled on foot” – possibly into a nearby apartment complex.

10:57 PM UPDATE: Adding a photo. We saw three damaged vehicles at the scene – one being towed, two parked along the street. We will check back soon to verify whether the southbound side of Delridge has reopened.

Fire call on Alki: ‘Food on stove’

December 8, 2012 9:21 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Big response to a “fire in building” call a few minutes ago in the 2700 block of Alki SW, but according to the scanner, firefighters say it was a “food on stove” situation and have canceled most of the units.

What the picketing in the Admiral District is about

Multiple tipsters say picketers have returned to The Admiral District for the second time in two weeks. Here’s what we know: The picketers are with a group called Seattle Solidarity Network. This is the second time the group has targeted a local restaurant this year, alleging “wage theft,” according to flyers and picket signs. In both cases, after hearing about a protest, we checked with the state Department of Labor and Industries, to ask if any such complaint had been filed – that’s the agency that investigates workplace complaints. In both cases, L&I had no complaint on record. (L&I also has an online lookup.) Earlier in the year, we asked the group why they were picketing if no complaint had been filed, and the representative who answered our inquiry did not address that question. We will check again with L&I on Monday to ask again if any local wage-theft investigation is under way.

West Seattle holidays: Christmas Ship serenades Lowman, Alki

(1st four photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Two stops for the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship (above right, with the Royal Argosy at left; WSB sponsor) tonight in West Seattle, at Lowman Beach at dusk, then at Alki Beach.

Beachfront crowds and Christmas music from The Dickens Carolers at both – and bright lights from the accompanying fleet (which varies, night by night):

This was the first time in as far back as we can remember that the Lowman stop was early in the evening:

ADDED: Video from the second stop of the night, at Alki – you can’t see the chorus, but you can certainly hear them!

On shore, as part of a celebration organized by the Alki Advisory Council, musical groups performed starting at 4 pm – from Hope Lutheran and Seattle Lutheran as well as elsewhere in the community. We caught an ensemble from the Seattle Women’s Chorus:

Hope Lutheran’s live Nativity Scene wandered the beach with banners:

A toasty bonfire crackled nearby:

Santa showed up – on two wheels:

And helpers inside the Bathhouse included teens from the Hiawatha Community Center program – tending to the treats:

While that’s it for West Seattle Christmas Ship stops this season, you can see it elsewhere – or even ride on board – see the official website for details.

Photos: Holiday shopping at West Seattle arts/crafts sales/bazaars

December 8, 2012 1:51 pm
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 |   Highland Park | Holidays | West Seattle news

It’s a Very Hairy Christmas with your own Cousin Itt Christmas tree. You can find it – er, Itt – at the Highland Park Improvement Club holiday bazaar till 3 pm (12th and Kenyon) – along with other handcrafted creations such as Andy and Keandre‘s work:

We’ve also been to the Schmitz Park Elementary arts/crafts sale – also till 3 pm (5000 SW Spokane) – where a bake sale is raising money for WestSide Baby:

Bonnie‘s offering popsicle-stick puppets:

Julian and Reed are raising money for West Seattle High School Global Visionaries travel:

And at Diva Espresso (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s a gift idea:

The Mason-jar drinking “glasses” are on sale during the Diva “Art Pageant,” which like the aforementioned events, runs till 3 pm. Also under way right now – a sale till 7 pm at the Log House Museum on Alki, which will host the Christmas Ship‘s final West Seattle stop of the season at 5:25 pm, with a shoreside music extravaganza starting at 4.

West Seattle holiday giving: Rotary ‘First Friday’; Nucor’s SWYFS check

(Photo courtesy WS Rotary: Reis Pearson, Darcell Slovek-Walker, Sarah Jones, Dave Nichols)
Two updates on local holiday-season giving. First, from the Rotary Club of West Seattle – club spokesperson Dave Nichols‘ update on last night’s “First Friday” giving event at The Cask:

Last night we had a nice turn out to collect preparedness items for Transitional Resources. We invited the local Red Cross to join us and they brought, some preparedness items to donate (Whistles, Ponchos, chap stick, hand sanitizers and emergency contact cards.) It was a good connection to make between our community members and the American Red Cross.

15 First Aid Kits
14 Flashlights and batteries
27 Emergency Ponchos
30 Mini Flashlights
30 Hand Sanitizer Sprays
30 ChapSticks
30 Can/Bottle Openers
30 Emergency contact cards

Friday afternoon, we visited Southwest Youth and Family Services as they accepted a generous gift:

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Representatives from Nucor Steel’s Safety Team came with a check for $3,500, a gift from the company and its local employees. SWYFS says it’ll be used “to purchase gift certificates to cover holiday expenses and basic needs for the families with whom we work.” From left in our photo are Nucor’s Scot McSwane and Maryallene Otis, SWYFS’s Steve Daschle, and Nucor’s Robert Gaurin.

West Seattle Saturday: Schmitz Park craft fair; Highland Park bazaar; Christmas Ship back; Hanukkah begins; more!

December 8, 2012 8:55 am
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Endolyne Choir at Junction Tree Lighting 12/1 – photo by Nick Adams for WSB. Their holiday concert is today!)
Another holiday-season Saturday with lots of chances to celebrate – including shopping local at your local stores and local arts/crafts bazaars – plus music and more, including the start of Hanukkah:

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ADOPT-A-STREET: If you see this before 11 am, go help! ANA’s quarterly street cleanup is headquartered at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – check in and take off. Tools supplied.

DIVA ‘ART PAGEANT’: It’s the annual “Art Pageant,” 9 am-4 pm, at Diva Espresso in The Triangle.

STORY TIME AT KOL HANESHAMAH: 9:45 am, focusing on holidays and Shabbat, geared for 2-5-year-olds – details here.

SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Schmitz Park Elementary welcomes you, 10 am-3 pm, 5000 SW Spokane: Crafts from a variety of vendors; raffle; and more! All proceeds go to the Schmitz Park PTA General Fund. And a special addition: “The second graders at Schmitz Park (Ms. Bailey’s, Mr. McMillan’s, Ms. Aylesworth’s and Ms. Noreng’s classes) are putting on a bake sale at the fair and donating proceeds to WestSide Baby! Many traditional cookies and bars, along with (rumor has it!) some gluten-free and vegan options as well. Please come down and support Schmitz Park kids and WestSide Baby!”

HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden) is also having a holiday bazaar, 10 am-3 pm: Shopping, eating, raffle-ticket-buying, and pictures with Santa.

ART SALE AT GINOMAI: The 5th Annual Holigaze Holiday Sale at Ginomai Studios (4401 42nd SW), hosted by artisans Kelly Rae Cunningham & Shelli Markee, 10 am-3 pm

VILLAGE GREEN PERENNIAL NURSERY HOLIDAY SALE: 10-3:30 (tomorrow too) at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) (10223 26th SW): Find gifts for gardeners in your life… Gift certificates to stuff the stockings. Studio seconds…pottery, hammered garden items for you to finish and add to your own project. Glass garden spires created by Sean Welch from Avalon glass. Lollipops by Bedrock glass. Salves to soothe the gardeners’ dry hands and Healthy Chocolate! Also, of course, perennials, trees, shrubs, pottery and living holiday trees to plant out after the season…save a tree.

WSHS CHEERLEADERS BENEFIT: The West Seattle High School cheer squad is selling hot cocoa 10 am-8 pm at Son In Law Tree Farm (Charlestown/California), and part of the weekend’s tree-sales proceeds will benefit them too. More details here.

SANTA PAWS AT WINDERMERE: 10 am-2 pm, bring your furry friends to Windermere West Seattle in The Junction for a “Santa Paws” photo! Details here.

SANTA AL AT JF HENRY: This just in from “Santa Al“: After spending last night on the Argosy Christmas ship that was part of last night’s celebration, Santa Al returns to land at JF Henry (WSB sponsor) for free photos. Come with your own camera or have Santa’s elf helper take one for $5. From 11 AM to 2 PM today.

MORE SANTA APPEARANCES TODAY, AND WHERE TO BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE: See the WSB Holiday Guide!

ENDOLYNE CHOIR CONCERT: The Endolyne Children’s Choir present their Winter Fantasy Concert, 11 am, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (California/Hanford).

WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD HOLIDAY BAZAAR White Center Library Guild Holiday Bazaar. 11 am-3 pm: Shop for special holiday gifts and goodies including cookies, breads and gently used items. This year for the first time there will be items from the Burien Knitters group. Entertainment by Magician Jeff Evans at 2 pm. All proceeds benefit the White Center Library. White Center Library Meeting Room, 11220 16th SW.

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CIDER, COOKIES, SALE! The Southwest Seattle Historical Society invites you to join us at the Log House Museum today from noon—7:30 pm for hot cider and cookies and live holiday music by local entertainers. 10% off on all gift-shop items during this event only. (Walk a block inland while you’re visiting for the Christmas Ship!) 3003 61st Ave SW

‘FLAVOR THE SEASON’ TASTING EVENT: At Metropolitan Market, noon-3 pm.

‘SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: THE MUSICAL’: Second and third shows today for this brand-new locally written/produced Christmas musical (which is sponsoring WSB to help get the word out), Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 2 pm matinee and evening performance at 7 pm; tickets available online.

HOLLYDAY DECORATIONS: Check with Camp Long to see if there’s still room in this class, 2 pm, details here.

CHRISTMAS SHIP AT LOWMAN, ALKI: Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship (WSB sponsor) back in West Seattle! 4:35-4:55 at Lowman Beach, 5:25-5:45 pm at Alki – and a BIG party at the Bathhouse before and after the Alki stop, with music onshore too (see details here).

FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: The eight-day Festival of Lights begins at sundown tonight.

ART AND MUSIC ON ALKI: After the Christmas Ship visits Alki, pop across the street to Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), for art and music, 6-9 pm: “Join us for a glass of wine, some live music in the background, and a ‘meet & greet’ print signing with artist Nationally-acclaimed artist Michael Birawer. Birawer has brought a new look to the face of urban neighborhoods through his unique style of painting. A combination of graffiti, cartoon, illustration and heavy textures, his paintings have received praise from both art critics and patrons, who describe his work as “one of the best examples of the contemporary revival of urban art. There will be new work and gift items for attendees that Michael will be bringing with him.”

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show continues tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm; tickets available online. A Children’s Hospital toy drive is being held during the show’s run:

Please consider bringing a new unwrapped toy or gift card for these families. The following items are in greatest need: Crayola® crayons; Play Doh; fuzzy coloring posters; small Lego sets; Brio trains; nail polish; coloring books; arts and crafts kits; playing cards; tactile toys for all ages; rattles; links; Disney/Pixar DVDs; PG-13 DVDs; gift cards; videos, books, and music.

MORE HOLIDAY GIVING … scroll through the WSB Holiday Guide to the “Giving Opportunities” section for giving trees, gift drives, and other ways to make this a happy holiday for those in need.

AND LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC! Along with the holiday concerts (etc.) above, our regular WSB West Seattle Events Calendar also includes listings for music at various local venues tonight – check it out!

West Seattle holidays: Giving, caroling as Our Lady of Guadalupe tree is lit

That sleigh and its contents represented the true light of last night’s 8th annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School – the spirit of giving, in this case food donations for those in need. (Heidi Ehrenberg designed the sleigh.) Oh, of course there’s a tree too:

OLG is graced with the highest-elevation tree in the city, right across the street from Seattle’s highest point, at Myrtle Reservoir, 512 feet above sea level. Its lighting was celebrated as always with what might be West Seattle’s most festive outdoor public caroling session – highlighted as usual by “Jingle Bells” featuring hundreds of jingling sets of car keys:

Another tradition – local broadcaster/journalist Brian Callanan emceed, festively as ever, from beneath the tree, along with OLG’s pastor, Father Jack Walmesley:

While some in the crowd were decked in antlers or Santa hats (including Santa himself – clip in the works), OLG School’s principal Kristin Dixon chose the angelic look:

After the caroling, it was time to stream inside the OLG Parish Life Center for cookies and cocoa:

The center was dedicated last May. Chair of last night’s event was Tovee Delaliana, as noted on the program, which also listed the OLG Christmas Eve/Day Mass times – we’ll be adding those to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, and invite all local faith communities with celebrations this season to send word of the dates and times too! (editor@westseattleblog.com)