day : 18/12/2013 10 results

(January 18, 2012, photo shared by Suzanne, from SW Barton in Fauntleroy)
11:55 PM: It’s been almost two full years since the last somewhat-major snowfall in this area – mid-January 2012. Since the forecasters are pretty much unanimous in thinking we’ll see a few inches Friday morning, we’re presenting some links you might want to check in advance:

*SDOT winter-weather-response map – see what routes near you will be plowed (same map, during storm conditions, will show what’s been plowed/salted and when, among other things)

*Metro snow/ice route lookup – see where buses will run if they change to the snow/ice plan

*Outside the city? (White Center, part of South Park) The county road plan is here

*Flying out or picking someone up on Friday? Here’s where to check Sea-Tac Airport status; here are general airport winter-weather logistics

As always, if you will find real-time, 24/7 coverage here, and your help is always appreciated in terms of snow reports/photos from your neighborhood/workplace/travel routes/etc. – but there’s no downside to preparation, and that’s the spirit in which we share those links. Anything else you want to know in advance?

3:26 AM: Don’t get too excited/worried yet. In the 3 am forecast discussion, the National Weather Service is already backpedaling a bit.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Ryan Cox back in jail

December 18, 2013 8:32 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

While looking for someone else’s status on the King County Jail Register, we happened onto a familiar name: Ryan Cox. He is in jail again, this time for an assault charge, to which he quickly pleaded guilty, and for which he was sentenced. Quick backstory: Cox made citywide headlines in 2009 after a series of vandalism incidents that mostly involved profane, homophobic graffiti scrawled on signs, homes, businesses. He was arrested and jailed several times after that, most recently in October 2012, for an attack on a fellow passenger as they exited a bus on Avalon Way. Last July, as reported here, he pleaded guilty to hate-crime and assault charges in that case and was released from jail, having already served more time by that point than the sentence he received. Some of the previous cases against him were dismissed because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

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PHOTOS: Leaping orcas! Another West Seattle whale pass

December 18, 2013 4:25 pm

| 26 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Click any photo for a larger view)
If you didn’t get a chance to go look for orcas when we published word this morning that they were heading this way – here’s the next best thing. (Or maybe better – we went to look and missed them anyway!) West Seattleite Trileigh Tucker, our first tipster again today, got great photos, including breaches.

They are of course beautiful simply swimming by:

That’s Blake Island and Tillicum Village in the background. And here’s a group with a Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry in the background:

The ferry in the top photo is one of the bigger ones on the Seattle-Bainbridge run. This time of year, orca sightings here usually mean they’re chasing salmon runs to chow down on. For some orca facts and figures – go here. And thanks to everyone who shared sighting info this morning/afternoon, so that others had a chance to go look for them too!

10:30 PM: Mike Russell is also sharing photos – here’s a link to his Facebook gallery, for starters.

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West Seattle snow? Winter Storm Watch just announced

December 18, 2013 3:38 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

3:38 PM: You’ve heard the rumors and hints of some snow Friday morning; now, the National Weather Service has just started beating the drum a little louder, with a Winter Storm Watch alert for Thursday night through Friday morning. You can read it here; basically, snow is considered likely for most of Friday morning, before temperatures warm and change everything to rain Friday afternoon. Of course, you know how it goes – the forecast is just a forecast and things could change; event the alert says, “There is still quite a bit of uncertainty regarding how this event will unfold.”

10:35 PM UPDATE: The uncertainty seems to be getting somewhat less uncertain. In WSB comments and on Twitter, the local expert who goes by “MetPatrick” is sharing his observations; and “chances are … very high” is what weather analyst Cliff Mass says on his site.

3:26 AM: In the 3 am forecast discussion, the National Weather Service is ratcheting down a bit.

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West Seattle Christmas lights: ‘Cotton Candy Trees’ join our map

December 18, 2013 2:52 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Christmas lights: ‘Cotton Candy Trees’ join our map

| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

‘Tis the week before Christmas – prime time to enjoy lights. Duane Davis shared that photo of his display and an invitation to come enjoy it, and others nearby:

Come by 4152 46th Ave SW and see the Cotton Candy Trees, multicolored junipers, and our glowing home. A combination of incandescent and LED lights adds a bright festival feel to our neighborhood. Continue to drive up the street and see our friendly neighborhood lighting competition.

We’ve added it to the WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights Map – which you can see at that Google Maps link, or embedded on our Holiday Guide page. Photos and/or address tips still welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com – we hope to resume scouting tonight!

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See who’s leading which Seattle City Council committees next year

December 18, 2013 1:16 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The more active citizens and community groups get, the more important it is to know who’s in charge of what areas of emphasis in local government. So toward that end – the Seattle City Council has announced its “likely” committee chairs for next year. First, two areas of intense local interest: West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is expected to continue chairing Transportation; Councilmember Mike O’Brien is expected to become chair of Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability, the scope of which includes development and zoning. For the full list – including some renamed committees – read on for the council’s announcement:

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West Seattle Wednesday: Comedy! Concert! Co-working! Community meeting! And…

December 18, 2013 11:28 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Robins photographed by Laura Goodrich earlier this month, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info Guide and our year-round calendar:

CO-WORKING MEETUP: Even if you don’t regularly work at West Seattle’s first and only co-working space, WS Office Junction, you’re invited to be there noon-1:15 pm today for the twice-monthly co-working meetup: “These are informal meetings to share and talk about business ideas, projects, get feedback, build community and make new friends and business partners. Stay afterward to get your work done and follow up on all the information and ideas you got from the meetup.” (5230-B California SW)

HPAC SAYS THANKS, LOOKS AHEAD: On the Highland Park Action Committee‘s monthly agenda tonight, 7 pm:

We will be hosting the fire fighters from Station 11, and our Community Police officers so that we can express our gratitude for all that they do for our neighborhood. HPAC will be getting some chicken teriyaki from Highland Park’s own Wanna Burger and Teriyaki- Please join us to celebrate our awesome community and bring a little something to share. We will also be asking for your input on the direction HPAC will head in the next year, so bring your ideas – we’ll be asking you to share them in writing, so don’t worry- you won’t have to speak in front of everyone!

HPAC meets at Highland Park Improvement Club. (12th/Holden)

STUDENT CONCERT “Come celebrate the Christmas season with the student musicians of Hope School and Seattle Lutheran High School! 7:pm at Hope Church. The musical program includes holiday music performed by the choir, hand bells, chapel band and high school band.” (42nd/Oregon)

SANTA AT PEGASUS: You’re not out of Santa-photo chances yet – tonight the Jolly Ol’ Soul will be at Pegasus on Alki; photos are free with a $25 gift-card purchase, and Pegasus says it’s donating part of the proceeds to the Starlight Foundation Northwest. (2770 Alki SW)

LITTLE WOMEN AT ARTSWEST: Second-to-last week for the final 2013 production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), with the curtain rising at 7:30 tonight. (4711 California SW)

COMEDY AT THE FEEDBACK: West Seattle’s own Mona Concepcion is back at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosting a night of live comedy headlined by Kermet Apio, with Matt Ericksen, Aisha Farhoud, Eden Nault, Danielle Radford, and Jeffrey Robert, starting at 8 pm. (6451 California SW)

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Orcas heading back this way

December 18, 2013 10:23 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

10:23 AM: Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for sending word that orcas are expected to be passing this way again – this time, northbound, reported off Maury Island less than an hour ago. Please share the news if you see them. Meantime, remember Trileigh’s awesome photo of orcas off a Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry last weekend? See the view of them FROM the ferry, via Melissa Burks‘ album on Facebook.

11:28 AM: Donna from The Whale Trail says they’re visible without binoculars from Me-Kwa-Mooks.

4:25 PM: Trileigh shared spectacular photos, and we have published them separately.

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You can help! Lend a hand tomorrow @ White Center Food Bank

December 18, 2013 10:04 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

Want to feel a bit like Santa Claus? Help out tomorrow at the White Center Food Bank. Just in from Audrey Zemke:

The White Center Food Bank needs volunteer help Thursday, December 19 (additional time) 12:30 to 3:30 and 3:30 to 6:30 to hand out holiday food to clients. E=mail or call me to volunteer. Families welcome.

206-762-2848 or audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates

December 18, 2013 6:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(More area traffic cams on the WSB Traffic page)
One week until Christmas, three days until the winter solstice, and the forecast is threatening wintry weather again – possibly Thursday night/Friday morning. So check back for the mid-morning/mid-afternoon/mid-evening forecast updates, just in case.

Looking ahead even further – Metro is out with its traditional reminder about reduced service not only around Christmas and New Year’s, but the week inbetween; here’s the announcement.

7:42 AM: Bertha points out that southbound Highway 509 is closed at 128th in Burien because of a rollover crash – so if you head that way, you’ll want to use an alternate route. Reopening is now estimated around 9, according to KING 5’s Tracy Taylor. The crash involved five vehicles, per the State Patrol, which says two people are in critical condition – a vehicle came down an embankment onto the roadway, rolled, and hit the other vehicles.

9:59 AM: 509 is open.