West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(WSB photo, June 28th)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Almost six months after a city-organized event that was envisioned as a prototype for conversations with neighborhoods around the city, a West Seattle community advocate laments that months of following up have shown the “experiment in communication has not worked out.”
Held on the last Saturday morning in June, the event titled “Let’s Talk: West Seattle” was announced as being for “encouraging civic engagement around development issues” – a chance to discuss those issues in a big-picture context, instead of the usual one-development-at-a-time.
Quick reminders about Christmas Eve/Day information that you can preview here now rather than trying to track it down when you really need it:
*CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES: A dozen local churches shared service times/descriptions with us, and you’ll find it in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
*WHAT RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN? We’ve been making this list and checking it twice, after dozens and dozens of phone calls. Whatever local restaurants told us they were open Christmas Eve and/or Day are listed here. (With the caveat, every year somebody changes their plan … happens every so often … apologies in advance!)
*GROCERY STORE HOURS: Here’s our list of when West Seattle supermarkets close on Christmas Eve and who’s closed/open on Christmas Day.
P.S. The Holiday Guide runs through New Year’s Day, and we’re still corralling info for next week’s holidays – e-mail us if you have a New Year’s Eve/Day party or other event to announce!
You might have heard about a voluntary recall of Snoqualmie Ice Cream products because of listeria concerns. No illnesses have been reported, but other businesses that use Snoqualmie products are affected – including Full Tilt Ice Cream, which is pulling its dairy-based ice cream and closing its shops for a few days. Here’s the explanation from FT’s Facebook page:
Unfortunately our stores are going to be closed until December 26th. Our dairy supplier, Snoqualmie Gourmet, has issued a recall on our pasteurized milk products. This does not affect our non-dairy and vegan flavors.
None of our ice cream has been contaminated, but to err on the side of caution, we have decided to pull all of our dairy-based ice cream.
If you have a pint at home that you bought at one of our scoop shops, feel free to bring it in for a refund or replacement. If you recently bought a pint from another retail outlet, you can return it to the store that you bought it from for a full refund. We are currently working as hard as we can to make ice cream and get open as soon as possible.
Again, that’s the message from Full Tilt. It is not the only business affected by the Snoqualmie situation – another popular local ice-cream mini-chain, Molly Moon, has temporarily closed its shops too. (Thanks to Chas and Amy for the tips on this.)
ADDED 12/25: Please see the comments for additional info, pending our next update on this.
(WSB photos: Vehicles at the lower end of the crash scene, W. Marginal/HP Way)
4:14 PM: Big emergency response to West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW, where a reported crash started as a small response but has grown to half a dozen SFD units – three vehicles and five people hurt. Avoid the area if you can. It’s been raining heavily for a while now so it’s a challenge to get just about anywhere.
4:44 PM: We are at the crash scene. It’s at the bottom of HP Way hill, blocking uphill lanes. Downhill getting through but slowly – avoid.
4:49 PM: We are told 4 vehicles were involved, 4 people taken to the hospital but no life-threatening injuries so TCIS is -not- being called out. Tow trucks are starting to arrive.
(Vehicle at upper end of crash scene, HP Way westbound/uphill lanes – firefighters had to cut away part of it to get someone out)
5:17 PM: Again, even though some traffic is getting through, avoid the area until there’s word everything is cleared – it’s slow going even in the directions that are open – we are back at HQ (adding photos), and West Marginal to the south (White Center-bound) was slow too. Even though TCIS won’t be involved, clearing the scene will likely take some time, with four vehicles plus debris to be cleared.
6:07 PM: Texter says the scene is clear – Metro has also messaged that Route 131, which goes through that area, is back to normal.
Congratulations to coach Sonya Elliott and her undefeated West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team – the new Seattle Times (WSB partner) rankings have them at #6 in the state (3A division). Next up for the Wildcats, an after-Christmas tournament in California; they’re going to Palm Springs for games Friday, December 26th, through Tuesday, December 30th (here’s the schedule). Their next game in Seattle is at home on Wednesday, January 7th, vs. Holy Names.
The team at Illusions Hair Design is in the midst of what we believe to be the last Holiday Open House before Christmas, at least among West Seattle businesses! You don’t need an appointment to drop by and say hi, any time before 8 pm – they have treats (as shown on the Illusions Facebook page!) and plenty of good cheer – 5619 California SW.
We’ve just obtained the police report for an armed robbery reported early today in the 3200 block of SW Avalon Way. The exact address has been redacted, but the holdup is described as having happened in an apartment-building parking lot visible from apartments above it (which likely means a parking area off the alley). The police report says it happened just after 1 am and that the victims told them they had pulled into the lot and were getting out of their car when the three robbers approached from the north.
(From Ecology website: Aerial image of BP site)
The state is continuing to watch three cleanup sites on Harbor Island, and just sent an announcement that draft status reports are available for your review and/or comments. From the Department of Ecology, with links to each report:
Past and ongoing cleanup work at three major oil terminals on Harbor Island in Seattle continue to protect public safety and the environment, according to reviews drafted by the Washington Department of Ecology.
Ecology is making the draft reports available for public review and comment through Jan. 26, 2015. The reviews cover the cleanup status of BP West Coast Products Terminal, Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminal, and Shell Oil Harbor Island Terminal.
(Seen off Seacrest Tuesday! Photo by Laura James – no relation to “Diver Laura”)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and our ongoing-through-New-Year’s WS Holiday Guide:
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: If you can donate blood, consider visiting the Bloodmobile in The Junction until 3 pm today (except for the 11:30-12:30 break). Details in our calendar listing. (42nd/Alaska)
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT ILLUSIONS: 11 am-8 pm, you’re invited to stop by Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor), no appointment needed, just drop in for treats and good cheer! (5619 California SW)
LUNCH WITH SANTA: We spotted him at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) right after Thanksgiving, and he’s back today for lunch:
Starting at noon. (9261 45th SW)
NEED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY? Seattle Public Libraries are closed Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day, so get there today!
HAPPY HANUKKAH! At sundown, 8th and final night of the Festival of Lights.
‘BLUES TO DO’ CHRISTMAS PARTY: 8 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), this week’s “Blues to Do” is the Christmas Party edition, with special guest Seth Freeman. (6451 California SW)
LOOKING AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY? Find the info we’ve compiled about restaurants, grocery stores, and church services in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:13 AM: Relatively light commute so far, all around the region.
Transit reminder: Metro service is normal (except for the “no UW” cancellations) again today, but then schedule changes start tomorrow and continue through New Year’s Day – the “reduced weekday” schedule will be in effect tomorrow, for starters, meaning some local routes don’t run at all.
P.S. The Water Taxi will NOT run on Christmas Day.
8:04 AM: TW notes in a comment that the 1st/Horton light has been undergoing repairs, and there’s been a bit of backup coming off the bridge at 1st.
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