West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
The post-Thanksgiving calm is starting to settle … except for the corners of the holiday-shopping world where people are lining up for the start of “Black Friday.” Instead of mall-mania, West Seattle’s local independent retailers invite you to sleep in and see what they have to offer – tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, and beyond. You don’t even have to wait for “Shop Small Saturday” – make it “Shop Small Every Day.” The WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide has some previews of local shopping highlights if you scroll down the page; also new this year, the West Seattle Junction Association is offering some ideas in a three-part Gift Guide (here’s where to start). Another stop for your list tomorrow – it’s the first of three days for the annual Native Holiday Gift Fair at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse – hand-crafted creations you won’t find anywhere else. (WSB photo: Garland-decked Easy Street Records, one of the local indie businesses where you’ll find deals Friday)
9:23 PM: You might have heard the sirens a little while ago – a big initial response for a crash at 21st SW and SW Myrtle. It was first called out as a “heavy rescue,” but it’s been scaled back. We don’t have details on the circumstances but are off to check.
9:54 PM: It was a one-car crash at the curve by Sanislo Elementary. The car went into the shrubs on the slope west of the corner, north of the stairs. The driver got himself out, police told us at the scene, and is unhurt, but is in custody, while they investigate the possibility of DUI.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Online records show a 34-year-old man was cited for being under the influence.
IF you’re going downtown to see tomorrow morning’s Macy’s Holiday Parade – you’ll have locals to cheer for: The Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School marching bands are both on the lineup, per their online schedules. The parade starts at 9 am and ends when Santa Claus goes by – the route is described in SDOT’s holiday-weekend alert. You can’t take the Water Taxi over since it’s not running on Friday, but you can take Metro, which will be on a “reduced weekday” schedule. (Anybody else from WS in the parade? Please comment, or message us, so we’ll all know to look for you!)
Another group of West Seattleites putting the “giving” in Thanksgiving today – the West Seattle Eagles, serving their 7th annual “Thanksgiving to Remember” feast, free to all, until 5 pm. The first hour saw more than 60 people, they told us when we stopped by:
Among the Eagles and volunteers making everyone welcome are Armando Juarez, Christine Juarez, and Gatewood Elementary students Maddy and Ty:
The Eagles’ aerie is just south of the Junction post office, 4426 California SW.
For the 17th year, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering is serving its legendary complimentary community Thanksgiving dinner right now at The Hall at Fauntleroy, all welcome, until 3 pm. We dropped in to photograph some of the smiling faces of the people who are spending part of their holiday making it happen:
T&TSC proprietor David Haggerty (3rd from right, above) told us that within the first 35 minutes or so, they had already served 100 diners. (What does it take for this large-scale feast to happen? See our behind-the-scenes story from 2012.) As is also a tradition, a table in the hallway also was laden with warm clothing available to anyone who needed to take some home.
(Photo by John Bartell)
Thanks to everyone who shared photos of this Thanksgiving Day’s beautiful beginning. While the full moon was getting ready to set over the Olympic Mountains this morning, the sun was climbing up from behind the Cascades:
(Photo by Bryan Hendrickson)
As beautiful as Mount Rainier can be in sunrise glow, the Olympics had it beat this morning:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
(Photo by John Hinkey)
(Photo by Chris Frankovich)
Thanks to everyone who contributes to this community-collaborative news service day in and day out … photos, news tips, calendar listings, lost-and-found pet reports, comments, Forum posts, and so much more … here’s how and where to reach us, any time.
(One more view from Tuesday’s king tide/north wind – photo by Monica Zaborac)
Happy Thanksgiving! Again this year, we are thankful for YOU and this beautiful neighborhood we share. Here’s info you might find useful:
WHICH GROCERY STORES ARE OPEN: Here’s the list.
WHO’S OPEN FOR COFFEE: We heard from 7 coffee shops ready to serve you for at least part of today! See the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
PRE-TURKEY WORKOUTS : Also in the first section of the Holiday Guide.
3 PLACES TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER:
The Hall at Fauntleroy, noon-3 pm (9131 California SW)
West Seattle Eagles, 2-5 pm (4426 California SW)
South Park Senior Center, 11 am-2 pm (8201 10th Ave. S.)
—-More in our preview and our Holiday Guide. And if you are looking for a way to be helpful today – dessert donations are accepted at The Hall starting at 10 am.
WHICH RESTAURANTS (AND BARS WITH FOOD) ARE OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Here’s the list (please note, it is a list only of who told us, when we called, that they planned to be open – always subject to last-minute change without notice to us, so please alert us if you find any discrepancies).
THANKSGIVING CHURCH SERVICES: 2 are listed in the Holiday Guide.
POST-DINNER ENTERTAINMENT:
The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies/times here (2343 California SW) … The West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular music-synched light show starts tonight, lights on at 7 pm – bring food for the West Seattle Food Bank! (3908 SW Charlestown)
TRANSIT CHANGES:
*Metro is on a Sunday schedule
*The Water Taxi is NOT running today or tomorrow
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a weekend schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on a normal schedule.
OTHER NOTES: No solid-waste pickup today … government offices, libraries, Parks-operated facilities are closed (except for golf courses including WS, closing “around 2 pm” per the city).
(WSB photos/video)
The Learjet that just arrived in the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Aviation Maintenance Tech program hangar is a big deal in multiple ways.
For one – this program is the first in the state to get a plane like this.
For two – it’s a plane worth about $620,000 (original value $3.1 million), obtained by SSC for $10,000 (plus various one-timeexpenses, including hiring pilots to fly it here).
SSC showed off the C-21 Learjet 35A inside its Boeing Field hangar on Wednesday afternoon. Never been there? Here’s a quick look inside:
SSC is one of five schools in the state with Aviation Maintenance Tech programs, but the first to have a Learjet.
It’s government surplus that will now be put to use for hands-on training; Pat Prociv of the AMT faculty told us that they’ll be able to roll it out and run the engine.
The college explained in its acquisition announcement:
The plane was acquired from the Department of Enterprise Services that accounts for government surplus items. Formerly a plane for the Michigan State Police, the Learjet became available in 2014. Through a competitive selection process, South was selected to acquire the aircraft because of the number of potential mechanics it will serve. Each quarter the AMT program enrolls an average of 175 students.
The jet is 48 feet and 8 inches long, with a wingspan of 39 feet and 6 inches. Maximum speed, 471 knots (542 miles) per hour. As for the 8-quarter AMT program at SSC, read all about it here.
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