West Seattle weather update: High wind warning fizzles
10:50 PM WEDNESDAY: Forecasters are now expecting strong wind in our area tomorrow too; earlier today, warnings were primarily for outside the city, but now Seattle’s been added. The National Weather Service‘s “high wind warning” is in effect for 2-10 pm Thursday, with south wind expected to “increase to 25 to 40 mph late Thursday afternoon or early evening, then turn southwesterly before easing late in the evening. Gusts to 60 mph are possible.”
9:17 PM THURSDAY: The wind didn’t show up, and the warning is now canceled.
COUNTDOWN: Three nights until West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting 2015! Here’s the lineup
Just a few nights until the tree in Junction Plaza Park will be lit as part of Hometown Holidays, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association with co-sponsors including WSB. And tonight, we have the lineup, so you know how it’ll unfold – with more room this year because of the SW Alaska street closure between 42nd and California (as first reported here two weeks ago), you won’t have to worry as hard about getting there early to get a space.
The West Seattle High School Marching Band, directed by Ethan Thomas, is the opening act, playing by quarter till 5. At the top of the hour, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse proprietor Lora Swift takes the microphone, and will then introduce emcee Josh Sutton from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). By 5:05, Josh will introduce the Endolyne Children’s Choir and director Amy Stagno Bokanev. Quarter past, you’ll be hearing from Jack Menashe of Menashe and Sons Jewelers; then ArtsWest has a mini-performance, followed by a few words from West Seattle Hi-Yu, and then at 5:30 pm you won’t want to miss the special poem by local writer Lori Hinton. Jay Cates and the Big Boss Band will play, with the tree scheduled to be lit around 5:38 pm. Before and after all this, it’ll be the Junction Holiday Party – with many merchants serving up holiday specials and treats.
P.S. Get in the mood for all this two nights early with the first Shop Late Thursday, tomorrow night! And preview the rest of the weekend and the season in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – still adding more events daily.
(As always, we disclose whenever we mention sponsors: Three are in this story – Hotwire, the Y, and Menashe & Sons)
YOU CAN HELP! Bring clothing donations to West Seattle HS basketball home games this week
Going to a home basketball game at West Seattle High School this week? Bring along warm clothing for homeless women and their kids. Donna from the West Seattle Booster Club shares word of the donation drive:
The West Seattle High School women’s and men’s basketball teams are hosting a warm clothing drive to benefit the YWCA homeless shelter.
This shelter helps homeless women and their children who range in age from 1 to 12 years old.
We are asking for new or gently used hats, scarves and gloves. Other items that would be helpful are 2016 calendars so they can keep track of their appointments, as well as bus tokens and diapers in any size.
We will be collecting these items at the door of this week’s home basketball (tonight and Friday). Please come support West Seattle basketball as well as the women and children of the YWCA.
Tonight, the WSHS boys’ varsity team plays Kennedy Catholic HS at 7 pm; Friday (December 4th), the opponent is Roosevelt, girls’ varsity at 6:30 pm, boys’ varsity at 8 pm, all at the WSHS Gym (3000 California SW).
TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Stalled vehicle on westbound bridge cleared
4:11 PM: If you are about to head home via the westbound West Seattle Bridge – you might find things slower going than usual for a while, because of a stalled vehicle in the center lane just west of the 99 overpass. Thanks to Eddie for the original tip; SDOT is tracking this too.
4:33 PM: This is now reported to be clear; thanks to Manuel for the update.
FOLLOWUP: Time to get Seacrest ready for West Seattle’s new Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard
(September photo by Carolyn Newman)
When the new West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard, was dedicated back in September, it was expected to take over the route this month. So we just checked in with the King County Department of Transportation to see how soon that’ll happen. Spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok tells WSB that installation of the “new boarding ramp and other improvements to accommodate the larger vessel” are expected to start at Seacrest Pier this Saturday (December 5th) and are likely to last about two weeks. Then, she adds, “After the work is completed, our crews will begin testing and training on the route. That will take about two weeks. So we would expect the Doc Maynard to start operating the West Seattle run in early January.” Ogershok says the installation work will not affect regularly scheduled Water Taxi operations; this time of year, the route runs weekdays only, am and pm commute times.
YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Food Bank needs more kids’ books
The West Seattle Food Bank does a lot more than collect and distribute food.
Are you doing some pre-holiday cleaning in your children’s book shelves? The West Seattle Food Bank’s Bookcase Program is in need of all kinds of gently used children’s books, especially for ages 5 years old and younger. Our Bookcase Program is growing tremendously, having distributed more than 14,000 adult and children books through generous donations from individuals and business in our community. Our clients are very appreciative of the program, where they can take home up to 10 books to keep. With the holidays here, you can imagine the demand we are feeling in the children’s book area. Donation hours are Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm and we are located at 3419 SW Morgan St. on the corner of 35th & Morgan. Enter through our garage on Morgan and come in through the double doors. Our volunteers will be glad to help you with your donation. Thank you so much.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowl/assault attempt, plus – what you need to know about deterring prowls and package thefts
In West Seattle Crime Watch, an incident report from B:
At 8:45 this morning our neighbor left to go to work and noticed that someone was sitting in the front seat of my car digging around. When confronted the robber jumped in a waiting car and tried to hit my neighbor. Luckily he missed, backed up and struck the support wires for a light pole and loosened them and then sped off. I didn’t lose anything and gained new respect for LOCKING MY DOORS. I always figure that if I don’t have anything in my car no need to lock. WRONG.
We have the license number: ANB 1083 and the car was a Black Hyundai Elantra… But the police said that the license plate was stolen – and maybe the car as well. That’s why they could be so bold to be out scouting in daylight. I’m in the 2300 block of 49th SW off Waite. Please make sure people are locking their car and looking out for these creeps!
B also confirms that Seattle City Light has been notified to get the wires fixed – the pole is not leaning, so far.
Now, from the “you’ve heard it before but you need to hear it again” file – Southwest/South Precincts’ Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon is re-circulating advice on how to deter car prowls and package thefts:
CAR PROWLS
We feel we have an unacceptable number of reported Car Prowl incidents for our Precinct. The level of Car Prowls, Auto Accessory Thefts and theft of license plates for the Southwest Precinct shows a 14% increase compared to this time last year.
Car prowls are crimes of opportunity that are committed within seconds. They are expensive, inconvenient, and aggravating for victims.
Thieves are targeting vehicles of all makes and models for valuables, including:
Read More
West Seattle whale watching: Orcas today; ‘Orca Talk’ tomorrow
Thanks to the person who texted us to point out that the Orca Network has two reports of orcas in the Fauntleroy/Vashon vicinity within the past hour. Seems they were headed southbound, so out of range for most of the West Seattle shore by now, but what goes south must eventually head back north, so keep an eye out, and please let us know of any sightings – text/voice at 206-293-6302 is always the quickest way to get us, 24/7, if something is “happening now.”
P.S. This also gives us a reason to remind you about The Whale Trail‘s Orca Talk event tomorrow night. Get your ticket in advance to be sure there’s a seat – here’s all the info.
West Seattle Wednesday: HALA demystified; lunch at C & P; home-office meetup; more
(Downy woodpecker, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin)
In the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, today/tonight includes only ongoing daily/nightly events (lots of recent additions for upcoming days/nights, though!), so our Wednesday highlights are all from our regular year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. (2306 42nd SW)
FOOD TRUCK AT C & P: Today’s the day that Napkin Friends is visiting C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) for lunch, 11 am-2 pm on the alley behind the shop. (5612 California SW)
HOME-OFFICE/SOLOPRENEUR/COWORKER MEETUP: Grab your lunch there and head a few blocks south to the free weekly meetup at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor), noon-1:15 pm. (6040 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building, join SWDC for a discussion of HALA – the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda – with a city rep. The Seattle Nature Alliance is visiting too. Here’s our preview. (California SW & SW Oregon)
TRIVIA: 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizza, hosted by Phil Tavel. (4718 California SW)
BE A STAR: Open-microphone night, 8:30-11:30 pm at The Skylark, all-ages until 10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:22 AM: No road incidents so far during this morning’s outbound commute. Ferry capacity on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run remains reduced, with Tillikum continuing to replace Issaquah after yesterday’s breakdown; Issaquah is back on the water this morning but on a different run instead, serving as second vessel for Seattle-Bainbridge after a breakdown there.
Now that it’s Wednesday, a weekend reminder – Saturday, SW Alaska will be closed between 42nd and California for the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays tree lighting, This means RapidRide C Line and Route 50 will be rerouted from about 4 pm to 8 pm. According to Metro, no stops will be missed.
8:19 AM: Still relatively quiet on the local routes.
Make it, then play it! Game-design workshop @ Delridge Library
Don’t just play games – make them! That’s the invitation Delridge Library has for students 9-13, during an upcoming multi-day special event, December 14-17, involving designing games with the system you see in the demonstration video above:
This 4-day workshop will be taught by the creator of BlockStudio, a new system that lets novices create games and animations rapidly, without using code. Students will learn how to turn their creative ideas into interactive software, and tackle progressively harder challenges each day. The final day will consist of a show-and-tell session, where students will show off their creations to each other. All games and animations created during this workshop will be playable after the workshop is over. For ages 9 – 13.
The library calendar shows the workshop happening 4-5:30 pm each of those four days. It’s free, but registration is required, so call the branch (5423 Delridge Way SW) to find out how – 206-733-9125 it’s open 11 am-6 pm today.
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