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    LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: Continues today

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Happening now: Make snowflakes for Sandy Hook @ Young at Art
December 30, 2012 1:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts


Two weeks after the Connecticut school massacre, another school is being made ready for the survivors of Sandy Hook, which may never reopen. It’s to be decorated with snowflakes made by well-wishers from across the country (this update from back East says some have even come from overseas!) – and today, you can be part of a West Seattle contribution. Just stop by Young at Art (5962 Fauntleroy Way SW) before 2 pm.

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West Seattle Sunday: New Year’s Eve-Eve highlights
December 30, 2012 10:14 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: New Year’s Eve-Eve highlights
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Murky early morning in Lincoln Park – photo by Machel Spence)
The fog is lifting – we see some blue sky as we get ready to publish this – so say hello to sunshine on this second-to-last day of 2012! Here’s what’s up:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always! 44th and Alaska. Fresh winter vegetables, apples, cheese, meat, bread, soup, lots to check out.

SNOWFLAKES FOR SANDY HOOK: Also 10 am-2 pm – stop in at Young at Art (5962 Fauntleroy Way) any time before 2 and make a snowflake to be sent to Connecticut to help decorate the school that Sandy Hook’s students are now attending. Theresa from YAA says that if you haven’t talked about the incident with your kids, don’t worry – just let them know you’re making a snowflake to help decorate a school.

WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Game’s on! 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point (34th/Myrtle).

SHOPPING FOR NEW YEAR’S BEVERAGE(S)? Three WSB sponsors would be pleased to see you today: Capco Beverages Premier Liquor and Wine (41st and Alaska) is open 10 am-5 pm – here’s a coupon you can use; West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW) is open noon-5 pm and continuing its annual sale; Stottle Winery‘s tasting room is open noon-6 pm (3400 Harbor Avenue SW);

CLOSING DAY FOR ‘WINTER WONDERETTES’: A 3 pm matinee today at ArtsWest is your last chance to see this year’s holiday musical “The Winter Wonderettes.”

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Roll Acosta performs 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW. More info here.

ALL-AGES OPEN MIKE: 3 pm at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW).

NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY REMINDER: If you haven’t finalized your New Year’s Eve/Day plans yet – check out the updated list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Last call to add info – just e-mail us the who/what/when/where at editor@westseattleblog.com!

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West Seattle wildlife: Seal Sitters assist sea lions, too
December 30, 2012 2:17 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Seal Sitters photo by David Hutchinson)
Their barking can often be heard, especially from the Seacrest/Jack Block Park vicinity, but sea lions don’t often come to busy West Seattle shores to rest. This week, they did, reports Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters:

We responded to a report of a sea lion on the dock at Don Armeni on Thursday afternoon. The adult males rested there until 8 am the following morning.

Some folks we spoke to thought Seal Sitters responded only to seal pups. However, as our name Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network suggests, we respond to ALL dead or alive marine mammals from gray whales (such as the Arroyos gray whale) to small seal pups.

The California sea lion was an older adult, as evidenced by a lighter colored face. We consulted with WDFW’s marine mammal biologist, who thinks that perhaps the sea lion has some swollen lymph nodes or neck abscess. We have not seen him since he returned to Elliott Bay early Friday morning.

Seal Sitters’ number is easy to remember – 206-905-SEAL. More details of the sea lion’s sojourn are on Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog.

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Morgan Junction home-invasion robbery suspect arrested
December 29, 2012 10:38 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Seattle Police report tonight that they have found and arrested a man charged in connection with a home-invasion robbery in Morgan Junction. Tonight’s SPD Blotter report says it happened the morning of December 18th in the 6300 block of 42nd SW; a woman and her 3-year-old daughter were at home when two men kicked in the door, pointed guns at them, and demanded first money, then jewelry. According to the original police report, which we just looked up online after reading the SPD Blotter report, the victim recognized one of the robbers as “a former friend.” SPD Blotter says one suspect subsequently was charged with robbery, burglary, and harassment, and an arrest warrant was issued; that suspect, police revealed tonight, was found yesterday at a Kent motel and booked into jail. None of the online documents we’ve seen so far mention his name, though he is charged; we are still trying to find it and will add it to this story when we do.

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Fauntleroy ferry reminder: State’s winter schedule starts Sunday
December 29, 2012 10:19 pm
|    Comments Off on Fauntleroy ferry reminder: State’s winter schedule starts Sunday
 |   Seen at sea | Transportation | West Seattle news

Lots of unscheduled changes to the Fauntleroy ferry run recently – but one big change tomorrow is planned: It’s the start of the Washington State Ferries winter schedule, systemwide. You can see the schedule as a PDF here, or by using the drop-down on the left side of the WSF home page.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Two 2-time victims; tweeted theft
December 29, 2012 8:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reports in tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup, and the first two are from two-time crime victims. First, from Alisa, near 21st and Cambridge:

My house was broken into again (Friday night) for the second time in 6 months. They took everything of value this time.

If you saw anything suspicious in the area last night – please let police know.

Second, from Ann in Gatewood, 3900 block of SW Austin:

Just wanted to report that my husband’s truck was broken into over night sometime between 11 pm and 7:30 am. A few items were taken but thankfully there was no damage to the truck. We have reported this to the police. This is the second time we’ve been hit this year. My car was stolen from the same block in the summer!!

Speaking of auto theft … while SPD does not include locations in its @getyourcarback tweets, they do announce the sector of the city when mentioning these on the scanner, and we heard this one described over the air – seconds after it appeared on Twitter – as being a theft from William sector (western West Seattle):

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Tibetan singer/storyteller Loten Namling coming to West Seattle’s Kenyon Hall
December 29, 2012 5:35 pm
|    Comments Off on Tibetan singer/storyteller Loten Namling coming to West Seattle’s Kenyon Hall
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Songs and stories of Tibet will fill Kenyon Hall on January 13th, in a concert by the Switzerland-based Tibetan artist/activist in the video clip above, Loten Namling. We just received the announcement that West Seattle is on his U.S. tour schedule:

Loten Namling, winner of the 2012 Free Spirit Award, will present a concert of Tibetan songs and stories in West Seattle on January 13, 2013.

Loten is a noted Indian-born singer, musician artist, entertainer and cartoonist. His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, speaks of Loten as “a singer with a voice.” Based in Switzerland, the artist travels worldwide with his Tibetan lute, singing the songs of the 6th Dalai Lama, Milarepa, as well as other traditional songs of Tibet and his own music. He connects songs of the past to the reality of the present, taking his audience on a journey through the landscape of Tibetan spirituality.

On May 16, 2012, Namling began what he called A Journey for Freedom – One Man, One Path, Tibet. He walked from the Swiss capital of Bern to Geneva, dragging a black coffin inscribed “Free Tibet,” in order to attract attention to the Tibetans’ worsening situation in today’s China. On July 8 he arrived in Geneva, where he performed with the Swiss band The Young Gods in a concert organized by Young Gods singer Franz Treichler in support of Loten’s action, held in front of Geneva UN headquarters. In October 2012, Namling was given the Free Spirit Award in McLeod Ganj for his “Journey of Freedom” march.

Kenyon Hall is at 7904 35th SW.

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6 months after leaving, Shell drillships headed back here, with problems along the way
December 29, 2012 5:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

That photo by West Seattle’s Long Bach Nguyen shows Shell’s drillship Kulluk and tow vessel Aiviq as they headed north in Puget Sound on June 27th after Kulluk spent almost a year getting work done at Harbor Island’s Vigor Shipyards. Also leaving that day, Shell drillship Noble Discoverer, after almost three months at Vigor – and now, after a reportedly rocky summer in the Arctic, the vessels are all reported to be headed here again for what’s described as maintenance work – but the journey itself hasn’t been smooth sailing so far, according to multiple news reports. The Aiviq had engine trouble while towing the Kulluk in rough seas, and the Kulluk was almost evacuated today as a result – here’s the latest. Meantime, Noble Discoverer is reported to be under investigation for potential safety and pollution-control problems, but reports including this one say it’s being allowed to head this way for shipyard work. No Seattle ETA announced so far for either drilling vessel, but we will be checking; MarineTraffic.com shows Aiviq still off Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, while Noble Discoverer is listed as “out of range.”

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High-school basketball: West Seattle HS tournament report
December 29, 2012 2:53 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: West Seattle HS tournament report
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Winter break often means road trip – and so it is with West Seattle High School‘s boys-varsity basketball players, who just wrapped up a tournament. Thanks to new head coach Keffrey Fazio and staff for this report:

The West Seattle High School Boys Basketball team participated in the 2012 Findlay Las Vegas Prep Championship basketball tournament (12/26-12/28).

The team played four games and finished with a record of 2-2. All four teams that the Wildcats drew were from the state of California. The team was led by 6’4″ senior LaTrey Newsome. He averaged 13 points per game during the tournament.

West Seattle also had strong tournament contributions from senior DiAndre Jackson and junior DeAndre Love, who both averaged 10 points per game during the tournament.

The Wildcats travel home Sunday, and will begin to prepare for a key league game vs. Franklin, Friday, January 4th at 745 pm at West Seattle High School.

Chief Sealth also is at a winter-break tournament, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and we’ll be checking on how that’s going.

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Orcas spotted here again
December 29, 2012 1:05 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

“We live at Alki Point and spotted a family of Orcas this morning at 8:30 am heading south,” reports Jeff Morgante, sharing these photos (thank you!).

According to comments on the Orca Network‘s Facebook page, two groups of orcas have been sighted off Vashon/Maury Islands in the past few hours – this was likely one of them. As always, if you’re near the water, keep an eye out, since they’ll have to head back north sometime!

ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Alisa Lemire Brooks recorded this video as one group headed back north in Colvos Passage, between Vashon’s west side and the Kitsap Peninsula:

She shared it via the aforementioned Orca Network page.

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Sealth soccer players to coach younger students at camp next week
December 29, 2012 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on Sealth soccer players to coach younger students at camp next week
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Middle-school or 9th-grade soccer player in the house? Next Wednesday-Friday (January 2-4), they’re invited to join a student-athlete-led soccer camp at Chief Sealth International High School. The camp, to run 9 am-noon each of those three days, is intended:

… to prepare younger students for the level of play that high-school soccer requires. It will cover basics, fitness, and what it’s like being a high-school athlete. The camp will be directed and coached by current Chief Sealth Varsity Soccer players, and supervised by a member of the coaching staff. These player coaches will be able to demonstrate the drills and actively coach and play alongside the kids.

The camp is being organized by Sealth varsity-soccer team member Mori Tsuchiya, and it’s for both boys and girls, with the fee just $10 for all three days, according to the official brochure, which contains many more details. Since the camp is just days away, please RSVP by e-mail to Sealth athletic director Sam Reed at sjreed@seattleschools.org as well as to the student organizer at mori.tsuchiya@comcast.net – you can sign up the first morning of camp, but they want to know you’re coming!

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West Seattle Saturday: 2012’s final weekend takes off
December 29, 2012 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: 2012’s final weekend takes off
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Surfbirds on Alki Beach 2012.257

(Alki surfbirds, photographed last weekend by Danny McMillin, shared in the WSB Flickr group)
While you get ready for New Year’s Eve/Day celebrations (checked the Holiday Guide yet?), it’s a semi-quiet weekend, but still some activities/options:

TWO BLOOD DRIVES: If you can donate, this is the time of year when your blood donation is needed more than ever – and today, it’s convenient, with the Puget Sound Blood Center‘s Bloodmobile in The Junction 9 am-3 pm, 4700 block of 42nd SW (break 11:30-12:30) and at Holy Family‘s Tice Hall (18th/Roxbury), 10 am-4 pm (break noon-1 pm).

2 SHOWS ON ‘WINTER WONDERETTES’ 2ND-TO-LAST DAY: Tomorrow’s the final performance of “The Winter Wonderettes” at ArtsWest, but you have TWO chances to see the show today – 3 pm and 7:30 pm (tickets online here).

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Legend Heart performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 6-8 pm tonight, 5612 California SW.

‘BLUES, BALLADS, BOOGIE WOOGIE’ AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, with Orville Johnson & Casey McGill – e-mail Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) for a reservation ASAP, kenyonhall@earthlink.net.

‘WEST SIDE GLORY 4’: 8 pm tonight at Skylark Café and Club, billed as “a queer variety show,” for 21 and over. The performer lineup’s on the Facebook event page.

THE BOURBONITES AT THE FEEDBACK: Rock out, Americana-style, at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 6451 California SW, 9:30 pm tonight with The Bourbonites.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run; construction-site thefts; rack gone
December 28, 2012 10:33 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in Crime Watch tonight. First:

That’s the spot near 21st and Roxbury where a truck knocked down a pole early this morning. The WSB’er who shared that photo and the next one heard it happen: “It sounded like someone dropped a dumpster from a 747,” he recalls. Looking around to see what happened, he saw a truck crashed into the pole, airbags deployed – and then, driven away before police arrived. Later, checking around the neighborhood, he discovered the suspect truck hadn’t gotten far:

Police, of course, were called again. Driver still on the loose, last we heard. Ahead, two other reports – thefts big and not-as-big:

Read More

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West Seattle New Year’s Eve: Walk the Fauntleroy labyrinth!
December 28, 2012 6:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle New Year’s Eve: Walk the Fauntleroy labyrinth!
 |   Fauntleroy | Holidays | West Seattle news

(Fauntleroy Fall Festival 2012 photo of The Hall’s labyrinth, by Nick Adams for WSB)
Another unique New Year’s Eve event in West Seattle: The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s Labyrinth Walk (see the flyer here). It’s 6-8 pm Monday in The Hall’s space on the south side of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). The suggested donation, $5/person ($20/family if 4 or more), is to benefit the “Raise the Roof” capital campaign for the schoolhouse (now a nonprofit-owned community facility that’s had $1 million-plus in repairs, such as roof work, to deal with). To find out more about the labyrinth itself, go here.

(The Labyrinth Walk is one of many New Year’s Eve/Day West Seattle/White Center events spotlighted in the WSB Holiday Guide (where you’ll also find the lists of restaurants/coffee shops/grocery stores open on NYE and/or NYD) – more to be added if you let us know what we’re missing!)

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Southwest District Council: New time, new West Seattle location
December 28, 2012 4:16 pm
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 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

Starting with its January meeting – coming up next Wednesday (January 2) – the Southwest District Council is changing meeting times and locations. The council will continue meeting on first Wednesdays – but it’ll be at 6:30 pm, earlier than before, and the new location is the Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool building (2801 SW Thistle), Room 2. The agenda for next Wednesday includes presentations by West Seattleites applying for Neighborhood Street Fund grants – three proposals are from Morgan Junction, one from Admiral, and one from Arbor Heights. SWDC meetings are always open to the public; council members represent community councils and other organizations from around what the city has designated as the “Southwest District” – mostly western West Seattle (here’s the citywide map of districts). See next Wednesday’s full agenda here (PDF).

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Memorial service tomorrow for Alma Dines, 1929-2012
December 28, 2012 3:28 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Longtime West Seattle resident Alma Dines will be remembered at a service tomorrow. Her family shared this announcement today:

Alma Julia Dines, 83, born October 27, 1929, passed away on December 16, 2012. She attended Centralia High School and Centralia Junior College before moving to Seattle in 1949 to attend the University of Washington where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

Alma married Alec Dines in July 1954 and they settled in West Seattle. Alec passed away in 1969. After several years as a stay-at-home mom, Alma went back to work at Western and Southern Life Insurance Company. She then worked for Providence Hospital in Seattle (now Swedish Cherry Hill) as a Patient Account Representative until her retirement in December 1994.

Alma was an avid walker and could often be seen walking in the Admiral area where she lived in a condominium. She had a wide circle of friends; always close to her heart were her friends at the West Seattle Baptist Church.

Alma was predeceased by her parents, husband Alec, and sister Amy. She is survived by her brother Lee Harrah of Hutchinson, Kansas, her daughter Diana (Phil), son Alec (Jeannie) and grandchildren Kyle Hamilton (Sherry), David Hamilton (Kelsey), Melanie Hamilton Reed (Brian), Joe Dines and John Dines; and great grandson Alex Hamilton.

Memorial service Saturday, December 29th, 11 am, at West Seattle Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to West Seattle Baptist Church, 4157 California Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116.

(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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West Seattle road work: Avalon/Genesee signal milestone
December 28, 2012 3:07 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Milestone for those awaiting the new traffic signal at Avalon and Genesee: We’ve seen crews working at the intersection almost daily, and this afternoon, the actual stoplight fixtures are installed. No activation date announced yet (we’re checking); the installation is running a few months behind what SDOT had announced earlier this year – installation work finally began in October.

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West Seattle development, mapped: 2,000+ planned units
December 28, 2012 12:38 pm
|      60 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news


View Major active/upcoming West Seattle development, updated for December 2012 in a larger map

Looks like 2013 will be “The Year of the Crane” in West Seattle. We have finally finished updating the latest version of the development-in-the-works map, first published in August (separate from a version we updated repeatedly back during the 2008 boom) – click any marker to find out more about the project at that site. Just as well we didn’t publish it earlier, since this week has brought more updates. A three-block stretch of California SW’s east side will have three projects under way by spring, if current plans come to fruition, including Wednesday’s announcement about The Blake.

When we published the previous version in August, we counted about 1,500 units either under construction or on the drawing board; now, with a few additions and a few subtractions (noted below), we count more than 2,000. A few notes:

-In addition to what is visible in the map window above, our current list has one more development on the map, but it’s out of view because it’s in south West Seattle at 9051 20th SW – you can grab the map to manipulate it to see that 41-apartment project (or click the small blue link below the map to see it full-size on Google Maps); otherwise, everything of note is concentrated in the area shown by default – the Junction/Triangle/Avalon area.

-Two buildings from the August edition have been removed, because both are now leasing – NOVA (WSB sponsor) and The Residences at 3295.

-Though they are not apartments in the classic sense, we include the 66-unit DESC Delridge Supportive Housing project in North Delridge and the early-stage proposal for a “50-60-unit Alzheimer’s housing” project in The Junction, as both are of significant size and neighborhood impact.

-We’ve used a variety of methods – maps, databases, city webpages, driving around, etc. – to keep watch for new projects. But it’s possible we’ve missed something – so if you know about an early-stage proposal on a site not mentioned here, please let us know!

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West Seattle Friday: On the eve of another 4-day holiday weekend
December 28, 2012 11:09 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: On the eve of another 4-day holiday weekend
 |   West Seattle news

With New Year’s Eve on Monday and New Year’s Day on Tuesday, it’s a second consecutive four-day holiday weekend. From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and our regular calendar, a few notes:

METRO: As noted in today’s transit/traffic tracker, buses are on the “reduced weekday” schedule, and will be again on Monday, with New Year’s Day running a Sunday schedule.

TRASH/RECYCLING: While it’s been on one-day delay since Tuesday – if you have MONDAY pickup, it should happen on the regular day next week, then Tuesday-Friday will be on one-day delay again, according to the city.

SID LAW AT C & P: Live music at C & P Coffee House (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW) tonight with Sid Law, 6-8 pm – find out about his music at sidlaw.biz.

BARBIE ANAKA AT SALTY’S: Live music in the café/bar at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), no cover, with Barbie Anaka, 7-9 pm – find out about her music at barbieanaka.com.

PEOPLE TANK, YEAR OF THE SERPENT AT SKYLARK: Live music at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm, with People Tank and Year of the Serpent.

INTISAAR AND LUSH TONES AT BENBOW: Live music tonight at the Heartland Café’s Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), 9 pm, with Intisaar and Lush Tones.

For New Year’s Eve/Day events, check the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide ASAP – and if we’re missing something in West Seattle or White Center, including restaurant/lounge/bar special menus/midnight toasts/etc., please let us know ASAP so we can add it before everyone finalizes their plans – editor@westseattleblog.com.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Robber sought in store stickup
December 28, 2012 9:37 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: Robber sought in store stickup
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Seattle Police are trying to solve an armed robbery at a local store. Via SPD Blotter, police say a man walked into El Quetzal, which is in the Arrowhead Gardens complex in the 9200 block of 2nd SW, around 7:30 last night, and pointed a black revolver at the clerk. The robber ordered the clerk to lie on the floor; then the robber opened the register, took cash, and left. He was last seen walking southbound. The clerk, who was not hurt, described him as “a Hispanic male, between the age of 18-20, 5′8″ tall, 200 pounds, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jacket, and gray pants,” according to SPD; no arrest so far.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates, and 2013’s first alert
December 28, 2012 6:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Refresh page for newest image from west-facing West Seattle Bridge cam; more cameras here)
“Reduced weekday” for Metro again today – scroll down this Metro webpage to see which routes are normal, which are reduced, and which are canceled.

TRAFFIC ALERT FOR THE FIRST WEEKEND OF 2013: One month ago, we had first word of the Spokane Street Interchange Vicinity Special Bridge Repair project, starting in early January, with various weekend ramp closures planned; now, the first closure is almost here, so we’re reminding you: 10 pm NEXT Friday 1/4 through 5 am Monday 1/7, two ramps will be closed – Columbian Way (Beacon Hill) to West Seattle Bridge, and Southbound I-5 to West Seattle Bridge. Here’s the detour map. Again, that’s NEXT weekend (full list of all project closures, here).

10:22 AM: More trouble today on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Here are the latest updates from the WSF alert system:

Due to necessary repairs on the Klahowya, the 11:35 am Southworth departure will only sail to Vashon. The 11:55 am Vashon to Fauntleroy sailing and the 12:20 pm Fauntleroy to Vashon sailing are canceled.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Of rainbows and rainfall
December 28, 2012 1:42 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Just before sunset on Thursday, north West Seattle enjoyed a beautiful rainbow view. We received two photos from Alki – top, from Russ Walker; below, from Ginny Trethewey:

A few hours later, the Seattle office of the National Weather Service shared some stats on this year’s rainfall:

Today was the 176th day this year with measurable precipitation at Sea-Tac. This is the 8th-highest total on record at Sea-Tac. The record is 194 days in 1950. The least number of days on record at Sea-Tac – 120 days in 1987.

Since October 1st there has been 21.78 inches of precipitation at Sea-Tac. 5th-highest October 1st to December 31st total. The record is 25.06 inches, set in 1955.

And yet it also has been a year with a record dry spell – the longest period in which only .01 inches of rain was recorded – 81 days in late summer/early fall.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car full of donations stolen
December 27, 2012 11:20 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Another stolen car to watch for. Mike has been traveling and got bad news just as he was getting ready to head home:

Our son, who is taking care of our house in Highland Park, reports that his car was stolen from in front of our house in the last 24 hours. It’s a gold 1993 Saturn SW2 wagon, license plate ABE0639. Its front left quarter panel has a large crack in it (it’s a plastic car). It was loaded with donations for Goodwill, probably worth more than the value of the car. My son has notified SPD.

And they in turn tweeted the info earlier tonight. As the @getyourcarback tweets always say – if you see a car reported as stolen, call 911.

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