West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind advisory tonight; snow possible Monday night; that erroneous ‘blizzard alert’

(Added 6:38 pm: Rainy Junction evening; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
3:31 PM: What was a National Weather Service high-wind watch for our area is now a wind advisory, 10 pm tonight till 4 pm tomorrow – see it here. We’ll be updating throughout the night/morning. There’s also a “coastal flood advisory” for “minor tidal overflow” in waterfront areas 7 am-11 am tomorrow, since the wind will coincide with a very high tide (12.9 feet, 8:17 am Monday). And then, the forecast for Monday night and Tuesday DOES suggest some snow on the hills. However, as we’ve already noted via Facebook and Twitter – if you received a “blizzard warning” on your phone, that does NOT involve our area – just the mountains.

5:36 PM UPDATE: Seattle City Light has updated its Power Lines site to say it’s prepared in case of outages, with extra staff. And regarding that “blizzard warning,” KING5.com has the explanation.

Found in West Seattle: ‘Bizarre sculpture’ turns up on streetcorner

The photo is from Highland Park’s Dina Johnson, who explains:

Yesterday a bizarre sculpture appeared on the Henderson street sidewalk near the corner of 13th Ave [map] in Highland Park.

We thought the thing might have fallen off a passing car, or stolen from someone’s yard. Or maybe it was part of an art installation in a rather unconventional gallery? Maybe someone is looking for it.

It’s the size and shape of a sitting child. It’s heavy; it appears to be made of plaster covered with fabric and wire mesh and glue. The face is a strange painted mask. A tuft of onion grass is attached to the head. It’s slightly damaged – one foot is missing, the other has broken off next to it.

We left it there all day and night, but no one came to retrieve it. We will put it out for garbage pickup if you post the pic and no one claims it. I have respect for art, but really, it’s kind of creepy.

Clues, anyone?

Happening now: Let them wrap for you! First ‘Wrap It Up’

Local animal advocates have launched the first of this year’s five installments of the “Wrap It Up” benefit – they do the wrapping, you decide how much to donate. In the top photo, texted from today’s wrapping site at Beveridge Place Pub, that’s David Walega of Art for Animals’ Sake and Teri Ensley from Furry Faces Foundation. Wrapping elves include Keri DeTore:

F3 is partnering with Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation in the gift-wrap sessions, which will continue:

*Thursday, Dec 20th, 6 – 9 pm, Beer Junction, 4511 California SW, West Seattle (during their weekly Beer Tasting)
*Saturday, Dec 22rd, 1 – 6 pm, at Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub; 255 SW 152nd, Burien
*Sunday, Dec 23rd, 1 – 6 pm, Beer Junction
*Christmas Eve (Monday, Dec 24th), 2 – 7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub

And today at BPP (6451 California SW and also in the midst of its specialty-bottle sale), Wrap It Up is scheduled to continue until 7 pm.

High-school basketball: West Seattle HS girls’ busy week ahead

December 16, 2012 2:34 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: West Seattle HS girls’ busy week ahead
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Big week ahead on the home court for West Seattle High School girls’ basketball, reports head coach Sonya Elliott, sharing the getting-ready photo above – and she notes that 2 of their 3 upcoming opponents are from across town:

The West Seattle Girls Basketball team, now 4-2 after a big win against Bainbridge last week, got in a little cross-training in at the local Crossfit West Seattle, preparing for a 3-game home stand starting Monday, December 17th.

West Seattle Girls’ Varsity Basketball Schedule this week:

Monday Dec 17 at 7:00 pm vs Lindbergh @ WSHS
Wednesday, Dec 19 at 7:30 pm vs. Chief Sealth @ WSHS
Saturday, Dec 22 vs Seattle Lutheran at 5:15 pm @ WSHS

Happening now: Holiday warmth trumps chilly rain in The Junction

Till 3 pm, the covered mule-drawn carriage is continuing to make the rounds in The Junction, during the season’s final Hometown Holidays Sunday (with co-sponsors including WSB). You can catch a ride from the southwest corner of California/Alaska, where we also found Lashanna Williams and Cari Jones on duty at Hometown Holidays Headquarters:

They’re also there till 3, and you can enjoy a cup of cocoa and cheery holiday music while you wait for the carriage – or even if you just stop briefly while shopping. Kitty-corner from there, just past the northeast corner of Walk-All-Ways, City Mouse Studio is the location for the final round of Junction Santa photos with City Mouse proprietor/photographer Donna Ryan (your donation goes to charity), and 3 is also the closing time for that. But this isn’t the end of Junction festivities this season – there’s Shop Late Thursday four nights away, and some merchants will be keeping special later hours all week (Curious Kidstuff, for example, sent word the store will be open till 9 pm this Monday-Friday, till 7 pm Saturday the 22nd, and till 6 pm Sunday the 23rd – we’ll be adding that, and any other special late pre-Christmas West Seattle shopping hours we hear about, to the Holiday Guide).

Holiday giving: Nucor’s truckload, and check, for West Seattle Food Bank

Big holiday help for the people served by the West Seattle Food Bank – on Friday, we were there as Nucor delivered tidings of great joy: A truck full of food donated by Nucor employees, and monetary donations totaling more than $20,000. Below, from left, Ryan Knoyle and Gerrit Reed from Nucor, and Eagle Hilton and Jason Wissbrod from Benchmark Industrial Services, which volunteered its trailer so the delivery could be done in one trip:

If you would like to help WS Food Bank – here’s the latest: When we last checked in with executive director Fran Yeatts, to ask about their biggest needs, her reply: “Turkeys and hams would be really appreciated to help with our holiday food distribution. One of the biggest ongoing needs for us is formula, specifically Similac Advance in the 12.4-ounce cans, and diapers, size 3, 4, 5, or 6. We can always use non-perishable food like canned protein, soup, fruit.” The food bank’s location and hours are here.

West Seattle Sunday: Hometown Holidays; free Admiral Theater Christmas movie; ‘Wrap It Up’; concerts; more

(December 2 Junction Hometown Holidays mule-drawn carriage; photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Though it’s the second-to-last Sunday before Christmas, it’s the last one for many holiday events, since next weekend is a time for traveling and last-minute shopping. Among the highlights – the last Sunday for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB), with the return of mule-drawn carriage rides! And the Admiral Theater’s free Christmas movie. The highlights, from the WSB Holiday Guide and regular year-round Event Calendar, right after weather/water/road alerts:

WEATHER ALERTS: Reminder, the National Weather Service has a High Wind Watch in effect for our area tonight through tomorrow morning, and a Coastal Flood Watch for the potential intersection of strong wind and the extra-high high tides. Speaking of which …

HIGHEST HIGH TIDE: 7:34 am is the second and last instance of the highest of the high tides in this “king tides” cycle – 13 feet. (Here’s the chart.)

TRAFFIC-ALERT REMINDER: The lane closure on southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct and Atlantic St. offramp closure are scheduled to continue till early Monday morning, so be forewarned of possible traffic backups till then – consider heading to West Seattle via alternate routes (1st Avenue South to Spokane St. Viaduct or 1st Avenue S. Bridge, 4th Avenue South to 1st Avenue S. Bridge, I-5).

**already closed**FINAL DAY FOR HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: 41st and Dakota, last scheduled day for the lot (a WSB sponsor) that’s benefiting not only Holy Rosary School, but also three local charities: West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Helpline, and the Salvation Army’s Hickman House shelter for domestic-violence survivors.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: West Side Presbyterian Church presents “A Rockin’ Royal Christmas Pageant” at 9:40 am & 4:30 pm, 3601 California SW: “A Higher Calling to a Higher King – An action-packed musical that is complete with investigations, mystery, travel and oh yes – ‘royalty’. The songs are catchy and our orchestra will ‘rock’! Presented by our children and youth. All ages are welcome. A cookie reception will follow the 4:30 pm show. Admission is free.”

LAST CHANCE FOR PATHFINDER WREATHS: The handmade wreaths benefiting Pathfinder K-8 are scheduled to be available at their booth by the Farmers’ Market (next to KeyBank) one last time today, 9:30 am-2 pm.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th and Alaska, as always.

SANTA PHOTOS IN THE JUNCTION: 11 am-3 pm, as part of Hometown Holidays, Santa will listen to your children’s Christmas requests at City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska). Professional Santa photos and printing – suggested donation of $15 or more goes to WestSide Baby.

MULE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES IN THE JUNCTION: 11 am-3 pm, FREE, courtesy of the West Seattle Junction Association. Take a traditional carriage ride down California SW, pulled by beautiful Belgian Draft Mules. Carriages depart on California SW in front of KeyBank at Hometown Holidays Headquarters.

STOTTLE WINERY TASTING ROOM: Noon-6 pm, 3400 Harbor Avenue; tasting info here (Stottle is a WSB sponsor).

BENEFIT GIFT WRAPPING: “Wrap It Up” with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF: These two animal-advocacy groups are wrapping gifts by donation (you decide how much), with 100 percent of the donations going to help animals. The first session is today, 1-7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW (during the Specialty Bottle Sale and for a couple hours after).

SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: Matinee performance of the locally written/produced “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor), 2 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); tickets available online. Bring your camera, because showgoers can take photos with Santa afterward!

‘EPIC OF THE NORTH WIND’: Native storyteller/artist Roger Fernandes invites you to “journey back to the time when the North Wind held this land under his power,” with song and dance, 2 pm at the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW). Cocoa and cookies (and see the Longhouse’s decorated tree). Details in the calendar listing.

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’ FINALE: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show will be performed one final time at 3 pm today at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW); tickets available online. Also: A Children’s Hospital toy drive is happening in connection with the show – bring a donation!

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: It’s meeting on a Sunday this time, for the holiday cookie exchange, 3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Organizers suggest bringing 4 dozen to 6 dozen cookies. More info here.

‘THE WINTER WONDERETTES’: ArtsWest presents the “new ’60s Christmas musical,” 3 pm today. Details and ticket sales are on the ArtsWest website.

FREE CHRISTMAS MOVIE! The Admiral Theater will show “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at 4 pm as this year’s free Christmas movie, benefiting the Seattle Humane Society – bring donations to help them help animals – details in the original announcement.

FAUNTLEROY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: At Fauntleroy Church, 4 pm on the sanctuary performance stage. Bronwyn Edwards will direct choir, brass, and percussion in a medley of modern and traditional music of the season. The event will include carol singing and a reception. Free.

BELLS OF THE SOUND: “Home for the Holidays” concert by Bells of the Sound, 4 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW – details here

West Seattle Bike Connections, Chief Sealth Bike Club meet with SDOT to review draft Master Plan update

(Photo by Eileen McHugh; from left, Adrian Verdugo and Sara Zora from SDOT, Stu Hennessey from West Seattle Greenways and Sustainable West Seattle, Bob Anderton and Bill Gobie of West Seattle Bike Connections)
Two reports on meetings this week to advance the cause of safe bicycling in West Seattle, both shared by Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections. First:

Thursday evening, a group of West Seattle residents met to review the draft Seattle Bike Master Plan Update map with Seattle Department of Transportation representatives. Ten members of West Seattle Bike Connections and Stu Hennessey of West Seattle Greenways met at the West Seattle Library with Sara Zora, SDOT transportation planner and traffic engineer Adrian “AJ” Verdugo, who also lives in West Seattle. They discussed bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle routes shown on SDOT’s draft map, concentrating on two dozen locations where members of the groups have specific suggestions for revisions, AJ Verdugo knew the areas already, and gave frank opinions on challenges and opportunities for each area, and pointers for further action. Sara Zora gave more information about the plan status and process.

From WSBC: We are impressed by the quality of work the SDOT bike planners are doing, and the attention they are now giving to West Seattle, including potential “greenways” routes and difficult spots like the 5-way intersection by the Chelan Café, and parts of Avalon and Fauntleroy.

Some great pieces of information for easier cycling access with less conflict with car, bus and truck traffic:

*The Greenway supported by North Delridge Community Council and West Seattle Greenways is funded.

*A cycle track (basically, a bike lane separated by curbs or other barriers) is in the plan for East Marginal Way / Alaskan Way from Spokane Street to the bike path that exists north of S Atlantic St; and, in South Park, SDOT has funding from bonds for South Park Neighborhood Association’s request to pave S Portland St to 8th Ave S and do a separated 10 foot wide multi-use path to extend the West Marginal Trail into South Park, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to bypass heavy traffic in the industrial area to get to the Green River trail.

Don also sends word of the Chief Sealth International High School Bike Club‘s meeting with SDOT, ahead:

Read More

West Seattle Weather Watch: 60 mph wind possible

December 15, 2012 10:00 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: 60 mph wind possible
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Be sure you have batteries on hand, and check around your house for anything in danger of being picked up and blown around: The National Weather Service has renewed its High Wind Watch for our area – in effect late tomorrow night through Monday morning. See it here; the NWS says it’ll be southwest wind, “rising to 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts to 60 mph.” We’ll keep close watch on the changing forecast, as well as the wind itself if/when it arrives.

West Seattle holiday scene: Santa visits Menashe lights

When you have as many Christmas lights up as the Menashe family does, you’re probably entitled to more than one visit from Santa Claus. And so, with nine nights left before Christmas Eve, the jolly old soul is there tonight amid the bright lights in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW, for photos with young Christmas-wishers, including some of the Menashe family’s youngest members:

If you see this before 10 pm, that’s how late Santa (in the persona of “Santa Al”) was scheduled to be on hand.

West Seattle traffic alerts: Viaduct reminder; WS Bridge cam back

Two traffic notes tonight:

VIADUCT LANE/EXIT CLOSURE REMINDER: If you missed, or forgot about, the alert, be forewarned that the all-weekend-long lane closure and Atlantic exit closure on southbound 99 **is** affecting traffic. Saw it ourselves while headed to Queen Anne for an errand a few hours ago (through-the-windshield-from-passenger-seat photo above) – and decided to take an alternate route when headed back (I-5 tends to be busy every weekend, so we chose 4th Avenue South to the 1st Avenue South Bridge, but if you’re in north West Seattle, 1st Avenue South to the Spokane Street Viaduct works well too.) The lane and exit are not scheduled to reopen until early Monday morning.

BRIDGE CAM RETURNS: Another traffic alert for today involved SDOT work to restore a West Seattle Bridge cam view that’s been out of commission for months – and tonight, it’s back:

That’s a west-pointed view of the West Seattle Bridge, available again, so it’s back in action on the WSB Traffic page too.

West Seattle holiday scene: Living Nativity/petting zoo at ARK Park

A unique way to help tell the Christmas story to children – twin a Living Nativity with a petting zoo! That’s what happened at ARK Park in Arbor Heights this afternoon – with animals including a donkey and llamas.

This was a presentation of Arbor Heights Community Church – one of the churches listed in our lineup of West Seattle Christmas Eve/Day church services. See the list here – and please let us know if you have an addition or change!

Video: Christmasy afternoon in The Junction – free music & wrap

With the weather mixing snow/sleet/slush into the rain this afternoon, it’s extra-Christmasy as We Three Carolers and South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsors) sing in The Junction this afternoon – you are welcome to join them at California/Alaska till 3:30 pm. Less than a block away, West Seattle High School band members are performing:

They’re outside Windermere at 4526 California SW – where free gift wrap is available till 3:30 pm for Junction-bought items. Bring your receipt!

West Seattle restaurants: ‘Soft open’ debut for Duos Lounge

(STORY UPDATED MONDAY with planned days/hours)

It’s been almost four months since Duos Catering moved into the former Avalon Restaurant spot at 2940 SW Avalon Way (as reported here in August). The owners said they planned to open a “neighborhood hangout” – and they’re finally ready. Last night, during their “soft open,” WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams stopped in, photographing both the small-plates food …

(Grass-fed beef sliders with applewood-smoked bacon, Tillamook cheddar, onion jam)
… and the people – here’s co-owner Benjamin Jury checking in with guests:

More of Nick’s photos ahead:Read More

West Seattle Weather Watch: ‘Lumpy rain,’ and an alert ahead

10:24 AM: Two weather notes this morning – First, just received a text (206-293-6302 any time) noting “lumpy rain” north of Roxbury. The National Weather Service did warn of “rain mixed with snow” in this morning’s forecast update – increasing winds, too, and we’ve seen them kick up here. The NWS also has a Special Weather Statement out for the region, including our area, about a big storm headed this way late Sunday and into Monday – wind and rain mentioned, not snow, though “snow showers” are noted as possible in the aforementioned forecast. P.S. Could be extra-problematic in waterfront areas if high wind coincides with the ongoing high tides – Beach Drive Blog has a mashup of all that info together.

4:57 PM UPDATE: The Special Weather Statement has since been upgraded to a High Wind Watch for late Sunday night into early Monday morning – see it here.

West Seattle Saturday: Last night of Hanukkah; 2nd-to-last weekend before Christmas

December 15, 2012 10:09 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Last night of Hanukkah; 2nd-to-last weekend before Christmas
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

If you haven’t checked the Holiday Guide yet for what’s up today/tonight – here are the highlights! With a few from the year-round WSB Event Calendar too:

BAKE SALE FOR FAMILY REUNION: Till 3 pm today and 9-3 tomorrow, a new West Seattleite hoping to raise money for a holiday family reunion is having a bake sale. Read all about it here.

BLOOD DRIVE AT WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Till 3 pm. Drop-ins welcome but note that the Bloodmobile will be closed 11 am-noon. Details here.

FREE GIFT WRAP STATION! 11:30 am-3:30 pm: Let us wrap your Junction gifts! The West Seattle High School Music Program parents will staff our gift wrap station at Windermere (4526 California SW) while the students perform in The Junction. Please bring Junction retailer receipt. FREE wrap and ribbon, no boxes provided.

CAROLING IN THE JUNCTION: We 3 Carolers, and members of the South Seattle Community College Choir, will be caroling in The Junction, corner of Calif and Alaska, from 11:30-1:00, and 1:30-3:00. Come by and join us if you like to sing carols! We will also be collecting cash or check donations to the Food Bank. Thanks West Seattle and WC Neighbors! And special thanks to B Sharp Studio and Clowns Unlimited for sponsoring this 4th Annual Sing-Along for the Food Banks of West Seattle and White Center.

SANTA PHOTOS IN THE ADMIRAL DISTRICT: Free at Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) 12 pm to 4:00 pm, bring donations for West Seattle Food Bank (see wish list in the Holiday Guide).

SANTA PHOTOS AT THE MENASHE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DISPLAY: “Santa Al” will be available for photos – free with your camera, or have a photo taken for $5 – at the Menashe Family lights display (5600 block of Beach Drive) from 5:30-10 pm.

(More Santa photo opportunities today are in the Holiday Guide)

SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: Second weekend run for the premiere season of locally written/produced “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor), 2 and 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); tickets available online. Bring your camera, because showgoers can take photos with Santa afterward!

BLITHE BAZAAR: 4-8 pm at Center Studio in White Center, the next chance to buy holiday gifts from local artisans.

CHRISTMAS TREE SALES: Last big weekend. Son-In-Law Tree Farm just announced their trees are all half-price till gone (California/Charlestown). Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (WSB sponsor; 41st/Dakota) is in its final weekend, today and tomorrow.

LIVE NATIVITY SCENE WITH SMALL PETTING ZOO: Free! One donkey, two sheep, one lamb, five goats, two alpacas, 1-3 pm at the Arbor Heights A.R.K. Park behind Arbor Heights Community Church at 4113 SW 102nd.

CHAMPAGNE TASTING: West Seattle Cellars‘ special 1-5 pm tasting, annual grower Champagne tasting. (There will be a $10 fee for this tasting, which can be applied to a purchase.)

FONDUE PARTY: Junction QFC is having a Fondue Party – announcing that “dipping time is 2:00 till 6:00. Come join in the fun, we’ll be melting gooey, hot cheese and dipping bread, pickles, apples, and veggies! We are also having a raffle for a FREE Fondue Pot. Must be present to win.”

PARTY ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: It’s the eighth and final night of Hanukkah; celebrate at Kol HaNeshamah, 6115 SW Hinds, 4-8 pm. Details here.

(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show is in its final weekend at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm; tickets available online. Also: A Children’s Hospital toy drive is happening during the show’s run – bring a donation!

TIDAL EXTREMES CONTINUE: As the winter “king tides” continue, 12:15 am tonight (early Sunday) is the lowest, 7:34 am Sunday the highest (here’s the chart).

West Seattle giving: Holidays 4 Hope students’ special delivery

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
That pile of presents awaits kids at a South Park Community Center celebration today – thanks in no small part to the work of two Chief Sealth International High School seniors. We first told you last month about the toy drive Clint Hewitt and Conrad Hill organized as their senior project, Holidays 4 Hope. On Friday, like Santa Claus, they delivered what they had collected:

That’s SPCC’s Carmen Martinez hugging Conrad as Clint unloads more of the 425 toys they collected, donated by West Seattleites, schoolchildren to shop patrons:

At the center, volunteers were wrapping the presents soon to be received by excited kids:

Decorations were going up too – below right, Maja Hansen was working with volunteers from the Health Perspectives group:

Clint and Conrad had donation bins at 3 local businesses and 2 schools while collecting the toys they just delivered.

Though Holidays 4 Hope’s toy drive is over, lots of West Seattle giving opportunities remain – some listed in the WSB Holidays Guide

West Seattle schools: Denny’s turn in the Bookfair spotlight

Friday was the second consecutive night with a Bookfair event at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. Thursday night, as reported here, it was Arbor Heights Elementary; Friday, Denny International Middle School. And again, we have a community-contributed photo to share: That’s 7th-grader Yahya, reading his poem “I Am From.” If you weren’t able to be there, you can still participate – over the next six days, Denny will get part of the proceeds from your B&N purchases if you use the special code listed in the explanation on the school website.

West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 stolen items to watch for, and another stolen car found

Burglary victims in Arbor Heights says there’s just one item they really want back… a dark wood box containing the cremated remains of their dog. “We presume the thief took the box thinking it had jewelry in it; clearly he or she is in for a surprise when it’s opened. We are hoping it turns up somewhere.” We asked Kim for any distinguishing features, in case someone comes across it tossed aside somewhere – “possibly rosewood, with a polished finish, about 5″ x 6″, quite heavy,” she says.

WSB’ers *do* find stolen items. For example, it looks like Amy‘s stolen Saab T900, reported here early today, has turned up – Franci saw it in The Junction and called 911. She also let us know, and we in turn have flagged Amy – we’ll add an update if this all works out.

(11:41 PM UPDATE: Amy confirms it’s her car – though Franci had called a few hours earlier, police hadn’t contacted Amy yet, but an hour ago, she went to check out the scene, called 911 to confirm it, and subsequently met there with the same officer who took the original stolen-car report yesterday.)

Back on the stolen front:

That’s Kami‘s bicycle, when it was new … and long before it was stolen:

My bicycle was stolen from in front of 4550 38th Ave SW (The Link Apartments) sometime last night. It was locked, but we all know that’s just a deterrent. It’s a Specialized Expedition in silver, with tan seat/grips and black fenders. It looks like the baby of a mountain bike and a cruiser, and is probably dirty as sin. It’s my car, I use it every day and one day a week it’s part of my job. I was hoping that you guys could put a post up, and I will offer a $100 reward, no questions asked. But she’s my baby and I hope to see her again.

West Seattle ferry alert: Fauntleroy run changes ahead

December 14, 2012 9:43 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle ferry alert: Fauntleroy run changes ahead
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Another update from Washington State Ferries tonight:

The three-boat weekend schedule will resume on Saturday morning with the Hiyu remaining on the route in the #3 position. On Sunday morning, the Issaquah will remain as #1, Tillikum as #2 and the 64-car Salish will join the route in the #3 position.

Beginning with the Monday morning commute, Tillikum will sail as #1 with the Salish in the #2 position and Issaquah at #3. Passengers should note the Salish is a smaller vessel. Please consult the Schedule Page to plan accordingly for this reduction in capacity.

West Seattle traffic alert: Crash updates

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB – substituted for previous cameraphone photos)
5:38 PM: Snag in the evening commute: A crash at 35th and Fauntleroy – right at the west end of the bridge. More as we get it – but if you’re stuck in the backup, that’s the problem.

6 PM: Some good news – tow crew’s on scene and it should be clearing.

The backup, we’re told, stretches all the way across the bridge, so that’ll take a while longer to clear.

7:07 PM: There’s also a crash by the Fauntleroy ferry dock causing backups (Fauntleroy/Cloverdale):

Update: Missing man found safe

5:22 PM: Just received from Grant Huling:

My elderly grandpa Frank Valdes went missing an hour ago. He walked out of Fleming House (8424 16th Ave SW), wearing a black beret, black jacket and black pants. He’s 5’6”, looks latino/white, and has a gut. He has dementia and doesn’t have a cell phone on him. If anyone in the area sees him, call me at ——-.

6:10 PM: Grant says his grandpa’s been found safe (and we’ve removed his phone number as a result).

Another West Seattle traffic alert: Bridge work Monday night

December 14, 2012 4:58 pm
|    Comments Off on Another West Seattle traffic alert: Bridge work Monday night
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Also received late today from SDOT – utility work on the bridge Monday night/Tuesday morning:

City crews will perform high-priority maintenance work on electrical utilities at the western end of the West Seattle Bridge on Monday night, Dec. 17. This work will require drivers coming from Admiral Way SW to make a slight detour as they drive onto the bridge. The crews will begin work at 8:30 p.m. and will have all lanes open again no later than 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18.