West Seattle Christmas lights: Blue lights, special
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights aren’t about being big and bright … but about showing support … blue lights in honor of law enforcement officers everywhere, particularly poignant this year given that our area’s seen five police officers gunned down in the line of duty in the past five weeks. Eric shared that photo of what’s displayed in his window, saying, ” We thought five was the right number – one for each officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice these past few months. Notice, there are no spots for additional lights. That’s quite intentional…” The idea goes back more than 20 years, according to the background in this Kitsap Sun article. (The article also mentions the Papa John’s Pizza fundraiser next Tuesday-Wednesday; reminder that local Merrill Gardens communities [WSB sponsor] also have a dinner fundraiser on Wednesday, as noted here.) Unique holiday lights, bright holiday lights, anything you see of note around West Seattle, we welcome photos and/or addresses – editor@westseattleblog.com – the ones we’ve showcased so far are archived here, newest to oldest, including lights from previous years.
Update on search for missing West Seattle Rotary Park totem pole
We promised an update before the day was out – here’s what we can tell you so far. If you missed yesterday’s story – see it here – the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole is missing; after a WSB’er called it to our attention on Wednesday, we inquired with Seattle Parks, which hadn’t heard about the disappearance; they subsequently checked around extensively and couldn’t find anybody anywhere in the city who had taken it, so they reported it stolen. 
Seattle Police confirm it’s now an active investigation, and detectives have been to the scene. Some WSB’ers have posted comments after yesterday’s story saying they saw the crane truck that appeared to be removing it back on Monday. Turns out the Rotary Club of West Seattle has been investigating too, since the park and totem pole were their gifts to the city back in 1976 (here’s the history). They believe they’ve traced the crane company that was hired to remove the pole – but the questions of who hired the crane company (reportedly paying cash), why, and where exactly the totem pole is now, haven’t been sorted out yet.
West Seattle traffic alert update: Roxbury/Olson crash scene clears
ORIGINAL 3:35 PM REPORT: Thanks to the person who texted us an alert on this: East of White Center, on the south side of Highland Park, eastbound traffic on Roxbury is backing up in a big way because of a crash at Roxbury/Olson (here’s a map; just before the big hill down to South Park). We’re on our way to the area to check it out. 3:44 PM UPDATE: Officers are turning people around at 8th SW – that affects people driving eastbound from White Center as well as southbound from Highland Park. 5:10 PM UPDATE: Just went back to check – the scene’s now clear and everything’s open in time for evening rush hour.
Amanda Knox verdict: Guilty of murder
(Used with permission, added at 3:53 pm: Photo by ALAN BERNER/The Seattle Times – Left to right: Aunt Janet Huff, her husband Mick, Amanda’s friend Alexandra McDougall and Elisabeth Huff, Mick’s mother, at the moment of CNN’s announcement of guilty on all counts)
From Italy, the verdict’s in: Amanda Knox – daughter of Arbor Heights resident Edda Mellas – is guilty of murder, according to multiple media sources, including SKY News in Europe. Knox’s aunt Janet Huff, in West Seattle, has just told KING5 on live TV, “They didn’t listen to the facts of the case. All they did was listen to the media. … All we can do is go through the (appeals) process and try to get her home that way.” Sentence is 26 years in prison, and restitution equivalent to more than $7 million US was ordered.
COVERAGE FROM MULTIPLE CITYWIDE/WORLDWIDE SOURCES:
Wrap up story from seattletimes.com (WSB partner)
KING5.com (which has a reporter in Perugia and one with Knox’s aunt in WS)
KIROTV.com (also streaming)
Latest Google News index for Knox stories
Tweets tagged #amandaknox
Britain’s SKY News live-updating trial coverage online
WEBSITES FOCUSED ON THE CASE:
Friends of Amanda Knox
True Justice for Meredith Kercher
West Seattle Weather Watch: “Snow” falls into the forecast
Yes, we know various “long-range forecasts” hinted at snow, but the National Weather Service didn’t have the word anywhere until “possible snow showers” appeared in the latest outlook for Saturday night. Would be ideal if that happened after the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (5 pm tomorrow, Marty Riemer, Endolyne Children’s Choir, first drawings in the $6,500 Junction giveaway, be there, Farmers’ Market parking lot). Note the photo at left of the “little” Junction tree, taken by WSB’er Creighton last year in the midst of the Big Snow (this year we’re told they’ll just light the big one to its north). 2:33 PM UPDATE: SDOT says it’s brined the roads in case of ice/snow:
Following the new winter weather response plan, SDOT crews have proactively applied salt brine solution to roads and bridges to address icing concerns and be ready for any possible snow.
In addition to applying the brine solution, which remains effective for several days unless it rains, crews have also been responding to reports of localized ice on side streets formed by groundwater seeping onto roadways.
With possible snow flurries forecast for tonight and early tomorrow, SDOT trucks are being fitted with plows and spreaders, and will be ready if needed. Crews will be on call throughout the weekend. Residents and businesses are reminded, if a storm does occur, of their responsibility to keep adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
Tonight: West Seattle’s greenest holiday party (and more)
Tonight, and for most of the weekend, the holiday celebrations kick into high gear. The West Seattle Weekend Lineup is in the works, but first – one of the highlights from tonight’s 
calendar could be called the greenest holiday party in West Seattle – Sustainable West Seattle, Solar Washington, NW Ecobuilding Guild, EOS Alliance, Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, BALLE, CoolMom and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition invite you to their celebration, 6-10 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center. The party includes a potluck, so bring something to share; all ages are welcome – kids’ activities are planned, as well as music, dancing and prizes. Tonight also includes holiday open houses (Wyatt’s Jewelers [WSB sponsor] and Husky Deli among them) – check the WSB West Seattle Holidays page for the full rundown.
Traffic alert: Major I-5 closure tomorrow night
Heads up for late-night drivers, especially if you’re going to a holiday party someplace to the south: Northbound I-5, starting just south of West Seattle, will have a six-mile shutdown overnight tomorrow (Saturday night into Sunday), and an even-more-extensive one next Saturday, for sign installation. Read on for the full details from WSDOT:Read More
Just this morning, we were talking about
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