West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
Diane reports a snowplow sighting in the Admiral area, 37th/Hinds vicinity – despite the absence of snow! Of course, you know what they say about the value of an ounce of preparedness, given what was looming exactly a year ago. Checked back in our archives, and the forecast back then didn’t really predict all that snow, either. Doesn’t mean a waffly forecast now means Blizzard City, of course, but just in case you’re looking for reassurance, this is from tonight’s late National Weather Service “forecast discussion”:
SKAGIT AND ISLAND COUNTY PROBABLY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SGFNT SNOWFALL SUN AFTERNOON AND NITE…FOLLOWED BY WHATCOM AND SNOHOMISH COUNTY…WITH THE REST OF WRN WA AT LOW RISK
Famous forecaster Cliff Mass seems to concur, in this late-night update. He flatly states “nothing” Saturday for Seattle, which we’re happy to hear, recalling what happened on Christmas Ship Saturday night LAST year (here’s the flashback, video and all).
(Photo added Saturday morning, shared by Stephanie; that’s School Board rep Steve Sundquist at left, Gatewood principal Rhonda Claytor at right)
That’s how Karen‘s son described it; she and Stephanie, both proud Gatewood Elementary School parents, e-mailed tonight to share the news that the school received its Apple Award $25,000 check today (at least, the ceremonial “big” version). The award was announced back in September; it was given to schools for making major educational progress, and they’ll be able to choose a construction project to spend it on. (We’ll check with Gatewood administration next week to see if they’ve earmarked it yet.)
As Q13 FOX reporter (and West Seattleite) Brian Callanan noted toward the end of that clip, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s outdoor Christmas tree has a new look this year – LED lights in a cool pale blue (compare to last year). The tree now shines from the highest spot in the city – a bit more than 500 feet up – at 35th and Myrtle, after tonight’s lighting ceremony. From our informal count, looked like about 200 people gathered on Myrtle (blocked off for the evening) to watch the lighting and share in carols afterward. OLG is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Here’s Father Jack Walmsley (just back from traveling) delivering the pre-lighting blessing:
Here’s a sample of tonight’s caroling:
(That’s Brian in the light-colored sweater under the tree, saying “Great job” at clip’s end.) Caroling was followed by holiday celebrating in the Parish Hall – a good place to warm up, considering the temperature was back below freezing by the time the tree lights came on.
If you’ve been following the saga of that distinctive crow rescued by Forest Lawn Cemetery staff before it froze to death the other day, Forest Lawn’s Jeff Jorgenson has been posting updates in comments. Most recent one – looks like a reunion is imminent:
Hello all!! Friday update!
Thanks to someone here on the WSB, the breeder called me from Alabama – Corvid Ranch – just as we were discussing the move to Sarvey. He provided me with the band information and an address that matches up with the cemetery such that there is no question as to who belongs to this crow. I have a call into them and am awaiting their return. So, for the time being, the six month old crow is comfortably resting with private fireplace and blanket until the owner gets home. Thanks again WSBers!!!
Tonight, the Our Lady of Guadalupe tree lighting … tomorrow and Sunday nights, the Christmas Ship makes four West Seattle stops … and there’s so much more going on, including Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) Sunday #2 with Santa and gift wrap in The Junction – plus the Highland Park Improvement Club holiday bash tomorrow night, Admiral Sings Christmas on Sunday, an extra Plaid Tidings (WSB sponsor) matinee on Saturday … bazaars, sales, concerts, more than SIXTY events/activities in all, holiday and non-holiday, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
WSDOT sent out the alert on Monday – now that the closure’s just a day away, here’s the reminder: From late tomorrow night, overnight into Sunday morning, the ramp from The Bridge to I-5 northbound will be closed, while crews install more “Smarter Highways” overhead signs, as part of a multi-mile northbound shutdown from Boeing Access Road to I-90. Full details in our original alert here.
Sure, you can buy a light-encrusted “reindeer” at the store and plop it in your yard. But how about carving and assembling your own reindeer? That’s what Dave did in Westwood, and proud girlfriend Oleana shares these photos — in progress, above, and here’s the final result:
Oleana explains:
We live in West Seattle and this is our 2nd x-mas here. This year my boyfriend really got into the decorations as in chainsaw, log, actual size reindeer with a 6 ft wreath hung from the trees in our yard. I also just for fun decorated with pink flamingos and a golden egg. It is a holiday scene—in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. Throughout the day I see dog walkers pointing and even coming in the yard to check out the reindeer.
She says he’s made a couple more, too. You can see them at 7926 30th SW (here’s a map).
It’s another WSB holiday tradition, along with keeping a list of holiday events (the West Seattle Holidays page) – we’ve surveyed local tree lots for a sampling of prices, in case you’re going out tree-shopping soon and undecided about where to go. Go here to see the list of lots and sample prices; it’s also linked from the Holidays page so you can find it fast any time.
Becky got an unsettling call and wanted to sound an alert just in case – read on:Read More
Just out of the WSB inbox — WSB’ers stepped up to help with this type of judging before, and those who participated reported having a great time (here’s the report we published in May):
* Michelle Sloan, the DECA Club Adviser at West Seattle High School, is searching for judges for Automotive Marketing competition at the DECA Regional Competitions on Tuesday, January 12th, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, 9 am – 4 pm.
* Anyone with ANY Marketing experience will be great!
* We will need the names of any “possibles” (ASAP), as we’d like to have our final list organized before the holidays (no one wants to commit to anything the first week in January!)
DECA Marketing Regional Competition
* Tuesday, January 12, 2010
* 9 am – 1 pm
* Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, WABenefits of participating?
* Supporting the DECA Marketing students at WSHS and the region!
* Free lunch!
* Free coffee!
* Networking with hundreds of other DECA judges from the state of Washington!Thank you so much for your help!
Interested judges may contact Michelle Sloan, masloan@seattleschools.org, or mmtonkin@seattleschools.org, for more information!
If you haven’t seen it on partner site White Center Now already – here’s the link to the story we published this morning from last night’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, including the monthly crime stats from the area, and farewell to the group’s last paid staffer.
Washington State Ferries is out with its winter schedule notes, though the schedule itself doesn’t kick in till two days after New Year’s Day. Read on:Read More
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WINE SALE: 4-8 pm today and noon-4 pm tomorrow, the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) offers another of its popular wine-tasting/sale events, with all their wine on sale at a 20 percent discount. More info here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TREE LIGHTING: 7 pm tonight at 35th/Myrtle, the highest point in Seattle, gather around the Our Lady of Guadalupe tree to see its 1,000 lights come on, and to join in Christmas carols. More here.
HANUKKAH: The eight-night Jewish Festival of Lights begins at sundown tonight. Here’s a guide to regional celebrations, from our partners at the Seattle Times.
Got something to sell that holiday bazaar shoppers might be interested in? The Southwest Community Center Holiday Bazaar tomorrow (Saturday) still has room for more vendors, Lisa tells us. $15 for one table, $20 for two, and the fees go to SWCC youth programs. Call 206-684-7638. Even if you’re not interested in selling, there’ll be entertainment and food along with craft activities for kids, 9 am-4 pm Saturday.
The Tuesday and Wednesday donation of profits from all regional Papa John’s Pizza tallies hit six figures, according to our partners at the Seattle Times – they say the company announced the total donation would surpass $126,000, after huge demand at the 40-plus participating stores (including West Seattle, photographed above on Tuesday night). As reported here Wednesday night, that night’s Merrill Gardens (WSB sponsor) fundraising pasta dinner raised $1,500 between the 2 West Seattle locations (haven’t heard yet about the rest of the chain). And you have another chance to show your support for the Lakewood officers’ families without leaving West Seattle – this Saturday, 9 am-5 pm, West Seattle Tiger Scouts plan to set up a table outside the Holy Rosary Tree Lot at California/Lander (map) to collect donations and also get signatures on a big card for the families.
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