West Seattle transit reminders for Christmas Eve/Day

December 23, 2012 9:49 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

(Water Taxi’s downtown dock just after sunset Friday, by Lise Thivierge)
Reminders for everybody who’ll be using transit the next two days – here are the announced schedule plans:

CHRISTMAS EVE (Monday)
Metro – “reduced weekday” schedule
West Seattle Water Taxi – regular schedule
Sound Transit – Sunday schedule
Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy route – regular schedule

CHRISTMAS DAY (Tuesday)
Metro – Sunday schedule
West Seattle Water Taxi – no service
Sound Transit – Sunday schedule
Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy route – regular schedule

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Roxhill Castle vandalized

December 23, 2012 9:17 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

If you live near Roxhill Park, or pass by, please take an extra-close look – especially now that Whitney McBride, co-volunteer organizer for the community-built Roxhill Castle play-area project, reports that graffiti/tagging vandals have struck: “Our wonderfully community-built park was graffiti’ed. I’m not sure when, as we haven’t been by lately. Sadly I knew it was bound to happen, just hoped it wouldn’t at least for a while. I’m sure it’ll get cleaned up way before opening, but if folks could keep an eye out & call in anything suspicious, that’d be great.” (As noted here yesterday, the opening was at one point set for this weekend, but it’s been postponed – no new date set yet.)

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West Seattle Christmas lights: Map updated, if you’re headed out

December 23, 2012 6:00 pm

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| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

For those planning to go out looking at Christmas lights, we’ve added a few more stops to the map, including the home above (3726 Belvidere – thanks to Logan for the photo), Fauntlee Hills (the west side is most brightly lit – turn onto 41st SW from Barton, and both 41st and Concord have sights to see), and the home in the 7900 block of 32nd SW that we featured last year (Kevin says it’s all lit up again).

View West Seattle Christmas lights, 2012 in a larger map

Any more updates tonight, please let us know – then the map’s a wrap for the season, since we’ve observed over the years that some turn their lights off after Christmas Eve.

P.S. One of the spots on the map, the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular/West Seattle Lights, will have free hot chocolate 6-8 pm Christmas Eve.

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West Seattle holidays: Eat, drink, be merry … and read!

December 23, 2012 1:30 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We’re reminded that besides “eat, drink, and be merry,” another good holiday exhortation is: Read! Kids from Gatewood Elementary got in that spirit with a brisk stroll to a Morgan Junction coffee shop on Friday; principal Rhonda Claytor shared the photo and report:

Students from Gina Frazzini’s class at Gatewood Elementary had a reading celebration at Starbucks (Friday). The students walked to Starbucks to enjoy a book and a hot cocoa. It was a great way to start a great book for the Winter Break! Thank you, Starbucks!

Yet another reminder – we’ve compiled holiday hours (Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve/Day) for coffee shops around West Seattle (and a couple in White Center), in case you’re looking for a place to read – or just to get your favorite beverage – see the list here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Reader reports thwarted theft

December 23, 2012 12:28 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

From Kim, who suggests others be on the lookout for a would-be thief spotted late this morning:

Just thought I would pass along that my husband, a friend and I just caught and stopped a bike theft. We noticed this guy walking through our side yard (there’s no fence but still odd for people to walk through our yard) at around 11AM. He was walking very slowly and even paused when we caught each other’s gaze through my window. I walked outside and caught him grabbing my neighbors old bike from under a pile of other items. When I yelled to him that those items were not his, he didn’t even jump. He just stood up and walked out of the yard slowly and even had to pass me to get out of the yard. Very strange and totally brazen considering it was midday on a weekend. Thankfully I had my husband and his friend here to run outside and make sure he didn’t try to come back. This guy was African American, late teens to early 20’s, wearing a black jacket with a white hoody layered underneath, black jeans and a ball cap. He left walking south on California Ave. We live on the 2100 block of California. Keep a lookout for this guy, he was obviously not scared of getting caught and may try this in someone else’s yard.

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West Seattle Sunday: What’s happening Christmas Eve-Eve

December 23, 2012 10:48 am

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Varied thrush, photographed in West Seattle recently by Trileigh Tucker)
In case you haven’t already found all this in the ongoing WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (all holiday events through New Year’s Day) and year-round Event Calendar – highlights for the rest of today/tonight:

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A CHRISTMAS EVE-EVE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round means year-round! (photo added @ noon – tulips at Alm Hill Gardens, southwest side of market)

Now till 2 pm, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is on at 44th/Alaska in The Junction.

CAROLING FOR FOOD BANK DONATIONS: 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! We will also be collecting cash or check donations for the West Seattle/White Center Food Banks. Thanks, West Seattle and White Center neighbors!”

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: That’s what Friends of the Animals Foundation hopes you can provide, as they hold another cat-adoption event noon-3 pm today at Next to Nature in The Junction.

(added) ALSO SEEKING HOMES: Just found out that TODAY is actually Kitty Harbor‘s last day this winter – so, noon-6 pm, they’re open with more than two dozen cats/kittens awaiting forever homes. Harbor Avenue, just north of the bridge.

WINE TASTING: Stottle Winery (WSB sponsor) welcomes you at their West Seattle tasting room, street level of ActivSpace at 3400 Harbor Avenue SW, just north of the bridge.

SANTA! Two chances we know of – at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), 1:30-5:30 pm (their website says otherwise but after a reader tip, we just called to confirm the change), and Westwood Village (hours and Santa listed here).

‘WRAP IT UP’: Gift wrapping 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. Today’s your second to last chance, 1 – 6 pm at Beer Junction, 4511 California SW.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE ‘SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE’: “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor) concludes premiere run, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – 2 pm. According to the show’s Facebook page, admission is “pay what you will/can.”

CHRISTMAS VAUDEVILLE AND SINGALONG: 3 pm today at Kenyon Hall: Comedy juggling, live music by the Bottom Line Duo, Bob White at the Mighty Wurlitzer, and Lou Magor conducting the audience in a Christmas sing-along. Reservations and ticket info here.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Sarah Burgess, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.

BENEFIT YOGA CLASS: Bikram Yoga in The Junction is offering a class at 5 pm today to support a local family in need – details in the calendar listing.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) organizes this annual event:

Our Christmas light run is Sunday night at 6. We are doing about 3 miles, give or take, at a slow pace, and checking out some of the better light neighborhoods around the store, finishing at the Helmstetler house. Dress up, light up, bring a can of food to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank, and enjoy a fun run with other West Seattleittes!

WSR is on the northwest corner of California and Charlestown, second floor. Meet at 5:50 pm.

SPEAKING OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Our map is in the Holiday Guide. Couple more additions will be there by nightfall.

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Candlelight, songs on Alki to honor Newtown victims and survivors

December 23, 2012 4:16 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Nick Adams
for West Seattle Blog

The 3,000 miles between Seattle and Newtown, Connecticut, closed in a heartbeat Saturday night – a heartbeat and a candle flame:

Though a chilly wind buffeted the 30 or so who gathered for a candlelight vigil – the first public gathering in West Seattle to honor the Connecticut community rocked by inexplicable deadly violence – the heartbeat, and heartbreak, could almost be heard. It came with the reading of victims’ names, each evoking an image, innocent child, heroic teacher…

It came with quiet songs – from “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” to “Silent Night” …

The grief for those lost burned bright, though eight long days had passed, and across the country, the final funerals had happened hours earlier.

Those who accepted a slip of paper with a name to read were urged to spend a few moments each day thinking about that person.

And those who came were acknowledged for daring to open up: “It’s difficult to bring a tender heart into a public space, not knowing who you wlll meet,” they were told.

Even with cameras and lights, the circle held dignity and respect.

Then, as the gathering ebbed after about 40 minutes, Trevor Rasmussen again softly played guitar:

The song – “Fire and Rain.” The latter had held off during the gathering; all the better for the former to burn bright:

As originally reported, the gathering was organized by West Seattle’s Casey Ann Rasmussen (at right in photo above), and supported by Families and Friends of Violent-Crime Victims, whose director Marge Martin joined Casey in speaking very briefly as the vigil began.

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