West Seattle, Washington
14 Saturday
We’ve already featured the official start of the season at West Seattle’s two best-known Christmas-lights displays (here and here) – now, it’s time to show off even more! Tonight, our first reader-contributed photo – above, TJ shares that photo from the 7900 block of 32nd SW. Below, we just noticed and photographed this home on 42nd SW near SW Raymond tonight:
We welcome photos and tips – please e-mail either (or both!) to editor@westseattleblog.com. And something new this year – in addition to archiving our Christmas-lights coverage here on WSB, we’re also featuring photos on a board on the WSB Pinterest page. (By this weekend, we’ll launch a map in the West Seattle Holiday Events/Info Guide too.)
Three men are now charged in what’s been dubbed the “My Gun’s Bigger” robbery attempt at Highland Park’s Morning Star Market. Seattle Police announced the arrests on November 26th, three days after the clerk scared the would-be robbers away, and we got word of the charges today. Read on for the story they tell:
Thanks to Mike for the tip: The state’s second weekly list of recreational-marijuana business applicants (linked from this page) includes the first application for a retail location in West Seattle, for A Green Life, at 5435 California SW, same site as the storefront that’s been home to several medical-marijuana outlets in the past few years.
There are also two additional West Seattle filings for marijuana-growing licenses – Northwest Medicinal at 5420 26th SW and R&B Group at 3601 W. Marginal Way SW, same address as the Evergreen Herbal application reported here last week; R&B is also seeking a processor license. The state is midway through a one-month period of accepting applications from those wishing to become involved in the recreational-marijuana industry enabled by voters’ passage last year of Initiative 502. Next list is due out next Tuesday.
For the next five days, the morning high tides will approach 13 feet – the so-called “king tides” – and the state Ecology Department is again asking you to share your photos. Above is one of ours from WSB coverage last December 17th, when a king tide coincided with high winds. This Friday (December 6th), at 7:48 am, high tide will peak at 12.9 feet, same as it was on that memorable day a year ago. Here’s the request from Ecology:
*Take photos during a king tide, preferably where the high water levels can be gauged against familiar landmarks such as sea walls, jetties, bridge supports or buildings.
*Note the date, time and location of your photo, then upload your images on the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative Flickr Group.
*Please tag your photos on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #kingtides.
*Play it safe! While the winter king tides occur during daylight hours, don’t venture out during severe weather and keep a close eye on rising water levels.
We would also love to see your photos – here are all the ways to reach us. Thanks in advance!
P.S. Any time you’re looking for a tide chart – check the one that’s displayed on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
Across from the 13th hole of the West Seattle Golf Course, in the 2800 block of SW Genesee (map), a crane is lifting three prefab townhouses into place, module by module. We reported on the modules’ arrival back on Saturday; now, the installation is a hot ticket on the cold, shady side of the street:
Of course, we, our fellow newspeople, and the spectators could leave at any time. Not an option for the crew working to make sure it’s all done correctly and safely – no mean feat given the size of the lot:
As noted in our previous story, the dozen or so modules comprising Method Homes‘ 3-unit, 2-building townhouse project were trucked in from the factory in Ferndale and parked along 26th SW west of Delridge Community Center/Park, a temporary staging zone:
The work is scheduled to continue tomorrow, with intermittent lane closures on Genesee while it’s under way.
P.S. For three quick video clips from the midmorning module lift, check out the WSB Instagram feed.
(WSB video: Mudhoney at Easy Street Records this past April)
Back on November 22nd, we mentioned the upcoming release party for Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s new Mudhoney flavor – 7 pm December 11th at Full Tilt’s flagship White Center store. At the time, a sweet surprise was being planned – an unannounced appearance by Mudhoney themselves. Now, we hear from FT proprietor Justin Cline, it’s no longer secret – so we’re getting the news to you too. Be there one week from tomorrow (party at 7, band at 8), for the ice cream as well as the music!
In its recent announcement that LED-streetlight installation was complete on neighborhood streets in its service area, Seattle City Light mentioned arterials were next. That includes the West Seattle Bridge, where installation is planned later this week, according to this announcement from SDOT:
The Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle City Light plan to work on the high-level, West Seattle Bridge on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Dec. 4, 5 and 6, if weather conditions permit. SDOT crews will perform maintenance work, and SCL crews will install LED lights.
On Wednesday the eastbound, right-hand lane will be closed from 10 am to 4 pm. The closure will extend for approximately 400 to 500 feet, and will be repositioned as the work progresses along the length of the bridge. On Thursday, the westbound, right lane will be closed starting at 8:30 am until no later than 2:30 pm. On Friday, Dec. 6, the westbound, left-hand lane will be closed, again from 8:30 am until no later than 2:30 pm.
LED lights are already in place on the Spokane Street Viaduct (east end of the bridge).
(Water Taxi @ Seacrest, Monday afternoon photo by Bill Bacon)
Two groups of highlights today – first, from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (go there for even more today/tonight listings):
REGISTRATION FOR WINTER CLASSES/PROGRAMS @ WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY CENTERS: At noon today, registration opens for the programs/classes in the winter brochure for city-run West Seattle/South Park community centers.
METRO-CUTS MEETING: Until and unless a $olution is found for Metro’s money woes, the plan for cuts is still on, and they’re the subject of a community meeting tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 6-8 pm. Open-house format with a presentation/small-group discussions scheduled at 7, per Metro. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WESTWOOD/ROXHILL/ARBOR HEIGHTS COUNCIL: 6:15 pm, Southwest Branch Library. Agenda highlights include updates on the Barton Basin CSO project and Roxhill Park cleanup/safety. (35th/Henderson)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: Monthly meeting for WSBC is at 6:30 pm, West Seattle Cyclery (WSB sponsor). Details here. (4508 California SW)
From the updated-daily-as-additions-arrive WSB Holiday Events and Info Guide:
(One of the holiday wreaths that went up in The Junction on Monday)
HOLIDAY GIVING – ‘SOCK IT TO HOMELESSNESS’: Today, you have probably heard, has been dubbed “Giving Tuesday.” The Holiday Guide includes multiple ideas for doing that during the holiday season, including this one we just added, sent by Tony @ Java Bean Coffee in Luna Park:
Java Bean’s Annual “SOCK-IT” TO HOMELESSNESS sock drive kicks off! Java Bean at 2920 Avalon Way SW will be collecting new pairs of white socks through December 14th. All donations benefit Operation Nightwatch here in Seattle.
So buy some socks and drop ’em off.
HOLIDAY GIVING – VOLUNTEER AT WESTSIDE BABY: Every Tuesday night through December 17th, WestSide Baby can use your help as a volunteer, 6-9 pm. Details here including where to go and who to contact.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: It’s Holiday Open House week at AAA Washington‘s West Seattle office (WSB sponsor), 9 am-6 pm daily, in Jefferson Square. 15 percent off all travel-store merchandise! (4734 42nd SW)
Relatively quiet holiday weekend so far as West Seattle Crime Watch reports went, but we have three things to note so far today – all thefts. Maybe you will be able to help find the stolen property, if not solve the crimes themselves. Read on for the reports (including one mom’s warning/wish for the thief who stole something belonging to her son):
(East-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge; see other cams on the WSB Traffic page)
One commute note so far this morning – King County says it’s canceling the Vashon Water Taxi runs because it’s too windy. The temperature hasn’t dropped below freezing in our area – mid-30s right now in Seattle – so you might not have to worry about icy roads today; let us know if you find otherwise. However, you might need extra time to clear your windshield if you use a vehicle that’s been parked outside; the graupel/ice pellets that fell on ours last night is still on the windshield and back window.
METRO MEETING TONIGHT: No funding solution has emerged yet to keep Metro from proceeding with plans for major service cuts, so the plan for a community meeting tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 6-8 pm, is on. Open-house format with a presentation/small-group discussions scheduled at 7, per the county.
DE-ICER DEBACLE FOLLOWUP: Added to our Monday coverage of the two-hour West Seattle Bridge closure following crashes blamed on an early de-icer application – an SDOT manager’s explanatory memo. He writes that it was done early because of a “wrong” forecast, expecting an early temperature drop, and early Seahawks-game traffic.
8:21 AM UPDATE: In comments, “Enough” points out a two-car crash on the eastbound bridge, indicating the Spokane St. Viaduct section; 911 log is less specific, calling it only the eastbound bridge “from Fauntleroy.”
Also, looks like the modular-townhome project near 26th SW/SW Genesee (previewed here over the weekend) is on for today – a commenter says the cranes arrived this morning. That could affect traffic on SW Genesee west of Delridge; we’ll be checking later to see how it’s going and what the operation looks like.
8:37 AM UPDATE: Yet another note – a reader tip suggests a continuation today of an unannounced partial closure of 42nd SW in The Junction, part of the block between Alaska and Edmunds that we heard about yesterday just before the de-icer debacle diverted us. We’re checking with the construction company to see how long this is expected to last.
And if you’re thinking about 4th Avenue South this morning, note that an emergency response is checking out a reported crash parallel with the east side of CenturyLink Field.
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