West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
The wind advisory is over now. Here are two reader-contributed video clips to remember it by:
Reader video. High tide meets gusty wind. pic.twitter.com/GI3WY8tpty
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 12, 2016
That was texted to us from south of Alki Point around 2 pm, shortly before this afternoon’s high tide. And from The Junction, via Instagram video, the new sculpture in action:
Next weekend, by the way, artist Troy Pillow‘s work will officially be presented to the community – noon Sunday, November 20th. It’s called “Transpose.”
Thanks to everyone who has sent event listings and other info so far – version 1.0 of this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is live! Browse it here. Every year our goal is for the guide to be THE place to find local holiday happenings, from pre-Thanksgiving through post-New Year’s Day. Since it’s relatively early in the season, some plans have yet to be finalized, so we’ll be continuing to update the guide daily (if not more often). Anything to add? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Cork creations are among the unique holiday gift options you’ll find at today’s Highland Park Improvement Club Holiday Bazaar – more than 20 local vendors are filling the historic hall until 3 pm. You’ll find food and drink, too, including the HPIC bar. Even living gifts – check out these little plants:
Though it’s still awfully warm for November, sooner or later you’re going to need scarves and hats:
And you can stay warm with Highland Park hoodies! As we publish this, you have two more hours to go shop this bazaar – which continues until 3 pm.
P.S. This and many other events are part of our just-published WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, first draft, which we’ll be updating all season long as always.
Until 2 pm, look for the West Seattle Food Bank crew outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) and help ensure neighbors in need will have a happy Thanksgiving. You can drop off turkey(s) and/or cash. Inside the store, you also can donate $10 that will purchase a bag of groceries for someone who needs them – this display is a reminder:
If you miss today’s donation drive – here are other ways to help WSFB fight hunger before Thanksgiving.
8:47 AM: The National Weather Service has a wind-advisory alert in effect for our area until noon, and says the wind will likely peak toward the end of that period, starting around 11 am. Gusts could get up to 45 mph. So make sure you have everything charged, just in case!
10 AM: No West Seattle outages so far but there’s a big one just south of us, in southeast White Center and points south of there, almost 4,000 homes and businesses – see the map here.
10:25 AM: As Jim points out in comments, the wind advisory has been extended to 3 pm.
10:50 AM: The outage south of us is over, per the SCL map.
(Photo by David Hutchinson, looking toward downtown back on our foggy Thursday)
The holiday season revs up with shopping and donation opportunities, among the events on our calendar-highlights list for today/tonight, including:
STANDING ROCK DONATION DROPOFF & CARAVAN MEETING The West Seattleites taking donations to the ongoing Standing Rock Sioux-led pipeline-route protest will be at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation again 8 am-noon today (7141 California SW). And for those who have asked about a possible caravan, as mentioned in this followup, the donation-drive organizers will be at Uptown Espresso in The Junction 5-6 pm tonight (4301 SW Edmunds) for anyone interested in discussing it.
GREEN SEATTLE DAY: 9 am, volunteer to plant trees! West Seattle locations this year include Camp Long, the event hub (5200 35th SW), as well as Longfellow Creek and Orchard Street Ravine.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT HPIC: 10 am-3 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, more than 20 local vendors at the annual holiday bazaar. Food and drink (the bar’s open!) too. And Highland Park hoodies/T-shirts are on sale. (12th SW/SW Holden)
SHOREWOOD PTA HOLIDAY BAZAAR: 10 am-4 pm holiday bazaar at Shorewood Elementary, including Santa photos. (2725 SW 116th)
TURKEY DONATIONS: 10 am-2 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), you can donate a turkey and/or turkey-buying $ to the West Seattle Food Bank, which is hoping to help more than 300 local families have a happy Thanksgiving. (4201 SW Morgan)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW: 10 am-4 pm at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, it’s day two of the show and sale featuring area artists/craftspersons (listed here). Free admission. (9140 California SW)
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING: 10:30 am at the Providence Mount St. Vincent Chapel, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society gathers for its annual meeting. Business (including board/trustee voting and approval of bylaws amendments) is part of it but the setting will be the subject of a special presentation:
Sister Charlotte Van Dyke will tell the story (with PowerPoint) “Sisters of Providence Come to the West and the Early Beginnings of Providence Mount St. Vincent.” SWSHS executive director Clay Eals says, “We welcome non-members, and while we encourage them to become members (which they can do at the meeting), it isn’t necessary to be a member to attend.” (4831 35th SW)
‘RACE: THE POWER OF AN ILLUSION’: West Seattle Meaningful Movies, Reel Grrls, YUIR, and DNDA co-host this half-day film screening and interactive discussion about race. The film “Race: The Power of an Illusion” will be shown in three parts, with discussions after each one, and a community dinner by FEEST afterward. 1-6 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
METROPOLITAN MARKET HOLIDAY SIDES TASTE: 3-6 pm at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor). “Taste our pre-made options for the perfect sides for your holiday meal.” (41st/42nd/Admiral)
HOLIDAY CONCERT AND BAZAAR: 4-7 pm at Breath of Life Church, 3rd annual Holiday Concert and Bazaar features “live musical performances by the Celestial Ringers handbell choir as well as other talented musicians and vocalists from around the Pacific NW. Following the concert there’s food, bake-sale desserts, and a variety of unique crafts and gift items – all available to purchase.” (9807 26th SW)
HIGH POINT FAMILY FEST: 4:30-7 pm party and potluck at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center – details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way)
WSCO GALA: Doors open at 6 pm at Alki Masonic Center for the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ fundraising dinner and auction, with entertainment including the West Seattle Big Band. Our calendar listing has full details including how to check if there’s still room. (40th SW/SW Edmundsd)
BEER CHURCH TURKEY BOWL & IPA RELEASE: 6-9 pm at West Seattle Bowl, the Beer Church‘s annual nonprofit-benefiting bowling party is sold out but you are invited to stop by to drink the new benefit Beer Church India Pale Ale that’s being released, while cheering on the bowlers. Details in our calendar listing. (39th SW/SW Oregon)
OLG CYO ITALIAN DINNER: 6:30 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center, fundraising dinner for OLG’s CYO sports programs. More info in our calendar listing, including how to check ASAP if there’s still room left. (35th SW/SW Myrtle)
ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: “Eclectic blend of originals and covers” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
NEIL YOUNG TRIBUTE: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, in honor of Neil Young‘s (71st) birthday. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
That’s American Legion Post 160 commander Keith Hughes with the two U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Everett who came to tonight’s Veterans Day dinner at the post in The Triangle with a gift: A flag that flew on a USCG Port Security Unit 313 patrol boat while it was under way on maritime-security patrol on the Legion’s 97th anniversary, March 15, 2016. They explained the unit wanted to thank the post for the care packages they had sent, and then described where and when the flag had flown:
Other gifts at the dinner – thank-you cards for veterans, created by students at Madison Middle School:
The dinner is an annual tradition at Post 160, free to local veterans, active-duty personnel, guard and reserve members, and their families. Tonight’s attendance was the best ever.
Commander Hughes, who served in the Army, read a well-known verse of thanks to those who fought for the rights our country holds dear:
And as we left, we passed another family arriving, with a Troop 282 Boy Scout whose grandmother and aunt are veterans, though too far away to come along. They brought gifts too … cherry and apple pies.
That pile of debris is all that was left late today of the 96-year-old triplex at 4122 36th SW [map], where a microhousing building that drew concerns from dozens of neighbors is set to start going up. (Thanks to AA for the tip that demolition was under way.) We first reported on the plan in July 2015, when it was described as a four-story building with an unspecified number of “small efficiency dwelling units.”
(Rendering from design-review packet by architects Alloy Design Group)
It’s now a two-building, 4-story project, with some conflicting numbers – the official description mentions 20 units, but lines on the city docket mention wiring for “33 microunits.” (We’ll check with SDCI on Monday to confirm that’s just a mistake – the design-review packet reinforces the 20-unit count and shows floor plans.) One thing that’s remained consistent is that the project does not include offstreet parking spaces. The city file includes a generic acknowledgment of neighbors’ concerns about that, and points them to this city webpage, which says city planners are working on a citywide plan with these principles:
*Provide integrated and accessible transportation choices that are readily available for Seattle’s growing population – such as ORCA passes, car and bike sharing and shared parking.
*Support Comprehensive Plan goals to encourage growth in Urban Centers.
*Retain and enhance Seattle neighborhoods’ walkable and livable urban qualities, which are essential and preferable to automobileâ€oriented public places and buildings.
*Prioritize housing affordability to preserve and enhance the ability of persons of all economic means to be able to live in Seattle. Parking is a significant cost factor for developers.
*Help ensure that racial and socioâ€economic equity is a key consideration in setting parking policies.
*Manage on†and offâ€street parking most efficiently.
*Promote designs for better quality, more secure, and more comfortable bicycle storage facilities.
*Achieve local and regional environmental objectives through sound choices to achieve air quality, climate change, and natural environmental protection goals.
To the south of 4122 36th SW, the single-family house at 4126 36th SW is set to be torn down and replaced by a two-unit rowhouse building that will have offstreet parking. The developer of that project had the lot split, and plans show that two parking spaces will go onto what is now technically a separate lot off the alley.
This Sunday, you’re invited to a book-signing party that will benefit two local nonprofits:
There will be a signing party for Pastor Ron Marshall’s new book, Kierkegaard in the Pulpit: Sermons Inspired by His Writings (Yakima: Cave Moon Press), 450 pp., on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at 12 Noon, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California Ave SW). Books will be on sale at a special 35% discount for $23.00 each. The publisher, Doug Johnson, will also be in attendance. All proceeds will go to support the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline. Pastor Marshall’s new book is a sequel to his acclaimed Kierkegaard for the Church (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2013). Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) was a Danish philosopher and theologian with close ties to the Lutheran Church.
Received tonight from the Chief Sealth International High School Black Student Union:
The Chief Sealth International High School Black Student Union will be participating in a schoolwide walkout and rally outside of Chief Sealth Intl. High School on Monday, November 14, 2016 @ 1:30 PM. In this rally, we want to show that our students are here for each other and that we won’t back down. We are proud of our school’s diversity, no matter who’s elected into office or what they may say.
After the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, there has been a heightened fear among Students of Color, Immigrant Students, Muslim Students, Female Students, and more. The examples of hate crimes and discrimination all over the country has our students afraid for their future and the future of their friends and family.
We say “heightened†because the struggle for Students of Color, Immigrant Students, Muslim Students, and Female Students is not new. It has been ongoing, and we come together today to show that we will have each other’s backs as we enter this new era.
We will not be afraid. We know that when we stand together, we are strong. We know that when we stand together, the racism, islamophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, homophobia, and misogyny that Donald Trump stoked during his campaign will not find a voice in our community. We know that when we all stand together those that have been empowered by this election to express racism, islamophobia, homophobia, anti-immigrant sentiment, and misogyny will recognize that those ideas have no home here.
In this walkout, students at Sealth and the Sealth Student Cultural Coalition, which includes members from the Black Student Union (BSU), Muslim Student Union, (MSU), Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano Latino de Aztlán (MECHLA), Asian Culture Association (ACA), and the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) will be coming together. We hope to show the rest of the world that we stand in solidarity with each other. We invite cultural organizations from other schools to do the same.
This walkout and rally will be NON-VIOLENT. We will not welcome violent actions.
Back on Wednesday, you might recall, about 200 students from West Seattle High School walked out for a post-election protest march from Admiral to The Junction and back to school.
Meantime, this isn’t the first action this year in which the Sealth BSU has been involved – we covered their pre-football-game protest in September, as well as their Black Lives Matter At School rally three weeks ago. Last December, the group organized an anti-Islamophobia demonstration.
Dee Miller‘s metal garden art is part of what you’ll see at the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show, which just opened its three-day run for 2016, in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church.
We stopped by just as the show was about to open tonight. Another participating artist is Apple Cox, with paintings and cards – husband Bill Cox was filling in at her booth:
The full list of artists who are showing and selling is on the church website here.
Admission to the show/sale is free. It’s on until 8 pm tonight, then again 10 am-4 pm on Saturday and 11 am-2 pm on Sunday.
(Family-provided photo, added November 14)
Back in August, we reported on a big night on the field for NFL player Aaron Grymes, a West Seattle High School alum who had signed with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the year. We also mentioned at the time that the Eagles were due here in Seattle to face the Seahawks on November 20th. With that game just nine days away, Grymes is getting a spot on the Eagles’ 53-man roster, according to this Philadelphia Magazine report shared with us by his aunt Kim Gearon. The cornerback might have gained that status sooner, the Eagles’ head coach told the magazine, but was waived after the injury he suffered in that August game, following his attention-getting play. But before the Eagles’ trip to Seattle, Grymes, 25, is on the roster in time for their game this Sunday against Atlanta. He told CSN Philly that whatever his first play turns out to be, “It’s going to be nervewracking.”
That photo was tweeted by Lauren, one of multiple readers who reported today that the Subway shop at 2758 Alki Avenue SW is closed – “permanently,” according to the note on the door. We first reported in May 2013 that Subway would be the first tenant in a building that until then had been vacant for almost three years since its construction; the sandwich shop opened in August 2013. We weren’t able to reach the company to find out if another franchisee is being sought. One of West Seattle’s four remaining Subways, the one at Jefferson Square, is listed as looking for another operator.
(Photo of past WSFB dropoff turkey drive at Easy Street)
Here are three ways to share your bounty, if you can, by donating turkeys to the West Seattle Food Bank:
West Seattle Food Bank is having their first of two Turkey Drives this Saturday, 11/12 from 10 am – 2 pm at West Seattle Thriftway [4201 SW Morgan]. We’re looking for donations of either a 10 – 12 lb. turkey or $15 to cover the cost of over 300 turkeys and fixings that we will purchase to distribute to our neighbors in need, so they can have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with their families.
Our second Turkey Drive will be next Thursday, 11/17 at Easy Street Café on California & Alaska from 4 – 7 pm. You can just drive by, toss us the turkey or money, and keep on driving if you’d like!
Donations will also be accepted anytime Monday – Friday from 9 am – 3 pm at the West Seattle Food Bank on the corner of 35th & Morgan
A new coffee option is about to open north of Morgan Junction, sharing space with Harry’s Chicken Joint.
What had been Harry’s Coffee Joint (until last May) on the south side of the space at 6032 California SW will become a new location of QED Coffee.
QED’s Matt Greenfield tells WSB, “I was a barista at Caffe Fiore in the Admiral District from 2011-2014, and absolutely love serving the folks of West Seattle. I had started QED in my friend’s garage as a wholesale roaster, and we were able to open our first cafe in the Mt. Baker neighborhood in 2015. Having a place in WS to share our coffees has been a long-term goal, and we are so happy to have an opportunity to share the space with Bruce. We now roast in SoDo.”
Opening day is next Wednesday (November 16th). Hours will be 6 am-2 pm Mondays-Fridays, 7 am-3 pm Saturdays-Sundays. Along with the coffee, you’ll find Macrina Bakery pastries, Bread & Bone breakfast sandwiches, Nuflours‘ gluten-free items, organic juices from Columbia Gorge, and, on the weekends, Mighty-O Donuts.
12:39 PM: After multiple messages about a power outage at the Target store at Westwood Village – one that wasn’t showing on the Seattle City Light map – we went over to investigate. A manager tells us the store lost power after closing last night. It now has partial power, and is open for business, but some of the lights aren’t on, and they’re not able to run the freezers in the grocery section, so you can’t buy frozen food. They’re not yet sure how soon this will be fixed – they have an electrician continuing to investigate.
5:07 PM: Passing by between stories, we note that the lights appear to be back to normal, including exterior signage. (If you shop there tonight and find out otherwise, please let us know – we won’t be able to check until later – thank you.)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
If you go to The Junction before day’s end, you’ll see flags lining the street in the heart of the business district. They’re there thanks to the work of community volunteers led by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160. It was an all-ages effort:
As they say, many hands make light work, and even if you weren’t there this morning, you can help with the 4 pm takedown – meet outside the Campbell Building on the NE corner of California/Alaska. And not long after that – as previewed here – Post 160 hosts its annual free Veterans Day spaghetti dinner for veterans, active-duty servicepeople, Guard and Reserve members and families, 5:30-7 pm, 3618 SW Alaska.
Thanks to Alex Anderson for sharing the photo of this morning’s sunrise, taken from the low bridge during his bike ride to work. Here are our calendar highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
VETERANS DAY FLAGS: Community volunteers joined American Legion Post 160 in placing flags in The Junction this morning; this afternoon at 4 pm, you are invited to help take the flags down. Meet by the Campbell Building. (NE corner of California/Alaska)
VETERANS DAY DINNER: Veterans, active-duty servicepeople, Guard and Reserve members, and families are invited to Post 160’s free spaghetti dinner, 5:30-7 pm. (3618 SW Alaska)
VETERANS DAY CAKE: Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) offers veterans who dine there for lunch or dinner today a free slice of white-chocolate-mousse cake and a $20 gift card for their next visit. Full details here. (1936 Harbor SW)
VETERANS DAY DISCOUNT: From Mission Cantina co-proprietor Shawn Padilla:
Mission Cantina, as a business owned by veteran, minority, & woman partners, would like to honor all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Today we are offering 50 percent off a dinner entree from 6 10 pm. We thank you for your service!
~ 1SG Padilla (RET) & Mission Team
(2325 California SW)
DINE-OUT BENEFIT: Also at Mission Cantina tonight, 6-10 pm, a dine-out benefit: “Ms. Delacour (Alki Elementary K/1 Teacher) and her twin brother’s birthday is 11/11. Ben was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in June. Mission Cantina will donate to the Delacour Family Cancer Fund 20 percent of your bill if you say you are ‘Dining out for the Delacour Family’!” (2325 California SW)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART & GIFT SHOW: Opens tonight, 5-8 pm at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall. See our calendar listing for the lineup of who will be showing and selling their work. (9140 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE BENEFIT: Ticket sales have ended but if you have yours and need a reminder, 6-9 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, it’s the West Seattle Helpline “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” dinner and auction. (9131 California SW)
STUDENT MUSICIANS: West Side Music Academy students will be performing at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘ALTERNATIVE EASTERN EUROPEAN ROCK’: That’s how Parliament Tavern describes tonight’s bands, Red Sea and General Vicinity. 9 pm. $5 cover; 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
PREVIEW THE WEEKEND … via our complete calendar.
9 PM: Thanks to the readers who shared information that the missing boy has been found, including this note from Aviation High School‘s principal:
I am happy to report that Josiah Hokanson has been located in Portland, OR and safely reunited with his family. I know we are all very relieved that he has been found. As a parent, I can only imagine what the family was going through these past few days.
Thank you to everyone who prayed, pitched in, and helped in any small way. I know the family has appreciated everyone’s efforts. Parents and students, hug each other tonight – no moment is too small to take advantage of.
EARLIER – 9:47 AM: Read More
The report and photo are from Sarah:
I just wanted to let you know that my car and the car parked next to me had our windows smashed and items taken in the Admiral Safeway parking lot. It was between 5:30-6:15 am. They do not seem to have rifled thru anything – just broke through 1 window and grabbed whatever was close. Good reminder to keep your car clean and empty :(
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Here’s what you need to know this morning:
*Schools closed
*Metro on “reduced weekday” service
*No West Seattle Water Taxi service
*”Parking holiday” in neighborhoods with city pay stations
*Washington State Ferries plans moment of silence at 11:11 am, followed by a horn-blowing salute
WEEKEND ROAD WORK: SDOT is tentatively planning to close lower Spokane St. east of the low bridge tonight through Sunday morning, unless rain forces the work to be cancelled. Here are the specifics.
We were asked about a “loud boom” heard in the 35th/Avalon vicinity after 2 am. Mystery to us until we received this e-mail from another area resident:
It’s about 2 am right now and a few moments ago, I heard a loud bang. I looked out my window (down onto SW Avalon Way) and saw two individuals (one male and one female both in their teens or 20’s) walking along the sidewalk. The male was actively trying to conceal something in his jacket. I saw a cloud of smoke move along the street. The two walked further down SW Avalon Way and then stopped and I promptly saw sparks light up on a tree. Shortly after, sparks flew out like fireworks. The two continued walking down SW Avalon Way.
Yes, that IS something to report to 911. Whether or not they have an officer to send out, at least the information could solve the mystery for other callers.
West Seattle Nursery‘s new greenhouse building has been taking shape at California SW/SW Brandon, and now it’s almost ready to be shown off. WSN is starting to move in, and has announced: “The first chance for the general public to see it will be at our annual Holiday Open House on November 19, from 2 – 5 pm. We’re celebrating with good food, fun activities and pictures with Santa.” (Full details here.) Work on WSN’s expansion (designed by LD Arch Design and built by Ventana Construction, both West Seattle-headquartered and both WSB sponsors) started in October of last year; the plan was announced in spring 2014.
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