West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
POSSIBLE GUNFIRE: We’ve received multiple reports of what sounded like gunfire in the past hour in the Westwood area, heard around 25th SW and SW Trenton. One person told us that when they called 911, they were told others had called. All we can say so far is we haven’t heard of any victim(s) nor any scanner discussion of evidence – but as at least one recent report reminds us, that doesn’t always emerge immediately.
CAR HIT BY BULLET: Speaking of time lags, we have just received a reader report of an incident almost two weeks ago. The victims say they were headed westbound on the bridge November 27th, around 6:05 pm, when it happened, and they are looking for witnesses. A car behind them shot at theirs, they say: “The first bullet missed us from behind and the second bullet hit our rear passenger door and the bullet shattered the automated Locking System, just stopping before hitting one of us. The car who was behind us had been driving erratically and exited the Harbor Avenue exit while we were still heading toward the Admiral exit. This is where the second shot hit our car. This has been reported to the police but they don’t have enough information to find the car or the person who did it. The car from where the shots were fired was a white older Camaro with a black stripe on the center of the hood. Driver was a Caucasian male around 20s-30s, perhaps dark hair and was wearing a dark jacket.” If you have any information, contact police and refer to incident 2016-435079.
CAR PROWLED: From a car-prowl victim in Sunrise Heights:
On Wednesday (12/8) afternoon at about 3:00 pm, a couple were out walking their dog in the Sunrise Heights neighborhood and noticed a man in his early 20s, possibly Hispanic, rifling through a car on 30th between Holden and Webster. Once the car prowler realized he was being watched he jumped into a silver Honda Civic ~2010, license plate AZK2—, driven by a white female in her early 20s. A police report has been filed.
Meet Virginia Carmichael, who turned 100 today! We photographed her early this week, to accompany this tribute from her family:
Virginia has resided in Seattle since 2004. That year she moved from the Northern California foothill town of Paradise.
Virginia’s family will honor her tomorrow at the West Seattle home of her eldest daughter, Susan Madrid. She celebrated at The Kenney with her fellow residents at the monthly group birthday gathering this past Monday.
Virginia’s immediate family includes a second daughter, Alice Turner from Chico, California, and two grandchildren, Leslie Harlow (Greg) from Renton and Richard Stichler (Diane) from Ringgold, Georgia. Her great-grandchildren are teenagers Anna and Sarah Harlow and young adults Evan and Jarrett Stichler.
Virginia was born near Auburn in south King County in 1916. Her maternal/paternal extended families lived and worked in the Tacoma area.
When she was 3, her immediate family moved to California, eventually settling in Stockton, where she attended school and lived until she and her husband, James Carmichael, whom she married in 1939, retired in the mid 1970s. James died in 2002.
Virginia owned a knit shop in Stockton. She is accomplished in all forms of needlework and sewing, using these skills to be successful in her business. She still knits baby sweaters and afghans that are donated to WestSide Baby. Her guilty pleasures are watching “Curious George” on PBS and Rocky Road ice cream.
(Photo courtesy NOAA)
Their appearances are thrilling … their predicament, alarming. Get the latest about our local orcas next Thursday when The Whale Trail‘s first Orca Talk of the season features NOAA Fisheries’ Lynne Barre talking about “Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales: Species in the Spotlight.” Tickets are available now for the 7 pm December 15th event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor).
Last year NOAA Fisheries launched the Species in the Spotlight initiative focused on stabilizing the populations of eight endangered species at very high risk of extinction. Southern Residents are one of the Species in the Spotlight.
With this effort NOAA is marshaling resources and focusing on partnerships to turn around the decline towards extinction and support conservation of endangered species. Lynne will highlight some recent recovery and conservation efforts for Southern Resident killer whales called for in the Species in the Spotlight Action Plan.
This is the first of the 2016/17 Orca Talk series hosted by The Whale Trail in West Seattle, with help from Seal Sitters. Join us to celebrate the seasonal return of the orcas to local waters, and do some holiday shopping too!
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry! This will likely sell out.
Speaker Lynne Barre is the Branch Chief for Marine Mammals and Puget Sound Species for NOAAs Protected Resources division in Seattle. She has been with the agency for more than 15 years, implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. Since 2003 she has worked on the endangered listing of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, designated critical habitat, developed and finalized a recovery plan, and implemented actions to conserve and recover the whales. As part of the recovery program, she developed an oil -spill response plan and protective regulations for killer whales in Washington.
Tickets are $5 (suggested donation), kids free – get yours now at brownpapertickets.com.
(WSB reader photo by Candace from Christmas Ship’s past visit)
In case you haven’t seen it yet in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, tomorrow’s the big day/night – the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship makes three stops in West Seattle (3:25 pm at Lowman Beach, 4:10 pm at Alki Beach Park, 9:05 pm at Salty’s [WSB sponsor]). And when it visits Alki, there’s lots of holiday fun in addition to the shipboard Dickens Carolers serenading those on shore and on board. Just got this from Therese:
Family fun at Alki Bathhouse tomorrow Saturday 12/10! Live music including sing-along caroling combined with the Argosy Cruise Christmas Ship, and beverages and treats provided by Alki Community Center/Seattle Parks Department. Here’s the schedule:
3:30-3:50 Endolyne Children’s Choir
3:50-4:10 Band leads caroling
4:10-4:30 Christmas Ship (all head to the water’s edge to listen to on-board carolers)
4:30-4:40 Band leads a couple carols
4:40-5:00 Seattle Lutheran band
5:00-5:10 Band leads a couple carols
And just before the Christmas Ship’s arrival on Alki, you’re invited to a holiday celebration on the porch at the historic Log House Museum, 2-4 pm at 61st SW/SW Stevens – more information is on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society website.
(Rendering by strong>Hewitt, from September Design Review meeting)
As we’ve been reporting since last summer, PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) will have a new, bigger store in the mixed-use development that is being built on the site of its current location. Today, PCC VP Heather Snavely has this update on the timeline:
This summer we announced that our West Seattle location will be redeveloped and, as a result, temporarily close in early 2017. We’re pleased to share that, based on the current development schedule, the store will remain open into May 2017.
We’re happy that we could be part of the holiday season this year with the West Seattle community, and will provide more details on timing of the closure as they solidify.
PCC is and will continue to be a tenant at 2749 California SW in The Admiral District; the site was bought by Madison Development Group, which is planning a four-story building with 110+ apartments. The project passed the first phase of Design Review three months ago and has at least one more review meeting to go, no date set yet.
Thanks to Mel for the photo of her kids Daizha and Bryson with their snowperson in Highland Park. We have a few other snow-day photos interspersed with our Friday preview here – first, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
SEE SANTA AT HOMESTREET BANK: HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) “is throwing a Holiday Celebration at its West Seattle branch where photos with Santa are complimentary with a donation to the West Seattle Food Bank. Hot cider and cookies will be served.” 3-6 pm. “HomeStreet welcomes locals to come say hello to Santa and celebrate in the holiday season. Bank representatives are available at your request for questions or interviews.” (4022 SW Alaska)
LIGHT SHOW: Holiday light show tonight at 7 pm at Ounces in North Delridge. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
(Snowy Alki! Photo by Paul Walchenbach)
POSADA NAVIDENA: You are invited to celebrate at the Posada Navideña at Denny International Middle School, 6:30 pm: “Fun-filled cultural night with food, music from Banda Vagos, and cultural activities.” All welcome; free. (2601 SW Kenyon)
CONCERT: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphony Orchestra performs Winter Folk Tales! “Come hear our top orchestra perform classic favorites based on folk tunes, including Ruslan & Ludmilla Overture (Glinka), Peer Gynt Suite (Grieg), Rumanian Folk Dances (Bartok), and Karelia Suite (Sibelius). No need to go off our West Seattle peninsula to hear great music!” 7:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, FREE, donations accepted. (2600 SW Thistle)
MIRACLE ON 34th STREET: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play.” Performance tonight at 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link or before the show at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
See MUCH more for tonight, this weekend, and beyond, in our Holiday Guide!
(Snowperson fun in Gatewood – photo sent by Charis)
Now, from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and archives:
“BOBCAT BOB”: See Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
GIBBOUS MOON WALK: At Lincoln Park with naturalist Stewart Wechsler, 7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS hosts Ingraham at 8:30 tonight in the WSHS gym (3000 California SW) … Chief Sealth IHS hosts Cleveland at 8:30 tonight in the CSIHS gym (2600 SW Thistle).
UKULELE MADNESS: The Castaways perform tonight at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
ST. JOHN & THE REVELATIONS: 9 pm at Whisky West in Morgan Junction. 21+. (6451 California SW)
3 BANDS … at The Skylark in North Delridge, 9 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
To say that emotions ran high at last night’s meeting about the city’s plan for an authorized encampment on Myers Way is an understatement.
Led by George Scarola, the city’s director of homelessness, the meeting included an invited group of about 40 concerned neighborhood advocates, and escalated into raised voices and statements of clear dissatisfaction with the city, one week after Mayor Murray’s announcement of three new encampments around the city, including this one.
In an overview of the homeless problem citywide, Scarola said there were 3,000 unsheltered people on the streets of Seattle as he spoke, and even more if you counted those in shelters. Countywide, he said 10,000 are homeless, 4,500 of those unsheltered. “Something different is happening,” he said of the problem. “It’s a phenomenon that has become common.”
The city’s plan, he said, is to get homeless people only what they need as fast as possible – not a “Cadillac” but to get them sheltered. The city is working with various non-profit organizations to become more effective in solving this dilemma. In the meantime, the city needs to address those 3,000 people, without them living in parks, on school grounds or on sidewalks.
Folks living on the edge – under freeways, on the edge of parks – will be asked to move and given 72 hours to do so, Scarola said, with the offer of a warm place to stay. Camp Second Chance, which moved to the city-owned Myers Way Parcels last July, is currently unsanctioned, but is slated to be one of three new sanctioned homeless encampments within the city. 20 tents are there now; the city says 50 will be added. Rules would apply – it would be a clean and sober community, as its organizers say it is now. People would be allowed to bring partners and pets. Read More
(WHERE HAS SDOT PLOWED/SANDED/SALTED? Go here. IS METRO RE-ROUTING? Go here. SCHOOL INFO: Scroll down)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
ORIGINAL REPORT 5:31 AM: Good morning! After a snowy night, schools are opening late today:
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 hours late, buses on snow routes (full details here)
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS:
Explorer West Middle School 10 am start
Westside School 10 am start
Our Lady of Guadalupe 10:30 am start
Holy Rosary 10:25 am start
Hope Lutheran (see comment): Students should arrive 10:15-10:30
Holy Family: 10 am start
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: Opening at 10 am
editor@westseattleblog.com with your school update – thanks!
TRANSIT: Metro says many routes are delayed. (See comments below for bus riders’ reports.)
ROADS: Side streets are the main challenge, but you might encounter slickness anywhere. It’s above freezing now, but not by much.
6:53 AM: We are continuing to update the school list. Also of note, the forecast: The “winter weather advisory” is set to expire at 8 am. Here’s the overnight “forecast discussion” (next one due around 9 am, same link).
7:11 AM: This is the kind of situation you might encounter on non-arterials:
Kevin Freitas tweeted that photo: “Truck stuck SW 36th Ave, Alaska/Edmunds. They service The Mount & have to back in to their loading dock. Not today.”
7:57 AM: Thanks to Nick for this note, also mentioned in comments: “There’s a jackknifed 56 bus in the middle of Admiral, just before Admiral and California, on the hill down by the green belt.”
9:04 AM: Remember, schools are running late this morning, so you’ll see school buses, walkers, riders in the next hour or so that you usually wouldn’t at this time of day. While the main roads are mostly bare, still snow off the roads. Here’s Junction Plaza Park:
Just in from the Seattle Public Library:
Branch locations of The Seattle Public Library regularly open today, Friday, Dec. 9, will have a delayed start of noon due to the snow. The Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., will open at its 10 a.m. regular time.
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