West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
Thanks to those who sent us photos of another submarine sighting off Alki Point this afternoon – this photo is from Bruce Easter. Identifying a submarine is not as easy (for the non-expert, anyway) as identifying other types of Navy vessels, so we don’t know which one this was. Fewer submarines are homeported in Bremerton than in Bangor on Hood Canal, but passing subs aren’t necessarily homeported there – it’s also a base for maintenance and decommissioning.
Caroling in The Junction! @wsja pic.twitter.com/87J0m7aopQ
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 16, 2016
Tonight’s second-to-last Shop Late Thursday in The Junction kicked off with an extra-festive feature … Emerald City Voices, caroling along California. One of the stores open late tonight is Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), with a pop-up in the loft, featuring two artists with cool gift possibilities – you have to see the eco-wearables by Shino Mikami of Uzura:
And cards and wearables by Claire Jauregui of Orange Twist:
Click’s open until 9 tonight – with treats in the loft, too – go shop! And while you’re in The Junction, you can also shop Thunder Road Guitars (4736 California SW: WSB sponsor) until 8 tonight. Lots of Hometown Holidays happenings in the days and nights ahead – highlights here!
Two burglary attempts and a reindeer are in West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
5400 BLOCK FAUNTLEROY: Rasmus sent the photo and report:
Early this morning, someone tried breaking into our home office via the alley on the 5400 block. They got as far as popping out our screen, but gave up when our window self-locked after about an inch. Still, they were brave enough to enter our apartment parking lot, to get to the window.
I’d encourage everyone in the area to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious, possibly casing and targeting apartments in the area. We did report it to the police, case number 16-449387.
Later, they learned their neighbor’s car had been broken into overnight.
39TH AND JUNEAU: Brandon reports a break-in attempt around 9:45 am: “They saw me in the window and turned around; I went out to the back deck and yelled ‘HEY’ and they took off running … hopefully people keep a look out and these kids get caught.” He did get a look at the would-be intruders, describing them as “young black males, probably around 16 years old, one of them had a Seahawks beanie, but they were all wearing beanies and jackets and all had backpacks on.” He was filing a police report.
And just in:
STOLEN DECORATION? Kelly e-mailed to report, “There is a lighted Rudolph reindeer with a Santa hat Christmas decoration that was thrown in my front yard — Admiral area — I have no idea where it came from but would love to reunite it with its owner!” She sent this photo:
Know of anyone whose Rudolph got removed?
The photo and report are from Karen Chilcutt:
Today, December 15th, is Bill of Rights Day!! Members of the West Seattle Democratic Women are distributing copies of the Bill of Rights, bumper stickers, and buttons provided by the American Civil Liberties Union at both the White Center Food Bank and Samway Market in White Center. WSDW wants everyone to know that materials are also available at Cupcake Royale in the West Seattle Junction.
Rachel Glass, WSDW’s Vice Chair, said: “Given the concerns, confusion and fear expressed by many Americans as a result of the change in political climate, WSDW thought it especially important that people be aware of their rights.”
Other participating members of West Seattle Democratic Woman braving the freezing weather in support of this cause were Elizabeth Heath, Lynne Ingalls, Flora Belle Key, Theresa McCormick and Mike Wald. Peggy Abby, WSDW member and local artist crafted the signs used.
A beautiful sight in a West Seattle backyard brought holiday cheer to “Awesome Avery” Berg and her family. We have reported before – here and here – on Avery, who was diagnosed with brain cancer just as she prepared to start middle school this fall. The photo and update are from friend Kelly Malloy:
She begins her second round of chemo today – and the community surprised the family on Tuesday by showing up in their back yard with candles and holiday songs to sing. Her dear friends Liza and Rachel coordinated this and it was AWESOME. (like Awesome Avery)
Caroling at Avery’s and seeing (at least) 50 people in her back yard was mind blowing, inspiring, brilliant, sweet, and just another reflection of the fabulous community of West Seattle.
Avery’s mom Kristie has continued to post updates from time to time here.
The Southwest Design Review Board‘s next meeting on January 5th now has a second project.
We already reported a month ago that the Arbor Heights plan for 9 live-work units at 4220 SW 100th would go before the board that night (6:30 pm, Senior Center/Sisson Building). It’s an Early Design Guidance hearing but this concept rendering of the project is already in the file:
The formal notice of that hearing finally appeared in the Land Use Information Bulletin today.
What’s not in the bulletin yet – but has just been added to the Design Review website – is an 8 pm hearing that same night (January 5th) for 3039 SW Avalon Way. This is the second and potentially final review for the six-story, 71-unit, 20-offstreet-parking-space project. Here’s our report on its first review back in February. The “packet” for this review is not in the system yet but will eventually be linked here.
The Southwest District Council is asking the city for an extra half-year to deal with the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) rezoning plans.
That’s part of what happened when the SWDC met Tuesday night – postponed from last week, when the city scheduled its rezoning-and-more “open house” (WSB coverage here) on the district council’s longstanding regular meeting night.
Here’s the text of the resolution passed by SWDC members:
The Southwest District Council requests a six-month extension to the HALA proposal, prior to the (Environmental Impact Statement) submittal, to accommodate necessary outreach, assimilation, and planning so that alternative draft zoning proposals can be developed, and in order to have design charrettes take place for the following urban villages: West Seattle Junction, Admiral Junction, and Morgan Junction.
As we’ve been reporting since October, four West Seattle “urban villages” are among the areas of the city where upzoning is planned as part of what the mayor calls Mandatory Housing Affordability – giving builders/developers additional capacity, while requiring them to build a percentage of their projects as “affordable” units, or else pay into a fund that will pay for it to be built somewhere else in the city.
One of those UVs, Westwood-Highland Park, has already had a “design charrette” organized by the city to talk about and look at specifics of its plan, but the city is currently not planning similar events for the three UVs mentioned in the SWDC resolution. And the overall concern is that most current residents potentially affected by this still don’t know about it, as there’s been no direct, clear messaging from the city about the proposed zoning changes.
Also at Tuesday’s SWDC meeting, three items that you might call operational.
(Western Grebe, photographed by Mark Wangerin. Curious about its leg? Read this.)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
DINE OUT FOR LAFAYETTE: 3-10 pm at Chipotle in The Junction, part of the proceeds benefit Lafayette Elementary. (4730 California SW)
TINKERLAB: With the High Point Library temporarily closed, Southwest Library is the place to go for today’s Tinkerlab drop-in session, focused on Finch Robots. 3:30-5 pm. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
CIRCLE OF SINGLES: 5 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). Event for singles 60+. (1936 Harbor SW)
SHOP LATE THURSDAY AT CLICK! Many Junction shops are open later than usual tonight – among them, longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits, with a special pop-up event in its loft – details here. (4540 California SW)
CAROLING IN THE JUNCTION: Join in holiday songs while you’re shopping The Junction tonight – meet up with Emerald City Voices at 6 pm at Junction Plaza Park “to join in a stroll around the Junction. You’ll be stopping at local businesses to sing the season with holiday cheer,” as part of Hometown Holidays. (42nd SW/SW Alaska)
DENNY CONCERT: Postponed last week because of weather, the Denny International Middle School winter band/orchestra concert is happening tonight, 6:30 pm at Chief Sealth International HS Auditorium. (2600 SW Thistle)
WSHS CONCERT: The West Seattle High School Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra are performing their Winter Concert tonight, 7 pm, in the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
ORCA TALK: The Southern Resident Killer Whales’ situation is more precarious than ever. Tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), The Whale Trail‘s first Orca Talk of the season brings you Lynne Barre from NOAA Fisheries with the latest on their status. Our preview includes ticket info – check to see if there’s room. (5612 California SW)
SHAKE THINGS UP: The monthly Alauda bellydancing showcase at The Skylark is at 7:30 tonight. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LOTS MORE … for today and tonight – just check our complete calendar here.
(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)
6:30 AM: The main weather word is “cold,” says the National Weather Service. Two more notes:
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: If you travel through the stadium zone – be aware that it’s game night, Seahawks hosting the Rams, 5:25 pm. Here’s the SDOT alert.
SECOND-TO-LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Tomorrow is the last day before winter break for Seattle Public Schools (and most independent schools). SPS will be out an hour early on Friday.
7:36 AM: Commenter mentions backup on the low bridge.
8 AM: Automobile rescue call at 16th/Florida on Harbor Is.
8:20 AM: The location has been corrected to 13th/Florida (map).
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