West Seattle, Washington
07 Wednesday
Three reader reports:
BURGLARY ATTEMPT: Cozbi on SW Dakota north of The Junction says this happened around 7 tonight:
Heard footsteps of person walking up to front door (I could hear them lingering and breathing heavy once onto the stoop. The peephole was open and you could see into the movie we were watching; lights on in the house and all.) They opened screen door and we heard/saw them messing with door handle but door was locked. They closed the screen door and then, seemingly, body slammed the door two maybe three times. Then I heard them grunt a little and walk down the steps leaving.
Police was called and a report filed when they paid a visit to check it all out. They assume attempted burglary. Seemed very odd for a prank and we have no enemies. Wood screen door is all cracked and broken.
Lock your doors! Keep your eyes open and report even odd occurrences if they are out of place!
GARAGE INTRUDER: From Andrew:
A couple of days ago, we had a random guy tailed a neighbor and drove into our condo garage. He spent 20 to 30 mins wondering around the garage looking for things to steal and used to break into cars. But before he could break into any cars, I walked into the garage and surprised him. I confronted him and he gave me some excuses about visiting someone in the building. None of the information he provided made sense as the unit number and name he gave doesn’t exist in our building. After a few minutes, he backed his car out of the garage and took off. I am hoping by sharing this with you, people in West Seattle can keep an eye out for this dude as he’s pretty brave or stupid for driving his car into our garage in the middle of the day. Below are some grainy pictures of him and a description of him and his car.
The break-in 12/13 @ 3:29 pm to 4:08 pm
Silver Nissan Altima 2007 to 2012 with tinted windows
License plate # ATN26–
No front plate but had a white sign with “car sales” sign and is missing the Nissan emblem on the front grill.The guy was white, around 5’9 to 6’0 tall, medium build with facial hair. Brownish hair. Wearing a black parka-type jacket with a black baseball cap.
FOUND BIKE: The unsigned report says, “While out walking our dog, my daughter and I found a Trek Antelope 820 mountain bike deep in the thorny bushes at the fish ladder overlook, above the Fauntleroy ferry.” Here’s the photo:
Still there at last report.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“There are some really good things happening.”
So declared West Seattle/South Park’s rep on the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors, its newly elected vice president Leslie Harris, as she assessed changes in the district, one year after her election changed her role from outsider to insider. Increased transparency, in particular, is one of the “good things” she’s happy about. She’s also glad for something small, yet big – the district home page finally has a button linking directly to the School Board section (it’s toward the upper right), whereas previously you had to click through several layers to find board info.
These observations came on Saturday afternoon, as Harris opened one of her periodic community-conversation meetings, this time at Delridge Library. She also was clear that not everything is rosy. Not at all. She also was clear she wasn’t complaining. “I asked for the job. It’s a very uncomfortable job.”
More than 15 people were there to hear Harris also address – and listen to concerns about – the district’s potential $74 million budget shortfall, and other issues, such as boundaries and the Student Assignment Plan that’s coming up for a board vote after “lots of things got dropped in at the last minute.”
One of those drop-ins: The district’s announcement that Chief Sealth International High School was to become part of the international-education pathway for students in the Southeast section of the city, not a popular decision. Sealth was chosen because other high schools’ principals didn’t feel they could handle it, Harris explained. She also acknowledged that the International Baccalaureate program, offered at a handful of high schools including Sealth, “has never been set up in a sustainable fashion for the extra money and the extra teachers and the more expensive course work …”
Harris’s introductory remarks were followed by attendees’ self-introductions, including what concerns had brought each person to the meeting. Most were from outside West Seattle and concerned about a controversy related to the assignment plan.
But first, back on the topic of pathways, one parent from West Seattle’s Louisa Boren STEM K-8 wondered what their pathway to high school will and should be. Read More
Until 9 tonight, the café side of Easy Street Records is transformed into a holiday-photo studio that’s nothing like your standard red-velvet-throne Santa scene. Cocoa Cris Cringle is there for his annual fun-and-fundraising photo sessions.
You can borrow hots and other props for your photo op with Cocoa Cris Cringle – or, just be yourself(ves):
$15 with a food or toy donation, or $20 without, is good for three photos sent to you, plus a hard copy printed right then and there. If you’re new ’round here and don’t know yet … Easy Street is on the northwest corner of California and Alaska in the historic Hamm Building, in the heart of The Junction.
(WSB photo)
With Christmas just a week away, we’ll be featuring lights every night. This one is a bit out of the way, so we wouldn’t have spotted it without a friend’s tip – we’re not sure if it’s an optical illusion or an atrium, but it appears the Christmas tree at this house is through the roof! After getting the tip, we went out for a look a short time ago. It’s on the east side of the 9600 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, a few blocks south of the ferry dock. And the street dead-ends a few doors down, so don’t head out in a big vehicle that will be tough to turn around. Some of the other homes on the street are brightly lit too, but nothing quite this out-of-the-box … er, house. Seen something unusual in YOUR neighborhood? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(December 2014 solstice-sunset-watch photo shared by Lori)
With a few days of below-freezing weather, you might forget that technically, winter hasn’t even started yet. It officially arrives at 2:44 am our time Wednesday (December 21st) – and hours later, Alice Enevoldsen will be at West Seattle’s Solstice Park for her quarterly sunset watch:
It’s time for the 31st seasonal sunset watch!
When: Wednesday, December 21 at 4:05 (so come at 3:45 pm)
Actual sunset is supposed to be at 4:20 pm, but we have noticed that the Sun sets about 10 minutes earlier than the USNO says, because of the horizon altitude.
Where: Solstice Park – all the way up the hill from the tennis courts (or, if you’re not in Seattle, wherever you have a view of the western horizon!)
Who: Everyone welcome, as usual. (Please do leash your dogs as we usually have a good number of people, kids, and other dogs around.)
Alice is a volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador and has been hosting solstice and equinox sunset watches as part of her commitment to community involvement and education. (They’re fun, too!)
That’s part of the coats-and-cocoa crew from today’s Hometown Holidays donation drive at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in The Junction – from left, Gareth from West Seattle Christian Church (which donated the cocoa), Theresa from the West Seattle Helpline (whose clothing bank Clothesline gets the donated coats), Shari from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle (whose booth hosted the drive), and Lennae from the West Seattle High School Key Club (one of the youth groups with which the Kiwanis works). According to Lora from the West Seattle Junction Association, preliminary count is more than 200 donated coats – triple last year!
Thanks to everyone who brought down one (or more).
P.S. Another reminder that this was the last Farmers’ Market until January 8th; it’ll be closed the next two Sundays for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Congratulations to the West Seattle Fury for what you could call a three-mendous achievement! “Their parents and families are all very proud of them and it is a proud moment for the West Seattle Soccer Club too,” says team manager Curtis Allan, who shares the story and photos:
The West Seattle Fury youth-soccer team just finished the fall season as league, city, and state champions, a rare recreational “treble” for the local boys’ team.
The Fury are led by head coach Todd Fraser, who started coaching his son Riley‘s coed U6 team back in 2006. The team has changed names a few times since then, but a core group of players has remained together throughout the years. The team is made up of players from all over West Seattle’s varied neighborhoods, but they are united by a common love of playing soccer. Nine of them currently attend Chief Sealth International High School, two each attend West Seattle and O’Dea, one Vashon, one Garfield, two at Denny International Middle School, and one is homeschooled.
The Fury finished the regular season on November 20th alone atop the table with a 9-1 record. It was their first time as uncontested Division Champions.
On Saturday December 17th they beat the McGilvra Marauders 2-0 in Shoreline to win the Seattle Youth Soccer City Tournament. It was their first ever win after finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 5th over the past three years.
Qualification for the Washington State Recreational Cup began in October. The Fury won all of their group stage matches and became District 3 Champions in Tacoma on November 19th.
On December 3rd they hosted the SnoKing Tornados in the quarterfinals, winning 4-0 at Delridge Playfield. Four different boys scored a goal.
On the morning of December 11th they arrived for the Rec Cup festivities at Starfire in Tukwila. With WSSC president Jamie Foulk and VP of players Tom Gass looking on from above, the Fury won their semifinal match 3-0 over the Bremerton Blue Sharks. Omar Barrera had a first half brace, while his brother Jorge added another in the 52nd.
That set up a sunset showdown with two-time state champions and heavy favorites Northshore Goal Rush. Despite going down a goal twice, the Fury battled back each time to tie with goals from forward Omar Barrera. Then in the 65th minute, the ball fell right to the left foot of their youngest player, Sebastian Vargas, who blasted it into the net for a 3-2 lead. Despite an attacking onslaught from the Northshore team over the last 25 minutes, the Fury held on to win the U17 State Championship for West Seattle.
The West Seattle Fury are:
Todd Fraser, head coach
JD Webster, assistant coach
Curtis Allan, team managerFraser Furious 4-3-3
#7 Jake Webster, F (captain)
#2 Omar Barrera Gonzalez, F
#11 Riley Fraser, F
#8 Nico Salazar Brown, F
#5 Gerald Aguila, F/CM
#19 Aidan Ritchie, F/MF
#9 Sebastian Vargas, LM
#6 Jorge Barrera Gonzalez, CM
#16 Shuai Lavielle, RM
#4 Gabriel Barajas Castro, MF
#10 Liam Zaknich, RM/F
#14 Isaac Ajeto, LM/LB
#12 Isaac Renz, FB/CB
#18 Kai Bretl, CB (def. captain)
#17 Noah Webster, CB
#13 Lance Allan Angeles, RB
#15 Logan Webster, LB/LM
#1 Jackson Visser, GK
Thanks to Megan K for the photo and report from Gatewood Hill, with encouragement for all their West Seattle neighbors to give to fight hunger:
A sincere thank you to all those who donated non-perishable food items to the West Seattle Food Bank last night! A big shoutout to our neighbor Patrick Shandy, for promoting the drive and collecting all the food. It’s never too late to donate; your contributions mean a lot :)
Many of the holiday events we have been spotlighting in our guide and daily previews have included food drives; the WSFB website also includes donation information.
9 AM: Thanks for the tip! A texter tells WSB an aircraft carrier is about to pass West Seattle, and MarineTraffic.com identifies it as the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), headed southbound. According to the Kitsap Sun, the Stennis was in Hawaii earlier this month for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack (more here).
9:37 AM: Thanks to Doug Greenswag for the photo above!
10:30 AM: And thanks to Don Bereiter (from WSB sponsor Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate) for the view from Port Orchard, above and below this line.
This was the second aircraft-carrier sighting from here in three days; the other carrier currently based at Bremerton, USS Nimitz, returned home early Thursday.
Here are possibilities for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
ARTS & CRAFTS AT C & P: Second day of C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, 8 am-2 pm. (Added) Even if you went on Saturday – different artists/crafters today – including India Spence:
(5612 California SW)
SANTA AT CAPERS: 9 am-noon, CAPERS in The Junction is open early for Santa photos. BYO camera; monetary donation to West Seattle Food Bank suggested. (4525 California SW)
JOEL EGGERT MEMORIAL RIDE AND COMMEMORATION CELEBRATION: Ride at 10 am from The Orient Express (2963 4th Ave. S.), celebration noon-6 pm at Slim’s Last Chance (5606 1st Ave. S.) – details are here along with Mr. Eggert’s obituary.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: 10 am at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor): “Come enjoy our youth group, Sunday school scholars and any visiting children who want to wear an angel costume as they present a production of A Mary Carol by Katherine Willis Pershey. This special service promises to be full of joy and spirit and in many cases, a surprise or two.” (3940 41st SW)
P.S. That’s from the Holiday Services section of our guide. It’s not too late for your church to send us dates/times/descriptions of what’s special between now and New Year’s – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
FINAL FARMERS’ MARKET OF 2016: 10 am-2 pm, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open for the last time this year, since the next two Sundays are Christmas and New Year’s Days. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
COCOA AND COAT DRIVE: 10 am-2 pm at the south end of the Farmers’ Market: “Join the Junction Association and West Seattle Kiwanis at the Farmers Market for a taste of the holidays and several activities to enjoy. Share warmth with those in need by donating a new or gently used coat. All coats donated to the West Seattle Helpline. Cocoa donated by West Seattle Christian Church.” (California/Alaska)
P.S. Santa’s House in The Junction is canceled today – Santa’s helper for the day has taken ill.
SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOURS: Some local independent businesses that aren’t open on Sundays most of the year WILL be open today. Two that we’ve heard from: Thunder Road Guitars (4736 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 11 am-4 pm today; Atomic Boys (4311 SW Admiral Way) is open 11 am-5 pm today.
SOUTHWEST STORIES: As previewed here Saturday, 2 pm at Delridge Library, Sheila Brown from Camp Long will talk about its 75th anniversary as well as the park’s past and future. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
METROPOLITAN SINGERS: The Seattle Metropolitan Singers will be performing “Beautiful December,” our annual holiday concert, at 3 pm. We are singing at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Suggested donation is $10 per person. We are also accepting winter clothing donations to benefit LifeWire, a domestic violence advocacy agency in the Seattle area. Refreshments to follow. (3050 California SW)
FINAL PERFORMANCE: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play.” Final performance today at 3:00 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)
FUN PHOTOS WITH COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: Cocoa Cris Cringle returns to Easy Street Records “for another round of fun holiday photos to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank! Tell Cocoa Cris if you’ve been naughty or nice, 4 pm-9 pm. $20, or $15 with non-perishable food or toy donation, includes 3 photos sent to you and hard copy printed on the spot!” (California/Alaska)
CHORAL CONCERT: Peace Lutheran and Fauntleroy Church choirs offer a second free concert of holiday music. 4 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
OPEN HOUSE: “Please join us for a Christmas Community Open House at West Side Presbyterian Church, 4-6 pm for light refreshments, festive music, and singing of Christmas carols.” (3601 California SW)
LIGHTS AND MUSIC IN SOUTH ADMIRAL: Just added to the Christmas Lights section of the Holiday Guide – more synchronized lights and music:
That’s at the same house where hundreds enjoy Skeleton Theater every Halloween season. Maia sent the photo and info: “We have synchronized our Christmas lights to music this year! The lights are programmed to a variety of different Christmas Carols and the synchronized show runs nightly from about 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The lights will still be on after 9:00 pm, but without the music and synchronized programming.” (36th SW/SW Hanford)
We’ll be spotlighting neighborhood lights nightly for the rest of pre-Christmas week – know of something special? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(WSB photo, added 10:41 am)
7:29 AM: Texter reports, “Water is pouring out of a manhole cover and into the street at 18th Avenue SW and SW Thistle Street (northeast corner).” Could be extra-dangerous since the temperature is still below freezing, so we wanted to let you know. They’re reporting it to Seattle Public Utilities (206-386-1800). We’ll check on it a bit later.
10:25 AM: As pointed out in comments, an SPU crew is at the scene, and some neighbors are without water; we just went by for a photo. 18th SW is closed north of Thistle.
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