year : 2018 3707 results

Tonight’s lights: Super-sized Santa hat

We have featured this display at 36th/Roxbury a few times in the past, but the photo and note from Megan were a reminder that it’s the season to see everything through fresh eyes – she and her family are new arrivals and this caught their attention while they were out looking at lights the other night. So thanks for the suggestions (with or without photos) – westseattleblog@gmail.com – one week until Christmas Eve! (See what we’ve shown previously by scrolling through this WSB archive section.)

One West Seattle project part of city’s announcement of $75 million for rental housing

The mayor’s announcement today of $75 million for “affordable” rental housing includes money for one West Seattle project that’s already been mentioned here multiple times, the new Transitional Resources apartments in the 2800 block of SW Yancy, not far from TR’s headquarters on Avalon Way. Back in September, TR’s CEO Darcell Slovek-Walker told WSB they’re proceeding with the project, saying they would soon be “submitting funding applications to develop up to 44 studio units in two buildings.” This city grant is apparently one result. The city announcement doesn’t include the specific award amounts but this Office of Housing document indicates TR requested $3.8 million. TR says the new building, replacing three old houses, “will serve adults in need of behavioral health treatment and support to live independently in permanent housing,” as with their other properties, which as of September provided housing to 85 people.

FOLLOWUP: The Kenney’s plans, with corner properties on the market

(WSB photos: One of the 46th/47th/Othello properties that’s for sale)

Last week we reported on the $5.2 million listing for properties owned by, and adjacent to, The Kenney (WSB sponsor). The site at 46th/47th/Othello was at one point under consideration for redevelopment as apartments. Since last week’s mention of the listing, we’ve received an update on The Kenney’s status and future plans from its operator Heritage Ministries:

The Kenney is currently affiliated with Heritage Ministries, a New York, not-for-profit provider of senior housing and services for the elderly. Heritage Ministries operates in four different states at 9 different locations including The Kenney in Seattle. The Kenney formally affiliated with Heritage just over 3 years ago after many years of financial struggles and 2 years of interim management under an agreement with Ontrack Solutions, a for-profit management company.

When The Kenney affiliated with Heritage in May of 2015, it had secured debt of $21.8 million and was losing over $3 million per year. As a result of the affiliation and under Heritage’s oversight, the overall secured debt now stands at under $15 million and annual losses have been drastically curtailed, but there is still work to be done.

With this new affiliation, The Kenney has begun taking steps to become a more viable, long-term retirement option for seniors in West Seattle. A significant step was taken earlier in 2018 when The Kenney ceased to operate skilled nursing beds at the location. According to President David Smeltzer, “The 20-bed skilled nursing unit was not a viable product. It was too small to be able to operate efficiently, was comprised primarily of semi-private rooms, and could not compete with larger facilities for the more profitable, short-term rehab portion of the business. We saw an opportunity to reduce operating losses while providing very similar care and services in our Lincoln Vista assisted living apartments which are all private units consisting of both efficiency and one-bedroom apartments. We now offer many of the same services in a much newer building and in a much nicer environment.”

The Kenney is now in the process of totally renovating the old skilled-nursing area along with another former assisted-living wing to create a much more appealing memory care unit that will also enable it to increase the number of residents served with these needs from 13 to 20 with more room to grow in the future. This space will also offer private rooms, larger dining and activities spaces, and an improved access to outdoor spaces.

In addition to these moves to improve the facility, The Kenney has been gutting and remodeling the older apartments in two original buildings, Seaview and Sunrise. When Heritage took over, many of these units did not even have kitchens. Under this new leadership, smaller efficiency apartments have been combined to make much more appealing two-bedroom and one-bedroom units.

In addition, The Kenney is also well into the process of constructing 5 new townhomes on the corner of Fauntleroy and SW Othello. They have been working with architects Shoesmith Cox, who designed the units and is leading the project through the City of Seattle permitting process. The Kenney is hopeful that construction on these homes will begin in 2019.

Two years ago, The Kenney held a meeting with community residents to discuss the townhome project as well as plans to build additional apartments on the corner of 47 Ave SW and SW Othello. However, with further analysis, Kenney management has determined that a more critical need for The Kenney is the continued improvement of its existing facilities and infrastructure. The revised plan calls for complete renovations of all existing buildings and apartments, the improved Memory Care unit referred to above, brand new elevators, and perhaps most importantly, a brand new dining facility to be built above the current Memory Care unit. This new dining facility will offer a variety of seating options with restaurant-style dining and provide a better flow of traffic through the facility for residents and guests alike.

President and CEO Smeltzer stated, “Due to the financial struggles The Kenney had prior to their affiliation with Heritage, The Kenney was unable to keep the facilities up to date and provide the
amenities which a retirement community in today’s market is expected to provide. We are working hard to overcome these obstacles to create a safe, secure, and appealing environment where seniors from West Seattle and beyond can find an affordable option for retirement with a continuum of vital services. We believe this can best be accomplished by accessing the capital that currently exists in the community rental properties on 47 Ave. SW and using it to bring The Kenney up to current standards while assuring that we maintain its rich history.”

The new townhomes at Fauntleroy/Othello were described at last July’s Morgan Community Association meeting. The skilled-nursing closure was first announced more than a year ago.

Should the Water Taxi charge extra for bicycles? Survey asks that and more

bikeswatertaxi(Photo courtesy Paul, taken aboard the Water Taxi during 2016 Viaduct closure)

Can’t tell how long it’s been in circulation, but a survey linked from the Water Taxi website has only three days left, and while it’s billed as a survey “to address bicycle capacity issues,” it includes questions of interest to all Water Taxi riders, not just those who bring bikes on board. One question asks whether the Water Taxi should charge extra for bicycles brought on board, and if you think so, how much. The county says the survey is open through Wednesday; you can start it here.

BNSF Railway making SODO lighting changes to resolve West Seattle-facing ‘brightness issue’

(WSB photo of BNSF SIG lights as seen pre-dusk from NB 99 earlier this fall)

This past summer, a change in the lighting at BNSF Railway‘s yard in SODO was glaringly obvious, so to speak, for some east-facing West Seattle residents. The railroad said in a Twitter exchange with one West Seattleite three months ago that it planned to make changes. Finally, those changes are being made. Max tipped us today that BNSF regional spokesperson Courtney Wallace had sent word that work is under way, and she confirmed to WSB:

We are installing a series of color filters that are meant to resolve the brightness issue and will be re-aiming the current fixtures. Work on the north side of our SIG yard has been completed by our environmental team. Filters will be applied to lights in the main SIG yard this Tuesday and Wednesday 12/18-12/19 and continuing on Friday. We hope to have the project complete by this weekend.

(SIG stands for Seattle International Gateway.) Though east-facing West Seattleites are used to port and bridge lighting, the brightness of these fixtures were described by multiple people we heard from as “light pollution.”

FOLLOWUP: Southwest Pool closure continues for power-outage-damage repair

December 17, 2018 11:55 am
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Southwest Pool closure continues for power-outage-damage repair
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Westwood

11:55 AM: As noted here over the weekend, Seattle Parks-owned Southwest Pool had to close because of damage caused during Friday night’s windstorm/power outage. The closure continues today, according to this newly posted update:

Until further notice this week, SW Pool is closed due to boiler heat exchanger damage during a power outage. A new system is being ordered Monday 12/17 and we will reopen as soon as we can.

The pool was one of 10,000-plus homes, businesses, and other buildings that lost power for hours when 50+-mph winds blew through on Friday night.

12:45 PM: Via Twitter, Seattle Parks says the pool is expected to reopen around 3 pm today. We’ll check on its status then.

6 for your West Seattle Monday

(Photo by Susan Romanenghi)

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:

GIVING TREE: Time’s ticking! Donate by Friday for families at Hickman House via the tree at CAPERS. (4525 California SW)

AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Library. This month’s title is “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey. (9010 35th SW)

WE 3 CAROLERS: Singing for shoppers tonight at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7:30 pm. (4201 SW Morgan)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)

HAM JAM: Newly licensed amateur-radio operator? As previewed here Sunday, this is for you. 5:45-7:15 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)

RIPPIN CHICKEN: 9:30 pm, Rippin Chicken performs at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

UPDATE: Kitchen fire in Morgan Junction

10:17 AM: Seattle Fire says the “fire in building” callout at Cal-Mor Circle in Morgan Junction (the cylindrical apartment building at 6420 California SW) is a kitchen fire. They’re on scene “working to extinguish” it.

10:24 AM: Fire is reported to be “tapped” (out).

Time to bake cookies for The Christmas People!

If you’re doing some holiday baking this week – a little extra can go a long way. The Christmas People are gearing up for their free community Christmas dinner in West Seattle, and for delivering hundreds more meals to people in need.

To make those meals merrier, they are looking for 3,400 homemade cookies! If you can bake some and drop them off, they’ll be at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction (4736 40th SW) every day from Saturday (December 22) through Christmas Day, 9 am-3:30 pm. Questions? Fred Hutchinson at 206-719-4979, pialley@jps.net.

P.S. They’re also inviting kids to a party there on Saturday, 1-3 pm, to decorate cookies and aprons and make holiday crafts.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch; first day for Ride2

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:06 AM: Good morning. No traffic incident or transit alerts so far for our area.

NEW SERVICE STARTS: Today is the first day that Ride2 is serving part of West Seattle, as announced last week. Here’s how it works, including where and when.

8:09 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent this pic of a Ride2 van on standby in North Delridge:

If you try it – today or someother time soon – we’d be interested in hearing from you.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspected gunfire in Riverview

Multiple texters report calling 911 after hearing suspected gunfire in the Riverview area about half an hour ago. One also mentions hearing “a fleeing vehicle.” No reports of shooting victim(s), nor are we hearing anything about police finding evidence of gunfire (casings, damage) so far.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Package tampering

With Christmas a little more than a week away, delivery drivers and mail carriers will be busier than ever. And so will thieves. Thomas reports this happened late this afternoon:

We’re just north of the Morgan Junction on 46th and … had a couple packages rummaged through on our porch. Both packages were roughly cut open. Nothing taken, but they were not valuable items. No video unfortunately, but whoever did it is obviously following the driver around as we were out of the house for less than 40 minutes.

If you’re expecting a package via USPS, note this comment from earlier today, saying Westwood-based carriers will be out delivering them earlier than usual this week.

VIDEO: West Seattle Runner’s 2018 Christmas Light Run

December 16, 2018 8:22 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: West Seattle Runner’s 2018 Christmas Light Run
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Our video shows the start of tonight’s Christmas Light Run, as participants headed north from West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) in The Admiral District. It’s a holiday-season tradition – this was the 9th annual CL Run! – with the route scouted out every year by proprietors Lori McConnell and Tim McConnell:

Here’s the route they traveled tonight. The outbound end is usually West Seattle Lights (the synched-to-music display at 3908 SW Charlestown), and the McConnells encourage donation to WSL’s chosen charities, including the West Seattle Food Bank.

P.S. Another big event at West Seattle Runner this week – 6:30 pm Wednesday (December 19th), you’re invited to the next info night for the early 2019 edition of Get Fit, West Seattle, a free couch-to-half-marathon program – details are in our calendar listing.

Tonight’s lights: Illuminated greenery on 44th

December 16, 2018 7:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Tonight’s lights: Illuminated greenery on 44th
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Continuing to spotlight local lights of note: We noticed this house, on the west side of 44th SW between Lander and Stevens, when visiting the nearby Lafayette Elementary display last night. The green-lit greenery is especially eye-catching. Several other houses on the block, including one right next door, are worth a look too.

Got lights to suggest? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks! See what we’ve shown already by scrolling through this WSB archive section.

HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle’s coolest Santa photos, with Cocoa Cris Cringle @ Easy Street Records

December 16, 2018 4:56 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: West Seattle’s coolest Santa photos, with Cocoa Cris Cringle @ Easy Street Records
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: Looking for something to do now that the football game is over? Go visit Cocoa Cris Cringle at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska), visiting this evening for his annual photo sessions raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank.

($20 suggested donation.) He’ll be there until 8 tonight.

MONDAY: West Seattle Amateur Radio Club hosting ‘Ham Jam’

December 16, 2018 3:26 pm
|    Comments Off on MONDAY: West Seattle Amateur Radio Club hosting ‘Ham Jam’
 |   West Seattle news

The photo and announcement of tomorrow’s “Ham Jam Session” are from the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club, via Jim Edwards:

The past two Mondays, West Seattle Amateur Radio Club has hosted the new Hams in the area at the West Seattle Senior Center for an in-person session during our weekly radio check-in (every Monday night at 6:30) on the West Seattle Repeater W7AW. Input frequencies, output frequencies, and PL tones can all be intimidating terms, and every brand of radio has a different way to program them. Pressing that big button on the left side of the radio and knowing your voice will be broadcast throughout the entire Puget Sound Basin is somewhat daunting as well. So these “post-license test” sessions have been intended to introduce the nicknamed KJ7s to their radio operation and on-air etiquette. The FCC passes out licenses in systemic order, so all the new hams in this most recent class have license call signs starting with the prefix and region code of KJ7.) There will be one more Ham Jam Session this Monday the 17th, for any new hams, or anyone who has received a license previously, but hasn’t figured how to program that darn radio yet.

Monday, December 17
5:45 to 7:15 pm
West Seattle Senior Center / Nelson Room
4217 SW Oregon St
Upstairs and to your right.

For more information on amateur radio here in West Seattle visit westseattlearc.org

West Seattle holiday scene: First year for Lafayette’s lights

Despite some damage from Friday night’s windstorm, Lafayette Elementary‘s first-ever Winter Festival of Lights was a success. We stopped by last night and parent volunteer Sarah Whitehead, who came up with the idea, gave us a tour.

The rainbow walkway, built by SODO Makerspace, was a highlight – we recorded some video of the moving lights:

Sarah said her family was outside the area checking out displays like the Bellevue Botanical Garden d’Lites when she thought it would be great for West Seattleites to have more to see closer to home. So over the past year, they planned, got donations from community businesses, sponsorships, and the show was a go! “Definitely a community effort,” she told us. The displays Friday and Saturday nights included some inflatable characters, too – we stopped to admire this one:

The wind took out some planned outdoor features such as an “alley of light” leading north to Wiseman’s Appliance, but it was splendid just the same, with a few indoor features including lanterns made by Lafayette classes:

Watch for Year 2 next year!

UPDATE: 4 reasons to be in the West Seattle Junction on this Hometown Holidays Sunday

(WSB photos)

12:02 PM: The crew from the West Seattle Helpline says it’s “exciting!” People have already filled that bin with new/gently used coats, hats, scarves, and socks multiple times, and you can help too if you get here by 2 pm. They’re on the west side of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tent at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) and treats await you there too – candy and cocoa.

Steps away, the Santa Bus is back, for free rides around The Junction, and photos:

(Look for the Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle [WSB sponsor] tent.) Right across SW Alaska, on the southwest corner of Walk-All-Ways, you can support Pathfinder K-8 School outdoor education by buying one of their remaining handmade wreaths – reduced prices today!

Also until 2 – while supplies last. And this is all happening while the West Seattle Farmers’ Market fills California SW with its usual festivity north to SW Oregon.

4:44 PM: Final tally from the Helpline, shared via Hometown Holidays-presenting West Seattle Junction Association:

Together we were able to collect 371 coats, hats, gloves and scarves (and an additional 89 assorted clothing items) to help keep our neighbors warm this winter! Truly a community effort.

FREE! Holy Rosary’s leftover Christmas trees

Just in from Holy Rosary School: Their Christmas tree lot has closed for the year and they are giving away about 20 leftover trees – find them in the median on the east side of the school (which is between 41st and 42nd and Genesee and Dakota).

Coat drive, Santa bus, concerts, Cocoa Cris Cringle, Christmas Light Run, much more for your West Seattle Sunday

(WSB photo from last Sunday)

Another Hometown Holidays Sunday in The Junction and much more, in your daily highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:

HELP LINCOLN PARK: 9 am-noon, forest restoration party. Details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COAT DRIVE: Bring new or gently used coats, hats, scarves, gloves to the West Seattle Kiwanis booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market 10 am-2 pm as donations to the West Seattle Helpline‘s Clothesline and enjoy some cocoa! (California/Alaska)

SANTA BUS: Free rides in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm. Look for the Quail Park Memory Care Residences of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) tent at the south end of the Farmers’ Market. (California/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always – see what’s fresh! (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

SUPPORT A SCHOOL, BUY A WREATH: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students make handmade wreaths and sell them in The Junction during the West Seattle Farmers Market (10 am-2 pm) – today is the last scheduled day. Reduced prices! All proceeds support outdoor education. Look for the booth on the KeyBank corner. (California/Alaska)

GIFT-FAIR FINALE: Last day for the December edition of the Duwamish Native NW Holiday Gift Fair, 10 am-5 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

SOUTHWEST STORIES: As previewed here on Saturday, Mas Tahara talks about the Tengu Fishing Club, 2 pm at Delridge Library, during this month’s Southwest Stories. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Last chance to see Twelfth Night Productions‘ “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.” 3 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: His annual photo sessions are at Easy Street Records, 4 pm-8 pm, by donation to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. (California/Alaska)

CARTOONING SANTA: He’s at Luna Park Café, 4-7 pm. (2918 SW Avalon Way)

SONGS OF CHRISTMAS: Seasonal singalong at Admiral UCC, 4 pm. (4320 SW Hill)

SONGS OF THE SEASON: Christmas Concert at Fauntleroy Church, 4 pm: “Enjoy both new and familiar music of the season in a free vocal and instrumental concert by the chancel choir.” (9140 California SW)

ALKI LIGHT SHOW: Second night for the 2018 Uehara-Bingen Xmas Lights Show on Alki! Be there at 5:30 pm for the 30-minute show that starts at 5:45 pm. More info in our Holiday Guide. (1708 Alki SW)

CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN: 6 pm, West Seattle Runner‘s 2018 Christmas Lights Run – and more! Meet at the store:

Come for the 2.5-3 mile easy group run. We move at a pace conducive to safety, light-viewing and picture pauses. We are still looking for someone to lead the caroling! Come with lights to see and be seen, festive garb, reflective gear, kids and dogs and lots of cheer! Afterwards we will serve cookies and beverage; nog may or may not be spiked. Come one, come all and stay on the sidewalks. Feel free to bring canned goods or donations for the Helmstetler Home charities as we will stop there to finish out the run.

(2743 California SW)

THE GIFT – AN ALKI UCC MUSICAL CHRISTMAS: Benefit concert at 6 pm:

ALL are welcome at Alki United Church of Christ so come as you are to this first-of-its-kind Alki neighborhood Christmas concert! Led by Marshan Goodwin-Moultry, The Alki UCC Choir takes you on a journey through new arrangements of traditional Christmas favorites and “get-up-outta-your-seat” Gospel music. Link to online tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3904962

Your $5 General Admission ticket benefits THREE amazing local organizations:
Camp Second Chance
West Seattle Helpline
Alki United Church of Christ (Alki UCC)

Child care available onsite with advance reservation; contact gift@alkiucc.org. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Refreshments and goodies served after the concert!

(6115 SW Hinds)

NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR: First of two West Seattle performances for this group’s annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at Holy Rosary Church, 7 pm (info). (42nd SW/SW Genesee)

Got something for our calendar or Holiday Guide (which runs through New Year’s)? Send it! Thank you.

VIDEO: Big night out for little Caspar Babypants fans @ Easy Street Records

Caspar Babypants is a musician for all seasons. This year his West Seattle shows included Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, SPF30 at Alki, and a holiday-season performance Saturday night at Easy Street Records. It wasn’t an all-holiday program, though – we recorded the timeless “My Flea Has Dogs“:

The not-so-silent night was sponsored by a neighbor from down the block, Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor), as part of the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays. CB did at one point add a seasonal touch to his year-round uniform:

If little ones are on your gift list, you can check out the newest Caspar Babypants records – and new board books he co-authored with artist Kate Endle, who’s also his wife – by going here.

FOLLOWUP: Southwest Pool closure could last beyond Sunday

In our windstorm-followup report earlier today, we included tweeted word from Seattle Parks that Southwest Pool is closed because of a boiler problem related to the storm. Tonight, Erin Bruce from pool management sent word that the closure could last longer than the rest of the weekend:

Southwest Pool will be closed for the rest of the weekend and possibly into early next week.

Due to damage from Friday night’s windstorm, we have no domestic hot water, and cannot re-open until the problem is fixed.

We have no estimate for the repair timeline, but Parks staff are working as fast as they can to get the pool up and running as quickly as possible.

Southwest Pool is the city’s only year-round aquatic facility in West Seattle. Evergreen Pool in nearby White Center is also closed right now, for resurfacing work that’s scheduled to continue until early January.

UPDATE: Garage fire in Highland Park, quickly extinguished

(Photo courtesy Kay Kirkpatrick)

8:51 PM: Seattle Fire has escalated a call near 10th/Kenyon in Highland Park [map] to a “full response” for a possible house fire. Updates to come.

8:54 PM: SFD says it’s a garage fire and that it’s under control.

8:57 PM: Via radio, firefighters say the fire’s out.

9:35 PM: SFD’s investigator has just arrived to look into how the fire started. No injuries reported.