West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
(WSB photo from October, site currently planned as temporary off-leash area at Westcrest)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It was the lowest-key proceeding we’ve ever covered in the city Hearing Examiner‘s room downtown.
On one side of the table in the windowless room on the 40th floor of the city’s Municipal Tower, West Seattleite Inge Anderson, making the case for her appeal of the “determination of non-significance” regarding the upcoming drainage work that will close West Seattle’s only off-leash area, at Westcrest Park, for up to six months.
On the other side, Seattle Parks‘ David Graves.
At the head of the table, Hearing Examiner Ryan Vancil and assistant Galen Edlund-Cho.
Under the table, Anderson’s service dog.
In the gallery, no one but your editor here. In some cases, the table is full – with lawyers and witnesses – and spectators fill the seats. Not this time.
We previewed the hearing last Sunday. Anderson contends that the city’s plan will be a hardship on the hundreds of dogs and owners who use the park each day, because Parks intends to open only a much-smaller arra of Westcrest as its replacement. But that wasn’t the only point she argued.
Vancil expects to issue a written ruling “after the holidays.” Here’s how the hearing went:
Thanks to Emily for sending tonight’s photo! These lights are on 50th SW, between SW Hudson and SW Edmunds, a block we last featured five years ago.
To see other lights we’ve featured, scroll through this archive. If you have tips – your own lights or someone else’s, with or without a photo – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
After 3+ inches of rain today alone, you might be saying it’s weather fit for a fish. Or – a mermaid! Just in time for Garland the Holiday Mermaid‘s scheduled appearance tomorrow in West Seattle, 2-5 pm Saturday (December 21st) at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW). From the announcement:
Come meet Garland, pose for pictures, share your holiday wishes, and enjoy a delectable craft beer while you wait. Kids and pets are welcome.
Professional photography available, with digital images delivered to your inbox ($15 for 2 images). Suggested donation of $10, for images taken on your own smart device.
Garland is appearing via Seattle Mermaids.
With midweek holidays the next two weeks, this might be helpful: Here’s how city trash, recycling, and yard-waste pickups will change because of Christmas and New Year’s Day. If you have Monday/Tuesday pickup, it’s normal. But starting with Wednesday both weeks, everything slides a day – Wednesday customers will see Thursday pickups, Thursday customers on Fridays, Friday customers on Saturdays. Then with the week of January 6th, everything gets back to the regular schedule. Seattle Public Utilities recaps it all here.
As you’ve probably heard, the rainfall this past day-plus is record-setting, 3+ inches. Besides ponding on roads and sidewalks, and turning the ground spongy, there’s one other effect of note: Waterway pollution. The framegrab is from this online map that tracks whether county and city outfalls are experiencing “combined-sewer overflows” – and the ones marked in red were doing just that when we checked just after the top of the hour, including outfalls south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, along Harbor Island, and on the Duwamish River. The combined-sewer system refers to rainwater draining into the sewer system at such a volume that it overwhelms the system’s capacity. Both the city and county have built projects in recent years – like the Murray Wet Weather Facility across from Lowman Beach Park – to try to reduce the frequency and amount of overflows, but some still happen. In addition to facilities like the one at Lowman that store water until it can be released into the system without an overflow, other projects have sought to relieve the burden on the system by other means such as raingardens and retention ponds.
P.S. Though you can’t stop the rain, you can lessen the effect of stormwater pollution – both CSO-related and the kind that drains directly to local waterways – by following advice like this.
(WSB photo of group gathered for 2017 Christmas Lights Run)
By Sunday night, the forecast suggests, the rain will likely be past, just in time for this year’s Christmas Lights Run! It’s a West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) tradition. Everyone’s welcome on this fun run. Be at the shop (2743 California SW) by 6 pm Sunday night (December 22nd) – “wear reflective, headlamps, and festive garb!” WSR’s Lori McConnell adds, “We are still hoping to have a caroler in the bunch so someone can lead us in jingles as we go. This is a leisurely paced run and we will go over the route before heading out so folks who want to walk are welcome to join as well!” No charge, but if you can bring a nonperishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, that’s appreciated. Then: “We will serve nog and sweets back at the shop for fellowship and fun post-run.”
Just yesterday, SDOT announced it would not close the 35th/Alaska intersection again this weekend after all, tentatively rescheduling the closure for a week later. Now that’s off too. Just in from SDOT:
Due to continued rainy weather, we will not be closing the intersection of SW Alaska St and 35th Ave SW the weekend of December 27 – 30. The second closure is tentatively scheduled from Friday, January 3 at 9 AM to early on Monday, January 6. Please note that this work is highly weather-dependent and may be rescheduled.
The Thursday announcement included other project updates – see it here.
(Downy Woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
TALK WITH YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER: Final district office-hours session of the year for City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, 2-7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Walk-ins welcome. (4217 SW Oregon)
POP-UP SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING: Gifts Revisioned Holiday Pop-Up at Carpe Diem Collective, 2-8:30 pm. Fair-trade, handmade, and eco-friendly gifts. (3834 California SW)
GRAND OPENING FOR OUTER SPACE SEATTLE: As previewed, it’s Grand Opening day for the new indoor playspace on Alki, 4-8 pm. (2820 Alki SW)
HOLIDAY SINGALONG & 16MM FILM SHORTS: One-of-a-kind holiday event, 6:30 pm at South Park Hall. Cider, hot cocoa, popcorn. $7 admission. (1253 S. Cloverdale)
UEHARA-BINGEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SHOW: Second-to-last chance to catch this on Alki! Be there at 6:15 pm for 6:30 pm show running about 25 minutes. (1736 Alki SW)
JOE ADAMI: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 7-9 pm, “eclectic mix of blues, pop, folk, fun originals and jazz standards.” No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
KELLEY JOHNSON: Award-winning jazz vocalist, live at the Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki, 8 pm. (2808 Alki SW)
SEATTLE GIRLS CHOIR: Concert at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 8 pm – details here. Online ticket sales are over but the choir says tickets will be available at the door. (42nd/Genesee)
PRE-HANUKKAH MUSIC: The Festival of Lights starts Sunday. But tonight at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, “Celebrate Hanukkah w/horns featuring Hot Damn Scandal, and Shpilkis.” $10 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING … by browsing the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
We’re still adding to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide so we’re making one last request for Christmas Eve/Day info from businesses, churches, etc. – if you’re open for last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve, if you haven’t sent us your Christmas Eve service(s) schedule yet, if your coffee shop/restaurant is open for a while on Christmas Day (or closing early Christmas Eve), please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning After heavy rain overnight, lots of reports of roadway ponding.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Two-week winter break starts after today – 1-hour early dismissal.
CLOSURE POSTPONED: No 35th/Alaska closure this weekend – SDOT is tentatively planning it for next weekend (UPDATE: first weekend of January) instead.
LAST DAY: Today is the final day of the Ride2 shuttle service
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