West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
1:09 PM: From Jen: “Someone just notified me of an open suitcase in front of my house at 35th and Cloverdale. The suitcase is a green roller. Brand is Head. I brought it up to my porch. It looks to be all clothing and I don’t see any ID inside.” That’s in the general area that’s had a spike of burglaries/car prowls lately, so could be stolen/dumped. If you’re missing a packed suitcase like that, contact us and we’ll connect you.
1:37 PM: Photo added.
The photo and report are from Rick:
I would like to thank the person/persons who returned my sandwich board 2 weeks ago yesterday morning.
It was left on the side of my building at my new location after mysteriously disappearing from the old location 4 1/2 years ago. It seems to have been kept in a laundry room, as it had a heavy layer of lint on it, and I assume had been flipped inside out so the lettering was not visible. Anyway, it’s been returned to its new/old home with no damage, and best of all … no ransom was paid!
Rick’s Barber Shop
Even if you’re not a client, you might still know Rick from his “psychic barber” sign; after being displaced by development again, he moved earlier this year to 4845 California SW.
(Red-tailed Hawk, photographed in Gatewood by Mark Dale)
Highlights for the rest of your Thursday – first, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
LAFAYETTE LIGHTS: Second year for the Lafayette Elementary Winter Light Festival, 5-7 pm:
You are invited to our Lafayette Winter Light Festival, This is our second light festival (practically a tradition now). Come check out our twinkling winter wonderland, designed and built by our students and parent volunteers. This community-building event is for all students, their families and friends as well as our entire West Seattle Community. Come sip hot cocoa and enjoy a cookie while taking a stroll in the “snow” through our outdoor light display.
Suggested $2 donation. (2645 California SW)
OPEN HOUSE & SALE: Menashe and Sons Jewelers (WSB sponsor) invite you to the shop’s Holiday Open House, 6-9 pm. Storewide sale, 40% off entire inventory except Rolex, with select cases 60% and 70% off. Diamond stud giveaway, value $1,000, fill out entry slip in-store. (4532 California SW)
AND WHILE YOU’RE IN THE JUNCTION: Shop Late Thursday is part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays. Many businesses are open late!
And from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
ARTISTS’ GROUP: 2-5 pm – info here – at Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
WOMEN, WINE, AND WILLS: 6-8 pm, free event about comprehensive legal planning. At Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor). (5910 California SW)
WHITE CENTER’S COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets at the NH Fire District HQ 7 pm, with a discussion of LEAD – a hot topic on both sides of the city/county border – on the agenda. All welcome. (1243 SW 112th)
‘HEAD OVER HEELS’: The musical continues at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) but tonight’s almost sold out – go here to check tickets for upcoming shows too! 7:30 pm curtain. (4711 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE SOUL: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, “14-piece funk, soul, groove and dance extravaganza.” $10 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
9:40 AM: Again this year, members of the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices NW Real Estate (WSB sponsor) are hosting a showing of “The Polar Express” (trailer above) at The Admiral Theater – and they have some free tickets available to the public if you RSVP ASAP. The showing is this Saturday (December 7th), 10 am, and you can only attend by RSVP’ing through one of the sponsors, Alice Kuder, first-come, first-served – email or call/text her, alice@alicekuder.com or 206-708-9800. Alice adds, “There is a limit of 5 tickets per family/group. We are providing free snacks (cookies, tangerines, coffee and hot cocoa) and the concession stand will be open. We will have a Toys for Tots donation barrel at the venue, for anyone who might want to donate. We have 10 co-sponsoring agents this year: Debbie Kerns, John Traweek, Karen Grace, Christian Jacobson, Larissa Wilson, Chariti Powers, Nadine Bivins, Darryl Eng, Ken Knoke, and me.” We’ll update this announcement when the tickets are gone.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: All tickets taken!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No alerts or incidents right now. Two alerts:
FRIDAY NIGHT/EARLY SATURDAY: The southbound Highway 99 tunnel will be closed 10 pm Friday-8 am Saturday.
SATURDAY: Saturday, starting around 11 am,SW Alaska will be closed between California SW and 42nd SW for the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (6 pm) and Night Market (3-7 pm).
(WSB photos)
Big night for the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ wrestling team – they hosted a tournament for the first time. Visiting schools included Lakeside, Nathan Hale, and Ingraham, whose Melissa Rosas wrestled Sealth’s Joanne Ly in the match we photographed:
Girls’ wrestling is a fast-growing sport, according to the parent who tipped us to the tournament (thanks!). The Sealth girls’ regular season runs through the end of January – see the schedule here.
(WSB photo)
That was the scene at 30th SW and SW Cambridge, just west of Roxhill Park, around 3:30 pm. Police pulled over a stolen car; we were pointed to the King County Sheriff’s Office for comment, since the car was their case. KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott tells WSB four people were arrested, and it’s likely more than an auto-theft case. We asked about radio exchanges indicating a possible link to robbery cases, as well as a possibly related car found in High Point. Sgt. Abbott’s reply: “We do believe they are involved in robberies; which ones, we don’t know yet.” The area’s been hit with several 4-robber holdups lately; we’ve covered two – last Saturday at a White Center phone store, and last Sunday at the 35th/Henderson Lucky 5 (here’s our followup) . Investigators are still working on all this; more information is expected tomorrow.
The latest SDOT update regarding the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project not only includes the 36th/Alaska south-side closure mentioned last week, but also upcoming closures of the entire 35th/Alaska intersection:
To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be closing the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St for up to 3 weekends. These will be weekend closures to minimize noise and traffic impacts as much as possible. During these closures, DO NOT use side streets and residential streets to avoid the closures! Use the recommended detour or use alternative forms of transportation.
The first closure is planned for Friday, December 13 at 7 PM to early on Monday, December 16
-This closure will allow us to conduct water utility improvements
-This work is highly weather dependent and subject to change
-We will coordinate with King County Metro on bus stops and routes. Check Metro Rider Alerts for the most up-to-date information.
-Please expect loud noise, dust and vibrations
-No parking signs on 37th Ave SW to accommodate Metro buses and detour traffic
-35th Ave SW will be local access only from SW Edmunds St to SW Morgan St
-If you live on the east side of 35th Ave SW, you will only be able to turn left on to 35th Ave SW, south toward SW Morgan St
-If you live on the west side of 35th Ave SW, you will only be able to turn right on to 35th Ave SW, south toward SW Morgan St
-This work will take up to 3 weekendsOur second intersection closure is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of December 20. We will share more information once it is confirmed.
-Uniformed police officers will be present to direct traffic
-Please visit our website for more information
-Please follow posted detour routes, see map below [updated]
During the intersection closures, DO NOT cut through side streets and residential neighborhoods to avoid the closures! Respect your neighbors’ sense of safety and access.
When the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St is closed, the following detours will be in place:
-If you are traveling northbound on 35th Ave SW towards the West Seattle Bridge, you will turn left onto SW Morgan St, right onto 42nd Ave SW, and then right onto Fauntleroy Way SW
-If you are traveling southbound from the West Seattle Bridge, you will take Fauntleroy Way SW, turn left onto 42nd Ave SW, left onto SW Morgan St and then right on 35th Ave SW
-If you live off 35th Ave SW between SW Morgan St and SW Alaska St:
-There will be a local access only closure at 35th Ave SW and SW Morgan St
-All other northbound traffic will be detoured at SW Morgan StPlease be patient with the Uniformed Police Office as they speak to each individual car to pass through. Expect long delays.
-Any local access northbound traffic on 35th Ave SW will have to turn around at SW Edmunds St
-You will not be able to access SW Edmunds St from 35th Ave SW
-Please follow posted detour routesZone F (SW Alaska St from 35th Ave SW to 36th Ave SW):
As soon as next week, we will close the south side of 36th Ave SW at SW Alaska St for a few weeks to install new water utilities. Please expect loud noise, dust, and vibrations while we complete this work. 36th Ave SW will be open during the weekend closures of the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Alaska St.
As we begin work on SW Alaska St, please follow King County Metro’s Rider Alerts to stay up to date on bus stop changes.
(2018 WSB photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Saturday is the busiest day of the holiday season in West Seattle.
Why fix your own breakfast when somebody else is ready to cook for you, with the (low) price you pay achieving more than simply filling your belly?
Any time between 7 and 11 am Saturday, you can walk into the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, sit down, and enjoy fresh-made pancakes (secret recipe!), ham (not just ANY ham – more on that later), and more. Beverage included! If you pay in advance – online – it’s only $8, though even the at-the-door price of $10 is a deal. Kids under 10 accompanying a paying adult get to eat free and get a photo with Santa Claus, too.
This is all thanks to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle. It’s not only a bargain breakfast, but one with a backstory – three-quarters of a century worth. Looking ahead to this year’s breakfast, we talked with the club’s historian Denis Sapiro. He’s the “default” historian, he explained, now that he’s been a member for 40+ years.
We talked about logistics too – breakfast for hundreds over the course of four hours. But in some parts of the country, he notes, there are pancake breakfasts serving thousands! (Rodeo days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, among them.)
Here in West Seattle, the Kiwanis pancake breakfast is a tradition for kicking off the heart of holiday-shopping season in The Junction (lately, the shopping starts much earlier, but this is still a huge day of event, including the Junction Tree Lighting). It’s changed venues over the decades. The Masonic Center (which has a big room that’s a popular event venue, with a sizable parking lot) is just the latest in a long line. One past venue was on the second floor of the old Hancock Fabrics store, part of what used to be on the 39th/Alaska site that holds Spruce (LA Fitness plus apartments) now. Another past venue was at the time home to the West Seattle YWCA, just south of the Masonic Center, current home to Origins Cannabis. “People would line up even in the rain and snow,” and Kiwanians took hot coffee around while breakfastgoers waited patiently to get in.
While attendance is lower, the fundraising – which benefits programs such as the Kiwanis-sponsored high-school Key Clubs – is higher. That includes money raised through sponsorships offered to local businesses/organizations. (Again this year, community sponsors include WSB.)
(WSB photo, Kiwanis board members)
Selling advance breakfast tickets is a weeks-long activity. Along with the online sales, you can buy discount tickets from club members on several Sundays – you’ve probably seen their hot-coffee booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. In years past, some members have been star sellers – Denis will tell you the story of Oscar “who used to walk the streets and go into every business and sell tickets, he could sell a thousand!”
Along with fundraising, the pancake breakfast is also a toy drive – bring new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. The Kiwanis added it more than a decade ago “because people want to give more than the cost.” They also offer a few tables in the room to nonprofits; the now-defunct West Seattle Hi-Yu used to be there each year, selling Christmas ornaments. This year, you’ll have an opportunity to meet West Seattle Timebank members.
The volunteers who help make it happen include Boy Scouts as well as Kiwanis and Key Club members – the students helped by Kiwanians, giving back. Though Kiwanis is part of a larger, worldwide organization, Denis explains, “we really can quickly change our focus to the need of the community as our members see it … we can get projects from the parent organization but can also do our own thing. We decided working with the high-school kids was really important.”
Now to the logistics: “Because we’ve been doing it for so long, we have a well-organized method,” Denis explains. Two longtime members do the shopping, once they’ve estimated the turnout. The pancake recipe is secret (though we’re told it involves Krusteaz mix), and they use two pancake-batter dispensers made in White Center by a company that sells them all over the world, Food Equipment Design (read about its co-founder Yvonne Belshaw here).
About the ham – it’s from Husky Deli! Though that business’s always-big holiday open house is the night before, Denis says, Jack Miller himself warms and slices it for them by 6:30 am so it’s “ready for us to pick up and take down” to the breakfast site.
They serve breakfast with “real” plates and silverware, so this is a more sustainable event than you might expect. And thanks to the volunteers, there’s table service; it’s NOT a buffet-type setup. But getting to work in the kitchen is the prized duty that morning – “always competitive,” says Denis. “It’s fun to be there cooking with your buddies.”
(2018 WSB photo)
That includes former club members who come back just to help out with this special event.
So special, Santa himself has been part of it since the 1980s, when they had to use Polaroid cameras for instant photos, in the pre-smartphone days.
Ready to buy your ticket? Scroll down this page. Then just show up at 4736 40th SW between 7 and 11 am on Saturday (December 7th) and enjoy breakfast, knowing you’ve just become part of a longtime West Seattle tradition.
The photos and report are courtesy of Seattle Dive Tours:
On December 1st, more than 30 volunteers braved the cold temperatures and the forecasts of snow showers to protect marine wildlife from dangerous underwater debris in Puget Sound.
SR3 and Seattle Dive Tours coordinated the event to clean under the pier at Seacrest Marina Park that is generally off limits to divers. The upper pier was closed to fishermen and spectators to ensure the safety of the volunteers.
Divers entered the water in three shifts to remove marine debris lurking below the surface of the Salish Sea. Additional volunteers on the dock sorted through the debris and documented the weight and types of debris found. This data will be uploaded to larger, worldwide datasets in order to reveal the greatest threats around the world.
Over 420 pounds of debris were removed in this short cleanup! This included over 300 fishing lures, five lighting systems used for squid fishing, four traffic cones, six abandoned crab pots, a lot of plastic cutlery, many mobile phones, and multiple tires.
This event could not have been done without the partnership of our hardy volunteers, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the King County Water Taxi (Department of Metro Transportation, Marine Division). We look forward to continuing and expanding this event in the future.
This video from a volunteer participant includes a longer look at what was brought up:
(WSB photo from 2018 lighting)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: A huge weekend of holiday happenings starts Friday night at the highest point in the city, 35th/Myrtle, with Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s “Light Up the Night“ celebration – tree lighting, caroling, and a food drive! Here are full details from OLG:
The holiday season hits a high note on December 6th outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and School in West Seattle for the lighting of the “tallest” Christmas tree in the Emerald City. With its roots at roughly 500 feet above sea level, in Seattle’s well-named High Point neighborhood, the “OLG Tree” is back in 2019 to mark the holiday season in a fun, family-centered “Light Up the Night” celebration.
All are welcome to “Light Up the Night,” at the corner of 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street, at 7 p.m. on December 6, 2019.
For the past decade, OLG has hosted a “Light Up the Night” gathering, and all the old favorites are back. The event will feature Christmas carols led by the Starry Crowns, cocoa, coffee, and snacks from the Knights of Columbus, and 9,000 lights on OLG’s tallest evergreen tree—visible from the West Seattle Bridge! There is no fee to attend, and all are invited to experience this West Seattle holiday tradition. OLG’s Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program is the prime sponsor for the tree lighting and hopes kids of all ages can enjoy the event.
“We can’t wait to host West Seattle’s best Christmas tree lighting again,” said Dan Campbell, CYO’s Athletic Director at OLG. “This has been a great way to kick off the holidays with Seattle’s ‘tallest’ tree. Everyone is welcome to join us and light up the night!”
In addition to the lighting of the tree, carols, and holiday snacks, “Light Up the Night” is asking for donations of non-perishable food items for our local food banks. Help “fill the sleigh” for those less fortunate in our community and enjoy a great evening in West Seattle!
(Rendering from September’s review, by Sazei Design Group)
Another Delridge Way redevelopment project is continuing to progress through the city system – the Southwest Design Review Board‘s calendar has just been updated with its first scheduled project review of the new year, 8854 Delridge Way SW, 6:30 pm January 23, 2020, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). This is the now-vacant site where a burned-out former auto shop has already been demolished; the project is now described as ” a 4-story apartment building with 18 small efficiency dwelling units, 14 apartments (32 units total), and office space. Parking for 14 vehicles proposed.” The project has been before the board twice; in September (WSB coverage here), the SWDRB decided it needed to return for a third meeting, so that’s what this will be.
(Monday’s colorful sunset, photographed by Lynn Hall)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for the rest of your Wednesday:
TALK ABOUT IT: At Southwest Library at noon, Hot Topics for Seniors tackles “The Power of Personal Habits.” All welcome. (9010 35th SW)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON MOVIE: “No Highway in the Sky” (1951) will be shown at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1 pm. (4217 SW Oregon)
WRESTLING: 5-school girls-wrestling tournament at Chief Sealth International High School, 6 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)
BASKETBALL: Home game for Chief Sealth International High School‘s girls team, 7 pm vs. Mount Baker. (2600 SW Thistle)
JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
THE LOOSE HEELS: “Danceable country classic,” 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
And since it’s three weeks until Christmas, a reminder:
LIGHTS, TREES, MUSIC, SHOPPING, SANTA … and more … can all be found in our updated-daily Holiday Guide!
Thanks for the tips. Police are at the Longfellow Creek P-Patch, just east of Chief Sealth International High School, because a body was found there this morning. They describe the person as an “adult male” who is suspected to have died by suicide.
A van from the Medical Examiner’s Office has just arrived to take the body, which was found behind the P-Patch’s shed.
As always when we report on suicide, we want to remind you that there’s 24/7 help for anyone contemplating self-harm – 206-461-3222.(added) You also can reach a crisis counselor by texting 741741.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning. No alerts or incidents right now.
ADVANCE ALERT: Saturday afternoon/evening, SW Alaska will be closed between California SW and 42nd SW for the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (6 pm) and Night Market (3-7 pm).
Three weeks until Christmas Eve – so it’s time to start highlighting West Seattle displays! We appreciate your tips every year. First tip we received this season was from Jim, advising us to check out his brother Ken‘s display at 39th SW and SW Trenton in Fauntlee Hills. So we went by tonight.
Fauntlee Hills is known for more than a few extra-bright displays, but this one truly shines. No way to capture all its characters in one photo, so we recorded a video walk-by too:
Got lights we should feature, whether yours or someone else’s? Tell us where! All our contact options are here. Thank you!
(2018 WSB photo of project site)
Tonight’s “early community outreach” meeting for the revised 9201 Delridge Way SW project was devoid of community members.
20 minutes after the promoted 6 pm start time, it was still your editor and six members of the project team, led by Caron Architecture, at Jim Wiley Community Center in Greenbridge.
So we asked Caron CEO Radim Blazej and his team a few questions about the project, which, as first reported here in October, pivoted from self-storage to residential/retail mixed-use
They say the current plan is for 46 apartments – not microstudios, but “regular” apartments – and three live-work units, in a five-story building with about 2,000 square feet of retail space. Ideally that’ll go to an F&B (food/beverage) tenant, but that depends on how leasing goes. Though no offstreet car parking is required, they’re looking at about 20 underground spaces, plus spots for 50 bicycles. They are not proposing any zoning exceptions (“departures”). The project will have to go through the Southwest Design Review Board and is likely to start that process “in the first part of 2020.” The site has not been sold – same ownership is developing the new project, which doesn’t have an official name, so it’s going by the working title “Delridge Apartments.” Its residential entry will be off SW Bartpn.
SURVEY: Through Thursday night (December 5th), you can provide feedback via this survey.
WHAT’S NEXT: Watch for that first Design Review Board meeting next year.
7:06 PM: We’re getting some questions about Guardian One over North Delridge. They’re backing up SPD as they check out a suspicious car pulled over at Delridge/Andover.
7:20 PM: The scene cleared before we arrived.
7:41 PM: Guardian One made note of its assistance via Twitter:
Assisted @SeattlePD with a vehicle stop near Delridge and Andover. pic.twitter.com/M2xHdRXbGs
— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) December 4, 2019
(Photo courtesy Healthy Lands Project)
While next weekend jingles with many possibilities for holiday fun, there’s also an opportunity for giving that won’t cost you anything but a little time: Saturday will bring a volunteer planting party to Seola Pond (30th SW/SW 105th; map), in support of the long-running community-led work to restore it. The Healthy Lands Project invites you to “come and get hands-on experience planting native shrubs and trees and removing weeds with your neighbors to help make the green space a better place for people and nature.” It’s happening 10 am-1 pm Saturday (December 7th). You’ll get lunch and “warm beverages”; you’ll also get a free native plant to take home. RSVP here if you think you can help!
That security video just made public by Seattle Police shows the shooter in Monday’s South Delridge incident that sent a man to the hospital. Recognize him? Here’s another look:
SPD says the victim was shot during a robbery while he was “delivering an item sold on a secondhand goods website.” If you have a tip about the shooter, call the SPD Robbery Unit at 206-684-5535, or call 911.
Though the woman hit by a driver at 42nd/Oregon last Wednesday was initially described as in stable condition, she has died. That was initially reported by a commenter and we’ve confirmed it today; SDOT, which tracks collision data, says SPD notified them that the crash was fatal. That would be the 4th West Seattle pedestrian death this year. SDOT’s Vision Zero coordinator Brad Topol replied to a citizen inquiry and also forwarded the reply to WSB with this summary of the police report:
Based on a witness statement from a southbound driver (not involved in collision) a pedestrian was crossing midblock south of the 42nd Ave and Oregon intersection. The pedestrian was crossing from west to east and entered the roadway between two parked vehicles. The pedestrian was struck by a northbound driver traveling at a “reasonable speed” (20-25 mph estimated by witness).
This year’s previous three fatal incidents were all in July:
-July 26, Jefferson Square parking lot (victim was 93-year-old Dorothy Wright)
-July 15, Admiral Way near 57th (fatality confirmed via SDOT, though victim was never publicly identifie)
-July 3, SW Barton by Westwood Village (victim was 78-year-old Josefina Quimson)
So far as we can find in court records, only one of those incidents has to date resulted in a citation, the one in Jefferson Square, for “failure to yield right of way when backing up,” resulting in a $136 fine. The SW Barton driver was arrested for suspected DUI but to date has not been charged.
Two events of interest coming up for families with future high-school students:
WSHS PROSPECTIVE PARENT NIGHT: This Thursday (December 5th), 6:30-8 pm, West Seattle High School is hosting Prospective Parent Night. From the school newsletter Westside Weekly:
Meet in the theater to learn about course offerings from 6:30-7. Students will lead tours from 7 to 8. Finally, during the 7 to 8 hour, there will be a department fair where you can meet the department heads, review texts and participate in Q&A.
CSIHS PROSPECTIVE STUDENT NIGHT: 6-7 pm Thursday, December 12th, Chief Sealth International High School invites prospective students and their families to visit. Here’s the flyer with details, sent by the school:
This is a followup as well as a traffic alert – that crew is working on 26th SW between Roxbury and Barton right now, as part of investigative work previewed here last week. As explained in the notice featured in that preview, the crew is “drilling 6 geotechnical boreholes in the roadway” to learn more about the pavement failure that neighbors say shakes their homes when buses go by. Metro says new paving is expected as part of the RapidRide H Line conversion, though I-976 might affect funding availability. This work is expected to continue through tomorrow.
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