West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
West Seattle/South Park has 21 new cases reported in this week’s update of the COVID-19 dashboard for Seattle Public Schools. That’s more than three times the number a week earlier; 135 new cases were reported districtwide – students and staff – since last week’s update – twice as many new cases as the week before. Here’s the local school-by-school breakout (as always, the total is cumulative since the start of the school year):
Denny International Middle School – 26, up 2
Chief Sealth International High School – 24, up 4
Roxhill Elementary – 15, unchanged
Highland Park Elementary – 14, up 1
Genesee Hill Elementary – 14, unchanged
Arbor Heights Elementary – 14, unchanged
Gatewood Elementary – 12, up 3
West Seattle High School – 11, up 5
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 11, up 1
Madison Middle School – 11, unchanged
West Seattle Elementary – 10, up 1
Lafayette Elementary – 10, unchanged
Concord International (Elementary) – 9, unchanged
Pathfinder K-8 – 8, up 2
Fairmount Park Elementary – 7, up 2
Alki Elementary – 5, unchanged
Sanislo Elementary – 4, unchanged
BRIDGES @ Roxhill – 1, unchanged
The district does not break out the school-by-school numbers by teachers/staff; districtwide, SPS says, 88 percent of the cases were among students, 12 percent staff.
A grass-roots West Seattle holiday event was a winning activity again this year both for the winning teams and for the businesses and redidences that volunteered to be part of it. “Winter Wander” scavenger-hunt creator Alice Kuder organized it for a second year and calls it a “huge success.” She sent a wrapup report:
Last year, 12 teams played and sent in 198 selfies. This year, 24 teams took part and sent in 460 selfies and 6 social-media posts. 7 of the 24 teams solved all 25 clues.
The team of Rick & Morty (aka Steve and Charlie Bierman, above) won the $100 Grand Prize Gift Card, good at local businesses. I fully intend to make Winter Wander an annual event, and hopefully a West Seattle holiday tradition. Next year it will take place from December 2-11.
The 15 participating businesses were (in alphabetical order):
Ampersand Cafe on Alki
The Bridge
C & P Coffee
Cactus Alki Beach
Daystar Retirement Village
Fire Station #32
Fresh Flours Bakery
HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Cafe
(Small family, team Frosty Jingle Head)
Husky Deli
Mountain to Sound Outfitters
(Lars Gesing and Katelyn Moga Gesing, team ‘Go Gesings’)
Pegasus Book Exchange
Row House
Salvadorean Bakery and Restaurant
Sea Pines Physical Therapy
Seattle Auto LicensingThere were also 5 private homeowners who agreed to let us feature their holiday yard decorations as solutions to clues. (Much harder to find than businesses.)
Two more West Seattle displays to see …
That’s from a texter who says. “Magical ‘tunnel’ of Xmas lights to walk through at Hanford & Belvidere SW! What a way to lift one’s spirits!” (Here’s a map.)
And from Nicole in the 9200 block of 30th SW:
Nicole says her block has “lots of lights” this year, and sent the pics. (Here’s a map.)
We welcome tips without pics too – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – and to see what we’ve already spotlighted, see the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide and/or our archive – thanks to everyone who’s contributed!
The city has announced the holiday plans for its vaccine clinics and testing sites in West Seattle (and elsewhere). The city-run West Seattle vaccine clinic at Neighborhood House High Point is closed until January 7th, according to today’s announcement, But the testing site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex will stay open regular hours except for Christmas Day; the city says the Curative testing kiosks will stay open too – the online schedule for the one at Don Armeni Boat Ramp is open through Thursday this week, Monday-Thursday next week. Appointments are now recommended for all locations.
P.S. The website for independent West Seattle-based health-care service Pliable shows appointments open for West Seattle vaccine clinics on Sunday, December 26th, and Sunday, January 9th, both at Neighborhood House HP (6400 Sylvan Way SW).
(Sunday night’s sunset, photographed from Fauntleroy by Monty Hernandez)
Tomorrow at 7:59 am, winter arrives, and the sun starts its climb in the sky anew. This year, from morning to night, you have multiple ways to celebrate the winter solstice in West Seattle, including:
SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH: 3:45-4:45 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), Alice Enevoldsen‘s change-of-seasons sunset watch.
SOLSTICE CLEANSE: Join CleanupSEA for 11:30 am optional meditation at Cormorant Cove Park (3701 Beach Drive SW) followed by an Alki Point cleanup at noon, from Constellation Park (63rd/Beach Drive).
LANDLELIGHT LABYRINTH WALK & SOLSTICE SINGING: Hosted by the Westside UU Congregation at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 5-9 pm labyrinth walking, with 7-8 pm service.
Full details on all of the above are atop the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
The information is from police reports we requested today, both from armed robberies on Saturday:
WESTWOOD VILLAGE ROBBERY: Police were called to the center at 11:22 am Saturday after people called 911 about one man pointing a gun at another. The victim told officers he went there for a transaction he had arranged via OfferUp, to sell “a pair of Jordan 1 low-top tennis shoes, size 10.5, for $300,” according to the police report. Two people showed up and looked at the shoes, still in the victim’s car, which the report notes also held “a pair of Jordan 1 high-top sneakers which (the victim) was not selling but valued at approximately $1,500.” The report continues, “The subjects displayed a roll of US dollar bills with a $100 displayed on the outside.” The victim said the money looked fake. Then one person shoved and hit him; the victim fought back, and a bystander jumped in to help. But while they were subduing that person, the other one “collected the pair of high-top sneakers and one of the low-top shoes and ran out of sight” – returning with a “black semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine visible,” telling the victim he’d kill him if he didn’t let go of the other person. So he did, and that person “fled to the front passenger seat of a waiting 2006-2012 light blue Nissan Altima.” One person got some photos of the armed robber and the vehicle; those have been provided to police.
GAS-STATION ROBBERY: This holdup happened at 9:45 pm Saturday night at the gas station at 5445 Delridge Way SW. Police were told a man came into the store, walked to the counter, pointed “a black .45 handgun” at the clerk, and said, “Give me the money.” The clerk complied and was told to drop to the ground behind the counter; the robber then fled on foot, southbound on Delridge.
11:02 AM: Thanks to Tom for the photo. He and others have tipped us that a submarine is currently stopped off Manchester, across the water from West Seattle. So far there’s speculation thst it’s the damaged USS Connecticut, which was seen at Indian Island yesterday, after leaving San Diego on Wednesday. After colliding with an undersea mountain in October, the Connecticut underwent preliminary repairs in Guam. We’re checking with the Navy to see if they’ll confirm this is the submarine off Manchester.
12:25 PM: We haven’t heard back from the Navy but the report on The War Zone, linked above, was updated a short time ago with a Navy statement saying the Connecticut is still at Indian Island, so this may be another submarine (commenter Ethan suggests the USS Ohio) instead. Here’s another photo – this one’s from Carrie:
2:57 PM: Just heard from Lt. Cmdr. Ben Anderson, who confirms that the submarine seen off Manchester is indeed USS Ohio, not USS Connecticut: “Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton today, following a scheduled patrol in the Indo-Pacific.”
(Bonaparte’s Gull, photographed at Don Armeni Boat Ramp by Vincent Marx)
Now that the surprise snow seems to have moved on, time to look at the rest of the day:
DONATION DRIVE FOR CAMP SECOND CHANCE, LAST DAY: Canna West Seattle (5440 California SW; WSB sponsor) is collecting items including Christmas decorations for West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment.
SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) – 10 am-1 pm today, see Santa at the supermarket!
HOLIDAY MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) Also this week, live holiday music at the store, starting with Alex Baird, 10 am-1 pm today.
BONUS SHOPPING DAY: Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) is usually closed Mondays but is open today for holiday shoppers, 10 am-6 pm.
PRE-HOLIDAY SALE: Today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village; WSB sponsor), 10 percent off fashion bracelets. Open 10 am-6 pm.
SHUG’S MINI POP-UP: Third of four days for the holiday pop-up with Baked Alaska, ice cream, more. Noon-4 pm at the future “mini” location of Shug’s Soda Fountain. Info here. (California/Charlestown)
TRIVIA X 3: Here are tonight’s three options – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something for our calendar/Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8:29 AM: Thanks for all the tips. Yes, it’s snowing, just about everywhere! So far, forecasters say it’s not expected to stick. But as @WestSeaWx notes – and as we mentioned in today’s traffic/weather watch – we’re likely to see more later this week. For today, however, this was NOT in the forecast.
8:50 AM: Just in case you’re missing it, some tweeted video:
Snow in Gatewood at 200'! @NWSSeattle @westseattleblog @WestSeaWx pic.twitter.com/df5PQgwFIR
— Michelle Arnson (@MEGArnson) December 20, 2021
We’re around 300′ and still seeing snow mixed with the rain. Sea level may not be seeing it at all, though – we have at least one “snowless” report, from Alki.
9:15 AM: Just rain now.
9:36 AM: For the record – and remember that this is likely to change – here’s what the National Weather Service is forecasting for the next appearance(s) of snow:
THURSDAY NIGHT…Rain likely in the evening, then rain and snow after midnight. Lows in the mid to upper 30s.
FRIDAY…Rain and snow in the morning, then rain at times in the afternoon. Snow level near 500 feet. Highs in the lower 40s.
FRIDAY NIGHT…Rain at times in the evening, then rain and snow after midnight. Snow level near 500 feet. Lows in the lower to mid 30s.
CHRISTMAS DAY…Rain and snow. Snow level near sea level. Highs in the upper 30s.
SATURDAY NIGHT…Snow. Lows in the mid to upper 20s.
SUNDAY…Snow in the morning, then snow likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s.
11:50 AM: As commenters note – and as we’ve seen here too – the flurries have returned, off and on
6:03 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
Winter officially arrives Tuesday morning. Today’s forecast: Rain at times; high near 40. (Snow possible next weekend!)
NOTE
-School’s out for winter break.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations. (Holiday plans: This Friday, Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Christmas Day will be a regular Saturday schedule.)
Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Holiday plans: No Water Taxi service Friday or Saturday.)
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
637th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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