West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
At WSB, we have just one “year in review” tradition – listing the 10 stories that drew the most comments. (That doesn’t mean they were the most-read stories – since we publish in blog format, and it’s possible to read multiple stories by scrolling down the home page without multiple clicks, it’s impossible to break out exactly how many times an individual story’s been seen.) With hours to go in 2021, here goes the countdown:
#10 – PCC ARGUES AGAINST CITY-MANDATED ‘HAZARD PAY’
January 29, 2021 – 142 comments
Less than a week before workers for large grocery companies were set to start receiving $4/hour city-mandated “hazard pay,” PCC‘s then-new CEO Suzy Monford sent city leaders a letter arguing against it. One PCC worker told us it left them and their colleagues feeling “betrayed and belittled.” The company changed its mind shortly thereafter; six months later, Monford left the job she’d had less than a year. PCC has not yet announced a new CEO.
#9 – POWER OUTAGE FOR ALMOST 10,000 CUSTOMERS
December 2, 2021 – 149 comments
This was not only a very large outage, the Seattle City Light map was slow to show it, so more “we’re out in (neighborhood)” comments amassed in the early going.
#8 – CITY-BACKED $14 MILLION OFFER FOR JUNCTION PARKING LOTS
April 30, 2021 – 155 comments
The land that holds the four West Seattle Junction Association-leased parking lots is zoned for tall, dense development. Community Roots Housing offered to buy it. The lots’ owners, Trusteed Properties, have not publicly announced a decision,
#7 – DISTRICT SUDDENLY ADDS A DAY OFF
November 9, 2021 – 165 comments
Seattle Public Schools startled families two days before Veterans Day by announcing that schools would also be closed the day after the holiday, saying too many employees were taking that day off.
#6 – KING COUNTY’S VACCINE-VERIFICATION PLAN
September 16, 2021 – 173 comments
King County announced where, and when, you would soon have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (or negative test results).
5:19 PM: Another frosty day wrapped up 2021. Thanks for the photos! Above, Tom Trulin photographed the Olympics, and walkers, at Lincoln Park. Not far away, a texter sent this view of icy Lincoln Park Way:
In Gatewood, Kanit Cottrell discovered this snowwoman:
On the other end of the peninsula, David Hutchinson photographed the waves against the Alki seawall:
He noted that something’s missing in his photo: “Sadly, The Whale Trail interpretive sign near the Bathhouse is missing along with one of the two mounting posts (just to the left of the people in the photo). Possibly taken out by the log shown in the photo or vandalism. Either way, it’s a shame as we have noticed that lots of folks out walking will stop and take advantage of the educational material presented.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The National Weather Service predicts a very cold night, possibly into the teens, but then tomorrow’s high might get above freezing. After that:
The true warmup will begin Sunday with highs in the low 40s expected for much of the area, and snow levels rising to 1500-2500 feet. Along side these warmer temperatures we are expecting widespread lowland rain as a cold front moves through the area. Lowland areas with snow remaining on the ground could see some localized urban flooding and ponding of water as storm drains could become clogged with ice.
ADDED 9:27 PM: Thanks to Ben for sending a photo of this igloo-in-progress:
Lots of questions this afternoon about a small plane that spent at least half an hour doing circles over north West Seattle – then headed over to do some loops over the Kitsap Peninsula before returning minutes ago to Boeing Field. Here’s the FlightRadar24 screengrab as it headed back in:
No answers yet about what it was doing. We tried tracing it but its most-recent commercial owner, a flight school at Boeing Field, said it was recently sold. The current registered owner appears to be a company that traces to a Seattle lawyer who is shown in the FAA database as a licensed private pilot.
(WSB photos)
Ezell’s Famous Chicken CEO and co-founder Lewis Rudd is at the new Morgan Junction location today as they open their doors – briefly – for a community “sneak peek.”
It’s been almost a year since we broke the news of an early-stage filing for Ezell’s to move into what was then an AT&T store. Then last month, the signs went up. And now they’re almost ready to open – so they’re doing a trial run, selling food until about 4 pm today (or until they’re sold out).
That’s the West Seattle restaurant’s manager, Kristy – she and her team have some logistics to keep working on, so Ezell’s tells us that while the store may look ready to go, it won’t officially open for a few more weeks (no official date set yet).
Ezell’s is a 37-year-old Seattle-based company with 17 locations in Washington and Oregon – this one (southeast corner of California/Fauntleroy) will be its 18th. Here’s what they serve.
The snow and the virus got in the way of big New Year’s Eve plans, so we don’t have much of a list for you, but a few notes:
(Photo by Doug Eglington, seen from Harbor Avenue earlier this week)
SPACE NEEDLE FIREWORKS: Yes, the midnight fireworks are happening this year. But no, they’re not allowing people to gather at the Needle to watch them. North-facing West Seattle will have a view as always, but organizers say they’re adding special digital effects to a live stream/broadcast, so they’re recommending you watch on a screen. Here’s the info.
HPIC PRESENTS ‘NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT’: Highland Park Improvement Club has announced a modified version of its Not-So-Silent-Night neighborhood parade, They’re inviting people to the south Riverview Playfield parking lot [12th/Webster] at 6 pm for a walk around the field:
Bring your personal lights and noisemakers. Bundle up with sturdy shoes. Fill up your hot thermos or flask. We’ll meet at the South Riverview Playfield parking lot at 6pm and walk a circle of light around the fields led by our fabulous HPIC parade marshals and welcome in a brighter 2022!
RESTAURANTS/BARS: No big parties but your favorite venue might be planning a midnight toast. Or earlier – for example, Mission Cantina in The Admiral District is planning “a traditional tequila toast as our brothers and sisters in Tequila town and Oaxaca ring in the new year at midnight CST (10 pm in Seattle).” We’ll check around as the day goes on and add anything else interesting (and confirmed post-snow) we happen onto.
P.S. If you do go out tonight – remember that transit is free (Metro until 4 am and Sound Transit until 2 am).
(WSB photo, December 22nd – early cookie dropoffs)
Once again this year, West Seattleites made it a happier holiday for neighbors in need. Here’s a message of thanks, just in from The Christmas People president/co-founder Rev. Fred Hutchinson:
Generous West Seattle residents dropped off more than 5,000 cookies to West Seattle Coworking this year; more than 500 were baked by West Seattle High School Key Club.
In 2021, our 23rd year, the Christmas People delivered 2,600 meals, 7,500 cookies, 600 Blessing Bags, 20,000 pairs of socks, 1,000 hats, and over 1,000 pounds of bulk food provisions. With a small budget and 25 volunteers, we gave out more than $125,000 of much-needed food and supplies to the marginalized and underserved in our midst. A heartfelt thank you to all who helped us, help others.
Rev. Hutchinson and helpers have been doing this for more than 20 years.
(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Even before the snowfall, closures were planned for today because of the holiday observance. So this list covers both. Please let us know if you have something/someplace to add:
CLOSED
–Senior Center of West Seattle
–West Seattle Food Bank
–Delridge, Admiral Seattle Public Library locations
–Most Seattle Parks facilities
-City residential solid-waste pickup (all collection days put out double next week)
OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES
–West Seattle YMCA open until 4 pm
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
(We’ll add a business list if needed but so far we have no new closure/change info.)
6:16 AM: Good morning. It’s New Year’s Eve and the sixth day with snow on the ground. Links:
ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro continues Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–No Water Taxi service today (and tomorrow); 773/775 shuttles also not running
WEATHER
-Just below freezing again this morning. The forecast says “isolated snow showers” are possible this morning, clearing later.
Tips/pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!
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