West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
Tonight’s photo is from Sung, one of the people who emailed to tell us that another well-known West Seattle family display has returned this year: “The Madonna is back for 2021! Ron Gai just finished the display at the old Gai family home after nearly a month of very hard work.” Two years ago, also after reader tips, we reported that this display returned after a 20+-year hiatus, 14 years after the death of family patriarch Phil Gai (Ron’s father), co-founder of the baking company and creator of the Christmas display – centered on the Madonna – that drew visitors from near and far every holiday season for more than two decades. You can see it in the 3200 block of 36th SW [vicinity map].
Got – or seen – a special display? Email us, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com; see past spotlights here, and listed in our Holiday Guide!
The Menashe Family Lights display is a popular backdrop for holiday photos just about every night of the season, but tonight is the one night with an extra reason to visit – Santa‘s annual stop. Until 10 pm, you can take a pic with Santa outside the bright lights at 5605 Beach Drive SW. If you can, bring a non-perishable food donation to help the West Seattle Food Bank feed thousands of neighbors in need. There’s one more special connection to Santa:
All season long, that mailbox amid the lights collects letters to Santa. (P.S. If you miss him at the Menashes’ tonight, other Santa photo ops are listed in our Holiday Guide.)
Two weeks until Christmas, and just one week left to get a tree from West Seattle’s only nonprofit lot – here’s an update from the Holy Rosary Tree Lot north of The Junction:
If you haven’t gotten your tree yet, Holy Rosary School’s tree lot received a fresh load last night. Trees, wreaths, garland and Seattle Lutheran poinsettias are available. Our tree-lot elves will also assist in getting your tree ready for transport.
The tree lot benefits not only Holy Rosary School, but also West Seattle Food Bank/Clothesline, Salvation Army Hickman House, and Seattle Lutheran High School (poinsettias only).
Bring 5 cans of food and get $5 off your purchase!
Open 9 am-9 pm today and Sunday, located behind Holy Rosary School (corner of 41st & Dakota).
Tree/wreath sellers are part of what you’ll find in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
2:30 PM: Seattle Fire is dispatching a “major water-rescue response” to 61st/Alki after the Coast Guard reported to them that “three or more paddleboarders are in distress.” This as the weather suddenly gets ugly again. Updates to come.
2:36 PM: They’re trying to get a better read on the location – the person(s) in trouble may be close to the state ferry Tacoma in Elliott Bay.
2:39 PM: An SFD boat has reached the three paddleboarders, and a boat from the ferry, and says they’re NOT in distress, so the response is being canceled.
11:19 AM: Lincoln Park is just one of the places where the overnight windstorm took out trees. (Thanks to Mindi Katzman for the top photo!) That’s also the major cause of the outages that cut power to almost 5,000 people in West Seattle overnight (here’s our as-it-happened coverage). About 450 customers are still out, mostly in Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy (WSB HQ included) – here’s a screengrab from the Seattle City Light map:
This also is the biggest outage still remaining in SCL’s entire service area. There are several other small pocket outages, including one affecting the West Seattle Health Club – trees came down along Longfellow Creek by the club (thanks to Mark Tiedemann for the photos):
The weather alert expired at 10 am as scheduled but it’ll still be breezy for the rest of the day. Storm-aftermath updates to come.
12:30 PM: Thanks for the tips! City Light has just returned to the 45th SW dead end south of Austin (which also was the problem location last time we lost power a few years back). Lines here go through a greenbelt.
They’ve gone into the greenbelt and chainsaw(s) can be heard.
2:15 PM: Heather reports via Twitter that the Admiral pocket is back. And the SCL map suggests part of “our” outage is restored – we are away from HQ so can’t confirm yet.
2:27 PM: Just arrived, and yes, after 11 hours, we’re back. Tallying the remaining outages now.
4:07 PM: Three spots in West Seattle still show as being out – the 49-customer pocket in Gatewood/south Morgan, 3 customers on Beach Drive near Cormorant Cove Park, and the Longfellow Creek tree trouble that took out West Seattle Health Club power.
The chilly, breezy weather isn’t stopping brothers Atticus and Dominic from their annual drop-off donation drive – until 3 pm, you can drive, ride, or walk into the lot behind Hope Lutheran and donate food and/or money for the West Seattle Food Bank, and/or “new or gently used coats of all sizes which will be placed by Westside Interfaith Network at their welcome table every Saturday in White Center.” The brothers – Atticus is a freshman at Raisbeck Aviation High School and Dominic is a 7th grader at Hope – say, “Thank you once again for helping us support the members of our community during these times.” You can enter the lot off SW Oregon just east of 42nd SW.
The weather should be calming, in time for a busy holiday Saturday. Here’s what’s scheduled to happen, mostly from our West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar (and if anything changes because of the storm, we’ll update this list):
5:51 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is in the 2600 block of SW Yancy [map], fighting what’s described as a working house fire. The resident(s) are reported to have gotten out safely.
5:58 PM: SFD reports the fire is out and was contained to the house’s basement.
12:12 AM: As the wind kicks up, we’ve got the first power-outage report. So far, we have texters from (updated) High Point, Westwood, South Delridge, Highland Park, and Sunrise Heights reporting an outage. Not mapped yet. Updates to come.
12:16 AM: It’s not mapped yet but as dispatchers send fire crews to alarms triggered by the outage, they’ve just announced 4,000 customers are out.
12:39 AM: City Light map’s still not showing this outage, but readers are reporting affected areas in the comments – thanks.
12:44 AM: Single-car crash reported in the 7700 block of Delridge Way SW, which is reported to be in the outage area.
12:48 AM: City Light map is finally showing this outage. 4,442 homes/businesses. We’ll add a screenshot of the map momentarily.
12:54 AM: Part of South Park is out too, the map shows.
1:16 AM: Outage down to 2,700+ customers – the rest just got their power back after about an hour. Here’s the updated map showing who’s still out:
2:07 AM: Map shows outage has downsized a bit again, to 2,523, but a texter says they “just saw another flash a few moments ago and the lights that were on in Highland Park in 8th Avenue went out.’ They also report an SCL crew checking out a nearby pole. Also, a pocket of 19 homes in west Admiral is out as of about 15 minutes ago:
2:19 AM: Another pocket: 75 in North Delridge as of about 10 minutes ago:
2:47 AM: And now we’re out in Upper Fauntleroy. … and back after a few minutes … and out again.
2:54 AM: The wind continues roaring. And now SFD’s being dispatched to what’s described as a transformer fire, in the 7800 block of 45th SW.
3:04 AM: After 15 minutes, “our” outage still hasn’t shown up on the map. Meantime, a texter down the hill in lower Gatewood just heard an explosion-type sound. (Update) City Light’s automated recording, which will provide information to people directly affected by outages, says ours is affecting 148 homes.
3:24 AM: Map’s updated. Three outages totaling 450 customers in Upper Fauntleroy and Gatewood.
Add that to the outages elsewhere, and it’s 3,060+ homes/businesses out right now around West Seattle. We’ve also just heard from Amy in Arbor Heights, who reports a tree through her house:
No injuries.
4:11 AM: We seem to have made it through a full hour with no new outages. Still very windy, and the National Weather Service has reaffirmed that its alert continues until 10 am. The NWS says barometric pressure is bottoming out right now “as a cold front sweeps through the area.” … The original outage is now down to 1,453 customers, per the SCL map. (added) City Light says this outage was caused by a “failed splice.”
5:54 PM: The Delridge pocket has power back; the original High Point (etc.) outage is now down to 712. The wind’s still raging. … So a total of almost 1,200 West Seattle customers (including us) are still out.
7:47 AM: Unchanged since last update.
10:15 AM: The original outage zone is now fully restored. That leaves the ~450 in Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy (us included) as the largest remaining West Seattle outage. Meantime, daylight reveals more downed trees – we’ll start a separate storm-damage/outage report soon – any updates/damage reports, please let us know via westseattleblog@gmail.com or (text) 206-293-6302 – thank you!
11:24 AM: We’re continuing coverage at this link.
(WSB photo from last June)
Five and a half months after historic Highland Park Improvement Club was heavily damaged by fire, the club and community are in the process of re-envisioning its future. This included an online town hall two months ago (WSB coverage here), and now it’s time for another one, online Wednesday. Here’s the announcement:
The rebuild begins with a design – and we want your input!
So many talented people live in our neighborhood, including award-winning architect Matt Wittman, of Wittman Estes. He’s been a longtime HPIC supporter, and he and his firm are passionate about designing the rebuild. Wittman Estes has been unanimously selected by the Board to help us envision and create the space for our next hundred years.
Meet Matt virtually at our next Town Hall, where he will help us to gather input from the community about what the future of HPIC could be, from programs we offer to the space we hold them in.
Wednesday, December 15 – 7 pm
Zoom link at hpic1919.orgMatt and his wife and partner in the firm, Landscape Architect Jody Estes, have lived in Highland Park for years, attending family Movie Nights way back when, and many Corner Bars too. Wittman Estes has been honored with numerous awards, including the national award-winning Tsuga Townhomes on Highland Park Way. In acknowledgement and support of HPIC’s volunteer spirit and our community, Matt and Jody, principals of the firm, have pledged to contribute a generous amount of their time pro-bono.
Matt and his team are helping us to develop an online survey to gather input from you regarding the re-visioning of the building – we will send out the survey before Town Hall #2.
That link is available now from the HPIC home page.
As always, we will start each day this weekend with a list of what’s happening. But tonight we’re pulling out a few holiday highlights for an extra mention:
JOIN A HOLIDAY SCAVENGER HUNT: Final weekend for this scavenger hunt. Organizer Alice Kuder says 23 teams are participating – almost double last year – and it’s not too late to jump in for the final weekend. Here’s another team selfie:
The Winter Wander website explains how to play.
SHOP THE FIRST-EVER HOLIDAY MARKET @ HERON’S NEST: If you haven’t been to The Heron’s Nest – just uphill, and yet a world away, from West Marginal Way – Saturday’s first-ever holiday market, 10 am-6 pm, is a perfect opportunity. Details are in our calendar listing. $1 entry fee. (4815 15th SW)
TAKE YOUR PIC WITH SANTA: Multiple chances this weekend – My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW) will host Santa 11 am-2 pm Saturday; he’s scheduled to visit the Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive SW) 6 pm-10 pm Saturday (bring a nonperishable-food donation); and you’ll find him at Tram’s Salon (4110 California SW) on Sunday, 11 am-2 pm
HIGHLAND PARK PTA’S COMMUNITY HOLIDAY PARTY: All are welcome to celebrate the season at Drunky Two Shoes (9655 16th SW, White Center) with the Highland Park Elementary PTA on Sunday, noon-4 pm. Santa photos, free cocoa bar for kids, drink specials for grownups, HPEPTA gets part of the proceeds.
SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON THE RUN: Finish the weekend with an invigorating and cheery tradition, the annual West Seattle Christmas Lights Run, 4:30 pm from West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – info here.
Check out our Holiday Guide for much more, this weekend and beyond – and let us know if you have something special going on and we don’t have it listed yet – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The report and photo are from Stephanie:
There has been a bike on the parking strip on SW Willow Street between 35th and 34th Ave SW since yesterday morning.
Tonight’s photo is from Valerie, who tells us about her display: “The inspiration this year was a ski lodge in the woods and the animals that live there. Please visit 3431 48th Ave SW [map] and enjoy a walk through a Woodland Wonderland.” We’re adding it to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide; you can also see all the featured displays archived here (newest to oldest). And if you have one to suggest – yours or someone else’s, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Though West Seattle recently lost a brunch place when Café Mia closed, if you’re looking for weekend brunch, you have a new option right around the corner. Seattle Fish Company has announced that it’s now serving brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, 9 am-noon. “The menu includes Classic Eggs Benedict, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, French Toast, Shrimp and Grits, Avocado Toast, Mimosas, and more!” says Sacha at Seattle Fish Company, which is at 4435 California SW.
Thanks to everyone who mentioned this (including Leigh, who sent the photo): The new West Marginal Way SW signal near the Duwamish Longhouse has been fixed, after hours of flashing red. SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells WSB, “The signal was repaired around 2 pm. A crew member replaced the controller, which appeared to be malfunctioning. We’ll bring the old controller to the repair shop to diagnose what the root cause of the problem was.” The signal was activated earlier this week. (P.S. If you encounter a malfunctioning signal or other road/path-related problem, 206-684-ROAD is the number to call – when you can do so safely.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tired of getting just toplines about the West Seattle Bridge “final repairs” that are getting under way now?
The project manager from repair contractor Kraemer North America presented a detailed briefing during this month’s West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting Thursday evening – the video recording should open below to the start (55 minutes into the meeting):
The key points and images from his presentation top our report:
CONTRACTOR PRESENTATION: Adam Dour, Kraemer’s project manager for the West Seattle Bridge Corridor projects, spoke – he said he was also involved with the rehab work last year, First, he described his company as a “bridge contractor – our specialty is bridges – we’ve been doing this for 110 years.” They’ve worked with state and local agencies around the region and country. He presented an overview of both the high and low bridges
For the high bridge, the green line on the top graphic is the pst-tensioning, and the blue and purple (interior) highlighting shows the epoxy injection and carbon-fiber polymer wrapping.
Other improvements – the project includes bridge deck overlay on the west end (Fauntleroy), removal and replacement of existing expansion joints, while some will be rehabilitated – “Bridge 131EA” will get some wrapping too near SR 99. “Not shown but equally important,” as Dour described it, the replacement of 4,000 feet of jersey barriers and 10 overhead sign structures.
(Photo courtesy By and By)
Since we first reported in September on the plan for a skate shop in the ex-Verizon space on the Senior Center of West Seattle‘s ground floor, the name’s been chosen – By and By – and today we have word it’s about to open. Here’s the update from proprietor Tony Croghan, who also owns 35th North on Capitol Hill:
We have been in a mad rush to get the new shop open in order to try and catch some holiday shopping. As I am sure you are aware, getting inventory has been a bit of a challenge in retail but we think we got enough to open up the doors!
(Photo from By and By – some of the local-flavor merch)
We are opening this Saturday 12/11 at 11 am. We have art showing from well-known local artist and designer Sasha Barr. Our hours will be Tuesdays-Saturdays 11 am-7 pm, Sundays 10 am-4 pm, closed on Mondays.
The only thing missing is roller skates, looks like we will not be stocking those until the spring, unfortunately.
We look forward to being a part of the greater West Seattle neighborhood.
The shop’s address is 4502 California SW.
(Lincoln Park photo sent by James)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
SCAVENGER HUNT: Alice Kuder presents the “Winter Wander” scavenger hunt, continuing through this weekend – still time to start playing! Details here.
DJ NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way).
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: Opening night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday-season production:
Twelfth Night Productions is excited to announce the return of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show with an original short by John Ruoff, The Case of the Missing Snowman. Both are playing together at Kenyon Hall.
Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast as the ensemble of characters bring the town of Bedford Falls to the stage. You will feel the magic as we return to the fateful Christmas Eve when George Bailey contemplates ending his life before he realizes the difference he makes in the lives of others. “No man is a failure who has friends.”
The live radio show will be performed at historic Kenyon Hall, one of West Seattle’s favorite venues, December 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 PM and December 12 and 19 at 3 PM. Tickets are available online at twelfthnightproductions.org or at Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th Ave. SW, starting an hour before the show on performance days. Prices are $20 for adults and $18 for students & seniors.
(7904 35th SW)
‘WE’VE BATTLED MONSTERS BEFORE’: Third weekend for the ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) musical, 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online. (4711 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC #1: The Adarna at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), doors at 7, music at 8.
LIVE MUSIC #2: ’80s night at Poggie Tavern (4717 California SW) in The Junction, 8 pm.
(added) MORE DJ’ING: DJ RC is at Alki Beach Pub (2722 Alki Avenue SW), 9 pm till close.
Are we missing anything? 206-293-6302 text/voice if it’s urgent, westseattleblog@gmail.com for something in the days/weeks ahead – thank you!
Just a few days until registration opens for classes and programs at city-run community centers in West Seattle (and citywide). Here’s one set of classes Seattle Parks wants you to know about:
Get into shape and meet new friends! Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering in-person fitness classes at local community centers this winter, including its Lifelong Recreation for Adults 50+.
Here are several winter offerings; each class title is linked to a page with online registration and more information. Classes begin Jan- Registration opens December 14 at Noon. Register here or call 206-684-5177.
Aerobics
Fitness
Line Dance
Pickleball Skills 101
Yoga
=ZumbaAND MORE! See full winter brochure.
Scholarships are available if you need help with the fees.
6:04 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
Today’s forecast starts quiet – then the Wind Advisory will be in effect 7 pm tonight to 10 am tomorrow.
WEEKEND ROAD WORK
*The Highway 99 tunnel will be closed overnight tonight both ways for maintenance.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.
Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF is still running a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
627th 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 (its icon problem has been fixed again); 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.
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
MACE-ATTACK SUSPECT CHARGED: On Monday, we published Chris‘s report of confronting a car prowler who sprayed him with bear mace. A suspect was arrested Monday and charged today – a repeat offender we’ve covered multiple times. 28-year-old Casey Carlstedt is charged with attempted second-degree robbery. The charging documents allege that Carlstedt “has a record of not following court orders and committed this offense while … another felony [was pending] in King County Superior Court,” so the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked a judge to set his bail at $50,000, and the request was granted. The documents also note:
The Defendant has an open Possession of Stolen Vehicle in King County Superior Court from October 8, 2021. The Defendant has the following criminal convictions: Violation of Anti- Harassment Order (2020), Harassment (2020), Violation of a No Contact Order (2020, 2016), Theft in the Second Degree (2016), Harassment (2017), Theft in the Third Degree (2017, 2017, 2016, 2016, 2015), Criminal Trespass in the First Degree (2017), Reckless Driving (2017), Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree (2015), Reckless Endangerment (2012), and Negligent Driving in the First Degree (2012).
We last reported on Carlstedt in the 2020 harassment cases, in which he violated an order to stay away from a certain house southwest of The Junction. Our 2020 report noted that we had “reported on him multiple times in 2017, including a prosecutor’s observation that he appeared to be ‘spiraling out of control’.” Those 2017 reports included this case, a bike theft in North Delridge, after which WSB readers helped the victim recover his bicycle and then led police to Carlstedt. This time, the court documents say, mace-attack victim Chris got tips from social media including photos that helped police identify the suspect because they’d arrested him before. They found him near the Junction Rite-Aid on Tuesday. The “open” stolen-vehicle case, by the way, involved police arresting Carlstedt October 8th after finding him sleeping in a Honda Civic three blocks away from the Junction building where it had been stolen. He was released from jail the next day; a charge of stolen-vehicle possession was filed four days after that. Before that, he had been out of jail since April, when last year’s harassment case ended with a plea bargain and a sentence that amounted to the nearly 200 days he’d already been in custody. Those documents also noted that he was expected to go into chemical-dependency treatment right after getting out.
THEFT VICTIM HIT AGAIN: One more Crime Watch note tonight – Margarita, whose food cart was stolen earlier this year, has been hit again:
Unfortunately my truck got broken into. Cracked my passenger window and stole a few hundred dollars worth of items out of the truck. I called the police. 46th and Lander. Do I have bad luck or what?! Please let our West Seattle neighbors know that the thieves are on the prowl!!!
We’re waiting to hear back from her about whether the stolen items are anything distinctive that people can watch for.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
If your nearest deciduous trees have any leaves left, they probably won’t by Saturday night. Weather watchers have been rumbling about an approaching storm for days, and now the National Weather Service has issued an official Wind Advisory alert for our area, in effect 7 pm Friday through 10 am Saturday: “South winds 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph expected.” Accompanying the wind: Heavy rain, according to the forecast. If you have cleanup to do before the storm arrives, Friday morning will probably be dry.
Lots of lights at Annette‘s house in North Delridge! She sent the photo with a note that, “My neighbors keep telling me to send my pics in” – thanks, neighbors! You can see Annette’s lights in person at 4837 Puget Blvd SW [map]. We’re showcasing lights every night through New Year’s Eve, so your suggestion – with or without photo(s) – is welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com; what we’ve shown so far is archived, newest to oldest, here.
| 7 COMMENTS