day : 16/11/2022 10 results

(WSB photos)

That’s a “floragraph” of longtime West Seattleite Kevin Johnston, destined to be part of a float at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 2. It was completed today at Forest Lawn in West Seattle, where Mr. Johnston was laid to rest earlier this year at age 59. The floragraph will be part of a parade float promoting life-saving organ donations; Mr. Johnston’s skin, tendons, tissue, and corneas were donated when he died last May. The floragraph is made of flowers and other natural materials. Those there for its completion today included Mr. Johnston’s mother Carol Johnston:

She is a musician, as was her son (read more about him here) – they both played in the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band, which Mr. Johnston’s father founded. Carol said the idea of being in a parade would have pleased her son and his father – she and her husband played banjo in many local parades. The float that’ll feature Kevin Johnston’s floragraph – and that of other donors around the country – is described this way:

The Donate Life float, themed “Lifting Each Other Up,” celebrates the power of organ, eye and tissue donation, with donors and recipients working together to support one another. A beautiful Chinese street dragon is the centerpiece of the float. In Chinese culture, dragons symbolize great power and are considered a sign of good fortune and strength. Dragons bring prosperity and abundance to everyone. The colorful dragon weaves through flowering trees, lanterns and fans, and is emblazoned with 44 memorial floragraphs, representing those who have given the gift of life.

Mr. Johnston was recommended to float planners by Forest Lawn and its parent company Dignity Memorial.

P.S. At today’s event, we also talked with LifeCenter Northwest, about what prospective organ/tissue donors need to do. They stress that you need to make your wishes known in advance – either via registration or through your family – there’s no time for them to think it over afterward, because the donation process has to happen ASAP.

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UPDATE: Crash blocks California SW for more than an hour after driver hits three parked cars

November 16, 2022 8:24 pm

| 60 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(First two photos by Christopher Boffoli)

8:24 PM: A crash involving two vehicles has police blocking California SW both ways in the 3400 block. No word yet on injuries.

8:30 PM: Adding photos. Police have called for a tow for one of the vehicles. Radio communication with dispatch indicates other vehicles might be damaged.

8:46 PM: Christopher Boffoli, who’s at the scene for WSB, reports witnesses say the silver car was headed northbound on California at a high rate of speed and hit parked cars. Police are talking with its driver.

8:51 PM: Police told Christopher that three parked cars were damaged in the crash.

(Added: Reader photo via email)

9:26 PM: He also has confirmed that no one was hurt. Police haven’t cleared the scene yet.

9:40 PM: Police just told dispatch the road is open “in all directions.”

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PUMP-STATION PROJECT: Alki lane closure ahead

November 16, 2022 7:40 pm

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| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Seattle Public Utilities photo)

Four months into the waterfront Alki Pump Station 38 project in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW, Seattle Public Utilities has provided a progress report. So far its contractor has:

-Completed the demolition of old equipment and structural elements inside of the pump station
-Began installing ventilation structure and piping to connect to the sewer main in the street
-Put in grating to allow easier access for workers in the pump station

Up next, the contractor plans to:

-Pour concrete for new hatches that will provide access to the pump station
-Restore the street, tentatively scheduled for this winter
-Install decorative litho-mosaic concrete artwork, a new and exciting process for the City. This is the final stage of the project and is tentatively scheduled for spring.

We featured the art plan – which also will include a railing – here last year. In the near term, the update also says a “temporary lane closure of Alki Avenue SW” for up to four days is ahead, starting as soon as the Monday after Thanksgiving. Crews need to do this so they can install a sewer pipe related to the pump-station work. SPU says the lane closure will be only during daylight hours.

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: If you were wondering about Five Guys …

November 16, 2022 5:55 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | Westwood

The question’s come up in comment discussions about other on-the-way restaurants — is Five Guys still coming to Westwood Village? It’s been five and a half months since we first reported the burger chain had appeared on the shopping center’s site plan. Since then, as we’ve replied in those comment discussions and email, the plan to convert the former Payless Shoe Source space has been proceeding through the building-permit system. And now for the first time, there’s a visible sign that Five Guys is indeed on the way – what you see above is what we noticed while driving through Westwood Village this afternoon. The company has yet to respond to inquiries about the timeline, so we don’t know how soon. The chain already has more than a dozen locations around the central Puget Sound area; closest one is in Ballard.

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Log House Museum marks a milestone and launches merch in time for holiday gift-giving

November 16, 2022 3:13 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

One of West Seattle’s official landmarks, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum, celebrated a milestone this week – its 25th anniversary. And that coincides with the launch of potential holiday gift-giving options – here’s the announcement:

For 25 years, the Log House Museum in Alki has operated as an award-winning destination for history, education, and community with the support of our wonderful members, volunteers, and donors.

To celebrate this major milestone and support the ongoing efforts of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, we’ve created a limited-edition, commemorative apparel design that’s now on sale, exclusively online. Shop now for T-shirts, Hoodies, and more, in unisex, women’s, and youth sizes at bonfire.com/store/southwest-seattle-historical-society

These items are only available online and will only be available through the end of 2022!

We’ll be shipping orders in two batches: the first in time for Christmas delivery (order cutoff date Nov 30), and the next batch accepting orders December 1-31 for delivery in early 2023. After that, these items will be gone forever! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this moment in our story, and show your support by wearing it.

You can also easily and securely add a donation with your order, or make a direction donation via our website. All proceeds will benefit the big plans ahead for our programs serving the Duwamish Peninsula and at our beloved Alki home.

Thank you for your continued support of the Log House Museum through our first 25 years and beyond. We wouldn’t be here without you, and we hope to keep serving our West Seattle community for generations to come. Read more about the origins of our historic home, here.

P.S. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s annual member meeting happens at the museum (61st/Stevens) at 10 am this Saturday (November 19), featuring a talk by Ken Workman – a descendant of Chief Seattle – “speaking to the truth of being a West Seattleite.” Non-members also welcome, RSVP required.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Kia; car prowl; meeting reminder

November 16, 2022 1:17 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

STOLEN KIA; Emailed by Rachel:

My car was stolen over the weekend:

Make: Kia
Model: Forte
Year: 2010
Color: Black
License Plate: ADU5192
Case Number: 22-307144

It was stolen over the weekend (likely on Saturday) from the corner of 14th Avenue SW and Kenyon Street.

The stolen car resembles this stock photo.

CAR PROWL: Texter reports their Jeep Cherokee was broken into overnight Monday/Tuesday. It happened on 63rd SW in the Alki area.

MEETING REMINDER: Another reminder – tomorrow night (Thursday, November 17), 7 pm, is the long-planned community meeting with police at the Southwest Precinct. If you have a question about a specific incident or general trend/concern, this is the time/place to ask. In addition to local police, City Attorney Ann Davison is scheduled to speak. The precinct is at Delridge/Webster; the public entrance is off the parking lot, just east of Home Depot’s south entrance on Webster.

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WEST SEATTLE SHORES: First fall/winter ‘king tides’ soon

November 16, 2022 11:54 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(January 2022 photo by Holli Margell)

The so-called “king tides” of fall/winter make their first appearance starting on Thanksgiving Day. The morning high tide hits 12 feet at 5:36 am that day, and keeps climbing from there – 12.4 feet at 6:26 am Friday, November 25 and peaking at 12.6 feet at 7:17 am Saturday, November 26, with the highest high tide staying at 12 feet or above for the rest of the month and on to December 3rd. High tides reach 12 feet and over again December 8-12, with the highest tides of December peaking during Christmas/Hanukkah, 13 feet on December 25-26. Winter’s highest high tides are about a month after that, 13.1 feet on January 24-25. The high tides themselves aren’t always problematic unless weather conditions compound them, as was the case in early January this year (photo above).

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: Art, theater, donuts, and more

November 16, 2022 10:03 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: Art, theater, donuts, and more

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Kevin Stock, who “caught this heron sipping a drink of water from our neighbor’s bird bath on this cold November morning”)

Here’s what’s up in the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

DONUT FUNDRAISER: Last day to order Krispy Kreme donuts to pick up Friday at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW), whose PTSA is selling them as a fundraiser.

DONATION DRIVE BEGINS: Our Holiday Guide includes a growing list of holiday-season donation drives, many at local businesses, and one starts today – West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) is collecting gifts for kids/teens served by Treehouse – see the wish list here.

ARTIST RECEPTION: Celebrate the artists of “Shapes of Our Community“ 6-8 pm tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

TRIVIA x 4: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.

‘THE CURIOUS MRS. SAVAGE’: Another chance to see the West Seattle High School production, 7:30 pm in the school theater (3000 California SW). Our calendar listing has the synopsis and ticket link (note that this production offers a streaming option too).

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: Early Thanksgiving ordering deadlines

November 16, 2022 9:14 am

| Comments Off on From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: Early Thanksgiving ordering deadlines

| Holidays | West Seattle news

With Thanksgiving just eight days away, if you want someone else to do all or most of the prep for your holiday dinner, you’re running out of time to get your advance orders in. The WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide has a list of deadlines, starting with tonight for holiday meal kits from Salty’s on Alki, this Saturday afternoon (November 19th) for Dream Dinners-West Seattle, and Sunday (November 20th) for Pecos Pit and PCC-West Seattle. (All four of those businesses are WSB sponsors.) If it’s just not Thanksgiving without a pie, A La Mode Pies in The Junction has a Monday (November 21) deadline. That’s just part of the list in our guide, where all the Thanksgiving-related info is at the top as we start the season. If you have anything to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Hello, Wednesday

November 16, 2022 6:02 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Hello, Wednesday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, November 16th.

WEATHER

Even more sunshine today, with a high around 50. (Tuesday’s high was 54, two degrees above normal for that date.)

TRANSIT STATUS

–Metro buses are on their regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is running its fall/winter schedule (still daily, all dayparts, but no late Friday/Saturday runs).

-Still a 2-boat schedule for WSF’s Triangle Route (check here for alerts/updates).

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).

Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.

1st Ave. S. Bridge: The south route.

Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.

All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

If you see trouble on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.

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