West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
The holiday is almost here. But not everyone is excited about cooking. If that’s where you fall, here are three things to know, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
(WSB file photo, The Hall at Fauntleroy Thanksgiving)
#1 – The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s free sit-down community Thanksgiving dinner is back. Noon-3 pm Thursday, all are welcome at The Hall, which is on the south end of historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). This is a two-decade-plus tradition brought to you by DSquared Hospitality, parent company of Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering. They provide the turkey and fixings – with a vegetarian option – and donated desserts (drop one off 9 am-noon on Thanksgiving if you can help with that) wrap up the meal.
#2 – The West Seattle Eagles are also ready to welcome hundreds into their HQ on the north end of The Junction (4426 California SW) – they’ll be serving a free turkey dinner too. Their doors are open that day for any and all community members – all ages, too (their bar will be closed that day).
#3 – If you’d rather dine/drink at a restaurant/bar on the holiday, every year we compile a list of West Seattle establishments that say they’re planning to be open. So far we have 10 on the list – see it here, and check back Thursday, as we’ll likely have some additions. (If you know of someplace that’ll be open, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!)
If you visit the Holocaust Center for Humanity downtown any time soon, you’ll see that photo of West Seattle High School student Gaia Corvino. One of her teachers, Chrissy Dahms, sent this report on the special honor from the center:
Junior Gaia Corvino was honored by the Holocaust Center for Humanity for her work creating a video with WSHS Black Student Union. The video was on the experiences and challenges of Black students at West Seattle High School. It was shown schoolwide during Black History Month in 2022 to raise awareness among students about what it is like to be a student of color, particularly a Black student, at a white-majority high school. Gaia’s photo and description of her activism is currently on display on the Upstander Wall at the Holocaust Center for Humanity. Gaia was nominated for this honor by Ms. Dahms, her AP World History Teacher.
The Holocaust Center for Humanity is at 2045 2nd Avenue and is open to the public on Sundays.
(Many decaying spawner carcasses are adding nutrients to the creek. Photo by Tom Trulin)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
For the second year in a row, volunteer watchers tallied an exceptional number of coho spawners – 254! – in Fauntleroy Creek. This count exceeded last year’s 244 by 10, putting it in the No. 2 position behind 2012’s all-time high of 274.
Volunteers saw the first spawners in modern memory in 1994 and began organized watches in 1999. This year’s watch ran Oct. 16 – Nov. 22, with fish seen October 25 – November 15.
Why such a high number two years in a row? Veteran creek steward Dennis Hinton gives a lot of credit to human intervention.
“Three out of the last four years, volunteers have had to relocate drift logs at the creek mouth to ensure spawners could get in from Fauntleroy Cove. Most years, we’ve left them alone in the belief that they would float at high tide. This year’s log jam was especially tight, however. After we got the necessary state permit, Mark Sears led a work party in mid October to clear a path, then he and Tom Trulin checked the logs daily. This diligence paid off.”
(This spawning pair displaced eggs from an earlier redd to build their own. Photo by Mark Sears)
Another likely factor, Dennis said, was that this was an especially good year for salmon returning to Puget Sound. A super pod of orcas (J, K, and L) was in the area for several days and they would not have been here without finding ample fish to eat.
Other factors: High tides, paired with low barometric pressure, gave spawners the lift they needed to enter the creek. And precipitation was sufficient to flush the creek so that they could smell fresh water.
The spawner number was not the only count of note.
“We had a real uptick in public awareness and volunteerism this year,” Dennis said. “More than two dozen watchers took turns documenting spawners and talking with visitors. Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland opened their property so that an exceptional 440-plus people of all ages could get to creek level.”
Watchers noted where they saw spawning, and volunteers will be checking those locations this winter for “home hatch” fry to emerge from their gravel redds. They also noted a lot of fingerlings from last year’s spawning as well as cutthroat trout in for the thousands of coho eggs displaced when late spawners dug out the redds of early spawners.
To learn more about the creek, current volunteer opportunities, and the watershed stewardship fund for habitat maintenance, visit fauntleroywatershed.org.
2 PM: Police have reported a person with a gunshot wound to the leg at Delridge/Thistle. More information as we get it.
2:03 PM: Texter says nearby Chief Sealth International High School is sheltering in place. A Seattle Fire “scenes of violence” medical response is now arriving in the Delridge/Thistle area as well as more police.
2:12 PM: Officers told dispatch they’ve found evidence – “three shell casings so far” – that the shooting happened in the 8800 block of Delridge. There’s also word that a Metro bus captured video of the shooting.
2:15 PM: Our crew at the scene says all they’ve been able to learn is that the victim is male. Meantime, police now report finding five casings “so far.”
2:19 PM: Police are looking for two suspects, one of which they have described to dispatch as a white or Hispanic male, 5’8″, gray sweater, brown pants, black Nike shoes with a white swoosh, silver pistol. The victim, who was described as alert/conscious, is being taken to Harborview. … The second suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’10”, black hair, black sweater, dark-blue jeans, black shoes. … As noted by commenters, Denny International Middle School (which is adjacent to CSIHS) also is in shelter-in-place.
2:40 PM: Police have just given clearance for the schools to lift their sheltering-in-place. No one in custody so far. Photos added above.
2:56 PM: A commenter uploaded this security video in which you hear the shots and a voice asking “Why’d you do that?”
Then two people are briefly seen on the right edge of the video, running.
3:45 PM: Police say the victim is 17 years old. Their update otherwise includes only one other bit of additional information: “Witnesses reported seeing a group of five or six young men fighting near Delridge Way and Trenton Street prior to the shooting.” They also request tips on their hotline, 206-233-5000.
ADDED 7:08 PM: Commenter TBD‘s video, mentioned below – this is from a camera on the rear of their vehicle:
When Locöl reopens at 3 pm today after being closed since Friday, some changes will be in place. Most notably, a new owner – Kevin Beardsley, at left below with managers April Savage and Ian Joyce:
(WSB photos)
We stopped by on Monday to find out what’s changing – and what isn’t.
The restaurant/bar at 7902 35th SW is changing its name slightly – Locöl Kitchen and Bar replaces the original Locöl Barley and Vine. That’ll be a clearer representation of what they are – especially the “bar” part, since now Locöl has a full liquor license, after 12 years of serving only wine and beer.
The full cocktail menu won’t roll out until around the first of the year, but they’ll be offering what you might call some teasers – tastes – before then.
They’ve also done a bit of a refresh – some paint, for example.
The food menu isn’t changing much – it gets some new dishes every few months anyway. The popular pork carnitas tacos, for one, are definitely staying. They might even get better, as Locöl plans to have all its tortillas sourced soon from nearby Milpa Masa. And that fits with the overall theme of local, made-from-scratch food – the menu also spotlights “comfort food”; twice-baked potatoes are popular too, as are sharable plates.
Also ample vegetarian options, the Locöl crew notes. And beyond the as-local-as-possible food, they’ll continue to showcase local art:
Locöl is 21+ and also has a covered, heated patio out back with room for up to 20 people. Hours are 3-10 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 1-10 pm Saturdays, 1-8 pm Sundays, closed Mondays for now (but hoping to change that as staffing allows). The 3-6 pm Happy Hour is staying too.
Just in from Metro, two problems affecting the West Seattle Water Taxi route.
First – M/V Doc Maynard is out of service until further notice because of propeller damage. Metro says M/V Spirit of Kingston will fill in as needed.
Second – a shortage of crew is canceling some runs tonight:
Lack of crew will force the reduction of service for tonight’s evening commute
These runs have been canceled for tonight
*The 5:35 p.m. and 6:05 p.m. sailings from downtown to West Seattle
*The 5:45 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. sailings from West Seattle to downtown
(The Vashon route has some cancellations too.)
Before the cooking and feasting, you have a few ways to get moving on Thursday. The sun is supposed to be back just in time for the outdoor options, too. From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
(West Seattle Runner photo from 2018 Gobble Gobble Group Run)
GOBBLE GOBBLE GROUP RUN: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is bringing back its holiday-morning run, 8 am from Alki. If you can, bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank. Meetup location and other details are in our calendar listing.
THANKSGIVING NATURE WALK: West Seattle naturalist Ann is organizing this – meet at 8:45 am at the “Luna Girls on Alki” sculpture north of Salty’s – details in our calendar listing.
THANKSGIVING DONATION CLASS: 9 am Power Flow class at Dragonfly (3270 California SW), benefiting West Seattle Food Bank – info in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE YMCA: If you want to work out at the Y, the Triangle HQ (but not Fauntleroy) will be open 7 am-11 am on Thanksgiving. (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor)
Anything to add to the list? Email us! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Latest “live” photo from SDOT traffic camera at California/Alaska)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, here’s our list for the rest of today:
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: A local way to take national action – participating in the 10:30 am drop-in weekly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). They’re focusing now on the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff.
ANNIVERSARY SALE: Get your winter gear at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor; 3602 SW Alaska), which continues its 13th-anniversary sale today. Store’s open 11 am-7 pm today.
COVID VACCINATIONS: Pop-up clinic at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), noon-5 pm.
CHESS CLUB: Play chess at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1:30 pm. Beginners welcome!
DONATION DROPOFF TO HELP STUDENTS: Today’s the first of three Tuesdays on which volunteers are collecting donations outside the north entrance of West Seattle High School to help make “care packages” for students to use during. winter break. Our calendar listing includes info on what they need. 3-5 pm (3000 California SW)
FREE EARLY THANKSGIVING DINNER: TheHomeSkillit is planning to serve a free meal 4-7 pm at Delridge P-Patch (5071 Delridge Way SW), Donations accepted if you want to help cover their costs.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: New start time for the longstanding weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can always see more, and preview future events, via our event calendar – if you have something to add, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If your year-end financial planning includes saving more – Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor, with a branch at 4505 California SW in The Junction) wants you to know it’s just raised the rates for its CD Specials. Verity is now offering 3.75% for 25-month CDs and 3.50% for 13-month CDs. Saving with a credit union helps strengthen the community, Verity notes – your deposit in turn helps them make loans to small businesses, for example. Even if you’re not a member yet, you can join Verity for $5 (which also entitles you to membership features from financial coaching to nationwide access to a network of 30,000+ ATMs) You can open the CD online – no need to go to the branch – and you can get one with as little as $100. Start by joining here (no prerequisites – Verity is a community-chartered credit union, so it’s open to all).
8:29 AM: Crash at Delridge/Trenton.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, November 22nd – two days until Thanksgiving.
WEATHER
Rainy, windy weather predicted for today, high near 50.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS + HOLIDAY PREVIEW
–Metro buses are on regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts. (HOLIDAY PREVIEW: Thursday will be a Sunday schedule, Friday will be normal weekday.)
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is running its fall/winter schedule – still daily, all dayparts, but no late Friday/Saturday runs. (HOLIDAY PREVIEW: No Water Taxi service Thursday or Friday.)
-Still a 2-boat schedule for WSF’s Triangle Route – check here for alerts/updates. (HOLIDAY PREVIEW: On Thursday, the Triangle Route will be on a weekend 2-boat schedule.)
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 a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
| 2 COMMENTS