West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
Another Bald Eagle with apparent HPAI – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza – has been found, this time in Lincoln Park. Community naturalist and urban-wildlife responder Kersti Muul rescued this one too – as she had with another in Salmon Creek Ravine less than two weeks ago – and sent the photos, video, and report:
This is really sad news for West Seattle. HPAI seems to be running a course here and Tuesday morning the latest bird to be impacted is one of the mated pair from Lincoln Park. This pair successfully fledged two eaglets this year from their nest above Colman Pool.
I received a call around 8 regarding an eagle on the ground. Ironically it was near their old nest in the Grand fir by the trail junctions. When I arrived to assess, it was very obvious that HPAI had taken hold. It was having the beginnings of neurological issues.
It was coughing, and also calling to its mate, which was heartbreaking. I later learned that a Parks employee heard the pair in that area at 5 pm the previous night, which struck him odd; they don’t usually hang out there. I surmise the eagle was grounded at this point.
I transported the eagle to PAWS.
HPAI is not trivial; this is the second eagle in the area in less than two weeks, along with the snow goose. We also had a confirmed case in West Seattle recently of a Peregrine falcon. The mates are at high risk and I won’t be surprised if they show up grounded soon. They are obviously eating infected waterfowl. Diligently watching out every day now. HPAI is going to have to burn itself out.
An important reminder from Kersti – this illness is not a current problem for the birds you’d most commonly see in your yard, songbirds and hummingbirds.
No need to wait for Small Business Saturday. Every day should be Small Business Day – and some West Seattle indies are getting right out of the holiday gates on Black Friday (or sooner):
That’s the promotional video Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) has unleashed for the big sale TRG and co-housed The Bass Shop (also a WSB sponsor) are having – TRG proprietor Frank Gross calls it “Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Super Sale Sunday weekend!” He’s offering 15% off hundreds of new, used, and vintage guitars, amplifiers, and pedals. You can even shop early on the TRG website – the web sale starts Thanksgiving morning. Shop doors open 10 am Friday.
Three other WSB sponsors are having sales to entice you to shop local:
–Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW) calls theirs “Fliesgiving” – Friday through Monday, “deals on select rods and reels, and a $25 gift card for every $200 spent.” EWA opens 10 am Friday.
–Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska) is celebrating their 13th anniversary through Sunday – 20 percent off skis, boots, and bindings; 15 percent off snowboards, boots, and bindings; 25 percent off accessories. Mountain to Sound opens at 11 am Friday.
–Lauren’s Jewelry (Westwood Village) is having an in-store sale Friday morning, 8 am-noon, “lots of items on sale” plus free gift wrapping,
All through West Seattle’s business districts, you’ll find reasons to shop close at home. Another example: If you’re nostalgic for old-fashioned get-up-early-on-Black-Friday shopping, don’t miss Record Store Day at Easy Street (California/Alaska), which opens at 7 am Friday for that occasion. Throughout the season, we keep a Shopping Spotlight list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, so if your business is doing something special, let us know!
Though clouds swept back in this afternoon – including the lenticular cloud over Mount Rainier shown in Greg Snyder‘s photo, above – the National Weather Service says we can expect a sunny Thanksgiving Day. That’s especially good news if you’re going to join in any of the outdoor opportunities for the holiday morning that are featured atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide – and/or for safer traveling if you’re headed out to see family/friends. The rain could be back as soon as Friday.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
STOLEN VAN: The report and photo are from Andrea:
1988 white Toyota Van Wagon “Wonder Wagon” stolen from West Seattle the week of November 13-19. License Plate: AFV4867
Report filed with Seattle Police Southwest Precinct, incident #2022-307131. Please contact police with any information: 206-733-9800.
The van was stolen in the Morgan Junction area.
CHARGING-STATION VANDALISM: Via text, this report just in: “Someone vandalized and cut off the charging cord on the electric car charging station in front of the bowling alley.” The texter has reported this to Seattle City Light, and also noted that this happened recently at charging stations in Burien.
Yes, the day after Thanksgiving is known for shopping and leftovers. This year, it’ll also be a big day for football. At 11 am our time, the U.S. Men’s National Team plays its second World Cup soccer match, this time facing England. At least (updated with additions via comments) seven West Seattle establishments plan to open early for viewing:
OUNCES (3803 Delridge Way SW) is opening at 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE BREWING (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW): Also open at 10 am.
THE BEER JUNCTION (4511 California S) is opening at 11 am. (It’s also the start of Coffee Beer Week.)
PROST WEST SEATTLE (3407 California SW): Open early for every US and Germany World Cup match.
THE WESTY (7908 35th SW): Open at 10 am
TALARICO’S (4718 California SW): Open at 11 am
HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE (7789 Highland Park Way SW): Watch party at 11 am
Anyplace else? Please let us know – thank you!
10:55 AM: Orcas are in Elliott Bay this morning, reports Kersti Muul. She says they’re Southern Residents from J-Pod. Let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photo by Greg Snyder, as posted in comment below)
2:34 PM: According to a text from Kersti and a comment below by D-Mom, at least some of the whales have turned around to head back northbound. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail has been out watching them too and shared this link via email with context on the salmon runs and weather that have ultimately affected the orcas’ travel pattern this year.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Added two photos – above and below – by Robin Sinner.
(Looking across Elliott Bay – Tuesday photo by David Gunwaldsen)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, here’s our list for the rest of today:
TURKEY DISTRIBUTION: If you are in need, the West Seattle Food Bank‘s last pre-holiday distribution is until 2 pm today. (35th/Morgan)
LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists. (And check out what’s new!)
JAZZ AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 6:30 pm, it’s jazz-duet night at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: 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; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm trivia at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); 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.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Tonight at 7:30 pm, you can catch the preview performance of “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
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!
Family and friends will gather one week from today to remember Mary F. Abernethy. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community:
Mary Frances Abernethy, 90, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022. Mary was born on August 24, 1932 to Everett E. Herron and Mary Clark Herron on Beacon Hill, where she attended Catholic school. The family moved to West Seattle, where Mary attended Holy Rosary Catholic Girls High School until her graduation in 1950.
In 1955, Mary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Seattle University. On November 5 of the same year, Mary and James D. Abernethy were married.
Mary then stayed home to raise their four children. Once her youngest was in the fourth grade, Mary went to work at Schick Shadel hospital as a rehab nurse.
Upon retirement, Mary enjoyed sewing and attending classes and other social activities through the Seattle Parks Department. Mary and Jim enjoyed going on road trips in their camper van, as well as going on cruises.
Mary is survived by her husband Jim, her children Bob (Annelle) Abernethy, Carol (Steve) Heurion, Kathy Vincent, and Jim (Blanca) Abernethy, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In her final years, Mary struggled with dementia. Her family would like to acknowledge her caregivers and thank them for their dedication, kindness, and compassion for her during her illness.
Funeral mass and reception to celebrate Mary’s life will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in West Seattle. (7000 35th Ave SW)
Please share memories, photos & condolences with Mary’s family on the Tribute Wall at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Mary-Abernethy
Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
7:06 AM: Now that the big overnight power outage is mostly over, on with traffic watch. It’s the day before Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 23rd.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy forecast for today, high near 50. (Wondering how much rain we got yesterday after almost 2 weeks with none? The official gauge at Sea-Tac Airport caught an inch and a fifth.)
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.
2:42 AM: Thanks for the tips. Still awaiting the full extent of an outage that appears to be centered in the Fauntleroy area. We don’t know the cause yet, but police were just dispatched to check out an Upper Fauntleroy resident’s report of flashes at about that time. Another dispatch says it’s a possible problem around 45th/Wildwood. Updates to come.
2:47 AM: Almost 5,000 customers per update on City Light‘s map. A member of our Upper Fauntleroy household with a west-facing window also reports seeing the flashes (we didn’t lose power, though). Added a screengrab from the outage map – broadly described, this is mostly west of 35th SW, from Seaview south to Brace Point.
3:05 AM: Now our standard reminder that City Light’s “estimated time of restoration” is always just a guesstimate and often changes, so don’t take much stock in it. No further info so far. The map suggests some signalized intersections, like California/Morgan, are affected; if you have to go out, remember that if a signal’s out, that means the intersection is a four-way stop.
3:32 AM: One hour now since the outage started. SCL has tweeted an important reminder, especially considering many refrigerators are full of holiday food: Don’t open your fridge/freezer.
4:32 AM: Two hours now. Nothing new to report.
5:59 AM: Some commenters report restoration moments ago. … The map says 3,100+ are still out.
6:59 AM: All but 364 customers now have power back.
City Light spokesperson Jenn Strang tells WSB, “Most customers except for a small pocket around the immediate vicinity will be restored momentarily. A larger crew will be coming to make further repairs this morning. As of right now, we only know that this is a result of a wire coming down but we don’t have the exact cause. We hope to know more later.”
10:24 AM: After almost eight hours, those last 300+ customers are still out. A reader texted this photo of where the SCL crew is working:
That’s near Wildwood Market.
11:47 AM: The crews are still on scene, Meantime, the outage map has updated to attribute this to “bird/animal contact,” and a commenter says it appears to have been a Great Blue Heron.
12 PM: SCL’s Strang says crews did find that bird in the outage area. Meantime, for anyone still out, she says it shouldn’t be too much longer.
12:10 PM: And SCL says everybody’s back on.
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