West Seattle, Washington
05 Thursday
D‘s debit-card number was stolen even though the card itself was not. Here’s her story, with a message for you:
Somehow-someway, my debit card number has been compromised, likely at a business point of sale from somewhere in my neighborhood, Highland Park-White Center-Arbor Heights.
Yesterday someone was using my debit card numbers to drain my bank account at the Arbor Heights 7-11 ATM while my card and I were elsewhere.
My bank texted/called me around 3 PM yesterday with an alert that $120 was being withdrawn out of my account from the ATM at the 9200 35th Ave SW 7-11. I…was at Joann Fabrics in Tukwila with my card safely tucked in my pocket.
I responded to the bank fraud analyst immediately. They asked if I had withdrawn $$$ at 2:45 and then again at 2:46, then asked about all of the places I’d been in the last 2 days – including my grocery purchase at QFC the night before.
I’ve contacted the police and am headed to meet the 7-11 manager this morning to see about getting a video for the investigators.
It is a bit shocking but I guess not particularly surprising. I’m just thankful that I had my bank notification buttons set to contact me so quickly, and thankful I still have enough to pay bills. I will have to make a claim with the bank during business hours tomorrow and will likely get the money back.
I guess I’m just writing to you so you can let your readers know to be vigilant with their cards – or make sure that they have account notifications set on their card use at the very least.
D. has a temporary SPD report # so far – T22029992. Meantime, be aware there are many ways card-number theft can happen; in addition to signing up for notifications, here are ways to reduce the chance you’ll be hit.
Tonight’s West Seattle Christmas lights spotlight shines on Ryan‘s house on Genesee Hill, 47th SW between Dakota and Andover, where the lights are synched to music. They had a Halloween show, and now one for the holiday season!
The music and lights run from 5 pm-9 pm and the show is about 30 minutes in length. Folks can listen from inside their car via FM radio or they are also welcome to bundle up, bring some hot chocolate, and listen to the music from the sidewalk. To make this a family event, some of the song lyrics are displayed for anyone that wants to sing along.
Got lots of lights? Seen someplace you want to tell us about? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (See what we’ve shown so far, archived newest to oldest – including past years – here. And current lights/music shows like this one are also listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
The West Seattle Community Orchestras invite you to two free concerts this week – if you haven’t already seen them in our Holiday Guide or Event Calendar, here’s the full announcement:
The West Seattle Community Orchestras are returning to our home at Chief Sealth International High School to kick off our 20th season of winter concerts. We have been online and in alternate performance spaces for almost 3 years, so it is incredibly exciting to be back at Sealth, performing in the hall.
Tuesday 12/6 at 6 PM is the Debut Orchestra, conducted by Rachel Nesvig, and Concert Orchestra, conducted by Bryan Kolk. Both groups are playing a selection of pieces, including several timely Holiday pieces.
Friday, 12/9 at 7 PM, the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Anna Wittstruck, is performing a selection of pieces, and we are so excited to showcase the Elgar Cello Concerto with soloist Alastair MacRae. Mr. MacRae is a local artist joining us from Tacoma, where he is the Cordelia Wikarski-Miedel Artist in Residence and cello instructor at the University of Puget Sound, as well as the cellist of the Puget Sound Piano Trio.
This should be a fantastic set of free concerts; we are so excited to see the community again, and provide some indoor entertainment after the week of snow!
(While there’s no admission charge, WSCO, as a nonprofit, is always happy to accept donations.) CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle.
Family and friends will gather Tuesday to remember Daniel L. Nitkey, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:
Daniel Leroy Nitkey was born August 29, 1944, in The Dalles, Oregon; the first child of John W. Nitkey and Frances L. Fagan Nitkey. Danny died in Everett on November 25, 2022, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family.
As a young boy he built go-carts and raced them down 39th Ave and Marine View Drive with his friends and was a master at playing marbles – he started with a small bag of marbles and ended up with a large jar of them. Danny learned to drive on the country roads in Harrison, Idaho when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Sealth High School in West Seattle in 1962. After graduation, Danny worked for Nitkey Construction, his father’s company, before joining the U.S. Army, serving from 1963 to 1965 during the Vietnam War.
His parents predeceased him. He is survived by his children Cheryl, Roy, and Michelle Nitkey; his siblings Joan Kocharhook (Steve), Susan Griffin, Frances Kahler (Rick), Kathy Hostenske, and Lawrence (Eliza). Danny has five grandchildren – Anthony (Kate) and Brittany Modica, Hannah Nitkey, Ryan Keller, and Charlie Stensel, and three great-grandchildren – Laila Flores, Nicole Nitkey, and Isaiah Feil, and many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 on December 6 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 7000 35th Ave SW. Mass will be preceded by recitation of the Rosary at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, Idaho, near his grandfather Andrew Nitkey.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Providence Hospital in Everett and Hospice for their care of Danny. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John W. and Frances (Fagan) Nitkey Endowed Scholarship at Gonzaga University, Gift Accounting, 502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258-0098. Gifts can be made online or by phoning Gonzaga University at (509) 313-6142.
Live stream of Funeral Mass can be found at: olgseattle.org/livestreaming-at-olg
(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)
(Photos courtesy Rotary Club of West Seattle)
The Rotary Club of West Seattle has announced its most recent round of honors for local students. Above is Angel Ramirez, who is studying at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and is the Rotary’s SSC Career Link Student of the Year, receiving a $2,000 scholarship that the club says “will enable him to complete his second year in South Seattle College’s Welding Program and receive his Associate’s Certificate, launching him on a very rewarding career.” Meantime, the club also announced its Students of the Month for three local high schools – below, Daryll Aguila at Chief Sealth International HS:
Ethan Nguyen at West Seattle High School:
And Drew Atkinson at Summit Atlas:
The Rotary Club’s Students of the Month receive $100 cash prizes. The club explains its award/scholarship program for local schools as follows:
At four of West Seattle Rotary’s weekly meetings during 2022-23 (in November, December, February and March), Student of the Month (SoM) Awards will be presented for Chief Sealth Int’l High, Summit Atlas High, and West Seattle High. For each school, a counselor introduces the Awardee, the Awardee presents a personalized bio-sketch, and Rotarians have a brief Q&A opportunity.
Each Awardee receives $100, an Award Certificate, and the opportunity to be their school’s Student of the Year (SoY) Awardee, chosen in early April by their school from among the four SoMs. In late April, from among these three school SoYs, the Youth Services Committee of West Seattle Rotary will choose one overall West Seattle Rotary SoY.That overall SoY winner will receive a $6,000 scholarship. Each of the two runners-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Students in West Seattle’s two alternative high school programs, South Seattle College – Career Link and Southwest Youth & Family Services – GED Prep, do not progress in a traditional four-year pathway of Freshman -> Sophomore -> Junior -> Senior -> High School Graduation -> College Admission. Working with administrators in each of these two alternative high schools, West Seattle Rotary designed customized programs that work for them.
For South Seattle College – Career Link, there are no SoM and one SoY is chosen in the Fall from students who obtained their high school diploma and matriculated to South Seattle College during the prior Summer.
For Southwest Youth & Family Services – GED Prep, there are two Students of the Semester (SoS), one each in the Winter and Spring. From those two, the Youth Services Committee will select the overall SoY, who will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
You can find out more about the Rotary Club and its programs here.
(Snow skull – photo sent today by Bradi)
We’ve seen snow/rain showers so far this afternoon – but after this, the word “snow” does not appear in this week’s forecast – temperatures are expected to inch back toward normal (40s day, 30s night) and precipitation will fall as rain.
(WSB photo – seen Saturday in Gatewood planting strip)
In the official gauge at Sea-Tac Airport, yesterday’s snow total was 2.6 inches – a record for that date – and so far this season the total is 4.4 inches. (December 3 is also in the weather-record books for 3.77 inches of rain in 2007 – Longfellow Creek deluged Delridge that day, as our photos show.)
On Friday night, we reported on a sudden SDOT announcement that more speed humps were planned for Alki/Harbor Avenues, as well as a section of raised center divider. Thanks to a tip this morning from Carolyn, we learned that the crews are already out today doing some of the work – as of our check about an hour ago, they had outlined six locations for speed humps, and were also restriping the angled parking at Duwamish Head:
Here’s where we saw the six sets of speed-hump markings, all on Harbor Avenue SW except for the last one:
-Just east of Seacrest
-Just east of Don Armeni
-2 sets alongside Don Armeni itself
-Just west of Don Armeni
-1210 Alki
While we were out photographing those, SDOT’s Ethan Bergerson replied to our Friday followup question about the location of the raised center divider: “The raised center divider will be in the curved part of the road between SW California Place and Luna Park. There will be multiple segments with gaps to allow cars to turn in and out of driveways.” He also said that the restriping of the Duwamish Head parking is part of “refreshing” painted markings in various locations; he added that the crews will be ” making some small repairs to the sidewalk where it has been damaged by tree roots slightly east of Luna Park.”
Thinking about putting a bike or board under the tree for someone? Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District (2606 California SW) has an offer for you:
We just opened up our “Holiday Layaway Hideaway”! We’ve got your back this holiday season with our Layaway Hideaway program. Buy anything in store and we will hold it for you until December 24th. We are also offering a layaway payment option, where you pay half down now and half at pickup. We have a ton of new bikes, skateboards, and gear in the shop to choose from.
Alki Bike and Board is open noon-5 pm on Sundays, noon-6 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 am-6 pm Fridays and Saturdays, closed Mondays.
(Saturday photo by James Bratsanos)
Here’s what’s up for your Sunday, from our West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s lineup here.
SCAVENGER HUNT CONTINUES: This is the second full day of the nine-day Winter Wander West Seattle scavenger hunt that Alice Kuder is presenting again this year – have fun exploring the peninsula, with a chance for prizes from local businesses. Register your team ASAP, since it’s not too late to start – all the details are in our preview.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market offers fall produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.
FUNDRAISING WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students will be selling their handmade wreaths during Farmers’ Market days by Wells Fargo in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm today and December 11 and 18 – details here.
FINAL DAY FOR BOOK FAIR: Last day of Paper Boat Booksellers teaming with Alki Cooperative Preschool for a holiday book fair, giving a portion of in-person sales to raise funds for the school. Shop at Paper Boat today (open 11 am-5 pm), and just say at the checkout that you are part of the Alki Coop Preschool Book Fair to get credit for the school. All product purchases (books, games, art supplies etc.) count, but no gift cards. If you can’t get to the store (6040 California SW), place orders by phone or email.
POTTERY POP-UP: Shop work by artists from Rat City Studios and Rain City Clay during the last day of this three-day pop-up at California/Oregon, 11 am-5 pm.
PRIDE FAMILY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at White Center Library (1409 107th SW) – registration required, and space remains as of early this morning – see our calendar listing for details.
PINTS FOR PUPS: 3-6 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), costume contest for pets, treats, percentage of proceeds going to Beloveds Animal Rescue Relief Foundation.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Today at 3 pm, it’s the second matinée for “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Michael Partington and Misha Yolleck, classical guitar, “Bach to Bossa Nova.”
HOLIDAY CONCERT: West Seattleite-founded Puget Soundworks, an all-gender, LGBTQIA+-centered community chorus, presents the last of three performances of their holiday concert “Menagerie,” 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – tickets here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
12:58 AM: Police have converged on the 35th/Barton 7-11 after a report of an armed robbery a short time ago. So far they’re told the three robbers got away in a car described as (updated) a white ~2008 BMW 3-series, 2-door, right rear bumper damage, dealer plates, last seen southbound on 35th.
1:14 AM: Dispatch has told officers that King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a gas-station holdup that “just happened” in Burien with a getaway car that sounds identical to this one.
ADDED MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary:
At 0046 hours, two suspects entered a convenience store located in the 9200 block 35 AVE SW. One suspect brandished a handgun and the suspects made off with money from the register (containing $600-$700). Suspects got in a waiting white BMW 3 Series BMW coupe with a third subject and fled the area SB. About 20 minutes later, KCSO reported an armed robbery at the Shell station at 12653 Ambaum BLVD SW with matching suspect descriptions (KCSO case number 2022-25968). Area check was negative.
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