West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
(L pod in Puget Sound in November – photo by M, Sears, Permit 21348)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At The Whale Trail‘s first major gathering since before the pandemic, there were words of warning and words of hope.
The Southern Resident Killer Whales aren’t recovering yet. In 2018, TWT’s executive director Donna Sandstrom reminded the gathering at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), they numbered 74 – a dangerously low number – and they’re down to 73 now. Two calves were born this past year, but three whales were lost.
One cause for hope, though, is the ever-increasing number of people taking an interest in their plight – all the tickets for last night’s gathering sold out in advance. “This is about what it looks like when J Pod and K Pod get together,” Sandstrom laughed toward the start, referring to two of the three “pods” – family groups – that comprise the Southern Residents, who have been officially listed as an endangered species since 2005.
9:16 PM: Just heard this on emergency radio, and the SDOT camera confirms it – a water break at 35th/Roxbury. That’s bad news not just for the obvious reasons but because the temperature’s already down to just above freezing. No word so far of any water-service effects in the area.
1:27 AM: Thanks to neighbors who’ve been posting comments with updates.
ADDED: According to the SPU water-problem map, service was restored in the area just after 6:30 am.
Aliens and a skeleton for Christmas. They’re part of one of multiple notable displays on 14th SW between SW Kenyon and SW Elmgrove [vicinity map], photographed by Tasha Le, whose own house has a Christmas dragon:
A closer look at the other half of Tasha’s yard:
We’ll continue showing multiple displays each night from here on out, since Christmas Eve is just a week from tomorrow – tips with or without photos are welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! And scroll through what we’ve shown already, by going here.
6:49 PM: Police are diverting southbound traffic on Delridge Way SW near 20th SW because of a collision. A medic unit’s been dispatched, which indicates at least one person is hurt. Police also have called for SDOT help in cleaning up a spill at the scene. Buses are being rerouted too. Avoid the area for a while.
7:26 PM: The street has reopened and buses have resumed regular routing. We have an inquiry out with SFD regarding injuries.
ADDED: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us medics dealt with two people at the scene: a 50-year-old man taken to Harborview in stable condition, and a 51-year-old man “with no reported injuries.”
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
(WSB photo, last Friday)
MURDER VICTIM IDENTIFIED: One week ago, a man was shot and killed in a vehicle in the Roxhill Park parking lot. No arrest so far, but the victim has been identified: 21-year-old Carlo D. Mazzaferro, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, killed by “multiple gunshot wounds.” Mr. Mazzaferro’s obituary appeared online today, remembering him as “an unassuming standout, both physically and creatively, with dreams of one day becoming a designer” and noting that “addiction (was) an unwelcomed companion throughout his life” that he was fighting with the help of involvement at Victory Outreach Church of Seattle. That’s where a memorial service is planned Monday. Police have not released information about a suspected motive or other circumstances beyond what was reported on scene that night.
LOCAL ARREST LINKED TO FENTANYL-SWAP PROBE: On Thursday citywide media reported on SPD’s arrests in an investigation involving swapping fentanyl for EBT. These reports stemmed from an SPD Blotter post which reveals that an arrest covered here in September was a result of the early stages of this investigation. From the SPD post:
Early in their investigation, detectives learned of a man dealing narcotics out of an RV. On September 23rd, officers served a search warrant on the RV in the 3700 block of Southwest Marginal Place and arrested the occupant.
That was then-62-year-old Thomas B. Hull, who as we reported at the time was charged with drug and gun felonies. He had been released from jail the day after his arrest – even before the charges were filed – after a judge declined to follow prosecutors’ request for $100,000 bail and set it at $10,000 instead. Jail records show he was back in jail in connection with the same case from October 1st through 6th. His case continues proceeding through the system.
STOLEN CAR HOTSPOT: Stolen cars are found in neighborhoods all around the peninsula (and city) but there are a few known hotspots – Harbor Avenue, near the 1st Avenue South Bridge, under the west end of the West Seattle Bridge among them. Listening to police radio, another one has stood out these past two days – the 9400 block of Myers Way South, near the Seattle Fire Joint Training Facility. At least six stolen vehicles have been recovered there since Thursday morning. We don’t have details but did hear one described over the air today as a Honda Civic stolen in Pierce County.
(Photo courtesy Melody Sarkies)
The “giving tree” is a holiday tradition for many businesses – with “ornaments” representing holiday wishes, fulfilled by employees (and sometimes customers too). The tree above is at Nucor Steel, which delivered the resulting presents to Providence Mount St. Vincent at midday today:
(WSB photo)
This year’s giving tree in the Nucor lobby resulted in more than 200 gifts!
One of West Seattle’s newest businesses has opened in north Morgan Junction: Aneke Roach has launched Mama Bear Midwife Care Sanctuary at 6021 California SW. Roach, who’s been a certified midwife for more than 20 years, says, “The idea for this sanctuary was conceived from my seeing and feeling the difficulties that many pregnant people experience in their process of searching for loving care, exploring medical assistance alternatives, discovering a place to grow into parenthood, and enjoying this new chapter of their lives deeply.” She and her team plan to offer:
-holistic midwife care
-in-person childbirth education classes (CBE classes) during pregnancy
-midwife/monitrice and doula support during birth
-postpartum packages for lactation support and newborn care advice
-belly binding/ massage, bone closure ceremony, baby massage courses, lactation tea meetups, dads meetups
-fun events for all stages of becoming parents and early parenthood
You can find out more about Mama Bear Midwife Care via their website, here.
All season long, we’ve kept a running list of holiday donation drives in our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. This week we got word of one more hosted by a local business – PNTA, which is headquartered at 2424 SW Andover (the business park by Nucor), is collecting items for the nearby nonprofit Transitional Resources. Unlike many donation drives, this one continues into January, so there’s still time to help. Here’s the announcement we received:
You can help make the holidays brighter for those in need. PNTA is hosting a “Winter Essentials Drive” for Transitional Resources, running from December through January.
Transitional Resources supports adults living with serious mental illness by providing them with behavioral health treatment and supportive housing. The needs for their services are critical during the winter, and TR is in need of warm winter accessories and hygiene items to give to their clients to use during this time of year and beyond.
These items will go directly to those living in supportive housing in our community (*New items only):
Hygiene products: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, hand soap, shampoo, hand lotion, and other items.
Warm socks
Gloves
Other warm itemsFor questions about items needed, please email kristenj@transitionalresources.org
Location Drop Off:
PNTA, 2414 SW Andover=
Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pmIf PNTA is closed, here are other options to help support TR: transitionalresources.org/get-involved
(Robin and Mountain Ash berries, photographed in Arbor Heights by Mark)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Friday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
WARM BEVERAGE FUNDRAISER: Get a drink at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW) today and tell them you’re supporting Genesee Hill Elementary, which will get 20% of the proceeds.
CAT/KITTEN ADOPTION: 2-4 pm at Pet Elements (6511 California SW), Beloveds Animal Relief Rescue Foundation can introduce you to cats/kittens looking for their forever homes.
NATIVE ART MARKET: 10 am-7 pm today (and tomorrow), the season’s second and final market at the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW).
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Fourth weekend begins for thousands of lights synched to music outside a home on 38th SW between Genesee and Dakota – 6:30-10 pm.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 7-9 pm, West Seattle Busker performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8 – Gordon’s Crowbar, Without a Shadow, Stargazy Pie. $10 cover. 21+. (3803 California SW)
SEATTLE GIRLS CHOIR: 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee), Seattle Girls Choir presents “Carmina Angelorum.”
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: At 7:30 pm, it’s the start of the second and final weekend for the Twelfth Night Productions presentation of The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film, performed at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – here’s a trailer:
We’re told tickets remain for tonight and Saturday night but the final performance, Sunday – also TNP’s last show ever – is sold out. Ticket info and other details can be found on the TNP website.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Tonight at 7:30 pm, it’s your next chance to see “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
More in our Holiday Guide and Event Calendar – and if you have something to add, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, December 16th.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast resembles Thursday – sunny, high in the low to mid-40s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is still down buses for repairs – so watch notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is back to regular service.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
CLOSURE ALERT
10 pm tonight to 5 am Saturday morning, the Highway 99 tunnel is scheduled to close.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
New Delridge cameras: As reported Saturday, three have been added; four more are on the way. Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon and Delridge/Orchard.
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when 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.
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