month : 12/2022 287 results

A timely message from Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW; WSB sponsor):

(Stevens Pass photo courtesy Alki Bike and Board)

You know what all this snow in the city means? It’s time to get up into the mountains. Our books are cleared up and we can guarantee to have the quickest turnaround in town. Call or stop in today and we can get you on the schedule.

We will be closing:

Christmas Eve at 4 PM
Closed Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve 4 PM
Closed New Year’s Day

AB&B is open until 6 today, 10 am-6 pm tomorrow, and if you do want to call and check on scheduling for ski/snowboard service, they’re at 206-938-3322.

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WEATHER: More changes for bus riders Friday, when Metro plans to switch to Emergency Snow Network

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| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Metro says it’s going to change its service plan to the Emergency Snow Network on Friday. From the announcement just sent::

With ongoing freezing temperatures and a widespread freezing rainstorm forecast for the region, King County Executive Dow Constantine directed Metro to shift bus service to the Emergency Snow Network starting Friday, Dec. 23. The move focuses service on 65 core bus routes operating on snow routes that the City of Seattle and other jurisdictions prioritize for snow and ice removal. The Emergency Snow Network (ESN) will be effective at 4 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23, until 4 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 24.

This approach delivers transit service for the most riders and on streets and highways that are more reliably treated during adverse weather. Customers will be able to board service on 65 core bus routes and shuttles prioritizing higher ridership routes, avoiding steep hills and primarily serving key arterials and transit centers. The routes were developed in coordination and collaboration with jurisdictions, including the City of Seattle.

Metro will continue to operate all service on snow routes Thursday, Dec. 22, until switching to the ESN early Friday morning.

Routes operating as part of the ESN will serve core centers around King County, via RapidRide A, B, C, D, E and F lines, routes 3, 4 (between Seattle Center and Downtown Seattle only), 5, 7, 10, 21 (local service only), 24, 27 (snow shuttle only), 31, 32, 36, 40, 44, 45, 48, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70, 75, 90 (downtown Seattle/First Hill snow shuttle) 101, 105, 106 (between Renton Transit Center and Mount Baker Transit Center only), 120, 124, 128, 131, 132, 148, 150, 160, 161, 165, 168, 181, 184, 230, 231, 239, 245, 250, 255, 271 (between University of Washington and Eastgate only), 331, 345, 348, 372, 522, 545, 550, 554, 631 (if road conditions allow) 773/775 (if Water Taxi is running), 903, 906, 907 and 930.

Metro staff will be monitoring the performance of this network and making adjustments as needed to improve operations. Customers in outlying areas and neighborhoods should prepare for reduced or temporarily unavailable bus service due to inclement weather, difficult travel conditions and topography.

For the rest of today, Metro continues on snow routing, with cancellations/suspensions as announced.

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HELPING: Dave Newman Insurance Agency extends warm-clothing drive

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo by Chris Frankovich)

With the overnight low in the teens and today’s high not expected to get out of the 20s, bundling up in winter clothing can be a matter of life or death for people who don’t have consistent access to someplace warm. Dave Newman Insurance Agency (WSB sponsor) has been collecting warm-clothing donations – especially coats – throughout the holiday season and has just extended the drive, with this message:

Thank you, West Seattle!

The annual clothing drive is in full swing. It’s been a tough year for donations for the Clothesline and they can use all the help they can get.

There is still plenty of time to donate. Bring your warm coats to 3435 California Ave SW. We’ll continue the clothing drive through the month of January.

Happy Holidays,
Dave Newman Insurance Agency

The office is open 9 am-5 pm most weekdays. The Clothesline is the clothing bank operated by the West Seattle Food Bank

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HEALTH: New therapy program ‘for anyone looking to improve their lives’

December 22, 2022 12:10 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news

If your plans for the new year include getting help to improve your life, Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC (WSB sponsor) is offering a program that starts in January. Here’s the announcement:

I’m excited to announce that Registration is OPEN for the next 12-week intensive therapy program!

I specialize in working with adult clients who need more intensive therapy than 2-4 hours per month, and who benefit from a program that is fully online in the evenings.

The program is appropriate for anyone looking to improve their lives. This includes folks previously diagnosed with complex trauma / PTSD, personality disorders, emotion regulation disorders, dissociative disorders, substance use disorders and psychotic disorders. I welcome folks who have experienced oppression based on race, nation, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, and more.

Program Dates: The first group session will be held on 1/23/2023 and the final group session will be on 4/13/2023.

Schedule: Groups will be held via Telehealth on Mondays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm.

Program Structure: Small closed group cohort of adults. Process-oriented so that clients know how to continue the process well after the program ends.

Discovery Group focused on exploration/development of the self and skills for managing life and relationships;
Experience Group focused on practicing and playing with new ways of relating to others; and
Individual Psychotherapy to support you with your individual needs as you move through the program. (Option to use existing therapist for this via the Partial Package.)

Visit the Program Details page for detailed information about the program.

Early bird registrations by December 31, 2022 are eligible for 20% off the total program fee! If you are interested but finances are an obstacle, please reach out about a sliding scale option (limited availability).

First Step: The first step to register is to schedule a 20-minute consultation with me to make sure it’s a good fit. There will be a $150 deposit upon registration.

Please reach out if you have any questions! Laura@TheCenterOfYou.net

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WEST SEATTLE THURSDAY: Other changes – including libraries and parks – plus events for today

December 22, 2022 10:15 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Grand Menorah at Alki Beach, photographed by David Hutchinson early today)

Regardless of the snow/ice, the holiday season carries on, so today we have a list with holiday happenings as well as weather-related changes. From the inbox, Event Calendar, and Holiday Guide:

COOKIE-DONATION DROPOFFS: Today is the first of three days that you can drop off homemade cookies for The Christmas People at West Seattle Coworking‘s south location (9030 35th SW), until 3 pm today and again 9 am-3 pm tomorrow.

LIBRARIES OPENING LATE: Seattle Public Library says its branches will open at noon today and close at regular times.

WEST SEATTLE GOLF COURSE CLOSED: Except for non-sledding “winter recreation” – here’s the Seattle Parks update.

HOLIDAY MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Two musicians today at the grocery store – Alex Baird noon-3 pm, Gary Benson 3-5:30 pm. (4201 SW Morgan)

‘HOLIDAY GIFT SHOPPE’ POP-UP: Three featured artists/makers (listed here), 4-8 pm tonight at Carpe Diem Collective (3834 California SW).

SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Second-to-last appearance at the grocery store – 4 pm-7 pm. (4201 SW Morgan)

‘Q BROTHERS CHRISTMAS CAROL’: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) presents a holiday musical described as a “hip-hop remix of Dickens’ classic tale.” Tickets and show times/dates are here.

HANUKKAH: This is the fifth of eight nights.

Any changes or additions, we’ll add here through the day – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to send us info but texting 206-293-6302 works too, especially when it’s urgent – thank you!

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GARBAGE/RECYCLING: No pickup again today

December 22, 2022 9:07 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

The side streets aren’t any better than they were yesterday, so SPU has just announced no garbage/recycling pickup again today:

No residential collection today due to unsafe road conditions. Due to this delay, customers missed this week on Tuesday and Wednesday will be able to set out extra next week at no additional charge. Wednesday customers can pull in their containers for today. We will attempt recycling in the off week.

We will attempt to service Thursday customers tomorrow, weather permitting. Customers should have carts out by 7 am. If Thursday customers are missed tomorrow, pull your containers in and put out double next week. We will attempt Friday customers on Saturday.

Both the North and South transfer stations are open to customers today as well as the South Hazardous Waste Facility.

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WEATHER, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Icy Thursday morning

December 22, 2022 6:03 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, December 22nd, and it’s very cold – 19 degrees right now.

WEATHER

Continuing cold again today, with a high temperature in the 20s, and a Winter Storm Watch for later today into tomorrow, predicting snow again in the pm.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

-Compounding weather challenges, Metro is still down buses for repairs and is (updated) canceling many trips again today. Keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for cancellations and suspensions. Also, here’s the page with rerouting info.

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

-WSF’s Triangle Route starts the day down a boat because of M/V Issaquah’s mechanical trouble – check here for alerts/updates.

STREETS & SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Here’s the SDOT Winter Weather Response map showing which roads have been recently treated and when, as well as closed roads. Some impassably icy roads won’t show there (like these), though, so your best bet is to stick to treated routes.

New Delridge cameras: As reported here, 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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UPDATE: Icy West Seattle streets to avoid

December 21, 2022 9:32 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

9:32 PM: We’re now down into the 20s, and even without more snow (yet), ice is a major road danger and we’re getting some reader reports. First, Rosalie Miller – who usually contributes nature photos – has sent a different kind of photo tonight:

That’s both a street report and a reminder that it’s a good night to stay off the streets if you possibly can. Rosalie says she spun out, and as a result …

Our car is stuck perpendicular to the road on Southwest Stevens Street between 37th and 36th Ave Southwest. [map]

Efforts to move the car have been unsuccessful. There are two traffic cones placed on 37th.

I hope that people are not going to try to bypass those and head down Stevens. There is a steep slope and no traction.

I want to make sure that this information is available to anyone driving tonight or tomorrow.

A tow truck will not be able to get out until sometime tomorrow morning at the earliest.

We are trying to locate additional cones to place on the 36th Ave. Southwest / Stevens end of the street.

We have spoken with the police. They do not have any signage for us to use to close the street.

Just as we were about to publish Rosalie’s report, this came in via text:

Forest St. hill to Hiawatha park just across Fairmount Ave SW [map] is completely frozen over. Cars attempting to drive up sliding and stuck. Car currently stuck sideways down Fairmount after sliding backwards on Forest and spinning out before getting stuck.

Let us know if you have one to add to the list.

9:57 PM: Update from Rosalie – “With the assistance of a generous neighbor, we were able to get the car out. The road is still very unsafe. There are no traffic cones.”

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Auto-theft notes, including charges filed in 3 cases

December 21, 2022 7:58 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Auto theft is a category of crime that’s been on the rise for three years in Seattle. It’s what this Crime Watch roundup is all about:

APPARENTLY DUMPED: Two people sent photos (the one above is from Kay) of that gray Hyundai Tucson, left in the back of Riverview Playfield, clearly hotwired. It’s been reported to police.

Next – three auto-theft cases in which charges have been filed, starting with one involving a theft reported here:

RED-TRUCK THEFT: You might recall Brooke‘s report last week about the theft of the red 1986 Chevrolet truck shown above. Two days later, we updated the report when she told us it had been found and that someone had been arrested. The suspect, 40-year-old Daryl B. Allen of SeaTac, was charged today with possession of a stolen vehicle. Charging documents say Allen has a long record, including eight felony convictions on auto-theft-related charges dating back to 2006. The documents also show the WSB post from Thursday and note that a 911 tip reported seeing it near California/Graham; police spotted it a short distance north and followed it until the driver parked it in the 4000 block of California. After a man and woman got out, police tried to intercept them, and they ran, but were quickly caught. The man was Allen, police say, who claimed the truck had been given to him. They also say he had dropped a backpack in which they found a knife the truck’s owner had left in its cab, as well as “multiple shaved keys, a roll of window tint, a small number of narcotics and paraphernalia, and some bank cards and driver’s licenses that did not belong to him.” In the truck they found a screwdriver that they were able to use to start the truck’s punched-out ignition, and they found a witness who said they saw Allen use a screwdriver to turn off the ignition when he parked; the same witness has security video showing him getting out of the truck. He was arrested and booked into jail, where he remains in lieu of $15,000 bail; the woman was questioned and released.

BLUE-TRUCK THEFT: Bail was also set at $15,000 for the suspect just charged with stealing a blue F-150 truck in West Seattle in May; at the moment that’s somewhat irrelevant because the suspect has been in jail in Pierce County since September on five charges there. 22-year-old Nathan J. Adrian of Puyallup is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in the West Seattle case. Court documents say he was found, passed out, in the stolen truck at 26th and Juneau while police were on the way to the owner’s house in Gatewood to take the report. Apparently the truck’s owner had tracked it there – the charging documents don’t say how – as had a victim of another crime, a gas-can theft. That person parked his own vehicle so this one wouldn’t be able to leave before police arrived. The court documents say police found “multiple vehicle keys” and drug paraphernalia in Adrian’s pockets. Though he has no conviction record yet, he has three other King County cases pending trial – two burglaries and one stolen-vehicle case.

STOLEN ACCORD: This case involves a suspect who prosecutors say was found in Highland Park on December 3rd with a Honda Accord stolen in Kirkland, 45-year-old K-Deane H. Fenner of Capitol Hill was arrested when officers pulled him over after running the plate on the car he was driving and discovering it had been stolen. They then noticed the car was running with a screwdriver stuck in the ignition instead of a key. The charging document includes this photo:

Fenner is described as having a four-state criminal history, but the first-appearance judge, who is not named in the documents, set bail at $500, so that’s what it was even after the charge was filed, and he is now out of custody.

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WINTER ARRIVES: Alice Enevoldsen’s solstice sunset watch in West Seattle

December 21, 2022 5:57 pm

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| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photos by Jason A.G. Enevoldsen)

This year, winter arrived in West Seattle amid truly wintry weather – and two hours after the 1:47 pm solstice moment, dozens of people commemorated the change of seasons with a tradition. Educator and skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen drew more than two dozen people to Solstice Park for her quarterly sunset watch. It’s a chance to learn what actually happens in the solar system at the solstice moment – or, in the spring and fall, the equinox moment.

This time, the sun even made an appearance!

You can set your calendar to join Alice at the park for the spring equinox on March 20, 2023.

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NEW WEATHER ALERT: Winter Storm Watch starting Thursday afternoon

December 21, 2022 3:53 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Dianne Johnson)

Before we get to the weekend warmup – one more possibility for snow and ice. The National Weather Service has just issued a Winter Storm Watch alert for Thursday night through Friday evening. Here’s what it says might happen: “Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of up to three inches and ice accumulations of up to a quarter of an inch possible. … This will be a complex mix of winter precipitation with potentially significant impacts.” Whatever the precipitation situation, the temperature isn’t expected to get back above freezing until sometime Friday.

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READER REPORT: How to help hummingbirds survive this subfreezing weather

December 21, 2022 2:03 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | Wildlife

(December 2021 hummingbird photo by Rick R)

David emailed today to suggest a PSA about helping hummingbirds get through this subfreezing weather – “tending to their feeders diligently over the next two days will literally mean life or death for many of them.” He offered this advice:

I have four feeders. One has a small homemade heater which protects the nectar from freezing, which is nice, but really not necessary in order to help them out.

They do not feed at night, so by simply bringing your feeders in after dark, then setting them out at daybreak again does wonders. The feeders will rise to indoor room temperature overnight then stay unfrozen for sometime when they are put out at daybreak.

Speaking of daybreak, this feeding is extremely important as this is when they come out of torpor. Torpor is the short state of hibernation they go into at dark in order to slow their respiration, conserve energy, and make it through the cold night. As soon as they wake up at the first rays of light, they are very hungry and are looking for an energy boost quickly so they can warm up.

The ratio of sugar to water in their nectar is a source of energy and the regular ratio is four parts water to one part sugar. An important note that I just recently learned: One goal of maintaining the nectar for them is simply keeping it unfrozen, but another consideration is that the temperature of the nectar itself lowers their overall body temperature. Rotating the feeder a few times during the day will help them out during these extraordinarily low temperatures, like a warm cocoa versus a iced latte.

My feeders contain no metal and are short enough to fit in my microwave. I blast them long enough to bring them up to a gentle warm temperature, barely warm to the touch, and hang them right back out again. If your feeder can’t be quickly microwaved, then making a huge pot of nectar is always an option too. It will set you back a little for the raw sugar, but a huge pot at room temperature kept on the stove can be used to refill your feeders periodically throughout the next couple of days. Just pour out the frozen nectar and pour
in the room temperature nectar for the swap out.

The lack of available food means there will be a great deal of fighting among the dominant males, so I spread my feeders around my yard, preferably out of line of sight between them. I have one on each of the four sides of my house for this reason. This allows for the weaker birds to swoop in occasionally and have a shot at getting a sip. Hand warmers can also be secured to the sides or bottoms of your feeders to maintain them for a few hours. This works well, but of course they are single use and can get expensive. You would also need to acquire them by this afternoon if you don’t have any on hand.

If we can all tend our feeders diligently for the next two days it will mean many more will be able to endure what may end up being record low temperatures.

Also, unfrozen bird feeders are a huge help to all of the local birds as it’s hard for them to rehydrate when all the water is solid.

Some other quick tips for helping birds in general are here.

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WEATHER: Checking in with West Seattle’s emergency shelter

December 21, 2022 12:14 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

12:14 PM: In case you wondered too, as did a few readers, West Seattle’s only weather-emergency shelter, at WS Veteran Center in The Triangle, is indeed in operation right now. We spoke this morning with shelter operator Keith Hughes, who said he expects to keep the shelter open until Christmas morning, by which time the temperature should be headed into the 50s. As for whether the donation-and-volunteer-powered shelter has any current needs with which the community could assist, Keith says no – they’ve received enough recent donations that they’re stocked up.

12:54 PM: While Keith didn’t mention it, we’ve just learned that there is some financial need for shelter operations, and one of the shelter volunteers has started a crowdfunding campaign for expenses including a big utility bill – you can donate here.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S DAY: 2023 Alki Polar Bear Swim is on

December 21, 2022 10:57 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(1/1/22 photo by Scott Nelson)

Just in from organizer Mark Ufkes, word that the New Year’s Day Alki Polar Bear Swim is on again! Here’s his announcement in its entirety:

Alki Polar Bear Swim 2023
January 1, into the water at 10 am sharp

Life gets better each year, and there is, and always will be, a benefit to celebrating this reality. Since the beginning of time, humans all over the World have held ceremony at the New Year. It is an opportunity to reflect on the year that has passed and wash away the many frustrations and injuries that the previous year demanded of us.

And for us optimists out there, and those in our circle who suffer from our perpetually positive outlook, it is a chance to ask the Universe, in all its awe, for guidance and strength to make the New Year more significant than the previous one.

Some call our annual Alki Polar Bear Swim “the great washing.” Others call it the most challenging family-oriented adventure of the year. And for a few, it is simply another example that all of us humans have mild insanity and a need to prove it to an adoring crowd of fans who watch from the sidewalk.

Last year over 500 met at Alki for our grand entry into 47-degree Puget Sound. We were in and out of the water so fast that it was all over in less than a minute. And another crowd of hundreds watched and cheered as we proved again how great it is to be alive, in this still great city, and still great Democratic nation (even though many extreme Republicans seem to want to destroy it).

You all know the drill. We meet at Alki Beach across from Duke’s. We spread out up and down the beach with those we love and adore next to us, and after a count down from 10, 9, 8 …, we hold hands, start screaming and laughing, and run madly into the water as if our lives depend on it. As always, we go into the water at 10 am sharp, so don’t be late.

Bring good water shoes, a large towel, and warm clothes to dress in afterward. And as always, bring your hopes and dreams for the New Year and they will come true!

Last year, the water – 47 degrees, as Mark mentioned – was 22 degrees warmer than the air (25 degrees).

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LIBRARIES: Some branches closed today

December 21, 2022 10:03 am

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| West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

Seattle Public Library has weather-related changes again today too. Here’s the West Seattle plan:

*The High Point and Southwest branches will be open noon-6 pm
*The Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), and South Park branches are closed

P.S. The King County Library System‘s White Center branch will be open its regular Wednesday hours, 1-8 pm.

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No residential garbage/recycling pickup again today

December 21, 2022 9:06 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Just in from the city, updating yesterday’s announcement:

No residential collection today due to unsafe road conditions. Tuesday customers may set out twice as much next week at no additional charge. We will attempt to collect recycling in the off week as well. Wednesday customers should set their carts out for Thursday collection. We will attempt to collect Thursday, weather permitting.

In addition, our North and South Transfer stations are closed to the public.

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WEATHER, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Icy Wednesday

December 21, 2022 6:03 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, December 21st. Winter officially begins with the solstice moment at 1:47 pm.

WEATHER

Very cold today and tomorrow, with even daytime temperatures staying below freezing; some sunshine expected.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

–Metro is still down buses for repairs and is suspending some routes again today, including West Seattle’s 55, 56, 57, and 125. Keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions. Also, here’s the page with rerouting info.

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.

STREETS & SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Here’s the SDOT Winter Weather Response map showing which roads have been recently treated and when, as well as closed roads.

New Delridge cameras: As reported here, 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.

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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HOLIDAY HELPING: Baking cookies for The Christmas People? Date change

December 20, 2022 10:12 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Every holiday season, The Christmas People prepare and serve meals to people in need. To make those meals just a bit sweeter and more festive, they send out a call for people to bake and donate homemade cookies. As mentioned here and in our Holiday Guide, the dropoff spot for your home-baked-cookie contributions this year is West Seattle Coworking‘s south location, 9030 35th SW. But Ross from WSC tells us there’s a change in the dropoff dates from what we were originally given, so we wanted to let you know: Now it’s Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (December 22-24), 9 am-3 pm. Again, homemade cookies only, not store-bought. The Christmas People thank you! (Image from Pixabay)

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Soundtrack too

December 20, 2022 9:31 pm

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| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

With icy streets and sidewalks, you might not want to go out looking at lights until things warm up in a few days, but we’ll keep showing them. What’s special about this display is what you can’t see – music! It’s in the 8600 block of 31st SW [vicinity map], and was recommended by Dianna.

Scroll through past spotlights here, and send suggestions (with or without photos) to westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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DEVELOPMENT: West Seattle’s second Aegis Living project set to go to Southwest Design Review Board

December 20, 2022 7:33 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(Preferred ‘massing’ – size and shape – for project, from draft design packet)

With far fewer major projects in the pipeline these days, the Southwest Design Review Board‘s meetings are few and far between – just three this year. The first meeting for next year has just been scheduled. The board will get an “early design guidance” look at what will be Aegis Living‘s second West Seattle senior-living complex on January 19th. We first told you in July about this new plan for the long-vacant, often-vandalized ex-strip-mall and ex-restaurant properties in the 5200 block of California SW, formerly proposed for townhouses. The project will go to the board with the address 5252 California SW. The project file includes this description given to people living near the site during a September-October outreach period:

A six-story*, 100 sft building, offering 100+ assisted living and memory care apartments.

The ground level will include a variety of amenities and gathering spaces for residents and visitors such as a grand living room, activity room, dining, a movie theater, retail and more.

The second floor will include 45+ parking spaces for visitors and staff.

Floors 3-6 will include residential apartments for assisted living and memory care. The sixth floor will also host a sky lounge for residents to enjoy.

This West Seattle community will be built to meet the rigorous standards of the Living Building Challenge Petal Certification through the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The Living Building Challenge defines itself as the world’s most ambitious and advanced performance standard for green, resilient, and healthy buildings.

*A sixth level will be granted as part of participation in the Living Building Challenge and meeting the sustainable design criteria set forth.

Aegis says it’s already developed one project to Living Building Challenge standards, in Lake Union. (In West Seattle, the PCC Community Markets [WSB sponsor] rebuild was also an LBC project.) Also, when we last asked Aegis about the plan, we were told that “existing street trees would be preserved.” You can see the draft design packet here – remember that the “early design guidance” phase focuses on the size and shape of the building, so this (and the image atop this story) is not the fully detailed proposal. Find out more at the 5 pm meeting on Thursday, January 19th, which will be online (watch this page for the link).

JANUARY 1 UPDATE: The meeting’s been moved to 7 pm February 2nd.

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAY SCENE: Reindeer visit Menashe Family Lights

December 20, 2022 6:22 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

Not only can you get a pic with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Menashe Family Lights tonight – you can meet real reindeer too.

As featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, they’re visiting until about 9 pm at the 5605 Beach Drive SW house famous for thousands of Christmas lights. The two reindeer are from Rainier Reindeer Ranch, which is based in Buckley (near Mount Rainier), part of a herd of 40 reindeer.

By the way, if you’re thinking about going tonight, Beach Drive road conditions were good – the most challenging spot we drove – using arterials to get there – was California SW just south of Admiral Way, crunchy thanks to frozen snow.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Tuesday afternoon updates

December 20, 2022 1:49 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

1:49 PM: The snow has stopped – or at least paused – but temperatures are dropping, so what we have is likely to linger. Here’s our previous coverage; now we’re launching an afternoon report for weather-related info/updates. General advice remains, if you have to go out, avoid hilly streets – that’s where most of the trouble has been reported.

WEATHER/TRAFFIC RESOURCES (updated 4:13 pm)
National Weather Service (current alert expires at 2 pm)
SDOT Winter Weather Response map (where streets have been plowed/sanded/salted and how recently)
West Seattle traffic cams
Citywide traffic cams
King County traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center)
Metro on snow routes and has as of late afternoon suspended routes 55, 56, 57, 125

OTHER CLOSURES/CHANGES (updated 3:36 pm)
Residential trash/recycling collection delayed one day
Senior Center of West Seattle closed
Community School of West Seattle closed
South Park Library closed
SPL update: All neighborhood library branches closing at 5 pm

If you have anything to add, from a road report to a business/event change, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! Updates to come.

2 PM: Deep puddle reported in the southbound lanes of the 1900 block of Harbor SW; city crews have been notified.

2:58 PM: No further snow, but the temperature’s below freezing. … One note from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – we’ve reconfirmed that the reindeer and Santa/Mrs. Claus appearance at Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive SW) 5-9 pm tonight IS still on.

4:11 PM: We’re continuing to add updates to the lists above but wanted to note this here too: Metro has just officially suspended routes including West Seattle’s 55, 56, 57, and 125 for the PM commute period.

5:15 PM: No traffic problems reported in the area, and no new snow, but it’s icy. Tonight’s low is expected to be in the 20s; tomorrow’s high might not even make it to 30; and the Wednesday night low could drop into the teens. But by Christmas Eve – rain and almost 50.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Garbage, recycling pickup now delayed one day

December 20, 2022 12:12 pm

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| Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

With trucks getting stuck on hills as mentioned in our weather coverage, it’s no surprise that this was just announced by Seattle Public Utilities:

Due to winter weather conditions, there will be delayed residential garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste pickup in Seattle for customers in Seattle today, Tuesday, Dec. 20 through the rest of the week. SPU’s Haz Waste sites and stations are closed to customers today, Tuesday Dec. 20 and will attempt to reopen tomorrow, weather permitting.

Weather and road conditions permitting, garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste service will resume Wednesday, December 21, 2022 on a revised schedule — with customers scheduled for pickup today, Tuesday, collected tomorrow. All remaining residential services will be delayed one day this week. For example, if your regular collection day is Friday, your garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste will be collected on Saturday this week. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 am to ensure collection.

If your materials are not picked up by the end of the following day, please put them out on your next regularly scheduled pickup day. Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.

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