West Seattle, Washington
05 Saturday
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
STOLEN CAR-TOP TENT AND CROSSBARS: The photo and report are from Karyn:
My Roofnest Sparrow tent and Thule Aero crossbars were stolen off of my car parked on 45th Ave SW at SW Alaska near the Junction, sometime between 10 pm on Tues. 11/28 and 12 pm Weds. 11/29. Please let me know if you see one near you or for sale somewhere – the tent had blue painters tape on some of the latches, a safety strap around the middle, and the rear grey buckle strap has been stitched together. Thank you for keeping an eye out! Please email kamckelvey@gmail.com with any information.
ABANDONED BIKES: Peter sent the photo:
He spotted these bicycles abandoned near the north side of Westwood Village. If you recognize either one, let us know.
Following up on last month’s West Seattle station-planning event (WSB coverage here), Sound Transit reps will be guests at Thursday night’s meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition. The group usually meets on fourth Thursdays, every other month, but moved this meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Chair Michael Taylor-Judd promises “an in-depth review and discussion with Sound Transit on the latest planning for light rail expansion to our side of the Duwamish.” The WSTC meeting is online, 6:30 pm Thursday (November 30), and you can attend via this link (meeting ID 885 1970 8802, passcode WSTC) – all are welcome.
‘Tis the season for us to feature holiday lights, and Ken Arkills‘ display in Fauntlee Hills is once again one of the first ones we’re hearing about. Thanks to his brother Jim Arkills for sending the video! Ken says, “It makes my heart melt” to see the smiles on visitors’ faces. You can join them at 39th/Trenton [map] – the surrounding blocks in Fauntlee Hills usually have other displays worth seeing too.
Got lights to suggest – yours or someone else’s, with or without photos? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
HomeStreet Bank in the West Seattle Junction (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is continuing its tradition of showcasing another local business/nonprofit every month, and this month, the spotlight has been on Meeples Games, with a special display in the branch and a drawing at month’s end. That’s why Meeples Games proprietor Laura Schneider visited HomeStreet (whose Joyce Leslie is at right in our photo with Laura) on Tuesday – to draw the winner of a $100 gift card. (Just in time for holiday shopping!) If you haven’t been to Meeples, the shop is upstairs at 3727 California SW, with numerous weekly gaming events as well as retail offerings. The December spotlight at HomeStreet will be on ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), where “Snowed In” opens tomorrow night.
One of the Seattle Parks West Seattle projects mentioned briefly during Monday night’s online meeting was the peninsula’s future second dog park (aka Off-Leash Area). This was the first update since Parks announced earlier this year that they had narrowed the options to Lincoln Park and an area south of West Seattle Stadium (below are graphics from that June announcement):
Without elaboration, the update Monday night was that the stadium-vicinity site might not be as “viable” because of a “complication” related to “electrification.” We subsequently asked Parks for details. Here’s the reply:
There is a possible FAS [Department of Finance and Administrative Services] project to create a
public andCity fast-electric charging station at this time, which could be used to support our transition to electrified golf carts at that site and other city mandated fleet operations. That project is still in its early stages and may need the space studied at West Seattle Stadium as a possible location for an off-leash area.
So, we asked, if the stadium-vicinity site is ruled out, does that mean Lincoln Park becomes the choice, or would other areas be brought back into consideration? That reply:
Nothing is a done deal, but as noted the top two recommended sites for the dog park in West Seattle based on community input and internal assessments are West Seattle Stadium and Lincoln Park. The factors in those selections are:
-Not conflict with existing park uses in a way that creates safety issues
-Not be located in a park that is a designated Seattle landmark, or be listed on the State or Federal register of historic places
-Not be located in natural areas under active restoration, or in an environmentally-critical area
-Have preliminary approval from the site owner, if not on Parks land
-Other considerations listed below
*Geographic Need
*Site must be Accessible (or a plan must be created to make it accessible)
*Site must not have significant vegetation and large trees
*Proposed site must be at least 50 ft. away from other property lines
*Flat sites are preferred to slopes, because surfacing erodes over time on slopesOur goal is to adhere to the timeline presented (Monday) night and update the community as soon as we have more information on the Off Leash Dog Park study.
That timeline said that Parks staff would work on a recommendation in December and that it would be presented to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners early next year. As noted previoudly, the department also studied possible West Seattle dog-park sites at Me-Kwa-Mooks, Hamilton Viewpoint, and Delridge Community Center
THURSDAY UPDATE: Parks clarifies that the possible project near the stadium would be a city-only charging station, NOT public too, so we have struck out the “public” mention in the quote above. We’re also pursuing more followup information on that project.
That’s one view of the humpback whale seen in Elliott Bay on Tuesday, photographed by Robin Sinner, looking across from Colman Dock – Robin also caught it diving:
And we featured Marina Clough‘s photos of the humpback breaching in our Tuesday report. You might get a chance to see it today too – Kersti Muul texted to report that a humpback is in the bay, closer currently to the grain terminal on the north side of the downtown waterfront. Let us know if you see it!
Another illuminating holiday event is getting closer – GLOWS (Glorious Lights of West Seattle), including the West Seattle Junction Christmas tree lighting and much more. Again this year, you’re invited to design and wear a costume of light that night (Saturday, December 9) – you can enter the costume contest and win a prize! Here’s the reminder from the West Seattle Junction Association:
The Junction is hosting its second annual Light Costume Contest as part of GLOWS – Glorious Lights of West Seattle. We want you to be a GLOWS! Start getting your costume together now. If you don’t have time, we will have lots of fun lighted apparel for you to purchase on site so don’t hesitate to show up unlit. Costume contest categories:
* Best Individual – $500
* Best Group – $500
* Best Kid – $100
* Best Pet – $100If you wish to be part of the competition, you will need to walk through the tunnel of lights. Enter from the parking lot on 42nd Ave SW between Oregon and Alaska and go down the stairs towards the back of Menashe & Sons Jewelers. From there you will walk south down the alley through the tunnel of lights. At the end of the tunnel are the judges. All costume contest participants need to move through the tunnel between 4-5 pm. Between 5:00-5:20, the judges will wander the event grounds awarding their favorites for each category with a light wand. If chosen as a favorite, you need to be at the stage on 42nd Ave SW at 5:30 pm. The community will choose the winners of each category at 5:30 pm.
GLOWS is part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (with community co-sponsors including WSB) – the first HH event is this Friday (December 1st), a chocolate-and-wine tasting event – tickets still available!
A weekend full of holiday options is approaching – and it starts with the lighting of our city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree, first tree lighting of the season in West Seattle. The tall tree outside Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle) starts shining this Friday (December 1) during OLG’s Light Up the Night community event – a short and festive gathering that includes singalongs and a food drive. Myrtle is blocked off between the tree and Walmesley Center (where you can place food donations in the sleigh at the entry, and shop a Holiday Gift Fair too). Bonus: Cookies and cocoa for all. Just be there by 7 pm to enjoy the sights and sounds!
P.S. If you’re wondering about the “highest-elevation Christmas tree” description – Seattle’s peak elevation, 520′, is right across 35th SW at Myrtle Reservoir Park.
(Another view of Tuesday’s fog, by James Bratsanos)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:
LAST DAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY: This year’s Seattle Public Safety Survey ends today; you can participate by going here.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair it instead of replacing it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run, 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska) … Trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
LIVE PIANO MUSIC: Weekly on Wednesday nights, 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
*CANCELED* ‘SNOWED IN’: This is preview night for the new holiday musical premiering at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. $10 general-admission tickets – get yours here.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, holiday event etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
WSB readers have stepped up multiple times in the past to help Invest in Youth match local students with volunteer tutors. A few more helpers are needed for this year – here’s the announcement:
Can you give 1 hour, 1 day a week to tutor a student in West Seattle? Invest in Youth, a local education nonprofit, has one more opening for a volunteer tutor at Roxhill Elementary and several openings at Sanislo Elementary.
Make a commitment to make a difference in a local student’s academic success! As an Invest in Youth tutor, you’ll be paired with a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader and work with that same student each Tuesday (2:45-3:45 pm @ Roxhill) or Thursday (3:40-4:40 pm @ Sanislo) during the school year.
No experience is necessary; just a commitment to help narrow achievement gaps and promote educational equity right here in West Seattle. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is a high school senior or older. Tutors typically work on math skills, reading fundamentals as well as being a friend and mentor to their student. Time is spent in the classroom with other student-tutor pairs and a teacher/Invest in Youth staff member is onsite and always available to help when needed.
Invest in Youth needs your support. The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction reports that more than half of Sanislo and Roxhill students have not met language arts and math grade level standards. Tutors can have a big impact and it only requires one hour and one day a week of your time. Both tutors and students consistently report that the program is a highlight of their week on top of being a rewarding experience.
Register online or contact Executive Director Cindy Sackett (csackett@investinyouth.org), if you have questions.
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 29, and until noon, we are again under a “freezing fog advisory” alert from the National Weather Service. After that, we’re expecting a partly sunny day, high in the low 40s, rain returning by Thursday morning. Sunrise today is at 7:34 am; sunset, 4:20 pm.
(Tuesday night sunset, photographed by Curry Gibson)
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
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