West Seattle, Washington
27 Thursday
There it is – Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s giant tree, lit tonight just steps from Seattle’s highest point (520’ at Myrtle Reservoir Park). Half its lights went on after the countdown during OLG’s “Light Up the Night” celebration, and the rest soon followed. Our video also includes some of the Christmas songs sung by the Starry Crowns ensemble and OLG student choirs:
Brian Callanan served as emcee. A spirited crowd filled closed-for-the-occasion Myrtle Street:
After the tree lighting and caroling, the volunteer-powered celebration continued inside Walmesley Center, with cookies, cocoa, crafts, and a food drive:
Presiding from the stage – next to a giving tree – was Mr. Claus himself:
You can see the OLG tree – and other lights around the church/school campus – at 35th/Myrtle throughout the season. And the Starry Crowns, who led the caroling tonight, have a Christmas concert at the church one week from tonight, 7 pm Friday, December 8.
(WSB file photo)
One more reminder that a longtime local holiday tradition returns tomorrow morning – the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle looks forward to serving you pancakes on Saturday morning! Their Community Pancake Breakfast is back, 7-11 am at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds), with pancakes, Husky Deli ham, orange juice, coffee, at a bargain price – $8 online (go here), $10 at the door, kids under 10 free when accompanied by a paying adult! Santa will be there for photos, and you can bring Toys For Tots donations if you have new, unwrapped toys to give. It’s a Kiwanis Club fundraiser for their youth programs. They’re also having an online silent auction through Tuesday – items include some cool local business gift cards.
A Seattle Fire callout is arriving in the 6000 block of 31st SW. It’s reportedly just a kitchen fire, so it’s downsizing.
The National Weather Service‘s map of alerts has a bit of everything around the state. In our area, that mocha color signifies a Wind Advisory alert – scheduled to be in effect overnight, 11 pm to 6 am. The NWS says you should plan for “South winds 30 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.” Though the advisory currently only lasts until 6 am, the forecast suggests it’ll continue to be breezy and – at times – rainy after sunrise. If you’re by the water, high tide tomorrow morning is high but not extraordinarily so – 11.9 feet at 9:17 am.
5:56 PM: Even if you’re not a University of Washington fan, that Husky will likely make you smile as you look around this year’s Christmas display at the Menashe Family‘s home (5605 Beach Drive SW). Though it’s known as a big, bright, light-laden extravaganza, close-up views of characters charm visitors too:
After you walk around for a closer look at everything set up in the front yard, you can of course step back for the wide view, as we did when visiting tonight at dusk:
This is usually West Seattle’s biggest and brightest display, but every year dozens of others are memorable too, and we appreciate your tips so we can show at least one house/apartment/business nightly – email the info (with a photo if you have one) to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
ADDED 8:12 PM: Thanks to Theresa Arbow-O’Connor for sending these photos from later in the evening:
From whimsical – like Kayla Jackson‘s creations, above – to ethereal, like Doris Anderson‘s work below, a wide range of art comprises Rain City Clay‘s holiday show and sale, which opened tonight and continues through Tuesday.
Some of the artists are there too for tonight’s opening party – including Kate Hoffman:
Rain City Clay is in Arbor Heights, at 4208 SW 100th. You can check out the holiday show/sale until 8 pm tonight, 1-5 pm both days this weekend, and 2-7 pm Monday and Tuesday! Other art shows/makers markets are happening tonight and tomorrow too – see our West Seattle Holiday Guide for the full list.
A WSB reader texted:
Wondering if you might do a story on the new traffic violation cams on the high bridge – focusing on bus lane violators. I commute daily and take the 1st Ave exit right after the 99 exit and I wait until the last set of red painted lines that say BUS ONLY but I got a cautionary warning letter for this as a traffic violation . In the future the fine will be $75. Can you investigate where/ when it is legal to move over To the far right lane to exit on first?
It’s been three months since the last announcement about the new camera enforcement – when SDOT said in early September that installation was imminent. So first we asked SDOT if the camera – part of a “pilot” program also involving other locations in the city – was indeed up and running and citing. Yes: “The transit lane traffic safety camera on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge), just east of State Route 99, has been activated. The first time someone is caught in a violation, they will be mailed a warning letter. For any new violations after that, they will be mailed a $75 ticket.”
How many warnings/tickets? SDOT refused to say:
This camera is part of an ongoing pilot program intended to evaluate the effectiveness of automated traffic safety camera enforcement in transit only lanes. The draft report on the effectiveness of the program will be submitted to the State Legislature in July 2024 and will also be available publicly at that time.
To get a report sooner, the spokesperson replied, we’d have to file a public-disclosure request.
To the original texter’s question, about the exact location to avoid if you don’t want to be cited: “The entire bus lane, which begins approximately 0.5 miles west of the exit to NB SR99, is restricted to buses only. The camera is located east of the exit to NB SR99. Drivers taking the exit to NB SR99 will not be impacted by the camera.” Here’s the design-document excerpt that SDOT sent us for a similar question pre-installation, showing the enforcement zone in yellow-green:
Meantime, no hint yet of when newly authorized camera types – like “racing” – might be installed, but we’re continuing to follow up.
(Photos courtesy Delridge Grocery Co-op)
Healthy food at low prices! Go to the Delridge Grocery Co-op (5444 Delridge Way SW) starting at 3 pm today for major produce deals – the DGC announcement explains:
This weekend, the Delridge Grocery Co-op (DGC) is partnering with Cascadia Produce to offer its neighbors some special deals on produce. Owned and operated by Delridge residents (and DGC owner-members) Jillian Moore and Jeremy Vrablik, Cascadia is part of the Seattle Good Business Network’s Good Food Exchange program, which is working to distribute surplus or recovered food to businesses and organizations.
These produce items are sent to Cascadia after being rejected by groceries for a number of reasons — peppers were too small, stores were overstocked, or temperature was off by 1-2 degrees. Yet these are still usable, healthy packages of fruits, vegetables, and greens, and Jeremy and Jill are passionate about keeping good food on plates and out of the landfill.
The DGC will be offering a selection of items that Cascadia has procured this week and selling them at discounted prices, including:
• Strawberries (Foxy brand, 16-ounce) — $2.99 (compare at $8.99)
• Raspberries (Driscolls brand, 6-ounce) — $2.99 (compare at $5.29)
• Organic Spinach and Arugula (Earthbound Farm brand, 16-ounce tubs) — $2.99 (compare at $6.99)
• Sweet Mini Peppers (Dolce brand, 16-ounce) — $1.99 (compare at $4.99)
All are welcome to shop at the DGC, but this is also our monthly Discount Weekend when Co-op owner-members (who have paid into their ownership share) receive a 10% discount on all in-store purchases (December 1-3). You can also shop for holiday gifts from local artisans, including pottery from The Clay Cauldron and hot sauce from Bootsie’s Sauce Co.
Come check out your neighborhood grocery and #shopthecoopfirst this weekend! The all-volunteer DGC is located at 5444 Delridge Way SW, and is open Friday 3–7, Saturday 9:30–3, Sunday 11–3, Monday 3–7, and Tuesday 3–7.
Today we’re welcoming a new sponsor to the team of local businesses and organizations advertising on WSB: Moon Room Shop and Wellness in north Morgan Junction. When new sponsors join us, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – here’s what Moon Room would like you to know:
Moon Room Shop and Wellness is inspired by and created from imagination! We are a unique and eclectic retail gift shop that sells crystals, rocks, jewelry, 100% pure and natural essential oil body products and sprays, high-vibration art prints, and custom original T-shirts such as our popular Lincoln Park shirt. We also carry natural incense and sustainable smudge, intention candles, chimes, sun catchers, lamps, and so many other fun treasures that uplift and inspire joy in our daily living. We are always adding new fun items to our store while continually striving to offer our customers an affordably vibrant shopping experience.
Our crystal, rock, and mineral selection is selectively curated to appeal to the beginning and casual rock hound all the way to the collector looking for that nice specimen. We carry a great variety of tumbled and polished stones, crystal towers, spheres, free forms, and also some really cool fossils. Our jewelry section is filled with a beautiful and varied selection of gemstone rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Whether you are treating yourself or buying a gift for someone special, there is a lot to explore and enjoy at Moon Room.
To show our gratitude to everyone who has supported Moon Room and to all those we look forward to meeting, we are running a “West Seattle Rocks!” sale today (Friday, December 1) through Sunday, December 3, where everything in the store and online is 15% off! Come see us in person at 5902 ½ California Ave. SW in Morgan Junction or order online for pick up or delivery at www.moonroomshop.com. Use special code WSROCKS for online discount.
And to accommodate busy schedules for this holiday season, we are offering in-store private shopping bookings from 9-11 AM for the month of December. Book your own half-hour slot to browse and shop. Minimum $50 purchase required. Gift cards are available too! Book your private shopping excursion at calendar.app.google/3dwq2bQc9mKkqRHT9
We look forward to seeing you!
Much love,
Moon Room
We thank Moon Room Shop and Wellness for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!
STORE ROBBERIES: These two incidents, both classified as “strong-arm robberies,” were dispatched simultaneously last night, just after 9 pm. We obtained the summaries from SPD this morning. One was at the Admiral 7-11, where police say three people walked into the store, then two went behind the counter “and aggressively approached the clerk and told him to get out of the way. The clerk stepped aside”; the robbers grabbed two tills and “tobacco products,” then left in a “white vehicle.” No other descriptive information. The other was a shoplift-turned-robbery at the High Point Walgreens; here’s the summary police provided: “Officers arrived and spoke with a 28-year-old victim who reported a male suspect entered the business and stole merchandise. The victim employee attempted to stop the suspect but the suspect shoved the victim out of the way. The male suspect was described to be a Black male, approximately 5’6″-5’8″, thin build, with short black hair, wearing a white face mask, a blue/gray hoodie, and blue sweatpants. He left the location in an SUV.” No injuries reported in either robbery.
STOLEN RED YUKON: The photo and report are from Ellen:
My son’s GMC Yukon was stolen last night from the Admiral Neighborhood of W. Seattle. Maroon/Red 2005. Any help is appreciated.
LICENSE PLATE: CBX0004
FRONT PLATE: Florida State Trooper
CAR PROWLS: Reported by Paul: “Our next-door neighbors and we were victims of car prowls sometime this morning. They stole a car jumpstarter, our registration docs, and car manual out of my wife’s car and left the car open to the rain. Similar story from our next-door neighbor. We live on 51st Ave. SW off Genesee.”
(Photo by Ann Anderson)
We have a two-part event list today – starting with highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
LINDA MCCLAMROCK HOLIDAY ART SALE: Mixed-media artist’s annual sale, two days at 5532 SW Lander Pl., starting 4-8 pm tonight – details in our calendar listing.
RAIN CITY CLAY HOLIDAY ART SHOW & SALE: Rain City Clay is hosting a holiday show & sale featuring artists who work with clay, running through Tuesday, opening 4-8 pm tonight. (4208 SW 100th)
HOLIDAY ARTISAN MARKET: Nine artists/makers, 4-8 pm tonight and 10 am-4 pm tomorrow, at Keller Williams Realty (5446 California SW).
MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: The Menashe Family Lights are the biggest and brightest \in West Seattle and tonight is scheduled to be the display’s first “official” night of the season. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
CHOCOLATE & WINE WALK: In the “lower Junction,” 5-8 pm, as previewed here – tickets available at check-in location, Bohemian Studios (Fauntleroy/Edmunds).
‘WINTER WANDER’ SCAVENGER HUNT: Alice Kuder presents the “Winter Wander” scavenger hunt again this year – pre-registration open now; email wswinterwander@gmail.com:
The fourth annual Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt will run from 5 PM Friday, Dec. 1st to 7 PM Sunday, Dec. 10th. While intended primarily as a gift to the West Seattle community, the event is free to everyone of all ages. Instructions for this year’s hunt are available for download at wondersinaliceland.com/winter-wander. Clues to the locations of 15 local businesses and five private homes are provided in a Bingo-style clue sheet which will be posted at the same online location at 4 PM on Dec. 1st. Wanderers who submit selfies in front of the correct solutions will be entered into a drawing for duffle bags filled with gift cards and swag from local businesses. A $100 Grand Prize will be awarded to the team that earns the most points during the hunt. Extra points are awarded for donations to West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, as well as Toys for Tots. Register your team here. Register before noon TODAY to earn extra points.
‘LIGHT UP THE NIGHT’: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & School invite you to “Light Up the Night,” with music and of course, lights, including the giant tree, highest-altitude community tree in the city! Bring nonperishable food donations to fill the sleigh in the Walmesley Center (which is also where you’ll find a holiday gift fair and craft activities for kids). 7 pm. Caroling, cookies, and cocoa too! (35th SW/SW Myrtle)
‘SNOWED IN’: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) presents its holiday production, described as a “a journey of song, dance, friendship, family, and the true meaning of the holidays.” 7:30 pm. Get tickets here.
KENYON HALL CABARET, HOLIDAY EDITION: Drag at Kenyon Hall (7904 California SW), 7:30 pm showtime, all ages.
Now, the non-holiday lineup, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
OPENING DAY AT BANH MI XO: 9 am-4 pm as previewed here. (9003 35th SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: It’s still planting season! Shop for plants on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-2 pm.
TODDLER GYM: Free drop-in gym at Arbor Heights Community Church, 10 am-11:30 am. (4113 SW 102nd)
SCRABBLE CLUB: You can play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Try the newly released red wines!
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 7-9 pm, singer/songwriter Steve Itterly performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
DANCE NIGHT AT THE SPOT: Fridays are DJ Dance Night at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
‘SCENES ABOUT TEENS’: Chief Sealth International High School‘s new musical has the first of three public performances at 7:30 pm – details in our preview. (2600 SW Thistle)
SOUND HEALING WITH REIKI ENERGY: 7:30 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
CHARMING DISASTER AND MISTER INK: “Prepare for an evening of musical enchantment, mayhem, and cabaret chaos that is sure to captivate and thrill audiences,” 9 pm at 2 Fingers Social (9211 Delridge Way SW)
DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! (4547 California SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather December 9 to remember Dan Jackson. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community now:
Daniel J. Jackson passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 17th, 2023.
Dan was born on August 1st, 1950, in Hamtramck, MI to Marie Ladley and grew up in MI with his younger brother Bill Ladley until joining the Army in 1969 and being sent over to Vietnam. Upon his general discharge under honorable circumstances – and receiving an Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) for consistent acts of heroism and meritorious service – he returned to MI, started a career working on freighters around the Great Lakes (including underwater welding/diving), and having his first two children, Ian & Jenna, from his first marriage to Jan Webber. After that marriage ended, he fell in love with and married Lynn Taber from Grosse Pointe, MI, having his last two children, Brendan & Mairi, in the early ’80s and relocating to Seattle.
In WA, Dan started what would be a life-long career with the Bellevue Water Dept. (where he would retire from in the 2000s) and was involved with activities such as coaching youth sports teams (baseball, soccer, basketball) outside of work. Another long-term passion of his that he discovered in WA was the beginning of his association with Hope Lutheran Church. It was at Hope that Dan found his calling through multiple avenues of ministry, including preaching, chanting, spearheading acolyte programs, participating in Elders, and eventually becoming a Deacon in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Marie Ladley, and is survived by his wife Lynn, his four children, Ian (Paula), Jenna, Brendan, & Mairi (Duane), his six grandchildren, Robbie, Dea, Savannah, Aria, Aidan, & Lyric, his brother Bill (Marlene), his nephew Aaron, and scores of extended Reinhardt family members across the country and beyond.
A funeral service honoring Dan will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 4456 42nd Ave SW, on December 9th, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception afterward at Hope North, 4100 SW Genesee St. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hope Lutheran Church toward its future Hope North expansion program.
Please share memories, condolences, and photos of Dan on the Tribute Wall, at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Daniel-Jackson * 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)
Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 school year? The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (WSB sponsor) is having an open house tomorrow. If you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the reminder:
The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary invites prospective families to an open house this Saturday, December 2 from 10 am – noon, refreshments provided. At our Open House, you’ll learn about our whole-child, hands-on approach to learning that includes multi-age small classes, an outdoor education program [photo right], and an emphasis on the arts. We have openings for students ages 5-11 for the ’24-’25 school year!
What makes The Bridge School special?
– Core teachers with over a decade of experience in the classroom and boundless passion for students
– Teaching that meets each young learner where they’re at using responsive teaching and continuum-based assessment
– Hands-on and project-based learning experiences with lots of field trips
– An emphasis on social-emotional learning
– Weekly outdoor education and arts instruction
– Prioritizing social justice while we learn and grow together as a community of teachers, caregivers, and studentsPlease join us this Saturday, December 2 (or on Saturday, January 6th), to meet our teachers and tour the school. Community members will be present to show you around, answer questions about the cooperative model, and share about why they chose The Bridge School for their children.
Interested in The Bridge School but unable to make it to an open house? Fill out our inquiry form and our Head of School will contact you to schedule a conversation and tour.
The Bridge School is at 10300 28th SW.
7:39 AM: Firefighters are at a house fire in the 3800 block of 55th SW [vicinity map]. Avoid the area. Updates to come.
7:44 AM: SFD says no injuries are reported so far.
7:48 AM: The fire is under control, firefighters report.
7:59 AM: We’ve just arrived in the area. SFD is starting to dismiss some of the units now that the situation is winding down. 55th SW remains blocked.
8:05 AM: We’ve just talked to incident command at the scene. They describe the fire as relatively small, but it did spread to the attic so that took a while to subdue. Their investigator has just arrived to start looking into how this started.
5:34 PM: SFD tells us the cause is still under investigation.
7:44 AM: 55th SW is blocked by the house-fire response in the 3800 block.
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, December 1.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The rain indeed returned. The forecast says we should get a break in the pm, but the wind will kick up. High in the upper 40s. Sunrise today is at 7:36 am; sunset, 4:19 pm.
STREET CLOSURE NOTE
SW Myrtle just east of 35th will be closed this evening for Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s 7 pm “Light Up the Night” holiday celebration, lighting Seattle’s highest-elevation Christmas tree.
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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