West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
10:30 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is over West Seattle to help look for a missing man. He is described as white, 76, 5’9″ to 5’10”, white hair that’s balding on top, beard, last seen in a black coat and green or gray pants. He was last seen about 4:30 pm, in the 4800 block of 35th SW (at or near The Mount). If you see him, call 911. (We don’t have a photo or name – no official alert so far, but police asked for helicopter help since G1 is up tonight.)
10:50 PM: Helicopter crew discussion over radio with police indicates the man is missing from The Mount. The helicopter looked over areas such as the nearby golf course and greenbelt areas but absent any further leads, has told police that there’s not much they can do with surface streets, so they’re moving on. Police said the man is known to walk around the facility grounds or in nearby neighborhoods.
1 AM: No further updates heard, and still no official alert; we’ll follow up first thing in the morning.
9:28 AM: Both police and The Mount confirm that he is still missing; we will have a separate story with photo shortly. (Update: Here it is.)
1:50 PM: Just updated that story too – The Mount says John is back, safe, and well.
10:11 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to the 4700 block of California SW – a water heater reported to be on fire in a back storage room at Talarico’s. Updates to come.
10:14 PM: The incident commander just told dispatch the water-heater fire is “mostly out.” They’re reducing the response.
(Added: Photo posted in comments by Matt B)
10:21 PM: Firefighters say everything’s handled, “all utilities secured” too, and they’re closing their response.
When we reported last week on the Washington State Black Legacy Institute, which recently moved to the historic former church at 2656 42nd SW, we noted the first big public event coming up: the Business Festival During Kwanzaa.
WSBLI, which hopes to inspire by surfacing long-lost stories including those of successful Black entrepreneurs a century-plus ago, will host entrepreneurs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. WSBLI describes the festival as a “vibrant manifestation of unity, self-determination, and cooperative economics” – three of Kwanzaa’s seven principles. Planned events include free workshops with business and financial experts as well as a homebuyer’s workshop and a vendor fair. WSBLI curator Roger Evans is producing promotional videos for the vendors – here’s the first one:
Other vendors, as listed on this flyer, are scheduled to include A Sista Thang Fashions, Clean Greens Farm, Common Scentz, Diana’s Beauty, Kimberly’s Gems, Merle the Art Lady, Nikky’s Niche Designs, and Tea Moss Shop. Business Festival hours will be 2-7 pm Friday (December 29), 11 am-7 pm Saturday (December 30), and 11 am-5 pm Sunday (December 31). The festival and workshops are free, but WSBLI requests RSVP through Eventbrite – here’s the Friday link; here’s the Saturday link; here’s the Sunday link. Each of those links also will show you the workshop lineup for that day.
Two reader reports:
STOLEN BACKPACK: If you find one, it might be the one to which Brian referred in this note: “I want to report a stolen backpack with valuables taken from my friend’s car on Beach Drive north of Me Kwa Mooks as she was moving a recycle bin from the driveway.. If found, call 206 992-7219 … This happened yesterday, December 26, at about 3:45 pm and was reported to Seattle Police already.” (We’re awaiting descriptive information.)
APPARENTLY ABANDONED BICYCLE: John says this bike was left against a North Admiral utility pole:
Let us know if it’s yours.
After Bakery Nouveau posted on social media that it’s closed in West Seattle until January 3rd, we got a couple questions about why, so we went to The Junction in hopes of finding someone there to ask. The sign on the door attributes the closure to “oven issues,” and that’s what an employee on site told us, saying the holiday posed a bit of difficulty in getting parts.
(November photo by Gill Loring – new turn signal at 26th/Roxbury)
Questions about road work related to the RapidRide H Line, which has continued months after the bus line launched last spring? King County’s project team has held periodic online “office hours” to answer questions, and tomorrow will bring the last one: 5 pm-6 pm Thursday (December 28), via this link (meeting ID: 228 271 1759), also accessible by phone (253-215-8782). The announcement – which was in their final project newsletter – notes that “we are continuing some paving and punch list work.” If you can’t “drop in” during that hour, you can ask a question any time at rapidride@kingcounty.gov.
10:44 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a “rescue extrication” response to the 5600 block of California SW [map]. It’s reported to be a crash involving at least one flipped vehicle. Updates to come.
10:49 AM: Arriving crews report that the vehicle is on its side with the driver trapped. California will be fully blocked in the area.
(Added: Photo posted by commenter Corprew)
10:58 AM: SFD reports they’ve gotten the driver out safely.
11:08 AM: Police just told dispatch they’re going to get traffic going again by reopening the southbound and center lanes.
2:42 PM: We followed up with SFD; the driver was not hurt and did not require treatment or transport.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: SPD tells us today that the driver was arrested for investigation of DUI.
(Photo by Rosalie Miller – no, not a low-tide scene – Purple Jellydisc fungus in Schmitz Park)
Notes for the hours ahead, mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
CRAFTERNOON FOR TEENS/TWEENS: 2 pm to 3:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), “Drop in to make duct tape crafts, hangout, play games, and eat snacks!” Free; ages 11-18.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Not happening tonight – the West Seattle Tool Library is closed this week.
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run.
TRIVIA x 7: Seven 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 pm trivia at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW, White Center) … 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)
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
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, 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!
9:30 AM: We are currently outbound on the bridge – near the 4th Avenue S. exit, traffic is briefly funneled to one eastbound lane because of pothole work.
8:45 AM: As a commenter notes, WSDOT’s cameras and webpages are down – via X (formerly Twitter), WSDOT says it’s working on the problem.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, December 27, midway through the between-holidays week.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rain returning, high in the low 50s, breezy tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:57 am, and the sun will set at 4:23 pm.
(Monday moonrise, photographed from Duwamish Head by Mike Burns)
TRANSIT UPDATES + HOLIDAY PREVIEW
Holiday preview – Here’s the announcement about most transit services going fare-free on New Year’s Eve (until 3 am New Year’s Day).
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today. Check the real-time map if you’re wondering where the boat is.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route today. Check alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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 X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem 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!
| 7 COMMENTS