West Seattle, Washington
25 Sunday
In case you forgot, if you have solid waste pickup service via Seattle Public Utilities, the schedule is on one-day delay this week and next week, since there are no pickups on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. And starting today, pickup crews will take your Christmas trees and/or holiday greens – here’s the SPU how-to:
Customers can compost trees and holiday greens for free from December 26 – January 31. Customers should remove all decorations, cut the tree into sections – 4-foot or less – and place tree sections or bundled greens next to their food & yard waste cart on their regular collection day. Apartment residents may place up to two trees next to each food & yard waste cart at no charge (SPU recommends customers reach out to their property manager about their collection day and when to set out their tree). Customers can also drop off up to 3 trees less than 8 feet in length at a Transfer Station.
For more details and to find out what to do with your holiday items once you’re done with them, check out SPU’s lookup tool at seattle.gov/utilities/WhereDoesItGo.
We’ve finally confirmed via an in-person visit today what readers have reported hearing from employees as well as from the trivia host – that the West Seattle location of The Lodge Sports Grille is about to close. New Year’s Eve will be its last day, The Lodge opened in then-new Junction 47 seven years ago; its website currently shows five other locations around the metro area. The about-to-be-vacant 4,200-sf West Seattle space is listed for lease (here’s the flyer); it’s in Junction 47’s east building.
(Full moon setting early today, photographed from Anchor/Luna Park by James Tilley)
It’s the quiet week between holidays, but a few things are still happening today/tonight, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times vary. Timed tickets and info here.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Run with friends old and new on these long nights! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
THE CLAY CAULDRON: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance or drop in to work on your project(s).
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW); also, 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska, reportedly for the last time).
You can peek into the future any time via our event calendar – if you have something to add to it (or to our Holiday Guide for Kwanzaa or New Year’s), please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another local youth-sports league wants you to know that it’s time to register for spring! This announcement is from West Seattle Baseball and Softball, based at the Pee Wee Fields in Riverview:
We can’t wait for spring to start and for baseball to return. This year we are also excited to offer a full session of girls’ softball for the Spring season.
West Seattle Baseball is offering Baseball for six different divisions, and – new this year – offering Softball for three. Registration is open now through February 15th. Early registration discount is available for all registrations completed by January 5th. Also available are multi-sibling discounts.
Sign up at: https://www.westseattlebaseball.com/
Pricing:
Shetland/T-Ball (6U) – $130
Baseball:
Pinto (8U) – $185
Mustang (10U) – $195
Bronco (12U) – $250
Pony (14U) – $300Softball:
Pinto (8U) – $130
Mustang (10U) – $130
Bronco (12U) – $130Registration costs include a ballcap and team jersey for each player, in addition to a full season of baseball/softball with events three times per week from mid-March through early June.
West Seattle Baseball believes that every child deserves to benefit from the games of baseball and softball. For families needing financial assistance, we offer reduced-fee league registration through the West Seattle Baseball Scholarship Assistance program. If you wish to apply, please contact wsbbregistrar@gmail.com.
West Seattle Baseball is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit youth baseball league. Our goal is to provide comprehensive baseball programming that appeals to kids of all levels of enthusiasm and ability. The league prides itself on being a fun and enjoyable program that our players, their families, and their coaches want to participate in again each succeeding season. If you have questions about the divisions or anything else West Seattle Baseball, please email the league at communications@westseattlebaseball.com.
We hope to see you at the West Seattle PeeWee Fields soon. For the love of the game.
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 26. Government offices reopen today, but school’s still out.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny, high near 50, rain expected to return by tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:56 am, and the sun will set at 4:23 pm.
TRANSIT UPDATES + HOLIDAY PREVIEWS
Water Taxi – Back to regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you’re wondering where the boat is.
Metro – Back to regular schedule; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. 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!
(File photo, by Robert Spears)
Just six nights until we say farewell to 2023 and hello to 2024. We’re still building the list of what’s happening around West Seattle for New Year’s Eve – so far it includes some traditional favorites, like the Emerald City Wanderers‘ 5K/10K walks and the Highland Park Not-So-Silent-Night Parade, plus new events like Soul Train NYE at Revelry Room/Jet City Labs in The Junction and a sparkling-cider toast at West Seattle Arcade on Alki. Of course hundreds if not thousands will line the downtown-facing shore (and other viewpoints) to watch the Space Needle fireworks, lights, and drone shows from across the bay. If you’re presenting a New Year’s Eve (or Day) event we haven’t listed in the Holiday Guide already, please send the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The Christmas People sent out a call for cookies … and home bakers answered the call. Here’s the note of gratitude we received today to share with you:
Generous West Seattle and other residents donated 9,100 cookies over three days. Fourteen shelters – including Sunnydale Village, Mary’s Place Burien, Riverton Park Immigration Encampment – received cookies and provisions. (This afternoon) we (were) preparing the third dinner for distribution to 6 shelters. Altogether we will sned out 1420 meals, 2000 lbs. of bulk provisions, and the cookies.
This is our 25th year. Thank you for helping us help others.
Rev. Fred Hutchinson, Co-Founder
The Christmas People Foundation
Two reader reports:
STREET ROBBERY: Sent on behalf of a neighbor:
I wanted to let you know of a mugging/robbery at about 6:30-7pm Christmas Eve so others are aware. Began on 32nd Ave SW (backside of Roxhill Elementary schoolyard), when a female pedestrian walking to look at holiday lights noticed a white four-door sedan suspiciously following her. Several people in the car. After she turned east onto Holden, she noticed the car paused at stop sign. Feeling like they were watching her, she bolted into alley between 32nd and 31st to evade. Car did not follow into alley, but as she walked south toward Kenyon, the car appeared and turned into the alley, blocking her exit.
Male passenger jumped out of car, blocking her way, wearing a gorilla mask. He grabbed her scarf and arms/hands. Wired headphones were pulled from her head, phone grabbed, and other things in her hands. She started screaming, tore away, and ran down the street and hid in someone’s yard. When she ran away, the car was in the alley at Kenyon pointing north (the direction of Holden), but she does not know where the car went after that.
Male wearing gorilla mask seemed younger (adult or older teen), slim build, maybe 5’9” but no additional information. She said male driver had longer dark hair, pulled back in what appeared to be locks but could not recall specific race or ethnicity, or license plate details. She reported it to SPD last night.
As someone who lives in that neighborhood, we have heard of other experiences of cars following closely in the morning when walking dogs, and have seen ourselves cars of young men speeding up threateningly to scare us when we crossed the street.
If you have any information on this incident, the SPD case number to reference is 23-368963.
APPARENTLY ABANDONED BICYCLE: Seen in The Junction:
In front of this building on 44th SW [4500 block], possibly stolen and dumped.
Thanks for all the tips! Orcas are in Elliott Bay – seen off Duwamish Head. Transients, according to Kersti Muul. Headed westbound, according to tips from Bill and Steve about 10 minutes ago.
(WSB photo – ‘Burma Shave-style’ signs along 59th south of Admiral)
Merry Christmas! Here’s info we hope will be useful on this holiday:
BUSES: Metro‘s running on the Sunday schedule.
WATER TAXI: Not operating today.
FERRIES: (updated) Back to 2-boat service, on a weekend schedule – check the alerts page for status/changes.
MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this map.
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: We found eight – listed in our Holiday Guide.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS OPEN TODAY: Fourteen are on our list – see it here. (And please let us know of any additions/changes!)
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: Again this year, as noted in our Holiday Guide, only the three Safeways (Roxbury, Admiral, Jefferson Square) are open (8 am-5 pm) – all other West Seattle grocery stores are closed until tomorrow.
CHURCH SERVICES TODAY: Three of the churches on the list in our Holiday Guide have Christmas Day services.
OTHER NOTES: Trash/recycling pickup is delayed one day all week (next week too) … Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed.
SEE A MOVIE: The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) is open this afternoon/evening – first screening of the day, 3 pm.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.
If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365 (366 next year)!
Before Christmas Eve ends, we have some beautiful pics to share – first, how it began. Above, from Kevin Freitas) via Mastodon … below, a wider view from Don Kramer:
More sunrise color from Stewart L.:
And on the other end of the day, Jen Popp caught Lincoln Park’s troll Bruun Idun glowing:
Thanks as always to everyone who shares photos, whether breaking news or scenery or something inbetween .. westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!
Two incidents, including one unfolding right now:
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Police were called to West Seattle Smoke Company in The Junction about half an hour because of a broken window; security video showed the shop had been burglarized and showed the burglar leaving on foot. Right now they’re questioning a suspect, a man who was reported to 911 for showing up at a Morgan Junction business with bloody hands. No word yet on what was taken from the shop, but video there showed the burglar carrying two bags when he left. (Tuesday update: The suspect was arrested.)
PACKAGE THIEF: Kevin sent the video:
He says the person in the video “was casing cars and stealing packages along Beach Dr SW just south of Jacobsen=(Friday) around 10:20 am.”
Merry Christmas Eve to all! Thanks to Peter for the photo. These bright lights are on 34th Avenue SW between SW Kenyon and SW Elmgrove. Scroll through our archive to see everywhere we’ve showcased this season.
(8:42 PM: Commenter says this is on 32nd, not 34th.)
You can learn a new language in the New Year for free here in West Seattle.
A 12-week course in American Sign Language starts January 9th, 6-7 pm Tuesdays at the West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW). All are welcome, and you are welcome to join at any time – no registration required, just show up. Here’s the flyer showing which topics are being taught “through creative games” during the sessions.
Thanks to Ian for the photo. The downed crosswalk-signal pole on the northeast corner of 35th/Avalon is apparently still down, according to a text. Reader Ab told us it happened on Friday – a semi-truck “cut the turn too much and knocked down” the pole. We’re hopeful it’s been reported to SDOT by now but don’t know the repair timeline; 206-386-1218 is their after-hours number for problems on streets, sidewalks, etc.
Family and friends will gather Thursday to remember Dick Douglas. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with his community:
Richard “Dick” Douglas died peacefully on December 16, 2023, in West Seattle at the age of 94.
Dick is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Gladyne; his sister Carolyn Titus; five children: Debbie, Steve (Terry), Deanne “Coco,” Susie (John), David (Laura); eleven grandchildren: Curtis Jr. (Sara), Dennon, Chad, Rory (Laura Belle), Brady (Samantha), Jake, Natalie (Nate), Jason, Matthew, Benjamin, and William; and four great-grandchildren: Curtis III, Cormac, Augustin, and Jett.
Dick was born in 1929 in Monroe, WA, to Raymond “Bus” and Helen Douglas. He spent the first 12 years of his life in Sultan, Washington, at the base of the Cascade Mountain range, where he learned to fish and swim. They moved to Seattle in 1941 when Dick was 12 years old, where they lived on Capitol Hill. Dick attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic School and Seattle Preparatory High School where he played varsity football and varsity basketball. He went on to attend the University of Washington (UW), where he studied business, was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and was an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet. He met the Love of His Life, Gladyne, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, during his Senior year (1953) at UW. Their first date was in February and he gave her his fraternity pin in March. In June 1953, he graduated from UW, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Business, and was commissioned a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant. He proposed to Gladyne in October 1953.
Dick then attended basic infantry training in Fort Benning, Georgia, in preparations for wartime deployment. On leave from the Army, he married Gladyne on December 26, 1953. Shortly after, in 1954, Dick deployed for the Korean War, where he anticipated being on the front lines as an infantryman; however, his Army superiors recognized that he had a Business Degree and assigned him to manage the large Post Exchange (PX) in Seoul. He successfully completed this assignment, returned stateside, and after two years of honorable service, was discharged from the Army.
In 1959, Dick began a successful career at Boeing, where he worked for 31 years in the Human Resources Department. A highlight of his time at Boeing was an assignment to Saudi Arabia from 1984-1986, where he supported all the in-country employees required to conduct maintenance, training, and operations of the fleet of airliners bought by the national Saudia Airlines. Following his philosophy of “working to live” and not “living to work,” he retired from Boeing in 1990 to see the world with his wife.
Dick loved golf, traveling, spending the cold Seattle winters in Sun City West, AZ, watching UW Huskies football games, and cherishing time with his family and friends. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. His unquestionably positive attitude, sense of humor, jokes, and gregarious laugh will be missed by all.
His funeral will be held on December 28 at 11 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. Please share memories & photos of Dick on the Tribute Wall, at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Richard-Douglas
(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)
(Alki photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Welcome to Christmas Eve 2023! Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar, here’s what’s up in the hours ahead:
CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT SHOPPING: Shop local! Many stores are open at least part of the day today. Here are the hours we have so far for retail shops on the WSB sponsor team:
Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW), 9 am-2 pm
Lauren’s Jewelry (Westwood Village), 10 am-4 pm
Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
The Bass Shop (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW), 10 am-3 pm
Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska), 10 am-1 pm
Moon Room (5902 California SW), 11 am-5 pm
Canna West Seattle (5440 California SW), 8 am-8 pm
Another shop that let us know they’re open for last-minute shopping:
Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), 10 am-1 pm
(additions below – thanks)
My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW), 10 am-4 pm
Alair Seattle (xxxx California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Dylan Clothing Shop (3270 California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Seattle Yarn (2701 California) – open until 4 pm
West Seattle Arcade (2758 California SW), open until 6 pm (gift cards available)
Anyone else? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we can add you to the list!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, the market is open today! Regular hours, 10 am-2 pm, regular spot in The Junction (California SW between Oregon and Alaska).
THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE STILL NEED COOKIES: Home-baked cookies to help The Christmas People sweeten the holiday for people in need can be brought to West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th Ave SW; WSB sponsor) 1 pm to 4 pm.
CHRISTMAS EVE GROCERY-STORE EARLY CLOSINGS: All West Seattle grocery stores close early tonight – earliest is 5 pm (Trader Joe’s), latest is 9 pm (WSB sponsor West Seattle Thriftway) – full list of tonight/tomorrow grocery-store info is in the Holiday Guide.
CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: Our list in the Holiday Guide includes services for 13 churches (some of whom are skipping regular Sunday-morning services to focus on tonight).
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for the West Seattle Holiday Guide (which we continue updating through New Year’s)? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(J pod southbound in Puget Sound November 2023, by M. Sears – Permit 21348)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than 40 people filled C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Thursday for The Whale Trail‘s winter gathering – with the theme on that solstice night, as executive director Donna Sandstrom put it, “finding light in the darkness.”
She opened with The Whale Trail’s origin story, going back to her involvement with the rescue of Springer the orphaned orca 21 years ago, fast forwarding to the challenges the Southern Resident Killer Whales face today – they could be extinct within a century if the factors contributing to their decline don’t change. At its heart, The Whale Trail is a long stretch of viewing spots with interpretive signage along the Pacific Coast (inland waters like Puget Sound too, with locations including four signs in West Seattle), “from San Diego to Prince Rupert, B.C.,” but in practice it’s much more – like Orca Talks and gatherings such as this one, dating back to 2010 – plus other forms of advocacy (Sandstrom served on the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force created by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018).
That task force addressed many threats to the resident orcas’ survival; Sandstrom’s special interest was shipping noise, including that generated by whale-watching boats. Now there are rules to reduce it, as well as a voluntary pledge program for other boaters. Then, starting in 2025, all boaters will have to stay 1,000 yards away. Sandstrom told attendees that she is serving on an advisory group working on how to ensure all boaters learn about this rule – “we want to make it easy for (boaters to help whales).”
Though the SRKWs’ population isn’t growing, there is reason for hope, Sandstrom said – their three pods (J, K, and L) have nine calves under 5 years old, and six of them are female. She said it’s important for people to leave gatherings like this one “inspired.”
She also paid tribute to longtime supporter Chas Redmond – “he was a super-connector and a joyous human being.” Now, highlights from the guest speakers:
Two from Admiral tonight – first, the house at 45th/Stevens that’s known well for its Halloween spirit is also brightly lit for Christmas; we took the photo while out looking around one recent night. Below, a North Admiral home photographed by Brendan:
He found that one in the 4300 block of SW Atlantic. … Any last-minute tips? We’re headed out on one last scouting trip tonight – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (To see everywhere we’ve shown, click WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS beneath the story headline above, and scroll through that archive.)
The most-mischievous Santa’s helper to appear in West Seattle each holiday season is at Easy Street Records right now – Cocoa Cris Cringle! Until 8 pm, you’ll find him at Easy Street Records for “foto fun”:
$20 gets you a turn with Cocoa Cris Cringle (with props if you want, including hats) – kids and pets welcome too. (If you somehow haven’t been to Easy Street yet, it’s on the northwest corner of California/Alaska.)
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Remember the food-bank-fundraising buskers we told you about earlier? We just found out that one musician’s car was stolen while they were performing:
Stolen VW Golf, 2005
Gray, WA plate 612-ZHK
(Pic shows roof just before it was repainted, roof now has new paint)Parked at the paid lot on 44th, between Alaska and Edmunds
(paid and have the receipt!)
Parked at 10:50 am today, Saturday Dec. 23 to busk for the Food Bank
Returned to the lot at 1:15 pm and the car was gone.
It’s a manual transmission, so hopefully it didn’t go too far.Police report filed.
If you see the car please call 9-1-1 and give report # 23-367922
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Found … abandoned one lot away from where it was taken … with a candy cane and “Merry Christmas” note on the door.
From the WSB inbox, sent by Ralph:
This morning, Saturday, December 23, I found about 10 pieces of mail in the middle of my street, 7700 block of 14th Ave. SW.
The mail was was addressed to various recipients in the 8100 and 8400 blocks of 7th Ave. SW, and one item, a Christmas card, had been opened.
I turned in the likely stolen mail to the Post Office at Westwood Village.
(Added: Reader photo, from 600+ cookies baked by Tibbetts United Methodist Church ‘and friends’)
From The Christmas People, who are collecting homemade cookies through tomorrow, an update and a request:
We need a volunteer to help collect cookies on Sunday, December 24 at West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Ave SW, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The volunteer who was scheduled continues to be stuck at Iceland Airport due to a volcano eruption.
Home-baked Cookie response has been amazing. Residents of West Seattle have been incredibly generous. First day collection on Friday yielded over 3,000 cookies. Cookies are distributed to 10 shelters in King County area.
This week we have distributed more than 2000 lbs. of dry, staple supplies to 8 shelters. Saturday, Sunday, Monday we will deliver 1750 snacks, lunches, and dinners to 6 shelters.
To volunteer please call Rev. Fred Hutchinson, Christmas People Co-founder, at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net. This is our 25th year. We are are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.
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