West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Puget Sound Energy provides natural-gas service in our area (and electricity in many other areas outside Seattle). If you’re a customer, you probably got an email alert tonight, requesting conservation and saying in part:
This evening, we’re asking customers to set their thermostats at a lower setting and limit the use of hot water, such as dishwashing or clothes washing, dryers and other appliances.
What the notice didn’t mention is that a major gas-storage facility operated by PSE suffered an outage earlier today – Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility in Lewis County. After seeing this report, and a PSE quote here, we contacted the utility and received the same statement:
Jackson Prairie went offline around 2 p.m. today. It has steadily been coming back on since then.
Puget Sound Energy is asking customers to conserve natural gas and electricity use through the evening hours. Due to the extreme cold temperatures facing our area, regional utilities are experiencing higher energy use than forecasted, and we need to reduce strain on the grid.
PSE has not yet commented on what caused the facility to go offline.
Northwest rock legends visit Easy Street Records in The Junction on Tuesday (January 16th) – Sleater-Kinney will be signing their 11th studio album, “Little Rope,” three days before its official release date. Easy Street’s Matt Vaughan calls them “one of the most essential bands to ever come out of the NW … queens of the riot-grrrl movement.” To get in to the signing, Easy Street says, you have to buy the album – pre-orders are available here, and the store will sell copies of the album on the day of the event, which will start at 6 pm. The band is going on tour next month, including dates at The Showbox in April.
P.S. Even if you don’t know Sleater-Kinney, you might know one of its members, Carrie Brownstein, as co-founder and co-star of the award-winning parody series Portlandia, which ran for eight seasons last decade.
Tattoo Pizzazz, briefly located in north Morgan Junction four years ago, has moved back to that area. Co-proprietor Johnathan Fleming sent the announcement and photo:
Our West Seattle tattoo shop Tattoo Pizzazz has relocated to 6021c California Ave SW, just north of Morgan Junction.
Our shop “opened” in March 2020 on California Ave at Juneau Street, although we immediately were closed due to the 3-month pandemic closure. We were most recently in a unit at ActivSpace on Harbor Ave. My wife Shannon Perry and I are owners and also tattoo at the shop. We both have over 10 years of experience each, and our shop specializes in portraiture, traditional, realism, and coverups. We are available by appointment via an inquiry form on our website tattoopizzazz.com … People can contact us via email with any questions – tattoopizzazz@gmail.com
The artists’ individual direct links are on the shop website too.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
4:14 PM: The snow-covered Olympics have shown themselves today, bringing in some pretty pictures to go with this update on our continuing colder-than-normal weather. Some good news this afternoon – the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast suggests it will NOT drop into the teens again tonight; the temperature is expected to stay about where it is now, the low 20s, before “warming” into the low 30s tomorrow.
(Anonymously submitted reader photo)
Monday and Tuesday are expected to have highs in the mid-30, and a rain/snow mix is possible Tuesday and Wednesday. Meantime, no reports of major problems in West Seattle related to the mid-teens temperatures early this morning, though we did hear from someone whose pipes froze. That’s also been a problem today for Washington State Ferries, with a source telling us both terminals and boats have had trouble with frozen pipes; the official WSF alerts show the restrooms out of service at Vashon Island as a result.
4:20 PM: Moments after publishing this, we heard police report in to dispatch that SPU needs to be contacted about what appears to be a break beneath the 3800 block of 55th SW.
6:03 PM: Thanks to commenter SJ for posting the photo of what’s happening there:
Meanwhile, the day ended with a scenic sunset:
Thanks to Brooke Gosztola for that photo!
7 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent an update on the 55th SW water problem – and this photo:
As the sign shows, there’s a closure now at Charlestown/55th – both streets. (Added) And here’s video sent by David, showing the water bubbling up from road cracks:
1:35 AM: The NWS forecast proved a bit too optimistic – the temperature has fallen into the teens again after all. The Saturday early-morning low was 15 (not a record for the date – that was 11 in 1950) so we’ll see where this goes.
Last night at about 8:40 pm, SPD and SFD responded to a report of an assault at 35th/Henderson. Medics reported the victim was a man around 50 years old hit multiple times in the head with a golf club, according to archived audio we checked after a witness sent this reader report today:
I want to report an upsetting incident that happened last night. I witnessed a houseless man that was in front of the Southwest Branch library on 35th get attacked by a man with a golf club. I was walking my dog at 8:30 pm on 35th, saw the houseless man by the library when I first started my walk, and when I turned around to head back home there was a man dressed in all black (did not appear houseless) talking to him. The men started to argue and the victim was trying to shoo the other man away. The man in black then threw a bunch of liquid on the man’s face, the victim started running toward the Shell station on Henderson and unfortunately ran straight into the telephone pole. He hit the ground and the man and black who was chasing him started swinging the golf club at the victim’s head. I called 911 immediately and went into my apartment as the man with the golf club was also taking swings at cars that were passing by and honking.
With the 911 operator on the line I went back outside to see the victim being helped by another man who was out walking his dog and the Shell station employees. The police showed up quickly right as I returned to the scene. The victim had a bad head wound and was taken to the hospital. The man in black ran off, which is frightening because he truly came out of nowhere swinging and I’m convinced if a few of us hadn’t been walking our dogs on this cold night this would have resulted in a death. As far as I know this guy is still on the loose.
The only descriptive info we heard on recorded dispatch audio was: Black, male, about 5’8″, dressed – as the witness said – in all black, including a pulled-up hoodie. The dispatcher also mentioned a possible accomplice: white, male, black beanie and hoodie. We won’t have access to followup info from SPD until Tuesday; if you have information, the case number is 24-011199, and the violent-crimes tip line is 206-233-5000.
ADDED 3:35 PM: SFD says the victim was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center – by private ambulance, which generally means the injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.
SATURDAY: Reported by John via email:
We wanted the neighborhood to know that at approximately 7:50 am this morning, our black 2016 Subaru Forester (plate # BOS 2514) was stolen from the front of our house on the 3400 block of 41st Ave. We started the car and turned on the heat. I went back inside for about 3 minutes to put our daughter in her infant carrier and the car was gone from the driveway. A warning for others that may be warming the car on these cold days.
The SPD incident number, if you see this car and call it in, is 24-011562.
UPDATED 12:37 PM SUNDAY: The car’s been found, in Tukwila. Inside, though, somebody else’s large Osprey backpack – if you’ve had one stolen recently, let us know and we’ll connect you,
(Frosty Friday morning photo by Terry Blumer)
Here’s what’s scheduled for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. (So far, no cancellations because of the weather – if you know of one, please text us at 206-293-6302 so we can update this list.)
FREE GROUP RUN: Start your Saturday with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run! All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event but registration required.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR: As previewed here, vaccinations and many other services, as well as giveaways including jackets, are available at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton), during a health fair open to all community members, 10 am-2 pm.
(added) REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES: As noted in comments, the 34th District Republicans are caucusing today at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW) – it started at 10 am.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Scheduled to be open today:
We are open 10 am-2 pm on Fridays and Saturdays! We have all your indoor plant needs, with pots, advice and more! Plus, any last-minute winter outside plants you might need. The Garden Center at South Seattle College provides Landscape Horticulture students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of plants while gaining real-world retail experience. Plants available for sale are selected, propagated, grown and presented by Landscape Horticulture students. Additional plants are brought in from local growers. Proceeds benefit Landscape Horticulture Program projects.The selection includes perennials, ground covers, shrubs, some annual edibles and flowers, as well as indoor plants. Cash and electronic payments accepted. The Garden Center is located in the North Parking Lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th Ave SW)
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is back open, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
POTTERY WORKSHOP: Introduction to Sculpting, 1-3 pm at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-6 pm, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
THE HALF-BROTHERS: 3 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), “skewed bluegrass” – tickets and info here!
BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) has home games today – girls vs. Arlington at 4 pm, boys vs. Sumner at 7 pm.
HEAR IT EARLY! Preview Green Day‘s “Saviors” at an Easy Street Records listening party, 6 pm. (4559 California SW)
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 7 pm, Steve & Kristi Nebel and Gary Kanter at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Punk fusion with Panic Grass, Deft Lips, Negative Passengers at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm, $10, 21+.
BEATS: Saturday night DJ at Revelry Room – 9 pm, tonight it’s Baby Van Beezly. (4547 California SW, alley side)
KARAOKE: Saturday night, sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? If the community’s welcome, get your event on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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