day : 20/11/2024 12 results

(Charlestown Hill, photographed by Christopher Boffoli)

This time last night, the wind was howling, but tonight, it’s quiet. Throughout the Seattle City Light service area, 20,000+ customers remain without power. No major outages remain in West Seattle, but some residents on west Charlestown Hill/Genesee Hill/upper South Alki were still out (some of them unmapped) at last report. One told us via text, “We are still out and so is our street and I just talked to SCL and they now say the new time is tomorrow by midnight. They were not able to give us any info on why we were still out when most around were good now.” As we told them, the 2006 windstorm – to which the outages from this one are being compared – also left some in West Seattle out for a lot longer than people nearby – the grid connects (or doesn’t) in mysterious ways.

IMPORTANT: If you’re out of power, preparedness guru Cindi Barker reminds us, don’t fall victim to carbon-monoxide poisoning from heating/cooking sources:

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous and odorless gas that cannot be seen or smelled. It can kill a person in minutes. If you don’t have electricity, prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide.

-ONLY use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents
-NEVER use a generator indoors in garages or carports
-NEVER cook inside on a charcoal or gas grill

Illustrated flyers in 24 languages

Other notes include a Comcast/Xfinity outage that several have mentioned, and wind damage trashing the early holiday decorations at the famous “4040 house.” A couple readers have mentioned there’s even crowdfunding set up in hopes they can recover in time for this season after all.

As for the weather – no more major wind in the forecast, but looking at next week, there are multiple mentions of possible snow showers!

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Charging documents in four robberies including two West Seattle holdups reveal possible links to three more

November 20, 2024 7:45 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

The three suspects arrested Friday night, hours after a robbery rampage including two West Seattle holdups, are now charged. And documents accompanying the charges say two of them are under investigation for three West Seattle 7-11 robberies, too. And those documents confirm the “11-year-old” is actually a few years older.

First – 21-year-old Tyzavius Holmes of Top Hat and 19-year-old Amarri Lard of Auburn are each charged with four counts of first-degree robbery for the four holdups on Friday morning, including the Space Age gas station at 35th/Holden and the Fauntleroy Shell station; the last one is the one for which the charging documents feature these images (and many others from the series).

The charging documents say Holmes had only been out of jail a month in relation to other matters:

Mr. Holmes’s criminal history includes convictions for Theft of Motor Vehicle (2024); Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree (2024); Identity Theft in the Second Degree (2024); Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree (Juvenile – 2021 x2); Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree (Juvenile – 2019); Robbery in the First Degree (Juvenile – 2019); Residential Burglary (Juvenile – 2018); Assault in the Fourth Degree (2024); Theft in the Third Degree (2024 x2; Juvenile – 2018); and Vehicle Prowling in the Second Degree (2024). Mr. Holmes was released from the King County Jail on October 11, 2024, after being sentenced for three felonies and four gross misdemeanors.

Lard had no conviction history, prosecutors say. The probable-cause documents filed with the charging papers say the two also are suspected in the November 2nd Admiral 7-11 robbery, the November 7th Junction 7-11 robbery, and the November 13th Avalon 7-11 robbery; those cases are still being reviewed for possible charges. Adult suspects Lard and Holmes remain in jail in lieu of $400,000 bail, with arraignment set for December 4.

The juvenile suspect is described in these documents as 13, not 11, in line with what we found when researching his background earlier this week (as reported here) – he turns 14 tomorrow. He’s charged (as a juvenile, so we are not publishing his name) with four counts of first-degree robbery plus one count of making a false statement to a public official, for lying about his name and age after his arrest on Friday. He remains in secure detention pending arraignment tomorrow (Thursday).

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YOU CAN HELP: Got blankets and pillows? West Seattle’s emergency shelter could use them

November 20, 2024 6:18 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

As reported here earlier this week, Westside Neighbors Shelter in The Triangle is now open for overnight stays. And Keith Hughes says there’s a greater need than they expected, so operator Keith Hughes is looking for a very specific type of donation and asked us to share the request with you:

With the predictions of extreme wind, heavy rain, and dropping temps, we had ha big influx at the shelter last night. We had 36 overnight guests, which we were not prepared for this early in the winter season. Consequently I ran out of blankets and pillows last night. (We have) a request for twin-size blankets and pillows. I will be at the shelter until 10 pm tonight to take deliveries and again at 7:30 am to 11 am tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

The shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska.

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FOLLOWUP: Schmitz Preserve Park encampment ‘resolved,’ city says

November 20, 2024 4:30 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

One week ago, we reported that the city said it had no plans to “resolve” that tent encampment at Schmitz Preserve Park. That apparently changed quickly: One of the readers who had contacted us got a message Tuesday that the encampment had been resolved after all. A Unified Care Team rep told them:

Our contracted outreach partners were out last week to engage with individuals at the site and connect them to services and resources. They left the grounds on Friday and UCT performed trash pick-up services yesterday and today [Monday-Tuesday]. We consider this issue resolved. Re-encampment can occur at a site; please continue to submit new service requests by using our Unauthorized Encampment service request form or on your mobile device using our Find It, Fix It mobile app. The information you provide will help the Unified Care Team (UCT) deploy the right teams and resources to address the issue as quickly as possible.

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UPDATE: California/Admiral crash

November 20, 2024 4:16 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Photo by Deb Barker)

4:16 PM: Thanks for the tips. There’s a crash at California and Admiral, on the northbound side, a collision between a semitruck and car.

4:44 PM: Live camera shows the scene hasn’t cleared yet. We’ll be checking with SFD re: injuries.

9:00 PM: SFD says no injuries were reported.

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SCHOOL CLOSURES: Seattle superintendent might cancel the plan, after emotional board meeting

November 20, 2024 2:38 pm

| 26 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

While the wind raged across our region, a gust of surprise stirred things up at last night’s Seattle Public Schools board meeting (video above). Suddenly, the district might be abandoning its plan to close schools to save money. (Four elementaries are proposed for shutdown, including Sanislo Elementary on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, with one parent last night saying the closures would “destroy communities”). Toward the end of the emotional meeting, including impassioned testimony by supporters of the targeted schools, Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones threw out his planned update on the closure process and instead announced he’s “considering withdrawing the recommendations.” That in turn had followed a tearful speech by board president Liza Rankin – currently the subject of a recall campaign – saying the path on which they were proceeding does not “align with any of the things we asked for.” While legal counsel said she couldn’t simply call for a vote on scrapping the proposed closures then and there, she was told she does have the power to postpone the formal hearings planned for next month at the schools. If the superintendent withdraws his recommendations, that would do the same thing. So now it’s a matter of what happens next.

Meantime, West Seattle’s school board director Gina Topp has set the time and place for her next community-conversation meeting – 6:30 pm Tuesday, (corrected) November 26, at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW) – you can talk/ask about the closures or any other SPS topic.

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BIZNOTES: Mission Cantina’s treat for City Light workers; Itto’s, Camp West anniversary deals

November 20, 2024 1:03 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Three restaurant biznotes:

MISSION CANTINA’S TREAT FOR CITY LIGHT WORKERS: Just announced by the Admiral District restaurant/bar:

In the wake of last night’s windstorm that left many in the region without power, Mission Cantina and Harbor Foods are teaming up to show their appreciation for the tireless efforts of Seattle City Light employees. These workers have been out in the field restoring power and ensuring the community’s safety during challenging conditions.

As a heartfelt “thank you,” Mission Cantina and Harbor Foods are offering free burritos to all Seattle City Light employees today and tomorrow, 11 am to 10 pm. Employees can enjoy this small gesture of gratitude by ordering take-out or dining in. Seattle City Light employees can:
-Order online at order.toasttab.com/online/mission-cantina on our Grab’n Go Menu
-Call us at 206-937-8220 for take-out
-Dine in person after 4 pm at 2325 California Ave SW

Employees must present their official SCL badge to claim their complimentary burrito. While supplies last. One per SCL badge.

ITTO’S TAPAS TURNS 9: They’ll celebrate with you tomorrow (Thursday, November 21), with $9 food and $9 cocktail specials. Itto’s Tapas is at 4160 California SW, open 4 pm to 10 pm. (Ever wonder about Itto’s backstory? Here’s a WSB story from 2015.)

CAMP WEST TURNS 2: The Junction restaurant/bar at 4539 California SW is celebrating its second anniversary this week. Through tomorrow, they’re offering s’mores and bottles of wine at half price. They also want you to know about their new hours – earlier, on Friday at 12:00 and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00, with brunch to come sometime next year.

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ORCAS: Second wave of whales visible off West Seattle today

November 20, 2024 12:12 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

12:12 PM: After the wind, the whales! Kersti Muul told us about orcas northbound from Vashon about three hours ago, while we were still in the midst of storm-aftermath coverage; now she sends word that a group of Southern Resident Killer Whales is northeastbound from the south end of Blake Island. Let us know if you see them! (Kersti adds that baleen whales are in the area today too, including three humpbacks off Alki earlier.)

1:20 PM: From Donna Sandstrom at The Whale Trail:

The group of orcas are the J16s – consisting of Slick (J16) a 52-yr-old female, and her offspring Mike (J26), Alki (J23) and Echo (J42). Might be hard to pick out in the whitecaps though J26 has a tall dorsal fin.

Mike is the model for NOAA’s inflatable orca that has been the star of many West Seattle events (see below).

At the same time the rest of the Js are southbound from Kingston.

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WEST SEATTLE GIVING SPIRIT: Meet 150 tiny neighbors at Educare Seattle

November 20, 2024 11:39 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle Giving Spirit | West Seattle news | White Center

Today, we start our series of spotlights to tap into your West Seattle Giving Spirit. Last week, we invited local nonprofits to participate in this first-ever coordinated giving campaign – first-come first-served – and our partner in the campaign, Learning Communities Foundation, received enough applications to fill up the spots. Three times a week before year’s end, here on WSB, you’ll learn about a different West Seattle/White Center nonprofit and how you can support it. LCF is kicking off the campaign with a spotlight on its early-learning center Educare Seattle, as the first participant – here’s their story:

It’s Fire Drill Day @ Educare Seattle!

A fire drill with the 150 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at Educare Seattle Early Learning in White Center is no small feat. All of the little people, with all their little FEET, practice their listening, walking, and self-control under the care of their teachers to trek outside.

Educare Seattle is an innovative early-learning center in White Center, with a Whole Family Whole Child approach, where hiring decisions, curriculum changes, and even 1:1 learning plans are done with staff and families working together. Your gift as part of the West Seattle Giving Spirit campaign will support Educare Seattle’s early learning impact right here.

Because 85% of brain development happens before the 3rd birthday, high-quality early learning that partners deeply with families is vital. During the roughly 2,000 days between birth and kindergarten, a child’s mind and body are focused solely on growing and developing – inside and out.

Investing in Educare Seattle (624 SW 100th) means you are investing in a neighbor’s child during this important time as well as the future promise of our West Seattle and White Center communities.

With data and evaluation in hand and relationships built on trust, families meeting “income and circumstance” criteria receive child care and attend preschool in a setting built on four pillars that combine to lead to a Racially Just and Humanizing Learning Community.

Those are big words for a program focused on little children.

Daily, 150 children enter Educare Seattle’s 10 classrooms. They are greeted by teachers and school leaders who look and sound like them, honor their stories, and celebrate their traditions. Parents and caregivers are recognized as their children’s first and most important teachers and have access to family support services and leadership opportunities in equal proportion.

A mom of a recent “Off to Kindergarten” graduate says, “Our family has really grown with Educare the past 3.5 years. I left a really hard relationship, moved and didn’t have a job. With the help of my Family Advocate, I became a Parent Advocate. (This means) I was able to look at resumes of people who wanted to work here and that helped ME get more experience (so that) I also got a job (and was recently promoted!). I cannot say enough good things about Educare and how much they help families in need and how much they helped me.”

Real-time, equity-centered data and evaluation practices impact every family (100% of families have faced systemic obstacles grounded in poverty or oppression) and also inform both state and federal legislation beyond the walls of our building.

Educare was launched in 2010 with capital and operational support from the Gates Foundation; that funding source has now ended. Educare Seattle is a part of a network of 27 Educare schools all under the nationwide Early Learning Network. Its local impact has national influence through this critical partnership. Primary funding for Educare Seattle comes from federal Head Start and Early Head Start funds, in kind and backbone support from the Puget Sound Educational Service District and fund development support from the Learning Communities Foundation, the PSESD’s philanthropic partner.

Join us for a Tour tomorrow – Thursday, November 21, 10:30-12 pm – or at a date of your choice December 9-13 – email nwoodland@learningcommunitiesfoundation.org

Interested in learning about volunteering in 2025? nwoodland@learningcommunitiesfoundation.org

Enrollment information is here – or email Family Advocate Christina Monteith (cmonteith@psesd.org)

We are hiring teachers! Email Site Manager Johna Rhooms (jrhooms@psesd.org) to learn more.

****Donate to Educare Seattle here!****

West Seattle Giving Spirit, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation, will bring you the next spotlight on Friday – you’ll be able to learn about, and lift up, another local nonprofit!

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Quick note about what else is up today/tonight in West Seattle

November 20, 2024 10:18 am

| Comments Off on Quick note about what else is up today/tonight in West Seattle

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Because of windstorm coverage, we won’t be publishing a detailed “what’s happening today/tonight” list, but you can see the lineup by checking out the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. Two events to highlight – 6:30 pm at Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle), a community conversation about inclusive schools; and at 7 pm online, Highland Park Improvement Club has its next Town Hall; details are in this preview.

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WINDSTORM AFTERMATH: West Seattle tree trouble and other damage

November 20, 2024 9:09 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We mentioned a lot of tree trouble in last night’s windstorm coverage, and now in daylight we’re getting a look at that and other damage:

Thanks to Jonathan for the photo above. That’s the big tree that fell on Walnut Avenue last night: “We live on 41st and heard something around 10 last night. Couldn’t figure out what it was. This is on the other side of the block from us, so clearly what it was. I feel for our neighbors.” Here’s another angle, from Peter:

Meantime, a texter sent this from a south Lincoln Park blufftop trail:

The texter confirms it’s blocking the trail. If you find other fallen trees in city parks, report them via Find It Fix It or call 206-684-7250. … Sean sent this photo of a crew doing early-morning work where a tree tumbled on Hanford:

In northwest West Seattle, Christopher Boffoli spotted this fallen fence:

We’ll continue adding to this through the day; photos are welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com or via text at 206-293-6302.

ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Jed for these photos from Schmitz Preserve Park:

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POWER, WEATHER, SCHOOLS, TRAFFIC: Wednesday morning updates

November 20, 2024 6:00 am

| 47 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: It’s Wednesday, November 20, and thousands remain out of power after last night’s windstorm (here’s our Tuesday night coverage).

POWER UPDATES (updated 9:10 am)

The major north West Seattle outage has been resolved as of less than an hour ago – from Admiral to Alki and beyond – and the major east West Seattle outage (Riverview south to the city limit and beyond) has been reduced.

City Light‘s outage map, after glitches last night, appears to be functioning in real time again. (Please let us know via comments or text – 206-293-6302 – if you get your power back, as SCL does not keep a public-facing record of that; the utility says it’s brought back tens of thousands around its service area.) Remember that if you encounter a traffic signal that’s dark or flashing, it’s an all-way stop. (16th/Holden is among them) … Some power-out areas in north WS are NOT showing on the map, we’re told, such as 51st/Orleans. … 9:10 am, texter says they just got power back in Highland Park/Riverview … 10:20 am, commenters say power in the Westwood area is back.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Cloudy with showers, breezy but not windy, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:23 am, while sunset will be at 4:27 pm.

SCHOOLS (updated 6:46 am)

-Sanislo Elementary closed (district says that’s the only WS school it’s closing today)

-No school at Community School of West Seattle today, per text

-YMCA Early Learning in Westwood is closed per commenter

-Highline Public Schools closed

-Any others? Let us know!

TRANSIT – No major changes reported in our area this morning.

Water Taxi today – Regular service.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.

Metro buses today – Regular schedule but with trip cancellations.

Sound Transit today – Link light rail is starting service at 7 am, two hours late than usual.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS – Some are out this morning, but here’s the ones that were working as of 6 am:

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera. Bridge note: As of 6 am, a “large amount of standing water” was reported on the eastbound bridge at or near the ramp to 99:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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