West Seattle, Washington
25 Friday
11:50 PM: For those asking about the police/fire response at Admiral/Stevens – it was dispatched as a man in his 30s either jumping or falling out of a moving car. He’s been taken to the hospital. We’re checking with SFD on his condition when transported.
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: SFD says the man was in stable condition.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you didn’t get to Alki Bathhouse Friday or Saturday to see UW students’ visions for Schmitz Preserve Park Creek‘s future – we can show you what you missed.
Their professor, landscape architect Paul Peters, explained that the inspiration for the “studio” in which his master’s-degree students created their proposals began when he read about the grassroots effort Schmitz Park Creek Restore on WSB, shortly after their launch event last May. Peters is a West Seattle resident and had been looking for something to assign his students to work on. Over 10 weeks, amid site visits, his nine students worked on plans for how the creek could come back to life.
Friday afternoon, on the first day of a two-day open house, the students presented their concepts. We recorded each group’s presentation so you can see for yourself, starting with the two-part introduction and acknowledgments by Daniel Nye from Schmitz Park Creek Restore:
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Nye turned it over to professor Peters, who told the story of how the project launched, and how – when they saw the creek undergrounding – they all agreed “there’s a lot of opportunity here”:
Peters explained that the students worked in three groups, focused on the forest, on the park (Whale Tail to Alki Playground), and the beach. The forest group gave their presentation first:
The forest presentation continues in this clip:
Next, the park group:
They continued in the next clip (as everyone switched locations to see the second set of renderings) and explained how they’ve designed their idea to a “100-year storm surge” situation:
Finally, the students who reimagined Alki Beach:
Keep in mind, none of these ideas is an official proposal yet – they’re ideas, visions, even dreams of what could be, so there’s no official feedback process, though Schmitz Park Creek Restore would certainly love to hear from you about these or anything else relevant to their dreams and goals – here’s how to reach the group.
Just received by text:
Very brown water 6000 block of 44th Ave. Southwest.
Nothing on the Seattle Public Utilities water-trouble map; they have just reported it to SPU at 206-386-1800 (which you ALWAYS should do if your water is discolored), and report that the utility promised a call back.
Thanks to Will for sending the photo. The Westwood Village GameStop store is closing; tomorrow is the last day, a staff member said by phone. This is not a surprise, as the space has been posted “for lease” for months, according to our periodic check of local listings. But several weeks ago, when a reader got email saying their “local” GameStop would be closing – without specifying an address – we went in to ask, and at the time, they told us no. The Westwood store opened in 2011. The chain said in September it would be closing some of its 2,000+ stores after a less-profitable-than-expected earnings report; its next quarterly-earnings announcement is expected this Tuesday.
Our holiday-lights spotlights continue with this photo sent by Dayna:
Our neighbor has a really great light display on 45th Ave SW between Admiral and Lander!
(That’s just west of Lafayette Elementary.) If you have lights – or have seen lights – to suggest for a WSB spotlight, please email us (with or without photo), westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! (Scroll through this WSB archive to see what we’ve shown already – plus past year’s features.)
(The size/shape alternatives under consideration for Fauntleroy terminal/dock replacement)
As Washington State Ferries moves closer to deciding on a “preferred alternative” for replacing the Fauntleroy ferry dock, two of the project’s advisory groups are meeting online this week, and all are welcome to watch and listen. First, on Tuesday (December 10), the Technical Advisory Group meets 10 am-11:30 am; then on Wednesday (December 11), the Community Advisory Group meets 6-8 pm. (The project page has information on who comprises the two groups.) You can register to get the meeting links by going here. Construction of the new dock, currently budgeted at almost $100 million, is not expected to start before 2027; the intersection at the dock’s entrance/exit, however, is scheduled for changes including a signal, with work starting in fall of next year. Our report on the Community Advisory Group’s most-recent meeting a month and a half ago is here.
(First texted photo – thanks)
12:02 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos. SFD and the Coast Guard are responding to a boat fire visible from Alki. They’re also mobilizing on shore in case there are patients to be brought to shore – right now the mobilization point is Seacrest. There’s word that one person is in the water “being picked up by a bypassing boat.” Updates to come.
12:08 PM: The closer view above this line is from Curry Gibson, who confirms that the boat (the one on the left) picked up a person in the water. And according to SFD radio, everyone is off the boat, which as the photos show is fully engulfed in flames.
12:14 PM: The view above this line is from Rick Cocker. SFD radio says the fire was reportedly preceded by some kind of “explosion” on the boat. (Added – video from another person onshore:)
12:19 PM: No fireboat on site yet, people who can see the boat are reporting, and emergency radio confirms that the nearest fireboat is still about 10 minutes away. SFD confirms one person was rescued by a “civilian vessel” and they say the person is OK but “refusing treatment” so the land response will demobilize.
12:37 PM: A fireboat (Chief Seattle) has finally arrived on scene (texted photo above).
12:50 PM: SFD told dispatch they’re still using Seacrest to shuttle some extra personnel out to the fireboat. Meantime, the texter – David – who sent the photo above says “fire’s out” and just sent this:
1:03 PM: Part of what they’re doing now, and the reason they’re sending out more personnel, is “dewatering” what’s left of the burned boat.
1:23 PM: Now they’re discussing towing what remains of the boat to “beach it at Duwamish Head” and figure out what else to do from there.
2:30 PM: Thanks to James Tilley for the photos above and below this paragraph. We just talked by phone with SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty. Here’s what we learned: The boat instead has been towed to Fourmile Rock on the north side of the bay – the Coast Guard decided to change the location. The person who escaped by jumping into the water, then getting picked up by another private vessel, was the only one on board and indeed was not hurt. (Added – Stephen King‘s photo, first uploaded in a comment, shows that person escaping.)
As for why a fire boat did not arrive sooner – Lafferty says they do indeed have one stationed on the waterfront downtown, but they were not in active patrol mode today and it took a while to mobilize. The first one on scene was Fireboat 3, based near Ballard. They don’t yet know the cause; the fire wasn’t fully out, because it was burning below deck, and firefighters could not safely board the boat. The first word of the fire came in from 911 callers who saw it, not from the person on board, so SFD says they really appreciate hearing from those people, and they also want to remind people on boats to keep communication devices and personal flotation equipment handy too, and to always have a fire extinguisher on board (there’s no word whether this person did or did not, it’s just a reminder). No word if the fire has led to any water pollution, but the crews that responded did have equipment to deal with that if it was needed.
11:47 PM: Update from the Coast Guard: “While under tow by the commercial salvage company, the vessel sunk near the 32nd Ave Beach Access in Elliott Bay. Boom has been placed around the vessel and divers have been contracted to remove remaining fuel while a salvage plan is promulgated. There is approximately 250 gallons of diesel fuel onboard.”
Even as we get to the shortest days of the year, there are reasons to think ahead to the warming months of spring. For one: Youth-sports leagues are opening spring registration, and this morning we have the announcement from West Seattle Little League:
West Seattle Little League Spring (WSLL) 2025 registration is now open for all youth ages 4-14.
Join us, your West Seattle neighbors in the bleachers, for another incredible season of hot dogs, cool drinks, sunny afternoons, and fun moments that your child and your family will cherish forever!
We are competitive, but most important, our coaches encourage fair play, teaching, and positive sportsmanship. Whether that’s summoning up the courage to swing the bat or running the bases with passion, we are here to listen, teach and inspire West Seattle youth to find their best self.
Each year, we want to make sure all kids have the opportunity to write the next chapter in the Little League story, regardless of their situation. No child will be denied an opportunity to play due to financial reasons. If you are in need of a full or partial scholarship, please visit our scholarship page for more info. We are dedicated to finding a confidential financial solution for families.
WSLL is excited to announce the fourth year of the Challenger Program! The Challenger program is Little League’s adaptive baseball program which offers additional support for athletes with disabilities.The Challengers program is free to all participants and open to West Seattle residents between the ages of 4-18 or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school. Inclusion and opportunity is the cornerstone of Little League, and it’s our passion to ensure everyone has an opportunity to play. Find more info here or email challenger@westseattlelittleleague.com with any questions.
The WSLL spring season will run from March – June and features fun activities including the jamboree, sandlot days, and end of the year bash. Interested to know more details? Check out westseattlelittleleague.com to find information about boundaries and divisions of play.
Register by February 9th. Registering early helps streamline our league operations – sign up today!
(Saturday photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Again today, we have two lists for you – first, the holiday happenings, from our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
FINAL DAY FOR ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL BOOK FAIR: Last day to make purchases at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) and have part of the proceeds benefit Alki Co-op Preschool!
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: Winter-clothing flash sale, 10 am-6 pm at the shop! (3602 SW Alaska)
HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR AT OLG, LAST DAY: The popular fair-trade-gift fair concludes at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 9:30 am-1:30 pm. (35th/Myrtle)
PATHFINDER WREATH SALES: As featured in the Holiday Guide, the school’s beloved handmade wreaths are on sale just south of the Farmers’ Market today and the next two Sundays, plus available online. (California/Alaska)
HOLIDAY ART SHOW & SALE: Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights is hosting a holiday show & sale again this year, featuring artists who work with clay: 1-5 pm today. (4208 SW 100th)
VASHON ISLAND HOLIDAY STUDIO TOUR: Take a ferry to explore this event! “Vashon Island artists offer art lovers and gift shoppers a fun and inspirational event, the Vashon Island Holiday Studio Tour, continuing today, 10 am to 4 pm. The tour, which is organized by Vashon Island Visual Artists, features 44 studios and galleries representing more than 140 artists and craftspeople. The organization’s website also offers an interactive online map with details about each studio or gallery.”
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Open 7 days a week until Christmas – that includes 11 am-5 pm today. (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor)
SHOP SMALL SOUTH PARK: Go explore our neighboring community during their 11 am-4 pm art market, plus “retail crawl” at many SP small businesses. Details in our calendar listing. (14th Ave. S./S. Cloverdale)
GRINCH AND GRAHAMS: 1:00-2:30 pm. Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill)
Family Holiday Event! FREE! “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” the beloved 30-minute holiday classic movie, followed by making and decorating graham-cracker houses! All welcome!
‘SNOWED IN (AGAIN)’: ArtsWest‘s holiday musical has a 3 pm matinée today; get your ticket(s) here. (4711 California SW)
THE KENNEY CHIMES CHOIR: “The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW, 2 pm, Chime In for The Holidays! Join The Kenney Chimes Choir featuring The WestSide Ringers and The Kenney Singers for Carols At The Kenney! (Event is free, donations welcome) Email: tickets@thekenney,org to reserve your seat.”
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. Tickets and info here.
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR: Northwest Boychoir‘s annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at Holy Rosary Church, 7 pm. Tickets here. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
And here’s the non-holiday list with everything else – mostly from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet for today’s run at 9 am at Ampersand (2536 Alki SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm, with almost-winter produce (root vegetables! greens!), plus beverages, holiday greenery, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Fall is project time. Need a tool to make yours happen? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
THE DOWNTOWN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: This WSB sponsor welcomes families to its independent high school campus downtown today, 12:45-3 pm. (160 John Street)
‘THE RAKE’S PROGRESS,’ FINAL PERFORMANCE: Last chance to catch the Chief Sealth IHS student performance! 2 pm in the campus Performing Arts Center – ticketing and other details are in our preview. (2600 SW Thistle)
BABY MOTOR-SKILLS PLAY GROUP: 3:30 pm at Viva Arts, geared toward 3 months to pre-crawling. Preregister here. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIGHLINE PREMIER FC INFO NIGHT: 6 pm online, for families interested in this soccer league – details in our calendar listing.
JET CITY IMPROV AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm, “a night of laughter and musical magic.” (4711 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring – and/or in our Holiday Guide? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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