West Seattle, Washington
04 Saturday
One of the region’s first babies of 2025 was born to a West Seattle couple before the new year was even an hour old! Providence Swedish shared the photo and announcement with WSB:
Mary and Bill Belcher of West Seattle welcomed their second child – an 8.54-pound, 20.5-inch-long baby boy, named Wilder Oak Belcher – at 12:47 a.m, which earned him the distinction of being the first baby born at Providence Swedish First Hill in 2025.
The arrival of Wilder was preceded by 6,231 births at the 114-year-old, nonprofit hospital in 2024.
The Belchers, who have been married for six years, are also parents of a two-year-old daughter named Willow, who was being cared for by her grandmother, Sharon, while Mary labored and delivered in the hospital. The family shared that Mary’s 60-minute labor went smoothly and included a minute between contractions, which allowed them to experience a memorable countdown to midnight with their Labor and Delivery caregivers. The couple added, “We’re overjoyed with the birth and excited to introduce Wilder to his big sister, Willow.”
On New Year’s Eve, USA TODAY reported, “Babies born in 2025, and for the 14 years following, will make up the newest generation, called Generation Beta. Members of Gen Beta, for short, will be the children of younger millennials and older Gen Zers and by 2035, they are estimated to make up at least 16% of the global population. Additionally, many Gen Beta members will likely live into the 22nd century. Babies born in 2025 will be 76 years old when the year 2101 comes around.”
With everything else going on in the area, we have whales too – multiple tips indicate southern residents southbound and transients northbound off west-facing West Seattle.
(WSB photos by Tracy Record)
11:19 AM: Roxbury Safeway isn’t allowing customers inside right now because of a police standoff. At least eight SPD cars are here (though it’s in KCSO jurisdiction). We’re waiting to talk with police about what happened; employees are going in to work in the south side of the store – the situation, which involved an armed person making threats per an employee, is happening in the north end of the store.
11:31 AM: People showing up to shop are still being told the store’s closed because police are holding the suspect at gunpoint. Employees are clearing out again and an officer with a shield has gone in.
11:49 AM The suspect is in custody. A county fire medic unit has arrived.
1:21 PM: Police have released more information. They say it started “nearby” with “a violent assault involving a female victim” and that he “pulled a knife on the victim and threatened her with violence” while “under the influence of methamphetamine.” He turned up inside the Safeway and when police responded, that’s when the standoff started. They say he was arrested for investigation of “felony assault, harassment, and indecent liberties” and after medical evaluation he’s expected to be booked into jail.
2:40 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Eric Muñoz just answered our two big remaining questions: #1, despite the store being outside the city limits, this was an SPD call because the original incident happened across the street (9400 block of 27th SW), which is inside the city limits; also, the suspect needed medical attention because he “sustained minor injuries during the arrest; less-than-lethal force was used by officers including a Taser deployment. No other people were injured during the arrest.”
(Stadiums’ New Year’s Eve colors, photographed by Doug Eglington)
Welcome to 2025! Here’s some info we hope will be helpful on your New Year’s Day holiday:
BUSES: Metro‘s on the Sunday schedule. (The free rides were just for New Year’s Eve, so fares ARE being collected today.)
WATER TAXI: Not running today.
FERRIES: Weekend schedule on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route – check for alerts here.
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 AND RESTAURANT/BAR HOURS: This year, we made lists, though closures for New Year’s are far fewer than for Christmas; open coffee shops are here, open restaurants/bars are here.
GROCERY HOURS TODAY: Three grocery notes for today: Trader Joe’s is closed; PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opens later and closes earlier (9 am-9 pm); Whole Foods opens an hour later, at 9 am.
NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS: Emerald City Wanderers are hosting New Year’s Day walks, starting at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church. The 5- or 10-kilometer walks are noncompetitive, starting between 9 and noon. There is no fee, though contributions to help cover costs are welcome. Hot soup and snacks will be available after the walks. St John’s is at 3050 California Ave SW.
ALKI POLAR BEAR SWIM: You’re invited to join in the annual tradition of running into Puget Sound with hundreds of others at 10 am sharp, from the beach across from Duke’s, or really, anywhere along the sand – here’s our most-recent reminder.
HANUKKAH’S FINAL NIGHT: The Torah Learning Center of West Seattle will light its giant menorah one last time at 4:30 pm east of Alki Bathhouse, all invited.
OTHER NOTES: Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed … Solid-waste pickups are on one-day delay for the rest of the week.
If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365!
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