West Seattle, Washington
06 Tuesday
You don’t need a standalone house to put up an eye-catching display of Christmas lights. Driving along West Seattle arterials, you’ll see bright displays on balconies of apartment/condo/townhouse buildings, too. We were out scouting lights when we saw the cheery space-maximizing display above, on a building along Alki Avenue SW near 55th SW. We’d love to hear about lights you’ve seen and enjoyed – westseattleblog@gmail.com (whether your own display or someone else’s) – thanks! (See the ones we’ve already featured in this newest-to-oldest archive.)
Story and photos by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Doree Fazio-Young listened to two of the most powerful people in Seattle give speeches earlier this year and decided to challenge them to do more than talk. She invited them to meet “my kids” – the hundreds of students at Denny International Middle School, where Fazio-Young is a longtime “lunch lady” (and more).
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones accepted her invitation, and came to Denny at midday today, to serve the students lunch, and, as Fazio-Young had hoped, to “look into their eyes.”
That, she figured, would give them a much better grounding in “the real world” of school than would a five-minute photo op in “some made-up pretty classroom.” So, between dishing up helpings from a menu topped by lemongrass chicken and pot stickers, the mayor and superintendent did just that, and answered a lot of questions.
This was also a bit of a showcase for city/district collaboration – one example: The city entourage that accompanied Harrell included Office of Sustainability and Environment director Jessyn Farrell, who explained the city’s grant-funded partnership with SPS helps provide “culturally relevant, fresh food.”
Examples of that were on the menu today too – persimmons and kiwis available for the taking, right next to a make-it-yourself taco/salad bar.
Our area’s school-board director Leslie Harris was there too. After the first two lunch periods, the mayor and superintendent joined Fazio-Young (a 31-year SPS veteran), the district’s culinary-services director Aaron Smith, and Denny principal Jeff Lam for a roundtable chat right in front of the cheerily decorated food-service area:
During the roundtable, everyone agreed that the food provided by schools like Denny is more than physical sustenance – it’s also emotional sustenance. Fazio-Young explained that she’s the first person that some of the students see every day, the ones who show up as early as 6:15 am and need a warm place to be inside. The superintendent and mayor, meantime, talked about city/district cooperation, and answered our question about what the students had asked them:
Smith also observed that serving breakfast and lunch is a form of education, too, giving a chance to learn where food comes from.
As the roundtable wrapped up, more students filtered into the Denny galleria, and eventually it was time for the dignitaries to depart.
What they received today was food for thought; tomorrow, they’ll be back in downtown offices, while Fazio-Young welcomes “my kids” back for another day.
Every holiday season, Nucor Steel and its workers bring a huge gift to the West Seattle Food Bank – results of a food drive and a company cash match. Today was delivery day! Above, Melody Sarkies from Nucor sent the photo of preparations for departure from the plant by the bridge; below, Breanna Bushaw from WSFB sent the photo as they unloaded at the food bank’s HQ in High Point (with the help of Tacoma Hydraulics):
This year’s donations totaled 4,100 pounds of food – more than two tons! – and $20,473. Participating in the delivery today from Nucor were Dan Ness, Cooper Harrison, Jason Hanley, Abbie Hart, and Beth Roush; from Tacoma Hydraulics, Brad Martin, John Sawyer Sr., John Sawyer Jr., and Alex Sawyer. If you too can donate to West Seattle Food Bank (which also provides emergency assistance to keep people from becoming homeless), here’s how.
After staff illness led to limited operations and closures on some days last week, Southwest Pool is back to normal operations today, confirms its coordinator Matt Richardson: “We are open for normally scheduled programs today. On track to operate full programming tomorrow as well.”
Today we’re welcoming another local business as a WSB sponsor – Timeless Kitchen Design. It’s the time of year that many people spend even more time than usual in their kitchens, so maybe you’re thinking about overhauling yours. Here’s what Paula Kennedy of Timeless Kitchen Design wants to tell and show you:
Good design is what drives me while working with homeowners. To help their dreams come true, creating spaces that enable you to thrive is one of the most fulfilling experiences as a designer and business owner. I’ve spent the last 25 years fine-tuning my craft as I chose to specialize in Kitchen and Bath design. We all know that the kitchen is the heart of the home but it’s even being called the new living room, and our bathrooms are more than just for hygiene, they’ve become places of rejuvenation.
This Kitchen remodel in Normandy Park was a lovely Transitional-style kitchen. We moved two walls, which captured a much smaller ’80s kitchen and combined a breakfast nook, small kitchen, and dining room into a grand space to gather with the family.
It all started with custom blown-glass pendant lights found at a glass shop in Fremont. They had a large busy family and needed more storage, more countertop space and room for multiple cooks. Trends that you can find in this remodel:
· Two different colors for cabinetry
· Quartz countertops
· Speed oven
· Two sinks
· Paneled appliances
· Matching built-in’s in the dining room
· Transitional design style
There were many custom features in this kitchen but a pull-out recycle bin on locking wheels with butcher block top polished off this kitchen’s features!
I am a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer, Certified Living in Place Professional and a Certified Architectural Color Consultant. I have lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life and in West Seattle for 10 joyous years. I’m in love with West Seattle and am planting roots in our beloved community. It is my deepest desire to grow my business sharing my experience, knowledge and resources with my neighbors. Find Timeless Kitchen Design online here, or call 425-466-4483.
We thank Timeless Kitchen Design for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
11:56 AM: Orcas are in the area again. Kersti Muul says they’re headed southeast in Elliott Bay and visible from Alki.
12:52 PM: Kersti via comments and Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail via text report that the orcas are now southbound past west-facing West Seattle, and that they’re Southern Residents.
11:33 AM: Thanks for the tip. The Big 5 store at Westwood Village is opening late today because they’re cleaning up from what happened overnight. The staff isn’t commenting beyond saying they hope to reopen sometime this afternoon, but the police log shows an alarm dispatch just before 3:30 am. We have no other information yet on what happened, but we have a request out to police.
ADDED 12:03 PM: Just received from SPD:
Officers responded to the Big 5 Store located at the 2500 BLK of SW Barton St (Westwood Village). The suspects drove up in a Black Chevy Suburban, and a Beige or Silver sedan. The Chevy rammed the front of the store four times and caused significant damage. Two suspects stole an unknown amount of CO2 BB Guns and drove away Northbound. Evidence was recovered from the scene. The suspects wore face covering and gloves. The suspects weren’t located.
12:43 PM: The store has reopened.
That Noble Fir growing outside a West Seattle home is destined to be someone’s Christmas tree, in a unique memorial and auction announced by a local family, From Kim Mickelson:
The Chris & Kim Mickelson family on 51st Pl SW in West Seattle is offering an 8-foot Noble Fir to the highest proposed donation to Medic One, in memory of Steven A. Olson, our brother, and our friend, retired City of Kirkland Fire Captain Keith Adams, both lost tragically in separate auto accidents in 2021.
HOW TO BID: The proposed donation amount should be emailed to KimberlyMickelson@icloud.com no later than Saturday, December 10, 2022 at midnight. The winning family will need to cut the tree down. It will be fresh! The top donation will be notified by 10 am on Sunday, December 11, 2022 and you’re welcome to come that day to cut and pick it up. I ask that the winner then either show the donation receipt or pay us and we will process the donation on your behalf.
The Mickelson,Olson and Adams families appreciate and thank you in advance for your support in this endeavor! Gone but not Forgotten.
The Mickelsons will plant a new Noble Fir in its place.
6:01 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, December 5th.
WEATHER
Still cold, but no snow in the forecast. Today’s high should be near 40.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule this morning.
-WSF’s Triangle Route is too – check here for alerts/updates.
–Metro buses are on regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Weather permitting, SDOT crews may be back out on Harbor and Alki Avenues today continuing the speed-hump (etc.) work.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The south route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
D‘s debit-card number was stolen even though the card itself was not. Here’s her story, with a message for you:
Somehow-someway, my debit card number has been compromised, likely at a business point of sale from somewhere in my neighborhood, Highland Park-White Center-Arbor Heights.
Yesterday someone was using my debit card numbers to drain my bank account at the Arbor Heights 7-11 ATM while my card and I were elsewhere.
My bank texted/called me around 3 PM yesterday with an alert that $120 was being withdrawn out of my account from the ATM at the 9200 35th Ave SW 7-11. I…was at Joann Fabrics in Tukwila with my card safely tucked in my pocket.
I responded to the bank fraud analyst immediately. They asked if I had withdrawn $$$ at 2:45 and then again at 2:46, then asked about all of the places I’d been in the last 2 days – including my grocery purchase at QFC the night before.
I’ve contacted the police and am headed to meet the 7-11 manager this morning to see about getting a video for the investigators.
It is a bit shocking but I guess not particularly surprising. I’m just thankful that I had my bank notification buttons set to contact me so quickly, and thankful I still have enough to pay bills. I will have to make a claim with the bank during business hours tomorrow and will likely get the money back.
I guess I’m just writing to you so you can let your readers know to be vigilant with their cards – or make sure that they have account notifications set on their card use at the very least.
D. has a temporary SPD report # so far – T22029992. Meantime, be aware there are many ways card-number theft can happen; in addition to signing up for notifications, here are ways to reduce the chance you’ll be hit.
Tonight’s West Seattle Christmas lights spotlight shines on Ryan‘s house on Genesee Hill, 47th SW between Dakota and Andover, where the lights are synched to music. They had a Halloween show, and now one for the holiday season!
The music and lights run from 5 pm-9 pm and the show is about 30 minutes in length. Folks can listen from inside their car via FM radio or they are also welcome to bundle up, bring some hot chocolate, and listen to the music from the sidewalk. To make this a family event, some of the song lyrics are displayed for anyone that wants to sing along.
Got lots of lights? Seen someplace you want to tell us about? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (See what we’ve shown so far, archived newest to oldest – including past years – here. And current lights/music shows like this one are also listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
The West Seattle Community Orchestras invite you to two free concerts this week – if you haven’t already seen them in our Holiday Guide or Event Calendar, here’s the full announcement:
The West Seattle Community Orchestras are returning to our home at Chief Sealth International High School to kick off our 20th season of winter concerts. We have been online and in alternate performance spaces for almost 3 years, so it is incredibly exciting to be back at Sealth, performing in the hall.
Tuesday 12/6 at 6 PM is the Debut Orchestra, conducted by Rachel Nesvig, and Concert Orchestra, conducted by Bryan Kolk. Both groups are playing a selection of pieces, including several timely Holiday pieces.
Friday, 12/9 at 7 PM, the Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Anna Wittstruck, is performing a selection of pieces, and we are so excited to showcase the Elgar Cello Concerto with soloist Alastair MacRae. Mr. MacRae is a local artist joining us from Tacoma, where he is the Cordelia Wikarski-Miedel Artist in Residence and cello instructor at the University of Puget Sound, as well as the cellist of the Puget Sound Piano Trio.
This should be a fantastic set of free concerts; we are so excited to see the community again, and provide some indoor entertainment after the week of snow!
(While there’s no admission charge, WSCO, as a nonprofit, is always happy to accept donations.) CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle.
Family and friends will gather Tuesday to remember Daniel L. Nitkey, and are sharing this remembrance with the community:
Daniel Leroy Nitkey was born August 29, 1944, in The Dalles, Oregon; the first child of John W. Nitkey and Frances L. Fagan Nitkey. Danny died in Everett on November 25, 2022, at the age of 78, surrounded by his family.
As a young boy he built go-carts and raced them down 39th Ave and Marine View Drive with his friends and was a master at playing marbles – he started with a small bag of marbles and ended up with a large jar of them. Danny learned to drive on the country roads in Harrison, Idaho when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Sealth High School in West Seattle in 1962. After graduation, Danny worked for Nitkey Construction, his father’s company, before joining the U.S. Army, serving from 1963 to 1965 during the Vietnam War.
His parents predeceased him. He is survived by his children Cheryl, Roy, and Michelle Nitkey; his siblings Joan Kocharhook (Steve), Susan Griffin, Frances Kahler (Rick), Kathy Hostenske, and Lawrence (Eliza). Danny has five grandchildren – Anthony (Kate) and Brittany Modica, Hannah Nitkey, Ryan Keller, and Charlie Stensel, and three great-grandchildren – Laila Flores, Nicole Nitkey, and Isaiah Feil, and many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 on December 6 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 7000 35th Ave SW. Mass will be preceded by recitation of the Rosary at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries, Idaho, near his grandfather Andrew Nitkey.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Providence Hospital in Everett and Hospice for their care of Danny. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John W. and Frances (Fagan) Nitkey Endowed Scholarship at Gonzaga University, Gift Accounting, 502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258-0098. Gifts can be made online or by phoning Gonzaga University at (509) 313-6142.
Live stream of Funeral Mass can be found at: olgseattle.org/livestreaming-at-olg
(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)
(Photos courtesy Rotary Club of West Seattle)
The Rotary Club of West Seattle has announced its most recent round of honors for local students. Above is Angel Ramirez, who is studying at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and is the Rotary’s SSC Career Link Student of the Year, receiving a $2,000 scholarship that the club says “will enable him to complete his second year in South Seattle College’s Welding Program and receive his Associate’s Certificate, launching him on a very rewarding career.” Meantime, the club also announced its Students of the Month for three local high schools – below, Daryll Aguila at Chief Sealth International HS:
Ethan Nguyen at West Seattle High School:
And Drew Atkinson at Summit Atlas:
The Rotary Club’s Students of the Month receive $100 cash prizes. The club explains its award/scholarship program for local schools as follows:
At four of West Seattle Rotary’s weekly meetings during 2022-23 (in November, December, February and March), Student of the Month (SoM) Awards will be presented for Chief Sealth Int’l High, Summit Atlas High, and West Seattle High. For each school, a counselor introduces the Awardee, the Awardee presents a personalized bio-sketch, and Rotarians have a brief Q&A opportunity.
Each Awardee receives $100, an Award Certificate, and the opportunity to be their school’s Student of the Year (SoY) Awardee, chosen in early April by their school from among the four SoMs. In late April, from among these three school SoYs, the Youth Services Committee of West Seattle Rotary will choose one overall West Seattle Rotary SoY.That overall SoY winner will receive a $6,000 scholarship. Each of the two runners-up will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Students in West Seattle’s two alternative high school programs, South Seattle College – Career Link and Southwest Youth & Family Services – GED Prep, do not progress in a traditional four-year pathway of Freshman -> Sophomore -> Junior -> Senior -> High School Graduation -> College Admission. Working with administrators in each of these two alternative high schools, West Seattle Rotary designed customized programs that work for them.
For South Seattle College – Career Link, there are no SoM and one SoY is chosen in the Fall from students who obtained their high school diploma and matriculated to South Seattle College during the prior Summer.
For Southwest Youth & Family Services – GED Prep, there are two Students of the Semester (SoS), one each in the Winter and Spring. From those two, the Youth Services Committee will select the overall SoY, who will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
You can find out more about the Rotary Club and its programs here.
(Snow skull – photo sent today by Bradi)
We’ve seen snow/rain showers so far this afternoon – but after this, the word “snow” does not appear in this week’s forecast – temperatures are expected to inch back toward normal (40s day, 30s night) and precipitation will fall as rain.
(WSB photo – seen Saturday in Gatewood planting strip)
In the official gauge at Sea-Tac Airport, yesterday’s snow total was 2.6 inches – a record for that date – and so far this season the total is 4.4 inches. (December 3 is also in the weather-record books for 3.77 inches of rain in 2007 – Longfellow Creek deluged Delridge that day, as our photos show.)
On Friday night, we reported on a sudden SDOT announcement that more speed humps were planned for Alki/Harbor Avenues, as well as a section of raised center divider. Thanks to a tip this morning from Carolyn, we learned that the crews are already out today doing some of the work – as of our check about an hour ago, they had outlined six locations for speed humps, and were also restriping the angled parking at Duwamish Head:
Here’s where we saw the six sets of speed-hump markings, all on Harbor Avenue SW except for the last one:
-Just east of Seacrest
-Just east of Don Armeni
-2 sets alongside Don Armeni itself
-Just west of Don Armeni
-1210 Alki
While we were out photographing those, SDOT’s Ethan Bergerson replied to our Friday followup question about the location of the raised center divider: “The raised center divider will be in the curved part of the road between SW California Place and Luna Park. There will be multiple segments with gaps to allow cars to turn in and out of driveways.” He also said that the restriping of the Duwamish Head parking is part of “refreshing” painted markings in various locations; he added that the crews will be ” making some small repairs to the sidewalk where it has been damaged by tree roots slightly east of Luna Park.”
Thinking about putting a bike or board under the tree for someone? Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District (2606 California SW) has an offer for you:
We just opened up our “Holiday Layaway Hideaway”! We’ve got your back this holiday season with our Layaway Hideaway program. Buy anything in store and we will hold it for you until December 24th. We are also offering a layaway payment option, where you pay half down now and half at pickup. We have a ton of new bikes, skateboards, and gear in the shop to choose from.
Alki Bike and Board is open noon-5 pm on Sundays, noon-6 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 am-6 pm Fridays and Saturdays, closed Mondays.
(Saturday photo by James Bratsanos)
Here’s what’s up for your Sunday, from our West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s lineup here.
SCAVENGER HUNT CONTINUES: This is the second full day of the nine-day Winter Wander West Seattle scavenger hunt that Alice Kuder is presenting again this year – have fun exploring the peninsula, with a chance for prizes from local businesses. Register your team ASAP, since it’s not too late to start – all the details are in our preview.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market offers fall produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.
FUNDRAISING WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students will be selling their handmade wreaths during Farmers’ Market days by Wells Fargo in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm today and December 11 and 18 – details here.
FINAL DAY FOR BOOK FAIR: Last day of Paper Boat Booksellers teaming with Alki Cooperative Preschool for a holiday book fair, giving a portion of in-person sales to raise funds for the school. Shop at Paper Boat today (open 11 am-5 pm), and just say at the checkout that you are part of the Alki Coop Preschool Book Fair to get credit for the school. All product purchases (books, games, art supplies etc.) count, but no gift cards. If you can’t get to the store (6040 California SW), place orders by phone or email.
POTTERY POP-UP: Shop work by artists from Rat City Studios and Rain City Clay during the last day of this three-day pop-up at California/Oregon, 11 am-5 pm.
PRIDE FAMILY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at White Center Library (1409 107th SW) – registration required, and space remains as of early this morning – see our calendar listing for details.
PINTS FOR PUPS: 3-6 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), costume contest for pets, treats, percentage of proceeds going to Beloveds Animal Rescue Relief Foundation.
ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Today at 3 pm, it’s the second matinée for “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.
MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Michael Partington and Misha Yolleck, classical guitar, “Bach to Bossa Nova.”
HOLIDAY CONCERT: West Seattleite-founded Puget Soundworks, an all-gender, LGBTQIA+-centered community chorus, presents the last of three performances of their holiday concert “Menagerie,” 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – tickets here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
12:58 AM: Police have converged on the 35th/Barton 7-11 after a report of an armed robbery a short time ago. So far they’re told the three robbers got away in a car described as (updated) a white ~2008 BMW 3-series, 2-door, right rear bumper damage, dealer plates, last seen southbound on 35th.
1:14 AM: Dispatch has told officers that King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a gas-station holdup that “just happened” in Burien with a getaway car that sounds identical to this one.
ADDED MONDAY: Here’s the SPD summary:
At 0046 hours, two suspects entered a convenience store located in the 9200 block 35 AVE SW. One suspect brandished a handgun and the suspects made off with money from the register (containing $600-$700). Suspects got in a waiting white BMW 3 Series BMW coupe with a third subject and fled the area SB. About 20 minutes later, KCSO reported an armed robbery at the Shell station at 12653 Ambaum BLVD SW with matching suspect descriptions (KCSO case number 2022-25968). Area check was negative.
11:20 PM: Police are reporting the eastbound West Seattle Bridge is blocked by two crashes near the 1st Avenue South exit. Use the low bridge or the south bridges if you need to head off-peninsula any time soon.
12:53 AM: The bridge is now clear. Radio communication indicated a lot of post-crash cleanup was necessary, with an oil slick resulting, and finally some road salting on this icy night.
If you’re going to The Junction tomorrow for the Farmers’ Market and/or other shopping – look for the return of some of West Seattle’s most popular handmade decorations! If you haven’t already seen it in our Holiday Guide, here’s the announcement:
Pathfinder K-8 PTSA is holding our 27th annual wreath fundraiser to benefit outdoor education at Pathfinder K-8 School. After a 2-year hiatus we’re so excited to announce we’re back selling Door Decor – wreaths and other holiday swag – at The Junction (next to Wells Fargo) during Farmers Market days December 4th, 11th, and 18th. Everything is 100% unique and made from foraged materials from our yards and tree lots (thank you, Trees by the Sea on Alki!). This year’s selection will be some of our best! For more info: pathfinderk8ptsa.org
Have a hot lead on fallen branches or other supplies we can use in our creations? Email kathleen.hynes@me.com and bae.jungun@gmail.com
Thank you for supporting the kids at Pathfinder School!
(Screengrab of California/Alaska traffic cam during event’s final hour)
4:18 PM: It’s happening now in The Junction, where California and Alaska are closed to traffic and open to winter fun at the expanded Hometown Holidays Festival, culminating with the tree lighting in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska, scheduled to follow the lights-costume contest, which is around 6 pm). Here’s the schedule:
4:00 – Festival begins. Night Market and Beer & Wine Garden are open. Endolyne Choir, School of Rock, and Mode Music Studio perform on stage.
5:00 – G.L.O.W.S. Costume Promenade on streets. Elvis performs on stage.
6:00 – Costume Contest on stage.
6:30 – Lighting of the tree in Junction Plaza Park, followed by Santa reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and leading a carol sing-along.
7:00 – Dancer and Prancer perform on stage.
8:00 – Night Market and Beer & Mulled Wine Garden close.
Our preview, which includes more info on the contest, is here. See you there!
5:24 PM: The Night Market and light-costume promenade are happening on California.
The beer/wine garden is happening, and Elvis is performing, on Alaska.
(added) He was preceded by community musical groups including the Endolyne Choirs:
The tree lighting is an hour or less away!
6:50 PM: The tree is lit, and the festival continues:
(added) Here’s how the countdown went – first Jack Menashe, members of his family, and Santa took the stage:
Then, tree time:
The band Dancer & Prancer is closing out the entertainment, and the market and beer/wine continue until 8.
8:41 PM: We’ve added photos and video inline above (and still adding). One more highlight – the costume contest, with winners chosen by audience acclaim, after attendees were nominated by the light-costume artists who had been chosen to stroll, Here’s how it went, starting with the artists themselves onstage:
Winners got Junction gift cards – $500 for group, $250 for individual, $100 for pet. Junction Association executive director Chris Mackay promised the new feature – GLOWS (Glorious Light of West Seattle) – would be even better next year. As for this season, the next Hometown Holidays event – next Thursday night’s Art Walk, enhanced with holiday extras including carolers and Santa.
Three months ago we published this remembrance of Clara S. Hattori. Now her Celebration of Life is scheduled – here’s the announcement:
Please join friends and family to celebrate 103 years of life well-lived by CLARA SASAKI HATTORI.
Share your memories and stories.
December 6th, Tuesday
4:30 to 6:30 pm
at C&P Coffee in West Seattle (5612 California SW)
(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)
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