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TRANSIT ALERT: Metro suspending some routes for the rest of the day
December 7, 2022 3:02 pm
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 |   West Seattle news

In the wake of the removal of 126 buses from service – as first reported here last night – Metro has just announced it’s suspending some routes for the rest of today. They’re not all in West Seattle, but we’re publishing the full list in case others affect you off-peninsula: 9, 15, 17, 18, 29, 55, 56, 57, 64, 111, 114, 121, 125, 162, 177, 214, 301, 304 & 330. However, Metro adds this caveat, “Due to the fluid nature of the situation, a small number of trips may run on routes that are temporarily suspended.” Meantime, we’re still awaiting answers to some follow-up questions about the bus-removal situation.

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TOMORROW: Learn about public-school funding and PTA fundraising
December 7, 2022 1:59 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you haven’t already seen this in our calendar – an online event tomorrow night (Thursday, December 8) offers a chance to learn about public-school funding and PTA fundraising – here’s the announcement, including how to get involved in a wider community effort even if you can’t attend Thursday’s event:

West Seattle Public School Equity Fund, a new grassroots, parent-driven equity fund, is hosting a community learning session about public-school funding and PTA fundraising with Vivian van Gelder, Advocacy and Policy Manager for SESEC (South East Seattle Education Coalition).

Founded by local public school parents Andrea Dimond, Shannon Woodard, and Kristen Corning Bedford, the West Seattle Public School Equity Fund (WSPSEF) is a community-wide effort to equitably fund our neighborhood schools, recognizing the historical impact of redlining and systemic racism continues to have on individual school PTA resources.

Last spring, the West Seattle Public School Equity Fund made its inaugural round of fundshifting across West Seattle grade school and K8 PTAs. Contributions from four PTAs in the amount of $20,916 were distributed to 5 schools across the neighborhood. The Advisory Committee is made up of parents and teachers from Concord Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, Genesee Hill Elementary, Highland Park Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Pathfinder K8, Roxhill Elementary, Sanislo Elementary, and West Seattle Elementary. They used OSPI’s Washington State Report Card data on Enrollment of Underserved Groups and SPS Equity Tiers to make their determination.

“I loved seeing how this whole experience brought our West Seattle elementary school community closer together,” commented Andrea Dimond. “The partnership between participating schools goes beyond fundshifting, as evidenced by the recent launch of the West Seattle Elementary’s PTO, which was an effort supported by the WSPSEF Advisory Committee members through shared resources and knowledge. I’m excited that we’re on track to double our fundshifting next year as well as continue to build relationships and learn together.”

How to Participate:

Attend the learning session on public school funding and PTA fundraising with Vivian van Gelder, Thursday, December 8th, 7-8:15pm, online. All are welcome. Register here.

If you have a student at one of the West Seattle public grade schools, including K8, and would like more information about how your school can participate, please email hello@wspsequityfund.org, or reach out to your school PTA.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Four felony charges for man accused of shooting at police in West Seattle
December 7, 2022 11:56 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Last Thursday night, we took that photo outside the Bank of America at Westwood Village after texts about a police response there. Officers said only that it was a domestic situation. We now know it was more than that – it was the arrest of a man just charged with four felonies, one of which was indeed domestic-violence assault, another of which involved shooting at least 16 rounds at police officers in South Delridge. We reported the arrest here and the original incident here. The defendant is 26-year-old Kevin Flores Reyes of South Seattle, charged Tuesday with first-degree assault, second-degree domestic-violence assault, attempting to elude police, and unlawful gun possession.

Prosecutors say this all first came to police’s attention around 12:35 am November 19, when Flores Reyes’s ex-girlfriend called from Morgan Junction to say he was chasing her in his car and flashing a gun. They weren’t able to catch up with her until she was home in South Delridge; they saw his car driving by, left to try to catch up with him, were unable to, and went back to finish talking with her. 40 minutes later, case documents say, calls started coming in to 911 about shots fired in South Delridge. Police responding to check that out heard more shots themselves, and soon spotted Flores Reyes’s car near his ex-girlfriend’s residence. They pursued him, the narrative continues:

… as he drove southbound on 16 Av SW from SW Henderson St at a speed of about 60 mph. They pursued as Flores Reyes turned eastbound on SW Roxbury St at speeds up to 70 mph in posted 25 mph zones, northbound on 8th Av SW, westbound on SW Henderson St, southbound in an alley west of 16 Av SW until he stopped and exited the vehicle on 17 Av SW just north of SW Barton St. Flores Reyes began running north on 17 Av SW firing rounds back toward officers …

Bullets hit at least three cars and narrowly missed one officer’s leg; the documents say “16 fired cartridge casings were recovered.” However, Flores Reyes got away.

Three days later, police got back results of a test on the recovered 9mm casings and learned they matched casings recovered after gunfire October 4th at Westcrest Park – with the same victim; she was unhurt but her car was damaged by bullets. The court document notes at this point that Flores Reyes cannot legally possess a gun because he has a felony conviction (from an assault case, different victims, in 2016). So with all that, a warrant was issued for his arrest on November 22nd, and nine days later, law-enforcement personnel with the US Marshal’s Task Force arrested him at Westwood Village as mentioned above. He remains in jail, with bail set at $750,000.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: 9 notes
December 7, 2022 10:30 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar, here are notes for the rest of today/tonight:

DONATION DRIVE FOR TREEHOUSE CONCLUDES: Last day for one of the donation drives we’re spotlighting in our Holiday Guide – toys and other gifts for foster youth served by Treehouse, collected at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).

HISTORY HOUR: Pearl Harbor Day author presentation at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1 pm.

JAZZ AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 6:30 pm with piano and bass, (4210 SW Admiral Way)

LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.

(One of the Fauntleroy UCC trees – photo provided by Judy Pickens)

FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FESTIVAL OF TREES: First of three Wednesday nights when you can visit Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW) 7-8 pm to see a dozen creatively decorated trees!

SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE: Monthly showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

TRIVIA x 5: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm trivia at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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MYSTERY: Recognize the people in this photo?
December 7, 2022 9:55 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

If you do, you might be able to get some photos back to the people they belong to. Sent by Junction True Value:

We found a stack of photos behind True Value. We would like to get them back to the owners. If anyone knows these people, please reach out to Elwood or Rebecca @ the store.

Contact info is here.

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Celebration of Life planned December 28 for Clara R. Dempsey, 1931-2022
December 7, 2022 9:09 am
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 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather December 28 to remember Clara R. Dempsey. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with her community:

Clara Dempsey
March 31, 1931 – September 10, 2022

Clara Romola Dempsey passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 10th at Mt. Saint Vincent nursing home.

Born in Seattle March 1, 1931, to Norwegian immigrants Sigurd and Karen Thuen. Clara spent her entire life in Seattle, growing up in Madison Park and West Seattle, graduating from West Seattle High School in 1949

Clara married Robert (Bob) Dempsey on June 6, 1953, in Seattle, raising their three children in West Seattle. She worked in retail at Rhodes Department Store and Johnson’s Apparel and in the annuities department at Safeco Insurance, from which she retired to travel with Bob and enjoy her grandchildren. She spent many years fundraising as a member of the Seattle Children’s Hospital Fauntleroy Guild. She was a friend to many who appreciated her kind heart and sassiness.

Clara was a fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Mariners and enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles. She loved family gatherings, hosting many of them, and activities with her Seattle Police Family.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband Robert Dempsey Sr. She is survived by her children: Kathie (Steve) Itter, Bob Jr. (Tobi), and Mike; four grandchildren: Sean (Kali) Dempsey, Hayley (Jared) Griffin, Katy (Chase) Itter, and Michaella Dempsey (Taylor Schulze); and five great-grandchildren: Ronan and Finnley Dempsey, Tyson, Ashe, and Landon Griffin.

A Celebration of Life is planned for 11:00 a.m. December 28th at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in West Seattle, followed by a reception at The Lodge at Camp Long. Remembrances may be made to Clara’s favorite charity, Seattle Children’s Hospital.

(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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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday info
December 7, 2022 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, December 7th.

WEATHER

High in the 40s, cloudy with a chance of rain as well as some possible sun.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

-If you’re using Metro, keep a closer watch on channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations – as reported here last night, more than 100 buses had to be taken out of service.

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule this morning.

-WSF’s Triangle Route is too – check here for alerts/updates.

ROAD-WORK ALERT

SDOT crews are continuing speed-hump wrk on Harbor and Alki Avenues. As of last night, four of the six planned sets are in place – one in the Seacrest vicinity is shown in the SDOT photo above.

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.

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BUSES: Check before you go, Metro warns – trips canceled after ‘defect’ sidelines 126 buses
December 6, 2022 8:05 pm
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 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

First Metro had to deal with a staffing shortage. Now it has to deal with a temporary equipment shortage. We learned about this after a tip from Ian, who reported the driver on his RapidRide C Line trip late today made an announcement about a safety concern taking some buses out of service. We asked Metro about it, and they subsequently published this post, which explains:

… After two Metro operators identified a manufacturing issue in the steering system in some vehicles, Metro proactively removed 126 buses from service out of its 1,500-vehicle fleet. The identified problem did not lead to any accidents or injuries. Metro inspected all its buses to ensure all vehicles in service continue to perform safely and within specifications. We apologize and ask for your patience as some bus trips are being canceled and we adjust plans to keep you moving. …

The agency is coordinating with New Flyer, the manufacturer of the affected buses, who has already been on site to work toward resolving the issue. There is not yet a timeline for when the work will be completed and supply chain challenges may introduce delays. The defect does not extend to all New Flyer buses and many remain in service.

Metro advises using its planning tools to see how this might affect your trips.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Sparkling by the standpipe
December 6, 2022 7:39 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

Tonight’s featured West Seattle Christmas lights are across SW Charlestown from what’s known as the “water tower” but is officially a “standpipe.” It’s a corner house with a lights-laden yard, and decorations all the way up to the roof.

Even a show of sport support:

You can see all these lights at 40th/Charlestown. We’re continuing to scout, but tips much appreciated – westseattleblog@gmail.com any time – thank you! See what we’ve already shown this year (and in years past) in this WSB archive.

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FOLLOWUP: Delridge pedestrian bridge will remain, get retrofit
December 6, 2022 5:27 pm
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 |   Delridge | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Back in August 2021, the city announced it was considering removing the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian overpass instead of reinforcing it to make it more earthquake-resistant. Feedback opportunities ensued. Today, the final decision was announced – the bridge will stay, and will get a seismic retrofit. The announcement came in the newest email update on preparations for next year’s RapidRide H Line launch:

We will seismically retrofit the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge. Construction will begin in 2024.

The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge is a high priority for a seismic retrofit, which will make the bridge safer in events like earthquakes. Over the past year, we’ve been exploring whether we should remove the bridge or seismically retrofit it.

After we installed a community-requested crosswalk and walk signal as part of the Delridge Way SW – RapidRide H Line project at SW Oregon St, we considered if making the pedestrian bridge earthquake-safe and continuing ongoing maintenance was still the right approach.

Removing the bridge would save current and future costs. With the new signal and crosswalk offering a new way to get across the street, we thought community members might find the pedestrian bridge to be unnecessary.

However, Seattle’s older bridges continue to be used and often have interesting characteristics their neighbors have come to love.

Both options would improve safety in the event of an earthquake.

Beginning in summer 2021, we asked Delridge neighbors whether the bridge should be removed or kept and seismically retrofitted. We heard loud and clear that the Delridge community would like to keep the bridge. Read more here.

Most people wanted us to keep the bridge and many people currently use the bridge. The bridge serves as a community asset, particularly for people who live or work at the Cooper School Artist Lofts/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and want to access the Delridge Playfield, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and Southwest Youth and Family Services building.

The Levy to Move Seattle funds our bridge seismic retrofit program and we expect to begin construction on the Delridge Pedestrian Bridge retrofit in 2024. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback and helped inform the plan.

Last year when we asked, SDOT estimated the retrofit cost as at least $4 million, The city already has retrofitted the area’s other pedestrian bridge, the SW Andover bridge over the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.

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UPDATE: Teenage pedestrian injured in Delridge/Thistle collision
December 6, 2022 3:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:55 PM: Police and Fire are responding to Delridge/Thistle for a reported collision, driver hitting pedestrian. SFD dispatch says the victim is a 15-year-old and so far the injury is believed to be minor, but responders have Delridge blocked for now.

4:09 PM: Added a photo from our crew at the scene. The teenage boy who was hit is being treated in the middle of the street, north of the intersection; we’re told family member(s) plan to take him to be checked out. Police are talking with the driver who hit him. They don’t expect the street to be closed much longer.

4:19 PM: Reopened.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 7-11 robbers strike again
December 6, 2022 3:13 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Seattle Police say the Admiral Way 7-11 was held up early this morning, and they believe the robbers are the same ones who hit the 35th/Barton 7-11 and a Burien gas station early Sunday. The report summary says the Admiral Way holdup happened arund quarter till 4 this morning, with the robbers traveling in a “white, smaller SUV” and parking in the alley east of the store. From there, the summary says: “Two (robbers) entered, one wearing a backpack and armed with a handgun, the other pulled a long gun from his pants. They went behind the counter and demanded the cash drawer be opened. They also took some thin cigars from behind the counter. The cashier had some difficultly opening the register. The third (robber) then opened the front door and pointed a handgun at the clerk from the door. The (robber) with the backpack then took the cash from the register and they all fled to the vehicle.” The summary also notes that an officer heading toward that scene subsequently spotted what’s believed to have been the same vehicle in an alley by the 35th/Avalon 7-11. As the officer approached, that vehicle “fled at a high rate of speed onto the West Seattle Bridge from Delridge Way SW.” Followup investigation revealed that it was a stolen car and that the robbers inside it were likely the same ones from the 35th/Barton 7-11 heist.

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BIZNOTES: 2 Junction shops on the move
December 6, 2022 1:51 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Junction shops are changing locations.

DOLL PARTS COLLECTIVE: This quirky shop has to move from its original North Morgan Junction location because of redevelopment, and the same thing is ahead for its current home at 4456 California SW. They’ve found a new permanent home a few blocks south at 4832 California SW, former home of Again and Again/Kid-Friendly Footwear (which merged with My Three Little Birds). Here’s what the Doll Parts team tells us:

The lease there will be long-term, and it’s a larger, more accessible layout, which we’re quite excited about! The open format of the space will allow us to host more indoor pop-up events, and mini-concerts like our One Year Anniversary Party featuring THEM. Once we’re settled in we also plan to start offering small-scale classes (taught by some of the local makers we currently collaborate with)! Our current plan is to keep our regular hours through next weekend (December 10th and 11th), and then we will close aside from a couple pop-up hours leading up to Christmas as we try to clear out inventory & fixtures we don’t plan to move to the new space. Provided our timeline doesn’t meet any roadblocks, we will be closed from December 24th through January 13th, and will have a grand opening event on January 14th, 2023!

Doll Parts Collective’s planned hours at the current location between now and December 23 are here.

SEATTLE E-BIKE: According to a sign in the window, right under a FOR LEASE sign, Seattle E-Bike is moving to the ex-Click! Design That Fits storefront at 4540 California SW, 2 years after they moved from Pioneer Square to West Seattle. The sign promises more info to come online regarding the timeframe for the move. (Thanks to Ross for the tip!)

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How will we live, work, get around in the future? West Seattle meeting Thursday to talk about Comprehensive Plan update
December 6, 2022 11:56 am
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Transportation | West Seattle news

Back in 2014, the city invited residents to look into the future for what was then called the “Seattle 2035” Comprehensive Plan. At meetings like this one in West Seattle, people talked about options for steering growth, particularly whether to keep focusing it in “urban villages”/”urban centers” like The Junction. Now, eight and a half years later, a similar discussion is under way, and the city this time is collecting feedback for a “major update” now called the “One Seattle Comprehensive Plan“ and now expected to look 20 years into the future. A West Seattle community meeting is planned for Thursday night (December 8), in-person at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). This time some very specific alternatives are being proposed, starting with “growth strategy” that would result in zoning changes. In addition to studying “no change,” the city is studying four “potential growth models”:

These are being studied for an Environmental Impact Statement due next year. Other topics for discussion are laid out in this pre-meeting document, where you’ll also find the “potential growth models” graphics shown above. Those additional topics include anti-displacement strategies; the document include this map showing two areas of West Seattle considered “high risk” for displacement:

Also up for discussion per the document – parks/open space, climate, equity, transportation, and economic development. The plan is meant to span the next 20 years. More background on the plan update is here; the Thursday meeting is scheduled for 6-8 pm at SSC’s Brockey Center (here’s a campus map). If you can’t be there, you’ll find online opportunities to comment here.

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Here’s what’s happening for your West Seattle Tuesday
December 6, 2022 10:24 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Caity Gerhardt)

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:

SOUTHWEST POOL OPEN: The pool (2801 SW Thistle) is back to normal operations.

KOL HANESHAMAH DONATION DRIVE: Another of the donation drives featured in our Holiday Guide begins today – Kol HaNeshamah is collecting items to help oeople stay warm; drop off at 6115 SW Hinds.

FESTIVAL OF TREES: Second-to-last day to drop in at Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) before 5 pm and see the decorated/donated trees and wreaths, before they’re auctioned off Thursday night.

CHESS CLUB: Play chess at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1:30 pm. Beginners welcome!

DONATION DROPOFF TO HELP STUDENTS: Today’s the last of three Tuesdays on which volunteers are collecting donations outside the north entrance of West Seattle High School to help make “care packages” for students to use during. winter break. Our calendar listing includes info on what they need. 3-5 pm (3000 California SW)

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: New start time for the longstanding weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: First of two WSCO holiday concerts, both free admission (“donations gratefully accepted”) – Debut and Concert Orchestra at 6 pm, at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).

PARENTING SURVIVAL TACTICS: Online event at 6 pm presented in conjunction with Community School of West Seattle.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).

BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!

You can always see more, and preview future events, via our event calendar – if you have something to add, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Sandra Coryell Rudd, 1939-2022
December 6, 2022 9:00 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Sandra Coryell Rudd, who lost her life after a collision last month. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with her community:

Sandra Lee Coryell Rudd passed away unexpectedly at the age of 83 in November.

Sandra was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a member of a multi-generation horticulture and landscaping family. After high school, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she met and married her beloved husband of over 50 years, Professor Dale Rudd. They raised their children, Karen and David, in Madison, Wisconsin, before she and Dale retired to West Seattle in 1997. Dale preceded her in death in 2018.

A longtime civil-rights activist with the League of Women Voters, she was a pioneer in Title IX gender-equity law in Wisconsin. She was a master gardener, propagating her own plants, and an active volunteer in West Seattle, focusing on feeding and clothing the local homeless and low-income residents. Last but not least, she was an animal lover and advocate and fundraiser for animal welfare.

An energetic, gregarious, and kind-hearted woman, she was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

(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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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday info
December 6, 2022 6:02 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 6th.

WEATHER

Still cold – with a high near 40 – andcloudy with a chance of rain.

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

SDOT crews may are continuing speed-hump wrk on Harbor and Alki Avenues, after weekend prep work. At least one set of humps was installed Monday, as Carolyn’s photo above shows.

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.

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: Festival followups, with next big night days away
December 5, 2022 10:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

We’re in the heart of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays, with the next big event – Thursday’s Holiday Art Walk – just a few nights away. But first, we have followups from this past Saturday night’s festival (missed it? here’s our coverage).

LIGHT-COSTUME WINNERS: Maybe even more of a highlight than the tree lighting – the first-ever GLOWS (Glorious Lights Of West Seattle), featuring commissioned artists promenading in elaborate costumes and choosing festival attendees to take the stage for an audience vote. Tonight we know more about the winning group, all local students – Chris Mackay from the West Seattle Junction Association, who organized the festival, shared the photo and info she received from one winner’s mom on behalf of the group:

I am writing on behalf of the winter fairies who won the group costume contest on Saturday night. First, I’d like to say thank you so much [to the Junction Association] for hosting such an inspirational event! When the girls heard of this contest a few weeks ago, they became really excited and began a series of meetings to plan their costumes. These are all 6th-grade girls from Madison Middle School and costume design became their after-school focus. They did everything on their own, from self-organization to the construction of headbands, wings, and in some cases, sewing their own skirts and scarves. This was such an empowering experience for them! They probably logged 20-25 hours in total working on this project. Their goal was to make it on stage as one of the finalists but they truly hadn’t dreamed of actually winning. Needless to say, they are soooo thrilled!!

You can see them onstage during this video (which was featured in our Saturday night coverage). The girls are, from left in the photo above, Daphne Cox, Paige Bailey, Katara Andes, Manon Coffinieres, Azalea Geoghegan, Sophia Marroquin, Mikalya Holloway. WSJA plans to do it again next year, so start planning YOUR costume!

HOT-CHOCOLATE TALLY: The Hope Lutheran School Student Council served up a LOT of free hot chocolate:

The grand total – 1,000 cups!

MISSED ELVIS? We had some upload challenges with our video of Tony Colinares‘s stage-shaking performance in tribute to Elvis Presley, so it’s not in our Saturday night story, but we finally can share the video tonight:

MORE ABOUT THURSDAY NIGHT: Now looking ahead – during the Holiday Art Walk, the Silver Belles will be caroling all around The Junction, Santa will be roaming, and luminarias will add to the holiday lights – that all starts at 6 pm Thursday. Three Art of Music performances at 6 pm, too – see who’s where, here.

Check the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for even more seasonal fun, now through New Year’s!

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Deck the balconies
December 5, 2022 8:49 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

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.)

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VIDEO: Food for thought as mayor, superintendent accept invitation from ‘Lunch Lady Doree’ to serve Denny IMS students
December 5, 2022 5:32 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

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.

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HELPING: Nucor and its employees deliver another huge holiday gift to West Seattle Food Bank
December 5, 2022 3:46 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

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.

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FOLLOWUP: Southwest Pool back to normal operations
December 5, 2022 3:12 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

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.”

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Timeless Kitchen Design: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
December 5, 2022 2:25 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

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.

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