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West Seattle holidays: Christmas Ship night #1, report #2
December 13, 2014 10:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(Lowman Beach photos by Trileigh Tucker)
A night of lights and song on two West Seattle beaches. First – it was barely dark enough to see the star shine on the Christmas Ship as it arrived at Lowman Beach around 4:20 pm. Despite the massive Murray CSO Control Project construction setup across the street and in part of the beach park, a sizable crowd made its way to the beach just north of Lincoln Park:

While the Dickens Carolers were serenading the Lowman spectators from the Christmas Ship, Alki visitors were getting ready for the ship’s next stop. Just inland from West Seattle’s biggest beach, the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) extended its hours to welcome visitors for “Cookies and Cider on the Porch”:

The museum also showed off gift ideas from its gift shop (open during the museum’s Thursday-Sunday hours, noon-4 pm), including the recently published “Apron Strings” cookbook:

From there, it was on to the beach, to await the Christmas Ship and the decorated boats accompanying it – some official, some unofficial. Seattle Parks and Recreation staffers and volunteers from around the department’s Southwest division organized entertainment and treats at Alki Bathhouse, for a party that started before and continued after the ship’s visit. That included bonus entertainment:

Along with those musicians from Seattle Lutheran High School, other performers included the Endolyne Children’s Choir (WSB sponsor). Inside the bathhouse, holiday treats:

And then, just after 5 pm, the Christmas Ship came into view, rounding Alki Point.

Lots of families among the spectators who lined the beach and seawall in the Bathhouse vicinity to hear the Dickens Carolers – the lineup rotates, as the Christmas Ship schedule shows – perform Christmas classics from the ship, amplified toward the shore.

(Hear a bit of the music via Instagram.) After 20 minutes, with the announcer’s cheery “Ahoy to the world!”, the boats headed off toward a downtown marina for a break (and new passengers) before the night’s next two stops. The Christmas Ship will be back in West Seattle for an encore on Monday night (December 15th), 9:15-9:35 pm, just outside Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor).

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Transit alert: Water Taxi substitutions for next 2 weeks
December 13, 2014 10:19 pm
|    Comments Off on Transit alert: Water Taxi substitutions for next 2 weeks
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

According to an alert sent tonight to King County Water Taxi riders, the regular West Seattle Water Taxi vessel, Spirit of Kingston, is going in for annual maintenance, so for the next two weeks or so, starting Monday, Melissa Ann will be on the West Seattle run, and Victoria Clipper III will fill in for Vashon. Side note: We talked recently with Greg Lerner of the King County Department of Transportation Marine Division, and he says construction of the two new Water Taxis is on schedule; Sally Fox, the Vashon vessel, is set for delivery first, to be followed by the West Seattle vessel, Doc Maynard.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Southside Revolution’s 1st bout
December 13, 2014 8:27 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Since summertime, we’ve been reporting on the new local junior roller derby league, Southside Revolution. Tonight, a milestone – their first bout! As previewed here earlier this week, the hew league hosted teams from NWO Junior Roller Derby in Chilliwack, B.C.. We happened to stop by Southgate Roller Rink during a warmup period.

In the fluorescent green shirts are members of the Rebels, one of the first two SSR teams (the other, the Cadets). They bouted with the NWO league’s Honey Badgers and TNT. Don’t know yet how it turned out, but keep an eye on the Southside Revolution Facebook page for that and for info on your next chance to cheer them on.

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Christmas Ship celebration at Alki, report #1
December 13, 2014 4:53 pm
|    Comments Off on Christmas Ship celebration at Alki, report #1
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

4:53 PM: Beautiful night, mostly clear sky, as a crowd gathers to await the Christmas Ship on Alki, due to arrive just after 5 pm, after serenading Lowman Beach. The party organized by Seattle Parks will continue after the ship sails on, until about 6 pm. You’re also invited to stop by the Log House Museum, just a bit inland at 61st/Stevens, with “Cookies and Cider on the Porch” (and gift-shop deals) until 6:

Watch our Twitter and/or Instagram feeds for updates – and photos/video here later tonight – hope you’re here to enjoy it in person!

5:36 PM: The Christmas Ship and its fleet have moved on, but the celebration continues until 6 pm. We’ll have more photos/video later, but first a short phone-video clip, including the walking Nativity seen here most years:

P.S. If you missed tonight’s stops, the Christmas Ship’s final West Seattle visit this year is Monday at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 9:15 pm. Here’s the full schedule.

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Benefit/reading Monday for local writer Sarah Alisabeth Fox
December 13, 2014 3:38 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

(“Trailer” for Sarah A. Fox’s book “Downwind“)
Next Monday at 7 pm at Skylark in North Delridge, it’s your chance to support a local writer whose decade of work has finally culminated in a book. Here’s the announcement:

Local historian and author Sarah Alisabeth Fox is asking for your help. Her recently ­published book, “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West,” is the culmination of a ten-year research project, yet some of the most important work­ spreading the word about the book­ still remains.

As a first­-time author published through a university press, she received no advance and no institutional support for a book tour. Royalties are 1% (15% for ebooks), paid out once a year. All book events and travel expenses come out of Sarah’s personal funds, and she must often take time off work to commit to these events.

“Downwind” explores the human and environmental cost of nuclear testing and uranium extraction in the American West through the stories of “downwinders,” the residents of the Great Basin region affected by radiological pollution.

Ahead, the announcement continues with more about the book and how you can help at Monday’s event:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run driver damages Salon 08
December 13, 2014 11:40 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Utilities | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:40 AM: With so much construction and utility work around town these days, the crew working outside Salon 08 on SW Genesee east of 42nd might not have drawn a double take this morning. But the reason for its presence was unusual – a hit-run driver crashed into the gas hookup out front and did a little damage to the bricks in the facade. It happened sometime before 4 am – that’s when the Seattle Fire Department was called out to investigate a possible gas leak; the tipster who sent us word of it said the driver would have been a “silver hatchback” that “fled the scene on 3 wheels.” The salon, however, is open for business as usual.

ADDED 6:30 PM: In comments, Rich says the suspected hit-run car ended up near his Lowman Beach-area home. We’ve also received a photo via text and e-mail showing what’s said to be the car in question:

Rich says police told him they knew whose car it was – we are checking to find out if a suspect was arrested.

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West Seattle holiday giving: Girl Scouts’ donations for YouthCare
December 13, 2014 11:27 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holiday giving: Girl Scouts’ donations for YouthCare
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

That’s just some of what comprised a big donation for YouthCare, from West Seattle Girl Scouts, this past week. Rosina shares the story and photos:

On Monday, December 10th, Cadette Troops 40890 and 42780 (middle-schoolers) co-hosted the 5th Annual “Brownie Girl Scout Christmas Cookie Exchange.”

More than 70 Brownie Girl Scouts (2nd – 3rd graders) attended. They exchanged cookies, learned about some Girl Scout traditions, made some crafts, decorated and ate some cookies, and sang some songs. And at the end of the evening, we had over 80 dozen cookies, a box full of handmade Christmas cards, and a trunk load of toiletries to donate to YouthCare. YouthCare is an organization that provides shelter and services to the homeless youth in Seattle.

It was a fun evening of celebrating the holidays with sister Girl Scouts AND spreading the holiday cheer to our young neighbors in need of love and support, especially at this time of year.

Still lots of chances for you to reach out and offer holiday help, too – see the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!

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West Seattle Saturday: Christmas Ship to meteors to music…
December 13, 2014 8:59 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(2012 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
The Christmas Ship makes two West Seattle stops today/tonight! That’s on our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and our regular calendar:

C & P CRAFT FAIR: C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, 9 am-3 pm.

(Added: Photo shared by Melanie)
Local arts and crafts! (5612 California SW)

SANTA AT JF HENRY: Santa Al will be at JF Henry (WSB sponsor) 10 am-1 pm; bring your own camera or get a photo for $5. (4445 California SW)

CHOIR CONCERT: Endolyne Children’s Choir (WSB sponsor) presents its “Winter Fantasy” concert, 11 am at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Tickets $7 adults/$5 children, at the door. (California/Hanford)

SANTA AT CAPERS: Noon-3 pm, DIY Santa Photos at CAPERS in The Junction, with “ex-Westwood Santa.” Bring cameras/phones, kids/friends, and a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)

‘THE CHRISTMAS POST’: annual dessert theater at Westwood Christian Community. 1 pm & 7 pm. Admission free, as are the desserts. (9252 16th SW)

(added) HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, THE BRIDGE! The Bridge is celebrating its 1st anniversary in its new location starting at 3 pm today, continuing through tomorrow’s Seahawks game, with door prizes and more. (California/Graham)

CHRISTMAS SHIP MAKES 2 WEST SEATTLE STOPS: Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship in West Seattle! 4:20-4:40 at Lowman Beach, 5:10-5:30 pm at Alki, where you’ll find these onshore festivities:

The Seattle Parks Department and Advisory Councils of the Southwest Geo district are proud to host the annual Argosy Christmas Ship arrival at Alki Beach. Music, cookies, and hot drinks will be served at the Alki Bathhouse. Music is provided by the Endolyne Children’s Choir and Hope Lutheran Church Choir. The music starts at 4 pm and the ship arrives at 5:10 pm and will perform for 20 minutes. After the ship departs, live music continues in the Bathhouse until 6 pm.. The entire event is free to the public.

(60th/Alki)

‘COOKIES AND CIDER ON THE PORCH’: Before, during, and after the Alki Christmas Ship visit, stop by the Log House Museum, 4-6 pm. Refreshments at the home of West Seattle history and a discount on items in LHM gift shop during the event! (61st/Stevens)

ROLLER DERBY DEBUT: First bout for Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby – it’s the new league’s “Holiday Bash,” 5:15-9 pm, Southside Roller Rink. (9646 17th SW)

PARTY WITH A PURPOSE: RISE Now hosts this 6 pm fundraiser with performances, small plates and drinks, and more at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FAUNTLEROY CHURCH CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC, featuring choirs from Fauntleroy UCC and Peace Lutheran, plus local instrumentalists. (9140 California SW)

‘JUDY’S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS’: Go back to 1959 with Judy Garland and fellow stars in the holiday show at ArtsWest in The Junction, 7:30 pm Buy tickets online here. (4711 California SW)

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY’: Second-to-last performance for Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at brownpapertickets.com/event/917572 or an hour before showtime at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’: Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, 8 pm at OutWest Bar. Details on this Facebook event page. (California/Brandon)

VELVETEEN LOTHARIOS: 9 pm, go retro at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – details here. (6451 California SW)

METEORS! Peak of the Geminids – as explained in Alice Enevoldsen‘s most recent “Skies Over West Seattle.”

LOTS MORE on the calendar!

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Big night of basketball: West Seattle High School hosts Chief Sealth
December 13, 2014 7:57 am
|    Comments Off on Big night of basketball: West Seattle High School hosts Chief Sealth
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Intense night of early-season high-school basketball last night as West Seattle High School hosted Chief Sealth International High School. Above, fans rushed the court after the WSHS boys pulled out an overtime win, 56-47, in the last game of the night; the WSHS girls also went home with a win, 83-40.

CLICK/SCROLL AHEAD for 17 more photos, plus summaries from both games:

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Update: Lane closures on 35th SW for tower-crane installation
December 13, 2014 6:31 am
|    Comments Off on Update: Lane closures on 35th SW for tower-crane installation
 |   Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SCROLL DOWN for updated info/photos)

(WSB photo, taken Thursday)
6:31 AM: That’s the construction site at 4435 35th SW, the mixed-use project where tower-crane installation is set for this weekend, with a permit to close 35th between Avalon and Alaska both days for that work. In case you missed our earlier mentions of this, here again is the message from the contractor:

We are approved by the City of Seattle to close all 4 lanes on 35th AVE SW adjacent our jobsite (4435 35th Ave) to erect our tower crane. The plan is to roll on site at 5:30 am Saturday with our mobile crane so we can start work by 8:00 am. Weather permitting, we’ll have the crane put together on Saturday and come back Sunday to remove our mobile crane. Though we are permitted to work until 10 PM with the lane closures, we are confident (weather permitting) we will be out of there by noon. Again, we apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause to your weekend commutes.

The published reroute for Metro’s RapidRide C Line and Routes 21 and 50 in that area says only southbound is affected; we’ll be checking later in the morning to see if that’s true.

9:31 AM UPDATE: One northbound lane is currently open, so the bus reroute IS just for southbound.

ADDED 11:56 AM: We’ve added photos from this morning, above and below.

This will be the third crane currently at work in West Seattle, following Junction 47 at California/Alaska/42nd and the Alliance project at 40th/Edmunds.

ADDED 3:10 PM: Thanks to Eddie for this view:

P.S. We went back just before sunset; crane-building wasn’t done yet:

We’ll check its status on Sunday morning.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 stolen cars to watch for
December 13, 2014 1:37 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

2 stolen-car reader reports to share, so you can help be on the lookout:

From Fabiola:

My black 1997 Honda Accord 4 door #ALL3193 was stolen Monday night from the Highland Park neighborhood. The front bumper is slightly broken with the front pushed up and the sides hanging.

From Lauri:

I got my car stolen late (Wednesday) night behind Hotwire Coffee in the parking lot. It is a blue Nissan 2001 Xterra, the usual bumper stickers, Luna Park and Hotwire “Obey the Bean.” Plate 244XSB.

If you’ve seen either one, call 911.

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Followup: Felony charges filed in North Delridge marijuana raid, alleging multi-million-dollar operation
December 12, 2014 11:59 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: June 3rd raid at 28th/Yancy)
Six months after police raided an indoor marijuana farm in North Delridge, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged its owner with three felonies. This was originally reported in a Seattle Times (WSB partner) story that a WSB reader pointed out to us; we have since obtained the court documents.

After the June 3rd raid at the building alongside Longfellow Creek at 28th/SW Yancy, we spoke by phone with owner Matthew Segal, who told us in that interview that he had been growing 2,500 plants, of which police allowed him to keep 45. At the time, he owned two medical-marijuana dispensaries under the Rain City name, and told us he had been growing at the North Delridge site for three years (records showed he had bought it for a million dollars last March). Police said they also raided two houses, one in the Morgan Junction area.

The charges filed Wednesday against Segal and four others, all described as having no criminal history, allege violations of the state’s Uniform Controlled Substances Act – three charges against Segal, one each against four people alleged to have been working for him, “paid to maintain the marijuana grows, receiving salaries and a share of profit from the sales.”

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Today’s Viaduct/tunnel pit update from WSDOT: No new ‘significant settlement’; no voids under King St. crack
December 12, 2014 6:28 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Safety | West Seattle news

One week has now gone by since WSDOT disclosed new “settling” of, and near, the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the hole being dug to reach the Highway 99 tunneling machine for repairs.

After the ensuing week of various updates, discoveries, and concerns, today’s update is out, and in it, WSDOT says “to date, no significant settlement has been observed beyond the initial settlement we reported publicly on Dec. 5. The viaduct remains safe for travel.” The update also says that so far, ground-based radar hasn’t shown any “voids” under the crack scrutinized on King St. in Pioneer Square on Thursday. (E-mail from WSDOT to reporters adds, “The crack in the middle of King Street has been there for some time, as seen in a Google Maps picture from 2011. Given the absence of prior settlement data on this particular street, it may take a while to fully understand what may have caused pavement to shift.)

Meantime, the City Council‘s agenda for next Monday morning has been revised to start with WSDOT execs’ updating the council on the “settling” at 9:30 am, followed by a 9:50 am discussion with state and city officials about what would happen if the Viaduct had to be closed, short term or long term. The agenda section for the latter item includes this existing document that discusses closure in the context of an earthquake.

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West Seattle holiday scene: Happy anniversary, HomeStreet Bank
December 12, 2014 5:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

HomeStreet Bank is celebrating its 1st anniversary at 40th/Alaska in The Junction, and Santa was the star of the party (pictured above, manager Melodie Van Houten with “Santa Al”). They’re just wrapping up three hours of free photos, photographed by longtime local pro Gail Ann. A decoration on the tree caught our attention:

We’re told that little Seahawks “piggy bank” is available if you stop by and show a ticket to a Seahawks home game – if you hadn’t already figured out from Melodie’s jersey (it is “Blue Friday,” after all), the ‘Hawks are big at HomeStreet – you can also get team-themed checks and cards.

P.S. Next place to see “Santa Al” – JF Henry Cooking & Dining (4445 California SW; WSB sponsor) 10 am-1 pm tomorrow (Saturday, December 13th), bring your own camera, or $5 without one.

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2 more concrete pours soon for Murray overflow-control tank
December 12, 2014 3:35 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 more concrete pours soon for Murray overflow-control tank
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from Thursday – part of the tank pit’s new slab)
The big pour is over, but two more notable pours are on the way for the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project million-gallon-storage-tank site across from Lowman Beach. The 17-foot-thick slab that will hold the tank is now in place; the county’s update today says two smaller pours are set for December 23rd and 29th, with 10 trucks an hour, half the volume of the three-day slab pour last Friday and this past Tuesday and Wednesday. The county also wants people in the area to know that there will be Saturday work on December 20th, for rebar installation and form-building to shape the bottom of the tank. The project will be idle on Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to the calendar on its main webpage. The project continues to have a 24-hour hotline for problems/concerns: 206-205-9186.

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Endolyne Children’s Choir: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
December 12, 2014 2:29 pm
|    Comments Off on Endolyne Children’s Choir: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Today, we welcome the Endolyne Children’s Choir to the WSB sponsor team. It’s a busy season for the choir, which performed at last Saturday’s West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting and will sing at the Alki Christmas Ship celebration tomorrow (plus a morning concert). They’re welcoming new members, too! Here’s what the choir wants you to know:

The Endolyne Children’s Choir is a non-audition community choir, serving the greater West Seattle area since 2003. Our choristers will learn fundamentals of music theory and vocal training. They enjoy multiple performance opportunities throughout the year, including our spring musical.

Under the direction of Amy Bokanev, ECC provides a fun environment that promotes music appreciation and confidence through performing. All boys and girls grades K-10 who like to sing are welcome. Our Mission: Teaching the joy of singing in a community setting that fosters self-confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation of music.

Interested members are invited to observe a rehearsal at any time. Stop in on a Tuesday night. Visit our website for rehearsal times and location: endolynechoir.org

We thank the Endolyne Children’s Choir 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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Followup: SDOT ‘shelving’ RapidRide reroute in The Junction
December 12, 2014 12:19 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

12:19 PM: SDOT is “shelving” its unpopular proposal to reroute Metro‘s RapidRide C Line onto California between Alaska and Edmunds. That’s the word from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, with whom we just spoke. He says he asked the department to stop pursuing the plan, and that SDOT agreed, which he says is “a real win for the community.” While SDOT had said one minute would be saved each trip by moving the buses onto that block, instead of jogging westward from Edmunds to 44th and then eastward on Alaska, we’ve covered two public discussions at which multiple concerns were raised, with alternative time-savings suggested. The most recent discussion was this past Tuesday at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting (WSB coverage here), during which opponents of the proposal said a lot more could be done by fulfilling the longtime promise to get transit-signal prioritization along the route.

We first reported the reroute proposal four months ago; its first public airing was at November’s meeting of the Southwest District Council (WSB coverage here), where commenters also voiced a host of concerns.

ADDED 2:03 PM: An official statement from Rasmussen was sent from City Hall, including:

“I appreciate that the Department is working to improve reliability of busses through West Seattle. However, it is important that transit efficiencies not have a negative effect on our business districts or major pedestrian areas such as the Junction. Improved bus service will be coming to West Seattle in June because of the passage of Proposition 1 without changing the C Line route as has been proposed by SDOT.”

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West Seattle development: 4106 Delridge Way mixed-use project returning to Design Review, 6 years after first meeting
December 12, 2014 12:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle development: 4106 Delridge Way mixed-use project returning to Design Review, 6 years after first meeting
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

(Rendering by SMR Architects, looking at project from the southwest)
New on the Southwest Design Review Board calendar: 4106 Delridge Way SW, a project that went on hold after its first SWDRB review six years ago. It’s set to go before the board on January 15th, still described as:

… a five-story structure containing 4,000 sq. ft. of retail at ground level and 36 residential units above in an environmentally critical area. Parking for 39 vehicles to be located within the structure.

The site is vacant land at Delridge/Dakota, zoned NC1-40. We covered its October 2008 design review in the second half of this report. It’s changed architects in the interim; SMR Architects is the firm that put together the packet for the upcoming meeting, and it’s already online:

The January 15th meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California).

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West Seattle Friday: Day/night full of holiday happenings & more
December 12, 2014 11:11 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(©2014 – Eric Shalit, www.boxturtledesign.com – taken 5:30 pm Thursday)
Our spotlight photo today is from “the calm before the storm,” but as we look ahead, the weather’s calmed down and we’re headed into another big holiday weekend. Most of what’s below is from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – which lists what’s up through New Year’s – but we also have highlights from our regular ongoing calendar:

LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL TOY DRIVE: The Holiday Guide features a growing list of giving opportunities, but some are in their final days, like this one. Today is the final day of the Little Pilgrim preschoolers’ collection of toys to donate to the Salvation Army – you are invited to help by dropping off toys at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)

FREE PROFESSIONAL SANTA PHOTOS AND MORE @ HOMESTREET: HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) celebrates its one-year anniversary in West Seattle today, 3-6 pm, featuring free professional photos (courtesy of Gail Ann Photography) with Santa Al, a hot cocoa bar, warm apple cider, holiday treats and more! Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Alaska)

LAFAYETTE CRAFT FAIR: Tonight, a unique chance to shop for student-made gifts and decorations – it’s the Lafayette Elementary Craft Fair – and the community is invited!

(Some of the creations you’ll find available for purchase – photo courtesy Edgar Riebe)
The fair is on from 5-8 pm. (California/Lander)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL, WSHS VS. SEALTH: 6:30 pm at West Seattle High School, it’s the only scheduled matchup this season between the WSHS and Chief Sealth International High School girls-varsity basketball teams. Fill the gym to cheer them on! (3000 California SW)

DENNY POSADA: Posada Navideña at 6:30 pm at Denny International Middle School, as tweeted:

(2601 SW Kenyon)

‘THE CHRISTMAS POST’: All are welcome at the annual dessert-theater show at Westwood Christian Community. 7 pm. Admission free, as are the desserts. (9252 16th SW)

BELLS OF THE SOUND: Come see and hear Puget Sound’s premier handbell ensemble, Bells of the Sound, at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. This year’s holiday concert is themed “A Winter’s Night.” Find show and ticket details here. (3940 41st SW)

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: 7:30 pm, “Celebrate!” is West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ first of two seasonal concerts – WSCO Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony at Chief Sealth International High School auditorium – program details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”

(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
Showtime tonight is 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at brownpapertickets.com/event/917572 or an hour before showtime at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

P.S. If you’re shopping tonight/this weekend for your Christmas tree, locations are listed in the Holiday Guide, including this one with just a few days to go:

HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT’S FINAL WEEKEND: Until 9 pm tonight, the last Friday night for the Holy Rosary Tree Lot (WSB sponsor), north of the school. Part of this lot’s proceeds benefit West Seattle Helpline, Hickman House (domestic-violence shelter), and West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Dakota)

MORE FOR TONIGHT AND BEYOND … on our calendar!

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West Seattle storm aftermath: C & P lost a tree
December 12, 2014 9:52 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

9:52 AM: So far we haven’t heard of any major damage in West Seattle resulting from last night’s wind, but we did find out this morning about another tree that came down – this one behind C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Barista George tells us it fell around closing time last night; no one was hurt. We’ll be checking back later on their removal plans; C & P has an arts-and-crafts fair scheduled both days this weekend – indoors, but take note you might only be able to enter from the front door.

11:28 AM UPDATE: Just checked back – cleanup is actually proceeding quickly. Proprietors Cameron and Pete have chainsaw-and-pickup-equipped friends helping:

They’re feeling lucky the tree fell northward, missing nearby structures, including the classic Craftsman that houses their shop.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend alert
December 12, 2014 7:13 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems lingering in West Seattle from last night’s wind, and nothing major on the routes through/from here either, so far.

WEEKEND ALERT FOR 35TH SW: One more reminder that you’ll want to avoid 35th SW between Avalon and Alaska tomorrow and at least part of Sunday – the road is scheduled to be closed for tower-crane installation. From the contractor:

We are approved by the City of Seattle to close all 4 lanes on 35th AVE SW adjacent our jobsite (4435 35th Ave) to erect our tower crane. The plan is to roll on site at 5:30 am Saturday with our mobile crane so we can start work by 8:00 am. Weather permitting, we’ll have the crane put together on Saturday and come back Sunday to remove our mobile crane. Though we are permitted to work until 10 PM with the lane closures, we are confident (weather permitting) we will be out of there by noon. Again, we apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause to your weekend commutes.

This means Saturday/Sunday reroutes for Metro Route 21, Route 50, and RapidRide C Line – details here.

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Update: ‘Small’ fire at house in 3900 block of SW Holden
December 12, 2014 12:57 am
|    Comments Off on Update: ‘Small’ fire at house in 3900 block of SW Holden
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

12:57 AM: A big Seattle Fire response is arriving at the 3900 block of SW Holden in Gatewood (map). It was described as a suspected roof fire; first units arriving aren’t seeing anything.

1 AM: They’re checking the attic, but report that it might just be “an overheated light fixture.” Some of the arriving units are being canceled.

1:09 AM: They’re now checking to be sure there’s not a smoldering fire in the ceiling.

1:11 AM: Minutes later, that’s what they’ve found, a small “smoldering fire in insulation … knob and tube wiring.”

1:19 AM: They’ve re-assessed the fire at 3′ x 3′ and declared it “under control.”

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Tracking tonight’s wind
December 11, 2014 7:36 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(RESOURCES: Outage? Call City Light: 206-684-3000 … 7:36 PM: Tree/debris on road/sidewalk? Call SDOT: 206-684-ROAD)

(Added: Big branch down on SW Cloverdale in Westwood outage area, south of ex-Denny site)
7:36 PM: The wind’s been steadily strengthening for a while, so we’re officially opening storm coverage. Here’s what well-known weather analyst Cliff Mass is saying in his “nowcast,” for starters: Likely peaking 10 pm-ish. We hope the wind will pass through without power outages, downed trees, or other trouble, but if something does happen in your neighborhood, please let us know (after you’ve notified authorities, etc.) – comment here, or use our voice/text hotline 206-293-6302, or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com.

8:05 PM: Checking the City Light outage map, looks like we have our first power-less pocket of note – 88 customers east of 35th, centered mostly around SW Trenton. SCL says a tree is to blame.

8:44 PM: Back from checking the outage zone. Added photo of a tree-size branch down on SW Cloverdale just east of 30th SW. The gusts are intermittent, no really strong sustained wind while we were out.

9:13 PM: No new reports of trouble around here. North Seattle seems to be getting hit harder – but this hasn’t peaked around here just yet, the weather experts say. Still, it’s not exactly a mild breeze – the top-of-hour numbers, for example, show Alki Point with sustained winds at 38, gusting to 52 (look for K91S here).

9:46 PM: No new outages in West Seattle/White Center, and the one north of Westwood is down to 57 customers. In the rest of the city, 12,000 homes/businesses are out, and tens of thousands more around the region. Note – our Lost/Found Pets page is busier than usual tonight; if you have lost or found a pet, send info, and photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com and we’ll post it. Just added a dog found in North Admiral, and about to add a dog lost in Highland Park.

10:48 PM: Still on watch – but for West Seattle, tonight, so far, no news is good news.

1:16 AM: One more small West Seattle pocket without power – shown on the SCL map as seven residences, at 35th/Marine View Drive and just southeast in Seola. The wind hasn’t entirely quieted yet – at the top of the hour, Alki Point clocked 33 mph sustained, 51 mph gusts.

2:57 AM: The wind warning is no longer in effect. Only weather alert that IS, is a “special weather statement” warning of increased landslide risk today, with all the rain we’ve had.

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