West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
Karen e-mailed after getting a notice yesterday regarding a planned power outage in her North Delridge neighborhood. We checked with Seattle City Light, which confirms that about 50 customers (homes/businesses) in the 26th/Juneau (map) vicinity will be affected by the work to be done tomorrow between 8 an and 6 pm. City Light’s Scott Thomsen explains, “We’re moving some wires and three transformers to comply with updated spacing standards from NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation).” Again, everyone affected should have received a notice at their home/business.
Seattle Public Schools‘ Lesley Rogers asked us to mention this: Sanislo Elementary‘s phone system is having trouble right now with receiving incoming calls from outside the district system, but outgoing calls and incoming district calls are working fine. They hope to have the problem fixed soon.
The occasional case of “mail theft” might just be the work of the treat-seeking squirrel photographed by Rich W‘s neighbors – thanks to Rich for sharing the photo! Here’s what’s up today/tonight as the second-to-last weekend before Christmas begins …
WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT: A lane closure on the southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 is planned from late tonight till early Monday, as previewed here earlier this week, as part of the Atlantic Street overpass project.
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Monthly meeting 10 am-2 pm at Daystar Retirement Village (across Barton from Westwood Village) – you’re welcome for all or part of the meeting. Agenda and presentation details are in the calendar listing.
SANTA! Tonight “Ex-Westwood Santa” (maybe by next year we can just call him CAPERS Santa) is back at CAPERS, 3-7 pm, for DIY Santa photos – it’s a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank, so bring cash and/or canned food to donate. Also tonight, the daily Westwood Village Santa photos continue – and you can check the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for this weekend’s other Santa appearances.
DINE WITH THE EAGLES: The West Seattle Eagles‘ Friday night dinners are open to the public – 4-7 pm – and listed in our regular Event Calendar.
HANUKKAH: Seventh of its eight nights.
DENNY BOOKFAIR: Tonight it’s Denny International Middle School‘s turn at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village – music, reading, and benefiting from the proceeds of sales with the special code this next week:
Come hear Denny IMS musicians play and students read, see student art, and help support literacy at Denny today, December 14 at 6:30 pm at Barnes & Noble (in Westwood Village, 2600 SW Barton Street, Suite E-1) A portion of all purchases (excluding electronics) will go to Denny! Tell all your friends and family too. If you cannot make the Barnes & Noble day in Westwood you may shop all week in any Barnes & Noble or barnesandnoble.com. To get credit for Denny, please use the code 10936813 when checking out. Thank you!
UPDATE: Not happening. ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Stage Struck presents “A Christmas Carol“ at 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church.
SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: Second weekend run for the premiere season of locally written/produced “Santa’s First Magical Ride: The Musical” (WSB sponsor), 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW); tickets available online. Bring your camera, because showgoers can take photos with Santa afterward!
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show continues at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm; tickets available online. Also: A Children’s Hospital toy drive is happening during the show’s run:
Please consider bringing a new unwrapped toy or gift card for these families. The following items are in greatest need: Crayola® crayons; Play Doh; fuzzy coloring posters; small Lego sets; Brio trains; nail polish; coloring books; arts and crafts kits; playing cards; tactile toys for all ages; rattles; links; Disney/Pixar DVDs; PG-13 DVDs; gift cards; videos, books, and music.
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR AT HOLY ROSARY: We checked the website and it looks like tickets might be available for their always-popular “Festival of Lessons and Carols” – 7:30 pm at Holy Rosary Church, with four West Seattle singers among those performing.
LOTS OF LIVE NON-HOLIDAY MUSIC: Tonight’s slate stretches from Yesow at C & P Coffee to The Slags with Snowday at Poggie Tavern to Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki – with Skylark, Benbow, Feedback shows too – the detailed listings are on our regular Event Calendar (to open any listing, first mouse over the right side to get the “plus” sign, click that, then click “Read more” for full details).
TIDAL EXTREMES CONTINUE: As the winter “king tides” continue, 11:28 tonight is the lowest, 6:50 am Saturday the highest (here’s the chart).
If you haven’t made it out to see the mega-low late-night tides this week – you have a few more chances. Last night was the lowest low tide this time around, -3.6 feet at 10:41 pm, and we’ve received a few photos – above and below, from Lisa Stencel:
And this one from Kalani:
Tonight’s low tide is -3.4 at about 11:30 pm, and both mornings this weekend have the highest high tides of the cycle too – 13 feet at 6:50 am Saturday and 7:34 am Sunday. (Here’s the chart.) And if you’d like to explore the nighttime tidepools with an expert – Lance reminded us overnight that Seattle Parks has a naturalist-led event 10 pm-midnight across from Me Kwa Mooks:
Exploring the fascinating world of intertidal life by flashlight! Please wear very warm clothing and waterproof footwear (rain slickers too). Please bring a flashlight if you have one or borrow one from us. All ages welcome as long as you can walk on slippery seaweed and stay up late into the night. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please pre-register https://class.seattle.gov/parks/Activities/ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp and then on the night of the 15th, meet at Me Kwa Mooks beach, across from Me-Kwa-Mooks Park (4503 Beach Dr. SW)
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: No notable commute problems in our area as Friday begins.
7:40 AM: As Jtk reported in comments, if you are headed southbound toward West Seattle on 99, note that a stalled vehicle is blocking a southbound lane at the Battery Street Tunnel – SDOT just tweeted it.
8 AM: Now the southbound Battery Street Tunnel is reported closed. Tracy Taylor from KING 5 also has mentioned a stall on northbound I-5 near I-90 – so that might affect outbound commuters from here.
One car stolen (and another left in its place), one stolen car found, two package-theft suspects arrested, and two “suspicious person” sightings – all in tonight’s roundup. First, the stolen-car report, from Amy:
My car was stolen from in front of our house at the corner of 34th Ave SW and Willow St. The theft took place some time between Tuesday evening December 11 and Wednesday morning. The theft took place while we were home, and the thieves left a different stolen Saab in its place. We reported both cars to the police. If anyone has seen a gray SAAB 900T 3-door hatchback, license plate 574 SCO, please contact the police department.
… by calling 911, as advised on the SPD @getyourcarback Twitter account, where this has already been tweeted.
The previous stolen car reported here, by the way, has been found, not far from where it was taken. Tuesday morning, we published Nicole‘s account of her stolen Saturn; this morning, she wrote a comment with word it had been found blocks away.
And one more Crime Watch note – from the Shorewood neighborhood; King County Sheriff’s Deputies intercepted two suspected package thieves on Thursday morning – the details are on our partner site White Center Now.
We also have two reports of suspicious-seeming people – possibly no crimes involved, but those who reported the sightings wanted to make sure you know:Read More
Leading into the peak of holiday-party season – tonight’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce celebration at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. Above, chamber board chair Dave Montoure with Lisa from Washington Federal – and next, a politician sighting (not unusual at Chamber events):
That’s City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Tim Burgess. He also visited the peninsula a week and a half ago to help out at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle pancake breakfast. No flapjacks in sight this time – just rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia.
Continuing the annual WSB Christmas-lights spotlights – we photographed two of note along 36th SW south of the Admiral area last night. The house above is on the east side of 36th just north of Hinds (map); next, barely a block away, a unique “tree” outside a house that gets its annual dose of fame during an earlier holiday:
Our photo does not do justice to the tree of lights and plastic illuminated Christmas characters that rises outside the house on the southwest corner of 36th and Hanford (map), known for “Skeleton Theatre” every Halloween. This too is a must-see – we’ve never seen anything quite like it.
From a little ways directly west of there, Valerie shares this photo of the shining McKean House at 3431 48th Ave SW (map):
Working right now on a map in time for weekend Christmas-lights driving/riding/walking – stand by! And whether you have a photo or just an address to share – please let us know about your display, your neighbors’ display, something you drove by … editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks! (Meantime, our archived Christmas-lights spotlights, including past years, can be seen here, newest to oldest.)
Among the participants, longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits, hosting Lulu Smith (above) as well as Sarah Loertscher and their jewelry till 9 pm. Thanks to John at Click! for sharing the photo – we’re also out and about and will add more later – it’s also the holiday edition of West Seattle Art Walk night (previews here).
Thanks to an Arbor Heights Elementary parent for sharing the photo of fifth-graders Yadira, Anna, and Danica at the Bookfest event under way right now at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble, with guest readers, as mentioned in our morning preview. If you don’t make it down tonight, the special Bookfair code continues for the next week – find it here, then use it with a purchase at a B&N store or online, and AH gets part of the proceeds. (If YOUR school has a Bookfair coming up, please let us know so we can share the news!)
The first phase of the West Seattle Triangle Parking Plan has been finalized after the last round of neighborhood input.
(Click to see entire mailer as a PDF)
Thanks to Sharonn Meeks of the Fairmount Community Association – that’s the neighborhood just south of, and uphill from, Alaska in The Triangle – for sharing the news that SDOT has sent a final mailer to residents in the area – see it here. There are two differences from the “proposed plan” sent around last month – as reported here – and one is a big one: Fairmount neighbors appealed a proposal to allow parking on both sides of 37th SW in Fairmount, explaining that the two sides of the street were developed 30 years apart, with different lot sizes/shapes, which means driveways don’t align – for the homes who have them – and allowing parking on both sides could hamper fire-truck access. The other change is that SDOT “will evaluate potential sites for additional bike parking at the beginning of 2013,” according to the city’s project manager Kiersten Grove, who says the plan overall is meant to “facilitate better parking turnover for West Seattle Triangle businesses and provide additional parking for the residents of the area.” It’ll be sent to the City Council for review next month, as explained here.
Four months after announcing their business was for sale – the outgoing owners of Twilight Artist Collective just announced the Junction shop/gallery’s new ones. From the newsletter they just sent out:
First, THANK YOU for your support! It has been eight amazing years and we are ready to go, but extremely sad to leave.
The new owners of TwAC are photographer and jeweler, Christine Heidel, and local star/fellow photographer, Tracy Cilona! We are SO THRILLED for these amazing women to step in and take over the Twilight legacy. They have big dreams and endless energy, so the future of our beloved gallery is in deserving hands.
Here is what they have to say:
You’ve bought the gifts – or, you’re about to (tonight at Shop Late Thursday or West Seattle Art Walk, perhaps?) – and now you need them wrapped. Here are two sets of opportunities over the final nine days before Christmas:
IF THEY’RE JUNCTION-BOUGHT GIFTS… free wrapping is offered the next two Saturdays (December 15 and 22), 11:30 am-3:30 pm, as part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB):
Let us wrap your Junction gifts! The West Seattle High School Music Program parents will staff our gift wrap station at Windermere (4526 California SW) while the students perform in The Junction. Please bring Junction retailer receipt. FREE wrap and ribbon, no boxes provided.
‘WRAP IT UP’ WITH FURRY FACES FOUNDATION AND AARF: These two animal-advocacy groups are wrapping gifts by donation (you decide how much), with 100 percent of the donations going to help animals. Here are the five sessions ahead:
1) Dec 16th, 2-7 pm, at the Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW. (During the Specialty Bottle Sale and for a couple hours after).
2) Dec 20th, 6–9 pm, Beer Junction, 4511 Calif. Ave SW, (During their weekly Beer Tasting)
3) Dec 22rd, 3-7pm, at Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub; 255 SW 152nd St., Burien
4) Dec 23rd, 1–6 pm, Beer Junction, 4511 Calif. Ave SW
5) Dec 24th, 2 – 7 pm at the Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW
Two things from our visit this morning to the West Seattle Food Bank:
At center with the tote bags are Bret Porter and Cindy Dunson from Absher Construction, flanked by the food bank’s executive director Fran Yeatts and operations director Steven Curry. The bags hold 40 special food baskets delivered by Cindy and Bret today as part of Absher’s “Holiday Lights” program for the communities where it’s building projects – Absher is the general contractor for the Youngstown Flats project in North Delridge. Each basket contains a ham, turkey breast, potatoes, canned vegetables, and other fixings for a holiday dinner.
We also asked Yeatts what’s atop the wish list that YOU can help with for the rest of the holiday season at WS Food Bank. She says turkeys, hams, baby formula, and diapers are MUCH needed:
We will be handing out most of our holiday food on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week but today’s donation will be a very, very nice start to the holidays for many of the families we serve. Turkeys and hams would be
really appreciated to help with our holiday food distribution.One of the biggest ongoing needs for us is formula, specifically Similac Advance in the 12.4 oz cans and diapers, size 3,4,5, or 6. We can always use non-perishable food like canned protein, soup, fruit.
The West Seattle Food Bank is on the southeast corner of 35th and Morgan; donation hours are on the webpage of their recently remodeled website.
(P.S. Formula and diapers, as well as non-perishable food, are also on the wish list for a WS Food Bank-benefiting event this Saturday – free Santa photos at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights [WSB sponsor], noon-4 pm, 2326 California SW. See our Holiday Guide for more details.)
Rock/film fan on your holiday gift list? West Seattle filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin sends word that “The Taking,” his feature film with Duff McKagan’s Loaded, “full of West Seattle cameos and venues,” is now on sale, including an option bundled with the album that inspired it. Above, McKagan’s promotional clip, talking about “The Taking”; as noted here in October, it’s been parceled out in “webisode” clips, most of which are featured here.
Longtime West Seattleite Josephine “Jo” Bodourian will be remembered tomorrow, and her family wanted to make sure her many local friends get the word in time:
Josephine M. Bodourian was born January 12, 1935 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Leonard A. Pepper and Josephine Pepper. Jo lived and worked in the Seattle area for more than 50 years. She was a cancer survivor and her recent passing on Friday, December 7, was unexpected.
Jo volunteered for Meals on Wheels, delivering food through the Senior Center. She worked for many years at the V.A. Hospital as a nurse. She was a member of the YWCA and was a swimmer and enjoyed various fitness activities. She also enjoyed traveling.
Jo was preceded in death by her brothers Anton and Leonard A. Pepper, Jr.
She is survived by her sister Rose Kholos (Henry) and her brother Joseph A. Pepper (Carole). She is also survived by her son Greg Bodourian.
Josephine was an exceptionally kind and giving woman and will be missed by all who knew her.
A viewing will be held at Acacia Funeral Home in Seattle on Friday, December 14, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. There will be a brief prayer service beginning at 4:00 pm.
Acacia is at 14951 Bothell Way NE (map).
Thanks to Don Brubeck for capturing the sun’s cameo appearance early today. Busy day/night ahead! Highlights:
THREE LIBRARY STORY TIMES: Two for preschoolers this morning – Southwest Branch (35th/Henderson) at 11 am, Delridge Branch (Brandon/Delridge) at 11:15 am – then there’s one for toddlers at the High Point Branch (35th/Raymond) at 11:30 am.
FINAL DAY TO DONATE A TOY TO HOLIDAYS 4 HOPE! We’ve been updating you on the local students collecting toys to take to this Saturday’s South Park WinterFest holiday party. Today’s the last day you can drop off a donation – locations include Zippy’s Giant Burgers, JC’s Deli, The Original Bakery. Check out the Holidays 4 Hope Facebook page here.
HANUKKAH CONTINUES: Sixth night. And here’s a virtual menorah you can light; thanks to Eric from the Kol HaNeshamah congregation for the link (P.S. – KHN has a Hanukkah party on Saturday, listed in the WSB Holiday Guide).
CHAMBER PARTY: Tonight’s the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce “Mix, Mingle, Jingle” party, 5-7 pm at Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor), register online ASAP if you haven’t already!
WINE-TASTING EVENTS: Three tonight – at West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor), 5:30-9 pm, it’s the annual port tasting; at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), it’s Wine Club night, 6-8 pm (explained here); and at Bin 41 in The Junction, winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla from Forgeron Cellars is on hand for Art Walk night, 6-8:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Dozens of places to get your art on tonight – meet the artists, buy their work as unique local holiday gifts – 6 to 9 pm, walking map/venue list here, previews on the official Art Walk website.
CHRISTOPHER BOFFOLI @ ARTSWEST: The “Food as Art” three-artist show featuring some of the internationally renowned photos by longtime WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli runs just a few more days at ArtsWest – where you can attend a talk with Christopher and the show’s other two artists TONIGHT, 6 pm.
SHOP LATE THURSDAY IN THE JUNCTION: While you’re out – check out the participating stores – also open till 9 (or so).
AND WHILE YOU’RE OUT – DONATE! Twilight Artist Collective, for example, has a bin for Treehouse – details in the “Giving Opportunities” section of the WSB Holiday Guide. Lots of other businesses, too.
‘SANTA AL’ ROAMING: Taking a break from his North Pole work, “Santa Al” (who shared the photo above) reports he’ll be “making random drop-bys tonight during the Art Walk and (Shop Late Thursday) at the Junction.”
ASK THE EXPERT: Second Thursday also means this monthly event at the legendary West Seattle Tool Library (northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW) – 6 to 8 pm, with experts on hand to talk with you about a variety of potential projects (among those you’ll find, WSB sponsor LD Arch Design) – full list on the Facebook event page.
ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY BOOKFAIR BEGINS: 7 pm tonight, come to Barnes and Noble at Westwood Village to hear special guest readers from Arbor Heights Elementary, which is B&N’s Bookfair beneficiary – special code for purchases over the next week is part of the info you’ll find in our calendar listing.
MADISON CONCERT: Madison Middle School Music Department winter concert happens tonight in the Madison gym (45th/Spokane), 7 pm.
KING TIDES CONTINUE: We went out for a low-tide walk late last night, and we weren’t alone; others were out with flashlights, peeking at what was revealed on the beach. Per the chart, tonight’s the lowest low tide, -3.6 at 10:41 pm. The afternoon high tides are on the wane but tomorrow at 6:06 am, you’ll find a 12.8-foot high tide, almost as high as it’s going to get this time around.
More on the calendar – and ongoing seasonal events in the WSB Holiday Guide.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
After lots to talk about on Wednesday – we’re off to a quiet start for Thursday.
Often the first-hand raves (or rants) surface in the WSB Forums – but the past few days have yielded a couple of gems to share here in the news section. The latest is from Laurie:
I wanted to share a heart warming story about what my mom experienced (Tuesday).
She was heading to Safeway to get her groceries around 1 o’clock when her car stalled in the intersection by Jack in the Box on Admiral. She tried and tried to get it to start again while enduring all the rude people blowing their horns at her.
She couldn’t get it to start so she got out of the car and started to try and push it out of the way…really…she’s 80 years old!
While trying with no success but the horns were still blowing from the trucks and cars that were held up…NOT ONE ADULT got out of their car to help her…then her Heart filled with warmth..she heard voices shouting in the distance “don’t worry lady, we will help you”; out of Jack in the Box came about 10 high school girls and boys and pushed her car into Safeway parking lot for her.
My mom couldn’t thank these kids enough. Just as quick as they appeared, they left, I suppose their lunch was still waiting on the table for them.
Mom called West Seattle High School and shared her story and wanted to try and relay a message to the unknown Angels that she has a renewed faith in our youth of today and is and will always be very grateful to these young people.
I’m hoping the parents of any of these Angels are followers of WS Blog and will know that they are raising great kids. Happy Holidays to All.
The life of longtime West Seattleite Phyllis Evangeline High will be celebrated this Saturday, and tonight, her family shares this remembrance:
Phyllis was born on August 2, 1923 in Taunton, Minnesota, to Casper & Lily Ningen. After she graduated from high school in 1941, her older brother drove Phyllis and her sister to Seattle to give them the opportunities available in a big city. She found employment at Associated Shipbuilders and there met the love of her life, Jack High, Jr. They married on April 22, 1944, and a few short months later Jack shipped out to serve in WWII, returning in 1946.
For the next thirty years, Phyllis kept busy as a stay-at-home mom to her three children, Jacki, Meredith and Jeffery. In 1977 she joined the workforce again and worked her way up to being a License Enforcement Inspector for the City of Seattle, retiring in 1989. She was a member of Teamsters Local #763, Washington State Investigators Association, and carried Badge #327, Special Police Officer.
Phyllis was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and loved singing in the choir there.
A news release just in from Seattle Public Schools reports that the School Board elected new officers tonight – with a bit of a fight over the presidency. According to the news release, Kay Smith-Blum was elected the new board president in a 4-3 vote – her backers were West Seattle’s board rep Marty McLaren as well as Sharon Peaslee (who, like McLaren, defeated an incumbent to win election to the board last year) and Betty Patu. The three who voted against Smith-Blum had supported Sherry Carr for president instead – outgoing president Michael DeBell, Harium Martin-Morris, and Carr herself. Also elected tonight, this time unanimously, were Patu as vice president and Peaslee as executive committee member-at-large.
Thanks to Nicole for sharing the photo of bright Christmas lights at 1315 SW Trenton (map) in Highland Park. We’re working tonight to build our traditional annual map of West Seattle’s dazzling decorations, as the peak time for light-viewing approaches. Also in the spotlight: A great collection of photos by High Point resident Wendy Hughes-Jelen, who is again photographing the light-decked porches in HP – you can see more than 50 photos in her album on Facebook; find it here.
If you have a Christmas-lights photo to share – here are all the ways to get it to us. Or, if you’ve seen or heard of cool lights in West Seattle, White Center or South Park, but don’t have a photo, please e-mail us the address (or even add it here as a comment) – editor@westseattleblog.com!
Car break-ins are part of a sadly predictable holiday-season trend – and tonight we have two more reports. First, from Tish:
Sometime between 11 pm 12/11 and 9 am 12/12 someone entered our driveway, broke out the back window of our Sable wagon and stole two leafblowers. Police report has been submitted. We are located in the 9600 block of Marine View Drive SW [map].
And from KB:
I was parked behind the businesses (west side) on California and Oregon in the Junction lot for about 30 minutes (Tuesday) and returned to my car and someone had smashed the passenger side window and took a plastic bag with the medical boot I wear for my fractured foot and a canvas bag with a library book and some personal papers. They had also gone through the glove compartment. I went through the dumpsters in the alley hoping they would dump the bags, but couldn’t find them. Now I have to take the day off to go to the doctor and have the glass guy come out and replace my window. What I learned? Do NOT leave bags in car even if they don’t contain goods of great monetary value! Put your belongings in trunk! Also – it is very dark in that lot even at 4:30 pm. I wouldn’t park there again in the late afternoon or evening.
Here again is the official SPD car-prowl-prevention advice.
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