West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
He’s a hometown music hero most often seen and heard live in the summertime, at West Seattle Summer Fest and Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha – but last night, Caspar Babypants brought his summery sound to the brink of winter, taking the stage at Easy Street Records in The Junction. The occasion – a chance to get the new CB album “I Found You” before it officially goes on sale via iTunes next Tuesday.
P.S. Per the show list on the Caspar Babypants website, another wintertime West Seattle show is coming up Saturday, January 19th, 10:30 am, at High Point Community Center – check with the center for advance discount tickets.
(Photo by “old desolate” via the WSB Flickr group)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and ongoing West Seattle Holiday Guide:
‘EARLY DAYS’ SUPPORT GROUP: Noon-2 pm, drop-in support group for new moms at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor), 4746 44th SW.
‘KING TIDES’ WEEK: The tidal extremes continue – today, it’s 12.2 feet at 2:42 pm, and -3.4 feet tonight at 9:54 pm. (Here’s the chart.) And remember that the state is interested in your photos from the high tides – add them to this Flickr group (and if they’re from West Seattle, we’d love to see them in the WSB Flickr group, too!).
TUNNEL TOLLING COMMITTEE: The advisory committee talking about tolling for the Highway 99 tunnel, and related traffic-management matters, meets at 3 pm today, Puget Sound Regional Council HQ, 1011 Western in Pioneer Square.
HANUKKAH: Tonight is the fifth of eight nights.
FINAL DAY FOR PIZZERIA 22 COAT DRIVE: The annual Pizza for Parkas coat drive with the Atlantic Street Center. Donate a children’s jacket, ages infant to adult, and Pizzeria 22 (in The Admiral District) will give away a coupon for a free Margherita pizza.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ HOLIDAY PARTY/TOY DRIVE: 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, no business meeting – holiday potluck and toy drive – details here.
HOPE LUTHERAN CHRISTMAS CONCERT: 7 pm at Hope Lutheran School (42nd/Oregon), with the Bell Choir, Chapel Band, Glee Club, Vocal Choir and Seattle Lutheran High School Band.
‘WINTER WONDERETTES’: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest – this year’s holiday musical!
More for today/tonight on our regular (non-holiday) calendar! And ongoing holiday activities (such as Christmas tree lots) are in the Holiday Guide.
If you’re in north West Seattle, grab those binoculars – Dan e-mailed to report orcas, sighted “mid-channel, northbound,” seen from North Admiral.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:06 AM: Rain showers are the only commute complication as this morning gets going.
6:59 AM: Via Twitter, Dave just reported a crash on the eastbound bridge. It’s not on the 911 log. But in a comment here, Kimberley has a few more details – “There’s a fender bender in the right lane just before the crest of the bridge.”
7:44 AM: Don’t let the camera fool you – the crash scene(s – commenters report 2) are BEFORE the view you see on the cam. Very slow going.
8:35 AM: West Seattle Bridge is better, we’re told, but 509 (1st Avenue South) is backed up. Nothing on the 911 log – so either it’s a fender-bender/stall, or spillover from earlier WS Bridge problems.
First of two notes from Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: The date’s set for a big FCA community meeting about Lincoln Park – April 23, 2013. When the board talked about it last month, they were focusing on something earlier in the year, but last night, president Bruce Butterfield pointed out that since they hope to follow up the meeting with a park tour a week or so later, April would be better than February. The board has formed a committee to plan the agenda, with presentations by Parks, animal control – given ongoing concerns about off-leash dogs, also discussed last month – and nature groups suggested, along with park history. (Update #2 later today will include the latest on the schoolhouse renovations.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Almost five months after early word of what will be West Seattle’s biggest development to date, 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW has a long way to go till construction – but is moving along the path.
One big step came last month when the mixed-use megaproject passed the Early Design Guidance phase of the city’s design-review process, on the second try.
That in turn paved the way for what the project team did yesterday (Tuesday, December 11th) – formally meeting with the city Department of Planning and Development to apply for the Master Use Permit (explained here), according to Lance Sherwood of retail specialists Weingarten, one of the project’s developers, along with housing specialists Lennar, and Seattle architects Fuller Sears.
They also confirm they are continuing to meet with community members who are watching the project closely and still concerned about some of its fundamental design elements, while preparing for another Design Review meeting that could come as soon as next month.
(WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: New info added to end of story)
(Added 10:40 pm – photo from neighbor who reports casings found in her neighborhood)
FIRST REPORT, 9:45 PM: We’re getting multiple reader reports of possible gunshots heard in Highland Park – no shootings on the 911 medical-call log, though – and a helicopter (believed to be the law-enforcement Guardian One) is overhead. The scanner indicates police are investigating – so far they have not found anything.
9:56 PM: Co-publisher is in the area and says Guardian One has left. Meantime, police are still checking out various areas where people reported hearing the possible gunfire, but no indication they’ve found any evidence so far.
10:15 PM: Nothing new, and the scanner traffic on this has quieted down. Earlier via the radio, SPD was reported to have checked with the county to see if anything had happened on their side of the line – the answer was no. We’ll follow up a bit later to see if anything ever turned up.
10:39 PM: Just heard from a resident near 12th and Elmgrove, where she says casings have been found and police are searching for more evidence. Added the photo she sent (atop this story).
ADDED 10:15 AM MONDAY: Just checked with SPD spokesperson Det. Renee Witt, who says police recovered nine casings in all, in the 7900 block of 12th SW. No injuries or property damage reported. Police were told that a white car, possibly a Gran Prix, was seen with a passenger pointing a “rifle out of the window,” firing shots “into the air,” but police did not find the car or any suspects.
Just out of the WSB inbox, from a grateful West Seattleite who wants to be anonymous:
Today was an “ordinary” cold late fall Tuesday morning. I bundled up and headed for my bus stop, the last one on the West Seattle RapidRide Route, Avalon and Yancy.
Along with my fellow commuters, I stood patiently waiting while frequently glancing at the new Metro sign tick down the minutes for the arrival of our “C” line bus.
The bus arrived; I was the last one on ….no seats, so I stood ….no problem. As we headed north, then east onto the Bridge, soon there was a problem. That old unfriendly visitor of motion sickness set in, as did the bus’s heater. I began to seriously sweat, just as my body was reacting to a then-unknown blood-flow issue to my brain. Within about 5 minutes, I was completely passed out on the bus floor.
I woke around Seneca and 2nd with a dozen or so people around me. Concerned eyes, and moving mouths suggested one thing after another to assist me in my still-unclear position. One lovely woman took my coat off, while another held my hand. Someone else offered me fruit while the driver said to dispatch, “….she seems to be coming around….”
My new friend and Angel, Jennifer, walked me, arm and arm, to my work building.
As this day ends, my heart aches for those in Clackamas…but at the same time, I am exceedingly grateful to the compassionate strangers on the bus.
Thank You.
(WSDOT rendering of the 99 “south portal” including the future overpass)
First road-work announcement for 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct in a while – from WSDOT:
Drivers should plan for delays on southbound State Route 99 through downtown Seattle the next two weekends. Crews working for WSDOT will reduce SR 99 to one lane near the stadiums and close the southbound off-ramp to South Atlantic Street. During the closures crews will drive more than 50 pilings to support construction of the new South Atlantic Street overpass.
Dec. 14-17 weekend
Crews will close the right lane of southbound SR 99 between Columbia Street and South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound SR 99 off-ramp to South Atlantic Street from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17.
Dec. 21-24 weekend
Crews will close the right lane of southbound SR 99 between Columbia Street and South Royal Brougham Way and the southbound off-ramp to South Atlantic Street from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24.
Crews will reopen all lanes of SR 99 and the South Atlantic Street off-ramp two hours prior to the Sunday, Dec. 23, Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field. The ramp and southbound lane will close again an hour after kickoff, and reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24Construction on the overpass started last summer and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. The overpass will improve mobility by allowing freight haulers and commuters to bypass the rail crossing near the entrance to the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 46.
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB, from 12/1/2012 West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting)
Just a quick reminder – 6-9 pm Thursday night is the nexus of West Seattle holiday shopping: Shop Late Thursday and West Seattle Art Walk, same night, many of the same places – plus Art Walk participants in The Admiral District, Alki, Morgan Junction, and other parts of the peninsula. You can preview many of the Art Walk’s featured artists right now by going to the official website – wsartwalk.com – and to see the list of who’s participating in Shop Late Thursday all season long, go to this page on The Junction’s website.
Just out of the WSB inbox, the latest newsletter from your local Seattle Police crime-prevention coordinator Mark Solomon – featuring always-valuable advice on preventing burglaries – including a focus on “trends” in how burglars choose their targets – with a p.s. about package theft. Read on:
‘Tis the season not only to give, but also to honor the givers: That’s what WestSide Baby did at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) at lunchtime today, celebrating its dedicated volunteers with custom carols to the tune of “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph” (video above) – under the guidance of executive director Nancy Woodland, sporting antlers and a classic holiday sweater:
If you didn’t make it through the clip – Nancy announced that more than 600 volunteers had contributed more than 6,000 (update) 8,000 volunteer hours this year! Of that, she says, there’s a core of 20+ regulars. Other big numbers include how many local families WS Baby helps – 1,500 this month alone. And how many ways you can help – see their website – the “most essential items,” as noted there, are “strollers, portable cribs, bassinets, coats, pajamas, pants, diapers, and hygiene items such as diaper cream.”
P.S. You can help WS Baby at special events too – 5-8 tonight, as featured in our morning preview, there’s a Stella & Dot Jewelry trunk show at Umpqua Bank in The Admiral District; and e-mail went out today with invitations (extended to you too) to attend the February 10th benefit tea – get on the guest list here!
(August 2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Since their Seafair home, the Museum of Flight, is not far away, we consider the Blue Angels a local story when they’re here – and Seafair says they’ll be back at least two more years:
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels announced the Demonstration Squadron will return to the skies above Lake Washington as a featured performer at the Boeing Air Show at Seafair Weekend in 2013 and 2014. The announcement was made today at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas, Nev. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels make two-year performance commitments and previously announced their return to Seattle for 2013.
The air show is part of the eight-week summer schedule of events that culminates with Seafair Weekend featuring the Boeing Air Show and the Albert Lee Cup Hydroplane Races.
Seafair Weekend Dates
2013: Fri. Aug. 2 – Sun., Aug 4
2014: Fri., Aug. 1 – Sun., Aug. 3 – The 65th Anniversary of Seafair
Demolition is under way right now at 47th and Othello, just northeast of Lincoln Park and south of The Kenney (WSB sponsor), where Build Urban plans to build 6 detached single-family homes (according to this webpage, which says they’ll be “Built Green 4 star”). The firm, headquartered on Lake Union, has at least one previous West Seattle project – Solamar on Alki, on the once-contested 59th/Stevens site across from the Alki Elementary School playground
Thanks to the Posey Family for that photo of a snowy owl they saw in Pigeon Point about two weeks ago, sharing it after they saw our Sunday night wildlife report mentioning another (albeit photoless) West Seattle sighting. Can’t schedule wildlife encounters, but here are some highlights that ARE scheduled for today/tonight:
LAST DAY FOR MATCHING DONATIONS AT HPIC’s FOOD DRIVE: Through today at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden), Nucor Steel is giving $2 for every pound donated at events and $2 for every dollar donated for the West Seattle Food Bank. (Put $ donations in the mail slot on Holden with “for Food Bank” on the envelope.)
(For more holiday-season giving opportunities, see the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!)
TIDAL EXTREMES: As noted here Monday morning, it’ll be a week of very high (“king”) and very low tides. Today, the tide chart says 1:55 pm will bring a 12.2-foot high tide, and 9:08 pm will bring a -2.7 low tide.
WESTSIDE BABY BENEFIT/JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW: 5-8 pm at Umpqua Bank in The Admiral District, Stella & Dot Jewelry trunk show, proceeds benefiting WestSide Baby: “Sip a glass of bubbly while you socialize, have fun holiday shopping, and enjoy the generous hospitality of our local Umpqua Bank. (Donations are welcome toward Umpqua Bank’s Diaper Drive, too.)”
WEST SEATTLE ORCHESTRAS, ENDOLYNE CHOIR PERFORM: Tonight is the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ second holiday concert, 6:30 pm at the Chief Sealth IHS Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle) – as previewed here. No set admission fee – donation suggested/encouraged.
CASPAR BABYPANTS AT EASY STREET RECORDS: And the night’s other musical highlight – Caspar Babypants performing in-store, free, at Easy Street Records in The Junction, 6:30 pm – details in our calendar listing.
DESIGN GROUP MEETING FOR SEWER-OVERFLOW PROJECT: Days after the city’s land-use decision for the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project storage tank across from Lowman Beach, the project’s community Design Advisory Group is meeting tonight, 6:30 pm, Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
KINDERGARTENERS AT BOREN? 5TH GRADERS AT MADISON? MORE PORTABLES? … and other options to relieve Seattle Public Schools crowding, up for discussion at the district’s ONLY community meeting on the topic before a board vote next month – 7 pm tonight at SPS HQ in SODO.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING: Topics for the FCA board include planning the Lincoln Park celebration for early next year, and the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse’s ongoing improvements. 7 pm at the schoolhouse (9131 California SW). Public welcome.
GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE! Information night tonight, at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor; upstairs at 3727 California SW):
West Seattle Runner is doing another couch to half marathon training group. This is for beginners, runners or walkers, of all ages. In the previous 4 groups, we have had over 50 people cross the finish line – it’s easier than you think! We want people who have always wanted to start running or walking but didn’t know where to begin. Meet other local people, get in shape for the new year, and get your first finisher’s medal at the Seattle Rock and Roll half marathon, June 22nd, 2013.
This meeting is just to discuss the training plan and answer questions; you don’t have to start running until 2013! The first actual run/walk is on January 6th – we will be going a whole mile. But don’t worry, you don’t have to run the whole way, or at all. It’s all about covering the distance, not about how fast you are. If you are currently running more then 3 miles at a time, this group may not be for you; it is a real beginners’ group. For those looking to get in shape for 2013, you couldn’t ask for a better way!
FREE SKI-TUNING CLINIC: Tonight at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska in The Triangle), 7 pm – details in our calendar listing.
OPEN-MICROPHONE NIGHT AT THE CASK: Starting at 8 pm at The Cask in The Admiral District (east side of California just north of Admiral Way).
FIVE MONTHS TILL GARAGE SALE DAY! If you are looking for reasons to look forward to spring – we are exactly five months away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, Saturday, May 11, 2013 (it’s always the second Saturday in May), 9 am-3 pm. No action requested now but just a friendly reminder … when it’s closer, you’ll find information at westseattlegaragesale.com and on Facebook here. Next year will mark the sixth year of WSCGSD being presented by WSB.
If we get word of orcas off West Seattle, we’ll always give you the heads-up – so you are hereby notified, we just got a text (206-293-6302 around the clock) about sightings “between Alki and Vashon, heading south.” As always, please share a comment (or text, or call) if you see them!
Rude awakening for Jennifer, who reports an overnight car theft:
Our car was stolen last night, between the hours of 8 pm and 7 am. We’re at 11th and Thistle [map]. The car is a red ’96 Saturn (plate 802-UTE) and had nothing of value in it, so we assume it was taken on a joy ride and hope to update you with its safe, little-to-no damage return. (Fingers crossed.) Police have been called. In the meantime, we thought we’d let the neighborhood know.
This also just went up on SPD’s @getyourcarback Twitter feed, and as it advises, if you see this car – call 911.
(Photo courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
“Dancin’, Drummin’, Singin’!” is the title of tonight’s holiday concert by the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Debut and Intermediate Orchestras, with the latter courtesy of the Endolyne Children’s Choir and director Amy Stagno Bokanev (above). The concert is tonight’s musical highlight from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, and it starts at 6:30 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle). The program includes Christmas classics such as “Little Drummer Boy,” “White Christmas,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” (Added – Trileigh’s video of “Little Drummer Boy” being rehearsed):
More program details are on the official poster (see it here as a PDF).
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:59 AM: Nothing out of the ordinary so far this morning.
9:27 AM: JL reports in comments that the 35th/Avalon traffic light is malfunctioning – flashing red all ways. We’ll check in later to see if it’s fixed.
As of January 6th, all Seattle Public Library branches will be open on Sundays – thanks to the library-funding measure approved by voters this past August. SPL sent around a reminder that also includes an announcement of dates for special “Sundays are special” parties. High Point is set for January 13th and Delridge on May 5th – those are the two branches that have been closed Sundays.
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School ProStart students for their star turn at this past Saturday’s annual CookieFest – here’s how the school announced their achievement (sharing photos too):
For the second year in a row, the West Seattle High School ProStart students have amazed crowds at the Seattle Macy’s annual CookieFest celebration. In this event, consumers pay a set fee for a cookie box, and then the “mad” dash begins to get their choice dozen cookies from the banquet room full of cookie vendors.
ProStart was selected as one of only three schools in Washington to participate in this event alongside numerous bakeries around the Seattle area. Not only do the proceeds for CookieFest support the Seattle Milk Fund, but the event also gives our students the opportunity to work next to prestigious bakeries in a catering role, work toward planning and creating beautiful and consistent bakery products, and earn well-deserved community service hours.
The West Seattle High School students chose the theme this year as “Mad Hatter Holiday Tea Party.”
Thank you to those of you who supported our students as well as the Seattle Milk Fund. We hope to participate again next year!
No, there’s no trick with the perspective there – the 34-car Washington State Ferry M/V Hiyu really is small, in comparison to M/V Issaquah (able to carry almost 4 times as many vehicles). As mentioned here in the past few days, Hiyu is making unscheduled runs to supplement Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth’s two-boat schedule. And West Seattle photographer Doug Branch “couldn’t resist photographing it when it showed up:
Thanks to Doug for sharing the Hiyu views! Though it’s not following a schedule, you can monitor the Hiyu while it’s on the run by checking out the live Vessel Watch page.
Topping this afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – a followup on last Friday’s package/mail-theft arrests:
If you missed our Friday coverage – four men were booked into King County Jail Friday night, hours after their arrests at 16th and Roxbury, where the van reported by a package-theft witness in West Seattle was pulled over by police. Early Saturday afternoon, three of them (ages 32, 25, and 22) got out of jail; the fourth, 31, is still in, because of unrelated warrants. This case went through Seattle Municipal Court, and that means the City Attorney’s Office would prosecute; spokesperson Kimberly Mills says the office’s Criminal Division will do an “extended review” of the case, which is why no one has been charged/cited yet. We’ll keep watch on the case.
Also this afternoon, this photo and report from Georgia:
I wanted to report a hit & run on 42nd Avenue SW just south of Edmunds early this morning. I heard a loud crash around 2:30 am this morning and woke to find that our parked 2002 Jeep Wrangler was hit & pushed into a silver Mazda M6. Both were parked on the west side of 42nd Avenue SW and it appears the suspect vehicle was going southbound on 42nd when it struck the Jeep and pushed it into the Mazda. The suspect vehicle’s bumper – from a Honda – was left behind too. If anybody has any information, please contact Officer F. Oshinski, 206-733-9800, or Jason Choate at 206-930-1327. The incident # is 12-421233.
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