West Seattle, Washington
12 Sunday
(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson, taken from Alki just before 6 am)
5:40 AM: Anybody else up watching? Took us a while to spot it through one of the trees across the street – we’re used to seeing moonsets over Vashon, but this is more a straight line over Blake Island. If you don’t have a view of it – here’s a webcast.
5:51 AM: Just a small lip of moon visible now. Saw a meteor while out on the corner watching.
6:22 AM: Clouds are obscuring it from here (north Upper Fauntleroy) – but they do appear to be fast-moving, with some holes, best as we can tell despite the street lights etc., so all hope may not be lost for reappearance, and your vantage point may be different! The timeline in the link above says totality will last another half-hour or so. (Here’s a direct link to the narrated webcast on slooh.com.)
6:40 AM: Still in the “total” phase till just before 7 am. Alki photographer David Hutchinson just shared a photo (thank you!) that we have added above, from “just a few minutes before 6:00 am, when the moon went behind a layer of clouds.” We’ve also received a reader note warning about frost-slippery roads this morning: “Coming home from watching the eclipse, I just almost got hit on Jacobsen as the car coming downhill slid across the center line into my lane. Please caution people to drive at safe speeds!”
7:11 AM: The sky’s getting light, and the clouds don’t appear likely to provide another peek at the moon (which is emerging from the shadow again), but it was cool while it lasted … Next total lunar eclipse visible from here, April 2014.
ADDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON: A few more photos – thanks! From Trileigh Tucker (click for a larger version – a few planetary/star pinpoints are part of the image):
From Craig, 5:16 am from the main Alki business district:
Emily Austin shared photos too:
Every so often, it’s time for a round of “Name That Bird,” and this one is requested by Kate, who shared the photo, saying she can’t deduce what this bird is: “I’d be grateful; my identification books are letting me down. I think this is a Cooper’s Hawk- maybe Sharp Shinned?” (We couldn’t tell by checking photos online.)
Every night we’re featuring at least one West Seattle Christmas lights display – and here’s the one in tonight’s spotlight: You can’t miss this house if you are anywhere near PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) or the west side of West Seattle High School – it’s on SW Stevens at 45th, and it’s lit in the colors of candy canes, red and white. (We recall this home being decked out for Halloween, too.) Here’s a map; our lights list is on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, and we’d love to hear from you if you have, or have seen, a great display.
The tales of generosity and compassion keep rolling in, especially from the communities centered around local schools. Lisa Keith coordinated the Sanislo Elementary food drive again this year, and shares photos and a wrapup report:
Once again, the big-hearted kids at Sanislo Elementary School have had a tremendous annual food drive. The students and families of our community gave BIG this year, and the result is Sanislo’s largest food drive total in recent memory, with donations of food, toiletries, cleaning products and baby needs totaling over 1612 pounds!
There is a friendly (but fierce) competition between classes to see which group can bring in the most donations and win the coveted Food Drive Cup. This December, the honor goes to Mr. Simmons’ 4th graders, who brought in 348 pounds. In second place was Ms. O’ Connor’s 3rd grade class, with 248 lbs., and in third, Ms. Tsuboi’s 1st graders, with 206 pounds. (Ms. Tsuboi’s class should really get an honorable mention for “Cutest and Most Consistent Donors” during our daily weigh-ins, as well.)
A huge thanks goes to students from Ms. Crowley’s 5th grade class for helping to sort our many, many donations, and to Laura Probst and Julie Robinson-Jasper, who assisted with the weigh-in and sorting each day during our two week drive. With over half our students qualifying for free and reduced meals through the district, we also very much appreciate the efforts of our school social worker, Nina Bowman, who will distribute the donations to Sanislo families in need. Children who may have gone hungry during winter break will now have a happier holiday.
That’s our first video clip from tonight’s Our Lady of Guadalupe tree lighting in Sunrise Heights – first the countdown by emcee Brian Callanan (an OLG parishioner and longtime local TV newsperson who’s now with Seattle Channel), then “O Christmas Tree/O Tannenbaum,” featuring not just the hundreds-strong crowd and OLG choir members caroling, but also Engine 37 roaring north on 35th to a call, and a brightly lit pickup truck turning up in the lower part of the frame.
Something new is largely unseen (given the time of night) off to the left of the frame – the new Parish Life Center that has almost fully taken shape north of the church. As Brian noted – sharing the impromptu under-the-tree stage with OLG’s Father Jack Walmesley – next year, the post-tree-lighting cocoa and chatting will happen inside the new center, instead of the school building. Here’s more from tonight’s event – two of the songs that preceded the actual lighting:
If you love Christmas caroling, make a note to be at this event next year – the crowd went through all the classics (with a program featuring lyrics, in case you’ve forgotten them), including the ever-popular “Jingle Bells” accompanied by car keys.
(Click for larger image)
Thanks to Stephanie for that beautiful pre-sunset shot with the moon rising over downtown. Sky-watchers are hopeful tonight that we might somehow get to see the lunar eclipse early tomorrow morning (here’s the newest forecast). If visible, it’ll start around 4:45 am, when the moon is in the west, and reach its peak just after 6 am. Here’s what NASA has to say.
We couldn’t cover this one in person because it was at the exact same time as the “prolific burglar” sentencing this afternoon, but just got the results from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: The judge went with the prosecution’s recommendation for John C. Siegel, who pleaded guilty to setting his wife’s Gatewood home on fire last June. His sentence totals 20 months (as broken down in our earlier report on the guilty plea)
Thanks to Gerard for the tip on this; it also came up in the WSB Forums: A 41-year-old woman was hit by a car in the 2200 block of California SW earlier this afternoon. Her injuries were not life-threatening, says Seattle Fire Lt. Sue Stangl – she was taken to the hospital with an ankle injury.
(The European Hornbeams of 35th SW, photographed in 2009)
Just announced by SDOT – and it’s happening Monday at 6:30 pm at High Point Community Center:
The Seattle Department of Transportation is seeking community feedback regarding protecting and preserving street trees. The proposed ordinance will address protection and preservation; restrictions on tree removal; requirements for replacements; new requirements for private tree companies; and will strengthen penalties for violations.
After the Monday meeting in West Seattle, four others are planned around the city over the next month. We asked SDOT if there is a specific proposal about which people will be asked for feedback; apparently not, yet – but one is in the works, and we’re told it’ll be online next week.
(Our hearing video starts with the victims speaking to the judge)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’re at the King County Courthouse again this Friday afternoon, a popular day/time for sentencings. This afternoon, King County Superior Court Judge – soon to become state Supreme Court Justice – Steven González has just sentenced 42-year-old John Novotny to 8 years – short of the 10 years the prosecution had asked for, but one year more than the upper end of the “standard sentencing” range.
We reported in October that Novotny, described by authorities as a “prolific burglar,” had pleaded guilty to 16 felonies, including burglary, forgery, identity theft, and “taking a motor vehicle.” Among the crimes with which he was charged in April were multiple break-ins victimizing elderly residents at the Arrowhead Gardens complex in southeast West Seattle. He had a unit at a nearby storage facility in which investigators say they found loot from other West Seattle burglaries.
In court for the sentencing: Five of Novotny’s victims, as well as the two lead detectives on the case, and several of Novotny’s family members and friends.
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch update with a followup, as promised, on the burglary/suspects reports from yesterday afternoon. Southwest Precinct commander Captain Steve Paulsen says there were four burglaries in the area, including the 36th/Myrtle one we had mentioned. Two possible suspects were detained, he says, but: “We didn’t quite have enough at this time for arrest, but we are following up with evidence collected. Both of these subjects are well known to us. Since the increase in burglaries, we have re-arranged our normal deployments which include modifying work hours in order to maximize the opportunities to apprehend the suspects. Our officers are chasing every suspicious circumstance 911 call that gets broadcast and we are flooding the area with multiple officers. We think we have 2-3 teams working in the West Seattle area. Our folks have been sharing information with other precincts as well as neighboring jurisdictions (Puget Sound region) who are experiencing the same issue and some of the same subjects.” Meanwhile, we’ve heard from some of yesterday’s victims – that, and other Crime Watch reader reports, aheadRead More
A stalwart group of Santa’s helpers, including White Center business-community leaders, just achieved a milestone in the WC/South Delridge holiday season – raising the official Christmas tree in the Delridge Triangle mini-park (16th/Roxbury) for the second year. As you can see in our video, bright sunshine and good cheer certainly helped. All are welcome to the tree lighting this Sunday night at 5 pm. Santa himself will be there, along with carolers, we hear. (More WC/West Seattle holiday-event info here.)
Want an update on what the Murray combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) control facility is going to look like when it’s built across from Lowman Beach Park, starting in about 2 years? Your next chance is Tuesday (December 13), 6:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 Fauntleroy Way SW), as the project’s volunteer Design Advisory Group meets, public welcome. More details ahead, from the county’s announcement:Read More
(“It’s a Wonderful Life” photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
If you’re NOT booked up tonight with the company party, family party, neighborhood party, etc. – there’s still holiday (and otherwise) fun out there today/tonight – such as:
BINGO FOR CASH: Play today at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon, buy in starts at 10:45 am and bingo starts at 11 am. Soup, sandwiches, salads, assorted pastries are available for purchase at nominal cost.
HOLIDAY WINE TASTINGS: Tonight at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor), 5-7 pm, and Bin 41 in The Junction, 6-7:30 pm (details on The Bin’s website).
OLG TREE LIGHTING: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & School 7th Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at 7 pm. From the official announcement: “We’ll sing carols and celebrate around the “highest” Christmas tree in the city of Seattle—110 feet high, and 520 feet above sea level! More than 1,000 lights illuminate this beloved West Seattle Christmas tradition, with a tree that’s visible from as far away as Highway 99 (what’s left of it!) near the West Seattle Bridge. … This event also celebrates the effort from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and School to give back to the Seattle community. Everyone is encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, a non-profit organization that provides food and support services to those in need. The food items will be distributed to our local food banks. Guests will be invited to warm up in our Parish Hall after the tree lighting to enjoy complimentary refreshments and participate in Christmas craft activities for children.”
MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Want to detour to see the bright sights on the way back from OLG? We’re continuing to build a list on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page, and featuring at least one display nightly.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE CELEBRATION: Tonight, 7-9 pm, holiday dinner celebration at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details on the SWS website.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO-STYLE: 7:30 pm performance of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: ArtsWest presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).” 7:30 pm; ticket info here.
ART AND MUSIC AT YOUNGSTOWN: Stop by the art opening for local artist Deb McCarroll which includes a concert by West Seattle-based band, West Side Sally. There will be art available for purchase as well as food, drinks and live music! Art by Deb McCarroll; music by West Side Sally. Art 6-9 pm, music 9-11 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
ECLIPSE VERY VERY LATE TONIGHT (AKA EARLY TOMORROW): Since this will be BEFORE our daily preview for tomorrow, a shoutout here right now – if the weather cooperates, watch the sky to the west starting just before 5 am for the last total lunar eclipse visible (theoretically) from here for a couple years. Here’s the latest from our partners at the Seattle Times (who talked to experts including West Seattle’s own Alice Enevoldsen).
Two updates from SDOT for next week: The first night of the Fauntleroy Expressway closure for quake-safety upgrades – the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – will start later, because of the Monday night Seahawks game. So that night only, it’ll start 10:30 pm (9 pm the next two nights, as the map from our original report notes).
Second, the city is tentatively planning to close the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct (the bridge between I-5 and 99) every night from next Wednesday (December 14) through December 23rd. And there are surface closures planned just east of West Seattle, at East Marginal/South Spokane, Monday-Thursday nights, as well as a “tentative” plan to detour 1st Avenue S. at Spokane St. each night Dec. 16-22. (Got all that? We’ll have a reminder each day in the daily-highlights preview, as usual.)
(Contributing photographers: Katie Meyer, Wim Bonner, Patrick Sand)
Seen along Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk – It may have been “Ugly Sweater” time at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, but who can focus on sweaters when Twilight’s ownership trio is posing with baby Margaux (new daughter of co-owner Mary Enslow)? OK, how about this sweater, spotted on a patron?
Along with the sweater-showing-off, Twilight debuted “12 Days of Christmas” – a display in which, they say, “12 groovy artists each represent one of the twelve days of Christmas.” LOTS more to see along WSB’s December Art Walk travels … click ahead for more pix, including a photographer often featured on WSB, art in a trailer, and more!
(DESC project site on Delridge, from “packet” for Thursday night meeting)
9:19 PM: We’re at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting looking at the proposed DESC homeless-housing project at 5444 Delridge Way has just ended. About 20 members of the public were there; about half a dozen spoke. Board members had many suggestions for the architects, but none were enough to stop the project from moving forward in the design-review process, so it has officially cleared “early design guidance,” which means DESC can apply for its master use permit. Next step: They will have to develop a fully fleshed-out design to bring to a second SWDRB meeting, date not yet set. We have video of the meeting and full details to come.
FIRST ADDITION: Interim update – The six-minute clip above is the very end of the meeting, with SWDRB chair Brandon Nicholson summarizing the recommendations the board is making to the architects and the city Department of Planning and Development. The letters/numbers he mentions right at the beginning refer to the codes on this page (scroll down).
SECOND ADDITION: Here’s the entire meeting on videotape, with two small gaps – between clips 1 and 2, our first camera ran out of power during a public comment; clip 2 picks up during that same commenter, and ends when the room shifted for the board to begin its deliberations, which are done in the open; clip 3 picks up at the start of those deliberations. Click the lower-right area of any clip to watch it either bigger-screen on the YouTube site (the logo will take you there) or fullscreen:
Thanks to the person who called us with a tip about this display – it’s not far from the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, we were told. Indeed, that entire neighborhood features several fine light displays, and we’ll be back to scout. This one is in the 3700 block of 40th SW [map]. In case you’re just catching up … we’re showcasing at least one brightly lit home every night, and adding to the list on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page; if you have a suggestion, please let us know!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this afternoon:
Thanks to everybody who shared tips about police activity in Sunrise Heights in the past hour or so, near 35th/Webster. Police were chasing suspects in at least one burglary – and that general area, as reported here previously, has been a target lately; we don’t know if it was this same suspect, but there was a scanner report a while ago about a break-in attempt at 36th/Myrtle, not far away. At least one person has been arrested/detained. We’ll add details as soon as we get them.
And from Pigeon Point – pilfered packages and mail were found at noontime today, some with addresses from some distance away:Read More
Thanks to Josh Sutton from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) – he took the photo as demolition began on the site kitty-corner from the Y that will become Harbor Properties‘ next West Seattle apartment building, Nova. Harbor opened Link a few blocks away earlier this year and also owns Mural in The Junction (both are WSB sponsors). Nova’s at 4600 36th SW (just north of The Grove) and is designed for five stories, 62 apartments, 36 parking spaces (it’s close to the forthcoming RapidRide, and the city now does not require parking for developments close to major transit).
Harbor’s contractor is Compass Construction; its major financing is from Bank of the West. Construction is expected to take a year.
Four months after Alan Harrison announced his departure as ArtsWest‘s executive director, its board has just announced they have promoted Christopher Zinovitch to Artistic Director. He will share leadership with a to-be-hired Managing Director. ArtsWest also has hired Lauren Domino as Development Director. P.S. AW is part of tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, with the reception for “Quotidian Dreams” 6-7:30 pm.
(September photo by Kevin McClintic)
Six months after its return to a city-owned site at West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way, the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville is in a sort of limbo – legal, and otherwise.
After the Highland Park Action Committee‘s meeting last night, following up on a discussion that began at its October meeting (as reported here), it seemed clear that the city does not currently intend to either:
*Evict the encampment
or
*Provide services (water/sewer/power hookups) that would make the site more habitable
You can watch the meeting yourself, if you’d like to see how it all played out:
Context for the meeting was a letter sent to the city by HPAC, as co-chairs Carolyn Stauffer and Billy Stauffer explained at the start of last night’s meeting. As the letter began, “In the past, our organization has been supportive of Nickelsville as a temporary situation. With news of this potentially becoming a permanent settlement, we have begun to hear a lot from our friends and neighbors.” HPAC says that the “burden of homelessness” should be shared with the rest of the city and suggests that this encampment, like others in the city, could switch sites every six months or so.
The issue drew a crowd to the meeting, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, and Lisa Herbold from Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office.Read More
For the first time since Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Seattle began, related protests are planned for this area. John sent a note to point out that the protest website says the Seattle action for next Monday’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” protests announces:
… there will be two rallies near the port at 3 pm and 6 pm at the Spokane Street fishing area, just to the east of the Spokane St. bridge, near the intersection of SW Spokane St & SW Manning St. under the West Seattle bridge.
It’s not actually a protest against the port itself, the website says (and as commenters point out, it is not union-endorsed); organizers say it’s meant to show opposition to unionbusting, Governor Gregoire‘s planned budget cuts, and evictions at “Occupy” protests across the country. Preceding the rallies in this area, supporters plan to march from Westlake downtown, starting at 1 pm Monday.
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