TERMINAL 5: Weekend pile-driving alert
Quick note from the Port of Seattle: Weekend pile-driving work is planned at West Seattle’s Terminal 5 the next two weekends, December 21-22 and 28-29. “The weekend pile driving is required to maintain the construction schedule,” explains port spokesperson Peter McGraw. The first phase of the modernization project started last summer; pile-driving is limited to a certain window for in-water work.
What’s up for the rest of your Tuesday, featuring The West Seattle Turkey
Thanks to Rosalie Miller for this week’s #TurkeyTuesday photos – almost eight months after this lone turkey first appeared in West Seattle. The Turkey likes perches – above, atop a parked van. Now on with happenings from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS … for seniors, 2-4 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle – call first to see if appointments are still available. (4217 SW Oregon)
RALLY: 5:30 pm in The Junction, one of 600+ pro-impeachment rallies around the country on the eve of the U.S. House‘s vote. (California/Alaska)
‘EARLY OUTREACH’ DEVELOPMENT MEETING: Find out, and talk, about the proposed apartment project for 3417 Harbor SW, 6:30 pm at Hiawatha Community Center. Coffee and cookies provided. (2700 California SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. This month’s book is “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz. (3411 SW Raymond)
WSHS WINTER CONCERT: Jazz Ensembles in concert at West Seattle High School, 7 pm in the theater. Free. All welcome. (3000 California SW)
SINGER-SONGWRITER CONTEST: 7 pm at Pacific Room on Alki (WSB sponsor). Come see/hear the contenders! No cover. All ages. (2808 Alki SW)
TUESDAY TRIVIA: “West Seattle’s sassiest trivia,” 8:30 pm with Devon at Admiral Pub. 21+. (2306 California SW)
OPEN MIC: Take your talent to Parliament Tavern tonight, 9 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE! … for today/tonight/beyond, in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar.
HEALTH INSURANCE: Missed the deadline? It’s extended!
If you missed the open-enrollment deadline for getting, or changing, health insurance – you have a reprieve. From Carol McClure, a WSB sponsor who can help you through the system:
The Washington Healthplanfinder has extended open enrollment through December 30 for those who did not get enrolled or those who wish to change plans. If you need help enrolling or choosing your plan, please call Financial Designs Insurance, 425-392-7390 – your West Seattle Health Plan Finding Pros! Happy Holidays to all!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray Mercedes van (update: found, but …)
From Patricia:
A dark gray Mercedes Sprinter cargo van (high top) was stolen right in front of the owner’s house in the 2300 block of Walnut Ave SW around 1 am today.
Neighbor saw a large white van type vehicle in the middle of Walnut Ave SW (not parked). Sounded like a diesel engine. Wondered if Amazon delivery, but so late. Then within literally a minute the gray van was stolen and driving down the street. Police were immediately contacted and it has been reported. Please watch for the gray Mercedes Sprinter but also beware of a very large white cargo van that is stealing vehicles quickly and quietly.
We will add the stolen van’s plate # when we get it.
TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The van’s been found, but with its contents stolen, Patricia explains in a comment below..
FOLLOWUP: Will Roxbury Auto Parts ever reopen?
Though it’s boarded up and vandalized, there’s nonetheless a chance Roxbury Auto Parts might reopen.
The store at 2839 SW Roxbury closed in September of last year after a county inspector “red-tagged” it as structurally unsafe.
What’s happened since then has been “frustrating,” to say the least, co-proprietor Kathy Crawford told us by phone today. We had called her and husband Bill Crawford in hopes of an update. “It’s kind of a mess right now.”
Even after all this time, they don’t know if the building – which they rent – can be repaired. They have yet another structural-engineering evaluation/estimate in the works. The county, for its part, told WSB through spokesperson Brent Champaco that it’s “ready to work with the owner on authorizing repairs and mitigation … We just need them to submit a permit application with a proposed plan.” The store owners blame the county for causing damage while storing materials during sidewalk work.
Meantime, they boarded up the building some months ago after two burglaries, Kathy said. The boards, in turn, have been a more attractive target for taggers. But they go by to check on things; she said they were just there last week and some former customers recognized their car and stopped to inquire.
There’s somewhere you can more frequently find them: Since the store shutdown left them without income, she and Bill had to get other jobs and are working at Costco in Tukwila.
Maybe the new year will put them back in the auto-parts business.
“I miss everybody,” Kathy lamented.
TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Twinkling on 26th
For tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight, we went a bit south of the city/county line. These lights are on the west side of 26th SW, just south of SW 102nd [map]. Lots of twinkling if you stop and watch for a while; the house on its north side has a fun display too. If you drive 26th south from Barton (Westwood Village), you’ll see several other bright displays along the way.
Want to suggest lights for us to check out? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! See what we’ve showcased already – scroll through the archive!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire; burglary; scam call…
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
GUNFIRE: We got multiple questions/reports about a Friday night incident near 9th and Henderson in Highland Park. The scene cleared before we arrived, but we requested the report narrative from police today:
On Saturday at approximately 6:40 pm, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 800 block of SW Henderson Street. Officers were flagged down by a woman who stated she was pulling out of her driveway when she heard shots and believed she was being shot at. There was no damage to her car and no one in the vehicle was injured.
However, officers did locate spent shell casings in the street on 9th Ave SW. It appears that there was some bullet damage to a house next door to the woman who called police, but fortunately no one was injured. Officers collected the evidence and the Gang Unit will handle the follow-up investigation.
BURGLARY: Though the recent spike appears to have subsided, burglars are still at work in West Seattle. From Jason, west of Fairmount Park:
I’m alarmed to say I witnessed a burglary as I entered the alley between 41st and 42nd last Thursday around noon. A silver Nissan Murano was idling there facing south, with a woman in the driver’s seat, while a man came out of the backyard of (a house in the 5400 block of) 42nd Ave SW with a plastic tub in his arms, his face covered with a cloth neck warmer, jumped into the car and they sped off south down the alley. I tried to take a picture of the car’s plate, but unfortunately didn’t do so in time to get a clear picture. I called 911 to report the crime.
I contacted my neighborhood watch group by email, and they eventually got in touch with the owner of the house, who confirmed her house had been ransacked. An officer from SPD followed up with me as well to notify me that this vehicle fits the description of one that has been implicated in several burglaries in the area. A Latino man and woman appear to be responsible.
This burglary’s incident # is 19-459483.
SCAM CALLS: So many lately – and so many different scam attempts. Maggie reports this one today: “Just got a recorded scam call saying it was from Seattle City Light and that my service would be turned off in 30-45 minutes. Beware out there! Don’t press one or any other buttons these recordings say.” Here’s City Light advice on protecting yourself.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Fauntleroy crash north of ferry terminal
2:41 PM: Thanks to the caller who wanted to give people a heads-up – police and SFD have responded to a crash north of the ferry terminal on Fauntleroy. Two drivers involved, the caller says, and it’s causing some congestion. We are headed down to look.
3:02 PM: Both travel lanes are clear. Just a bit of a looky-loo slowdown because of police lights on both sides of Fauntleroy.
UPDATE: Seattle Fire ‘full response’ for 4100 block 38th SW
1:42 PM: Seattle Fire has just upsized a response in the 4100 block of 38th SW. Crews already on scene say it’s a wall fire and everyone is out OK.
2:05 PM: Photo added. Many of the units have been dismissed from the call.
2:10 PM: Our crew reports the fire is out, not much damage – an electrical short is suspected but the SFD investigator has been called in to check and City Light has been summoned too. The three people who were in the house are unhurt.
BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Grand opening set for Nos Nos
(November photo, courtesy Nos Nos)
Over the weekend, readers messaged us to say it looked like Nos Nos, the new coffee/etc. shop in Upton Flats at 35th/Graham, had opened. That was actually a “friends/family” open to get ready for the grand opening, which, proprietor Khalid Agour tells us, will be tomorrow – Tuesday (December 17th), 6 am-3 pm. Those are the hours for starters but they’re hoping to extend to 6 pm as soon as February.
7 for your West Seattle Monday!
(Photo by David Hutchinson – downtown skyline after the sun emerged Sunday)
Highlights for the day/night ahead:
WALK IN LINCOLN PARK: 10 am with Sound Steps. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Library. This month’s book is “The Mermaid Chair” by Sue Monk Kidd. (9010 35th SW)
WINTER CONCERT: 7 pm at Madison Middle School. (3429 45th SW)
MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ: 7 pm at The Alley. 21+. (4509 California SW)
3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: Here are your Monday night options:
*Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW), 7 pm, $2/person, 21+
*The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7:30 pm, free, all ages
*Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP TODAY, TONIGHT, BEYOND … by browsing the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents right now but a few notes:
35TH/ALASKA: The intersection reopened Sunday evening after weekend work and is scheduled to be closed again next weekend (starting Friday night, December 20th).
35TH/BARTON: The new left-turn signals were activated over the weekend.
FERRY ALERT: A downsizing on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run – the 90-car Sealth is replacing the 124-car Kitsap this week.
TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Return of the Gai Family display
A longtime Christmas-season landmark in West Seattle is shining again. We received multiple tips abut the return of lights to the Gai Family house in the 3200 block of 36th SW. Not just the lights, but also the Madonna:
The family retired the display in 1996, according to a newspaper ad that year thanking the community. That was nine years before the death of patriarch Phil Gai, who with his brother Henry ran their namesake breadmaking company. One of the tipsters who told us about this, Douglas, says the Gais’ son Ron was “putting on the final touches” just last night.
P.S. Know of lights we should see? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
TRAFFIC ALERT: 35th/Alaska intersection reopens early
Just went over to check again on the 35th/Alaska intersection closure – and found it had ended early. S 35th is open again along the entire stretch that had been restricted because of the closure. SDOT plans to close the intersection again next weekend, so watch for updates on that as the projected Friday (December 20th) start time gets closer.
VIDEO: Holiday-photo fun with Cocoa Cris Cringle
4:51 PM: If you like your Santa photos on the jolly side – it doesn’t get more fun than photos with Cocoa Cris Cringle. He has arrived at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) for his annual holiday-photo session, $20, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Props and hats are on hand for your use. Cocoa Cris is at ESR – with live music this year! – until 7 pm.
7:25 PM: Added photos – that’s Cocoa Cris with assistant Aubrie above, and his first visitors of the evening below:
Video of Hugh‘s musical accompaniment:
P.S. It’s not a family-photo op – 21+ venue – but Cocoa Cris will be back in West Seattle 7-10 pm next Sunday, December 22nd, for a “mostly music” show at Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way).
Temporary dog-park appeal fight to get a hearing on Monday
(WSB photo from October, site currently planned as temporary off-leash area at Westcrest)
A Westcrest Park neighbor who says the planned temporary replacement for the dog park is too small will argue her case downtown tomorrow.
West Seattle’s only dog park is closing for up to six months next year because of a drainage project; we first heard about it when Inge Anderson‘s appeal was mentioned at an HPAC meeting in August. At the time, as we subsequently reported, the city only planned to keep the “small/shy dog area” open during the closure, but it has since – as reported here in October – planned to cordon off some extra space north of the Westcrest P-Patch. Not big enough, Anderson says, so she continued to pursue her appeal of the Determination of Non-Significance filed by the city in relation to the drainage project. Anderson contends Seattle Parks should create a much-bigger temporary dog park with some of the space further north at Westcrest, atop the underground reservoir. When that came up at an October community meeting about the temporary dog park, a Parks rep said it wasn’t possible, but Anderson communicated separately with Seattle Public Utilities, which told her it was. (We asked Parks Friday about the discrepancy and have not yet received an answer.)
Her hearing before the city Hearing Examiner, previously set for September, is now scheduled for 9 am tomorrow in the HE’s hearing room on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower (700 5th Ave.). There’s not likely to be a decision immediately, as the HE usually issues a written ruling a few weeks after a hearing. The drainage project that will close the permanent off-leash area is expected to start next spring.
As Christmas draws near, some families need help getting toys for their kids. Here are three giveaways coming up:
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