West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
(WSB photo from 2018 Night Market)
This time of year, it’s never too soon to start planning your next weekend. And this one is big. Two major reasons to be in The Junction both days (in addition to holiday shopping with your local merchants):
SATURDAY – TREE LIGHTING AND NIGHT MARKET: It’s more than a tree lighting – it’s an afternoon/evening full of music and shopping! The Hometown Holidays Night Market starts at 3 pm in the street on SW Alaska by Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska), where this slate of music-and-more leads up to the 6 pm tree lighting. Here’s the updated schedue:
3:45 pm – Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor)musicians start playing in the market,then walk on stage
Welcome: West Seattle Junction Association’s Lora Radford
Emcee: Brent Amaker
4:20 pm: Endolyne Children’s Choir
4:45 pm: School of Rock West Seattle
5:15 pm: The Not-Its
5:55 pm: Santa Claus and Jack Menashe take the stage
6:00 pm: Lighting the tree
6:05 pm: Ceremony ends but Night Market continues until 7 pm
SUNDAY – COCOA AND COAT DRIVE: During the Farmers’Market, bring coats, hats, scarves, gloves (gently used) to warm up neighbors in need!
10 am-2 pm Sunday, look for the tent and bins at the south end of the Farmers’ Market (California/Alaska), and along with the warm glow of knowing you’ve done something good, enjoy hot cocoa – with whipped cream and sprinkles available.
Need to catch up on West Seattle’s next big road project, which is also a transit project? Tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 2 pm, the City Council Sustainability and Transportation Committee gets a briefing on the Delridge RapidRide H Line project, which also includes repaving and other road work, as well as the conversion of Metro Route 120 to the H Line. Above is the slide deck that’ll be used in the briefing; it projects that construction will start in the second or third quarter next year. The H Line is expected to launch in fall 2021. The 90 percent design milestone was announced a month ago; see our November report here.
2:19 PM: Police are investigating a shooting in the 9000 block of 18th SW. They report “one male victim injured.” More as we get it.
2:34 PM: Police tell us at the scene that the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. The shooting was the result of a robbery somewhere nearby – the victim made it to a construction site and called for help.
3:31 PM: Still no one in custody. No description made public, either.
3:55 PM: A bit more info from SPD: They say the victim is 24 years old and was shot while “delivering an item sold on a secondhand goods website.”
In West Seattle Crime Watch today, two robbery cases from the long weekend:
JUNCTION STREET ROBBERY: Thanks to the tipster who let us know about this incident early Thursday morning. We requested and obtained the report today. It happened around 12:30 am; the victim told police she had used the Chase ATM at California/Oregon and then walked into the alley, where two people approached her. One pointed a “black semi-automatic” handgun at her while the other went through her pockets. They took her phone, car and house keys, and wallet. Description: “about 27 and 29 years old … the male who pointed a gun at her was mixed race – White and Black – and about 5’8 … the male who was with him may have had a hoodie on.” Police searched but did not find the robbers. The victim called later to add one detail: One of the robbers had hit her in the face.
LUCKY 5 ROBBERY FOLLOWUP: We reported briefly last night on the holdup at the Lucky 5 gas station/mini-mart at 35th/Henderson. Today we requested and obtained the report, which has additional details: The robbers were described in the report as “four black males … wearing dark clothing, gloves and masks … At least two of the males were wearing backpacks … teens-20s, 5’7-5’9″.” They assaulted the person working in the store and knocked down displays, scattering merchandise on the floor. One held the worker at gunpoint and demanded that he open the cash drawer; the robbers also started loading their backpacks with cigarettes. One took a necklace from the person on duty, a lifelong keepsake described as gold, with “rectangular chain links, and a thin tiger pendant.” Surveillance video from outside the store shows their getaway vehicle was a “silver four-door sedan” with tinted windows.
If you’ve passed by the “Stone House” at 1123 Harbor SW lately, the changes to its facade might have caught your eye – they caught ours. More than nine months have passed since we first reported that the Southwest Seattle Historical Society hoped to save the well-known stone-studded cottage by moving it to a new site, since the one where it’s stood for 90 years had been sold for redevelopment. City records indicate the site’s new owners are continuing to move ahead with their plan, which calls for the demolition of structures on three adjacent lots, but clearly states that the Stone House is to be relocated per agreement with SWSHS. The agreement on file gives SWSHS until the end of the year to move the house off the site. We asked local entrepreneur and preservationist John Bennett, who’s been involved with the plan, about its status. He tells WSB, “We are scouting a location and working out the logistics of physically moving a 90-year-old stone house. This project is being taken on by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society in their ongoing efforts to preserve the history of our great city. … This is a complicated project, but we are determined to save this amazing piece of West Seattle history.”
As for what’s now being displayed on the facade, Bennett explains, “The art on the front of the house is a quick facelift to show everyone that it has not been forgotten.”
BACKSTORY: This 2002 seattlepi.com story has it.
(Varied Thrush, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LINCOLN PARK WALK: 10 am with Sound Steps. Meet in the center of the north parking lot. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AGING WELL: Talk about it in a facilitated 1 pm group at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
WATERCOLOR CLASS: Taught by Jennifer Carrasco at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6 pm. Contact the artist for enrollment info. (5612 California SW)
PLAYGROUND MEETING: 6:30 pm at Delridge Community Center, see the proposed design for changes at the Cottage Grove playground. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
3 TRIVIA/QUIZ NIGHTS: Your Monday night options in West Seattle:
*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 Oregon), 8 pm, $2/person, 21+
LOOK AHEAD ... via the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar!
Another reason to think spring! West Seattle Little League has announced that it’s signup time:
Welcome to the 2020 WSLL Spring Season! Registration is now open!
We are excited to have new families join and existing families return. Little League players can be girls & boys between the ages 4-12. The season runs from May – June & kids get a lot of playing time (best value in sports)!
Check out westseattlelittleleague.com for more information including scholarship opportunities. Get in the game!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! A few things to note this morning:
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Seahawks host Minnesota for Monday Night Football, 5:15 pm kickoff.
AVALON/35TH PROJECT MOVES ONTO ALASKA: As announced last week, the Avalon/35th project is expected to move onto SW Alaska this week.
As noted in the WSB Forums, the West Seattle community has lost a longtime member who was also a longtime participant in WSB’s online community. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing:
She has had so many close calls, it is almost shocking to announce that our friend and neighbor Janet Elizabeth Frantz Seeley (known as JanS in comments and the forum), passed away on November 13, 2019.
Born in Danville, Virginia in 1947 to Dean and Anne Frantz, her family soon moved to Reading, PA where she grew up. As a young woman, she joined the Women’s Army Corps and served from 1973-1975. She left the Corps to start family life in West Seattle in 1976. She was free-spirited and incredibly hip – a fierce feminist who spoke her mind.
Jan became a mother to Jess Pearson (Seeley) in 1980 and from then on out, her daughter was her life. She shared her values of authenticity, respect, and independence.
Jan and Jess maintained a close relationship. Despite health challenges, she was a doting mother and loving grandmother to her grandson Ollie.
While she would have loved to be a full-time mom, relationship changes required her to find a way to support herself and her daughter. She started a massage practice in 1994. Her time working in the Army’s photo lab set her up to be an early adopter of technology. When she started her massage business she set up a website to advertise right away. She maintained her massage business until 2017.
She had a great sense of humor, loved poetry and delighted in beauty. She was a person of quick-wit, keen observations, and directness. Jan’s unique ability to maintain a non-judgmental attitude, show compassion, and relate to others was a gift to her family and friends. Those in power did not receive such grace – she shared strong opinions about injustice and corruption with passion.
Jan held dearly to life despite the many challenges life threw at her. Jan fought and survived serious health problems for the last 25 years – full of spirit and hope. It is with sadness we say goodbye and hope that her strong spirit can rest in peace and comfort.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Carole Jones (Frantz). She is survived by her daughter Jess and grandson Ollie, and nieces and nephews Joshua, Thomas, Robin, and Alana.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, which would have been her 73rd birthday. Further details to follow closer to the day. Please email her daughter Jess at mlle.audreyhorne@gmail.com to be added to the list of invitees.
Poem:
If you hanker for
a zenith of felicity
on the bed of the Divine
begin by dusting off
the wings of wonder
on your local pillow
Lift your ineffable
out of the mundane
Aim for airborne
with the eye of the heart
as your sky pilot
and soar to glory
~ James Broughton ~(Little Sermons of the Big Joy)
(WSB photo)
Police are investigating a robbery that happened a short time ago at the Lucky 5 ga station/mini-mart (35th/Henderson). Officers have told the dispatcher that witnesses say the robbers, wearing masks or bandanas, got away in a gray or tan SUV, possibly an early 2000s Toyota Camry, last seen eastbound on Henderson, with the passenger-side taillight turned out. The vehicle is believed to have four people inside.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A week and a half after Fauntleroy Church‘s sponsorship of Camp Second Chance was announced (WSB coverage here), the tiny-house encampment’s Community Advisory Committee met this afternoon.
Turnout was light as usual, and no major community concerns surface. The meeting yielded some updates, though:
SPONSOR UPDATES: Fauntleroy Church’s pastor Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski was at the meeting, telling the committee, “My church is really excited to enter into this important relationship” with the camp. She said the church has launched an Implementation Task Force to decide what sort of “programming” it can provide for the camp.
(Brother J44 and sister J53, photographed by Mark Sears, permit 21348)
J-Pod’s recent return to our part of Puget Sound might have you wondering – how are the Southern Resident Killer Whales doing? In a week and a half, The Whale Trail will present your chance to find out. The announcement:
Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring SRKW Research Updates by Dr. Brad Hanson”
When: Tuesday December 10, 7:00 – 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave. SW
Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.commThe southern resident orcas return to the central Sound each winter, following chum salmon runs. With just 73 individuals in the population, these endangered pods are nearing their historical low. What current research is underway, and how will it help protect J, K, and L pods?
Join us for the Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring updates from Dr. Brad Hanson, NWFSC Lead Killer Whale Researcher, and field researchers Mark and Maya Sears. TWT Director Donna Sandstrom will discuss the conclusion of Governor Inslee’s Task Force on SRKW Recovery, and actions you can take to protect the southern residents now.
Come early and get your holiday shopping done too! We’ll have great gifts for the whale fans on your list, including signed copies of Erich Hoyt’s newly released edition of Orca The Whale Called Killer.
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry – this will likely sell out!
About the Speaker
Brad Hanson joined the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in April of 2003. Previously, Brad worked as a Wildlife Biologist at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, WA. Brad received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington where he worked on the development of improved tag attachment systems for small cetaceans. He also holds an M.S. in Fisheries from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Zoology also from the University of Washington. Brad is an ecologist and is currently studying foraging and habitat use of Southern Resident killer whales and health assessment of harbor and Dall’s porpoises.
About The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is a series of sites to view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment.
Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many members of the team first met on the successful effort to return Springer, the orphaned orca, to her pod.
The Whale Trail was founded and is directed by Donna Sandstrom. Donna served as a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, registered in Washington State. Join us!
Here’s our coverage of The Whale Trail’s event back in September, featuring Erich Hoyt.
Reminder as the long holiday weekend wraps up: Seattle Parks invites you to a meeting tomorrow night (Monday, December 2nd) to talk about changes at Cottage Grove Playground as part of the Your Voice/Your Choice program – some new equipment, in addition to moving existing equipment. The meeting is set for 6:30 pm at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW); here’s our preview from two weeks ago.
Got a holiday wish to share with Santa Claus? Until 2 pm today, at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, visit Santa’s House, courtesy of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (with community co-sponsors including WSB).
Not only can you take a pic with Jolly St. Nick, free holiday face-painting is happening too. (added) That’s courtesy of Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor), with team members visiting from the nearby (4505 California SW) branch when we stopped by:
If you didn’t get to Santa’s House today – you have another chance, 11 am-2 pm December 15th. Looking for Santa sooner? See the list of local appearances in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Welcome to December! From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
PANCAKES WITH SEATTLE CIVIC DANCE THEATRE: This morning, you’re invited to the first Pancake Breakfast fundraiser for Seattle Civic Dance Theatre, 8:39-11 am at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, “serving pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice and coffee. Gluten-free pancakes will also be available.” (4736 40th SW)
SANTA’S TWO APPEARANCES:: Santa photos at CAPERS, 9 am-noon, DIY photos with $20 suggested donation benefiting West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW) … Also in The Junction, visit the Hometown Holidays Santa House, 11 am-2 pm, with free holiday face-painting. (California/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, see what’s fresh! (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students make and sell handmade wreaths during the West Seattle Farmers Market; all proceeds go to supporting outdoor education. (California/Alaska)
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR: Third day of the fair at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, 10 am-5 pm: “Local vendors and Native artists will be showcasing goods including wood carvings, beadwork, drums, prints, paintings, and more.” (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
BARTER YOUR HOMEMADE ITEMS: 1 pm-3 pm, Backyard Barter‘s mnnthly gathering is at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – explained here. (2306 42nd SW)
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Monthly meeting for updates, questions, comments about the tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle. 2 pm at the community room on the south side of Arrowhead Gardens. All welcome. (9220 2nd SW)
BURGUNDY PEARL TRIO: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), “strong harmony arrangements, (with) guitar and stand-up bass.” No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
PHISH TOUR LIVESTREAM: Watch it at Parliament Tavern, 4 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE THE FUTURE … by browsing the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar.
Spectators lined the shore by Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) tonight as the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship returned to West Seattle for a second night, with the downtown skyline providing a bright backdrop. Tonight The Dickens Carolers were on board – here are two of their songs:
Full schedule for the season includes stops around Lakes Washington and Union as well as Puget Sound; see it here. There’s one more West Seattle visit, too – next Saturday, 3:05 pm at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, after a 2 pm stop at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park.
The photo is from Khalid Agour of Itto’s Tapas, giving us a peek inside his close-to-opening High Point coffee shop Nos Nos. Our previous update was in September, and we’ve received many requests for an update, so we checked with him. Here’s the status of the shop at 35th/Graham:
We are very excited about Nos Nos opening in the High Point neighborhood to serve our community. Finally the buildout is done. We are now in the process of hiring and training baristas. We are shooting for mid-December. … We can’t wait to open our doors to you all!
Family and friends will gather December 9th to remember Elizabeth J. “Betty” Novotny. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing with the community:
Elizabeth J. Novotny
Feb. 24, 1914 – Nov. 26, 2019Betty passed away just 3 months short of her 106th birthday.
She was born in Chicago and lived in that area until she retired and moved to the Northwest. She lived in West Seattle for 43 years. She is preceded in death by her son Bob Seger and husband Joe Novotny. She is survived by her daughter Penny Mulligan, 8 grandchildren, a bunch of great-grandkids, and several great-great-grandkids.
She and Joe loved to camp and travel and she could paint a mean mountain scene. She was loved by all and will be missed by all. Special thanks go to the Daystar care givers who took such good care of her for 5+ years.
Funeral service will be December 9th, 11:00 am, at the Yarington Funeral Home.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
The report and photo are from Peter:
Last night my 1987 Toyota 4Runner was stolen from the front of my house near the intersection of Woodside and Myrtle. It is black with a black fabric top on the rear. WA plates BBC2458. A police report has been filed.
If you see it, call 911.
UPDATE: Peter reports it was found, abandoned in White Center.
You still have a few hours to be part of Small Business Saturday – we peeked in at three WSB sponsors in The Junction:
AGAIN & AGAIN/KID FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR (4832 California SW): Need to weatherproof your little one?
We found a rack full of those colorful coveralls, among many other types of kids’ items. (And if you’re looking for work, they told us they need help! Especially if you specialize in multitasking.)
MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS (4736 California SW): First holiday season in The Junction for this just-moved shop:
The spacious new space holds a variety of kid stuff for family shopping. And they’re having a SBS sale – 40 percent to 60 percent off select items/brands.
VAIN (4513 California SW): It’s not just a hair salon – it’s a boutique!
The SBS sale at VAIN is a discount on hair products. Keep watch for other shopping events throughout th season.
P.S. Come to The Junction tomorrow to visit Santa’s House on the south end of the Farmers’ Market, 11 am-2 pm – free holiday face-painting!!
High-school basketball begins! Chief Sealth vs. Vashon as afternoon-long, 8-team jamboree at Sealth starts. pic.twitter.com/8aqkTal6x0
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 30, 2019
1:53 PM: Ready for basketball? Chief Sealth International High School is hosting an eight-team jamboree through about 5 pm. We were there for the opening game this past hour, Sealth vs. Vashon Island HS. The Seahawks led most of the way, but Vashon tied it up in the late going and won 17-15 on a shot at the buzzer. Here’s the schedule (PDF) for the afternoon; Sealth plays again at 4:30 pm in the closing game, vs. Sultan HS.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Photos – above, Sealth #23, senior Sean Brown; below, Sealth #22, sophomore Taien Jackson:
Returning as head coach, Colin Slingsby:
Sealth’s first full game of the season is 7 pm Tuesday (December 3rd) at Garfield; their first home game is two weeks later, 7:30 pm December 17th vs. Ballard.
(WSB photo from 2018)
In the chilly almost-winter sunshine, here’s a reason to dream about spring: Registration time for Southwest Lacrosse Club (WSB sponsor)! Teams play a March-to-June season, with preseason practices starting in February – twice weekly, with games on Saturday, except for high-school-age players, whose practices and games are on weekdays. The girls’ program has 3rd/4th-grade and 5th/6th-grade teams; the boys’ program has 3rd/4th grade, 5th/6th grade, 7th/8th grade, and high school. Also, there’s a co-ed, non-contact, K-2 program on Sundays in April and May. You can register online at swlacrosseclub.org. The registration link for all ages is here; scholarships are available.
It’s back to business as usual at Duke’s on Alki today (2516 Alki SW) after repairs to a pipe that broke in subfreezing weather Friday morning. (That’s the situation that was logged as “major water job” on the SFD log, though their crews weren’t there for long.) Duke’s management contacted us this morning to get the word out that they have fixed the problem and are back open regular hours today, 11 am-11 pm.
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