Reader report: Windblown holiday ‘duck-oration’ rescued
The big blast of wind isn’t expected until tomorrow. But we got a preview late this morning – strong gusts that among other things caused a “duck” to fly the coop. Patricia shares the story and photos:
My wife and I have a large rubber-duck collection and recently discovered an inflatable for Christmas – a rubber duck with a Santa cap. Only thing was that there was only 1 in Washington, in Puyallup. I drove down the next day to adopt it and proudly display in our yard.
Today, with the high winds, I heard a loud noise and discovered the duck was gone!!!! Had someone stolen it???
After a quick search I saw yellow through the houses. The duck had flown the coop, over our house and into the trees on our slope!! I couldn’t reach it and it was tangled in the trees. Then I noticed it… a utility truck with a cherry picker was just up the street. I scooted over to the nice gentleman and asked him the strangest question.. “Can you help me get my duck out of the trees?”
The nice man was Sean, and he turned his truck around and lined it up to the swinging duck.
In moments he had plucked it from the tangled branches and returned it to the safety of the ground. I made repeated attempts at a tip, but he wouldn’t take it, saying it was his pleasure to help.
Sean, thank you for your help in saving our runaway duck!
Patricia Throop and Angela Bennett
Be sure to get YOUR ducks in a row, to be ready for tomorrow, when the High Wind Watch will be in effect, with possible gusts to 65 mph.
Ready to roll! First-ever bout Saturday for new local roller-derby league Southside Revolution
(Photo courtesy Southside Revolution)
After months of recruiting and training – maybe you saw them at West Seattle Summer Fest! – the new co-ed junior roller-derby league Southside Revolution hosts its first bout this Saturday at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. From the announcement:
Since the league was initially created in August, 2014, Southside Revolution has been recruiting and training for the last 4 months. The league consists of 2 teams: The Cadets are a team of girls and boys ages 8-12, playing positional-only roller derby. The Rebels is a team of girls ages 11-17, playing full-contact roller derby. Southside Revolution is a member of the Northwest division of the JRDA Junior Roller Derby Association.
For the December 13th bout, Southside Revolution’s positional and full-contact teams will take on NWO Junior Roller Derby teams from Chilliwack, BC. Doors open at 5:15. Bout 1 starts at 5:45 with Southside Revolution Cadets vs. NWO TNT. Bout 2 starts at about 7:10 with Southside Revolution Rebels vs. NWO Honey Badgers. Tickets are available at the door the day of the bout.
The rink is at 9646 17th SW, less than a block south of Roxbury.
West Seattle Wednesday: Meet up; sing out; bingo; more!
(WSB photos: High tide this morning at Alki. No flooding, just high water)
Here are the highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
GET OUT OF THE (HOME) OFFICE! Go meet your fellow independent workers at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – noon-1 pm, it’s the weekly, free co-working/home-office meetup. (6040 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE SINGING GROUP: Just go sing! All are welcome at this monthly event at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 5 pm.
FREE COMMUNITY STAIR CLINIC: 6:30-8 pm at Alki X-Gym (WSB sponsor): “Join PJ Glassey as he gives his insider knowledge about the success he’s gained through stair climbing,” especially helpful if you’re training for the Big Climb Seattle or similar events. Check ASAP to see if there are any spots left – e-mail PJ at pjxgym@gmail.com. (3213 Harbor SW)
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ HOLIDAY PARTY: In place of the regular monthly meeting, it’s a time to celebrate, for members and their families/guests. 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy; details on the group’s website. (9131 California SW)
BOOZE, JINGLE BALLS, AND BINGO – BENEFIT! Drag bingo for charity, 7 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (6451 California SW)
‘JUDY’S SCARY LITTLE CHRISTMAS’: Holiday production continues tonight at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 7:30 pm. Buy tickets online here. (4711 California SW)
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday before the storm
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Relatively calm weather right now – which is expected to change later – and nothing out of the ordinary reported on the roads/paths in our area, so far.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: In the latest update on the Viaduct/tunnel project and concerns about “settling,” WSDOT reported that the tunnel contractor was expected to dig a few more feet – probably until sometime today – before stopping to evaluate and decide what to do next. … Lots of info at last night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting (as you know if you follow WSB on Twitter) – watch for full reports later today …
7:34 AM: The “low bridge” is closed, SDOT has tweeted (you can check the lower-right image above to see when it reopens). Progress toward earlier warning of impending closures is part of what emerged at last night’s WSTC meeting – right now, SDOT basically can only tweet when the opening (for marine traffic) is happening.
REMINDER – FINAL DAY OF BIG POUR: Watch out for big truck traffic again today headed to and from the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Project at Lowman Beach. We checked with King County Wastewater Treatment’s Doug Marsano late Tuesday and he confirmed the pour would wrap up today.
West Seattle Crime Watch: Why it’s a good idea to check your plates! And 2 other reader reports
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
Stephanie reports a stolen car:
Stolen 1998 Honda CRV. Stolen on Dec. 2nd from the 1100 block of SW Holden Ave. Stolen CRV has the following feature/options: Roof rack, tinted windows, 5 spd manual transmission, rear mounted spare tire. WA State Lic. Plate 370YKH
Amy reports an attempted burglary in Sunrise Heights/Gatewood:
Someone attempted to break into my apartment at 35th Ave SW and SW Webster St today. When I came home my apartment key wouldn’t work and I had to call a locksmith. The locksmith said that someone had attempted to jimmy the locks but couldn’t get past the deadbolt.
The type of theft you might not notice happened to Katie:
I live down on Beach Drive around Mee Kwa Mooks Park and I had my plates stolen and replaced last week. Through strange twists and turns, my plates were recovered by the Tukwila Police Department and the plates that were nicely put on my car were also stolen from a silver 2002 Honda from West Seattle. The really nice SPD officer who (responded) said they have seen more and more of these types of theft. He said when the thieves switch plates it buys them time since most people don’t check their plates very often (sometimes only once a year to change their tabs).
So just a heads up to your readers to check their plates! The Seattle PD has been investigating more and more of these and say if you discover your plates are incorrect to stop driving and immediately call the non-emergency line for help.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Alerts for possible flooding, wind
The newest round of weather alerts is out, and they start with another “coastal flooding advisory” for tomorrow morning, upgrading to a “coastal flood watch” Wednesday night/Thursday morning. This time, the tide is expected to be about a half-foot higher than today, which means more than half a foot past the level where “minor flooding” can happen. This morning, it was about 13.6 feet, but in the absence of strong wind, Alki and vicinity didn’t look anything like a week and a half ago. Tomorrow, though, it’s projected at about 14 feet around 8 am, and then on Thursday around 9 am, 14.5 feet, possibly with a “storm surge.”
Even if you’re not right on the water, take note of a “high wind watch” announced for Thursday, 4 am to 10 pm, with south-to-southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph, possibly gusting to 65 mph. More rain is on the way, too, according to the forecast.
Tunnel-project update: Still digging ‘access pit’ – for at least 1 more day
(Access-pit camera’s image from 3:20 pm today)
Again today, with the stalled Highway 99 tunnel project under the microscope more than ever before, WSDOT has just published a new update. This time, they’re clarifying the status of the access-pit dig intended to get to the tunneling machine’s cutter head:
Excavation continues on the circular pit (pdf 2.5 Mb) that will be used to access and repair the SR 99 tunneling machine. Seattle Tunnel Partners’ engineers have determined that continuing excavation to 84 feet, an additional 3 feet from the current depth, will not affect when and how the dewatering wells could be turned off. We anticipate excavation to this elevation will take approximately one day, at which time STP will inspect the shaft walls per their quality assurance procedures. Once they reach 84 feet, STP will review survey data and consult with their engineers and WSDOT prior to determining next steps. …
The update (which you can see in its entirety here) also mentions that work continues on the crane intended to lift the damaged machinery from the pit, and on the 1,000 feet of tunnel dug before the machine stopped work one year ago. The latter two points were also reviewed at the project stakeholders’ meeting we covered one week ago downtown, just a few days before WSDOT disclosed last Friday the “settling” that was causing concern, following up with a Sunday update, and then a City Council briefing yesterday.
West Seattle Holiday Guide 2014: Still adding events/info!
We’re still updating the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide daily/nightly, removing the events that have already happened, adding new ones that come in, so we wanted to extend another invitation: If you have an open house, holiday party, bazaar, worship service(s), concert, etc. coming up in West Seattle/White Center/South Park between now and New Year’s, and it’s not in our guide yet, but you’d like to invite the community, please send info ASAP! We do NOT require (or even need) posters/graphics/full news releases – just a line or two about what it is, when it is, where it is, and (if applicable) a web or social-media link. The best way to reach us is via e-mail, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Blue Angels’ official announcement: Back for 2 more years
(August 2014 photo by JayDee)
Love ’em or not, they’re coming back for at least two more years. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will return to Seafair in 2015 and 2016, they formally announced today at the International Council of Air Shows’ convention in Las Vegas. In case you want to mark your calendars to be sure you’re here or away, depending on your preference, Seafair says the dates will be Friday, July 31, through Sunday, August 2nd, in 2015, and Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7, in 2016. Though their official performance venue is “over Lake Washington,” they take off from and land at Boeing Field just east of West Seattle, with the runwayside Museum of Flight as their Seafair base, so they’re often top of mind (and ears) while here.
FYI from SPD: Sex offender moves returns to Arbor Heights
Every so often, Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Mark Solomon sends an advisory about sex offenders moving into this area. He’s just sent this:
In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about a level 3 sex offender that moved into Southwest Precinct neighborhoods in recent weeks.
· Daniel Richard, a 59 year-old White male, is a level 3 sex offender who has recently moved to the 10400 Block of California Avenue Southwest. Mr. Richard is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision. (Editor’s note: You can see his photo and more information here.)
Detective Fields from the Seattle Police Department’s Sex Offender Detail is assigned to check on (him) and verify their information.
To learn more about offenders and to see photos, please visit the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website … You will also find personal safety tips and resources on this site.
If you have further questions about this offender, contact Michelle McRae of the Seattle Police Sex Offender Detail at (206) 684-5581 or e-mail at michelle.mcrae@seattle.gov.
To register to receive an email alert whenever a published offender registers within one mile of your desired addresses, go to (this) link.
Click ahead to read general safety information that Solomon has shared with similar advisories in the past:Read More
Use the off-leash area at Westcrest Park? This is for you
If you use the off-leash area at Westcrest Park – West Seattle’s only official public off-leash area – can you spare a few minutes for a survey? It’s part of a project that’s just getting going with a $7,500 grant from King County Wastewater Treatment meant to help manage the off-leash area’s runoff problem, with water coming down the slope from the covered-reservoir area. A much-larger amount is being sought via grants, sponsorships, and private donations to pay for general improvements to the park, in partnership with Seattle Parks, King County, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Animal Shelter and COLA (Citizens for Off-Leash Areas). The survey is collecting opinions on what improvements you’d like to see at Westcrest. Answer ASAP; they’re planning to report results next month.
West Seattle Tuesday: Seahawks’ Malcolm Smith @ Thriftway; WSTC talks RapidRide rerouting; more
(Yellow-rumped warbler, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and WS Holiday Guide, highlights for the day/night ahead:
CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: The meeting that’s under way right now (viewable via Seattle Channel, online or cable) is scheduled to include a review of last June 10’s Highway 99 closure and what was learned from it – see the agenda for document links; that review is scheduled to start around 10:30 am.
TEEN PROGRAM SHOWCASE: 4:30-6:30 pm, the youth at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center are showing off what they’ve been working on this semester; you’re invited to drop in to see! (6400 Sylvan Way)
MVP MALCOLM SMITH AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Seahawks fans, come meet Malcolm Smith, Super Bowl MVP, 6-8 pm! West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) tells us he’ll be signing posters that’ll be provided at the event. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with two major agenda topics – first, what’s the transportation plan for West Seattle in case of emergency that cuts off the regular routes? And second, another chance to offer your thoughts on the proposed rerouting of RapidRide C Line in The Junction, up California between Edmunds and Alaska instead of its westward jog to 44th SW. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
NIGHTLIFE, NIGHTLIFE, NIGHTLIFE – Tuesday’s a busy night for regular events – see the calendar for venues/listings!
Meet the new 2015 West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court!
Congratulations to the new West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court, coronated Monday night at Admiral Congregational Church. They are Queen Emily Cain (center) and Princesses Emma Maffeo (left) and Audrey Kline. They will succeed the 2014 Junior Court, Queen Bianca Carufel and Princesses Sadie Botuchis and Callie McFadden, with them in our photo below:
Admiral Church, where Hi-Yu members and volunteers gathered along with family members, is the organization’s new regular meeting place.
The next meeting will focus on designs/themes for 2015 Hi-Yu. Everyone’s welcome and volunteers are very much appreciated – watch westseattlehiyu.com and the Hi-Yu Facebook page for meeting and event info.
P.S. Next gig for Hi-Yu – they’ll be at West Seattle Windermere in The Junction this Thursday night (December 11) for the holiday edition of West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm. You can buy one of their blown-glass fundraising ornaments there, too!
High-school basketball: West Seattle HS girls win first home game
Victory tonight for West Seattle High School‘s girls-varsity basketball team in their first home game of the season, 72-19 over visiting Kennedy Catholic HS. In the photo above, #4 is Lydia Giomi, the Wildcats’ top scorer for the night, with 16 points. Tied for second with 12 points each were Gabby Sarver and Emily Fiso.
Next opponent for the WSHS girls – coached by Sonya Elliott and assistants Ashley Ioane and Karyn Golgart – is Nathan Hale, also at home, 7:30 pm Wednesday (after the 5:45 JV game); the Wildcat boys play Hale at home tomorrow, same start times.
West Seattle holidays: Christmas Ship celebration Saturday
(WSB photo from Christmas Ship’s 2012 West Seattle visit)
On Saturday night, as listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, the Christmas Ship makes its first two West Seattle stops – and at the second one, you’ll have extra reasons to celebrate on shore. Alki Community Center recreation-program coordinator Marc Hoffman shares the details:
On Saturday, December 13 the Seattle Parks Department and Advisory Councils of the Southwest Geo district are proud to host the annual Argosy Christmas Ship arrival at Alki Beach. Music, cookies, and hot drinks will be served at the Alki Bathhouse. Music is provided by the Endolyne Children’s Choir and Hope Lutheran Church Choir. The music starts at 4 pm and the ship arrives at 5:10 pm and will perform for 20 minutes. After the ship departs, live music continues in the Bathhouse until 6 pm. Coffee is donated by Tully’s Coffee. The entire event is free to the public. See you there!
Saturday night’s first stop for the Christmas Ship and its floating entourage will be Lowman Beach, 4:20-4:40 pm (note that access and parking are different than years past because of the construction across the street); the Dickens Carolers will be on board for that stop as well as Alki.
West Seattle Weather Watch: Lots of rain ahead; wind possible too
5:14 PM: The National Weather Service has just published a “special weather statement” alert that warns of major rain in the next few days – leading to a landslide threat if you’re on a slope/bluff – and possibly strong wind on Thursday. See the alert’s full text here.
7:59 PM: Lura points out that people near the water will want to take note of the “coastal-flooding advisory” for Tuesday morning, too. The stormy weather will compound the already-high high tide forecast for 7:22 am (12.2 feet) to 13.6 feet, which is just above the “minor coastal overflow” threshold, as noted in the text of the alert.
As-it-happened: City Council briefed on Alaskan Way Viaduct settling
(TOPLINES: State insists Viaduct safe. Council wants to know specifics of what would make it unsafe. State says it’s up to tunnel contractor to figure out what happens next)
(Screengrab substituted for video window after meeting; will add archived video when available)
2:47 PM: The City Council regularly gets briefed on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, but with the disclosures of the past few days, the meeting under way now takes on extra weight. Watch in the video window above (click “play” for the live stream); we’ll note key points as it goes.
Regarding the “settling,” WSDOT officials say it does seem to have coincided with the “dewatering” process, which they explain involves a series of wells, to reduce the pressure as the contractor dug further down toward 120 feet in depth. This new settling, it’s explained, was detected by a wider swing in the survey area revealing “deep benchmarks” had settled – where they weren’t supposed to. “Local” settling is what they WERE expecting. But adding that to the “deep benchmark” settling, they came up with the inch of settling reported last Friday.
**AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE CONTINUES AFTER THE JUMP** Read More
Skies Over West Seattle, December 2014: Meteors, solstice soon
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ever wish for advance alert of an upcoming meteor shower/eclipse/etc. – and/or wonder “What’s that bright ‘star’ up there?” This should help. It’s our periodic feature by West Seattle’s own Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen, famed for her solstice/equinox sunset watches, among other things.
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
Watch for the Geminid meteor shower, Mars, Jupiter, Orion, and Saturn this month. The winter solstice happens this month, though our closest approach to the Sun and our latest sunrise both happen in early January.
I’ve also included things you can look for if you’re out watching the Christmas Ships next weekend or any other clear evening we happen to get, such as after the solstice Sunset Watch on Sunday, December 21st.
Read More
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