West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
5:09 PM: Jill is hoping at least some of what burglar(s) stole from her garage might turn up:
Our garage got broken into Saturday night and they stole two Rad Power Bikes and tools. That we can get over, but we just discovered that they also stole all of our sentimental Christmas ornaments. I’m just sick about this.
Given that these aren’t of street value, I’m hoping they were dumped somewhere in West Sea. We think there are two Rubbermaid totes of ornaments (can’t recall the tote colors, maybe red, maybe clear?).
Our garage is located on the west side of 44th between Dakota and Genesee and our neighbor saw a White Escalade drive through the alley around 4 or 5 am. That’s unconfirmed as being a car of interest but the only thing we have.
If you find any tossed-aside totes of ornaments (or dumped bikes/tools, for that matter), let us know and we’ll connect you.
7:08 PM: Jill got the ornaments back! Bikes and tools, still out there.
With all that sunshine over the long holiday weekend, decoration season is on, so we’re again announcing our annual invitation to send photos and tips of notable displays around West Seattle, so we can share them with thousands of your neighbors here on WSB. But “notable” doesn’t just apply to homes with gobs of lights – are your decorations extra-creative, whimsical, unusual, unique, etc.? We’re interested in those too! Email is the best way to let us know – and if you don’t have an exact address, nearest intersection works too – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This year’s Seattle Public Safety Survey is open for just a few more days. Researchers from Seattle University hope to find out your primary safety concerns and convey them to SPD.
Here’s the direct link to the survey, with a-dropdown on that page offering a choice of 11 languages. The survey is open through Thursday, last day of the month.
P.S. Here are the results of last year’s citywide survey.
(2013 image via Seattle City Light)
More than a decade after the city started the process of selling off six former Seattle City Light substation sites in West Seattle, one of them is edging closer to a new use. City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s newest weekly newsletter previews committee consideration tomorrow for the 10,376-square-foot site on the southwest corner of 16th/Holden known as the former Dumar Substation:
(I)n my Public Safety and Human Service Committee we will be hearing legislation that:
-Approves transfer of the Dumar site from SCL to the Office of Housing (OH) in exchange for $424,000
-Authorizes OH to: Conduct a competitive process to solicit proposals for the development of resale restricted homeownership and negotiate property transfer to the selected developer
As Councilmember Herbold goes on to recap, the site is not considered suitable for rental housing, but instead was determined most likely to work for the type of “affordable homeownership” provided with units developed by organizations such as Homestead Community Land Trust or Habitat For Humanity. Here’s the summary from the slide deck that’s among the documents linked to the agenda for Tuesday’s committee meeting:
The inclusion of commercial space was the result of longtime community advocacy, as Highland Park is fairly short on supply of that, and the intersection includes businesses at two other corners (Fire Station 11 is on the third); the site was rezoned to Neighborhood Commercial in 2019 to ensure that. Tomorrow’s committee meeting, which includes an opportunity for public comment (either in person at City Hall or via phone, as explained on the agenda) starts at 9:30 am.
Thanks to Jay for the tip. Seattle Public Utilities crews are working on a water break in the 4700 block of 26th SW. More than 50 customers are affected, according to the SPU outage map.
1:15 PM: Jay says the water is back on. SPU tells us the leak was in an 8-inch cast iron distribution main but they don’t know what caused it.
(Seen on the Duwamish River, cormorant and seal – photo by Steve Bender)
Here’s the Monday lineup, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
CYBER MONDAY SALE AT LAUREN’S JEWELERS: All day today, buy online from Lauren’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) and get 10% off $100 minimum purchase, 20% off $500 minimum purchase, 30% off $1,000 minimum purchase (engagement rings not included in sale), until midnight PST.
=SALE AT FILIGREE & SHADOW HANDMADE FRAGRANCES (WSB sponsor): Continuing today, offering 15% off storewide, and online with code GOODTHINGS. Complimentary U.S. shipping, too.” Filigree & Shadow’s studio behind Canna West Culture Shop “is open by coincidence or appointment” – look for the sign on the sidewalk.
SALE CONTINUES AT THE BASS SHOP: The Bass Shop (WSB sponsor) continues its sale through today, online: 15% off all basses.
FOR VETERANS: If you need help filing a disability claim, the DAV offers free drop-in assistance 9 am-1 pm. (4857 Delridge Way SW)
PARK PROJECT UPDATES MEETING: Seattle Parks promises updates tonight on several much-watched West Seattle projects, from Hiawatha to Lincoln Park to The Junction and beyond. 6 pm, online. Links for sending advance questions and attending tonight are in the Parks announcement.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, this is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.
MONDAY MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three weekly events – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We’ve had several questions lately about whether See’s Candies will have another holiday pop-up in West Seattle. Not that we’re seeing/hearing – but you can get their candy while giving local students some help! We featured one fundraiser last week and today we have another – the Chief Sealth International High School Mock Trial team:
That’s a team photo from last spring, after another successful year. But the program has costs to cover, and you can help by buying from their See’s fundraiser:
All proceeds will go toward tournament registration, travel, and supply costs for the team.
There are two convenient ways to order:
1. Order through our online form at tinyurl.com/csmtchocolate for pickup at Chief Sealth [flier]
2. Order online for direct shipment from See’s at tinyurl.com/csisees23The last day to order is 12/1/23. Orders should be available for pickup by 12/13/23.
Chocolate not your thing? Donations are always welcome and can be made via Schoolpay at tinyurl.com/csmtdonate
Questions? Contact by email at RLNeil@seattleschools.org
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, November 27th; school’s back in session and government offices are reopening after the holiday weekend.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the 40s. Sunrise today is at 7:30 am; sunset, 4:22 pm.
(Sunday sunset/moonrise, photographed by Tom Trulin)
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – Back to regular service today.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
A teenager walking in south Admiral late this afternoon managed to get away from this drive-up confrontation described by his parent:
My teenage son was a victim of an attempted robbery (4:15/4:20 pm) in the intersection of SW Hinds Street and 42nd Ave SW. He was walking home and had just turned east on SW Hinds Street from California Ave SW, when a driver in a black Prius stopped in the intersection and rolled down their window. The driver asked him to walk up to their car. My son started to walk toward home and the driver then asked him if he was a “gang banger.” When my son didn’t respond, the driver then said “stop playing around, I’ll get out of the car and beat your a–.” My son started to walk away and the driver then asked him “what type of phone do you have.” Again my son did not respond. At this time a white car approached the intersection and my son tried to get them to roll down their window to ask for a ride/help. The driver of the car did not respond and at this point another car (red Mazda) approaches the intersection so our son walks up to that car. At the same time he was walking to the red car, the black Prius drives around the traffic circle and hits the white car from the side. The back passengers of the red Mazda opened their door, which allowed my son to get in and they drove away and were able to drop him off at our house a few blocks away.
After my son got into the red car, the black Prius backs up and then pulls forward to hit the white car again and then pulls out and continues driving south on 42nd Ave SW.
The driver of the black Prius was a black male, late teens/early 20s, wearing a gray hoodie and black ski mask (he was not wearing the ski mask at first but pulled it up over his face after he was done talking to my son). The front passenger was a black female, with black “puffy hair/afro like” hair, late teens/early 20s, wearing a black puffer jacket or hoodie? The back seat passenger was a mid-teens black male wearing a blue hoodie.
Police have been contacted by us, the driver of the red Mazda, and the white car. We have spoken to the police and have an incident # 23-340914. They believe these are the same people who have done attempted robberies/robberies in the neighborhood for the past few months. They say that they have guns on them.
We want to thank the driver and passengers in the red Mazda for getting our son home safely.
Reminder – tomorrow night (Monday, November 27) brings what Seattle Parks is calling a “West Seattle Park Project Updates” meeting, online at 6 pm. They’re promising to discuss not only the plan for pickleball courts in Lincoln Park but also the long-running Hiawatha Community Center closure, the even-longer-running Lincoln Park South Play Area closure, the future off-leash area, the landbanked West Seattle Junction park project, and more. All this will supposedly be addressed in the span of an hour; whether any real-time questions will be answered isn’t clear, but Parks’ original announcement suggested that if you have questions “you’d like answered at the meeting,” email them in advance to pks_info@seattle.gov. To get the link for tomorrow’s meeting, register here.
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
EMERALD WATER ANGLERS HIT AGAIN: The fly-fishing-focused shop at 4502 42nd SW in The Junction (WSB sponsor) is dealing with the aftermath of another crime. This time, says proprietor Dave McCoy, thieves dressed all in black swooped in, grabbed expensive jackets, and ran out. For now EWA is changing their open-door policy. The store is open (until 5 pm today), but you might have to knock.
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN MOTORCYCLE: Sent by Jillian:
Looks like a stolen Kawasaki motorcycle was stripped early yesterday morning and left at the Duwamish trailhead at 14th Ave SW and SW Holly. Still there this morning.
CAR PROWLERS: Seen by Todd in the 1100 block of Alki late last night after his barking dog alerted him – “I looked out into the darkness and saw a short-ish woman with a pit bull checking the doors on several parked cars in front of the condos….across the street was a taller man wearing a full mask watching her…when she came back across the street they seemed to notice that I was watching them and they did a quick walk the other direction then came back to an older black toyota tacoma pickup and took off in the direction of Alki Beach.”
Questions about senior living – whether for yourself or a family member? Get answers about multiple options during an event this Tuesday (November 28), 5-7 pm. at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor). Coordinators say multiple senior-living communities are participating as well as the hosts. Call to RSVP (or if you have questions about the event), 206-937-6122.
Four weeks until Christmas Eve, and your West Seattle tree sellers are now up and running, as noted in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. Above, that’s the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot, north side of the campus off 42nd SW between SW Dakota and SW Genesee. They’re open daily through December 16th, 4-9 pm weekdays, 9 am-9 pm weekends, and sent a few notes:
Wreaths and cedar garland are also for sale as well as Hope Lutheran’s beautiful poinsettias.
In addition to proceeds benefiting Holy Rosary School and Hope Lutheran (poinsettias only), two local charities will also receive a portion of the proceeds: Salvation Army Hickman House and West Seattle Food Bank. Let’s work together as a community and fill the shelves at the West Seattle Food Bank. Bring 5 Cans of Food, Receive $5 Off Your Purchase!
West Seattle’s northernmost tree lot also opened right after Thanksgiving, Trees By The Sea (2530 Alki Avenue SW), which also sent notes:
We have our amazing weekly fresh cut trees available =and will be open every day from then until we sell out. We also have wreaths, garland and products available from our honey company Shipwreck Apiaries.
Hours are:
Monday-Thursday – 12-7
Friday – 10-8
Saturday – 8-8
Sunday 8-7
Also: In the south end of West Seattle, Tony’s Market (35th/Barton) has made the annual transformation into a tree lot, and in the heart of the peninsula, West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) is stocked with trees, and offers delivery. We also noticed today that trees are available at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (open until 2 pm), from Three Tree Farms in Maple Valley. … Local hardware stores offer trees too: Junction True Value (44th/Edmunds), The Home Depot (Delridge/Orchard), and McLendon in White Center (16th/102nd).
Three years after we first reported on the art planned for the Pump Station 38 overhaul in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW, the work is complete, and artist Sarah Thompson Moore will be visiting to answer questions about it during a casual celebration. Seattle Public Utilities invites you to stop by between 10 am and noon next Saturday (December 2nd). The work spans the site from a cabinet to the walkway to new safety fencing, and was inspired by an old topographic map of the area. SPU says the pump-station work – mostly to increase its capacity – is finished too, but the newly planted area will remain taped off until sometime next month so it has a chance to get established.
(Photo by David Hutchinson from Christmas Ship’s Alki visit Saturday; our Friday report is here)
First a quick traffic reminder – if you are heading anywhere near downtown and North Seattle this morning, you might encounter Seattle Marathon street/highway closures – here’s a paywall-free regional-media roundup. Now today’s West Seattle events in two sections, starting with what’s in our Holiday Guide:
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE ART MARKET: Last day to buy from Native artists and crafters. 10 am-7 pm. Food vendors too. And there’s parking north of the Longhouse! (4705 West Marginal Way SW)
ELVES COTTAGE HOLIDAY PHOTOS: At Hoste (2332 California SW), 11 am-5 pm: “The Elves’ Cottage is a haven of festive cheer, inviting you to create memories that will be cherished for years to come. Dress your little ones in their festive best, bring along a favorite holiday toy, and prepare for a portrait session filled with smiles and joy! Spots are limited to one day, so be sure to reserve your session.”
BUY YOUR PANCAKE-BREAKFAST TICKETS! 10 am-2 pm, at the West Seattle Farmers Market‘s south end, look for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle booth, and buy your ticket(s) for their December 2nd pancake breakfast (which features Santa photo ops)!
TOYS FOR TOTS AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS MARKET: The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle also is accepting unwrapped-toy donations at its West Seattle Farmers’ Market booth, 10 am-2 pm today.
And now the rest of today’s lineup, mostly from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering fall fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor): This month’s topic, Lampedusa‘s “The Leopard.” All welcome.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for the West Seattle Holiday Guide? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Police are searching the Morgan Junction area for a suspect in a shoplift-turned-armed-robbery – the thief brandished a weapon – at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). The description so far is a white man in his mid-to-late 20s, 6′, medium build, shaved head, beard, neck tattoo, brown coat, blue jeans, with a gun in his waistband. He left with two cases of beer (Modelo and Corona), officers told dispatch, last seen southbound on foot – they’re not sure if he was headed for California or 42nd.
As we wrap up a day in which the main mantra was “shop local,” here are four reasons to “read local” – four books we’ve recently heard about, all the work of West Seattle writers and/or illustrators:
‘POETRY FOR PUPS’: By author Susan Seah and illustrator Morgan Boyle, this book is already an award-winner (Gold Medal from Literary Titan), and a reading for people AND dogs is planned next weekend, 3-5 pm Sunday, December 3, at Realfine Coffee (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW). The author, who plans to bring her “beagle muse” Koa to the reading, writes from this viewpoint: “Embracing the joys of being a dog mom for over two decades, her journey has been enriched with adventures, inspiration, and the unwavering devotion of her fur babies. Beyond her canine companions, Susan wears the hat of a corporate and technology lawyer, a vocation that stands alongside her dedication to empower women as the CEO and Founder of The Koa Club.” Copies of “Poetry for Pups“ will be available for purchase at next weekend’s event.
‘IT’S NOT (ALL) YOUR FAULT’: West Seattle author Sharon Podobnik recently launched her first book, described as …
… a deeply personal nonfiction exposé on the self-help industry from an insider’s perspective. Rather than being a self-help book in the traditional sense, it is a self-conscious self-help book that reveals the tactics that the industry uses while demonstrating exactly how they work. The book is incredibly approachable, while proving that well-being depends on solidarity, not self-optimization.
Sharon is the founder of The Center for Conscious Leadership, “which seeks to co-create a more peaceful, just, and equitable world.” She recently read from “It’s Not (All) Your Fault“ at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor).
‘BROOMS’: The illustrator of this graphic novel, written by Jasmine Walls, is Teo Duvall, a member of the team at Highland Park Corner Store, which held a launch party earlier this fall. Teo explains that “Brooms“ is about “six young witches of color in an alternate history 1930s Mississippi. In order to raise money for better lives, they participate in illegal backwoods broom racing. It’s a story about friendship, magic and overcoming the odds with lots of joy and love.” You can see an excerpt here. “Brooms” has been acclaimed for a variety of reasons including its inclusion of people living with disabilities.
To buy “Brooms” locally, check Pegasus Book Exchange and (of course) Highland Park Corner Store.
“ALWAYS CARRY YOUR SCYTHE”:
Pip Paisley recently published Always Carry Your Scythe, describing the book as “a humorous, contemporary fantasy set in Seattle (that) features a diverse cast of living and alternative-living beings in all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations.” Pip has been leaving copies of “Always Carry Your Scythe” in (Little) Free Libraries around West Seattle, and whether you encounter the book that way or by buying it, Pip has an offer: “If anyone reads the book and leaves a review on Amazon, drop me a note at pippaisley@gmail.com and I’ll happily send over a Always Carry Your Scythe mug.”
(Photo by Kersti Muul)
Over the past decade. readers have sent occasional photos of a multicolored bird we quickly learned was a Golden Pheasant. (For example: 2013, 2019.) Most likely not all the same one, as their lifespan isn’t quite that long. Most recently, the one shown above was hanging around Arbor Heights. Kersti Muul sent a sad update about it today:
I leaned yesterday that the golden pheasant was found off 106th and (Marine View Drive) with head trauma and euthanized at Urban Animal. I matched it to one in Arbor Heights that (a) woman had contacted me about. We were monitoring it in her yard. Found very close to her house.
Kersti said several people had suggested she “rescue” it in the past year, but it was clearly not in distress and was “very active and alert,” so there was no reason to do so. “He had a good free life for a long while. Rest well, beautiful one.”
From Stewart L.:
Walking today (on Harbor Avenue) I found an unlabeled box containing a Disney item that’s brand new. I suspect this has been stolen based on where it was found. If you are missing a Disney-themed gift, please reach out with a description and I will be happy to reunite you with it.
Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com and we’ll forward to Stewart.
Start checking your cupboards and closets now for anything you might be able to donate to the Caudle family’s annual drive-up food/coat drive next Saturday – 10 am-3 pm December 2nd! This is the fourth year that the Caudles (Leah, Tim, Atticus, and Dominic) have organized the drive held in the lot behind Hope Lutheran Church/School (enter off SW Oregon, just east of 42nd SW).
Coat donations should be new or “gently used,” all sizes. For food donations, here’s more information on what’s most helpful for WSFB and the people they help.
If you sing, this is a unique way to use your voice and presence. The South Seattle Threshold Singers asked us to share this announcement as they invite new members:
We are a chapter of Threshold Choir, a nationally known nonprofit network of a cappella choirs whose members volunteer to sing in small groups at the bedsides of those who are at end-of-life.
We invite you to visit the Threshold Choir website at thresholdchoir.org, and our chapter website at thresholdchoir.org/southseattle to learn more about us.
We welcome people who can carry a tune, hold their own part and blend with others in a small group, communicate kindness with their voice, offer a loving presence to those who are dying, and share deeply with other chapter members. The time commitment is an average of ten hours a month.
If this is of potential interest to you, please contact us at sseattlethreshold@gmail.com and we will send you more information.
Thanks to the crew at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the photo. Santa is on two wheels today instead of riding in the reindeer-drawn sleigh. You can stop by the shop for a photo with Santa on the classic tandem bike until 3 pm today. While you’re there, check out the Small Biz Saturday sale on bikes and gear (and find out about the AB&B layaway plan).
P.S. As published Friday, here’s our list of all the West Seattle Santa photo ops listed in our Holiday Guide so far!
Thanks for the photos! Above, Rick Dolezal sent that view with the observation, “Weather watching on Beach Drive is always awesome. This weather phenomenon occurred this morning over the water across from Emma Schmitz Overlook.” Below, Darlene Allen photographed “interesting fog”:
And earlier, from Constellation Park, Pelicans photographed fog flowing over the ridge:
Bonus close-up view: “Spider art” seen by Rosalie Miller:
Thanks as always to everyone who sends photos, from weather views to breaking news (and it’s just about time for Christmas lights, too!) – best way is email, westseattleblog@gmail.com, but text works too, particularly when it’s urgent – 206-293-6302.
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