West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Added: SDOT image)
1:52 PM: Thanks for the tip. Avoid 35th north of Fauntleroy for a while – a crash is blocking, No serious injuries, so no SFD dispatch, but SPD is there.
2:52 PM: SDOT says the scene has cleared.
The video is courtesy of Rob in Upper Fauntleroy, who noted, “We had some cat-coyote drama this morning, which we caught on camera. Though in this case, it was the cat chasing the coyote.”
Looking ahead to New Year’s Eve, one week from Wednesday, Metro and various other transit agencies/services are going fare-free. Here’s the announcement:
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Pierce Transit and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their holiday celebrations.
“Leaving the driving to us is becoming as great a New Year’s tradition as celebrating at the Space Needle,” said Executive Zahilay. “No matter where you plan to ring in the new year, you have access to free transit options to get you there!”
Regional transit agencies will operate on specific schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve and riders are encouraged to check times beforehand.
The free Metro rides will continue until 3 am New Year’s morning. Details are here, including information on this week’s transit schedules too (as noted in our morning traffic roundup, Metro is on a Sunday schedule for Christmas Day and the Water Taxi won’t run that day).
(Not all Christmas trees are evergreens! Seen in Gatewood)
Notes from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: Bring donations of warm clothing to the bin at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (3435 California SW; WSB sponsor), 9 am-5 pm again today.
COOKIES FOR THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE: Drop off homemade (no store-bought, please) cookies at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor) 10 am-4 pm.
OTHER DONATION DRIVES … are listed in our Holiday Guide.
FAUNTLEROY FESTIVAL OF TREES: The Fauntleroy Church Festival of Trees is open for public drop-in viewing, 9 am-noon Mondays through Wednesdays this week and next. You can vote for your favorite(s) by bringing nonperishable food-bank donation(s) to stack beneath it/them! (9140 California SW)
HOLIDAY MUSIC: Alex Baird plays while you shop at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan), 10 am-1 pm.
LIBRARY EVENTS: Nothing on the event calendar for local branches today, though they’re open regular hours today and Tuesday before systemwide holiday closure Wednesday and Thursday.
MOON ROOM OPEN FOR SHOPPING: Still have gifts to buy? Check out the Moon Room (5902 California SW; WSB sponsor), open 11 am-6 pm today, tomorrow, and Wednesday!
SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: See Santa at the grocery store! 1:30-4:30 pm. (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor)
AVAMERE COMMUNITY HOLIDAY PARTY: Stop by Avamere/Park West for a variety of tasty, fun holiday activities, 2-5 pm, all welcome. (1703 California SW)
EUROPEAN WINE TASTING: 4 pm, second of three tastings at West Seattle Cellars, Spanish wine tonight. (6026 California SW)
SPORTS: Nothing locally on the Metro League calendar for today/tonight.
SIGNMAKING: 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Admiral HUB (4320 SW Hill), help West Seattle Indivisible make signs for January 24’s “We’re Still Standing” demonstrations.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group for people experiencing grief – participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; RSVP here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia tonight! … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
ALKI MEDITATION, TAKING A BREAK: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is canceled this week and next, resuming January 5.
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players – enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks as always to everybody who sends info for our calendar and Holiday Guide; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather in February in memory of Bobbie Daquiz, and are sharing this remembrance with the community now:
Azucena (“Bobbie”) Bagasan Daquiz
1931-2025Days following her 94th birthday celebration, “Bobbie” passed away peacefully at home on December 15, 2025.
“Bobbie” Azucena B. Daquiz was born on December 7, 1931 to Dionisio and Potenciana Bagasan as their third child of five children in the Philippines. She married Querubin “Ben” Daquiz in 1967 and celebrated 56 years of marriage before his passing in 2023.They are survived by their four children: Marichelle, Jennifer (Kevin), Jocelyn (Eric), and Joseph.
Bobbie graduated with honors throughout primary, secondary and earned her Masters from the University of the East, where she later taught English/Tagalog as a professor for 19 years before moving to the United
States in 1976.Bobbie was, above all else, a teacher at heart. For over 25 years, she shared the Tagalog language and the richness of Filipino culture with her students at the University of Washington Experimental College. Her dedication extended to the youngest among us at Fauntleroy Children’s Center (FCC). From the Cloud Room to the Rainbow Room, she was known simply and affectionately as “My Bobbie,” a testament to the love she poured into every child.
A pianist at a young age, Bobbie delighted in sharing her musical gifts with others. She taught music at FCC and welcomed many into her home for private piano lessons. As a reward for their hard work and dedication, Bobbie
granted students the privilege to play on her beloved grand piano. Nothing made her radiate with more pride than her students’ performances. She took great joy in showcasing their progression at the annual Spring Recital at Sherman Clay Piano Hall in Seattle.Bobbie and Ben shared a life full of adventure, raising their children across the globe, and fostered a deep love for travel. Hawaii held a particularly special place in their hearts as a favorite annual getaway. Closer to home, she found peace in the simple beauty of a walk, whether along Alki, Lake Washington, Camano Island, or the beaches of
Oceanside and Carlsbad, California.Bobbie was a devout Catholic. She prayed the rosary several times a day, practiced daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and attended Sunday Mass at St. James Cathedral for decades.
A Catholic funeral mass service is scheduled for 12:10 pm on February 6, 2026 at St. James Cathedral, Seattle. Livestream and recording will be available for those who cannot attend in person. In lieu of flowers, she’d want you to reach out to your loved ones daily.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, December 22, 2025, first full day of winter.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast suggests a morning break in the rain, still soggy otherwise, high in the upper 40s. Sunrise will be at 7:55 am; sunset at 4:21 pm. (Though the days are now getting longer, sunrise hasn’t hit its latest point yet – on Saturday it will be at 7:57 am, and there it will stay until moving back starting January 6.)
SCHOOL’S OUT
It’s winter break.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule. No service on Thursday (Christmas Day).
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route is still on two boats, and will be on a weekend schedule Thursday, according to WSF’s alerts page. When you’re waiting to get onboard, Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Metro buses – They’re on the regular weekday schedule and routes in our area. On Thursday, they’ll be on the Sunday schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
(WSB photo/video by Torin Record-Sand)
As also reported here, two concurrent menorah-lighting gatherings in West Seattle marked the start of Hanukkah’s eighth and final night tonight. At Junction Plaza Park, Kol HaNeshamah‘s “pop-up Hanukkah” was also attended, said Rabbi Allison Flash, by members of Alki UCC, whose building is shared by the congregations. Here’s what she told the gathering as she lit the menorah and Orin Reynolds led singing:
Hanukkah officially ends at nightfall Monday.
(Photos by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)
Two concurrent menorah-lighting gatherings in West Seattle marked the start of Hanukkah’s eighth and final night tonight. At Alki Beach, the West Seattle Torah Learning Center‘s Rabbi Eli Duban lit the giant menorah, after leading those gathered in a moment of silence for victims of the Bondi Beach massacre:
After that somber start, there was also celebration, as donuts and dreidels were circulated among the crowd.
The gathering was somewhat briefer than in previous years, due to rain and wind.
Some of the greater Admiral area’s most brightly decorated homes might have noticed a large group of visitors on foot tonight: The annual West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) Christmas Lights Run left the shop at 2743 California SW just after 5 pm. First, of course, the traditional group shot – here are the 30+ people who defied the rain (as runners tend to do) to take part:
Here’s the 5K-ish route that WSR proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell mapped out:
Tonight’s runners also were offered the chance to try out new Brooks shoes – one of many “demo runs” that WSR does during the course of its regular free multiple-times-a-week group runs. Also of note – you have two more days to shop WSR before Christmas, regular hours Monday and Tuesday, then they’ll be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
For tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight, thanks to Stacy for sending the pic and description:
Walked by an amazingly well done Griswold-level house with a Disney theme last night. Highly recommended checking it out!
This is in the 3400 block of 48th SW, a short distance west of Madison Middle School. Now just three nights until Christmas; if you have lights to recommend, with or without a photo, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (To see what we’ve show already, scroll here.)
It’s a café, it’s a concert venue … and it’s even a backdrop for Santa photos. Tonight is the jolly occasion when the north side of Easy Street Records‘ space in The Junction hosts photo ops with Cocoa Cris Cringle.
You still have an hour to get down to Easy Street and get a pic during “foto fun” with Cocoa Cris – hats and props available, as seen with this group:
It’s an annual tradition, with a $25 fee that Cocoa Cris gives to nonprofits.
SIDE NOTE: We’ve kept a Santa-appearance list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide all season – but Santa has to get back to the North Pole, so just two more left, 1:30-4:30 pm Monday and 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor).
3:50 PM: Winter has arrived with true Seattle wintry weather – rain. Nevertheless, Alice Enevoldsen is at Solstice Park for her quarterly sunset watch, despite the sun being highly unlikely to make even a brief appearance this time. So if you want to commemorate the change of seasons and learn about the solar-system machinations behind it, come on over to the park’s plateau, uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW. (The sun sets – out there beyond the clouds somewhere – behind the trees and mountains around 4:05, officially at 4:20 pm.)
4:10 PM: More than two dozen people showed up!
4:26 PM: Among the questions Alice has been asked, how much more light do we get today now that the days are getting longer? Less than a minute, Alice explained. Meantime – the rain has stopped!
P.S. Alice calculates this was her 67th sunset watch. Our archived coverage of them dates back to 2009!
(WSB photo of Rachel Porter at November light-rail forum)
Congratulations to West Seattle Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Porter, honored by the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in its 2025 list of “Forty Under 40,” which is explained by the organization:
This annual recognition program showcases 40 of the industry’s top emerging leaders who have demonstrated success in their careers and made significant contributions to the communities they serve. The list includes CEOs and staff professionals from a wide variety of roles and chamber sizes. Honored for their creativity, dedication and commitment to identifying innovative solutions that will help shape the future of the chamber profession.
The announcement of Porter’s honor also notes:
ACCE has over 1,600 chambers of commerce and related business and economic development organizations
as members, representing more than 9,000 professionals in the industry. Eligible chamber professionals must be nominated by their chamber’s president/CEO, direct supervisor or board chair. Candidates must demonstrate meaningful involvement in the advancement of their community and proven professional success within their chamber.
The full list of honorees is here. Porter has been executive director of the WS Chamber since summer 2023.
(Photo sent by Karl Sutter)
10:56 AM: Also happening today – the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is back at their usual spot at the south end of the WS Farmers’ Market, today collecting nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. You can drop off donations at their booth at California/Alaska (by Easy Street Records) until 2 pm. Here’s a list of what they need most.
(Photo sent by Denis Sapiro)
2:11 PM: We stopped by the booth while at the market and learned from Kiwanian Denis Sapiro that they’d received a ukulele serenade – above, he sent the pictorial proof. If you missed this chance to donate to the food bank, some local businesses – including nearby Fitness Together (upstairs at 4546 California SW; WSB sponsor) – are still collecting food donations (see the list in our Holiday Guide), and you can send a monetary contribution to the WSFB online.
(Soggy Steller’s Jay, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
We’re bringing you today’s highlights in two lists again -.. first part, the holiday-related highlights, from both our West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, including Winter Solstice events:
SELFIES WITH SANTA: 8:30 am-11 am, your last chance for a DIY photo with Santa at CAPERS Home (4525 California SW; WSB sponsor), donation requested for the West Seattle Food Bank.
206 MAKERS’ MARKET AT JET CITY LABS: Find multiple creators/vendors at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), vendors with ceramics, textiles, baked goods, more. 10 am-2 pm.
SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: See Santa at the grocery store! 10 am-1 pm. (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor)
WINTER SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH: Join Alice Enevoldsen for the quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch at Solstice Park. 3:45 pm-4:45 pm. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, uphill from the tennis courts)
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH CONCERT & FESTIVAL OF TREES: Christmas concert at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 4 pm with reception afterward to see the Festival of Trees (bring nonperishable food donations to “vote”), details here.
COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: Easy Street Records‘ annual photo visit from Cocoa Cris Cringle is set for 4:30-8 pm. Props! $25 charity fundraiser.
HANUKKAH’S FINAL NIGHT: Two public events for the final night, both at 5 pm:
POP-UP HANUKKAH IN THE JUNCTION: Kol HaNeshamah leads a public celebration at Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW and SW Alaska).
GIANT MENORAH ON ALKI: The West Seattle Torah Learning Center will lead a public celebration at Alki, lighting a giant menorah, plus a fire show, donuts, and music. (2701 Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RUN: Meet at the shop (2743 California SW):
West Seattle Runner Annual Christmas Light Run, 5 pm: Join us for our Annual West Seattle Runner Christmas Light Run! Put on your holiday gear, lights, strands of light, reflective gear, and headlamp or flashlight. We are hitting the ‘hood in search of the best light displays. This is always a fun get-together, a very easy 2.5 to 3 mile group run. We take it very leisurely. There are always walkers. Bring your dog, your kids, your family, and your friends! We will gather at the shop afterward for cookies and cider, nog, and hot chocolate. Will this be the year that we have carolers in the mix? We hope! Feel free to bring donations for the Food Bank.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, 4:45 pm and onward tonight. Tickets and info here.
WINTER SOLSTICE RENEWAL, DECEMBER 21: Art and more at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), 5:30 pm.
HOLIDAY SWEATER BINGO AT POGGIE TAVERN: 9 pm. (4717 California SW)
COAT DRIVE AT JAK’S GRILL: Last night to bring coats to JaK’s Grill in The Junction (now on SW Alaska) to donate!
Now today’s other highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find more listings!) and inbox:
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Weekly games have resumed at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: Small-group class at 9:30 am at Mama Be Well (4034-A California SW); preregistration info is in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual in its regular spot on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in winter produce season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, beans, garlic, apples, more – plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, pasta, more. (Note that our state’s flooding may have affected some of the growers you usually see.) You might also find Christmas trees, and Pathfinder K-8 wreaths just south of the market.
FREE NIA CLASS: Now starting at 10:15 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Sunday run – back to 9 am this week, leaving from Highland Park Corner Store. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
DONATION DRIVE AT ALKI UCC: 11 am-2 pm, monthly donation dropoffs outside the church:
This Month’s Priority Need: FOOD!! Feed the People!
The Alki UCC Donations Drive helps stock the food pantry at “The Welcome Table,” Westside Interfaith Network’s weekly hot meal program.
Also in great need: New Socks and Gently Used Cold Weather Outerwear
Pet Food in marked Ziploc bags is also welcome, as well as gift cards to local grocery stores.
Bring your donations anytime to Alki UCC’s front porch barrel but especially this Sunday for our monthly in-person drive.
(6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
‘SUNDAY SOLIDARITY ACTION’: West Seattle Resist‘s Sunday 11:30 am-1:30 pm sign-holding event, also including a drop-off food drive through the end of the year. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
‘PENELOPE’ MATINEE AT ARTSWEST: West Seattle’s playhouse is closing out the run of the folk-pop musical “Penelope“ with a 3 pm matinée today; get tickets here – a few remain as of early this morning. (4711 California SW)
EUROPEAN WINE CELEBRATION: First of three days of tastings, 4-6 pm at West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW), starting with French wines.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, free to play. (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, live music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could add to the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Or maybe you have a listing for our West Seattle Holiday Guide? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Early Friday in North Delridge, police pulled over a car for a burned-out headlight. In the process, they found out it was stolen – a “company vehicle” taken from the West Seattle Golf Course parking lot last Saturday afternoon. We heard a bit about the arrest while it was happening, and requested the report narrative from SPD. We received it today. Here’s what the officer wrote:
On 12-19-2025, I was working uniformed patrol as unit 3W31 within the city of Seattle. At about 0151 hrs., I was traveling northbound in the 4600 block of 26 Ave SW when a vehicle, WA XXXXXXX, passed me in the same block with only one functioning headlight during hours of darkness. I turned around and got behind the vehicle at 29 Ave SW/SW Brandon St, facing southbound. I activated my emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop for the defective headlight.
I broadcasted the stop location and vehicle information to dispatch. Prior to me making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, dispatch informed me that the license plate was coming back to a stolen vehicle. Once additional units arrived, the driver was taken out of the vehicle and placed under arrest for Inv. of Possession of Stolen Property. … Two additional passengers were taken out of the vehicle as well.
I observed that the vehicle was running with no keys in the heavily damaged ignition. This ignition was easyyily observable by all passengers in the vehicle and was not covered, or obstructed by view. Officers were not able to turn the vehicle off at the scene. I verified that the VIN # of the vehicle matched that of the license plate information in WA DOL. The vehicle was searched, per the request of the registered owner and then impounded by Lincoln Towing, per the owner’s request as well. … (The suspect) stated that he “found” the vehicle in Burien earlier that evening, but could not give any further details about the vehicle. (The other two) were released from the scene.
The suspect, who’s 30, was booked into the King County Jail and is still there right now. His record includes misdemeanor convictions for an incident at the Delridge Home Depot in October, where he
“threw (palm) trees around” and threatened to kill an employee; he was sentenced to a suspended year in jail and given credit for the three weeks he served before pleading guilty. He also has felony convictions for a plea-bargained case last year in which he walked into a Highland Park house in 2023, took car keys, and stole a car; for that, he was sentenced to three months.
Thanks to Ana for sending tonight’s photo: “Lights and giant Santa at 29th SW and Findlay.” And Santa’s not alone on the roof – lots of lights up there too! Four more nights until Christmas – see what we’ve spotlighted by scrolling here – and if there’s someplace great that we’ve missed, send the location and/or photo(s) to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
7:01 PM: Reported by a reader:
#1: Truck with ~30 ft long boat on trailer is turned around wrong way but stationary on the West Seattle Eastbound to the right side of the shoulder at the WA99 exit. Emergency vehicles signaling to move around.
# 2: White Jeep off-road (at least the passenger side airbag went off) right after Admiral off-ramp from West Seattle Bridge Westbound. While emergency crews are onsite, the accident has closed the right lane, making a dangerous exit off of the West Seattle Bridge at Admiral.
So far, emergency-radio exchanges indicate neither resulted in a serious injury.
(SDOT image via X.com)
9:54 PM: Police are still having trouble getting an appropriate tow rig for incident #1, according to radio discussion between officers and dispatch.
10:47 PM: Officers just told dispatch they’re closing the eastbound bridge ramp to 99 “for a bit” to “get this boat out of here” – after four hours.
11:09 PM: Now they’re going to have to shut down the eastbound bridge in its entirety.
(December 2024 photo by Jason A.G. Enevoldsen)
At 7:03 am Sunday – almost an hour before sunrise – winter officially arrives, at the solstice moment. That means tomorrow night brings a West Seattle change-of-seasons tradition – sunset watch at Solstice Park with expert skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen. She’s been leading solstice-sunset gatherings for more than 15 years, and it’s a fun, informative way to welcome the new season. She’ll be at the park (uphill from the tennis courts and P-Patch, 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) starting around 3:45 pm; official sunset time is about half an hour later, but because of the trees and mountains, the sun tends to disappear around 4:05 … assuming it appears at all (by the way, Alice will be there even if it doesn’t, barring steady drenching rain).
See that spot on the bench next to The Grinch? It’s open for photo ops until 8 pm. This is part of Lacey‘s “Whoville” display, spotlighted here earlier this week (and in previous years). She says the weather in north White Center is not too bad so far tonight – a little showery, but no wind, so she’s welcoming visitors for photo ops. Bring a food-bank donation if you can! This is on 18th SW between SW 98th and Roxbury.
(WSB photo, October)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It costs about $26,000 a month to run West Seattle’s only overnight shelter, Westside Neighbors Shelter in The Triangle.
That covers not only regular operational costs like utilities, but also security – insurance requires one overnight watchperson for every 24 people staying overnight, and they’ve been hosting 36.
So the shelter board has voted to reduce overnight operations to cold-weather-emergency-only as of December 31 – unless they can raise enough money to keep going at full overnight operations.
All this is according to a conversation we just had with Laurie Utterback of the shelter board, who we contacted for clarification after multiple people told us word was circulating in the community that the shelter would be shutting down.
Earlier this fall, the shelter made a deal with a Burien church to provide administration and security help. But that isn’t free, and Utterback said they’ve got a bill to pay that will take almost all the money the shelter has. They were going to have to cease overnight operations – except for very cold weather – as of tomorrow, Utterback says, but now that’s been extended to the end of the year, thanks to donations from a religious congregation that got word of their dilemma. After that – again, unless they can raise enough money to cover costs – they will only accept overnight guests in very cold weather, which is the only service they get some government funding to cover. The daytime warming center will continue, Utterback says. Costs including security add up to about $26,000 a month,
The shelter is in American Legion Post 160’s building at 3618 SW Alaska in the West Seattle Triangle. The agreement with Highline United Methodist Church followed discussion of community concerns including street disorder surrounding the shelter, which has been run for years virtually single-handedly by the Post 160 commander, Keith Hughes. In addition, they’ve been talking with Seattle Police and now have a trespass agreement with SPD making it easier to remove troublemakers.
ADDED: For anyone wondering how to help, that information is in this news release sent just after we published this report.
(Photos courtesy Brenda Hatley)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Dozens of youth robotics teams from elementary and middle schools across the district gathered on December 6 at Robert Eagle Staff Middle School for this year’s FIRST Lego League qualifier. By the end of the day, three teams from West Seattle – Madison Middle School, Lafayette Elementary School, and Alki Elementary School – emerged triumphant, with their sights set on the next round of the tournament.
Of the schools who competed that day, nine were from West Seattle, including Genesee Hill Elementary, Fairmount Park Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, Arbor Heights Elementary, West Seattle Elementary, and the aforementioned teams that are moving up to the next round.
A local parent tipped us about the students’ achievement, so we set out to get details. We spoke with Brenda Hatley, a coach for Madison Middle School, the only West Seattle middle-school team to advance to the next round, and she says the turnout at the qualifiers was impressive. Hatley first became a coach for her son’s 4th-grade team and was one of the founding parents for Lafayette Elementary’s Lego Robotics team.
She says the program, which pairs engineering with LEGO, coding, and real-world projects, is a fantastic program for students who are less interested in athletics but still want to capture the excitement of a pep rally.
“It’s not a sports team, but they’re still getting so hyped up. The kids were cheering for each other, and the pressure was there; coaching through that was an incredible experience,” Hatley said.
Madison’s team, the Madbots, will play their next match on December 26th, at a to-be-determined location. The teams that do well this month will move on to the city-wide competition in Downtown Seattle, before moving to the regionals at Washington State University, and beyond to the international finals. Regardless of how they perform, Hatley says she and the other parents are planning to travel with their team to the city-wide and regional competitions.
“I’m really proud of the team,” Hatley said. “Last year, the fifth graders didn’t move on, and we had lower expectations; we just went in to learn more and get better. This year, we get to move on and see what the next level looks like.”
Sent this morning by Karen:
Sorry and angry to report I discovered this morning my mailbox on the east side of 35th SW just south of the 7-Eleven was broken into and severely damaged. Hoping no valuable mail was stolen. Mail recipients, beware!
Not to say that any of these would have helped in this case, but the >U.S. Postal Inspection Service does have advice for customers.
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