From the inbox this morning:

MYSTERY TRAILER: From Corey:

This trailer made its way to our block this morning. We will submit to Find-It-Fix-It but wanted to give someone a chance to pick it up it it’s theirs. It’s located at 18th Ave SW and SW Trenton Street in Highland Park. Close to the north end of 18th and Trenton.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: Corey says in a comment below that the trailer is now gone.

BAG OF BELONGINGS: From Jennifer:

This looks like it belongs to someone. Dumped near the Murray (Wet Weather Facility) at Lowman Beach. Hope it finds its way home.

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WEST SEATTLE MONDAY: What to know on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE MONDAY: What to know on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

Good morning. It’s Monday, January 15th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day – here’s info for this holiday:

WEATHER

Today we might see a high temperature above freezing. *The forecast is for sunshine and a high in the low-to-mid-30s.

TRANSPORTATION

(SDOT’s West Seattle Bridge camera)

*Metro: Regular weekday schedule
*No Water Taxi
*Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on usual 2-boat schedule – check for alerts here
*Here’s the service plan for Sound Transit
*Free parking today in areas of the city with on-street paid parking
*See citywide traffic cams here, West Seattle-relevant cams here

OTHER SERVICES/FACILITIES

*Schools and most government offices are closed
*No USPS services except Priority Mail Express
*Banking holiday
*Libraries are closed
*Most Seattle Parks facilities are closed
*Solid-waste service in our area remains on a normal schedule this week (some parts of the city served by a different contractor have changes, but NOT West Seattle)

HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT

*See the list on our West Seattle Event Calendar.

Got news? Text us at 206-293-6302,or email westseattleblog@gmail.com if non-urgent – thank you!

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UPDATE: Missing girl found

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Her family confirms she’s been found.

Earlier:

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One week into State Legislature session, see what your representatives are doing

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Though most government offices are closed tomorrow for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the State Legislature will be in session. This year is the “short session,” so legislators have two months to get everything done. Our area is part of the 34th Legislative District (here’s a map), represented by State Sen. Joe Nguyễn and State Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon and Emily Alvarado, all West Seattle residents, though the district stretches beyond, including White Center and Vashon and Maury Islands.

The delegation has notable clout this year, as Sen. Nguyễn is now vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the budget, while Rep. Fitzgibbon is House Majority Leader; Alvarado is vice chair of the Housing and Local Government committees. You can keep track of what they’re doing in Olympia via the Legislature website, though it’s a somewhat daunting task – Sen. Nguyễn, for example, is sponsor or co-sponsor of 354 bills, including 21 for which he is the primary sponsor; for Rep. Fitzgibbon, those numbers are 171 and 18; for Rep. Alvarado, 123 and 15. You can use the lookups on this page to research bills in a variety of ways. Combing through the lists of bills, you’ll find a wide variety of topics; for example, Rep. Alvarado’s bills include renters’ rights (HB2114), pedestrians’ rights (HB1428), and gift-card reforms (HB2094). Most of the measures listing Rep. Fitzgibbon as the main sponsor are procedural because of his role. Sen. Nguyễn’s bills include establishing an AI task force (SB5838), reducing the drunk-driving threshold to .05 blood-alcohol level (SB5002), and lifting the state ban on local governments making gun laws (SB5446). To send a legislator a message, whether to support/oppose a specific bill or about something else, you can use the links on this page.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation

January 14, 2024 8:39 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

After multiple 911 calls about suspected gunfire heard in Fairmount Ravine, police went to the area, and officers have just told dispatch the gunfire is confirmed – they’ve found casings. They’re “just past the Admiral bridge,” which dispatch calculates is in the 2500 block of Fairmount Avenue [map]. No word of injuries so far.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Not thawed yet

January 14, 2024 5:06 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:06 PM: We did get into the 30s today – but the temperature’s below freezing again already, and that’s still causing trouble. Thanks to the readers who’ve reported weather-related problems – for example, the sign up on the door at Spud Fish and Chips on Alki, closed because of broken pipes. We’ve also heard from a reader who reports:

We live on 35th between Brandon and Findlay. There seems to be some kind of water leak nearer Findlay that is running down the street and is now just a sheet of ice.

We pointed them to Seattle Public Utilities (206-386-1800). More weather notes to come.

6:25 PM: Though the weather was very cold, the views were beautiful again today. Above, Lynn Hall‘s photo of the Olympics early this morning; below, Kanit Cottrell‘s photo of the sunset colors and moon at day’s end:

We’ve also received yet another report of pipe trouble – a reader who says an apartment building in the Fairmount Park area is dealing with flooding after a break. And SPU’s water-outage map shows emergency repairs are under way in the 7700 block of 20th SW, with an outage affecting more than 70 homes. (The map also says the situation on 55th SW reported here last night was repaired by 12:30 am.) Today’s official high was 31, official low 19; normal would be 48/38.

7:30 PM: A commenter reports service has been restored in the 7700 block of 20th SW. A new problem has popped up – a reader emailed to say that water is flowing from the northwest corner of California/Juneau (former fitness studio) and down the street, so beware of possible road ice in that area.

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READER REPORT: Early-morning scare at the door

January 14, 2024 3:37 pm

| 65 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Sent by a reader:

My family and I live in Schmitz Park neighborhood. At 3:55 [am] our doorbell rang and we got up cautiously, dogs barking loudly. I looked out the shades and a large man was pressed up against our front door (very well lit front area raised home). I could only see his arm and hand. My husband looked out the peephole and saw a flat top haircut very close to the door. We called 911 and told our kids to get under their beds. He stayed at least 10 minutes, at which point one of our kids said they saw a shadow move.

The resident says that despite multiple calls, police didn’t arrive for two hours: “Police came 6:01. Big response and great guys but understaffed and couldn’t get to us because of another incident.” Listening to recorded dispatch audio, we heard the call mentioned over the air by the dispatcher a few minutes after 4 am, but no officer is heard acknowledging it; an increasing amount of communication takes place off-air, screen to screen, so it’s not clear what else was happening at the time. Meantime, we asked the resident if they found any signs later that the person they saw had tried to break in, and she said they did not, and that none of their neighbors reported anything similar.

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WEEK AHEAD: Got questions for Washington State Ferries?

January 14, 2024 1:48 pm

| Comments Off on WEEK AHEAD: Got questions for Washington State Ferries?

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(Ferry passing Alki Point last Monday, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening (January 17-18), Washington State Ferries will host two online sessions of its next systemwide community meeting. WSF says they’ll “focus on systemwide topics like route service, ferry system electrification, and the latest from recruitment and workforce development (as well as) answering questions from participants.” The Wednesday meeting starts at 12:30 pm, the Thursday meeting at 6 pm, and registration links for both are on this WSF webpage. That’s also where you’ll find a link to send question(s) in advance. (If you’re interested in preparatory reading, the newest WSF “contingency plan” has plenty of it.)

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WEEK AHEAD: Morgan Community Association’s first in-person meeting in four years

January 14, 2024 11:13 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Some community groups haven’t been able to return to in-person meetings since going online because of the pandemic – finding (free or low-fee) places to host an evening meeting with room for at least a few dozen people is more difficult than you’d think. The Morgan Community Association, which meets quarterly, is finally going in-person this Wednesday, and president Deb Barker sent this announcement:

First, there’s all this equipment you need to find – a functioning laptop, a projector, remote speaker, microphone, an auxiliary camera, and heavy duty extension cords. Then you need a public place to set it up. Then you send out invitations. Check, check, and check. What is going on??

It’s the first time in four years that the Morgan Community Association will meet in person. And not just in person, but with a HYBRID meeting.

We are grateful to the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation for letting us use their Social Hall for our meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 7 to 9pm. The address is 7141 California Ave SW, and the zoom link is us02web.zoom.us/j/89608491338. Be sure to enter the Social Hall off the small parking lot on California Ave SW. Please do not park in the lot before 6:40 pm.

The meeting features Seattle City Light’s update on the Morgan Junction EV charging station, Seattle Parks’ introduction of Morgan Junction All Wheels Association and their ideas for Morgan Junction Park, welcoming the owner of Alki Arts Gallery and Event Space (newly located in Morgan Junction), and picking the date of the Morgan Junction Community Festival.

Here’s the full meeting agenda.

Everyone is welcome at the Morgan Community Association Meeting on January 17, 2024.

For a snapshot of history, here’s our report on that last in-person meeting, in January 2020. (And here’s our coverage of MoCA’s most-recent meeting, last October.)

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 8 notes

January 14, 2024 6:25 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo sent by Eric – rain-soaked trees at Lincoln Park last Wednesday)

Here’s what’s happening on this extra-cold Sunday in West Seattle, mostly from our Event Calendar:

KING TIDE: The highest high tide of the day is predicted to be at 13 feet or higher today through Tuesday – 13.0 feet today at 7:40 am.

UK FOOTBALL: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) opens early so you can watch Manchester United vs. Tottenham at 8:30 am. English breakfast available, too.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s Ampersand Café (2536 Alki SW).

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering early-winter vegetables and fruit as well as cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.

DRAG BRUNCH: At Lumber Yard Bar in White Center (9630 16th SW), 11 am-2 pm (show at noon), hosted by Jolene Granby – info in our calendar listing.

FREE CLASSICAL CONCERT: The Ladies Musical Club presents a free concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), 3 pm. The planned program is in our calendar listing.

AT THE SKYLARK: Pageant to crown the National Pacific Northwest Bearded Queen, 7 pm. More info and ticket link here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Triangular Jazztet plays The Alley (4509 California SW) as usual, 8-10 pm.

Something in the future for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Puget Sound Energy’s gas-saving request, and the outage it didn’t mention

January 13, 2024 8:58 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Puget Sound Energy provides natural-gas service in our area (and electricity in many other areas outside Seattle). If you’re a customer, you probably got an email alert tonight, requesting conservation and saying in part:

This evening, we’re asking customers to set their thermostats at a lower setting and limit the use of hot water, such as dishwashing or clothes washing, dryers and other appliances.

What the notice didn’t mention is that a major gas-storage facility operated by PSE suffered an outage earlier today – Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility in Lewis County. After seeing this report, and a PSE quote here, we contacted the utility and received the same statement:

Jackson Prairie went offline around 2 p.m. today. It has steadily been coming back on since then.

Puget Sound Energy is asking customers to conserve natural gas and electricity use through the evening hours. Due to the extreme cold temperatures facing our area, regional utilities are experiencing higher energy use than forecasted, and we need to reduce strain on the grid.

PSE has not yet commented on what caused the facility to go offline.

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BIZNOTE: Easy Street Records hosts Sleater-Kinney signing Tuesday

January 13, 2024 8:29 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Northwest rock legends visit Easy Street Records in The Junction on Tuesday (January 16th) – Sleater-Kinney will be signing their 11th studio album, “Little Rope,” three days before its official release date. Easy Street’s Matt Vaughan calls them “one of the most essential bands to ever come out of the NW … queens of the riot-grrrl movement.” To get in to the signing, Easy Street says, you have to buy the album – pre-orders are available here, and the store will sell copies of the album on the day of the event, which will start at 6 pm. The band is going on tour next month, including dates at The Showbox in April.

P.S. Even if you don’t know Sleater-Kinney, you might know one of its members, Carrie Brownstein, as co-founder and co-star of the award-winning parody series Portlandia, which ran for eight seasons last decade.

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BIZNOTE: Tattoo Pizzazz moves (back) to Morgan Junction

January 13, 2024 6:43 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Tattoo Pizzazz, briefly located in north Morgan Junction four years ago, has moved back to that area. Co-proprietor Johnathan Fleming sent the announcement and photo:

Our West Seattle tattoo shop Tattoo Pizzazz has relocated to 6021c California Ave SW, just north of Morgan Junction.

Our shop “opened” in March 2020 on California Ave at Juneau Street, although we immediately were closed due to the 3-month pandemic closure. We were most recently in a unit at ActivSpace on Harbor Ave. My wife Shannon Perry and I are owners and also tattoo at the shop. We both have over 10 years of experience each, and our shop specializes in portraiture, traditional, realism, and coverups. We are available by appointment via an inquiry form on our website tattoopizzazz.com … People can contact us via email with any questions – tattoopizzazz@gmail.com

The artists’ individual direct links are on the shop website too.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Warmer night ahead (update: maybe not), and other notes, including a street closure

January 13, 2024 4:14 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

4:14 PM: The snow-covered Olympics have shown themselves today, bringing in some pretty pictures to go with this update on our continuing colder-than-normal weather. Some good news this afternoon – the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast suggests it will NOT drop into the teens again tonight; the temperature is expected to stay about where it is now, the low 20s, before “warming” into the low 30s tomorrow.

(Anonymously submitted reader photo)

Monday and Tuesday are expected to have highs in the mid-30, and a rain/snow mix is possible Tuesday and Wednesday. Meantime, no reports of major problems in West Seattle related to the mid-teens temperatures early this morning, though we did hear from someone whose pipes froze. That’s also been a problem today for Washington State Ferries, with a source telling us both terminals and boats have had trouble with frozen pipes; the official WSF alerts show the restrooms out of service at Vashon Island as a result.

4:20 PM: Moments after publishing this, we heard police report in to dispatch that SPU needs to be contacted about what appears to be a break beneath the 3800 block of 55th SW.

6:03 PM: Thanks to commenter SJ for posting the photo of what’s happening there:

Meanwhile, the day ended with a scenic sunset:

Thanks to Brooke Gosztola for that photo!

7 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent an update on the 55th SW water problem – and this photo:

As the sign shows, there’s a closure now at Charlestown/55th – both streets. (Added) And here’s video sent by David, showing the water bubbling up from road cracks:

1:35 AM: The NWS forecast proved a bit too optimistic – the temperature has fallen into the teens again after all. The Saturday early-morning low was 15 (not a record for the date – that was 11 in 1950) so we’ll see where this goes.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Man assaulted with golf club

January 13, 2024 1:55 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Last night at about 8:40 pm, SPD and SFD responded to a report of an assault at 35th/Henderson. Medics reported the victim was a man around 50 years old hit multiple times in the head with a golf club, according to archived audio we checked after a witness sent this reader report today:

I want to report an upsetting incident that happened last night. I witnessed a houseless man that was in front of the Southwest Branch library on 35th get attacked by a man with a golf club. I was walking my dog at 8:30 pm on 35th, saw the houseless man by the library when I first started my walk, and when I turned around to head back home there was a man dressed in all black (did not appear houseless) talking to him. The men started to argue and the victim was trying to shoo the other man away. The man in black then threw a bunch of liquid on the man’s face, the victim started running toward the Shell station on Henderson and unfortunately ran straight into the telephone pole. He hit the ground and the man and black who was chasing him started swinging the golf club at the victim’s head. I called 911 immediately and went into my apartment as the man with the golf club was also taking swings at cars that were passing by and honking.

With the 911 operator on the line I went back outside to see the victim being helped by another man who was out walking his dog and the Shell station employees. The police showed up quickly right as I returned to the scene. The victim had a bad head wound and was taken to the hospital. The man in black ran off, which is frightening because he truly came out of nowhere swinging and I’m convinced if a few of us hadn’t been walking our dogs on this cold night this would have resulted in a death. As far as I know this guy is still on the loose.

The only descriptive info we heard on recorded dispatch audio was: Black, male, about 5’8″, dressed – as the witness said – in all black, including a pulled-up hoodie. The dispatcher also mentioned a possible accomplice: white, male, black beanie and hoodie. We won’t have access to followup info from SPD until Tuesday; if you have information, the case number is 24-011199, and the violent-crimes tip line is 206-233-5000.

ADDED 3:35 PM: SFD says the victim was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center – by private ambulance, which generally means the injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Forester (update: found, but with somebody else’s backpack inside)

January 13, 2024 11:31 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

SATURDAY: Reported by John via email:

We wanted the neighborhood to know that at approximately 7:50 am this morning, our black 2016 Subaru Forester (plate # BOS 2514) was stolen from the front of our house on the 3400 block of 41st Ave. We started the car and turned on the heat. I went back inside for about 3 minutes to put our daughter in her infant carrier and the car was gone from the driveway. A warning for others that may be warming the car on these cold days.

The SPD incident number, if you see this car and call it in, is 24-011562.

UPDATED 12:37 PM SUNDAY: The car’s been found, in Tukwila. Inside, though, somebody else’s large Osprey backpack – if you’ve had one stolen recently, let us know and we’ll connect you,

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 20 notes

January 13, 2024 6:16 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Frosty Friday morning photo by Terry Blumer)

Here’s what’s scheduled for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. (So far, no cancellations because of the weather – if you know of one, please text us at 206-293-6302 so we can update this list.)

FREE GROUP RUN: Start your Saturday with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run! All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.

HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event but registration required.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR: As previewed here, vaccinations and many other services, as well as giveaways including jackets, are available at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton), during a health fair open to all community members, 10 am-2 pm.

(added) REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES: As noted in comments, the 34th District Republicans are caucusing today at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW) – it started at 10 am.

SSC GARDEN CENTER: Scheduled to be open today:

We are open 10 am-2 pm on Fridays and Saturdays! We have all your indoor plant needs, with pots, advice and more! Plus, any last-minute winter outside plants you might need. The Garden Center at South Seattle College provides Landscape Horticulture students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of plants while gaining real-world retail experience. Plants available for sale are selected, propagated, grown and presented by Landscape Horticulture students. Additional plants are brought in from local growers. Proceeds benefit Landscape Horticulture Program projects.The selection includes perennials, ground covers, shrubs, some annual edibles and flowers, as well as indoor plants. Cash and electronic payments accepted. The Garden Center is located in the North Parking Lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th Ave SW)

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is back open, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)

VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

POTTERY WORKSHOP: Introduction to Sculpting, 1-3 pm at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-6 pm, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

THE HALF-BROTHERS: 3 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), “skewed bluegrass” – tickets and info here!

BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) has home games today – girls vs. Arlington at 4 pm, boys vs. Sumner at 7 pm.

HEAR IT EARLY! Preview Green Day‘s “Saviors” at an Easy Street Records listening party, 6 pm. (4559 California SW)

COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 7 pm, Steve & Kristi Nebel and Gary Kanter at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Punk fusion with Panic Grass, Deft Lips, Negative Passengers at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm, $10, 21+.

BEATS: Saturday night DJ at Revelry Room – 9 pm, tonight it’s Baby Van Beezly. (4547 California SW, alley side)

KARAOKE: Saturday night, sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.

Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? If the community’s welcome, get your event on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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GRAND OPENING: White Center Food Bank celebrates new home

January 12, 2024 10:19 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB/WCN photos)

We’ve shown you the mural-enhanced exterior of the White Center Food Bank‘s new home – tonight we got a chance to look inside. On this icy-cold night, the WCFB threw a housewarming party of sorts, less than a week after officially starting operations in the new building.

It has a lot more room for storage and service than the WCFB’s old space at 8th/108th, from which they had to move because of its impending redevelopment as affordable-housing and community-space project “The HUB.” The new location at 10016 16th SW was revealed in fall 2022.

Six months after that, remodeling construction began, and now their shiny new facility is in use, with room to grow.

It’s full of reminders that the work is about people – not just the 95,000+ they serve each year, but also the many who volunteer – they have an upgraded space in the new HQ too:

The front rooms are full of welcoming messages:

The community members in attendance tonight included dignitaries – below with WCFB executive director Carmen Smith are new District 8 King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, 34th District State Senator Joe Nguyễn, and Mosqueda’s predecessor, Joe McDermott:

The grand opening isn’t quite the finish line for the move.

WCFB is three-fourths of the way to its fundraising goal for the new location. and expanded vision, explained here. It’s a regional resource, as the food bank serves south West Seattle as well as White Center and vicinity.

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FOLLOWUP: Eight bidders for Hiawatha Community Center work

January 12, 2024 7:58 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo)

Last month, we reported the long-planned stabilization project for Hiawatha Community Center was finally out to bid. Now the bidding process is closed and a list of eight bidders is now viewable online. The lowest “base bid” is $2,518,284 from Optimus Construction and Development of Burien; the highest, $2,989,000 from WS Contractors of Buckley. The project webpage lists the project’s total budget as $3.9 million. The center has been closed now for almost four years, and Parks officials admitted last month that it was a mistake not to reopen it while waiting for the stabilization project. If the rest of the contractor-selection process goes well, they also said last month, they hope work will start in March. It could last more than a year.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Notes as we head into a very cold night

January 12, 2024 4:51 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Off we go into a frosty night. David Hutchinson‘s photo, above, shows ~~freezing mist~~ “sea smoke” above Elliott Bay, as seen from Alki. This is forecast to be a dry but extremely cold night – low in the teens, wind chill as low as single digits. Also from Alki, another idea for keeping hummingbirds fed, as previously discussed:

Lance writes, “Using a lava lamp base and placing the hummingbird feeder on top to keep from freezing. Works great, even on windy Alki right now.” Meantime, SDOT crews continue treating the roads.

We photographed that plow-equipped truck on Thursday. We also learned from a reader that just in case of trouble, SDOT had crews staying at West Seattle’s only motel, The Grove, last night. We asked about that, and here’s how spokesperson Mariam Ali explained: “To facilitate seamless and safe operations, we have secured hotel accommodations for our crews throughout Seattle. Given that a majority of our team resides outside the city limits, this step is crucial in enabling them to reach their job sites promptly and safely. Our crews often work extended hours and face demanding schedules, and it is paramount to us that they have access to a nearby resting place.” SDOT has more than 100 people assigned to about 50 vehicles, including plows, de-icing trucks, and salt spreaders. You can find links to SDOT’s winter-weather maps here.

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FOLLOWUP: One West Seattleite among eight finalists for City Council vacancy

January 12, 2024 4:50 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

4:50 PM: One day after a list of 72 qualified applicants was made public, the City Council has just sent word of the finalists for the City Council vacancy created by Teresa Mosqueda‘s move to the County Council.

Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9 – Citywide) announced today that the Council identified eight finalists to fill the vacancy left by now-former City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (Position 8 – Citywide). The finalists for Position 8 are:

· Juan J. Cotto
· Neha Nariya
· Mark Solomon
· Vivian Song
· Steven K. Strand [West Seattle resident]
· Mari Sugiyama
· Linh Thai
· Tanya Woo

A list of the 72 eligible applicants and completed application materials were made available to the public via the Council Vacancy webpage on Thursday, January 11. Councilmembers selected the eight finalists from the list of 72 qualified applicants provided by the City Clerk.

During today’s special meeting, the Council also selected Seattle CityClub to host a community forum with the finalists, giving the community a chance to hear from the candidates before the final selection is made.

NEXT STEPS:

· A Community Forum hosted by Seattle CityClub will be scheduled.

· A Special Council Meeting for Councilmembers to consider the finalists has been scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. Finalists who participated in the Community Forum will have the chance to address the Council during this meeting.

· The anticipated vote by City Council on the appointment will occur on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

More information on the vacancy-filling process is here.

8:41 PM: The news release above did not mention which councilmember nominated which finalist; we watched the meeting recording to verify that. District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka nominated Mark Solomon, SPD crime-prevention coordinator for the South and (temporarily) Southwest Precincts, at the end of a 7-minute speech (starting 1:18:28 into the video) in which he said his “personal evaluation criteria” included “someone who has an ability to collaborate across differences … find common ground and get stuff done … someone who doesn’t view me as the enemy … doesn’t view any of my colleagues as the enemy either.” His military experience, Saka said, was a time when he was fighting against enemies, and this work should not involve that kind of “mindset.” His other criteria, he continued, included a “strong record of service” and a “growth mindset” as well as the ability to handle criticism and to “think critically who’s in the room, who has a seat … and who doesn’t.” Multiple councilmembers said they would have nominated Tanya Woo – who lost a close race with Councilmember Tammy Morales – if she hadn’t been nominated in the early going by new Councilmember Bob Kettle.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Volunteer cleanup group’s work van stolen (update: found)

January 12, 2024 2:22 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT: That’s the work van used by A Cleaner Alki, the volunteer group founded by Erik Bell, who’s organized cleanups far beyond Alki – all over the peninsula. Erik emailed us today with a different kind of request – asking you to be on the lookout for the van, which somebody stole early this morning:

2006 Chevy 1500 Work Van

Stolen 1/12/24 around 6 am from Admiral area

White with some peeling paint around front window and door jam. Black bumpers, grille, rear light surround and door handles. No side windows, clear glass in the back doors and cab. Has a gray metal bulkhead behind the cab with circular cutouts. Kind of nondescript otherwise, no exterior graphics. Used for community cleanups and full of EGO brand tools and other gear.

Paper plates A6652308

If you see it, call 911.

UPDATE, 1/16: Erik emailed this morning to say that “Our van was recovered last night at 61st & Stevens with the help of Good Samaritan neighbor Christine and the SPD.” Christine told him she recognized it from the WSB post.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Here’s what our area’s only shelter needs now

January 12, 2024 1:38 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo, last month)

Weather like this is dangerous for many, and potentially deadly for people who live outdoors. As you probably know, West Seattle has only one emergency shelter, powered by volunteers and donations, and it could use some help – here’s an update from Westside Neighbors Shelter manager Keith Hughes:

My heartfelt thanks to the West Seattle Community for your overwhelming response to getting the shelter kitchen stocked up for the winter. Thanks to all of you we are now fully stocked with paper goods, coffee, creamer, peanut butter, and pancake syrup.

Now that the bitter cold has arrived, we are going to be open 24 hours a day at least through January 18th to meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors.

What we need now are stocking caps, gloves, warm clothing like sweatshirts, sweaters (washable) coats, and long underwear.

A friend of the shelter, Mike, adds this:

Note that shoes, socks, and blankets are not needed at this time.

Dropoffs can be made in person between 7 am – 5 pm:
Map can be found on the website.
3618 SW Alaska St.

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