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Spotlight Stories


  • WS5K

    WEST SEATTLE 5K: See & hear how it went

  • Park

    CAR IN THE PARK: Film crew spotted

  • Salmon

    SO LONG, SALMON: Halfway through the season

Learn American Sign Language in the new year – free!
December 24, 2023 4:33 pm
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

You can learn a new language in the New Year for free here in West Seattle.

A 12-week course in American Sign Language starts January 9th, 6-7 pm Tuesdays at the West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW). All are welcome, and you are welcome to join at any time – no registration required, just show up. Here’s the flyer showing which topics are being taught “through creative games” during the sessions.

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PEDESTRIAN ALERT: Signal pole down at 35th/Avalon
December 24, 2023 2:19 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Thanks to Ian for the photo. The downed crosswalk-signal pole on the northeast corner of 35th/Avalon is apparently still down, according to a text. Reader Ab told us it happened on Friday – a semi-truck “cut the turn too much and knocked down” the pole. We’re hopeful it’s been reported to SDOT by now but don’t know the repair timeline; 206-386-1218 is their after-hours number for problems on streets, sidewalks, etc.

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Memorial service Thursday for Richard Douglas, 1929-2023
December 24, 2023 11:29 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather Thursday to remember Dick Douglas. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with his community:

Richard “Dick” Douglas died peacefully on December 16, 2023, in West Seattle at the age of 94.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Gladyne; his sister Carolyn Titus; five children: Debbie, Steve (Terry), Deanne “Coco,” Susie (John), David (Laura); eleven grandchildren: Curtis Jr. (Sara), Dennon, Chad, Rory (Laura Belle), Brady (Samantha), Jake, Natalie (Nate), Jason, Matthew, Benjamin, and William; and four great-grandchildren: Curtis III, Cormac, Augustin, and Jett.

Dick was born in 1929 in Monroe, WA, to Raymond “Bus” and Helen Douglas. He spent the first 12 years of his life in Sultan, Washington, at the base of the Cascade Mountain range, where he learned to fish and swim. They moved to Seattle in 1941 when Dick was 12 years old, where they lived on Capitol Hill. Dick attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic School and Seattle Preparatory High School where he played varsity football and varsity basketball. He went on to attend the University of Washington (UW), where he studied business, was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and was an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadet. He met the Love of His Life, Gladyne, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, during his Senior year (1953) at UW. Their first date was in February and he gave her his fraternity pin in March. In June 1953, he graduated from UW, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) in Business, and was commissioned a U.S. Army Second Lieutenant. He proposed to Gladyne in October 1953.

Dick then attended basic infantry training in Fort Benning, Georgia, in preparations for wartime deployment. On leave from the Army, he married Gladyne on December 26, 1953. Shortly after, in 1954, Dick deployed for the Korean War, where he anticipated being on the front lines as an infantryman; however, his Army superiors recognized that he had a Business Degree and assigned him to manage the large Post Exchange (PX) in Seoul. He successfully completed this assignment, returned stateside, and after two years of honorable service, was discharged from the Army.

In 1959, Dick began a successful career at Boeing, where he worked for 31 years in the Human Resources Department. A highlight of his time at Boeing was an assignment to Saudi Arabia from 1984-1986, where he supported all the in-country employees required to conduct maintenance, training, and operations of the fleet of airliners bought by the national Saudia Airlines. Following his philosophy of “working to live” and not “living to work,” he retired from Boeing in 1990 to see the world with his wife.

Dick loved golf, traveling, spending the cold Seattle winters in Sun City West, AZ, watching UW Huskies football games, and cherishing time with his family and friends. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. His unquestionably positive attitude, sense of humor, jokes, and gregarious laugh will be missed by all.

His funeral will be held on December 28 at 11 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. Please share memories & photos of Dick on the Tribute Wall, at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Richard-Douglas

(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)

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: What to know for Christmas Eve 2023
December 24, 2023 6:16 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Alki photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Welcome to Christmas Eve 2023! Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar, here’s what’s up in the hours ahead:

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT SHOPPING: Shop local! Many stores are open at least part of the day today. Here are the hours we have so far for retail shops on the WSB sponsor team:

Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW), 9 am-2 pm
Lauren’s Jewelry (Westwood Village), 10 am-4 pm
Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
The Bass Shop (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW), 10 am-3 pm
Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska), 10 am-1 pm
Moon Room (5902 California SW), 11 am-5 pm
Canna West Seattle (5440 California SW), 8 am-8 pm

Another shop that let us know they’re open for last-minute shopping:
Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), 10 am-1 pm

(additions below – thanks)

My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW), 10 am-4 pm
Alair Seattle (xxxx California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Dylan Clothing Shop (3270 California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Seattle Yarn (2701 California) – open until 4 pm
West Seattle Arcade (2758 California SW), open until 6 pm (gift cards available)

Anyone else? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we can add you to the list!

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, the market is open today! Regular hours, 10 am-2 pm, regular spot in The Junction (California SW between Oregon and Alaska).

THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE STILL NEED COOKIES: Home-baked cookies to help The Christmas People sweeten the holiday for people in need can be brought to West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th Ave SW; WSB sponsor) 1 pm to 4 pm.

CHRISTMAS EVE GROCERY-STORE EARLY CLOSINGS: All West Seattle grocery stores close early tonight – earliest is 5 pm (Trader Joe’s), latest is 9 pm (WSB sponsor West Seattle Thriftway) – full list of tonight/tomorrow grocery-store info is in the Holiday Guide.

CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: Our list in the Holiday Guide includes services for 13 churches (some of whom are skipping regular Sunday-morning services to focus on tonight).

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.

Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for the West Seattle Holiday Guide (which we continue updating through New Year’s)? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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What’s being done to help Southern Resident Killer Whales survive? Here’s what The Whale Trail’s winter gathering heard about
December 23, 2023 9:04 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

(J pod southbound in Puget Sound November 2023, by M. Sears – Permit 21348)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More than 40 people filled C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) Thursday for The Whale Trail‘s winter gathering – with the theme on that solstice night, as executive director Donna Sandstrom put it, “finding light in the darkness.”

She opened with The Whale Trail’s origin story, going back to her involvement with the rescue of Springer the orphaned orca 21 years ago, fast forwarding to the challenges the Southern Resident Killer Whales face today – they could be extinct within a century if the factors contributing to their decline don’t change. At its heart, The Whale Trail is a long stretch of viewing spots with interpretive signage along the Pacific Coast (inland waters like Puget Sound too, with locations including four signs in West Seattle), “from San Diego to Prince Rupert, B.C.,” but in practice it’s much more – like Orca Talks and gatherings such as this one, dating back to 2010 – plus other forms of advocacy (Sandstrom served on the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force created by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2018).

That task force addressed many threats to the resident orcas’ survival; Sandstrom’s special interest was shipping noise, including that generated by whale-watching boats. Now there are rules to reduce it, as well as a voluntary pledge program for other boaters. Then, starting in 2025, all boaters will have to stay 1,000 yards away. Sandstrom told attendees that she is serving on an advisory group working on how to ensure all boaters learn about this rule – “we want to make it easy for (boaters to help whales).”

Though the SRKWs’ population isn’t growing, there is reason for hope, Sandstrom said – their three pods (J, K, and L) have nine calves under 5 years old, and six of them are female. She said it’s important for people to leave gatherings like this one “inspired.”

She also paid tribute to longtime supporter Chas Redmond – “he was a super-connector and a joyous human being.” Now, highlights from the guest speakers:

Read More

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Two in Admiral
December 23, 2023 7:06 pm
|    Comments Off on TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Two in Admiral
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Two from Admiral tonight – first, the house at 45th/Stevens that’s known well for its Halloween spirit is also brightly lit for Christmas; we took the photo while out looking around one recent night. Below, a North Admiral home photographed by Brendan:

He found that one in the 4300 block of SW Atlantic. … Any last-minute tips? We’re headed out on one last scouting trip tonight – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (To see everywhere we’ve shown, click WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS beneath the story headline above, and scroll through that archive.)

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAY SCENE: Cocoa Cris Cringle @ Easy Street Records
December 23, 2023 5:13 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The most-mischievous Santa’s helper to appear in West Seattle each holiday season is at Easy Street Records right now – Cocoa Cris Cringle! Until 8 pm, you’ll find him at Easy Street Records for “foto fun”:

$20 gets you a turn with Cocoa Cris Cringle (with props if you want, including hats) – kids and pets welcome too. (If you somehow haven’t been to Easy Street yet, it’s on the northwest corner of California/Alaska.)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seen this VW Golf? Car stolen while owner was fundraising for charity (UPDATE: Found)
December 23, 2023 3:25 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Remember the food-bank-fundraising buskers we told you about earlier? We just found out that one musician’s car was stolen while they were performing:

Stolen VW Golf, 2005
Gray, WA plate 612-ZHK
(Pic shows roof just before it was repainted, roof now has new paint)

Parked at the paid lot on 44th, between Alaska and Edmunds
(paid and have the receipt!)
Parked at 10:50 am today, Saturday Dec. 23 to busk for the Food Bank
Returned to the lot at 1:15 pm and the car was gone.
It’s a manual transmission, so hopefully it didn’t go too far.

Police report filed.
If you see the car please call 9-1-1 and give report # 23-367922

SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Found … abandoned one lot away from where it was taken … with a candy cane and “Merry Christmas” note on the door.

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READER REPORT: Mail found in the street
December 23, 2023 2:34 pm
|    Comments Off on READER REPORT: Mail found in the street
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

From the WSB inbox, sent by Ralph:

This morning, Saturday, December 23, I found about 10 pieces of mail in the middle of my street, 7700 block of 14th Ave. SW.

The mail was was addressed to various recipients in the 8100 and 8400 blocks of 7th Ave. SW, and one item, a Christmas card, had been opened.

I turned in the likely stolen mail to the Post Office at Westwood Village.

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HOLIDAY GIVING: Update from The Christmas People, including a volunteer request
December 23, 2023 12:52 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(Added: Reader photo, from 600+ cookies baked by Tibbetts United Methodist Church ‘and friends’)

From The Christmas People, who are collecting homemade cookies through tomorrow, an update and a request:

We need a volunteer to help collect cookies on Sunday, December 24 at West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Ave SW, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The volunteer who was scheduled continues to be stuck at Iceland Airport due to a volcano eruption.

Home-baked Cookie response has been amazing. Residents of West Seattle have been incredibly generous. First day collection on Friday yielded over 3,000 cookies. Cookies are distributed to 10 shelters in King County area.

This week we have distributed more than 2000 lbs. of dry, staple supplies to 8 shelters. Saturday, Sunday, Monday we will deliver 1750 snacks, lunches, and dinners to 6 shelters.

To volunteer please call Rev. Fred Hutchinson, Christmas People Co-founder, at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net. This is our 25th year. We are are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAY SCENE: Caroling for a cause
December 23, 2023 12:01 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

If you’re in The Junction shopping/dining, you might hear the holiday sounds of We Carolers 3 – they’re busking on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, raising money for local food banks, until 1 pm.

P.S. If you missed them, here’s how to donate money to local food banks: West Seattle Food Bank here, White Center Food Bank here.

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WHALES: Southern Resident orcas off West Seattle – for a while
December 23, 2023 11:26 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

11:26 AM: Orcas from J-Pod are off West Seattle, per text from Kersti Muul – southbound off Alki Point as of about 15 minutes ago. Let us know if you see them!

11:55 AM: They’re now northbound.

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20 notes for your pre-holiday West Seattle Saturday!
December 23, 2023 6:12 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Newest image from SDOT’s West Seattle Junction camera)

Welcome to the long holiday weekend! Another two-part event list – first, the Christmas Eve-Eve happenings, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

(canceled) SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Santa Claus’s traditional pre-Christmas visits to West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) conclude, 10 am-1 pm.

THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE NEED COOKIES: “The Christmas People are once again asking for home-baked cookies for distribution to homeless and other marginalized people in our midst. Home-baked cookies may be brought to West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Ave SW, today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

WE CAROLERS 3: Busking for monetary donations to West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, 11 am-1 pm on the corner by Cupcake Royale (NE corner of California and Alaska)

POP-UP #1: “The Little Merle reimagined and upcycled jewelry will be available for their last pop-up of 2023. Stop by Swan Dive (4537 California Ave) from 11-6 for last-minute gifts and special stocking stuffers.”

GARY BENSON AT THRIFTWAY: Live holiday music at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) with Gary Benson, 11:30 am-2:30 pm.

POP-UP #2: Cascadia Wicks will be at Future Primitive Alki (2536 Alki SW) noon-4 pm.

GIFT WRAPPING: 1-4 pm at The Discovery Shop, 4535 California Avenue SW:

The Clay Cauldron hosts gift wrapping by donation. We provide the wrapping of your gift purchases, tags and bows included. A percentage of the funds raised will be given to the American Cancer Society for cancer research.

COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: Don’t miss his annual visit to Easy Street Records for “foto fun,” 4-8 pm. $20, kids and pets welcome. (4559 California SW)

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show starts at 5 pm on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Admission prices vary – tickets and info here.

‘SNOWED IN’ SOLD OUT: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) oresents the closing performance of its holiday show – no tickets left.

*************And these are the non-holiday happenings, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

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.

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)

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

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED: The home of West Seattle history is on holiday break.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-8 pm, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

BURGERS & BEATS: Saturday night food and music at Revelry Room – burgers start at 6, DJs at 9. (4547 California SW, alley side)

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

Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or holiday-season happening, 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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FOLLOWUP: White Center Food Bank unwraps mural as it moves into new HQ
December 22, 2023 9:54 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

The White Center Food Bank – which also serves part of West Seattle – is moving into its new home, and sent these photos to show off its new mural:

The mural’s lead artists are Jake Prendez (of South Delridge’s Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery) and Rafa Diaz; community members assisted. WCFB spokesperson Randy Nguyen says, “We’re so excited to be in our new spot. Our expected date of opening to the public is January 8th.” They’re also planning a grand-opening party for January 12. The building at 10016 16th SW has been undergoing renovations since last March; they had to move from their longtime county-owned location at 8th/108th because it’s being redeveloped. You can read more about the new WCFB site here.

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Display with plenty of character(s)
December 22, 2023 6:58 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Tonight’s photo is from Jeff Keller, who says, “Santas, Snoopys, and Snowmen at 5420 40th Ave. SW. For the young and the young at heart. Merry Christmas.” This joins all the other homes we’ve shown this season, in this WSB archive you can scroll through; thanks again to everyone who’s sent displays, theirs and others – not too late for more suggestions at westseattleblog@gmail.com!

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Jamie Kinney’s first photo show
December 22, 2023 4:33 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Next time you go to Bakery Nouveau in The Junction, take a look at the walls as well as at the cases full of treats. You’ll see photos by Jamie Kinney, a West Seattle photographer who has contributed many images to WSB over the years. (That’s Jamie, above, in a photo taken at Don Armeni Boat Ramp by his son Owen Kinney.) We asked him for one of his favorites; he sent this owl-in-cherry-blossoms image published here last year.

The Bakery Nouveau exhibition is Jamie’s first photo show; the framed prints on display are available for purchase (there’s a QR code next to each one), and he’s also selling photo calendars via his website. Next year, Jamie plans to start offering workshops in the field – his first one will be a wildlife-photography workshop in British Columbia in July. (Registration information will appear on his website soon.)

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BIZNOTE: New local bubbly for holiday celebrations
December 22, 2023 2:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(Photo courtesy Viscon Cellars)

Drink local! New in time for Christmas dinner and New Year’s toasts, West Seattle’s Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) has debuted a sparkling wine. Winemaker Ben Viscon says it’s their first-ever sparkling wine. You can read about it here. It’s available through the Viscon Cellars tasting room/wine bar, which is open 5-9 pm today and 1-6 pm tomorrow (Saturday, December 23rd), 5-9 pm next Thursday and Friday (December 28-29) and 1-6 pm next Saturday (December 30), at 5910 California SW.

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Taste of Mumbai almost ready to open
December 22, 2023 12:40 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photo)

That’s a peek inside Taste of Mumbai, about to open at 2300 California SW, former longtime home of Yen Wor Village. We went over today to check on a reader tip that they’re about to open. Indeed they are, they told us – with a buffet on Christmas Day (Monday, December 25), 10 am-10 pm. After that, they’ll be open starting Tuesday (December 26), 4 pm-10 pm. They’re not ready to open the bar yet, though, but as soon as they do, they promise they’re bringing back karaoke (a Yen Wor staple). Here’s our October story with more on the plan for Taste of Mumbai, which previously had operated from a group-kitchen facility in The Triangle.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Teenage suspects charged in Alki/Beach Drive robbery, carjacking attempts
December 22, 2023 10:40 am
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(SPD dash-cam image from charging documents, showing pursued vehicle knocking down road markers)

10:40 AM: The three teenagers arrested Monday night after a police pursuit that followed three West Seattle incidents are now charged.

All three are scheduled for arraignment at 1:30 pm today on three charges each, according to the documents we received from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office early this morning. We are not naming them because they are charged as juveniles. Each is charged with one count of first-degree attempted robbery and one count of second-degree robbery; Suspects #1 and #3, 14 and 16 years old, are each charged with second-degree taking a motor vehicle without permission, while suspect #2, 14, is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.

The narrative in the charging documents says the three calls came in to 911 within the span of eight minutes just before 10 pm on Monday – first 2800 block of Alki, then 59th/Admiral, then 5700 block of Beach Drive. All listed similar descriptions of the people involved and a “silver vehicle.” One officer saw a silver Hyundai U-turning on Beach Drive while he was responding to the Beach Drive call – the victim pointed to it and he asked “is that them?” – and the pursuit began shortly after that. The driver – allegedly 14-year-old Suspect #1 (identified later via a specific piece of clothing seen on dash-cam video) – subsequently led officers on a chase at – as we reported that night – speeds up to 90 mph, before police deployed a “tire deflator device,” which led to them stopping and running near the north end of Boeing Field.

Here’s what the victims told police about what happened: In the 2800 block of Alki, he left his workplace and crossed the street to his parked car, and when starting to open it was approached by a masked person who said “give me your car, I have a gun.” He closed and locked his car and ran away back to his workplace to call 911.

At 59th/Admiral, three minutes later, a woman had just parked near her home and was responding to a text message when someone started banging on her car windows. She backed out of the space in a panic – reportedly hitting the suspects’ car in the process; as she drove away, she told police, they pursued her, but she lost them.

In the 5700 block of Beach Drive, the victim had just walked back to her car after viewing Christmas lights when “three males … swarmed” her, police wrote, demanding “give me the keys, give me the car.” One went into her car and stole her phone as well as one belonging to a friend who had accompanied her. She fled to a nearby house, tried to seek help “but was unsuccessful,” went back to her car figuring they were gone, but they weren’t; she said one grabbed her legs and threatened to shoot her, before they took her key fob and fled. Police were on the way because a witness had called, hearing the victim scream.

The charging documents do not include information about where the suspects live. Online records do not show previous cases for any of them. They continue to be held in juvenile detention; that will be reviewed again when they are arraigned this afternoon, and we’ll update.

8:50 PM: All pleaded not guilty at their arraignments today, and Judge Nelson Lee ordered all three to remain in juvenile detention. That will be reviewed again when they return to court January 3rd.

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WEST SEATTLE FRIDAY: 17 notes!
December 22, 2023 8:41 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Hints of Vashon through the fog – photographed by Robert Kosara)

As we get ready to head into a long holiday weekend, here’s what’s happening, from listings in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

DROP OFF HOMEMADE COOKIES: Baking cookies for The Christmas People? Today’s the first of three days you can drop off your cookie donations – West Seattle Coworking (9010 35th SW; WSB sponsor), 10 am-5 pm.

FINAL DAY & OPEN PLAY: This is the last day of operations for Outer Space Seattle (2820 Alki SW), offering open play 10 am=8 pm.

FREE HOT LUNCH: All welcome, 11:30 am-12:30 pm at The Junction Church (4157 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THRIFTWAY: Live holiday music at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) with Alex Baird, 12-3 pm, and Gary Benson, 3:30-5:30 pm.

SCRABBLE CLUB: Play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room and wine bar on the north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) is open 1 pm-8 pm.

SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Santa Claus’s traditional pre-Christmas visits to West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) continue 2-5 pm today.

PARTY AT LAUREN’S JEWELRY: 3-6 pm, have some snacks and bubbly with your shopping at Lauren’s Jewelry (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton).

VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Try the fall-release red wines, and stock up for Christmas/New Year’s!

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 continues tonight, 5 pm. Timed tickets and pricing info here.

THE SOUNDTRACK OF RESILIENCE: Fundraising concert to raise money for making an album – pianist Edelmar Obenza, plus cellist and soprano. 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) – details in our calendar listing.

HONEYVILLE RASCALS: Performing live at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

SHOWCASE AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.

CHRISTMAS JAZZ CABARET: At Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds):

Christmas Jazz Cabaret
Friday, December 22, 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Don your festive attire and celebrate the season with a musical evening of singing and dancing! Alki UCC Music Director Stephan Anthony Rawson is the evening’s MC. In addition to his many other talents and accomplishments, Stephen has served as piano coach/music assistant for Jennifer Hudson. Raffle tickets for fun prizes benefit the ministry of Alki UCC. Financial donations also accepted to benefit our local food banks.

HOLIDAY SOUND BATH: 7:30 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $45.

‘SNOWED IN’ SOLD OUT: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) says the rest of its holiday show’s run is sold out!

DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! Tonight’s DJ: Lady Coco. (4547 California SW)

Something to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday info, as winter begins
December 22, 2023 6:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, December 22 – first full day of winter.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Key forecast point today – the return of rain. Also: Breezy, high in the mid-40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:55 am, and the sun will set at 4:20 pm.

TRANSIT UPDATES + HOLIDAY PREVIEWS

Water Taxi – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you’re wondering where the boat is. Holiday note: NO SERVICE Monday (Christmas Day).

Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here. Holiday note: SUNDAY SCHEDULE Monday (Christmas Day).

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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 X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem 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!

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UPDATE: SFD ‘full response’ in Highland Park
December 22, 2023 2:58 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

2:58 AM: Seattle Fire is arriving at a house in Highland Park (added: 8800 block 9th SW) where a 911 caller reported seeing flames from the basement. Possibly a vacant building, as the incident command has called for “derelict building” protocol.

3:02 AM: The incident commander says it’s a “small fire.” It’s confirmed to be a vacant building.

3:07 AM: The response is being downsized. The fire has just been declared “tapped” (out) and firefighters told dispatch it was actually an exterior fire.

3:11 AM: One more note – our archives indicate it’s the third fire in two months in one block.

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VIDEO: Welcoming winter at Alice Enevoldsen’s solstice sunset watch, with extra reason to be excited about spring
December 22, 2023 1:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

Welcome to the first full day of winter! Three hours before the season started with the solstice moment at 7:27 pm Thursday, more than 50 people joined educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen for her 59th change-of-seasons sunset watch. This time, those gathered at Solstice Park saw the sun slip behind the tall trees of Lincoln Park across the way:

Key attributes at upper Solstice Park are the paths and stones that align with the sunset on the solstices and equinoxes, so checking out those views was popular just before sunset:

Then it was time for a centerpiece of the sunset watches – Alice’s interactive explanation of the earth’s tilt at solstices and equinoxes, with young volunteer Meredith at the center of the circle, portraying the sun:

Alice also explained how your views of constellations change during the year, responding to an attendee’s question, and talked a bit about the solar eclipse coming up on April 8th – only 20 percent coverage or so in our area, “but a nice partial eclipse,” she said. But before then, her 60th quarterly sunset watch will mark the arrival of spring – be at Solstice Park at 6:30 pm March 19,

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