In most communities, an announcement about renovations in the works for a motel would be greeted with a shrug, if that.
But when your community has only *one* motel, as is the case in West Seattle, it’s big news. So that’s why, after publishing the news release sent last week on behalf of the Seattle West Inn‘s new owners/management, we pursued more information about what’s in the works.
Read on to see what we found out from the two key players with whom we spoke:Read More
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Thanks go to Lynda and Nancy for alerting us to this sad sight: Two young trees destroyed in front of Madison Middle School (north of the main entrance path, as the top photo shows). When we heard about it, we wondered if it was related to our recent bouts of wind, but Christopher Boffoli went over for photos and reports it’s clear they were taken down by a hatchet or pick-axe. (Note the debris in the next photo.)
We have a message out to police to ask if this has been reported and whether any other vandalism’s been reported in the area; no reply yet, but we’ll add any more information we get. (If you’re wondering when it happened – sometime before midnight, which is when Lynda’s note came in.)
The exact moment is 3:38 pm our time today – and from here on out, the days keep getting longer; spring and summer are in view! In addition to the winter-solstice-sunset viewing event we’ve been mentioning with West Seattle-residing NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park (sunset’s around 4:20 pm; if it’s not rainy, you’ll see Alice there by 3:30), two more events from the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, both presented by WSB sponsors: From the Christmastime-services list, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) invites you to tonight’s 7 pm Blue Christmas/Longest Night service, “a service for folks for whom this is not the most wonderful time of the year. … Join us for this service of reflection with music, readings and candle lighting to acknowledge the grief and pain and find a ray of hope.” … And at Merrill Gardens at West Seattle (4611 35th SW), the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” (trailer above) plays in the theater at 1 pm, free admission and snacks.
If you were among the hundreds at the West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting earlier this month, you’ll remember the Endolyne Children’s Choir. When they resume their Tuesday practices post-holidays, they’ll be welcoming new members – here’s the invitation from L. Medina:
The Endolyne Children’s Choir is wrapping up a busy Fall Session where we were able to perform for the West Seattle community at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, Mt. St. Vincent’s, Park West, the December 4th Christmas Tree Lighting, and our annual holiday concert @ St. John’s Church. We are a non-audition choir, led by music director Maria Johnson, and we are pleased to welcome our new Encore and Debut choir director; Amy Stagno for the winter Session which starts January 4th. Our Debut Choir (grades K-2), Encore Choir (grades 3-5), and Advanced Ensemble Choir (grades 6-8) all practice Tuesday nights at St. John’s Church next to the West Seattle High School. Our purpose is to teach the joy of singing in a community setting that fosters self confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for music. To learn more or sign your child up for our next session visit us at: www.endolynechoir.org
We’re midway through – more or less – the first lunar eclipse/winter solstice combo in 362 years (and the last one till 2094). Many around West Seattle got at least a glimpse of the disappearing moon, thanks to shifting clouds. Christopher Boffoli got the image above from The Junction within the past hour. As you might imagine, America’s space agency had its pick of angles …
NASA’s Bill Ingalls took that from Arlington, Virginia. Anything else comes in later, we’ll add – we’ve seen a lot go by on Twitter (like this one), and various galleries like this one. Coming up, there’s the winter solstice itself: West Seattle’s NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen plans a sunset-viewing event tonight (Tuesday) at Solstice Park (map); 4:20 pm’s the sunset, she’s planning to be there around 3:30, unless it’s rainy (but clouds do NOT cancel – just like tonight, you never know when you’ll get a peek).
ADDED MIDDAY TUESDAY: This eclipse photo is by DLC (thanks!):
First Delridge … then Seaview … tonight we got that video from Timothy in Fairmount Heights of “wassailing” – or maybe you’d call it caroling – in the neighborhood. Any other last-minute holiday haps, let us know … the WSB West Seattle Holidays page is still up and running, including a long list of Christmas Eve/Day church services (let us know if yours isn’t there yet), and we should be adding the Christmas Eve/Day restaurants/coffee “who’ll be open” info tomorrow.
Two quick West Seattle new-business notes tonight:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli) 35TH/BARTON 7-11 UPDATE: After a note inquiring how soon the new 7-11 (former Exxon station/minimart) would be open – serious remodeling’s been under way about a month and a half – we checked with parent corporation Southland. The reply from Margaret in media relations: “We expect the store to be open for business by December 31 … maybe earlier.” It’s been more than 13 months since WSB commenters broke the news a 7-11 was in the works for the site.
LOCOL UPDATE: The year-in-the-works neighborhood beer/wine bar (with some food) at 35th/Kenyon could open as soon as next week, according to this update on the Locöl Facebook page. (That’s in line with what co-owner Kyle Duce had told us a week ago — that he hoped to be open by month’s end.)
Second, Todd at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) shares the latest warning about catalytic-converter theft:
A customer just called [early this afternoon] and informed me that his catalytic converter was stolen off his Toyota 4-Runner.
There was a rash of this a couple of years ago, and it may be starting again. The thieves use battery-operated saws and just cut the pipes, preferring Toyota 4WD vehicles because of ground clearance (no jacking needed) and a large market for the item.
This weekend the attendance at the light show was just AMZING!! I apologize for those stuck in the traffic jams!! lol
And those who came to watch were also even MORE amazing with their generosity for the Teachout family…donating $462!!So I will be dropping off $500 in cash to the Wells Fargo Bank in the next few days.
Thanks again to the great folks of West Seattle that make this one of the best communities in the Seattle area!!!
Jim e-mailed shortly afterward with a postscript:
And I wanted to thank Brad Burzynski … he stopped by and watched the lights and presented the Helmstetlers with one of his glass ornaments for helping out the Teachouts…
(Photo by Cathy Jaramillo)
That photo of the stairs to Solstice Park (site of tomorrow night’s winter-solstice-sunset watch) is courtesy of Jake and Cathy Jaramillo, who e-mailed to share the news that their Seattle Stairway Walks website just got a mention in Sunset Magazine. Though Jake and Cathy live on Genesee Hill, they have been writing about and photographing stairways all around the city (here are the West Seattle-specific entries), “discovering and exploring the neighborhoods of Seattle through its often-hidden, always-picturesque stairways.” Though the story’s not online (so far), Jake says their mention is “at the bottom of page 36 as part of a Sunset story on L.A. stairways.”
SIDE NOTE: If this story reminded you of a tale told here earlier this year – Bob Estep and his mission to map West Seattle’s staircases – this is the perfect opportunity for us to mention that WSB contributor Keri DeTore turned more than 30 of his entries into a clickable Google Map (with number of stairs per staircase) – you can see it here.
This morning as I was leaving I spotted a guy prowling around a house (at the corner of 46th and Hemlock Way [map]).
I walked down and looked around the house but didn’t see him. I went back up and got in my car and drove down that way. I decided to take the hairpin turn onto 46th north of Rose to get a view of the back of the neighbor’s house. The frame of her electronic dog door was lying on the ground, which got me even more suspicious. Then as I pulled forward a bit farther I could see the guy hiding up against a wall of the other neighbor’s house. Called the cops. Three units showed up within five minutes. All this time I was thinking that the neighbor whose house was being prowled was out of town, but as it turns out she was there with her little boy. Her dog finally heard the guy trying to break in and she saw him as he went running down the street.
He was a Caucasian male, under 6 feet, thin, wearing a grey hoodie under a dark
jacket … spiky blonde hair sticking out from under the hoodie.
Keep your eyes peeled. And have a safe holiday, everybody.
Still need a Christmas tree? Holy Rosaryjust sent word that all its remaining trees are on sale as of today – half price, which means prices now range from $10 to $47.50 (with 15 percent of the price going to local charities). According to Holy Rosary Tree Lot chair Refawne Acarregui, “We have great inventory to choose from (that were just cut and delivered on 12/15). Lots of Doug Firs, Noble Firs and Grand Firs to choose from.” The lot is open 3:30-9 pm today and tomorrow, 11 am to 6 pm (or earlier if all trees are gone) on Wednesday. Remember it’s at 41st SW/SW Dakota (map) this year, between the north side of the school building and the south side of the playground, since their old site behind Admiral Safeway is now a construction zone.
We published this photo to Twitter and Facebook earlier in hopes someone might shine a little light onto our mysterious motorcycle Santa Claus sighting this afternoon, but nothing definitive yet, so we’re casting a wider net. He rode southbound on California till its dead-end south of Thistle, then turned around and headed back northbound, which is when we managed the iPhone photo. Anyone get their presents early?
P.S. Side note in the holiday-cheer department: Thumbs-up for the Seaview carolers who serenaded their neighbors tonight. Your editor here happened to be visiting friends when the carolers stopped by for a song, and it was charming (as were the Delridge carolers we covered on Friday).
Another story of holiday giving tonight, this one shared by Mike Jensen:
Every December for the last 15 years, Hope Church and School has quietly been making the Holidays brighter for children and families in West Seattle.
This year the Hope Community donated gifts that touched more than 350 local kids, as well as many of their parents, that otherwise would likely not have gifts at Christmas. In addition, the Hope Community generously donated items to men from the Lutheran Compass Center as well as various Hope members and shut-ins.
But they didn’t stop there. More than 500 gifts were collected to send to mission teams in Mexico where even something as simple as a blanket is as precious as a new toy. Mary Anne DeVry, Hope’s Director of Human Care Ministries, has spearheaded the Holiday giving effort all of these years and is continually amazed at the generosity and outpouring of support from the congregation and the community.
“This response is really beyond what human beings do – as a church, we don’t have funds to buy all of these gifts, but they just pour in,” said Mary Anne. “This showing is the true meaning of Christmas, that God loves his people so much that he sent this son, but also sends his care in the form of blankets, bicycles and books!”
While this Christmas-giving season is winding down, Mary Anne encourages anyone that wants to be a part of this experience in the future to contact the Hope Church office at 206-937-9330.
We’ve blurred the plate in that photo from Christopher, who says the man was “scavenging” metal items in the 4500 block of 40th SW [map]. Christopher says the copper lawn ornament and stainless-steel pail were returned after he suggested that might be a good idea; police have been called and provided with the plate number, which reportedly checked to a West Seattle address. Second, ws4ever posted in the WSB Forums about an alert in Arbor Heights/The Arroyos regarding a purported “P-I salesperson” (odd since there’s been no print P-I, just online, more than a year and a half) banging on doors. No description. Police reiterate – call them if/when you see someone suspicious.
After a midday sojourn in The Junction, we wandered north to Admiral to check in on two of the shops open this afternoon. Above, looking up to dad Kent, is Quinn, one of the namesakes of Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, open for a “bonus day” of shopping till 5 today. We asked what’s hot this holiday season – one answer, these robot bugs:
Atomic Boys is at 4311 SW Admiral Way, just around the corner (westbound) from Alki Bike and Board, which is also featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide. They’re open till 5 today as well, and as proprietor Stu Hennessey notes, a lot bigger on the inside than you’d guess from the outside – plenty of room to chat as well as browse:
Alki Bike and Board is at 2606 California SW. To the south – if you’ve got presents to wrap and/or pets to buy gifts for – Beveridge Place Pub is the place:
Animal-advocacy volunteers from F3 and AARF are wrapping till 6 and also selling handmade pet beds and pre-filled dog stockings (6413 California SW). Back in The Junction, where we spent time earlier, Lisa from CAPERS shares a photo of one of her store’s annual holiday traditions, the Giving Tree for Hickman House. Still some cards on the tree; don’t let them go present-less:
Tomorrow’s the deadline for presents to be returned for the CAPERS tree. And one more reminder that Santa photos in The Junction and at Westwood Village are continuing till 4 this afternoon!
Need a break from the brilliant sunshine? Santa Claus is ready to meet you for a photo at Donna Ryan Photography in The Junction (4218 SW Alaska), part of Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB), with today’s $15 donation going to the West Seattle Food Bank. That’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court Queen Taylor Nichols assisting Santa today; also on hand, Pete Spalding from the food bank’s board. Kitty-corner from Santa and friends, you’ll find the stop for the free mule-drawn carriage rides taking you on a quick tour of The Junction:
And that’s right next to where we found PTSA president Lashanna Williams and principal David Dockendorf from Pathfinder K-8, in the Hometown Holidays HQ tent:
Today the tent is more a refuge from sunshine — just a week ago, we were enduring record rain! Though the Pathfinder wreaths are sold out, they’re still offering facepainting (adults as well as kids) and hot cocoa. Santa and Hometown Holidays HQ will be here till FOUR PM today, we are assured. The Farmers’ Market is on till 2 pm, as usual – among the folks you’ll find, Sustainable West Seattle and the West Seattle Tool Library team, who had planned to demonstrate the difference in energy usage between old-fashioned Christmas lights and LEDs. Even if you didn’t catch that, they’re selling gift memberships to the Tool Library – they’re on the northeast edge of the market. P.S. Here’s another perspective of West Seattle this clear-sky day, from local reporter (and occasional WSB contributing journalist) Johnathon Fitzpatrick, who happens to be flying south:
At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market within the past hour, Tammy Teachout, widow of Brian Teachout – who died at 46 after surgery for an injury suffered while hanging Christmas lights – was moved to tears. She stood by and watched as local glass artist Brad Burzynski and his family sold newly created blown-glass ornaments to raise money to help her family. The Burzynskis started selling the ornaments at 10 am; within 10 minutes, 23 of the 30 ornaments were already taken, some for far far more than the $20 donation requested, and they were all gone in less than an hour. During a break in the rush, Brad stepped back for a quick pose, with daughter:
Tammy Teachout told us her husband’s memorial on Friday was standing room only; also, she went last night to see the Helmstetler Family Spectacular Christmas lights at 3908 SW Charlestown, which is giving all donations from the past two nights and tonight to her family. If you didn’t get an ornament and can’t see the lights but still want to help her and their three children, there’s information in our original story.
ADDED 12:06 PM: Brad sent word of the final tally:
Thanks to the wonderful people of West Seattle (and Poulsbo) for raising $1085 for the Teachout family! Amazing and heartwarming!
(12/5/10 WSB photo) IN THE JUNCTION: Today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market promises not only its usual tastiness 10 am-2 pm, but also live music 10-11:30 am and a West Seattle Tool Library demonstration at noon, according to market management. Also at/around the Farmers’ Market, the blown-glass ornaments created by Brad Burzynski to raise money for Brian Teachout‘s family (explained here) will go on sale at 10 am – get ’em while they last. At 11 am, the Hometown Holidays festivities begin – Santa photos at Donna Ryan Photography, 4218 SW Alaska – this week’s $15 donation goes to the West Seattle Food Bank; mule-drawn carriage rides (line up at the KeyBank corner of California/Alaska); also at that corner, treats and more at the headquarters for Hometown Holidays, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association (with co-sponsors including WSB).
HOLIDAY SHOPPING ALL OVER WEST SEATTLE: Since this is the last weekend shopping day before Christmas, your local West Seattle merchants await you all over the peninsula! In the Admiral District, for example, the toy/novelty/retro shopAtomic Boys(4311 SW Admiral) is OPEN today for a “bonus day” of holiday shopping, 11 am-5 pm. Atomic Boys is part of WSB’s first-ever Holiday Shopping Guide; while you’re in the Admiral District, stop by nearby Alki Bike and Board (open noon-5 today). South of Admiral, Skin Care by Casey is also open 9-6 today (3272 California SW) especially for shoppers; further south at 3727 California SW, stop by Budget Cuts for a special prepaid-haircut deal. Also in the guide: Avalon Glassworks in the Luna Park district (bring food-bank donations for discounts – $1 for each item, up to a $10 discount!). And in The Junction, the 11 stores you’ll find in the guide include Funky Jane’s Consignment with a Sunday sale; Clementine with daily deals; Click! Design That Fits has gift suggestions you can check out online before stopping in; today’s the last day of the toy drive for Treehouse at Twilight Artist Collective; looking for cellular presents? Sound Advice is OPEN today with special holiday hours, noon-5 pm … In The Triangle, Mountain to Sound Outfitters (in the guide with its Seattle Ski Shuttle) is open 11 am-5 pm today … That’s just a sample; check out all the deals and other holiday info here – and if there’s anything you want to save for a reminder, each business’s listing can be shared individually via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc., using the Share This icon. … Also of note: If you’re shopping Westwood Village today, it’s Santa’s last day there too, noon-4 pm, bring a food bank or diaper donation for your photo!
(January 1, 2010, WSB video by Christopher Boffoli)
That’s our video from last year’s New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim on Alki. Here’s this year’s announcement, just out of the WSB inbox this morning:
Come wash away the challenges of 2010 and bathe in the unlimited opportunities that 2011 brings to our lives by joining the West Seattle/White Center Polar Bear Swim this January 1, 2011 at 10:00 on Alki Beach.
Bring a suit, towel, slippers and dry clothes to put on after the swim. Over 75 of us gather each year at Alki Beach for our annual ceremony. (and it gets bigger each year!). We all hold hands in a long line, and run into Puget Sound together. It is great fun and not nearly as cold as one would think. And it makes the water a lot warmer when everyone runs in together holding hands. It is a grand time and the children have the most fun of all. Hot chocolate will be provided. We guarantee that this will help you get a great start on a new year filled with happiness, opportunity, love and adventure. If you are healthy, be brave! Come join the crowd. 10:00 am January 1, 2011 – Alki Beach across from Duke’s.
From the anonymous good-doer(s) West Seattle Art Attack (some background here; that’s a helpful elf in the photo), two photos arrived along with this response to this WSB Forums post from someone whose Christmas decorations were vandalized:
Poor Ed & Gail Swartz. Somebody cut up their decorations. They lamented on the forums that Something bad is happing (sic) in West Seattle. Well, West Seattle Art Attack is at it again. The Swartz family has been attacked with a pumpkin and a few other surprises. Hopefully this will counteract the bad vibes from the vandals. There will be more attacks for the holidays throughout West Seattle.
Still need a Christmas tree? 
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