West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Just a few hours till Hometown Holidays in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB) begins with a burst of light – the Tree Lighting at 44th/Alaska. The lineup includes: Marty Riemer (who just announced a new radio adventure) emcees, the Endolyne Children’s Choir sings, the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition honorees will be presented, the first of the $6,500 Junction Holiday Giveaway (entered yet?) prizes will be drawn – and a crowd singalong’s planned too. It all starts at 5 pm. (At left, a photo of the 2008 tree, contributed last year by Marybeth Coghill. But don’t worry about snow during tonight’s event – if those potential flurries do happen, forecasters insist, it would be later.) Holiday events continue afterward, as noted on the West Seattle Holidays page – including, also in The Junction, the West Seattle Eagles‘ fundraising dinner for holiday toys/warm clothing for the United Tribes of All Indians Head Start program, 5:30-7 pm at the Aerie (next to the post office), and in Morgan Junction, the release party for local artists’ “We Are The Junction” holiday CD, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank, 8 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor).
They’re smiling despite being incredibly busy – the kitchen crew at the Kiwanis of West Seattle‘s big pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds). Santa Claus has magically managed to make an appearance there too, as well as at the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Christmas Shopping Spree – he’s in the background, but look who’s in the foreground:
Clowning around for Christmas! The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast continues till 11 am.
We’re at SODO Sears – where that video shows the bustling scene in just one room where the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Christmas Shopping Spree is in full swing right now. It’s an annual holiday tradition for the Rotarians, who gather dozens of volunteers – today, including students from Mercer Island High School and the University of Washington — to share a fun morning with kids from local schools. As Rotary’s Josh Sutton explained, they rotate the participating schools year to year – this morning, kids are here from Alki, Concord, Gatewood and Roxhill Elementary Schools, plus Pathfinder K-8 (whose principal David Dockendorf was here to help greet them). Kids are matched with volunteers; their shopping spree is bookended by breakfast and lunch in the store’s cafe. First they get coats, jackets and socks, in the room shown in our first clip – then it’s off to shop in the store, up to $100/child (and Sears provides a discount). Santa and a singalong will be part of the fun too. (added 9:26 am, Santa with a student and volunteer)
Even if you’re not here – LOTS of ways you can make this a merrier Christmas for others – the West Seattle Holidays page has a long list of giving trees and donation drives. ADDED 8:50 AM: We talked with the leader of the MI student group about the goodie bags they made, filled and donated:
(Photo by Stephen Hughes-Jelen – “frost flowers” on a High Point pickup hood just after midnight)
Just drove from West Seattle to SODO, where we are covering the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s annual “Christmas Shopping Spree” event. Cars along the street are seriously iced (and were by midnight last night), but the roads are not too bad – at least the main arterials and The Bridge, which looked glazed, but LG – who drove before 6 am – has an opinion on that:
Back from airport drop-off and I-5 (south), 509 (north) completely bare and dry! The bridge does seem to be treated because it looks wet and if it weren’t, we would have been slipping all over the place.
Sidewalks and parking lots are another matter – be extra careful there – today’s temps are projected to stay fairly low, so melt-off may be a while. If you’re going to the Eastside, beware – one volunteer here who came from Redmond says, “We saw spinouts all over the place.” As for the forecast – the overnight update begins with a big bold warning, COLD THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. All should be well for tonight’s tree lighting in The Junction – just bundle up. 8:47 AM UPDATE: Just came back to West Seattle via The Bridge – the outside lane is coned off over the high rise in both directions – city crews are working right now on the eastbound lanes.
We told you about the vote last month – this morning the winner’s been announced: Admiral Theater will show “Elf” (trailer above) as its free Christmas movie (with a donated item, as listed on that page) at noon December 19th. Also announced by The Admiral: A New Year’s Eve party – with the singalong version of “West Side Story” and a champagne toast at midnight, $20. More here. (Tonight at The Admiral, it’s the Christmas Jug Band, 8 pm.)
Another Saturday and Sunday edition this time around – almost everything is already on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – but here’s an extra shoutout. The weekend’s biggest event is the kickoff of Hometown Holidays in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB) – tree lighting Saturday night, Santa photos and more on Sunday. Looks like wintry weather, too. And the day begins and ends with special fundraising dining events in The Junction – starting with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Pancake Breakfast this morning (7-11 am) and ending with the West Seattle Eagles‘ dinner 5:30 pm-7 pm (convenient after the tree lighting, before the We Are The Junction CD release party at Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor[). Plus – LOTS of chances to shop local – not just the fabulous West Seattle merchants in The Junction, Admiral District (WSB sponsor) and elsewhere, but also a HUGE number of bazaars and sales around West Seattle. More than 50 events/activities in all, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights aren’t about being big and bright … but about showing support … blue lights in honor of law enforcement officers everywhere, particularly poignant this year given that our area’s seen five police officers gunned down in the line of duty in the past five weeks. Eric shared that photo of what’s displayed in his window, saying, ” We thought five was the right number – one for each officer who gave the ultimate sacrifice these past few months. Notice, there are no spots for additional lights. That’s quite intentional…” The idea goes back more than 20 years, according to the background in this Kitsap Sun article. (The article also mentions the Papa John’s Pizza fundraiser next Tuesday-Wednesday; reminder that local Merrill Gardens communities [WSB sponsor] also have a dinner fundraiser on Wednesday, as noted here.) Unique holiday lights, bright holiday lights, anything you see of note around West Seattle, we welcome photos and/or addresses – editor@westseattleblog.com – the ones we’ve showcased so far are archived here, newest to oldest, including lights from previous years.
Just this morning, we were talking about the maps showing who voted for who, where, around the city in last month’s election – and noting that West Seattle had something of an east-west split between Joe Mallahan support (most of the western side of the peninsula) and Mike McGinn support (most of the east). Christi Stapleton just sent us a photo of Mayor-elect McGinn at the biggest event in eastern West Seattle tonight (actually probably the biggest event on the whole peninsula), the holiday party at the Duwamish Longhouse for progressive groups including Sustainable West Seattle, CoolMom and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Earlier this week, the mayor-elect held his first three town halls; videos for all three are now viewable from this page on the transition website.
Just issued late today by the National Weather Service – a “special weather statement” saying it’s going to get REALLY cold. Which you’ve probably already figured out if you’ve been outside at all in the past few hours. Not good news with the roads wet from this afternoon’s brief rainfall, but snow still isn’t mentioned beyond those possible showers tomorrow night. Here’s the NWS statement. (Still doesn’t look like anything will happen before LATE night – well after the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting at 5 pm in The Junction, which also will give you a chance to applaud the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition honorees!)
We promised an update before the day was out – here’s what we can tell you so far. If you missed yesterday’s story – see it here – the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole is missing; after a WSB’er called it to our attention on Wednesday, we inquired with Seattle Parks, which hadn’t heard about the disappearance; they subsequently checked around extensively and couldn’t find anybody anywhere in the city who had taken it, so they reported it stolen. 
Seattle Police confirm it’s now an active investigation, and detectives have been to the scene. Some WSB’ers have posted comments after yesterday’s story saying they saw the crane truck that appeared to be removing it back on Monday. Turns out the Rotary Club of West Seattle has been investigating too, since the park and totem pole were their gifts to the city back in 1976 (here’s the history). They believe they’ve traced the crane company that was hired to remove the pole – but the questions of who hired the crane company (reportedly paying cash), why, and where exactly the totem pole is now, haven’t been sorted out yet.
ORIGINAL 3:35 PM REPORT: Thanks to the person who texted us an alert on this: East of White Center, on the south side of Highland Park, eastbound traffic on Roxbury is backing up in a big way because of a crash at Roxbury/Olson (here’s a map; just before the big hill down to South Park). We’re on our way to the area to check it out. 3:44 PM UPDATE: Officers are turning people around at 8th SW – that affects people driving eastbound from White Center as well as southbound from Highland Park. 5:10 PM UPDATE: Just went back to check – the scene’s now clear and everything’s open in time for evening rush hour.
(Used with permission, added at 3:53 pm: Photo by ALAN BERNER/The Seattle Times – Left to right: Aunt Janet Huff, her husband Mick, Amanda’s friend Alexandra McDougall and Elisabeth Huff, Mick’s mother, at the moment of CNN’s announcement of guilty on all counts)
From Italy, the verdict’s in: Amanda Knox – daughter of Arbor Heights resident Edda Mellas – is guilty of murder, according to multiple media sources, including SKY News in Europe. Knox’s aunt Janet Huff, in West Seattle, has just told KING5 on live TV, “They didn’t listen to the facts of the case. All they did was listen to the media. … All we can do is go through the (appeals) process and try to get her home that way.” Sentence is 26 years in prison, and restitution equivalent to more than $7 million US was ordered.
COVERAGE FROM MULTIPLE CITYWIDE/WORLDWIDE SOURCES:
Wrap up story from seattletimes.com (WSB partner)
KING5.com (which has a reporter in Perugia and one with Knox’s aunt in WS)
KIROTV.com (also streaming)
Latest Google News index for Knox stories
Tweets tagged #amandaknox
Britain’s SKY News live-updating trial coverage online
WEBSITES FOCUSED ON THE CASE:
Friends of Amanda Knox
True Justice for Meredith Kercher
Two updates – first, the full story from Wednesday night’s meeting on upcoming improvements to Fairmount Playfield’s playground – plus, new play equipment that just arrived at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – gotta see the Y’s pirate ship in flight! Both stories, ahead:Read More
Thanks to the various folks who tipped us to this – got the word while we were driving. Here’s one of many sites with the latest wire story. That’s going to be after midnight in Italy, by the way.
Yes, we know various “long-range forecasts” hinted at snow, but the National Weather Service didn’t have the word anywhere until “possible snow showers” appeared in the latest outlook for Saturday night. Would be ideal if that happened after the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (5 pm tomorrow, Marty Riemer, Endolyne Children’s Choir, first drawings in the $6,500 Junction giveaway, be there, Farmers’ Market parking lot). Note the photo at left of the “little” Junction tree, taken by WSB’er Creighton last year in the midst of the Big Snow (this year we’re told they’ll just light the big one to its north). 2:33 PM UPDATE: SDOT says it’s brined the roads in case of ice/snow:
Following the new winter weather response plan, SDOT crews have proactively applied salt brine solution to roads and bridges to address icing concerns and be ready for any possible snow.
In addition to applying the brine solution, which remains effective for several days unless it rains, crews have also been responding to reports of localized ice on side streets formed by groundwater seeping onto roadways.
With possible snow flurries forecast for tonight and early tomorrow, SDOT trucks are being fitted with plows and spreaders, and will be ready if needed. Crews will be on call throughout the weekend. Residents and businesses are reminded, if a storm does occur, of their responsibility to keep adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
Tonight, and for most of the weekend, the holiday celebrations kick into high gear. The West Seattle Weekend Lineup is in the works, but first – one of the highlights from tonight’s 
calendar could be called the greenest holiday party in West Seattle – Sustainable West Seattle, Solar Washington, NW Ecobuilding Guild, EOS Alliance, Seattle Electric Vehicle Association, BALLE, CoolMom and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition invite you to their celebration, 6-10 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center. The party includes a potluck, so bring something to share; all ages are welcome – kids’ activities are planned, as well as music, dancing and prizes. Tonight also includes holiday open houses (Wyatt’s Jewelers [WSB sponsor] and Husky Deli among them) – check the WSB West Seattle Holidays page for the full rundown.
Heads up for late-night drivers, especially if you’re going to a holiday party someplace to the south: Northbound I-5, starting just south of West Seattle, will have a six-mile shutdown overnight tomorrow (Saturday night into Sunday), and an even-more-extensive one next Saturday, for sign installation. Read on for the full details from WSDOT:Read More
The precinct-by-precinct numbers are out for the November 3 (finalized Nov. 24) election, and our partners at the Seattle Times have made some maps. If you take a closer look at the one for the mayor’s race (direct link here, opens a PDF), you’ll see that, in general, the Joe Mallahan/Mike McGinn vote split east-west on the peninsula – Mallahan west, McGinn east. Earlier this week, Publicola put together a map that breaks down the McGinn/Mallahan support into several additional categories.
Two years after the murder of which she’s accused, almost one year after the start of her trial in Italy, the American student with West Seattle roots is awaiting the verdict this morning. This Google News query will take you to the latest stories from sources foreign and domestic. Jurors have been deliberating more than three hours, after hearing final statements including one from Knox herself. Her father Curt Knox told reporters the family is “very hopeful” she will be acquitted. ADDED 11:07 AM: KING5 interviewed Knox’s aunt Janet Huff in West Seattle this morning.
That’s what it looks like when the lights come on each night at the Menashe Family‘s Beach Drive home – where you’ll find West Seattle’s biggest and brightest Christmas lights display. You won’t usually hear that loud set of oohs and aahs, though – tonight, the lights had a special audience: Family and friends there for the videotaping of a cable TV show. They had to throw the switch a few times to get extra angles, like this:
Here’s the camera crew:
Really important to note – the show, which we’re told features several spectacular holiday homes around the country including the Menashes’, won’t air until NEXT holiday season – as in, late 2010; it’ll be on TLC. Too much production required to put it together in time for air this holiday season. But you can go see the Menashes’ display any night in person; as has now become an annual WSB tradition, we asked Josh Menashe to give us the 2-minute tour of what’s new in the display this year:
The Menashe display is along the southern stretch of Beach Drive – no direct access from the east but you can either hit Beach Drive from the Lowman Beach area and head north, or from the Jacobsen Road end and drive south. Here’s a map. Meantime, we’ll be spotlighting lots of light displays – let us know about yours, or something cool you’ve seen – here’s the archive so far, from this year and the past few years.
An unusual late-night announcement from the King County Council. An advisory committee has narrowed down the list of 11 candidates seeking appointment to the Council seat given up by Dow Constantine when he became King County Executive last week. They are recommending four candidates be interviewed for Council District 8, which includes West Seattle and White Center. All four are current elected officials; two say they’ll run for the seat in November 2010, 34th District State Sen. Joe McDermott (the only West Seattleite in the quartet) and 11th District Rep. Zack Hudgins,, while the other two say they will not run for the “permanent” job – outgoing Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago (who ran for mayor instead of for council re-election) and 34th District State Rep. Sharon Nelson. Read on for the full announcement and what happens next:Read More
Two more gorgeous photos tonight, following up on the great ones shared earlier – thanks again to EVERYBODY. Top photo is Mount Baker, as captured by David Hutchinson tonight from Alki with the pink light of sunset/dusk. Next, Max caught tonight’s moonrise:
We’ve been planning some upgrades – mostly the behind-the-scenes stuff that you wouldn’t notice immediately, but which would pave the way for us to make some much-needed improvements – and we’d hoped to be able to warn you before we started tinkering with the live site, but a little earlier tonight … we suddenly had to tinker with the live site, without warning. So you might have noticed some slowness. If you notice ANYTHING different regarding the way you access/navigate the site, including the iPhone version if applicable, PLEASE let us know, either in a comment or through e-mail etc. – we are still kicking the tires following a major upgrade in content-management-system versions, and we also are upgrading the WSB Forums‘ behind-the-scenes stuff, which could lead to some hiccups we won’t notice till you point them out. Thanks for your patience and help!
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