December 31, 2014 at 6:41 am | In ,
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 more cams on )
Good morning and welcome to the last day of 2014. Again today, Metro is .
ADMIRAL ALERT: Crews worked late into the night at the bottom of the Admiral Way hill, just north of the bridge, at the scene of a water-line break. From the comment thread on , Val has the first report on this morning’s conditions:
Went through there southbound just before 3:00 am and all the work has been completed. Northbound lanes have a couple of rough, bumpy patches in them but otherwise everything looked open. There has been an attempt at sanding and salting or whatever it is we use around here but it was still icy. Today more than ever slow down if you are coming down the hill. Hit the turn to Avalon or the curved on ramp and under 20 and you should be fine. It’s not even supposed to get to 40 degrees today so the ice in this area might be there a couple of days.
We’re headed over shortly for a look.
December 31, 2014 at 12:59 am | In ,
12:59 AM: What started as a house-fire response near 24th/Thistle in Westwood appears to have become a car-fire call. Firefighters are checking to be sure it hasn’t spread to the structure. More to come.
1:15 AM: Our crew at the scene was told by SFD that the fire started in a vehicle
in a carport and also scorched a boat parked nearby, but didn’t spread to the house. No one is hurt.
1:36 AM: Photo added.
December 31, 2014 at 12:45 am | In ,
We’ve been talking about ways to finish – or start – the year with a good deed. Here’s yet another opportunity. This Saturday (January 3rd), 10 am-4 pm,
in The Junction (4142 California SW) will host a fitness competition and silent auction to help Keith Olson, injured in . Keith’s daughter Annie Olson is a West Seattle resident and firefighter who coaches at the gym. You can find out more about the event
– and that’s also where .
December 30, 2014 at 7:21 pm | In ,
(Photo courtesy : Mom J16 and newborn J50)
After heartbreaking losses this year in Puget Sound’s orca pods, good news – a baby! Here’s the news release shared by
This afternoon Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research confirmed seeing and photographing 42-year old J16 (Slick) with her newborn baby – now known as J50!
During an encounter off the south shores of North Pender Island in Canadian waters, Ken discovered J16 with her newborn calf, only a day or two old, snuggled in her slipstream and looking healthy and energetic.
No other female has given birth at over 42 years of age in the four decades of demographic field studies of the Southern Resident orcas. J16 was not expected to be carrying a calf due to her advanced age.
Researchers probably won’t know the calf’s gender for many months, until they are able to see and photograph the calf’s ventral markings.
The Southern Resident community was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2005, after dropping in population to only 78 members, but had recently lost a pregnant female, J32 Rhapsody, bring their numbers down to only 77 members. This birth brings the So. Residents up to 78.
Most of J pod was seen on December 24 west of Orcas Island, but J16, known as Slick, and her family were not among them. Then on December 26th, the Orca Network Sightings Network received a photograph of J16′s oldest offspring, 23-year old J26 (Mike), and another orca off the north end of Lopez Island, indicating that J16 was probably nearby, because maternal families remain in close proximity their entire lives.
9:09 PM UPDATE: We hope to add a photo when Orca N in the meantime, you can see several on the . Also, thanks to West Seattle wildlife watcher/photographer/writer
for tipping us to the happy news even before we got the news release.
9:28 PM UPDATE: Added a Center for Whale Research photo of mother and calf, republished with permission. You can .
December 30, 2014 at 6:12 pm | In ,
(WSB photo from New Year’s Eve 2012 at Highland Park Improvement Club)
One more mention – if you’re looking to stay close to home on New Year’s Eve/Day, you have options, and most of them are listed in the , which we’ve been updating all season long as usual, starting in mid-November. (Each day, while adding updates, we also remove what’s already happened, so you don’t have to wade through expired info.) From the
(all welcome!) to bar parties to special menus to Polar Bear Swims to scenic walks- and then some – check out . And if your business/organization/etc. has special plans that AREN’T in our guide yet, it’s not too late for us to add them – please e-mail the information to
December 30, 2014 at 3:45 pm | In , ,
3:45 PM: Update on the water problem mentioned earlier in our daily traffic watch:
SW Admiral Way westbound lane closed at SW Spokane S Seattle Public Utilities performing an emergency repair on water service line:
One westbound lane of SW Admiral Way, at SW Spokane Street (underneath the bridge), will be closed while Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews make an emergency repair to a water service line. SPU expects the lane to be reopened by 9 pm this evening.
9:13 PM UPDATE: As of less than an hour ago, the crew was still working and th in addition to the lane closure toward the bottom of the Admiral Way hill, access to Admiral via westbound Spokane St. under the bridge was closed off. We’ll be checking the scene in an hour or so (please let us know if you see it reopen sooner) and will also check it for the morning commute since it’ll be well below freezing tonight.
11:55 PM UPDATE: Crews were still working at the scene as of our return visit a short time ago. Looks like it has the potential to be treacherous for the morning commute but rather than speculate, we will check back before starting our daily traffic/transit coverage ~6 am and will include an update on what it’s like and whether you might do better to consider an alternate route.
December 30, 2014 at 3:10 pm | In , ,
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
One more way to see wildlife in West Seattle – the display currently on view in the window at
in The Junction. Twilight’s Tracy Cilona called our attention to its unusual nature (so to speak), and we stopped by for photos.
Tracy’s description:
The Survivors Expedition
Elijah Evenson is a Seattle-based sculptor who combines the aesthetics of a natural history museum with the concept of surrealism. In 2004 he studied sculpture at Gage academy of Fine Art and went on to study at the Seattle Sculpture Atelier in 2007. He currently has a studio at the Inscape building in the international district where he works in a variety of mediums both large and small.
The Survivors Exposition is a large-scale diorama in homage to the animals of the Pacific Northwest, featured in our window gallery for the month of December.
(Photo provided by Twilight)
(From the artist): “Every day that I live in the northwest, I fantasize about the way things were here one hundred thousand years ago. I have always felt a strong connection with the mountains in Washington, the beautiful balance of the very rich and peaceful environment. The animals that live here are elegant and yet apprehensive. There is special quietness that most of the animals share as they listen to the strong sound of the wind blowing through the trees and the rush of the rivers. Through these sounds, the soul of the mountain can be heard. The Coyote, the Elk, and the Falcon all have their own harmonies to sing. When I was in the redwoods, I came upon an elk’s skull that had been buried into a tree. The poor thing had its horns caught up in the branches until the tree eventually ate the carcass whole. Buried in the trunk was the memory of the elk. What survived was a monument of itself. This is my monument to the spirits of the forest.”
Twilight is on SW Alaska just west of California SW, and open until 7 pm tonight.
December 30, 2014 at 1:49 pm | In , ,
(Image from SDOT camera on the bridge, saved early Monday – note the dark zone in the center)
If you have driven the West Seattle “high bridge” after dark/before dawn in the past week or so, you’ve no doubt noticed the stretch of non-working lights between Highway 99 and the bridge crest. (And this isn’t the first trouble since the LED lights were .) After multiple inquiries, we mentioned last Friday that city sources had confirmed
was on it. So why aren’t they fixed yet? We followed up today with SCL, whose Scott Thomsen tells WSB:
After we got reports of the lights being out, we had a line service crew do a patrol and inspect the lights that were out. They determined that the cause for the majority of them was a failed piece of equipment called a breaker/contactor. The part is on order. It is scheduled to be delivered Jan. 5 and will be installed as soon as it arrives. Then, the crew will do another patrol to assess any remaining lights that are still out.
December 30, 2014 at 12:01 pm | In ,
Three reader reports in :
STOLEN CAR: Amanda hopes you’ll keep an eye out for her car – “My car was stolen from the alley of
(the 900 block of) SW Holden St between the hours of 2 pm Sunday and 8 am Monday morning. It is a gold 1994 Honda Accord with the license AIB2949.” Call 911 if you’ve seen it.
TWO CAR BREAK-INS: We received a
this morning about two cars broken into on 48th SW in the Admiral area. The texter notes, “Lucky for us, we don’t keep anything important in our cars, so no harm, but unneeded this time of year, especially since we have just brought home our son from the hospital just over a week and a half ago.”
ANOTHER CAR BREAK-IN: An unfortunate reminder that car break-ins don’t just happen when everyone but the criminals are asleep – one happened lightning-fast to Lisa near 16th/100th:
I walked into the Autozone store after having my check engine light checked with one of the employees so they could print the results, and within less than 1 minute somebody had smashed my window and grabbed my computer bag. I was parked directly in front of the store, and it all happened in moments…
December 30, 2014 at 10:44 am | In , ,
Although work on the
site has been under way now for , one more appeal is pending against a city decision allowing the new school to be built. We covered , in May and A the current appeal, filed in November, has a hearing coming up January 13th, per . It was filed by three area residents and district watchdog Chris Jackins, along with his Seattle Committee to Save Schools, who pursued the two other appeals. Here’s the two-page document covering four points, including the fate of two large trees on the edge of the site, and four zoning exceptions that were granted:
(If you can’t read it embedded above, .) We believe these are the two Douglas firs at issue (visible toward the upper left of the top photo – the trees between them and the excavator are not part of the site):
Documents related to the appeal are linked on , whose chambers on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown will be the location of the hearing at 1 pm January 13th.
December 30, 2014 at 9:04 am | In ,
Just can’t get enough of the frosted Olympics. Thanks to Danny McMillin for the Monday photo of , which we hadn’t previously known
beyond the fact we can see it from here: Lt. George Davidson, who gave Fauntleroy its current name (the surname of his fiancée Ellinor Fauntleroy), also named Olympic peaks after members of her family, including sister Constance. But enough about the past – let’s look into the immediate future:
GIFT OF LIFE: Last
in West Seattle this year, 9:30 am-3:30 pm at Westwood Village – details in . (2800 SW Barton)
TODDLER STORY TIME: , bring the toddler(s) and listen up! (2306 42nd SW)
GO SKATING! 1-4:30 pm, it’s a . (9646 17th SW)
DROP-IN CHESS: 4-5:30 pm at , kids and teens are invited to . (35th/Raymond)
LADIES SING THE BLUES: Last Tuesday of the month means that
(WSB sponsor) spotlights female artists, and also happens to be a pajama-party event &# pm, be there! (6451 California SW)
December 30, 2014 at 6:21 am | In ,
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 more cams on )
Good morning! Second-to-last day of 2014:
*Again today, Metro is .
*This is the second day of , between Harbor and Ferry, for retaining-wall work.
*Bonus: Check out the first of the two new Water Taxis – we spotted the photos in a small, unannounced slideshow on the Water Taxi website early today:
to see more images of the , which will be on the Vashon run when it’s ready to go in 2015; right behind it will be the Doc Maynard, on the West Seattle run. Talking with Greg Lerner of the
earlier this month, we had asked for images of the under-construction Water Taxis, but hadn’t heard/seen anything until stumbling onto this.
11:43 AM: We are getting reports of water on the road along Admiral north of the bridge. Checking on the cause.
December 29, 2014 at 9:59 pm | In , ,
So much giving spirit in the weeks leading up to Christmas – businesses, schools, organizations, individuals – but it doesn’t stop there. We’re spotlighting New Year’s giving this week too.
(WSB sponsor) has a two-part plan: Food drive for the
on Wednesday, benefit drink raising money for
on Thursday:
Hotwire is at 4410 California SW.
P.S. If your business/organization/etc. has some sort of New Year’s giving going on too, and the community can participate, let us know so we can help get the word out! One other drive we know is still going on is
– warm clothes for , being collected through Wednesday at
office (WSB sponsor), 3435 California SW, regular hours 9 am-5 pm weekdays.
December 29, 2014 at 6:13 pm | In , ,
weren’t the “transients” who spent so much time recently in the South Sound. Instead, expert whale-watchers identified them as members of J Pod, one of the three groups of endangered . Federal researchers hoping to help save the SRKW from extinction are trying to find out more about where J-Pod orcas, in particular, goes when they are not here at “home,” so once again this year, they have . According to , researchers tagged J27 yesterday, while J Pod was northbound through north Puget Sound. What little they know from previous tries suggests that, more than the other two SRKW pods, this one stays closer to home. Finding out more, they say, can help them identify “critical habitat” among other things. They promise to update the page from which we got the map you see above – .
December 29, 2014 at 5:26 pm | In , ,
(WSB photo, December 5th)
In case you’re keeping track – King County Wastewater Treatment has just changed the dates again for the next big pour at the
across from Lowman Beach. It’s now set for Monday and Thursday of next week, January 5 and 8th, exactly one month after the first big pour, which brought about 20 trucks an hour to the site – twice the amount expected for this one. The county also notes that crews will not be working at the site New Year’s Day. Here’s .
December 29, 2014 at 3:46 pm | In , ,
Get the last day of the year started off right:
Volunteers able to lift between 20 and 50 pounds are needed at 9:00 am Wednesday, December 31 to help the
do inventory.
The inventory
will take place at 10829 8th Ave SW.
Volunteers should dress for a warehouse and wear closed-toe shoes.
Available?
Contact Audrey Zemke at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848.
December 29, 2014 at 1:50 pm | In , ,
The SW Yancy footbridge over Longfellow Creek in North Delridge is expected to remain closed for weeks. That’s the latest from , ten days after an allegedly drunk driver crashed through the bridge’s wooden railing and into the creek. As we , neither the driver nor his passenger were seriously hurt. But the bridge was left with major damage. Parks spokesperson Joelle Hammerstad tells WSB that there’s no firm date for repairs yet, but it’ll likely be a matter of weeks – well into January. “Until then we will keep an eye on this to make sure the barricades stay up, and would appreciate the cooperation from the public to stay off the bridge.” Meantime, we’re trying to find out the status of the case against the 40-year-old man arrested at the scene.
ADDED 3:24 PM: We’ve finally obtained the aforementioned information. According to Seattle Municipal Court online records, 40-year-old Rossindo Ramos of Highland Park is charged with DUI and reckless endangerment, and also was cited for a license violation and driving without insurance. He is not shown as having been jailed after this incident, but he is out on bail with stipulations including electronic home monitoring. He did spend four days in jail less than three weeks earlier, after an incident that resulted in a charge of property destruction, related to alleged domestic violence.
December 29, 2014 at 12:01 pm | In , ,
Adding to the , another tree-cycling option: If the
don’t work for you, maybe this will – the
announces its annual tree-cycling dropoff event in the parking lot at , 10 am-3 pm next Saturday (January 3rd), cash donations accepted, no flocked trees or tinsel. The center’s
is at 40th/Edmunds.
December 29, 2014 at 10:39 am | In ,
(Photo by Lynn Hall)
Clear weather is forecast all the way to New Year’s Day, and the Olympic Mountains are making an
all-out appearance for the first time in a while. Along with gawking at our gorgeous surroundings, here are a few other options for the day/night ahead:
DROP-IN FAMILY GAMES: Week 2 of winter break. Home with the kid(s)? Looking for something new to do? 2:30-4 pm, you’re welcome to play games at the Southwest Branch Library, . (35th/Henderson)
COASTLINE ‘SOFT OPENING’: As noted in , the new burger joint in The Junction was hoping to be open by month’s end. Looks like it will achieve that goal – tonight’s the night, according to this announcement we received:
We are very excited to announce the official opening of Coastline!
Coastline will serve organic, grass-fed burgers on buns that are freshly baked in our house oven.
Come enjoy real food made entirely from scratch with the freshest ingredients, and pair it with a delicious locally brewed draft beer. We would like to extend an invite to our community to join family and friends for our “soft opening” practice run on Monday, December 29 at 5 pm.
(Some menu items may be limited.)
We will open again at 5 pm on the 30th and 31st, and celebrate our Grand Opening at 11 am on January 1st with full menu availability.
Coastline is in
(4444 California SW).
‘GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE’ INFO NIGHT: As
on Sunday,
(WSB sponsor) is presenting another edition of its free “couch-to-half-marathon” training program, and tonight’s the night for anyone and everyone potentially interested to come find out more. 6:30 pm. (3727 California SW)
WORKOUT FOR YOUR MIND: Trivia/pub quiz night at three local venues – all listed on the .
December 29, 2014 at 9:58 am | In ,
On Christmas Eve last year, we
by , a former professional ballet dancer whose “Nutskracker” rap was about getting some respect for those who practice that art. This holiday season, she’s back with the spoken-and-sung video above, also shot in West Seattle, “Lost at Sea,” with a theme she says is intended for the New Year’s season. She explains:
It is the new year, a time of renewal, a time of rebirth, and with that there is sometimes a letting go of the old and a bringing in of the new, or in a more metaphorical version, losing the old self and a bringing-in of the new self, and that’s what this piece is about for us.
“Lost at Sea” was shot here locally off West Seattle (in Puget Sound), and as an Alki resident I have wanted to try to capitalize on our gorgeous natural surroundings and create art with it since I moved here two years ago. I am the writer and spoken-word artist on the piece,
was our director/dp, the original music was done by , and it features singing vocals by Melanie Granger. It was recorded and mixed locally at . This is the same team that worked on our ,” which was released last Christmas and shot at Salty’s on Alki.
This is a more soulful piece as I wanted to try to stretch our team into new territories and express what I felt about Seattle and Alki specifically when I first moved here and how rejuvenating it was to get lost in the beauty of the ocean and find my next step in that pondering. In our next videos, I’d love be to able to get some local kids involved. I wish everyone the most blessed an may you be reborn as your truest self!!
December 29, 2014 at 6:16 am | In ,
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 more cams on )
Good morning! Last Monday of the year – notes/alerts:
*Metro is .
*Washington State Ferries is now on .
*, between Harbor and Ferry, for 3 days of retaining-wall work, starting today.
*School’s still out for one more week.
7:47 AM: Just in via text alert, the Vashon Water Taxi’s next round trip (7:40 am from Seattle, 8:15 from Vashon) is canceled because of high wind.
West Seattle Crime Watch: 4 suspects arrested in 2 i plus, two 3 reader reports
December 28, 2014 at 9:53 pm | In ,
Tonight’s
starts with two incidents today/tonight that resulted in arrests:
CAR-PROWL SUSPECT ARRESTED: Thanks to several people
about an incident near 20th/Thistle () tonight, we’ve been able to get information from police: An area resident saw someone “prowling inside her car” and confronted the man, who threatened her, showing what “appeared to be a weapon in his waistband.” He then took off. At some point, police were called and responded with a K-9 the dog found the suspect, and he was arrested.
BURGLARY INTERRUPTED: Also interrupted, a break-in at a home in the 6000 block of 26th SW () this afternoon. We’ve confirmed details with police on this one as well: Someone in the house heard glass breaking and hid while calling police. They arrived and saw three suspects flee. They chased a the third fled westward to High Point, and other officers found him there, also with the help of a K-9. Police say one of the suspects had a cut hand, some stolen pr and one suspect threatened to kill an officer. All three were booked into jail.
And two three reader reports:
VANDALISM: According to a texter, taggers vandalized garage doors overnight along the 47th SW alley between Stevens and Lander (). It’s been reported to police.
PLANT THEFT: CR reports from north of Morgan Junction:
Our green ceramic glazed pot (about 16″ tall)
with 1 foot tall “lemon cypress” was stolen from the 5900 block of California Avenue SW (). The ceramic pot is located on our main entrance door of our townhouse. It was stolen between nighttime of December 26 to early morning of December 27.
ADDED 3:10 AM – CAR PROWLS: Just got a text (206-293-6302 any time) that two cars had been prowled on 45th between Hanford and Hinds a short time ago. Police were called and are there now.
<span class="st_sharethis" st_url="/2014/12/west-seattle-crime-watch-4-suspects-arrested-in-2-incidents-more/" st_title="West Seattle Crime Watch: 4 suspects arrested in 2 i plus, two 3 reader reports" displayText="ShareThis">
December 28, 2014 at 7:57 pm | In ,
Heads up for the next three days:
(), so it can clear vegetation from the retaining wall on the west side of the road. If you drive/ride California Way, you know it&#8217;s narrow enough as it is, SDOT says flaggers will be there to help you get through. (The announcement didn&#8217;t include specific work hours, so assume this could start as early as 7 am .)
December 28, 2014 at 5:22 pm | In ,
Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo &#8211; his caption: &#8220;Great sunset for a great Seahawks win!&#8221; (20-6 over St. Louis, last regular-season game, in case you missed it.) Meantime, the forecast has changed a bit &#8211; while cold weather is still on the way, clouds are lingering, and the
a chance of snow showers after midnight and into the morning, before the clouds clear Monday afternoon and stay away all the way until New Year&#8217;s Day (Thursday) pm.
December 28, 2014 at 2:41 pm | In , ,
The almost-legendary Not-So-Silent-Night Parade (2010 WSB video above) is just the start of this year&#8217;s full night of New Year&#8217;s Eve festivities at the . As announced by HPIC:
Highland Park Improvement Club hosts its annual New Year&#8217;s Eve celebration from 6 PM until 2015. This is a kid- and adult-friendly event where everyone gets to have a little fun and toast all that was good in 2014 and all that will be good in 2015. Festivities will begin at 6 PM sharp with the Not So Silent Night parade. Bring your pots, bring your pans, and make some noise! After, we will gather outside the club for the Sage Comet to light up the night before we dance the year away. The Dance Extravaganza will be hosted by DJ Doctor Lehl, who will administer to our needs, assisted by DJ Evan and Scott Rainier on live bass. Dress up or dress in costume. Keepsake photos by RL Carroll. It&#8217;s going to be a good year.
HPIC is at 12th/Holden.
December 28, 2014 at 12:15 pm | In ,
Even without a formal New Year&#8217;s resolution, you might well be hoping to be healthier and more fit in 2015 &#8211; at least in hopes of still being here in , 2018, and beyond. Get a jump on it tomorrow during an informational night for a program that
(WSB sponsor) offers periodically. From WSR&#8217;s Lori McConnell:
What better goal than to run or walk your first half-marathon? We will start our new Get Fit West Seattle Half Marathon Training on Sunday, January 4th, at 9 am by running, walking or crawling 1 mile!! By June, participants will be ready to run the Rock N Roll Half!! Spread the word to family, friends, and co-workers. This is a free program for beginners.
We will host an informational meeting on Monday, December 29th, at 6:30 pm.
WSR is on the second floor of Charlestown Center, northwest corner of California and Charlestown.
P.S. And if you&#8217;re looking for trainers/gyms/classes to enhance your 2015 fitness plans, note that we have six local options in the
&#8211; scroll down to the &#8220;exercise/fitness/gym&#8221; list.
December 28, 2014 at 8:50 am | In ,
(Passing under the bridge on F photo by Don Brubeck, via the WSB Flickr group)
Good morning! From the :
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS&#8217; MARKET: Fresh and local/regional, every Sunday of the year. 10 am-2 pm. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: 11 am, , all welcome.
in case of any last-minute changes. (6920 34th SW)
GO SWIM! Been to city-run Southwest Pool lately? . (2801 SW Thistle)
TAILGATE IN HIGHLAND PARK: 12:30 pm, doors open at Highland Park Improvement Club for the last regular-season tailgate party. Details in . (12th/Holden)
HOLIDAY SINGALONG: 8:30 pm,
(4210 SW Admiral Way)
LOOK AHEAD TO NEW YEAR&#8217;S EVE/DAY &#8230; via the .
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