West Seattle, Washington
02 Friday
On this seventh night of Hanukkah, West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah took the celebration to the streetcorner in The Junction. That’s KHN’s Rabbi Zari Weiss, above; she and congregation members gathered at California/Alaska for a “Pop-Up Hanukkah” earlier tonight.
Tomorrow is the final night of the eight-night Festival of Lights.
As the season continues, we’re spotlighting West Seattle Christmas lights most nights, and we appreciate your sighting reports (westseattleblog@gmail.com) with or without photos! Barbara sends word that Fauntlee Hills is shining bright again this year, including this house “on the corner of 39th Ave SW and SW Trenton.” See where else we’ve showcased by browsing this WSB archive.
Many – but not all – community councils take a break from meetings in December. The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s every-other-month meeting, however, is ON for next Tuesday (December 11th), 6:30 pm at a different location – Admiral Congregational Church. From ANA president Larry Wymer, here are the agenda highlights:
1) Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
Director Andrés Mantilla will provide an update and overview of Seattle’s ‘Department of Neighborhoods’, including recent changes under our new mayor, with an opportunity for Q&A with the neighborhood to discuss how best to work with their department.2) Admiral Congregational U.C.C. Property
Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom will present information on the various services the church provides for our neighborhood beyond inclusive worship, as well as informing us of some near-term changes the church is planning to make. Admiral UCC is considering re-purposing some of its property, and wants to keep the neighborhood connected to and informed about the possibilities.3) ANA Officer Elections (& 2019 Priorities)
We will be holding elections for all ANA officer positions including:
● President
● Vice President
● Secretary
● Treasurer
We will also be discussing YOUR priorities for ANA for 2019, and offering opportunities for you to volunteer in whatever capacity suits your time and interests.
Admiral UCC is at 4320 SW Hill.
From our partner site White Center Now, video of Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Q&A/briefing with three local elected officials, all West Seattleites who represent this area as well as White Center/North Highline: 34th District State Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon and County Council Chair Joe McDermott. (34th District State Senator-elect Joe Nguyen was also expected but unable to attend due to multiple conflicts; we interviewed him today for a post-election, pre-Legislature followup that you’ll see here within the next few days.)
Perfect weekend to shop local! The photo is from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), where Eda from Boejack Design has a pop-up under way until 3 pm. Click! tells us, “She handcrafts bags in leather, vegan leather, and Japanese fabric.” More info here.
(Got a shopping spotlight? Let us know for the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!)
Family and friends will gather December 16th to remember Katherine (Katie) Overmars. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
KATHERINE FAY BIRKLAND OVERMARS (KATIE)
Born Feb. 18, 1966, in Seattle, died Dec. 1 in Browns Point, Tacoma, at age 52.
Katie grew up in West Seattle and attended Lafayette Elementary, Mercer Middle School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1984. She worked at American Seafoods in Seattle until she married and had children. She spent the rest of her life in Browns Point.
She was active in the Browns Point community, loved skiing, fishing, water sports and soaking up the sun. She was a wonderful cook and was the No. 1 fan at her daughter’s volleyball games and her son’s baseball games.
Katie is survived by her husband Bob, daughter Jane and son Evan, all of Browns Point, mother Merry Nye of Seattle, father Ted Birkland of Las Vegas, Nev., sisters Elizabeth (Brad) Sneed of Las Vegas, Nev., Annie Taylor of La Conner, Wash., and Kirsta Birkland of Scottsdale, Ariz., dear aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
We all will miss her love for us, her friendliness and her generous spirit.
A funeral will be held Sunday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Browns Point (6800 East Side Dr. N.E., Tacoma), followed by a gathering at the nearby Browns Point Improvement Club directly after the service.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz)
(Bald Eagle, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin)
Here’s your eagle-eyed view of what’s up today/tonight around West Seattle. First, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
GIFT WRAPPING AT QUAIL PARK: Gift wrapping at Quail Park Memory Care Residences of West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
We LOVE the Junction! On Saturdays in December, between 10 am and 4 pm, we’ll GIFT WRAP any gifts you purchase from Junction Businesses! Bring your gifts down the hill, and enjoy some hot cider while we wrap your gifts! The service is on us, but if you’d like to leave a donation for the Alzheimer’s Association, we’ll have that opportunity available!
(4515 41st SW)
GIFT WRAPPING AT ADMIRAL BARTELL DRUGS: Free gift wrapping 11 am-2 pm at Bartell Drugs (WSB sponsor) in Admiral. (2345 42nd SW)
CHRISTMAS MARKET: Christkindl Markt, 10 am-4 pm. Handmade crafts, cider, pretzels, food, baked goods, plants. At Admiral Congregational Church. (4320 SW Hill)
STORYBOOK SANTA Special photos at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:
Stay local, avoid the lines, and experience the magical joy of Christmas as Gail Ann Photography presents the 3rd annual Storybook Santa at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse on Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 from 9 am – 4 pm. Children of all ages will experience the wonderment of everything Christmas as they are welcome to explore under the tree, chat with Santa, read a book with Santa and most important, share their Christmas list with Santa! Dress up in your holiday best, your PJs, or come as you are! Dogs and cats are no stranger to Santa either! Ten-minute sessions starting at $30. 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency. Email to schedule your appointment: gail@gailannphotography.com
(9131 California SW)
SANTA AT CAPERS: Santa photos at CAPERS in The Junction, 9 am-1 pm, by donation benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)
PANCAKES WITH SANTA: Santa photos during free pancake breakfast at John L. Scott Real Estate in The Junction, 9 am-noon. (4445 California SW)
HOLIDAY KIDS’ ACTIVITIES: 11 am-3 pm at Bartell Drugs (WSB sponsor) in Jefferson Square (4706 42nd SW) and White Center (9600 15th SW).
ENDOLYNE CHOIR CONCERT: The annual Endolyne Children’s Choir “Winter Fantasy” Concert, 11 am at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. (3050 California SW)
SHOP FOR ART! South Park Arts‘ Art Under $100. 1 pm early VIP entry ($20), free entry 2-8 pm at Seattle Design Center. Details in our calendar listing. (5701 6th Ave. S.)
SANTA AT OUNCES: Santa at Ounces, 1-4 pm: “Pics are FREE and open to all! Kids, families, dogs … etc.!” (3809 Delridge Way SW)
SANTA AT THE SALON: Santa photos at Tram’s Salon, 1-4 pm. (4110 California SW)
CHRISTMAS SHIP: Three stops for the Christmas Ship today/tonight in South Park and West Seattle:
-3 pm at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park (7900 10th Ave. S.)
-4:05 at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW)
-9:10 pm at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor)
Rainier Youth Choirs will be on board. Free to enjoy from shore!
POP-UP HANUKKAH: 5:45-6:30 pm, candlelighting, singing, and more in The Junction, with Kol HaNeshamah – details here. (California/Alaska)
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Join Twelfth Night Productions for “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.” 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Tickets available online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
‘JANE EYRE’: Also a 7:30 pm curtain time for the ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) holiday-season musical. Check ticket availability here. (4711 California SW)
NORTHWEST FIRELIGHT CHORALE: Holiday concert at Westside School (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. (10404 34th SW)
UGLY SWEATER PARTY Tonight at Alki Beach Pub & Eatery, starting at 8 pm. Contest with $100 cash prize! Live DJ. (2722 Alki SW)
THE ESOTERICS IN CONCERT: 8 pm at Holy Rosary Church. Info and ticket link in our calendar listing. (42nd/Genesee)
And from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
ROXHILL PARK CLEANUP CREW: Join neighbors’ monthly cleanup in the park. 9 am-11 am – meet in the parking lot. (29th/Barton)
LINUX USERS GROUP: 9 am at Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – info in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)
DESIGN WORKSHOP: 9 am-noon at Evergreen High School, community design workshop for the new “hub” with affordable housing, nonprofit headquarters, and more at 8th/108th. (830 SW 116th)
ROLLER DERBY: Southside Revolution‘s Wonkatania doubleheader bout at Southgate Roller Rink. Doors open at 5:15 pm. Info in our calendar listing.
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: 6-10 pm at West Seattle High School – sophomore class fundraiser. Check to see if there’s room! (3000 California SW)
7:57 PM: We’re at Lowman Beach, where the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship has just arrived for its first of four West Seattle stops over two nights. The seasonal serenading, courtesy of on-board singers, will be happening here for about 20 minutes, then on to Alki for an 8:40 pm stop (near the Bathhouse). More to come!
(At the Lowman treat tent)
8:17 PM: Great crowd at Lowman.
(Photo added, by Robin Sinner: Brightest of the 8 boats with the Christmas Ship)
After a singalong of “Joy to the World,” the Christmas Ship and the 8 boats accompanying it are now Alki-bound.
8:44 PM: The Choir of the Sound is just concluding its first Alki song.
9:05 PM: Sailing back to Pier 55 – but back in West Seattle tomorrow – see our Holiday Guide for the schedule. Photos when we’re back at HQ.
ADDED 10:54 PM: Photos added above and below. As usual, the Alki stop had extra happenings onshore, with Hope Lutheran helping out.
Throughout the holiday season, the Christmas Ship sails around the region with a long list of guest choirs performing Christmas songs.
It’s free to enjoy from shore, or you can buy a ticket to sail on board the Christmas Ship or one of its follow boats – Argosy donates part of the proceeds to charity, as announced during its stops.
(Thursday’s orca sighting, Photo by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Three times in the past week, endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales have passed West Seattle shores.
It’s also been a busy week for one of their most fervent support groups, The Whale Trail.
Just three days after TWT co-presented “Welcome the Orcas“ at Alki – with SRKWs showing up for the occasion – the group’s monthly Orca Talk filled the seats at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor).
Unannounced guest speakers stole the show.
That video is from the security camera at Juneau Street Market (5901 California SW). On Thursday, we published a West Seattle Crime Watch report about its early-morning burglary. Today, the market sent us the video recorded during the burglary. The video shows that only 40 seconds elapsed between the burglar throwing something through the door and his escape back through the broken glass, carrying stolen cigarettes and the register. You can even see the flash as he yanks the register out by its wires. (The break-in starts :40 into our clip, where the camera’s time stamp shows 3:22:50 am.) Here’s the clearest frame grab we could get:
(Added – a better frame grab, courtesy of Todd, originally posted in comments below:)
If you have any information that would help the investigation, the police incident # is 18-454606.
(Photo added: Sent by Mark)
12:04 PM: We’re getting multiple reports of a power outage in Upper Alki, though so far the Seattle City Light map only shows one customer out. Be sure to call SCL if you’re affected (206-684-3000) – and then let us know!
1:11 PM: Though the outage map still shows only one customer, the outage hotline for those affected says 133, per a commenter.
2:36 PM: Power restored, per e-mail from a resident in the outage zone. SCL apologized, meantime, for the map inaccuracy, saying “a server upgrade” was at fault.
Though Christmas is still two and a half weeks away, some holiday gift donation drives like Toys for Tots have only a few days left – so if you can afford to buy just one more thing this weekend and drop it in a donation box, you can brighten someone’s Christmas … as easy as that. Above is Alice Kuder of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor), who sent the photo as a reminder about their Toys for Tots collection bins through Tuesday, not only in the lobby of their sixth-floor offices at Jefferson Square, but also on the first floor (4700 42nd SW). New, unwrapped toys for T4T, please! Other donation sites are listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, as well as other holiday-giving opportunities (and if yours isn’t yet, please e-mail us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!).
(2017 WSB photo)
The Christmas Ship visits West Seattle tonight! It’s on our two-part Friday highlight list, starting with what’s in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
HANDBELL CONCERT: Bells of the Sound at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor): This year’s holiday concert is “Home for the Holidays.” Come see and hear Puget Sound’s premier handbell ensemble at 7 pm – show and ticket details here. (3940 41st SW)
ORCHESTRA & SINGALONG: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphony Orchestra, 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium. Get there early for a holiday singalong! Details here. Admission is FREE; donations appreciated! (2600 SW Thistle)
‘JANE EYRE’: ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) presents “Jane Eyre: The Musical, 7:30 pm. (No show Thanksgiving Day.) Directed by Mathew Wright. Tickets available here. (4711 California SW)
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.” Opening night, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
CHRISTMAS SHIP, NIGHT 1: First of two nights for the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship to visit West Seattle! Two stops are on the schedule:
-7:55 pm at Lowman Beach Park
-8:40 pm at Alki Beach Park (near the Bathhouse, 60th/Alki)
Choir of the Sound will be aboard. Shore activities usually include a bonfire. Just show up and enjoy the music, which usually lasts about 20 minutes.
And from the year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
HPIC’S CORNER BAR: 6 pm, doors open for this month’s pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club, featuring soul, jazz, and funk with Hello Jello. No cover, all ages welcome. (1116 SW Holden)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth IHS is home vs. Rainier Beach, girls’ varsity at 7, boys’ varsity at 8:30. (2600 SW Thistle) … West Seattle HS is home vs. Lakeside, girls’ varsity at 7, boys’ varsity at 8:30. (3000 California SW)
STEVE ITTERLY: Singer-songwriter live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
Got something for our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you are … or know … a homeless or otherwise at-risk veteran, next week’s Seattle Stand Down offers help. This announcement is just in from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)
South Seattle College’s Georgetown Campus will host the eighth annual Seattle Stand Down on Dec. 13-14, where homeless and at-risk veterans and their families will be offered free access to a wide array of resources and services. The event is put on by The Seattle Stand Down, a volunteer team of veterans dedicated to supporting veterans experiencing homelessness.
The Seattle Stand Down is a one-stop shop for resources and services available to veterans who currently lack permanent housing or simply need a “hand up” in order to prevent homelessness.
Representatives from local businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and all levels of government will be on hand with volunteers to provide medical screenings, eye exams, dental services, legal aid, employment opportunities, housing assistance, case management referrals, haircuts, personal hygiene items and meals. The two-day event will also offer employment assistance and legal resources.
Services and resources will be provided at the Gene Colin Education Hall – Bldg C, 6737 Corson Avenue South. Parking passes will be made available to veterans receiving services.
The Seattle Stand Down is unique from other stand down events in that it has a separate area designated for women where they can feel safe and comfortable. Providers will offer services specifically for women veterans including health care, advocacy, counseling, employment and personal care.
For a full schedule of events, please visit www.theseattlestanddown.org.
The Seattle Stand Down was founded as a community service project of student veterans at Seattle Central College. The Seattle Colleges District has hosted the event since its inception eight years ago. Major funding for the Seattle Stand Down has been made possible through a Veterans Employment and Training Service grant from the U.S. Department of Labor as well as additional funding through the King County Veterans Program, funded by the Veteran, Seniors and Human Services Levy.
Here’s a map of SSC’s Georgetown campus.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:04 AM: No traffic incidents; one Metro alert: The 6:43 am Route 56 was running about 20 minutes late.
WEEKEND RAMP CLOSURE: From WSDOT: “SR 99 northbound on-ramp from South Royal Brougham Way will be closed for paving. Closure runs 5 a.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday.”
7:39 AM: Another Metro alert – the 7:47 am Route 57 won’t run.
(WSB photos)
Back in October, during opening ceremonies for the fall Duwamish Alive! event, Willard Brown was honored as a Green-Duwamish Champion for his work saving and restoring the Delridge Wetlands Natural Area – a former Seattle City Light substation site. Today he got to celebrate the award at the site with some of his youngest partners in the restoration work:
Students from nearby Louisa Boren STEM K-8 use the site for outdoor environmental education. Today they were going to plant a tree in Willard’s honor, but the ground was too hard to dig after multiple mornings with sub-freezing lows! So that’ll have to wait for a warmer day.
Willard led the wetland project as part of his work for the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, from which he recently retired. DNDA executive director David Bestock talked with the students about his accomplishments.
Willard is one of the first to be honored as a Green-Duwamish Champion; the Duwamish Alive Coalition explains that the award is meant “to recognize and honor those individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to improving the health of the Green-Duwamish Watershed,” adding:
Willard’s dedication to a wholistic approach of engaging and improving the community, its environmental health, education, and wellbeing is exceptional. His vision of “kids across all demographics, income, language, race, culture, all are equal in their support and stewardship of the habitat that they inherit,” has been his driving motivation, supplied by his never-ending positive energy which has helped Nature Consortium/DNDA open a new chapter in its legacy.
The Delridge Wetlands site is at 23rd/Findlay.
10:29 PM: This damaged car was the last one left at the scene of a crash tonight outside the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse by the time we were able to get there. Our first tipster reported by text:
Hit and run outside of Fauntleroy Hall. Two cars pushed up on curb. Suspect fled with car. Didn’t get far. Ditched it in the Y parking lot and fled on foot. Called the cops.
Another tipster via Twitter reported seeing an arrest in progress when he went by. When we got there, in addition to the car, we found one officer who told us he was on scene awaiting the last tow truck, but he was able to confirm that three vehicles were involved and that one person had been arrested. No SFD callout logged, so apparently no injuries of note.
2:28 AM FRIDAY: Cross-referencing jail and Municipal Court records, we’ve discovered that the driver who was arrested is a 28-year-old woman booked into King County Jail, under investigation for DUI, driving without an ignition interlock, and driving with a suspended license. Records show a prior DUI, from 2014, also in West Seattle.
(WSB photos)
7:08 PM: First police received reports of possible gunfire heard in South Delridge – now there’s a “scenes of violence” call at Delridge/Barton. We’re on the way to find out more.
7:17 PM: SFD tells us they’re transporting a man in his 20s with a gunshot wound. Police have a K9 out searching in the area. That’s all we have so far. Northbound Delridge is blocked to traffic at Henderson.
7:23 PM: Police confirm they’re looking for a suspect. If you’re hearing sirens, that’s because of the K9 search. The victim has been taken to Harborview by Medic 32.
7:48 PM: Guardian One has joined the search.
8:15 PM: We’ve gone back to the scene to check on the situation. No word of anyone in custody yet. But Delridge has reopened both ways.
9:09 PM: No new info from SPD yet; the victim is now described by SFD as “approximately 30 years old” and in serious condition at the time of transport.
9:58 AM FRIDAY: Here’s the update from police via SPD Blotter:
… The victim, a 26-year-old man, was shot in the shoulder and is being treated at the hospital. The injury is not considered to be life-threatening.
Just before 7:00 pm Thursday, a resident in the 8800 block of Delridge Way SW reported a burglary in progress when he observed a man attempting to break into his home. Officers responded and located the possible burglar. The man had been shot in the shoulder. Officers immediately provided first aid and called for Seattle Fire to respond. The victim reported to police that someone had broken into his home nearby and fought with him. During the struggle the suspect shot him and then fled. The victim ran to the location on Delridge seeking assistance.
The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. A K-9 team responded and attempted a track. The Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Guardian One, also provided assistance, but officers were unable to locate the suspect.
Officers learned later from the victim that he may know the suspect, and detectives will follow up on that information.
As the holiday season continues, we’re showcasing bright lights around West Seattle, and appreciate your sighting reports! This photo was sent by Susan, who says these lights are at 5106 SW Stevens. We’ll be adding them to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Got a suggestion, with or without photo? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
At last night’s Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors meeting, the board chose its leadership for the next year. Leslie Harris, the Highland Park resident who represents West Seattle and South Park, is continuing as board president. She was first elected to the board in 2015, became its vice president in 2016, then president in 2017. Rick Burke will continue as vice president, with Zachary DeWolf the board executive committee’s new member-at-large.
This afternoon, we’re welcoming Daystar Retirement Village as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they’d like you to know:
Daystar is making a difference in the lives of our seniors here in West Seattle through providing a safe and secure environment. Our activity program will keep you on the run or enjoy our beautiful gardens. Our location is very user-friendly, with access to public transportation available right in front of our building, and the Westwood Village mall across the street for convenient shopping.
Right now Daystar is offering a move-in special. Move in before the end of January and you can lock in your rate on selected one- or two-bedroom units. Also, if you act before December 31st, you might be eligible for $1500 off your first month’s rent.
Located on SW Barton near Westwood Village, Daystar has been family owned and operated since 1987 by the Powell family of Federal Way. Come and experience our family and let us carry the responsibilities of cooking and cleaning. Call 206-937-6122 or e-mail info@daystarseattle.com.
We thank Daystar Retirement Village for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
2:14 PM: Thanks to Dave for the tip – we confirmed with the Seattle Public Utilities crew on the southeast corner of California and Edmunds that they’re fixing a water break. Some traffic effects at that 5-way intersection as a result.
3:54 PM: Elaine Yeung of SPU replied to our inquiry seeking more info, saying the break was “caused by a tree root. Crews have now finished working on the pipe, placed temporary paving, and opened the street back to traffic.”
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
JUNEAU MARKET BURGLARIZED: The photo is from early this morning, when Juneau Street Market (5901 California SW) discovered burglar(s) had smashed their front door and stolen their cash register and cigarettes. It’s impeded their ability to make transactions since credit-card processing was hooked up through the register. If you saw anything/anyone suspicious, the SPD incident number for reference is 18-454606.
CAR PROWL: Devan reports a driveway-parked car near 38th/Raymond was broken into overnight late Tuesday/early Wednesday: “Unfortunately it is my time to report a car prowl. I had packages stolen out of the back of my car (I was going to return them after work) as well as my gym bag full of gym clothes, shoes, headphones, and other misc things in my car. They ransacked my car, throwing around things that had no value (papers from a meeting I had).”
| Comments Off on West Seattle holidays: Kol HaNeshamah’s ‘Pop-Up Hanukkah’ in The Junction