December 2012

SLIDESHOW, Click on photo for more, or click on photos below in Photo Gallery

A candlelight vigil took place tonight, Dec. 22, beginning at 5:00 p.m. by the wooden picnic shelter south of the Alki Bathhouse to honor the victims in the Newtown, Connecticut shooting tragedy. About 18 gathered, lit candles, and sang. Each read the name of a shooting victim out loud. There were three speakers.

In the West Seattle Herald's announcement about the vigil, organizer Casey Ann Rasmussen of West Seattle said, "I don't want this to be a political event in any way. No talk about guns or other issues. This is an event to honor the victims of this tragedy. I've talked to many people and we're all seeking some way to deal with this."

Her husband, Trevor Ras, a professional musician, played guitar, seated in the corner, and later, standing with speakers.

UPDATE Christmas Day 8:30am

The weather system that brought snow to the Kitsap peninsula and areas south of Seattle on Christmas morning couldn't chill down the temperatures enough to bring flakes of the white stuff to West Seattle. Temperatures at 8:30 am hovered around 42 degrees, ten more than freezing. The National Weather Service called for 100% chance of rain. Rain and showers were expected for the remainder of the week.

Original post
With the highest point in the city of Seattle at High Point at roughly 35th SW and SW Myrtle there's a good chance that at least overnight and into the early morning hours it could be a white Christmas in West Seattle.

That's the current prediction of the National Weather Service for our area. Conditions change of course but don't be surprised if you get up early Christmas morning and see the world dressed in white.

As a peninsula West Seattle offers some of the best views in the Seattle area, with many home perched on hillsides, some with views of the city and others with views of the mountains or Puget Sound.

Real Estate search website Estately.com has compiled a list of the top five most expensive homes sold in West Seattle in the past year.

At the top of the list is a home on Seola Beach Lane with three bedrooms, three and a quarter baths, a wine cellar, on the beach with hickory cabinets, chef Gaggenau appliances, 2 Amana refrigerators, steamer oven, and more with views from every room. It went a month ago for $1,845,000.

Here's the list...and links to look them over:

1) 3515 SW Seola Lane - $1,845,000
2) 1720 Victoria Ave SW - $1,488,000
3) 5933 Beach Dr SW - $1,425,000

Construction on the Delridge Way paving project is set to begin January 10. See the West Seattle Herald story on it here. It is part of the $365 million Bridging the Gap levy.

The project is expected to last nine to 12 months and vastly improve the roadway that is in need of replacement. In a press release from SDOT today they outlined the work and the benefits.

"The southern portion of Delridge Way SW is an important West Seattle arterial that has deteriorated over time. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will rebuild Delridge Way SW between SW Orchard and SW Roxbury streets to improve travel conditions and promote safety.

Project Description
· Construct new concrete and asphalt paving surfaces
· Install drainage detention pipes and inlets
· Provide upgraded curb ramps
· Reconfigure lanes between SW Myrtle and SW Kenyon streets

Project Work Hours and Schedule

From Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation, or "AARF", & Furry Faces Foundation:

Once again this year, we will be at Elliott Bay in Burien wrapping your holiday gifts! Come on down and get them wrapped all fancy-like by the elves of AARF & Furry Faces Foundation! Your gift will be stylish and fabulous!

TOMORROW, Saturday, 1:00pm until 6:00pm

Elliott Bay Brewing Company
255 SW 152nd St., Burien

Kate Farley, one of the prime organizers of the Barton Street P-Patch wants to start a new tradition. She started on Dec. 21, the shortest day and the longest night of the year, to light lumniaria in the garden. It's a way of announcing the return of the sun. From the Solstice on the days will get longer.

She and two friends came out to do the honors and light the votive candles in the lunch sacks and place them on the walls of the garden. Mary Ann Petrocelli, Allison Mountjoy, and Kate Farley poured sand in the bags and placed them atop the walls of the garden.

"It's a very healing thing and I did it to greet the season but in my mind were other reasons right now that people need healing."

Police have caught the 16-year-old man who mugged a woman after getting off the RapidRide bus in Crown Hill, according to Seattle Police Department.

He was arrested last night, Dec. 20, after he was spotted boarding a Metro bus in downtown.

We reported earlier in the week, and last Friday in our Police Blotter, on the incident. A woman who had been working on her Macbook laptop on the bus was approached by the suspect after they got off on 15th Ave NW and 85th St NW. She had tried to ignore him, but he punched her in the gut and in the face and stole her backpack before fleeing.

Detectives were assigned to the case and were able to locate the suspect while reviewing surveillance on the downtown buses. A bulletin with photos of the suspect were also distributed to Seattle and King County Metro officers.

By Shara Wallace

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Art Exhibits

Burien Community Center---“Extraordinary Women of Highline," an exhibit that showcases the accomplishments of eleven pioneering women from the Highline area. Through Jan. 31. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Burien Press--Artist Scott Grigg, presents American Spring Art show a visual critique of modern American politics. 423 S.W. 152nd St.

The interplay of the sun, art, space, darkness and street lighting was beautiful tonight at Burien Town Square. This section of Burien is crying out to be officially designated the Arts and Cultural District.

The city has an opportunity to build a beautiful “Artplace” at Town Square. The size of the area is a little small but it is perfect for place making.

Other cities across the nation are building Art Places for their citizens by competing for grants and promoting stimulating art projects to enhance their cities desirability for future growth. These attractions will draw commercial and community resources for the people to visit and enjoy.

If this opportunity is missed the dream of a vibrant town square as described or as planned in the Burien 2020 Vision will be ended.

The city council needs to be forward thinking and have a long-term vision for a vibrant Burien like it used to.

Robbie Howell
Burien

In reading Mr. Newmaster’s letter in the December 14th issue of the Highline Times, I find it very nice that a somewhat neutral person in the annexation process found some questionable and disturbing things in Mr. Malo’s letter in your earlier edition.

As I saw the annexation issue, I also felt it would pass. And I’m sure the anti-annexation folks did too. So, they changed their attack somewhat. They still made many questionable statements, which I understand had facts coming from them, checked and certified by them. That alone makes for some questions. Their main plan was to sell the people of North Highline Area Y that they did not have to annex but could stay unincorporated, and business would continue as usual.

In doing so, they shot themselves in the foot. We/they can stay unincorporated for a while longer but things will start to fall apart. The state has said that these areas MUST incorporate in the near future. The county has stated over and over that their services will start to decline, and will continue to do so indefinitely as it stands now.