The Argosy Cruises Christmas ships came to Salty's on Alki on Wednesday Dec. 9 to the delight of the crowd that enjoyed the reasonable temperature and a welcome break from the heavy rains that have been soaking the region in recent days.
The Choir of the Sound entertained the hundreds who gathered on the decks and patio at Salty's to hear Christmas carols and enjoy the lights.
information from the City of Burien
The City of Burien has worked throughout the day with geotechnical specialists to assess conditions at the site of the mudslide that damaged two houses north of Seahurst Park last night. Preliminary reports indicate that the slope has not stabilized and evacuation orders remain in effect. Residents of all five evacuated homes are to remain away from their houses overnight but, except in the case of the most-impacted house, residents will be allowed back to retrieve belongings under supervision for short periods of time.
Details of Geotechnical Review:
The slide began at approximately 150 feet elevation – about half way up the slope – where soil composition changes. Above that point, ground water is absorbed. It then seeps out below that elevation. Given wet soil conditions over the past several days, seepage behind the slope’s surface layer likely caused the soil to blow outward, resulting in the slide.
The source of the slide and much of the debris field lies within the property lines of the southernmost house.
Friends, family and teachers gathered to honor and remember 14 year old Christy Phu with a candlelight vigil at Chief Sealth High School on Wednesday evening, Dec. 9. Phu was shot to death, allegedly by her uncle Si Phu following an argument over a pair of shoes. He has been arrested and is being held in King County Jail.
Banners, many with messages to Christy were on the walls outside the school as a group of seven friends organized the event and remembered their friend.
She was recalled as a funny, loud, and faithful friend. "Most of us here were pretty close. She was always super positive. She never wanted to waste time and always wanted to take the time to do something good.. She always had a really nice smile on her face. Even when she wasn't happy she would try to stay up," several of her friends said. They've all done grief counseling over the matter.
Six of her friends spoke. Kayla, Janeth, Jolia, Kimberly, Solida, and Kamal, before Janeth sang "Lay me down" and two of her teachers spoke highly of her spirit and intelligence.
The victim’s family, who live in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood, is heartbroken now that Christy is gone.
By Peggy Sturdivant
There are magicians who gather at work on Monday nights in Ballard. Their magic includes focusing otherwise twitchy teenage boys on the conductor’s baton and music on stands in front of them. It has brought professional musicians to the upper floor of the Sunset Hill Community Association Clubhouse to play along with students at all levels.
The wizardry of the Halcyon School of Music in Ballard escalated on the Monday after Thanksgiving when the outer door opened and a man in dress shoes and long black coat made an entrance. The tenor had arrived, just two days after his statewide tour had culminated in a full house for his Encanto Concert at Benaroya Hall. For the next hour José Iñiguez patiently practiced four pieces, starting and stopping as the nascent Sunset Hill Chamber Orchestra tried different tempos.
United Way of King County told 30 groups that it provides funding to that they are going to lose that funding as a result of a shift in emphasis the agency is making. Out of the $1.8 million budget change, $60,000 will be lost by the Senior Center of West Seattle.
The emphasis for United Way will move to include homelessness and programs for children and families UWKC said.
Senior Center Director Lyle Evans said,
“ 2016 is a crucial year for the center and we need your assistance. For the last
twenty-five years, we have received funding from United Way. Sadly, they
have told us that our funding will be cut by $60,000 next year. Our Center is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are responsible for raising 75% of
nearly $800,000 annual budget. This loss hits hard since we have counted on
this stable income”.
We have started a fundraising campaign for $25,000 by the end of the year to help jump start us for 2016. I’ll forward you the email that will be going out this week. We have a donation link on our website www.sc-ws.org also that does give some specifics:
Gatewood resident Vanessa S. sent us a report about a burglary on Sunday Dec 6th, on 39th Ave SW and Kenyon in the Gatewood community between 3:00- 3:30pm.
"I watched a suspicious red SUV with two females parked in my neighbors driveway when I got home. As I unloaded the last of my Christmas decorations from my car, I saw a Hispanic male run from the side of the house with the TV in hand. I was able to take a few pictures of the getaway car . I called 911 and they arrived on the scene within minutes."
The West Seattle Herald will follow up with a report in our weekly Police Blotter report.
By Lisa Herbold
District 1 Councilmember Elect
A full 35 days from election night, this long campaign is finally over. But before I shift gears away from campaigning and towards representation and policy-making, I have some thoughts from the heart to share.
This campaign has been the most humbling and among the most rewarding of my life experiences. From the very first day in late January when the idea of running was pitched to me by others (you know who you are!), to building an organization of volunteers, to asking those volunteers to work an extra month to secure my lead, the spirit and number of people lending their energy to our effort has been such an incredible affirmation of our shared values and aspirations.
As for Nick Licata, my teacher for the last 18 years, he embodies all of the best qualities of a dedicated and tireless public servant, egoless leader, and a brilliant creative strategist. I do not hope to fill his shoes, but will be honored to walk in his footsteps, while also making my own path.
A design review meeting for the proposed 7 story mixed use structure at 1307 Harbor Ave SW is set for Jan, 21 at 6:30pm at the West Seattle Senior Center at 4217 SW Oregon St.
A Land Use Application has been filed with DPD to allow a 7-story structure with 15 residential units, above retail, restaurant, office and light manufacturing in an environmentally critical area. Parking for 27 vehicles to located within the structure. Existing structures would be removed.
The design proposal has not yet been submitted to DPD.
The project has been in the works for well over a year.
Here's the Herald coverage from April 2014 http://tinyurl.com/mz6tmyq
Here's the Herald coverage from August of this year: http://tinyurl.com/q3wrrbj
18 year old Vincent Hance, was hit by a commuter train in the Rainer Vally a few weeks ago. He is alive but he has a long road ahead of him. He has a broken ankle, a broken elbow, multiple fractures on his face, road rash, cuts and bruises, and some bleeding on the brain.
He is recovering but his road back is a long one. A fundraising Pancake Breakfast is being held at the Highland Park Improvement Club this Saturday the 12th from 9:00-12:00.
A $5 donation is suggested.
They are attempting to raise $10,000 and a GoFundMe page has been set up.
https://www.gofundme.com/vincenthance
His Godmother Sarah Griffiths wrote about the accident:
"He said goodbye to his friends and classmates and hurried to catch his train home. He waited at the crosswalk for a train to pass, and once it did, he continued ahead. Unfortunately, there was a train coming from the other direction that he did not see. Vincent was struck and drug down the street until the train could stop. As a result he broke his left ankle and right elbow, has a gash in his hip, is covered in cuts and bruises and has road rash.
By Steven Garmanian
Walk into any bakery and the combination of sensory excitement and nostalgia pulls you under its spell. Memories of childhood, of parenthood, of morning walks with a friend, of delicious pastries from one’s past, are all ignited upon entry. The fresh aromatic atmosphere and visually incandescent arrays startle one with longing and desire. Happiness flourishes in the heart, and the mouth waters with anticipation.
Paul Larsen, opened Larsen‘s Bakery in 1974. As a boy, in Copenhagen, he started learning traditional recipes at age 14, and has been baking Danish pastries ever since. At age 73, Larsen still arrives daily to see that all’s running smoothly. His mission to create a warm and friendly bakery where families come and enjoy authentic Nordic goodies has been a grand success. Now, 41 years after its founding, Larsen’s not only has survived; it has thrived.
