December 2023

The Wells Fargo Admiral Junction branch will close on March 24. Customers were notified in a letter today. The branch at 2358 California Ave SW. occupies a building built in 1920 that has an appraised value of $5,910,400.

Customers were advised they could continue banking at the West Seattle Junction branch after the closure.

This closure is part of a pattern by Wells Fargo in recent months following heightened scrutiny of bank operations nationally. They've closed more than 300 branches in 2023 seven of them in Washington state.

By Patrick Robinson

In 1951 Billy Wilder wrote and directed a film called Ace in the Hole. It starred Kirk Douglas. In it a reporter uses a news story to build his personal reputation which then spirals beyond his control, ending tragically. While it didn’t get good reviews at first, the message it carried was that journalism for all it’s high mindedness and sense of self importance was often ruled by human tendency to be drawn to the most horrific news and pictures. In the film the lead character says, “Bad news sells best. 'Cause good news is no news.” 

That idea persists today with the more graphic phrase “If it bleeds, it leads.”

But why is this so?

I believe it boils down to the most base responses in the human brain.

The brain consists of three primary structures.

The reptilian brain, which is involved with primitive drives such as fear, anger, thirst, sexuality as well as habits.

Join The Whale Trail and friends for our annual Winter Gathering. Hear updates about southern resident orcas from researcher Brad Hanson, Ph.D. Learn about current approaches to assess the health of the population, and what the data is showing.

Featured speakers also include Washington State Orca Recovery Coordinator Tara Galuska, and researchers Mark Sears and Maya Sears. Tara will share updates about state actions and priorities for SRKW recovery. Mark and Maya will present recent orca encounters, including J pod's overnight trip to Quartermaster Harbor. 

Getting up and running was not easy for the new Banh Mi XO Sandwich shop. As WestsideSeattle was first to tell you on Sept. 19 the shop and owner Guy Nguyen got established then did a brief soft opening in early December but then had to take a break to get everything running smoothly. On Dec 14-16 they had another three day run and hit another problem. They were apparently too good. 

Banh Mi sandwiches were selling out by 11am.

West Seattle said a sweet goodbye to Chas Redmond on Dec.16 at his Celebration of Life at the West Seattle Senior Center. A well known and beloved community activist, Redmond became an integral part of the West Seattle community through participation is numerous events either providing audio support or through his own voice advocating for positive change.

The event was organized by good friend Brian Allen and his daughter in law Lowrey Redmond. It was well attended by well over a hundred of his friends and famiily. 

He passed away Nov. 6.