West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
As we continue showcasing West Seattle Halloween sights – one week to go until the big night! – thanks to Joey for the “Ghostbusters“-evoking pics of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, in the 5300 block of SW Manning.
Got decorations? Send us a pic – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
4:04 PM: The list is out. Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones is finally out with his promised short list of school closures/consolidations – four in all, including Sanislo Elementary on Puget Ridge, consolidating it into Highland Park Elementary. Here’s his full message:
Dear SPS Families, Staff, and Community,
Thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students and schools. We are incredibly grateful for your ongoing support and commitment to helping us navigate these challenging times.
Balancing our budget is no easy task, especially as we face a significant shortfall. However, our guiding mission remains clear: ensuring that every student receives an excellent education in an environment that fosters learning and growth.
Our Budget Challenge
Like many districts across the state and nation, Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is grappling with a persistent budget shortfall. Declining enrollment—driven by rising housing costs, the ongoing impact of COVID, and a shift towards home-based instruction and private schools—has compounded the issue. Additionally, state funding for public schools continues to fall short.We find ourselves at a critical financial juncture. Yet despite these challenges, SPS remains a place where excellence thrives. We proudly serve nearly 50,000 students, offering enriching academic experiences, extracurricular activities, and vital special education services. Our goal is to preserve these opportunities and ensure every student, in every school, has access to high-quality education and the support they need to grow.
Our Path Forward
We know many of you have experienced frustration as we’ve worked through these difficult decisions, and we are grateful for your passion and feedback. We face a $94 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. To address this, we are pursuing several strategies:1. School Consolidations: After careful consideration and listening to your concerns, we are moving forward with a smaller plan to merge four schools in the 2025-26 school year.
This consolidation is part of a larger strategy to stabilize our finances. By closing these four under-enrolled schools, we will start to build a stronger, more sustainable school system. This is the best way forward in ensuring our district continues to provide the high-quality education our students deserve.
My preliminary recommendation to the School Board will be the following:
Northwest Region: Closing – North Beach Elementary Consolidating with Viewlands Elementary at Viewlands
Northeast Region: Closing – Sacajawea Elementary Consolidating with John Rogers Elementary at John Rogers
Central Region: Closing – Stevens Elementary Consolidating with Montlake Elementary at Montlake
Southwest Region: Closing – Sanislo Elementary Consolidating with Highland Park Elementary at Highland Park
We understand this change is difficult. We chose these schools based on factors like building condition, space, and the goal of minimizing disruption to students and families. A dedicated transition team will be working with the impacted communities to ensure a smooth and supportive process for everyone involved.We recognize the deep connection that our community has with its schools, and we are committed to a thoughtful and transparent process. Starting next week, we will hold engagement sessions at impacted schools, offering in-person support weekly through November 23. Additionally, a districtwide information session will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
2. Advocating for Legislative Support: We are actively seeking full support from the state legislature to help cover our budget shortfall, particularly in areas like special education, transportation, and operational costs. In addition, we are advocating for an extension of our interfund loan and seeking to fully utilize our levy authority.
3. Central Office Reductions: To keep cuts away from classrooms, we are identifying operational reductions within our central office, including staff reorganizations and adjustments.
4. Changing School Bell Times: We will transition to a three-tier bell schedule, which will allow us to reduce transportation costs by running more bus routes with fewer buses.
5. Renewing Levies: In February 2025, we will ask voters to renew two critical levies—the Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and the Building Excellence (BEX VI) Levy—which provide vital funding for school operations and maintenance.
Efforts to Increase Enrollment
To attract more families back to SPS, we are conducting an enrollment study. This study, expected to be completed by December, will guide our efforts in recruitment and retention, helping us build a stronger, more vibrant school community.Building a Sustainable Future
Seattle Public Schools has been in existence for more than 150 years. While this may be a difficult moment in time, we must continue to seek viable solutions. This will require our community’s ongoing partnership and support.This approach will begin to help us stabilize the budget for next year. I am committed to continuing this conversation with families, staff, and the School Board as we work toward sustainable fiscal solutions. Together, we will create a future where every student in Seattle Public Schools can thrive.
More info to come. And remember that West Seattle/South Park School Board Director Gina Topp has set her next community-conversation meeting for this Sunday, 11 am-noon in person at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ADDED 6:21 PM: The anti-closure community coalition All Together For Seattle Schools reacted:
We are disappointed that Seattle Public Schools is moving forward with closing four public schools. They are proceeding despite evidence their justification for closures is flawed, evidence that closures harm students, and overwhelming public opposition. We strongly oppose this proposal and will rally the community to oppose it and any other closure plans. … Rather than make closures that harm students and won’t come close to addressing our budget gap, SPS should join us in asking the legislature to close the entire budget deficit for districts across Washington State.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered Wednesday afternoon at the site of West Seattle’s future second off-leash area (OLA) dog park to learn more about the project and to give feedback to the project team.
Members of the public are encouraged to share feedback by taking the online survey, which is open until November 11th. Project information from Seattle Parks is available online here.
As we previewed here, the “West Seattle Stadium Off-Leash Area outreach event” was held at the proposed site just south of West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th Ave SW), as illustrated in this 2023 image from Seattle Parks:
The location for the site was finalized 6 months ago, and this Seattle Parks visual from yesterday’s event gives a closer look at the overhead view of the site:
The site area is 16,000 square feet (.37 acre) and the team is in the early stages of gathering community feedback. The project charter is to “turn the current unpaved overflow parking lot into an OLA (off-leash area) featuring a fenced area for unleashed dogs, seating, and a planted stormwater bioretention area.”
After the survey closes on November 11th, the team will work on design options to bring back to the public for feedback in February/March 2025, and then more detailed construction designs will be created. Actual construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and be completed in fall 2026. Seattle Parks is providing $3.1 mm for the planning, design, and construction of two OLAs, including this one at West Seattle Stadium as well as one at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St.)
Team members on-hand Wednesday included project planner Colin Campbell from Seattle Parks, landscape architect Steve Nowaczyk from HBB Landscape Architects who will work on the site designs, and Alec Rodenhauser the chair of COLA (Citizens for Off-Leash Areas) who work with Parks and do local advocacy for OLA projects.
Team members said there was a steady stream of people (as well as 4-legged canine citizens) stopping by on Wednesday afternoon, some who intentionally made the trip, and others who were walking through the area and happened across the event (which project planner Campbell said is “encouraging” and “tells us we’ve got the right spot.”)
Attendees provided their feedback verbally, via note cards as well as sticky notes and stickers, regarding desired features and preferred usage of the OLA:
Project signage is also posted at the site:
The West Seattle area’s only current OLA is further south at Westcrest Park (9000 8th Ave. SW).
For questions about the West Seattle Stadium off-leash project, visit the project website or contact project planner Colin Campbell at 206-790-6642 or Colin.Campbell@seattle.gov.
Also, not far from West Seattle, the project team will also be at Othello Playground (4351 S Othello St, southwest corner of the park) today, Thursday, October 24th, from 4-6 pm to gather community feedback about a similar off-leash project that’s planned for that location.
12:52 PM: Police are converging on West Seattle’s only tiny-home village, Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.), after a report of gunfire from a unit on the south side of the complex. No word of injuries so far. Police are advising people at the camp to evacuate. People in the area might see the Guardian One helicopter joining the search for the suspected shooter, whose identity police apparently know. Myers Way is closed in the vicinity.
1:02 PM: The suspected shooter is likely still in his unit, police are saying.
1:43 PM: This is basically a standoff now, No resolution yet.
2:07 PM: Guardian One left because police are confident the situation is contained to the camp – they are not searching beyond it.
2:14 PM: The suspect is reported to be talking with officers about surrendering.
2:25 PM: The suspect is in custody, per SPD.
2:43 PM: Myers Way has not reopened yet, so use alternative routes a while longer.
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN TRAILER: Be on the lookout for Jennifer‘s utility trailer. stolen this morning in Highland Park:
This morning our utility trailer was stolen from in front of our house. It’s a Karavan trailer, license plate AJ7365. We have video of the vehicle that stole it, but no plate number for that vehicle. Black Dodge SUV with stuff strapped to the top of it with yellow straps. Police report: 24-301790.
UPDATE: As noted in comments, a WSB reader found it, and Jennifer had it back.
ROBBERY ARRESTS: A commenter asked about arrests in Seaview on Tuesday. We had trouble matching an incident to that scene – but now an SPD summary reveals that’s because the arrests happened some distance from the crime, which was at the High Point Walgreens store:
At 1345 hours, Officers responded to a Strong-Arm Robbery Call in the area of 35 Av Sw/ SW Morgan St. The victim advised that he observed two suspects shoplifting at the store. The victim confronted the suspects regarding the stolen items, and the suspects punched the victim multiple times with a closed fist. Officers located the suspects at 42 Av SW/ SW Graham St and were detained. A short time later, the victim positively identified the suspects from a field show-up. The suspects were then arrested for Robbery. The suspects advised that they had ingested drugs, so SFD arrived on the scene to provide medical attention. The victim declined medical attention.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Shop fall plants at the center, open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Annuals, perennials, sun, shade, natives, edibles, ground covers … wide variety!
PUMPKIN JUNCTION: Annual celebration of pumpkin beers and ciders! At The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), open noon-11 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD: 1:30 pm today is the meeting at which the board will consider officially choosing the West Seattle route and station locations. The agenda has info on how to comment and how to participate remotely, or you can go downtown for the meeting (401 S. Jackson).
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
MONSTER DASH PACKET PICKUP: Signed up for this Saturday’s West Seattle Monster Dash? You can stop by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) 3-6 pm to pick up your packet.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Paparepas.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle!
PNW WINE TASTING SERIES: 5-6:30 pm at West Seattle Wine Cellars (6026 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a group walk in Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: New meeting spot for the 6 pm weekly run – now departing from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).
‘FAMILIES EMBRACING ANTI-BIAS VALUES’: As previewed here, this 6:30 pm screening presented by two local school groups will include a chance to talk with the film’s producer. At South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Olympic Hall (6000 16th SW).
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
TRAUMATIC LOSS GRIEF-SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm with Listening to Grief, meeting at Counseling West Seattle (6957 California SW), preregistration required – info in our calendar listing.
QUIETING THE INNER CRITIC: 7 pm presentation at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW) – free but preregistration requested – here’s how.
YALE WHIFFENPOOFS WITH ENDOLYNE CHOIR: The Endolyne Children’s Choir presents the Yale Whiffenpoofs, “America’s oldest collegiate a cappella group.” 7 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW) – get your ticket(s) here.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
They called, you answered. Today, Invest in Youth has a new request for volunteers at local schools. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Thank you West Seattle for your amazing response!
Can you give 1 hour a week on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons to a local elementary student?
Here are our current needs:
–Roxhill Elementary (Tuesdays @ 2:40 pm-3:40 pm) – 2 tutor openings left
–Sanislo Elementary (Thursdays @ 3:40 pm-4:40 pm) – accepting applications for on-call substitute tutors
–Beacon Hill International Elementary (Tuesdays @ 3:40 pm-4:40 pm) – 5 tutor openings leftWe would love for every student to be able to receive 1:1 learning support from a caring community member.
What makes Invest in Youth unique is its dual focus on academic support and relationship based learning. Tutors work with the same student for the course of the school year, developing a meaningful bond.
The first day of tutoring begins next week (10/29) and runs through May 2025. Our program follows the Seattle Public Schools calendar and has a dedicated teacher on-site each week. No tutoring experience is necessary and we welcome highschoolers and adults of all backgrounds and experiences.
Help make a difference in a young person’s life and become a volunteer tutor in your community! Apply here.
Learn more about what we do and all the schools we partner with at InvestinYouth.org
8:50 AM: Collision at West Marginal/Highland Park Way – the live camera suggests it’s on the southwest side of the intersection.
9:30 AM: All lanes now open again, police just told dispatch.
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, October 24th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, becoming sunny, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:42 am, while sunset will be at 6:03 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The low bridge will be closed Friday through Sunday (October 25-27) for cylinder re-installation, scheduled to start at 7 am Friday.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, likely next week. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
ANOTHER WEEKEND CLOSURE ZONE
*Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival means an expanded street-closure zone on Sunday – adding the Summer Fest-footprint blocks of California south of Alaska and Alaska between 42nd and 44th.
EAST MARGINAL PROJECT ZONE CHANGES
From an SDOT update:
Starting this week, people biking and walking are routed onto the new curb-separated asphalt path on the west side of E Marginal Way S between S Spokane St and S Horton St. At S Horton St, people biking and walking will shift back to a temporary, vehicle-separated shared-use path in the center of E Marginal Way S.
At approximately S Holgate Street:
Northbound travelers are routed back to the existing sidewalk on the west side of the street
Southbound travelers are routed back to the existing bike lane on the west side of the street
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, no “unscheduled third boat” this week and likely next. Keep updated via bulletins.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
A new tradition was born on Wednesday night – the first Halloween Lights Run sponsored by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), in the spirit of their annual Christmas Lights Run, heading out from the shop and along a curated route with decorated homes. Our video shows the spirited runners as they departed.
Thanks to Dave Elton for the video of a humpback whale passing close by Brace Point today. Kersti Muul told us about the clip (and the sighting). This humpback seemed to be fine, unlike the one that stranded and died by the Fauntleroy ferry dock eight years ago.
7:26 PM: SFD and SPD are on the way to the 6400 block of High Point Drive for a reported person with a gunshot wound in the back/lower abdomen. Police believe they’re looking for two shooters – so far described only as “two Black males with handguns, one in a gray sweater.”
7:34 PM: They’re believed to have “left the scene in a vehicle,” police have told dispatch. The victim is being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
10:32 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says the shooting victim is a 35-year-old man who was in serious condition when transported.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SPD has released this summary:
At 1920 hours, officers responded to the 6400 block of High Point Dr SW to reports of shots fired. Officers responded and located an adult male suffering from a single GSW. Officers rendered aid until SFD arrived and transported the victim to HMC in serious condition. During their investigation, officers learned two unknown males opened fire on the victim as he stood on his porch and fled on foot, possibly entering an unknown vehicle. No suspects were located.
The photo and report were sent by Rick:
My wife’s Subaru Forester had window smashed last night, uncertain on time. Vehicle was parked off alley in carport between 45th & 46th by College in North Admiral.
Nothing taken; no report number yet.
(WSB photo)
A few readers have asked lately about the status of the future Morgan Junction EV-charging lot, eight spaces with chargers on an ex-substation site east of 42nd SW, between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Morgan. Early this year, Seattle City Light told the Morgan Community Association that design was at 90 percent, and they expected that construction would be under way by now. We checked with SCL’s Jenn Strang about the status, and she told us:
Morgan Junction is our largest and most ambitious EV-charging station project to date requiring more time, engineering, and permitting than one of our more typical EV charging station projects. We’ve also experienced significant delays with procurement of the chargers and other electric service equipment. This is likely due to the rapid increase in transportation electrification costs nationwide.
So what’s the revised timeline? Strang didn’t say (we’re asking again on followup), and the project website hasn’t been updated since the early-in-the-year briefing.
Two weeks after the Sound Transit Board‘s System Expansion Committee went on record in support of the “preferred alternative” for West Seattle light rail (WSB coverage here), a final board vote could come tomorrow. Deciding on West Seattle routing and station locations is on the agenda for the board’s monthly meeting, scheduled for an extended time period, 1:30-5 pm Thursday (October 24) in the board room at 401 S. Jackson on the south end of downtown. (The agenda also explains how to watch/participate online.) The meeting starts with a public-comment period, if you want to speak your mind on this one more time before the vote. What they won’t be resolving is how to cover the ever-rising cost, most recently estimated as high as $7 billion. The vote tomorrow would move the project further into design – it’s about 30 percent of the way now – and then funding decisions would come at other milestones in the process, particularly what’s known as “baselining.” Meantime, here’s the motion the board will consider Thursday.
(West Seattle Nursery photo)
OK, Halloween may still be a week-plus away, but the holidays are knocking on the door. West Seattle Nursery is already taking reservations for wreath-making and asked us to let you know:
Reservations are now open for wreath making at West Seattle Nursery! For many of our customers, creating a wreath at the nursery has become a cherished holiday tradition. If you’d like to craft your own festive wreath, simply reserve one of our wreath-making tables after reading through our ‘Reservation Details’ and ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ here.
Due to high demand and back-to-back sessions, we kindly ask that all participants arrive on time. If you’re unable to attend your reserved session, please cancel in advance so others can join in the festive fun! New to wreath making? No worries! Our expert team will be on hand to assist you with any questions.
The nursery is at the corner of California/Brandon.
(Honey bee, photographed by Steve Bender)
Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always look ahead, and where you’ll find even more events than we spotlight in the list):
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy at 10 am. Details in our calendar listing.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: The Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open noon to 8 pm, and you can visit any time to see what community artists are showing this year, until late October.
FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL AT VILLAGE GREEN: Community members 55+ are invited to come celebrate the season at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor), 12:30-2 pm.
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers can help K-12 students with their homework.
OFF-LEASH AREA DROP-IN MEETING: As previewed here, 4-6 pm is your chance to go to the site of West Seattle’s future second off-leash area (dog park) and find out more about the project while offering comments. Happening in the overflow parking area south of the stadium. (4432 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER AFTER-HOURS: West Seattle Arcade (2758 Alki SW) is the site of this month’s networking event, 5:30-7:30 pm.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
HEALING THROUGH CREATIVITY: 14-week online group following “The Artist’s Way” meets starting tonight, 6 pm – info in our calendar listing.
FAUNTLEROY FERRY DOCK COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP: Updates on the project at a 6 pm online meeting. Get the attendance link by going here.
TRIVIA x 4: Four trivia options tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
HALLOWEEN LIGHTS RUN: The regular 6:15 pm weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run is – tonight – their first-ever Halloween Lights Run, as explained in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: The newest plan for Metro bus-stop changes is part of what’s on the HPAC agenda for this online meeting at 7 pm. Link and more info are here.
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two games! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.
KUNDALINI YOGA AND GONG BATH: 7 pm with Inner Alchemy at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35; ticket link is in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn in the spotlight! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
SSC Co-op Preschools and Pathfinder K-8 invite families to a film screening tomorrow, with a chance to talk with the producer. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share:
Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values: Film Screening and Q/A with Producer Debbie LeeKeenan
Olympic Hall, South Seattle College Campus
Thursday, October 24 6:30–8:00 PMChildcare available for 5+. Pre-registration is required.
Join us for a special screening, in partnership with Pathfinder K-8, of the new film Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values. This film, produced by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, is a 50-minute documentary about families who intentionally parent with an anti-bias lens. Debbie and John partnered with filmmaker Filiz Efe McKinney of Brave Sprout Productions to create a film that raises up the voices of multiple families with diverse identities, talking about their hopes, fears, strengths, challenges, and questions as they figure out: What kind of world do we want to create with our children? There will be opportunities for questions and discussion with Debbie after the viewing. Watch the trailer here. Tickets are $5. RSVP here.
The college is at 6000 16th SW; the screening venue is toward the south end of the campus.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, October 23rd.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Chance of showers, then becoming sunny, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:40 am, while sunset will be at 6:05 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The low bridge will be closed Friday through Sunday for cylinder re-installation.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides, likely next week. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
EAST MARGINAL PROJECT ZONE CHANGES
From an <strong>SDOT update:
Starting this week, people biking and walking are routed onto the new curb-separated asphalt path on the west side of E Marginal Way S between S Spokane St and S Horton St. At S Horton St, people biking and walking will shift back to a temporary, vehicle-separated shared-use path in the center of E Marginal Way S.
At approximately S Holgate Street:
Northbound travelers are routed back to the existing sidewalk on the west side of the street
Southbound travelers are routed back to the existing bike lane on the west side of the street
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, no “unscheduled third boat” this week and likely next. Keep updated via bulletins.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
5:07 AM: Police are searching for a suspect after one person was shot and wounded (updated) in the 9400 block of 27th SW, across from Roxbury Safeway. No other details yet.
5:36 AM: According to archived dispatch audio, this was reported to have happened at an apartment around quarter past 4. The victim was described as a man in his 30s with a gunshot wound to his chest (that’s from medics, though an early report was that he was shot in the back); the shooter was described only as a Black man in his mid-30s in a red sweater and gray jeans who fled on foot.
8:41 AM: SFD tells us the victim, 37, was in serious condition when transported.
THURSDAY UPDATE: SPD has released this summary:
At 0418 hours, Officers responded to an apartment unit on 9400 block of 27 Av SW. The 911 call stated that someone inside the unit had been shot. Officers arrived to find several people inside and just outside the apartment who were uncooperative. An adult male was found inside the unit with gunshot wounds. The victim was conscious and alert and also uncooperative. SFD responded and treat the victim who was transported to HMC. Some present stated that the suspect and a woman had been by the unit earlier and left. Later the suspect returned, had a confrontation, and shot the victim. A Bellevue K9 unit responded but determined that they could not deploy the K9. … HMC determined at the time the injuries were non-life threatening.
(WSB photo, 2023 Admiral trick-or-treating)
Feels like we have more Halloween/Hallo-weekend events in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar than ever – and we have more to add; you can scroll through what’s there already via this link. If your family’s main interest is in trick-or-treating, here are the big events:
ADMIRAL TRICK-OR-TREATING: 4-7 pm Friday (October 25). This spans a wider area than ever, according to the organizers at Admiral Neighborhood Association, from the South Admiral mini-business district (think Little Donkey, Alair, more) to North Admiral. You’ll find crossing guards in three spots too to help you get across California.
ALKI BEACH TRICK-OR-TREATING: Noon-2 pm Saturday (October 26). This spans the business district along the beach, from 63rd eastward. Info’s online at alkitrickortreat.com.
BEER GARDEN TRICK-OR-TREATING: All ages welcome at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 2-6 pm Saturday.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT: Hope Lutheran School invites everyone to trunk-or-treat in the lot across from the Hope North campus, 4100 SW Genesee, 6:30-8 pm Saturday.
JUNCTION TRICK-OR-TREATING: This is again combined with the West Seattle Harvest Festival, 11 am-2 pm Sunday (October 27) in The Junction, right after the costume parade that kicks off the festival (gather at 42nd/Alaska).
WHITE CENTER HALLOWEENTOWN: Block party on 16th SW south of Roxbury, 4 pm-2 am on Halloween (Thursday, October 31), featuring low-rider trunk-or-treating.
Are we missing anything? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another day-and-night display to showcase tonight – sent by Darrell in South Delridge:
It’s been fun decorating for Halloween. This year I’ve made some new scarecrows and changed things up. We will be giving out treats on Halloween and love having people stop to enjoy the decoration. The lights are on timers and don’t go off till 2 am. 9049B 18th Ave SW – cross street is SW Barton.
Got decorations to show off? Pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
From Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council:
(Photo by Tom Trulin: Volunteer Rich Rosenthal kept groups moving among 5 learning stations along the spawning reach)
Salmon watchers on Fauntleroy Creek haven’t yet seen coho spawners but on Monday morning (10/21), several of them saw a large school of kindergarteners. The 52 students and more than a dozen adults from St. Francis of Assisi School in Burien came to learn about salmon and their habitat. Volunteer watchers engaged groups of students in talking about why spawners bury their eggs, how their carcasses enrich the habitat, and related topics.
If and when spawners arrive, we’ll announce a weekend “open creek” for the general public here.
(WSB photo, October 13)
A week and a half after 53-year-old Oton Garcia Ruiz was shot and killed at the Shree’s Truck Stop gas station in southeast West Seattle, police are releasing photos of a man they say was “involved in” the killing, and asking for help identifying him. Via SPD Blotter:
Seattle police detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a male involved in a homicide last week.
On October 13th at 8:01 p.m., patrol officers responded to a shooting at Shree’s Truck Stop, 7801 Detroit Avenue Southwest. The shooter fired into the crowded gas station with disregard to any of the patrons.
Police located a 53-year-old male victim who was sitting in his car, waiting to fill it up with gas. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Homicide and Crime Scene Investigations detectives processed the crime scene. Detectives captured images from video footage of a man involved in the homicide.
He is of average height and weight with dark colored hair and mustache with a connected goatee. He was last seen wearing a pink polo shirt, New York Yankees baseball cap with a light blue bill and closure (snapback), dark jeans, and light-colored shoes.
If anyone has information regarding his identity, please call the Seattle Police Homicide tip line at 206-233-5000. You can remain anonymous.
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