West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
This came up in comments on the report about this afternoon’s Army helicopter sightings. Unrelated but just to close the loop – we were finally able to confirm that the 3:30-4 pm-ish helicopter sighting was Guardian One helping with the search after a robbery reported at Taboo Video in downtown White Center (9913 16th SW). We have a short story on partner site White Center Now and will add anything else we find out from the King County Sheriff’s Office.
(Photo sent by Sally)
2:39 PM: Lots of questions this past hour about U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters over West Seattle. They’re from Joint Base Lewis McChord in Pierce County. We have a message out to Public Affairs there to see if they can comment. But this is far from the first time these types of helicopters have looped the area (and other points between here and the base); more often, we see them at night (flight trackers generally list them), and we’ve been told before that these are training flights.
(Photo sent by Karen)
(update) We’ve added a few more photos – thanks to everyone who’s sent them!
(Photo sent by Mike)
10:42 PM: Consensus (see comments below) seems to have landed on training for a Seahawks Thursday Night Football flyover tomorrow.
10:50 AM THURSDAY: Scott from the JBLM Public Affairs Office just confirmed that’s indeed what was happening. So you may see them over West Seattle again on the way to the flyover before the 5:15 pm game.
(Reader photo, July 16, 2023, 1300 block Alki Avenue)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One year and three months after an Alki crash that left a woman fighting for her life after bystanders pulled her from her submerged car, we’ve learned that the driver accused of hitting her is charged.
We discovered during a routine periodic check of online court files that the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed three charges against Angel I. Godoy Cruz, now 24 – vehicular assault (a Class B felony), reckless driving (a gross misdemeanor), and “no valid operator’s license” (a misdemeanor).
Here’s how the charging document summarizes the allegations:
On Sunday, July 13, 2023, at approximately 5:46 p.m., the defendant, 23-year-old Angel Godoy Cruz, an unlicensed driver with suspended driver’s license privileges, was speeding on northbound Alki Ave SW in a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan, traveling at approximately 83 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone along Alki Beach. Alki Ave SW is a two-way arterial street consisting of one northbound lane and one southbound lane, with the lanes separated by a single dashed yellow line. The defendant then weaved around a vehicle by traveling into the southbound lane and back into the northbound lane.
At the same time, 24-year-old Madison Kelly was driving southbound in a 2005 Toyota Corolla and began to make a left turn from Alki Ave SW into a parking lot. Less than two seconds into her turn, the defendant crashed into Kelly’s vehicle at approximately 83 mph, causing the Toyota to roll northbound and fall into Elliott Bay. It is only because of the heroic efforts of witnesses who jumped into the bay to rescue Kelly from her submerged vehicle by cracking a car window open with a rock that she survived the collision. Witnesses then performed CPR on Kelly until medics arrived, who transported her to Harborview unconscious and in critical condition, suffering from extensive traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries.
As people gathered to perform life-saving efforts on Kelly, the defendant exited his vehicle. One witness confronted the defendant and stated that the defendant would be going to jail. According to the witness, the defendant replied, “Why would I be going to jail?” to which the witness responded that he may have killed the driver. The defendant then stated, “I don’t give a s–t,” and went back into his car. Law enforcement then contacted the defendant and observed a strong odor of intoxicants from the defendant’s person and observed an open can of IPA beer in plain view on the rear floorboard of the vehicle. After being read his Miranda rights, the defendant claimed the beer was from several days prior and that he had not drank alcohol that day but admitted to consuming marijuana that morning. He admitted to driving around the first vehicle because “it was going slow” and admitted that the speed limit for the area was 25 MPH. A search warrant was issued authorizing a blood draw for the defendant’s blood to determine his BAC. The toxicology report determined the defendant’s BAC was .011 three hours and 14 minutes after the collision, well above the per-se legal limit. …
Notably, the defendant has never possessed a valid driver’s license, but has a history of repeated disregard for traffic safety laws: Speeding, No Valid Operating License (08/31/2022), Expired License (06/20/2022), Vehicle Plates Expired (02/28/2019), Speed Too Fast for Road Conditions, Expired License, Vehicle Plates Expired (11/20/2015)
According to the documents, police submitted the case to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this past August; the charges were filed four weeks later, on September 20, with a request for $150,000 bail. However, when Godoy Cruz appeared for arraignment on October 3, Judge David Keenan set bail at $25,000, with electronic home monitoring as a condition, and gave him a week on personal recognizance to post bond. Godoy Cruz is required to do that, and to start electronic home monitoring, by the end of the day tomorrow (Thursday, October 10). If he fails to do so, prosecutors can seek an arrest warrant. (He had a North Seattle address at the time of the crash but has told the court he is now living in West Seattle. After the crash, he was taken to the hospital, rather than jail, because of injuries.)
We asked the KCPAO why the case took so long to file. Spokesperson Casey McNerthney confirmed that they received it four weeks before filing it, which was 13 months after the crash (we will be following up separately with SPD); those four weeks were spent reviewing the evidence, which, the office says, included a lot of video. (The court documents indicate that’s part of how they determined the 83 mph speed.)
As for the victim, we have sent inquiries to family/friends multiple times since the crash to ask how Ms. Kelly is doing, but have not received a reply. Regional TV reports said she was out of the hospital and inpatient rehab and back home two months after the crash.
THURSDAY UPDATE: Godoy Cruz did report for the home-monitoring placement, according to Department of Adult Detention records.
(Photo courtesy Stu Hennessey)
That signal-box portrait on 16th SW north of SW Holden has turned from a tribute to a memorial, after sad news from Arizona. As reported here in October 2020, the box was commissioned from prolific painter Desmond Hansen as a tribute to Sue Turner and Bud Turner, local educators renowned for their PE achievements. Ms. Turner, 76, was especially beloved at Sanislo Elementary, where she long served as PE teacher. She was reported missing in the Tucson area last month, with a Silver Alert issued, but after a two-week search, authorities reported she was found deceased. News stories from Arizona have no further details. Bud Turner died a year ago at age 77; the couple had been married for 52 years.
One more mural note this morning – painting is finally under way for the mural planned to wrap around the Center for Active Living on the southeast corner of California and Oregon. The center’s executive director Amy Lee Derenthal says a permitting delay kept the painting from starting sooner. Artist Brady Black was chosen to paint the mural; we previewed it in this report on the center’s August open house.
(Today’s sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always preview the days and weeks 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.
SCHOOL CLOSURE PROTEST: The citywide coalition that rallied before the last School Board meeting at district HQ is doing it again, saying even the revised plan for five closures is too many. 3:45 pm start at 3rd/Lander.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING: An update on the status of the closure plan, plus the proposed BEX VI and Operations levies, are part of the agenda for today’s meeting, which starts at district HQ at 4:15 pm, with public comment (the signup list is already full) starting around 5 pm. If you’re not going to district HQ, it’ll be live on SPS TV.
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers can help K-12 students with their homework.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 5:30 pm-8 pm, prospective students and their families are invited to visit the school (a WSB sponsor) in Burien. Our calendar listing has the RSVP/registration link.
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).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: As previewed here, new monthly event, open to all players, all ages, 6 pm at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ (4426 California SW).
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 6 pm pre-meeting program, 7 pm meeting – agenda here – at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
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).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
POETRYBRIDGE: Monthly celebration of poetry at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm.
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: The spotlight is yours! 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!
Before getting into the news of the day … an art break. We don’t often get news releases from artists announcing new murals. For this one, we did. Artist Christopher Hydinger has added that mural to those already on the wall along the alley leading south from SW Dawson behind Rite Aid; we went over for a look. Here’s what the artist has to say about their creation, describing it as “big, bold, with a pinch of comedy, completely unafraid to spotlight the truth”:
Christopher Hydinger invites you to experience their new pro-environmental mural, ‘Breaking News: Alien Messiah Engages Portal, Presses Delete‘ at West Seattle’s world-class art alley West Side Wall (located behind the Rite Aid at 5217 California Ave SW). Installed at the north end of the alley, this large-scale drawing created using only small paint pens took over 65 hours to complete and vibrantly visualizes in great detail the absurdity of a Messiah coming to Save Us illustrated through the comically dramatic lens of an Alien Messiah at the moment they have decided to press the Delete button.
“Compositionally, the viewer is able to enjoy the expansive view through the Portal and into the Universe of the Alien Messiah, but because the floating Delete button (designed using the principles of chromostereopsis to create a no-glasses-needed 3D illusion) has been oriented facing the Alien Messiah (all “recycle” icons feature arrows pointing clockwise), this also gives the viewer the physical sensation of simultaneously inhabiting the inside of something while also looking out from it (a world inside a box, a cage, a computer, a more expansive ecosystem). Combined with the larger-than-life presence of the beautiful but intimidating Alien Messiah and the ominously designed Delete button, this is intended to create an unsettlingly eerie shock. But hopefully this shock will inspire a deeply motivating pro-environmental perspective to emerge. And just in time for Halloween!”
If you haven’t been to the wall – it stretches a full block southward along the alley, plus a short ways east along Dawson too. We first reported on it more than a year ago.
7:55 AM: Delays on the ferries, Triangle Route – M/V Kittitas is stopped at Vashon for “mechanical issues.”
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Wednesday, October 9th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Showers and sunshine are both possible; high in the low 60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:20 am, while sunset will be at 6:31 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The Highway 99 tunnel will close for maintenance and inspections again this weekend – 10 pm Friday (October 11) to 6 am Sunday (October 13) – as its first “six-year inspection” is completed (explained here).
*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 later this month, exact date TBA. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat.” Check for alerts here.
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!
(WSB photos)
The West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team won their first match of the season today, playing their cross-peninsula counterparts from Chief Sealth International High School.
Final score was 11-1. Sealth scored that one goal in the first half and the Wildcats shut out the Seahawks the rest of the way.
Both teams have their next matches on Thursday (October 10) – WSHS (1-7-1) plays Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Delridge Playfield (4458 Delridge Way SW); CSIHS (4-2-4) takes on Ingraham at 4:30 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
The City Council gave final approval today to the plan for a Seattle Police pilot program to use surveillance cameras in four areas of the city. None of them are in West Seattle, but the bill includes an amendment from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka requiring SPD to study possibly using cameras in the Alki/Harbor Avenue area. We reported on this after the Public Safety Committee, for which Saka serves as vice chair, passed it two weeks ago. Actually authorizing cameras in Alki/Harbor would require separate legislation at some point in the future, so don’t expect to see them any time soon. The areas of the city where the bill does authorize cameras are downtown, Aurora, Belltown, and Chinatown/ID. Opponents have voiced privacy concerns; Saka acknowledged cameras bring “potential non-trivial privacy challenges,” but he and colleagues including Public Safety Committee chair Councilmember Bob Kettle contend there will be plenty of safeguards and oversight. Saka also contended video is needed as a “force multiplier,” and noted that if it’s eventually deployed for Alki/Harbor, that could help people who are “suffering from PTSD … because of what’s been going on down here.” The discussion of this item starts 2 hours and 8 minutes into the Seattle Channel recording of the meeting.
Three reader reports:
DELIVERY VAN STOLEN + MAIL THEFT: From a resident in the 6500 block of 42nd SW:
Busy day in Morgan Junction. An Amazon van was stolen on Holly and 42nd – thief sped down the alley toward Thriftway while the Amazon driver chased on foot. I live (in) a townhouse building with seven units; all seven of our mailboxes were broken into. We’re guessing it’s the same person. The event number from 911 is 24-286148.
We heard a bit about the theft via police radio, but not which type of van; will add if we get that info. This happened between 4:30 pm and 5 pm.
ABANDONED VOLVO: A reader says this plateless maroon Volvo XC90, with signs of having been in a crash (including front-end damage and deployed airbags), has been in their neighborhood at least four days. They’ve reported it but also wanted to post here in case someone’s looking for it:
Yours? Let us know and we’ll get you more info.
DUMPED CARDS, KEYS: Same goes for these found items – west of Westwood Village, a reader spotted a small pile of dumped items, car keys plus cards with different names – a PayPal debit card in the name of someone with first initial T, a local sports team “event staff” badge with first initial C, gift cards for wine and auto parts. They left the items where they found them, but if any sound like yours, let us know.
With one month (and one day) to go until this year’s fundraising dinner/auction for Chief Sealth International High School, tickets are available at the “early bird” rate. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
The Chief Sealth Auction Committee invites you to purchase Early Bird tickets to our fundraising auction this year! The event will be held at South Seattle College’s Brockey Center in West Seattle on November 9th at 5:30 pm.
The Auction team is currently hard at work securing donations, putting together gift packages, choosing decorations, and planning a fun night in the spirit of the theme “Soaring with Sealth.” Early bird tickets are available this week for $90 ($80 teacher/coach) and include a delicious Northwest meal, plus a great night of entertainment, games, and memorable moments.
We’re also accepting donations for the auction of goods and services, so if you have something you’d like to donate, please let us know. Buy tickets and make donations on our Auction website. Questions can go to Auction Chair Dawn Pomeroy (dpomeroy70.dp@gmail.com)
Come celebrate our school while raising money for a great cause. We hope to see you there.
(WSB photo, April draft ‘One Seattle Plan’ open house at Chief Sealth IHS)
Next week, we’ll see how the city proposes updating its plan for future growth – aka the Comprehensive Plan, or “One Seattle Plan” in keeping with Mayor Harrell‘s signature phrase. This afternoon, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office has sent out a heads-up on what’s ahead and how/when you can attend a briefing/comment opportunity in West Seattle, six months after the draft version of the plan was circulated at events including one covered here in April:
Many of you had expressed interest in the City’s Comprehensive Plan over this past year. Here is another around of community engagement so please share out broad and wide!
On October 16, the Mayor’s Office and the Office of Planning and Community Development are releasing Mayor Harrell’s updated Growth Strategy for the One Seattle Plan along with detailed information on zoning changes, including draft legislation to implement HB 1110 in our Neighborhood Residential zones and draft zoning maps for other land use changes in neighborhoods across the city.
This release kicks off a two-month public comment period on the zoning legislation and maps that will run through December 20. OPCD has planned a schedule of engagement, including info sessions in every Council District.
The outreach happening this fall is strictly related to zoning changes. Residents will be able to view the specific zoning changes on detailed maps, and will be able to comment directly on the maps via an online tool.
OPCD will host one online session on October 23rd and an in-person session in District 1 on November 6th at Madison Middle School Gym. Residents can learn how to view the maps, use the commenting tools, and voice their feedback. You are welcome to attend any of the other sessions as well.
This feedback will inform zoning legislation that will be sent to council in early/Spring 2025 as part of the Select Committee.
The West Seattle session is 5:30-7:30 pm Wednesday, November 6, at Madison MS (3429 45th SW) and the full list of citywide events (plus the online session) is on this flyer.
Last week we told you about retired West Seattle PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s plan to participate in a walk on the Boston Marathon route as his journey this year to raise money and awareness for Make-A-Wish – something he did with an annual daylong event on the Pathfinder K-8 field for 20 years. We asked him to let us know how it goes – and here’s the followup! (Note that the “Jimmy Fund” references are related to the walk-sponsoring organization’s fight against childhood cancer – which dovetails with Lou’s cause.)
The Boston Marathon walk went great for 14 miles and then sore feet made it a struggle to complete the course, but I did and feel great about the achievement. I was very inspired by the pictures of children with cancer all along the route and those pictures reinforced the purpose and inspiration of the walk for me, to support Make A Wish children and help raise money to provide spectacular Wishes for children with critical illnesses!
When I finally hobbled across the finish line after 11 hours of walking, my name and hometown was announced and helped make the walk even more meaningful.
One other very special part of the walk was Jim, a friend since Kindergarten walked the half marathon and we met up halfway through the course and we finished together!
The significance of the picture of mile 21 is that it is at the top of Heartbreak Hill and all downhill and flat the rest of the way.
Traditionally, a marathon is 26.2 miles, but they moved the finish line from where the runners would finish because they needed extra space, so that is why the walk was extended to 27 miles.
If you’re inclined to help Lou support Make-A-Wish kids – for whom he’s volunteered in other ways for decades, as well as his annual fundraising laps – here’s his custom donation link.
Another burglary at Itto’s Tapas on the north edge of The Junction:
Itto’s sent that photo of the damaged door, reporting that the break-in happened sometime after midnight, and that the burglar(s) got away with the register. Previous burglaries at Itto’s (4160 California SW) that we’ve reported included one last January as well as one in August 2022. No security video or police report # available yet.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s your reminder about what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from our Event Calendar, where you can look days, weeks, months ahead
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open noon-8 pm today – drop in any time to see what’s on display for this year’s Southwest Artist Showcase.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The council is still in budget throes but does have a regular business meeting at 2 pm today in council chambers at City Hall downtown. The agenda document lists what they’re considering and explains how to comment. If you’re not going downtown, you can watch live via Seattle Channel.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards to be sent to voters in other states – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: Crosstown-rivalry girls’ soccer match today – Chief Sealth IHS vs. West Seattle HS at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle), 4 pm.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Board meeting tonight at 6 pm, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse conference room (9131 California SW) and online, community welcome to attend – here’s the agenda.
‘SELF-DISCOVERY – HOW YOUR PAST SHAPES YOUR LIFE’: 6 pm presentation at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW), explained in our calendar listing, which has the RSVP link.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Gather at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
MAKE POTTERY: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! Tuesday nights bring Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options for your Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Two 7 pm home matches – Chief Sealth IHS plays Ingraham (2600 SW Thistle), West Seattle HS plays Roosevelt (3000 California SW).
Planning an event? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering John Dodd, and sharing this with the community:
John Frederick Dodd, age 69, of West Seattle, died on September 29, 2024.
No children or partners. Son of Donald John Dodd and Lucille Brisky Dodd. Surviving relatives are Steven Dodd, Thomas Dodd, Lynnea Manahan, and Donna Oslin.
Memorials to Epilepsy Foundation of America.
Please share memories, condolences, and photos of John on the Tribute Wall located here: emmickfunerals.com/obituary/John-Dodd
Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
8:47 AM: Texter reports backup on the bridge. We suspect that was because of temporary closures due to the motorcade for vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, on his way to an eastside fundraiser. Reopened now.
NOONTIME NOTE: Short visit and Walz has already flown out, so no pm disruptions ahead.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Tuesday, October 8th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
After our sunny, warm Monday, today’s forecast is a big change – showery, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:19 am, while sunset will be at 6:33 pm.
(Monday sunset, photographed by Gene Pavola)
ROAD WORK
*The Highway 99 tunnel will close for maintenance and inspections again next weekend – 10 pm Friday (October 11) to 6 am Sunday (October 13).
*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 later this month, exact date TBA. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
TRANSIT
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat.” Check for alerts here.
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!
10:49 PM: The aurora’s out again tonight! Thanks to the reader who just sent that photo, from Fauntlee Hills. Earlier, Cami reported faint colors looking west from Alki. How long will it last? Hard to tell, but here’s one of the forecast sites recommended by West Seattle expert skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen (here’s her aurora-viewing-tips page).
11:12 PM: More photos arriving – thanks! From Lacey:
From Jessica in Fairmount Park:
From Liz in North Admiral:
12:57 AM: And from Jamie Kinney:
9:34 PM: A few people have asked about the Seattle Fire response this past hour at Alki Bathhouse – attention-getting because firefighters extended a ladder to check out the roof.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photos. And thanks to Brad (via Cami) for the report that firefighters were looking into the possibility a “sky lantern” had landed on the roof. We’re following up with SFD to see if that’s what they found (the call was coded “rubbish fire,” but that’s used to cover a variety of possibilities).
ADDED TUESDAY: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Crews responded reports of smoke coming from the roof, so crews extended a ladder to climb up and investigate. No fire was found, and no injuries were reported.”
This Thursday, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly online author series, Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, features Donna Sandstrom, author of “Orca Rescue!” – telling the story of lost orca Springer‘s successful rescue – and founder of The Whale Trail. Here’s the SWSHS announcement:
Working Together to Save the Whales
Stories of Hope, from Springer to the Southern Residents
In 2002 a young orca named Springer was discovered near West Seattle – lost, alone, and 300 miles away from home. Six months later she was rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to her pod on the north end of Vancouver Island. Today she is thriving, with two calves of her own. It’s the only successful orca reintroduction in history!
Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and local author Donna Sandstrom for our next Words, Writers, Southwest Stories at 6 pm Thursday, October 10. Sandstrom will share the inspiring story of Springer’s rescue, and how it led her to found The Whale Trail. Learn about current initiatives to protect the endangered southern resident orcas and how you can participate in their recovery.
Donna Sandstrom is the Founder of The Whale Trail, a west coast-wide series of sites to watch whales from shore, In 2002 she was a community organizer on the successful effort to return Springer, an orphaned orca, to her pod. Donna recently served as a member of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Orca Recovery Task Force, where she championed solutions to reduce noise and disturbance around the endangered southern resident orcas. Prior to founding The Whale Trail, she was a team and project manager at Adobe Systems. She is the author of “Orca Rescue, the true story of an orphaned orca named Springer” (Kids Can Press 2021), which is a 2025 Sasquatch Award nominee. She is a long-time resident of West Seattle.
Register here to attend, and SWSHS will send you the link before the talk on Thursday.
P.S. “Orca Rescue” was recently published as an audio book – in which you can hear Springer’s actual calls!
Every week we feature dozens of events on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. This week, a new recurring event makes its debut – a community cribbage night! Erik Walum sent the announcement:
Starting Wednesday, October 9th at 6:00 PM, I am starting a cribbage night. The event will be every second Wednesday of the month at the West Seattle Eagles banquet room. It coincides with the club’s weekly taco dinner for the public. All ages are welcome and you don’t need to be a member to participate.
No RSVP needed – just show up. The Eagles are at 4426 California SW in The Junction.
(2023 Seattle Parks image of stadium study area for off-leash area)
Half a year after finalizing the location for West Seattle’s second off-leash area, Seattle Parks is inviting you to a “community engagement event” to find out more about it and offer comments. It’s set for 4-6 pm Wednesday, October 23, at West Seattle Stadium (where the new off-leash area will be created in the “unpaved overflow parking lot” south of the stadium). Parks’ announcement of the event says, “SPR’s project team and design consultant will be available to answer questions, present design concepts, and gather valuable community feedback (to) help shape the final design.” The announcement adds, “Attendees are also encouraged to bring their dogs on-leash in costume for a fun treat. SPR will be accepting pet food donations to benefit the Seattle Animal Shelter at the event or you can visit seattle.gov/animal-shelter/get-involved/donate to donate.” Parks says the off-leash area “will include fencing, seating for pet owners, and an environmentally friendly stormwater bioretention area with thoughtful plantings.” The project page says Parks is currently aiming to build the new West Seattle off-leash area in 2026.
P.S. We asked Parks two followup questions about the October 23 event – where exactly at the stadium, and is it strictly “drop-in”? Spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied, “The gravel overflow parking lot that is usually chained/blocked off. Take the turn off of 35th Ave SW down the driveway toward the stadium/golf course and it will be immediately on the right. We’ll be the first thing people see when they pull into the stadium/golf course driveway so it should be easy to find as if they use the address for the stadium/golf course. And yes, this will be a drop-in event.”
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