West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
When we published the remembrance for Rev. Dr. Stephen Ross two months ago, plans were not yet finalized for his Celebration of Life. Now they are:
A service celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Stephen E. Ross will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 1 pm (PDT) at Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church in Des Moines, Washington, and via Zoom for those who are unable to join in person. All who loved him or his family are welcome and encouraged to attend. The physical address and link to the live-stream can be found at saltwaterchurch.org/celebration-of-life-stephen-e-ross
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, July 24, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clouds making way for sun, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:37 am; sunset will be at 8:53 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Crews are working on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral, and that’s closing 60th during work hours as well as affecting bike lanes near work crews.
-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Thanks for the photos from today’s low-low tide! The ones above and below are from Rainer Klett.
And the next four are from Rosalie Miller, who included ID’s – first, an Anemone and Ochre Sea Star:
A Painted Anemone:
A Glassy Tubeworm:
And a Moonglow Anemone:
Tomorrow’s low-low tide will be out as far as today’s was, -3.0 feet, at 11:07 am.
Tom Walton sent this discovery to share:
We hiked up to the old ghost mining town of Monte Cristo [earlier this week] off the Mountain Loop Highway and came across the most peculiar West Seattle historical item. Some remnant girders from the 1978 West Seattle Bridge are being used as a bridge once again – but instead of cars, it’s hikers crossing the South Fork Sauk River.
We hadn’t heard of this, nor of Monte Cristo; its story is told by HistoryLink here.
Story and photos by Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Earlier this week, we reported on Alki Beach’s first permanent volleyball court, scheduled to be installed today. Right on schedule at 9:00 am this morning, volleyball players and representatives from the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department gathered to install the net, declare the court open, and celebrate with a quick game.
“Doing this, right now, is a huge win,” said Alex, who frequents Alki Beach to both play Volleyball and run tournaments. He was one of the community members who helped push for a permanent net and a clearly defined court space.
“It was a struggle at first,” he said, “but after a lot of effort, and a lot of us getting out there and pushing for it, it’s here.”
“It’s nice to see people who are really vocal and want to help us, and fill us in with more information,” said Shalandra Shippentower, Senior Recreation Program Specialist with Seattle Parks.
The Department collaborated with volleyball regulars to create the rules for the new court as a way to ensure that it meets their needs best, according to Shippentower. “Making these things more accessible,” she said, “is always what we’re trying to do.”
The new net/court is at 58th/Alki.
(WSB photo from 2024. Hoping for warmer weather this year!)
One month from today – on Saturday, August 23 – California SW will be closed to traffic north of Admiral Way for the Admiral Block Party, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. And this year, the closure will start Friday afternoon, so you might say that in The Junction’s Summer Fest Eve tradition, the Block Party gets an Eve – on Friday, ANA’s Dan Jacobs tells WSB, you’ll see “late afternoon buskers/DJ’s … kids’ chalk art … restaurant extended seating.” Then on Saturday, come wander the all-day-and-into-the-night festival, 10 am-9 pm, with the music lineup just announced:
Justin Kausal-Hayes
Sad Dad Autumn
School of Rock
Michael Pearsall
The Potholes
Baby Crow Flight School
Six Killers
SunKing (Tribute to The Cult)
The vendor lineup will be out soon, but in the meantime, Dan tells us the festival’s vendor row is full, so if you missed the chance to apply this year, you’ll have to wait until next year. One more new feature: “Alki Bike and Board will be putting on an all-ages cycling challenge on the south end of the party.” WSB is an Admiral Block Party co-sponsor, so we’ll see you there!
Also on the topic of community safety: The city announced a series of forums earlier this summer, but didn’t have the final District 1 date at the time. Now that’s been finalized, as just announced by City Councilmember Rob Saka:
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes is hosting forums throughout Seattle called ‘Creating a Safer Seattle Community’ to share his vision for Seattle-centric policing. The District 1 forum will be held on Thursday, August 14, 6-7:30 p.m., at Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW, and all are encouraged to attend. He will be joined by CARE Chief Amy Barden and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins.
More than 200 block and building parties are already planned in West Seattle and South Park as part of Night Out 2025 – Tuesday, August 5, just under two weeks away – and you have a few days left to sign up yours. Night Out is the longrunning annual event meant to build community solidarity, resilience, and safety, and it’s also just a generally great chance to connect with your neighbors, even if you’re too busy for that most of the rest of the time. Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite is coordinating the local planning as always, and she tells WSB that registration closes this Sunday night at midnight (July 27) – “Folks must register in order to be eligible to close their street.” (Find the link here.) Registered party hosts will be able to pick up swag at the precinct on August 4; Jennifer will email details on that if you haven’t heard from her already. Any questions/requests? She’s your contact for that too – jennifer.satterwhite@seattle.gov
P.S. As has been our tradition for 15+ years, WSB crews will be visiting Night Out parties for photos – if you wouldn’t mind us visiting yours to see how it’s going, email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(July 11 photo by Dave Gershgorn for WSB)
Planning continues for West Seattle’s Sound Transit light-rail project, though the big issue of how to cover the potential $7 billion cost remains unsettled. The agency had a booth at West Seattle Summer Fest earlier this month to answer questions, and the ST Board has a West Seattle-related vote on the agenda for its monthly meeting tomorrow: Acquisition of three more properties, two residential parcels in the 3200 block of SW Genesee and a Port-owned parcel at 1011 SW Klickitat. The Port-owned parcel would be in relation to the new light-rail-only bridge in the project plan, with the board resolution noting “an early need for a bi-directional load test”; the immediate need for the two residential parcels wasn’t clear, so we asked ST to explain. Spokesperson Henry Bendon says, “These two properties would be used for the construction of the guideway and Avalon Station.” The timing of the acquisitions is due, he says, to personal circumstances of the owners “that necessitate acquisition and relocation as soon as possible.” Tomorrow’s board meeting is at 1:30 pm at Sound Transit HQ downtown, also streamed online; the agenda has details on attending as well as on how to participate in public comment.
ALSO OF NOTE: Related to the aforementioned “bi-directional load test,” a recent city land-use bulletin circulated word of a shoreline-development permit application for a project to install a “test shaft.” See the notice here; comments are open until August 15 (the notice explains how to submit them).
(WSB photo: At Alki moments ago, as low-low tide approaches)
Here’s our quick reminders about what’s happening, and not happening, in the hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUMMER FOOD: As reported here, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks during summer break.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is a last-minute reminder, so set your calendar for next Wednesday morning if interested!).
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.0 feet at 10:20 am today!
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The open-every-day (except this Friday-Saturday) season continues at Lincoln Park‘s outdoor, heated salt-water pool! Noon-7 pm; see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOLS: Two pools are scheduled to be open today in West Seattle – Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) will be open noon-5:30 pm; Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) will be open noon-7 pm.
SSC ONLINE INFO SESSION: Learn about learning at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) during a 12:30 pm online information session today.
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
‘WILD ROBOT’ READ-ALOUD CLUB: Canceled this week.
REDUCE WASTE: 2-4 pm, “where does it go?” Get practical waste-reduction tips at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
WS CHAMBER AFTER-HOURS AT HOMESTREET: All invited to network at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s after-hours event hosted by HomeStreet Bank, 5-7 pm (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor).
SMALL-BUSINESS HELP: Networking and resource-sharing, in English and Spanish, 5:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something that’s broken? Fix it instead of discarding 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 TOURNAMENT: 6 pm, almost-weekly tournament at West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), membership not required to play.
FREE QI-GONG CLASS: 6 pm, meet at south lot of Lincoln Park. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
OPEN STUDIO AT POTTERINGS: 6 pm, get creative at the studio! (3400 Harbor SW)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome.
IRISH DANCE POP-UP CLASS: 6:30 pm, for teens and adults, no experience needed, at Emerald City Drama Club (4455 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
MUSIC BINGO: at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
REGULAR TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and it’s an 8:30 pm start for trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn to shine – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The start of next school year is closer than you think, so it’s time for families to start thinking about school supplies. Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is collecting donated supplies in its longrunning Pencil Me In For Kids drive. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you, explaining how to help:
Pencil Me In For Kids (PMIFK) is a West Seattle Rotary sponsored project that has provided basic school supplies to West Seattle K-5 students in need since 1995. Their 30th annual School Supply Drive launched this week and runs through August 1.
You can help by donating supplies that elementary school students frequently use, such as folders with pockets (e.g., Pee-Chees), glue sticks, pens, pencils, pink erasers, washable fine tip color markers, washable fine and slant-tip black markers, and wide-ruled paper.
Drop-off sites include Brookdale Admiral Heights Senior Living, Fauntleroy Church, Fauntleroy YMCA, Potter Construction (call 206-237-3603 first), and West Seattle Thriftway.
Supplies can also be dropped off at the Rotary luncheon meeting on July 29 at the West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. only).
Online donations allow Pencil Me In For Kids to buy school supplies at a discount. Online donations can be made via the West Seattle Rotary Foundation (bit.ly/3Uio6rh) and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Note: Select Local Projects on the drop-down list and type “PMIFY” on the notes.)
Sue Lindblom, former owner of Illusions Hair Design, founded Pencil Me In For Kids 30 years ago and continues to coordinate the annual drive.
“In the beginning, we raised modest amounts of money for the back-to-school supplies for student wish lists,” said Sue. “Our only thought was to get supplies to kids who needed them so they wouldn’t feel left out and hopefully their self-esteem could be helped. Thirty years later, Pencil Me In For Kids has supported thousands of K-5 students throughout West Seattle.”
Hosted by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, PMIFK is one of several local Rotary projects that support children, youth, and schools, including Music4Life (collecting orchestra and band instruments for K-12 music programs) and a variety of scholarships and awards. Learn more at westseattlerotary.org/projects/local.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wedmesday, July 23, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Warmest day of the week – sunny, low 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:36 am; sunset will be at 8:54 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Crews are working on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral, and that’s closing 60th during work hours – we went by Tuesday and noted it closed on the south side of the intersection.
-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events) …
STADIUM ZONE
–Mariners day game, 12:40 pm vs. Brewers.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
More confirmed gunfire on SW Brandon. Police headed that way after multiple 911 callers said they thought they’d heard gunfire, and officers confirmed it – they’ve just told dispatch they found casings on SW Brandon, in the 2800 block. No report of any injuries so far.
As we’ve mentioned, this week brings the final daytime low-low tides of summer. Thanks to Jamie Kinney for the photos from Constellation Park today.
Wednesday and Thursday’s low-low tide will be out to -3.0 feet – 10:20 am Wednesday, 11:07 am Thursday.
As the start of our video shows, it was a casual atmosphere as West Seattle Community Orchestras musicians welcomed guests to sit in for their third of this year’s four Play Along in the Park events. Every Tuesday night in July, WSCO welcomed guests to join them in Lincoln Park, and advance signups allowed them to be ready for a variety of music – in our clip, for example, the composition was “Let It Go,” from the movie “Frozen.” Play Along in the Park is open to spectators too, and tonight’s audience filled the space in the meadow near the north lot:
If you’re interested in either playing or watching, you have one more chance, next Tuesday (July 29), 6-8 pm.
Thanks to Ian for the photo. Avoid 35th/Avalon for a while; police are directing traffic around the scene of a collision that is sending a motorcycle rider to the hospital. There’s also a fuel leak that has to be cleaned up. Tow trucks are on the way for the motorcycle and at least one vehicle that’s reported to have been involved.
During the session just past, the State Legislature gave local jurisdictions (via HB 2015) the option of raising their sales taxes one-tenth of one percent if the money was used for public-safety services. Today, the King County Council voted to do just that, after County Executive Shannon Braddock sent them the proposal, saying the revenue is needed to prevent cuts in such services – not just the King County Sheriff’s Office, which provides police services in unincorporated areas like White Center and Vashon Island, but also departments that serve people around the county whether or not they’re in cities, such as the jail, Superior Court, and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The council’s announcement notes that the tax increase will amount to 10 cents on a $100 purchase and promises “all revenue generated will be dedicated exclusively to maintaining and strengthening King County’s criminal justice, behavioral health, and public safety systems.” The announcement concludes:
The tax will take effect on October 1, 2025, with revenue collection beginning in January 2026. The County Executive will publish an annual public report detailing how the funds are allocated to strengthen safety and justice for all King County residents.
Cities also have the option of implementing the same sales-tax increase without sending it to voters; there’s no formal proposal in Seattle yet, but the City Council has been working on a resolution spelling out how it could be spent if it is proposed and passed, and will take that up again at a committee meeting on Thursday.
(Added: Screengrab from SDOT traffic cam)
Texters are asking about a police response at/near Easy Street Records. This was dispatched as an argument that was drawing a crowd and for some reason moved into the store. Dispatch said it seemed to have something to do with a phone. Police just told dispatch they have one person in custody.
Checking the police log to ensure we hadn’t missed anything major, we noted a commercial burglary reported this morning in the 5900 block of California SW. We subsequently obtained the report narrative from SPD. A worker at Juneau Street Market told police he had arrived at 7 am to find evidence of a burglary about two hours before that. The burglar broke a window pane on the north side of the store, and pulled up a recycling-bin lid, possibly to hide the broken window from passers-by. The report says the burglar(s) took “tobacco and smokeless-tobacco products” worth at least $1,000. Security video given to police was described by the officer who wrote the report: “I observed a male wearing a hoodie, to conceal his identity, enter the frame from the north side of the store. The male suspect, possibly black or Hispanic, in his 20’s-30’s, immediately went behind the register area and began filling a small bag with packs of cigarettes and vape pen products. The suspect was careful not to look up at the camera, finished and was out of the store within 5-10 minutes, leaving through the broken window.” If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-206899.
(WSB photo, July 2024)
California Place Park is a 10,500-square-foot triangle in North Admiral, just east of Admiral Church, one of West Seattle’s smallest and most-overlooked parks. If you didn’t know any better, you’d assume it’s part of the church grounds. But last year’s Admiral Music in the Parks concert series – presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association – brought a concert to California Place Park (WSB coverage here), and it worked out well enough, they’re doing it again this year. It’s the second of three parks that are home to this year’s AMP concerts, and you can see and hear for yourself this Thursday (July 24) at 6:30 pm, when West Seattle’s own Michael Pearsall and Friends will perform. The concert is free – just bring your own chair, blanket, picnic dinner (or takeout from one of Admiral’s tasty options), etc. And if you knit, remember that Seattle Yarn is hosting a circle at this year’s AMP concerts! (Community co-sponsors include WSB and other local businesses listed on the series webpage, where you can also donate to support AMP if you’re so inclined.)
We’ve been mentioning in our daily traffic roundups that parking restrictions are in place for the next three weeks for a stretch of Admiral Way west of 59th SW. We asked SDOT for specifics, and here’s what they tell us today:
This work is being conducted by our concrete crew and is a curb ramp install on all four corners of SW Admiral Way & 60th Ave SW, with street panel replacement adjacent to ramps on 60th Ave SW. Expect daily closures on 60th Ave SW at this intersection up until August 15.
When we went by a bit earlier today, the closure was on 60th on the south side of the intersection, and part of the eastbound bike lane was blocked (as shown in our photo).
The WSB West Seattle Lost and Found (non-pets) board has been busy lately. It’s a self-post section – go to https://westseattleblog.com/log-in if you don’t already have an ID for our Community Forums – but some announcements show up via email, and this one seems potentially urgent:
I found an engraved wooden cane with the name “Peggy” on it. I found it in the alley behind my home (5300 block SW Admiral way) – Please text finder at 206-661-0069 to schedule pickup.
(July 11 photo by Dave Gershgorn for WSB)
The peninsula’s biggest party of the year – West Seattle Summer Fest – is over for another year, after three big days (and two nights) in the streets in the heart of The Junction. Organizers at the West Seattle Junction Association want to know what you thought about it – what you did, what could be improved, etc. To collect those opinions, they’ve just launched this short survey. It’s open until August 1.
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