West Seattle, Washington
13 Sunday
Just under two weeks until Halloween, and dozens of special events are scheduled – so, to help you find them, as of early today, our annual West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide is up: Trick-or-treat events, festivals, costume contests, carnivals, performances, spooky displays, bar parties, Dia de Muertos events, more. The guide is at westseattleblog.com/halloween and will continue to evolve between now and November 1st – adding events as we hear about them, and removing the ones that have already happened – so keep checking in. And if we’re missing YOUR seasonal community-welcome event – please send info as soon as you can – westseattleblog@gmail.com – so we can add it; thank you!
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, October 18th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny! High in the mid-60s. Sunrise today is at 7:32 am; sunset, 6:15 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Delridge repaving in the northbound lanes north of Genesee is scheduled to continue today – here’s the original announcement.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, which is still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
(West Seattle Monster Dash photo – this is its mascot ‘Monster’)
If you haven’t already seen this year’s West Seattle Monster Dash in the WSB Event Calendar, organizers want to be sure you know you’re invited to this truly fun run! Here’s the reminder they asked us to share with you – still time to get a pre-race-day registration discount:
Join us this year for the 12th annual Monster Dash fundraiser to benefit South Seattle College’s Cooperative Preschool Program! This event is a costumed 5K trail run/walk, Kids Dash, and Kids Zone featuring games, activities, and prizes. Paid registration includes a T-shirt featuring our iconic Monster (all races) and bib with timing chip (5K only). Jogging strollers welcome; please leave pets at home.
Monster Dash 5K and Kids Dash
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW
9:30 am 5K/10:30 am Kids Dashes$40 Adult 5K Registration ($45 on race day)
$15 Kids Dash Registration ($20 on race day)Register: runsignup.com/Race/WA/Seattle/WestSeattleMonsterDash
Donate: runsignup.com/Race/Donate/WA/Seattle/WestSeattleMonsterDashPacket Pickup Event:
Thursday, October 26, 3-6 pm
West Seattle Runner
2743 California Ave SW, Suite 101All funds raised benefit the SSCC Parent Advisory Council’s program-wide initiatives, including outreach, equity, and tuition assistance.
As we continue showing you Halloween decorations from around West Seattle – with two weeks to go until the big night – we have three different photos of creatively displayed skeletons. Above, Marsha Munson spotted those two on Beach Drive SW near Lowman Beach; below, we happened onto this campy scene in the driveway of a Gatewood home:
And John sent the photo of his skeleton lookout on a deck near California/Genesee:
All the decorations we’ve shown so far can be found in this WSB coverage-category archive, and on the Halloween Guide page we’ll be launching before the night’s out. If you have a suggestion, please email us – with or without photo(s) – at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As promised, now that mid-October is here, the West Seattle Junction Association is welcoming submissions for the Community Art Showcase that’s part of the Hometown Holidays Glorious Lights of West Seattle Festival. They’ve expanded the types of art that will be welcomed, too. Here’s the announcement:
Mark your calendars for an even bigger season of cheer! The West Seattle Junction Association is thrilled to announce that the December 9th GLOWS — Glorious Lights of West Seattle — Festival is featuring a Community Art Spectacular! Images will be projected on a seven-story building in The Junction on Saturday, Dec 9th, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, for all to enjoy. Everyone is invited to create and submit art; there are no requirements for art experience and the vision is for anyone to express what GLOWS means to them.
To spur imaginations and reinforce the spirit of GLOWS, submission categories include:
1. The significance of light during the winter
2. How you GLOW as part of our community
3. The brightest thing(s) in your West Seattle life
4. Who is your glorious light of West Seattle? (bonus category)Art medium categories include: fine and graphic art, photography and silent video shorts, and original AI-generated art (prompts cannot be from another artist or piece of art).
All submissions will be curated with the highest level of integrity to promote originality and prevent plagiarism. The Junction Association is supported in selecting work by a committee of art and legal experts.
The GLOWS Community Art Spectacular is the opportunity for families, friends, and community to channel their emotions and gratitude for West Seattle into art. The final, selected artwork will be produced into a spectacular presentation, set to holiday-themed music. The featured art will be revealed only at the Dec 9th event. The Junction Association has the most festive and immersive evening planned, including a night market and beer garden, costume contest, and performances by Endolyne Children’s Choir, The School of Rock, and West Seattle All-Star Jazz Ensemble (led by Jay Cates and Andrew Joslyn).
All West Seattleites and Seattleites are invited to create original artwork for consideration! Ready to get in touch with your inner artist? Submit via this form and visit the Hometown Holidays page for more information. The window for submission is now through October 31st. Submit your art today!!
Thanks to Sharonn for the tip. Two days after its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Rite Aid has disclosed the initial list of stores it plans to close or sell. In our area (West Seattle/White Center), the only store on the “initial closing stores” list is the Bartell Drugs store in WC (9600 15th SW) that already closed (three weeks ago). You can see the full nationwide list of 154 “initial closing stores” starting on page 23 of this document (for those interested in Burien, the list also includes a Rite Aid store at 110 SW 148th). In addition, Rite Aid is selling some other stores, but none in West Seattle and vicinity – that list is in this document (only one in the Seattle area is at 2707 Rainier Ave. S.) We’re still browsing the documents for any indication on when further closure/sale plans will be announced, but for now, the four West Seattle Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores are NOT on either “initial” list.
1:14 PM: At least one opponent of Seattle Parks‘ plan to convert Lincoln Park‘s ex-tennis courts to pickleball courts is trying a new tactic, For the second day, a man is keeping vigil at the space. We first met the man, who identified himself as Lance, there yesterday after hearing police dispatched to the park for a report that “three protesters” were reported to be at the site, allegedly thwarting Parks workers, Dispatch audio indicates the police response was canceled because the workers left. We asked Parks what had happened and they said, “Someone was down at the park trying to interfere with the work today [Monday], and the police were called.” Lance indicated that he intended to continue “occupying” the site, so we went back at midday today to see if he was there. He was (that’s his chair in our photos), along with a few other opponents of the pickleball plan, and a TV crew. Lance said Parks workers had been back around 6:45 am but left. He said they were trying to “leave debris” at the site and he believes a permit is needed for work at the site. Parks has contended it does not need environmental review to place a new overlay on the existing pavement for the court conversion; we have another request out to Parks for comment on that and the ongoing vigil. Opponents say the noise of pickleball will interfere with wildlife; those there with Lance today pointed out when we arrived that a raven was heard calling (we heard it too) in nearby trees.
ADDED 2:30 PM: Here’s how Parks’ media team responded to our questions: “The work does not require a permit. Someone did interfere with employees’ work this morning. Seattle Parks and Recreation will be establishing a work zone in the park where only staff and contracted workers will be permitted to enter. Any members of the public who enter this area will be asked to leave. We completely supporting everyone’s First Amendment right, but want to ensure that staff, the contractor, and members of the public are safe.”
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
CARJACKING: A woman lost her vehicle to carjackers early this morning near Seacrest/Don Armeni. Our information comes from both archived police/dispatch audio and a summary provided by SPD on request. The victim said three people surrounded her vehicle while she was in the driver seat, pointed a gun at her, pulled her out of the car – a 2022 beige Mercedes SUV with plates that started in CCP – and demanded that she hand over her keys. They got in and took off, with a “dark sedan,” possibly a Nissan, following, She was not hurt. The suspects were described only as teenagers in masks and dark hoodies. Officers subsequently spotted the stolen vehicle and “dark sedan” qt/near Roxbury Safeway; the audio has one officer requesting but not receiving permission to pursue. (We asked SPD about current department policy as pursuits, since state law was loosened earlier this year to allow more of them; an SPD spokesperson provided this link to the department’s own extensive policy.) The vehicles were reported to have been seen “blowing through lights” as they headed eastbound on Roxbury. Meantime, officers recovered some of the victim’s property that had been stolen with the car, apparently including her purse. (Added: The 911 call on this came in at about 3 am.)
SHOPLIFT-TURNED-ROBBERY: This happened in the past hour, according to 911 dispatch. Four teenagers were reported to have stolen liquor from the Westwood Village QFC and punched an employee on their way out, which is what makes it a robbery. Four suspects were spotted at a bus stop on Delridge, “unloading” the suspected stolen property; according to an exchange between dispatch and officers, the store only wanted the suspects “identified and trespassed,” rather than arrested. The employee apparently did not require medical attention, as there is no evidence of an SFD dispatch to that location.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: 10:30 am at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), meet up for long-distance political networking.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE CONTINUES: Noon to 8, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open – drop by to see the work displayed by community members in its annual Southwest Artist Showcase.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials, and chess for all levels of expertise.” (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
DINE OUT FOR ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Get dine-in or take-out from Mioposto in Admiral (2139 California SW) 4-9 pm tonight, and part of the proceeds will benefit the Admiral Neighborhood Association in its work to connect the community with fun and informative events!
SCHOOL BOARD TALKS $: As previewed here Monday, the School Board meets at 4:30 pm to talk about its next step in solving a looming budget crisis. Here’s the agenda; open to the public at district HQ (3rd/Lander), also streamed here.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
LEARN ASL: Free class, 6 pm at West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW) – info’s in our calendar listing.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOASTMASTERS 832: All welcome to this 6:30 pm online meeting – our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
THE CLAY CAULDRON: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance or drop in to work on your project(s).
‘UNPLUGGED, A MUSICAL GATHERING’: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), an informal gathering for acoustic musicians.
SING! Singers have an open invitation to join the Seattle Metropolitan Singers – “all treble voices welcome” – just show up for one of their rehearsals, Tuesdays 7-9 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way).
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – 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 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW); also, 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can look ahead any time via our event calendar – if you have something to add to it, please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to George for emailing this report of a coyote sighting around 7 am today: “I just saw one heading north on 55th Ave SW / SW Charlestown St. Well fed, alone, 35-40 lbs. Not surprising considering all the rabbits around here!” We publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm; here’s a one-sheet on coexistence do’s and don’ts.
Family and friends will gather October 28 to celebrate the life of Jerrol Neupert. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community now:
Jerrol Ross Neupert was the only child born to Hugo and Eleanor Neupert in Seattle.
After graduating from Chief Sealth High School, he earned a degree in Biology from Carleton College in Northfield, MN. He then attended Medical School and earned his M.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle. He met and married his wife of 45 years, Janet Doris (Adams) Neupert, during his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He was drafted into the Navy and served as the base ophthalmologist in Groton, CT.
After the military, they moved to Seattle to establish an ophthalmology practice. He finished his medical career in 2013 when he retired from Eye Associates Northwest. He was dedicated to his work and his patients’ health and well-being, as well as time with his family. His passions involved building and flying radio-control model airplanes. Additionally, he was an avid reader, which he thoroughly enjoyed at home and on vacation.
He is predeceased by his parents as well as his loving wife. He is survived by his children, Shevaun D. Neupert, Ph.D. (Jan Hannig, Ph.D.) and Erich R. Neupert (Stephanie H. Neupert), and his grandchildren, Klára and Declan Hannig and Valerie and Cassandra Neupert. We will celebrate his life on October 28th at 11 am at West Side Presbyterian Church in West Seattle. Any donations are recommended to Mothers of Preschoolers.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, October 17th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain likely, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:31 am; sunset, 6:17 pm.
(Monday sunset, photographed by Tom Trulin)
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Delridge repaving in the northbound lanes north of Genesee is scheduled to continue today – here’s the announcement from Friday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, which is still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
11:43 PM: Seattle Fire has a sizable response in the 9200 block of 20th SW for what’s described as a fire in a “vacant building.”
11:46 PM: The fire was apparently confined to the fireplace, and only four of the originally dispatched ~20 units are still on scene.
11:53 PM: Side note, the property to which this call is logged has a demolition permit and a plan for six townhouses.
11:59 PM: The call is closed.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you have something to say about the draft Seattle Transportation Plan, you have one more week to say it – October 23 is the deadline.
One West Seattle man is not only commenting – he’s proposing a neighborhood transportation transformation as his feedback, and he’s inviting you to travel along.
Maybe you’ve seen the flyers Jack Conness has posted in Highland Park and South Delridge, pointing you to his Highland Park Public Transformation Plan website:
After a reader saw one of Jack’s flyers and told us about it, we contacted Jack to find out more, and sat down with him for an early-morning chat at Fresh Flours Bakery in South Delridge. Jack is a relatively new arrival – two years ago – to south Highland Park, a former Californian who is originally from “90 miles west of Chicago.”
While he landed here with the thought that it might be a stepping stone to another area of Seattle, he says he’s “fallen in love with this neighborhood” and that’s why he is proposing a plan to make it safer. “I thought I could put something out there that might sway decisionmakers (and) instead of just submitting a comment myself, I could submit a comment with lots of people.” He also admits he’s a “bit weird and wonky” at heart.
His experience of getting around started with arriving here as a UW graduate student – during the West Seattle Bridge closure – and having to get to UW. That put him in the public transportation system, taking the bus to light rail to get to school. (He’s enamored with how Seattle is expanding its light-rail system, even knowing that’s more because the region is trying to catch up, than leaping ahead.)
He works in climate-change policy, so he’s interested in that aspect of transportation too, aware that to get people onto buses and rail they have to be more safe and available.
But right outside our doors, being able to walk and bike safely in neighborhoods is the first step (literally). So he’s outlined some ideas.
He lives near 14th and Roxbury, and crosses the latter “all the time” to get to the “incredible food and nightlife options” in White Center. “It’s a nightmare” and was even more so when the bridge closure made Roxbury another major detour route, leaving drivers “sitting on the crosswalk in their vehicles.” Another street that factors into his plan, SW Henderson, for which he proposes reconfiguration:
“It splits north and south Highland Park and feels like a freeway – built for speed.” No place to truly safely cross between 9th and 16th, he says, but families in south Highland Park have to cross it to get to Highland Park Elementary on SW Trenton. No kids in his family yet, but he and his wife cross with their dog. “It’s dangerous. Our neighbors have kids – not a fun trek to make. So how do we make it safer and friendlier” for everyone to cross? He also has ideas for Thistle, 16th, Roxbury, and 10th, with some raised crosswalks in the mix too.
Getting to Westcrest Park is another challenge. “It’s a great park but there’s no safe way to get there unless you’re driving.” And to those who are skeptical because they’re not seeing many people walking or biking now, Jack offers a line from a movie about professional baseball (in which he worked): “If you build it, they will come.” And that means more chances to interact with your neighbors.
He started getting the word out via posters because he figured people already walking and biking would be those most interested in his ideas. They had been barely up a week by the time we talked on Friday, and he’d already received almost 50 signatures. The first one, he recalled, “was an incredible feeling – somebody else feels the way I do.” He’s also already met with some interested residents who are “trying to find ways to get involved … I didn’t expect this outcome so quickly, I thought I was the only weird person out there.”
Jack has also talked with people who have long been involved and heard about “the battles they’ve had to fight.” He hopes he can add new energy to the fight. He is also encouraged by the new leadership in SDOT – this is the first year for director Greg Spotts – “I’ve been following what they’re up to … (things) can’t change overnight but I’m very much excited and motivated, so that’s part of why I wanted to get involved.” He’s requested one of the neighborhood walking tours Spotts has promised to attend.
But right now, he wants to find out who else is interested in signing on to his plan before he sends it to the city for consideration before the draft Seattle Transportation Plan becomes the official Seattle Transportation Plan. That won’t be the end of his efforts, though, but just the beginning. “The intent is, low-cost, low-barrier moves that can be made. This is step one of many more.”
We ask, if just one part of your plan can become reality for starters, what would it be? SW Henderson, Jack replies, seeing it as a “simple fix” with stop signs and bicycle infrastructure.
His plan also suggests a bike path araund Highland Park Elementary and the park next to it – “imagine if you could safely send your kid out on that bike path … It’s an incredible community that’s continuing to grow (and) invite more people in.”
And the people, he believes, is who should take precedence on the streets – it’s not good enough, in his view, to have “greenways” which are supposed to be shared streets where “you have to trust drivers” so the signage confers “a false sense of security.” Other halfway measures aren’t enough, either: “Crosswalks with a flag are a policy failure.”
You can see Jack’s full proposal here. Here’s where you can sign on, if you support it. (Or if you want to submit your own comment on the draft Seattle Transportation Plan, you can go here.) Wherever his ideas go, he’s optimistic: “The future is bright.”
As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween-decoration displays, tonight’s photos are from Ryan, who announces:
The light show at 4040 47th Ave. SW (4040 House) is once again live for Halloween.
The show will run nightly from 6 pm-9 pm.
We have all-new music and some new lights. There is a new feature “the haunted jukebox”. Those watching can request songs from a playlist. More information can be found at 4040house.com.
We ask people remember to keep the noise down and if you do drive, please park along Dakota or Andover.
Big thanks again to everyone who’s sending tips, with and without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and see what we’ve already showcased by scrolling through our Halloween archive, here!
It was a day full of off-on rain … but also multiple rainbow sightings. Thanks to everyone who sent photos! Above, an end-of-day Alki photo from Lisa Murphy; below, from Robin Sinner:
Stewart L. captured the downtown skyline beneath a rainbow:
And Manuel photographed the meeting of rainbow, state ferry, and cruise ship:
Still a chance of more showers through tomorrow, and then the forecast clears up for a while, possibly sunny and near 70 degrees on Thursday!
Another one-car crash toward the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. The driver was apparently unhurt but their Jeep Liberty is reported to be partly blocking traffic as it approaches the Fauntleroy end of the bridge. One caller, according to dispatch, reported the vehicle had flipped; this is out of camera range so we haven’t confirmed that.
SDOT sent an update today on the Highland Park Way/Holden project – paving is done, installation of the art piece is weeks away, and the new signal will follow:
(SDOT photo, west side of Highland Park Way SW)
We recently finished pouring concrete and asphalt for the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St Safety Project. There are now new sidewalks, curb bulbs, and ADA accessible ramps along Highland Park Way SW between SW Holden St and SW Portland St. These improvements will make this intersection safer and more accessible for people living, working, and traveling through the area. …
Last week, we moved most of the equipment and materials out of the area. We also hydroseeded the new topsoil, a process where we spread a mixture of grass seed, fertilizer, mulch, and water. You should see grass sprouting soon. We will return briefly over the next few months to complete the following:
*Remove old roadway markings and paint new ones. This is tentatively scheduled for late October but could shift based on weather.
*Install a new public art piece in early November. (Artist Matthew Mazzotta‘s rendering of “Where’s the party?” is a larger than life Steller’s jay that will perch at the SW corner of Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St.)
*Install permanent metal traffic signals and poles at the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St intersection in December or January. You’ll notice there are orange barrels at the four corners of the intersection. These are protecting the exposed anchor bolts for the future poles.
The permanent signals will replace temporary signals that were hastily installed right after the West Seattle Bridge’s sudden shutdown in March 2020, after SW Holden and Highland Park Way SW became a major detour route to get to the 1st Avenue South Bridge. Community members had been lobbying for safety improvements to the intersection for many years before that.
(Photos courtesy Camp Long)
West Seattle’s Camp Long (5200 35th SW) has two special events ahead – and multiple ways for you to be part of them. One is the first “Trail or Treat” since 2005! This is set for 4-8 pm Saturday, October 28. Camp Long’s Matt Kostle explains:
The idea is to have community organizations and members “adopt” a cabin, which simply means they would volunteer to provide people to decorate the cabin however they want (and can totally include info about their organization/programs/etc.) and have someone or several people there during the event to hand out goodies of their choice (we are recommending more natural items like fruit leathers or things like that as opposed to the standard trick or treat candy)! Dressing up is of course encouraged as well but not required!
We will create a pathway with lights that goes to all the respective cabins for folks to stop at for goodies and will end at one of our shelters for activities from our Naturalists, a campfire with smores goodies and some story telling!
With that we have an ask of the community and that is that we need organizations to adopt these cabins! We have a few already spoken for but would love more from the community! We would also love to have support in the form of anyone who wants to volunteer helping set up on the day of the event! Camp Long feels like such a perfect place for this type of family friendly event but we would love to spruce it up even more so in addition to people, if anybody has any décor they would be willing to donate to this event please let us know! I am attaching a photo (above) all the way back from 2005 which might have been the last time we did an event like this to showcase some decoration ideas! We would also love lighting for the pathways if anyone is able to help with that! We will share the final lighted pathway that we will map out based on how many cabins we have participating. We are hoping to wrap up getting volunteers signed up by the 19th! Please reach out to us at camp.long@seattle.gov or 206-684-7434 to sign up for volunteering or adopting a cabin for the event!
Camp Long is also planning a Día de Muertos Ofrenda! Above is a photo of last year’s ofrenda.
The Seattle Parks & Rec Environmental Education Team would like to invite our neighbors and community to participate in this beautiful Mexican tradition. The altar will be located on the north side of the lodge and available for viewing beginning October 28 at Camp Long’s Trail or Treat event. The installation will be available until Nov 10 and we would love for the public to participate by adding pictures, nameplates, or special items to our community ofrenda. This is a way to celebrate and honor the life of loved ones who have passed. For more information, you can reach out to Nicolasa Hernandez, Seattle Parks & Rec Community Naturalist, at Nicolasa.Hernandez@seattle.gov
While a formal plan isn’t expected until next month, Seattle Public Schools‘ next step toward addressing a budget gap happens at a School Board work session tomorrow (Tuesday, October 17). We heard today from a local teacher who says it’s important for concerned families to turn out for the meeting – at SPS HQ in SODO – because of the recent reconfiguration plans (WSB coverage here) as well as what’s ahead. She writes:
SPS’s management made a mistake. We need families to go to the SPS board budget meeting, TOMORROW. Tuesday October 17, 4:30 pm – in-person at JSCEE. The goal is to get many families in one place to connect and support one another. We URGENTLY need to get currently unaffected schools to support our affected schools because they could become affected schools next.
SPS administrators say they have a budget gap of more than $100 million to cover, and here are some of the possibilities listed in a slide deck for tomorrow’s meeting (part of the agenda documents):
You might recall, the “system of well-resourced schools” is where the possible school closures/consolidations come in, but again, the detailed proposal on that is still a month away. The district collected some community feedback at recent meetings (here’s our coverage of the one in West Seattle), mostly general opinions such as “what do you like about your school?”, and plans a report on the feedback at tomorrow’s work session too. If you’re interested in attending, the district HQ is at 3rd/Lander; if you can’t go, you can watch the livestream here.
P.S. Our area’s school-board member Leslie Harris has her next community Q&A meeting this Saturday (October 21st), 2-5 pm, at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW.
9:48 AM: Two weeks after a 21-year-old man was shot and killed on a Metro bus at 15th/Roxbury, the King County Sheriff’s Office has identified a 17-year-old suspect and is releasing photos, asking for your help in finding him:
King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Major Crimes Detectives are seeking the community’s help in locating the suspect of a homicide in White Center on October 3rd.
17-year-old Miguel Rivera Dominguez (pictured) has been identified as the suspect who fatally shot Marcel Da’jon Wagner, 21, on a Metro Bus earlier this month.
Rivera Dominguez has strong ties to the Burien area and is known to use public transportation or seek rides from others. It’s likely he will be wearing a mask to conceal his face while in public. Rivera Dominguez is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts can submit a tip by calling (206) 263-2090, via email at mcutips@kingcounty.gov, or anonymously via the P3Tips app. If located, call 911 immediately.
We asked KCSO for any additional descriptive information. They tell us he is 6′ tall, 170 pounds.
3:53 PM: A reader just forwarded us an alert sent to the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) community by campus security:
… we are sending this alert because the suspect does have ties to our main campus in West Seattle and could show up here.
There is no known immediate threat to our college or campus at this time. If that changes, we will send emergency alert messaging. Campus security is doing extra patrols to keep an eye out for the suspect and is in contact with authorities investigating the case.
We asked SSC for any further information about the suspect’s “ties”; they had none to provide.
7:09 PM: Commenters noted that it appears Rivera Dominguez is or was a student at Burien’s Highline High School. One reader has since forwarded us a community message from HHS principal Clint Sallee saying he is a former student: “Miguel left HHS in December of 2022 and has not attended our school since that time. Some of our students know Miguel. Hearing this information about a former classmate or friend may impact them. Please contact the counselor if you believe your student needs support.”
When you have a small business, you’re often everything from the CEO to the CTO to the COO to the HR director to the staff. How do you get it all done? Spending just one hour in a free class this Thursday at West Seattle Coworking (WSB sponsor) can pay off – here’s the invitation:
Hello, neighbors and fellow business owners. Following the success of last month’s workshops, we are happy to present another free event for our beloved Business community. There are so many hats to wear as a small-business owner and so little time in the day. Come and learn from this one-hour conversation on how to boost our efforts and regain lost momentum. This Thursday, October 19th, 5-6 pm at West Seattle Coworking HQ, 9030 35th Avenue SW. Find more details and signup link here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, October 16th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain, possibly a pm thunderstorm, breezy, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:29 am; sunset, 6:19 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Delridge repaving in the northbound lanes north of Genesee is tentatively scheduled to start today – here’s the announcement from Friday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, which is still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
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