ORIGINAL 9:55 PM MONDAY REPORT: Police have been at Westcrest Park for about half an hour, investigating gunfire. One resident nearby reported a window broken by a bullet; officers then reported finding more gunfire evidence in a park lot described as near 8th/Henderson. No injuries reported so far, and no suspect/vehicle descriptions have been circulated. If you have any information contact 911 and refer to case # 25-270054.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: We requested and obtained the SPD report narrative (XXXX represents redactions by SPD):

On 09/15/2025, I OFC XXXX, was working uniformed patrol as unit 3W22 with OFC XXXX. We responded to 81XX 7 AV SW for a report of a bullet shot through a window at approximately 2119 hours.The call notes are as follows:

1 MIN AGO, SHOT THROUGH RPS WINDOW, NOTHING ELSE SEEN OR HEARD

We arrived on scene and did a prompt area check surrounding the house. I then went to the home and contacted the RP XXXX, and his roommate XXXX. XXXX led us inside the home and into the kitchen. The kitchen window directly in front of the sink was shattered on the outside. The window was double paned and only the exterior glass was broken.

OFC XXXX and I went outside to look at the damage. There was a significant hole that indicated where the projectile struck the windowpane. There was tempered glass on the floor and in the planters directly below the window. No bullet was recovered. Because the projectile did not penetrate or break both panes of glass, it is most likely that the shot was a stray bullet from a significant distance away from the scene.

I took photos of the damage and uploaded them to Axon. I gave XXXX a business card. XXXX and XXXX stated that they were both on the couch and heard the glass shatter. They walked over and realized that it was most likely a stray bullet. XXXX then called police. Neither of them heard any shots being fired.

After clearing the scene, we drove southbound to Westcrest Park where the backing officers were conducting an area search.

OFC XXXX discovered XXXX and took photos of the scene and collected them for evidence. The spent casings were found near a shed inside Westcrest Park where there were indications of damage from the shots. XXXX cartridges were found on the ground. There was also a fired projectile found near the scene.

An officer taped a business card to the shed for staff to find in the morning. When given the evidence at the precinct, I weighed the fired projectile. The bullet weighed XXXX on our scale in the evidence room, which converts to XXXX. It is more likely than not that the fired projectile was a XXXX.

I inspected the headstamps of a few of the spent casings. The majority of the XXXX.

There is no suspect at this time. There is probable cause for SMC 12A.14.071 Aiming/Discharge of a Firearm.

Canine swim time! Dog Days of Summer arrive at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club

September 15, 2025 9:49 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Pets | West Seattle news

By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The “dog days of summer” have arrived at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club! They’ll have hours available at their pool every day this week until Saturday (September 20) for you to bring your canine companion to cool off during their “Dog Days” event. (An especially good idea tomorrow, with the high being forecast near 85 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.) We stopped by briefly today to take some pictures of Day 1 participants:

Above is Sona, around 7 years old. Below is Nala, around 5 ½ years old (notably, her owners told us this marks her 4th year of attendance!)

And below is Sasha, around 2 ½ years old, here for her second year in a row

This event is the only fundraiser for the club every year, with proceeds going to help their youth swim teams, as well as general pool maintenance. In past years, contributions from the public have allowed them to purchase crucial items such as a set of new kickboards and poolside clocks for swim meets.

This year marks the 10th anniversary for “Dog Days,” which started in 2012 and took two years off for the pandemic, starting back up in 2022. The event also marks the end of the pool’s season, as they’ll move into maintenance until next spring after “Dog Days” concludes.

Attendance today was strong, with pool manager Blake telling us that around 25 dogs had already came throughout the day by 5 PM.

If you and your dog are looking to have some fun in the sun, you have five more chances this week. Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW) will be open to the general public for “Dog Days,” with weekday hours of 4 to 7 PM, and 12 to 5 PM on Saturday. The cost is $5 per dog per day, and $20 for a week-long pass. If you’d just like to come by and see the dogs, it’s free.

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New season, new conductors, registration and audition time for West Seattle Community Orchestras

September 15, 2025 9:04 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The new school year also means a new season for the West Seattle Community Orchestras, which is celebrating some fresh starts this year – and that could include yours! Here’s all the WSCO news:

With the 2025–2026 concert season fast approaching, the West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) has announced registration and audition details as well as new conductors for two of their four ensembles — well-known Concert Orchestra conductor Bryan Kolk returning as conductor of WSCO’s Symphony Orchestra and Allion Salvador joining as the new conductor of WSCO’s Concert Orchestra.

Fall registration for all ensembles is now open. Auditions for new members are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23. For more information, visit wscorchestras.org/register or e-mail info@wscorchestras.org.

Bryan Kolk is a music educator, conductor, and bassist who served as Concert Orchestra conductor for four years. He was chosen to conduct the higher-level Symphony Orchestra earlier this summer after former conductor Asieh Mahyar accepted a professorship in another state. Kolk directs the orchestra at Mercer Island High School, which performed at Carnegie Hall earlier this year. He previously directed orchestra and guitar classes at Garfield High School in Seattle and at high schools in Michigan. He also directs the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Debut Symphony and has years of experience directing music festivals and camps.

Following Kolk’s move, WSCO launched a broad search for a new Concert Orchestra conductor. Allion Salvador — a violinist who is completing a master’s degree in conducting at Central Washington University — was chosen to serve. From 2023–2025, Mr. Salvador served as Music Director of the Federal Way Youth Orchestra. He has also worked with Spokane Symphony, Seattle Philharmonic, and Missoula Symphony, and currently serves as assistant conductor of Wenatchee Valley Symphony and a pops conductor for Candlelight Concerts. He is associate concertmaster of Yakima Symphony and co-concertmaster of the String Orchestra of the Rockies. A 2021 Music International Grand Prix winner, he studied violin at Manhattan School of Music.

Four ensembles comprise WSCO, which also offers beginning strings instruction for young people and for adults (Bill Panks is teacher). In addition to the orchestras mentioned above, beginning students can join the WSCO Debut Orchestra (Rachel Nesvig, conductor) and advanced brass, woodwind, and percussion players can try out for WSCO’s Wind Symphony (Justin Murray, conductor). All four ensembles are multigenerational, offering youth an opportunity to perform alongside more experienced musicians.

If you can’t, or don’t want to, get involved with WSCO right now, you can still make plans to enjoy their fall concerts – watch for the dates, on their website as well as the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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COUNTDOWN: Four days until Holy Rosary’s West Fest. Here’s the music lineup!

September 15, 2025 7:55 pm

| Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Four days until Holy Rosary’s West Fest. Here’s the music lineup!

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The last festival of summer – on the brink of fall – is Holy Rosary School‘s West Fest, this Friday night and all day Saturday. We just got the music (and more) lineups from organizers:

Friday: 9/19
6 pm……………….Hair Force
7:30 pm…………..Nathan Shafi
8 pm……………….Secondhand Flannel

Saturday: 9/20
10 am……………..Princess Story Time
12:00pm…………Raymond the Magician
1 pm……………….Mister the Williams
2 pm……………….Legal Issues
4 pm……………….Project 33
5:50 pm…………..Plenty of Doubt
6:50 pm…………..Fools in the Rain
8:30 pm…………..DAD

And here’s the general festival info:

Friday, September 19th • 6 PM – 10 PM
Saturday, September 20th • 10 AM – 10 PM

JOIN THE FUN! Live entertainment, food booths, kids rides, BINGO, cake walk, and carnival-style games!

LOCATION: Holy Rosary School 4142 42nd Ave. SW

GENERAL QUESTIONS: Visit: holyrosaryws.org/westfest

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle Police lieutenant explains how she stopped driver accused of targeting pedestrian

September 15, 2025 5:36 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo, Friday)

Last Friday afternoon, we reported on a crash near the north end of Lincoln Park, involving a driver who fled on foot after allegedly trying to hit pedestrians, and another driver who deliberately hit that car to stop him. We later learned from the preliminary police summary that the latter driver was an off-duty Seattle Police officer. Today, SPD identifies that officer as a lieutenant in the process of being promoted to captain and about to take over the South Precinct. Here’s the department’s post:

Seattle Police Lt. Heidi Tuttle drove her SUV into a Prius on Friday, Sept. 12 to stop a man from running over a pedestrian.

“The Prius shot out from Southwest Othello onto 47th and he almost clipped my back panel,” said Lt. Tuttle.

Lt. Tuttle said she stopped her vehicle and watched the Prius swerve and almost hit another car head-on. The Prius driver then nearly ran over a pedestrian and almost hit three more cars.

She said it was clear the driver had his eyes on a man in the street.

“Once he crossed Fauntleroy to the east side of the street he gunned it toward the guy. The victim jumped out of the street,” Lt. Tuttle said.

Lt. Tuttle said the suspect then did “a three-point turn to go after the guy again.”

She then made the decision to drive her SUV into the chaotic scene to stop the Prius driver. She sped toward the Prius and slammed into him, pushing him off course.

“He was 15-20 feet from hitting the guy,” Lt. Tuttle said.

She said the suspect then ran from the Prius. Witnesses snapped photos of him, and he was arrested by officers just under a mile away. Police booked the 29-year-old man into the King County Jail for investigation of Assault.

Lt. Tuttle has been with the department 28 years. She has worked throughout SPD, from patrol to community outreach. Earlier this month it was announced that she will be promoted to the rank of Captain. On Sept. 17, she will become the Captain of the South Precinct.

As we reported Friday, the suspect was arrested at California/Fauntleroy. The jail register indicates he was released from jail early Sunday; that doesn’t mean he won’t face charges, but he’s not currently in custody.

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REZONING: City Council goes public with what happens next regarding Neighborhood Center changes and other amendments

September 15, 2025 3:58 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

After last Friday’s all-day-into-the-night public hearing on proposed rezoning factoring into the long-range Comprehensive Plan, the next step is for the City Council to start voting on the 100+ amendments that councilmembers have proposed. But first – the newly released agenda for their meeting Wednesday reveals how that’s going to play out. This memo from council staff summarizes that:

-For one bill (CB 120985), 28 amendments are proposed as a package for one vote, while 24 were reserved for separate individual votes. That includes Amendment #34 by citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, adding eight more Neighborhood Center zoning designations including Alki, and Amendments #35, #36, and #37 by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, proposing boundary changes in the Endolyne (Fauntleroy) Neighborhood Center, the High Point Neighborhood Center, and the Morgan Junction Urban Center.

-For another bill (CB 120993), 18 amendments are proposed as a package for one vote, while 21 are proposed for individual votes.

Capitol Hill Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, who is chairing the council “select committee” through this process, noted in this afternoon’s weekly council briefing meeting that the Wednesday meeting will have only one hour for public comment, one minute per person, so she urges everyone with a final pitch about any or all of the above to send written comments. Wednesday’s meeting starts at (corrected) 2 pm and you can see all the documents from links in the agenda, which also explains how to comment and how to watch.

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MILESTONE: White Center Food Bank ready to celebrate construction-loan payoff

September 15, 2025 2:50 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | White Center

(WCFB photo when exterior mural was unveiled at new HQ in December 2023)

A milestone for the White Center Food Bank, which also serves southernmost West Seattle: WCFB says it’s paid off the construction loan for its less-than-two-year-old “forever home” and is ready to celebrate – here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:

Join White Center Food Bank to celebrate the significant achievement of raising just over 10 million dollars to buy their property and turn a former tortilla factory into a beautiful, welcoming space of belonging for the White Center community. To celebrate paying off their construction loan and closing their capital campaign, all are invited to the food bank on October 2nd from 4-6pm for food, drinks and community.

The Capital Campaign to Keep the Community Fed to build White Center Food Bank’s new facility in the heart of downtown White Center publicly launched in September 2022. Almost exactly three years later, the organization is debt free and can focus 100% of their future fundraising efforts on keeping the community fed.

This is especially significant in the wake of cuts to safety net programs and rising costs across all sectors, while White Center Food Bank continues to see a dramatic increase in need. This new facility not only supports people looking for food resources, it provides a dignified, beautiful space built for the community. Also, after being displaced multiple times in their history, they now have a permanent home they own and utilize, not just as a food bank, but also a community gathering space. The White Center Food Bank finally has their ‘forever home’ and the staff, board, volunteers and customers look forward to celebrating this wonderful news on October 2nd, together with the community that supports them.

Please RSVP here: forms.gle/hvdeJrYvCP7N4uzq6

That of course does not mean the WCFB won’t be fundraising for its ongoing work; in fact, it has a major fundraiser ahead on October 10.

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UPDATE: Student protest at district HQ over high-school lunch change

September 15, 2025 12:30 pm

| 27 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests | West Seattle schools

12:33 PM: A huge crowd of students has gathered outside Seattle Public Schools HQ, after walking out from high schools around the city, demanding the district pull back its seemingly sudden decision to split lunch periods.

We’d estimate more than 1,000 are here, even lining the railings on the Lander bridge overlooking the site.

At one point they were headed inside until told students were inside meeting with district leaders.

1:06 PM: The crowd had dwindled by the time the open-mic-style megaphone exhortations stopped around an hour in. One student invited the protesters to “stay and eat your lunch with us” and many did. We have to head back to the peninsula and will add video at HQ. We’ll also follow up on results of the student-district meeting.

2:11 PM: Video and photos added. The reasons given by speakers for opposing the lunch change are the same we’ve reported previously – the loss of club time, for one. And this student, who identified himself as from West Seattle High School – whose students were first to tell us about the change – took the mic to declare, “Lunch is a time for community”:

Police were seen monitoring the protest around its periphery, including blocking off the street on the east side of district HQ:

Also there to watch were at least three School Board candidates, one of whom – former board member Vivian Song – told us this seemed like deja vu, a case of district administration making a big change at the last minute and explaining it poorly, including inadequate information on what problem it was meant to solve and what other options were considered.

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READER REPORT: Abandoned bicycle in Gatewood

September 15, 2025 11:45 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Found bicycles | Gatewood | West Seattle news

We’ve received multiple reports of this abandoned bike – Carol sent the photo:

Spotted this bike just up 44th Ave. SW (south) of the stairs down to Solstice Park.

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Swim time for dogs, SSC info event, music, sports, more for your West Seattle Monday

September 15, 2025 9:58 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Duwamish River and Mount Rainier as seen from the bridge – photo sent by Lura)

Here’s our Monday list of what’s happening and NOT happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (got something to add? please let us know!):

BABY STORY TIME CANCELED: Southwest Library’s noon story time is canceled today.

SSC INFO SESSION: 1 pm, visit South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) to learn about it during an hour-long info session! At Cascade Hall. More info in our calendar listing.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular 2 pm Monday “briefing meeting”; no public comment, but the agenda explains what’ll happen and how to view.

DOG SWIM TIME AT ARBOR HEIGHTS POOL: The annual “Dog Days of Summer” are back this week! Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW) opens its pool for dogs-only swimming, right before it’s closed for the offseason cleaning. 4-7 pm Monday through Friday this week plus noon-5 pm on Saturday. $5/session or $20 for the whole week.

CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT HIATUS: On hold while The Missing Piece moves to new Junction location.

HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: Chief Sealth IHS girls play at Evergreen (830 SW 116th, White Center), 5 pm.

D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players included!

LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group for people experiencing grief – participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee; book a spot here. (4034 California SW)

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three places to play tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

ALKI MEDITATION: Doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45; the meditation meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)

HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Chief Sealth IHS has a 7 pm home match tonight (2600 SW Thistle) vs. Nathan Hale.

POOL TOURNAMENT: Play in The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)

FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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BIZNOTE: In Pizza We Crust sets grand-opening date

September 15, 2025 8:46 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

We reported a week ago that In Pizza We Crust was awaiting its final inspection – and now it’s announced a grand-opening date. Proprietor Stephanie Tran tells WSB her wood-fired pizza restaurant will open Wednesday, September 24, at 11 am. We first told you a year and a half ago about the longtime food truck purveyor’s plan for the ex-Swinery space at 3207 California SW. Stephanie says the hours will be 11 am-10 pm daily except Sundays noon-8 pm, Mondays closed: “Once we’ve been open a bit we may adjust the hours based on the community.”

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TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

September 15, 2025 6:01 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, September 15, 2025 – fall officially arrives one week from today.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Today’s forecast is for sunshine and a high in the upper 60s. (And 10+ degrees warmer tomorrow!) Today’s sunrise will be at 6:47 am; sunset will be at 7:20 pm.

ROAD WORK

-Construction on 16th around SW Holden is scheduled to continue.

-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is scheduled to resume.

–59th SW in Alki is scheduled to close for a month by the school-construction zone.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.

Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):

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!

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LIGHT RAIL: 2 WS stations? 1 WS station? No ‘tail tracks’? Sound Transit board committee hears possibilities for West Seattle cost-cutting, as estimate rises

September 14, 2025 9:57 pm

| 63 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news

Sound Transit Board members are still months away from decision-making on a revised long-range plan and ways to pop projects’ ballooning budgets. But their committees are getting briefings along the way, and the West Seattle Link Extension was one of the focuses when the board’s System Expansion Committee met Thursday.

Starting at 1 hour, 25 minutes into the meeting video (see it here), deputy CEO Terri Mestas led the briefing on the “cost workplan” for capital projects, then focusing in on West Seattle (followed by Everett), concluding at the end, “We’re really turning over every stone.” She noted that the West Seattle project is now at 30 percent design.

CEO Dow Constantine said that since they’re now using “bottom-up” cost estimating, they are more confident about their numbers. Shortly afterward, ST’s Brad Owen revealed that the West Seattle estimate has risen again, now $7.1 billion to $7.9 billion – potentially almost twice as much as what the finance plan from four years ago covers.

He clarified that the number includes “total contingency” as required by a particular federal policy. That represents more than a fourth of the estimated cost, Owen said.

Then it was on to possible ways to reduce the costs. The only way to get the project within what the finance would cover would be the most dramatic proposal, phasing – cutting the project down to the SODO and Delridge stations, building the latter in a way that would enable some future extension to The Junction (and possibly beyond). This isn’t a formal proposal right now, just an example of what’s possible. Here are the details on that:

(Note that ST says going only to Delridge would drop estimated ridership dramatically, and would change the type of station needed there. In Q&A, board member Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss declared it to be “one of the worst ideas I’ve ever seen.”) Meantime, Owen also brought up the idea of dropping the Avalon station, which has been suggested and studied previously, including in the official environmental-impact statement. This could, he said, mean less impact on Longfellow Creek and the West Seattle Health Club; possible savings could be nearly half a billion dollars.

And “optimization” of the Junction station could save almost a quarter-billion dollars (stations are the costliest items on project lists, Owen noted) – one component of this would remove “tail tracks” that currently would stretch underground construction all the way to SW Hudson, a removal that they now believe would not have an operational effect, with benefits including less right-of-way needing to be obtained:

Other cost-saving possibilities included design changes in the SODO station and “aerial guideway and foundation optimization” for the entire WS project. No board member questions after the presentation, which again was just a briefing, not a formal proposal nor anything requiring a vote. Here’s the full slide deck (including the Everett project info, for a project that also could cost nearly $8 billion, though it’s a 16-mile extension, four times the SODO-to-WS Junction distance).

WHAT’S NEXT: It was noted in Q&A that the board will have to authorize more money and time before year’s end for the consultant that’s working on cost savings, if they want the consultant to keep ferreting out more possibilities. More discussions are ahead at other board/committee meetings as they move toward revising future plans next year.

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FOLLOWUP: High-school students protesting sudden schedule change plan rally at district HQs; School Board president promises ‘listening session’; district posts FAQ

September 14, 2025 7:31 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

7:31 PM: New developments since we first reported Tuesday on a sudden announcement from Seattle Public Schools that they’ll change multiple high schools’ schedules tomorrow – a week and a half into the new school year – so that all “comprehensive high schools” have two lunch periods (currently most have one). First, the district-wide student walkout that one West Seattle High School student mentioned has become a rally at district headquarters at noon Monday, after students walk out at 11 am. Second, School Board president Gina Topp – who is the West Seattle/South Park rep on the board – answered our original inquiry to her this weekend by saying she doesn’t “have more information than what the district has already shared” but expects a briefing at this Wednesday’s board meeting. Before then, Topp says, “I’ll be holding a listening session for students with some other board directors on Monday, and staff is coordinating one with ASB officers from all the schools.” The district did not answer our question about why the change is happening with the school year under way, nor did they explain the change beyond what was also in the original message to parents:

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is implementing a two-lunch schedule across all comprehensive high school campuses for the 2025–26 school year. This reflects thoughtful planning to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies while meeting the needs of students and staff.

This change ensures all students have adequate time for seated lunch while meeting Washington state’s required instructional minutes. Additionally, this schedule will support increased and equitable access to school meals, and ensure compliance with staffing, instructional time, and labor contract requirements.

A follow-up message to families, reported here, also cites safety.

8:21 PM: Just checked the district website and there’s now an FAQ posted about the change, dated today. Among other things, it says schools have until October 6 to implement this, while saying some will do so “as soon as (tomorrow).” It also cites specific policies behind the change.

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VIDEO: West Seattle coyote’s long on-camera hangout

September 14, 2025 4:41 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Many coyote videos are fairly fleeting. Not this one. It was sent by Jordan, who explains, “We discovered some large animal scat in our small fenced front yard (Friday) morning (and) found that it was a coyote, captured on our security camera around 1 am. We have a small dog and we’re fortunate the coyote wasn’t there when we were out there earlier (that night).” Jordan adds, “We live at the corner of Lander and Walnut, the NE corner of Hiawatha. The back of our house is the Fairmount Ravine.” But coyotes turn up far from greenbelts, too; here’s what you need to know in case you encounter one.

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West Seattle Indivisible preparing, recruiting for giant people-powered Peace for All ‘banner’ next Sunday

September 14, 2025 2:26 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

Those are some of the 1,100 peace flags that West Seattle Indivisible volunteers had just finished assembling and decorating when we stopped by the High Point Library meeting room at noon today. They’ll be distributed to everyone who shows up to be part of a “human banner” next Sunday morning at the Harbor Avenue Pier 1 property. Here’s the explanation/invitation that WSI sent us:

West Seattle Indivisible is celebrating the International Day of Peace, observed around the world each year on September 21. Established in 1981 by United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

(Simulation)

To this end, you are invited to help us form a ‘human banner’ to spell out PEACE FOR ALL along the West Seattle waterfront! We are creating a beautiful image with the skyline of Seattle as our background, to share around the world. Everyone is invited to be part of this banner; the way it works is that we’ll have a thousand flags stencilled with the image of a dove, and chalk lines for the letters on the ground. At the signal, we all take our places on the lines, holding our banners above our heads and waving. Photographers will take our picture with Seattle in the background.

We’ll meet at 2130 Harbor Ave SW, between Salty’s and Jack Block Park, Sunday morning, September 21. We plan to have music, inspirational speakers, and a thousand people demonstrating for peace.

Please sign up so we get a head count for planning (and for us to email the picture afterward):

Already preparations are underway. Here’s our team laying out the letters ….

The site is privately owned, known as Pier 1, and a WSI spokesperson tells WSB that the land owner has given their permission for this gathering. The event is set to start at 8:30 am, and a separate media advisory lists these expected speakers:

Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commissioner (Event MC)
Mayor Bruce Harrell
Malou Chavez, Executive Director, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom, Admiral UCC
Irene Danysh, Development Officer, Ukrainian Catholic University

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Puget Ridge Edible Park is one of a kind. It doesn’t have to be. Learn about urban farming!

September 14, 2025 1:29 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Gardening | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) is a park where food is grown. The lessons community volunteers have learned while making it happen and helping it thrive are lessons you can learn from – and a “community garden leadership camp” this fall will give you that chance. PREP’s Stu Hennessey sent the announcement:

What: Urban farming, community garden leadership camp

When: September 20th through October 18th on consecutive Saturdays from 9 am to 11 am

Where: Puget Ridge Edible Park
1801 SW Brandon St. West Seattle

Why: Puget Ridge Edible Park is a permaculture community garden that supplies free local and fresh produce to many families in and near the Puget Ridge neighborhood.

With food security being a concern and with prices of high quality and healthy food prices climbing the fastest, growing locally is the best answer. We will share with you our story of success from acquiring space to season by season methods that you can use to develop your own neighborhood park as well as use in your own garden. To show commitment, a $25 donation the the Puget Ridge Edible Park group, a 501c3 is suggested but not required.

Interested? Find out more here.

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Memorial gathering next Saturday for Ed Dupras, 78

September 14, 2025 10:13 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather next Saturday (September 20) to remember longtime community advocate Ed Dupras. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community now:

Ed Dupras passed away on August 7, 2025 at the age of 78, after a battle with cancer.

Ed made his home in West Seattle, where he was a passionate and engaged member of the community. Known for his sharp wit, generous spirit, and strong sense of civic duty, Ed dedicated much of his time to local causes and political engagement. He was an active supporter of the 34th District Democrats and a proud participant in Drinking Liberally, where spirited conversation was always on tap.

Whether he was volunteering for neighborhood initiatives or advocating for progressive change, Ed brought warmth, humor, and integrity to everything he did. He will be remembered not only for his activism, but for his friendship, his kindness, and his willingness to go on a Costco run for you because he was going to go there anyway and it was no problem at all.

A memorial gathering will be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy on September 20th at 1-4 pm, where friends and loved ones are invited to share stories and celebrate Ed’s life.

Ed would have wanted his memorial to be informal. Open microphone – if there are memories you want to share.

“No flowers,” he would say. “The guest of honor wouldn’t have wanted them.”

Ed is survived by his two children, Sarah and Edward Dupras.

(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)

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 22 notes!

September 14, 2025 6:07 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(In honor of Colman Pool’s last day of the year, Janelle Otterholt caught a seagull on its tarp)

Good morning – here’s what’s up for your Sunday, featuring some one-time-only experiences, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:

‘WE ARE WEST SEATTLE’: West Seattle small businesses band together for a spotlight week, concluding today, explained in our calendar listing.

GARAGE/YARD SALES: Check for listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a WSB Forums login, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)

PANCAKES! All are welcome at Holy Rosary School‘s pancake breakfast, 9 am-12:30 pm. Prices and menu here! (42nd/Genesee)

WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Top Pot Doughnuts (4709 California SW).

FREE GARDENING CLASS: Learn about “Native Plants for the Fall Garden,” 10 am at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor). Attendees get a discount on purchases today, too.

PAINT PEACE DAY FLAGS: Join West Seattle Indivisible in getting ready for next Sunday’s big International Peace Day gathering – 10 am-1 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).

AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in late-summer produce season (stone fruit, berries, tomatoes, greens, roots), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.

FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)

ALKI KAYAK TOURS’ END-OF-SEASON SALE: Watercraft and gear, both new and used, with deals, demos, and a chance to try before you buy! Details in our calendar listing. 11 am-6 pm at AKT HQ at Seacrest Boathouse (1660 Harbor SW).

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

COMMUNITY POTLUCK FOR CARLSON FAMILY: Their twin baby girls are fighting cancer – we told their story here – and their community is doing what can be done to help. You’re invited to a community potluck at 11:30 am today at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) to support the Carlsons.

SECOND-TIME SALE: Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) has its big sale this weekend, concluding with shopping hours 11:30 am-3 pm today, as previewed here.

WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

COLMAN POOL FINALE: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open one last time for 2025, noon-7 pm, wrapping up its second of two postseason weekends – see the schedule here.

COMMUNITY VINYL GARAGE SALE: Record-lovers, Tim’s Tavern is the place to be for this hosted sale noon-4 pm today. (16th SW/SW 98th, White Center)

IMAGINE ECONOMIES OF GIFT, GRACE, AND ENOUGH: Talk about two books that can help you envision just that, 12:30 pm with Admiral Church at SJB. (3050 California SW)

WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Kick back and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)

COMMUNITY VOCAL TONING: Our calendar listing explains what you’re invited to do at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), 2:30-3:30 pm.

CHORAL CONCERT: The Evergreen Ensemble returns to West Seattle today, and “Where You Belong” is their fall concert’s theme, 3 pm at Holy Rosary Church (42nd SW/SW Genesee).

WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE MONTHLY MEETING: 3:30 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) – agenda highlights are on the group’s newly redesigned website.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).

Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: Hit-run driver sought for crash killing motorcycle rider on southbound 509 near Myers Way exit

September 14, 2025 12:41 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

12:41 AM: Southbound Highway 509 is closed right now at Cloverdale – which is where you get on from the east end of the Roxbury corridor – because of a crash. The State Patrol is investigating, but a bulletin on Seattle Police radio described it as a “fatality collision,” saying the search was on for a suspected hit-run driver. No estimate yet how long the highway will stay closed.

3:04 AM: No updates yet. If you have to head out in the next few hours, you can check WSDOT’s traffic-alert map here.

6:20 AM: Reopened as of 4:30.

10:43 AM: The State Patrol’s summary of the crash says it involved a 50-year-old man on a motorcycle and two drivers in cars. All were headed southbound on 509 approaching the Myers Way exit. The motorcyclist changed lanes to exit; the hit-run driver hit him “at a high rate,” then veered into the right-side barrier. In a chain reaction, the other car then hit the car driver and veered into the motorcyclist. The first car driver left the scene; the rider’s bike wound up in the inside lane but he was found on the right shoulder and pronounced dead at the scene (the summary notes he was wearing a helmet). All the WSP has released about the hit-run driver is that they were in a Toyota (possibly white, it was noted on SPD radio last night) and that their car would be notably damaged.

4:07 PM: Additional information from WSP, which says the hit-run driver was last seen taking the Myers Way exit:

Parts from the suspect vehicle were left at the scene. It appears that the bumper of this vehicle was metallic blue painted white. The vehicle will have front and rear end damage.

WSP detectives are seeking anyone that witnessed this horrible collision or has information that would help identify the suspect vehicle. Please email Detective Gagley at Matthew.Gagley@wsp.wa.gov.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Fiestas Patrias celebration begins with spirited South Park parade

September 13, 2025 8:31 pm

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| South Park | West Seattle news

WSB PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN, VIDEO BY TRACY RECORD

State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González was first to roll down the route of this morning’s Fiestas Patrias Parade in South Park, presiding as Grand Marshal this year. He wasn’t the only participant for whom justice resounded – another was the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, always advocating for environmental justice:

One entry carried tributes to legendary fighters for justice and health:

Several displayed the inspirational slogan “Si si puede” (Yes, we can):

Fiestas Patrias is primarily a celebration of Latin American culture and heritage, all displayed in abundance during the parade, with multiple folkloric-dancing groups:

Culture also rolled and bounced down the parade route with members of the Eazy Duz It Car Club, too:

The vehicles representing parade organizer Sea Mar Community Health Centers‘ many branches were lavishly decorated, some whimsically with characters in the spirit of family health.

Meantime, schools participating today included Chief Sealth International High School, whose cheer team walked the route, followed by members of the 2-0 football team:

The Sealth and Denny International Middle School program Proyecto Saber had an entry too, as did Concord International Elementary, with the most pointed signs of the parade, including “No Human Is Illegal” and “Abolish ICE.” Other participants were simply exuberant:

The last major entry featured more than 50 horseback riders – and one other livestock sighting:

Relatively few government reps in the parade – District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka was in it, as were some Seattle Police and a Metro bus. After the parade, which lasted almost an hour with some long stopdowns, Sea Mar’s Fiestas Patrias celebration at Seattle Center downtown opened; it continues tomorrow.

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