West Seattle, Washington
20 Thursday
(WSB photo outside SPS HQ, Monday)
Hours after high-school students from all over the city gathered at Seattle Public Schools HQ to protest the plan to split lunch period, West Seattle High School students got word of a three-week reprieve. We noted in earlier reporting that the district had posted an FAQ list which among other things said the deadline for split-lunch implementation was actually October 6, and the message sent to families by WSHS principal Brian Vance says that’s now what they’re aiming for, so they’re staying with one lunch at least until then. Meantime, school board president Gina Topp had told us she expected that tomorrow’s board meeting would include a briefing on the sudden schedule change, and indeed, that’s been added to the agenda, fairly early in the 4:15 pm Wednesday meeting. Nine of the 25 speakers signed up for the public-comment period later in the meeting are listed as planning to address the lunch topic.
New local members of the WSB sponsor team get to tell you about what they do, so today, as we welcome artist Diane Kappa, here’s what she wants you to know about the classes she teaches:
The Magic of Block Printing
There’s a special moment when a student lifts their first print from the block—a mix of surprise and delight that never gets old. Block printing is accessible to beginners yet endlessly inspiring for seasoned makers. In my workshops, I focus on creating an atmosphere where everyone feels supported to experiment, discover, and leave with both artwork and the confidence to keep creating at home.
Workshops in West Seattle (and Beyond)
I’ve been teaching workshops in West Seattle for almost 2 years, and they’ve become a place where creativity and community naturally come together. Each class takes place in my studio with no more than five students, providing plenty of space to spread out and lots of personal attention. The intimate setting makes it easy to relax, connect, and dive fully into the creative process. While block printing remains at the heart of what I teach, I also offer a variety of other art classes, giving students fresh ways to explore their creativity. I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to host week-long retreats in inspiring locations, where my students and I can carve out meaningful time to create, connect, and recharge.
Join the Community
Workshops and retreats aren’t just about learning a skill—they’re about making space for creativity in your life and finding a community that inspires and encourages you. If you’ve been curious to try block printing or another creative class, or if you’re ready to dive deeper, I’d love to welcome you into an upcoming workshop or retreat. As a thank-you for finding me through West Seattle Blog, mention this article when signing up for a class and receive 10% off.
I’m proud to be a host site and participating artist for the West Seattle Art Tour this weekend, September 20 & 21! During the tour, I open my studio doors so neighbors and visitors can meet me and three fellow artists, getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what a creative life looks like.
Visit dianekappa.com to see upcoming workshops and retreats. And instagram.com/dianekappa for a day-to-day look into my creative life.
We thank Diane Kappa for choosing to advertise her art classes by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com for information – thank you!
Thanks to Susan for the photo. She’s one of two readers who noted that the SDOT pothole patrol has been out today on the Admiral Bridge. As discussed in previous coverage, resurfacing was not part of the just-concluded seismic-strengthening project, but as with any street, the city will dispatch to pothole reports – here’s how to report them, and here’s the map that’ll show you if anyone’s already reported the one(s) you’re concerned aboutt.
(PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB)
11:27 AM: As previewed last week, the city is partnering with the Washington National Guard today and tomorrow for a disaster drill involving a helicopter. We’re at the Joint Training Facility in southeast West Seattle to find out more; the helicopter they’re using flew eastbound over West Seattle around 9:45 am, headed this way, and now it’s just taken off for practice hoisting from and to a building on the west edge of the JTF. They’ll be focusing the drill here unless there’s a problem and they need to fly elsewhere. More photos and info later!
11:45 AM: Today’s drill was very brief due to a hoist problem. The helicopter had to land after a few minutes. Everybody’s OK. They plan to try again tomorrow – with a different helicopter.
6:30 PM: Adding photos from what did happen while we were there, and what we learned.
The collaboration between the Washington National Guard – out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma – is relatively new. SFD has been training with King County and Snohomish County air-support units for years. The department has an eight-person Aviation Team from all over the city (we talked with Capt. Michael Dulas, who is from Station 18 in Ballard). He says the team members have to go through this kind of drill/training four times a year, because what they practice are “very perishable skills.”
We asked how they’d be deployed in case of an actual catastrophe. Not surprisingly, the reply was that it depends on circumstances – they could report to JBLM and board a helicopter there, or wait for one at one of the fields around the city where it’s been determined a helicopter could safely land. (We learned about at least two in West Seattle in 2020, when drills were done in case airlifts were needed during the bridge closure.)
We did learn some interesting stats in the briefing before the short-lived flight – the hoist is capable of lifting up to 600 pounds; the helicopter’s door can be opened in wind up to 80 knots. Meantime, we’ll be back at the JTF tomorrow to see how it goes.
(WSB photo: End-of-summer blossoms, seen in Morgan Junction)
Here’s our Tuesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HELICOPTER DRILL: Reminder that 10 am-2 pm today is the first of two days you might see a Washington National Guard helicopter over southeast West Seattle, South Park, and/or White Center as part of a disaster drill with the city. (Added: A Black Hawk helicopter headed that way flew over us, eastbound, just a moment after we published this.)
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: 10 am with Natalia. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW) features speaker Dr. Carrie Horwitch, president-elect of the Washington State Public Health Association.
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: 2 pm weekly meeting, with agenda items including regulating potentially predatory home-buying. Meeting is open to public comment both online and in person – the agenda explains how.
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 drained for the offseason cleaning. 4-7 pm daily through Friday this week plus noon-5 pm on Saturday. $5/session per dog or $20 for the whole week. (Here’s our story from day 1.)
HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS girls face off at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 4:30 pm.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts “Unplugged: A Musical Gathering“ for acoustic instrumentalists and singers “of all stripes.” No cover, all ages.
UKULELE PLAYERS’ EVENING MEETUP: Once a month they gather in the evening, and tonight’s the night, 6 pm at Good Society (California/Lander).
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
CREATE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), register in advance to work on your project(s).
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG: Monthly meeting, 7 pm at the Admiral Hub (ex-church, 4320 SW Hill).
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: New classes continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Our calendar listing has details including how to check if they have space.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four options for Tuesday night trivia – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8 AM: Kersti Muul tells us a large group of Southern Resident Killer Whales is off West Seattle right now, northbound, headed toward Lowman Beach.
6:25 PM: Thanks to Robin Sinner for sending the photo of J-Pod whales as seen from Constellation Park this morning!
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 16, 2025 – fall officially arrives in six days.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Summery forecast today – sunshine and a high in the low 80s, with some smoke possibly blowing in tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:48 am; sunset will be at 7:18 pm.
(Monday sunset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
ROAD WORK
–59th SW in Alki is closed for a month by the school-construction zone (thanks to the reader who confirmed the closure happened as announced).
-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is scheduled to resume, but it hadn’t started as of EOD Monday.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 FlannelSaturday: 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 PMJOIN 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
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
(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!
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.”
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!
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.
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.
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.
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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