West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
(Early blooming camellia, seen in Gatewood)
As a new week begins, here’s what’s on our list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
FREE INFO ON DIGESTIVE HEALTH: 12:30 pm online, you can learn “Why SIBO Keeps Coming Back — and What’s Really Behind the Relapse” with Dr. Megan Taylor, ND, FABNG, from Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing explains how to get the link (and how to get the recording later).
‘SOLUTIONS, NOT RESOLUTIONS’: Weekly speaker series starts with 1 pm presentation on “Paperwork and Packing Tape” at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW). Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
‘BEFORE THE BADGE’: 5:30 pm online dialogue with SPD recruits, all community members welcome. Our calendar listing explains how to get the link to participate.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz 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).
MEDITATE IN ALKI: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
MEDITATE IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks as always to everybody 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!
Family and friends are remembering Bill Gill and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Bill passed away on December 27, 2025 (79 years old) in Seattle. He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in 1946. Survived by his son James, daughter-in-law Susie, grandson LJ, great-grandson Benjamin, and his wife of 20 years, Karen.
Bill spent his younger life in West Virginia, joined the Navy after high school, lived in California, Texas, and resided in Seattle for the last 40 years.
He was an outdoor adventurist and attempted a Mt. Rainier climb twice but was disappointedly turned back because of inclement weather. He was an avid bicyclist and during his working years loved to plan weekend bicycle jaunts to new areas. He assisted in Puget Sound Save the Octopi for several years. He also loved cooking and trying new recipes.
His career spanned the Pac Bell Telephone Company, Boeing, and Federal Home Loan Bank. He took an early retirement and volunteered at Highline Hospital for several years, where he was truly appreciated and loved. He also helped run a home- and pet-sitting business and spent time in Mexico. Bill truly enjoyed his retirement years and his time at Highline, and pet-sitting was one of the highlights of his adult life.
He struggled with many medical issues over the years but in typical Bill style always had a positive attitude and a warm sincere smile. He thoroughly enjoyed his last six months at Brookdale Admiral, getting involved with many activities and making friends with residents and loving staff members.
Bill loved to study history, was an avid reader and movie buff; he could quote lines off the cuff from both consistently. His FAVORITE book was “Bad Dad Jokes” and he shared them daily with everyone. He was a member of the “Bookies” Book Club of West Seattle for over a decade.
Friends and family describe Bill as “living and loving” the moment at any given moment. He was truly a gentle loving Giant. RIP, SWEET Bill.
(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)
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, February 2, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Today’s forecast is for more rain, high in the low 50s; then the rest of the week is expected to be drier and warmer. Sunrise at 7:34 am; sunset at 5:12 pm.
(Saturday’s sunset, looking toward Three Tree Point – photo by Chris Frankovich)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular three-boat weekday service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route; check WSF’s alerts for last-minute changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is 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!
12:38 AM: Police are in the 9200 block of 16th SW [vicinity map] investigating what’s reported to have been a hit-run crash that left a motorcyclist seriously injured. They’re looking for what they say witnesses described as a brown, older Ford F-150, likely to be damaged and leaking fluid. (Added: Officers tell dispatch witnesses say it was last seen heading eastbound on either Barton or Henderson.) If you have any information, the case # to refer to is 26-032194.
9:17 AM: SFD tells us the motorcyclist is a 51-year-old man who was in stable condition when taken to a hospital. We’re checking on whether police found the suspected hit-run vehicle/driver.
Here are five crime reports we received today:
BUSINESS BURGLARY: El Chupacabra on Alki reports a break-in early today, and says it wasn’t the first:
Early Sunday morning, El Chupacabra Alki was broken into by 3 individuals. We were broken into 2 weeks ago and believe it may be the same group.
If you have any information for police, refer to incident # 26-030686.
ANOTHER ABANDONED VEHICLE: An apparently dumped vehicle has turned up in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, for the second consecutive day, Brian reports:
Joining yesterday’s van is yet another dumped vehicle in the Greenbelt this morning. The trails and fields are also becoming a muddy, rutted out mess and it’s a sad trajectory this usually peaceful space is on.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT: Another reader reports, “The catalytic converter was stolen from our 1984 Toyota truck this morning. Our neighbors, whose newer Toyota had its catalytic converter stolen last week, heard sawing at 4 am this morning and saw it was our truck. We are on the 5400 block of Beach Drive, and a police report has been filed.” (Here’s the report from a week earlier.)
PACKAGE THEFTS: Finally, two package-theft reporters, with video. First, from Lerah:
A package was stolen from my front door this morning at 8:31 am in the 9000 block of 17th Ave SW.
Second, from Michelle:
We were hit by a porch pirate on Friday, 1/23/26 in broad daylight in the North Admiral area, on a dead-end street no less. The individual walked up our front steps carrying an empty cardboard box, set it down next to the much larger box filled with over $400 worth of human-grade frozen dog food (our pup’s food stock for the next month), which he nonchalantly picked up and turned tail back down the stairs with. Someone replied (on the Ring network comments) that someone with a similar build also stole their package the day before, and was seen leaving in a red truck. Not sure anything will come of this, but due to the value of the stolen merchandise, I just wanted to put this out there for attention.
The SPD report # is 26-901956.
PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN FOR WSB
The West Seattle Junction Association‘s first-ever Sweet Stroll this afternoon was sweet indeed – the $20 tickets for tastes at five Junction venues were sold out days before the event. Photojournalist Dave Gershgorn captured some scenes for WSB. Above, A La Mode Pies was the starting spot, where ticketholders could pick up “passports” to get stamped at all five participating businesses for an entry to a prize drawing. The pie tastes they were offering were raspberry crumble a la mode and cookies & cream:
Across the street at Panterelli Patisserie, proprietor Jacques Nawar was serving profiteroles:
Two doors west, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream offered a mini-flight of seasonal flavors:
The Junction’s most-famous purveyor of sweets, Bakery Nouveau, served Sweet Stroll-ers their choice of traditional croissant, sakura petit-four, or brownie:
And at Top Pot Doughnuts, it was a double-chocolate treat – hot chocolate doughnut and mini hot chocolate:
Wondering what’s up next in The Junction? Here’s this year’s event schedule so far – if you’re a fan of the twice-yearly Wine Walk, first one is set for May 15.
(Screengrab from 8:09 pm)
8:11 PM: This was supposed to be fairly quick but for some reason it’s taking crews a while to reposition a barrier near the Fauntleroy end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, and dozens of drivers are stuck waiting. If you have to head eastbound, get on the bridge another way.
8:15 PM: The dispatcher just told SPD that SDOT needs “traffic control” for another barrier fix closer to the bridge entrance at 35th; an officer replied, “Just as soon as this one gets figured out.” So avoid 35th/Fauntleroy entirely for a while.
8:19 PM: The live camera just east of 35th shows SDOT now blocking the inside eastbound lane but the others have reopened.
8:30 PM: Now they’re blocking all eastbound lanes again just past the Fauntleroy entrance, per police radio.
9:27 PM: Still blocked, per live view on traffic cameras.
10:34 PM: We’ve been checking the live feed every few minutes; it’s just reopened.
Tomorrow (Monday, February 2) is the first official weekday on the job for Ben Shuldiner, the new Seattle Public Schools superintendent, coming here from Lansing, Michigan. If you’re interested in hearing from him as he gets started, the district plans to livestream a media briefing scheduled to start at 8 am Monday at Mercer Middle School on Beacon Hill. During the briefing, the district preview says:
-School Board President Gina Topp will deliver brief remarks and administer the oath of office to Shuldiner.
-Afterward, Shuldiner will speak about his excitement for rolling up his sleeves and getting to work, spending time in each and every school and their classrooms, and collaborating with communities to build the best schools for all our students.
-Stepping into office in the aftermath of Friday evening’s tragedy in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, Shuldiner will also emphasize his commitment to acting to strengthen student safety and security.
The briefing will be livestreamed via the district’s YouTube channel. (Here’s what Shuldiner told WSB in an interview after the School Board chose him as the lone finalist for the job last fall.)
5:55 PM: If you’re headed this way from points north, avoid southbound Highway 99 – a crash is blocking the ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. No other details yet.
6:29 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that the ramp has reopened.
Story and photos by Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
South Delridge’s Nacho Mama’s Fry Bread Cafe (9418 Delridge Way SW) is back after a months-long closure for remodeling, and owner Debra Lecomb is looking forward to welcoming in the community for more than its namesake menu offerings.
The updated space is light and bright, featuring a new tile-faced bar area, new floors, updated decorations and furniture and some kitchen improvements, including a commercial dishwasher. Lecomb also added a raised stage area in the corner for musicians to play. She has Marlee Walker booked to play blues on Friday nights from 5-8.
Nacho Mama’s menu is still largely the same, with fry bread as a featured part of everything from breakfasts to tacos, and sundaes to PB&J sandwiches. There are nachos too, and breakfast served all day. Lecomb learned to make fry bread from her grandmother, a skill that she says isn’t as simple as following a recipe. She prepares all of the dough herself.
Lecomb is invested, not just in the food but in the space itself. She says it took more than a year of working nights after her two day jobs to get the space cleaned up and ready to open initially in 2022. Lecomb says it had been broken into, vandalized and occupied by transients before she took it over. This latest 4-month remodel, partly funded by a city grant, allowed her to make some of the finishing touches that she wasn’t able to do the first time around. She’s in it for the long haul: “To be able to work efficiently and stay here for a long time and be here for the community and give back.”
The only vestige of the former Hoang Kim Vietnamese restaurant that Lecomb kept is a mural by artist Sarah Robbins on the north wall. “There was all kinds of graffiti all over these walls, a dragon going down the wall. The ravens were here — I kept them.” Now they are the backdrop for the stage and anchor a space that Lecomb is really excited about. Plus, she now has some help in the kitchen — a family friend who moved here to lend a hand. “I was doing everything by myself. I was cooking, serving, shopping, prepping. Jacob’s been wonderful to me and I really appreciate him.”
Nacho Mama’s is open 7 days: Monday and Tuesday 11 am-9 pm and the rest of the week from 10 am-8 pm.
2:17 PM: Get over to Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – the root beer’s free this afternoon! The historic “community center for the arts” is famous for its root-beer floats, so they’re free during the “Root Beer Social” open house, which continues until 4 pm – Löcol root beer, Husky Deli ice cream.
It’s a chance to wander in for a look at the renovations that closed the 110-year-old hall since midsummer – and some of the memorabilia turned up during the work. More photos to come!
2:56 PM: That’s Kenyon Hall’s Murphy Janssen cutting the ribbon. Meantime, Kyle Canaday is today’s guest organist on The Mighty Wurlitzer:
Here’s some of the memorabilia, including items from the venue’s days as Hokum Hall, and even items from the community sports teams sponsored in the Olympic Heights Social Hall days:
Also the tribute to Kenyon Hall’s longtime operator Lou Magor:
If you didn’t get to any of the reopening-weekend events, you can check out one of the upcoming performances – next one, The Morsel Trio, on Saturday (February 7).
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
1:10 PM: Today, the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is apparently underwater – or afloat – judging by the rainbow photos we’ve received (thank you!).
(Reader photo via text)
Meantime, the National Weather Service says the weather’s warming up – Tuesday through Friday, the highs are predicted to be in the upper 50s!
3:24 PM: One more view, from Jerry Simmons, showing “the other end” of the rainbow:
One week until the Seahawks take on New England in the Super Bowl. Signs of Seahawks support are showing up around the region – this was sent by Samantha at Nucor‘s West Seattle steel mill (WSB sponsor), where a familiar figure is now sporting blue and green:
In case you’re collecting signs of Seahawk spirit from around West Seattle, we wanted to share our Steel Man at Nucor.
Anybody else with team-spirit displays as the week goes on – or venues with Super Bowl watch parties (which we’re adding to our event calendar) – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Olympics photographed on Saturday by James Bratsanos)
Welcome to the second half of the weekend! Here’s our highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: The Westies Run Club starts its 9 am run at Hagosa’s House today. (4800 Delridge Way SW)
FREE WEST AFRICAN DANCE CLASS: Go get moving! 9:30 am at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Also in The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: See if there’s space in the small-group meditation session at 9:30 am at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual on California SW between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in winter produce-and-products season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, beans, garlic, apples, more – plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, pasta, more.
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to find it at, and borrow it from, the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: Regular weekly West Seattle Resist Sunday sign-holding event, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
KENYON HALL ROOT BEER SOCIAL: This open house wraps up Reopening Weekend at the historic hall, 2-4 pm; visit to see the renovations as well as memorabilia from its century-plus history. (7904 35th SW)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Spend part of your Sunday afternoon relaxing at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
SWEET STROLL, SOLD OUT! If you don’t already have ticket(s) for the first-ever West Seattle Junction Sweet Stroll 2-5 pm today, sorry, they’re sold out, so this is just a reminder to those who do, as well as a potential answer to “what’s going on in The Junction?” today after the market.
WEST SEATTLE MODERN CLASSIC BOOK CLUB: 3 pm, this month’s book is “Confessions of a Mask” by Yukio Mishima. Gather at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MUSIC AT C & P: 3-5 pm, singer/songwriter Jim Page provides music to go with your beverages at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE SCHOOL OF ROCK @ TIM’S TAVERN: Two shows, 3:30 pm (“Fleetwood Mac meets Heart”) and 7:30 pm (“Devo vs. The Cars”), ticket info here. (9655 16th SW, White Center)
SCREAMING AT LINCOLN PARK: The monthly gathering of Scream Club Seattle is at 4:30 pm on the Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) waterfront, picnic shelter #4.
ASTRA LUMINA: Held over iinto February, the celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 5:45 pm and onward tonight. Tickets and info here.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, play for free, win prizes! (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, end your weekend with live music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could add to the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
What’s happened in Minneapolis the past few weeks poses questions that ask us about the strength of our local community. If the federal government sent a similarly sizable contingent of immigration-enforcement agents here on a long-duration operation, how would we respond? Do people here have the ability to endure as a community and protect the most vulnerable among us? What lessons can people here learn from the community organizers who have directly confronted ICE in Minneapolis?
These were the topics which Fauntleroy UCC Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski touched on in her nearly hour-long talk Wednesday night. As reported here, she recently returned from a brief trip to Minneapolis, along with more than 650 interfaith leaders from various congregations across the US. Together, they helped a variety of Minneapolis community organizers on the ground.
She was there on short notice. “This time [two weeks ago] I didn’t know I was going on this trip. The Thursday prior [Jan. 15th], an organization in Minneapolis […] said ‘We need help – can we put an event together quickly with interfaith leaders from across the country quickly to come?’ and they said, let’s do it. The next day there was a call out, and they sent it to [us] – I secured child care, got a plane ticket, and said I’d come.”
The gravity of the situation was immediate to her within her first day there. “[When we got to the church of the organization that was hosting us, it was obvious to us how tired they were, how exhausted they [were], because Minneapolis-St. Paul is truly a city that is under siege,” she said. After a brief training by the religious organizers, she was at first scheduled to go to a protest at a federal building, but this was immediately rescinded by the organizers due to the threat of federal agents’ presence. “They [the religious organizers] got the call that the temperature [of the situation] was not good, for five busloads of clergy to show up and even just engage in a prayer -they said it would not be safe.” she recalled.
Instead, she went on a patrol to watch for ICE activity in a close-by neighborhood. At first, nothing seemed off. The patrol finished with no events of note, and she returned to a nearby bus stop to go back and meet with the other organizers at the main church. But then others from their group on patrol in the same area came to talk to them: “Three clergy run up to us, they’re out of breath, and they share with us they had just interrupted an abduction. And where was it? It was right there, right behind us, it was in a strip mall right behind the bus shelter – and at the other end of the strip mall parking there was a van with a pregnant woman and her children. ICE vehicles surrounded it, 12 agents got out, and the clergy started blowing whistles and took video on their phones […] and after less than 60 seconds [the ICE officers left] – that is all it took for the abduction to take place. They are not sure if the ICE agents left because the woman produced the ’right papers’ or because the clergy were there, but the agents left.”
It stuck with her on how it seemed to occur both silently, literally behind her back, and quickly. “That is terrifying news – that it can happen within 60 seconds. That is how quick and sneaky this can be, and how hard it is for people to observe,” she said.
The next day, she chose to help an immigrant-focused church in the suburbs of Minneapolis. She talked about the sense that, during the time of crisis for the community, the church tried to look beyond a place of self-importance, and simply serve as an institution for the community to find peace. “They were doing things like opening the church up at night to be a place of healing, bringing in chairs for reiki and massage tables – people coming to just talk and to listen to those who needed an ear – having a nightly dance (with a disco ball) so that in the midst of a neighborhood where ICE is going door to door, they could be a place where there was joy that could be experienced in the midst of pain. That morning they packed meals. It’s said about 16,000 households in Minneapolis-St. Paul do not feel safe to leave their houses.” she said.
But even that concept of peace and sanctuary seemed short-lived in the face of constant siege. After being there only a short time, the church went into lockdown over federal activity nearby. “I was going down to the basement, where there are 3 rooms acting as clinics so people can come down here for treatment by volunteer professionals because it is no longer safe to receive care at other places – I was going down there to use the bathroom and there was a great hustle and bustle – and I heard, there was a completed abduction a block and a half away, and people were injured.” she said. “They rushed someone into the church, who was injured from a smashed windshield [during the stop], with her face being torn up.”
But even in the midst of chaos, the pastor found inspiration from the community’s resilience. “[As soon as the church went on lockdown], volunteers started opening the cabinets of the church kitchen, and taking down food so they could immediately make soup for all of us locked in there. They said they wanted something comforting for us to eat.” she said. “We all have a role to play. Everyone there had a role to play. Some of them are not glamorous or glorious – most of them aren’t. Some feel small. But they’re all connected, all important.”
From these experiences, she spoke about what she saw as the crucial infrastructure that helped Minneapolis stay so organized in the face of a seemingly omnipresent threat. A lot of it came down to the infrastructure of how community groups organized, and had been doing so since the days of the George Floyd protests in 2020. Local neighborhoods had their own independent, encrypted Signal chats, and these worked in tandem with larger cross-city political or non-profit organizations. She emphasized that the simultaneous decentralization and interconnection of power allowed groups to rapidly mobilize and respond.
“The single greatest lesson I came home with – what Minneapolis taught me – is that resisting authoritarianism requires training sustained resistance in cooperation with your neighbors. And so we need to get to know our neighbors, care for our neighbors, be a neighbor to one another, and engage in hyper-local community organization. If things can happen in 60 seconds, what matters most is the community you have right around you.” she said.
Rev. Atkinson Bilinski said she hoped her experiences, and the lessons she took with them, could help in the event that the same kind of federal deployment happens here. “I hope that you hear loud and clear, we are here, there is sustained resistance from communities against authoritarian systems, it’s not gonna be one march or one protest, it’s gonna be all of us doing what we can with each other, together, in order to be what we need to be. There is an increased ICE presence in Seattle, and we need the eyes to see it before it becomes worse.” she said.
(Added: Team photo from Friday night, sent by Angela)
ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: Congratulations to the Chief Sealth International High School flag-football team, for earning a trip to the state tournament. Head coach Melvin Estes-Glaspie‘s Seahawks finished third in the district tournament with a 28-14 win this afternoon over, and at, Renton. When the state matchups are set, they’ll be on this page; quarterfinals are at various locations next weekend, with semifinals and championship the following weekend in Federal Way.
SUNDAY UPDATE: The bracket update has the Sealth team playing at Lynden next Saturday, time TBD.
Three reader reports:
ANOTHER DUMPED VAN: As discussed at this past week’s HPAC meeting (WSB coverage here), dumped vans have been turning up in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The reader photo above shows the latest one, which we’re told was found near the Highland Park Way access. The paths into the area are supposed to be securely gated.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: This one turned up in southeast Admiral:
This bike looks like it has been dumped or left for a few days. On 40th between Hanford and Hinds.
MORE GAS THEFT: Via text:
Another street-parked pickup truck got their tank drilled last night, this time at 32 and Cloverdale. last week was 30 and Cloverdale, and I saw your post about another nearby. Might be worth a PSA that it’s not smart to street-park anything with a gas tank that’s easily accessible from below until these guys decide to change neighborhoods.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Earlier this week, while monitoring SFD radio calls, we heard the dispatcher make a short announcement about a firefighter’s impending retirement, with well-wishes for the firefighter, Patrick Dunn, described as most recently serving on Ladder 13, the fire truck based at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights. This morning, Dunn, family, colleagues, and friends gathered at Easy Street Records for a breakfast celebration; we stopped in toward the end for photos:
Dunn tells us he’s been with SFD for 29 1/2 years, and spent time at Belltown’s Station 2 and the U-District’s Station 17 as well as West Seattle’s Station 37. What’s next? “Getting healthy,” plus a trip to Europe to see his daughter, who’s studying abroad, and then will “launch my next chapter.” He told us his favorite memory is “the caliber of people I’ve worked with.”
12:27 PM: Thanks to Al for the photos. As previewed here, Alki Bike and Board proprietor Stu Hennessey organized a memorial ride for local riders to pay tribute to Alex Pretti, the community advocate, nurse, and rider killed by federal agents in Minnesota. Al’s photos show that the riders staging near the shop stretched around the corner in both directions, along Admiral and California.
This was one of more than 200 memorial rides planned around the U.S. and beyond.
12:35 PM: Moments after we published this, Al reported in from the end of the ride, and sent this additional photo:
He says the riders numbered almost 200: “Some came from as far as Shoreline, Greenwood, Capitol Hill, and even Lowman Beach!”
Saturday whale-watching, anyone? Kersti Muul tells us orcas are in the mouth of Elliott Bay, “surface-active, south of West Point.” Up to half a dozen had been busy “on a kill” but now, she says, they’re trending southbound. Murky out there – or at least it is up here – but let us know if you see them!
(American Robin photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Happy Saturday! Highlights for today and tonight include music, running, walking, volunteering, and more, mostly from the West Seattle Event Calendar:
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: At West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), you can join the Saturday 8 am free group run.
FREE MEDITATION: Start the weekend with Heavily Meditated, 9 am free meditation at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3620 SW Alaska).
INTRODUCTORY WALK and WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 9:30 am, walk a mile as a prelude to the 10 am well-being walk (or just show up for that one). Both start from 47th SW and Fontanelle.
ADOPT A DAY-LABOR CORNER INFO SESSION: Earlier this week, we reported on local volunteers who are part of this movement. Today, you can find out how to join them in standing with local day laborers. 10 am-noon at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ANNIVERSARY DEAL: Happy Lemon Alki Beach (2718 Alki SW) celebrates its first anniversary today, and is offering “buy one, get one free” deals on certain beverages. Open 10 am-8 pm.
FAMILY-MUSIC CONCERT: Recess Monkey, live at Westside School (10404 34th SW; WSB sponsor), 10:30 am, $10 per family in advance or at the door, benefits the West Seattle Food Bank
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am free, weekly, in-person, critique-free group – details in our calendar listing.
ALEX PRETTI MEMORIAL RIDE: Meet at 11 am at Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) for a family-friendly five-mile ride in memory of the community advocate, nurse, and bicyclist killed by federal agents in Minnesota.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open, noon-4 pm (61st SW and SW Stevens).
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm Saturdays, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: Open 1-6 pm on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
FEEDING THE CAULDRON: “An informal witchy skillshare meetup for queers, punks, and outcasts,” 2-5 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FREE MASSAGE: 3-5 pm walk-in clinic offering short, specific massages at Nepenthe. (9447 35th SW)
ASTRA LUMINA: Held over into February, the celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, first admission 5:45 pm. Tickets and info here; extended through February.
CARTOON MESS LIVE! AT KENYON HALL: Reopening weekend continues with the latest performance of this live/animation mashup, doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm, a few tickets remain here. (7904 35th SW)
DRAG AT THE SKYLARK: “Hey Baby,” showcase for new drag performers, at The Skylark, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, presented by Kimme Ka$h, all ages, $10 advance/$15 door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: Elephant Crows, 7:30-9:30 pm, no cover. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM: 9 pm, DJ KP spins. (4547 California SW)
SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk & hip-hop, $18 plus $5 skate rental.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Have a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome to a listing on our calendar, free of charge, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
11:08 PM: Thanks for all the tips/questions. That small plane is “Smokey,” the State Patrol’s air presence, and it’s looking for someone wanted for eluding, focused right now near Harbor/Spokane. (That’s according to an FYI on SPD radio.)
11:15 PM: The WSP plane has moved on. The car they were looking for was described only as a gray 4-door Mercedes; we don’t know the status of the search.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The newest plans for relatively small projects in two parks comprised most of the first 2026 meeting of HPAC, the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.
HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick facilitated, and started with a brief mention of a story we’d broken the night before:
(‘Site plan’ shown in early permit filing)
RV SAFE LOT/TINY HOMES? The city had not notified HPAC – or other community advocates, so far as we know – about the permit filings first reported by WSB on Tuesday night for a new RV safe lot/tiny-home site in east Highland Park. She suggested that people read the report and let HPAC know if they had any thoughts or other feedback. (We have yet to receive answers to the followup questions we’ve asked, aside from the site’s owner, WSDOT, acknowledging our inquiry and promising a forthcoming reply.)
One other topic preceded the Parks presentations – crime/public safety.
SEATTLE POLICE: Community Liaison Officer German Barreto first presented updated crime stats – first the West Seattle/South Park precinct’s annual stats we’ve already reported in coverage of four recent community meetings. Highland Park for the year was up incrementally in robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and arson; for the last 30 days, all categories are down except robbery and burglary. Highland Park saw 16 shots-fired incidents last year compared to 22 a year earlier. Co-chair Kirkpatrick mentioned the chronic problem with people driving into the West Duwamish Greenbelt and causing trouble – abandoning stolen vehicles, for example. The gate that’s chronically broken/unlocked will be addressed by the city, she noted. The area has “fresh tire tracks today,” an attendee noted.
Another attendee brought up ICE activity concerns and asked recommendations. “I’d say record from a distance, don’t get involved,” replied Ofcr. Barreto. He said calling 911 could be one way to discern if you don’t know whether something is an ICE raid or “actual kidnapping” – because until they know for sure, SPD will respond “lights and sirens.” He also was asked to clarify the policy. “We don’t work with them, they just show up.” Kirkpatrick wondered about groups of unmarked vehicles showing up and then heading out together – again, he suggested getting photos discreetly. It was also pointed out, though, that for raids, warrant operations, etc. it could be a gathering point for SPD. Barreto noted that plates of SPD or other local unmarked vehicles would say XMT on them. (Footnote: SPD posted a new clarification of its immigration-enforcement-related policies on the SPD Blotter site today.)
(Photo courtesy Kay Kirkpatrick)
PARKS PROJECTS: First one presented was the south Westcrest Park restroom rebuild. Planner Tizai Mauto was introduced as Parks’ Southwest District planner and brought his team, including Justin Martin, a landscape architect from MIG, who gave most of the presentation on the restroom project. It’s in a conceptual design phase with three options. This is meant to replace the old long-closed restroom (photo above). A secondary goal is to remove infrstructure left over from an old long-removed play area near there, and to replace picnic tables and benches. Total budget for the restroom and the play area: $1.35 million.
Martin said the P-Patch and trails account for the major share of how the nearby area is used. The old restroom building probably won’t be removed but instead will be converted to storage. They expect to protect the big conifer trees near the building. The two ADA parking spots will be redone, with a curb ramp. They evaluated six potential sites; three southeast of the current site are being. considered right now. They’re looking at using the Portland Loo type of restroom structure, since it’s “more vandal resistant” and better for the lower use level they expect from this. Just one stall, like Ballard Commons, and it’s single-occupancy. They’re robust but not cheap, was the explanation.
Then he opened the door to Q&A. First attendee to speak offered more comments than questions about being baffled at how often restrooms are vandalized. They appreciated Concept 3 the most, with its proximity to picnickers. The Portland Loo design means less seclusion for people who want to vandalize, he noted. Second commenter also liked 3. Third commenter agreed and also appreciated the line-of-sight entrance from the middle of the lot. Fourth commenter noted that this area of the park wasn’t discussed much when the rest of the park was developed. Planner Mauto suggested mentioning ideas in the project survey, for building down the road. Fifth, Kirkpatrick mentioned the future public market/housing site for African Community Housing and Development at the end of Henderson should be considered, too. She also pointed out that the dog park area needs better restroom access, which Option 2 would provide. Kirkpatrick also noted long-neglected public art that might be relocatable to the eventual area.
More project info is here; you can answer a survey about the project here.
(Photo courtesy Kay Kirkpatrick)
Next, the Southwest Teen Life Center play-area overhaul, presented by project manager Colin Campbell, who said planning is resuming after a yearlong pause; he brought equipment option info.
What’s not in the budget — He said this is the perfect time for community members to advocate for features they might not see, so they could perhaps be priorities. He noted a variety of grant funds that could be sought too.
The current play area is being repalaced because it’s 20 years old ad at the end of its life cycle. Construction is likely to happen next year. Landscape archiutect David Vader said it’s a “fun” project – he clarified that it’s not the play area up on the forer Denny IMS site, which is school district owned, but this one is city-owned, immediately behind the Teen Life Center/Pool building.
The budget would cover the replacement of the play equipment and wood-fiber surfacing, They want to keep – and repaint – the mushroom structures in the area, he mentioned.
Three options as detailed here – adventurous, less so, traditional.
Option 1 is a “spider web net” type structure that many kids can use at once. It would include a teeter-totter with some unconventional moves. Part of it would match the blue and red colors of nearby Chief Sealth IHS.
Option 2 has a spiral area that even a kid with mobility issues could climb.
Option 3 is more an “in-kind replacement” “post-and deck system.”
This project too has a survey (open until mid-February). It’s early enough in design that they “still could pivot,” the team said.
Though the center is for teens, lots of younger kids go to the pool with their families.
What about outdoor ping-pong tables? asked Kirkpatrick. Campbell said they’ve talked about “things like that, smaller, contained,” like Tek Ball. Maybe some outdoor gym equipment for older kids? suggested another attendee.
Places to sit are really important, said an attendee describing herself as a mom. Someone else elaborated, “Seating options with shade” – sonce that’s a mostly paved area and can get hot.
In other park projects, Kirkpatrick asked about the money for Riverview Playfield turf and indicated community interest in early engagement on that; Mauto pointed her at the person doing the project planning.
For seeking grants to enhance projects, Campbell said the Parks CommUNITY Fund has possibilities, and has ongoing info sessions.
WHAT’S NEXT: HPAC meets many months on the fourth Wednesday; watch hpaction.org for updates.
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