West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
Family and friends are remembering Bruce McLaughlin and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Richard Bruce McLaughlin, known as Bruce, passed away on October 10, 2024, at the age of 83. Born on November 19, 1940, in Seattle, Bruce was a lifelong resident of Seattle, where he died peacefully.
As a child and young man, Bruce spent many summers and weekends at the family home on Manzanita Beach, Vashon.
Bruce attended The University of Washington, where he studied Communications. He worked at and later owned The Junction Feed and Seed in West Seattle.
Bruce enjoyed camping, photography, cooking, and sailing, and could talk with anyone about almost anything.
A longtime volunteer at ArtsWest Theater, Bruce built sets, helped maintain the premises and was active in the acquisition of its current home in the West Seattle Junction.
Bruce is preceded in death by his wife, Carol McLaughlin, and survived by his “little brother” Bart McLaughlin, daughter Kathy McLaughlin, son-in-law Mark Tagge, and grandson Patrick McLaughlin. He will be missed by his family and all who knew him.
We ask that those who wish to make memorial donations to please give to ArtsWest Theater in West Seattle.
Bruce’s tribute wall is on the Emmick Family Funeral Home website, here.
(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 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, November 11, Veterans Day 2024. Most if not all schools are closed today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rainy and breezy, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:09 am, while sunset will be at 4:36 pm.
TRANSIT
Water Taxi today – No service today – both routes – for Veterans Day. (The shuttle buses aren’t running, either.)
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth (90 cars) and M/V Cathlamet (124 cars); M/V Issaquah is still out of service. Check here for last-minute changes.
Metro buses today – Regular weekday schedule despite the holiday.
STREET PAY-STATION FREE PARKING
None in West Seattle but if you’re going to neighborhoods that have pay stations for street parking, that’s free on Veterans Day.
ROAD WORK
Work crews may not be on scene today but traffic restrictions for both these projects continue 24/7:
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Another neighborhood organization meeting on Tuesday is the Fauntleroy Community Association, with its regular board meeting including a discussion of the city’s new rezoning proposal. As we’ve been reporting, the proposal is open for comments until December 20; a key feature is the creation of more than half a dozen “neighborhood centers” in West Seattle (mapped here), and FCA told the city back in May that it was opposed to the one planned for the Endolyne mini-business-district area. So that’s a big part of the agenda. Community members are welcome at the meeting, which starts at 6 pm Tuesday (November 12) in the conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW).
Another local high-school team that made it to state is celebrating its success – thanks to the reader who sent this report on the Chief Sealth International High School cross country girls’ results:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth IHS junior Federica Dilley on finishing 7th at the 2A State Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Pasco! Dilley covered the 5k course in a time of 18:59 and led the Seahawks to an 11th-place team finish.
(Pictured: CSIHS junior Federica Dilley (red) receiving her award after earning first team All-State)
(Pictured: The CSIHS girls’ XC team after placing 11th at the 2A State Championship)
Full results from the 2024 WIAA Cross Country State Championships are available here.
(Image from Google Street View)
The former Trueliving Church site in southeast High Point – long eyed for redevelopment – has new ownership. We checked into its status after multiple questions from readers. Records show the church sold its site at 2900 SW Myrtle for $3 million less than two weeks ago, and dedicated its new location in Burien today. The church had been in West Seattle for more than 30 years. But change for its site had long been in the wind – three years ago, we wrote about a proposal for 34 residential units on the site. A version of that application is still alive in city files, although it’s not clear yet what the current plan is for the site: The new owner is another church, Debre Menkirat Kidus Georgis Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Two readers report activity on the site, including clearing brush. We’re working to contact them to find out about their plan for the site.
Big week ahead for community meetings. Among them: The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s next general gathering, in person. at 7 pm Tuesday (November 12) at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). This month, ANA will hear from city attorney Ann Davison, who spoke to the Alki Community Council last month (WSB coverage here). They’ll also talk with police, elect leadership, and talk about upcoming events including December 14th’s “Winter Wonderland.” All welcome if you live, work, study, and/or play in the Admiral area.
If you haven’t yet responded to the annual Seattle Public Safety Survey, you have until the end of the month. This is the 10th annual survey, which is administered by Seattle University, with results provided (anonymously) to Seattle Police “to help them better understand your neighborhood’s safety and security concerns … (then) community-police dialogues will be held in May-August 2025 to provide opportunity for police-community engagement about the results.” These are part of SPD’s Micro-Community Policing Plan program, but you can participate whether your neighborhood has an MCPP or not – just answer the survey by November 30. It’s available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese, all via this link.
P.S. Here are the results of last year’s survey.
Sent by Justin:
I found this on SW Glenridge Way. I’m hoping to get Anne her bag back which has a freezer pack, a make-up kit, and some other stuff. I moved it to my house, so you can have her reach out to me if we can track her down.
If yours, email westseattleblog@gmail.com and we’ll connect you. Glenridge is a secluded side road, so it’s more likely to have been dumped there rather than simply lost.
9:52 AM: For those wondering about the police response near Our Lady of Guadalupe at 34th/Myrtle – we don’t have details on the circumstances that preceded it, but police have arrested a suspect and recovered a stolen pickup truck. Emergency radio exchanges indicated that a struggle during the arrest led to a call for backup. The suspect is being taken to the hospital for evaluation; the stolen vehicle’s owner has been notified. (added) The vehicle was stolen from South Delridge.
10:36 AM: A texter says they called 911 because the suspect was apparently trying to steal another truck at 34th/Myrtle. “I just happened to be standing in my front door when he pulled up … he got out of (a) Dakota and got into (a) Tahoe and visibly started pounding on the ignition.”
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle High School Wildcats volleyball team faced a strong Seattle Prep squad in last night’s Metro League championship game in the Chief Sealth International High School gym. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t the Wildcats’ night. Prep’s power and shot placement propelled them to a 3-0 win over West Seattle.
In their semifinal match earlier in the day, West Seattle cruised past the Bishop Blanchet Bears, never trailing in any set on their way to a 3-0 win. The team played cohesively against a talented Blanchet team, with Janie McCanna and Sadie Miller notching an impressive number of kills. The individual set scores were 25-12, 25-19, and 25-8.
Next week, West Seattle (15-4) will head to the 3A District Tournament as the #2 Metro seed. Head coach Scott Behrbaum expressed satisfaction with the team’s successful season and is gearing up for the team to take the next step forward. “We’re proud of being the best public school in the Metro League and we’re going into Districts with a clean slate, knowing that we can compete with anyone.”
(Colorful trees in High Point, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Quiet Sunday ahead, but we have a few highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings).
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 2024 USATF Pacific Northwest Open & Masters Cross Country Championships start at 9:30 in Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – schedule here.
SWIM IN THE SOUND: At 9:30 am, dive into the weekly group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet for today’s run at 9 am at Bel Gatto in Fauntleroy (9253 45th SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As usual, open 10 am-2 pm, with seasonal produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Fall is project time. Need a tool to make yours happen? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WAREHOUSE SALE: The KAVU outlet store at 9064 Delridge Way SW is wrapping up its sale today, 11 am-6 pm.
GUIDED BREATHWORK JOURNEY: 2-5 pm, Morgan Junction location to be provided on signup – link in our calendar listing.
ASTRA LUMINA: The illuminated walk at Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge is back. 5 pm and later entry times, tickets $23 and up. (6000 16th SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be listed on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Just email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Texter reports Genesee is blocked between Delridge and Avalon by a jackknifed tanker truck.
UPDATE: Cleared quickly, per commenter.
With less than three weeks until Thanksgiving, we’re working on this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, hoping to launch it before next weekend. If you haven’t already sent information on your holiday-season event, bazaar/pop-up shop, donation drive, fundraiser, performance, hours, holiday food specials, etc. … now’s the time to get that info to us so we can share it with your neighbors. Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round calendar too) – thank you!
Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog
For the first time since 1974, the Chief Sealth Seahawks have won the Class 2A District 2 volleyball championship. In a thrilling championship match, the Seahawks defeated the Nathan Hale Raiders, 3-0.
The first two sets of the match at Foster HS in Tukwila were both nailbiters, as the lead seesawed. Sealth pulled out wins in both by scores of 25-23 and 25-18.
Nathan Hale started the third set determined to extend the match, charging out to an early 8-point lead. But the Sealth girls hung tough and, on the verge of defeat, they reeled off seven straight points to win the deciding game by a score to 25-23.
After the match, an elated Chief Sealth head coach Lorraine Toilolo referred to the sweetness of breaking Sealth’s 50-year drought since their last District Championship. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve worked hard and we’re headed to the State Tournament!” The Class 2A State Tournament will be held at the Yakima Valley SunDome next Friday and Saturday (November 15-16).
By Eddie Westerman
Special to West Seattle Blog
Whether knocking on doors, writing postcards, donating money, participating in conversations, or simply being barraged by news and election ads, it would have been difficult not to experience some stress in the months leading up to Tuesday’s election.
That’s why folklorist and grief coach Tamara Kubacki led a Post-Election Grief/Relief Walk at Jack Block Park in. West Seattle this afternoon, open to people feeling either of those emotions, though the former seemed to prevail among participants. The rainy walk gave people the chance to be in nature while feeling and talking about grief or relief from the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election. The peaceful walk also opened the door to other issues people feel they are facing in their own lives and the collective stress in the nation and world.
“We’re not meant to grieve on our own,” Kubacki says. “Being with others makes it feel less lonely.”
Participants shared their experiences through stories, poetry and conversation along the walking path. Kubacki, who runs a company called Listening to Grief, says she hopes participants of today’s walk felt a sense of community. She reminds people that it is healthy to talk about their grief.
One participant, Smith Sinclair, says he took a day off after the election and that he is still in denial.
“My grief is spilling over. I’m not participating in any media,” Sinclair says. “I was so hopeful.” He says he’s worried for immigrants and others and that he was deeply disappointed because he felt Kamala Harris ran a flawless campaign. He felt hopeful in the campaign work he did in Washington State, but despondent about what happened in the nation.
As part of the walk, Kubacki asked participants to ground themselves with breathing exercises, notice the sounds and the nature in the park and take time to genuinely listen to one another’s thoughts.
“I feel like fleeing,” Susan Holmgren says. She came on the walk, she says, to connect with her mother, who was a political activist when she was alive. Holmgren says her mother marched in countless anti-war demonstrations and that she would be so distressed to feel her children might have fewer rights than she had. While she does have dual citizenship because her mother was a United Kingdom citizen, Holmgren feels there are too many obstacles – especially financial ones — preventing her from trying to live in a different country.
Another walker at today’s event said it was heartbreaking to watch his 30-something children’s faces fall as the election results tumbled in. He was sad he couldn’t just “kiss the problem away for them.”
Kubacki says today’s walk, inspired by two Olympia-based organizations — Window Seat Media and Wild Grief – is a way for those in the community to come together when things feel awry. “Stories can be an anchor in uncertain times,” she says. The walk gave people the chance to think about what stories they were holding on to that they wanted to release.
Thanks to Kathryn in Delridge for the snippet of video/audio recorded last night when, she says, a neighborhood dog’s barking touched off an unseen pack of coyotes yipping. Even if you’ve never heard them, they’re in most neighborhoods – just scroll through our archive for evidence!
Two reader reports:
STOLEN SATURN: DW hopes you can help find their car:
Between the last time my car was seen around 3 pm Wednesday, Nov 7th, and the following morning, my car was stolen from where I normally park it in the North Admiral neighborhood. The car is a red 4-door sedan-style 1999 Saturn SL with a black bra.
If anyone sees this vehicle or saw it in the last two days, please provide this information to the police, (# is 24-316848).
ABANDONED LAWN MOWER: John spotted this at the top of the stairs, 14th/Holden:
(2023 WSB photo)
We’re exactly two weeks away from a major pre-holiday giveaway that’s happening for the 21st year: Eastridge Church is giving away 1,500 turkeys and bags of groceries at its two campuses, including West Seattle (39th/Oregon). This year’s date is Saturday, November 23, and the giveaway starts at 9 am, continuing while supplies last. No questions asked – just show up. (People usually line up on the sidewalk along 39th.) The church’s lead pastor Steve Jamison notes that what they give away doesn’t just “provide one meal for one person … because it’s all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal, it actually feeds a whole family.”
The state cross country championships are happening today in Pasco. We’ve already reported on runners from our area’s two biggest high schools who qualified – and there’s one more group of West Seattle runners participating, proud parent Beth Martin points out:
O’Dea High School cross country is also at state, qualifying as a team for the first time in 25 years. Five of the seven running today live in West Seattle: Ryan Berta, Maddox Fox, Maks Karman, Isaac Lewis, and Will Martin.
Good luck to all!
(Harbor seal in the Duwamish River, photographed by Steve Bender)
Weekend’s here! Here are highlights for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and if we’re missing something of note, PLEASE let us know):
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the regular Saturday morning run.
VACCINATION CLINIC: School clinic, but community’s welcome too – flu and COVID shots available, 9 am-3 pm at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW).
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free community meditation, 9 am at Inner Alchemy’s home studio (3618 SW Alaska)
SHOREWOOD ELEMENTARY HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Just a short ways south of West Seattle, organizers are really hoping to see you at their early holiday bazaar today! 10 am-4 pm – crafts, baked goods, books, jewelry, decor, more. (2725 SW 116th, North Burien)
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: You’re invited to join others taking a walk in Lincoln Park (meet at 47th/Fauntleroy), 10 am.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Gardening season is year-round! Student-grown plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – “This is a free, weekly, in-person active writing group grounded in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. It is a safe, critique-free space. Writers of all levels welcome, 16 and up.” Our calendar listing has location and RSVP info.
MORNING MUSIC: 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.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
WAREHOUSE SALE: The KAVU outlet store at 9064 Delridge Way SW is having one, 11 am-6 pm today and Sunday.
MAKERS’ ART MARKET: November chance to shop dozens of artists, crafters, and other vendors, noon-5 pm at Alki Beach Bathhouse (2701 Alki SW). See the list of participants in our calendar listing.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the newest exhibit, about the West Duwamish Greenbelt! (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is also open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
SPORTS: One playoff game in the area today – 12:30 pm at Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon), West Seattle High School faces Bishop Blanchet in volleyball.
GRIEF/RELIEF POST-ELECTION WALK: 1:30 pm at Jack Block Park (2130 Harbor SW), explained here. RSVP here.
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: The tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm with student-produced wines and “affordable eats” at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
ASTRA LUMINA: The illuminated walk at Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge is back. 5 pm and later entry times, tickets $29 and up. (6000 16th SW)
SOARING WITH SEALTH: Chief Sealth International High School PTSA fundraiser, 5:30 pm at Brockey Center on South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
CARRIE AKRE AT EASY STREET: 7 pm, free in-store concert, all ages, celebrating vinyl release and lyric book. (4559 California SW)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: The Mortgage Lifters, 7 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
AT THE SKYLARK: DA/D with Six Killers- A Benefit for the Skylark, doors at 6:30, music at 7:30, all ages until 10 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
AT KENYON HALL: Three groups make music tonight – Roughtail Feat. American Flats & Model Shop, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, Soul Focus FM. (4547 California SW)
JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday singing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event is welcome to a spot on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Added: Photo from commenter Brian)
10:56 PM: Police are searching near just southwest of Morgan Junction [map] for a driver who’s reported to have bolted after hitting a parked car and possibly a utility pole. He’s described as a “tall white male, 40s, in a white shirt, no shoes” possibly headed westbound on Holly.
11:02 PM: They found the suspect.
(Last March’s info pop-up at Fauntleroy and Wildwood)
The first under-road culvert that the city plans to replace for Fauntleroy Creek goes under 45th SW just north of the Endolyne business district, and SPU is ready to show off the new design at another roadside pop-up one week from tomorrow. Here’s the announcement:
Seattle Public Utilities invites the public to attend a Fauntleroy Culverts Replacement Project drop-in information session on Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – stop by anytime during this window to learn about the latest design plans and ask SPU project team members questions. It will be held at the corner of Southwest Wildwood Place and 45th Avenue Southwest in Seattle.
At past outreach events, SPU project team members listened to feedback for the 45th Avenue Southwest landing. SPU has taken this feedback to produce a re-designed plan with these updates:
-The landing’s size has been reduced
-Additional screening has been added to reduce visual impact and restrict access to the ravine
-Signage, low maintenance planting beds, lighting, and boulders are proposed to enhance the area and complement the surrounding environmentQuestions? Please contact Jonathan Brown, SPU Project Manager for the 45th Avenue Southwest Culvert: Jonathan.Brown@seattle.gov or 206-561-2581.
Construction of the 45th SW culvert is expected to start sometime in 2026. This will be followed by the culvert replacement beneath California SW near Fauntleroy Church/YMCA. We reported last summer on the agreement between the church and city regarding how to deal with that one.
The photo and stolen-car report are from Anna:
The vehicle is a bright red 2016 Kia Soul. WA license plate #AXD9342. There are some white scrape marks along the lefthand/driver’s side. There are five bumper stickers on the back: two blue/yellow ones for Gary Johnson, one purple that reads “Proud Musical Theatre Nerd,” one white that says “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” and one green that says “Delgado.”
The car was stolen sometime between 9:30 pm on Wednesday 11/6 and 11:30 am Thursday 11/7 from the garage of my residential building located on California Ave SW and SW Mills Street (a few blocks from the Thriftway). … I can be contacted at 425-208-5127 or artatelman@gmail.com. Appreciate any tips!
The neighboring building’s garage had a break-in and Anna says they’re wondering if there’s a link. Police report # for her theft is 24-316493.
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