(2023 photo courtesy FIRST Robotics)

Tomorrow starts the 2025 “build” season for Skunk Works Robotics, a regional club (shown above when they went to the world championships in 2023). They’re looking for support – here’s the explanation:

Looking for a way to give back to our community this holiday season? Skunk Works Robotics, a local FIRST Robotics team comprised of students in grades 8-12 from the Burien and West Seattle communities, is asking for help in raising funds for this season’s robot-build season that starts January 4. The team is currently running a fundraising campaign that is being matched by a very generous supporter up to $5,000, and although they have raised over $4,000, they have extended their goal deadline and need our help in getting to the $5,000 mark by January 15. This match is especially critical, as they have come up against unexpected and unbudgeted monthly building rental costs starting in January. These unexpected costs could hinder their ability to provide scholarships and fully fund their build and travel season, which involves designing and building a 125 lb. competition robot in 8 weeks, and traveling to two local competitions, the regional competition in Cheney, WA, and hopefully with your support, the FIRST Robotics Worlds competition in Houston, Texas, which they last attended in 2023.

Skunk Works Robotics is a 4-H community team and has served Highline and Seattle students for over 18 years. The team’s volunteer coaches and mentors, some of whom have been with the team since its inception in 2006, provide an invaluable, hands-on STEM education to any local student, regardless of financial situation, and have helped the team boast a 100% college acceptance rate and access to successful careers in STEM fields.

You can learn more at their website https://www.skunkworks1983.com/. Donations can be made online at their Donate page or by mailing a check made out to Skunk Works Robotics Booster Club, P.O. Box 81062, Seattle, WA 98108 – just note your donation is for the Matching Campaign, which ends January 15. Follow along on their 2025 season here.

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Friday info

January 3, 2025 6:01 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friay, January 3rd, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast suggests rain for much of the day and night,high in the mid-40s. Sunrise/sunset – 7:57 am and 4:31 pm.

TRANSIT

Water Taxi – Regular schedule.

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Issaquah and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Tillikum as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.

ROAD WORK

*SDOT warns you may see work trucks parked on the high bridge while crews wrap up some planned work inside.

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project shifted traffic flow to the outside lanes on Tuesday as planned, and removed the temporary crosswalk at 39th.

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.

See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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READER REPORTS: Package taken, part of another one left behind; apparently abandoned bicycle

January 2, 2025 11:59 pm

| Comments Off on READER REPORTS: Package taken, part of another one left behind; apparently abandoned bicycle

| Crime | Found bicycles | West Seattle news

Two reader reports:

PACKAGE TAKEN, ANOTHER LEFT BEHIND: From A:

At 10:37 this morning this person stole three packages from our porch (and left someone’s opened package). We are on 21st Ave SW between Myrtle and Holly. Pictures of person and their vehicle attached.

If anyone finds packages for Hallmon dumped somewhere, please let me know. I think they are things my daughter ordered with her Christmas money.

Also, if anyone knows a person at 30xx SW Bradford St. Apt. 222, we have what’s left of their package.

APPARENTLY ABANDONED BICYCLE: A texter sent this photo of a bike that’s been at the Southwest Teen Life Center building for three days:

The texter notes, “It’s an 18-speed Hyper Shocker 2G.”

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POST-HOLIDAY GRATITUDE: Message from light-show team at wind-ravaged 4040 House

January 2, 2025 9:22 pm

| Comments Off on POST-HOLIDAY GRATITUDE: Message from light-show team at wind-ravaged 4040 House

| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

(Reader photo, December 2023)

We showed you dozens of Christmas-light displays this year, but one was missing – the “4040 House” was out of commission after major damage in the “bomb cyclone” storm; the photo above is from its 2023 show. The 4040 House’s owners asked us to share this message:

A heartfelt update from 4040 House:

We’ve been truly humbled by the amazing support from everyone in the community. Your kind words and offers of help have helped us cope with the shock and sadness caused by the bomb cyclone’s damage.

To everyone who donated to our GoFundMe — thank you! We’ve already reached over 50% of our goal and will officially close the campaign on January 2 (today – closed now).

Your generosity is making a real difference, allowing us to lock in discounts from our vendors and start rebuilding for 2025. Some of the replacement equipment has already arrived!

We can’t wait to return in October 2025 with our much-loved Halloween display, bigger and greater than ever.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again, and here’s to a wonderful 2025 for us all!

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Dreaming of spring hikes? Updated West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails map will get you into Seattle’s largest forest

January 2, 2025 7:03 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle parks

(Photos courtesy West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group)

One month ago, we told you about a new website for the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails. Now, there’s word of a newly updated map to help you safely and knowledgeably get out into the forest! Here’s the announcement:

The West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group (WDGT) has updated an extensive map of trails in the West Duwamish Greenbelt as part of its mission to activate the park and draw people to the vast green space.

The West Duwamish Greenbelt is Seattle’s largest forest, covering more than 500 acres spanning more than four miles north to south. There are two distinct networks of trails. The northern network is between Highland Park Way SW and the West Seattle Bridge and includes the Duwamish Longhouse, South Seattle College, the Seattle Chinese Garden, Riverview Playfield, Puget Park, and Pigeon Point Park. The southern network includes Westcrest Park. WDGT would ultimately like to see the northern and southern trail networks connected, but it has been challenging to maintain a viable trail in the section of greenbelt between Highland Park Way SW and Westcrest Park.

The updated map includes additional trails, trailheads, landscape features and points of interest. Trails on the map are color-coded as improved; partially improved (soft surface); rough, steep and adventurous; pedestrian path, and paved public trail. To help guide you in real-time in the greenbelt, download the map to a phone using the Avenza Maps app. You can also create a route or track a route.

Throughout the map, users will find names of different areas in both English and Lushootseed, the language of the Coast Salish, such as Seven Cedars — c̕úʔkʷs x̌payʔ.

The updated trail maps are posted at various trailheads throughout the greenbelt and are also available as a downloadable PDF at wdgtrails.org/trails. The QR code to download the map to your phone is also available on the map.

Trail conditions and quality vary throughout the year. The soft trails are often muddy and slick during periods of heavy rain. Avoid hiking in the forest when wind speeds are high. Because there is currently little to no signage in the forest, the trail map is a helpful navigation tool for hikers new to the area.

The updated map was supported by a Community Partnership Fund grant from the city of Seattle. (The grant also supported an update of the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails website and creation of an exhibit at the Log House Museum.) Matt Dressler, Cartographer and GIS Analyst at Mountains to Sound GIS in West Seattle, who created the map in 2022, updated the map from sources of available GIS data along with GPS tracks recorded by WDGT members.

WDGT is a collection of neighbors who promote walking and hiking trails in the greenbelt in partnership with the Duwamish Tribe. WDGT has been offering seasonal (April- November) free guided hikes in the greenbelt for nearly a decade. Find more info and opportunities to get involved at the new website.

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Here’s what researchers are saying about Southern Resident Killer Whales’ two newest orca babies, including dead calf whose mom won’t let her go

January 2, 2025 3:26 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 on January 1)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When researchers got a look at the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales’ newest calves on New Year’s Day, they were off West Seattle.

One of those calves, J61, has died and is being carried by her mom, J35 “Tahlequah,” as shown in the NOAA photo above, the same orca who carried a dead calf for 17 days in 2018. The other new calf, J62, seems “robust” so far, according to the researchers and other experts who just spent an hour talking with journalists on a conference call in which we participated.

(Monday photo of J62, by Tisa Annette, from land near Point No Point)

The federal researcher who was out with the whales on Wednesday was NOAA’s Brad Hanson (who has spoken in West Seattle at The Whale Trail‘s gatherings).

Though researchers weren’t able to get out on the water between December 23 – when J61 was newly born – and December 31, they believe she lived just a handful of days and had died by the New Year’s Eve sighting, at which J35 (who had a still-alive calf between the two who died) was “pushing something around.” They might not get many more chances to observe the whales, as this is the time of year when they depart for fishing grounds elsewhere.

In response to our question about the sighting locations yesterday, Hanson said they first saw J35, with J61 on her head, north of Alki, and left her south of Alki Point – ee explained that they try not to stay with the whales too long, for fear of disrupting them. That’s another reason they won’t be trying to recover J61 for a necropsy – J35 is very attached to her, and by the time she abandons the calf, it will be too late in the decomposition process – even if her carcass was recoverable – for it to be of value.

What’s the difference between the behaviors of the two calves, comparing the original live sighting of J61 and the new sighting of J62? Even before J61 died, J35 seemed to be pushing her around, Hanson said, while J62 appears to be swimming and surfacing “normally.” That calf was seen Wednesday near the Vashon/Fauntleroy ferry lanes. (That’s the second part of this two-part NOAA video package.)

(Video courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 – view fullscreen here)

They’re not sure yet who its mom is; West Seattle-based researcher Maya Sears reported that it’s “still most closely associating with J19 and J41,” and NOAA’s Candice Emmons says “Most likely J41 is the mother and J19 is the grandmother, given their ages,” and there also was an indication in September that J41 was pregnant.

J61 and J62 were the first J-Pod calves since 2022, when J59 – who is still alive – was born. The first year is the biggest hurdle for calves, researchers say, but the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales – now numbering 73 – have more hurdles than other orcas; the Northern Residents and Transients are both reproducing far more successfully and prolifically, according to the researchers. They don’t know the exact survival rate of Southern Residents, because they believe some calves are being born and dying without researchers ever having seen or learned of them.

(Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries, taken under NMFS Permit #27052 on January 1)

So what exactly is the carrying-dead-calf behavior about?

The researchers say “grieving, or mourning” is a fair assessment – “we do see this behavior in other long-lived, socially cohesive animals.” It’s probably “social” behavior, they added, as “calves become central to the social nature of the pod.” But it’s not without risks to the bereaved mom – what she’s doing is likely taking a lot more energy, and researchers aren’t certain whether she’s able to forage for food while doing this.

To grow the population, said NOAA’s acting recovery coordinator Grace Ferrara, they are trying a “multi-pronged approach.” Increasing the salmon supply for the Southern Residents is important. So is noise reduction – as part of that, our state’s new rules for boaters took effect – 1,000 yards away from the whales.

They are also working on better ways to monitor the Southern Residents’ health; another participant in today’s briefing was Joe Gaydos of the SeaDoc Society, who was described as taking a lead on developing better tools to assess the whales’ health, while another participant, Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research, is working on a database with health information for individual whales.

MORE ABOUT THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS: Recommended during the briefing was this Orca Network page with information about specific whales and pod-population info.

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BIZNOTE: Funky Janes Consignment closes after a ‘long, slow bleed’

January 2, 2025 1:00 pm

| 42 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Reader photo, December 27)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

About a week ago, the CLOSED FOR BUSINESS sign went up at Funky Janes Consignment at California/Oregon in The Junction.

We’ve been working since then to speak with owner Panida Vilaythong, who bought Funky Jane’s in spring 2019 from 20-year owner Angela Nichols, and were finally able to talk with her this morning.

Our first question was simple: What happened?

“COVID happened,” Panida replied. “It’s been a long, slow bleed since 2020.” She had been running the store for less than a year when the pandemic closures began. Sales have never been the same; people’s shopping habits have changed permanently. “Since 2021, I’ve been floating the store.” She had hoped that within a year of buying the store, she’d be able to quit her “day job” in the insurance industry and focus on the store full time, but that never happened. “My job was keeping the store afloat.”

In 2021, “I wasn’t willing to admit defeat. I wanted to hunker down and see if I could make it through. I didn’t. I probably should have thrown in the towel two years ago.” She says she was likely “too proud” to let people see just how endangered the shop was, until it was too late. But looking back, she noticed that the changes in shoppers’ habits were also changes in consigners’ habits – “we got a lot of new consigners but they were not shoppers – they would buy stuff online and (consign in rather than return it) – if people aren’t also shopping (as well as consigning), that doesn’t pay all the bills.” And those bills have continued to increase, Panida says – operating expenses, employee pay, rent.

Realizing this fall that it was time to “throw in the towel” was compounded by dealing with a family tragedy – her father was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and lived in another state; he died recently and she just got back to West Seattle in time to deal with the closure.

She hopes she might be able to try running a consignment shop again someday – “This is not the end of the book, but the end of the chapter!” – but first she has to rebuild the savings (even her retirement fund) she depleted trying to keep Funky Janes going. And she has words of gratitude, for the West Seattle Junction Association and its merchants, and for her former staff, all West Seattleites: “I’m proud of them!” And she remains “proud of the community for coming together during the pandemic.” But, she warns, now that “life is back to normal … don’t forget about the merchants. Shop small! Every bit counts!”

SIDE NOTE: She says she closed with few remaining consigners – she had her last consignment appointments in October, and those agreements expired in December; for the handful that “came in” after that, she is contacting them all directly. Meantime, the 1,250-square-foot space is now empty and for rent (contact info is on the door).

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: Why you’ll see crews parked on the West Seattle Bridge

January 2, 2025 12:18 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

If you see work vehicles parked atop the West Seattle Bridge, here’s why – the explanation is from SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:

We want to let you know that over the next few weeks there will be work vehicles parked on the shoulder of the West Seattle Bridge as our contractor Kraemer North America works on the inspection platforms inside the bridge. This is the final checklist item to finish before we close out their contract.

We would like to reassure the public that there is no cause for concern and the bridge’s structural health monitoring system indicates that the repairs completed in 2022 continue to be holding strong.

Here’s the followup we published last September 17, the two-year anniversary of the bridge’s reopening following a two-and-a-half-year closure.

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West Seattle Book Club, free fitness programs, music, more on our list for 2025’s first Thursday

January 2, 2025 9:45 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Book Club, free fitness programs, music, more on our list for 2025’s first Thursday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

We start today’s list with a holiday holdover …

(WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)

FAUNTLEROY FESTIVAL OF TREES: This morning is your last chance to see the Fauntleroy Church Festival of Trees – some heartwarming, some humorous – and “vote” for your fave(s) with nonperishable food donations. (See the stack on the tree in our photo above, as an example.) Visit the Fellowship Hall before noon today. (9140 California SW)

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where (and if!) they’re playing today.

STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three events tonight at this venue – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Llama Fusion.

WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: A regular Thursday feature at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – details here.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: You also can run or walk the neighborhood with the Run Club, leaving from HPCS at 6:30 pm – info here.

VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s cozy tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle – including sparkling wine!

WESTIES RUN CLUB: The 6 pm weekly run departs from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a walk in the park.

FREE FITNESS PROGRAMS – INFO NIGHT: At West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), it’s Info Night for two free fitness programs – 6:30 pm, Get Fit, half-marathon training program for beginners, and 7 pm, Full Fit, novice/intermediate group training for full marathon.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors 6, music 7, for Static, Raved by the River, Blue Light, Femmes Eat Fruit. $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE BOOK CLUB: Your chance to drop in and read at multiple locations, some with food/drink specials! 7 pm – see the venues in our calendar listing.

TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).

DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Marc Muller at 8:30 pm.

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Post-holiday Thursday

January 2, 2025 6:00 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:16 AM: Rescue extrication callout for 6400 block of West Marginal. UPDATE: This was a 2-car collision, but everyone got out of the vehicles before SFD arrival, so the response was dramatically downsized.

Earlier:

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast suggests afternoon rain with high in the mid-40s. Sunrise/sunset – 7:57 am and 4:29 pm.

TRANSIT

Water Taxi – Regular schedule.

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Issaquah and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Tillikum as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.

TRAFFIC FACTORS

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project shifted traffic flow to the outside lanes on Tuesday as planned, and removed the temporary crosswalk at 39th.

*Amazon workers are expected to be back in the office 5 days a week starting today.

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:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

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VIDEO: Two kinds of flames at Alki Beach gathering for final night of Hanukkah

January 1, 2025 7:45 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

By dusk tonight, all candles on the Torah Learning Center of West Seattle‘s giant menorah at Alki Beach were lit. On the last of Hanukkah’s eight nights, it took Rabbi Eli Duban two tries to get the flames to take – facing toward the south finally worked.

(WSB photos/video from here by Tracy Record)

The rabbi noted that the Hanukkah story shows that even a “small light can dispel a great darkness.”

More than 50 people gathered for the waterfront ceremony organized by Ilana Duban, with music, crafts, and donuts.

After the menorah-lighting, everyone was invited to stay for a “fire show” – a performer dancing with small torches on the promenade.

The Torah Learning Center sponsored other Hanukkah-related activities in the days and weeks leading up to tonight’s gathering, including a story hour and a crafts event.

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: Immersive start to the new year with West Seattle New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim 2025 at Alki Beach

January 1, 2025 3:01 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(Aerial photo by Sly Stewart)

It was as much shrieking as swimming when more than a thousand people ran into and out of Puget Sound along Alki Beach this morning during the 2025 edition of the West Seattle New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim. Here’s our video of what it looked and sounded like, starting with organizer Mark Ufkes leading the countdown through his trusty megaphone:

(WSB video by Tracy Record)
But if you haven’t done the Polar Bear Swim before, these participants’ faces might tell you more of the story:

(This WSB photo and next five are by Dave Gershgorn)

Many participants “swam” in groups – we found athletes from the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ gymnastic team under a canopy pre-swim with coach Chris Troupe – and a portable heater:

(This WSB photo and next two are by Lora Radford)

And of course organizer Mark went in too, as he always does, and was all smiles afterward:

Not everyone just ran in and ran out, though! Some had to stop and pose in the 49-degree water (nine degrees warmer than the air):

(This WSB photo and next two are by Dave Gershgorn)

And some went for total immersion:

(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)

P.S. Special Olympics of Washington is bringing its (unrelated except in spirit) Polar Plunge fundraiser back to Alki this year – set your calendar for March 8.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle couple celebrates the new year with a new baby

January 1, 2025 2:07 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

One of the region’s first babies of 2025 was born to a West Seattle couple before the new year was even an hour old! Providence Swedish shared the photo and announcement with WSB:

Mary and Bill Belcher of West Seattle welcomed their second child – an 8.54-pound, 20.5-inch-long baby boy, named Wilder Oak Belcher – at 12:47 a.m, which earned him the distinction of being the first baby born at Providence Swedish First Hill in 2025.

The arrival of Wilder was preceded by 6,231 births at the 114-year-old, nonprofit hospital in 2024.

The Belchers, who have been married for six years, are also parents of a two-year-old daughter named Willow, who was being cared for by her grandmother, Sharon, while Mary labored and delivered in the hospital. The family shared that Mary’s 60-minute labor went smoothly and included a minute between contractions, which allowed them to experience a memorable countdown to midnight with their Labor and Delivery caregivers. The couple added, “We’re overjoyed with the birth and excited to introduce Wilder to his big sister, Willow.”

On New Year’s Eve, USA TODAY reported, “Babies born in 2025, and for the 14 years following, will make up the newest generation, called Generation Beta. Members of Gen Beta, for short, will be the children of younger millennials and older Gen Zers and by 2035, they are estimated to make up at least 16% of the global population. Additionally, many Gen Beta members will likely live into the 22nd century. Babies born in 2025 will be 76 years old when the year 2101 comes around.”

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New Year’s Day orca visit

January 1, 2025 12:45 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

With everything else going on in the area, we have whales too – multiple tips indicate southern residents southbound and transients northbound off west-facing West Seattle.

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UPDATE: Police standoff at Roxbury Safeway; suspect in custody

January 1, 2025 11:19 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Tracy Record)

11:19 AM: Roxbury Safeway isn’t allowing customers inside right now because of a police standoff. At least eight SPD cars are here (though it’s in KCSO jurisdiction). We’re waiting to talk with police about what happened; employees are going in to work in the south side of the store – the situation, which involved an armed person making threats per an employee, is happening in the north end of the store.

11:31 AM: People showing up to shop are still being told the store’s closed because police are holding the suspect at gunpoint. Employees are clearing out again and an officer with a shield has gone in.

11:49 AM The suspect is in custody. A county fire medic unit has arrived.

1:21 PM: Police have released more information. They say it started “nearby” with “a violent assault involving a female victim” and that he “pulled a knife on the victim and threatened her with violence” while “under the influence of methamphetamine.” He turned up inside the Safeway and when police responded, that’s when the standoff started. They say he was arrested for investigation of “felony assault, harassment, and indecent liberties” and after medical evaluation he’s expected to be booked into jail.

2:40 PM: SPD spokesperson Det. Eric Muñoz just answered our two big remaining questions: #1, despite the store being outside the city limits, this was an SPD call because the original incident happened across the street (9400 block of 27th SW), which is inside the city limits; also, the suspect needed medical attention because he “sustained minor injuries during the arrest; less-than-lethal force was used by officers including a Taser deployment. No other people were injured during the arrest.”

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Happy 2025! Here’s your West Seattle info for New Year’s Day

January 1, 2025 6:07 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(Stadiums’ New Year’s Eve colors, photographed by Doug Eglington)

Welcome to 2025! Here’s some info we hope will be helpful on your New Year’s Day holiday:

BUSES: Metro‘s on the Sunday schedule. (The free rides were just for New Year’s Eve, so fares ARE being collected today.)

WATER TAXI: Not running today.

FERRIES: Weekend schedule on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route – check for alerts here.

MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this map.

COFFEE AND RESTAURANT/BAR HOURS: This year, we made lists, though closures for New Year’s are far fewer than for Christmas; open coffee shops are here, open restaurants/bars are here.

GROCERY HOURS TODAY: Three grocery notes for today: Trader Joe’s is closed; PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opens later and closes earlier (9 am-9 pm); Whole Foods opens an hour later, at 9 am.

NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS: Emerald City Wanderers are hosting New Year’s Day walks, starting at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church. The 5- or 10-kilometer walks are noncompetitive, starting between 9 and noon. There is no fee, though contributions to help cover costs are welcome. Hot soup and snacks will be available after the walks. St John’s is at 3050 California Ave SW.

ALKI POLAR BEAR SWIM: You’re invited to join in the annual tradition of running into Puget Sound with hundreds of others at 10 am sharp, from the beach across from Duke’s, or really, anywhere along the sand – here’s our most-recent reminder.

HANUKKAH’S FINAL NIGHT: The Torah Learning Center of West Seattle will light its giant menorah one last time at 4:30 pm east of Alki Bathhouse, all invited.

OTHER NOTES: Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed … Solid-waste pickups are on one-day delay for the rest of the week.

If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365!

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VIDEO: Highland Park neighborhood parades ‘Not-So-Silent’-ly on New Year’s Eve 2024

December 31, 2024 11:59 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | Holidays | West Seattle news

Story, photos and video by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Highland Park neighbors of all ages took to the streets on New Year’s Eve to walk in the annual “Not-So-Silent-Night Parade” organized by the Highland Park Improvement Club. The annual event has been going strong since 2009 (except for the COVID shutdown).

Neighbors gathered at the start of the parade route at the Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), drawing a crowd of well over 100:

The group paraded to the Riverview Playfields to celebrate the end of 2024, and to welcome (complete with festive luminarias) the arrival of 2025:

Here is our full video of the paraders: Highland Park New Year’s Eve parade

Here is our full video of the post-parade gathering at Riverview Playfields: Highland Park New Year’s Eve parade at Riverview (includes the lighting and swinging of the “sage comet” in honor of those dearly departed from us in 2024)

After the parade, organizers served hot chocolate and tasty treats:

Parade organizers dressed in festive attire for the occasion:

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GOODBYE, 2024: This year’s most-commented WSB stories

December 31, 2024 10:31 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Every year, this is the one and only “year in review” story we publish – the 10 WSB stories that got the most comments during the year. It doesn’t mean they were the most important, or most read, stories, but the comment totals are a clearly quantifiable component in our publishing system. Last year was unique, with half of the top 10 relating to one ongoing controversy – the eventually scrapped plan to convert former tennis courts in Lincoln Park to pickleball courts. This year, though, the top 10 includes one story related to that controversy, two related to another controversy, and seven others about other unique situations.

#10 – TWO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL-CLOSURE LISTS UNVEILED
September 11, 2024 – 151 comments
Seattle Public Schools‘ short-lived plan to close schools went through multiple iterations. This one offered two alternative lists. Two West Seattle schools wo schools, Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and Sanislo Elementary, were on both potential lists.

#9 – WILDLIFE ADVOCATES UPSET WITH ALKI POINT HEALTHY STREET PARKING REMOVAL
February 29, 2024 – 153 comments
As the long original headline for this story noted, SDOT originally said Healthy Streets wouldn’t involve parking removal. The Alki Point Healthy Street did, and local wildlife organizations said that would impede their work and general public access to see and appreciate wildlife.

#8 – CANTANNA FEST COMING TO LINCOLN PARK
July 25, 2024 – 156 comments
We learned a music-and-marijuana-appreciation festival had gotten the OK from Seattle Parks to bring thousands to Lincoln Park. The plan didn’t last long, and the festival eventually ended up at a farm in Pierce County.

#7 – MOLLY MOON’S ICE CREAM ON THE WAY TO WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION
April 5, 2024 – 167 comments
A banner in a Junction window revealed the ice-cream mini-chain was headed this way. Since then, it’s switched planned West Seattle locations, and will open in the ex-Cupcake Royale.

#6 – WOMAN SHOT AND KILLED SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION
October 1, 2024 – 174 comments
Though the shooting death of Dr. Tammy Towers at her home south of The Junction was ruled homicide, no criminal charges have ever been announced.

#5 – ALKI POINT HEALTHY STREET OPPONENTS ANNOUNCE COMMUNITY MEETING
May 13, 2024 – 180 comments
This story, like #9, stemmed from local wildlife advocates trying to convince SDOT not to remove parking as part of the Alki Point Healthy Street project.

#4 – LINCOLN PARK PICKLEBALL OPPONENTS SAY CITY HAS OFFICIALLY SCRAPPED PLAN
May 24, 2024 – 195 comments
Last year’s big controversy didn’t come to an official end until this spring.

#3 – POWER OUTAGES FOR 13,000+
November 19, 2024 – 208 comments
It’s not a most-commented list without a power outage and many readers weighing in on whether they’re out or not. This outage drew more comments than usual because Seattle City Light‘s info map was malfunctioning.

#2 – ABOUT THE TRUMP-MERCH TENT IN THE TRIANGLE
February 19, 2024 – 236 comments
Nine lines about a traveling vendor churned up a lot of discussion, almost nine months before the presidential election

#1 – ANNOUNCING A DEATH IN THE WSB FAMILY
October 18, 2024 – 669 comments

17 years after co-founding WSB, Patrick Sand died suddenly, without warning, at home the morning of October 17. We miss him every minute of every day. The work to which he was devoted – thoroughly, accurately, ethically, cheerily covering West Seattle news and events – goes on, led by co-founder Tracy Record, with new collaborators. We will talk with you more in the New Year about the state and future of WSB. For now, we want to thank everyone for the condolences, well-wishes, and support, and the many people who have taught us things we didn’t know about Patrick, by recounting what he meant to them and how they’d interacted. Thank you all so much, and we treasure your continued partnership in community-collaborative news, which we continue to cover 24/7.

PREVIOUS YEARS: Here are our previous most-commented-stories lists, going back to 2011:

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S EVE: What you might see on the beach tonight

December 31, 2024 6:03 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

One more way to spend your New Year’s Eve … exploring the beach at the -2.5-foot 11:13 pm low-low tide!

Rosalie Miller sent photos of what she encountered on the beach at last night’s similarly low tide – a kelp crab, red rock crab, and mottled star.

If you go out exploring, tread lightly!

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FOLLOWUP: Admiral Way Bridge traffic flow changes

December 31, 2024 4:31 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photos, this afternoon)

Thanks for the tips. As announced, SDOT switched the traffic flow on the Admiral Way Bridge(s) again today – now it’s one outside lane each way, inside lanes blocked off for the next phase of the earthquake-resistance strengthening project. As also planned, the temporary crosswalk at 39th SW/Admiral Way has been removed as part of the change.

And Fairmount Avenue beneath the bridge remains closed until the end of construction, which SDOT says might not be until early summer.

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COUNTDOWN: 1 week until West Seattle Preschool Fair

December 31, 2024 2:26 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Preschool-shopping for your little one(s)? One week from tonight, you can meet reps from 15 local preschools, all in one place! The West Seattle Preschool Fair is set for Tuesday night, January 7th, 5:30 pm, and is sponsoring WSB to be extra-certain you hear about it. Here’s the latest:

Looking for the right preschool for your child? Attend the West Seattle Preschool Fair in the Hope School Gym (4100 SW Genesee) January 7th to visit 15 local preschools and learn what each program has to offer your child! No RSVP necessary.

Parking is available on the street or in the parking lot on the corner of 41st & Genesee St (East side of 41st).

Schools Attending:

ARK Preschool
Bloom Preschool
Cometa Playschool
Community School of West Seattle
Fauntleroy Children’s Center
Giddens School
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School
Holy Rosary Preschool
Hope Lutheran School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Early Learning Center
South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools
Southwest Early Learning Bilingual Preschool
St. Bernadette Early Learning Center
The Cove School
Westside School

The Preschool Fair is a drop-in event, 5:30-7 pm next Tuesday.

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HELPING: 1 truckload donated, room and time for more at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance donation drive

December 31, 2024 1:03 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news

Words of thanks, and a renewed invitation, regarding a clothing-donation drive continuing beyond the holiday season:

(At Dave Newman State Farm Insurance’s office: Kristy Hoppenrath, Rodger Tanner)

The West Seattle Food Bank/Clothesline clothing and food drive continues at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance in West Seattle. We have already taken a truckload of clothes to the Helpline, and we’ll drop off another load this Thursday. Our plan is to continue collecting donations of clothing and food through the end of January.

Thanks so much to those who dropped off much-needed cold-weather clothing and food, and thanks to the West Seattle Food Bank and Clothesline for their hard work.

The Dave Newman State Farm Insurance office (one of WSB’s longest-running sponsors) is at 3435 California SW. The office is open for donations Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Tuesdays 9 am to 2 pm, except for holidays.

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YOU CAN HELP: Here’s what Westside Neighbors Shelter needs as year wraps up

December 31, 2024 11:34 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | Triangle | West Seattle news

(File photo, courtesy Westside Neighbors Shelter)

As the year ends, the temperature has dropped, and West Seattle’s only emergency shelter is busy. Manager Keith Hughes shares wish lists periodically, and we just got this, if you’re inclined to help:

Thank you, West Seattle, for continuing to generously support your Community Shelter. We have averaged over 40 people per night for the past month, and that takes a lot of supplies. Needed now:

Dixie Ultra 10″ paper plates and 20 oz bowls
12″ and 18″ aluminum foil
CoffeeMate powdered coffee creamer
jelly
jarred pasta sauce
Sugar, 5#, 10# bags
pancake syrup (quarts)
12 oz hot cups (no lids)
toilet paper, paper towels
Pam Spray
vegetable oil for cooking
raisins (for the oatmeal)

…. Big Item Request …. Alpha Camp folding camp cots. I need 10. Maybe a project for a group/organization that can do it together?

The shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska. Info on how and when to donate items, including online ordering/delivery if that works better, is on its website.

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