West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
(WSB photos by Dave Gershgorn. Above, Huayin Performing Arts Group)
It’s a beautiful afternoon at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north edge of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus on Puget Ridge, where the Mid-Autumn Festival continues until 5 pm.
Performances and demonstrations are happening all afternoon – above and below, Julian Leung demonstrated Tai Chi:
Arts and crafts too, including painting:
Admission and parking are free. The garden and college are at 6000 16th SW.
The November election is less than a month and a half away, and voting starts even sooner. One of the biggest races you’ll be deciding is that for King County Executive. West Seattleite Shannon Braddock has been in the job since Dow Constantine resigned to become Sound Transit CEO, but she decided not to run for the permanent job. The candidates on your ballot are two King County Councilmembers – Claudia Balducci from the Eastside, Girmay Zahilay from South King County. You can see them side by side, and ask questions, during a campaign forum that will be part of the October meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, 7 pm Thursday (October 2) at the fire station in White Center, 1243 SW 112th. Also scheduled to appear at the NHUAC meeting, King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall.
Friday night (October 3), you are invited to support DNDA – a nonprofit working on a variety of fronts in eastern West Seattle – by attending Destination Delridge at DNDA’s headquarters in Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Here’s the newest update from DNDA:
Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka will join a moderated community panel as part of Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association’s flagship fundraiser Destination Delridge.
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) is hosting Destination Delridge on Friday, October 3 at the Thelma Dewitty Theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, which will feature the panel discussion, speakers, and other activities. The event will run from 6p to 9p at Youngstown.
Saka is one of three participants in a panel discussion, which will be moderated by Shannon Woodard, president of DNDA’s Board of Directors. Woodard is a seasoned community leader, guiding conversations that center equity, collaboration, and actionable solutions.
Also on the panel will be Jaebadiah Gardner, founder and CEO of Gardner Global, a real estate development firm focused on equity-driven projects that empower communities of color, and Faven Berhe, owner of Hagosa’s House, a Delridge-area cafe and community hub dedicated to cultural connection.
This year, DNDA will bring together supporters, neighbors, artists, and advocates for an evening of connection, storytelling, and impact. Nucor Steel Seattle is the 2025 Presenting Sponsor for this event. DNDA and Nucor have a longstanding relationship rooted in shared values of environmental stewardship and community engagement. From hands-on restoration projects to sustained financial support, Nucor’s commitment to the Delridge neighborhood continues to make a real and lasting difference.
DNDA is a non‐profit organization devoted to social, racial and environmental justice. We are dedicated to preserving and increasing affordable housing for a range of incomes, enhancing the natural environment, and providing such vital resources as arts and cultural opportunities, education and youth programs for our neighbors. Our programs for affordable housing and wetland restoration have become models for other communities.
You can get tickets by going here.
9:39 AM: Seattle Fire medics are responding to Seacrest right now after a report of a diver who had been unconscious in the water. Via emergency radio, he is described as a man in his early 20s, brought to shore aboard a Water Taxi, and several SFD units have responded to treat him.
9:53 AM: No further radio updates so far. We’ll be following up with SFD.
1:55 PM: We just heard back from SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo, who says the diver is a 57-year-old woman and that she was in stable condition when transported to Virgina Mason.
(Seagull, sunset, and Water Taxi, photographed by Michael Bruce Johnson)
Good morning – here’s what’s up for your Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings!) and inbox:
GARAGE/YARD SALES: Check for listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a WSB Forums login, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run starts at Dough Joy Doughnuts (4310 SW Oregon).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in early-fall produce season (stone fruit, berries, tomatoes, peppers, greens, roots, bulbs), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
DISCOVERY SHOP VINTAGE EVENT: While you’re in The Junction, check out The Discovery Shop‘s vintage event – raising money to fight cancer – 10 am-2 pm. (4535 California SW)
POSTCARD MARATHON: Long-distance advocacy with Postcards 4 Democracy and West Seattle Indivisible, 10 am-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW).
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
FILM SCREENING: West Seattle’s Amy Benson produced “She Marches in Chinatown” (trailer above), an award-winning film directed by the late Della Chen, and invites you to a screening/discussion at the Central Library downtown at 11 am. (1000 Fourth Ave.)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AT SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: Noon-5 pm at north end of South Seattle College campus, free admission – crafts, demonstrations, music, more. See our calendar listing for the schedule. (6000 16th SW)
FRESH HOP WEEK AT OUNCES: Annual event at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), open noon-7 pm today.
COMMUNITY CLOG DANCING LESSONS: 1 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), all welcome at this introductory session.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Kick back and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
CLASSIC NOVELS & MOVIES BOOK CLUB AT C & P: “East of Eden” is this month’s title for the gathering at 3 pm – come early to get your beverage – at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: 3 pm matinee performance of the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
FREE COMMUNITY BBQ: Fun for kids too! 4:30-6:30 pm at Bethany West Seattle (8600 8th SW).
TRIVIA AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-8 pm, monthly trivia with host Morgue Anne. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Fan Club performs in-store, presenting their new album, 5 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday nights are live music nights 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 Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Today’s West Seattle Ecology Fair at Our Lady of Guadalupe was about more than just connecting with resources (as shown in our first report) – it was also an opportunity to hear about climate science.
Organizer Vince Stricherz (above) explained that keynote speaker Dr. Nick Bond (below) has most recently been studying heat waves.
Bond is state climatologist emeritus and is currently with the UW Climate Impacts Group. His general theme was that warmer temperatures aren’t just a matter of comfort – they bring health threats.
He started with a mention of the unprecedented 2021 heat wave. “We will have other heat waves,” he warned. “What I want you to be thinking about all the time is who’s vulnerable, who’s at risk.”
He showed the range of temperatures that year – “we blew away records,” not just in Seattle. It wasn’t just the heat – it was the humidity, he noted, with “considerably higher dewpoints” – especially in irrigated areas of the state like the Yakima Valley, “where people were outside working and exposed to these hazardous conditions.”
The context for the heat wave, meanwhile, was record dry conditions following a dry spring. “That set the stage for the heat wave being particularly intense.” And it wasn’t a one-time thing – precipitation trends have evolved over the past century-plus. In the last few decades, “there is a systematic decrease … we don’t know how that’s going to continue, it could be a fluke … but that may be a systematic trend we’re seeing in the climate around here.”
The heat wave took a toll in lives – an estimated 450 more deaths in Washington, 815 in British Columbia, and 69 times the usual number of emergency-room visits in the Pacific Northwest. Hospitals were putting some people in garbage bags full of ice to lower their body temperatures. The “heat dome” overall brought more deaths from various causes overall: “It’s a big deal.”
It’s not just our region, he said, showing heat-wave frequency, duration, season, and intensity all increasing nationwide. And it’s not just daytime highs – it’s increased nighttime temperatures, particularly in this area; “more and more are staying in the 60s.” Yes, it’s not “unfit for human habitation,” but – “our nights are getting warmer.”
So when you take together the hottest days and hottest nights, those events are more common than in the past. “It’s not just heat-related illness that’s the problem” – hot weather also brings more traumatic injuries, kidney problems, pregnancy complications. Farm workers in our state “are exposed to more heat”.- more work outside the confines of an air-conditioned tractor, for example.
Then he moved on to the marine heat waves called “blobs” – unusually warm ocean water, with a sudden jump starting about 10 years ago. “Unprecedented conditions, and it had major effects on all sorts of natural and human conditions. One of the things that happened that year (2015)” – he showed a slide of snowless Snoqualmie in March 2015, “when the snowpack is usually at its peak.”
(In Q&A he was asked to elaborate on what that means for the water supply, and he said possibilities will be impounding more water in reservoirs and better water management.) That meant less snowmelt for streams, and salmon died (he showed a White Salmon River photo from 2015).
“It also led to a harmful algal bloom” that lasted longer than usual, leading to the closure of razor clam fishing and more.
Yet another component – wildfires.
They’ve been trending upward too, and he had two charts for that. We’re not having more fires but they’re burning more acres, more intensely, and we’re getting more smoke.
He had a chart for “extremely bad air quality” in September 2020, and one showing increased areas across the West, and even the rest of the country, with increases in “projected wildfire emissions.”
That could mean thousands of extra deaths per year by mid-century. “The numbers that are coming out are really, I think, pretty alarming.”
Then he moved on to “projections of changes in July-September air temperatures.” But he noted that “what we do now mostly affects the distant future” – the end of this century.
In the shorter run, less cold weather and more hot weather means fewer cold-weather-related deaths but those are outstripped by the increased hot-weather-related deaths.
He also noted that food-borne pathogens rise with temperatures, too. And he spotlighted the fungus Valley Fever, which has largely been found in the Southwest but can “travel up to 75 miles in the air” and is likely to spread much further north by the end of the century.
Other potential threats that aren’t as well-studied yet include “degraded water quality in small water systems” and “mental-health-related morbidity” as things become.”
He summarized, “There’s always going to be some folks who reject the science that’s coming out now … but there are plenty of actions being taken on behalf of the environment,” like the state climate-resilience strategy, the Puget Sound Partnership, those fighting for environmental justice, and the Earth Ministry of many faith communities – like the ones who presented today’s event. “In both western and eastern religions, there’s a feeling that we should be good stewards for the environment. … This gives me hope that we can achieve some things we want to achieve. …. I think in Washington State we are prosperous enough to do something about this.”
Q&A ensued.
What about the current political climate and federal funding cuts? “That has had some real repercussions” – even the state has had to make some cuts. “It’s not like the work is ending but it’s had some real consequences for projects looking at the impacts – real things that are happening right now.” Bond was also asked about climate migration but said that’s not his area of expertise, “but there are folks working on that.”
One problem – in response to another water-related question – Bond said “it’s been noted we have 21st century problems with 20th century infrastructure and 19th century laws. … In some areas of the country we’re seeing groundwater withdrawal at unsustainable rates.”
One of the fair participants, from The Heron’s Nest, mentioned some resources, such as the Tree Equity Network – “really focused on the data for us (regarding) tree canopy loss” regarding development cutting trees – the trees with which they’re replaced “takes multiple generations.” They said The Heron’s Nest – which is in east West Seattle – has become a coalescing point.
Another person brought up the energy-gulping status of AI. But: “Does it present any hope or help for the environment?” Bond said it’s being used and “has had some benefits,” especially in forecasting.
OLG hosted the Ecology Fair as part of the Season of Creation observance, which runs through October 4.
(Photo courtesy Clay Eals)
Both on the Seattle Now & Then website and in tomorrow’s Seattle Times Pacific NW magazine, West Seattle journalist/historian Clay Eals tells a mystery story. What you see in the photo above is part of it – one of more than 30 metal art panels telling the story of “The Evolution of Lighting.” They were owned and displayed by Seattle City Light and were supposed to be brought along when SCL moved into a new headquarters in the Seattle Municipal Tower downtown in 1996. But – they weren’t. Most of them have been found, but the whereabouts of a few remain a mystery. There are multiple West Seattle angles here – metal artist John W. Elliott made most of the panels in 1935 and worked from a studio in his West Seattle home on Gatewood Hill; 90 years later, all but three of the panels were discovered and acquired earlier this year by West Seattle collector Mike Shaughnessy. You can see the missing panels in Clay’s story; perhaps someone who reads it will solve the mystery (not just of the missing panels’ whereabouts but why the metal art wasn’t brought along in SCL’s HQ move)!
At the Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex courts, the Westside Pickleball League is just wrapping up the tournament that kicks off their fourth season, Rally on the Rock. Co-founder Rosina Geary told us more than 130 players were registered to compete!
They spanned a variety of age groups:
Play began around 9 am and was still going strong when we dropped by at mid-afternoon:
As noted in our original 2023 report on the league, they partner with and support high-school athletics – not just pickleball! Proceeds from this tournament are benefiting the swim team at Chief Sealth International High School; Sealth athletes served as volunteers helping out today in various roles too.
Geary says Westside Pickleball League serves more than 300 players every week. You can find out more via their website.
More than 60 quilts (and other textile creations) are on display right now, through 4 pm, at the Center for Active Living, during West Seattle Quilters‘ annual showcase. Everything has a story – and you can read the stories while admiring the creations! This one, for example, is a “Quilt of Valor,” made by Malinda for her friend Bob, an 83-year-old Vietnam veteran:
This one was made by Jane, who wrote that she bought the pattern years ago knowing that one day she would make it for her son Nicholas:
These portraits are the creation quilters who “made a portrait in 11 sections, (then) mixed up face sections to create a new portrait”:
There’s an incredible variety of subjects – from mountains to sports teams to herb gardens and, of course, pets:
Here are just a few other things we saw:
You can wander (and touch IF you use the disposable gloves they’re offering at the door) until 4 pm, free admission, upstairs at 4217 SW Oregon. (And if you’re a quilter but not yet connected with this group, you can find out how to do that too!)
The West Seattle Ecology Fair, happening until 2 pm, is full of info you can learn of – maybe in surprising ways, like the Wolf Haven trio above, whose table includes models of skulls and scat from wildlife large and small, plus life-size wolf and coyote representations. You can learn about saving wild salmon, too:
LeeAnn is representing Save Our Wild Salmon, focused on the Columbia and Snake River salmon, but with suggested actions you can take to help. Lots of everyday-living info too – for example, if you want to figure out how to use less plastic, you’ll find a table where you can do just that:
Keeping polluted stormwater out of the sewer system and out of Puget Sound is the longtime mission of RainWise, represented here by Sarah and Hibo:
If you checked out RainWise years ago, you should know the project has evolved to be easier to connect with – and they have events coming up to which you can bring questions (or ask them here). Thinking about spending less time in your car? If you have questions about bicycling, Marlo‘s part of the team at the West Seattle Bike Connections table:
Those are just a few of the organizations here in the Walmesley Center gym at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle, northeast side of the intersection, main entrance off Myrtle). Among the others is prolific West Seattle cleanup squad A Cleaner Alki, whose founder Erik Bell is here. Coming up at noon is keynote speaker Nicholas Bond, Emeritus Washington State Climatologist. We’re staying for his presentation and will add toplines to the story later. (Update: We published that separately here.)
Sent by Bob:
My daughter found this outside our house this morning. I’m in Westwood. I gathered everything up. I will turn it into the police at the SW precinct today if no one claims it through WSB.
If you recognize any of those items, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
As noted in our Friday event list, both high-school varsity football teams played games at Northwest Athletic Complex this week. Here’s what happened, according to the Metro League scoreboard: On Thursday night, Chief Sealth IHS was edged by Ingraham, 18-17; on Friday night, West Seattle HS beat Lincoln, 44-7. Next week, the Seahawks (2-2) have another Thursday night away game, 7 pm vs. Lakeside at Northeast Athletic Complex; the Wildcats (3-0) play at home, 7 pm Friday vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
(Friday sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
Welcome to the first weekend of fall! Here’s our big West Seattle list for Saturday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Want to start your weekend with a run? West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) leads Saturday 8 am free group runs!
GARAGE/YARD SALES: Anyone having a yard/garage sale today? Check listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a login for that section, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
URBAN FARMING WORKSHOP: 9 am at Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon), the second workshop in a series that will teach you about growing food in an urban community garden, as previewed here. Today’s topic: “Fall gardening. Fall is the best time to start a garden. Find out why.”
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am community meditation at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska) – register here.
PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT: The big “Rally on the Rock” tournament with more than 100 players is today, 9 am-6 pm at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts. (2801 SW Thistle)
ADULTING WITH CONFIDENCE: New workshop series starts at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), 9 am-noon.
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed by this 10 am walk, which you can join even if you didn’t go on the introductory walk. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
WEST SEATTLE ECOLOGY FAIR: What can you do to help our ecologically challenged planet and the lives that depend on it? Find out 10 am-2 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center (northeast side of 35th/Myrtle), with keynote speech at noon. Here’s our preview.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: The Garden Center at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW, north end of campus), is open 10 am-3 pm.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: Just a few more weeks to shop at this weekly market! Open 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, in and around the courtyard at Hope Academy in South Delridge (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, sweet treats, body-care products, more!
VASHON ISLAND LOWLAND GAMES: Looking for something different to do? Our neighbors to the west are hosting their first Scottish Highland Games-style event all day. 10 am-9 pm, schedule and more in our calendar listing. (18876 Vashon Highway, Vashon Island)
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.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE WRITING GROUP: On hiatus; no gathering until mid-October
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
PET ADOPTION EVENT: Noon-2 pm at Mud Bay Admiral (2611 California SW), part of Neighborhood Pet Store Day event during which pet-food sales are matched with donations to pet organizations.
FRESH HOP WEEK AT OUNCES: Annual event at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), open noon-9 pm today.
OKTOBERFEST AT THE BEER JUNCTION: Second day of the fall celebration! Open noon-midnight. (4511 California SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open noon-4 pm on Saturdays. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
CHOOSING, PLANTING, CARING FOR TREES: 1 pm educational event at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW), free.
(Photo from past showcase)
WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS SHOWCASE: 1-4 pm, come see the work of dozens of local quilters! Free showcase at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open for you to enjoy 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: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar, and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area.
BEER JUNCTION BIKE CLUB: 2 pm, gather in back for the monthly ride around the neighborhood, all ages. (4511 California SW)
WHITE CENTER NIGHT MARKET: Second and biggest night of this event at 16th/98th, hosted by the Cambodian American Community Council of Washington, including a car show. Here’s our White Center Now report on night 1. 2-10 pm.
EVENING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: A cappella folk ensemble Gather Round at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm, no cover, all ages.
MORBIDLY CURIOUS BOOK CLUB: First anniversary! This month’s book, “In the Mouth of the Wolf.” 7 pm gathering at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).
LISTENING EVENT AT EASY STREET: Be one of the first to hear Neko Case‘s new album. 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), free, all ages.
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm curtain, first weekend for the new play at the Junction playhouuse; ticket link in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)
DRAG AT THE SKYLARK: 9 pm, tonight it’s Love Lounge, hosted by Fraya Love, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DJs Kingblind, Teenage Rampage, Smack at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
SATURDAY NIGHT SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight, with rotating DJ Josh and DJ NightMere, 21+, at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Our Saturday list concludes with 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:04 PM: Police are on their way to what’s reported as a flipped-car crash in the 2100 block of 46th SW. The vehicle is described as a Toyota RAV-4 and dispatchers say callers reported the driver got out safely and does not want medical attention, so SFD is not going. The driver may have hit parked cars. We’re en route to look.
9:13 PM: SPD has called for SFD, saying the crashed vehicle “is a hybrid and it’s still running.”
9:28 PM: Added our crew’s photo atop the story. They report a tow truck arriving. … And below, a texted photo (thanks!):
9:35 PM: Police tell our crew the driver was arrested. He’s under investigation for possible DUI.
9:54 PM: Here’s reader video of the flipped car being righted by a tow crew:
Next Tuesday (September 30), Seattle Public Schools has a special meeting in West Seattle regarding advanced learning, and parent Chi wants to be sure everyone interested has heard about it, so they asked us to share this:
If you have a designated Highly Capable (HC) or Advanced Learner (AL), or if your kiddo is simply bored at school because they’re not getting the accelerated education they need in West Seattle, please show up next Tuesday 9/30, 6:15 pm at Chief Sealth IHS to talk to the new director of the Highly Capable department at SPS, Dr. Paula Montgomery. She is collecting feedback to improve the program. The more WS families show up, the more likely HC/AL services will return to WS.
Chief Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle. This will be the second of seven meetings the district is hosting on this topic, including one online; locations, dates, and meeting format are here.
We don’t always cover South Park events, but this one brought in a couple reader questions: Last Tuesday night, 
the Guardian One helicopter circled an area of South Park for going on two hours, and King County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted an intensive search on the ground, including two K9 teams. There was no news coverage and no explanation to the community of what was happening, so the next day, we received a couple email questions asking if we knew. Since then, we’ve checked out the archived KCSO radio exchanges as well as asked KCSO what they could tell us. It took a few days but here’s what we were able to find out: According to KCSO, “Deputies and detectives were around the 10th Avenue S. and S. Donovan area working to arrest a suspect possibly stealing cars; Guardian 1 was up helping the search, as were the K9 units.” KCSO adds, “The car they were looking for was a silver Kia.” We don’t know if that’s the same car that crashed just before the search began, around 8:18 pm per the archived audio. There was mention of at least one person jumping fences of area homes after the crash. (One left behind a pair of shoes in one home’s yard.) Despite the extensive searching, KCSO says, “No arrests have been made at this point.” They add that if you have any information, tips are appreciated at MCUtips@kingcounty.gov.
SIDE NOTE: Though most of South Park is in the city and therefore part of the Seattle Police Southwest Precinct jurisdiction, there is a small part that is unincorporated King County. In addition, a law-enforcement agency may be working in an area outside its jurisdiction if the investigation involved something over which it did have jurisdiction.
One month after work resumed to fill the hole where contaminated dirt was removed at the future Morgan Junction Park expansion site, we have a progress report. The report and photo are from Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker, who’s been monitoring the project closely:
Earlier today, I talked to Holt Services backhoe operator Erik about the status of Phase I at Morgan Junction Park expansion site. While he was waiting for topsoil to arrive, he said that Holt was almost done with filing the pit, with just a few more topsoil loads to be added. Parks plans to hydroseed the site next week. Holt will install straw coil erosion control at the base of the southern and western slopes and will re-anchor the construction fencing for the long term. Erik mentioned that the 12 inches of added topsoil will settle after the rains come so that the eventual sod will be ‘even’ with the adjacent asphalt. The photo shows the southern 2 to 1 slope ending at the unimproved alley along with the topsoil layer.
Once the grass is established and the site is opened to the public – expected in “late fall,” the city says – the next phase is actual development of park features. What those features will be is not yet finalized – you’ll recall the question of what happened to funding that Parks once said would cover inclusion of an “all-wheels” feature at the park/expansion site and now says requires community fundraising. The all-wheels advocates of MJAWA, who already have rustled up a lot of volunteer time and grant money for the project, expect to talk again with the city in the week ahead. And you can count on an overall project update in some form at the next MoCA meeting October 15.
Again this year, West Seattleites who can’t or don’t want to go downtown for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s are invited to join an unofficial local mini-version the same day. It’s still in Gatewood, but with a different starting point this year. Here’s the announcement from organizer Pat:
Our local Walk To End Alzheimer’s is on October 4 (Saturday) – 9:30 am
Meeting at the water tower (35th and Myrtle) on Myrtle (different meeting spot than in past years)
We’ll do a mainly level walk along 35th, length negotiable!
It’s a great chance to connect with others and show support for this disease. (It’s the same day as the Seattle walk at Seattle Center. The West Seattle Alzheimer’s Caregivers support group welcomes all who want to stay in the West Seattle neighborhood and still show support. (You don’t need to sign up, but if you want to, go to the ALZ website and find your way to the West Seattle group.)
Free event. WEAR Purple if you have it!
=Here’s a map to 35th/Myrtle.
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo! We saw the sign for Café Verde (7354 35th SW) too, while passing by on our way home from a nighttime meeting, and already had an inquiry out to the proprietors by the time we started getting tips. We first reported on Café Verde’s West Seattle plan a year and a half ago; co-proprietor K.C. explained then that he and spouse Tatiana, West Seattle residents, have been roasting coffee in Auburn but planned to move that operation to the Sunrise Heights space and serve up drinks too. Asked for an update via email, K.C. told WSB last night:
We hope to open the coffee shop by November. We are in the final stages of installing the roasting equipment, inspections and calibrations. Our goal remains the same, to serve delicious fresh-roasted coffee by the bag and by the cup. This space will allow us to do both.
In our April 2024 story, we quoted K.C. as elaborating, “You wouldn’t buy specialty bread baked a month ago … we don’t think you should have to drink coffee roasted a month ago.” They have history at this – they once operated a combination roastery/coffee shop in Peru.
(WSB photo from South Delridge walking tour last April)
SDOT‘s been doing a series of walking tours in areas that might get a few new stretches of sidewalks/walkways because of the Seattle Transportation Levy (we’ve covered Highland Park and South Delridge tours). Now they’ve just announced a tour in one of West Seattle’s most sidewalk-less neighborhoods, Arbor Heights. Here’s the announcement:
Want to see new safe places to walk in the Arbor Heights neighborhood? Thanks to the Seattle Transportation Levy we can build at least 10 blocks of new sidewalk or walkway in Arbor Heights. Please join us for a neighborhood walk and share with us where you would like to see new walkways and/or sidewalks.
Date: Wednesday October 8, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Meet in covered area in front of Arbor Heights Elementary School at 3701 SW 104th St and then walk the neighborhood with us!
Kids are welcome! Rain or Shine!
Here’s the official notice.
(Fall shadow study, sent by Al)
Here are Friday options, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY COUNCIL’S MONEY MEETING: Two sessions, at 9:30 pm and 2 pm, for individual departments’ budget presentations – here’s the agenda, which includes slide-deck links you might find informative even if you can’t watch the meeting. (If you can – see it here.
STAY ‘N’ PLAY: Free drop-in indoor playtime for little ones is back, 10 am-11:30 am Fridays at Arbor Heights Community Church. (4113 SW 102nd)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER The center is open for plant-shopping Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
KNIFE SHARPENING: Kneighborhood Knives is back for another pop-up at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW), 10 am-5 pm.
BEER JUNCTION OKTOBERFEST: The Beer Junction celebrates Oktoberfest all day today and tomorrow! Open noon-midnight today. (4511 California SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) to learn about local history – open noon-4 pm today.
QI-GONG: 12:30-1 pm at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW).
SIGNING AND MEET-GREET AT EASY STREET: Amanda Shires will be at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) for her album-release signing/meet-and-greet at 2 pm.
FRESH HOP WEEK: Continuing 3-9 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
POSTCARD-WRITING: High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) is the location for long-distance advocacy with West Seattle Indivisible, 3-5:30 pm.
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, or buy a bottle: “We have wines for picnics, cookouts, hikes, camping, boating, and even just hanging out on the deck.”
(added) NIGHT MARKET IN WHITE CENTER: 5-10 pm, first of two nights, with live and DJ music – see the schedule here. (16th SW/SW 98th)
FREE TEEN SWIM: 6-7 pm at Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle), free swim session for ages 13=18.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-9 pm, singer-songwriter John Quinn performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: This week both teams are on the road with games at Northwest Athletic Complex, where Chief Sealth IHS lost 18-17 to Ingraham last night and West Seattle HS plays Lincoln at 7 tonight.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Live music with TV Sundaze, Plash, The Heart Smashers, “nerd-core pop punk,” doors 7, show 8, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: Night 2 of the new production, 7:30 pm. See our calendar listing for the ticket link and synopsis. (4711 California SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Mike. Illvester tonight! (4547 California SW)
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING: Skating with live bands – tonight, Reverse Death (Record Release), Serafima & the Shakedowns – 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $18 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Wall-to-wall treats Thursday night in both major rooms at The Hall at Fauntleroy, for the sold-out Taste of West Seattle, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank.
More than two dozen local restaurants, cafés, caterers, wineries, breweries, and specialty food vendors were there to dish up and pour out some of what sets them apart from the rest. The desserts looked especially delectable. A team from Margie’s from the Center for Active Living wanted to add extra whip to this berry cobbler before its photo op:
Nearby, Dolcetta’s Artisan Sweets offered beautiful candy – and won the attendees’ vote for “Best Sweet”:
Beautious Bakin’ and Kakin‘ had a table stacked with mini-cakes:
At least one venue brought sweet and savory options – The Neighborhood, Morgan Junction’s new restaurant, offered hummus and chocolate mousse:
From further south, White Center’s The Roll Pod served achaari aloo rolls and won “Best Veggie” taste:
We also found a pocket of Admiral participants – Joanie Jacobs and husband Dan Jacobs on behalf of the shop she runs, West Seattle Grounds, with – what else – brewed coffee, roasted by Caffe Vita:
The Jacobs are also on the leadership team of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, whose meeting guests two nights ago included Seattle School Board president Gina Topp, who tonight was steps away from them on behalf of her restaurant Mission Cantina, serving shrimp ceviche:
From The Junction (and beyond) Molly Moon’s Ice Cream brought mini-sundaes:
Also in the dairy division, A Butter Place offered tastings of their title specialty:
Want to wash that down with wine? Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) was there – no surprise as winemaker Ben Viscon is a longtime bigtime Food Bank supporter; Viscon was the winner for the night’s “Best Pour”:
The parade of main dishes continued – beef stew and rice from Ku Mana‘s (Burundian cuisine):
Red beans and rice, mac and cheese, and cornbread from Peninsula Soul Food, the winner for “Best Savory” taste:
Nola’s Catering had meatballs and “meatless balls”:
And that’s just, well, a taste of what was offered. (The winners’ list included one we hadn’t photographed, La La’s Lemonade, “Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage.”) Taste’rs were also serenaded by music man Jim Page, who we recorded at the start of his story-song about bus drivers:
Guests also could play Plinko and/or enter gift-basket raffles. Before the event, WSFB’s Robbin Peterson said this Taste had the biggest advance ticket sales yet; we’re expecting the fundraising tally later today and will add it here!
3:11 PM: And here’s the WSFB report:
We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support the Taste of West Seattle! Together, our community raised an incredible $40,120 for the West Seattle Food Bank. While we fell short of our $60,000 goal, every dollar makes a real difference in helping neighbors access food, rent and utility assistance, clothing, and other vital resources. If you weren’t able to attend—or if you’d like to help us close the gap — contributions can still be made online. Thank you for showing up with such generosity; with your continued support, we can make sure every neighbor feels the strength of this community.
Special thanks to:
All the vendors who participated and brought their best food and drink, and to our sponsors and supporters: Hunt Jackson CPA, Pet Supplies Plus, Electric Butter Marketing, West Seattle Blog, eDesign Creative, MVP Photo Booth, Dsquared Hospitality/Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes, LD Techniques, Jamison Johnson Photography, and Jim Page.We are deeply grateful not only to our attendees but also to the many small businesses who couldn’t join us in person yet still gave generously to our raffle. In the end, Taste of West Seattle 2025 was as much a celebration of small, local businesses as it was of community—and we’re honored to be part of such a caring, connected neighborhood.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, September 26, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny and upper 60s today. Sunrise will be at 7:02 am; sunset, at 6:58 pm.
ROAD WORK & NEW ALL-WAY STOP
-Another reminder that Oregon/44th is now an all-way stop (we’re waiting for info from SDOT on why; a comment discussion revealed a community petition drive).
–59th SW in Alki is closed for at least two more weeks by the school-construction zone.
-“Natural drainage” construction closing the east end of Sylvan Way is under way.
-Regionally, WSDOT is warning about four big projects this weekend.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights through October 10.
STADIUM ZONE
The division-champion Mariners‘ final regular-season homestand continues, with an 6:40 pm game vs. the Dodgers.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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