West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
(Added: Reader photo by Trevor)
8:06 PM: Seattle Fire has dispatched a “full response” to 5200 35th SW, which is the address for Camp Long. “Multiple calls on a structure on fire” at the park, per the dispatch.
8:08 PM: First units on scene report this is a “working fire.” They’re calling for more engines. They’re describing the burning building as a “single-family residence with basement.”
8:16 PM: They report the fire is “partly knocked down.” They’re also reporting broken windows on at least one level. We don’t yet know if this is the park’s historic lodge. We have WSB team members on the way. Note police are blocking 35th in the area.
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
8:22 PM: The building is too dangerous for firefighters to be in, so they’re getting out. A nearby neighbor confirms the lodge is what’s on fire.
(Added: Photo by Sharonn Meeks)
8:33 PM: The lodge is more than 80 years old, constructed from wood and stone, rented out for events as well as used for park programs. Fire’s not out yet.
8:48 PM: Those in the area say even in the rain, you can smell smoke for blocks around. Firefighters have been on scene battling the fire for 40 minutes now.
(Reader photo sent by Kacie)
9:05 PM: Southbound 35th is reopening. Some of the units on scene are being dismissed.
9:16 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and under investigation. No injuries reported. The lodge was renovated in 2010. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow, and go to the scene, to find out about the extent of the damage.
9:40 PM: More reader views of what happened during the peak of the firefight – the first video was linked in a comment by Tony:
Kerry Antezana shows us the role one firefighter played:
Kerry also sent this view:
10:25 PM: A few firefighters remain at the scene on “fire watch”:
(Photo by Cindi Barker)
8:20 AM: Here’s our first look at the lodge in daylight:
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
Time to charge everything – the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” alert in effect for our area from 4 pm Tuesday to 4 am Wednesday. Right now, the alert says “south winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph expected.” According to our archives, this is the first alert of this kind since early June.
November’s second Thursday is just three nights out – and it’ll bring you the West Seattle Art Walk featuring The Art of Music. Here’s the list of who’s featuring art and/or food-and-drink specials for Art Walk’ers on Thursday night (November 14):
Individual artists and venues are spotlighted in this preview on the Art Walk website. Highlights this month include Afro SPK‘s reception, 4-8 pm at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor). You’ll also want to roam between the three Junctions to catch this month’s Art of Music performances:
North to south, the Nathan Roz Duo is performing at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Jean Mann is at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), and Cyd Smith is at Whisky West (6451 California SW). All performances are 6-7:45 pm with a 15-minute midpoint break, no cover. Learn more about the musicians here!
Two-plus weeks ago, we published a request from researchers studying how people might get around in case of catastrophe and inviting participation in a discussion. Today, they wanted to say thanks, and asked us to share this open note to the community:
From researchers Katherine Idziorek (University of North Carolina at Charlotte; formerly UW) and Chen Chen (Oklahoma State University): We wish to extend a sincere thank you to the greater West Seattle community for your interest in our ongoing study of micromobility and disasters. Thanks to the West Seattle Blog, we were able to find more participants for our focus groups than we could accommodate! We learned so much working with folks in the community and look forward to sharing our findings when this phase of our research is complete. We sincerely appreciate your interest and participation!
“Micromobility” is a reference to means of transportation such as bicycles and scooters.
Close call this morning near 11th and Elmgrove [vicinity map]. According to the SPD summary, they were called to the area just before 6 am, after reports that people heard possible gunfire. First they found a 9mm casing, Then they found two bullet holes in the front window of an occupied home, and subsequently found the bullets that had come through the window. No injuries reported. Some 911 callers thought they had heard a vehicle speeding away after the shots, but nobody had a description, and police couldn’t find relevant video in the area. If you have any information, the incident # is 24-319426. This is two blocks from the early-morning gunfire reported three days ago.
Government offices are closed today – but tomorrow (Tuesday, November 12) brings a big event to City Hall. It’s the City Council’s final major public hearing on the budget that they’ll finalize before Thanksgiving. The 5 pm hearing is entirely devoted to public comment, both in person and remote, so if there’s something you want to speak either for or against, this is your big chance. Councilmembers already have proposed changes to the 2025-2026 budget plan that Mayor Bruce Harrell put on the table earlier this fall; budget chair Councilmember Dan Strauss unveiled his “balancing package” almost two weeks ago. We noted here at the time that it featured amendments from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, One would remove parallel parking at Duwamish Head, something nearby residents say would cut down on street disorder in the area, where traffic calming such as dividers and speed cushions already have been installed.
Speaking of dividers, another of Saka’s proposals is for “safety improvements” on a stretch of Delridge Way where he has campaigned to get rid of a divider keeping drivers from making left turns across a bike lane near a RapidRide stop. (This budget item is listed as $2 million but Saka’s chief of staff Elaine Ko tells us they’re not sure of the actual cost or the precise project details yet.)
Also on the list of Saka’s amendments: Turf for the Fairmount Playfield baseball infield; local youth-baseball supporters are mobilizing to back that. The agenda document for tomorrow’s hearing includes instructions on signing up to speak; if you just want to watch the hearing, you’ll be able to do that via Seattle Channel. Email the council any time at council@seattle.gov.
P.S. You can review details of the original budget proposal here.
Two corners of Admiral/California have vacancies – and now we’ve learned that change is on the way for a third. After reader tips, we’ve confirmed with Cori Luckenbach that she’s planning to close Bebop Waffle Shop at year’s end, after a decade. But the intersection’s southeast corner is not going dark – she plans a reinvention:
There IS a silver lining. The flower shop is moving to all-online ordering and they will be moving out of the space (sometime next year). I plan on taking over the entire space and converting it into an event space. Which I have experience with from running South Park Hall. In January I’ll be selling a bunch of our furniture and equipment then beginning the remodel. For me pivoting to an event space will support the local restaurants that want to offer catering and also have space for people to come together with events that I’ll curate and a space for people to rent.
Since our email exchange, Cori has published this official announcement, including:
MANY people are asking how to support me during this transition and all I ask is come TIP my staff, pay in CASH, tip in CASH, buy all our merch, lobby for tax breaks for small businesses, AND BOOK the space when we open.
Before rebranding as Bebop, Cori’s shop in the front of the corner space shared with Flower Lab was the Admiral Bird coffee shop.
(Bald Eagle at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
Today’s list of what’s happening also includes what’s not happening because of the Veterans Day holiday.
PARKS CLOSURES: Here’s the Seattle Parks list.
LIBRARIES: City and county, closed.
USPS: It’s a postal holiday.
BANKS: Most if not all closed.
One Veterans Day discount we’ve heard about (thanks to Al for the tip – any others? comment or email us, westseattleblog@gmail.com):
SPUD ON ALKI: Veterans and active military personnel can get a free 2-piece fish and fries, with regular beverage, with proof of service. Open 11 am-9 pm. (2666 Alki SW)
Regular Monday events from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm evening group with Listening to Grief, preregistration required. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – Monday nights, live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
SING! 9 pm is the start time for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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.
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