ELECTION DAY SCENE: Ballot-drop photo op

Thanks to Cindi Barker for the photo. She shares a vignette from the ballot dropbox at High Point Library:

I stopped by the High Point box to see if there was any action. Here’s a picture of Jenny Hammer and her dog Kiba. She asked the voter attendant to take a picture of her as she cast her ballot, to get a selfie of the moment, as she put it. Taken about 12:15 today.

Voter attendant said that it was starting to pick up and wanted to make sure people knew to get to the box early. If someone arrives and gets in the car line, they have to be in line at 8:00 sharp, as they will have attendants with flashlights closing off the line at that point.

A lot of people, of course, have already voted – as of a short time ago, 65 percent of Seattle voters’ ballots are in.

P.S. We welcome other Election Day/Night photos – what are YOU seeing? westseattleblog@gmail.com

READER REPORT: Utility-pole vandalism

Thanks to Saben for the photo and report:

Someone has cut the grounding wires to some power poles in Alki along 60th Ave SW. Not sure of how widespread the problem may or may not be, but the three closest to my house were all cut. You can see by the pic that they also bent/cut the metal guard protecting the wire so this was intentional and thought the community should be aware.

You can report vandalism to Seattle City Light at 206-684-3000.

Voting, and what else is happening on your West Seattle Tuesday

(The Olympics just after sunrise, photographed by James Bratsanos)

Whether you’ve been looking forward to it or dreading it, Election Day is finally here. We start the Tuesday lineup with a voting reminder plus the half-dozen West Seattle election-night parties on our list:

VOTING: We can’t say this often enough – King County Elections dropboxes close at 8 pm. They’re all mapped here, including the four in West Seattle. Don’t wait till the last minute – there’s no grace period. If you would rather use USPS mail, consider the advice shared last night by a local letter carrier.

LAST-MINUTE REGISTRATION + VOTER ASSISTANCE: Seven “vote centers” are open around King County – the nearest one is at Lumen Field:

Vote centers are available to register new voters, update current voter records, obtain a voter registration card and to provide assistance to voters who need help completing their ballot. Trained staff and specialized equipment are available to help voters with disabilities cast a private, independent ballot.

All vote centers are open now through 8 pm.

RESULTS: Here’s where you’ll find King County’s first results, around 8:15 pm … Statewide results will be updated here after 8 pm.

WEST SEATTLE ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTIES

OUNCES (3809 Delridge Way SW) is hosting a Collective Cringing/Cheering party:

Collective Cringing Election Night Watch Party at Ounces
Tues, Nov 5th | Coverage Starts at 7 pm (Pre-Coverage 4-7 pm)

Ring in Election Night with beer at Ounces! Election Night Coverage will be on should you want to collectively cringe or cheer with others as the results come in. Drink some beer, eat some burgers and watch (or shield your eyes) as it all unfolds. Official Coverage with sound starts at 7 pm. Pre-Coverage with subtitles on from 4-7 pm.

ADMIRAL PUB (2306 California SW)

Starting at 7 pm, sound up on the big screen, themed drinks and treats

THE SKYLARK (3803 Delridge Way SW)

The Skylark will be hosting an election night viewing (hopefully!) party. We open at 4:00 with Happy Hour till 6:00.

CIRCA (2605 California SW)

Every single person running for office throws a party on their election night. Why can’t we?! It’s better than sitting home wringing hands and pacing the halls. Free American flag cake from @bakedseattle all night long! Decorations that’ll make your eyes swirl red, white & blue! And a special menu filled with Bill-level humor and a touch of sarcasm aimed at all parties involved.

BROCKEY CENTER (SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE) (6000 16th SW):

2024 Election Watch Party, hosted by the Seattle graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ®️, in partnership with Dynamic Urban Opportunities Foundation and South Seattle College. … All proceeds will support our annual high school senior scholarship fund. This year, we awarded two $3,000 scholarships to young Black women from King and Snohomish counties who enrolled in four-year universities. Each ticket sold will help fund our 2025 scholarships. Doors open 5:30 pm.

YOUNGSTOWN FLATS (4040 26th SW)

From Pacific NW Black Pride: “Welcome to our Election Night Watch Party! Join us on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 5 pm-10 pm for a night of excitement and anticipation as we watch the election results roll in together. Bring your friends and family to enjoy food, drinks, and community as we follow along with the latest updates. Let’s come together to celebrate democracy in action and cheer on our favorite candidates! This is a historic and pivotal moment in this Country’s history.”

Any place else? Add a comment below and/or email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com.

(Monday night’s sliver moon, photographed by Chris Frankovich)

Here’s what else is happening for today/tonight (subject to change because of Election Night, so check before you go) – mostly from our Event Calendar, where you can preview events days, weeks, even months ahead:

FOOD/CLOTHING DRIVE: Second week of the dropoff drive at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) to benefit students and families served by the Care Center, until 4 pm.

QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Weekly 10 am Tuesday sessions: “Arrive 15 minutes early for an introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and stay afterward for a brief meditation.” RSVP here. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)

POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Instead of the usual long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards sent to voters in other states, the group is having an election-day party 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.

ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Lunch meeting at noon at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), Program: Charles Torres from Washington State Ferries will talk about the Fauntleroy project.

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40; sign up in advance to work on your project(s).

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Not this week – election-night party instead, as mentioned above.

TRIVIA X 1: Only one trivia options for Tuesday that isn’t pre-empted by Election Night, so far as we’ve heard – 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink.

Planning an event? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Remembering Richard ‘Rick’ Cook, 1956-2024

Last month, we reported on the death of Rick Cook, known as the “Psychic Barber” because of the sign at his shop (explained here). Today we have his official obituary:

Richard Cook
Born July 1956. Passed away suddenly September 25, 2024.

Rick was a well-known West Seattle resident who owned the barber shop on California Avenue SW, and he was a beloved fixture who touched almost everyone’s life. For 46 years generations of family and friends enjoyed stopping in his barber shop to swap stories and/or get a hair cut. Rick was in his element serving his customers, and he was always willing to lend a hand, going the extra mile to help someone out or find a bargain for them.

Rick’s family moved to West Seattle in 1972, and he graduated from Chief Sealth High School in ’74, after which he served in the Air Force. Upon completion of his service, Rick returned to West Seattle to establish his barber shops, necessitating several moves along California Avenue over the years as development took over the village.

His passion was riding motorcycles, and driving different cars, often trading every couple of years.

Rick is survived by his wife, Lisa Cook; also his sisters Maria and Paula, and brother Ron Cook.

Rest in Peace, Psychic Barber.

We welcome you to share your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall, at emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Richard-Cook – Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(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)

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, ELECTION: Tuesday notes

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, November 5.

ELECTION DAY

Ballot-dropbox traffic jams are likely, especially in the hours before the dropboxes close at 8 pm. Traffic directing, no-parking signs, and security guards are expected at the boxes – SW Alaska between California and 44th, South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), High Point Library (SW Raymond between 34th and 35th SW), Morgan Junction Park (California SW about a block north of Fauntleroy).

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Calmer today, partly sunny, showers possible, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7 am, while sunset will be at 4:44 pm.

ROAD WORK

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is now closed after the Friday switchover, 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.

TRANSIT

Washington State Ferries today – Regular 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth back as the unscheduled third boat; check here for last-minute changes.

Metro buses todayRegular schedule.

Water Taxi todayRegular schedule.

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!

SPORTS: Post-season soccer shutout victory for Chief Sealth IHS girls

(#23 Olivia LaForest boots a shot on goal)

Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Special to West Seattle Blog

Tonight, the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ soccer team took on the Sultan Turks in Division 2A postseason play.

It was a cold, crisp night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. For the first half,
the Sealth girls dominated the time of possession and fired off several promising shots on goal. The Sultan goalie stood strong until, with under 5 minutes to play in the half, freshman Olivia LaForest rocketed a shot off the goalie and then punched in the rebound. The Sealth Seahawks led 1-0 at half-time. The home team pulled away in the second half as Sultan could not keep pace with the athleticism and superior footwork of the Seahawks.

(Head coach Mike Rillo with three-goal Riley Yip)

Senior Riley Yip repeatedly broke through the Sultan defense on the way to scoring 3 unanswered goals. Final score: Sealth 4-0 over Sultan. Sealth’s next game is at (updated) 5 pm on Wednesday night at NCSWAC against Lindbergh. The winner of Wednesday night’s game is guaranteed a slot in the State tournament.

ELECTION 2024: Planning to use USPS mail for your ballot? A letter carrier’s advice

Haven’t voted yet? Planning to use a USPS box instead of a King County Elections dropbox? A longtime reader who is also a letter carrier based out of a West Seattle post office has advice for you – anonymously since they’re not authorized to officially speak for USPS. Here’s the note they sent us:

checkbox.jpgI would like you to remind the people on the West Seattle Blog that they can drop their ballots off in any USPS collection box tomorrow. Remember that these boxes have specific pickup times located on the box by the mail slot, letting the consumers know the earliest that the designated carrier can pick up the mail in that collection box.

We are advised at the 98116 station that we will be doing multiple pickups on our collection box with most carriers picking up right before their 8-hour shift (~3:15 pm). I would highly advise people to not use the collection boxes after 3:00 pm as we cannot guarantee any ballots deposited at the time to be postmarked Nov 5 as they may not be serviced again at this time. (I cannot count how times many ballots I have collected the next day that will not be counted because of not being postmarked on the correct day.) After 3:00 pm I would recommend voters to drop off at any ballot dropbox locations or any mail carrier they see on the streets after 3:00 pm. Routinely the last truck leaving for the plant is ~5:30 pm but I assure you there will most likely be a late one running because of the Nov 5 elections.

We at the USPS in Washington State take great pride in being part of one of the fairest ways of holding an election. We have made great effort and work long hours to deliver ballots and information to the general registered voters and it would be a shame if we did not pass on this information in regards to our collection boxes. Thank you for your time and consideration on this sensitive but important matter.

P.S. County stats show 62 percent of ballots so far have come in via drop box, 37 percent via USPS.

PHOTOS: Waves and whitecaps off West Seattle

That’s the scene Jeff Helman caught at Constellation Park as gusty winds blew from the southwest for a while today. Not too much trouble this time around – here’s a different view on the water, from James Bratsanos:

Tomorrow’s weather, much calmer – chance of showers, partly sunny, single-digit windspeed.

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Latest coyote sightings

From north to south, coyotes’ resurgence continues in West Seattle. Here are the most-recent reports we’ve received:

HIGHLAND PARK COYOTE: Just received via text this morning, Jessica spotted a coyote on their camera about 10 pm Sunday near 20th/Holden.

“I do see a lot of cats roaming around ,, might be good to share (another) announcement,” Jessica suggested.

JUNCTION-AREA COYOTE: From Micah:

Early (Thursday) morning, caught a coyote next to my house in the Junction. First time I’ve seen one in the Junction. I was in my car, 39th between Genesee and Dakota 3 am Thursday morning, Halloween. It was dark and of course they’re pretty elusive.

GATEWOOD COYOTES: Last Sunday via text: “Just saw two coyotes cross 35th Ave SW at Myrtle heading west.”

NORTH ADMIRAL COYOTE: From Greg, a recent North Admiral sighting:

We share coyote videos and photos (scroll through our archive here) for awareness and education, not alarm; here’s one of many info-sheets with advice on co-existence.

ELECTION 2024: Ballot-dropbox security, monitoring plans for Tuesday night

Less than 28 hours remain to vote! Above is the ballot dropbox at Morgan Junction Park (6400 block of California SW), where portable lighting and no-parking signage are in place, looking ahead to tomorrow. Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker has talked with King County Elections about requesting traffic control for election night, particularly out of concern for pedestrian safety. She’s been told they expect plain-clothes security at the box as well as a nonprofit organization to mediate any confrontations or disputes. At least one local political group is expected to have monitors there too. Another reminder – you need to get your ballot to a dropbox by 8 pm sharp tomorrow. West Seattle has four, all mapped here along with the others around the county. We don’t have full election-night details for the others but we know traffic control is expected near The Junction’s box starting around 12:30 pm and that the High Point Library box also has portable lighting and no-parking signage in the vicinity.

P.S. As of about 4 pm, 59 percent of Seattle voters’ ballots had been received by KC Elections. The first and only KCE count on Election Night usually happens around 8:15 pm.

BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: JaK’s Grill reveals moving timeline

Thanks for the tips on an update from the parent company of JaK’s Grill about their impending move:

We first wrote almost two months ago about a new tenant for the ex-Lodge space at 4209 SW Alaska; commenters said JaK’s Grill planned to move there from its original nearby location, and we soon discovered a permit filing confirming that. Now the parent company 509 Hospitality has revealed more in a newsletter update:

After nearly 25 years, JaK’s Grill West Seattle is moving across Alaska Street to the former Lodge space! This new location gives us the chance to bring you an even better dining experience in a bright, modern setting—while still staying in the neighborhood we love. Although we initially planned to renovate our current space, this opportunity felt like the perfect fit.

We’ll keep things running through the transition, with a short closure in late March 2025 before reopening in early April. Come by our original spot before the move, and join us in April for the same great food and drinks in a refreshing environment.

The Lodge closed at the end of last year.

FOLLOWUP: Why the West Seattle low bridge broke down again for hours

(Saturday image from SDOT camera looking west across low bridge)

On Saturday, we reported on the West Seattle low bridge going out of service for hours. Following up today with SDOT, we learned from spokesperson Mariam Ali that this all traces back to the September crash that closed it for six days:

We’re still uncovering small electrical issues that have arisen since the crash into the barrier. It seems the impact has caused an intermittent electrical short, which is tripping the fuse. The sporadic nature of this problem has made it tough to diagnose.

Additionally, there’s another intermittent issue that led to longer closures, like the one we saw on Saturday. This problem involves the controller mistakenly registering that the barrier is fully closed when it isn’t. The root of the issue lies in a mechanical gear that triggers a limit switch as the barrier opens and closes. Sometimes, this gear can slip or skip a tooth, throwing it out of sync with the gate’s movement. We’re continually making adjustments to minimize this movement and keep the gear aligned, but the problem persists.

We are working with the barrier manufacturer to find a more permanent fix.

Brown water in southwest West Seattle

Texter reports brown water in the Arroyos/Arbor Heights area. Nothing on the Seattle Public Utilities water-outage map. Any time this happens, be sure to report it to SPU at 206-386-1800 (and let us know too).

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: First area power outage of note


10:51 AM: Thanks to KT for the tip. 223 :customers are out on the south side of Roxbury from roughly 20th to 27th; KT reports the 26th/Roxbury light is out. According to the City Light power-outage map, this started about half an hour ago; no listed cause yet, but that coincided with a burst of strong wind. It’s the only sizable outage so far in the city.

12:53 PM: Restored.

14 options for your soggy West Seattle Monday

(SDOT camera image, California/Alaska)

Here’s our highlight list – mostly indoors! – for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FOOD/CLOTHING DRIVE CONTINUES: Second week of the dropoff drive at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) to benefit students and families served by the Care Center, until 4 pm.

BABY STORY TIME: Noon-12:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

NATURALIZATION INFORMATION: Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) hosts an info session with city, federal, and nonprofit organizations’ representatives to provide information and answer questions, 4 pm.

SPORTS: One girls-soccer postseason home match today (if there’s no rainout) – Chief Sealth IHS hosts Sultan, 5 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 5:30 to 7 pm, prospective families are welcome to visit the school at 20th/Roxbury.

GREATER WEST SEATTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL INFO NIGHT: As previewed here last night, more than 10 middle schools – not just from West Seattle, but also from Burien and Vashon among other places – will have reps in one place to answer your questions, 6-7:15 pm at the Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle) gym.

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! Four places to play tonight – Music Quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm sessions … 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!

SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Paddleboard, minus paddler

With steady rain, you never know what’s going to float past on Puget Sound. RJB emailed from Beach Drive to report, Nice paddle board with attached paddle just swept by heading toward Emma Schmitz Overlook. Northbound.” No pic, but if you’re missing one, there’s where to start your search

YOU CAN HELP: Four ways to help West Seattle HS PTSA’s fall fundraiser

The West Seattle High School PTSA invites you to a showcase of student talent at its fall fundraiser in a week and a half, launching this year’s “direct give” drive. Along with buying tickets, there are three other ways to help, per the PTSA’s announcement:

Celebrate WSHS at the PTSA Fall Fundraiser
Join Us for a Showcase of Student Talent
Friday, November 15, WSHS Commons, 5–7 pm, $20 Tickets

We’re kicking off our Direct Give donation drive with a “happy hour” celebration of West Seattle High! Explore student art, music, and drama. Your ticket includes appetizers prepared by our culinary arts students and one mocktail. Come celebrate, while raising money to fund grant requests from staff and students. Bid on generously donated auction items and raise your paddle for our school!

Donations Needed: Please consider a donation for our auction.

Sponsor This Event: Check out our sponsorship packages.

Volunteers Needed: Sign up here for set-up, clean-up, and everything in between.

Can’t Make the Party? Make a gift directly on the PTSA website.

The PTSA’s other fundraising events include the West Seattle 5K – save the date for that, May 18, 2025!

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: First post-time-change Monday

6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, November 4, the first weekday since the fall time change, last day before Election Day..

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Rainy and windy, southwest gusts up to 33 mph, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:59 am, while sunset will be at 4:46 pm.

ROAD WORK

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is now closed after the Friday switchover, 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.

*The East Marginal striping closure planned for today has been canceled because of the weather.

TRANSIT

Washington State Ferries today – Regular 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth back as the unscheduled third boat; check here for last-minute changes.

Metro buses todayRegular schedule.

Water Taxi todayRegular schedule.

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!

MONDAY: Middle-school shopping? Talk with 10+ schools in 1 place

If you’re shopping for a middle school for next year, you’ll want to go to Greater West Seattle Middle School information Night tomorrow (Monday, November 4). 6 pm to 7:15 pm in the Our Lady of Guadalupe gym (35th/Myrtle), you’ll find reps from schools including Explorer West MS (WSB sponsor), Harbor School (Vashon Island), Holy Family Bilingual, Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran (WSB sponsor), Lake Washington Girls, McMurray MS (Vashon Island), Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Bernadette, Summit Atlas, and Westside School (WSB sponsor). You can RSVP by going here.

LAST CALL: One more week to enter West Seattle Garden Tour art competition for 2025

(Pam Lustig’s ‘Garden Pose,’ winner of 2024 WSGT competition)

Here on the first day of Pacific Standard Time, summer feels like a long way away. But local artists are invited to have summer in their hearts and come up with creations to submit for the West Seattle Garden Tour‘s annual art competition – one week until the deadline, Sunday, November 10:

We welcome your submissions for our 2025 event and look forward to seeing your art!

Each year West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other nonprofits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticulture, education, and artistic endeavors within West Seattle and neighboring communities. Your submissions and the winning art, along with the generous support of our sponsors, allow the West Seattle Garden Tour to fund projects in our community that align with our mission. Our 2024 tour raised and distributed $57,700 for 11 local nonprofits.

Submissions should be reflective of the following narrative with a focus on use of color, composition, texture and contrast to excite interest in the tour.

Gardens are personal statements that reflect the passions and creativity of their gardeners. They may be places of refuge and retreat or active environments that invite engagement. The gardens featured in our tour exhibit those qualities as well as an artful mix of design, rich color palettes, texture, contrast, creative and inspiring use of plants, art, and hardscaping.

You can find the rules/guidelines here, and send in your entry here. Think bright and beautiful during these long dark nightd, looking ahead to next year’s Garden Tour, set for June 22nd.

WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Pre-election vigil at Peace Lutheran Church

(Photos courtesy Deb Barker)

As previewed here, tonight’s the night that Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (39th/Thistle) has thrown open its doors to welcome anyone interested in gathering to contemplate the upcoming election, wherever you stand on the candidates and issues. Pastor Erik Kindem explains that the community prayer vigil is happening in the main sanctuary.

Follow the lanterns up the stairs to the doorway. This is an open-house format where people can stay as long as they want to. Instrumental music will alternate with periods of silence. There will be spoken or sung prayers too. This is scheduled to continue until 7 pm.

P.S. Remember to get your ballot in by 8 pm Tuesday via dropbox, earlier if via USPS mail so it’ll be postmarked in time.

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Snow-coated Olympics appear; blustery Monday ahead

Two weather notes today:

SNOW-COATED OLYMPICS: The mountains across Puget Sound to our west put on a show today, as notable mountain snow arrived in The Olympics, after a longer-than-usual wait. The photo above is from Chris Frankovich; the photo below is from Brooke Gosztola:

The snow level in The Olympics is down to about 4,000 feet today, possibly falling to 3,000 feet tomorrow.

BLUSTERY MONDAY AHEAD: Here at (and near) sea level, tomorrow will be wet and windy. So far advisories and alerts are out for many parts of western Washington, but not our area yet; nonetheless, be ready for sustained winds to 20 mph, gusts past 30, out of the southwest.

About the military jets: Seahawks flyover

Heard the military jets about half an hour ago? Confirmed via X/Twitter, that was a Seahawks flyover: “Today’s flyover features 2 EA-18G Growler Jets from the Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-140 Patriots out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.”