West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
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).
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.
(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!
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
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 TicketsWe’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!
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 today – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi today – Regular 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!
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.
(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.
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.
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.
Today's flyover features 2 EA-18G Growler Jets from the Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-140 Patriots out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.@USNavy | #AFFlyover pic.twitter.com/ifrmw7ceQb
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 3, 2024
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.”
The salmon spawners have arrived in Fauntleroy Creek and right now, it’s your first big chance this season to try to see them firsthand. Creek stewards and volunteer salmon watchers are hosting an “open creek” along the stretch where you’re most likely to see them, which runs through private property, but you’ll be guided down to creekside if you go to the public overlook that’s right off the corner of upper Fauntleroy Way and SW Director [map].
This opportunity continues until 3 pm today. All ages welcome, but children should be with an adult and dogs should be leashed. Note that you might see dead fish as well as live ones – that’s the natural end of the spawning cycle.
Thanks to Mark Jaroslaw for the video! On Saturday, La Chingona Taqueria (2940 SW Avalon Way) celebrated Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with performances including Aztec dancing and mariachi musicians, plus a procession to remember those who’ve gone before.
Family and friends have said goodbye to Donna McCallister and are sharing this remembrance:
Donna Lee McCallister peacefully passed away, surrounded by family and love, on October 23, 2024.
Born on August 17, 1946, in Seattle, Donna married her soulmate, Gary McCallister, on April 20, 1967, and together they built a life filled with warmth and laughter in West Seattle. Donna’s greatest joy was her family, and she cherished every moment spent with them. A gifted seamstress, she lovingly crafted clothes, quilts, and countless keepsakes, each stitch a testament to her care and artistry. Her love for sewing was matched only by her devotion to her family and loyal pets, all of whom she adored deeply.
Known affectionately as Mom, Mama Lee, and Nana, Donna’s presence was a constant source of comfort and joy, and her legacy lives on in the hearts of those she loved. Donna is survived by her beloved husband, Gary; her daughters, Heather (Edward) and Nina (Vince); and her cherished grandchildren, Bella, Lola, E.J., Avery, Olive, and Vinny. Her name and love are a legacy that will be carried forward by all who knew her. Donna will be dearly missed, her memory treasured by family, friends, and all whose lives she touched. A service celebrating her life was held on Friday at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
(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)
(Photo by Arlene Rubin, seen from Lincoln Park shore – note the faint rainbow)
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in our area today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings). First, two traffic alerts:
DIA DE MUERTOS BRUNCH: Special weekend brunch at La Chingona Taqueria (2940 SW Avalon Way), 8 am-2 pm.
SWIM IN THE SOUND: At 9 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 Uptown Espresso (Delridge/Andover).
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)
SMALL-BIZ POP-UP MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, see who’s selling what at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW).
DIA DE MUERTOS POP-UP: Milpa Masa (3416 SW Webster) hosts Rice, Beans, and Happiness, 10 am-2 pm.
(Work by Jenny Mandt, one of the participating artists – photo by Ana Cecilia Del Claro)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW FINALE: 11 am-2 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 18 artists and crafters want you to see what they’ve brought to the show for early holiday gift shopping, if you didn’t visit on Friday and/or Saturday.
‘OPEN CREEK’ TO SEE FAUNTLEROY SALMON: The spawners have started coming into Fauntleroy Creek, so volunteer salmon watchers are ready for you to visit in hopes of seeing them. 1-3 pm, go to the overlook at upper Fauntleroy/SW Director and wait to be called down to creekside.
MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Carmaig and Geddon and A Band of Poets, welcoming donations of money/food for WSFB, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
PRE-ELECTION PRAYER VIGIL: 5-6 pm “safe, contemplative space for people to gather” at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle), all welcome.
‘BEYOND LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT’: Last in a series of Sunday night events at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW):
We are pleased to be able to offer this series to our community and invite all who are interested in learning more about the history and future of the Duwamish tribe and the effects of colonization on the Indigenous community to join us.
5 pm-6 pm, no RSVP required.
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!
This time police are searching for a robber on Delridge Way, using a K-9 team. This holdup is reported to have happened in the 7100 block of Delridge – which would be the gas station on the northeast corner of Delridge/Orchard – at 11:11 pm. The robber is described as a white man, 20 to 30, 5’6″, blue face mask, white puffer jacket, and dark jeans. Call 911 if you have any info.
Two fish tales tonight:
ELLIOTT BAY LEAPING: We’ve been hearing about this for a while, and finally got some video from Brian. People ask why the fish are leaping; theories include trying to rid themselves of lice!
(added Sunday) Thanks to John Saalwaechter for video with a closer view of the jumping fish:
(back to original Saturday night report) FAUNTLEROY CREEK COHO: On the eve of Sunday’s “open creek” (go to the overlook at upper Fauntleroy/SW Director and wait to be called down), 1-3 pm, creek steward Judy Pickens tells us that volunteer watchers have counted 17 spawners in the creek so far. “Despite the rain and cold, our watchers are doing a great job documenting the fish and creek conditions.”
Passengers aboard a RapidRide C-Line bus are reporting possible injuries after a collision at 35th/Avalon, No visual so far but police say they’re blocking eastbound Avalon at the scene, and they’re looking for a hit-run driver who might have caused the crash, possibly after leaving an apartment/condo garage nearby.
8:03 PM: Police are investigating an armed robbery at the Admiral Way 7-11 less than half an hour ago. They say three teenage Black male robbers in black ski masks and dark clothing, with at least one gun, took the cash drawer. They left in what’s believed to have been a blue Hyundai Elantra.
ADDED TUESDAY: SPD has finally released the summary:
At 1940 hours, three suspects drove up to a convenience store located in the 4300 block of SW Admiral Wy. Three suspects entered the store, and one held the door open. The two suspects went to the back of the counter and showed the victim a gun. One of the suspects took the cash register, and they exited. The suspects left in a newer model blue vehicle.
Cross country continues to be a success story in fall sports for both of our area’s largest high schools. Today we have updates from Chief Sealth International High School:
Congratulations to Chief Sealth International High School’s girls’ cross country team for winning the 2A Sea-King District Championship this week at Lower Woodland! Runners Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, and Casey Greger also earned all-district honors in the race. The win advances the team to the WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Pasco on November 9th! It will mark the first return to State for the Chief Sealth girls XC team since their 1975 state championship-winning run.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s girls state XC qualifiers Federica Dilley, Doe Doe, Elena Latterell, Casey Greger, Paige Dempsey, Satomi Giedeman and Abby Peloza with Coaches Miguel Bautista and Charlie McDonald)
Additional congratulations to the Chief Sealth boys XC team, who finished fourth in the race (one spot out of team-qualifying) and had three runners advance to State as individuals: Remy Wittman (all-district), Cole Peloza, and Forest Andrews-Wehling. They will be the first boys XC runners from Chief Sealth to compete at State since 1987.
(Pictured: Chief Sealth’s boys state XC qualifiers Forest Andrews-Wehling, Remy Wittman and Cole Peloza)
See the full district championship race results here.
4:24 PM: Thanks for the tips. The West Seattle low bridge is malfunctioning again; one reader who’s been waiting says they were told it could be a “few minutes or few hours” – the gates aren’t working. So use an alternate route for now (we know, easier said than done if you’re using human-powered transportation).
6:14 PM: Still not fixed, after more than two hours.
8:43 PM: Just checked the camera for the first time in a while. The bridge is back in service. We’ll follow up with SDOT.
With Thanksgiving less than four weeks away, it’s time for planning to heat up. One essential event on the peninsula is the annual Holiday Taste at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor), and it’s now just days away – 4 to 7 pm this Thursday (November 7). The store offers samples of its own prepared holiday feasts, and they also host vendors who serve up samples of their own – breads, cheeses, desserts, beverages, more. No admission charge and no RSVP needed, but keep in mind, it can get crowded!
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Wildcats from West Seattle High School hosted Bishop Blanchet High School on Friday under the lights at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, with the visiting Bears coming out on top, 30-16.Â
With 3:08 left in the first quarter, Blanchet scored on a touchdown run and extra point to take a 7-0 lead.Â
The second quarter was a tradeoff of turnovers between both teams, and WSHS missed a field goal at the end of the quarter, with the score remaining 7-0 Blanchet at halftime.Â
With 6:53 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats scored on a touchdown run and 2-point conversion to take a slim 8-7 lead into the final quarter.Â
In that fourth quarter, though, Bears stormed back with 23 unanswered points (a safety, two touchdown passes, and a touchdown run) to go up 30-8. The Wildcats scored on a touchdown pass and 2-point conversion with 1:47 left in the game, to make it 30-16 at the final whistle.Â
Coach Anthony Stordahl‘s WSHS squad moves to 5-5 for the year, and finishes the regular season next week as they host Ballard on Thursday, November 7, at 4:30 PM at NCSWAC. Â
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