West Seattle, Washington
04 Tuesday
(Sorrel tree – photo by Susan Romanenghi)
Here’s our Tuesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is opening its free community playspace, 9 am-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. (42nd/Juneau)
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Art is on display all around Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), and you can visit any time this month during regular hours, which are 12 pm-8 pm today.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course. Guest speaker: State Attorney General Nick Brown. (4470 35th SW).
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
HOMEWORK HELP: Students can get free drop-in homework help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4 pm to 5:45 pm.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS girls’ soccer Senior Night vs. Nathan Hale at 5 pm, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 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.
UKULELE PLAYERS EVENING MEETUP: 6 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander).
REP. JAYAPAL’S TOWN HALL: 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), our area’s U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal will hold a town hall about the government shutdown. RSVP required; link’s in our calendar listing.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts “Unplugged: A Musical Gathering“ for acoustic music-making, All ages, no cover.
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
CREATE POTTERY: Second-to-last weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at closing-soon pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), register in advance to work on your project(s).
BIRDS AND BEES TALK: Every parent of a young child needs to know how to tackle this topic, and West Seattle Cooperative Preschools is bringing in expert educator Amy Lang for a presentation with advice at 7 pm tonight, South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: New classes continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Our calendar listing has details including how to check if they have space. Newcomers are always welcome, and the first class is free. (WSB sponsor)
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you participate.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG: 7 pm monthly gathering at Admiral HUB (4320 SW Hill).
TRIVIA X 4: Four locations for trivia tonight – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you have expired or no-longer-needed medicine to get rid of, and aren’t sure where to do that with all the local drugstore changes, here’s an opportunity: This Saturday is the fall Drug Take-Back Day event. Again this time, the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) is one of two SPD precincts in the city participating. Take your items there 10 am-2 pm Saturday (October 25), no questions asked.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today says sunshine and a high around 60. Sunrise will be at 7:37 am; sunset, at 6:09 pm. (We “fall back” one hour in 12 days.)
ROAD WORK
-SDOT says work on the added 60th/61st/62nd speed bumps between Alki Avenue and Admiral Way could start this week.
-A reader reports work to install a median curb was happening Sunday on Sylvan Way, near the cemetery. We’re waiting for SDOT answers to our questions about the project.
WEEKEND EARLY ALERT
-Sunday (October 26), the West Seattle Junction Harvest Fest will take over an extra block (California south of Alaska) of the heart of The Junction, while the Farmers’ Market occupies its usual block.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three boats service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where; ferry alerts will update with any changes.
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes.
Water Taxi – Now on regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
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, maritime-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!
(IBIE photo: William Leaman, left, and team after 2nd-place continental finish)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
William Leaman’s suitcase is packed again.
As his wife and business partner Heather Leaman predicted, the chef’s schedule this fall is also packed, but he is energized and full of new ideas, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Bakery Nouveau’s West Seattle founder is headed to an unglamorous Chicago warehouse for the weekend, and every other weekend until January, coaching an American team that aims to bring home the same international baking award he and his team won 20 years ago. It’s a bit of déjà vu and 20-20 hindsight all at once.
“If I‘d known I would have ended up coaching, I would have sat there all three days,” he says, thinking back to the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie in Paris in 2005, where he spent a single day baking with his team to win the championship. Leaman was captain of the Bread Baker’s Guild Team representing the United States then, an achievement he says was life-changing. “It really kind of pushed me into having a competition every day,” which led to opening the flagship Bakery Nouveau store on California Avenue SW in 2006, and two more, on Capitol Hill and in Burien.
Though his 2005 Coupe du Monde trophy is displayed proudly on the wall of his West Seattle location, he wasn’t expecting the invitation to return to the competition as a coach all these years later. “Your name came up,” is what Leaman was told, to be one of the working bakers asked to mentor a team. It did give him pause. “How can we get back up to the top of the mountain? I did it before, can I do it again as a coach?” The introspection did not last long. Despite the time commitment of traveling to numerous practices in the Midwest, he was all in. “I’ve never really given up on continuing to learn,” he says. Besides, sharing his expertise with the next generation of bakers moving up in the industry is de rigueur for a baker devoted to constantly improving his craft while encouraging others along the way.
Coach Leaman and Team USA have already made it past the first hurdle during the initial competition at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas last month, coming in 2nd behind Canada for teams in North and South America. Both teams will advance to the January finals, where there will be two teams from each continent, plus a couple of wildcards.
Académie Culinaire de France organizes this competition every 2-3 years to “Defend, Improve, Transmit French Culinary Art in the world.” Teams are composed of three members, each specializing on one aspect of artisan baking. This year’s American team includes bakers from across the country: Ambrose Erkenswick from Chicago, Miami-based Sandy Rodriguez (who was born in Cuba), and Nicolas Nayener, who is originally from France. “This is a true all-American team and I love that international aspect,” says Leaman, who sees them as underdogs because they had a much shorter timeline to practice together for the Las Vegas preliminaries than countries like Japan and South Korea, whose teams formed earlier. “It was really good to have a practice under conditions very similar to what they will have in Paris.”
The conditions in Paris can be both intimidating and grueling, with a jury of 10 watching your every move, along with hundreds in the audience and the occasional camera crew taking up space in the work area. Before last month, Leaman said the members of the US team had never competed in front of people. “It’s a little nerve-wracking, and you’re lucky if you sleep the night before.” Throw in other challenges, like a working space that starts out at 50F in the morning and can easily warm to 80F+ with all the ovens going, and the fact that no one knows exactly what kind of flour they’ll be using. The only ingredient bakers can walk in the door with is the starter they bring for sourdough.
All those variables come into play as the team works to meet strict criteria about finished size and weight of what they bake. Erkenswick will be in charge of baking 25 traditional baguettes that must measure a precise length and weight, within 2 grams. Nayener will take on artistic breads – standards like a sourdough levain, and others, including a random bread literally chosen from a hat. That could be a German pretzel, a European rye, or something else entirely. Rodriguez will produce all of the viennoiserie, which are pastries made from yeasted, laminated dough. That means croissants and their like, totaling 16 pastries at 60 grams each, 4 at 300-500 grams, laminated brioche at 80 grams, and some brioche à tête, which has a little ball of dough topping it off. “The most basic things are hardest to make,” says Leaman.
The standards are also not necessarily so standard. Croissants that might be a gentle crescent shape in previous years are now required to have their ends tucked in (see the photo above, on the left), something that Leaman says used to be a sign that croissant was made with margarine rather than butter. They’re still absorbing all of what they need to accomplish on January 20th, their assigned day to compete. “This is an R&D weekend — we just got the rules last week,” he says. There’s also a category of “snacks” —little sandwiches — to plan for the team to produce. It’s just four varieties, but 120 total to make.
This is part of where Leaman’s expertise will benefit the team. Having run the three Bakery Nouveau locations, he and his staff have baked and assembled hundreds of thousands of sandwiches over the years. He’s been poring over ideas for unique sandwiches that fit his formula for a great bite that isn’t muddled by too many elements—just two flavors and a texture. Right now he’s thinking about a brioche sandwich that would feature black cod marinated in shiso, mirin, and sake. “Flavor is #1 what I want them to focus on, but also maintaining authenticity.”
Aside from the food itself, Leaman says he’s coaching his team about the value of how comfortable team members are with each other and those observing them. “Talk to the judge if they come up. They’re bakers too.” He encourages explaining what they’re doing and why, but also arriving looking their best — clothes pressed, clean shoes, fresh haircuts. “Be a showman,” he says, “but don’t let them see everything.” The flourish of a big reveal at the end is worth a little bit of concealment along the way. Leaman was chosen to be team captain in 2005 because he spoke some French, which is required for the captain’s presentation to the jury. It certainly won’t hurt that this year’s team captain is fluent. “I’m really impressed with the chemistry,” he says. “My team [in 2005] had that same chemistry.” On competition day, Leaman will not be allowed inside the working area, but he can give the team advice, as well as being an extra eye on what’s cooking on the stove, or needs to come out of the oven.
As much as the team will learn from Leaman’s experience, he says the benefit is reciprocal. “It’s great to sort of relive my own experience and help a team, but it’s also so enriching for myself as a business owner. I get to bring new and cool ideas back to the neighborhood.” He says he’s ready to look at revamping some of the menu in the new year, with inspiration stirred up in the process of the competition. “Covid took a lot of the fun stuff out. This is forcing me to relook at things that I’ve gotten comfortable with.” He’s also looking ahead not just to the next 20 years, but well beyond. “I want to keep going for another 50,” he says, and continue to focus on quality over quantity. “I don’t want to be the most. I just want to be the best.”
The Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie competition will be held January 20-21, 2026. Team USA will compete on the same day as France, Senegal, Japan, and Brazil.
Thanks to Andrew for the photos and tip that the “4040 House” Halloween light show is now up and running. The team here puts on shows for Christmas season too; last year, though, nasty weather hit them hard, but they vowed to return for Halloween, and here they are.
The house is at 4040 47th SW; show hours are here (including an early start on Halloween night).
Got decorations? Seen decorations? We’re continuing to showcase them nightly … westseattleblog@gmail.com … thank you!
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports from recent days:
TWO SINGLE-SHOT GUNFIRE INCIDENTS: These summaries were released by SPD, both from Friday incidents we hadn’t previously heard about – first, in the afternoon:
At 1503 hours, a witness observed a subject standing near a vehicle with its hood up in the 2500 block SW Cambridge Street. The subject closed the vehicle hood, walked to the driver’s door area and produced a handgun. The subject proceeded to fire a single round into the air before entering the vehicle and driving away eastbound. The vehicle had one passenger, but no arguments or disturbances were heard prior to the shooting. Officers responded and located evidence. An area check was conducted for the vehicle with negative results.
Then in the late evening:
At 2316 hours, a caller reported that a light-colored sedan drove westbound on SW Barton St and come to a stop near 23rd Ave SW/SW Barton St. Moments later a male walked westbound on SW Barton St. As the male walked down the hill, an unidentified male from the vehicle fired a single shot. The male on foot reportedly fled eastbound. Officers arrived and didn’t locate any suspects or vehicles … Shell casing located.
Also, two reader reports about recent thefts:
PACKAGE THEFT: Sent by CJ:
I had a box stolen off my porch in the 6700 block of 42nd Ave SW at about 2:35 (Tuesday) afternoon. The pirates were driving what appears to be a red Hyundai Sonata.
STOLEN FROM A SKELETON: The photo and report are from Melissa in Gatewood:
Super bummed to report someone stole an arm off of our skeleton (Wednesday night). I’m reporting this because of the recent burglary in our exact neighborhood (36th/Othello) and worried this is becoming a trend.
If you can donate blood, here’s a West Seattle drive to consider – Alki Beach, next Sunday (October 26), lots of perks from beach businesses! The Alki Community Council jumped in to help Bloodworks Northwest line up donors – you can register here before the slots are all filled (those remaining are between 9:30 am and 2:30 pm). If you want to check the promised perks first, the full invitation has the list.
Before the sun went away, we got over to Alki for a look at exact locations for some of the about-to-be-installed Alki cross-street speed bumps between Alki Avenue and Admiral Way. The three photos here are the three northernmost cushions planned for 61st SW.
These last two are barely half a block apart, just south of Alki Avenue.
Here’s the full three-street rundown per a followup question SDOT spokesperson Amy Abdelsayed answered for us today:
There will be 11 speed humps/cushions: four speed humps on 60th Ave SW, four speed cushions on 61st Ave SW, and three speed humps on 62nd Ave SW. Speed cushions are being installed on 61st Ave SW to accommodate the bus route.
As reported here last week, SDOT says installation could start as soon as Wednesday; it’s expected to be complete within four days of when work starts.
3:01 PM: Nicole has been trying to report this to SDOT and hasn’t gotten through yet so in case it hasn’t already been cleaned up, she wants to let other bicycle riders know: “Rode my bike downtown and back this morning. There’s broken glass on the bike trail from the tragic accident. Spokane and East Marginal. Heads up to bikers.”
4:56 PM: Nicole just sent this update: “I just got off the phone with SDOT Incident Response; they are aware of the issue and said they are sending someone now to clean up the glass now.”
Today we welcome Ingallina’s Box Lunch as one of our newest sponsors. Local businesses joining the sponsor team get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – so here’s what Ingallina’s Box Lunch would like you to know!
Welcome to Ingallina’s Box Lunch: Fresh Food, Stronger Teams
Who We Are
Seattle has always been our home. Ingallina’s Box Lunch began in 1991 as The Metropolitan Lunch Express Café beneath the 5th Avenue Theatre, and by 1993 we were dedicated fully to catering fresh-made lunches. From the beginning, we’ve built our reputation on baking breads and pastries from scratch each night, roasting our own meats daily, and preparing fresh salads and dressings in-house. Everything we do centers on quality and care. But more than food, our mission is satisfaction — customers who feel cared for and connected. That philosophy has kept businesses across the West Coast calling on us for over 30 years, and we’re thrilled to now introduce ourselves to West Seattle Blog readers.
Why Team Lunches Matter
A box lunch is more than just a meal; it’s a proven way to bring people together. Research from Cornell University found that firefighters who ate meals together performed better as a team than those who didn’t —proof that sharing food can build trust and camaraderie. Indeed, eating together has “a long, primal tradition as a kind of social glue,” notes Cornell researcher Kevin Kniffin. Studies published in Cognition and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also show that meal breaks improve focus, engagement, and even healthier choices. Simply stepping away from the desk for lunch can reset energy, prevent burnout, and spark more creative collaboration.
The benefits of team lunches include:
●Boosting productivity and focus
●Building stronger workplace relationships
●Encouraging inclusiveness and morale
●Reducing stress and burnout
●Supporting employee retention and recruitment
In fact, a recent Harvard Business Review article reported that employees who take regular lunch breaks are more engaged, more satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to recommend their workplace to others.
How Ingallina’s Can Help Your Workplace
Team lunches don’t need to be complicated to make a real impact. A catered meal can show appreciation, improve morale, and even reduce turnover — studies show engaged teams see up to 59% less turnover when they feel valued. At Ingallina’s, we make it easy for companies to invest in their people with box lunches, party platters, and gift baskets designed to suit every taste and dietary need. Whether it’s a weekly lunch, a special celebration, or a casual “lunch and learn,” our fresh and scratch-made meals create space for conversation, connection, and stronger workplace culture. For West Seattle companies working hard to keep their teams connected and motivated as work routines evolve, we’re here to help. After all, 29% of employees say they enjoy their jobs more when lunch is provided — and isn’t that a small step worth taking?
Ready to see the difference a great lunch can make? Place your order today at Ingallina.com and treat your team to fresh, scratch-made meals that build stronger connections — delivered right to your office door.
We thank Ingallina’s Box Lunch for choosing to advertise their services by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com for information – thank you!
15 days remain to vote in the general election,Thanks to K for pointing out that King County Elections has moved the White Center ballot drop box, which is now a few blocks closer to West Seattle. Above is our photo of its new location on SW 102nd outside Steve Cox Memorial Park; previously, it was outside the White Center Library. We asked KCE spokesperson Halei Watkins about the reason for the move; she replied, “Due to its popularity! We are so grateful to KCLS and the White Center Library for hosting that location for many years. However, we’ve heard that in busy elections in particular, the parking lot just couldn’t safely accommodate the number of voters looking to use that box. That’s a great problem to have – we needed more space for folks returning their ballot!” Here’s the county map of all drop box locations, including four in West Seattle; they’re open until exactly 8 pm Tuesday, November 4. Meantime, as noted after ballots were mailed last week, KCE says you should get yours by today, so if you don’t, call 206-296-VOTE.
(Canada Goose making a splash – photo by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s our list of what’s happening and NOT happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (got something to add? please let us know!):
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: The art display continues at Southwest Library (9010 California SW) during regular hours, 10 am-6 pm today.
NEED MEDICARE INFO? Drop by Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) 1-4 pm to talk with an insurance adviser.
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING: At 2 pm today, the council gets the latest economic/revenue forecast, as they get closer to decisionmaking in their review of the mayor’s 2026 budget proposal. The agenda has information on how to watch.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE DROPOFFS: Today is the first of three Mondays when community members can drop off food and clothing for the drive 4-6 pm at the school’s “historic entrance” (3000 California SW, north side).
HOMEWORK HELP: Free drop-in homework help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4 pm to 5:45 pm.
CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT HIATUS: Still on hold until The Missing Piece reopens. in its new Junction location (no date yet as of our most-recent check).
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players included!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group for people experiencing grief – participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee; book a spot here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play tonight! Easy Street‘s every-other-week Music Quiz, 6:30 and 7:30 pm (4559 California SW) … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ALKI MEDITATION: Doors open at 6:45 for 7 pm meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
(added) COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 7 pm, headlined by Monica Nevi. Tickets here while they last! (4210 SW Admiral Way)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: At 7 pm, West Seattle HS‘s volleyball team hosts Seattle Prep (3000 California SW).
POOL TOURNAMENT: Play in The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: South-end Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks to EVERYONE who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As mentioned again last night, big Halloween-season events are ahead next weekend, none bigger than West Seattle Harvest Fest in The Junction on Sunday (October 26. Again this year it’ll include a chili cookoff with local luminaries serving up tasting flights for your votes, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Here’s WSFB’s rundown of what and who’s new at this year’s cookoff:
(WSFB 2024 pic. Buy tix in same spot this year but get chili inside ArtsWest)
West Seattle’s coziest competition is back! The West Seattle Food Bank’s Annual Chili Cookoff returns Sunday, October 26th as part of the West Seattle Junction Association’s Harvest Fest, featuring nine local purveyors going head-to-head for the title of Best Chili in West Seattle.
A $20 ticket gets you a flight of nine chili samples—one from each competitor—and a vote token to cast your ballot for the community favorite. All proceeds from the Chili Cookoff directly support West Seattle Food Bank programs to prevent hunger and homelessness.
This year’s competitors:
Café Osita – new this year
Easy Street Café – defending their 2024 title
Elliott Bay Brewing
Husky Deli
Margie’s Café at the Center for Active Living
Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce – new this year
Shadowland
The Neighborhood – new this year
The Westy Sports and SpiritsBig thanks to ArtsWest for letting us use their lobby to keep our chili hot while we serve! New this year – chili will be served inside the ArtsWest lobby to stay warm and delicious, while payment, tasting, and voting all take place outside amid the Harvest Fest fun.
Stirring Up Good
The West Seattle Food Bank continues to serve as a critical lifeline for thousands of neighbors. In the past year alone, the Food Bank distributed over 2.2 million pounds of food through its onsite distribution, mobile pantry, and home delivery programs.
23,450 individuals were served, including thousands of children and seniors.
The Backpack Program provided weekend meals for 14,656 local students, a remarkable 63% increase over FY24, and a poignant sign of how many families are struggling.
Beyond food, WSFB provided rent and utility assistance to 726 households, helping 1,774 individuals remain safely housed.At The Clothesline – WSFB’s free clothing bank – more than 100,000 pieces were distributed, helping maintain dignity and warmth for more than 14,000 individuals. Every chili flight you purchase helps the West Seattle Food Bank keep families fed, housed, and supported through challenging times.
Event Details:
-Sunday, October 26th, 2025
-11 a.m. until the chili runs out
-ArtsWest – look for the WSFB Harvest Fest booth there!
-$20 for a 9-sample flight + voting token
-All proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank
-Come hungry, bring friends, and help us keep our community strong!
More festival details are here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, October 20, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today says there’s a chance of rain but it’ll likely be partly sunny, high in the upper 50s. Sunrise will be at 7:36 am; sunset, at 6:11 pm. (We “fall back” one hour in 13 days.)
(Sunday sunset, photographed from Alki by Tony Tschanz)
ROAD WORK
-SDOT says work on the added 60th/61st/62nd speed bumps between Alki Avenue and Admiral Way could start this week.
-A reader reports work to install a median curb was happening Sunday on Sylvan Way, near the cemetery.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three boats service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where; ferry alerts will update with any changes.
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes.
Water Taxi – Now on regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
STADIUM ZONE
–Mariners have to win tonight in Toronto or their season’s over. T-Mobile Park is hosting a watch party for the 5 pm game.
–Seahawks are home with a Monday Night Football game vs. Houston, 7 pm kickoff at Lumen Field.
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, maritime-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!
With Halloween happening on a Friday this year, we’ll have two “Hallo-weekends.” The first one next weekend brings four major community trick-or-treating events in West Seattle – here’s the lineup:
(WSB file photo – Alki Bike and Board’s legendary ceiling spiders)
ADMIRAL TRICK-OR-TREATING, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24: The Admiral Neighborhood Association is collaborating with local businesses to present this year’s business-district trick-or-treating next Friday, 3-6 pm. Here’s the official map, sent by the ANA’s Dan Jacobs:
Dan says, “More businesses than ever before (are) participating on a more than 1 mile route from Welcome Road Winery / Shug’s / Meeples on the south end to Avamere on the north end. We will have volunteer crossing guards at a number of crossing areas that are not served by lights.”
ALKI TRICK-OR-TREATING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25: Noon-2 pm next Saturday, the Alki Community Council joins local businesses and organizations to offer trick-or-treating (and some activities – the Log House Museum opens early, for example, for crafting Origami Jack-o-Lanterns. See the map on the event website!
CAMP LONG TRAIL-OR-TREAT, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25: 3:30 pm to 7 pm, visit the park (5200 35th SW) cabins to trick-or-treat and enjoy activities.
JUNCTION TRICK-OR-TREATING DURING HARVEST FEST, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26: Hallo-weekend #1 will conclude with trick-or-treating at businesses and booths, and much more – the costume parade, chili cookoff, Farmers’ Market, street performances – across two blocks of California in the heart of The Junction, 11 am-2 pm next Sunday. (Here’s the full schedule.)
For more Halloween and Dia de Muertos events, see this section of the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – and keep checking back, because we’ll be adding more!
The 12′ skeletons seem ubiquitous. But not every Halloween display has a 7-foot eyeball. Tonight’s spotlight decoration photos were sent by Cameron.
Cameron says their display is near Gatewood Elementary.
So if you’re in the area and feel like you’re being watched … now you see why. And if you have decorations to show off, keep the pics coming … westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 … thank you!
WSHS senior Adriana Havens
Story, photos, video by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It was all about the seniors on Friday, as the West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team hosted Seattle Academy for a special match at Hiawatha Playfield.
The visiting team from Seattle Academy came out on top 3-0 in the match, which was the second-to-last regular-season home game of the year for WSHS. With the loss, the Wildcats now have a season record of 5-4-2.
WSHS usually plays home matches at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, but as we had previewed here, program manager Sarah Heitman told us that they held this game at Hiawatha (right after school, next door), hoping for a big community turnout to help celebrate “senior night” as a tribute to the WSHS players who are graduating after this school year.
And what a turnout it was, with fans packed into the sideline area east of the field…
…with proud family members and fellow students holding signs honoring the soon-to-be-graduates:
In all, there are nine seniors on the WSHS girls’ soccer squad:
From left to right, that’s Claire Murray, Adriana Havens, Grace Reasoner, Lillian O’Claire, Grace Carroll, Layla Ho, Anna Sievertson, Kate Russell and Ellie Miller.
To show love to the seniors, there were two ceremonies on Friday, one at halftime and one after the game.
During halftime, WSHS head coach Dan Carew read comments that each of the seniors had written about their favorite WSHS teacher or staff member who had a particularly profound impact on them:
Here are the seniors with their favorite WSHS educators:
The honored staffers, from left to right in the back row of the photo above, are Chris Harris (chosen by senior Kate Russell), Jessica Mathews (Sievertson), Julia Harper (Ho), Tom Burggraff (Miller), Alex Cordero (O’Claire), Rachel Myers (Carroll), Mary Logel (Reasoner), Kyle Glover (Havens), and Mallory Neuman (Murray).
The second ceremony was after the match, and there wasn’t a dry eye on the field as Wildcat teammates gave heartfelt speeches in honor of each of the nine outgoing seniors.
Here’s our video of all of the student speeches (a bit over 20 minutes):
Here are some photos of the Wildcats in action during Friday’s game.
Senior Layla Ho:
Senior Grace Reasoner:
Senior Ellie Miller:
Senior Adriana Havens:
Junior Ava Wheatley:
Sophomore Ella Curtis:
Sophomore Juliette Harding:
Sophomore Brooklyn Crowe:
Running off the field through a “tunnel of teammates” were seniors Claire Murray and Lillian O’Claire:
A corner kick by junior Izzy Waite:
Post-match “good game” exchanges:
And an enthusiastic tunnel of classmates:
The Wildcats’ next game is at home (Walt Hundley) on Tuesday (October 21) vs Lakeside at 4pm, followed by their regular-season finale on the road on Thursday (October 23) at Ingraham.
Two sights sent by readers a short time ago:
SUBMARINE: A texter sent that photo of a submarine as it passed Alki Point, headed toward Bremerton.
RAINBOW: While the Mariners are playing right now at Toronto, their stadium back here at home is receiving a rainbow. Thanks to Kelly Malloy for the photo! This follows an unexpectedly sunny afternoon, but more rain is likely on the way.
2:12 PM: The rain stopped and the sun appeared just in time for this afternoon’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival (indoor/outdoor, both sides of the 9100 block of California SW). We’re here for as-it-happens coverage as usual. First, here’s the schedule:
Cake-judging is one of the first things you can do, inside the lower room at The Hall at Fauntleroy (south side of the schoolhouse) – three dozen cakes are entered, including these:
(WSB photos, video by Anne Higuera and Tracy Record)
The second hand on the clock ticks, by the way. Meantime, be sure to explore before you settle in on a plan – because of the weather as well as the culvert repairs, what’s in the church lot is somewhat less than usual – pumpkin painting, for example, is on the west side of the schoolhouse. … Also inside The Hall, lots of live music. We’re front and center right now for The Jump Ensemble:
(The trombone soloist is Ed Spangenberg.)
2:51 PM: More photos and video! Here’s an unusual feature – a fossil exhibit with the Blevins Natural History Gallery, on the main floor of the north end of the schoolhouse:
Outside the schoolhouse’s southwet side, you’ll find John Prucich, The Falconer, again this year, and his raptors:
John is with Benedict the Saker Falcon in that photo; below is Ladybird, a Eurasian Eagle Owl:
The bunny-petting tent is perennially popular:
Back inside The Hall, Dance! West Seattle has been performing in the upstairs room (first one by the California SW entrance):
3:13 PM: Things are now jumping in the church parking lot, for reasons including the Seattle Fire Department’s arrival with Engine 37.
The rock-climbing wall is in that area too.
Also in the parking lot, B Sharp Studio was the afternoon’s first band (ukulele players are coming up at 3:30 pm):
And it’s not the Fauntleroy Fall Festival without birdhouse-building:
3:36 PM: The “cake trot” is on, after the contest winners were announced (1st place in advanced was taken by the Tucker Family for the pumpkin patch cake above – they also got second place for the spider-web cake). Participants are walking when the music starts, landing on a numbered spot, and if that number is called, they win a cake:
Also happening right now, the West Seattle Big Band is playing in The Hall, as well as Across 35 in the church!
3:58 PM: The last cake’s been won, so the cake trot has concluded. Also, Engine 37 has departed. In the upper parking lot by the church, you’ll find arts and crafts including another tradition, salmon-hat-making:
(They’re great to wear to the annual “call the coho home” singing/drumming, which is next Sunday!)
4:14 PM: We caught up with three more musical acts – here’s Across 35:
The West Seattle Ukulele Band:
And last but by no means least, the West Seattle Big Band, directed by Jim Edwards:
One final photo for now – pumpkin decorating, happening behind the schoolhouse:
The festival continues until 5 pm!
After moving recently to an embankment at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood, the crime of totaling a car – and doing other damage – by rolling it down a hill has returned to the neighborhood plagued by it last spring. This is part of the aftermath of what happened on SW Alaska early today:
We heard from two texters – the first said:
We had another car crash on Alaska/47th, group of people crashing an unmanned car from 46th and Alaska and crashed into a telephone pole. This time the car of people drove by filming actively, drove back from 47th up Alaska and hurled an object from the car at us yelling.
The second texter, who sent the sign photo above, also sent two videos – first showing what appears to be a related car (though the crash is audible) – apparently not the actual rolled-downhill vehicle, which archived police audio says was a black Hyundai Tucson:
In the next one, the texter explains, it’s “someone taking the street sign.”
Checking the crashed car’s VIN, police surmised it was an “unreported stolen,” registered to someone in North Seattle, and were asking officers there to try to contact the owner. The SPD incident # for the crash, reported just before 3 am, is 25-305695.
11:07 AM: SFD has a “full response” arriving in the 2700 block of 61st SW [map] for what’s described as a fire in a “low-rise residential building.” Updates to come.
(Added: Reader photo, firefighters checking other apartments in the building)
11:10 AM: The fire is said to be centered in one apartment of a 3-story “garden-style” building.
11:14 AM: The fire is under control. No injuries reported.
11:18 AM: SFD says the fire “was contained to one unit on the second floor.” Some responders are being dismissed. Their investigator will look into what started it.
Good morning – rain or shine, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is today’s biggest event, so we’ll start the list with that:
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: Three hours of big fun, outdoors and indoors, on the grounds of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, Church, and YMCA, both sides of the 9100 block of California SW, 2-5 pm. The festival-zone map is above; you can see the event schedule – activities, performances, demonstrations, community-organization booths – in our calendar listing. It’s all free – powered by donations and volunteers – except for the food and beverages available for purchase. Depending on the weather, some activities may move locations from where they’re mapped, so ask the nearest volunteer if you’re having trouble finding something. (Pre-festival – if you’re entering the cake contest, drop off your entry at The Hall at Fauntleroy on the south end of the schoolhouse by noon!)
Now, here’s what else is up for your Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings!) and inbox:
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run starts at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location (no date yet, as of our most recent followup).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the year-round 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.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Two more weeks to visit Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) to see what artists are showing this year! Open today 10 am-6 pm
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).
BOOK LAUNCH: As previewed here, local writer/photographer “Scuba Jess” has published another book in her series teaching kids about recycling – this one focusing on West Seattle’s biggest recycling facility, the NUCOR (WSB sponsor) steel mill – and is launching it with an 11 am-1 pm event at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW)
KIDS’ PUMPKIN DECORATING: 11 am-3 pm, pay-what-you-can pumpkin decorating drop-in at West Seattle Mercantile (3270 California SW).
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)
GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH & BLOWING DEMO: Noon to 4 pm, Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way) is open for live glass-blowing demos, and art-glass pumpkin-patch shopping, as part of “Refract.”
‘FEATHER IN THE WIND’ ART POP-UP: 12-6 pm, final day of multi-artist weekend show in the upstairs annex at Alki Arts (6030 California SW)
FRESH HOP FEST & FALL BEER SHOWCASE: Noon-7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
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)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Jim Page performs 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: 3 pm, final performance of the current play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW)
‘THE DETENTION LOTTERY’ AT WSUU: 4 pm, play presenting “an inside view of the Immigration Court experience,” at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW). Free admission.
SHOW AND SIGNING AT EASY STREET: 4 pm, Ruel performs at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) – free, all ages – with a signing for those who’ve bought Ruel’s newest album.
WATCHING THE BIG GAME: 5 pm, American League Championship Series Game 6 for the Mariners at Toronto! No specific watch list for this – pretty much anywhere you’ll find a bar/restaurant with a screen.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, free to play. (4302 SW Alaska)
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!
10:18 PM: Police and fire are arriving at the scene of what’s reported to be a car that went off the West Seattle Bridge down to East Marginal Way. Four people are reported hurt, three seriously. Updates to come.
(Added: Photo by Tim Durkan)
10:25 PM: They’ve gotten everyone out of the crashed car, which is reported to be a Chevy Cruze that landed upside down. They haven’t said where they believe the car went off the bridge, but this is the address given to the response.
10:30 PM: So far they’re investigating the theory that the car went off the bridge on the offramp to 99. (Of note for those who don’t read this in real time, it’s raining fairly heavily right now.)
10:41 PM: Medics told dispatch all four patients are on the way to Harborview. Two of the four have been described as possibly 17 and 20 years old; the driver has been described as female.
10:50 PM: Added a photo. The ramp to 99 will be closed for the investigation, police just told dispatch.
10:57 PM: Now they’re saying via radio that this is actually the Harbor Island offramp from 99.
5:20 AM: SPD says one crash victim, a teenage boy who was ejected, has died, and the other three, including the 16-year-old girl who was driving, are in the hospital with “serious or critical injuries.”
ADDED MONDAY: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the crash victim who died as 18-year-old Jayden T. Campbell.
ADDED TUESDAY: He and at least some of the victims were from the Olympic Peninsula, according to this Peninsula Daily News report (thanks to Barbara for sending the link).
| 6 COMMENTS