West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Holiday Guide

    HOLIDAY GUIDE: All the WS info you need

  • Celebration

    YOUR OPINION WANTED: How was Sat. night @ Alki?

  • New biz

    FINALLY CONFIRMED: This space’s new biz

THEATER: ‘Clyde’s’ opens at ArtsWest one week from tonight
May 30, 2024 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on THEATER: ‘Clyde’s’ opens at ArtsWest one week from tonight
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The next production at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) is just one week away:

(ArtsWest photo)

ArtsWest will produce “Clyde’s” by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat, Ruined). This co-production with The Hansberry Project will be directed by Seattle theatre staple Valerie Curtis-Newton. The cast features Reginald Jackson, Deja Culver, Jacob Alcazar, Joe Moore, and Tracy Michelle Hughes playing the titular role. Clyde’s performs at ArtsWest from June 6 through June 30, 2024. Tickets are available online at artswest.org or by phone at 206-938.0963.

In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck stop cafe. As the shop’s mischievous owner tries to keep them under her thumb, the staff work to see themselves as whole—to dream again—despite their pasts.

Through the lens of comedy and food, Nottage asks us to consider the long-term weight of the criminal justice system, the difficulties of reentry, and how we view second chances. Joe Moore, who plays Jason in the show, points to the fact that while we live in a country with “by far the biggest incarcerated population in the world,” there is “very little support” in the system for formerly incarcerated folks. This show calls us to “reflect on our own biases, and… open ourselves up to empath[y].” We hope you will join us.

ArtsWest will present Clyde’s, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm.

Before the official June 6 opening, there’s a Wednesday night (June 5) preview – check for tickets here.

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WSHS talent show + 11 more options for your West Seattle Thursday
May 30, 2024 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on WSHS talent show + 11 more options for your West Seattle Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey, photographed by Dan Ciske)

Here are highlights of what’s happening in the hours ahead!

INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Until noon, you’re welcome to drop in with your little one at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau) for free indoor playtime.

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Need plants? The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar now open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – drop by to sip and nosh!

STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at what’s now the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Project Pizza.

VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL TALENT SHOW: Cheer for the students and enjoy their performances tonight, 6:30 pm in the WSHS Theater (3000 California SW), $5 at the door, bring cash for that and concessions.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)

BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Thursday watch
May 30, 2024 6:00 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Thursday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:41 AM: Out on the eastbound bridge this morning and noticing very heavy traffic, both headed for the exit to 99 and beyond – so if you haven’t headed out yet, allot more time!

Earlier:

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 30.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Should see some sunshine, high in the low 60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:16 am; sunset will be at 8:58 pm.

=ONGOING ROAD WORK

*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.

*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:

STADIUM ZONE

If you’re going through SODO today, note that the Mariners have a day game vs. Houston, 1:10 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Work at the Southworth terminal is continuing to close some lanes there.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Low bridge: Open.

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic. (Except the low bridge, for now; SDOT says it’s working on it.)

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!

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West Seattle, White Center Pride events start this weekend
May 29, 2024 9:57 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB file photo)

June is Pride Month, and special events start as soon as the calendar changes. Here are announcements we’ve received so far, through the first half of the month:

JUNE 1 – WHITE CENTER PRIDE STREET FESTIVAL: 11 am-11 pm Saturday, June 1, on 16th SW in the heart of White Center between SW Roxbury and SW 100th, music, performances, more (toplines here). It’s free, but if you buy a wristband, that’ll connect you with special deals:

-Expedited access to VIP drink lines
-Backstage experiences
-Premium seating
-All-day discounts at 15+ bars and restaurants

From Happy Hour prices to $5 Wells, $4 Pints, $4 Slices – exclusively for wristband holders.

You can buy yours online for $15 (that link is also where you’ll find the list of participating venues), or look for the White Center Pride booth at the festival on Saturday.

JUNE 1 – JOKES AT THE JUNCTION PRIDE SHOW: The monthly Jokes at The Junction show at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW) features an all-LGBTQ+ slate this time, 8 pm Saturday, June 1. West Seattle’s own Cozy Comedy presents host AJ Norris, headliner Ricci Armani, plus Javann Jones and Novae Simper. Get your ticket(s) here now.

JUNE 8 – AZUQAR! DANCE NIGHT At The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), “a Sapphic Dance Night for BIPOC + Allies,” billed as a pre-Pride kickoff. 8 pm Saturday, June 8 – more info here.

JUNE 14 – PRIDE IN OZ: 7 pm Friday, June 14, doors open at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) for this all-ages drag show, hosted by Jizzuhbell Johnson. Tickets are on sale here.

JUNE 15 – PRIDE WITH POLLINATORS: 10 am-1 pm Saturday, June 15, it’s a volunteer restoration event at Westcrest Park:

Come celebrate Pride Month with Dirt Corps and Green Seattle Partnership‘s annual “Pride with Pollinators” restoration event! We’ll be honoring the beauty of diversity by tending to our vibrant pollinator garden and caring for the amazing creatures that help it thrive. We’ll get our hands dirty by removing invasive blackberry shrubs and applying nourishing mulch to prepare for new native plantings this fall. We’ll also be watering last year’s plantings to ensure our garden stays colorful and diverse.

Gloves, tools, water, snacks provided – register here.

Got something to add to our list/calendar for Pride in West Seattle/White Center – or other calendar events, for that matter? Please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

P.S. The West Seattle Junction Association currently plans to fly rainbow flags (like the one in our photo above) on Sunday, June 30, and is recruiting volunteers to place and remove them that day – you can sign up here.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen powerlifting equipment
May 29, 2024 8:44 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The shoes and knee sleeves in this photo are among the powerlifting equipment stolen in a car break-in in Highland Park – here’s the reader report, via email:

May 29th: Car broken into at Overlook Apartments on SW Kenyon St/Highland Park area. Large black duffel bag was taken that contained powerlifting equipment, including

-red/yellow ASICS wrestling shoes
-red leather belt,
-white/blue Adidas weightlifting shoes
-black knee sleeves
-black competition singlet (women’s)

Black bag has “Dragon” embroidered on one end and “Bull Power Team” on the side, and a bull logo on both sides. Hoping the burglar ditched the bag somewhere in the neighborhood: if found, please contact at 206-313-8854.

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ALKI ELEMENTARY REBUILD: Here’s what happened during first day of second appeal hearing
May 29, 2024 6:25 pm
|      72 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo, Alki Elementary site at 3010 59th SW)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

For the second time in 10 months, a city hearing examiner is presiding over proceedings that will determine what’s next for the rebuild and expansion of Alki Elementary School.

Again this time, that hearing examiner is Susan Drummond, whose decision last summer left the door open for what’s happening now.

The backstory: Last year, four nearby residents appealed the city decision to approve nine zoning exceptions (“departures”) that Seattle Public Schools had sought for constructing the school with a taller building and higher student capacity. Through a ruling and a settlement, that all ended with just one appeal granted – the one challenging the departure that would allow the new school to be devoid of offstreet parking (as first revealed two years ago). Drummond told the district and the city Department of Construction and Inspections to “revisit” the issue. Rather than doing so immediately after that ruling, the district tried – and failed – to get a judge to throw it out. After that, it proposed a new plan with 15 offstreet parking spots. The city said OK. A different group of nearby residents appealed that, under the name Friends for a Safe Alki Community. And now, it’s all back before Drummond, who heard the first of at least two days of testimony Tuesday in the examiner’s hearing room at the city Municipal Tower downtown. We attended in person and plan to return for the next day of testimony on Thursday. No surprises, but here’s how it went:

Read More

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REMINDER: Seattle Public Schools meeting Saturday morning at CSIHS to explain plan that’s expected to result in closures/consolidations
May 29, 2024 4:34 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

This holiday-shortened week seems to be going fast, so here’s a semi-early reminder about a major meeting Saturday morning (June 1) in West Seattle – it’s the third in a new series of Seattle Public Schools meetings at which district officials are supposed to explain the “well-resourced schools” plan, which could close up to 20 elementaries around the city. The first version of the meeting happened last night at Roosevelt High School; the Seattle Times report indicates it was somewhat contentious. The district is still not ready to present a list of which schools it wants to close/consolidate; that’s expected next month. But it wants families to understand the rationale. Saturday’s meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am-noon at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), with translation/interpretation available in ASL, Amharic, Cantonese, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. This is the last in-person meeting in this round; the district also promises an online version at 6 pm June 4 (no link yet).

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Two Admiral-area traffic alerts
May 29, 2024 2:44 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Both working right now:

CRASH: Texters report a crash blocking one lane of California near Hanford, in front of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Apparently no major injuries, as it’s a one-engine SFD dispatch.

TREE LIMB: SDOT is being dispatched for a “large tree limb” reported to be blocking part of Admiral Way near Garlough [map].

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SEATTLE POLICE: Adrian Diaz out as chief, former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr taking over temporarily
May 29, 2024 1:36 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:36 PM: After four years, and amid multiple lawsuits, Adrian Diaz is out as Seattle Police Chief, as citywide outlets had reported earlier. In making the official announcement a short time ago, Mayor Bruce Harrell said that Diaz will stay with SPD and work on “special projects,” but that he and Diaz had agreed that “with the amount of litigation” in progress, “the kind of culture change we want would be best served with him stepping aside.” Taking over the department as Interim Chief is Sue Rahr, who served as King County Sheriff from 2005 to 2012. “She is the right person at the right moment to lead SPD into the future,” Harrell said, adding that she’s “not a candidate for the permanent appointment” so they’re launching a “nationwide search” and he is “looking outside the department,” while also keeping the door open for internal candidates. The search also will include help from former SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole, he said. Rahr said she wants the SPD ranks to know “we’re going to get through this” and asked them to be “brutally honest and open with me” regarding the challenges they’re facing. Harrell said some progress is being made against crime – the homicide rate is down 44 percent over last year, for example – and said that applications for police positions are up, “17 to 19 applications a day since (the contract approval), compared to 5 to 6 a day a year ago.” (Just yesterday, a City Council committee got a dismal report on hiring and staffing.) Any other command-staff changes? Harrell was asked. That’s “under discussion,” he replied.

Checking archives, we note that Rahr was a co-chair of the advisory group that recommended a slate of candidates for the chief position in 2018 that drew fire for not including then-acting chief Carmen Best (who eventually was reconsidered and then promoted). She resigned as sheriff in 2012 to lead the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, from which she retired in 2021.

2:34 PM: Here’s Seattle Channel video of the hourlong announcement and Q&A:

(added) And here’s the official news release.

4:58 PM: Here’s what District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka of West Seattle, vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee, said via email:

I want to join Mayor Bruce Harrell in thanking Chief Diaz for his 27 years of faithful service to the SPD and four years as Chief. I fully support Mayor Bruce Harrell’s decision. As I have said before, I am deeply troubled by reports of sexual harassment, discrimination and a toxic culture within SPD. That type of behavior has no place in our police department. I am ready to do everything I can to help support Interim Chief Rahr address those issues and ensure SPD is able to attract and retain the best officers in the country. I look forward to opportunities to partner and to continue our legislative oversight role in ensuring the city has the best police department to serve all our residents.

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FOLLOWUP: New date for Alki Point Healthy Street construction
May 29, 2024 1:00 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Five days after SDOT announced it would add “features” to the Alki Point Healthy Street plan, it’s announced a new construction start date:

As soon as Saturday, June 1, crews will resume installation of the permanent treatments for the Alki Point Healthy Street. This work includes:

-A 10-foot-wide shared walking/rolling space
-Three ADA parking spaces
-Stop controls at intersecting streets
-Pavement markings, parking signs, and striping the public parking lot

Unauthorized on-street parking located within 20 feet of intersections will be removed for new installation. Please visit the project webpage for more information on design elements.

The plan includes two “public parking lots” – along Benton, north of the stormwater-treatment plant, and the existing one by the lighthouse. Meantime, the fate of one Healthy Street location in West Seattle has yet to be decided – Delridge-Highland Park.

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FOLLOWUP: The re-return of Rolf
May 29, 2024 11:02 am
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Two and a half weeks after the rogue statue of Rolf Neslund was found toppled and headless – again – it’s been restored – again. We received this emailed communiqué, photo included, from Lars Fujikawa, in whose name most previous communications have arrived since the original installation in 2020:

Rolf Neslund, Patron Saint of the Broken Bridge, has returned to his semi-rightful place on the West Seattle Bike Path, near the Delridge onramp, below the Pigeon Point Obelisk. ‘

Described as “West Seattle’s Quirkiest Memorial,” this lowest-common-denominator statuary depicts Captain Rolf Neslund, a well-known Duwamish River pilot, who rammed the old West Seattle bridge in June of 1978, retired and went on to an unfair grisly end. Rolf’s likeness was recently knocked down again, and his head stolen by unknown ruffians.

The Delridge Maritime Historical Society, in conjunction with the Center for General Annoyance is proud to once again prop the old fella up. Part Golem, part J.P. Patches, part weird historical footnote, this is Rolf’s third incarnation and sad to say it will likely be his last. The mold broke and there shall be no further grimacing visages of the old pirate. Please visit the Rolf Neslund Plaza and take in its graffitied vistas and stripped wire insulation ambience while you can! Now on a somewhat more secure plinth, he will boldly face his future, where he is likely to be mowed over by Sound Transit’s one-mile theme park mini-train to the Alaska Junction. It just doesn’t work out for Rolf.

We’re just two weeks away from what will be the 46th anniversary of the bridge collision for which Neslund gained infamy, two years before he was murdered by his wife.

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle Public Library says it’s restored some online services
May 29, 2024 9:58 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

An update is just in from Seattle Public Library, one day after SPL announced a “ransomware event” had led to disruption of online and other tech-related services:

May 29: Update on Available Technology Services

www.spl.org is back online. You can now once access our Event Calendar, as well as some digital services, such as online versions of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

Hoopla is accessible. Please note: If you borrow a Hoopla item that isn’t displaying properly, please try 1) logging out of your account and then log in again, or 2) try deleting and redownloading the Hoopla app.

The Library continues working to securely restore more technology services, such as e-books, computers, Wi-Fi, printing and more.

The update was added atop Tuesday’s original SPL post about the disruption.

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Here’s what’s up for your West Seattle Wednesday
May 29, 2024 9:49 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Steve Bender, who says this is a Snow Goose)

Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

‘MAJOR PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT’: Mayor Bruce Harrell says that’s what he’s making at 1 pm today and you can watch live here. According to citywide reporters, the headline will be that SPD Chief Adrian Diaz is out as chief, amid a variety of controversies and lawsuits.

SOUND BATH HEALING: 1 pm at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Bring a mat/small pillow.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: DO fix what IS broke, to reconfigure the saying. Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

ORCA MONTH 2024 – FROM ORCAS TO HUMANS: Free online event 5:30-6:30 pm:

Join the Orca Salmon Alliance and the Salish Sea Institute to kick off Orca Action Month in June and learn how you can help our beloved Southern Resident orcas! Free to attend online. Register here!.

FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.

FREE GROUP RUNS: The weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run welcomes all levels, 6:15 pm.

TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Celebration of Life planned June 13 for Douglas G. Carlstedt, 1949-2024
May 29, 2024 9:04 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather June 13 to remember Doug Carlstedt. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing now:

Douglas George Carlstedt passed away at home on Thursday, May 2, 2024 surrounded by his family after a 10-year battle with kidney disease.

Doug was a lifelong resident of West Seattle where he raised his family alongside his wife, Kate of 49 years. He was a graduate of West Seattle High School, Class of 1967 and attended Highline Community College for 2 years. He made a living working as a Teamster for various local trucking and delivery companies and retired in 2014.

He loved his many friends from the 41st Street tribe where he spent so many summers as a boy playing every game under the sun in the Admiral neighborhood and having adventures in the Fairmont gulley. As an adult, he enjoyed Sundays playing basketball at Hiawatha with Brad, his friends from 41st, and their sons at “Our Lady of the Hoops.”

He was a loving father to Brad and Maria, often coaching their CYO basketball teams at Holy Rosary and attending sporting events when they were students at Bishop Blanchet High School. He was so proud of his kids and was blessed with two new kids who married Brad and Maria, Melissa and Adam. They all started their own families and he was blessed again with three grandkids, Zooey, Miles, and Jackson. He cared for all of the grandkids as babies and was happiest when he was surrounded by his family and close friends; the Smiths; Chews, Jensens; Rabines; and Tunison/Bovenkamps.

He was a kind, humble, decent man who will be missed by his family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 12:30 pm on June 13, 2024 in the chapel at Providence Mount St. Vincent’s in West Seattle.

Please share memories & condolences for Doug at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Douglas-Carlstedt.

Arrangements 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)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Wednesday watch
May 29, 2024 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:24 AM: Thanks for the tip. Crash blocking Avalon at Andover.

Earlier:

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, May 29.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Showers likely, high in the upper 50s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:17 am; sunset will be at 8:57 pm.

=ROAD-WORK REMINDER

*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.

*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:

STADIUM ZONE

If you’re going through SODO tonight, note that the Mariners are home vs. Houston, 6:40 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Work at the Southworth terminal is continuing to close some lanes there.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Low bridge: Open.

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic. (Except the low bridge, for now; SDOT says it’s working on it.)

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!

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SAVE THE DATE: Community celebration planned for state-champion West Seattle High School baseball team
May 28, 2024 9:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Saturday photo by Joe Christian for WSB)

In case you missed the holiday weekend’s biggest story – the West Seattle High School baseball team won the state championship on Saturday night (WSB coverage here). The game was played in Pasco, so not many West Seattle fans could be there to cheer for them, but you’ll get a chance to help celebrate the championship – WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson tells WSB the date is set for a community celebration, 5 pm in the school gym next Monday (June 3). Stand by for more details.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Burglary-arrest followup; hit-run witnesses sought
May 28, 2024 6:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

BURGLARY-ARREST FOLLOWUP: The 47-year-old Puyallup man arrested in Alki on Sunday morning waived his right to appear in court today, so a decision on bail hasn’t been made yet. Meantime, as noted today in an update on our original story, SPD Blotter has posted a few additional details, and we have obtained the probable-cause court document, which includes this narrative:

At the above date and time, officers responded to the duplex residence located at —- 57 Av SW for a reported “in progress” occupied residential burglary.

The suspect was reported to be armed with a knife by (the resident). Officers responded forthwith and located (suspect) in the back yard of (the resident)’s house. (The suspect) was arrested without incident. I then interviewed (the resident), and he described the following series of events. At about 0900 hours, (the resident) was awakened by a “banging” sound outside his house. (The resident) stated that this noise was loud enough for him to hear it over the earplugs he wears to sleep.

(The resident) heard some additional banging and what sounded like footsteps in the yard over the next 15 or so minutes. (the resident) stated that at first he thought it was his landlord doing some work. (the resident) then heard a strange scraping noise at his home’s back door. (the resident) opened the door and saw (the suspect) standing there with a fixed blade knife in his hand. During my investigation, I noted fresh damage to the door that is likely from (the suspect). (the resident) told (the suspect) to leave and (the suspect) raised the knife — pointing it at (the resident). (the resident) slammed the door and called 911. (the resident) armed himself with a firearm, and circled around the house to attempt to detain (the suspect). (the suspect) threatened to kill (the resident) when ordered to get on the ground and drop the knife. The 911 call taker could hear this threat over the phone call. (the suspect) stored the fixed blade knife on his bike and ignored (the resident) until officers arrived. (the suspect) was advised of his Miranda rights and he stated understood.

The probable cause document also notes that law enforcement objects to the suspect’s release because he allegedly “committed two occupied residential burglaries within 12 hours (and) is the suspect in 8 other criminal cases with the Seattle Police Department including Harassment, Residential Burglary, and Robbery.” Incident numbers are mentioned for those last three, and while we don’t have access to the reports, we did cross-reference the numbers to the Twitter/X call log and they are all West Seattle cases – one is the previously mentioned Saturday burglary on Walnut Ave., and the other two are Junction incidents that happened on January 9th.

Also in Crime Watch:

HIT-RUN WITNESSES SOUGHT: One reader report – Beth‘s looking for witnesses in a hit-run:

At 8:00 am on May 27th, I opened my front door to find a note from a next-door neighbor that had heard a car hitting my car at 11:50 pm on the 26th. My parked car was in front of my house near the corner of 51st pl sw and sw Edmunds. They said the crash was very loud so they left their house immediately to investigate. When my neighbor got outside, they viewed several very drunk-looking teens spilling out of a GMC Yukon (plate WA #BWV—-) which was parking only two cars up from mine on 51st pl. My neighbor said that one teen came over to look at my car and then walked back to the other teens My neighbor said that there were other teens arriving over the next 20 min on bikes, scooters and in cars and the teens were crowding around the corner of 51st pl and Edmunds. There ended up being a group of about 20 teens in all. Then the teens proceeded north up the hill on 51st pl to what the witness thought might be a party at a house that has seemed to have teen parties in the past but they were not sure where the teens’ destination was. The van that hit my car was gone in the morning. My car didn’t sustain much body damage but the van managed to break/bend my wheel/axel or something because I can’t move my wheels and my power steering indicator is flashing so the car must’ve hit mine very hard.

Additionally, in (the photo above), you can see that their back passenger side mud flap got ripped off their car when it hit mine and fell off right by my wheel well. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Beth has filed a police report including the full plate number seen by her neighbor. The temporary number was M0322433; we’ll add the permanent number when available.

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COUNTDOWN: Month and a half until West Seattle Summer Fest! See this year’s poster
May 28, 2024 4:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

West Seattle Summer Fest is coming up July 12-14 – and the official poster (by Horsepower Design) is out now!

The main-stage music lineup has already been announced – here’s what was announced two weeks ago. Again this year, the main stage will be up on Friday and Saturday, on California north of Oregon, but the West Seattle Farmers’ Market will take that space on Sunday. There’ll also be a smaller stage with music in Junction Plaza Park. Festival hours will be 1-8 pm Friday (July 12), 10 am-8 pm Saturday (July 13), 10 am-5 pm Sunday (July 14), with music going later on Friday and Saturday nights, last band starting at 10 pm. (Here’s the official neighborhood-event notice.) More festival info in the weeks ahead!

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Open House this Saturday for Hope Lutheran’s new middle-school campus
May 28, 2024 2:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One year after the former Seattle Lutheran High School was taken over by Hope Lutheran (WSB sponsor) as its future middle-school campus, they’re ready to show it off. In case you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar, here’s the announcement for Saturday’s open house:

Hope Lutheran School is hosting an Open House, June 1, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm at their newly purchased north campus (4100 SW Genesee St, formerly Seattle Lutheran High School), which will soon be the new home of Hope Middle School. The property was purchased in June 2023 and has been undergoing renovations in preparation for welcoming students to their first day of school September 3, 2024.

Freshly refurbished classrooms as well as a science lab and art room will be open to the community to tour, and Hope School staff will be onsite to answer questions and talk about the upcoming fall. Applications are still being accepted for grades 6-8 and prospective families can learn more about the preschool through grade 8 school through this link.

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DEVELOPMENT: 1790 Alki; 5617 California
May 28, 2024 12:29 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Two notes from today’s edition of the city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin:

1790 ALKI: A year and a half ago, we mentioned an early-stage proposal for a “4-story apartment building” on parcels at 1790 and 1794 Alki [map], both holding vacant houses. Now an official land-use application has been made for a project described as four stories, 12 units, 18 offstreet parking spaces. Here’s the design proposal. The project is going through Administrative Design Review, so no public meetings, but today’s notice opens a two-week comment period, until June 10; this notice explains how to comment.

5617 CALIFORNIA: Also open for comments through June 10th, the land-use application for 5617 California SW, described as “two 4-story townhouse buildings (6 units) and one 4-story live-work building (3 units)” with four offstreet parking spaces. Here’s the early design proposal; here’s the notice explaining how to comment.

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle Public Library says ‘ransomware event’ keeping its online services offline
May 28, 2024 9:59 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

Commenters pointed out this morning that the Seattle Public Library‘s online outage – which we mentioned on Sunday – continues. SPL has just explained why:

In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 25 — just one day before we were prepared to take our systems offline to conduct planned maintenance on a server over Memorial Day weekend — the Library became aware of a ransomware event affecting our technology systems.

This disruption began impacting access to staff and public computers, our online catalog and loaning system, in-building Wi-Fi, and our website at spl.org.

The Library quickly engaged third-party forensic specialists, contacted law enforcement, and took our systems fully offline to interrupt and better assess the nature and impacts of the event. With our external partners, we continue to investigate the source of this disruption and are working as quickly and diligently as we can to confirm the extent of the impacts and restore full functionality to our systems. Privacy and security of patron and employee information are top priorities.

Until we can ensure the security of these systems, they will remain offline. We do not yet have an estimated time of resolution but will update you here as we are able to bring systems back online.

We are an organization that prides itself on providing you answers, and we are sorry that the information we are can share is limited. At this time, securing and restoring our systems is where we are focused. We will update you in this space as we make progress on that work.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult situation.

We are still open and lending print books and other physical materials!

Despite these challenges, we intend to keep opening our doors as scheduled to welcome you in. You are invited to enjoy our spaces; check out our physical books, CDs and DVDs (using paper forms); and get your reference and referral questions answered to the best of our ability.

Our hard-working staff, whose jobs have become more challenging without technology access, are ready and able to assist you to check out materials and use our spaces and amenities. Although you cannot currently place holds, you are welcome to pick up holds already on the shelves. (One tip: When you visit, please bring your physical library card or library card number.)

Please hold on to your materials a little while longer

Because we cannot currently check physical materials back into our catalog, we encourage you to hold onto them a bit longer. The Library does not charge daily late fines for overdue materials. Once we get back online, we will update due dates for materials.

We apologize in advance that wait times will be impacted as we work to manage a backlog of returned and newly delivered items.

Many explanations of ransomware are available online – here’s one from a company specializing in security.

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The list for your West Seattle Tuesday
May 28, 2024 9:49 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Photo by Eric Bell)

Here’s what’s happening today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings 9 am until noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly meeting of the Seattle City Council, 2 pm. There is a public-comment period – in person or by phone – if there’s something you want to tell the council. The agenda explains how. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.

FREE FLUTE CONCERT: 3 pm at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), community welcome!

MISSION REOPENS: As noted here last night, the restaurant/bar at 2325 California SW reopens at 4 pm under new ownership.

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

FREE INTRODUCTORY ASL CLASSES: This start-any-time series continues, 6 pm at the West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW), info here.

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

FREE TRACK RUN: Run with your neighbors! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

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

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm Tuesdays. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has 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 (tonight – Taylor Swift trivia!); 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You can play 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)

What are YOU planning? Are community members invited? Tell everyone via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Susan G. Nokes, 1953-2024
May 28, 2024 9:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Sue Nokes and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Susan (Sue) Gayle Nokes passed peacefully on May 18, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Sue was born on January 19, 1953 in West Seattle to Bill and Millie Thompson. She was the beloved wife of Brian Cook, mother of Scott (Amanda) Nokes, Jenny (Ron) Henderson, grandmother of Katelyn Nokes, Bailee Nokes, and Reese Henderson, sister of Lynne (Steve) Baylor, Stuart (Lynn) Thompson, and a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. 


Sue attended Genesee Elementary, Madison Middle School, and West Seattle High School, graduating in 1971. After high school, Sue received a Dental Assistant Certification and worked in Seattle and Des Moines. Sue loved watching sports on television and could not be disturbed if the Seahawks were playing. In her retirement, Sue lived with her husband, Brian, on Harstine Island, where she enjoyed watching the animals on her little farm. 


Sue was a kind person with an outgoing and fun personality. She will be deeply missed. In her memory, please consider making a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of 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)

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