West Seattle, Washington
29 Sunday
City policy requires Community Advisory Committees be set up for sites like the tiny-house village Camp Second Chance and the planned tiny-house/RV-lot Glassyard Commons, both in southeast West Seattle. These groups’ meetings are meant to be a monthly opportunity to get updates on what’s happening at the sites and surface any community concerns. Participation in the Camp Second Chance CAC has long lagged; two community members were at its monthly online meeting on Tuesday afternoon, along with reps from LIHI, which operates CSC and will operate Glassyard Commons. We watched the meeting for the first time in months. Here’s what we heard: 82 people are living at the 9701 Myers Way S. site right now – and 24 pets, it was noted. Five tiny houses are vacant but not because of a shortage of prospective residents; the previous occupants left belongings behind and CSC has had some kind of issue – about to be resolved, participants were assured – storing them. Tiny houses are meant to be a stepping stone to permanent housing, and the LIHI reps said that’s pending for 12 CSC residents, including two who recently secured full-time employment. The prospective housing ranges from an apartment building that LIHI is managing to a voucher to help with rental housing in Snohomish County. Another unique housing placement: They’re in the process of finding an adult care home for a camp resident with a brain injury. One community concern surfaced – getting the city to deal with an unsanctioned encampment on city property outside the CSC fence. The meeting lasted less than a half-hour; next one is at 4 pm April 28, and you can get on the list for the link – or ask about advisory committee participation – by emailing marta@lihi.org.
The photos and report are from Natalie:
We had our townhouse group mailbox broken into overnight around 3:30 am 3/25 at Brandon/California. We have video and it appears they had keys to just open the whole set of 4 mailboxes. USPS case number 86835698 if anyone recognizes them; attached are photos of the car and 2 individuals that opened and stole from our box.
There was a third person in the car that never left the vehicle. We couldn’t read the plate from the video. A reminder to bring your mail in daily.
(Photo sent by K Smith)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
REMINDER – WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks start from 47th/Fontanelle (so if you didn’t see this in the calendar and missed it because of our late list today, here’s your reminder for next week).
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, play at the new location of Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
MYSTERY CLUB AT THE LIBRARY: 2:30 pm, fun for tweens at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: From the Metro League schedule today: Two baseball games at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), West Seattle HS vs. Cleveland at 2:30, Chief Sealth IHS vs. Seattle Academy at 5 pm.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of throwing it out! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
HIGHLAND PARK WAY PROJECT @ HPAC: Project reps from SDOT will be the main guests at tonight’s HPAC meeting, 6 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), to talk about the Highland Park Way hill lane-conversion project (here’s our latest report).
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Want to talk about our city’s growth, present and future, as the City Council reviews round 2 of rezoning? You’re invited to this 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: 6 pm at the West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), non-members welcome too.
KUNDALINI YOGA: Now at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Get moving at midweek – go on the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces!
HUM-IN PROTEST: This gathering is for protesting via sound vibration, 6:30-7 pm Wednesdays at Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW and SW Alaska).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
HOLY HOUR FOR PEACE: The community is welcome to join in this contemplative event to follow Pope Leo’s exhortation to “dare peace.” 7 pm to 8 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th SW and SW Myrtle).
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle trivia venues tonight starting with a special Wednesday night edition of Easy Street Records‘ Music Quiz, 6:30 and 7:30 pm … Also: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), free to play, cash prizes … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … And trivia starts at 8:30 pm at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: The stage is yours at West Seattle’s longest-running open mic! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: Sing at the pub starting at 8:45 pm, after trivia. (2306 California SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, Saturday)
If you took recyclables and/or shreddable paper to last Saturday’s event at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, you were one of 503 participants. The local organizations’ partners at Waste Management also reported, “We saw 84% of residents coming from single-family homes, 11% of residents coming from apartments/condominiums, and 5% of residents coming from townhomes. The most popular items that were donated by number of households were appliances/electronics, shredded paper, and batteries/lightbulbs. The least popular items were propane canisters and clothing/textiles. An interesting note is that we saw a 50% reduction in the amount of foam collected (likely due to less amount of Styrofoam packaging being created).”
If you missed it, there’s annther big free-dropoff recycling event coming up in a month, the spring Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), exactly one month away, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, April 25 – here’s the list of what will and won’t be accepted.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Showery and breezy, high around 50, possible afternoon thunderstorms. Sunrise at 7:01 am; sunset at 7:29 pm.
(Tuesday just before sunset – photo by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes. The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is now on its spring/summer schedule, with 3 boats on weekends as well as weekdays.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes. Note that this Saturday brings Metro’s service change, with buses changing from Barton to Trenton in preparation for the repaving project.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge (fully open but 25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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!
(WSB photos)
The sun appeared in time for this evening’s big crosstown competition in boys’ soccer, Chief Sealth International High School (blue) hosting West Seattle High School (white) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
Head Coach Shaun Spencer‘s Wildcats came into the match undefeated and finished it that way, shutting out interim Head Coach Cade Cooke‘s Seahawks 2-0. Oliver Miller (sophomore, #18) and Judah Director (senior, #11) had the goals for WSHS.
Both teams play their next matches on Wednesday (March 26) – WSHS hosting Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW and SW Myrtle), Chief Sealth visiting Franklin at 5 pm.
6:34 PM: The Hall at Fauntleroy is abuzz with people snacking and learning. Local food purveyors and nonprofit community groups/agencies are ringing the big room at the south end of the historic schoolhouse for the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual meeting, which has evolved into more of a mini-festival known as the Food Fest. If you live, work, play, or study in Fauntleroy, this is the time and place to learn about community contributions not only by the FCA but by everyone else who’s here, while enjoying bites from local food purveyors (including Endolyne Joe’s, Wildwood Market, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering – whose parent company DSquared operates The Hall – Village Green West Seattle, The Birdhouse, and The Unsweetened Tooth. We are based here at a table by the entrance and. took a quick spin around the room to see who’s here – participants include Washington State Ferries, the Fauntleroy Watershed Council, Nature Alliance, The Whale Trail, Fauntleroy Fall Festival, Seal Sitters, Seattle Emergency Hubs, A Cleaner Alki, Fauntleroy Children’s Center, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, photographer Jamison Johnson, and Seattle Police. In addition to learning and snacking, this is also about supporting – the FCA is happy to sign up new members at the entrance table (or renew existing memberships, both business and individual. They also will conduct some business a bit later – the vote for next year’s. board. Updates to come!
6:53 PM: Gotta show you the food at Food Fest. Above, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering’s jojo poutine; below, Wildwood Market proprietor Lonjina with tomato, basil, and housemade croutons:
Caprese from Village Green West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Endolyne Joe brought fried chicken and mac and cheese:
The Birdhouse (whose Amber Heinemann is on the FCA board) brought desserts:
And The Unsweetened Tooth had chocolate/peanut-butter treats without sugar:
Fronting on the water, Fauntleroy is a place to see sea life, which is why you can talk to Seal Sitters reps here …
And Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail …
Among others!
7:37 PM: The event is wrapping up – the FCA board election is in the books; more on that when we get back to HQ.
Tomorrow night, as previewed here, SDOT will be at HPAC‘s monthly meeting to talk about the Highland Park Way lane-conversion project, which would convert the outside downhill travel lane to bicycle/pedestrian space. On the eve of the meeting, they’ve just published their recap (ours is here) of their recent online meeting about the project, including a new option for the bottom-of-hill end of the project:
Introducing Option 2B: A Direct Response to Feedback
In response to feedback about wanting Highland Park Way SW to be both safer for everyone and not increase vehicle queues getting through West Marginal Way SW, our team has developed a new hybrid alternative: Option 2B.
Design features of Option 2B:
-Increased Intersection Capacity: At the bottom of the hill, the single downhill lane opens into three vehicular lanes (one left-turn lane and two through-lanes).
-Downhill Bike Lane A downhill bike lane remains protected by Jersey barriers to the intersection with West Marginal Way SW.
-Adjusted Channelization: We are removing the center median to accommodate the extra through-lane. Additionally, we are removing one of the westbound left-turn lanes at the W Marginal Way SW intersection to make space for the three eastbound vehicle lanes and the protected bike lane.
Next Steps and Feedback Opportunity
We are now evaluating three options for the intersection approach at W Marginal Way SW. You can view the trade-offs between Option 1, Option 2, and the new Option 2B on our project website.
SDOT offers three ways you can comment:
Email: HighlandHolden@seattle.gov
Hotline: 206-900-8741
Online Form: Submit your comments through the Project Feedback Form
Meantime, tomorrow’s HPAC meeting is at 6 pm (Wednesday, March 25) at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
Thanks to Meagan for the initial picture and tip about that tree down across 18th and Holden on this breezy day. As we wrote this, we got another photo, from Erika, who says the tree is between Holden and Kenyon:
Meagan mentioned the tree taking down wires; no power outages mapped in the area so far.
This week’s closure of what’s currently West Seattle’s only off-leash area at Westcrest Park led to several readers asking for a schedule update on what’ll be the second local dog park, just south of West Seattle Stadium. The last update had suggested construction would start this spring, but there’s been no sign that was indeed imminent, and as of yesterday, the project website hadn’t been updated in more than half a year. So we asked Seattle Parks. They tell us the construction schedule has now slid to next year: “Construction is now expected to start in early 2027 and be complete by Fall 2027.” What’s happening right now? “We are currently preparing review of 60% Design documents … and expect to go to bid in December of this year.” This info will be added to signage on the site, and – since our inquiry – has been added today to a new “engagement hub” project page (to which the previous project page points). It’s been two years since the site was chosen.
(WSB photo: 2024 event featuring food harvested at PREP)
Much of the food grown at our area’s one-of-a-kind Puget Ridge Edible Park [map] is donated to West Seattle Food Bank to feed those in need – but somebody has to harvest it, and Stu Hennessey is hoping for more helping hands this season. Here’s his community invitation:
Harvest fresh vegetables for the West Seattle Food Bank! Come to Puget Ridge Edible Park every Thursday from 5 to 7 pm to help harvest a variety of fresh, healthy, and nutrient-rich food for Friday morning delivery at the West Seattle Food Bank. This Seattle public park produces an abundance of the healthiest vegetables, some of which you will never find in a store. Enough for the volunteers to share as well. Contact Stu Hennessey, alkistu1@gmail.com
(Image from Google Maps Street View)
12:42 PM: Just announced by Mayor Katie Wilson‘s office, what was César Chávez Park in South Park will be renamed, and the accused-of-abuse labor leader’s name will be removed effective immediately. From the announcement:
In response to the allegations of sexual abuse recently reported against César Chávez, the City of Seattle and King County have agreed to remove his name from the park located in the South Park neighborhood, effective immediately. This action comes at the urging of City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck and County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.
The City and County stand with the survivors who have come forward and are committed to ensuring that our public spaces reflect the values of dignity, safety, and justice that our communities hold. Working in close partnership with community members and local organizations, the City and County will lead an inclusive process to rename the park.
The announcement quotes Councilmember Rinck, whose council seat represents the entire city, as saying, “Renaming César Chávez Park is not simply about changing signage, it’s about redefining who we choose to honor in shared public spaces and how those choices reflect our values as we are forced to reexamine history.” The park, dedicated in 2008, is at 700 S. Cloverdale [map]. Its webpage already has been removed from the city website.
2:58 PM: And now, just a few hours later, Seattle Parks has announced it’s accepting suggestions for the park’s new name. From the announcement:
… SPR invites community members to submit potential park names to the Parks Naming Committee for consideration.
The Parks Naming Committee evaluates proposed names using criteria outlined in the City’s Park Naming Policy. The committee may consider names that reflect:
The history of the land
Distinct natural or geological features
The park’s geographical location
Historical or cultural significance
Under the Park Naming Policy, facilities may also be named after a person if two primary conditions are met: the individual has been deceased for a minimum of three years, and they made a significant contribution to parks, recreation, or culture in the local community. …
Suggestions can be sent via email – PKS_BPRC@seattle.gov is the address.
(2025 WSB photo, Lincoln Park)
In recent years, Eastridge Church‘s egg-hunt extravaganza at Lincoln Park, usually the Saturday before Easter, has been the biggest one in West Seattle. We noticed when compiling information for the first list we published that it wasn’t mentioned anywhere on Eastridge’s website – neither for its West Seattle church nor its Eastside main campus. We asked Eastridge’s Heather Westad, who replied, “We are moving away from doing egg hunts this year and trying other things on Sunday morning during service. In West Seattle the kids will have a simple hunt during the service that ties in with the church gathering and other kids Easter activities.” So no Lincoln Park hunt this year, but so far our list has nine others, on March 28, April 3, and April 4 – see the lineup here.
10:04 AM: The weather’s a lot murkier than Monday, but Kersti Muul says the lone gray whale is “extremely close to shore,” heading north, off Beach Drive, in the Emma Schmitz Overlook/Me-Kwa-Mooks vicinity. See photos in our Monday report if you’re not sure what to look for!
12:05 PM: The gray whale is now off Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW, also home to the Water Taxi dock), according to a comment below.
9:29 PM: Photos by Steven Rice added (thank you!).
(Monday Alki photo by Bob Burns)
Event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE: Want your little one to play indoors on this drippay day? This free playspace is open until noon for little ones and their caregivers. (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Canceled today.
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.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today with City Councilmember Rob Saka . (4470 35th SW)
LEARN ABOUT AVIATION MAINTENANCE AT SSC: Online information session about South Seattle College’s Aviation Maintenance program, 1-2 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to register to get the participation link.
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ‘OFFICE HOURS’: Talk to a city rep 2-5 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
CITY COUNCIL: Across the bay at City Hall, at 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Crosstown competition with West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth IHS‘s boys-soccer teams facing off at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 5 pm. Also at NCSWAC, CSIHS softball hosts Rainier Beach, 4 pm.
MEDICARE MADE CLEAR: Informational event at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), 4-5 pm
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
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.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOOD FEST: Annual FCA meeting, with free tastes/bites from local purveyors, plus info tables with local nonprofits and other “civic-minded organizations.” 6-8 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
SIP AND PAINT YOUR PETS: 6 pm at Elliott Bay Brewing (4720 California SW) in The Junction, bring a pic of your pet(s) to paint – tickets here (still available as of publication time).
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL: Continuing weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW and
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.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you don’t work for Boeing – email to RSVP.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group meditation at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm, listen to new music by Snail Mail, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 5: Five places for trivia on Tuesdays – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 pm 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) … Trivia at Christos on Alki (2508 Alki SW), 7:15 pm.
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photos courtesy Friends of Roxhill Elementary)
Roxhill Elementary‘s students will benefit from your bidding in the online auction that’s on now. Here’s the announcement!
online fundraising auction is on now through Friday, April 3 at 8:00 pm.
Our “RoxStar” students need support now more than ever. This year, we are raising money to improve our outdoor play space, which is currently all blacktop and concrete (photo above) with no green space or welcoming murals. Funds raised will also replenish our general fund, which we use for community-building events, classroom grants, and more. Thanks to many generous West Seattle businesses, every dollar raised goes directly back to help the students, teachers, and families who make up the vibrant Roxhill school community.
Items available for bidding include:
-Classic Seattle experiences including Seafair Festival Package, Argosy Cruises, and an Alki kayak tour
-Family outings to the zoo, aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, MoPOP, and more
-Birthday party packages + kids art/music classes and camps
-Sounders, Reign, and Kraken single-game tickets or Junction FC and Rhodies season tickets!
-Romantic date nights + restaurant, and cafe gift certificates
-Practical services for your home and family
-Donation funds to improve Roxhill’s outdoor space
Buy something you’re already planning to get or treat yourself. Every item supports local students!
Bid on items now. (Use the “Max Bid” feature for fast and easy bidding.)
Friends of Roxhill Elementary (FORE) is the 501(c)(3) Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) that supports the students, staff, and families of Roxhill Elementary School at E.C. Hughes. Auction questions may be sent to auction.fore@gmail.com.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy and breezy, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:03 am; sunset at 7:26 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes. The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is now on its spring/summer schedule, with 3 boats on weekends as well as weekdays.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge (fully open but 25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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!
The seasons have changed and Westside Neighbors Shelter in The Triangle is about to change too. The shelter at 3618 SW Alaska ha sent a mult-part update with that news and more:
(Photo courtesy Westside Neighbors Shelter)
Spring is here, which means the Westside Neighbors Shelter cold-weather emergency overnight shelter is about to close for the 2025-26 season. And some big changes are in the works!
–The last night for dinner and overnight stays at Westside Neighbors Shelter is March 31. The cots will be dismantled and stored until next winter. After March 31, the shelter will be open only for Warm-Up Center from 7 to 11 am, and closed the rest of the day.
–The Warm-Up Center will continue each day until April 15. Then, the shelter will close completely for several weeks of facility improvements such as bathroom remodeling, kitchen cleaning, door lock changes, and shelter policy development. No meals or services will be provided during this temporary closure.
–After improvements are made, the Warm-Up Center will RE-OPEN 7 to 11 am daily for breakfast, showers, assistance with forms and housing, and clothing help, on a date to be announced soon.
–Dinner Church will continue at the Legion Hall Fridays at 5 pm throughout the year (except during the operational shutdown in April). This is the only night an evening meal will be served.
Thanks to all the volunteers who worked to provide the evening meal for our clients. The West Seattle faith community especially stepped forward and played a crucial role in getting people fed!
More info about the shelter, including volunteering and donating, is on its website.
As announced by Seattle Parks, West Seattle’s only dog park is closed this week for work. That work at Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area involves bringing in new wood chips for the “terraced area,” but leaving the small/shy-dog area open this week for all dogs to use.
Reopening is expected by Friday. Meantime, what will be West Seattle’s second off-leash area, south of West Seattle Stadium, is in the planning phase; we’re following up with Parks on the latest construction timeline.
Madison Middle School‘s interim principal will become its permanent principal. Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner made that announcement today, as published on the Madison website:
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Pierce has been selected as the new principal for Madison Middle School.
Since October, Dr. Pierce has been serving as the interim principal at Madison. In this time, he has worked to build strong relationships and effectively lead and support the range of programs at Madison. Prior to this experience, Dr. Pierce served as assistant principal at Rainier Beach High School. Dr. Pierce has extensive experience as a Principal and Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist with the Tulare County Office of Education in California. Across these roles, he has led curriculum development, supported teacher growth, managed budgets and school operations, and implemented data-driven, equity-centered instructional practices. Together, his education and professional experiences demonstrate a sustained dedication to literacy, instructional leadership, and systemic school improvement.
Dr. Pierce earned his Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California (2019), where his dissertation evaluated the impact of quality literacy instruction in juvenile court schools, reflecting his commitment to advancing equitable outcomes for underserved student populations. He also earned a Master of Arts in Reading with Distinction from California State University, Fresno (2013), focusing on strategies to close the achievement gap for struggling adolescent learners, and a Bachelor of Arts in English (Literature) from Sonoma State University (2002).
Dr. Pierce is committed to building on the strengths of the Madison community and is looking forward to working with Madison students, staff, families and community members to make a difference for each student, every day. Dr. Pierce will continue in his current leadership role the remainder of this school year with his official start date as the permanent principal beginning on July 1, 2026.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Pierce to the Madison Middle School community.
The announcement did not mention Madison’s previous principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr., who had led the school for 12 years when he departed on what was announced as “health leave” six months ago.
A happier anniversary is days away – Arthur’s in Admiral celebrates nine years in business this Saturday. Leading up to the celebration, Arthur’s proprietor Rebecca Rice has brought back $5 draft beers, “a throwback to pricing back in 2017 when we opened!” That’s continuing until month’s end, but Saturday, March 28, is the big celebration day, with “a few additional throwbacks and celebratory bits, nothing overly formal, just hoping to provide a great excuse for people to come by, grab a drink, and celebrate with us.” Arthur’s (2311 California SW) will be open for its weekend brunch, 9 am to 3 pm, that day.
(WSB photo, March 2020),
March 23 is a day not to be forgotten by West Seattleites – the day in 2020 that we suddenly lost access to the high bridge, not to be reopened for two and a half years. When it closed with only hours’ notice because of concerns over cracks that SDOT said had been developing for years, city leaders had no idea how long it would stay closed, nor even – initially – what it would take to enable reopening. Ultimately, reinforcement work was done to address concerns that the bridge might even fall apart; then-Mayor Jenny Durkan subsequently had to decide whether to pursue replacing or repairing the bridge, and ultimately settled on the latter, at a cost of $67 million.
(2022 WSB photo)
The bridge reopened on September 17, 2022, so it’s been open 3 1/2 years since that 2 1/2-year closure. As we have done in advance of past closure anniversaries, we checked in with SDOT. First, here’s their general confirmation of how the bridge is going, in response to our inquiry:
The West Seattle Bridge remains safe and strong. We are still performing regular inspections of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge and continuously observe the bridge remotely with an intelligent monitoring system of sensors installed at key locations which detect different kinds of movement.
(2021 photo from then-advisory committee member Anne Higuera)
Neither the in-person inspections or the remote sensors have identified any unexpected issues or cause for concern.
You might recall that preliminary work was done toward a potential replacement, for a jump-start in case the mayor had decided to go that way. We asked if that’s been revisited lately.
The West Seattle Bridge Replacement Study provided valuable insight into the complexity of potentially replacing the structure. It was important to create this contingency plan to make sure we were prepared to pivot quickly if the repair effort had not gone according to plan, which we were fortunate did not occur. We have no immediate plans to update this study because the bridge is now in stable condition and all evidence indicates that the repaired bridge will stand strong for decades to come.
Specifically, it remains projected that the high bridge will last at least until 2060. Meantime, the low bridge has had sporadic trouble, even after maintenance and upgrades in the past few years, and we have an inquiry out to SDOT regarding what’s ahead for that bridge.
Bidding has just begun in the online component of this year’s Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA fundraising auction – with a goal to “Bring Back to Music“! In harmony with the theme, this year’s online and in-person auction offerings include two items signed by members of Pearl Jam, donated by its frontman – including the guitar shown above. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you today:
Arbor Heights Elementary School is rallying community support to help bring music back to its students.
Due to district budget cuts, the school had to make difficult decisions for the 2025–2026 school year, including eliminating its music program. For Arbor Heights students, families, and staff, that loss has been deeply felt. Music is more than enrichment — it builds confidence, fosters connection, sparks joy, and supports learning across subjects.
That is the inspiration behind this year’s Arbor Heights PTSA auction theme: Bring Back the Music! The PTSA is working to raise as much money as possible to help reinstate the school’s music program.
The annual auction will be held on March 28, 2026, at The Hall at Fauntleroy and will include dinner, games, a live auction, an online silent auction, and a raise-the-paddle fundraiser.
The effort has even caught the attention of a famous neighbor. Musician Eddie Vedder has generously donated a Fender electric guitar signed by all five members of Pearl Jam (photo above), along with a poster also signed by the band (photo below). The signed guitar will be featured in the live auction on March 28.
While the event is currently sold out, there are still ways to support the cause. Arbor Heights is offering proxy/remote bidding for the live auction, including the signed guitar. Those interested in proxy bidding can contact ahptatreasurer1@gmail.com.
Community members can also support Arbor Heights by making a monetary donation through the Arbor Heights PTSA or by participating in the online silent auction. Your support is appreciated!
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