West Seattle, Washington
22 Monday
Just in from Mayor-elect Katie Wilson – she’s chosen a new interim SDOT director, and decided to keep two other department heads. From the announcement:
My administration is committed to building a transportation network that allows every person in every neighborhood to safely and reliably get where they want to go, whether they use transit, walk, bike, roll, or drive. We have the opportunity to move quickly to shape Seattle’s transportation future in line with this vision. In just the next year, Sound Transit will make key decisions regarding West Seattle and Ballard Link, our Seattle (Transit) Measure will be up for renewal, and we’ll continue to deliver on projects across the city that were funded through the recent transportation levy.
Success on this quick timeline will require strong operational expertise, which is why I am excited to announce Angela Brady as Interim SDOT Director to lead on these critical issues in 2026. Angela comes to SDOT from the Office of the Waterfront, Civic Projects and Sound Transit, where she oversaw implementation of the new Waterfront Park, and where she currently serves as the City of Seattle’s Designated Representative to Sound Transit. Angela is committed to addressing our maintenance backlog, and shares my vision of world-class transit, a citywide network of protected bike lanes, safe and accessible sidewalks, great pedestrian spaces, and housing-rich neighborhoods packed with amenities. I want to thank Adiam Emery for her dedicated service to the SDOT and the City of Seattle.
(Brady is quoted as saying:) “I am honored to be selected for this critical role with the new administration, particularly at such a pivotal and exciting time for our city. I have worked tirelessly through many years of community engagement, planning, design, and construction to successfully deliver on major investments that will forever shape Seattle’s waterfront and our city’s identity and I am thrilled to be able to offer my leadership and expertise toward delivering on SDOT’s commitments to the public as part of the Seattle Transportation Levy and so much more. I want to thank Mayor-elect Wilson for trusting me with this important role, and I am truly looking forward to working in partnership with her, other city departments, communities, and key agency partners as we continue working to ensure efficient and safe access to all modes of travel in Seattle.”
According to the city announcement of Brady’s promotion a year ago to the role she’s leaving, she “has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington, is a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington State, and is also a licensed Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute.”
Wilson’s announcement also includes her decisions to keep Tanya Kim as head of the Human Services Department:
Reducing unsheltered homelessness will be a top priority for my administration. We particularly need to take quick action to open new emergency housing and shelter beds ahead of the World Cup in June 2026. Success will require close collaboration between my administration, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, service providers, the business community, and many other stakeholders. To partner with my office in this work, I am retaining Seattle Human Services Department Director Tanya Kim. Together, I am confident that we can provide people the care they need, in dignified settings, and bring proven solutions to scale.
And she’s keeping Dr. Dwane Chappelle as head of the Department of Education and Early Learning.
Those rocks are what police say they found in the pocket of a 49-year-old man who is in the King County Jail this afternoon, accused of window vandalism in The Junction on Tuesday. We heard some of the incident play out on police radio and requested the report narrative today. It says a 911 call came in at 12:47 pm Tuesday about a business window that had just been broken at Washington Management Company in the 4500 block of California SW, by a man subsequently seen “throwing rocks from the roadway at cars and passeersby.” With a description, police found the suspect near 40th SW and SW Oregon. The report narrative says employees of the business had confronted the suspect after the window was broken, and described him as “mumbling to himself and appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis,” the officer wrote. They said he ran away after being confronted; one witness had taken a phone photo and sent it to police to help identify the suspect. Police arrested him and found “a handful of rocks” in his pocket before taking him to the King County Jail, where he was booked for investigation of malicious mischief.
According to the police report, the business estimated replacing the large broken window will cost about $3,000. We’ve been working on a story about other businesses who’ve dealt with similar crimes and the city program that attempts to help with the cost. We hope to publish that report later today. Meantime, the suspect is likely to have had a probable-cause hearing today, and we’ll update with any results of that.
This is not going to be your standard student concert, promise the parents who are hoping for a good turnout for a first-of-its kind event – “Winter Sealthstice” – Thursday night. “It’s going to be beautiful and fun and all for a good cause!” enthuses Jaeney Hoene of the booster group Denny Sealth Performing Arts. It’s in our Event Calendar and Holiday Guide already, and here’s a preview from DSPA:
Chief Sealth International High School is presenting their first annual “Winter Sealthstice” concert! The concert features all music groups in the Performing Arts program: Jazz 1 and 2, Choir, Orchestra, and Symphonic Band. Along with separate performances, three pieces in the program will combine groups: Two that include Band, Orchestra, and Choir altogether!
Donations at the door will support our rapidly growing programs. This year, so many students joined Jazz Band that it has split into Jazz 1 and Jazz 2. Students will travel this year to the Disneyland Music Program and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Groups perform at events throughout the area (look for one at Nordstrom on 12/20!). But robust growth is not matched by robust performing-arts funding. We need community support to keep our teachers and students supported with uniforms, sheet music, instruments, and LOVE so that they can focus on the music!
Please join us to have a great time and to help grow the performing arts in our community! Happy Sealthstice!
CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle; the auditorium is on the southwest side of campus, west of the main parking lot.
(WSB photos/video by Tracy Record)
Another special holiday delivery from Nucor Steel (WSB sponsor) workers to West Seattleites. Last week’s recipients were at the West Seattle Food Bank; today, Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor), where gifts from a Giving Tree in the local steel mill’s lobby were delivered this past hour. That’s welcome assistance for the most famous Christmas gift-giver of all, Santa Claus himself, who was there with The Mount’s Molly Swain and team:
Santa even had a song for the occasion:
The gifts we could see – which will be wrapped before distribution – were mostly practical items, but Swain tells us Nucor workers also donated gift cards that will be used for very special wishes. She says the gifts are all destined for residents in 24-hour nursing care, average age 94, and will be presented on Christmas Eve: “Why shouldn’t Christmas be as special in your 90s as in childhood?”
(Added: WCN/WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
After a reader tip about a massive King County Sheriff’s Office response at Evergreen High School in White Center, we checked with KCSO – they say they found guns on campus and detained people but no one’s been hurt. We’re updating this on our partner site White Center Now.
(The Olympics this morning, photographed by James Bratsanos)
Here’s our Wednesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide (if we’re missing something – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!):
FAUNTLEROY FESTIVAL OF TREES: Until noon, the Fauntleroy Church hall is open for viewing this year’s trees and “voting” for your favorite by placing nonperishable food donations beneath it. (9140 California SW)
WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: Bring donations of warm clothing in the bin at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (3435 California SW; WSB sponsor), 9 am-5 pm weekdays.
HOLIDAY ROOM SELFIES: Drop-in DIY photo ops at Curious Kidstuff (4740 California SW), 10 am-6 pm: “Head to Curious Kidstuff for a magical photo opportunity in a festive holiday room. Drop your letter to Santa in the special North Pole mailbox, and enter to win a giant PomPom Penguin!”
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is our weekly last-minute reminder, so would-be walkers can be there next Wednesday morning!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
FREE LUNCHTIME WORKSHOP: “Living and Leading in Alignment with Your Values,” noon at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor): “Rather than focusing solely on what you do or achieve, this session centers on how you want to feel — in your work, your relationships, and your daily life.”
ONLINE INFO SESSION ABOUT SSC: Want to know more about learning at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? 12:30 pm online info session today! Our calendar listing has info on how to register for the participation link.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, play at the newly reopened Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
MONTHLY ALL-AGES MOVIE: Watch “Frozen” at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), 2:30 pm.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), drop-in help for students.
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix 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).
SANTA PHOTOS AT SEASIDE GRILL HOLIDAY PARTY: Holiday celebration at Alki restaurant – 6-10 pm, Santa photos for free and other holiday-party fun. (2820 Alki SW)
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, drop in and create! If you want some inspiration, this month’s spotlight project, if you don’t have is a trio of personalized holiday-tree ornaments. (3400 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: You’re invited to this 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Get moving in the middle of the week – the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) is tonight – all welcome, regardless what pace you run at!
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: Second of two WSCO fall/winter concerts, both free admission (“donations gratefully accepted”) – Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra at 7 pm tonight at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle).
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
KUNDALINI YOGA: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
TRIVIA x 5: We have five West Seattle trivia spots on our Wednesday list: at Future Primitive Beach Bar (2536 Alki SW), 7 pm, free to play … 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), free to play … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, it’s trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth IHS girls have a home game vs. Ballard, 7:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 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. (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 (and Holiday Guide too, if it’s seasonal)! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Colleen for the photo. She reports, “Downed tree blocking 22nd Ave between Cambridge and Roxbury. Access to Community School West Seattle is from Roxbury only.” (Here’s a vicinity map.)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET, WITH WIND ALERT
The National Weather Service wind alert for our area continues until 10 am:
*Wind Advisory says 20-30 mph southwest wind, gusting to 40 mph, is still possible until mid-morning..
The forecast otherwise is for a chance of rain and snow, high in the 40s.
Sunrise will be at 7:52 am; sunset at 4:18 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY, WITH FERRY ALERT
Washington State Ferries – UPDATE: Southworth has reopened, as noted in a comment. Meantime, the Triangle Route will continue on two boats until further notice. WSF’s alerts page has the details; Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Metro buses – They’re on the regular weekday schedule and routes in our area, although the flooding elsewhere in King County has had some effects.
West Seattle Water Taxi – 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!
Tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight falls on Lacey‘s house, another past favorite that’s added more for this season:
We have our Whoville display up on 18th Ave SW, between Roxbury and SW 98th St.
I have added another full-size Grinch this year and improved upon my Whoville theme. I’m always adding a little more, and it’s fun to see during the day as well! I have been battling rain, wind, and the squirrels chewing all of my lights. Anyone else having this problem??
I made some plywood cutout Who houses with lights, still working on the last one. As a kid growing up in WS, the Charlie Brown display was one of my favorites to visit. My Who houses are inspired from memories of visiting that display. As the years go on, I’m sure the village will grow!
I do a big Halloween display and this year we had so much fun having people walk through the yard and bring donations for White Center Food bank. If the weather is clear enough next Saturday, I will set up a selfie area with the Grinch in Whoville and would love for people to bring donations for WC Food Bank and take photos. I’ll update the Blog later in the week.
If that happens, we’ll include it in the event list we publish every morning, too. Meantime, thanks yet again to everyone sending tips and/or photos about decoration displays – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to send them. (And scroll this WSB archive to see what we’ve shown already.)
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB
As previusly noted, West Seattle High School hosted crosstown counterpart Chief Sealth International High School for a basketball doubleheader last night. Photojournalist Oliver Hamlin was at both games for WSB. We’re publishing separate reports – here are our photos from the girls’ varsity game – and now, boys’ varsity. WSHS won this game too, 63-51, though the top two scorers were from Chief Sealth – Adnaan Mohamed with 17:
And Julonnie Passmore with 16:
Top scorers for West Seattle, each with 12 points, were Gabe Kearney (who scored all but two in the first quarter):
And Owen Merta:
Right behind for the Wildcats was Sully Pond:
The Seahawks got 9 points from Koby Ioane and 6 from Silas Lee (on two 3’s):
Cruz Palepoi netted 7 for West Seattle and Gee Nichols had 2 for Chief Sealth:
Head coach Rick Ticeson‘s Wildcats are now 2-3:
And head coach Ja’Lyn Combs‘s Seahawks are 1-5:
Here’s the Metro League schedule for the rest of the week.
(File photo of M/V Kaleetan, by Gary Jones)
In Washington State Ferries‘ latest weekly update, WSF recapped that the Triangle Route, in its second week of 2-boat service, won’t be back to three boats “until another vessel is available.” That’s likely going to be a while, as one of its oldest boats, M/V Kaleetan (assigned currently to the San Juans), is undergoing emergency repairs that the weekly update says are likely to take until “late December.” As WSF boss Steve Nevey said in his own weekly update, “We need new boats.” The first of its next round of new boats isn’t expected to be ready until 2030. Meantime, WSF has set the date for its next online systemwide community meetings, which usually start with a variety of updates and then spend a significant amount of time on Q&A. They’ll have afternoon and evening versions of the same meeting on Wednesday, January 21: “WSF leaders will recap 2025, share updates on new boats and construction projects, and take questions from the public.” You can register for the noon meeting here, or the 6 pm meeting here. (Here’s our coverage of the most-recent one, back in October.)
We’ve had multiple reader reports lately involving garage break-ins. They’ve all been at private residences. But we were working early Sunday morning when we heard police-radio traffic about a possible garage burglary at a business.
We weren’t able to confirm it until the report was made available today. It happened at the Jiffy Lube in The Junction, at 40th SW and SW Alaska, reported just before 5:30 am Sunday. From the report narrative:
…The call notes read: AT JIFFY LUBE SOUTH OF, 2 SUBJS BROKE BACK WINDOW, ATTEMPTING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR.
I arrived on scene and observed the back garage door open with glass shattered around the inside and outside of the building. Upon entering the building, it appeared that the computer was tampered with. We swept the building to see if anyone was inside. It was unoccupied. … I also observed a cut lock just inside the bay door.
Officers met with XXXX, XXXX, who stated that he lives [nearby]. He saw three individuals approximately 6’0” tall, wearing all black and driving a black or blue Mazda sedan. He also stated one of the individuals was carrying what appeared to be bolt cutters. He witnessed them taking what looked like a register cash drawer and then saw the car leave and drive eastbound on Alaska St. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle.
Police weren’t able to reach owners/managers immediately but were hopeful of obtaining video from what appeared to be operational security cameras. If you have any information, the SPD case # is 2025-365336.
(File photo)
If you’re going to the Seahawks‘ Thursday night football game (December 18), you can sail on the West Seattle Water Taxi instead of driving or riding. Metro has announced that it’s adding evening runs that night:
After the game, there will be special post-game sailings from Pier 50 to the Seacrest Dock at 8:00 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Then you can take the free shuttle from Seacrest to the West Seattle Junction (Route 773) or ride along Alki (Route 775)
And don’t forget, if you want to take your time to celebrate (or commiserate) you can get back to West Seattle by strolling to Alaskan Way South at South Jackson Street and riding the RapidRide C or H lines.
The Seahawks are hosting the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field, game time 5:15 pm Thursday.
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB
Basketball doubleheader last night for West Seattle High School hosting crosstown counterpart Chief Sealth International High School. Photojournalist Oliver Hamlin was at both games for WSB. We’re publishing separate reports on both – first, the girls-varsity game. WSHS won, 62-21. Above, the game’s leading scorer was West Seattle’s Ayla Moore, with 24; below, West Seattle’s Seneca Lucas, with 20.
Third leading scorer of the game, Chief Sealth’s Dajah Johnson with 13 points:
West Seattle’s Ella Brown had 7:
Chief Sealth’s Mia Caldera, with 5:
West Seattle’s Edna Tito, with 4:
West Seattle’s Dagny Hendershott also had 4 points:
Chief Sealth’s Alysse Bland had 3:
Both school’s cheer teams kept the spectators spirited:
Head coach Darnell Taylor‘s Wildcats are now 3-2; head coach Will Pablo‘s Seahawks are now 3-3.
(Sealth’s Mariah Rillo, West Seattle’s Jackie Sutcliffe)
Our photos from the boys’ game will be published later today.
(Added: Texted reader photo)
12:06 PM: Last Thursday, we noted that the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was headed to its homeport in Bremerton after what’s expected to have been its last deployment before decommissioning, which means this is likely the last chance for ship-watchers to see it sail southbound past West Seattle shores. It stopped at Naval Magazine Indian Island for a few days and then left this morning for the last leg of the homeward journey; for those interested in seeing it, it should be in view relatively soon, according to the VesselFinder.com tracker, which shows it currently off North Seattle, southbound at 9+ knots.
(Added: Photo sent by Don Brubeck)
12:33 PM: Should be in view now, weather permitting, as it’s passing the north side of the mouth of Elliott Bay.
1:02 PM: Approaching Alki Point.
1:15 PM: Thanks for the photos! Adding!
1:20 PM: The half-century-old carrier has now turned into Rich Passage.
Thanks to SeanO for the pic and update – the tree that’s been blocking SW Hanford near 39th SW since last night is almost cleared away.
(Photo courtesy Tami Lindquist)
Meet Tami and Michael Lindquist. They’re about to open a branch of The UPS Store in the Westwood Village breezeway, their fourth in the region. We first told you back in March that the shipping-and-more business was going to open there; now they’re almost done with construction in the space, and contacted us with an update. They’re expecting to soft-open on January 5. Here are the services they plan to offer:
Domestic and International shipping
USPS shipping Services
Packaging
Notary service
Printing services
Document scanning
Document Shredding
Laminating
Binding
Printing
Faxing
Passport and ID Photos
Amazon Returns
Happy Returns
Other returns
Package Reciving
Personal Mailbox Rental
Office and mailing supplies
We asked about their days and hours too:
We will be open 7 Days a week:
Monday-Friday 8:00-6:30
Saturday 9:00-5:00
Sunday 10:00-3:00
The Lindquists say this will be their fourth UPS Store; their first three are in North Seattle, Lynnwood, and Everett. “We have been store owners since 2020 and we are excited to be opening this center in Westwood Village.” West Seattle had a UPS Store, under different ownership, in Jefferson Square until 2023.
(Chestnut-backed chickadee, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here are our daily event notes/reminders, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
USS NIMITZ SAILING BY: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier returning to Bremerton after what was likely its last deployment will pass West Seattle sometime in the next few hours – it’s off Whidbey Island right now.
DONATION DRIVES AND GIVING OPPORTUNITIES … see the list in our Holiday Guide!
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FESTIVAL OF TREES: Visit the church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW) before noon to see the themed trees and place food donations beneath your favorite(s) to “vote” for them.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Indoor play on (another) gray day! West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is opening its free community playspace, 9 am-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. (42nd/Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: New, free play group for kids 0-5 at Bridge School Cooperative Elementary, 10-11:30 am. (10300 28th SW)
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: It’s the holiday-party meeting today – 11:30 am at West Seattle Golf Course (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.
LAST DAY FOR HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: The Holy Rosary School Tree Lot, on the north side of the campus, is closing after today – trees and wreaths half price, 4-8 pm. (42nd SW and SW Dakota)
COMMUNITY NOTARY DAY: Need something notarized? Drop in to Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), 4-6 pm.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Available for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
SIP AND CRAFT: Weekly holiday-season event at Harry’s Beach House (2676 Alki SW), 5 pm, ornament-making workshop – our calendar listing has the registration link to see if there are openings.
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.
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: 6-8 pm acoustic gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California; WSB sponsor), free, all ages.
UKULELE MEETUP: Monthly evening meetup for West Seattle ukulele players, 6-8 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander).
SUMMIT ATLAS INFO NIGHT: 6 pm, prospective families can visit the charter middle/high school. (9601 35th SW)
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.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Classes continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Our calendar listing has details including how to check if they have space for you. Space allowing, newcomers are welcome, and the first class is free.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A 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)
TRIVIA X 5: Five 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) … 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 and (if it’s seasonal) Holiday Guide, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Sunsets are getting later and spring isn’t all that far away. So it’s registration time for many youth-sport leagues! The newest announcement we’ve received is from West Seattle Baseball:
West Seattle Baseball is excited to announce the opening of registration for the 2026 spring season! Registration is open now through February 13. An Early Registration discount of $15 off fees is available to all registrations completed by December 24. Scholarships and multi-sibling discounts are available as well. Sign up at: go.teamsnap.com/forms/506735. For more information visit: westseattlebaseball.com.
As a bonus, through December 24, West Seattle Baseball will also be giving away exciting prizes daily to a lucky individual(s) who registers on that day.
West Seattle Baseball offers five different divisions for players ages 4 through 14, with tee-ball and coach-pitch divisions for younger participants all the way to preparing older divisions for travel or high school baseball. Prices start as low as $140 for the season. Registration costs include a ballcap and team jersey for each player, in addition to a full season of baseball with events three times per week from mid-March through early June.
West Seattle Baseball is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit youth baseball league. Our goal is to provide comprehensive baseball programming which appeals to kids of all levels of enthusiasm and ability. The league prides itself on being intertwined with the community and committed to fun and inclusive programming that our players, their families, and their coaches want to participate in again each succeeding season. All are welcome at West Seattle Baseball as the league does not operate by boundary system. If you have questions about the league, please contact league president Phil Ornstil at president@westseattlebaseball.com.
We hope to see you at the West Seattle PeeWee Fields soon. For the love of the game . . .
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET, WITH PM WIND ALERT
The National Weather Service now has one wind alert for our area:
*Wind Advisory for 4 pm today through 10 am tomorrow, with a chance of sustained 20-30 mph southwest wind, gusting to 50 mph.
The forecast otherwise is for a rainy, breezy day, high in the mid-50s.
Sunrise will be at 7:52 am; sunset at 4:18 pm.
TREE TROUBLE
Thanks for the update – the tree down on SW Hanford near 39th has NOT been cleared.
(Added 6:56 am) Also, a texter reports a tree down on Admiral downhilll near Lander.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF says the Triangle Route will continue on two boats for a few more weeks. WSF’s alerts page has the details; Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Metro buses – They’re on the regular weekday schedule and routes in our area, although the flooding elsewhere in King County has had some effects.
West Seattle Water Taxi – 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!
The 40th SW and SW Charlestown area near the water tower (aka standpipe) has grown a lot brighter since our early-season visit. For tonight’s spotlight, we received Wyatt‘s photo of his “WyLights 2025” display – and he says it remains a work in progress: “Happy Holidays! More lights going up after the wind!” Still 10 nights to show lights through Christmas, and we have more in queue; thanks again to everyone who’s sent pics and/or tips to westseattleblog@gmail.com … and go here to scroll through all the places we’ve shown already!
(WSB file photo)
One week ago tonight, we published local parent Arin‘s plea for Seattle Public Schools to hurry up and announce graduation dates, since a conflict with the FIFA World Cup Seattle games seemed in the cards. The district has finalized the schedule – on June 17, Chief Sealth IHS at 5 pm at McCaw Hall, followed by West Seattle HS at 8 pm, same date/site – and the conflict remains. Arin says there’s one more thing families and others need to be aware of: “SPS sent the dates last Friday but failed to mention in their email that graduations at McCaw Hall (CSIHS and WS) will have a limited number of tickets. They won’t tell us how many tickets each graduating student gets …” and, Arin adds, the “limited tickets” note was only included on a social-media post. McCaw Hall is described online as having a capacity of just under 3,000, about a quarter of the now-demolished Memorial Stadium, and less than Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where the local schools held commencement ceremonies as recently as 2022.
7:26 PM MONDAY: Police responding to multiple calls about suspected gunfire have confirmed it: Officers just told dispatch they’ve found “several casings so far” in the south parking lot of Westcrest Park. No reports of injuries.
12:25 PM TUESDAY: We’ve obtained the police-report narrative, though two points of interest – the number of casings and types – were redacted by SPD, along with names as usual, but the narrative does clarify where exactly the gunfire happened:
On 12/15/2025 at approximately 19:13 I responded to several reports of shots fired in the area of Westcrest Park located at 8800 8th Ave SW in the city of Seattle, county of King. Initial remarks stated, “10 SHOTS FROM 2 WEAPONS, 2 WEAPONS, NOTHING ELSE HEARD, TO THE NORTHEAST”. Multiple callers reported hearing the shots in the area and reported the following to dispatch:
“SOUTH OF 4 SHOTS AND THEN RAPID FIRE 1 MIN AGO, NOTHING ELSE SEEN/HEARD”
“ANOTHER COMPL REPORTING 8 SHOTS HEARD POSSIBLY FROM WESTCREST PARK, NOTHING ELSE HEARD OR SEEN”
“ANOTHER REPORTING HEARING RAPID GUN SHOTS 3 MINS. SOUNDED LIKE MACHINE GUNS COMING FROM WESTCREST PARK”
“ANOTHER CALLER REPORTING HEARING 3-4 SHOTS FROM A HANDGUN AND THEN RAPID FIRE FROM AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON AT 1911. SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM WESTCREST PARK. RP IS AT xxxx AND CAUGHT THE SOUND ON CAMERA BUT NOTHING SEEN”
Others called in as well reporting the same as the above listed callers. I responded to the southern parking lot of Westcrest park where I know, based on my experience in this area, shootings have occurred before. I located several casings on the ground in this area. The casings were all grouped relatively close together on the blacktop near the path leading to the community garden at this end of the park. My backing officers assisted me in XXXX XXXX near the fired casings. I photographed the scene and each individual casing. Each XXXX was XXXX with a XXXX XXXX and XXXX into an XXXX XXXX which was then XXXX with the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. The photographs have been uploaded to AxonCapture. The casings consisted of XXXX XXXX XXXX casings and XXXX XXXX casings. The XXXX were all branded “XXXX” and the XXXX were branded “XXXX XXXX” or XXXX.
The immediate area was canvassed but no victims or bullet damage were located. None of the callers reported having sustained injury or damage from gunfire. One caller had reported capturing audio of the shooting on video.
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