West Seattle, Washington
28 Friday
Jarrett is looking for a tool thief, and sent this report with photos:
I have a very good description of a suspect who robbed me of tools this morning, and I am certain that publishing it could lead to finding him. He stole about $1k of tools.
Notably large male, tan T-shirt and black shorts. Arm tattoos, bald with a beard.
Pulled up in a blue Honda CRV with no back plates. Staked the place out last night on a blue Vespa with a blue helmet (same clothes).
Report # 26-255410
This happened east of/uphill from Fairmount Park.
Earlier this month, we reported on the volunteer work that beautified the southeast corner of 44th and Alaska in The Junction. Today, we got the photo above from Chris Mackay of the West Seattle Junction Association, after a surprise addition to the corner – the Stars and Stripes for its century-old flagpole. “Look what a do-gooder did!” Chris said. “I have no idea who put it up, but I like it!”
The report and photo were sent by Patrick:
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Our Hyundai was stolen from SW Elmgrove St near California Avenue SW on the evening of August 24. I’m a Marine Corps veteran – the plate is MC09228. It’s a white 2012 Hyundai Elantra with a lot of stickers in the rear passenger side window. The police report number is 26-250971.
Call 911 and refer to that case # if you find it.
Three days after posted notices warned people camping in Roxhill Park to clear out, city crews are there now to sweep the site.
The sweep notices came less than one week after a man was shot in the same area where crews are working now.
(Thursday photo from Sunset Avenue, by Tom Trulin)
Here’s what is happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Still time for summer gardening! Open 10 am-3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
SPRAYPARK: Daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
WADING POOL: West Seattle’s last still-open wading pool, at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), is open noon-7 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Noon to 7 pm today, swim in the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s the session schedule.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: 12:30-2 pm, practice with other adult learners at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
YOUTH MURAL & ART UNVEILING: Join the Technology Access Foundation and Urban ArtWorks for this free community celebration, 5-7 pm. (605 SW 108th, White Cehter)
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, local band MAD Cutaways at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.
SIP ‘N’ SPIN: 6 pm, try your hand at the pottery wheel at Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 6:30, music at 7, Hetakuso single-release party with Battlestations! & Auntie Death. $10 cover. all ages. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
PLANT BINGO AT MR.B’S: Play Plant Bingo with Terraplanted! 7 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW).
LIVE AT EASY STREET: Sera Cahoone performs live in-store, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), all ages, free.
FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR US AT KENYON HALL: Production by Emi Aiken at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm performance (7904 35th SW), all ages, no cover.
SPINNING: Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning – with DJ Reverend Dollars tonight, starting at 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, Goth Skate with Licorice Chamber, Eve’s Black Heart, go-gos, drag performances, DJs, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
MEGASTAR KARAOKE: 9 pm at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Some readers posted eclipse photos in the comment section on our preview story about Thursday night’s lunar eclipse – now, here are more; these arrived via email, From William Wright:
From Pia VanHanen:
And from Jerry Simmons:
Thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, August 28, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast is for “gradual clearing” today, rain likely late tonight, high in the low 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:22 am today; sunset will be at 7:57 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays (tonight!) and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule; check the alert page for last-minute changes.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
(File photo)
Two weeks after a committee recommendation to pass it, the Sound Transit Board gave final approval today to a plan to acquire more than 50 properties for West Seattle light rail. About half of them are in West Seattle (here’s the full list), including the infamous vacant house above, 3804 23rd SW, across from The Skylark. We’ve followed its saga off and on for almost the entire span of the nearly 20 years we’ve been covering local news on WSB, dating to a community advocate leading city councilmembers on a tour of North Delridge problem properties in 2009. Over the years, it’s had various development proposals, despite its odd spot perched over a busy onramp to the high bridge; it seemed on the ropes in 2017, and has changed hands multiple times, last sold for $245,000 in 2018 … now it seems ST will become its final owner.
ALSO AT TODAY’S BOARD MEETING: The board approved a $765 million budget amendment that among other things includes money for these acquisitions (which are only a start – it was noted that more will come before the board before year’s end). ST executives clarified, in response to board questions, that this isn’t extra money being added to the project – it’s just moving money around so it can be spent, (“Like moving it from the savings account to the checking account” was one description.)
That’s how Mara captioned these photos she sent us of work under way today on the north Lincoln Park waterfront trail, with a bit more explanation:
The uncovering of the retaining wall holding up much of the North End of the Park trails around the water. Thank you to Seattle Parks and Recreation for bringing the park back to life.
Much of the Lincoln Park infrastructure is a lot older than 40 years old – built in the 1930s. We’ll check with Seattle Parks tomorrow to see if they can tell us more about the retaining-wall work.
4:31 PM: Thanks to Jenn Dowell for that photo of the full moon that’s peaking tonight at 9:18 pm our time. Tonight also brings a lunar eclipse, peaking right around that time (lots of info on Space.com). The biggest question here is whether the moon be visible then, or whether clouds will block it – we’re seeing some hope for breaks in the cloud cover.
9:10 PM: Visible from Highland Park!
NOTE: Thanks for the photos! We received a few by email and will add them Friday morning.
If you’ve swum lately in Lincoln Park‘s outdoor salt-water Colman Pool, you’ve probably noticed the water’s chillier than usual. A reader told us about the pool’s heater breakdown, which we mentioned in our daily event list while waiting for repair info from Seattle Parks. Now we have it: “Repairs are currently scheduled for tomorrow and are expected to be complete by early next week.” Colman Pool’s seven-day-a-week operations continue through this Sunday (August 30) and then it’ll be open for three post-season weekends – September 5-7, 12-13, and 19-20 – before closing until next year.
After we published local author Bob Wyss‘s announcement that his book “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal“ is a finalist for this year’s Washington State Book Awards, readers pointed out two more local writers on the finalist list:
-In the same category as Wyss’s book, General Nonfiction/Biography, is Claudia Rowe‘s “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care.”
-In the Poetry category is a book that was launched with an event in West Seattle last year, Katy E. Ellis‘s “Forty Bouts in the Wilderness.” Ellis lives on Vashon Island now but has West Seattle ties including her five years co-curating the WordsWest Literary Series.
Good luck to all! Winners will be announced in mid-September.
When Sound Transit announced last week that it needed to do some work that would close the bike/foot path near the West Seattle Bridge, much discussion ensued, mostly involving the description of the work zone. Then readers said they went through the area during what was supposed to be the closure, but found it open. Today, we received this explanation from Sound Transit:
Our planned West Seattle Bridge bike path closure near Delridge Way SW, 22nd Ave SW, and SW Charlestown Street has been cancelled. When our engineers began their work, they encountered unmarked utilities and
communications cables and decided to postpone their work until mid-September.We’ve received input and suggestions regarding the signed bike detours during this closure. Our team is reviewing the comments and feedback, and will consider them when planning future bike path closures and detours. Be on the lookout for more details about our rescheduled bike path closure.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact the WSLE project team at westseattlelink@soundtransit.org or 206-903-7229. You can also contact the after-hours construction hotline at
Also on the topic of West Seattle light rail – now with an estimated opening date of 2035 – the full ST board is scheduled to vote this afternoon on two related items, dozens of property acquisitions and a budget adjustment that will pay for them.
(Olympics this morning, photographed by Lura Ercolano)
Welcome to today’s list of what’s happening around West Seattle, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – thanks to everyone who sends events for us to share!):
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: 10 am-3 pm, plant sales featuring and supporting students’ work. North end of SSC campus (6000 16th SW).
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Daily splashing season continues at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
SWIMMING POOL’S OPEN: Daily operations also continue at Colman Pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm.
WADING POOLS: The last pool still open is at Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: As seen at the Admiral Block Party! From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can be there to listen!)
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD MEETING: West Seattle property acquisitions are on the agenda (which explains how to participate/watch), 1:30 pm downtown or online.
WEST SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUR: Want to meet people – in person? Camp West (4539 California SW) is hosting a weekly “social hour” where you can drop in (21+) and do that!
DROP-IN CHESS: The regular High Point Library Thursday event is happening today – people under 18 can drop in 4-5:30 pm to play. (3411 SW Raymond)
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS – this week and every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) hosts a food truck. Tonight it’s El Gran Taco.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) welcomes volunteers weekly to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks – you can take some home too. Just be there 5-7 pm!
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), for wine by the glass or bottle. While you’re there, check out the ongoing West Seattle Art Tour preview!
GRIEF IS CRAFTY: 6 pm at The Missing Piece (California/Alaska), monthly craft circle for grieving people – info in our calendar listing.
POSTCARDING PARTY: 6-8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW), gathering to fill out postcards to encourage recipients to vote.
POKEMON LEAGUE: 6 pm Thursdays at Fourth Emerald Games (4517 California SW, upstairs) – bring your own console.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run, with a track-workout alternative.
DUSTY THURSDAYS AT TIM’S: 6-9 pm, The Dusty 45s preceded by Christy McWilson, outdoors, all ages, no cover, donations accepted for the musicians. (16th SW and SW 98th, White Center)
MORBIDLY CURIOUS BOOK CLUB: 7 pm at 2 Fingers Social (9211 Delridge Way SW), this month reading “American Afterlives.”
TRIVIA AT ADMIRAL PUB: 7 pm trivia at Admiral Pub. (2306 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Aerosol, Leonard Jarvey and the Sock Monkeys, Failed 504, Superbrown, 8 pm, all ages, $10 cover. (3803)
AT REVELRY ROOM: Tonight, DJ Toph One at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), starting at 8 pm.
KARAOKE AT MAX’S TRIANGLE PUB: 9 pm to closing time, time to sing! (9454 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily highlight list? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This year’s “carnival of community” at Holy Rosary School, WestFest, is just a few weeks away, but it’s not too late to become a sponsor:
WestFest is Coming – Friday, Sept 18 & Saturday, Sept 19!
WestFest is just around the corner! Each year, WestFest brings together our community for two days of fun—complete with a packed beer garden, delicious food booths, thrilling rides, lively bingo, and entertainment in the gym. It’s a wonderful tradition that draws families and neighbors from across the area.
We’d love for you to consider sponsoring WestFest 2026. Sponsorship not only supports Holy Rosary School but also provides your business with excellent visibility through event signage, recognition, and community connection.
For details on sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Ava Roozbehani at avaroozbeh@gmail.com.
Thank you for your support!
-The WestFest Committee
Killer whales are currently “milling” in north Elliott Bay, Kersti Muul tells WSB.
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, August 27, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast is for increasing sunshine, high in the low 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:21 am today; sunset will be at 7:59 pm (8 pm sunsets will return in mid-April).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule; check the alert page for last-minute changes.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
4:01 AM: SFD has sent a big response to the 3600 block of SW 107th for a reported residential fire.
They discovered and extinguished a deck fire.
11:50 AM: We asked SFD about the cause. Spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB:
Our investigators ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined and shared their findings with Seattle Police. The fire likely started on the deck, but firefighters were able to extinguish it before it could extend into the building. No injuries were reported.
Most of the time, late-night loud explosions go unexplained. Not this one, within the past hour. According to police radio, somebody blew up a portable toilet on 45th SW near SW Wildwood Place. The dispatcher suggested it might be city-owned; there’s City Light work south of there and Seattle Public Utilities work north of there. No fire or injuries reported, but officers were on the way to investigate “debris in the street.”
As noted here last night, the educators’ union Seattle Education Association had a general membership meeting tonight. The union took a strike authorization vote, and reports tonight that 91 percent voted yes. But that just means they have voted to authorize a strike if they feel it’s necessary; in the meantime, they’ll continue the talks that date back to June: “We are ready to keep working toward an agreement that gives educators the conditions we need to support every student and build the thriving schools our community deserves.” Tonight’s announcement also says that “Special Education supports, respectful pay, and easing pressurization on educators (are) the major sticking points.”
First – a coyote in Lincoln Park turned some heads today. Evan sent this photo and report:
I saw this coyote in Lincoln Park today at 11:30 am, just calmly following the bluff-side trail, a little southeast of Colman Pool. It didn’t react at all to the dog I was walking.
People might want to be careful to keep their dogs on-leash; I saw one at the east edge of Solstice Park a week before that.
Emma sent this Lincoln Park report earlier today – same area:
We saw a coyote near one of the upper trails in Lincoln Park (~1 pm), where many families and small dogs walk. We could not get a picture, since we had to pick up our dogs, and it only briefly made eye contact with us. It was not aggressive towards us, but we cannot make any presumptions about it’s behavior.
Then tonight, we got this from Joan in Gatewood:
We just saw a coyote calmly trotting down the middle of the sidewalk at 7:15 pm at Myrtle and 37th, just west of the water towers. A cat took off after it; fortunately the owner was outside and the cat was on a leash so he caught it quickly. You can see how close he was to that person and he was not rushing. I couldn’t get a good picture but good idea for everybody to keep their animals indoors.
One more sighting to share – Chris saw this one in Seola Park in south Arbor Heights last week:
As always, we want to note that we report on coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm, and suggest everyone be aware of how to coexist.
(Photo courtesy Metro)
At center above is Metro bus driver Tamieko Cook, photographed with King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Metro genneral manager Michelle Allison, as they presented Cook with the Operator of the Year award. A Metro spokesperson tells us that Cook’s favorite route to drive is the 128, which goes through much of West Seattle as well as the South King County areas where she grew up, such as Boulevard Park. Cook is a second-generation Metro operator – her mom Velda drove buses in the 1980s; Cook first worked as a driver in her early 20s in the mid-1990s. Then she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, working as an engine mechanic; after she got out, she earned degrees from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and Evergreen State College, and returned to Metro. “I like being captain of the ship,” she’s quoted as saying. Her advice for her counterparts: “Always try and lead with respect even if that respect is not mutual.” (Read the full announcement here.)
Reader report from someone trying to trace a relatively distinctive vehicle:
I wanted to see if anyone in the Gatewood/Fauntleroy area has camera footage they can share of someone who appeared to be casing our home after stealing my wallet (which contained my address) Tuesday evening.
At approximately 5:20 pm my wallet (with driver’s license and current address) was stolen from my car at Rainier Golf & Country Club by a man in a white Mercedes Benz SUV with a missing bumper and missing front left panel, tinted windows, and temporary plates. The car looks new other than those features.
The same car (with one driver, same description) was then seen around 5:50 PM at our home in Gatewood (SW Rose St between Fauntleroy and California). They stopped in our driveway, backed up and hit our yard waste bin, and seemed to be looking for our house cameras. They did not get out of the car. The man was wearing a white tank top and was described as a “bad driver.” They did not move even when our nanny entered the driveway. Once our nanny and kids were back inside, they drove away.
Two neighbors saw them, as did our nanny who was walking the dog when they took this picture. The car in question is the one blocking our driveway, parallel to the road. Our second car (also white) is blocked in by this car. We have an open report with SPD, and are looking for additional footage anyone might have of the driver or car from their own cameras between 5:15 PM and 6:45 PM Tuesday. Based on credit card activity, they drove to Denny/SLU area next, and were there by 6:52.
We pieced this together in reverse order. Nanny texted about weird car; then credit fraud; then witness report about parking lot theft at Rainier which matched the same description provided by our nanny hours earlier. At this point we called the police.
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