West Seattle, Washington
11 Wednesday
The Seattle Public Library has announced its fall schedule, which increases its systemwide open hours by six percent – 77 more hours, from 1,283 hours per week to 1,360 hours per week. None of those added hours will be in West Seattle; we compared the fall schedules for local branches to the current schedules, and found only one with any changes at all.
LIBRARY OPEN HOURS BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 25, Library locations will operate according to the schedules listed below, which will also be posted at the Library’s Hours and Locations page. When branches are scheduled to be closed, their book returns will remain open and patron holds will be extended.
Delridge Branch - no change
Mon 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tue 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wed Noon to 8 p.m.
Thu Noon to 8 p.m.
Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sun ClosedHigh Point Branch – Wednesday/Thursday hours change
Mon 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tue 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wed Noon to 8 p.m. (currently 10 am-6 pm)
Thu Noon to 8 p.m. (currently 10 am-8 pm)
Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Southwest Branch – no change
Mon 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tue Noon to 8 p.m.
Wed Noon to 8 p.m.
Thu 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat Closed
Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.West Seattle Branch – no change
Mon 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tue Noon to 8 p.m.
Wed 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thu 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fri Closed
Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more info on the state of SPL, including an update on the aftermath of the summer-long tech crisis, you can watch the briefing during the City Council’s Libraries, Neighborhoods, Education Committee meeting tomorrow (Thursday, September 12) at 9:30 am – here’s the agenda. (And here’s the slide deck, mostly about the tech crisis.)
(Juvenile red-tailed hawk, descending from its perch on a tree high above photographer James Tilley’s backyard)
Some major events tonight, so even though we’re running late today, can’t skip the reminder list of what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always preview the hours, days, and weeks ahead – we’re adding to it frequently):
TODDLER STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY: 3 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! 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).
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: This month’s meeting is online and begins with a 5:30 pm pre-meeting program focused on Project 2025. Go here to register to get the link to attend.
MEMORIAL FOR AYSENUR EZGI EYGI: As previously announced, a gathering is planned tonight at Alki to celebrate the life the former West Seattleite killed last week at a protest in the West Bank. (57th/Alki)
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places where you play tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
TALK WITH POLICE AND YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER: The quarterly Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting at 6:30 pm at the precinct (2300 SW Webster) is open to all. Bring questions and concerns. Guest speaker: District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka.
AUTHOR EVENT: Q&A with West Seattle romance author Annie Marcus, celebrating her new book “Small Town Romance,” 6:30 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
YOGA IN THE PARK: Two West Seattle teachers lead this outdoor-yoga event at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 6:30 pm – follow the link for ticket info.
POETRY AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: PoetryBridge at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm.
PIANO NIGHT: All requests! 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two options! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo at 7:30 pm Wednesdays, hosted by Mingo Maniac.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: The spotlight is yours! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THEATER: Preview night for “Guards at the Taj,” new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm – tickets here.
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:59 AM: Apologies that we were’t able to report this in real time – a flipped-car crash toward the top of the Admiral Way hill [map]; thanks to those who sent photos. The log shows one engine responded just before 8 am – the driver was already out, so no “rescue extrication” response was needed. No medic unit dispatched either, indicating no major injuries; we’re following up with SFD for specifics.
11:10 AM: SFD tells us its crews checked out a 3-year-old girl and 28-year-old woman, neither seriously hurt.
The start of the school year always brings changes and challenges – new teachers, new classmates, new lessons – but for one high-school junior from West Seattle, this school year finds him in a new country, with a new family (temporarily). Boden Hammerstad‘s proud mom Joelle Hammerstad shares the announcement of his adventure:
Boden Hammerstad, a student from Seattle, has been awarded a Future Leaders Exchange Abroad (FLEX Abroad) scholarship for 2024-2025. Boden will live with a host family and study in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the academic year.
Boden is one of only 20 students selected competitively from across the United States who were selected by the U.S. Department of State to participate in the FLEX Abroad program. The merit-based award covers the full cost of an academic year abroad, providing Boden a full academic and cultural immersion experience including living with a host family in Georgia, attending a Georgian high school, and helping him develop the skills necessary to be a leader in the global community. The FLEX Abroad program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Through Boden’s participation in FLEX Abroad, he will be at the forefront of citizen diplomacy, serving as a “youth ambassador” in his host country, enhancing cross-cultural understanding and deepening trust by building lasting relationships with his host family and peers, and engaging in volunteer service and leadership training to help his host community. Through the FLEX Abroad experience, Boden will develop the skills to share American values, find new ways for America to compete effectively in the global marketplace, and contribute to a more peaceful world.
The FLEX program was first authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1992, as an effort to increase dialogue and mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of Eurasia. Initially created as a program for international high school students to live and study in the United States, the FLEX program was expanded in 2021 to include FLEX Abroad for American high school students to study overseas. FLEX Abroad provides opportunities for Americans to study for one academic year in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Romania, or Poland.
FLEX Abroad is administered by American Councils for International Education, an international nonprofit that strives to create access to educational opportunities for individuals and institutions across the globe. A leader in international education, academic exchange, language acquisition and assessment, and research, American Councils prepares individuals and institutions to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.
For more information about FLEX Abroad, visit discoverflex.org/flex-abroad – scholarship applications are open now. For more information about hosting a FLEX international exchange student, visit discoverflex.org/host-families-and-schools.
Joelle says Boden left for Georgia on September 1 and will be back in June. Next year, he’ll attend The Downtown School, where he went last year. “He didn’t have any career goals associated with international diplomacy or leadership when he heard about the program, but the whole concept really captured his imagination — so he went for it,” she explains.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 11.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast: More showers possible, maybe even pm thunderstorms, high around 65. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:42 am, while sunset will be at 7:28 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT, AND OTHER ROAD WORK OF NOTE
*This week, work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project is focused on the westbound side – nightly closures of the two left lanes are planned, 8 pm to 7 am.
Other projects:
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive gas-line work continues.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules. Note that the twice-yearly service change is this Saturday, September 14 – Routes 60, 125, 131, and 132 are the ones in our area that will see changes.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. The “unscheduled third boat” should be back.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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