West Seattle, Washington
10 Sunday
(Added: Reader photo by Trevor)
8:06 PM: Seattle Fire has dispatched a “full response” to 5200 35th SW, which is the address for Camp Long. “Multiple calls on a structure on fire” at the park, per the dispatch.
8:08 PM: First units on scene report this is a “working fire.” They’re calling for more engines. They’re describing the burning building as a “single-family residence with basement.”
8:16 PM: They report the fire is “partly knocked down.” They’re also reporting broken windows on at least one level. We don’t yet know if this is the park’s historic lodge. We have WSB team members on the way. Note police are blocking 35th in the area.
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
8:22 PM: The building is too dangerous for firefighters to be in, so they’re getting out. A nearby neighbor confirms the lodge is what’s on fire.
(Added: Photo by Sharonn Meeks)
8:33 PM: The lodge is more than 80 years old, constructed from wood and stone, rented out for events as well as used for park programs. Fire’s not out yet.
8:48 PM: Those in the area say even in the rain, you can smell smoke for blocks around. Firefighters have been on scene battling the fire for 40 minutes now.
(Reader photo sent by Kacie)
9:05 PM: Southbound 35th is reopening. Some of the units on scene are being dismissed.
9:16 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and under investigation. No injuries reported. The lodge was renovated in 2010. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow, and go to the scene, to find out about the extent of the damage.
9:40 PM: More reader views of what happened during the peak of the firefight – the first video was linked in a comment by Tony:
Kerry Antezana shows us the role one firefighter played:
Kerry also sent this view:
10:25 PM: A few firefighters remain at the scene on “fire watch”:
(Photo by Cindi Barker)
8:20 AM: Here’s our first look at the lodge in daylight:
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
Time to charge everything – the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” alert in effect for our area from 4 pm Tuesday to 4 am Wednesday. Right now, the alert says “south winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph expected.” According to our archives, this is the first alert of this kind since early June.
November’s second Thursday is just three nights out – and it’ll bring you the West Seattle Art Walk featuring The Art of Music. Here’s the list of who’s featuring art and/or food-and-drink specials for Art Walk’ers on Thursday night (November 14):
Individual artists and venues are spotlighted in this preview on the Art Walk website. Highlights this month include Afro SPK‘s reception, 4-8 pm at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor). You’ll also want to roam between the three Junctions to catch this month’s Art of Music performances:
North to south, the Nathan Roz Duo is performing at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Jean Mann is at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), and Cyd Smith is at Whisky West (6451 California SW). All performances are 6-7:45 pm with a 15-minute midpoint break, no cover. Learn more about the musicians here!
Two-plus weeks ago, we published a request from researchers studying how people might get around in case of catastrophe and inviting participation in a discussion. Today, they wanted to say thanks, and asked us to share this open note to the community:
From researchers Katherine Idziorek (University of North Carolina at Charlotte; formerly UW) and Chen Chen (Oklahoma State University): We wish to extend a sincere thank you to the greater West Seattle community for your interest in our ongoing study of micromobility and disasters. Thanks to the West Seattle Blog, we were able to find more participants for our focus groups than we could accommodate! We learned so much working with folks in the community and look forward to sharing our findings when this phase of our research is complete. We sincerely appreciate your interest and participation!
“Micromobility” is a reference to means of transportation such as bicycles and scooters.
Close call this morning near 11th and Elmgrove [vicinity map]. According to the SPD summary, they were called to the area just before 6 am, after reports that people heard possible gunfire. First they found a 9mm casing, Then they found two bullet holes in the front window of an occupied home, and subsequently found the bullets that had come through the window. No injuries reported. Some 911 callers thought they had heard a vehicle speeding away after the shots, but nobody had a description, and police couldn’t find relevant video in the area. If you have any information, the incident # is 24-319426. This is two blocks from the early-morning gunfire reported three days ago.
Government offices are closed today – but tomorrow (Tuesday, November 12) brings a big event to City Hall. It’s the City Council’s final major public hearing on the budget that they’ll finalize before Thanksgiving. The 5 pm hearing is entirely devoted to public comment, both in person and remote, so if there’s something you want to speak either for or against, this is your big chance. Councilmembers already have proposed changes to the 2025-2026 budget plan that Mayor Bruce Harrell put on the table earlier this fall; budget chair Councilmember Dan Strauss unveiled his “balancing package” almost two weeks ago. We noted here at the time that it featured amendments from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, One would remove parallel parking at Duwamish Head, something nearby residents say would cut down on street disorder in the area, where traffic calming such as dividers and speed cushions already have been installed.
Speaking of dividers, another of Saka’s proposals is for “safety improvements” on a stretch of Delridge Way where he has campaigned to get rid of a divider keeping drivers from making left turns across a bike lane near a RapidRide stop. (This budget item is listed as $2 million but Saka’s chief of staff Elaine Ko tells us they’re not sure of the actual cost or the precise project details yet.)
Also on the list of Saka’s amendments: Turf for the Fairmount Playfield baseball infield; local youth-baseball supporters are mobilizing to back that. The agenda document for tomorrow’s hearing includes instructions on signing up to speak; if you just want to watch the hearing, you’ll be able to do that via Seattle Channel. Email the council any time at council@seattle.gov.
P.S. You can review details of the original budget proposal here.
Two corners of Admiral/California have vacancies – and now we’ve learned that change is on the way for a third. After reader tips, we’ve confirmed with Cori Luckenbach that she’s planning to close Bebop Waffle Shop at year’s end, after a decade. But the intersection’s southeast corner is not going dark – she plans a reinvention:
There IS a silver lining. The flower shop is moving to all-online ordering and they will be moving out of the space (sometime next year). I plan on taking over the entire space and converting it into an event space. Which I have experience with from running South Park Hall. In January I’ll be selling a bunch of our furniture and equipment then beginning the remodel. For me pivoting to an event space will support the local restaurants that want to offer catering and also have space for people to come together with events that I’ll curate and a space for people to rent.
Since our email exchange, Cori has published this official announcement, including:
MANY people are asking how to support me during this transition and all I ask is come TIP my staff, pay in CASH, tip in CASH, buy all our merch, lobby for tax breaks for small businesses, AND BOOK the space when we open.
Before rebranding as Bebop, Cori’s shop in the front of the corner space shared with Flower Lab was the Admiral Bird coffee shop.
(Bald Eagle at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
Today’s list of what’s happening also includes what’s not happening because of the Veterans Day holiday.
PARKS CLOSURES: Here’s the Seattle Parks list.
LIBRARIES: City and county, closed.
USPS: It’s a postal holiday.
BANKS: Most if not all closed.
One Veterans Day discount we’ve heard about (thanks to Al for the tip – any others? comment or email us, westseattleblog@gmail.com):
SPUD ON ALKI: Veterans and active military personnel can get a free 2-piece fish and fries, with regular beverage, with proof of service. Open 11 am-9 pm. (2666 Alki SW)
Regular Monday events from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm evening group with Listening to Grief, preregistration required. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – Monday nights, live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
SING! 9 pm is the start time for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Bruce McLaughlin and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Richard Bruce McLaughlin, known as Bruce, passed away on October 10, 2024, at the age of 83. Born on November 19, 1940, in Seattle, Bruce was a lifelong resident of Seattle, where he died peacefully.
As a child and young man, Bruce spent many summers and weekends at the family home on Manzanita Beach, Vashon.
Bruce attended The University of Washington, where he studied Communications. He worked at and later owned The Junction Feed and Seed in West Seattle.
Bruce enjoyed camping, photography, cooking, and sailing, and could talk with anyone about almost anything.
A longtime volunteer at ArtsWest Theater, Bruce built sets, helped maintain the premises and was active in the acquisition of its current home in the West Seattle Junction.
Bruce is preceded in death by his wife, Carol McLaughlin, and survived by his “little brother” Bart McLaughlin, daughter Kathy McLaughlin, son-in-law Mark Tagge, and grandson Patrick McLaughlin. He will be missed by his family and all who knew him.
We ask that those who wish to make memorial donations to please give to ArtsWest Theater in West Seattle.
Bruce’s tribute wall is on the Emmick Family Funeral Home website, here.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, November 11, Veterans Day 2024. Most if not all schools are closed today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rainy and breezy, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:09 am, while sunset will be at 4:36 pm.
TRANSIT
Water Taxi today – No service today – both routes – for Veterans Day. (The shuttle buses aren’t running, either.)
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth (90 cars) and M/V Cathlamet (124 cars); M/V Issaquah is still out of service. Check here for last-minute changes.
Metro buses today – Regular weekday schedule despite the holiday.
STREET PAY-STATION FREE PARKING
None in West Seattle but if you’re going to neighborhoods that have pay stations for street parking, that’s free on Veterans Day.
ROAD WORK
Work crews may not be on scene today but traffic restrictions for both these projects continue 24/7:
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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.
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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