West Seattle, Washington
12 Wednesday
This event presented by West Seattle schools’ PTAs/PTSAs has been in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar a while, but we heard more about it from an attendee at tonight’s Morgan Community Association meeting:
At first glance, that might sound like another stern lecture – “get your kid off their phone” – but Megan from the Gatewood Elementary PTA explained there’s more of a peninsula-wide movement going on, not just focused on reducing screen time, but also talking about “playborhoods” for kids – encouraging getting them out to play as was more common a couple generations ago. First step, though, come to the 6:30 pm discussion on Tuesday, January 28th at Gatewood (4320 SW Myrtle) – it’s free, and you can RSVP here. (Megan promises it will be “amazing.”) Child care will be available – and by the way, they’re also looking for volunteers to help with that – gatewood.pta.advocacy@gmail.com to volunteer and/or ask questions.
(As for the rest of the Morgan meeting, we’ll have the full report tomorrow.)
Received both of these from the same general area in the past hour or so:
Just a FYI – a coyote seen at 40th and Dakota darting around the street @ 7:15 PM. Watch out for your small pets.
And just before that:
Spotted two good-sized coyotes at 38th and Genesee, moving house to house rather methodically. Now headed west on Genesee.
Reminder: We publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm – learn about how to co-exist with coyotes via infosheets like this.
6:35 PM: Last weekend we reported on an early-stage permit application for clothing outlet J.Crew Factory to take over and combine the two Westwood Village spaces recently vacated by GameStop and Desert Sun Tanning. Today while we were nearby, a banner caught our eye – it’s over the ex-Desert Sun entrance on the west side of the building, announcing Bronz’d Tanning and Light Spa. The phone number is the same as Desert Sun. The new business has only a bare-bones website; we have an inquiry out to try to find out more.
ADDED 8:23 PM: Commenter Ltmmgm posted this GoFundMe link with backstory on this new business.
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: That’s security video sent by the victim of a rock-throwing attack last Friday, who writes: “On 1/10/2025 at 3 PM, two individuals threw very large rocks at the front window of my house ,smashing it in the process. The rocks then landed on the hood and fender of my car, which was parked under the window, causing over $5,000 in damage. A 3rd person threw a rock at my neighbor’s window, shattering it.” This happened near the Sealth/Denny campus. Here’s a framegrab the victim also sent:
We are not showing the one who’s visible full-face as these are juveniles, not charged so far, in what is likely a non-felony case. But the clothing is enough for someone to recognize them. You can contact police and refer to incident # 25-008943.
THURSDAY UPDATE FROM VICTIM: Just received via email:
UPDATE – A detective has been assigned. If you have any information, please contact Detective Ivanov with the General Investigations Unit.
Their unit phone number is 206-684-8940. Their e-mail is SPDGeneralInvestigations@seattle.gov. You may also send an e-mail to Yvonne.ortiz@seattle.gov.
Please reference police report 2025-008943.
(Photo courtesy Joe McDermott)
In the center of that photo is West Seattleite Nick Brown, signing the oath of office as he begins work as state Attorney General. Brown, a Democrat, was elected in November with 56 percent of the vote, over Pete Serrano, a Republican. Brown previously served as U.S. Attorney for Western Washington and is a decorated U.S. Army veteran.
We always get questions about free recycling/shredding events in West Seattle, so we’re passing along what we just heard from the West Seattle Junction Association, that they’re again co-sponsoring a big drop-in event with the WS Chamber of Commerce. It’ll be Saturday, March 8, likely 9 am-noon, at the usual place, the north lot of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). They’re working on some improvements to avoid the big dropoff backup, but otherwise, it’ll likely be the same arrangement of options – shredding, electronics and other small home items, styrofoam, and more. Watch for full details later this winter. (If you can’t wait that long to recycle something, there are options for various kinds of items – try the “Where Does It Go?” lookup.)
Back in 2022, King County voters approved a levy for bringing the Conservation Futures program back to its original rate. This week, County Executive Dow Constantine announced some of the land purchases that will lead to, and they include a bit of land in South Delridge. First, from the countywide announcement:
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $107 million in land conservation awards – approved by the King County Council – that will protect more than 3,000 acres of open space to advance climate resilience, farmland access, environmental justice, recreation access, and habitat restoration.
A few of the 53 projects include helping the City of Auburn build its first downtown park and public space, permanently protecting the lowland forests of Camp Sealth on Vashon Island, creating more greenspace near affordable housing in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and helping a community-based organization create an urban farm near Sound Transit’s Rainier Beach Station.
The funding package continues the accelerated pace of land conservation in recent years, which is the result of several actions: Voters’ approval in 2022 of Executive Constantine’s initiative to restore the local Conservation Futures Program to its historic funding rate, bonding against future revenues to protect natural areas before they are no longer affordable, and cutting in half the amount of matching funds cities and other partners are required to provide.
The South Delridge purchase is described in the announcement as:
Seattle’s Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village acquisition: Combining new open space with future acquisition of repurposed properties owned by the Seattle Department of Transportation to secure a full acre in a rapidly developing neighborhood and provide more park access near White Center.
So we asked for specifics. County spokesperson Doug Williams replied:
Specifically, the land we’re talking about is to the southeast of the Delridge Way / Southwest Barton Street intersection: maps.app.goo.gl/8S2FkL1hpshqJa6V6
The grant funding will be used to reimburse Seattle for their recent purchase of the vacant square of land you see just to the southeast of the treed triangular land. The idea is to combine the treed triangular land with that vacant land and a street closure (that little chunk of 18th Avenue Southwest on the eastern border of the treed triangular portion) to create a nearly one-acre piece of public open space.
Community advocates had long worked for a park in that area, though their effort has gone dormant. We’re checking on next steps for the site’s future.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our list of what’s happening on your Wednesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am in Lincoln Park – meet up at 47th/Fauntleroy.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
TODDLER STORY TIME AT SW LIBRARY: At Southwest Library, 3 pm, for kids ages 1-3. (9010 35th SW)
HOMEWORK HELP: Volunteer helpers are available 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
CHIEF SEALTH IHS/DENNY IMS THRIFT SHARE: Happening this afternoon/evening at the Chief Sealth International High School galleria (2600 SW Thistle):
Chief Sealth and Denny Pop-Up Thrift Share
January 15, 2025
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Chief Sealth Galleria
2600 SW Thistle
Sizes are for all ages and genders. Everything is free. Bring a bag.
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). You can learn more about the WS Tool Library in our recent West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlight!
DRAG BINGO: 6 pm at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW) with Jolene Granby. Free to play!
FREE GROUP RUN: All year ’round! 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.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm, all welcome at MoCA‘s quarterly hybrid meeting, online or in-person at WSUU’s downstairs event room off the parking lot, agenda and participation info here. (7141 California SW)
YOGA/MEDITATION/GONG BATH: 7-8:30 pm at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska), $35, ticket info here.
PIANO NIGHT: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way) – all requests!
TRIVIA x 3: Three Wednesday trivia locations: 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), all ages until 10 pm.
MUSIC BINGO X 2: Two places to play on Wednesdays! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … Or, at Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: One girls’ varsity home game tonight. West Seattle HS (6-4) hosts Seattle Prep (9-4) at 7:30 pm. (3000 California SW)
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Ready to take the mic and show your stuff? 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
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 add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – and if it’s a holiday event, send it for the Holiday Guide – thank you!
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
We never did see the promised sunshine on Tuesday, but today’s forecast says it should appear, with a high in the mid-40s. Sunrise/sunset – 7:52 am and 4:45 pm.
THIS WEEK’S TWO REMINDERS
*The new “school street” on 45th in front of Madison Middle School, between Spokane and Hinds, continues today. No motorized vehicles on that block 7 am-5 pm unless you live there or are a delivery driver delivering there.
*Sound Transit is scheduled to continue geotechnical-research drilling just east of the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
TRANSIT
Metro buses – Regular schedule
Water Taxi – Â As noted, regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Salish as the “bonus boat.”
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.
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!
12:46 AM: Police converging on the Shell station/mini-mart at Fauntleroy/Alaska say it’s just been hit by armed robbers again. The initial call was “shoplift” involving five people, but at least one was armed, and that makes it a robbery. The robbers are described so far as all male, late teens/early 20s, black masks, one with a machete, the other implying a handgun. They are reported to have taken off toward the bridge on Fauntleroy, in a black SUV.
1:06 AM: That SUV is a Hyundai Tucson, officers just told dispatch.
1:14 AM: The robbers’ description has changed – four men in their early 20s, one in a black hoodie, one in a blue mask, one in a black jacket, one in a multicolor sweater, one with a hammer. In cross-city communication, police are discussing the possibility of a link with a robbery that just happened downtown.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: From the SPD summary that’s since been released:
Four suspects with masks walked inside the gas station located at the 4500 BLK of Fauntleroy WY SW. The suspects grabbed a shelf of food items and threw it to the ground to block the entrance door. One of the suspects had a hammer and demanded money from the clerk. The suspects took approximately $200.00 in cash and food items. The suspects left in a Black SUV and possibly committed a second robbery at the 700 BLK of Taylor Ave N.
And after that, police say, they are suspected in a Bellevue holdup.
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