West Seattle, Washington
28 Wednesday
10:52 PM: For the fourth time in less than two weeks, someone has crashed a suspected stolen car on SW Alaska west of The Junction and fled the scene. This time, the driver hit a utility pole and then got into what’s described as a white Hyundai Elantra to leave the scene. The crashed car is reported to be a Hyundai Sonata with Oregon plates and ignition damage. Officers are telling dispatch that the pole is in danger of falling so the car can’t be removed until City Light can come deal with it. At least one sign was reportedly taken out by the impact too.
11:15 PM: Thanks to the two readers who sent photos, added above. One texted that they talked to police – “there are four of them out here, none of them had any idea this has been happening.” The most recent one was last Wednesday morning.
12:19 AM: One of the area residents says the car’s been towed and its removal shows the pole damage:
ADDED 3:47 PM: A commenter says community members are gathering at Ercolini Park at 6 pm to talk about all this. Meantime, dozens of homes in the area were without power for several hours today as a result of the pole damage done by the crash:
Power has just been restored.
Quick notes about three businesses with reason to celebrate:
4TH ANNIVERSARY: Tomorrow (Monday, May 26) the Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW) is celebrating four years in business – stop by between 1-4 pm for “door prizes, wheel demos, pottery for sale, smash burgers, make a pinch pot.” Or just to congratulate proprietor Frances!
40TH ANNIVERSARY: Set your calendar for the weekend of June 7-8, when CAPERS in The Junction (4525 California SW; WSB sponsor) will celebrate 40 years in business! Treats, prizes, more, and a chance to congratulate proprietor Lisa. The weekend will be preceded by a special reunion for CAPERS employees past and present – if that includes you, and you’re not already set to go, the contact info is in our calendar listing.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN NEW HQ: Rambo Total Pest Control has an unusual anniversary story to tell – the longtime WSB sponsor is based in Puyallup but has generations of roots in West Seattle, and many customers. They just celebrated a year in their headquarters, a renovated Puyallup house dubbed “The Castle” – after working on it for more than three years – and wanted to share its story.
It’s not spring without a Canada Goose baby picture from Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who just sent this one. We also recently received a family pic from Rainer Klett:
Everything you never knew about Canada Geese, you can find here, including the much-cited fact that they mate for life.
Loop the ‘Lupe 2025 – four events in one! – is less than two weeks away. The Mount (WSB sponsor) invites you to join their Senior Saunter Squad. Get a deal, too!:
Join The Mount’s Saunter Squad at Loop the ‘Lupe!
Loop the ‘Lupe is The Mount’s Senior Saunter athletes’ annual tradition and we invite the West Seattle community to join us with a special discount!
You’re as young as you feel, so let’s show everyone how it’s done — whether you are 65, 75, 85 or more — come Saunter with us on a quarter-mile 100% flat walk for people of all ability levels!
Saturday, June 7
12:00 p.m. Warmup
12:15 p.m. Senior SaunterOther events happening from 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
Sign up for Loop the Lupe now through the link: bit.ly/pmsvloopthelupe
For a 15% discount, use code SAUNTER5. ($23 + Signup Fee with our discount code.)
Loop the ‘Lupe also brings a 5K obstacle course, 5K fun run, and Youth Dash to Walt Hundley Playfield, next to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose community and social programs benefit from the proceeds.
Even here on the brink of summer, plans are being made for this year’s winter holidays. Artists and crafters are invited to apply now for this year’s Fauntleroy Art Show – here’s the announcement:
If you’ve been thinking about participating in this year’s Fauntleroy Art Show on Nov. 14-16, you have until Sept. 10 to apply.
(Wearable art by Gretchen Curtis, Harbor Island Yarnworks, at last year’s show – photo by Ana Cecilia Del Claro)
Hosted by Fauntleroy Church since 2008, the show has earned a reputation for showcasing the exceptional creativity and craftsmanship of local artists and artistic crafters.
Applicants in any medium must reside in or have studio space in West Seattle, Burien, South Park, Georgetown, or Vashon Island. Details and the application form are at fauntleroyucc.org/art-show.
For a second day we have a brown-water report – Gatewood on Saturday, further south today. Rebecca reports, “We’ve started getting brown water at our home in north Arbor Heights, lower Fauntleroy.” The Seattle Public Utilities water-woes map doesn’t show any emergency incidents in that area, so it might be more hydrant testing, but always report problems like this to SPU’s 206-386-1800 hotline just in case.
You hope it never happens – but need to be ready in case it does. Last Sunday, our calendar and event list included a Disaster Resilience Ride organized by West Seattle Bike Connections, whose Kate Wells sent a report and photos:
We had great weather, great attendance (including a couple of kids) and great speakers! Riders learned about the Seattle Emergency Hubs system, assembling a go-bag, food and water resilience, building community, and dealing with utilities.
We also stopped by the Delridge Tool Library as a possible resource after a disaster. There was interest in doing a similar ride again in the future.
To find out what else West Seattle Bike Connections is up to, go here.
Family and friends of Steve Ross are sharing this remembrance with his community:
Rev. Dr. Stephen E. Ross
19 January 1951 – 29 April 2025Rev. Dr. Stephen E. Ross passed away at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, with his partner and spouse of nearly 54 years, Beverly, at his side. Steve had battled several chronic illnesses for many decades; in the end, his heart simply gave out. He was 74 years old.
The second son of Edgar and Florence Ross (a professor of music and a lifelong lover of books), Steve always valued education and pursued learning throughout his life. A 1969 graduate of Mount Pleasant (Michigan) High School, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Individualized Studies from Central Michigan University in 1974. It was at CMU that he met and married Beverly, charming her with his wit and hilarity. He earned his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from the University of Dubuque (Iowa) Theological Seminary in 1977. One of his proudest educational accomplishments was completion of his Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, in 1989.
Steve spent his career as a pastor for the Presbyterian Church (USA), serving first as a student pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster (Wisconsin; 1975-1977); then as full pastor at the First United Presbyterian Church of Tuscola (Illinois; 1977-1983), Charles Street Presbyterian Church in Rockford (Illinois; 1983-1985), the First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire (Iowa; 1985-1994), Lower Valley Presbyterian Church in Califon (New Jersey; 1994-2000), and Bloomsbury Presbyterian Church (New Jersey; 2001-2009) before taking an early retirement due to disability. Throughout this time, he also provided occasional pulpit supply for other local churches and served as a chaplain for local hospitals.
In 2010, Steve and Bev relocated to Federal Way to enjoy their retirement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They became active members of the Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church (Des Moines, Washington). Throughout his adulthood, Steve found strong community as a Mason, belonging to Snow Lodge #44 (LeClaire, Iowa) and Phillipsburg (New Jersey) Lodge #52 before retiring to Washington. Once in Washington, Steve became involved with the Thornton F. McElroy Masonic Lodge #302 (Federal Way). A crowning achievement in the later part of his life was serving as Worshipful Master of this lodge in 2017. Steve and Bev moved to the West Seattle neighborhood in 2023.
Steve was a gifted musician, poet, orator, and teacher, and he regularly utilized these skills in his sermons and services. With his musical partner Bob Jensen, Steve wrote and performed a number of original songs that reflected the progressive values of the reformed Christian protestant tradition.
Despite devoting his life to the church, Steve struggled deeply with his calling to be a minister. His progressive social values and his belief that faith should be constantly questioned, challenged, and worked on rather than blindly followed often created tension in the church communities he served. Even so, he remained a dedicated servant of the Presbyterian Church, even when it occasionally broke his heart.
Steve was active in outdoor ministry and spent many years donating time and energy to Presbyterian camps. He had an early love of nature and traveling, fostered through time in the Boy Scouts of America and through family vacations. Annual camping and RV trips across the United States while his daughters were growing up are the basis of many formative family memories, and he continued to travel internationally and domestically in his retirement.
No matter what else was happening in his world or in his health, Steve was always an extremely proud dad and devoted family man, gleefully attending every performance, celebration, game, play, or other important event in his daughters’ lives and later in his grandchildren’s lives. He delighted in the successes of his family and was a familiar fixture in both of his daughters’ communities right up until the end of his life.
Steve was known among family and friends, colleagues and congregants, for his wisdom, inquisitiveness, and humor, and his creative and fascinating mind will be missed.
Steve is survived by his wife, Beverly (Thornton) Ross of Seattle; his daughters, Deanna (known as “D”) Ohlandt (Chad Ohlandt), of Alexandria, Virginia, and Angela Ross (Jeff Loidhamer) of Seattle; as well as his grandchildren, Callen, Zachariah, and Gillian Ohlandt, and Arli Loidhamer. He is also survived by his brothers, David Ross of El Paso, Texas, and Philip Ross of Flint, Michigan, and several nieces and nephews and their children.
Celebrations of life will be scheduled for the coming months with an effort to make participation easy for those who loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in his name to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad (through the nonprofit Western Forest Industries Museum) or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
(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)
(‘Sailing’ sea lion, photographed by Stewart L.)
Day two of the holiday weekend – here are highlights for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ART ON THE CORNER: Second of three days for art sale to benefit nonprofit work, 8:30 am-3 pm. (39th/Holden)
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Today’s Sunday Funday run leaves from Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon), 9 am.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with spring produce (lots of greens! asparagus too) plus beverages, flowers, cheese, yogurt, fish, meat, prepared hot food, baked goods, nuts, dried peppers, garlic, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
MASTER GARDENERS: While at the market, you can look for Master Gardeners, ready to answer your questions! Sundays this spring and summer, they’re back at the market, 10 am-2 pm.
BACH & PANCAKES EXTRAVAGANZA: Kenyon Hall says presale tickets for this 10 am-1 pm event are sold out but they will accept walkups – as explained here. (7904 35th SW)
LOW-LOW TIDE: The first of six days with low-low tides! Today it’s out to -2.2 feet at 10:07 am.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am Sundays, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
MOON ROOM HOLIDAY WEEKEND SALE: Moon Room Shop and Wellness is “offering 15-20% off items in store and online” again today and Monday. Find Moon Room (a WSB sponsor) online here or in person at 5902 California SW, open 11 am-5 pm today.
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations today, 11 am-8 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool to get something done? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
THIRD WEEKEND FOR COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open again today during the third of six preseason weekends, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: First Sunday of the season for these free tours! Grounds at 3201 Alki SW open at 1 pm; last tour starts 3:45 pm; more info in our calendar listing.
RHODIES FC’S SECOND HOME GAME: 2 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), Rhodies FC‘s 2 pm match vs. Lane United FC (tickets here).
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
POCKET TRIVIA: Every other Sunday, 7 pm trivia at Corner Pocket (4302 SW Alaska).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Wrap up your weekend with Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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