West Seattle, Washington
03 Monday
Thanks to Jon Anderson for that video recorded from Airport Way as Blue Angels jet #7 arrived at noontime today. The six regular performers arrive tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30), ETA 1:30-2 pm at Boeing Field, preceded by support plane “Fat Albert” around noon. This year’s officer (pilots and support) lineup is here. They’re scheduled to be up 11 am-1 pm and 3:30-4:40 pm on Thursday, and then at 3:35 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The full Seafair air show schedule is here. You can watch for free from Seafair Festival grounds on Lake Washington on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday there’s an admission charge.
Since several people have asked about this, we’re writing one of those “here’s what’s NOT happening” stories about the tsunami alert that followed the 8.7 magnitude Russian earthquake four hours ago. The alert covers the open-ocean coast and part of the North Sound, but NOT us down here in central Puget Sound. You can find out more through the National Weather Service‘s website – for one, it has a map clearly showing the areas covered by the alert. And if you click through to alert details like these, you’ll see that even in the areas that might be affected, it’s not the cliché wall of water. But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be dangerous – currents and surges are often what bring the danger.
ADDED: The quake’s magnitude has been revised upward to 8.8.
This Thursday and Friday nights, hundreds of people will be enjoying free outdoor concerts in West Seattle, as one summer series ends and another begins. And if you love classic oldies – both are tribute concerts!
(WSB photo, last year’s Hamilton Viewpoint AMP crowd)
THURSDAY – ADMIRAL MUSIC IN THE PARKS: Thursday night, Hamilton Viewpoint Park (1120 California SW) is where to be for the third and final concert in this year’s Admiral Music in the Parks series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with community co-sponsors including WSB). Bring your own chair, blanket, picnic dinner, etc., for the 6:30 pm show by The Flaming Pies (a tribute to The Beatles). And if you can, also bring nonperishable food for the donation drives ANA’s been hosting throughout the series.
(WSB file photo)
FRIDAY – SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: For the first four Friday nights in August, Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW; WSB sponsor) invites community members to join Mount residents on the south side of the main building for a 6 pm concert. First up, this Friday (August 1), is Danny Vernon, performing The Illusion of Elvis. Bring your own chair or blanket for this show too, and if you want to bring your own dinner, that’s welcome, but you also have the option of buying a barbecue dinner The Mount will be serving up starting at 5:30 pm. For The Mount’s full series slate, see our calendar listing.
(WSB file photo)
Four weeks ago, we reported on Seattle Public Schools‘ plan to move two programs out of the former Roxhill Elementary building – now known as the “Roxhill Annex” – at 30th/Roxbury. At the time, the district wasn’t saying what the next step was, though it appeared to be moving quickly toward new homes in the coming school year for the two major programs that have been housed in the building for seven years. Now, the plan is going to the School Board. The agenda for a special board meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30) has this item: “Approval of instructional site relocations for Interagency Academy and the BRIDGES Program from the Roxhill Annex.” It shines a little more light into this. First, it suggests that “safety” is the main reason for proposing the move, without elaborating. Second, it changes the plan for one program – Interagency Academy’s Southwest program is now to be moved to Southwest Youth and Family Services (4555 Delridge Way SW), which has housed Interagency students before, instead of the Columbia City location the district mentioned in June. BRIDGES, though, is still to be moved to the Chief Sealth International High School campus (2600 SW Thistle), which some have said is not appropriate because the program serves young adults past high-school age. Finally, the agenda document has a bit of updated information about the Roxhill building’s fate – it says, “The site is being evaluated for continued use for instructional purposes and is not recommended for closure at this time.” Tomorrow’s board meeting – which also includes the latest on the superintendent search – starts at 4:30 pm; the agenda explains how to watch, either in person or online/cable.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
AVALON RESPONSE: For those wondering about the police response a short time ago on Avalon, radio exchanges indicate SPD has just detained someone believed to be a person who they’d been looking for in connection with a SODO homicide case from two weeks ago. More information expected later. (Update, 10:35 pm: Police have confirmed the arrest, though without mentioning that it happened in West Seattle.)
GUN, DRUGS FOUND IN DUI ARREST: From an SPD announcement this afternoon:
(Today) at about 12:15 a.m., patrol officers found a 37-year-old man passed out inside of a running vehicle in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue SW. Officers safely removed him from the vehicle and arrested him for driving under the influence.
While investigating, police saw suspected narcotics inside of the truck. Police applied for a search warrant and it was approved by a judge. Officers searched the truck and recovered narcotics, scales, and a firearm.
(Seattle Police photo)
Officers transported the suspect to the hospital for a legal blood draw. Once completed, officers booked him into the King County Jail for [investigation of] multiple crimes including DUI, Ignition Interlock Violation, Possession with Intent to Deliver narcotics, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
The suspect, a convicted felon, is prohibited from having guns.
He’s still in jail at this hour; checking local court records, his cases in the past five years involve primarily stolen cars and unlawful gun possession.
2:45 PM: Thanks for the tips on this. SFD is sending more reinforcements to a hard-to-fight brush fire in the Camp Long forest. They’ve just described it over the radio as a slow-moving 20′ x 60′ brush fire, 800 feet and downhill from their access location, which means they’re having a challenging time getting water there.
2:56 PM: Added photo from reader, showing smoke visible from Delridge to the east.
3:33 PM: Added another reader photo, this one showing the SFD apparatus staged in Camp Long’s big meadow. That’s not where the fire is – it’s in the forest on the east slope of the park. One radio exchange with dispatch and firefighters just now indicates they’re consulting a captain who’s “wildland-certified.” No word on what sparked this, but as we noted yesterday in coverage of another brush fire in a city park, the rainfall total is sharply below what’s normal by this point in the year – 27 inches since October 1, three-fourths of the normal 36 inches.
4:36 PM: We haven’t heard any further status updates, but firefighters are still in the park.
5:11 PM: They’re starting to dismiss crews.
(Screenshot from SDOT traffic cam)
2:05 PM: A crash toward the Fauntleroy end of the West Seattle Bridge didn’t hit our radar until an officer just told dispatch the bridge will be closed eastbound at Fauntleroy as a result. So if you need to head out that way, wait a while.
2:25 PM: Open again. We’re checking with SFD regarding injuries; one passerby said it appeared a motorcycle was involved.
11:09 AM WEDNESDAY: SFD says the rider, a man in his late 50s, was in stable condition when transported, and that this was “reported as a motorcycle-bus collision.”
12:21 PM: We’re on Duwamish Head, near Luna/Anchor Park, as the Seafair Parade of Ships fleet approaches West Seattle’s shore, where the participating ships will turn eastward in Elliott Bay to “parade” past the downtown waterfront. Leading the way, as announced by the U.S. Navy this morning, is the amphibious-transport-dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), followed by the guided-missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), and U.S. Coast Guard ships we’ll ID as they come into view. SFD fireboat Leschi is headed westward in the bay to meet them, as usual.
(Fireboat Leschi, this photo and next two by Gary Jones)
(USS Somerset)
(USS Jack H. Lucas)
12:49 PM: The ships, led by Leschi with a festive spray show, are passing Duwamish Head now. … Sailors are lining the decks of both Navy ships. Helicopters are also in view on the Somerset’s deck. … The Navy tug YT801 Washtucna is between the Somerset and Jack H. Lucas. Unlike past years, they don’t appear to have Coast Guard vessels trailing the Navy ships – just one small USCG vessel in view alongside, so this is a short parade.
1:15 PM: The ships are now approaching downtown.
(Photo by Doug Eglington)
The Navy ships will be open for tours at Pier 46’s USCG facility 10 am-4 pm Thursday-Sunday – all the details are here.
ADDED 5:23 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos! The next four are from David Hutchinson – first, a USCG helicopter that flew over before the ships arrived:
Here are the helicopters we mentioned seeing on the Somerset’s deck:
Another full view of that ship:
And of the Jack H. Lucas:
Both of the Navy ships are now docked at the Coast Guard’s downtown facility, where the aforementioned tours will be held.
12:12 PM: Thanks for the tips, A crash call that SFD closed out quickly is reported to involve a flipped car, at California/Graham. No serious injuries, since SFD canceled, but avoid the area. We have a crew headed to the scene.
(Added: WSB photos)
12:38 PM: Our crew reports officers on scene confirm no serious injuries. They also report that traffic is NOT blocked – it’s going around the crash scene.
A tow truck has arrived.
1:58 PM: We didn’t get back that way to check until just now but the scene is totally clear.
(Mark Sears shoveled away enough sand for a good look at what’s left of the wooden pipe)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos by Tom Trulin
Special to West Seattle Blog
In 1925, the city created the first swimming pool in Lincoln Park by enlarging a small lagoon on Point Williams. Affectionately called “the mud hole” by some, the lagoon pool served waders, swimmer, and divers until construction began on Colman Pool, which opened at the point in 1941.
The ingenious feature of the first pool was the pipe used to fill and drain it. Mark Sears maintained Colman Pool for 43 years and thought he knew every feature of the area. While walking the beach during a -2’ tide in mid-July, however, he discovered a segment of the original pipe.
The relic consists of the bottom seven wooden staves of the pipe. Each stave (likely cedar) is 1 3/4” thick and 3 1/4” wide. Mark also saw evidence of rusting iron, which could have been from the hoops that held the tongue-and-groove staves in place.
Longtime Fauntleroy resident Morey Skaret lifeguarded at the pool just prior to World War II and in his book, “Morey’s Bench,” described how the system worked:
The pipe was two or three feet in diameter and had a gate valve with a screen filter. The incoming tide would send water through the pipe to fill the pool and gravity would empty it when the tide went out. All we had to so was open and close that gate valve. We changed the water about every four days and used a chemical test to tell us when it was time.
I remember turning the wheel to open the gate valve at low tide and watching the water rush out. As the tide came in, the pool would fill in about three hours and the screen would trap sizable debris. It let in small fish, though, and shiners and candlefish would swim around along with everyone else!
(Bald Eagle, photographed this morning by Teresa Thiessen in South Delridge)
Here’s our list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUMMER FOOD: Multiple sites are set up in West Seattle for kids to get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks while school is out, as noted here.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New participants as well as returnees are invited to this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
SEAFAIR PARADE OF SHIPS: As previewed here, you’ll be able to see this from West Seattle’s north-facing shores, optimal viewing from the Alki Beach promenade to Seacrest and Jack Block Parks. Time approximate, usually in the noon hour. We plan on live updates as usual, barring major breaking news. Also awaiting announcement of participating ship(s) and will update here when we get that info. (11 AM: The US Navy says USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and USS Somerset (LPD 25) are its contributions to the parade/tours.)
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is also open, with sessions between noon and 7 pm. Fee.
WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) are scheduled to be open today, noon-7 pm. Free.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course with guest speaker Scott Oki on “Outrageous Learning.” (4470 35th SW).
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: 2 pm weekly meeting, open to public comment in person or online. The agenda explains how to watch/participate.
SCIENCE WITH MS. C: For kids 5-12 at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 1:30-3 pm: “Each week Ms. C. will read a picture book and lead a hands-on paper engineering activity inspired by the story, like building bridges, mazes, towers, and more.”
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
AESOP LIVES! FUNKY FABLES: 3 pm performance at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW) by Idris Goodwin, free.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
PLAY ALONG IN THE PARK: 6 pm, last of four Tuesday nights in which you can play along with West Seattle Community Orchestras musicians at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), or just watch/listen. Our preview has details.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: Tonight at 6:15 pm, meet up at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has details on signing up before you go.
BINGO X 2: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW) … Talarico’s Pizzeria also offers 8 pm bingo (4718 California SW).
TRIVIA X 4: Question: Where can you find trivia in West Seattle on Tuesday nights? Answer: These four places – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub. (2306 California SW).
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Steven C. Wood and sharing this remembrance:
Steven passed away at the age of 76 on July 15, 2025, after a long courageous battle with Congestive Heart Failure.
Born in Seattle on December 27, 1948, and raised in West Seattle, Steven was the eldest of seven sons born to Charles and Dorothy Wood. In January 1972, Steven met and fell in love with Susan Hoselton. They both knew that “this was the one”. They married on May 6, 1972. Bothell, WA was home until building their dream home in Anacortes, WA and retiring. Steven and Susan were married 53 years until his passing.
Before retiring, Steven worked as the Northwest Regional Manager for the Wm. Wrigley Company. He always smiled when a niece or nephews would ask “Uncle Steven, do you have any gum?”.
Steven loved cats, cars, woodworking, Elvis, anything electronic and most importantly boating. He had his first boat at the age of 14. It was a 16’ runabout. He traded a stereo (he built himself) to a neighbor for the boat. For many years, Steven and Susan spent most summer weekend waterskiing on Lake Chelan. Eventually, they traded to a larger vessel and enjoyed 30 years cruising the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands. They made many lifelong friends along the way.
Steven was also the Go To handyman for family and friends. If you had a remodeling project, Steven was the man. He was a carpenter but especially loved electrical projects. Just don’t ask him to do plumbing! He was very proud that he completed all the wiring on their home built in Anacortes. He liked to brag that it passed the first time!
Steven is survived by his wife Susan; brothers Robert (and wife Sue), Michael, Donald (and wife Lori), Thomas, James (and wife Vickie), and Charles (Chug) (and wife Lorrie); 21 nieces and nephews; and 24 great-nieces and nephews.
A date for a memorial Service has not yet been decided but will be published in the future. Please bookmark his memorial site to check for updates when his service will take place.
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny again today, high around 80. Today’s sunrise was at 5:43 am; sunset will be at 8:47 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Repaving will resume on California SW between Holly and Frontenac this Thursday.
-Crews are working on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral, and that’s closing 60th during work hours as well as affecting bike lanes.
-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF is back to three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
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!
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