West Seattle, Washington
09 Sunday
One year ago today, WSB co-founder Patrick Sand died, suddenly and entirely unexpectedly.
As Patrick’s widow and WSB co-founder, I want to acknowledge the anniversary with two words:
THANK YOU.
There are so many people to thank, I have to repeat it:
THANK YOU.
Thank you to friends I never realized were friends. Thank you to community members who showed me that Torin and I weren’t the only people who loved Patrick. Thank you to everyone who helped sustain us in so many ways, especially in those agonizing early weeks. Thank you to everyone who reads WSB, everyone who texts and emails story tips, photos, video, calendar listings, lost-pet reports; everyone whose questions lead to stories; all the local businesses and organizations who have continued to sponsor us (or joined the team), so this work can continue. Thank you to everyone who’s worked for and with us this past year – Patrick is irreplaceable, but for WSB to keep going, much of what he did has to be done by someone, and some wonderful, talented people have stepped forward.
THANK YOU.
On to WSB’s 19th year, our second without Patrick. Gone but never forgotten.
-Tracy Record, WSB editor/publisher
It’s a Halloween haunt … and a charity fundraiser. Starting tonight, “Nightfall” is back at 4544 51st Place SW [map]. The crew explains that this year, “We are raising money for Washington’s National Park Fund and non-perishable food donations for West Seattle Food Bank.” Here’s the (spooky, beware) trailer:
Here’s when you can visit:
Dates: 10/17, 10/18, 10/24, 10/25, 10/30, 10/31, 11/1
Times: 5:30-9:30 and open until 10 on 10/31. 5:30-6:30 every night is Little Frights with more light outside, brighter light inside, sounds only, and no jump scares – this is perfect for younger children, timid adults, or first-time haunters.
Tickets: $25 general admission or $20 with non-perishable food donations for up to 6 guests plus fees and taxes. We only accept cards or Apple Pay, no cash.
Important Info: Please check the website for details on parking, as this is in a residential street with limited parking. We are also a home haunt, so please be respectful of our neighbors.
(WSB photo, Rep. Jayapal’s town hall @ The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2024)
This is not only the 17th day of October, it’s also the 17th day of the federal government shutdown. Got a question about it? The shutdown will be the main topic of a Town Hall in West Seattle with our area’s U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal next Tuesday at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), 6 pm. RSVP required; here’s that link.
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Projects, crime stats, and City Council candidates were on the agenda when the Morgan Community Association had its quarterly meeting this past Wednesday at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene. About a dozen people attended, both in person and online.
The big news to come out of the meeting was the cancellation of next year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival. The festival was usually one of the first of the summer, held in June, featuring local musicians, vendors, and a place for other local community groups to advocate to attendees. The reason given for its cancellation given was a combination of a lack of funding, issues with overall attendance, and a lack of variety in new groups to bring to the event. “We need new blood to bring the festival to life … In additional conversations, we determined those things had not occurred.” said Christopher Miller, MoCA secretary. (President Deb Barker could not attend, so board members led the meeting.) He also said, however, they were considering other opportunities for MoCA to present events: “We are looking at new ways to activate public space in one-off ways, looking at projects like that, and other directions we can try to go when the [Morgan Junction] park (addition) is open.”
The other big news was that the park addition site will be open to the public as soon as November as it transitions between phases of development. The site has been hydroseeded , meaning that a new blanket of grass will grow soon over the filled and leveled site, expedited by the rainy season.
Olivia Reed, a planner from Seattle Parks and Recreation, came to deliver a presentation on the status of the site, north of the existing park. “The [additional site] project will go into construction winter 2026 [as in, December of next year], so the fencing around the site will be removed in the next couple of months, and it’ll be open until construction begins.” she said. She also said that the addition site project progress is on pace, with the primary design consultants are under contract. They are working now on finalizing the design requirements for the project. She said there will be additional chances for the community to input feedback on the proposed design before construction begins. (The issue of how and whether it will include a skatable area has not yet been settled – here’s our recent update after a site meeting with Parks reps and community members including the group MJAWA that has long been working for the feature to be in the project.)
Rain or shine, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is happening Sunday, 2-5 pm. There are indoor activities as well as outdoor activities, as always. We have the map and schedule for your planning – but first, a reminder that the festival includes a cake contest, so if you want to enter a cake, drop it off on festival day by noon at The Hall at Fauntleroy (south end of the schoolhouse, 9131 California SW) – more info here. Here’s the map:
And here’s the schedule (PDF version here if you can read that more easily):
It’s all free except food/drink concessions, supported by donations and volunteers.
1:49 PM: We first showed you that map back in August, when SDOT confirmed where it’s planning to add speed cushions on 60th, 61st, and 62nd SW in the heart of Alki. After a reader spotted the first preparatory outlines this week, we asked SDOT for an update on the construction timeline. They say installation will start as soon as next week (Monday, October 20 and beyond), weather permitting, and hope to provide us more details shortly. Here’s the original construction notice.
2:39 PM: Update from SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali: “The start of construction has been pushed to Wednesday, October 22, due to rain … Construction is expected to last about four days total across all three streets, with each block impacted for roughly one day. The schedule will continue to be weather dependent since wet conditions prevent asphalt work.” Sidewalks are expected to remain open but drivers might have to detour during “active construction.”
(Seen on West Seattle’s most-famous marquee! WSB photo)
Better late than never – now that the busy morning is ending, here’s a quick look at the afternoon/evening – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH & BLOWING DEMOS: Noon to 4 pm, Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way) is open for live glass-blowing demos, and art-glass pumpkin-patch shopping, as part of “Refract.”
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Community creations are on display throughout Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), and you can visit any time during regular hours, until 6 pm today.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER The center is open for plant-shopping Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) to learn about local history – open noon-4 pm today.
QI-GONG: 12:30-1 pm at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW).
M’S VIEWING PARTY AT THE SKYLARK: No show tonight so The Skylark is opening at 2:45 pm and ready to rock the house with M’s support, and food/drink specials, during Game 5, first pitch just after 3 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(added) FREE FOOD AT OUNCES: 3 pm, first 60 customers, in celebration of Burb’s Burgers‘ first year there. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL SOCCER: As previewed here, the West Seattle HS girls play Seattle Academy at Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW) at 4 pm and are hoping for a good community turnout as they celebrate their senior players.
WINE & PUMPKIN PAINTING: 5 pm at West Seattle Mercantile (3270 California SW). Check to see if openings remain!
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, or buy a bottle.
‘FEATHER IN THE WIND’ ART POP-UP: 5-7 pm opening reception for multi-artist weekend show in the upstairs annex at Alki Arts (6030 California SW)
‘PEANUTS’ MUSIC AT EASY STREET: Listening party with Vince Guaraldi‘s “Peanuts” tunes, 5-6 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
FREE TEEN SWIM: 6-7 pm at Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle), free swim session for ages 13=18.
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: One home game for a local team tonight, Chief Sealth IHS hosts Nathan Hale at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex, 7 pm.
BINGO! 7 pm at Admiral Pub, assuming the game’s over! 21+. (2306 California SW)
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: Final weekend, curtain at 7:30 pm. See our calendar listing for the ticket link and synopsis. (4711 California SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Tony H. (4547 California SW)
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING: Skating with live bands – tonight, Dick Rossetti and Bulk Male, MANTA – 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $18 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:42 AM: Two incidents have the West Seattle Bridge down to one lane each way in almost the same spot, as shown in the traffic camera screengrab above. We’ve been mentioning the eastbound incident in our morning traffic roundup but now that there’s a westbound incident too, we’re breaking this out. Both involving truck trailers going sideways. Avoid the bridge for a while!
9:57 AM: Tow trucks are reported to be on the way (for both trucks/trailers).
10:16 AM: The first tow crew to arrive is on the westbound side; they’re trying to strategize how to temporarily block the 1st Avenue onramp too so they can work on getting this turned around so the tow crew can pull it away going west. Meantime, both outside lanes are now moving on the eastbound side, though the sideways truck is still there.
10;27 AM: Down to one lane again on the eastbound side again while they deal with tows. They’re going “eastbound in the westbound lanes” to get that truck/trailer off the bridge – using the inside westbound lane even while traffic continues westbound in the other lanes.
10:40 AM: The westbound side is now clear. On the eastbound side, they’re still working on the tow.
10:44 AM: And now the eastbound side is clear.
(Added: Reader photo)
9:20 AM: Avoid Sylvan Way in the Home Depot vicinity for a while. SFD has a midsize response for what’s described as a “large structure fire in the woods,” after what might have been a propane explosion. They’re blocking Delridge/Orchard too.
9:25 AM: Past the north side of Home Depot, police say one eastbound lane is open.
9:34 AM: Police report “fire is starting to pull their hoses out of the street” so this is wrapping up. No word of any injuries.
Tutoring is about to start for local educational nonprofit Invest in Youth but they’re still short tutors for students at Roxhill and Sanislo elementary schools. If you can give a little time to make a big difference here in West Seattle, here’s how!
We have students lined up by their teachers as those who they believe will most benefit from our one-on-one tutoring program but we still need tutors.
–Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes, Tuesdays 2:40 – 3:40 pm
–Sanislo Elementary, Mondays 2:40 – 3:40 pm
Tutoring starts soon and runs through May 2026. If you can commit to one hour a week and you’re interested in connecting with your local community to narrow achievement gaps for neighborhood students we want to hear from you!
You’ll meet one day a week with the same student in the classroom with other student-tutor pairs, and work on math and reading fundamentals, all while serving as a mentor to foster lifelong academic success.
No experience is necessary; just a commitment to show up for one hour, one day a week.
Visit our website for more information or complete our tutor application to begin tutoring this fall.
(9:22 am screengrab from SDOT camera looking eastbound)
9:23 AM: Thanks for the tip. A sideways semitruck is blocking the eastbound bridge near the 99 exit.
9:35 AM: Now there’s word of a crash going the other way. We’ve started a separate story.
10:46 AM: As we’ve reported in that separate story, the bridge is now back open both ways.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, October 17, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today says things will start to get rainy, clearing later; high in the upper 50s. Sunrise will be at 7:31 am; sunset, at 6:16 pm. (We “fall back” one hour in two weeks.)
ROAD WORK
-Reader reports speed-cushion outlines have started to appear on 61st south of Alki, one of three streets in line for them; we have an inquiry out to SDOT about construction timeline.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where; ferry alerts will update with any changes.
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes.
Water Taxi – Now on regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule, but Metro IS adding extra runs again tonight for the Mariners game. (Though it’s an earlier game this time …) 10 AM UPDATE: Metro says, “The 6:45 p.m. run from Pier 50 will be delayed to ensure that it will be at capacity before sailing. If there are still passengers waiting after the 6:45 run, there will be one additional sailing from Pier 50 — time TBD.”
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners again host Toronto in Game 5 of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, now tied 2 wins each. Today’s first pitch is shortly after 3 pm.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, maritime-opening info is again available via X (ex-Twitter):
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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