West Seattle, Washington
26 Sunday
Sent by Riley on Genesee Hill:
I wanted to share this incident with the wider community as I just finished filing a police report and thought someone else might have some intel or have had a similar experience.
Yesterday we had a Murphy bed delivered to our house, and as it was massively heavy, on a large wooden pallet, and attached with metal cables; we were unable to move it in initially and were trying to get ahold of some bolt cutters. We were out of the house this morning for a few hours, and realized upon our return that the whole pallet was missing and there were marks leading across the yard and up the driveway where it had been dragged. After reaching out to our neighbors, several responded saying they saw someone loading it into an unmarked sprinter van. Amazingly, one of someone even caught them on camera. They had on reflective vests, had a dolly with them, and were carrying paperwork in an attempt to look legitimate.
We live at the bottom of a steep driveway and our house is quite tucked in, so we think this may have been a bit more sophisticated than the average package theft.
We’ll add the SPD report # when we get it.
Two Seaview sights from a texter:
A garden near 49th and Juneau appears to be growing a skeleton, while in the 6000 block of 49th SW, two giraffes are working on costumes:
Ten more nights until Halloween, and our decoration spotlights continue – more photos welcome via westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! (And see our archived Halloween coverage, decorations and more, by scrolling through westseattleblog.com/category/halloween …)
Six months after our most recent update on a townhouse/live-work project planned for 5617 California SW [map], the site’s just been cleared. Going by today, we stopped after noting the 113-year-old house that’s held small businesses on the site had been demolished. City records say nine units – with the three live-works facing California – and four offstreet-parking spaces are planned – here’s a rendering:
If you’re interested in full design details, see the design packet here. Side note from city files: Under the Mandatory Housing Affordability policy, the developer will have to pay a quarter-million dollar fee since none of the units will be officially “affordable.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
State Attorney General Nick Brown got a standing ovation even before he spoke to the Rotary Club of West Seattle this afternoon at the WS Golf Course.
Brown, a West Seattle resident, said the past 10 months – since his election – “have felt more like 10 years” – only half-jokingly. But “despite all the chaos of the past 10 months … I love being in this position.” Here’s our video of his speech in its entirety, starting after the four-minute introduction by West Seattle Rotary president Ron Palmer:
Before talking about the work that’s put him in the headlines – more than 40 lawsuits against the Trump Administration – Brown said it’s important to acknowledge the hard work of his staff, “at this time when public service is denigrated” and worse. His department has “about 830 lawyers who work for me, on behalf of you,” and 900 more professional staffers, all spread across 13 offices in the state. “Part of the reason we’re so big” is that they represent every single part of the state government, rather than various agencies and departments (and universities, and more) rather than those entities each having their own legal staff. “All the way down to the state Potato Commission!” All in all, “I get to come to work and do something that matters, every single day.”
The Attorney General often works with the public on consumer-protection issues; he mentioned cases such as the rent-fixing allegations against RealPage. “We do so many things that touch people’s lives … And every now and then we sue the President of the United States.”
Brown said he doesn’t take joy in that “so much of our work is focused on protecting people from their president.” He explained that he started his career (here’s his bio) as an Army JAG lawyer and has other veterans and service members in his family. “I really love our country and believe in it … I believe we ar facing a torrent of illegal activity from the presidency … harming Washingtonians.” And when he sees that, “I feel an obligation to step in.” Right now, his office is involved in 41 cases against the federal government, out of about 55 filed by him and other state officials nationwide. Some of the cases are led by other states; some are joined by other states.
In talking about them, he singled out two categories:
The fourth Wednesday of the month – tomorrow – usually would be HPAC meeting night, but the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge is skipping this month:
We hope everyone has been making the most of this beautiful autumn season. HPAC’s October gathering won’t be taking place as originally scheduled. However, we’re hoping to reconvene in November or December for a special session where we’ll dive into the revised design for the Highland Park Way SW hill project with SDOT.
SDOT announced last March that it was proceeding with the project to replace a downhill driving lane with biking/walking/rolling infrastructure
(Thanks to City Councilmember Dan Strauss’s newsletter for the image)
That’s the tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, and while we can’t say whether all those sails will be up, if you have a view of Elliott Bay on Wednesday morning, you might see it sail in for a 9 am arrival at Pier 66 downtown. It’s headed here as part of One Ocean Week, during a year-long voyage across Europe, North America, Central America, and South America (see the map here), promoting ocean sustainability. One Ocean Week, “catalyzing the Blue Economy,” includes a slate of local events, including a waterfront festival this Friday and Saturday; see the schedule here. That includes tours of the tall ship, 2-5 pm Friday, but you have to pre-register – here’s how.
It’s salmon season in West Seattle creeks!
LONGFELLOW CREEK: Thanks to Manuel Valdes for sending that video of a Monday sighting: “Saw about a half dozen (Monday) afternoon just south of the health club, already trying to get over the first beaver dams.”
FAUNTLEROY CREEK: No official word of sightings here yet but this Sunday (October 26) is the day you’re invited to join in the annual singing and drumming gathering to welcome the coho. 4 pm, show up where SW Director meets upper Fauntleroy Way, across the street and upslope from the ferry dock. Bring something to drum with if you want, but not required. All ages!
(Sorrel tree – photo by Susan Romanenghi)
Here’s our Tuesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is opening its free community playspace, 9 am-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. (42nd/Juneau)
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at 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.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Art is on display all around Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), and you can visit any time this month during regular hours, which are 12 pm-8 pm today.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course. Guest speaker: State Attorney General Nick Brown. (4470 35th SW).
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
HOMEWORK HELP: Students can get free drop-in homework help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4 pm to 5:45 pm.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS girls’ soccer Senior Night vs. Nathan Hale at 5 pm, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
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.
UKULELE PLAYERS EVENING MEETUP: 6 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander).
REP. JAYAPAL’S TOWN HALL: 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), our area’s U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal will hold a town hall about the government shutdown. RSVP required; link’s in our calendar listing.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts “Unplugged: A Musical Gathering“ for acoustic music-making, All ages, no cover.
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
CREATE POTTERY: Second-to-last weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at closing-soon pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), register in advance to work on your project(s).
BIRDS AND BEES TALK: Every parent of a young child needs to know how to tackle this topic, and West Seattle Cooperative Preschools is bringing in expert educator Amy Lang for a presentation with advice at 7 pm tonight, South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: New classes continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Our calendar listing has details including how to check if they have space. Newcomers are always welcome, and the first class is free. (WSB sponsor)
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you participate.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG: 7 pm monthly gathering at Admiral HUB (4320 SW Hill).
TRIVIA X 4: Four locations for trivia tonight – 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 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (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!
If you have expired or no-longer-needed medicine to get rid of, and aren’t sure where to do that with all the local drugstore changes, here’s an opportunity: This Saturday is the fall Drug Take-Back Day event. Again this time, the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) is one of two SPD precincts in the city participating. Take your items there 10 am-2 pm Saturday (October 25), no questions asked.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today says sunshine and a high around 60. Sunrise will be at 7:37 am; sunset, at 6:09 pm. (We “fall back” one hour in 12 days.)
ROAD WORK
-SDOT says work on the added 60th/61st/62nd speed bumps between Alki Avenue and Admiral Way could start this week.
-A reader reports work to install a median curb was happening Sunday on Sylvan Way, near the cemetery. We’re waiting for SDOT answers to our questions about the project.
WEEKEND EARLY ALERT
-Sunday (October 26), the West Seattle Junction Harvest Fest will take over an extra block (California south of Alaska) of the heart of The Junction, while the Farmers’ Market occupies its usual block.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three boats 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; 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.
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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