West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
(Added: Photo sent by Jayson)
10:41 PM: King County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Guardian One helicopter are searching for five people in Fauntleroy Park, related to a possible stolen car. We’re still working to find out exactly how and where it started but minutes earlier Seattle Police had shared an FYI on their air about KCSO following a stolen car near 26th/Roxbury, westbound. Updates to come.
10:47 PM: SPD is getting involved as they’re getting calls about possible suspicious activity toward the south side of the park.
10:50 PM: One person in custody now, possibly three others still at large, possibly south of the park into Arbor Heights.
10:57 PM: At least part of the search has definitely moved southward into AH, at least as far south as 102nd.
11:04 PM: Still listening back to KCSO radio archives to see how/where this started – meantime, they’re still looking for suspects in Arbor Heights, with a K9 team assisting on the ground.
11:15 PM: Finally found the original KCSO radio calls on this. Someone was tracking their stolen silver Lexus in Burien and KCSO followed it north. Meantime, the current search continues in Arbor Heights, no reports of additional suspects being found yet.
11:17 PM: They’ve hit a dead-end in tracking, so the helicopter has left.
11:33 PM: Still some deputies in the area but the active search has been “called” due to the lack of further leads.
11:52 PM: The car was abandoned in the 3700 block of SW Cambridge. One other interesting note from listening to archived KCSO audio – at one point a deputy asked if StarChase was potentially available, if they were able to use it, but the radio operator didn’t think it was available at that time. According to KCSO radio, before they ever got to West Seattle, the car’s owner wa tracking it remotely and talking to the agency by phone to tell them the locations. One other note from archived audio, the suspects were believed to be juveniles.
(Photo courtesy StarChefs)
In addition to West Seattle’s sit-down pizza restaurants, the local commissary kitchens host takeout-only pizzerias, including Pizza Ritual, which has been making appearances since summer at KBM (5608 Delridge Way SW). Proprietor Matt Gorman emailed us to say that “starting this week, Pizza Ritual will be offering online pre-ordering/pick-up as well as walk-up ordering on Fridays and Saturdays from 5–8pm at the KBM Kitchen walk-up window.: He explains Pizza Ritual as having …
… a focus on Northwest grains, seasonal farm produce, and locally made cheeses & meats. The dough is central to the process — each batch is hand-mixed, naturally leavened using only flour, water, and salt, and left to ferment at ambient temperatures (never seeing refrigeration of any kind). This approach preserves elements of centuries-old Neapolitan pizza-making traditions while using ingredients rooted in Washington and Oregon. (My) maternal family traces back to Campania and Calabria, and Pizza Ritual is also a way of honoring that Italian heritage through craft and technique.
Since its start, Pizza Ritual has been rooted in community and accessibility. Pizza’s history as an everyday food for the working class is central to (my) philosophy: despite the high-quality sourcing, the goal is to keep pricing approachable and the menu welcoming to everyone in the neighborhood. (I have) collaborated with local chefs and producers including Janet Becerra of Pancita, Mutsuko Soma of Kamonegi/Hannyatou, Aash Farms, and has held regular pop-ups at beloved community spots such as Molly’s Bottle Shop, Bait Shop, Hildegard Ferments & Botanicals, & Darby Winery. At the end of the day, it’s just pizza — meant to be fun, shared, and part of the neighborhood it feeds.
He’ll be taking online orders at pizzaritual.com.
This month’s West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday will feature a type of art that’s not often seen during the monthly event – quilt art! We received the photos and announcement this afternoon from Jill Boone:
The Contemporary QuiltArt Association is featured at Windermere in the Junction this Thursday for the Art Walk. We are doing a big inventory reduction sale and handmade, creative fiber art pieces will be available in a huge price range. We will have handmade cards for $5/ each and matted art that are 5×7 and 12 x 12 pieces from $10 to $200. In addition, four of our member artists will have their art quilts for sale and they are stunning! We hope people will come shop and also stop in to talk with some of our members about CQA, as we are a vibrant and welcoming group of artists – beginners to world renowned!
Windermere is at 4526 California SW; this show is set for 5-8 pm Thursday (January 8). See the full list/map of this month’s Art Walk venues by going here!
District 3 City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth is making history as the first Black woman to serve as the council’s president. She won a unanimous vote at the council meeting that just wrapped up, succeeding Sara Nelson, who lost her reelection bid in November. Hollingsworth is midway through her first term on the council, representing a district that includes the Central District, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Eastlake, Montlake, Madison Park, Madison Valley, Portage Bay, Leschi, and Madrona. Also at the meeting, the new citywide councilmember who defeated Nelson in November, Dionne Foster, was sworn in, with her son administering the oath:
The council’s other citywide rep, Alexis Mercedes Rinck – elected to her first full four-year term – was sworn in this afternoon too.
One other council note – as first reported by Publicola, two members of District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka‘s staff have departed, and Saka has replaced one with a man who once ran for the council job. Saka chief of staff Elaine Ikoma Ko confirms to WSB that Saka staffers Ian Griswold – “to return back to school for his Ph.D.” – and Logan Duling – “desiring a full-time position and found one with the City of Redmond closer to his home” – have left. She also confirms that Saka’s new policy adviser is Brendan Kolding, the former Seattle Police lieutenant who finished third in the primary for the District 1 seat in 2019 (and ran for State Legislature in 2016). Saka’s district director Erik Schmidt is still on staff, and Ikoma Ko says, “We are recruiting for a new (legislative assistant).”
At several community meetings during the year, we reported on Seattle Police reps sharing ongoing stats, including noting that the year’s murder rate in the Southwest Precinct remained at zero. While working on a forthcoming followup checking on some of last year’s notable court cases, we realized that the year had ended with that number still at zero, according to the SPD data dashboard and WSB archives. Per the data dashboard, SPD investigated 31 homicides in 2025 (down from 53 a year earlier) – 11 in the North Precinct, 8 in the South Precinct, 7 in the West Precinct, 5 in the East Precinct, and 0 in the Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park). This is particularly notable because the previous years were higher than usual in West Seattle – we noted 7 in 2024, 6 in 2023.
That’s a Seattle Public Schools-provided aerial view of the west and south sides of the new Alki Elementary School (3010 59th SW), months away from completion, set to open this fall for the 2026-2027 school year. (You can see a current view of the front – north-facing side – of the school via this webcam.) One of the major elements of work right now involves rebuilding the road surface of 59th; the latest update from the project team says, “The western half will be demolished and replaced by mid-January.” Closures are continuing during daytime work hours, but the street is reopening after-hours as work permits. Other updates:
During the last month we have completed the following work: gypsum concrete floor topping, installation of the ceiling grid, rough-in of the mechanical systems, masonry, exterior glazing, and mechanical penthouse metal panel installation.
The team is beginning or progressing on the following work: 59th Avenue repaving, interior lighting, interior cabinet installation, finish carpentry, acoustical treatments and tile installation.
Our next steps include: completing the interior finishes (paint and flooring) on the Community Center, completing the bioretention facilities and permanent power connection.
Alki Elementary staff and students are in their third year at the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus. The school currently has 266 students enrolled, according to the newest district update, slightly more than half the capacity of the new building. The district’s Open Enrollment for School Choice period is now under way.
(Alki photo by Thomas Bach)
Today’s daily event notes/reminders, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including some recurring events resuming post-holidays (changes? cancellations? text us at 206-293-6302 if it’s today/tonight, email westseattleblog@gmail.com for dates beyond) and more:
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FESTIVAL OF TREES: Third-to-last chance to visit the church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW) before noon to see the themed trees and place food donations beneath your favorite(s) to “vote” for them.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Indoor play at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is back open, 9-noon -just drop in! (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Also resuming today, 10-11:30 am free playgroup for kids 0-5 and their caregivers, at Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW).
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: First gathering of the new year. 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.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW).
CHESS CLUB: Also resuming – all levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
CITY COUNCIL CHOOSES NEW PRESIDENT: At 2 pm, the council is also back in session after winter break, and the biggest agenda item is voting for a new president. The agenda explains how to attend, watch, and/or participate in public comment.
J-6 EDITION OF “MONDAYS WITH MARJORIE”: West Seattle Indivisible adds an extra support event for/with 35th/Edmunds daily protester Marjorie, in commemoration of J-6, as explained here.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Resuming this week at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) – volunteers available to help K-12 students.
ASTRA LUMINA: Now on Friday/Saturday/Sunday schedule through month’s end.
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.
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: As previewed here (with the participant list), prospective families can meet reps from a dozen local preschools, all in one place, plus two enrichment organizations, 5:30-7 pm at Hope School Gym (4100 SW Genesee).
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.
GOT FIT INFO NIGHT: Also at West Seattle Runner tonight, 6:30 pm, find out about this season’s free GOT FIT marathon training, which starts soon.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Lessons continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 5: Five locations for trivia on Tuesday nights – 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) … Trivia at Christos on Alki (2508 Alki SW), 7:15 pm.
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Before we get to the event list for today/tonight, here’s a quick preview of a resource event on Saturday. It’s happening at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton) but open to everyone regardless of whether you’re affiliated with the school community. The 10 am-2 pm event will feature navigation for services from school enrollment to health insurance, plus a grocery giveaway while supplies last, health services including immunizations, and more, Here’s the flyer with more info, which also includes the number to call to make an appointment for two of the health services that will require them (mammograms and dental screenings).
9:33 AM: Texter reported a problem at East Marginal/Diagonal with spillover effects on the bridge, and now we know it’s a water-main break, with NB East Marginak lanes closed between Hudson and Diagonal, as well as a closure of S. Alaska.
7:30 AM: Texter reports Fauntleroy/Avalon signal is out.
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast predicts rainy, breezy weather today, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise will be at 7:56 am; sunset at 4:34 pm. (First day the sunrise has started getting earlier!)
(Monday sunset, photographed by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route remains on a two-boat schedule for at least another week, but a third “bonus boat” is expected to be added starting tomorrow, according to WSF’s alerts page:
The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route will stay on the two-boat schedule for at least one more week, through Jan. 12.
Tuesday, Jan. 6: The Kittitas will replace the Sealth and run as the #1 vessel. The Cathlamet will run as the #2 vessel.
Wednesday, Jan. 7: The Salish will start as the third, unscheduled vessel on the route.
After the Kittitas returns, we’ll still have the Tacoma and the Walla Walla unexpectedly out of service due to urgent repairs. We will reevaluate service plans and vessel assignments when the Tacoma returns to service the week of Jan. 12.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is 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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