West Seattle, Washington
20 Friday
As previewed here, the newly expanded-in-scope committee chaired by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got a general SDOT update during its first meeting of the year. The department’s new director Angela Brady was there for the meeeting of the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee, but mostly to introduce chief transportation-safety officer Venu Nemani, who led most of the briefing. As shown in the slide deck presented during the meeting, 25 people were killed on Seattle streets last year, mostly people on foot:
In an attempt to reduce that, SDOT has continued expanding a variety of tactics:
It’s added “no right turn on red” signage in more than 800 places, with fewer than 200 left to add, and is planning more “enhanced crossings” with marked crosswalks:
Speed cameras are still in the study mode, so don’t expect to see those soon.
Also of note, the potential implementation of “shared streets,” which sound somewhat like Healthy Streets:
The presentation mentioned only one West Seattle-specific project, the plan to convert the outside downhill lane on Highland Park Way to a bike/foot path, described as in design this year:
(The project website hasn’t been updated since spring.) No votes at this meeting; it was just a briefing, but a window into where SDOT is focused right now.
A reader sent that photo of Lincoln Park‘s troll Bruun Idun with a small sign of opposition to the Trump Administration’s vow to take over Greenland. You might recall that the troll was installed at the park 2 1/2 years ago by artist Thomas Dambo, who’s from Denmark, the country that governs Greenland as an autonomous territory. The reader tells us the signmaker put similar signs at some of the other Dambo trolls around the area
Listings for Julie Garbutt‘s weekly free “Walking for Well-Being” walks in Lincoln Park are fixtures on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. But she’s just adjusted the meetup location, so we’re calling attention to it here on the main page too:
Walking for Well-Being, Wednesdays @ Meet at 47th/SW Fontanelle
Walking for Well-Being — Move together in nature, Wednesdays/Saturdays @ Lincoln Park 10:00 AM
Join Walking for Well-Being for Movement & Community! Walk together with fellow West Seattleites in and around Lincoln Park –Rain or Shine.
This free weekly walk is organized by Julie Garbutt of Waypower Coaching and takes place at a conversational pace covering 2.5 miles in an hour. All fitness levels are welcome.
Meet us at the corner of 47th Ave SW & SW Fontanelle (near the 76 Gas station). We leave promptly at the listed start times, so please plan to arrive early.The start is next to the black mailbox at the north Lincoln Park Service Entrance at the intersection of 47th Avenue SW and SW Fontanelle Street and features plentiful street parking.
Got something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(File photo courtesy WSJA)
While we’re on the subject of plants … Want to help ensure the West Seattle Junction blooms with hanging baskets full of flowers from spring into fall? The WS Junction Association is offering almost 100 baskets for “adoption” again this year. For $199 per basket (you can adopt more than one if you want to), you cover the costs and support WSJA – a nonprofit whose many accountabilities range from beautification to community events – and get a plaque with a three-line message accompanying your basket. They’ll go up in May and remain into September. Here’s where to go if you’re interested.
Imagine hundreds more people in this photo with West Seattle Nursery owner Marcia Bruno (center), office manager Marie McKinsey (right), and Solid Ground development director Briana Stevenson (left):
(WSB photos)
Those hundreds would be the West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) customers who donated $5,589.37 to Solid Ground during the holiday season – donations that were a seed in their own way, exceeding WSN staff’s hopes, then multiplying with a $1,000 matching donation from WSN plus a match the nonprofit obtained, growing the grand total to $13,178.74, all because of those generous customers. WSN also donated dozens of packets of garden seeds to Solid Ground today – that’s what’s in the box:
The seeds will grow into a variety of produce – peas, beets, cabbage, herbs, even rutabaga. At Marra Farm in South Park, Solid Ground grows about five tons of produce each year to donate to people experiencing food insecurity. Stevenson said they’ve also started a garden at the 31-unit shelter they operate for domestic-violence survivors. Solid Ground also supports a network of 27 food banks. Bruno explained that WSN chose them as this year’s beneficiary after she was impressed by their presentation to a West Seattle Garden Tour committee in which she participates, helping choose WSGT’s annual grant recipients: “They just do a lot of stuff!” Then her staff took over pitching the “add a donation to your purchase” campaign, tracked by a thermometer decorated with apples and peppers:
Observed Stevenson, TV’s “Mister Rogers” advised “Always look for the helpers.” And you could add the importance of recognizing them – as McKinsey explained, “We want to acknowledge the generosity of our customers and thank them publicly.” This is the second year that West Seattle Nursery has done this kind of holiday-season fundraiser – exactly one year ago, we were at the nursery to cover Erin Rubin accepting the seasonal donation results for her nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts.
P.S. If the sunshine has you in the mood to garden, WSN is awash in winter blooms:
(And ask about the purple cyclamen!)
12:46 PM: Heads-up from West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen: “Really high aurora alert starting *now*. We’ll see if it lasts until dark here. It may not.” But, in case it does, now you know to check for conditions tonight. See this page on Alice’s website for links to check for aurora possibilities as well as advice on how/where to look, when it’s happening.
5:40 PM: Still a possibility! From Alice’s links, this is the one that will show you if an aurora is happening or imminent.
10:58 PM: We’ve been watching it through the evening, as has Alice, and our photographer even went out to Myrtle Reservoir Park to look. In all, no reports so far.
12:35 AM: Suddenly looking promising, we just heard from Alice. Levels are higher than they’ve been all night.
(Photo of last year’s intergenerational-theater cohort)
The BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project is back – and recruiting! They have some adult openings but are particularly looking for teens to join. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Interested in performing? Would you like to get paid to rehearse and perform with other teens and adults?
Calling all teens for the Spring 2026 cohort of the BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project!
8-10 Teens and 8-10 Senior adults chosen by BAYFEST will meet every 2 weeks or so (except during school holidays) from late February through early June in West Seattle on a weekend morning. We’ll use theatre games and exercises, guided discussions, group collaboration, and writing to create an original piece of theatre that explores intergenerational themes in new and creative ways.  The Project will culminate with several public performances in early June.
NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY and TEEN PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A STIPEND OF $25 PER SESSION FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION (and/or community service hours). It is free for participating adults.
Anyone interested in applying should email us ASAP at BAYFESTyouthTheatre@gmail.com . We will send an application. The project will be led by BAYFEST Director Robert Shampain, who has over 35 years experience leading this type of workshop-format project.
NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, just a willingness to commit to working with a multi-generational ensemble and having fun! Visit BAYFESTyouthTheatre.org and follow the links for more info.
This one-sheet about the project has additional background information, too.
(WSB photo – seen in Gatewood)
The list for today/tonight starts with a few MLK Day holiday changes/notes:
LIBRARIES, BANKS, POST OFFICES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Closed
SEATTLE PARKS/RECREATION FACILITIES: Here’s what’s closed and what’s open.
SOLID WASTE PICKUP: West Seattle is NOT one of the areas of the city where it’s delayed a day this week.
Now the events, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; RSVP here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
COMEDY!: 7 pm, “Routine Killers” comedy show at Otter on the Rocks in The Admiral District – check here to see if any tickets remain. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks as always to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As we reported last Tuesday, that’s a map of the blocks where SDOT plans “conceptual design” of potential new sidewalks and/or walkways, funded by the Seattle Transportation Levy. Full details are in this report, and SDOT is asking for feedback by tomorrow (Tuesday, January 20), so in case you didn’t have time last week, here’s your reminder. levysidewalks@seattle.gov is where to send your comments.
9:30 AM: There’s a report of a four-car crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge near the 99 exit, right lane. Waiting for emergency responders to confirm on arrival – nothing visible on the traffic cam so far, in the fog.
9:35 AM: Crash confirmed. Via police/fire radio, one person was trying to walk/run away from the scene but was stopped by “bystanders” and is now being detained by police – possibly related to a different crash.
9:42 AM: Police tell dispatch that the right two lanes are blocked as is the exit to 99.
(Added: Video from Molly, passing the right lane with some of the aftermath)
9:56 AM: The ramp to 99 is open again; the bus lane is still blocked, officers just told dispatch. (Side note, SDOT’s traffic center does not seem to be on duty, as the traffic camera has not been turned to show this scene as would be usual; only thing you can tell fro the camera’s fixed westward angle is that it’s very foggy.)
10:33 AM: The camera shows traffic flowing again. We’ll be following up on injuries and the possible arrest.
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, January 19, 2026, the holiday honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; schools are closed today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast predicts another sunny day, high around 50. Sunrise at 7:49 am; sunset at 4:51 pm. (Next Sunday, the sun sets at 5 pm!)
(Sunday sunset, photographed by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service today, fall/winter schedule, no holiday changes.
Washington State Ferries – According to WSF’s alerts page, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on two-boat service today because of boat moves.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today, no holiday changes.
PARKING HOLIDAY
*In neighborhoods with paid street parking, it’s free to park 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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