West Seattle, Washington
15 Wednesday
(Erik Bell, right, with WS Rotary past president Mark Ward; WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Erik Bell “is everywhere, all the time.”
So marveled Rotary Club of West Seattle past president Mark Ward in presenting the 2026 Patrick Sand Memorial Award to Bell, founder of A Cleaner Alki, today.
The club created the award “to honor the legacy” of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand – “perseverance, responsibility, determination to keep moving forward,” and made him its first recipient, posthumously, one year ago. Erik Bell is the second recipient.
(Photo courtesy A Cleaner Alki)
His four-year-old nonprofit is indeed everywhere – cleaning up and “sprucing up” sites all around the peninsula, and sometimes beyond. This is no casual weekend sideline. His recap of last year alone: 248 organized events, 4,800 volunteer hours, 68,000 pounds of trash and junk. Since A Cleaner Alki’s launch during the pandemic, Ward told club members during their weekly lunch meeting today:
Erik’s commitment to building community while cleaning and protecting the environment has grown tremendously … He’s rallied volunteers for cleanups and invasive-plant removal at our beaches, in parks and greenbelts, beneath the West Seattle Bridge, and along highways, arterials, and bike trails.
One of the most recent challenges he took on: Those tires dumped in Fairmount Ravine, shown here on Saturday. Though neither we nor our tipster knew it at the time, the tires already were on Bell’s radar, and his sleuthing has traced their suspected source, with a law-enforcement investigation hopefully to follow. (Right after today’s meeting, in fact, Bell told us, he was headed out to chase another offshoot of the situation … we last saw him in his familiar white A Cleaner Alki van, custom plates BY AND BY, aimed southbound on 35th from West Seattle Golf Course, where the Rotary has its meetings.)
The club also bestowed on Bell the Paul Harris Fellowship, in honor of Rotary International’s founder.
You can support Erik Bell’s quest for community improvement by pitching in with A Cleaner Alki almost any day – their upcoming cleanups are listed here, and daily DIY “Block Drop” equipment can be found at Alki – or loaned to you if you contact ACA.
6:15 PM: High over the sunset glow, the crescent moon appeared tonight – thanks to Jon Anderson for the photo. But the sky may get vastly more spectacular if the Northern Lights – aka aurora – come back for an encore. As we write this, one of the forecast sites recommended by West Seattle educator Alice Enevoldsen says the geomagnetic activity is at storm level. That’s not a guarantee of aurora appearance, but it’s promising. Last night it was after 2 am when – as shown here in photos and video – it finally became visible. Alice’s site has viewing tips as well as forecast/status links. Updates to come!
9:38 PM: Kevin Freitas got a glimpse and sent the photo above. Still at “storm level”!
10:51 PM: Things have calmed since; Beth sent the photo above – look at it VERY closely – explaining, “Caught some light colors at 10:17 pm. Apparently they can form an arc, like a rainbow, and this is part of that.”
12:35 AM: More photos! Above, that’s from Heather Wright, first person to send pics early today in the first wave. Heather says, “Got another glimpse of the aurora tonight at 10:49 in North Admiral. Not like last night. But still cool to see.” Below, Kevin Freitas sends another view, looking toward the downtown skyline:
Still “storm level” out there, so might not be done yet.
4:15 PM: For those who asked about a lights-and-sirens police response in south West Seattle around 2:30 pm, police were responding to a report of a home burglary in progress. A man was reported to be trying to force entry to a home in Upper Fauntleroy, near 35th SW and SW Trenton. According to dispatch, a person at the house confronted the suspect, who was going to drive away when police arrived and detained him. We’re following up to find out more.
6:55 PM: The jail roster shows the 49-year-old suspect was arrested and booked.
In our Monday morning traffic-and-weather coverage, we had updates on a multiple-vehicle crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. We followed up with SPD to ask for more information on the circumstances, and got this summary as the reply:
On Jan. 19 at about 9:30 a.m., patrol officers responded to a vehicle collision on the West Seattle Bridge.
The suspected impaired driver attempted to flee the scene, yet two bystanders stopped him and were holding onto him, preventing him from leaving the area of the crash. Police arrived and detained the suspect, a 39-year-old man. Officers determined that the suspect collided into two vehicles. Witnesses believed that the suspect’s “high rate-of-speed” was a factor in the collision, according to the police report. Police also impound the suspect’s vehicle, which sustained significant damage. Believing the suspect to be impaired, police arrested him for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) following their on-scene investigation.
Officers transported the suspect to the Southwest Precinct for processing. At the precinct, an SPD Drug Recognition Expert evaluated the suspect and determined that he was impaired. Police transported the suspect to Harborview Medical Center (HMC) while they applied for a DUI search warrant for blood. A judge approved the warrant, and a nurse drew the blood; officers collected it as evidence. The suspect required additional medical treatment at HMC, and officers released him from custody at the hospital.
The Seattle Police Department is grateful that nobody was seriously injured in the collision. And we thank our community members for helping our officers get an impaired driver off the road.
Volunteers of all ages were out working to improve the community as part of the MLK Day of Service during the Monday holiday. Thanks to Friends of Lincoln Park forest steward Lisa McGinty for sharing a report and photos from the event she coordinated with students:
65 mostly West Seattle High School students (and a few from Madison MS) showed up on their day off from school to honor MLK Jr’s legacy and care for the land and each other.
This is the 6th annual MLK Day of Service event that is student-led by members of the WSHS Earth Club.
We were treated to a lovely, sunny morning in the park while students removed blackberry, holly and planted native trees. Their efforts were impressive and will do a lot to make space for native plants to thrive in our urban forests.
Thanks to all the youth who came out to join community and advocate for equitable green spaces in Seattle.
You can help out in Lincoln Park too – check here for upcoming volunteer events.
Orcas are in the area again today. Kersti Muul tells us four orcas are headed northbound, off the south end of Blake Island as of a little while ago.
(Small Milkweed Bug, photographed by Tom Trulin)
Here are today’s daily event notes/reminders, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE: Indoor play at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is open today, 9-noon -just drop in! (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Also open, 10-11:30 am free playgroup for kids 0-5 and their caregivers, at Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW).
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.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today featuring presentation of the Patrick Sand Memorial Award (“We Always Show Up”); also, Dr. Carrie Horwitch, M.D., will discuss public health and the MAVEN project.. (4470 35th SW).
AVIATION MAINTENANCE AT SCC – INFO SESSION: 1 pm today:
Are you interested in starting a career as an Aircraft Mechanic? Join us for an online Information Session to learn more about the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at South Seattle College and the steps to get started.
Our calendar listing has info on how to RSVP and get the link.
CHESS CLUB: 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: At 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. The agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: At High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) – volunteers available to help K-12 students.
CRAFTING AT HARRY’S: 5-7 pm crafting event at Harry’s Beach House (2676 Alki SW) – registration link is in our calendar listing.
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.
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: 5:30 pm, families are invited to HPES to learn about the school.
ACOUSTIC MUSIC AT C & P: Unplugged: A Musical Gathering is for all acoustic instrumentalists and singers, 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: Monthly meetup, 6 pm monthly evening meetup, all ukulele players welcome – email for location.
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.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you don’t work for Boeing – email in advance to RSVP.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly 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 pm 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.
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG MEETING: 7:30 pm, RSVP for location – our calendar listing has the link.
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Two local home games tonight, both at 7:30 pm – Chief Sealth IHS (2600 SW Thistle) hosts Lakeside, West Seattle HS (3000 California SW) hosts Eastside Catholic.
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!
Family and friends will gather in the weeks ahead to remember Theresa Esztergalyos, and are sharing this remembrance with the community now:
THERESA LOUISE ESZTERGALYOS
Our dear Theresa Louise, born on April 2, 1946, in Sandpoint, ID, passed away at age 79 on January 7, 2026, in Seattle.
In her early childhood, Theresa lived with her parents and older brother in the Glengary/Sagle area near Sandpoint, ID before the family moved to Colfax, WA. After a short time there, they settled in Coeur d’Alene, ID, where Theresa attended St. Thomas Elementary School and later, the Academy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), graduating before continuing her education at Marylhurst College near Portland, OR.
Before graduating from Marylhurst, Theresa met a kind young man from Hungary, Jules Esztergalyos. He soon asked her to be his bride and in 1968, they were married. Theresa and Jules were blessed with two daughters, Lisa and Maria, who completed their family and brought them great joy. The family made their home in Vancouver, WA where they raised their daughters and tended a lovely cherry orchard. Theresa and Jules loved ballroom dancing and also were fortunate to travel to many foreign countries.
For many years Theresa belonged to the Crafts Unlimited Holiday Boutique group, where she sold her beautifully detailed “Clothespin Dolls’. Her creativity also led her to become a published author with her book ‘The Little Star: A Christmas Story’.
Theresa was known for her kindness, strength, and deep devotion to her family. She was an avid reader, and excellent cook – especially of Hungarian cuisine – and above all else, she possessed a wonderfully creative mind. She was a true artist: drawing, painting, sewing, poetry, needlework, and piano. She had a great fondness for hummingbirds and besides her kitty cats, Puff and Gizi, she also had a little praying mantis friend that she named Montague. Theresa was known for her bright and colorful attire, as well as red lipstick. She definitely was not a Plain Jane!
For the final 14 months of her life Theresa resided at Brookdale Assisted Living Facility (Admiral Heights) in Seattle, so she could be near her daughters and their families. During that time, she made many friends and even began a small art class for fellow residents. Her great and final accomplishment was arranging for a special Christmas tree to be placed in the lobby, decorated with the students’ creative ornaments – an enduring symbol of her generosity and artistic spirit.
She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Esztergalyos and Maria Esztergalyos; her son-in-law Eric Hanson; her grandchildren (who affectionately called her Mummsie) – Louise Schiele, Charles Hanson, and Rex Hanson; her sister Celine (Smith) Lehman; and eight nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth J (Hudon) Smith; her father Paul W Smith; her older brother Paul Smith Jr; her younger brother Dennis Smith; her husband of 48 years, Jules Esztergalyos; and her son-in-law Kenneth Schiele.
Theresa will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family, friends, and all whose lives she has touched. A funeral Mass will be held at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8701 NE 119th St, Vancouver, WA, on January, 30th, 2026 at 11 am. A private memorial service will be held at Brookdale Admiral Heights, date TBD. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Brookdale Admiral Heights and Vincent J. Picozzi, MD and the oncology team at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.
(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)
9:01 AM: Crash reported on NB Highway 99 just before the Alaskan Way exit.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast predicts another sunny day after some possibly freezing (overnight temperatures fell below freezing) fog. Sunrise at 7:48 am; sunset at 4:52 pm. (Next Sunday, the sun sets at 5 pm!)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service today, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – According to WSF’s alerts page, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is back to three-boat service today.
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!
3:12 AM: The aurora did appear over West Seattle after all! After West Seattle skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen told us hours earlier that there was a promising chance of it tonight, we tracked it, but even though the numbers looked good, even Alice couldn’t catch a glimpse. But in North Admiral a little over an hour ago, Heather Wright did, sending the photos above and below, and writing: “We had a quick and minor aurora sighting from our house at around 2 am in North Admiral. It was gone within 15 min.”
Alice’s aurora-viewing advice, with info links, is here.
ADDED 9:18 AM: More views of the aurora from early today – here’s a time-lapse from Kevin Freitas:
Heather, who sent the photos above, has since sent video too:
Space.com says this was the result of the “most intense” solar storm in more than 20 years.
ADDED 11:06 AM: More photos – thank you! These two are from Steven Rice:
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