West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
If you are – or know someone who is – a West Seattleite who’s going to Boston to run the renowned marathon on Monday, Joe Drake wants to hear from you! He’ll be there again this year, and he’s already got a plan to meet up with other West Seattleites like last year, but in case there’s someone with whom he hasn’t connected yet, he asked us to put out the call! So anyone going from here who isn’t already planning to meet up for the West Seattleites’ group shot, please email him at jnldrake@gmail.com – thank you!
One week from tonight – at 11 pm Wednesday, April 22 – registration for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2026 ends, and our sale map/list work begins. We’re going on 375 sales so far, so this year’s tally will certainly top 400 – how many more depends on the number of would-be sellers waiting till the last minute to decide. Amazing variety of sales again this year as usual, and a long list of interesting items we’ve noted while reviewing and proofreading listings. Among the latest: Alpaca scarves, a drone, a crab pot, a vintage alto saxophone, a handmade iron wine rack, a dory, classic typewriters, an outboard motor … If you have something nobody is likely to find anywhere else, be sure to mention it in your up-to-20-word listing when you register, which you can do right here, right now.
THE BASICS: WSCGSD, founded in 2005 and coordinated by WSB since 2008, is the second Saturday in May – Saturday, May 9, 9 am-3 pm (you’re welcome to start earlier and/or end later, just include that in your listing; if you plan to continue Sunday, mention that too), sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle (and a bit south – we have some in White Center, South Park, and Top Hat too). We’ll make the map and list available online one week in advance (so look here on May 2).
8:14 PM: Thanks for the tip. Another crash of note: 16th SW and SW Kenyon. No injuries but 911 dispatch said a “crosswalk pole” was hit, so the aftermath might be visible for a while. For now, the crash is blocking 16th SW southbound.
8:24 PM: SPD is calling for two tow trucks.
9 PM: Police just told dispatch that 16th is fully open again.
That Seattle Police video published today tells the story of why Officer Albert Khandzhayan got the department’s “Medal of Courage” for an incident that began in West Seattle. We reported on it the morning it happened – May 3, 2025 – though it got little other attention as it happened on a Saturday morning and was over relatively quickly. It started north of The Junction with a scene that terrified onlookers, not to mention the mom and children involved – her ex-boyfriend breaking out the window of her car, pulling her out, and driving away with the children. Officer Khandzhayan rescued them – and arrested him – in Boulevard Park.
4:57 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a 4400 block of Beach Drive [map] residence where a fire is reported inside. Updates to come.
5:01 PM: SFD units arriving confirm there’s a fire at the house, which is just north of Me-Kwa-Mooks Park.
5:04 PM: The fire’s reported to be on the first floor of a two-story house, and the people inside are reported to be out OK… Firefighters are also noting there’s construction work under way at the house.
5:15 PM: Beach Drive is reported closed to all traffic at the scene. Meantime, SFD says the fire might hae extended into the attic, so it’s still an active firefight. “We have improving smoke conditions on the exterior,” one firefighter reported.
5:40 PM: Still a few hot spots left, firefighters say, but otherwise they’re dismissing some of the responding units.
6:05 PM: Thanks to IP for the photo – Beach Drive is still blocked, and police told dispatch it’s likely to remain closed for “15-20 more minutes.”
6:15 PM: As for the fire, it’s out, and SFD is investigating the cause.
ADDED NOON THURSDAY: SFD tells WSB, “Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental, likely ignited by charging lithium-ion batteries that overheated. Estimated loss is $90,000.”
(From Seattle Metro Pickleball Association website)
Nine days after Seattle Parks released its “draft racquet-sports strategy” – here’s our first story – the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association has launched an online petition drive urging the city to at least “pause … all pickleball court removals.” The organization says the “strategy” – which would separate the two sports, which currently share many dual-striped courts – would remove 36 pickleball courts in seven locations, including four at Alki (lighted courts, the organization notes) and four in High Point. Next steps for the proposal include a discussion at tomorrow night’s Alki Community Council meeting and an official briefing at the 6 pm April 23 Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting downtown (which includes a public-comment period).
3:27 PM: Thanks to Mike for the tip. We’ve already had one round of “chunky rain” and the National Weather Service has an alert out for at least the next half-hour saying more could be headed this way: “Winds in excess of 30 mph and half-inch hail” are possible.
3:50 PM: Just got a bit more hail/graupel/ice pellets here in Upper Fauntleroy, but nothing close to a half-inch.
6:05 PM: The NWS confirms reports of a water-spout sighting off Magnolia during all this.
(Reader photo)
2:28 PM: Just as the rain returns – a bit icy this time – there’s been another crash toward the west end of the West Seattle Bridge: This time involving a motorcycle officer from the SPD Traffic Unit. He has told dispatch he’s not hurt but SFD is being sent to check him out; other officers are arriving at the scene.
2:31 PM: Reader photo added.
2:39 PM: Same reader (thank you!) just texted this one showing the location more widely:
Officers have just told dispatch that all westbound lanes are blocked, though they’re “working to move everything to the right shoulder” in hopes that won’t last long.
2:50 PM: Tow truck hasn’t arrived yet but police say the westbound lanes are open again.
12:30 PM: One lane is reported blocked by a crash toward the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. It’s described as involving one car, whose driver hit the barrier(s), which are reported to now be in need of repositioning. (We do NOT know where this is in relation to the repeat trouble spot by the Dancing on Logs (etc.) pullout, as the traffic camera there has been broken for years, and the dispatch/crew communication has mentioned both Fauntleroy and Admiral as location points.) No injuries are reported so SFD is canceling, but police and SDOT are responding.
12:34 PM: The scene is apparently near that spot as police have just asked for SDOT’s incident crews to block the left lane “before the blind corner” and have said they’re “just east of Fauntleroy” (though not visible on the 35th/Fauntleroy camera).
12:38 PM: The displaced barriers are affecting the eastbound side too, according to radio communication, so SDOT will be on that side as well until fixed. Meantime, a commenter below confirms the location. (And the radio check of the vehicle’s license also confirms what the commenter’s photo partly shows, that it’s a pickup truck.)
12:56 PM: Just received that photo showing, from the eastbound side, the crash’s location. And here’s the SDOT crew blocking the left lane at the eastbound Fauntleroy/35th entrance while they work on the barriers – which may close the entire eastbound entrance shortly, per radio communication:
2 PM: Had to leave the keyboard for a while; the scene has since cleared, both directions.
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Seattle City Council has voted to put the Seattle Public Library levy renewal/expansion on the August ballot. (Document links are on their weekly agenda.)
If approved by voters, the new levy would kick in after expiration of the 2019 property tax levy, which allocated $219.1 million to maintain and enhance library services over the last seven years.
Up until last Wednesday at the Select Committee on the Library Levy meeting, the levy as proposed by Mayor Katie Wilson sat at $410 million. As we reported, councilmembers opted to add almost $70 million, which brought this 2026 levy up from what was already an almost 50 percent face-value increase from 2019.
While councilmembers ultimately voted 8-0 to move the bill forward, they expressed an array of sentiments.
Councilmember Maritza Rivera, who chaired the levy committee, said she did not support the amendments increasing the levy’s cost because it would “diminish our ability to address other city needs as well as it contributes to our city’s affordability problem,” but she did ultimately vote to pass the bill out of the select committee. “Of course we need to fund our libraries, but this is simply more than I think was needed when there are other pressing issues at the moment.”
Immediately following, councilmembers Dionne Foster and Alexis Mercedes Rinck took a slightly different approach, focusing more on the essentiality of libraries and a justification for the added funds the levy will bring in if voters pass it.
“Part of the reason that this levy is larger is also because it takes into account cuts that the library has absorbed over the last several years.” Foster said. She went on to add that she voted to increase the levy in order to incorporate HVAC systems, English for Speakers of Other Languages classes, and other retrofits as some examples.
Other councilmembers including Dan Strauss echoed each other’s comments about a flawed state tax code contributing to increased “workaround to allow our levies to provide operating costs instead of simply capital costs.”
District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka concurred, adding that there needs to be change at the state level so that the city isn’t forced to ask voters for these things which have “non- trivial impacts on affordability.”
Despite those concerns, the attitude toward the levy was overarchingly positive among the council.
Before the final vote, Rivera concluded by urging for transparency as to what councilmembers are asking of voters. She went on to say that this includes an understanding that the library levy may not leave much money for future levy renewals.
“Ultimately, however, it’s up to the voters to decide,” she acknowledged.
Your turn to vote will be this summer, starting when your ballot arrives about three weeks before Primary Election Day on Tuesday, August 4.
(WSB photos)
Back on Monday, we reported on the city notices posted to warn people to clear out of the encampment east of 35th, from the stadium to SW Brandon, by 9 am today, because of sweep plans. We just went over to check, and crews are indeed there now. We saw them from 35th/Edmunds (above) to Rotary Viewpoint Park (1st photo below) to the future dog park on the south side of the stadium lot (2nd photo below).
The encampment was reported to have extended into the woods to the east, and has been the site of trouble, most recently an assault that injured three people, with two hospitalized in critical condition, and an overdose death last week. As for the people who were camping there, when we went through a little while ago, people with filled carts on wheels lined the sidewalk on the north side of the stadium driveway. We’ll be checking with the city later in the day regarding how many people they contacted at the site. Also note, the outside northbound lane of 35th is currently coned off because of vehicles related to the sweep.
(Somewhat soggy crow, photographed early today by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our Wednesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
REMINDER – WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks start from 47th/Fontanelle (so if you didn’t see this in the calendar and missed it because of our late list today, here’s your reminder for next week, when the weather might be better anyway).
TAX DAY: Today’s the deadline for filing federal taxes.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, play at the new location of Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
FREE MOVIE: 2:30-4 pm, watch the classic movie “E.T.” at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
REDUCED/FREE TRANSIT ENROLLMENT: 4-6 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), sign up if you’re eligible.
NO DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Canceled since it’s. spring-break week.
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix your broken item instead of throwing it out! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: If weather permits, two local home baseball games on the Metro League schedule today, both at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), Chief Sealth IHS vs. Ballard at 6 pm, West Seattle HS vs. Franklin at 7 pm,
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Want to talk about our city’s growth, present and future? You’re invited to the weekly 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
KUNDALINI YOGA: Do it at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
AUTHOR MARGARET S. BARRIE … is at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 6:15 tonight, with her book “Auntie M Speaks.”
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Your chance to get moving at midweek – join the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces!
HUM-IN PROTEST: Protesting via sound vibration, 6:30-7 pm Wednesdays at Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW and SW Alaska).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: New location for the quarterly meeting about what’s happening in Morgan Junction – The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), 7 pm; online option too, as you’ll see on the agenda in our calendar listing.
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia venues – 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), free to play, cash prizes … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … And trivia starts at 8:30 pm at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Take the stage at West Seattle’s longest-running open-mic night! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SWING IT! Swing dancing and live music at 8:15 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale).
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: Sing at the pub starting at 8:45 pm, after trivia. (2306 California SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
You’re invited to sing this spring in an upcoming community concert at Alki UCC, no church or choir membership required! Here’s the call for singers:
You’re invited to add your unique voice to “Earth Mother,” Alki UCC’s spring community concert on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 pm. All singers ages 16 and older of all experience levels are invited to participate.
The deadline to sign up to sing is Monday, May 4. The only requirement is to attend two mandatory rehearsals on Wednesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 13 from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm at Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds St.
The Earth Mother program, featuring the Alki UCC Community Choir and friends, celebrates themes of nature and motherhood, featuring a range of provocative and compelling contemporary choral works by living composers. Compositions by Frank Ticheli, Ola Gjeilo, Katarina Gimon, Dan Forest, and other beloved composers are showcased.
To sign up, email music@alkiucc.org by May 4 to express your interest in singing with us. Digital music and rehearsal resources will be provided so that singers can study independently ahead of our two rehearsals.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Seattle Public Schools spring break continues.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Showers, possibly thundershowers, high around 50. Sunrise at 6:20 am; sunset at 7:59 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, which means extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route still on a two-boat schedule with a third, unscheduled boat. Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
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 (25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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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