West Seattle, Washington
27 Sunday
The photo and report were sent by Z:
Potentially stolen … 8 boxes of n95 masks at Charlestown and California. 6 boxes stacked unopened on Charlestown near Shug’s. Looks like 2 boxes brought across the street outside of 7-11, one open and empty, the other opened during the day (potentially by passersby). They have been there since at least 9 am.
(WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
The fall colors were in fine form when we visited South Seattle College for the Rotary Club of West Seattle Peace Pole dedication last Thursday. Tomorrow is a big day on campus – spring-quarter classes start. While there on Thursday, we asked college communications director Ty Swenson what’s new this quarter. He subsequently provided these highlights:
Fall Quarter 2026 starts Monday, Sept. 28 at South Seattle College. Here are some highlights as we welcome students back:
*We are celebrating 10 years of our college mascot, Olivia the Otter, this fall. To help our students succeed, the South Seattle College Foundation is holding a $10 for 10 Birthday Challenge. Every donation of $10 to support student success is matched by the foundation up to $2500.
*South’s student food pantry continues to help our student stay well-nourished and focused on their studies. New this year, thanks to a grant from United Way King County, we are pleased to announce we have new refrigerated, smart food lockers in Olympic Hall to complement our food pantry hours. The lockers will provide additional access for our early morning and evening students.
*We are in the final stages of curriculum development for an electric vehicle maintenance certificate in the Automotive Technology program. Additional details will be shared soon.
*Coming into fall quarter, South Seattle College is excited to see enrollment growth of 11 percent in our college transfer programs (compared to last fall). After significant growth in our skilled trades programs last year, enrollment is holding steady with one percent growth.
Never been there? The college’s main campus is on Puget Ridge, at 6000 16th SW. It has public venues worth a visit even if you’re not taking classes there, such as the Garden Center (student-raised plants for sale) and Northwest Wine Academy (tasting room and wine bar with student-made wines), both on the north end of campus.
We’ve been asked about regional-media reports regarding a sea lion found dead near Harbor Island, found to have been shot multiple times. Here’s the report we received from West Seattle-based Seal Sitters Marine Stranding Network:
Last week a kayaker was paddling in the West Duwamish Waterway. When she spotted a California sea lion carcass on shore, the kayaker alertly photographed it from her boat and called Seal Sitters Hotline Operator Barb.
Using online maps, First Responder David H was able to pinpoint the location, allowing First Responder Melinda S to quickly find the 7-foot-long male sea lion. The responders alerted Seal Sitters’ stranding network partner SR3.
The next day, SR3 staff used portable X-ray equipment at the site and found the sea lion had been shot; a radiograph revealed numerous projectiles in the animal’s head.
Seal Sitters sends data to NOAA of shot, bludgeoned, or entangled animals we find in West Seattle. Please call our hotline at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325) to report a dead marine mammal. If you witness or hear gunfire over the water, and can do so safely, call 911 immediately; call Seal Sitters afterward to make a full report.
To learn more, see the full story with the radiograph at Seal Sitters Blog posting: sealsitters.org/blog/shot-sea-lion-examined
Family and friends will gather October 9 to celebrate the life of Flora Belle Key, a life recounted in this remembrance sent by her daughter:
FLORA BELLE KEY
1932 – 2026It pains me that we have to say goodbye to the amazing Flora Belle Key, my dear mom. She truly was one of a kind.
Flora Belle was born October 5, 1932 in Fauntleroy. She spent her childhood enjoying the beach, Lincoln Park, and Colman Pool. She went through the progression of local schools – Fauntleroy, Madison, and West Seattle. When she got to the University of Washington, she pledged Kappa Delta and became president of her sorority. This was a prelude of things to come. My mom was outgoing and lived her life to the fullest … she proved it was never too late to have adventures!
After graduation, in her 20’s, Flora Belle (aka Frankie) moved to Waikiki, against her mother’s wishes. She also became a stewardess with Northwest Airlines when it was glamorous to fly.
Back in Seattle and in her 30’s, she raised my brother Jim and I (Joan) with my dad, Roger Frydenlund. It wasn’t easy considering they found out twins were coming only 10 days before we were born!
In her 40’s, Flora Belle moved to Portland with our step-dad, Brad Cleverdon. She promptly got involved in her community and they traveled extensively in Asia.
In her 50’s, she moved back to Seattle. Never one to sit still, she became Chairperson of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, President of the Aqua Vista Garden Club, and joined many Boards of Trustees. She also traveled three months through Europe with her twins in a VW bus! Oh, the stories…
In her 60’s, Flora Belle joined an all-woman crew and sailed the South Pacific, including Fiji and the surrounding islands ending up in New Zealand. She also began driving to Mexico every winter with her girlfriends. In her spare time, she completed ground school to become a pilot.
In her 70’s, Flora Belle flew to Korea to teach English as a Second Language. (I tell you, my mom was brave!) She also won a modeling contest for Macy’s and walked the runway. She met her special partner Cal Bannon and their first date was sailing to Blake Island and camping on the beach.
In her 80’s, she and Cal spent winters in Arizona. They traveled, played tennis, and danced A LOT! They even danced on the Great Wall of China!
In her 90’s, Flora Belle was active in the Women’s University Club. She was still playing tennis. If it hadn’t been for cancer, she would have hit 100 years old – I have no doubt. She still had so much to do!
My mom loved people, parties, popcorn, and prosecco, and not necessarily in that order. She was incredibly fashionable and loved to wear hats. She was wicked smart and never missed Jeopardy. She threw legendary parties. She never met a stranger and touched countless peoples’ lives. If you didn’t know Flora Belle, you should have! I am honored to be her daughter.
Please help celebrate Flora Belle Key on October 9th at the Hall at Fauntleroy at 5:30 pm. There will be food, drinks, and dancing of course! Just what my mom would want!
(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)
(Friday’s sky, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s our list of what to know as the first weekend of fall continues, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, after this traffic alert:
LOW BRIDGE CLOSURE: SDOT has the West Seattle low bridge closed to driving, with a revised projected reopening time – 9 pm tonight. (Please let us know if you see it open sooner – we’ll be checking periodically.)
WEST SEATTLE RUNNING CLUB: 8:30 am, meet at Alki Statue of Liberty (61st/Alki) to run with friends old and new.
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: 9 am, Westies Run Club meets at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon) for today’s run.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION BLOOD DRIVE: 9 am-3 pm in lot behind KeyBank (44th/Alaska) – check here to see if spots remain!
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: In The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games are happening at The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Now in the still-bountiful start-of-fall produce-and-products season, open for shopping and eating (as it is every weekend of the year, even holidays), 10 am-2 pm, California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska.
MAKERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 206 Makers’ Market at Jet City Labs/Revelry Room. (4540 California SW)
THE WORKS SEATTLE POP-UPS: 10 am-2 pm crafting outside The Works Seattle‘s new Junction location (4540 California SW) – make magnets – plus a 1-3 pm pop-up at Sound and Fog (4735 40th SW).
WATCH THE SEAHAWKS AT THE HYDRANT: Bring your pup! Weekly watch parties, with today’s kickoff at 10 am. (4541 California SW)
VISIT THE GARDEN: Seattle Chinese Garden is open to visitors 10 am-5 pm on Sundays, free but donations appreciated. (6000 16th SW)
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open today! Need a tool but don’t need/want to, or can’t, buy it? Look for it at, and borrow it from, the West Seattle Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: 11:30 am-1:30 pm, weekly action in The Junction.
FRESH HOP WEEK AT OUNCES: This only happens once a year! Open noon-7 pm today (3809 Delridge Way SW).
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: You’re welcome Sunday afternoons (among other times) at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) – open 2-5 pm today, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
MEAD-MAKING CLASS WITH MR. B: 1-4 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), follow the link to register.
‘DETENTION’ AT ADMIRAL THEATER: Second of two local screenings of independent movie partly filmed in Seattle, 1 pm. (2343 California SW)
FORBIDDEN FELINE FESTIVAL: 2 pm music fest in Georgetown whose organizers wanted West Seattle to know about it too – details in our calendar listing!
ARTSWEST MATINEE: Second 3 pm performance of “The Chinese Lady” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
ORGAN ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: 3 pm, free concert at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor), as previewed here.
FALL FEST AND COMMUNITY MEAL: Free fun and food at Bethany Community Church (8600 9th SW), 4:30-7 pm.
LIVE AT EASY STREET: Brian Fallon in-store at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 5 pm, LP pre-order required to attend.
ROOFTOP MOBILITY CLASS AT SUNSET: 5:30 pm with Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle (WSB sponsor) and Seattle Strength & Performance – our calendar listing has the registration link. (1309 Harbor SW)
VIDEO MUSIC BOX AT REVELRY ROOM: 7 pm, info here. (4547 California SW)
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: Trivia begins at 7:30 pm – free to play, with prizes. (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm jazz with the D-Lux Jazz Trio at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) in The Junction.
Organizing, or helping with, an event that should be on the WSB community Event Calendar – whether one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
| 0 COMMENTS