West Seattle, Washington
17 Friday
(WSF recording of Wednesday’s Community Advisory Group meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A long journey has come to an end for the Community Advisory Group that has been a sounding board for the Fauntleroy ferry-terminal replacement project.
The group was convened four and a half years ago as Washington State Ferries navigated the process of determining a concept for the new dock, and included members from all three communities on the route – Fauntleroy, Vashon, and Southworth. WSF brought them together online last night one last time, 10 months after their previous meeting (WSB coverage here).
Nicole McIntosh, who returned earlier this year to the role of terminal-engineering director, introduced the meeting and thanked the group members for their contributions and said they hope to continue collaborating with them as the project moves forward.
Facilitator was Laura LaBissonier Miller. She turned it over to WSF’s Hadley Rodero for a timeline update (previewed here on Tuesday), with design/construction expected 2028-2031.
A key document discussed at the meeting was the PEL (Planning and Environmental Linkage) report – which led to the decision to settle on a version of “Alternative B,” longer and narrower than the current dock, holding up to 155 cars (almost twice as many as the current dock).
They believe this will minimize impact to Cove Park, north of the dock, among other attributes.
What’s next – environmental review, but they don’t know yet exactly what level of it. Community engagement will be part of it and WSF promises to go above and beyond the bare minimum required.
They’re also working to “secure full funding” for the project (for which $100 million is budgeted for starters – in a question later, they reiterated that this project so far is state-funded so they’re not expecting the federal-funding chaos to affect it).
Q&A ensued. First question: CAG member Susan Frith asked, How will they determine what the final design will hold, since right now it’s a range of 124 to 155? WSF’s Charles Torres said the difference is four lanes versus four-plus lanes, which could help WSF staffers sort – but “we don’t want to overbuild,” he noted.
CAG member Judy Pickens asked if they’ve learned more about what will happen with a dock stretching further out “into the weather.” Short answer, not much; Torres said the initial response was “it’s probably going to be fine, we’re only going out another 240 feet or so.”
CAG member Justin Hirsch says he’s more worried about underbuilding than overbuilding, and had a process question: Do they have to wait for a determination of the level of environmental review before they settle on a footprint, whether B or B-3?
Environmental consultant James Gregory said they’re working on a hybrid of the two rather than expecting the final design will be either B or B-3. So when will they have to settle on a capacity? Hirsch pressed. Not an exact timeline but at some point during the “early part of the NEPA chapter” – the forthcoming environmental review. But once they get there “there’ll be pros and cons to this decision, it won’t be a slam dunk.”
Another question, from CAG member Scott Harvey: Wasn’t the WSF standard for new docks to be one and a half times the vehicle capacity of the boats they serve? (If so, that would be at least 180 vehicles, since the Triangle Route’s standard is 124-vehicle vessels.) McIntosh says that’s just a guideline, and they have to work with the communities that are home to their terminals.
Pickens asked about communication going forward, and when they’d ask for feedback. Rodero said WSF will use public meetings, email updates, the other ways they’ve been communicating most recently. But, she then asked, would this group be interested in advisory-group type involvement going forward? There was no conclusive reply, but Rodero promised to share the “draft commmunication plan” for next phases of the project when it’s available.
Group member Mardi Clements wondered about the difference in required pile-driving between B and B-3 – “is there a big difference in the number of piles and how many are we talking about?” Torres said that’s not finalized yet but somewhere slightly more than 100, and they’ll need two seasons of in-water work.
Why no second slip? was asked in a written question. That’s been suggested but hasn’t been studied; it could result in a smaller trestle, but what they are more likely to do is build something, Torres said, that “does not preclude it.”
There was also an update on the intersection project that’s set to be built before the new terminal: Mark Bandy provided it, with more new visuals beyond the one with the short update sent earlier this week. He said they’ve been working on completing the design and working with the city. They’re going out to bid soon and hope to start construction “early next year.”
Bandy recapped the traffic flow plan – including no left turn onto the dock from northbound Fauntleroy Way. They hope to have it all fine-tuned by next year’s summer peak-traffic season. He also pointed out that the design has the fewest number of poles – but it’s still a view obstruction in some spots.. He showed renderings of how the setup will look, looking out from Captain’s Park uphill, and toward it from the dock.
The pole will not have another street light because they’ve determined that the ones already near the intersection provide enough light.
In Q&A on that, Pickens pointed out that culvert construction will complicate things in the area next year, and also wondered how people coming downhill are supposed to get to the dock if they can’t make a left turn. Bandy said they did talk through the left-turn issue with the city and they settled on 24/7, so peole will either have to find a different route or else figure out how to u-turn or loop further north.
Frith suggested that it would make sense to at least allow left turns during “low-traffic times.” Clements said a signage change will be needed because up around 35th, people are pointed that way to get to the dock. She said her garage door/driveway near the dock are a popular U-turn spot and she can only imagine that getting worse.
Will the new signal have transit prioritization? The project team wasn’t clear, though the new signal certainly would capable of it. Also revealed: The parking lot at the east end of the dock will be a bit smaller.
Next came a real-estate update, specifically the white house on the Cove Park beach north of the dock.
“We are working to acquire it.” The tenants have vacated it and security is checking daily to be sure squatters don’t come in. King County will transfer ownership to the state early next year, and then the house will be renovated for construction administration, storage place, maybe a break room, ways to. keep it occupied ‘and keep people out of it that we don’t want in it.’
What’s next: They’re promising a community update when the next phase of environmental review starts.
Final questions included: When will the PEL report be finalized? In the next month or two. Rodero said it’s not likely to look much different from the draft report just circulated, but they’ll “share it out” when ready.
And with that, plus another round of thanks to the advisory-group members, their long and winding road … route … on this project ended. “It’s pretty impressive what you all accomplished together,” observed McIntosh.
If any of these bikes is possibly yours, please email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com and we can connect you to the finder. First, one that turned up in Arbor Heights:
These, on Genesee Hill:
And, on Beach Drive:
All the found bicycles we’ve shown in recent months can be scrolled through via this archive page.
It’s not all giant skeletons this Halloween season. Tonight we feature two creatively placed inflatables from the north end of the peninsula: Above, Joanna sent the photo from her North Admiral spider sighting; below, the dragon pic is from Lisa:
We have a very friendly by day and very spooky by night dragon on our porch in Admiral. The kids that walk by during the day looove it!
We’re featuring decoration displays both lavish and simple every night of the season – thanks to everyone who’s contributed – westseattleblog@gmail.com if you have something to share!
That’s a baby octopus, photographed by “Scuba Jess.” She’s a West Seattleite who’s not only a diver and photographer, but also a children’s book author, and this weekend she launches something new:
Jess – aka Jessica Alexanderson – hopes to see you at her book launch Sunday:
We’re hosting a book launch party for A Recycling Adventure to the Steel Mill at Paper Boat Booksellers in West Seattle on Sunday, October 19th from 11 AM–1 PM.
This is the third book in the “Recycling Is Like Magic” series, written by local author Scuba Jess, who loves to dive right here in West Seattle. The story takes readers on an exciting journey through a steel mill right here in West Seattle to learn how metal is melted and recycled — showing that recycling really is like magic!
Thanks to NUCOR Steel in West Seattle, we’ll be giving away free books and cookies while supplies last. It’s a fun way for families to learn more about the amazing recycling happening right in our own backyard.
We’d love it if you could share the event with your readers—West Seattle families would really enjoy it!
Event: A Recycling Adventure to the Steel Mill — Book Launch
When: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, during the West Seattle Farmers Market
Where: Paper Boat Booksellers, 6040 California Ave SW
Details: Created with Nucor Steel Seattle and packed with PNW scenes. Meet local diver/author Scuba Jess, hear a reading, and snap a pic at the “recycling superhero” photo spot. NUCOR will give away copies of our third book. Costumes welcome!
Previous books in the series include “The Girl Who Recycled One Million Cans.”
Passing through The Junction this afternoon, we noticed the person above standing on the southwest corner of California/Alaska, holding two signs promoting Saturday’s planned nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations. The major gathering in our region is at Seattle Center. Some readers have asked us if any gatherings are planned in West Seattle or nearby; for those who can’t or don’t want to go downtown, we’ve received announcements for three:
–The Junction, 11 am-2 pm Saturday. We’ve heard about this from multiple people, including Lisa, who says almost 300 had RSVP’d (not required) as of earlier this week, so “If we don’t all fit at the intersection of California and Alaska, we’ll be lining up along California Ave.”
–Admiral Junction, 2-2:30 pm Saturday (the “Old Tyme Adults for Democracy” group that’s rallied there periodically for more than half a year)
–Solidarity South Park, meeting at South Park Plaza at 1 pm Saturday and walking to the SP Bridge
Any others, please let us know.
Looks like See’s Candies is coming back to Jefferson Square for the third holiday season in five years. We’ve been watching to see if the banner would go up, as it did last October, and spotted it at the center just now. It’s not listed on the See’s website yet but is likely another holiday-season pop-up as in 2021 (when it stayed open through Valentine’s Day) and 2024.
Thanks to Rick for the tip. Residents along 26th SW between SW Barton and SW Roxbury, just south of Westwood Village, recently got notification of a “traffic-calming” feature SDOT plans to install: Parking-lane lines. The map above, from the official notice that we requested and obtained from SDOT, shows where they’ll be painted. The notice explains:
On 26th Ave SW between SW Barton St and SW Roxbury St, we will install parking lane lines. These changes to the street will slow traffic and make the street safer for people walking, rolling, and biking.
We are planning to begin to install these improvements before the end of the year. We anticipate this work to be completed over a couple of weekends. Please note this work is weather dependent and subject to change.
The funding for this, SDOT says, is coming from not the current Seattle Transportation Levy, but its predecessor, Move Seattle.
(WSB photo from September match)
The West Seattle High School girls’ soccer team (5-3-2) usually plays home matches at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point.
Tomorrow, their second-to-last regular-season home match of the year is set for Hiawatha Playfield, right next to the school. Program manager Sarah Heitman tells WSB they’re hoping for a big community turnout for this game, as they’re celebrating “senior night” – a tribute to the players who will graduate after this school year – right after the match.
Their opponent is Seattle Academy; match time is 4 pm Friday at 2700 California SW. The Wildcats hope to see you there!
(Wednesday sunset photo by Tony Tschanz)
Yes, it’s game night again, but there’s more happening in West Seattle and vicinity before/during/after! Here’s our list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more for today/tonight/days and weeks ahead):
FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is opening its free community playspace, 9 am-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays. (42nd/Juneau)
DROP-IN COWORK HANGOUT AT THE VOID: Coffee and connections, new weekly casual coworking hangout at The Void, 10 am-noon. (5048 California SW)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Fall is a perfect time to plant! Explore the possibilities – the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Art is on display throughout Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), and you can visit any time during regular hours, 10 am-6 pm today.
LUNCH AND LEARN ABOUT TAX DEDUCTIONS: Free hourlong lunch-and-learn event at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor), noon-1 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
DROP-IN CHESS: High Point Library‘s weekly event is back today, 4-5:30 pm for players under 18. (3411 SW Raymond)
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two regular Thursday night events here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Stanford’s.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
RAT CITY ART AND FOOD WALK: At a variety of venues in South Delridge and White Center, 5-8 pm. See the participant list here.
MADAME B’S DARK BAZAAR: One of the Rat City stops is Madame B’s Dark Bazaar at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), where the bazaar is on from 5 to 8 pm, spooky storytelling 8-10 pm.
POSTCARDS FOR DEMOCRACY HAPPY HOUR: 5-7 pm gathering at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW) for long-distance advocacy.
MARINERS’ ALCS GAME 4: Still looking for a place to watch? Here are some options.
‘WELCOME THE ORCAS’ KICKOFF: Meet up with The Whale Trail at Elliott Bay Brewing in The Junction (4720 California SW), 5:30-8:30 pm, for the kickoff of this all-fall-long event.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, now leaving from Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW), it’s the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Is walking more your speed? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL CANCELED: Because of the M’s game.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm doors, 8 pm music: Christopher Ellis, Polari, Lottie Johnston, Summerray. $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: Final week! 7:30 pm. Our calendar listing has info including the ticket link. (4711 California SW)
DJ NIGHT: Extended-weekend spinning starts tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Kingblind & Teenage Rampage, 8 pm.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather November 6 to remember Sid Hoover, and are sharing this with his community now:
Sid Hoover, sidneyduttonhoover.com, a lifelong denizen of Puget Sound, died August 28 at the house he designed and built on Duwamish Head, where he had lived for 45 years with his wife Laura Sue, who survives him.
Other survivors include his stepsons, Derek Lloyd (Jackie) of Palm Desert, Ca, and their children Dillan and Jackson, and Neil Lloyd of Evanston, IL and his children Nicole Wade of Bolder Co and Jack Lloyd of Ottawa; his brother Jeff Hoover (Rosie Carey) of Kirkland, his sister Joy Hoover (Dave Gerkin) of Roseburg, Or.
We will miss his bright smile. He loved the word denizen.
His debut novel, Egos Eclipsed, is available online and his original music has been released under Unmires.
For decades he rode the 37 bus, and later the Water Taxi, to his job with the Seattle Municipal Courts, where he worked in probation. Sid was very modest and would never claim any credit for their groundbreaking work in domestic violence, always deferring to their women partners, but he started one of the first domestic violence units in the country. He realized the perpetrators were a different kettle of fish from the run-of-the-mill DUI drunks, flashers, and nuts who made up the majority of the caseload.
Mass on November 6 at St. James Cathedral.
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, October 16, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast for today suggests increasing clouds, high in the upper 50s, rain likely late tonight. Sunrise will be at 7:28 am; sunset, at 6:20 pm.
(Ferry and Mt. Baker, photographed by Mike Burns early Wednesday)
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where; ferry alerts will update with any changes.
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes.
Water Taxi – Now on regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule, but Metro IS adding extra runs again tonight for the big game. (Speaking of which …)
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners again host Toronto in Game 4 of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, first pitch shortly after 5:30 pm.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view looking west. Also note, maritime-opening info is again 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!
11:50 PM: SFD and SPD are headed to Beach Drive SW and SW Canada [map] after a report of a crash involving a car that’s reportedly on its side after its driver hit a house and parked vehicles. Updates to come.
11:57 PM: Officers just told dispatch they’re going to have Beach Drive closed both ways “for quite a while.” Meantime, SFD reports one person is trapped inside the vehicle that’s on its side, a “small SUV.”
12:14 AM: Added a photo just received via text. Also, SFD told dispatch they’re taking the driver to the hospital.
12:24 AM: Police just told dispatch they’ve reopened southbound Beach Drive.
1:25 AM: Another texter reports the vehicles are being towed and scene is being cleaned up, sending these photos:
Thanks to Kate for the photos – she reports this is in Sunrise Heights, in the 7100 block of 30th Ave SW.
We’re continuing to feature your Halloween display photos every night during the spooky season – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Just in from Alki Community Council president Charlotte Starck, word that tomorrow night’s scheduled monthly meeting is outta there:
We’ve heard the powerful voice of baseball fans. :) We are canceling tomorrow night’s 7 pm Alki Community Council meeting to allow everyone to enjoy the Mariners playoff game. We look forward to rescheduling with our presenters and seeing you in person at our next meeting Thursday, November 20th.
After their 13-4 loss to Toronto tonight at T-Mobile Park, the M’s are still up 2-1 in the best of seven American League Championship Series; first pitch Thursday is just after 5:30 pm.
Taya sent this photo out of desperation:
The car, a Honda Fit with plate starting in 7BT, is blocking their POD from getting picked up from the Alki neighborhood her family is about to move out of. Taya says the city can’t tow it for at least a week and it’s been there at least five days. If it’s your car, she begs you, come move it!
The Seattle School Board has narrowed the list of superintendent candidates to two. We first reported three weeks ago that board president Gina Topp, who represents West Seattle and most of South Park, revealed they had 41 qualified candidates; eight were chosen for interviews through what a district news release describes as a “blind evaluation process” – reviewed without information on their names, locations, alma maters, and other affiliations. After those interviews, board members have settled on two finalists and plan to interview them one week from today. There’s been some criticism of the fact that the hiring process is proceeding without community members getting to meet the candidates; Topp is quoted in tonight’s news release as saying confidentiality was vital: “This approach allowed us to attract an outstanding pool of applicants, including sitting superintendents and other strong leaders who might not otherwise have applied.” The job is currently held by Fred Podesta, who was appointed after Dr. Brent Jones’s departure, but he did not express interest in holding the position long-term.
5:12 PM: This was broadcast on Seattle Police air as Guardian One following a car that had eluded King County Sheriff’s Office deputies twice today.
5:16 PM: According to an update on SPD radio, the “suspect vehicle” (described earlier as a GMC Denali) is near 35th/Barton. The incident happened somewhere outside West Seattle; when first mentioned on SPD air, the vehicle was passing through South Park.
5:30 PM: A ground search is under way too, we’re told, including a K-9 team. (That’s a reason for the loudspeaker messages people are mentioning.)
5:38 PM: The helicopter has moved on. We don’t know if that means progress in ground search, but we’re attempting to reach KCSO to check (and to ask what the people in the vehicle were wanted for in the first place).
6:34 PM: KCSO spokesperson Brandyn Hull tells us, “I believe this started off as a traffic stop around Olson PL SW & Myers Way. The driver eluded deputies twice today and once last month. While they recovered the car, they are still looking for the suspect for felony flight – attempting to elude.”
(WSB file photo, Morgan Junction drop box)
King County Elections drop boxes will open tomorrow, with more than 1.4 million general-election ballots now on the way. You should get yours by Monday (October 20) – if you don’t, call KCE at 206-296-VOTE. Here are the races you’ll see on your ballot if you’re registered to vote in West Seattle (asterisks denote incumbents, and names are published in the order they’ll be on the ballot):
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Girmay Zahilay
Claudia Balducci
SEATTLE MAYOR
Katie Wilson
Bruce Harrell*
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, CITYWIDE POSITION 8
Alexis Mercedes Rinck*
Rachael Savage
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, CITYWIDE POSITION 9
Dionne Foster
Sara Nelson*
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY
Erika Evans
Ann Davison*
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 2
Kathleen Smith
Sarah Clark*
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 4
Joe Mizrahi
Laura Marie Rivera
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 5
Vivian Song
Janis White
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 7
Carol Rava
Jen LaVallee
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION, POSITION 1
Ryan Calkins*
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION, POSITION 3
Hamdi Mohamed*
SEATTLE PORT COMMISSION, POSITION 4
Toshiko Grace Hasegawa*
34TH DISTRICT STATE SENATOR
Emily Alvarado* (D)
34TH DISTRICT STATE HOUSE POSITION 1
Brianna Thomas* (D)
STATE RESOLUTION 8201 (constitutional amendment regarding long-term-care investing)
KING COUNTY PROP 1 (Medic One replacement levy)
SEATTLE PROP 1 (education levy renewal/expansion)
SEATTLE PROP 2 (B&O tax changes)
If you use a KCE dropbox, your deadline is 8 pm November 4. If you’re using USPS, this year the recommendation is to mail it at least a week before Election Day, so that would be October 28.
Three biznotes today, all related to reinvention in one way or another:
LADY JAYE’S TEMPORARY CLOSURE: Thanks for the tip! The Junction restaurant/bar at 4523 is closed for the next week. It had recently announced a plan to focus on sandwiches, and it had been on the market a while too. So we asked proprietor Evan Carter what the closure’s about. His reply: “We decided not to sell, just to revamp the menu and make it more approachable to ALL of West Seattle. So we will be doing our new concept called LJ 4.0 which will be headlined by the Wagyu Smash Burger as well as the other sandwiches that we have mastered over the last 6 years of running this restaurant and doing our daily specials :) But we will have a consistent menu that will be priced so everyone can enjoy. It will be like an elevated sandwich shop but still have the Lady Jaye restaurant feel and the same great cocktail and whiskey selection.” See for yourself starting October 22.
THE CLAY CAULDRON’S PERMANENT CLOSURE: Proprietor Frances Gifford tells us she’s closing The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW) at the end of the month. But first – a party this Saturday:
In a followup exchange after we received this announcement, Frances confirmed she’s retiring, though she and associates are looking for a new place to start a pottery studio with which she’ll help out.
DREAM DINNERS GOES INDIE: The meal-prep business in outer Jefferson Square is now independent, rather than a franchisee, but they’re still there to help you save time and solve dinner dilemmas. You’re invited to a freezer sale – what’s in the freezer(s), ready to take-and-bake, not the appliances themselves! – and open house this Saturday, 11 am-1 pm. They’re on the southwest corner of 41st Avenue SW and SW Alaska.
Every year, Seattle University circulates the Public Safety Survey, open for a month and a half, with findings provided to Seattle Police and used in planning. Today’s the first day the survey is open this year – here’s the announcement:
Seattle University is administering the annual citywide Seattle Public Safety Survey, which is accessible at publicsafetysurvey.org from October 15th through November 30th and is available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese. The purpose of the survey is to solicit feedback on public safety and security concerns from those who live and/or work in Seattle. A report on the survey results will be provided to the Seattle Police Department to help them better understand your neighborhood’s safety and security concerns and community-police dialogues will be held in May-August 2026 to provide opportunities for police-community engagement about the results. More information on the Seattle Public Safety Survey, which is part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans (SPD MCPP), can be found on the SPD MCPP website.
All available language versions are linked from the main survey page. It’s not a quick survey, so if you don’t have time right now, you can use our ShareThis link to send the story to yourself as a reminder)
We’ve heard from victims of two burglaries early today:
HOME BURGLARY IN GATEWOOD: Burglars broke glass to get into Paul‘s home this morning:
At approximately 6:10 am, there was an attempted break-in at our home at 36th Ave SW and SW Othello. We were asleep and heard the very loud crashing of them busting through our rear sliding door.
We immediately started yelling to scare them off and called 911. They were able to snag a purse off of our dining-room table as well as stealing our Yeti cooler under the deck. They immediately ran off once they knew someone was home. They did unscrew our front porch light bulb so there was some planning involved. Two vehicles were seen departing the area – a sedan and SUV (unfortunately I didn’t have my glasses on so no further details). Incident number is 25-301510. We are just now learning it appears they also broke in to our neighbors vacant house first, and stole items there including their vehicle (a blue Subaru sedan).
ALKI COFFEE/BEN & JERRY’S BURGLARIZED AGAIN: Received from co-proprietor Jonathan:
I am unfortunately writing this email to let you know that for a second time in 3 months we had a break in at our Alki Coffee/Ben & Jerry’s shop where they stole our cash drawer and safe. It happened this morning around 4 am. It appears that they somehow jimmied the sliding doors in the front to enter, which set off the alarms so they were in and out pretty quick.
Unfortunately due to the multiple break-ins that have occurred, we are going to be changing how we do things at the shop and will no longer be accepting cash as a form of payment and will carry no cash on premises going forward.
While it is incredibly frustrating and sad that this keeps happening not just to us, but to other small businesses along Alki, we plan to keep working with our neighbors and the community to make Alki a safer place for local businesses to thrive and where people can gather, connect, and enjoy this special neighborhood together.
(To Jonathan’s last point – we had reported just last night on a community event hosted there over the weekend.) Meantime, the SPD incident # for this is 25-301471.
(Fall-colors contrast! Photo by Jerry Simmons)
We know, there’s just one marquee event in Seattle tonight. But in case you’re interested in alternatives – here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and if we’re missing something – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!):
SANISLO ELEMENTARY DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: All day at Puerto Vallarta in The Junction, open until 11 pm. During dinner (5-8 pm), a piñata is planned around 6:30 pm
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is our weekly last-minute reminder, so would-be walkers can set their calendars for next Wednesday morning!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: The show continues, with art on display all around Southwest Library (9010 California SW), so you can visit any time during regular hours, 12 pm-8 pm today.
FREE MOVIE AT THE LIBRARY: Also at Southwest Library, free all-ages screening of “Karate Kid: Legends,” 2:30 pm.
FREE KIDS’ ART WORKSHOP: With Rec’N The Streets at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 3 pm.
WATCHING THE GAME: We’re building a list if you don’t have a favorite spot to watch – check back here later as we add more – first pitch is right after 5 pm.
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING FOR 2345 HOBART: 5 pm, as previewed here, the city is taking comments on a project that requires an exemption because of an Environmentally Critical Area on the site.
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, new 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).
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, drop in and create! If you want some inspiration, this month’s spotlight project is a seasonal pumpkin luminary. (3400 Harbor SW)
FREE ART CLASS: 6-8 pm, pay what you can, all levels invited to explore watercolors at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
FAUNTLEROY FERRY TERMINAL COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP: Last scheduled meeting of this longrunning group, which will receive and discuss updates on the project, 6 pm online. Our calendar listing includes the link for registering to watch (no public-comment period).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: An energetic way to mark the middle of the week – the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome, regardless of pace!
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd SW and SW Juneau) – agenda highlights are in our calendar listing.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS:
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
KUNDALINI YOGA: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
TRIVIA x 3: Three West Seattle trivia spots on our Wednesday list (be aware that game-watching might delay or cancel): Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and it’s an 8:30 pm start for trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: You’re invited to sing at the pub starting at 8:45 pm. (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!
As noted in the morning traffic/weather info roundup, we asked Metro whether they were considering adding West Seattle Water Taxi runs for the Mariners’ playoff games. Spokesperson Al Sanders tells us yes:
The West Seattle Water Taxi will be running post-game service on Wednesday [tonight], Thursday and (if needed) on Friday. Sailing times from Pier 50 will be at 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
If the Mariners do make it to the World Series, the Marine Division will consider additional service on a game-by-game basis.
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