West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
On a day when our part of the city yielded three crashes of note, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka called for an audit of SDOT‘s “Vision Zero“ safety initiative. That’s one of two City Council notes we have tonight. Saka’s call for an audit was announced in an emailed news release one day before the committee he chairs, Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center, gets a Vision Zero briefing. That’s on the agenda for Thursday’s 9:30 am committee meeting; in the news release about the audit, Saka is quoted as saying, ““Vision Zero is about saving lives, and while we are seeing some real progress, the fact remains that too many people are still dying and suffering serious injuries on our streets. This audit will help us take a hard look at what’s working, what’s not, and where we need to sharpen our approach to prevent further tragedies on our roads.” SDOT presented its latest review of Vision Zero during this council briefing three months ago.
Meantime, Saka was one of two councilmembers who showed up this past Monday for a new monthly media availability in which the council’s communication team sends invites to reporters to come to City Hall for open Q&A with councilmembers. We couldn’t go to the first one but decided to go downtown for this one; it’s voluntary for them to participate, and only two signed on this time – Council President Joy Hollingsworth and Councilmember Saka. The half-dozen or so of us newspeople who showed up sat in a conference room facing each of the participants in turn, for about 20 minutes apiece. Hollingsworth went first; we recorded audio of both just in case anyone might be interested in what happened in unrestricted Q&A with councilmembers (spoiler alert, nothing revelatory).
Hollingsworth was asked about the latest budget forecast, encampment policy, neighborhood foot policing as recently announced for two neighborhoods, potentially auditing the Human Services Department (she said she’d “welcome an audit in any department”), the mayor’s call for more density in the Comprehensive Plan, the library levy, and construction costs (observing that those affect people building backyard ADUs as well as professional builders and saying “I think we should look at everybody as a developer”). Here’s the unedited audio:
Next, Councilmember Saka, who was asked about some of the same topics – neighborhood policing (“West Seattle could benefit from a similar program”) and the Comprehensive Plan, as well as whether anything should be done to rein in rising rents.
We asked about last weekend’s gunfire incidents, with bullets through home windows in two West Seattle neighborhoods;
he said he’s “aware” of them, noted he meets regularly with SPD Chief Shon Barnes, said we “need to get creative in prevention” and touted some money he secured in last year’s budget for a late-night teen program in High Point (one of the neighborhoods where there was weekend gunfire). Later in his Q&A, we asked about the east-of-35th encampment sweep, having just learned about it; Saka said he’d been calling for “remediation” of that area (his operations director Erik Schmidt, who was in the room, told us afterward that they’d just learned about the sweep plans that morning). Here’s unedited audio of the Q&A with Councilmember Saka:
Councilmembers have several committee meetings most weeks, plus full-group meetings at 2 pm Mondays and Tuesdays – all the agendas can be found here.
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.
(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!
Two months ago, we first told you about an early-stage plan to replace the empty ex-clinic at 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW with a new clinic. The development firm working on the project still hasn’t disclosed which health-care organization would run it, but new documents in city files reveal more about the plan. According to this presentation document, zoning issues have forced the project team to move the location of the building on the site, which has streets on three sides (Fauntleroy Way north, 38th SW east, SW Alaska south).
Though the 12,800-sf, 24/7 facility is not proposed to be a full-fledged hospital, documents say it would offer a higher level of emergency medical services than currently available on the peninsula – here’s the overview:
The proposed project is a medical and emergency services facility intended to address a documented gap in healthcare access within the West Seattle community. This gap is due to:
Single-chokepoint geography – bridge & tunnel dependent
All existing EDs [emergency departments] require 18-38 minutes in normal traffic
~100,000 residents with no walk-to or close-drive ED option
Fastest-growing 65+ population segment – highest ED utilization
No Level I or II trauma in the peninsula – ambulance must bridge
Public transit not viable for emergency situations
According to the presentation document, they’re looking for city clarification on 10 points, including whether the facility can be exempt from required “full street-level activation” because it’s a medical facility. The current building on the site has been vacant since Virginia Mason Franciscan Health moved almost a year and a half ago.
This Sunday night, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) begins a year of celebrating its half-century old organ with the first of four concerts:
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the gallery Noack organ. To mark this important event, four concerts are planned from April 2026 to February 2027. This series is in honor and memory of Andrew King, cantor and organist at First Lutheran for 50+ years.
*The first program will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 7 pm, with Nathan Laube, Associate Professor of Organ at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
*On Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 3 pm, the second concert in the series will include a Concerto for Keyboard in d minor, BWV 1052, by J. S. Bach, performed by our organist/choirmaster Dana Robinson and joined by a chamber group of period instruments led by Tekla Cunningham of the Seattle Bach Festival. The program will also include selections for two organs. The other organist is Paul Tegels, organist/choirmaster at Christ Church, Tacoma, and Associate Professor Emeritus of Organ at Pacific Lutheran University.
*The third concert in the series will be played by Michael Kleinschmidt, who is Canon for Cathedral Music at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral here in Seattle. Before coming to St. Mark’s, he served as Canon for Cathedral Music at Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. He holds degrees from Eastman School of Music and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He has played recitals across the world, has a keen appreciation for the ministry of music for children, and serves on the faculty of the Royal School of Church Music summer courses. This concert will take place on Saturday, November 7th at 3 pm
*Our fourth and final concert will be on Sunday, February 8, 2027 at 3 pm. The recitalist is Anne Laver, Associate Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music. She has performed in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and in the United States. Anne is often a featured artist at conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies, and the Goteborg International Organ Academy in Sweden. In 2010 she was awarded 2nd prize in the AGO National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance.
Mark your calendar. These are going to be outstanding programs. All extremely talented artists, yet all very different. This will give us all a marvelous experience of the diversity of the gallery Noack organ.
Admission is free; donations are welcome to support future events. These events are open to the entire West Seattle community and beyond!
The organ was the first of its kind in the region when designed and built in 1976.
Got your tickets yet? There’s a whole lot more soccer this spring/summer than that famous international tournament. The full season schedules are out for West Seattle pre-pro teams Junction FC and Rhodies FC. All listed matches are at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), which, as reported here recently, will have some enhancements this year. First, the Junction FC matches:
West Seattle Junction FC vs Tacoma Stars
Sunday, May 10th, 5:15 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs Midlakes United
Sunday, June 7th, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs Ballard FC
Sunday, June 21st, 5:15 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs Bigfoot FC
Wednesday, July 1st, 7:00 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs FC Olympia
Sunday, July 5th, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs Snohomish United
Friday, July 10th, 7:00 PMWest Seattle Junction FC vs Portland Bangers FC
Sunday, July 12th, 2:00 PM
And here’s the Rhodies’ home schedule:
West Seattle Rhodies FC vs Tacoma Galaxy
Sunday, May 10th, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Rhodies FC vs Snohomish United
Sunday, May 17th, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Rhodies FC vs Salmon Bay FC
Sunday, May 24th, 6:00 PMWest Seattle Rhodies FC vs Bigfoot FC
Sunday, June 14th, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Rhodies FC vs Portland Cherry Bombs FC
Sunday, June 21st, 2:00 PMWest Seattle Rhodies FC vs FC Olympia
Wednesday, June 24th, 7:00 PM
Note that opening day, Sunday, May 10, is a doubleheader with both teams playing matches
This year’s Westside Awards. will be presented next month by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – but first, the organization is gathering nominations, and if you want to suggest a business, organization, or community leader, you have one more day! Here again are the four categories:
• Westside Business of the Year recognizes an established business (3 or more years in operation) demonstrating growth, excellence in customer service, and meaningful community involvement.
• Westside Emerging Business of the Year honors a newer business (under 3 years) already making its presence felt through innovation, community engagement and gaining momentum.
• Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year highlights a nonprofit whose dedication to service and social good has left a visible mark on West Seattle.
• Westsider of the Year recognizes an individual whose leadership, volunteerism, or service has strengthened the community.
Chamber board members choose the winners, who’ll be celebrated at a breakfast event May 20 at The Hall at Fauntleroy. To send in a nomination, use this form – by 5 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, April 15)! (See the list of past winners here.)
Via email and text, we got two reports today about this fire-gutted Little Free Library:
Another Little Free Library vandalism, unfortunately. This one is in Highland Park, happened some time Friday morning. Fortunately SFD got to it before the fire spread outside the box. But it’s a total loss.
The other reader who reported it says it’s near 14th SW and SW Barton and sent a closer photo:
So sad we have literal book burning in the neighborhood. This one often hosts great progressive books, too.
Not sure who left the flowers but it’s clear others are mourning.
They added:
On my way back I tried to see what books were burned. The bottom ones are tight in there but a loose one is Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. It’s a book by a Jewish Holocaust camp survivor. Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
We haven’t yet found the incident numbers but will add if/when we do. Last year in late spring, we had several reports of LFL vandalism – via someone removing books. We also had an LFL arson report from Gatewood in 2024.
12:26 PM: “It’s going to be here for a while.” That’s one police officer’s assessment of that truck/trailer, wrapped around the barrier where the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, NB 99 offramp, and 1st Avenue S. onramp meet. It’s slowing but not blocking traffic at the moment, as they strategize what kind of tow crew it’s going to take to clear it. The trailer is empty, police told dispatch; no SFD dispatch so far, so apparently no serious injuries.
12:35 PM: The scene has widened a bit and traffic is moving more slowly past the scene, which police are warning “is going to e a long-term closure.”
1:29 PM: Not cleared yet and the response has expanded, so traffic past the scene is more sluggish, as the updated traffic-cam screenshot (from a few minutes ago) shows.
1:49 PM: All eastbound traffic is now being stopped, police just told dispatch.
2:01 PM: Traffic’s moving again, though the scene has not yet cleared.
2:11 PM: And now it has, with “traffic flowing as normal,” officers radioed.
(WSB photo by Oliver Hamlin, May 2025)
West Seattle’s “pool with a view,” outdoor saltwater Colman Pool on the shore at Lincoln Park, will open again for pre-season weekends starting in “early May” though the exact date hasn’t yet been announced. Registration for summer swim lessons at Colman Pool is already open and today’s the last registration milestone date for the summer season – at noon today, Seattle Parks opens reservations for pool parties. Most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the season – June 26-August 30 – and Mondays, August 3-24, Colman Pool is available 7-8 pm for private parties of up to 30 people, for a $365 fee. Here’s the direct link to the page where reservations open at noon. (And you can watch here for the full 2026 schedule to appear any day now.)
Thanks to Jerry Simmons for the photo – he says it’s a Cooper’s Hawk. From our bird’s-eye view, here are event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE CLOSED THIS WEEK … because of spring break.
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Open today, now through 11:30 am at The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW), just drop in! Older siblings on spring break welcome this week too.
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.
‘GROUNDED CONVERSATIONS’: Free drop-in coaching at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 10:40 am to noon.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today Major Roy Wild, regional commander of the Salvation Army. (4470 35th SW)
FREE ICE CREAM: Noon-8 pm, it’s free cone (or cup) day at Ben & Jerry’s (2742 Alki SW), no restrictions on flavor etc. – as noted in our preview, you can get civic info too.
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.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: At City Hall, at 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch. Items today include finalizing the library levy.
NO DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Library event canceled this week because of spring break.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: One team is playing at home – Chief Sealth IHS boys soccer has a match vs. Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Delridge Playfield (Delridge Way SW and SW Alaska).
CREATIVE SKILLSHARING: 4:30-8 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) with West Seattle Mutual Aid.
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.
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL: Continuing weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW and Alki SW)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 6 pm monthly board meeting at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), community members welcome.
SACRED BIRTH PRENATAL YOGA SERIES: 6 pm, series begins – info in our calendar listing. (7358 35th SW)
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 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 meditation 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 4: Four venues for trivia tonight – 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).
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!
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