West Seattle, Washington
24 Thursday
High-school sports aren’t just about what happens on the field, court,track, etc. The report and photos were sent by West Seattle High School athletic director Corey Sorenson:
Congratulations to Eden O’Donnell, Charlee Cummings, Izzy Waite, Mason Jones, Justice Nguyen, and Wes Stahl on representing West Seattle High School at the 2026 Fall Metro League Sportsmanship Summit!
The Metro League brings together schools with unique histories, traditions, and athletic communities. The Sportsmanship Summit provides student-athletes from across the league with an opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and discuss how we can continue to make our schools, athletic contests, and league communities positive and welcoming places for everyone.
We are proud of these students for representing West Seattle High School and helping promote the values of sportsmanship, respect, and community.
Got good news or announcements from your school? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, September 24, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cloudy, chance of rain tonight, high in the low 60s. Sunrise will be at 6:59 am today, while sunset will be at 7:02 pm.
(Fall’s first sunrise on Wednesday, photographed by Jen A)
CLOSURE REMINDER
This weekend, SDOT is scheduled to close the West Seattle low bridge to drivers, early Saturday until early Monday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the three-boat schedule (until Monday, October 5, when it goes to two boats for a month). Check the alert page for any late-breaking changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with later night runs Fridays and Saturdays for just under two more weeks.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
A brand-new West Seattle scavenger hunt has begun – and you’re invited to join as soon as you see this! It’s all about music, as the announcement explains:
The Westside Music Social Club (WMSC), an all-volunteer community organization, has launched its first-ever West Seattle Music Scavenger HuntF, a self-guided, neighborhood-wide adventure running (now) through Monday, October 5, 2026. The hunt wraps up with a 21+ community afterparty and prize drawing on Wednesday, October 7, at Revelry Room.
The hunt is WMSC’s way of kicking off fall by putting neighbors directly in front of the small businesses that give West Seattle its music scene, sending players through record shops, music schools, venues, and neighborhood landmarks, guided by custom music-themed riddles and hidden QR code checkpoints. The hunt is open to everyone and all-ages as venues allow, with no musical experience needed; only the afterparty is 21+.
How It Works:
Sign up and get the first clue: After signing up on Heylo, players receive Clue #1 by direct message.
Hunt the trail: Players solve custom music riddles to find QR code checkpoints across the neighborhood. Each scan logs their progress and shares a bit of local music trivia.
Perks along the way: A participating music stop is offering a special discount to hunters.
Grand Prize Raffle: Players who complete every stop are entered to win. Three winners, each taking home a swag bag and a gift card, will be drawn at the afterparty, which will also feature live surprises.“Our goal is simple: bring neighbors together, amplify local businesses, and get everyone listening to more music,” said Adriana Castro, President of the Westside Music Social Club. “We’re a volunteer-run, community-first organization, and everything we do is a safe space for anyone who wants to make or share music, from watchers to shredders. Whether you’re a lifelong musician or just love going to local live shows, this hunt is a fun way to support our favorite neighborhood spots.”
Event Details:
When: Hunt runs September 22 – October 5, 2026. Afterparty is Wednesday, October 7, 2026 (21+).
Where: Music spots and landmarks across West Seattle. Afterparty at Revelry Room.
Cost: $10 per player
Who can play: Anyone! Accessible and all-ages as venues allow. The afterparty is 21+.
Sign up: Register on Heylo.
About Westside Music Social Club:
The Westside Music Social Club is a nonprofit, all-volunteer music collective that brings together amateur musicians and music lovers in West Seattle. Since its first event in January 2026, the club has hosted regular “Green Room” jams and community sets, creating inclusive, accessible opportunities for neighbors of every skill level, from watchers to shredders, to play, listen to, and celebrate music together.
(WSB photo: South side of 4448 California building)
Thanks for the avalanche of tips on this: Now there are two bagel shops coming to West Seattle. Late today, the proprietor of Hey Bagel in University Village, Andrew Rubinstein, announced he’s just signed a lease on a new expansion location in West Seattle. He said it’ll be “just north of the Alaska Junction.” We just reached him via email to ask for specifics and he told WSB that it’ll be the almost-done mixed-use building at 4448 California SW. He expects to open the West Seattle shop in May. (The other bagel shop heading this way, as we’ve been reporting, is Royal Bagel, planning a Morgan Junction location.)
Thanks for the tips on this, following our earlier reports on major work in the parking lots at Taco Time (which is closed until the weekend) and The Home Depot – West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) has work under way in its lot too. But like The Home Depot, it’s still open, and it’s business as usual inside. One of the managers, Ted, tells us the work is centered on a pipe (which isw why the crews at work include O’Neill Plumbing, also a WSB sponsor) and should be complete tomorrow – they’re hoping to get most of the work done early in the day.
4:18 PM: Police are on their way to what’s reported as a 2-car crash, with one “flipped,” in the 7500 block of 35th SW. Updates to come.
4:21 PM: One vehicle is described as a Ford Explorer whose driver is reported to have fled the scene, NB on 35th then EB on SW Webster; the other vehicle is described as a Mazda sedan. The driver they’re looking for is described as a Black man around 40, 6′, “long dreads,” green hoodie, jeans.
4:38 PM: Thanks to Nelson for sending the photo added above, which shows the crash was on the NB side of 35th right by the Clearview eye clinic. SFD had initially sent a rescue response but says nobody ended up trapped, so they downsized. Live camera (just south of the crash scene) shows traffic is getting through both ways, although slowly.
4:47 PM: Officers just told dispatch a third car was “involved,” a Volkswagen (as shown in the photo).
10:47 PM: SFD says only one person had to be evaluated for possible injuries, a woman in her mid-20s. We’ll be asking police some followup questions tomorrow.
Enjoy the skyline view and a free workout this Sunday, co-presented by Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle on the rooftop of their 1309 Harbor Avenue SW HQ – here’s the announcement LWPTWS’s Mark Bouma sent to us to share with you so you can sign up ASAP.
Seattle Strength & Performance and Lake Washington Physical Therapy are teaming up to host a Rooftop Sunset Mobility Class on Sunday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be in West Seattle at our clinic on Alki (1309 Harbor Ave SW).
The hour-long class will focus on improving active range of motion, building the brain-body connection, and helping participants relax and move better. The class is free, but advance registration is required because space is limited.
Event details:
Rooftop Sunset Mobility Class
Sunday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m.
Hosted by Seattle Strength & Performance and Lake Washington Physical Therapy
Free with registration
Participants should bring a yoga mat
Drinks and small bites will be served following the class
Registration is available here
Thanks to Al for the tip on this. The Home Depot‘s parking lot on Delridge is a work zone today too – about three-quarters of it is roped off for paving crews. In this case, though, unlike Taco Time, the store is still open; the available parking spaces are on the north side of the lot.
12:44 PM: Thanks for the tip. Emergency responders are cleaning up after a crash in the 2200 block of Alki Avenue SW that drew a briefly sizable SFD response. The SPD dispatch was for a driver hitting multiple parked cars. Police on the scene are calling for a tow truck. We’re checking with SFD about injuries.
10:53 PM: SFD tells us, “Crews treated an approximately 69-year-old male in stable condition. The patient was transported to the hospital by AMR.”
Thanks for the tips about work in the parking lot at West Seattle Taco Time this morning. We went over to check on its status; the signage says it’s closed through Saturday.
(Recent early-morning scene on Elliott Bay, photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here is our highlight list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (which you can preview any time – our daily highlight list is meant to be a reminder rundown, with last-minute additions too):
READING WITH TODDLERS: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, join players at Missing Piece (4707 California SW)
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm drop-in homework help for K-12 students, at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FRESH HOP WEEK: Continuing at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), open 4-9 pm.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR: 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), stop in for education and inspiration.
FREE YOGA FOR 12-STEP RECOVERY: Every Wednesday, continuing into fall, 5-6:30 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio and Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), no registration but MUST arrive no later than 4:55 pm.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: The free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm workshop is happening at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center), and the library is open for borrowing.
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Talk about Seattle’s growth – current and future – at the weekly 6 pm meetup – this week at the future Junction park (4700 block of 40th SW).
DRAG BINGO: Hosted by Jolene Granby at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW), 6 pm,
EVENING STORY TIME: 6 pm at Southwest Library (9030 35th SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Join the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces.
OPEN MIC AT MR. B’S: 6:30 pm signups, 7 pm performances at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), all ages.
PRACTICE YOUR SPANISH LANGUAGE SKILLS: A local group of Spanish-language learners gathers 6:30-8:30 pm at Mission Cantina (2325 California SW) to practice – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30-8:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
HPAC MEETING: First meeting of fall for the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, South Delridge, with topics including crime/safety as previewed here and the 12th/Holden affordable-homeownership project as previewed here, 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
KUNDALINI YOGA: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).
MAD CRAFTY: Bring your craft project to Revelry Room (4547 California SW) for a crafty night, 7-9 pm.
MUSIC BINGO: Play music bingo at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle Wednesday trivia venues: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm… Seaside Grill (2820 Alki SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … And Wednesday trivia usually starts at 8:30 pm at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
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)
DANCE WITH BALORICO: Lessons at 8 pm and 9 pm at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW) -sign up here.
SWING IT WEDNESDAY! Swing dancing and live music at 8:15 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale, South Park).
KARAOKE: Sing at Admiral Pub starting at 9 pm, after trivia. (2306 California SW)
Planning an event, class, workshop, etc., that’s open to community participation/observation/visitation? Please email us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Denny International Middle School students who play sports need new equipment and new jerseys. Denny athletic coordinator Tre’Von Mcallister-Lane asked us to ensure you know about three ways to contribute:
Denny’s Sounders Night – $5 from each purchased ticket would come back to Denny Athletics.
Ticket link: www.gofevo.com/event/DennyInternational2
Sideline gear – $5 from each purchased item would come back to Denny Athletics,
Order link: sideline.bsnsports.com
Or just donate here.
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cloudy, then clearing, high in the mid-60s. Sunrise will be at 6:57 am today; sunset will be at 7:04 pm.
(Fall’s first sunset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
ROAD WORK
As announced by SDOT, the first phase of a repaving project on SW 106th is expected to conclude today:
Through Wednesday, Sept 23
o SW 106th St between 35th Ave SW and 32nd Ave SW will be reduced to a single lane alternating between eastbound and westbound traffic.
o Driveways will be CLOSED during working hours. Driveway access will be provided to the extent possible, but there may be delays of up to one hour to let equipment clear or to let new asphalt cool down enough to accept traffic loads.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the three-boat schedule (until Monday, October 5, when it goes to two boats for a month). Check the alert page for any late-breaking changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here. (Including one for the SW 106th project zone mentioned above.)
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with later night runs Fridays and Saturdays for just under three more weeks.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Everything, and everyone, was looking up at tonight’s fall equinox sunset watch.
Astronomy educator Alice Enevoldsen has led quarterly change-of-season sunset watches at West Seattle’s Solstice Park for 17+ years, as part of her work as what she described as pretty much the coolest volunteer title ever, NASA Solar System Ambassador:
First a chance to watch the setting sun line up with the designated equinox-aligned path (the park-top plateau has paths and markers for solstices and equinoxes):
Then, everyone circled up for Alice’s demonstration (with a young volunteer as usual) of what “equinox” – this one having arrived just two hours earlier- really means:
It’s always a casual gathering, all ages …
Pups too:
Alice always hangs around to ask questions, and sometimes there’s swag:
Tonight there was even wildlife:
And fall’s first sunset just kept getting better:
You can always check Alice’s website for the next sunset watch – winter solstice, December 21st, 3:45 pm – and other skywatching info, such as aurora advice.
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
This Thursday will mark the two-year anniversary of one of West Seattle’s thriving book clubs, the Morbidly Curious Book Club.
The club revolves around non-fiction books centered on dark and taboo topics, with common themes involving death, true crime, occultic or alternative spiritual practices, and the limits of the human body. This month’s book exemplifies these themes: On Thursday, they will be discussing “Empire of the Scalpel: The History of Surgery“ by Ira Rutkow. We sat down with the founder of the club, West Seattle resident Perla X. Caballero, to talk about her and the club as they look toward the anniversary.
First, about the founding of the club: It is actually a chapter of a national book club started in 2021 by a woman named Patricia, intended as a digital-only book club. Caballero said she found out about it from this initial digital push: “The algorithm found me,” she said, “’Hey, you like this kinda stuff!’ it said.” (Caballero is also an avid fan of horror and noir detective fiction, and participates in other Seattle area groups dedicated to those books.) “Patricia wanted to make it more global, put the call out to ‘hey, if anybody wants to start your chapter, first come first serve,’ I noticed Bellingham and Tacoma had a chapter, and I messaged her ‘Hey, is West Seattle available?’ and she said yes.”
Growth during the past two years has been significant. “Only eight people attended my first meeting, which was at Beveridge Place.” she said. (She gave a shout-out to the owners, Gary Sink and Terri Griffith, who she said are “like uncles” for the support they gave to her in her early days.) Average attendance now is between 15 and 22 people each month, and the group’s online page has more than 260 people signed up.
From that growth, Perla shared that the club has come to represent people across all walks of life from West Seattle. “Anyone from senior citizens to someone who’s like a young twenty-something has come to our book club.” she said. She noted that her one of her most recent attendees is actually a mom, who is there representing her daughter of around fourteen who is unfortunately too young to come to most of the 21-and-over locations the club tends to meet at. Though, of course, many of the members do reflect some of the content of the books themselves: “A lot of members that are with us are nurses, and we also have ambulance drivers, a forensic anthropologist, and a phlebotomist among them.”
We also asked her about her initial interest in the dark subject material of the book club. “What got me into dark non-fiction was probably based around what I grew up around. I grew up in California in the Bay Area in the mid-’80s. I moved to Portland first, and they caught the Green River Killer two months after I got there. My mom called me and said I needed to move back home because Ted Bundy was there, and when you’re in murderland, you get curious.” she said. Part of her interest is also motivated by her ongoing background in legal work. “I’m a trained paralegal, and I’ve worked in places such as the Public Defender’s Office. People do terrible things to each other, and are constantly putting each other in harm’s way. That gave me a tough skin.”
She also shared that part of it was her proximity to a “Christian cult” in her childhood. (Books about cults, she said, feature as some of the most popular readings for the club.) “I grew up in a Christian cult; my mom converted when I was very young, and I spent a lot of time recruiting people. I learned about the dark side of community – which is that they will do whatever it takes to get their way in breaking your free will – so maybe that’s why I’m into this.” she said.
On the more positive side, one of the things that motivated her most was simply reading as an act against the overwhelming digital influence in her life, negativity from world events, and the loss of focus that entailed. “When the [national] book club started, it was during the pandemic, I couldn’t read because of what was going on – so this was a month where I had time to read a book, I’d read a book.” She said it was the first in a long time, and she gradually worked her way up: she read ten books in 2024, 28 in 2025, and this year her total is at least 50. “My goal is just – I love doing the meetings, if it’s 4 people to 25 people, I am happy to see people take time out of their day to talk about the books. A lot of friendships have been formed by the book club.”
Her mantra to encourage people to come to the club summarized this theme succinctly: “Less doomscrolling, more doom-reading!” (This theme continues even in the graphics and other social media for the club online, which she does mostly by hand, alone. “I grew up in the Sarah Connor era,” she said. “Computers are bad, and I don’t believe in AI..”)
For the future, Perla says she’s just happy to continue as long as there’s direction from the national organization. “I didn’t see myself surviving two years, by month three I didn’t know what I was gonna do – I really just hope people pick up a book.” she said. “Tomorrow, Patricia could shut down a book club, and the national chapter goes and so we could we – so hopefully, we just have another year of reading.”
This month’s meeting (and 2nd-anniversary celebration) will be taking place at 7 pm Thursday (September 24) Jet City Labs/Revelry Room (4547 California SW)on Thursday, September 24th. As mentioned above, the book will be ‘Empire of the Scalpel: The History of Surgery’ by Ira Rutkow. (You can also see past and upcoming book selections on the Morbidly Curious Book Club main website here.
If you’re interested in getting the book locally, Caballero mentioned that she has partnered with both Paper Boat Booksellers (WSB sponsor) and Pegasus Books to have copies of the books available for the club. And, as always, she offered that she is always available to reach out to if you’re interested in the material, particularly if you might have a hard time dealing with it: “Know what your comfort zone is, and if you hit a fence or don’t want to open that door, just message me and I’ll let you know how it ends. I’m the one that has to have the weird nightmares at night.”
(WSB photo)
Notices like that one are posted on some of the trees along 16th Avenue SW by South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), particularly on the west side. This note we received from SDOT explains why:
The Sidewalk Safety Repair Program is planning to make repairs to the sidewalks damaged by tree roots on both sides of 16th Ave SW between SW Findlay St and South Seattle College Entry #2. Our tentative start date is October 5 and will likely take a few weeks once the work begins. The schedule depends on how much root pruning work there will be, especially on the west sidewalk. Our goal is to preserve all the trees, but there are a few trees at risk for removal because of the size and amount of roots that will need to be pruned to bring the sidewalk and driveways back down for ADA accessibility. The trees that are at higher risk for removal have been posted with SDOT Urban Forestry’s contact information. The sidewalk team and Urban Forestry will work closely together during construction to achieve both pedestrian safety and tree preservation to the extent feasible.
Sent by Jen:
My daughter’s car was stolen from 58th Ave SW and Alki Ave SW this morning while she was working at Ampersand Cafe (between 4:53 am and 6:45 am). It is a 2001 dark green Honda CR-V.
We’ll add the plate # when we get it.
ADDED: Plate is CLX6168, and here’s a photo:
Call 911 if you find it.
1:42 PM: Mayor Katie Wilson just wrapped up her first budget address, presented at the main library downtown, as she went public with a $9.1 billion proposed budget. Key points included that she said she’s “righting the ship,” presenting a budget with “no general fund deficit” through 2030, also promising “effective government” and “growing a resilient economy.” She said she’ll do that with “no new major sources of progressive revenue,” aka taxes. And she said she’s “fully funding” the current Seattle Police hiring plan, budgeting for 66 more police officers next year than this year. Her public-safety points included the only West Seattle-specific mention of the speech (which was light on geographic references otherwise), permanent funding for a teen late-night program in High Point that’s been operating as a pilot. Regarding transportation, while she said the levy-funded programs would proceed as planned, some maintenance projects (not identified in the speech) will “face delays.” Regarding city jobs overall – in a speech she opened by expressing gratitude for city workers – she said 128 jobs would be cut, mostly vacant, but 15 currently employed people would lose their jobs. Individual departments are starting to send out their summaries of what the budget means to them, so we’ll be updating this story with more details as the afternoon goes on. For starters, here’s the summary from the mayor’s office. Budget documents from her proposal are linked here.
4:37 PM: From the budget summary document, here’s more elaboration on public-safety spending:
• The Seattle Police Department’s (SPD) 2027 Proposed Budget includes $556 million to support public safety. Compared to the 2026 Adopted Budget, this increases SPD’s budget by $68 million (13.9%) annually to fund 1,250 officers in both 2027 and 2028, 66 more than were funded in the 2026 Adopted Budget. This net growth includes a reduction of $9.5 million, including eliminating funding for 28 civilian positions (four of which are filled), and reducing funding in SPD’s marketing and recruitment budget to help address the structural budget deficit.
• The Seattle Fire Department’s (SFD) 2027 Proposed Budget includes $346 million to maintain core fire and emergency response services, reflecting the City’s budget constraints, with a $7.1 million reduction to its overtime budget. The budget also increases ongoing funding for maintenance and utilities to better reflect actual expenditure trends and adds 5.0 FTE Firefighter to staff peak-time aid car. In addition, the proposed budget adds $8.7 million over the biennium in the Department of Finance and Administrative Services’ (FAS) budget to increase funds for renovations to Fire Station 25.
• The Community Assisted Response &Engagement (CARE) Department’s proposed budget of $72.6 million sustains operations of the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center and Community Crisis Responders working 6:30am-1:00am in most areas of the city. The proposed budget also supports the Mayor’s Gun Violence Plan (MGVP) with funding transferred from HSD to CARE. These investments will support immediate actions to address gun violence including designating CARE as the city’s command center for gun violence reduction strategies, aligning community-based violence services with 911 emergency response, network coordination for Seattle’s Community-led Safety Network, launching Violence Reduction Councils to review homicides, and a new partnership with the University of Washington for data-driven assessment and evaluation.
In addition, the CARE’s 2027 proposed budget includes an increase of $1.6 million of ongoing funding for the CoLEAD program, the ongoing lease and operations of a housing site, which provides dedicated housing capacity for CoLEAD participants and specialized populations with behavioral health and substance abuse issues. The investment preserves continuity of services and is a key component of the City’s alternative response and public safety strategy.
And more details on the aforementioned High Point program:
$300,000 to sustain a Teen Late Night pilot at High Point Community Center, the ninth community center or Teen Life Center with Teen Late Night programming citywide. This free program, run by Seattle Parks and Recreation in partnership with Seattle Police Department, creates a supportive environment most Friday and Saturday nights for youth ages 13-19 by having trained adults provide educational services, intercultural activities, athletics, free pool time for certain locations, and career readiness opportunities …
LOCAL NOTES: First one we’ve found in the fine print is in the Parks budget doc:
$700,000 to complete planning and design work for Camp Long Lodge rebuild, which was significantly damaged in November 20(2)4 and has been stabilized using insurance proceeds. The department will continue to explore funding options for the unfunded construction work including grants and future Park District capital funding.
Checking SDOT specifics next, no West Seattle projects called out. Still checking other major departments’ specifics.
Thanks to a nearby resident for the tip. SDOT has sent an update on the “People Street” project proposing to close part of SW Lander west of California SW to motor-vehicle traffic. After a survey and in-person events, here’s how SDOT summarized feedback:
Accompanying that graphic:
Now, we are using your feedback to create design options for the project … Later this year, we will share these design options with you and the neighborhood to gather feedback to inform the final design. We will send out dates for future events soon.
The section of street under consideration from the change is between Lafayette Elementary and the commercial building housing The Good Society and Seattle Yarn. It’s currently one-way eastbound. If you have questions or comments, the SDOT update points you to urbandesign@seattle.gov.
(Photo sent by Eddie in early September)
After many months in which a sign like that one might have been your primary clue that Sound Transit is (or would be) doing field work leading up to West Seattle light-rail construction – soil sampling and other types of testing – there’s a new place to check. We’ve been asking ST for a while if there’s a page to check online for notices, and we just got this update from ST spokesperson Amy Enbysk: “Our fieldwork page is now live: westseattlelink.infocommunity.org/fieldwork-updates.html#fieldwork-activities! This page provides the latest information on current and upcoming fieldwork that will inform the design and construction of the West Seattle Link Extension project.”
(Sketch sent by West Seattle artist William Wittmann)
Here’s our list of highlights for today/tonight, many – but not all! – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: It’s back! West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau) welcomes little ones and their caregivers, 9 am-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, free.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW) – today’s featured speaker is retired Judge Michael Heavey.
MAYOR’S BUDGET SPEECH: Mayor Katie Wilson is presenting her first budget proposal today, starting with a 12:30 pm speech that will be streamed live by Seattle Channel.
CHESS CLUB: All levels! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm, weekly full-council meeting, with viewing/attending/commenting info on the agenda.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 4 pm online, community members welcome to hear updates on and ask questions about the tiny-house village in southeast West Seattle.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 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 on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS AUDITIONS: 5-8 pm, as previewed here – sign up to get details.
CHIEF SEALTH IHS MULTICULTURAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: 6 pm at White Center Library (1409 SW 107th).
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.
FALL EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH WITH ALICE: The seasons change at 5:05 pm, and 6:30-7:30 pm, you can join Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, upslope) to watch fall’s first sunset and learn about the equinox.
SING WITH THE BOEING EMPLOYEES CHOIR … even if you’re not a Boeing employee! Open rehearsals continue tonight, 6:30 pm, at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), and our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
TIM’S OPEN MIC: 6:30 pm signups, 7 pm music – weekly open mic hosted by Levi Said at Tim’s (16th SW and SW 98th) in White Center.
PASS THE AUX AT REVELRY ROOM: 7 pm game time at Revelry Room (4547 California SW).
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 7 pm – lots of info in our ongoing 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 weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four Tuesday trivia venues – 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, 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 to play, prizes. (2306 California SW).
KARAOKE AT POGGIE TAVERN: 9 pm until 1:30 am, sing at The Poggie! (4717 California SW)
Organizing an event, fundraiser, class, performance, gathering, etc.? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather October 2nd to remember Betty Code, and are sharing this with her community now:
Betty Alice Code
February 1, 1926 – May 24, 2025Betty was known for stretching a dollar, dancing up a storm, meeting everyone at the party, and clipping bushes within an inch of their lives. She was all about getting things done and had more energy than her kids and grandkids combined.
The only child of John and Rhetta Blair, Betty grew up on Queen Anne Hill and attended Coe Primary School and Queen Anne High. Her summers were spent at a cabin, swimming and canoeing on Lake Sammamish. An excellent student, Betty applied and was accepted to Mills College for Women in Oakland, CA. She studied a range of subjects and took up modern dance which cemented her lifelong love of dance, as well as her amazing flexibility. Ultimately though, Betty decided to major in business and transferred to Washington State where she was active in the Alpha Phi Sorority. She also took summer classes at the UW, where she became reacquainted with Bill Code, a fellow Queen Anne graduate. When asked what first attracted him to Betty, Bill said, “We were at Lake Wilderness and while all the other girls were gabbing, Betty was on the water, rolling logs with the guys. I liked her energy!” They were married in 1948 and immediately embarked on an adventure to Chicago’s southside, where Bill was enrolled in graduate school. They found a tiny apartment in a sketchy neighborhood and Betty gamely commuted on the El each day to her job as a bookkeeper. It was an exciting way to begin their 76 years of marriage.
Betty and Bill returned to Seattle and started a family within a few years. Although she stayed home with Bob, Merilee, and Jim, Betty was in no way stationary, mastering multi-tasking before it became a thing. Availing herself of a very long phone cord, Betty was known to conduct PTA business or comfort elderly friends over the phone, while simultaneously cooking dinner and cutting the kids’ hair. There were some complaints about lopsided cuts and dried out chuck steak, but she got an amazing amount done. Betty was a tremendous cheerleader, motivator, and supporter of her family, creating a comfortable home on a tight budget and imbuing her kids with the same active spirit. The TV suspiciously broke every summer and going out to play was a clear expectation. Without complaint, Betty also provisioned weekly camping trips for family and friends to their property on the Key Peninsula, packing Styrofoam coolers with ice frozen in margarine containers, planning meals that could be made over a campfire, and ensuring that there were enough clothes and towels to survive a downpour.
As the children grew older, Betty started volunteering at West Seattle High and eventually was employed in the career counseling center. She developed ties with the business community, brought in speakers, and organized field trips that introduced students to a variety of occupations. She took kids, especially girls, who seemed a bit directionless under her wing and encouraged them to think about their interests and strengths. One appreciative student wrote: “I always wanted to thank Mrs. Code for helping me find a job at a veterinary clinic after school. It saved my life by showing me there was a whole world outside of school and that the bullies…meant nothing in the larger world.”
Inspired by her mother who had worked full-time running a business, Betty developed an independent spirit. She was a pragmatic, brass tacks kind of person who did not shy away from voicing opinions about politics, investments, and what was “square” enough to pass muster. She liked to keep busy so after retiring from the counseling center, Betty started doing secretarial tasks for the family business, giving her time with her sons and a sense of productivity. In her free moments, Betty enjoyed going to the theater and Husky basketball games, maintaining a huge yard, canning peaches and putting up strawberry jam, and boating, golfing, and swimming. Betty was someone who could be counted on to come to the rescue and help in any way possible. She seemed to always be lending a hand to women older than herself who were also named Betty. She was very involved in her church, Westside Presbyterian and shared responsibility with Bill for the “Special People Program” providing transportation, lunch, and entertainment for disabled folks over a thirty year period.
When it came to her grandchildren, Randy, Ian, Tessa, Kyle, and Jason, Betty was the pied piper. She could get the kids interested in doing just about anything active from stacking blocks to hitting tennis balls to dancing around the living room, even weeding! Betty and Bill made it a priority to attend their sporting events, school presentations, and award ceremonies and they were proudly present at each grandchild’s college graduation. Betty was also delighted to get to know her son-in-law’s children, Brendon, Nathan, and Megan.
Betty will be remembered for her true love of Bill and family, her action-oriented zest for life, her thoughtfulness and interest in other people, and her dazzling, movie star smile. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Bob and Mary Code, Merilee and Scott Robar, and Jim and Claire Code, eight grandchildren and their spouses, ten great-grandchildren, and her niece, Sharon Hostetter, and nephew Bill Code and his wife Carol and their children.
Please join us for a celebration of Betty’s life at Tahoma National Cemetery on Friday, Oct. 2nd, from 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Remembrances may be made to Westside Presbyterian Church.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Showers possible this morning, then clearing, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise will be at 6:56 am today; sunset will be at 7:06 pm. (Fall officially begins at 5:05 pm.)
(Reader photo, summer’s last sunset)
ROAD WORK
As announced by SDOT, the first phase of a repaving project on SW 106th is expected to contiue today:
Through Wednesday, Sept 23
o SW 106th St between 35th Ave SW and 32nd Ave SW will be reduced to a single lane alternating between eastbound and westbound traffic.
o Driveways will be CLOSED during working hours. Driveway access will be provided to the extent possible, but there may be delays of up to one hour to let equipment clear or to let new asphalt cool down enough to accept traffic loads.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the three-boat schedule (until Monday, October 5, when it goes to two boats for a month). Check the alert page for any late-breaking changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here. (Including one for the SW 106th project zone mentioned above.)
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with later night runs Fridays and Saturdays for just under three more weeks.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
| 0 COMMENTS