West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch:
27TH SW SHOOTING FOLLOWUP: Southwest Precinct dayside watch commander Lt. Wes Collier was at tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, and his briefing included an update on the most significant reccent incident in West Seattle, the shooting of a 31-year-old man outside apartments on 27th SW on Monday. He said it’s believed to have been “targeted” so even though the person who shot the victim isn’t in custody yet, they don’t believe the general public is in danger. He said the victim was outdoors with his girlfriend; she went inside, and that’s when the man was shot. He sai officers found evidence of 23 rifle rounds, plus “eight rounds of return fire that hit two vehicles” that happened to be in the line of fire.
CAR BREAK-INS: Manny was hit two days in a row in the 800 block of SW Trenton:
I recently had my car broken into on 9/22. Both windows on the passengers’ side were smashed. I was home all day and did not hear my car alarm go off and none of my neighbors let me know.
Then this morning at around 5:20 am my car alarm went off and someone tried to break in again.
The SPD incident # is 25-277973.
MAILBOX FOUND: Via text, we received this photo:
Anybody reported a mailbox missing? Corner of SW Cambridge and Kelsey Lane SW.
We’re at the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s every-other-month meeting, where one of tonight’s guests was Seattle Public Schools board president Gina Topp (who also happens to be an Admiral entrepreneur, as co-proprietor of Mission Cantina). Among many other updates, Topp said that the application time for district superintendent closed September 15th, and as of right now, they have “41 qualified candidates” and she says “we are super excited about that number.” She says the board will start reviewing the candidates on Friday. (Previous superintendent Dr. Brent Jones has departed, and interim superintendent Fred Podesta has said he is not interested in the permanent job.) Lots of other news from the meeting too – we’ll have a full report later.
The proposed $9 billion 2026 budget presented by Mayor Bruce Harrell today is contingent on a variety of things, not just the City Council’s review, revision, and approval process. As noted by city budget director Dan Eder in a media briefing before the mayor’s proposal went public, the plan’s status as a “balanced budget” depends on approval of some proposed taxes, like the so-called “Seattle Shield” tax and the expanded Families, Education, Preschool, Promise levy, both of which go to voters on the November ballot, plus the one-tenth of a cent “public-safety sales tax” the Legislature gave local governments the authority to charge.
The city had already done some belt-tightening when financial forecasts looked ever-gloomier, Eder said:
While almost half the full $9 billion plan goes to utilities, transportation, and environment spending, as per the pie chart below, Eder says much of that is mandated:
And if you pull out the $2 billion general fund, half of that goes to public safety:
Eder said the budget for police staffing is growing because they’re hiring more officers than expected and losing fewer than expected:
Meantime, funding to expand the major teams comprising the CARE Department – crisis responders and 911 dispatchers/calltakers – will be heavily dependent on the aforementioned “public safety sales tax”:
In another area of interest, Parks and Recreation would get funding to add three more park rangers, for a total of 31, and would get $1 million more to fight graffiti vandalism. The department’s own summary also mentions increased restroom maintenance.
There’s a lot more to say about the budget, but those are a few notes for now. You can see the entire 702-page budget proposal, with department-by-department breakouts, here (PDF, 20 MB). Here’s the agenda for the council’s first all-budget meeting at 9:30 am Thursday; public hearings are currently planned for October 7 and November 6, with the budget to be finalized before Thanksgiving.
With the end of summer and start of fall, we checked in with the management of West Seattle’s historic event venue Kenyon Hall, to see how close they were to reopening after a summer-long shutdown for renovations. Not close yet, says operations manager Murphy Janssen: “It’s been a bit of a hectic summer as we work through these renos and all the permitting that needs to go into the updates.” So no official reopening date yet; Janssen says they’re “sort of playing it by ear.” But if they are open by November, he says, “I’ve got holds for some fun events …” but he feels closer to certain they’ll “be open for December holiday shows.” We heard a bit about the renovations in this WSB story last May, looking at the status of Kenyon Hall, a nonprofit-owned 109-year-old building at 7904 35th SW.
(WSB photo, 2024)
Set your calendar for Saturday, October 18, one of two days a year when hundreds of volunteers work simultaneously in multiple areas along the Duwamish River and in its watershed – Duwamish Alive! You can register early for some of the events. Here’s what organizers asked us to share with you:
Duwamish Alive! Saving Our Salmon, Saves Our Orca
Saturday, October 18th 10 – 2 at Multiple Local SitesJoin Duwamish Alive! this fall as our salmon are returning in our Duwamish River and Longfellow Creek, with this watershed-wide effort in improving the health of our salmon by restoring their habitat, which provides food, shelter, and cool, clean water that salmon need. Volunteers will be restoring native habitat in multiple urban parks and open spaces by removing invasive weeds, planting native plants, removing debris, and learning about healthy habitat. This is a family-friendly event, all ages welcomed and encouraged. Tools and instruction are provided.
Can’t volunteer? Visitors are welcome to view the river and the returning salmon at həʔapus Village Park, learn about the river, its ecosystem, salmon and how to care for this special place. Stop by the informational tables and find out why we say this is a “pink” year.
We are honored to help steward these locations which are the ancestral lands and waters of the Duwamish Peoples who have been here for thousands of years.
To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and register for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org
Many of the sites are in West Seattle. Those ready to accept volunteer registrations now include this one.
This has been long mentioned at community meetings as being on the way – and now it’s just been officially announced: The Seattle Police Department is launching a system to register private security cameras, so if and when crime happens, they know who nearby has a camera. The announcement just arrived in email from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite, pointing to this new website for the program. The site says the Community Camera Registry is voluntary and does not allow police to connect to your camera – just lets them know you have one (or more):
We are building an interactive map of security cameras in Seattle that will:
-Be accessible to the Seattle Police Department investigators
-Increase the efficiency of direct video evidence collection
-Provide immediate contact information to investigators for camera owners
-Enable communities to work together to create a safer SeattleCamera registration takes less than one minute via our secure online portal. Registering your cameras does not allow the Seattle Police Department access to your live video stream – it only enables investigators to know a camera is present at your location and easily request video evidence should an incident occur. You are under no obligation to provide video if requested.
The FAQ about the program says the resulting camera map will only be accessible by “authorized Seattle Police Department users” but also notes that “your information can be disclosed as part of a public disclosure request as long as the requestor is not using it for commercial purposes.” That refers to the information on the registration form, which the site says includes your name, address, phone number, email address, and the number of cameras (outdoor and/or indoor) you have. While as mentioned this doesn’t seek to automatically tap into your cameras, the potential for that sort of future connectivity was mentioned when SPD showed off its Real-Time Crime Center two months ago.
Four food-related biznotes:
IN PIZZA WE CRUST REMINDER: In case you missed our update a week-plus ago, the new pizza place in the former Swinery location at 3207 California SW opens at 11 am tomorrow (Wednesday, September 24).
CHEESE RIOT PIZZA: If you’re a fan of deep-dish pizza, West Seattle doesn’t have a lot of it, but Cheese Riot Pizza – operating out of Distinguished Foods just south of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – has recently joined the lineup. Here’s what co-founder Rachel told us in an email conversation:
Cheese Riot Pizza is a labor of love between the two of us. Alec is the one behind the oven, and I handle the outreach. Right now, it’s just the two of us, operating out of a shared kitchen, but our dream is to one day grow into our own space and give West Seattle a new spot to gather, eat, and connect.
A little about us: I met Alec over 8 years ago, and he was first introduced to me as “the pizza guy.” His dad founded Garlic Jim’s and Jet City Pizza, so Alec grew up kneading dough, delivering pies, and working in the shop. This year, he took the leap, leaving the 9 to 5 world to pursue his passion: opening his own place, this time with a focus on deep-dish pizza instead of the thin crusts his dad specialized in. Watching him light up while experimenting and creating new recipes has been inspiring, and I couldn’t be happier to support him in our first restaurant venture together.
We’re currently open:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4:30–9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 4:30–10 p.m.
Sunday: 12–9 p.m.
EZELL’S FAMOUS CHICKEN: The regional chain – including its California/Fauntleroy location – is offering a deal for the next week in honor of a partnership with RedBird Farms for larger “heritage” cuts. Today through September 30, according to an announcement from the company, they’re offering any two chicken pieces and a roll for $3.99 (one per person). The announcement also notes they’re selling Ezell’s-branded merch too.
MUD BAY MATCH: Here’s where the pet food comes in. It’s part of a special day at Mud Bay this Saturday:
Join us at Mud Bay Admiral on Saturday (corrected – September 27th) for Neighborhood Pet Store Day. We will be celebrating with an Adoption Event hosted by the Seattle Animal Shelter from 12 pm-2 pm. In addition, Mud Bay will be matching 100% of all pet food sales (in-store and online) with an equivalent donation of food and supplies for pets in need at our local animal shelter.
The store is – for now! – at 2611 California SW.
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It was a pleasantly warm evening to properly close out summer as Alice Enevoldsen gathered a crowd of around 50 people last night tocelebrate the fall equinox at West Seattle’s Solstice Park. The equinox marks one of two times a year that the night and the day are of equal duration, and notably for us in the northern hemisphere, the passing of summer into fall. This was Alice’s 63rd time hosting the quarterly equinox/solstice sunseet event, which has been taking place since the late 2000s barring some interruptions due to the pandemic.
The crowd started gathering around 6 PM in anticipation of the sunset. The layout of the park has three stones and corresponding passageways which mark the exact location of the sunset for the equinox and solstices throughout the year.
The sunset was at precisely 6:56 PM – as observed. She explained that while the official U.S. Naval Observatory-calculated sunset for our area is 7:06 PM (the time that appears on most phone weather apps), this does not take into consideration local factors that cause the sun to disappear earlier, such as the Olympic Mountains or other environmental factors.
Notably last night, a thin streak of smoke still wavered over the Olympics from ongoing Washington forest fires.
After the sun had set, Alice gave her customary presentation on the scientific explanation and meaning of the equinox. She was helped, as usual, by a young assistant – this time, Jork – who volunteered to represent the sun. During the presentation, Alice and her globe rotated around the volunteer sun to explain the way in which the rotation of the earth causes the changing of the seasons and the corresponding length of the day. At the point of the equinox, she said, the length of the day is changing the fastest – losing about 4 minutes of daylight every day.
Following her presentation, Alice summarized the passing of yet another equinox with reverence. “We are at the same place in our orbit as we were a year ago – the same place in space – isn’t that mindblowingly awesome?” she said.
She presents these events as part of her volunteer work as an official NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you’d like to attend her next event, the sunset watch for the winter solstice will be on December 21. You can also find more information from Alice about local astronomical events or upcoming events by her on her website [https://alicesastroinfo.com/], or her social media feeds.
(Monday aerial view of West Seattle, sent by Greg)
Here’s our Tuesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: 10 am with Natalia – last-minute reminder, so mark your calendar for next week!. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
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.
NAVIGATING MEDICARE: Drop in 11 am-12:30 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) and talk with Patrice Lewis about your Medicare-related questions.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW) features speaker Brian Scheehser from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)
MAYOR’S BUDGET SPEECH: Noon on Seattle Channel, you can watch Mayor Bruce Harrell talk about his budget proposal for next year. We just sat in on an advance briefing for media and will have a report this afternoon too.
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: 2 pm weekly meeting. Meeting is open to public comment both online and in person – the agenda explains how.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Nothing on the schedules at local high schools (some have away games) or Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex today.
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.
TYPE 1 DIABETES SOCIAL GROUP: New group meets 6:15 pm at White Center Library (1409 SW 107th) – our calendar listing has an RSVP link.
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.
CREATE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), register in advance to work on your project(s).
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: If you live, work, study, shop, dine, visit Admiral, this neighborhood gathering at 7 pm is for you. Here’s our agenda preview, with guests focusing on schools and safety. At the newly renamed Admiral HUB (former church, 4320 SW Hill).
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm, hear the new Geese album three days before it’s released. (4559 California SW)
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: New classes continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). Our calendar listing has details including how to check if they have space.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you participate.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four options for Tuesday night trivia – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 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, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather Saturday to remember Marlene Mann, and are sharing this remembrance with her community now:
Marlene Iris Mann was born on March 15th, 1934, in West Seattle where she spent most of her life. She was the daughter of Elmer Chase and Emma Hill and was lovingly raised by Howard and Charlotte Hill. On September 1st, 2025, at age 91, Marlene went to be with our Lord Jesus.
Marlene met Huntley Mann at West Seattle High School and married him in 1952. They were married for 71 years and had 7 wonderful daughters.
She worked at the Old Granada theater in West Seattle, was a receptionist for Consolidated Freight Ways and a banquet waitress at The Holiday Inn for 38 years. In later years, she helped create window displays for Husky Deli.
Marlene loved life! She was an avid outdoor enthusiast and spent years taking children and grandchildren camping, hiking, swimming at Colman pool, ski lessons at Snoqualmie Pass and many campouts throughout Washington State. It was adventure at its best!
Marlene was the heartbeat of her household that kept it alive and thriving! Her home was the hub to all who needed a listening ear, a home cooked meal and a hot cup of coffee. She gave hope when there was despair, encouragement where there was disappointment and always pointed people to the Cross of Jesus to find the answers that would lead them to victory in their life. One of her many talents was hospitality. For over 60 years, she hosted family and friends at her home for numerous holidays, celebrations, and fundraisers. Everyone always felt welcomed and was blessed by her endless giving.
Marlene was Jesus’ personal “Welcome” to all who entered through her door. No matter how you stepped in you always left filled to the brim with God’s goodness after being in her presence. On one occasion, Marlene was described as a “walking Bible with a red leather cover.” How true that was!
Marlene was a lover of Jesus, family, animals and everything in-between. She sacrificed and made the decision to send her daughters to Hope Lutheran School to learn about Jesus and his word. Many of her grandchildren also attended this school because of her support and encouragement to help them build a life around Christ.
She orchestrated, lead, and engaged in many activities throughout her life such as Bible Study Fellowship, Bill Gotherd Ministry, leading Girl Scout outings, along with preparing, decorating and serving at countless dinner/dance fundraisers for the school and her community.
Everyone could always count on Marlene to watch her grandchildren and dog sit any time of the day or night. She loved when her grandchildren and their furry companions came over to visit, and her door was always open!
Marlene was a bottle of wisdom, encouragement and hope poured out over all who had the privilege of meeting her. If you knew her, you were given a glimpse into the heart of our Savior! She always made it a priority to preach the gospel by being the hands and feet of Jesus, feeding the hungry, taking care of the fatherless, forgiving those who wronged her and loving her neighbors.
Marlene always said, “I’ll leave the light on in the window for you!” And she did! She was “Grandma Marlene” to more kids than you could count over the years. She was always there for us in the best times and in the hardest times. Her faith in the Lord and her unwavering courage to take care of, guide, and lead her family earned her the namesake of a Proverbs 31 woman. I know Mom was greeted by Jesus in a warm embrace with His loving words, “Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant!”
May we all continue to carry her legacy to those who God places in our path… to love unconditionally, forgive often, serve daily, stay humble and kind and fan the flame of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all!
Marlene is preceded in death by her husband Huntley Mann and survived by her seven daughters: Rhonda (Shane) Stanley, Denise (Saeed) Mahboub, Desiree Kjorsvik, Roxanne (Jon) Tunison, Deanna (Steven) Smith, Rachel (Jon) Daniels and Marlo (Michael) Maddy; 23 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
A celebration of life for Marlene will be held on Saturday, September 27th, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Hope Lutheran Church. Reception to follow.
We will love you forever, Mom! As always, TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
(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)
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – first full day of fall.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny and in the low 70s today, with smoky haze expected later. Sunrise will be at 6:58 am; sunset, at 7:04 pm.
(Fall’s first sunset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
ROAD WORK
-California SW’s Fauntleroy Creek culvert gets a month of emergency repair work starting as soon as today.
–59th SW in Alki is closed for at least three more weeks by the school-construction zone.
-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is under way.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights through October 10.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners‘ final regular-season homestand starts tonight, 6:40 pm vs. the Rockies.
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, 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!
Shortly after multiple 911 calls reporting suspected gunfire in the area, police report finding proof of it at 29th SW and SW Myrtle [map]. They’ve found casings and have Myrtle blocked off as they look for more. No injuries reported so far. Police told dispatch that witnesses reported a 4-door silver Mazda sedan was involved.
“We have moved into the heart of West Seattle: the Alaska Junction,” declare Daniel and Julie Sas, owners of West Seattle Tattoo, looking ahead to their “grand reopening” in a new location this Saturday (September 27), Here’s their story:
We moved here in 2019 and worked at Blue Geisha Tattoo until they had to close down months later due to COVID. Once we were allowed to in 2020, we opened a private studio in the ActiveSpace building by the bridge for a year before opening West Seattle Tattoo. Since 2021 for the last 4 years we have been at 3902 California Ave SW, in the house with the lawn next to Olympia Coffee. Right in the middle of the [Admiral and Alaska] Junctions. But we are excited to be entering our 5th year in business and 4th as a street shop. The new address is 4517 California Ave SW. We are in the breezeway next to Supreme Pizza on the second floor. Our Grand Reopening is September 27th from 12-5, where all of our entire flash-art wall is %25 off. We have a fun plinko board people can play for the designs in a Get What You Get game or they can just choose.
The City Council’s Public Safety Committee meets at 9:30 am tomorrow, with an agenda including their first look at various proposals to change city laws and/or create new ones, in many cases just making city law match up with state law. This memo from council staff gets into key points including:
Firearm & Weapon Restrictions
This bill would adopt various changes made to state law in recent years concerning firearms and other weapons. Generally, firearms regulation is an area of law where cities and other local government entities are preempted from enacting their own unique restrictions, but may choose to adopt changes made by the Washington State Legislature. This bill would adopt RCW 9.41.010 and 9.41.390 which, taken together, prohibit with limited exceptions the manufacture, import, distribution, and sale of a category of firearms known as “assault weapons” defined by reference to a list of specific firearms in combination with a descriptive schema based on certain firearm features. Violations of these assault weapon provisions would be a gross misdemeanor.
This bill would also create a civil infraction in the amount of $1,000 for failing to report the theft of a firearm within 24 hours to the Seattle Police Department.
Finally, the bill would also add libraries, zoos and aquariums, and transit stations and facilities to the existing list of places where weapons are prohibited. Violations of City place-based weapons restrictions would be punishable as a gross misdemeanor. Statutory changes related to firearms and other weapons described above were made to RCW by the state legislature during the 2023 and 2024 sessions.
Then there’s a bill addressing traffic laws – CB 121081 – including these proposals among others, as summarized in the staff memo:
Covered License Plates
This bill would update vehicle license plate requirements to prohibit the use of license plate covers. Existing SMC prohibits plate frames, holders, or other materials that “change, alter, or make a license plate [illegible],” but does not explicitly ban plate covers (e.g. tinted plastic covers commonly in use). This change would mirror a state law change adopted by the legislature in 2024 which was intended to address an increase in the use of plate covers which obscure license plate legibility by law enforcement officers and automated tolling cameras.Negligent Driving with Vulnerable User Victim
This bill would establish new offenses of negligent driving with a vulnerable user victim in the first and second degrees. “Vulnerable user of a public way” would be defined to mean, in sum: a pedestrian; person riding an animal; or, a person operating a wheeled vehicle other than an automobile. The new first degree offense would be triggered by negligent driving that is likely to endanger a person or property, and results in the death of a vulnerable user. The second-degree offense would be triggered by similar conduct that results in great or substantial bodily harm to a vulnerable user, rather than death. The new first-degree offense would be a gross misdemeanor with a $1,000 mandatory minimum fine and a 90 day license suspension. The new second degree offense would be a traffic infraction. These changes would mirror state law changes adopted by the legislature in 2023.
The full agenda for tomorrow morning’s committee meeting includes how to watch and comment (as well as the other items the councilmembers will consider, including what’s ahead for the Community Safety Initiative).
(Added: Photo by Tim Durkan)
3:15 PM: SPD and SFD are at the scene of a shooting in the 9400 block of 27th SW, just north of Roxbury. They’re searching for a suspect, though we haven’t heard a description yet, and one person is reported injured, being taken to Harborview Medical Center. Officers have reported that the casings they’ve found at the scene “are from a long gun.”
3:20 PM: The shooter is believed to have left the scene in a black Mercedes last seen headed east on Roxbury.
3:37 PM: No word yet on the condition of the victim. Added a photo above – note the multitude of casing markers in the shadows on the ground.
4:31 PM: SFD tells WSB the victim is a 31-year-old man, assessed in serious condition when transported. Archived radio exchanges include police reporting that he was shot multiple times.
9:26 PM: Police have just added a short summary to SPD Blotter, with a few additional details:
At 2:57 p.m., a caller reported gunfire in the [9400] block of 27th Avenue Southwest. Officers arrived, found the man with multiple gunshot wounds to his left arm and leg, and provided medical aid. Seattle Fire Department medics transported him to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition.
Bullets also struck two vehicles and a building. Officers searched the area but did not locate the suspect or any involved vehicle.
Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are leading the investigation and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.
Incident Number: 2025-277371
(WSB photo, Saturday)
Were you among the hundreds who dropped off recyclables at Fauntleroy Church during this past Saturday’s Recycle Roundup? Here’s the grand total – and the date for the next one:
Area residents and businesses cast a strong vote for the environment on Saturday by dropping off 11 tons of recyclables during Saturday’s Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church. That brings to 395 tons that the congregation and zero-waste recycler 1 Green Planet have collected since partnering for these free community events in 2010. The spring roundup is set for Saturday, April 25, 9 am-3 pm in the church parking lot (9140 California Ave. SW).
(From kingcounty.gov)
Boeing Field – aka King County International Airport, “one of the busiest non-hub airports in the nation” – is just east of West Seattle, both visible and audible to many here – with aircraft from cargo jets to Blue Angels – and is continuing the process of planning its future. Your next chance to plug in is this Thursday – here’s the announcement:
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) is gathering input about future airport plans at an open house on Thursday, September 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the KCIA Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Ave. S.
KCIA invites airport tenants, airport users, and community members to provide input on draft alternatives the airport is considering in the Vision 2045 Airport Plan. Attendees can stop by any time to talk with the study team and share their feedback. The goal is to have a plan that will allow KCIA to adapt and evolve to meet changing aviation demand over the next 20 years. …
More information about the open house:
Get more details and register (optional): kciaplanning.com.
There will be no formal presentation. Free parking is available in the building’s parking lot and on nearby streets. A King County Metro bus stop at Ellis Ave. S and S. Warsaw Street, across from the KCIA Flight Service Station, serves the 124 and 60 lines. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
If individuals are unable to attend the open house, the study team has posted information for comments on the project website, including the draft alternatives. The study team will accept comments on the alternatives through 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Oct. 17. These comments will be considered in the second draft of alternatives that will be available for public comment in November.
The study team will host additional open houses and engagement opportunities throughout the process, which continues through mid-2026.
(Photo by Dennis Hinton: Gerry Goit finishes clearing channel so spawners coming in under ferry trestle can reach the creek’s mouth)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Saturday’s work party to clear the way for coho spawners to reach the mouth of Fauntleroy Creek was mostly about weeding. A dozen volunteers moved a few drift logs mired in the sand, then turned to addressing beach vegetation chocking the channel. They had the way cleared an hour later but will keep an eye out to make sure it stays open through spawning season.
(Photo by Diana Spence: Fred Fleischmann and fellow volunteers survey magnitude of weeding task)
Salmon Watch 2025 will officially start with the annual drumming on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 4 pm at the house below the fish-ladder viewpoint (SW Director & upper Fauntleroy Way SW). A few volunteers will get a head start by monitoring Fauntleroy Cove for schooling spawners, then two dozen watchers will begin checking the spawning reach daily.
The first spawners in modern history came into the creek in 1994. Since then, 20 has been typical for this small urban creek. Last year was anything but typical, however, when a record 347 had come in by Nov. 24.
If spawners come in, the Fauntleroy Watershed Council will host a weekend open creek for the general public and we’ll announce it here.
(The classic end-of-summer flower, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our end-of-summer/start-of-fall list of what’s happening and NOT happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (got something to add? please let us know!):
ANTIQUE MALL OF WEST SEATTLE SALE: 11 am to 5 pm today, last day of four-day sale. (4516 California SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Southwest Library‘s noon story time is back! (9010 35th SW)
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular 2 pm Monday “briefing meeting”; no public comment, but the agenda explains what’ll happen and how to watch/listen.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Only local competition on the calendar is West Seattle HS golf teams vs. Bishop Blanchet at West Seattle Golf Course at 3:30 pm.
FALL EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH: After fall officially arrives this morning, educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen will lead her change-of-seasons sunset gathering tonight at Solstice Park, 6:15-7:15 (the sun is likely to set behind the trees around 6:50 pm). It’s educational, entertaining, interactive, free, all ages; gather uphill at the park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW).
CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT HIATUS: On hold while The Missing Piece moves to new Junction location.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players included!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group for people experiencing grief – participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee; book a spot here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play tonight! Easy Street Records‘ every-other-week Music Quiz, 6:30 and 7:30 pm (4559 California SW) … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: Tonight’s the night for the monthly show! See who’s headlining, and get tickets, by going here ASAP. 7 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
ALKI MEDITATION CANCELED: Update, not happening this week.
POOL TOURNAMENT: Play in The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks to EVERYONE who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you can donate blood, here’s a special chance to do it in West Seattle! We checked and as of this morning, spaces remain in this one-day drive announced just before the weekend:
SMASH Seattle & Music’s In Our Blood are coming together to honor Susie Tennant (RIP), a beloved member of the Seattle music community, with a blood drive on Sunday, October 5, from 9 am-3 pm in the West Seattle Junction.
We’re joining forces with our friends at Easy Street Records, Sub Pop Records, Top Pot Doughnuts, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream, the West Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Market, the West Seattle Junction and the Tennant/Swenson Family to celebrate her legacy and save lives.
Our collective goal is to sign up 48 West Seattleites to donate blood, enjoy free swag, eat sweet treats, and be part of this special tribute.
Blood donors must sign up ahead of time at this link: donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/98124
Each blood donor will receive:
(1) Limited-edition West Seattle Hard Core Susie Tennant t-shirt, donated by Sub Pop
(1) Limited-edition Musics In Our Blood t-shirt
(1) Scoop of Molly Moon’s Ice Cream
(1) Top Pot Doughnut or Coffee
(1) Easy Street Records stickerBlood Drive facts & inspo
-It takes 1,000 blood donors every day to maintain blood inventory at our local hospitals.
-Only 62% of the population is eligible to donate blood – for a variety of reasons – and of those, only 3% donate blood.
-It takes 1 hour to donate 1 pint of blood that could save 1-3 lives. (15 minutes to give blood, and 45 minutes for paperwork and prep).
-Every 2 seconds someone in our country needs a blood transfusion.
-You can donate blood every 56 days.
-When you donate blood, you’ll also find out your blood type, which is good to know in case you need blood in an emergency.
Susie’s been gone since early last year. If you didn’t know her, this remembrance talks about her life.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, September 22, 2025 – fall officially arrives at 11:19 am (and Alice’s quarterly sunset watch is tonight).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny and in the upper 60s today. Sunrise will be at 6:56 am; sunset, at 7:06 pm.
ROAD WORK
–59th SW in Alki is closed for at least three more weeks by the school-construction zone.
-“Natural drainage” construction toward the east end of Sylvan Way is under way.
-California SW’s Fauntleroy Creek culvert gets a month of emergency repair work starting as soon as tomorrow.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer/early fall schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights through October 10.
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, 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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Today was the third Sunday that Admiral Church worshipped in its temporary home at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. It’s moved out of its longtime home at 4320 SW Hill, as has the preschool that had occupied its basement. All this, as the next step in the site’s transformation to affordable homeownership with a new home for the church and the community organizations it hosts.
While the plan in partnership with Homestead Community Land Trust is progressing, demolition is not imminent – midyear 2026 at the soonest. But you won’t see the old church building morph into a tagged, squatter-occupied shell of a building.
It’s already morphed, in fact … into the Admiral HUB.
Part of the HUB is a continued home, for now, for the aforementioned community organizations. You’ll see the Admiral Neighborhood Association there this Tuesday, for example; ANA has met there for years.
But it’s not just about meetings. What inspired us to ask for a chat about the building’s interim status was a reader tip about the heart of it: @ Bear Island.
At the heart of @ Bear Island is someone whose work you have probably seen, even if you don’t immediately recognize his name: Mike Henderson.
He’s an Admiral Church congregant, and prolific artist. We published an in-depth story about him by WSB senior contributor Christopher Boffoli last year, when he was still painting enigmatic messages in highly visible spots, such as a retaining wall on California south of Andover.
Admiral Church’s Anita Shaffer explained that when they decided against leaving the building vacant, after discussions with Homeland CLT and their insurance company, Henderson seemed like the ideal caretaker: “He’s such a creative guy.”
(Anita Shaffer and Mike Henderson in the HUB/Bear Island kitchen)
For starters, he and others have “been de-preschooling the basement,” as Shaffer puts it, although the colorfully painted rooms already seem naturally suited to creativity.
“So we have this massive space and at least seven months to make it up as we go along,” Henderson explains. “The exciting challenge is to use the whole buffalo.” That means opening the space to a wide range of possibilities, with people collaborating.
One of the early collaborators, Celeste, elaborates: “We want to bring the community together to see what people can do.” Workshops, for example, might not take the typical format that some might find “scary” when asked to teach what they know. Maybe just spending a little time planting a seed and sharing their skills.
Henderson recounts the thrill of inviting passersby to participate in his murals – “give people the (paint) roller and give them the chance to make art” – and hopes @ Bear Island will be a place where people can “try things.”
There’ll be music, too, a weekly jazz jam starting next month in what was the church sanctuary and will now be known as “the theater.” (The church’s pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom says they’ve had a ceremony to “de-consecrate” that space, and there’ll soon be a ceremony about removing the sanctuary’s cross and its “complicated” symbolism.) While the Admiral Church organ is going into storage for now, the piano is staying. The space will have “theatrical lighting and sound.” It’ll be open for rentals as a concert venue, too.
What Henderson most wants you to know is that, rather than fleshing out a set of ideas by finding people to make them happen, they want to find people and then let the ideas happen. “Just be in the same room and plug into the creative energy.” He expects it will be “magical.”
Rev. Conley-Holcom agrees – seeing it as a “play space” most of all.
So how do you get involved? Henderson says they have open hours during which you can just “wander in.”
Another participant in our conversation with the key players added, “It’s very easy to get plugged in here. Just show up!”
One possibility for the space is a continuously open “pay what you can” thrift shop to raise money for @ Bear Island; Celeste already has sparked some of that energy by having a vintage sale there. (Shaffer notes that the HUB remains under Admiral Church’s “nonprofit banner,” and that the church donated $1,000 to get it launched, as well as helping apply for grant money to underwrite the jazz jams.)
What @ Bear Island has in abundance already is the spirit of fun. Henderson laughs that while the @ Bear Island name is a tribute to the Native name Me-Kwa-Mooks, the mascot is not a bear but a rabbit. “I like the confusion!”
The pastor says what he likes most about it is that it “embodies one of my core values, relationship first” and Henderson, he says, is an ace relationship-builder: “He’ll introduce you to people HE didn’t even know.”
This will all lead to one thing, Henderson says:
“Joy.”
You can “wander in” 4-7 pm Tuesdays-Fridays for now; find @ Bear Island updates here.
Though Seattle Public Utilities had said the emergency culvert repairs beneath California SW in Fauntleroy could start tomorrow, the “no parking” signs in the area all are dated to start Tuesday (September 23). Whenever the crews arrive, remember that the repair work will change things up for about a month in the Fauntleroy Church/Y/Schoolhouse area, which is also a key connector between Delridge, 35th SW, and the Fauntleroy business district and ferry dock. The repairs – as announced in August – are intended to keep the culvert that carries Fauntleroy Creek under California from failing before permanent replacement work can begin. (For more on the replacement project, which will first focus on 45th SW, don’t miss the recently announced community meeting on October 2.)
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