West Seattle, Washington
01 Wednesday
(WSB photo, 2024 Boat Swap. This year, snow gear too!)
Also seeking sellers – Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is holding a spring Ski and Boat Swap this Saturday. In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – proprietor Greg Whittaker explains, “This is the inaugural addition of winter sports to our annual spring boat swap. So if you have gear you are not using in the Ski/Snowboard/Kayak/SUP realm and want to participate you have until Friday to get it ready.” Info for sellers and prospective buyers is here. Dropoffs are 2-5:30 pm Friday; swap hours are 10 am to 5 pm Saturday.
As planned, we’ve just opened registration for this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated since 2008 by WSB. WSCGSD is the second Saturday in May as always – this year that’s May 9 – and if you’re planning to have a sale, here’s where to register.
If you haven’t heard about West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day before – it’s one day with many sales of many sizes, all around the peninsula, open at least 9 am-3 pm on sale day (earlier and/or later if sellers choose to). WSCGSD is not the only neighborhood sale day in Seattle, but it’s become the biggest. Registration for WSCGSD gets your sale onto the map and into the listings guide, which we publish a week before sale day and promote regionally – shoppers show up from as far away as Eastern Washington!
You can sign up any time you’re ready over the next three weeks. Same classifications and fees we’ve had for the 20+ years we’ve coordinated WSCGSD. Before you register, be ready with your up-to-20-word sale listing – think about what you’re selling that’s popular and/or unusual, for example. Any questions, email westseattleblog@gmail.com or call/text our hotline at 206-293-6302. Updates to come (including whatever we hear about multi-seller sites offering space for people who have small sales/no place for a sale – if your venue plans to do that, please tell us ASAP so we can incorporate it into announcements)!
(The West Seattle Nursery baby hummingbirds, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
HOLY WEEK SERVICES: Here’s our list of what’s planned at local churches we’ve heard from.
PASSOVER BEGINS … this evening.
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).
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).
VR FOR TEENS’ MENTAL HEALTH: 2:30 pm, teen program at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
ARTEMIS II LAUNCH WATCH EVENT: As previewed here Tuesday, join NASA Solar System Ambassador and astronomy educator Alice Enevoldsen at South Seattle College‘s Brockey Center (6000 16th SW), 2:45 pm to watch the scheduled launch of the moon-flyby mission – this could change if launch plans change, so check here and Alice’s website before going.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: No local home games/matches on the Metro League schedule today.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair 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).
WEST SEATTLE CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: 6 pm gathering at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor). This month’s book is “The Alteration” by Kingsley Amis.
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm drop-in session to get creative – bring your own project or get a suggestion! (3400 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Want to talk about our city’s growth, present and future, as the City Council reviews round 2 of rezoning? You’re invited to this 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
PIANO NIGHT: At Upwell (4811 California SW), monthly piano night 6-8 pm.
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: 6 pm at the West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), non-members welcome too.
KUNDALINI YOGA: Now at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Get moving at midweek – go on the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces!
LIGHT RAIL FORUM: Community forum with elected officials and Sound Transit executives to talk about the state of the West Seattle light-rail plan, 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
HUM-IN PROTEST: This gathering is for 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)
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia venues tonight – 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: The stage is yours at West Seattle’s longest-running open mic! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: 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!
Family and friends will gather April 11 to remember Ray Hart, and are sharing this remembrance with the community now:
Ray Hart passed away in Burien on February 26, 2026 due to complications of Lewy Body Dementia.
Born October 7, 1942, in Tacoma, raised in Eastern Washington and Coeur d’Alene Idaho, Ray lived his adult life in West Seattle and Kihei, HI. Ray was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, community member, child, and lifelong educator. Ray raised his children in West Seattle, in the Sunrise Heights neighborhood. He taught elementary school in the Highline School District at North Hill and Olympic Elementary through the 1970’s and 80’s and actively served for many years on the board of High Point’s Holly Co-op Preschool. He also taught elementary school while living on Maui for the next 27 years, where he also helped establish the island’s first public charter school. Ray and Carla returned to West Seattle in 2019 shortly before Ray was diagnosed with dementia.
Ray will be missed very much by Carla, his wife of 58 years; daughter Ranette (Jay) of West Seattle; sons Carl (Katie) of West Seattle and Matthew of Kihei, HI; and his cherished grandchildren Ivo, Mary Kate, Luce, and Louis, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, caregivers, and friends.
Share memories of Ray and visit the full obituary page & online guestbook at emmickfunerals.com/obituaries/ronald-ray-hart
A Funeral Mass will be held April 11, 2026, 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 7001 35th Ave SW, followed by a short lunch reception at OLG’s Walmesley Center and a 2:30 PM Committal ceremony at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery, Shoreline. Aloha wear is welcome, in honor of Ray’s much loved life and dear friends on Maui.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kihei Charter School, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, or the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
(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)
8:59 AM: Police are being dispatched to a crash on the eastbound bridge at the NB 99 offramp.
9:17 AM: They report all eastbound lanes are temporarily blocked “while we we get the vehicles out of the roadway.”
9:18 AM: Now a crash is reported on Admiral Way at Hanford – a driver “crashed into a wall” but is not seriously hurt.
10:08 AM: Signal trouble reported at West Marginal and Spokane. (Remember a broken signal is an all-way stop.)
10:49 AM: Now a crash is reported on the westbound bridge “near the Admiral Way offramp.” … One texter sees an SUV and a tow truck and says traffic is “barely sneaking past.”
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, high around 50. Sunrise at 6:47 am; sunset at 7:39 pm.
(Michelle Green’s sunset view while whale-watching last night)
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners‘ season-opening homestand ends with a day game vs. the Yankees, 1:10 pm.
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 (fully open but 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!
11:55 PM: Police and fire are at the scene of what’s reported as a flipped-car crash at California/Harbor. The initial SFD dispatch was large but quickly downsized. Harbor is blocked in the area.
12:10 AM: The downsizing was because the driver “self-extricated.” They’re being investigated for DUI.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Where what’s likely West Seattle’s longest retaining wall once sported these murals along its street side …
… and art like this along its block-long alley side …
… it’s all now a drab gray that was blank for about a day until it drew this protest:
We got tips about this last weekend. The wall story on the north and west sides of the CVS/ex-Rite Aid lot (5217 California SW) dates back almost three years – here’s our first report from 2023, about what was given the name the “West Side Wall.” We learned shortly afterward that not only was renowned West Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen the creator of the baseball mural on the SW Dawson side, but also shepherding the evolving multi-artist project on the alley side.
That’s who the first reader to tell us about the paintout, Jared, contacted when he discovered it a few days ago. He told us Hansen was on the case. We contacted Hansen directly and met him at the wall this afternoon to talk about what happened and what’s next.
The situation is “really unfortunate,” he told us. “This alley was a great place” to make art. Not all graffiti-style, either.
He says someone complained to the city, the city sent CVS an abatement letter, and – not knowing the history behind the wall art, since it wasn’t anywhere in writing – the corporation hired a paint crew.
As soon as Hansen heard about it, he got busy contacting CVS management. “CVS is supportive,” he said – that included the acquisitions director, whose portfolio included this store (converted from Rite Aid last summer), and district manager. He says they’re in contact with the city and restoration can start once they have an acknowledgment in writing that it’s not going to generate another abatement action.
The “West Side Wall” was more organized than it might have appeared to casual viewers, Hansen explained – the alley-wall art rotated – an artist who came to work on the alley might decide which was the “ugliest” of the current crop and paint something new in that space. Meantime, he said the artists policed the work to ensure “no hate,” among other rules.
He and some of the artists also did weeding and trash pickup periodically – including syringes and mini liquor bottles – and Hansen said he’d also moved along some people who tried to camp in the alley, which stretches from Dawson to Brandon Streets, with back yards and garages lining the west side.
Before talking to Hansen today, we had sent an inquiry to CVS corporate to ask if they indeed had initiated the paintout; the reply came at the end of the day today from corporate communicator Amy Thibault, who confirmed it was them: “The wall was recently painted after we received complaints from community members about graphic and offensive content. We’re in touch with a local artist and the city about the wall and evaluating potential ways to ensure local artists can continue showcase their work in a way that all can enjoy.”
We also inquired today with the city Department of Construction and Inspections – which handles this type of complaint – but haven’t heard back yet.
Hansen says part of the situation might be a “blessing in disguise” – he expects this will lead to a written record of the art agreement, to avoid something like this happening again, at least as long as CVS is leasing the property (which is owned by an unrelated investment firm that Hansen said he tried to reach but couldn’t). He says he probably won’t re-create his baseball murals, instead considering featuring Kraken hockey or Sounders soccer, maybe even the once-and-future Sonics. But first he’s going to continue checking in daily until the situation is resolved: “I’ll do whatever I can to get this wall back.”
That would include, if there was a way, talking with whomever complained, to listen to their concerns and explain what a place like this means to artists. (If that’s you, you can reach him through his website.)
Just heard from a Seaview resident who is near 47th and Juneau and wondering if anyone else is experiencing brown water. If it happens to you, please be sure to contact Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800 – causes can vary, from hydrant testing to water-system problems (nothing mapped currently).
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A change in ownership for Roxy’s Casino and Roxbury Lanes (2823 SW Roxbury Street) means the neighborhood landmark is now one of the Imperial Palace Casinos, the third in a trio that includes locations in Auburn and Tukwila. The casino group took over operations late last month, and while there’s some new staff, big changes are not in the works. “Our goal is to keep it substantially the same,” the casino group’s president Shaun Jensen told WSB. “The property has been here a very long time, and we want to stay true to that legacy.”
That’s exactly what the longtime ownership group had in mind when they sold the business. “They’re the ones we wanted to sell to,” says Vern Westerdahl, one of the original Roxbury Investment Group LLC members. He says Imperial Palace Casinos is more like, “…how a family-run business would run it.” Westerdahl and a changing group of LLC members have run Roxbury Lanes since 2004, when they took over operations from AMF Bowling Centers. At the time, what would become the casino was basically an empty room. “The Lions Club would meet there one time a month. They had gambling there at one time, but lost the license way back when. AMF wasn’t doing much with it.” They changed that, building out the card room and adding other amenities along the way. Westerdahl says over the years the ownership group included Doug and Glenda Harrell, who also owned Magic Lanes, the White Center bowling center that closed in 2011, and was later converted into a church. Members of the Harrell family also owned the Roxbury property for a number of years.
Meantime, the Roxbury property changed hands multiple times, including a sale in 2016 to an Arizona LLC called Store Master Funding VIII. This last October, members of the Roxbury Investment Group LLC and some additional investors formed a new LLC, The Spirit of Magic, to buy the property from which they had operated their business for more than 20 years. Westerdahl says that $5.83 million sale was not ideal, but a necessity because of the rising cost of leasing the space. “It’s pretty expensive to do business in this area. The only thing that made sense was to buy the land and building.”
The building was constructed in 1957, and there is a lot under that one roof: the bowling alley, an arcade, a restaurant and bar, and the casino card room. It advertises a wide variety of entertainment, from kids’ birthday bowling parties to Texas Hold ‘Em and racing simulators. The new owners are still adjusting to the new space. “We’ll keep hours the same,” Jensen said. “We’re brand new to this area, so still learning a lot of the area and what makes the most sense.” The other Imperial Palace Casinos don’t have bowling or arcades, so this is new territory in more ways than one. “At our Auburn and Tukwila casinos, we are 21 and over. This is a new demographic, but it’s welcoming change.”
Jensen says the acquisition was a matter of good timing all the way around. “Our owner is always looking to expand the business and grow the footprint.” Jensen says they are working to keep as much of the staff at the Roxbury location as possible, while working in staff from other locations as needed.
Westerdahl says Imperial Palace Casinos has a 3-year lease to start, and the option to buy the property in the future, which leaves open the potential that the business and property would once again be under one umbrella in just a few years. In the meantime, he and the other LLC members have done a hard pivot from being longtime operators to landlords, and as he ties up loose ends and hands over vendor accounts, he says that’s a good feeling. “We had it up for sale because we’re not spring chickens anymore. It’s in their hands and out of our hands. It’s all theirs now.”
By this time tomorrow, registration will be open for this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! WSCGSD is always the second Saturday in May; this year, that’s on the early side, May 9. Official hours are 9 am-3 pm, but sellers are welcome to start earlier and/or end later (some even add days) – just be sure to include that in the description when you register your sale. WSCGSD is not one big sale but rather hundreds of sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle (often a bit to the south, too), residences, businesses, schools, nonprofits, block sales, whoever and wherever! WSB has coordinated WSCGSD since 2008 (it was founded by a long-gone community organization in 2005), and after three weeks of registration, we start making the map and list so they’ll be available a week before sale day. So watch WSB for the registration link when it’s ready to go on Wednesday!
P.S. If anyone’s offering spaces for very small sales this year, we haven’t heard from them yet – but we’d love a heads-up at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(NASA photo, February)
When West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen led her spring change-of-seasons sunset watch a week and a half ago (WSB coverage here), she told attendees that she hoped to lead a launch-watch event for the Artemis II mission to fly by the Moon. As of this afternoon, it’s on for tomorrow – here’s her announcement:
Join Alice Enevoldsen, NASA Solar System Ambassador and South Seattle College Astronomy & Physics Faculty member, to watch the NASA livestream of the historic Artemis II launch, sending people back to circle the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
This event will start at 2:45 pm on Wednesday, April 1, and could go as late as 6 pm depending on the launch itself. The launch is scheduled for 3:24 pm Seattle time.
Location will be on main campus at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW), Jerry M Brockey building.
The time and date of this event may change: launch windows require suitable weather and every technical detail going correctly. Please visit alicesastroinfo.com/2026/03/artemis-ii-livestream-launch-watch for links to the most recent updates on my event and nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii for updates on the mission.
1:04 PM: Thanks for the tip. SFD and SPD have responded to what we’re told is a “rollover” crash on 26th SW south of Westwood Village. We’re off to check it out.
1:28 PM: Thanks to another texter who sent the photo as well as clarification that it’s on 26th between Barton and Cambridge.
1:35 PM: At least two parked vehicles were damaged, an officer just told dispatch.
1:46 PM: The flipped car was righted and towed and the street has reopened.
Today we welcome our newest sponsor, Fruits to Fronds Garden Design. New sponsors get the chance to tell you what they’re all about – so here’s what Fruits to Fronds Garden Design wants you to know:
Fruits to Fronds is a full-service gardening and landscape design business that has been located in West Seattle for over 28 years. Owner Shannon Toal has been providing the greater Seattle area with beautiful outdoor spaces that are as ecologically beneficial as they are attractive. Her experience and expertise can be found in the many types of gardens she has designed and installed. From native plants to zen gardens, pollinator to bird and butterfly friendly gardens, Shannon and the Fruits to Fronds crew are committed to developing environmentally sustainable gardens that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
What sets Fruits to Fronds apart is their commitment to blend environmental thinking with garden design. They are committed to creating landscapes that can help support Western Washington’s native flora and fauna. This is exemplified by their Backyard Bee Project, which seeks to support native pollinator Mason Bees with shelter and food as they pollinate your garden. The best part – Mason Bees don’t sting or bite! The Fruits to Fronds team is proud to offer bee shelter installation.
They will introduce bee cocoons and provide annual care as the insects progress through their life cycle.
Fruits to Fronds offers a suite of gardening services from initial design and installation to ongoing maintenance. From recurring monthly visit to keep your garden looking its best or just a seasonal visit, the Fruits to Fronds team can accommodate any level of work.
General Services Include:
-Garden design and installation
-Garden renovations and clean up
-Regular maintenance and weeding
-Fruit tree and specialty pruning
-Bee house installation and care
-Rock work and hardscaping
Whether you’re looking to just maintain your existing garden, or completely rethink your personal landscape, Shannon and her team at Fruits to Fronds are happy to discuss how to bring out the best in your garden and yard.
Fruits to Fronds, LLC
Website fruitstofronds.com
Email fruitstofronds@gmail.com
Phone 206-355-7600
We thank Fruits to Fronds Garden Design for choosing to advertise their services by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in joining our sponsor team? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com for information – thank you!
(Photo by Tom Trulin)
Event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE: Want your little one to play indoors today? This free playspace is open until noon for little ones and their caregivers. (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: 10-11:30 am at The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW), just drop in!
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER FOR WSHS SOFTBALL: Order 10:30 am-10 pm from MOD Pizza (Westwood Village), follow the instructions in our calendar listing and part of the proceeds from your purchase will benefit the West Seattle High School softball team!
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.
FREE DROP-IN COACHING: “Grounded Conversations,” 10:40-noon at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today with Todd Jones from South Seattle College‘s Automotive Technology program . (4470 35th SW)
LEARN ABOUT NURSING PATHWAYS AT SSC: Online info session 1-2 pm to find out about studying nursing at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle – our calendar listing explains how to watch/participate.
MEET & GREET AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 1:30 pm, meet The Maine if you’ve pre-ordered their upcoming release. (4559 California SW)
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.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: No home games/matches/meets on the schedule today.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
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.
LIVE MUSIC AT SRIVILAI THAI: Leatherwood and Co. perform 6:30-8:30 pm at the restaurant (3247 California SW).
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL: Continuing weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW and
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.
MEET THE SUPERINTENDENT: New Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner brings his “community engagement” tour to our area tonight, 6:30 pm at West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW) – details in our preview.
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 5, WITH A FINALE: Five places 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) … And last trivia night of the season at Christos on Alki (2508 Alki SW), 7:15 pm.
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!
9:26 AM: Another orca visit this morning – Kersti Muul reports whales were seen in Elliott Bay, off the downtown waterfront, before 9 am. Please let us know if you see them!
4:09 PM: They’re still around this afternoon – Kersti says they’re currently “close to shore cruising Alki Ave toward Alki Point.”
6 PM: Thanks to Richard for this photo of orcas heading north past Brace Point:
10 PM: More photos! We’re told the whales seen today included both the “cookie cutter” orcas and “regular” transient killer whales. These photos are by Daniel Walsh:
And this group shot is from Robin Sinner:
From covering, and/or publishing announcements for, a variety of groups, we have heard it can be challenging to find free, available meeting space. So if you’ve dealt with that – this announcement from Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) might be of interest:
Village Green Senior Living in West Seattle is offering free meeting space for groups of 15–20 people. It’s a great option for clubs, workshops, committees, and small community meetups. The space includes comfortable seating, Wi‑Fi, and flexible scheduling, all in a warm and inviting setting.
If you’re interested in checking it out or booking a time, reach out to Corinne at Corinne@villagegreenretirement.com or call 206‑937‑6122.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Partly sunny, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 6:49 am; sunset at 7:38 pm.
(Kite and foot ferry off Alki on Monday evening – photo by Bob Burns)
TRAFFIC REMINDER
One more reminder, SW Trenton east of 35th SW is now the bus route to Westwood Village rather than Barton, because of upcoming repaving for the latter. The project page explains the changes.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Here’s one last look at Metro‘s twice-yearly service change, which happened last Saturday.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners‘ season-opening homestand continues tonight, with another 6:40 pm game vs. the Yankees.
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 (fully open but 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!
(WSB photos)
Speaking of bowling – that factored into one of the math games and puzzles that were part of the first-ever “Math with the Pack” at Westside School (WSB sponsor) in Arbor Heights.
The Pack is a reference to the “Wolfpacks” program at Westside School involving students in all its grades, Pre-K through 8th, getting together at least monthly in 20 multi-age “packs,” for what the school describes as “fun activities and conversations to build community and belonging.” For “Math with the Pack” afternoon, younger and older buddies – many separated by three grades – paired up for math challenges set up in rooms around the school.
Each student got a passport that was stamped as they completed challenges – many of which incorporated familiar objects like playing cards and dice.
Along with solving the challenge, the students had to be quick studies in learning each one’s rules and goal, so they could complete it in time to get to the next one.
This all didn’t come together on the spur of the moment – Westside tells us “Math with the Pack” had been in the works for a year!
The reward at the end was a slice of pie – originally meant to be in honor of Pi Day on March 14, because the event’s original date was Friday, March 13, but snow truncated that day so “Math with the Pack” – and pie – was delayed to the following week. (One of the challenges, by the way, was Pi Memorization.) The event itself was memorable enough, Westside hopes to make it a community-wide event eventually.
P.S. While visiting Westside, we learned they have some openings for next school year; if potentially interested, go here to find out about the school and see how to visit for a tour.
Though it’s two months away, a fun(draiser) for the new West Seattle Special Olympics organization is looking for early involvement – here’s the announcement explaining how you can jump in!
Special Olympics Washington is making its return to West Seattle — and the community is invited to be part of the launch.
A Community Bowling Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 30th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at West Seattle Bowl, bringing together neighbors, families, and local businesses for a fun and meaningful morning. This event marks the start of a new, year-round program supporting athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities right here in West Seattle. Participants can sign up as individuals, form teams, or sponsor a lane to help build something lasting in the community. All proceeds directly support local athletes. Learn more and register at westseattleso.com.
Hard to see in the evening sun’s glare (sorry, got there at a bad time), but the sign in the middle – looking west on SW Trenton from just east of 35th SW – says NO TURN ON RED. SDOT has added that sign in many places but this is notable because it’s for the stretch of Trenton affected by the just-started rerouting of buses from Barton to Trenton. Nearby resident Juanita sent the tip:
FYI, a No Right Turn On Red sign has been added to the intersection of SW Trenton at 35th. Hopefully we can get a left turn signal installed on 35th making the turn onto SW Trenton. It wasn’t so bad over the weekend, but this morning was really touch and go when there was a 21 trying to make the right onto SW Trenton and back-to-back Cs trying to make the right.
Also, drivers need to be especially careful approaching the intersection of SW Trenton and 32nd. Yesterday we were getting ready to make the left turn onto 32nd and saw the C approaching at the last minute and were fortunately able to stop.
As we’ve reported, the traffic switch from Barton to Trenton is because of the repaving work that is scheduled to start soon in the bus-layover zone along the north edge of Roxhill Park. The rerouting started early so that it would coincide with Metro‘s spring “service change.”
Another followup on an incident we covered over the weekend: A 93-year-old man arrested after allegedly threatening a local care center’s staff at gunpoint before leaving with his wife, described as a dementia patient who lived there. He was booked into jail late Friday night and released Sunday night. He had a court hearing in the meantime where a judge found probable cause to investigate him for assault. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked that he be referred for involuntary treatment; the judge released him on personal recognizance with no-contact orders for three people and for Quail Park of West Seattle in The Junction, where it happened. Prosecutors will decide whether to file charges. Here’s the narrative from police as included in the probable-cause documents.
I spoke with an employee at the care facility (who) stated that there has been an ongoing issue between (arrestee, his wife, staff).
(Employee) provided the following information. (The couple) both began residing at Quail Park in approximately January. (Husband) was deemed to be competent to care for himself and moved out shortly after. It was determined that (wife) was not able to care for herself due to a Dementia diagnosis. (Employee) described her as “pleasantly confused” and stated that she needed assistance with remembering to eat and other daily life tasks. He stated that (husband) was unable to assist her in these efforts. He stated that (wife)’s daughter had Power of Attorney for (wife) and decided to have (wife) remain at the facility.
According to (staff), (husband) has come to the facility on multiple prior occasions to visit with (wife) (at least two incidents were documented under SPD 2026-050250 and 2026-017194). They stated that during those visits (husband) was “verbally aggressive” and expressed his intent to remove (wife) from the facility. Staff enforced their rules for retaining (wife) and limiting (husband)’s contact with her. During one of those incidents, (husband) stated that he was going to come back with weapons and kill (employee).
Today, at approximately 1325 hours, (husband) was at the facility visiting with (wife). (husband), again, attempted to remove (wife) from the facility.
One staff member attempted to stop (husband). (husband) responded by pulling out a firearm and making multiple statements expressing his intent to leave with (wife). One of the statements was, “I’m going to get her out of here one way or another”. (Employee) stated that (husband) did not point the gun at her, but he waved it around and held it by his side. She said that she felt threatened by his actions and that she believed “he was going to shoot me.” (Staff) then ran outside and hid behind a car.
(Another staffer) stated that observed(husband) in an agitated state and observed him holding the firearm. She expressed significant fear and stated that she ducked down behind her desk and hid during the majority of the incident.
(Employee) stated that he observed (husband) remove a small black handgun from his right front pocket. He stated that (husband) expressed his intent to leave the facility with his wife and pointed the firearm directly at (employee)’s chest. He was within approximately fifteen feet of (employee) at that time, with no barriers in-between them. (husband) had made threats to harm (employee) in the past. (employee) stated that he believed (husband) was going to shoot him.
(husband) then left the facility with his wife. (wife) did not appear to be forcefully removed by (husband). She seemed to be in a confused state and made statements about wanting to go home.
(husband) was located and taken into custody by King County Sheriff’s Deputies while enroute to his residence. He was taken into custody without resistance. A small black Ruger handgun was located on his person. The firearm was loaded and two additional loaded magazines were recovered from him…
The husband has no criminal record; conditions of release also include that he not have deadly weapons – his lawyer says he has none besides the one allegedly used in this incident – and that he not drive.
(Sunday traffic-camera image of response at 35th/Alaska)
The three men attacked in what police describe as a “violent robbery” at an encampment near the east side of 35th/Alaska remain hospitalized today. We covered the incident for hours on Sunday, and, noting that it happened on city-owned parkland, sought comment today from District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka. Here’s the statement we received, which also touches on the other city-land-encampment incident we covered a short time earlier:
I was horrified to hear about the robbery and assault in an encampment at Rotary Viewpoint Park yesterday, and I want to thank the Seattle Police Department for their quick response. Violence is never acceptable, especially in public spaces like our city parks where people should feel safe. Unfortunately, that has not been the reality at this park for some time.
Over the last two years, my office has consistently escalated community concerns in the Triangle neighborhood to the Unified Care Team, the agency responsible for remediating unsanctioned encampments, while also pushing for stronger responses when services are repeatedly declined by these individuals.
Recent incidents, including the fire near The Home Depot along Sylvan Way, show that our city clearly needs to do more, and I look forward to working with the Mayor, my Council colleagues, the Unified Care Team, and regional partners to expand shelter options and address these issues.
We have also inquired with Mayor Katie Wilson‘s office regarding when we’ll get an announcement regarding the hundreds of new shelter spaces expected to open around Seattle within the next two months or so.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 31), new Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner is scheduled to make the West Seattle stop on his districtwide community-engagement tour. One of the issues he is likely hear about: Prospective staffing cuts at West Seattle High School. Though enrollment at WSHS continues to grow – as we’ve reported, portable classrooms have been added to hold everyone – there is concern the district is basing its decisions on faulty data. The West Seattle High School PTSA is leading a campaign to help get this message to district leadership. The following is from a letter they’re sending to the superintendent:
We are members of the West Seattle High School PTSA and our broader community. Together, we ask you to meet with the West Seattle High School’s SEA (Seattle Education Association) representatives regarding their request to discuss the projected enrollment calculations that will cause cuts in our school staffing and make it unfeasible for our school to implement a functioning Master Schedule for the 2026-2027 school year.
SPS’s current enrollment calculations indicate that WSHS will lose teachers, classes and education supports in the 2026-2027 school year that are essential to the academic success, access to equity and emotional well-being of our kids. For many students, these educators and opportunities are the reason they come to school.
The prospect that WSHS may lose art and CTE classes, our care coordinator and social worker, and that all subjects may be overenrolled due to SPS’s enrollment projects is very frustrating. The enrollment estimates on which SPS is considering these steps seem to ignore the following.
– Madison Middle School (our main feeder) currently has 40 more students in their 8th grade class compared to the previous year.
– There are 65 students on the WSHS waitlist, currently.
– SPS is projecting that WSHS will have 10 fewer students in 2026-2027.
– The projected 1 teacher to 180 students class size ratio is well above the 1 to 150 figure in the SEA Collective Bargaining Agreement and would not permit the creation of a functioning master schedule.West Seattle High School has been over-enrolled and SPS has not adjusted our FTEs appropriately many times over the past decade. The West Seattle High School community appreciates the challenges of determining how to fund schools before knowing final enrollments. However, we are discouraged by the consistent inability of SPS’s budget development and re-allocation processes to provide adequate staffing and resources to our school. As [a letter from teachers] notes, we believe a root cause of this issue is the opaque data and projections used to make these estimates.
Recently, when WSHS enrollment has been miscalculated or our school’s schedules have been changed without consultation, our students, parents and teachers have attended SPS Board meetings and taken other means to share our experiences. We would all much rather be focused on educating our children and continuing to nurture our community, but we will make
ourselves heard again if necessary. We are aware that other schools may experience greater underfunding due to this situation than WSHS. However, we believe that continuing to share our perspective about the flaws in the budget allocation process should benefit the whole SPS community.Respectfully, we urge you to grant the WSHS SEA representatives’ request for a meeting to discuss and mitigate our school’s enrollment projections and budget allocations. Further, we hope this situation is an opportunity for SPS to provide greater transparency regarding the data and assumptions that drive a budgeting process that has undermined student success at WSHS and other schools across the district for many years. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters further.
WSHS is not alone in facing potential cuts, as the district is continuing to work toward a balanced budget; WSHS PTSA president Paul Bugala tells WSB, “The WSHS PTSA is very aware that other schools will be worse off if the SPS budget process follows its course. As the letter notes, we hope giving our perspective about the enrollment projection process and amplifying the voices of our teachers will be helpful for the whole SPS community.”
SUPERINTENDENT’S TUESDAY EVENT: Regardless of your interest in/issue with SPS, all are welcome at the superintendent’s Tuesday night event, 6:30 pm at West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW).
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