West Seattle, Washington
29 Saturday
(Reader photos)
6:59 PM: Thanks for the texted photos. SPD and SFD have responded to a crash at Admiral/Olga.
One person is reported hurt and a private ambulance was called rather than an SFD medic unit, so injuries are apparently not major; we’re following up with SFD. An SDOT incident-response team was also summoned, to clean up a fluid spill. Avoid the area for a while.
7:48 PM: SFD’s David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Crews responded to reports of a collision involving two vehicles. They treated a 51-year-old man who was in stable condition. He did not require transportation to a hospital and was left on scene with Seattle Police.”
Thanks to those who sent photos this week of the Lincoln Park “Love Rock” with a tribute to Dolly Parton. We haven’t had much time till now to truly contemplate the magnitude of the loss created by the musician/philanthropist’s departure from this plane of existence; we were in a coffee-shop meeting with three other people on Tuesday when something one person said led two of us to pick up our phones to look something up – and there was the sad news. Ms. Parton is reported to have had a simple burial ceremony yesterday.
(WSB photos)
One more event, not on our daily highlight list because we just happened onto it: The Eazy Duz It Car Club‘s annual family gathering is happening at Alki right now, and you can admire many members’ low-rider cars parked along Alki Avenue west of the Bathhouse.
Eazy Duz It is active around the area, including a summer car show in White Center, and partnerships with local students.
Some of the cars are artistically decorated as well as sporting bright paint and gleaming chrome.
It’s not an official car show but we saw many admirers milling around.
Some asked about a multi-unit SFD response at/near Delridge Home Depot just before 11 am. The call closed shortly after the questions came in, so we couldn’t check it out in real time, but followed up with SFD. According to SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo, “Firefighters extinguished a small brushfire up the hill from the business. No injuries were reported.”
Just got stuck in this delay, with no advance alert of the work. Utility contractors are working on the southbound side of Delridge Way south of Holden – blocking the bike lane as well as the driving lane – and flaggers are alternating traffic, with considerable delays. So if you’re heading north-south in the area, we’d advise an alternative, like 16th or 35th.
(WSB photos)
Outside Westwood Village QFC, the WestSide Baby bus is parked and awaiting diaper donations! To celebrate 25 years of helping kids stay safe, warm, and dry, WS Baby brought back the “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive that used to be a summertime staple, and today is your second and final chance to help!
WestSide Baby staffers and volunteers are there to gratefully accept whatever you can bring to help; you can also buy diapers in the QFC and bring them out to the bus. Bonus today – if you’ve got a young reader in the family, WS Baby has a table of free books!
They’ll be outside Westwood QFC (25th/Barton) until 3 pm.
(WSB photos)
C & P Coffee co-proprietor Cameron Moores says her mom – also named Cameron – was “the most creative person I’ve ever known.” When she died, she left behind many results of that creativity – and today at the coffee shop, Cameron is hosting a photography celebration meant in part to get more of her mom’s photos out into the world. She’s offering them free or by donation. And other photographers are there today to celebrate, show, and sell their art:
Among them is Ethan Durkee, who’s there with classic film cameras:
He runs a business in Burien where you can drop off film for developing. The C & P (WSB sponsor) event continues until 2 pm, 5612 California SW – look for Cameron and her mom’s photos by the grand fireplace in the front room (“every subject you can think of!”),
(Westward view at sunrise earlier this week – photo by James Bratsanos)
Indoor and outdoor options are on our list of this damp late-summer Saturday’s highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW: 8 am-2 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: 8:15 am, get your weekend going with an at-your-pace run. (2743 California SW).
‘DA GRIND’ AT ALKI: Full day of outrigger-canoe – and other paddlecraft – racing at Alki Beach, starting at 9 am.
FREE MEDITATION: For a calming start to your Saturday, check out Heavily Meditated, 9 am, free – details in our calendar listing.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: Larger location this season! 10 am-2 pm, shop for fruit and vegetables, prepared food and beverages, artisan body care, more … (9th SW and SW Henderson)
DACHSHUND WALK: 10 am Saturdays, bring your dachshund to Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) for a group walk.
MASTER GARDENERS AT DELRIDGE HOME DEPOT, SEASON FINALE: Last chance, 10 am-2 pm – take them your toughest garden questions and get free expert answers! (Delridge/Orchard)
NO MORNING MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: Skipping this week.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am, free, in-person, active writing group – see our calendar listing for info on how to participate.
STUFF THE BUS DIAPER-DONATION DRIVE: Bring diapers to WestSide Baby‘s famous bus outside Westwood Village QFC (26th/Barton), 11 am-3 pm.
SPRAYPARK SEASON: Rain or shine, splash at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, rain or shine, swim in the outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW); here’s the session schedule. (But note that the heater’s undergoing repairs!)
WADING POOL: The weather might close West Seattle’s last still-open wading pool at Lincoln Park, hours otherwise noon-7 pm (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – after 9 am, call 206-684-7796 to check on its status.
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, wine bar and tasting room open on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, Phil & Friends musical showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), no cover, all ages.
THE BEER JUNCTION’S BIKE RIDE: 2 pm ride from behind The Beer Junction, 21+, helmet required (4511 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT MR. B’S: 7-10 pm, Royal Hair & Motel Void at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), no cover, all ages.
LIVE AT EASY STREET: 7 pm, hear new music by Land of Wolves live in-store record-release show, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR US AT KENYON HALL: Production by Emi Aiken at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm performance (7904 35th SW), all ages, no cover.
DRAG AT THE SKYLARK: Glam: The Bearded Drag Experience, starting at 8 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM SPINNING: 9 pm with DJ Trinitron. (4547 California SW)
SATURDAY NIGHT SKATING: 9 pm to midnight, skate at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk and hip-hop, $18 (plus $5 skate rental).
KARAOKE AT TRIANGLE PUB: 9 pm, Megastar Karaoke with KDJ Mythikal at Max’s Triangle Pub. (9454 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday night karaoke with Rone starts at 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Planning a West Seattle event that’s open to the community? Tell us about it; it’s free to list something in our Event Calendar, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Sent late tonight by Dan:
Tonight while walking home between 36th Ave SW and 37th Ave SW on Trenton, an owl attacked me twice around 9:30 pm. No serious injury, but thought other nearby residents should know.
You can learn more about this owl behavior by checking out this Department of Fish and Wildlife fact sheet, choosing “Preventing Conflicts,” and scrolling down to “Dive-Bombing Owls.”
Two nights after the Seattle Education Association – the union for Seattle Public Schools teachers and other educators – voted to authorize a possible strike, there’s no deal yet. In an update tonight, a union spokesperson says, ” The SEA bargaining team is continuing to bargain and working hard to reach an agreement to avoid a strike and clear the way for students to come back on time.” (That would be this Wednesday, September 2nd.) But just in case, the union update also announced that 100~ members will gather in the Central District’s Judkins Park to make signs and practice picket-line chants. The union says they’re continuing to push for “increasing Special Education supports, providing respectful pay, (and) easing the pressurization that large class sizes, high caseloads, and piled-on extra tasks have had on educators.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As noted here last week, the future of the Westside Neighbors Shelter is in flux.
After dealing with longrunning street disorder in the area, nearby residents and business owners has been holding their collective breath since the shelter’s closure in June, hoping it won’t reopen while discussing what to do if it does.
Thursday evening, they met with the leader of a nonprofit that had been providing case-management services to dozens of the people served by the shelter and/or camping in the sprawling city parkland just a few blocks east, abutting Rotary Viewpoint Park and West Seattle Stadium.
The nonprofit, Anything Helps, had circulated to both the neighbors and the city a proposal they suggested could keep the area’s street disorder in check by serving those already-known people: Use the shelter site, in the American Legion Post 160 building, as a resource center, while creating a “temporary,” city-approved tent encampment on stadium-adjacent parkland that’s set for future use as an off-leash area. (Here’s the proposal, as forwarded to us by an area resident.)
Gathered at the West Seattle VFW hall – across SW Alaska from the shelter/post – they had many questions for Anything Helps executive director Mike Mathias, after stressing that their overarching interest is safety for all involved. They first recapped where their most recent efforts stood – a letter to the mayor’s office last month had draw no reply. They also had pursued the issue of whether the shelter could be classified as a “nuisance property,” though some said that didn’t seem likely as it is reported to have city-granted permits for shelter use as granted by the Department of Construction and Inspections.
One of the first questions for Mathias was, what problem would be solved by creating a sanctioned encampment in the area? He said that would give some stability to their case-management clients, who they’d had trouble finding since the shelter closed. “We have to be able to locate our people.” How would they be kept under control, not causing problems? He said “stakeholdership” would result in a degree of “self-policing,” He reiterated that when asked about the safety of students using the nearby stadium, with school about to start again: People living at the camp will “feel a sense of community.”
He was also clear, though, that it would be “low-barrier” – drug use would be prohibited in outside areas, but not inside tents.
What would “temporary” mean? Six months. How is Anything Helps funded? It’s a Medicaid-funded health-care provider, providing supportive services specifically to unhoused people.
Mathias also was asked about his own background, described on the Anything Helps website as “lived experience with homelessness and addiction,” and he didn’t shy away from acknowledging past mistakes as well as saying he’s been in recovery since 2022.
The group also had questions for an SPD rep in attendance, Southwest Precinct second-in-command Lt. Wes Collier. He said that he had met with Westside Neighbors Shelter manager Keith Hughes two days earlier and that Hughes remains intent on opening as a cold-weather shelter when that season arrives. SPD “is not in favor of it,” he said, but didn’t see anything likely to prevent the shelter from reopening. He was also asked his thoughts about the Anything Helps proposal, and said he saw no red flags but “all these operations have inherent risks.” He mentioned some particular tools SPD has used and can use such as trespass agreements to help them deal with unwelcome visitors. He also noted that while Mathias said his organization had served 63 people in the area, SPD had noted a larger number congregating in the area, and an attendee who had been associated with both Anything Helps and shelter operations cited ~100. Lt. Collier said the precinct was ready for the prospect of the shelter reopening, planning for emphasis patrols and for partnering with the King County Sheriff’s Office regarding patroling bus shelters, which are KCSO’s jurisdiction. And he reminded attendees that since SDCI issued the permit, they would be the department with which complaints could be filed if they seemed warranted.
After a bit more discussion – including attendees recounting incidents of crime and street disorder – a vote was taken, asking who supported the Anything Helps temporary-encampment proposal.
No one raised a hand.
Asked his reaction, Mathias told the group, “We won’t move forward with it.”
His organization, however, will continue to work with people in the area. His proposal says the services aren’t why they are here:
They are here because it is home, and our outreach staff know these people well enough to say so with confidence: they come from West Seattle, White Center and Burien. This is where they grew up, where their families are, and where they know which areas are safe for them.
Jarrett is looking for a tool thief, and sent this report with photos:
I have a very good description of a suspect who robbed me of tools this morning, and I am certain that publishing it could lead to finding him. He stole about $1k of tools.
Notably large male, tan T-shirt and black shorts. Arm tattoos, bald with a beard.
Pulled up in a blue Honda CRV with no back plates. Staked the place out last night on a blue Vespa with a blue helmet (same clothes).
Report # 26-255410
This happened east of/uphill from Fairmount Park.
Earlier this month, we reported on the volunteer work that beautified the southeast corner of 44th and Alaska in The Junction. Today, we got the photo above from Chris Mackay of the West Seattle Junction Association, after a surprise addition to the corner – the Stars and Stripes for its century-old flagpole. “Look what a do-gooder did!” Chris said. “I have no idea who put it up, but I like it!”
The report and photo were sent by Patrick:
<=
Our Hyundai was stolen from SW Elmgrove St near California Avenue SW on the evening of August 24. I’m a Marine Corps veteran – the plate is MC09228. It’s a white 2012 Hyundai Elantra with a lot of stickers in the rear passenger side window. The police report number is 26-250971.
Call 911 and refer to that case # if you find it.
Three days after posted notices warned people camping in Roxhill Park to clear out, city crews are there now to sweep the site.
The sweep notices came less than one week after a man was shot in the same area where crews are working now.
(Thursday photo from Sunset Avenue, by Tom Trulin)
Here’s what is happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Still time for summer gardening! Open 10 am-3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
SPRAYPARK: Daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
WADING POOL: West Seattle’s last still-open wading pool, at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), is open noon-7 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Noon to 7 pm today, swim in the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s the session schedule.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: 12:30-2 pm, practice with other adult learners at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
YOUTH MURAL & ART UNVEILING: Join the Technology Access Foundation and Urban ArtWorks for this free community celebration, 5-7 pm. (605 SW 108th, White Cehter)
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, local band MAD Cutaways at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.
SIP ‘N’ SPIN: 6 pm, try your hand at the pottery wheel at Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 6:30, music at 7, Hetakuso single-release party with Battlestations! & Auntie Death. $10 cover. all ages. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
PLANT BINGO AT MR.B’S: Play Plant Bingo with Terraplanted! 7 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW).
LIVE AT EASY STREET: Sera Cahoone performs live in-store, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), all ages, free.
FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR US AT KENYON HALL: Production by Emi Aiken at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm performance (7904 35th SW), all ages, no cover.
SPINNING: Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning – with DJ Reverend Dollars tonight, starting at 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, Goth Skate with Licorice Chamber, Eve’s Black Heart, go-gos, drag performances, DJs, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
MEGASTAR KARAOKE: 9 pm at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Some readers posted eclipse photos in the comment section on our preview story about Thursday night’s lunar eclipse – now, here are more; these arrived via email, From William Wright:
From Pia VanHanen:
And from Jerry Simmons:
Thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, August 28, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast is for “gradual clearing” today, rain likely late tonight, high in the low 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:22 am today; sunset will be at 7:57 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule today – any reroute/stop advisories will be here.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays (tonight!) and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule; check the alert page for last-minute changes.
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 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!
(File photo)
Two weeks after a committee recommendation to pass it, the Sound Transit Board gave final approval today to a plan to acquire more than 50 properties for West Seattle light rail. About half of them are in West Seattle (here’s the full list), including the infamous vacant house above, 3804 23rd SW, across from The Skylark. We’ve followed its saga off and on for almost the entire span of the nearly 20 years we’ve been covering local news on WSB, dating to a community advocate leading city councilmembers on a tour of North Delridge problem properties in 2009. Over the years, it’s had various development proposals, despite its odd spot perched over a busy onramp to the high bridge; it seemed on the ropes in 2017, and has changed hands multiple times, last sold for $245,000 in 2018 … now it seems ST will become its final owner.
ALSO AT TODAY’S BOARD MEETING: The board approved a $765 million budget amendment that among other things includes money for these acquisitions (which are only a start – it was noted that more will come before the board before year’s end). ST executives clarified, in response to board questions, that this isn’t extra money being added to the project – it’s just moving money around so it can be spent, (“Like moving it from the savings account to the checking account” was one description.)
That’s how Mara captioned these photos she sent us of work under way today on the north Lincoln Park waterfront trail, with a bit more explanation:
The uncovering of the retaining wall holding up much of the North End of the Park trails around the water. Thank you to Seattle Parks and Recreation for bringing the park back to life.
Much of the Lincoln Park infrastructure is a lot older than 40 years old – built in the 1930s. We’ll check with Seattle Parks tomorrow to see if they can tell us more about the retaining-wall work.
4:31 PM: Thanks to Jenn Dowell for that photo of the full moon that’s peaking tonight at 9:18 pm our time. Tonight also brings a lunar eclipse, peaking right around that time (lots of info on Space.com). The biggest question here is whether the moon be visible then, or whether clouds will block it – we’re seeing some hope for breaks in the cloud cover.
9:10 PM: Visible from Highland Park!
NOTE: Thanks for the photos! We received a few by email and will add them Friday morning.
If you’ve swum lately in Lincoln Park‘s outdoor salt-water Colman Pool, you’ve probably noticed the water’s chillier than usual. A reader told us about the pool’s heater breakdown, which we mentioned in our daily event list while waiting for repair info from Seattle Parks. Now we have it: “Repairs are currently scheduled for tomorrow and are expected to be complete by early next week.” Colman Pool’s seven-day-a-week operations continue through this Sunday (August 30) and then it’ll be open for three post-season weekends – September 5-7, 12-13, and 19-20 – before closing until next year.
After we published local author Bob Wyss‘s announcement that his book “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign, and Fall of American Coal“ is a finalist for this year’s Washington State Book Awards, readers pointed out two more local writers on the finalist list:
-In the same category as Wyss’s book, General Nonfiction/Biography, is Claudia Rowe‘s “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care.”
-In the Poetry category is a book that was launched with an event in West Seattle last year, Katy E. Ellis‘s “Forty Bouts in the Wilderness.” Ellis lives on Vashon Island now but has West Seattle ties including her five years co-curating the WordsWest Literary Series.
Good luck to all! Winners will be announced in mid-September.
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