West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
Thanks to Janelle for this report verifying a dispatch we heard on police radio a bit ago:
FYI there’s a bus stuck in the left lane of the WSB up to West Seattle where there are only two lanes. As of 4:20 they said they are trying to get another bus here to take passengers off. But that means this bus is likely going to be stuck here causing traffic for a long time.
This summer, the Arts in Nature Festival is making a comeback, for the first time post-pandemic! It’ll be one day – June 27 – at Camp Long, presented by DNDA. And with that news comes word they’ve opened their call for artists:
They’re looking for both performing artists – musicians and dancers – and artists who can provide an immersive art experience at Camp Long’s rustic cabins. You can get details and apply via dnda.org/festival.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
SDOT‘s contention is that converting a downhill lane on the Highland Park Way hill will make the road safer.
“For bikes or cars?” asked an attendee at last night’s HPAC meeting, loudly.
“For people!” retorted another attendee.
HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – has long been asking SDOT for an in-person meeting to answer questions about the lane-conversion project, which is fiercely opposed by drivers who say removing a driving lane will lead to traffic jams on one of the few ways out of West Seattle. Last night, they got that meeting. Judging by various bursts of applause and jeering – which HPAC co-chairs Kay Kirkpatrick and Barb Biondo tried to discourage – that viewpoint dominated among the 50+ people who filled the Southwest Library meeting room, but at least a few supporters were present too.
SDOT has remained resolute that driving-lane removal is not up for debate, but other aspects of the project are. Earlier this week, they unveiled another option for configuring the bottom of the hill, where Highland Park Way meets West Marginal Way. Before that, they announced they would separate the converted lane from the vehicle lane via jersey barriers that could be removed in case of catastrophe like another West Seattle Bridge long-term closure requiring restoration of the second downhill lane. But that didn’t seem to placate those whose memories of the 2020-2022 bridge closure remain fresh. Two people even brought signs, one reading “Fix Existing Problems Before Creating New Ones.”
Last night’s meeting was held in three parts – first, SDOT reps recapped where things stood, then everyone was invited to engage them in conversation around the room, and finally a reconvening of the full room for questions/comments. We recorded the first and third parts on video. Here’s part one:
SDOT reps who spoke were project manager Tony Roberts, project engineer Luke Larson, and project communicator Dan Anderson. They opened by trying to clarify a statement made at the online meeting earlier this month, in which this was described as a “safety project” rather than a “bicycle project.” Yes, but, they said, the money – $4 million – comes from Bicycle Master Plan funding and Vision Zero. In addition, the bicycle lane is intended to address a gap in how riders can get from West Seattle to the Duwamish River Trail. Regarding the newly unveiled Option 2B for handling traffic at the bottom of the hill, SDOT feels that its configuration means two lanes aren’t needed to feed into it any more. Larson said they’d done “modeling” to verify this. They also intend to use plastic center-line posts (like Sylvan Way and Alki/Harbor Avenues) and a high-friction surface treatment – all that will be part of a separate project but concurrent with construction on the lane-conversion. They reiterated that putting jersey barriers on the center line is not an option because they need two feet of width.
When the time came to circulate, about half the attendees did, while the other half stayed in their seats until the full-group session – here’s our video of that:
One of the first to comment declared, “You need to give precedence to the cars over the bikes, I’m sorry.” Anderson acknowledged “this is where we get into disagreement … there’s a lot of expertise … we feel with this it will still work OK.”
In the face of repeated contentions that “this will make it worse,” he insisted, “We don’t believe it will.”
The “what if the West Seattle Bridge goes out?” question also repeatedly arose. Larson said the jersey barriers could be removed to reopen a car lane “within a couple of days.” Anderson also tried to use this to reinforce that SDOT had listened to feedback on some points, saying that SDOT did not expect feedback to include “what if the West Seattle Bridge goes out?”
Another attendee declared, “You’re not solving the crashes – you need to separate the downhill and uphill. Put in some trees like you did on Delridge.”
Then, the question, why not improve the existing sidewalk on the downhill side?
“There’s not room,” said Larson, saying it’s six to eight feet now but they need 10 to 12 feet, adding that the steep dropoff from the existing sidewalk would require “tens of millions of dollars (to be spent) on retention walls.”
A man who spoke in favor of the lane conversion said he’s biked up Highland Park Way “100 times, and downhill maybe once” because of the bumpy path. When this is built, he said, he can put his kids on a bike and ride to South Park. “I will not be driving that street in the future if I can ride the street safely” – one less car, he noted.
A number of concerns were raised by people who live on Othello, a southward turn off the hill. Anderson said SDOT would come out to talk with those residents before long. He also acknowledged that the concept of adding a traffic signal there was mentioned at the meeting, though it hadn’t come up previously.
The SDOT replies to concerns didn’t win over the doubters. One concern about “so much road rage” on the hill was met with a reply that it would be less prevalent with one lane of traffic, if you’re only looking at a car directly in front of yours. That drew derisive hoots.
If the goal is to slow drivers down, why not speed bumps? someone asked. Larson said they’re generally not installed on slopes steeper than eight percent – HP Way is 11 percent.
What about a speed camera? someone else asked. Short answer: That would have to be enabled by state law (which currently limits speed cameras to school zones; the HP Way hill is not part of one).
What about widening the path on the uphill side? Kirkpatrick reminded everyone that the uphill side has had slides, and trees fall fairly frequently.
The SDOT team kept trying to reassure the room that they had “looked at a lot of concept.” Larson mentioned Alki and Green Lake. Those are flat, someone countered. Yet another attendee who described himself as “the most seasoned cyclist in Highland Park”
“By reducing the number of lanes, you’re reducing our quality of lives!” someone said. Another: “This plan is pitting drivers against bikes, but we should be working together.” Another: “This is planning for the future.”
Meantime, alternatives were suggested. Rumble strips? Turtles?
One person also noted that Highland Park has been saddled with a lot over the years, dating back to the municipal-jail proposal that HPAC fought tooth and nail more than a decade and a half ago, and multiple encampments, both RVs and tents, not to ention the future Glassyard Commons tiny-homes-and-RV-lot site close a short distance east of the Highland Park Way hill.
Another tried a final line of questioning: “Is there a date by which you have to spend the funding for this?”
SDOT didn’t really answer that, but Roberts noted that construction is currently set for next year.
Sent by Jeff:
I found a Mercedes-Benz wheel lock kit on March 25 in Morgan Junction. The wheel lug nut key is inside which will be
necessary for the owner to remove their wheels. Perhaps it was left on the sidewalk by mistake, but it looked as though it had been thrown in the bushes. The owner can contact me for pickup in Morgan Junction.
Yours? Email us and we’ll connect you.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s ahead today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – thanks again to everyone who sends events for us to list!):
FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is hosting playspace today until noon. (42nd SW & SW Juneau)
SPECIAL SALE AT EMILIE’S TREASURES: The shop at The Mount (WSB sponsor) has a special collection up for sale today and the next two days, 10 am-3 pm – details in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY RUN/WALK: Free, fun gathering, 10 am, starting from Lincoln Park parking lot #2 – so if you didn’t see it in our calendar in time, make a note on yours for next week! (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Whether you’re planting or planning – the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm – north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
TODDLER STORY TIME IN WESTWOOD: 10:30 am at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME IN ADMIRAL: 10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).
SUPPORTIVE STRATEGIES FOR REGULATING YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM: Join Dr. Zoë Kelly Linkletter online at 12:30 pm for a free webinar to support your health. Our calendar listing has details, including how to get the link.
LEARN ABOUT SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 12:30 pm online info session to introduce you to SSC’s offerings. Here’s how to get the link.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can go listen!)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: One home match today – West Seattle HS boys’ soccer vs. Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).
DROP-IN CHESS: High Point Library‘s weekly event is on today, 4-5:30 pm for players under 18. (3411 SW Raymond)
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS this week – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Bai Tong on Wheels.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) needs volunteers to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks (and you can take some home too). Just be there 5-7 pm!
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), for wine by the glass or bottle!
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Animal Instinct musical showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), 5-8 pm.
POKEMON LEAGUE: 6 pm Thursdays at Fourth Emerald Games (4517 California SW, upstairs) – bring your own console.
GRIEF IS CRAFTY: Monthly craft circle to deal with grief, 6 pm (5446 California SW) – RSVP link and other info in our calendar listing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, now starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run!
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: If walking is more your speed, meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fontanelle for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Intrinsic, Jared Mitchell & The Wingtips, Isabel Leanette, 7 pm, $10 cover, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
’80S DANCE PARTY: 7-9 pm at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) with a DJ.
LIVE AT TIM’S: Doors 7, show 8 pm, drag with Stellar Queens, all ages. (16th SW and SW 98th, White Center)
TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE VOID: A relatively new West Seattle trivia night! 7:30 pm, with prizes, at The Void (5048 California SW).
DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Spinning happens tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Kingblind & DJ Smack & DJ Teenage Rampage, starting at 8 pm. 21+.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8:10 AM: Currently off Jack Block Park, reports Kersti Muul.
8:21 AM: She says these are the mysterious “cookie cutter” orcas again.
8:43 AM: Now off Duwamish Head.
8:58 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent a photo.
10:40 AM: And thanks to Joan for sending that video!
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, March 26, 2026. While pro basketball has been grabbing the headlines, today happens to be opening day for the Seattle Mariners, hosting Cleveland at 7:10 tonight, which means traffic and bus effects in the SODO and Pioneer Square areas.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Sunshine for opening day (night), high in the low 50s. Sunrise at 6:59 am; sunset at 7:31 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
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. The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is now on its spring/summer schedule, with 3 boats on weekends as well as weekdays.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes. Note that Saturday brings Metro’s service change, with buses changing from Barton to Trenton in preparation for the repaving project.
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!
Story and photos by Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Alki Lumber will make its final sale in West Seattle sometime this Friday afternoon, after more than 100 years as the peninsula’s only full-service lumber yard. Preparation for the move to their new building in South Park has been under way since last month, but they’ve been open for business at 4422 36th Ave SW even as the shelves continue to empty. They will reopen as Alki Marine Lumber on Monday morning at 558 S. Kenyon Street.
(Alki Lumber’s retail area has little left on its shelves in West Seattle)
“It’s an odd mix between sad and exciting,” says Korey Love, Alki Marine Lumber president. Love has worked for Alki Lumber for 18 years, and says the goal at the new location is to keep things as they have always been—just in a new place. “We’re going to do our best to not change anything: Same service. Same product.”
Love says the new location has 2,500 sf of office and retail, a 17,500 sf warehouse and the lumber yard, for a total of 2 acres. In comparison, the West Seattle location, essentially the same size at 1.98 acres, is made up of multiple buildings and lumber storage yards with a street in between them following the angles of the triangle area. That means the size of the new location will be familiar, just consolidated and more efficient.
(Charlie moves fixtures bound for South Park using a forklift)
There’s a lot of history here, most of it far beyond even the longest employees’ memories. That’s what happens with a business founded in 1921. Charlie, who was hired for his first job at Alki in 1980, points out the building just east of Alki’s retail entrance that looks like a house. He says it was moved from across the street to its current location many years back. Alki Lumber’s website identifies that as the building it operated out of on 36th and Avalon after leaving its first location on Harbor Avenue. It was subsequently moved to its current location in 1957. Just as Alki Lumber moved again and again in its early years, Charlie sees Alki Lumber’s move to South Park as part of the inevitable change that happens with growth. “The city wants progress. The city doesn’t want a lumber yard. It’s a key development area — the writing was on the wall.”
After owning it for 100 years, the Sweeney family sold Alki Lumber to Marine Lumber in late 2021. “The plan was always to merge the two into one location,” says Love. That plan was spurred along by the Sweeney family’s plan to develop the West Seattle acreage into hundreds of apartment units called the Sweeney Blocks. Despite Alki vacating the property this year, there is not yet a projected date for demolition or groundbreaking for the development, family spokesperson Lynn Sweeney told WSB last month. Alki’s new building is right next to Marine Lumber’s longtime location with an address on S. Chicago Street. Marine Lumber’s operations will stay where they are, but the office staff will join Alki’s in the new building. “Come Monday, everyone will be under one roof.”
(Alki Marine Lumber President Kory Love at the West Seattle sales desk)
As Love took a phone order today, framed photos of 3 generations of Sweeneys still hang above the counter, along with vintage tools on the nearby wall. Some of it will go to the new location, and some will become keepsakes. Practical fixtures, like the drawer system for specialty nuts, bolts and other hardware is being wrapped up on pallets, ready to move to the new space. Other things won’t be making the trip. “We purged some of the inventory we’ve had for 20 years and haven’t moved,” Love said, smiling. Jerry, who’s worked at the store since 1999, quipped, “We’ll have a clean store this time.”
(Blue-wrapped fixtures ready to be moved to South Park location with Alki’s original building from 36th & Avalon in the background)
Moving all of the inventory will be a monumental effort, and Love says some of their vendors are offering up their own delivery trucks to help make it happen. He’s aiming for the middle of April to have it all cleared out. While Alki Lumber has a lot of loyal West Seattle customers, they only make up about 30% of sales, so they will actually be closer to the majority of their customers and to their own employees’ homes in the new location. Love says he hopes West Seattleites will find the trek down the hill worth it. “We’re bringing the coffee pot and we’ll still have doughnut Wednesdays,” and he says if the 10-minute drive is too much, “We deliver.” A grand-opening celebration will be planned for late spring.
Meantime, the West Seattle location was not noticeably less busy two days before it is permanently closed. Love says the new space will be an improvement for operations, but the old location won’t be forgotten. “This has 70 years of dirt and dust and all the other good stuff.”
(Seller photo from 2024 West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day)
What’s in YOUR basement/attic/storage unit/storage bins? Maybe something you don’t need any more – if you ever did – would be an amazing treasure for a West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day shopper. Or maybe you just have stuff someone else would find useful – dishes, outgrown kids’ clothes, toys, books … Whatever you might be considering selling – or looking to buy – the biggest shopping/selling day of the year is coming up, West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by WSB, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 9. The first step toward a fun sale day is for sellers to register to get their spots on the map – same fees we’ve charged for 18 years – and registration opens in exactly one week, on Wednesday, April 1. It’ll be open for about three weeks, so you have some time to decide, but if you know you’re having a sale, write that up-to-20-word description and be ready for our registration announcement in a week! After we close registration, we get busy making the map and list, which will be available online one week before WSCGSD. Thanks to everyone who makes this a fun day of meeting neighbors and finding treasures!
(WSB photo, June 2025)
This Saturday (March 28), thousands of “No Kings” rallies are planned around the country. In case you’re wondering what’s planned in West Seattle, here’s what we have:
WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE: Our area’s major resistance group is emphasizing the main Seattle rally (Cal Anderson Park, marching to Seattle Center), and last we heard had sold out seats on four buses to take more than 200 people there: “WSI is focusing our attention on the big march downtown, we will have a very visible presence with our ‘we ARE the people’ theme with colorful tall pole signs.” The buses are departing at 11 am.
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: This group that rallies every Sunday at California/Alaska plans to be there 10 am-2 pm on Saturday.
SINGING RESISTANCE: This group sent the following announcement:
Singing Resistance is a movement grounded in love, nonviolence, and solidarity. In the context of escalating violence towards our communities and federal invasions of our cities and towns, we sing because song is an antidote to fear, song helps us connect to each other, and through song we can name and protect what we hold sacred. We sing publicly in the streets for the sake of solace, strength, solidarity, to voice our dissent, and to refuse cooperation with oppressive and autocratic forces.
Join us at the West Seattle Resist: No Kings Day protest in the Alaska Junction
Saturday, March 28th, 2026
Meet at 10 am at Junction Plaza Park, one block EAST of the Junction on SW Alaska St.
We’ll learn and practice songs and then join the larger protest in the Walk All Ways intersection.Anyone with a voice can sing these songs. Bring signs, rhythm instruments, a friend, and your joy!
OLD TYME ADULTS FOR DEMOCRACY: The senior-led group that has protested at Admiral/California will be there 2-3 pm on Saturday.
(Any other “No Kings”-related gatherings in West Seattle on Saturday? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.)
(WSB file photo)
We’ve received a few recent reader questions about a longstanding problem – the “When Flashing, Use High-Level Bridge” signs not necessarily reflecting what’s actually happening with the low bridge, particularly the one on Delridge. So we asked SDOT if this problem is on their radar for a fix. They’re “working on a plan,” says spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
The issues with the road signs alerting travelers when the low bridge is open or closed are due to a combination of factors including aging equipment and multiple instances of wire theft. We are working on a plan to upgrade and replace the components, and do not yet have a definitive timeline for these repairs.
Checking back email, the oldest note we can find on this dates back to 2024, at which time an SDOT staffer told a reader, “We have been working to troubleshoot and correct the issue for the past few weeks. Our electricians recently replaced a bad relay in the system, but unfortunately that did not completely correct the issue.”
2:37 PM: Police are investigating gunfire reported to have happened on the Highway 509 offramp near Myers Way. According to radio exchanges, a driver heard two pops from bullets breaking glass on windows of his Silverado. The shooter was reported to be in a mid-2010s black Acura Integra with fully tinted windows and last seen headed back onto Highway 509 and northbound toward the 1st Avenue S. Bridge. No injuries reported.
2:45 PM: Since it’s been determined this happened on the state highway offramp, dispatch told officers, the investigation will be taken over by the State Patrol.
ADDED THURSDAY: Here’s the SPD summary of the incident:
At 1417 hours, victim reported he accidentally cut off a vehicle when he merged into a lane of traffic. The driver and/or passenger in the suspect vehicle fired two rounds at the victim. One round hit the head rest and stopped. The other round nearly missed the victim’s head as well. No suspect information was available other than a black sedan. Two rounds were located inside the victim vehicle.
(WSB photos)
We told you a bit about The Hope Factory when Mayor Katie Wilson used it as the setting for her announcement of legislation to add hundreds of shelter spaces – including tiny houses – this year (WSB coverage here). The Hope Factory, at the west end of S. Nevada Street, is a cavernous space where volunteers build them. Today, those volunteers include members of the giving group Impact West Seattle.
When they voted to give one of their recent quarterly contributions – comprised of donations from their 200+ members – to The Hope Factory (aka Sound Foundations Northwest), they also made a plan to join the volunteer builders for a day, and today is that day.
We asked if we could stop in to see how that went, and just came back from that visit. Impact West Seattle has eight members building this morning and eight more arriving for the afternoon. This morning, they’ve been building walls; this afternoon, those walls will be raised to finish assembling tiny houses; paint follows.
The Hope Factory – which got its start in West Seattle, with a tiny-house-building operation under a big canopy at Camp Second Chance – has this down to a science, with everything arriving pre-cut, so volunteers just have to assemble, with the help of manuals as well as other, longtime volunteers.
The volunteer operation opens new spots every week after their weekly newsletter goes out on Wednesdays. You can read the newest edition and subscribe here.
City policy requires Community Advisory Committees be set up for sites like the tiny-house village Camp Second Chance and the planned tiny-house/RV-lot Glassyard Commons, both in southeast West Seattle. These groups’ meetings are meant to be a monthly opportunity to get updates on what’s happening at the sites and surface any community concerns. Participation in the Camp Second Chance CAC has long lagged; two community members were at its monthly online meeting on Tuesday afternoon, along with reps from LIHI, which operates CSC and will operate Glassyard Commons. We watched the meeting for the first time in months. Here’s what we heard: 82 people are living at the 9701 Myers Way S. site right now – and 24 pets, it was noted. Five tiny houses are vacant but not because of a shortage of prospective residents; the previous occupants left belongings behind and CSC has had some kind of issue – about to be resolved, participants were assured – storing them. Tiny houses are meant to be a stepping stone to permanent housing, and the LIHI reps said that’s pending for 12 CSC residents, including two who recently secured full-time employment. The prospective housing ranges from an apartment building that LIHI is managing to a voucher to help with rental housing in Snohomish County. Another unique housing placement: They’re in the process of finding an adult care home for a camp resident with a brain injury. One community concern surfaced – getting the city to deal with an unsanctioned encampment on city property outside the CSC fence. The meeting lasted less than a half-hour; next one is at 4 pm April 28, and you can get on the list for the link – or ask about advisory committee participation – by emailing marta@lihi.org.
The photos and report are from Natalie:
We had our townhouse group mailbox broken into overnight around 3:30 am 3/25 at Brandon/California. We have video and it appears they had keys to just open the whole set of 4 mailboxes. USPS case number 86835698 if anyone recognizes them; attached are photos of the car and 2 individuals that opened and stole from our box.
There was a third person in the car that never left the vehicle. We couldn’t read the plate from the video. A reminder to bring your mail in daily.
(Photo sent by K Smith)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
REMINDER – WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks start from 47th/Fontanelle (so if you didn’t see this in the calendar and missed it because of our late list today, here’s your reminder for next week).
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).
MYSTERY CLUB AT THE LIBRARY: 2:30 pm, fun for tweens at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: From the Metro League schedule today: Two baseball games at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), West Seattle HS vs. Cleveland at 2:30, Chief Sealth IHS vs. Seattle Academy at 5 pm.
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).
HIGHLAND PARK WAY PROJECT @ HPAC: Project reps from SDOT will be the main guests at tonight’s HPAC meeting, 6 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), to talk about the Highland Park Way hill lane-conversion project (here’s our latest report).
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).
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!
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)
HOLY HOUR FOR PEACE: The community is welcome to join in this contemplative event to follow Pope Leo’s exhortation to “dare peace.” 7 pm to 8 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th SW and SW Myrtle).
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle trivia venues tonight starting with a special Wednesday night edition of Easy Street Records‘ Music Quiz, 6:30 and 7:30 pm … Also: 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!
(WSB photo, Saturday)
If you took recyclables and/or shreddable paper to last Saturday’s event at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, you were one of 503 participants. The local organizations’ partners at Waste Management also reported, “We saw 84% of residents coming from single-family homes, 11% of residents coming from apartments/condominiums, and 5% of residents coming from townhomes. The most popular items that were donated by number of households were appliances/electronics, shredded paper, and batteries/lightbulbs. The least popular items were propane canisters and clothing/textiles. An interesting note is that we saw a 50% reduction in the amount of foam collected (likely due to less amount of Styrofoam packaging being created).”
If you missed it, there’s annther big free-dropoff recycling event coming up in a month, the spring Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), exactly one month away, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, April 25 – here’s the list of what will and won’t be accepted.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Showery and breezy, high around 50, possible afternoon thunderstorms. Sunrise at 7:01 am; sunset at 7:29 pm.
(Tuesday just before sunset – photo by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
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. The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is now on its spring/summer schedule, with 3 boats on weekends as well as weekdays.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes. Note that this Saturday brings Metro’s service change, with buses changing from Barton to Trenton in preparation for the repaving project.
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)
The sun appeared in time for this evening’s big crosstown competition in boys’ soccer, Chief Sealth International High School (blue) hosting West Seattle High School (white) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
Head Coach Shaun Spencer‘s Wildcats came into the match undefeated and finished it that way, shutting out interim Head Coach Cade Cooke‘s Seahawks 2-0. Oliver Miller (sophomore, #18) and Judah Director (senior, #11) had the goals for WSHS.
Both teams play their next matches on Wednesday (March 26) – WSHS hosting Seattle Academy at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW and SW Myrtle), Chief Sealth visiting Franklin at 5 pm.
6:34 PM: The Hall at Fauntleroy is abuzz with people snacking and learning. Local food purveyors and nonprofit community groups/agencies are ringing the big room at the south end of the historic schoolhouse for the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual meeting, which has evolved into more of a mini-festival known as the Food Fest. If you live, work, play, or study in Fauntleroy, this is the time and place to learn about community contributions not only by the FCA but by everyone else who’s here, while enjoying bites from local food purveyors (including Endolyne Joe’s, Wildwood Market, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering – whose parent company DSquared operates The Hall – Village Green West Seattle, The Birdhouse, and The Unsweetened Tooth. We are based here at a table by the entrance and. took a quick spin around the room to see who’s here – participants include Washington State Ferries, the Fauntleroy Watershed Council, Nature Alliance, The Whale Trail, Fauntleroy Fall Festival, Seal Sitters, Seattle Emergency Hubs, A Cleaner Alki, Fauntleroy Children’s Center, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, photographer Jamison Johnson, and Seattle Police. In addition to learning and snacking, this is also about supporting – the FCA is happy to sign up new members at the entrance table (or renew existing memberships, both business and individual. They also will conduct some business a bit later – the vote for next year’s. board. Updates to come!
6:53 PM: Gotta show you the food at Food Fest. Above, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering’s jojo poutine; below, Wildwood Market proprietor Lonjina with tomato, basil, and housemade croutons:
Caprese from Village Green West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Endolyne Joe brought fried chicken and mac and cheese:
The Birdhouse (whose Amber Heinemann is on the FCA board) brought desserts:
And The Unsweetened Tooth had chocolate/peanut-butter treats without sugar:
Fronting on the water, Fauntleroy is a place to see sea life, which is why you can talk to Seal Sitters reps here …
And Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail …
Among others!
7:37 PM: The event is wrapping up – the FCA board election is in the books; more on that when we get back to HQ.
Tomorrow night, as previewed here, SDOT will be at HPAC‘s monthly meeting to talk about the Highland Park Way lane-conversion project, which would convert the outside downhill travel lane to bicycle/pedestrian space. On the eve of the meeting, they’ve just published their recap (ours is here) of their recent online meeting about the project, including a new option for the bottom-of-hill end of the project:
Introducing Option 2B: A Direct Response to Feedback
In response to feedback about wanting Highland Park Way SW to be both safer for everyone and not increase vehicle queues getting through West Marginal Way SW, our team has developed a new hybrid alternative: Option 2B.
Design features of Option 2B:
-Increased Intersection Capacity: At the bottom of the hill, the single downhill lane opens into three vehicular lanes (one left-turn lane and two through-lanes).
-Downhill Bike Lane A downhill bike lane remains protected by Jersey barriers to the intersection with West Marginal Way SW.
-Adjusted Channelization: We are removing the center median to accommodate the extra through-lane. Additionally, we are removing one of the westbound left-turn lanes at the W Marginal Way SW intersection to make space for the three eastbound vehicle lanes and the protected bike lane.
Next Steps and Feedback Opportunity
We are now evaluating three options for the intersection approach at W Marginal Way SW. You can view the trade-offs between Option 1, Option 2, and the new Option 2B on our project website.
SDOT offers three ways you can comment:
Email: HighlandHolden@seattle.gov
Hotline: 206-900-8741
Online Form: Submit your comments through the Project Feedback Form
Meantime, tomorrow’s HPAC meeting is at 6 pm (Wednesday, March 25) at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
Thanks to Meagan for the initial picture and tip about that tree down across 18th and Holden on this breezy day. As we wrote this, we got another photo, from Erika, who says the tree is between Holden and Kenyon:
Meagan mentioned the tree taking down wires; no power outages mapped in the area so far.
This week’s closure of what’s currently West Seattle’s only off-leash area at Westcrest Park led to several readers asking for a schedule update on what’ll be the second local dog park, just south of West Seattle Stadium. The last update had suggested construction would start this spring, but there’s been no sign that was indeed imminent, and as of yesterday, the project website hadn’t been updated in more than half a year. So we asked Seattle Parks. They tell us the construction schedule has now slid to next year: “Construction is now expected to start in early 2027 and be complete by Fall 2027.” What’s happening right now? “We are currently preparing review of 60% Design documents … and expect to go to bid in December of this year.” This info will be added to signage on the site, and – since our inquiry – has been added today to a new “engagement hub” project page (to which the previous project page points). It’s been two years since the site was chosen.
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