October 2025

Mayor Bruce Harrell's administration announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) today, marking a "pivotal moment" in the city’s public safety strategy. The four-year contract, which covers salaries and working conditions through 2027, transitions the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department from a limited pilot into a permanent, expanded entity with the authority for crisis responders to be solo dispatched to thousands of emergency calls.

The agreement, which the SPOG membership ratified over the weekend, also incorporates significant police accountability measures and offers wage and benefit improvements designed to boost officer recruitment and retention.

information from South Seattle College

As part of their training to become professional chefs and food industry entrepreneurs, Culinary & Pastry Arts students at South Seattle College get to create a concept for a food truck, craft the menu, and run the show along with fellow students. The menus are often inspired by students’ background and family favorites.

The culinary program has a fully functional “Otter Pop-up” food truck (with recently renovated cooking equipment and a new external design) that students use to run their concepts. The truck was donated by Marination in 2023.

Everyone is welcome to visit South’s main campus in West Seattle to enjoy the food. All sales benefit the program. The truck is always parked in the centrally located Clock Tower Plaza, creating a fun gathering space for students, community members and employees   

Food trucks operate from 10:30am to 12:30 pm on each date.

The scent of cinnamon and sugar is once again filling the air at Fine Baking Company, located at 6969 California Ave SW, (near Frontenac Street on California Ave) where owner Chely Smithgall is channeling her incredible resilience into every perfectly crafted cupcake. After a difficult few months following a serious accident, Chely is back in the kitchen, proving that while she may be down, she is certainly not out. Customers are encouraged to support this cherished local business by placing orders via telephone at (206) 423-1745.

An Unforeseen Obstacle

Information from Seattle Police Blotter

Seattle police officers arrested a 17-year-old boy for armed robbery in West Seattle Saturday afternoon.

On Oct. 18, at 4:26 p.m., patrol officers responded to an armed robbery in the 6300 block of 35th Avenue Southwest. Officers determined that two males robbed the Walgreens at gunpoint, stealing cash from the register.

A tracker, placed inside the stolen cash, provided officers with location updates. Police quickly found one of the suspects, and he began running away from them. The suspect led officers on a foot chase before they caught up to him and placed him under arrest. 

Police believe the suspect tossed away a gun during the foot chase before officers captured him. A K9 handler with the Arson/Bomb Squad responded to the scene to search for evidence. The K9 team found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in some nearby foliage.

Information from Alki Community Council

BloodWorks Northwest an organization supplying blood to 95% of Pacific Northwest hospitals, reached out with an urgent ask: could Alki Community Council help host a last-minute pop-up blood drive this Sunday? Thanks to some generous Alki Avenue businesses, we're able to say Yaaas! We’ve got 48 time slots to fill. A few days to do it. So let’s go!

Where: BloodWorks Mobile Unit — 60th & Alki Ave SW (near the Bathhouse)
When: Sunday, October 26, 9 AM – 3 PM

📝Sign Up Now. Save your Spot! (Appointments required).

By Jennifer Carrasco

My Great Grandpa Charlie McCabe gathered no moss. In fact, he didn't gather much of anything when it came to earthly goods, but he married his true love, Mary Bohan, fathered 5 good kids, and that was about it when it came to his worldly assets.

Twelve year old Charlie had sailed over to Boston in steerage from Ireland because he was starving. It was 1848, the potato famine was on, and evidently  the British didn't consider him one of the deserving poor to nourish with gruel and the opportunity to hack out roads on the rocky mountain passes of Wicklow County.