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WEEKEND PREVIEW: While some West Seattleites join ‘Hands Off’ gathering downtown, at least two smaller demonstrations planned here
April 3, 2025 11:50 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

West Seattleites unhappy about closures and cuts in federal services and attacks on pro-diversity programs are planning at least three actions Saturday:

‘HANDS OFF’ AT SEATTLE CENTER: The photo above was sent by West Seattle Indivisible, taken at one of last weekend’s sign-making gatherings in advance of the group’s participation in the “Hands Off” gathering at Seattle Center on Saturday afternoon. (Read more about that here.)

‘OLD TYME ADULTS FOR DEMOCRACY’ IN ADMIRAL: The Brookdale Admiral Heights residents and friends who gathered last Saturday at Admiral/California sent word today that they’re doing it again Saturday afternoon:

The Old Tyme Adults for Democracy is going to have another gathering at the corner of Admiral and California on April 5th from 2:00-3:00 pm. All are welcome to join!

IN THE JUNCTION: Pam sent this announcement:

Hey neighbors. Sat. there are Hands Off protests. My sister and I will be in the Alaska Junction (4 way light) from 11:30 am until 2 pm. Love for anyone to join us. My sister has mobility issues and I suggested just protesting in the Junction. If you can’t make one of the other protests downtown, join us. Bring a sign or just your voice.

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UPDATE: Rescue response for car-on-side crash on Delridge
April 3, 2025 8:54 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:54 PM: SPD and SPD are arriving at a car-on-side crash at Delridge/Webster. Three people are trapped. Delridge is blocked. Updates to come.

(Added: WSB photos by Jason Grotelueschen)

9:04 PM: All three people have been removed from the crashed vehicle. SFD says all three will be taken to hospital(s).

9:16 PM: Per SFD, one is in serious condition, the other two are less seriously hurt. Police told dispatch they are investigating whether this is DUI-related.

9:54 PM: Added two photos by WSB’s Jason Grotelueschen – above, the scene with SFD and the car on its side, and right over this line, the other vehicle involved; he says its driver was telling police that the other car hit him nearly head-on in the wrong lane before flipping, and that he survived only because he managed to swerve out of the driver’s way.

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COUNTDOWN: Month and a half until West Seattle 5K!
April 3, 2025 6:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2024 West Seattle 5K)

The first big 5K of this year’s spring/summer season is a month and a half away – the West Seattle 5K, presented by and benefiting the West Seattle High School PTSA, on Sunday, May 18, along Alki. WSB is once again among the race sponsors, and organizers have a big new announcement:

We are thrilled to welcome Proliance South Seattle Otolaryngology and Proliance Southwest Seattle Orthopedics as presenting sponsors. As two prominent Proliance Surgeons care centers, their generous support makes this event possible and directly benefits the West Seattle High School community.

The West Seattle 5k is the ultimate community spring event, with students, families, and our entire community taking part to help fund our local schools. Proliance South Seattle Otolaryngology and Proliance Southwest Seattle Orthopedics joining as presenting sponsors exemplifies how our community steps up to support our students.

Both care centers have proudly served West Seattle and the Southside for decades, providing expert surgical care without the need to cross the bridge.

“We love West Seattle; this is our home,” says Dr. Peter Maurice, an ENT specialist whose youngest son attends West Seattle High School.

“My family has been running in the West Seattle 5K for years,” adds Dr. Brian Jones, an orthopedic surgeon whose two daughters also attend West Seattle High School. “We’re happy to support this event and our school!”

Thousands of runners and spectators from all corners of the Puget Sound and beyond have participated in this 5K in the past 15 years. In 2024, we had 1,570 participants, a 27% increase over the previous year and we raised over $42,000 for West Seattle High School PTSA! Participants are drawn to the event by the family fun, the gorgeous scenery, a flat and fast course starting and finishing at the Alki Beach House, and all the amenities that Alki Beach has to offer. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in many categories.

Coming back for a third year is a friendly competition among West Seattle High School students. The goal is to see which grade and/or club gets the most classmates to register. The winning grade or club gets out of Homeroom early for a special treat and cash ($250) to their grade level ASB. “We have heard from event runners that they didn’t know this event benefited the high school so we want to make sure to raise that awareness as well as get as many high schoolers involved as possible,” says Kelley O’Connor, event co-chair. Be sure to select your grade and club when registering.

“As you know, Seattle Public Schools is facing an enormous budget shortfall and limited funding for the programs we know our students need,” says WSHS PTSA president Holly Rikhof. “The WSHS PTSA is dedicated to funding the academic and classroom support we have long taken for granted at West Seattle High School. Until 2023, our students benefited from a levy that funded a robust tutoring program, including school-day, after-school, and Saturday tutoring. This year, we have been able, through your generous donations, to fund a monthly staffed Saturday Study Hall that benefits an average of 100 students each session, classroom supply needs and student-led initiatives.”

There are buttons on the registration page to donate to the 5k if you’d rather sleep in that morning or don’t wish to run/walk. This is our community neighborhood high school and we hope residents will feel generous in supporting the school and local students. This is a fun way to directly give back!

Registration is live now at westseattle5K.com and www.getmeregistered.com/WestSeattle5K

The WS5K starts and finishes on Alki Avenue near 61st SW; see our coverage from last year here.

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From White Center Now: ‘We’re not in the baseball business, we’re in the fun business’
April 3, 2025 3:46 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

Or maybe the DubSea Fish Sticks should say they’re in the fin business. Whatever it is, single-game tickets for this season – starting next month – just went on sale, and you might want to get in on it early since half of last year’s Fish Sticks home games sold out! Full story’s on our partner site White Center Now.

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FOLLOWUP: Morgan Junction EV charging lot completion date slides yet again
April 3, 2025 2:02 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Another new date for completion of the Morgan Junction EV-charging lot between Fauntleroy Way and SW Morgan, north of 42nd. This time it comes from District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who says City Light is now projecting the long-planned eight-charger lot will be open for use in April of next year – still a year away. While his newsletter – and the City Light memo it links to – describe this as an “acceleration,” it is not; the last update from City Light, just a few months ago at the Morgan Community Association‘s January 2025 meeting, said the lot was expected to be ready to go in fall of this year. And that of course was just the latest of multiple delays; we’ve been reporting on this project since its inception, and when the proposal first came to light in early 2022, SCL said construction could start as soon as fall of that year.

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BIZNOTE: Duke’s on Alki suddenly shuts down
April 3, 2025 12:02 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Added: WSB photos)

12:02 PM: Thanks for the tip. Duke’s on Alki has suddenly shut down – here’s the email announcement sent to customers:

It is with a heavy heart we share that Duke’s Seafood on Alki has sold and will be closing permanently, effective this morning (Thursday, April 3). This was a location-specific business decision at Alki only. We look forward to welcoming you at any of our 6 other locations: Lake Union, Green Lake, Bellevue, Kent, Southcenter and Tacoma.

More info to come.

1:03 PM: The letter posted at the restaurant has the same statement and a little more, adding that Duke’s is “extremely disappointed to have to do this, given the many challenges we were unable to overcome.” The letter does not elaborate on the challenges, but you might recall that the restaurant had to close last year for several weeks after freezing weather broke a pipe and led to flooding. Duke’s had been open on Alki for a quarter-century. As for the sale mentioned in the closure announcement, records show the building – once owned by Duke’s founder Duke Moscrip – sold two years ago, but nothing more recent than that is on record that we’ve found so far. We’re still researching.

5:17 PM: A spokesperson for Duke’s confirms the restaurant is what was sold, not the property, and that a new restaurant is taking over. Working on those details next.

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CLOSURE ALERT UPDATE: Sewer problem shuts down part of 45th SW; city says it’s not theirs
April 3, 2025 10:26 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

10:26 AM: Thanks for the tips! 45th SW is closed just north of SW Edmunds [map] because of a sinkhole blamed on a sewer problem. City crews are currently checking out the pipe’s condition as well as the condition of the street surrounding it.

(Reader photo)

A crew member on site told us they expect the closure to last at least a day. We’ll add anything more we find out.

(Reader photo)

5:58 PM: At day’s end, an SPU spokesperson sent us this update:

SPU crews conducted a thorough inspection and found no issues with the public sewer main. The sinking roadway panels that are impacting traffic on 45th Avenue SW near SW Edmunds may be caused by a privately-owned side sewer. The location is restricted to local access only at this time. SPU is in the process of contacting private-property owner(s) to determine next steps. More information about side sewers and their maintenance can be found on our website at https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/sewer-and-drainage/side-sewers

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Laugh, read, walk, run, cheer … options for your West Seattle Thursday
April 3, 2025 9:58 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Today/tonight, from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are the highlights (something to add? please let us know!):

HOLY FAMILY OUTLINE AUCTION: As previewed here, you can bid online to support the school even if you’re not going to this weekend’s gala – bidding’s open now.

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Spring is starting Week 3 already! The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

MEDICARE INFO: 11 am presentation at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to find out where they’re playing today.

SPORTS: – One local high-school game today – Chief Sealth IHS fastpitch softball vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) at 4 pm.

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three regular Thursday night events tonight here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Five Hooks Seafood.

WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Also an every-Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also tonight, run 3 miles, or walk a shorter path, in the neighborhood near HPCS with the Run Club, leaving from the store at 6:30 pm – info here.

VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!

WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run now departs from The Good Society in Admiral (California/Lander).

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: If you’re not up for running, how about walking? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.

BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROAD LISTENING PARTY: 6 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), hear their new album a day before its official debut. Free, all ages.

LIVE MUSIC IN THE JUNCTION: 6-9 pm, Patrick Rifflin performs Thursdays at Pegasus Pizza in The Junction (4520 California SW).

PSYCHIC BOOTCAMP: Three-class series to “discover your own inner knowing,” 6:30 pm at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska).

WEST SEATTLE BOOK CLUB: 7 pm, choose from myriad locations to sit and read – then chat if you want to, don’t if you don’t! Our calendar listing includes this month’s location list.

TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet, hosted by Good Old-Fashioned Local Trivia (9614 14th SW).

DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Having Sex, starting at 7 pm.

‘CHICAGO’ AT WSHS: 7:30 pm at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), one of your few chances left to see the huge student-led production of “Chicago” – details in our calendar listing.

COMEDY: This month’s edition of Jokes at The Junction, 8 pm at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW).

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!:

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Funeral Mass tomorrow for Pompey V. Magera, 1930-2025
April 3, 2025 9:00 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather tomorrow to remember Pompey Magera. and are sharing this remembrance with her community:

Pompey Virginia Magera
September 6, 1930 ~ March 4, 2025

Pompey passed away in the early morning of March 4th at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle, ending a long journey with dementia. Pompey was born in San Massimo, Italy to Louis and Josephine Farrace. She moved to Montana as a teenager where she met the love of her life. Joe and Pompey eventually settled in West Seattle, where they raised their family. Pompey was a committed parishioner and volunteer at Our Lady of Guadalupe and at The Mount. One of her exceptional talents was to welcome everyone with a meal or a cookie.

Pompey is survived by her husband of 72 years, Joseph, her daughters Josephine (Michael), Marisa, and Antonette; grandchildren Danielle (Wythe), Rachel, Anthony (Chelsea), Alexa (Michael), and Sofia; and great-grandchildren Meredith, Lena, and Austin.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in West Seattle on April 4, 2025 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Pompey may be made to Providence Mount St. Vincent, or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall, at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Pompey-Magera

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(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)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thursday info
April 3, 2025 6:02 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, April 3, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Your Thursday forecast starts off mostly cloudy, expected to clear later, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 6:43 am and 7:43 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Water Taxi – West Seattle service is normal.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Tillikum is serving as the “bonus boat” this week.

ROAD WORK

-Repaving work on NB Delridge Way between Genesee and Dakota – details here.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.

See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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West Seattle PFLAG celebrating first anniversary this month
April 2, 2025 10:15 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

This month, West Seattle’s PFLAG meetings are celebrating “a year of solidarity and support,” according to the co-founders, who sent the announcement and photo for us to share with you:

In April of 2024 Corina Luckenbach (above left), the owner of North Admiral’s beloved (and :( now closed) Bebop Waffle Shop, joined with Debbie Gordon (above center), board member of Seattle PFLAG, and Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom (above right), pastor of Admiral Church UCC, to launch West Seattle’s first monthly support group for queer and trans people and their families. That meeting, and every meeting since, has been filled with members of the West Seattle community looking for a safe place to connect, share, and envision a world free from prejudice and fear.

You are invited to join this community to celebrate their first anniversary and declare your support for more love and more warmth in a time that many are feeling cold and alone. They meet on the third Tuesday from 7:30-9pm. You can register and learn more at www.pflagseattle.org

For more than 50 years, PFLAG has been providing peer-to-peer support, publications, toolkits, and other resources to make sure that the family members of people who are LGBTQ+ get the support they need in the way that best serves their needs.

Third Tuesday this month will be April 15.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Top-two finish for Genesee Hill Elementary Book Bandits in Global Reading Challenge
April 2, 2025 8:27 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Andrea for the report and photos from a big event tonight!

Seattle Public Library hosts the Global Reading Challenge annually for teams of Seattle 4th and 5th graders. Two West Seattle teams advanced to the citywide finals on April 2 – Genesee Hill Elementary and Lafayette Elementary. The Genesee Hill team, the Book Bandits, tied for second place in the citywide final! Those seven Genesee 5th-graders worked for months reading and re-reading the books selected for the challenge and won their school and semi-finals to advance. They competed against 10 other teams. Genesee Hill librarian Lindsay Yost has been helping the team prepare and cheered them on from the audience on the big night.

The Book Bandits – Avery, Collin, Henry, Laird, Lake, Si, and Tommy – deserve big kudos for their hard work!

Learn more about the Global Reading Challenge here.

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Highland Park Elementary’s ‘Give and Take’ sale Saturday – got stuff to give?
April 2, 2025 5:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo, HPE’s 2024 Give and Take Sale)

Got stuff to recycle to someone else, but not planning a sale? The Highland Park Elementary PTA could use your help! This Saturday is their “Give and Take Rummage Sale” – here’s the announcement sent to us to share:

Give and Take Rummage Sale April 5th
8-10 am Donations are accepted, then begin rummaging at 9 am
Everything is FREE. Monetary Donations are accepted in support of the PTA.
Highland Park Elementary School Northside blacktop
1012 SW Trenton

Our take what you want and give what you can event is Saturday. This event truly supports our community. Families who truly need basic clothing, shoes and housewares can get what they need. Donate your gently used books, garden starts, sports and outdoor equipment, kitchenware, kids and adult clothing and toys. NO large furniture. We will accept donated items from 8 am-10 am on 4/5 at the Highland Park Elementary blacktop playground on the north side of the school. All items will be free and donations accepted. All items left at the end of the day will go to local charities, Westside Baby and Mary’s Place. What they will not accept will go to Goodwill and Salvation Army, etc.

Any questions please see the PTA website

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FOLLOWUP: Infosheet distribution for SW Barton paving plan
April 2, 2025 4:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Back on Monday, we reported on plans to repave SW Barton between Roxhill Park and Westwood Village, 26th SW to 29th SW, because of damage done by buses. SDOT told us they planned to distribute a flyer soon to nearby homes and businesses. Today we’ve received the flyer, and if you’re in the area, SDOT says, it should be in your mail. It doesn’t appear to include any new info of note; it does say that there’ll be a temporary bus-layover spot while the work is under way this fall, and that they’ll “let you know where soon.” See the flyer here.

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Day 2 of registration for 20th-anniversary West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!
April 2, 2025 2:20 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

From Fauntleroy to Westwood to Highland Park to North Admiral, more than 60 sales all over the peninsula are already registered for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2025 – WSCGSD’s 20th anniversary – and we are into the second day of registration! This year’s WSCGSD is Saturday, May 10 (second Saturday in May as always). Official sale hours are 9 am-3 pm, though some sellers choose to start earlier and/or wrap up later. Registration will continue for about three and a half weeks, so you have ample time to decide if you want to be part of it. If you’re just planning to be a shopper – the sale map/guide, with sellers’ 25-word listings, will be available one week before sale day. If you’re ready to register a sale, here’s where to go! (Any questions about WSCGSD, email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com.)

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West Seattle Nursery: Welcome, new WSB sponsor!
April 2, 2025 1:03 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

It’s finally time to get out and grow! In time for spring-and-beyond gardening, we welcome West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) as a new WSB sponsor, which means they get to tell you their story:

West Seattle Nursery has been proudly serving neighborhood gardeners for 42 years, offering a diverse selection of perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees—everything from tried-and-true favorites to rare and unusual garden gems. Quality is at the heart of what we do, which is why most of our plants come from Northwest growers, ensuring they’re well-suited to our local climate. Our knowledgeable team of seasoned gardeners and plant enthusiasts is always here to help, whether you’re searching for the perfect plant or need expert advice on garden care.

This season, you’ll notice some exciting changes—we’ve rearranged the nursery layout to make it easier to navigate and more enjoyable to explore. Our 2025 conifer and Japanese maple collections are ready to browse, our fruits and veggies section has moved behind the greenhouse, and our native plants section is now at the front of the nursery. Our highly anticipated roses have arrived, with David Austin varieties expected in May. If you’re looking for something truly special, we also have a limited supply of rare, seed-grown species rhododendrons and azaleas from Chimacum Woods, along with a large variety of hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas.

We’re also dedicated to growing the next generation of gardeners through our Growing Gardeners Club, designed to help young plant lovers learn, explore, and get their hands in the dirt. This month, our gift to our Growing Gardeners is a zucchini plant — by August, we welcome kids to bring their zucchinis to the West Seattle Farmers Market for zucchini races! And for those looking to deepen their gardening skills, we’re offering a fantastic lineup of spring events, including:

Solitary Bee Class for All Ages – Saturday, April 5, 12:00-1:00 PM
Spring Plant Swap at Hoste – Saturday, April 12, 12:00-4:00 PM
Real Organic Gardening: Compost & Soil Health – Sunday, April 13, 1:00-2:00 PM

Beyond plants, our destination gift shop is overflowing with unique gifts, housewares, books, and indoor plants. In our Garden Center, we also offer a curated selection of seeds, bulbs, tools, and soil amendments to help your garden thrive.

We’re so grateful to be part of the West Seattle community and look forward to another season of helping you grow! Stop by to explore, get inspired, and connect with fellow plant lovers. Find more details at westseattlenursery.com.

We thank West Seattle Nursery for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!

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Local community cleanup group A Cleaner Alki losing grant, looking for alternatives
April 2, 2025 11:56 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Photos courtesy of Erik Bell

In recent years, any West Seattleite has likely seen the handiwork of local community cleanup group A Cleaner Alki, and its leader Erik Bell. 

The group has always been fueled by community help, but right now, it needs your support more than ever because it will be unexpectedly losing some crucial grant funding. More on that below.

ACA, founded by Bell in 2021, is a truly grassroots effort that has grown into a cleanup powerhouse: In 2024 alone, it held 289 organized events involving 4,700 volunteer hours, resulting in more than 36 tons of trash being removed from our community.

Their daily “Block Drops” also removed 7,800 pounds of trash with the help of thousands of volunteer hours, including helpers of all ages:

Recent cleanups have included Roxhill Park, Duwamish Head Greenspace and downtown White Center, and upcoming cleanups include 1st Ave Bridge, Lincoln Park, the Othello neighborhood, and Schmitz Park (pictured below, from a past cleanup): 

Last week, Bell made a plea on social media to let his supporters know that he had recently been informed that the group would not be awarded an extension of a two-year $60,000 Dept. of Ecology Grant which has been a major piece of their funding. While disappointing, Bell is actively moving ahead with the group’s mission, and is looking for the community’s help with individual donations (you can give here via the Seattle Parks Foundation) as well as hearing your ideas for connections/suggestions for securing larger chunks of funding. See below for more details, from Bell:

A Cleaner Alki was established in July 2021 to invite neighbors out to help clean up our local community. We started with simple weekend cleanups on Alki Beach, but as the group quickly grew we were soon looking for other opportunities off the beach. Over the next year and a half we started cleaning up at local schools, parks, residential areas, business junctions and abandoned encampments. We joined Seattle Public Utilities Adopt A Street program who started supplying us gear and picking up our piles. 
 
A community member gifted us a van for our work which allowed us to get more tools and accommodate more helpers.
 
In 2023 we applied for funding from the Washington State Dept. of Ecology and were awarded a 2 year $60,000 Public Participation Grant. That amazing opportunity let us amplify our workload and we started offering 4-5 cleanups a week as well as putting Block Drop stations up around the community for self-led cleanups.
 
In the past two years we’ve onboarded with Seattle Parks Foundation, who acts as our fiscal sponsor, and allows us to go after grants and donations through their nonprofit status. We’ve also partnered weekly with Seattle Parks & Rec gardeners, SDOT Street End gardeners and Forest Stewards to help the city with their work loads around West Seattle, removing invasives and replacing them with native plants. We likewise added “Sprucing” cleanups to our offerings which clear overgrown public infrastructure, removing hazards and line of sight issues for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists for a safer community.
 
In 2024, ACA held 289 organized events with the help of 4,700 hours of volunteer time which collected over 36 tons of trash out of our community. Our Block Drops, which get put out daily, also removed 7,800 pounds of trash out of our community with the help of thousands of volunteer hours.
 
ACA’s success is powered by the amazing neighbors who come out and give of themselves in our cleanup work daily. In fact, the fellowship we are creating is the most important part of our mission, and the cleanups are simply byproducts of these developing friendships.
 
Although the grant has been an amazing catalyst to get to where we’re at—we weren’t awarded it for this upcoming biennium, so we’ll need to figure out other funding means to keep our momentum going.
 
If any neighbors know of grants or foundations that align with our community building work, we would love to seek out those connections and continue our growth—and potentially become a model for this type of group for any neighborhood. For those who value this work and would like to help out on an individual level, we offer tax-deductible donations through Seattle Parks Foundation at https://www.classy.org/give/563765
 
Follow us on our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/acleaneralki, on Instagram @a.cleaner.alki or on our website at byandby.org
 
We post new opportunities every weekend for the upcoming week and would love to have more neighbors involved! Thank you for your love over these past four years West Seattle, we look forward to many more and to continue to improve this place we all call home! 

Your support means that Bell’s group can continue their efforts on a wide variety of projects, including greenspace cleanups:

…and even the occasional broken-dock cleanup on the shore:

Bell encourages neighbors to connect with him via social media or at erik.belltribe@gmail.com or 206-852-9552, as well as the group’s website. And again, you can donate to the cause here via the Seattle Parks Foundation. 

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Books, music, theater, more for your West Seattle Wednesday! (Plus nesting hummingbird video)
April 2, 2025 9:58 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Nesting hummingbird recorded by Nico Lovejoy, near The Junction)

Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Wednesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Wednesdays at 10 am, too! Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.

TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore’s new location. (4522 California SW)

AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, noon-4 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).

WORKSHOP FOR PROSPECTIVE HOME SELLERS: Noon at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW) – details in our calendar listing.

REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)

TODDLER STORY TIME AT SW LIBRARY: Canceled today.

SPORTS: Two baseball games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – Chief Sealth IHS vs. Lincoln at 4 pm, West Seattle HS vs. Franklin; also at NCSWAC, a 4:30 pm boys’ soccer match, CSIHS vs. Ingraham.

HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm free drop-in help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it instead of discarding it! 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).

CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: 6 pm, Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW) is where the West Seattle Classic SF Book Club meets tonight. “Solaris” is this month’s book.

COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 6-8 pm, Rhythm & Roots Night at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Open invitation to the group’s weekly meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW)

FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are invited to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

MUSIC BINGO: Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SECOND WEEK FOR ‘CHICAGO’ AT WSHS: 7:30 pm at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), a huge student-led production of “Chicago” continues its run – details in our calendar listing.

TRIVIA x 3: Three Wednesday trivia locations on our West Seattle list: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Ready to step up to the mic and show your talents? 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Kathi R. Smith, 1944-2025
April 2, 2025 9:00 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Kathi Smith, and sharing this with her community:

Kathi Ruth Smith, born December 5, 1944, passed away at Virginia Mason Hospital on March 22, 2025.

She was married to her loving husband, Philip Smith, for over 60 years, and is survived by their two children, Michele and Matt; her 97-year-old mother; 4 siblings; as well as 7 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and an abundance of nieces, nephews and close friends.

She was a lifelong, proud Husky Football fan and West Seattleite. Her presence and smile lit up the room. She was kind, loving, and had a great sense of humor.

Words cannot express how much she will be missed. We love you! A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

(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)

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch
April 2, 2025 6:03 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Your Wednesday forecast is mostly cloudy with a chance of showers, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 6:45 am and 7:41 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – Regular schedule – third weekday of the “service change,” with three West Seattle routes affected.

Water Taxi – West Seattle service is normal.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Tillikum is serving as the “bonus boat” this week.

ROAD WORK

-This week, repaving work is happening on NB Delridge Way between Genesee and Dakota – details here.

STADIUM ZONE

–Mariners’ opening homestand ends with a day game today, 1:10 pm vs. Detroit.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.

See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: North Delridge gunfire investigation
April 1, 2025 11:49 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

11:49 PM TUESDAY: For the second time in three nights, police are investigating gunfire reported in North Delridge. This time they got reports of gunfire outside the Youngstown Flats apartment complex at 4040 26th SW. So far officers report finding one bullet. Someone might have been injured but taken to a hospital before authorities arrived – dispatch told police one caller claimed someone had been hit, and though they didn’t find anyone at the scene, now they’ve learned a gunshot victim has arrived at Harborview Medical Center. (Added: An officer went to the hospital and later told dispatch it was indeed related. We hope to find out more later this morning.)

NOON WEDNESDAY: SPD tells us the report on this incident isn’t complete so they cannot provide additional information yet.

4:44 PM WEDNESDAY: We checked back and now have the redacted narrative:

On 04/01/2025 at approximately 2331 hours, I was dispatched to a 911 call of a SHOTS fired call at [4000 BLK] 26 AV SW.

Call on screen read: “1 MIN AGO, IN THE OLD BARTELLS PARKING LOT, 10 SHOTS HEARD, ONE VEH SPED OFF, 5 TEENS IN THE PARKING LOT, BELLIGERENT”

Upon arrival, one of the witnesses (XXXX XXXX) was contacted by a backing officer. XXXX began relating that he was smoking a cigarette outside of his apartment at [4000 BLK] 26 AV SW, when he heard a commotion Northeast of his location at a parking lot north of his apartment complex. XXXX continued relating that there was a verbal dispute between two juvenile subjects outside of a vehicle that had its doors open, and another female was trying to intervene from inside the car.

XXXX related that then ONE shot was discharged and another 911 caller related [hearing] “Take me to the hospital, I just got shot.” Both subjects that were arguing, entered the same vehicle (described as Gold/Beige in color Older model Sedan with possible suspension issues) and they fled the location toward DELRIDGE WY.

DISPATCH advised that a gunshot wound victim had been dropped off at HMC. Another backing unit was requested to respond to the location to interview the victim.

GVRU was contacted to screen the call and requested officers to process the scene. Only ONE UNSPENT round was located in the parking lot, along with an empty can of liquor. Both of these items were collected and entered into evidence.

GVRU is the Gun Violence Reduction Unit. The report had no information on the shooting victim or their condition.

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FOLLOWUP: King County Executive position moves from one West Seattleite to another – for now
April 1, 2025 9:58 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Shannon Braddock is now King County Executive, succeeding Dow Constantine, who started his new job as Sound Transit CEO today.

Both are West Seattleites. But the role will likely move to someone from another part of the county at year’s end; Braddock says she is not going to run for the job, which will be on the ballot this November.

Nonetheless, it was a jubilant moment as the King County Council – including two members running for Executive – voted unanimously to appoint Braddock as acting executive (with one more vote later this month to finalize the appointment until November election results are final). As she took the oath from Judge Ketu Shah, Braddock became the first woman to serve as King County Executive. You can see her take the oath, get a standing ovation, and then deliver her first speech, starting about 3:19 into our first clip:

Afterward, Braddock talked with WSB contributor Anne Higuera about the “200-day plan” she hopes to carry out if she is appointed to keep the job intil the election, as well as how the county plans to proceed constitutionally despite what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and her hopes for public-safety funding getting a state boost:

Until today, Braddock was serving as deputy county executive, an appointed position. That role in turn is now held by Karan Gill. (This page on the county website has been updated to reflect who’s doing what, for now.)

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ELECTION 2025: Ballots going out for April 22 special election with one measure to decide
April 1, 2025 9:13 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgKing County Elections is about to send out a new round of ballots. The April 22 special election is three weeks from today – and you have one measure to decide, King County Proposition 1, renewal of the levy that pays for the automated-fingerprint ID system. Here’s how it’s explained:

This proposition would reauthorize King County to levy an additional regular property tax to support the continued operation and enhancement of the regional automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) program and would replace the voter-approved levy that expired on December 31, 2024. The AFIS program is designed to improve the ability of law enforcement agencies within King County to aid in the administration of justice. Among other activities, the AFIS program provides enhanced forensic fingerprint and palmprint identification technology and services.

The proposed levy would be authorized for a seven-year period with collection beginning in 2026. During the first year, the tax would be levied at a rate of 2.75 cents ($0.0275) or less per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of assessed valuation on all taxable property within King County. For example, a home assessed at $885,000 in 2026, would have a maximum levy amount of $24.34 in the first year. Annual increases in each of the succeeding six years would be limited to the statutory rate set forth in chapter 84.55 RCW. Qualifying seniors, veterans, and disabled persons would be eligible for exemption from the levy under RCW 84.36.381.

The 2.75 cents is a lower rate than the renewal levy in August 2018, which started with 3.5 cents per $1,000. Meantime -oOnce you get your ballot, you have until 8 pm Tuesday, April 22, to get it into a dropbox, or you can send it via USPS Mail as long as it’s postmarked by that date.

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