West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
12:20 AM: Seattle Fire has a “rescue extrication” response headed to California and Hinds [map] for a report of a vehicle that flipped after its driver hit a parked car. Updates to come.
12:23 AM: The driver is reported to have gotten out of the vehicle without assistance, so SFD is downsizing the response. But SPD is blocking off California SW both ways in the vicinity.
12:55 AM: According to police radio, officers are invetigating the possibility of DUI.
While the Seattle City Council reviews the mayor’s proposal to double the sales-tax share that buys more bus service from King County, their counterparts have just voted to approve a separate sales-tax increase to raise money for road repairs. The King County Council, meeting as the County Transportation District Supervisors, voted in favor of “a new 0.1% sales tax for King County that will raise approximately $100 million annually, with 87.5% dedicated to long-overdue investments in King County Roads,” according to the post-vote announcement. The rest would go to King County cities, Seattle included. But White Center and other unincorporated areas – in which the county is accountable for 1,500 miles of roads – will be the main beneficiaries.
Unlike the City of Seattle’s proposed sales-tax increase for transit, this county sales tax does not require voter approval. It will be collected starting January 1, 2027. Today’s yes votes included our area’s King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who said in a statement:
… Today’s action provides much needed relief for unincorporated roads, bike lanes and sidewalks to be built on the horizon. Whether a person is driving a vehicle, riding the bus, walking, rolling or biking – we all deserve to be safe and protected from undo injury or death due to failing roads infrastructure. Today’s vote keeps the majority of funding focused on investments in unincorporated areas while also investing in the transportation needs of our regional cities – creating a more connected, safe and accessible transportation infrastructure across our region. The measure also calls for the County to continue to pursue a robust Transit measure to complement this investment in roads with additional alternative modalities to driving.”
Police and fire were dispatched to 8th SW near SW Henderson this evening after someone reported finding what they suspected was “a dead body.” Responders told dispatch they confirmed the person was dead. That’s all we know about the circumstances but we’re mentioning it for those wondering about the response near Westcrest Park‘s southwest entrance and the SPD facility adjacent to it. We’re checking with SFD to see if there’s any information from their medics.
(WSB video/photos)
The last week of the school year began with a lively celebration in the West Seattle High School gym – the cheer team cheered, and band members played, as student-athletes made a grand entrance for a group college-signing ceremony. Family members and friends cheered them too, from the bleachers.
WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson welcomed everyone, thanked the parents for their support and acknowledged the student-athletes for their hard work, and then it was time to sign letters of intent:
15 student-athletes participated on Wednesday – here’s the list Sorenson provided along with the names of two others who weren’t there but will continue their athletic careers in college too – we’ve interspersed this with more of the photos we took at the event:
Baseball:
Cody Buehring – Whitman College
Jake McCall – University of Puget Sound
Boys Swim & Dive:
Jeremy O’Keefe – Whitworth University
Lacrosse:
Zoe Preveau – William Jewell College
Volleyball:
Jaslynn Daily – City University of New York, Queens College
Softball:
Daeja Piggee – Winston Salem State University
Cheerleading:
Amaya Stagi – Seattle University
Football:
Jonah Pelander – Palomar College
Scott Bremen – College of the Siskiyous
LJ Moody – Palomar College
Esayas Brigham – Palomar College
Gabe Crawford – Portland State University
Girls Soccer:
Grace Carroll – St. Olaf College
Grace Reasoner – Wellesley College
Boys Soccer:
Cole Theisen – Le Moyne College
Signed already, but not able to attend signing day on Wednesday
Claire Gordon – University of Washington, Rowing
Sacha Ninburg – Lower Columbia College, Baseball
Next big ceremony for the graduating seniors is WSHS’s commencement ceremony, 8 pm next Wednesday (June 17) at McCaw Hall downtown,
5:46 PM: The photo was sent by Stephanie, who reports that bus hit a pole at 35th/Trenton and that traffic was backing up as a result. That’s the spot where buses are using Trenton as a temporary route because of the repaving project on SW Barton, and it’s a tight turn at best.
6 PM: Thanks to Michelle for the closer look.
7:13 PM: Went by a short time ago – the bus is fully blocking SW Trenton just east of 35th.
8 PM: The tow truck arrived; Michelle sent another photo:
As we’ve noted previously, Washington State Ferries is celebrating its 75th anniversary all month, and this afternoon is the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route’s chance for a party. A DJ from C89.5 Radio – the dance-music FM station – is spinning for a dance party on the deck of M/V Kittitas.
DJ Johnny Monsoon is in the sun, providing the beats. Passengers are providing the party spirit:
The C89.5 contingent even included general manager June Fox:
We’re told they’re on board for the 4:30 westward sailing, not just 3:30 as previously announced, so if you’re getting on a Triangle Route in the next hour or so, you might just get to join the party. Swag too!
(Mid-May mega-low tide photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Just in time for the weekend and summery weather, we are headed for another round of mega-low tides – lowest ones of the year. For the next five days, the lowest low tide will be at least -3 feet, and for two of those days it will be truly mega-low – out past -4 feet:
Saturday (June 13) -3.1 feet at 9:58 am
Sunday (June 14) -3.9 feet at 10:45 am
Monday (June 15) -4.3 feet at 11:32 am
Tuesday (June 16) -4.3 feet at 12:21 pm
Wednesday (June 17) -3.7 feet at 1:11 pm
Tread lightly – the mega-low tides expose sea life that’s usually safely underwater.
The main West Seattle Water Taxi vessel, M/V Doc Maynard, is sporting a new look, just in time for Seattle’s Summer of Soccer to kick off.
Its new look was shown off at a media event downtown this morning; we got a look when it got back to West Seattle after the noon run left early smid all the hoopla.
A humpback whale is in the area again today, Kersti Muul tells WSB – most recently spotted off Duwamish Head. Let us know if you see it!
(Photo by Janelle Otterholt, ‘pea patch’ at The Kenney)
Sorry for the delayed publication! Here’s our list for today/tonight – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can preview events days/weeks ahead 24/7):
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER Spring is garden time! See what’s new at the center!Open today, 10 am-3 pm at north end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus (6000 16th SW)..
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Rain or shine, daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLOSED: Not open today because of month-long closure for exhibit work.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: For adult English-language learners, 12:30 pm-2 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
ALL ABOUT AI: Free presentation at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), 2:30 pm, RSVP to attend.
INTERGENERATIONAL THEATER: As previewed here, first performance of the BAYFEST production, 4 pm at Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), free, all-ages.
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, or buy a bottle.
WORLD CUP WATCH PARTY AT OUNCES: 6 pm, watch USA vs. Paraguay (playing in Los Angeles) at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) with Junction and Rhodies FCs co-hosting! Food, drink, merch, more.
WORLD CUP WATCH PARTY AT ADMIRAL PUB: 6 pm at Admiral Pub, USA vs Paraguay. Sound on all TVs and both Big Screens. (2306 California SW)
SINGER-SONGWRITERS AT C & P: Songwriters’ Showcase spotlights four singer-songwriters, 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), free, all-ages.
DRAG AT KENYON HALL: Pride edition of Kenyon Hall Cabaret (7904 35th SW), 6 pm doors, 6:30 pm show, $10 tickets.
DUBSEA FISH STICKS BASEBALL: 6:35 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd in White Center), it’s the Sticks vs. the Yaks. Check here for tickets.
strong>LIVE AT EASY STREET: Heavy Bloom live show in-store, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), no cover, all ages.
‘WISH YOU WERE HERE’: 7:30 pm curtain – first weekend for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), check here for tickets.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: “Friendship Show: A Comedy Adventure” at The Skylark. 8 pm, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SPINNING: Revelry Room is open tonight (4547 California SW), spinning with DJ Vitamin D, 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, skate to music with Death by Overkill & Drop the Star, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
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!
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“Come Together.”
It’s a strikingly simple title for, and invitation to, Saturday’s celebration of community collaboration, in which the Duwamish Tribe, The Heron’s Nest, and Shared Spaces Foundation will celebrate the return of 3.5 acres of ancestral land to the Duwamish people.
This initiative has been building over the last six years, beginning in 2019 with the creation of the Shared Spaces Foundation by two dedicated community members. The foundation was founded with the overarching goal of eventually securing the land through stewardship and fundraising.
Since 2020, Shared Spaces has been working alongside community, volunteers, and tribal members to clean up the land, reintegrate native species, and conduct soil tests to ensure that the land is suitable to present.
The foundation is known for its development of the Heron’s Nest project (4818 Puget Way SW) – an outdoor classroom environment dedicated to ecological restoration of the land as well as urban agriculture. The Heron’s Nest was fiscally managed by Shared Spaces in the initial years, with management eventually transferred to Duwamish Tribal Services
The Heron’s Nest has been operating off of the land over the last six years. Now, the organizations are ready to “come together” to initiate the final land transfer, with the title given directly to the tribe.
“As a non-federally recognized tribe, everything that they’ve had that they own has been something that they have acquired through their own fundraising and the community’s generosity,” said Joselynn Tokashiki, the current manager of the Heron’s Nest. “It really could not have happened without community.”
“Come Together” has funding from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture as a part of the 2026 World Cup Community Celebrations. Duwamish Tribal Services was granted $40,000 from the city.
So what are the plans for the big day? The land will open up at 11 a.m., with activities organized such as guided plant walks, a printing-press activity with a Heron’s Nest partner – Partners in Print – learning a traditional stick game, and watching food cooked in a traditional salmon pit.
At 12 p.m. there will be a blessing of the food, which will be served up until 3:30. At 1, the official program will begin, including the official land return, and interwoven with storytelling and traditional song and dance performances.
So far, Tokashiki mentioned with excitement, more than 300 people have already registered their plans to attend. “Come Together” is free to attend, and parking will be available at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, with a shuttle service to the Heron’s Nest.
“This is really about celebrating coming together, this is such a historical moment for the Duwamish Tribe.”
Want to attend? Reserve a free ticket here.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, June 12, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
A National Weather Service Heat Advisory alert is in place for 11 am Sunday to 5 am Tuesday, warning of 85- to 90-degree heat. Today, though, sunny and 70 degrees. Sunrise was at 5:11 am (earliest of the year, staying there until June 23); sunset will be at 9:07 pm.
SCHOOL’S OUT
As noted on our West Seattle-wide list, five more schools are having their last day of classes today – Tilden School (WSB sponsor), Westside School (WSB sponsor), Holy Rosary Catholic School, Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, Hope Lutheran School.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes. Also note the summer sailing schedule stargx Sunday.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedules Fridays (tonight) and Saturdays. Also: The Doc Maynard is scheduled to debut a new promotional wrap today,
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
The city cameras’ updating-framegrab feature is still not working; we’ve reported it, still no ETA for restoration. In the meantime, you can check live video for any SDOT camera via their map. State cameras are working and we do have one in the regular lineup:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
(We’ll return the regular camera lineup when the city cams are fully working again.)
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!
Police are talking with a person who reported being a victim of a street robbery late tonight at or near California SW and SW Raymond. The initial report was that two Black male juveniles, both in masks and hoodies, held the victim up at gunpoint, stole their phone, and got away in a gray Tesla with no plates.
8:40 PM: Police have responded to a report of suspected gunfire on Alki, near 61st SW and Alki Avenue SW. No injuries reported. But dispatch told them at least two callers reported finding shell casings behind the building on the southeast corner. They are also reported to be questioning three possible suspects at 61st/Admiral.
(WSB photos)
8:57 PM: Adding photos from our crew in the area. Above, the scene where the three were stopped; below, a few of the casings in the street on 61st:
9:27 PM: And here’s our photo of police as they started marking the casings with cards. Double digits, according to our photographer:
We haven’t heard any confirmation of whether any of the people stopped and questioned were arrested or not. … The same area was sprayed with gunfire back in March.
7:15 PM: Our video is from the Walk All Ways dance party that’s part of tonight’s multiple-venue Pride celebration in the West Seattle Junction. More coverage to come!
ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: Thanks to Chris Peak for this photo from Walk All Ways:
Photos from here are by WSB’s Torin Record-Sand:
More Pride events are ahead in West Seattle this month – and of course Alki Beach Pride in August – watch our calendar and daily highlight lists!
5:33 PM: While SFD wraps up at the house fire on Puget Ridge, they are handling a two-alarm fire that broke out a short time in what’s described a “a commercial building in the 800 block of NW 42nd SW.” (update) Above is a reader photo of the huge smoke column visible to the north.
5:39 PM: Now this fire is going to three alarms.
6:13 PM: As noted in a comment, the address cross-references to Consolidated Supply Company.
9:47 PM: Thanks to Wyatt for this photo from earlier, near the fire scene:
5:15 PM: California SW is partly blocked in the 7300 block, just south of the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church, after a collision reported to involve a motor-scooter (Vespa) rider. No further details; we’ll be checking with SFD on the rider’s condition.
6:09 PM: The scene is cleared, according to our photographer, who went by after leaving the Puget Ridge house fire..
8:53 PM: According to SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty, “An aid crew responded to a report of a Vespa collision with one patient. The crew treated an approximately 55-year-old female in stable condition. The patient was transported to Harborview by AMR.”
(Added: WSB photos)
4:50 PM: Seattle Fire is arriving at a house fire in the 5600 block of 16th SW, just north of South Seattle College [vicinity map]. Firefighters report “heavy fire and smoke.” Updates to come.
4:55 PM: Smoke is visible from miles away. Firefighters have water on the fire as a first step toward extinguishing it; they’re calling for a few more crews.
5:01 PM: The fire is reported to be under control. Northbound traffic on 16th is being diverted.
5:47 PM: This fire is out. SFD has a much bigger fire working in the north, smoke visible from north-facing West Seattle; we’ve written about it here.
6:02 PM: Back to this fire scene – 16th SW is now open northbound, officers have just told dispatch. No word of injuries but we’ll be checking with SFD.
After the Sound Transit board passed a revised ST3 system plan two weeks ago, including a commitment to build West Seattle light rail as planned – minus the Avalon station – the agency said “a flurry of activity” would follow. Today brought evidence of that – the board’s Executive Committee voted this afternoon in favor of motions committing more than $400 million to the ext stage of the project, primarily to advance design past the current 30 percent level. A large part of the allocation was described as being for “supplementing” ST’s own staff, though it was promised that if in-house staff became available, they’d be used instead. ST’s Brad Owen – whose role has just been elevated with the impending departure of deputy CEO of megaprojects Terri Mestas – also told the committee that “cost-saving work continues” and the current estimated price tag of the West Seattle extension is $4.9 billion to $5.3 billion, as shown on this slide:
SEE THE DETAILS: The slide deck from this part of today’s meeting is here; the motions that got committee support today are here, here, and here. They’ll go to the full board in two weeks.
Beautiful day to be near the water, and if you are, you might see a humpback whale. Kersti Muul tells WB that one has been sighted off Blakely Rock [map], southbound, so that might put it in view from west-facing West Seattle. Let us know if you see it!
Also in The Junction, the Easy Street Records marquee is a reminder of a big-name book signing coming up Saturday night: Grammy-winning, Hall of Fame-inducted Kim Thayil, founding guitarist of Soundgarden, has published his memoir, and if you buy it, you can get his signature during a 7 pm event at Easy Street (4559 California SW). You might already have heard about this – it’s been in our calendar a while – but you might not realize that his co-author is a longtime West Seattle resident: Adem Tepedelen co-authored the memoir, “A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown,” and emailed to be sure we knew the West Seattle angle goes beyond the location of the signing. Here’s how to buy the book from Easy Street. The publisher’s description promises not only the behind-the-scenes story of Thayil’s life but also notes that he “takes readers backstage to meet the band that boldly broke the traditional rules of rock,forging a new genre while selling over 30 million albums and building a fiercely loyal fanbase across the globe.”
12:55 PM: Again this year, the West Seattle Junction Association has decked the heart of the business district with rainbow flags to celebrate Pride on the night of June’s WS Art Walk. As featured in our calendar and daily event list, Pride events tonight include a meetup at VAIN (4513 California SW) at 6 pm and then a “dance party” in the Walk All Ways intersection at 6:30; that’ll be followed by a drag show at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) and the only event on the slate that’s not all-ages, an 8:30 pm afterparty at The Poggie.
ADDED 3:15 PM: Victoria at VAIN sent several reasons to stop there at the start of tonight’s celebration – “We have a limited number of Pride flags to give away before we proceed down to the intersection. We have a small run of West Seattle Pride shirts to sell. PFLAG will have an info table with some giveaways as well.”
As featured on our “last day of school” list, today is the end of the year for The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary, the only cooperative elementary school in this area. It’s also the end of operations for the school, which is closing due to low enrollment, according to board secretary Zoe Wilkins. It was one of the area’s newer schools, open for five-plus years at 10300 28th SW. And that’s where they’re having an everything-must-go sale – plus community playdate – this Saturday (June 13), 10 am-4 pm, selling all the school’s inventory – art supplies, musical instruments, toys, furniture, more.
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