West Seattle, Washington
07 Monday
As mentioned briefly in today’s highlight list, the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2025 graduates tonight, 8 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown. The school just asked us to publish this info, including how to watch the live stream/broadcast.
Here’s a clickable link to the YouTube stream. We’ll be there too, covering the ceremony for a report late tonight here on WSB.
Whether you’re the current/prospective retiree, or a parent/relative is about to make that transition, many decisions await, especially regarding living arrangements. Independent living? Home care? Assisted living? Or? Tomorrow night (Thursday, June 12) at 6 pm, Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) invites you to visit for a panel discussion about your options, with guests from a variety of services/organizations.
It’s free to attend. They’re asking for RSVPs if possible – you can do that by email – corrine@villagegreenretirement.com to let them know you’ll be there.
Luke pointed out that Pegasus Book Exchange in The Junction is inviting customers past and present to share stories and memories about and for owner Fred Epps, and suggested we publicize the request too. His daughter Emma Epps said OK, so here’s what she posted on the Pegasus website:
Many of you may remember my dad, Fred Epps, who was front and center of Pegasus for about 30 years. My parents live in Mount Vernon (about an hour and a half’s drive away) and as my dad ages, he no longer has the stamina to visit the store any more. I (Emma) regularly get asked to pass along people’s well wishes, but I’d rather everyone speaks in their own words.
Do you have a memorable Fred story? Or even just something simple to say?
Here’s the important part, Emma emphasizes – please publish your comment/memory/story for Fred on the Pegasus website post, not here on this WSB post, so that he’s sure to see it. Of course you’re welcome to copy and paste it here too, after you’ve posted there …
(Photo from Pegasus website post)
That photo courtesy of the Alki Elementary PTA is from last year’s Alki-A-Thon – an end-of-school-year all-school fun(draiser) that’s coming up again this Friday (June 13)! They’re hoping you’ll pitch in and pledge in advance – here’s what the PTA wants us to know:
This jog-a-thon brings together students, staff, and families for a fun-filled day of running, music, and community spirit, all in support of vital programs at Alki Elementary. We’re actively seeking donations now through the event to fund arts and science enrichment, field trips, classroom resources, and equity efforts not covered by district budgets. It’s our most energizing school event of the year, and we’d love community donations to keep SPS students thriving.
Who: Alki Elementary students (kindergarten through 5th grade) running; family and immediate friends invited to attend
What: Alki-a-Thon, the school’s annual jog-a-thon fundraiser
When: Friday, June 13, 2025 (during the school day)
Why: To raise funds for PTA-supported programs that enrich student learning and support
To donate: app.99pledges.com/fund/alkiathon25
(Photographed on Beach Drive by Thomas Bach)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore’s new Junction location. (4522 California SW)
CHAIR YOGA: 10:30 am weekly class at Dragonfly (3270 California SW): $20 drop-in.
(added) ONO GRINDS WITH SPD: “Coffee with a cop” meet-and-greet with Seattle Police, Hawaiian style, 11 am-1 pm at Marination ma kai (1600 Harbor SW).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
ART WORKSHOP FOR KIDS: 3 pm, join Rec’N The Streets at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm drop-in help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), free.
DROP-IN Q&A ABOUT BARTON REPAVING PROJECT: 5:30-7 pm outside ex-Bed Bath Beyond at Westwood Village, your chance to talk with team members for this upcoming work (now set for next year instead of this year).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something broken? 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).
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ ENDORSEMENT MEETING: 6 pm online, as previewed here. You can go here to register for the link (all can observe the meeting but endorsement votes are limited to qualified members).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: Monthly event at West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), 6 pm. All players, all ages, welcome!
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, $40, details here and pre-registration here. (3400 Harbor SW)
POETRYBRIDGE: Celebrate the beauty and powerof words! 6-8 pm PoetryBridge gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (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.
REGULAR TRIVIA x 3: Three West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday trivia starting at 8 pm … Quiz Night also begins 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: Your chance at centerstage – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
CHIEF SEALTH IHS GRADUATION: 8 pm at Memorial Stadium downtown (401 5th Ave. N.) Note increased security screening – arrive early.
Got something coming up 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!
Ball player in the family? Less than two weeks left to sign up for West Seattle Baseball‘s Summer Crush. And WS Baseball has a few other announcements to share:
Crush is Focused on the FUN!
Summer Crush is West Seattle Baseball´s fun summer games only league that combines some of the organizational elements of the spring league with some of the sandlot-style baseball fun. It is also an opportunity for more reps and new positions in a fun, low-stress situation.
Crush is divided into three divisions, 8U, 10U, and 12U (in PONY-speak, that´s Pinto, Mustang, and Bronco). Scores are kept but there are no standings or playoffs. There are not even practices! It’s just “show up and play ball”.
The season runs from the week of July 11 through the week of August 11. 8U Pinto and 12U Bronco are scheduled to play Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 10U Mustang is scheduled to play Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
For more information visit the West Seattle Baseball website at westseattlebaseball.com
And beyond summer …
Girls Softball is back for its 3rd season!
This division will spend its first week of the 6 weeks going through introductions and assessments to allow a safe and balanced team format for the remaining weeks. The goal is to identify their knowledge and skill set to aptly teach and help gain confidence in their abilities. Division will probably be in the Pinto (8u), Mustang (10u) and Bronco (12u) range, however that is subject to registration. Weeks to include instruction, games, and guest Coaches.
Shetland/T-ball is back this season!
This division will be 6 weeks on Friday nights 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and continue to be a fun T-ball (6u) level of baseball for the kids to run around and play some ball.
Using Crush to Try a New Division
Often, players who are going to move up a division the following spring will play in the higher division in Crush to get a light introduction to their future age group, but by no means is that a rule or even typical. Most commonly, players play in the same division and level that they played during the Spring season. Players are not allowed to ¨play down,” however.
Taking Vacations? No Problem!
Team rosters are built with summer vacations in mind. Larger rosters can sometimes mean that the batting order gets long, more often, however, it prevents teams being too short-handed to realistically play when multiple players are out of town on family trips. Again, games are scheduled only for weeknights, leaving weekends completely free.
Coaches Needed
And why should all the fun go to the kids? Whether you have had the pleasure of helping as a volunteer coach in the past or have just seen how much fun all the coaches have working with these kids, Crush is a great time to get involved. Every team needs as much coaching help as they can get to make games run smoothly and efficiently. If you are ready to join the ranks of WSB volunteer coaches, be sure to note your interest when registering your player or contact league officials to start the process! Please reach out to Andy and Doug at crush.commish@westseattlebaseball.com with any questions regarding the season.
Important Dates
Registration is scheduled to close on June 23. Crush season will begin the week of July 11 and run for 6 weeks ending on August 15. Sign Up for Summer Crush: go.teamsnap.com/forms/485126
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny with a high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:11 am (as early as it gets, and holding there for another week); sunset will be at 9:07 pm.
CLOSURES, ROAD WORK
-The Admiral Way Bridge is now one lane each way on the north side, with the south side closed for the ongoing strengthening/refurbishing work.
SCHOOL SCHEDULES
Summit Atlas in Arbor Heights has concluded its school year. Many local independent/parochial schools get out this Friday. Seattle Public Schools‘ last day is one week from today. Neighboring districts – Vashon gets out June 24, Highline on June 25.
-Chief Sealth IHS Class of ’25 graduates downtown at Memorial Stadium tonight, 8 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus a new addition – late-night service for weeknights with Mariners’ home games (and some other events). More info here.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 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!
At the heart of today’s weekly Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) lunch meeting was a celebration of eight students who are receiving nine scholarships. Rotarian Gina Topp, who leads the organization’s Scholarship Committee, remarked on what a joy it is to “get to support young people in our comunity and their futures.” The winners each got a moment to speak to the Rotarians filling the banquet room at West Seattle Golf Course:
GAMBRIELL SCHOLARSHIP
PAST PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP
Malia Barker from West Seattle High School received two scholarships ($10,000 total):
STUDENT OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS
Ella Galitas from Summit Atlas ($1,000):
Binta Diagana from Chief Sealth International High School ($4,000):
Thuc Nguyen from West Seattle HS ($4,000):
PAST PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP
Ryan Bonsak from Maritime High School in the Highline district ($6,000):
EARL CRUZEN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
The three winners are all students in the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Automotive Technology program, and each received a tool set like this:
Brandon Castañeda-Rodriguez:
Markus Nicholson:
Nathan Chau:
“You will not regret believing in me,” Nathan assured the Rotarians. Find out more about their scholarship program here.
NEXT UP FOR ROTARY: Next week’s lunch speaker (noon June 17) will be West Seattle-residing, globetrotting photographer extraordinaire Art Wolfe … On July 1, the club gathers for its installation dinner, to welcome a new slate of officers.
9:36 PM: Avoid 35th/Roxbury for a while. That crash is blocking the southbound side, and police have described it as a hit-run. SFD is there but we don’t have definitive word on whether anyone is hurt; we were watching the live camera before police arrived and it appeared a woman, man, and dog from the car walked across the street. Police are calling for a tow for the car; it looks like debris cleanup will be needed too.
10:40 PM: Scene has cleared.
We recently reported on our area’s Junior Roller Derby league, Southside Revolution. As noted in our story, their travel team The Rebels were expecting to head to regionals and possibly to nationals – their journey is about to begin, according to this update we received:
Our area’s junior roller-derby travel team, the Southside Revolution Rebels, is off to Salem, Oregon this coming weekend (June 14-15) to face some top PNW teams in the Junior Roller Derby Association playoffs. The Rebels enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the region, with a record of 11-1 in sanctioned games vs. teams across the country.
Composed of teenage skaters from West Seattle, White Center, Burien, and beyond, the Rebels travel team is part of the Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby league. In its 11th year of operation, SSR makes its home at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center. The league serves about 90 skaters aged 7-18 of any gender identity, with five teams spread across a range of skill levels. The Rebels team travels throughout the year to play high-level opponents across the country.
The league will also appear at the West Seattle Grand Parade this year. Coming up after the parade: Travel Team tryouts and New Skater Clinics in early September. Anyone interested should contact info@southsiderevolution.com.
P.S. The playoffs will be livestreamed here: youtube.com/@cherrycityrollerderby/featured
If you were around for the West Seattle development boom in the late ’00s and early-to-mid 2010s, you probably remember the role Design Review played – a city-appointed review board met as often as twice a month, with up to two projects per meeting, and the calendar was often full. It was the main opportunity for community members to have input into notable projects, for better or for worse. And it changed the plan for some sites – one notable example is at California/Charlestown, where dozens of residences share the corner with lively small businesses largely because the Southwest Design Review Board gave relentless pushback to a previous plan to replace the beloved Charlestown Café with a one-story Petco store and parking lot. Since then, though, the Design Review rules have changed and the board meetings have grown fewer and fewer. The Southwest board had a one-project meeting in March – its first in 15 months. Last November, the city asked for your thoughts on what remained of the process. And now, changes are unveiled. In an announcement today about his proposals for further limiting design review, Mayor Harrell is proposing abolishing the neighborhood boards and replacing them with one citywide board. The summary in his announcement also includes:
–Extend successful exemption for affordable housing. The interim ordinance would extend by six months a Design Review exemption set to expire in August 2025 for projects that meet Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements through onsite affordable units. During the two-year exemption pilot, proposed onsite housing units more than doubled compared to all prior years of the MHA program. Building on this success, the legislative proposal coming later this summer would make this exemption permanent.
–Only large projects would be subject to design review. The review threshold would increase to buildings with 150+ housing units or 20,000+ square feet of commercial space. Smaller projects would be exempt, as well as projects located outside Urban Centers or Regional Growth Centers, and projects subject to other review boards, such as the Landmark Preservation Board.
–Clear guidelines and less meetings. Permanent Design Review guidelines would be easier to understand and focus exclusively on elements of the building’s exterior. The permanent ordinance would also limit Design Review to one public meeting that must take place early in the permitting process to help increase predictability, reduce delays, and provide an avenue for public comment when it’s most impactful.
–One citywide board. The eight geographically focused boards would be replaced by one citywide board of 14 members who have expertise in design, development, and equity. Projects planned within established equity areas would use board members from the local community within the pool of 14. This change aims to simplify the program, make it more consistent, and improve representation for historically underserved communities.
–Flexibility in design standards in exchange for public benefits. Departures from design standards, such as increased height or floor area, may be allowed for projects that add public benefits like meeting equity goals or enhancing street-level design. Projects exempt from Design Review would also benefit from similar flexibility through an administrative process.
You can read the full announcement here. It also notes the legislation will be sent to City Council after the environmental-review process that continues through June 26 (various documents, and info on commenting, are here).
(2024 WSF concept for Fauntleroy Way signalized intersection)
Though construction of the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement/expansion is still a few years away, one related project is more like months away – the stoplight planned for Fauntleroy Way where it intersects with the dock entrance/exit. To get ready for it, drilling is planned on Monday (June 16), and Washington State Ferries is circulating this alert today:
Washington State Ferries (WSF) will conduct geotechnical drilling to understand site conditions for a new traffic signal at the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. The traffic signal will make it easier and safer for people driving, walking, biking and rolling to get to and from the bus stops, terminal and other destinations along Fauntleroy Way Southwest and beyond.
When will the work occur?
• Monday, June 16 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.What can I expect?
• Construction noise, dust, vibrations and traffic.
• Travel and bike lane restrictions at the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. While crews are working, flaggers and a uniformed police officer will direct traffic through the intersection and to/from the ferry terminal. Please expect delays when traveling through the area.
• Large construction vehicles and machinery.
• Crews will use construction best practices to limit noise levels when possible.Questions or concerns?
• Email: wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov
• Call our construction hotline: 206-402-8070 (staffed 24/7 during construction)
The next full update on the project is expected during what will be the final meeting of its WSF-convened Community Advisory Group, online at 6 pm July 9 (registration link isn’t available yet but watch here when it gets closer).
(WSB file photo)
ORIGINAL TUESDAY AFTERNOON REPORT: The precision, prestigious Seattle Chinese Community Girls’ Drill Team is expected to return to the West Seattle Grand Parade this year for the first time since before the pandemic. We got word of that while talking with Keith Hughes, who chairs the parade for the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which presents it. He told the club that more than 70 entries are already signed up for the parade, and that sponsorships are ahead of last year. Keith said they’re expecting other comebacks, too. The parade is set for Saturday, July 19, starting at 11 am at California/Lander in The Admiral District and proceeding all the way down California to the south end of The Junction – watch for more info as it gets closer (and don’t forget it’s preceded by the Float Dodger 5K on the parade route – registration for that is open now!).
P.S. We were at today’s Rotary meeting for an unrelated topic, the club’s annual scholarship presentations – details coming up in a separate story!
EARLY WEDNESDAY UPDATE: From Parade Coordinator Michelle Edwards:
For clarification regarding our current parade entries, we are excited to introduce a new parade entry this year from the Seattle American Chinese Chamber of Commerce – The Flying Dragons and Lions!
In their own words: “The Flying Dragons and Lions bring the energy of good luck and prosperity to any event! The percussion instruments and dragons work together to symbolize the balance of the Ying and Yang energies!”
We are looking forward to welcoming this new entry to the West Seattle Grand Parade this summer and will have more new and exciting entries from around the greater Seattle area to highlight as we get closer to the parade.
12:28 PM: Thanks to Andrew for the photo! SDOT crews are working right now on the conversion of Duwamish Head diagonal parking spaces to parallel, for which District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got $175,000 written into the city budget. Nearby residents had long been asking for the removal of the diagonal spaces, as a magnet for trouble, even a murder last year. Andrew’s photo came in as we were starting to write a related story – about last Friday’s removal of signage that SDOT had placed regarding this work and the proposal to create 150 new parallel spaces on the water side of Alki Avenue a bit further west.
We asked about the sign removal as soon as another reader asked (sending the photo shown above) on Friday; SDOT acknowledged the inquiry Friday but didn’t provide this reply until today (Phase 2 is a reference to the potential parallel-space installation):
Phase 2 status is currently under review. Staff will review the input from the survey before deciding on the next steps for the project. This ensures community feedback is considered as the process moves forward. In the meantime, we intend to move forward on the conversion of the Duwamish Head angled parking spaces to parallel parking.
SDOT removed the A-frame signs along Alki Avenue SW to avoid any misunderstandings about the work planned at Duwamish Head. We collected a large volume of public input from the survey responses so far and people can continue to provide input until June 22. Afterward, we’ll share the results and how they shaped the process and any decisions.
The reply also noted that they “expect to install (the diagonal-to-parallel) changes this week,” but as Andrew’s photo shows, that’s already under way. They told us that the conversion would mean a net loss of 10 street-parking spaces in that area. Meantime, though SDOT also initially attributed “Phase 2” to Saka as well, he said he’s against adding those spaces (though his budget item, as a commenter pointed out, mentioned not only the diagonal-space conversion but also the addition of on-street spaces on Alki Avenue nearby; we mentioned that in this November reportthe survey is indeed still open.
1:57 PM: Just went through, and the crew is gone:
Nobody seemed to have caught on to the new parallel parking opportunities yet. Looks like some work remains, however, such as grinding away the old parking lines, and removing the old signage that related to the angled parking.
We mentioned again in today’s highlight list that PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) had a few more days to go in its food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank. That’s apparently changed – we just got this from WSFB’s Robbin Peterson:
Grocery supplier UNFI got hit by a cyber attack, and their IT system had to be taken down, which impacted their ordering system. It’s meant trouble for grocers who heavily rely on them (PCC, Whole Foods) with low shelf levels on products, and as such, PCC has cancelled all remaining days of their food drives across all stores in Puget Sound.
If people have items to donate to WSFB, they can bring them directly to us (35th/Morgan) between 9 am-3 pm weekdays, or drop them in any of the permanent food drive barrels around town.
· West Seattle Thriftway
· Tom’s Automotive
· Meeples Games
· YMCA Fauntleroy
· West Seattle Animal Hospital
· West Seattle Eagles
· Admiral Safeway
· RealFine Coffee
· Rainier Hair Studio
All this aside, ongoing federal cuts and state/local budget crunches mean organizations like WSFB need your help more than ever, so however and wherever you donate, if you can, please do.
(Sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our reminder list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FOOD DRIVE CONTINUES: West Seattle Food Bank‘s weeklong donation drive at PCC West Seattle (2749 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues today. The store is open until 11 pm,
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Weekly advocacy gathering, until noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if you’re a first-time participant.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), featuring student awards and scholarship presentations.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: 2 pm, weekly meeting, open to public comment in person or online. The agenda explains how to watch/participate.
PRE-FATHER’S DAY MEAT MARKET: Five days until Father’s Day – a unique event at Lady Jaye (4523 California SW), 4-8 pm – if Dad is a devoted carnivore, this is the place to get something to cook for him OR something already cooked, during what LJ bills as “the ultimate Wagyu experience.”
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are available to help K-12 students with their homework.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
FAUNTLEROY CULVERTS MEETING: The first of the major Fauntleroy Creek culvert-replacement projects, beneath 45th SW north of Wildwood, is set for construction to start next year. Tonight the Fauntleroy Community Association and Seattle Public Utilities host a community meeting for updates and Q&A, replacing the first half of FCA’s regular monthly board meeting, 6 pm, at a larger venue – The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: On this long night, enjoy the late light with a run – tonight at 6:15 pm, meet up at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has details on signing up before you go.
BINGO X 2: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW) … Talarico’s Pizzeria also offers 8 pm bingo (4718 California SW).
TRIVIA X 4: Here’s the answer to the weekly question “who’s got trivia in West Seattle Tuesday nights?” – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub. (2306 California SW).
Organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc.? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With a little more than one week of classes left for most Seattle Public Schools students, it’s time to look ahead. That includes a Roxhill Elementary fundraiser this Friday for which your help can make a big difference – here’s how:
Roxhill Elementary School will host our annual Jog‐A‐Thon on June 13 to support the 5th grade overnight outdoor learning field trip to Nature Bridge in the fall. Our students are collecting pledges for running laps on the playground this Friday, and community members are invited to make a donation.
During their 4-night stay, students engage in various outdoor learning activities that build self-confidence, team building skills, and knowledge of physical sciences. It has been a tradition for many years that each 5th grade class attends an outdoor learning education overnight field trip. It is the experience of a lifetime! Donations will help cover a portion of transportation costs, meals, and other expenses.
This year’s fundraiser is especially important because the new Washington State budget removed the Outdoor Learning Grant program that previously helped offset the cost for Title I schools to go to camp. We hope our community will help us fill the gap and also support other impacted West Seattle elementary schools facing the same cuts.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The heat advisory is over but it’ll still be warmer than normal – sunny with a high near 80. Today’s sunrise was at 5:11 am (as early as it gets, and holding there for another week-plus); sunset will be at 9:06 pm.
(Saturday’s sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
CLOSURES, ROAD WORK
-The Admiral Way Bridge is now one lane each way on the north side, with the south side closed for the ongoing strengthening/refurbishing work.
SCHOOL SCHEDULES
Summit Atlas in Arbor Heights has concluded its school year. Many local independent/parochial schools get out this Friday. Seattle Public Schools‘ last day isn’t until a week from Wednesday. Neighboring districts – Vashon gets out June 24, Highline on June 25.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus a new addition – late-night service for weeknights with Mariners’ home games (and some other events). More info here.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Wednesday night, our area’s largest political organization meets online to decide who to endorse in this year’s elections.
This past Saturday night, the 34th District Democrats gathered in person to raise money, snack, sip, and hear many candidates’ pitches.
The fundraiser’s theme was Forward Together, meant as a rallying cry as Democrats here and elsewhere work to find a unified breakthrough in an age of Republican control. As the organization’s first vice chair Rachel Glass said toward the start of the program, the point was “to uplift the work we’re doing to save our democracy.” Chair Jordan Crawley added, “The defense of democracy starts right here. … The moment we’re in (is) an invitation to lead.” But even local, regional, and state Democrats haven’t been marching in lockstep, as evidenced in two recent appearances of the 34th District legislative trio, at which they said working with newly elected Gov. Bob Ferguson had been a challenge.
The disagreements weren’t in evidence Saturday night, though, as the party filled the Washington State Black Legacy Institute in Admiral. Elected officials in attendance included 34th District State Sen. Emily Alvarado, State House Majority Leader Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, County Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda, Claudia Balducci, and Girmay Zahilay, Seattle School Board President Gina Topp, County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion, and Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (the only one of the nine councilmembers to attend). Former elected officials too – including ex-King County Executive, now Sound Transit CEO, Dow Constantine and ex-State Senator, now state Commerce Director, Joe Nguyen.
With Crawley declaring “Elections matter,” he and Glass made way for a parade of candidates. State Sen. Alvarado – running unopposed for a full term in the seat to which she recently was appointed – gave the first and arguably most fiery speech: “We can’t just sit idly by while they try to take our democracy away.” County Councilmembers Zahilay and Balducci, main rivals for the open job of County Executive, gave more standard pitches mostly focusing on local issues and their respective selling points, although Zahilay had an extra point to hit: He arrived in the U.S. at age 3 as a refugee from Sudan – a country now on the federal “travel ban” list. “I’m running today because (a story like mine) is no longer possible.”
The Seattle city race with the most candidates speaking was City Attorney; incumbent Ann Davison, who has run for office in the past as a Republican, was not on hand, but her three challengers Erika Evans, Rory O’Sullivan, and Nathan Rouse made their cases. The two citywide Seattle City Council positions are both on the ballot; Position 8 incumbent Mercedes Rinck cleaved to the spirit of the evening by declaring “Seattle must stand as a beacon of hope and resilience (and) fight against the politics of fascism.” (She has four challengers, none of whom were there.) Position 9 incumbent Sara Nelson wasn’t there but one of her three challengers, Dionne Foster, spoke, proclaiming, “I know our city can do better.”
Burien is part of the 34th, too, so they heard from a few of the candidates in that city’s races, before the event wrapped with a round of “raise-the-paddle” fundraising.
Next up, the group meets online at 6 pm Wednesday (June 11) for endorsements. Here’s the agenda – one block endorsement, followed by a long list of individual ones for contested races. Even if you’re not a member eligible to vote, you can watch the meeting – here’s the registration link; they usually publish the recording to YouTube afterward, too.
Story and photos by Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
When Rain City Ropeworks held their annual community show at the Holy Rosary School gym on Sunday, it was more than just a chance to show off what they’ve learned – it was also a key moment of preparation for nine team members who will be representing Washington at the World Championships in Kawasaki, Japan, next month.
The show was a great way to get an understanding of what they need to improve on, said team coach and Rain City Ropeworks founder Rene Bibaud. She is a 5-time Jump Rope world champion, as well as a former performer and coach for Cirque Du Soleil, a motivational speaker, and ESPN color commentator.
In the past nine months, the students have drilled, practiced, and perfected their own freestyle routines. “It’s a consistent upgrade of skills,” Bibaud remarked. These routines are completely original and structured around a song, chosen by the students themselves. In the process of learning these routines, accepting and learning how to deal with mistakes is a vital skill, the coach explains. “The most important skill to have is learning how to recover. You’ll make mistakes, and it’s important to learn how to keep your footing.”
This is an especially important lesson for the older athletes to internalize, as the team is a mix of older students and younger ones. Often, the older team members will be called on to help mentor those with less experience. In order to facilitate this process, the program has a team leadership council. This is a group of experienced team members who help teach the new athletes.
It’s a rewarding experience for the Leadership Council as well, according to Ethan Im. As a member of the Team Leadership Council, Im has found a community in RainCity RopeWorks. Starting at the age of 7, he said the sport was intimidating at first.
He’s managed to channel this former fear as a guide to the younger athletes, however, by meeting them where they’re at. “It’s a little tricky, since they’re usually shy, but that changes once you show them the ropes,” Im said. “I like to tell that that ‘you’re only competing with yourself’.“
Im has grown into both a confident performer and a leader. From July 27th to August 3rd, he’ll be one of 9 team members going to Japan to compete in the World Championships. He says, above all else, he hopes that by participating in this sport he can help lend it more legitimacy. “A lot of people see it as a playground sport, but I hope this team can show them otherwise.”
Also headed to the World Championships is Alia Lundborg. She’s in her 4th year and is also a member of the Team Leadership Council. She’s nervous, but excited, to compete in the championships. Lundborg will be performing a Double Dutch, a group exercise using two larger jump ropes. “It takes so much practice to get these routines down, but it’s definitely brought us a lot closer together,” said Lundborg.
Lundborg’s progress stuck out in particular to Bibaud: “Alia has been at every possible practice; she’s one of the most skilled and consistent members of the team. I’m thrilled that she’s going to the world championships this year.”
Reflecting on the last ten months, Bibaud is most proud of the team for their growth as a community. Throughout the event, other athletes were consistently cheering each other on during their performances and congratulating each other afterwards. This supportive culture is in large part due to the Team Leadership Council, according to Bibaud. “They all want to do their own personal best, they care deeply about one another, and I’m very proud of that,” Bibaud said.
To learn more about the team, see the Ropeworks website here. For information about the world championships, check here.
Thanks to Tim O’Neill from O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) for the photos and report on a big win:
All of us here at O’Neill Plumbing are pretty dang proud of our Pee Wee team that just won the championship Saturday !!
We’ve been sponsors since 1974 and don’t have any record of them ever winning the championship !!
Way to go, TEAM OP !!
This is part of the West Seattle Baseball organization, which is now signing people up for Summer Crush – more on that in a separate report!
We reported last month about the King County Wastewater Treatment District’s new plans for West Seattle and South Seattle, including a 7-million-gallon-plus overflow storage tank off West Marginal Way SW. It’s meant to reduce overflows of combined sewage and stormwater into the Duwamish River. If you have questions about that or other parts of the “Mouth of the Duwamish” project, the drop-in session mentioned last month is coming up – here’s the reminder we received:
King County has proposed a solution to control overflows from five combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls at the mouth of the Duwamish River. The proposed solution to improve water quality in the Duwamish River and Elliott Bay includes a new wet weather treatment station in SODO and a new storage tank in West Seattle (Industrial District West). It also includes a new outfall for cleaned water, supporting facilities, and new pipes to connect flows along the way.
Now that we have a proposed solution, we will prepare an engineering report for review by the Washington State Department of Ecology. We will also start the design phase and environmental review.
-Share your questions with the project team
-Attend one of our upcoming drop-in sessions to share your feedback, questions, and concerns.–SODO Home Depot Drop-In: Tuesday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at 2701 Utah Ave. S.
–Delridge Community Center Drop-In: Thursday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to noon at 4501 Delridge Way S.W.Can’t make it? We still want to hear from you! Connect with our team in one of the following ways:
Find us at an upcoming event:
–Georgetown Carnival: Saturday, June 14, from noon to 6 p.m., on Airport Way South between South Lucile Street and South Vale Street.
–Duwamish River Festival: Saturday, August 2, from noon to 5 p.m., at 8700 Dallas Ave. S.
-Contact Bibiana Ocheke-Ameh at dwetweafacilities@kingcounty.gov or (206) 477-5604 to have a one-on-one conversation or invite us to a meeting hosted by your group or organizationVisit kingcounty.gov/MDWetWeatherFacilities to learn the latest updates about the project, access all project materials, and sign up for email updates. If you have suggestions for other ways we can work with you and your neighbors, please let us know!
See a fact sheet about the plan here.
Last Tuesday’s gunfire at 25th/Dakota was related to a family dispute, according to documents in the charge filed against the suspect by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. It was all related to one nearby residence, prosecutors say. They filed a felony first-degree assault charge against 23-year-old Jibril Mohamednur. The documents say the suspect is related to the ex-spouse of a 28-year-old man who allegedly drove by the residence Tuesday morning and fired gunshots toward it. Prosecutors allege Mohamednur then grabbed a gun and ran out to shoot at the first man’s vehicle. They say police had responded to the residence twice in the previous two days for situations involving the divorced couple, one in which the ex-husband allegedly “drove in front of the residence brandishing a firearm.” The charging documents say Mohamednur was identified in part by video from a residential security camera. As shown in a police update we reported in a followup, investigators found a “loaded and chambered firearm” in an Audi also linked to the residence, along with clothes they believe Mohamednur was wearing at the time of the shootout. The court documents also show that he has a criminal record including felony convictions for burglary and identity theft. He remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The court documents also say police have probable cause to arrest the ex-husband but hadn’t found him as of the time Mohamednur was charged.
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