West Seattle, Washington
06 Wednesday
Thanks to Andrew for the photo. He’s one of several people who asked about the cloud of black smoke visible in the northeast. It’s a 2-alarm fire involving a boat and covered marina on Lake Union, in the 2100 block of Westlake. (If you’re traveling in that area because of work etc., note that police have fully blocked Westlake in the area.)
Here’s a recycling opportunity of sorts: The White Center Library Guild would love to receive your no-longer-needed books, and asked us to share this announcement on WSB as well as our WC site:
Time to make room for more books? The White Center Library Guild accepts donations of books for our sale shelf.
If you need more space for your books or have left over books from your yard sale, please donate them to the White Center Library Guild. We accept old books, new books, and everything in between.
Just take your donations to the library front desk. Contributions help fund children and adult programs at the White Center Library! Thank you!
The library’s location and hours are here – open until 8 pm tonight.
(Seattle Public Utilities photo)
Thanks for the tip! The transfer station (aka dump) closest to West Seattle will close for more than three weeks in August, and Seattle Public Utilities is trying to get the word out early. Here’s the announcement they’re circulating today:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) will temporarily close the South Transfer Station, located at 130 S. Kenyon Street, from August 4 through August 29, 2025, to complete essential safety upgrades and replace the commercial tipping floor used for waste handling. The closure will affect both public customers and account holders. However, contractors will not be impacted.
This critical project involves replacing 35,000 square feet of commercial tipping floor to maintain safe, efficient operations and protect the well-being of staff and the public. The station is expected to reopen Saturday, August 30, 2025, pending construction progress.
Skip a Trip, Plan Ahead, Know Where to Go
During the closure, SPU recommends that customers postpone trips to the transfer station if possible. A list of temporary alternative locations is listed on the website. These locations may have different hours, additional fees, or not accept certain items, so customers are advised to:
*Visit www.seattle.gov/south-transfer-station for a full list of alternative disposal locations by material type and load size.
*Visit the website of the alternative location to verify hours, fees, and items accepted
*Sort and secure loads properly before visiting any alternative facility.
*Bring smaller loads and be prepared for higher-than-usual traffic at other sites.
*Use the “Where Does It Go?” tool online to explore donation, recycling, and curbside collection options.
Additionally, select construction and demolition (C&D) materials must be recycled and cannot be disposed of in Seattle garbage. Materials such as asphalt, bricks, concrete, metal, untreated wood, and gypsum scrap must go to a recycling facility: DTG Hudson St., MCS Recycling, or DTG Renton. Non-recyclable C&D materials can go to WM Eastmont or Black River. Large trailer loads and hydraulic-lift vehicles should use North Transfer Station or WM Eastmont. King County stations at Bow Lake and Renton will accept only small residential loads from Seattle, and may have additional restrictions, such as fees for mattresses and limits on appliance drop-offs. View completed closure guidance and the most up-to-date information on the project timeline, alternative locations, and FAQs at www.seattle.gov/south-transfer-station.
Items Not Accepted at Seattle or King County Transfer Stations:
Radioactive and Hazardous Waste including Oil Paint (and Containers) and Household Chemicals
Ammo, Firearms, Fireworks, Flares, Explosives, Weapons
Sealed Drums, Fuel/Propane/Oil Tanks, Compressed Gas, Fire Extinguishers
Electronics, TVs or Monitors (CRTs)
Furnaces and parts, Wood stoves, Duct work
Asbestos, or material containing asbestos
Dead animals over 15 lbs (call animal control)
SewageSeattle Public Utilities appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during this necessary closure and encourages everyone to plan ahead, travel light, and dispose smart.
If you haven’t used the transfer station, you might still know it as the huge building just south of the ramp from West Marginal/Holden onto the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge. It was built in the early 2010s.
If you see that group walking in West Seattle in the next few hours, say hi! That’s longtime Make-A-Wish volunteer – and retired Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher – Lou Cutler in the blue Make-A-Wish T-shirt, just before he and supporters left the campus on his 74th-birthday fundraising walk around West Seattle. (We previewed it here on Monday, with backstory on the many years he did fundraising laps with students there.) While taking the photo, we asked Lou what he’s taking along on the big walk, and he replied, “Inspiration!” Part of that is on the sign you see on the right side of the photo – Avery is a 9-year-old who’s had a wish granted before, and is currently battling a relapse. But as Lou declared, “There’s no bravery without ‘Avery’!” So he’s raising money to help make wishes come true for kids like her – not only does he raise money, but he also is a volunteer involved in the logistics of bringing those wishes to life. You can help by donating here. And watch for him on his walking route – his group was starting at Pathfinder on Pigeon Point, then “walk(ing) up the Genesee hill to Avalon and follow(ing) that to Alki and at the south end of Lincoln Park we will return to Pathfinder via Fauntleroy.”
(Added: Seattle Channel video of afternoon announcement event)
11:40 AM: Another tax measure might be on the way to your November ballot, and this time it’s not a property-tax levy – it involves business taxes.
This afternoon, it’ll be announced by Mayor Harrell and citywide City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, who call it the “Seattle Shield.” Excerpted from their advance announcement:
Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8, Citywide) announced a new proposal to lower city taxes for approximately 90% of Seattle businesses that currently pay the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and raise needed new progressive revenue to protect funding to essential services and programs threatened by the Trump administration. …
The City of Seattle currently faces a $251 million deficit across all fund balances, with further financial risk stemming from Trump administration threats to federal funding and economic uncertainty. This proposal would temporarily raise B&O rates to bring in $90 million in net revenues for the City annually with funding dedicated to backfilling essential human services threatened by the Trump administration and maintaining effective ongoing City programs. These include investments in housing vouchers and shelter, food and nutrition access, services for survivors of gender-based violence, and more. With current financial forecasts, this revenue would also allow the City to protect and maintain needed investments in affordable housing. …
How the proposal works:
In 2026, the B&O tax exemption would be increased from $100,000 to $2,000,000, exempting approximately 16,500 small and medium-sized businesses (76% of current taxpayers) from the B&O tax. The City would also create the new B&O deduction, allowing all businesses to only pay B&O taxes on gross receipts above $2 million.
To offset the reduced B&O tax revenues caused by the exemption and deduction, and to address the deficit and Trump administration threats, the B&O tax rate will increase in 2026 from 22 cents per $100 of taxable receipts to 34 cents per $100 for retail, wholesale, and manufacturing companies and from 43 cents per $100 to 65 cents per $100 for service companies.
For the median taxpayer business that has $5 million in gross receipts, they would only pay the B&O tax on $3 million in gross receipts after the $2 million B&O deduction. In this example, their City B&O obligation would go from $15,200 in 2025 to $13,972 in 2026, a decrease of over $1,200.
For a business with $12 million in gross receipts – in the highest quartile of taxpayers – their B&O obligation would go from $31,920 in 2025 to $39,587 in 2026, an increase of $7,667. Approximately 90% of small and medium-sized businesses would see their tax obligation reduced or would be exempted altogether from the tax.
These changes would be effective for four years, from 2026 though 2029, with a councilmanic option to renew them for four additional years from 2030 through 2033.
This would require City Council and voter approval. We’ve asked for the full text of the proposal and will add that when we get it, along with any additional information emerging from the 1 pm event at which this will be officially announced.
5:38 PM: Adding the video from that event atop this story. The full text of the proposal isn’t available yet, so that might have to wait for a followup story. Here’s the entire news release, meantime.
(Bright rose for a gray day, photographed at The Kenney by Janelle Otterholt)
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 (this is a last-minute reminder, so set your calendar for next Wednesday morning too!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
CHAIR YOGA: 10:30 am weekly class at Dragonfly (3270 California SW): $20 drop-in.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.9 feet at 11:18 am.
LOU’S FUNDRAISING WALK: As previewed here, today’s the day retired PE teacher Lou Cutler will walk around the peninsula to raise money for Make-A-Wish, starting at noon from Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point, where he taught for many years. You can donate to help him make kids’ wishes come true by going here!
COLMAN POOL: The open-every-day season also continues at Lincoln Park‘s outdoor, heated salt-water pool! Noon-7 pm; see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOLS: City says they’ll be open today because sunbreaks and 70ish temps are in the afternoon forecast. Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) will be open noon-5:30 pm; Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) will be open noon-7 pm.
KIDS’ HEALTH WEBINAR: Free webinar with Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor), 12:30 pm:
Understanding PANS/PANDAS: The Link between Infection and Sudden OCD or Tics in Kids
with Dr. Emily Lesnak, ND
June 25th 12:30 – 1 pmPANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) is an abrupt onset of obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCD) or restrictive eating behavior in the pediatric population. PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections) is a subset of PANS with a similar symptom picture to PANS and typically triggered by Group A strep infection (GAS). Join Dr. Lesnak as she covers this topic.
Register for this webinar or watch other past webinars here – neighborhood-naturopathic.com/lunch-and-learn
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE INFO SESSION, ONLINE: 12:30 pm, your chance to find out more about South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – our calendar listing has info on how to participate.
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)
(added) DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: The Neighborhood (6503 California SW) is donating 15 percent of proceeds tonight – including takeout – to Gatewood Elementary. 3-9 pm.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something that’s 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).
SUMMER DRAG BINGO: 6 pm at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW), hosted by Jolene Granby.
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
OPEN STUDIO AT POTTERINGS: 6 pm, get creative at the studio! (3400 Harbor 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)
WEST SEATTLE RHODIES FC HOME MATCH: 7 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) vs. Olympia. Fan Appreciation Night – kids 10 and under get in free!
LISTENING PARTY: Hear Lorde‘s new album at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
MUSIC BINGO: Two places to play tonight – at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm, and monthly MINGO at Three9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), 7:30 pm.
REGULAR TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday trivia 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)
COMMUNITY ART NIGHT: 7:30 pm at Wicked Rae’s (3220 California SW) – get hands-on creative! Go here to book your spot.
Got something coming up that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This weekend, young ballet dancers are invited to audition for West Seattle-based Seattle Civic Dance Theatre‘s holiday production. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Who: Seattle Civic Dance Theatre (West Seattle-based dance nonprofit est. 1985)
What: Free, open ballet auditions for children ages 8-18 for an annual community fundraising performance of “The Magical Doll Maker” (its 36th production)
When: Auditions are Sunday, June 29. Beginning level dancers 11 am-12 pm, Intermediate/Advanced level dancers 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Where: Auditions will be held at 15811 Ambaum BLVD SW, Suite 160, Burien
How: To Register: Use this link, access the link through our website, or email Allison Gross, SCDT Board President, at scdtboard@gmail.com
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to the first Wednesday of summer, June 25, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, chance of showers, high in the upper 60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:13 am; sunset will be at 9:11 pm, as late as it gets (and staying there through Saturday).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedule today.
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”. Five days until three-boat service is expected to relaunch (next Monday, June 30).
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus weeknights with Mariners home games (and some other events, like tonight’s FIFA Men’s Club World Cup soccer match … read on) …
STADIUM ZONE
6 pm at Lumen Field, the Club World Cup continues, with FC Internazionale Milano vs. CA River Plate. Here’s the plan for how the West Seattle Water Taxi will run in support of matchgoers.
ROAD WORK
-If you’re driving 35th SW through Gatewood, the road is narrowed this week for utility work, and the NB 21 stop at Elmgrove is closed 9 am-3 pm.
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!
“Cushiony” is the word that we chose, but there are many ways you could describe the cloud formation in Stewart L.’s photo from this morning. “Memorable” works too!The forecast suggests we’ll see more clouds than sun for the next few days.
(WSB photo from 2024 West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade)
The biggest scheduled event in West Seattle on the Fourth of July will again be the Kids’ Parade through North Admiral, and it’s only 10 days away, so we’re publishing another reminder! Kids of all ages and their families can be part of the parade just by showing up – the gathering point is 44th/Sunset [map], starting time is 10 am. The Admiral Neighborhood Association now presents this community-created tradition, which proceeds on feet and wheels (bikes, scooters, wagons, strollers) along a few blocks of North Admiral, then crosses California SW and ends at Hamilton Viewpoint Park for games, food and treat trucks, and sack races. It all usually wraps up about noon, so you have tons of time to move on to whatever else you’re doing on the holiday. The parade is powered by donations, volunteers, and sponsors (we’re the media sponsor), so if you would rather help than watch or participate, scroll down to the end of this page for the volunteering contact, and/or donate to ANA here!
(Photos courtesy South Seattle College)
Mayor Harrell visited the Georgetown satellite campus of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) today to sign the bill sending the expansion/renewal Families, Education, Preschool, Promise Levy to the November ballot. This is a 6-year, $1.3 billion levy; as we reported when the mayor proposed it back in April, it’s projected to cost the median-assessed-value Seattle homeowner $654 a year, while the 2018 version of the levy – which is expiring – was described as costing the median-value homeowner $249 a year. Among the speakers today was SSC president Dr. Monica Brown:
The “Promise” in the levy’s name is its big tie to SSC, as it will fund the Seattle Promise program offering free tuition at SSC and its two sibling Seattle Colleges. The city’s news release about today’s signing event has more on what the levy will go toward, as does this fact sheet.
This afternoon, the City Council passed legislation allowing the Downtown Seattle Association to “install and operate interactive media kiosks in neighborhood business districts around Seattle.” According to documents from today’s council agenda, the kiosks could look like this – 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide:
The West Seattle Junction is one of the business districts specified in the bill as a potential recipient of the kiosks. But that doesn’t guarantee you’ll see one or more here. The bill says vendor Smart City will install 30 downtown before the World Cup, then 50 more, including 20 “among Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in Ballard, U District, SODO, and West Seattle Junction.” So we asked West Seattle Junction Association executive director Chris Mackay about the local plan, and she said there’s nothing definite – the WSJA board first wants to see how they look downtown, before deciding on whether to exercise what Mackay calls “the option to get one.”
The Downtown Seattle Association says benefits of the kiosks would include “free wi-fi” and “multilingual wayfinding.” As for whether they’d be a revenue generator, the council-staff analysis says in part:
DSA estimates that Kiosks will generate $1.1 million in advertising revenue for the initial 30-kiosk deployment, collected by the DSA, with use limited to public purposes, governed by MOU between the City and DSA. The MOU also provides that revenue generated above the $1.1 million estimate from the initial 30 kiosk deployment and from the optional 30 Kiosk expansionlocated in the MID would be collected by the City, and the optional 20 kiosk expansion in BIAlocations would generate revenue for BIAs. Revenue projections for the City and the 20 BIA expansion kiosks are not known. Revenues generated to the City will be deposited in the City’s General Fund to support general government services, which could include public safety, community investments and maintenance activities in and around the right-of-way.
The council vote was 6-2; those voting no were Councilmembers Alexis Mercedes Rinck and Cathy Moore, while Councilmember Dan Strauss was absent.
(WSB photo)
You might already have seen the flyers posted around the peninsula. West Seattle Indivisible is planning another rally on streetcorners along California SW, from Admiral to Morgan Junction, this Saturday (June 28). Here’s the explanation they sent:
West Seattle Indivisible presents:
RECLAIM THE FLAG Street RallySaturday, June 28, 2025
12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
California Ave SW from Admiral to Morgan JunctionFresh off the NO KINGS March, let’s keep building strength in numbers and reclaim our flag as a symbol of democracy, liberty, and justice.
Bring your:
* US Flags
* Noisemakers
* Pro-democracy signs
* Kiddos — this is a family-friendly event!We’ll line California Ave SW from Admiral to Morgan Junction, spreading the message block by block.
Let’s make freedom loud, proud, and visible in West Seattle. See you there!
Back in April, the group drew hundreds to more than 20 streetcorners in West Seattle for its first rally/protest.
(WSB photo from April’s Firefighter Story Time at Delridge Library)
Last time a library in West Seattle hosted Firefighter Story Time, a reader lamented not seeing an announcement sooner – so in case you haven’t seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, the next one is this Friday. This time, Firefighter Story Time is set for 11 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond). As always, it’s meant not only for kids to learn about fire safety but also to see firefighters and their gear up close, so that they might be less scared in an emergency situation. No preregistration needed – kids and parents/caregivers can just show up.
P.S. If you miss this one, you can also hop over the ridge to South Park Library (8604 8th Ave. S.) for Firefighter Story Time at 10:30 am August 5.
Today we welcome Nucor Seattle, the steel mill that’s been in West Seattle more than a century [map], as a new WSB sponsor. New local sponsors have the opportunity to tell you about themselves and what they do – so here’s the message Nucor has for you:
West Seattle is the capital of recycling in the Pacific Northwest
Whether it is residents sorting materials into the correct bins or volunteer pick-ups to reduce litter at our beautiful beaches and greenbelts in the area, our community works hard to reduce waste. What you may not realize is that our community is also home to the largest recycler in Washington, Nucor Seattle, and that as a company, Nucor Corporation is the largest recycler in North America. Recycled steel scrap makes up nearly 100% of the steel products that we produce in West Seattle. Our team, which is more than 300 teammates strong, makes safety our number one value every single day, and environmental sustainability in steel making is the focus and future of our company. We work hard to continue our journey of being some of the greenest steel produced anywhere in the world.
A steel-making neighbor
West Seattle is a unique place. There has been a steel mill here since 1905 – Nucor took over the mill in 2002. The neighborhood has grown and changed around us, but we don’t take our community for granted. We support local organizations that improve quality of life, and that strengthen efforts of people in this community to take care of one another. Nucor Seattle is also proud to host several interns, and we are focused on partnering with local high schools to foster the education and career development of future generations.
Looking toward a more sustainable future
Recently, we shared in the WSB a project of removing three decommissioned smokestacks. Those old smokestacks represented a bygone era. Appropriately, they were recycled a few feet from where they stood and will get a fresh start when they are repurposed for other structures. In the months and years ahead, further investments will be taking place in both the aesthetics and the operations of the mill. Nucor Seattle operations have always been a showcase of the future of steel manufacturing. We operate on carbon neutral power, abide by strict regulations, and are led by a team that prioritizes environmental stewardship. We wanted to make sustainability an employee benefit as well, and every individual on our team has access to a Orca Passport that gives them unlimited access to transit options throughout the entire region.
We might not have a front door to knock on, but if you haven’t had a chance to visit us yet, we hope to see you soon. Interested visitors (must be 18 years or older), please call 206-933-2222 to set up a tour.
We thank Nucor Seattle for supporting independent community-news coverage for West Seattle by sponsoring WSB. If your business/organization is interested in joining the WSB sponsor team, please contact our advertising coordinator Annette at WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!
(Western Polished Lady Beetle on lavender frond, photographed by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s our list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC-SAFETY COMMITTEE: The meeting that just began includes the continued consideration of confirming Shon Barnes as Seattle Police Chief, and a new proposed penalty for graffiti vandalism. Here’s the agenda, which has all the document links. You can watch via Seattle Channel.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: All are welcome at this 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.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Continuing through Labor Day, the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is open every day, with sessions between noon and 7 pm. Fee.
WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) will be open today, noon-7 pm. Free.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course. Scheduled speaker: Erik Bell of A Cleaner Alki. (4470 35th SW).
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. Agenda items today include approval of an agreement to install digital kiosks in business districts around the city, including The Junction.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 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.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK 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 question “where can you play trivia in West Seattle Tuesday nights?” – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), 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!
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to the first Tuesday of summer, June 24, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Increasing clouds, high in mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:13 am and is now getting later each day; sunset will be at 9:11 pm, as late as it gets (and staying there through Saturday).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedule today.
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”. Six days until three-boat service is expected to relaunch (next Monday, June 30).
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus weeknights with Mariners home games (and some other events).
…
ROAD WORK
-If you’re driving 35th SW through Gatewood, the road is narrowed this week for utility work, and the NB 21 stop at Elmgrove is closed 9 am-3 pm.
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!
Two more reader reports. First:
Around 6:00 pm, an attempted car robbery on 51st Ave SW next to Genesee Hill Elementary.
3 individuals – 2 white males wearing black ski masks, black snow pants and black and white ski coats, one female wearing a N95 mask — attempted to steal our black 2006 Audi.
They were driving a white 4-door Hyundai Elantra, no license plates.
One male was inside the car and was able to start the car when we ran after them, they were able to get away and drive toward Genesse Hill street.
They looked young, possibly in their late teens. This has been reported to the police.
Report # is 25-174087. And separately, we received this report:
Reported this evening around 8 PM on June 23 by a neighbor:
Corner of California Ave and Holly St. right on the corner where the hair salon is across from McDonalds…
A white Hyundai Elantra with paper temp WA plates – and 4 what looked like young people speed down that street past me toward Fauntleroy – and all 4 were wearing black ski masks, and they flipped me off as they drove by.
Didn’t see where they went as by the time I got to the corner, they were gone.
Please be on alert; the vehicle could’ve been stolen or involved in a burglary.
Sent by a reader who asked to remain anonymous:
Today at approximately 3:00 pm I was heading south on Walnut near the Hiawatha wading pool. I sensed someone was following me but I didn’t turn around to look. There was no one in the park that I could approach as a safe zone. As I approached Stevens I could still hear the individual behind me.
When I reached Fairmount and Stevens I turned and I saw a man with a knife in his hand asking for my bag. I offered my bag of groceries but he wanted my backpack. I told him no several times and he backed away as a couple was approaching nearby.
Description: White man, late 20s, early 30s, brown hair. I think he had facial hair but not 100% certain.
Wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood on.Knife blade was approximately 5″ with a light wood handle. The knife was not your standard kitchen knife but perhaps a hunting-type knife??
He was last seen walking west on Stevens toward WSHS. I spoke with a police officer and a report was filed.
We’ll take this opportunity to remind you of two more free SPD-led personal-safety classes next month:
Thursday, July 17th
6 pm – 8 pm
At the SW Precinct – Community Meeting Room – 2300 SW Webster St
Register here : wsjunction.wufoo.com/forms/r1okt4zf1moho5sMonday, July 28th
6 pm – 8 pm
Virtual – Teams link to be provided before event
Register here : wsjunction.wufoo.com/forms/rus05xi17w2lnw
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle Junction FC drew their fourth match of the season Sunday against Tacoma Stars FC. But what has been an otherwise difficult month of games had a bright spot: A community event hosted by Junction FC to highlight local artists, coinciding with their newest merchandise release, a line inspired by well-known West Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen.
(Photo by Erik Sandvik)
It was a tensely fought game with three injuries, mostly springing from a series of close shaves in both team’s goal boxes. Junction FC managed to keep up a strong defense, as goalkeeper Liam Ryan fended off several close calls in the first twenty minutes, and pressed the offense with an especially close shot by James Lear at the thirty-minute mark. The game resulted in yet another draw for both teams, though Junction FC managed to hold up with one player out of commission for the second half of the match.
Sunday’s match also marked the release of Junction FC’s third kit (a version of the team’s uniform fans can purchase and wear) inspired by Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen. The kit draws from his experience as a street artist, moving from graffiti into professional mural painting. “I’ve designed my own shirts, but never a jersey,” Hansen said. “I knew I wanted to do something colorful and incorporate actual spray paint.”
The jerseys incorporate layered spray-paint effects, giving them an identity unique to Hansen’s style, and to the West Seattle artist community.
(Photo courtesy Junction FC)
During the game, attendees were able to browse through several artist stalls set up behind the bleachers, purchase Junction FC merchandise and add to the community mural. The artist alley was a mix of established painters, community organizations and up-and-coming artists. At the end of the alley was Lora Radford, the lead artist of Potterings (WSB sponsor), a new pottery studio in the Harbor Avenue ActivSpace.
Radford started doing pottery as a form of self-expression, and as a self-described “community builder,” wanted to bring the experience to her community. Since opening in May, she’s been able to help people without any prior experience enjoy pottery.
“I decided that potters needed a place,” Radford said, “If you took a pottery class in middle school and you want to make a gift for a friend or a piece for yourself, this is the perfect place. That’s what we’re about.”
Further up the alley was Sunshine Arts and Crafts, owned by artists Marcia and Dennis Schramm. They moved back to West Seattle recently from Colorado, and have found painting as a hobby in their retirement. Marcia has been painting with acrylics for three years, and Dennis painted a set of Seattle-themed lazy susans.
Setting up an elaborate metalwork piece across the walkway, West Seattle native Jerry Austin is the founder of Mindful Metal, specializing in metalwork installations that utilize recycled metal pipes. Austin started his work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Finally, sitting next to the Junction FC booth was Johnny Gillespie. Sunday’s event was his first time tabling. Gillespie has been drawing since he was a kid, and focuses on artwork that centers on animals.
Next home match for Junction FC (0-4-4) is Sunday (June 29) at 2 pm vs. Portland Bangers – tickets are available here.
(SDOT camera image from Sunday, via X)
4:37 PM: Among the weekend incidents we’ve been following up on today is the hours-long westbound lane closure that backed up traffic on the Spokane Street Viaduct (the official name of the east half of the West Seattle Bridge) on Sunday. It wasn’t announced in advance, and was only explained as “construction work.” So today we asked SDOT for more information, and whether any other work would follow. Here’s what we just received via email:
Crews were doing emergency repairs on the Spokane Street Viaduct to inspect and fix crash-cushion barriers damaged in an incident. It wasn’t possible to provide advance notice — but we understand the disruption this caused and appreciate the public’s patience.
There will be follow-up work needed to complete the repairs. That work will be scheduled in advance, and we will share the details publicly once we have confirmed dates.
We’ve asked for more information on the “incident” in question, as we’re not seeing anything logged in the hours before the emergency work.
5:37 PM: An SDOT spokesperson replied to that followup: “The damage was caused by a previous crash. Crews made the repairs Sunday because that was when the vendor was available, and they needed to be on site as well.” That reopens the question of why no advance alert.
(Screengrab from SDOT camera)
3:43 PM: Avoid the Highland Park Way hill for a while. SFD has arrived to deal with a very smoky car vehicle fire that’s in the southbound lanes just north of Holden.
3:47 PM: Now that the smoke has cleared, the vehicle with the fire appears to be a food truck. Both sides of the street are blocked right now. No word of any injuries.
3:54 PM: The live camera shows uphill traffic still waiting north of the crash scene; firefighters have asked that police be dispatched to help sort out the traffic situation.
3:56 PM: And now traffic is getting by, one lane each way.
5:43 PM: The burned truck (we couldn’t see its name) has been towed, but city crews have remained to deal with the foamy mess in the outside uphill lane, but they may be clear soon.
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