West Seattle, Washington
05 Tuesday
The West Seattle Junction’s annual Pride Month display of rainbow flags is happening today. The West Seattle Junction Association told us they chose the date because of the celebration that VAIN is leading during tonight’s Art Walk – meet up at the shop (4513 California SW) 6-6:30 pm, then head south to California/Alaska for celebratory dancing.
The Junction’s first rainbow-flag display was in 2019, after an “adopt-a-flag” fundraiser.
(WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn from last month’s Peony Festival)
Events like last month’s Peony Festival bring many visitors to the Seattle Chinese Garden on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. But you might not be aware that it’s more than an event venue – it’s a cultural touchstone, and it’s embarking on a new fundraising campaign announced at its annual banquet last weekend. Today the Garden shares this announcement about what happened at the banquet and what it’s raising money for:
At a time when tensions between the national governments of the U.S. and China have been escalating, three hundred people came to the Chinatown-International District last weekend to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Seattle Chinese Garden and to reaffirm our people-to-people ties with Seattle’s Sister City of Chongqing. “With the rise in international tensions and anti-Asian prejudice, there has never been a more important time to educate people about the beauty and importance of Chinese culture and to increase public understanding of Chinese communities locally and around the world,” said Evelyn Yenson, a member of the Chinese Garden board.
Former Governor Gary Locke was even more passionate in his remarks to those in attendance, “We need to finish the Chinese Garden to show our pride in Chinese culture and heritage and to fight back against current efforts to brand everyone of Chinese heritage as somehow a potential spy for the People’s Republic of China or un-American. We are proud of our Chinese heritage, and we are loyal Americans.”
During the evening, the Chinese Garden board honored Jerry and Charlene Lee for their long service to the community and for their steadfast support for the garden. Representatives of the City of Seattle and King County read proclamations in honor of the Chinese Garden and the Lees.
Paige Miller, a Chinese Garden board member, announced a bold plan to raise over $30 million to build out the Central Garden including a teahouse, four-story tower, scholar’s studio, and multiple smaller buildings, ponds, and Mirror Lake. Last year the City of Seattle put $5 million in its budget for the capital campaign. Combined with Chongqing’s commitment to provide Chinese building materials and skilled artisan labor and the other pledged gifts from individuals, the campaign has reached $15 million in pledges, nearly halfway to its goal. “We are so excited to be nearly halfway to our goal as we publicly announce this campaign,” said Lincoln Ferris, president of the board. Jerry Lee, in his remarks, urged the community to rally to support the garden. “Now is the time to make it happen,” he urged.
The Seattle Chinese Garden was conceived in the mid-1980s as a joint project between Seattle and Chongqing, a city of thirty three million people in a mountainous region of southwest China. The garden is located on the campus of South Seattle College in West Seattle, high on a ridge with a view over the harbor toward downtown Seattle. The first construction began in 1999. The garden’s mission is to celebrate classical Chinese culture through the activities in the garden and to serve as a living bridge of friendship between the people of Chongqing and the people of Seattle.
Proclamations from the City of Seattle and King County were presented in honor of the garden’s 35th anniversary. For more information about the Chinese Garden and the campaign visit the website at seattlechinesegarden.org.
(From WSB files, reader photo of fireworks debris collected post-Fourth at Walt Hundley Playfield)
Though the Fourth of July is still three weeks away, Seattle Parks has gone public with this year’s plan for keeping lights on at some fields to try to deter fireworks use. This year’s plan includes lights for July 3 and 4 at the same four West Seattle fields as last year, but this time the lights at the three synthetic-turf fields on the list will stay on an extra four hours. Here’s the announcement – we’ve excised the non-West Seattle locations:
Two of West Seattle’s artificial-turf fields, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex and Madison Middle School, are owned by Seattle Public Schools, which has not announced its plans (we’re checking). NCSWAC had last year’s most significant fireworks-related damage.
(Photo by Susan Whiting Kemp)
Big day and night! Here are our Thursday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can look ahead any time – this daily list is just a reminder):
Q&A DROP-IN FOR OVERFLOW-CONTROL PROJECT: 10 am-noon, visit Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) to talk with project-team members about the new Combined Sewer Overflow project proposed to include a 7-million-gallon storage tank off West Marginal Way SW.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Spring gardening season continues! The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
ALL ABOUT THE FIFA WORLD CUP: One year away from the mega-tournament that will include matches in Seattle! What do you need to know? The guest at today’s noon West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) will explain.
DESIGN YOUR WORK LIFE: Free presentation at noon at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get the details of where they’re playing today.
DROP-IN CHESS: 4-5:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), youth up to 18 years old are invited to drop in and play.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, JUNE EDITION: Some events start as early as 4 pm; the major window is 5-8 pm. Here’s the preview we published on Wednesday including this month’s venue list for art and food/drink specials.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three regular Thursday night events here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Swagg-N-Wagon.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Last but never least, HPCS is the starting point for running 3 miles, or walking a shorter path, in the neighborhood near HPCS with the Run Club, leaving from the store at 6:30 pm, returning for beverages – info here.
SOUTH PARK SAFETY: Walking tour with SDOT exploring future pedestrian possibilities. Meet at 4:30 pm at 7th Avenue South and South Henderson.
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle! And it’s a West Seattle Art Club venue tonight, too!
DENNY IMS POETRY SLAM: 6 pm at the Denny International Middle School Galleria (2701 SW Kenyon), see and hear dozens of student poets perform their work. Community members invited!
JUNCTION PRIDE CELEBRATION: 6 pm, meet up at VAIN (4513 California SW), then at 6:30 pm, head to Walk-All-Ways to dance and celebrate!
DUWAMISH CEMETERY HISTORY: Join Invisible Histories for tonight’s Words, Writers, Southwest Stories, online at 6 pm, to learn about this almost-forgotten history. Register here to get the link.
LEARN ABOUT SENIOR LIVING OPTIONS: As previewed Wednesday, 6 pm panel discussion/Q&A at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton) – free to attend, RSVP requested if you can.
THE ART OF MUSIC: Three performances tonight to complement the Art Walk, all running 6 pm-7:45 pm – one in Admiral, one in The Junction, one in Morgan Junction. See the lineup here.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run starts at The Good Society in Admiral (California/Lander).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Prefer to walk? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC IN THE JUNCTION: 6-9 pm, Patrick Rifflin performs Thursdays at Pegasus Pizza in The Junction (4520 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIE: 6:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
SEA LEMON AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm performance, free, all ages. Signing too, if you’ve bought the album! (4559 California SW)
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts spinning early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Lady Coco, 9 pm.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin)
~300 of our area’s young adults are waking up today for their first full day as high-school graduates. They are the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2025, whose commencement was celebrated last night at Memorial Stadium downtown. With the school band playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” faculty and about-to-be-grads made their grand entrance, with Sealth principal Hope Perry and School Board president Gina Topp leading the procession:
(WSB video by Tracy Record)
This was Perry’s first graduation ceremony as CSIHS principal.
She spoke of how proud she is of her students, for their questioning, their advocating, her certainty that their “resilience will create a community of leaders,”
Questions were at the heart of the speech given by featured student speaker Ryan Tran – “who am I? … who am I supposed to be, who am I meant to be … who are we?”
He also told the parents and guardians looking on from the Memorial Stadium stands, “As much as you are proud of us, we are proud of you.”
The featured staff speaker, teacher Angelia Thornton, told the Class of ’25, “You can pave your own way – you don’t have to follow.”
Then, what those on the field and in the stands had been awaiting – the reading of names as the seniors streamed onto and off the stage:
Emma Haynes led the tassel move:
Shortly thereafter, after some engaged in the ceremonial cap toss, it was time to bid farewell to the faculty as the new grads exited the stadium on the way to the next chapter of their lives.
P.S. The Sealth ceremony included a bonus performance by the band, directed by Joey Roberts:
If you want to see the entire ceremony, here’s the recording of the district’s stream. SPS is streaming all ceremonies, including West Seattle High School‘s upcoming graduation, set for 5 pm Tuesday (June 17).
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, June 12, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, then clearing, high near 70. Today’s sunrise was again at 5:11 am (as early as it gets, and staying there a while); sunset will be again at 9:07 pm.
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
Many local independent/parochial schools conclude their school year tomorrow (Friday, June 13). Seattle Public Schools‘ last day is next Wednesday. For neighboring districts – Vashon Island gets out June 24, Highline Public Schools on June 25. Already out: Summit Atlas (charter middle/high school) in Arbor Heights.
TRANSIT TODAY
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). 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”. Three-boat service is still expected to relaunch on June 30th.
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!
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE: Police have received reports of possible gunfire in three different areas in the past hour and a half, and just confirmed two. First, police found one casing near Fauntleroy/Findlay. Second, they just found “multiple” casings in the 2300 block of Alki SW. No injuries reported in connection with either, and no other details yet. (The other report was around 10:30 pm, possible gunfire heard in Westwood, Gatewood, and Upper Fauntleroy, but no evidence turned up in that.) … 12:34 AM UPDATE: Two people have reported vehicle damage related to the Alki gunfire.
One other Crime Watch note:
PEEPING: Sent tonight by a reader:
This morning at 5:30 am, I found a male wearing a black hoodie crouched outside my bedroom window, looking in while I was getting dressed. My window was partially open. My outdoor area is enclosed by a wall that he jumped over. He exited onto California Avenue between Brandon and Dawson. The police responded quickly, and I’ve filed a report.
Tomorrow is the second Thursday in June, so it’s West Seattle Art Walk night! That means dozens of venues around the peninsula have art and/or music and/or food/drink specials to entice you to come in:
This month’s Art Walk also will feature a Pride celebration organized by VAIN – meet up at their shop 6 pm (4513 California SW), then head south to Walk-All-Ways at 6:30 pm for dancing and general revelry.
For art highlights, see this month’s roundup on the Art Walk site, and check out this preview offered by Art Walk director Molly Ryan:
We have many student art pieces from Alki Elementary, thanks to Davina Dilley, the Alki Elementary Art Teacher. They will be displayed at West Seattle Arcade, Alki Hair, Alki Coffee Company, Blue Moon Burgers, Gary’s Place, Happy Lemon, and the Log House Museum – Thank you to the Alki Elementary students for making beautiful artwork for the businesses!
We will also have the West Seattle High School Media Arts Program showing at one of our sponsors, West Seattle Realty, located in Admiral Junction. Students from both Beginning and Advanced Photography and Graphic Design classes, as well as projects from Technology Student Association State competition will be shown.
Our Poster artist, Beverly Hill, will be displayed at Compass Real Estate in the Alaska Junction. Her work is phenomenal. She will be displaying pieces from her new collection, Industrial Scouting, which shouldn’t be missed! Also in Alaska Junction, former Art Walk leader Reeve Washburn will be at partner Windermere West Metro, and will be hosting a giveaway of Atalanta, one of her 8″x8″ collage on cradled panel! Partner Verity will be showing Sarah Ann Hamilton, with her collection called Honor Over Everything. Partner John L Scott will have three artists from Rain City Clay, in addition to musical performances by Mark Myzen. There will be a pop up market at partner Jet City Labs, featuring 8 different creators with pieces that would make amazing gifts for any loved one in your life!
Desmond Hansen, the prolific West Seattle street artist, will be displaying his work at partner Canna north of Morgan Junction. In addition, at partner NOR Design & Construction, Kristy Lewellen will be showing pieces from a private family collection that is over 60 years old – and all pieces will be priced under $100 (rare for original artwork!).
We hope to see everyone visiting businesses in their neighborhood!
One more big part of tomorrow night’s Art Walk – another set of mini-concerts, 6-7:45 pm, comprising The Art of Music, curated by John Redenbaugh. See and preview the lineup here and figure out who you want to go see and hear tomorrow night!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you live, work, shop, study, or travel through Fauntleroy, you should be paying attention to the upcoming project to replace and expand the Fauntleroy Creek culvert beneath 45th SW.
So far, the Fauntleroy Community Association fears, not enough people are, despite the inevitability that, as FCA president Frank Immel observed last night, “it’s going to be a real mess in the community.”
Above is our recording of last night’s hour-long meeting with the latest information about the project, presented by Seattle Public Utilities, hosted by the FCA as the first half of its regular monthly board meeting. Anticipating stronger community interest, FCA moved the meeting to a big room at The Hall at Fauntleroy and set out dozens of chairs – but only a handful were filled.
Here’s the slide deck used for the briefing (plus a few pages at the end regarding the California culvert, on which work will start no sooner than 2028, after 45th is complete). Briefing toplines:
(Image from east-facing traffic cam zoomed to crash vicinity)
Avoid 14th/Roxbury for a while; at least one eastbound lane is blocked by the response for what officers have reported was a hit-run crash involving an SUV and motorcycle. The motorcycle rider was being checked out by medics, but was not believed to have major injuries; officers had a plate number for the owner of the SUV suspected to have left the scene and were going to check an associated address,
(Future Molly Moon’s, as seen this afternoon on California/Alaska traffic cam)
14+ months, and one location change, after announcing their West Seattle plans with a window banner, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream has set the date for its grand opening in The Junction: June 21. Here’s the announcement we received this afternoon:
Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream is excited to announce the Grand Opening of their newest scoop shop in the beautiful neighborhood of West Seattle at the Junction where California Ave SW and SW Alaska St intersect, next Saturday, June 21st!
The Grand Opening schedule:
3 pm: Ribbon cutting ceremony with the West Seattle Junction Association
3 pm: Molly Moon’s is open to the public!
3-5 pm: Free kids’ scoops for kids 12 and under
11 pm: Closed for the dayThe newest scoop shop in the Molly Moon’s family will open daily at 12 pm and close at 11 pm seven days a week. The shop will feature Molly Moon’s full menu of homemade ice creams, toppings, sundaes, and milkshakes. …
Every Molly Moon’s scoop shop partners with a food bank in the neighborhood where it’s located. The new West Seattle location is no exception! Through the company’s nonprofit, the Anna Banana Milk Fund, 1% of annual sales—plus customer donations—are distributed to these local food bank partners. For the new West Seattle location, Molly Moon’s will be supporting the work of the West Seattle Food Bank, which has been operating since 1983.
The new ice-cream shop was originally moving into a spot a bit further north, then changed the plan and settled on the former Cupcake Royale space instead.
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).
| 5 COMMENTS