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    WEST SEATTLE PROTESTS: Hundreds on the corners

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    WS LIGHT RAIL: Two new developments

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    WS GARAGE SALE DAY: 5 more days to sign up!

WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY! 29 things to know
February 15, 2025 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY! 29 things to know
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by James Bratsanos from a recent morning)

Here are notes for your Saturday, mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar:

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the regular Saturday morning run.

HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free community meditation, 9 am at Inner Alchemy‘s sanctuary/studio (3618 SW Alaska).

INTRODUCTORY WALK: Prelude to the next event – meet at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, 9:30 am, for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Then at 10 am, you’re invited to join others for the weekly walk in Lincoln Park (also meet at 47th/Fauntleroy).

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

GRIEFSHARE: If you have lost someone close to you, this is for you. Second week of 13-week series today, 10:30 am, Grace Church (10323 28th SW).

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – “This is a free, weekly, in-person active writing group grounded in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. It is a safe, critique-free space. Writers of all levels welcome, 16 and up.” Our calendar listing has location and RSVP info.

FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30-11 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), meant for kids 0-5.

WASHINGTON STATE BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTE: Open 11 am-6 pm so you can see the Black History Month art exhibit at the new history institution headquartered at 2656 42nd SW.

CHOCOLATE BEER WEEK: That’s what The Beer Junction (4511 California SW) is all about right now!

FAMILY READING TIME: Canceled again today because Paper Boat Booksellers is moving.

(WSB photo from Feather in the Wind, during Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk)

ARTISTS’ GROUP SHOW: Last of three days for five artists’show/sale “Feather in the Wind,” upstairs annex at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), noon-6 pm.

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the newest exhibit, about the West Duwamish Greenbelt! (61st/Stevens)

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: At 12:30 pm, the Chief Sealth IHS boys play at and against Renton HS (400 S. 2nd); the West Seattle HS girls play at and against Mercer Island HS (9100 SE 42nd) at 3 pm; the WSHS boys play at and against Roosevelt HS (1419 NE 66th) at 7 pm.

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

SAUNA & SOUNDS: PNW Mobile Spa brings their portable sauna to Future Primitive in White Center (9832 14th SW), 1-9 pm, with live music 3-7 pm – more info and ticketing link in our calendar listing.

HAND-BUILD CLAY ANIMALS: 1-3 pm class at The Clay Cauldron with Kirsten. (5214 Delridge Way SW)

FREE MASSAGE: Walk-in clinic at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), 3-5 pm.

FOR FAMILIES WITH BABIES: 3-4:30 pm at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW) – Pre-Crawlers Motor Skills Play Group.

THE GOOD SOCIETY TURNS 5: Special feature of the anniversary weekend today – smash-burger pop-up 4-7 pm. (California/Lander)

ROLLER DERBY: 5 pm, The Heartbreak Brawl: Rainier Roller Riot v. South Sound Roller Derby at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW) – online tickets are sold out.

LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: Roo Forrest and Friends play “an eclectic mix of originals and covers” 6-8 pm at the coffeehouse (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.

ASTRA LUMINA: The illuminated walk at Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge continues. 6 pm and later entry times; ticket cost varies. (6000 16th SW)

(Cast members of ‘Covenant,’ photo courtesy ArtsWest)

SECOND WEEKEND FOR ‘COVENANT’: See the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW) at 7:30 pm; get tickets online here.

LIVE AT KENYON HALL: Joseph Giant performs at his record-release party at 7:30 pm, featuring Brent Carpenter; tickets here. (7904 35th SW)

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: “All-female power-rock show” with Full Ripley, Kills Across the River, Loud Motor, with special guest Bart Cameron, doors 7 pm, music 8 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: Starting at 9 pm, catch Lefto & Supreme La Rock. (4547 California SW)

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday night singing starts at 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)

West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event is welcome to be listed on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS girls’ basketball team starts district play
February 15, 2025 1:50 am
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS girls’ basketball team starts district play
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Sealth’s Keimani Proctor-Mills)

Story and photos by Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Friday night, the Chief Sealth International High School girls’ basketball team played the opening game of the District 2A tournament against Foster High School (Tukwila) at the Sealth gym.

The Seahawks had to play without one of their leading scorers and shot blockers, as Fahima Mohamed was unavailable due to injury. Early in the game, the play was a bit sloppy as both teams turned the ball over repeatedly.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, Sealth’s Mackenna Mack (above) made some nice moves to get free underneath for a couple of quick buckets. But Foster was able to capitalize on some defensive lapses on the baseline and strong three-point shooting to take a 33-16 lead at the half.

Down by double digits, Sealth stepped up the defensive intensity in the second half. The Seahawks’ Alysse Bland (above) put on an offensive clinic, combining drives to the basket with deadly three-point shooting. Each time Sealth went on a run, Foster answered back with a clutch 3-pointer. Late in the game, Bland and Bethel Bisrat drained back-to-back three pointers to pull Sealth within 5 points of the lead, but the Seahawks ran out of time, losing by a final score of 61-54. Alysse Bland finished with 20 points, while Mackenna Mack and Hannah Mueller contributed 8 points each.

(Sealth’s Dajah Johnson)

The District Tournament has a double-elimination format. Head coach Mario Martinez‘s Metro-champion Sealth girls could still make the State Tournament by winning out in the consolation bracket. They will play again on Tuesday night at 7 pm at a location to be determined.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: ‘Prolific shoplifter’ charged; robbery suspect released; tools taken in garage burglary
February 14, 2025 9:07 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three more West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

‘PROLIFIC SHOPLIFTER’ CHARGED: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges this week against 28-year-old Christopher K. Takata, described as a “prolific shoplifter who has routinely targeted businesses in North Seattle, Downtown Seattle, and West Seattle.” He also frequently alters his appearance – above are some of the photos from the charging documents.In the case of the two counts of organized retail theft just filed against Takata, they involved an investigation into nine thefts over 77 days from Ulta Beauty stores including the one in Westwood Village, in 2023 and 2024, with a loss totaling more than $8,000. Investigators say Takata usually steals fragrances, and has an arrest/conviction record with more than 30 incidents – not just theft – going back to 2011, when he was 15. What we don’t know is where Takata is now; his most recent local booking was at the SCORE misdemeanor jail, booked January 31 and released the next day. Store employees and managers are quoted in the charging documents as saying they know him on sight; a manager at the North Seattle Ulta store estimated he’d taken a cumulative total of $42,000+ from that store alone.

ROBBERY SUSPECT RELEASED: The man arrested in an incident that caught attention at a busy intersection last Sunday has been released without charges being filed, though they are still a future possibility. The arrest happened on Sunday afternoon at the Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection; the police-report narrative says the incident started a few blocks east, in the 3600 block of SW Alaska, as a dispute over a cell phone. One man took it from the other and allegedly threatened to shoot the other one, which is what made it a robbery. The victim chased him to the intersection, which is where police got involved; they found the 65-year-old suspect inside the T-Mobile store. He was found to have a pocket knife, but not a gun. He spent three days in jail before being released; the narrative says the victim did not want to press charges.

GARAGE BURGLARY: Reader report, received tonight from Sara:

I wanted to alert my Seaview neighbors to a garage break-in. They took all my power tools, batteries and made a mess. This happened sometime Thursday night or Friday morning ( 2/13-2/14). I wanted to give special thanks to my neighbor(s) who reported it to SPD. I was working all night and didn’t know about the break in until I got home in the morning. Thank you, neighbors, for looking out for me! I’m so grateful.

P.S. Your next chance to talk with police at a local community meeting is likely Thursday (February 20), the monthly Alki Community Council meeting, 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).

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WEST SEATTLE VALENTINE’S DAY: 2 heart-y photos
February 14, 2025 6:44 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

From the WSB inbox this Valentine’s Day:

Jerry Simmons photographed the Steller’s Jay, above; below, Gabe Cadwell shares the pic of “Cupid Lilly”:

Hope you and yours are having a love-ly Valentine’s night.

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FOLLOWUP: Admiral Bridge work not close to completion after all; here’s what SDOT says extended the timeline
February 14, 2025 3:49 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photos, this afternoon)

3:49 PM: The Admiral Way Bridge earthquake-strengthening project is still months away from completion. We’d been pursuing an update from SDOT after noticing the project webpage said they expected to wrap up within weeks; SDOT now says that was a mistake (and has corrected the project page) – their estimate for completion remains “summer,” as we’ve previously reported. Here’s what’s ahead:

Admiral Way SW (on top of the bridge)
The work zone will change periodically over the next several months, but our construction plan is to leave at least one lane of Admiral Way SW on the bridge open in each direction. Both sidewalks will also remain open throughout construction.

Fairmount Ave SW Closure (below the bridge)
Fairmount Ave SW will remain closed to all travelers throughout construction. This closure keeps everyone safe while work happens on the bridge above, and helps our crews work efficiently.

When the project started in early July of last year, the completion estimate was spring.

ADDED 7:52 PM: We asked SDOT for some info on what’s been done so far. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson‘s reply also included their explanation why this is expected to take months longer than first projected:

The project is more than halfway complete. The following project elements are currently in progress:

-Installing carbon fiber wrapping to strengthen the bridge
-Slope stabilization
-Painting the steel structure
-Repairing cracks and damaged concrete
-Replacing the expansion joints at both ends of the bridge  

(Regarding the) previous estimate that the project would be completed in the spring. After the June 2024 factsheet was written, the project scope was expanded to include full painting of the steel structure. This extended the anticipated construction completion into the summer.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Charge filed against suspected drunk driver who hit townhouse
February 14, 2025 2:03 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(Seattle Police photo, early Thursday)

We just checked on the status of the 28-year-old woman jailed for suspected drunk driving after hitting a townhouse on the east end of SW Roxbury early Thursday morning. The City Attorney’s Office charged 28-year-old Crystal Romo-Rivasof Renton today with DUI, and she’s still at the King County Jail, in lieu of $2,500 bail. The case was spotlighted on SPD Blotter; we’ve also read the police report via the Seattle Municipal Court files. Romo-Rivas went off the road and crashed her 2006 Honda Element – of which she’s the registered owner – in the 200 block of SW Roxbury around 12:15 am Thursday. No one was hurt. But she claimed to officers that she wasn’t driving, that the real driver was a man she’d met at a bar, though she didn’t know his name, nor the name of the bar. Officers say she also gave conflicting responses to other questions about where she’d been and where she was going, and that she was displaying various signs of intoxication, but wouldn’t cooperate with the field sobriety test, so an officer certified as a phlebotomist took a blood draw at the Southwest Precinct after they obtained a warrant to do that. Police say various evidence indicated she had indeed been driving, including a witness who saw her get out of the driver’s seat after the crash, alone. Whenever Romo-Rivas gets out of jail, Judge Andrea Chin ordered an ignition interlock device be installed on any vehicles she might drive, and that she only drive in connection with work.

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TAX TIME: Here’s how to get free help at three local libraries
February 14, 2025 12:48 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

We’ve mentioned a few sessions in our daily event lists but with two months to go until the federal tax deadline, local branches of the Seattle Public Library want to be sure you know they’re offering free tax help at some branches – three in this area, Southwest, West Seattle (Admiral), and South Park. Here’s what you need to know:

Trained volunteers will answer questions and help prepare personal tax returns. This service is free and available to individuals only. The service is not available for business tax returns. Drop-in tax help is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Southwest Branch: Fridays, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm through 4/11 via AARP Foundation (Appointments preferred)

West Seattle Branch: Thursdays, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, & Saturdays, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm via AARP Foundation (Appointments preferred)

South Park Branch: Saturdays & Sundays, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm through 4/19 in English and Spanish, via United Way of King County (this service has eligibility requirements)

What to Bring to Free In-Person Tax Help

Required:
-Photo identification
-Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for everyone listed on the tax return
-Proof of income, for example, W2s and 1099s (Social Security benefits)
-Official documents on Social Security Administration letterhead
-Medicare card (if Social Security number is followed by an “A”)
-Be prepared to provide information about health care coverage for each person on the return

Recommended:
-Last year’s tax return, if available
-Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of refunds

Photocopies or computer print-outs of any these documents will be accepted. Original documents highly recommended.

Same-day appointments have been available, we’re told, but looking further ahead is your best bet.

P.S. Reminder that all Seattle Public Library locations will be closed Monday (February 17) for Presidents Day.

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WSB tech trouble
February 14, 2025 11:39 am
|    Comments Off on WSB tech trouble
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Our apologies if you’ve experienced trouble accessing our site today. We’re doing everything we can to address the problem. Thanks for your understanding!

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Free workshop for work-from-home life/love partners, Valentine’s vinyl, more for your West Seattle Valentine’s Day Friday
February 14, 2025 9:58 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(‘Hair ice’ fungus on Fauntleroy Creek – photo by Allen Lambert)

If you’re not yet all booked up for Valentine’s Day, here are our notes for today/tonight, mostly from the West Seattle Event Calendar:

STAY ‘N’ PLAY: This weekly free drop-in playtime is canceled today.

BLACK HISTORY ART EXHIBIT: Visit the Washington State Black Legacy Institute‘s first major exhibit, 11 am-6 pm. (2656 42nd SW)

FREE TAX HELP: Drop-in help at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), 11 am-4 pm.

BABY STORY TIME: Canceled today.

HELPING YOUR RELATIONSHIP SURVIVE WORKING AT HOME: If both you and your partner work from home, navigating that and your relationship can be a challenge. A free workshop at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW) at noon today is for you!

THE GOOD SOCIETY’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY: Three-day celebration starts today. (California/Lander)

FEATHER IN THE WIND: This three-day art show/sale is open again today in the Alki Arts (6030 California SW) upstairs annex – five artists; we stopped by last night for our West Seattle Art Walk coverage.

QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)

VALENTINE’S DAY BIRD COUNT: Show your Valentine’s love for our feathered friends! Special community event at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW), 12:30 pm-2 pm.

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: The Chief Sealth IHS girls – Metro champs! – host Foster tonight, 5:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)

VINYL NIGHT AT EASY STREET RECORDS: “Love, Lust, and 12-inch Singles” with Depeche Mike spinning, Valentine’s Day edition, 6-9 pm, free/all ages, and the kitchen’s open till 9 too. (4559 California SW).

LIVE AT KENYON HALL: MXMatch is sold out.

‘COVENANT’: Second weekend for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm, tickets here.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Lovers and Kings – Drag King Valentine’s Ball, 8 pm, details and tickets here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ B——-d tonight! (4547 California SW)

MAKE IT LOUD: Skating to live music at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), doors at 9 pm, $18 cover, $5 skates, 21+. Tonight’s slate: Vanilla Abstract, Seaside Tryst, Quilli Fin.

If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Two more ways to give the gift of warmth
February 14, 2025 9:12 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Two more ways to give the gift of warmth
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

If you still have warm clothing and other items you can donate to help take the icy edge off winter weather for those in need, here are two ways:

HOMESTREET BANK: The West Seattle branch (a WSB spoonsor) is still collecting donations for people at Westside Neighbors’ Shelter:

Hats, gloves, shirts, socks, sweatshirts, coats and travel sized toothpaste. Socks will need to be new. Other items should be clean or gently used.

You can drop off donations until 6 pm today, 9 am-5 pm Mondays-Thursdays. The branch is at 4022 SW Alaska.

ALKI UCC’S MONTHLY DRIVE: This Sunday (February 16), 11 am-3 pm outside the church, here’s what they’re collecting:

This month’s priority: Food/Blankets/Outdoor Clothing

Alki UCC is sharing all we collect with the American Legion Shelter and Camp Second Chance. We also welcome socks, hats, gloves, long johns, hygiene products, men’s work clothing and outdoor gear. Donations are also distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network (WIN) Saturday lunch, hosted in White Center. Deepest gratitude to our community for your generous support of our neighbors in need.

Alki UCC is at 6115 SW Hinds.

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TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday watch
February 14, 2025 6:01 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning – it’s Friday, February 14, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today warms up a bit, starting with a chance of rain/snow, then partly sunny, high in the low 40s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 7:15 am and 5:31 pm.

REMINDERS FOR NEXT WEEK

-Next week (February 17-21) is midwinter break for Seattle Public Schools (the Vashon district too).

-Monday is Presidents Day, with some changes/closures, but note that the Water Taxi – unlike last year – WILL sail on the holiday.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Water Taxi –  Also on a regular schedule today.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Issaquah and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Salish as the “bonus boat.”

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

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

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

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

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

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

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

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DEVELOPMENT: Construction about to start on next major West Seattle Junction project
February 13, 2025 10:39 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Development

Thanks to Bill for the tip that fencing was up around the site of 4448 California SW [map], long planned for a seven-story mixed-use building. A spokesperson for the development team confirmed to WSB that demolition is expected within days, and a groundbreaking ceremony is planned in early March, now that the project has obtained financing. This is the same team that built the newly opened Harbor Flats apartments and is constructing 9201 Delridge Way SW, with the 17th/Roxbury site also in their portfolio – Housing Diversity Corporation, STS Construction Services, and Atelier Drome architects. The plans for 4448 California show its nearly 90 units are planned to be half apartments, half “lodging” (hotel). The online files also show that, like most developments, for the Mandatory Housing Affordability requirement, the owners have opted to pay the city a fee for affordable-housing development elsewhere rather than include it in their project; they were charged, and have paid, $595,000. (There will be some reduced-rent apartments because of the project’s participation in the city’s Multi-Family Tax Exemption program.) The development team spokesperson says that with construction about to start, completion is expected in fall of next year. (Note: Harbor Flats, STS, and Atelier Drome are WSB sponsors.)

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UPDATE: Crash at Delridge/Thistle
February 13, 2025 7:48 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Added: Reader photo)

7:48 PM: Just happened onto this – police are blocking southbound Delridge at Thistle. Texter says it’s a crash, involving a Metro bus. The SFD dispatch was very short-lived, so apparently no serious injuries. Avoid the area for a while.

8:25 PM: Reopened. Checking with SFD re: injuries, if any.

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Scenes from West Seattle Art Walk, frosty February edition
February 13, 2025 7:07 pm
|    Comments Off on Scenes from West Seattle Art Walk, frosty February edition
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

7:07 PM: Out on February’s West Seattle Art Walk, we visited the Alki Arts upstairs annex for the first of three days for the Feather in the Wind group show:

That’s Kassie Hennessey, who organized the show. Her work is primarily in graphite. Other artists include Suzanne Uschold, whose work looks like paintings at a distance – but it’s all created from fiber!

Her work includes many West Seattle scenes – on the table, that’s Bruun Idun the Lincoln Park troll! Between Kassie’s work and Suzanne’s work, you’ll find Marie Tornow and her Beachwood Pottery:

Also in the show, Johanna Lindsay and Gretchen Flickinger. They’ll be in the annex (door is just north of the street-level Alki Arts gallery, which is open tonight with art and live music) 12-6 pm Friday and Saturday too. This, and most Art Walk receptions, continues until 8.

8:34 PM: One venue staying open later than that is Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) in The Junction, with the group show “Transplants,” described as “featur(ing) art and poetry from three artists who grew up together and through their own individual journey ended up thousands of of miles away.”

Visual art is by Kyle Bradford and Travis Johnson, poetry by Keziah Beed.

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Scenes from Chief Sealth International High School ArtsWalk
February 13, 2025 6:24 pm
|    Comments Off on Scenes from Chief Sealth International High School ArtsWalk
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

6:24 PM: Student-created pottery is part of what you’ll see if you visit Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) for tonight’s ArtsWalk, on until 8 pm. Visual and performing arts showcases are happening in multiple spaces until everyone gathers in the theater for the “grand finale” at 7:30 pm.

It’s also a fundraiser for the school’s arts programs. More to come!

ADDED: WSB’s Aspen Anderson stopped in for a little jazz …

And poetry:

The greeters were Coral Dixon, Lida Henrikson, and Ronin Mann:

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WEST SEATTLE BIZNOTE: The Spot’s final week (updated Friday)
February 13, 2025 5:52 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: Just under four years after bravely opening during the pandemic, the eatery/music venue The Spot (2920 SW Avalon Way) is closing. It’s been a semi-long farewell, but proprietor Philip Sudore confirmed today that this is the final weekend:

This Sunday will be our last Brunch shift. The landlords decided not to renew our lease. … I will miss the strong community that organically grew at The Spot. All the love and support that was shared between everyone that walked in our doors. So many bands started as a result of hanging out at The Spot. So many amazing relationships and partnerships started in our little place. It was a safe place for Families to bring their kids to experience and participate in live music while enjoying great food. It was also beautifully a safe place for people to come and share their art. I am so honored I was able to share in this with everyone!!!

Before Sudore, a musician himself, took it over, the space was a coffeehouse for many years. It’s owned by the same property owners/preservationists as the neighboring building that houses Luna Park Café; we have a message out to them. (Thanks for the tips on this.)

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the response from the ownership firm (we’d also asked about the building’s signage) in its entirety:

The Spot came in at a difficult [time] during COVID and we wish them the best with their future business plans. The classic signage has been on this site for decades, we are committed to preserving it and are currently working to restore the neon. Another small business is already slated to open in the coming months, we are excited to welcome them into the space.

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UPDATE: Water break in High Point
February 13, 2025 4:06 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Water break in High Point
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

4:06 PM: Thanks to Dörte for the tip. The Seattle Public Utilities water-trouble map confirms a break at 34th/Juneau, with more than 30 customers affected. SPU hopes to have it fixed within a few hours. This is just a block north of an 8-inch pipe break one week ago.

5:33 PM: This one, like the one last week, was fixed so fast, crews were gone before we got there to check it out.

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BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: Postseason continues for local high schools’ girls, boys teams
February 13, 2025 3:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

All four local high-school varsity basketball teams are still in postseason play – the West Seattle HS boys play Blanchet at Franklin HS at 7 tonight in a district-qualifier game, the Chief Sealth IHS girls host Foster at 5:30 pm Friday night, (added) after winning the Metro 2A tournament with a 52-33 win over Cleveland Tuesday night:

Thanks to Sealth head coach Mario Martinez for the update and photo!

Meantime, the WSHS girls and CSIHS boys both have TBD games at 7 pm Saturday. The WSHS girls played last night, and WSB contributor Tracy Burrows was there:

(Alya Moore leads the fast break)

Wednesday night at the Cleveland High School gym, the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team lost to Seattle Prep, 41-31, in the Metro League 3A Championship Tournament. The West Seattle Wildcats hung tough against a team with more height and experience at nearly every position. Seattle Prep pressured the ball effectively during much of the first half, causing turnovers and limiting West Seattle’s opportunities to execute their half-court offense. Prep led by a score of 28-14 at the half.

(Colby Timmons shooting from the line)

Scoring opportunities opened up for the Wildcats in the second half, but the shots just wouldn’t go in. The team played the entire game with a 6-person rotation, and fatigue may have contributed to an off-night of shooting. Still, the West Seattle girls played with tremendous intensity the entire game and pulled to within 10 in the fourth quarter after trailing by 15 at the end of the third.

(Seneca Lucas goes up for a shot)

This year’s West Seattle squad is a young team, with two freshmen and a sophomore as members of the starting five. Freshman Alya Moore led the scoring for the Wildcats, with 13 points and senior Colby Timmons racked up 10. Both teams will move on to the District Tournament, which starts on Saturday, February 15. West Seattle will play at either Inglemoor or Mercer Island at 7 pm on Saturday. The full District Tournament brackets will be finalized Friday night.

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Three new things the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA wants you to know about
February 13, 2025 2:40 pm
|    Comments Off on Three new things the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA wants you to know about
 |   Fauntleroy | Triangle | West Seattle news

West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) branch executive Cleveland King sends word of three things to know about: First, the 2025 fundraising kickoff event is set for 6 pm March 5 at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW) – here’s your invite to that; you are promised a fun time and a way to support making Y programs available to more people. Next, they’re starting up competitive basketball at both the Fauntleroy and Triangle locations, and tryouts are coming up next month, for girls and boys, 3rd through 8th grade. Here’s the flyer with dates and times; registration is open now. Finally, also for youth, sports-performance training will be offered at the main location in The Triangle, for ages 10 through 18 – you can find out more about that here.

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Didn’t get your recycling picked up this week?
February 13, 2025 1:03 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Seattle Public Utilities is still catching up from weather-affected collections missed last week, and has just acknowledged the missed-recycling situation, which some WSB commenters brought up:

Recycling may have been missed for Wednesday customers this week.

Please report it as a missed collection by calling it in to customer service line as we are aware online reporting is having issues.

As a reminder to all, if your collections were missed, please report it!

You can do that online here.

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FOLLOWUP: Here’s what we’ve learned about Tuesday’s Upper Fauntleroy warrant operation
February 13, 2025 12:06 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Back on Tuesday morning, a multi-agency law-enforcement operation converged on a house in the 8800 block of 38th SW in Upper Fauntleroy, with a helicopter circling above. Though marked Seattle Police cars were part of it, SPD had no information to provide, and King County Sheriff’s Office told us the helicopter wasn’t theirs (we asked because the KCSO helicopter Guardian One is the main helicopter supporting local law-enforcement agencies). We also inquired with the Washington State Patrol, as the last vehicles leaving the scene included one with their logo. Today WSP answered our inquiry by saying the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was the lead agency. We subsequently contacted the local DEA to ask what they could tell us; the entirety of their reply – “It is part of an ongoing DEA narcotics investigation.”

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West Seattle Art Walk, CSIHS ArtsWalk, more for your Thursday!
February 13, 2025 10:08 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Art Walk, CSIHS ArtsWalk, more for your Thursday!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Top of our list today, it’s the second Thursday of the month, which means it’s West Seattle Art Walk night!

That’s the list of winter-quarter Art Walk venues – some with receptions tonight, some with food/drink specials for Art Walk’ers, some with both! They’re scattered around the West Seattle peninsula, with concentrations in the three Junctions. Specific artists’ shows are previewed here, including group shows – Kyle Bradford leads one at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), 6-10 pm, and Kassie Hennessey leads one in the upstairs annex at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), 5-8 pm. Have a great time wandering as many venues as you have time and transportation to visit!

You’re invited to an ArtsWalk tonight too:

CHIEF SEALTH IHS ARTSWALK: Music, drama, poetry, more in multiple venues on the Chief Sealth IHS campus (2600 SW Thistle), 6-7:30 pm in classrooms and then 7:30-8 in the theater, free!

Here’s what else is happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SCHOOL TOURS/OPEN HOUSES: Three yet to come today/tonight at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW):

Thursday, February 13th @ 10:30 am – Middle School Tour
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, February 13th @ 6:00 PM
MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, February 13th @ 6:45 PM

And tonight is the rescheduled open house at Concord International Elementary in South Park (723 S. Concord), 5 pm.

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

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

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three events tonight at this venue – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Jallos Jollof Rice.

WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Also a regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – details here.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: And then, run or walk the neighborhood with the Run Club, leaving from HPCS at 6:30 pm – info here.

VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s warm, cozy tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle! Viscon Cellars is a West Seattle Art Walk venue, too.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES’ COMMUNITY MEETING: Second of two sessions, 6 pm, online – our calendar listing has the registration link. (Here’s our report on toplines from the first one, held Wednesday afternoon.)

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly presentation tells the story of Seattle’s Olmsted parks. Go here to register for the viewing link.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run starts at Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy – details in our calendar listing.

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

‘COVENANT’ AT ARTSWEST: “Covenant” starts its second weekend, 7:30 pm. Ticket link is in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE PARTY: As previewed here, the West Seattle Food Bank is benefiting from a show tonight at the Lumberyard Bar in White Center (9630 16th SW), featuring punk band No More Death Stars. Buy your ticket online here (it’s more at the door)!

DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Nada ROsa, starting at 8 pm.

Are we missing anything for today/tonight? Also – looking ahead – are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Become a Master Composter Sustainability Steward!
February 13, 2025 9:13 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gardening | West Seattle news

Seattle Tilth has a training program coming up and asked us to help circulate the announcement so that West Seattleites are aware of it too. Half the sessions are online, and half are in-person in other parts of the city, but it’s for everyone in Seattle:

If you are a, or know a, Seattle resident interested in learning about compost and preventing waste, and then teaching others, here’s how to become a Master Composter/Sustainability Steward. This free training program is looking for individuals who want to learn more about these topics and then share what they learned in their communities.

Starting on March 19, we will teach 12 classes via Zoom and in person in both Seattle’s Wallingford and Rainier Beach neighborhoods, followed by volunteer activities throughout the city. Our teachers are subject-matter experts but there is no expectation of prior knowledge. A more detailed description of this year’s volunteer training and the link to the application form can be found on our webpage at tilthalliance.org/our-work/environmental-stewardship/master-composter-sustainability-stewards/mcss-training.

Application is open until February 21.

We strive to put together a diverse cohort that represents all of Seattle’s communities.

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