West Seattle, Washington
22 Sunday
(Terra Nova Duo during The Art of Music at Alki Arts, October 2024 WSB video)
Covering the West Seattle Art Walk almost every month for more than 15 years, we appreciated the second Thursdays in recent years that were also graced by The Art of Music, mini-concerts coordinated by John Redenbaugh. This week he announced that the series won’t return this year after all, and sent this message of gratitude to the community, especially the musicians and others with whom he collaborated:
The Art of Music Bids a Farewell
After a meaningful and memorable run, the time has come to announce that The Art of Music has come to a close; the final Art of Music performances were presented in December 2025.
If you’d like to take a look at who performed for The Art of Music over the years you can go to:
wsartwalk.org/category/art-of-music and scroll back through the pages to find descriptions and some listening links.Background
Thanks to the support of then-West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) Executive Director Lora Radford, the Art of Music performances were inaugurated during 2019, presented on behalf of the WSJA and scheduled to concurrently complement second Thursday Art Walk evenings.
From 2019 through 2025 (with a pause during 2020), The Art of Music brought live performances to West Seattle’s Second Thursday Art Walk evenings, adding another creative dimension to those community gatherings while showcasing the talents of many outstanding musicians.
What began in the Alaska Junction grew to include performances throughout the greater Morgan Junction and Admiral District neighborhoods, creating a broader stage for musicians and a richer experience for the community.
(In addition, The Art of Music had co-presented annually, with local musician Sue Quigley, the Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices music festival from 2022 through 2025.)
Thank You to All Who Made The Art of Music Possible
Over the years, financial support for The Art of Music and Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices came from a variety of generous contributors, including the West Seattle Junction Association, the Admiral Neighborhood Association, the Morgan Community Association, Darby Winery, Beth G Homes, Canna West Seattle, and Tim’s Tavern.
Thank you to the West Seattle Junction Association, the West Seattle Blog, and Westside Seattle for publicity/promotion provided over the years; and special appreciation goes to David Redenbaugh for his invaluable design of all Art of Music fliers, to Helen Halpern for her time and expertise in consistently posting information about Muse Fest and The Art of Music, and to David Wall (Urban Analog) for his design of the 2024 and 2025 Muse Fest fliers.
Thank-yous are also due WSJA Executive Director Chris Mackay and WSJA Marketing and Events Director Stacie Woods for their roles in supporting The Art of Music (and Muse Fest) performances.
In summary, my sincere thanks go to all past performers, venues, individuals, supporting sponsors, publishers and organizations whose contributions, participation, and support made The Art of Music possible.
With Gratitude and Best Wishes,
John Redenbaugh,
Project Coordinator, The Art of Music (2019-2025)
That’s Meaghan Haas, proprietor of Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), rechristened Highland Park Pub for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities that continue until 8 pm.
There’s Irish music in the background, and special menu items:
You’ll also find special menu items tonight at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor):
As shown in our daily highlights list this morning, special decor too:
Circa is open tonight until 10. (The regular menu’s available too.)
Friday and Saturday, Chief Sealth International High School students who won the district competition in Mock Trial will make their case at state. Teacher and team adviser Rebecca Neil sent the report and photos, and word of two ways you can cheer them on:
(Chief Sealth’s 1st-place team)
Students from Chief Sealth International High School are headed to the Washington State Mock Trial Tournament after an outstanding showing at this year’s district competition in Kennewick.
(Chief Sealth’s 2nd-place team)
Chief Sealth’s Mock Trial program placed 1st and 2nd at districts, with the first-place team advancing to the state tournament. Having two teams finish at the top of the competition is a significant accomplishment and reflects months of preparation, collaboration, and student leadership.
Mock Trial is a rigorous academic program in which students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses, developing skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and legal reasoning through simulated courtroom trials. Students prepare extensively outside of school, practicing examinations, refining arguments, and competing in a highly structured courtroom setting.
The team will compete at the Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma on Friday–Saturday, March 20–21, and community members are welcome to attend:
Pierce County Superior Court
930 Tacoma Ave South, TacomaCompetition Schedule (Chief Sealth – Team B):
Friday, March 20 – 6:30 PM
Saturday, March 21 – 9:00 AM
Saturday, March 21 – 12:30 PM
Saturday, March 21 – 4:00 PMStudents have also been fundraising to support travel, lodging, and registration for the tournament and have already raised more than $4,000. They are currently working to close the remaining gap to fully fund the trip.
Community members who would like to support the team can do so here:
http://tinyurl.com/csmtdonateWe are incredibly proud of these students and the way they are representing Chief Sealth and the West Seattle community.
Reader report from a Fauntlee Hills resident:
Given it was dark and the person was likely watching my husband, we wanted to alert our neighbors to be extra vigilant when going out to their cars in the early morning or late at night. At approximately 5:15 AM this morning my husband was loading the car up with his backpack and made another trip into the house to grab another load. When he came back to the car, someone was in the front seat of the car trying to steal the backpack and anything else they could find in the console. My husband began slamming the car door on the prowler and then pulled him out of the vehicle and pushed him to the ground and began to hit the car prowler repeatedly. The prowler proceeded to pepper spray him before getting away and running down the alley. Given the timing of prowling the car immediately after it was loaded, the prowler was likely watching/observing and waiting for their opportunity. Suspect is a Black man, 20s, 5’10”, average build, wearing heavy bulky dark clothing.
We’ll add the police report # when available.
Three West Seattle schools asked us to let you know that enrollment remains open for next school year:
LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8: This Seattle Public Schools PreK-8 at 5950 Delridge reminds families:
Louisa Boren STEM PK8 still has a few spots left for the `26-27 school year!
*SPS will be accepting late School Choice applications through March 31st, 2026*
We are a SPS PreK-8 Option School in West Seattle that uses Project-Based Learning with a STEM focus. If you’re looking for a smaller environment, hands on learning, strong community and a unique curriculum our school may be a great option for your family!
Please reach out to tours@stemk8pta.org to schedule a time to come check us out, or with any questions!
Learn more about our school: stemk8pta.org
(WSB file photo)
PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN AT WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY: WS Elementary, also part of Seattle Public Schools, wants you to know that enrollment is open for Pre-K and kindergarten – this flyer has more info. The school is at 6760 34th SW.
A CHILD BECOMES … PRESCHOOL: The nonprofit, secular preschool is in a new home at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) and has an enrollment announcement for next school year:
Is your little one ready for a year full of discovery? A Child Becomes Preschool has a few remaining spots for our Fall 2026 classes! We provide a warm, creative environment where play is the priority and every child feels at home.
Ages: 2.5 – 5 years
Highlights: Sensory play, outdoor exploration, and music
Curriculum: A balanced curriculum that supports the whole child: socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically using hands-on experiences and intentional teachingSecure your spot for September! Visit achildbecomes.org or call 206-932-4642 to schedule a tour. We can’t wait to show you around our new home in Alki!
The timing is coincidental but given this morning’s 20-years-later observance of bicyclist Marvin Miller‘s death, we wanted to mention a safety-spotlighting ride this Saturday (March 21), in case you hadn’t already seen it in our Event Calendar. West Seattle transportation-safety advocate Stu Hennessey has organized a ride “to get out and enjoy our growing bike-lane infrastructure.” The 24-mile route starts on the bike path behind the Chelan Café (3527 Chelan Avenue SW) – meet at 10:45 am – and heads along a route including Georgetown and downtown – the interactive route map is here.
10:14 AM: Police are responding to what was dispatched as a one-car spinout, reported in the area where we’ve been tracking spinouts before, near the Walking on Logs pullout toward the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. No serious injury or major traffic effects reported; the dispatcher has mentioned twice that the driver thinks she spun out on “an oil slick” in that area.
11:22 AM: Both westbound lanes will be temporarily closed at the scene while a tow truck removes the vehicle.
11:31 AM: The lanes have reopened.
Thanks to Mike Burns for the photo of the refreshed green stripe on 41st Avenue SW north of Admiral Way, an annual St. Patrick’s Day mystery – attributed to unidentified leprechauns – and tradition! Meantime, we’ve been covering St. Patrick’s Day events since Friday, and today’s highlight list starts with what we have for today/tonight (if we’re missing anything, westseattleblog@gmail.com, thank you!):
CIRCA CELEBRATION: From breakfast through dinner, find special menu items and a festive atmosphere at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor); see the added dinner menu in our calendar listing. Irish music and decorations too.
(Added: WSB photo)
Open until 10 pm.
IRISH DANCE PERFORMANCE: Dancers from West Seattle’s Comerford School of Irish Dance will be at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) at 1 pm.
HIGHLAND PARK PUB: Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) is transformed. Be there 5-8 pm for this year’s festivities: “Join us for corned beef sandwiches and loaded baked potatoes, green beer and mint ice cream, plus Irish tunes.”
Now, our other event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE: Rather play indoors on this gray day? Open until noon for little ones and their caregivers. (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: This weekly event at at Bridge School Cooperative Elementary is also happening today, 10 am-noon. (10300 28th SW)
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today with District 5030’s environmental chair Dave Spicer . (4470 35th SW)
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: At 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two West Seattle HS games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), softball at 4 pm vs. Roosevelt, baseball at 7:30 pm vs. Kennedy Catholic.
RESTAURANT POP-UP: Update – canceled this week.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
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.
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL: Continuing weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW and
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: Monthly evening gathering, 6 pm, rotating locations – our listing has the email address you can use to find out where! (Update: Whisky West – 6451 California SW – per comment below)
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you don’t work for Boeing – email in advance to RSVP.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group meditation at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 5: Five places where you can play trivia on Tuesdays – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 pm 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 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW) … Trivia at Christos on Alki (2508 Alki SW), 7:15 pm.
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Marvin Miller was riding his bicycle when a driver hit and killed him 20 years ago today. His family is sharing this tribute in his enduring memory:
It’s hard to believe, but as of St. Patrick’s Day, it has been twenty years since Marvin Gene Miller was taken from his family and the West Seattle community far too soon. Marv died doing what he loved. While riding his bike with a friend near West Marginal and Highland Park Way on March 17, 2006, he was struck and killed by a street-racing teenager who intentionally drove onto the path.
Born in 1948, Marv was an Army kid who lived everywhere from Alaska to Italy during his childhood. He attended Eckstein Middle School and Nathan Hale High School for a time before graduating from Punahou on Oahu. An Eagle Scout and National Merit Scholar, he received a full ride to Michigan State University and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math. He returned to settle in Seattle, where he married his wife, Sylvia.
Marv was an avid bicyclist who completed the STP twice with his daughter, Teresa, in two days and multiple other times with friends in one day. He also rode RAMROD several times and participated in Cascade Bicycle Club events around the region.
Marv died in the prime of his life, having retired just three years earlier from a more than thirty-year career as a software engineer at Boeing. In addition to enjoying travel, especially to Hawaii, he had a commitment to community service. Over the years, he contributed his time to Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and helped multiple people get through math classes to earn degrees or GEDs. During his retirement, he volunteered at Denny Middle School. He also helped animals, including an abandoned, geriatric yellow lab he found on Alki and adopted, and he picked up litter wherever he went.
An accomplished genealogist who researched more than 30,000 of his daughter’s ancestors, Marv established a popular genealogy website via paper records and visits to libraries and cemeteries across the country, in a time before the conveniences of at-home DNA testing and easy clicks through Ancestry.com. His research provides the basis for many people’s knowledge of their family trees today. At the time of his death, he was also beginning to fulfill his lifelong dream of learning to play the saxophone.
The West Seattle Herald previously covered his death, and WSB posted a picture of the ghost bike that his son-in-law, Gregory (whom he never had the chance to meet), made in his memory in 2018.
Losing Marv leaves a hole that his family and friends continue to feel all these years later. We invite you to pitch in where he left off, by helping someone in need, leaving places better than you find them, or choosing to drive carefully in a rushed and demanding world. No appointment, text message, or moment of irritation on the road is worth preventing someone from getting home safely to the people who love them.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Spring starts Friday morning!)
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, breezy forecast again – high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:17 am; sunset at 7:18 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge (fully open again):
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 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!
After 911 calls reporting what sounded like gunfire in or near Westcrest Park, a police officer just told dispatch they’ve found evidence – shell casings in “the main parking lot.” No report of anyone hurt, so far.
The mayor’s office says the city has reviewed 70 possible sites for adding shelter space in its push to get 500 people off the streets by June. That was one headline from a briefing today, delivered by mayor’s office reps to the City Council, which will have to approve some components of the plan. Here’s Seattle Channel video of the meeting:
The 70 potential sites weren’t listed in the meeting documents, and our request for the list so far has gone unfulfilled. But the mayor’s-office team told councilmembers they expect to announce five sites before the end of the month. Many of the 500 spaces – but not necessarily all – would be in “microshelters,” which seems to be the alternative name for “tiny houses.” They promised to work with district councilmembers regarding sites for “shelter acceleration” in three types:
In working with the neighborhoods where shelter would be added, they said they had plans for how safety would be safeguarded:
Of the 70 sites they said they’ve “assessed,” about a third are publicly owned. The first five sites, they said, won’t require the mayor’s newly proposed legislation in order to move forward, but others will, so that was part of why they were at the council meeting, to promote that legislation, which she announced at the Hope Factory tiny-home (microshelter) construction facility twelve days ago (WSB coverage here).
(WSB photo at The Hope Factory in Georgetown, March 4)
That March 4 announcement was brought up by Councilmember Dan Strauss in Q&A, noting a mention in the presentation of each tiny house costing $28,000, while he recalled that the microshelters are built by volunteers.
So will the city be paying for them? Strauss asked. The mayor’s-office team told him, “We’ll get back to you.” They did say part of the costs are from the plan to make these shelter facilities “service-rich environments,” explained this way:
There was no mention of the forthcoming West Seattle tiny-homes-and-RV-lot site Glassyard Commons, so we don’t know if it’s going to be considered one of the five sites or not. It’s continuing to make its way through the city permit system.
(See the full slide deck from today’s presentation here.)
After hearing a police dispatch last night for someone finding a possible “human skull” at the Waste Management transfer station on West Marginal Way, we followed up with police today. Here’s all the info they provided:
On 03/15/2026 at about 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a Waste Transfer station in West Seattle, where a security guard reported finding what appeared to be a human skull. Unable to determine its authenticity, it was photographed in place and entered into evidence. Homicide was contacted as well as the King County Medical Examiner, and a report was written.
The initial dispatch said the possible skull was found “amongst recycling.”
If you or someone you know is in need, this Saturday’s free community store at Denny International Middle School can help. The community store will be stocked with 37 pallets full of food and household supplies to be given away to whoever needs them, 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday (March 21). The store is courtesy of Partnership for Hope, which collaborates with other organizations and volunteers to support people in need. It’s for “students, staff, and the whole broader community,” we’re told. Here’s how to register. And if you’re not in need, but would like to help out, volunteers are gathering the day before as well as during the event – you can sign up here to volunteer. Denny IMS is at 2601 SW Kenyon.
Most of West Seattle’s only official off-leash area, at Westcrest Park, will close for four days next week, according to this announcement from Seattle Parks:
We need to temporarily close the Westcrest Off Leash Area (OLA) from March 23rd through March 26th.
During this time, crews will deliver wood chips (Engineered Wood Fiber) to the terraced area near the shelter and picnic table. We planned this maintenance effort in close consultation with our COLA stewards at Westcrest Park to improve the play space for your pets.
While the main area is closed, the small and shy dog area will remain open and accessible to all dog owners. Because this space is much more confined than the main park, please pay close attention to your dog’s behavior to ensure a safe environment for all visitors.
We recognize this temporary closure might disrupt your routine, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the park. If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please call us at 206-684-4075.
This Thursday morning during the twice-monthly meeting of the City Council committee chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, two North Delridge business owners are scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion about strategies for dealing with light-rail-related displacement. The roundtable discussion is on the agenda for the 9:30 am Thursday (March 19) meeting of the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee; the local participants are Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) proprietor Erin Rubin and Ounces proprietor Laurel Trujillo. Both of their businesses will have to move under the current plan for the Delridge station, which at this point wouldn’t be changed by the newest cost-cutting proposals. Thursday’s roundtable participants also include reps from two city departments and the nonprofit Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which has been working with local businesses. As always, the meeting will be streamed live, and recorded, by Seattle Channel.
Along with the Fauntleroy dock/terminal replacement project, Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route also will be getting a new building at the Southworth terminal.
(WSF photo of current Southworth dock/terminal)
Today WSF launched an online open house with information on design concepts and a survey seeking opinions. The Southworth dock has become increasingly busy as a hub for Kitsap Transit foot ferries too. The main question WSF is posing is, where on the Southworth dock to locate a new building, and it’s unveiled four options. Today through April 5, you can review them and answer a survey by going here. The timing on the WSF website suggests some potential overlap with the Fauntleroy project, though in this case they’re only replacing the Southworth terminal building in the first phase, with a dock trestle replacement in a later second phase.
Thanks to the texter who asked us about a sizable police response in the 2300 block of California, just north of Admiral Way, around 8 this morning. It was logged simply as “suspicious/onview” – the latter word indicates something an officer saw and decided to check out – but listening back to the radio archives, we found there was much more to it. The officer noticed something suspicious about a parked car, and running its plates revealed it was associated with a Silver Alert issued hours earlier for 85-year-old Robert, missing from Mill Creek, last seen leaving a medical facility in Bellevue last night. No one was in the car but it was “still warm,” reported the officer, so he and others looked around the area, and eventually found him nearby. Last we heard, they were talking with police in Bellevue, to arrange to get him back. Why he came here, more than 20 miles away – we haven’t heard.
ADDED: Turns out, according to an SPD summary, that the car attracted the officer’s attention because an Automated License Plate Reader detected its involvement in the alert.
Late last night, 911 reported “a lot of calls” about possible gunshots in the High Point area. They dispatched officers to look around the areas the calls came from. One officer radioed in that he found “evidence of fireworks.” We don’t usually report on “possible gunfire” reports that aren’t verified, unless we get questions about it; multiple people have asked us about it this morning, so in case you wondered too – that’s what they found. (Police consider gunfire verified if they find a victim, shell casings, property damage such as bullet hole(s), and/or if someone actually saw a person firing a gun.)
(WSB photo: Harbor Seal seen at Jack Block Park on Sunday)
Here’s what’s on our list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE TAX HELP: 11 am-4 pm drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
LEARN ABOUT SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 1 pm in-person South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) information session at Cascade Hall, northwest side of campus at 6000 16th SW. Full details and RSVP link in our calendar listing.
‘SOLUTIONS, NOT RESOLUTIONS’: Weekly speaker series continues with 1 pm presentation on “Tech for Health and Wellness” at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW). Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
SPEED-UP-SHELTER BRIEFING: During today’s 2 pm City Council briefing meeting, a team from the mayor’s office will present where Mayor Wilson’s plan to quickly expand shelter capacity is at. The agenda explains how to watch.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 2: Two venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
MEDITATE IN ALKI: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 7 pm, with headliners Rodger Lizaola and Ariel Ehrlich. Our calendar listing has ticket info. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players! Enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
MEDITATE IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The 2026 Washington State Legislature session and the 2025-2026 biennium officially ended last Thursday (March 12). Since our last update, two additional bills primarily sponsored by your 34th District legislators – State Senator Emily Alvarado, House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and House Rep. Brianna Thomas – have been signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson. Apart from these, five bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk, awaiting action.
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
The following bills have been signed by Governor Ferguson are now considered session laws. This version is created by the Code Reviser’s Office, and is considered the law until the legislation is officially codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
HB 2367 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Exempts emissions from a coal facility occurring before January 1, 2026 from the Cap-and-Invest Program. Makes it so that the limitation on state agencies creating more emission performance standards on a coal facility in operation before July 22, 2011 doesn’t apply after December 31, 2025 to a coal facility subject to the memorandum of agreement. Sales and use tax exemptions for coal purchased or used at a coal facility in operation after December 3, 1969 and before July 1, 1975 are repealed.
HB 2355 – Rep. Thomas
Creates labor protections for domestic workers including minimum wage and overtime requirements. Domestic workers include any employee or independent contractor working in a private residence for four or more hours a month. Allows domestic workers to bring a private cause of action under the Washington Law Against Discrimination in some instances.
HB 2303 – Rep. Thomas
Prohibits employers from microchipping employees. An employer cannot request, require, or coerce an employee to have a microchip implanted.
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
The following bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk but are awaiting action. Since they were delivered within five days of the end of the 2026 legislative session, the governor has 20 days from their delivery to take action. All of these bills were delivered to the governor on either March 11 or 12.
SB 6026 – Sen. Alvarado
Certain local governments must include residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. Prohibits requirement for ground-floor commercial and mixed-use in these zones– subject to exceptions. Prohibits local governments from imposing ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements on subsidized affordable housing.
SB 5911 – Sen. Alvarado
The Department of Children, Youth and Families cannot apply benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to or on behalf of young adults receiving extended foster care as of January 1, 2027. Aims to strengthen the financial stability of persons in the care of DCYF. Specifies when DCYF can assess whether someone is eligible for such benefits.
SB 6027 – Sen. Alvarado
Changes the allowable uses for local sales and use tax for housing and related services. Changes the eligible uses of funding in the Affordable Housing for All Account. Updates the definition of emergency housing for property tax exemptions for low-income persons or victims of domestic violence.
HB 2215 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Reduces emissions threshold determining covered entity status and compliance obligation in the Cap-and-Invest Program for certain fuel suppliers starting January 1, 2027 for suppliers that began supplying fuels after Jan 1, 2023. Requires them to report emissions to the Department of Ecology. Prohibits state from awarding a procurement contract to certain fuel suppliers, with some exceptions.
HB 2251 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Repeals three of the Climate Commitment Act funding accounts and replaces them with the Climate Commitment Act Operating Account and the Climate Commitment Act Capital Account. Renames the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account to the Climate Commitment Act Transportation Account. Makes changes to the use of CCA funding and distribution of revenue.
NEXT YEAR
The 2027 legislative session will be a regular session, lasting 105 days, compared to this year’s short session lasting just 60 days. The 2027 session will begin on January 11, marking the beginning of the next legislative biennium.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, March 16, 2026. Spring arrives Friday morning!
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, breezy forecast – high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:19 am; sunset at 7:16 pm.
1ST AVENUE S. BRIDGE REMINDER
All lanes are open again, both ways, but the speed limit remains 25 mph.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
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!
On the last night of winter, talk about spring and summer with the Alki Community Council! You’re invited to the ACC’s in-person meeting Thursday (March 19), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds). Planned topics include crime prevention as the beach’s busy season approaches, rebooting the Block Watch Captain program, Schmitz Park Creek restoration, A Cleaner Alki volunteer work, and more. Door-prize giveaways as always. Check in on more of what’s up at alkicommunitycouncil.org.
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