West Seattle, Washington
24 Saturday
9:45 PM: Some are asking about a sizable police response at a apartment building on the east side of 35th south of Morgan. According to emergency radio, a standoff has developed with a suspect in a possible domestic-violence situation. Updates as we get them.
10:23 PM: Officers have just told dispatch they’re closing 35th between Morgan and Holly because of this situation.
(Added: Photo by Tim Durkan)<>/small>
11:03 PM: Haven’t heard any updates, but 35th is still closed off as of a short time ago, Tim Durkan reported in a comment.
Those are some of the 16 students from our area’s two largest high schools who were honored this past Monday night at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s 44th annual School Awards Night. Every year the lodge works with school counselors to choose juniors as honorees, as part of their mission “to recognize and thus encourage participation in public-school education,” as its parent organization “has long supported the public-school system as one of the basic necessities in maintaining the American ideal of democracy.” In addition to presentation of plaques – and, later, pizza – all in attendance listened to some observations and advice from their hosts. Martin Monk, who emceed, noted that he was a recipient of one of the awards in the 44-year-old program’s very first year. He offered a little more history: The lodge, at 40th/Edmunds in The Junction, has been there since 1906; they have 100 members now, though membership in the past has been as high as 500.
Chaplain Alan Sawyer suggested the student recipients consider the awards “a launching pad” for their future efforts.
(Ron Creel standing, Tom Christie seated)
Sporting a top hat, the lodge’s leader, Worshipful Master Ron Creel, mentioned he had spent time as a high-school teacher, and offered six points of advice to the students:
-Stay curious through your lifetime and never stop learning new things.
-Find something to be passionate about.
-Develop creative outlets, like art and/or music.
-Be kind to all people.
-Volunteer your time and skills.
-Learn another language – it will open you up to multiple possibilities in life.
The ceremony traditionally includes a presentation to faculty representatives of both schools, but Chief Sealth didn’t send anyone, so school counselor Daniel Rosen took the stage representing WSHS.
(Daniel Rosen with Martin Monk)
Tom Christie preceded that part of the presentation with a speech reinforcing the Masons’ commitment to public education, noting that “freethinking is a tenet of Freemasonry” and expressing hope that the recipients will be inspired to “search for truth.” Rosen thanked the Masons for recognizing juniors, as senior year becomes such a blur by the time students get to the end of their high-school years.
The students’ achievements were briefly noted as they came forward to accept their awards, with hopes of future studies in areas of focus ranging from business to science. Here are the lists from both schools, in the order featured in the event program:
Chief Sealth International High School
Caitlin Boyer
Dayami Angulo Lopez
Tara Kankesh
Hamdi Elmi
Ann Nguyen
Elena Latterell
Azhar Samatar
Addison WhitedWest Seattle High School
Lilly DuPuis
Adelyn Martin
Keegan Chapman
Ioannis Athanasiadis
Nina Nakajima
Jim Guevara
Anhelina Hutsu
Justice Jenkins
The recipients also received monetary gifts, described by Monk as “not a lot of money, but every little bit helps” when it comes time to cover college costs.
Sent by Tom from Upper Fauntleroy:
7:20 am, 40th and Cloverdale. Just spotted this guy, cruising the neighborhood.
What should you do if you encounter one? Major advice – don’t run. Here’s one of the many places you can find advice.
Another city project is out with an update just before the holiday weekend. We first reported March 31 about the Barton repaving plan in the bus-layover zone alongside the north edge of Roxhill Park, after spotting a mention in a land-use bulletin; now SDOT is ready to have a community meeting about it – here’s the update they sent today:
We have completed designing the SW Barton St Layover Repaving project and plan to begin construction in Fall 2025!
Before then, join us for a public meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, at the former site of the Bed Bath & Beyond in Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton St, Suite A1).
We will be discussing:
-Bus detours
-Bus stop relocations
-Construction impacts to area businesses
-Answers to your questionsYou can also sign up for email updates or visit the project website where we will regularly share news of the project.
Why are we doing this work?
We’re partnering with King County Metro to repave the bus layover zone and street on SW Barton St.
The street’s concrete is old, cracked, and damaged from the heavy buses. Here’s what we’ll do:
-Replace the underlying soil with lightweight concrete
-Repave the road with stronger concreteThese improvements will:
-Reduce repair costs for SW Barton St
-Lower bus maintenance costs
-Make driving smootherDuring repaving, bus routes and layover zones will change. We’ll work with Metro to find the best new locations for bus stops and the layover area. We aim to minimize inconvenience and will provide updates on alternate arrangements. To contact our project team, email SWBartonLayover@seattle.gov.
If you live in the area, SDOT says to watch your mailbox for an information postcard next week.
Two fun ways to help your local food banks:
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK’S SUMMER RAFFLE: Tickets are available now!
The West Seattle Food Bank is thrilled to announce its annual Summer Raffle, a triple win for everyone involved. Not only does every raffle ticket support local families in need, but each stub doubles as a coupon good for 10% off one visit at each of our 6 fantastic partner businesses! This summer, your ticket to doing good comes with real perks — because when neighbors support neighbors, everyone benefits.
Here’s How It Works:
Tickets: $10 each, only 500 printed
Available: Until Sept. 12, or until they sell out.
Drawing: Sept. 12 – winners notified by phone
Prizes Include: 1st ) $150 gift card to West Seattle Thriftway, 2nd ) $100 gift card to Supreme Pizza and tickets for 4 to the Museum of Flight, 3 rd ) $50 gift card to Mioposto. Every Ticket Stub Is a Coupon For:
o 10% off one visit to each of our 6 generous partners:
The Neighborhood
Peninsula Soul Food
The Roll Pod
The Westy Sports & Spirits
Viscon Cellars
West Seattle Wine CellarsReady to Play Your Part?
Buy Tickets Now: Available in-person from the West Seattle Food Bank (35th/Morgan), at our booths at summer festivals or ask WSFB board members and staff!
TASTE OF WHITE CENTER: The White Center Food Bank, whose service area includes south West Seattle, has just announced its annual fundraiser for June 28, 11 am-3 pm, at venues throughout WC. (you buy “taste” tickets for any or all of 30+ restaurant/bars, and get a map, at a central booth). Full details are on our partner site White Center Now.
That’s the Highland Park area where Seattle Public Utilities plans to install the project known as the Holden Natural Drainage Systems. It’s now reached a design milestone, and construction could start before the year ends. With that in mind, SPU has announced a drop-in info session for a week from tomorrow:
The Holden Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) Project has reached final design. SPU will build natural drainage systems, also known as roadside rain gardens or bioretention, on SW Holden St between 16 th Ave SW and 17 th Ave SW. The NDS will capture and treat stormwater runoff before it reaches Longfellow Creek and Puget Sound. The goal of the project is to improve water quality in the creek, increase landscaping diversity, and provide roadway and pedestrian safety improvements. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2025. To learn more about this project, please visit our website.
Spring Drop-In Session:
Time & Date: Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: BedHead Coffee, 1513 SW Holden St
Contact: Wan-Yee Kuo, Project Manager, at Wan-Yee.Kuo@seattle.gov or 206-684-3957The drop-in session will provide an opportunity for community members to learn about the final design, what to expect during construction, and ask questions and share comments with members from the project team.
Three days before that, the project will also be on the agenda for next Wednesday’s HPAC meeting, 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW). The NDS project has already been in the planning phase for almost three years.
(WSB photo, Admiral Block Party, August 2024)
Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer, but planning has already been under way for months for big summer events. That includes the Admiral Block Party, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, which asked us to let you know that vendor applications are open (and they’re still welcoming sponsorships too). The Admiral Block Party takes over part of California SW north of Admiral Way from 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday, August 23, one of summer’s last big celebrations, and ANA hopes you can help it be bigger and better than ever. Just go here to get going on vending and/or sponsoring!
(California Poppy, photographed by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s our Friday highlights list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
STAY ‘N’ PLAY: 10 am-11:30 am open gym for little kids is back at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd).
KNIFE-SHARPENING POP-UP: Got a knife that needs to be ready for your Memorial Day cookout (or something else)? Kneighborhood Knives is back, 10 am-4 pm today and Saturday, $12/knife, at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW).
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center (a WSB sponsor) is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW) campus.
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIGH TEA AT THE KENNEY: 2 pm, you’re invited!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s Afternoon Tea Party
Place: The Kenney Senior Living, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW
Date: Friday, May 23
Time: 2 p.m.Join us for a traditional high tea. Wear your “Sunday best” and come ready to socialize, enjoy afternoon tea treats, and engage in some friendly competition! All are welcome!
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION FC HOME OPENER: First home match of the season for West Seattle Junction FC, 7 pm vs. Lane United FC at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). “Blue Out” night – all fans requested to wear blue!
WEST SEATTLE STORY SLAM: New event at Kenyon Hall! 7 pm open-mic storytelling, sign up to tell a story or just sit and watch/listen. Free! (7904 35th SW; check out our in-depth update on Kenyon Hall)
COFFEEHOUSE COMEDY: Midnight Mystery Theater at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm. All ages, no cover.
FREE CONCERT AT THE LONGHOUSE: Ryan Littleeagle performs at 7 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), all ages, no admission charge.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: The Retromancers, Fools in the Rain, Pirate Radio, doors 7 pm, show 8, at The Skylark, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buttnaked 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: Foul Blooded, Nordus.
BEACH FIRE SEASON & PARK HOURS CHANGES: Tonight’s the first night of beach-fire season at Alki, where closing time will be earlier (as it will at two other West Seattle parks, Don Armeni Boat Ramp and Hamilton Viewpoint) – go here for Seattle Parks‘ reminder about the changes.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If your summer-camp plans aren’t finalized yet, here’s one more nonprofit option we were asked to share with you, from Camp Fire, whose local offices are in West Seattle:
We are incredibly excited to be expanding our service area this summer and serving more youth in West Seattle!
Westcrest Park is a crown jewel and boasts a gorgeous green space with picnic tables, a playground, & viewing platform overlooking the skyline.
West Seattle native and Camp Fire team member Mulch Morwell will be at the helm! “I’m so excited to be directing Westcrest Park Day Camp this year! I grew up in West Seattle going to that park and it’s a beautiful location with plenty of access to hiking trails. It’s a great spot to connect kids with nature, give teenagers meaningful leadership experiences, and lead some fun and educational camp projects that kids love. Camp Fire really stands out from the other youth organizations when it comes to giving kids the chance to grow at their own pace and figure out what they’re passionate about.”
Connecting Kids to the Outdoors
Also on tap for this summer at Westcrest Day Camp: Scavenger hunts, tie-dye, STEM projects, camp songs, and so much more! Special guests will also be featured inluding Dana Aoyama (Camp Name: Meeko) and her snake friends!
Extended Care is Available at this location, which is running from July 21st – 25th.
For more info, and registration, go here.
7:55 AM: Thanks for the tips. Backup on the eastbound bridge after crash reported at its crest.
9:20 AM: Thanks for this tip – the ramp to NB 99 from the bridge is blocked by a broken-down tanker truck. Just as we type this, police are being dispatched.
9:41 AM: Sounds like this may be blocked for a while. If you need to get to NB 99, find an alternative.
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, May 23, 2025, as we head toward Memorial Day weekend.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:23 am; sunset will be at 8:50 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Beach Drive work that’s restricting parking by Lowman Beach Park is a continuation of the PSE gas pipeline project, which also has flaggers in action a bit further north.
-At the other end of Beach Drive, in South Alki, street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project is in its next phase, centered at 64th/Beach Drive – details and maps are here, along with what’s next.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays (tonight!) and Saturdays. Note that the West Seattle Water Taxi WILL sail on Memorial Day. …
Metro buses – Regular schedule today.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. On Monday, WSF says, this route will be on its two-boat schedule.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
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!
2:03 AM: For those wondering about the police converging on The Junction – according to emergency-radio traffic, this started with a report of a burglary at the Antique Mall in the 4500 block of California, and as officers were arriving to search, one suffered a leg injury in a reported assault. The suspect was last seen running northbound on California, described by dispatch as an “unknown-race male, 30s-40s, face mask, gray hoodie, bleeding from his left hand.” SFD is being called to treat the officer; other police are looking for the suspect. If you have any information, call 911. (Added: This is case 25-138791.)
2:39 AM: They’re still searching and have expanded the area after the suspect reportedly at one point jumped a fence on the northeast edge of The Junction, leaving a bloody hand/fingerprint. Officers have also just told dispatch that they have probable cause for burglary, NOT assault on an officer, so we’ll have to wait to find out later what that was all about. Meantime, a K-9 is joining the search.
2:43 AM: They have a suspect in custody, in the 4100 block of 40th SW. They’re calling in SFD because he’s “bleeding everywhere” (the wound was described earlier as likely related to broken glass at the burglary scene).
2:51 AM: Police also have reported they’re involved in a collision at 42nd and Oregon.
NOON: We’ve just obtained the report narrative from SPD, and here’s what else we’ve learned from it:
-The aforementioned bloody prints resulted in a conclusion that the would-be burglar apparently didn’t manage to get into the store despite apparently breaking some glass on the upper floor of the back of the store.
It wasn’t the first burglary attempt, police were told. Meantime, the 31-year-old man eventually arrested is described as a relative of an acquaintance of the store owner and is reported to have tried to make a purchase recently but didn’t have the money for the item he wanted. The suspect was treated at a hospital and taken to jail after his hand injury was stitched up. (The report narrative provided to us does not have any information about the reported injury to an officer or the subsequently reported collision, so we’re asking again on followup)
The report, photo, and suggestion were sent by Dukes:
After months of seeing the north-side trail at Me-Kwa-Mooks not being maintained by the city, my father-in-law and I went down on Sunday to work on allowing it to be walkable/runnable once again.
We got most of the big weeds and overhanging trees off the forest floor.
However, if anyone would be willing to assess and clean a bit more, it would make even more of a difference.
Four months have passed since we told you a J. Crew Factory store was penciled in for the former GameStop and Desert Sun spaces in Westwood Village. The company has yet to make a formal announcement, but that’s not unusual (for example, Total Wine & More has yet to “announce” its Westwood store, but it’s posted May 30 as the opening date). We have word of two developments with the space – the tanningsalon that followed Desert Sun, Bronz’d, now has a note on the door saying it had closed immediately and permanently. We went by to check (top photo) after Wyatt sent the photo below of the note:
Meantime, Huy found a link providing new confirmation of the future J. Crew Factory store – this job listing for the store director.
That’s the wading pool at Lincoln Park, awaiting the start of a new season. The city opens its sprayparks before wading pools, and West Seattle’s only one, Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), will open this Saturday (May 24), with 7-day-a-week operation, 11 am-8 pm, until Labor Day. West Seattle’s wading pools all open in June – with schedules similar to last year – starting with Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), opening June 21 and operating daily, noon-7 pm, through Labor Day; E.C. Hughes (2805 SW Holden) opens June 23 and will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays, noon-7 pm, through August 17; Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) wading pool is open June 25-August 15 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, noon-5:30 pm; and Hiawatha (2700 California SW) wading pool will be open June 26 through August 16, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, also noon-5:30 pm. If it’s cloudy and cool, the city won’t open the pools, so keep watch on the weather. More info on the city’s wading pools and sprayparks, including the rules, can be found here.
(First five photos by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)
A few hours into today’s air-and-sea SWAT drill off West Seattle, we had the chance to visit the staging area on Port of Seattle property, where participating officers were boarding helicopters. The “helipad” used for the occasion was a big empty lot just south and uphill from the port-property entrance across from the Harbor Island 7-11.
Three law-enforcement helicopters were coming and going, delivering officers to participating vessels off both the north and west shores of West Seattle, including the King County Water Taxi‘s M/V Sally Fox:
Officers also were deployed from law-enforcement boats:
We asked King County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division Chief Jeff Flohr, who’s in charge of SWAT and other teams, about the drill scenario and who was involved:
KCSO had three of its four helicopters participating – two were Guardian Twos (the Hueys with the unmistakable low and loud chopping sound – listen to our short clip)
Also participating, one of KCSO’s two Guardian Ones, the newer one; these are the helicopters most seen in crime-related responses, the only law-enforcement helicopters in the region, so they assist other agencies including Seattle Police,.
Though the original announcement had the training running as late as 7 pm, Chief Flohr said the flights will be over no later than 3:30.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Someplace old is about to present something new.
Historic Kenyon Hall will host the first West Seattle Story Slam on Friday night.
The 109-year-old former Olympic Heights Social Hall at 7904 35th SW also is about to write a new chapter in its own story, with a closure this summer for major repairs/renovations.
That’s why we visited Kenyon Hall to talk with the two men who are now managing the nonprofit venue, moving into for a bright future just a few years after uncertainty it would have much of a future at all.
For many years, Kenyon Hall was run by a memorable music man named Lou Magor. His unexpected death four years ago left the century-old building somewhat rudderless, though board members of the nonprofit that owns it, Seattle Artists, worked to keep it going.
Others got involved with the effort to save Kenyon Hall, including Murphy Janssen and Nick Shadel, who now manage it. They jumped in as volunteers, Nick joining just after Lou’s death, Murphy coming aboard six months later. “That period of time was spent figuring out what was even going on at the hall – tracking down records, understanding the state of (the hall) – a tumultuous but positive time. We learned a whole lot about Kenyon Hall, its history, the players …”
And they learned many other things. Murphy, a drummer among other things, hadn’t been involved with a nonprofit before. Nick, a film composer and music educator among other things, had run companies. The board dwindled, including those who had headed the effort to keep Kenyon Hall going. “Volunteerism alone wasn’t going to bring the hall back to its previous (status),” said Murphy. “So Nick and I both flirted with director roles on our own. Neither of us wanted to do solo.” So with the support of remaining board members, they wrote a job description, “found some money” for it, and as of the end of next month, they’ll have been running Kenyon Hall for two years. Murphy is focused on bookings, Nick on administration.
One of their first tasks was to rebuild the board, which was down to three members at the time. Now there are eight.
“All local West Seattle folks,” notes Nick. Some were already involved with the hall via music classes offered there
“We’ve. also been working to build up our volunteer program, opening arms to a greater group of community members who want to help the community out,” Murphy explains. Lou did so much himself, they observe, but they are trying to delegate – helpers with concessions, chair-stacking, maybe even “help run live sound”; they’ve organized volunteer opportunities online.
Fundraising has expanded too; they had a telethon-style fundraiser for Kenyon Hall’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ, with both a live audience and live stream. That day alone, they raised $6,000, and that’s since grown to $30,000 to go toward maintaining the organ as well as improvements such as lighting to make it “even more magical.”
The organ has continued to get a workout, with performances including two shows by Bernard Struber, who saw the sign outside the Hall (“Home of the Mighty Wurlitzer”) while visiting his daughter Laure Struber, also an organist, and “stumbled in” to learn about it.
Even before Friday’s Story Slam, the hall has seen other firsts under its co-directors, including a performance of Celtic dance, and novel ways to use the Wurlitzer, such as this spring’s Cartoon Mess, a March performance that also was streamed:
Organist Sawyer Best helped with that, they explained, “using the Wurlitzer in a fun way.” Next month, Murphy adds, it’ll be put into action with Luke Fitzpatrick, integrating it into an experimental work on June 1st (Laure Struber will be the organist).
And while that will be very modern music, the Wurlitzer also is used to celebrate history, as with Dennis James’s silent-film performances. “It’s been a fun fusion.”
Murphy says bringing Kenyon Hall at least partly into the present is a key part of their work. “We’re finally able to take credit cards!” They’re also selling advance tickets online. Previously, they just took reservations, and “maybe half would show up,” which meant not only less compensation for the hall but less for the performers.
“We take a lot of pride in (supporting artists),” Nick says. “We’re artist-focused, not profit-focused,” Murphy adds.
In addition to visiting performers, they’ve been featuring regular monthly programming – an open-mic night, jazz night, and a drag night – Kenyon Hall Cabaret, which has just celebrated its second anniversary and will celebrate Pride with a Wizard of Oz-themed show again this year, two performances this time.
The drag community helped with the Wurlitzer fundraiser in a big way, Nick notes, saying they’re “deeply integrated into our cool little scene here.”
The other regular features have been a resounding success too, they add. The “open mic,” which focuses on songwriters, has had some “incredible” ones show up to play original music, Nick says. “And we record everyone so they get free demos,” adds Murphy. He goes on to describe the jazz jam, with a Chief Sealth International High School trio as the “house band”; this month will be the third one, 6 pm May 30, free admission. It’s meant to be not just a performance opportunity but also a mentoring event and “some moments of a master class,” as Murphy explains it. Nick summarizes, “We’re creating this space for the spirit of jazz-improvisation collaboration. … We’re excited to offer more free programming.”
Friday’s Story Slam will be free too, and another move toward their goal of “diversifying the art that is presented here.” Murphy elaborates that they’re often approached by people with ideas, asking “have you ever thought about this?” and that’s what the Story Slam sprang from: “We’ll have five or six pre-set story tellers and then an open call.” They hope this too will be monthly.
“Our purpose is for people of any skill level to come in and engage in art,” Nick declares. “At every turn the community lifts us up further – it’s amazing to see the level at which people care about this place. It has some magic.”
What’s happening now is synched with what the two co-directors felt when they first got involved with Kenyon Hall. Murphy had pondered “commitment to art as a community support.” Nick had been teaching music at the hall for years before Lou Magor’s death, and came to regard it as a “sacred creative space (that) was capable of more.” He helped sustain it even during the no-live-events pandemic time, when they presented recorded performances online. “I fell in love with it as a space where creation happens.” Now he says, he’s never felt better about the state of Kenyon Hall, which is at the “dawn of a new era in a really exciting way.”
“It’s almost unfathomable that this place is still here,” marvels Murphy. “How can we not (work to save it)?”
That’s more than a matter of keeping performers onstage and keeping audiences in the seats. It’s also a matter of preserving and updating the hall itself. Murphy allows that “the building’s in pretty good shape,” it needs some work. “We want to do some renovations enabling more recording, with more of a control room in the loft,” he says. “We are going to be a great-sounding room for artists that want to record for a bit cheaper.” Nick hosted a sold-out “guerrilla recording workshop” last fall, and Murphy promises they’ll do it again.
Other upcoming events include “Bach and pancakes” (the latter made by neighboring Locöl Kitchen & Bar, which they laud as a “great partner”) on Sunday (advance tickets are sold out), part of a Memorial Day weekend that also includes a klezmer concert on Saturday. “For those who are sticking around (on Memorial Day weekend), we’re gonna be here and it’s gonna be (great).”
Coming to Kenyon Hall for shows is a huge way you can support its future. You can donate money too – “we’re always running Lights On for Lou.” You can volunteer (Murphy says, “The more people we get on the volunteer list, the less I’ll have to wear three or four hats at once” and the more he can focus on actually running the hall). If you’re a music teacher and not already involved with Kenyon Hall, they want it to “be a place for local music teachers to connect with each other.”
For the major renovations, the hall will “go dark” for a few months starting around July 1st; part of the renovations will include demolishing and rebuilding the restrooms, which will then be ADA compliant (among other improvements). They’ll be streamlining the power to reduce things like cable hum. As Murphy summarizes, “The building needs to be recalibrated for the 21st century.” Trying to figure out everything that needs to be done has led to “some fun and laughter and frustration,” as they describe it.
But Kenyon Hall won’t lose its charm, which includes the mere fact it exists – “Why is this place here? Because it’s been loved by so many people for so long. It’s amazing how intimate this place is,” despite its placement on a busy arterial. “Whatever has happened over the decades has created a special, intimate place for art.”
(Past “happenings” include the legendary 2008 “secret” Eddie Vedder concerts, you might recall, and if you have a poster for that show, the Kenyon Hall directors would love to hear from you!)
HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE HALL: The calendar of upcoming Kenyon Hall performances/events is here.
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE HALL: Donation and volunteering links are here.
11:16 AM: Thanks to Marc Tiedeman for the photo! The drill with law-enforcement boats and helicopters isn’t all that’s happening off West Seattle shores right now – orcas are in the area too. Kersti Muul sent first word; they’re headed southbound off west-facing West Seattle. And Carol Stoner reports, “Orcas are just north of Blake Island heading south. The San Juan Clipper and another boat are observing them. I saw at least 5 separate dorsals.”
11:25 AM: Since we were in South Alki headed back to HQ from a photo/interview op regarding the drill, we detoured to Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook to see if the whales were in view. The boats Carol mentioned are actually part of the drill, which currently involves a helicopter right over M/V Sally Fox (regular Vashon Island Water Taxi vessel) and a Seattle Police boat right behind. (Photo added:)
(Photo by Carolyn Newman, drill participants in view at/near Seacrest)
Here’s our list of Thursday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including the drill happening right now:
DRILL CONTINUES: This is happening on and off West Seattle shores, including helicopters and boats. We’ll have a separate update later – here’s the original preview/alert – but note that this apparently stretches beyond the Elliott Bay shores previously mentioned (some sightings off Beach Drive too). This is expected to continue throughout the day, as late as 7 pm.
(10:43 AM UPDATE: We’re just back from a photo/interview op in the T-5 lot where helicopters are landing and taking off. Three KCSO helicopters – one Guardian One [above], both Guardian Twos – are involved today and we’re told they’ll be done flying by 3:30. Separate report to come, and lots of photos.) Back to what else is happening:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Spring planting 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.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get the latest on 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.
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Dine at Talarico’s Pizzeria 4-9 pm and part of the proceeds go to the WSHS ASB. (4718 California SW)
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 Cascadia Pizza Co..
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.
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!
WORKSHOP AT C & P COFFEE: “Stories that Heal: A Writing Workshop and Collaborative Reading from Alternative Perspectives” – 6 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES COMMUNITY MEETING: Online at 6 pm, get updates from WSF staff, plus Q&A. Register here.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run departs from The Good Society in Admiral (California/Lander).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: More into walking than running? 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).
DUSTY THURSDAYS: 6 pm at Tim’s Tavern (98th/16th, White Center). From West Seattle’s own Billy Joe Huels:
Dusty Thursdays concert series is returning at Tim’s Tavern 6-9 pm on the outdoor stage. Each week we will feature a top local band (most hailing from West Seattle) followed by The Dusty 45s. It’s free, all-ages and everyone is welcome!
Featured tonight – Tom Bennett & The Rolling B.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet, hosted by Good Old-Fashioned Local Trivia (9614 14th SW).
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts spinning early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with Radio Diffusion Internationaal, 7 pm on.
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!
We’ve received several questions this morning about a search in Admiral around 3 am. It was initially reported as a stabbing, a 33-year-old man who said he was attacked near the Admiral/Spokane stairway. A K-9 team was used in the initial search, and that’s why short siren bursts were heard. We just checked with police to see what more they learned and whether anyone was arrested. Here’s their summary:
At 2:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to a call of a stabbing in the 3000 block of Southwest Spokane Street. The victim stated that he was outside looking for his dog and he was stabbed in the neck by an unknown person. The victim stated that the suspect left the scene in an unknown direction. The victim was transported to HMC via AMR with non-life-threatening injuries. Containment was set up and (a King County Sheriff’s Office) K9 (officer) deployed his dog with negative results. It was later determined that the victim had a girlfriend roaming around the area and she was located. The girlfriend told a different story about what occurred to the victim. It is unknown who committed the assault.
That’s the entirety of what they’re releasing so far.
Family and friends are remembering Richard Haich and sharing this remembrance with the community:
In the early morning of March 28th, Richard Haich peacefully passed away after a long illness. He was met at the gates by the love of his life, Joann, who preceded him in death.
Richard’s childhood was spent on the farms of North Dakota, and he would later move to Billings, Montana. As a teenager, Rick enlisted in the Army and earned his GED. After completing his 4-year Army commitment, he returned to Montana, married, and began a family. In 1967, the family moved to West Seattle when Rick accepted a position with Boeing. Wishing to practice his interviewing skills, the following year he interviewed with IBM and was hired on the spot! He retired from IBM in the late 1980s.
Richard and his first wife had 4 children, Chantille (Scott), Anelody (Greg), Chabrise, and Richard Jr. (Holly), all raised in West Seattle. During the 1970s and 1980s, he involved himself in many community clubs, including the Steelheaders, Metal Detecting and Rock Hunting clubs.
In healthier times, Richard was often seen fishing in Elliott Bay or finding treasure with his metal detector. Generous with his talent of home improvements and gardening, you could also find him at one of his children’s homes.
He leaves behind his children and grandchildren, Daniel (Miranda) and Wyatt Henry, Addison (Lindsey), Keagan (Ruth) and Trey Tice, Avery and Jackson Herb, and Reinier and Montira Haich.
A private memorial will happen later this year.
(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)
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, May 22, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clouds, then clearing, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:23 am; sunset will be at 8:49 pm.
ROAD WORK
-The repaving work on 35th from 106th to 108th looked done when we went through last night.
-We’ve learned that the Beach Drive work by Lowman Beach Park is a continuation of the PSE gas pipeline project
-At the other end of Beach Drive, in South Alki, street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project is in its next phase, centered at 64th/Beach Drive – details and maps are here, along with what’s next.
TRANSIT TODAY, WITH A DRILL
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays. Note that the West Seattle Water Taxi WILL sail on Memorial Day. …
Remember that a Water Taxi vessel and law-enforcement officers are participating in a drill on land and by sea all day, as noted in this alert.
Metro buses – Regular schedule today.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. WSF’s online community meeting has another session tonight (6 pm); here’s our summary of the first session at noontime Wednesday.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The sight of M/V Wenatchee out on Elliott Bay today was one reason why Washington State Ferries boss Steve Nevey opened today’s online systemwide community meeting with optimism: “I’m really positive about the direction the ferry system is heading in. … We’re not just trying to get better, we are getting better.”
M/V Wenatchee is getting close to the end of its longer-than-planned hybrid-conversion work at Vigor on Harbor Island, and its return to service will help return the fleet to enough of a size that, among other things, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be able to return to a three-boat schedule June 30 (as first announced last month). “I’m really proud that almost-full service (systemwide) will be restored this summer.”
That also was partly enabled by Governor Bob Ferguson‘s order to delay the hybrid conversion of other ferries, but Nevey insisted WSF was not wavering in its commitment to electrification. A major next step, for example, is to build infrastructure so ferries will be able to recharge at terminals and run entirely on battery power; until that infrastructure is available, for example, Wenatchee will be running in hybrid mode “for a couple years,” Nevey noted.
He also showed the system “by the numbers” for this year’s first four months:
The most important numbers – like fleet size – played into remarks from the next speaker, John Vezina. Though, he warned, the system will have only 21 boats when it should have 26, service restoration will be possible:
For Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth, Vezina also said, there’ll be a few weeks this spring where it’s back to “two boats plus the ‘bonus boat’.” And what happens if unexpected circumstances bring the fleet strength down further? He showed the WSF decisionmaking matrix:
His final key point was that ferries have been added to the list of transit types aboard which various types of “unlawful transit conduct” can get you in trouble, thanks to SB 5716.
Next up from the WSF executive team was Todd Lamphere, who had the most numbers of anyone in the lineup, because it fell to him to explain how the state allocates funding to WSF and what happened in the just-concluded legislative session. Among the many notable numbers was $4 million for continued supplemental foot-ferry service provided by Metro‘s Vashon Island Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit. WSF is also now “directed” by legislators – without a dollar amount attached – to get back to exploring what it would take to provide reliable wi-fi service on ferries and in terminals. He also explained how ferry fares are decided, and during the meeting, participants got the chance to participate in two fare-related polls. (79 percent supported extending expiration time of prepurchased ticket books, from 90 days to 120 days; 65 percent supported a five percent “peak season surcharge.”
For more input into the process of setting the next round of fares, an online open house starts soon:
44 minutes into the meeting, they launched into a full hour of questions and answers (the asking was done via a Zoom feature – no live speaking by attendees). We took notes only on the ones of potential local interested, such as an early question about staffing; Beth Stowell said they’d just had four classes of 16 new employees, with two more soon, so they’re “fully staffed up with new folks for summer.” Other questions included how would WSF measure electrification success, once it’s actually happening; the answer – the amount of time the boats are running on battery power. Someone else was perturbed over people “skipping the line” if they have a medical exemption; Vezina noted there are three groups of people that can skip the line – those with medical exemptions, those on motorcycles, and those on bicycles. The medical exemption requires a note from a doctor – they don’t just take your word for it.
Got a question? A second session of the same meeting, ostensibly also featuring an hour for Q&A, starts at 6 pm Thursday; you can get the link by registering here.
Thanks to James Bratsanos for the photo from tonight’s sunset. The warm colors seem like a promise of the warmer weather to come – forecast currently projects 70s this weekend, a bit cooler on Memorial Day.
| 5 COMMENTS