(Sunrise photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor earlier this week)

Two-part list today – we begin with Easter events:

EASTER SERVICES: See our list for the times/locations of the services sent to us for inclusion. They start with the three local UCC churches’ traditional sunrise service at Alki Beach, 6 am near the Bathhouse (59th/Alki).

EGG HUNTS: Five of those churches are offering them today – we listed them here.

EAGLES’ EASTER BRUNCH: Membership not required for this special brunch at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ (4426 California SW), 10 am-1 pm (the Easter Bunny arrives at 11).

EASTER PICS WITH REAL RABBITS: At Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 1 pm-4 pm, Special Bunny Rabbit Rescue will present a photo booth, by donation.

CLOSURES: We don’t make an Easter open/closed list, because historically we haven’t heard of many closures. But there are a few – one big West Seattle store will be closed today – Target; other closures we know of include Circa (WSB sponsor), Junction Hardware, Husky Deli, Northwest Art and Frame, .

Now, here’s what else is notable today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and previously published previews:

WATER TAXI STARTING LATE: As noted here, West Seattle Water Taxi service won’t begin until the 1:30 run from downtown – that’s because the annual underwater cleanup will be happening in the Seacrest vicinity.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Today’s run leaves from Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 9 am.

AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, it’s open today – 10 am-2 pm, with spring produce (lots of greens!) plus beverages, flowers, cheese, yogurt, fish, meat, prepared hot food, baked goods, nuts, dried peppers, garlic, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

DUWAMISH TRIBE LONGHOUSE & CULTURAL CENTER: Usually open Sundays but closed for Easter.

FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am Sundays, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool to get your project going? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)

‘ATHENA’ MATINEE: “Theater plus fencing!” is what ArtsWest (4711 California SW) promises with its production “Athena“; our calendar listing has play info plus the ticket link for today’s 3 pm performance.

420 PUFF & PAINT: 4 pm at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW).

MIDNIGHT MORNING AT EASY STREET: 5 pm, the record store hosts a free, all-ages show with songs from the “psychedelic grunge” band’s new EP “Faded Colors.” (4559 California SW)

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: End your weekend with Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.

Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police investigate gunfire

April 19, 2025 9:44 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

After several 911 calls about suspected gunfire, police just told dispatch they’ve found “rounds” at 29th/Brandon. No reports of injuries.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Tiny egg-hunters at Delridge Community Center

April 19, 2025 9:37 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin. Above, 15-month-old Peter)

Earlier, we showed you West Seattle’s biggest egg hunt. Now, one of the smaller-yet-spirited events at Seattle Parks community centers: The two scheduled this year were both set for 10 am, so we had to choose one, and Delridge Community Center won.

The hunting happened in waves, grouped by age.

(3 1/2-year-old Molly)

If your little one didn’t get a chance to egg-hunt today, several local churches are offering opportunities tomorrow – here’s our list.

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PHOTOS: As DNDA volunteers dig in for Earth Day, a legend rejoins them

April 19, 2025 7:47 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Environment | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

WSB photos by Dave Gershgorn

In honor of Earth Day, this was a day for hundreds of people to dig into restoration and cleanup work in some of West Seattle’s greenspaces, particularly the watershed of the Duwamish River. Some of them joined the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association – DNDA – at Pigeon Point Park, to celebrate a longtime partnership and the legendary woman who launched it:

Nancy Whitlock founded the environment-and-art focused Nature Consortium in 1998 and led it until a decade ago. It’s now part of DNDA, which “revived” Nature Consortium – with Whitlock on hand – for today’s volunteer event at a site where it hosts many work parties each year

DNDA’s announcement of today’s event explained, “This year is the 20th anniversary of the Green Seattle Partnership. The milestone has prompted reflection on all that has been accomplished by tens of thousands of volunteers over the decades, and it felt like a natural occasion to highlight all that was accomplished under the Nature Consortium banner.”

(Volunteer Emily Grayson, chopping through roots obstructing a trail)

DNDA continues the work that Whitlock began, “connecting people, arts, and nature.” And that was in evidence as volunteers dug into their tasks this morning, with arts and music to be part of the event too.

(Volunteer Alex Tranum, chopping through blackberry vines)

Today also was the multi-site Duwamish Alive! volunteering event, and we’ll have coverage from one of its sites a bit later.

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VIDEO: 15,000 eggs and hundreds of smiles at Lincoln Park for annual Eastridge egg hunt

April 19, 2025 5:04 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Video, photos and story by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Kids and families flocked to the south meadow at Lincoln Park on Saturday morning for West Seattle’s biggest annual egg hunts, sponsored and organized by Eastridge Church and featuring 15,000 treat-filled eggs.

The slight drizzle and overcast skies were no match for the prevailing Easter spirit, as families began lining up to check-in and get their designated hunt bags, divided into age groups:

Eastridge has a campus in Issaquah and also a West Seattle campus (4500 39th Ave SW), and on Saturday the organizers including pastor Craig Mathison welcomed attendees to the Lincoln Park hunt:

…as prospective hunters and families began taking their places around the two fields that event volunteers had set up with thousands of eggs each:

Here’s video of the first wave of young hunters (with parental help allowed): Lincoln Park — Eastridge Church egg hunt 2025 (group 1).

And following a short break to allow volunteers to restock each field, here’s the second wave (kids only): Lincoln Park — Eastridge Church egg hunt 2025 (group 2):

In each group, one lucky participant was able to find an egg containing a “golden ticket” to exchange for a large Easter basket:

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Longtime Fauntleroy leader Mike Dey has died

April 19, 2025 2:45 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Obituaries | West Seattle news

Fauntleroy has lost a longtime leader.

Just a few months after resigning as Fauntleroy Community Association president after 11 years, Mike Dey has unexpectedly died at age 74.

His wife Susan Lantz-Dey had been outdoors at their home Thursday night, then came indoors to make dinner, and found him unconscious. Seattle Fire medics responded but were unable to revive him.

This past January’s FCA meeting was Mr. Dey’s last one as president. As we reported in meeting coverage, he planned to stay on the board at least a year to help with the transition, but was hoping that handing over the reins would mean “new ideas can float to the top.”

In the subsequent edition of the FCA’s quarterly newsletter, editor Judy Pickens published this list of highlights from Mr. Dey’s years of leadership (while noting he would be first to point out that many others assisted):

*increased residential memberships from 121 to 224 and business memberships from 6 to 15.

*administered an annual FCA budget that more than doubled to $11,800.

*beautified the Endolyne business area with 23 planter boxes and maintained them.

*introduced crossing flags for pedestrian safety at 11 intersections in the neighborhood.

*opposed pickleball courts and an off-leash dog area in Lincoln Park.

*took positions on ferry-terminal replacement and pressed at city and state levels to be heard.

*examined and responded to numerous city proposals to increase building heights and density and decrease street and off-street parking for residents.

*took positions to enforce the city’s noise ordinance and retain funding for public safety.

*supported federal funding for repairing the West Seattle high bridge.

*introduced annual community egg and pumpkin hunts.

*pushed for converting Brace Point Dr. SW to one way and improving parking, adding a guard rail along Marine View Dr. SW, installing a wide-angle mirror for traffic safety at SW Roxbury and SW Marine View Dr., and adding traffic calming and pedestrian safety striping at problem locations.

*succeeded in getting the state to remove creosote logs and debris from Fauntleroy Cove.

*introduced automated FCA membership renewal and payment options.

A full obituary and word on memorial plans will be forthcoming.

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UPDATE: Hundreds join streetcorner protests at 20+ intersections in West Seattle

April 19, 2025 1:07 pm

| 86 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

1:07 PM: So far we’ve been from Morgan Junction…

… to the north end of The Junction…

… and we’ve seen hundreds of protesters on a dozen streetcorners, midway through a planned two-hour protest of various actions the Trump Administration has taken or might take. Next, we’re traveling the rest of California Ave.

1:20 PM: Just did that, and counted another dozen intersections with protesters at multiple corners, ending at Admiral Way.

1:53 PM: Just made it up to Highland Park and a group is at 16th/Holden as announced.

2:25 PM: The photos above were all taken by us from our car window, at stoplights. We’re back at HQ now and below we’ll be adding other photos a bit later this afternoon.

ADDED 3:07 PM: Above, Dave White‘s photo from Walk-All Ways; below, Bucky Hayes-McQueen‘s photo from Admiral/California:

ADDED 5:15 PM: Below are photos from WSB contributor Dave Gershgorn, who went to several of the locations:

The protests were organized by West Seattle Indivisible.

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SPORTS: West Seattle HS edges Chief Sealth IHS in cross-peninsula baseball faceoff

April 19, 2025 12:33 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photo by Oliver Hamlin)

By Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Clear skies and warm breezes made it a perfect Friday night for baseball, as rivals West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School suited up to take the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. The weather fostered a festive atmosphere in the stands as well. At one point, the fans broke out into a singalong with the Zac Brown Band’s breezy single “Knee Deep” between innings.

(Photo by Tracy Burrows: Above, CSIHS #2, Julian Reinhardt)

On the field, it was a tale of two contests – a slugfest for the first three innings and a pitcher’s duel for the final three and a half, with West Seattle coming away with the win by a score of 7-6.

(Photo by Oliver Hamlin)

The Wildcats got things going in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs off Sealth’s starting pitcher, Teo Perala.

(Photo by Oliver Hamlin)

The big blow was a towering double by Lincoln Scott (#44 below), who advanced to third on the throw to home plate.

(Photo by Tracy Burrows)

Sealth tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the second with timely hitting and smart baserunning, scoring a run on a West Seattle wild pitch. Sealth went ahead 6-3 in the top of the third, powered by a Perala double. West Seattle wasted no time in answering back, tying the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the inning, helped by three walks and a hit batter by the Sealth pitchers.

(Photo by Tracy Burrows)

The rest of the night belonged to West Seattle’s pitcher Oliver Heltzel (above), who held the Seahawks scoreless for the last four innings, notching 5 strikeouts and forcing many ground ball outs. Sealth kept the game close with some stellar defense but gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth through a combination of a walk, stolen base, fielder’s choice, and wild pitch. Sealth’s Sam Popelka (#7) pitched 3+ innings in relief

WHAT’S NEXT: Both games are back at NCSWAC next Wednesday (April 23), against different opponents – Sealth vs. Roosevelt at 4 pm, WSIHS vs. Nathan Hale at 7 pm.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Shredding, and donating, at Westwood Village

April 19, 2025 9:25 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Westwood

Until noon today, the annual shredding event and food/money donation drive for White Center Food Bank is on in the northwest section of the Westwood Village parking lot (south of the post office).

The shredding service is provided for free by John L. Scott Westwood Real Estate-The Madrona Group (WSB sponsor).

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 31 notes!

April 19, 2025 6:22 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Spring blossoms, photographed by Susan Whiting Kemp)

The weekend begins! Here are highlights for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HOLY WEEK CONTINUES: Easter vigils and more on our list of local services – see it here.

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the free weekly group run.

FREE SHREDDING AND FOOD DRIVE: You bring the food and/or money for White Center Food Bank, a shredding service provided by John L. Scott Westwood Real Estate-The Madrona Group (WSB sponsor) does the shredding, 9 am-noon in the northwest section of the Westwood Village parking lot (closer to Trenton entrance, south of the post office)

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

THIS WEEKEND’S EGG HUNTS: They start today at 10 am – here’s our full list, including Delridge and High Point Community Centers and Lincoln Park this morning, Ounces this afternoon (with an adult egg hunt too!) and church egg hunts tomorrow.

DUWAMISH ALIVE! The spring day of work parties along the river and its watershed is here, 10 am-2 pm – if you haven’t pre-registered for one, you can try dropping in! This year’s opening ceremonies and acknowledgments are again at həʔapus Village Park (4500 Duwamish Trail).

DNDA EARTH DAY EVENT: Revisit the legendary Nature Consortium as its founder Nancy Whitlock returns for this restoration event at Pigeon Point Park (1901 SW Genesee), 10 am-1 pm

INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.

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

MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 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. 13-week series continues 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.

FAMILY READING TIME: 11 am family reading time is back at new home of Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW) and this week features Sheryl Murray and her new book “When Night Comes Calling.”

EARTH DAY AT THE P-PATCH: Join The Clay Cauldron and friends at Delridge P-Patch (5078 25th SW) for an Earth Day event, 11 am-3 pm.

SPRING BUCKET GIVEAWAY: White Center Pride‘s fun giveaway for kids is set to start at 1 pm at Dubsea Coffee (8th SW south of SW Roxbury).

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-1 pm at Westside Wonderspace (7018 14th SW).

STREETCORNER RALLIES FOR DEMOCRACY: Noon-2 pm, democracy advocates plan to gather at California SW streetcorners from Admiral to Fauntleroy, plus at 16th/Holden in Highland Park, with signs and noisemakers, continuing what started with the “Hands Off!” rallies two weeks ago.

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)

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).

FREE MASSAGE: Nepenthe event is canceled this week.

INTIMATE CONCERT SERIES: 6 pm at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), pay what you can, Kelly Hyde and Joey Valentine perform “living room style” in the gallery.

PASSOVER’S FINAL WEEKEND: The Jewish festival of Passover concludes this weekend.

BAD NERVES AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm show and signing, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)

LIVE AT KENYON HALL: Doors 7, show 7:30, Wes Weddell & Del Rey at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW). All ages; tickets here.

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS AT THE SKYLARK: Doors 7, show 8:

BANDMIXERS DISCOGRAPHY / VOL. 16

Bandmixers-Discography events feature curated cover bands showcasing select tracks from some of rock music’s most iconic albums. Performing bands are made up of musicians from within the Festival of Friends Events musician community. Our Volume 16 installment includes the music of Rush, Boston, Pixies and Pearl Jam. Join us for a great night of community live performances!

Tickets here. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

‘ATHENA’ AT ARTSWEST: Second weekend continues, 7:30 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW), for “Athena,” by Gracie Gardner – get tickets here.

MUSIC AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 8 pm, with Alec Estes, no cover. (9444 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: Spinning starts at 9 pm with DJ Topspin at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW)

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Want to sing on your Saturday night? 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)

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

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UPDATE: House fire on 17th SW

April 18, 2025 9:25 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Added: Reader photo)

9:25 PM: What started as a small response in the 8100 block of 17th SW has been upgraded to a full “fire in building” response. Updates to come.

9:27 PM: Firefighters told dispatch the fire is in the one-story house’s basement. … It’s extended through a window and caught the exterior on fire.

9:41 PM: Not out yet. But now one firefighter just radioed that the fire may have started in the “vinyl siding.” Another reiterated the earlier observation that flames came through a window and caught the siding on fire, adding that the basement electrical panel might have factored into it.

9:48 PM: City Light has arrived. The fire is reported to be under control.

10 PM: And now it’s been declared out.

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From police officers to park rangers, city’s ‘working to get out ahead’ of beach trouble, Alki Community Council hears

April 18, 2025 8:41 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Though Thursday night’s Alki Community Council meeting yielded no major revelations about the summer safety plan for the beach, the fact that the meeting happened at all, one month before the season’s traditional start, was a triumph.

ACC brought together reps from Seattle Police, Seattle Parks, and Seattle Public Utilities, with other guests and with the Alki Bathhouse serving as a symbolically important setting, just steps from the epicenter of summer activity at the beach – both good and bad. Last year, a multi-agency community meeting (WSB coverage here) happened after a still-unsolved murder on Duwamish Head in June.

As we’ve been reporting since last month, Parks plans to finally make earlier closing times at Alki (and elsewhere) permanent, after years of implementing them as a “pilot” (here’s our coverage of last week’s Parks Board meeting at which commissioners voted in favor of the change. So that means a 10:30 pm closing time for Alki. But closing times alone won’t solve everything. Other aspects of Alki summers were spotlighted at the meeting.

“We are really looking forward to the summer season,” opened Starck with optimism, even with the possibility that a small percentage of “bad actors” can cause trouble. The meeting was intended, she explained, to learn from city reps who are “guardians” of the area, and to learn how everyone can be a “guardian” in their own way.

Taking the concept of guardianship back a few centuries, the area’s First People were represented by Chief Sealth descendant Ken Workman stood before the crowd to deliver a welcome in Lushootsheed, the Duwamish Tribe‘s language, which he said children are learning again. He spoke of his great-great-etc. grandfather welcoming the Denny Party in 1851. In the less than two centuries that have passed, he observed, “On this land, everything has changed. … this was all trees.” He wanted to come and “show you where you are.”

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS: Two guests whose stewardship of the land started far more recently spoke to the ACC next – Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) eighth-graders whose “Change the World” project is plastic pollution. They’re oganizing a beach-cleanup day – no date chosen yet – and will need help getting the word out. They haven’t set a date yet but will let the ACC know. Starck told them, “We’re super proud you’re taking control of what’s happening in your back yard.”

SUMMER-PREVIEW PANEL: Then it was on to the summer-preview panel – Seattle Police Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair, Jon Jainga from Seattle Parks’ security and emergency-management team, Tracy Cramer from Seattle Public Utilities‘ Clean City Initiative, and one more Parks rep, Brian Willis, Southwest District maintenance captain (handling 86 parks – with “not a lot” of staff, he said when Starck asked).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen car burns

April 18, 2025 6:46 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

A car found burning on a West Seattle street early Thursday was stolen, according to SPD. Their short summary of the incident just after 3 am Thursday near 27th/Othello says that while the vehicle had been stolen in Seattle, checking its VIN showed it was linked to a shooting in the King County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, so what was left of the burned car was towed to a KCSO-controlled location. We haven’t yet been able to obtain report narrative on the incident.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND: 10 places you’ll find egg hunts

April 18, 2025 3:16 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(April 12 WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)

Only one major West Seattle egg hunt is in the history books – the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s event last Saturday – all the others are in the next two days. Here’s what we have on the list:

DELRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER: 10 am Saturday (4501 Delridge Way SW)

HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER: 10 am Saturday (6920 34th SW)

LINCOLN PARK: The mega-event presented by Eastridge Church, also featuring bouncy toys and Easter Bunny pics, is in the park’s south meadow at 10 am (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

EGG HUNT FOR DOGS: 11 am-2 pm at All the Best Pet Care (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW), which also invites cat owners to stop in for feline-treat-filled eggs.

OUNCES BEER GARDEN Three egg hunts at 3809 Delridge Way SW – two for kids (noon for ages 4-8, 3 pm for younger), one for adults (5 pm)!

SUNDAY EGG HUNTS AT CHURCHES: Among the ones that sent us their Easter/Holy Week schedules, egg hunts are part of the plan at:

Bethany Community Church: After 9:30 am Easter service, egg hunt on Highland Park Playground (11th/Cloverdale)

HOPE LUTHERAN (4456 42nd SW), 10 am Sunday

Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 11:15 am Sunday

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist (3050 California SW; WSB sponsor), 11:45 am Sunday

Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 12:20 pm Sunday

(Any to add? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!)

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FOLLOWUP: End of the line for one of West Seattle’s largest public art works, the Paragon, because of what artist calls ‘insane policy decision’?

April 18, 2025 12:50 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo taken this week)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Last July, we told you about an uncertain future for the Paragon, the giant wooden bones-of-a-boat sculpture installed more than 20 years ago at what’s now known as həʔapus Village Park and Shoreline Habitat (formerly T-107 Park; map) along West Marginal Way near the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse.

The Paragon’s artist, Don Fels, sounded the alarm at the time, asking for public support to help save the Paragon, which he declared was in “mortal danger” after deteriorating amid what he said was long-running city neglect. When last we updated, the artist had hope it would be saved.

We hadn’t checked in on the situation recently; then we heard from Fels this week. He wrote:

I am writing to tell you and your loyal readers that after a year of a great deal of effort on my part- and many others like the WSeattle Bloggers [WSB readers] and Nucor Steel – ARTS, the so-called ‘public art’ department of the City of Seattle, intend to ‘deaccession‘ the Paragon sculpture along the Duwamish, at their Public Art Committee meeting next week, April 22nd. I’m very sorry to have not provided you with a more timely notice of this, but I was not given such notice myself. This means that once the committee approves the deaccession, the next step will be for the City’s Seattle Arts Commission to formally agree to destroy the sculpture at their May 13 meeting and then begin taking it to the dump.

I am an experienced public artist, and someone who to date has had an excellent relationship with the City of Seattle arts people. But no matter what I tried to do over an entire year, I couldn’t get them to offer any assistance whatsoever to rebuild the wooden boat atop the sculpture. The final straw came when they sent me a multi-page contract to sign wherein the City laid out numerous requirements that I would have to meet in order to rebuild the sculpture, all with donated monies and services, and though unpaid, I would have to assume any and all liabilities, and indemnify the City against any damages. Several well-versed persons in the arts and the law strongly urged me not to sign. I did not.

I attach a letter here that I sent to Gülgün Kayim, the Director of ARTS, informing her of my decision. I believe it is important that interested people send letters to them as well. To be honest, I don’t expect that hearing from the public will change their mindset, or that of their legal dept, but they do need to know that people care about such insane policy decisions.

People who wish to write should do so to: allie.lee@seattle.gov

I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of appreciation for the sculpture, and only wish I had been successful in saving it.

Here’s the letter Fels sent to director Kayim. Toward the end, he suggests that what has gone awry here could happen to other city-owned public art (in which we all have an interest, given – among many other things – the public funding that goes into it):

… ARTS has forced a legacy, beloved sculpture to be scrapped and made necessary spending a large expenditure of public money to make that happen. That is a long way from not allowing the ARTS conservator to inspect and/or maintain the sculpture every so often. I cannot be expected to make up for what has ARTS failed to do. Nor can my actions undo what ARTS has caused to happen. That is not the role of the artist, nor should it ever be. Clearly, ARTS needs a robust maintenance budget for its large public art collection. And without it, other artworks in the City of Seattle’s collection will meet the same fate at the Paragon. …

We asked Office of Arts and Culture spokesperson Otts Bolisay about the situation; he confirmed that partial demolition is proposed and the next step is a meeting this Tuesday:

We’ve worked with Mr. Fels on this since last year and, unfortunately, are unable to come to an agreement. Since it’s still a safety risk, we are moving forward with deaccessioning Paragon.

We’ll present a proposal to the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) on Tuesday, 4/22 to remove the hazardous parts of the sculpture. But we’ll keep the steel armature in place for one year should Mr. Fels change his mind about replacing Paragon himself.

If PAAC recommends to the Seattle Arts Commission (SAC) that Paragon should be deaccessioned, SAC will review and vote on it Tuesday, 5/13.

Both meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.

The Tuesday meeting is at 9 am online, and the attendance info is here (we are requesting the agenda document); the May 13 meeting is hybrid, 4 pm, with attendance info here. You can see the “armature” to which Bolisay refers, in this old photo provided by the artist:

(Photo courtesy Don Fels)

Fels was told the Tuesday discussion is scheduled at 10:20 am, to last 40 minutes – broken down by the city as follows:

Public Art team to present deaccession recommendation (10 minutes)
Artist and community response (10 minutes)
PAAC member questions or comments (15 minutes)
PAAC motion for recommendation (5 minutes)

We are seeking information on the city’s budget for the planned demolition/removal work, as Fels contends in his letter, “Asserting that there are no funds to rebuild the sculpture, ARTS will spend an equivalent amount in removing it.”

See the sculpture’s background here.

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Spring cleaning? Free shredding tomorrow, free recycling a week later

April 18, 2025 12:10 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Westwood

Two quick reminders about free services the next two Saturdays that can help with your spring cleaning:

(WSB photo, 2023 event)

FREE SHREDDING TOMORROW: Saturday (April 19) brings the annual shredding event in the northwest Westwood Village parking lot, offered by John L. Scott Westwood Real Estate-The Madrona Group (WSB sponsor), 9 am-noon. Shredding is free, but if you can, bring food/money to donate to the White Center Food Bank.

RECYCLE ROUNDUP ON APRIL 26: Then one week from tomorrow, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, April 26, it’s the spring edition of Fauntleroy Church‘s Recycle Roundup – free dropoff recycling for electronics and much more. Here’s the newest list of what will and won’t be accepted. Drive/ride/walk up to the church lot at 9140 California SW (but don’t wait until the last hour unless you absolutely can’t make it any sooner – they want to avoid a big crowd at closing time).

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Brown water in Gatewood

April 18, 2025 11:33 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to Terry for the report: “I’m in Gatewood up near California and Holden and our water just started coming out of the tap pretty darned brown.” Terry has reported this to the city – Seattle Public Utilities‘ round-the-clock number is 206-386-1800. Although it’s likely hydrant testing, which is accelerating now that spring is here, it’s always important to report discolored water, as it can sometimes be first word of a problem such as a pipe break.

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From nature journaling to baseball to theater to music, here’s what’s up for your West Seattle Friday!

April 18, 2025 9:58 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Anchor/Luna Park in the morning sunshine, photographed by James Bratsanos)

Here’s our Friday highlights list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HOLY WEEK SERVICES: Today is Good Friday. Our list of scheduled services at local churches that sent them is here.

STAY ‘N’ PLAY: Arbor Heights event canceled today, for spring break.

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

BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Delridge Library, free! (5423 Delridge Way SW)

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

(Seattle Parks photo)

NATURE JOURNALING: First of two sessions is at 4 pm today!

Looking for a fun Spring activity to do with your kids? Or with yourself?? Try Nature Journaling! There are two options for dates/times of this program- April 18th and 19th, both along Longfellow Creek at the Dragonfly Pavilion! We will be meeting at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) and walking along the creek, learning about nature and how to capture it through journaling. Come hone or develop your observation and nature journaling skills with us.

Presented by Seattle Parks; here’s the registration link.

LEARN ABOUT SOIL: 4 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) – advance registration required; call 206-684-7454 ASAP.

SONGWRITER INCUBATOR NIGHT AT KENYON HALL: Signups at 6, music starts at 6:30 pm, monthly songwriters’ showcase at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW). Free, all ages.

CROSSTOWN BASEBALL: Our area’s two major high schools face off in baseball at 7 pm, West Seattle HS vs. Chief Sealth IHS at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)

LIVE AT EASY STREET: Black Viiolet performs in-store at Easy Street Records, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Ska band The Georgetown Orbits‘ album release party, featuring Giant Octopus, doors 7 pm, show 8, at The Skylark, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

‘ATHENA’ AT ARTSWEST: Second weekend. Curtain time tonight is 7:30 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW), for “Athena,” by Gracie Gardner – get tickets here.

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Lady Coco 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: Kawaii Skate Night: Idols in Seattle, hosted by Magical Melody, with performances by Paida, Berry, Phoebe, & DJ Baby Van Beezly.

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!

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