Spring officially starts this Thursday. But seasonal colors are already brightening the lives of residents at Quail Park West Seattle (WSB sponsor), thanks to a collaboration with local students. Betsy Henry sent the report and photos on behalf of Quail Park:

Earlier this month, a group of 7th and 8th grade students from Holy Rosary School brought residents at Quail Park West Seattle a little extra sunshine. They decorated some of the community’s doors for spring.

The gesture was part of Holy Rosary’s long-standing relationship with the senior-living community. Students in leadership classes taught by Nicole Chiodo have been visiting Quail Park West Seattle for over 5 years. During COVID, they even adapted their visits by singing songs and visiting with residents from the safety of the community’s patio.

“We love being part of this community,” said Brian Anderson, the executive director at Quail Park West Seattle. “Our residents delight in interacting with the public, especially children and youth, and we are grateful to these students for sharing their time and joy with us!”

During their weekly or sometimes twice weekly visits, the students and residents socialize, do crafts and show off their talents. So far this term, they have had a meet-and-greet, a game day, a party, and a talent show. The spring door decorations, presented on March 6th, were another creative way for students to brighten the spirits of the residents.

The students’ involvement continues to highlight the importance of intergenerational connections and the positive impact these interactions have on both the youth and seniors in the community.

“It’s amazing to see the young and the old interact,” said Chiodo. “The smiles light up the room. My students are always so full of energy after our visits, retelling the stories they learned and they can’t wait for the next visit. We love our Quail Park family and I feel blessed to share this special opportunity with my students.”

Quail Park is at 4515 41st SW, walking distance from the school.

YOU CAN HELP: Wish list for Alki UCC’s dropoff donation drive Sunday

March 15, 2025 8:22 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(Alki UCC photo of donations from February 2024 drive)

Every month, Alki UCC puts out donation bins in front of the church at 6115 SW Hinds on one Sunday, and circulates a wish list for dropoff donations. Tomorrow is the March donation day, and here’s what they’re looking for:

Alki UCC Donations Drive – Sunday, March 16
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Front Courtyard

This month’s priorities:
-Outerwear/Men’s Outdoor Work Clothing
-Blankets
-Clean Wearable Boots and Shoes
-New Socks
-New Men’s and Women’s Underwear

We also welcome non-perishable food, hygiene products and outdoor gear.

Donations are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network Saturday lunch, hosted in White Center. Deepest gratitude to our community for your generous support of our neighbors in need.

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UPDATE: Fire callout on 45th SW, false alarm

March 15, 2025 7:17 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

7:17 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a big callout to the 5200 block of 45th SW, where “a caller reports seeing flames in the living room.” Updates to come.

7:20 PM: They’re reducing the response, saying it’s possibly “a TV” that caught fire (or sparked) but nothing major, and no smoke.

7:23 PM: And now they’ve further discerned that “flames on the TV” actually was “video of flames” … so they’re canceling the whole thing.

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Fauntleroy Creek volunteers place traps, start counting coho headed for salt water

March 15, 2025 5:10 pm

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

A salmon update from the Fauntleroy Watershed Council:

Volunteers are starting the annual spring count of coho smolts leaving Fauntleroy Creek for their two years in salt water.

(Photos by Dave Gershgorn. Above Scoutmaster James Kim and Dan Vornbrock [Ben’s dad] attach netting to the trap frame)

Last spring Ben Vornbrock supported this research by designing and building two net traps as his Eagle Scout project. This past Wednesday, family and fellow members of Scout Troop 284 put them back in at sites in the upper and lower creek to continue the research. Today, monitors were scheduled to start checking them twice daily through late May.

(Scout Naomi Bilinski helps Dan position the net so all creek flow goes through it. Superintending are Jamie Bilinski and creek volunteers Tom Trulin and Dennis Hinton)

Last spring’s smolt count was 30; the highest count since the research began in 2003 was 230.

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GO GREEN! 9 West Seattle St. Patrick’s Day highlights for tonight, Sunday, Monday

March 15, 2025 3:51 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

St. Patrick’s Day is Monday, but the celebration is spanning three days this year. If you’re looking for West Seattle (and vicinity) events all in one list, here you go! (The Saturday-night events are already in this morning’s daily list, but we’re mentioning them again …)

IRISH FEST 2: Five bands, including West Seattle musicians, are playing Tim’s Tavern in White Center tonight – doors open at 6, music at 7, fundraiser for SMASH – all ages until 10 pm. (16th/98th)

IRISH-THEMED RAINBOW BINGO: Not too late to get your ticket(s) to the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation fundraiser, 6:30 pm tonight at West Seattle Golf Course‘s clubhouse. (4470 35th SW)

LEPRECHAUN LEG GROUP RUN: Join West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) on the track at Hiawatha for the start of this wearing-of-the-green 3-mile group ruh, 9 am Sunday. (2700 California SW)

FREE IRISH LINE-DANCE CLASS: Noon Sunday at Ounces, courtesy of West Seattle Irish Dance. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

GREEN RUN: Also at Ounces, the regular Sunday run at noon is green-themed this week!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IRISH FEST: Those two events are part of a noon-7 pm celebration Sunday at Ounces, with green beer among other things.

MAGICAL STRINGS: This duo celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with their concert at Kenyon Hall, 2:30 pm Sunday, with dancers and fiddlers joining them. Get tickets here. (7904 35th SW)

COMERFORD IRISH DANCERS @ CENTER: 1:15 pm Monday, all are welcome to come see young dancers from West Seattle’s Comerford School of Irish Dance perform at the Center for Active Living. (4217 SW Oregon)

HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE TURNS IRISH PUB: It’s a tradition at Highland Park Corner Store, 5-8 pm on St. Patrick’s Day (Monday), visit for “loaded baked potatoes and corned beef sandwiches, green beer, shamrock ice cream scoops, Irish tunes”! (7789 Highland Park Way SW)

More St. Patrick’s Day festivities tonight, Sunday, Monday? These are just the ones sent in for our calendar – if you forgot to send yours, do it now and we’ll add! Thanks!

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SUNDAY PREVIEW: ‘Rain Music’ concert with Music Northwest, featuring world premiere of ’17 Names for Rain’

March 15, 2025 1:59 pm

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| West Seattle news

Another chance this weekend to be the first to see and hear a new work performed! West Seattle’s Dr. Jane Harty leads Music Northwest, which presents a concert on Sunday appropriately titled “Rain Music,” featuring a world premiere. Here are the details:

Music Northwest presents “Rain Music” on March 16th, 3 pm, Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). This Music Northwest Concert Series event features the world premiere of “17 Names for Rain” by Northwest composer Sean Osborn.

The concert also features music by Debussy, Chopin, William Grant Still, and Nadia Boulanger for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano in various combinations. In addition to clarinetist Sean Osborn, Northwest artists include Emily Hu, cello; Quinn Price, violin; and Jane Harty, piano. Tickets are available at www.musicnorthwest.org. Students age 25 and under may request FREE tickets by calling Music NW at 206-937-9792. (Student comps must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance). General admission is $20; Seniors $18; Students at the door, $10.

“17 Names for Rain” is the 9th piece commissioned by Music Northwest, a project which began in 2005. In 2024, our commissioned piece, “To the Invisible Listener,” in memory of Rev. Ronald Marshall by Juilliard composer Jacob Beranek, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music. It was premiered in West Seattle in December of 2024. Music Northwest has received long-term support from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, King County 4Culture, ArtsFund, and ACMP (the Chamber Music Fund based in New York City). The Director, Dr. Jane Harty, recently served on the National Endowment for the Arts Music Panel during the Biden administration. Music Northwest is strongly committed to DEI programming, and past commissioned pieces have been set to texts by Phyllis Wheatley and Native American poets.

Music Northwest also offers annual Chamber Music Camps for both youth and adults, with gala concerts produced in West Seattle churches since 2002. For more information, please go to www.musicnorthwest.org

You can see the full program for Sunday’s concert here.

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SATURDAY WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas appear again

March 15, 2025 12:00 pm

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| West Seattle news | Whales

If you can spare time to whale-watch today, this might be a good time, between waves of showers – Kersti Muul texted to tell us that orcas are currently “northbound from the south end of Blake Island.” Let us know if you see them; thanks again to those who share photos/video of local sightings (westseattleblog@gmail.com)!

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Early-morning false alarm at Don Armeni Boat Ramp

March 15, 2025 10:59 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

For those who were wondering: A briefly big “water rescue response” at Don Armeni Boat Ramp this morning turned out to be a false alarm of sorts. SFD and SPD converged on the park around 6:15 am to check out a possible car in the water about 50 yards out. According to incident audio, divers/swimmers arrived, went into the water, and discovered it was not a car, but instead a rental scooter “with all its lights on.”

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 29 things to know

March 15, 2025 6:07 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Schmitz Preserve Park photo by Christopher Boffoli)

Get your Irish music on as this pre-St. Patrick’s Day weekend begins – two opportunities are part of the slate for your Saturday, mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar. We start with a traffic alert:

TRAFFIC NOTE: WSDOT is closing the two right lanes of NB Highway 99 across the First Avenue South Bridge until 1 pm for bridge-deck work.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE BOOTHS: This year’s Girl Scout Cookie in-person sales end this weekend! Go here to look for a cookie booth near you – multiple troops are selling at various spots, during various time slots, in West Seattle.

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

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

INTRODUCTORY WALK: 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). ‘

MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS CLEARANCE SALE: Continuing this weekend! “We’re offering our best discounts of the season on all of our winter gear!” says Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor). Open 10 am-6 pm today.

MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Jon Wall with originals and covers on ukulele and harmonica, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

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.

FREE TAX HELP: 11 am-3 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).

FAMILY READING TIME: 11 am family reading time returns at new home of Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW).

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).

MAKE HANDBUILT ANIMALS: 1-3 pm, join Kristen for this session at The Clay Cauldron. Our calendar listing explains how to register. (5214 Delridge Way SW)

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

SOUTHSIDE REVOLUTION JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY: Go cheer the home team on bout night! “Legends in the Rink,” 4:15 pm-8 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW) – see ticketing and other info in our calendar listing.

IRISH-THEMED RAINBOW BINGO: “Queens of the Green,” 6:30 pm fundraiser for the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation at WS Golf Course (4470 35th SW) – get tickets here.

IRISH FEST 2: Tim’s Tavern (16th/98th, White Center) hosts five bands – including West Seattle musicians – starting at (updated) 7 pm, benefiting SMASH.

EVENING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Roo Forrest and Friends, 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.

IRISH/SCOTTISH MUSIC AT KENYON HALL: The Home Rulers perform – doors 7, show 7:30, at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – tickets here.

LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm, Drew Martin presents his newest album, “Where’s Your Feet?” No cover, all ages. (4559 California SW)

ASTRA LUMINA: The illuminated walk at Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge ends this weekend. 7:15 pm and later entry times tonight; ticket cost varies. (6000 16th SW)

‘MUSIC FOR THE SOUL’: Northwest Symphony Orchestra in concert at Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee), 8 pm. More info and ticket link in our calendar listing.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Tonight – BendreTheGiant, Wind-Up Birds, Verboten, Shark Out! Doors 7, music 8, 21+, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: Spinning starts at 9 pm with Soul Focus FM at Revelry Room – check here to see who. (4547 California SW)

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday night singing! 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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