West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
(File photo, Lincoln Park)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With only about 2 months before the traditional start of the Beach Naturalist program at Lincoln Park, Constellation Park, and other beaches around the region, the Seattle Aquarium tells WSB there are “no new updates” about their plans to revise the popular low-tide program. But clues are starting to surface.
As we reported last month, the program is on “pause” and being reconfigured, following layoffs due to the Seattle Aquarium’s reported budget shortfall. The Aquarium says the program, which has included full-time and part-time seasonal staff overseeing hundreds of volunteers, will “look different” but has been slow to share details. While Aquarium staff works to “reimagine” the popular program, some of the seasonal staff who were laid off are talking about organizing their own program.
The Aquarium has organized and trained Beach Naturalists for more than 20 years, assigning staff and volunteers to beaches from Dash Point to Shoreline, both during daytime and occasional evening mega-low tides. It has attracted a dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom are on the same beaches year after year, and who are passionate about the way the program makes the Aquarium’s educational outreach available to anyone who can go to the beach, even if tickets to the Aquarium itself may be out of reach financially. The Aquarium has also paused its Cedar River Salmon Journey program, which relies on volunteers at the Ballard Locks and other locations to teach about the migration and life cycle of salmon. The pause in the two programs has left all of those volunteers largely in limbo for the last few months.
Now a “listening session” is planned by the Aquarium for volunteers of both programs next week. An email to volunteers sent a week ago indicated the program is intended to become a collaboration between the Aquarium and several other marine-focused educational groups. A followup email sent last evening makes mention of the potential for a much scaled-back program, with just a handful of low-tide events a year. That email also stated that the volunteer trainings that are usually scheduled in March will not happen at all this year. The Aquarium did not answer questions about the specifics when asked.
Some of the staff laid off in January feel they can’t wait indefinitely to hear about plans that they think are unlikely to include them. “None of us expect to be rehired,” says Bill Rogers, one of the 20 part-time seasonal staff known as “beach captains” who managed volunteers in the field. Knowing that the beach captains were laid off signals what Rogers expects will be a big change to the program, so he and others are now organizing to bring together those who are interested in making sure there are as many naturalists at beaches on as many days as possible during the very low tides. It would also provide an opportunity for volunteers and former staff who feel blindsided by the way the changes to the program are being handled and are upset enough they wouldn’t go back if invited. Rogers noted, “It hurt a lot of people personally.”
Exactly what shape a new naturalist program might take is uncertain. A formal work meeting in early April with interested volunteers may help focus both structure and mission. “Will it be a group or a club? We have to work that out,” says Rogers, who was looking forward to his 13th season as beach captain and 15th in the program, “The plan is to still be involved.”
As for the Seattle Aquarium, it’s also dealing with the impending arrival of a new CEO and the first operational year of its Ocean Pavilion, part of a $160 million project.
(WSB photo)
When we reported last month on the closure of The Spot, the property owners told us, “Another small business is already slated to open (in that space at 2920 SW Avalon Way) in the coming months.” Tonight we know what that business will be. In harmony with a historic sign atop the little building, the business there before The Spot was called The Shack – and that’s its future name too. This time, it’ll be operated by veteran restaurateur Heong Soon Park, who bought Luna Park Café next door last fall. His plan for The Shack? Park says, “We are planning to open a coffee and matcha cafe and still call it The Shack to continue the legacy of the building. We do not have the timeline yet, but we are hoping to open the door by June.” They’ll keep operating Luna Park, too, and are planning on a Luna Park Festival this summer – more to come on that.
(Photo courtesy Brenda Walden, who is at right above with artist Jamie Allaire and city rep Nathan, who installed the plaque)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A plaque put up this morning at the stairway on Admiral Way at 49th SW was the finishing touch for a weeks-long community mural project.
The stairway had only been complete for a few months before it was hit with graffiti vandalism, recalled area resident Brenda Walden. In response, Walden reached out to the City of Seattle with the idea to fight the vandalism with art. “Not only did I want to do something that celebrated the Alki community, I wanted it to be a welcome sign for folks who are coming into Alki,” which is just downhill from the mural site.
(WSB photo)
The mural, titled “Fun in the Sun at Alki,” blends more than a dozen colors in a portrait of Alki Beach with the mountains behind it and, of course, orcas. The design, created by local artist Jamie Allaire, was voted on by the community. The project was supported by the City of Seattle and A Cleaner Alki, the renowned volunteer group that aims to create a “cleaner, safer, more welcoming community in which to live.”
More than 30 volunteers showed up to help paint, some as young as four years old. “It was awesome to see such an incredible and positive response to the mural,” said Walden.
Allaire, a former teacher and set designer, said she drew on her experience to help direct the project and keep every volunteer engaged. “It was important to us that people of all skill levels and ages could contribute,” Allaire said. The mural was first sketched out in chalk, with sections labeled by numbers, corresponding to a color. Then, volunteers could fill in the blanks using the listed color, almost like a coloring book.
In the future, Walden and Allaire hope to paint the stairs themselves, allowing the mural to stretch all the way up the hill. According to Walden, they’re “just waiting for a dry day to do it.”
To prevent graffiti vandalism from damaging the mural, it has been given a special anti-graffiti coating, which allows paint to be safely cleaned off without harming the mural underneath. Walden and Allaire hope this will ensure the mural stays up for as long as possible, serving as both community artwork, and a visual welcome to people headed for the Alki area.
For more information about Jamie Allaire’s artwork, you can find her website here.
You can imagine that St. Patrick’s Day is busy for dancers from West Seattle-based Comerford School of Irish Dance. More than a dozen of the school’s students spent much of the day performing, including this stop this afternoon at the Center for Active Living in The Junction, where a standing-room-only crowd filled the upstairs hall:
The Comerford School’s Mike Nagan told the audience a bit about the school, which holds classes Tuesdays and Thursdays at the West Seattle VFW Hall in The Triangle (3601 SW Alaska).
Metro has just announced the changes coming with its next semi-annual “service change” on March 29. For West Seattle, Route 56 and RapidRide C Line lose trips, while RapidRide H Line gains trips. Here are the route-by-route links and explanations:
Route 56 (map/schedule here)
This route will see a reduction in trips that are currently funded by the Seattle Transit Measure. This route will have 1 fewer trip each weekday during the morning commute hours. These service hours will be re-invested in other routes to better meet the City’s policy goals and equity commitments.RapidRide C Line (map/schedule here)
This route will have fewer trips during afternoon commute hours. This includes a reduction in trips that were funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure. Buses will still come about every 10 minutes or more frequently on this route. This change is to support Seattle’s equity goals, better align with transit need and demand, and be consistent with Metro’s RapidRide policies.RapidRide H Line (map/schedule here)
5 trips will be added on weekdays and 3 trips will be added on Saturday and Sunday. These additional trips are funded by the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure.
The full systemwide list of changes is here.
P.S. There’s no mention again this service change of some unresolved West Seattle issues – two suspended routes (37 and 55) and proposed stop changes for Route 125. We are checking with Metro.
(WSB photo)
It wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day in West Seattle if we didn’t get a chance to visit 41st Avenue SW north of Admiral Way to check whether the mysterious green stripe has been refreshed. Yes, it has, and our photo above shows the proof. Who does this? Still a mystery … but a commenter in the ’00s said it dates back to the ’70s! (The Seattle Irish Week celebration downtown includes a green street stripe too, but that’s done a bit more ceremoniously.)
Seattle Public Schools will be launching another superintendent search. Dr. Brent Jones announced this morning that he is leaving in early September. His announcement says highlights of his tenure include that “recent research has found that we have achieved accelerated academic recovery from pandemic declines at a significantly faster rate than Washington state as a whole or compared to similar districts in the state”; not mentioned, a key lowlight – last year’s scrapped school-closure plan.
Dr. Jones has been running the district for almost four years, since starting work as interim superintendent in 2021. At the time, he was only expected to fill that role for 14 months, but he became “permanent” superintendent instead. His announcement today says that “Further details on the superintendent search process will be announced in the coming weeks.” The announcement follows the Seattle Schools Community Forum website reporting Sunday that Dr. Jones might be leaving as his wife had accepted an out-of-state job.
(Schmitz Park, photo by Christopher Boffoli)
On the day where everybody can be honorarily Irish, St. Patrick’s Day, here are three West Seattle celebrations:
IRISH DANCE: All are welcome to watch dancers from the Comerford School of Irish Dance perform at the Center for Active Living, 1:15 pm. (4217 SW Oregon)
IRISH FOOD AND DRINK: Here’s what’s up at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor):
Tonight we will have a special menu in addition to our regular menu with dishes including corned beef, shepherd’s pie, Irish soda bread, and Guinness brownies. Drink specials, lots of decorations, & plenty of The Pogues will be playing. One of our biggest nights of the year!
HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE TURNS IRISH PUB: It’s a tradition at Highland Park Corner Store, 5-8 pm tonight, visit for “loaded baked potatoes and corned beef sandwiches, green beer, shamrock ice cream scoops, Irish tunes”! (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
Also on the list today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: See City Councilmembers preview what’s ahead for the week and get briefed on current issues such as what’s happening in the Legislature, 2 pm. The agenda explains how to watch (no public-comment period at this meeting).
HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in time for students to work with volunteer homework helpers at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
TELEPHONE TOWN HALL: 6 pm, “telephone town hall” with 34th District state legislators (participating from Olympia), as previewed here. If you don’t get the call with the option to participate, you can call 855-756-7520 and enter 120781# when prompted for the extension number.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players included!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: Not meeting tonight.
MEDITATION AT ALKI UCC: It’s back, every Monday. Doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)
COMEDY NIGHT! The monthly show at Otter on the Rocks, produced by West Seattle-based Cozy Comedy, features Davey Wester. 7 pm, check here for tickets ASAP. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(added) BANKS, LIVE AT EASY STREET: Received this afternoon from Easy Street Records (4559 California SW):
“We are excited to announce that BANKS will be at Easy Street Records for an in-store performance and signing on March 17th at 7:00 PM! ALL AGES, FREE show. MUST order/purchase a copy of BANKS new album ‘Off With Her Head’ (on LP) from our website to guarantee admission to this exclusive event! PLEASE select IN-STORE PICK UP ONLY at checkout, your order will be ready the day of the event.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Three Monday night sessions! … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley features music on Monday nights, jazz with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Monday night, sing your heart out during karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar – if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to we*************@***il.com – thank you!
As we’ve noted many times before, Westwood Village generally only “announces” new tenants by putting them on its frequently updated map. A reader spotted another one that’s appeared – a UPS Store is shown as taking the vacant space on the north side of the breezeway, next to John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor). West Seattle’s previous UPS Store was in Jefferson Square, where the space re-branded after losing its UPS Store affiliation in 2023. We’re checking with the company to see if there’s a timeline for opening the WWV space, which previously held a paint-and-sip studio.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, March 17, 2025; spring officially arrives at 2:01 am Thursday.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast – more rain expected, high near 50. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 7:17 am and 7:18 pm.
ROAD WORK
-In White Center, the 16th SW closure at 104th continues, with detours.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Sealth serving as the “bonus boat.”
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See 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!
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