The Whale Trail‘s next gathering will have a special guest – someone who dedicated a quarter-century to protecting endangered orcas and other species. Here’s the announcement we received to share with you?

Whale Trail Spring Gathering: Celebrating Lynne!

Join us to celebrate Lynne Barre’s retirement from NOAA following 25 years of dedicated service. Lynne served as the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries and the Seattle Branch Chief for the Protected Resources Division.

We are grateful for Lynne’s tireless efforts to protect the endangered southern residents and other species, and the long-lasting partnerships she built with organizations like ours. Her impact is mighty and the work she inspired will go on. Bring your stories and help us get her next chapter off to a good start!

Also hear from orca researchers Mark Sears and Maya Sears with updates about the southern residents—including the birth of two new calves. We look forward to seeing you there!

What: Spring Gathering 2025: Celebrating Lynne!
When: Thursday May 29, 7 to 8:30 PM.
Doors open at 6:15
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Tickets: $10 suggested donation, kids under 12 get in for free.
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com

About the Speakers

Lynne Barre was the Southern Resident killer whale recovery coordinator for NOAA Fisheries and the Seattle Branch Chief for the Protected Resources Division since they were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2005. She worked with NOAA for 25 years, implementing the ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) beginning her career at the headquarters office in Silver Spring, MD.

After moving to the Seattle office in 2003, Lynne worked on the endangered listing of the Southern Resident killer whales, designated critical habitat, finalized a Recovery Plan and implemented actions to conserve and recover the whales, including vessel regulations put in place in 2011.

In addition to her work on killer whales, Lynne’s work supported recovery of Puget Sound rockfish, salmon, and other aspects of the marine mammal program, such as the stranding network. Her background is in marine mammal research including fieldwork in Southern California and Shark Bay, Western Australia studying social behavior, mothers and infants, and genetic relationships of local dolphins.

Prior to her work at NOAA, Lynne worked with the Crittercam team at National Geographic, putting underwater cameras on marine animals to learn about their lives under the surface. Lynne has a B.S in Biology from Georgetown University and an M.S. in Animal Behavior from San Diego State University.

Mark Sears has been conducting photo-ID studies and other fieldwork with southern resident orcas for more than 40 years. Animal behaviorist Maya Sears joined her father as a NOAA-permitted orca researcher in 2018. Together their research has been critical to assessing the health and behaviors of this endangered population.

City’s Unified Care Team returning to Rotary Viewpoint Park encampment site

May 13, 2025 4:00 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

What had been one of West Seattle’s most visible tent encampments, Rotary Viewpoint Park at 35th/Alaska, was “resolved” last week, as the city’s Unified Care Team puts it. But some campers returned – though none were in streetfront evidence when we passed by this morning – so the city says UCT reps “will return this week to offer available shelter and restore public access to the site.”

That last phrase is key to what’s happening at that site. We got a tip last week about the “resolution,” from someone voicing a concern that it had been done twice recently without notices having been posted. First UCT spokesperson Kate Jacobs told WSB that in the case of last week’s operation, it had been posted the day before. We followed up, wondering about the city’s current rules for advance warning. Jacobs replied:

The City’s approach balances compassion and urgency in helping keep public spaces open and accessible to all. UCT continues to follow the Multi Departmental Administrative Rules and FAS Encampment Rule 17-01 (collectively called MDARs), which are the rules and legal parameters that govern UCT’s work.

The Rotary Viewpoint Park encampment qualified under these rules for immediate removal since it obstructed access to a public right-of-way. City policy is to provide offers of shelter whenever possible when removing obstructions and immediate hazards despite not being a requirement under encampment rules. UCT was able to provide the necessary time and resources for that outreach in this case and, on May 9, UCT made 5 offers of shelter and one was accepted ….
While people ultimately decide for themselves when they are ready to come indoors, UCT remains focused on consistent outreach, long-term engagement, and improving conditions for both our housed and unhoused neighbors.

If you are concerned about an encampment, city reps continue to advise reporting it via Find It, Fix It.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: David Williford back in custody

May 13, 2025 2:02 pm

| 27 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

2:02 PM: Six days after we first told you about 38-year-old David C. Williford, discovered by state Department of Corrections officers to have removed a monitoring device and left the North Admiral home where they’d gone to arrest him, he’s back in custody. We just got that word from a DOC spokesperson, who says Williford is in the Mason County Jail. That’s the county in which previous cases against him originated. The jail roster says he’s been there since just after 10:30 this morning.

11 PM: The DOC issued a news release later in the day, about the arrest of Williford and another fugitive. Of this case, the DOC news release says:

David Williford cut off his GPS monitor shortly after his release to community supervision on May 5. DOC community corrections officers arrived at the location in minutes in response to a tampering notice, but Williford had disappeared. Late Monday night, Mason County Sheriff’s deputies brought Williford safely into custody.

“The location” refers to the North Admiral house, reported to belong to a family member, where Williford was staying.

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West Seattle Garden Tour gives away money – and has more to give. Plus, ticket time!

May 13, 2025 12:37 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Gardening | West Seattle news

While we’re talking about flowers, we have updates from the West Seattle Garden Tour organization. Above is the winning artwork that’s being used to promote this year’s tour (June 22), “Pool Party” by Gay Waldman. WSGT has more winners to talk about – the recipients of this year’s grants – and also wants to encourage applications for the next round money it’s ready to give – all explained as follows:

Each year West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other nonprofits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticulture, education, and artistic endeavors within West Seattle and neighboring communities. Your donations and purchase of garden tour and raffle tickets, along with the generous support of our sponsors, allow the West Seattle Garden Tour to fund projects in our community.

We are proud to present the ten nonprofit organizations selected to receive a total of $53,250 in West Seattle Garden Tour grants this year. ArtsWest, A Cleaner Alki, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Endolyne Children’s Choir, GROW, New Start Community Garden, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Shadow Lake Nature Preserve, Urban Raptor Conservancy, and West Seattle Community Orchestras have received grants to fund projects that might otherwise not be possible. You can learn more about these organizations and the specific projects we’ve funded on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/grants. Be sure to visit their tables in the gardens on tour day!

The West Seattle Garden Tour is also pleased to announce the opening of our 2026 grant application. We’d like to invite 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the greater Seattle area to apply for grant funding from now until midnight on July 15th, 2025. Grant applications, eligibility, and submission instructions can be found on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/grants.

This year’s West Seattle Garden Tour takes place on Sunday, June 22nd and tickets are now available for sale on our website and at West Seattle Nursery, Swansons Nursery, Wells Medina Nursery, and Zenith Holland Nursery.

The WSGT invariably sells out, so if you’re considering going, you’ll want to get your ticket book sooner rather than later.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Flower-basket season begins in The Junction

May 13, 2025 11:33 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Gardening | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Junction Association‘s flower baskets are here! Visiting The Junction this morning, we spotted the crews installing the baskets, working their way north to south, west to east. Again this year, The Junction is putting up almost 100 baskets grown by Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Whatcom County, with the purchase and maintenance costs partly covered by “adopters.” We walked down California looking at the baskets awaiting installation – no two are alike, but all have bright blossoms already and will only get more lush as spring/summer proceeds:

Within a week or two, each basket will have a plaque on behalf of its “adopter.”

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Admiral, Fauntleroy community meetings, coffee fundraiser, more for your West Seattle Tuesday

May 13, 2025 9:58 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Shining view across Elliott Bay last night – photo by Stewart L.)

Here’s our list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DINE OUT/COFFEE-SHOP FUNDRAISER: Alki Co-op Preschool benefits from part of the proceeds at Ampersand Café (2536 Alki SW) today, open until 2 pm.

SPECIAL SALE: All week, 10 am-2 pm daily through Friday, The Mount’s thrift shop Emilie’s Treasures is having a special sale – details in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)

POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Weekly advocacy gathering, until noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if you’re a first-time participant.

ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), featuring Eric Liu, CEO and co-founder of Citizen University.

SLOWDIVE SIGNING: Slowdive members are at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) at 1 pm for a special signing to comemmorate their record re-releases.

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

SPORTS: West Seattle HS plays Eastside Catholic for the Metro League baseball championship at 4 pm, Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center) … And there’s a district-tournament game for WSHS softball, also at 4 pm, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

SCULPTURE’S FATE: We’ve been reporting on the city’s decision to “deaccession,” and dismantle, the Paragon bones-of-a-boat sculpture on West Marginal Way SW. The Seattle Arts Commission meets at 4 pm today and is scheduled to vote on this. Meeting attendance info is here.

HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are available to help K-12 students with their homework.

DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 6 pm FCA board meeting, community members welcome too, conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). See the agenda here.

WEST SEATTLE FILMMAKER’S SCREENING: 6 pm at the Vashon Theater, filmmaker Patricia Boiko screens “five powerful youth documentaries that tackle today’s toughest issues.” (17723 Vashon Highway, Vashon Island)

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: More daylight means more time for evening runs – tonight at 6:15 pm, meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.

MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Last ANA general gathering before summer event season revs up! 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), all welcome; see the agenda preview here.

WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has details on signing up before you go.

BINGO X 2: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW) … Talarico’s Pizzeria also offers 8 pm bingo (4718 California SW).

TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options tonight – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub. (2306 California SW).

Organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc.? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Celebration of Life planned June 28 for Brennan Jay Newquist, 1994-2025

May 13, 2025 9:00 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather June 28 to remember Brennan Newquist, and sharing this remembrance with his community now:

Brennan “B” Jay Newquist
June 28th, 1994 – April 30th, 2025

Brennan Newquist, a beloved son, caring brother, loyal friend, and true West Seattle native, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, laughter, and adventure. Born on June 28, 1994, in Seattle, Washington, to Ronald and Alison Newquist. Brennan was a fourth-generation West Seattle High School graduate on his mother’s side and took great pride in his deep roots in the community he loved.

Brennan’s early years were spent at Gatewood Elementary and Madison Middle School, before graduating from West Seattle High School, where he shined as a wide receiver for the football team. One of his proudest moments came when he caught his first of four touchdowns.

After high school, Brennan continued his education at Bellevue Community College, earning his associate degree before moving on to train in the field of Information Technology.

His first internship was with the Seattle Mariners — his dream job — where he left a strong impression even though the position was seasonal. He continued working in IT through various contracts and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was able to work remotely from home, where he lived with his father.

A true Seattle sports enthusiast, Brennan was a devoted fan of the Seahawks and the Mariners. He was passionate about flag football, volleyball, gaming with his friends, and spending time at the movies with his dad. But above all, Brennan’s greatest thrill came from roller coasters.

At a very young age Brennan would travel to Disney World with his family, which fueled his love of roller coasters and high-adrenaline rides. He then began traveling across the country to ride roller coasters with his dad, from Columbus, Ohio to Cincinnati, Ohio to Hershey, Pennsylvania and many more cities, making countless memories and stories with his dad. His enthusiasm for the twists, turns, and adrenaline of coasters reflected the adventurous and joyful way he lived his life.

For his 18th birthday he wanted a super thrill. His sister, Amanda, surprised him with a skydiving adventure. With zero hesitation, he was the first one to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Brennan also had a special place in his heart for animals. Although he originally wanted a rabbit, he ended up adopting Storm, a rescue dog from the inner city of Olympia. Storm became his loyal companion, reflecting Brennan’s own kind spirit and unwavering loyalty.

Brennan will be remembered for his big heart, easy smile, and the way he made everyone feel welcome. His kindness, curiosity, and sense of fun left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his loving parents Ronald and Alison Newquist, his sister Amanda, his dog Storm, extended family, and countless friends who cherished his spirit.

A celebration of Brennan’s life will be held on his 31st birthday, Saturday, June 28th, 2:00 pm, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4001 44th Ave SW.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local animal rescue or roller-coaster preservation group — two causes close to Brennan’s heart.

May his memory live on, may he always ride the biggest coaster in the sky.

And, if you’re thinking about doing some thrill seeking, and having second thoughts… just ask yourself – “What would Brennan do?!”
(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)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen silver Sportage

May 13, 2025 8:58 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Sheila hopes you can watch for this stolen car:

Our car (was) stolen from our home (in the 7700 block of) 18th Ave SW. It is a silver 2017 Kia Sportage. We literally bought it two days ago, so the plates were just temporary paper ones.

The number on those paper plates is A8401524. We’ll add the police report # when we get it. (Update: It’s 25-128647.)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Tuesday info

May 13, 2025 6:00 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Partly sunny, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:33 am; sunset will be at 8:38 pm.

ROAD WORK

-Street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project is in a new phase, centered at 64th/Beach Drive – details and maps are here, along with what’s next.

‘BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY’ TOMORROW

Wednesday morning, riders can stop by West Seattle Bike Connections‘ special station by the west end of the low bridge, 6-9 am.

TRANSIT TODAY

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.

Metro buses – Regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Salish is serving as the “bonus boat”.

STADIUM ZONE

–Mariners are home again tonight, 6:40 pm game vs. the Yankees.

SUNDAY MORNING ALERT

Early warning that the West Seattle 5K will close Alki/Harbor Avenues to through traffic for a few hours Sunday morning (May 18).

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!

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