(WSB photo, Wednesday night)

11:59 PM: As we reported last night, City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s community-safety meeting for three West Seattle neighborhoods ended with several frustrated attendees shouting that they hadn’t been allowed to speak.

Among them, Phil Brandt, the High Point resident whose car had been hit by gunfire in High Point last month – leaving his 3-year-old’s car seat with a bullet hole.

Today, he contacted WSB wanting to tell his side of the story, to offer context. “That wasn’t anger for the sake. of anger,” he said. “It’s important for the community to understand the three weeks that preceded last night.”

He laid out this timeline:

-April 17, in gunfire near Walt Hundley Playfield, two rounds hit his vehicle, one going through his son’s car seat. We received this photo from a reader that night:

Brandt said that was one of eight West Seattle gunfire incidents in 34 days. Two were in High Point, he said, one in an area with a longterm streetlight outage. He said he was out of town at the time and not aware of the bullet hole for a few days but once he was, he emailed a photo of the car seat to Councilmember Saka, and other emails to SPD and the councilmember’s staff. He said they got back to him and urged him to speak at the April 22 City Council meeting, which he did (with the car seat), expressing frustration there too (see it here, two minutes into the meeting).

After that meeting, he said, “multiple staffers from multiple councilmembers” asked what they could do. Talking to other High Point community members, he said, they had three demands, starting by asking that all 33 streetlight outages in High Point within a week. He said that led to staff for four councilmembers – Saka, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Sara Nelson, Dan Strauss – contacting City Light, and fast repair action resulting.

Second, he said, was a High Point town hall with Saka and SPD, and third was a High Point neighborhood walkthrough with Saka, his staff, and local police. Saka’s staff started working on the town hall, Brandt said, and community members emphasized that they did NOT want a presentation. “They agreed to open Q&A,” he said. But, he said, he did not hear from Saka himself until a phone call on May 2. “I don’t know why it took 11 days to contact me directly.”

The meeting announcement sent to Saka’s newsletter email list said the meeting would be “about listening” among other things – here’s a screengrab:

But, Brandt told. us, “last night I had a feeling we weren’t going to get what we asked for. I’m happy that (many) city officials showed up, but it’s not what we asked for and agreed to. When I got there at 6 pm, it was the first time I had heard there would not be live questions.”

Overall, he said he found the hour-and-a-half meeting frustrating except for Police Chief Shon Barnes and Chief Public Safety Officer Natalie Walton-Anderson. Regarding the announcement promising “listening,” he said, “I don’t know where the ‘listening’ was.” Not with Saka, he alleged, “I lost track of how many times he (started sentences) with ‘I’… this was not a campaign stop, this was a community hurting.” Instead of guns, Saka focused on sidewalks, Brandt noted, saying that might have been relevant if there was data to show that a lack of sidewalks factored into crime.

Brandt has lived in High Point since last summer, after returning to Seattle from a few years away, noting that he has two sets of family members who also live in High Point. He says the organizations that manage the area have been “very helpful,” so his beef’s not with them.

He’s waiting to hear what Saka plans to do … but hadn’t heard from him or his staff by day’s end. (We’ll be asking them “what’s next?” tomorrow.)

ADDED 1:05 PM FRIDAY: We saw Councilmember Saka at an event on Alki with the mayor this morning (report to come). We asked him afterward what he had done about all this since the meeting. He told us to “stay tuned” for his next newsletter. It just arrived, including his explanation of the Wednesday meeting format.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Emma Schmitz Overlook mural painting postponed

May 15, 2025 10:20 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Artist Nalisha Estrellas’s concepts for the Emma Schmitz Overlook mural)

FYI from organizers of community mural-painting at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook on Beach Drive – they’re postponing the planned Saturday painting session by a week, and asked tonight if we would share this:

After looking at the forecast for this Saturday, we’re officially moving the paint day to Saturday, May 24th. The weather will be much better and all volunteer shift times will stay the same.

We understand that it’s a Holiday weekend and some of you may not make it but, please know you’re still an important part of the project and this community mural is for you!

If you’re able to keep your shift on the 24th, we look forward to seeing you! THANK YOU!

Please contact the artist Nalisha Estrellas with any questions nalishaestrellas@gmail.com

We first reported on the mural plan back in January.

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NEW DOG PARK: City sets June 5 ‘open house’ at West Seattle’s future off-leash-area site

May 15, 2025 6:30 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

According to that postcard received by a reader, Seattle Parks plans an “open house” about West Seattle’s new off-leash area – aka “dog park” – Thursday, June 5. That’ll be the first public Q&A opportunity since the department tabled about it at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in February. The off-leash area is planned for what’s currently a parking-overflow area south of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot, and that’s where the open-house event on June 5 will be, 4-6 pm. The postcard promises they’ll have new schematic designs to show at the event. The new off-leash area is expected to be built next year.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: 2 charges filed against Admiral stabbing/robbery suspect Jiminson Calix-Bodden

May 15, 2025 4:45 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Monday WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)

Just in, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged 25-year-old Jiminson A. Calix-Bodden of Tukwila with first-degree assault and second-degree robbery, three days after his arrest following attacks in Admiral. The charging documents tell the same narrative we’ve reported before – alleging that Calix-Bodden stabbed a 47-year-old man walking outside PCC, unprovoked, and alleging that he grabbed a woman’s arm and stole her phone – but also add two previously undisclosed notes: One, that the stabbing victim was injured more seriously than first reported, that the blade punctured his lung, and two, that a person reported to police that they had seen Calix-Bodden at Don Armeni Boat Ramp six days earlier, dropping and picking up a knife, and had images of this from a bike-mounted camera:

(Image from charging document)

Calix-Bodden remains in the King County Jail, bail set at $250,000, and is scheduled for arraignment on May 29. As we previously reported, there’s no indication Calix-Bodden has a criminal record.

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FERRY ALERT: No ‘bonus boat’ on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route for rest of today/tonight

May 15, 2025 4:24 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route is running for the rest of today/tonight with two boats, because WSF has moved the current unscheduled “bonus boat,” M/V Salish, to the Bremerton/Seattle run. That’s to cover for the regular Bremerton boat, M/V Walla Walla, which is undergoing “urgent restroom repairs.” Walla Walla is expected to be back in service by tomorrow morning, so Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth will be getting its third boat back.

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VIDEO: West Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Westside Awards celebrate ‘resilience, connection, legacy’

May 15, 2025 2:32 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin. Above, West Seattle Runner’s Lori and Tim McConnell with emcee Brian Callanan)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“We show up for each other.”

Wednesday morning, that was the sentiment about not only the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and its members, but also the entirety of West Seattle, as the Chamber presented its 2025 Westside Awards.

“Local business is about resilience, connection, and legacy,” declared Chamber executive director Rachel Porter in her opening remarks during the breakfast event at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

:
Porter said the awards are emblematic of “rid(ing) the wave of business in our community” – and indeed, each was an artistic rendition of a breaking wave, blue “water” and white foam (created by Jen Austin of Green Fern Studios). Every year the Chamber takes community nominations for its four awards – Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year, and the lone individual award, Westsider of the Year. The winners were announced last month; the breakfast gathering was a chance to celebrate them, as well as two community members honored with special posthumous Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Emcee Brian Callanan – who you might know as a veteran local broadcast journalist, but whose Chamber involvement is centered on his coordination of the annual Loop the ‘Lupe (coming up June 7!) – noted that 62 organizations and people were nominated for this year’s awards.

The big one, Business of the Year, went to a one-of-a-kind independent retail shop that just celebrated its 15th anniversary, West Seattle Runner.

Each honoree was the subject of a short video; in the one about WSR, proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell marveled at their customers – again, “for showing up.” They recalled the rapid-response group run after the Boston Marathon bombing. After the video, Tim took the microphone, recalling, “When we opened our store, we had no idea how much time it was going to take, the effort to keep a small business open … we also didn’t (anticipate) all the support we’d have.”

He closed with a favorite quote attributed to President John F. Kennedy, “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

The founder of the Emerging Business of the Year recipient, Deeds Health, said that today (May 15) would be the one-year anniversary at her last day of working for someone else. Dr. Stefie Deeds then opened her practice in The Junction, where she said her goal is to “remove barriers from giving care.”

Executive director Allie Lindsay Johnson accepted the Not for Profit of the Year award for WestSide Baby, founded in 2001 in West Seattle “in a new mom’s garage.” She too echoed the oft-heard, “This community shows up.”

She also reminded everyone that the items WestSide Baby distributes are “crucial for children’s mobility, development, and safety.”

Westsider of the Year, recognition for a community champion, went to Cleveland King, who leads the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA.

In his acceptance speech, King talked about arriving for his then-new assignment in West Seattle about a year ago and being expected to deliver the message – “not my message but I was the messenger” – that the Fauntleroy YMCA would be closed, after a century. The uproar – and collaboration – that ensued “let me know how important the Y was to that community … it felt like home.” King worked with the community to save the Fauntleroy Y, and today it is thriving, he said.

In closing, he said, “If you don’t have someone around you who believes in your dreams, find someone else to be around.”

The last presentations were tributes to the two posthumous recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards. First was Dawn Leverett, who died two weeks ago and was remembered by Porter as “a steady force in West Seattle”; she and Ms. Leverett’s friend Amy Lee Derenthal offered tributes:

Ms. Leverett served on the Chamber board and championed others during her two decades as a real-estate professional. She was described as holding the sentiment “there’s no challenge … that we can’t handle together.”

The other achievement award was presented in memory of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand, who died unexpectedly in October. Your editor and our son Torin Record-Sand offered a few words about him:

Chamber board chair Jovelyn Agbalog of Procura Mortgage wrapped up the event by remarking on community qualities: “Resilience, innovation, connection, and service … we must keep supporting each other … we must keep showing up … we must keep making waves.”

Past Westside Award winners are listed on the WS Chamber’s website.

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle Aquarium announces this year’s scaled-back beach-naturalist plan as low-low tide dates approach

May 15, 2025 12:08 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(File photo)

By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Just in time for the lowest tides of the year, the Seattle Aquarium is announcing its scaled-back schedule for this year’s Beach Naturalist program, after weeks of concern about how layoffs would affect the program. Plans include events during 5 low tides on West Seattle beaches. Here’s the announcement:

In the coming weeks, beachgoers will be able to experience the summer low tides at several local beaches alongside volunteers from the Seattle Aquarium’s Beach Naturalist program. Beach Naturalist explorations begin at the end of May and run through the end of July. You can find dates and times when knowledgeable Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be on local shores here.

The Aquarium’s seasonal Beach Naturalist program is returning to a previous model of volunteer-led “Pods” to engage with the public on local beaches on the lowest low tide days of the summer. Through the program, local experts on the marine environment—beach naturalists—educate members of the public on how to explore shorelines while keeping animals and their homes safe.

The low tides allow a closer look at animals such as sea birds, crabs, moon snails, barnacles, and more that are typically hidden under the surface.

The program, which along with the Cedar River Salmon Journey included more than 300 volunteers last year, has been up in the air since layoffs in January.

The ensuing months have involved reorganizing the popular program and scaling back the frequency of events, which last year included 22 dates at 11 beaches, including Constellation and Lincoln Parks. Aquarium spokesperson Tim Kuniholm says volunteers, sometimes led by Aquarium staff, will be on beaches at scheduled times in groups of 4-5, all wearing recognizable Beach Naturalist vests as they have in previous years.

This year, there is a single event at Lincoln Park, on June 28th. Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint (which includes Constellation Park) will have 5 days, including the Saturday low tide on June 28. The first low-tide events there will be May 26th and 27th, which are a Monday and Tuesday midday. This year, 10 beaches will have naturalists on half as many days as in 2024, and no beach with more than 5 events scheduled during the season.

“More than 100 volunteers responded to support this program,” says Kuniholm, “We are excited to learn as we move through this year. The staff and volunteers who are participating will help us shape the program’s future.” He also confirmed that additional changes are possible, including collaboration between the Aquarium and other conservation groups. “It’s in the works, and we look forward to sharing more when we can.”

Also pending is an announcement about changes to the Cedar River Salmon Journey program, which remains on hold. “Our planning process is underway, and we’ll announce plans as soon as they’re finalized,” Kuniholm told WSB.

Minus tides start May 24th and run the entire week through June 1, with the lowest tides on the 27th and 28th.

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Chief Sealth IHS Multicultural Night, axe-throwing, more on our list for your West Seattle Thursday

May 15, 2025 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news

(Wednesday’s sunset from Cove Park – photo by Tom Trulin)

Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

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.

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)

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.

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 Momo Express.

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!

JAZZ AND BLUES OPEN MIC: Monthly event at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) Northwest Wine Academy (north lot), 5-8 pm.

POSTCARDS HAPPY HOUR: Bonus monthly advocacy meetup for Postcards4Democracy, 5-8 pm at Great American Bar & Diner (4752 California SW).

RAT CITY ART & FOOD WALK: Among the participating venues in South Delridge and White Center is Mr. B’s Mead Center, featuring artist Hyde Angelus, 5-8 pm. (9444 Delridge Way SW)

AXE-THROWING AT OUNCES: For Seattle Beer Week, Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) is bringing in the Tomahawk Axe trailer for some free axe-throwing. Just show up! 5:30-7:30 pm.

CHIEF SEALTH IHS MULTICULTURAL NIGHT: Community’s invited! 6-8 pm, with performances, food, more. (2600 SW Thistle)

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 – The Potholes.

SPORTS: No local high-school games/matches on West Seattle fields today/tonight.

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 DJ Mark Muller, 7 pm on.

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL CANCELED: No meeting this month.

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!

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