West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
Police are investigating confirmed gunfire in High Point. Someone said they were shot at while driving home from High Point Library, and wasn’t sure where it had happened, but police told dispatch they have found both several bullet holes in the car and several casings on 35th near the library. No injuries reported so far.
In a comment during our power-outage coverage, someone wondered if the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 graduation ceremony would be affected. Turns out it was – but everybody adapted adeptly, says Amy, who sent the photo and report:
Just wanted to give a shout out to Boren STEM K-8 8th graders who had their 8th grade graduation this evening at the school with no power. They had to pivot with only an hour before the ceremony when the lights went out. They moved the event to the lunch room since it has windows and natural light, moved as many decorations as they could, and they had no mics or amplified music or slideshows as planned. The grads rolled with it all, gave their speeches, celebrated each other, and still had a great evening together. Congratulations to all the graduates!
Poetry Slam participants Delicia Figueroa, Ruby Garcia Campos, and Alex Garcia
Story, video, and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A packed house filled the Denny International Middle School Galleria on Thursday evening for the 13th annual ]8th-grade Poetry Slam, featuring spoken performances by more than 50 Denny students and special guest poets.
After a welcome from Denny principal Mary Ingraham, literacy teacher and event organizer Colin Slingsby (at right in the photo below) and assistant principal for literacy Michael Kamin praised the bravery and talent of the participating students as they express themselves through poetry:
The teachers also explained the “slam etiquette” and format, including the audience’s use of “snaps” to show encouragement and appreciation.
The official motto of the event, which was decorated as a backdrop on the stage, was a Swahili proverb with a theme of unity: “A boat doesn’t go forward if each one is rowing their own way.” Here is a PDF of the official program for the event.
Although Slingsby and the other organizers repeatedly emphasized that the focus of the event was on the overall experience and participation, not on competition, a panel of esteemed judges did evaluate and score every performance:
From left-to-right that’s former Denny students Addison Johnsen-Whited, Doe Doe, and Alex Casamalhaupa, who each also helped start the show by performing a poem of their own, along with fellow former student Hazel Simper (who Slingsby said he invited to perform her poem Rosemary because it was “one of the best poems I’ve ever heard,” and here’s our video of it: Hazel Simper – Denny 2025 Poetry Slam)
At the end of the night, the winning poets (as pictured in the photo below, courtesy of poetry teacher Emily Neeleman) were:
The student emcees for the event, keeping things moving between poets, were Marco Cendejas, Lizbeth Garcia and Isaac Naranjo-Lopez:
Also providing audio flavor between poets, as well as music during the pre-event dinner in the galleria, was Denny slam mainstay DJ Sureal:
Before the current Denny students took the stage, guests were treated to poems by professional guest poets Jamaar Smiley (see our video here: Jamaar Smiley – Denny 2025 Poetry Slam), a West Seattleite who Slingsby said he reached out to via his website and was pleasantly surprised to get an enthusiastic response, as well as Smiley’s guests Gentleman Dro and Wizdom the Wordsmith:
Then it was time to hear from the talented Denny student poets, such as Lyn Visick:
Topics from the poets ranged from the serious to the lighthearted, everything from gender issues and abuse to sports and food (see below). Most of the poets performed individually, and here are videos of a couple of them:
Some of the poets performed as groups, in “two-voice” or “three-voice” style, and here are some videos of those:
Among the more serious recurring themes of the night were poems about the immigrant family experience and international family heritage, with several poems delivered in Spanish (with English translation on a projector):
Slingsby thanked attendees for coming and students for participating, and also gave special thanks to a host of volunteers and helpers who made the event happen, including: Denny teachers and leadership, Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Denny City Year team, El Paisano Rosticeria y Cocina, DJ Sureal, the special guest poets, and former Denny students/judges.
(Added: Screenshot from City Light outage map)
4:59 PM: Thanks for the tips on the power outage. 911 log has a “wires down” call in 7000 block 18th SW. 6,300+ homes and businesses are out, per City Light, as far south as White Center. Updates to come.
5:08 PM UPDATE: A downed tree is to blame in the location above, per emergency radio.
5:22 PM UPDATE: Actually more than 7,300 customers out – the SCL outage map shows this as two outages with that total.
5:39 PM UPDATE: For those asking about restoration estimates, while the City Light map offers them, as we often caution people, don’t put much faith in those, as they’re not based on an actual assessment of the outage, so it could be much later – or much sooner (and they tend to change). Just remember two things: Don’t open your fridge/freezer (so the cool air lasts longer), and intersections with dark signals are all-way stops!
5:47 PM UPDATE: There’s the tree that’s to blame for this. Thanks to Michael for sending the photo!
6:35 PM: SCL’s map shows most customers now restored – down to fewer than 500 out, mostly in Highland Park/Riverview.
9:53 PM: As noted in comments, 438 are still out – for the record, here’s that map:
3:26 PM: Transient killer whales have entered the bay, southbound, “close to the Seattle side,” reports Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them!
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: They eventually left the bay and continued southbound in the Sound. Thanks to Madison Kirkman for sending these photos! Above, a view from the Fauntleroy ferry dock; below, looking toward the SW 97th street end:
2:54 PM: 13 hours after a crash brought down power lines, closing West Marginal Way SW just north of Highland Park Way, the street is finally reopening. The live SDOT camera has shown southbound traffic coming through, and it’s showing crews removing the “street closed” signage on the northbound side. That should alleviate traffic backups that had been growing on other routes – such as the low bridge – because of the closure.
3:06 PM: The last signs were removed and the last SDOT truck just left, so it’s fully open both ways.
9:44 PM: We asked police if the car whose driver started all this had turned out to be stolen. Not as far as they can tell, SPD says tonight – they asked King County Sheriff’s Deputies to try a “knock and talk” at the car owner’s residence but deputies couldn’t get past a locked gate. To date, apparently it hasn’t been reported stolen, so they’re concluding it wasn’t.
If you’ve ever wanted Colman Pool all to yourself, the first session of the first day of this year’s 7-day-a-week season certainly offered something close to that – this was the scene about an hour ago; we stopped for a photo while walking on the Lincoln Park waterside path. Today through September 1, the outdoor heated salt-water pool is open daily, with this schedule:
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm…. Lap Swim (daily) and weekend Recreation Swim (Fri-Sun only)
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm…. Lap Swim and Recreation Swim
3:45 pm – 5:15 pm…. Lap Swim and Recreation Swim
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm…. Lap Swim and Recreation Swim
Note that it’ll be closed to the public five days this month and next for swim meets: June 26-28 and July 18-19. After Labor Day, two post-season weekends are planned, September 6-7 and 13-14. Fees are listed here. There’s a free aquatic opportunity in Lincoln Park too (for kids, anyway) – this Saturday (June 21) will be the first day of the 7-day-a-week season for the park’s wading pool, also open daily (weather permitting) through Labor Day.
Two business notes from our partner site White Center Now – we’re linking them here in case you haven’t seen them there:
ARCADE OPENING: We first reported on WCN four years ago that Southgate Roller Rink, on 17th SW just south of Roxbury, was taking over the former Bank of America next door. Now it’s announced a plan to open as an arcade. (1:44 PM UPDATE: We’ve talked to the owner since publishing this and added more info to our WCN item, including the plan to open July !!.)
RESTAURANT CLOSED: Less than two years after opening in the former Zippy’s Giant Burgers space on 14th SW just south of Roxbury, Burger Planet confirms it’s permanently closed.
(California Poppy, photographed by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s what’s on our highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (are we missing something? let us know!):
FAMILY STORY TIME: Southwest Library‘s 10:30 am story time is open to wee ones and their parents/guardians/caretakers. (9010 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day 11 am-8 pm for kids to keep cool! (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL STARTS EVERY-DAY SCHEDULE: Starting today and continuing through Labor Day, the outdoor pool at Lincoln Park is open every day, noon-7 pm.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: See city councilmembers look ahead to the rest of the week, 2 pm. The agenda explains how to watch.
HOMEWORK HELP: Done for the year.
WINE CLASS: 6 pm at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – get tickets here.
CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: No need to grieve alone. 6:30 pm at Mama Be Well Healing Studio, join a group with Listening to Grief. Registration/fee info here. (4034A California SW).
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Four places you can play tonight! Every-other-week music quiz hosted by @pubquizdavid at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) has sessions at 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ALKI MEDITATION: Every Monday – doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, and the meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)
LAUGHTER: The monthly Routine Killers comedy show – five comedians! – will bring you some, 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way) – check for tickets here!
POOL TOURNAMENT: The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starts at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live music on Monday nights – jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE You can sing at 9 pm Monday nights – 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 westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(9:05 am screenshot of SDOT camera)
9:06 AM: West Marginal north of Front is still closed and apparently won’t reopen soon, as an officer just told dispatch that City Light is bringing in a new pole.
9:17 AM: As mentioned in comments, there’s also been tour-bus trouble at the top of the Highland Park Way hill. An officer just told dispatch that a tow truck has now arrived for the bus.
9:45 AM: Police say City Light tells them it’ll be “another two to three hours.”
Earlier:
6:10 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, June 16, 2025.
CLOSURE NOTE
As of right now, the West Marginal Way crash scene north of Highland Park Way hasn’t cleared yet, so avoid that route.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise was again at 5:11 am (as early as it gets, and staying there another week); sunset will be at 9:09 pm. (Summer officially arrives Friday evening!)
(Weekend sunset, photographed by Curry Gibson)
ROAD WORK
-Today’s the day that drilling is planned as part of advance work for the future Fauntleroy Way/ferry terminal traffic signal, and delays are expected in the area while work continues, as previewed here.
SCHOOL STATUS
-Public schools are pretty much the only ones that haven’t closed yet. Seattle Public Schools‘ last day is this Wednesday (June 18);Vashon Island gets out June 24; Highline Public Schools on June 25.
TRANSIT TODAY, + REROUTES SATURDAY
Metro buses – Regular schedule today.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. Three-boat service is still expected to relaunch on June 30th.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus weeknights with Mariners’ home games (and some other events). Speaking of which …
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners are home, facing Boston at 6:40 pm.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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!
2:07 AM: West Marginal Way is blocked by downed power lines near Front Street (just north of Highland Park Way). According to police, they came down when a driver flipped a Tesla, likely because of racing involving at least two other cars. Officers have told dispatch the Tesla was unoccupied when they arrived, but seriously damaged. They’ve summoned City Light to deal with the downed lines, and the closure might last for hours.
2:28 AM: The traffic-camera screenshot shows where the street is blocked. City Light isn’t on scene yet, police are telling dispatch.
9 AM NOTE: We’re updating the closure in our morning traffic report.
2:56 PM: West Marginal is finally reopening.
| 2 COMMENTS