West Seattle, Washington
30 Saturday
ORIGINAL 9:30 PM REPORT: A narcotics investigation in West Seattle led to the seizure of an RV, drugs, and guns today. We learned about this from Southwest Precinct Officer German Barreto at the just-concluded Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting (lots of hot topics, full report to come). He said it happened at 26th SW and SW Cambridge this afternoon; at least four guns were seized, along with various quantities of suspected drugs, and the RV. Its resident could not be booked into King County Jail because of serious medical issues, he said, but the case will be submitted for charges.
1 PM THURSDAY UPDATE: We followed up with SPD, and they’ve just posted additional details via SPD Blotter:
… Wednesday’s arrest marked the culmination of an investigation into reports of drugs being purchased at the vehicle, parked in the 2600 block of Southwest Cambridge Street. In addition to dealing drugs, the RV occupants are also accused of running a fencing operation – purchasing stolen items from people and paying in cash and or drugs.
Seattle police narcotics detectives, as well as Southwest Precinct officers, say they saw foot traffic going in and out of the RV during the several weeks long investigation.
On Wednesday, officers arrested one of the RV occupants without incident. Officers coordinated to have the area cleaned and the RV removed.
In total police recovered:
159.9g of Fentanyl
38.8g of Methamphetamine
Two shotguns
Two handguns
Ammunition
Scale, phone, cash
Saturday’s doubleheader is getting ever closer – you can run or walk the Float Dodger 5K, and then watch (if you don’t happen to be among the hundreds of people set to participate) the West Seattle Grand Parade! We have a few more notes tonight, looking ahead:
(WSB file photo)
FLOAT DODGER 5K: Still time to register and avoid the last-minute price increase! The 5K starts from the field at Hiawatha at 9:30 am Saturday (July 19). Even if you’re not running/walking, come down early and visit the booths – among them, the West Seattle Food Bank, to which West Seattle Runner (which presents Float Dodger) donates proceeds. They’re offering an extra way to support the WSFB (which needs it more than ever) – a new raffle for $5/ticket, with your chance to win tickets to the September 25 Taste of West Seattle. (The WSFB’s other raffle, the Summer Raffle with prizes from local businesses, sold out for the first time ever!) Bring your $5 and look for the WSFB tent at Hiawatha on Saturday morning. And if you want to register for the Float Dodger 5K, do that here!
(WSB photo, 2024 Grand Parade)
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Official parade start time from California/Lander is 11 am, but the leadoff group, the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team, will likely start at about 10:45 am. They’re expecting at least eight motorcycle officers this year, twice the size of the comeback unit last year. One big decision if you haven’t made it already is where to watch – this year there’s an official list of “watch parties” – including:
Cherry Consignment
Falafel Salam
Hotwire Coffee
Sebastiano’s Natural Wines
WEND Jewelry
West Seattle Realty
One of those businesses has an entry in the parade too – Falafel Salam. Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards explains that the businesses on the list “are the businesses that the West Seattle Grand Parade Committee is currently aware of having and promoting a parade watch party at their business. There may be others that we don’t know about, but we are excited to see so many businesses bringing the community together for the parade and would love to know if anyone else is having one!” Email westseattleparade@gmail.com (and tell us too!). … For previous parade previews, click “West Seattle Grand Parade” under the headline and scroll through our archive!
(WSB photo)
4:30 PM: Thanks for the tips on this. Don Armeni Boat Ramp is festooned with a sizable amount of “no parking” signs that will be in effect 11 am tomorrow (Thursday, July 17) to 1 am Friday. The supplementary-info sheet on some of the signs attributes it to “filming,” which happens at the park from time to time given its incredibly scenic skyline backdrop. We asked Seattle Parks for information before we knew that, as one reader was particularly concerned, saying that tomorrow is a major fishing day. Parks tells WSB, after asking the city Film and Special Events Office, “It looks like the boat ramp will NOT be closed, nor will the ramp itself be impacted. The impacts are only to the southern portion of the lot where parking will be reserved, and that portion of the lot being fully closed after 7 pm. There will be police on site to direct traffic where needed and inform folks about what is going on. Additionally, the impacts are ONLY tomorrow. The reason the 18th is on the signage is because they are filming until 1 am.” (The contact on the signage is for a regional location scout.)
6:21 PM: A few additions directly from the Special Events Office:
-This is a commercial film production.
-The production is working in the south end of the parking lot.
-The boat ramp, north entrance, and north-end parking will be open and unimpacted, and access to launch from the ramp will be maintained all day.
-Work in the south-end of the lot includes parking space restrictions from 11:00AM Thursday to 1:00AM Friday, and through-traffic restrictions from 7:00 PM Thursday to 1:00 AM Friday.
-The production is aware of the opening of chinook salmon season and will be communicating on the day with boaters and park visitors to the nature of the parking space and access restrictions and timing.
Seattle Fire sent a mid-size response, and Seattle Police sent street-closing assistance, but a gas leak in the 4500 block of 26th SW has been handled quickly; SFD reported being able to shut it down within moments of their arrival. They’re checking now for gas levels or other impacts inside at least one nearby house.
More big news from West Seattle Little League – Jen sent the photos and report:
What a time for West Seattle Little League!
WSLL’s Softball 10U All Stars are 4-0 in the State tournament and are in the finals this Thursday at 6 pm! While they are battling it out in Vancouver, WA – we can still unite to cheer them on locally! Our friends and WSLL sponsors at West Wings are holding a watch party on: Thursday, July 17 at 6 pm. Come cheer the 10s on and have some good food and drinks!
WSLL is honored to host the Baseball 10U State Little League Tournament from July 19 – 26 at our home field, Bar-S Playfield! This statewide tournament rotates between 13 districts, and after many years, it’s finally our turn to shine.
Even more exciting, our very own Baseball 10U All Star team won the District 7 Championship and kicks off their first game on Sunday, July 20 at 3 pm!
This event is bigger than baseball – it’s a celebration of teamwork, sportsmanship, and community spirit. Let’s come together and show visitors from across the state what makes West Seattle special!
The Bar-S fields are on SW Admiral Way north of 63rd SW.
Another business burglary, this time around 2 am today at Alki Coffee Company. We’re still awaiting the police-report narrative but co-owner Jonathan Stebbins has confirmed it – we asked if they had any security-camera images and he sent these:
If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-199913. The coffee shop and co-housed ice cream shop have been open just three months.
Today’s the day that King County Elections plans to start mailing ballots for the primary election, with voting ending and vote-counting beginning on Tuesday, August 5 (aka Election Day). Here’s what you’ll be asked to decide (we’re not listing uncontested positions):
CANDIDATES (all are listed/infolinked here)
Seattle Mayor (8 candidates)
Seattle citywide Council Position 8 (5 candidates)
Seattle citywide Council Position 9 (4 candidates)
Seattle City Attorney (4 candidates)
King County Executive (7 candidates, no incumbent)
Top two candidates in those races advance to the November general election. But these two, as is always the case with ballot measures, will be final decisions:
BALLOT MEASURES
King County Proposition 1 (6-year Parks Levy renewal)
Seattle Proposition 1 (Democracy Voucher 10-year levy renewal)
You can vote as soon as your ballot arrives; get it into the mail with a postmark no later than August 5, or into a KC Elections drop box no later than 8 pm August 5. Other lesser-used options too – they’re listed here.
(Photo by Rosalie Miller, who says this is a leafcutter bee napping in a calendula blossom)
Here’s what’s happening, and not happening, in the (hot!) hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUMMER FOOD: As reported here, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is a last-minute reminder, so set your calendar for next Wednesday morning if interested!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The open-every-day (except this Friday-Saturday) season continues at Lincoln Park‘s outdoor, heated salt-water pool! Noon-7 pm; see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOLS: Two pools are scheduled to be open today in West Seattle – Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) will be open noon-5:30 pm; Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) will be open noon-7 pm.
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
‘WILD ROBOT’ READ-ALOUD CLUB: 1 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), starting today! Info here.
PINATA WORKSHOP: 2-3:30 pm hands-on workshop, registration not required, at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something that’s broken? Fix it instead of discarding it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
DRAG BINGO: 6 pm at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW), hosted by Jolene Granby. Find the reservations link in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
OPEN STUDIO AT POTTERINGS: 6 pm, get creative at the studio! (3400 Harbor SW)
POST-SUMMER-FEST ALTERNATIVE DANCE PARTY: With DJ Depeche Mike spinning 6-9 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome.
GAMES IN THE PARK WITH GROWN-UPS: 6:30 pm, meet by the kiosk at the north lot of Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW): “Come get silly with us and enjoy the laughter that erupts! Bring your awkward, frustrated, giddy or chill feelings – this is a come-as-you-are party and a friendly space to connect and play.”
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Hybrid quarterly meeting at 7 pm, at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd SW/SW Juneau) or via Zoom. Follow the link for agenda topics and the video connection.
KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
MUSIC BINGO x 2: at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm. and monthly MINGO at Three9 Lounge (39th SW/SW Oregon), 7:30 pm.
REGULAR TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: You’re on centerstage – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A member of Peace Lutheran Church at 39th SW/SW Thistle in Gatewood sends this report/request:
Someone “borrowed” 2 planters full of bee- and hummingbird-friendly plants from our patio. We’d just like them returned. No questions asked.
We’re following up to see what kind of planters these were, in case you find them abandoned somewhere. But first, the message is for the thief/thieves.
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The Heat Advisory alert is in effect until 10 tonight. Today’s high is expected to reach the upper 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:29 am; sunset will be at 9:02 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
ROAD WORK
-Three weeks of major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center start today – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side instead of the north side; SDOT still will not estimate a completion date other than “summer.”
PARKING ALERT FOR THURSDAY
Reader tells us signage at Don Armeni Boat Ramp says no parking Thursday after 11 am. We’re still seeking official info; another reader believes it’s a film shoot.
EARLY WEEKEND ALERT
The West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K on Saturday (July 19) mean parking restrictions and road closures on and near California SW from Admiral to south of Edmunds. Heed the signs – they tow on parade morning if necessary! There will be bus reroutes Saturday too.
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!
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