West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Today was the third Sunday that Admiral Church worshipped in its temporary home at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. It’s moved out of its longtime home at 4320 SW Hill, as has the preschool that had occupied its basement. All this, as the next step in the site’s transformation to affordable homeownership with a new home for the church and the community organizations it hosts.
While the plan in partnership with Homestead Community Land Trust is progressing, demolition is not imminent – midyear 2026 at the soonest. But you won’t see the old church building morph into a tagged, squatter-occupied shell of a building.
It’s already morphed, in fact … into the Admiral HUB.
Part of the HUB is a continued home, for now, for the aforementioned community organizations. You’ll see the Admiral Neighborhood Association there this Tuesday, for example; ANA has met there for years.
But it’s not just about meetings. What inspired us to ask for a chat about the building’s interim status was a reader tip about the heart of it: @ Bear Island.
At the heart of @ Bear Island is someone whose work you have probably seen, even if you don’t immediately recognize his name: Mike Henderson.
He’s an Admiral Church congregant, and prolific artist. We published an in-depth story about him by WSB senior contributor Christopher Boffoli last year, when he was still painting enigmatic messages in highly visible spots, such as a retaining wall on California south of Andover.
Admiral Church’s Anita Shaffer explained that when they decided against leaving the building vacant, after discussions with Homeland CLT and their insurance company, Henderson seemed like the ideal caretaker: “He’s such a creative guy.”
(Anita Shaffer and Mike Henderson in the HUB/Bear Island kitchen)
For starters, he and others have “been de-preschooling the basement,” as Shaffer puts it, although the colorfully painted rooms already seem naturally suited to creativity.
“So we have this massive space and at least seven months to make it up as we go along,” Henderson explains. “The exciting challenge is to use the whole buffalo.” That means opening the space to a wide range of possibilities, with people collaborating.
One of the early collaborators, Celeste, elaborates: “We want to bring the community together to see what people can do.” Workshops, for example, might not take the typical format that some might find “scary” when asked to teach what they know. Maybe just spending a little time planting a seed and sharing their skills.
Henderson recounts the thrill of inviting passersby to participate in his murals – “give people the (paint) roller and give them the chance to make art” – and hopes @ Bear Island will be a place where people can “try things.”
There’ll be music, too, a weekly jazz jam starting next month in what was the church sanctuary and will now be known as “the theater.” (The church’s pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom says they’ve had a ceremony to “de-consecrate” that space, and there’ll soon be a ceremony about removing the sanctuary’s cross and its “complicated” symbolism.) While the Admiral Church organ is going into storage for now, the piano is staying. The space will have “theatrical lighting and sound.” It’ll be open for rentals as a concert venue, too.
What Henderson most wants you to know is that, rather than fleshing out a set of ideas by finding people to make them happen, they want to find people and then let the ideas happen. “Just be in the same room and plug into the creative energy.” He expects it will be “magical.”
Rev. Conley-Holcom agrees – seeing it as a “play space” most of all.
So how do you get involved? Henderson says they have open hours during which you can just “wander in.”
Another participant in our conversation with the key players added, “It’s very easy to get plugged in here. Just show up!”
One possibility for the space is a continuously open “pay what you can” thrift shop to raise money for @ Bear Island; Celeste already has sparked some of that energy by having a vintage sale there. (Shaffer notes that the HUB remains under Admiral Church’s “nonprofit banner,” and that the church donated $1,000 to get it launched, as well as helping apply for grant money to underwrite the jazz jams.)
What @ Bear Island has in abundance already is the spirit of fun. Henderson laughs that while the @ Bear Island name is a tribute to the Native name Me-Kwa-Mooks, the mascot is not a bear but a rabbit. “I like the confusion!”
The pastor says what he likes most about it is that it “embodies one of my core values, relationship first” and Henderson, he says, is an ace relationship-builder: “He’ll introduce you to people HE didn’t even know.”
This will all lead to one thing, Henderson says:
“Joy.”
You can “wander in” 4-7 pm Tuesdays-Fridays for now; find @ Bear Island updates here.
Though Seattle Public Utilities had said the emergency culvert repairs beneath California SW in Fauntleroy could start tomorrow, the “no parking” signs in the area all are dated to start Tuesday (September 23). Whenever the crews arrive, remember that the repair work will change things up for about a month in the Fauntleroy Church/Y/Schoolhouse area, which is also a key connector between Delridge, 35th SW, and the Fauntleroy business district and ferry dock. The repairs – as announced in August – are intended to keep the culvert that carries Fauntleroy Creek under California from failing before permanent replacement work can begin. (For more on the replacement project, which will first focus on 45th SW, don’t miss the recently announced community meeting on October 2.)
The football game’s over but not too late for a game-day bird gallery! Let’s start with some real-life hawks:
Jerry Simmons photographed those two juvenile Cooper’s Hawks – and this non-juvenile, bathed in sunrise light, too:
Lorabeth Lawson shows us a California Scrub-Jay examining a bogus bird:
Jon Anderson sent this House Finch photo much earlier in the summer, but hey, beauty is timeless:
Look closely for the burst of color from the prey this Great Blue Heron photographed by Gary Jones is holding:
Kim Petram caught a Hummingbird at work:
Even an everyday Gull can look noble in the sunset glow – Theresa Arbow-O’Connor sent this photo:
Big thanks to everyone who kindly shares photos so we can share them with you, from birds to blossoms to breaking news! westseattleblog@gmail.com unless it’s urgent, in which case you can text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Often on Sundays, we look ahead to notable events in the coming week. This Tuesday (September 23), the Admiral Neighborhood Association invites community members to its every-other-month general gathering. Here’s the ANA preview:
Our special guest will be Seattle Public School Board President Gina Topp, who will be with us to talk about the state of the District as we begin a new school year. The meeting will now be held at 7 pm at the “Admiral Hub” (formerly Admiral Church) building on SW Hill Street and 44th Ave SW. Also present will be one of our friends from the SW Precinct. We will have some highlights from our Summer events as well as a look ahead to Fall/Winter.
P.S. The Admiral Hub itself – and what’s happening with the building now that the church and preschool have moved out – will be the topic of a WSB story we hope to publish tonight.
Thanks to Dave Townsend for the photo! Also happening right now, Outdoors for All is back in West Seattle with another chance to try adaptive cycling for free. They’re there until 2 pm “for folks to come out and ride the trike, tandem, or handcycle that works best for them. The event is for kids as young as 7 and adults, and there is no charge – just a short registration on-site”
9:34 AM: We’re at the Pier 1 property in the 2100 block of Harbor Avenue SW, where, as previewed again last night, West Seattle Indivisible is organizing a “human banner” this morning in honor of International Day of Peace. As of our arrival about 10 minutes ago, more than 300 people are here. … and Dave Gershgorn‘s photo for WSB shows they’re already spelling out PEACE (though the speaking program hasn’t begun yet):
10:00 AM: Lots of chanting – “say it loud, say it clear, peace and justice, now and here” – while official speakers are awaited.
10:54 AM: The event has just concluded after about 45 minutes of speeches, including Mayor Bruce Harrell quoting Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and Danny Glover among others. (video added)
Volunteers at the main gate estimate a final count around 450 participants.
12:12 PM: Adding video, starting with Malou Chávez of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, saying that this isn’t a time of “crisis” – because “in a crisis, you can see the end” – but rather, a time of chaos:
Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom of Admiral Church preached a bit, presided over a moment of silence, and gave a closing blessing. Here’s part of what he said:
Toward the conclusion of the event, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace“:
Earlier, for a global perspective, Irene Danysh spoke, identifying herself as the daughter of Ukrainian refugees, a recent Ukraine resident, but talking about Gaza more than Ukraine:
WSI’s leaders, including this event’s organizer Laurie Reinhardt, had stressed in the early going, “We’re sending a message today.”
The International Day of Peace, Mohamed noted, has been an annual observance on September 21st since 1981.
Good morning – here’s what’s up for your Sunday, featuring some one-time-only experiences, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
ORCA HALF: This big running event, starting at Lincoln Park and ending at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, is spread across two days this year, and today is Day 2. No road closures, but be watchful of runners. Participants start in waves beginning at 7:30 am; course map and other information can be found on the Orca Half website.
GARAGE/YARD SALES: Check for listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a WSB Forums login, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY ‘HUMAN BANNER’ As previewed here again last night, West Seattle Indivisible invites everyone 14+ to join in forming a “human banner” on the waterfront in the 2100 block of Harbor Avenue SW, where the gate opens at 8:30, with music, speakers, food trucks promised, and aerial photography once everyone’s in place. Rain or shine.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
(Photo sent by Eddie – West Seattle Art Tour stop #2, with five artists!)
WEST SEATTLE ART TOUR, DAY 2: This free, self-guided tour of local artists’ studios features 14 sites from North Admiral to Arbor Heights to Highland Park, and more than 30 artists, open 10 am-5 pm again today. Here’s the guide to who you’ll find at each site and what kind of art; here’s the printable map; here’s the interactive map; here’s our Day 1 coverage.
ANTIQUE MALL OF WEST SEATTLE SALE: 10 am to 5 pm today, third day of four-day sale. (4516 California SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in end-of-summer produce season (stone fruit, berries, tomatoes, peppers, greens, roots), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
CELEBRATE FLCWS MUSICAL TRANSITIONS: First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW) welcomes all on this special day:
On Sunday, September 21st, The West Seattle community is invited to celebrate musical transitions at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle. Luncheon is being served after the 10:30 a.m. morning service, to introduce Dana Robinson as our new Organist and Choirmaster, and honor Deacon Emeritus Dean Hard as our retiring Choirmaster.
‘SUN DAY’ AT WSUU: 10:30 am, mark Sun Day by watchimg the recently recorded stream of Bill McKibben’s Town Hall talk on his new book “Here Comes the Sun” and talk about it, at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation. (7141 California SW)
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
‘WILD MOON’ BOOK LAUNCH: 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW), local author Andie Powers launches her new nonfiction picture book, “Wild Moon: How the Lunar Phases Light Up Our World.”
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Kick back and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
COMMUNITY NOTARY DAY: Need something notorized? Bring it to West Seattle (Admiral) Library 3-5 pm today. (2306 42nd SW)
HARP MUSIC AT C & P: Greensleeves harp and Irish flute student showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Need some inspiration? Check out more than 100 people joining forces to help local kids! Everywhere you turned at WestSide Baby‘s White Center warehouse/HQ this past Thursday night, volunteers of all ages gathered to “Sip and Sort.” They spent hours sorting donations – and none were more energized than the kids sorting “stuffies” to be distributed:
That young volunteer was impressed by the size of the stuffed shark. This one, even younger, was very adamant about sorting stuffies into age-appropriate piles – she was heard shouting “Baby safe! Baby safe!” multiple times.
Adult volunteers were busy too, readying dozens of car seats so they can be given to families to protect babies and toddlers:
One little-known fact about WestSide Baby that was spotlighted during Thursday night’s volunteer event: It doesn’t just serve babies. They serve older kids and even teenagers. That is at the heart of the current “Gear Up for Fall” campaign, although some Thursday sorters did deal with baby gear, like this huge box full of all types of bottles collected by Ridwell:
In addition to the 100+ volunteers giving WS Baby a boost on Thursday night, they got major support from King County too – a proclamation in honor of Diaper Need Week (which concludes tomorrow), and a $25,000 check, presented by County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and accepted by WS Baby’s executive director Allie Lindsay Johnson and development director Morgan McGinn before a short round of speaking:
WestSide Baby accepts donations from anyone – money and/or items – and diapers perennially top the need list. Or if you want to volunteer, at a one-time event like this or on an ongoing basis, here’s info on that.
Near Westcrest Park, a motorcyclist is seriously injured after crashing at 8th SW and SW Barton. Police have closed northbound 8th until the scene is cleared. They have said they believe no other vehicles were involved.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The words PEACE FOR ALL are outlined on the ground at the Harbor Avenue property known as Pier 1, as shown in the drone photo taken by West Seattle Indivisible today, in advance of their International Day of Peace mega-gathering tomorrow morning.
If 1,000 people show up, they’ll line all the letters, three across, as a “human banner” in honor of Peace Day. If fewer show up, organizer Laurie Reinhardt says, no worries, they have contingency plans, all the way down to 100 people filling out a single letter at a time, then moving to the next, and the next.
We visited the site today for a look at where Reinhardt’s idea will take shape, one way or another, whatever size it turns out to be. She stresses that it’s not meant to be a feel-good quick photo-op – it’s meant as a metaphor for the fact that, individually, people can only do so much, but together, “we are greater than the sum of our parts.” She hopes those who show up to be part of it will “really feel that” before leaving to go back to their everyday activities.
Before we get into how the event will unfold, some logistics points. A banner marks the fence by the main entrance to the property, 3 1/2 acres that have been long up for lease (after housing a crane yard for a while), being borrowed for this event with the owner’s permission.
Reinhardt and 70+ volunteers will get there first thing in the morning, but the gates won’t open for participants until 8:30, so don’t show up before then. Parking is on the street (though a small part of the west/north end of the property is set aside for volunteers to park, maximizing the number of street spaces available for participants).
After checking in, participants will move further into the site, which has an unbroken waterfront view – we asked Reinhardt to pose in the middle of one of the letters in PEACE:
They’ll have some amenities for the crowd – food trucks and portable toilets. Each letter will have a captain to show you where to stand and to hand out the flags made at the event we mentioned last weekend. The photo won’t be taken at one specific moment – there’ll be at least four drones photographing multiple times while the crowd listens to music and speeches, emceed by Port Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed, addressing global, national, regional, and local issues and possibilities. There will be a moment of silence, led by Admiral Church’s pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom. The speeches and photography aren’t expected to happen until some point after 9:30 am – when they are pretty sure everyone who’s showing up has arrived.
Side note: While we chatted at the site this afternoon, Reinhardt said the original idea was to “think big” and see if this could be done on the West Seattle Bridge. She even got so far as to fill out a “25-page application,” before, she said, city officials including Mayor Harrell himself (who is also scheduled as a speaker on Sunday) realized it wasn’t that great an idea, especially on a day with a home Seahawks game.
So instead, “human banner” participants – all ages ages 14+ welcome – will gather on a West Seattle waterfront site frequented by “real” Seahawks (Ospreys are among the birds Reinhardt said they’d seen while at the site earlier, and we heard Bald Eagles’ distinctive call while talking). They’d appreciate it if you pre-registered, but you’re also welcome to just show up in the 2100 block of Harbor Avenue SW.
(WSB photo from 2024 autumn equinox sunset watch)
Fall officially arrives Monday morning with the equinox moment at 11:19 am – and that means West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen will be at Solstice Park on Monday evening to commemorate the change of seasons with one of the quarterly sunset-watch events she’s been leading for more than 15 years. It’ll include her interactive demonstration of what “equinox” really means, as well as an opportunity to see how the placement of markers and paths at the park lookout are meant to align with the sunset on equinoxes (and solstices). If you haven’t been to one of Alice’s events before, the Solstice Park lookout is uphill from the tennis courts (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW). She’ll be there 6:30-7:30 pm, with the actual sunset as seen from that site expected around 6:50-7 pm, though the official sunset is 7:06 pm. It’s free, fun, educational, all ages, happening whether the sun’s visible or not (heavy rain is the only weather that will cancel this).
12:46 PM: Look for banners like that one marking the 14 stops on this year’s free, self-guided West Seattle Art Tour, on until 5 pm today and again 10 am-5 pm tomorrow. Each stop has multiple artists, usually including the host whose studio/workspace is on the map. Our first stop today was the southernmost site, #4, where you’ll find printmaker Diane Kappa (WSB sponsor):
In her backyard studio, she showed us and other visitors a linoleum print she’s working on – she explained that it’s painstaking, but she puts on her headphones, turns on her music, and gets lost in her work.
(As noted here, Diane teaches classes too, so when you visit during the Art Tour, you can talk with her about those!)
She’s hosting three other artists at her Arbor Heights studio/backyard as part of the Art Tour, including another. printmaker, Sahily Anais Perez McMillan:
Sahily is also a printmaker, with subjects including birds, like this Spotted Towhee:
She told us she’s a bird advocate and has volunteered with Birds Connect Seattle, so they’re more than just subjects! Also at this site in Arbor Heights (see the map for the address) are artists Tanya Knannlein and Shelly Sazama, who both work in textiles. In addition to the clickable map we’ve linked to (which includes artists’ websites and short descriptions of their work), there’s a printable map on the Art Tour website too. We’re headed to the north end next and will add more Art Tour sights later.
2:50 PM: Thanks to Eddie for this photo from northernmost stop #12 on the map, in North Admiral:
This stop is hosted by colored-pencil artist Jan Koutsky, with visiting artists Johanna Lindsay (jewelry), relief block printer Theresa Neinas, and ceramics/pottery artist Jody Wally.
4 PM: Our last stop of the first day was Daniel Bernunzio‘s home studio in Highland Park, easternmost stop on the Art Tour, #1 on the map.
In our photo below is the host at center, with visiting artists Cat Brooks (left) and Eric Eschenbach (right) – all three are painters:
Each has an individual tent showcasing their work – Daniel:
Cat:
And Eric:
As with everyone else on the Art Tour, they’re there until 5 today, and again 10 am-5 pm on Sunday.
(WSB photos)
The second hour of today’s six-hour Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church has just begun. We were there for photos half an hour ago and one volunteer told us it had been “nonstop.” However, no backup – it’s always a very efficient operation with partner 1 Green Planet, with multiple bins, trucks, and boxes ready for whatever you’re dropping off:
Here again is the long list (PDF) of what you can bring for free recycling (and a shorter list of what they won’t accept). They’ll be there till 3 pm.
But don’t wait until the last hour unless that’s absolutely the soonest you can get there – they try to avoid an end-of-day backup. The church offers this service to the community twice a year; if you miss today’s Recycle Roundup, watch for advance announcement of the date for the next one, in spring.
9:55 AM: If you’ve been seeing the Southern Resident Killer Whale updates in recent days but couldn’t get down to the water to look, maybe today’s your day. Kersti Muul reports J-Pod orcas are back in the area, southbound from just north of West Seattle at last report.
2:31 PM: Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail says they are northbound again, currently off north end of Blake Island, and she’s at Emma Schmitz Overlook (across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, 4500 block Beach Drive SW) with binoculars to share.
2:45 PM: Donna says they’re closer to Bainbridge now, so she’s heading toward the Alki area.
3:55 PM: She ended up staying at Emma Schmitz Overlook and says more J-Pod whales were headed north in Colvos Passage along the west side of Vashon Island.
(Moon and Venus Friday morning, photo by Kevin Freitas)
Welcome to the last weekend of summer! Here’s our big West Seattle list for Saturday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
ORCA HALF: This big running event, starting at Lincoln Park and ending at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, is spread across two days this year. No road closures, but be watchful of runners. Participants start in waves beginning at 7:30 am each day; course maps and other information can be found on the Orca Half website.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Want to run a shorter course today? West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) leads Saturday 8 am free group runs!
GARAGE/YARD SALES: See this weekend’s listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a login for that section, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
RECYCLE ROUNDUP: Fall edition of Fauntleroy Church‘s popular free-dropoff event, 9 am-3 pm. Here’s the list of what they will and won’t accept this time. (9140 California SW)
URBAN FARMING WORKSHOP: 9 am at Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon), the first workshop in a series that will teach you about growing food in an urban community garden, as previewed here.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am community meditation at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska) – register here.
WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT HIKE: This month’s free hike leaves from Westcrest Park (7th/Cloverdale), 9:30 am.
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed by this 10 am walk, which you can join even if you didn’t go on the introductory walk. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
WEST SEATTLE ART TOUR: Day 1 of this free two-day self-guided tour at stops all over the peninsula where you can meet dozens of artists and discover their work! 10 am-5 pm; the Art Tour website includes printable and clickable versions of the map as well as the artist list. (Community co-sponsors include WSB.)
HELP VFW WITH ROOF PROJECT: If you can spare some time, the West Seattle VFW welcomes volunteers to help winterize their roof before rainy season. 10 am. (3601 SW Alaska)
WESTFEST AT HOLY ROSARY: The fall festival/carnival’s second and biggest day, 10 am-10 pm on the school grounds, with music, food, rides, games, bingo, even a book sale. The entertainment schedule is in our calendar listing. See our report on night 1 here. (41st/42nd/Genesee/Dakota)
ADMIRAL DISTRICT HISTORY TOUR: Still a few spots as of early this morning! 10 am; meet at Belvedere Park (37th SW & SW Admiral Way).
BATMAN DAY AT TAILS TO ASTONISH: Deals and freebies during this special day at the comic-book store, 10 am-5 pm. (5633 California SW)
ALKI BEACH CLEANUP: As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers will spend two hours cleaning up Alki – details here. To help, show up at Alki Bathhouse at 10 am. (2701 Alki SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: The Garden Center at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW, north end of campus), is open 10 am-3 pm.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: One more month to shop at this weekly market! Open 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, in and around the courtyard at Hope Academy in South Delridge (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, sweet treats, body-care products, more!
RICE, BEANS, HAPPINESS POP-UP: 10 am-3 pm at Milpa Masa (3416 SW Webster).
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE WRITING GROUP: On hiatus; no gathering until mid-October
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
ANTIQUE MALL OF WEST SEATTLE SALE: 11 am to 5 pm today, second day of four-day sale. (4516 California SW)
ONE LAST DOG-SWIM SESSION: “Dog Days of Summer” last day at Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club (11003 31st SW), noon-5 pm, $5 per dog to come swim in the pool (no humans in the pool, though) before it’s closed for offseason cleaning.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open noon-4 pm on Saturdays. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open for you to enjoy wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SHREKLEBALL: 1-4 pm, it’s the annual pickleball funfest and potluck for “Shrek” fans (well, fan status not required), as explained in our calendar listing, at Delridge Community Center. All welcome, even if you’re not an experienced pickleball player and you don’t have gear. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar, and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area.
HOPS FOR HOPS: Pet bunnies and drink beer at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 2-5 pm.
FREE MASSAGE: Walk-in clinic returns at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), short, specific sessions, 3-5 pm.
GOOD DAY SAUNA’S LINCOLN PARK DEBUT: 4-8 pm portable sauna on the shore, sessions sold out per website.
EVENING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Roo Forrest and Friends at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm, no cover, all ages.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm, tonight it’s two bands in the School of Rock Adult Showcase. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘NERDLESQUE RISES’: The return of nerdy burlesque, as previewed here – experience it tonight, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DJ Roc Phizzle at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
SATURDAY NIGHT SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight, with rotating DJ Josh and DJ NightMere, 21+, at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Our Saturday list concludes with 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSHS senior Breck Estep, #4, shows off the Huling Bowl trophy to the student section)
Story by Jason Grotelueschen
Photos by Oliver Hamlin
For West Seattle Blog
In the annual football battle between the area’s two largest high schools, the 2025 Huling Bowl was claimed by West Seattle High School as the Wildcats triumphed over the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks by a score of 17-10, in a hard-fought game in front of a packed house Friday night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Wildcats are reclaiming the trophy this year after the Seahawks had prevailed in the rivalry game last season. For this season, coach Anthony Stordahl’s Wildcats move to 2-0 after the win, while Daron Camacho‘s Seahawks were dealt their first loss to fall to 2-1.
Both schools’ crowds and their bands and cheer squads were out in full force at NCSWAC on Friday, including many of the WSHS students decked out in neon:
The energy was high as teams took the field:
Sealth senior Kingston Cappiello (#2) celebrates after making a stop in the first quarter:
WSHS junior Justice Nguyen (#1) grabbed a key interception on a deep pass:
Senior Breck Estep (#4) caught a pass to set the Wildcats up for their first touchdown:
This was followed by a WSHS touchdown pass from junior QB Desmond Parkinson (#12) to senior LJ Moody (#3) with 6:46 left in the quarter. After a successful extra point kick, the Wildcats were on top 7-0.
Sealth answered with a drive of their own, featuring plenty of work by senior QB MJ Filitaula (#12):
As well as junior Xander Gomez (#23), running down the field after catching a pass:
And senior Jessie Gilmore II gaining yards on the ground:
The Sealth drive was capped by a Filitaula TD run with 2:10 left in the first quarter:
…and the successful extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7, which was also the score as the 2nd quarter got underway.
West Seattle reclaimed the lead in the 2nd quarter on a TD run by senior Jesse Hansen-Wilson (#43), to go ahead 14-7 after the extra-point kick. The Wildcats added a field goal by senior Jonah Pelander (#7) to extend their lead to 17-7, and then Sealth answered with their own long field goal courtesy of senior Ogi Petronijvec (#1) as time expired in the first half, with West Seattle on top 17-10.
Parkinson moved the Wildcats down the field through the air:
…and on the ground:
Moody, taking a handoff from Parkinson:
Sealth senior Shane Tino (#52) celebrates a tackle in the 2nd quarter by revealing a shirt in honor his late aunt Liz (one of many matching shirts at the game, worn by the family):
Pelander kicks an extra point:
During halftime, both schools’ bands entertained, including drummers from WSHS:
…and Sealth:
Also at halftime, special guest Councilmember Rob Saka took the field with athletic directors Ernest Policarpio of CSIHS and Corey Sorenson of WSHS, as a “proclamation” was read by the PA announcer to commemorate the Huling Bowl and the participating schools.
In the 3rd quarter, the teams traded possessions until Sealth moved deep into Wildcat territory and scored an apparent touchdown, which the officiating crew waved off due to a penalty. This was followed by another penalty and ultimately a failed pass attempt into the end zone on 4th down, which meant the Seahawks came up empty and the Wildcats took over on downs.
The score remained 17-10 as the 3rd quarter ended, and in the final quarter the teams went back and forth (including a key Sealth fumble and WSHS recovery):
…with no points scored by either team in the fourth quarter (or in the entire 2nd half), the game ended with a 17-10 West Seattle win.
After the game, the Wildcats and their fans celebrated on the field with the Huling Bowl trophy. Here’s councilmember Saka with the winning squad:
The coveted trophy:
Both teams play on the road next week: Sealth on Thursday 9/25 at Ingraham at 7 pm, and West Seattle on Friday 9/26 at Lincoln HS at 7 pm.
Hair Force was the band onstage when we stopped by for a quick look at Holy Rosary School‘s “carnival of community” WestFest tonight. It’s closed now for the night but tomorrow’s the big day, 10 am to 10 pm, and the weather looks promising for kids to enjoy rides and bouncy toys:
Inside the school, you can play bingo …
… or shop the book sale.
Back outside, the lineup of food includes wings, Caesar salad, popcorn, cotton candy, burgers, hot dogs, mac ‘n’ cheese, brats, and pizza. All the outdoor activities are on the playground on the north side of the Holy Rosary campus, 42nd/Dakota.
The Junction is extra-busy tonight – fall Wine Walk night! We visited the spots where two WSB sponsors are pouring:
Heather Pilder Olson and Kathy Billington from Welcome Road Winery (3804 California SW) are pouring at Cherry Consignment. Their options tonight include their 2022 L’Oiseau, which won double gold at the Washington Wine Awards, their new release 2023 Claire (100% Malbec), and their new vintage 2024 Rosé. If you didn’t catch up with them tonight, their shop is open 3-7 tomorrow.
Nearby, at Hotwire Coffee, also on the north edge of The Junction:
Ben Viscon from Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW) is pouring in the cozy courtyard. He’s offering “The Inception Sauvignon Blanc, “Undone” Rosé, and “Heart Box Red” Merlot. And you can catch up with him tomorrow too, 1-6 pm.
Wine Walk is a fundraiser for the West Seattle Junction Association, which presents a full slate of events as well as managing services for Junction merchants; more than 30 winery-merchant pairings are part of it tonight. Next big event of the season is the Harvest Festival on October 26, with trick-or-treating, a costume parade, and more.
As reported here Thursday, the City Council said “no” to a proposal to add eight more Neighborhood Centers – designated hubs of residential and business growth – to the updated Comprehensive Plan. But we also noted that the one West Seattle possibility on the list, Alki, might come back for consideration again. And a vote taken by the council late this afternoon paves the way for that possibility:
A resolution spelling out Comprehensive Plan changes that might be considered next year included, Resolution 32183, included a call for studying those eight potential Neighborhood Centers that won’t be in this year’s changes. District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka tried to get Alki crossed off that list, saying that the area just doesn’t meet the criteria for being a Neighborhood Center, in the absence of good transit, medical facilities, a grocery store, and due to geographic isolation and environmental risk. He also accused those who favored the ideas of being YITBYs – “yes in THEIR back yard.” Despite his intense imploring, his Amendment 1 to remove Alki failed – four councilmembers for (Saka, Kettle, Nelson, Rivera), four against (Hollingsworth, Juarez, Rinck, Strauss), one abstaining (Solomon). This doesn’t necessarily mean Alki, and/or any of the other seven (which are outside WS), will be proposed again as a Neighborhood Center, but it keeps the possibility alive. The Comprehensive Plan update that the council’s been voting on contains seven Neighborhood Centers in West Seattle, as we first reported when it was unveiled eleven months ago. Alki was one of three WS Neighborhood Centers considered but not proposed, the city explained at the time (the other two were Highland Park and “Sylvan Junction,” near Delridge’s Home Depot store).
As mentioned in our previous story, this weekend will bring a celebration of artists and their work during the West Seattle Art Tour. Every month brings a smaller opportunity to see local creativity during the West Seattle Art Walk, on second Thursdays. You might not know there’s also a monthly art walk in White Center – the Rat City Art and Food Walk, on third Thursdays. We explored it last night for partner site White Center Now, and you can see the story and photos here.
This is the first year the West Seattle Art Tour has expanded to two days, so you’ve got lots of time this weekend to go meet local artists and see their work in creative spaces around the peninsula. Here’s one last reminder from organizers of this year’s Art Tour:
West Seattle Art Tour is this Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, from 10 am to 5 pm!
Visit 14 artist-hosted locations across West Seattle on this free, self-guided tour that showcases a unique array of art created by exceptional West Seattle artists in the spaces where artists create, live, teach and work. Each host artist has opened their space to guest artists who live, work, teach or contribute to West Seattle’s vibrant art community. This year the Tour has expanded to a two-day event, with sites open 10-5 on both Saturday and Sunday, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations.
This year’s tour information includes a printable map, an interactive online map and artist profiles to help guests customize their own adventure across the West Seattle Peninsula. Tour stops are organized in a loop, starting with Daniel Bernunzio’s Highland Park studio at Stop No. 1 and finishing with Lea Basile-Lazarus’s Admiral studio at Stop No. 14.
Not sure where to start planning your Tour? Head over to the West Seattle Art Tour website, where you can explore using the online map, print off a paper copy of the map, view a virtual gallery and artist directory, and even check mobility access for sites.
Past tour guests recommend previewing the tour stops and planning your route with a paper map ahead of time, then using the online map to navigate across West Seattle. You’ll be ready to head out to discover new work, meet the artists, and enjoy a weekend full of art! Printed maps will also be available at each site, and can be picked up in advance at Alki Arts Gallery, Viscon Cellars, and WEND Jewelry.
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk as well as in-kind sponsorship from West Seattle Blog, Viscon Cellars, and Alki Arts.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“It’s been a busy month so far,” observed Alki Community Council president Charlotte Starck at the start of last night’s meeting. That was no exaggeration, given the major topics the meeting spanned in the course of just an hour and a half. They included:
REZONING VOTE: Starck mentioned the results of the Comprehensive Plan amendment votes hours earlier, including the rejection of citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck‘s Amendment 34 proposal to add an area of Alki to be designated as a Neighborhood Center. She had circulated word of the proposal, made in an amendment just a month ago, and said she and the ACC weren’t advocating for or against it, just saying that there wasn’t enough notification about it compared to the many months of lead time for other proposed Neighborhood Centers. One attendee was concerned about how they’ll get word if the Alki Neighborhood Center idea is revived again in the future. (And in fact, Starck tells WSB today that an expected proposal at the council’s 2 pm meeting today would call for spending a year studying Alki and the other seven potential Neighborhood Centers that were in Amendment 34 – see page 6 here.)
PARKS UPDATE INCLUDING BOAT RAMP CHANGE: Jon Jainga from Seattle Parks, who’s in charge of Park Rangers among other things, presented department updates from what was dubbed the “Summer of Safety” plan. He said one big lesson learned involved city-operated boat ramps including West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp – they were going to go back to 24-hour operation but now the gates will be closed at Don Armeni and Golden Gardens at 11:30 pm until further notice. Private security will close the gates and a ranger will be on until 12:30 am to check on them, until Park Rangers’ shifts will move up to a 10:30 pm end. Jainga noted, though, that he still has 19 rangers for the entire city.
Stats included that rangers have visited Alki 168 times, performed 142 customer-service acts, educated people aboard littering and drinking, and that off-leash dogs have been an ongoing problem. “We’re not police officers, we’re more of a park ambassador,” aimed at getting voluntary compliance. But if they have to escalate, they can cite – and/or call police for no-trespassing orders.
At Alki, he said, rangers gave 2,075 liquor violence warnings, 515+ offleash animal warnings, 600+ for urinating in public, 220 for smoking, 110 for unpermitted vendors on park property (they’re working to get right to enforce on sidewalk), 104 for litter, 2 for vehicles parked in unauthorized times, 666 for fires in unpermitted areas, 45 911 calls for police assistance, 18 calls to SFD for help, 6 people referred to the Unified Care Team. Jainga said they’re still analyzing everything, because it was a first summer for many things – but he said the ongoing concerns are the same at other major city parks.
SEATTLE POLICE: Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair (photo above) and Officer German Barreto were there, as were Community Service Officers Jamie and Helene, as was Crime Prevention Coordinator Matt Brown, who will add the Southwest Precinct to his South Precinct duties when SW CPC Jennifer Satterwhite goes on maternity leave next month.
(WSB file photo)
Earlier this week, a WSB reader reported getting a message on Find It Fix It saying that the app can no longer be used for reporting parking complaints – those have to be called in. We’ve been trying for a few days to get more information from SPD, since Parking Enforcement is part of the department. While waiting, we’ve just received the memo sent to various groups around the city by the Parking Enforcement manager (CSR would stand for the city’s Customer Service Requests):
As of about mid-day 9/19 (sorry, that is the timeframe the CSR team gave me):
Parking Enforcement will no longer be doing customer service requests (CSR) for parking complaints via Find it Fix it (Abandoned vehicle CSR will remain via Find it fix it).
The intention is to improve safety, reduce response times, and eliminate the calls that are no longer relevant.
All calls requiring a Parking Enforcement response except abandoned vehicles should be referred to the care non-emergency line (206) 625-5011 #8.
They will then dispatch us to the call.
Abandoned Vehicles can still be reported to Find it Fix it as that process remains unchanged.
Clayton Harrington #9735
Parking Enforcement Manager
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