West Seattle, Washington
07 Saturday
Alex Pretti, the man shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, is often just described as his professional role, a nurse, but he also was an avid bicycle rider. That’s why, Alki Bike and Board proprietor and community advocate Stu Hennessey tells us, a West Seattle ride is planned for Saturday in his honor:
Bike and Board is organizing a memorial ride for Alex Pretti. As a Surly dealer, we felt a strong connection to Alex, given his passion for the Surly bike community. While we are saddened by this tragedy, we are inspired by his courage and wish to honor his memory.
Here are the details for the ride:
The memorial ride will follow a casual five-mile loop including the Alki Beach Path and the Alki Point Healthy Street. The route is family-friendly, though it does include a mile-long steady grade up Admiral Way from Alki Point. We will maintain a group pace as we ride together in solidarity.
Saturday, January 31st. Meet at Alki Bike and Board at 11:00 am and start the ride at 11:15 am.
Here’s a page for it on the Everyday Rides website. The shop is at 2606 California SW.
Eight days after rumors of ICE presence led to four Seattle Public Schools campuses (none in West Seattle) going into shelter-in-place mode, the district has a new webpage and policies to address those types of concerns and others surrounding immigration-enforcement operations. They were briefly presented and discussed in the first 50 minutes of tonight’s special meeting of the Seattle School Board (the second part of the meeting, still under way, is a budget update).
First – here’s the slide deck from the presentation/discussion. It includes word of this new page on the district website devoted to the topic. Here are the toplines on dealing with “reports or rumors” of ICE activity near schools:
What if agents actually show up on campus? That was addressed too, with superintendent Fred Podesta noting it’s similar to how they deal with any type of law-enforcement officer turning up:
And finally, a resource page:
District officials say the updated policies and clarifications will be discussed with building leaders this Friday; how they’re rolled out to the rest of school staffs, they said, is up to building leadership. They said the point of the policies is to be simple and easily committed to memory, so no one will have to “run for a three-ring binder” to figure out what action to take.
One of our area’s FIRST Robotics teams has made it into the state championship round! Thanks to Ash for the photo, report, and video:
A LEGO robotics team called Brickrolled, made up of five students in grades 3 through 6 from Westside School, has qualified for the FIRST LEGO League Western Washington State Championship and will be representing West Seattle this Sunday.
At the semifinal tournament held January 25 at Lincoln High School, Brickrolled earned the Championship Award, the top overall award at the event.
The award recognizes teams that perform strongly across robot matches, innovation projects, teamwork, and core values.
The team will compete at the state championship on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The event is open to the public and is one of the highest-level FIRST LEGO League competitions in the region. Winning teams from this tournament go on to represent Washington at the FIRST World Championship in Houston this April.
Event details are below in case you would like to share or attend:
FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Western Washington State Championship
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Amazon Meeting Center
2031 7th Ave, Seattle
Opening ceremony begins at 1:00 PM.
Robot matches and judged presentations followThe event includes autonomous robot matches using LEGO SPIKE Prime, as well as judged sessions covering robot design, innovation projects, and teamwork.
The West Seattle Junction Association has been working on a website upgrade for a while, so you can find out more – and more easily – about what’s going on in “Downtown West Seattle.” It’s just launched – same address. wsjunction.org, but otherwise brand new! Here’s how they explain it:
Why We Updated Our Website
The West Seattle Junction Association is a Business Improvement District made up of local merchants and businesses working together to support a vibrant, welcoming Junction.
We updated our website first and foremost for our businesses (ratepayers). Previously, there wasn’t a dedicated place that clearly spoke to their role or highlighted the services and support the BIA provides — something central to our mission.
The update ensures our business community can easily access relevant information and better understand how their investment supports the Junction.
The website refresh also serves community members, offering a fuller picture of everything happening in the Junction. From events and advocacy to beautification and daily operations, the updated site showcases the scope of work that keeps the Junction thriving.
The result is a clearer, more useful resource for everyone—one that makes it easier to find what’s happening in the Junction and better understand the impact of the West Seattle Junction BIA on the neighborhood as a whole.
Please let us know if you have any questions – or feedback. You insights are important to us!
Contact info is at the bottom of the page. The upgraded site was designed by West Seattle’s own WebCami.
P.S. The Junction’s next big event – this Sunday’s first-ever West Seattle Sweet Stroll – is sold out!
(October photo of salmon in Longfellow Creek by Manuel Valdes)
Puget Soundkeeper has released its full report on the fall salmon season in Longfellow Creek. It’s been monitoring coho salmon in the eastern West Seattle creek for a decade now, with a focus on gathering data about how urban pollution affects salmon survival. As its announcement explains:
For years, Longfellow Creek has been the epicenter of research studying the effects of 6PPD-quinone – a toxic tire chemical lethal to Coho salmon. Exposure to 6PPD-quinone causes a condition called Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS), a disease characterized by symptoms such as disorientation and gasping for air, often killing Coho
within 24 hours. Furthermore, this chemical has been strongly linked to Pre-Spawn Mortality (PSM), where adult salmon die before successfully reproducing. Puget Soundkeeper’s annual Pre-Spawn Mortality Survey analyzes the spawning success of Coho salmon in Longfellow Creek to better understand the impacts of 6PPD-quinone.
Here’s a one-sheet with results of this year’s survey, conducted from October through December. 55.5% of coho in Longfellow Creek died before spawning, and Puget Soundkeeper says that’s consistent with the data it’s been collecting since 2015 – some years up to 90 percent of the fish died before spawning.
So what can be done? Puget Soundkeeper says:
Fortunately, solutions exist. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) projects, such as raingardens or bioswales, can effectively remove toxins from runoff and prevent harmful chemicals from entering our waters. In addition to GSI projects, policy action is critical. A bill (HB 2421) aimed at removing 6PPD from tires was introduced to the Washington State House and Senate Environment Committees last week. Community members can help move this legislation forward by calling their representatives and voicing their support. [Here’s how]
Puget Soundkeeper will be recruiting the next cohort of salmon surveyors in August; stay tuned to our website for more information. Puget Soundkeeper thanks all volunteers, partners, and donors who make this project possible.
There are also volunteer cleanups during the season; we reported on one back in November.
(Photo courtesy Ku Mana’s)
If you went to the Taste of West Seattle last fall, you might have sampled food by Ku Mana’s. Proprietor/chef Ndikumana Rasheri is now offering her Burundian food three nights a week at Distinguished Foods in the West Seattle Triangle, and asked us to tell you about it. Here’s her story:
I moved to the U.S. with my family when I was eight years old. We came for educational opportunities, but one of the most valuable lessons I learned was in the kitchen. When I was twelve, my older sister taught me how to cook. She used to tell me, “If you don’t learn how to cook, no man will marry you.” I laughed at the time, but looking back, that was the start of my love for cooking.
As I grew older, cooking became much more than just a skill. Cooking became my passion. I don’t cook just because of tradition or expectation, or to get a husband (haha); I cook because it brings me joy. I love experimenting with flavors and creating meals that are both comforting and rich in culture.
Some of my happiest memories are from the kitchen, learning how to make rice, beans, chicken stew, and many traditional Burundian dishes. Food became my way of connecting with my roots and culture , and every meal reminded me of home. … My dream has always been to share Burundian cuisine with the world, to give people a taste of our rich flavors and warm hospitality.
At Ku Mana’s my goal is to create unforgettable meals that celebrate culture and bring people together. We aim to foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation through every meal, creating a space where guests can savor the vibrant floors and warmth of Burundian culture.
You can check out the Ku Mana’s menu here. You can order online and pick up food noon-8 pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, at Distinguished Foods, 4611 36th SW.
P.S. If you’re not familiar with where exactly Burundi is – southeast Africa; here’s a map.
(Photo from early today by Mike Burns)
Event listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, have numerous highlights:
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fontanelle.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
AUTHOR TALK – FAMILY, MEMORY, WAR: 1 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library:
Seattle author Bill Thorness explores World War II and family history in his new book “All Roads Lead to Rome: Searching for the End of My Father’s War.” In “All Roads Lead to Rome” Bill Thorness considers the value and limits of memory, attitudes toward war, and our society’s inadequate understanding and support of combat veterans.
(2306 42nd SW)
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, play at the new location of Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
ART WORKSHOP: Drop-in art for kids withRec ‘N The Streets at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 3-4:30 pm
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), free drop-in help for students.
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of throwing it out! 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).
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, drop in and create at this cozy pottery studio. (3400 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: You’re invited to this 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT AT THE EAGLES: Wednesdays at 6 pm are cribbage-tournament nights, all welcome, membership not required. (4426 California SW)
KUNDALINI YOGA – NEW TIME: Now at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Boys’ wrestling with four schools tonight at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) – at 6 pm, Sealth vs. Lakeside and West Seattle High School vs. Lincoln; at 7:30, Sealth vs. Lincoln and WSHS vs. Lakeside.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN WITH NEW BALANCE DEMOS: Get moving at midweek on the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, regardless of what pace you run at – and try out New Balance shoes if you want to!
ALSO AT WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Free injury screens 6-7 pm with Sound PT.
HPAC’S FIRST 2026 MEETING: The community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge meets at 6:30 pm at Delridge Library, with the agenda including two local Seattle Parks projects, as previewed here. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
MINISTER’S REPORT ON MINNESOTA: As noted here last night, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski talks tonight at Fauntleroy Church (9130 California SW) about her trip to Minnesota, standing against federal aggression with the community and other clergy members, 7 pm. This also will be streamed, here.
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle trivia venues are on our Wednesday list: at Future Primitive Beach Bar (2536 Alki SW), 7 pm, free to play … 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), free to play … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, it’s trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: West Seattle’s longest-running open mic! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: Sing at the pub starting at 8:45 pm. (2306 California 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!
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Our two weeks of rainlessness ended last night; today’s forecast is rainy, high around 50. Sunrise at 7:40 am; sunset at 5:04 pm.
(Tuesday ‘sunset’ photo by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular three-boat weekday service has resumed on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route; check WSF’s alerts in case of last-minute changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
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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