West Seattle, Washington
13 Wednesday
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After eight weeks of planning and construction, 9th graders from Maritime High School are bringing their floating-wetlands pilot project to a close in West Seattle waters, another step toward saving salon.
The school’s entire freshman class – 23 students – worked together learning how to use hand tools, power drills, and a newfound understanding of a human-made floating wetland’s restorative role in the Duwamish River’s ecosystem.
The project was a partnership with the River Access Paddle Program and the Port of Seattle, funded by the Rose Foundation. Saturday morning at Herrings House Park on the river, community members were invited to be involved with the construction of the last two floating wetlands, with the first two entirely built and planted by the students two weeks ago.
Floating wetlands are being used to provide habitat for juvenile salmon. The lower part of the Duwamish River is highly industrialized and the banks are mostly “armored,” which means rock without a place for juvenile salmon to feed, as explained by Sharon Leishman of the Duwamish Alive Coalition. These juveniles need their bodies to adapt to go from freshwater to saltwater, and the wetlands help create a space for these necessary changes.
Leishman was also involved in a floating-wetlands project with the University of Washington in 2019 in Lake Union. This project differs in that these use air-infused recycled glass instead of plastic for buoyancy. This change was made in an effort to eliminate the harms of microplastics.
This was the first floating wetlands project taken on by Maritime High School, and its continuance in the future will depend on whether or not the program can secure a location for more wetlands to go. In this case, George Blumberg with the port helped the school to find the location – a dock space on Harbor Island that the port can’t rent out by the port because it’s too small for boats.
Regardless, the school will continue with projects that incorporate similar learning outcomes. “The thing that really works for us and that we want to replicate is: How do we combine some of that construction skills training that we want to do with restoration?” mused Tyson Trudel, who works at Northwest Maritime, which brings the “intensely maritime parts” of the curriculum to the school.
Coinciding with the community assistance in building the second two floating wetlands was the semiannual kayak cleanup organized by the Duwamish Alive Coalition. In the spring, this garbage cleanup project is hosted with salmon retention in mind. The first group of kayakers went out at 10:30 Saturday morning, with the second deploying around 12:30.
Both projects are centered around taking care of the Duwamish River and its surrounding land. “This area right here has such huge environmental, social, and historical significance because Seattle would not be the place it is today without the industry that started in this valley,” Leishman said.
You have a chance to help next Saturday in the spring edition of the mega-work party Duwamish Alive! Partner organizations include Dirt Corps and the Green Seattle Partnership. Dirt Corps, an organization specializing in developing skills for green jobs, will be at həʔapus park, and Green Seattle will be at Herring’s House. The Duwamish Alive Coalition also plans to present awards to four dedicated volunteers in the opening event at Herring’s House park. To volunteer Saturday at a Duwamish Alive! site, go here.
Now more than halfway through registration time for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2026 – if you haven’t registered your sale yet, you have nine more days, until late the night of Wednesday, April 22 – then we start making the map and list for the big day, always the second Saturday in May, and this year that’s May 9. Almost 350 sales signed up so far – venues so far include yard sales, patio sales, planting-strip sales, driveway sales, sidewalk sales, courtyard sales, business sales, school sales, block sales, corner sales, church sales, table sales, and of course, garage sales! The types of sales span a wide range too – moving sales, downsizing sales, kid-outgrew-everything sales, kid-going-to-college sales, de-cluttering sales, plant sales, remodeling-leftover sales, memorabilia sales … It’s a day of person-to-person recycling and meeting neighbors … watch for the map and list to be announced here one week before sale day! Need to sign up your sale? Go here (and be equipped with your up-to-20-words description of why yours is a sale not to be missed!).
(WSB photo, Saturday night)
As we first reported last month, some of Seattle Parks‘ “summer” hours this year are starting on May 1 – and this past weekend, we photographed illuminated signage announcing that along Alki, while noting the city had yet to make a full detailed announcement. Today, it’s finally out, including info on beach-fire season, which will start the Friday before Memorial Day:
With the summer season approaching, Seattle Parks and Recreation is reminding visitors of summer park hours, boat ramp access, and beach fire rules at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens.
Below are key details to help you plan ahead, including summer hours and beach fire season dates.
Summer Hours at Parks and Boat Ramps
This summer, starting Friday, May 1, 2026, the permanent summer hours will be in effect at select parks and boat ramps across Seattle:Alki Beach and Golden Gardens:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): 4 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.Don Armeni and Eddie Vine Boat Ramps:
Summer Hours (May 1, 2026 — September 30, 2026): 4 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Non-Summer Hours (September 30, 2026 — April 30, 2027): Open 24 hoursThese seasonal hours help support safe, enjoyable use during peak visitation while aligning with staffing and safety resources.
Beach Fire and Park Rules
Starting Friday, May 22, 2026, beach fires will be permitted at designated fire pits at Alki Beach and Golden Gardens seven days a week on a first come, first served basis. Bringing your own fire pit is not allowed, and no propane fire pits/rings are allowed.-Fires must be extinguished by 10 p.m.
-Fires allowed 7 days a week starting Friday, May 22 through Tuesday, September 1.
-Staff will be on-site to manage and assist with putting out fires at 10 p.m.
-Parking lot gates will be locked and the park will close at 10:30 p.m. for summer hours.
-Please only burn clean (natural, bare, dry cord-wood) wood and douse your fire completely before leaving.
-Light a fire ONLY in one of the installed fire containers
-Use only clean, dry firewood
-Please douse your fire with water, not sand
-Fires are not allowed during air pollution alerts; we will post sign
-Please don’t remove any materials from the park, beach or dunes
-Please dispose of trash and ashes in the containers provided for each. (SMC 18.12.260)
-Be considerate of others–please, no loud or amplified music! (SMC 18.12.170)
-Remember, no alcohol or smoking are allowed, and parks are drug-free zones.
-Beach fire rules are outlined in detail in the Seattle Municipal Code section 18.12.270 and in our Beach Fires Policy.If you see an illegal fire, call 911. For current burn ban and air quality questions, contact Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Fire pits at Golden Gardens and Alki are unlocked by 5:30 p.m. Please extinguish all beach fires (using water, not sand) by 10 p.m. in order to ensure that all fires are completely extinguished in ample time before the park’s closure.
We’re committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all that visit Seattle parks! Thank you for doing your part to follow park guidelines and help keep these spaces welcoming for this summer.
Summer plans on Alki are expected to be among the topics at the Alki Community Council‘s monthly meeting Thursday (April 16), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
The Holy Rosary Church bell tower has been silent lately, Charlaine e-mailed to say, wondering if that’s temporary:
We live close to Holy Rosary Church & have always enjoyed their bells – which normally chime at specific times every day & also play songs on Sundays & especially on holidays. Christmas & Easter are wonderful! We realized the other day that we haven’t heard the bells since Christmastime – not daily & nothing on Easter. We aren’t members of Holy Rosary so are wondering what’s up – are they being repaired?
That’s indeed what’s been going on, Holy Rosary’s Deyette Swegle and maintenance staff told us, but they should be back soon:
Your observant reader is correct that they have not been hearing the bells since the mechanism was broken.
Our Schulmerich Carillon digital bell system stopped working in late February and we had to give up the bells for Lent. We sent them to the manufacturer in Cincinnati for repairs (i.e., software upgrade). Fortunately, they were just returned and will be reinstalled and ringing again (this) week. We look forward to once again sharing the tower bells with our West Seattle community!
The installation crew arrived today, we’re told, and the church’s “goal is to have them working by this weekend.” The bell system has long been digital, by the way, as this 2019 WSB story reminds us.
Out of the WSB inbox:
This bike has been sitting on the corner of Alki Ave SW and 62nd Ave SW for over a week now. The strange thing is that the bike is not locked to the bike rack and based on research it’s valued around $2,000. After looking at camera footage, it was left here on 4/6/2026. I am not sure if it is stolen or maybe it ran out of battery and the person isn’t able to get it back to their house but figured someone might be looking for it.
12:43 PM: Seattle Fire crews report extricating two people at the scene of a crash at 45th/Alaska. Updates to come.
(Photo added)
12:46 PM: Most of the initially sizable response is being dismissed.
1:04 PM: Scene still blocked; photo added. We’re checking with SFD re: injuries.
2:39 PM: Added another photo, from a nearby resident. Meantime, SFD tells WSB, “Two adult patients were assessed for minor injuries.” Neither had to be taken to a hospital.
(March 29, emergency response at 35th/Alaska after assaults)
12:16 PM: We’re at City Hall, where District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka and staff just confirmed that a sweep is planned at the Rotary Viewpoint Park (etc.) encampment off 35th SW and SW Alaska this week. We were here for a new periodic media Q&A opportunity with councilmembers (Saka was one of two participants) when we got first word from Keith Hughes of nearby Westside Neighbors Shelter, currently closed for the season to overnight stays and closed TFN for other services because of renovation/repair work, He CC’d us on communication to th city expressing concern that temperatures are forecast into the 30s Wednesday night. This all follows recent incidents including an overdose death a few days ago and the recent assaults on three people. We’ll be looking for posted notices once we get back to the peninsula, and we’re checking with the city reps who did not mention any sweep plans when we inquired last week. If this indeed happens Wednesday, it would be one day before a neighborhood group is scheduled to meet for an update on the situation.
5:58 PM: Finally got a chance to go look for the notice(s). We saw one, shown above, on the fencing near the top of the driveway into/out of the stadium/golf course lot. It indeed announces a sweep for Wednesday morning (April 15) and lists a posting time of 2 pm last Friday – the day after city reps told us only that they were “actively monitoring” the site. Here’s a closer look at the notice:
It lists the targeted area as Avalon to Brandon, 35th to 31st.
(File photo of Norwegian Jade via Wikimedia Commons)
One more sign of spring: Seattle’s cruise-ship season is about to start. The first scheduled ship is scheduled to arrive this Friday at downtown’s Pier 66, Norwegian Cruise Lines‘ 2,300-passenger Norwegian Jade. As is often the case toward the start and end of the season, this is a ship making a one-time stop here rather than one of the ships you’ll see weekly on round-trip sailings. The first of those will arrive two days later, Holland America Line’s Noordam, sailing Sundays from Pier 91 on the north side of the bay. Some new ships are calling this year, like Virgin Voyages‘ just-launched Brilliant Lady, debuting here May 21. This year’s Seattle cruise season runs through Sunday, October 11; see the full season schedule here.
(Photo by Rosalie Miller, who explains, “White-bowed Smoothwing flower fly on ceanothus enjoying Sunday sunbreak”)
Here’s your Monday list of highlights, most (but not all) from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
SPRING BREAK SERVICE WEEK: 10 am-1 pm today and daily all week, volunteer work parties with DNDA at EC Hughes Park (2850 SW Holden).
FREE TAX HELP: The deadline’s almost here. If you need assistance, today from 11 am-4 pm, find drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
RESUME WORKSHOP FOR TEENS: Noon-4 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Regular 2 pm meeting is on today – no public-comment period in this meeting, but the agenda explains how to watch.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two baseball games. – West Seattle HS vs. Roosevelt, 4 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), which is also where, at 7 pm, the Chief Sealth IHS plays Franklin.
NO FREE HOMEWORK HELP THIS WEEK … since it’s spring break for many schools.
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUPS: 4 pm and 6:30 pm, weekly group gatherings for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee. Before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 2: Two venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are welcome to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Close out your Monday with a song (or two, or three, or …) – karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Teens interested in a unique leadership-skills opportunity are invited to apply to be sponsored to atted Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp – here’s the announcement:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle will sponsor two local high school students to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Northwest at Camp Colman in Longbranch on June 4-7, 2026. Participants develop leadership skills, have fun, and make connections. Students residing in West Seattle, age 15-17, and in 10th or 11th grade at the time of the event can apply/register at www.bit.ly/49SRGv6. Applicants should pick West Seattle (135) as their sponsoring club and must compellingly fill in the “What do you hope to gain by attending?” field. Note the May 1 deadline.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, April 13, 2026. Seattle Public Schools and some others are on spring break all week, while some are just back from break.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cloudy, periodic rain likely, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 6:24 am; sunset at 7:56 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, which means extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route still on a two-boat schedule with a third, unscheduled boat, possibly into late April. Check WSF’s alert page for any last-minute changes.
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 (25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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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