West Seattle, Washington
19 Sunday
(2024 reader photo of fireworks damage on Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex turf)
Here’s the annual announcement from Seattle Parks – we’ve excised the non-local parks:
Seattle Parks and Recreation will turn on field lighting on ballfields throughout the city on the evening of Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 to protect the surfaces. The ballfield lights will be turned on at approximately 9 PM.
The lights will be turned on to discourage the use of fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle and will destroy the artificial turf on the fields or surrounding facilities. The approximate replacement cost for the synthetic surface based on per average full-size field (110,000 square feet) is $1.2 million. All the fields have been renovated in the past several years and benefit field users including soccer, football, baseball, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse.
The fields will be monitored from 9 PM to 3 AM
Lights at the following synthetic fields will be turned off at 3 AM on July 3 and 4:
Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
South Park Playfield, 8319 8th Ave S
Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SWLights will be turned off at the following grass fields at 11 PM on July 3 and 4:
West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW
Comparing this to last year’s announcement, the lights will be on longer the night before the 4th, and the “monitoring” will be an hour later.
Two texters reported new street-safety installations:
That photo accompanied a report that SDOT had painted new crosswalks at 49th/Alaska, west of The Junction. Another texter reported a crew installing new speed bumps at 31st/Holden – we went over for a photo:
We actually found two new sets of speed bumps – that one just west of 32nd/Holden, plus the set just west of 31st/Holde.
(Photo from kingcounty.gov)
A beachfront house just north of Cove Park has long been planned to be the construction office for the Fauntleroy ferry-dock rebuild. But first, the county – which has owned it since its own project in the area – is selling it to the state, and has to have a public hearing about that. Here’s the announcement sent to us this afternoon:
The Metropolitan King County Council will hold a hearing on July 14 at 1:30 pm to gather public comment on a proposed Ordinance that would allow King County to sell a parcel of land to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The property is located at 8923 Fauntleroy Way SW, in the City of Seattle, parcel number 3524039112.
Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available upon request from the Clerk of the King County Council, Room 1200, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, or by calling 206-296-1020. The ordinance is also available online at www.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk.aspx by searching for proposed ordinance number 2026-0128.
A public hearing on the proposal to transfer will be held before the full Council at the King County Courthouse, Room 1001, on July 14 at 1:30 pm.
The purchase agreement is part of the legislation; it says the state will buy the house for $1.8 million.
2:43 PM: Lots of questions about Guardian One over White Center. King County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a report of gunfire. We don’t know yet whether anyone was hurt. The reports are centered in the 12th/106th vicinity.
3:10 PM: No one injured, KCSO has confirmed, explaining they responded to “reports of what is possibly a reckless shooting in the 10000 block of 16th Ave SW. Guardian 1 is up trying to locate a suspect.”
3:22 PM: KCSO has arrested a suspect, so the response will be winding down. KCSO SWAT officers were part of the response.
3:34 PM: Deputies are looking for casings from the initial gunfire – which may have happened at multiple locations. So far they’ve reported nine 9mm casings, though we didn’t hear exactly where.
2:12 PM: Wire theft has been affecting the West Seattle Bridge lights off and on for years. Today, Seattle Police announced an arrest. Above is a police photo showing what they say was the suspect pretending to be a Seattle City Light employee. Here’s their summary, with more photos:
A 47-year-old man was arrested early Saturday after he impersonated a Seattle City Light employee while trying to steal copper wire from the West Seattle Bridge.
At about 1:16 a.m. June 27, an officer was conducting proactive DUI patrol when he drove past a man standing in the narrow shoulder of the westbound lanes on the bridge deck looking toward the water. Believing the man was possibly trying to commit suicide, the officer exited the bridge and reentered on the eastbound side. Taking a closer look at the man, the officer saw him rolling up what appeared to be wire. The officer managed to get back on the westbound side of the bridge so he could talk to the man. It was then when he saw the man carrying several spools of copper.
When the officer asked the man what he was doing the man, said he was a Seattle City Light employee. He claimed he was repairing bridge lights because of a “snag.
The man could not provide city identification. He only said he had worked for the city for about two months. The officer asked where his colleagues and work trucks were the man said they should be with him on the bridge.
The investigation revealed the man had been cutting and stealing wire from the bridge lights. Officers said he had heavy duty wire cutters, a flashlight, a screwdriver, and other hand tools on him. Police also found methamphetamine and an illegal fixed blade throwing knife.
The suspect was transported to the Southwest Precinct and placed in a holding cell. He continued telling officers that he had been a Seattle City Light employee for approximately two months.
Seattle City Light later confirmed that it had no personnel working on the bridge that morning.
The 47-year-old man was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of criminal impersonation, theft, malicious mischief and carrying a dangerous weapon.
We’re checking now on the suspect’s status.
2:32 PM: Jail records show he was released after two days. We’re checking with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
5:58 PM; The suspect, Gregory W. Galitzeck, has been charged with three felonies – malicious mischief, criminal impersonation, and theft, all in the first degree. More details in a bit.
ADDED 10 PM: Here’s one key passage from the detective’s narrative in the charging documents, along with another image:
(A City Light employee) reviewed the above photo of Mr. Galitzeck and said that it looks like he had four 100-foot coils of wire. He further said that while the value of these materials is only about $1,000, but it will cost about $100,000 in labor costs to set up traffic control on the bridge, assess the streetlights, and fix them. City Light is in the process of planning out this repair work which will be done in the future. (He) said that copper theft from West Seattle Bridge streetlamps is an ongoing problem and some of these lights were out of commission prior to this latest incident. I ran Mr. Galitzeck’s criminal history and found that has 15 arrests in Washington with the following four felony convictions: two for burglary, one for drugs, and one for escape.
Galitzeck remains free on personal recognizance and is due back in court for arraignment next Tuesday morning.
(WSB photo)
It’s been two years since we last mentioned the latest in a long line of proposals for 3257 Harbor Avenue SW [map] – which in turn was half a year after we first noticed it, and detailed the site’s history.
The developer behind that proposal, Bode, is still pursuing it, we’ve learned. We got more information on the current status of the project in an email exchange with Bode rep Rae Hendricks. Bode already has two apartment complexes in West Seattle, at 2222 SW Barton and 3050 SW Avalon Way, so this would be their third. Hendricks says the Harbor Avenue project turns on whether the city will grant a “street vacation for what is technically part of SW City View, “an undeveloped right-of-way that divides the site. This site is likely only feasible after vacating this street. … We have received positive community feedback and are optimistic about the request being granted.” (Street vacations, as you know if you remember coverage of some past West Seattle projects, ultimately require City Council approval.)
As for the current overview of what Bode is proposing: “We are expecting about 200 units total, with a mix of studios, 1-bed, and 2-bed types. This is still in flux as we work through the design and permitting processes. We do not have any off-street parking as of now, but we are aiming to support both cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure around the site. The project has a private bike storage space with ample bike parking spaces, as well as a public repair station, temporary bike parking, and water fountains for the community to utilize. We are also proposing to widen the sidewalk on SW Harbor Ave along the property to about double what it is now.”
If the street vacation is approved, Hendricks told WSB, “then we will move forward into building permitting” and construction would likely follow in a year to a year and a half.
With so many other projects on hold, we asked, why is this company able to keep building? Hendricks replied, “Living Bode is in a unique position because we are a vertically integrated firm that can mitigate cost through the entire process of developing, designing, building, and post-construction ownership. We also are working with enabling capital providers such as Amazon to help mitigate some of the risks in the current market.”
The company has more than 20 properties, according to its website. You can check in on the process for this one here.
When you see the phrase “West Seattle music legend,” you might think of, oh, say, Eddie Vedder. But long before grunge, there was Earl Robinson (1910-1991), the subject of this signal-box-portrait tribute in the Admiral District.
Above at right is artist Desmond Hansen, and at left is West Seattle filmmaker B.J. Bullert, whose one-hour documentary about the Admiral resident and West Seattle HS graduate, “Earl Robinson: Ballad of an American” will be screened at Admiral Theater tomorrow night as a fundraiser for the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s summer concert series. That series, Admiral Music in the Parks, is just two weeks away – more on that in a moment. First, in case you missed the original announcement, the benefit screening is at 6:30 pm Thursday (July 2), which happens to be Mr. Robinson’s birthday. The award-winning film features “archival footage and performances of Earl Robinson’s iconic American repertoire by Joan Baez, Frank Sinatra, Paul Robeson, Josh White, Three Dog Night, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and of course Robinson himself,” the announcement notes, and will be followed by “a Q&A with the filmmaker, moderated by local historian Clay Eals, to learn more about Robinson’s life and works.” You can get your ticket here, with proceeds supporting the free-to-watch Admiral Music in the Parks on three consecutive Thursday nights starting July 16 – scroll down this page to see the lineup of places and performers!
(Another beautiful swallowtail butterfly, this one photographed by Steve Bender)
The long holiday weekend is coming into view and things are quieting down a bit – Here’s our Wednesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
SUMMER FOOD FOR KIDS: Some local sites are now open – see our story for locations and other information.
strong>TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SPRAYPARK’S OPEN: Daily-splashing season at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
SWIMMING POOL’S OPEN: Daily operations also continue at Colman Pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm.
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, join players at Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
USA WORLD CUP MATCH WATCH PARTY #1: 5 pm, the USA men play Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the winner will come to Seattle for a round of 16 match. If you’re going to tonight’s Junction FC match at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (see below), come early and watch on the big screen, as detailed here.
USA WORLD CUP MATCH WATCH PARTY #2: 5 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW). Free, all ages.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: The free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm workshop is happening at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center), and the library is open for borrowing.
THE CONCERT TRUCK RETURNS: Seattle Chamber Music Society‘s Concert Truck will present a free concert at Seattle Chinese Garden (north end of South Seattle College campus, 6000 16th SW), 6 pm. Bring your own chair/blanket.
CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: 6 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor), this month talking about “Planet of the Apes.” All welcome.
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Talk about Seattle’s growth – current and future – at the weekly 6 pm meetup at Elliott Bay Brewing (4720 California SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN WITH LULULEMON PRIZES: Join the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces – this week with a special addition, Lululemon prizes!
PRACTICE YOUR SPANISH SPEAKING: New local group of Spanish-language learners, dedicated to practicing it, gathers 6:30-8:30 pm at Mission Cantina (2325 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
JUNCTION FC: 7 pm match at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex for the West Seattle pre-pro team, vs. Bigfoot FC. Ticket link is in our calendar listing.
MAD CRAFTY: Bring your project to Revelry Room (4547 California SW), 7-9 pm.
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five West Seattle trivia venues – Seaside Grill (2820 Alki SW) now has 7 pm trivia on Wednesdays … Admiral Pub trivia at 7:10 pm (2306 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … And trivia starts at 8:30 pm at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: West Seattle’s longest-running open-mic night! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SWING IT WEDNESDAY! Swing dancing and live music at 8:15 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale, South Parkk).
KARAOKE X 2: New listing – karaoke with KDJ Mythikal at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW), pm … Sing at
Admiral Pub starting at 9, after trivia. (2306 California SW)
Planning an event, class, workshop, etc., that’s open to community participation/observation/visitation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That photo shows 150 or so of the walkers who joined in last year’s first-ever West Seattle Saunter. A few tipped us that the free mega-walk is returning this year, and organizer Holden has since sent us the announcement:
Do you like meeting new people? Do you enjoy exploring our beautiful city? Do you love walking? Then we have the event for you! The second annual West Seattle Saunter, about a 12-mile walk beginning at the West Seattle Taxi Pier and ending at West Seattle Summer Fest is happening July 11th, 2026! It is an amazing opportunity to spend time outdoors, see the city through a new lens, and build community! The West Seattle Saunter is completely free for participants and details, like the route and pace, are flexible. Join us for 2 miles, 6 miles, or the whole walk! Register and get more information here!
The walk is set to start at 8:45 am July 11, which is the second day of Summer Fest. It’s a spinoff of the Seattle Super Saunter (which happened on Memorial Day weekend).
6:00 AM: Good morning and welcome to a new month! It’s Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with Seattle World Cup match #5 this afternoon.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The weather’s not yet back to full summer mode – partly sunny today, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise was at 5:15 am; sunset will be at 9:10 pm.
SEATTLE WORLD CUP MATCH #5
Belgium vs. Senegal, 1 pm at Lumen Field (“Seattle Stadium”). So starting by mid-morning, this area near the stadium will again be off-limits to motor vehicles:
TRANSIT TODAY
Matchday overview – Here’s the transit rundown courtesy of Metro Matters.
Metro buses – Reroutes in the no-motor-vehicles zone shown above, otherwise, regular weekday schedule.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Here are the announced changes:
A 2nd boat will be running additional service on Wed, July 1st from 9:30 AM to 6 pm to support the World Cup Match. A boat will be departing from both docks approximately every 20 minutes 2 hours before and after the game.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
The city cameras’ updating-framegrab feature is back, per a the SDOT map, so we’ve returned them to the morning lineup:
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:
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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