West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“Coming soon” signs are up and work is finally under way at the former Midas location at 4457 Fauntleroy Way SW, where Sherwin-Williams is planning to double its presence in West Seattle by later this year. As we first reported in January, the store has been many years in the planning process. Sherwin-Williams is the only specialty paint store in West Seattle, though some other businesses, like Home Depot and Junction Hardware, have paint departments.
The current Sherwin-Williams location, at the intersection of Sylvan Way and Delridge, opened in 2013 and has 6 employees. We’re told by staffer Todd that they sell to a mix of homeowners and contractors, and that the second location is sorely needed. “Our back room is overflowing with the volume that we do,” he said. In addition to selling paint products and supplies, their store takes a variety of old and leftover paint products for recycling, though they have a limit on what they can take. The new store will mean more space for that program too.
Todd says the Fauntleroy Way store is expected to open in the fall with a staff of 4 and be, “focused more toward individual homeowners,” though he expects it will also be the new store of choice for some West Seattle-based contractors who live in the Admiral and Alki neighborhoods. “That store is going to be a game-changer for a lot of upper West Seattle contractors.” He also said to expect some opening-celebration events in the fall.
Two days before a man died of a drug overdose at Rotary Viewpoint Park, another man was arrested for alleged drug dealing there, and has been in jail ever since. SPD’s weekend summaries, released today, included a brief mention of this arrest just after 2 pm Saturday, saying it started when officers “were conducting a premise (check) in an area known for the sale and use of illegal narcotics.” Probable-cause documents identified the area as the park at 35th/Alaska. The officer who wrote the report began by explaining that he’s usually on proactive crime-prevention detail and added: “Prior to today’s incident, I have personally been a part of numerous narcotics-related contacts and arrests in the immediate vicinity. Many within the park at the above intersection …”
He and another officer watched the park from a marked patrol car parked nearby, he wrote. They arrested the 49-year-old suspect after seeing him sit down on a bench and smoke with others from “a large device (that) later field tested presumptive positive for having fentanyl residue …” They also said they saw the suspect approached by “multiple people,” one of whom they saw “giving him a significant wad of cash” in exchange for a piece of foil that man was later seen using to smoke. The officers said they watched a few more exchanges before moving in on the suspect, who they say responded by attempting to flee; they say they later found “multiple knives” in his possession, a well as “several separate bags of what he admitted was methamphetamine” plus $94 and 2 Euro in cash and various items of “narcotics paraphernalia.” They also discovered he had a $5,000 warrant for failing to appear in a stolen-car case filed in early 2024. We haven’t looked up his full record yet but court files show the warrant was issued last June, and that he had a previous stolen-car case on his record almost a decade ago, resolved in a plea bargain.
8:31 PM: A parking-enforcement officer is reported to be one of two drivers involved in a collision currently blocking California SW and SW Graham in Morgan Junction. According to another responding officer, no one is hurt, but neither vehicle is driveable, so this might not clear quickly.
9 PM: Police just told dispatch that the street has been reopened.
Thanks for the tips. SDOT crews are about to start work on curb ramps at 45th SW and SW Charlestown. That’s not necessarily remarkable, as they’ve been working on installing those all over the city, but some wondered if the work would be accompanied by more traffic calming, given that, for example, other intersections in the area have been converted to all-way stops. We asked SDOT and they said no, the scope only involves curb ramps, along with adjacent concrete repair.
For those asking about the big police response in The Junction, near 42nd/Alaska – this was called in as a woman who had a hatchet being chased by a man. Initial reports of weapon involvement always mean a larger response, at least until things are sorted out (as was the case, for example, in an unrelated response in the Luna Park neighborhood a few hours ago, which turned out to be a person in crisis). In this case, nobody is injured, and police have just told dispatch that “both parties are being uncooperative,” so at this point it does not appear anyone will be taken into custody for any alleged crime.
A commenter wondered why Space Age at 35th/Holden – one of the cheapest and newest gas stations in West Seattle – is closed and taped off. We sent a team member over to ask; the employee he found said the problem is “technical difficulties” and they’re hoping to be able to reopen “later this week.” Space Age is an Oregon-based regional chain and as far as we know, this is their only station in Seattle (though after a year-plus, it’s still not listed on their website).
ADDED: We don’t know whether this is related, but online city files show a permit was obtained yesterday for work at the station to replace two electrical panels.
(Photo courtesy WEND Jewelry)
One of the thriving businesses in South Admiral is celebrating a milestone … five years! WEND Jewelry is having a party on Saturday (April 25) to celebrate. In the meantime, WEND founder Wendy Woldenberg says, “WEND is feeling especially grateful for this milestone. In a world where so many small businesses never make it to year five, reaching this moment feels like a real testament to the support, trust, and care of our community.” The 2-6 pm party on Saturday will include shopwide discounts, a raffle, ceramics pop-up, bites and beverages, and a maker’s station to make your own pendant. WEND adds, “Our neighbors Sebastiano’s Natural Wines and MyoSpace of Seattle will be participating as well!” WEND is at 3278 California SW.
(May 2024 photo)
We’ve been including this reminder in our weekday traffic/weather notes, but for those who don’t check them, we wanted to remind you again that because of the Emerald City Ride, the westbound West Seattle Bridge and southbound Highway 99 will be closed to motor-vehicle traffic for a few hours early Saturday (April 25). The ride starts in the stadium zone downtown, goes onto SB 99, then onto the WB bridge (EB will remain open), and around West Seattle via Alki and beyond, before heading back eastward over the low-bridge path. The full rundown of what neighborhoods along the route should know is in this official notification infosheet. (And if you’re interested in joining the ride, Cascade Bicycle Club [WSB sponsor] is still accepting registrations.)
Though the Southwest Precinct is next door, the major police response at the Delridge Home Depot this past hour was big enough to catch a reader’s attention. Here’s what we found out: It started as a shoplifting attempt, with the would-be shoplifter threatening to kill someone who tried to stop him. The police officer who responded decided to search the “wooded area” behind the store – a known encampment site – and asked for backup units. A suspect was found and taken into custody. (Thanks again for tips if/when you see notable police responses – text 206-293-6302 any time.)
Planning a sale on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – this year on Saturday, May 9 – but haven’t registered yet to be on the map? Don’t wait – once we close registration at 11 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22) we can’t add sales. Just go here to register! As of moments ago, we’re past 520 sales, with the most-recent creative sale descriptions including “midlife refresh” and “KitchenPalooza,” plus a seller whose entire description is in Dr. Seuss-style verse. Notable items from recent signups include curtains, a pickleball net, camping space heater, raspberry freezer jam, and a 1992 Mustang (yes, most years there are a few people selling cars on WSCGSD). If you’re planning to shop on WSCGSD – a springtime tradition since 2005, coordinated by WSB since 2008 – you can look for the map and sale list announcement here on WSB starting the morning of Saturday, May 2, one week in advance, so there’s time to plan – even if you’re just looking to see whose sale is closest to where you live, so you can walk over and meet a neighbor! Get ready for a day of person-to-person recycling, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 9.
Thanks to Theresa Arbow-O’Connor for the sunrise photo. As the day continues, here are event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE … reopens today, now through noon, drop in with your little one(s). (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: Open today, 10 am through 11:30 am at The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW), just drop in!
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today: “Ally Baehr, Executive Director of Elizabeth Gregory Home Day Shelter, will share information about transition housing and support programs for women. Elizabeth Gregory Home provides refuge for women who are experiencing homelessness, trauma, or economic insecurity.” (4470 35th SW)
(added) FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: Just got late word – it wasn’t on the SPL calendar – that firefighters will be at Southwest Library (9030 35th SW) for story time at 1 pm!
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: At City Hall, at 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Resumes this week, 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: No home varsity games on the Metro League schedule for today/tonight.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
INTERFAITH FREEDOM VIGIL: Weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza candlelight vigil open to all. (61st SW and Alki SW)
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: 6-8 pm gathering of acoustic singers and musicians at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you aren’t a Boeing employee – email to RSVP.
NEW! FREE ARTS WORKSHOP: 7 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), new monthly all-ages event.
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG MEETING: Now starting at 7 pm. Register here to get location info.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group meditation at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four places you can play trivia tonight – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 pm and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free, hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Tibbetts UMC photo from first Drag Tea in 2023)
This Saturday (April 25) has an amazing array of West Seattle events on our calendar. Among them, the second-ever Drag Tea at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), with tickets still available – here’s their preview:
At Tibbetts United Methodist Church, “the table” is usually a quiet and contemplative place, serving a modest meal of communion bread and juice. But on April 25, 2026, that will all change, as dozens of volunteers join forces to hang decorations, bake hundreds of treats, and meticulously place pieces of fine china.
Because on that day, Tibbetts is hosting its second Drag Tea.
According to Betsy Wharton, the church’s volunteer coordinator and a lifelong member, Tibbetts hosted a tea from 2015 to 2019 before halting operations during the COVID-19 lockdowns. As restrictions lifted, the church was looking for a way to reach beyond the regular attendees, and to host an event that would support and center the local queer community.
“We wanted to do a drag event,” Wharton said, “and we said ‘well, we know how to do a tea, so let’s do that!’”
The first Drag Tea took place in April 2023, and Wharton detailed the many logistics that went into the event, from working with a local drag queen to calculating bites-per-person to coordinating bakers and servers. To Wharton’s surprise, the event sold out quickly, with the majority of tickets going to the larger community, not just church members. After six weeks of tireless work, it all came together.
“The day itself was just magical!” Wharton said.
A church might seem like an unexpected place to host a drag event. According to Reverend Sarah Casey, the church’s pastor, Tibbetts joined the Reconciling Ministries Network in 2006, which made full queer inclusion part of the church’s official policy. However, queer inclusion did not become the larger Methodist denomination’s position until 2024. To Casey, this only makes it more important to use the church to uplift and celebrate queer people.
“We do this not because we have it all figured out … ” she said. “It is a way of making space where voices that have been silenced and pushed aside by the institutional church are centered, celebrated, and received as the gifts that they are.”
This is especially important to members like Lindsey Johnson, who wants to raise her two young children with values of “inclusivity, love, [and] connection.” The first Drag Tea carries special significance for Johnson.
“The initial phases of motherhood were very isolating,” Johnson said, whose daughter, Cecily, was born during the COVID-19 lockdown. “[Drag Tea] was the first time that Cecily ever went to church… this [was] me showing [her] what’s actually out there, not just isolation. There’s community, there’s joy, there’s laughter, there’s fun, there’s performance, there’s diversity.”
Tibbetts hopes to make Drag Tea an annual event. In the face of an epidemic of loneliness and increasing anti-queer and anti-trans legislation, Johnson, Casey, and Wharton all expressed a desire for the church building to become a more widely used community gathering space, beyond religious events.
“This space is for you,” Johnson said. “This building … regardless of where you come from or where you live or anything to do with identity or status, this is your space.”
Drag Tea will take place on Saturday, April 25th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. This event is family-friendly and features Jezebel Johnson. Tickets are pay-what-you-can and available at this link.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cooler, mostly cloudy, rain likely, high near 60. Sunrise at 6:09 am; sunset at 8:07 pm.
MAJOR CLOSURE ALERT FOR SATURDAY
We’ll be reminding you all week that the Cascade Bicycle Club (WSB sponsor) Emerald City Ride will keep motor-vehicle traffic off part of southbound Highway 99 and the westbound West Seattle Bridge for a few hours Saturday morning (April 25) – details here (and registration is still open).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night runs Fridays and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route still on a two-boat schedule with a third, unscheduled boat. Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners are playing at home, with a 6:40 pm game vs. the A’s.
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!
It’s student diplomacy in action. This past weekend downtown, the West Seattle High School Model United Nations group participated in its fourth conference of the year, KingMUN. The head delegate of the group, WSHS sophomore Lars Norman, sent this report for us to share with you:
KingMUN stands for King County Model United Nations, and is one of four MUN conferences hosted by the student-led organization, Model United Nations Northwest. For more context, at MUN conferences, delegates are assigned to represent a specific country, organization, or individual. Delegates serve on committees with different focuses, topics, and sub-topics. Debates are held between delegates. The overarching goal of the event is for delegates to come to an agreement on resolutions. This year, the WSHSMUN delegation included 11 students: Lars Norman, Hannah Haskel, Iris Christian, Manon Coffinieres, Kat Andes, Azalea Geoghegan, Yaphet Etana, Eden O’Donnell, Josephine Mangelsen, Larssen Landers, and Francesca (Franki) Breznau Foster.
Lars tells WSB, “This was the last conference of the year, but we will be attending a conference Lakeside High School is hosting later this year. We are also excited to get started with more conferences next school year!” The group was advised for the conference by Christina Dahms.
… some of your West Seattle neighbors did!
Above is a photo sent by Chris Frankovich; below, from Wyatt:
Today’s official high was 72 degrees, and tomorrow’s forecast to be at least a dozen degrees cooler, with the possibility of rain returning.
5:52 PM: Thanks for the tip about the big emergency response at Rotary Viewpoint Park, swept just last week. SFD has logged the call as an overdose response.
7:06 PM: A neighbor reports the Medical Examiner has responded, indicating a death. We’re following up with SFD.
7:52 PM: Archived radio exchange confirms the death.
9:11 PM: And so does SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo, who says the person who died was a man in his late 40s.
Thanks to Derek for the tip – an earlier crash toward the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge has cleared, but now there’s an apparently stalled truck blocking a lane, so beware if you’re headed that way.
HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – has just announced the plan for Wednesday’s monthly meeting:
Next HPAC Meeting Wed., April 22nd, 6:30 pm in person at the Delridge Branch Library
Plant a tree, and Celebrate Earth Day with your neighbors and friends at the HPAC April meeting!
As usual staffing permitting, we hope to have an SPD representative to discuss any concerns and safety updates from their Department.
Craig Rankin from West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails will tell us more about the upcoming season of guided hikes in the greenbelt and what you may expect to find along the way.
After a long and contentious meeting with SDOT in March, regarding the Highland Park Way Safety Project we intend to use this meeting to cover possible responses to the City and what HPAC can do to support concerns.
We will also bring more information about the proposed Glassyard Commons RV Safe Lot and Tiny House Village the Mayor proposes for 7200 W Marginal Way S and discuss our concerns, plus share what actions we have taken with the City on this so far. We have invited a spokesperson from LIHI to our meeting but have not yet heard back from them.
The library is at 5423 Delridge Way SW.
The results are in from the latest annual Seattle Public Safety Survey, conducted by Seattle University, which provides results – without personally identifying info/data – to SPD. Here’s how SU summarizes this year’s survey results (which included almost 1,300 responses from our area):
Results of the 2025 Seattle Public Safety Survey are in, with traffic safety, public-order crime, fear of crime, property crime, and laws, policies, and accountability among the top themes participants cited.
The Seattle Public Safety Survey is part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans, now in its 12th year, and has been administered annually by Seattle University’s Crime and Justice Research Center.
Traffic safety remains the top concern, continuing to rise in prominence in recent years. Participants frequently cited a sense of lawlessness on the roads and a lack of enforcement of safety violations across all types of vehicles, including electric bicycles and scooters.
One of the most significant findings this year is that community capacity rose to the second-highest concern, surpassing both police capacity and property crime for the first time in the survey’s history. This suggests that residents are not just concerned about police response to public safety issues, they are increasingly focused on whether the broader systems and services in place are able to respond effectively.
In addition to identifying top public safety concerns, the survey measures key public safety–related quality-of-life indicators including police legitimacy, social cohesion, informal social control, social disorganization, and fear of crime, at the citywide, precinct, and neighborhood levels. These measures allow community members, practitioners, and policymakers to assess the overall “public safety health” of the city and its 58 micro-communities and to use this data to inform and improve responses.Police legitimacy ratings — measured on a 100-point scale — declined in 2025 following a brief increase in 2024, which had marked the first improvement after a steady decline from 2020 to 2023. Ratings, which were above 60 in the early years of the survey (peaking at 64.4 in 2016), fell into the 40s and 30s in recent years, reaching a low of 38.7 in 2023, rising to 41.9 in 2024, and declining again to 38.8 in 2025.
Results of the survey will be presented in SPD Community-Police Dialogues on select Mondays from May through August via Zoom. Community members will have opportunities to engage with SPD personnel about the results and discuss public safety concerns at the precinct and neighborhood levels. Registration is available online, and full results can be found on the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans website.
The Seattle Public Safety Survey is one of the longest-running efforts in the country to systematically track community perceptions of public safety over time, providing a rare longitudinal view of how trust, fear, and public safety concerns evolve at the neighborhood level.
Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park)-specific results start on page 56 of the results report.
SIDE NOTE: The Micro-Community Policing Plans mentioned above cover neighborhoods chosen because, at the time of this project’s inception, those are the areas that had active neighborhood organizations with which SU and SPD could partner. But the survey every year is open to all, and we (among others) usually announce it a few times to help get the word out when it’s open.
(Photo by Janelle Otterholt)
Here’s your Monday list of highlights, most (not all) from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). For up-to-18-month-olds. Free.
NO CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Regular 2 pm meeting is canceled today.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS has three varsity sports in action today at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – 4 pm, in girls’ tennis and boys’ tennis, the Seahawks face Garfield; 7 pm in baseball, Sealth hosts Rainier Beach.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP RETURNS … drop-in assistance 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond)
‘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)
PUFF & STUFF: Celebrate the date 4-6 pm at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW).
LIVE AT TIM’S: Miguel Mejia: Operatic Flamenco Goth Balladeer, 5 pm during happy hour at Tim’s in White Center, no cover. (16th SW and SW 98th)
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 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! Music Quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: Monthly laughfest in Admiral, 7 pm, headlined by West Seattle’s own Marcus Moreno – our calendar listing has ticket info. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are invited 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) – 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!
With two months left in the school year, fundraising season is in high gear, and this week, you can bid online to help West Seattle’s most populous elementary school! Here’s the announcement from the Lafayette Elementary PTA:
Lafayette Elementary Silent Auction now open!
Lafayette PTA’s online Silent Auction is open through Friday (April 25) at 3:00 PM. The silent auction is open to the public — no event ticket required.
Items include student-created class art, teacher experiences, family outings, camps, and gift packages from local businesses.
Proceeds support programs and enrichment for Lafayette students.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, April 20, 2026. Seattle Public Schools are open today after a week of spring break.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Clouds are expected today, but still warm, high near 70. Sunrise at 6:10 am; sunset at 8:06 pm.
(Weather Watch Park – photo late in the day Sunday by Bob Burns)
MAJOR CLOSURE ALERT FOR SATURDAY
We’ll be reminding you all week that the Cascade Bicycle Club (WSB sponsor) Emerald City Ride will keep motor-vehicle traffic off part of southbound Highway 99 and the westbound West Seattle Bridge for a while Saturday morning (April 25) – details here (and registration is still open).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, which means extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night runs Fridays and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route still on a two-boat schedule with a third, unscheduled boat. Check WSF’s alert page for last-minute changes.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners are playing at home, with a 6:40 pm game vs. the A’s.
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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This weekend, WestSide Baby celebrated its 25th anniversary.
And the nonprofit has grown big time, as has the need for its services providing essentials to families.
WS Baby – founded in West Seattle – is still headquartered in White Center, now in a group of warehouses and offices, but serves babies and kids as far north as Shoreline, and well into South King County too.
We stopped by their headquarters to talk with communications/development director Morgan McGinn about what the anniversary means, what’s next, and how you can help the hundreds of babies and children WS Baby serves every week – and the volunteers of all ages who make it happen.
No cake or confetti for the 25th birthday this weekend – McGinn says they’ll do the celebrating, along with looking back and forward, on June 5th, when they’re inviting supporters to their HQ for “A Night Out with WestSide Baby,” featuring food trucks, cocktails, a DJ, and community generosity.
Here’s what that generosity supports:
They partner with service providers all around King County who send in orders for what their young clients need – say, a baby who needs diapers, formula, wipes, and clothing. Those orders are fulfilled by volunteers from the stock of mostly donated items that fill the warehouse spaces.
And on Tuesdays, providers pick up the bags with those orders. Sometimes special donations enable them to offer extra items – rain boots, sippy cups, and one time they even got a donation of 200 Build-a-Bears. The basics, though, continue to fly out the door – diapers, wipes, car seats, socks (more than 7,500 pair per year!). Recently they got a “massive donation” of the latter – WS Baby had to cover the $10,000 in shipping costs, but that was a bargain for three semi-trucks full of car seats and strollers.
Other items that are often requested but not always available – hygiene items, like shampoo and baby wash. Sometimes corporate partners provide these, McGinn noted, but not enough to keep up with the requests.
It’s a big change from the early years in which WestSide Baby mostly just provided diapers (still their major stock in trade) – if you’ve been in West Seattle for at least 10 years or so, you might remember the “Stuff the Bus” donation drives every summer.
(WSB photo, ‘Stuff the Bus’ bus in 2012 West Seattle Grand Parade)
McGinn says the quarter-century celebration will bring back a chance to “Stuff the Bus” again in July – watch for details on that. (Currently their classic school bus is getting checked out by South Seattle College‘s Automotive Technology program to see if it can be summoned back into service.)
Then after focusing on diaper donations in July, WS Baby will focus on school-supply donations in August. But it all begins with the June 5 celebration, which McGinn says is intended to “reflect gratitude back to the community” as well as serving as a reunion of sorts for supporters past and present – some of whom, now that WS Baby has a 25-year history, include people who were beneficiaries themselves. For everyone involved, it’s about care and dignity: “Kids don’t get to choose their circumstances.”
In addition to offering tickets to “A Night Out with WestSide Baby,” this page on the organization’s website also includes a link for sharing your WS Baby memories, which they’ll compile to feature at the party. There are other ongoing ways to pitch in too – from donating to volunteering!
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