West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

80℉

WSB

This author has not supplied a bio yet.

Posts by WSB 73941 results

COUNTDOWN: Four days until Arts in Nature Festival returns! From fire dancing to rock ‘n’ roll, see the lineups
June 23, 2026 1:55 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

One of this weekend’s biggest events is the return of the Arts in Nature Festival, which DNDA is presenting Saturday at Camp Long (5200 35th SW) – free! Here are the music, performance, and art lineups:

Camp Long’s historic cabins will also host “immersive” art experiences during the festival, 10 am-8:30 pm Saturday (June 27).

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Council-committee briefing reveals recent improvement in SPD female-male recruiting ratio
June 23, 2026 11:56 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee just wrapped up its every-other-week meeting, and this time they did get to the Seattle Police staffing/response time briefing. That took up most of the meeting, in fact. And since this was the later-than-usual first-quarter briefing – days short of the end of the second quarter – a bit of new data was presented, beyond what’s in the slide deck prepared before the briefing’s originally scheduled date two weeks ago.

One headline: The percentage of women among new hires has increased; it was at 10 percent, though the national average is 20 percent, and SPD’s stated goal is 30 percent, but so far this year it’ up to 17 percent, 16 officers out of 95 new hires. Briefers again pointed out that overall, SPD is on track to end the year with eight more officers than it’s budgeted for, mostly since fewer are retiring or otherwise departing, and that would mean they’d have to either slow hiring or find someplace to cut. Councilmembers including District 1’s Rob Saka (the committee’s vice chair) indicated the former would be entirely out of the question; even at this rate, SPD would end the year with 1,029 officers, and committee chair Councilmember Bob Kettle noted they need to keep building back to 1,400. A chart in the slide deck says the department had 1,339 at the start of 2020.

Another issue that got a chunk of discussion – despite the “hiring surge,” the number of new officers hitting the street is bottlenecked by a shortage of veteran officers who volunteer to become certified as field-training officers. (Currently, councilmembers were told, 130 officers are certified.) While waiting for assignment to a field-training officer, new recruits are limited to duties such as taking phone reports. “We don’t have anyone sitting around twiddling their thumbs,” insisted SPD’s Dan Eder.

In addition to staffing, the briefing discussed SPD overtime and response times. The two are linked in at least one way – the largest use of overtime is for “augmentation,” deploying officers on OT to keep minimum staffing levels and/or make special-emphasis patrols possible. The OT budget has “grown significantly,” the committee was told, but not because OT hours have grown – rather, it’s the cost of those hours, with wage increases implemented in the new contract. Also up, the call volume, but response times have remained relatively stable.

All this was just a briefing, so no legislation was proposed and no votes taken. We’ll add the meeting video when it’s available vs. Seattle Channel archives.

Share This

Pickleball/tennis meeting + ways to stay cool – here’s our West Seattle Tuesday list
June 23, 2026 9:58 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Cooling scene off Alki, recently photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Here’s our list of event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE … now on summer break; watch for the reopening in fall!

CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Meeting under way now, with topics including CARE responders and SPD staffing; the agenda explains how to watch.

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.

SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily operations continue at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) – free, scheduled 11 am-8 pm daily.

ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today featuring a guest speaker from EcoTHRIVE Housing. (4470 35th SW)

COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, daily operation continues at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WATCH WORLD CUP SOCCER AT SW LIBRARY: 1-3 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), watch a livestream of the England vs. Ghana match.

CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).

OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly 2 pm meeting; here’s the agenda, which explains how to participate, in person or remotely.

CREATIVE SKILLSHARE NIGHT: 4:30-7:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW): “Hang out, make some arts & crafts, and learn about mutual aid in your neighborhood!”

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 have your own.

TUESDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB: Should be a perfect night on the water! Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) are presenting this weekly event for stand-up paddleboarders – details here – 5:30 pm. (1660 Harbor SW)

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)

OPEN MIC AT TIM’S: 6 pm signups, 7 pm music at all-ages open mic hosted at Tim’s (16th SW and SW 98th) in White Center.

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 – the link explains how to RSVP.

RACQUET SPORTS MEETING: How will the city change its “strategy” for pickleball and tennis? West Seattle meeting with Seattle Parks tonight at 6:30 pm at Dakota Place Park building (California/Dakota).

PAST, PRESENT, & ELSEWHERE: Album-listening sessions at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), every Tuesday night, 7-9 pm.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 7 pm – lots of info 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)

WEST SEATTLE URBANISM BOOK CLUB: New to our calendar! 7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).

TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia venues 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; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).

KARAOKE AT POGGIE TAVERN: 9 pm Tuesdays, until 1:30 am, your turn to sing! (4717 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!

Share This

SUMMER CAMP: Ultimate at Hiawatha
June 23, 2026 9:04 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Got an 8- to 12-year-old in the household who’s interested in Ultimate? Hiawatha Community Center wants you to know there’s another session of camp coming up July 6-10, 1-4 pm daily, with Kyliah – “a 2x Club national champion, 2025 Team USA Gold medalist, and 2026 Division 1 college national champion.” Campers can learn Ultimate or upgrade their skills. Register through the Seattle Parks website or in-person at Hiawatha (2700 California SW).

Share This

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday info
June 23, 2026 6:01 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8 AM: From Eric: “Moderately large branch blocking uphill lane just up from the water taxi. Noticed a branch or two down at the top of the hill too so maybe a fairly large vehicle went up?” Photo:

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, June 23, 2026. No Seattle World Cup match today – next one’s at noon tomorrow.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET

The Heat Advisory alert from the National Weather Service continues until 11 pm Wednesday. Monday’s high was 86; today’s forecast is for sunshine and a high around 80. Sunrise is starting to get later, 5:12 am today; sunset will again be at 9:11 pm (latest of the year, staying there until June 30).

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule.

West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays and Saturdays.

Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is back to the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

The city cameras’ updating-framegrab feature is back, as shown on the 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!

Share This

CONGRATULATIONS! Successful trip to Nike Nationals for West Seattle High School runners
June 22, 2026 11:56 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Molly for the photo and report on four West Seattle High School track athletes’ big success:

How exciting – the WSHS Boys 4×100 Track Team competed in the Nike Nationals meet this weekend at the University of Oregon. They won first in their heat & were just shy .06 from running in the championship. Please help us congratulate Cullen Schoeb, Aidan Murray, Marcus Ramsey, and Henry Johnston on a great run this season!

Share This

SEEN IN WEST SEATTLE: The Big Banana Car
June 22, 2026 9:30 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

We hadn’t heard of The Big Banana Car until Max sent us that photo from an encounter at Don Armeni Boat Ramp today. But it of course has its own website and social-media feeds. We don’t know who the guy on the left is, but the bearded guy in the car is clearly the car’s creator Steve Braithwaite. He’s been based in Michigan but according to this post from two months ago, he’s becoming a “full-time nomadic banana-car driver.”

Share This

BIZNOTE: The Summerland moving to The Junction
June 22, 2026 5:46 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

While The Junction is losing one yoga studio, it’s gaining another. Yoga is part of what The Summerland offers, and founder Avian King says the studio is moving south to The Junction from its current North Admiral site:

Three months after a flood forced The Summerland to close its doors in Admiral, the studio has found a new home at 4411 California Ave SW in the heart of the West Seattle Junction.

What initially felt like a devastating setback revealed an incredible silver lining: the opportunity to move into a space twice the size of our original Admiral studio, filled with natural light, higher ceilings, and room to fully realize the vision I’ve had for The Summerland from the beginning.

A friend and fellow yoga studio owner reminded me, “You’ve got to risk it for the biscuit, baby.”

Turns out she was right.

We’re currently renovating a 1947 building just steps from the Farmers Market and across from the post office, preparing to welcome the community into Chapter 2.

For those unfamiliar, The Summerland is a modern yoga and wellness studio offering yoga, sound healing, Reiki, energy work, and ritual haircuts. Whether you’re stepping onto your mat, joining a sound bath, or sitting down for a haircut with intention, everything we do is designed to help people slow down, reconnect, and come back home to themselves. …

We’re planning an Open House weekend during West Seattle Summer Fest; details will be announced soon.

Our first class back will be Sunday Service — our weekly community gathering and anchor class — offered free to the community on Sunday, July 12 at 10:30 am.

Share This

CITY COUNCIL: Rescheduled briefing on Seattle Police staffing Tuesday
June 22, 2026 4:05 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

Two weeks ago, we reported on information prepared for a scheduled meeting of the City Council Public Safety Committee, suggesting that SPD might have to slow its hiring because fewer officers were leaving, which posed a budget dilemma. That briefing scheduled for the committee’s June 9 meeting ultimately was postponed because it was the last item on the agenda and the previous two ran long. It’s now scheduled for tomorrow’s committee meeting (9:30 am Tuesday, June 23), same slide deck, but this time it’s the second item on the agenda, so not likely to be bumped again. It’s a regularly scheduled quarterly update, no votes scheduled nor attached proposals, but it can be viewed in the prism of the city’s looming budget shortfall. The agenda explains how to comment and/or watch, in person or remotely.

Share This

UPDATE: Waste-truck fire in West Seattle
June 22, 2026 2:43 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

2:43 PM Thanks for the tips, and to Ashley for the photo! Fire crews have been busy this hour with a reported fire in a Waste Management truck at 56th SW and Hillcrest Avenue SW. Three SFD units are still logged to the scene; avoid the area for a while.

2:51 PM: And thanks to Michael for the photo above showing the vicinity. Another of the responding units has just been dismissed. According to the archived radio exchanges, this is believed to have been sparked by the truck making contact with power lines. No reports of injuries but we’ll verify that with SFD.

Share This

SUMMER: Knit, play, bike – and listen! Updates on this year’s Admiral Music in the Parks
June 22, 2026 1:12 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, 2025 concert crowd at Hamilton Viewpoint Park)

On this first weekday of summer, we’re checking in on some of the big West Seattle events ahead. That includes updates on the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s concert series, Admiral Music in the Parks. We brought you the lineup announcement last month. But you’ll find more than music, as ANA’s Meagan Loftin explains in this update:

Less than a month until AMP: Admiral Music in the Parks returns for our first concert of the season!

In addition to a rockin’ music lineup, we’re happy to announce some returning and new offerings to amp up our concert series. Seattle Yarn is back this year hosting their weekly knitting circle at each concert and PCC Community Markets is also returning this year with snacks and information about the co-op. New this year, we’ll also have a board game library and a music-craft activity for kids next to the Admiral Neighborhood Association booth.

And if you’re planning to bike or stroll to the concerts, Alki Bike & Board is sponsoring a new valet-style attended bike and stroller corral at each park to make sustainable transportation an easier option for everyone. We’re excited for another great summer of concerts in the parks and we hope to see you there!

July 16th @ Belvedere Park: Steve Aliment and Annie O’Neill

July 23rd @ California Place Park: Michael Pearsall and Friends

July 30th @ Hamilton Viewpoint Park: Driftwood Drive

AMP wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and our “Producer” sponsors Far Away Entertainment, the Historic Admiral Theater, WEND Jewelry, and West Seattle Grounds.

If you’re interested in learning more about AMP and our commitment to supporting local musicians or you’d like to learn how you can invest in our mission to provide free and accessible public arts programming to everyone in our neighborhood visit our website, www.connecttoadmiral.org/amp.

You can also purchase tickets on our website to our July 2nd fundraiser; a special screening of the award-winning documentary Earl Robinson: Ballad of an American followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker B.J. Bullert.

Share This

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Summer starts at Solstice Park with Alice Enevoldsen’s 69th change-of-seasons explanation
June 22, 2026 11:30 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)

The first sunset of summer was absolutely perfect, particularly for the ~100 people who watched it with West Seattle astronomy educator and NASA volunteer Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park.

Both Alice and the sunset got applause:

Once the sun was fully out of view behind the Olympic Mountains, it was time for her to present a version of the interactive lesson she’s given 68 times before, during her solstice and equinox watches.

First, a volunteer was chosen to represent the sun:

Everybody else had a role to play too, as Alice explained the seasons and how Earth tilts toward and away from the sun:

Here’s our video of her entire presentation:

It’s always followed by Q&A time, so if you’ve ever had a sky-watching question, bring it to one of Alice’s sunset watches!

All ages are welcome, and so are well-behaved pets:

If you come to a sunset watch, you’ll also get to see – if the sun cooperates, as it did last night – how the Solstice Park plateau’s paths and marker stones line up with the setting sun on solstice and equinox days. You might even get a sunset selfie.

Set your calendar for Tuesday, September 22, when autumn will arrive, and watch Alice’s website for updates.

Share This

Duwamish documentary, story time, swimming, games, more for your West Seattle Monday
June 22, 2026 9:58 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FAMILY STORY TIME: 11 am at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).

SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily splashing continues at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.

COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, daily operation continues at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

NO CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Weekly 2 pm meeting is canceled today.

‘UNRECOGNIZED’ PREMIERE: 6:30 pm at Town Hall downtown, see West Seattle-based filmmaker B.J. Bullert‘s half-hour documentary about the Duwamish Tribe‘s battle for federal recognition, with a discussion following. Here’s the ticket link. (1119 8th Avenue)

‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUPS: 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! $5.

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 2: Two venues offer you the opportunity for trivia tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

CHESS NIGHT AT MISSION CANTINA: 7 pm, all levels welcome; details in our calendar listing. (2325 California SW)

PINBALL TOURNAMENT: Pinball players can enter Admiral Pub‘s 3-Strike Tournamment starting at 7 pm, with play beginning at 7:30. (2306 California SW)

POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players can enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)

ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)

MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: 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: End your Monday with a song – 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!

Share This

YOU CAN HELP: Admiral Church’s summer food drive goes virtual
June 22, 2026 9:00 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Admiral Church has launched its summer food drive to raise money for the White Center Food Bank (whose service area includes south West Seattle). This year, instead of asking for contributions of non-perishable food, Admiral Church has taken the drive virtual – just click here to donate. Cash donations help food banks buy fresh food at wholesale prices, so the dollars go further than they would if you bought food to donate. Admiral Church will keep the donation program going through the end of August.

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: First Monday of summer, with Heat Advisory alert
June 22, 2026 6:02 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:42 AM: Report of a stuck truck at 16th SW and SW Elmgrove.

9:22 AM: Texter who just went through that area reports it’s gone.

Earlier:

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, June 22, 2026. No Seattle World Cup match today – next one’s at noon Wednesday.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET

Summer is here and so is a Heat Advisory alert from the National Weather Service, in effect 11 am today to 11 pm Wednesday. Today’s forecast, however, is for sunshine and a high around 80. Sunrise was again at 5:11 am (earliest of the year); sunset will again be at 9:11 pm (latest of the year).

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule.

West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays and Saturdays.

Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is back to the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

The city cameras’ updating-framegrab feature was back as of Wednesday morning, 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 (25 mph speed limit):

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!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store robbery
June 22, 2026 12:27 am
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

12:27 AM: Police are arriving at Global Smoke and Vape at 35th/Roxbury after a reported robbery within the past half-hour. So far the robbers are described only as three white males, two in black ski masks and black hoodies, one carrying a trash bag of merchandise taken in the robbery.

12:45 AM: Officers told dispatch that the store staff believes the same people robbed them in May.

1:07 AM: Police have also just told dispatch that this wasn’t an armed robbery, that it “was more of a smash-and-grab, they rushed in and grabbed stuff.”

Share This

BIZNOTE: La Casa del Sabor bringing Mexican food back to Fauntleroy
June 21, 2026 11:17 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tips! Ever since the La Casa del Sabor trailer turned up parked at the same spot vacated by El Camion two years ago, we’ve been trying to reach them to find out their plan. Went by again tonight after sunset and discovered a new sign on the truck:

So there you have it. If the opening date is indeed 6/27, that’s next Saturday. We’ll update when we hear back.

Share This

WEEK AHEAD: West Seattle pickleball/tennis meeting Tuesday; new info online now
June 21, 2026 8:18 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

As first reported here two and a half weeks ago, Seattle Parks decided to have another round of community meetings before finalizing its “outdoor racquet-sports strategy,” and that meeting – the first one in West Seattle – is coming up at 6:30 pm Tuesday (June 23) at Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota). In advance of that, Seattle Parks has updated some of the information on its website, including the Frequently Asked Questions document, which notes updates and corrections to previous FAQ, and new Q/A. The heart of the original proposal made public almost in April sought to end dual striping for pickleball and tennis at the city’s outdoor courts, and pickleball advocates have been vigorously opposing that. Other new info on the city’s “engagement” site for the proposal includes a list of the years when resurfacing is planned for city courts.

Share This

One way to tackle Puget Sound pollution: See what RainWise is all about
June 21, 2026 6:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

On this first day of summer, sunny and dry, you might have trouble remembering the record rainfall of just a few weeks ago. Whether we see serious summer rain or not, this is a good time to think about planning for the the inevitably colder and wetter months ahead. One recent evening, a representative from the city/county partnership RainWise came to West Seattle for a walking tour providing exactly that reminder. Participants met at Westwood’s A.T. Milo Park (just west of Southwest Pool) for a roughly 90-minute walk across the neighborhood to look at the gardens of local RainWise participants, and talk about the benefits of the program.

The program, which Seattle Public Utilities started offering in 2010, aims to limit the amount of rainwater that enters the sewer system by subsidizing eligible residents’ installation of rain cisterns or construction of rain gardens to trap the water. This prevents the sewer system from being overloaded during a storm, and dumping out polluted water and sewage from one of its many outfalls – which often directly drain into Puget Sound or the Duwamish River.

Public outreach representative Savannah-Jane Duncan from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division – which is accountable for the sewer system – provided one of the most notorious examples of the direct impact runoff can have. “Rainwater becomes stormwater once it touches a surface and it’s picked up stuff off the ground.” she said. “[A chemical called] 6PPDQ from tire dust is one of these things the water picks up, and it’s been shown to be affecting salmon – there’s been a lot of research on how to decrease this. There are a lot of effects down the food chain [from things impacting the salmon]. Decreasing stormwater pollution has had a positive increase on the orca population.”

For those worried about the cost, convenience, or even the fear of being the first one on their block to commit to the program, the walk showed there was nothing to be afraid of. Much of the walk featured short clusters of houses next to each other that started participating in the program simultaneously (in the 2010s, it was also part of a government-led project to reduce combined-sewer overflows). “Property owners with [RainWise] installations tend to form microcommunities around them.” said tour lead Sarah Thomson of Sustainable Ballard (a major RainWise collaborator). “A lot of leaders come together to share the same contractor to get the projects done around the same time.”

Almost all the properties highlighted during the walk received 99-100% rebates for the work done, she noted. Of those that didn’t, most of it was due to the residents asking for additional landscaping work in addition to the installation.

If you’re interested in the RainWise program, the organizers want to emphasize that they offer free eligibility checks and further consultation via their website here. Much of the process, they said, is geared to be as accessible as possible. The program offers matchmaking with multilingual contractors for qualified participants, and additional grants for those who have income-based need if the project costs more than the rebate. And even if you’re not eligible now, that could change – the organizers said they are looking to expand availability for RainWise coverage further in the future.

P.S. An informal Q&A session about RainWise, including a chance to meet contractors, is coming up at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), 6:30 pm July 8.

Share This

SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Almost-annual algae bloom, resembling but NOT a spill
June 21, 2026 3:32 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the photo from The Arroyos, where what is almost certainly the almost-annual algae bloom has shown up. We’ve reported on similar sights most years since the early 2010s; it’s usually a type of algae known as Noctiluca. Experts say it’s not usually toxic – this isn’t what is meant by “red tide” – but can be irritating; it’s a sign of environmental imbalance, including too many “nutrients” in the water. Here’s more info from state scientists. Here’s a sampling of our past reports – from 2011, 2023, and 2024.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Bubbles and beer, plus music, at Super Deli Mart’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival summer party
June 21, 2026 1:53 pm
|      0 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Whether you’re celebrating Father’s Day, the first day of summer, or perfect weekend weather, you’re welcome to join the party outside Super Deli Mart (35th/Barton, northwest corner), now until 4 pm. Kids’ activities including bubbles (buckets full and lots of room, as shown above), and draft beer for sale inside the store with part of the proceeds helping keep the Fauntleroy Fall Festival free! The Grunge Trio is playing outdoors, living up to their name with a jazzy version of “Black Hole Sun” while we were there.

This year’s festival – set your calendar! – is Sunday, October 18. If you can’t get to today’s benefit, you can donate to the festival online here!

Share This

West Seattle Wild’s invitation to you
June 21, 2026 11:30 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

West Seattle has so many public green spaces and shores to explore. That’s why Rob Kellar
launched a new group called West Seattle Wild; the photo above is from one of their first adventures. Here’s his announcement:

I started West Seattle Wild after realizing how much wildlife and natural beauty we have right here in West Seattle. What began as me wandering around local parks, creeks, beaches, and tide pools with a camera has turned into a growing community of people who enjoy going outside and exploring.

We’ve held three successful meetups at Constellation Park, Longfellow Creek, and Schmitz Preserve Park. Over the course of three weeks! It’s great! Folks have come together to look for birds, marine life, insects, native plants, and whatever else we happen to find along the way.

The focus hasn’t really been photography. It’s about getting outdoors, meeting neighbors, and paying attention to the wildlife most people walk past every day. I call it “Looking Closer.” Some participants bring cameras, while others just bring a phone and curiosity.

One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing people return for multiple events. By the end of our most recent outing, several folks were already talking about where we should explore next, and my favorite, “see you at the next one!”

I thought it might be something your readers would enjoy hearing about.

If you haven’t heard about West Seattle Wild yet, Rob has set up a website, and you can contact him through it.

Share This

Memorial gathering June 28 for Dean Charles Duncan, 1959-2026
June 21, 2026 10:20 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather one week from today, on Sunday, June 28, to celebrate the life of Dean Charles “Charlie” Duncan, and are sharing this invitation:

Loving husband, father, son, brother & friend.

Come share stories as we celebrate the life of Dean Charles Duncan.

June 28th. 2026
West Seattle Eagles
4426 California Ave SW
12:30 – 4:00 pm

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

Share This