West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
That photo arrived via text tonight from a reader who wrote:
Totally horrified to see this i our Arbor Heights neighborhood. Thi is at the intersection of 39th/108th/Marine View Drive … I walked past this spot this morning and the sign wasn’t there.
It might by explained by this photo texted by another reader earlier:
That reader said simply, “Wanted to share that ICE is arresting people in the Arroyo/Arbor Heights area.” We’ve heard second- or third-hand of other recent reports around West Seattle posted in social media, but this is the first we’ve received directly since the ones shown here a week ago.
Flowers, notes, and Pride flags adorn the “ghost bike” memorial for Maridee Bonadea, the 76-year-old Vashon rider killed in a collision with a truck Monday morning a short distance uphill from the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Two notes tonight: An informal gathering in her memory is planned at 2 pm tomorrow (Saturday, June 20) at Vashon’s Lisabuela Park [map], “to process our shock and support [Maridee’s wife] Laura and family.” Second, we had asked SDOT on Monday about the safety review they promise for locations of deadly crashes; they didn’t have a timeframe that day but SDOT’s Ethan Bergerson has since sent this update:
The Seattle Police Department leads the initial investigation and documents details about the crash. Once SPD completes their police traffic collision report, SDOT conducts our own site review focused on the street design, traffic operations, maintenance needs, and other relevant factors. Our goal is to complete this initial review within four weeks, and use it to inform next steps.
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
You might have noticed, passing through the intersection of Delridge Way SW, !6th Ave SW, and SW Roxbury St that the Veterans Memorial Triangle in front of Max’s Triangle Pub is finally getting long-needed restoration work.
The small park is an SDOT-owned and -maintained public space, so the department sent crew members to begin the restoration project last week. The restoration is specifically focused on repairing the damaged brick veneer and improving the “overall condition of the plaza,” according to SDOT. The brickwork was damaged by a vehicle collision several years ago.
We stopped by earlier this week and spoke with the crew on site. So far, they had laid new brick on the majority of one perimeter wall and were beginning to replace brick at the top of the triangle facing the intersection.
The project has an estimated total cost of $29,000, coming from a levy-funded SDOT public space maintenance program. If all goes well, the restoration will be complete in time for Independence Day, July 4.
The site has been continuously advocated for over the years by the West Seattle Lions Club, specifically Jimie Martin, who told us about the long-needed restoration work
She plans to commemorate the new renovations and the United States’ 250th anniversary with a flag replacement and raising ceremony at 6 p.m. on July 2. The brief ceremony will be open to the public, and West Seattle VFW Commander Steve Strand will speak.
(WSB photo, Taste of White Center 2024)
One of the biggest events this weekend will span just three hours Saturday afternoon in downtown White Center! Bring your appetite and money to the Taste of White Center, noon-3 pm tomorrow:
White Center Food Bank is excited to bring together our neighborhood’s wide variety of restaurants for a family-friendly event and fundraiser. With 30+ restaurants participating, attendees purchase $5 tickets to try a varietyof foods like banh mi sandwiches, bubble tea, tacos, pizza and much more. Iconic restaurants like Puffy Pandy,Sap Sap Lao Cafe, Young’s, Salvadorean Bakery, and others are ready to serve up amazing bites.
Join us for a fun-filled event with food, vendors, kid’s area, music and much more! Each ticket is an opportunity to taste a small plate, drink or dessert from participating restaurants. All ticket proceeds support the White Center Food Bank, while sponsorship dollars go to the restaurants to purchase ingredients and pay for event costs.
Tickets will be available for purchase at a central location in downtown White Center (intersection of 16th Ave SW & 98th St). A ‘menu’ will be given to each attendee at the time of ticket purchase, with a map and details on restaurants and items available. This is a first come, first served event, with limited quantities available at each establishment.
This year, by popular demand, Taste of White Center will feature exclusive event merchandise available with suggested donation while supplies last. From limited-edition t-shirts to hats and tote bags, every purchase directly supports White Center Food Bank programs.
In addition, White Center Food Bank is proud to debut their community recipe book, “Bringing People Together One Plate at a Time.” The cookbook is a heartfelt collection of recipes shared by members of the White Center Food Bank community from staff, volunteers and community partners, highlighting the rich cultural traditions, stories, and flavors that make White Center unique. Copies of the recipe book will be available for a suggested donation of $40, with proceeds benefiting the White Center Food Bank and Dream of Wild Health.
White Center Food Bank looks forward to hosting this celebration and sharing the diverse culinary talents of our
neighborhood around the one thing that always brings community together: FOOD!
The event website lists many of the participants.
Last weekend, we heard several mentions of arrests in The Junction that didn’t seem tied to specific incidents or Southwest Precinct police. Then we heard from a resident who saw a heavy response of officers after one of the arrests and told us an officer told them it was about “molestation.” That led us to suspect officers were arresting suspects who thought they were showing up to meet, and potentially sexually abuse, juveniles, but learned they had been communicating with police instead.
Following up this week with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, we confirmed that’s what was going on. Five men arrested in West Seattle – none from here – have since been charged. According to charging documents:
30-year-old Chien-Cheng Wang of North Seattle is charged with Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. He was arrested Saturday evening near 41st and Alaska, where he allegedly thought he was going to meet up with a 15-year-old girl and pay her $300 for sex.
45-year-old Inderjeet S. Nehal of Everett is also charged with Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. He was arrested late last Friday night at an address that cross-references to the Bank of America parking lot in The Junction, where he allegedly thought he was going to meet up with a 14-year-old girl and pay her $50 for sex.
21-year-old Jordan M. Kaapana-Ross of Kent is also charged with Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. He was arrested earlier last Friday evening, also in or near the Junction B of A lot, after allegedly arranging to meet up with a 14-year-old girl and pay her $150 for sex.
32-year-old Curt R. Naraval of Spanaway is also charged with Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. He wa arrested Saturday evening in the Junction B of A vicinity after allegedly arranging to meet up with two 15-year-old girls and pay them $250 for sex.
27-year-old Manuel C. Leggett of Burlington is also charged with Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes, and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. He was arrested Friday evening, also in the Junction B of A vicinity. after allegedly arranging to meet up with a 15-year-old girl and pay her $100 for sex.
The charging documents in these cases tell similar stories of the communication between the suspects and undercover officers representing themselves as teenage girls. No one involved was a West Seattle resident – the narratives in the charging documents say the meetup location here was suggested by the undercover officers for various reasons such as it was near where the “girl” lived. According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, this was part of a citywide effort to crack down on this kind of exploitation. The King County Jail register shows all five have been released; Nehal, Kaapana-Ross, and Leggett spent one day in jail; Wang and Naraval were in jail for two days. Arraignments for all five are scheduled early next week.
(Photo courtesy South Seattle College)
One last graduation this season – and it was our area’s biggest one – more than 600 students from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) joining their counterparts from the two other Seattle Colleges to celebrate the completion of their degrees and/or certificates. SSC sent us this report on last night’s ceremony:
South Seattle College celebrated the Class of 2026 with a commencement ceremony at University of Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena. The ceremony brought together graduates from South Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and North Seattle College – all part of the Seattle Colleges District.
SSC’s 627 graduates collectively earned 655 degrees and certificates (many students graduate with multiple certificates). Awards include bachelor of applied science degrees for those furthering their expertise and earning potential, college transfer degrees for those planning to attend a four-year university as their next step, career training degrees and certificates for those seeking immediate skilled trades employment, and high school completion awards.155 graduates were part of Seattle Promise, a college tuition and success program launched by Seattle Colleges, Seattle Public Schools, and the City of Seattle following passage of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy in 2018 and its renewal in 2025.
At the commencement ceremony, SSC President Monica Brown addressed SSC’s graduating class with advice for their next chapter:
“Graduates, today you carry forward more than a degree. You carry forward your voice, your leadership, your responsibility to your community and to one another. So, as you step into your future, I leave you with this charge: When life gives you the choice between standing still and stepping forward; between comfort and courage; between watching and truly living; choose to step forward. Choose to engage.”
Danna Karime Gamboa Méndez was selected as SSC’s Class of 2026 Commencement speaker. Originally from Colombia, Danna earned an Associate of Science in Engineering with a 4.0 GPA and President’s List honors. She served as President of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Alpha Chi Phi Chapter Honor Society and was named to the All-Washington Academic Team. Danna will transfer to the University of Washington, where she plans to study chemical engineering. Her goal is to advance public health and biomedical research, inspired by her journey of resilience and service.
Danna shared the following during her commencement speech:
“Dreaming is beautiful, but it is not enough.
We have to train for the life we want.
We have to show up every single day… even when it hurts.
Even when the exam feels impossible.
Even when the bank account is low.
Even when we are grieving.
Even when we are scared.
Especially then.
Because the struggles we face are not signs to stop.
They are part of the process of becoming.”Each year, four graduates are also honored with the President’s Medal, recognizing students who demonstrate academic excellence, resilience in the face of adversity, and dedication to service. This year’s recipients are Jose Alfredo Maldonado (Skilled Trades), Amanda Contreras (Transitional Studies), Alejandro Garcia (Bachelor of Applied Sciences), and Judas Iscariot (College Transfer).
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Go, Otters!
South Seattle College is headquartered on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, with a satellite campus in Georgetown.
1:07 PM: Soccer fans of all ages are watching the USA vs. Australia World Cup match right now, whether at the stadium downtown or at local venues. Our first stop this afternoon was Ounces in North Delridge, where they’re having watch parties for all the USA matches, not just the one that’s being played in Seattle.
Ounces has been partnering with rhw Junction and Rhodies FCs, whose owner Jessica Pierce is there watching too:
The USA is up 2-0 at halftime; still time to get to a watch party – we have a list in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
1:47 PM: USA still up 2-0. (Wondering how the World Cup works? We were. Here’s the ESPN explainer.) Our crew has been wandering Admiral. Above, Admiral Pub, which has been watching ALL the World Cup matches, not just those in Seattle and/or involving the USA team Below, Circa (WSB sponsor):
And The Good Society:
2:12 PM: USA wins, and that sends them to the “knockout rounds.” (added) We were at Beveridge Place Pub when the match ended:
‘
Next World Cup match in Seattle is Wednesday (June 24), again at noon, Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar.
11:40 AM: We’ve been watching radar with the match coming up at the top of the hour. Guardian One and a Spokane County law-enforcement helicopter have been circling the stadium. At least one U.S. Army helicopter is headed this way. And a Coast Guard helicopter is off Vashon Island.
(Added: Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
11:43 AM: Though only one Army helicopter is showing on radar a texter says it’s the “four helicopter formation” seen over West Seattle earlier this week. Circling off Alki Point currently.
11:53 AM: Now the Army helicopters (from JBLM in the South Sound) are headed toward the stadium. (The aforementioned helicopter is now northbound off Vashon’s west shore, so apparently just patroling.)
12:40 PM: The helicopters have long since headed back to base. Meantime, our crew caught a view of them headed northbound just over downtown, and we’ve added that photo above.
(Thanks to everyone who sent sunrise photos! This one is from Stewart L.)
Big day/night ahead – at the top of the list:
USA VS. AUSTRALIA WORLD CUP MATCH: Seattle’s second FIFA World Cup match starts at noon. If you’re headed to/through downtown, all the transportation info is here. If you want to watch here in West Seattle, lots of options – see the listings in our calendar.
Today is also Juneteenth:
JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY: The Washington State Black Legacy Institute in Admiral (2656 42nd SW) is presenting the first day of The Black Reflection Series, 11 am-4:30 pm, free, all welcome … Most government facilities are closed; here’s the Seattle Parks and Rec open/closed list.
As for what else is up today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER Peak garden time! See what’s new at the center!Open today, 10 am-3 pm at north end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus (6000 16th SW)..
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC: Swim meet today (tomorrow too).
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE CANCELED: Not happening today since libraries are closed.
SAAMATO DANCE AND DRUM CONFERENCE: 4-day event at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW) continues at 3 pm – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ROCK WALK: 5 pm, dozens of Junction venues are hosting wineries, cideries, and breweries with tastes to benefit West Seattle Summer Fest music. Online ticket sales are closed but you can buy a ticket and join the walk tonight, starting at 5 pm at John L. Scott (4555 California SW).
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, or buy a bottle.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: World music with Tambor e Cordas 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), free, all-ages.
OPEN MIC AT KENYON HALL: Monthly singer-songwriter open mic (7904 35th SW), 6 pm signup, 6:30 pm performances, free admission.
PRIDE BINGO AT ADMIRAL PUB: 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub, West Seattle Pride Bingo. (2306 California SW)
‘WISH YOU WERE HERE’: 7:30 pm curtain – second weekend for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), check here for tickets.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Plenty of Doubt, Pirate Radio, DRVR 8 perform at The Skylark. 8 pm, $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SPINNING: Revelry Room is open tonight (4547 California SW), spinning with DJ Buttnaked, 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, skate to music with Sunbather Die, Manta, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
One of this weekend’s major events is happening Saturday inside historic Kenyon Hall – a benefit concert and auction for West Seattle Indivisible, partnering with Southend Indivisible, in support of “defending democracy and building community.” Doors open at 6:30 pm Saturday and music starts at 7 with a lineup of local musicians and singers including Moon Girl:
See the lineup here, where you’ll also find a preview of another highlight of the night: Curated live and silent art auctions, including an original work by a Ukrainian artist living near the front line – here’s that backstory, from WSI:
Yury Vasilyev – WSI member, Russian immigrant, and co-lead of the concert planning team – will perform as HALANSKi at the event. His story was recently published as a Spotlight essay on our website. Yury has a connection with an artist from Ukraine, Itaveli, who created an original painting for the auction. She is from Dnipro, 60 miles away from the frontline. Last time HALANSKi talked to her, she said she stopped going to the shelter during air raids because sleep is more important to continue living than going into the shelter. The painting, “The Voice of Reason” is her favorite painting and it was hard for her to part with it. She will be happy to know it will end up in good hands. WSI plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the piece to the local Ukraine Defense Support organization.
Gift cards donated by local businesses will be auctioned too. Tickets to the Saturday night event are $25 general admission, $125 VIP, available online until noon Saturday; after that, tickets will be available at the door as long as capacity remains at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW). Beverages, including a mock/cocktail “Summer Solstice,” and light snacks will be available for purchase.
7:34 AM: No traffic trouble reported so far this morning. But there’s a small power outage in South Admiral, 12 customers near 39th/Manning – thanks for the tip on that.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, June 19, 2026, with the USA-Australia FIFA World Cup match in Seattle at noon, and the Juneteenth holiday.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Two days until summer’s official arrival with the solstice moment at 1:24 am Sunday. Today’s forecast is for a sunny day, high in the upper 70s. Sunrise was at 5:11 am (earliest of the year, staying there until Tuesday); sunset will again be at 9:10 pm.
SEATTLE WORLD CUP MATCH 2
Noon at Lumen Field (aka Seattle Stadium), USA vs. Australia. Starting by 8 am, this area near the stadium will again be off-limits to motor vehicles:
(7:36 AM P.S. Since commenters are discussing watch parties – find venues listed in our West Seattle Event Calendar.)
TRANSIT TODAY
Here’s an overview of match-day transportation today. The specific services we usually mention:
Metro buses – If your bus usually travels in the zone shown above, it’ll be rerouted. For West Seattle, that primarily means Route 21. Check Metro reroute details here. Otherwise, regular weekday schedule.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Added runs today:
One additional round trip will be added to support the World Cup special service on match days with 12 PM and 1 PM (match) start times. This includes a 10:00 am Pier 50 departure and a 10:15 am West Seattle departure.
Otherwise, 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 today. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.
SCHOOL’S OUT
One last mention that all West Seattle schools are now out.
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT
Hours after the soccer match, the Mariners have another home game/a>, 7:10 pm vs. the Red Sox.
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!
That’s the first song the local band Chewing Gum performed at their Easy Street Records show tonight, celebrating the release of their EP “Possum.” Since we had talked about the show with Magen Holgate, who runs their label The Big Dark Records, we wanted to hear their sound, and it was just as billed – classic grungy Seattle, loud, unapologetic. You can catch them at two summer shows – 7 pm Friday, July 10, at The Big Dark Corner stage (California/Alaska) at West Seattle Summer Fest, and 4 pm Friday, July 17, at the Alki Art Fair.
One member of the West Seattle High School Class of 2026 who missed last night’s graduation ceremony had an understandable reason. Claire Gordon was busy rowing, on a boat whose crew just won sixth place in the nation! Claire’s proud mom Stephanie Jordan catches us all up:
West Seattle High School senior Claire Gordon raced in the Green Lake Crew Women’s Youth 8+ that earned a sixth‑place finish at the USRowing Youth National Championships — this was the capstone race for junior crews throughout the US and took place last weekend at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL.
To reach the national A final, Claire’s boat won the Northwest Youth Regional Championship in May, advanced through the time trials in Sarasota, and placed third in their semifinal. The Green Lake women also had to contend with conditions very different from Seattle — triple‑digit heat, 90% humidity, and knowing that the course at Nathan Benderson Park is home to actual alligators. The ranking closing out a standout season for Claire’s crew. Along with their regional title, they won the Husky Open and Head of the Lake. Green Lake was edged out at the Windermere Cup by Brentwood College — a loss softened by Brentwood’s Canadian national championship win last week.
For those unfamiliar, an 8+ is a racing boat with eight rowers and a coxswain, all working in sync to move the shell as fast as possible. Each rower controls one oar on either the port or starboard side of the boat, a technique called “sweeping.” Rowers face backward, relying on their coxswain to steer, strategize, and give them directions. The sprint course stretches 2,000 meters with lanes slightly wider than twice the boat with oars extended – the crew balances power, precision, and rhythm to hold a straight line at race pace. Faster junior women can finish a sprint in under seven minutes.
Claire just completed her senior year at West Seattle High School but missed both graduation and signing day to race with her boat. She began rowing in middle school, encouraged by her older brother William, also a Green Lake alum. After Nationals, Claire and her teammates traveled to England, where they are currently training to race at the Henley Royal Regatta. They are excited to test themselves against some of the best junior boats in the world. Claire will join the University of Washington women’s rowing team as a freshman this fall.
Green Lake Crew, along with Mount Baker Crew, operates through Seattle Parks and Recreation and draws athletes from schools across the city. Claire encourages other West Seattle kids to try the sport through one of the program’s Learn to Row classes.
As noted here in 2023, both Claire and her brother have been on championship teams.
Washington State Ferries says that, after a day and a half out of service, M/V Kitsap will be back up and running tomorrow, so the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run will return to three-boat service in the morning. Kitsap will be the #3 vessel, WSF says.
3:50 PM: We are at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where the USA vs. Australia informal soccer match has just ended with the “Puget Sounders” beat the Australian squad – both led by elected officials – 4 to 3, in a prelude to tomorrow’s World Cup match. Full story to come.
ADDED 5:50 PM: It was a beautiful day to play – clear skies, not too hot. The match was coordinated and hosted by West Seattle Junction and Rhodies FCs‘ owner Jessica Pierce, who talked to the spectators about the match’s significance:
Her work making this happen included support from King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who energetically emceed. Councilmember Mosqueda also was one of five West Seattleites who played for the winning team; the others were 34th District State Sen. Emily Alvarado (who demurred that she was “more of a soccer mom than a soccer player”), District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka (whose family was a lively part of the cheering section), Seattle School Board president Gina Topp, and Councilmember Mosqueda’s deputy chief of staff Chris Lampkin. Here’s our video of some of the action:
One of the non-WS electeds on the team scored two of the goals, 3rd District (Spokane) State Sen. Marcus Riccelli; the other two were by West Seattle Junction FC players who joined the match, Kellen Pierce and Will Masschmedt. Two Seattle citywide electeds played too – Mayor Katie Wilson and City Attorney Erika Evans.
Here are the final few moments of the match:
(WSB video/photos)
The second ceremony in tonight’s graduation doubleheader concluded at McCaw Hall downtown about half an hour ago – the West Seattle High School Class of 2026 is heading into their post-high-school future. Above is our video of the tassel turn and cap toss – below, their entrance:
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: Here’s our video of the heart of the WSHS speaker lineup – Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, followed by grad Lizzie Greene, staff speaker Chris Harris, and “Lessons of Life” from grad Adam Gosztola:
They were followed by grad Elinor Largent singing “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (unfortunately out of our video camera’s view because of where we were stationed, but you can see/hear her on the district’s recording of the ceremony, 41 minutes in):
WSHS principal Brian Vance introduced valedictory speaker Sam LeBaron, one of 18 valedictorians listed on the program, and then the district official, dignitaries, and school administrators who also were onstage, concluding – after a final “spelldown” – by presenting the class to School Board President (and West Seattle resident) Gina Topp:
Here’s another view of the tassel-turning ceremony, led by a group of grads onstage:
Memorial Stadium will still be in construction next year; the 2027 graduation-ceremony locations have yet to be announced.
That’s how the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2026 ended their commencement ceremony at McCaw Hall downtown less than an hour ago, with tassel-turn speaker Satomi Giedeman shouting repeatedly, “Are you ready?” and the 320+ new grads affirming before turning their tassels and tossing their caps. McCaw Hall is filling in this year for Memorial Stadium, unavailable because of the rebuild. The dim light is the biggest difference; otherwise, the venue seemed to hold everyone comfortably. Here’s the seniors’ entrance procession:
We have lots more video to add (Thursday morning) from the hour-plus ceremony, with student and staff speakers as well as welcomes from. CSIHS principal Hope Perry and first-year district superintendent Ben Shuldiner, but first, one more graduation to cover!
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: The principal and superintendent are in our first clip – this was his first year of SPS commencements, and her second year leading Chief Sealth IHS:
Student singers performed next, out of view of where our video camera was tationed, but you can see/hear them on the district recording of the ceremony (18 minutes in). Student speakers followed – our next clip includes valedictorian Addison Wynn Johnson-Whited, who noted that “We were the first class after the pandemic to rebuild Sealth’ community,” and grad Siyam Mohamed, who gave part of her speech in multiple languages:
Staff speaker Maha Giundi gave a speech vowing to tell the grads the truth and including the advice, “Go find your people … and tell the truth about who you are.”
The ceremony ended well before sunset, so its location facilitated photo ops on the Seattle Center grounds:
Still adding …
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Magen Holgate wants you to listen.
To local music, specifically.
“People don’t realize they could be listening to great West Seattle music,” she laments, as we chat in a local coffee shop.
One great place to start: Tomorrow night’s free in-store show at Easy Street Records (7 pm June 18) by the local band Chewing Gum. It’s a CD release show, and the CD is on the label that Magen leads, The Big Dark Records.
Chewing Gum – four girls, three of whom are high-school students – is the second band on Big Dark Records; the first one, also an all-girl band, is Sad Dad Autumn, who you might have seen at some gigs around town, including last year’s Admiral Block Party.
The three members of Sad Dad Autumn happen to be Magen’s daughters with husband Kellen Holgate, and they’re an integral part of The Big Dark Records’ story. “My husband and I were in California bands … we’re now a family full of musicians … life is music at our house, instruments everywhere … Last year we realized we had all the skills to start a label.” So they did, and started by recording their daughters’ band (here’s the album, “The Great Dying”). “It’s important to us to produce music; Seattle is such a music city.”
For some people, that perception is stuck in the ’90s, and if you ask about Seattle music, they’ll recite a list of grunge bands from back then. But that’s because “sometimes nobody is listening,” so Magen is determined to show them why they should be listening to the new young artists.
Not just the ones she’s recording; she says that since they only have so much recording capacity, so far, she’s intent on mentoring, too, and connecting other local bands to opportunities. She’s also been teaching local musicians about music publishing: “We create a playlist of all-local music … I update it every month” on Spotify. (It’s called SoundCheck – Seattle – here’s the link.)
(Chewing Gum – photo courtesy The Big Dark)
Tomorrow’s Chewing Gum CD-release show “will be our first physical release,” and they’re serious about getting the music out first in that format: “It’s not going to be streamed” for several weeks – “we hope people will support it.” (You can check out their single online in advance – go here.) Believe it or not, Magen says, in the same way that vinyl records have seen a resurgence among adults, “kids are buying and trading CDs.”
She decribes Chewing Gum’s sound as classically Seattle – in the same way that her label’s name is – “It symbolizes our big dark season … the creative season.” (The logo is a crow stealing the sun.) You can spend the fall and winter creating music, and then in the (short) warm season, you can enjoy it.
Toward that end, Magen says, The Big Dark Records will play a role in West Seattle Summer Fest music this year (July 10-12 in The Junction) – the festival usually has a small second stage, and she says they’re programming that one – with local musicians, of course, including soloists on Sunday.
But first, the Thursday show by Chewing Gum (whose CD, by the way, is produced by the Holgates’ oldest daughter). Magen will of course be there to meet and greet the public. They’ll have a merch table, too, and you can talk with her about local music. She’s sure that once you hear more of it, you’ll be hooked. “Our goal is for people to listen to local music again … I want to create excitement about West Seattle music.”
Next stops on that road: Easy Street at 7 pm Thursday, followed by West Seattle Summerfest next month.
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