West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
As first reported here in January, SDOT plans to convert the diagonal-parking area just northwest of Don Armeni Boat Ramp into parallel parking. An update today reaffirms that the work should be complete by mid-June. But today’s update adds something new:
(Google Maps Street View image, part of the stretch where SDOT proposes adding parking)
Re-establishing daytime on-street parking is proposed for the west/water side of Alki Avenue SW, between the 1200 and 1700 blocks, where the street is wide enough. This would help offset the reduced parking at Duwamish Head and meet increased parking demand during summers. Changes could be installed in the summer of 2025.
While the diagonal-parking removal is a done deal, the Alki Avenue parking is not, SDOT says, and it’s asking your thoughts via this one-question survey. Meantime, we have followup questions out to SDOT, including the number of spaces planned for removal/addition, and the updated cost (the original announcement of the diagonal-parking removal noted that District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka had gotten $175,000 for it added to the budget).
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN SILVER ELANTRA: Megan’s 2012 silver Hyundai Elantra was stolen in North Admiral between Saturday and Wednesday. License plate BKY4563; distinctive feature, “the taillights are melted from a fire in 2020.” If you find it, call 911 and refer to police report 25-144801.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY EMPTYINGS: Betty wonders if this has happened to anyone else with a Little Free Library:
For the second time in a week, i awoke to find that every book, except one Dickens novel, was taken from my little free library in Gatewood overnight. I am puzzled and annoyed. Even used books are costly to replace. I am curious if this has been happening to other little-library stewards.
DUMPED PACKAGE BAG: Charlene saw this at 13th/Holly:
If you’re a package-theft victim in the area, you might go take a look, though another photo (with no hint of names or addresses) suggested everything in the bag had been opened.
(West Seattle from the sky – photo sent by Anne earlier this week – West Duwamish Greenbelt in center)
Here’s our list of Thursday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Spring gardening season continues! The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get the details of where they’re playing today.
DROP-IN CHESS: 4-5:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), youth up to 18 years old are invited to drop in and play.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three regular Thursday night events here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s C. Davis Texas BBQ.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Last but never least, HPCS is the starting point for running 3 miles, or walking a shorter path, in the neighborhood near HPCS with the Run Club, leaving from the store at 6:30 pm, returning for beverages – info here.
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
FREE MENDING WORKSHOP: 5:30 pm at KAVU (9064 Delridge Way SW), bring what you need to mend, and learn from mending mentors! Our calendar listing includes an RSVP link where you can also note what you’ll be bringing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run starts at The Good Society in Admiral (California/Lander).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Prefer to walk? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC IN THE JUNCTION: 6-9 pm, Patrick Rifflin performs Thursdays at Pegasus Pizza in The Junction (4520 California SW).
DUSTY THURSDAYS: 6 pm at Tim’s Tavern (98th/16th, White Center). From West Seattle’s own Billy Joe Huels:
Dusty Thursdays concert series is returning at Tim’s Tavern 6-9 pm on the outdoor stage. Each week we will feature a top local band (most hailing from West Seattle) followed by The Dusty 45s. It’s free, all-ages and everyone is welcome!
Featured tonight – Freddy Luongo & Longshots.
HOW TO GET RAINWISE: You might be eligible for subsidized RainWise installation. Find out more at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), tonight at 6:30 pm. Our calendar listing has details, including how to check if you’re eligible.
THE WHALE TRAIL AT C & P COFFEE: At 7 pm, The Whale Trail‘s spring gathering features updates on the Southern Resident orcas and a celebration of the concluding career of one of their champions – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
‘WIZARD OF OZ’ PRESENTED BY DENNY IMS: Performances tonight and Saturday at 7 pm, free admission, <strong>Chief Sealth IHS Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).
MORBIDLY CURIOUS BOOK CLUB: 7 pm at Two Fingers Social (9211 Delridge Way SW), the club discusses “Stiff” this month.
FOXWARREN LISTENING EVENT: 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), be among the first to hear Foxwarren‘s new album – free, all ages.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet, hosted by Good Old-Fashioned Local Trivia (9614 14th SW).
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts spinning early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Kingblind & Teenage Rampage, 7 pm on.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather June 21 to celebrate the life of Jay Murray, and are sharing this remembrance with his community now:
Jay Murray, lifelong resident of West Seattle, passed away peacefully at his family’s mountain retreat in Silverton, WA, on Friday, March 7th, 2025, where he and his family have enjoyed life alongside the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River since his childhood. He passed away just shy of his 89th birthday. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joanne (McCarthy) Murray; his son Vern Murray (Jenny); daughter Meredith (Murray) Blache; and five grandchildren: Renee (Erik), Mercedes, Fiadh, Matthew and August.
Jay had long enjoyed photography as a hobby, building a darkroom and make-shift studio at home. Jay and Joanne bought an established photography studio on SW Oregon Street in the West Seattle Junction in 1966. Murray’s Studio captured cherished memories for decades, and many West Seattleites remember Jay as the photographer for their senior and family portraits and wedding photos. Eventually moving the studio to 4740 California Avenue SW, Jay and Joanne expanded their business to include bridal and formal wear.
Jay was involved in many West Seattle organizations and served as president of the West Seattle Junction Association, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the West Seattle Hi-Yu community festival, and the West Seattle High School Alumni Association. He was also secretary of the Rotary Club of West Seattle.
Jay was a member of the Admiral United Church of Christ and, as a lover of music, he sang in his church choir and several barbershop groups.
Born April 24, 1936, to Clarence and Laverne Murray of West Seattle, Jay had two older sisters, Joy Humphreys and Jane Keitges, who preceded him in death.
He attended Jefferson Elementary, James Madison Junior High, and West Seattle High School, graduating in 1955.
While still in high school, Jay was sworn into the US Army by his father on his 17th birthday. He served in the Army Reserves until called to active duty from 1956 to 1958, after which he remained in the Reserves. Called again to active duty deployments at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, in Kuwait during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, he served a total of 43 years in the US Army, retiring in 1996 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer CW4.
Active in several local, state, and national professional photography organizations, Jay was president of the Professional Photographers of Seattle and the Professional Photographers of Washington. Winning many awards, Jay was proud to be recognized as a Photographic Craftsman by the Professional Photographers of America and a Fellow of Photography by the Professional Photographers of Washington.
Jay and Joanne traveled and enjoyed the great outdoors, from the mountains to the sea. Both avid skiers, they joined Sahalie Ski Club at Snoqualmie Pass in 1961. They also enjoyed Whistler and Blackcomb, where they celebrated his 83rd birthday skiing with three generations of family. He and Joanne traveled to Hawaii almost every year. They especially cherished walking the beaches at Bellows Field on Oahu.
Friends are invited to a Celebration of Jay’s Life on Saturday, June 21st, at 2:00 pm at Admiral Church, 4320 SW Hill St, Seattle (California Ave SW & SW Hill Street).
(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)
7:24 AM: Thanks for the tips – crash response on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, at/near the Delridge onramp.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, May 29, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy and likely showery this morning, clearing later, high in the upper 60s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:17 am; sunset will be at 8:56 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Gas pipeline work toward the Lowman Beach end of Beach Drive … street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project toward the Alki Point end.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. Note: Online “open house” for commenting on possible ferry-fare increases/changes is now ready for you here.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners are home tonight vs. the Nationals, 6:40 pm.
EARLY WARNING OF BRIDGE CLOSURE
As reported Wednesday – the low bridge will close the weekend of June 7-8.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 a problem 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!
(West Seattle Farmers’ Market, last Sunday)
The first-ever West Seattle session of Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets Trivia is set for one week from tonight – Wednesday, June 4. It’s happening 6-8 pm at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW). Besides buying a ticket to play, you also can buy raffle tickets, and the money all supports the organization that coordinates WSFM and other markets around the city. You can buy a trivia ticket in advance for $15, or pay $20 at the door; you can play alone or with a team of up to six people. You can buy your ticket(s) – trivia and/or raffle, and/or make a donation – by going here.
(WSB file photo)
June arrives this Sunday, and so does Pride Month. Here’s our local list – please let us know if you have something to add to it:
STEM K-8 PRIDE KICKOFF: 5 pm Friday (May 30), the school at 5950 Delridge Way SW gets Pride going early, with a party on the playground, 5-7:30 pm, presented by GGLOW and the PTA.
WESTIES RUN CLUB’S PRIDE PARTY RUN: 9 am Sunday is the usual time for Sunday Funday runs with this group, and this month they’re making it a Pride Party Run, leaving from Marination ma kai (1660 Harbor SW).
PRIDE COCKTAIL FUNDRAISER: All month long, Mioposto (2139 California SW; WSB sponsor) offers a special cocktail, The Sylvia River-ita, with half the proceeds supporting Lambert House.
WHITE CENTER PRIDE STREET FESTIVAL: Noon-11 pm on Saturday, June 7, the street festival takes over 16th SW in downtown White Center, between Roxbury and 100th.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION FLAGS: This year, the Junction Association says, the rainbow flags will fly on June 12, in support of the next event on the list (and they’re signing up volunteers to help put the flags up) …
PRIDE CELEBRATION ON ART WALK NIGHT: VAIN is organizing a two-part celebration on June 12, which is West Seattle Art Walk night – meet up at the shop (4513 California SW) at 6 pm, head south to dance at Walk All Ways (California/Alaska) at 6:30 pm.
PRIDE IN OZ @ KENYON HALL: Two performances of Pride Month’s Kenyon Hall Cabaret all-ages drag show, 6:30 pm Friday (June 13) and 1:30 pm Saturday (June 14) – get tickets early!
PRIDE CELEBRATION BOUT: Rainier Roller Riot‘s bout “Pack Is Queer“ is a Pride celebration, 5:30 pm June 14 at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).
What else? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com so we can add to the calendar (and this list) – thanks!
3:11 PM: Thanks again to Kevin Freitas for a view of Constellation Park as today’s low-low tide bottomed out at -4.1 feet, lowest of the year. Also sending photos was Dawn Roeder, who saw colorful sea life under the Fauntleroy ferry dock:
Tomorrow’s lowest tide is still great for tidepooling – -3.6 feet at 1:08 pm – but the weather is expected to be very different.
ADDED 5:29 PM: Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo of Luna Park‘s pilings (pointed out on Tuesday by Dave Townsend):
Just in from the West Seattle Junction Association, some of what you’ll want to know about the year’s biggest party, West Seattle Summer Fest – Friday-Sunday, July 11-13 (following an ever-more-festive Summer Fest Eve on Thursday, July 10). First, this year’s official Summer Fest logo art (yes, T-shirts will be available):
WSJA says this year’s Summer Fest highlights will include:
160+ local vendors and food trucks
A bustling beverage garden
An expanded Kids Zone
Two stages of live music
Main Stage music will be Friday and Saturday as has been the case in recent years, with California SW north of Oregon changing to the Farmers’ Market for Sunday. Headliners will include Reignwolf, Jenn Champion, New Constellations, and THEM! The full music schedule will be out soon, and will also include the Westside Stage – which will host performances all three days – in Junction Plaza Park.
The festival footprint will be the same, but the food court and Kids Zone will change places – the former will be on SW Alaska west of California, the latter will be east of California, with five different inflatables plus activities from West Seattle Arcade, Seattle Reign FC, and Craft Labs Seattle. (Face painters will be on the California raised crosswalks.)
And along with another year of food/beverage vendors serving your purchases in reusable serviceware – making it a truly sustainable festival – this year will see the return of free water-refill stations, so you can bring your own water bottle (or buy one at the festival). Four stations, WSJA tells us.
Also: We’ve been telling you about the fundraiser (still accepting donations!) for seating and shade, and that will be part of the “food court,” described as “an enormous area” of seating/shade behind KeyBank. Plus year-round merchants will have extended sidewalk cafés and in-store promotions..
Festival hours will be 1-8 pm Friday (July 11), 10 am-8 pm Saturday (July 12), 10 am-5 pm Friday (July 13). Music will be on the Main Stage (California north of Oregon) Friday and Saturday until 11 pm, and on the Westside Stage (in the park) Friday and Saturday until 7 PM, Sunday until 4 PM. Find out even more about the festival at westseattlesummerfest.com!
Just in from SDOT, the West Seattle low bridge – aka the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, opened in 1991 – has a two-day closure coming up, affecting all non-maritime users:
To keep the bridge reliably operating, starting June 7 and continuing through June 8, the low bridge will be closed for people driving, biking, rolling, and walking for about two days. During this time, crews will reinstall the remaining refurbished cylinder that was removed from the west pier during the October 2024 low bridge closure. Work on this project is expected to continue throughout 2025.
SDOT’s project page has more details on the work that’s being done. We’re following up to ask exactly what time on June 7 the closure is expected to start.
We’ve received two reader reports about similar incidents. First one was sent today by Nancy:
Last Thursday a senior friend of mine and her husband were walking up Alaska from Avalon to Whole Foods at 10:30 am.
At 37th and Alaska a passing van asked for directions and then started a conversation meant to engage them on a personal level including a hug from the car window during which they then cut or somehow removed a gold chain and gold bracelet from the senior gentleman.
A police report was filed. Redmond Police posted an alert about this last year. Essentially people in rental SUV’s are approaching older individuals and asking for directions and/or offering to sell or trade jewelry, and robbing the individual after contact is made.
The other one was reported in mid-May in White Center – Jennifer said her parents, 73-year-old mom and 81-year-old dad, were approached while getting into their car outside McLendon Hardware:
… Male/female offered gifts, jewelry and were making physical contact (holding dad’s hand & kissing it) but I believe they were trying to distract both of my parents in an attempt to rob them. The female was standing outside of the driver’s side window where my dad was and the male was standing outside my mom’s window telling her to roll it down. Each person intentionally dropped a piece of jewelry inside of the car in hopes mom/dad would retrieve it and open their doors to hand it back, but luckily mom sensed that something was wrong. She started shouting that she was going to call 911 and the male/female then left in a hurry. … Male and female were driving a small Chevy sedan similar to (this picture).
We asked for descriptions:
Male:
About 5’ 10” tall
Slim build
Short black wavy hair
Dark brown complexion
Was wearing a cream short sleeve floral shirt.Female
About 5’ 5”
Slender figure
Couldn’t make out hair color because it was wrapped up in a bandana/scarf
Light brown complexion
Wearing a long skirt
We don’t have police-report numbers in either case (the first would be SPD, the second would be KCSO), but the primary goal of both readers was to suggest warning vulnerable relatives/friends.
(Kim R’s ‘mutant foxglove’ in Seaview)
Many places to keep cool happen to be hosting events in the hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore’s new Junction location. (4522 California SW)
CHAIR YOGA: 10:30 am at Dragonfly (3270 California SW):
Gentle Chair Yoga
Wednesdays 10:30 AM
Class is recurring weekly.
45 minutes, $20 drop-in
Please register in advance.
Use this LinkHIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: First week of operations, just in time for a semi-heat wave! Open 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Lowest of the year! 12:20 pm, out to -4.1 feet.
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
DINE-OUT BENEFIT: Part of the proceeds from food/beverages at or from The Neighborhood (6503 California SW) 3-9 pm will benefit Sanislo Elementary.
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm drop-in help at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), free.
WORRY-FREE WEDNESDAY: Today’s free presentation is about ensuring your end-of-life wishes are honored. 4 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), RSVP requested.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something broken? Fix it instead of discarding it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
Q&A WITH YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: 34th District Democrats‘ forum with Sen. Emily Alvarado and Reps. Brianna Thomas and Joe Fitzgibbon, all welcome, 6 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
POTTERINGS OPEN STUDIO: 6-8 pm, $40, details here and pre-registration here. (3400 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are invited to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
HPAC’S MAY GATHERING: Topics include new sidewalks, the Holden Natural Drainage System project, and RV camping, as previewed here – 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
MUSIC BINGO: Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 3: Three West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … Quiz Night also begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Ready for the stage? 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Got something coming up that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(OLG photo: Walmesley Center)
Two students from Our Lady of Guadalupe School have sent us postal-mail letters about this community event coming up Sunday (June 1). This transcribed excerpt is from one letter, sent by 7th grader Emmett:
…This year our class has read books on a refugee’s journey and the history of discrimination and racism in our country, even here in Seattle. We also had a guest speaker come in and talk about his journey from Equatorial Guinea, through South America, and making his way to Seattle. After listening to his powerful story, we began taking action in our Missionary Discipleship Institute response project. After brainstorming, we decided on hosting a community meal. This response project matters to me because my grandparents were immigrants from the Philippines, and I was never really told the story. The reason the event is so important to me is so that immigrants and refugees can tell their story, their journey to America, to Seattle.
Our event is called “Voices for Refugees and Immigrants: A Community Meal” and will be hosted on June 1, at 12 pm. Our meal will take place at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Gymnasium, and the address is 3401 SW Myrtle St., and our goal is to welcome the community of Seattle. At this event, we will be taking donations that will be put into making care kits for immigrants or refugees settling into their homes. …
The OLG website announcement notes that students have designed the entire event! The gym is in the Walmesley Center, across SW Myrtle from the main school building, with its main entrance off the parking lot to its east.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny and warmer. today, high around 80. Today’s sunrise was at 5:18 am; sunset will be at 8:55 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Beach Drive work that’s restricting parking by Lowman Beach Park is a continuation of the PSE gas pipeline project, which also has flaggers in action further north.
-At the other end of Beach Drive, in South Alki, street work for the Alki Standby Generator Project is in its next phase, centered at 64th/Beach Drive – details and maps are here, along with what’s next.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet. M/V Salish serves as the “bonus boat”. Note: Online “open house” for commenting on possible ferry-fare increases/changes is now ready for you here.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 a problem 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
Our area’s three state legislators will appear together tomorrow for the second time in less than a week.
The 34th District Democrats are convening a “session in review” forum, 6 pm Wednesday (May 28), at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) and all are welcome to come hear from/ask questions of Sen. Emily Alvarado, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and Rep. Brianna Thomas.
Last Thursday, the trio were guests at the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s dinner meeting. Here’s our hour-plus unedited video:
They remarked on very long hours and the work it took to balance the budget – $7 billion in cuts, $9 billion in new taxes, “none were easy.”
Nor, they said, was their working relationship with new Gov. Bob Ferguson, even though he, like all three of them and the majority of their fellow legislators, is a Democrat.
In that photo is a Hyundai stolen overnight downtown, found by police early this morning in Sunrise Heights. The texter who sent the photo, a resident near Walt Hundley Playfield, also explained what preceded it:
Woke right at 6 am to sounds of cars racing and maybe crashing. Go out to see a blue Hyundai sedan with 3 teens and a white Hyundai or Kia (small) SUV with maybe 4 teens in it, flying by, chasing each other, losing or tossing items from the vehicles. They raced up and down the blocks, sorta chasing each other like they were playing tag. As they went by, one kid yelled to me from the SUV something about a shotgun and something about a day off (weird). I called 911. At one point one of the cars came flying out of the alley next to my house, off gravel onto the paved street, at about 35-40 mph, nearly crashing into the park. Then both cars met up, sped off, and I thought I heard a crash in the distance. I got into my truck and drove a couple of streets over to see what happened and the blue car was pulled over by SPD. It’s the one that I thought crashed. Cops still have the car, punched ignition … they say likely it’s a yet-to-be-reported stolen vehicle. The white SUV was gone. It had Texas plates. Both cars had teens with hoods up and masks on, all of them. Some male, some female, is my guess based off the laughing I heard …
That was all from a text around 5:30 am. We subsequently asked police what their report said about how this all turned out.
According to the report’s narrative, they initially responded to a call about a hit-run crash near 31st/Myrtle, and as the texter told us, “The call was updated to show that a blue Hyundai sedan and a white Hyundai SUV with a Texas license plate were chasing each other. As I was driving to the last known location of the vehicles along 32nd Ave SW, I saw a blue Hyundai Sonata with the running lights on and a wheel on the curb. … The vehicle appeared unoccupied but I did a PA callout, then the other officer and I cleared the vehicle. No one was inside. Dispatch ran the license plate number. This vehicle had not yet been reported stolen, but based on the steering column and ignition damage, I suspected the vehicle was stolen.
They called the vehicle’s owner, who told them “he usually leaves the vehicle parked in a garage at work but he went to Oregon and came back late last night, so he parked it in front of his apartment building at 1XX Taylor Ave N. [near Seattle Center]. He last saw it about (10 pm Monday night).”
The owner came to West Seattle to try to reclaim his car. Inside it, besides various items – including a plastic cup and a charger – that didn’t belong to him, police also found a print on the rearview mirror, which the owner confirmed someone had moved, so it was dusted and the print was lifted for evidence.
The owner tried to drive the car away but its front suspension had damage preventing that, police wrote, “so he parked the vehicle and called his insurance company … (to order) his own tow.” Before that, though, according to the police report, they gave him a free steering-wheel lock.
Two “found, possibly dumped/stolen” reports:
BINOCULARS: Sent by Evan:
I found a pair of nice-looking Bushnell Binoculars in a leather case on the median outside our house near SW 17th and Trenton.
Evan took them in for safekeeping – if they’re yours, let us know and we’ll connect you.
SCOOTER: Brandon spotted this in front of Alki Dental (we don’t know its current status):
Reminder that for discoveries more likely to have been simply “lost,” we have a self-post “lost/found/nonpets” board in the WSB Community Forums; you need a log-in, which should be easily obtainable here.
(WSB photo of California Place Park concertgoers in 2024)
What started more than 15 years ago as Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha will be back this year for its second year as Admiral Music in the Parks (AMP) – three free July evening concerts in other Admiral-area parks! The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents AMP and series coordinator Meagan Loftin just sent the newly revealed lineup:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association, in partnership with our “Producer” sponsors Timeless Kitchen Design and West Seattle Grounds, is excited to announce the lineup for our summer concert series AMP: Admiral Music in the Parks!
Every year, we welcome family, friends, neighbors, and the community-at-large to our Admiral parks for 3 weeks of free family-friendly concerts. New this year, you can also join Seattle Yarn‘s knitting circle at each concert. Mark your calendars now for:
6:30 PM on July 17th @ Belvedere Park: Get your dancing boots ready for PNW country-tonk band Lookout Mountain Lookout
6:30 PM on July 24th @ California Place Park: West Seattle’s fan-favorite Michael Pearsall and Friends return for the second year at AMP!
6:30 PM on July 31st @ Hamilton Viewpoint Park: Enjoy the music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as we welcome The Flaming Pies to close out our 2025 season.
Which concert are you most excited for? Support your favorite by donating to one or all of our 2025 AMP concerts. Your donation funds local musicians while also providing free community programming to everyone in our neighborhood. AMPlify your summer and consider donating here today!
2 PM: Thanks to Derek for the photo. The painting happening today on the southwest corner of California/Alaska gave us the opening to check back on a story we’ve been working on for a while: The Missing Piece Cafe and Game Lounge is finally confirming that it’s moving to The Junction – in the ex-Pharmaca space – from 35th/Roxbury. Last time we asked proprietor Alex about the plan, the lease wasn’t finalized yet and he wasn’t ready to comment, but today he tells WSB, “We are going to have an expanded cafe offering when we move as well as a wider game selection. We’re very excited to be moving to such a great spot in the heart of West Seattle!” Mindful that renovations and permits tend to take longer than businesspeople hope and plan for, we are nonetheless following up on their hoped-for timeframe for moving (update: by “the end of summer“). The Missing Piece opened in an ex-dispensary space on the northeast corner of 35th/Roxbury five years ago. In addition to simply being open for eating/drinking/playing, it also hosts various regular and special events.
3:23 PM: In comments, A points out that the painting is part of a mural for the business next door to the future new home of The Missing Piece, Emerald Water Anglers, which is chronicling the mural-painting here. You might recall that EWA is there because of a move too, shifting to the former Bin 41 space last year from its original spot at 42nd/Oregon. (We’re checking on what kind of signage TMP plans.)
Constellation Park and Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook get most of the love during low-low tides, but West Seattle’s north shores provide some sights too. Above are the pilings only revealed near the diagonal-parking area when the tide goes this far out (-4.0 around 11:30 am today – added, Dave Townsend and our archives remind us that the remains of Luna Park emerge in these conditions); below, further north/west, the view toward the heart of Alki:
And the northeastward view from that same spot:
Tomorrow brings the lowest low tide of the year, -4.1 feet at 12:20 pm.
The Seattle City Council‘s Public Safety Committee just got an update on Seattle Police hiring and staffing. The summary from analyst Greg Doss: “Huge increase in hiring, but that takes a while to translate to cops on the street.”
Currently, Doss told the councilmembers, they’re hiring 14 officers a month, which he described as an “unprecedented” pace, “even in good years.” In the first quarter of the year, he elaborated, SPD had 12 more hires and 7 fewer separations than projected, and the department’s already “meeting its goals for the entire year.” (The reduction in number of departures was highlighted again late in the briefing.)
One area isn’t improving, though – increasing the number of women on the force. Applicants and hires are running about 15 percent female, Doss said, so new Chief Shon Barnes has directed that female candidates all get a “second look” to “be sure we’re not missing something.” The department at one point had a declared goal to have a 30 percent female staff by 2030 but is nowhere near that goal.
Other stats shown this morning included the staffing breakdown – the number of officers on “911 response” has held fairly steady, albeit at a level that’s two-thirds of five years ago.
There also were some precinct specific stats, including staffing (no elaboration, but it was mentioned that SPD is currently conducting a “precinct staffing study:):
And also response times, which in general are improving, in part because of a change in categorization of what’s a “Priority 1” call – in some, Doss said, they realized that callers in some categories weren’t necessarily in immediate danger. That meant more calls are “Priority 2,” and those response times are improving too – possibly, briefers said, because the availability of CARE responders means officers can turn some incidents over to them and get back to 911 responses sooner.
The increase in hiring and reduction in separations means that the years of “we have money for more positions than we can fill” are over – now SPD is hiring more than it’s budgeted for, but councilmembers were told SPD does not expect to ask for budget supplementation until later in the year. Right now, they’re still relying on overtime to reach minimum staffing on most if not all shifts, councilmembers were told. But the briefers say right now, the staffing level is on a road to recovery: This year’s hiring could re-fill as many as 70+ of the vacancies left when 300+ officers left in the early 2020s.
Committee chair Councilmember Bob Kettle wrapped up the briefing by saying he feels encouraged but wary of mixed messages to the public since, as noted above, increased hiring pace now won’t mean increased officer numbers on the street for a while. He also said it’s vital to keep up the pace on other things – particularly police reform.
(P.S. If you’ve got questions about Southwest Precinct operations, remember that its Precinct Advisory Council has an open community meeting next Tuesday (June 3) at High Point Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW), 6:30 pm.)
See today’s full briefing presentation slide deck, from which the graphics above were pulled, by going here.
Two humpback whales are visible from Constellation Park, headed southbound, Kersti Muul tells us. They’re west of midchannel, so you’ll likely need binoculars. Let us know if you see one or both!
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor, low-low tide wildlife revealed earlier this spring)
Here’s our reminder list for your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: The meeting under way now (started at 9:30 am) includes an update on police hiring (not likely to start any sooner than 10:10 am). The agenda explains how to watch.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Weekly advocacy gathering, until noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if you’re a first-time participant.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -4.0 feet at 11:34 am. Pick a beach, and tread lightly!
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), featuring Mathew Wright from ArtsWest.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are available to help K-12 students with their homework.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 4 pm online meeting is open to the public.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 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.
CROWN-MAKING PARTY: 5:30 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), West Seattle Indivisible is making crowns for the June 14 “No Kings” rally.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: More daylight means more time for evening runs – tonight at 6:15 pm, meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group event at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has details on signing up before you go.
BINGO X 2: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW) … Talarico’s Pizzeria also offers 8 pm bingo (4718 California SW).
TRIVIA X 4: Here’s the answer to the question “who’s got trivia in West Seattle tonight?” – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and 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. (2306 California SW).
Organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc.? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar, from which we draw our daily lists too – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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