West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
(WSB photo, last month)
Nam Suk Nasatka, longtime proprietor of Lee’s Produce in South Delridge, has been laid to rest, while her store carries on. Her family is asking the community for one final tribute in her memory – donations to the White Center Food Bank. Daniel Horst, who’s helping organize the memorial fundraiser, asked us to publish the link. The fundraiser page says Lee’s Produce had partnered with WCFB for more than a decade, providing produce gift certificates to expand access to vegetables and fruit. Ms. Nasatka was 75 years old when cancer ended her life.
(Clothesline coordinator Karen Dahl)
Story and photos by Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Clothesline, West Seattle Food Bank’s free-clothing program, hosted its first donation drive at their new location in the former food-store space at Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW).
Clothesline will have two additional donation-only days for you to bring in your clothes on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Thursday, Feb. 12, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., before they reopen to the public on Feb. 17th. We stopped by Saturday for a look inside the new location.
Clothesline has been closed for the past six weeks in order to organize the move to the new location. In anticipation of the closure, demand increased at the end of December, and volunteers expect most of their current inventory to leave the racks upon the reopening, according to Karen Dahl, the Clothesline program coordinator.
Dahl recommended that donors bring in warm winter jackets, sweatshirts, and work boots, which have been in high demand for shoppers needing proper gear for construction and gardening jobs. She also noted that donors should aim to bring seasonal items, as Clothesline’s storage space for out-of-season items is currently limited.
The limited storage space is one notable difference between the old and new locations, another being that the new location doesn’t have a parking lot, forcing visitors to rely on street parking or visit via transit.
Dahl is the only official staff member at Clothesline, supported by a 67-person-strong volunteer network. Dahl recalled that when she was down with pneumonia in January, they stepped up to pack the entirety of the old facility.
“I have the best volunteers.” Dahl said. “Don’t get me started on the volunteers … they are essential here.”
The program typically has 10-15 volunteers working on any given day, but is looking for some additional help on Saturdays.
At the conclusion of Saturday’s first day of donations, Dahl expressed optimism about donor turnout and the items received. The day served as “another reminder that we live in a remarkable community,” according to Tom, a Clothesline volunteer who has been helping out since the pandemic.
“The donors are really fabulous. A lot of people who come in and donate; they tell me directly they want to bring it here because they know it goes directly to people,” Dahl said.
Clothesline sees 40-50 “groups” per day that receive clothes – groups consisting of an individual and potential family members that they may be shopping for. Last year, Clothesline provided items to more than 5,000 families, with around 100,000 pieces cycling through the program annually.
Always lots of interest in shredding opportunities, so here’s news of your next one: As announced by Seattle Parks – Shred-it is coming to Delridge Community Center, 10:30 am-12:30 pm on Saturday, February 14:
$15 per person, residents only, no businesses. Please remove any paper clips or staples before shredding. Two standard garbage bags per car.
Delridge CC is at 4501 Delridge Way SW. After this, the next local event we know of is the March 21 recycle/reuse event presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and Chamber of Commerce, details TBA.
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A food pop-up with some tantalizing offerings is in the process of creating a permanent home in South Delridge as early as this spring. Duchess Mini Cafe is in permitting to open a walkup-style cafe in a building that’s owned by Mr. B’s Mead Center, whose second location at 9444 Delridge Way SW just opened last year.
Poffertjes mini pancakes cooking–photos by Jennifer Worges unless otherwise noted
Duchess Mini Dutch Pancakes has been a regular popup at Mr. B’s Mead Center over the last several months, serving Dutch pancakes, poffertjes, and other treats. Owner Jennifer Worges says she’s been serving her unique menu at markets and festivals for 3 years while also working a restaurant job and is excited to have a space where she doesn’t have to set up and break down every day. “Popups are a lot of work,” she says.
The future Duchess Mini Cafe currently has a red and white facade–WSB photo
The future home of the cafe is petite, at just 10’x10’, but Worges is confident it will work, and was thrilled that the owners of Mr. B’s offered her a lease. “I’m super excited to be able to expand.” Because the footprint is too small for customers to be inside, she is planning a walk-up service window to order espresso drinks, juices, and teas, along with a variety of sweet and savory foods.
Mango Tiramisu Poffertjes
Worges is planning to include many of the items that have been a hit during the popups. Poffertjes are mini Dutch pancakes that she makes with a sweet cream batter. Toppings can be as simple as butter and powdered sugar, or nutella, but she’s also been making a mango tiramisu topping, a goat cheese/cream cheese/vanilla mix and something she calls the Angry Goat: goat cheese with pickled strawberries, thyme, honey, and a little hot sauce.
Hoisin Garlic Chicken Gua Bao with fresh pickled sweet and sour veggies
Another featured item is her take on the Taiwanese street food guabao, which is a bao-like bun wrapped around a savory filling. “I’ve been testing it out at the last couple of popups,” she says, stuffing the buns with combos like gochujang pork, with sweet and sour pickled veggie, with more options to come. “My plan is to have breakfast ones, stuffed with bacon and eggs and cheese.”
Worges is juggling permitting and building out the space while still holding down her job as kitchen manager at the nearby Lumber Yard Bar. She started a GoFundMe this week and is hoping for community support to help with some of the costs. “Once I can pay for all the permits, I’m going to start basic and can always expand.”
In the meantime, Duchess popups will continue at Mr. B’s this month on the 7th, 13th, and the 14th, for the Rat City Valentine’s Day Market at the Mead Center.
(WSB photo of 5444 Delridge storefront before its food-store days)
When the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline closed at the end of the year, WSFB wasn’t ready to go public with the new location it had found for the clothing bank. Now it is – and they’re requesting donations starting this weekend. WSFB says Clothesline will reopen in the ground-level storefront space at Cottage Grove Commons (5444 Delridge Way SW), formerly home to two food stores, Cascadia Fresh Market and Delridge Grocery Co-op. Here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Food Bank invites the community to help launch its new West Seattle Clothesline location with a special clothing drive taking place Saturday, February 7; Tuesday, February 10; and Thursday, February 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Community members are encouraged to bring new or gently used, season-appropriate clothing to the new Clothesline location at:
5444 Delridge Way SW, Suite 100
These donation days will help stock the shelves ahead of the Clothesline’s reopening to clients on Tuesday, February 17.
The West Seattle Clothesline provides free clothing to neighbors experiencing hardship, offering dignity, choice, and access to essential items for daily life. Clothing donations from the community make this program possible.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of our neighbors,” said Karen Dahl, Clothesline Program Coordinator. “Every donated coat, pair of jeans, and warm sweater helps ensure our Clothesline is ready to welcome community members into our new space.”
Donation Details
Dates: Saturday, Feb. 7; Tuesday, Feb. 10; Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: 5444 Delridge Way SW, Suite 100
Accepted Items: Clean, gently used clothing for adults and children; menswear especially needed
Note: The Clothesline will be closed for donations and distribution on Saturday, Feb. 14th.For more information about the Clothesline or other services, visit westseattlefoodbank.org
The Clothesline moved from its previous site on the north edge of The Junction because its landlord was selling the property.
As reported here on Monday, the former Walgreens in South Delridge has a new owner. Subsequently visiting the site (15th/16th/Roxbury), we noted the signage announcing that it’s up for lease. But new owner James Tjoa has more immediate plans to activate the site, we learned from a spokesperson who returned our call today because Tjoa is traveling. He’s hoping to use its lot as a food-truck site, with one truck scheduled to set up there within a few days, El Gran Taco, and “we’re talking to others,” hoping ultimately for “three or four” to set up there. The spokesperson says Tjoa already owns property in the area – the site of the White Center Dollar Tree store a few blocks south on 15th – and “loves” the area, considering the ex-Walgreens site “a great corner.” Though Tjoa is a developer as well as broker and real-estate investor, redevelopment is not expected on this site – zoned for mixed use up to four stories – any time soon; the building is in good shape, they explain, only about 20 years old, so “tearing it down wouldn’t make sense” – at least for another 10 years or so.
(WSB photo, today)
11:02 AM: One month before the South Delridge Walgreens (9456 16th SW) announced its impending closure late last summer, we had reported it was on the market. Now, it’s been sold. The sale, first reported by the Daily Journal of Commerce, was for $2.4 million – a third below the $3.75 million asking price in our previous story, plus less than half what the site/building is valued at in county records, and less than half what it sold for in 2003. The new owner of the 53,000-square-foot site is Team Amalfi LLC, whose principals include real-estate broker/developer James Tjoa; he’s been involved with other West Seattle projects including a 12-home site on Pigeon Point. We have a message out to ask about plans for the ex-Walgreens site; nothing’s showing up in city files so far.
1:12 PM: Went over for a new photo of the building (substituted above for the originally used King County Assessor file photo); discovered the new owner has signs up offering the building for lease:
The listing offers the option of leasing just part of the building.
Story and photos by Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
South Delridge’s Nacho Mama’s Fry Bread Cafe (9418 Delridge Way SW) is back after a months-long closure for remodeling, and owner Debra Lecomb is looking forward to welcoming in the community for more than its namesake menu offerings.
The updated space is light and bright, featuring a new tile-faced bar area, new floors, updated decorations and furniture and some kitchen improvements, including a commercial dishwasher. Lecomb also added a raised stage area in the corner for musicians to play. She has Marlee Walker booked to play blues on Friday nights from 5-8.
Nacho Mama’s menu is still largely the same, with fry bread as a featured part of everything from breakfasts to tacos, and sundaes to PB&J sandwiches. There are nachos too, and breakfast served all day. Lecomb learned to make fry bread from her grandmother, a skill that she says isn’t as simple as following a recipe. She prepares all of the dough herself.
Lecomb is invested, not just in the food but in the space itself. She says it took more than a year of working nights after her two day jobs to get the space cleaned up and ready to open initially in 2022. Lecomb says it had been broken into, vandalized and occupied by transients before she took it over. This latest 4-month remodel, partly funded by a city grant, allowed her to make some of the finishing touches that she wasn’t able to do the first time around. She’s in it for the long haul: “To be able to work efficiently and stay here for a long time and be here for the community and give back.”
The only vestige of the former Hoang Kim Vietnamese restaurant that Lecomb kept is a mural by artist Sarah Robbins on the north wall. “There was all kinds of graffiti all over these walls, a dragon going down the wall. The ravens were here — I kept them.” Now they are the backdrop for the stage and anchor a space that Lecomb is really excited about. Plus, she now has some help in the kitchen — a family friend who moved here to lend a hand. “I was doing everything by myself. I was cooking, serving, shopping, prepping. Jacob’s been wonderful to me and I really appreciate him.”
Nacho Mama’s is open 7 days: Monday and Tuesday 11 am-9 pm and the rest of the week from 10 am-8 pm.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The newest plans for relatively small projects in two parks comprised most of the first 2026 meeting of HPAC, the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.
HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick facilitated, and started with a brief mention of a story we’d broken the night before:
(‘Site plan’ shown in early permit filing)
RV SAFE LOT/TINY HOMES? The city had not notified HPAC – or other community advocates, so far as we know – about the permit filings first reported by WSB on Tuesday night for a new RV safe lot/tiny-home site in east Highland Park. She suggested that people read the report and let HPAC know if they had any thoughts or other feedback. (We have yet to receive answers to the followup questions we’ve asked, aside from the site’s owner, WSDOT, acknowledging our inquiry and promising a forthcoming reply.)
One other topic preceded the Parks presentations – crime/public safety.
SEATTLE POLICE: Community Liaison Officer German Barreto first presented updated crime stats – first the West Seattle/South Park precinct’s annual stats we’ve already reported in coverage of four recent community meetings. Highland Park for the year was up incrementally in robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and arson; for the last 30 days, all categories are down except robbery and burglary. Highland Park saw 16 shots-fired incidents last year compared to 22 a year earlier. Co-chair Kirkpatrick mentioned the chronic problem with people driving into the West Duwamish Greenbelt and causing trouble – abandoning stolen vehicles, for example. The gate that’s chronically broken/unlocked will be addressed by the city, she noted. The area has “fresh tire tracks today,” an attendee noted.
Another attendee brought up ICE activity concerns and asked recommendations. “I’d say record from a distance, don’t get involved,” replied Ofcr. Barreto. He said calling 911 could be one way to discern if you don’t know whether something is an ICE raid or “actual kidnapping” – because until they know for sure, SPD will respond “lights and sirens.” He also was asked to clarify the policy. “We don’t work with them, they just show up.” Kirkpatrick wondered about groups of unmarked vehicles showing up and then heading out together – again, he suggested getting photos discreetly. It was also pointed out, though, that for raids, warrant operations, etc. it could be a gathering point for SPD. Barreto noted that plates of SPD or other local unmarked vehicles would say XMT on them. (Footnote: SPD posted a new clarification of its immigration-enforcement-related policies on the SPD Blotter site today.)
(Photo courtesy Kay Kirkpatrick)
PARKS PROJECTS: First one presented was the south Westcrest Park restroom rebuild. Planner Tizai Mauto was introduced as Parks’ Southwest District planner and brought his team, including Justin Martin, a landscape architect from MIG, who gave most of the presentation on the restroom project. It’s in a conceptual design phase with three options. This is meant to replace the old long-closed restroom (photo above). A secondary goal is to remove infrstructure left over from an old long-removed play area near there, and to replace picnic tables and benches. Total budget for the restroom and the play area: $1.35 million.
Martin said the P-Patch and trails account for the major share of how the nearby area is used. The old restroom building probably won’t be removed but instead will be converted to storage. They expect to protect the big conifer trees near the building. The two ADA parking spots will be redone, with a curb ramp. They evaluated six potential sites; three southeast of the current site are being. considered right now. They’re looking at using the Portland Loo type of restroom structure, since it’s “more vandal resistant” and better for the lower use level they expect from this. Just one stall, like Ballard Commons, and it’s single-occupancy. They’re robust but not cheap, was the explanation.
Then he opened the door to Q&A. First attendee to speak offered more comments than questions about being baffled at how often restrooms are vandalized. They appreciated Concept 3 the most, with its proximity to picnickers. The Portland Loo design means less seclusion for people who want to vandalize, he noted. Second commenter also liked 3. Third commenter agreed and also appreciated the line-of-sight entrance from the middle of the lot. Fourth commenter noted that this area of the park wasn’t discussed much when the rest of the park was developed. Planner Mauto suggested mentioning ideas in the project survey, for building down the road. Fifth, Kirkpatrick mentioned the future public market/housing site for African Community Housing and Development at the end of Henderson should be considered, too. She also pointed out that the dog park area needs better restroom access, which Option 2 would provide. Kirkpatrick also noted long-neglected public art that might be relocatable to the eventual area.
More project info is here; you can answer a survey about the project here.
(Photo courtesy Kay Kirkpatrick)
Next, the Southwest Teen Life Center play-area overhaul, presented by project manager Colin Campbell, who said planning is resuming after a yearlong pause; he brought equipment option info.
What’s not in the budget — He said this is the perfect time for community members to advocate for features they might not see, so they could perhaps be priorities. He noted a variety of grant funds that could be sought too.
The current play area is being repalaced because it’s 20 years old ad at the end of its life cycle. Construction is likely to happen next year. Landscape archiutect David Vader said it’s a “fun” project – he clarified that it’s not the play area up on the forer Denny IMS site, which is school district owned, but this one is city-owned, immediately behind the Teen Life Center/Pool building.
The budget would cover the replacement of the play equipment and wood-fiber surfacing, They want to keep – and repaint – the mushroom structures in the area, he mentioned.
Three options as detailed here – adventurous, less so, traditional.
Option 1 is a “spider web net” type structure that many kids can use at once. It would include a teeter-totter with some unconventional moves. Part of it would match the blue and red colors of nearby Chief Sealth IHS.
Option 2 has a spiral area that even a kid with mobility issues could climb.
Option 3 is more an “in-kind replacement” “post-and deck system.”
This project too has a survey (open until mid-February). It’s early enough in design that they “still could pivot,” the team said.
Though the center is for teens, lots of younger kids go to the pool with their families.
What about outdoor ping-pong tables? asked Kirkpatrick. Campbell said they’ve talked about “things like that, smaller, contained,” like Tek Ball. Maybe some outdoor gym equipment for older kids? suggested another attendee.
Places to sit are really important, said an attendee describing herself as a mom. Someone else elaborated, “Seating options with shade” – sonce that’s a mostly paved area and can get hot.
In other park projects, Kirkpatrick asked about the money for Riverview Playfield turf and indicated community interest in early engagement on that; Mauto pointed her at the person doing the project planning.
For seeking grants to enhance projects, Campbell said the Parks CommUNITY Fund has possibilities, and has ongoing info sessions.
WHAT’S NEXT: HPAC meets many months on the fourth Wednesday; watch hpaction.org for updates.
(October photo of salmon in Longfellow Creek by Manuel Valdes)
Puget Soundkeeper has released its full report on the fall salmon season in Longfellow Creek. It’s been monitoring coho salmon in the eastern West Seattle creek for a decade now, with a focus on gathering data about how urban pollution affects salmon survival. As its announcement explains:
For years, Longfellow Creek has been the epicenter of research studying the effects of 6PPD-quinone – a toxic tire chemical lethal to Coho salmon. Exposure to 6PPD-quinone causes a condition called Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS), a disease characterized by symptoms such as disorientation and gasping for air, often killing Coho
within 24 hours. Furthermore, this chemical has been strongly linked to Pre-Spawn Mortality (PSM), where adult salmon die before successfully reproducing. Puget Soundkeeper’s annual Pre-Spawn Mortality Survey analyzes the spawning success of Coho salmon in Longfellow Creek to better understand the impacts of 6PPD-quinone.
Here’s a one-sheet with results of this year’s survey, conducted from October through December. 55.5% of coho in Longfellow Creek died before spawning, and Puget Soundkeeper says that’s consistent with the data it’s been collecting since 2015 – some years up to 90 percent of the fish died before spawning.
So what can be done? Puget Soundkeeper says:
Fortunately, solutions exist. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) projects, such as raingardens or bioswales, can effectively remove toxins from runoff and prevent harmful chemicals from entering our waters. In addition to GSI projects, policy action is critical. A bill (HB 2421) aimed at removing 6PPD from tires was introduced to the Washington State House and Senate Environment Committees last week. Community members can help move this legislation forward by calling their representatives and voicing their support. [Here’s how]
Puget Soundkeeper will be recruiting the next cohort of salmon surveyors in August; stay tuned to our website for more information. Puget Soundkeeper thanks all volunteers, partners, and donors who make this project possible.
There are also volunteer cleanups during the season; we reported on one back in November.
(Mountain Madness photo: New owner Lisa Thompson with previous owner Mark Gunlogson)
Though West Seattle is home to hills and not mountains, it’s also home base to a variety of businesses tied to the latter. Among them: Mountain Madness in South Delridge, which has a long history, as the announcement explains:
Mountain Madness, a global leader in guided mountain adventures, was acquired by Lisa Thompson, founder of Alpine Athletics. Thompson will lead Mountain Madness as its new President and sole owner, bringing together Alpine Athletics’ expert coaching and training with Mountain Madness’ 40+year legacy of guiding transformative climbing, trekking & skiing adventures worldwide.
With nearly 20 years in the mountains, Lisa Thompson is an accomplished climber and coach. Among her achievements are the Seven Summits and becoming the second American woman to reach the top of K2, as told in her best-selling memoir, Finding Elevation. In 2018 she founded Alpine Athletics to prepare climbers of all levels for the physical, mental, and tactical requirements of mountaineering.
Mountain Madness was founded in 1984 by legendary climber Scott Fischer and partners. Fischer is widely known for his role in the 1996 Mount Everest expedition, chronicled in Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, which brought global attention to the risks and rewards of high-altitude climbing. Under Fischer’s leadership, Mountain Madness became synonymous with bold expeditions, but most importantly, a passion for sharing the magic of the mountains.
In 1997 the company grew under the new leadership of Christine Boskoff, one of the first prominent female 8,000-meter high-altitude climbers. Her vision took guests to new uncharted, off-the-beaten-path adventures, and strengthened Fischer’s dream to guide more 8,000-meter peaks. Longtime guide Mark Gunlogson, who began guiding for Mountain Madness in 1994, took the reins in 2008, expanding the company into a globally respected adventure travel leader while honoring its founding values of exploration, education, and empowerment. To honor Mountain Madness’s legacy and ensure its future thrives, Mark will remain onboard to guide and mentor the team.
Since 2021, Alpine Athletics and Mountain Madness have partnered on unique initiatives such as fundraiser climbs and all-women’s expeditions in the Pacific Northwest. This partnership continues with an all-women’s Ama Dablam expedition. With a shared vision to inspire and empower climbers to go beyond what they thought was possible, Thompson will further this by offering a fully integrated client journey — from the first training session to summit day — and everything in between.
Mountain Madness’s headquarters is at 9249 17th SW. That’s where you’re invited to attend Ski Film Night at 6 pm Friday, February 6, with screenings, beverages, and raffle. prizes including a drawing for a rescue course. Watch for more community events (we’ll add them to our calendar as we get them).
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Before the three-day weekend that ends with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at least one local school honored his memory with an assembly followed by a march.
Students and staff at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 marched around their campus along the 5900 block of Delridge Way SW this morning.
They carried handmade signs with messages of peace and justice.
Some signs highlighted quotes from Dr. King.
Thanks to the STEM K-8 PTA for letting us know about this!
(WSB photo, this morning)
On New Year’s Eve, we reported on the death of a beloved figure in the South Delridge/White Center community, Lee’s Produce owner Nam Suk Nasatka. Readers had noted the produce market has been closed at times in recent days and wondered about its status. We went over today and found it was open again; they tell us they’re going to do their best to keep it open, in her honor. Meantime, cards at the store have the time, date, and place for her Celebration of Life:
The 1-5 pm gathering on Sunday, February 1, is planned at The Cove in Normandy Park (1500 SW Shorebrook Drive). Ms. Nasatka had worked at Lee’s for more than 40 years, and after the first 10 years, became its owner. She was 75 years old.
The latest West Seattle business temporarily shut down by a pipe break is 2 Fingers Social. The bar’s proprietors first posted on social media that they were closed by “flooding,” then updated with the discovery of a “broken pipe 20 feet down” that they expect will keep them “closed for a while.” They elaborated, “It’s a huge project. They have to dig a 10 x 10 by 20ft deep hole in the sidewalk/street to fix it; also the flood damage fixes on the inside need to be completed.” They’ve raised some money via donations so far but say they’re getting bids for the “huge project.” Their building at 9211 Delridge Way SW – as we noted when 2FS opened in 2017 – had previously been home to businesses including a payday-loan operation and a medical-marijuana dispensary. (Thanks to Ian for the tip on 2FS’s woes.)
PawsVIP recently moved into 9064 Delridge Way SW and is a new WSB sponsor, which means they get to tell you about what they do:
What We Do:
PawsVIP is a locally owned dog day care and boarding facility. We’ve been running our first location near SeaTac since 2019, and West Seattle (9064 Delridge Way SW) is our second home.
Our Services:
At our West Seattle location, we offer day care, overnight boarding, and exit baths for pups heading home after a day of play.
Our Tukwila location has all of that plus full grooming and airport layover services for families moving or traveling with their pets.
Both locations have a 24/7 vet on call.
What Makes PawsVIP Different:
We’re a locally owned business. We’re all pet lovers. We’ve been doing this since 2019. We’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to build a team that genuinely cares. We’ve focused on building a place where people want to stay, because your dog deserves to see familiar faces, not strangers every week.
We provide top quality care for your pet. We remember their habits, preferences, and their playmates. We want them to have fun and be taken care of while you’re away.
We also do our best to provide top quality service for pet parents. We’re communicative and transparent. We work to provide seamless experiences and accommodate your schedule by operating 5am to 9pm, seven days a week.
We’re structured and safety-focused. Kenneled facility, play groups organized by size and temperament, trained staff, 24/7 vet access. We don’t cut corners.
We know transparency matters. We post photos and videos daily because pet parents shouldn’t have to wonder what’s happening with their dog. Check out our Instagram and you’ll see real dogs having real fun.
Our Team:
Everyone on our team is a pet owner. We go home to dogs, cats, you name it. This isn’t just a job for us.
All staff go through background checks before hiring. From there, we train on dog handling, dog behavior, and animal safety. We take the time to do it right because we know the care your dog gets comes down to who’s actually with them.
We’ve tried to build a place where people want to stick around, learn, and grow. When staff are happy and invested, the dogs feel it.
Meet the team: pawsvip.com/team
Soft Opening Offer:
$9.99 day care through January 15, 2026. Trust is earned, and we want people to come see the space and meet us before committing.
Contact PawsVIP:
Email: petcare@pawsvip.com
Phone: 425-230-0344
Book online: pawsvip.com/west-seattle
We thank PawsVIP for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in joining our sponsor team? Please email WSBadvertising@wsbsales.com for information – thank you!
(Photo courtesy StarChefs)
In addition to West Seattle’s sit-down pizza restaurants, the local commissary kitchens host takeout-only pizzerias, including Pizza Ritual, which has been making appearances since summer at KBM (5608 Delridge Way SW). Proprietor Matt Gorman emailed us to say that “starting this week, Pizza Ritual will be offering online pre-ordering/pick-up as well as walk-up ordering on Fridays and Saturdays from 5–8pm at the KBM Kitchen walk-up window.: He explains Pizza Ritual as having …
… a focus on Northwest grains, seasonal farm produce, and locally made cheeses & meats. The dough is central to the process — each batch is hand-mixed, naturally leavened using only flour, water, and salt, and left to ferment at ambient temperatures (never seeing refrigeration of any kind). This approach preserves elements of centuries-old Neapolitan pizza-making traditions while using ingredients rooted in Washington and Oregon. (My) maternal family traces back to Campania and Calabria, and Pizza Ritual is also a way of honoring that Italian heritage through craft and technique.
Since its start, Pizza Ritual has been rooted in community and accessibility. Pizza’s history as an everyday food for the working class is central to (my) philosophy: despite the high-quality sourcing, the goal is to keep pricing approachable and the menu welcoming to everyone in the neighborhood. (I have) collaborated with local chefs and producers including Janet Becerra of Pancita, Mutsuko Soma of Kamonegi/Hannyatou, Aash Farms, and has held regular pop-ups at beloved community spots such as Molly’s Bottle Shop, Bait Shop, Hildegard Ferments & Botanicals, & Darby Winery. At the end of the day, it’s just pizza — meant to be fun, shared, and part of the neighborhood it feeds.
He’ll be taking online orders at pizzaritual.com.
Last June, after months of controversy over City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s espousal of removing a centerline curb on Delridge Way, he and Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the curb would stay and three other projects would be done instead. The biggest of those projects is about to start:
SDOT says work could start as soon as this Friday (December 5) on the 22nd/Delridge turnaround. From the flyer it’s sent to nearby residents:
New Turnaround at Delridge Way SW and 22nd Ave SW
As soon as Friday, December 5, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will start construction at Delridge Way SW and 22nd Ave SW in the Delridge neighborhood at the request of City Councilmember Rob Saka pursuant to a budget investment passed by the Full Council. We will reconfigure the triangle at Delridge Way SW and 22nd Ave SW by building a 24-foot wide turnaround on the north side of the triangle connecting the two streets (see map). This will improve circulation for people driving in this part of the Delridge neighborhood. Please note this project will remove the existing informal parking in this triangle and add landscaping within the triangle area south of the street segment.
The other two projects involve signage; together, all three cost $500,000, according to SDOT, a quarter of what the original plan was budgeted for.
A reader asked what’s going on with that Delridge greenspace, east of the Southwest Precinct and the businesses north of the precinct [vicinity map]. We recalled development plans nearby, years ago, but that’s not what this is for. The land is SDOT property, so we took the question to that department. Turns out it’s for an environmental project that got a little publicity more than two years ago; we tried to get details at the time but our inquiries hit a dead end, and eventually fell off our list (aside from a mention at a meeting last year). In response to our new inquiry, SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali replied:
the vegetation work you’re seeing is part of the Delridge Native Forest Garden project. SDOT and our partners are restoring these parcels to improve habitat, support tree canopy growth, and create more welcoming community green spaces in the neighborhood.
We recently completed planting and established a path to support ongoing stewardship and future volunteer events. Our first volunteer planting event with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association took place on November 22.
More information about the City’s broader forest restoration and tree-planting investments can be found here:
Delridge Native Forest Garden Project – Transportation | seattle.gov
The project website has this map:
The timeline for work here, also as noted on the project page, runs until 2028. The funding is $900,000 of a $13 million federal grant, according to this 2023 news release (when we, as mentioned above, tried to get more details). We asked SDOT about the tribes involved in the program; they say it involves the Muckleshoot Tribe because they’re federally recognized.
Thanks for the tip and photos! A reader reports that the intersection of 26th SW and SW Genesee is now an all-way stop, after SDOT installed signs on Genesee today:
This comes five-plus years after a community controversy over a different plan to calm traffic at that intersection: In 2020, SDOT announced a sudden plan for “diverters” at this intersection and 26th/Brandon; after neighborhood pushback, they shelved the idea in March 2021, and that’s the last time the word “diverters” appears in our archives. 26th SW is a greenway through the area.
(Sound Transit map of West Seattle extension as currently planned)
Just one major West Seattle meeting planned in the three days before the four-day holiday weekend: Tomorrow is the rescheduled date for the “visioning forum” planned to look at where the West Seattle light-rail project is now and what might happen next, as Sound Transit revisits its long-range plans in the face of swollen potential price tags. County and city elected officials, Sound Transit executives, and transit advocates are among the pre-announced panelists and presenters; most of the public communication for this has come from the office of our area’s County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who told us that there will be time for attendee Q/A and comments. The event is set to start at 5:30 pm Monday (November 24), at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW)
(Photo courtesy SPU/WM: Tool Library’s Sean Isom and WM’s Anna Seweryniak)
Every Wednesday, as featured in our Event Calendar and daily highlight lists, the West Seattle Tool Library hosts a Fix-It event, to which you can bring a tool and get help fixing it so you don’t have to toss it. That’s why Seattle Public Utilities and Waste Management just gave the Tool Library a $1,000 “ReThink Waste” grant, one of five small grants just announced for Seattle organizations that have projects/programs “to reduce waste or create new pathways for sustainability.” That’s not all the Tool Library offers; it’s been open for 15 years, as a community resource, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). And if you want to check out the next Fix-It event, that starts tonight at 5:30 pm!
11:58 AM: Some have lost power and a car crash is likely to blame – a driver is reported to have hit a utility pole by the Southwest Precinct at Delridge and Webster.
12:01 PM: More than 4,400 customers are out per the Seattle City Light outage map.
12:12 PM: Some traffic signals are in the outage zone, so remember that when those go dark, it’s an all-ways stop. Meantime, a commenter says Chief Sealth IHS and Denny MS are aut of power because of this. … Police say they’re blocking SW Webster between Delridge and the precinct gate; at one point they described the car as having ended up “almost vertical” against the pole (we’re on our way to look).
(Added: Photo uploaded in comments below by ‘WS Resident’)
12:21 PM: A texter says West Seattle Elementary is out too.
12:56 PM: Just got back and the map – and texters – say the outage is over. City Light and a tow truck had already arrived at the crash site on the northwest corner of Delridge/Webster when we went by.
(Photo courtesy Puget Soundkeeper)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Nearly 60 volunteers gathered Saturday at Dragonfly Pavilion for a salmon-season Longfellow Creek cleanup event hosted by Puget Soundkeeper and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. The event was a way for community members to become stewards of their environment, said Tanya Balaji, a Stewardship and Education Manager with Puget Soundkeeper.
Balaji, who has a background in oceanography and biology, has been working with Puget Soundkeeper for just over a year, and says it’s been a great experience. Volunteers were signing up through Friday night, even during the downpour, and according to Balaji, there were surprisingly few cancellations.
(WSB photos from here down)
The cleanup had two goals. First, to help clean up the waterway and surrounding area ahead of winter. “Restoration work helps nurture a better habitat,” Balaji said. It is also a chance to highlight the yearly Salmon Survey, involving a rotating group of volunteers who check on Longfellow Creek every day of spawning season, counting live and dead salmon. (We’re expecting the total seasonal count to be made public on Monday.)
During the event, volunteers were encouraged to stop by and chat with the survey teams, to learn more about vital conservation efforts. In addition to keeping track of the population, the survey teams are on the lookout for Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS), a sometimes devastating condition caused by chemical runoff from car tires. URMS is specifically dangerous to coho salmon, and Puget Soundkeeper’s teams are monitoring it as a key step toward protecting waterways.
A team of four survey members, including Puget Soundkeeper volunteer Tallie, found two salmon, a male and a female, just before noon Saturday. After wading into the creek and retrieving the fish, survey members perform a quick necropsy on the salmon.
Tallie said they’re searching for three key features. First, whether or not the tail is still present. Because survey teams work on different days, they mark salmon they’ve already recorded by severing the end of the tail. If the salmon still has a tail, they check for an adipose fin, a small fin located on the back of the fish. Salmon grown in hatcheries have this fin removed, which allows the team to determine which salmon are wild, and which trace to hatcheries.
Finally, and in a show that drew a crowd of volunteers, they check each salmon to see if it’s spawned. Here’s Tallie, holding up a small female salmon to cheering from the crowd, as she revealed that it did manage to spawn.
“I didn’t think I would like it at first,” said Tallie, who’s been volunteering for two years, “but it’s kinda cool to see.” Overall, she says the season has been good, though Saturday was an outlier, with no living salmon spotted by noon.
Beyond keeping the environment clean, events at Longfellow Creek also help keep younger people active in their communities, said Mark Dorsey, who attended Saturday with a group of students from Unleash the Brilliance. Founded in 2008 by Mark’s brother Terrell, Unleash the Brilliance is a nonprofit that aims to help youth stay engaged with their education, especially youth facing challenges that may result in reckless behavior, said Dorsey.
He says it’s been incredibly rewarding to see younger people get involved in stewarding their environment. “Before, you’d see kids just standing around on their phones,” Dorsey said, “But now they’re competing to see who can pick up the most trash, or plant the most trees. They’re all competing to see who can do better.”
For more information, to donate, or to volunteer with Puget Soundkeeper, check their website here. For more information about Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, go here.
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