West Seattle, Washington
01 Saturday
Looking ahead to next school year – just weeks away – the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) hopes you can help with this year’s Pencil Me In for Kids school-supply drive. Here’s how:
Pencil Me In For Kids (PMIFK) is a West Seattle Rotary-sponsored project that has provided basic school supplies to West Seattle K-5 students in need since 1995. Their 31st annual School Supply Drive runs through August 1.
You can help by donating supplies that elementary school students frequently use. High demand items include folders with pockets (e.g., Pee-Chees), washable markers (fine tip, wide or slant tip, black and color markers), and colored pencils.
Collection boxes are located at Brookdale Admiral Heights Senior Living, Fauntleroy Church & YMCA (9140 California SW), and West Seattle Thriftway (California & Fauntleroy).
“In addition, monetary donations allow us to buy school supplies at a discount and help hundreds of K-5 students in West Seattle,” said Sue Lindblom, former owner of Illusions Hair Design, who founded Pencil Me In For Kids 31 years ago and continues to coordinate the annual drive. “Online donations can be made via the West Seattle Rotary Foundation (bit.ly/3Uio6rh) and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.” (Note: Select Local Projects on the drop-down list and type “PMIFK” on the notes.)
Hosted by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, PMIFK is one of several local Rotary projects that support children, youth, and schools, including Music4Life (collecting orchestra and band instruments for K-12 music programs) and a variety of scholarships and awards. Learn more at westseattlerotary.org/projects/local.
New leadership for the Rotary Club of West Seattle! Here’s the announcement they asked us to share with you:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle launched its new year (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) at its annual installation banquet on June 30. Amidst a cheering crowd, outgoing president Ron Palmer passed the gavel to incoming president Stefanie Felix.
Stefanie has worked as a freelance photographer for more than 30 years, specializing in documentary-style reportage and capturing emotional moments for a wide range of corporate, nonprofit, and government agency clients. Personal projects have included documenting immigrant education in and around Seattle, concentrating on language acquisition and family integration, Animal Therapists, and Holocaust education for next generations.
Stefanie grew up in San Francisco in the 1960s. Coming into her own, she became a vocal feminist and challenged cultural norms of that era. After graduating from UCLA and then earning a second bachelor’s degree from the Brooks Institute of Photography, Stefanie returned to the Bay Area and started her photography business as well as a family. Stefanie moved to Seattle in 1995 and worked with 20-plus Seattle photographers to learn the market before branching out on her own once more. She raised two sons and now showers her affection and admiration on her grandchildren.
Stefanie’s goals for the 2026–2027 Rotary year include:
· Increase visibility and develop the Rotary brand to be associated with the club’s impact in the West Seattle community and beyond. Create an interactive video featuring our distinct projects.
· Build more support for new members through mentoring and educating them in Rotary history and its ongoing work. Raise engagement by encouraging new ideas and provide opportunities for members to share information about their work classification and expertise.
· Support ongoing club and international projects, including Pencil Me In For Kids, Music4Life, community fruit gleaning, and PolioPlus, and explore new fundraising opportunities to help finance them.
· Continue to build youth programs and engagement through Interact (high school clubs), Students of the Month, and multiple scholarship programs, and strengthen Rotary’s involvement with South Seattle College.
· Promote peacebuilding through activities and events that represent and encourage peace (an example, Peace Pole dedications).
· Add an Environmental Sustainability Committee to the club’s areas of service, with a unique ongoing community project.
West Seattle Rotary welcomes visitors at Tuesday club luncheons at the West Seattle Golf Course with advance registration. E-mail ws_rotary@yahoo.com by noon on Sunday if interested in attending. Those considering membership should inquire about a complimentary lunch. For most visitors, the cost is $30.
To learn more, visit westseattlerotary.org or follow the club on social media.
(WSB photo from 2024 West Seattle Grand Parade, YMCA’s award-winning entry)
Before we return to Fourth of July coverage – a reminder that we’re exactly two weeks away from this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade! On Saturday, July 18, the parade proceeds southbound on California Avenue SW, starting at 11 am at SW Lander in The Admiral District and proceeding to SW Edmunds on the south end of The Junction. You can pick a viewing spot anywhere along the route to watch marching bands, performers, community organizations, schools, and other entries (the Seafair Pirates among them). The parade is presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle Foundation, powered by volunteers, donations, and sponsorships. And if you really want to supercharge your day, you can run or walk in the Float Dodger 5K on the parade route before the parade – 9:30 am; thi is presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank – register here!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In a time when Seattle Public Schools enrollment isn’t exactly booming, West Seattle High School enrollment is.
Nearly 1,500 students fill the school now, principal Brian Vance told the Rotary Club of West Seattle today – up from 900 when he took over nine years ago. They’ve had to add portables.
The size of the student body isn’t the only number he brought to tell a success story. He had other numbers, like a 93 percent four-year graduation rate.
And he had some personal points of success, too – dad to two WSHS graduates now in college, president of the districtwide Principals Association of Seattle Schools.
Not everything was rosy. Despite the strong enrollment, they’ve had to make staff cuts for next year because of the district’s finances. Vance mentioned that in response to a question about his biggest current concerns; he also cited students’ mental health, and substance abuse.
He also was asked about cell-phone use in schools, subject of a recently announced district policy. He said WSHS has had a policy since the start of the school year and it’s “going fine.” Elsewhere on the technology front, they’re working with both students and teachers to ensure that AI is used as a support, not a “replacement.”
Vance’s appearance was relatively brief; he said he’d been summoned to a meeting with new district superintendent Ben Shuldiner, whose leadership so far – just hitting the 100-day milestone – led Vance to suggest “there’s going to be some big changes coming.” He did not elaborate.
Play bingo, support community work! The Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is offering you a chance to do both at once, and is sending out the last call for tickets:
There are still some seats available for Peace, Love & Bingo: Flower Power, an evening of rainbow bingo with Sylvia O’Stayformore, on Saturday 5/16. This West Seattle Rotary Club fundraising event supports the club’s humanitarian work in the community and internationally in the coming year. Advance registration is required. Buy your ticket(s) on Eventbrite, then pull out your tie-dye, bell bottoms, and daisies … or come as you are. Tune in and have a far-out time!
Far-out but not far … Peace, Love, and Bingo will be happening at the West Seattle Golf Course.
Teens interested in a unique leadership-skills opportunity are invited to apply to be sponsored to atted Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp – here’s the announcement:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle will sponsor two local high school students to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Northwest at Camp Colman in Longbranch on June 4-7, 2026. Participants develop leadership skills, have fun, and make connections. Students residing in West Seattle, age 15-17, and in 10th or 11th grade at the time of the event can apply/register at www.bit.ly/49SRGv6. Applicants should pick West Seattle (135) as their sponsoring club and must compellingly fill in the “What do you hope to gain by attending?” field. Note the May 1 deadline.
Help them help you, is the pitch from a new club at West Seattle High School. Here’s their announcement, with a call for ideas – and new members!
(Interact members with Rotary Club of West Seattle members)
A new student-led community service club, Interact, seeks to support its community. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, Interact meets at the West Seattle High School library at 3:50 pm Mondays.
The club is actively planning an annual service projects for the local community and a project that fosters international understanding. It is soliciting ideas from the community on both fronts.
“We need members, so if you or someone you know is interested and a student at West Seattle High School, email us for more information at rotarywshs@gmail.com,” said club president Wynn Johnson. “And if you are a resident in the West Seattle area in need of or have an idea for a service project, please email us as well.”
“Help us help you,” added Interact member Dexter Fleener.
Interact has grown from 3 to 8 active members in its first five months. Past service projects include helping the Rotary Club of West Seattle clean up trash along Delridge Way and raising $890 for the West Seattle Food Bank when SNAP benefits were put on pause during the October government shutdown.
“We do good things for our community,” said club Vice President Dylan Dreier.
Contact: rotarywshs@gmail.com
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“There are folks who are climate deniers, and there are folks who are climate alarmists. The alarmists think that we’re going to be ending humanity in the next 25 years, which is not going to happen. We’re going to adapt.”
This was an assertion made by this week’s Rotary Club of West Seattle speaker, Dave Spicer. Spicer, a Rotarian for 40 years, is currently serving as chair of Rotary District 5030’s Environmental Sustainability Committee; he has done extensive work through Rotary on 57 water projects and humanitarian aid trips. (Here’s more on his background.)
His presentation covered all things environment – situating the audience in our current situation, both locally and globally, and delving into widespread environmental issues before beginning to discuss potential mitigation strategies, and wins.
Spicer outlined the fundamental reason that climate change is happening: the release of fossil fuels into the atmosphere. He explained that methane gas and carbon dioxide are working together to contain heat within our atmosphere, after which he explained the physical effects.
In our state, he noted, Washingtonians are experiencing flooding and water scarcity simultaneously, in different regions. A drought has plagued Eastern Washington for 4 years, while some Western Washington residents experienced extensive flooding in December, damaging 4,000 homes, leading to the evacuation of 100,000 people.
On a global scale, a lot of the damage outlined by Spicer concerned oceans, especially damage to coral reefs, which provide a habitat for 25% of the marine population. He called the potential for the coral reefs to continue on this trajectory as “quite cataclysmic”. The Ph is also lowering in the ocean due to warming, and concern lies in how this temperature rise will affect the frequency of hurricanes and marine life in general.
He then moved to outline how this environmental deterioration has had, and will continue to have, an impact on man-made societal structures. Insurance and deductibles for businesses are going up because of the increased risk for destruction of property due to extreme weather events – weather events that result in at least $1 billion in property damage. The damage from the floods in December was estimated at more than $182 million, for which Governor Ferguson submitted a request for federal help.
Climate change has also had an impact on human health issues, Spicer said, including potential risks for people with respiratory issues and higher risks for skin cancer in extreme heat. He also referred to the term “Climate Trauma,” saying it has emerged in mental-health spheres as a diagnosis.
As it may read now, Spicer acknowledged the anxiety-inducing nature of our current climate crisis. “I don’t mean to be overwhelmingly sobering… but I do want you to have a sense of the trajectory,” he said. “There are a lot of positive trends. Renewable energy is in many countries, including our own area and other parts of the country; [these energy sources] are really on the increase, primarily air and solar.” He emphasized the importance of nuclear power, noting that currently 10 percent of Washington State’s power is nuclear.
In the legal realm, Spicer brought up the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which incentivizes industries to move forward on the use of solar and wind power, and encourages the transition to domestic energy sources. Additionally, a 2024 Montana Supreme Court ruling upheld a landmark climate ruling concerning state residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment.
On an individual level, Spicer gave advice on several actions people can take to reduce their own environmental harm. These include taking a carbon-footprint test, educating yourself about climate change, and smaller individual actions such as turning temperatures down at night, taking shorter showers, using electric vehicles or public transit, among other suggestions.
“It’s not going to go away, It is going to get worse, but we can mitigate it. Spicer said. And there’s potential for all of it to play a role for our children and our grandchildren, because 50 or 100 years from now, if you don’t do enough, you will have let them down. That’s the reality.”
After those closing thoughts, Spicer answered three questions, all that organizers said time would allow.
The first question was about concern over the current administration’s disengagement with national and international climate matters. “What will be the impact of our dismissive attitude over four years?”
Spicer began by noting that the United States is home to some of the “best creative entrepreneurial energies, some of the most incredible scientists, and some of the finest people in this field.” He added that these people are now being limited in their involvement to be part of the solution. “Those regions like ours that are richest have to figure out a way to support those that are most impacted.” Spicer emphasized that since our country helped to create this problem, we have a responsibility to come to the aid of those most affected by it.
The second question acted more as a statement, expressing concern over the direct impact of fossil fuels on nations and wars. The Rotarian said, ‘We’re going to have more of that if we don’t wean ourselves off oil,” to which Spicer agreed.
“We can’t extricate gas overnight,” he said. He talked about the necessity to develop a plan for the next 20-30 years to transition to solar, wind, water, and nuclear power. “It just absolutely has to happen, frankly.”
The last question pertained to Rotary members specifically – whether a Rotary program exists to educate populations about the impacts of climate change who don’t necessarily acknowledge it. Drawing from his extensive experience as a Rotary member working around the world, Spicer observed that the last 10 years have been “mind-shaking” for most people. He explained that most Rotarians understand the extent of the crisis, specifically mentioning branches in Asia and Africa who diligently take care of their ecosystems.
SIDE NOTES: One Rotary member recommended the book “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia Butler to learn more about what a country in a water crisis looks like. Another mentioned extensive New York Times coverage on the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica and the effects of its dwindling.
The Rotary Club of West Seattle meets most Tuesdays at noon. Here’s what to do if you’re a non-member interested in attending.
College is costly. If you or someone in your family needs help, the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is offering two scholarships – and the application deadline is approaching. Here’s what you need to know:
Gambriell Scholarship — named after the late Vern Gambriell, a West Seattle homebuilder, this scholarship is awarded to a student who could not otherwise attend college. The amount is variable.
Past Presidents Scholarship — $6,000 is awarded each year to a student from a non-Rotarian family who lives in West Seattle or attends a high school in the West Seattle area, or a West Seattle resident who is transferring from a two-year to a four-year college, or a West Seattle resident who recently earned a bachelor’s degree and is pursuing a higher degree.
For more information about the scholarships, visit the West Seattle Rotary Scholarship webpage. Note the April 1 deadline.
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Rotary Club of West Seattle hosted West Seattle’s highest-ranking elected official at this week’s lunch meeting.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who lives in West Seattle when not in D.C., has represented Washington’s 7th Congressional district since 2017. District 7 encompasses the majority of Seattle and the neighboring communities of Shoreline, Vashon Island, and Lake Forest Park.
Jayapal arrived after the Rotary’s lunch had concluded on Tuesday to speak about the current state of national and local politics, as well as welcome questions from members. She began by saying that her favorite part of the job is being home in order to engage with people residing in the district she represents. She wanted to highlight the work that she does on a hyper-local level to the Rotary because she felt that so much of the public focus otherwise is on higher-profile issues that she works on – like immigration and the Epstein Files.
The congresswoman said she has secured around $18 million for projects across District 7 in the past year dealing with transportation, arts and community, food banks, and housing. She said with regret that the current administration has only allowed these funds to support government projects and not nonprofits. She also said she has delivered 22 acres of new “parkland and community gathering space” to the district.
Regarding the Epstein Files, she said she has been working on exposing “powerful rich predators who were part of a massive global sex trafficking ring and have not been brought to justice.” Rep. Jayapal has collaborated with Epstein survivors, interviewing four of them for her podcast “The Power You Have,” which has another episode coming out this Friday. “It troubles me so much, it sickens me, really. It’s just a level of depravity that I’m finding it hard to find the words to express.” Jayapal gave immense credit to the survivors for “shaking the earth,” and is hoping that the resignations happening with prominent figures involved globally will soon begin in the United States.
Immigration reform was mentioned as well, with Jayapal describing the violent detention of both American citizens and undocumented immigrants as “bipartisan horror.” She noted that more than 76,000 people are currently incarcerated in for-profit immigration-enforcement facilities, or “jails” as Jayapal calls them because of what she describes as horrific conditions. She also mentioned how the partial government shutdown is affecting the Department of Homeland Security, saying she is pushing for significant reforms to be required if funding is to continue.
On the topic of bipartisanship, Rep. Jayapal pointed to her co-sponsorship of the Restore Trust in Congress Act. The bill would effectively ban members of Congress from owning or trading stocks, but is competing with a recent bill announced by speaker Mike Johnson which addresses stock trading, but doesn’t ban it entirely. She wanted to mention bipartisanship in a couple additional lights – the collaboration for humanitarian efforts in Sudan, and work in Syria to bring a true democracy.
After these notes, Jayapal opened it up to questions from Rotary members, of which there were many, but time only allowed for five.
Question 1
“If you could spur the citizens to do something to help the current situation, what would that be?”
“Speak out,” Jayapal replied. She urged listeners to use whatever platform they had access to to speak on important political issues, and importantly, to bring “as much legitimacy to what you are saying as possible.” She also advised people to get involved with organizations such as the ACLU and the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, as well as to participate in mutual-aid assistance for Minnesota. “Hopelessness and powerlessness are tools of an oppressor,” she warned.
The congresswoman polled the room for individuals who had taken her Resistance Lab training. The training is aimed at giving the public precise tools and tactics to help resist against a dictatorship.
Question 2
“What is your solution to the homelessness situation?”
Jayapal talked about her bill, the Housing is a Human Right Act, and explained her belief that “everything starts with having a home.” She said the federal government has disinvested in housing over the years, and that affordable housing is essential to combatting the crisis. Specifically in Seattle, she brought up that private equity investors are contributing to the growing number of empty units, by purchasing units that were previously available for rental. “Poverty and homelessness are failures of policy, not people,” she said.
Question 3
“What does the restoration of public health look like?”
Jayapal explained the consequences of the destruction of data sets at the federal level. “Federal data sets that track epidemiology of a disease emerging no longer exist, they have been scrubbed. Rebuilding is going to be a very difficult and long process, long after RFK Jr. is out of office.”
She emphasized that building public trust is the most important aspect of public health, and that currently, trust has not been established between the United States government and its public.
“How do you rebuild from a place of complete destruction, not only in the infrastructure but in the basic ethos of ‘the government is here to help me’?” she mused.
Question 4
“How do we keep the midterm elections safe and secure? How do we make sure the outcome is respected?”
Jayapal started by mentioning last week’s vote on the SAVE Act, saying she considered it an “attack on our voting system and an attempt to forward Trump’s push for nationalizing elections.” She has been fighting to keep elections safe and secure by helping to file lawsuits against states that are trying to ban mail-in voting. She urged the importance of “walking the line” between taking these risks seriously, versus taking them so seriously that voter turnout would be depressed by the belief that one’s vote wouldn’t count. Lastly, she wanted people to turn their attention to investing in voting infrastructure and workers.
Question 5
“What is the winning strategy in Congress to assure that we have free and fair elections this midterm and in the next presidential election?”
“Do you want the bad news first?” Jayapal joked. She outlined that the “founding framers” didn’t give Congress enough power in comparison to the president, and that Congress will never really be able to control the executive. “Framers assumed that the majority party would care more about the Constitution and their constituents than about one cult-figure person.”
She urged the audience to organize, and truly think about who they vote for, saying the public needed to continue to elect people who are actually going to make things move, and are in politics to contribute to the public good.
The Rotary Club of West Seattle (a WSB sponsor) meets at noon most Tuesdays. Information about attending as a guest can be found here.
(2023 photo by Kersti Muul)
One year after filling the room at a local community council meeting and explaining why people should be “less anxious” about beavers, Pamela Adams will talk to the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s weekly lunch gathering this Tuesday (February 10). The self-styled “Beaver Detective” is expected, the WS Rotary (WSB sponsor) says, to give attendees “a guided journey through Longfellow Creek, home to five known beaver families, and share how beavers are reshaping this urban creek, the importance of thoughtful human stewardship, and a hopeful, science-grounded look at how cities and wildlife can thrive together.” The meeting starts at noon Tuesday at the West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW); if you’re interested in attending, ws_rotary@yahoo.com is the email contact.
(Erik Bell, right, with WS Rotary past president Mark Ward; WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Erik Bell “is everywhere, all the time.”
So marveled Rotary Club of West Seattle past president Mark Ward in presenting the 2026 Patrick Sand Memorial Award to Bell, founder of A Cleaner Alki, today.
The club created the award “to honor the legacy” of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand – “perseverance, responsibility, determination to keep moving forward,” and made him its first recipient, posthumously, one year ago. Erik Bell is the second recipient.
(Photo courtesy A Cleaner Alki)
His four-year-old nonprofit is indeed everywhere – cleaning up and “sprucing up” sites all around the peninsula, and sometimes beyond. This is no casual weekend sideline. His recap of last year alone: 248 organized events, 4,800 volunteer hours, 68,000 pounds of trash and junk. Since A Cleaner Alki’s launch during the pandemic, Ward told club members during their weekly lunch meeting today:
Erik’s commitment to building community while cleaning and protecting the environment has grown tremendously … He’s rallied volunteers for cleanups and invasive-plant removal at our beaches, in parks and greenbelts, beneath the West Seattle Bridge, and along highways, arterials, and bike trails.
One of the most recent challenges he took on: Those tires dumped in Fairmount Ravine, shown here on Saturday. Though neither we nor our tipster knew it at the time, the tires already were on Bell’s radar, and his sleuthing has traced their suspected source, with a law-enforcement investigation hopefully to follow. (Right after today’s meeting, in fact, Bell told us, he was headed out to chase another offshoot of the situation … we last saw him in his familiar white A Cleaner Alki van, custom plates BY AND BY, aimed southbound on 35th from West Seattle Golf Course, where the Rotary has its meetings.)
The club also bestowed on Bell the Paul Harris Fellowship, in honor of Rotary International’s founder.
You can support Erik Bell’s quest for community improvement by pitching in with A Cleaner Alki almost any day – their upcoming cleanups are listed here, and daily DIY “Block Drop” equipment can be found at Alki – or loaned to you if you contact ACA.
(WSB photo: WS Rotary president Ron Palmer and Justice Mary Yu)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu could keep that job for up to seven more years until the court’s mandatory retirement age of 75.
Instead, she’s hanging up her robes at the end of this year. “I’m not going to work until I die,” she explained in a speech to the Rotary Club of West Seattle today.
Her appearance came two months after announcing her retirement, Justice Yu returned to her former home neighborhood – she said she lived in West Seattle 25 years. Here’s our full video of her speech and the Q&A that followed:
Justice Yu’s appointment to the state’s highest court 11 years ago made history on multiple fronts – the first Asian, the first Latina, and the first LGBTQ-community member to serve on it. She told the Rotary today that she’s not able to speak about political matters until two months after she retires, so they didn’t hear any commentary on issues of the day. They did get a lesson in how the State Supreme Court works, and the fact our state has a “non-unified” court system, meaning every county’s Superior Court, every city/town’s Municipal Court, all operate independently – if a case is pending against you in one jurisdiction, for example, another jurisdiction can’t deal with it, might not even be able to see the records. Yu said there’s a chance the state might move to a unifid system some day, and that “might be a good thing,” in her view.
In addition to explaining how the court works – watch the video for all those details – she also talked about where the court works: The Temple of Justice, recently closed for a while to get upgrades – Justice Yu said it hadn’t had central heat or potable water – now it does. “It’s a beautiful building … even if you’re driving somewhere else [and passing through the Olympia area) … stop in and see it – the courtroom is open – and all of the justices love giving kidds tours!”
She also talked about the Washington court being “the second most-cited court in the nation, after California,” particularly because of this letter sent out at the time of the nation’s 2020 “racial reckoning.” She also observed that the court doesn’t set an agenda of what it’ll consider – “people bring us cases.”
Q&A included a followup on the “unified vs. non-unified” court issue Justice Yu had. brought up, what interaction they have with federal court (in light of the immigration situation) – she explained the difference between “constitutional federal judges” and “administrative judges,” saying they had no interaction with the latter. And she said Washington was a trendsetter on relying heavily on its state constitution. Also, a retired lawyer asked about the court’s funding, and that led to a musing from Yu on the philosophy of not funding courts through fines and fees.
Thanking her for her visit, the club donated to Harvest for Hunger in her honor.
ALSO AT TODAY’S MEETING: That wasn’t the only hunger-fighting donation made at the meeting – Rotary-affiliated Interact Club members from West Seattle High School took up a donation that totaled more than $430.
The Rotary Club of West Seattle (a WSB sponsor) meets for lunch most weeks, Tuesday at noon – go here to find out about upcoming programs/speakers.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
State Attorney General Nick Brown got a standing ovation even before he spoke to the Rotary Club of West Seattle this afternoon at the WS Golf Course.
Brown, a West Seattle resident, said the past 10 months – since his election – “have felt more like 10 years” – only half-jokingly. But “despite all the chaos of the past 10 months … I love being in this position.” Here’s our video of his speech in its entirety, starting after the four-minute introduction by West Seattle Rotary president Ron Palmer:
Before talking about the work that’s put him in the headlines – more than 40 lawsuits against the Trump Administration – Brown said it’s important to acknowledge the hard work of his staff, “at this time when public service is denigrated” and worse. His department has “about 830 lawyers who work for me, on behalf of you,” and 900 more professional staffers, all spread across 13 offices in the state. “Part of the reason we’re so big” is that they represent every single part of the state government, rather than various agencies and departments (and universities, and more) rather than those entities each having their own legal staff. “All the way down to the state Potato Commission!” All in all, “I get to come to work and do something that matters, every single day.”
The Attorney General often works with the public on consumer-protection issues; he mentioned cases such as the rent-fixing allegations against RealPage. “We do so many things that touch people’s lives … And every now and then we sue the President of the United States.”
Brown said he doesn’t take joy in that “so much of our work is focused on protecting people from their president.” He explained that he started his career (here’s his bio) as an Army JAG lawyer and has other veterans and service members in his family. “I really love our country and believe in it … I believe we ar facing a torrent of illegal activity from the presidency … harming Washingtonians.” And when he sees that, “I feel an obligation to step in.” Right now, his office is involved in 41 cases against the federal government, out of about 55 filed by him and other state officials nationwide. Some of the cases are led by other states; some are joined by other states.
In talking about them, he singled out two categories:
(WSB PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN)
The sunlight gleamed while the volunteers gleamed. Above are the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) and Scouting America volunteers who fanned out this morning to 20 sites where residents/owners had volunteered more than 40 fruit trees for gleaning – harvesting so the fruit could be given to local food banks.
The sites were identified after the Rotary’s open invitation to the community earlier this summer.
Volunteers fanned out to the 20 sites after a short group meetup this morning.
(Scout Brita Gill picks an apple in front of a house that volunteered five trees, including apples, pears, and plums)
(Rotarian Martha Sidlo)
(From left, scout Josie Gill, rotary member Martha Sidlo, and scout Brita Gill pick fruit from a volunteer’s trees)
Once the gleaning was over, it was time for the next step in the process. At the West Seattle Food Bank, development director Robbin Peterson took this photo of volunteers delivering what eventually amounted to more than 840 pounds of fruit!
(Bryan and Mike from WS Rotary, Robert from White Center Food Bank)
Robbin observes, “It was a beautiful and fun day in community, getting to meet neighbors and ne friends, while doing good for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.” The gleaning event was also in partnership with City Fruit, who facilitates this kind of harvesting year-round.
(WSB photo – early donations during last Saturday’s drive)
One week ago, we visited the heart of The Junction as volunteers from the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) collected instrument donations for Music4Life. Tonight, Rotarian Brian Waid, who coordinated the dropoff donation drive, reports on the results:
I’m pleased to report that on August 9, with the support of the West Seattle KeyBank branch, the Rotary Club of West Seattle received donations of 43 used musical instruments for the benefit of Music4Life, including: drums (3, including an unusual split drum), flutes (6), clarinets (10, including 3 Buffet clarinets), trumpets/cornets (6), french horn (1), trombone (1), saxophone (1), recorders (2), guitars (4), and a banjo (1). We also received a generous cash donation for Music4Life, an instrument tuner, clarinet repair kit, music books, and several music stands.
Missed the drive? You can still donate instruments and/or money – here’s how. Music4Life works with 15 school districts in the region, including Seattle.
(WSB photos)
At the southwest corner of California and Alaska, Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) members are collecting musical instruents right now for Music4Life, which will get those instruments to students who need them. In our photo above, Rotarian Brian Waid is holding an acoustic guitar that had just been brought in. Rotarian Irene Stewart, who traces her involvement with Music4Life back to its beginnings in the ’00s, said early donations included 3 violins, 2 recorders, 2 clarinets, 2 coronets, a French horn, a trombone, and a banjo!
Music4Life works with 15 school districts around Western Washington, including Seattle, and has collected more than 3,100 instruments since 2007. If you have one (or more) you can donate, Rotarians will be at California/Alaska until 2 pm today, as previewed here a week and a half ago. (You also can donate money to the program.) Waid says they’re having a great time not only collecting the instruments but hearing the stories behind them.
You have the fruit tree(s), they have the volunteers ready to harvest. The Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is working with partners on plans for a Community Fruit Gleaning Day – just under six weeks away, but you’re urged to register your fruit tree(s) right now! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Volunteer your fruit tree now for Community Fruit Gleaning Day in September
Gleaning? What’s that?! Historically, “to glean” was to gather crops left over after a general harvest. Today, the term describes the process of harvesting fruit that might otherwise go to waste and getting it into the hands of people who need it via local food banks.
Rotary Club of West Seattle is partnering with City Fruit, a nonprofit organization that harvests and stewards urban fruit trees to support sustainable and equitable access to fruit, as well as Scouting America Chief Seattle Council. Together, they will glean fruit that can be distributed to neighbors in need through the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank.
How can you help? Register your apple, pear, plum, or other fruit-bearing tree if you’re likely to have ripe fruit in early September. Complete the Gleaning Interest Form (forms.gle/Mbp8r5v6kveJtFaX7) as soon as possible (deadline August 23). Rotarians and Scouts will harvest the fruit on Saturday, September 13.
“It’s a pretty sweet deal,” said Mike Price, the Rotarian leading the West Seattle project. “You volunteer your tree but don’t have to do any heavy work. Let Rotary and Scouts do the picking and hauling. The food banks and their clients really welcome the fruit.”
“Our partners, City Fruit, harvest 30,000–45,000 pounds of fruit from trees on residential properties and in orchards across Seattle every year, which they share with food banks and local meal programs,” Price continued. “We know of trees left unharvested, where the fruit spoils. It’s a shame to lose that nutritional value.”
If you have fruit that ripens at a different time of year, consider sharing it via City Fruit. For more information, visit cityfruit.org/share-your-fruit/.
Questions about Community Gleaning Day? E-mail the Rotary Club of West Seattle at ws_rotary@yahoo.com.
Don’t let your unused musical instrument(s) gather dust in a closet .., this dropoff donation drive is just a week and a half away!
West Seattle Community Day of Musical Instrument Donations to Music4Life
Sponsor: West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation (a tax-exempt org.)
Date/Time of Event: Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Key Bank at Alaska Junction (Corner of California Ave SW & SW Alaska Street in West Seattle)
Goal: To receive and acknowledge donations of gently used musical instruments for repair and refurbishing, to enable students in need to participate in school music programs.
Types of Instruments Needed: All orchestra and band instruments, as well as guitars.
Most needed: trumpets/coronets, clarinets, flutes, and violins.
What is Music4Life? Music4Life is a local nonprofit organization that puts instruments into the hands of students whose families cannot afford to rent or purchase, making it possible for them to participate in school music programs.
Why Donate? Many people have lovingly used musical instruments in their garages or attics, or in storage. When reminded, they ask themselves “Why am I still carting this instrument around? Music4Life understands that some people have precious memories of their used musical instruments. We do not want a reluctant giver. We instead want donors who appreciate the unique value of instrumental music in the life and education of a child—and want all children regardless of family need, to experience it. Music4Life partners with preferred, local professional music repair shops for discounted restoration of these instruments.
Contact: Brian Waid (Rotary Club of West Seattle member):
Email: brianjwaid@gmail.com Telephone: 206-714-7535
Or Visit: Website: www.Music4Life.org or www.westseattlerotary.org
The start of next school year is closer than you think, so it’s time for families to start thinking about school supplies. Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is collecting donated supplies in its longrunning Pencil Me In For Kids drive. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you, explaining how to help:
Pencil Me In For Kids (PMIFK) is a West Seattle Rotary sponsored project that has provided basic school supplies to West Seattle K-5 students in need since 1995. Their 30th annual School Supply Drive launched this week and runs through August 1.
You can help by donating supplies that elementary school students frequently use, such as folders with pockets (e.g., Pee-Chees), glue sticks, pens, pencils, pink erasers, washable fine tip color markers, washable fine and slant-tip black markers, and wide-ruled paper.
Drop-off sites include Brookdale Admiral Heights Senior Living, Fauntleroy Church, Fauntleroy YMCA, Potter Construction (call 206-237-3603 first), and West Seattle Thriftway.
Supplies can also be dropped off at the Rotary luncheon meeting on July 29 at the West Seattle Golf Course clubhouse (11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. only).
Online donations allow Pencil Me In For Kids to buy school supplies at a discount. Online donations can be made via the West Seattle Rotary Foundation (bit.ly/3Uio6rh) and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Note: Select Local Projects on the drop-down list and type “PMIFY” on the notes.)
Sue Lindblom, former owner of Illusions Hair Design, founded Pencil Me In For Kids 30 years ago and continues to coordinate the annual drive.
“In the beginning, we raised modest amounts of money for the back-to-school supplies for student wish lists,” said Sue. “Our only thought was to get supplies to kids who needed them so they wouldn’t feel left out and hopefully their self-esteem could be helped. Thirty years later, Pencil Me In For Kids has supported thousands of K-5 students throughout West Seattle.”
Hosted by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, PMIFK is one of several local Rotary projects that support children, youth, and schools, including Music4Life (collecting orchestra and band instruments for K-12 music programs) and a variety of scholarships and awards. Learn more at westseattlerotary.org/projects/local.
(West Seattle Lions’ entry in 2024 parade, WSB photo)
Two big street-closing summer events are only a week away – so it’s time for us to remind you that the West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K are happening next Saturday (July 19th)! California SW will close that morning from Admiral Way to Edmunds, so heed the no-parking signs when they appear this week – on parade day, vehicles get towed. The Float Dodger is presented by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, and includes a kids’ dash as well as the main 5K, which goes from Hiawatha on down the parade route on California, pre-parade. The parade itself, presented by the West Seattle Rotary Foundation, starts from California/Lander at 11 and rolls/strolls/etc. southbound, so you can pick a spot just about anywhere to watch; you’re also invited to a special Parade-Watching Party at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor), near the beginning of the parade route, with seating and treats. Parade-watching is free, but if you want to run/walk in the 5K, you’ll need to register – do that here.
Here on the eve of the official start to summer, we are also exactly one month away from two back-to-back big summer events:
(WSB file photo)
The West Seattle Grand Parade, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K. Both will travel down California SW between the Admiral District and The Junction on Saturday, July 19.
(WSB file photo)
The morning starts with the Float Dodger 5K, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, starting on the field at Hiawatha at 9:30 am, heading to The Junction and back. (You can register for it right now!) Then at 11 am, the West Seattle Grand Parade – presented by the West Seattle Rotary Foundation – starts rolling, marching, dancing, walking, etc., southbound on California from Lander. You’ll actually want to be in your spot along the parade route before 11, because we’re told SPD motorcycles will be back this year – after a small contingent rode the route last year for the first time in several years, at least 8 are expected this year – and they get a head start on the rest of the parade. There are really no bad seats, but if you want to hear the parade entries announced, be near California/Charlestown or California/Alaska. And it’s not too late to be part of the parade, participating and/or sponsoring, as noted in the latest West Seattle Junction Association newsletter:
*Be in the Parade – Showcase your business or organization in front of thousands of locals! …
*Become a Sponsor – Support this beloved tradition and shine a spotlight on your business with a sponsorship of $250, $500, or $1,000 to help cover street closure costs. …
To learn more or sign up, email WestSeattleParade@gmail.com.
At the heart of today’s weekly Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) lunch meeting was a celebration of eight students who are receiving nine scholarships. Rotarian Gina Topp, who leads the organization’s Scholarship Committee, remarked on what a joy it is to “get to support young people in our comunity and their futures.” The winners each got a moment to speak to the Rotarians filling the banquet room at West Seattle Golf Course:
GAMBRIELL SCHOLARSHIP
PAST PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP
Malia Barker from West Seattle High School received two scholarships ($10,000 total):
STUDENT OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS
Ella Galitas from Summit Atlas ($1,000):
Binta Diagana from Chief Sealth International High School ($4,000):
Thuc Nguyen from West Seattle HS ($4,000):
PAST PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP
Ryan Bonsak from Maritime High School in the Highline district ($6,000):
EARL CRUZEN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
The three winners are all students in the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Automotive Technology program, and each received a tool set like this:
Brandon Castañeda-Rodriguez:
Markus Nicholson:
Nathan Chau:
“You will not regret believing in me,” Nathan assured the Rotarians. Find out more about their scholarship program here.
NEXT UP FOR ROTARY: Next week’s lunch speaker (noon June 17) will be West Seattle-residing, globetrotting photographer extraordinaire Art Wolfe … On July 1, the club gathers for its installation dinner, to welcome a new slate of officers.
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