West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
11:15 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is headed to an apartment building in the 3200 block of Harbor Avenue SW, where a 911 caller reported seeing flames from the third floor. Updates to come.
11:17 PM: First units arriving report “heavy smoke.”
11:19 PM: Now they’re reporting the fire is out and they’re reducing the response.
Rose de Dan‘s camera has caught coyotes before. This week, a particularly thirsty one discovered her backyard pond in East Admiral and showed up to drink up:
The last few nights, I have been privileged to hear coyote conversations (yips) that sounded like they were less than a block away. Last night, one of the coyotes stopped by the Wild Reiki Spa for a drink at the fountain. He must have drunk the water a little too quickly, since you can hear him giving a few genteel coughs.
Besides allowing me to see wildlife, the cam acts as a warning system for my urban West Seattle neighbors, encouraging them to keep their cats inside and to be careful when walking small or elderly dogs at twilight, night, and early morning. Here are some tips on how to co-exist peacefully with coyotes.
Reminder that California SW is closed between SW Admiral Way and SW College Street until late tomorrow night for this year’s Admiral Block Party. The festival presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association doesn’t officially start until 10 am Saturday but setup is under way now and you can come enjoy the shade, including street games:
Extended outdoor cafés at restaurants on the block, which are the food and drink providers for the festival, which focuses on supporting local year-round businesses:
And DJs will be spinning through the evening while the main stage is getting set up midblock:
Here’s the Saturday schedule for main-stage music:
Justin Kausal-Hayes – 11 am
Sad Dad Autumn – 12:00 pm
School of Rock – 1:15 pm
Michael Pearsall – 2:30 pm
Potholes – 3:45 pm
Baby Crow Flight School – 5:15 pm
Six Killers – 6:30 pm
Sun King – 7:45 pm
Justin Kausal-Hayes – 11 am
Sad Dad Autumn – 12:00 pm
Music runs from 11 am until about 9 pm Saturday; vendor booths – here’s the lineup – will be open 10 am until at least 6 pm. See you at the Block Party!
(Clickable map is on National Weather Service site; basically, darker color = higher alert level)
A few hours into what was a Heat Advisory alert, the National Weather Service has raised it to an Extreme Heat Warning, in effect through early Tuesday morning. From the full alert:
* WHAT…Hot conditions with high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s to mid 90s and low temperatures in the mid 60s. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.
* WHERE…City of Seattle, Eastside, and Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties.
* WHEN…Until 5 AM PDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
(WSB photos by Tracy Record)
After a shutdown now in its sixth year, Hiawatha Community Center is on track to reopen early next year. We got a look inside during an informal tour earlier this week with two community advocates and Seattle Parks project leader Morteza Behrooz. From the exterior, you can only see a bit of what’s been done during what began as a strengthening and stabilization project and expanded to, among other things, make Hiawatha the city’s first fully electric community center; part of its energy-efficiency upgrades includes new windows – see some of those above. The accessibility includes this new stairway, with railing, on the north side:
Other accessibility features include railings elsewhere as well as restroom work. So let’s go inside. On the east side of the building, here’s the gym:
A big part of the strengthening/stabilization work involves braces and beams – the masonry no longer has to hold up the building without reinforcement:
Going further into the building, we got a look at the lobby and programming areas:
The new windows are in evidence everywhere, letting in lots of light:
In non-public areas below, like equipment and laundry spaces, new piping and wiring is in view:
Upstairs, we peeked into the room with the stage:
At the rear of this room is the kitchen space, where appliances will be moved into place in the next week or so:
Optimus Construction is the general contractor for the project. One manager we saw briefly remarked that the building had posed a lot of challenges – “threw everything at us” – not originally in the plans and expectations; for example, once old windows were removed, they discovered larger cavities, rot, other issues. The project’s price tag has tripled over the years and is now $6.5 million, Behrooz said. Work began early last year, four years after the center closed; what had been a pandemic closure was extended because the project was considered imminent – but ultimately wasn’t.
P.S. The work isn’t all construction – Behrooz said Parks programming staff is busy discussing and planning what programs can be reintroduced and when. Day care will return, for example, but it might not re-start immediately after the center reopens.
One more note: The Hiawatha play area project is under different management, so he didn’t have an update on that, but we’ll be pursuing a separate update.
(WSB photo, July 2024)
Quick update from SDOT on the Admiral Way Bridges work, one week after our previous update – spokesperson Mariam Ali messaged us this morning to say, “Just wanted to give you a heads up that we should be mostly done with this project by Labor Day.” Does that include Fairmount Avenue reopening beneath the bridge? She said yes. As our photo above shows, the original projection for that reopening was six months ago; SDOT says scope expansion, such as added painting, stretched out the timeline for the project.
(Sunset earlier this week, photographed by Mike Burns)
Here are our notes about what’s happening, and NOT happening, for your Friday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH TRANSFER STATION: As suggested by a reader, we’re continuing to remind you that it’s closed for most of the rest of the month. (We’re checking today to see how things are going.)
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER AND FAREWELL TO SARAH: The center is open for plant-shopping Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, and you’re invited to stop by 10 am-2 p to say farewell to Sarah Skamser, who is retiring as director of the program (the farewell continues tomorrow if you can’t get there today).
LAFABRIQUE SALE: 10 am-3 pm, rare designer fabric sale at LaFabrique in west South Park’s Cloverdale Business Park (309 S. Cloverdale).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: The spraypark is open daily until Labor Day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOL: Lincoln Park is the last one open in West Seattle, 12-7 pm today (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, near north lot).
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water pool is open to the public today, noon-7 pm.
SEATTLE TERIYAKI HISTORY & MORE: Second-to-last week to see this exhibit at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) – the museum is open noon-4 pm today.
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ADMIRAL BLOCK PARTY PRE-PARTY: California SW closes at 1 pm so setup can begin for Saturday’s Admiral Block Party in the street north of Admiral Way SW, and that means a Pre-Party!
3:30 – 5 pm music in the street with Billy Rosewarne and Ashton Hart Wecker
5 pm – 10 pm DJs in front of the main stage
COMEDY AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) features comedy troupe Midnight Mystery Theater, 6-8 pm. All ages, no cover
SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: Final scheduled concert is canceled too.
HAND-BUILD ANIMALS: 6:30-9 pm at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW) – follow that link for sign-up and fee info.
OUTDOOR MOVIE AT CAMP LONG + CLIMBING: Camp Long is showing “The Wild Robot” at dusk (the sun goes down around 8 pm tonight) in the meadow, and you can come early for free rock climbing 5-7 pm – details in our preview. (5200 35th SW)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm, Dean Johnson performance and signing – secure a spot at this free, all-ages show by buying his new LP in the store. (4559 California SW)
MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, show at 8, The Harper Conspiracy, Spider Lounge, Room for Cream at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), $10.
OUTDOOR MOVIE AT MAARTEN PARK: Another free movie at dusk (8-ish), “The Emperor’s New Groove.” BYO chair/blanket. (42nd SW/SW Juneau)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buttnaked spins tonight! (4547 California SW)
MAKE IT LOUD: Skating with live music and DJ – tonight, Goth Skate: DJs, Bands- Serpent Skirt, 2 Libras, Drag, Tarot, Gogos – 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $18 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Joan Dawson and sharing this remembrance with her community:
Joan Neilsen Dawson passed away from advanced heart disease on August 9, 2025, in Seattle.
Joan was the daughter of Neil and Elaine Neilsen and grew up on Alki Point. She was a 1965 graduate of West Seattle High School and attended the University of Washington. She resided in West Seattle for most of her life and had worked at the family business, Neilsen Florists, when she was younger.
She is survived by her children Joshua and Elizabeth, her brother Steve, and several nieces and nephews. Please consider donations in her name to Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle.
(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)
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, August 22, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The Heat Advisory alert kicks in at 11 am today. The forecast for today is sunny, low 80s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:15 am; sunset will be at 8:08 pm.
ROAD WORK AND OTHER CLOSURES, INCLUDING THIS WEEKEND
-California SW will close north of Admiral Way this afternoon through late Saturday night for the Admiral Block Party and Pre-Party.
-The West Seattle low bridge is scheduled to close this weekend, starting at 7 am Saturday, continuing as late as 10 pm Sunday.
-The state’s planned highway/tunnel work list has changed – here’s the latest version.
–Admiral Way Bridge seismic work continues.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday (tonight!) and Saturday nights, and on other weeknights with Mariners home games.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners start a six-game homestand tonight, 7:10 pm vs. the A’s.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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!
When last we checked in with Panda Express regarding their yet-to-open Westwood Village restaurant, they were hoping for an early August opening, barring construction delays. That’s come and gone, so we asked about their revised timeline. A company spokesperson replied, “Our opening date keeps shifting … The newest Seattle location now has a tentative opening date sometime the week of Sept. 8.” It’s been in the works for almost two years.
Last month, we reported on the still-idle Morgan Junction Park expansion site on California between Graham and Fauntleroy, a fenced-off pit awaiting the resumption of cleanup work so it can have an interim use before park development. Deb Barker, president of the Morgan Community Association, reports tonight – with the photo above – that signage has gone up indicating that the work is finally about to resume. The signs announce parking restrictions from next Monday (August 25) through September 19, for construction staging by Holt Services. Barker tells WSB that the company confirmed to her that the window is so it can finish Phase 1 work at the site: “This includes backfilling the hole to grade, removing the top four feet of the steel and wood from the shoring support, removing all of the remaining hard surfaces, installing erosion control as needed, bringing in topsoil and blowing in grass seed. The site will remain fenced during and after the work.” The work to actually turn the site into a park isn’t expected to start before late next year, and the issue of whether it will include a community-requested “all-wheels area” has yet to be settled. The city bought the expansion site, which previously held a market and dry cleaners, 11 years ago.
(WSF photo)
Announced in Washington State Ferries‘ weekly newsletter, as well as a rider alert, WSF is testing a new policy of allowing dogs in more places on its boats. In the newsletter, WSF second-in-command John Vezina wrote:
Steve [Nevey] and I are happy to share news about dogs on our ferries. Based on feedback from customers and employees, and to align with partner transit agencies, we began a six-month trial of an updated pet policy yesterday. During this trial, dogs on leashes are allowed in all passenger areas, except galleys. All other pets must stay in a crate or carrier. Big dogs should stay on the floor. Small dogs should be on a lap or in a carrier. Owners must control their pets and clean up after them. Crew members may direct pets to be moved to an outside deck or vehicle if needed for safety or behavior reasons. As always, service animals are welcome everywhere, as required by law. Livestock must stay in appropriate enclosures at all times. This trial will help us decide if the new rules should become permanent. Your feedback is welcome.
Here are ways to provide feedback to WSF. You can read more about the WSF policy here.
(SDOT camera image, Wednesday)
As reported here, the West Seattle low bridge was closed to surface traffic for about four hours on Wednesday. It already was scheduled to be out of service this coming weekend for repairs; we asked SDOT today what went wrong yesterday and whether that will affect the weekend plan. Here’s how spokesperson Mariam Ali explained it:
Yesterday, a driver attempted to maneuver around a closed gate, which led to a circuit breaker being tripped and temporarily affecting the gate system. The issue was quickly resolved, the Coast Guard was notified, and electricians are completing final repairs today. There will be no impact on work scheduled for this weekend, and bridge operations are proceeding normally.
This weekend’s closure is set to start at 7 am Saturday and could last as late as 10 pm Sunday.
Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) has an upcoming end-of-summer sale with a twist – actually two: It’s donating part of the proceeds on Saturday, August 30, to the West Seattle Food Bank, while putting TRG proprietor Frank Gross in a dunk tank! Here’s the announcement, in video and text:
Announcing the Thunder Road Summer “Dunk Frank in the Tank” Event. Join us Saturday, August 30th, for amazing one-day-only deals and your chance to win a FREE Gretsch ’57 Duo Jet courtesy of our friends at Gretsch Guitars.
We decided to partner with the West Seattle Food Bank for this event and will be donating 10% of our sales on the 30th to the food bank. We are also going to have Frank in a dunk tank all day…. Just how do you dunk Frank in the tank, you ask? Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank or purchase a guitar, amplifier, or pedal. Either one of those gets you 3 throws at our fearless leader and a limited TRG shirt for the event (while supplies last). So join us August 30th, 12-6 pm, for a day of insane deals and help us raise some money for the WS Food Bank.
Information from readers led us to inquire with the city’s Unified Care Team about two West Seattle encampments:
PUGET RIDGE: The reader photo above shows 21st SW just north of SW Myrtle [map], along the west side of the Sanislo Elementary campus (not in view because of a tangle of overgrowth). The reader who sent it expressed concern that the encampment is “growing” and seemingly unaddressed though school starts in less than two weeks. We asked UCT spokesperson Kate Jacobs if the site is on the city’s radar. Her reply: “Parking enforcement officers have visited the site and are scheduled to return this week to take appropriate next steps. Specific actions will depend on circumstances at that time. While parking ordinances apply equally to all vehicles, state and federal laws provide additional protection for people living in them.” We just went by the site before publishing this story, and two Parking Enforcement vehicles are in fact there now.
FAUNTLEROY PARK: Fires in the park have been among longrunning issues of concern to neighboring residents (from the park’s south/Arbor Heights side), who told us that notices were up for city action this past Monday. We asked Jacobs about that too, and she said, “The Unified Care Team completed a resolution at Fauntleroy Park on August 18. Outreach workers are connecting the two individuals who were residing at the site with case managers to support their transition to permanent housing.”
For the second consecutive day, we have a report of a stolen vehicle in the Westwood Village area, this time from a residential driveway across the street from the center:
Stolen black 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Truck
2 Wheel Drive, Cab High Canopy, Fiberglass step below doors
Stolen Tuesday night (Aug 19th-20th) 2500block SW Barton St.
License # B48372V – if seen call Don, 206-661-4856
Incident has been reported to Seattle Police. # 25-239499
(Sunflower photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Many ways to enjoy the hours ahead! Here’s our list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Still lots of time left in gardening season! 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).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open today and every day through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOL: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, near north lot) will be open noon-7 pm. Free.
COLMAN POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the heated salt-water pool on the shore is open with sessions noon-7 pm – see the schedule here. Fee.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
DROP-IN CHESS: Teens are invited to come play at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:30 pm.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two 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 Thai-U-Up.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – 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!
RAT CITY ART AND FOOD WALK: It’s the third Thursday of the month, so, starting at 5, it’s the Rat City Art and Food Walk! You can wander South Delridge and north White Center business districts – more than 100 artists at 30+ locations, listed here.
POSTCARD HAPPY HOUR: Extra monthly session for Postcards4Democracy long-distance advocacy, 5-7 pm at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW).
DUSTY 45s WITH ROXBURY SAINTS: West Seattle music 6-9 pm at Tim’s Tavern (16th/98th, White Center).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Rather walk? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
STEELHEAD CONSERVATION: That’s the topic tonight at 6:30 pm at Emerald Water Anglers (4707 California SW), with John McMillan. Call the shop to see if there’s room left to attend.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: It’s All Happening, Mason Derleth, Oscar Warnersmith, 7 pm, all ages, $10 at the door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MUSIC BOOK TALK: Live, free, all-ages event at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, Duff McKagan moderates discussion of “Tearing Down The Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County To The World” by Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn.
’70S DANCE PARTY: Get a leather-fringe vest and bell-bottom pants and go boogie at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), 7-9 pm. 21+.
REIKI GONG BATH IMMERSION: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska).
DJ NIGHT: Extended-weekend spinning starts tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Silk Safari, 8 pm.
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!
(WSB photo, Hiawatha Playfield, Wednesday)
Visiting the Hiawatha Community Center work zone on Wednesday (story later today), we noticed the West Seattle High School football team on the field. That’s another reminder that the new school year is approaching – most local schools start a day or two after Labor Day – and WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson has asked us to remind athletes’ families that it’s time to register, if they haven’t done so already. This document he provided includes information on how, as well as start dates for the fall sports (Wednesday was Day 1 for football, while other sports start tryouts next Monday, August 25) and a must-attend info night for families on September 2nd.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, August 21, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
A Heat Advisory alert will be in effect Friday morning through Tuesday morning. Today, sunny, mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:13 am; sunset will be at 8:10 pm.
ROAD WORK, INCLUDING WEEKEND PREVIEWS
-Overnight Highway 99 tunnel closures for resurfacing are scheduled to continue tonight – details here.
-That’s just part of a BIG slate of state highway work announced for this weekend – including lane closures Saturday morning on the 1st Ave. S. Bridge. (Afternoon update: WSDOT has postponed the 1st Ave. S. bridge work.) Speaking of bridges ….
-The low bridge is scheduled to close this weekend, starting at 7 am Saturday, continuing as late as 10 pm Sunday; we’re checking today to see if its Wednesday pm trouble changed those plans.
–Admiral Way Bridge seismic work continues.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on other weeknights with Mariners home games.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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!
(Google Maps Street View image)
The parking lot shared by High Point Library and the Neighborcare Health clinic has been a hub of trouble and concern for years – with incidents like this – and it’ll be the subject of a community-safety meeting in two weeks. We were asked to help get the word out, so here’s the announcement:
Community Safety Meeting : High Point Neighborcare & High Point Library Parking Lot
Thursday, September 4, 2025 6:00 PM-7:30 PM
High Point Seattle Public Library – 3411 SW Raymond StCommunity safety meeting with the hopes of hearing from community members in the High Point area about concerns related to this parking lot. All are welcome.
Organizers hope to have representatives from not only the library and clinic, but also SPD, High Point community groups, the Seattle Housing Authority, and City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office.
Four outdoor movies ahead to enjoy late summer in West Seattle! And three of them come with a pre-movie bonus activity:
(Photo courtesy Camp Long)
CAMP LONG’S CHOICES, WITH A BONUS: That’s the view of Camp Long‘s movie screen from atop Schurman Rock. The park was planning on three outdoor movies but hadn’t announced which movies they’d show – until today – plus they’ve added a pre-movie activity. From Camp Long’s Matt Kostle:
We are starting this Friday with The Wild Robot and going every other Friday after that, so the lineup looks like this:
Friday, August 22nd: The Wild Robot
Friday, September 5th: Inside Out 2
Friday, September 19th: Jumanji (1995)All movies start after dusk as soon as the projector is bright enough!
Before movies start in the evening, we will have free-to-the-public rock climbing on Schurman Rock. This will be put on through support of our Camp Long Climbing Corps volunteers! We will have the area roped off but will have signups down at the bottom of the rock where the trail opens to the field. This will run approximately from 5-7 pm before movies and will then have a break while we tear down before it gets too dark and while we are setting up the movie equipment. So come, get some rock climbing in for a bit, and take a break to get settled in before the movie starts!
Once again all of this is possible through the generous work of our Camp Long Advisory Council!
MAARTEN PARK MOVIE REMINDER: This Friday also brings another movie in the mini-park by West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd SW/SW Juneau). The reminder was sent by Marcy:
This Friday is Movies in the Park, featuring “The Emperor’s New Groove.”
Kicks off at sundown.
Free! Invite your friends!
Let’s fill up Maarten Park!
Bring your own chair and/or blanket. Maarten Park’s final movie of the season will be “Star Wars” Episode 4 on September 12.
5:01 PM: There’s no formal traffic alert about it yet but the low bridge is closed for surface traffic – bicycle traffic in particular is backing up – and a texter says it’s been closed for more than 20 minutes. We’re checking with SDOT.
5:09 PM: Just got this reply, “There is an issue and maintenance in the way. Don’t know ETA on reopening and what the issue is. It is stuck.” It was already set to be shut down all next weekend (starting at 7 am Saturday, August 23) for work to repair a part that SDOT explains “controls how fast the bridge opens.”
5:19 PM: The live camera shows the bicyclists are going around the bridge gates. Not an option for the motor-vehicle drivers, who are turning around to leave the bridge.
6:40 PM: Not fixed yet and no ETA from SDOT yet.
9:40 PM: Open again. We’ll follow up tomorrow on the cause.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Uncertainty.
That’s the word that arose again and again during a West Seattle small-business roundtable discussion this afternoon, led by Seattle Port Commission president Toshiko Hasegawa with state Commerce Department director Joe Nguyen. They talked at Gary’s Place on Alki with the arcade’s owners Elyssa and Matt Cichy, Greg Whittaker of Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) and Alki Kayak Tours, Dave McCoy of Emerald Water Anglers, Julie Mierzwiak of Realfine Coffee, Dan McKisson of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Rachel Porter of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Chris Mackay of the West Seattle Junction Association, and Jordan Crawley, who operates Alki Beach Academy and is on the WSCC board.
The purpose of the by-invitation gathering was to find out how tariffs are affecting small local businesses. This is how it began, starting with an explanation by Lindsay Wolpa of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the cargo-shipping joint port authority of Seattle and Tacoma – and continuing with remarks by Hasegawa – whose port presidency also means she’s co-chair of the alliance’s managing members – and Nguyen:
The uncertainty really hits hard as businesses try to plan in advance, not knowing what will be happening, how things will be changing, how prices will be changing. You can get some of the sense of that listening to this excerpt of the conversation, starting with Whittaker, whose shop focuses on seasonal merchandise – mountain and water gear:
McCoy said he deals with about 140 vendors, and around 120 of them have raised prices from three to 11 percent “since the tariff war began.” Some have tried to absorb it, but have warned that they eventually will have to pass it on. And less revenue for businesses, because of higher costs, means less money to employ people. McCoy, whose shop is focused on fishing and other outdoor gear and apparel, said “volume” is all that’s been keeping him afloat.
The tariff situation isn’t just a matter of one country here and one country there – McCoy and Whittaker talked about merchandise made with materials from a multitude of countries: “It’s so complex, I don’t feel like I have any control.”
For the Cichys, buying what they need to run arcades is a challenge too. “We’re blowing our budget to get what we need,” said Elyssa. Matt added, “We don’t know what kind of price increase we’re going to face. … It’s stressful.” So far, they are trying to avoid passing price increases through to their customers. “We’re trying to make an accessible place for everyone.”
It’s not only about prices/costs, observed some of the participants. “Uncertainty decreases innovation,” Whittaker said.
Hasegawa and Nguyen asked the business owners what kind of resources they use to find out about tariffs, about loan/grant opportunities, and other information vital to keeping their doors open. The two business organizations represented at the gathering – the Chamber of Commerce and the Junction Association – talked about how they try to help their members with that.
But ultimately, it would be ideal if this weren’t happening at all, said Nguyen: “What’s frustrating is that this is all so unnecessary.”
Further up the supply chain, McKisson talked about how longshore workers are affected. Port cargo traffic has been “volatile,” it was noted earlier, and that volatility translates into work uncertainty for those whose jobs depend on shipping.
He wasn’t the only one who talked about how the situation has affected employees – their wages don’t go so far because of the rising prices in the greater economy, and they have to focus on essentials, maybe even get a second job. Hasegawa expressed admiration for their efforts to keep their businesses going and keep their staffs employed. “So much resilience,” she observed, then asking: What kind of community support are you getting/giving?
Business owners talked about encouraging customers to support other local businesses too, trying to find ways to help people understand the importance. Business organization leaders spoke about the events they’ve organized to bring people into local businesses, such as The Junction’s festivals and Wine Walks.
When a chance for media Q&A arose at the end, we asked Hasegawa what she planned to do with/about all the stories she’d heard during the roundtable. She said the port and NWSA are continuing to directly communicate with the federal government about the effects that tariffs and other policies are having, and that’ll also happen during a trip next month to D.C.
But ultimately, local advocacy and support will make the biggest difference, Nguyen suggested: “We can’t control what happens in the White House, but we can control what happens in our neighborhoods.”
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