(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

A CLEANER ALKI: The local volunteer cleanup group is out until 11:30 am :

We’ve been helping Jeremy with a cleanup along the Duwamish Trail and look to do another section this week, this time we’ll start down under the First Avenue Bridge off Highland Park Way, which will more or less complete the West Seattle section of the trail all the way to the WS Bridge.

Parking & Meet-Up
Parking shouldn’t be a problem as there’s plenty under the bridge, but it’s a little confusing getting there. From West Seattle take West Marginal just past Subway, take a left on Highland Park Way and then another left on 2nd Ave SW, then a right on Michigan and follow around the underside of the bridge to parking. Look for the van. I’ll have my phone on me if you need to reach out at 206-852-9552.

BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

BLUE ANGELS JET VISITS: As reported on Sunday, the Blue Angels‘ #7 jet is due to land at Boeing Field in the 1:30-2:30 pm vicinity for winter planning meetings.

CITY COUNCIL: The councilmembers’ second briefing meeting of the year is at 2 pm – here’s the agenda, which also explains how to watch (no comment period during briefings).

GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.

LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm with Tamara Kubacki, meeting at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW). “Grief groups are brave and safe spaces where bereaved people can share their stories and speak their loved one’s name without fear of getting advice, platitudes, or being shut out, no matter how long it’s been since their loved one’s passing.” – you can attend once or multiple times. Fee. Preregistration requested – our calendar listing explains how.

BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School boys host Seattle Prep tonight, varsity at 7:30 pm. (3000 California SW)

CONCESSIONS FUNDRAISER: And if you’re going to the game(s), we received this announcement:

The West Seattle High School softball team is selling concessions at the WSHS basketball games tonight (JV at 6 pm, V at 7:45 pm). There will be pizza, mini Bundt cakes, drinks and other goodies. Many items sold out last week so come by early and often! Proceeds go toward uniforms, travel, and team events. Direct donations can also be made here (note ‘for softball’ so it easily gets to the team!):

PayPal: paypal.me/WSBooster
Venmo: @WSBooster

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Four places to play tonight! Every-other-week music quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley has music Monday nights, with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm, it’s Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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New local job openings on WSB’s West Seattle Jobs Offered board

January 13, 2025 9:09 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

If you’re looking for a new job – or new employee(s) – in this new year, here’s one of our periodic reminders that WSB has a West Seattle Jobs Offered section in the WSB Community Forums. Six new listings are there, from just this past week. If you are hiring in West Seattle/White Center, it’s free to post – go here if you don’t already have a login. (And when you post a job, be sure to include contact info so applicants can reach you directly.)

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Monday info

January 13, 2025 6:02 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, January 13, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Today, early-morning patchy fog, then mostly cloudy, with a high in the low 40s. (Weather history: On this date last year, the high was only in the 20s.) Sunrise/sunset – 7:53 am and 4:43 pm.

TWO REMINDERS

*The new “school street” on 45th in front of Madison Middle School, between Spokane and Hinds, starts today. No motorized vehicles on that block 7 am-5 pm unless you live there or are a delivery driver delivering there.

*Sound Transit starts geotechnical-research drilling just east of the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.

TRANSIT

Metro buses – Regular schedule

Water Taxi – As noted, regular schedule.

Washington State Ferries – Regular service.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides 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; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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Rotary Club of West Seattle hears from King County Executive, honors WSB co-founder

January 12, 2025 10:17 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“I’ve got another career or two in me.”

That’s how King County Executive Dow Constantine clarified to the Rotary Club of West Seattle that he’s not retiring, just not re-running.

He was guest speaker at Tuesday’s weekly Rotary lunch meeting, which also included presentations in honor of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand.

First:

Exactly two months have passed since Constantine announced at his birthday celebration in West Seattle that his fourth term as County Executive will be his last. He told Rotarians on Tuesday that he’s “ready to do something different,” 30 years after he first ran for office, noting that his personal responsibilities include his 10-year-old daughter and “very aging” parents.

His speech touched on some of his accomplishments, as well as a sore spot or two. Public safety, for example: “There’s been some misinformation circulated about the King County Jail and who is or has been accepted. We are operating under the Hammer settlement” – more than a quarter-century old, mandating a certain jail-staffing level, he said. “During COVID … we couldn’t meet that level – so we couldn’t book for nonviolent misdemeanors,” with, he said, exceptions, such as “a big event like a protest,” or two exceptions in the past year, “everything in downtown Seattle … (and the) entire transit system.” The latter mention seemed intended to stave off questions or criticism about the recent murder of Metro coach driver Shawn Yim; Constantine said “Operation Safe Transit” starting last March has led to more than 350 arrests, and that officers downtown had been focusing on “fentanyl dealers.” He also noted the discontinuation of transit stops near 12th/Jackson on the south side of downtown “because of the street situation there.” He added that they’re working to bring the King County Sheriff’s Office – which includes transit police – up to full staffing, with measures such as a $25,000 bonus for lateral transfers: “So if your cousin in Louisiana wants to work here, now is the moment.”

Constantine segued into the observation that behavioral health is the root of much of the street disorder, and that help is expected from the 2023 voter-approved Crisis Care Centers initiative, meant to create five drop-in centers, one exclusively for youth, 20 mobile teams around the county – plus an investment in northeast cities getting a crisis care center that’s open now – with help plus a “warm handoff” to wherever a person needs to go next — from rehab to the custody of a relative. (It might be five more years, however, before all five are open.)

Behavioral-health challenges play into homelessness, he said, but declared that problem primarily the result of a houing shortage – “safe, affordable housing will be a key factor in” getting it under control, and he said the county is working on thousands of new units. Then he quickly moved to climate change, saying the county’s major water-treatment plant at West Point is better able to withstand “increasingly strong storms” because of its new battery-based system “so when City Light flickers, we don’t lose power – we didn’t in the ‘bomb cyclone’.”

The next segue was into transit, where he declared Metro to be “leading the way toward zero emissions” and said he’d “spent my whole damn adult life trying to make up for” the anti-transit decisions made in the region more than half a century ago. The progress he touted included Sound Transit light rail, for which he (ST’s board chair) declared the region to have an “enormous appetite,” noting the crowd that flocked to its Lynnwood opening. While acknowledging the “runup in construction cost,” he insisted that “we are in a strong. position to deliver what voters approved” and said it’s vital to keep working toward having projects “shovel-ready” for when the financial factors allow. As for West Seattle light rail specifically, he said the federal “record of decision” – the next major planning milestone – is expected by the end of February.

After two more quick topic mentions – arts funding and redevelopment of the King County campus downtown – the Rotary allotted a few minutes for questions. First one was back to light rail: “When is it going to happen?” Constantine replied, “That’s an open question,” adding that “the scope is really the question – do you build the Avalon station or not? … There are 100 questions like that that the board’s going to have to answer.” One thing’s for certain, he reminded everyone, West Seattle remains scheduled to be built before Ballard.

The next questioner voiced some skepticism about transit, seeing empty buses and trains, but Constantine countered that this area saw the nation’s second-largest transit growth last year, and he again vowed to improve safety, while warning that “what’s on sidewalks sometimes spills into buses.”

After that, he was asked, “Why are you giving up work?” Constantine insisted he isn’t: “I need to, want to, continue to work for a long time, but after 16 years of this gig, I’m ready to do something different.”

TRIBUTE TO WSB CO-FOUNDER PATRICK SAND: The county executive also presented a memorial proclamation in honor of WSB co-founder Patrick Sand, who died suddenly in mid-October. That followed a presentation by the Rotary, whose members honored Patrick posthumously as a “Paul Harris Fellow” – after one of the founders of Rotary International – and also announced the creation of an annual Patrick Sand Memorial Award, with the Rotary’s Brian Waid citing WSB’s unofficial motto, referring to our coverage of as much as we can (as noted in this Seattle Times essay) – “We always show up.” Thanks to Clay Eals for recording video of most of the presentation:

The awards – including an eagle trophy for the Paul Harris Fellowship – were accepted on Patrick’s behalf by your editor (his wife and co-founder) and our son Torin.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle has a lunch meeting most weeks at noon Tuesday at the West Seattle Golf Course – see the upcoming speaker schedule here.

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BIZNOTE: More clothes at Westwood Village? J.Crew Factory penciled in

January 12, 2025 6:59 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Just weeks after two neighboring businesses closed on the south side of Westwood Village – GameStop and Desert Sun Tanning – a replacement is penciled in for what would be their combined spaces: J.Crew Factory, the brand’s “outlet” arm. We noticed a few weeks ago that a placeholder with no supporting documentation had appeared in permit files; then at the end of this week, a full early-stage filing with confirmatory labeling:

The combined space would be 4,600+ square feet, tiny compared to WWV’s Ross (26,000+) and Marshalls (30,000+) stores. J.Crew’s website shows three Factory stores in the metro area – Auburn, Lynnwood, and Marysville – and two “regular” stores in the area – University Village and Bellevue Square. We’ll contact the chain and WWV management tomorrow to see if they’ll comment; to date, the center’s managers have yet to say anything about the two not-yet-open chain businesses that have continued moving through the permit system for months, Total Wine & More (ex-Staples) and Panda Express (ex-Pet Pros).

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Sunday’s swan song

January 12, 2025 5:38 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Victoria Gnatoka)

Thanks for the photos! In case you didn’t have a southwestward view to see this firsthand … Sunday ended beautifully.

(Photo by Karen Christenson)

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

(If part of the sky stays clear into the night, you can planet-gaze, too.)

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Blue Angels jet to visit Boeing Field on Monday

January 12, 2025 4:08 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

(August 2023 photo by Jamie Kinney)

We’re just under seven months from this year’s Seafair airshow, but the stars of the show – the U.S. Navy Blue Angels – are sending one of their jets to Boeing Field tomorrow (Monday, January 13). The occasion: The winter meetings preparing for Seafair. The Blue Angels FA-18 jet #7 is expected to arrive 1:30-2:30 pm Monday; it’s the two-seater jet, and will be piloted by Navy Lt. Commander Lilly Montana and Marines Major Scott Laux. No public access but we’re mentioning it because you might see/hear the jet, given that tomorrow’s forecast is for partly clear skies.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Ford pickup truck; (added) possibly dumped blue Odyssey

January 12, 2025 1:56 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

1:56 PM: Sent by Isabelle:

My husband’s Ford F-250 white 1997 truck was stolen last night, sometime between 10 pm and now.

It was parked in the alley between 40th and 41st/Hudson and Edmunds in our parking pad.

If you see this truck can you please contact 7857642575 or ccubed4@gmail.com

Thank you so much.

Plate # is D09653F; report # is 25-10577.

ADDED 3:01 PM: One more vehicle to report – anyone looking for this blue Honda Odyssey? Adam wonders:

I returned home from work last night at 2:30 am and found this vehicle where I normally park my car. It has obviously been dumped and not a vehicle from this neighborhood that was broken into. It’s on the south east corner of 41st Ave SW and SW Andover. The passenger-side sliding door is open and it looks “lived in” or as if someone spent some time in it.

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FOLLOWUP: Signage up early for Madison MS’s new ‘School Street’

January 12, 2025 12:01 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As of Saturday afternoon, signage was already out for the new “School Street” partial closure of 45th Avenue SW in front of Madison Middle School, which officially starts tomorrow and will be in effect 7 am-5 pm on weekdays per SDOT. We checked it out after a tip from a nearby resident; this sign on the northbound side of the street at SW Spokane is matched by one in the distance at the start of the southbound side at SW Hinds. Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr. reminded the school community in this email on Thursday. As the SDOT program page and the signage both note, the “closure” exception includes drivers who live on the street and drivers making deliveries on the street. Other “School Streets” around the city include SW Dakota in front of Genesee Hill Elementary.

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FOLLOWUP: See how first-ever Alki event factored into regional International Coastal Cleanup success

January 12, 2025 10:18 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, September 21)

Back in September, dozens of volunteers gathered at Alki for an International Coastal Cleanup event. There are certainly everyday cleanup heroes working in our area year-round – like A Cleaner Alki – but the September event was the first time regional organizations held their flagship event here, and now Puget Soundkeeper has released a report on the regional results:

In an exceptional display of community commitment, more than 741 volunteers removed 2,600 pounds of debris during International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) events across the Puget Sound from August through December 2024. Across 13 cleanup events from Seattle to the San Juan Islands, volunteers collectively tackled the growing impact of litter and plastic pollution, making an impact on the health of Puget Sound.

Since its inception in 1986, the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) movement has been a global initiative by the Ocean Conservancy to document and remove debris from beaches and waterways globally. Every year, Puget Soundkeeper serves as the regional coordinator for ICC events across Puget Sound and works alongside several partner organizations who make these efforts possible.

“In a time where it seems like there’s a lot of negative news spreading over social media, it’s truly inspiring to see so many volunteers and people come out to commit their time and energy toward making our waterways safer and healthier for future generation,” said Tanya Balaji, the Stewardship and Education Manager at Puget Soundkeeper.

2024 was a special year for the ICC movement as for the first time in history, the Ocean Conservancy hosted its flagship ICC event in Seattle and more than 200 volunteers gathered at Alki Beach on September 21st to celebrate the movement. “Despite 2024’s cleanups showing the power of collective action, it highlights the importance of advocating and fighting for legislation that targets pollution at its sources,” added Balaji. For more information about our 2024 ICC report, click here.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance remains committed to continuing our cleanup efforts while advocating for policies that prevent pollution at its source, including working on the 2025 Recycling Reform Act. Moreover, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, alongside its partner organizations across the state, will also continue organizing ICC events throughout the Fall of 2025.

Though the total weight wasn’t huge, as our September 21 coverage showed, volunteers were encouraged to look for small debris, which post the most harm to marine life from potential ingestion and other risks. The full report, including the list of top types of debris, and how to report what you might find year-round, is embedded at the bottom of this page. Best way you can help reduce the need for this? Use less plastic. Even if you think you’re disposing of it properly, it has a nasty way of ending up as pollution just the same.

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The list for your West Seattle Sunday

January 12, 2025 6:07 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo sent by Manuel on Saturday)

Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, it’s a short list of what’s happening today:

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet for today’s run at 9 am at Fresh Flours (9410 Delridge Way SW).

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm, with winter produce (root vegetables! greens! cabbage!), plus beverages, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)

DUWAMISH TRIBE LONGHOUSE & CULTURAL CENTER: Open for visitors, 10 am-5 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

(added) FISHER SCONE WAGON: For fans of the famous fair-style scones, a telephone tip points out it’s at Metropolitan Market today (41st/Admiral). Schedule says it opens at 10:30 am, though a closing time’s not listed.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool to get your project going, or to finish assembling a holiday gift? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FREE CLASSICAL CONCERT: The Ladies’ Musical Club performs at West Seattle (Admiral) Library at 3 pm – program is in our calendar listing.

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, 5 pm and later admission times. Tickets and info here.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.

Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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VIDEO: Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby season continues next Saturday night

January 11, 2025 10:43 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

That’s one of our clips from Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby‘s season-opening bout at Southgate Roller Rink three weeks ago. The skaters are now just a week away from the season’s second home bout, set for next Saturday night (January 18) at the White Center rink. If you haven’t watched roller derby before, what you see in our videos is mostly what’s referred to as “jamming” – trying to block one or more skaters from getting through. (Next bout, in fact, will be “Battle of the Jams.”) In keeping with longstanding roller-derby tradition, you’ll notice that the skaters all have derby names, often puns – we noted a few while watching that first bout, like Acid Reign, Omar-geddon, Aya the Hurricane.

Some of the referees have derby names too – we noted Millennium FoulCon. The bouts are scored and announced, and we noted a good crowd of families and other fans watching this one.

Next Saturday night, doors open at Southgate (9646 17th SW) at 4:15 pm, and then you get more than three hours of roller-derby action for your admission fee ($12 adults, $6 kids 6-12, kids 5 and under free). The Southside Revolution Rebels, one of their five teams, are on the East Coast this weekend, competing in Pittsburgh!

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Duwamish Tribe celebrates Longhouse’s 16th anniversary

January 11, 2025 7:06 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Duwamish Tribe | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Dave Gershgorn)

16 years have now passed since the Duwamish Tribe opened its Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle – just a grain in the sands of the tribe’s time in this area. Nonetheless, they were reason to celebrate with an anniversary open house today. Visitors gathered in the Longhouse’s great H=gall for a welcome from the Duwamish Tribe’s elected chair of half a century, Cecile Hansen.

This year’s anniversary celebration was not on a scale with last year’s event (WSB coverage here), laden with speakers and history presentations.

But tribe members and friends also got to hear from the Longhouse’s executive director Kristina Pearson.

Also speaking, a cousin of chair Hansen, Marylin Oliver Bard, daughter of the Quinault Tribe elder, Emmett Oliver, who founded the Tribal Canoe Journeys that have stopped at Alki many years:

After years of fundraising, the tribe broke ground for the Longhouse in summer 2007, a year and a half before its grand opening. Since then, they’ve expanded their property on the west side of West Marginal Way, with adjacent lots largely being used for much-needed parking, as well as for environmental education and cultural traditions.

You can visit the Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 W. Marginal Way SW) 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays-Sundays, or for one of its public events, usually listed on its online calendar.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen white Tucson

January 11, 2025 6:05 pm

| 0 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Reported by Karina:

Just wanted to let you know that my car was stolen. It’s a white Hyundai Tucson. On the left side of the rear windshield there’s a Baby on Board sticker and on the left it says Jesus is King. It was stolen from Dawson Street (near) 41st Avenue. The license plate number is CRF8182. The driver’s door handle was removed so you can recognize it by that and also that the Hyundai logo in front is missing.

We’re awaiting the report #; if you find it, call a.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 reader reports

January 11, 2025 4:05 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

PACKAGE TAKEN: Ben reports this happened at midday today near 38th/Genesee:

They were driving a small red/gray pickup truck.

We’ll add Ben’s police-report number when we get it. Same with this one:

CAR WINDOW SMASHED: Sent anonymously from an Upper Morgan resident:

Vehicle was parked on street in front of house; went out 2:30 am Friday to go to work, discovered front passenger side window smashed, contents of glove compartment and center console strewn around interior, missing vehicle registration. Car was locked, no bags left in vehicle, oddly alarm did not go off; it seems like they just reached into the car through the broken window. Please share as FYI to encourage neighborly vigilance.

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Closer look at this month’s biggest West Seattle Art Walk show, and how to see it now

January 11, 2025 1:57 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Moody lighting, a mix of photography, colorful ceramics, paintings, and tunes by the high school band The Potholes filled West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral on Art Walk night this past Thursday, as visitors explored art by more than 50 West Seattle High School student artists, opening a show that continues all month.

(Eiree Tolentini captured a photo of her two friends performing cheer and gymnastic tricks)

Photography and graphic design teacher Kelli Perletti says it’s been four years since they started displaying high school art, and it’s been vital in connecting students with the community, showing them professional practices and highlighting the talent emerging from their school.

“It has importance in the world,” Perletti said, referring to students’ art. “Their voice matters.”

Junior Iris Margell explained that her artistic style came naturally to her as she painted a large abstract self-portrait.

“I kept postponing its completion, so I decided to keep it as it was as symbolism for how we are all constantly growing and evolving as our own pieces,” Iris said.

Iris gathered the hues of paints for the piece from a Buy Nothing group, and the canvas was from her grandmother’s stash. The only thing bought for the artwork was black paint.

“Resourcefulness runs in my family,” Iris said. “It’s a major value of mine. It’s something that I want to utilize to the best of my ability in art. There’s a lot of wasted materials.”

Iris aimed to blend as many colors as possible in her piece, creating a folk-inspired line art abstract.

“I don’t think I am ever going to stop doing art,” Iris said. “I’ve been doing art since I could hold a crayon.”

Senior Sora Martina made a ceramic piece adorned with flowers on the sides after returning to ceramics a couple of years ago.

“The piece was made for a person that took me in during a hard time in my life,” Sora said. “It represents my life being full of color again.”

Each flower and color carries a unique memory from the trips Sora has taken with this person, all contributing to unforgettable experiences.

“It’s a relieving pleasure,” she said. “I like to make whatever comes to mind and let my emotions flow through it.”

Sora plans to continue art as a hobby, with a particular interest in Japanese ceramics.

Senior Asteria Paraghamian created a ceramic piece as a memorial for his grandfather.

“He passed away very suddenly earlier last year, and it was really hard on me,” Asteria said. “I made it as a way to vent all of that grief and frustration.”

He used colors that reminded him of his grandfather, incorporating traditional Armenian shades and Persian-inspired flowers.

“What really tied us together was that identity of being Armenian,” he said. “I carry it with me as much as I can.”

Making this piece helped Asteria process his grief, and he plans to display it next to a photo of his grandfather.

Sophomore Boden Johnson displayed a photograph of his friend doing a handplant on a quarter-pipe at Snoqualmie Park.

“He landed it first try,” Boden said. “It captures a lot of physical movement and has good contrast … and he’s upside down, which I thought was pretty cool.”

Boden shared that he’s had a camera for a long time but only recently began using it.

You can see the WSHS students’ art all month at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW, open 6 am-4 pm weekdays, 7 am-4 pm weekends).

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COUNTDOWN: 4 months until 20th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day

January 11, 2025 11:47 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

(May 2024 Garage Sale Day photo)

You don’t have to have a cute mascot to participate in West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, but it might help! Charlotte the corgi was hanging out in south Highland Park during last year’s WSCGSD, and we pulled her photo from that day’s as-it-happened coverage to help remind you that this year’s WSCGSD is getting closer – now less than four months away, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. This year’s a milestone, too, the 20th anniversary of WSCGSD! the founders ran a nonprofit called Megawatt, and decided to try it as a community-building event in 2005. After presenting it for three years, Megawatt announced it was disbanding, and looked for someone to take over WSCGSD … we raised our hand, and have been organizing it since 2008, always on the same date they chose, second Saturday in May. Registration will open on April 1st. (P.S. If you’re new – WSCGSD isn’t one big sale – it’s hundreds of sales, all sizes, all over the peninsula, depending on who decides to participate!)

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Playful way to help: Get your ticket for West Seattle’s next Rainbow Bingo event

January 11, 2025 10:03 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo: Rainbow Bingo @ what’s now Center for Active Living)

If you’re already ready to plan next weekend, here’s a rare chance: Some tickets remain for The Center for Active Living‘s next session of Rainbow Bingo! It starts at 6 pm Friday night (January 17) and this month’s theme is “Slumber Party” – you can come dressed for the theme, or not. Rainbow Bingo raises money for the center’s programs serving local seniors; your $35 ticket includes “entry, entertainment, dauber, and one food item decided by our Chef.” Beverages, with or without alcohol, are available for purchase. You can get your ticket(s) right now by going here. The Center is in The Junction, at 4217 SW Oregon.

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 22 notes!

January 11, 2025 6:07 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mount Rainier from Constellation Park at sunset – photo by David Hutchinson)

Happy Saturday! Here’s the list for today/tonight from our West Seattle Event Calendar:

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the regular Saturday morning run.

SAM MIND + BODY FEATURING WEST SEATTLE BOOK CLUB: Downtown, but with West Seattle participation! A free day of self-indulgence including silent reading time with the West Seattle Book Club, doors open at 8:30 am at Olympic Sculpture Park (2901 Western Avenue) – details and schedule in our calendar listing.

HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free community meditation, 9 am at Inner Alchemy‘s sanctuary/studio (3618 SW Alaska).

INTRODUCTORY WALK: Prelude to the next event – meet at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, 9:30 am, for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Then at 10 am, you’re invited to join others for the weekly walk in Lincoln Park (also meet at 47th/Fauntleroy).

TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, visit independent K-5 Tilden School (4105 California SW; WSB sponsor) – our preview explains what they want you to learn about Tilden.

THE BRIDGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, the cooperative elementary at 10030 28th SW invites you to visit: “Kids welcome, snacks and coffee served. Staff and current families will be onsite to show families around and answer questions. Come find out what makes cooperative elementary unique and learn about our whole-child approach to education!”

HEALTH FAIR & RESOURCE EVENT: 10 am-2 pm, Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton) offers a variety of services and resources for community members who need them. Free food truck too!

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – “This is a free, weekly, in-person active writing group grounded in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. It is a safe, critique-free space. Writers of all levels welcome, 16 and up.” Our calendar listing has location and RSVP info.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the newest exhibit, about the West Duwamish Greenbelt! (61st/Stevens)

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is also open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)

DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE & CULTURAL CENTER OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm, celebrate the 16th anniversary of the Longhouse’s grand opening with this drop-in event. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

PRE-CRAWLER MOTOR-SKILLS GROUP: 3 pm at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW).

ASTRA LUMINA: The illuminated walk at Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge continues. 5 pm and later entry times; ticket cost varies. (6000 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIE: 6:30 pm, “A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks,” movie at 7, discussion 8:30-9, WSUU (7141 California SW); more info in our calendar listing.

BENEFIT FOR THE SKYLARK: Bent Not Broken, My Next Planet, Space Tractor, doors 7 pm, music 8 pm, $10 donation to benefit The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, Soul Focus FM DJs. (4547 California SW)

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 10 pm start time for Saturday singing at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)

West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event is welcome to a spot on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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