July 2025

16th Avenue SW and other White Center roads get a significant upgrade – night paving and safety improvements begin July 16

Information from King County

White Center is getting a much-needed road refresh this summer as King County Road Services, a division of the Department of Local Services, begins construction on the 16th Avenue SW Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Project. Crews will repave sections on three roads and add new safety features to 16th Avenue SW over a three-week period, starting Wednesday night, July 16. Crews will work Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., so businesses can stay open, and parking will remain available during the day.

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Papa Tony's Hot Sauce: From local gem to Forbes feature – A flavorful journey

Anthony "Tony" Wilson, the visionary behind Papa Tony's Hot Sauce, is making waves far beyond the Pacific Northwest, recently gaining significant national recognition with a feature in Forbes Magazine. This exciting development highlights the impressive growth and unique philosophy that have propelled Papa Tony's from a home experiment to a thriving enterprise.

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West Seattle Food Bank reacts to impending changes in national support policies

The so called "Big Beautiful Bill" signed into law on July 4, 2025, introduces sweeping changes that will significantly impact local food banks—both immediately and in the coming years.

Key Changes Affecting Food Banks

1. Cuts to SNAP (Food Stamps)

  • Over 5 million people are expected to lose some or all of their SNAP benefits.

  • Work requirements expanded to adults up to age 65, including caregivers of children aged 14+.

  • Stricter eligibility for noncitizens and new penalties for states with high payment error rates.

  • Impact: Food banks anticipate a surge in demand as more people lose access to federal food assistance3.

2. Cuts to Medicaid

  • Nearly 12 million people could lose Medicaid coverage over the next decade.

  • Work requirements for Medicaid recipients begin January 1, 2027.

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West Seattle Grand Parade Honors 2025 Grand Marshal and Orville Rummel award recipients Lou Cutler and Dan and Joanie Jacobs

The West Seattle Grand Parade is thrilled to announce its 2025 honorees—community champions whose dedication, heart, and service have made a lasting impact on our neighborhood and beyond.

 

Cutler
Lou Cutler is the 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade Grand Marshal.

 

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Starbucks Junction location will close Aug 1

The Starbucks location in the heart of the Junction is set to close on August 1. According to Starbucks spokes person Sam Jeffries:

"As part of Starbucks standard course of business, we continually evaluate our business to ensure a healthy store portfolio. After careful consideration, we’ve determined it is best to close the store at 4233 SW Alaska Street. Our last day at this location will be August 1.  All Starbucks partners (employees) working at that store will have the opportunity to transfer to one of our nearby locations. We look forward to serving our customers at our other locations in our hometown of Seattle."

This closure will be the third closure of Starbucks outlets locally with the Roxbury Safeway, Junction Safeway both closing recently. The junction location opened in 2015.

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Fourth Emerald Games aims to bring retro gaming and community hub to West Seattle Junction

A new destination for gamers, Fourth Emerald Games, opened its doors in the heart of the West Seattle Junction on July 5, 2025. Owned by West Seattle residents Joshua and Tiara Silas, the new retro game shop aims to be more than just a retail space; it seeks to foster a vibrant community for gamers of all ages.

Located at 4517 California Ave SW, Suite D, right upstairs above Rush Hour, Fourth Emerald Games is poised to become a central hub for buying, selling, and playing games, both old and new. The name itself, "Fourth Emerald," is a nod to retro gaming, referencing a phrase made legendary by Shadow the Hedgehog (2005).

 

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The Art of Music will be part of Summerfest Eve on Thursday

The next free admission Art of Music performances presented by the West Seattle Junction Association are coming up on Second Thursday Art Walk Evening July 10 (Summer Fest Eve) at seven locations—five of them are in the Alaska Junction (Click here to view the Alaska Junction Summer Fest Eve flier featuring all five). Musicians will perform from 6 pm to 7:45 pm (with one 15-minute break at the midpoint). 

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West Seattle Amateur Radio Club: More than a hobby, A lifeline in disguise

The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club (WSARC) is often perceived as a social gathering for enthusiasts, and indeed, fostering a social atmosphere is its main focus. Yet, beneath the camaraderie and shared fascination with radio, lies a highly organized and vital emergency function ready to activate at a moment's notice. This venerable club, with a history spanning at least 77 years (and in reality, even longer), is comprised of 89 regular members and seven associate members, each contributing unique skills to a collective that understands the critical role of reliable communication, especially when all else fails. They operate HAM radios. 

Ham radio, also known as amateur radio, is a fascinating blend of technology, community, and public service. It allows licensed individuals to communicate over radio frequencies for non-commercial purposes, often across vast distances and even into space .

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