January 2026

By Jennifer Carrasco

As an artist and a traveler, I discovered very quickly that people were often offended or uneasy with being photographed but fascinated if I drew them. So I drew them and drew them.

The Filipino Igorot mountain tribes figured out that they could charge for a photo. Like this adamant old Bontoc gentleman. (Not my photo, but I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that there was haggling before the photo was taken.) I don’t have drawings from that time in my life (before 1978), alas.

Tickets are still available for The Center's first Rainbow Bingo of the year, and it's a fun theme... Gilligan's Luau. 

Think your favorite classic TV show + the Hawaiian aloha spirit. It's the perfect way to usher in the new year!

Rainbow Bingo is not your grandma’s Bingo! These entertaining and boisterous events feature drag queens, costumes and Jell-O shots.

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Boys basketball

Evergreen 53, TJ 50

Evergreen edged host Thomas Jefferson in non-league action Saturday.

Silas 86, West Seattle 77

West Seattle came up short in a Saturday non-league game on the road.

Cedarcrest 72, Tyee 26

Tyee took a lopsided loss at Cedarcrest this Saturday.

Highline 60, Mercer Island 32

Highline hammered the one time perennial basketball power Friday.

Foster 78, Interlake 64

The Bulldogs beat the Saints in a Friday game.

Mt. Rainier 83, Kennedy Catholic 76

The Rams rallied to top the Lancers on Friday.

Seattle Academy 48, Ballard 43

West Seattleites and history enthusiasts are coming together to preserve a vital piece of medical and social history through a new storytelling initiative titled “Sharing Polio Stories and Memories.” On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m., Brookdale West Seattle Senior Living will host an event aimed at capturing the first-hand recollections of seniors who lived through the polio epidemics of the mid-20th century.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) announced on January 6, 2026, that it is now accepting applications for the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF), a long-standing initiative designed to transform grassroots ideas into community realities. Since 1988, this program has supported more than 5,000 community-driven projects, ranging from public art and park upgrades to cultural celebrations.

The NMF offers two distinct funding pathways to support neighborhoods of all sizes:

• The Community Partnership Fund (CPF): This fund provides awards of up to $50,000 for large-scale projects with lasting impacts, such as community organizing, the design of community facilities, and significant park improvements. The deadline for CPF applications is March 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m..

Special Olympics Washington is returning to West Seattle, with organizers launching a renewed local program focused on building community, connection, and opportunity for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.The relaunch will be anchored by participation in the Seattle Polar Plunge & 5K Run on February 14, 2026, a major fundraiser supporting Special Olympics athletes across Washington. The event will serve as the kickoff fundraiser for rebuilding a West Seattle–based Special Olympics community.

Organizers are currently working to recruit athletes, families, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners as the program rebuilds from the ground up. Funds raised through the Polar Plunge will support essential program needs, including uniforms, equipment, practice space, permits, and other foundational costs required to launch and sustain local programming.

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

High schools

Boys basketball

*Friday, Jan. 9

*Mercer Island at Highline, 7:15 p.m.

*Kennedy Catholic at Mt. Rainier, 8 p.m.

*Newport at Tyee, 8 p.m.

*Foster at Interlake, 8 p.m.

*Hazen at Evergreen, 8 p.m.

*Seattle Academy at Ballard, 8:30 p.m.

*Rainier Beach at West Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

*Saturday, Jan.  10

*Evergreen at Thomas Jefferson, 3 p.m.

*Tyee at Cedarcrest, 6:30 p.m.

*West Seattle at Silas, 7:30 p.m.

*Monday, Jan. 12

*Lindbergh at Foster, 7:15 p.m.

*Cleveland at Ballard, 7:30 p.m.

*Chief Sealth at Seattle Academy, 7:30 p.m.

*West Seattle at Garfield, 7:30 p.m.

*Tuesday, Jan. 13

Rebellyous Foods, the West Seattle-based plant-based meat producer founded by a former Boeing engineer, has officially crossed the "commercialization finish line" with the launch of its proprietary Mock 3© Production System. The patented technology, which achieved full commercial status during the final week of 2025, represents a significant leap forward in the company's mission to make plant-based chicken alternatives as affordable as the real thing.

The Mock 3© system replaces conventional batch production with a fully continuous, automated, and just-in-time manufacturing process. By utilizing only a fraction of the labor typically required, the system delivers the cost savings necessary to achieve price-parity with animal-based meat.