July 2026

West Seattle sinks Gig Harbor

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Four teams remain in the hunt for the state age 9-11 Little League all-star baseball title and West Seattle is one of them.

The Westsiders sank Gig Harbor by an 11-2 score Friday, advancing them into a 4 p.m. Thursday game against Mill Creek for a berth into Friday's 6 p.m. loser's bracket final.

Friday's winner plays in the provisional championship at 11 a.m. Saturday and must win that and a 1:30 p.m. Saturday if necessary final to win the championship.

The action is taking place on the Lynndale field in Lynnwood.

Aside from Mill Creek, the other remaining teams are Soundview of Northeast Tacoma and Bellevue National who meet in the 6:30 p.m. Thursday winner's bracket final.

Mill Creek was the team that knocked West Seattle into the loser's bracket by a 7-3 score in an opener last Saturday.

Category

Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting tackles crime trends, infrastructure delays, and youth advocacy

On July 15, 2026, President Deb Barker convened the quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association (MoCA) at Alki Arts, hosting a hybrid session that balanced encouraging regional safety data with the frustrations of local infrastructure delays and a moving call for community volunteers.

Public Safety: Regional Gains vs. Local Realities

Seattle Police Lieutenant Pat Daly opened with a statistical overview of the Southwest Precinct, noting that it had the largest drop in crime of any of the city's five precincts over the past year. Daly reported that violent crimes are down about 18% year-to-date, while property crimes have decreased by 10%. “In the southwest precinct, we've seen noticeable drops in rapes and aggravated assaults as well as in vehicle [thefts],” Daly stated.

Category

The human spark in the Big Dark: How Magen and Kellen Holgate are reclaiming Seattle’s sound through artist-centered mentorship

In an industry where 250,000 songs are released on streaming platforms every day, the traditional record label might seem like a relic. Yet, in the heart of West Seattle, Magen and Kellen Holgate are proving that a label’s most vital function isn’t just distribution—it’s caretaking. Through their venture, The Big Dark Records, the Holgates are eschewing the "toxic" reputation of modern industry deals in favor of a bespoke approach that prioritizes the human element of music.

From Parent Story to Industry Alternative

Category

King County property valuations cool as residential market pressures ease and Seattle office vacancies rise

The King County Assessor’s office has begun mailing annual property valuation notices, revealing a notable shift after years of aggressive growth. Preliminary data indicates that upward market pressure eased throughout 2025, leading to flat or lowering residential values across much of the region.

Residential Market Cooling

The cooling trend is most pronounced in Eastside markets, which are seeing the county's largest value reductions following years of rapid appreciation. In Seattle and southern parts of the county, residential values have either remained flat or declined by up to 5%. Some Eastside neighborhoods have experienced even steeper drops, with valuations falling by as much as 10%. Chief Deputy Assessor Al Dams noted that this transition reflects a broader trend occurring both across Washington and the rest of the country.

Category

West Seattle wins a pair in Little League All Star tournament

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle won its first two games in its effort to come back through the loser's bracket in the state age 9-11 Little League all-star baseball tournament.

After opening with a 7-3 loss to Mill Creek last Saturday the Westsiders bounced back to beat Camas by a 13-4 score Monday and topped Capital in a 7-5 game Tuesday.

West Seattle plays again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, taking on Gig Harbor at the Lynndale field in Lynnwood.

Gig Harbor took a 16-0 beating by Soundview of Northeast Tacoma in a Tuesday winner's bracket semifinal.

Wednesday's winner plays again at 4 p.m. Thursday and the loser is out.

Category

The West Seattle Grand Parade – Celebrating 92 years of community spirit this Saturday

Easy Street's Matt Vaughan is this year's Grand Marshall

Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 11 AM will see West Seattle’s longest-running and most beloved traditions, the West Seatttle Grand Parade.

Easy Street Records Matt Vaughan has been named as this year's Grand Marshall.

From floats and marching bands to dancers, drill teams, community groups, and local businesses—this high-energy parade brings out the very best of West Seattle. Whether you're cheering from the sidelines or walking in the parade yourself, it’s a celebration of the people, pride, and heart that make our neighborhood shine.

The parade travels down California Avenue SW, starting at SW Lander and ending at SW Edmunds.

Category

Sports Watch 7-15-26

Sporting events worth keeping an eye on

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

 

 

Mid-July in the Greater Seattle area offers a diverse sports lineup, ranging from top-tier professional leagues like MLB and the WNBA to local summer collegiate baseball. One of the most notable events is the high-stakes soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and Portland on July 16 at Lumen Field, a classic regional rivalry. Baseball fans also have a significant home stand to look forward to, as the Seattle Mariners host the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds for several games at T-Mobile Park.

Category

SW Barton St construction update – Striping work begins this week

The long-awaited restoration of SW Barton Street is nearing the finish line as project officials announced today that major concrete work is now complete. With the new roadway fully cured, crews are transitioning into the final phases of the project, bringing relief to local commuters and residents.

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, construction crews will begin the process of removing existing roadway striping. This serves as the final preparation for the application of permanent markings. If weather conditions permit, crews expect to begin laying out and applying the final striping by Friday, July 17.

While the project is in its closing stages, officials remind drivers that traffic cones and other safety devices will remain in place to protect workers and ensure the new markings are applied correctly.

Category

West Seattle opens state with loss

By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle entered this week's state age 9-11 Little League Baseball all-star tournament as the District 7 champion, but opened with a 7-3 loss Saturday morning to District 1 champion Mill Creek.

The action took place on the Lynndale field in Lynnwood, but the next game for the Westsiders will take place in nearby Mukilteo.

West Seattle plays there to open loser's bracket action at 4 p.m. Monday against the loser of a winner's bracket battle between Camas and Bellevue National.

The Westsiders need to keep winning to reach championship play, then would need to beat their opponent twice to take the state title.

Category

West Seattle Library to close for three months for major climate-resiliency HVAC upgrades

Four others across the city also slated for upgrades

 

The West Seattle branch of the Seattle Public Library (SPL), located at 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., in the Admiral District is preparing for a significant transformation this summer as it undergoes a total modernization of its heating and cooling systems.

Starting Aug. 9, the branch will close its doors to the public, with a scheduled reopening in early November. The project is part of a broader $5.8 million initiative to upgrade five city branches—including Columbia, Fremont, Queen Anne, and University—to improve climate resiliency.

Vital Upgrades for Extreme Weather

The project is primarily funded by a June 2024 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is covering 90% of the costs. The remaining 10% is being split between Washington State and the City of Seattle.

Category