Pencil Me In For Kids (PMIFK) is a West Seattle Rotary sponsored project that has provided basic school supplies to West Seattle K-5 students in need since 1995. Their 31st annual School Supply Drive launched this week and runs through August 1.
I started working on California Ave when I was 16 years old, back in 1984, at Penny Lane Records (where the great men's clothing store Mystery Made is now 4537 California Ave SW) . I then opened my own store in late '87 and moved it where it is today in August of 1989. I've witnessed almost 5 decades worth of the West Seattle Grand Parade.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO) has released a progress report on its Safer Schools Strategy, highlighting a major shift in how the justice system communicates with local school districts to prevent violence.
Since the initiative launched in January 2024, prosecutors have made nearly 300 notifications to schools regarding students facing pending felony firearm charges. In the past school year alone, 78 such notifications were issued. Before this strategy was implemented, schools were often unaware of a student's pending felony firearm charges until a conviction occurred; the new system allows for threat assessments and safety planning at a much earlier stage.
Breaking Down Silos
For the World Cup Championship match next Sunday, July 19, 2026 (kickoff at 12:00 PM PDT), several West Seattle venues and organizers are actively promoting and hosting watch parties:
Event: Championship Watch Party
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Details: Ounces is hosting a major neighborhood watch party featuring World Cup brews on tap, game day food specials, outdoor and indoor screens, and game audio playing.
Vibe: Free, family-friendly, and dog-friendly.
Event: World Cup Final Viewing
Time: Opening early for the match (doors before the 12:00 PM kickoff).
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
