West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Two potential sites for elevated Junction station shown in newest ST visualizations)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Two-plus years after the Sound Transit 3 vote planted light rail firmly in West Seattle’s future, a major decision nears:
Which “preferred alternative(s)” will go into formal environmental study?
With the Sound Transit board set to make that decision in May, the last major public-comment period – aka “scoping” – is under way now. And it’s bringing together groups of neighbors focused on what the decision could mean not only to their neighborhoods, but to the rest of West Seattle – and beyond.
We sat down the other day with five people who are part of the newly organized East Alaska Junction Neighborhood Coalition. They support tunneling light rail into The Junction.
The map is from Seattle Public Utilities, showing Fauntleroy Creek, which has a big project ahead, as explained by SPU:
There are three culverts along Fauntleroy Creek. The culverts located at 45th Avenue SW near SW Wildwood Place and California Avenue SW near SW Brace Point Drive are in extremely poor structural condition. Due to the culverts’ age, condition, and permitting restrictions related to fish passage requirements, the culverts need to be fully replaced.
The third culvert, which is located under Fauntleroy Way and includes a fish ladder, was replaced in the late 1990’s and is not part of this project.
The replacements also would improve conditions for salmon in Fauntleroy Creek, says the city. Right now, SPU is evaluating options for the replacement, before entering the design phase. At this early stage, you have three opportunities this month to hear from and talk with SPU reps:
*Fauntleroy Community Association business meeting, 7 pm Tuesday (March 12th), Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW)
*FCA annual meeting and Food Fest, 6 pm March 19th, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9140 California SW)
*Project-specific open house, 5-7 pm March 20th, The Hall at Fauntleroy
The photos and announcement are from Dave Howard, founder of the West Seattle Running Club, celebrating its 25th anniversary this coming week:
It was early March 1994. A few Alki beach trail runners, then strangers to each other, had an idea that running together would help motivate them to get out on those cold winter evenings.
It began with twelve of us and over the next few months grew to near thirty. And we continued to grow. It was time to make it official. We became the West Seattle Running Club. We met regularly three times per week and began to participate in races around the area as a club.
Soon we were having occasional potlucks and barbecues at members’ homes and getting together for other activities like cycling and ski trips. I, for one, consider the club an extended family.
Over the past quarter-century, nearly 300 runners have hit the trail with us, either as regular members, vacationers wanting to get in a run, or folks in town on business.
Our club is a social and casual running club for all levels. We have race winners, walk/runners, and everything inbetween. We provide support and encouragement to each other in achieving our running goals and having fun along the way.
And we are always excited to meet new runners. If you are interested, please visit our website at westseattlerunningclub.org. Come help us run through the next 25 years.
From Washington State Ferries:
The Chelan returns to the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route on Monday, putting three boats back to the run to start the week. We appreciate your patience during this past week while the route was on a two-boat schedule due to unplanned vessel maintenance. Starting on Monday, the vessels will be in the following order: Chelan #1, Sealth #2 and Cathlamet #3.
(2018 West Seattle 5K photo by David Hutchinson)
Ten weeks from today, runners and walkers will fill Alki Avenue for a few hours during the 2019 West Seattle 5K. If you’re planning to be among them, you can register now and get the early-bird discount. The WS5K (with community sponsors including WSB) starts just after 9 am on Sunday, May 19th, at 61st/Alki, and raises money for West Seattle High School students via the PTSA. You can register online right now by going here; don’t procrastinate, as the early-bird rate is this month only!
First, from the “seen off West Seattle” file:
CANADIAN VISITORS: That photo by Jim Borrow shows the Renard (58), which along with Wolf (59) is visiting Seattle from Esquimalt, B.C. Both are Orca-class Royal Canadian Navy Training Tenders.
And from the “soon to be seen” file:
USCG HOMECOMING: Thanks for the tip that the U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker Polar Star is due back in Elliott Bay this afternoon after three months away on a mission to Antarctica. Its official arrival has been announced by the USCG as midmorning tomorrow but, following up on the tip, we note via the MarineTraffic.com tracker that it’s off North Kitsap right now and headed this way.
The report and photos were sent by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark:
The Denny International Middle School PTSA Hosts a Celebratory Fundraiser!
Thank you to our amazing PTSA for hosting a very fun and successful auction at the Highland Park Improvement Club on Saturday evening!
Families, staff, and community members came together to support the Dolphin scholars in a celebration with the West Seattle Big Band entertaining us all.
We greatly appreciate everyone who came and all of the awesome local businesses, organizations, and individuals who donated items. All of it was thanks to a phenomenal effort by many volunteers, who, with the leadership of our auction leads, Ms. Thomas, Ms. Roeser, and Ms. McKelvey, made it all happen.
Thank you! Go Dolphins!
Something cool at/involving YOUR school? Let us know – in advance for calendar (if it’s public) and/or coverage – or afterward with photos/info for potential publication – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As reported here last month, you’re invited to help plan the Delridge Triangle’s future at a community workshop on March 23rd. The time is now finalized – plus, whether you can be there or not, the community volunteers working on it have a survey for you. Here’s the announcement of both:
The Friends of the Delridge Triangle — an all-volunteer, grassroots gathering of neighbors — has selected Seattle-based MAKERS Architecture and Urban Design to lead a community design process for a reimagining of the Delridge Triangle right-of-way property at 9200 Delridge Way SW.
All community members are invited to a community design meeting on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden). Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. Snacks, professional child care with guided activities, as well as interpreters will be provided.
This is an opportunity for our community to come together and imagine a public space for us all.
We Need Your Input! To help us tailor these efforts to improve the Triangle, please take a few moments to take our short baseline survey here.
(WSB photo, Alki promenade last Tuesday)
Welcome to the first day of Daylight Saving Time! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SPRING NATIVE ART MARKET: Second and final day of the first-ever Spring Native Art Market at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, 10 am-5 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm – see what’s new as spring approaches. In the street in the heart of The Junction. (California between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
GREYHOUND MEET AND GREET: 11 am-1 pm at Admiral Mud Bay, stop by to meet retired racing greyhounds and learn about adoption and volunteering opportunities. (2611 California SW)
BOOK LAUNCH PARTY: Noon-2 pm at Move2Center Studio, “join West Seattle movement and fitness guru Jill Pagano to celebrate the release of her first book ‘Getting Happy with Your Body’.” Admission includes book purchase; info here. (3618 SW Alaska)
CORREO AEREO: Latin American sounds for your Sunday afternoon, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. No cover. (5612 California SW)
CLASSICAL CONCERT: Free! 3 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, see and hear the Ladies’ Musical Club. Preview the program in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BANDS: Performing at The Skylark, doors at 5, music at 6, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TAVERN TUNES: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern, big-band jazz combos 322 and Lord Shambleton. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
PREVIEW THE DAYS AND WEEKS AHEAD … by browsing our complete calendar!
(WSB photo)
1:10 AM: Seattle Fire reports that one person has been extricated from a car that went sideways in the 5600 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. That person’s being evaluated. The road is blocked both ways right now.
1:32 AM: The car is midblock south of Findlay. 1 person is going to the hospital via private ambulance; SFD is leaving the scene, but SPD still has the road blocked – no tow truck yet. At least one parked car is reportedly damaged.
(Texted photo)
1:57 AM: A reader just texted that photo showing the other side of the vehicle – a pickup truck – and says the street has reopened.
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