West Seattle, Washington
12 Tuesday
Earlier, we published a reminder that the Sound Transit Board meets tomorrow afternoon downtown to decide which West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail routing/station-location proposals should go into environmental studies. As you might recall from our coverage of the board’s System Expansion Committee meeting two weeks ago, there was some disagreement about whether to designate “preferred alternatives” at all for parts of the line, including The Junction. Tonight, at least two proposals some board members are circulating would propose these “preferred alternative” (without and with extra $) for The Junction and vicinity:
West Seattle (Avalon / and Junction)
Preferred Alternative
Elevated stations – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest on Fauntleroy Way SW with elevated Alaska Junction station options oriented north/south and staying east of the Alaska Junction on Fauntleroy and in the vicinity of 41st /42nd Avenue SW. (To be determined)Preferred Alternative with Third Party Funding
Tunnel station – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest with tunnel Alaska Junction station options oriented north-south in the vicinity of 41st Avenue SW and 42nd Avenue SW. Based on current information, these alternatives would require additional third-party funding. (To be determined)
The proposals – all by board members from outside Seattle – include concern that waiting until after environmental studies to determine these (and some other) “preferred alternatives” could add a year and a half to the timeline. (They were forwarded to West Seattle community advocates by a representative from the office of Mayor Jenny Durkan, who is an ST board member.) Again, as detailed in our preview earlier, the meeting is 1:30-5 pm Thursday at the downtown board room (401 S. Jackson), with a public-comment period toward the start.
In case you missed the sunset … the photo above is from James Bratsanos; the one below, from Vivian M:
And Guardian One tagged us on Twitter, so we are including their view looking west from the Eastside:
Good evening Seattle… @westseattleblog @CityofSeattle pic.twitter.com/QPTfJEVDjg
— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) May 23, 2019
It’s the West Seattle Junction eatery whose name you won’t see on a sign. Margie’s Café is upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle and recently got some renovations.
Even if you’ve never been there, you helped pay for it, thanks to the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, approved by voters two years ago. It’s a countywide levy, and King County Executive Dow Constantine is visiting some of the 38 senior centers/organizations benefiting from it.
SCWS executive director Lyle Evans showed the West Seattle-residing executive around this morning. His center received a $84,000 grant from the levy, which was used not only for café improvements, but also for necessities including bookkeeping and a website upgrade.
The café improvements, by the way, included a new ice machine and larger sandwich-making counter. And the café is open to the public – find out more about it (including hours and menus) here.
7:13 PM: Avoid Delridge near Oregon for a while – a police response involving a Metro bus has much of the road blocked. We are still working to find out what started this.
7:25 PM: Our crew couldn’t get close to police at the scene so went to the precinct to ask. There, police told us there was a report someone had a gun on the bus. No gun found so far.
You know it’s almost summer when WestSide Baby starts inviting you to “Stuff the Bus” with diapers for local kids in need. Tonight until 7 pm, the WS Baby bus is parked outside Future Primitive Brewing in White Center (9832 14th SW) and if you stop by and sign up to host a diaper drive sometime this summer – as simple as having a barbecue and inviting your friends/family to bring diapers – beer and food’s on them. You can even host an online diaper drive by sharing WS Baby’s wish list via email or social media. Every diaper helps WestSide Baby get closer to this summer’s 350,000-diaper goal.
P.S. If you can’t make it to this event, no worries – you can sign up online to be a diaper-drive’r!
Two reader reports of dumped-and-likely-stolen two-wheelers:
MOTORCYCLE: The photo and report are from the anonymous finder:
Recognize this motorcycle? Honda CRF-230F – This motorcycle was dumped in the Puget Ridge neighborhood around May 2nd. Presumably a stolen motorcycle since an attempt was made to camouflage it in the woods. Seems to be in good shape. Love to get it back to its owner.
It’s been reported to police. If it’s yours, we’ll connect you with the finder.
BICYCLE: This has been visible in the Lowman Beach vicinity for at least two days:
Contact us and we can connect you regarding that one too.
With Alex Trebek in the photo above is one of your neighbors – Laura Schulman! Her friend Jen shares the news that Laura will be on “Jeopardy!” tomorrow night (Thursday, May 23, 7:30 pm, channel 4). Though Laura lives in West Seattle, she works in Kitsap County, where the Kitsap Sun interviewed her before her trip to LA for the show back in March. She told the Sun she’s been a lifelong trivia devotee, including pub trivia here in WS.
Just an early reminder in case you want to be there (or watch via streaming) – tomorrow’s the day the Sound Transit Board will cap the first year and a half of West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail planning by deciding the potential routing/station locations that will go into environmental studies. Here’s the agenda for the meeting – which includes a public-comment period toward the start – 1:30-5 pm at ST’s board room downtown (401 S. Jackson). Here’s the ST document with the framework of the motion, recapping what the board’s System Expansion Committee recommended two weeks ago (WSB coverage here). If they follow the committee’s recommendations, the major undecided item is what – if anything – to identify as a “preferred alternative” for The Junction. Whatever the board decides, a year-plus of studies will follow before a Draft Environmental Impact Statement is released for public comment toward the end of next year. A final routing decision is a few steps beyond that.
(WSB photo, 24th/Kenyon gunfire aftermath last Friday)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Last Friday’s 24th/Kenyon gunfire was a major community concern discussed at the May meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, which regularly provides a chance to tell local police leadership what’s on your mind.
We also asked what had transpired since news at last month’s WSCPC meeting that the precinct planned to deploy the SPD observation tower in this area.
Present from the precinct – where the WSCPC met last night, as usual – were commander Capt. Pierre Davis and city attorney’s office liaison Joe Everett. A featured guest from Seattle Fire spoke later in the meeting.
First:
(West Seattle gosling, photographed by Kersti Muul)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library – bring your up-to-1-year-old(s)! (3411 SW Raymond)
DINE OUT FOR LAFAYETTE: Another chance to dine out and support a local school! Tonight 6-9 pm, Pizzeria 22 is donating part of the proceeds to Lafayette Elementary. (4213 SW College)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Lots on the agenda tonight for Highland Park’s community council – including whether to merge with Riverview and South Delridge. Plus, SDOT reps are scheduled to visit to talk about Highland Park Way/Holden and the H Line RapidRide (plus Delridge repaving/reconfiguration) project. All welcome, 7 pm at HP Improvement Club. (1116 SW Holden)
‘A LIFE UNBOUND’ DOCUMENTARY/Q&A: 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center: “Want to learn about a new method for helping children and adults recover from stroke, brain injury, and other limiting conditions? Join us for a one-night-only screening of an independent documentary, A Life Unbound, by Geordie Trifa.” Full details and ticket info in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
OPEN MIC NIGHTS: Two tonight, starting with 7 pm signups at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW), or with 7:30 pm signups at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
HARTMAN FRICTION: Jazz at Whisky West, 7-10 pm, no cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)
THE BILLY JOE SHOW: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern, “the regional king of roots, rock and Americana”! No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
THAT’S JUST THE START … see more for today/tonight/beyond on our complete calendar.
The photo is from Leshawn, who says, “I found this backpack last night at 44th and Walker on the sidewalk, it has clothing, shoes and cords in it, would love to reunite with the owner. Appears more likely to have been stolen/dumped than lost/forgotten, but either way, if it is yours, contact us and we will connect you.
One more stolen vehicle to watch for – from Jonathan:
My car was stolen from my driveway (9800 block of 32nd Ave SW) Monday night. Hoping to put the word out in case anyone sees it.
2006 Nissan Xterra, Silver, a couple of dents in the doors, cracked windshield. License plate AGY2166.
Call 911 if you see it.
Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School each had eight juniors honored Monday night by Alki Masonic Lodge in The Junction. For the 41st year, the Lodge presented awards and scholarships during its annual School Awards Night in Support of Our Public School System. The evening’s program explained: “The Masonic Fraternity has long supported the public-school system as one of the basic necessities in maintaining the American ideal of democracy.” Two of each school’s eight honorees received additional recognition as Top Students. Photos after the jump:
| 29 COMMENTS