West Seattle, Washington
19 Saturday
(January 6 WSB photo, Cove Park entrance)
Three weeks ago, warning signs like that one were up at and near Cove Park south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock after a combined-sewer overflow sent a mix of stormwater and sewage into Puget Sound. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division told WSB that an “electrical issue” at the Barton Street Pump Station was to blame. We’ve been asking for more specifics and obtained additional information from KCWTD, which also now says the spill was about half the size first reported. Here’s what we received after our latest followup inquiry to KCWTD spokesperson Akiko Oda:
On Jan. 5, the Barton Street Pump Station experienced a power loss to one of the phases from the inbound utility power line. This caused the variable frequency drives, which control the station’s pumps, to shut down as a protective measure — similar to a circuit breaker. The overflow lasted only three minutes because an on-call wastewater operator arrived on site and was able to manually reset the variable frequency drives and bring the equipment quickly back online. Approximately 1,660 gallons of stormwater and wastewater was released — far less than the initial 3,500 gallons we conservatively reported.
We are working with the vendor of the variable frequency drives to help improve their resiliency to different types of power fluctuations. Our pump control system is complex, and we have to continuously look for ways to update and improve these systems so we can prevent overflows.
The pump station on the north side of the ferry dock was upgraded a decade ago, and electrical work was part of the project.
If you thought you had missed the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s January “Words, Writers, Southwest Stories” earlier this month, good news, you have another chance. The January 9 presentation of “Stomp and Shout: The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll” – which we had originally previewed here – had to be rescheduled due to technical difficulties. So SWSHS is going to try the online presentation with author Peter Blecha again this Thursday (January 30), 6 pm. If you don’t already have the viewing link, you can register for it here. The presentation is free, but a $5 donation to SWSHS would be welcomed.
From the WSB inbox today:
My name is Lena C. with the West Seattle Home Depot; we wanted to invite our West Seattle Community to our birthday party tomorrow, January 27th from 10 am to 2 pm. We would like to thank our 20-year partnership with our surrounding communities, as without you all we still wouldn’t be here. So please, join us – 7345 Delridge Way SW. By the way, I opened this location as a longtime resident of West Seattle and look forward to almost retiring from this location. Come share your memories with us. Hope to see you there.
We’re waiting for word back on activities planned tomorrow.
P.S. If you’re a relative newcomer – the site previously held a Kmart.
If you’ve been to the West Seattle Farmers Market today, you might have seen the Billion-Dollar Bake Sale crew tabling. As we’ve been reporting, that’s part of an advocacy campaign for public-school funding at the Legislature. In particular, they’re looking ahead to two events this week – Pathfinder K-8 parent and local advocate Kaitlin Murdock sent this preview:
I’m a Pathfinder Parent who, along with the Lafayette PTSA, reached out to Postcards4Democracy to ask them to help us send postcards to our 34th LD legislators asking them to fully fund public education.
They graciously agreed to help with our cause. This Tuesday, 10:30 am-12 pm, we will meet at C&P [5612 California SW] so each constituent can send a (provided) postcard to each of our 3 state legislators: House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, Representative Brianna Thomas, and Senator Emily Alvarado. Postcards filled out during this event will be hand delivered to Olympia on January 30th when taxpayers from all over the state converge on Olympia for the Billion Dollar Bake Sale Rally 10-11 am in Tivoli Square. Postcards and pens will be provided, generously donated by the Lafayette PTA.
We encourage everyone who can attend to join us for this joint postcard event in support of the bedrock of our communities: our public schools. Critical reforms are needed at the state level, as the majority of our revenue comes from Washington State directly. In addition, the portion that comes from Seattle levies (on the Feb 11th ballot), is capped, leaving us unable to raise local funds to fill funding gaps in special education services, transportation,materials, supplies, and operating costs. If our state doesn’t make key changes, Seattle Public Schools will be facing drastic cuts, with a $94M budget deficit. We want to make sure that these cuts do not result in closing schools, cutting teachers, or a prolonged teachers’ strike that delays the start of school next fall.
For those unable to join us for Tuesday’s event, or Thursday in Olympia, there are still plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard: send an email to our legislators, or “sign in” to register your opinion on bills as they move through committee (receive updates from: scptsa.org/2025-legislative-session). The next opportunity to gather in community in Olympia is February 17th.
Thank you to our community in advance; public education is the bedrock of our communities, our democracy, and our workforce, in addition to being the greatest opportunity for our most underserved children to have a strong start in life.
Some of this also was discussed at the local PTSA-led “teach-in” event at West Seattle High School this past Thursday night; we covered that and will publish our report either tonight or tomorrow.
You’re never too young to get involved in your community. West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) board chair Linnea Westerlind is extending this invitation far and wide:
High-school students!
Do you want to represent youth as a voice in your community and gain valuable nonprofit board experience?
The West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA is looking for high school students to apply for our two youth board slots, which begin September 2025.
Our Youth Board Members attend our local YMCA Board Meetings, learn about the Y’s programs and bring a youth voice to our work.
Steps:
– Fill out the application and include one reference.
– If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you to set it up in Spring 2025.
– The board service year is from Sept 2025 – June 2026.Benefits to you:
– 15-20 volunteer service hours
– A letter of recommendation from our Board Chair
– Valuable experience serving on a nonprofit board
– Community connectionsTimeline:
– Applications are due March 1, 2025
– Interviews for finalists will take place April-May 2025
– Youth Board Members will begin term in Sept 2025Apply: tinyurl.com/westseattley
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for your Sunday:
SKI SHUTTLE: Shuttle to Crystal Mountain now picks up at 7:15 am Sundays at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet for today’s run at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts in The Junction. (4310 SW Oregon)
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: First of three Catholic school open houses in West Seattle today – visit OLG (preschool through 8th grade) at 34th/Myrtle, 10 am-1 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm, with winter produce (root vegetables! greens! cabbage!), plus beverages, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared hot food, baked goods, nuts, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
DUWAMISH TRIBE LONGHOUSE & CULTURAL CENTER: The longhouse is open for visitors, 10 am-5 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
HELP THE SEED LIBRARY: Drop in 11 am-1 pm at the High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) to help pack and label seeds for the 2025 growing season.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool to get your project going, or to finish assembling a holiday gift? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
HOLY FAMILY BILINGUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Second of three Catholic school open houses in West Seattle today – visit the pre-8th-grade school at 20th/Roxbury noon-3 pm.
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Third of three Catholic school open houses in West Seattle today. Visit the pre-8th-grade STEM+ school at 42nd/Genesee between noon and 1:30 pm.
READY FREDDY PREP PARTY: Quick and fun way to start on your preparedness planning, 2 pm at TBA West Seattle location – here’s info on how to sign up (plus a list of upcoming parties).
FREE COMMUNITY YOGA: 5 pm at Dragonfly (3270 California SW), accepting donations for California fire relief.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, 5:30 pm and later admission times. Tickets and info here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday nights bring music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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