March 2019

The US Navy's newest littoral combat ship, the Independence variant USS Manchester (LCS 14), came to Seattle on Sunday March 31.

Manchester is the 12th LCS to enter the fleet and the ninth to be homeported in San Diego. 

LCSs are high speed, agile, shallow draft, mission-focused surface combatants designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. As part of the surface fleet, LCSs have the ability to counter and outpace evolving threats independently or within a network of surface combatants. Paired with advanced sonar and mine hunting capabilities, LCSs provide a major contribution, as well as a more diverse set of options to commanders, across the spectrum of operations.

It's appearance here is likely for maintenance though the exact reasons were not disclosed.

From District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold

The Fairmount Ravine Preservation Group will sponsor the 27th Annual Spring Cleanup and Reforestation of Fairmount Ravine, Saturday April 6th at 8:30 am.  Meet at the top of ravine (Forest St. and Fairmount Ave).  As in past years, this year's cleanup will focus on removing garbage and debris from homeless encampments under the bridge, removing ivy from trees in the ravine and cleaning sidewalks on the Admiral Bridge.

What to wear: boots and gloves.

Things to bring (if you can): a pruning saw and/or large loppers (to help remove ivy from trees), a flat shovel and push broom to help clean the sidewalks on the bridge.

Refreshments will be provided. All the organizers ask is that you donate a couple of hours of your time to keep this greenbelt clean, healthy and natural. I hope to see you there!

Information from District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold

Over the last two years, a broad coalition including the City and Port of Seattle, other cities and towns around Puget Sound, the maritime industry, and environmental groups, have joined forces to advocate on behalf of the Ballard Locks. The Locks are the busiest in the U.S. in vessel transits and the 12thbusiest in the nation for commercial transits.  They generate $1.2 billion of economic activity, including 3,000 jobs and payroll for those jobs of $129 million a year.  They are also 100 years old and in need of $30-60 million in major maintenance.

information from City of SeaTac

South 200th Street Shared-Use Path

This project includes building a new separated shared-use path along South 200th Street between 12th Place South and the Des Moines Creek Trailhead. The project will provide pedestrian connections to street improvements that will be constructed at the intersection of Des Moines Memorial Drive South and South 200th Street, and a connection to existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities accessing the Angle Lake Light Rail Station.

Des Moines Memorial Drive South and South 200th Street Intersection

information from City of SeaTac

On Thursday, March 21, SeaTac Mayor Erin Sitterley and Councilmember Peter Kwon joined the Seattle Rose Society and the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden at the SeaTac Community Center to dedicate the Celebration Rose Garden as a Rosie the Riveter Rose Garden. These rose gardens are located around the country and dedicated to the women who worked on the home front during WWII, symbolized by the well-known Rosie the Riveter image with the slogan, “We Can Do It”.

The Rosie the Riveter organization is an outgrowth of The Spirit of 45, an alliance of organizations and individuals working to preserve and honor the legacy of the men and women of America’s WWII generation.

The event included the placing of a Rosie the Riveter sign and the planting of a Rosie the Riveter rose to honor these women’s service during WW II, and by extension the wartime service of everyone from that generation.

information from the Nordic Museum
 

The Nordic Museum announced today that it will be extending its extraordinary visiting exhibition, “The Vikings Begin,” through Sunday, April 28, two weeks longer than previously scheduled.