Health 884 results

BIZNOTE: Row House announces it’s closing in The Junction

(Google Maps Street View image)

Thanks for the tip. Via email, the West Seattle branch of Row House (4203 SW Oregon) announced today that it’s closing in four weeks:

It is with sincere gratitude and heavy hearts we share the news that Row House West Seattle will be closing its doors permanently. Our final day of classes will be Sunday, July 27th. Despite being listed for sale over the past year, a transition was not secured, and a new business will be assuming the lease August 4th.

Over the years, your support, dedication, and energy have created a vibrant, inspiring community, one that we’ve been honored to be a part of. The friendships formed, progress achieved, and spirit shared within these walls have meant more to us than words can express.

With this chapter coming to an end, we still have a full month to finish strong. We are planning themed rows and celebrations for our final month, so let’s fill these classes and go out with a bang!

We will be issuing prorated refunds for active memberships and class packages. If you have any questions about your membership, please reach out to westseattlegm@therowhouse.com and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you again for being a part of the Row House West Seattle community. Your commitment and passion have truly been the heartbeat of the studio. Once a crew, always a crew.

Sincerely,
The Row House West Seattle Team

No indication yet what that “new business” is; the space has been listed for sublease for several months. Row House is affiliated with a nationwide chain of indoor-rowing studios, and has been open in West Seattle for almost six years.

BIZNOTE: Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle expanding, celebrating 4th anniversary

Longtime WSB sponsor Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle has updates including an added location and added services! Here are the details, from LWPTWS proprietor Mark Bouma:

Celebrating Four Years in West Seattle!

(Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle photos)

Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle is celebrating its four-year anniversary! To show our appreciation, we hosted Patient Appreciation Week, recognizing the incredible community that has supported us since day one. Thank you!

New Fauntleroy Clinic Opening Soon!

We’re expanding! On July 8th, 2025, we’ll open our new Fauntleroy Clinic inside The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Ave SW, 3rd Floor), bringing specialized care closer to you. Alison Read (above with LWPT’s Mark Bouma), PT DPT CEEAA Cert-MMOA, will serve as the clinic director, focusing on older adults, individuals with balance impairments, and those experiencing mobility limitations. We offer 1:1 care and 55-minute appointments. Medicare and most insurances accepted. You can book an appointment HERE or call us at 206-906-9207. Click HERE to watch an intro video with Alison!

New Specialized Services

We are proud to introduce new specialized treatments at our clinics, including:

Dry Needling with Amanda Ford, PT DPT FDNS to improve functionality and relieve pain and tension.

Musculoskeletal Diagnostic Ultrasound & Biofeedback with Maxwell Ngo, PT DPT, for quick and readily available imaging results and enhanced, informed care.

Professional Bike Fitting with Erin Heald, PT DPT, ensuring optimal cycling performance.

Supporting Local Soccer Teams

We’re passionate about keeping athletes healthy and in top form! Our clinical team is working alongside Junction FC and Rhodies FC, providing expert care during training and games. Find out why our team of clinicians are trusted by these athletes to keep them playing at their best! Keep an eye out for our tent at upcoming matches — we’d love to see you there!

Expanding Availability at Our Alki Location

To better serve the West Seattle community, we are expanding our hours and adding new clinicians at our Alki location later this Summer. Need an early morning or weekend appointment? We’ve got you covered! Join us in welcoming Jordan Samford, PT DPT MS, Ben Clark, PT DPT, and Olivia Dominguez, PT DPT to our Alki team!

The main location of LWPTWS remains at 1309 Harbor SW.

BIZNOTES: Junction Hardware, Seattle Hearing Services, Seattle Beauty

Three quick business notes today:

(WSB photo after sign went up in April)

JUNCTION HARDWARE: We reported back in February on this locally owned store’s switch from affiliation with True Value to affiliation with the ACE co-op. This Saturday, the store at 44th SW/SW Edmunds will formally celebrate the change, at a “grand reopening” party, 10 am-2 pm (June 28). That starts with a ceremonial ribboncutting and includes demos by grilling experts, and more, as detailed in our calendar listing.

SEATTLE HEARING SERVICES MOVING: Audiologist Dr. Jo Munson wants you to know that the clinic’s West Seattle offices are moving: They’ve been in Morgan Junction but are moving further north, to 5036 California SW. The new location will open this Wednesday, June 25.

SEATTLE BEAUTY MOVES: Another local service has moved office locations – Seattle Beauty is now at 4050 SW Admiral Way, Dr. Desiree Wood tells us. Her office previously was in The Junction

YOU CAN HELP: Give the gift of life, get a gift in return

If you can give blood, there’s a special incentive for a one-day drive that’s exactly two weeks away – here’s the announcement, along with other dates if that one doesn’t work:

Blood donors in West Seattle will have multiple opportunities to make a life-saving impact this summer, with blood drives scheduled at Our Lady of Guadalupe on June 30, July 1, 2, 7, 8 and August 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12. The drives are organized by Bloodworks Northwest, a regional nonprofit dedicated to ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply to hospitals across the Pacific Northwest.

In a special promotion on Wednesday, July 2, all donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of Seattle Sorbet as a thank-you gift. The “Give a Pint, Get a Pint” campaign is proudly sponsored by Seattle Sorbets and Electric Butter Marketing.

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Gym
Address: 7000 35th Avenue SW

Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at donate.bloodworksnw.org. Donors should use the code OLG2 when checking in to receive their sorbet voucher. For help booking, email schedule@bloodworksnw.org.

SAFETY: Here’s why SPU says some West Seattleites are seeing ‘fibers’ in their water

We’ve routinely reported “brown water” sightings for years – so many at one point, Seattle Public Utilities did a system “flush” in West Seattle in 2016 to try to clear out the rust and other sediment that was getting stirred up. Recently, we heard from multiple West Seattle Junction-area apartment residents with a different sighting in their water – white hair-like “fibers.” Here’s one description:

The hair-like objects range up to about half an inch in length and there was consistently a few in any glass of water. I could not tell if they were plastic, organic, or what. My only rudimentary test showed that they do not dissolve in vinegar. There was no discoloration.

That resident had dealt with SPU and property management among others to try to solve the mystery. SPU is on the front lines in terms of water safety, so we asked them. Here’s what SPU spokesperson Brad Wong told us late today:

Seattle Public Utilities has analyzed water samples from the area around 42nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street in West Seattle after receiving reports from customers of microscopic strands or filaments in it.

SPU believes the strands are a result of a recent algae bloom in one of our water supply reservoirs, which has occurred seasonally for more than 15 years. The water is safe to drink because SPU has treated and disinfected it. The Cedar River supply does not have filtration, but meets treatment requirements with ozone, UV light, and chlorine.

Customers who have concerns can call SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800. Customers may choose to filter their drinking water or purchase bottled water but should not consider this necessary.

SPU will contact customers who called with concerns and continue to monitor the situation.

The response didn’t explain why these complaints were mainly coming from The Junction; our tipster says the SPU person to whom they spoke didn’t have an explanation for that either. The reader quoted above says an SPU rep told them that the algae bloom was in <strong>Lake Youngs, a source for Seattle city water.

HEALTH: Care-a-Van returning to Loop the ‘Lupe, offering screenings and vaccines

(WSB photo, March)

This year’s Loop the ‘Lupe – obstacle-course 5K and more – is one week from tomorrow, and organizer Brian Callanan tells us today that both participants and spectators will have the opportunity to get health care from the Care-a-Van. The mobile health-care service was in West Seattle for March’s Resource Fair at Westwood Village, and it’ll be at Walt Hundley Playfield 11 am-3 pm on Saturday, June 7th. Services will include childhood, flu, COVID, and mpox vaccines, as well as blood-pressure and blood-sugar screenings, with more information – and a QR code for preregistering (though they expect to accommodate some walk-ups too) – on this flyer in English and en Español. Again, you do NOT have to be a Loop the ‘Lupe participant to use the Care-a-Van services during its visit that day.

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

April 21, 2025 11:55 am
|    Comments Off on Halcyon Massage and Bodywork: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Halcyon Massage and Bodywork. Here’s what they’d like you to know about what they do:

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork is an integrative manual therapy studio in Sodo’s Urban Worklofts, just across the West Seattle Bridge. Sessions at Halcyon are an invitation to slow down and tune into the messages of your body as owner/operator Jennifer Keller, LMT, CCST, CMLDT supports you on your individuated healing path.

Halcyon offers gentle yet potent treatments by design. They are especially effective for people seeking relief from persistent pain, recovering from injury, managing stress and PTSD, and folks with sensitive nervous systems. This work helps to regulate your nervous system, cues safety in the body, and allows Jennifer to access long-guarded structures without triggering reflexive bracing. This encourages lasting change.

If you’ve ever encountered a tangled necklace, you know it takes patience and delicacy to get it untangled without damaging the chain. Often, the knot at the crux of the tangle has all sorts of other loops tied in with it. Jennifer unravels these knots and tangles, layer after layer, to treat the root cause so you can improve how you feel in your body and live a fuller life.

Whether you’re seeking relief from chronic pain, assistance with injury or surgery recovery,support for nervous system regulation, or simply wanting to improve your overall well-being, you belong at Halcyon.

Halcyon Massage and Bodywork is located in the Urban Worklofts at 3250 Airport Way S. By appointment only: Tues 11-7, Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4. First-time clients receive $10 off, and packages are available. Now is the time to shore up your internal reserves. Schedule your session today at halcyonmb.com

We thank Halcyon Massage and Bodywork for choosing to advertise their business by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Please email WSBAdvertising@wsbsales.com – thank you!

Coping with cuts: Four notes

Four notes this afternoon as cuts in D.C. reverberate here in “the other Washington”:

(WSB photo, last Saturday)

CARE-A-VAN SUSPENDED: The state Health Department’s Care-a-Van mobile health service was part of the resource fair at Westwood Village last Saturday. That was one of its last stops before the state learned the feds have defunded it, tweeting this morning:

We received notice from the CDC that our funding for Care-A-Van has been terminated, effective March 24, 2025. As a result of this unexpected decision, we must immediately suspend Care-A-Van operations. Thank you to all of our requesters and community partners for your support.

SENIORS PLAN PROTEST: As noted in our West Seattle Event Calendar, we received an announcement that residents at Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) plan a protest outside their building at 3 pm Saturday. The announcement says they’ll be protesting cuts to programs as pursued by the federal DOGE operation.

PREPARING FOR APRIL 5 PARTICIPATION: West Seattle Indivisible is leading two sign-making events this Sunday in advance of the April 5 “Hands Off” rally at Seattle Center, protesting cuts to programs/services – one at 11 am Sunday in High Point, one at 3:30 pm in Admiral. (They want to be sure you know the venues have limited space.)

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE: The City Council’s new Federal Administration and Policy Changes Committee, set up to help councilmembers stay informed on D.C. changes affecting Seattle, will have its second meeting Thursday (April 3) at 2 pm, focusing on housing issues. (This is a “select committee,” so all councilmembers are on it.) Citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck sent this announcement today with details.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Here’s what you’ll find at Saturday’s Resource Fair at Westwood Village

One more reminder that a Resource Fair is planned at Westwood Village‘s ex-Bed Bath Beyond/Spirit Halloween space on Saturday, 11 am-3 pm. We asked the Seattle Police Community Resource Officers, who organized it, for a list of the 40+ participating agencies/organizations – here it is:

Community Service Officers/SPD
Villa Communitaria
Seattle Animal Shelter/Control
Promoteres Network
Hopelink Community transportation program
King County Public Health Community Navigators
Building Beyond Communities
King County Health Public Outreach
Resource Navigation Neighborhood House
Neighborhood House MHP
Community Access & Engagement King County L&I
Washingron Relay Outreach
Project Help
Impact Public Schools Outreach
King County Environmental Health Services
Cell Phone Provider
Disability Empowerment Center
Union Gospel Mission
King County e-911
DEA Outreach
Seattle Public Schools
Victim Support Team
We Heart Seattle
Sea Mar Community Health Centers
Valley Cities Behavioral Health
Southwest PCT Crime Prevention Coordinator
Arms Around You
Communities of Belonging
Community for Youth
Delridge Community Center
Overdose Coordinator/KCME
Cultivate South Park
The More We Love
Care-a-Van WSDOH Vaccine Van
VA – suicide prevention coordinator
Transform Burien
Target
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association
Haircut Team
West Seattle Food Bank
Park Rangers
Humana
Atlantic Street Center
Community Health Plan of WA
Alcoholics Anonymous
Seattle Public Library – High Point
Molina Healthcare
TJX/Marshalls

If you’re in need of vaccination – either child or adult – here’s what the Care-A-Van will be there to offer.

FOLLOWUP: CARE Community Crisis Responders now officially available in West Seattle too

(WSB photo)

Michael, Vanessa, and Alfred are Community Crisis Responders with the city’s CARE Department Team. We caught up with them for a quick photo at Alki this afternoon as they wrapped up their first week of being available for calls in West Seattle and vicinity. As reported here previously, the CARE Team was able to expand to this area of the city once it grew in size, as budgeted, after its first year and a half. As explained here, CCRs – all behavioral-health professionals – respond (at least initially with police) to situations involving people in crisis or other behavioral-health emergencies. CARE – short for Community Assisted Response and Engagement – is led by Chief Amy Barden and is considered one of the city’s public-safety departments. Though they’ll eventually have workspace in this area, the responders told us they’re currently based downtown. (We might hear more about that when the mayor comes to West Seattle next week for a formal announcement that the CARE responders are now available here.)

YOU CAN HELP: Register early for ‘pint for a pint’ West Seattle blood drive

March 12, 2025 9:13 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Register early for ‘pint for a pint’ West Seattle blood drive
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Considering the incentive, spaces for this upcoming West Seattle blood drive might go fast, so we’re mentioning it early:

Join Electric Butter Marketing and Seattle Sorbets in West Seattle on Tuesday, April 15th, and give the gift of life—while treating yourself! Donate a pint of blood and receive a coupon for a pint of Seattle Sorbet as a thank-you.

📍 Location: 4001 44th Ave SW
🕘 Date & Time: Tuesday, April 15th, 9 am-4 pm

How It Works:

Schedule Your Appointment: Visit Bloodworks Northwest to reserve your spot.
https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/75982

Donate Blood: Head to the West Seattle location on April 15th to make your life-saving donation.

Claim Your Treat: At check-in, use code “VT07” to receive your Seattle Sorbets coupon!

VIDEO: West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA celebrates community connections and shows how your support can strengthen them

(WSB photos/video)

By Tracy Record and Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA is about connections – connecting with your community and neighbors as well as connecting with yourself via fitness, health, and fun.

That message was at the heart of Wednesday night’s community dinner to launch this year’s fund drive for the Y (a longtime WSB sponsor). Attendees enjoyed a free buffet catered by West Seattle’s own Peninsula Soul Food – one of the Y’s neighbors at Distinguished Foods in The Triangle, another connection.

Branch executive Cleveland King II offered heartfelt thoughts at the night’s conclusion, stressting that “The most important thing when you come into the YMCA is how the people interact.”

More people – especially youth – can be served thanks to donors’ generosity, mused longtime board member Calvin Saunders: “Let’s get our kids help.”

Board chair Linnea Westerlind, emceeing the event, spoke of another way the West Seattle/Fauntleroy Y is increasing connections with youth – a plan to expand its leadership to add two teenagers each year, a group too often “overlooked and underappreciated” in what they can offer:

The Y connects with thousands of kids and teens each year through Camp Colman and Camp Orkila. Jason Lane, senior executive director for camping and outdoor leadership, talked about how camp experiences promote community awareness, self-confidence and a wonder for the natural world, and lead to more than a million volunteer hours. He then introduced Camp Colman’s executive director Danielia Barron, who also speaks in this clip:

Even more frequent than camp trips, young Y members get to connect via sports programs. The Y is working on expanding access and adding a new competitive basketball league, as program director Liz Abbott and health/wellness director Madisson Cordova discussed:

Third through eighth graders are invited to tryouts next weekend (as previously mentioned here). And when they’re not on the court, perhaps they’re in the pool; the West Seattle Y is renowned for its aquatics programs, led by Jenna Gill, who said her mission is to promote universal safety and awareness around water, which involves much more than learning to swim:

The Y connects people across the age spectrum – elders as well as youth – and Cordova returned to the microphone to talk about plans for growing the Active Older Adults resources, with a cancer-survivorship program in the works as well as line dancing, and hopes for an AOA coordinator, if the support comes in:

Whatever the program, each participant has a story, often brimming with inspiration. Board member Chris O’Claire told the story of how a physically challenged teenager named Luca connected with support and increased confidence and independence via a scholarship membership at the Y:

The more the Y can raise during this year’s fund drive, the more they can offer access to people like Luca and others of all ages and abilities. So it’s up to community supporters to pick up the ball and run with it. If you can give, here’s where to start.

Life-saving lessons for parents this Thursday

March 3, 2025 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on Life-saving lessons for parents this Thursday
 |   Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Before we get to what’s happening today/tonight, here’s a note about a chance to learn life-saving lessons this Thursday night at West Seattle High School:

WSHS will be hosting our 8th annual Forefront Suicide Prevention Parent Night, Thursday, March 6th, from 6-8 pm in the WSHS library. This parent night will focus on learning the stats and risk factors for teen suicide, as well as teaching parents active listening skills and how to listen to their teens with empathy. Preventing death by suicide is everyone’s job- from school staff to parents, friends and the community as a whole. WSHS has partnered with Forefront in the Schools to educate our entire West Seattle community on suicide and how we, as a team, play a role in prevention.

Please RSVP at the following link: Forefront Parent Night RSVP

RSVP is recommended, not required. Questions? Contact School Counselor Mallory Neuman at mlneuman@seattleschools.org

FOLLOWUP: City’s CARE Responders set the date for West Seattle service to begin

(City of Seattle file photo)

3:55 PM: The city’s been mentioning for a while that its CARE Community Crisis Responders would expand service to the Southwest Precinct area (West Seattle and South Park) as soon as they were staffed up; Mayor Bruce Harrell mentioned it in his State of the City speech earlier this week, too. And now they’ve set the date: As announced today, March 10th will be the first day of CARE Responders’ service here (which is a few months past the “end of 2024” the mayor announced last year). As explained in the city announcement, the responders “will assist Seattle Police Department patrol officers on 9-1-1 crisis calls that are non-violent and non-life-threatening. CCRs will be dispatched via the Seattle CARE Department 9-1-1 Communications Center, for 9-1-1 call events with a nexus to behavioral health (mental illness/substance use) and/or homelessness.” The team has been in service for about a year and a half and reports to CARE Chief Amy Barden, who also is accountable for the 911 Center, through which the Community Crisis Responders are dispatched, as are police. The city has 27 CCRs, and three are supervisors who also are Mental Health Professionals. We have a question out to the city about whether they’ll be physically based on this side of the river, in addition to responding to incidents here.

5:28 PM: CARE Department spokesperson Sean Blackwell replied:

Seattle CARE Department (CARE) Community Crisis Responders are currently headquartered at Seattle Municipal Tower and have additional office spaces at the Seattle CARE Department 9-1-1 Communications Center (located at SPD West Precinct) and the University of Washington Police Department (UWPD).

CARE is in the process of procuring additional office spaces in South Seattle (South Precinct), West Seattle (Southwest Precinct), North Seattle (North Precinct) and in the Capitol Hill/Central District (East Precinct).

FEDERAL FUND FREEZE: Local effects? City ‘analyzing the memo’

1:15 PM: If you’ve been tracking national news, you have likely heard about the many orders and policy directives issued by the new federal administration. One today also has the potential for many city-level effects, so we’re checking on those. It’s an order from the federal Office of Management and Budget director, “paus(ing)” grants/funding. (See the memo here; Eastside U.S. House Rep. Suzan DelBene is circulating this analysis of potentially affected programs.)

Given the possibility for effects on city programs such as public safety and transportation, we asked whether any statement is forthcoming from Mayor Harrell. Not so far, responded spokesperson Callie Craighead, but here’s what she told us:

The City is analyzing the memo to understand the potential impacts of this action given its broad and vague language. We are actively working with City departments to evaluate any potential immediate effects.

Strong constitutional protections exist that limit the federal government’s ability to coerce cities by conditioning funds. We will continue to assess actions that impact Seattle’s access to federal funding that supports all of our residents and respond appropriately. 

Checking WSB archives, we have 79 references to federal-grant funding for projects on which we’ve reported – most recently including the Spokane Street Viaduct repaving and Hiawatha Community Center renovations (a project that’s not yet complete). There are also school (we’re checking with the district) and medical programs potentially affected, among others. We’ll continue following up.

4:27 PM: The spending-pause order was supposed to take effect at 2 pm our time but a federal judge has put it on hold until next Monday afternoon (February 3).

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The AP reports the order has been rescinded.

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: But NBC says the White House spokesperson contends the freeze hasn’t.

FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy YMCA’s expanded schedule has begun

(WSB file photo)

One month after the announcement at the Fauntleroy YMCA “town hall” update (WSB coverage here), the expanded schedule has launched. Branch executive Cleveland King confirms that the Fauntleroy Y (co-housed with Fauntleroy UCC at 9140 California SW) now has this schedule:

Monday-Saturday 8 am – 12 noon
Monday -Thursday 4 pm-8 pm
Closed on Sunday

As also announced at last month’s town hall, the Fauntleroy branch is expanding programming too.

READER REPORT: Missing your hearing aid?

Most of our lost/found reports go in the WSB Community Forums, but this one is likely of great importance to someone’s quality of life:

About three weeks ago, I found this hearing aid on the corner of Northrop and Thistle. I did not know that you posted found objects until I saw a recent post about someone’s glasses. I’m happy to return the hearing aid to someone if they claim it’s theirs.

The note and photo are from Megan, and if we hear from the hearing aid’s owner – westseattleblog@gmail.com – we’ll connect you.

SNEAK PEEK: Virginia Mason’s new West Seattle clinic finally ready to open

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s been three and a half years since we broke the news that Virginia Mason Franciscan Health was going to take over the building at 3400 California SW, from which Swedish moved to The Junction. That’s a lot longer than the health-care organization originally expected the remodeling would take, and the building was hit by vandals at times – leading some neighbors to wonder, repeatedly, if the project had been abandoned.

The elongated timeframe was acknowledged in VMFH’s celebration of the new 20,000-square-foot space today – one with multiple ribboncuttings:

That ribboncutting featured the team from OB/GYN, one of several specialties that VMFH is bringing to its new West Seattle “pavilion.” It will also offer primary care, cardiology, gastroenterology, and rheumatology – described as a “one-stop shop” for care. The building will open for patient care on December 9th, and one floor was open for tours during this morning’s event. But first, those gathered – including many of the providers who will work at the new location – heard from leaders including VMFH CEO Ketul Patel.

He and other leaders who spoke stressed that West Seattle patients had long been asking for more services to be provided here – “as much care as we can,” as Jane Root, president of physician enterprise for Northwest markets, explained. She told us in a one-on-one conversation that the delay in getting the building open was in no small part attributable to pandemic-related problems and supply-chain issues, but finally they buckled down into a “laser-like commitment that ‘we’re going to get this done’.” Asked about key features of the building, Root singled out “the design … for patient flow” and the inclusion of primary and specialty care in the same location.

Our quick tour highlighted the proximity of medical-team members for optimal communication – support staff members have work stations along hallways, across from providers’ offices. And for the patients, more-spacious exam rooms, some with windows looking out over California SW:

They also have room to expand, if and when needed, by adding providers. The new location itself already represents an expansion in staff as well as space – some of the staffers are moving, but others are being hired just for this location’s opening.

The second floor, which we toured, will hold primary care (both family and internal medicine), while the specialties will be on the third floor. Meantime, the current 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW location’s last day will be December 5, four days before the 3400 California building opens for patient care (with weekday appointments starting at 7 am), but VMFW will continue operating its urgent-care clinic at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: West Seattle’s community Alzheimer’s walk set for Saturday

September 26, 2024 2:07 pm
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND PREVIEW: West Seattle’s community Alzheimer’s walk set for Saturday
 |   Health | West Seattle news

Again this year, on the same day as the Seattle Walk to End Alzheimer’s downtown, West Seattle caregivers are organizing an informal walk here on the peninsula. Here’s the invitation!

Saturday…September 28…10:00 am…Holden and 39th

For those who don’t want to go to the big walk (at Seattle Center), the Alzheimer’s Caregivers’ Support Group has a local walk and welcomes anyone affected by the disease. We will meet at 39th Ave SW and SW Holden and walk together…usually under an hour and at a very social pace.

It’s FREE and FRIENDLY…wear purple if you have it.

No need to RSVP – just show up! (Here’s a map to 39th/Holden.)

Countywide property-tax increase proposed to save health clinics, fix Harborview Medical Center

It’s budget season for government agencies, which is why you’re hearing more than usual about money matters. One of today’s announcements would bring a countywide property-tax increase to save King County’s endangered public-health clinics and to fund maintenance at Harborview Medical Center, our region’s trauma hospital. This proposal does not need voter approval; it’s made possible by what the announcement from King County Executive Dow Constantine calls “a modified county hospital property tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year.” It would cost 8.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value – that’s $72 a year for a house at the median King County valuation of $850,000. Here’s what the announcement says that money would go for:

It will raise $25 million, about 3 cents, for Public Health — Seattle & King County to sustain clinic operations in 2025 and provide essential health services to the most vulnerable. It will also raise $25 million for operations supporting those most in need at HMC. Roughly 2 cents of the tax total will raise $19 million for major infrastructure improvement projects at HMC in 2025. The remaining amount covers administrative costs to implement operations and contributes to the fund’s rainy-day reserve.

Clinic funding had been coming from the general fund, which faces a nine-digit shortfall. The county’s clinics serve 80,000 people; the nearest one is in the Greenbridge area of White Center, focusing on services for mothers and babies.

You asked, so we asked: When is Virginia Mason Franciscan Health finally opening 3400 California?

No photo (yet), but Thomas emailed today to say the future Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinic at 3400 California SW is getting painted, and to ask when it’s opening. It’s now been 3 1/2 years since the health-care organization announced it would take over the former Swedish building, plagued by vandalism and burglary over those many vacant months. So we sent the question to VMFH’s media team and received this response attributed to Franciscan Medical Group COO Jane Root:

We’re excited to open the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Medical Pavilion – West Seattle (3400 California Ave.) in the coming months to bring services including primary care, cardiology, women’s health, gastroenterology, and more to the community. We are targeting opening before the end of year 2024 and will keep you apprised of the grand opening details.

The original announcement had targeted fall 2021 for the facility’s opening. Swedish was in the building previously and moved to The Junction.

BABY ON THE WAY? Free, scenic workout Saturday with FIT4MOM on Lake Washington PT’s West Seattle waterfront rooftop

September 5, 2024 2:09 pm
|    Comments Off on BABY ON THE WAY? Free, scenic workout Saturday with FIT4MOM on Lake Washington PT’s West Seattle waterfront rooftop
 |   Health | West Seattle news

If you have a baby on the way, Saturday morning, the Elliott Bay-facing rooftop terrace at Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is the place to be. This announcement explains why – and how to register:

If you are expecting or know someone who is, a FREE FIT4BABY prenatal preview class is planned this Saturday, September 7, at 9 am on the rooftop terrace of Lake Washington PT.

You can RSVP with this link and we will enroll you!

The 9 am class will be followed by a short presentation and Q&A on posture and pelvic-floor function pre- and postpartum given by April Johnson PT, DPT, PCES of LWPT, who is also a FIT4BABY alum!!

April is a physical therapist and a pregnancy and postpartum corrective-exercise specialist. Her goal is to help women decrease pain during pregnancy and safely return to activity postpartum. She has a deep understanding of the issues associated with pregnancy and strives to master the whole-body approach to women’s health. This process involves restoring posture, breathing mechanics, pelvic floor function (external), strength and much more! Some of the most common conditions treated are low back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, neck/shoulder pain, diastasis recti and incontinence.

For the class, please enter Lake Washington PT through the main entrance at 1309 Harbor Ave SW, Suite A. Street parking will be available. Make sure to check in at the front desk and someone will be there to direct you to the rooftop terrace. We can’t wait to see you then!

Forecast for Saturday morning so far – more sunshine!

FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy YMCA hours expanding

The Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) continues its comeback. West Seattle/Fauntleroy branch executive Cleveland King just sent word that it’s expanding hours starting Friday, September 6 – until then, the Fauntleroy hours are 9 am-noon and 4 pm-7 pm Mondays-Thursdays, and the new Fauntleroy hours will be 8 am-noon and 4 pm-8 pm Mondays-Thursdays. (The Fauntleroy Y is co-housed with Fauntleroy Church at 9140 California SW.)