West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Here’s our nightly roundup of coronavirus (COVID-19) news toplines:
LATEST NUMBERS IN KING COUNTY: Seattle-King County Public Health is now announcing new numbers around 11 am daily. Today, it’s up to 21 cases total, including eight deaths. The newly announced cases:
A female in her 40s, worked at LifeCare, never hospitalized and is recovering at home
A female in her 60s, family member of a confirmed case of COVID-19, not hospitalized
A male in his 70s, a frequent visitor of LifeCare, hospitalization status unknown currently
A male in his 20s, unknown exposure, hospitalized at Swedish Issaquah
A male in his 20s, unknown exposure, hospitalized at Swedish Issaquah
A female in her 80s, resident of LifeCare, never hospitalized, died at her family home on 2/26/20
A male in his 50s, resident of LifeCare, hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center and died on 2/26/20
All the cases/deaths in King County so far are listed in today’s SKCPH news release.
AMAZON WORKER ILL: The Seattle Times reports that Amazon has notified its local employees that one of their co-workers, who went home sick February 25th, has tested positive for COVID-19. The Times reports that the company’s message said the employee works in their building at 9th/Republican and is in quarantine. (We don’t know whether this case is one of the 21 that SKCPH counted as of midday today.)
QUARANTINE SITE IN TOP HAT: In the North Highline neighborhood of Top Hat, just east of White Center, a King County-owned property is the first site chosen for portable housing to be set up to quarantine COVID-19 patients if/as needed. We visited the site this afternoon:
This and 13 other portables have been stored on Harbor Island. 34th District State Sen. Joe Nguyen questions the Top Hat site choice; that’s part of our report on White Center Now.
‘CIVIL EMERGENCY’: Mayor Jenny Durkan issued that proclamation today; the announcement explains:
Actions authorized in the Proclamation include the ability to bypass regulations and the steps normally required of City contracting and borrowing; the ability to forgo regulatory permits in order to site or implement facilities needed to address COVID-19, and the ability to immediately adjust the use and closure of City facilities and events as necessary to prevent continued spread of COVID-19.
The mayor’s office also sent out this news release detailing what 10 departments are doing in response so far.
CITY BRIEFING TOMORROW: No public county or city briefings today but at least one is planned tomorrow – the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold, will host two deputy mayors, half a dozen department heads, and the county Public Health director at a special 2 pm meeting. (You should be able to watch it live via Seattle Channel.)
DENNY DEEP CLEANING: Last night, as we reported, Chief Sealth International High School was cleaned after a report that a student, though NOT sick, is being monitored for possible coronavirus exposure. Tonight, adjacent Denny International Middle School is being cleaned, reports Denny principal Jeff Clark, who explains, “FYI: SPS can do a deep clean at a limited number of schools every night. We are on the list tonight simply because they did Sealth last night.” He stresses that there are NO cases or suspected cases at Denny, and added that there’s no new info yet about the Sealth student’s possible exposure.
TRAVELING THROUGH SEA-TAC ANY TIME SOON? The Port of Seattle published this Sea-Tac Airport update today, including new sanitation procedures as well as information from some of its airliines.
KING COUNTY CALL CENTER: The county has a call center:
If you are in King County and believe you were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if you’re a healthcare provider with questions about COVID-19, contact our novel coronavirus call center: 206-477-3977. The call center will be open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM PT.
For general concerns and questions about COVID-19, please call the Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 800-525-0127.
WSB COVERAGE: If there is specific West Seattle-related news, we will publish it immediately, otherwise we plan to continue nightly roundups like this. We’re also using Twitter for instant short bursts. You can find all our coverage – newest first – archived at westseattleblog.com/category/coronavirus.
(WSB photos)
As spring approaches, it’s a great time to plant, and that’s why fifth-graders from Taproot School were out helping this morning with a new pocket garden at Kilbourne Ravine, by the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. Above, Fauntleroy Watershed Council volunteer Mike Arizona was helping guide them. They had nine species of native shrubs and ground-cover plants to work with:
The pocket garden is meant “to demonstrate the use of beneficial native plants in any landscape,” Judy Pickens, also from the watershed councll, tells WSB. It’ll hold an interpretive sign too.
Volunteers have worked for six years to restore the ravine, with the help of a $70,000 grant from the King Conservation District. The pocket garden’s funding comes from a $4,000 grant from the 2019 West Seattle Garden Tour; maintenance will be funded by donations to the Fauntleroy Watershed Stewardship Fund.
As previously noted, MV Spirit of Kingston filled in on the West Seattle Water Taxi route again this morning because of MV Doc Maynard‘s U.S. Coast Guard inspection. Now it’s been announced that SoK will continue on the run tonight and tomorrow – always notable because it has a 149-passenger capacity, compared to DM’s 278. Spokesperson Jeff Switzer tells us the DM needs “a sensor” and will return to service once that’s in place.
Thanks to the Madison Middle School parents who forwarded us letters sent by principal Dr. Robert Gary, saying they felt the community beyond school families/staff should be aware. The first one, sent to families Friday:
Good Afternoon Madison Families:
Today [Friday] at approximately 3:30 pm two students reported to Madison Administration that they saw a threat written on a restroom wall.
The Administrative team immediately contacted the Seattle Police Department. They will conduct an investigation into the threat to determine its credibility and our next steps.
We will share more information as it becomes available from Seattle Police.
As I have mentioned before, middle school students are still learning and developing and have complex social dynamics, and this can sometimes play out in destructive ways. Ensuring that students know appropriate behavioral expectations and that all students are safe is our goal, and we ask for your partnership to understand expectations and responsibilities.
Please talk with your child(ren) about the consequences of what they say and do – such consequences can and have included expulsion from school and notification to the police. Additionally, please direct your child to notify his/her/their teacher or principal if anyone makes a threat against him/her/their or anyone else.
Here are some tips to have these conversations at home:
Make sure your child understands the seriousness of things he/she/they say(s).
Have children think of a time when they were hurt by something someone said or did and talk about how they felt.
Words don’t always lead to action, but let your child know that if he/she/they hear(s) someone saying they will hurt someone else, this must be taken very seriously.
Then a followup, sent to familiea late Monday:
This is follow-up information from the threat reported on Friday. I have received more information from the Seattle Police Department. Captain Davis from the Southwest Precinct has informed the Superintendent’s office and SPS Safety and Security that the alleged written threat found in the girl’s restroom at Madison on Friday, February 28 was investigated and found to be non-credible. The Seattle Police Department along with Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security Department will have a presence around the school throughout the week, out of an abundance of caution.
Please know that we take safety in our building very seriously; the well-being of our students is our top concern. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 206-252-9200 or rgary@seattleschools.org.
Letters like these are not required to be shared more widely, so we don’t always hear unless parents forward them, as in this case (thanks again). So far we haven’t found the case number that would enable us to follow up with SPD. We’re asking the district if anyone was disciplined as a result of whatever led to the “non-credible” pronouncement.
After six years, Lyle Evans is retiring as executive director of the Senior Center of West Seattle.
The transition just started Monday – Amy Lee Derenthal‘s first day as interim executive director; she is a West Seattleite and longtime veteran of nonprofit work who has been leading the SCWS board.
In his farewell message in the newest SCWS newsletter, Evans says:
I will be leaving to spend more time with family and friends and follow my lifelong dream of travelling internationally.
My time at the Center has been the singular best experience in my professional life. The past 6 years spent here at our “Jewel of the Junction” have enriched me as a leader and as a human being. I am extraordinarily proud of our fulfilling and important work providing a welcoming, inclusive second home where all seniors and those who love them can feel safe, included and vital. In 2019, we served over 4100 seniors in West Seattle.
We talked with Evans and Derenthal by phone; they plan to work side by side over the next two months to ensure a smooth transition.
She has applied for the permanent position and told us, “It’s my dream job.”
You’ll have a chance to say goodbye to Evans at the center’s annual fundraising breakfast, “The Joy Is in the Journey, “ on April 28th; get info and tickets here.
(WSB file photos)
Annie reports this happened early Monday morning near 40th/Barton in Fauntleroy:
Had my car prowled at 6 am. Someone in sweats and a hoodie got into my car and took something out of the glove box. I got to the window in time to see a car racing away with its lights off, east up Barton, then turned left/north onto 39th Ave SW. I filed an online report with the police.
(Ruby-crowned Kinglet, photographed by Mark Wangerin)‘
Notes for your Tuesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LIBRARIES CLOSED: In-service day for Seattle Public Library staff, so all brnaches are closed, reopening tomorrow.
RACISTS ANONYMOUS:New group at Admiral UCC, 11 am-noon Tuesdays starting today. (4320 SW Hlll)
SEATTLE PARKS OPENS SPRING REGISTRATION:Starting at noon today, registration opens for spring programs, as explained here (where you’ll also find the brochure for local centers and Southwest Pool).
STROKE AWARENESS AND CPR: 5-7 pm free class taught by King County EMS at High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)
SAFETY CLASS: Another session with personal safety info for women, 6 pm at Southwest Precinct, free. (2300 SW Webster)
WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point, you’re invited to WSBC’s meeting, including an SDOT presentation on the 60 percent design of the East Marginal Way Corridor project. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
OPEN MIC NIGHT: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+.. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Pedestrian safety and coronavirus concerns were two of the topics when the Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee met Sunday afternoon for updates on and discussion of the city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment on Myers Way.
But first:
CAMP UPDATE: Eric Davis, camp co-founder and special projects manager for operating organization LIHI, said CSC currently has 49 people – 17 women and 32 men. This past month has seen two move into permanent housing.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning!
FERRIES: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on the two-boat schedule because MV Kittitas remains out for repairs.
WATER TAXI: MV Spirit of Kingston is on the West Seattle run again this morning while MV Doc Maynard is undergoing its Coast Guard inspection.
And a note for tonight:
EAST MARGINAL WAY PROJECT: West Seattle Bike Connections‘ monthly meeting tonight will feature an SDOT rep presenting the 60 percent design. 6:30 pm, Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW).
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