Our nightly roundup of local (mostly, this time) info related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:

KING COUNTY NUMBERS UPDATE: From the daily Seattle-King County Public Health update:

12 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported to Public Health – Seattle & King County through 11:59 p.m. on 3/7/20, bringing the total number of reported King County cases to 83.

Of the 12 new cases reported today, two are deaths. The total number of deaths reported to Public Health is now 17. The two deaths being reported today include:

A woman in her 80s, a Life Care Center resident, was hospitalized at EvergreenHealth, and who died on 3/6/20
A man in his 90s, a Life Care Center resident, was hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, and who died 3/5/20

Of the 17 deaths reported, 16 are associated with Life Care Center.

NEW FORMAT FOR DAILY STATEWIDE REPORTS: As mentioned last night, the state changed the time and format for its daily reports (which are always at this link). Now it’s including the breakdown by age groups among confirmed COVID-19 cases among other stats – here are screengrabs from today’s report:

Again, those are STATEWIDE numbers. We have generally been just publishing the King County numbers in this nightly report, but with the format change, the statewide report seemed worth a closer look tonight.

LOOKING FOR A WORLDWIDE OVERVIEW? Try the Johns Hopkins-produced dashboard.

CRUISE CONCERNS + WHAT WE DISCOVERED ABOUT ONE QUARANTINED SHIP: With Seattle a major, albeit seasonal, cruise-ship hub, it’s worth noting that the State Department tweeted today that Americans should avoid cruising because of the coronavirus outbreak:

U.S. citizens, especially with underlying conditions, should not travel by cruise ship. #CDC notes increased risk of #COVID19 on cruises. Many countries have implemented screening procedures, denied port entry rights to ships and prevented disembarking. https://t.co/jh93gZTkpC pic.twitter.com/jI6S0UceVg

— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) March 8, 2020

The cruise season in Seattle is scheduled to start April 1st – and when we looked up the schedule (PDF) tonight, we discovered that the first ship scheduled to call here is Grand Princess, currently dealing with a COVID-19 crisis. Grand Princess’s scheduled stop is its only Seattle visit on the schedule; it’s not listed as one of the ships slated to be based from here this season. But we’ll be following up tomorrow with the cruise line and the Port of Seattle.

(Port of Seattle photo, October 2019)

Added: Grand Princess also was the last cruise ship to stop in Seattle last year. 2nd addition: Here’s a comment from the port:

We appreciate the work of the federal government and cruise lines to institute new protocols related to cruise passenger safety and health. This is a rapidly developing situation and we are in daily contact with federal and local officials.

The safety, health, and well-being of cruise passengers, employees, community, and first responders always comes first. Therefore, we are actively reviewing multiple options about the launch of the 2020 cruise season with our cruise operators, the United States Coast Guard, public health authorities, and local leaders. We are using the time before cruise season starts to closely coordinate with our partners. We will report back to the public soon with further information about our upcoming plans for the season.

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE REMINDER: In case you missed the Saturday announcement, a reminder – South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is ceasing most in-person classes and moving to “alternative modes of instruction” for the rest of winter quarter starting Tuesday, after taking tomorrow to plan and communicate. SSC’s updates are here.

GLOBAL READING CHALLENGE: With Seattle Public Library events canceled – though the facilities remain open – that mean the Global Reading Challenge semifinals, ~~set to start~~ continuing tomorrow morning, are going “virtual.”

WHAT’S CANCELED, POSTPONED, CHANGED LOCALLY: We’re keeping a West Seattle list – see it here. If your organization, business, church, school, group, etc. has cancellations, postponements, changes, PLEASE let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302.

WSB CONTINUING COVERAGE: Everything we publish related to the COVID-19 situation is categorized so that you can find it anytime at westseattleblog.com/category/coronavirus. We’re also using Twitter (@westseattleblog) for instant bursts.

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West Seattle memorial service March 26th for Seattle Fire Department Lt. Jay G. Wheeler

March 8, 2020 7:59 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

A full-honors memorial service is planned at 1 pm March 26th at West Side Presbyterian Church for Seattle Fire Lt. Jay G. Wheeler, whose last assignment was at North Admiral’s Station 29. That’s according to , according to the obituary published for Lt. Wheeler. His recent passing was noted on the SFD Firelines website as follows:

On Tuesday, March 4, 2020, members of the Seattle Fire Department family were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of their own, Lieutenant Jay Garth Wheeler, after a long and difficult battle with an illness.

Jay faced his battle with great courage and without complaint, surrounded by his wife, children, parents and so many others who loved and cared deeply for him. Many from his fire department family spent time with Jay and his family during his last days.

Lt. Wheeler was committed to the Seattle community. He first served as an officer with the Seattle Police Department at the South Precinct in 1989 before joining the Seattle Fire Department in April, 1997. Throughout his fire service career, he served on Ladders 5, 7, 9 and 11 and Engines 36 and 38. On June 28, 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was working on Engine 29 in West Seattle. He also volunteered as a scuba diver for the Seattle Aquarium.

Here are two small examples of Jay’s exemplary service:

On August 19, 1998, while off-duty, then-Firefighter Wheeler was the first on the scene of a rollover motor vehicle accident. After ensuring the safety of bystanders, he stabilized the rolled over car, coordinating ropes to anchor points on the uphill side. He then initiated emergency medical care to the single patient trapped inside the care until the arrival of SFD units. In the words of then-Capt. Michael E. Walsh, he “acted in the finest of Seattle Fire Department tradition.”

In 2006, while serving in the Fire Alarm Center, Firefighter Wheeler received a letter of commendation for directing the delivery of a baby by the first-time father over the phone. His steady-handed questions and sure responses put both parents at ease and allowed them to focus on things that needed to be done. The baby was found wrapped in a towel as instructed when Engine 39 and the medics arrived a few minutes later. In their thank you letter, the parents acknowledged Jay’s efforts and “all the life-savers at Seattle’s 911. You helped bring a precious gift of life into our lives. We will be forever grateful.”

In a letter to all SFD members, Fire Chief Harold D. Scoggins commended Lt. Wheeler for his contributions to public service and as a long-time valued member of the Seattle Fire Department.

Lt. Wheeler’s obituary says he was 57 years old and adds, “The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, a hazard linked to many years of exposure to fire fighting.”

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BIZNOTE: Happy 1st anniversary, Best of Hands Brewery and Barrelhouse!

March 8, 2020 5:40 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

Looking for someplace to go tonight? You can help Best of Hands Brewery and Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW; WSB sponsor) finish celebrating their 1st anniversary. As noted in our daily highlight lists, one year after Best of Hands opened in “the building with the cow,” the party’s been on all weekend with new releases.

Today’s draft release is Three Kingdoms, described as a “cabernet sauvignon BBL aged sour ale with apricots.” Here’s the current list of what’s available – that includes canned beverages:

They’re open until 10 tonight. P.S. If you can’t get there until tomorrow – note that Best of Hands has Monday night trivia, 7-9 pm.

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UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge

March 8, 2020 4:58 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:58 PM: Two lanes are blocked at the high rise, so if you have to head east but have some discretion in when you go – we’d suggest waiting a while.

5:28 PM: All clear.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Farmers’ Market turnout

March 8, 2020 2:03 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

As previewed here, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market went ahead as scheduled today. We checked with market management on site; they told us they had 46 vendors, down three from usual. As of noon, their anecdotal take on foot traffic was typical for a cold day in late winter. The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is one of four in the city this time of year; the others are Capitol Hill, Ballard, and the U-District.

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ELECTION 2020: Voting deadline Tuesday for presidential primary

March 8, 2020 11:33 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The coronavirus concerns have NOT changed the timetable for our state’s presidential primary, so we’re reminding you again today: The King County Elections ballot dropboxes like that one in The Junction are open until 8 pm Tuesday (March 10th); locations around the county are on this list – West Seattle has two, SW Alaska west of California SW, and SW Raymond east of 35th SW. You can also send your ballot by postal mail, no stamp needed, but to be sure it’s postmarked by Tuesday, you’ll want to mail it by tomorrow. Need a ballot or envelope? Here’s what to do.

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West Seattle Sunday: What’s happening, and not happening

March 8, 2020 6:07 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(By Christopher Boffoli, bigappetites.net)

The trees are blooming and Daylight Saving Time has begun. Again today, we have two lists – what IS happening, and what (from our postponed/cancelled/changed list) is NOT happening. First, what’s still on as far as we know:

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Sales continue at the troops’ discretion, we’re told.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, in the street in the heart of The Junction. Market management explained here why WS and the other markets are going ahead as planned. Visit some local businesses while you’re in The Junction – they’re open, too. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE CLEAT EXCHANGE: 10 am-noon, get ready for youth-baseball/softball season at the Second Gear Sports gear/cleat swap – details here. (6529 California SW)

ANNIVERSARY: New releases at Best of Hands Barrelhouse (WSB sponsor) as they finish the weekend celebrating 1 year in business! Open noon-10 pm. (7500 35th SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm, the home of West Seattle’s history is open. (61st SW & SW Stevens)

‘THE BOOK CLUB PLAY’: Final performance for the Twelfth Night Productions play at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. 3 pm curtain. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

MUSICIANS FOR THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Bring donations and enjoy live music 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). All ages. (5612 California SW)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION: 6 pm at The Skylark. $20 suggested donation. All ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

****CANCELED/POSTPONED/CHANGED****

Church cancellations/changes – See our full cancellations/changes/etc. list for notes on the churches we’ve heard from.

Kindiependent’s Caspar Babypants concert – canceled

Improv with Life Lab – cancceled

Ladies’ Musical Club at West Seattle Library – canceled

206-293-5302 text/voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com, for any and all info on cancellations/:changes – or if you want to tell us about something that IS still on – thank you!

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