day : 18/03/2020 12 results

On the last night of winter, Alki was a popular place. We drove over for a look after several people messaged us, worried that too lttle social distancing was happening. Most of what we saw was people walking in couples or family groups – but not all – remember, keep your distance! Meantime, it was defintely a lot like a summer night – cars and motorycles being shown off:

The wind and waves finally calmed down – but earlier this week, some great scenes we wanted to share before it’s too late:

The view above is from David Hutchinson – below, looking the other way, from Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:

And this one, also from earlier in the week, is by Chris Frankovich:

More sunshine is forecast tomorrow – and then at 6:30, join Alice Enevoldsen‘s equinox sunset watch online!

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CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 3/18 roundup

March 18, 2020 9:13 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s what happened today, 19 days after King County announced its first COVID-19 case:

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

Public Health – Seattle & King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59 p.m. on 3/17/20

562 confirmed cases (up 44 from yesterday)
56 confirmed deaths (up 10 from yesterday)

These additional deaths include:

A woman in her 90s, who died at Life Care Center on 3/6
A woman in her 60s, who died at Life Care on 3/16
A man ins 90s, who died at Life Care on 3/17
A man in his 70s, who died at Life Care on 3/17
A man in his 80s, who died at Life Care on 2/28
A man in his 90s, who died on 3/15
A woman in her 70s, who died at Overlake Medical Center on 3/16
A man in his 70s, who died at University of Washington Medical Center on 3/17
A man in his 60s, who died at Harborview Medical Center on 3/16
A man in his 70s, who died on 3/16

Of the 56 deaths reported, 35 are confirmed to be associated with Life Care Center of Kirkland.

For comparison, the King County numbers one week ago were 234 cases, 26 deaths.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: 1,187 cases, 66 deaths; other state stats here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them – nation by nation – here.

ANOTHER WEST SEATTLE CASE: Families at the Bridge Park senior-living complex in High Point have been told of a third case there. The notification said the patient is in a hospital.

GOVERNOR BRIEFING: This afternoon, Gov. Inslee briefed the media on another round of economic announcements – here’s what he published; below, our topline notes from monitoring via phone (which is how they’re handling all media briefings now):

*Statewide moratorium on evictions/rent-default notices for next 30 days
*Feds are suspending foreclosures for at least two months
*Waiving 1-week time period before unemployment $ kicks in
*Working with White House to develop “Disaster Unemployment Assistance” for those otherwise not covered. If President can’t do that, he’s asking for Congress to do it.
*DSHS will expand availability to emergency assistance to families without children
*Calling on all public utilities to expand bill assistance, waive late fees, etc.

For small businesses
*Congress OK’d SBA loans
*State making grants available to small businesses
*State cabinet agencies asked to support recovery
*State DOR suspending late fees and enforcement on tax payments for at least 30 days

Q&A touched mostly on non-economic topics. He was asked repeatedly if he’s going to announce further restrictions such as “shelter in place”; he did not rule anything out, but did not suggest anything was imminent – he’s making his decisions based on updates from health authorities.

QUARANTNE-FACILITY UPDATE: Another call we were on this afternoon – a new weekly community briefing on the Top Hat quarantine/isolation site east of White Center, still unoccupied, with early April the target date. Later, we went there to photograph the site, which is fully visible from the street:

A security guard tried to stop us, despite the fact that photographing something visible from a public street is fully within our rights and yours. We called it to the attention of elected officials via Twitter; County Councilmember Joe McDermotttagreed it shouldn’t have happened.

BUSINESS UPDATES: In our look at grocery-store hours today, we discovered at least five local stores now have special times for 60+/otherwise-at-risk people to shop … Pets gotta eat too! So we had an update on those stores …We continued updating the restaurant/beverage-business list (now 110+ businesses listed!) …

The Junction now has its own directory of who’s offering pickup/delivery (and some other business info, too).

YOU CAN HELP: More ways to help are emerging – like this blood drive next week. (We’ll have an ongoing list soon, but in the meantime, check our How To Help archive.)

FINAL WORDS: Seen in Seaview and called to our attention via Twitter:

Found this uplifting note on a utility
pole in Seaview @westseattleblog #StayStrongSeattle #WeGotThisWA pic.twitter.com/dxBbbLJ4VM

— Robin L (@Sodo1st) March 18, 2020

(Added) We’ve since learned the author of that musing is Kitty O’Meara.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two thefts

March 18, 2020 7:41 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | Fairmount Springs | Seaview | West Seattle news

Crime’s down but not out.

PACKAGES TAKEN: The video is from Sydney in Fairmount Springs, who reports:

I wanted to share that our Arlo security camera captured a man in broad daylight dressed in a neon vest with a fake scanner stealing two packages off of our front porch when my husband and I were on a walk with our son and dog. This occurred in the Fairmount Springs neighborhood at 41st and Juneau within 4 hours of the packages being delivered. I wanted to share so that our community can be on the lookout for this man and this type of crime. We did file a report with the police as well.

GARDENING THIEVES? Geoff in Seaview sent this report Tuesday:

We just went into our backyard to do some work and discovered that sometime in the past 24 hours someone stole over a yard of bagged topsoil from our backyard.

It must have been quite the operation, but we didn’t see or hear anyone. We’re near the intersection of 46th and Juneau.

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CORONAVIRUS: 3rd COVID-19 case reported at High Point seniors complex Bridge Park

March 18, 2020 5:30 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | Health | High Point | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, last week)

Another COVID-19 case reported at Bridge Park, the senior-living complex in High Point. Here’s the first page of the notification, provided by a family member:

(Here’s the second page.) The first case was reported last Thursday; second case, this past Monday. These three cases, and one affecting a South Seattle College student, are the only ones that have come to light in West Seattle so far; there could be others, but the King County information releases no longer even list cities, let alone neighborhoods. Meantime, we have a followup inquiry out to parent company Holiday Retirement.

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PET FOOD: What West Seattle stores are doing

March 18, 2020 4:45 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

All ~~three~~ of West Seattle’s small independent pet-food/supplies stores are open – here are their latest updates:

PET ELEMENTS (6511 California SW)

Please use the hand sanitizer located in store as you enter PRIOR to touching any carts, baskets, or product. We also ask that you pay with a card if possible, we have a no-touch procedure in place.

If necessary you can call us to place and pay for your order. We can then bring it to your car for you. We do ask that you have brand, formula, size needed, and limit variety on can requests. We may ask that you call back if we are busy…please understand if this happens. We’re doing our best to provide you with pet groceries and great service during this time.

Customer Scott also reports they’ve suspended receipt-signing but can still print you a receipt.

NEXT TO NATURE (4543 California SW):

We firmly believe that continued access to proper pet nutrition is just as important as continued access to proper human nutrition, so we will do everything we can to support the pet families in Seattle. We plan to be open on our regular schedule for in-store purchases, but will also be expanding our options by

1) offering curbside pick-up either in the 15-minute zone currently set up in front of our store on California Ave SW or in our parking area off the alleyway between California Ave SW and 44th Ave SW (near Wells Fargo) and

2) offering free next-day home delivery within the greater Seattle area

For both 1) and 2), customers can call us at 206-935-1134 to place and pay for their order and select their preferred fulfillment method.

On a separate note, we are working hard, as are our manufacturers and distributors, to maintain the supply of essentials such as foods and litters, and we’d like to thank all of those people who have chosen NOT to over-purchase in these uncertain times.

MUD BAY (2611 California SW): Open 11-7:30 weekdays, 9-7:30 weekends:

To help keep Muddies and customers safe, we have increased our efforts to reduce the spread of any illness by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces regularly, we’ve also implemented curbside pickup to keep visits as brief as possible.

We’re tracking as many business categories as we can – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

ADDED 7:20 PM: Thanks for the reminders that we omitted another small local store.

PET PROS (Westwood Village): Open. You can order online for pickup, home delivery available for orders over $50.

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HOW TO HELP: Sign up for West Seattle Runner’s upcoming blood drive

March 18, 2020 3:50 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

A few days ago, health authorities warned that the blood-bank system was “in danger of collapse” if more people didn’t/couldn’t donate. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) has a mobile blood drive scheduled for March 27th – one week from Friday – and is asking donors to sign up now:

We are holding a Blood drive in front of our store on Friday the 27th from 12-6. To donate, people must schedule an appointment time from their website schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/GroupLanding.aspx?s=423B

In regards to COVID-19, they ask the following of potential donors:

Donors, please do not donate today if any of the following apply to you within the last 28 days:

*You traveled to any area with novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
– For example: city of Wuhan China and Hubei Provence of China
*You lived with individuals diagnosed with or suspected of having novel COVID-19 infection.
*You have been diagnosed with or suspected of having novel COVID-19 infection.

West Seattle Runner is at 2743 California SW.

Anybody else with a coordinated way to safely help – let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – or text/call 206-293-6302

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QUARANTINE/ISOLATION FACILITY: Top Hat site not ready for occupants yet

March 18, 2020 2:37 pm

| Comments Off on QUARANTINE/ISOLATION FACILITY: Top Hat site not ready for occupants yet

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | White Center

(ile photo)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Nobody’s in the Top Hat quarantine/isolation facility (206 SW 112th) yet. But the county is launching weekly community phone meetings for updates and Q&A. We participated in the first one this afternoon.

John Taylor from Local Services, Callie Knight from the Executive’s Office, Brad Binder from Public Health, County Councilmember Joe McDermott were among those on the call.

Regarding the timeline, Knight said the timeline for opening is still “at least a week and a half” away. April 3rd is the target date, to be open for 8 four-unit trailers, including one unit to be used as an on-site office, added Christina Gonzales of Facilities, who joined the call later. Read More

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GROCERY STORES: Updating West Seattle supermarkets’ hours & special shopping times

March 18, 2020 12:00 pm

| 98 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Updated 6/27)

As with many other businesses, things are changing day to day, so (updated) we are continuing to track local standalone stores’ hours:

WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor): 5 am-midnight – pickup service info here if you cannot come into the store. (Added) Thriftway has senior shopping time (60+), 7-9 am Tuesdays and Thursdays. No personal bags.

PCC WEST SEATTLE (2749 California SW; WSB sponsor): 8 am-11 pm, with 7 am-8 am reserved for 60+ and others at higher risk. Personal bags are OK if you bag your own groceries.

METROPOLITAN MARKET (41st/42nd/Admiral): 8 am-11 pm; 7-8 am every day now reserved for seniors/other elevated-risk shoppers. No personal bags.

TRADER JOE’S (4545 Fauntleroy Way SW): Hours will be 9 am-9 pm starting 6/29 with 8-9 am special daily hour for seniors and others at elevated risk..

WHOLE FOODS (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor): 8 am-9 pm, with senior hours 7 am-8 am Wednesdays and Fridays.

JUNCTION QFC (4550 42nd SW): 5/23 update – hours now 7 am-11 pm with 60+-shopper hour 7-8 am Mondays and Wednesdays.

WESTWOOD VILLAGE QFC (26th/Barton): 5/23 update – hours now 7 am-11 pm with 60+-shopper hour 7-8 am Mondays and Wednesdays.

*Note for the next three stores – seniors/high-risk people have special shopping hours at Safeways (expanded to) 6 am-9 am Tuesdays and Thursdays.

ROXBURY SAFEWAY (27th/Roxbury): 5 am-1 am

JEFFERSON SQUARE SAFEWAY (42nd/Edmunds), 5 am-1 am

ADMIRAL SAFEWAY (2622 California SW): 5 am-1 am

westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – we’ll update this list if/when we hear of changes – thank you!

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ALSO OPEN: West Seattle Autoworks can fix/maintain your car without in-person contact

March 18, 2020 11:43 am

| Comments Off on ALSO OPEN: West Seattle Autoworks can fix/maintain your car without in-person contact

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If your vehicle needs repair/maintenance, you can get that done safely. Another longtime WSB sponsor that’s got a no-in-person-contact plan is West Seattle Autoworks. From Kacie:

West Seattle Autoworks is committed to keeping its employees, customers and vendors as safe as possible while still providing excellent vehicle repair and maintenance for our customers. In order to do this, we have made the following temporary changes to our daily operations:

Our hours will be Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

All business normally face to face with customers will be done via talk, text or email.

The only payment methods accepted will be credit cards over the phone

Our lobby will be closed to visitors and vendors

Customers will be able to drop their vehicle keys through our after hours key drop

We will arrange vehicle pick up with each customer when service is complete

We can pick up customer cars in West Seattle

Please call or text us with any questions: 206 257 5344 and thank you!

West Seattle Autoworks is at 35th/Webster.

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FOOD: Lunches for students at Highland Park Improvement Club again today

March 18, 2020 10:14 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Coronavirus | Highland Park | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, last week)

For kids who can’t make it to one of the Seattle Public Schools distribution sites, volunteers are distributing sack lunches at Highland Park Improvement Club again today. Here’s the announcement we received:

Bag lunches will be provided Wednesday, March 18th, and Friday the 20th, at Highland Park Improvement Club for kiddos in the area from 11-2. Friday, a weekend bag of extra staples will also be provided. In order to keep volunteers and families safe by practicing social distancing we will be using the same model as SPS. Folks in cars will have lunches handed to them in their cars. Folks on foot will be able to take their lunches from a table on the patio. All students are welcome.

HPIC is at 1116 SW Holden.

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POWER OUTAGE: 300+ customers, south of Fauntleroy

March 18, 2020 10:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Utilities | West Seattle news

10 AM: Thanks for the tips. 330+ customers south of Fauntleroy, centered in Brace Point, are without power. About a quarter of them have been without it since last night; the rest lost it last night, got it back early today, and just lost it again. We are checking with City Light.

10:02 AM: Some just got it back again.

3:25 PM: Just in case you were wondering – outage map shows everyone back on.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

March 18, 2020 7:08 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:06 AM: Good morning. For people still commuting, and for others interested in traffic volumes, we’re continuing the regular morning camera roundup.

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