day : 10/04/2020 13 results

Stay home this weekend! The governor repeated that today, topping our nightly roundup, six weeks after King County’s first COVID-19 case was reported:

GOVERNOR REPEATS ‘STAY HOME, STAY HEALTHY’: In a mid-afternoon news conference, Gov. Inslee was joined by local leaders of tourism-dependent areas from Ocean Shores to the San Juans, as they all repeated the refrain: Stay home this weekend, to help keep the coronavirus from spreading.The governor also hauled out a few charts to show what could happen if people get complacent. Here’s video of the briefing.

REMEMBER, DON’T GO TO ALKI OR LINCOLN PARK: From late tonight until early Monday, they’re closed (as are West Seattle Stadium and 12 other major city parks). We’ll be checking around midday to see how that goes. We noticed an SDOT crew setting up a messageboard sign along north/westbound Harbor Avenue tonight, perhaps to warn of the closure.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From today’s Seattle-King County Public Health news release:

4,117 confirmed positive cases (up 231 from yesterday)

277 confirmed deaths (up 19 from yesterday)

One week ago, the county reported 2,787 cases and 186 deaths.

NO MORE DAILY NEWS RELEASES: Starting next week, SKCPH says, they’ll only send out news releases on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, unless something huge happens. But they say the daily numbers will continue to be updated on the data dashboard.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: 9,887 cases, 475 deaths; see the full iist of state stats here.

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

NEED HELP WITH RENT? The city and county have joined private donors in contributing to a new United Way of King County fund to help people who can’t pay their April rent. It was announced in a news conference in which we participated this morning. The fund has $5 million for starters. Our area has an emergency rent assistance social-service agency, the West Seattle Food Bank, so we asked WSFB how people would know how to seek help. UWKC is among the resources to which they direct people, explained executive director Fran Yeatts. Find out more about the new fund, and apply if you need to, here.

NEED FOOD? More giving going on, this time courtesy of Delridge’s KBM Commissary.

THIS WEEKEND: As we did today for Good Friday, we’ll be publishing Easter and Passover online-event links Saturday by mid-afternoon. (Not too late to send us yours!)

YES, WE WILL: Thanks to Melissa for the chalk art from SW Rose:

GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE SCENES: Sunset; flying piano; a certain bird

April 10, 2020 8:43 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news

Three reader-contributed scenes from today/tonight before we move on with more news…

SUNSET: Thank you to John Brosnan for sharing that view. (added) Here’s the Lincoln Park view from Fatiha:

And from Lynn Hall:

FLYING PIANO: Jim Borrowsaw that from Upper Alki this morning – apparently a piano being lifted by crane to a buildings upper level:

And speaking of flying … bird news:

THE WEST SEATTLE TURKEY … seems to be in danger of becoming The Burien Turkey. Late today, it was seen in Seola, and then this video came from Tom Myers, who saw TWST this evening at “the west end of SW 116th”:

She apparently had been southbound all day, because we got earlier reports from south Arbor Heights and Seola.

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UPDATE: Police arrest suspects after ground and air search following West Seattle gunfire

April 10, 2020 5:37 pm

| 100 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo tweeted by @ReganConley)

5:37 PM: If you’re seeing a big police response near 35th/Avalon, here’s what it’s about: Police were responding to a report of gunfire near 35th/Morgan, and then caught up with a possibly related vehicle near 35th/Avalon. People ran from the car; police just radioed that they have two guns and the driver in custody. They’re still looking for three others, at least some of whom may have headed east. At least one suspect is barefoot, having left his shoes behind. One part of the scene is reported to be near 30th/Genesee.

5:45 PM: The Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter is joining the search. The only descriptions available are that the people they’re searching for are all men in their mid-20s, one white, two black.

5:57 PM: The search continues, with multiple K9 teams involved too.

6 PM: Potential suspect reported in custody at 30th/Dakota. That means two suspects are in custody, two still being sought.

6:16 PM: The 2 still being sought are described as “white, no shirt, no shoes” and black, dressed in dark clothing. Meantime, we are checking out the original scene – many casing markers in the alley north of Walgreens.

(WSB photo)

6:32 PM: Suspect vehicle is about to be towed from Avalon.

(WSB photo)

6:54 PM: One more suspect reported to be in custody.

(Photo sent by John F)

The first person detained, the driver, is female. Meantime, we just came up Avalon again; most of the police vehicles are gone.

7 PM: The original scene off 35th has cleared too.

7:51 PM: Commenters report one more arrest. We’re adding more photos. Additional followup info isn’t likely to be available before Monday, unless this incident turns up on SPD Blotter.

8:32 PM: And it just has. The post says one suspect is still at large:

Police arrested three people and are still searching for one more after shots were fired in West Seattle early Friday evening.

Police were dispatched to the 3500 block of SW Morgan Street after witnesses reported shots fired around 5:45 pm.

Officers flooded the area and spotted four people attempting to flee the area in a car. The suspects stopped their vehicle near SW Avalon and Genesee Street and continued to flee on foot.

Officers from the Southwest and South precincts pursued the suspects and with the help of a K9 unit and King County Guardian One helicopter captured three of the four.

Police continue to scour the area for the remaining suspect.

Officers have not received any reports of a victim at this time.

Gang Unit detectives will continue investigating and are asking anyone with information to please call the tip line at 206-233-5000.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Councilmember Herbold’s updates; SDOT reiterates low-bridge restrictions

April 10, 2020 5:35 pm

| 41 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, low-bridge enforcement earlier this week)

5:35 PM: If you’re not on Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s email list, you can read her latest update on the West Seattle Bridge closure here. Along with some recaps of other recent developmenss, the roundup starts with an update on how one public-safety agency is reviewing how the high-bridge closure is affecting response levels:

With the length of the bridge closure uncertain, but not short, ensuring good access to fire and EMS services in West Seattle is of vital importance.

My office inquired with Fire Chief Scoggins about Fire and EMS response in West Seattle during the closure of the West Seattle Bridge. Chief Scoggins noted in an update,

“The Seattle Fire Department is currently conducting a comprehensive GIS analysis of the impacts on fire and EMS response times due to the closure of the West Seattle Bridge. We expect that analysis to be completed by April 17.

“The analysis includes a review of response times before and after the bridge closure, how often and when the lower bridge opens for marine traffic as well as the delays caused by rail traffic.

“During the Spokane Street Viaduct construction project another ladder truck was added in West Seattle with funding provided by the Seattle Department of Transportation. This deployment model is just one of several options we will be considering.”

Read the rest of the update here.

9:20 PM: In her post, Councilmember Herbold mentions an announcement SDOT was to make today reiterating the low-bridge restrictions. That’s finally appeared tonight on SDOT Blog.

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AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Paving/road closure planned Monday night

April 10, 2020 4:59 pm

| Comments Off on AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Paving/road closure planned Monday night

| Transportation | West Seattle news

SDOT has confirmed that it’ll pave Avalon west of 35th on Monday night, and permanent striping will continue in the rest of the project zone. Spot paving on 35th, too, according to today’s announcement:

We are paving Monday, April 13, SW Avalon Way from 35th Ave SW to Fauntleroy Way SW. Please read on below for more information about what to expect.

Important!
No Parking on SW Avalon Way starting Monday, April 13, at 12:00 AM. We anticipate completing final striping next week on SW Avalon Way, weather depending. We need all cars to be off of the corridor next week and recommend you move your cars Sunday night. If you have questions or need assistance, please call 206-900-8734 or email avalonpaving@seattle.gov.

Paving Update – rescheduled for Monday, April 13
Paving is being rescheduled based on Mayor Jenny Durkan’s Two Day Temporary Suspension of Public Works Construction on Thursday, April 9 and Friday April 10. This suspension is to conduct health and safety training for workers and to update protocols.

We anticipate completing final paving of SW Avalon Way between 35th Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW on Monday, April 13. This work is highly weather dependent. When we pave, SW Avalon Way from 35th Ave SW to Fauntleroy Way SW will be closed to traffic from 7 PM to 7 AM. Work is weather dependent and subject to change.

Paving will also take place in a small patch on 35th Ave SW south of SW Alaska St and at the West Seattle Golf Course entrance that is also anticipated to be paved Monday afternoon, April 13

During nighttime paving, please expect:

Overnight paving on Monday, April 13 beginning at 7 PM
Nighttime work hours from 7 PM – 7 AM. Crews have a temporary noise variance to do this work.
Paving work to cause vibrations and the smell of tar
Paving to take approximately one overnight shift to complete
Driveway access on SW Avalon Way between 35th Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW to be closed for 1 night, while we repave the road. Emergency access will always be maintained.
Fresh pavement is hot, oily, and extremely sticky. Please keep off new pavement if you are walking, especially with dogs, as the oil and pavement can harm their feet and be difficult to remove from fur.
We will open driveways as they are safe for people walking and driving

As a reminder, for the safety of our crews and your fellow residents, please follow posted detour routes and do not disturb traffic control.

Looks like another sunny week.

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BIZ UPDATES: Viscon Cellars; Whisky Business, LLC

April 10, 2020 3:46 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Two more business updates – both from the adult-beverage business. irst, from longtime WSB sponsor Viscon Cellars:

We are not open our regular hours due to our mandated inability to conduct tastings; however, we can sell bottles for home consumption.

All of our current wines are available to order on our website Visconcellars.com. Customers can place their orders and I will personally deliver..Within reason :)

Otherwise customers can have the wines shipped to them via UPS if they are outside of the Seattle area.

I am thankful to our community for coming together to support small business and helping us all learn and grow from this experience, which allows us to remain close, while we are apart.

I have spoken with many of my peers in the wine business and restaurants and even retailers that are thankful to live in this community where we can all lean on and support one another.

And a launch announcement – Whisky Business, LLC:

Hankering for something fun, interesting, and “adult” to do during quarantine? Local Certified Scotch Professional and West Seattle resident Christian Skoorsmith comes to the rescue. A perfect date-night with your quarantine partner, or even a fun solo diversion, you receive a flight of Scotch samples delivered to your door, and a group of “attendees” meets online for a professionally-led tasting: a couple hours of tasting notes, techniques, history, ecology, terroir, the whole gambit. Everything you need to deepen your enjoyment of Scotch, and taste like a professional.

Skoorsmith is the Chair of the Seattle Single-malt Society, and has been leading Scotch Tastings locally for more than a year. In the wake of Coronavirus closures and social distancing, he decided to extend the experience to a broader audience online, and pivoted his exclusive in-person events to virtual tastings. He offers a number of set “tours”: an introduction to Scotch (touring the major whisky regions of Scotland), leveling up your tasting game, a tour of specific regions: Islay, the Highlands, Speyside, and a tour of historic blends. Tastings typically last an hour and-a-half to two and-a-half hours, depending on the number of samples and the level of instruction/information desired.

Got a business update? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Pre-Easter bunny

April 10, 2020 2:47 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Anne de Vore for the photo! Spending more time at home and in local neighborhood(s), you might be noticing wild rabbits. (She says that one’s been turning up in her yard around 5 pm daily; we’ve had one in our yard for a while too.) We don’t have stats but they seem to have become more common in the past few years. You can learn about bunny behavior via this state Department of Fish and Wildlife fact sheet.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen bag, hard hat to watch for

April 10, 2020 1:47 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

From Kate:

Our truck was broken into last night at 40th Ave SW and SW Dakota street. They stole a large and very heavy green and brown Duluth Trading Company bag that is filled with straps and chains…I’m thinking it was likely ditched as it has no monetary value and is SO heavy! We also are on the lookout for a construction hard had with attached head lamp and a safety vest. We have filed a police report.

If you spot either item, let us know and we’ll connect you.

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PARKING: West Seattle Junction RPZ expanding, at residents’ request

April 10, 2020 11:55 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, November 2019)

Thanks to Terri for the tip on this. Less than half a year after its launch, the West Seattle Junction RPZ is expanding. Our tipster was told it’s at the request of residents. SDOT for confirmed that when we inquired:

We created the new West Seattle Junction RPZ 35 in fall 2019, and shortly after started hearing several requests from neighbors who wished to have their blocks added into the RPZ:

44th Ave SW between SW Dakota St and SW Andover St
42nd Ave SW between SW Hudson St and SW Dawson St
SW Hudson St east of 42nd Ave SW (cul-de-sac)

In January, we provided petition forms to each of the block residents who had requested the expansion. They circulated the petition to their neighbors and returned qualifying forms showing that over 60 percent of their neighbors supported their blocks being added to the RPZ. In late February, we mailed information to every resident on those blocks about the program and how to obtain a permit.

We had originally planned to install RPZ signs later this month, but the COVID-19 pandemic may effect this timeline. In the meantime, now is a great time for residents on these blocks to get ready and apply for a RPZ permit online today, if they have not already done so.

See the RPZ’s original area in this WSB story from last September. Not sure what an RPZ is? It’s explained here. The one in the Junction area was created after two community requests spanning a decade.

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GOOD FRIDAY: Online services today/tonight. Anyone else?

April 10, 2020 10:37 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle religion

UPDATED 1:26 PM: Among the many events/gatherings that are not allowed by government order right now are worship services. This weekend, that means many are missing what might even be the only time of year that they go to church or synagogue – it’s Easter weekend, and Passover. We’re continuing to publish previews os we get them. Today is Good Friday, and we have (updated) six notes so far:

TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): Online service is posted here; the bulletin is here

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: 3 pm service today, to be livestreamed here

ALKI UCC: “Good Friday: A Service of Shadows,” 5 pm livestream via Zoom; info is on the church’s home page (scroll down to lower right)

WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming Good Friday service here at 7 pm

FAUNTLEROY UCC: Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 8 pm via Zoom Webinars or on the Fauntleroy Church YouTube channel. To join via Zoom, register here; after registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

WEST SEATTLE CHURCH COLLECTIVE: Service presented by the pastors of Arbor Heights Community Church, Grace Church Seattle, Hope Lutheran, and Trinity West Seattle – at this YouTube link

Anyone else with a Good Friday service, email us ASAP at westseattleblog@gmail.com or comment below and we’ll add! We’ll also have an Easter service list – publishing it Saturday night instead of Sunday morning, since some are having sunrise services.

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NEED FOOD? KBM Commissary’s offer

April 10, 2020 9:27 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Photo courtesy Monica Rodriguez, showing food from West of Chicago Pizza, T’Juana Tacos, Jemil’s Big Easy, Ka Pow Thai on Wheels)

Among the restaurants/prepared-food sellers on our West Seattle list are multiple businesses selling takeout from a window at the KBM Commissary, many of them known for their food trucks and/or catering services. The commissary’s owner Keith Mathewson sends word of a plan they have to give back to the community:

The stay-at-home order has placed many people in the West Seattle community at home without a job. The people who operate their business out of KBM have seen their business either shut down or greatly reduced. This means that a large production kitchen with many skilled cooks are going idle while the need for meals is great.

Members of KBM Seattle Commissary Kitchen would like to start giving out 100 four-person family meals each week while the stay at home order is in place. Each week a different company would create a menu for that week and members of the kitchen would help that company to prepare the meals. To ensure that demand is not greater than supply and that people do not come hoping to receive a meal and are turned away empty-handed I have set up an email address whereby the person can contact me with their name and perhaps the business where they are either laid off from or no able to go to so that we can match names with meals. The email address is kbmcovidrelief@gmail.com.

Since my wife and I will be funding the project and the stay-at-home order may last until June, I have set up a Go Fund Me page, given that we may not have the resources to pay for perhaps 3000 meals on our own. It is hoped that people who’s income has not been impacted may wish to contribute financially. We hope to begin Thursday, April 16th.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Friday watch, third week of West Seattle Bridge closure

April 10, 2020 5:40 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:40 AM: The high-rise West Seattle Bridge remains closed for the 18th consecutive morning.

SDOT clarified Wednesday that the low bridge is reserved for transit, freight, and emergency responses; SPD presence continued on Thursday and new signage is still being added.

REMINDER: For general traffic, the main route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – that’s also the main way to get to I-5, cutting across Georgetown.

Or you can use the South Park Bridge (map).

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if a bridge is opening for marine traffic.

TRANSIT ALERTS FOR TODAY:

As first reported here, Metro‘s schedule shrunk again at the start of the week . Use the lookup to see which trips are canceled.

The Water Taxi’s schedule is also reduced – 2 morning departures and 2 evening returns – and its shuttles are no longer operating.

ROAD WORK UPDATE:

Work on the last section of Avalon to be paved, west of 35th SW, is now on pause until Monday because of the mayor’s orders for a two-day citywide public-works construction stopdown – striping will resume Monday; here’s the latest.

OTHER LINKS

SDOT’s traffic map
Our traffic-cams page

Let us know what you’re seeing if you’re still commuting – comment, or text (not if you’re at the wheel!) 206-293-6302.

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SEEN FROM WEST SEATTLE: ‘Light It Blue’

April 10, 2020 12:07 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Thanks to Carolyn Newman for the photo. As seen from this side of Elliott Bay, downtown participated in the nationwide “Light It Blue” initiative tonight – a show of support for health-care workers, first responders, and others providing essential services.

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