day : 13/04/2020 10 results

Exactly three weeks until the current expiration date on the “stay-home” order. What will happen then? You might look for clues in what happened today:

WESTERN STATES PACT: Gov. Inslee says he and his Oregon and California counterparts, Gov.Kate Brown and Gov. Gavin Newsom, have made a deal. Their joint statement says that “California, Oregon, and Washington have agreed to work together on a shared approach for reopening our economies – one that identifies clear indicators for communities to restart public life and business.” No reopening date(s) proposed yet.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the data dashboard:

*4,549 positive tests, up 123 from a day earlier

*296 deaths, up 4 from a day earlier

One week ago, the numbers were 3,331 and 220.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.

WERE THE PARK CLOSURES A SUCCESS? Yes, according to a short update from Councilmember Debora Juarez – who chairs the committee that oversees parks – at this morning’s City Council briefing meeting. No word so far of any further restrictions. We drove along Alki just after 5 tonight and didn’t see much of a crowd:

SPEAKING OF THE COUNCIL … it gave unanimous approval to a bill by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Tammy Morales meant to help small businesses. From the announcement:

Council Bill 119766 …. enacts a moratorium on commercial property rent increases for small businesses and nonprofits while the City’s civil emergency is in place. The legislation also requires commercial property landlords to negotiate payment plans for overdue rent for small businesses and nonprofit tenants financially affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The legislation applies to nonprofits, and to small businesses with 50 or fewer employees that have been closed due to public orders or that have seen at least a 30 percent drop in business.

ALSO FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: The 250 businesses getting $10,000 each from the city’s Small Business Stabilization Fund were announced today. Only a few are in West Seattle.

ONE WAY YOU CAN HELP … The Junction has launched a Small Business Relief Fund for any community members interested in donations to help local businesses. You can even specify exactly which one(s) you want your $ to assist (non-Junction OR Junction).

WHAT ELSE THE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION IS DOING: Light(ing) It Blue starting tomorrow night.

TONIGHT’S SIGN OF THE TIMES: Sent by Noodle and crew, seen on the door of Rick’s Barber Shop, aka The Psychic Barber:

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

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BUSINESS FAREWELL: West Seattle Junction’s Many Moons Trading Company says goodbye

April 13, 2020 7:08 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

One of the businesses completely closed by the coronavirus crisis has announced it won’t be reopening. The farewell message for you is from Many Moons Trading Co. (which also provided the photos):

To all the people who have crossed our path over last 33 years, it is sadly time to say goodbye. You have all blessed us in so many ways. I looked forward, as did Terry, to seeing all of you every week.

My daughter Angela Nichols, owned Funky Janes, and we worked side by side for many years. She sold her business last April. Now this April, we say farewell for good. We have decided to retire in the face of this crisis.

We have donated the merchandise to Regina House of Providence. They will be giving it away to those in need of a helping hand.

Thank you, West Seattle, for all the love & loyalty you’ve shown over the past 33 years. Stay well, stay safe and always be kind.

Farewell,

Mary Many Moons & Terry Bell
Owners, Many Moons Trading Co.

If you have somehow never been to Many Moons, it’s at 4461 California SW.

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‘Light It Blue’ extending to West Seattle Junction

April 13, 2020 5:22 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

(Thursday night photo courtesy Carolyn Newman)

Remember that scene from Thursday night, downtown, lit blue to honor health-care workers and other heroes of the coronavirus response? ‘Downtown West Seattle’ will join in, starting tomorrow night – the Junction Plaza Park evergreen that serves as the area’s official Christmas tree will be decked in blue by Tuesday night. West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford explains:

Inspired by the nationwide #LightItBlue campaign that lights up blue landmarks for health care workers, the Junction had an idea to show support for the people on the frontlines during COVID-19. The West Seattle community tree that sparkles with lights during Hometown Holidays, was the perfect choice to show support on behalf of West Seattle community members.

Nucor is sponsoring the lights, which will be installed tomorrow by Fleming’s Holiday Lighting.

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FOLLOWUP: What preceded Friday night’s West Seattle gunfire

April 13, 2020 4:10 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Friday night)

Back on Friday night, we covered what started as gunfire at 35th/Morgan and continued as a search after suspects ran from a car near Avalon/Genesee. One adult suspect remains in jail, an 18-year-old Auburn man for whom bail was set over the weekend at $75,000. Probable-cause documents in his case say witnesses on Friday night heard gunfire in the alley north of Walgreens – where we photographed the shell-casing markers shown above – just before they saw three people get into a red car that then left the scene. An officer on his way to the gunfire scene spotted the car less than four minutes later; three passengers ran from the car. Two were eventually caught, the 18-year-old suspect and a 17-year-old; the 24-year-old woman who was driving was questioned and released. Documents say the two guns found in the car were.38 caliber and .22 caliber, and the latter matched the caliber of the 19 shell casings found at the original scene. During questioning, police were told this was all preceded by a confrontation at the Delridge ARCO/AM/PM with a man in a black Mercedes who allegedly pointed an “AK-type rifle” at the suspects’ car. The passengers apparently spotted that car at 35th/Morgan and that’s what led to the gunfire there. Though there was one report of someone being hit by gunfiire, to date no evidence of that has been found. We don’t know the status of the 17-year-old suspect, who was booked into juvenile detention, but he’s described in the probable-cause document as a convicted felon. The suspect who was not caught is 18.

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HOW TO HELP: West Seattle Food Bank’s ‘Instruments of Change’ goes virtual

April 13, 2020 3:10 pm

| Comments Off on HOW TO HELP: West Seattle Food Bank’s ‘Instruments of Change’ goes virtual

| Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

As you’ve heard us point out multiple times … the coronavirus crisis’s many ripple effects include a double punch for social-service nonprofits: Demand is higher than ever, while at the same time, the event ban has canceled fundraisers that provide a big part of their budget. Some are morphing those fundraisers into virtual events, like the West Seattle Food Bank‘s “Instruments of Change” – and you’re invited!

With the health and safety of our neighbors in mind, we have changed our Instruments of Change Dinner/Auction benefit to an online event.

We are excited to be celebrating our wonderful community and raising funds to help our neighbors through an online Instruments of Change on May 9th at 5:30 pm. This virtual event will include a silent and live auction, fun activities, and a compelling program.

Join the fun for free! Register today to spend a short time celebrating our community, the merge between the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline, and to raise funds to help our neighbors stay safe, fed, housed, and healthy. Plus, everyone who registers and attends is automatically entered into a drawing to win 2 round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines!

Thank you all! We are so grateful to be part of such a caring community, especially during these challenging times. We can’t wait to see you all (virtually) on May 9th for Instruments of Change.

As we’ve been in years past with the in-person event, WSB is a co-sponsor.

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City announces 250 Small Business Stabilization Fund recipients, including a few from West Seattle

April 13, 2020 1:24 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

We don’t know how many West Seattle businesses were among the 9,000 citywide that applied for grants from the city’s Small Business Stabilization Fund. But the list of 250 recipients contains just a few we recognize as local businesses. The list is in this news release. Each gets a $10,000 grant. The $2.5 million is from federal Community Development Block Grant money; the city is hoping philanthropy will refill the fund for future grants.

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BIZNOTES: Dream Dinners West Seattle; HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Café

April 13, 2020 12:10 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two food-related biznotes today. First, from Meghan & Mark Hogan, proprietors of longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners West Seattle

Unlike many grocery stores, Dream Dinners is not experiencing distribution issues and our full menu is available, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. We can help you avoid the grocery store while enjoying free meal assembly by our ServSafe certified team, plus curbside pickup. Do you have family or friends in need of groceries? Are your elderly family members in need of homemade, delicious meals? We are here to help.

To take advantage of our FREE Made for You and curbside pickup, visit our website and select a “Made for You” session and place your order using the coupon code APRILMFY at checkout. We will assemble your order and have it ready for you to pick up at the chosen time slot!

Dream Dinners West Seattle is on the outer east side of Jefferson Square, at 4701 41st SW.

HEARTBEET ORGANIC SUPERFOODS CAFE: This eatery has just opened a pop-up location in The Junction’s otherwise temporarily (mostly) closed Naked Crepe at 4508 California SW. Proprietor Monica Colgan (a West Seattle resident) tells WSB, ” We will be open for take-out/pick up immediately, and over the next couple of weeks will be going live with several third-party delivery services to include UberEats, Postmates, Caviar, GrubHub, and DoorDash. People can pre-order pickup on our website, or call and place phone orders at 206-486-4606.” We’ve also added this to our 140+-establishment ongoing list of local restaurants/beverage businesses.

Got a business update? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Councilmembers Herbold, Pedersen to tour with SDOT

April 13, 2020 10:59 am

| 50 COMMENTS

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

10:59 AM: Just announced during the City Council‘s weekly “briefing” meeting, during which councilmembers provide various updates on their ongoing focuses: Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Alex Pedersen will be touring the West Seattle Bridge tomorrow with SDOT leaders. (Pedersen is the chair of the Transportation Committee.) Herbold also mentioned the SFD report due by week’s end – as noted in her Friday post. (She also noted that an extra ladder truck was stationed here during the Spokane Street Viaduct project; that was Ladder 13, based at Station 11 for more than a year in 2011-2012.)

1:29 PM: For those who’ve asked, yes, we immediately asked to cover the tour. SDOT says no but promises a media tour at some future time.

8:29 PM: That decision’s been reversed.

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FOLLOWUP: Land-use approval for Westside School’s use of ex-New Apostolic Church

April 13, 2020 9:54 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

We first reported more than a year ago that Westside School (WSB sponsor) was looking at expanding its preschool by using space next door – the former New Apostolic Chuurch, which moved to Federal Way. Today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin includes approval for changing the site use from church to school; here’s the decision (PDF), which includes this:

Westside School proposes to expand into the neighboring, vacant New Apostolic Church. … Westside School operates on the property to the north, the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church.

The proposal comprises renovation of the church and grounds to create new classrooms, parking, and playground for Westside School. Westside School would shift approximately 30 students from its current building and add approximately 30 new students. Approximately 8 new teachers and staff would use the building. The proposal would retain the current former church parking lot and vehicle access.

The decision issuance opens a two-week appeal period; here’s more on that (PDF).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Monday watch, fourth week of West Seattle Bridge closure

April 13, 2020 5:44 am

| 74 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

5:44 AM: Three weeks ago today, the city closed the high-rise West Seattle Bridge, now empty for the 21st consecutive morning. Restrictions remain for the low bridge – transit, freight, and emergency responses; SPD presence continued on Friday.

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 use the South Park Bridge (map), which drops you onto East Marginal Way a mile south of the north end of the 1st Ave. South Bridge.

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

TRANSIT ALERTS FOR THIS WEEK:

As first reported here, the Metro and Water Taxi schedules have been slashed. Use the lookup to see which bus trips are canceled.

ROAD WORK UPDATE:

Work on the last section of Avalon to be paved, west of 35th SW, is scheduled for tonight, which means that stretch of road will be closed; permanent striping in the project zone continues today, as do parking restrictions. 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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