West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Quyen emailed tonight to say, “The world is in chaos right now but West Seattle is more peaceful and breathtaking than I have ever seen,” sharing this photo:
… which reminded us that others have sent some beautiful photos lately and we needed to stop down for a few minutes to share them with you.
That’s last night’s sunset, photographed by Victoria Gnatoka. Below, Tuesday afternoon at Alki, by James Tilley:
Tuesday’s sunset, by Fatiha:
The Tuesday sunrise, by Stephanie:
And “The Mountain,” by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:
Thanks to all!
9:38 PM: A flipped-car crash is reported near Sylvan Way/Sylvan Heights Drive. Everyone’s reported to have gotten out of the car OK.
9:48 PM: SFD reports that no one was seriously hurt. By the way, if you noticed the Guardian One helicopter in the area for a bit, they just happened to be nearby and offered to help check whether anyone was trapped in the vehicle, but ground crews quickly determined everyone was out.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: The driver is being investigated for DUI.
It’s now the fourth week of the stay-home order, and here’s tonight’s roundup:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the SKC Public Health data dashboard:
*4,809 people have tested positive, up 112 from yesterday
*320 people have died, up 8 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 3,886 and 258.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: More than 2 million cases. See how that breaks out, nation by nation, here.
MORE CASES AT THE MOUNT: Providence confirmed to WSB tonight that 15 residents/patients and 10 staff members at The Mount have tested positive for COVID-19, and explained what’s being done as a result.
‘KEEP IT MOVING’: That’s the new slogan from Seattle Parks as they put up signage like this at Alki and other parks:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
While no new park closures are planned, the city warns sternly that unless you “Keep It Moving,” they’ll shut things down on the spot.
WALKING IN THE STREET: The city is also launching “Stay Healthy Streets,” with one in West Seattle.
FEWER BUSES: Metro is slashing service further starting Saturday.
GOING BACK TO WORK: Boeing announced today that it’ll resume production next week.
NOT GOING BACK TO WORK? Unemployment insurance was a major topic when Gov. Inslee hosted another news conference today, joined by Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine, who talked about how fast they’re working to catch up with an avalanche of claims. See the video here.
WORDS OF WISDOM: To keep your spirits up, an artist’s reminder along SW Rose Street:
YOUR TURN TO GET ARTISTIC: Here’s an Earth Day suggestion.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
After multiple tips about more coronavirus cases at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle – 2 1/2 weeks after the first case was reported – we asked Providence for comment today. We received this confirmation in response this evening:
On March 30, we reported a single confirmed case of COVID-19 at Providence Mount St. Vincent. Thanks to Providence ExpressCare, we recently conducted rapid-testing of our entire community of caregivers, residents, patients, and active volunteers for COVID-19.
Through previous onsite testing and the additional rapid testing, we have confirmed a total of 15 of our residents/patients and 10 of our caregivers have tested positive for COVID-19. All residents/patients who tested positive have been cohorted together in a separate area of the building with dedicated staff providing care. The caregivers who tested positive are quarantined at home. The Intergenerational Learning Center (ILC) continues to operate safely to support our caregivers and the community. None of the teachers nor caregiver parents tested positive.
The safety and well-being of our residents, patients, their families and our caregivers remains our top priority, especially during this time. We are committed to stopping the spread of this infectious disease. Our highly-trained caregivers are following all of our heightened infection control protocols, including the use of appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE), in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, while providing our residents/patients expert and compassionate care.
Out of an abundance of caution, and to ensure accurate testing, we will conduct a second round of rapid testing next week for our entire community.
“Knowledge is power at a time like this,” said Charlene Boyd, Providence Mount St. Vincent Administrator. “A second round of testing will confirm an accurate count of cases at The Mount. It will also inform us of any additional spread of the virus by people not showing any symptoms. That information is critical and will enable our most fervent and directed response possible.”
We know how quickly this virus can spread. We continue daily monitoring of all residents, patients and caregivers for any signs of illness, especially a fever or cough. We are closed to visitors with the exception of end-of-life visits which are accommodated on a person-by-person basis, and we screen everyone that enters the building. In addition to our heightened disinfecting and cleaning procedures, we are wiping down high touch areas several times throughout the day.
We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as the CDC, to ensure we continue delivering safe, high quality care to all of our residents and patients. We have notified the families of all of our residents and patients, and the ILC families, about the situation and are sharing updates with the community as needed.
Providence Mount St. Vincent, also known as The Mount, is at 4831 35th SW and is home to more than 400 people who need either assistance or round-the-clock care.
7:52 PM: Thanks to J for the photo. Police report that westbound Admiral Way is blocked at 49th SW because of this crash. No serious injuries reported – one SFD engine was dispatched but has already been canceled.
8:32 PM: They’re still awaiting at least one of the tow trucks and an SDOT crew to clean up the scene.
9:26 PM: Police have radioed that “all lanes are open.”
The city news release that explains the signage we covered earlier also includes something new: “Stay Healthy Streets,” stretches of neighborhood greenway that will be “closed to through traffic – but not residents or deliveries – 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the emergency or until otherwise noted by the City of Seattle,” as explained in SDOT’s subsequent announcement, which adds, “People with destinations along Stay Healthy Streets – like residents, essential workers, emergency service providers, delivery providers, and garbage and recycling collectors will continue to have vehicle access.” One of the first two is in High Point (and a bit south), as shown on the map above, starting Saturday. The announcement says signage will go out starting tomorrow, and that these will likely be followed by other stretches of greenway – unspecified for now (West Seattle also has greenways in Highland Park and North Delridge).
As noted in last night’s roundup, auto theft is up 24 percent citywide in the past month. The Southwest Precinct is launching an emphasis on it, says crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner, who sent this tipsheet:
You can also read it here in PDF.
No gatherings has meant no ceremonies, in many cases, but we just got this texted photo/report of one that happened at home:
Even though we all have to stay home, it made it easier for family from TX, AZ, MA, CO, and all over Washington state to celebrate our daughter, Evan Smith, signing with Texas Southern University in Houston! GO TIGERS!
Evan is a senior at WSHS. She is a bowler. Parents are Andy and Bri’Anna Smith
Since we are out of school, we still tried to make this day special.
A third round of bus cuts has just been announced by Metro. Here’s the full news release, including non-West Seattle routes, in case it’s helpful:
As the region continues to respond to COVID-19, King County Metro will reduce weekend bus service beginning Saturday April 18, and further reduce weekday bus service starting Monday, April 20. Water Taxi and First Hill Streetcar will continue to operate on previously reduced schedules.
This revised Reduced Schedule provides a core network of public transportation services to maintain access to critical supplies, services, and worksites across the region. Details about weekend changes will be posted online Thursday; canceled trip details weekday service will be revised and updated online Saturday.
Overall, Metro will operate with approximately 42% fewer buses, 36% fewer transit operators, and 27% fewer service trips than typical weekday service. Weekend trips will be reduced by 15% on Saturdays and 4% on Sundays.
“To reserve transit for those who need it most, we’re calling on riders to travel only if absolutely necessary and to wear a face covering to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” said King County Metro General Manager Rob Gannon. “Adjusting our weekend and weekday service allows us to continue to operate a reliable network of service for essential travel needs – for food, medicine, and work – while responding to decreased ridership demands and to the overall availability of Metro’s workforce. Our goal is to continue to serve the community, and we’re grateful for and commend our frontline staff.”
2:03 PM: Heads-up – that bus is stalled and awaiting a tow, blocking eastbound traffic toward the east side of the low bridge. Could be affecting the Spokane/Delridge/Chelan/Marginal intersection too, so if you have to head that way, wait a bit.
3:21 PM: Camera shows it’s cleared.
12:16 PM: So far, no indication of a repeat park closure this weekend. But WSB readers have spotted new signage at Alki, sending the photos above and below:
We’re following up with the city.
P.S. Here’s the list of ongoing park-related closures, separate from last weekend’s temporary order.
2:14 PM: David Hutchinson sent a closer view of the first sign shown, so we substituted his photo. The city, meantime, responded to our inquiry by saying “There will be an announcement from Parks later this afternoon.”
5:22 PM: The signs are addressed in this long, multi-topic news release just published on the city website. “The City will allow major parks to remain open throughout the weekend but will be requiring residents to keep moving and not play sports, picnic or barbecue,” the news release says, adding, “Seattle Parks staff will be monitoring in real time and is prepared to close parks if there are too many gatherings or too many people.” 60 “ambassadors” will be deployed citywide, plus: “The public can report any lack of social distancing to Seattle Parks and Recreation through social media, calling (206) 684-4075, or emailing pks_info@seattle.gov.”
(Seattle Municipal Archives photo, West Seattle Bridge construction, 1981)
The 36-year-old West Seattle Bridge’s future is uncertain, as revealed Wednesday, 3+ weeks into its safety shutdown. That’s given rise to questions about its history. If you’re curious, you might be interested in this announcement from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has revised and re-released their 2014 “Bridging the Gap” exhibit in a format you can experience from the comfort of your home! The West Seattle bridge closure is on everyone’s mind as we wait to see what the future of peninsula transportation will look like. This is a timely moment to explore the history of how we have commuted across the water — from ferries, to the Mosquito Fleet, to multiple iterations of bridges. The online exhibit consists of a history of transportation to and from the peninsula, historic photos, and a video!
You can see it now, here.
This Seattle Now and Then post from the bridge’s 30th-anniversary summer in 2014 might be of interest, too.
Through these stay-home weeks, we’ve seen – and heard about – displays from teddy bears in windows to chalk art on sidewalk. Here’s a suggestion we’ve received for next Wednesday, April 22, in honor of Earth Day. From Vince Stricherz:
To mark the 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Care for Creation team from Holy Rosary and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes is urging people all over West Seattle to place Earth-related photos or illustrations in their windows or signs in their yards to demonstrate solidarity with our planet. 
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