West Seattle, Washington
17 Saturday
Need health care? West Seattle’s Neighborcare Health clinic wants you to know what’s changed – and what hasn’t:
Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the governor’s stay-at-home orders, Neighborcare Health at High Point has seen a drop in demand for services in the last few weeks. Therefore, we have temporarily reduced medical clinic hours of operation from 10 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
(Phone hours for scheduling are generally Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.) We are closely monitoring the demand and will expand hours as needed.
Even with changes in hours, patients do not need to delay health care. We continue to offer testing and evaluation for COVID-19, and provide for other routine and immediate health-care needs. Anyone who is experiencing symptoms and wants a COVID-19 test can likely get a test. People must first make a phone appointment with one of our medical providers.
Our care team members can also thoroughly address many other health issues through phone appointments, such as ongoing care for chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure), care for new issues, and help with stress and anxiety. Neighborcare offers interpretation services and has put safety measures in place in the clinic if a patient needs to be seen in-person.
Our High Point dental clinic is closed, but other Neighborcare Health dental clinics are open for emergency dental services and are welcoming non-Neighborcare patients, as well.
We know a lot of our neighbors are facing unexpected challenges with lost income or insurance. Neighborcare Health provides health care no matter a person’s ability to pay, offers a sliding fee discount and can help people understand insurance options and enroll. The High Point WIC team is also available to help people with food assistance.
Call 206-461-6950 to make an appointment for concerns about COVID-19, emergency dental care, or any other health needs.
And for those who have the ability to support our mission, we are still raising funds through our Spring Give online fundraiser to continue our work in providing quality health care for all.
The Neighborcare clinic is at 6020 35th SW.
No major announcements today, but we have a few notes for the nightly roundup, exactly two months after King County’s first known COVID-19 case was announced:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Today’s update, from the Seattle-King County Public Health data dashboard:
*6,054 people have tested positive, 64 more than yesterday
*427 people have died, 11 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 5,379 and 372.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: Find them here.
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS/PARAMEDICS’ ROLE IN TESTING: The mayor explains the SFD Mobile Assessment Teams.
STILL SHORT ON PPE: From the state Joint Information Center’s daily COVID-19-related newsletter:
The state continues its aggressive procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE). Because PPE supplies remain limited, state officials continue to prioritize Tier 1 needs which include hospitals, long-term care facilities and first responders. Though purchase orders are placed nearly every day, arrival time for orders can take weeks. Purchases are the primary way the state has secured PPE, accounting for more than 70 percent of items received so far – a percentage that is growing. Of the $342 million worth of PPE that has been ordered to date, only $8.3 million in PPE has arrived and been distributed or is being processed for distribution (some 10.7 million items). Washington businesses continue to answer the call to produce needed items, with more than 100 manufacturers retooling so far. The state is purchasing directly from five of them, and the others are selling directly to local entities including hospitals. Information about purchasing and distribution of PPE is available on the state’s coronavirus website.
(As we’ve reported, West Seattle’s Nucor is among the companies helping produce PPE.)
NEED FOOD? #1 – Guest chefs today at Highland Park Improvement Club, where 11 am-1 pm weekday lunch distribution continues.
NEED FOOD? #2 – Reminder, pre-packed bags of groceries and supplies will be offered free, first come, first served, 1-5 pm tomorrow outside Eastridge Church (4500 39th SW).
NEED A LAPTOP? West Seattle High School is distributing them the next two afternoons to students in need.
NEED POETRY? Seen on the “neighborhood art fence” at 50th/Andover:
More from the fence tomorrow night! (Thanks to Hannah for the tip.)
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Leon Harman. (Along with the remembrance below, they’re also sharing his memories of growing up in West Seattle.)
Leon Harman, 96, died peacefully in the early morning of April 3rd after a short illness at his Adult Family Home in Olympia, Washington. He and his wife, Elaine, had moved to Olympia after a very full life in West Seattle.
Leon was born and raised in West Seattle. His father, Arthur, was a builder and built his first home at 5042 47th SW, where Leon was born. Soon after his father built another home at 4324 SW Myrtle St, where Leon was raised along with his two brothers Elmer and Arnold and sister Bernice.
His early schooling started at Gatewood Elementary school, then to Madison Middle, and on to West Seattle High. He had some early jobs in Alaska as a teen, then enlisted into the Navy near the end of WW II. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he studied at the University Of Washington and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He soon landed a job at Seattle City Light, where he worked for 30 years. He took early retirement and continued onto a very full life of skiing, sailing, tennis, gardening, and lots of traveling around the world with his wife Elaine. Forty years of Elder Hostel traveling took them to Japan, Soviet Union, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, and all around the US.
Leon had an exciting early life following his older brothers around. For a nickel he could hitch a ride in the back rumble seat of his brother Elmer’s car to snow ski at Paradise on Mount Rainier. Following in their father’s carpentry skills, Leon helped older brother Arnold build wooden sailboats in the back yard at Willow Street, then hauled them down to Fauntleroy Cove on primitive trailers to launch them next to the Fauntleroy Ferry dock. Using salvaged planks off the beach, they would back the trailer to the water’s edge and launch. This started a lifelong love of many sailboats, leading to yearly trips with the family every summer to the San Juan Islands and other ports throughout the Salish Sea.
Leon and his brother Elmer were instrumental in keeping the Henderson street end open for boats early on, working with the Seattle Engineering Department to keep the access open and allowing dinghy boats to be tied to the edge of the ferry dock. Later in life, Leon would help the Fauntleroy Community Association in planning and maintenance of the present Cove Park. There is even an aluminum casting of Leon’s hand in the artwork at the top of the park. His is the hand with the arthritic small finger.
Leon was an active member in the Snoqualmie Mountaineers. In the early days he volunteered his family time to help build the Lodge at Snoqualmie with many other volunteers. This led to an active skiing life with his family. He was Chairman of the lodge for a few years. He skied well into his 80’s.
Leon loved tennis. One of his early dates was with his future wife of 62 years, Elaine, who he invited down to the Lowman Beach Tennis Court. He had met Elaine working at the Bakery that was located where the Thriftway is now at the Morgan Junction. They were soon to be married. Two children followed, Vicki and then Mark. Dad’s love of tennis led him to be instrumental in talking the city into building the tennis courts on Fauntleroy Avenue below what is now the Solstice Park. This has led to a large group of tennis players who regularly still play to this day. There is even a Leon’s Bench at the tennis courts that celebrates his active participation. Leon’s regular routine was swimming at the YMCA, followed by coffee and political conversation with the regulars at Thriftway, home for breakfast, then hop on his bike down to a rousing tennis match with his friends. Dad kept this up into his middle 80’s.
Leon and Elaine spent 50 years living in their custom-built home near the top of Tillicum Rd in Fauntleroy until the day it became too difficult to take care of. They sold the house and then moved on to Bridge Park Senior Living in High Point until just before Christmas of 2019, when Dad’s health started to decline. Leon loved riding his electric scooter across the street to the bee hives at the new High Point Commons Park to read his books on American history. Elaine continues to live in the Adult Family Home in Olympia where she enjoys walking the gardens around the home and sitting with a good book in her lap.
Leon is survived by his wife Elaine; daughter Vicki in Sandpoint, Idaho; and son Mark, living across the
Sound near Shelton. He has 2 granddaughters, one grandson, and 3 great-grandchildren.We hope to have a Leon Harman Memorial Tennis Match this summer when conditions hopefully improve. Leon’s one unfulfilled wish that he hoped to stay alive for was to see Trump leave office and Elizabeth Warren replace him.
We miss you, Poppa.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
So that as many students as possible can take part in remote learning, Seattle Public Schools is working to get laptops to those who need them. We were asked to share this message sent out by West Seattle High School principal Brian Vance:
We are continuing to work toward making sure that all students have the technology they need in order to access continued learning.
This week we are expanding distribution to any high-school student in need of a device to access remote learning. If you have a device that is working for your current needs, that is great. We will eventually get to a 1:1 distribution, but again, we have limited supplies and want to make sure students in need have access first. There have been a few folks indicating that they are trying to share with parents or siblings. If that is impacting your ability to access remote learning, please consider yourself in need. If you are in need of a device right now, please plan on coming by West Seattle High School, Wednesday or Thursday between 3 pm and 6 pm. Please bring student ID and/or your student ID#.
A baleen whale has been making its way slowly northbound along West Seattle’s west-facing shores. The person who texted us from The Arroyos said it looks like a gray; now it’s off Point Williams in Lincoln Park, where Kersti Muul says that’s just been confirmed. If you’re near, or north of, there, be on the lookout!
Highland Park Improvement Club continues to offer free lunches to kids and families five days a week, 11 am-1 pm – and today they had guest chefs! Mark (background) and Paolo (foreground) from the Greenwood restaurant Opus Co. live in West Seattle and wanted to cook for neighbors – and when they found out about HPIC’s lunch program (powered by volunteers and donors, as explained on the HPIC website), it was a perfect match. They’re hoping to make lunch one day a week but haven’t finalized a schedule yet. Today’s menu was grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, with chickpea salad and carrot cake.
Many big spring/summer events have beeb canceled because of the pandemic, but some have gone online, and the next example is coming up this Saturday, when the YMCA of Greater Seattle (parent of longtime WSB sponsor West Seattle & Fauntleroy Y) presents an online edition of Healthy Kids Day! Here’s the announcement:
Healthy Kids Day is the YMCA of Greater Seattle’s annual fun and free day dedicated to encouraging healthy habits in kids and their families heading into the summer months. This year, Healthy Kids Day will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2020, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and feature an at-home Virtual Scavenger Hunt, a live family bootcamp class, and an exciting live scavenger hunt award ceremony hosted by a Y District Executive.
Yes, there are prizes! For families that participate, you will be entered to win a free week of camp, Ybucks to spend on great YMCA programs, a family personal-training session, and more.
Event Schedule
9:30 am Live Family Bootcamp Fitness Class on Facebook
10:00 am to 12:00 pm – Scavenger Hunt via the GooseChase App
12:00 pm – Live announcement of Scavenger Hunt winners on FacebookHow the Scavenger Hunt Works
Before the event, download the GooseChase App so you’re ready to go on Saturday morning! It’s free.
Scavenger missions may include:
-Safety Around Water activities
-Active family challenges
-Playing family favorite board games
-Making healthy snacks
-Engaging the entire neighborhood by making sidewalk obstacle courses
-Shoutouts to favorite Y staffMake sure to look your quarantined best as many tasks will include photos and videos. And remember, participating families will be entered to win prizes announced in our live video after the hunt ends.
This is all happening 9:30 am-12:30 pm on Saturday – go here to find out how to be part of it.
(Emailed photo, Monday evening)
As promised, we followed up this morning on the search that led to an arrest in High Point Monday evening. Turns out the 27-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with an incident we reported a week and a half ago, in which a woman was beaten and robbed in her car – here’s our April 17th report. SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB that investigators subsequently identified the suspect and put out a bulletin for officers to watch for him. Two patrol officers spotted him yesterday; he took off, and that’s what led to the search and arrest. He is now in the King County Jail, held for investigation of robbery and assault. Court records show the suspect’s criminal history includes convictions for theft, burglary, and assault.
Though Governor Inslee announced Monday that golfing would be allowed again – along with some other outdoor recreation – starting May 5, that doesn’t automatically mean West Seattle and other city golf courses will reopen. We followed up with the city – where golf courses are closed by order of the mayor – and got a response this morning: “At this time, City golf courses are still closed. The City will utilize the Governor’s order to consider changes to current restrictions, but we have nothing to announce at this time.” Meantime, the detailed rules for golfing are spelled out in this state document (starting at page 5) and include, notably, beyond what was mentioned Monday, “At the golf course’s discretion, foursomes are allowed if they are from the same household. Otherwise, no more than two players from separate households per tee time.”
That’s a reminder that education isn’t just about minds … it’s also about hearts. Even if you have absolutely no connection to Louisa Boren STEM K-8, you might be charmed by that video its staff put together with greetings for the students they miss. (We were!) Thanks to Julia for suggesting we publish this “so all the kids will see it.”
5:53 AM: 36th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. Here are the cameras for the restricted-access low bridge and the 5-way intersection west of it (just repaved):
For general traffic, the main route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map). To get to I-5, exit at Michigan. Here are cameras for the bridge and Michigan east of it:
You can also cross the Duwamish River via the South Park Bridge (map), which puts you on East Marginal Way about a mile south of where the other bridge does. Here’s the South Park camera:
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if a bridge is opening for marine traffic.
TRANSIT ALERTS: Metro’s reduced schedule is in effect – details here. Also, bus capacity is now restricted … The Water Taxi continues its reduced (and shuttle-less) schedule.
OTHER LINKS
SDOT’s traffic map, with cameras
Our traffic-cams page
Let us know what you’re seeing – comment, or text (not if you’re at the wheel!) 206-293-6302.
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