day : 12/06/2020 11 results

15 weeks into the local COVID-19 outbreak, and one week into “modified Phase 1,” here’s the nightly roundup:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*8,644 people have tested positive, 60 more than yesterday

*571 people have died, unchanged from yesterday

*1,517 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than yesterday

*115,016 people have been tested, 2,263 more than yesterday

One week ago, the cases/deaths were 8,396/566.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

‘KEEP IT MOVING’ GOING AWAY: Seattle Parks has announced a long list of operational changes, and will now scrap the “Keep It Moving” exhortation in favor of “Keep It Small & Simple.” Also in the announcement: No swimming pools or wading pools this summer.

$1.1 MILLION BILL: Remember Michael Flor, the 70-year-old West Seattle COVID-19 survivor whose homecoming we covered last month?

(May photo courtesy Wendy Hobson)

The Seattle Times, which was first to tell his survival story, reports tonight that Flor got a $1.1 million hospital bill.

COVID CASUALTY: Fauntleroy Church’s Little Pilgrim School is closing, citing the new health regulations/constraints resulting from the pandemic.

TESTING THIS WEEKEND: Free testing Saturday and Sunday in Renton and Federal Way, if you can get there – details here. No appointment required for those – but book ahead if you want to go to the SODO testing site that’s open 10 am-3 pm tomorrow (details here).

FOOD DRIVE TOMORROW: Outside Admiral Church:

Food Drive Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm June 13th. There will be a Food Bank barrel to collect food donations, under a canopy if it is raining, at the Admiral church with attendants to assist with the collection of food: non-perishable and canned food, pet food and cat litter, baking supplies, seasonings and herbs, bagged fresh produce or home grown organic vegetables. 4320 SW Hill Street. The food drives will be from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturdays, June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25. Your food donations are needed as the number of people needing food has increased greatly due to the pandemic. Thank you for helping.

HOW DID THE STAY-HOME MONTHS CHANGE YOUR LIFE? The state Health Department suggests you take stock of your new habits – good and not-so-good – now.

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

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REOPENING: 3 more Junction announcements – Maharaja, Three Little Birds, Fleurt

June 12, 2020 9:08 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

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

Three more West Seattle Junction business-reopening notes:

First, many have asked about Maharaja, which has been remodeled during its closure – here’s the news emailed to us today by Don Bogie:

The Maharaja will be open for delivery and takeout starting Saturday 6/13. The kitchen has been remodeled and is ready to go!! We could be open (today) but we are closed along with a large number of other WA restaurants in observance of the statewide #blacklivesmatter silent march and general strike.

Through our remodel we are having a tough time getting our phone lines working, please order through a service (DoorDash, Grubhub, Caviar etc…) or you can come to the front door and place your order!!! We look forward to feeding you and seeing you soon!!!!

Maharaja is at 4542 California SW. Hours will be 11 am-11 pm.

Also open again for in-store shopping, My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW). Proprietor Jennifer Young says the hours for now are Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 am-4 pm, Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays 10 am-5 pm, Sundays 11 am-4 pm, Mondays closed.

And Fleurt is open too! Keonii and Sam are looking forward to seeing you:

(Photo by Ryan Cory)

New Retail Store Hours:

Monday – Closed. Website orders received on Monday will be delivered same day.
Tuesdays-Sundays Noon to 3pm

We do have some restrictions and guidelines at Fleurt based on City and State regulations for Phase 1.5.

1. Walk ins welcome.
2. Limit One customer in the shop at a time.
3. Face masks must be worn inside the shop.
4. Hands must be sanitized upon walking in. We have lots of hand sanitizer.
5. No cash sales.
6. Personal/private shopping available before and after regular store open hours. Call or email us.
7. Fleurt website orders are being delivered daily within West Seattle. Free USPS anywhere in the US.
8. Curbside pickup available Tuesday through Sunday.

Fleurt is at 4536 California SW.

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NEED FOOD? Free lunch Saturday

June 12, 2020 7:50 pm

| Comments Off on NEED FOOD? Free lunch Saturday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW) is offering free bag lunches on two upcoming Saturdays – tomorrow (June 13th) and June 27th, noon-1 pm. All welcome, but note that supplies are limited.

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Little Pilgrim School to permanently close after 68 years

June 12, 2020 6:29 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo courtesy Fauntleroy UCC)

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

New public-health requirements have dealt a body blow to a venerated West Seattle institution – Little Pilgrim School.

In a letter yesterday to parents, the leaders of Fauntleroy Church announced that the United Church of Christ congregation was closing its 68-year-old preschool.

“The programmatic, financial, staffing, and health and safety gaps between what we are able to do and what we would have to do to begin preschool this fall are great and accompanied by many significant unknowns,” the letter said.

Even if the school were to open in the fall with full enrollment, overwhelming changes would have been needed to meet COVID-19 guidelines, the letter continued. They included cutting class size in half, shortening the day to allow for extra cleaning, and greatly reducing the cooperative play that is central to how young children learn.

Parents initiated Little Pilgrim as a ministry of the church in 1952 to serve families with children whose birth dates kept them from starting public kindergarten at age five. The following year it shifted to a preschool program for four-year-olds and later added classes for twos and threes.

Over the years, Little Pilgrim enrolled an estimated 3,700 children, including some second generation. When the school transitioned to online learning in March because of COVID-19, Director Jenny Romischer was leading a staff of four teachers and an aide serving 60 students.

“The legacy of love they have given the children and families of this community over the years is something for which our church will always be thankful,” the letter said.

The church is processing tuition refunds and, in due time, will look at options for using the former classrooms in a different way to serve the community.

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TOWING WARNING: If you’re parked in the Delridge project’s no-parking zone, move your car!

June 12, 2020 5:22 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just last night, we published the latest SDOT update on the start of work for the Delridge Way RapidRide H Line conversion. It’s an extensive project, including utilities and road-rebuilding/repaving. One thing the update didn’t say – and so SDOT has just asked us now to let you know – some cars are still parked where the contractor placed “NO PARKING” signs a week ago, and if those cars aren’t moved by Monday, they’ll have to be towed. The “NO PARKING” signs are up along stretches of Delridge and some sectinns of side streets. “Towing starts Monday morning, June 15,” SDOT warns. “If you are parked at a location with “No Park” signs, you are advised to move your vehicle by or on Sunday night, June 14.” You can sign up here for weekly email updates on construction plans.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another BLM-support banner stolen

June 12, 2020 4:32 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Crime | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

4:32 PM: That photo was sent by Christine on Pigeon Point, who first emailed us this morning to report, “Someone in our neighborhood keeps defacing the BLM sign that was hung on the Andover stairs. I realize the stairs are maintained by the city but the sign was put up as a show of support for people of color in our community. There are mixed families in this neighborhood.” Most recently, she said, someone tried to erase the word “Black” from the banner by covering it with a cloth patch lettered “All.” And after she emailed us this morning, she emailed again to add, “The sign was just torn down by a man, according to another neighbor.” We checked on our way back from the Junction demonstration; nothing left behind but faded chalk lettering that also declares, Black Lives Matter.

8:30 PM: Update from Christine: “We are working on a permanent sign solution. In the meantime, a march is planned in the neighborhood at 11 am on Sunday beginning at 20th and Charlestown. Neighbors are donating to BLM organizations and causes for every time the sign is defaced or stolen. Some companies are matching donations so it’s adding up.”

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PHOTOS/VIDEO: West Seattle’s silent marches converge in The Junction

June 12, 2020 2:46 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

2:46 PM: A silent vigil right now on California south of Alaska. Updates to come.

(Added – photo sent by Eileen & Michael)

2:51 PM: Still silent, fists raised, some have moved northward into Walk All Ways.

3:05 PM: Applause broke the silence at 3, and everyone dispersed. More photos/video later.

ADDED 8:01 PM: There aren’t many words to be said about this; that was the point. The original Black Lives Matter-Seattle/King County call was for a day of action and silent marches “o honor lives lost and send a powerful message that Washingtonians no longer tolerate the racism that is built into so many of our institutions.” In West Seattle, organizer Sara had wondered earlier in the week if anyone else had planned one here; no one had, so she did. Two groups marched to The Junction, this one from Morgan Junction:

Like other recent West Seattle protests, participants spanned a wide age range:

Another group marched south to The Junction from Admiral, and everyone converged on California just south of Alaska, still silent.

For a while, everyone stayed there, and east-west traffic continued along Alaska. Then some moved north and filled the intersection for 10-plus minutes.

The demonstration was contemplative and peaceful. As they had done during last Saturday’s huge gathering, police were only seen on traffic control down the block.

P.S. Next West Seattle protests (that we’ve heard of) are on Sunday, 11 am at 20th/Charlestown (explained here) and 2 pm from High Point Community Center.

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PROTESTS: Gatewood Elementary community’s show of support

June 12, 2020 1:57 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

Educators, parents, and students lined fauntleroy Way by Gatewood Elementary earlier this hour, in the first of two planned West Seattle protests this afternoon on the day of action called for by regional Black Lives Matter leadership.

The school community also wanted to show it’s undaunted despite the theft of a BLM support banner the PTA had placed along the fence.

Coming up at 2 pm, groups are planning to march silently, also in support of the BLM call, to The Junction from Morgan Junction and Alaska Junction. Meantime, more than 50 local businesses have closed to support the general strike that’s also happening today – our list is here.

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Can’t march? Here’s a short walk

June 12, 2020 11:52 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle protests | West Seattle religion

If you can’t, or choose not to, march, but want to contemplate action against racism, injustice, and inequity – take a short walk around Peace Lutheran Church. We happened onto this while out walking earlier this week. The signs are small – requiring a close look:

Along with explanatory signs, there are simple hand-lettered signs including these:

The church is at 39th/Thistle.

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PROTESTS: 2 today in West Seattle during general strike; business-closures reminder

June 12, 2020 9:43 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

After regional Black Lives Matter leadership called for a general strike and silent marches today, some asked if any marches/protests were planned in West Seattle. We just got word of two this morning:

Sara sent word of that one – yoo can gather either at the Admiral Junction (California/Admiral) or Morgan Junction (California/Fauntleroy) at 2 pm to march silently to The Junction (California/Alaska).

Also: A group of parents/teachers will gather at 1 pm outside Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle).

P.S. Reminder that many businesses have chosen to close to support the general strike – we’re continuing to update this list – westseattleblog@gmail.com if you have an addition – thank you!

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ROAD WORK/TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday notes, 12th week of West Seattle Bridge closure

June 12, 2020 6:07 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning – the 81st morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge. Remember that the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project has begun – here’s our latest update.

Now on to the cameras for the 5-way intersection, and the restricted-access low bridge just east of it:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – which has up to 14 overnight closures planned next month, as announced Tuesday. Meanwhile, here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map) – this camera shows the SP-side approach:

Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

TRANSIT

Metro – Check the Twitter feed for any breaking service changes. Otherwise – still on the reduced schedule and reduced capacity; check here for next departure. Note that Metro and WT service will increase June 22nd.

Water Taxi – Reduced schedule continues

Trouble on the roads/paths? Let us know – comment or text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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