day : 13/06/2020 10 results

Don’t get complacent, warns the governor, and that tops our nightly roundup:

NOT OVER YET: First the state Health Department reported this:

Today the Washington State Department of Health released the latest statewide situation report, which shows COVID-19 transmission continued to increase in eastern Washington as of the end of May, with a possible uptick in western Washington as well. There are still significant differences in transmission from county to county.

The situation in eastern Washington is of greatest concern, particularly in Benton, Franklin, Spokane and Yakima counties. The report estimates cases and deaths in these counties will soon increase substantially if COVID-19 continues to spread at current levels. By population, these counties are in a comparable position to King County at its peak in March. They may require similar efforts to expand hospital capacity and testing, protect the people at highest risk and increase physical distancing.

Governor Inslee subsequently released a statement including:

Washingtonians have done the hard work to flatten the curve on COVID-19 and we know this has been tremendously difficult for families, businesses and communities over the past few months. But today’s report shows us there is still reason for strong concern in parts of our state. The report estimates cases and deaths will soon increase substantially if COVID-19 continues to spread at current levels. …

This is not the time to give up on efforts to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. We are still in the middle of a pandemic that is continuing to infect and kill Washingtonians.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: As for how we’re doing … here are the numbers from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:

*8,700 people have tested positive, 56 more than yesterday

*574 people have died, 3 more than yesterday

*1,518 people have been hospitalized, 1 more than yesterday

*117,097 people have been tested, 2,081 more than yesterday

One week ago, the cases/deaths were 8,422/566.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: More than 7.7 million people have tested positive. Most cases: U.S., Brazil, Russia, India, United Kingdom. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.

SO FAR, NO PROBLEM FROM PROTESTS: Noticed this tonight on the city webpage about ongoing free testing: “To our knowledge and based on volunteered information, there is no evidence so far of people testing positive for COVID-19 from attending protests in Seattle.”

MORE ON THE CITY-PARK CHANGES: In case you missed last night’s quick mention, we published a breakdown today.

AT THE GROCERY STORES: A few changes of note in our (almost-) weekly update.

FARMERS’ MARKET UPDATES: The organization that operates the West Seattle Farmers’ Market reopened another of its markets this week, Columbia City (Wednesdays). Also, it’s launched a new website. Meantime, here’s the West Seattle vendor list for tomorrow – market entrance is still at California/Alaska, with the line going eastbound on Alaska if needed.

GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE PROTESTS: What’s planned on Sunday, Monday

June 13, 2020 9:11 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

Lots of questions about protests coming up in West Seattle. Here’s what’s been mentioned to us so far. :

SUNDAY: As mentioned last night, Pigeon Point neighbors plan a demonstration at 20th/Charlestown, 11 am.

SUNDAY: Also as previously mentioned, a march is planned from High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW) to Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), starting at 2 pm. We’ve heard twice from organizer Brandon, who says this is the motivation:

MONDAT: Admiral Church is continuing with “Take a Knee for Justice”:

Admiral Church will be sponsoring weekly “Take a Knee for Justice” events on the church lawn at 8 pm on Monday evenings through the end of June (June 15, 22 and 29). We will kneel in silence for 8 minutes to grieve together the deaths of all those persons of color who have been murdered by white supremacy and to protest racial injustice. Then we will sing a song together; no speech-ing, no preaching, just coming together as a community. Bring masks and protest signs if you have them; we will also have some available. Join us!

Anything else? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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White Center Pride raises Progress Flag in South Delridge

June 13, 2020 8:14 pm

| Comments Off on White Center Pride raises Progress Flag in South Delridge

| Delridge | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB/WCN photo)

For a second year, White Center Pride has held a flag-raising ceremony in Triangle Park, where the south end of Delridge meets 16th and Roxbury. Tonight’s ceremony – streamed online – raised the Progress Flag, with organizers explaining that this enhanced Pride flag also “celebrates POC and Trans communities, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.” (The flag was created by Portland designer Daniel Quasar.)

P.S. The West Seattle Junction will display Pride flags June 27-28 – a few are still available for adoption.

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HAPPY HUNDREDTH! Birthday celebration for West Seattle’s newest centenarian Ruth DeGabriele

June 13, 2020 5:47 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos)

Ruth DeGabriele had a big reason for that big smile this afternoon: She’s celebrating her 100th birthday.

As has become custom in this pandemic spring, her celebration was outdoors – decorations outside her North Admiral home, friends driving and walking by for greetings at a healthy distance:

Ruth has had quite a life:

Her daughter Michele DeGabriele shared Ruth’s story:

She has been a West Seattle resident since 1942!

My mom was born in Beattie, Kansas. Her parents lost their farm in the Dust Bowl and the family traveled out west in 1937 in the “truck house” – a truck her father converted to a mobile home for them to travel in.

She was the first woman bellhop in the Pacific Northwest (the Washington Hotel in Portland, Oregon):

She met my father, who was an identical twin, when she lived in the apartment above the twins’ grocery store ‘Ray and Al’s Fine Foods,’ on the corner of California Ave and SW Walker St.

They married in 1950 and started their family in 1951, having four children within five years. All 4 of us children are WSHS alums!

She is still living in the same house they bought in 1950 and is a pillar of the neighborhood. Their house on the 1900 block of 41st Street was a voting precinct for about 60 years … until mail-in ballots in Washington were instated.

She has survived all her siblings, most of her friends, and one granddaughter.

As you might imagine, a bigger party was planned, with many family members traveling to be part of it, but COVID-19 canceled that. Happy hundredth, Ruth!

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SEAWALL PROJECT: 2 online meetings ahead as Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook project nears

June 13, 2020 3:59 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Corps of Engineers photo, 2014)

The long-in-the-works seawall-replacement project at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4503 Beach Drive SW) is finally about to start – and that means changes in park access and parking. Two online meetings are coming up for updates and Q&A. As announced by Seattle Parks:

The Seattle District – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Seattle Parks and Recreation will be holding two virtual public meetings to kick off the project to replace the Emma Schmitz Overlook seawall in West Seattle and discuss the latest project news.

The construction contractor, Bainbridge Island-based Redside Construction, is preparing to begin staging equipment in the coming days, as suppliers have been able to produce key project materials ahead of schedule. It’s anticipated pre-staging will help avoid delays caused by the West Seattle Bridge closure. Redside Construction could start pre-staging equipment and close public access to the park as early as June 22. Construction is still set to begin early-July.

“The good news is the pandemic has not affected the supply chain for the critical construction materials for this project,” said Jeff Dillon, Army Corps project manager. “The unexpected early delivery of the custom piles puts the project in the best position to start and finish on time. Park users and project neighbors will experience some inconvenience earlier than expected, and we appreciate the community’s patience. We look forward to completing a new seawall that will protect the shoreline and underground utilities for years to come.”

In the first week of staging, residents will see the installation of no-parking signs and detours as well as fencing around the construction site. Temporary office trailers and steel piles for the seawall construction will also begin to arrive. Additional construction materials and a crane will be delivered by the end of the third week.

Here’s how to access the June 17th (Wednesday) and July 1st meetings, both at 4 pm:

TO JOIN ONLINE
(VIEW MEETING MATERIAL, PARTICIPATE THROUGH A CHAT AND JOIN BY PHONE):

Use this link:https://usace.webex.com

Enter the meeting number:
146 580 1139 (for June 17) or 146 002 2703 (for July 1)

Enter your name and email address then select “Join Meeting”

Select ‘Connect to Audio’ (phone icon – the first circle)

Select ‘Call Me’ and enter your phone number to receive a call from the conference system.

If prompted for a security code dial: 1139

TO JOIN BY PHONE ONLY (LISTEN TO MEETING): Call: 1-888-273-3658
Enter Access code: 5721558 followed by #
If requested, enter Security code: 1139 followed by #

We covered an in-person community briefing last July (here’s that report).

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HOW TO HELP: Got food to spare? Donate it in Admiral

June 13, 2020 2:18 pm

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| Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

Stopped by Admiral UCC Church a little while ago to check on their outdoor food drive. Still time to stop by if you have any of this to donate: Non-perishable and canned food, pet food and cat litter, baking supplies, seasonings and herbs, bagged fresh produce, or home-grown organic vegetables. Look for the canopy and bin, 4320 SW Hill, until 4 pm. (If you miss today, they have three other Saturday food drives planned this summer, 1-4 pm June 27th, July 11st and 25th.)

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CONGRATULATIONS! Commencement day for UW Class of 2020

June 13, 2020 1:21 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Graduation season continues – online. This afternoon, the University of Washington is holding an online commencement ceremony for its Class of 2020, promising an in-person event next spring. At least one new grad is in West Seattle – the photo above was texted by a proud family annoouncing, “Honoring our UW grad, heading to LSU grad school on a teaching scholarship! Drive by and honk!” (3800 block of 47th SW, they add.)

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ABANDONED BICYCLE: Found in Westwood

June 13, 2020 12:10 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Westwood

Recognize that bicycle? It was abandoned this week in front of a house near Westwood Village. The finder has already used BikeIndex.org and social media to try to find the owner, no luck, so they’re casting a wider net here. If it’s yours, let us know and we’ll connect you.

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CHANGES: What’s reopening at Seattle Parks, and what’s not

June 13, 2020 10:48 am

| 73 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

As mentioned briefly in our nightly virus-crisis roundup, Seattle Parks published an announcement late Friday about what’s reopening in its system – and what’s not. In case you didn’t click through to the full announcement, here are the highlights:

NOW OPEN
(With this caveat: “Maintenance crews will be reinstalling nets and hoops over the next few weeks. No more than five people should be on the court at a time, players should refrain from sharing sports equipment, and give each other six-feet of social distance while recreating.”)

Tennis/pickleball courts
Basketball courts
Disc golf
Community gardens
Golf courses
Boat ramps (by June 20)
Trails and walking paths
Outdoor barbecue grills
Picnic tables (not larger picnic shelters)
Public restrooms
Skateparks
Off Leash Areas
Volleyball courts
Athletic fields (for non-organized use and team practices starting 7/1)
Swimming Areas (beginning July 1 at 5 locations)
For a full list visit our blog

STILL CLOSED
Play areas and playgrounds
Adult fitness equipment
Picnic shelters
Fire pits
Community Centers/Environmental Learning Centers (programs)

CLOSING TIMES
“Popular parks will close early, at sunset, and many parking restrictions will continue to limit crowding.”

ATHLETIC FIELDS
The city will begin taking reservations for athletic field practices Wednesday (June 17) for select fields, “with permitted practices starting July 1 for organizations committed to operating consistent with the Governor’s guidance, a prerequisite for reserving fields. Several fields throughout the city will be reserved for informal drop-in use by the public throughout the summer.”

SWIMMING
“Indoor and outdoor pools, wading pools, and spray parks will remain closed for the summer. While the Governor has permitted pool use in phase 1.5 with very limited capacity, Seattle Parks and Recreation previously decided to focus staff resources to provide outdoor lifeguarded swimming areas for summer 2020.”

One last note – you’re likely to see new signage. From Parks’ announcement: “In place of ‘Keep It Moving’ messaging, Seattle Parks and Recreation will be asking park goers to ‘Keep It Small and Simple.’ The public is encouraged to visit parks and enjoy trails, walking paths, and lawns, but must refrain from large gatherings, large sport games, or parties.”

P.S. Many of the facilities/features now reopening have been closed for almost three months.

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GROCERY SHOPPING: Newest West Seattle changes

June 13, 2020 6:52 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

15 weeks into King County’s outbreak of COVID-19, grocery shopping remains a different experience from what it was pre-pandemic. We’ve been updating hours and other changes at West Seattle’s standalone supermarkets for almost three months now. Here’s what’s new since our last update two weeks ago:

WHOLE FOODS HOURS: The West Seattle Whole Foods Market (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor) is now open until 9 pm.

PCC BAGS AND MASKS: Two changes about to take place at PCC (2749 California SW):

Starting Monday, June 15, PCC members and shoppers can use their own reusable shopping bags when they bag their own order. They will need to keep the bags in their cart when bagging their groceries. If they choose to have our staff assist in bagging, we will need to use our paper bags at 5 cents per bag.

In addition, in accordance with Labor and Industries and the WA State Department of Safety and Health, PCC store staff will now wear paper masks.

We’ve updated our ongoing list. Any changes YOU have noticed?

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