West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

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month : 06/2020 331 results

CORONAVIRUS: Friday 6/26 roundup
June 26, 2020 9:08 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

17 weeks ago tonight, news broke of King County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case. So on we go into the pandemic’s fifth month, with tonight’s roundup:

MASKS UP: First day of the statewide mask mandate. On our usual early-evening drive around the peninsula, we did notice more mask-wearers than usual, including along Alki.

CELEBRATORY MASKS: A Target shopper tells us they spotted red, white, and blue masks for the upcoming holiday. (That fits in with one of the state Health Department‘s “top 10 reasons to wear a mask.”)

NOT SURE YOU’RE WEARING YOURS CORRECTLY? Maybe this grassroots project will help.

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

*9,695 people have tested positive, 83 more than yesterday

*586 people have died, 1 more than yesterday

*1,564 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday

*155,859 people have been tested, 2,354 more than yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 9,096/584/1,540/137,312.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 9.7 million cases, 493,000+ deaths – see the nation by nation numbers here.

DATA CORRECTION: The state says it’s fixed a problem with hospitalization totals.

MORE OUTDOOR SPACE FOR BUSINESSES: Since we’re still in a phase where outdoor is safer than indoor, the city’s offering businesses the chance to use more outdoor space – temporarily – with less red tape.

NEED FOOD? Free lunch tomorrow. Here’s the announcement:

West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California Ave SW) is serving a free bag lunch Saturday, June 27, from 12-1 pm. All are welcome but supplies are limited.

OR, IF YOU HAVE FODD TO SPARE: Donation drive tomorrow. The announcement:

Saturday, June 27, 1-4 pm. Food Drive for the White Center Food Bank. 4320 SW Hill St. Sponsored by admiralchurch.org. Attendants on duty to collect food and donations. Our West Seattle neighbors have contributed over 5,000 pounds of food!. Next drive dates are 7/11 and 7/25.

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

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BIZNOTE: Quality Cleaners closing in Admiral
June 26, 2020 8:21 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to everyone who has tipped us about this: Quality Cleaners in Admiral is closing. Tonight we finally reached a spokesperson for the family that has owned the business for decades. She explained that it’s closing because of a sudden death in the family. They have nothing to announce yet about the future of the building (which is at 2601 California SW). But if you have clothes there, please go pick them up before Tuesday (June 30th), because that’s the last day of business.

SIDE NOTE: The business was a trailblazer in the mid-20th century; we found an old newspaper mention saying that in the mid-1960s, Quality Cleaners was one of the first on the West Coast to have a drive-up window.

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BIZNOTE: Westwood Village’s MOD Pizza ready to open
June 26, 2020 7:46 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Back in March 2019, we brought you first word that MOD Pizza planned a second West Seattle location, in Westwood Village. Tonight, we were driving through the shopping center and noticed people dining inside; stopped to inquire and learned it’s a “friends and family” test run, with the restaurant planning to officially open next Tuesday (June 30th). MOD’s first West Seattle location, at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW), opened in February 2018. The Westwood location combines the spaces on the center’s west side that formerly held Giannoni’s Pizza and Baja Taco.

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Big but brief Seattle Fire callout south of The Junction
June 26, 2020 6:05 pm
|    Comments Off on Big but brief Seattle Fire callout south of The Junction
 |   West Seattle news

Just one engine was left at the scene when we arrived to check a briefly big callout in the 4800 block of 42nd SW. SFD told us it was a small kitchen fire.

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With signage – and some humor – South Park begs drivers to slow down
June 26, 2020 4:30 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | South Park | West Seattle news

South Park isn’t waiting for SDOTs “mitigation plan” to take action to try to slow down traffic detouring through the neighborhood because of the West Seattle Bridge closure. The photos were sent by Robin Schwartz, who explains:

Folks are VERY concerned with speeding, especially on side streets. We are working on immediate/free actions to raise awareness and impede speeding. The (next) photo is a planter put up in “bump-out/curb bulb” at 5-way intersection [just southwest of the bridge]. Cars and trucks have begun driving right through it so we are trying to block it. The rest of the pictures are “slow down” signs that we will put putting up around the neighborhood on Saturday.

South Park is one of the areas that will get a list of projects to vote on starting July 6th as part of a “neighborhood traffic-mitigation plan” related to the WS Bridge closure – the other three are Georgetown, SODO, and Highland Park/Roxhill/South Delridge/Riverview.

P.S. Here’s what South Park neighborhood advocates requested in a letter to the city two months ago.

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REOPENING: Updates from Emerald WaterAnglers and Alair. Plus, a kitten
June 26, 2020 2:44 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two retail-reopening updates, one with a kitten:

EMERALD WATER ANGLERS: In-store shopping has returned to this longtime WSB sponsor on the southeast corner of 42nd and Oregon in The Junction:

We are back to regular business hours!

Stop by the shop Monday through Friday 10 am-7 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm and Sunday 11 am-5 pm to take care of all your fly-fishing needs. We ask that shoppers comply with the statewide mask mandate until further notice for the safety of our shoppers and employees. Curbside pickup is also available upon request!

Celebrating National Women’s Fly Fishing Day!

Emerald Water Anglers is celebrating National Women’s Fly Fishing Day on June 27th with 20% off all women’s clothing and equipment! Come get the boots, waders, and clothing you’ve been eyeballing and celebrate yourself and your time on the water. You deserve it!

And meet the new shop cat, Loomis:


EWA’s update explains, “He won’t help you find anything, but he’s cute! Stop by to say hello and toss a string or two. It’s good for the soul!” P.S. You can book guided fishing trips through EWA too. Kitten not included.

ALAIR: Proprietor Shandon says in-person shopping has returned to her gift shop at 3270 California SW: “I reopened Alair today. Hours will probably be Thursday- Sunday 11-4 moving forward, and we still have curbside pickup and local delivery available.”

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DELRIDGE WAY REPAVING ETC.: Weekend work, and what else is up next
June 26, 2020 1:43 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo of Delridge/Findlay. Yes, businesses ARE open!)

Weekend work is ahead for the Delridge repaving-and-more project that’s readying the corridor for next year’s conversion of Metro Route 120 into the RapidRide H Line. Here’s the weekly preview:

Potholing and stormwater pipe work will continue throughout the corridor in the three work zones listed below.

Starting this Saturday, June 27, we will continue demolition work on the roadway from SW Findlay St to SW Juneau St.

In order to keep West Seattle moving and bring RapidRide service to your community as quickly as possible, weekend work and some night work will be ongoing for the duration of this project. Please plan accordingly for this work. We will notify you in advance of planned night work. Night work hours are from 7 PM to 6 AM. We will be obtaining noise variances to complete work outside of normal working hours.

What to expect this weekend

We will work in all three zones at the same time, from north to south on Delridge Way SW. No Parking signs will be posted on both sides of the street in each phase of work to shift traffic around the work zones. We may need to work in front of properties for short periods of time. We will notify residents in advance of any extended access restrictions.

Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)

Demolition work from SW Charlestown St to SW Dakota St

For the next few weeks, we will be completing demolition, concrete, and electrical work in the roadway and sidewalk between SW Charlestown St and SW Dakota St. Lanes will be shifted around the work zone. We plan to move to the east side of Delridge Way SW when the west side is complete

SW Genesee and SW Oregon streets

We will continue conducting utility and storm drainage work. Please expect traffic to be shifted to one side of Delridge Way SW.

Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)

SW Findlay St to SW Juneau St

We will continue installing utility pipes. Please expect traffic to be shifted to one side of Delridge Way SW.

Zone C (North of SW Orchard St to White Center)

We will finish connecting catch basins throughout this zone

REMINDER: Businesses along the corridor are open during this work. Please follow posted detour signs as you visit these businesses.

Work throughout the corridor

Continued potholing for utility work

In each of the three work zones, travel lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction with restricted turns. Please follow posted traffic signs.

Upcoming work

New temporary left-turn pocket lanes at SW Orchard St will be installed later this summer to allow people driving to make left turns onto Delridge Way SW. These turn pockets will also be included when we install the final project street configuration.

For full details on the project, you can browse design graphics/documents by going here.

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READER REPORTS: Stolen white Fiat; mystery car; dumped items
June 26, 2020 11:47 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports:

STOLEN FIAT: From Grant:

Last night at 2 am my wife’s 2015 white Fiat 500 Abarth stolen on the corner of 30th ave SW and Henderson. it was parked on Henderson. License plate BSM5719. Please let us know if you have seen the car or see it parked somewhere. Two young males seen on our cameras, both wearing gray hoodies. Looks like one of them may wear glasses.

Call 911 if you see the car, and then contact Grant at 1gfelectric@gmail.com.

MYSTERY CAR: The photo and report are from Kristen:

There has been an abandoned Subaru @ the Admiral lookout for about 2 weeks. Alaska license #DJN 559. I tried to report to SPD, however, they are not taking abandoned vehicle reports at this time. I will try to find how to report to Alaska police department if possible, but thought I would share here in case someone locally is familiar with the vehicle.

We have suggested she also try Parking Enforcement and Parks, since the viewpoint belongs to the latter.

DUMPED ITEMS: Photos and report from Rebecca:

I was disconcerted to find a cache of dumped items in front of my property this morning, hoping to reconnect these things with their proper owner(s) one item is just a box that’s been ripped into- no contents- likely a porch pirate deal from a Trenton st address. Other items are umbrella stroller, clothing etc.

Didn’t want to dig too deep (even with gloved hands)

Recognize any of that? Let us know and we will connect you.

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REOPENING: City to cut some red tape so businesses can use more outdoor space
June 26, 2020 10:35 am
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

One week after our area went to Phase 2 of reopening, the city has announced it’s removing some of the obstacles for businesses interested in using more sidewalk/curbside space. Here’s the elected officials’ version of the announcement; below, from the Department of Construction and Inspections, what it means for businesses (and anyone else interested in the details):

If you’re interested in using space on the sidewalk or street in front of your business to add a temporary café or additional retail space or if you are a food truck owner who would like to try out new vending locations, you will need a Street Use permit from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

Free temporary permits and new, flexible permit options for sidewalk cafes, merchandise displays, and food vending

We’ve created free temporary permit options to expand our support for restaurants, retail stores, food trucks, and other vendors. These permits are good for up to six months.

Temporary outdoor café: With this permit, restaurants can have a temporary outdoor café either on the sidewalk or in the curb space adjacent to their business frontage. In certain cases, we will permit cafes to extend beyond the business frontage.

To qualify for the temporary cafe permit option, the proposed café should be:
Fence free (abutting building) or with temporary fencing that provides cane detectability
Removed when the restaurant is closed
Not located in a loading zones (for curb space locations)
Not located on a principal arterial (for curb space locations)
Restaurants that would like a café in other locations or with more permanent installations can still apply for our existing sidewalk café or streatery

Temporary merchandise displays: We want to make it easier for businesses to promote social distancing for customers while increasing their ability to serve customers. With this permit, a business can set up merchandise displays adjacent to their store or in the curb space.

To qualify for the temporary merchandise permit option, the display should be:

Removed when the business is closed
Not located in a loading zone (for curb space locations)
Not located on a principal arterial (for curb space locations)
With this permit, we are also allowing sales to occur outside instead of inside the store.

Temporary Vending Permits: We are offering a temporary vending permit for up to six months that will allow greater flexibility for vendors to try out new sites and go to where people are located during the pandemic. This option is available for both trucks and carts vending food, flowers, or publications.

To qualify for the temporary vending option, the vending should be:

Up to a four-hour block of time daily (such as between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for the lunch hour)
If vending food, not within 50 feet of a food service business, unless there is support from adjacent food businesses
Not located where an adjacent business is proposing to use the curb space (for curb space locations)
Not located in a loading zone (for curb space locations).
Additionally, we will allow more than two vendors per block with this permit type.
Vendors who would like to vend in other locations or with a traditional year-long permit can still apply for one of our existing vending permit options.

Here’s how we’re making it easier to get these permit types!
No permitting fees and modified application requirements

To make it easier to take advantage of these new permit types we’ve:

Eliminated permit and review fees
Waived daily fees associated with reserving parking spaces for outdoor cafés, merchandise displays, and vending in the curb space

Streamlined timelines
For all these new permit types, our goal is to expedite and prioritize application reviews. The review time will depend on the complexity of the application, the volume of permit requests, and an applicant’s preparedness, resulting in varying approval times.

Updated public notification requirements
To issue our permits faster, we’re not requiring the normal two-week public comment period for new temporary outdoor cafes and vendors. Instead, applicants for these permits will be required to notify nearby residents and businesses of the proposed temporary café, merchandise display, or vending location before they start operations.

Wondering how to apply? Scroll to the end here.

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SUNDAY: #SayTheirNames show of support on Delridge overpass
June 26, 2020 10:10 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

(Last Friday)

Another #SayTheirNames show of support on the Delridge/Oregon overpass this weekend – the announcement is from Nancy:

Please join us on the 51st anniversary of Stonewall to show support for our Black LGBTQ friends, family, and neighbors and to #SayTheirNames

What: #SayTheirNames

When: Sunday, June 28th, 4:30-5:30 pm

Where: Pedestrian overpass on Delridge at the Delridge Community Center/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

Please remember to wear your masks!

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC TODAY: Friday notes, 14th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
June 26, 2020 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC TODAY: Friday notes, 14th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:21 AM: Good morning – the 95th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

*Major work has begun on the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project – here are the toplines – watch for next week’s preview later today.

TRAFFIC

Heading off-peninsula? First, 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. 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 – Some service has been restored – details here.

Water Taxi – Some service has been restored on the WT too, plus the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.

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

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At bridge-detour ground zero, HPAC readies for traffic-mitigation process
June 26, 2020 5:04 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When SDOT goes public in a week and a half with lists of potential ways to deal with bridge-detour traffic, HPAC will be ready.

This month’s meeting of the community council for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge was mostly an open discussion of what’s been problematic since the West Seattle Bridge closure turned up the volume on traffic along routes to the 1st Avenue South and South Park bridges.

Read More

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CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 6/25 roundup
June 25, 2020 9:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Ready for the mask mandate? On the eve of the order taking effect, here’s our nightly roundup:

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

*9,612 people have tested positive, up 110 from yesterday

*585 people have died, up 2 from yesterday

*1,561 people have been hospitalized, up 6 from yesterday

*153,505 people have been tested, up 3.409 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 8,987/582/1,537/135,003.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.

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

MASK UP STARTING TOMORROW: That’s when the state order takes effect. The basics are here.

COVID CASE CLOSES COFFEE SHOP: Admiral Starbucks is temporarily closed after an employee tested positive.

WEST SEATTLE TESTING TOMORROW: Friday is the weekly drive-up testing day in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), 10 am-3 pm.

TELL YOUR STORY: From the Seattle Public Library:

The Seattle Public Library is a repository of Seattle’s history – help us document local history by contributing your story to our new COVID-19 Community Collection.

The Library would like to see and hear how the events of the past few months have affected you. We are looking for stories, photographs, signs, artwork, short videos and other materials that will help future generations learn what life was like in Seattle during this unique period in history. Here are some prompts to get you started:

· What has your daily life been like?

· What are ways you are staying connected with friends and family?

· What will you remember the most 10 years from now?

You can submit stories and materials through our online portal; they will be made available through the Special Collections Online website. The Library also welcomes donations of physical materials, which can be mailed to our Special Collections Department. To learn more about how you can contribute to the project, please visit our website!

NEED FOOD? OR, GOT FOOD TO DONATE? Check out West Seattle’s newest Little Free Pantry.

PHOTOS? TIPS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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NEED FOOD? New Little Free Pantry in Admiral – accepting donations, too!
June 25, 2020 8:49 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

(Natalia, Helena, and Lara Frazier, after filling the new Little Free Pantry for the first time)

The announcement and photo are from Jeana Frazier:

New Little Free Pantry at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

Please spread the word about one of the newest “little free pantries” in the West Seattle area! Located outside the office at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave. SW (next to the West Seattle High School parking lot), this pantry is available for all members of the neighborhood to “take what you need or give what you can.” Church attendees will be stocking the pantry on a regular basis, but members of the public are encouraged to donate non-perishable food, personal-care items, paper goods, and so on.

Little free pantries are a no-barrier access point for food. They aren’t intended to replace food banks, but rather to work alongside them, getting food to neighbors who may be skipping a meal. It is our hope that the neighborhood will embrace the little free pantry at St. John’s Church and help to reduce food insecurity (made worse by Covid-19 and the recent economic downturn).

Want to put up a LFP? See this WSB story from last month.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business break-in
June 25, 2020 6:58 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The video and report are from Kacie at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor):

Just wanted to share that we were broken into around 3:20 this morning. They broke in through the front door, smashing the glass and stole a refurbished Samsung tablet and loose change. We consider ourselves very lucky that we only have to replace the front door and clean up glass.

SPD incident # is 2020-196715.

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LIGHT RAIL DELAY? Sound Transit board decides not to decide until next year
June 25, 2020 4:33 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

The Sound Transit board won’t decide on potentially delaying projects until July 2021.

That follows discussions at recent committee meetings, during which some board members had voiced alarm that “realignment” decisions with decades-long ramifications might be made too soon, too hastily.

At the board’s monthly meeting this afternoon, they agreed to a timeline (see it here) that would keep all planning of Sound Transit 3 (and remaining ST2) projects moving forward for now. As she had done at an Executive Committee meeting, CFO Tracy Butler reminded the board that current financial projections have ST coffers falling as much as $12 billion short through the life of Sound Transit 3’s plan (which has some projects in the 2040s, with West Seattle light rail currently scheduled to open in 2030).

The board also was reminded that if they chose, for example, to add a 5-year delay to all in-planning projects, that would be “affordable” within current reduced-revenue estimates. But planning director Don Billen also reiterated that a one-size-fits-all approach like that might not be wise, so the agency will embark on a more-nuanced process, including “public engagement” early next year, before finalizing a realigned plan next summer. (You can see the criteria they’ll use in the slide deck from the meeting.)

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MORGAN JUNCTION: New owners take over Youngstown Coffee and announce West Seattle Pride march on Sunday
June 25, 2020 2:39 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

A two-in-one announcement from the new owners of Youngstown Coffee:

Married couple Autumn Lovewell and Monica Colgan are the new owners of Youngstown Coffee on 6032 California Ave SW in Morgan Junction, which was previously owned by Zoe Kritzer. The Delridge location is now permanently closed. Zoe is off to new adventures and everyone is going to miss seeing her at Youngstown, but now you will see her around town!

Monica Colgan owns HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Cafe, which shares the same building as Youngstown (where Harry’s Chicken Joint used to be). HeartBeet has another location in Queen Anne and has been in business for 12 years. The West Seattle location was opened during COVID and due to the To-Go nature of the business has been able to keep staff employed.

Monica and Autumn have been West Seattle residents for 5 years and have 3 kids, 2 who are at Louisa Boren STEM. Now they live in White Center. The whole family is active in the community working to protect Trans and LGBTQ youth.

Youngstown Coffee will be a platform for social-justice issues which is their passion. It’s an opportunity to have ongoing dialogue with the community and highlight local Black, POC, and LGBTQ organizations that are making an impact in West Seattle and White Center.

Youngstown Coffee is hosting West Seattle Pride – a social distance mini-march in Morgan Junction on Sunday, June 28 at 2 pm to bring attention to Black Trans Lives Matter and to honor the creators of the first Pride, which was a protest not a parade. This event is by and for West Seattle’s LGBTQ community. Details below:

West Seattle Pride – Socially distanced march for LGBTQ community

SAFETY FIRST! WEAR YOUR MASKS AND KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE! Free disposable masks will be available to those who arrive without one. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the march.

Organized by and for local LGBTQ families and friends. Benefiting Ingersoll Gender Center of Seattle.

Mini-March in the Morgan Junction area for our LGBTQ community in West Seattle! We will be honoring and remembering Black and Indigenous Trans/Queer Lives, the creators of Pride. Every year we must remember that the first PRIDE was a protest, not a parade. This year, let’s do both because there is so much work to do while we celebrate who we are.

ROUTE: Meet at Morgan Junction Park (next to Beveridge Place). Around 2:15 pm we will walk north on California Ave to SW Findlay St, use the crosswalk, and come back down California to end back at Morgan Junction Park. It’s a small walk designed with little legs and families in mind.

After the walk, please support your local LGBTQ and Black-owned businesses in West Seattle. Mention them in the comments.

Ingersoll Gender Center provides Seattle’s Transgender and Gender diverse community with mental health services, support groups, legal help, financial services, and job sourcing. Donations directly to Ingersoll via their mobile site are greatly appreciated! ingersollgendercenter.org

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Admiral Starbucks temporarily closed after employee tests positive for COVID-19
June 25, 2020 1:01 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Multiple readers emailed today to ask why the recently remodeled Admiral Starbucks store had abruptly closed without explanation. We inquired with the corporate media team, and here’s the response from a spokesperson:

(W)we recently learned one of our partners at the store received a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home for a period of time. Further to that, as soon as we learned of the diagnosis (on the same day), we quickly activated our protocols and closed the store to initiate a deep cleaning following all recommended guidelines from public health authorities.

It’s important for me to add that Starbucks takes seriously our responsibility to keep our partners and customers safe, and all partners who were deemed to have worked in close contact with this partner will be paid for the time they will miss during the recommended 14 days of self-isolation (from date of exposure). As far as re-opening, I don’t have an exact date but the store will resume operations next week.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle low-bridge access changes now in effect, plus more on potential future camera enforcement
June 25, 2020 11:52 am
|      87 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(Reader photo from April, when low-bridge enforcement began)

As first reported here Wednesday afternoon, SDOT told the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force that it recommended opening low-bridge access to all 9 pm-5 am and to school buses any time. Nobody on the CTF objected, so, SDOT says today, those changes are now in effect. Also mentioned briefly during the meeting: Future camera enforcement on the low bridge. There was not much elaboration on that during the meeting, but SDOT has more information today:

…SDOT is exploring the use of automated enforcement of Low Bridge restrictions and if feasible, could serve as a key milestone for equitably increasing access.

During (the) Task Force discussion, it became clear that most policy proposals to increase Low Bridge access in a way that is equitable and does not detrimentally impact public safety depend on the ability to enforce them.

A permanent SPD presence is not a preferred, scalable, or affordable approach and, thus, SDOT has begun to explore the potential use of automated enforcement mechanisms. This could mean that cameras are added to an existing contract managed by SPD, similar to red light enforcement cameras and school zone cameras.

The use of automated enforcement for Low Bridge access policies would have to be approved by City Council. If it were, SDOT anticipates this technology could be in place later this summer or early fall.

We look forward to sharing more about this potential solution in the coming weeks. …

Currently, as SDOT’s post notes, the city only uses camera enforcement for school-zone speeding and red-light running. Some other uses are now allowed after the Legislature passed a bill sponsored by local State House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (who is part of the CTF along with other local elected officials.)

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HAPPENING NOW: Lou Cutler’s big Make-A-Wish birthday ‘lap’ around West Seattle
June 25, 2020 10:48 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Great day for a walk! That’s what Lou Cutler (with support team Denise and Juli) is doing right now – 11.5 miles around the peninsula, to celebrate his 69th birthday and raise money for Make-A-Wish!

As noted in our preview – not to mention annual coveerage! – Lou usually celebrates his birthday a few weeks early by returning to Pathfinder K-8, where he taught PE before retiring five years ago, and running one lap around the field for every year of his new age, with students and staff joining him throughout the day. This year, the campus was closed, so he’s walking one big “lap” around West Seattle. We caught up with him at Lowman Beach.

You can support Make-A-Wish – which brings hope and joy to seriously ill children – via Lou’s page, here.

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TODAY: West Seattle Democratic Women talk about racism & more
June 25, 2020 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on TODAY: West Seattle Democratic Women talk about racism & more
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Sorry for the short notice – our fault. But if you see this before the event starts:

On Thursday, June 25th, West Seattle Democratic Women will begin its first of a series of three on racism. It’s a midday meeting and begins at 11:00 am with the Discussion Group topic of “The Effect of C-19 on me!”. The membership meeting will follow at 11:30 am and the Program itself will begin at 12:00 pm. Via video, local author Ijeoma Oluo will be introducing her book “So You Want to Talk About Race.” We feel it’s a particularly interesting program during a time when we all have such a lot to learn! If you wish to register for the Zoom meeting and have a need for the appropriate Zoom codes or have questions, please email wsdwomen@yahoo.com or call Karen 206.920.2231.

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC TODAY: Thursday notes, 14th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
June 25, 2020 6:12 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC TODAY: Thursday notes, 14th week of West Seattle Bridge closure
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: Good morning – the 94th morning without the high-rise West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

*Demolition is under way on the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project – here’s what’s happening this week – we drove the area last night and noticed the lane-narrowing in several spots.

TRAFFIC

Heading off-peninsula? First, 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. 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 – Some service has been added back – details here.

Water Taxi – This also has some service restored, plus the 773 and 775 shuttles – see the schedule here.

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

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WEST SEATTLE PRIDE: Admiral Pub, Lumber Yard Bar announce events
June 25, 2020 12:47 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE PRIDE: Admiral Pub, Lumber Yard Bar announce events
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Though major Pride festivities were called off for coronavirus this year, two local establishments are offering you the chance to celebrate West Seattle Pride this weekend. Their announcement:

The Lumber Yard Bar and Admiral Pub have teamed up to bring you West Seattle Pride this weekend, June 27th-28th. Space is limited so please reserve a table for any of the events you plan to attend. We are also taking social distancing seriously, so masks are required for all events and please keep reservations to 5 or less people.

June 27th – The Lumber Yard

3 pm-6 pm
White Center Pride Fundraiser.
Grill party on the patio with raffle tickets and jello shots

8 pm – 12 am
Join us for a special one-night event to celebrate Pride with Dolly and the DJ. Limited seating available for this event in the Loading Dock. Reserve a table for you and three friends (due to social distancing). Full bar and menu available. Champagne toast to celebrate pride included.

June 28th – Admiral Pub

11 am
Pride Brunch and the movie The Birdcage
Reserve a Table for Brunch

1:30 pm
Pride Brunch and the movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Reserve a Table for Brunch

4 pm
Pride Bingo
Free to play with some fun prizes

6 pm to 11 pm
DJ Andy will be spinning all your favorite music videos

The Lumber Yard Bar is at 9619 16th SW; Admiral Pub is at 2306 California SW.

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