West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
Today marks six months since the first COVID-`19 case in the U.S., which was also the first here in Western Washington, Here are tonight’s virus-crisis updates:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*13,159 people have tested positive, up 168 from yesterday
*632 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
*1,803 people have been hospitalized, up 3 from yesterday
*242,860 people have been tested, up 4,653 from yesterday
One week ago, the totals were 11,945/604/1,693/207,497.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 14.4 million cases and more than 605,000 deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
NEED FOOD? Free summer meals for kids/teens continue at various sites, including the Seattle Parks sites mapped here and the Seattle Public Schools meal sites listed/mapped here.
CAN’T STOP THE MUSIC: Thanks to Lynn Hall for the Sunday morning photo:
“String quartet performing at a home near Beach Drive,” she explains.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
The announcement is from Seattle Lutheran High School:
While our current situation seems frustrating as we are not able to connect with family, friends, and classmates – we are excited about the future.
Seattle Lutheran is a comprehensive high school that includes sports programs, a variety of clubs, a drama program, on top of honors and AP classes. As the only Independent High School in West Seattle. we want to provide the best opportunity for our community to grow in knowledge, confidence, and faith. A lot is changing these days, but the mission of Seattle Lutheran is not – and we want you to know all about it!
We are excited to be putting together our first in-person event on July 21st . Principal on the Patio – hosted by Dave Meyer, the Executive Director. This is an opportunity to learn about the current state of education at Seattle Lutheran High School and our plans for the fall. This will be a socially distant in-person event! We will require face masks for all attendees and that at least 6 feet of distance be kept between your family and others while outside on the patio. In addition, we will be limiting the number of attendees to create a safe environment for all. If you are interested in attending please email Dave Meyer at dmeyer@seattlelutheran.org to reserve a spot!
The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm Tuesday. SLHS is at 4100 SW Genesee, on the north edge of The Junction.
That’s Jeff Kaufer‘s view of Comet NEOWISE from just east of Alki Point earlier this week …
… and that’s the view Scott Nelson got from Alki last night, between 11 pm and midnight. So far it looks like the weather will be conducive for comet-watching tonight too. In addition to her general advice on watching from West Seattle, sky-watcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen made images with Stellarium to help you figure out where to look – this one is for 10:15 pm tonight:
And this one would be for a few hours later, 2 am Monday:
The mission during which the comet was discovered four months ago is explained here.
(SDOT camera image)
Looking north from California/Alaska’s SDOT camera, that’s the view this afternoon of the first phase of the street mural that West Seattle Artists for Social Justice is creating at Walk-All-Ways. The lettering of BLACK LIVES MATTER was done while that block was closed for today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market.
(WSB photos from here)
Organizer Stevie Kramer was overseeing the work:
She explained that the nine artists – four youth (Saiyana Suzumura, Gloria Cropper, Vanessa Musonwa, Raquel Stewart) and five adults (Lashanna Williams, Adonis Piper. Jasmine Iona Brown, Jaymin Brown, Jolyn GC) – will be on site during next Sunday’s market. They will each paint one or more letters of the mural – no pre-planned design, they will show up and paint (Stevie says they’ve already been given guidelines on what’s appropriate for this type of mural). T
The paint they’re using is fast-drying and self-sealing. WS Art for Social Justice says their crowdfunding wiil cover future maintenance too – like a touchup next year.
(WSB photo)
Summer is the prime season for road work and a lot is continuing along Delridge to prepare for converting Metro Route 120 into the RapidRide H Line. Here are key points for the week ahead, from SDOT’s project team:
Throughout July, we will continue demolishing existing roadway and pouring new concrete panels, demolishing sidewalks, installing new curb ramps, and installing storm and water pipes throughout the corridor in the three work zones listed below. We will also remove and trim trees as needed.
What to expect the week of July 20
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. As each zone progresses, parking will be restored. 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.
For people biking along the corridor, please dismount your bikes at the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Juneau St where the greenway crosses. There is a traffic control officer to help bikers safely navigate around the large equipment and construction activities.
Upcoming closures
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo! He explains, “Artist Naomi Haverland was at the east end of the Alki promenade (Saturday), creating a 3D chalk artwork. She was doing this in association with the Alki Art Fair, which unfortunately had to be cancelled this year due the COVID-19 situation.” A nearby sign directs you to stand on marked “footprints” and use your camera “to see the illusion.”
For those wondering about the initially sizable “scenes of violence” call at a house on 44th SW near Madison Middle School this past hour – as sometimes happens with emergency calls, that turned out to be a misclassification. Not hearing any info on the scanner, we went there to ask; a person at the house injured themselves accidentally, SFD told us, and has been taken to the hospital.
(Western Tanager, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
We start our Sunday list with a reminder of a major traffic alert starting tonight:
1ST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE NORTHBOUND CLOSURES: Tonight, 10 pm-5 am, the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side will close for the first of 14 nights of work. (The West Seattle low bridge is open to all 9 pm-5 am, so that’s an alternative.) Full details here.
Now, the list of online church services:
ADMIRAL UCC: Find today’s worship video here.
ALKI UCC: 10 am online service via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.
ALL SOULS SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): Online worship will be viewable here.
BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming for West Seattle here at 9:30 am.
CALVARY CHAPEL: Service info is here, plus 11 am fellowship via Zoom, 6 pm all-church prayer and 7 pm evening worship (info on home page).
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: West Seattle Ward has Sunday services via Zoom at 10 am, one hour long, all welcome. They last an hour. Here’s the link.
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.
FAUNTLEROY UCC: Service at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.
GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.
HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 8:30 am and 10:30 am here. (In-person Masses have resumed too, registration required.)
HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, here. (In-person Saturday Masses have been added – registration required.)
PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: No St. John’s service this Sunday or next,so you are encouraged to watch “The National Cathedral, available from 8:00 a.m. on, or St. Mark’s here in Seattle, at 11:00 a.m.”
TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today is here.
TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.
WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 9 am.
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming at 10:30 am – information’s here, 10:30 am.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 11 am; info here.
Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Also today/tonight:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska)
MURAL WORK BEGINS: During the market, at California/Alaska, stenciling begins for West Seattle Artists for Social Justice‘s Black Lives Matter street mural.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
FREE TO-GO DINNER – NEW LOCATION: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center, SW Roxbury St. & 15th Ave. SW (9600 15th Ave SW)
FREE FOOD TRUCK: 7-8 pm outside Delridge Library, a free vegetarian-food truck hosted by Northwest SHARE. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
(WSB file photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One week ago, political war broke out over the concept of “defunding” the Seattle Police Department.
Days earlier, after a discussion with advocates, seven of the City Council‘s nine members voiced support for the idea of halving the SPD budget. No specific legislation was (or is) proposed, yet. But a week ago Friday, Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s office went public with a letter from Police Chief Carmen Best saying a 50 percent budget cut for her department would, among other things, require drastic action, perhaps closing the Southwest Precinct.
The mayor and chief followed up with a Monday media briefing during which they offered a counterproposal of cuts – for next year.
Two days later, the council discussed “defunding” again while meeting as the Select Budget Committee. With some confusion over what has and hasn’t happened so far, we’re taking a look at where the discussion stands and what happens next – not just via that meeting itself, but via a conversation Friday afternoon with West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee and is a “defunding” supporter.
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