day : 17/08/2020 10 results

CORONAVIRUS: Monday 8/17 roundup

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| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here are tonight’s toplines in the virus crisis:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:

*17,824 people have tested positive, 181 more than yesterday’s total

*691 people have died, 4 more than yesterday’s total

*2,109 people have been hospitalized, 13 more than yesterday’s total

*322,766 people have been tested, 3,720 more than yesterday’s total*

One week ago, the totals were 16,749/676/2,043/337,664.

TESTING TOTALS DISCLAIMER: For the fifth day, the county’s daily summary includes this:

On Aug. 13, the state Department of Health provided an updated negative test total which is part of our daily outbreak summary. In this update, the negative test total for King County was reduced by 38,191. The current number of tests reflects the number of unique individuals tested. We hope to update our counts to also include the number of tests performed by the week of 8/17. Please note that this issue primarily affects negative lab results over the last several weeks, but does not impact the total number of positive tests.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

NEW START DATE: Seattle Public Schools announced tonight that the new school year will start two days later – September 4th – for most students.

REOPENING TOMORROW: Tuesday’s the first day the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is welcoming members back to its Triangle facility. In case you missed last week’s announcement:

We are excited to welcome you back to the West Seattle YMCA beginning Tuesday, August 18, by reservation. In accordance with the Governor’s Safe Start guidelines, we have adjusted available services, the maximum branch capacity, and sanitization requirements to ensure your safety and that of our staff. Please see (here) for details on what you can expect when you return to the Y. Fauntleroy YMCA will remain closed to continue to serve our summer camp families.

In the meantime, we want you to know that we sincerely appreciate you for staying with us, and we can’t wait to see you soon!

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

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Seattle Public Schools start date delayed to September 4th

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools just announced a slightly later start date for the 2020-2021 year: Friday, September 4th, with pre-K and kindergarten still starting Tuesday, September 8th, as planned. The announcement:

Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools have reached a tentative agreement on a professional development plan for the 2020-21 school year.

To ensure a strong start, school will begin on Friday, September 4. This will provide all educators with six (6) full days of training on common learning platforms, culturally responsive instruction in a remote setting, racial equity, and best practices in remote instruction to ensure students have the best education possible.

“I am really grateful to the hard-working bargaining team and our educators. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure that every child can achieve in any learning environment. These additional days of professional development will help us meet that commitment,” stated Superintendent Denise Juneau.

“This agreement gives us additional time and training to improve our remote education practices and is the first step in ensuring a more equitable and inclusive system,” said Jennifer Matter, president of the Seattle Education Association. “We’re looking forward to being back with our students and doing everything we can to meet their needs, particularly those who face the most barriers in remote learning.”

The first day of preschool and kindergarten will not change. Preschool and kindergarten will begin on Tuesday, September 8.

The School Board will need to approve the revised 2020-21 calendar.

If you want to hear more from the superintendent, remember her next “town hall” is Tuesday at 4:30 pm.

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FOLLOWUP: City heating-oil tax pushed back one year

August 17, 2020 7:17 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The city’s new heating-oil tax – approved last year in hopes people would be encouraged to switch to cleaner heat – won’t take effect for at least another year. The City Council voted this afternoon to push it back because of the pandemic economic crunch. The 23-cents-a-gallon tax was supposed to start next month; instead, the council wants the Office of Sustainability and Environment to report next June on a number of related issues including “feedback from key stakeholders about whether the effective date of the Heating Oil Tax should be September 1, 2021, or if an additional delay is recommended due to economic conditions (and) the status of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The city estimates about 17,000 households still use heating oil. Much of the tax proceeds are supposed to go toward covering the cost of conversion for low-income households and expanding rebates available to others.

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BIZNOTE: After a year, Ross finally uncloaks at Westwood Village

August 17, 2020 5:15 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks for the tips! One year and one month after we first reported an early-stage plan for Ross Dress For Less to take over the ex-Barnes & Noble space at Westwood Village, there’s literally a sign it’s really happening. The WWV signs on Barton and Trenton both now show Ross’s logo with “Coming Soon”; last week a reader reported some activity in the otherwise-empty space (which itself has no signage, yet). Ross didn’t comment last time we sought info about the plan, but we’ll try again.

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DEVELOPMENT: Land-use approval for second Harbor Avenue self-storage facility

August 17, 2020 3:30 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

Two weeks after a new self-storage facility opened on Harbor Avenue, the land-use approval is in for another one blocks away. This one, now carrying the address 2328 Harbor SW, is for a 3-story facility at the site where fire gutted a vacant building back in June:

(WSB photo, June)

The entity that bought the industrial-zoned site for $3.5 million last November is associated with an investment group that owns self-storage facilities in multiple states; some are under the brand Extra Space Storage. The city land-use approval opens a 2-week period for appeals; this notice explains how.

SIDE NOTE: Eleven years ago, this site got land-use approval for a different kind of project, a mixed-use complex that was to be called West Bay.

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SCOOTERS: White Center arrivals; Seattle discussion details

August 17, 2020 1:19 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news | White Center

Suddenly, scooter-sharing is front and center, after a while on the back-burner.

WHITE CENTER PILOT PROGRAM BEGINS: We were in White Center as Lime delivered its first scooters this morning, on the first day of its pilot program, following Friday night’s announcement. More on our partner site White Center Now.

Meantime, Seattle is suddenly gearing up for its own launch, and we know more about the West Seattle component:

SEATTLE DISCUSSION WEDNESDAY: That is a page from the slide deck accompanying the agenda for Wednesday morning’s City Council Transportation Committee meeting, at which the city’s long-proposed scooter pilot will be discussed. Though it’s been in the works since long before the West Seattle Bridge closure, it’s now being partly spun as a WS mobility solution. The discussion of the overall plan and accompanying legislation is set for the committee’s 9:30 am Wednesday (August 19th) meeting; the agenda’s cover page explains how and when to sign up for public comment, as well as how to watch/listen to the meeting. The slide deck linked above, meantime, answers some FAQs such as where you can ride/park them.

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WHALE ALERT: Orcas passing West Seattle

August 17, 2020 10:59 am

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| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(Added: Photo by Danny McMillin)

Transient killer whales are back in our area! Kersti Muul sends word they’re southbound, off Alki Point right now.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Extra day for 44th SW work north of Edmunds

August 17, 2020 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:54 AM: Just received from SDOT:

Due to some unforeseen challenges at the 44th Ave SW and SW Edmunds street paving project, the crew will need to work an extra day today, Monday 8/17, (until) 7 pm. The same restrictions will be in place on this block of 44th Ave SW (no thru traffic and no Metro traffic, but local access allowed.) After Monday, the crew will resume the schedule on the flyer for the next 2 weekends.

The crew worked at least 12 hours on Saturday to manage the unforeseen issues and minimize traffic impacts and local disruptions to the extent possible. They will finish paving the curb panels today, but they won’t be able to open those curb panels up to vehicles until Tuesday night or Wednesday morning in order to allow sufficient cure time. The travel lane panels should be opened Monday night since they were paved on Saturday.

The note didn’t mention whether Saturday’s gas-line break factored into the “unforeseen challenges”; we have a followup question out.

10:44 AM: We just went over to look. 44th is currently open except for part of the southbound lane right before SW Edmunds, and even there, one lane is open, with flagger help.

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Remembering Joyce J. Wiseman, 1930-2020

August 17, 2020 9:00 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Joyce J. Wiseman, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Joyce Jeanette Wiseman was born in Madison, South Dakota on July 28, 1930, to parents Orville and Mary Johnson. Joyce passed away peacefully on August 5, 2020 at Aegis Living in West Seattle.

Joyce graduated from Madison High School, where she met her sweetheart and future husband Austin (Cal) Wiseman. Cal and Joyce married May 23, 1950 in Madison, South Dakota.

Cal was soon stationed in Colorado Springs for the South Dakota National Guard, and Joyce moved there, where their first child (Paula) was born. After his service, they returned to South Dakota, where son Daniel was born.

Cal and Joyce moved their growing family to Seattle in 1953, where their four other sons (Stephen, Craig, Scott, and Mark), were born. They were the founders and former owners of the still-operating Wiseman Appliance of West Seattle. Joyce was a devout Catholic, and a longtime parishioner of Holy Family and later St. Bernadette Parish. Joyce and Cal were well-known throughout, and truly loved being a part of, the West Seattle community. She had a warm smile and kind greetings for everyone she met. Joyce loved gatherings with family and friends, travel, and taking in the ever-changing views from the Alki condo, as well as spending time at the lake property in Shelton.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, and Cal, her husband of 68 years. She is survived by daughter Paula (Billy) Small of Renton, sons: Daniel of Seattle, Stephen of Kirkland, Craig of Seattle, Scott of Seattle, and Mark of Des Moines. In addition, Joyce is survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Joyce will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and loved ones.

A private family funeral mass will be held at St. Bernadette’s Parish in Burien. A private interment will follow at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Please share your memories of Joyce by visiting emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Joyce-Wiseman.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the family hopes to host a reception and celebration of Joyce’s life with family and friends in the future.

In lieu of sending flowers, remembrance donations may be sent to St. Bernadette Parish, Alzheimer’s Association, and Children’s Hospital, and would be appreciated by the family.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Aegis Living of West Seattle and the folks at Kline Galland hospice for the kind care and dignity afforded Joyce during her final life chapter.

– Care & Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Monday watch, 22nd week of West Seattle Bridge closure

August 17, 2020 6:07 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: It’s Monday, the 147th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK/CLOSURES

*Major work continues along Delridge Way for the RapidRide H Line prep project – here’s the bulletin detailing where crews will be working this week and how that will affect traffic/access.

*The 1st Ave. S. Bridge work is scheduled to continue tonight with another NB closure, 10 pm-5 am.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):