Six months ago tonight, King County announced its first case of COVID-19. Here’s what’s new:

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

*19,361 people have tested positive, 184 more than yesterday

*719 people have died, 2 more than yesterday

*2,223 people have been hospitalized, 1 more than yesterday

*354,713 people have been tested, 5,422 more than yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 18,418/708/2,147/336,589.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 24.6 million cases, 835,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

WE’RE PLATEAUING: So say state health authorities:

Today the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) released the latest statewide situation report, which reflects an overall plateau and slight decline in COVID-19 cases in some areas.

Report findings include:

*The reproductive number (how many new people each COVID-19 patient will infect) remained close to one as of mid-August. The best estimate of the reproductive number at that time was 0.86 in western Washington and 0.91 in eastern Washington. The goal is a number well below one, which would mean COVID-19 transmission is declining.

*We’re seeing a mix of disease activity across the state. Some counties (including Clark and King) are seeing plateaus, while others experience decreases (including Benton, Franklin, Pierce and Yakima) or increases (including Grant, Lewis and Walla Walla). The report includes a comparison of case, hospitalization and mortality data in these three counties to illustrate how much trends are varying in different areas.

See the report here.

ALSO FROM THE STATE: Less info on weekends:

The Washington State Department of Health will end the publication of COVID-19 death counts over the weekends starting the weekend of August 28-30. Regular publishing of COVID-19 death counts will occur Monday through Friday.

While all deaths will continue to be reported, DOH will now add the counts generated from the weekend to the following Monday and Tuesday reports, as part of the regular reporting process for those days.

We don’t know yet how/if that’s going to affect the King County reports from which we pull info nightly.

TESTING SITE OPENS Mondays-Saturdays, you can now get tested on the south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) parking lot.

Go here to make an appointment.

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

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DELRIDGE WAY: 2 chokepoints this weekend

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Along with the south Delridge Way closure we’ve been talking about, the intersection of Delridge and Orchard is also going to be a chokepoint this weekend, SDOT warns in the newest update on the project paving the way for the RapidRide H Line:

o We will be working through the weekend to install a catch basin near the middle of the intersection

o There will be flaggers helping to redirect traffic around the work zone. Please plan accordingly and expect heavy traffic and delays.

Catch-basin work is also the reason for this weekend’s closure of part of Delridge:

We will be closing all lanes of Delridge Way SW from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW beginning tomorrow, August 29. The work will continue through August 30 to allow time for Seattle Public Utilities to complete additional work in the area. Please expect:

• Delridge Way SW to be fully closed from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW

• Local access only to be allowed from SW Henderson St to SW Barton St and 18th Ave to SW Roxbury St

• Restricted turns from side streets onto Delridge Way SW while the closure is in place

• Access to businesses to be maintained at all times

As for the rest of the project zone along Delridge, here’s the plan for the week ahead.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Wondering ‘what ARE they doing up there?’ Here’s the answer

August 28, 2020 4:44 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo: Small “syringes” placed into affected areas, used to channel epoxy into cracks)

You’ve heard that stabilization work is under way on the five-months-closed West Seattle Bridge. So what EXACTLY is being done? SDOT just launched a new weekly email update. From the first one:

Kraemer North America, our contractor for the stabilization work, is on the bridge every Monday through Saturday from 6 AM to 4:30 PM to stabilize the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge. The stabilization work, which includes wrapping weakened areas of the bridge in carbon fiber, adding post-tensioning inside the girders, and epoxy-injecting cracks wider than 0.3mm, is expected to continue at a safe but expedited pace over the course of the next several months.

Next week, the contractor is planning to:

Continue to inspect cracks
Fill cracks with epoxy
Place carbon fiber wrap around recently filled cracks
Begin to install the post tensioning system

During this work, you will see some crews working on top and underneath the bridge. You will also see scaffolding and crews working on platforms suspended under the bridge. There is additional work taking place inside the bridge – including monitoring cracks and preparing for the installation of the additional post-tensioning strands – that you will not be able to see. We do not anticipate any additional traffic impacts from the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge construction work over the next couple weeks.

More bridge-related info is coming up this evening in our report on last night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting. Meantime, if you want to be on SDOT’s bridge-related mailing list, the subscription link is on this page.

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E-RECYCLING: Reminder – nearby drive-up event on Saturday

August 28, 2020 3:29 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

If you can’t wait until The Junction’s big reuse/recycle/shred event next month, 3R Technology in nearby Georgetown invites you to its free event tomorrow:

10 am-2 pm Saturday, 8/29/2020 in Georgetown at 3R Technology

5511 1st Ave South [map]

Finish up that house-cleaning you started during the lockdown. Bring those old household electronics you haven’t laid hands on in years, and the bundles of power adapters to things you don’t own anymore…

Almost all electronics will be accepted: TVs, computers, laptops, printers, cell phones, pretty much anything with a power switch! We will also provide free, confidential data destruction, battery disposal, media shredding, and office furniture disposal.

A few guidelines to keep us all safe:

-Please have all the materials you wish to recycle in your trunk or backseat.

-Please wear your face covering while materials are being retrieved from your vehicle.

-Please stay in your vehicle, unless otherwise instructed to do so.

-Please do not attend if you are sick.

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CRIME WATCH: Park robbery; motorcycle theft; building break-ins; package taken

August 28, 2020 1:03 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four Crime Watch reports:

PARK ROBBERY: We have two reports that a man was attacked and robbed of his wallet and phone while at Lincoln Park Thursday evening – one from a friend the victim contacted afterward, the other from a nearby resident who says suspects were seen running through her neighborhood shortly afterward and dropped items from the victim’s wallet. The victim described the robbers as five “Somali or Ethiopian males in their late teens (who) wore hoodies and masks”; neighbors’ description of who they saw, “wearing sweatpants, hoodies, sneakers, and protective face masks … light brown skin (and) lean.” We are still working to get the police report for additional details.

MOTORCYCLE STOLEN: This happened in Top Hat, but stolen vehicles from one side of the city-county line often turn up on the other:

My husband’s motorcycle (was taken) last night or early this morning from Southside by Vintage apartment complex on SW 112th St.

Call 911 if you see it.

BUILDING BREAK-INS: An Alki resident in the 2300 block of Bonair reports, “In 5 years living here,-nothing. Now in one night, 3 cars broken into, a storage room was broken into and several tenants’ stuff taken, and a bunch of packages. This was reported yesterday morning. I think people in this area need to be aware this is happening. It’s never been an issue before.”

PACKAGE THEFT: From Joseph – “Unfortunately, we were victims of a package theft at our house near Hanford and 37th Ave SW last night at 11:26 pm. Here is a link to the video from our security camera. It looks like the woman walked right up to our front door. The image is not great, but hopefully someone recognizes this individual.”

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LOWMAN BEACH: Tennis court’s replacement could host more than racket sports

August 28, 2020 11:21 am

| 45 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS & Sports

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When the crumbling seawall is removed at Lowman Beach Park, the tennis court that’s a few steps east of it will be taken out too.

But a community effort to replace it elsewhere in the park is proceeding – and the big question, as discussed at an online meeting Wednesday night, is what exactly that replacement could/should offer – maybe more than racket sports.

More than 40 people attended.

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TODAY/TONIGHT: 2 Friday notes

August 28, 2020 9:54 am

| Comments Off on TODAY/TONIGHT: 2 Friday notes

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Two notes for today:

NEW WEST SEATTLE TESTING SITE: As noted in our nightly virus-crisis roundups, today is the first day for the city’s new COVID-19 testing site, which is at Southwest Athletic Complex (despite the city calling it “Chief Sealth High School,” it’s not at the school, it’s across the street, 2801 SW Thistle). Appointments can be booked online here.

DEMONSTRATION: Organizer Nancy‘s weekly announcement:

Please join us to show support for Black and Brown friends, family, and neighbors, to #SayTheirNames, and to remember that people are still suffering injustice. Sadly we have a new name to add to the rolls, that of Jacob Blake. We welcome people to come and discuss why we support Black Lives Matter, and to discuss what defunding the police means and what it might look like.

What: BLM and #SayTheirNames
When: Friday, August 28th, from 5:30-6:30 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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TRAFFIC WATCH: Friday notes + weekend Delridge Way closure reminder

August 28, 2020 6:12 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: It’s Friday, the 158th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

CLOSURES

*Again today, we’re reminding you about this weekend’s closure on Delridge Way as work continues on the RapidRide H Line prep project, From SDOT:

We will be working in the roadway to install a catch basin between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW on Delridge Way SW. This work will require us to operate very large equipment in this area. Considering the area where this work will be done is a narrow stretch of Delridge Way SW with just two lanes of traffic, this work will include a full closure of Delridge Way SW from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW. This closure will take place the weekend of 8/29/2020 and will last up to 2 days.

During this work, SW Roxbury St to SW Henderson St will be local access only, except for a full closure at the work zone between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW. People driving between SW Henderson St and SW Roxbury St will need to detour to 16th Ave SW to get around this work.

It’s important to note that businesses in the area will remain open during this work. If people plan on visiting a business in or around the work area during this time, they will still be able to access Delridge Way SW in areas where local access in maintained. However, there will be no access between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW, local or otherwise.

Meantime, here’s the newest bulletin detailing where else crews are working this week.

*Also this weekend: More pavement repair is planned in The Junction, closing part of 44th SW between Edmunds and Alaska.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

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

Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed.

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 – No recent changes – still reduced service and distancing – details here.

Water Taxi – Still on its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles running – see the schedule here.

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

6:59 AM: Texter says 16th/Holden light is flashing red.

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CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 8/27 roundup

August 27, 2020 11:08 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The sixth month of the pandemic ends with these toplines:

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

*19,177 people have tested positive, up 128 from yesterday

*717 people have died, up 2 from yesterday

*2,222 people have been hospitalized, up 18 from yesterday

*349,291 people have been tested, up 1,637 from yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 18,313/703/2,132/330,224.

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

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 24.4 million cases worldwide, and the U.S. has almost a fourth of them, at 5.8 million. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

NEW WEST SEATTLE TESTING SITE: Tomorrow’s the first day of scheduled testing in the Southwest Athletic Complex lot. You can get an appointment by going here.

NEED FOOD? Also tomorrow, 2-5 pm, free boxes of food are available at Food Lifeline (815 S. 96th).

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

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UPDATE: Seattle Evening March protesters in WS again

August 27, 2020 8:46 pm

| 170 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

8:46 PM: For the eighth time in about a month, the Seattle Evening March protesters are in West Seattle. Last time their daily march was here, they walked from Westwood Village to the Southwest Precinct. Before that, they visited city and county elected officials. Tonight, the group gathered at 44th and Oregon and just headed out of the lot yet. Here’s a stream.

9:04 PM: They are currently on Genesee Hill.

9:20 PM: The march has reached its destination, which they say is the home of Seattle Police Officers Guild president Mike Solan.

9;50 PM: If he’s home, he hasn’t come out to speak with the group (in their previous WS marches, they have talked to three city councilmembers – two of them twice – and the county executive).

9:55 PM: The group has left, headed back toward The Junction.

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LAST CALL: Suggest names for Port of Seattle parks

August 27, 2020 7:51 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

One month ago, we reported on the Port of Seattle’s search for new names for some of its parks – and now just a few days are left until the August 31 deadline. Six Port-owned parks and shoreline access sites along the Duwamish River need new names “that reflect the cultural and environmental history of the area.”

The parks to be renamed are:

Terminal 117 Park
Terminal 107 Park
8th Avenue Street End
Turning Basin #3
Terminal 105 Park
Terminal 108 Park

(T-105 and T-107 are in West Seattle.) You can suggest names three ways:
–Online
-By voice mail – 206-385-9064
-Write on a postcard and text a photo to that same number

The port will choose three finalists for each and open a “public scoring period” in September.

As we mentioned last month, the Duwamish Tribe is asking for support to rename T-107 Park as Ha-ah-poos Duwamish Village Park. This video explains the history:

You can support their request by nominating that name, and supporting it in September.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: 2 business murals

August 27, 2020 5:39 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

More new art on businesses’ walls – first, at Westwood Village:

This one is a work in progress, on the south wall of the QFC building, commissioned by mall manager Madison Marquette, which told WSB that the “theme of this is ‘Love where you live’ and is set to celebrate our communities of West Seattle. It is topography based and modern in its look.” Craig Johnson is the artist.

Meantime, in The Junction:

Monika Lidman sent the photo while artist Kevin A. Moore was painting that wall at Uptown Espresso (Edmunds/California/Erskine) earlier this month. She noted, “He’d already repainted the entire building, then created this giant graphic, mapping it all out with a penciled grid, just like the old-timey sign painters. What I loved most was his attitude! He sees this art project as a way to lift up and encourage the neighborhood. It certainly does!”

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FRIDAY: Hiawatha play-area project briefing

August 27, 2020 3:28 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle parks

Interested in what’s planned for the play-area move at Hiawatha Playfield/Community Center? You can see a briefing during tomorrow morning’s meeting of the city Landmarks Preservation Board‘s Architectural Review Committee. The project is in the board’s jurisdiction because Hiawatha is a landmark, one of the city’s historic Olmsted parks. You can preview the briefing packet here; the meeting, which starts with a public-comment period, is at 8:30 am Friday (August 28th), online – here’s the link. If you plan to comment, register here, or email your comment to erin.doherty@seattle.gov and/or sarah.sodt@seattle.gov. You can also listen to the meeting by calling 206-207-1700 and entering meeting access code 146 522 0524. (Thanks to Deb Barker, who recently completed two terms on the Landmarks Board, for the tip!)

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FOLLOWUP: Suspected hit-run homicide car found in Highland Park

August 27, 2020 1:09 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo)

1:09 PM: On its way to the Seattle Police evidence room as of a short time ago – what’s believed to be one of two vehicles sought in connection with the Monday hit-run homicide near Longfellow Creek that killed 34-year-old Derrick Lacomb. A WSB reader spotted the damaged car along SW Thistle near 13th SW this morning and contacted us as well as police. Here are two photos the reader sent – the covered-over front light was a telltale feature:

Once police got there for a look at the car, they radioed in that it indeed appeared to be the one they were looking for, so they impounded it. We are checking to see if the other one (as seen in Wednesday’s report) has turned up yet.

4:50 PM: Thanks to the texter who pointed out an SPD update we missed, that the other vehicle was found late yesterday.

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IN THE JUNCTION: First bingo winners; Sidewalk Sale reminder

August 27, 2020 12:25 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Junction notes:

BINGO! Last night, Lora and Joanie livestreamed the first drawing. It’s one of two ways to play – these games are with blue paper bingo cards you can get for shopping or dining at participating businesses, with gift cards and prizes. They’ll have live drawings four more times – next one is September 9th. You also can continue playing the ongoing game where squares are checked off as you visit various merchants – that continues into October. Full details here.

SIDEWALK SALE REMINDER: This Saturday, noon-4 pm, mask up and head out to The Junction for a big afternoon of outdoor shopping. Participants are listed here. (And if you’re an early riser, Easy Street Records has a Record Store Day sale starting at 7 am!)

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FOLLOWUP: Admiral Way sinkhole patched, and what’s next

August 27, 2020 11:47 am

| 16 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

11:47 AM: For everybody taking bets on how long it would be until the newest Admiral Way sinkhole (at Stevens) got filled, we just went over to check, and it has already been patched, still coned off for now. We are inquiring with SDOT about whether this is the extent of planned repairs or whether something more permanent is planned.

2:29 PM: From SDOT’s Kari Tupper:

Crews put in a temporary cold mix patch on Admiral Way. Please see the attached photo.

We will be putting steel plates down on top of it this afternoon, while Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) runs a camera (CCTV) into the sewer pipe to ensure that there aren’t any issues with the pipe leading to erosion and a sink hole on the surface. SPU is expected to do the CCTV work today and we’ll have the review of the video (i.e. status of the pipe) sometime tomorrow. Depending on crew availability, we’re hoping to fill this permanently and pave it next week, assuming that the pipe doesn’t need any repairs.

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TODAY/TONIGHT: 3 Thursday events

August 27, 2020 9:58 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Raccoon seen along a seawall, photographed by Stewart L.)

3 events, two in-person and online:

OFFICE EQUIPMENT SALE: From Expedition Trips:

Our small West Seattle travel agency has moved to a remote work model and we are having a “garage sale” on Thursday August 27 and Friday August 28 from 9 AM-2 PM! Great deals on lots of office equipment (monitors, furniture, and office supplies) – perfect for small home offices or homeschooling workstations!

The sale will take place in the alley behind our office building, which is located at 5932 California Ave SW (between Raymond and Juneau). Parking can be found on these two side streets, and masks will be requested out of respect for our staff and other visitors.

STREETCORNER DEMONSTRATION: As announced:

Black Lives Matter sign waving

Thursday, Aug 27th, 4 to 6 pm, 16th and Holden

Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. Scott at PR Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.

TRANSPORTATION COALITION: More guests added to the lineup for tonight’s 6:30 pm online meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition – in addition to U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, WSTC will also hear from/talk with an SDOT team about the bridge, and Port Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck. Connection info is in our preview published Wednesday.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Thursday watch, 23rd week of West Seattle Bridge closure

August 27, 2020 6:16 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:16 AM: It’s Thursday, the 157th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK/CLOSURES

*First, another reminder about this weekend’s closure on Delridge Way as work continues on the RapidRide H Line prep project, From SDOT:

We will be working in the roadway to install a catch basin between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW on Delridge Way SW. This work will require us to operate very large equipment in this area. Considering the area where this work will be done is a narrow stretch of Delridge Way SW with just two lanes of traffic, this work will include a full closure of Delridge Way SW from SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW. This closure will take place the weekend of 8/29/2020 and will last up to 2 days.

During this work, SW Roxbury St to SW Henderson St will be local access only, except for a full closure at the work zone between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW. People driving between SW Henderson St and SW Roxbury St will need to detour to 16th Ave SW to get around this work.

It’s important to note that businesses in the area will remain open during this work. If people plan on visiting a business in or around the work area during this time, they will still be able to access Delridge Way SW in areas where local access in maintained. However, there will be no access between SW Barton St and 18th Ave SW, local or otherwise.

Meantime, here’s the newest bulletin detailing where crews are working this week and how that affects traffic/access.

*Also this weekend: More pavement repair is planned in The Junction, closing part of 44th SW between Edmunds and Alaska.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

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

Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:

The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed.

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 – No recent changes – still reduced service and distancing – details here.