month : 08/2020 303 results

Here’s what’s new in the virus crisis:

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

*15,634 people have tested positive, 124 more than yesterday’s total

*656 people have died, 7 more than yesterday’s total

*1,983 people have been hospitalized, 20 more than yesterday’s total

*304,242 people have been tested, 3,713 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 14.619/643/1,896/279,762.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

NEW GUIDANCE: The governor didn’t have a briefing today, but did issue this:

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced updates for Phase 2 and Phase 3 fitness guidance as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. The guidance is effective August 10, 2020.

Updates include:

Clarification on when facial coverings are required in indoor fitness facilities
Changes to calculation of occupancy limits for large facilities
Allowance for fitness and sports training other than group fitness classes

Read the full fitness guidance document here.

NEED FOOD? As the pandemic economic crunch continues, so does help to prevent hunger. Free boxes of food are available at Food Lifeline‘s South Park-area HQ on Wednesday and Friday again this week, 2 pm-5 pm (815 S. 96th).

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

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: Gone fishing!

August 3, 2020 7:47 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Before we get back to The News – a bird break! Three beach photos:

The Bald Eagle above was photographed by Raul Baron; the next two photos are by Larry Gilpin – an Osprey:

And a Great Blue Heron:

(Sorry, we don’t know what The Catch Of The Day was!)

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE: Here’s how to view Wednesday’s Community Task Force meeting

August 3, 2020 5:59 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL MONDAY POST: Your next chance to see what’s up with the four-months-closed West Seattle Bridge is this Wednesday (August 5th), when the advisory Community Task Force next meets, noon-2:30 pm. We requested the meeting link from SDOT today so you can make your plan early if interested. Note that it will include breakout discussions 12:45-1:45 pm, and those links will be different, but they’re not available yet. The meeting will start and end at this link; if you would rather listen in by phone, the number will be 408-418-9388, access code 146 147 9496. Wednesday’s topics will include early results from the just-concluded Reconnect West Seattle surveys; SDOT says it received almost 17,000 responses.

ADDED TUESDAY: Here are the links for the breakout groups – A here, B here.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Camping gear stolen

August 3, 2020 3:29 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

WSB readers have done a great job lately finding stolen items reported here – documents, a backpack, even a car. So maybe you can find some of what a thief took from Makenzie:

I wanted to report a break-in this morning on 46th and Walker. My car was broken into, and about 400 dollars worth of camping equipment was stolen. I wanted to put the word out in case anyone in the neighborhood finds the contents somewhere, or knows anything about it. The stolen property includes; a REI hiking backpack (around 25 liters), two Nalgene water bottles, a pair of down-filled pants (Mont Bell brand), a Patagonia rain jacket, and a map of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

If you find any of this, let us know and we’ll connect you.

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BIZNOTE: Harbor Avenue’s first self-storage facility opening

August 3, 2020 1:50 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Five years after we first reported on the plan for a self-storage facility at 3252 Harbor Avenue SW, it’s about to open. Everett-headquartered West Coast Self-Storage says its West Seattle facility officially opens Wednesday (August 5th). It was designed by Magellan Architects of Redmond and built by Issaquah-based Seacon Construction, with 857 storage units ranging in size from 5 x 5 to 10 x 25, and its ground level has a drive-in bay. The company says it has a 40-camera security system, plus a retail store selling moving boxes and packing materials. The company says it “plans to offer U-Haul moving truck rental services in the future as well.”

This is the first self-storage facility completed on Harbor Avenue SW; another is proposed at 2316 Harbor (the site where an old building was gutted by fire in June). There also had been a proposal at 2501 Harbor SW, but the file doesn’t show any activity on that since 2018.

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ELECTION 2020: Vote by tomorrow night!

August 3, 2020 12:01 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Reminder – tomorrow’s the voting deadline for the August 4th primary election. If you use a dropbox, you have to get your ballot into one by 8 pm Tuesday; if you use postal mail, your ballot must be postmarked by tomorrow. (The nearest dropboxess are in The Junction, High Point, White Center, and South Park.) What are you voting on? Quick summary: No local ballot measures; among candidates, our area’s State House representatives, Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon, are both running for re-election unopposed. Our area’s U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal has four primary opponents. The ballot also includes statewide offices – at the top of the ballot, Gov. Jay Inslee has 35 primary opponents.

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VIDEO: City Council continues considering police cuts/changes

August 3, 2020 10:39 am

| 21 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle politics

10:39 AM: You can click in to the live Seattle Channel stream above to watch the City Council, meeting as the Select Budget Committee, continue what they started Friday afternoon – considering proposed 2020 budget amendments that would affect the Seattle Police Department. According to what budget chair Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said in the briefing meeting before this one, they are starting (after public comment) with Amendment #40 in this packet.

The meeting could run until 1 pm. No voting is planned today – the amendment votes are expected on Wednesday, when the budget meeting will start at 11 am (which means public-comment signup will start that day at 9 am). The final votes on these and other 2020 city-budget changes are planned next Monday (August 10th).

11:06 AM: The public-comment period has ended (20+ commenters, all but four voicing support for defunding), and the amendment discussion has begun.

1:12 PM: The budget meeting is wrapping up; we will replace the video window above with the archived video when it’s available. One change announced: The Wednesday budget meeting will start at 10 am after all (which means 8 am signups for public comment).

4:09 PM: Video added at top.

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YOU CAN HELP: Neighborhood House diaper drive

August 3, 2020 9:48 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| High Point | How to help | West Seattle news

Announced by Neighborhood House, which serves many local families from its center in High Point:

Neighborhood House, a community organization that serves 16,000 people in King County, is hosting a diaper drive to meet a critical need.

Did you know that diapers are not covered by public benefits such as WIC or food stamps, even though they are essential items for families with young children?

We live in a region that is powered by one-day deliveries and bulk purchases but the reality is that many people cannot afford and do not have access to these services.

Join Neighborhood House in making sure families and children have diapers right now.

$25 covers 2 weeks of diapers for one child.
$50 covers 1 month of diapers for one child.
$150 covers 3 months of diapers for one child.

You can even host your own campaign. Reach out to arturom@nhwa.org to learn more. To make a donation, please visit www.nhwa.org.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Monday watch, 20th week of West Seattle Bridge closure

August 3, 2020 6:16 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:16 AM: It’s Monday, the 133rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK/CLOSURES

*The Delridge RapidRide H Line project continues major work along Delridge Way, with weekend closures ahead – here’s a look ahead to what’s planned this week.

*Another 1st Ave. S. Bridge northbound closure is scheduled tonight, 10 pm-5 am. The West Seattle low bridge is open to all traffic during those hours.

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 – Still reduced service and distancing – details here.

Water Taxi – On its “winter” schedule, with 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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CORONAVIRUS: Sunday 8/2 roundup

August 2, 2020 11:48 pm

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| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Wrapping up the first weekend of August, here are tonight’s virus-crisis updates:

KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:

*15.510 people have tested positive, up 111 from yesterday

*649 people have died, unchanged from yesterday

*1,963 people have been hospitalized, up 6 from yesterday

*300,529 people have been tested, up 2,356 from yesterday

One week ago, the totals were 14,433/640/1,891/271,301.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 18 million cases and more than 689,000 deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.

FOOD FOR KIDS/TEENS: Seattle Public Schools continues meal distribution at its designated sites 11 am-1 pm weekdays, as well as distribution by bus – full details here.

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

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PROTEST: Evening March in West Seattle again, in Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s neighborhood

August 2, 2020 9:44 pm

| 46 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

(WSB photo)

9:44 PM: The Evening March – a group that protests somewhere in Seattle every night – is back in West Seattle for the fourth time in 10 nights. They’ve gone to the homes of Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Lorena González and County Executive Dow Constantine; all three came out to talk with the group. This time they’re in North Delridge, talking with Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who chairs the Select Budget Committee, which meets again tomorrow morning to continue discussing police-budget cuts.

10:21 PM: They’re still talking with her – you can see it live here. The protest leaders expressed disappointment that the council isn’t proposing a full 50 percent cut for this year; Mosqueda says they’re trying to do what they can but it does not seem possible, while she has reminded them that the budget cycle for next year starts in six weeks.

10:40 PM: The conversation has wrapped up after almost an hour. Tomorrow’s Budget Committee meeting is set to start around 10 am; the potential SPD-budget amendments, including the ones discussed Friday, are here. Online registration for public comment (via web or phone) starts at 8 am; the process is explained here.

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UPDATE: Condo fire in Westwood

August 2, 2020 7:35 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

(Photo by Guy, from comments)

7:35 PM: Big Seattle Fire response for what’s described as a condo fire at 24th/Barton. It’s in a third-floor unit. Updates to come.

(WSB photos from here, unless otherwise credited)

7:39 PM: Firefighters have radioed that the fire is under control.

7:45 PM: Though the fire in the unit itself is described as under control, firefighters also report it’s spread to the attic/eaves.

7:47 PM: Our crew reports the building is 9016 25th SW, across 25th from Westwood Village’s southeast parking lot.

7:52 PM: Photos added. The fire is now described as “tapped” in both the unit and the attic.

(Photo by Jim Clarke)

8:02 PM: Still some concern focused on the top of the building, our crew reports. So far, no report of injuries.

8:14 PM: SFD confirms to our crew that no one was hurt. The cause is under investigation.

11:30 AM MONDAY: We just checked with SFD; the cause has not yet been determined.

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FOLLOWUP: After Alki shooting, precinct commander’s message to the community

August 2, 2020 5:38 pm

| 112 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Reader photo, early today)

Early this morning, we covered the Alki incident in which two 19-year-old men were shot and wounded. This afternoon, we’ve received a message from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman, not so much about the incident’s specifics as about the state of local policing:

Dear West Seattle Neighbors (and Alki Residents, specifically):

As reported on WSB, there was a drive by shooting on Alki early this morning. Following a response from patrol officers, the Gang Unit responded to initiate a follow up investigation. The most recent information about the incident can be found here, on the SPD Blotter.

I am concerned about a recent uptick in shootings in West Seattle and have made violent crime–and gun violence–one of my top priorities. I have directed my officers to deter gun crimes whenever possible, take illegal guns off the street, make arrests for gun crimes, and conduct thorough investigations in shots fired incidents.

I also want to be transparent about SPD’s current resource situation. It is not unusual to have a total of eight officers working in all of West Seattle at any given time–usually four on the west side and four on the east. And during our most busy times, all of those officers are literally running from 911 call to 911 call, based on priority. I recently had to make the difficult decision to eliminate the full-time bicycle squad in West Seattle and to incorporate the officers back into the 911 call response rotation.

Last week I spoke with a frustrated resident who called the non-emergency number several times about some issues at the Don Armeni Boat Ramp, seemingly without a response. I did a little research to find that his call held for almost an hour because officers were busy responding to a rape, shots fired, threats to harm with a suspect on scene, a stolen car, and a stolen license plate. Once officers were finally free and able to respond, they arrived within 16 minutes of being dispatched.

I hear often from residents who make a request to have an officer stationed on their block or in their neighborhood. We simply do not have the resources to fulfill those requests. In past years, SPD had the budget to have officers work emphasis patrols in certain designated areas–like Alki–on an overtime basis. Unfortunately, our budget no longer permits us to do that, and we must work with the available on duty resources.

Please continue to call 911 for emergencies, the non-emergency number for all other complaints (206-625-5011), and officers will be dispatched according to priority and availability. I also encourage you to reach out to the Crime Prevention Coordinator assigned to the Southwest Precinct, Jennifer Danner, about crime prevention strategies. I also encourage you to join SPD in working with other city agencies–like SDOT and Parks–on problem-solving approaches (like the creation of Stay Healthy Streets) that may curb vehicle and pedestrian traffic that lead to other problems.

We clarified with Capt. Grossman that by “uptick in shootings” he included the recent non-injury shots-fired incidents. This is the first injury shooting incident since he took over the precinct a month ago.

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DELRIDGE PROJECT: Road work for the coming week, including closures and night work

August 2, 2020 5:04 pm

| Comments Off on DELRIDGE PROJECT: Road work for the coming week, including closures and night work

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

The Delridge road work to pave the way for RapidRide H Line continues. Here’s what SOOT says is ahead this week, in all three zones:

Upcoming closures

Temporary weekend street closure at SW Genesee St and Delridge Way SW
For the weekends of August 7-9 and August 14-16, please expect no through access to Delridge Way SW from
SW Genesee St while crews reconstruct half of the intersection

SW Genesee St will be closed between 25th Ave SW and Delridge Way SW

The closure will be from Friday at 9 PM to Monday at 5 AM and work hours will not be past 10 PM
Local access to SW Genesee St will be maintained from SW Avalon Way, drivers will not be able to cut through to Delridge Way SW

Drivers will need to detour at SW Andover St or SW Findlay St to get to and from Delridge Way SW

Route 50 will detour from Delridge Way SW to SW Avalon Way. Please visit King County Metro’s website for more information on rider alerts.

Sidewalk closures and detours between SW Orchard St and Sylvan Way SW

The sidewalk on the west side of Delridge Way SW is closed for construction. Please follow posted detour signs.

People walking will need to cross at the marked intersections at SW Myrtle St or SW Holden St

Access to some driveways at or near the SW Orchard St intersection may be impacted. Businesses will be open during construction and access will maintained at other driveways.

Rescheduled to the weekend of August 7 – August 9

Driveway closure for the northern parking lot at the Delridge Community Center

Next weekend, we will begin demolishing and rebuilding the driveway into the parking lot entrance between SW Genesee St and SW Oregon St

People driving will not be able to access the parking lot for several weekends starting August 8. You will be able to access the parking lot on weekdays.

Please plan to park in the southern parking lot near SW Alaska St during our closure

You may access this parking lot by taking 26th Ave SW to SW Alaska St

Overnight waterline improvements at SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St

We will work overnight in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities to connect pipes at the SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St intersections on Delridge Way SW from Thursday, August 6 to Saturday, August 8

You can expect pipe cutting, steel plates, and trucks near SW Genesee St and SW Edmunds St

Ongoing closures

Temporary driveway closures near 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW

Expect intermittent delays to driveway access. Driveways will be covered with a steel plate when work is not occurring.

We will work our way south towards SW Thistle St in the next few weeks. Properties will be notified in advance of this work occurring.

Temporary access restrictions at 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St near the Longfellow Creek Greenspace

We are excavating a trench across 24th Ave SW/SW Graham St to complete utility work in the roadway

Access to 24th Ave SW, 25th Ave SW and SW Graham St will be interrupted during this work

If you need to exit at 24th Ave SW onto Delridge Way SW, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes to exit and enter your street during working hours

You can coordinate with crews onsite to have a steel plate placed over the work area as needed to allow access

New work by zone

Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)

Paving work from SW Charlestown St to SW Dakota St
Foundation and sidewalk work will begin Monday August 8

Demolition work from SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St
Starting next week, we will be paving the roadway on the west side of Delridge Way SW between SW Alaska St, SW Oregon St, and SW Genesee St

Driveways between SW Alaska St to SW Genesee St will be temporarily impacted while we complete this work
Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)

We will be demolishing the sidewalk between SW Orchard and SW Sylvan St on the west side of the street. Please follow posted detour signs at SW Myrtle St

Questions or concerns? The project team is at DelridgeTransit@Seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.. You can also sign up for texts about last-minute changes, especially night work and closures – text DELRIDGE to 33222.

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Camp Second Chance updates from August meeting of Community Advisory Committee

August 2, 2020 3:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Myers Way | West Seattle news

Just wrapped up online: The August meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for Camp Second Chance (map), West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment. No major news, but here are the toplines:

CAMP UPDATES: Site coordinator Eric Pattin said the camp has 56 residents now, 17 women, 39 men, including three new residents; one person recently exited to housing. New case manager Mario said several other residents are about to leave for housing, too. … Sound Foundations Northwest‘s tiny-house building on the site, with distancing and other health precautions, continues. The camp itself has been fully converted to tiny houses, so the newly built ones go to other encampments. … Asked if the camp has any needs, Pattin suggested wipes, disinfectant spray, and disposable masks would be helpful. He was also asked about COVID testing; still no positive tests, and no residents with symptoms, Pattin said.

COMMITTEE MEMBER UPDATES: Chair Willow Fulton said that aside from the city work next to the camp, things have been quiet.

That site is being used to filter wastewater from Seattle Public Utilities work – we inquired too after it was first brought up as a mystery last month, and the explanation from SPU was that it’s being used as a “decant” facility:

SPU Source Control conducts annual storm drainage line cleaning within the Lower Duwamish Waterway to remove accumulated pollutants from our pipes prior to these pollutants reaching the river. The work is conducted by a contractor using a vacuum-like Vactor truck and high pressure water hoses to rinse and capture materials from inside of the pipes. The material removed from these pipes is trucked to a decant facility where the solids are separated from the water used for cleaning by screening larger particles and settling out finer material.

The solid material is trucked off site for disposal at appropriate solid waste landfills and the liquids are sampled to ensure they meet allowable discharge limits, then disposed of to the sanitary sewer system.

Fulton was told it would be removed by fall, but the CAC agreed they have some environmental concerns to ask the city about … Elsewhere along Myers Way, some illegal dumping has continued and neighbors keep reporting it to the city … Committee member Grace Stiller says the project to remove noxious weeds near the camp “is going really, really well … making amazing progress.” Some wetland willows will be planted after the clearing is complete – that’s a “native butterfly plant,” Stiller said. … Aaron Garcia from the White Center Community Development Association and Judi Carr from nearby Arrowhead Gardens were in attendance too.

CITY: No city rep in attendance for a second consecutive monthly meeting.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS: An Arrowhead Gardens resident wondered how COVID prevention is going; Pattin explained their procedures, including mask-wearing. The resident also said there’s a problem with streetlight outages along Myers Way. … There was also some discussion about the lack of a safe crossing on Myers Way in the camp vicinity.

NEXT MEETING: Since the regularly scheduled “first Sunday” will be during the Labor Day weekend, the CAC might cancel or move it – that’ll be announced later this month.

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Remembering Mark Hagstrand Thomas, 1950-2020

August 2, 2020 12:40 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are sharing this remembrance:

Mark H. Thomas died July 27, 2020, after fighting a courageous battle with frontotemporal dementia, a debilitating disease that attacks the spirit and body.

He was born April 27, 1950 in Munich, Germany as a military dependent. Growing up, his family was stationed in various places including Salzburg, Okinawa, and Frankfort before returning to West Seattle in 1961.

He attended Madison and West Seattle High graduating in 1968. In 1972 he completed a BS in Geology from Western Washington College. The majority of career was in the moving and storage industry, retiring as the General Manager for Continental Van Lines in 2013. Mark loved to cook, fish, and, especially, entertain friends and family.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of 33 years, brother Raymond (Terry) Thomas, daughter Nica Tovey, and 2 grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to your favorite charity. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

(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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ALSO TODAY: Watch Crew Dragon splashdown with Alice

August 2, 2020 10:40 am

| Comments Off on ALSO TODAY: Watch Crew Dragon splashdown with Alice

| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

One more event for today: West Seattle skywatching expert/educator Alice Enevoldsen is planning an online viewing event for the SpaceX/Crew Dragon splashdown. It’s scheduled around 11:48 am our time, with Alice starting about half an hour before that. You need to register to get the link – info is on her site, here.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: Traffic, tide, online services, more…

August 2, 2020 7:33 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle religion

(Pileated Woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

We start our Sunday list with two traffic reminders:

SYLVAN WAY ROAD WORK: 9 am-4 pm, SDOT crews are scheduled to be out doing tree work, with traffic down to one lane at times.

1ST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE NORTHBOUND CLOSURES: Tonight, 10 pm-5 am, the third week of deck-replacement work begins on the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side, which will fully close. (The West Seattle low bridge is open to all 9 pm-5 am, so that’s your alternative.) Full details here.

Now, the list of online church services:

ADMIRAL UCC: Today’s worship video is viewable 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 will be here.

GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.

HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.

HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service is 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: Viewable on YouTube: All-Ages Sunday School at 10 am, Morning Prayer at 10:15 am (here’s today’s bulletin), Kids’ Club at 11:30 am.

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.

WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 6 pm; info here.

Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Also today/tonight:

LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.1 feet at 10:41 am.

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)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)

CAMP 2ND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2 pm, the monthly meeting for updates and questions about the city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle. Community welcome – two ways to connect:
–This link
-By phone, 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 858 5523 4269
Password: 9701

FREE TO-GO DINNER: 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)

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UPDATE: 2 hurt in Alki drive-by shooting

August 2, 2020 2:55 am

| 188 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Reader photos)

2:55 AM: Thanks for the tips. 2 people have been taken to the hospital after what police call a drive-by shooting, near 55th/Alki. We just got here to try to find out more.

(WSB photos – this one & next two)

3:08 AM: Two blocks of Alki are shut down while officers investigate. The victims were in a pickup truck into which bullets were fired; casings were found in the street.

3:33 AM: Added more photos.

Police say the victims were both men, one shot in the chest, the other in the arm, both expected to survive. No suspect description yet. This happened during what already was a busy night at Alki, as residents were telling us around midnight – from multiple illegal beach fires to fireworks to stunt-driving in the street (added – reader photo of busy beach shortly before the shooting, hours after closing time):

Police and SFD had been dispatched previously. Also of note: This is the first Alki shooting since February (the suspect in that case remains jailed, awaiting trial).

10:30 AM: SFD says both victims are 19 years old.

5:38 PM: We’ve just published a message from the Southwest Precinct’s new commander, Capt. Kevin Grossman:.

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CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 8/1 roundup

August 1, 2020 10:15 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

We have begun the sixth calendar month of the pandemic. Here are tonight’s virus-crisis toplines:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:

*15,399 people have tested positive, 202 more than yesterday

*649 people have died, 2 more than yesterday

*1,957 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday

*298,173 people have been tested, 3,350 more than yesterday

One week ago, those totals were 14,255/640/1,877/270,739.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

…BUT REMEMBER THE DATA DELAY: In last night’s roundup, we mentioned a state data delay. Here’s the latest update from the state Health Department:

Our data experts continue to work on the data processing issue reported yesterday which resulted in duplicate records in our COVID-19 database. We were unable to update the dashboard yesterday, however we anticipate updating the DOH dashboard this evening with data from yesterday and today.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 17.7 million people have tested positive, and more than 684,000 have died. Most cases: U.S., Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa – same as the past 2 weeks. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.

ANOTHER COVID CLOSURE: For the second consecutive day, a local restaurant has announced a temporary closure after an employee’s positive COVID-19 test. This time, Mioposto Admiral.

MAYOR VS. COUNCIL: It’s not just “the other Washington” where politicians are fighting over pandemic relief. This morning, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced she had vetoed a City Council-approved bill that would have spent much of the so-called “rainy-day fund” (to be paid back next year from proceeds of the new “high-earners” business tax) on economic relief for people, busnesses, and nonprofits. Here’s her letter announcing the veto, arguing the city already has faced multiple emergencies this year (including the West Seattle Bridge closure) and needs to be ready for more; here’s the text of the bill. The council’s budget chair, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, said the bill “provided $86 million to support Seattle small businesses and families through rental assistance, food assistance, support for child care, and flexible funding to support small businesses.” It was passed unanimously, which means the council is likely to override the veto, but they have to wait five days before bringing it up again.

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

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Mioposto Admiral closed after staff member tests positive for COVID-19

August 1, 2020 7:32 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Earthquake | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tip: Mioposto‘s Admiral restaurant has announced online, and via a note on its door, that it’s temporarily closed:

Our Admiral location is temporarily closed as one of our employees has tested positive for the coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution, we will be closing the restaurant for a few days while our entire staff gets tested and awaits results. We are having a professional cleaning crew completely disinfect all surfaces later today to ensure a safe reopening. While aiming for a Tuesday reopening, the safety and health of our staff and our community is our top priority and we continue to closely monitor the situation. Thank you for trusting us, we do not take it lightly, and we will see you soon. Take care of yourselves and each other!

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BIZNOTES: Beveridge Place’s new ‘garden’; Il Nido’s summer break

August 1, 2020 5:38 pm

| Comments Off on BIZNOTES: Beveridge Place’s new ‘garden’; Il Nido’s summer break

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

Two beverage/food biznotes:

BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB: The Morgan Junction pub sent the photo and announcement;

Our new Beer Garden is open for you, with 20 well-spaced tables (no seating indoors)!
NEW HOURS (in-house & to-go): Mon-Thu 3-10 pm; Fri-Sun 1-10 pm;

FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND OTHER GUESTS: MASKS MUST BE WORN WHENEVER YOU LEAVE YOUR TABLE. NO TABLE-HOPPING/MINGLING – STAY WITH YOUR TABLE
.
ORDER HERE (in-house & to-go): Beveridge Place Online Store. We still have our TO-GO on-line store where you can order and pay for growlers, cans, wine bottles, cider bottles, mead bottles, & snacks!
TO-GO Orders: Pick-up at the front door or at our dedicated curbside spot. Please have your ID ready so we can make sure we have the right order…and that you’re 21 or over. CHEERS!

BPP is at 6413 California SW.

IL NIDO: The Alki Homestead restaurant-turned-market is taking the month of August off. They’ve been selling take-home-to-cook pasta as well as salads, bread, desserts, and more, and promise to return in September.

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LANDER STREET BRIDGE: Long-in-the-works SODO overpass close to completion

August 1, 2020 3:43 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo)

With the West Seattle Bridge closed, more people are using 1st and 4th to get into downtown, and that means the Lander Street Bridge – to get people over the tracks inbetween – will be even more useful than envisioned, once it opens. That’s finally in view – this fall, says SDOT in a new update. (Pre-construction, it was estimated for early 2020, and that was after it had been on hold for a decade, until the city committed to build it as part of the Move Seattle levy.) Here’s what SDOT sent as a “mid-summer update”:

Update on pedestrian path

We shifted the pedestrian path onto the Lander St Bridge in late July. Now that the pedestrian path is on the bridge, people walking and riding bikes will no longer be able to cross over the railroad tracks at “ground level”. As we work to install features of the mixed-use path, we ask that all pedestrians pay close attention to active work zones, fenced-off areas, and minor shifts to the pedestrian path and pedestrian signage. We also ask people riding bikes to dismount and walk their bikes over the bridge.

Note to pedestrians with accessibility needs

The new bridge is sloped to get over the railroad tracks. We advise those that usually experience difficulties with similar slopes elsewhere in Seattle to plan ahead and consider other options that may be available. Those who experience difficulties with slopes could use the next parallel streets – S Holgate or S Horton St – or employ resources made available through King County’s Access Transportation or ADA Paratransit services. You can learn more about these services by calling (206) 263-3113 or by visiting (this link).

Cycling through SODO

With our project wrapping up in the next couple months, we want to preview how the Lander St Bridge integrates into the surrounding bicycle network. Check out the map below to see how the bridge connects people riding bikes to the broader Seattle bicycle network.

Schedule update

We are on pace to reach substantial completion of the Lander St Bridge this fall. At that point, we will have completed bridge work and intersection connections, opened the S Lander St Bridge to vehicle traffic, and crews will be working on a few remaining items on our punch list.

Upcoming work:

We are currently working on the signal configurations and road connections at 1st Ave S and S Lander St. This work will last several weeks. Please pay attention to temporary lane shifts as you navigate the area. We will continue pouring concrete for walls and sidewalks in the coming weeks. This work is weather dependent.