West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
Halfway through the first weekend of fall, here are tonight’s virus-crisis notes:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*22,000 people have tested positive, 104 more than yesterday*
*758 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
*2,353 people have been hospitalized, unchanged from yesterday*
*428,983 people have been tested, 3,704 more than yesterday*
*As has happened on occasion lately, some “new since yesterday” calculations on the Public Health website diverge from the difference we have noted in recording the county reports each night, so we’re going with our calculations.
One week ago, those totals were 21,399/748/2,313/407,865.
WEST SEATTLE TREND: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers accessible in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, checking the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas.” In the past 2 weeks, 44 positive test results were reported; 45 in the 2 weeks before that; 45 in the two weeks before that – so we seem to have plateaued.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 32.7 million people have tested positive, and more than 993,000 have died; U.S. deaths are just under 205,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, Colombia (Peru dropped from #5 to #6 in the past week). Of interest: The UK is 5th in deaths, but 14th in cases. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
DONATION DRIVE TOMORROW: One more reminder – if you can help, here’s how, 10 am-3 pm Sunday.
HALLOWEEN, PANDEMIC STYLE: We know many are starting to think about Halloween. (We have neighbors who put up decorations already.) Here’s some food for thought from Public Health.
MONSTER DASH: Some of the fall traditions are reformatting for this pandemic season, too – like the West Seattle Monster Dash.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Seen on a periodic check of commercial real-estate listings, 2 in “downtown West Seattle”:
(Image: Google Maps Street View)
4707-4709 CALIFORNIA SW: This building near the southwest corner oF California and Alaska is described as a “multi-tenant retail investment and development opportunity,” and has just been listed at $3,250,000. It’s 6,786 square feet; HALA upzoned the site to the potential for 9-story redevelopment. The brochure notes that the three tenants – Bin 41, Pharmaca, and Flying Apron – have leases running at least three to five more years.
4822 CALIFORNIA SW: This 5,750-sf building on the south edge of The Junction hit the market last month, listed at $1,950,000. It’s home to Than Brothers Pho. This listing also touts the site as a “redevelopment opportunity,” noting a “feasibility study” was done showing “an opportunity to build 55 units.” It’s zoned for up to 7 stories.
Thanks to Mike for the photo and tip: 6959 California SW, the south Morgan Junction retail space that held My THree Little Birds before its move to The Junction almost a year ago, has a new business moving in. The sign says “Floors Plus Northwest” is “coming soon,” promising carpet, LVP, hardwood, and vinyl. We have a message out to a contact listed online and will update if/when we find out more.
These are three recent views of the same wall in Pigeon Point:
Katie sent the photos, explaining:
My neighbors and I have been painting and maintaining a Black Lives Matter mural on our property at the corner of SW Andover and 23rd Ave in Pigeon Point that has been defaced 3 times in the past month. I saw that West Seattle Blog has covered this type of vandalism at other locations in West Seattle, so I wanted to add our experience to the record. We are setting up surveillance measures and will continue to restore the mural after each vandalism attempt, but I just wanted to let our community know that this is a consistent and seemingly widespread problem in West Seattle.
Amateur (ham) radio is more than a hobby – many hams play vital roles in community preparedness work, and other volunteer roles such as safety logistics for big community events (the West Seattle Grand Parade, for example). But you need a license – and that requires a test. The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club recently provided a round of testing with unique challenges posed by the pandemic and more. WSARC’s John Walling sent the photo and report:
Five people took the FCC Amateur Radio Service License Exam provided by West Seattle Amateur Radio Club. Three exam levels were provided: Technician (for new hams), General, and Extra (for existing hams). Three new hams passed the Technician exam, one ham moved up from Technician to General, and one ham moved up from General to Extra.
The exam was held with a two-week lead time and under adverse conditions caused by COVID-19 and high levels of smoke from wildfires. The test was planned for outdoors but was moved indoors to avoid the smoke hazard and was held with safe distancing and COVID-19 precautions. As each participant signed in, their temperatures were taken with a forehead infra-red thermometer to verify they had normal temperatures. Masks were worn by everyone. Hand sanitizer and wipes were plentiful. Five Volunteer Examiners (VE) and a VE Coordinator (VEC) supervised the exam according to ARRL guidelines.
Testing facility was provided by Beckwith and Kuffel (1313 S. 96th).
WSARC has more info and photos here
(Alki UCC photos from past donation drives)
If you tried to drop off men’s clothing at this morning’s recycle/reuse event after the capacity maxed out, consider taking it to tomorrow’s donation drive outside Alki UCC, which is also collecting food, school supplies, and more, 10 am-3 pm Sunday:
Alki UCC invites our generous neighbors to bring donations of school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing as well as non-perishable food to our bi-monthly donation drive to benefit our vulnerable neighbors in need.
Food and basic supplies such as toilet paper and diapers are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. We’re accepting school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks, and colored paper.
Donations of clean new or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network‘s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes, and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits.
Alki UCC is at 6115 SW Hinds.
11:22 AM: The West Seattle Junction free recycle/reuse/shred event is more than halfway through – and though the volunteers routing everyone couldn’t give us an in-progress count, it is without doubt the busiest one they’ve ever had. As noted in comments on our morning preview, the Northwest Center truck – household items and clothing – filled up very quickly. Organizers say NW Center isn’t able to send a second truck but they’re trying to see if they can get one for next week. (This is the nonprofit that used to have a daily truck in The Junction, but hasn’t been able to staff that during the pandemic.) Other than that, when we were there a short time ago, we were told everything else still has capacity, including electronics recycling with Friendly Earth:
And a shredding truck (four boxes max):
Plus household batteries and Styrofoam:
This continues in the parking lot off 42nd south of SW Oregon until 1 pm, as capacity allows.
12:22 PM: Electronics recycling is now maxed out, per commenters (thank you!).
Also happening today, a celebration at 16th/Holden in Highland Park! Here’s the announcement we received this morning from proprietor Michelle:
BedHead Coffee has reached our first year of business. Today we will have specials and (hot) dogs between 10 am and 12 pm. Melton’s BBQ will be smokin’ next door. 1513 SW Holden. Come by, say hi, and get a dog.
(Photo by Danny McMillin – Canada Geese passing Alki Point)
The first weekend of fall begins!
RECYCLE/REUSE/SHRED EVENT: 9 am-1 pm, bring your recyclables/reusables – as listed here – and/or up to four boxes of paper for shredding. Free dropoff event. Masks required. In The Junction parking lot off 42nd SW south of SW Oregon. (10:30 am: See comments – some capacity already maxed out -we are en route for a separate update.)
WALKING ‘FROM CANADA TO FLORIDA’: Ken King is walking five miles to fight suicide, as previewed here. You are welcome to join him, starting at 10 am at Canada & Beach Drive [map]. and you can donate here.
PLASTIC-FILM DROPOFF EVENT: More free recycling! 1 pm-4 pm at PCC (2749 California SW), Ridwell will be on site to accept plastic film – including grocery bags – for recycling. More info in our preview.
VISCON CELLARS: Though there’s no tasting at the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room (yet), you can drop by to pick up local wine, 1-4 pm. (5910 California SW)
KENYON HALL PRESENTS ORVILLE JOHNSON: Online tonight, presented by historic Kenyon Hall:
At 7:45, we’re delighted to present West Seattle guitar legend Orville Johnson.
Orville acquired his love of singing as a youth in the southern Illinois fundamentalist Pentecostal church he attended. When he later began playing guitar and dobro, he responded to the roots music that surrounded him by learning to play the blues, bluegrass, rockabilly, and country music, now all part of the mosaic that characterizes his own mongrel music. He’s a singer, instrumentalist, record producer, songwriter, session player, teacher, the top dobro player on the West Coast, and, above all, an instinctive and sensitive musician.
To attend Orville’s concert Saturday, please click on this link. The concert is free, and there’s a link included in case you’re able and moved to donate. Orville and Kenyon Hall will share your largesse, for which we’re very grateful.
If you’re unable to attend (tonight), you can still use the same link for future viewings.
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