day : 13/10/2020 9 results

Here’s the latest local info on the pandemic, 7 1/2 months in:

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

*24,330 people have tested positive, 125 more than yesterday’s total

*779 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total

*2,458 people have been hospitalized, 17 more than yesterday’s total

*486,967 people have been tested, 3,835 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 23,268/769/2,393/455,717.

ANOTHER LOCAL DEATH: Checking on the zip codes that are partially or entirely in West Seattle, we found that another death has been reported in 98116, the 8th. The other local zips: 98106, 4; 98136, 4; 98126, 16; 98146, 17.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 38.1 million cases worldwide, 7.8 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

GOVERNOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS: From Gov. Inslee‘s briefing today: Five counties are finally advancing to reopening Phase 2 – Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Yakima. Also, he’s creating a new group to focus on economic recovery. You can watch the briefing video here.

BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health officials’ weekly briefing is Wednesday at 2 pm; you can watch the livestream (or, later, the archived video) here.

NEED FOOD? Emergency boxes will be distributed tomorrow morning in the West Seattle Eagles parking lot. Wednesday morning note – just got word this is canceled.

REOPENING: Speaking of parking lots, Seattle Parks reiterated in this post today that they will reopen next Monday “at popular parks” (in West Seattle, that would mean Lincoln Park).

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

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King County Council approves sales-tax increase to fund supportive housing

October 13, 2020 9:47 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Our area’s King County Councilmember Joe McDermott is the main sponsor of a one-tenth-of-one-percent sales-tax increase that the council approved today, first proposed in County Executive Dow Constantine‘s 2021-2022 budget plan. A council news release explains what it’s meant to pay for: “The legislation will provide permanent, supportive housing for those deemed ‘chronically homeless’ – people who reside in a place not meant for human habitation for at least a year, and with serious physical or behavioral health issues.” (That’s the type of housing provided in West Seattle by two nonprofits, Transitional Resources, with several buildings in the Luna Park area plus one under construction, and DESC, with Cottage Grove Commons in Delridge.)

The tax increase will not go to a public vote; the state Legislature voted earlier this year to allow local governments to increase sales taxes this way for affordable-housing. However, as The Seattle Times‘ report notes, cities have the option to levy their own 0.1% increase instead, and several King County cities have opted to do that, so they will have more of a say in how the housing dollars are spent. The council releass says that “King County plans to bond against future tax revenues and use the funds to buy existing hotels, motels and nursing homes around the county and convert them into affordable, supportive housing for people who have struggled to access and maintain housing.” The tax increase would take effect next January 1st; you can read the legislation starting on page 41 of today’s County Council meeting packet.

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WINDSTORM: West Seattle power outages, 7,200+ customers at peak; trees down; big waves…

October 13, 2020 4:00 pm

| 108 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

4 PM: Thanks for all the tips – power’s out over what seems to be a wide area of West Seattle – so far reports include Alki, Admiral, Avalon/Genesee – updates to come. And remember that a dark traffic signal (we’ve heard California/Admiral and 35th/Avalon and Delridge/Genesee are out, among others) is a 4-way stop!

4:05 PM: Also via scanner, trees are reported down in the 1500 block of Ferry and 7100 block of 31st SW (photo added above – came down right between two cars) . … City Light map has just updated, 6,700+ customers out.

4:16 PM: Ferry Avenue is blocked because of the tree trouble. Screengrab of City Light map added above. … Police radio indicates there are also lines down at California Way/Harbor.

4:28 PM: Multiple reports of an explosion-type sound in the Fairmount Playfield area after the initial outage started – looks like that area now has a pocket outage of its own, 91 customers:

4:46 PM: The National Weather Service still has the Wind Advisory alert set to expire at 6 pm. Peak gusts so far today have included 48 mph at Sea-Tac. Meantime, the City Light map shows several small pocket outages in addition to the 6,700+ and 91 out in the ones we’ve mentioned.

5:12 PM: Thanks to Susan Elderkin for the photo of tree branch vs. fire that led to the Fairmount outage:

That is in the 5400 block of 40th SW. … Thanks to Jamie Kinney for sending video of wind-fueled waves along West Seattle’s west-facing shores – first, Lowman Beach:

Next, Constellation Park:

5:36 PM: Note that some businesses are affected, particularly in the Admiral Junction. In comments, Shelby says Admiral Safeway is open though out of power – refrigerated/frozen items aren’t being sold right now, so the cases can remain closed.

6:48 PM: Just drove through much of the outsge zone – Admiral Junction businesses and traffic signals dark, though the power picks up again at California/Lander. The wind has calmed.

7:01 PM: Re-checking the SCL map, we noticed there’s also a pocket of 454 out at the east end of the SW Roxbury corridor, so we’ve updated the total out in West Seattle to 7,200+.

8:01 PM: No updates yet. While we always warn that SCL’s “estimated restoration time” is a useless guesstimate, even that hasn’t been updated, nor has the cause, though the crews seem to be focused on Ferry Avenue. We couldn’t get close to the scene but have received these photos – first, from Treehugger:

There’s also a pole down in the area:

Here’s where the road is closed:

(Thanks to Susanna Moore from longtime WSB sponsor Niederberger Contracting for that photo.) SCL says it’s handling 60 different outages throughout its service zone. Meantime, though the wind has lessened, it was still enough for some sunset surf at Alki:

Thanks to Samantha Lazar – a teenage volleyball player who was practicing at the beach at sunset, despite the wind – for the photo.

8:44 PM: Getting word in comments and via texts that many if not all have just come back online. The map may lag ~15 minutes in accurately reflecting who’s still out, so thanks for the updates!

9:01 PM: The map is updated. Still 1,000+ out scattered around West Seattle – primarily the tip of the peninsula plus that pocket at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.

10:04 PM: No change in the past hour. Below is the map of who’s still out, for the record – most of the markers in West Seattle are single-digit outages, except for the two in the north, and the pockets in Fairmount and Myers/Olson.

11:20 PM: One of the north-end pockets is back, so we’re now at about 800 out around West Seattle after 7 1/2 hours.

12:46 AM: Checked the map and almost everyone’s back on, in West Seattle.

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FOLLOWUP: 14 tons of recyclables at West Seattle Junction event! Here’s the breakout

October 13, 2020 3:32 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, September 26th)

Two and a half weeks ago, hundreds of West Seattleites descended on the big recycle/reuse/shred event in The Junction. So many that most of the participants maxed out. Today, the totals are in, and Lora Radford from the West Seattle Junction Association shared the report – 14 tons!

The numbers were collected by Waste Management, which says the haul is more than double any of their other similar events around the region. Meantime, Radford is still hoping another household-goods collection event might be possible this fall, since that was the category that maxed out quickly, so stay tuned.

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NEED FOOD? Distribution @ West Seattle Eagles tomorrow morning – CANCELED

October 13, 2020 1:32 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

TUESDAY AFTERNOON: The West Seattle Eagles parking lot will be the scene of another food-box distribution tomorrow (Wednesday, October 14th), expected to start shortly after the truck arrives around 9 am. (Times can vary – last week’s truck was late, and once it arrived, the food went fast, but this week, the volunteer organizers are “working with a new carrier” and hopeful the 9 am time will hold.) Filling these boxes: Dairy, meat, fruit, and produce. The Eagles’ lot is at 4426 California SW.

WEDNESDAY 9:40 AM: Just got word this is canceled.

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‘SEW VERY GRATEFUL’: West Seattle woman leads sewing army to create caps for health-care workers. Want to join?

October 13, 2020 11:34 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | How to help | West Seattle news

Meet Phyllis Warman, a Seaview resident who’s managed to get thousands of scrub caps sewn and donated to health-care workers … and she doesn’t even sew!

Her daughter Jenna, who also lives in Seaview, is an ER Trauma Nurse at Harborview Medical Center, and expressed frustration about people not taking COVID-19 seriously. Phyllis learned that health-care workers like her daughter need scrub caps: “The hospitals only provide paper caps and prioritize those for surgical staff. The plastic shields ER and ICU staffs now wear dig into their scalps, patients cough on them — especially after the COVID-19 test — so who knows what’s getting in their hair and these days, every day is a Bad Hair Day. Scrub caps help. A lot. Health-care staff have to provide their own and wash them after every 12-hr shift. What better way to thank our brave, front-line healthcare workers — like my daughter, your neighbor — than with a much-needed and appreciated gift like this?”

When Phyllis made that pitch to an online neighborhood group, she recruited dozens of volunteers to sew caps. They’ve made almost 2,500 caps that have gone to hospitals in Washington, California, Arizona, and Nevada. The need is great, so she would love to sign up more volunteers! Her project is called Sew Very Grateful. Here are four ways you can be part of it:

1. Join our team of volunteer seamstresses/seamsters and machine-sew as many caps as you are willing.
2. Donate fabric (100% cotton quilt)
3. Donate funds for fabric
4. Recruit others

Also, Phyllis adds, “I can supply patterns, fabric, curbside delivery and pickup.” If you can help, or have a question, email SewVeryGrateful@outlook.com.

(Thanks to one of the Sew Very Grateful volunteers, Sue Lindblom of longtime WSB sponsor Illusions Hair Design, for the tip about Phyllis!)

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WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: What’s happening on this blustery day

October 13, 2020 10:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

The “Wind Advisory” alert moved up a few hours overnight, so it’s in effect now through 6 pm. Keep everything charged and stay safe – let us know (text/voice 206-292-6302) if you lose power, see a downed tree or flooding, etc. Meantime, here’s what’s happening:

JUNCTION PLAZA PARK MEETING: 2 pm online, as previewed here, a community meeting to talk about the public-safety concerns at the 42nd/Alaska park. Scroll down this page to find connection information.

SWEETS POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Itto’s Tapas, go get dessert from Sticky Treats and Sweets at their next pop-up! Here’s the menu. (California/Genesee)

DEMONSTRATION: From organizer Scott:

Black Lives Matter sign-waving

Tuesday, Oct 13, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday, Oct 15, 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.

‘LISTEN TO THE TREES’ 6 pm online, poet Sean Petrie previews his new book of West Seattle-inspired poetry, “Listen to the Trees: A Poetic Snapshot of West Seattle, Then and Now,” a collaboration with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Viewing info (register in advance) is in our preview.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm board meeting, online. Community members welcome; register to attend – find the link here.

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FALL FUN: Mode Music & Performing Arts classes now ready for signups

October 13, 2020 8:59 am

| Comments Off on FALL FUN: Mode Music & Performing Arts classes now ready for signups

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That video shows a sample of what kids can learn, perform, and enjoy with Mode Music and Performing Arts classes this fall – here’s the announcement:

We are excited to offer a full roster of music, theatre, art, and dance classes for all ages! There are two ways to learn with MMPA this Fall: a full schedule of live online classes and pre-recorded video lessons that give you the flexibility to experience our lessons when it’s convenient for you.

Information on rates, classes, and scheduling is available at:
modemusicandperformingarts.org

Please ask about our partial and full scholarships!

You can also donate to our programming and support our nonprofit so we can continue to provide education and offer our scholarships in this time of limited funding.

Mode Music and Performing Arts is a nonprofit arts organization offering innovative arts-education programs promoting confidence, social awareness, equity and empathy in our students and community.

Here are flyers to check out – recorded classes here, live classes here. (Mode is the sibling organization of longtime WSB sponsor Mode Music Studios.)

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Tuesday 10/13 watch

October 13, 2020 6:07 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Welcome to Tuesday – the 204th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK, ETC.

*West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way: From SDOT:

SDOT crews will complete some additional paving this week (the week of Oct. 12) near the intersection of Highland Park Way SW and West Marginal Way SW. The paving is being done in advance of some bus stop changes near the intersection. The work will require a right lane closure on Highland Park Way SW outside of peak hours.

*Southbound 1st Avenue S. Bridge: Short closures for “temporary repairs” are continuing this week, between 6 am and 3 pm.

*Delridge project: The SW Oregon closure is on for this Friday-Sunday. Here’s what else is planned this week.

*Westwood Village parking-lot repaving: The QFC/Rite Aid lots have reopened. Now the work has moved to an area near the MOD Pizza/Sally Beauty Supply building; the entrance off Barton, west of that building, is closed, as is the driveway in front of Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) and its neighboring businesses, so you have to enter off Barton to get to them – the route from Trenton is blocked west of Bed Bath & Beyond.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

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