day : 21/10/2020 10 results

CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 10/21 roundup

October 21, 2020 11:49 pm

| Comments Off on CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 10/21 roundup

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Tonight’s local/regional pandemic-related toplines:

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

*25.554 people have tested positive, 187 more than yesterday’s total

*787 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*2,516 people have been hospitalized, 8 more than yesterday’s total

*514.434 people have been tested, 3,487 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals (plus testing) were 24,500/782/2,467/490.206.

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

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

GOOD NEWS, BUT DON’T GET COMPLACENT: The state reports:

According to public data gathered by the New York Times, Washington’s current new case rate is 7th-lowest in the nation. COVID-19 landed here first, but our state has been among the best in fighting back. Your efforts to limit gatherings, mask up, and conduct safe business have been successful – they must continue to reverse a recent spike.

THANKSGIVING TRADITION, PANDEMIC STYLE: The Hall at Fauntleroy has announced that it will keep up its long-running annual tradition of a free Thanksgiving feast, but this year it’ll be a take-away meal. They’re also seeking donations – details here.

GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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HALLOWEEN: Celebrate by giving blood

October 21, 2020 9:11 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

9:11 PM: On Halloween, a day when fake blood is used to scare, your real blood can be used to help. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is sponsoring a half-day blood drive on Halloween afternoon – noon-4 pm Saturday, October 31st, at The Sanctuary at Admiral (2656 42nd SW). Sign up now for a donation appointment – no walk-ups during the pandemic – just go here to choose a time. Bloodworks Northwest notes, “As an additional benefit, donors will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.” Want more info about donating? Go here.

EARLY THURSDAY: There were 12 spots open when we published this, but it looks like they’ve all been spoken for. If that’s what you find too – check BWNW’s site for other opportunities!

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UPDATE: Water break near Schmitz Park

October 21, 2020 6:49 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

6:49 PM: Thanks for the tip and photo. Seattle Public Utilities is at the scene of a water break at 51st and Spokane. The SPU water-outage map says 36 customers have lost water as a result. Even if your water is still oh, problems like this might cause discolored water for others nearby.

8:27 PM: Still out, per map. And we’ve heard via comment and email from people as far as half a mile away who are seeing discolored water as a result.

10:25 PM: Water’s back on. Commenter Jen says it came back around quarter till 10; the map says everyone was back by 10:05 pm. (If you’re not, be sure to notify SPU at 206-386-1800.)

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VIDEO: Mostly new West Seattle Bridge by 2023? Community Task Force gets briefed on ‘rapid span replacement’ concept

October 21, 2020 5:02 pm

| 63 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Repaired bridge in 2022 or mostly new bridge in 2023?

That’s what the repair-or-replace decision could boil down to, now that a “rapid span replacement” has been vaulted into the mix.

The first hour of today’s Community Task Force meeting was devoted to an exploration of that concept. We’ll report separately tonight on the second part of the meeting, a discussion of the newly released Cost-Benefit Analysis, which does not include the “rapid span replacement,” though SDOT‘s project team points out that would fall in the CBA’s Alternative 4 “superstructure replacement” option.

If you missed the meeting (the viewing link was changed at the last minute), here’s the hour-long presentation and discussion of the new concept, which was described more than once during the meeting as “intriguing”:

Shown during the presentation was this animation of how the span replacement would be installed:

The presentation was given by Ted Zoli of HNTB, the firm the city hired this summer to design a replacement regardless of whether the decision is to repair or replace.

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City extends outdoor business permits another year, adding free tent/heating permits

October 21, 2020 3:26 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The city is extending its free street/sidewalk-use permits enabling businesses to add outdoor space for COVID-19 safety. The permits will now be good through October 31st of next year. Today’s announcement also mentions, “the Seattle Fire Department will immediately begin issuing free tent permits and heating permits to help businesses maintain operations during the colder, rainier months ahead. ”

P.S. If your restaurant/bar plans to continue outdoor operations into the fall/winter, please let us know so we can include that detail on our ongoing list! Any recent changes in hours/days are good to note, too.

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REINVENTING PUBLIC SAFETY: Parking-enforcement officers propose taking on more non-emergency duties

October 21, 2020 1:16 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Reader photo, last March)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Are parking-enforcement officers part of the solution to the reinventing-public-safety problem?

Nanette Toyoshima hopes so. “We’re public servants – let us serve.”

She is president of the Seattle Parking Enforcement Officers’ Guild, representing almost 100 people who work as Seattle Police parking-enforcement officers (PEOs)- a job she has done for 14 years.

As part of Seattle public-safety reform, there’s a proposal to move PEOs out of SPD and into SDOT.

Toyoshima’s group – with the support of West Seattle/South Park councilmember, and Public Safety Committee chair, Lisa Herbold – proposes instead moving them to the new department that will also include the 911 center after it moves out of SPD.

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LOW BRIDGE: Camera-enforcement signs about to go up

October 21, 2020 11:56 am

| 53 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

SDOT is about to take the next step toward camera enforcement of West Seattle low-bridge restrictions – installing signs this weekend, warning that the cameras are on the way. Today’s announcement notes that warning tickets will start “as soon as” December 1st, with ticketing – carrying $75 fines – then starting around January 1st. Also from the announcement:

To date, in an effort to ensure traffic volumes do not impact emergency vehicle response times as we develop our automated enforcement system and policies, Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers have been ticketing or turning around people using the Low Bridge during AM and PM peak commute hours. Enforcement by SPD alone is temporary until we implement automated enforcement, but SPD Traffic or Patrol officers, as well as other localized police agencies may continue to identify, stop and enforce the sign restrictions as part of their normal duties.

And in case you’ve forgotten, here’s the current rules:

Who CAN use the Low Bridge

Emergency vehicles
Transit vehicles (King County Metro buses and school buses)
Freight vehicles
People walking, rolling, using a scooter, or biking
Employer shuttles
Vanpools
People with placards (currently 160 distributed)
People driving personal vehicles at night (from 9 PM to 5 AM daily)

Who CANNOT use the Low Bridge

Ubers, Lyfts, or other ride-sharing vehicles
People driving personal vehicles, including motorcycles, during the day (from 5 AM to 9 PM daily)

The policies are always subject to change – the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force now has a low-bridge subcommittee to discuss possible changes.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: Bridge meeting, 10-venue dining fundraiser, free pumpkins, Junction Harvest Fest, more…

October 21, 2020 9:58 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Golden-crowned Kinglet, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Big day! Here are the highlights:

GET YOUR FLU SHOT: The city has clarified that the drive-up/ride-up flu-shot clinics at local schools are open to EVERYONE, and if you’re uninsured, they’ll cover the cost: One is happening today at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW) until 5 pm, and others are coming up in West Seattle. Get an appointment before you go; our preview explains how.

GET A FREE PUMPKIN: Happening today outside Lafayette Elementary:

he Lafayette Garden program has extra pumpkins and would like to offer them up to the community! Stop by the school (2645 California Ave SW) to pick one up for yourself, they will be by the flag pole from 10-4, or until they are gone. Our students have been learning all about the ones they took home with a pumpkin S.T.E.M. lesson that encourages the kids to measure, weigh and learn about their pumpkin. Lessons will be out front as well for anyone looking for a fun activity to do with their child. If you are interested in exploring garden programming at your school or have any questions don’t hesitate to leave your name in the box by the pumpkins. The pumpkins were made possible through a grant by the Robins Family foundation (thank you!).

DINE OUT AND SUPPORT WSHS SENIORS: Today’s the day for the big fundraiser we’ve been previewing! 10 local venues donating part of their proceeds to support the West Seattle High School Class of 2021 – just dine in or take out sometime today. Our most-recent preview has the list of participating food/beverage spots. Plus – the band Aurora Avenue at Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) 4-4:45 pm.

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE: Two big items during today’s noon meeting – a presentation about the newly emerged option for a pootentially faster replacement, plus a discussion of the Cost-Benefit Analysis made public Tuesday (here’s our coverage), which compares and analyzes repairing vs. replacing. Here’s the link (UPDATED) to watch the meeting; for questions/comments, before/during/after, email westseattlebridge@seattle.gov.

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION HARVEST FEST: The 10-day celebration begins today! Get a scavenger-hunt map, stop for cider or cocoa, enjoy festive displays. All the details are here.

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THANKSGIVING: Hall at Fauntleroy’s 2020 plan, and how you can help

October 21, 2020 9:16 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

In a normal year, it would seem a bit too early to talk about Thanksgiving. But … well, it’s 2020. The Hall at Fauntleroy, which usually presents a free sit-down community feast, has announced its plan for this year, and how you can help:

The 22nd annual Hall at Fauntleroy Community Thanksgiving meal will be on Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 26th – from 11 am to 2 pm.

This year’s feast will be Take-out style.

We will be in front of the Hall at Fauntleroy handing out fully prepared Thanksgiving meals and totes with other essentials.

The Hall at Fauntleroy is located at 9131 California Ave SW.

To our amazing volunteers, we can’t wait to gather for full service dining next year!

For now, we invite you to breathe deeply into this pause and come on by to pick up a meal for you, a friend, family member or a neighbor.

We are accepting, and would truly appreciate, donations:

~ Reusable grocery/tote bags

~ Masks

~ Hand sanitizer

~ New blankets

~ Hand warmers

~ Cash donations

Please call Meg Haggerty 206-353-8382 to arrange for drop off of donations by Friday November 20th.

In the spirit of our core mission of gathering to feed the heart, soul and bellies of the community, we would like to put out a special thank you and invitation to our colleagues in the hard hit hospitality and arts industries.

We hope to see all of you as we navigate this different kind of year ~ even if it is just a drive by with a honk and wave!

Brought you to by Seeds of Love, the Haggerty Family, and from the generous donations of our neighbors and community.

Meg & David Haggerty
Reed Haggerty
David Meckstroth

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APOLOGY: Tech trouble fixed

October 21, 2020 8:55 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Thanks to those who let us know last night about error messages they were getting when trying to access WSB. This started happening yesterday afternoon and worsened into the early-morning hours, but our tech person has fixed the problem and things should be back to normal now. We always appreciate heads-up on problems like that – sometimes they’re obvious to us too (this one was affecting the production side as well) but sometimes they’re not – keep our number handy for calls/texts, 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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