day : 22/10/2020 11 results

CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 10/22 roundup

October 22, 2020 10:29 pm

| Comments Off on CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 10/22 roundup

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The latest news and numbers on the pandemic’s local impact:

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

*25,740 people have tested positive, up 186 from yesterday’s total

*789 people have died, up 2 from yesterday’s total

*2,518 people have been hospitalized, up 2 from yesterday’s total

*517,636 people have been tested, up 3,202 from yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 24,649/782/2,472/494,372.

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

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 41.6 million cases worldwide, 8.4 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

TRICK OR STREET: The city’s “Stay Healthy Blocks” temporary-permit offer now has morphed into a suggestion for closing your non-arterial street for safely distanced Halloween revelry.

NEED FOOD? Free emergency food boxes are available again 2-5 pm tomorrow at Food Lifeline HQ (815 S. 96th) … On Saturday (October 24th), the Greater Seattle Filipino-American SDA Church (2620 SW Kenyon) is also distributing free boxes of food – dairy, fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, bread) 1-4 pm.

CAN YOU GIVE? Friends of Roxhill Elementary is raising money to get grocery cards to families in need.

IMMIGRANT RELIEF FUND: Announced by the governor’s office:

The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund is now open for applications. The relief fund will provide $40 million in federal funds allocated by the state to assist Washington workers who miss work due to COVID-19, but are unable to access federal stimulus programs and other social supports due to their immigration status. While the fund is operational, eligible recipients will receive $1,000, with a limit of $3,000 per household.

Go here to apply.

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

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West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force, report #2: Cost-Benefit Analysis review

October 22, 2020 8:21 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(SDOT video of Wednesday’s full Community Task Force meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A day and a half after receiving the information-dense Cost-Benefit Analysis reviewing West Seattle Bridge options, Community Task Force members got their first chance to ask questions about it.

The 89-page report was almost done before the ballyhooed new “rapid span replacement” possibility went public, so the discussion took place somewhat in its shadow, and immediately after the first half of Wednesday’s CTF meeting was spent on a presentation on that unvetted option (WSB coverage here) – something that hasn’t been done for any of the other possibilities, so far.

SDOT‘s bridge-project leader Heather Marx opened with a warning: “None of the numbers you see here should be referred to as ‘estimates’ SDOT would have preferred ranges but this type of study requires choosing a number, she said. She also stressed what the CBA is not:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another catalytic converter stolen

October 22, 2020 6:21 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

From Sharon in the 9400 block of 20th SW:

Heads up. West Seattle neighbors:

Between 9 pm and 5:25 am today, our 2007 Toyota Prius had the catalytic converter stolen. They cut out the front and back flanges that hold it there (better resale value, because it can be sold as complete). They even took the bolts. Husband took to muffler shop and someone else was there that got hit last night too.

Southwest Precinct Crime-Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner recently sent an alert including advice on how to protect your car.

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YOU CAN HELP: Keeping Roxhill Elementary families from going hungry

October 22, 2020 3:54 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Roxhill Elementary school community is casting a wider net to help feed local families in need. Maybe you can chip in too. Jessica sent us this note:

A large number of families at Roxhill Elementary in West Seattle are facing food insecurity. Friends of Roxhill Elementary (FORE), the school PTO, has organized a fundraiser to help out. All donations are tax-deductible!

A lot of Roxhill Elementary families have donated, but we’re a small school of about 250 students. 70% of our students are on free or reduced lunch and 30% of our families are supported by the Seattle Housing Authority. So we really need help from the great folks in West Seattle, not just our school, to hit our fundraising goal.

If you can help, go here.

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UPDATE: Seattle Fire response in The Junction – false alarm

October 22, 2020 3:02 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: WSB photo)

3:02 PM: A big Seattle Fire response is arriving for a reported natural-gas leak at Oregon 42 (42nd SW/SW Oregon). They’re blocking some of the streets – including Oregon between 41st and California, and 42nd between Genesee and Alaska – until the situation is handled. Updates to come.

3:06 PM: They haven’t yet found the source of the possible leak, and air readings are NOT showing natural gas – they’ve just noted a “sewer” type of odor in the building – so they’re likely about to downsize the response. PSE is there helping to investigate.

3:15 PM: The incident log shows all but four responding units have been dismissed.

3:18 PM: And just announced over the emergency-radio channel, “Confirmed false.” Wrapping up, roads reopening. Our crew at the scene has confirmed that neither SFD nor PSE could find any evidence of a problem.

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David Hooper, CFA: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor

October 22, 2020 1:48 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome David Hooper, CFA, as a new WSB sponsor. New sponsors get an opportunity to tell you about what they do:

“As a financial advisor who is affiliated only with a Registered Investment Advisor, I must always act as a Fiduciary. I have a legal and ethical responsibility to always put my client’s priorities first. Each of my clients has a written financial plan that’s customized to their specific objectives. This ensures that we’re on the same page working toward the same goals. I manage each and every investment accounts personally, so I can make sure the client’s investment strategy is on track to help reach their goals. People know that I care about their financial well-being. Also, being an independent advisor reduces the number of potential conflicts of interest of a large investment firm and allows me to focus on my clients.

“My clients appreciate the way I can take complex and intimidating industry jargon and explain it in a way that makes sense to them. It’s my job to empower my clients with investment knowledge and not confuse them with industry jargon.

“I believe in being authentic and always try not come off as a pushing salesperson. As an experienced professional with more than 25 years in the investment management, portfolio management, and financial-advising industry. I take the trust that my clients have given me seriously, and have earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and my MBA from the UW Foster School of Business, both of which enable me to do my job better.”

David’s community involvement includes siting on the board of the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA and is a member of Burien’s BNI Networking Chapter. You can contact him by going here.

We thank David Hooper, CFA, for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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READER REPORT: Alki mailbox returns

October 22, 2020 12:24 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Seen around town | West Seattle news

From the WSB inbox:

Super exciting news. The USPS collection box has just been installed after months of being on hiatus. It is at the corner of 63rd Ave SW and Hinds. I have attached a picture of the new box with cross streets amd information on address and official collection times. The people of Alki are going to be so excited.

Sincerely,
Their mailman

(The 4412 California SW location is the Post Office in The Junction.)

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Final design for Hiawatha play area’s new location

October 22, 2020 10:44 am

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Design by Karen Kiest Landscape Architects)

That’s the final design for Hiawatha‘s to-be-relocated play area, as just announced by Seattle Parks:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is happy to announce the completion of the final concept design for the new play area at Hiawatha Playfield. To review the design, (go here) or view a large concept design board at the park near the adult fitness equipment. Karen Kiest Landscape Architects worked with SPR and input from the community to develop the final design concept. Thank you to the community for their participation in this design. Hiawatha Playfield is in West Seattle at 2700 California Ave. SW.

The goal of this project is to transfer the location of the play area from the north end of the park to the grass area just south of the wading pool. The project includes new play equipment for children 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 years, swings, a small plaza, and restoration of the old play area site. The new location will improve visibility and access for all.

Play area construction is planned to start in the summer of 2021 and end in December 2021, along with restoration of the old play site. Other areas of Hiawatha Playfield will remain open during construction. However, there are other projects in the planning stages for this area (community center renovation and athletic field turf replacement).

Funding for this play area project is provided by the Seattle Park District. The Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to tackle the $267 million major maintenance backlog for Seattle Parks and Recreation as well as other facilities including the Aquarium and Zoo. The Seattle Park District helps improve and rehabilitate community centers, preserves the urban forest, performs day-to-day maintenance of parks and facilities, provides more recreation opportunities for people from underserved communities, supports programs for people of all ages and abilities, and acquires and develops new park land.

Separate from this project, the city has announced – as we reported early in the budget-review process – that Hiawatha Community Center itself is expected to be closed for all of next year because of its own renovation work. An update on that project is here.

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Services today for Omar W. Sommer, 1925-2020

October 22, 2020 9:40 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will remember Omar W. Sommer today, and are sharing this remembrance with his community:

On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, Omar Wayne Sommer died at the age of 94, in Seattle, Washington, of congestive heart failure. Omar was born to Walter and Alice Sommer on December 25, 1925, in Waco, Nebraska, and was the oldest of four boys. His family moved from Nebraska eventually into Washington State, and made their home in Winlock, Washington. A brother to Raymond, Wilbur, and Howard, Omar was a child of the Depression and at one time picked ferns to sell to a local florist for a penny each.

Omar served in the United States Navy during World War II and was in Pearl Harbor preparing to ship out when the war ended. Using the GI bill, he graduated from Washington State University with an engineering degree and was primarily employed at the Boeing Company, working in Seattle, Kent, and Everett over the years.

On June 3rd, 1956, Omar wedded Pearl Margaret Cohrs, and they were blessed in marriage for 61 years until Pearl’s death in 2017. They made their home in Seattle, where Omar was a loving father to Cheryl-deceased (Kent, grandchildren Derek & Ian); Loren (Bernadette, grandchild Rachel); Alan (Beth, grandchildren Abigail & David); Neal (Elissa, grandchildren Joshua & Brooke).

He is also survived by his brother Howard; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends, and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.

Omar was baptized into the Christian faith on January 1, 1926, and was confirmed in Utica, Nebraska. A lifelong follower of Jesus Christ, he worshipped at Hope Lutheran Church in Seattle for many years, where he also served as an Elder, Bible study leader, and on the school board at Hope Lutheran School. He was the “signboard guy” at Hope when his children were younger, and often recruited them to help.

Omar loved fishing and gardening, and took care of his yard into his early 90s, also helping with the irrigation system at church. He had a wide knowledge of plants, trees, and animals, and taught his children to love fishing and camping.

A private graveside service will be held on Thursday, October 22, at 11:30 am, and a memorial service for family will also be accessible for others via Zoom on the 22nd at 4:00 pm.

Omar was preceded in death by his brothers Wilbur and Raymond, his daughter Cheryl, and his wife Pearl. We rejoice in the gift of eternal life and salvation given by Jesus, the crucified and risen Savior.

Nearly 2 years ago, a stroke left him unable to speak well. He was always quick to share a smile. Everyone always commented about how nice he was. Clearly the love of Jesus was shining brightly through him.

Please share memories of Omar and condolences with his family at www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Omar-Sommer

Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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WEST SEATTLE THURSDAY: What’s ahead today/tonight

October 22, 2020 9:09 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Moment of rest for an Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Jerry Simmons)

Quick look at what’s up today/tonight:

FLU SHOTS: Another drive-up clinic, 10 am-5:30 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). Open to all; the city is covering costs for people without insurance. Our preview explains how to get an appointment.

TRIBUTE TO RBG: The West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly meeting online at 11 am today includes a tribute to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If you are interested in attending, email wsdwomen@yahoo.com ASAP.

DEMONSTRATION: Scott‘s twice-weekly sign-waving for Black lives is 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden. Signs available if you don’t have one.

BUSINESS NETWORKING: Do it online with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 5:30-7:30 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to participate.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm online, with SDOT guests featured to discuss the newly released West Seattle Bridge Cost-Benefit Analysis as well as the Stay Healthy Streets program. Attendance info is in the WSTC calendar listing.

ONLINE BENEFIT CONCERT: Three musicians perform in an online concert presented at 8 pm by the Pigeon Point Anti-racism Project, benefiting the Black Voters Matter Fund. Our preview explains how to watch.

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Thursday 10/22 watch (updated)

October 22, 2020 6:21 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

UPDATED 8:28 AM: Crash on West Marginal Way SW (thanks for the tip), east of the 5-way intersection per SDOT, which says all lanes are blockrd. At least one person is hurt.

8:34 AM: One lane is now open, SB. 3 vehicles need to be towed, per radio communication.

8:39 AM: Now one lane each way, “intermittently,” and two tow trucks are arriving.

8:52 PM: Added a framegrab from the SDOT camera. The third vehicle will be moved off the road without a tow.

9:16 AM: Cleanup now, and officer just radioed, “we should be opening it back up soon.”

Earlier:

6:21 AM: Welcome to Thursday – the 213rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK, ETC.

*Delridge project: Edmunds will be closed at Delridge Friday through Sunday (October 23-25), reopening by early Monday, as announced yesterday. Otherwise, here are the weekly highlights.

*Tunnel closure: Friday night-Saturday morning (October 23-24), the Highway 99 tunnel will close both ways for maintenance, 10 pm-6 am.

CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

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