West Seattle, Washington
22 Thursday
Wrapping up our weekend, here are tonight’s pandemic notes:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*26,341 people have tested positive, up 160 from yesterday’s total
*789 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*2,537 people have been hospitalized, up 10 from yesterday’s total
*529,204 people have been tested, up 3,083 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, the King County totals were 25,097/785/2,480/485,294.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 42.9 million cases and 1,152,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
STILL NEED A FLU SHOT? Health authorities say it’s more important than ever this year. so the respiratory illness that’s preventable doesn’t put you more at risk for the one that’s not. Three more drive-up/walk-up clinics outside West Seattle schools are scheduled this week – and they’re open to everyone, free if you’re uninsured. See the list, and how to get your appointment, here.
PANDEMIC-STYLE HALLOWEEN: From decorations you can enjoy while driving by or walking by, to no-contact trick-or-treat events, here’s our West Seattle Halloween guide (and check it daily as we continue adding decoration locations!).
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT? OR? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
That photo is the inspiration for the newest signal-box portrait painted by West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen – this time, commissioned as a surprise for the couple in the photo.
That’s Sue Turner, retired Sanislo Elementary School PE teacher, who worked at the school for more than 30 years. She “touched a lot of lives,” according to the group of Sanislo alumni who gathered Saturday morning to surprise her with the box, which is on 16th SW just north of SW Holden, just half a mile from Sanislo:
The portrait depicts Sue with her husband Bud Turner (who was not well enough to be there Saturday). He is a retired educator too and led the Seattle Public Schools PE department until the early 2000s. Together the Turners founded SCATS, a legendary program described this way by The Seattle Times in 2002:
… a child acrobatic team featuring the most skilled tumblers, jump-ropers, unicyclists, jugglers, and handwalkers at Seattle’s Sanislo and Dearborn Park elementary schools. You may have seen them at Sonics and Husky halftimes. Little kids juggling toilet plungers, zooming on unicycles tall as basketball backboards, leapfrogging through each other’s legs (upside-down) while jumping double-Dutch rope.
The Turners’ influence spread beyond Seattle, too – they wrote six well-regarded books for PE teachers.
7:11 PM: A “full response” from Seattle Fire is headed to the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW for a reported building fire. Updates to come.
7:16 PM: Firefighters have radioed that it was a small kitchen fire, extinguished by the apartment’s occupant, so they’re downsizing the response.
7:23 PM: Though they’re wrapping up, firefighters radioed that Delridge will be blocked in the area (map) for another 15 minutes or so.
We have a mini-tradition going – if the Seahawks are on TV, we feature birds on WSB. So here’s the latest edition, with 10 views of your feathered neighbors, photographed by WSB readers. Above, Jerry Simmons‘ photo of a Steller’s Jay enjoying peanuts. He also photographed this Anna’s Hummingbird:
Another hummingbird view – video as one tried to ride out the wind for a while, recorded by Troy Sterk:
Mark Wangerin caught one in flight:
He also photographed a Townsend’s Warbler:
And this Northern Flicker:
Here’s a Chestnut-backed Chickadee with a Douglas Fir seed, photographed by Robin Sinner:
Mark MacDonald found a Wilson’s Warbler going after a spider in Arbor Heights:
And a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in Lincoln Park:
Finally, a Gull undaunted by the size of its potential prey, photographed by Stewart L.
And if you haven’t seen the eagle photos featured in today’s daily preview – go here. Thanks to everyone for sharing what they’re seeing – westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, from birds to breaking news!
For the sixth year, Seattle University is conducting the annual Public Safety Survey citywide. As explained here, the goal is to collect “qualitative and quantitative data about perceptions of crime and safety from those who live and/or work in Seattle.” (Here’s how local 2018 results were described in 2019, for example.) While the survey is conducted independently of SPD, the department does get a report on the results, which are used to help shape micro-community policing plans, among other things. The survey is available in 11 languages, linked here. If you don’t have time for it today, it’ll be open until the end of November.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE: The photo and report are from Michelle in Pigeon Point:
During the late Monday, early Tuesday hours of October 20th, at least two people are involved in the theft of a motorcycle from our driveway, where it was parked approximately 6ft from the front door of our home. We live in a small subdivision off of Andover and 22nd, the bike had to be pushed uphill past the doors and windows of 4 surrounding apartments to reach Andover and moved elsewhere. It is a 2005 Honda XR 650L, red and white, plate # 1G1910. It has a missing passenger peg, handwarmers, aftermarket side mirrors and a small cargo platform on the back with several bungee cords attached. When it was stolen it had a full tank of gas, making it weigh around 400lbs, hence our assumption that two people would be needed to push it uphill to the street. We filed a police report.
If you see it, call 911. THURSDAY UPDATE: Recovered in Tukwila.
ANOTHER APARTMENT GARAGE BREAK-IN: From Alyssa at 40th/Edmunds:
Woke up Tuesday morning (10/20/20) to find my lock cut by bolt cutters on my storage unit. Over 50 pounds of collectible coins and baseball cards inherited from my deceased grandfather were taken along with DSLR cameras with extra lenses. They broke into the secure parking garage of Broadstone Sky and took from multiple storage units. Also broke into bike storage and took lots of bikes. Keep an eye on your stuff, by the amount they took it seems like more than one person.
FOUND RAZOR SCOOTER: From the “likely stolen and dumped” file – Lori sent the photo and report:
This red Razor scooter has been sitting under some trees on the corner of Erskine Way SW and 46th Ave. SW for over a week.
(WSB photo, 2014 West Seattle Grand Parade)
For the Rotary Club of West Seattle, “End Polio Now” isn’t just a slogan. The club sends this progress report on the weekend of World Polio Day, plus news of an anniversary ahead:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle will mark historic progress toward a polio-free world while urging the community to help end the paralyzing disease
When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we remain\ committed to the end.
With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising $50 million each year to support global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.
The Rotary Club of West Seattle will be celebrating 73 years of service to the community on November 6th. Join us as we all work to eradicate Polio for good!
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change in communities around the globe. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to improve lives through service. From promoting literacy and peace to providing clean water and improving health care, Rotary members are always working to better the world. Visit endpolio.org to learn more about Rotary and the fight to eradicate polio.
West Seattle Rotary meets on Tuesdays at noon via Zoom. Email amyleed@soundgenerations.org if you’d like to join as a guest.
Following this weekend’s closure of SW Edmunds at Delridge, another closure is ahead for the ongoing project (re)paving the way for RapidRide H Line. As announced by SDOT:
Temporary street closure at SW Alaska St and Delridge Way SW
Beginning Monday, October 26, we will be fully closing the east side of SW Alaska St at Delridge Way SW to rebuild the roadway. This closure is expected to last through the end of next week. Please contact us if you have any concerns about accessibility during this work. People wishing to access Delridge Way SW are encouraged to detour to SW Edmunds St via Cottage Pl SW.
Another major work site in the week ahead:
Upcoming night work near SW Brandon St on Tuesday, October 27
We are scheduled to work overnight on October 27 in collaboration with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to complete underground pipework. SPU will coordinate timing and residents will be notified in advance of impacts to water service. Please contact Seattle Public Utilities’ 24/7 service line at (206) 389-1800 if you experience any issues with your water service. This overnight work is scheduled to last one night.
You can see the full weekly bulletin for the project by going here.
What’s ahead for your Sunday, accompanied by three of the photos we’ve received in recent days showing Bald Eagles at Alki Point:
ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES: Updated listings and links for 23 West Seattle churches – find them here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; pickups for online orders are at California/Oregon)
TOYS FOR TOTS COLLECTION: 10 am-1:30 pm near the market’s entrance/exit, look for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. (California/Alaska)
ALKI UCC DONATION DRIVE: Alki UCC is having another of its periodic donation drives, 10 am-3 pm outside the church , food and clothing:
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. 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. Thank you again for supporting our most vulnerable neighbors in this challenging time.
(6115 SW Hinds)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
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. (9600 15th Ave SW)
HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS: The growing list is on our Halloween page.
Anything else happening? Let us know – text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
1:46 AM: Seattle Fire has a rescue-extrication response headed to a crash at West Marginal/Highland Park Way. SFD says it’s a three-car collision. Avoid the area.
1:54 AM: SFD says two people are trapped in a vehicle.
2:10 AM: Reported over emergency radio, everyone’s been extricated; SFD says they will be taken to the hospital.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: We asked SFD about the patients’ conditions. Spokesperson David Cuerpo replied, “First patient sustained no injuries and did not require medical treatment. Second patient was a 19 year old female in stable condition and was transported to HMC by our crews.”
12:47 AM: The reader who texted these photos says this crash happened in the vicinity of 1238 Alki Avenue SW, and that the driver took out a “garden, bench, fire hydrant, light pole … hitting the light pole probably saved the car from going into the water.”
No SFD medical dispatch, so apparently no injuries.
10:26 AM: Tweets by Beat confirms this is being investigated as DUI. Meantime, Stewart L. sends photos of the aftermath:
The texter last night mentioned that the driver also took out “Siriya’s garden.” Siriya is a neighborhood resident who tends a path of planting strip there. Stewart sent before/after photos:
Stewart says, “I say hi to Siriya all the time as I stroll past her garden that she lovingly tends to, and to see all of her work plowed over in a second was really upsetting. She works so hard on this to beautify the neighborhood.”
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