West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
The City Council continues its budget review this week – looking at what the mayor proposed, and floating some of its own counterproposals and additions. The next step happens Tuesday night, when the council holds another public hearing (5:30 pm online). In her weekly email/online update last Friday, West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold listed 14 of the items she has suggested in the “issue identification” phase; she’s been including budget-process updates each week. Among the 14 items was this one:
Duress and Di Minimis Defense Legislation:
This bill redefines the City’s definition of duress and di minimis in the Seattle Municipal Code to reduce the use of the King County Jail in instances where a jail sentence is not appropriate. If the bill passes, the duress and di minimis defenses could be utilized for individuals who, “at the time of the offense, experience symptoms of a behavioral health disorder or a behavioral health condition.” Or when, “the defendant committed the offense with the intent of meeting a basic need the defendant was experiencing at the time of the offense.”
Here are the nightly local toplines as the pandemic continues:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative countywide totals:
*26,521 people have tested positive, 180 more than yesterday’s total
*791 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*2,545 people have been hospitalized, 8 more than yesterday’s total
*530,879 people have been tested, 1,675 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 25,269/785/2,498/507,666.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here … but with this caveat.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
NEED FOOD? Again this week, Food Lifeline will distribute free emergency boxes of food to anyone who shows up, 2-5 pm Friday (October 30th) at its South Park HQ, 815 S. 96th.
KEEP ARTS ALIVE: Along with many businesses, arts organizations are struggling, in a time where they can’t host events. So many have turned to online events, and this week you can support one for a West Seattle organization – ArtsWest, the playhouse and gallery in The Junction. Go here to see how to register to be part of it.
NO-CONTACT HALLOWEEN: More decoration locations, and another no-contact trick-or-treat event, have been added to the WSB Halloween page – thanks to everyone who continues sending sightings and announcements!
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
The trailside tribute to a bizarre chapter in West Seattle Bridge history is back. Announced by Lars:
It is with tireless dedication, that your Delridge Maritime Historical Society, in conjunction with the CFGA, is relieved to announce the return of Rolf Neslund to his memorial shrine The new and improved 2021 model Rolf bust is twice as heavy, with a lower center of gravity, and features state-of-the-art lo-jack technology and exploding dye packs to foil those without a sense of humor. As our world quickly grinds itself to an oily paste before our very eyes, we will once again have the rock-steady hand of our pilot, Captain Rolf Neslund on the tiller, headed straight for the bridge! Full speed ahead!
The Rolf Neslund Memorial Shrine and Garden of Commuting Despair is open daily on the lovely Delridge bike path, near the now defunct “Onramp to Freedom”. Please bring flowers, candles or small stuffed animals in an expression of futility that you will ever get to work on time again.
This comes one month after this work’s predecessor was sculpture-napped, barely a week after it was placed. (That original story has links explaining Rolf Neslund’s place in peninsula history – piloting the freighter that hit the old West Seattle Bridge in 1978, breaking a longstanding logjam over building the new one.)
Two food biznotes:
HARRY’S BEACH HOUSE: The bistro at 2576 Alki SW sent us this update:
Starting Saturday, October 31, we will once again be serving BRUNCH from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday’s! We have also enclosed our back terrace to accommodate “outdoor” dining for the Winter Season; all tables inside and out are socially distanced and adhere to the most current WA State Covid-19 guidelines regarding restaurant dining.
We are updating our longrunning restaurant list with ongoing outdoor dining, so all updates appreciated – westseattleblog@gmail.com!
SEATTLE BAGEL BAKERY: SBB sent word it’s expanding home delivery to West Seattle:\
West Seattle area bagelheads can now get their coveted bagels and schmear delivered fresh to their door! Seattle Bagel is determined to adapt and stay relevant during these trying times. Getting mobile and going direct with a free, contactless delivery service is their way of evolving to meet the food service challenges and needs of the community.
Offerings from Seattle Bagel:
● Bagel Varieties like Asiago Cheese and Everything to French Toast and Pizza Bagels
● Flavored Cream Cheese Spreads from Cinnamon Vanilla to Roasted Garlic
● Premade, Breakfast Bagel Sandwiches (Bacon, Ham or Sausage w/ Egg & Cheese)
● 3 Types of Bagel Dogs (Pesto Parmesan, Jalapeno Pepperjack and Bacon Cheddar)
They also are offering items from partners, including other types of (non-cream-cheese) spreads, granola, coffee, pastries, and smoked salmon. You can order through seattlebagel.com, either one-time orders or subscriptions, $25 minimum order, free delivery Tuesdays through Fridays (depending on your location).
Next weekend doesn’t just bring Halloween – it’ll also be the last weekend before Election Day. A unique celebration is planned on Puget Ridge. The announcement is from Stu Hennessey:
Following a harvest festival and crafts party where kids will vote on the future of their world within our neighborhood, we will be having a kids’ parade to our local ballot box at South Seattle College, at Puget Ridge Edible Park, 5265 18th Ave. SW, West Seattle, Sunday, November 1st. Kids’ parade to the ballot box starts at 1 pm.
This event is our effort to introduce children to the democratic process, giving them some voice in real decision-making that will affect a child’s view of their own neighborhood. In replacement of the traditional Halloween activities that will be curtailed due to Covid-19 we are offering a harvest festival and crafts party at Puget Ridge Edible Park. From 11 am to 1 pm, the children can do crafts and activities as well as vote for future activities and events at their local edible park. At 1 pm they will parade a short walk to the ballot box at South Seattle College to celebrate participation in democracy and take photos. A separate and smaller ballot box will be placed beside the official box.
The event is planned, Stu adds, “with wide separation and required mask wearing to comply with COVID-19 CDC and state guidelines. Any groups formed will be separated within their group and far away from any other group.”
Two key notes about the week ahead for the West Seattle Bridge, now in its 8th month of closure:
PIER 18 BEARING RELEASE: SDOT says the stabilization crew plans to release this stuck bearing – originally explained here – this week. Above is an SDOT photo of the temporary brace for that pier. It’s noted in this week’s stabilization update, published today. Once the stuck bearing is released, contractor Kraemer NA moves on to building a new one. More carbon-fiber wrapping is ahead, too.
COMMUNITY TASK FORCE MEETING WEDNESDAY: Now that they’ve had a week to review the Cost-Benefit Analysis, this volunteer advisory group is expected to share its thoughts with the mayor as she prepares to decide on repair now/replace later vs. replace now. The meeting is at noon Wednesday (October 28th), and the viewing link is here. (If there’s any last-minute change, as there was last week, you can check the streaming service’s YouTube channel.)
1:57 PM: The photo is from.a texter who reports, “Construction crews knocked down a pole at Edmunds and Delridge just now and there are live wires in the street. They are having cars turn around.”
2:07 PM: Our texter updates that some traffic is now getting by.
We obtained the SPD report narratives today on two Friday night/early Saturday incidents:
FAUNTLEROY/EDMUNDS SHOOTING: The report doesn’t shine much light on the shooting that happened just before midnight Friday night (here’s our original coverage). It says the victim was shot in the left shoulder, lower abdomen, and left leg, and “was extremely uncooperative and refused to give any information about the suspect or where the shooting took place.” Police spoke with people who reported hearing the shots but no one who actually saw the gunfire; some said they saw/heard a vehicle speed away and gave differing descriptions of the vehicle – including the “red F-250” noted in our report, but also a “dark SUV” – as well as differing descriptions of a possible suspect. Police checked the area but did not find any shell casings.
35TH SW GUNFIRE: We only heard a bit about this at the time but later found an incident number so we could request the report today. Just before 2 am Saturday, police got a call from a couple who said someone in another car had fired shots at theirs near 35th/Barton. The shooter’s car had passed theirs westbound on SW Barton at “extremely high speed,” they said, and they flipped its driver off, doing that again when they caught up with the other car at the 35th/Barton stoplight. After they turned northbound onto 35th, the other driver followed them, they said, and someone in that car shot at theirs, breaking out the rear window and causing other damage, with what police eventually counted as evidence of 24 hits. No projectiles were found, and no one was hurt. The car from which the shots were fired was described only as a silver sedan missing its rear plate.
From the WSB inbox, two more school-support-group fundraisers:
BUTTER BRAIDS: From the West Seattle Booster Club: “Stock up on delicious Butter Braids for the holidays and support WSHS Booster Club! These mouth-watering pastries come frozen. Simply thaw the butter braid overnight, pop it in the oven the next morning, layer on the pre-made icing and enjoy! Each butter braid will easily serve 4-6 people. Order online through this link by Friday, October 30th.” Contact Melanie at melanetheilen@msn.com for more information.
DISCOUNT CHINOOK BOOKS: The Lafayette Elementary PTA is selling digital subscriptions to Chinook Book for $10 (usually $15) to support the students of Lafayette. Get yours here.
Let us know about your school/nonprofit fundraiser, if it’s something the wider community can help with! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.
(Giant spider in The Junction, part of Harvest Fest)
Here’s what’s up today/tonight, as Hallo-week continues:
HARVEST FEST SCAVENGER HUNT: Get the map from participating businesses and wander The Junction through Saturday. Go here to see who’s in, and what else is happening during this year’s fall celebration.
SPOOKY TRIVIA: In conjunction with Harvest Fest, Pegasus Book Exchange is presenting this online at 7:30 pm tonight. Prizes, as previewed here Register by emailing pegasusbookexchange@gmail.com.
SHOPPING EVENT: Received from Doll Parts Collective:
Join us at Doll Parts Collective this evening (10/26) for our first Manic Monday shopping event! We know y’all need an excuse to dress up for Halloween this year that *isn’t* a Zoom social hour, so we are opening our doors for a little spooky fun! We will be open from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, with Halloween-themed treats, creepy jams, and lots of great vintage! Come in costume and receive 10% off your purchase.
Note: we are following necessary safety practices to help prevent the spread of COVID. Please wear your face covering and do not come to our event if you’re feeling unwell. We hope to make our Manic Monday event a monthly series, so you can always catch the next one!
hALLOWEEN DECORATIONS: Thanks to everyone continuing to send them – we’ve added more to the list on the WSB Halloween page, listed by neighborhood!
6:16 AM: Welcome to Monday – the 217th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK, ETC.
*Delridge project: Starting today, SW Alaska closes east of Delridge. Here are details for the week ahead.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
New cameras! In addition to the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way cameras we mentioned Friday, there’s now a Highland Park Way/Holden camera too – see it here:
Meantime – here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here (we’re adding the new Highland Park Way cameras later today); locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Fare collection has resumed.
Water Taxi – Also no longer free.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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