West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tomorrow the pandemic begins its ninth month in our area. Here’s the latest:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: First, here’s today’s daily summary from Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*26.621 people have tested positive, 100 more than yesterday’s total
*800 people have died, 9 more than yesterday’s total
*2,559 people have been hospitalized, 14 more than yesterday’s total
*526,824 people have been tested, 4,055 fewer than yesterday’s total++
One week ago, the totals were 25,367/785/2,508/510,947. (++The county explains the drop in people tested as the result of a new state “deduplication process” and adds that 2,183 new test results were reported today.)
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 43.9 million cases worldwide, 8.7 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: This morning, Gov. Inslee announced that our state will join with other Western states in a workgroup to independently review any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA. This would not be a lengthy review delaying the availability of a vaccine, he said, as the group will be accessing data along the way, even before approval announcements. The video from his briefing is here.
CONTACT-FREE HALLOWEEN: Thanks to Don Brubeck for this photo from North Admiral, in the spirit of the pandemic-year Halloween season:
We are continuing to add decoration locations and no-contact trick-or-treat events to the WSB West Seattle Halloween page.
BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health officials’ weekly briefing is happening again Wednesday at 2 pm; you can watch the livestream (or, later, the archived video) here.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Stay Healthy/Keep Moving Streets were launched as a pandemic response, but some will outlast COVID-19.
The no-through-traffic streets comprised one of two major discussions at this month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting; the other recapped what’s new with the West Seattle Bridge and detour-traffic mitigation.
STAY HEALTHY STREETS: SDOT’s Summer Jawson brought this update. She reviewed some of the basics of how the program got started, and what they’re seeing – people out and about, distanced, little car usage. She acknowledged they do still get some questions – from “can my delivery get through?” to complaints about racism expressed toward people gathering.
For a refresher, here are maps of the Stay Healthy Streets in West Seattle:
Read More
Thanks to Lynn for the photo above from Monday’s sunset – and Terry for the photo below with an optical illusion from tonight’s sunset:
We’re taking a moment to remind you that Daylight Saving Time ends early Sunday (2 am November 1st) – that’s when we “fall back” one hour. So while the sunset is right before 6 pm now, next week it’ll be before 5 pm – moving toward the earliest sunsets of the year, 4:17 pm on December 9-10.
P.S. Though it’s now been a year and a half since our state law changed to allow permanent Daylight Saving Time, its implementation won’t happen unless Congress changes federal law. There was an attempt this fall to at least extend DST for a year.
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
CAR PROWL ALERT: Received from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner:
The SW Precinct has recently seen an increase in car prowl incidents in our William 2 (W2) patrol beat area, specifically on and around Beach Drive SW. These incidents are mostly occurring in the night time hours.
Here is the link to our Patrol Beat/Sector map. In order to address this increase, we would like to remind our community about the following car prowl prevention strategies:
• Check vehicle regularly (especially important during COVID times)
• Never leave valuables in plain view
• Hide chargers and accessories that indicate an electronic device may be in the vehicle
• Remove garage door openers, key cards and other keys from the vehicle
• If possible, park vehicle in a busy, locked, monitored and/or well-lit area
• Install anti-theft devices
• If possible, activate alarm
And from the SPD “significant incident” file, two summaries of note about arrests this past Sunday:
SHOPLIFTING TURNS TO ROBBERY: This happened in the 7300 block of Delridge:
On 10-25-2020 at 1632 hours, a subject was contacted by store security after they witnessed him shoplifting inside of a local business. Security attempted to contact the subject about merchandise taken when the subject pulled out a knife and threatened security staff. Subject left area on foot as officers arrived in the area. A student officer spotted a subject matching the description a block away and detained him for investigation. A witness from the store positively identified the subject as the person that pulled a knife. He was placed into custody and booked into King County Jail.
WEST MARGINAL CRASH FOLLOWUP: We briefly reported on this crash in realtime early Sunday. The “significant incident” summary reveals it had a backstory:
On 10/25/2020 at 0131 hours, the Washington State Patrol was actively pursuing a vehicle which exited SR599 and continued northbound on city streets, eventually heading north on W Marginal Wy SW. The suspect vehicle came upon a large gathering of vehicles and, after performing a U-turn, continued southbound on W Marginal Wy SW. The suspect vehicle entered the intersection of Highland Park Wy SW against a red light and subsequently collided with a motorist. The suspect driver fled on foot. WSP notified nearby agencies requesting a fast back. SPD SW and S units, Port of Seattle and King County units responded. WSP was able to capture the suspect and take him into custody. SPD assisted further with traffic control while SFD cut two passengers out of the victim vehicle. WSP is conducting the follow-up investigation.
That’s a framegrab from the new SDOT traffic camera at Highland Park Way and Holden, which was increasingly busy before the West Seattle Bridge closure, and has since become even busier as the epicenter of detour-route traffic, Future improvements are part of what HPAC will talk about with SDOT tomorrow night (Wednesday, October 28th), 7 pm online. Here’s your invitatian:
Join us Wednesday, as SDOT planners check in with Highland Park, Riverview & South Delridge residents, to report back to the larger community on what was heard on the Home Zone walks of October 20-21, and collect additional feedback from community to develop a proposed Home Zone plan.
A Home Zone plan involves the entire neighborhood working together to prioritize improvements that calm traffic and improve pedestrian mobility and neighborhood livability during the impacts of the WSBridge detour routes. We will also hear a brief update on the progress of Highland/Holden intersection planning work. Meet your neighbors and help build a safer, more user-friendly community. Log in virtually here:
Meeting ID: 894 0739 2875
Call into the meeting: 253 215 8782
(Spotted sandpiper, photographed in 2017 by Mark Wangerin at what was then T-107 Park)
Just announced at the Seattle Port Commission meeting – the six new names for Port of Seattle parks on the Duwamish River. Four are in the Lushootseed language, two are in English. From the meeting-agenda document:
The former T-105 and T-107 parks, now tuʔəlaltxʷ Village Park & Shoreline Habitat and həʔapus Village Park & Shoreline Habitat, are in West Seattle. ha?apus is the name supported by the Duwamish Tribe, whose Longhouse and Cultural Center is across the street; we reported on their advocacy when the renaming process began in July. At today’s meeting, chair Cecile Hansen and longhouse director Jolene Haas expressed their thanks to community participants in the process, saying of the renaming, “We pray it will create an opportunity to heal our relationship with one another as Indian people and citizens of Seattle.”
With the annual Medicare open-enrollment period under way, we welcome Patrice Lewis of We Speak Medicare as a returning sponsor. Here’s what she would like you to know about what she does:
My goal has always been to make my living doing something I really enjoy and I’m doing that as a Medicare Health Insurance Broker. I love helping people, especially when it adds to the quality of their lives. As a broker, I have my clients’ best interests at heart, and I have a knack for explaining complicated things, which Medicare surely is! Often my clients are anxious, sometimes frustrated and even irritable when they come to me. I know first-hand the frustrations of trying to understand the complexities of Medicare well enough to decide on a health-insurance plan that’s best for your particular situation. I’m lucky to be a calm person and that helps my clients to relax.
As I work with my clients, my reward is seeing the shift in their understanding, how relieved they are, and how pleased they are with their final decision. They thank me for being patient with them and for helping them to understand how it all works. They are grateful that they now feel confident enough to make an informed decision. I know I’ve helped them because they tell me.
I’m so lucky to be doing this in West Seattle, where I’ve lived since 1985. I love living here and know the area really well, as I’ve been a Real Estate agent since 2012. I’m a member of the West Seattle Garden Tour and of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. I’ve also been a volunteer substitute aerobics instructor at the West Seattle YMCA – I loved doing that!
Just in time for the annual Medicare enrollment period, I’m doing presentations as well as individual sessions at the Senior Center of West Seattle – give them a call for more information. I’m available by phone at 206-430-3782, or email at patricelewis@wespeakmedicare.org
We thank Patrice Lewis 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.
Another Hallo-week activity! The photo and announcement are from the Fauntleroy Community Association:
In an effort to bring some fun to the dwindling daylight, throughout the week of October 26-30, The Fauntleroy Community Association is sponsoring a community pumpkin hunt. If you search around the Endolyne/Fauntleroy area, you may find a white pumpkin — or even a beautiful blown glass pumpkin — with a note attached. Some even include a gift certificate for use at our local merchants, compliments of the FCA board members. We hope you’ll participate. We encourage you to take your pumpkin home with you, then take a picture of yourself with your pumpkin, and post it on social media, with #FCApumpkins
Enjoy!
Fauntleroy Community Association
2020 Board Members
We’re also adding this to the WSB West Seattle Halloween page – which we’re updating multiple times daily this week, as new decoration-location reports and trick-or-treat events/locations come in!
One week until Election Day. So we start our daily preview with …
VOTING: As of last night, 55 percent of Seattle voters had turned in their ballots. King County Elections is hoping for 90 percent turnout. Imagine how cool it would be if those all got in early enough to be part of the Election Night results! You have your choice of three West Seattle drop boxes (and one each in White Center and South Park), all listed/mapped here, If you’re going to use USPS, don’t wait much longer, just in case. If you’ve already sent in/dropped off your ballot, check here to ensure it was received
ESTATE PLANNING: 11 am online, presented by Brookdale Admiral Heights, with guest speaker Lars Anderson. Call Tina at 206-938-3964 to reserve your spot; here’s the viewing link.
PARK NAMES: The new crowdsourced names for the Port of Seattle‘s Duwamish River parks will be announced around 12:30 pm during the Port Commission meeting – here’s how to watch. (P.S. If you don’t want to be surprised or don’t have time to watch – looks like the new names are revealed in this meeting-agenda document.)
DEMONSTRATION: Scott‘s continuing the twice-weekly demonstrations through fall:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, October 27, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday, October 29, 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.
DESSERT POP-UP: Last time Sticky Treats & Sweets had a pop-up in the Itto’s Tapas space, a power outage interrupted. So they’re trying again tonight (Tuesdays are an off-night for Itto’s), 4-8 pm. Here’s the menu. (California & Genesee)
PUBLIC HEARING: Got something to say about what should or shouldn’t be in next year’s city budget? Sign up to speak during tonight’s public hearing online, which starts at 5:30 pm. The agenda explains how to participate and/or watch.
HALLOWEEN DECORATION LOCATIONS: See the growing list on the WSB Halloween page!
6:07 AM: Welcome to Tuesday – the 218th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK, ETC.
*Delridge project: SW Alaska is closed east of Delridge, and tonight there’s work at SW Brandon. Here are this week’s details.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
New cameras! In addition to the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way cameras we mentioned last week, 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; 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.
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).
)(WSB file photo)
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.
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.
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