West Seattle, Washington

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month : 11/2020 294 results

YOU CAN HELP: Bring pajamas & toys to West Seattle YMCA
November 28, 2020 12:51 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Bring pajamas & toys to West Seattle YMCA
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: The Y crew @ donation drive)

Reminder that while we’ve talked a lot about shopping today, it’s also a day for giving – right now until 3 pm, the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) has a drive-up donation drive, accepting warm pajamas and unwrapped toys for local students. The Y’s at 36th/Snoqualmie. Here’s our preview with details.

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ORCAS: Whales’ Saturday visit
November 28, 2020 9:57 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales

9:57 AM: For the second day in a row, you have a chance to see orcas off West Seattle – Kersti Muul from Salish Wildlife Watch says whales are southbound, south of the Bainbridge-Seattle ferry lanes. Let us know if you see them!

10:32 AM: In addition to the updates in comments (thank you!), Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail called to say they’re between Blake and Vashon, visible through binoculars.

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UPDATE: Fire response on Alki
November 28, 2020 8:20 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

8:20 AM: Big SFD response to the 2700 block of 60th SW [map] – but it’s already being downsized. We are headed there for specifics. Update to come.

8:34 AM: SFD says the fire was confined to one room of a duplex. @PuyallupCoug tweeted this photo of a burned mattress that was brought out.

(Photo by @PuyallupCoug)

8:52 AM: We’ve just talked to the incident commander. No one hurt, damage limited to the mattress.

(WSB photos, this one & next)

They’re talking to the unit’s resident to figure out what sparked the fire.

The last units are leaving.

(Photo by Willy O)

12:17 PM: SFD tells WSB that the cause was determined to be “improperly discarded smoking material.”

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: Local shopping, and what else is up
November 28, 2020 6:30 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor, at Lincoln Park)

The Saturday after Thanksgiving has become THE day to focus your holiday shopping on independent, small local businesses. Better yet, spend your money with those businesses every day. Online shopping is easier. you say? Good news – almost every local retailer offers online shopping. We have a long list in the Shopping Spotlights section currently atop the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Plus:

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY DEALS: The West Seattle Junction Association has a list! Browse it here. And our aforementioned Shopping Spotlights section in the Holiday Guide has first-weekend-of-the-season local deals too.

Also today:

PAJAMA & TOY DRIVE: The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) would love to see you this afternoon:

Join us for a drive-thru pajama & toy drive on Saturday, November 28, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the West Seattle Y [36th/Snoqualmie] to support Y families this holiday season. We are looking for warm pajamas, sizes 5T through size 16, and unwrapped toys. A few favorites include Legos, art kits, board games, Paw Patrol, Hot Wheels, and all kinds of balls. If you are not able to join us for the drive-thru, please see our online wish list.

CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPPING: Local lots are listed in our Holiday Guide (including no-contact tree-shopping options).

KIWANIS CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE AUCTION: Raising money for charity in place of the organization’s usual holiday Pancake Breakfast. “Silent auction” online, continuing through December 5th – go here.

HOLIDAY SHOW: ArtsWest presents “A Very Merry Kraken Tea Party,” now available for online access. Details are in our preview.

Got something for our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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CORONAVIRUS: Friday 11/27 roundup
November 27, 2020 11:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

39 weeks now since the Friday night announcement of the first King County case of COVID-19 – here’s the latest:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:

*42,903 people have tested positive, 800 more than yesterday’s total

*853 people have died, unchanged since Wednesday

*3,129 people have been hospitalized, 65 more than yesterday’s total

*65,644 people have been tested (the county still says this number is “frozen” but we note it’s 798 more than yesterday)

One week ago, those totals were 37,435/835/2,914/612,290.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 61.6 million cases, 1,442,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

DONATION DRIVE SATURDAY: If you can give, here’s an opportunity:

West Seattle YMCA Pajama & Toy Drive

Join us for a drive-thru pajama & toy drive on Saturday, November 28, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm at the West Seattle Y [36th/Snoqualmie] to support Y families this holiday season. We are looking for warm pajamas, sizes 5T through size 16, and unwrapped toys. A few favorites include Legos, art kits, board games, Paw Patrol, Hot Wheels, and all kinds of balls. If you are not able to join us for the drive-thru, please see our online wish list.

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

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 stolen vehicles to watch for
November 27, 2020 10:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Earlier this week, the Southwest Precinct issued an auto-theft alert, noting that it’s up 14 percent in the past month compared to the same time last year. And tonight, we have two reader reports about stolen vehicles:
STOLEN ACCORD: From Josh:

My car was stolen overnight. It’s a beige-colored 1997 Honda Accord. A police report has been filed and we’re hoping to find the car ASAP. Might be good to remind the neighborhood to keep their cars locked. License plate is AJJ1695 and we’re in Fairmount Park on 37th Avenue.

STOLEN CHEVY PICKUP: From Steve:

Stolen ’95 Chevrolet Pickup, stock 4x, WA plate B18708T– from 4800 block 41st Avenue SW sometime last 4 days.

If you see either one – or any other stolen vehicle – call 911.

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A mask with a smile: West Seattle entrepreneur launches FriendlyFace
November 27, 2020 7:29 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Promotional video for FriendlyFace)
We’ve all gotten used to wearing masks. Or – have we? Do you miss seeing people’s smiles?

A West Seattle entrepreneur is trying to fix that with FriendlyFace. It’s a custom-made mask, based on your photo, so your face can be covered by … your face.

“I made this initially as a joke to make my kids laugh — Just put a picture of myself on a mask. It was, of course, hilarious, but I got a ton of interest from other randoms who approached me at the hardware store or the grocery store asking where I got it. I decided to turn it into a project,” explains FriendlyFace’s Ash Bhoopathy. He is a digital product designer and serial entrepreneur, so – why not?

FriendlyFace isn’t the only company to offer a selfie mask, but Ash’s value proposition incorporates a few extras. The masks come with a laundry bag and activated charcoal filters. And the app you can use to order yours can make them extra-true-to-life, though it’s not required that you use the app: “About half of our orders come from the iOS app, and the other half come from the web. The iOS app makes the process of alignment, lighting, and measurement very easy. For those who don’t have an iPhone X or newer, they can place the order from FriendlyFace.com. We have a team of people who can retouch people’s faces – We got this after some excited user feedback we heard a few times (‘I don’t need to wear makeup anymore, I can just do it once and get my pic photoshopped’).”

FriendlyFace’s West Seattle cred is more than just the founder’s residence. Ash explains, “All printing and pressing is done here in West Seattle. Currently we’re working out of a proverbial startup ‘garage.’ For masks, we source from a company in Blaine (northwestern WA). For gaiters, we source fabric from a mill on the East Coast, and our cut and sew team is based in West Seattle.” They have the capacity to produce about 2,000 a day.

The mask can draw more than smiles. We asked Ash about unusual reactions: “The first time I wore one of my gaiters in public, a manager from Costco came running from the back to scold me for not wearing a mask. When they got closer, he started cracking up after realizing that it was actually a face covering. That first weekend I wore it out, 48 people asked me where I got my mask and were super surprised to learn that the photo was actually my face. It still doesn’t register to many people that with computational photography, digital printing technology, that personalized products like these face masks are possible.”

Ash hopes to expand: “Beyond masks, our vision is to create a brand and products that embody happiness, laughter, and joy. Seeing people smile and laugh again is a huge thing for us and, we think, many people.”

P.S. They have a Black Friday promo going – buy 2, get 1 free, with code BLACKFRIDAY – and a program for employers to buy masks for their employees (explained in this video).

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Hillside happiness ‘in full display mode’
November 27, 2020 7:00 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

As noted in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, we’re spotlighting lights again this year. We noticed while out this evening that many have theirs up already – from houses’ yards to apartments’ balconies – not surprisingly (today’s dry weather might have helped). We’ve already received a few spotlight suggestions, including this announcement from Ken Arkills:

“The Arkills home on the corner of 39th Ave SW and SW Trenton in Fauntlee Hills is in full display mode. The response from the children and parents and those walking and driving by has been incredible and has touched our hearts as we see their smiles and hear their words of appreciation during such difficult times. With all the challenges in 2020. we knew we had to turn up the electricity here and deliver for our Community. … We are on a corner off the beaten path and folks are able to walk or drive by and enjoy the display from many vantage points and still maintain social distancing and they do.”

Lots of cheery characters – some animation, too. Here’s a map.

If you have – or know of – decorations/lights to share, let us know! Photos welcome but not required; we’ll be out with our camera many nights. westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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BIZNOTES: Floors Plus Northwest, Jet City Beignet, Capers Home
November 27, 2020 5:05 pm
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTES: Floors Plus Northwest, Jet City Beignet, Capers Home
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Spend local! Three more notes from local businesses, to help you along:

FLOORS PLUS NORTHWEST: This recently opened business in Morgan Junction (6959 California SW) emailed this update: “We just wanted to let you know we are holding a 15%-off sale for materials and labor. If anyone is in need of new carpet right away, we have some Locally Stocked carpet. We can order today and install within the next couple of days. We also have some locally stocked Luxury Vinyl Planks options.”

JET CITY BEIGNET: Updates from this WSB sponsor:

We are SUPER excited to be teaming up with The Good Society Brewery & Public House! Starting in December, (except 12/13 – we’ll be taking a break that weekend) we will be popping up and selling beignets at this award winning brewery every Sunday from 9 am-2 pm. Come visit us and enjoy beignets and beermosas and beignet/beer bundles!

We will be popping up at different WS locations on Saturdays for the foreseeable future (Saturday pre-orders will be put on hold for awhile, but we’ll still have the sauce trios and coffee available at our popups).

Up this weekend:
Small Business Saturday at Alair Gift Shop! Stop by this amazing gift shop on Saturday and get some hot beignets and coffee while supporting local! You are sure to find severely rad and unique gifts for all your peeps…
11/28 – 10 am-3 pm, 3270 California Ave SW

Sunday popup at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse! Get some shopping in at the WS Farmers Market and then treat yourself to some fresh beignets and a delicious coffee drink!
11/29 – 9 am-2 pm, 4410 California Ave SW

All the info on our pop up locations and dates can be found on our website calendar or social media pages.

CAPERS HOME: The Junction shop (4525 California SW) wants you to know about its new hours:

Mon-Sat 10 am – 6 pm
Sun 10 am – 4 pm

Private appointments – call to reserve your spot

Sun 4 pm-7 pm
Mon-Thu 8 am-10 am and 6 pm-8 pm

We’re also featuring biznotes in our daily previews and Holiday Guide (see “shopping spotlights”). Info? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: 1 hurt in stabbing at Delridge bus stop
November 27, 2020 3:35 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: 1 hurt in stabbing at Delridge bus stop
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

3:35 PM: Thanks for the tip. SFD and SPD had a “scenes of violence” response just before 3 pm at Delridge/Andover. SFD tells us most units were canceled before arrival – the initial report was a woman with a knife injury, which turned out to be minor. Working to find out more.

3:37 PM: Police have already cleared the scene.

3:47 PM: SPD replied to our subsequent email inquiry: “Victim reported he was waiting for the bus when a known male came up to him and they began talking. Victim turned around and then said suspect attacked him, unprovoked, with a knife, then fled in a vehicle. … Victim has a minor injury to his ear and will be transported to the hospital by AMR.”

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WHALES: Resident orcas off West Seattle
November 27, 2020 12:36 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(Photo added, by Kersti Muul – Mom and son in the sunset. J26 Mike and J16 Slick)

12:36 PM: Southern Resident Killer Whales are back in our area! Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch reports J-Pod whales are southbound, visible from Alki right now, closer to the Bainbridge Island side of the Sound, so definitely binoculars are needed. Let us know if you see them!

1:24 PM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail says they’re visible off Alki Point, and if you need a point of reference, researcher Mark Sears has his boat out nearby.

2:32 PM: See comments for updates. Reported off Lowman Beach as of a short time ago.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 burglaries; shooting followup
November 27, 2020 11:45 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes today:

BURGLARY/HIT-RUN: This diesel pickup truck is being sought in connection with a burglary and hit-run in Highland Park on Wednesday.

If you have any information, the case number is 20-328142.

BURGLARY/CASING: Keep watch along alleys, Andreas advises: “Last Sunday at 0900, my wife and neighbor came upon two men … breaking into my alley garage. They sped away in a white BMW when noticed. They returned Thanksgiving morning, slowly moving down the alleys in a large white van to finish the job. I assume they are still in the area looking for targets of opportunity while people are away.” This happened in a neighborhood near The Junction.

SHOOTING FOLLOWUP: We checked with police earlier this week to follow up on last week’s shooting at a house in the 6900 block of 24th SW. No arrests so far. As for the repeated problems at the house where it happened, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Sina Ebinger tells us it’s a “complicated” situation. City files show that seven more complaints about the property have been filed since the shooting, mostly complaining about garbage. Both police and neighbors say they have tried to get the property owner to put a dumpster at the site. The owner, meantime, has been pursuing a court action since early October to evict the occupants of the house, which he bought last spring; another hearing is scheduled next week.

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Remembering Georgette Shaughnessy Johnson, 1930-2020
November 27, 2020 10:30 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Georgette Shaughnessy Johnson, and sharing this with the community:

Georgette Leona Shaughnessy Johnson, 90 years of age, passed away on 11/18/2020 of natural causes. Georgette was born on 9/1/1930 to George and Clara Maes in Seattle. She was a proud big sister to twin brothers Donald and Ronald. Georgette met the love of her life, Patrick Shaughnessy, as he reported to work at the Georgetown Police Precinct, next door to her family home. They were married in 1950 and resided in West Seattle, raising four children, Patrick, Kathleen (Kevin) Hogan, Maureen (Stu) Nelson, and Jeaneen Chapman. Patrick and Georgette were married for 43 years at the time of his death in 1994.

Lucky again in love, she married John Johnson and added another loving daughter, Molly, to her family. Johnny and Georgette loved to travel and built a beautiful home in Magnolia to host celebrations for the family they loved so much. Johnny passed away in 2007.

Faith in God guided Georgette’s life as a devoted and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother (Nanny G). She is survived by her children, 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, beloved sister-in-law Carole Maes (Ronald), and many nieces and nephews. Georgette’s family will always keep her safe in their hearts and cherish all their wonderful memories. A private funeral Mass was held at Holy Family in White Center, with burial at Calvary Cemetery. The Celebration of Life will be held at a later date due to COVID. Share memories of Georgette and visit the obituary page and online guestbook at www.emmickfunerals.com.

(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 FRIDAY: Local holiday shopping deals, and more
November 27, 2020 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE FRIDAY: Local holiday shopping deals, and more
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Luna Girls on Alki, photographed by Marc Milrod)

It’s “Black Friday.” Please spend local. We start today’s preview with some of the ways you can do that – from home OR in-person:

BLACK FRIDAY @ THUNDER ROAD GUITARS & THE BASS SHOP: These WSB sponsors at 6400 California SW welcome you to the showroom starting at 10 this morning. Or:

Up to 15% off most guitars, basses and amplifiers! 15% off all pedals! Sale LIVE now online: www.thunderroadguitars.com. Showroom doors open Friday 10 am.

Worldwide shipping, Curbside Pickup and FREE local delivery (Seattle) available and encouraged. Let us help pair you up with your new guitar this holiday season! Due to current COVID-19 restrictions only 5 customers in store at a time.

BLACK FRIDAY & BEYOND @ KID-FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR: From the shop at 4832 California SW:

Go outside & play!
We are well stocked with what kids & babies need to stay warm & dry.
Now through December 1st mention West Seattle Blog for 20% off new boots including Bogs, Keen, Stride Rite, & Hatley.
Find many other in-store discounts up to 1/2 off.
Shop open 10-5 all weekend, closed Tuesdays.

JUNCTION BLACK FRIDAY/SMALL BIZ SATURDAY DEALS: Some start today – see the full list on the West Seattle Junction Association website.

Also:

OPENING DAY FOR HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: Special early opening if you’re ready to get your Christmas tree, 9 am-9 pm today. You can even pre-order, or shop without getting out of your car. Delivery available too. All the details are here. (42nd/Dakota)

Plus – today/tonight, online:

ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE: Presented by the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, online bidding 6-9 pm tonight on unique gift items and more to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank – info here.

KIWANIS CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE AUCTION: Raising money for charity in place of the organization’s usual holiday Pancake Breakfast. “Silent auction” online today through December 5th – go here.

HOLIDAY SHOW: ArtsWest presents “A Very Merry Kraken Tea Party,” available for online access starting today – details in our preview.

Got something for our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC & TRANSIT: Post-holiday Friday watch
November 27, 2020 6:07 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Welcome to Friday, November 27th, the 249th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

NO ROAD WORK

Delridge project: Crews are not scheduled to work today, SDOT says.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular weekday schedule today.

Water Taxi – No service again today

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:

The main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here are two cameras:

The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for the other detour-route neighborhoods, like Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge.)

Checking for bridges’ marine-traffic openings? See the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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CORONAVIRUS: Thursday 11/26 roundup
November 26, 2020 10:48 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Even on this holiday, there’s pandemic news:

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

*42,103 people have tested positive, up 603 from yesterday’s total

*853 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total

*3,064 people have been hospitalized, up 9 from yesterday’s total

*624,846 people have been tested (this number still “frozen” while state resolves a results backlog)

One week ago, those totals were 36,797/834/2,901/608,055.

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

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 60.9 million cases worldwide, 12.8 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

COVID CLOSURE: Realfine Coffee in The Triangle announced this morning that an employee has tested positive: “We will be temporarily closing the West Seattle store until further notice so we can take the necessary steps to safely reopen.”

TESTING: The city’s West Seattle site (Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot, 2801 SW Thistle) reopens tomorrow.

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

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KING TIDES: Get ready for the next round
November 26, 2020 6:28 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(November photo by Kersti Muul)

Quite a show two weeks ago when the first round of “king tides” arrived. Next wave is due in mid-December, and scientists would like your help reporting on them:

King tides, the annual extreme-high tides that occur whenever the moon is closest to Earth, are a dramatic feature of Washington winters – and offer a glimpse of what our future in Western Washington may look like as sea levels rise. This holiday season provides a great opportunity for people to capture these extreme tides and help scientists assemble a preview of shorelines to come. You can find the date and time of the next king tide nearest you by visiting the Washington Sea Great king tides calendar.

It’s simple to get involved during the 2020-2021 Washington king tides season and raise awareness about rising seas, particularly through the MyCoast app that was developed for statewide use: Download the MyCoast app on your smartphone and upload your king tide photographs from any king tide events around the state.

Your photos will help scientists, managers, planners and your own community visualize the changes coming to coastal regions around Western Washington. To find out how much sea levels could rise in your community, check the most current sea level rise projections.

The next king tides are coming in mid-December and January. Keep your phone or camera ready. Please just remember to stay safe by watching out for waves and slippery surfaces!

The King Tides program is a partnership between Washington Sea Grant and Washington Department of Ecology.

(Send us some of your pics too!)

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Holiday window-painting
November 26, 2020 3:37 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

As noted in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, we’re spotlighting decorations again this season. Not just lights – this year, so many other types of displays have been created in windows and yards and on balconies, as we all look for ways to brighten our pandemic-constrained lives. Above and below are photos sent by LC in Admiral, who wanted to share the story of her painted window. The artist is known as The Deco-Meshin’ Mama:

She explains her technique via email: “I hand-draw each design with expo marker. I then paint a base layer with inter paint, with a eggshell or satin finish. Then I do all the details! I do a lot of deco mesh 3-D work, window painting, and murals.” She is a relatively recent arrival to Seattle – just before the pandemic – and while she had done a lot of work on business windows, she’s pivoted to residential, and it’s been a hit – she says she’s booked up for the next three weeks. You can see more of her work here.

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GRATITUDE: Food-drive success!
November 26, 2020 1:11 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news | Westwood

Earlier this month, we published the John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) call for pre-Thanksgiving donations to be delivered to the White Center Food Bank. What you see above is just part of what generous donors brought in. The office wanted to share its gratitude:

Thank you, everyone, for making the John L Scott Westwood food drive, benefiting the White Center Food Bank, a success. People came from all over, and our bins were overflowing!

Please remember this holiday season to continue to give to our local food banks, as the need is great this year.

Donation information for the WCFB, which also serves part of West Seattle, is here.

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West Seattle Thanksgiving Day 2020 info: Coffee, restaurants, grocery stores, more…
November 26, 2020 5:53 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photo by Machel Spence)

Happy Thanksgiving! We’re thankful for your presence, enabling us to continue serving our community by providing information we hope will be helpful – like this:

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: Our list has 12 independent West Seattle coffee shops open for at least part of today – see them here. (Others? Please text us – 206-293-6302!)

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

RESTAURANTS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Short list this year – see it here.

THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular weekday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map

OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday
*Seattle Parks‘ ongoing closures
*No Seattle Public Library services today

Seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are thankful for your tips 24/7/365!)

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CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 11/25 roundup
November 25, 2020 10:34 pm
|    Comments Off on CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 11/25 roundup
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here are the local/state pandemic-related toplines on Thanksgiving Eve:

STATEWIDE SITUATION REPORT: The newest one is out and as you might guess, it’s not good. Here are the toplines:

*COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly throughout the state.

*Daily case counts have skyrocketed in both eastern and western Washington.

*If disease transmission continues at the same pace observed early this month, by early December the number of daily hospital admissions could be double current numbers.

*Cases are increasing across all age groups, including older people, who are more likely to become seriously ill, require hospitalization and stay in a hospital for longer.

*Growth in cases is widely distributed across the state, with the majority of counties seeing accelerating rates.

*Even small counties are affected by the surge.

*The overall percentage of Washington state residents with active COVID-19 infection is higher than the peak in late March.

Read more details here.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Now, from the Seattle-King County Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:

*41,500 people have tested positive, 764 more than yesterday’s total

*853 people have died, 4 more than yesterday’s total

*3,055 people have been hospitalized, 25 more than yesterday’s total

*624.246 people have been tested++++

One week ago, the four totals we track were 35,993/834/2,903/603,808.

++++Because of the state test-results backlog first mentioned Saturday, this number is “frozen” since 11/21, the county says, although we note that tonight’s tally is up 752 from a day earlier.

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

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

WHERE IT’S SPREADING: Need yet another reason to not have Thanksgiving dinner with anyone outside your household? SKC Public Health has an enlightening new report. From the summary:

A new report on outbreaks and exposure settings from Public Health—Seattle & King County describes settings where people may have become infected and finds the most common reported sources of potential exposure in recent weeks are in households, in a variety of community or social activities and gatherings, and in workplaces. Examples of community and social activities include get-togethers with family and friends, birthday parties, house or dinner parties, larger celebrations such as weddings, activities at a place of worship or visiting food service establishments. These activities, as well as out of state travel, have increased over the course of the pandemic while cases associated with long-term care and other healthcare facilities have decreased.

See the full 18-page report here.

NEW HEALTH/DENTAL RULES: From the governor’s office:

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced additional requirements for health and dental facilities to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

“With the increase in COVID outbreaks in health care facilities, it is important that we continue to protect patients and health workers from contracting COVID in a place where they feel safe, especially as we see COVID activity increasing dramatically across the state.” Inslee said.

Proclamation 20-24.2 amends the existing non-urgent medical and dental procedures proclamation to increase requirements on PPE use, testing of health care professionals, notifications of outbreaks, and distancing requirements in non-clinical areas of health facilities.

Read the proclamation here. Its provisions take effect December 3rd.

NEED TESTING? The city’s West Seattle testing site is closed tomorrow for the holiday.

GET READY TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted starting next week for those added state small-business grants recently announced.

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

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Bridge questions, port updates @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition
November 25, 2020 8:07 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Port of Seattle | Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The West Seattle Transportation Coalition moved up its regular fourth-Thursday meeting slot by a week this month because of Thanksgiving – and so, unplanned, that put it at the end of a long day of meetings about the West Seattle Bridge.

The bridge was the WSTC’s first of two main topics (the other was Terminal 5).

SDOT UPDATE: Bridge project leader Heather Marx recapped the day’s big news, Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s announcement that the bridge will be repaired rather than replaced. Marx stressed that they are being very cautious about estimating cost and timelines at this early stage. They won’t have a “full design package” until spring, and then they’ll advertise for a contractor.

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LAST CALL: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays boxes
November 25, 2020 6:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays are happening this year – just, like so many other things, differently. Some of the joy is available in special Hometown Holiday Boxes, in the spirit of the Harvest Fest boxes sold earlier this fall, and they’re another way to support local small businesses. Friday is the deadline for ordering one (or more) of these goodie boxes – here’s the description of what’s available:

The Hometown Holiday elves will be packing the boxes for delivery and pick-up beginning Saturday, December 19th through Thursday, December 24th. Each box is filled with Hometown Holiday treats from around the Junction; every box is unique and hand-packed with care. All the proceeds go back to the small businesses!

1. The Holly Jolly Box – This box will be full of local items, plus hand-selected beer and cider. 21+, must present ID. $55

2. The Jingle Bells Box – This box will have local wine, plus some unique gifts that are a wonderful way to relax into the season. 21+, must present ID. $55

3.The Chocolate Box – it’s like a chocolate charcuterie! This box is filled with chocolates, cocoa, West Seattle mugs, plus other handmade treats. $45

4.The Kids’ Merry Craft Box – a delight for kids packed with ornament crafts (one for your tree, one for the West Seattle tree!), a holiday book, plus other little treats for busy holiday hands. $25

You can order yours – and see what else is up for Hometown Holidays – via this page on the West Seattle Junction Association website. (WSB is a Hometown Holidays community co-sponsor.)

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