West Seattle, Washington

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month : 11/2020 294 results

WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: Notes for today
November 14, 2020 6:43 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Alec Newman for that photo taken during Friday afternoon’s “king tide.” Here are some notes to get your day going, including another chance for tide-watching:

ROAD WORK: Depending on the weather, crews could be working on 16th SW near South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and on the low bridge (as previewed here Friday), and on Delridge Way.

FOOD DRIVE: You can take nonperishable-food donations for the White Center Food Bank to John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) 10 am-4 pm. The office is in the Westwood Village breezeway, across from 24 Hour Fitness.

LOCAL WINE: The Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 1-5 pm today so you can go get local wine.

KING TIDE: Might not be as spectacular as Friday afternoon, but it’s still going to be a fairly high tide even without an atmospheric boost – 12.4 feet at 3:18 pm.

SANDWICHES & BEER: Tat’s Truck visits Best of Hands Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW; WSB sponsor) 4:30-8 pm.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Triangle gunfire investigation
November 14, 2020 1:09 am
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:09 AM: Police are in The Triangle right now, investigating reports of gunfire involving vehicles near 37th/Alaska. The vehicles are reported to have left the area but one person at the scene is reported to be hurt, with an injury described as a “laceration,” not a gunshot wound, so far. Officers just told dispatch they’ve found shell casings at the scene.

1:14 AM: Alaska is closed between 36th and 37th while police continue investigating. They also are looking into a report that an injured man might have walked away from the scene.

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CORONAVIRUS: Friday 11/13 roundup
November 13, 2020 11:56 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

37 weeks now since the Friday night announcement that King County had its first case of COVID-19 – and tonight’s case total sets a record:

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

*33.368 people have tested positive, 798 more than yesterday’s total

*828 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*2,791 people have been hospitalized, 19 more than yesterday’s total

*587,735 people have been tested, 4.255 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 29,997/811/2,633/564,082.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 53.3 million cases, 1,302,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Last night, Gov. Inslee mentioned “additional measures” in the days ahead. He made one announcement today via news release:

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a travel advisory for Washington today, recommending a 14-day quarantine for interstate and international travel and asks residents to stay close to home. Inslee joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in urging visitors entering their states or returning home from travel outside these states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. …

In addition to urging individuals arriving from other states or countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival, the states’ travel advisories recommend individuals limit their interactions to their immediate household. The advisories define essential travel as travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.

Read the full advisory document here.

NEED TESTING? Our weekly reminder – the city-operated testing site in West Seattle – south side of the Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) – is open Saturdays (as well as weekdays). Go here to choose an appointment time before you go.

IF YOU CAN HELP … here are two more local donation drives, one through the holiday season, one this Sunday.

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

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Car-tab fee for bridge maintenance? Councilmembers’ proposal
November 13, 2020 10:01 pm
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

One of the issues brought up in the process of deciding whether to repair or replace the damaged West Seattle Bridge is the cost of future maintenance. Tonight, three councilmembers including West Seattle/South Park’s Lisa Herbold are proposing a car-tab fee to help pay for bridge maintenance citywide, replacing part of a fee that’s about to expire. From the announcement we just received:

With support from labor and business communities, Councilmembers Alex Pedersen, Lisa Herbold, and Andrew J. Lewis today proposed legislation to use Vehicle Licensing Fees to boost maintenance of multimodal bridges throughout Seattle. Vehicle Licensing Fees, which were previously set at $80, would move from $20 to $40 under the new legislation, as authorized by RCW 36.73.065 and RCW 82.80.140. The legislation would raise an additional $3.6 million in 2021 and an additional $7.2 million in subsequent years. The Councilmembers propose to direct the additional funding to bridges with high-frequency public transit.

The Seattle City Auditor recently published a report on the city’s bridges indicating high unmet needs for bridge maintenance. The engineering standard for bridge maintenance in Seattle ranges from $34 million to $102 million per year, and yet the current level for is only $10 million approximately. The city needs to add $24 million at the very least to meet the lowest estimate of maintenance needs. The City Council Budget Chair’s initial balance package restores or funds several transportation projects while adding $4 million to bridge maintenance. By tapping the adjusted vehicle license fees, this legislation would invest another $3.6 million to double the Council’s addition to $7.6 million. This represents an incremental increase to begin meeting a clear need.

So to recap – the current city car-tab fee is at $80 (going toward transit) and scheduled to drop to $20, but this would drop it to $40 instead. The proposed legislation (read it here) is on the council’s “introduction and referral” calendar for the coming week; it likely won’t be voted on until after the council wraps up its budget work just before Thanksgiving.

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Local legislators preview ‘virtual session’ @ 34th District Democrats, with another local Town Hall next week
November 13, 2020 9:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Local legislators preview ‘virtual session’ @ 34th District Democrats, with another local Town Hall next week
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Next Wednesday, your state legislators and local city/county councilmembers will join forces for an online Town Hall.

The three legislators gave a preview in their appearance at this past Wednesday’s 34th District Democrats meeting.

It began with updates from each: Read More

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DEVELOPMENT: Next step for two-building West Seattle Triangle project
November 13, 2020 7:05 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

From the latest city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin: Now that both halves of the Sweeney family’s West Seattle Triangle project have applied for land-use permits, a new comment period has opened.

(Renderings by Ankrom Moisan)

4406 36TH SW: The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting for this building was in early August (WSB coverage here). It’s planned as an 8-story, 273-unit apartment building with retail and 163 off-street parking spaces. The application notice is here.

4440 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: The first SWDRB meeting for this building was in mid-August (WSB coverage here). This is planned as a 7-story, 217-unit apartment building with retail and 153 offstreet parking spaces. The application notice is here.

Deadline for this round of commenting on both projects is November 25th; both notices linked above include information on how to comment. Each building also will have at least one more SWDRB meeting, at which more-complete designs will be presented (what you see above are just the “massing” concepts – size/shape), dates TBA.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle will have a vehicle-licensing office again
November 13, 2020 4:54 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

Almost a year after the sudden shutdown of the West Seattle vehicle-licensing office, a new operator is getting ready to open in a new location. As noted in our coverage of last year’s closure, though licenses are issued by the state, the offices are “sub-agents” whose contracts are administered in this area by King County, which subsequently launched a search for a new West Seattle sub-agent. Last June, the county told WSB they had chosen six applicants for interviews. Now, there’s a winner: We spoke today with Randy Lais, who already runs a licensing sub-agency in Port Orchard. He hopes to open in West Seattle next March and has a location already – the former liquor-store space on the north side of Westwood Village.

The county confirms they’re finalizing the contract and reminds us that these offices handle vessel licensing as well as vehicle licensing. Until the new West Seattle office opens, you can get licenses online, or at not-too-distant offices including Georgetown and Burien.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: ‘King tide’ swamps seawall at Alki, and beyond
November 13, 2020 3:23 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

3:23 PM: Just in – video and photos from Alki, where this afternoon’s high tide has swamped the seawall. The video above is from Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch; below, photos from Stewart L. further east:

That’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp, and here’s Luna/Anchor Park:

Also, another angle of the Alki promenade from Kersti:

Today’s high tide was 12.3 feet at 2:43 pm; tomorrow will be 12.4 at 3:18 pm. Next week the highest high tides will be in the morning; the chart shows 12.6 at 6:52 am Tuesday and 7:48 am Wednesday. These are the so-called “king tides”; they’ll be even higher in a month, with 12.9 high tides in mid-December.

ADDED 7:19 PM: Aimee pointed out via Twitter that atmospheric conditions caused a high tide well above what was predicted:

And we have one more photo – this one from David Hutchinson at Alki:

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UPDATE: New Luck Toy announces 6-month closure
November 13, 2020 1:36 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

ORIGINAL POST, FRIDAY 1:36 PM: Thanks for the tips. New Luck Toy has just announced that as of Sunday, November 22nd, it will close for six months. The announcement elaborates, “We’re pretty confident at this point you know what’s going on so we’ll spare you the lengthy post. We will be hunkering down for about 6 months so we can make it out of this.” The bar/restaurant has been open in north Morgan Junction (5905 California SW) for four years.

UPDATE 4:36 PM: New Luck Toy has now decided to close after tonight.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue Legacy wagon
November 13, 2020 1:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Megan emailed to ask that you be on the lookout for her boyfriend’s stolen car: “He parked it outside our apartment at 26th Ave and Dakota St. SW last night. It was stolen sometime between 8 PM last night and 11 AM this morning. … I don’t have any pictures of the car but the description is a ’95 dark blue Subaru Legacy wagon. It has a basket-style roof rack on top. WA plate BGC7565.” Please call 911 if you see it.

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WEEKEND ROAD WORK: 16th SW & West Seattle low bridge
November 13, 2020 12:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

We asked SDOT about weekend road work. Here’s what they’re planning:

Crews will continue paving work on 16th Ave SW near the north entrance to South Seattle Community College and, weather-permitting, add striping on the Low Bridge. You can expect:

Paving work on 16th Ave SW: Southbound lanes of 16th Ave SW to be closed from 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 5:00 a.m. Monday. During this work, one lane will stay open to traffic in each direction on the eastern half of the street.

(Image: SDOT camera, 5-way intersection)

Striping on the low bridge: Crews will restripe the left-turn only lane to Terminal 5 where the markings have faded on the two lanes used to exit the low bridge and approach the 5-way intersection at SW Spokane St. One lane will be maintained in each direction during this work.

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3 West Seattle winners in Neighborhood Matching Fund’s newest round of grants
November 13, 2020 11:07 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

Three West Seattle orgaqnizations are getting money in the city’s latest round of Neighborhood Matching Fund grants. To qualify for these, you have to demonstrate a match – of donations and/or volunteer time. As announced by the city, these are the three local grants in the fall cycle:

$49,500 to Highland Park Elementary PTA for Phase 2 of the Highland Park School Playground Project. This will support updating their 2016 Playground Master Plan to reflect current community needs and develop construction documents. (Community match: $31,000)

$25,840 to Highland Park Improvement Club for Community Gathering & Performance Space Renovation to provide HVAC work, ceiling repair, and new lighting and proscenium in the interior gathering/performance space, a popular venue for community meetings, arts and cultural events. (Community match: $28,380)

$40,650 to Seattle Nantes Sister City Association for Nantes Park Beautification to transform the pocket park into something more kid-friendly, more accessible, and more reflective of our sister city relationship with Nantes, France. The project will take designs through a community review and produce final construction-ready plans. (Community match: $21,300)

Citywide, 23 organizations are receiving a total of $756,000 in this round of grants. The next round of applications will be due in February; watch here for more info.

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YOU CAN HELP: 2 ways to help people stay warm
November 13, 2020 9:40 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

It’s the season of giving, if you can. Here are two ways to help people stay warm (and more):

ANNUAL COAT DRIVE: The State Farm office of Dave Newman (longtime WSB sponsor) has launched its annual coat drive:

Donations of Clothes, Coats and Shoes in full swing as West Seattle residents give generously.
:
Week one of our annual clothing drive in support of the West Seattle helpline is now under way. So far we have one full barrel of much-needed winter clothing to help our less fortunate friends and neighbors.

Dave Newman State Farm Insurance agency will continue to collect clean donations of clothes, coats, and shoes until January 1st. For undergarments and socks please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items.

The drop-off location is 3435 California Ave SW. For those who have donations but are unable to transport their clothes, coats and shoes to the donation location, pickup may be available. For further information, contact the State Farm office at (206) 932-1878.

The office’s regular hours are 9 am-5 pm weekdays.

SOCK DRIVE ON SUNDAY: Alki UCC is collecting socks as well as food this Sunday (November 15th):

It’s never too early to share the holiday spirit. Alki United Church of Christ (Alki UCC) is hosting an in-person socially-distanced Thanksgiving food Drive this Sunday, November 15 between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Collections are being taken outside the church’s main entrance at 6115 SW Hinds in West Seattle.

Priority items, distributed through the White Center Food Bank, include Boxed Stuffing Mix, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, Yams, Cranberry Sauce, Canned Veggies, Cornbread Mix, Canned Fruit Pie Filling, Pie Crust Mix, etc. Donations of personal care items and (clearly labeled) packets of pet food are also welcome.

Donations of Men’s Casual/Work Clothes are also welcome, as well as SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS — the clothing item most requested by our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Friday 11/13 watch
November 13, 2020 6:12 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: Welcome to Friday, the 235th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK

Delridge project: 23rd SW remains closed at Delridge. Here’s the weekly bulletin, with next week’s preview due later today.

Weekend road work: Nothing major announced – let us know if you’ve heard otherwise!

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? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is working again.

You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page (we’ve added the new Highland Park Way cameras).

TRANSIT

Metro – Fare collection has resumed.

Water Taxi – Also charging again.

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 11/12 roundup
November 12, 2020 9:45 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

No new crackdown yet, but the governor hinted something’s in the works:

INSLEES’ ADDRESS: Earlier tonight, Gov. Jay Inslee and wife Trudi Inslee gave a seven-minute address, echoing what health authorities said two days ago – stop socializing, and stay home for the holidays. The governor mentioned in passing that “additional measures” were expected in a few days.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Still on the rise. From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals – and no disclaimer for the first number:

*32,570 people have tested positive, up 622 from yesterday’s total

*826 people have died, up 10 from yesterday’s total

*2,772 people have been hospitalized, up 19 from yesterday’s total

*583,480 people have been tested, up 4,391 from yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 29,465/810/2,629/558,794.

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

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 52.6 million cases worldwide, 10.5 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

WS FOOD BANK CLOSED AGAIN TOMORROW: The West Seattle Food Bank was closed today and will remain closed tomorrow after a “helper” tested positive. WSFB advises calling 211 if you’re having a food emergency. Also note: Free emergency food boxes are available again 2-5 pm tomorrow at Food Lifeline HQ (815 S. 96th).

2 RESTAURANT UPDATES: Mashiko announced a temporary closure because a “family member” was exposed; Talarico’s reopened after a four-day closure also blamed on an employee’s family member testing positive.

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

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FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Survey time, plus this month’s toplines
November 12, 2020 8:24 pm
|    Comments Off on FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Survey time, plus this month’s toplines
 |   Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

If you live or work in Fauntleroy, watch your USPS mail for a postcard from the Fauntleroy Community Association, announcing its every-two-years survey. We’re sharing the announcement too:

Every two years, the Fauntleroy Community Association conducts a survey of more than 3,000 residents in Fauntleroy. We ask questions about current issues affecting the Fauntleroy community, West Seattle, and Seattle as a whole. This allows us to understand what is important to our community members and helps the board set priorities.

The FCA exists to consider and act on concerns affecting the quality of life and character of the Fauntleroy community. Examples of issues and projects we have engaged in include public safety, the ferry, zoning and parking. We also sponsor or co-sponsor events such as the Fall Festival, the Fauntleroy Food Fest, the business triangle planter boxes, and this year’s Halloween pumpkin hunt.

Start the survey here.

The survey was launched just before FCA’s monthly board meeting. We were there for toplines – they’re after the jump:

Read More

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VIDEO: Governor Inslee, Trudi Inslee address state on COVID-19
November 12, 2020 5:30 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

5:30 PM: Just under way in Olympia, Governor Jay Inslee and the state’s first lady Trudi Inslee have a message for you about the surging COVID-19 pandemic. Watch live (and later, archived) above; we’ll add notes as it goes.

“We have to rethink the holidays,” he begins, saying his family will share the holidays “virtually.” But, he promises, “we’re only going to have to do this once … We’re optimistic that Thanksgiving 2021 will be the best ever. But this year, it’s just too dangerous.” Scrapping plans to gather in person “is an act of love,” he says. “Please don’t gather with people outside your household … Our weekly number of COVID cases has doubled in the past two weeks … We’re in a time of exponential growth.” He says some “further measures” to tamp down the pandemic will be announced “in the past few days,” but right now, he says, what you do in your personal life matters the most.

“We’re all fatigued, and it’s OK to feel not OK right now,” Trudi Inslee says. The governor urges “difficult conversations” with relatives if that’s what it takes. “This is a temporary situation … we WILL get back to normal,” he reiterates.

They conclude the 7-minute address by thanking everyone in the state for “having (each other’s) back.”

5:58 PM: Archived video of the address is now playable above.

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Seen on West Seattle Art Walk, November edition
November 12, 2020 5:28 pm
|    Comments Off on Seen on West Seattle Art Walk, November edition
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

All that glitters is … jewelry art! The annual Jewelry Invitational at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) is part of what’s in the spotlight during tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk. Click! says the “Invitational features work from new artists Twyla Dill + Heather Kraft, new work from Jennifer Graves, and expanded collections from Ann Chikahisa and Adia Mei Jun Bobo.”

The shop is open until 7 tonight, but if you miss it, the jewelry will be featured all month and into December – some of it will be available for online shopping too. See this page on the WS Art Walk website for the rundown of every business participating this month, from North Admiral to Arbor Heights, and scroll through to enjoy the artists’ work even if you aren’t going to see it in person. (WSB is a WS Art Walk community co-sponsor.)

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Longtime West Seattle service-station owner Richard J. ‘Dick’ Barnecut dies at 94
November 12, 2020 3:55 pm
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Another well-known West Seattleite has died. Seven years after finally retiring from his Admiral District service station, Dick Barnecut is gone. We just received this remembrance from his family:

Richard J. Barnecut died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, November 8, 2020. “Dick” was born in Seattle on July 20, 1926, and was the oldest son of the late George and Imogene Barnecut. Dick’s father was part of a large clan (sixteen children!) that first settled in Seattle in 1889.

Dick graduated from West Seattle High School, Class of 1944, and was the right-fielder on the city championship baseball team of 1943. He enlisted in the United States Navy immediately after graduation and was honorably discharged two years later after serving as a radioman and gunner on a PBM seaplane. He married his high-school sweetheart, Dolores “Dee” Anderson, in 1947. They first met in junior high school and Mom must have overcome her initial impression of her future husband as “pretty obnoxious” because they were married for 68 years before her demise in 2015. Dick and Dee resided in West Seattle for all of their married life.

In 1953 Dick took over the ownership and management of the West Seattle service station business his father established in 1924. It is unlikely that Dad spent any time writing up a “business model” but he definitely had a philosophy: The customer comes first. A frequent reminder to his employees regarding the clientele was that “we need them more than they need us.” His authentic commitment to customer service and a tireless work ethic explain how a small business survived for almost ninety years.

Dick’s involvement in the community was not merely as a businessman. He was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, the Monogram Club of West Seattle, and he was a member of the Lions Club for sixty years. He contributed generously, and often, to numerous local charities.

Mom and Dad shared an optimistic, positive outlook on life. They worked hard but they made time to play as well and they had fun together. They owned a vacation home on Hood Canal for many years and they were loyal supporters of Husky football as season ticket holders for five decades. They were not extensive world travelers but they did visit Europe, which included Paris and the ancestral home of the Barnecuts in Cornwall, England.

Mom and Dad emphasized that family came first. And they meant it. By setting a good example, they gave to their children perhaps the greatest gift of all.

Dad will be remembered as a “people person” and it was not an act. He continued working late into life and it was an open secret that it was not the work that he liked so much as it was the opportunity to schmooze with his many longtime customers. In his later years there were some indications that the filter was not fully operational. However, those who really knew him would freely attest to his fairness, his integrity, and his tolerance.

Dick truly loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his country, and West Seattle. His passing is a loss for his family and the community and he will surely be missed.

Dick is survived by his four adult children and their spouses: Margaret (Paul) Abrahamson, James (Jamie) Barnecut, Mary Ellen (Ron) Smulski, and Andrew (Lisa) Barnecut. He is also survived by his six grandchildren: Tom Smulski, Jill Deimling, Jenny Abrahamson, Rachel Barnecut, Nick Barnecut, Angelina Barnecut, and his great-granddaughter, Kate Deimling.

A celebration of Dick’s life will have to be deferred due to COVID concerns. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: West Seattle High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, 4742 42nd Ave SW, #215, Seattle, WA 98116; or St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116.

Please visit www.emmickfunerals.com to sign the guest book.

(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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UPDATE: Power outage in High Point, blamed on ‘switch failure’
November 12, 2020 1:05 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | Utilities | West Seattle news

1:05 PM: Texter in High Point says they heard a boom, and they’re out. Here in Upper Fauntleroy, we had a big flicker, but power returned fast. While we await the map update, anyone else out?

1:07 PM: 893 customers, per SCL map.

1:12 PM: Added screengrab of map, showing this is centered in High Point. No word yet what the aforementioned “boom” was – no area calls on the SFD log so far.\

1:38 PM: A texter tells us they’ve spoken to the crew working on the problem – they said the crew was doing maintenance at 32nd/Juneau when a transformer blew, and that it could take up to four hours to fix.

3:48 PM: After almost three hours, it’s fixed, according to messages we’re getting (thank you!).

4:35 PM: We asked SCL spokesperson Julie Moore for details on the cause, and the report that a crew was in the area doing work when it happened. Her reply: “Crews were in the area doing maintenance on an unrelated piece of equipment. A switch failure caused the outage.”

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: After worksite visit, mayor plans ‘town hall’ next Monday; Community Task Force meeting change
November 12, 2020 12:31 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(SDOT photos)

Photographed atop the West Seattle Bridge this past Monday, that’s – clockwise from center – Mayor Jenny Durkan, West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force co-chair Greg Nickels, SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe, WSBCTF co-chair Paulina López, and SDOT’s Kit Loo. The mayor was there for a firsthand look at the stabilization work, including inside the bridge:

And as she gets ready to decide repair vs. replace, she also has announced another community Town Hall meeting to hear feedback, 5-6:30 pm next Monday (November 16th). From the announcement:

Before reaching a critical decision point about repair or replacement of the West Seattle Bridge, I will be hosting a West Seattle Bridge Town Hall to hear directly from community members – both those who are dealing with the loss of the connection to the West Seattle peninsula and those in the Duwamish Valley acutely feeling the traffic impacts.

This West Seattle Bridge Town Hall will give you a chance to hear from me and key department staff about recently completed work to stabilize the bridge and reduce the traffic impacts of the closure, updated information for both repair or replacement pathways, and ongoing opportunities for communities to provide feedback. And we will save some time for you to ask questions directly.

You can RSVP and send a question via this form; the direct meeting link is here. This is the mayor’s third West Seattle “town hall” in six months (the others were in May and in July), though the previous two addressed other topics as well as the bridge.

Three days after Monday’s town hall, Mayor Durkan will be back before the Community Task Force – a conflict in her schedule has led to a day/time change for that meeting: It’s now set for 3:30 pm next Thursday (November 19th), one day later than originally planned. CTF members were told the mayor plans to “present updates” to them. No viewing link for that meeting yet.

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COVID CLOSURE: Mashiko reports ‘exposure to a family member’
November 12, 2020 11:46 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Another West Seattle restaurant has announced a temporary closure. Just posted by Mashiko in The Junction:

Unfortunately Mashiko will be closing temporarily. We have had a COVID exposure to a family member and will not reopen until everyone gets tested and the results come back negative. Stay safe everyone and hopefully we will see you soon.

Thanks for the tips on this. It’s at least the fourth local restaurant with a temporary closure since Sunday (after Talarico’s, Zeeks, and Haymaker).

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COVID CLOSURE: West Seattle Food Bank – Friday too
November 12, 2020 10:37 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | High Point | West Seattle news

10:37 AM: Another closure just announced because of a positive COVID-19 test. We received this from West Seattle Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts:

The West Seattle Food Bank will be closed for distribution today, Thursday, November 12. Last night we learned that a helper at the Food Bank tested positive for COVID-19. We’re not too concerned about exposure as all were wearing masks, socially distanced, and outside most of the time, but we do want to make sure we follow all protocols and keep everyone safe.

We will keep you all posted as we determine our operating status moving forward. Anyone needing food today can call 211 for additional resources.

We thank you all for your support and are truly sorry for any inconvenience this will cause anyone in the community. We will work diligently to reopen as quickly as possible.

As mentioned in our daily preview, with the pandemic in a surge, the governor has an address to the state planned tonight at 5:30. Meantime, all our ongoing pandemic-related news can be accessed any time by going here.

4:28 PM: An update:

The West Seattle Food Bank will be closed for food distribution again tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 13th. However, home deliveries already scheduled will be going out tomorrow. We are waiting to confirm with King County Public Health that we can get back to normal hours next week.

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