West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
The tenth month to start during the pandemic has begun – here are today’s toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*45,138 people have tested positive, 732 more than yesterday’s total
*868 people have died, 9 more than yesterday’s total
*3,235 people have been hospitalized, 8 more than yesterday’s total
*627,813 people have been tested (this number remains “frozen” due to the state’s backlog of negative results – but it’s actually 789 higher than yesterday)
One week ago, the totals were 40,736/849/3,030/623.494.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 63.8 million cases worldwide, 13.7 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health experts are back to their weekly Wednesday afternoon briefings. You can watch at 2 pm Wednesday – here’s the link.
SAFE HOLIDAYS: Online gift fairs, livestreamed tree lightings, a link list of local independent businesses that offer online shopping, Christmas tree sellers with no-contact tree-buying – it’s all in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, with daily updates and additions.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
8 PM: There’s a big residential-fire callout on the county side of the 2400 block of SW Roxbury – that means the North Highline Fire District is the primary agency, but others are being dispatched to help, including some units from the city side of the line. We’re on our way to find out more.
8:15 PM: Roxbury is mostly blocked just east of 26th. The fire was small, we’re told, in a vacant house. No injuries reported.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Veteran Center)
Tonight and every night for the rest of this week, temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s. If you know someone – or see someone – who needs a place to get in out of the cold, the West Seattle Veteran Center has opened its doors. From Keith Hughes:
The West Seattle Veteran Center Cold Weather Shelter opened this evening and will remain open at least through Friday night. The Center is open to all that need a warm place to sleep, veteran or not. It is beautiful with the newly painted walls and newly refinished maple hardwood floors.
The center is in The Triangle at 3618 SW Alaska (here’s a map).
Christmas light displays don’t have to be big and bright to be memorable. Here’s proof. Tonight’s spotlight is a photo sent by Sarah, showing her family’s display on Puget Ridge: “We put up festive holiday lights that look like our dog – corner of 17th Ave SW and Graham.” Here’s a map. We’re adding this to the lights list in our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Got someplace to suggest? Email or text us – with or without a photo – westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Construction staging and signage are in view along SW Holly in the 40th/41st vicinity, as
Seattle City Light gets ready for a monthlong project. The work is “to repair and reconstruct” underground wiring for area streetlights, and to replace the fixtures and poles. The work will involve trenching, which SCL notes might affect traffic along SW Holly, which some use as an alternate to Fauntleroy Way. They’re planning to have flaggers on hand for that. SCL says no outages are expected during the work, which will be done on weekdays between 7 am and 3:30 pm, possibly starting later this week. Here’s the official flyer.
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
(WSB photo, Sunday)
ALKI SHOOTING FOLLOWUP: The man shot in an Alki alley on Sunday has improved to satisfactory condition, Harborview Medical Center tells us today. Meantime, the man accused of shooting him remains jailed, bail set at half a million dollars. The probable-cause document doesn’t shine any light into a possible motive. It says the shooting was reported to 911` by someone who recognized the suspect as a nearby resident. Another caller said the same man had broken into their apartment and tried to pistol-whip someone who fought back and suffered only minor injuries. Yet another nearby resident said he saw the suspect, who he’s known for two years, walk down the alley holding a gun before crouching behind a truck, then standing up, stopping a car coming down the alley, and shooting into that car through its windshield. He then, police were told, ran to the beach, where he is reported to have dumped the gun and told someone, “Just watch, it’s going to get crazy.” Then, police say, the suspect ran back inland toward Admiral, and was arrested in the 3000 block of 61st SW. He is not yet charged but is being held for investigation of assault and burglary; as we noted in Sunday’s coverage, there’s no indication of a prior criminal record.
Next, a reader report:
APARTMENT PEEPER: Elsewhere on Alki:
(Sunday) night at about 10:15 pm my boyfriend and I were lying in bed at our apartment, which is on the bottom floor of a complex on Bonair Pl SW, right off Alki. When he got up to go to the bathroom, I looked out the bedroom window to see a man on his stomach peeping into our bedroom watching me and potentially us for the past 15 minutes. When I yelled for my boyfriend and ran out of the room, I went into the living room where I could see him army-crawling away into our neighbor’s side yard. He then got up and walked onto the street where he began to peer into their car windows. He then continued to look at our bedroom window but then noticed me in the living room calling the police and took off running. He was wearing darker jeans and I could see his white underwear because his pants were falling down a bit (either from crawling or because they were undone) and he had a grey puffy jacket on. He is medium build, between 5’10 and 6 feet tall and of hispanic ethnicity. Please use any of this information to let our community know that this guy is on foot and either lives in the area or visits frequently enough to know the neighborhoods off of Alki. This is disgusting and outrageous and a complete violation of privacy.
A police report was filed.
And from the Southwest Precinct:
BURGLAR SOUGHT: The photo and report are being circulated by police:
On 11/12/2020 just after 0300 hours, the male suspect pictured above forced entry into the secured parking garage of the Holden Court Apartments at 931 SW Holden St. While inside, the suspect prowled a vehicle and broke into several storage units using a baseball bat to damage the locks and doors. The suspect was associated with a female … who was contacted and released at the scene. (She) claimed she only knew the suspect as “James” and just gave him a ride to the location. Assistance is requested in identifying this residential burglary suspect.
If you have any tips, refer to SPD case 20-317947.
Thanks to Stewart L. for the photo! That submarine was in view off West Seattle, northbound in Puget Sound, a little over an hour ago. While MarineTraffic.com doesn’t ID it beyond “submarine/military ops,” the tracker does show that it’s continuing that way, off south Snohomish County’s shore at last check.
11:56 AM: Just announced by King County Metro:
If you are planning to travel by water taxi to or from West Seattle on Friday, Dec. 4, please note that afternoon service will be canceled so that Seacrest Park can receive a brand-new, stronger float. The pier at Seacrest Park will also be closed when construction crews are onsite. Construction will begin after morning service on Friday and is scheduled to be completed early Sunday, Dec. 6. Service is expected to resume as normal Monday morning, Dec. 7.
The float being replaced, Float A, is one of three located at Seacrest Park. Float A is the northern-most float where the passenger ramp lands. This float is listing to one side, likely caused by water retention from failing pile guide mounting bolts. This listing is causing further issues with the passenger ramp connection, the ramp’s rollers on the float end, and the float’s connection to Float B.
Four kayak floats are also being removed in order to maintain the same footprint overwater once the larger, new float is installed.
Photo from kingcounty.gov: The passenger ramp lands on the float being replaced (Float A); extending to the right is Float B. The “fingers” extending from Float B are the four kayak floats being removed.
Float A takes the brunt of the weather and wave action which has led to several repairs to pile guides. A new design from the manufacturer now features integrated pile guides, which will minimize maintenance to the float and better endure the weather. The new float has a life expectancy of 25 years.
The existing float being removed is 320 square feet (10 feet by 32 feet) and the kayak floats being removed are 290 square feet. The new float being installed is 448 square feet (14 feet by 32 feet).
The Seacrest Float Replacement Project is a capital project planned for in the 2019/2020 biennial budget. The budget is $300,000, and the project is currently targeted to be underbudget by approximately $60,000.
Water Taxi service is expected to resume Monday morning; Metro will confirm on Sunday.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: As for the fishing pier, here’s what Seattle Parks tells us: “It will also be closed for safety reasons. This is because the new docks will swing up and over the Pier and gangway. It won’t close until 9:00 am Friday morning and hope to have it back open Saturday afternoon.”
(Monday sunset at Lincoln Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
We’ve made it to another month, last one of 2020. Here are highlights for the hours ahead:
POLAR BEAR CHALLENGE: The multi-faceted all-month-long community event officially starts today – with several ways you can be part of it. See our preview from Monday.
SW SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY BIDDING BEGINS: Happening now – here’s the update:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is thrilled to announce that its online auction opens today, Tuesday, December 1. Register HERE to bid on a range of uniquely West Seattle experiences and items. Auction items include an autographed Pearl Jam poster, the opportunity to create and name your own flavor of ice cream at Husky Deli, a walk in the ancestral lands of the Duwamish people led by Ken Workman, 4th great grandson of Chief Seattle, paintings created by local artists, and so much more. There is something for everyone in the auction and featured items and experiences make for excellent holiday gifts. Every bid supports the mission of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which is to preserve and promote local history through education, preservation, and advocacy.
Bidding on auction items closes during the Historical Society’s Virtual Champagne Gala on Friday, December 4 at 7:00 PM. Registration is required for this digital event, but admission is free. Please register HERE today.
DEMONSTRATION: Organizer Scott continues to lead this:
Black Lives Matter sign waving
Tuesday, December 1, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursdayk December 3, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW 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.
(Monday moonrise from Duwamish Head, photographed by David Hutchinson)
HOPE LUTHERAN KINDERGARTEN INFO NIGHT: Future kindergartener in the household? 6 pm online information night at Hope Lutheran School (WSB sponsor) – if you’re interested, register here to get the participation link.
9:49 AM: Just got this by phone – please help watch for this stolen car, whose owner tells us her senior dog was inside. The car is a white 2010 Honda CR-V, stolen just before 8 this morning from an alley between 55th and 56th SW, off Alki Avenue SW. \
The dog is a 14-year-old Pomeranian/Chihuahua, black with a pink harness, chipped, with tags that have her phone number. If you see the car, call 911; if you find her dog, 206-330-5057.
1:01 PM: We got word that Dottie the dog has been found, in Burien. No word yet on the vehicle’s status.
2:20 PM: Peggy, Dottie’s person, says the car hasn’t been found yet. Dottie, meantime, is home and doing OK.
You’re welcome to be part of a “Mental Health 101” workshop the next two Wednesday nights, online. Here’s the invitation:
Recognizing that the rainy season, pandemic restrictions, and holiday stresses can be hard for people prone to depression or other mental-health issues, Fauntleroy Church, UCC, will host a free two-part workshop, “Mental Health 101,” on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.
Experienced facilitators with the National Alliance on Mental Illness will lead the 6:30 – 8:00 pm Zoom sessions with a focus on how to support caregivers and those struggling with mental-health issues, along with tips on self care.
“Mental health topics can be scary and carry a stigma that often makes them a taboo topic of discussion,” said Molly Seaverns, a member of the church’s Christian-education ministry. “We’ll provide a safe place to explore any misconceptions about mental health and learn practical skills for caring for ourselves and walking beside those who need support, especially now.”
All are welcome to register with the church office (jackie@fauntleroyucc.org) to receive the Zoom link. Find details at fauntleroyucc.org/congregator-posts/mental-health-101-dec-2-and-dec-9-2020-630-800-pm.
6:07 AM: Welcome to Tuesday, December 1st, the 253rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Delridge project: Work continues; here’s this week’s plan.
Parking-lot repaving: Work continues today in part of the lot at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor)
Highway 99 tunnel: Southbound closure this Friday night-Saturday morning, 10 pm-7 am, for maintenance.
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule
Water Taxi – Regular schedule
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 (note: camera ticketing will NOT start today):
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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