West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tonight’s local virus-crisis toplines:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*47.618 people have tested positive, up 363 from yesterday’s total
*894 people have died, unchanged since Friday
*3,400 people have been hospitalized, up 30 from yesterday’s total
*651,275 people have been tested (the state backlog of negative results hasn’t been resolved yet, so King County calls this number frozen, but it’s still going up each day)
One week ago, the King County totals were 43,740/858/3,190/626,435.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 67 million cases and 1,536.000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
CLOSURE: Zeeks Pizza in West Seattle is temporarily closed for the second time in a month; employees were told a staff member had tested positive.
NO COVID CASES: The site director of West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment told its Community Advisory Committee today that no one there has tested positive.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Want to talk about how the pandemic is affecting your life? You’re invited to the next Community Conversation with three Department of Neighborhoods reps – Osbaldo, Laura, and Alvin. Here’s how to be part of it.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT? OR? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
Camp Second Chance, West Seattle’s only city-supported tiny-house encampment, remains COVID-free. That’s one of the updates from this afternoon’s monthly online meeting of the Myers Way encampment’s Community Advisory Committee.
Here’s what else we heard:
Just east of that intersection at Delridge Way SW, SW Thistle will be closed for several weeks, starting as soon as tomorrow. That’s part of what’s coming up in the ongoing street/utility work preparing for next fall’s RapidRide H Line launch. SDOT says its contractor will close SW Thistle between Delridge and 20th “to complete temporary signal work and to demolish and rebuild the sidewalk.” Some driveways will be affected intermittently. Other notes include:
*Once SW Hudson reopens, SW Brandon will be closed on the east side of Delridge. This too will include some driveway impacts
*Puget Blvd SW near the Delridge P-Patch is expected to reopen this week
*Electrical upgrades at the bus stop on the west side of SW Andover are expected to start this week
*Electrical work continues in the sidewalk between SW Orchard St and 21st Ave SW
*Vehicle-detection loop installation and concrete work at the intersection of SW Oregon and Delridge has been rescheduled to mid-December
See the full update of what’s happening now and next by going here.
Tonight we spotlight another block with many decorated homes – 30th SW between SW Barton and SW Roxbury [map].
We spotted this block one recent night even before getting a note from Christina, who explains that one particular neighbor is the inspiration – “a 94-year-old man who does this (every) year and has the whole neighborhood join in!” We’re adding it to the ongoing list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide; if you have a tip for our nightly spotlight, whether one house/apartment or an entire block, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We’re overdue for another West Seattle bird gallery! So here we go – first, two leucistic (explained here) birds – a Black-capped Chickadee photographed by Lynn Shimamoto, above, and a Northern Flicker photographed by Mark Wangerin, below:
Mark also photographed these Horned Grebes:
Grebes have caught other local photographers’ attention lately, too. Here’s a Red-necked Grebe photographed by Matthew Olson:
Next, Western Grebes photographed by Stewart L.:
Stewart also sent this photo of immature Horned Grebes:
From James Tilley, a Belted Kingfisher:
Also from James – Brant in the surf:
Before we leave the seabirds/shorebirds, Jerry Simmons got.a unique zoomed-in view of this Great Blue Heron:
Also looking fairly fierce in the close view, a Golden-crowned Kinglet photographed by Mark MacDonald:
(Each species link above goes to a Seattle Audubon BirdWeb page where you can read about the bird and even hear its call.) A huge THANK YOU to everyone who shares photos, whether of birds or breaking news (or Christmas lights, crime reports, etc.) – westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text 206-293-6302 if it’s urgent!
(Photo by David Hutchinson, from Constellation Park)
12:39 PM: You may have another chance to see Southern Resident Killer Whales from the West Seattle shore today. Both Kersti Muul from Salish Wildlife Watch and Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail tell us orcas from J-Pod and K-Pod – two of the three resident groups – are headed southbound in this direction, still a bit north of Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
1:23 PM: See comments for updates; Kersti reports some turned into Elliott Bay.
1:54 PM: Donna called to say the whales are now visible from Constellation Park (south of Alki Point), back southbound in the Sound, but “bring your binoculars.”
(This photo and next by Jerry Simmons)
3 PM: Kersti’s update in comments – with photos – says some were visible without binoculars.
(Photo by Kersti Muul, who identifies this whale as J37)
Meantime, Sasha tweeted this video:
Just saw some at Linkin Park! pic.twitter.com/HyE3cYoTWM
— Sasha (@essrez) December 6, 2020
5:46 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s since sent photos!
(Photo by Jamie Kinney, who has more here)
Thanks for the tips. Zeeks Pizza in West Seattle is closed today. No note on the door but the website confirms the closure and employees have been notified that it’s because of a positive COVID-19 test. That’s the second temporary closure in less than a month.
Just before Thanksgiving, West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) launched an idea – small local independent businesses supporting each other by offering their customers an incentive to spend at other small local independent businesses too. Today, another update on UR West Seattle – which now stands for Unique Retailer, Unique Restaurant, and Unique Service:
UR West Seattle now has defining logos, thanks to Hannah Yates. Her designs will let you know what businesses are unique to West Seattle, and what businesses are participating in the UR West Seattle shop local 5% discount. These logos define a business that is unique to West Seattle; they are what makes West Seattle what it is – a collection of civic-minded business owners trying to make our neighborhoods a better place.
This logo defines a unique West Seattle business that is offering 5% off if you patronize one of the other unique West Seattle Businesses. Just bring a receipt from any business that is unique to West Seattle, and receive 5% off your purchase.
For business owners that want the logo to display in their window, contact tim@westseattlerunner.com and I will send it to you. For any business owner that wants to participate in rewarding local shopping, contact Tim for the UR West Seattle logo as well.
We are all in this together – let’s keep our local restaurants, services and retailers busy this holiday season!
Businesses already participating:
West Seattle Runner
Seattle Dive Tours
Restorative Acupuncture in West Seattle
Arthur’s
Mission Cantina
Tech-Nique-Training
(Photo by Mike Burns)
Here’s what’s ahead for your Sunday:
TODAY’S ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES: The list of more than 20.churches’ Sunday online services (with a few also offering in-person options), with updated links, is here.
FROM CHRISTMAS TREE LOTS TO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS … plus local online shopping … it’s all in our Holiday Guide.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; no pickups for online orders this week – the What’s Good system took the week off)
COAT DONATION DRIVE: 10 am-2 pm near the market’s entrance/exit, look for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tent, collecting coats, hats, and gloves to keep neighbors warm. (California/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 2 pm online meeting for updates on West Seattle’s only city-funded tiny-house encampment and its surrounding neighborhood. Here’s the videoconferencing link; you can call in via 253-215-8782, meeting ID 858 5523 4269, password 9701.
FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center. (9600 15th Ave SW)
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