West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
Tonight’s pandemic updates begin with the vaccine’s arrival:
VACCINATION BEGINS: Our state’s first shipment of the first approved COVID-19 vaccine has arrived. But we don’t know yet how long it’ll be until the shots are widely available.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the toplines of today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative countywide totals:
*54,649 people have tested positive, 632 more than yesterday’s total
*935 people have died, unchanged since Saturday
*3,714 people have been hospitalized, 40 more than yesterday’s total
*694,880 people have been tested, 9,511 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 49,739/903/3,449/657,903.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
REOPENED: Mashiko says everyone’s test came back negative.
HOW COVID-19 IS AFFECTING SPD: The latest update via SPD Blotter says 3 sPD employees have tested positive in the past week.
GRANT $ APPROVED: The City Council approved $5 million for grants to restaurants, bars, and hospitality workers. The business recipients will be chosen from those who have already applied for grants; the workers’ application process will be launched soon.
NEED FOOD? On Friday (December 18th), food boxes will be available 2-5 pm at Food Lifeline (815 S. 96th).
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Last weekend we featured a drive-up food drive organized by Hope Lutheran eighth-grader Atticus. Tonight, the West Seattle Food Bank reports the impressive results, with gratitude:
Thank you to Atticus, Hope Lutheran, and all our neighbors who donated food at Atticus’s drive-thru food drive this past Saturday at Hope Lutheran. Together you donated 1,908 pounds of food and raised $1,120 to help our neighbors this winter.
Special thanks to the awesome Atticus for putting this all together! We are very grateful for your support.
We know Atticus is grateful to the donors, too. Looking for a way to help? Here’s how to donate to the WSFB. (And there’s a growing list of other holiday-season giving opportunities in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
(State Health Department pool photo: UWMC Pharmacy Manager Christine Meyer puts a tray of 975 doses of vaccine into the deep freeze)
Thousands of doses of the first approved COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Seattle. The photo above is from the initial delivery, at UW Medicine‘s Montlake campus. Now that the vaccine has started arriving, we wondered when it might cross the bay to West Seattle.
First, about the vaccine, from the state Health Department announcement:
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a two-dose vaccine, given 21 days apart. Clinical trial data show the vaccine is 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 infection starting 7 days after the second dose. Individuals will not be considered fully protected until 1 to 2 weeks after they receive the second dose. The clinical trials revealed no major unanticipated adverse events.
62,400+ doses are expected to arrive in our state this week, going to 17 sites in 13 counties. The first to be vaccinated will be in Phase 1a, about half a million people described by the state as “high-risk workers in health care settings, high-risk first responders, and patients and staff of long-term care facilities.” (This fact sheet has more details on Phase 1a eligibility.)
Being on that list doesn’t mean you or your facility is getting vaccine immediately. For example, we checked today with Providence Mount St. Vincent, our area’s largest long-term-care center (and one that’s been dealing with a deadly outbreak). The Mount’s Molly Swain tells WSB, “We are indeed so grateful and excited that the vaccine is coming, it just can’t arrive a moment too soon. We don’t, however, have any information, as of today” regarding when and how their residents/patients and staff will get it. They’ll be partnering with Walgreens, but hoping it can be administered on site.
The state has been inviting would-be vaccine providers to enroll. One of the many that have is Trivas Family Medicine (WSB sponsor) here in West Seattle. Dr. Courtney Johnson tells WSB, “The smaller clinics are waiting for approval of the Moderna vaccine, which is more logistically appropriate for the smaller clinics and pharmacies to handle. I’ve applied to be a distributor of the Moderna vaccine. The state is doing an impressive job trying to roll out this huge endeavor in an incredibly short period of time. Where I’m standing it feels like it’s taking forever, but in context it’s very appropriate. The next steps I’m looking for are approval of the Moderna vaccine and more information on the rest of the algorithm to find out who gets vaccinated when.” The Moderna vaccine could get federal approval later this week. Dr. Johnson says the VaccineFinder website is expected to list providers eventually. (We’ll also be reporting on availability here on WSB, as we’ve continued to provide daily pandemic coverage since the very beginning.)
By month’s end, if all goes well, our state expects to have received 222,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 187,000 of the Moderna vaccine, with regular weekly shipments after that. The state hopes most people in the state will be vaccinated by mid-summer.
Tonight’s two featured displays are in south West Seattle:
FAUNTLEE HILLS: This was a recommendation from Ken Arkills, whose display was the first one we featured this season. It’s the Haugen residence at 40th/Donovan [map]. Look for the star. And look at all the neighbors whose homes are also lit for the season.
UPPER FAUNTLEROY: Not far away, at 9018 37th SW [map], here’s the Boling/Arbow home:
Barb sent the photo, adding, “Shout out to my husband – working all day & putting up Christmas lights at night!”
See all the lights we’ve shown here, and find the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Got one to suggest? westseattleblog@gmail.com, with or without a photo – thank you!
Eat local! Three West Seattle/White Center food notes:
BIZZARRO ITALIAN CAFE: We first reported last month that Bizzarro Italian Café, a north Seattle fixture, was adding a White Center location, in the ex-Noble Barton space at 9635 16th SW. Tonight is opening night; they’re offering takeout and third-party delivery 5-8 pm nightly for starters.
LA RUSTICA: While we’re talking about Italian food, we have an update from La Rustica (4100 Beach Dr. SW):
We at La Rustica just wanted to remind everyone in West Seattle that our covered, heated patio is open for dining. Our patio is super-cozy and we are making sure all tables are socially distanced. We can take reservations for 5 or 5:30 pm. We also offer online ordering for takeout at larustica.westseattle@gmail.com. There are delivery and pick-up options available.
We are open Tuesday-Sunday 5-9 pm, Friday and Saturday until 10 pm. We really appreciate all of the support we have received from the community. If you have aany questions or to take a reservation, please call us at 206-932-3020 or email us at larustica.westseattle@gmail.com.
SHUG’S: And now, for dessert:
I am having a Holiday Pop-Up at our Shug’s Mini spot – 3800A California Ave SW, at the corner of Charlestown. The Pop-Up starts on Thursday, 12/17-12/23. Hours are 2-7 pm, and then 12/24, 2-5 pm.
We will be offering ice-cream gift boxes, pints of ice cream, bottles of dessert wine, and a bonus Pike Place Market Favorite foods table of goodies!
Got a business note, food or otherwise? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
If you are subscribed to Metro alerts, and/or follow Metro on Twitter, you probably noticed a dramatic uptick in the number of trip alerts today – 80 via Twitter, for example, from throughout the service area, including some on West Seattle-serving routes such as the 120, 131, 128, and C Line. So we asked Metro what happened. Here’s the reply from spokesperson Jeff Switzer:
We saw a higher number of canceled trips today due to operator availability, which reflects more drivers who are out on leave. This can be due to sick calls or caring for family members or as a precaution.
Our backup drivers are filling trips as usual and some drivers also filled in when they completed their regular driving assignment. For trips we couldn’t fill in time and had to cancel, we are now sending more transit alerts and tweets than we did in the past (which used to focus on less frequent routes) to better notify riders so they can consider using alternative trips.
We are monitoring the situation and folks are doing all they can to provide service each day. We schedule nearly 11,000 bus trips per weekday across King County and staff in a way that aims to deliver well more than 99% of them, and we apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate riders’ patience.
If you’re not already signed up for Metro alerts, you can do that here.
P.S. This isn’t a real-time tool, but Metro launched a new data dashboard with lots of other info today.
(WSB photo)
The two movable work platforms attached to the West Seattle Bridge could be brought down before Christmas. That’s part of today’s weekly SDOT update on ongoing bridge-related work. Lowering the platforms back down onto a barge will mark the end of what SDOT refers to as “Phase 1 Stabilization” – primarily involving carbon-fiber wrapping and strengthening with steel cables (“post-tensioning”). Contractor Kraemer North America is also wrapping up work on replacing the damaged bearings at Pier 18 (in this case, “pier” refers to a bridge support). The stabilization work had to be done first regardless of whether a repair or replace pathway was pursued; next comes repair design and contractor selection.
On the low bridge, installment of the new enforcement cameras is complete; SDOT tells us, “We are planning on testing the new system through December, and expect to begin issuing notices for unauthorized bridge usage in early 2021.”
Though their future has not been finalized, the no-through-traffic “Stay Healthy Streets” around our area and the rest of the city are getting new signage. Where they intersect with busy streets – like SW Webster at 16th SW, shown in our photo – it’s full-sized barricades, while less-busy spots will get barrel-top signs. The new signage is explained here, along with an update on the program’s status, indicating final decisions on where to make SHS permanent aren’t expected until next year. The West Seattle SHS stretches are mapped here and here; the Alki Point/Constellation Park stretch remains designated a “Keep Moving Street” and the city says those are “temporarily closed to thru-traffic, likely until parking lots start opening up again in Phase 3 of the Safe Start Plan.” A major update on the program is anticipated at next month’s Bicycle Advisory Board meeting.
(Sidewalk-side Christmas tree in Gatewood)
Two reminders, in case you haven’t already seen these in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
EMPLOYER GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES: Dream Dinners-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) has an offer for employers, in this year where company parties aren’t happening – give them the gift of pre-made meals! Today is the deadline for ordering. See this flyer.
HOLIDAY RAINBOW TRIVIA: Today’s your registration deadline for this fun free online party presented by the Senior Center of West Seattle, 7 pm Friday (December 18th). Sylvia O’Stayformore will host. Go here to register!
Got something for the Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Again this year, The Christmas People are offering a free holiday meal – portable this time – while seeking cookies and volunteers to help make it happen. Here’s the announcement:
In our 22nd year, The Christmas People need 3,000 homemade cookies for homeless people. Drop off Wednesday, Dec.23 through Saturday, Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW. Use Dining Room entrance that faces the parking lot.
We need a driver from Thursday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 27 at 10:30 a.m. to pick up 80 meals and 80 snacks at Alki Masonic Center and drive immediately to Catholic Community Services on Dexter Ave in Seattle
We need two drivers from Thursday the 24th through Sunday the 27th at 4:30 p.m.to help deliver individual boxed meals to four shelters in Seattle.
On December 25, we are offering complimentary holiday meals to shut-ins, veterans, homeless from noon to 4 p.m., until food runs out. Call Rev. Fred Hutchinson to reserve at 206-719-4979.
We are limiting the number of essential volunteer workers in the building at any one time. Visit SeattleWorks.org to volunteer or call 206-719-4979.
7:47 AM: Per SDOT and commenters, the East Marginal lights are flashing red at the 1st Ave S Bridge and a major backup has ensued.
8:50 AM: Also many bus cancellation alerts this morning.
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Earlier:
6:07 AM: It’s Monday, December 14th, the 266th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Delridge project: SDOT says its contractor paused last week because of COVID cases but is likely to restart today. Here’s the work plan.
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:
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) – see the closure advisory above. 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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