West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Tonight marks 42 weeks since the Friday night announcement of the first King County case of COVID-19. Here’s what’s new:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:
*56.693 people have tested positive, 774 more than yesterday’s total
*978 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*3,823 people have been hospitalized, 20 more than yesterday’s total
*708,641 people have been tested, 4,612 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 52,575/932/3,588/678,220.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 75.6 million cases, 1,674,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
KEY INDICATOR IN THE RED ZONE: Back to local stats for a moment – one of King County’s data dashboards tracks “key indicators”; we check it daily to see if there’s anything new to mention, and today there is. Tracking “health-care system readiness,” the percentage of King County hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients – considered OK at 10 percent or less – has jumped to 12.3 percent.
VACCINE UPDATES: Thursday’s news of fewer Pfizer vaccine doses coming to our state in the near term apparently indeed was the result of a federal miscommunication that’s not expected to affect future allocations, Gov. Inslee tweeted. Meantime, now that the Moderna vaccine has federal approval, it’s expected to be available in our state as soon as Monday.
FOOD FOR STUDENTS: Though Seattle Public Schools is on break the next two weeks, the district is planning to make food boxes available with a week’s worth of breakfast and lunch items. They’ll be available Monday, Dec. 21 and Tuesday Dec. 29, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m, at two West Seattle locations: Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon) and Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW).
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Spend local! Three more biznotes to share as we head for the last weekend before Christmas:
BEER, BARBECUE, AND SHOPPING: Big weekend at Best of Hands Barrelhouse (35th/Webster; WSB sponsor).
We are releasing a new barrel-aged bottled beer, as well as hosting Perch Paper Goods for a maker’s pop-up. Finally, we’ll have NWTXBBQ on site Sunday as well.
500ml bottles of MYSTIC QUEEN (now) on sale. Draft available too. MYSTIC QUEEN is a 7% ABV oak-aged sour ale finished on yarrow flowers & chamomile. Aromas of oak and vanilla envelope sweet-herbal yarrow on the nose with spiced apple and floral-honied notes from chamomile. Yarrow dominates the palate with herbal, sweeter ginger-like notes which meld with the autumnal spice qualities of the chamomile. Malt character akin to wildflower honey enters mid way before some balancing oak astringency and acidity round out the subtly tart finish.
SATURDAY, 12.19.20 @ 1 pm – Holiday Craft Sale with local creator Perch Paper Goods
SUNDAY, 12.20.20 @ 1 pm – Holiday Craft Sale with Perch Paper Goods + delicious BBQ with NWTXBBQCome by this weekend and wrap up all your holiday-shopping needs with great local independent craft goods, beer & BBQ!
MACHEL SPENCE: Speaking of local creators, here’s one whose work you’ve seen here on WSB, from photos to craft fairs. Machel has an online shop here. She tells WSB, “I just finished a few pieces that are impossible to ship but possible to deliver.” She can do that in West Seattle. Here’s one of those pieces:
Machel is also having a 20 percent off sale right now. You can message here through the online shop.
GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALING: That suggestion comes from the Community Acupuncture Project of West Seattle (4545 44th SW), which is offering free tote bags with gift-certificate purchases. CAP is open 7 days a week but you can also buy online.
Got a biznote as holiday-shopping season wraps up? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Tonight’s lights are both along SW Thistle:
The video is from Julianna, who wrote, “We’re ‘new’ to the neighborhood and have a decent display … hoping to improve each year! 27th & Thistle [vicinity map].”
And less than a mile west, Yolanda sent this double-deck photo of a sighting on SW Thistle near 37th [vicinity map]:
She wrote that while out on an errand, “I came upon this Christmas display, so cute for the littles.” She added, “Lots of other homes are off the hook this year!” We would agree with that – and thanks to everyone who keeps sending suggestions – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
See the season-long list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, and scroll through past photos here.
(November photo by Tony Welch)
We reported back on Monday that the two work platforms that have been hanging from the West Seattle Bridge for months are about to come down. Today SDOT confirmed the platforms will be lowered onto barges next Monday and Tuesday:
This will take place between 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on both days. During this time, there will be a waterway channel closure, which means that maritime traffic/boats will not be able to pass under the West Seattle Bridge. We have issued a notice to mariners and the Port of Seattle, and we do not expect any disruptions to Low Bridge operations for people walking, biking, or for those who have access to drive across.
When this is complete, height restrictions for passing under the bridge – which have been in place since the work began – will be lifted. After the work platforms are lowered, work will be substantially complete. In early January, we will be offsite disassembling the platforms. We’ll also be finishing one last round of painting/coating the post-tensioning brackets. Coating the post-tensioning ends will protect the new system.
Next phase of work will be the actual repairs – but first, SDOT says, they have to finish design (which is being done by consulting firm WSP) and hire a contractor.
It’s a day of closure announcements. This one’s from the Port of Seattle, which has closed the pier at West Seattle’s Jack Block Park again:
Out of an abundance of caution, the Port of Seattle is closing the pier at Jack Block Park starting this afternoon. Deficiencies in the pier were noted in a recent engineering assessment, and further evaluation will be made next week for the repairs necessary to reopen the pier as soon as possible. The rest of the park will remain open during this time.
This is at least the third closure in a year and a half for the pier – previous ones were in January and mid-2019.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN PICKUP: Jon reports the theft of a white 2004 Ford Ranger in Fauntlee Hills this morning. The only photo is this one from a security camera, before the pickup was taken:
We do not have the plate # yet but the police-report # is 20-347214. Call 911 if you see this or any other known stolen vehicle.
PACKAGE THEFT: From Shelby:
I live in the Roxhill neighborhood, on 30th Ave SW. We had someone steal the package off our doorstep at 12:04 am today. The person’s face was fully covered with a bandana and they had gloves on. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a good photo.
Reminder to consider staying up a little later if a package hasn’t yet arrived on its scheduled time. Hope this person likes a nice pepper grinder and food scale.
We can vouch for the late-night delivery alert, after a recent 10:35 pm FedEx arrival – ’tis the season.
Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy is temporarily closing, until indoor sit-down dining is back again. Libby Bills from Chow Foods, which owns the restaurant, tells WSB, “Endolyne Joe’s is temporarily suspending service. We tried to make a go of the curbside/delivery services that we have been offering for the last several months, but we are at a point that we need to preserve enough capital to re-open when this nightmare is at least close to over.” Joe’s general manager Jeff Andrew adds, “We did not come to this decision easily and want to thank the West Seattle community for all their support. We look forward to having our West Seattle family back in our restaurant enjoying our food and drink the way it was meant to be enjoyed.” (added) The restaurant’s last day for now will be Tuesday (December 22nd).
11:52 AM: Hours before last night’s nearby shooting, we got a couple of tips that equipment was being moved out of the 24 Hour Fitness gym in Westwood Village. We inquired with their media-relations department via phone and email. Still no reply – but members just forwarded this communication from the company:
After many years of serving the West Seattle community, we are sorry to say that we were unable to reach an agreement with our landlord and have had to permanently close our West Seattle Active club.
The company had previously announced more than half a dozen other club closures in the region, but this one wasn’t on that list. An online search turns up a bankruptcy-court document from October involving unpaid rent, noting that the club’s rent was almost %50,000 a month.
2:33 PM: In case you wondered, before this, WWV had nine other open spaces available for lease.
Spend local! Four West Seattle business notes:
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Give the gift of music. You can shop Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) any time online but if you want to visit the expanded Morgan Junction showroom (6400 California SW) that TRG shares with The Bass Shop (also a WSB sponsor), they’re offering special added shopping hours – 11 am-4 pm Sunday, 10 am-6 pm Monday.
WYATT’S JEWELERS: Looking for something sparkly? Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village also has expanded shopping hours in this final week before Christmas, and has a giveaway going too – the 14K diamond necklace at right will be given away on January 5th; you can enter the drawing at the store or online. The extended store hours are 10 am-6 pm today and tomorrow plus next Monday-Wednesday, noon-5 pm this Sunday, and 10 am-2 pm Christmas Eve. Wyatt’s also plans a Monday-Thursday sale, 10 percent to 40 percent off select items throughout the store. (Wyatt’s has online shopping. too.)
BIG WORLD BOXES: A new-biz note – this is a new online business founded by West Seattleite Acacia Pappas, who says it is designed “to help busy parents who have young kids at home.” The founder was a teacher for six years and realized that “as the pandemic hit, I knew younger kids would need meaningful things to do with their hands (and parents would want enriching alternatives to screen time). Thus was born Big World Boxes to meet that need.” You can subscribe to regular deliveries of “hands-on projects and activities.”
And one restaurant note:
WHISKY WEST: The Morgan Junction restaurant (6413 California SW) sends word that “we now have covered outdoor seating in our back patio with heaters. We are open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM and also are continuing to do to-go food and drink orders.” We’re continuing to update our longrunning restaurant/food-and-beverage list – which has more than 180 venues! – removing all the old springtime info and adding notes such as who has outdoor seating; if you have an update, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A memorial service will be streamed next Tuesday for Florence Marx, whose family is sharing this remembrance:
Florence (Kohler) Marx, 99, was born July 22, 1921 in Glen Ullin, North Dakota and died peacefully on December 10, 2020 at Providence Mount Saint Vincent nursing home, where she lived for eleven wonderful years in their love and care. She was preceded in death by her husband Herman, all her brothers (5) and sisters (7). She is survived by two daughters, Bonnie (Thiviam) and Sherree (Randy); three grandchildren, Phil, Scot (Sara), Greg (Colleen); and eight great-grandchildren.
A lifelong resident of White Center and very active member of Holy Family Parish, she worked at Travelers Insurance Company in downtown Seattle for 25 years.
Due to COVID restrictions we are livestreaming Florence’s funeral Mass on YouTube. To access, go to YouTube and search for “Funeral Mass for Florence Marx.” It is scheduled for 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 22nd, St Patrick Church in Tacoma.
We would like to thank and bless all of her caregivers over the span of the last eleven years. We could not have done this without their compassionate care.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
6:12 AM: It’s Friday, December 18th, the 270th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD (ETC.) WORK
Tunnel closure: The Highway 99 tunnel will close both ways tonight for maintenance, 11 pm Friday to 6 am Saturday.
Delridge project: Here’s the current 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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