West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
For the second consecutive Sunday night, there’s vaccine news:
(Image by Christopher Boffoli)
VACCINE #2 ON THE WAY: The Moderna vaccine will arrive in our state this week as a result of the federal approval and regional approval – here’s the state announcement:
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The announcement comes after the FDA and CDC granted their initial authorization of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Western States Workgroup, comprised of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada, have been meeting to review the data and analysis to ensure the safety and efficacy of both the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines federally authorized.
Here’s the full announcement.
GOVERNOR ON ECONOMIC-RELIEF BILL: Also today, a statement from Gov. Inslee on the federal economic-relief bill, which includes unemployment benefits and $600 checks for many Americans.
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*57,630 people have tested positive, up 501 from yesterday’s total
*993 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*3,885 people have been hospitalized, up 60 from yesterday’s total
*715,472 people have been tested, up 3,975 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, the King County totals were 54,017/935/3,674/685,369.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 76.8 million cases and 1,693,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
NEED TESTING? Just a reminder that one of the city’s testing sites is here in West Seattle, 8:45 am-5:30 pm Mondays-Saturdays in the parking lot at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – go here to sign up for an appointment.
FOOD FOR STUDENTS: Though Seattle Public Schools is on break this week and next, the district is offering food boxes available with a week’s worth of breakfast and lunch items. They’ll be available Monday, Dec. 21 – tomorrow – 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 SOMETHING TO REPORT? EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT? OR? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
One day earlier this month, a reader asked us about that University of Washington research vessel, R/V Rachel Carson, lingering off West Seattle for hours. That set us on a research quest of our own, learning that the Carson was there for earthquake-related research. The work, UW oceanography professor Paul Johnson tells WSB, has been under way for about three years and involves methane bubbles that seep from the Seattle Fault beneath Puget Sound off Alki Point. The work could someday help with earthquake prediction. We asked for details in hopes of writing a story – and Professor Johnson provided the words and images in the format you see below, which tells the story quite well without much intervention from us – scroll on:
Thanks for the tip! Northbound 35th SW is blocked at Kenyon until a tow truck arrives for a flipped car. The original callout was “rescue extrication” but most of the units were canceled quickly. Police tell us the driver hit a parked car and his car flipped. No major injuries.
Thanks to George for tonight’s photo – these lights are at 9031 32nd Avenue SW [map]. The rain hasn’t started yet, so it’s a nice night to go out and admire lights. Everyplace we’ve showcased is listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and viewable by scrolling through this archive; still time for tips, with or without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Weather permitting, the Delridge repaving/utility project is scheduled for Monday-Thursday work this week. Here are key points from the weekly preview:
Side-street closures on the east side of Delridge Way SW during demolition and paving
Currently closed (timing is weather dependent and may change):
SW Edmunds St (local access only)
SW Brandon St (closed into early next year)
SW Willow St (closed through the end of the year)Closing soon (timing is weather dependent and subject to change)
SW Myrtle St (closed when SW Willow St reopens, as early as December 28)
SW Thistle St (closing in early 2021)Driveways on the east side of Delridge Way SW between SW Alaska St and SW Hudson St to be reopened this week
Temporary street closure at SW Thistle St between Delridge Way SW and 20th Ave SW beginning as early as January 4
Roadway and sidewalk demolition and paving starting soon in Zone C
Roadway demolition is scheduled to begin on the east side of Delridge Way SW between SW Trenton St and SW Henderson St as early as December 21 with paving to follow in the new yearSidewalk demolition between SW Cloverdale St and SW Trenton St to begin as early as December 23
The full list of what’s next is here. Though the RapidRide H Line launch is now delayed until 2022, SDOT says the road work remains on schedule for completion in 2021.
Two notes for winter’s official arrival Monday:
WEATHER ALERT: The National Weather Service says we’re in for heavy rain – up to two inches – tonight through tomorrow night, so it’s out with a Special Weather Statement alert, warning of increased landslide risk.
(Marker at Solstice Park, where Alice hosts her events in non-pandemic times)
SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH WITH ALICE: This is the fourth change of seasons since the pandemic began, and West Seattle skywatching expert/educator Alice Enevoldsen has continued to lead solstice/equinox sunset watches online, whatever the weather. Join her via Zoom 3:45 pm-4:15 pm Monday; go here now to preregister to get the link. Sunset is officially 4:20 pm but Alice notes that its actual disappearance behind our mountains/islands is earlier, likely around 4:05 pm tomorrow. The solstice moment is 2:02 am. P.S. Alice plans to talk about the big planetary conjunction, too.
Spend local! Four more updates from local businesses:
MISSION CANTINA: At 2325 California SW in The Admiral District, Mission Cantina (WSB sponsor) is offering shopping as well as dining (takeout or patio). They’re open 11 am-8 pm Sundays-Thursdays and 11 am-9 pm Fridays and Saturdays, including Christmas Eve/Day. The Holiday Mercado includes “unique gifts like mezcal tasting boxes, Mexican chocolates, fun gifts from Alair, ornaments, stockings and more! All purchases include a raffle ticket for awesome prizes from Easy Street Records, Alair & Mission, and we’re delivering to the winners on Christmas Eve!” Also, Mission’s Tina Padilla tells WSB, “We now have eGift Cards through GiftFly! We’re still taking donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, and from now until Christmas the owners are matching all donations!”
LADY JAYE: At 4523 California SW in The Junction, “Lady Jaye will be hosting a socially distanced night market on Tuesday (December 22nd) from 3 pm-8 pm. There will be stations starting at the front door (where we will serve everyone a cup of Chef Charlie’s famous vegan chili) and through the restaurant then ending on the back patio. The windows will be open so we are calling it an open-air market. Basically you start at the front door and work your way through the stations until you end on the patio. Each station is 7 feet apart and you can’t move to the next station until the group in front of you is gone. We are going to have tons of stocking stuffers like mini-bottles of our high-end whiskey, small cuts of wagyu beef, food and drink accoutrements and cocktails to go! Keonii from Fleurt Collective will have a station as well! At the end, guests will also be able to purchase one of our Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwiches to go! It should be a fun last-min shopping experience for West Seattle!”
HARRY’S BEACH HOUSE: We published a list of pre-order Christmas-meal options a few days ago but didn’t include Harry’s (2676 Alki SW) because the order-by date on their website had already passed. Turns out that the deadline for ordering has been extended through tonight – go here to order (and note they’re selling other gift items too).
ILLUSIONS HAIR DESIGN: This longtime WSB sponsor at 5619 California SW will be open Monday-Wednesday this week, and that includes curbside pickup for hair products and other retail. Call 206-938-3675 for appointments and orders.
Open for last-minute shopping/dining/etc.? Let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
10:53 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul from Salish Wildlife Watch for the tip – orcas are in view from Alki, at least four, southbound toward the west side of the Sound. Let us know if you see them!
11:04 AM: They’re moving fast – Kersti says they’re now off Blake Island.
12:37 PM: Now passing the south end of Lincoln Park, per Kersti, who says these are transient orcas, not residents.
2:16 PM: Another update from Kersti – residents are in the area too!
8:15 AM: We’re getting word of a power outage – Highland Park, Riverview, Greenbridge checking in so far. Apparently a crash on the Highland Park Way hill is related, per emergency radio. Updates to come.
8:19 AM: City Light map shows 2,100+ out. The outage also stretches into South Park.
8:50 AM: Police are still at the scene of the crash. No serious injuries reported. We are headed that way.
8:57 AM: Crashed car is off the road on uphill side, close to bottom of hill. Both directions of traffic still open. Signals are out at top and bottom of hill. Remember, that means all-way stop!
9:04 AM: Texters report power restored.
9:29 AM: Updated map shows 281 still out, mostly Puget Ridge.
10:19 AM: And now the map shows everybody’s back on.
(Reader photo: Handmade gnomes on display at Seattle Yarn, made by employee Elsbeth)
Shopping and more are on the list for this last Sunday before Christmas, from our West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
TODAY’S ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES: The list of more than 20.churches’ Sunday online services (with a few also offering in-person options), with the latest links, is here.
TREES BY THE SEA, LAST DAY: 9 am-6 pm at 2538 Alki SW, this local Christmas-tree lot is wrapping up the season.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, it’s the festive pre-Christmas market. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; pickups for online orders are at California/Oregon)
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Bonus shopping day at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor), open 11 am-4 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WYATT’S JEWELERS SPECIAL HOURS: Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village also has expanded shopping hours – noon-5 pm today. Enter the drawing for a diamond pendant while you’re there.
CRAFT BEER. CRAFTS, & BARBECUE: Best of Hands Barrelhouse (WSB sponsor) is selling its newest release and hosting another Perch Paper Goods pop-up at 1 pm, plus a visit from NWTXBBQ. (35th/Webster)
SHUG’S POP-UP: 2-7 pm, another holiday shop at Shug’s Mini in West Seattle. (3800 California SW)
‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: As featured in our Holiday Guide, 3 pm today is your second and final chance to see Twelfth Night Productions‘ online presentation of the radio-play version of the beloved holiday movie. Go here to donate what you can, and you’ll get the link to watch.
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)
Just heard from Mary Jane near Lincoln Park – we published her Camry theft report on Saturday; now, another vehicle’s just been stolen from her home:
We were just hit again. We had my Toyota Camry stolen from outside of our house last night and we just woke up to someone stealing our Dodge Ram 2500 from our driveway. There was a van or hatchback following it as they pulled off and headed south on Fauntleroy. The police were called and just left.
(Photo added)
DARK BLUE DODGE RAM 2500
BLACK TOOL BOX and HEADACHE RACK
2002
License Plate #: C65590T
Call 911 if you see either vehicle.
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