day : 22/12/2020 11 results

Here’s the latest pandemic news:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: First the numbers, as shown in today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:

*58,286 people have tested positive, 179 more than yesterday’s total

*1,012 people have died, 19 more than yesterday’s total

*3,895 people have been hospitalized, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*720,714 people have been tested, 3,034 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 54,849 /948/3,748/700,591.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 78 million cases worldwide, 18.2 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health experts continue their weekly Wednesday briefings. You can watch at 8:30 am tomorrow – here’s the link.

GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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HOLIDAY-HELP REMINDER: The Christmas People are still accepting holiday-meal requests, and cookies

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

This is a big week for the volunteer organization known as The Christmas People. They’re planning to feed hundreds around the area for the holiday. They’re now stocked up with volunteer help, but they need two things:

HOMEMADE COOKIES: Bake them and drop them off in boxes or carefully placed in bags. Volunteers will take it from there. Dropoff times and location – 9 am-4 pm each of the next five days, Wednesday through Sunday – Christmas Day included – at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th SW. (Use the Dining Room entrance that faces the parking lot.)

NEED A HOLIDAY MEAL? Call or email The Christmas People by Thursday (Christmas Eve) to order free meals if you’re in need – “shut-ins, seniors, veterans … people who need a nice meal at Christmas.” Call Fred at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business burglars take truck, bonuses, booze; car smash-and-grab; toolbox turns up; helicopter search

December 22, 2020 6:57 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

(Updated 8:13 pm with helicopter search)

Four West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

BUSINESS BURGLARY: Thanks for the tips about Whisky West‘s break-in. We haven’t been able to get the police report, but this afternoon we spoke with general manager Mike Sweet. He tells WSB it happened around 4:30 am Sunday. Two men whose faces weren’t visible due to masks and hoodies broke in through a side door and looked around – they didn’t seem to exhibit any familiarity with the restaurant/bar, but eventually found their way into the office, and stole the safe, which contained money to be distributed to the staff as holiday bonuses. They also took about $4,000 in liquor, some food, and keys they used to take a business truck (white 2007 Ford F-150). Sweet launched a crowdfunding account to try to replace the bonus money and says it’s had a good response already. Meantime, if you have any info, the police report number is 20-348992.

CAR SMASH-AND-GRAB: This happened to Peter in the 9700 block of 33rd SW:

He says it happened Saturday night: “Our car was broken into … parked right underneath a streetlight.”

STOLEN AND DUMPED? Susanna found this toolbox near a South Admiral corner:

She moved it out of the street onto the sidewalk, “out of the way of cars.” If it might be yours, let us know and we will pass along location info.

ADDED 8:13 PM – HELICOPTER SEARCH: Guardian One is in the area, assisting with a search in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, just uphill from West Marginal Way. According to radio communication, police are looking for a suspect in a harassment/threats case who is possibly armed with a knife. … The search is also covering Puget Ridge. We don’t have a description of the suspect, other than that he’s a juvenile. … (8:49 pm) The helicopter has moved on to another call. We don’t know the suspect’s status.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Joyful

December 22, 2020 5:48 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

We skipped last night because of storm coverage – so tonight, another double feature!

Thanks to Erin in Sunrise Heights for our first photo – her house on 31st SW, with the famous treetop stars near Othello/32nd/34th [vicinity map] in the background. She says, “I especially want to call out the giant evergreen trees. The three have been lit just about every year for the 18 years we’ve lived here and they bring us such joy. Just like the tree on the Space Needle, these lit trees symbolize that it’s the holiday season! Thank you to our neighbors who light them up every year!”

Speaking of joy:

Thanks to Jackie for the photo of that display in the 3800 block of 36th SW [vicinity map]. Jackie explains, “They have been displaying decorations and lights for many years. It is a complete labor of love as these two are approaching 80 years. This year they added some new deer and a fabulous ‘joy’ sign. The sleigh is handmade. There is a teddy bear window and a window with carolers.”

Not too late for more tips/photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – see the lights we’ve already featured by scrolling through our archive or checking the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

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FOLLOWUP: Emma Schmitz Overlook seawall construction almost done

December 22, 2020 3:45 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

When late-night work was announced last week for the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall-replacement project on Beach Drive, some asked about the project’s status. Short answer: Almost done! Longer version, from project spokesperson Andrew Muñoz of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

The contractor is finishing up final construction items and we expect major construction to be complete in the next two weeks. The site will be handed over to Seattle Parks to finish the project with landscaping. This means construction equipment will be removed but fencing will remain up for the time being.

Contractor Redside Construction started major work on the long-planned project about five months ago. The new $3 million, 465-foot seawall had to be built in front of the failing old one because demolition work would have been a risk to a sewer line running beneath it.

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WATER TAXI ALERT: West Seattle vessel downsizing for rest of today and tomorrow

December 22, 2020 2:19 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(Spirit of Kingston – WSB file photo)

Just in, a temporary change of vessel on the West Seattle Water Taxi route:

The 149-passenger Spirit of Kingston will replace the 278-passenger Doc Maynard on the West Seattle route tonight and tomorrow. West Seattle riders should plan accordingly given the reduced passenger capacity, especially on the 8:00 and 8:35 morning sailings as well as the 4:45 and 5:25 evening sailings. The Doc Maynard will be going to the shipyard to have a damaged propeller replaced. There will be no impacts to Vashon service.

And a reminder, no Water Taxi service on Friday for the holiday.

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WHO’S OPEN ON CHRISTMAS: Where to find West Seattle info, and how to add to it

December 22, 2020 1:21 pm

| Comments Off on WHO’S OPEN ON CHRISTMAS: Where to find West Seattle info, and how to add to it

| Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

That’s the new covered outdoor addition at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), one of the West Seattle businesses that will be open on Christmas Day (8 am-4 pm). As always, we’re building info lists for the holidays, and publishing this reminder that it’s not too late to let us know about retailers and food/drink businesses’ hours on Christmas Eve/Day. All the info we have so far – including the complete grocery-store hours list for Thursday/Friday – is toward the end of our West Seattle Holiday Guide page (which has a list of church services, too). We’re still checking around, but if you can help by providing info, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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HOLIDAY HELPING: West Seattle family’s fundraising Christmas music

December 22, 2020 11:44 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

With three days to go until Christmas, maybe you’ve already heard the Mariah Carey version of “All I Want for Christmas” a hundred times. Here’s an alternative: Listen to the Leyva Family Band version! Michelle Leyva emailed to tell us about their downloadable Christmas music album, fundraising for Keep Music Live Washington, an advocacy group fighting for the future of live-music venues shuttered during the pandemic. Proceeds will go to that group; the Leyvas are offering their Christmas collection for $5, or anything more you want to pay, explaining, “We miss live music and so look forward to hearing it again soon with all of YOU.” You can find the album, and preview it, by going here.

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WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: Here’s what’s up

December 22, 2020 10:35 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Christmas pony? Photo by Jerry Simmons)

A few notes for the rest of today/tonight:

SHOPPING: See our Holiday Guide for spotlighted shops, as well as a list of local independent businesses offering online shopping (many with curbside pickup and/or delivery).

DEMONSTRATE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: The weekly announcement from Scott @ Puget Ridge Cohousing:

Black Lives Matter sign waving

Tuesday Dec 22, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday Dec 24, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden [Xmas Eve–we may end early if traffic very light]

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.

LAMENTATION LIBERATION: Happening outside Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds):

Due to harsh weather conditions, the Winter 2020 Solstice Lamentation Liberation has been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 22 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in the church’s front courtyard.

Alki UCC invites our friends and neighbors to write down your 2020 Lamentations and General Complaints Against the Universe on paper and join us to watch them go up in smoke in our 2020 Lamentation Fire. Let’s release 2020 from its grip upon us, and look to longer, brighter days ahead. Burning of the lamentations will start at about 4:30 pm, continuing until the fire burns out. Self-serve cider mix packets will be offered for at home enjoyment. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the White Center Food Bank. The church is also sponsoring a family with a single dad with 10 kids that need winter jackets, so please bring a child’s jacket if you have one to donate.

ENDOLYNE JOE’S: As announced last Friday, the Fauntleroy restaurant is temporarily closing TFN after tonight. Open for takeout 11 am-8 pm. (9261 45th SW)

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Remembering Susan M. Bowen, 1948-2020

December 22, 2020 8:59 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Susan M. Bowen, and sharing this with her community:

Susan Marie Bowen, beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on Sunday, December 6th at midnight in Seattle.

Susan Marie Clark was born on September 10, 1948 in Missoula, Montana to Robert and Montana Clark. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Seattle and purchased a home on 48th Avenue, near the bottom of Charlestown Hill in West Seattle.

Tragically, her father died when she was three years old and her mother never remarried. Susan grew up in West Seattle with her older half-sister Loretta and graduated from West Seattle High School.

She attended the University of Washington until she took a semester off, worked at the Post Office, met and married James Bowen and divorced after 14 years. They had four children: Cassandra, Eugene, Rebecca, and Tamara. Susan worked for close to 30 years at the Seattle Police Department and retired as a Chief Dispatcher. Oddly, she was on duty for some of Seattle’s biggest crises, including the Mardi Gras riots in Pioneer Square, the Metro Bus that drove off an unfinished highway ramp, and other notorious events.

Susan loved Jehovah, her family, gardening, sewing, knitting, making jewelry, and was a voracious reader.

We will all miss her encouragement to develop a personal relationship with our Creator and keep His laws.

Many people have lavender potpourri made from Nana’s garden, her delicious fruit leather made from her own plum tree. Jars of delicious jams and jellies have been mailed to many cousins in Montana, and beyond. She was also known for her tasty lemon bars made with love. Her sudden, shocking death due to Stage 4 cancer saddens us all deeply, but we know that she is in the care and memory of our loving Heavenly Father, who will reward her.

Susan was dearly loved and is survived by: Her older sister Loretta Baker; Cassandra (daughter) James, Jordan (granddaughter) and Madison O’Neal (granddaughter); Eugene (son), Anna Marie (granddaughter), Michael (grandson), Caprice (granddaughter) and Camryn Bowen (granddaughter); Rebecca Bowen (daughter), Lanisha Scott (granddaughter) Terrence, Samaya (great-granddaughter), and Zion (great-granddaughter); and Tamara (daughter), Quincy, DeShawn (grandson), Aria (granddaughter),
and Layla Aitkens (granddaughter). She will be greatly missed by tons of cousins, nieces, nephews, and
friends.

John 5: 28, 29
Daniel 12:13

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Tuesday 12/22 watch

December 22, 2020 6:07 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

ADDED 9 AM: Thanks for the tip – a tree has come down on part of the Alki Trail, in the 1200 block of Alki:

It’s been reported to the city. Earlier:

=====

6:07 AM: It’s Tuesday, December 22nd, the 274th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. It’s also the day after record rainfall followed by a sharp temperature drop and snow, so beware of potentially slick streets.

ROAD (ETC.) WORK

Bridge platform: 7-11 am today, the second West Seattle Bridge stabilization-work platform is expected to be lowered and barged away. Low-bridge traffic is not expected to be affected, but maritime traffic will have to wait until the work is done.

Delridge project: Work is planned through Thursday this week. Here are the expected highlights.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule today.

Water Taxi – Regular schedule today (no service Friday).

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way: