West Seattle, Washington
23 Friday
30 weeks ago tonight – on February 28th – King County announced its first case of COVID-19. Here’s what’s new:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily summary:
*21,896 people have tested positive, 93 more than yesterday
*758 people have died, unchanged since Wednesday
*2,353 people have been hospitalized, 11 more than yesterday
*425,279 people have been tested, 3,447 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 21,304/748/2,313/406,682.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
STATE-NUMBERS CAVEAT TODAY: A news release from the state notes, “The Department of Health reported 992 new cases of COVID-19 today. This includes 486 cases from Clark County that had been previously reported but had not been entered into the state’s data system. DOH and Clark County are actively collaborating to ensure that any remaining discrepancies are resolved promptly.”
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 32.4 million cases, 987,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
SSC TESTING SITE CLOSES: Today was the last day for weekly Friday testing at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). The college says UW Medicine informed them that funding for the SSC site has ended, but UWM is still involved with the city’s six-days-a-week testing at Southwest Athletic Complex, so if you can’t get a test through your provider, go there.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Another reopening ahead in The Junction: The Alley, small bites and cocktails at 4509 California SW behind Be’s Restaurant, is reopening next Thursday (October 1st). Limited capacity, and masks required, 4 pm-10 pm weeknights, 3 pm-10 pm Saturdays and Sundays. The Alley will take reservations via email at info@thealleyws.com, but says walk-ins are OK too as space allows.
(WSB photo, Beach Drive “Keep Moving Street” in May)
Also from West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s weekly update, new information on options SDOT is considering for the future of what’s currently a “Keep Moving Street” on both sides of Alki Point. Three weeks ago, SDOT announced those sections of Beach Drive and Alki Avenue would keep their no-through-traffic status at least until King County moved to Stage 3 of COVID-19 recovery. Nearby residents have been collecting petition signatures in support of making it permanent, as Herbold notes in her update, saying she “support(s) the continued efforts of constituents advocating for a permanent Stay Healthy Street.” She says she contacted SDOT with questions about the status and in reply, the department told her five options are under consideration:
1. Return to previous street operation
2. Convert to a neighborhood greenway, changes would include:
-Stop signs at intersecting streets will be added where they currently operate as neighborhood yield intersections (64th Ave SW, Point Pl SW, 64th Pl SW, 64th Ave SW)
-Additional traffic calming so that spacing of speed humps and raised crosswalks is approximately every 300 feet
-Approximately 3-4 speed humps or speed cushions would be added.
-Connectivity to the citywide bicycle network would be enhanced through the addition of sharrow pavement markings and wayfinding signs.3. Upgrade to a permanent Stay Healthy Street, changes would include:
-All of the neighborhood greenway enhancements listed above
-Street Closed and Stay Healthy Street signs at every intersection with durable materials4. Upgrade neighborhood greenway with additional space for walking adjacent to beachside curb.
-All of the neighborhood greenway enhancements listed above
-Removal of parking and delineation (tuff curb and post) of additional space for walking adjacent to the existing sidewalk adjacent to the beach
-Increased space for walking would be adjacent to park beach only, not continuous where buildings are between roadway and beach.5. Convert street to operate as one-way northbound for vehicles, providing shared walking and biking space adjacent to beachside sidewalk
-Delineation of a continuous shared walking and biking space adjacent to the existing beachside curb (8’ to 15’ wide)
-Continuous shared walking and biking space would connect from the existing Alki Trail to the end of the Alki Point Keep Moving Street.
-Adjustment of the roadway to operate as one way northbound for vehicles, preserving parking primarily adjacent to east/south curbs.
Herbold says SDOT assured her the street’s status wouldn’t change “until the community engagement process concludes and there is a final determination regarding a permanent configuration.” There’s no elaboration on exactly what the “community engagement process” entails, but the Stay Healthy/Keep Moving Streets project webpage has a contact email: StayHealthyStreets@seattle.gov.
For the first time since April, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold will preside over an online “town hall.” The one five months ago (WSB coverage here) was all about the West Seattle Bridge; this one is scheduled to start with an hour about public safety, followed by an hour about the bridge. The announcement is in her just-published weekly update:
On September 30, I will co-host a District 1 Town Hall on public safety and the West Seattle Bridge, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SPD Chief Diaz and SW Precinct Captain Grossman will be attending, along with SDOT Director Zimbabwe. There will also be a representative from LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) to talk about the expansion of the program to the SW Precinct.
The first hour will be on public safety, and the second hour will be on the West Seattle Bridge. There will be plenty of time for questions on each topic.
You can RSVP (here); later in the day Tuesday we’ll e-mail information to the RSVP list about how to participate in the Q&A, and view the town hall.
As noted further into Herbold’s weekly update, Wednesday is also the day the council starts work on the next budget, with the mayor officially delivering her proposal the day before.
The endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales have another new calf. The news comes from the Center for Whale Research, which announced just three weeks ago that a newborn had arrived in J-Pod – same group in which this one was born. The new mother is 15-year-old J41, whose first calf was born five years ago. The announcement notes, “CWR will eagerly await the whales’ return to evaluate the calf’s condition and hopefully determine its sex. … We will reserve its alpha-numeric designation until it proves to be healthy when the pod returns to Salish Sea waters. Approximately 40% of newborn calves do not survive their neonatal first few weeks.” CWR recently announced that J-Pod’s first newborn of the month, J57, is male.
Though the results will take a while to tally, the gratitude is immediate! The West Seattle Food Bank is sharing words of thanks to everyone who participated in the Taste of West Seattle the last five days – from diners/donors to venues – as well as word that (update) 4 venues are extending their participation:
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2020 Taste of West Seattle, presented by Metropolitan Market. It was a wonderful week of delicious food, drink, and community support. We are so grateful to our generous local eateries and drinkeries, sponsors, and neighbors like you who made this new flavor of the Taste of West Seattle not only possible, but a success!
Remember to submit your stamped Taste Passport by October 16th to be entered to win a pair of round-trip tickets on Alaska Airlines and other prizes. Mail your Passport to the West Seattle Food Bank at 3419 SW Morgan St. Seattle, WA 98126 or drop it off at participating eateries.
The deliciousness continues! Best of Hands Barrelhouse has decided to continue to donate 10% of sales on Taste menu items until September 27th, Pot Pie Factory will continue until September 30th, and Phoenecia until October 16th! [Editor’s note: West Seattle Wine Cellars added a comment below that they’re extending too, through Saturday, September 26th.]
A big thank you to all of our generous Taste eateries and drinkeries:
Baked., Bakery Nouveau, Be’s Restaurant, Bebop Waffle Shop, Best of Hands Barrelhouse, Beveridge Place Pub, Blue Moon Burgers, Capitol Cider, C & P Coffee Company, Easy Street Records & Cafe, Elliott Bay Brewery, Grillbird Teriyaki, Husky Deli, Indu!ge Desserts, Itto’s Tapas, Lady Jaye, Ma’ono, Mission Cantina, Nos Nos Coffee House, Ounces Taproom & Beer Garden, Pecos Pit Bar-B-Que, Peel & Press, Phoenecia, Pot Pie Factory, Seeking Kombucha, Shadowland, Skylark Cafe and Club, Talarico’s Pizzeria, The Bridge, The Good Society Brewery & Public House, The Westy, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and Events, West 5, and West Seattle Cellars
And to our sponsors:
Metropolitan Market, HomeStreet Bank, West Seattle Christian Church, Hunt Jackson PLLC, Molina Healthcare, Whole Foods Market, West Seattle Blog, and Alaska Airlines
All funds raised from the Taste of West Seattle help prevent hunger and homelessness and ensure our neighbors have access to the resources they need to stay safe, fed, housed, and healthy. Thank you! We can’t wait for next year!
12:01 PM: Neighbors in northeast Admiral report a prowler in the 3-4:30 am vicinity, seen clearly on this security-video clip:
Dana reports an e-bike stolen in the process, a black RadCity Step-Thru. “Definitely not seen from the street and involved [the thief] being inches from our bedroom windows. I’ve filed a police report but wanted to get the word out that he is pretty bold and not afraid to go searching around your home.” Dana says just to get in the yard where the video was recorded, the prowler had to “jump a locked gate.” Meantime, we’ve had a few bicycle reunions lately, so if you happen to see one like this abandoned, please let us know and we’ll connect you.
6 PM: Dana says in comments that a neighbor found the bike.
Tomorrow’s the day – 9 am to 1 pm, the West Seattle Junction Association parking lot off 42nd SW, just south of SW Oregon, will be your dropoff center for recyclables, reusables, and shreddables. (And take note, that lot closes at 9 pm tonight for preparation – please don’t park there after 9 pm, or you’ll be towed.) It’s drive-up, ride-up, walk-up – masks required – and all the info you need about how it’ll work and what you can and can’t bring is here, as well as on this flyer:
This is your one big chance for “beyond the curb” recycling this fall, as the Fauntleroy Church-sponsored Recycle Roundup is on hold until next year, so if you have unwanted/unneeded items stacked up from quarant-cleaning, don’t miss this!
Despite the pandemic, organizers of some local events are figuring out how you can still have fun while supporting the local nonprofits that not only present the events but also rely on the money they raise. Today, we have news about the West Seattle Monster Dash, usually a fun run in Lincoln Park, this year going online:
The Monster Dash is coming! Our virtual event will run October 17-November 1, 2020. Support South Seattle Cooperative Preschools and join Monster Dash enthusiasts from all over the globe as they run, walk, skip, jump, or dance to stay active and healthy during the month of October. Registration is free, and your donations are greatly appreciated.
With three awesome virtual options, there’s something for the whole family!
– 15 Mile Preschool Loop
– 5K
– Family Activity ChallengeMore info about the 2020 Monster Dash here.
Register by October 1 for guaranteed t-shirt availability. T-shirts are $10 each, local pick-up only.
We need your help! Are you connected with a business that could donate something for a prize drawing giveaway? We’d love to hear from you! Contact westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com with suggestions.
SSC Cooperative Preschools
West Seattle Monster Dash benefits the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschool Program. One hundred percent of proceeds are contributed to the Cooperative Preschool joint fund which is key in supporting our five preschool sites; Admiral, Alki, Lincoln Park, South Seattle College and White Center.
More info can be found here.MEP Scholarship Fund
Operating primarily on donations and fundraising, The Mary E. Phillips Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to many eligible families each quarter, assuring that our co-op preschools are affordable for all who want to join. Our need is particularly high this year as we provide emergency Covid scholarships to families in need.
6:16 AM: Welcome to Friday. It’s the 186th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
ROAD WORK
*Delridge project: The SW Oregon closure is postponed again, so NO closure this weekend. Meanwhile, here’s where crews are working now, with next week’s update due out later today.
*Olson/1st repaving: We’re checking today whether this weekend work also will be postponed.
TRANSIT
Metro – Today is the fifth weekday since the “service change” – check here to see if your route changed. Remember that fare collection resumes next Thursday, October 1st.
Water Taxi – Fares for the foot ferry also will resume October 1st. Still on weekday-only schedule, until at least next spring.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
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.
That’s the trailer for “From Here,” co-produced by West Seattle filmmaker Amy Benson. Its Seattle premiere starts on-demand tomorrow (Friday) during Northwest Film Forum’s Local Sightings Film Festival. Here’s what it’s about:
… Filmed over the better part of a decade in two of the world’s largest immigration countries – the U.S. and Germany – “From Here” captures an international generation’s fight for belonging in an era of rising nationalism.
Set in Berlin and New York, “From Here” interweaves the stories of Tania, Miman, Sonny, and Akim – artists and activists raised in the Global North to parents from the Global South. The film accompanies them as they move from their 20’s into their 30’s, facing major turning points: fighting for citizenship, creating a family, surviving violence, and finding creative expression. …
We spotlighted Benson’s award-winning film “Drawing the Tiger” five years ago; it was the first of a documentary trilogy that she continues working on. “From Here,” she says, is a “hopeful story … a powerful documentary that says: ‘everyone has the right to belong’.”
“From Here” will be available for viewing on-demand Friday-Sunday; pay-what-you-can tickets are available through the festival website. The film is also part of a lorger educational initiative you can learn about here.
Pandemic-related news for the first Thursday night of fall:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals – now with the total-tests number restored, too, after a state data adjustment:
*21,803 people have tested positive, up 38 from yesterday’s total
*758 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total
*2,342 people have been hospitalized, up 2 from yesterday’s total
*421,832 people have been tested, up 4,593 from last released total (our calculation)
One week ago, those totals were 21,196/748/2,310/407,596.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 32.1 million cases worldwide, 6.9 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
SAFER FLYING: That was the spotlight topic during Gov. Inslee‘s briefing/media Q&A session this afternoon. Airline executives joined him to run through the many policies and precautions in effect on airplanes and in airports. You can watch the video here.
TESTING TOMORROW: Reminder that the weekly testing at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) continues on Fridays (info in the Seattle list here) as well as the six-days a week testing at Southwest Athletic Complex. At SSC, no appointment needed – drive/ride into the north parking lot, 7 am-1 pm.
TESTING MILESTONE: The city says its sites – including SWAC – have now administered more than 200,000 tests.
DONATION DRIVE SUNDAY: Alki UCC‘s twice-monthly outdoor donation dropoff event, 10 am-3 pm Sunday – here’s the announcement:
Alki UCC invites our generous neighbors to bring donations of school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing as well as non-perishable food to our bi-monthly donations drives to benefit our vulnerable neighbors in need.
Food and basic supplies such as toilet paper and diapers are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. We’re accepting school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks, and colored paper.
Donations of clean, new, or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network’s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, T-shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes, and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits.
GOT PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The rain’s not done yet, so SDOT has again postponed plans for its contractor to close SW Oregon at Delridge (south of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). We asked late today if the closure – which had been scheduled to start Friday morning – was on or off, and the project team replied, “Our team has just determined that the forecast this weekend is looking too wet to fully complete this work. We will have one crew working this weekend on some other items, but SW Oregon St will remain open during this time.” We’re publishing weekly project updates, so we should know soon about a new date.
(WSB file photo)
The Senior Center of West Seattle invites you to help its work continue via a pandemic-style event – here’s the announcement:
Joy Is in the Journey is the Senior Center of West Seattle’s biggest annual fundraiser. Instead of attending an in-person event this year, the community is invited to help raise $100,000 by making an online donation. All donations made before Sept. 29 will be matched up to $20,200, thanks to a generous local donor. So far, the event has raised $52,000.
Then join fellow supporters in an interactive, live virtual event on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The event will include entertainment, activity demonstrations and updates live from the Senior Center.
All donations fund the Senior Center, a fun and vibrant social gathering place in the heart of the West Seattle Junction. Gifts also support the essential services the Senior Center has been providing vulnerable seniors during this pandemic, including meals, grocery delivery, social worker outreach and phone counseling.
We are all on this journey together. Join us in supporting our community’s seniors!
Tuesday, Sept. 29
8-8:45 a.m. with virtual doors opening at 7:30 a.m.To participate in the live event, make a donation at app.mobilecause.com/vf/2020Journey before Sept. 29.
Learn more at: sc-ws.org/events/special-events
SDOT reps voiced surprise by some of what they heard at last night’s conversation with HPAC about Reconnect West Seattle and other bridge-detour traffic issues.
They expected to hear mostly about side streets, but heard a lot about arterials too – including another one that, like Sylvan Way previously, had been overlooked in earlier traffic-mitigation plans: Dumar Way. It’s a busier-than-ever route taking people from Delridge/Orchard to 16th/Austin, just north of SW Holden on the path to the 1st Avenue South Bridge.
HPAC is the community council for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge, so the focus was on that part of the Reconnect West Seattle plan, which already has these prioritized projects:
The SDOT reps noted that another arterial that was asked about, Roxbury, is addressed in the plan, to some degree. But that street and Dumar are not getting enough attention, residents countered. “They’re underrepresented,” noted Donna Burns.
Also discussed, the Home Zone program, SDOT’s relatively new umbrella name for side-street traffic calming, explained here. SDOT hopes to gather small groups of residents to walk some of the cut-through-plagued streets to get up to speed on where this help is needed. They promised two groups – one north of Henderson, one south.
SDOT’s Sara Zora, who is now the mobility manager for the Reconnect West Seattle program, stressed that RWS is not the be-all end-all of mitigation plans, but just a first installment of sorts, as they continue learning about neighborhood priorities.
Kay Kirkpatrick coordinated the HPAC meeting; community participants included two members of the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force, which met earlier in the day – Colleen Desmond, who represents the area, and Deb Barker from the Morgan Community Association and WS Transportation Coalition. Kirkpatrick also noted the recent announcement of Stay Healthy Blocks and said that if anyone is interested in HPAC support – since the application is limited to community groups and nonprofits for starters – let them know. And if you are interested in one of the Home Zone walks, contact HPAC via its website.
HPAC meets at 7 pm fourth Wednesdays most months – watch hpacws.org for updates.
In case you’ve missed the mentions in our daily traffic (etc.) watch, King County Metro wants to be sure you’re aware that they’ll resume collecting fares on Water Taxis and buses one week from today (Thursday, October 1st). The WT reminder is here; Metro’s reminder is here. Both have implemented health/safety measures – the Water Taxi will have shielded fare-collection carts like this:
Both services suspended fares six months ago because of the pandemic.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to go see the newly installed tribute to the “patron saint of the broken bridge” – reported here last weekend – we’re sorry to tell you, you missed your chance. Two people sent us notes this morning, both beginning “This is why we can’t have nice things” … this one (and the photos) came from Lars (who sent us the original announcement too):
The Delridge Maritime Historical Society is saddened to announce that the Rolf Neslund bust lasted less than a week before being vandalized and stolen. Though his time was short, his memory remains strong.
A curse upon the Rolf haters; “a spiritual burning barrel awaits ye!”
Seen in (relatively) happier times:
If you are just catching up, Neslund was the freighter pilot who hit the old West Seattle Bridge in 1978, leading to the chain of events that resulted in the construction of the currently closed bridge.. He gained extra notoriety a few years later as a murder victim.
P.S. This is not the first bridge-side statue theft.
(Northern Flickers in The Arroyos, photographed by Mark MacDonald)
Stormy morning – just had some thunder this past half-hour, and then a bit of sunshine. The forecast says it’ll be showery on and off all day, with more thunderstorms possible “early in the afternoon.” Here’s what else is happening:
TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE, FINAL DAY: Today/tonight, it’s your last chance to get special menu items at food/drink establishments around West Seattle and know that you’re doing something good – besides supporting local businesses, you’re supporting the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work to fight hunger and homelessness. You have dozens of options – see the list of participants (and menu items) here! (WSB is a community co-sponsor of the Taste of West Seattle.)
GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: 2:30 pm, the governor plans a briefing/media Q&A “to discuss the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and new protocols for safe airline travel in Washington state.” It’ll be livestreamed – and available for playback later – here.
DEMONSTRATION: 4-6 pm, Scott‘s twice-weekly sign-waving demonstration in support of Black lives is planned at 16th/Holden, “signs available” if you don’t have your own.
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: As previewed here, WSDW is scheduled to hear from and talk with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold tonight, two days after the council voted to override those mayoral vetoes. The online meeting starts at 6, with Herbold scheduled at 6:30. Public welcome – email wsdwomen@yahoo.com to register and get access info.
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm, online meeting with 3 main topics: bridge-closure traffic mitigation, the scooter-share program, and community scooter-/bike-share concerns. Guests are expected from SDOT and West Seattle Bike Connections. Here’s the link.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Six months ago, the West Seattle Bridge was closed with just a few hours’ notice.
When, or if, it will reopen, remains undetermined.
But one thing’s for sure – the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force is getting close to one of its milestones in the process of helping with the decision about the bridge’s fate.
“Process” is the key word here, as noted by more than one person Wednesday afternoon during the all-volunteer task force’s ninth meeting. Much of the meeting focused on the process of developing the Cost-Benefit Analysis that is expected to be the key to the repair-or-replace decision later this fall.
Here’s how the meeting went:
7:49 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a “rescue extrication” response to West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way for a crash that is reported.to involve two vehicles. one on its side. Updates to come.
7:58 AM: SDOT says one southbound lane is blocked. No camera at that intersection yet so we are on the way to look.
8:25 AM: Not there yet – our efforts to approach via Roxbury were slowed because Myers/Olson light is out.
8:41 AM: Finally got there. Intersection is now clear, as is West Marginal’s entire length – aside from a long SB backup.
6:21 AM: Welcome to Thursday. It’s the 185th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
TRANSIT
Metro – Today is the fourth weekday since the “service change” – check here to see if your route changed. Remember that fare collection resumes one week from today, on Thursday, October 1st.
Water Taxi – Fares for the foot ferry also will resume October 1st. No recent service change; still on weekday-only schedule, until at least next spring.
ROAD WORK
*Delridge project: Weather permitting, the postponed SW Oregon closure will start Friday morning. (We’ll check on that today.) Meanwhile, here’s where crews are working now.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
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.
10:30 PM: Power’s out in some West Seattle areas. More than 5,000 out per map. Updates to come.
10:35 PM: Map added above. … The SCL map counts this as two outages, totaling more than 5,200 homes/businesses. Though no cause is officially identified yet, you’re probably well aware it’s a blustery night.
10:49 PM: Multiple reports of a flash seen/boom heard about the time the outage began, but there are no fire calls in the area, so haven’t heard any verification of that. Meantime, a couple standard power-outage reminders:
-If you have to drive, flashing or dark signals = 4-way stops
-Don’t open your fridge/freezer – if it’s a long outage, that’ll increase the time its contents can keep without spoiling
-Don’t get fixated on whatever ‘estimated restoration time” you see on the SCL map. That’s literally a guess, and seldom related to what actually happens. Could be back much sooner OR much later.
11:02 PM: Updated the headline to note that part of South Park is out too.
11:26 PM: Don’t know whether it’s cause, effect, or coincidence, but an SFD engine is checking out a reported power pole problem in the 7300 block of 19th SW. … (Minutes later) They couldn’t find the reported arcing wires, so they’re closing the call. Still no official word from SCL re: the problem.
11:58 PM: Some of those who lost power are back on – now it’s down to 3,600+.
12:14 AM: More are reporting restoration as of a few minutes ago. The map usually lags so we’ll see shortly how many. … Update: Now down to about 1,900 still out.
12:36 AM: Now some just LOST power … new outage, apparently. Highland Park and White Center have reported in. Map just updated – 3,500 more customers – the southernmost cluster here:
12:39 AM: Didn’t last long, at least for some.
12:49 AM: Now that entire south cluster is gone from the map, so we’re back to almost 2,000 out in West Seattle/South Park. … (added) A few of them are back on too, about 60 customers. A little over 1,800 remain without power.
1:11 AM: From Sunrise Heights – a security camera caught the 10:24 pm flashes that lit up the sky just as all this started – :32 into the video:
2:27 AM: Now down to a little more than 1,100 out.
2:56 AM: And another group is back. Now the West Seattle pocket is down to just under 500, with the South Park pocket at 240.
7:59 AM: Those two pockets are still out.
9:48 AM: SCL says via Twitter they’re hoping to have everyone back on by 11 am.
10:32 AM: The West Seattle pocket is down to 156; total number out now just under 400.
12:22 PM: Julie Moore from SCL just replied to our inquiry about the cause, and included a photo:
The cause was a large tree that affected two circuit feeders, with the impact along the main line for both feeders limiting ability to switch.
The impact site is in a greenbelt, creating difficulty for accessing the site and bringing in equipment, affecting the time it’s taken to complete repairs.
2:22 PM: Since that last check, everyone’s come back on.
Here’s our nightly update with local/regional pandemic-related toplines:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals (keep in mind, these are the first since Monday):
*21.677 people have tested positive, 87 more than yesterday*
*758 people have died, 5 more than yesterday
*2,340 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday*
*Again tonight, the “new since yesterday” numbers on the county dashboard don’t all match the increases from what was on the dashboard 24 hours ago (as captured in our Monday roundup), so we’re using our calculations. Also, for a third night, the county has no stats on how many people have been tested, saying the state’s “data systems error” has not yet been resolved.
One week ago, those totals (plus testing) were 20,440/748/2,317/405,290.
ANOTHER AREA DEATH: One of the five zip codes that are partly or entirely in West Seattle, 98146, has recorded another death; now it has the most of those five zip codes, 16.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
VIRTUAL RESOURCE CENTER: Announced today:
To provide King County residents with ready access to dozens of community service providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic, King County District Court is making available a Virtual Resource Center (VRC). Operated as part of the court’s community court program, the VRC is open to anyone in the community to visit via Zoom videoconference or by telephone. Services at the VRC include access to education, work training, substance abuse treatment, transportation discounts, Public Health / DSHS, and many more.
Prior to COVID-19, King County District Court operated in-person community resource centers in Redmond, Shoreline and Burien. To help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the in-person options have been replaced by the VRC until they are safe to re-open after the pandemic.
To find out how and when you can use the VRC, go here.
GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING TOMORROW: The announcement for his 2:30 pm Thursday briefing:
Gov. Jay Inslee will address media Thursday via streaming video and telephone to discuss the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and new protocols for safe airline travel in Washington state.
The governor will be joined by:
Max Tidwell, vice president of safety and security, Alaska Airlines
Tony Gonchar, regional vice president, Delta Air Lines
Lance Lyttle, managing director, aviation division, Port of Seattle
Brooke Vatheuer, vice president of strategic performance for Seattle, Alaska Airlines (Q&A only)
The speakers will discuss how they have taken the baseline guidance and expanded upon it.
It’ll be livestreamed – and available for playback later – here.
NEED FOOD? Food Lifeline has gone back to weekly distributions of emergency food boxes at its South Park HQ, 815 S. 96th – 2-5 pm this Friday (September 26th).
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
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