day : 02/01/2021 9 results

21 roundup, including our weekly West Seattle trend check

January 2, 2021 10:02 pm

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| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Midway through the first weekend of 2021, here are our pandemic toplines:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard – keep in mind that testing availability’s been low the past few days because of the holiday:

*64,109 people have tested positive, 810 more than yesterday’s total

*1,091 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total

*4,245 people have been hospitalized, 51 more than yesterday’s total

*755,169 people have been tested, 4,975 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 60,000/1,043/4,019/730,769.

WEST SEATTLE TRENDS: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers shown in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, combining the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas” (HRAs). For the past two weeks, 207 positive test results; 417 in the 2 weeks before that; 398 in the two weeks before that. … We also are going to start noting WS death totals each week, as the HRAs are a more precise way of counting those than the zip codes we used briefly, since two of West Seattle’s five ZIP codes also stretch outside the area. The total deaths for the entire pandemic in the two HRAs comprising West Seattle: 49. The dashboard says 6 of those were in the past two weeks.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 84.5 million people have tested positive, and more than 1,835,000 million people have died; U.S. deaths have passed 350,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, France (fifth week with no change). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.

PARK PROGRAMS: Now that January’s here, Seattle Parks is about to start another month of virtual programming, for all ages. If you haven’t seen the brochure yet, find it here.

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

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Reminder for this rainy night

January 2, 2021 7:50 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Framegrab from SDOT’s 5-way-intersection camera)

So far, no reports of flooding – but it’s forecast to be a very rainy night, and the Flood Watch alert remains in effect, so this reminder from Seattle Public Utilities might be of value:

With heavy rain in the forecast tonight through tomorrow, Seattle Public Utilities has extra staff on standby and is ready to respond to any drainage-related issues.

If customers need to report sewer backups or flooding, they should call the 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800.

Customers can help prevent flooding and ponding in their area by keeping storm drains in their area clear of debris.

For more information on SPU flooding response, please (go here).

Drainage trouble was blamed for a lot of what we saw in the intense downpour 12 days ago.

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WSB FYI: Free obituaries

January 2, 2021 6:19 pm

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Continuing our start-of-a-new-year series of reminders about what WSB offers besides news coverage: Tonight – one of those services we hope you don’t need, but if you do – we publish obituaries for free. We’re told that other publications can charge up to hundreds of dollars to publish one, and we think that’s wrong – grieving families have enough else to worry about – so in the past decade, we’ve published almost 500 obituaries, all at no charge. We consider them to be news – and while some are very basic, others tell stories of interest even to those who never knew the person who’s passed on. If this is a service you find yourself in need of, all you have to do is send us the text and photo, as part of your email, not as a Word or PDF type attachment. If you’re including time-sensitive information such as the date for a memorial or celebration of life (we’ve had some Zoom links in recent obituaries), please keep in mind that several days’ lead time is best as it might take us a few days to publish it. You can scroll through our archive for examples of what we’ve published.

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STAY HEALTHY STREETS: Next briefing this Wednesday

January 2, 2021 4:21 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, December)

The creation of no-through-traffic “Stay Healthy Streets“ was a hot topic here on WSB in 2020, taking two spots on our list of the year’s 10 most-commented stories. West Seattle has three stretches – one in High Point/Sunrise Heights (map), one in Highland Park/Puget Ridge (map), and one around Alki Point (map), technically a “Keep Moving Street” because much of it is adjacent to a park. That stretch’s future is to be determined this year; if you’re interested, the next major city briefing is coming up Wednesday (January 6th). It’s a joint meeting of the city Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Boards, online at 6 pm; the “Stay Healthy Streets” briefing is expected to start around 6:30 pm. The meeting includes public-comment periods at the beginning and end, as you can see on the agenda, which includes information on how to attend via videoconferencing or phone.

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GRATITUDE: What you gave The Christmas People, and what they delivered

January 2, 2021 1:35 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news

Among the many opportunities for holiday help that we showcased this season was The Christmas People‘s request for cookies and volunteers. The group’s president/co-founder Fred Hutchinson sent this community thank-you note with an update on the results:

From December 24 through December 27, The Christmas People delivered 2,917 meals to homeless shelters and tiny-house settlements. This is about 60% more meals that other years due to demand. Generous neighbors in West Seattle dropped off in excess of 7,200 cookies — twice what we normally receive. Many cookies were nicer than a bake shop; often these cookies are the only gift a homeless person receives. We also had the generous support of 65 volunteers over the six-day period of prep and delivery. Thank you to West Seattle Blog and our neighbors for a genuine outpouring of goodwill and love this holiday season.

Along with announcements here in the news stream, we also list giving opportunities in our West Seattle Holiday Guide every year; our thanks, too, to everyone who organizes, and responds to, them!

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New year, new home in West Seattle for The Diversity Center of Washington

January 2, 2021 12:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Photo courtesy The Diversity Center of Washington)

The Diversity Center of Washington has moved to West Seattle. We got the announcement from its founder and CEO, Jean Craciun. “We are activists for change,” Craciun explains. “Our focus has shifted to corporate Seattle,” a reason for moving north from Burien. The nonprofit’s work has included events meant “to highlight marginalized community members and advocate for action” – among them “10 Chefs and Causes” and the “1st annual Humanitarian Awards: They did something!” The center’s everyday work, Craciun says, is with “organizations & institutions that are seeking authentic change. Groups who truly desire change and want a more DEI (diversity equity inclusion) workplace.” (In the photo above, that’s Craciun at left, outside The Diversity Center’s Morgan Junction HQ, with musician Chamel Simmons; the decorations are by Shileah Corey from Ballyhoo Theatre.)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue Dodge truck, champagne Accord

January 2, 2021 10:40 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news

UPDATED 11:11 AM: Two stolen vehicles to report:

Have you seen that truck? Sabrina reports it was stolen from the 9000 block of 3rd SW last Monday. It’s a 2001 blue Dodge Dakota Sport “with gray net over the back of the truck.” (We’ll add the plate # when we get it.) Call 911 if you see it.

ADDED: Tim just sent word of this vehicle theft:

Woke up to my car stolen out of my driveway. It’s a champagne/ivory 1994 Honda Accord 4-door. Bone stock. License plate number BEZ-9764. Slight bump/dent on passenger rear door just below the window along with a door trim that’s lifting up on the end. Has a long scratch on hood in the middle front (not super noticeable). Rear windshield has a blue/baby blue sticker on the lower driver side. Has rain visors on all 4 doors. Blue dog collar and red parking pass on rear-view mirror. Last seen the corner of Charlestown St & 52nd.

Again – call 911 if you see it.

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SPORTS: Southwest Little League registration now open

January 2, 2021 10:06 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Will there be sports in spring? Hard to say, but volunteer league organizers have to be ready, and that’s why they’re opening registration. The first announcement we’ve received is from Southwest Little League. You can register online now, or in person next month at two masked/distanced events, noon-2 pm February 6th and 13th, both at the “little log cabin” at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd). You can check a prospective player’s division eligibility here. If you have questions, information@southwestlittleleague.org is the league’s email address.

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: First weekend of 2021 begins

January 2, 2021 6:34 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thursday night photo by Carolyn Newman, looking across Elliott Bay)

Welcome to Saturday! Aside from windy and wet weather, here’s what’s scheduled today:

ALKI BEACH COMMUNITY CLEANUP: 10 am-2 pm, join Jessica in cleaning up the Alki Beach vicinity. Details are in our preview from earlier this week, including how to contact her to RSVP (not mandatory).

GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE: 10 am, live online, get started with the free West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) couch-to-half-marathon fitness program for beginners!

SCOUTS RECYCLING TREES: Happening in Burien, but the troop specifically reached out to invite West Seattleites too – you can drop off your Christmas tree (not flocked) with Scouts for a suggested $5 donation, 9 am-4 pm. (920 SW 150th)

GRAND OPENING: Fogue Gallery invites you to visit its new “not retiring, inspiring” expansion space at 4130 California SW, starting at noon.

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