day : 02/02/2021 9 results

Tonight’s pandemic headlines:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s what’s in today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:

*77,186 people have tested positive, 169 more than yesterday’s total

*1,270 people have died, 6 more than yesterday’s total

*4,821 people have been hospitalized, 6 more than yesterday’s total

*835.640 people have been tested, 2,670 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 74,901/1,240/4,736/817,432.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 103.8 million cases worldwide, 26.4 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

VACCINATION UPDATES: Gov. Inslee says more than 700,000 people in our state have received at least one dose of vaccine … Certain pharmacies nationwide are going to start getting an allocation of vaccine – though not a lot for starters; from the White House announcement, the recipients will include SOME locations of these chains that have stores in our vicinity: Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger (QFC, Fred Meyer), Costco, Safeway. (We have previously mentioned that the two local Safeways and one local QFC with pharmacies were gearing up to offer vaccinations when supplies were available.) … Otherwise, no new word of local availability.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Seattle Public Schools announced an online event Thursday about planning for some students to resume in-person learning March 1st.

HAZARD PAY: The mandatory $4/hour for most Seattle grocery workers is supposed to kick in tomorrow. Meantime, one chain just implemented it for all its stores – far beyond Seattle.

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

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BACK TO SCHOOL: District update Thursday, as partial resumption of in-person learning nears

February 2, 2021 8:15 pm

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| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

In less than four weeks, Seattle Public Schools plans to offer in-person classes for preschoolers, kindergarteners, first-graders, and special-education students on intensive pathways. How many will show up? The district surveyed families last month; we asked about results of that survey today, but the district says they’re not available yet. Meantime, district leaders plan to livestream an update on in-person planning this Thursday (February 4th) at 5:15 pm (you can watch here). And they’ve put together a video showing, among other things, the way classrooms will be reconfigured:

Just to our south, Highline Public Schools also plans to resume some in-person learning March 1st, with a plan covering more grades, eventually adding 2nd through 5th graders within a month

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FERRIES: Two boats on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route until May

February 2, 2021 6:39 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Triangle Route ferry, photographed from Lincoln Park by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Like other transportation/transit modes, Washington State Ferries has seen reduced traffic/usage during the pandemic. That’s meant two-boat service on the Triangle Route – Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – and WSF says it’s not planning on adding a third boat for three more months:

As Washington State Ferries continues to operate under the constraints of the COVID pandemic, it is extending the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route’s current 2-boat schedule through May 8. However, WSF plans to restore three-boat service to the route beginning May 9 as part of a modified “peak season” schedule. The peak season schedule will be posted online in the coming weeks.

The route’s usage was down more than a third last year. Got questions about this or another aspect of WSF operations? Community meetings are coming up next week, as previewed here.

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FOLLOWUP: Vandalized West Seattle Junction mural to be restored

February 2, 2021 4:54 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, last month)

Two weeks ago, we reported on vandalism defacing this mural on the West Seattle Junction Post Office – someone splashing beige paint over the depictions of a woman and two children of color, just to the right side of the parade-float royalty in the scene. Volunteers removed some of the paint, but couldn’t get it all. The West Seattle Junction Association announced today that donations will cover the cost of restoration:

Through the generosity of community donors, a $500 donation from the Alki Art Fair, and a significant donation from Mashiko, we can move forward restoring the mural and applying a critical graffiti coating to the entire surface.

WSJA executive director Lora Radford tells WSB that muralist Bob Henry, who has restored other historic West Seattle murals, will do the work when it gets a little warmer and drier. P.S. The mural-restoration crowdfunding campaign is still ongoing, here.

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GROCERY PAY: Ahead of Seattle mandate, Trader Joe’s raises ‘thank you pay’ to $4/hour

February 2, 2021 2:58 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Tomorrow, Seattle’s new city-mandated $4/hour “hazard pay” for grocery workers takes effect. This past week’s most-discussed story on WSB was about a letter of opposition sent by the new CEO of Seattle-based PCC. Now another chain has taken action – Trader Joe’s has continued to pay $2/hour of what it calls “thank you pay” and as of yesterday, doubled that to $4/hour chain-wide. Meantime, other cities are pursuing or have taken similar action – Los Angeles took a major step today toward requiring $5/hour extra pay for grocery and drugstore workers; nearby Long Beach approved $4/hour extrq grocery pay two weeks ago, and megachain Kroger – which owns QFC and Fred Meyer in our area – has closed two “underperforming” stores there, blaming the mandate.

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BIZNOTE: Last week for Capco Beverages – with future in flux

February 2, 2021 12:59 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

This is the last week for the liquor store Capco Beverages at Capco Plaza in The Junction (4100 SW Alaska), says manager Dolly Amend, but its future is in flux again. We first reported in November that the store was closing because Swedish is taking over that space. Then last month there was word of a new owner. Now, Amend says, that sale has fallen through but another one is pending, still with the aim of moving the store to Jefferson Square – with the same staff – but in the meantime, the store’s closing after this week, she says. “The discounts are deep … the last week of great deals.” P.S. As for Swedish’s plan in the space, we’ve asked repeatedly for information; so far, no comment.

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HELPING: 3 more tasty ways to support local schools

February 2, 2021 11:03 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Three more school-fundraiser announcements from the WSB inbox:

ALKI ELEMENTARY PTA VALENTINE’S PACKAGES: From the Alki Elementary PTA:

Valentine’s Day Packages are now available and include Cupcake Royale cupcakes, Jones Soda Shirley Temple Kits (sponsored by Mission Cantina), Cobb’s Popcorn (Pike Place Market favorite) and games for the whole family! Add a beautiful bouquet of roses or locally designed Valentine’s Day and PNW cards from Brush & Mallet (as seen at NW Art & Frame)! Pick up available Sunday, 2/14 from 12-2 at Genesee and 54th.

Want to have a dozen roses delivered to someone special? Have an Alki volunteer cupid porch-drop a beautiful bouquet the morning of Valentine’s Day with your own personal message!

Any of the above can be ordered online, here.

LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY PTA: They’re selling Krispy Kreme donuts through February 10th:

Buy a “Digital Dozen” for $10. Digital gift cards will be delivered via email after the fundraiser ends to be redeemed ANY time at ANY Krispy Kreme. The new contactless Digital Dozens are a fast and convenient way to put Original Glazed Doughnuts virtually in your hands. We collect donations and distribute the Digital Dozens by email, then you redeem it for an Original Glazed Dozen the next time you visit a shop or the drive-thru. Digital Dozens will be emailed to you after the fundraiser ends. We have a created a special link to share with our community who may want to support Lafayette and buy a Digital Dozen. They can use the Store Locator to find a nearby store for pickup. Thank You for supporting the students of Lafayette in this sweet way!

The one nearest West Seattle is in SODO, but the offer might be appealing if you have family/friends in other communities who are KK fans.

ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL @ MOD PIZZA, FEBRUARY 25: You have a few weeks to plan for this one:

Alki Co-op Preschool is hosting a Dine Out Fundraiser at MOD Pizza (Fauntleroy location only) on February 25th. Part of SSC’s West Seattle Preschool program, Alki Co-op Preschool is a non-profit preschool that enriches our community through positive discipline education. Please use our code (GR176595A) or mention Alki Co-op Preschool in store. NO THIRD PARTY OR PHONE ORDERS PLEASE!

Here’s the flyer.

Got a fundraiser the whole community can support? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Notes for your West Seattle Tuesday

February 2, 2021 9:13 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

How rainy has it been? The through-the-windshield, under-the-bridge view by Jerry Simmons captures it. Through early this morning, the official gauge at Sea-Tac had recorded almost an inch, and we’re almost four inches past normal for the year so far. Off-and-on rain is expected for the rest of the day. A few other notes:

(added) FOOD TRUCK: Tuk Tuk, serving Lao food, is at Origins Cannabis (40th/Edmunds; WSB sponsor), 11 am-1:30 pm – thanks for the tip!

TERMINAL 5 UPDATE: This is on the agenda when Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners meet online at 11:30 am as the Northwest Seaport Alliance managing members – info’s in our preview.

COVID TESTING AT MADISON MS: Noon-4 pm, Neighborcare is offering a walk-up, outdoor COVID-19 testing clinic. All welcome. (3429 45th SW)

CURBSIDE LIBRARY SERVICE; Noon-6 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

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ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: February’s first Tuesday

February 2, 2021 6:07 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

ADDED 7 AM: Thanks to the tipster who told us about the Georgetown power outage that’s affecting some traffic signals, including Michigan at the other end of the 1st Ave. S. Bridge. … 8:32 AM UPDATE: The outage is down to 600 customers now.

Earlier:
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6:07 AM: Welcome to Tuesday, February 2nd, the 316th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK & MORE

Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure continues between Delridge and 20th. Here are other key points of this week’s work.

California and Myrtle – The sewer-repair project continues – if driving/riding on California, be careful going over the bumps on the northbound side.

Fauntleroy Way work this week – Thursday (February 4th), about two weeks of utility work starts on Fauntleroy between Alaska and Edmunds, as previewed here.

Tunnel closure – The Highway 99 tunnel is scheduled to close both ways Friday night.

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Low Bridge: Fourth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. (No stats yet.) Here’s a bridge view: