West Seattle, Washington

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month : 02/2021 279 results

CORONAVIRUS: Wednesday 2/17/2021 roundup
February 17, 2021 11:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The latest on the pandemic:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:

*80,157 people have tested positive, 140 more than yesterday’s total

*1,320 people have died, 8 more than yesterday’s total

*5,021 people have been hospitalized, 13 more than yesterday’s total

*882,196 people have been tested, 2,397 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the four totals we track were 79,167/1,305/4,942/867,433.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page,.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.

WEEKLY HEALTH BRIEFING TOMORROW: State health officials present their weekly update and answer media questions at 9 am tomorrow; watch it live here.

VACCINE WEBINAR: Got questions about vaccine eligibility and distribution? The state is offering a webinar at 5 pm tomorrow. Here’s the info, including how to attend.

CITY CLINICS: The city is continuing to get a limited number of doses and says its next round will include pop-up clinics in West Seattle, South Park, and South Seattle, with outreach being handled by El Comite, Villa Comunitaria, the Senior Center of West Seattle, and Seattle Housing Authority.

GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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ORCAS: New calf born to Southern Resident Killer Whales
February 17, 2021 9:22 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

As noted in the comment section following this afternoon’s report on transient orcas’ visit, their cousins the Southern Resident Killer Whales have a new addition.

From the Center for Whale Research‘s announcement:

Following word that J, K, and L pod were in Haro Strait, CWR dispatched two boats with field researchers to photo-identify the new calf and as many other SRKWs as possible for our annual population census.

​CWR’s photo-ID expert, Dave Ellifrit, captured images that show L125 with fetal folds, indicating a relatively recent birth. “It is nicely filled out and appears to be a perfectly normal little calf,” said Ellifrit.

L125’s size and shape are typical of a calf in good physical condition. The new calf’s mother is L86 [born in 1991], her fourth offspring.

Drs. John Durban and Holly Fernbach (SR3) captured drone photos of L125 and, given its size, estimate it to be 1 – 1 1/2 months old.

L125 has one living sibling, L106 (male), born in 2005. L86 has given birth to two other calves: L112 and L120, both now deceased. L112 (born in 2009) was killed by blunt-force trauma during military exercises in 2012. L120 was born and died in 2014.

L125 is the first calf born into L pod since January 2019, when L77 gave birth to L124.

The last time the Center for Whale Research encountered Southern Resident orcas in the Salish Sea was January 20, 2021 (J and K pod). CWR’s most recent previous encounter with L pod was September 24, 2020.

The other calves born into J pod in 2020, J57 and J58, were observed today and looked to be doing well.

Both of those calves were born last September.

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VIDEO: Trash burns in street after truck fire in Fauntleroy
February 17, 2021 6:55 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:55 PM: Thanks for the tip. A “car fire” callout in the 4000 block of SW Barton is actually a solid-waste truck fire, says our texter, and police are being dispatched for traffic control – the dispatcher described it as a “large trash fire in the roadway.’ We’re on the way to check it out.

7:11 PM: Adding reader video sent by Eric Nordlund. As it shows, and as our crew reports, the truck had to dump trash in the street after the truck broke out – and that’s where the trash burned. No injuries.

(Photo by Mike George)

Now they have to figure out how to get it cleaned up.

(WSB photo)

7:24 PM: Police have just told dispatch that the road is likely to be blocked “for several hours.”

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ELECTION 2021: Hamdi Mohamed running for Seattle Port Commission Position 3
February 17, 2021 6:29 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Port of Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The first challenger for Seattle Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman announced her candidacy today: Hamdi Mohamed. She is currently a King County Office of Equity & Social Justice policy adviser. Her announcement says Mohamed would be “the first-ever woman of color and East African (on) the Port Commission, as well as the only commissioner to live in the airport community.” Her past work includes serving as deputy district director for Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. The announcement says that Mohamed priorities include creating “more living-wage job opportunities for all of our communities at the Port,” expecting that such jobs will play a big role in the post-pandemic recovery, and “prioritizing diversity and access for small businesses in contracting.” She also vows that environmental justice will be at the heart of her campaign. The primary is on August 2nd; the lineup of candidates won’t be finalized until May.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another pharmacy robbery; stolen car (found)
February 17, 2021 4:33 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports today:

ANOTHER PHARMACY ROBBERY: Third one in West Seattle in five days – the Jefferson Square Bartell Drugs on Saturday, the Westwood Village Rite Aid on Monday, and today QFC in The Junction. We obtained the police report after a tip about the robbery. It happened around 9:30 this morning. There was one robber this time, described in the report as “a Black male, approximately 5’10 – 6’2, slim, wearing a black beanie, blue surgical mask, black puffy jacket, black pants, and black sneakers with white bottoms.” He pulled what looked like the handle of a gun and demanded Percocet. When an employee hesitated, he yelled, “Do you really want to die over Percocet?” He was given a bottle of pills and fled out the store’s front door. Security video showed it all lasted less than two minutes. Asked about the first two robberies at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Southwest Precinct Lt. Dorothy Kim said it’s believed these are part of a ring responsible for a “regional” series of holdups.

STOLEN CAR: The report and photo are from Angela:

My car was stolen from Holden qnd 35th Ave SW sometime between 10 pm and 8:30 am, case #2021-039912.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Angela has commented below to say her car’s been found.

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WHALES: Transient orcas off West Seattle again, before swimming into Elliott Bay
February 17, 2021 2:52 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

(First 2 photos by Trevor Simonton)

2:52 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul from Salish Wildlife Watch for the report – transient killer whales are passing West Seattle again, southbound right now, visible from Alki. Let us know if you see them!

3:29 PM: Via email, Robin Sinner says they’re moving southwest, with a research boat trailing.

4:16 PM: Kersti and Robin both note in comments that the orcas are now in Elliott Bay, near the grain terminal.

(Photo by Liz Murdock)

6:51 PM: Photos added.

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ELECTION 2021: Mike McQuaid running for City Council citywide Position 8, planning West Seattle campaign stop Thursday
February 17, 2021 2:50 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda has her first challenger for citywide Position 8: South Lake Union community advocate and business owner Mike McQuaid announced today that he’s running, and planning a citywide campaign tour tomorrow, including a West Seattle stop. The campaign news release describes McQuaid as “a fourth-generation Seattleite who served as elected member, president and transportation chair of the South Lake Union Community Council from 2010 – 19 during a period of significant growth and revitalization” and says he “has also served in a number of volunteer civic leadership capacities including a mayoral appointment to the Seattle Sister Cities Coordinating Council and a leadership role in the then Key Arena – Redevelopment Community Advisory Group.” The announcement cites pandemic recovery and neighborhood-business resiliency among his priorities and says the candidate is “passionate about Seattle’s parks, transportation infrastructure and neighborhoods.” McQuaid’s campaign stops in all seven council districts tomorrow will include a visit to Husky Deli in The Junction between 1:30 and 2 pm.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Suspected mail thief back in jail after second arrest in four days
February 17, 2021 12:37 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 8:50 PM with Prosecuting Attorney’s Office information about past cases)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Last Thursday, we published a police alert about 37-year-old Jason A. Turner, who they describe as a “prolific mail thief” who focuses on North Delridge.

This morning he’s in jail again, after a second arrest in four days. Police say they objected to his release after Saturday’s arrest but he was let go Monday anyway – then arrested again on Tuesday.

According to the police-report narrative from Saturday’s arrest, officers spotted Turner “walking near Sylvan Way/Delridge Way” just after 3 pm. fitting the description of a suspect in two reports of mail theft that day. The report says he had pieces of mail stuffed into his clothing: “Without being asked, Turner stated he goes into mailboxes to get mail because he is looking for good things to sell.” Police say he was in possession of “14 total pieces from 3 different addresses, with 4 different names,” none of them his. That qualified as a potential felony (RCW 9A.56.370). After he was arrested and read his rights, the report adds, he told police “he was specifically looking for credit cards that people had applied for because he has had success using those in the past.” Turner was booked into jail but released Monday evening, without bail being set.

Then on Tuesday, according to SW Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman, officers arrested Turner again “after responding to a 911 call that he was stealing mail along 25th Ave SW (near SW Brandon St).” That was one of two calls, the first at 7:46 am, just 13 hours after he got out of jail. Capt. Grossman says one caller recognized the suspect from the photo we published last week. This time, police say, they recovered nearly 200 pieces of stolen mail.

Turner will likely have a first-appearance hearing today and police will again ask that he not be released on personal recognizance. They say the case that one detective will send to prosecutors includes a 2020 mail-theft case with ~20 victims, a more-recent case alleging mail theft and forgery with almost 50 victims, an attempted car prowl, plus these brand-new cases. Police also say another detective has been investigating a January mail-theft case. Records show no previous felony charges against Turner, but he has two open cases in which he’s been charged with misdemeanors.

What about federal charges for mail theft? you might wonder. Police say a USPIS Inspector also was called to the precinct to interview Turner before he wa taken to jail, where he’s been since just after 2 pm Tuesday.

This is his third arrest this month. After the first one, on February 3rd, prosecutors told police that they did not push to keep him in custody because a judge was unlikely to require bail given that it was a non-violent crime and that Turner had a “limited warrant history.” We have asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for comment on their policies – if commenting on this specific case is not possible – and will update this story when we hear back, as well as when we get word on what happens in court today.

5:46 PM: The jail register says bail was set for Turner today – $2,500. We also have received a response from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and will add that later this evening.

8:50 PM: KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney responded with information about Turner’s history as applies to their office, going back to 2017.

Read More

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BIZNOTE: 8 Limbs Yoga closing West Seattle studio
February 17, 2021 11:47 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips. 8 Limbs Yoga has announced via email that its West Seattle Junction yoga studio is closing at month’s end. From the email sent by owner Amaan Kurji:

When I took over the reigns of 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in January 2020 and a lease at W. Seattle set to expire a month later, my goal and hope was that by extending the lease and some investment and TLC, I would be able to revitalize the studio and keep it in the 8 Limbs family for many more years. There was no doubt that the studio held an incredibly special place in the hearts of so many of our students, teachers, and partners.

Unfortunately, Covid 19, the resulting shutdown of the studio two months later, and a continued closure has made any chance of achieving this reality highly improbable. With a heavy heart, I am writing to let you know that the 8 Limbs studio at 4546½ California Ave SW, Seattle, will permanently close its doors on February 28th, 2021.

I know that for many of our students and teachers, this studio has played an important role in their development and growth as yoga practitioners. It is because of this community that 8 Limbs was able to stay the course for almost 16 years. On behalf of all at 8 Limbs, thank you for this trust and support. ….

The full announcement is published on the 8 Limbs website, including information on a plan for “opening the doors for folks to come by, say goodbye to the space, and pick up a few things for their home studios.” The company plans to continue offering online classes as well as in-person classes “when we re-open our other studios in Capitol Hill, Phinney Ridge, and Wedgwood.” 8 Limbs is the second Junction yoga studio to close in six months; Bikram Yoga closed last fall.

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Water trouble in Gatewood, Arbor Heights
February 17, 2021 10:54 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to Troy for the tip. If you are having any water trouble in Gatewood, could be related to a problem in the vicinity of 39th SW/SW Rose, where that crew has been working. Nothing is showing on the Seattle Public Utilities water-outage map, so we have an inquiry out and will update with whatever we hear back.

ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: We have yet to get a response from SPU. But as noted in comments, Arbor Heights had an outage today too, near 37th and 106th. That one did turn up on the map.

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UPDATE: 2 burglary suspects arrested in big police response at Westwood Village
February 17, 2021 7:50 am
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

(WSB photos)

7:50 AM: Thanks for the tips. Big police response at Westwood Village right now. Officers at the scene tell us there was a break-in at the building that houses businesses including Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) and Chico’s. They believe one suspect might be in the future Ross building to the south. Target is closed until police give them the go-ahead to reopen. K-9s are helping with the search; police say there is concern the suspect might have a weapon. More later.

9:17 AM: We just went back to check on the status. No one in custody yet. SWAT officers have arrived.

10:09 AM: No arrest yet. Target remains closed (see photo above). But the east side of the center remains open. We have a crew remaining on scene so we’ll update as soon as there’s a change.

10:21 AM: Suspect in custody. Photo just in from our crew:

(Updated photo substituted at 12:03 pm)

We’re expecting more info shortly in a police briefing.

10:59 AM: Police say they initially responded to an alarm around 5:30 am. They made one arrest early on, so the person just arrested (added: found on the roof) is a second suspect. They say the burglary did some damage to businesses including a hole punched in a wall. No injuries reported. We’ll add video of the briefing when our crew’s back. (added – here’s what Officer Judinna Gulpan told media:)

In case you’re wondering – the businesses in the same building as Ross/Target haven’t reopened yet.

2:07 PM: We went back over to check – Target is going to remain closed until tomorrow morning.

We’re still checking on the other businesses.

5:08 PM: Wyatt’s and Chico’s were still closed when we went by a short time ago; Sport Clips was open.

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WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Wednesday morning watch
February 17, 2021 6:16 am
|    Comments Off on WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Wednesday morning watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:16 AM: Good morning. Almost back to normal – sunshine in the forecast today. Tuesday’s sunset – photographed by James Tilley from Alki – hinted at it:

TRANSIT: Metro is on its regular routes. … MV Doc Maynard is back as the West Seattle Water Taxi vessel … The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is back to 2-boat service.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES: 331st morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how things are looking:

Low Bridge: Sixth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. Here’s a bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden – with a new left-turn signal for northbound HP Way, turning to westbound Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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CORONAVIRUS: Tuesday 2/16/2021 roundup
February 16, 2021 11:03 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Eleven months after the governor closed schools, he saye it’s safe for them to be open, and that tops tonight’s pandemic news:

BACK TO SCHOOLS? Gov. Inslee‘s briefing this afternoon (see it here) started with his declaration that it’s safe for schools to reopen – with proper protocols, of course. He spotlighted a company that’s helping dozens of districts expand COVID-19 testing to enable opening safely and staying open safely. (More on that here.) Inslee noted that 200,000 students around the state are already getting some in-person instruction.

VACCINATION ACCELERATION: The governor also said the federal government is sending additional doses of vaccine next week, and touted the state’s continuing improvement in the percentage of doses that have been administered – now up to 81 percent, he said, 12th-highest percentage among the 50 states.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here’s the update from today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals, although note the data for the first stat is somewhat off tonight:

*80.317 people have tested positive, 14 more than yesterday’s total [NOTE: The county says today’s low case counts “may reflect ongoing efforts by (the state) to remove duplicates” after reporting that the statewide counts over the weekend “may have included up to 700 duplicates”]

*1,321 people have died, unchanged since Sunday

*5,008 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday’s total

*879,299 people have been tested, 2,298 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 78,981/1,300/4,919/863,266.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 109.5 million cases worldwide, 27.7 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

QFC BAGGING TWO STORES: Grocery megacorporation Kroger says it’ll close two Seattle QFC stores, on Capitol Hill and in Wedgwood, because of the city’s mandate for “hazard pay.” Capitol Hill Seattle notes that the store on the Hill is on a future redevelopment site anyway; a Kroger spokesperson told KING 5 the two stores were “underperforming.” City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda calls the decision “beyond disappointing.” Grocery-workers union UFCW Local 21 calls it “corporate bullying.”

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

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Water Taxi’s regular boat returning
February 16, 2021 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Water Taxi’s regular boat returning
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

After three-plus weeks on the Vashon Island route, MV Doc Maynard is returning to the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle route tomorrow. That’s the word from Metro’s Torie Rynning. That means the run will be back to full (distanced) capacity. The smaller MV Spirit of Kingston handled the West Seattle run while Doc Maynard was filling in for MV Sally Fox, which was out for annual maintenance.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: New information in reverse-RV hit-and-run case
February 16, 2021 6:26 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(Monday photo sent by Chuck)

A court hearing this afternoon yielded more information in the case against 47-year-old Brent D. Comer, arrested Monday and accused of hitting a pedestrian and three other vehicles while trying to escape police in a motorhome going downhill in reverse (here’s our original coverage). WSB policy is generally not to identify suspects before charges are filed; Comer is also being held on a warrant in a case in which he is charged, so we are publishing his name now. More on that shortly. A judge found probable cause today to hold Comer in this new case, but he did not appear in court, so bail will be addressed at a hearing tomorrow.

The probable-cause documents say an SPD sergeant was trying to pull over Comer after noticing that the RV’s registration had expired three years ago. At the time, the RV was westbound on West Marginal Way, heading toward Delridge. The sergeant had lights on and activated siren bursts, but the motorhome ran the light and headed southbound on Delridge, then westbound on Andover, before going into reverse, hitting a car, a pickup truck, and a tanker truck before coming to a stop. Police say Comer then bailed out of the motorhome and ran, but was caught nearby. They say they saw suspected black-tar heroin and needles in the RV, and that Comer later claimed he was headed to visit his girlfriend in Pigeon Point; before he was arrested, he approached a resident on Delridge and asked for a ride to her house. Probable-cause documents list his address as in Kirkland. That’s the same address on documents from charges filed against him in another case, involving an alleged assault on a former girlfriend in Redmond. Those charges are for assault and auto theft, saying he punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and stole her car in December 2018. The charging documents in that case note, “Since 2004, 5 different court venues have imposed 8 orders under 5 unique case numbers protecting 3 other women and 1 child from the defendant.” The warrant in that case is for failing to appear at a hearing. Back to the Monday incident in West Seattle – the injured pedestrian is expected to survive, according to an update just shared at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting that’s under way right now.

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Will suspended bus routes return? Metro surveying riders
February 16, 2021 4:20 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, December)

Since the onset of the pandemic, West Seattle has lost some Metro bus routes, and lost some service on others. Should/will any of that service be restored? Metro has a survey open right now, as it looks toward decisions for the September service change. The survey asks whether you are still riding Metro or not, as well as which of the still-operating routes you do or would ride, now or when the pandemic’s over, and it asks your thoughts on the suspended (like West Seattle’s 22 and 37) and reduced-service routes. Deadline to answer it is March 8th; you’ll find it linked here, in six languages.

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BIZNOTE: Just Poké finally close to opening in West Seattle
February 16, 2021 2:40 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Three years have passed since we reported that Just Poké was planning to open in West Seattle – as soon as the locally based restaurant chain found a spot. A WSB reader recently observed that Just Poké’s website listed a “coming soon” Jefferson Square address. That address, however, is supposed to be future home to another business. So we inquired with Just Poké. Co-founder Norman says they’re finalizing a location that’s actually across the street – the former Wallflower Custom Framing space at 4735 42nd SW. No projected opening date yet; as shown here, Just Poké is looking to double in size, opening another dozen or so locations this year. Here’s what they serve.

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Duwamish River cleanup change? EPA community meeting Wednesday
February 16, 2021 12:58 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle news

(File photo)

A change in government safety standards for a certain chemical could lead to a change in the Duwamish River cleanup plan. So the Environmental Protection Agency is taking public comments, and having an online meeting tomorrow night to talk about it. The EPA says the change could remove an aggregate total of five acres from the 170+ acres that were part of the ~$342 million 7-year-old cleanup plan for the polluted river. Now, they have to ask you about it. The substance in question is benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a “carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (cPAH).” The federal government raised the level of what’s considered safe, and that’s what could lead to the cleanup change. So the EPA is taking comments until March 8th, and will have an online meeting Wednesday (February 17th) at 5:30 PM, including Q&A. Spanish, Khmer, and Vietnamese interpretation will be available. The Zoom link for viewing/participating is here; meeting ID is 362 818 756. The agenda and slide deck for the meeting are linked here; an EPA one-sheet about the proposed changes is here. If you want to comment on the proposed changes, whether or not you attend the meeting, you can email Region10@epa.gov by March 8th.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another business robbed
February 16, 2021 11:25 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Another armed robbery at a West Seattle business, third one in three days: This one happened last night at 8:30 pm at the gas-station mini-mart in the 7800 block of Detroit Avenue SW. The initial police summary says only that there were two robbers and that the clerk was not hurt. Officers told dispatchers that both robbers were described as Black, male, and wearing dark clothing. We don’t know yet whether police are investigating possible links between any of the recent robberies.

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City Attorney Pete Holmes @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, and what else is up for your Tuesday
February 16, 2021 9:49 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Laura Thomas for the photo of a squirrel taking refuge in a birdhouse. Today it should be safe to emerge – warming into the upper 40s, close to normal for this time of year, as what’s left of the snow continues to melt. Notes for today/tonight:

REMINDER, GARBAGE/RECYCLING DELAYED ONE DAY ALL WEEK: Waste Management is scheduled to pick up Monday customers today, which means Tuesday customers will be on Wednesday, etc.

CITY COUNCIL: Their first meetings of the week are also delayed a day, because of Monday’s holiday; the 9:30 am “briefing meeting” is under way now, and the “full council” meeting is at 2 pm – agendas are here, with information on commenting/viewing.

GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: 2:30 pm, Gov. Jay Inslee gives his next briefing on the pandemic, with media Q&A. You can watch the live stream here.

DEMONSTRATION: Organizer Scott will lead the twice-weekly streetcorner sign-waving in support of Black lives, 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden. Signs available if you can’t bring your own.

CITY ATTORNEY AT WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: The monthly meeting to hear from and talk with West Seattle police has a special guest tonight, just announced: City Attorney Pete Holmes (who recently announced he is running for re-election). The meeting is online at 6 pm – here’s the Teams link for watching and/or participating. (Our archives show his last visit to the group was in 2015.)

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SPORTS: West Seattle Girls Softball registration time!
February 16, 2021 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: West Seattle Girls Softball registration time!
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Even as the snow continues melting, spring is just weeks away … and another youth-sports league is inviting players to register. The announcement is from West Seattle Girls Softball president Chrysta Torres:

West Seattle Girls Softball is open for registration!

We invite girls 6-15 with any level of softball experience to join us for a fun season of recreational-league fast-pitch softball. We teach the basics and build skills as players continue with the program and work to place players on teams that will be most beneficial to their needs. We are committed to having a safe and fun season, so we have implemented COVID safety protocols.

We’d also like to thank the local businesses that sponsor our league year after year – we cannot do it without their support.

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WEATHER, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC: Post-holiday Tuesday morning watch
February 16, 2021 6:07 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

6:07 AM: Good morning. Still melting – with a showery forecast today, high in the 40s – and still some snow out there. Shouldn’t be as slushy as Monday’s roads, though – Eric Bell shared this view:

TRANSIT: Metro is back on regular routes. … The Water Taxi is back in service (added: Doc Maynard returns to the run Wednesday) … The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is back to 2-boat service.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES: 330th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how things are looking:

Low Bridge: Sixth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. Here’s a bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden – with a new left-turn signal for northbound HP Way, turning to westbound Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

You can view 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.

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CORONAVIRUS: Monday 2/15/2021 roundup
February 15, 2021 11:56 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

We conclude tonight with the latest pandemic info:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the key points of the daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health:

*80,303 people have tested positive, 159 more than yesterday’s total

*1,321 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total

*5,001 people have been hospitalized, 4 more than yesterday’s total

*877,501 people have been tested, 208 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 78,863/1,299/4,909/862,969.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 106.4 million cases, 2,324,000+ deaths. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

MAYOR’S PROMISE: Mayor Jenny Durkan delivered a startlingly short State of the City address tonight – 6 1/2 minutes – focused on the pandemic and recovering from it, declaring that “we are writing the final chapters of this generational challenge.”

GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING TOMORROW: 2:30 pm Tuesday; the live stream will be here.

BACK TO SCHOOLS? Here’s how the Seattle Public Schools family survey turned out.

NEED FOOD? This week’s nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (February 19th) at 815 S. 96th.

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

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