West Seattle, Washington

15 Friday

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month : 02/2021 279 results

BIZNOTES: The Good Society’s anniversary; Capco Beverages’ closing day; Marination Ma Kai’s Valentine treats
February 10, 2021 11:29 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Three biznotes this midday:

THE GOOD SOCIETY’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY: The brewery/pub at 2701 California SW opened right before the pandemic. Surviving this kind of year is a big reason to celebrate. From the announcement:

This weekend, The Good Society turns one! Our first year has been a crazy one. From a completely packed pub on opening day to being able to sell only crowlers a mere thirty days later to partially opening inside to setting up outdoor seating to upgrading the outdoor seating to upgrading the outdoor seating again to closing down inside again to opening partially inside again all while brewing some pretty good beer and making new friends with our community.

While we cannot have the party we had hoped we would when we opened a year ago, we still could not let this weekend pass without mention. So we lined up a few small things to celebrate one year.

Our mission has always been about togetherness and community. On Friday we will release our final numbers on how much we were able to donate to local causes last year. Make no mistake, we were able to do this because of the support you gave us. We will also unveil a new way for you to pick which cause your beer supports.

They’ve also restocked on merch; they’ll be offering dipping sauces for their famous pretzels; and then ….

Beer! What kind of brewery anniversary would it be without an anniversary beer? Nuclear Kitty Eyes, our first Double IPA, is a hoppier, more intense version of neighborhood favorite, Neon Kitty Eyes. And for added fun, we also brought back Neon Kitty Eyes! Both will be available on draft and in cans.

Anniversary-weekend hours are 3-9 pm Friday, noon-9 pm Saturday, noon-8 pm Sunday (“actual anniversary) and Monday.

CAPCO BEVERAGES’ FINAL DAY … FOR NOW: As we’ve reported previously, the liquor store at 4100 SW Alaska is making way for Swedish medical space, so today is the last day, but it’s expecting to reopen with new ownership and a new location at nearby Jefferson Square, according to manager Dolly, who says she’ll be back too.

MARINATION MA KAI’S VALENTINE TREAT: The restaurant at Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW) is offering pre-orders if you’d like a half-dozen or dozen guava-filled malasadas for Valentine’s Day – order yours by Friday afternoon, pick them up Sunday. They might have some available for walk-up sales that day, but it’ll be a two-per-person limit that day, first-come first-served.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: What’s ahead for today/tonight
February 10, 2021 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: What’s ahead for today/tonight
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Tuesday sunset, photographed by Patti Waterfall)

Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: The weekly COVID-19 briefing with state Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and others is online at 1 pm; you can watch it here.

(added) WINTER WEATHER BRIEFING: The mayor, city department heads, and transportation executives (Metro, Sound Transit) will have a pre-storm briefing at 2 pm. You’ll be able to watch here.

SCHOOL TOUR: Roxhill Elementary is hosting a virtual kindergarten tour with staff available to talk about what students will be experiencing and learning about in the fall. 3:30 pm, click here to view (Meeting ID: 966067499#).

SCHOOL BOARD; The Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors meets online, starting at 3:30 pm. The agenda includes viewing info.

FERRY SYSTEM’S COMMUNITY MEETING: Second of two meetings for Washington State Ferries, with system updates and time for Q&A. 6 pm online – registration required. (We covered the first meeting Tuesday morning – watch for that report here later today.)

ONLINE DROP-IN WRITING CIRCLE: This Hugo House-sponsored, Seattle Public Library-coordinated event at 6 pm would be happening at the branch in Admiral if we were back in pre-pandemic mode. But you can attend online – preregister here.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS; Our area’s largest political organization meets online at 7 pm. Registration required for attendance.

Got something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen work truck (update: found)
February 10, 2021 9:22 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from John:

9:22 AM: Work truck stolen from 56th Ave SW and Jacobsen Rd at 6:15 this AM – 2/10/21. Vehicle headed north on Beach Drive. The “follow” car was a black or dark Subaru Forester. If seen, please contact John at 206-795-9202 and/or contact Seattle police [911] and reference case #21-34370.

7:34 PM: John says the truck’s been found on Pigeon Point.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Wednesday notes
February 10, 2021 6:12 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Wednesday notes
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:12 AM: Welcome to Wednesday, February 10th, the 324th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK & DOCK WORK

Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure continues between Delridge and 20th. Here’s this week’s full plan.

Fauntleroy ferry dock work – One-lane loading/unloading again today because of maintenance work, explained here.

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Low Bridge: Fifth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. (Here’s an update on how it’s going.) 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 main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera:

Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for all the other detour-route neighborhoods, both the arterials and neighborhood streets!)

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.

TRANSIT

Water Taxi – On its regular schedule but with the lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston continuing TFN. No service next Monday (February 15th) because of the holiday.

Metro – On regular weekday schedule. If you’re not subscribed to alerts, watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for updates.

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

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CORONAVIRUS: Tuesday 2/9/2021 roundup
February 9, 2021 10:53 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The vaccination situation was explored at two City Council committee meetings today, and that’s where we start tonight’s roundup:

VACCINATION SITUATION: The day began with the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, talking with city and county reps:

This discussion included what Herbold has already announced, that the city has committed to a mass-vaccination site in West Seattle – when there’s enough vaccine supply. When might that be? Entirely up to the feds and state, it was said again and again. If the current supply pace doesn’t pick up, it would take almost a year to vaccinate everyone in our area. However, health authorities expect it will pick up – maybe with wide availability by April or May. If they had enough vaccine, they could be vaccinating 31,000 people a day, and that would get the city to “herd immunity” within a month.

In the afternoon, the Governance and Education Committee, chaired by Council President Lorena González, focused on vaccination equity – vital because of how COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting communities of color:

This meeting included intense stories from community health organization operators about trying to get vaccine and trying to help their most-vulnerable clients navigate the system. They argued that equity isn’t just their job – it needs to be front and center for all providers, as well as for the county and state.

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

*78,981 people have tested positive, 118 more than yesterday’s total

*1,300 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total

*4,919 people have been hospitalized, 10 more than yesterday’s total

*863,266 people have been tested, 297 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 77,186/1,270/4,821/835.640.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 106.9 million cases worldwide, 27.1 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

HELP FOR HOSPITALITY WORKERS: Next Monday is the deadline to apply for a grant from the emergency fund for low-income hospitality workers.

BRIEFING TOMORROW: The weekly briefing by state health officials is at 1 pm tomorrow. You can watch the live stream here.

THINK YOU’RE A MASK EXPERT? Read this.

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

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Camp Second Chance updates from February’s Community Advisory Committee meeting
February 9, 2021 8:43 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news

Camp Second Chance, at 9701 Myers Way S., remains West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, though the city wants to add more around Seattle. CSC’s Community Advisory Committee meets every month for updates and community Q&A; here’s what happened at its February meeting, which happened online this past Sunday afternoon:

CAMP UPDATE: CSC’s site coordinator Eric Pattin said 54 people are there now, 15 women and 39 men. One person moved into affordable housing; two others left.

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MISSING: David and Izzy – UPDATE, FOUND
February 9, 2021 6:29 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

7:38 PM UPDATE: David and Izzy are safe; they got “stuck in the mountains” and just now were able to call out.

Earlier:
Read More

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red/gray Civic (found)
February 9, 2021 5:24 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Here’s a distinctively painted stolen car to look for. The report and photo are from Yvette:

ORIGINAL REPORT: Our car was stolen. We discovered it missing today, Tuesday, February 9, from the parking lot of the apartment building we live in in North Delridge. We have reason to believe it was stolen overnight. It is a 1991 Honda Civic 3-door. The original color is red, but the roof has been painted gray, as has the front, and there are multi-colored squares stenciled onto the hood and the sides. License plate is: 756-ZOQ.

If you see it, call 911.

ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: A WSB reader found it on Puget Ridge.

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WHALES: Orcas passing West Seattle
February 9, 2021 4:22 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

Transient orcas are passing West Seattle right now, reports Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch – northbound, toward the west side of the channel, off Brace Point at last report. Let us know if you see them!

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW? Here are the newest predictions
February 9, 2021 4:09 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Seasonally garbed gargoyle on 36th SW – photo sent by Paul Winters)

All eyes are on the forecast, wondering if we really might see serious snow by Valentine’s Day. Mid-afternoon always brings a new round of forecasts, and here’s what they are predicting now. The National Weather Service, in its latest “forecast discussion,” says:

Models are starting to converge on the next weather system slated to arrive on Thursday with a surface low potentially making landfall near the mouth of the Columbia late Thursday night. This is the “sweet spot” for a surface low to move onshore in terms ofsnow. With plenty of cold air in place and low dewpoints initially, significant accumulating snowfall looks like a good bet…especially for areas south and west of Seattle. Between midday Thursday and midday Friday, 3 to 8 inches of snow look likely from Pierce County southward and over by Hood Canal with lighter amounts elsewhere.

There may be something of “lull” in snowfall Friday afternoon before another system arrives late Friday night and Saturday. And this one could be quite significant with snowfall.

One of our area’s best-known independent weather analysts, Cliff Mass, is a little less restrained. Among other points, his newest update says one model suggests Seattle COULD see a foot and a half of snow by late Monday. But he too stresses that the outlook could change. So don’t go panic-buy just yet. Do refresh your memory on dealing with weather-related problems – SDOT has transportation-related info, and City Light has outage advice, for starters. And commenter Suzanne has advice about preparing your plants.

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WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Scandalous history, this time
February 9, 2021 2:14 pm
|    Comments Off on WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Scandalous history, this time
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Thursday night, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society invites you to learn about a scandalous chapter in the city’s history – in case you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar, here’s the announcement:

‘Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories,’ a history-based speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is delighted to host local author and historian Brad Holden for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, February 11 at 6:00 PM. Holden will deliver a presentation about his book, “Seattle Prohibition: Bootleggers, Rumrunners and Graft in the Queen City.” Registration is required. Please register HERE.

Prohibition consumed Seattle, igniting a war that lasted nearly twenty years and played out in the streets, waterways and even town hall. Roy Olmstead, formerly a Seattle police officer, became the King of the Seattle Bootleggers, and Johnny Schnarr, running liquor down from Canada, revolutionized the speedboat industry. Frank Gatt, a south Seattle restaurateur, started the state’s biggest moonshining operation. Skirting around the law, the Coast Guard and the zealous assistant director of the Seattle Prohibition Bureau, William Whitney, was no simple feat, but many rose to the challenge. Join us to hear Brad Holden tell the spectacular story of Seattle in the time of Prohibition.

Brad Holden is a local author, historian and “finder of old things.” When not out searching for local historical artifacts, he enjoys writing about Seattle’s past. His work has appeared in Pacific Northwest Magazine, and he is a contributing writer for HistoryLink.org. Brad is also the author of “Seattle Prohibition: Bootleggers, Rumrunners & Graft in the Queen City,” and his next book — a biography about mysterious Seattle inventor and psychedelic pioneer Al Hubbard — is due to be published later this year.

This series is open to hosting any author or speaker addressing historical issues relating to the Puget Sound/Duwamish Peninsula and/or the general public. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, ‘Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories’ by phone at 206-290-8315 or by e-mail at Dora-Faye@comcast.net.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another catalytic-converter theft, and an attempt
February 9, 2021 12:05 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

12:05 PM: Lisa emailed to alert West Seattle neighbors that catalytic-converter theft is still a problem – sometime last night, someone stole the catalytic converter from her Honda Element. This happened near the intersection of 35th and Andover. The thefts have been going on for a long time; this Crime Watch report from last fall included some advice on protecting your vehicle.

1:16 PM: Amy mentioned this in a comment and then emailed:

I caught 3 men trying to steal mine off my Honda Element this morning around 4:30 am in the Sylvan Heights neighborhood. Here is a picture of the suspects’ vehicle, no plates.

The driver did threaten me as they drove off …

SIDE NOTE: As JT points out in a comment below, the New York Times reports today that catalytic-converter theft is a nationwide problem.

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FERRY ALERT: Fauntleroy dock work starts today
February 9, 2021 10:49 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

10:49 AM: Even if you don’t use Washington State Ferries, if you’re within view of the Fauntleroy dock, you might be wondering about that crane. It’s there for maintenance work that is scheduled to continue through Friday. WSF says the work “will require single-lane loading/unloading” 7:30 am-4:30 pm each day. We have a message out seeking more details on the work that’s being done.

1:12 PM: In response to our inquiry, WSF’s Hadley Rodero explains the work:

The work at the Fauntleroy terminal is preservation work to replace three steel H-piles near the terminal building. The piles were identified as needing replacement during a routine inspection, and replacing them allows WSF to avoid weight restrictions or other operational impacts in the future. All of this is to be expected for a terminal built in the 1950s.

The crane will be onsite until Friday to install the new piles and then crews will be doing welding and other work under the dock. We’re working to complete the installation before restrictions on in-water work begin on Feb. 15 to protect migratory salmon. We will be loading and unloading ferry traffic in a single lane during work hours for the rest of this week. Work hours will be 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (there won’t be any night work). Neighbors may hear some noise as the contractor vibrates in the new piles – each of the three piles takes about 15 minutes of vibratory pile driving.

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WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: Admiral, Fauntleroy, WSF meetings, and more
February 9, 2021 8:59 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Much to check out in the hours ahead:

CITY COUNCIL TALKS VACCINATION, TWICE: 9:30 am, the city’s vaccination efforts are reviewed by the Public Safety and Human Services Committee (agenda/viewing/commenting info here); 2 pm, equity and distribution roundtables are planned during the Governance and Education Committee meeting (agenda/viewing/commenting info here).

WSF COMMUNITY MEETING: 11 am online, first of two Washington State Ferries community meetings with systemwide updates and a chance to hear from the new WSF head Patty Rubstello. Preregistration required; info’s in our preview.

DEMONSTRATION: From organizer Scott:

Black Lives Matter sign waving

Tuesday Feb 9, 4 to 6 p, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday Feb 11, 4 to 6 p, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Come build awareness that will help tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at PR Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.

Here’s the flyer.

ALKI ELEMENTARY TOUR/OPEN HOUSE: Online at 6:30 pm, for all families interested in attending Alki Elementary next school year. Here’s the attendance info.

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm online – here’s the announcement:

Admiral Neighborhood Association General Meeting from 7:00 – 9:00 PM

ANA invites residents and local business to virtually attend the general meeting tonight. Topics include Small Business Support, ArtWalk 2020 activity and 2021 plans, Southwest Precinct crime update, Crime Stoppers and more! Please join us via Google Meet:

meet.google.com/kyr-qvsr-phu / Phone Number 321-804-3475‬ / PIN: ‪152 976 864#‬

Here’s the full agenda.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm online board meeting, community members welcome. Here’s the agenda; register at here to get the attendance info.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Tuesday notes
February 9, 2021 6:07 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Welcome to Tuesday, February 9th, the 323rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

ROAD WORK & MORE

Delridge project – The SW Thistle closure continues between Delridge and 20th. Here’s the rest of this week’s plan.

Fauntleroy Way work – The sewer repair, on Fauntleroy between Alaska and Edmunds as previewed here, still had yet to begin as of late Monday.

CHECK TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO

Low Bridge: Fifth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. (Here’s an update on how it’s going.) Here’s a bridge view (note, it’s been experiencing intermittent trouble):

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 main detour route across the Duwamish River, the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

The other major bridge across the river – the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s the nearest camera (note, it’s been experiencing intermittent trouble):

Going through South Park? Don’t speed. (Same goes for all the other detour-route neighborhoods, both the arterials and neighborhood streets!)

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.

TRANSIT

Water Taxi – On its regular schedule but with the lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston until at least midweek. No service next Monday (February 15th) because of the holiday.

Metro – On regular weekday schedule. If you’re not subscribed to alerts, watch @kcmetrobus on Twitter for updates.

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

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FOLLOWUP: Bicycle lane? More or less street parking? Why any change at all? Here’s a closer look at West Marginal Way options
February 8, 2021 9:27 pm
|      72 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Only one thing’s for sure about southbound West Marginal Way between the bridge and the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse: As it passes under the bridge, it will remain one lane.

Beyond that, a variety of options are on the table for that stretch of the street, as SDOT launches a public-comment period, with a mailer headed to 33,000 local mailboxes this week, and an online “open house” set for February 18th.

We first showed you the options a week ago, after SDOT included West Marginal in a wide-ranging West Seattle Bridge-related update at the WS Transportation Coalition meeting. Then last week, the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board got a detailed briefing, and today we met with SDOT reps for followup questions so we could take a closer look.

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CORONAVIRUS: Monday 2/8/2021 roundup
February 8, 2021 8:10 pm
|    Comments Off on CORONAVIRUS: Monday 2/8/2021 roundup
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

The nightly numbers check tops tonight’s pandemic roundup:

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

*78,863 people have tested positive, 177 more than yesterday’s total

*1,299 people have died, unchanged from Saturday’s total

*4,909 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday’s total

*862,969 people have been tested, 7,224 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 77,017/1,264/4,815/832,970.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

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

VACCINATION SITUATION: No major news today. No local sites added to the state’s “where to find it” map. We are likely to hear a lot tomorrow, though, when two City Council committees devote the bulk of their meetings to vaccination discussions – the city response during the Public Safety and Human Services Committee meeting at 9:30 am (agenda/viewing/commenting info here), equity and distribution roundtables during the Governance and Education Committee meeting at 2 pm (agenda/viewing/commenting info here).

VACCINE FACT-CHECKING: Public Health has launched a new page to try to clear up some misinformation.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL: Gov. Inslee signed legislation today affecting both unemployment benefits and the taxes businesses pay to fund them. Here’s the announcement.

NEED FOOD? This week’s nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (February 12th) at 815 S. 96th … Also on Friday, “snack packs” will be distributed in a free drive-up event at Highland Park Elementary, 3-5 pm, 1012 SW Trenton.

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

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ONE MORE WEEK: Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s youth writing contest, with cash prizes
February 8, 2021 5:53 pm
|    Comments Off on ONE MORE WEEK: Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s youth writing contest, with cash prizes
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Reminder to students thinking about, or planning on, entering the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s first-ever writing contest for youth – the deadline for entries is now one week away! The theme, as originally announced, is “Women History Makers of the Duwamish Peninsula.” From the SWSHS announcement:

Students should submit an essay that explores the contributions of a specific woman from the Duwamish Peninsula who has made a historical impact on the community, past or present, famous or not-yet-famous. Essays will be accepted in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Winners will be selected in each grade category outlined below:

Grades: 3 – 5: 250 words maximum
Grades: 6 — 8: 500 words maximum
Grades: 9 – 12: 750 words maximum
Essays will be judged by a panel of SWSHS staff, volunteers, and community partners based on the following criteria:

Demonstrated understanding of the woman as a person and the role she has played or is playing in the history of the Duwamish Peninsula
Effective use of descriptive language.
Correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar
For grades 6 and up, appropriate citations in any reference style.

The winner in the high school category will receive a $125 cash prize and the winner in middle school category will receive a $75 cash prize. Winners in all categories will receive a special certificate and gift from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Paper Boat Booksellers. Winning essays will also be published on the Historical Society’s website and West Seattle Blog. Best of all, winners will be honored at a special digital event hosted by the Historical Society!

The deadline for entries is 5 pm February 15th. Go here to enter.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: First alert of the week
February 8, 2021 4:03 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

You’ve seen the snow on the mountains, and if you were up early this morning, you might have seen some down here. Might we see more? The first official National Weather Service alert of the week has been issued this afternoon – a Special Weather Statement:

Cold air over British Columbia is likely to push south into Western Washington this week. … After the colder air arrives, a front might reach the area with a chance of snow Thursday and Friday.

You know how often local forecasts change, so don’t get too excited and/or worried yet. But do be ready. Snow or no snow, overnight lows are expected to dip into the 20s.

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FOLLOWUP: District still pursuing bus cuts that would affect 2 schools in West Seattle
February 8, 2021 2:54 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two weeks ago, we reported on two local schools’ concerns over a district proposal to save money by cutting school-bus service. Seattle Public Schools says it would save $740,000 – chipping away at a projected $48 million shortfall next year – by dropping service to “option schools.” West Seattle has two – Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in Delridge and Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. The cuts would affect thousands of students district-wide, according to an SPS breakdown in this budget update on the district website. In an FAQ included in that update, the district responds to the question “How can families make informed [enrollment] decisions if they don’t know if transportation will be provided to option schools?” by saying that the enrollment period has been extended to February 26th. The budget isn’t finalized until summer, but one event of note will happen before that deadline – the School Board is having a “work session” at 4:30 pm Tuesday, February 23rd, focused on transportation. The agenda’s not available yet, but work sessions don’t usually include public comment, and a chance to have a say is what local families have been pushing for – both have online petition drives going, Pathfinder here and Boren STEM here.

ADDED: Two School Board members, including West Seattle/South Park rep Leslie Harris, are having an online community meeting about this at 3 pm Saturday (February 13th) – register here ASAP for attendance info.

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Here’s what caused this morning’s small West Seattle power outage
February 8, 2021 1:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Here’s what caused this morning’s small West Seattle power outage
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to Lorie for mentioning a power outage that affected some homes in Belvidere early this morning. It was over by the time we saw her note, which meant it was no longer shown on the Seattle City Light power-outage map, so we checked with SCL’s Julie Moore about the size and cause. She tells WSB, “Apparently tree limbs caused a transformer outage impacting eight customers. Our records show the outage lasted 4:16-6:37 a.m.”

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YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle Bee Garden ready to welcome new volunteer educators
February 8, 2021 11:51 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   High Point | How to help | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy West Seattle Bee Garden)

The West Seattle Bee Garden – which took shape from an idea voiced here nine years ago – is hoping for helpers to carry on its essential task – education. Founder Lauren explains:

During this time of uncertainty, the West Seattle Bee Garden is also in a period of transition. Our volunteers who previously hosted field trips with local students are no longer available, and we’re seeking new recruits! The garden was created with the goal of educating Seattle residents about our ecosystems and importance of pollination, and we hope to keep our educational reach as strong as possible!

The WSBG hosted VERY limited groups in 2020 during the pandemic, and we foresee continued limited gathering in 2021. With information to guide safe decision making, we think hosting some groups outdoors is possible. Of course masks and social distancing will be required.

Since its opening in 2013, the garden has historically hosted 20-40 field trips per year, with primarily elementary-school-aged groups – typically on weekday mornings between 10 am and noon (timing is flexible). Field trips usually start with a 15-minute talk, followed by looking at the bees – although all ideas for creating educational experiences are welcome. Opening the hives has historically been included during field trips (and is admittedly a highlight), but this step is not required. Spare beehive components, large photos of bees, and information to learn the presentation material are also available. The adjacent pollination garden and P-Patch create wonderful opportunities to learn about plants, as well as their symbiotic relationship with bees. The WSBG is part of Commons Park in the High Point Neighborhood – the park provides a playground and large green space for students to play and eat lunch.

I am personally saddened by my inability to host field trips any more, due to a change in my work schedule. Witnessing the excitement and awe of children learning routinely brought joy to my days. On occasion I had the pleasure of witnessing local children return to the garden, and enthusiastically teach their parents what they had learned during a recent field trip. It is truly a rewarding experience.

We’re hoping to recruit volunteers who can meet with groups interested in coming to learn. I will continue to field email requests from teachers and group leaders, and help facilitate. The WSBG does not charge for field trips because we want to make access to education available to all. We do encourage donations from those able to donate. It is important for volunteers to reliably meet with groups at the coordinated times, as much effort and expense (buses) are utilized to organize and transport students.

More information is available on our website: westseattlebeegarden.com. Please reach out to me at westseattlebeegarden@gmail.com with any interest or questions.

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REOPENING: Endolyne Joe’s sets the date
February 8, 2021 10:03 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | Fauntleroy | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two months ago, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy announced it would close until “this nightmare is at least close to over.” Now that our area is in Phase 2 and indoor dining is allowed at 25 percent capacity, the restaurant at 9261 45th SW has decided to reopen next week, starting Tuesday, February 16th. The restaurant’s announcement says, “We have been freshening up our dining room and are having our wood floors refinished this upcoming week in anticipation of us giving indoor dining another roll of the dice!” Hours “for both in-house dining and low-contact curbside pickup” will be Monday-Friday 11 am-8 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am-8 pm.

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