day : 08/03/2021 11 results

The vaccination situation once again tops tonight’s pandemic headlines:

VACCINATION MILESTONE: 2 million doses have been administered in our state (which has 7.6 million residents). The announcement notes, “The state has enrolled almost 1400 provider facilities to give COVID-19 vaccines. As of March 8, providers have given more than 80% of the vaccine doses delivered in the state—up from 29% in early January.” Most of those providers haven’t gotten vaccine yet, though.

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE 65+ WHO’S NOT VACCINATED … you might still be able to get them an appointment this week. The city has just – as we write this – sent an announcement that it’s opened the West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites to ALL Seattle residents 65+, for the rest of this week (through Saturday). Both sites’ registration forms are at seattle.gov/vaccine.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED – here’s what the CDC says you can do.

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

*83,196 people have tested positive, 93 more than yesterday’s total

*1,416 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total

*5,147 people have been hospitalized, 2 more than yesterday’s total

*918,491 people have been tested, 3,995 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 82,303/1,393/5,103/907,357.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 117.1 million cases, 2.6 million deaths – 525,000+ in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

HAZARD PAY VOTE: The King County Council may take a final vote on its version of the hazard-pay-for-grocery-workers bill during its meeting at 1 pm tomorrow. The agenda explains how to watch/comment.

NEED FOOD? This week’s nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (March 12th) at 815 S. 96th. … Looking ahead, Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton) will be offering free food boxes 3-5 pm Friday, March 19th.

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

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More change at Camp Second Chance

March 8, 2021 8:57 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Myers Way | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Change is ahead for Camp Second Chance, its Community Advisory Committee was told at this month’s online meeting.

Co-founder and site coordinator Eric Pattin announced he will be leaving that role at West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment later this month to work in a new capacity with camp operator LIHI, as it opens the Executive Hotel Pacific enhanced shelter, which has 150 rooms, and will have intensive case management and be focused on rapid rehousing.

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YOU CAN HELP: Time to get Bar-S ready for West Seattle Little League

March 8, 2021 7:38 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

If you can spare an hour any evening this week – or some time the mornings of March 14th or 20th – West Seattle Little League needs your help, to prepare Bar-S Playfield on Alki Point. Here’s the request:

We need your help at Bar-S to get the fields ready for the season. WSLL is 100% volunteer-run and field maintenance is where we currently have the most need. The fields have not been used since 2019 and need a lot of work. Grab your mask, rakes, weed pullers, weed pullers, and old clothes. Volunteers with trucks are also appreciated to help move dirt. Grab the whole family and come on down and help WSLL get kids back on the field.

This entire upcoming week we invite you to come down for just one hour between 5:15 – 6:15 to help get the grass out of the infield. We will also have other group sessions from 9 am to noon on March 14th and March 20th. If you can volunteer during another time, reach out to Andrew at fields@westseattlelittleleague.com and let him know how you can help. Inclement weather changes.

Bar-S is at 64th and Admiral (map).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 stolen Hondas

March 8, 2021 5:24 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 stolen Hondas

| Crime | Delridge | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

Two stolen Hondas to watch for:

STOLEN CIVIC: Liza emailed the photo and report:

My car was stolen last night from our driveway on 21st Ave SW near the Juneau staircase. Please keep an eye out for it! Red Honda Civic Hatchback 1997. License plate # ABL0186.

STOLEN CR-V: Posted in the WSB Community Forums by Jgarcia, word of a stolen silver/gray ’98 Honda CR-V, taken near Delridge/Genesee, license plate # BPE9312. The post has details on interior and exterior decorations.

If you see either of these, or any other known stolen vehicles, call 911.

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ROAD WORK: West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway construction south of The Junction

March 8, 2021 3:38 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The next stage of work on the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway has begun. Above is a crew that was out this morning on 42nd SW south of SW Edmunds, marking the future locations of speed humps. We went to check the area this morning after reader inquiries over the weekend about sets of no-parking signs placed at intervals along 42nd between Edmunds and Findlay (it’s been a while since construction notification was sent, and two months since our last update).

In addition to the speed humps on 42nd – which, signage indicates, are planned for the 4800, 5000, 5200, and 5400 blocks – work will finally be starting at 35th/Graham, where a new signal is planned as part of this phase. SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson says that work “will not begin for another 2-3 weeks.”

BACKSTORY: Greenways are explained here. Here’s a map of the entire West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway route:

The greenway plan originally surfaced in tandem with Phase 2 of the 35th SW plan, almost five years ago. The “most promising route” was unveiled about a year later. An extension northward from The Junction to Admiral also has been discussed, but isn’t on the official map – we’re checking on its status. (Added: SDOT says design and planning are funded for that section, but not construction.)

ADDED 4 PM: Just received from SDOT (and just added to their project website), regarding the locations of all the speed humps that are part of Phase 2:

Approximate locations of speed humps (19 total) for West Seattle Greenway Phase 2

On 42nd Avenue SW

1 – Just south of the intersection with SW Edmunds St
2- Before and after intersection with SW Hudson St
2- Before and after intersection with SW Dawson St
2 – Before and after intersection with SW Brandon St
1 – Just north of intersection with SW Findlay St

On SW Findlay St

1- Just west of intersection with Fauntleroy Way SW
1- Just west of intersection with 38th Ave SW

On 38th Ave SW

1- Just south of intersection with SW Findlay St
2- Before and after intersection with SW Juneau St
2- Before and after intersection with SW Raymond St
1- Just north of intersection with SW Graham St

On SW Graham St

1- Just west of the alley between 38th Ave SW and 37th Ave SW
1- Just east of the intersection with 37th Ave SW
1- Just east of the intersection with 35th Ave SW

Phase 2 construction is expected to wrap up by mid-July.

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South Seattle College faculty hosting ‘Artist as Storyteller’ series starting Tuesday

March 8, 2021 1:48 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) invites you to an onlinre speaker series with six events over the next three months – free! Here’s the announcement:

South Seattle College faculty will host a virtual speaker series titled Artist as Storyteller: Adaptation, Resiliency, and Environmental Justice, with the first event tomorrow (Tuesday, March 9).

The series, supported by the Seattle Colleges Performing Arts Fund, will welcome BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists, performers and activists to share their work and explore what it means to be an artist in today’s social and cultural climate. All events are free, open to the public and hosted virtually on Zoom.

From beatboxing and butoh to drag, photography, and tattoos, the Artist as Storyteller speaker series will feature six artists. It begins on March 9, 2021 and concludes on June 8, 2021. Links to learn more and join each speaking event are available at www.artistasstoryteller.com.

The series was organized by four South Seattle College faculty members and they will host future series in 2021 and 2022.

Artist as Storyteller Event Schedule:

Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 1 – 2 p.m.: Butylene & One: Seattle-based Latinx drag performers

Tuesday, April 13, 2021, 1 – 2 p.m.: Haruko Crow Nishimura: dancer, vocalist, and co-director of the Degenerate Art Ensemble

Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 1 – 2 p.m.: Nicole Paris: freestyle beatboxer, YouTube star, and children’s book author

Tuesday, May 11, 2021, 1 – 2 p.m.: Nic Masangkay: Seattle-based Filipinix cultural worker in music, poetry, multimedia and transformative justice

Tuesday, May 18, 1 – 2 p.m.: Emma Kates-Shaw: handpoke tattoo artist of the Bad Apple Tattoo Collective

Monday, May 31, 1 – 2 p.m.: Binh Danh: inventor of the chlorophyll printing process, photographer and artist

The series theme, “Adaptation, Resiliency, and Environmental Justice,” emerged from the challenges and new possibilities of the COVID-19 era. We cannot safely gather in the community spaces of galleries, theaters, or music venues. We have experienced and borne witness to economic devastation, racial inequities, insecurity of healthcare systems, the violence of failing political systems, and a changing climate that has wrought havoc on our more-than-human world.

However, art making, activism, and storytelling persists and provides a refuge and space for reflection in this time of isolation. Artists, performers, and activists are on the cultural front lines of helping us understand the future through new forms of digital and adaptive storytelling. In bringing the public and artists together in conversation, we hope to create a new community formed with a foundation of resiliency and persistence shared by all.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Arson alert; tree theft

March 8, 2021 12:01 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports so far today:

ARSON ALERT: Seattle Police are investigating small set fires early this morning on west Charlestown Hill. According to a preliminary summary from SPD, the first report was of someone “igniting a light pole on fire … Officers arrived on scene and observed some plastic and Styrofoam materials placed on a crosswalk sign that was scorched, but not on fire.” The caller had no description of the fire-setter Officers checking the area found trash containers on fire at 55th/Charlestown and 53rd/Charlestown; SFD was called to those scenes around 4:15 am. Officers weren’t able to find anyone in the area, but are hoping to examine residential security video that might have images of the arsonist.

One reader report:

TREE THEFT: Jessica says somebody dug up this dwarf lodgepole pine from her planting strip at 37th/Graham and took it away:

She explains, “It was yellow for the winter.” We asked if there’s any chance the recent gusty winds blew it down. “There is a decent-sized hole where it was with torn roots. It was too established to blow away. Someone yanked it out. I searched the surrounding blocks in case someone carried it a bit and threw it, but I didn’t have any luck.”

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Don’t just complain – run!

March 8, 2021 11:11 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

For everyone who suggests the solution to a problem is to elect new leadership, there’s someone else who points out that many elected positions don’t draw many candidates. That’s true. (Just one example – both of our area’s State House representatives ran for re-election unopposed last year.) If you are interested in finding out what it takes to run for an elected position, King County Elections has just announced workshops. From the WSB inbox:

King County Elections will host four virtual Candidate Workshops in an effort to empower potential candidates to take the leap and run for office.

Tuesday, March 16, 6 p.m. – 8p.m.
Thursday, April 1, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Virtual meeting over Zoom webinar – click here or visit bit.ly/kingworkshops to choose a date and register.

The workshops will be held to demystify the process by empowering potential candidates with key information they need to file their candidacy. This year there are over 330 local, nonpartisan offices up for election.

“We know that one of the key reasons people don’t vote in local elections is because they don’t see candidates on the ballot who look like them or represent their community,” said Director of Elections Julie Wise. “These workshops are an opportunity for less experienced or first-time candidates to get information and ask questions directly from the team that will ultimately help them through the filing process.”

The workshops will cover a range of topics including the elections calendar, online candidate filing, filing fee petitions, ballot order, local voters’ pamphlet filing, and more.

“Running for office takes a tremendous amount of courage and even the most technical parts of the process can be intimidating. We want to make to make things as easy as possible,” said Wise.

The workshops will be in preparation for the candidate filing period this year, Monday, May 17 through the following Friday, May 21. All Declarations of Candidacy must be received by King County Elections before the close of business on Friday, regardless of postmark.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Seeing snow-coated ‘siblings’

March 8, 2021 10:16 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Seeing snow-coated ‘siblings’

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

While we’re working on the rest of the day’s news – a quick look at a striking sight this morning: Before the clouds move back in, the Olympic Mountains are out in all their snow-coated glory. The photos – by Kyle Reichenbach, above, and David Hutchinson, below, focus on the Olympic peaks known as The Brothers.

Fun fact: The Brothers have a West Seattle connection – according to this infopage from the Washington Trails Association, the peaks are named after Edward and Arthur Fauntleroy, members of the same family whose name graces a West Seattle neighborhood. Their highest point is 6,842 feet.

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Remembering Helene L. Young, 1938-2021

March 8, 2021 8:59 am

| Comments Off on Remembering Helene L. Young, 1938-2021

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Helene Young, and sharing this with her community:

Helene Louise Young
June 10, 1938 – February 25, 2021

Helene was born June 10th, 1938, to John and Louisa (nee Vandenbergh) Fisher, in Albany, New York. She attended public schools in Albany, and after graduation, worked in the law offices of John T. Garry. In August of 1958, Helene married Robert J. Rose of Stony Point, New York. Soon after, Helene and Bob moved to Seattle, where Bob began a long career with The Boeing Company. Helene and Bob were delighted with their family of “rosebuds” – Mary, Jennifer and Elizabeth. Helene was a room mother, a homemaker, and a kind and loving neighbor to many in West Seattle.

After 20 years, Helene and Bob’s marriage ended in divorce, and she later married The Rev. Don Young. She then added to her family, Don’s children – Richard, Timothy, Jason and Susan. Helene and Don enjoyed working together in Real Estate for several years, primarily in West Seattle. For years they enjoyed walking in Lincoln Park, sailing on Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, and their property on Guemes Island.

Feeling the call to return to ministry, Helene and Don moved to Tacoma to serve the Lakeview Congregational Church (United Church of Christ.) While living in Tacoma, Helene completed her Bachelor’s degree. Tired of the Northwest weather and ready for a change, they relocated to Sierra Vista, Arizona, where Helene earned a Master’s Degree. She taught Life Skills at Cochise College for several years and was also a substitute teacher in the Sierra Vista area. Following Don’s death, Helene moved back to Washington state to be near her children. Although her recent health limited her from enjoying many activities that she loved, she maintained a positive spirit all of her days. She never met a stranger, and will be missed by many, many people. Helene especially loved gardening, reading, church activities, and Democratic politics.

She was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather (Norman Wirz), her brother (John Fisher), her husband (Donald L. Young), and Don’s son (Richard.) She is survived by Mary Toal (Richard), Jennifer Arkills (Jim), Elizabeth Tuohy (Mike), Tim Young (Li), Jason Young (Toni), and Susan Young. She is also survived by grandchildren Kevin, Kelly, Brandon, Anna, Kate, Ryan, Matthew, Abigail, Hailey, Lane, Elliot, and Conner, and her extended family scattered around the country.

The family would like to extend their appreciation for the loving care Helene received her last months at the Springwell Adult Family Home in Renton, as well as the many services provided through Providence ElderPlace Northwest.

A memorial gathering will be scheduled for this summer, when the strawberries are in season. Memorial gifts may be directed to Providence ElderPlace Northwest, 4515 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Suite 100, Seattle, Washington 98108

You are invited to share memories and messages by visiting www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Helene-Young

Arrangements by Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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WEATHER, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT: Monday watch

March 8, 2021 6:07 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning! Sunshine is in the forecast today. (Added 6:58 am – Freezing temps this morning – if you are going out to a street-parked car, be ready to scrape!)

ROAD WORK

1st Avenue South Bridge – Nothing today/tonight. Here’s what’s next:

*Noon Wednesday (March 10th)-Noon Monday (March 15th), two southbound lanes closed around the clock

*The entire southbound bridge will close Sunday night (March 14th) and Monday night (March 15th), 9 pm-5 am both nights

Delridge project – Here’s the work plan, for the coming week.

TRANSIT

Metro and the Water Taxi are on regular schedules.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

350th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:

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