West Seattle, Washington
02 Saturday
The vaccination situation once again tops tonight’s pandemic headlines:
SCHOOL PROCLAMATION: No updates today from Seattle Public Schools or the Seattle Education Association regarding what they plan to do in response to Gov. Inslee‘s order that schools start offering some in-person instruction to all students soon. As promised, the governor did issue the full proclamation today – you can read it here.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: No King County update yesterday, so these are two days’ worth of numbers on the daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health, representing the changes since Saturday:
*84,303 people have tested positive, 272 more than Saturday’s total
*1,437 people have died, unchanged from Saturday’s total
*5,180 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than Saturday’s total
*933,980 people have been tested, 6,654 more than Saturday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 83,196/1,416/5,147/918,491.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 120.1 million cases, 2,660,000 deaths – 535,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.
EVICTION MORATORIUMS EXTENDED: Mayor Durkan has extended the residential and commercial eviction moratoriums another three months, until the end of aJune.
GUARANTEED LAWYER FOR RENTERS? The City Council delayed for two weeks a vote on guaranteeing legal representation to renters facing eviction. The bill’s sponsor, Councilmember Kshama Sawant, was not happy.
PARKING RULES: Today the mayor also announced the year-long suspension of the 72-hour parking limit will end April 1st, though some other changes, such as short-term pickup zones in front of restaurants and other businesses, will continue for now.
ELIGIBLE BUT NOT VACCINATED YET? Here’s our list of where to look for an appointment (remember that eligibility expands on Wednesday):
*For the Lumen Field site as well as the city-run West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites – get on the notification list here; check for West Seattle appointments available in the next few days by going here
*Your health-care provider (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)
*Pharmacy chains big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca, Costco
*Sea Mar clinics
NEED FOOD? This week’s nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (March 19th) at 815 S. 96th. … Also on Friday, Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton) will be offering free food boxes 3-5 pm.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Sometimes what looks like an abandoned car really isn’t. But Carolyn says this one really seems abandoned and likely stolen:
ABANDONED MERCURY TRACER LS – SEDAN – SILVER/GRAY – NO PLATES
This car was abandoned on our street sometime early this morning, 3/15/21. Its doors are unlocked. License plates have been removed.
Interior has been trashed with garbage/food; smells like gas; empty gas-can inside car. Steering column has been trashed; appears to have been hot-wired. Appears that hood has been opened up/ didn’t check to see if there’s anything left in there; didn’t attempt to open trunk. Junk mail for 10235 37th Place SW was found next to car; mail may or may not be related to vehicle’s owner.Vehicle is located on SW 102nd between 38th SW and 39th SW, Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle. We will give it a day or two before reporting to SPD in order to give the owner a chance to retrieve and avoid impound fees.
The third Tuesday of the month usually brings your chance to hear from and talk with local police at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, but Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner tells us it’s canceled for this month, so no WSCPC meeting tomorrow. Local police often have a spot on the agenda at neighborhood council meetings – like the wide-ranging update at last week’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting – so watch for those announcements, and if you have a crime-prevention question, Jennifer’s at jennifer.danner@seattle.gov. (Don’t email her to report a crime, though – if something’s happening right now, call 911; otherwise, call 206-625-5011 or report it online.)
(February 25th photo by Kersti Muul)
Good news if you’ve been following the story of the ailing Bald Eagle rescued last month from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, where it had been hanging around on the ground, clearly ill or distressed: The PAWS Wildlife Center veterinarians who have been treating her for internal bleeding say she’s continuing to improve. PAWS spokesperson Laura Follis tells WSB that might mean they can release her soon:
The eagle was evaluated on Monday, March 8, and her blood values are continuing to improve. She was moved to our flight pen and is flying well. She is due for another veterinary check tomorrow with the hope that her blood values will be back to normal. If they are, we will be releasing her back to the wild that day.
She’s believed to be half of a resident pair nicknamed “Bey and Jay,” after the married musicians.
One year into the pandemic, the mayor’s office has an announcement today with news of extending some city proclamations and ending at least one. The announcement includes:
-Extending the moratoriums on residential, nonprofit, and small-business evictions through June 30, 2021 (full details in the announcement)
-Extending temporary loading zones for restaurants and small businesses
-Ending the suspension of the 72-hour parking rule; the city plans to reinstate it April 1st
That last rule has been suspended for almost a full year.
Another candidate has announced she’s running for Seattle Port Commission: Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, has entered the race for Position 4, currently held by first-term Commissioner Peter Steinbrueck. Hasegawa’s announcement quotes her as saying, “I’m running in the wake of economic devastation because I have the values and the experience to meet the dire needs of this moment. The Port is uniquely positioned to be a model for bringing together industry, business, workers and communities to rebuild our economy and be better than it was before. I bring the necessary perspective and sense of urgency to ensure that the next rising tide will lift all of our ships.” The announcement explains that in her current role leading CAPAA, she “advises the Governor, State Legislature and other agencies on laws, programs, and policies impacting historically marginalized communities.” She also has worked as communications/outreach manager for King County’s Office of Law Enforcement Oversight and as a legislative assistant to King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. Her port priorities include “shaping an equitable economic recovery for our region, reducing pollution and carbon emissions from the Port; ensuring safety at the Port for all travelers and workers; and promoting clean & ethical supply chains to address the growing issue of labor trafficking and economic exploitation.” Hasegawa lives on Beacon Hill. Position 4 is one of three commission seats on this year’s ballot; the field won’t be finalized until May, and the primary is August 2nd.
Even with campuses mostly closed, schools have continued to be hubs of support for students and families, and local PTAs and PTSAs have continued their vital role in that. So we’ve been featuring PTA/PTSA fundraisers throughout the year. The next one has just launched – a weeklong online auction for the Gatewood Elementary PTA starting today, leading up to an online event Friday night. Here’s the announcement:
Gatewood in Color – Community Celebration + School Auction
All of West Seattle is Invited! Join us and help support a local elementary school!Starting Monday, March 15, join us for the Gatewood School Community Celebration + School Auction – Coming to You in Color! This year’s auction will be held virtually, with our Silent Auction open all this week and a Live Streaming event starting at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 19! Tell your friends, family and neighbors! All are welcome to bid and participate in this community celebration and fundraiser!
HOW IT WORKS:
You can bid on any of our amazing silent auction items. Items will be released today, Tuesday (3/16), and Wednesday (3/17). Most items will close before our livestream auction begins, with some Super Silent Items left up for the live stream.
Links available at gatewoodpta.org/auction-2021HOW TO GET READY:
Preview and bid on Silent Auction items at Gatewood2021.ggo.bid
Set your dinner plans for Friday night by ordering from West 5! Treat yourself to dinner the night of the big event! Gatewood parents are delivering [locally] from West 5 the night of the auction! Pre-order no later than noon, Wed March 17th and your order will be delivered Friday, March 19th in time to tune into our live stream!
Tune In at 6:00 pm on Friday, March 19 at https://www.gatewoodpta.org/auction-2021 and get ready to make this the best fundraising year, yet!HOW YOU CAN HELP:
*Want to do more? Come visit our shop and take a look at our merch! Order your 2021 Auction Gator Pins and screen printed art prints now! Order from our shop link and 100% of the money goes to the Gatewood 2021 Auction for the Gatewood PTA.
Two development notes this morning:
6007 CALIFORNIA SW: An early-stage site plan has been filed proposing a “new 4-story mixed use building” for 6007 California SW [map]. currently the site of a preschool/day-care facility and a 4-plex.
No other details, since this is a very early filing; the site-outline document is by the architecture firm Atelier Drome.
4515 44TH SW UPDATE: It’s been almost a year since we first reported a plan for apartments at the former CDE Software site in The Junction, at 4515 44th SW [map].
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
The formal application is now in the comment stage, according to a notice in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, which now describes the project as a “4-story apartment building with 43 small efficiency dwelling units. No parking proposed.” You can comment through March 29th; the notice explains how.
Even through the pandemic, West Seattle’s Endolyne Children’s Choir has continued providing a chance for young singers to harmonize, and a new session of rehearsing and performing is about to begin. Registration is still open – here’s the announcement:
Registration for Endolyne Children’s Choir’s “Songs From The Stage” Spring Session is currently open. Rehearsals will be held virtually on Zoom and will begin tomorrow – Tuesday, March 16th. Singers in kindergarten through 2nd Grade (Debut Choir) rehearse from 5:00 to 5:45 PM, 3rd through 5th graders (Encore Choir) rehearse from 5:45 to 6:45, and singers 6th through 12th grade (Advanced Ensemble) rehearse from 7:00 to 8:30. To register, (updated) email info@endolynechoir.org
Endolyne Children’s Choir Music Director Megan McCormick and Staff Instructor Janelle Maroney have planned an exciting session that will capture the glamour and wonder of movies and musicals, as we present “Songs from the Stage.” In addition to exploring a variety of vocal techniques, students will gain dance and acting skills that showcase their personalities and build their confidence. On June 12, we will close our 2020-21 season with a fabulous virtual celebration and awards ceremony for all our singers and families.
Quality musical education is so important and essential for children, and we want every child to have the opportunity to benefit from our program. One benefit of virtual rehearsals: no commuting, so singers from anywhere in Seattle, the greater Puget Sound region, Washington State, and beyond can join us for this season.
We are also offering several tiers of tuition pricing, from full tuition to full scholarship, so anyone can participate regardless of their financial situation. Simply select your payment tier when registering.
WATCH: “Come Alive” from Advanced Ensemble’s (6th-12th Grade) 2020 Spring Musical
WATCH: “Squirm!” from Debut Choir’s (K-2nd Grade) 2020 Spring Musical
Questions? Find out more about the choir here.
10:44 AM: The 1st Avenue S. lane closures have just ended – but there is one last overnight closure tonight, all southbound lanes closed 9 pm-5 am, to end the project.
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6:07 AM: Good morning! Today’s forecast starts with a chance of rain and even a little snow, then sunshine later, high in the 40s.
ROAD WORK
1st Avenue South Bridge – Southbound lane closures are scheduled to end around noon – we’re checking with WSDOT this morning to confirm.
Delridge project – Here’s the plan for this week, with closures and ongoing paving, sidewalk, utility, and other work.
TRANSIT
Metro and the Water Taxi are on regular schedules.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
357th 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:
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):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – remember those southbound lane closures are wrapping up:
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? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
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