day : 29/04/2021 11 results

Here’s what you need to know about the pandemic tonight:

NEWEST NUMBERS: Since King County had no Wednesday update, the newest numbers from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard represent two days worth of totals:

*97,620 people have tested positive, 876 more than Tuesday’s total

*1,514 people have died, 9 more than Tuesday’s total

*5,784 people have been hospitalized, 42 more than Tuesday’s total

*1,036,081 people have been tested, 3,105 more than Tuesday’s total

One week ago, the four totals we track were 95,062/1,500/5,621/1,018,555.

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

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 150.5 million cases worldwide, 32.2 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.

ROLLBACK WATCH: King County is still way beyond the case and hospitalization rates that would allow staying in Phase 3. Monday is when the state takes a look at the numbers, with decisions announced Tuesday regarding whether anyone has to roll back on the following Friday.

VACCINATION HESITATION: Gov. Inslee talked about it during his briefing this afternoon. He called the slowdown in vaccine demand “terrible” while extolling the benefits of getting vaccinated – with an increasing list of things that vaccinated people will be allowed to do.

NEED A SHOT? City-run sites including West Seattle still have thousands of appointments – make yours here. Or call this hotline – 800-525-0127.

AND IF YOU’RE GOING TO A SOUNDERS MATCH … the team will be offering walk-up vaccinations to fans, starting Sunday.

COVID AT SCHOOL: Another local elementary school has reported a COVID case. This time, it’s a person at Lafayette Elementary, according to a letter to the staff that doesn’t specify whether the person is a student or staffer but says “Seattle Public Schools’ COVID Central team did not identify any individuals who came in close contact with this person.” Here’s the district’s notification policy. The district isn’t keeping school-by-school reports on its website but does have region-by-region numbers on this dashboard.

NEED FOOD? Two opportunities tomorrow: The nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday at 815 S. 96th; Highland Park Elementary is offering drive-up grab-n-go food boxes during that same time period (1012 SW Trenton).

GOT INFO/PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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DEVELOPMENT: Land-use approval for 115-apartment project at 3417 Harbor SW

April 29, 2021 9:15 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(Rendering by Atelier Drome Architecture)

Five months after passing the final stage of Design Review, the project planned for 3417 Harbor SW – just north of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge – has received land-use approval. Today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin includes the decision on the proposal for a 5-story building with 115 apartments and 65 offstreet parking spaces. This opens a two-week period for appeals – if you’re interested in filing one, this notice explains how; May 13th is the deadline. We first reported on the plan for this redevelopment project two years ago; its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting was the last one held in-person pre-pandemic; its second and final review was online last November. The project still needs other permits before construction – building and demolition among them.

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BIZNOTE: Doll Parts Collective sets the date for new West Seattle Junction location

April 29, 2021 8:03 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Shop local! The Junction’s newest retailer is about to open. We first reported one month ago that Doll Parts Collective was moving from its north Morgan Junction location, where a redevelopment project is planned. The shop specializes in vintage clothing, home decor, housewares, and handmade goods. This weekend they’re officially opening their new location at 4448 California SW – Saturday, May 1st, 12 pm-5 pm, and Sunday, May 2nd, 11 am-4 pm. Doll Parts Collective’s proprietors Alyssa and Becky say, “All are welcome, as long as they’re wearing masks and being conscious of social distancing!”

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FOLLOWUP: Alki gets the ‘all clear’ after sewer overflow

April 29, 2021 6:48 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Environment | Safety | Utilities | West Seattle news

Two days after Seattle Public Utilities closed the area off Bonair/Alki to “water activities” because of a sewer overflow, it’s open again. SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register tells WSB that the latest water-quality tests show it’s safe. As reported Wednesday, the overflow – approximately 1,655 gallons – is blamed on a century-old sewer line failing. We’re continuing to follow up to see what’s planned for repair/replacement.

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UPDATE: Power outage north of West Seattle Junction

April 29, 2021 5:05 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

5:05 PM: Thanks for the tip! That is a screenshot from the Seattle City Light outage map, which shows 31 customers without power near California/Dakota starting just after 4 pm. No official word yet what caused it.

6:44 PM: The SCL map now attributes the outage to “bird/animal”; commenter DEK says it was a crow.

9:40 PM: Restored since last time we checked.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Weekend sidewalk construction on West Marginal Way starting Saturday

April 29, 2021 3:51 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

As mentioned briefly in the morning traffic watch, sidewalk construction near the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse begins this weekend. After hearing about this last night, we asked SDOT for more details today, and here’s their reply:

SDOT is building sidewalks on the west side of West Marginal Way near the Duwamish Longhouse. The new sidewalk will provide safer and easier access to the Duwamish Longhouse and will also provide direct access for people in wheelchairs who are rolling to the Duwamish Longhouse from the parking lots on the east side of West Marginal Way SW. Construction will happen during the weekends and will begin on Saturday, May 1 through Sunday, May 30. Work hours will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One southbound lane and at least one northbound lane will be maintained during construction. People driving through the area during construction should expect potential delays. If possible, we ask they plan weekend travels accordingly to detour around this work and avoid the work areas. For more information or questions, people can contact 206-684-7623 or 684-ROAD@seattle.gov.

The sidewalks are part of the long-planned project that will include installation of a crossing signal near the Longhouse later this year, separate from the protected-bike-lane proposal. A decision on that hasn’t been made yet, SDOT said at last night’s HPAC meeting, which is where we got first word of the sidewalk work. (Full meeting report to come.)

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SATURDAY: 4th annual West Seattle Boat Swap – sell and/or buy!

April 29, 2021 2:07 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thinking about getting out on the water? And/or – got gear to sell? Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is presenting the 4th annual West Seattle Boat Swap this Saturday (May 1st). This is for “human-powered watercraft” such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and related gear. You are welcome to drop off your watercraft and gear 9 am-11 am that morning; shopping hours are 10 am-4 pm; pickup of unsold items is immediately afterward, 4 pm-5 pm. Along with whatever community members bring in, M2SO adds, “We will have used kayaks and SUPs from Alki Kayak Tours‘ rental operation, as well as scratched and dented SUPs and kayaks from Mountain to Sound for sale at amazing summer steal prices!” To register to sell, go here. It’s happening at Mountain to Sound, 3602 SW Alaska.

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FOLLOWUP: For those wondering about memorial plans for Lou Magor

April 29, 2021 12:28 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Almost two weeks have gone by since word that Lou Magor had died. Comments on our April 16th story included photos and memories from many whose lives he had touched and enriched, not only in his role running Kenyon Hall, but also as a performer and teacher. We promised to let you know when we heard of memorial plans, Here’s the first word we’ve received, from Pastor Paul Corner of Wallingford United Methodist Church, where Mr. Magor served as music director,

We at Wallingford United Methodist Church were discussing how best to remember Lou, and we thought his life was too big to try to do a comprehensive celebration of his life in a short amount of time that would include all the various communities which he was such a vital part of. (Tilden, Kindermusik, Kenyon Hall, Bach Choir, the Total Experience Gospel Choir, and others.) We also know that singing (and a lot of it) will need to be as part of that more complete celebration.

Because of COVID and the amount of planning that will be involved, that wider-focused celebration will need to wait a few months when it will be safe to gather in person and sing, but we are looking forward to working with those communities to that end. We do not have any date in mind as of yet, as that will need to be worked out with all these groups.

In the meantime, since Lou was our Music Director for 30 years, our church community has decided to have an online memorial service for him on Saturday, May 15, at 11 am that will focus more specifically on his life in our community. It will be on our church YouTube page, with a “coffee hour” to follow on Zoom. (This is the format we have been using for worship all through the pandemic.). As with our Sunday morning services, all are welcome to it.

The coalition with which Mr. Magor operated Kenyon Hall, Seattle Artists, has a tribute and biography on the hall’s website. Regarding the hall’s future, they note, “Even as we mourn the loss of a truly elegant musician who was our great friend, leader, and mentor, we dedicate ourselves to the task of moving forward as an organization with thoughtfulness, care, and joy. It will be difficult without him, but we will work especially hard to share his legacy and bring back as much joy as possible.”

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Why Ryan Cox is back in jail

April 29, 2021 10:52 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two days ago, we reported on the release from prison of 43-year-old Ryan J. Cox, three and a half years after he stabbed a man in West Seattle, following a string of increasingly violent crimes over an eight-year span (detailed here). Early this morning, we updated our Tuesday report with news that Cox is back in jail for violating conditions of his release. Now we have additional information: Southwest Precinct police arrested him on a warrant issued because he did not report to his Department of Corrections officer as required post-release. That’s considered “escaping” from community custody (parole), under which Cox was to be supervised for 18 months post-prison. Police say the DOC contacted them last night to advise that a warrant was forthcoming. Police say they got confirmation of the warrant at 10:30 pm and arrested Cox 16 minutes later. The police report says that after his release from prison, he “immediately returned to the area (where) the original crime occurred,” and that’s exactly where he was arrested – in the 7100 block of California SW. Cox remains in the SCORE jail in Des Moines this morning. What happens now? We’re researching that as part of a followup inquiry we already had out to the DOC. State law classifies escaping from community custody as a felony. (DOC photo, July 2020)

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Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program opens signups for rental-property owners, and soon renters

April 29, 2021 9:51 am

| Comments Off on Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program opens signups for rental-property owners, and soon renters

| Coronavirus | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

With eviction moratoriums continuing, some have asked about support for property owners as well as renters. King County has just opened applications for help in this year’s version of a county program that will help them as well as tenants. The King County Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program is now accepting applications from landlords who have five or more tenants behind in rent. On May 17th, it will start taking applications from tenants. The county announcement includes these points:

*The new program is significantly larger than the 2020 program, with over $125 million available to assist residents.

*EPRAP will help King County residents in danger of eviction by paying past, current, and future rent.

*Landlord sign-ups are being collected first and the Tenant pool will open in mid-May.

*The 2020 eviction prevention program provided rent assistance to 9,073 households countywide and expended over $37 million.

Find out more by going here.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Thursday watch

April 29, 2021 6:07 am

| Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Thursday watch

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning! Another partly sunny forecast for today – with rain expected tomorrow.

ROAD WORK

Delridge project – Delridge/Orchard work continues, and more, including paving on the far-north end of Delridge starting next week.

35th/Graham – Work continues to remake this intersection, including a signal.

SW Yancy east of Avalon – This closure has been extended.

West Marginal – Sidewalk work on the west side of the street, north of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, starts this weekkend.

TRANSIT

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its spring/summer schedule – all day, 7 days a week, plus Friday and Saturday evenings.

Metro has increased the number of passengers allowed on buses. And now it’s rehiring laid-off drivers.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

402nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 16th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is now open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are now available for some categories of drivers.)

Here’s a low-bridge view: