6:03 AM: Good morning! Cloudy forecast for today.

ROAD WORK

35th/Graham – As work continues, Graham is closed on both sides of the intersection.

Delridge project – Delridge/Orchard work continues; here’s what else is in this week’s plan.

SW Yancy east of Avalon – This closure will last a few more weeks, according to the project team.

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.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

400th 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. (Read about other changes here.)

Here’s a low-bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

And 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? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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2021 roundup

April 26, 2021 10:59 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Our nightly roundup of local pandemic-related information:

STILL THOUSANDS OF APPOINTMENTS: On Sunday, we reported that the city was suddenly energetically encouraging anyone and everyone to use this link to get a vaccination appointment. Today, they shouted it even louder, including an AlertSeattle bulletin. At last check, they still have 15,000+ appointments available at city-run sites including Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). If you don’t want a city appointment – see our list of other options in Saturday’s roundup.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary:

*96,597 people have tested positive, 256 more than yesterday’s total

*1,503 people have died, unchanged since Saturday

*5,713 people have been hospitalized, 21 more than yesterday’s total

*1,028,782 people have been tested, 398 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 93,937/1,493/5,590/1,009,048.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 147.5 million cases, 3,117,000 deaths – 572,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

ONE WEEK TO NEXT REVIEW: One week from today is the state’s next assessment to decide whether counties can stay in their current phases or move backward/ahead. If the decision was made today, King County would be rolling back, because we’re flunking both of the criteria, as shown here.

VACCINE DAY OFF: Arthur’s in Admiral will be closed tomorrow (Tuesday, April 27th) so its staff can get vaccinated.

NEED FOOD? Two opportunities this week – both on Friday (April 30th): 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 SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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Bridge, Terminal 5 updates @ West Seattle Transportation Coalition’s April meeting

April 26, 2021 8:59 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | Transportation | West Seattle news

Progress reports comprised most of this month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting:

BRIDGE UPDATES: Heather Marx, director of the West Seattle Bridge Safety Program, led the briefing. The schedule hasn’t changed – construction of repairs starting by year’s end, completion by “mid-2022.” As we reported a week and a half ago, they’re reviewing six applicants for the project, “and hope to have a decision we fan announce in May.” The next official schedule/budget update should be in “early July,” Marx added, Monitoring is still going well.

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FOLLOWUP: See Jeb the miniature horse in his new home

April 26, 2021 7:14 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle news

That’s Jeb the miniature horse, formerly of West Seattle, now in Taos, New Mexico, getting used to his new home. Eight days ago, we reported on his impending departure. He had lived in a greenbelt-adjacent Admiral yard for more than 15 years, a present for two little girls who are now grown. He’s now with them in the Southwest, where the weather and grazing grass are expected to be better for his health, and he’s with other horses (as shown above). His family sent the video to let you know he arrived OK and is settling in!

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YOU CAN HELP: Full Tilt Ice Cream’s extra-sweet fundraiser for White Center Co-op Preschool

April 26, 2021 5:22 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | White Center

Full Tilt Ice Cream is offering a tasty way to help the White Center Cooperative Preschool:

We need you to eat ice cream, cookie dough, and cotton candy for a great cause!

The past year has brought all sorts of challenges for schools. Our local preschool, the White Center Co-Op Preschool (part of the larger South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools) has seen a huge increase in financial assistance requests, and outdoor classes and remote learning has meant new demands for class materials. But through it all, the school has kept kids learning and playing, and given families invaluable support through community and the parent education program. Now we are offering our newest and most sugary Covid Pack ever to help raise money for this incredible school.

The Sugar Rush Covid Pack includes a pint of ice cream, a pint of vegan chocolate chip edible cookie dough, and a quart of cotton candy. You’ll also get a one of kind piece of art from one of the kids you are supporting. The cost is $30, with half going straight to the school.

Order online now through Thursday, April 29 and pick up starting Friday, April 30th at Full Tilt in White Center

Full Tilt is at 9629 16th SW.

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More West Seattle Junction public art defaced by racist vandalism

April 26, 2021 3:33 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, June 2020)

That’s our photo from June 6, 2020, when artist Desmond Hansen painted a Black Lives Matter mural on the signal box at 42nd/Alaska, same day that thousands gathered in the heart of The Junction to call for racial justice. A reader tip called our attention to recent vandalism defacing the mural – a vandal has painted out the fist and the words. The original mural was commissioned by the West Seattle Junction Association, whose executive director Lora Radford tells WSB this box has been vandalized, and repaired, before. Fixing it again will cost at least $250, and WSJA, a nonprofit, welcomes donations, either here, or via Venmo to @westseattlejunction. This follows a vandal targeting depictions of a family of color in the mural on the Junction post office; that’s undergone recent repairs as part of planned restoration work.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Should Sound Transit hold off on major ‘realignment’?

April 26, 2021 1:35 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news

As Sound Transit rolls toward a “realignment” decision this summer that could delay West Seattle light rail (currently planned for 2031) and other projects for years, there’s a call to slow down, for reasons including a less-dire financial outlook. The suggestion comes in a letter to ST board chair Kent Keel from three board members – Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci. The letter was mentioned during last week’s monthly board meeting; we requested and obtained it today from the mayor’s office:

At the heart of the letter is a request to extend the decision timeline until summer of next year, “to allow the board to examine the pros and cons of extending realignment until additional information is available, including the prospect of acquiring additional new revenues, the benefits of a clearer economic picture, identifying new flexible approaches to station access, incorporating additional information about the nature of capital cost increases and conducting meaningful public engagement.” The letter also notes that when the realignment talk began, the pandemic-related revenue shortfall was the biggest problem, and now that’s only half what it was. But cost increases have emerged as a major challenge (as reported here in January), and might require a different evaluation process than the one they’re using. The letter requests additional information in time for a discussion at the board’s next meeting (May 27th).

ST, meantime, is continuing to ask for your thoughts on “priorities” in the realignment process – there are no specific proposals yet (the board has just been exploring “scenarios”), so they are asking “what’s important to you?” via a short survey on this page. Friday (April 30th) is the deadline.

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West Seattle legislators end session with high-profile bills passing. Here’s your chance to ask them about it

April 26, 2021 11:37 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The State Legislature has just adjourned for the year. Two of the bills getting the most post-session buzz have West Seattle sponsors – Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon was lead sponsor on the clean-fuels bill, HB 1091; Sen. Joe Nguyen was a co-sponsor of the capital-gains tax, SB 5096. Both bills have gone to the governor’s desk. If you have questions about those bills or others passed – or not passed – by state legislators, the 34th District Democrats are presenting a Town Hall this Sunday (May 2nd) with Sen. Nguyen, Rep. Fitzgibbon, and Rep. Eileen Cody, online at.1 pm. Also scheduled to join them is our area’s U.S. House rep – also a West Seattle resident – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. You can send questions in advance via this link; no RSVP required for the event itself – here’s that link.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Environmental Slam success for students from three West Seattle schools

April 26, 2021 9:40 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

When you can spare five minutes, watch that video – a big winner at last week’s annual Environmental Slam. Its creator was among students from three local schools whose work was honored at the event. Here’s a report by two educators whose students were among them, Stacia Bell of Madison Middle School and Tim Owens of Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor):

West Seattle students from area schools had a big night at the city-wide Environmental Slam, sponsored by the Washington Foundation for the Environment (WFFE). Due to the pandemic, this year’s Slam was conducted virtually using Zoom and pre-recorded entries. The Environmental Slam is an annual event that encourages middle- and high-school students to prepare 5-minute presentations on any local environmental issue. Winners are recognized and donations from WFFE will be made to the students’ chosen environmental non-profit organization that works specifically with the environmental issue that students focused on.

Madison MS 8th grader Aria Erickson won both the Judges’ Choice 1st-place award (with a perfect score for the first time ever in Slam history) and the Audience Choice award. Her presentation, titled A Single Fish (video above), was about the pain plastic inflicts on marine life in Puget Sound. Aria won $1,000 and will be donating it to the local environmental organization, the Washington Environmental Council. When asked what she loved about the event, Aria said, “Watching the other presentations, I not only was made aware of the dangers facing the Earth, I could also feel in each the passion and dedication of my fellow youth environmentalists. This was incredibly encouraging, and I am so honored to have been a part of it.”

Teams from West Seattle High School and Explorer West Middle School had a three-way tie for 2nd place. West Seattle High School 9th grader Tim Deppe won with his presentation about the effects of consumerism on our environment. One Explorer West team – made up of sixth graders Diane Heckman, Sylvie Kaufman, and Ali Lazar – focused on fertilizer runoff and dead zones in Puget Sound. The final 2nd=place winners, Delia Hutchinson and Sarah Deppe, focused on how contaminants reach Puget Sound, having a drastic effect on salmon. These students will be donating their winnings to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, the Surfrider Foundation, and 350 Seattle.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend an Environmental Slam, it happens each year in April around Earth Day and is a city-wide event designed to amplify young people’s voices on environmental issues. This year’s event had 10 participating teams from Seattle area middle and high schools, including Madison MS, West Seattle HS, McClure MS, Whitman MS, Explorer West MS, and SAAS. The Slam will be back next year, and without a doubt, you will walk away from this event inspired by the passion of these young activists, as they speak their truth for the environment!

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: April’s final Monday

April 26, 2021 6:03 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

6:03 AM: Good morning! Partly sunny forecast for today, after the weekend concluded that way – Jerry Simmons sent this photo from Lincoln Park:

ROAD WORK

35th/Graham – As work continues, Graham is closed on both sides of the intersection.

Delridge project – Delridge/Orchard work continues; here’s what else is in the plan for this week.

SW Yancy east of Avalon – As first noted on Friday, this closure will last a few more weeks, according to the project team.

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.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

399th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:

Here’s a low-bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera (it’s been intermittently out):

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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CORONAVIRUS: Sunday 4/25/2021 roundup, including our weekly West Seattle trend check

April 25, 2021 10:21 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Tonight’s pandemic news:

THOUSANDS OF APPOINTMENTS: Need a vaccine appointment? Suddenly the city has thousands. Here’s the link. (If you are looking for other options, see the list in last night’s roundup.)

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the King County Daily Summary Dashboard page, the cumulative totals:

*96,341 people have tested positive, 463 more than yesterday’s total

*1,503 people have died, unchanged from yesterday’s total

*5,692 people have been hospitalized, 28 more than yesterday’s total

*1,028,384 people have been tested, 3,974 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, those totals were 93,854/1,493/5,573/1,008,756.

WEST SEATTLE TRENDS: Time for our weekly check. These numbers are shown in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the countywide daily-summary dashboard; to determine WS status, we combine the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas” (HRAs): For the past two weeks, 180 positive test results; 129 in the 2 weeks before that; 99 in the two weeks before that. … We also are noting WS death totals each week. The total deaths for the entire pandemic in the two HRAs comprising West Seattle: 65, unchanged again in this past week.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 146.8 million cases and 3,106,000+ deaths, 572,000+ of them in the U.S. – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here

SCHOOL CASES: 19 in local Seattle Public Schools so far this year, and one just reported.

NEED A TEST? Since the city is no longer offering it at the West Seattle hub, here are nearby options

Curative walk-up kiosk @ Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW, Monday-Saturday 8 am-3 pm, book online)
Curative van @ Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 am-2:30 pm, book online)
Neighborcare‘s High Point clinic (6020 35th SW – call 206-461-6950 for appointment)
City drive-up site in SODO (3820 6th Ave. S., Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5:30 pm, book online)

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

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SCHOOL UPDATES: Virus case; cohorts merge; graduation dates

April 25, 2021 8:34 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Three notes about West Seattle schools:

COVID CASE: Genesee Hill Elementary families received email sent by principal Gerrit Kischner on Friday afternoon announcing a student had tested positive:

… I am writing to let you know that one of our students is confirmed to have COVID-19. The student was last in the building April 19th after exposure during Spring Break. Students and adults who came in close contact with this student have been identified, notified, and are following Public Health guidelines to isolate and/or quarantine for 10 days.

With sports and other activities restarting, several families have notified us this week that they have kept their children home for testing \because of possible exposure in the home or community. We are glad that this appears to be a single positive case at this time, with no transmission in the building. Please continue to notify us of possible concerns so that we can remain vigilant. …

Thanks to the reader who forwarded that email. They also noted that the district is keeping a public dashboard of cases, by region rather than by school; it shows the Southwest region – West Seattle and South Park – with 19 cases reported this school year, 12 students and 7 staffers.

COHORTS MERGE: Last weekend we noted that Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer had told families that if more students didn’t sign up for the hybrid option, they would merge cohorts, instead of one group having in-person classes Monday/Tuesday afternoons and another having them Thursday/Friday afternoons. This weekend, she notified families that the merger is indeed on, so the only days with in-person learning at Sealth will be Mondays/Tuesdays.

GRADUATION DATES: As first reported here two weeks ago, the district will have in-person graduation ceremonies after all. The dates/times are now set – Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS will both have ceremonies on Saturday, June 12th – WSHS at 11 am, CSIHS at 5 pm. Interagency Academy, which includes two West Seattle locations, will graduate at 5:30 pm Thursday, June 17. Those and most other Seattle Public Schools graduations this year will be at Memorial Stadium downtown.

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WEEK AHEAD: HPAC talks about Reconnect West Seattle Home Zone work Wednesday

April 25, 2021 7:46 pm

| Comments Off on WEEK AHEAD: HPAC talks about Reconnect West Seattle Home Zone work Wednesday

| Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Also coming up this week, the monthly meeting for HPAC, the community council for the Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge neighborhoods. From the announcement:

Seeing these new SDOT signs around the neighborhood? Drop in to our monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28 for updates from SDOT regarding work on the Home Zone projects and reporting on Reconnect West Seattle efforts rolling out in 2021 that need our input. Bring any new concerns or traffic impacts you are noticing!

We’ll also reserve some time to generate neighborhood specific concerns and questions for upcoming Mayoral candidate forums. Plus – save the date: Saturday, May 1 work party opportunity at Highland Park Improvement Club – help trusty trustees pull down the 100 year old chimney and do general garden/lot maintenance – social distancing + masking observed! Drop in any time 8 am-4 pm.

Wednesday night’s HPAC meeting is online; connection/call-in info is here.

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BIZNOTE: Longtime West Seattle State Farm agent Terry Gangon is retiring

April 25, 2021 6:12 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

After 40 years, Terry Gangon is starting his final week as a State Farm agent in the West Seattle Junction. He asked us to share his announcement – which includes an invitation to join in a donation drive and a giveaway:

It is with very mixed emotions that I write to tell you that I have announced my retirement from State Farm Insurance, effective April 30th, 2021. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity and privilege to serve as your agent. I want to thank you for your support, trust, and loyalty throughout the years. You have been a huge blessing to me and my family!!! My career with State Farm has been interesting, sometimes challenging, and always enjoyable. I have thoroughly enjoyed each day being your agent. The days have turned into years and it is hard to believe that I began my career with State Farm Insurance October 1st, 1980. There has never been a dull moment!

As I retire, State Farm has selected two agents to service my West Seattle policyholders. Your policies will not be affected in any way by my retirement. On June 1st, Travis Hartman will be starting his State Farm Agency, with half of my West Seattle policyholders in an office on Fauntleroy Way SW just east of the Morgan Street Junction. Travis is married to Brenda and they have a one-year-old son named Owen. He was born and raised in Seattle and is a proud UW Alum. He has had the pleasure of working with State Farm for the last four years. August 1, 2021, Derek Chambers will start his Agency with the other half of my West Seattle policyholders. He will take over my office in the West Seattle Junction. He is originally from the East Coast and moved here to work with two of the top agents in the Seattle market. Derek has helped run those agencies for the past four years. He has been married to Demi for seven years and has a son, Ivan. Both Travis and Derek are very passionate about the community and extremely excited to start their West Seattle Agencies! I feel confident and secure in the knowledge that both will take great care of all your insurance and financial service needs. In the interim, starting May 1st, Brian Chambers – Derek’s older brother – has been given the task of taking care of all your insurance needs.

After forty-plus years as a State Farm agent in West Seattle, it is going to seem very different not to talk to you or see you in the office. Julia and I plan to continue to live in West Seattle. We hope to do some traveling and enjoy more time with our children and grandchildren. I am hopeful that our paths will cross again in the future.

Again, thank you for allowing me the honor of serving as your agent and assisting with your insurance needs. I am grateful for your trust and loyalty as a State Farm policyholder. It has been an honor to serve you throughout the years! Thank you, West Seattle and beyond!!!

Terry’s favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3: 5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

(updated) On Friday, April 30th, Terry Gangon will be holding a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank at his office in the Alaska Junction.

We will be cooking hot dogs and giving them away to anyone who presents an insurance card showing they are insured with Terry’s office, and/or anyone who wants to donate non-perishable food.

To comply with social distancing guidelines, we ask that if you do come by please pull through the driveway on the north side of the building and remain in your car with your mask on. Someone will come by to receive your donations/check your insurance card and bring you a hot dog with your choice of toppings.

We look forward to seeing you!

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DELRIDGE PROJECT: This week’s repaving-and-more plan

April 25, 2021 5:01 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT photo, Delridge/Orchard)

As the weekend comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to where the Delridge Way repaving-and-more project will be focused this week. From SDOT, the key sites:

*Intersection upgrades at SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW to continue for several weeks. Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction on both Delridge Way SW and SW Orchard St, and a uniformed police officer will be present to direct traffic through the area.

*Roadway upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and 25th Ave SW continue

*Intersection upgrades at SW Kenyon St scheduled to resume next week and will last approximately one week. A uniformed police officer will be stationed at the intersection to help direct traffic.

*Roadway upgrades at 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW continue. Upcoming work includes rebuilding the intersection, which will include a full closure of 21st Ave SW.

And here’s a week-in-advance warning of the northernmost section of repaving:

*Beginning as early as May 3, we will begin upgrading the roadway between the West Seattle Bridge and SW Dakota St via mill and overlay, which is less noisy than traditional demolition and paving

The full work plan for the week ahead is here.

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VACCINATION: Thousands of city appointments available

April 25, 2021 3:27 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

For a while, the city was quite guarded about vaccination appointments – even canceling ones made via links that they claimed were shared without authorization. Then, just days ago, they were sending special signup codes to people on the waitlist. Suddenly today, a direct link is being widely and officially shared for ~20,000 appointments available at the city’s hubs, including West Seattle’s hub at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Anybody 16 and up who hasn’t been vaccinated yet can start here.

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LOW-LOW TIDES: Here’s when you’ll see them along West Seattle’s shore this week

April 25, 2021 1:21 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Brandy DeWeese for sending the photo of a sea-star sighting this morning on the shore at Lincoln Park. It wasn’t even a minus tide – those start tomorrow, and before the week’s out, we’ll see low-low tides. From our favorite tide chart:

Tuesday (4/27): -1.6 feet, 11:52 am
Wednesday (4/28): -2.5 feet, 12:34 pm
Thursday (4/29): -3.0 feet, 1:19 pm
Friday (4/30): -2.9 feet, 2:07 pm
Saturday (5/1): -2.3 feet, 2:59 pm

If you walk on the beach at those times, please be very careful of the exposed animal and plant life. Wondering what you might see? Here’s a field guide from the Seattle Aquarium (whose volunteer beach naturalists will be out during low-low tides later this spring and summer).

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Return of the Recycle Roundup!

April 25, 2021 10:26 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

After an initial rush – 100 visitors in the first half-hour – we got to the Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup during a semi-break in the action, Organizers told us people were already waiting before it began at 9 am!

1 Green Planet brings multiple trucks and containers to the free dropoff event in the parking lot at 9140 California SW (map).

Here’s the list of what they will and won’t accept this time. They do the unloading, but please wear your mask while there; church volunteers are there to direct traffic and answer questions (and accept donations if interested). The Recycle Roundup usually happens twice a year, spring and fall, but not last year because of the pandemic; it continues today until 3 pm.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store robbery; stolen ‘rare’ burgundy van (found)

April 25, 2021 9:58 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this morning:

STORE ROBBERY: Two men held up the Junction 7-11 early today, according to a preliminary summary filed by police. It says the robbers entered, then “milled around the store momentarily and then went behind the counter, where they confronted the lone store clerk. One (robber) held a small black handgun to the clerk’s back while the other demanded that he open the cash registers. The clerk complied and both registers were then emptied. The (robbers) also took cigarettes and lighters and then fled on foot.” A K-9 team helped search but the track ended in the alley behind the store. The robbers were described as Black, in their 20s, all-black clothing, black masks, and gloves.

STOLEN VAN: Be on the lookout for this van:

It’s a pretty rare burgundy color 1997 Chevy Astro and even more rare with a 5” lift and Jeep Wrangler wheels. It had a full tank of gas so probably long gone but who knows. Stolen 4/21/21. License plate BQV2561. Since it went missing, it has been seen on 42nd near Thriftway and in the parking lot at Fairmount Park Elementary. Please keep an eye out and call 911 (then) email me. gershon@est.org

UPDATE: Found where two commenters spotted it! The big gray rooftop cargo box is still missing, though.

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Recycle Roundup and what else is happening on your West Seattle Sunday

April 25, 2021 6:34 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(River otter, photographed near Don Armeni on Thursday by Stewart L.)

Welcome to the last Sunday of April!

RECYCLE ROUNDUP: The free dropoff event outside Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) is back! 9 am-3 pm, take your recyclables (check this list first) to the church parking lot – though you’ll stay in your vehicle, you need to wear a face covering. Rain or shine!

90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: 9 am, Eastridge Church celebrates its West Seattle campus’s 90th anniversary – details here.

TODAY’S ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES: As we do every week, we’ve updated our list of more than 20 local churches’ online Sunday services (some offer in-person options too), with the newest links – see it here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, the market’s open. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; pickups for online orders are at California/Oregon)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)’

FOOD DRIVE: Noon-4 pm, food drive for mutual-aid org Washmasks at C & P Coffee (5612 California; WSB sponsor). Our preview includes the list of items they’re requesting.

FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center. (9600 15th Ave SW)

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

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West Seattle Water Taxi back on weekends for the first time since 2019, and shuttle bus too

April 24, 2021 11:56 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

That’s the main West Seattle Water Taxi vessel M/V Doc Maynard, arriving at Seacrest this evening, its first Saturday in service since October 19, 2019. Pandemic precautions precluded its 7-day-a-week schedule last year. But this year, it’s back. That means the free shuttles to/from The Junction, Admiral, and Alki are back, too.

The shuttle schedules are here and here. Spring/summer Water Taxi service has a few changes from past years, though – for example, outside the regular Friday/Saturday night schedule, no special late-night runs for stadium sports. Other changes are detailed here; the full schedule, including weekday middays, is here.

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CORONAVIRUS: Saturday 4/24/2021 roundup

April 24, 2021 10:23 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s where the pandemic stands tonight, 14 months in:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:

*95,878 people have tested positive, 408 more than yesterday’s total

*1,503 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total

*5,664 people have been hospitalized, 19 more than yesterday’s total

*1,024,410 people have been tested, 1,318 more than yesterday’s total

ONE WEEK AGO: Last Saturday, those numbers were 93.510/1,493/5,569/1,008,219.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 146.1 million people have tested positive, and more than 3,096,000 people have died; U.S. deaths exceed 571,000. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, France, Russia (same as last week). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.

J & J VACCINE GETS WESTERN STATES’ CLEARANCE: One day after the feds “un-paused” the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, our state and its partners in the Western States review group cleared resumption of its use. About those potential effects, a rare blood-clot syndrome called TTS, the state’s announcement says, “On Friday, the CDC said a total of 15 cases of TTS have been reported, which includes the original six cases. All the cases occurred in women between the ages of 18 and 59, occurring six to 15 days after vaccination. DOH is not aware of any cases in Washington.” That’s 15 cases out of 8 million shots given nationwide, the state notes.

J & J VACCINE AVAILABILITY: At the Westwood Village Rite Aid.

OTHER WAYS TO CHECK FOR VACCINE: Here’s our ongoing list:

*Here’s how to sign up for the aforementioned city notification list – go here.
*Reminder that if you’re 60+ you can just walk up to the West Seattle hub (2801 SW Thistle) 9 am-4 pm Mondays-Saturdays and get vaccinated – the “Good Neighbor” who brings you, regardless of their age, can too.
*Health-care providers (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine (one reader specifically recommends Valley Medical Center), Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, Neighborcare, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator) – you can also follow its tweets for instant notifications
*The state’s Vaccine Locator (as mentioned above)
*The CDC’s Vaccine Finder
*Pharmacies big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca, Costco
*Sea Mar clinics
And if travel time is not a barrier – reader recommendation: Try this lookup for potential appointments within a few hours’ drive.