West Seattle, Washington
11 Thursday
Tonight’s pandemic toplines:
MORE VACCINATION CLINICS AT SCHOOLS: The city announced today that its mobile team is going to private and charter schools too – at least 2 in West Seattle.
RENTER RELIEF: A county pandemic-relief program that started taking landlord applications three weeks ago is now accepting applications from renters.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: So here’s where’re we’re at tonight, per the today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:
*107,498 people have tested positive, 130 new since yesterday but 95 fewer than yesterday’s total due to removal of duplicates
*1,562 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*6,064 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than yesterday’s total
*1,070,769 people have been tested, 1,452 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 101,389/1,544/5,973/1,061,360.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 164.2 million cases worldwide, 32.9 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: At 8:15 am tomorrow online, state health officials will present their weekly briefing and media Q&A. Watch the livestream here.
SUPERMARKET UPDATE: West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is allowing personal bags again.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Interested in behind-the-scenes moviemaking info? Tomorrow (Wednesday) night at West Seattle’s only moviehouse, the historic Admiral Theater, the 6:30 pm showing of Seattle-set/filmed martial-arts comedy “The Paper Tigers“ will be followed by Q&A with its director, Bao Tran. Joining him will be Kris Kristensen, the movie’s West Seattle-residing editor, who did Q&As there last weekend. As first reported here a week and a half ago, The Admiral was particularly excited to book this movie after learning about its backstory, including how its director fought to make it with Asian-American leads despite potential financiers’ suggestions otherwise. And the movie is doing well here – it was first planned for just a one-week run but has been held over at The Admiral for at least one more week.
From the “you asked, so we asked” file – those new black-plastic-covered signs in Arbor Heights are for the upcoming speed humps/cushion installations, and we’ve found the plan is for more than originally announced. When we first reported on them after a reader tip last month, SDOT‘s map showed them within a few blocks of Arbor Heights Elementary and Westside School (WSB sponsor). But now the plan has gone behind that map – three added on SW 106th “in the long block between 39th Ave SW and 35th Ave SW” (above), and two planned for Marine View Drive (below):
SDOT says the Marine View Drive speed humps are meant “to improve safety along the [bridge] detour route as part of the Reconnect West Seattle program.” All the signs will be uncovered when the speed humps/cushions are installed soon.
7 PM: All those sirens are for SFD units arriving at a garage fire at a house just west of Westwood Village, in the 9000 block of 31st SW. The first arrivals report smoke from a garage that’s about 20 x 20. Updates to come.
7:18 PM: The fire was confined to furniture in the garage, firefighters tell us. No injuries, no structural damage.
5:22 PM: Don’t let the sunbreaks fool you. We’ve had hail (or some form of icy precipitation) within this past half-hour, and now a loud clap of thunder. The forecast for this evening does include a “slight chance of thunderstorms.” An overall ongoing chance of showers continues until Friday.
9:13 PM: The weather’s calmed a bit – still raining off and on. Added a photo by Jerry Simmons, pre-dusk rainbow sighting.
10:30 PM: Two more photos – this one by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:
And this one by Beth Davis:
(Photos courtesy Compass)
We mentioned back when Zamboanga closed at 4531 California SW that a real-estate office was on the way. Now it’s open as the new West Seattle office for Compass, home to Managing Broker Mara Haveson; brokers Baouyen Chan, Susi Musi, Annie Wagar, Ben Gade, Trevor & Raeanne Russell, Denise Simens, and Connie Sorensen; and office manager Jayne Leahy.
Haveson is enthusiastic about the market: “Values for homes in this area have gone up over 100% since I first started selling in this area in 2000. This is a very close-knit community where you get to meet people easily. It is an easy place to navigate, there are fabulous views, and you get more for your money in real-estate investments.” The office is handling commercial real estate as well as residential, through Musi, who has connected West Seattle businesses including Bella Mente, Blue Stone Apartments, Cometa Playschool, Moto Pizza, and Lake Washington Physical Therapy to their spaces.
King County’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program is now open for applications from renters facing housing instability because of the pandemic. Three weeks ago, we published news of the first phase of applications, for landlords; more than 5,000 properties and 1,429 landlords with 5 or more tenants behind in rent are now registered. If your landlord is getting funding, you don’t have to apply directly; if not, you do. Eligibility information is here. If you qualify, the program will “offer payments for back rent, utility expenses and even future rent obligations,” according to today’s full announcement, which also says that if a property qualifies, “Landlords must agree not to terminate or refuse to renew tenancy until after December 31, 2021, except for special circumstances such as sale of the property or health and safety issues.”
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
After a pandemic year-plus largely devoid of ceremonial events, they’re starting to rev up again. Today at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, elected officials and transportation directors gathered for a “groundbreaking” photo op as preparation work for the RapidRide H Line expands to construction of its 51 stations. The actual bus-line launch is currently set for fall 2022, reaffirmed Metro general manager Terry White:
Once Route 120 is converted into the H Line, White noted, it’ll mean every-7-minute service during peak hours, both ways between South Lake Union and Burien. The mayor of the latter city was among those participating today:
That’s Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta elbow-bumping King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Matta said improvements (and Transit Oriented Development planning) are getting under way for Ambaum Boulevard as part of the preparations. Here in West Seattle, the Delridge Way road work that started almost a year ago is on schedule to wrap up this fall, said SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe. The most enthusiastic participant was Aaron Garcia, who’s with the White Center Community Development Association (and is also a Highline Public Schools board member):
Aaron Garcia of WCCDA (and @highlineschools board ) at @kcmetrobus RapidRide H Line event this morning in WC: pic.twitter.com/R4tV53bM6e
— White Center Now (@whitecenternow) May 18, 2021
King County Executive Dow Constantine said the 120 is the sixth-busiest in the entire Metro system (which is now making 85 percent of the daily bus trips made pre-pandemic, he added). The RapidRide concept goes back to his predecessor, Ron Sims, he recalled, and while the system is planned through “the first third of the alphabet … there are plenty of letters to go.” If the H Line indeed launches in September 2022, that’ll be exactly a decade after the launch of West Seattle’s first RapidRide route, the C Line.
Along with the Seattle Public Schools student-vaccination clinics already announced, the city is partnering with charter and independent/parochial schools to host clinics. According to an announcement from the mayor’s office today, that will include two pop-ups in our area – one for local independent schools (and students’ families/caregivers) at Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (20th/Roxbury) 9 am-4:30 pm on Wednesday, May 26th, and one at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, awaiting word on the date). The city also is offering “youth and family days” at the vaccination hub at the Lumen Field Event Center, with “updated hours to better serve families, on-site pediatric clinicians administering the vaccinations, and special Seattle Seahawks programming for kids and families.” No appointments required. These special events are 1:30-5:30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, May 19th) and 11:15 am-5:45 pm Saturday (May 22nd).
(Seen along the SW Thistle stairway – photo by Troy Sterk)
Quick notes for the rest of your Tuesday:
STUDENT VACCINATION CLINIC: Seattle Public Schools‘ campus clinics continue – locally today, there’s one at West Seattle High School.
ARTIST AS STORYTELLER: This series of online presentations organized by South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) faculty members continues today with tattoo artist Emma Kates-Shaw at 1 pm – info in our preview.
DEMONSTRATION: The weekly announcement from organizer Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, May 18, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday, May 20, 4 to 6 on, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Come build awareness & stimulate actions to 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 Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
BRIEF FREEBIE: As previewed Monday, MOD Pizza‘s giving coupons for a free pizza or salad to up to 50 people between 5 pm and 5:08 pm at all locations (including The Whittaker and Westwood Village), in celebration of the chain’s 500th location.
NO WSCPC MEETING: The third Tuesday is usually the night for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, but the precinct says there’s no meeting this month.
Something for the calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
In case you haven’t already seen this on partner site White Center Now: Help is needed at a long list of sites on both sides of the city-limit line for this year’s White Center Refresh! The invitation is from Mark Ufkes:
We need “I Love White Center” Volunteers!
White Center “Refresh” Spring Clean 2021
White Center Needs Volunteers for two 2-day sessions :
Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22
Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29Volunteers who want to earn a “I Love White Center” T-shirt must sign up and help complete one of the 15 projects listed below. The free T-shirt supply is limited so sign up soon.
You can sign up by sending a message by e-mail or text to volunteer Project Coordinator Mark Ufkes (email; markufkes@comcast.net or Text; 206-595-7124). In your sign-up email or text, include your name, your shirt size, and the number of the project you want to volunteer for and show up at the location at the listed day and time. The Project Coordinator will promptly confirm your project assignment.
Once you arrive at the location on the day and time listed below, our crews will have all the gear you will need to complete the project and help you make White Center more beautiful.
We cannot be responsible for your children at these clean-up events. Please bring work gloves and rakes if your project includes yard work. All paint, brushes, rollers, etc. will be provided.
If you are a White Center business owner, we encourage you to clean up the area in front of your business while our volunteers do the larger White Center projects. Consider adding hanging flower baskets in front of your business, clean your front windows and nicely cover over or remove nearby graffiti. Our goal is to help you transform White Center during this two-week period.
White Center Projects include;
Friday, May 21
White Center Welcome Sign (4th SW and SW 108th) Mow and rake area, plant flowers under the sign. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 21; 2 pm)
White Center Welcome Sign (Delridge and 18th SW) Mow and rake area, plant flowers under the sign. 3 volunteers, 2 hour (Friday, May 21, 4 pm)
Back Alley (SW 96th and Delridge SW) Paint over graffiti, match previously used brown and white paint to make the walls look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 21, 3 pm)Saturday, May 22
Touch Up Murals on both sides of street (107th at 16th SW) Touch-up existing murals on both sides of 107th, paint new murals, mow median strips. 10 volunteers, 3-4 hours (Saturday, May 22; 9 am)
White Center Plaza Building (98th and 15th SW) Paint over graffiti, paint walls to make them look nice. 6 volunteers, 3 hours (Saturday, May 22; 10 am)
White Center Bus Stop (100th and 15th SW) Paint over graffiti. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 22, 10 am)
Alley between 15th and 16th SW (Behind Proleteriat Pizza); Paint over graffiti. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 22, 11 am)Friday, May 28
White Center Community Events Board (100th and 16th SW) Clean the Events Board display, paint the display. 3 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 28, 2 pm)
Lions Mural Building (Roxbury and 17th SW) Touch up painting on murals, paint over graffiti. 5 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 28, 3 pm)Saturday, May 29
White Center Welcome Sign (Roxbury and 20th SW) Clean sign, plant flowers below sign, and rake and clean the hillside around the sign. 6 people, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 9 am)
9800 Block of 16th SW (Northmart and Starbucks area) Paint over graffiti, clean and sweep the area, pick up trash. 10 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 9 am)
White Center Welcome Sign (10th SW and Roxbury) Mow and weed eat along the sidewalks between 9th to 11th, touch up mural, paint upper guard rail white. Park at the 10th dead end. 10 volunteers, 3 hours, (Saturday, May 29th, 10 am)
Saars Market Evergreen High School Art Class Mural; Touch up the painted areas next to mural, make wall and area look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 10 am)
100th Block of 16th (south of Autozone); Paint over graffiti on walls, rust red; make the walls look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 11 am)
White Center Eagles on 15th, paint over graffiti, clean up area. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 11 am)White Center Refresh Spring Clean 2021 is organized by the White Center Community Development Association (White Center CDA) and the all-volunteer Eagle Scout White Center Improvement Club.
6:07 AM: Good morning. Blustery weather expected today.
ROAD WORK UPDATES
Delridge project – Here’s this week’s plan, and progress reports for work zones like the intersections with Orchard and Thistle.
Alki Avenue SW – All day Wednesday, the crane at 1250 Alki SW is expected to be taken down, so the street will be one lane, alternating, at times.
I-5 FYI – A year-long project on northbound I-5 through downtown has begun; WSDOT says work will be done at night to reduce impacts.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
421st morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 19th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is 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:
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:
Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check 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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