CORONAVIRUS: Monday 5/31/2021 roundup
This month’s final roundup of local pandemic-related information:
NO NEW KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Because of the holiday, there’s no update for the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary – so tomorrow we expect two days’ worth of numbers.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: The state dashboard was not updated today, either.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 170.7 million cases, 3,550,000 deaths – 594,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.
COLLEGE VACCINATION CLINIC: The single-dose J&J vaccine will be offered to people 18+ during a clinic at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) 11 am-3 pm Thursday. Walk-up availability is expected but appointments are recommended.
VAX STATS: In King County, 75.1 percent of people 12+ have had at least one dose; 64.5 percent are fully vaccinated. In West Seattle, the most-vaccinated zip code remains 98136 – 86.5 percent of people 12+ have had at least one dose. (Maps and stats here.)
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
OVER WEST SEATTLE: Safety concerns result in changes for pilots using Boeing Field
The photo is from local pilot Vlad Oustimovitch, taken the first time he flew a newly labeled departure route announced by the Federal Aviation Adeministration earlier this month for pilots using Visual Flight Rules while arriving at and departing from Boeing Field (officially King County International Airport) just east of West Seattle. (In the photo, that’s Alki Point toward the top, Schmitz Park near the bottom.)
He tipped us to the changes: The FAA says it canceled two previous routes and replaced them with “newly defined” routes, though its announcement and King County’s FYI stress that “The new routes follow existing air traffic flight tracks that are assigned by BFI ATCT [air-traffic-control tower] and no new areas will experience new air traffic overflights. The new VFR arrival and departure routes do not introduce air traffic to any new areas.”
The FAA says the changes were made to increase safety “by increasing separation between arrival and departure flows into (Boeing Field), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Renton Municipal Airport.” The FAA says this is necessary because there have been some “Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) events involving VFR aircraft arriving and departing [Boeing Field].” To see the newly labeled arrival/departure routes, scroll through this FAA document below (or here):
Each route is labeled with the number of aircraft expected to use it daily. Oustimovitch says the main change he noticed was the addition of an Alki Point departure route, as shown in his photo above; he also sent this document that included the old routes.
Again, this change – which took effect two weeks ago – isn’t supposed to result in air traffic anywhere that you didn’t see or hear it before. But if you think you’re experiencing noise related to Boeing Field flights, here’s how to report that.
WEST SEATTLE MEMORIAL DAY: How Troop 282 started the holiday
The photo and report are from Chad Caron:
Troop 282 supported our local veterans at Arrowhead Gardens this morning. It was an honor helping Norman out with the flag ceremony again this year. And yes, that’s our own trom-bugler who performed the calls.
YOU CAN HELP: 2 West Seattle community cleanups ahead
The next two Saturdays are your next two chances to join in community-organized cleanups around West Seattle:
ALKI, JUNE 5TH: Jessica‘s been leading monthly cleanups on the first Saturday of each month
Meet up at 10 am at 2452 Alki Avenue SW. Bring your own pick stick, garden gloves, and a bucket (Jessica says they work better than bags, especially when it’s windy). She has a few pick sticks and buckets if you don’t have your own. Kids welcome. To RSVP, text Jessica at 206-769-6330.
UNDER THE BRIDGE, JUNE 12TH: Conrad is organizing another of these cleanups for Saturday, June 12th. Meet up at 1 pm at the SW Marginal Place cul-de-sac that meets the bike/foot trail along the west end of the low bridge. Sign up – and get more details – by going here.
WEST SEATTLE MEMORIAL DAY: Seen at Forest Lawn
No formal ceremony again this Memorial Day at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) in High Point, but the Unknown Soldier memorial that’w usually the centerpiece of the ceremony is under a canopy, easy to visit. Veterans’ graves across the cemetery are marked with American flags:
Piper John Dally had just arrived:
WEST SEATTLE MEMORIAL DAY: Veterans, volunteers line The Junction with flags
(WSB photos)
About 20 volunteers of all ages showed up this morning in The Junction to place the American flags that fly along the street for Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.
Veterans were among them – above is Keith Hughes, commander of West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160.
Volunteer help is also welcomed when it’s time to take the flags down this afternoon – the meetup is at 4 pm at the northeast corner of California/Alaska.
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