day : 04/06/2021 13 results

Tonight’s pandemic headlines:

KING COUNTY NUMBERS: We start with the daily stats from the Public Health daily-summary page, cumulative totals:

*110,117 people have tested positive, 122 more than yesterday’s total

*1,599 people have died, 4 more than yesterday’s total

*6,214 people have been hospitalized, 21 more than yesterday’s total

Now our weekly check of key numbers on the COVID Vaccination Among King County Residents dashboard:

*1,460,642 people have received one dose (74.8% of everyone 12+)

*1,243,683 people have received both doses (63.7% of everyone 12+)

One week ago, the first three totals were 109,380/1,591/6,139, and the vaccination totals were 1,436,146/1,193,113.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 172.5 million cases, 3,712,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.

HIGH POINT POP-UP CLINIC: The mobile nurse-practitioner service Pliable invites you to get vaccinated tomorrow – first or second dose of Pfizer, or the one-dose J&J – at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW), 8 am-11:15 am. You can make an appointment online by going here.

LAST SATURDAY FOR WEST SEATTLE HUB: As announced last month, the city will close West Seattle’s vaccination hub after June 9th – that’s next Wednesday. So tomorrow’s your last Saturday to get vaccinated at the hub, open 9 am-5:30 pm at 2801 SW Thistle.

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

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GRATITUDE: Heartening demonstration at Alki Beach

June 4, 2021 9:56 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The photo is courtesy of Charlotte, an Alki resident who wanted to publicly thank the Westside School (WSB sponsor) students who waved signs during that demonstration at the beach today. “It was refreshing to see the promotion of civility articulated from this diverse representation of the next generation,” she said. “I like to think they get it. They gave many local residents a lift this afternoon. I spoke with the group and the students came up with the idea at Westside School because they felt the message just needed to get out. We’d like to thank them.”

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READER REPORT: Stuck bus at Delridge/Trenton

June 4, 2021 8:46 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:46 PM: Thanks to Matthew for the photo and report from Delridge/Trenton:

Not sure what happened here, but the bus appears to have come down the alley between 22nd and Delridge heading north and can’t make the turn out to delridge heading east because of a car parked in a temporary no-parking spot (not pictured). I don’t know how this bus managed to get through the alley to begin with.

Radio communication indicates police are trying to find the mis-parked car’s owner.

9:22 PM: All clear, Matthew reports in a comment.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: About the big police response near EC Hughes Playground

June 4, 2021 8:40 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

A few people asked us about a mid-afternoon incident that brought a big police response to the EG Hughes Playground area (28th/Holden and vicinity). One neighbor who saw the end of it said police were chasing a man through the playfield area and then across two yards until he was tackled and arrested near 29th/Kenyon. Medics were called for the suspect, who, the witness says, complained after being cuffed that he was having trouble breathing. We didn’t catch word of this until it was long over; we eventually made contact with Southwest Precinct Lt. Dorothy Kim, who said the man was arrested for domestic-violence assault: “When the officers attempted contact with the suspect, he took off running, which resulted in a foot pursuit.” She says he was booked into the King County Jail.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Native Action Network award for local educator Boo Balkan Foster

June 4, 2021 6:26 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The Native Action Network has presented its Enduring Spirit Award to Boo Balkan Foster, the šəqačib teacher at Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School. From the announcement on the Seattle Public Schools website:

… Award recipients are honored for their lifetime commitment to building strong, healthy Native communities and intergenerational connection.

Leaders like Boo have advocated powerfully for environmental protections, access to quality education, holistic health and wellness, cultural preservation, traditional knowledge, tribal sovereignty, strengthening of treaty rights, tribal economic development, and beyond.

Boo is the šəqačib teacher at Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School. Boo designed the framework of šəqačib, a class promoting school engagement and academic progress in a culturally sensitive environment for Native youth, to empower her students by centering student voice. The success of Boo’s first course paved the way for more offerings in SPS.

She also piloted curriculum for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, resulting in shifts to align learning levels for high school students. A fierce advocate, Boo is steadfast in demanding Native students have a voice in decision-making.

“It is humbling to be recognized with the current and past leaders of the Enduring Spirit Award,” Boo said. “I am an awe of their dedication, strength, and brilliance. I am honored to be called teacher by students whose wisdom and perseverance inspire me every day. It is a privilege to continue the work of those upon whose shoulders I stand.”

As part of her recognition, Boo was presented with the Inheritance Blanket created by Native artist Sarah Agaton Howes, which pays homage to an Anishinaabe tradition, where the Bear Clan are known as carriers of medicine.

Boo was nominated by fellow SPS staff member Amy Markishtum.

“I have had the privilege of watching Boo from the beginning of her teaching career where we worked together until now, 26 years later, and the impact she has had on her students and families.,” Amy said. “She not only sees them as individuals, but she also sees their potential and helps them to be the best they can be. She inspires them. She has a high bar of expectations for them, and her students rise to her expectations. She is not only their biggest fan, but she will also advocate for them as they navigate middle and high school.”

Native Action Network is a nonprofit organized to promote Native women’s full representation, participation, and leadership in local, state, tribal, and national affairs.

(Photo by Melissa Ponder for Native Action Network)

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PRIDE MONTH: ‘The Divine’ opens Saturday at Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery

June 4, 2021 4:15 pm

| Comments Off on PRIDE MONTH: ‘The Divine’ opens Saturday at Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery

| Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Another Pride Month event in West Seattle: An exhibition opens tomorrow at Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in South Delridge. Here’s the announcement:

Pride art exhibition featuring art from queer BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists that embody what queerness means beyond rainbows. Queerness is embodied and full and this art exhibition is meant to give queerness room to breath, in all of its beautiful layers.

Come see and/or purchase artwork and visit the gift shop for art from other BIPOC artists as well!

The Divine: Beyond the Bounds of Queerness
June 5 – June 27, 2021

Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
9414 Delridge Way SW,

Hours: Thursdays – Sundays 12 PM – 6 PM

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WATER TAXI ALERT: Lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston on West Seattle route tonight

June 4, 2021 2:26 pm

| Comments Off on WATER TAXI ALERT: Lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston on West Seattle route tonight

| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(Spirit of Kingston – WSB file photo)

Just in from King County Water Taxi management:

The M/V Spirit of Kingston (social-distancing passenger capacity of 57) will be on the West Seattle Water Taxi route all evening replacing the Doc Maynard (153-passenger capacity) while it operates on the Vashon route. The Sally Fox [regular Vashon vewsel] will be out of service tonight while scheduled maintenance on an engine is completed. Last Friday, multiple departures were near the 57-passenger limit; however, ridership today has been far lower. Please plan your commute accordingly in the event that West Seattle customer demand exceeds available capacity on any individual sailing. The M/V Doc Maynard will return to service on the West Seattle route tomorrow morning.

The Water Taxi Watch live map shows Spirit of Kingston is already on the run, so make this an afternoon/evening alert.

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HIGH-SCHOOL GRADUATION: Ceremonies next week for 4 West Seattle schools

June 4, 2021 1:17 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This year, West Seattle has four ceremonies for the Class of 2021. The peninsula’s only charter school, Summit Atlas, says farewell to its first 33 graduating seniors with a ceremony at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) next Thursday (June 10th). The next night (Friday, June 11th), West Seattle’s only private high school, Seattle Lutheran HS, celebrates its grads with a ceremony on campus. The next day – Saturday, June 12th – West Seattle High School (11 am) and Chief Sealth International High School (5 pm) both have ceremonies at Memorial Stadium downtown, where Seattle Public Schools is hosting most commencements this year. All of these events are limited in attendance because of the pandemic.

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DELRIDGE PROJECT: Nighttime striping work, and what else is ahead

June 4, 2021 11:42 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Work on Delridge north of SW Holden this morning)

The weekly update for the Delridge Way repaving/utilities project, preparing for RapidRide H Line, is in. Striping and related work will start next week in the areas where paving is complete – here’s the SDOT list of project focus areas for next week:

Final channelization and striping is scheduled to begin next week starting at SW Dakota St and moving south

-This work will happen overnight between 7 PM and 6 AM
-The trucks used to complete this work are large, and thus will require us to temporarily limit street parking in areas where work is taking place
-This work is anticipated to be completed in North Delridge in July
-Visit our final design website to get a refresher on what the project will look like once it is complete

Bus stop upgrades continue at SW Myrtle St, SW Holly St, and SW Thistle St

Duct bank work resumes between SW Holden St and SW Thistle St
-Electrical upgrades are nearly complete
-We will begin restoring the roadway as early as June 11

SW Barton Pl upgrades continue through the end of next week
-Once this work is complete, we will shift to the east side of Delridge Way SW and begin demolishing and upgrading the roadway
-SW Henderson St will be closed as a part of this work
-We will provide a new detour map in our update next week

See the full update by going here.

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New priest-in-charge for St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

June 4, 2021 10:08 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

The pandemic has posed challenges for houses of worship, with in-person services prohibited for months, then allowed only with limited attendance. Some West Seattle congregations has have the extra challenge of seeking new leadership – including St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral, after the departure of Rev. Kate Wesch. Now, St. John’s has announced a new leader:

We have called a new Priest in Charge, Rev. Canon Elise Johnstone, starting August 8.

Elise describes her multiple callings of mother, spouse, and Episcopal priest as bringing great joy. She has been serving since 2014 as the Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, in Kentucky. Prior to that call, she served as Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity, Georgetown, KY, and the Assistant Rector of Good Shepherd, Lexington, KY. She has a Bachelor’s in Classics from the University of Georgia, a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary in New York City, and a Doctor of Ministry in Liturgy from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, TN.

Elise has relished serving the Church on local, diocesan, and church-wide levels, serving multiple triennia as deputy and chair to General Convention, as well as serving on the Episcopal-Presbyterian Dialogue and the Board of the College for Bishops.

Her passions, in addition to her family, are liturgy, music, connecting those in need with resources while showing them they are loved and respected, as well as ballet and theatre. She is married to Ryan Shrauner, who is a seminary librarian, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and a native of the Seattle area. They are the proud parents of Walter, who is a rising 6th grader. As a family, they enjoy hiking, travel, playing board games, The Simpsons, and figuring out what to do with the many LEGO they cohabitate with.

St. John’s is one of many local churches that have been streaming services online (as featured here with a list of links every Sunday) and has also been offering parking-lot services.

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TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Friday notes, including East Marginal crash

June 4, 2021 6:12 am

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:33 AM: From SDOT: “Collision on East Marginal Way S at Diagonal Ave S blocking all NB & SB lanes between S Idaho St & S Dawson St.”

8:30 AM: Still closed.

9:40 AM: Still closed. It’s a driver-versus-pole crash.

NOON: SDOT tweeted at 11:22 am that the scene was clear.

===========

6:12 AM: Good morning. The forecast is for one last day of sunshine before some weekend rain.

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Delridge project – The Delridge/Orchard work and north-end Delridge paving are finished; the west side of Delridge/Barton/Henderson and the east side of Delridge/Thistle are still closed. Here is this week’s plan, with the next update due later today

SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of any bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

439th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 21st 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 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. (Note: It’s been broken for a day – you can find 1st Avenue South Bridge openings on @wsdot_traffic.)

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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UPDATE: Early-morning fire in Fauntleroy ‘intentionally set’

June 4, 2021 4:05 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

4:05 AM: Midsize fire response this past hour to Fauntleroy/Henderson, near the ferry terminal. We just caught up with the crews still on scene and they told us it was a carport fire, handled fairly quickly, no injuries.

11:08 AM: Though no investigator had been dispatched at the time of the fire, we noticed on the log that one was sent a few hours later. SFD says their investigation determined the fire was “intentionally set,” with damage totaling about $1,000.

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