West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Tonight’s local pandemic notes:
VACCINATION HUB’S LAST DAY TOMORROW: As first reported here three weeks ago, the city is closing its West Seattle vaccination hub after tomorrow. Lots of other places to get vaccinated, of course, but this has been been the only all-vaccinations-all-the-time center in our area. All three vaccines are offered, 9 am until at least 4 pm, 2801 SW Thistle.
ALSO TOMORROW – TWO BRIEFINGS: State health officials will have their weekly briefing at 8:15 am (livestream here); Gov. Inslee plans a briefing at 3:30 pm (livestream here), partly about the pandemic, partly to talk about new leadership at the state Employment Security Department.
NEWEST NUMBERS: Checking the daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health:
*110,565 people have tested positive, 148 new since yesterday
*1,607 people have died, 5 new since yesterday
*6,239 people have been hospitalized, 8 new since yesterday
One week ago, the totals were 109,779/1,592/6,170.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 173.9 million cases worldwide, 33.3 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.
VAX STATS: 75.5 percent of King County residents 12+ have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 65.6% are fully vaccinated.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Two big events this week at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle): The Metro League track and field championships are planned at the stadium Wednesday and Friday afternoons/evenings (June 9th and 11th). 16 schools are scheduled to participate; the schedule for Wednesday’s events is here. (Thanks to meets announcer David Feinberg for the tip.)
The next public updates on the West Seattle Bridge and related projects are expected Thursday (June 10) during this month’s Community Task Force meeting. One new item: “an introduction” to the Long-Term Bridge Replacement Study. Last month, the task force was told some design work had continued on the “rapid span replacement” concept introduced just before Mayor Durkan chose to pursue repair rather than replacement in the short term; they’re spending $5 million on that, while making it clear that replacement studies would continue because a new bridge will be needed someday. Here are the other scheduled agenda highlights:
West Seattle Bridge Updates
– Rehabilitation progress and other bridge updates – Contractingupdate
– Priority Hire federal authorizationLow Bridge Access Updates
– Access Request Form Roll-Out update – Planning for next policy update
– Data and monitoring reportReconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan
– Reconnect West Seattle Updates
– Traffic Trends
– Mobility Action Plan
– Commute Seattle Worksite Survey
(See the full agenda here.) Community members are welcome to watch the meeting; here’s the YouTube link for the stream. It starts at 4 pm Thursday. If you have comments or questions before then, westseattlebridge@seattle.gov is the address.
As reported here last week, four West Seattle high schools have graduation ceremonies this week. Attendance is limited and general-public spectators won’t be accommodated, but you can watch three schools’ graduations live online:
FRIDAY: West Seattle’s only private high school, Seattle Lutheran HS, celebrates its grads with a ceremony on campus at 7:30 pm Friday (June 11th). It wil be streamed here via Vimeo (as will an Agape service at 7:30 Thursday night)
SATURDAY: West Seattle High School (11 am) and Chief Sealth International High School (5 pm) both have ceremonies at Memorial Stadium downtown on Saturday (June 12th). Seattle Public Schools is hosting most commencements there this year and says the stadium ceremonies will be livestreamed on the SPS YouTube channel.
West Seattle entrepreneur Malika Siddiq wants you to think of “sipping and shopping” all in one place.
Hers.
Behind her Lika Love Boutique at 4547 California SW, she’s opening In The Heart this Saturday night.
It’s a New Orleans-style speakeasy, holding up to 29 people in a cozy 600 square feet of what used to be a storage area, now decked out with brass barstools, upholstered furniture, crystal chandeliers, and a wall of what Siddiq describes as “empowering” art.
Siddiq’s two businesses will have some overlapping hours so you really can “have a drink, then go buy a new outfit.” Or just stay for gumbo, red beans and rice, and other New Orleans-style fare. (Here’s the food menu; here’s the drink menu – limited menus for the opening, expanding from there.)
She’s had the idea for In The Heart for almost two years; the New Orleans inspiration is because her parents are from there. As with so many things, the pandemic shelved her plan for a while. But now, the state gets ready for reopening, and her new venue is opening: “Perfect time!” she enthuses. Beginning with a 5 pm ribboncutting on Saturday (June 12th), In The Heart will be open 5-11 pm. The space will be available for event rentals, too.
Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of the year is June 18th, a week from Friday. The following Monday (June 21st), summer meal programs start up, and four sites are planned to operate in West Seattle, 11 am-1 pm Mondays through Fridays (except July 2nd and 5th):
Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th)
Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon)
Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton)
Roxhill Elementary (7740 34th SW)
They’ll offer sack breakfasts and lunches, as well as reheatable meals, to all students/families – more info (and menus) can be found here.
(WSB photos)
Different plan, same goal as Lou Cutler returned to Pathfinder K-8 – where he taught PE for many years – this morning to start the annual tradition of doing laps on the field, accompanied by students and staff, to raise money for Make-A-Wish.
Pre-pandemic, hundreds would join him on the field at the beginning and end of the one-day fundraiser – in which Lou would run/walk one lap for every year of the age he turns in late June. Last year, since nobody was at the school, Lou walked one big “lap” around the peninsula with friends. This year, at Pathfinder, small groups are joining him for two laps at a time, a total of 70 laps split between today and Thursday.
While Lou’s been doing this for almost two decades, he’s been a Make-A-Wish volunteer even longer, and before today’s first lap, he told the students about Avery, who’s about to have a bone-marrow transplant, and hopes to go to Disneyland – her “wish” – afterward. He’s inviting the students to write messages for her. You can help him raise money to make wishes come true by donating here.
11:27 AM: From Lori McConnell at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) in Admiral:
We wanted to let you know that we were broken into. We discovered it coming in to open the shop this morning. They didn’t trip our alarm – the broke a panel to the side of our door and crawled in that way.
They used a reader board from the Luna Apts to smash the window in. They got more merchandise than we are happy with. But nobody was here or hurt and we are focusing on that. Thought it might be good to get word out for other businesses. We are going to look at ways to beef up security in fear that things are getting worse in the hood.
This isn’t the first time West Seattle Runner has been hit by burglar(s) – our archives show at least two other break-ins, in 2019 and (at their original location south of Admiral) in 2013.
1:50 PM: WSR’s Tim McConnell just emailed with this update: “SPD just called to say they found a lot of our items in a tent camp in Lake City. They are collecting and cataloging it and will return it to us shortly. That’s all I know right now, I’m just happy to get some stuff back. We would like to say we appreciate their hard work in helping us limit our losses.”
Thanks to SG for the photo above and Stacy for the photo below. That car’s driver went up onto the sidewalk and into a staircase at the Sea Cliff Manor Apartments (2650 Alki Avenue SW) around 5:20 am today.
SFD and SPD responded. Nobody was hurt, Stacy reports. We’re following up with police to see if they have any additional information.
(Bee buzzes California Poppies, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening for your Tuesday:
LAPS WITH LOU: Today and Thursday, it’s a pandemic-era edition of retired PE teacher Lou Cutler‘s annual fundraising laps at Pathfinder K-8 to help Make-A-Wish. No spectators this year but donations/pledges welcome – you can do that here.
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER ONLINE AUCTION: Bidding continues around the clock through Sunday night – our Monday report has the backstory and how to participate.
CITY COUNCIL: The Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, meets online at 9:30 am. The agenda (which includes information on viewing and commenting) features two presentations related to reimagining public safety, including this report on “Realigning Seattle’s Criminal Legal System.”
DEMONSTRATION: One year ago this week, thousands of West Seattleites demonstrated for racial justice. One neighbor perseveres with twice-weekly streetcorner sign-waving. From organizer Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, June 8, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday June 10, 4 to 6 pm, 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.
fAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: From crime to ferries, the FCA board has lots to talk about tonight – here’s the agenda. Community members are welcome at the 7 pm online meeting but pre-registration is required to get the link – do that here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! More sunshine in today’s forecast, though the temperatures will remain below normal (high in the 60s; Monday’s high was 63, 7 degrees below normal). Thanks to Marc Milrod for the photo of last night’s colorful sunset:
ROAD WORK
Delridge project – Overnight striping/lane configuration work this week near Delridge/Dakota. Also, work continues on the west side of the Delridge/Barton/Henderson intersection, and utility work continues along Delridge between Holden and Thistle, among other work zones – here’s the full weekly update.
SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW; no new estimate for reopening.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.)
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
442nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 22nd 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? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is working again. The 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings also are tweeted 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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