West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
(WSB photo: Camp Second Chance’s front gate, July)
First Sunday afternoon of the month usually brings the monthly online meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance, on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels [map]. Here’s what happened today:
CAMP UPDATE: CSC director Scott Harris wasn’t in attendance, so updated camp stats weren’t available, but Hattie Rhodes from camp operator LIHI was there with other updates. She said a city inspection is happening Tuesday afternoon to ensure that all’s well. She also said LIHI had a recent hiring fair and hopes to fill positions at encampments including CSC, which will be getting a “village organizer …. to help out at the camp.” They’re also still looking for a case manager, while serving campers with visiting CMs. Also – LIHI is opening new camps in other parts of the city and looking for more sites because “the need is still there.” She didn’t have exact numbers but said it was “exciting” to see some CSC residents move to housing at The Clay – a microapartment building owned by LIHI – to ‘take the next step in their journeys.” CAC chair Willow Fulton asked about the intake process for CSC. That’s primarily through the city’s HOPE Team, Rhodes said, but LIHI also has a waitlist in case an opening comes up at one of its camps and the HOPE Team can’t quickly fill it. What about referring someone currently living unsheltered? Refer them to the outreach workers at REACH, Rhodes suggested – she didn’t have a contact number but noted REACH has offices at 3rd/Blanchard. Rhodes was asked about CSC expansion, which Harris mentioned at the last meeting. She said “that’s not the hugest priority for us right now” though they might “see if there’s room here or there to add a few more (tiny) houses” at CSC.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ UPDATES: These updates often range beyond camp-related matters, and this time was no different. Aaron Garcia of the White Center Community Development Association wanted everyone to know that the county eviction-prevention/rent-assistance program is still open and WCCDA is assisting White Center families with getting into the process. He also said there’ll be a vaccination clinic at Steve Cox Memorial Park on August 18th; it’s meant to be second dose for those vaccinated at the recent clinic, but first doses will be available too, noon-6 pm … Cinda Stenger from the Westside Interfaith Network said the group is continuing to assist more than a dozen Central American refugee families who have settled in the area so if CSC hss extra clothing, they would appreciate being able to re-donate to the refugees (they’re also looking for kids’ clothing and other housewares) … Grace Stiller of Weed Warriors recapped the recent wrap party for the latest phase of her organization’s Myers Way Parcels wetland-restoration program (WSB coverage here); she’s looking ahead to Phase 3 of the restoration project, working closer to Hamm Creek, dependent on funding. … Chair Fulton, who’s been keeping watch on illegal dumping along Myers Way, says the most-recent ones have been cleaned up. Concerns remain about the safety of people walking along Myers Way, especially considering pedestrians are pushed farther into the road by the fencing set up to prevent access to the roadside greenbelt. Once again this month, though, no city rep was present to hear those concerns.
NEXT MEETING: September’s date is to be determined, since the first Sunday will be during Labor Day weekend.
Every Sunday night, we’re publishing weekly pandemic updates. Tonight, the fourth one. First, the newest local numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
116,837 people have tested positive – 1,358 more than a week ago (4,072 in West Seattle, up 53)
6,686 people have been hospitalized – 46 more than a week ago (202 in West Seattle, up 1)
1,682 people have died – 2 fewer than a week ago* (67 in West Seattle, unchanged) *data adjustment
VACCINATION RATE:
75.1% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 77.6%
98116 – 84%
98126 – 73.2%
98136 – 85.2%
98146 – 71.7%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
THE WEEK’S HEADLINES
Briefing: On Friday, King County Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin gave another pandemic briefing. Watch it here:
While the increase in cases and hospitalizations is concerning, he said, it was good news that (as the stats show above) King County had no COVID-19 deaths in the preceding week.
Masks: Earlier in the week, Dr. Duchin and other health officers from around Puget Sound issued a joint statement strongly recommending that everyone wear them in indoor public spaces. Some West Seattle coffee shops, restaurants, and supermarkets have reinstated mask requirements, as we reported Thursday.
Testing availability: Though the city announced this week that it’s getting out of the testing business, the UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate.
When to get tested: Here’s a refresher.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that.
From the yellowish hazy sunlight this afternoon to the reddish-orange color of the soon-to-set sun right now, we’re seeing wildfire smoke – but our air quality remains good. The Washington Smoke Information website explains that the smoke is overhead – back on Friday, the site said, “While two waves of smoke are expected to reach our skies, they’ll be at 2 km or higher, and the situation at surface should be very different.” The smoke that is up there is reported to be from Northern California and Oregon, not our state – so far.
ADDED: First “red sun” photo in is from Jerry Simmons:
ADDED: Second one is by Dan Ciske:
If you check our calendar and/or almost-daily highlights lists, you know live music is back at multiple West Seattle venues. Today, advance word of a regular event that’s returning even though its previous venue is gone. First Thursdays used to be “funk night” at the Parliament Tavern, now closed (with a new venue on the way to that space, as we reported Saturday). But promoter B Dahlia sends word that the funk returns this week, with its new home at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). B explains, “The band has had a few changes and we’re moving the show to Skylark, so West Seattle Soul featuring The Pulsations is on hiatus and the new band’s name is ‘Battlestar Kalakala‘! Still big band funk and soul, with a few new members and a new home.” 9 pm Thursday, August 5th, is the launch date, $10 at the door.
Only two days left to vote in the primary election, but very few ballots are in. As of this afternoon, only 13.4 percent of Seattle ballots had been returned to King County Elections; that’s just a hair below the countywide percentage, 13.5 percent. Just six decisions to make on your ballot – two city races without incumbents (mayor and City Council Position 9), two city races with incumbents (city attorney and Council Position 8), one county race (Executive), and one county ballot measure (“Best Starts for Kids” renewal/expansion). Still not sure about the mayor’s race, in which a field of 15 will be narrowed to two? Watch the one and only in-person West Seattle forum (presented by us and the Junction Association three weeks ago) here with 9 of the candidates, and/or check out the Seattle Channel’s Video Voters Guide (for mayor and the other city races) here. If you’re going to mail your ballot (no stamp needed), do that by tomorrow so you can be sure it’ll be postmarked in time; if you’re going to use a dropbox (three in West Seattle!), get it in by 8 pm Tuesday. First round of results is expected by 8:15 that night.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
CAR, GARAGE BREAK-INS: From Mary:
We live on the 6700 block of Beach Drive and had our truck window broken out on Tuesday night. Miscellaneous items taken. Another neighbor on Beach Drive had their garage broken into.
ABANDONED CAR: From Matt:
This car was ransacked and abandoned on 21st Ave at Myrtle, next to Sanislo Elementary School. Maybe it belongs to someone?
The plate on it starts with BWL.
11:33 AM: Seattle Fire has just dispatched another water-rescue response to Seacrest. This time the dispatch was “possible diver having a problem, could be related to (the situation) from last night.” We are headed there to find out more.
11:39 AM: The dispatcher has told rescuers that divers reported seeing a person in 35′ of water, 100′ offshore. (We hadn’t received word of recovery of last night’s victim since SPD took over late last night.)
11:53 AM: So far it does appear to be a recovery – the person found by divers is described as showing “no signs of life” and they’re calling for the Medical Examiner.
Also a traffic note: If you’re driving down California Way, you can’t turn right onto Harbor because of the response vehicles on Harbor on the east side of Seacrest. (Our crew has just confirmed this.)
12:08 PM: After bringing the person’s body out of the water, SFD is downsizing the response. They’ve dispatched a public-information officer so we hope to have official word before too long on whether this is indeed believed to be the person who went missing last night – there’ve been no additional reports today of anyone missing or in trouble.
12:29 PM: We’ve talked with SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley at Seacrest. She says it’s up to the Medical Examiner to say for sure whether it’s the same person who went missing last night, the description is the same – a woman in her 30s. And we’ve confirmed with an SPD sergeant at the scene that SPD did not recover a body last night after taking over last night’s recovery operation. (Added: Here’s video of Tinsley explaining the responses last night and today:)
NOTE: Our archives show this was the first diver death in the area since August 2016, when another student diver died.
ADDED: The diver who died has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as 33-year-old Yuyu Xu.
Thanks for the photos. As shown above, there’s tree trouble at Delridge/Orchard – beware if you’re planning to head through that area.
(Lowman Beach Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
August has arrived. Happening today/tonight:
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: The Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection work is scheduled until 1 pm again today, and southbound Delridge Way is closed between SW Thistle and SW Trenton.
CHURCHES: Many are still streaming, in place of – or in addition to – in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services. (We’ll continue updating that list each Sunday for as long as a significant number of streaming services continue.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. Food and drink, open-on-all-sides entry/exit, and busking are all back. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
SOUL BRUNCH: 10 am-2 pm at Easy Street Café (California/Alaska), with DJ Brownstone.
TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today – Highland Park spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale); Delridge (noon-5:30 pm, 4501 Delridge Way SW) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pools. Colman Pool is open noon-7 pm, not weather-dependent.
(added) FISHER SCONES: The famous fair scones have gone mobile, and we’ve learned belatedly that the truck is at Metropolitan Market in Admiral (41st/42nd/Admiral Way) 11 am-4 pm today.
FUNDRAISING LEMONADE-AND-TREATS STAND: 11 am-2 pm, last chance for now to support Harper and Akemi as they sell lemonade and treats at 42nd/Charlestown to raise money for an Outward Bound trip to Costa Rica.
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.
(added) CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The CAC is meeting today, we’ve confirmed, 2 pm online – attendance information is in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC @ C & P: Jazz Standards with Jeff Johnson and Bill Anschell, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THE ALLEY’S ANNIVERSARY: The Triangular Jazztet‘s regular Sunday night performance at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm, wraps up the venue’s four-night third-anniversary celebration.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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