West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Here’s our weekly roundup of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest local numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
133,647 people have tested positive – 4,486 more than a week ago (4,757 in West Seattle, up 176)
7,289 people have been hospitalized – 177 more than a week ago (222 from West Seattle, up 6)
1,753 people have died – 30 more than a week ago (69 in West Seattle, up 2)
VACCINATION RATE:
77.3% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .5% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 79.8%
98116 – 85.7%
98126 – 75%
98136 – 86.7%
98146 – 74.2%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
PANDEMIC NEWS
Back to school – Classes resume, in-person, this week and next. Seattle Public Schools told families in a Friday letter that some activities will be paused and some meetings will be held remotely at least through the end of October.
Pfizer vaccine gets full approval – COVID vaccines have been administered under an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA; now the Pfizer vaccine is the first to get full approval (for ages 16 and up – full approval for younger recipients is continuing). With the approval, the vaccine now has a name, according to the FDA news release – Comirnaty (pronounced like “community”).
State health officials’ briefing – Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah and other top state health officials gave a pandemic briefing last Wednesday; you can watch it here.
NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?
The UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here, though readers report walk-ups have been accepted. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating. In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that. Local pop-up in the week ahead: Tuesday night 6-8 pm during Created Commons at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW, north of the P-patch).
Slogging through the mud was just one of the challenges for participants in Seattle’s only 5K obstacle course, part of Loop the ‘Lupe, four fun fundraising events in one, today at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. There was also some jumping to be done:
And climbing:
Things got a little tangled too:
Participants started in waves:
See the results here. Something else unique to Loop the ‘Lupe, coordinated again this year by race director Brian Callanan – a Senior Saunter walk; here’s how today’s began:
Loop the ‘Lupe also featured a 5K Fun Run and a Kids’ Dash (though as shown in our course-start video above, plenty of kids participated in the obstacle course). Whether you were running, walking, or obstacle-dodging, there was music, from the West Seattle School of Rock:
The Kennedy Catholic High School Band made an appearance too:
WSB was a community co-sponsor of Loop the ‘Lupe, as were a long list of local businesses and organizations, including some of our sponsors – Verity Credit Union, which was handing out “boogie bots”:
And Lake Washington Physical Therapy‘s new West Seattle location, led by Mark and Laura Bouma:
Sponsors and participants were all helping raise money for the social work done by Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Just a quick reminder that school is starting before Labor Day this year for many, and some go back as soon as tomorrow. We’ve added a few more schools to the start-date list we published last week. From that list, three notes for tomorrow (Monday, August 30th): It’s the first day for Holy Rosary Catholic School and Seattle Lutheran High School – both on the north edge of The Junction – and Vashon Island School District 1st-12th graders, some of whom travel by ferry from Fauntleroy.
As seems to happen every few years, the drive-up/ride-up mailbox outside the Westwood Village post office is damaged and out of service. We don’t know when it happened; someone texted us about it a short time ago and we went over for a firsthand look. We’ll be checking with USPS tomorrow. Last two times it sustained major damage, in 2015 and 2018, it was out of service for about four months. Meantime, if you need this kind of mailbox, there’s one outside the post office in The Junction, 4412 California SW.
4:28 PM: The duo Dandy rapped as Created Commons got going for a third day at Westcrest Park, north of the P-Patch. Up next, a panel discussion about health-care access, moderated by co-emcee Dr. Sinead Younge, with panelists including today’s curator dani tirrell. Programming for this first-ever celebration of art and science, presented by Lelavision through September 5th, continues after the panel, until about 8.
(L-R, Dr. Sinead Younge, Candace Jackson, dani tirrell)
7:33 PM: Also on the panel, Candace Jackson from Seattle’s African American Health Board. The topic turned out to be not health-care access but the concept of caring for yourself and your community – through rest, through joy, through art. “Art transforms the way we think about life,” tirrell noted.
Art is vital to healing, Jackson agreed.
She also spoke of the importance of support. tirrell laid it out in personal terms – what could you, would you give up so that someone else could benefit? Here’s our video of the entire discussion:
That segued into the performance slate curated by tirrell. Dandy – David Rue and Randy Ford – returned with raps both sharp-edged and playful:
Inbetween, tirrell spoke of impending plans to move to Washington, D.C., and sadness at leaving the artist community here. Next up was poet J Mase III:
We recorded this on video too:
We had to leave before the rest of the slate, including Northwest Tap Connection. But all the while, Lelavision’s interactive sculpture Interspecies Connection was there for eventgoers to visit, pulling a cord to flap its wings:
The next Created Commons event at Westcrest (9000 8th SW) is Tuesday at 6 pm, in commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day, promising “art, poetry, health science, remembrance, recovery.” Vaccinations will be offered, too. Lots going on Friday/Saturday/Sunday too – here’s the full schedule. (Our Friday coverage is here; our Saturday coverage is here.)
1:12 PM: That’s the scene on 16th SW south of Roxbury, closed for a block party until 5 pm to raise money for the half-dozen-plus businesses affected by last month’s arson, as mentioned on today’s preview list. Eat, drink, shop, wander – we’ll be updating.
1:42 PM: Just back from a quick tour of the block party – we’ll be adding photos shortly. First, some info: To get in on the raffle/silent auction, go to the breezeway by The Plant Store, midblock – that’s where we found DJ Bugzy Beatdown.
The entertainment schedule for the rest of the afternoon:
Now until 2:10 – selfdoubt
2:30-3:15: Junior on the Prowl
3:30-4:30 DJ DeVonne
5:00 DJ Bugzy Beatdown returns
That’s all midblock. You can also check out B.O.C. Music (3:30-4:30) and Monty Banks (5 pm) at Drunky Two Shoes and then at Southgate Roller Rink, DJ Dan Steely at 5 pm and Kids on Fire at 6 pm.
Another big attraction besides street-fair-style shopping, food.
There’s a seating area in the middle of 16th where Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, who’s about to open Tomo, is grilling.
You can also dine outside Buho and Bizzarro Italian Café.
At the south end of the block, the Home Skillit is offering street food including Louisiana hot links and Seattle Dogs.
This is all community-organized; we talked to White Center Pride about what people can do to support the businesses that are still working to get back on their feet.
Come down today, wander around, find out about the new locations some have found, they said. (Their booth is on the east side of the block – look for the rainbows.) Some of those new locations are already open – La Tipica Oaxaqueña moved to the southwest corner of 16th/Roxbury – and some hope to be open soon, like John’s Hair and Nails, moving to 10261 16th SW.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GARAGE BURGLAR: From an Admiral resident:
Someone broke into our garage and our cars and stole a bunch of stuff. She couldn’t carry everything, having taken a bunch of stuff, and left a bag that she took from another West Seattle home in the alley (there was a mailing label in the bag and we found the owner). She hit our place at 7:30 am (Saturday) – we have her on Ring camera.
Our neighbor is fairly sure he saw her picture re some other theft or break-in earlier this year? There have been multiple police reports filed.
In all, neighbors believe this burglar hit at least four homes on 45th/46th near Admiral Way.
PARK VANDALISM: From Blair:
As we were taking a morning walk around the path on top of the reservoir at Westcrest Park this morning, we found that a picnic table, bench and part of a play structure had been unbolted and vandalized. A garbage can had also been rolled down the hill, and the “no motorized vehicles” sign at the 8th & Henderson entrance had been bent and removed from its post. I called it in to the Parks Department’s maintenance request line.
That’s 206-684-7250. (Find other key Parks numbers here.)
Thanks to Lisa for the tip: Loki Fish Company, a vendor at the West Seattle Farmers Market, is recalling one of its products, and if you have any of it, you can take it to them there for a refund. From the company’s announcement:
Loki Fish Company of Seattle is recalling 4 oz. packages of Keta Salmon Lox (UPC code 92103 00111) because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with compromised immune systems….
The Keta Salmon Lox is packaged in a 4 oz. plastic package on a coated board. It is labeled as Wild Keta Lox, Loki Fish Co., Seattle, WA. There are no best-by dates on the package.
The Keta Salmon Lox was distributed through Cherry Sprout Produce in Portland, OR and Central Co-op and Pacific Coast Harvest in Seattle. It was also sold at the University District and West Seattle Farmers Markets.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The possibility of contamination was discovered during the FDA inspection at our co-packer Felix Custom Smoking, of Monroe, Washington in July 2021. Loki submitted samples of the Keta Lox to Micro-Chem Laboratories for testing. Loki has ceased production, sales, and distribution of keta lox immediately and Loki will continue the investigation as to what caused the problem.
This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
If you have purchased this product, please do not consume it, and get rid of it immediately. You can return it to your place of purchase or to Loki Fish Company at the farmers market for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Hing Ng at Loki Fish Company (hing@lokifish.com; 206-937-1048, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
While this is a company recall, not government-ordered, it was published on the FDA website as an FYI.
(Saturday sunset, photographed by Lynn Hall)
So many options today, as August’s final weekend concludes:
ROAD-WORK ALERTS: Work is scheduled again today at West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way (until 1 pm), and we’re told the backup was huge on Saturday – so avoid that area if you can. Work is also planned at 44th and Edmunds.
CHURCHES: Many continue streaming, in addition to in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE PICKUP: 10 am at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW) – different location than usual this week.
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. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
LOOP THE ‘LUPE: Today’s the day! Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle) is the place. Here’s the schedule of events: The obstacle-course 5K is first up at 11 am, followed by the 5K run/walk at 11:45, quarter-mile-loop Senior Saunter at noon, 1K Youth Dash for kids 8 and under at 1 pm. Yes, you can still sign up this morning! Prizes, plus a beer garden and live music for afterpartying. Proceeds benefit the social work done by Our Lady of Guadalupe for people of all religious/nonreligious backgrounds. (WSB is a community co-sponsor of Loop the ‘Lupe.)
GET VACCINATED: 11:30 am-3 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th & Myrtle) during Loop the ‘Lupe (make an appointment here), and 1:30-7:30 pm at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW) during Created Commons, no appointment needed.
WHITE CENTER BLOCK PARTY: Noon-5 pm in the heart of White Center, it’s a block party to raise money for the businesses ravaged by July’s big fire. Music, food, pop-up market, raffle, auction. Just head for 16th south of Roxbury.
CREATED COMMONS, DAY 3: The third day of this celebration of art and science at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW, north of the P-Patch), produced by Lelavision, whose website has the full schedule. Today starts at noon – go see and “flap” the kinetic sculpture Interspecies Communication – then at 4 pm, it’s a discussion of health-care access, followed by a performance slate curated by artist/activist dani tirrell. All free.
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.
POKEMON TRAINING CAMP: Noon-2 pm Sundays at Meeples Games – for all Pokémon trainers! (3727 California SW)
DELRIDGE BRIDGE REMOVAL INFO TABLING: 1-3 pm outside Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), SDOT reps will be available for your questions/comments about whether the nearby pedestrian bridge should stay or go, as we’ve been reporting.
TILDEN SCHOOL CELEBRATION: 3-6 pm at Hiawatha Community Center Park (2700 California SW), celebrating Tilden School‘s past, present, and future, including the retirement of founder Whitney Tjerandsen and the torch-passing to her successor Sarah Shearer, remembering Lou Magor, and more..
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Deb Seymour performs, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
BOOK CLUB: Also at 3 pm at C & P, the Classic Novels (and Movies) Book Club meets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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