West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

65℉

month : 08/2021 315 results

ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday begins
August 25, 2021 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday begins
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning. Enjoy today’s sunshine -tomorrow’s forecast brings back the clouds.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.

Delridge project – Most major work is done – here’s this week’s plan.

Beach Drive – Tree trimming for utility lines is scheduled to continuein the 5900-6500 blocks.

SW Alaska – “Red bus lane material and green cross bike markings” are scheduled for continued installation work tonight.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.

For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

520th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also 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.

Share This

WEDNESDAY: EPA explains another proposed Duwamish River cleanup change
August 24, 2021 10:52 pm
|    Comments Off on WEDNESDAY: EPA explains another proposed Duwamish River cleanup change
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting comment on another Duwamish River cleanup change, and offering an informational session Wednesday night (August 25th) to explain it. This part of the cleanup is known as the Jorgensen Forge Sediment Cleanup, and while it’s not in West Seattle, much of the river runs along the peninsula’s eastern edge, so its health is of local importance.

The pollution is from what the EPA describes as “a steel and aluminum forging and distribution facility” at 8531 East Marginal Way [map], where, the EPA continues, the “riverbanks and sediments next to the facility are contaminated with toxic metals and PCBs that may pose a risk to people’s health and to the environment. The Earle M. Jorgensen company removed some of the contaminated riverbanks and sediments in 2014, but they left some of the pollution in place.” Now the EPA is taking public comment on cleanup alternatives for the contaminated sediments.

The comment period was extended until September 27th by request of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, which is concerned about the change. The DRCC says, “Jorgensen Forge and EPA propose to allow the company to abandon PCBs in the river bottom that it left behind in violation of EPA orders, saving the company millions of dollars. Jorgensen Forge was cleaned up as an Early Action Area because it had some of the river’s highest levels of contamination and posed an immediate threat to people’s health. The company violated EPA’s cleanup order for the site, leaving behind high levels of PCBs and burying them under backfill. The company was fined and a new cleanup order was prepared. Now EPA proposes to allow the company to leave behind much of their mess, allowing them to cheat and run.”

The EPA has a fact sheet here; the DRCC has one with information on how to take action, here. To attend the EPA’s information session Wednesday at 6 pm, register here. The DRCC is having an information session too, on September 6th – email contact@duwamishcleanup.org for information on how to participate. You can also comment on the proposed cleanup alternatives without attending either session – Region10@epa.gov is the email address.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire at 5-way investigated as ‘road rage’
August 24, 2021 6:23 pm
|      111 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

6:23 PM: No injuries this afternoon when someone in a car shot at someone in another car at or near the 5-way intersection just west of the low bridge. It’s taken a while to piece this together, but here’s what we have so far: The victim(s) called police and met them along Avalon; gunfire damage to their car was reported to include a flat tire. Then the suspect(s) called 911 and met up with officers in Riverside, near 17th/Marginal:

(WSB photo)

Meantime, officers went to the original scene at the Chelan/Marginal/Spokane/Delridge intersection and told dispatch they found three casings – from two different guns. We caught up with police at the Riverside scene, and they told us they’re investigating this as a case of “road rage” but they were still sorting it out and hadn’t arrested anyone yet.

7:46 PM: Just talked to SPD spokesperson Det. Valerie Carson. Here’s what she says police now have, after talking to people in both cars: This started on Highway 99 as a “merging issue” involving people in a Honda (car in the background of our photo above) and Subaru. As the two cars proceeded westward, they got close enough that some yelling ensued. Then after they both crossed the low bridge, they were stopped at the 5-way light, when two people in the Honda got out and came over to the Subaru, pounding on its windows, At one point, someone from the Honda allegedly punched someone from the Subaru; they claimed someone from the Subaru spat at them. The Subaru driver decided to drive away; both people from the Honda pulled guns and fired. They told police they did so in self-defense, feeling that the Subaru driver was going to run over them; the Subaru driver claimed they were already pulling away when the people from the Honda shot at them. Bullets hit a rear tire. No arrests as police continue to investigate; Det. Carson says they did confiscate the guns, and that both people in the Honda had valid concealed pistol licenses for them.

ADDED 11:49 AM: SPD Blotter has a post about this – same narrative as we added last night after talking with Det. Carson (spelling corrected), but with two photos added – first, the Subaru’s flat tire:

(SPD photo)

And the guns surrendered by the people in the Honda:

(SPD photo)

The post also notes that each car carried a woman and a man at the time of the incident.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Answers to 2 questions about proposal to tear down Delridge pedestrian bridge
August 24, 2021 5:09 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo)

Last week, we reported on SDOT‘s proposal to remove the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian bridge instead of strengthening it as has long been the plan. This week, SDOT continues to ask for your thoughts, with an ongoing online survey, and two in-person opportunities Friday and Sunday. Two questions lingered after that first report, and we have answers to both. First: What’s the cost comparison? The answer to this one is partial – SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells WSB, “The seismic retrofit project which would be necessary to keep the bridge safe in earthquakes would cost roughly $4-5 million (based on preliminary estimates).” But, he says, they don’t have an estimate on how much the teardown would cost. The other question was about this sentence in the last paragraph of the SDOT announcement we published: “Removing the bridge will help support SDOT’s policies focused on people walking.” Several commenters observed that sentence didn’t seem to make sense. So we asked which “policies” that referred to. Bergerson’s response:

“We’re building a new pedestrian signal and marked crosswalk across Delridge Way SW at SW Oregon St, allowing people to cross the street safely without using the pedestrian bridge. Before this project, there was no crosswalk or pedestrian signal at this location. The new signal and crosswalk was a community request submitted to the Your Voice, Your Choice program a few years ago. Taking advantage of an opportunity to get this work done efficiently, we added the crossing improvement to the Delridge Way SW – RapidRide H Line project for construction.

“The new signal and crosswalk is safer and accessible to everyone, so we expect it to be more popular way to cross the street than the existing pedestrian bridge. People walking and rolling across Delridge Way SW can head straight across the street at ground level instead of climbing the steep spiral ramps to the bridge which are a longer distance to travel, get slippery in the rain, and present challenges to people with disabilities, small children, the elderly, and people biking. But, most importantly, the new signal and crosswalk is designed to be fully accessible for people with disabilities and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including curb ramps onto the sidewalk and a push button which vibrates and makes a noise to let people with limited vision or hearing know when it is safe to cross the street. The pedestrian bridge is not ADA compliant because of the steepness of the ramps and other missing accessibility features. With the new signal and crosswalk offering an easier way to get across the street, we believe many community members will find the pedestrian bridge redundant and out of the way.”

And if the teardown were cheaper, he added, money not spent on the seismic retrofit might be spent on “other safety or pedestrian improvements.” But he insists there’s no decision yet – so if you haven’t already offered feedback, here again is the survey link; you can talk to SDOT reps in person outside the entrance to the Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), 2-4 pm Friday (August 27th) and 1-3 pm Sunday (August 29th).

Share This

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN: Don’t be a no-show
August 24, 2021 3:40 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With Seattle Public Schools starting classes a week from tomorrow (except for kindergarteners/preschoolers), it’s important for schools to have an accurate count of how many students are showing up. Toward that end, Tricia suggested we publish this message from the district:

If your student will not be attending Seattle Public Schools or attending another school this year, please complete the appropriate form here. If you have questions, you may contact the Seattle Public Schools Admissions Center team online or at 206-252-0760.

Share This

UPDATE: Signal fixed after 5-hour outage at 15th/Roxbury
August 24, 2021 2:24 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Signal fixed after 5-hour outage at 15th/Roxbury
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:24 PM: Just got word from Metro spokesperson Al Sanders that the signal at 15th/Roxbury is out because “the crew on the RapidRide H line construction hit a conduit near 15th and Roxbury, taking out power to the signal.” He says SDOT and SCL are “working to repair the break” and in the meantime they will get an officer to direct traffic (if one’s not there already).

5:17 PM: Just went by to check – still out. Sanders says it might be a few more hours.

8:01 PM: Fixed!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bicycle stolen from apartment garage
August 24, 2021 1:35 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That’s the spot in the Spruce (39th/Alaska) garage where a thief cut Casey‘s bicycle loose and took it. Casey is wondering if anybody saw the thief leaving the building with the bicycle, a North Rock model purchased about a month ago that looks like this. A police report has been filed online.

Share This

West Seattle Transportation Coalition to talk about light rail, bridge, more on Thursday
August 24, 2021 11:53 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Many community organizations skip August meetings, but not the West Seattle Transportation Coalition – too much going on. WSTC will meet online Thursday (August 26th) at 6:30 pm, with guests scheduled on three topics: Sound Transit light rail, now that the “realignment” decision has been made (WSB coverage here); the West Seattle Bridge, as repair design continues (here’s our recent report from a visit to the bridge); and 16th SW safety, with a new community effort focused on speeding and other issues along that arterial.

All are welcome to attend WSTC meetings; we’re awaiting the Zoom link and will add it here and in our calendar listing when it’s available. (Added: Our calendar listing now has the viewing/participation link and call-in number.)

Share This

BIZNOTE: C & P Coffee expands outdoor seating again
August 24, 2021 10:24 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

With many more sunny days likely before fall and winter roll in, one local coffeehouse has again expanded its outdoor offerings, C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) added a covered patio on the north side of its property last winter, and now it’s turned a previously sloped area out front into a bricked patio. Add that to the garden area out back, and C & P has a lot of outdoor space to offer. Also note, as featured in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and our weekend previews, C & P has live music outside on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: Stories, trivia, tunes, more
August 24, 2021 8:59 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lincoln Park – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:

OUTDOOR STORY TIME: Page Ahead presents another outdoor story time today in the amphitheater at High Point Commons Park (behind 6400 Sylvan Way SW), 11 am-noon.

YMCA JOB FAIR: 4-7 pm, go to the West Seattle YMCA (36th/Snoquelmie; WSB sponsor) to find out about job openings, get interviewed on the spot, learn about incentives of up to $600, and more, as previewed here.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL TOWN HALL: 4:30 pm online, Seattle Public Schools plans a Q&A focused on health and safety for the new school year; here’s where to find participation/viewing links.

DEMONSTRATION: As announced by organizer Scott:

Black Lives Matter sign-waving

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 4:30 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.

LIVE MUSIC: 6-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

TRIVIA & TACOS: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) – help the pub defend the trivia title!

Got something going on? Let us know so we can include it in our calendar and daily previews – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday begins
August 24, 2021 6:10 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday begins
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:10 AM: Good morning. Sunny and 70-ish weather is predicted again today, with afternoon haze.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton. This is part of the King County-led portion of the RapidRide H Line preparations; there’s an update on the related White Center work, though.

Delridge project – Also part of the H Line preps – here’s this week’s plan.

Beach Drive – All week, tree trimming is planned in the 5900-6500 blocks for utility-line safety.

SW Alaska – “Red bus lane material and green cross bike markings will be installed starting the evening of the 24th and will last approximately 2-3 nights” – this, in the Junction/Triangle area.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.

For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

519th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also 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.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 notes
August 23, 2021 10:19 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

STOLEN CAR DUMPED IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: A green Honda stolen in Leschi was abandoned “partly in the street” near 98th/California in Arbor Heights, neighbors report. Its windows were down, with a jacket and “several pieces of addressed and stamped envelopes” inside the car. Shortly after they emailed us about it, the owner showed up to claim the car. Neighbors reported hearing potentially related activity around 6 am today.

ROBBERY FOLLOWUPS: No arrests reported in either of the 35th SW mini-mart holdups last Friday/Saturday. Lucky 5 was robbed Friday afternoon, and the 35th/Barton 7-11 was robbed Saturday night. We obtained the report narratives on both from SPD today. At the Lucky 5, the clerk told police she had been through robberies before; she said the robber came into the store, walked behind the counter, pointed a gun at her, demanded cash, and got it. He then demanded her phone and took it before leaving. She called 911 using the phone of the next customer to walk in. Another customer found the clerk’s cell phone on the ground outside the store. The robbery at the 7-11 the next night proceeded similarly, according to the report narrative; the robber walked in, went behind the counter, pointed a gun at the clerk, demanded cash, got some, and left. In both cases, the reports say, police were able to access security-camera images, but those have not been made public.

Share This

BIZNOTE: West Seattle Junction launches multi-business ‘gift card’
August 23, 2021 8:32 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

With the holidays not so far away, the West Seattle Junction Association is launching something new – a digital “gift card” good at multiple Junction businesses. You can buy a card by going here – choose an amount, create an account, buy the “card,” send it to your chosen recipient via email or text. (No plastic card available – the program is all digital.) WSJA executive director Lora Radford says, “We’re just getting started – it’ll be exciting to see the merchants roll onto the program.” Four are signed up so far in the very early going: Pegasus Book Exchange, Virago Gallery, VAIN, and Doll Parts Collective – you can check the website to see who else signs up as the weeks go by. Follow that same link for all the fine print – how it works, what fees are involved, etc.

Share This

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN: District to answer health/safety questions at Tuesday ‘town hall’
August 23, 2021 6:38 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle schools

With Seattle Public Schools opening for full-time in-person learning one week from Wednesday, families with questions about health/safety issues are invited to an online “town hall’ tomorrow. At 4:30 pm Tuesday, district leaders plan a community Q&A session. You can participate via Microsoft Teams, or watch live on platforms including YouTube – the links are here. You can read about school health/safety protocols and other new-school-year plans here.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Water Taxi crew honored for rescue off Seacrest
August 23, 2021 5:20 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(August 11th photo by Carolyn Newman)

Twelve days after the crew of the West Seattle Water Taxi, M/V Doc Maynard, rescued two people after their sailboat capsized off Seacrest, they were recognized today for their heroism.

(King County photo)

King County Council Vice Chair Joe McDermott and County Executive Dow Constantine presented a certificate of recognition today to Water Taxi crew members including, center L-R above, Deckhand GW Rogers, Captain Brad Johnson, and Deckhand Jay White. You can see the certificate here.

Share This

WANTED: New West Seattle home for life-saving truck
August 23, 2021 3:18 pm
|      89 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Swedish Health)

That’s the Swedish mobile mammography truck. Even if you’re not a patient, you probably noticed it out in front of the former Swedish location at 3400 California SW many times. As we’ve reported, Swedish moved out of that building this summer. And that’s when the truck trouble began.

Swedish mobile mammography program lead Annaleis Ortiz tells WSB they got permits for the truck to park by the new clinic location at 4100 SW Alaska. But – “the neighborhood did not agree with us in that spot. We ended up getting many threatening complaints to our staff, mobile coach and event patients. They did not like us taking their parking spots or the sound of the generator. Due to the safety of the patients, staff, and equipment we pulled the plug on bringing the coach to W.Seattle. We cancelled many, many appointments and made a lot of women unhappy. The last thing I want to do is take an important health screening away from a community that benefits so much. On average we saw 85-120 woman a month, finding countless cancers in an early stage.”

Ortiz drove around West Seattle looking for someplace else to park the truck so patients could get mammograms in West Seattle – an especially valuable service with the bridge closed. “I finally found a location outside the YMCA on Snoqualmie and went through the channels to get approval to park outside their location. Last week we had our first visit in a couple months. It had great success and we were thrilled to be back. We only have approval to visit on Mondays. We are in need of an alternate location … We have over 100 women on a waitlist to be seen, many who do not want to make the trek into downtown to be seen due to bridge closure and traffic issues. A lot of these women are older and benefit greatly from our service.”

Here’s what she’s looking for: “A business with ample parking, not too close to high-rise apartments or condos … willing to host us a few times a month. Our tractor trailer is about 42+ feet long and usually occupies 8-10 parking spaces for setup.” Two other criteria: Level surface, and: “We need to have access to a bathroom for our staff as we do not have a restroom on board.” If you have a business or institution that might be able to host the truck, contact the Swedish West Seattle clinic at 206-320-3399.

Share This

Young singer(s) in the family? Join Endolyne Children’s Choir!
August 23, 2021 1:57 pm
|    Comments Off on Young singer(s) in the family? Join Endolyne Children’s Choir!
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Even through the pandemic, West Seattle’s Endolyne Children’s Choir kept singing – and now they’re inviting more participation as registration opens for fall. Here’s the announcement we received:

Registration for Endolyne Children’s Choir’s fall session, featuring both in-person and virtual options, is open now! This session, Endolyne will provide in-person choir at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church on Tuesdays with social distancing and an extensive Covid-19 safety plan for singers Kindergarten to 11 years-old from 4:30-5:30 PM and our Advanced Choir (12 years-old to 12th grade) from 7:00-8:30 PM. We will also continue our popular virtual choir with a session for Kindergartners to 11-year olds on Tuesdays from 5:45-6:45. Registration is open until August 29th with our first session on Tuesday, September 7th. Follow this link to register today: form.jotform.com/212257577227157. ECC is a non-audition choir and all are welcome, no matter their choral experience.

Endolyne Children’s Choir is excited to welcome singers back to in-person choir this session but recognizes that not everybody is comfortable or ready or have joined Endolyne from outside the Seattle area and prefer to continue virtual choir. That is why we are offering both options for the fall session. Our in-person rehearsals will feature outstanding education in music theory, solfege, rhythm, and breath support. Singers will enjoy both the camaraderie of working together to blend their voices, and the challenge of singing in harmony. They will learn more complex choreography, and gain performance skills. Singers and families are required to follow our Covid safety plan available here: endolynechoirorg.wordpress.com/covid-19-info/

Our virtual rehearsals will continue in the exact same format our singers have enjoyed for the past year. Choristers will learn music theory, vocal skills, solfege, and choreography; make new friends; work on fall and holiday repertoire; and have a ton of fun! They’ll contribute audio and video recordings to be compiled into a virtual performance in December.

We offer a variety of payment options, from full tuition to full scholarship. When registering, please select the option that works best for your family on the payment page.

Fall session begins Tuesday, September 7th. Registration closes on Sunday, August 29th. Please visit www.endolynechoir.org for more information.

See one of the ECC’s virtual performances here.

Share This

BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Elementary at Schmitz Park this year as addition construction begins
August 23, 2021 11:52 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With school starting soon, we’re starting a series of previews. First: A school with a new temporary location this year: The sign above tells the story outside the former Schmitz Park Elementary building at 5000 SW Spokane – this year, for the first time since 2016, it will be a full-time elementary school again. West Seattle Elementary will spend the year there while an addition is built on its site in High Point. Construction there is now under way:

The temporary move has meant changes for the Schmitz Park site too – portable classrooms fill the schoolyard again, moved into place over the summer; most were moved out after Schmitz Park students and staff moved to the then-newly built Genesee Hill Elementary five years ago. (We reported last January that 17 portables were to be installed – as Schmitz Park Elementary, the site held 20.)

West Seattle Elementary is expected to be back at its site in time for the start of school next year. The $28 million project includes a 2-story, 20,000-sf addition, with 12 new classrooms and two learning commons, plus a new entrance, upgraded mechanical systems, new play areas/fields, and technology upgrades..

(WSE Elementary rendering by Miller Hayashi Architects)

The Schmitz Park building is expected to host another school later this decade, when Alki Elementary is rebuilt 2023-2025.

Share This

Early-morning West Marginal Way crash seriously injures 1
August 23, 2021 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on Early-morning West Marginal Way crash seriously injures 1
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

We missed it in real time but followed up this morning on a Seattle Fire “rescue extrication” response logged just after 3 am near West Marginal Way and Puget Way [map]. SFD tells us a utility-van driver crashed into a tree, and its crews were on scene for about 45 minutes extricating him from the vehicle. He was transported to a hospital in critical condition,

Share This

YOU CAN HELP: Donate diapers at Dream Dinners West Seattle
August 23, 2021 9:18 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Last week for the diaper drive at Dream Dinners West Seattle (WSB sponsor), benefiting WestSide Baby! Through Saturday, they’re collecting diapers and pull-ups that you can drop off at the store, until 11 am today, 9 am-11 am Tuesday, 9 am-noon and 4-8 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 9 am-noon Friday, and 9 am-11 am Saturday. Dream Dinners West Seattle is at 4701 41st SW (outer east side of Jefferson Square). Though WS Baby welcomes all sizes, 5 and 6 are at the top of their list right now.

Share This

ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Monday notes
August 23, 2021 6:09 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:09 AM: Good morning. Another cooler-than-normal day is predicted, though we might see more sunshine.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton. This is part of the King County-led portion of the RapidRide H Line preparations, which will also bring some major work to White Center starting this week – details here.

Delridge project – This is the city’s share of the H Line preps – here’s this week’s plan.

Beach Drive – For the next week, tree trimming will be done for utility-line safety; heed the no-parking signs in the 5900-6500 blocks.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules – except for the 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.

For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

518th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also 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.

Share This

PANDEMIC UPDATES: Weekly check-in #7, 8/22/2021
August 22, 2021 10:18 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Here’s our weekly roundup of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest local numbers.

KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:

129,161 people have tested positive – 4,209 more than a week ago (4,581 in West Seattle, up 165)
7,112 people have been hospitalized – 196 more than a week ago (216 from West Seattle, up 7)
1,723 people have died – 18 more than a week ago (67 in West Seattle, up 1)

VACCINATION RATE:

76.8% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)

By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 79.2%
98116 – 85.2%
98126 – 74.5%
98136 – 86.4%
98146 – 73.5%

(More COVID-related King County stats here)

PANDEMIC NEWS

Statewide mask mandate starts tomorrow – Face coverings are required statewide in indoor public settings starting tomorrow, as announced Wednesday. Details of the order are here, including some exceptions.

(added) School employees’ vaccine mandate: The governor’s Wednesday announcement also included a requirement for education employees to be fully vaccinated by October 18th.

Statewide situation report – Read about it here. The key points:

*Estimates of statewide transmission have continued the sharp increase noted in the previous situation report.
*COVID-19 prevalence has nearly quadrupled between July 8 and August 6.
*Hospitalizations are at an all-time high.
*Vaccination continues to prevent serious illness.
*Immunity trends saw modest increases.
*Case rates increased sharply in most Washington counties.
*Delta variant is now dominant.

Seattle Public Schools health/safety agreement – With the September 1st start of school fast approaching, Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Education Association reached a tentative agreement on health/safety matters. Here’s the district’s announcement.

WHERE 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. Nearby pop-ups in the week ahead include 1-6 pm Wednesday (August 25th) at White Center Library (1409 SW 107th) and next Sunday (times TBA) during the Created Commons event in Westcrest Park.

Share This

READER REPORT: Cats apparently abandoned, quickly rescued
August 22, 2021 8:33 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Sharon:

These are the cats I found this afternoon on the corner of 35th Ave SW and SW Fauntleroy Ave. Pretty obvious they were abandoned, but there’s a happy ending to the story.

While I was contacting Animal Control, one of my neighbors and her son happened by. They went home to get some cat food and water, as the cats were panting and looked dehydrated. Animal Control asked us to bring them to the shelter. My neighbors offered to make the (at least) 45 min drive through the detour to drop them off. Just as we got off the phone, another neighbor couple drove by, saw the cats in the box and stopped. They asked about the kitties and said they’d been wanting to get a cat! Animal control said to bring the cats in anyway so they could be spayed/neutered and vaxxed. In 3 days our neighbor couple can request these kitties and they’ll have a new family!

So, if you dropped off these cats, don‘t worry, they already have found a forever home!

I love that this story shows both how awesome our West Seattle neighbors are and that sometimes things just all work out to make the world better in a small way. I think we all could use a little more of that these days.

Share This