West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
Here’s our weekly roundup of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest local numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
*141,770 people have tested positive – 3,985 more than a week ago (5,088 in West Seattle, up 142)
*7,671 people have been hospitalized – 208 more than a week ago (233 from West Seattle, up 3)
*1,812 people have died – 36 more than a week ago (71 in West Seattle, up 2)
VACCINATION RATE:
78.5% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 80.8%
98116 – 86.2%
98126 – 76%
98136 – 87.4%
98146 – 75.2%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
PANDEMIC NEWS
Mask order goes statewide – As of tomorrow, the same outdoor-mask rule that’s in effect now in King County, mandatory at outdoor events with 500+ people, takes effect statewide.
Vaccine verification – King County’s working on a system.
Mandatory vaccination for more people – President Biden‘s newest orders require vaccination for federal employees and vaccination or regular testing for people whose private employers have 100+ employers.
COVID at Camp Second Chance – As reported here earlier today, the city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle has had its first cases.
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.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A week and a half into the new school year, some Seattle Public Schools parents have been keeping their children home, feeling it’s not safe to return until kids under 12 can be vaccinated.
While usually it would take 20 consecutive absences before a student was kicked off the rolls, the district changed its policy last week to say that any student who hadn’t shown up by this past Friday would be unenrolled. The district attributed that to “guidance” from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, which for its part says it has not issued any such order.
One West Seattle parent who wants to keep her child enrolled at their neighborhood elementary school – while staying home until vaccinated – has been organizing other like-minded parents.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
BUILDING BURGLARY: From Rachel on Harbor Avenue SW:
A very experienced and familiar with our building man broke into our building around 1 AM Friday morning 9/3 and then broke into our storage unit and stole my inflatable paddle board, gas fire pit and Kelty Cabin 6 Tent.
I have pictures of the items stolen attached and also some pictures from the security camera of the man. Biggest characteristic are his red shoes. This man is a pro as he was in and out within 15 min and could get into locked doors no problem and from the way he knew exactly where to go without wondering around we are thinking he has been here before, cased the place or is a worker in the area. This is the third burglary we have had within the month.
NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLER: From Trudy:
My partner saw a suspicious person attempting to open multiple car doors at around 5 am this Sunday morning while taking our dog to the bathroom outside. The incident took place 44th Avenue SW and SW Atlantic St.
My partner yelled out to the individual, who then walked off quickly. A white male, around 5’11″, in a large hooded jacket. Upon turning the corner my partner could see there was a second male,. also of similar appearance. They both took off on foot quickly.
They likely may have broken into cars in that area.
We all think Admiral is a quiet and safe part of West Seattle and we often forget that isn’t the case if untoward people are around. If you could, please publish this incident to ensure people are aware, and to ensure they don’t leave valuables or their cars unlocked.
(WSB photo: Camp Second Chance’s front gate, July)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the first time in the pandemic, Camp Second Chance – West Seattle’s only city-authorized tiny-house encampment – has reported COVID cases.
That was one of the updates the CSC Community Advisory Committee heard during its monthly meeting, held online this afternoon.
None of the three were seriously ill, said camp manager Scott Harris; two are a couple. and all three were quarantined at county facilities set aside for that purpose.
(Photo sent by Eileen)
Thanks for the tips. The Southwest Library is closed today. The note on the door attributes it to a “building emergency”; one reader just forwarded an email reply they received, explaining that the branch “did not open today due to staffing issues. They were having an issue with their phone system as well and were not able to update their hours on their phone either.” There’s now a note on the website but that wasn’t there when the reader checked hours before heading to the branch. The note also says that “Book Returns are open and holds will be extended.”
12:05 PM: Thanks to Patricia for the tip. That’s the Seattle City Light map for an outage affecting more than 100 customers east of the Luna Park area since about 11:30 am. SCL attributes it to “equipment failure.”
12:22 PM: The West Seattle Health Club is without power (we couldn’t reach them by phone so we just went over to check).
2:05 PM: We don’t know if this is related to the first outage but now 3,100 more customers north of the original outage zone have just lost power too.
The SFD log shows at least two business fire alarms have been triggered by the outage – not uncommon – so if you’re noticing emergency responses, that’s likely what it is.
2:15 PM: Commenters are noting that the new outage area includes Admiral Safeway and Metropolitan Market – a large stretch of the Admiral business district.
2:36 PM: The Admiral Theater is also among the businesses affected.
2:47 PM: The second outage too is attributed to “equipment failure.”
2:56 PM: Some customers now have their power back. The second outage zone is down to 455, and the original 107 are still out, per SCL. Meantime, there’s a crash at one of the intersections where the signals have been out – this was reported just after 2:30 at Admiral/41st, where eastbound lanes of Admiral are blocked:
3:13 PM: SCL says via Twitter that “The primary cause is under investigation.” If we don’t get specifics on the cause today, we will have a followup tomorrow, as always. The outage map shows the 455 still out after losing power at 2 pm are in an area immediately west of the still-out 107 whose power went out at 11:30 am:
5:10 PM: The original outage – 107 customers east of the Luna Park area – is over, after five-plus hours
7:25 PM: Though the Luna Park businesses were still dark when we drove by about 20 minutes ago, SCL says everyone’s back on now.
Another West Seattle Junction business has to replace a window because of a deliberate act of vandalism. The plywood is covering a window on the south side of Shadowland at California/Oregon. We photographed it this morning after a tip from Kerri, who says her son was there last night around 10:45 pm when a woman threw a brick through the window. Kerri quoted her son as telling her, “Bunch of us followed her for a second. Didn’t even run. Just shouted ‘call your insurance!’” We stopped in this morning to follow up; they’ve cleaned up and are open, no injuries reported.
As the new school year continues, a local college student is getting support again from the Seattle AAUW, which sent the announcement and photo:
Anna Nguyen, a West Seattle resident and 2019 South Seattle College graduate, has been awarded a scholarship of over $5,000 for a third year from the Seattle Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Ms. Nguyen, a senior at UW-Seattle, is double-majoring in public health-global health and sociology.
AAUW’s mission is to advance gender equity and economic security for women and their families, through education, advocacy and research. Learn more about AAUW and our scholarships at www.aauw-seattle.org.
(Saturday’s sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
Sunday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Same reminders as Saturday – SDOT is scheduled to continue work at two spots on West Marginal Way until about 1 pm, more Highland Park Way intersection work as well as tree-trimming near Puget Way … Curb-ramp work continues at 44th/Edmunds in The Junction … Outside West Seattle, southbound I-5 through downtown will be routed through the collector-distributor lanes all weekend … If you see unannounced road work, please text or call 206-293-6302 whenever you get where you’re going, so we can add it to the list – thank you!
CHURCHES: Many continue streaming, in addition to in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
LOWMAN BEACH REMINDER: As announced last week, Lowman Beach Park will be partly closed starting tomorrow for shore restoration, including seawall and tennis court removal.
SEATTLE RUN SERIES: The first of three 5K/10K dates is today, 9:30 am, from Alki Beach – info is in our calendar listing.
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.)
GO THROW! 10 am pickup Ultimate Frisbee, all welcome, at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle)
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOPERATIVE: The store at 5444 Delridge Way SW is open 11 am-3 pm today.
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing
YAPPY HOUR IB THE GARDEN: You and your pet are invited to join Furry Faces Foundation at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) – our calendar listing explains the fun that’s in store.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: All are welcome to the 2 pm online meeting, to get updates and ask questions about West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment. Attendance info is in our calendar listing.
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.
LAST NIGHT OF EARLY ALKI CLOSURE: When Seattle Parks announced back in July that Alki Beach Park would close at 10 pm nightly for the rest of the summer, they said tonight – September 12th – would be the final night.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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