West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
As the weekend wraps up, here’s our weekly collection of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS (as of Friday – they’re not updated on weekends):
*158,593 people have tested positive – 3,267 more than a week ago (5,685 total in West Seattle, up 126)
*8,249 people have been hospitalized – 95 more than a week ago (242 total from West Seattle, unchanged)
*1,942 people have died – 22 more than a week ago (73 total in West Seattle, unchanged)
VACCINATION RATE
81.9% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .5% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code (note: all zip codes have risen at least one full point since last week, more than previous weeks):
98106 – 83.8%
98116 – 87.5%
98126 – 79.5%
98136 – 89.4%
98146 – 79.2%
(Find more COVID-related King County stats here)
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that. Also note the South Park Senior Center is hosting a pop-up clinic on Tuesday, 9 am-1 pm – details are in our calendar listing.
THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES
Vaccine-mandate deadline – Monday is the deadline for many government workers in our state to show proof of vaccination. How many won’t? The City of Seattle, for example, released some stats on Friday:
As of Thursday, October 14th, more than 25 departments have 95%+ of employees vaccinated.
As of October 15, the Seattle Fire Department is at 88% vaccinated, SPD is at 82% vaccinated, Seattle Department of Transportation is at 91% vaccinated, Seattle City Light is at 90%, and Seattle Public Utilities is at 90%.
Briefings – Two this past week, both with some encouraging news. State health officials held theirs on Wednesday:
And the governor on Thursday:
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.
Thanks to everyone who has sent photos, tips, and event listings so far! With two weeks until Halloween, we know there’ll be more, but to get things started, we’re launching this year’s WSB Halloween page, version 1.0. It includes decoration locations and photos, followed by the event lists (business-district trick-or-treating, festivals and carnivals, etc.). Find it here – westseattleblog.com/halloween. If you have something/someplace to add, email is the best way to get the information to us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB44th/Oregon lot
West Seattle’s biggest community event this week will be on Thursday night (October 21st), when the West Seattle Junction Association hosts an open house about a vision for the future of the four parking-lot sites at 42nd/Oregon, 44th/Oregon, 44th/Alaska, and 44th north of Edmunds. As announced last month, the 6:30 pm online event will also include Community Roots Housing, which has made a $14 million city-backed offer to the lots’ owners, and architects Ankrom Moisan. The issue, says WSJA – which has long leased the lots – is not whether the lots will be redeveloped, but when, how, and by whom. They want community voices to be heard. You’ll find participation information for the meeting – videoconferencing or by phone – by going here.
Welcome to one of our periodic while-the-football-game’s-on galleries of West Seattle bird photos shared by WSB readers! First photo is from Jamie Kinney, who reports the Bald Eagles are back, and saw this one in the Me-Kwa-Mooks vicinity. Next, one of the ducks you can see year-round, as photographed by Machel Spence:
Marc Milrod noticed three cormorants drying their wings in unison off Constellation Park:
Two species of shorebirds photographed by Mark Wangerin – Black Turnstones:
And Sanderlings:
Linda Rackner caught the eye of a Crow at Lincoln Park while a Great Blue Heron took off in the background:
Another crow photo – Jerry Simmons saw one pursuing an Osprey:
And Michelle Laughlin was visited by a Cooper’s Hawk:
Big thanks to everyone who sent photos! westseattleblog@gmail.com is where to send yours – birds and more – or, if it’s breaking news, please text our hotline, 206-293-6302.
Visit C&P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) and you can help The Whale Trail‘s founder Donna Sandstrom celebrate publication of her book “Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer.” The youth-geared book recounts a memorable chapter in Pacific Northwest history, when a Northern Resident Orca got lost in Puget Sound and was successfully rescued and returned to home waters, where she thrives today. You can buy the book and get it signed while you’re there; the event’s on until 5 pm, in the C&P backyard.
Sent this afternoon by Amy:
Our neighbor and friend Joe Drake is running the six major marathons this fall. He has completed in person Berlin, London, Chicago, and Boston. He is running the Tokyo marathon virtually today with his route taking him along beach drive, Lincoln Park, back to Don Armeni. If you see a runner with long pink socks, cheer on his virtual Tokyo!
All the more impressive is, he is living with Parkinson’s. His last of the majors (not the last of his running) will be New York in three weeks. You can follow him at his blog:. joesgottarun.medium.com/about
This all started with Berlin just three weeks ago! (Toward the end of that post, we found links for Parkinson’s research fundraising Joe’s doing while running, too.)
Thanks to Ian for the tip! West Seattle’s newest mural is on the west side of Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way). One of the artists, 404Era, writes, “The composition was inspired by the fluid and powerful gestures of capoeira dance.” That’s a specialty at Viva Arts. The mural was a collaboration with John Horton (@hightech_lowlife).
This year’s West Seattle Monster Dash – supporting West Seattle Cooperative Preschools – is both a virtual 5K – happening right now! – and in-person kids’ dash/family-fun event next Saturday, and organizers have a new incentive:
The 10th annual Monster Dash 5K and fundraiser to support West Seattle Cooperative Preschools is in full swing, and we have prizes for you! We are so excited to announce the giveaway of a 2016 Jersey signed by Gustav Svensson, generously donated by the Seattle Sounders. Let us know what winning this jersey would mean to you or the special Sounders fan in your life. To be eligible to win
1.) email your story by October 31st to: westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com AND 2.) support Monster Dash by participating in one of the following ways:
Virtual 5K: Register HERE and run anywhere! Be sure to come back and log your time by October 24th – top male and female finishers receive $50 gift cards to Super Jock ‘N Jill. Registration includes a 10th anniversary Monster Dash t-shirt.
Kids Dash and Family Fun Event: Held at White Center Co-op Preschool on October 23 from 10 am – 1 pm. Join us for a staggered-start dash (beginning roughly every 20 minutes), kids’ crafts, and a themed photo backdrop. Costumes encouraged! Price includes a 10th anniversary Monster Dash t-shirt. Event registration is limited to children 12 and under. Registrants of the Kids Dash will be put into a drawing to win a month of free classes courtesy of the Little Gym, four tickets to the Seattle Aquarium, and more!
Donate: You can donate directly to our event, or help boost our cause by setting up your own fundraising page. The top fundraiser wins a cocktail kit and a $50 gift card to The Westy. Raising $100 or more earns you a free 5K registration (note: must register for the 5K prior to setting up fundraising page.) Donations will be accepted through October 31st.
(Photo by Machel Spence)
Here’s what you need to know as Sunday begins:
TRANSPORTATION ALERTS: Second day for the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s modified 7-days-a-week schedule (no weekend shuttle buses) and Washington State Ferries‘ downsized schedule … Road work: 16th/Austin, concrete road-panel replacement in the northbound lanes is supposed to be curing today, so traffic will still be routed around it… Tree-trimming along southbound West Marginal Way near Puget Way, 7 am-3 pm. … (ADDED) Thanks to Mike for the tip: Road work is also under way, with a flagger, at 26th/Genesee.
CHURCHES: Most are still streaming, along with offering in-person services. Here are this week’s links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
COVID VACCINATION POP-UP: 9:30 am-1:30 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle), as previewed here.
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.)
FLU SHOTS: 10 am-4 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), all welcome. Registration information is in our preview.
WEST SEATTLE SKI SWAP: Second and final day for this big annual sale, 10 am-5 pm at VFW Post 2713 (3602 SW Alaska).
ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Join the weekly drop-in game at Walt Hundley Playfield (6920 34th SW), 10 am.
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER #1: 10:30 am-10 pm at MOD Pizza in The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW), mention Lafayette Elementary so the PTA will get a share of the proceeds.
FOOD & CLOTHING DONATION DRIVE: Drop off donations outside Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) 11 am-4 pm; see our calendar listing for specifics on what they need.
GLASS-BLOWING & PUMPKIN PATCH: Last day to catch live glass-blowing at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way as part of Refract, and check out the art-glass pumpkin patch.
TIN CAN CAKES POP-UP: Seattle Yarn is hosting Tin Can Cakes for a tasty pop-up noon-5 pm. (5633 California SW)
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER #2: Noon-8 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), mention Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool so they’ll get a share of the proceeds.
BOOK LAUNCH: As previewed here, Donna Sandstrom‘s new book “Orca Rescue! The True Story of an Orphaned Orca Named Springer” will be celebrated at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm.
BOOK CLUB: Also at C&P at 3 pm, the Classic Novels (and Movies) Book Club will meet outdoors to talk about “Dracula” – details in our calendar listing.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Got an event for listing in our calendar and previews? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
| 8 COMMENTS