day : 19/12/2021 9 results

Here’s our weekly update on local pandemic numbers and notes:

KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS (through Friday, since they’re not updated on weekends):

*179,394 cases – 2,946 more than one week ago (6,370 total in West Seattle, up 120)
*8,937 hospitalizations – 54 more than one week ago (262 total from West Seattle, up 3)
*2,136 people have died – 11 more than one week ago (76 total in West Seattle, unchanged)

VACCINATION RATE

80.9% of King County residents 5+ have completed their vaccine series – up 1% from one week ago

By West Seattle zip code – note that these numbers are still NOT available as 5+, so they reflect percentage of 12+ population:
98106 – 87.7% completed series, 33.2% had a booster dose too
98116 – 90.7% completed series, 43.2% had a booster dose too
98126 – 82.8% completed series, 37% had a booster dose too
98136 – 92.4% completed series, 47.5% had a booster dose too
98146 – 83% completed series, 30.1% had a booster dose too

(Find more COVID-related King County stats here.)

THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES

Omicron – Health authorities warned this week that case numbers are likely to rise rapidly as this new variant spreads. Public Health-Seattle King County also notes:

The severity of Omicron cases is still not clear. Most vaccinated people should be protected from severe infection, but we expect to see many more serious cases in unvaccinated people, as well as many milder breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.

Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin led a briefing on Friday – here’s the video, which starts with a briefing by researcher Dr. Trevor Bedford:

The PHSKC news release includes advice on staying safe.

J&J vaccine no longer recommended – If you are just now getting vaccinated, state and federal health officials are now recommending the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over the one-dose J&J vaccine, although the latter will remain available. The concern about the J&J vaccine involves a side effect, which health officials nonetheless stress remains rare – 54 cases nationwide out of 14 million people who received that vaccine.

Lots of stats – For everyone interested in all the details, the state Health Department released these reports this week – cases among children/youth (here); cases, hospitalizations, and deaths by vaccination status (here); morbidity and mortality by race, ethnicity and spoken language (here); sequencing and variants in Washington State (here); Vaccine Breakthrough Surveillance and Case Information Resource (here).

NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?

The UW Medicine testing service in the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating, as is a Curative location at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury). In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here. (We’ll be checking this. week on holiday hours at the main test sites.)

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAY GUIDE: Still adding holiday dining, shopping info

December 19, 2021 8:14 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Lots of questions this weekend about who’s open for Christmas Eve/Day dining. As we’ve replied, we used to make that list early, and then found out on the holiday that establishments had changed their plans since we checked. So we’re working on the list now. If you run a restaurant or coffee shop, please take a moment and let us know your plans – westseattleblog@gmail.com. What we have so far is in the CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY section of our West Seattle Holiday Guide. Also, we’re featuring last-minute shopping hours for local businesses in the SHOPPING SPOTLIGHTS section – thanks to those who’ve already sent their info – we’ll add whoever else we hear from, same email address! Christmas Eve hours in particular, but we’ll also note special days/times in the next four days, too.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Bright balcony, plus, ‘Santa rides again!’

December 19, 2021 6:21 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Bright balcony, plus, ‘Santa rides again!’

| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Doubling up again tonight in case you’re going out to look at lights on this non-rainy night:

Lots of brightly lit apartment/condo balconies in West Seattle, particularly along Alki and Harbor Avenues. Josh sent photos/video of this one: “Awesome!! On Alki Ave & 56th.” [map] Note the video in the display:

In Gatewood, Yma‘s photo comes with a story:

Santa rides again! My favorite blow-up, Santa riding a polar bear, went kaput at the end of last December. I thought he was a goner – but family urged me to try & fix him. I ordered a new motor/blower, carefully did a replacement & voila! Come see him & his buddy Mariachi Santa at 4116 SW Portland [map].

Thanks again to everyone who’s contributed locations/photos (westseattleblog@gmail.com) – still time to get more in, as we hope to keep it going through New Year’s Eve – every place we’ve shown is archived here and listed in our Holiday Guide.

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BIZNOTE: Westwood Village’s future Xfinity store uncloaks, plus updates on future neighbors

December 19, 2021 2:38 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to Noelle for the tip! Seven months have passed since we first reported that an Xfinity (Comcast) store was planned for the heart of Westwood Village, and the company has finally put “coming soon” signage in the windows. After we noticed the early permit filings in May, a company spokesperson confirmed this would be one of their “standard retail stores.” We’ll be checking again on a projected opening date. Meantime, as we also reported in May, that section of WWV is still planned for a Pet Supplies Plus store – permits continue proceeding through the system.

Also at WWV, something new-but-not-entirely-new has resurfaced – America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, which we noted was pursuing a space in that central building 2 1/2 years ago, now has permit filings for the “E” building to the west – in the space currently occupied by Chico’s, according to the site-plan document (we’ll be checking with that company tomorrow – that space hadn’t even been publicly listed for lease).

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Dead deer at Constellation Park

December 19, 2021 12:23 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

We’ve received multiple reports about this, and more are likely to see it since today’s sunshine is likely to bring out more beach walkers: A dead white-tailed deer is on the beach at Constellation Park, and it’s been reported to authorities. Deer sightings, dead or alive, are not common around here. Last deer report we had was in 2019, on Pigeon Point; in 2016, we chronicled weeks of sightings of a deer that WSB readers dubbed “Westley.”

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UPDATE: Emergency response in Gatewood

December 19, 2021 11:06 am

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| Gatewood | West Seattle news

11:06 AM: SFD is in the 8300 block of California SW for “a rope rescue response for a man on scaffolding about 20′ from the ground with minor injuries.”

11:17 AM: This is at a house that’s been undergoing remodeling for months. The rescued person will be taken to the hospital. California is full of emergency vehicles just north of Thistle; they should clear within 45 minutes, we’re told.

11:52 AM: All clear.

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FOLLOWUP: Westwood Village mailbox replaced quickly this time

December 19, 2021 10:51 am

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to Nicole for the tip and photo! Less than a week after we reported the Westwood Village post office’s drive-up/ride-up mailbox was damaged and out of commission, it’s been replaced. The new one arrived sometime since Friday, which is when we last checked to see if the old one had been removed yet. That’s a new record for replacement – earlier this year the outage lasted about three weeks; in 2015 and 2017-18, replacing the mailbox took about four months.

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FREE: Leftover trees, garland @ Holy Rosary lot

December 19, 2021 10:19 am

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| Holidays | West Seattle news

As noted on Saturday, the Holy Rosary School tree lot at 42nd/Dakota is now closed for the season. This morning, an update: “Free trees and garland behind Holy Rosary School, while supplies last.”

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 notes

December 19, 2021 6:34 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Great Blue Heron photographed in the Junction area by Barbara Greenlee)

From our West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:

LOW-BRIDGE REMINDER: At approximately 9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm, the West Seattle low bridge will close to surface traffic for up to half an hour while testing is done for upcoming repairs/rehabilitation. Metro plans to divert buses to the 1st Avenue S Bridge during the first two.

VACCINATIONS: 8:30 am-4:30 pm clinic at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW), hosted by Pliable. Update from our original story on this – everyone is welcome to walk-up, both adults and kids.

CHURCHES: Most are both streaming and holding in-person services. We’ve compiled this week’s links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services. (P.S. We’re listing Christmas services in our Holiday Guide – send us the info if yours isn’t already there! – westseattleblog@gmail.com)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Along with food – holiday greenery! Shop 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.)

SANTA AT THE MARKET: While you’re there today, get your DIY photo with Santa – presented by West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays!

SALE AT WYATT’S JEWELERS: The “6 Days of Giving” start today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village; WSB sponsor) – today, in store only, 10 percent off silver jewelry. Open 10 am-6 pm.

KINDIE WEST CONCERT SERIES: Eli Rosenblatt, 10:30 am, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), kid music! Tickets/info here.

BONUS HOLIDAY SHOPPING @ THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Extra shopping time at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) – they’re usually closed Sunday but today will be open 11 am to 4 pm.

FOOD & CLOTHING DRIVE: Alki UCC is accepting donations 11 am-3 pm. (6115 SW Hinds)

SHUG’S MINI POP-UP: Holiday pop-up with Baked Alaska, ice cream, more. Noon-4 pm, also pre-orderable. Info here. (California/Charlestown)

CLASSIC NOVELS & MOVIES CLUB DISCUSSES CHRISTMAS STORIES: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing explains what the club’s discussing today.

‘WE’VE BATTLED MONSTERS BEFORE’: Fourth weekend concludes for the ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) musical, matinee at 3 pm. Tickets are available online. (4711 California SW)

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ RADIO PLAY: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) concludes its run with a 3 pm performance today. Our calendar listing has more info, including ticketing.

Got something for our Holiday Guide and/or year-round Event Calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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