day : 28/12/2021 7 results

“The phone will not quit ringing.”

That’s what Keith Hughes told us – between phone calls – when we stopped by American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) this afternoon to see what he needs to keep running West Seattle’s only cold-weather shelter.

12 people slept there last night, and he was expecting more tonight. So he needs more cots, and blankets for the people who will sleep on them. Socks and gloves, too – those go fast, dozens of pairs so far.

And of course, he still needs more volunteers to help keep the doors open, as a daytime warming center – some people drop in for a cup of coffee, maybe a pair of socks, and then go back out – and overnight shelter.

He is serving two meals a day, as the whiteboard outside says:

But he says they have plenty of food – including six 5-pound pans of frozen lasagna – so they don’t need more food right now. And please don’t bring clothing – that takes more volunteers to sort and wash, and that’s more than he can handle. Socks and gloves, he can just keep on a table by the door to Pershing Hall, the event room that’s doubling as a shelter.

Running the shelter is more than a matter of just keeping the doors open. Hughes has also been kept busy handling logistics for the people who show up, or who are brought there; some of the phone calls he took while we were there had to do with someone dropped off there who really needed to be in a hospital instead.

Since the last time we talked with him, the city has started including Post 160 on its resource list of emergency shelters. And the new King County Regional Homelessness Authority has someone calling twice a day to check in. But the only government help he’s getting, says Hughes, is a city promise to cover the utility bills for December – running two furnaces, doing laundry, and providing showers adds up.

If you have questions, or are interested in volunteering, call Post 160 any time between 8 am and 6 pm at 206-932-9696, or call Hughes directly at 206-941-6654.

WEDNESDAY NOTE: Please see the comment discussion below for updates. In short – volunteers still needed, everything else is good for now, thanks to some fast-acting generous people!

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CANCELED AGAIN: No residential garbage, recycling, yard-waste pickup Wednesday

December 28, 2021 7:14 pm

| 27 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo)

7:14 PM: For the third consecutive day, with most residential streets still coated in snow and ice, Seattle Public Utilities has canceled residential solid-waste pickup for Wednesday. Here’s the full announcement from SPU:

Due to significant remaining snow and ice on residential streets in Seattle, solid waste collections will not be able to Due to remaining ice and snow, there will be no residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup in Seattle on Wednesday, December 29. Commercial & multifamily collections will resume on 12/29. Transfer stations and Hazardous Waste drop-off remain open with normal hours.

Collection schedules should resume as follows:

Monday (12/27) residential customers will be collected Monday (1/3).
Tuesday (12/28) residential customers will be collected Tuesday (1/4).
*Wednesday (12/29) residential customers will be collected Thursday (12/30).
*Thursday (12/30) residential customers will be collected Friday (12/31).
Friday (12/31) residential customers will be collected Friday (1/7) due to the holiday on 1/1.
*Both Wednesday & Thursday collections will be as conditions allow.

Customers missed this week will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and yard waste at no additional charge, on their next scheduled collection day.

P.S. We’re asking SPU whether missed recycling pickups will be made up next week too, for the customers who aren’t getting any collection this week.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The reply to that question, via SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register:

Customers whose recycling was not picked up this week due to unsafe conditions created by snow and ice should set out their recycling carts (along with garbage and food/yard waste carts) on their next collection day, even though it is not their scheduled week for recycling pickup.

Our Solid Waste contractors will make every attempt to pick up recycling next week but this requires servicing an additional set of routes they are normally not equipped to cover, in addition to collecting double volumes on regular routes, during the recovery week.

If a customer’s recycling is not collected next week, they can set out extra recycling, at no additional cost, on their next scheduled recycling pickup day.

And a friendly reminder for customers-don’t forget to break down those holiday boxes before putting them in the recycling cart.

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UPDATE: Seattle Fire ‘full response’ for Alki Elementary – but no fire

December 28, 2021 5:28 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Seattle Fire ‘full response’ for Alki Elementary – but no fire

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

5:28 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed to a reported fire in the 3000 block of 59th SW. Details as we get them.

5:31 PM: The dispatched address is Alki Elementary. First arriving crews aren’t seeing anything.

5:35 PM: Firefighters have determined it was just “steam from the boiler” and all but two units will be dismissed.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit sets the date for draft Environmental Impact Statement release

December 28, 2021 3:37 pm

| 49 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just announced by Sound Transit – January 28th is the date it’ll take the next major step in planning the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail extensions – that’s the date ST will release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Here’s the announcement:

We are excited to announce the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project will be available for a 90-day public review and comment period starting on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022! We will offer multiple ways to comment including online, at public meetings, by phone, and via email and mail.

The Draft EIS comment period is an important milestone to provide input and help shape what this project looks like in your community. Your input is a key part of the process and will help the Sound Transit Board understand what is important to you as they consider which alternative to build.

After voters approved the ST3 ballot measure in 2016, the agency originally planned to release the DEIS last year, but it’s been delayed several times, most recently in October, when ST announced it would be out “in early 2022.” The current planned opening date for the West Seattle extension, 2032, is two years later than the original plan.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mountain to Sound Outfitters burglarized, again

December 28, 2021 2:37 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Crime | Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

You would think this snowy weather would make it a memorable week for Mountain to Sound Outfitters, a West Seattle business that specializes in part in snow gear. But instead, for proprietor Greg Whittaker, it’s memorable in a bad way.

His shop at 3602 SW Alaska was broken into early today for the third time in a week. We heard about it from a reader who was passing by early this morning and saw SFD on the scene cleaning up broken glass. We then obtained the police report and followed up with Whittaker. The police-report narrative says officers arrived to find what the photo above shows, as well as a “large amount of ski equipment lying on the ground outside of the business along with several display hangers.” An audible alarm was sounding. The burglar(s) were gone; SFD was called for help “to secure the damaged door.”

When we contacted Whittaker by email, he said this was the third burglary this week at the shop, and added: “This is completely disheartening. We buy the gear to help West Seattle enjoy the winter and now key items are gone from our store. Keep an eye out for kids’ jackets, skateboards, sunglasses, gloves, goggles. I’d like to ask the community to keep watch in our block, as it seems like they are getting bolder.” If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 21-340896.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Tuesday closures/changes

December 28, 2021 9:04 am

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Another day with snow on the ground means another day of closures/schedule changes. Here’s what we have so far – we’ll keep adding as the info comes in:

CLOSED/CANCELED

Facilities/services:
Senior Center of West Seattle
Curative COVID test site at Don Armeni
West Seattle Food Bank
Seattle Public Library Delridge, West Seattle (Admiral), South Park branches
City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)

Businesses
Alki Beach Pub (broken pipe)
Illusions Hair Design
Head To Toe Day Spa
Skylark
Cherry Consignment

OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES

Facilities/services:
West Seattle YMCA (9 am-4 pm)
Seattle Public Library Southwest (noon-6 pm) and High Point (1-6 pm) branches
West Seattle Golf Course (no golfing but “snow activities” and walking OK)
Other Seattle Parks changes

Businesses
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)
HeartBeet Café (9 am-2 pm)
Chupacabra (noon-7:30 pm)

If you have info to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Still-snowy Tuesday morning

December 28, 2021 6:30 am

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

6:30 AM: Good morning. A bit of new snow overnight. First, we have links:

ROAD/TRANSIT INFO
-City map of plowed/treated/closed roads, here
-City map of traffic cams, here
-Our page with West Seattle-relevant cams, here
-County map of traffic cams (choose “south” tab for White Center), here
–Metro buses are running Emergency Snow Network service reductions again today
–West Seattle Water Taxi is running (with Spirit of Kingston)
–Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry route on regular two-boat service

WEATHER

Mid-twenties right now. Today’s forecast – mostly cloudy, high near 30.

Again today, if you’re headed out this morning, consider letting us know how your drive/ride went, once you get to where you’re going.

7 AM: No incidents reported so far this morning. Two West Seattle road closures are officially marked on the city map – SW Andover east of Delridge (the hill to/from Pigeon Point) and 47th SW south of Fauntleroy. Larry Snyder sent this photo of Andover late last night:

7:55 AM: Speaking of closures, we’re starting a list again today – if your facility/business plans a closure or changed schedule today, please let us know so we can add it to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

8:20 AM: Snowing lightly again.

9:09 AM: Big news from Junction True Value – snow shovels and ice melt are back in stock. (They’re limiting the latter to 50 pounds/person.)

10:14 AM: The city map has added some closures – check it before you head out.

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