West Seattle, Washington
30 Sunday
Back in September, we told you about Poogooder, founded by West Seattleite Lori Kothe as a way to tackle the problem so many complain about … dog waste fouling sidewalks, planting strips, etc., and sparking un-neighborly spats. Lori says nearly 80 Poogooder disposal bins – each with its own volunteer steward – are now up in local neighborhoods. But that’s just a start toward ending the problem, so Lori’s announced the Zero Poo Challenge, and you have two ways to be part of it:
The Poogooder Zero Poo Challenge is a free, crowd-sourced education initiative to raise awareness of the social and environmental impacts of wayward dog poo and the small steps we can take to foster a happier, healthier community and planet. It involves 2 main activities open to the public: an all-ages PSA Art & Video Contest and a Wayward Poo Hunt. Participants can win prizes, fame, goodies from local businesses, and even trophies! Deadline to submit or vote for family-friendly PSA creations is June 12. The Wayward Poo Hunt citizen-science research project runs May 23 – June 12 and coincides with PAWSWalk. Poo Hunters will use the Pooper Snooper mobile app to “win” by finding real secret treasure tins hidden throughout West Seattle.
If you are a local business, educator, organization, or individual who would like to be involved in some way and/or donate to the prize packs, please submit a contact form at Poogooder.com. Let’s have fun, get the facts, and inspire change to do some good today. More info, Dog Poo 101 guide, PSA voting gallery, and entry details at zeropoo.com.
Thanks to James Tilley for the photo. Seen off West Seattle on Thursday, that’s the former USCGC John Midgett, now in the service of the Vietnam Coast Guard. The photo helped solve a mystery we couldn’t solve two months ago, Lynn Hall photographed it before the repainting was complete:
At the time, we weren’t able to dig up the backstory (though the ship was flying the flag of Vietnam by then). The transfer has been in the works for at least a year and a half, according to this report, which says it’s the second US Coast Guard cutter given to Vietnam. This report says some of the work on the 378-foot cutter was done at Lake Union Drydock Company. The transfer was via the Foreign Military Financing program, this report notes. As USCGC John Midgett, the 1971-built ship was homeported in Seattle.
(View from the Water Taxi – photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening today as we head for the weekend:
‘DINE OUT’ FOR ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL: Through 7 pm tonight, part of the proceeds at Ampersand (2535 Alki SW) will benefit Alki Co-op Preschool.
HISTORY PRESENTATION: West Seattle historian/author Judy Bentley talks about “Washington Remembers: From Marcus Whitman to Billy Frank, Jr – Stories of Washington Statues and Memorials” online at noon, presented by the Woman’s Century Club. Our calendar listing has info on how to attend.
VACCINATION POP-UP: 1:30-5:30 pm, UW Medicine has a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up outside West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), and asked us to let you know everyone 12+ is welcome, not just students.
PATHFINDER K-8 ONLINE AUCTION CONTINUES: You can bid online in this school-fundraiser auction through Saturday night.
6:03 AM: Good morning. Sunshine expected today, and 60s.
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY
Today is the former “Bike to Work Day.” As previewed here, West Seattle Bike Connections is hosting a “commute station” along the trail under the bridge through 9 am today.
ROAD WORK UPDATES
Delridge project – Here’s this week’s plan. Later today, we’ll get next week’s preview. We’ll be asking the project team this morning about the alert we saw on a roadside message board Thursday – SW Henderson closed at the Delridge/Barton/Henderson intersection May 24th (Monday) through mid-June.
SW Yancy – This drainage/utility work east of Avalon has about three more weeks to go.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
424th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. (The repair contractor’s just been chosen.) Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 19th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
Here’s a low-bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown 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.
Big day in pandemic news:
WEST SEATTLE VAX HUB CLOSING: The city says June 9th will be the last day for the West Seattle vaccination hub at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, after three months. Main reason: Dramatic drop in demand, with a sizable percentage of West Seattleites already vaccinated.
WANT TO GET VACCINATED IN ADMIRAL TOMORROW? UW Medicine emailed us tonight to say that tomorrow’s pop-up clinic outside West Seattle High School is open to everyone 12+, student or not. 1:30 pm-5:30 pm Friday (3000 California SW).
DON’T DROP THE MASK YET INDOORS One week after the CDC announced fully vaccinated people could quit wearing masks in most situations, King County’s health officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said he’s advising everyone to keep wearing them indoors unless there’s a way to prove absolutely everyone is vaccinated. Hours after issuing the directive, he gave a video briefing and answered media Q&A – watch the video here.
NEWEST NUMBERS: Now the update from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*107,871 people have tested positive, 212 more than yesterday’s total
*1,566 people have died, 1 more than yesterday’s total
*6,072 people have been hospitalized, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*1,075,688 people have been tested, 2,919 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, the four totals we track were 101,881/1,552/6,004/1,063,643.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find them, county by county, on the state Department of Health page.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 165.5 million cases worldwide, 33 million of them in the U.S. See the nation-by-nation breakout here.
GOT INFO/PHOTOS/TIPS? 206-293-6302, text or voice, or westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With summer approaching, the Alki Community Council focused on beach concerns at its monthly meeting online tonight. Here’s what happened:
POLICE UPDATE: Representing the precinct was acting Lt. David Terry, a 20-year SPD veteran who currently leads the night shift. He started off by saying that “a lot of officers are dedicated to Alki” because it’s a priority for the precinct, which has “added extra resources” to work in the beach area. He mentioned the SPD crime-data dashboard, which you can use to track incidents in specific neighborhoods, Alki included. In the last four weeks, 3 misdemeanor assaults, 12 property crimes. West Seattle in general has seen 2 shots-fired incidents with no injuries and 1 injury shooting (16th/Roxbury) recently. One person complained that she was on hold for 20 minutes one recent night and never saw police despite street racing and other problems. Lt. Terry explained that some major incidents have taken away personnel – such as a South Seattle shooting response that required officers to be pulled from the Southwest Precinct. He said SW commander Capt. Kevin Grossman has since tried to work out a way that the local precinct won’t be totally depleted by any such future calls. Some West Seattle calls have taken every available resource too, like the aforementioned shooting. On weekends, they have extra OT crews until midnight on Alki. If something is happening now, call 911, not the non-emergency line, he stressed. The attendee said she had been told by an officer later that they weren’t supposed to interfere with street racing, and Lt. Terry said that’s not true – there is no such directive – so he’s talking to his officers to stress that they are not under orders to “stand down.” Racing calls are now “priority 1.” he said, which means mandatory dispatch – even if that means pulling someone from elsewhere in the city.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
West Seattle’s COVID-19 vaccination hub will close after June 9th. We confirmed that with mayoral spokesperson Kelsey Nyland today, after a tip from Jim, who had just gotten a first dose there and been told the second dose would have to happen elsewhere. Nyland tells WSB that the West Seattle hub has given 48,135 doses of vaccine in three months, but it’s closing “due to a significant drop in demand.” She sent this chart to explain:
Nyland added, “Even with a temporary surge when 12 – 15 year-olds became eligible, demand at the West Seattle hub has been plummeting over the last month, and it has gotten to a point where it does not make operational sense for the Seattle Fire Department to continue staffing the hub. The City will not launch additional fixed sites in West Seattle, but the SFD Mobile Vaccination will continue to be in West Seattle as part of the ongoing efforts to bring the vaccine directly to Seattle residents.”
Last Saturday’s Junction pop-up, which resulted in 93 vaccinations, was part of that, and the city’s also sending its mobile teams to local breweries as well as the school clinics we’ve mentioned – public schools here, charter and private schools here (the Summit Atlas dates, not available when we published the linked story, are May 27th and June 17th).
Nyland also noted, “Across West Seattle, nearly 80% of residents have started the vaccination process, and nearly 60% are fully vaccinated. This incredible trend leads the national average, and West Seattle has some of the highest vaccination rates in King County. Because of this, along with SFD’s ongoing mobile and in-school operations, and the community health clinics, pharmacies, and primary care providers administering vaccine in the area, we are confident West Seattle will continue to have accessible and convenient vaccination opportunities.”
The hub in the parking lot at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) started as a testing site last August, then added vaccinations in March, then stopped offering testing in mid-April. But you can still go there to get vaccinated – no appointment needed – through June 9th.
As the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) offers more in-person programs, they’re also offering a membership deal – free for first-time members who join while a friend is renewing. Here’s the announcement:
The Senior Center of West Seattle is promoting a new “Bring a Friend” membership campaign. Thanks to a matching gift of $5,000 from West Seattle Realty, first-time members will have their $50 membership fee covered for the first year when joining with a current member who renews.
Only available during May and June, this membership option is open to the first 100 new members. To sign up a friend, stop by the Senior Center or call 206-932-4044 ext 1.
The Senior Center is also adding more in-person programs beginning this month. Classes and activities offered on-site include art class, a writers group, Qigong, a quilters group, computer help, and weekly movies. Advance registration is required for all in-person classes and activities. Throughout the pandemic, we have been providing meal delivery, social worker outreach, counseling, vaccine assistance, on-site specialty services like foot care and dental hygiene and a variety of virtual programs.
(West Seattle Realty is a longtime WSB sponsor.)
(WSB photos)
One month after we reported that Molly’s Bottle Shop was expanding to West Seattle, it’s open at 3278 California SW. Sebastiano Tecchio, a West Seattle resident, is managing the new store, while namesake founder Molly Ringe focuses on the original Ballard location. Molly’s specializes in “natural wine.”
West Seattle hours are Wednesdays-Sundays, 2 pm-8 pm.
Growing plants this spring/summer? Two sales of note this Saturday, with special guests:
WEDESIGN @ SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: 10 am-3 pm Saturday, the Garden Center at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) opens for the second sale this season. The nursery is full of plants grown by students in the SSC Landscape Horticulture program – including natives, perennials, annuals, flowers, ground covers. vegetables, more. A member of the Horticulture faculty will be a special guest this Saturday, there to answer questions about anything from plant selection to landscape design to the SSC program itself – Michael Lockman of West Seattle’s WEdesign (a longtime WSB sponsor). More details in our calendar listing (and a reminder for plant buyers, the Garden Center is taking cash/checks only). The Garden Center is at the north end of the campus at 6000 16th SW.
MUSIC @ FURRY FACES FOUNDATION PLANT SALE: The pets-and-people nonprofit Furry Faces Foundation launched its first plant sale in six years last Saturday, and is continuing it this Saturday.
(WSB photo from last Saturday)
Here too you will find all kinds of plants – ornamentals and edibles, featuring lots of tomato plants! Sale hours are 11 am-4 pm Saturday at 3809 46th SW, and musician Tim Scallon will be there in the afternoon to serenade shoppers.
Lots of confusion in the week since the CDC‘s sudden shift in mask-wearing advice. In last night’s pandemic roundup, we noted that state health officials suggested forthcoming state/local guidance might help clarify things for businesses. And today, here it is, from Seattle-King County Public Health:
King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin has issued a Local Health Officer Directive that strongly urges residents to continue wearing a face mask in indoor public settings, whether or not they are vaccinated. Public Health – Seattle & King County recommends that businesses who serve the public continue policies to ensure customers and employees wear masks indoors.
“Continued use of face masks for everyone five years of age and older within indoor public spaces is reasonable and necessary in King County to reduce the risk for COVID-19 transmission until more of the population is protected through vaccination and COVID-19 disease rates decline,” the Directive states.
In addition to the local Directive, the Washington State Department of Health Order continues to require everyone to wear face masks in schools, public transportation, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and health care settings, including doctor’s offices, long-term care, and hospitals.
You can read the rest of the announcement by going here; the full directive is here.
Building-garage burglaries have been on the rise. These security-camera images are being circulated by Southwest Precinct police in hopes of identifying the person caught on camera during one in The Junction earlier this month:
On 5/4/21, the above-pictured male entered the secure parking garage at 4752 41st Av SW. He went through the garage and into the mailroom, where he opened several packages. He then broke into a utility room and stole a trombone and bike.
If you can identify this suspect, please email lauren.laumbattus@seattle.gov
Refer to incident number 21-110446.
The fire rings are back; the summer crowds are on the way. Want to talk about the beach? It’s the third Thursday, so the Alki Community Council is meeting online tonight, and you’re welcome to participate. Agenda highlights as sent by the ACC:
Update on Southwest Precinct, Sgt. David Terry, SW Precinct, SPD
Report on Alki Beach concerns
The meeting starts at 7 pm; you can attend via videoconference by going here, or by phone at 206-337-9723. (For both, the meeting ID is 995 1615 6974, passcode 638862.)
This year, supporters of Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point “have reinvented our annual fundraising auction … This year is virtual and we have over 100+ items open to the community to bid & purchase!” Bidding started this morning and continues through Saturday (when the fundraising culminates in an online event at 5:30 pm, but you can bid without attending). Go here to get started;
you can see the auction items here – gift certificates, gift baskets, more. Questions? fundraising@pathfinderk8ptsa.org – the bidding continues until 11:59 pm Saturday.
6:12 AM: Good morning. Cooler than normal today, and possibly some showers.
ROAD WORK UPDATES
Delridge project – Here’s this week’s plan.
SW Yancy – We have an update on this drainage/utility work east of Avalon – three more weeks.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedules today.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
423rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. (The repair contractor’s just been chosen.) Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 19th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)
Here’s a low-bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown 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.
Tonight’s local/state pandemic updates:
STATE BRIEFING: State health officials led by Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah held their weekly briefing, with some points of interest. For an overview, Dr. Shah heralded “incredible progress” while warning that we’re “nowhere near out of this pandemic.” He said that in the first four days of 12-15-year-olds’ vaccine eligibility, about 28,000 got their first dose – seven percent of that age group. Other points: They know mask-wearing is a point of confusion now, and the state is working on some clearer guidance for businesses, but in the meantime, everyone should “read the room” and follow rules/policies for wherever they’re at. But if someone chooses to mask up in a situation where it’s not required, “don’t shame them.” One more message: Vaccinations are free, whether or not you have health insurance.
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the Seattle-King County Public Health daily-summary dashboard, the cumulative totals:
*107,659 people have tested positive, 161 more than yesterday’s total
*1,565 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total
*6,069 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than yesterday’s total
*1,072,769 people have been tested, 2,000 more than yesterday’s total
One week ago, those totals were 101,596/1,547/5,987/1,062,304.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: Find all the numbers, county by county, on the state Department of Health data page,.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them, nation by nation, here.
SCHOOL CLINICS TOMORROW: Tomorrow’s clinics are at both of West Seattle’s K-8 schools.
GOT INFO? Email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or phone us, text or voice, at 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(WSB photo, 2019 West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade)
The announcement is from organizers Nicole and Meg:
Unfortunately, due to special-event permitting guidelines and COVID-19, we will be cancelling the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade for 2021.
Although we are sad we will be unable to celebrate together this year, we are looking forward to hosting the best parade yet in 2022!
Thank you for all your support and helping keep our community safe and healthy!
If you’re new here – the 4th of July parade involves more than a thousand kids and family members walking and rolling along a route through North Admiral neighborhoods at mid-morning on the holiday, ending with field games at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Here’s our coverage, with video and photos, from the last one pre-pandemic (2019).
This morning we mentioned the big turnout on Elliott Bay and at Don Armeni Boat Ramp for the three-hour spot-shrimp season. Puget Sound just west of Elliott Bay was open too – for one extra hour, until 1 pm – and as Dan Ciske‘s photo shows, some got an up-close look at a submarine headed for Bremerton.
We’ve been following up on the SW Yancy closure east of Avalon Way, severing a busy route to and from businesses including West Seattle Athletic Club, among other destinations. The road’s been closed because of utility/drainage work related to the supportive-housing complex that Transitional Resources is building at 2821 SW Yancy. When last we checked, construction firm Buchanan General Contracting cited “design delays” for stretching out the work beyond its expected completion date last month. Today they have an update on the work:
We sincerely apologize for the extended closures and delays. The first half of the street will be repaved on May 22nd. Seattle Public Utilities rescheduled the water main connection to May 29th, grading will happen the following week, and paving for the rest of the street will be completed June 9th.
So – three more weeks to go. Transitional Resources says the apartments themselves are expected to open early August.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
First, six firms submitted proposals to fix the West Seattle Bridge (and do some low-bridge work too). Then the field was narrowed to three. Less than two hours ago, the three final proposals were opened – and the winner was Kraemer North America, same firm that stabilized the bridge last fall.
The proposals were not strictly price bids but rather for what’s called a General Contractor/Construction Manager. From SDOT‘s announcement:
Kraemer was selected based on their qualifications, experience, price proposal, and history of success, which all indicate that this firm can finish the final phase of repairs and reopen the bridge on schedule. Next, SDOT will engage with Kraemer to develop a pre-construction scope of work so they can immediately participate in progressing the rehabilitation design.
The repair design has already been under way with SDOT consultant WSP; now Kraemer will plug into the process, and the next update with a more-specific timeline is expected when the design reaches the 60 percent stage by July. Though the repair work itself isn’t expected to start before fall, SDOT has said there may be some other “early work” that can be done on the high bridge, described in today’s announcement as possibly including “replacing bridge expansion joints or repairing pavement.” (SDOT explains that also could include “injection of epoxy into cracks.” The high-bridge repair will focus on more “installation of carbon fiber wrapping and steel post-tensioning cables.”) In the meantime, SDOT tells us, these are the next steps: “SDOT will engage with [Kraemer] to develop a pre-construction scope of work so they can immediately participate in progressing the rehabilitation design. We expect to finalize the contract and issue a Notice to Proceed by the end of June.” Estimated reopening of the bridge remains “mid-2022”; the early cost estimate of the work involved in this contract is $72 million.
P.S. The other two finalists, as announced at this afternoon’s opening (which we watched online), were Granite and Kiewit Faison. Here is the document displayed showing how the three scored. During the last Community Task Force meeting, it was mentioned that the contractors not chosen could choose to file a protest; SDOT tells us they have 3 days to do that.
Two businesses hit by crime early this morning:
ROBBERY ARREST: Another 7-11 holdup, this time the one on 35th SW. According to the preliminary police summary, three people entered the store, then one approached the clerk, went behind the counter, and drew a gun from their waistband. The three subsequently “fled the store without getting anything.” Police soon spotted the three suspects approaching “a vehicle parked awkwardly” near an area gas station, and when the officer “told them to stop, they fled in various directions.” Officers chased one on foot and took him into custody; a K-9 search for the others was unsuccessful. The suspect in custody is 18 years old; records indicate the warrant is from a charge filed last week in an Issaquah pharmacy robbery that happened in February.
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Thanks for the tips on this. Somebody broke into the Origins Cannabis (WSB sponsor) shop in The Junction early this morning. We haven’t been able to get the police report but we did call the shop to ask about it; they characterized it as more of a vandalism incident, saying whoever broke in was more intent on causing damage than stealing items. They cleaned up and are open for business.
Thanks to everyone who’s messaged us about the fence that has suddenly appeared around that play structure at Westcrest Park (thanks to Jon for the photo). We asked Seattle Parks about it – reply: “The playground has deteriorated and we have closed it. We will be replacing it, in-kind, as part of our Westcrest Off-Leash Area Project.” The reply did not mention a timeline, so we’re following up. It’s one of several Seattle Parks play structures closed in recent years for safety concerns; the south play area at Lincoln Park is still awaiting its replacement 4 years after its sudden closure (construction now set for this fall).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The pandemic forced a pivot for the century-old Highland Park Improvement Club and the community members who tend it.
There was no time for breath-catching after the sudden stop to events, for this community-owned-and-maintained facility that relies on them – including rentals – to pay the bills. HPIC quickly found itself filling a void by filling bellies. Even before closed schools got their meal programs up and running, HPIC sprang into action as a food-distribution center for families.
They were serving up to 600 lunches a week. Not just grab-and-go; before long, a local chef was cooking up hot to-go meals. A “community fridge” was in place. And as the weeks and months went by, HPIC became a center for much more.
HPIC took advantage of the downtime under part of its roof – the space with the stage – by working on long-needed renovations/repairs. But they’re pricey – so this Saturday (May 22nd), 4-8 pm, HPIC invites you to its first community event since pre-pandemic times – a modified version of its annual wine-and-more fundraiser. Instead of Highland Park Uncorked, this year it’s Highland Park Decanted, and it’s a two-fer: Outside, a pop-up bar – inside, a tour. We got a preview mini-tour courtesy of HPIC’s Kay Kirkpatrick and Julie Schickling. Read More
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