West Seattle, Washington

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year : 2021 3739 results

2021 LOOKBACK: This year’s 10 most-commented WSB stories
December 31, 2021 7:23 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

At WSB, we have just one “year in review” tradition – listing the 10 stories that drew the most comments. (That doesn’t mean they were the most-read stories – since we publish in blog format, and it’s possible to read multiple stories by scrolling down the home page without multiple clicks, it’s impossible to break out exactly how many times an individual story’s been seen.) With hours to go in 2021, here goes the countdown:

#10 – PCC ARGUES AGAINST CITY-MANDATED ‘HAZARD PAY’
January 29, 2021 – 142 comments
Less than a week before workers for large grocery companies were set to start receiving $4/hour city-mandated “hazard pay,” PCC‘s then-new CEO Suzy Monford sent city leaders a letter arguing against it. One PCC worker told us it left them and their colleagues feeling “betrayed and belittled.” The company changed its mind shortly thereafter; six months later, Monford left the job she’d had less than a year. PCC has not yet announced a new CEO.

#9 – POWER OUTAGE FOR ALMOST 10,000 CUSTOMERS
December 2, 2021 – 149 comments
This was not only a very large outage, the Seattle City Light map was slow to show it, so more “we’re out in (neighborhood)” comments amassed in the early going.

#8 – CITY-BACKED $14 MILLION OFFER FOR JUNCTION PARKING LOTS
April 30, 2021 – 155 comments
The land that holds the four West Seattle Junction Association-leased parking lots is zoned for tall, dense development. Community Roots Housing offered to buy it. The lots’ owners, Trusteed Properties, have not publicly announced a decision,

#7 – DISTRICT SUDDENLY ADDS A DAY OFF
November 9, 2021 – 165 comments
Seattle Public Schools startled families two days before Veterans Day by announcing that schools would also be closed the day after the holiday, saying too many employees were taking that day off.

#6 – KING COUNTY’S VACCINE-VERIFICATION PLAN
September 16, 2021 – 173 comments
King County announced where, and when, you would soon have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (or negative test results).

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Friday scenes, and what’s next
December 31, 2021 5:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:19 PM: Another frosty day wrapped up 2021. Thanks for the photos! Above, Tom Trulin photographed the Olympics, and walkers, at Lincoln Park. Not far away, a texter sent this view of icy Lincoln Park Way:

In Gatewood, Kanit Cottrell discovered this snowwoman:

On the other end of the peninsula, David Hutchinson photographed the waves against the Alki seawall:

He noted that something’s missing in his photo: “Sadly, The Whale Trail interpretive sign near the Bathhouse is missing along with one of the two mounting posts (just to the left of the people in the photo). Possibly taken out by the log shown in the photo or vandalism. Either way, it’s a shame as we have noticed that lots of folks out walking will stop and take advantage of the educational material presented.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The National Weather Service predicts a very cold night, possibly into the teens, but then tomorrow’s high might get above freezing. After that:

The true warmup will begin Sunday with highs in the low 40s expected for much of the area, and snow levels rising to 1500-2500 feet. Along side these warmer temperatures we are expecting widespread lowland rain as a cold front moves through the area. Lowland areas with snow remaining on the ground could see some localized urban flooding and ponding of water as storm drains could become clogged with ice.

ADDED 9:27 PM: Thanks to Ben for sending a photo of this igloo-in-progress:

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Mystery plane circles Admiral, and beyond
December 31, 2021 3:44 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Lots of questions this afternoon about a small plane that spent at least half an hour doing circles over north West Seattle – then headed over to do some loops over the Kitsap Peninsula before returning minutes ago to Boeing Field. Here’s the FlightRadar24 screengrab as it headed back in:

No answers yet about what it was doing. We tried tracing it but its most-recent commercial owner, a flight school at Boeing Field, said it was recently sold. The current registered owner appears to be a company that traces to a Seattle lawyer who is shown in the FAA database as a licensed private pilot.

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BIZNOTE: ‘Sneak peek’ day for Ezell’s Famous Chicken in West Seattle
December 31, 2021 12:42 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photos)

Ezell’s Famous Chicken CEO and co-founder Lewis Rudd is at the new Morgan Junction location today as they open their doors – briefly – for a community “sneak peek.”

It’s been almost a year since we broke the news of an early-stage filing for Ezell’s to move into what was then an AT&T store. Then last month, the signs went up. And now they’re almost ready to open – so they’re doing a trial run, selling food until about 4 pm today (or until they’re sold out).

That’s the West Seattle restaurant’s manager, Kristy – she and her team have some logistics to keep working on, so Ezell’s tells us that while the store may look ready to go, it won’t officially open for a few more weeks (no official date set yet).

Ezell’s is a 37-year-old Seattle-based company with 17 locations in Washington and Oregon – this one (southeast corner of California/Fauntleroy) will be its 18th. Here’s what they serve.

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NEW YEAR’S EVE: Space Needle fireworks, HPIC ‘Not-So-Silent Night,’ more
December 31, 2021 12:00 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The snow and the virus got in the way of big New Year’s Eve plans, so we don’t have much of a list for you, but a few notes:

(Photo by Doug Eglington, seen from Harbor Avenue earlier this week)

SPACE NEEDLE FIREWORKS: Yes, the midnight fireworks are happening this year. But no, they’re not allowing people to gather at the Needle to watch them. North-facing West Seattle will have a view as always, but organizers say they’re adding special digital effects to a live stream/broadcast, so they’re recommending you watch on a screen. Here’s the info.

HPIC PRESENTS ‘NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT’: Highland Park Improvement Club has announced a modified version of its Not-So-Silent-Night neighborhood parade, They’re inviting people to the south Riverview Playfield parking lot [12th/Webster] at 6 pm for a walk around the field:

Bring your personal lights and noisemakers. Bundle up with sturdy shoes. Fill up your hot thermos or flask. We’ll meet at the South Riverview Playfield parking lot at 6pm and walk a circle of light around the fields led by our fabulous HPIC parade marshals and welcome in a brighter 2022!

RESTAURANTS/BARS: No big parties but your favorite venue might be planning a midnight toast. Or earlier – for example, Mission Cantina in The Admiral District is planning “a traditional tequila toast as our brothers and sisters in Tequila town and Oaxaca ring in the new year at midnight CST (10 pm in Seattle).” We’ll check around as the day goes on and add anything else interesting (and confirmed post-snow) we happen onto.

P.S. If you do go out tonight – remember that transit is free (Metro until 4 am and Sound Transit until 2 am).

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GRATITUDE: ‘Heartfelt thank you’ from The Christmas People
December 31, 2021 10:52 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, December 22nd – early cookie dropoffs)

Once again this year, West Seattleites made it a happier holiday for neighbors in need. Here’s a message of thanks, just in from The Christmas People president/co-founder Rev. Fred Hutchinson:

Generous West Seattle residents dropped off more than 5,000 cookies to West Seattle Coworking this year; more than 500 were baked by West Seattle High School Key Club.

In 2021, our 23rd year, the Christmas People delivered 2,600 meals, 7,500 cookies, 600 Blessing Bags, 20,000 pairs of socks, 1,000 hats, and over 1,000 pounds of bulk food provisions. With a small budget and 25 volunteers, we gave out more than $125,000 of much-needed food and supplies to the marginalized and underserved in our midst. A heartfelt thank you to all who helped us, help others.

Rev. Hutchinson and helpers have been doing this for more than 20 years.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S EVE: Holiday and snow closures/changes
December 31, 2021 9:58 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Even before the snowfall, closures were planned for today because of the holiday observance. So this list covers both. Please let us know if you have something/someplace to add:

CLOSED

–Senior Center of West Seattle
–West Seattle Food Bank
–Delridge, Admiral Seattle Public Library locations
–Most Seattle Parks facilities
-City residential solid-waste pickup (all collection days put out double next week)

OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES

–West Seattle YMCA open until 4 pm
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am

(We’ll add a business list if needed but so far we have no new closure/change info.)

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Friday morning traffic/transit/weather
December 31, 2021 6:16 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

6:16 AM: Good morning. It’s New Year’s Eve and the sixth day with snow on the ground. 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 continues Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–No Water Taxi service today (and tomorrow); 773/775 shuttles also not running

WEATHER
-Just below freezing again this morning. The forecast says “isolated snow showers” are possible this morning, clearing later.

Tips/pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Scenes from Day 5, plus more snowbirds
December 30, 2021 10:05 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Was Christmas really just five days ago? Rene‘s photo is from The Admiral District, on this fifth snow-blanketed night since the holiday. Lots of snow fun still happening – Stephanie sent this photo of a West Seattle igloo and the crew that built it:

Kim sent video of Georgie‘s sled ride on 51st Place SW:

Looking across the bay from Alki, Gene Pavola captured a state ferry in the shortlived sun glare, with the snowy roofs of Magnolia beyond it:

Not far away, Gary Jones caught a juvenile Bald Eagle high above it all:

Jerry Simmons found a hummingbird trying to stay warm:

And Deb Haller in North Admiral rigged up a shop lamp “to keep the hummingbird nectar warm. It’s been on all week and working great. The birds sit and warm themselves too!”

One chilly snowbird pic – Mark in Arbor Heights photographed this Ruby-crowned Kinglet as it scavenged around in the snow:

Thanks again for all the photos and info … community collaboration is particularly vital in times like these. Year-round, in sun or snow, day or night, you can reach us at 206-293-6302 (text or voice) and westseattleblog@gmail.com.

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IT’S OFFICIAL: No garbage, recycling, yard-waste pickup Friday, double for everyone next week
December 30, 2021 8:40 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Seattle Public Utilities made it official tonight – no solid-waste pickup Friday, so that makes it a sweep – double pickup for everyone on their regular days next week. Here’s the announcement:

Due to remaining icy and unsafe conditions on many residential streets, residential and most commercial solid waste collection services are cancelled for Friday, December 31.

Transfer stations and the Household Hazardous Waste Facility will remain open with normal hours.

All collections are scheduled to resume next week beginning Monday, January 3. All missed residential customers are permitted to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and compost on their collection day for no additional charge. This includes recycling collection, even if it’s not a customer’s typical week for collection. Contractors will attempt to collect this ‘off-week’ recycling, if possible, but may not be able to collect all.

For tips on setting out extra waste, (go here). Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.

Temperatures are supposed to be close to normal next week.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Building-burglary attempt; shoplifter sprays store security guard
December 30, 2021 7:17 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch – first, a reader report:

BUILDING-BURGLARY ATTEMPT: The report and image were sent by Timothy:

Writing to report an attempted burglary resulting in property damage early this morning (3:50 am, 12/30). This happened on the 3700 block of Beach Dr SW.

There was a driver and at least one other person involved. The passenger, and attempted burglar, was wearing baggy, intentionally-torn, jeans with embroidered back pockets and a bright yellow, construction-style jacket. They were not wearing a mask, so clear pictures of this face are attached. Upon entering our vestibule, they begin yanking at our locked entry doors, resulting in the security glass shattering. This sent the burglar running. They were driving a white, 1998-2005 Mercedes ML class, with black aftermarket wheels. The vehicle has front-end damage including a strap holding the driver fender in place. There is a license plate attached, but it did not come through legibly on camera.

The damage to the glass, door, and locking mechanism is likely to cost $1000-2000 for repair or replacement.

STORE SECURITY GUARD SPRAYED BY SHOPLIFTER: We obtained this report from SPD today after a question from someone who saw the police response outside Jefferson Square Safeway last night, and someone getting their eyes flushed with milk. That was a store-security person, according to the report, who had been pepper-sprayed by someone that store management described as a “known shoplifter.” He sprayed the security person who approached him “with the intention of telling (him) to put back unpaid merchandise he had taken.” The victim was in pain and getting treated by SFD while the officer was investigating, so the report has no information on what was taken, but says the shoplifter was described as a “Black man, 30-35 years old, 5’7″, very thin, wearing a green jacket, green pants, a black backpack, and a plastic Safeway bag over his head.”

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Seattle Public Schools to resume classes Tuesday after offering COVID testing to students, staff on Monday
December 30, 2021 4:29 pm
|      54 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools just sent an announcement reiterating that it plans to resume in-person classes after winter break – but the first day of classes will be Tuesday, after the district spends Monday offering COVID testing to all students and staff. Here’s the announcement:

No School for Students Monday, January 3

We are happy to announce that we now have 60,000 rapid antigen tests available for staff and students, which were provided by the Washington State Department of Health. In light of the surge in COVID-19 transmission in our community due to the Omicron virus, we’ll be using these tests to support a healthy return to school.

Seattle Public Schools will offer voluntary, universal testing for SPS staff and students on January 3.

This means there will be no school for SPS students on Monday, January 3. School will resume in-person on Tuesday. There will be no athletic practices. We encourage families to contact their child-care provider to determine if they will be open on Monday.

Our goal in providing wide-scale testing is to minimize the transmission of the Omicron virus and reduce intermittent disruptions to in-person learning. Because 80% to 90% of positive cases are asymptomatic, identifying them before, and quickly after, classes resume will reduce the spread of the virus in our schools.

Meals on Monday, January 3

Buildings will be open during normal hours for those students who need to access meal services. All schools will serve grab-and-go lunches between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for student meals.

SPS will offer testing in West Seattle at two locations, Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon) and Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW), both 1-4 pm Monday (January 3rd), on a walk-up basis, More info, including the consent forms, are at the bottom of this district webpage. ADDED: The news release about this adds that after Monday, “Through the week, PCR testing and rapid antigen testing will be available for students and staff at their school.”

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Urgent call for blood donors
December 30, 2021 4:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

If you can donate blood, our regional blood bank needs you now. The holidays are already a challenging time, and the snow has compounded that, according to this announcement Bloodworks Northwest asked us to publish:

Due to our recent snow/weather, the need for blood for our community is now urgent. Bloodworks Northwest Talking points:

· In the past three days, 55% of our appointments (966) weren’t able to come in due to the winter weather. We are seeing additional cancellations today.

· We have over 1,200 open appointments in the next 10 days.

· With the holidays and winter weather, donations have dropped by 1,400 units in the past 7 days. This is the smallest amount of donations we have seen since the pandemic began.

· Almost all blood types are at Emergency Levels, less than a day supply

If you can get to a Bloodworks Northwest donor center or pop-up safely, please give blood. We have many openings at upcoming West Seattle pop-ups. Please book your appointment at www.bloodworksnw.org

Here’s the list of West Seattle pop-ups – including three days next week at the Masonic Center in The Junction. (Or, if you can get downtown, they have appointments available up through 6:30 tonight.)

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BIZNOTE: Bed Bath & Beyond closing Westwood Village store
December 30, 2021 1:55 pm
|      105 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks for the tips. Bed Beth & Beyond has just sent out promotional emails announcing that its Westwood Village store is closing and that a clearance sale is under way. We went over to the store to confirm the closure. Staff there says there’s no exact date set yet – the closing sale is actually being handled by a contracted firm and the timeline depends on how the clearance sale goes. The chain announced in summer of 2020 that it would close 200 stores within two years, We’re seeking more information from the company as well as from the center’s new management and will add anything more we find out. This is the first major Westwood Village closing since 24 Hour Fitness one year ago.

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CORONAVIRUS: West Seattle testing site to start limiting appointments to people with symptoms
December 30, 2021 1:19 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

A temporary change in policy for UW Medicine, which is the provider for the city’s COVID-19 testing site in West Seattle, among others. Starting Tuesday, testing at these sites will only be available for people who have symptoms. Here’s the announcement:

Beginning January 4, 2022, UW Medicine will be prioritizing COVID-19 testing for people with appointments who have symptoms of respiratory illness or who have a known exposure to COVID-19. Testing for people without symptoms, including before and after travel or gatherings, will not be available due to the high volume of omicron cases that are being processed in our laboratory.

Because each positive sample must undergo additional testing, the recent surge in positive tests limits the total number of samples that we can handle. We apologize for this inconvenience and will continue to monitor testing capacity and adjust prioritization as this current surge of COVID-19 evolves.

Again, this affects UW Medicine’s community testing sites, including the one at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle. In a media briefing this morning, UW Medicine explained that with the additional testing that positive samples require, it can only handle about half its current volume in a timely manner. But they also say this could change quickly so they may be able to start testing asymptomatic people again soon.

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Thursday closures/changes
December 30, 2021 9:00 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Another day of closures/schedule changes. We’re updating as info comes in – please let us know if you have something/someplace to add:

CLOSED/CANCELED

Facilities/services:
–West Seattle YMCA
–Senior Center of West Seattle
–West Seattle Food Bank
–All Seattle Public Library locations
–All Seattle Parks facilities
-City residential solid-waste pickup (here’s the current plan for tomorrow & beyond)

Businesses
Admiral Theater
Alki Bike and Board
Alki Mail & Dispatch
Cherry Consignment
C & P Coffee (closed for COVID exposure)
Illusions Hair Design
Grillbird
Head To Toe Day Spa
McDonald’s (Admiral and Morgan Junction, per readers)
Paper Boat Booksellers
Pecos Pit BBQ
Rambo Total Pest Control

OPEN BUT WITH CHANGES

Facilities/services:
City-run COVID testing site at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex opens at 10:30 am
West Seattle Golf Course (“snow activities” and walking allowed, but no golfing)

Businesses
Bakery Nouveau (10 am-3 pm)
HomeStreet Bank (closing at 4)
Metropolitan Market (closing at 8)
The Birdhouse (open until 1 pm)
West Seattle Animal Hospital (open until 4:30 pm)
Youngstown Coffee (10 am-2 pm)

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

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: Thursday morning traffic/transit/weather updates
December 30, 2021 5:26 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | West Seattle weather

(Current image from SDOT camera at 5-way)

5:26 AM: Good morning. The snow (re)started just after 9 pm and is still falling. We start with info 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 continues Emergency Snow Network reduced service
–West Seattle Water Taxi is running (with Spirit of Kingston)

WEATHER
-Just below freezing right now. The Winter Weather Advisory is now only in effect through 2 pm

Tips/pics to westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!

(Current image from SDOT camera at Holden/Highland Park Way)

6:17 AM: Still quiet on the streets.

6:43 AM: The snowfall has stopped, for now.

7:18 AM: As pointed out in comments, the SDOT real-time “winter response” map is currently blank. We’re checking to see if they’re working on it.

7:51 AM: No reply yet. But a check of cameras around the peninsula shows arterials have been addressed. Meantime, light snow has resumed.

8:07 AM: We’re assembling a closures/changes list again today, planning to publish around 9 am (with updates throughout the day as info comes in), First major new closure just in – the West Seattle YMCA.

8:22 AM: Reader photo just in:

Texter reports, “Here’s a pic of Cali Ave looking south at College near Admiral Junction. Taken at 8 am. Mostly slushy with pavement visible.”

8:50 AM: Another photo, this one sent by Sandy and Vanessa:

The Olympics’ peaks made a brief appearance, glowing pink, before clouds moved back in.

8:58 AM: The SDOT real-time map is now working, but slow to load (wait a moment or two), Paul texted to point out. Its road-closure info is suspect, though – for example, it shows SW Alaska east of California as closed, but the cameras for that stretch clearly show it open. (P.S. For non-road matters, we’ve launched today’s closures/changes page.)

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Another new school-zone speed-enforcement camera in West Seattle
December 29, 2021 9:48 pm
|      54 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Marco for the photo and tip – he spotted that camera installation this week on Fauntleroy Way SW near Fairmount Park Elementary. SDOT had not announced a school-zone speed-enforcement camera for that stretch of street; the only new one previously announced this year in West Seattle was added on 35th SW near Our Lady of Guadalupe just before school started. That was the first new one in West Seattle since Delridge Way SW by Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in 2015, which in turn followed cameras on Fauntleroy Way SW by Gatewood Elementary and on SW Roxbury by Holy Family School. Today, SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson confirmed the new installation when we asked: “We are planning to install new school-zone safety cameras at Fairmount Park Elementary in early 2022. We are installing some of the components now but are still working with Seattle City Light on the exact timing for the cameras to be activated.” He says no others are currently planned for West Seattle, but elsewhere in the city, new cameras are on the way near Garfield High School and South Shore PK-8. Current fine for a speed violation detected by one of these cameras is $237.

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CANCELED AGAIN: No residential garbage, recycling, yard-waste pickup again Thursday
December 29, 2021 7:25 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Seattle Public Utilities has officially canceled residential solid-waste collection for tomorrow (Thursday), too – here’s the grid:

As we reported this morning, if your missed collection day this week would have included recycling, they’ll try to make that up next week. Tonight’s update reiterates that and answers a few other questions:

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.

If you are setting out extra next week, here are a few tips:

-Extra garbage can be set out in bags or a personal can.
-Extra recycling can go out in a cardboard box or paper bag.
-Extra compost shouldn’t contain food and can go in a personal can or paper bag.
-See more details on our website.

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.

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Remembering Douglas W. Palmer III, 1941-2021
December 29, 2021 6:28 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Douglas W. Palmer III and sharing this remembrance with the community:

Douglas Wylie Palmer III
January 10, 1941 – October 29, 2021

Douglas “Doug” Wylie Palmer III, 80, born in West Seattle on January 10, 1941, to Douglas Wylie Palmer II and Alezena Francis Riley (née Spanier), died at home in Port Townsend, Washington, surrounded by family, on October 29, 2021.

Doug grew up in West Seattle; lured by the prospect of good fishing, Doug followed his best friends to Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. While in college, he was inspired by President JFK’s speech about the Peace Corps, joined, and was stationed in The Philippines for three years. He taught biology and botany at St. Mary’s School in Sagada, Mountain Province, where he met and married his wife, Diklawan Sylvia Solang.

After earning his master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Hawaii, Doug started his 28-year career as a public-health officer with USAID. His assignments brought him and his family to Vietnam, Cameroon, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and The Philippines.

After “retiring,” Doug and his family moved to Port Townsend and he took up a number of contract public-health positions with non-governmental organizations overseas. He worked with Project HOPE in Central Asia and Management Sciences for Health in Afghanistan for 14 years. He also worked aboard crab-processing boats in Alaska.

Doug was curious, adventurous, and an avid traveler. He enjoyed experiencing other cultures, appreciated art, was a passionate reader and archivist, and a collector of many things including stamps, fishing lures, aerogrammes, and artifacts from around the world.

In his last few years, Doug enjoyed playing pickleball, selling artifacts on eBay, cataloging photos and other memorabilia, telling stories of his many adventures, and fishing at his favorite spot — Point Wilson at Fort Worden.

Doug is survived and loved by his wife, Diklawan Sylvia Solang Palmer; his sons, Wylie Solang Palmer, Anton Degay Spanier Palmer, Evan Pekdasen Palmer; and daughter, Odawni Alezena Joy Palmer Sotka; and seven grandkids. He is also survived by his brother, Terry Spanier Palmer, and sister, Pam Palmer Lee.

Per Doug’s wishes, his body was donated for scientific research. There will be a memorial in honor of Doug in the next year when his family receives his ashes. Details to follow at a later time.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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WEST SEATTLE SNOW: New weather alert, with what’s expected and when
December 29, 2021 4:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

4:20 PM: The National Weather Service is out with an official alert for the next wave of snow. It’s a Winter Weather Advisory for 1 am to 7 pm Thursday. They’re anticipating 1″ to 4″ of snow. (For context, the official amount from last weekend was 3 1/2 inches.) The city-specific forecast narrows that down to 2″-3″, and offers the heartening news that the temperature should get back into the 40s by Saturday.

11:50 PM: The snow started shortly after 9 pm, and the NWS put the advisory into effect a few hours earlier than planned, shortly after 10 pm. We’ll be on morning snow watch by 5:30 am.

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VACCINATION: Pop-up clinic Sunday at Community School of West Seattle
December 29, 2021 3:35 pm
|    Comments Off on VACCINATION: Pop-up clinic Sunday at Community School of West Seattle
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

That’s a photo from this month’s first pop-up vaccination clinic at the Community School of West Seattle, which reminds us today that they’re having another one this Sunday (January 2nd), open to all. “All doses, all types, 5 years and up, walk-ins welcome,” says Whitney Young of CSWS. It’s set for 3 pm-6 pm Sunday, 9450 22nd SW. Here’s the flyer.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Repair update
December 29, 2021 3:00 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image, midday today)

From SDOT today, an update on West Seattle Bridge work:

Last week, crews completed the hydro-blasting work. This created access points for the work platforms to hang from and openings in the bridge deck to access the inside of the bridge.

We’ve also been working to attach rigging that will hold the work platforms in place underneath the bridge. These components consist of 10- to 14-foot-long metal cables that are being fed through the holes in the bridge deck. Next, we’ll install stairs and scaffolding inside the bridge.

In the coming weeks, we’ll begin core drilling on the inside of the bridge at Pier 16, where we’ll install post-tensioning cables to reinforce the strength of the bridge’s concrete. We’ll also be relocating utility lines at this location to make room for the additional post-tensioning cables.

(SDOT photos)

We’re continuing to build the work platforms, which we expect to will hoist up to the underside of the bridge in January. These platforms create a workspace to complete epoxy injections and carbon-fiber wrapping on the outside of the bridge.

Heads up that there may be limited weekend traffic impacts on SW Manning St and E Klickitat Ave while we raise the work platform on the east side of the bridge – stay tuned for more details about timing in future updates.

Here’s an SDOT graphic showing where those platforms will go up:

The contractor’s project manager provided an in-depth briefing of the work plan at this month’s Community Task Force meeting (WSB coverage here).

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