West Seattle, Washington
26 Monday
Local school notes for tomorrow (Monday, January 3rd):
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: As announced last week, no classes tomorrow – the district is offering voluntary COVID-19 testing to all students. Two locations in West Seattle, both 1-4 pm – Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon) and Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW). No appointments – families have been told that they’ll be given an approximate wait time upon arrival. Here’s the form to fill out.
HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: The district immediately south of West Seattle says all schools will start 2 hours late on Monday because of weather/road conditions.
VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Also because of weather/road conditions, all schools will be closed Monday. The plan for a 2.5-hour-late start to facilitate COVID-19 testing (explained here) is rescheduled to Tuesday.
SUNDAY NIGHT: As rain finally melts the snow, finally clearing unplowed roads, here’s a reminder of how city garbage/recycling/yard waste pickup will work this week: Everybody will be on their regular collection day, allowed to set out up to double the usual volume. If your collection day last week was supposed to include recycling, you can put that out too, although Seattle Public Utilities cautions that its contractors “will attempt to collect this ‘off-week’ recycling, if possible, but may not be able to collect all.” As for what to use:
-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.
As for Christmas trees, you have until January 31st – you can “place up to 2 trees or bundled greens next to your food & yard waste cart on each regular collection day throughout the month of January” – with all decorations removed, and the trees cut into sections no more than 4′ long. Or, you can take up to 3 trees, up to 8′ tall, to transfer stations for free all month long – the nearest one is the South Transfer Station at 130 S. Kenyon (here’s how to get there).
MONDAY EVENING UPDATE: From SPU:
Collection contractors attempted residential collections today, Monday January 3, and determined there are still unsafe road conditions in neighborhoods that has delayed some collections. This will have impacts throughout the week and there will be delays in residential garbage, recycling, or food/yard waste pickup for some customers.
Customers should set out their Garbage, Recycling, and Food/Yard Waste on their regular collection day and leave it out the following day if not collected. Friday customers, if missed, should keep their carts out on Saturday. Customers should be sure to have their containers out by 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
(We’ve also published this separately.)
The long-delayed dock replacement at Don Armeni Boat Ramp is getting closer to reality. This past week, the city published notice of a key approval for the project, opening a window for appeals (as explained in the notice). But that’s not what’s been holding up the project, which we first reported on almost five years ago. The Seattle Parks project page says federal permitting has held up the project: “The Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service were confronted with several emergent priority projects (West Seattle Bridge) and regulatory changes.” But they’re expecting the federal permit in time for this summer/fall’s “in-water construction” season. The $1.5 million project proposes sturdier, larger replacements for the existing floating docks and pilings. According to the current description, 16-inch steel pilings will replace the current 12-inch wood pilings, and the docks’ square footage will increase by a third, adding 691 square feet more “over-water coverage” to the existing 1,869 square feet. To compensate for that, Parks says, it will reduce overwater coverage at Pier 63 downtown. Parks promises to keep Don Armeni open to boaters during the work: “We will not shut the facility down during construction, we will replace the floats one side at a time.”
Yes, we know some have missed mail deliveries during this snowbound week – it’s been mentioned in multiple snow-related comment threads – but the US Postal Service has made it to many neighborhoods, including this one where a van got stuck this morning. The video and report are from Kim:
USPS had to abandon their van due to the ice on 51st Pl SW. Neighbors Chris Mickelson and Ken Berrea came to the rescue and freed it. We appreciate the dedicated delivery service of our post office and we’re happy to help.
Kim says the van got stuck this morning and was retrieved this afternoon.
If you’re up before sunrise this Tuesday and Wednesday and on the water or shore, you’ll see the year’s highest predicted high tides – 13.1 feet at 6:57 am Tuesday and 7:38 am Wednesday. After that, high tide won’t reach 13 feet again until Christmas and the day after. One caveat – we could see something higher at some point during the year, because weather conditions can push them above predicted levels (as explained here). You’ll notice on the chart that the new moon is bringing an extreme low tide too – -3.8 feet at 10:29 pm tonight.
The new year brings new owners and a new name for what had been IanFitness since 2015 at 5659 California SW. Trainer Amy Pessetto emailed to let us know it has new owners and a new name. It’s now West Seattle Fitness Studio, owned by Art and Elizabeth Lowe. Amy says, “All the current coaches are staying, which we are VERY EXCITED about. We all love West Seattle and the community we have at the studio and we’re excited for this new chapter. The gym is currently undergoing a big refresh, with new paint and equipment.” Here’s the flyer they’re giving to clients. The new website isn’t up yet but the schedule for the week ahead is here.
10:23 AM: Early alert – Kersti Muul tells us Southern Resident Killer Whales are reported to be headed this way, passing Discovery Park on the north edge of Elliott Bay, southbound, Members of J-Pod this time, she says. Let us know if you see them!
11:26 AM: As Kersti notes in comments, they’ve arrived, but visibility is poor (the much-awaited rain has arrived).
(Texted photo – seen at Lincoln Park)
Fairly quiet today as the holiday season ends and the snow moves toward melting – but we have a few notes for today in West Seattle:
CHURCHES: We continue updating the weekly list of West Seattle online church services (with most churches also offering in-person attendance) – see it here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET RETURNS: 10 am-2 pm, after taking last Sunday off, the WSFM (WSB sponsor) is back. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP: First owner-member discount day of the new year, 11 am-3 pm: “Everyone who has paid full or partial ownership shares in the Co-op will receive a 10% discount on all in-store purchases (excluding owner share purchase).” The store is open to non-member shoppers too, at regular prices. (5444 Delridge Way SW)
POP-UP COVID VACCINATION CLINIC: As previewed here – 3-6 pm at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW), all ages, all doses (1st/2nd/booster), all 3 vaccines. Walk-ins welcome.
SING IT! Karaoke with KJ host and West Seattle legend Loretta at Admiral Pub, 8 pm-1 am. (2306 California SW)
Got something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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