West Seattle, Washington

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month : 01/2022 300 results

PANDEMIC UPDATES: Local check-in #25, 1/3/2022, Seattle Public Schools stats included
January 3, 2022 11:59 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

We’ve moved this weekly update on local pandemic numbers and notes to Mondays, and we’re incorporating the weekly Seattle Public School updates.

KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS (through today):

*211,531 cases – 17,828 more than a week ago (7,915 total in West Seattle, up 877)
*9,312 hospitalizations – 233 more than a week ago (270 total from West Seattle, up 5)
*2,165 people have died – 12 more than the previous update (77 total in West Seattle, unchanged)

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATS

Today’s SPS dashboard update comes at the end of winter break, but the district has continued adding cases to its dashboard. Districtwide, the cumulative case total for this school year is 1,294, 100 more than a week earlier (and not including any of the testing done yesterday/today). Here’s the local school-by-school breakout (as always, the total is cumulative since the start of the school year):

Denny International Middle School – 28, up 2
West Seattle High School – 24, up 3
Chief Sealth International High School – 23, down 1 (data adjustment)
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 18, up 2
Gatewood Elementary – 17, up 3
Arbor Heights Elementary – 15, up 1
Roxhill Elementary – 15, unchanged
Genesee Hill Elementary – 14, unchanged
Highland Park Elementary – 14, unchanged
Madison Middle School – 13, up 1
Fairmount Park Elementary – 12, up 1
Lafayette Elementary – 10, unchanged
West Seattle Elementary – 10, unchanged
Concord International (Elementary) – 9, unchanged
Pathfinder K-8 – 8, unchanged
Alki Elementary – 6, up 1
Sanislo Elementary – 5, up 1
BRIDGES @ Roxhill – 1, unchanged

VACCINATION RATE

81.9% of King County residents 5+ have completed their vaccine series – up .6% 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 – 88.2% completed series, 40% had a booster dose too
98116 – 91.4% completed series, 52.7% had a booster dose too
98126 – 83.5% completed series, 44.2% had a booster dose too
98136 – 93.1% completed series, 56.7% had a booster dose too
98146 – 83.5% completed series, 35.6% had a booster dose too

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

THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES

Test-site changes – The city-sponsored, UW Medicine-run West Seattle testing site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex will, as of tomorrow (Tuesday, January 4th), limit testing to symptomatic/exposed people. Appointments can be made here (if you find an opening).

School-testing turnout – Both West Seattle middle schools were deluged for the three-hour testing period offered today. The district still plans to return to in-person classes tomorrow.

UPCOMING VACCINATION CLINIC

Pliable‘s clinic next Sunday at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) still has appointment openings as of this writing.

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WATER TAXI: Reduced service Tuesday with both regular boats in for repairs
January 3, 2022 9:48 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

Just announced by King County Metro – “On Monday, both the MV Sally Fox and MV Doc Maynard damaged propellers during service. We are coordinating with shipyards to get these vessels repaired and returned to service ASAP. The backup vessel MV Spirit of Kingston will be operating on both routes.” That means service reductions for both the West Seattle and Vashon runs – the modified schedule is here.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two potentially related school burglaries, and two other incidents
January 3, 2022 7:09 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

In West Seattle Crime Watch, we have information on four incidents, starting with two school burglaries that are likely related:

SCHOOL BREAK-INS, WITH A LIKELY LINK: A Pathfinder K-8 parent forwarded us a note sent to families from the school’s music teacher, announcing that the school’s music room was burglarized over winter break:

… Items stolen include a majority of our woodwind, brass, and string instruments stored in the room, audio equipment, internet connectivity servers/devices, percussion instruments and equipment, and our student-device charging stations. …

I ask that you have a conversation with your students about this event. Music, for all grade levels and subjects, is often a safe space for students to come to explore their creativity, build community, and engage in deep and rich learning about the arts and themselves. I imagine some students will be distraught to learn about this violation of our space, as I am. This challenge is a setback, but one we can bounce back from. It shows us what we need to improve to make the Pathfinder music program even greater than it already is. …

You can read the entire message here. It also says the school is “organizing this week to determine how to replace the stolen equipment and how to protect it moving forward.”

We learned about the Pathfinder burglary hours after obtaining a report from SPD about a weekend burglary that seems likely related because the recovered items included what the report described as “several band instruments/equipment … labeled with Seattle Public Schools stickers.” Those items were found inside a stolen car near where police arrested a burglary suspect at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) early Sunday.

The report says officers were sent early Sunday after a call from a campus security guard who saw a person she had kicked off the property earlier in the night. When police arrived, they found a vehicle she reported having seen the person driving, parked in the “back maintenance area” of the campus. It had been reported stolen in Renton. Inside were the aforementioned stolen instruments (no further description except that they included a tuba) as well as “various power tools, several axes/machetes, a bucket full of keys, several burglary tools, and a full-faced plastic mask,” plus “suspected heroin.” The power tools and keys were identified as SSC property; the other items were taken to the Southwest Precinct as evidence. Meantime, officers searching the area discovered the 28-year-old suspect hiding in a storage closet. He was arrested and booked into King County Jail, from which the jail roster shows he was released tonight, after a day and a half.

TWO OTHER BREAK-IN ATTEMPTS: We also obtained police reports today on two other weekend incidents logged as “commercial burglaries,” though in both cases the would-be burglar(s) apparently were unsuccessful in gaining entry. Both happened at businesses on California Avenue SW, neither of which is identified by name in the reports. In the 5200 block of California SW, an employee arriving at work Sunday morning found “a front window broken out … to the right of the front sliding glass doors,” but there was no indication anyone got inside. In the 6500 block of California SW, also on Sunday morning, another front window was found broken at a business, with no indication of entry. In this case, the report says, security video recorded someone breaking the window by “using a lighter and unknown ‘accelerant/ to possibly burn a hole” in it.

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If you’re a Monday customer but your garbage/recycling/yard waste hasn’t been picked up yet …
January 3, 2022 5:46 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Jeremy Barton)

As shown in our previous story, Waste Management trucks were still having a tough time in some neighborhoods. So here’s an update from Seattle Public Utilities:

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.

Residential customers are permitted to set out double their normal amount of garbage, recycling, and compost this week for no additional charge. This includes recycling collection, even if it’s not your typical week for collection. Contractors will attempt to collect this ‘off-week’ recycling, if possible, but may not be able to collect all. Customers can call 206-684-3000 for additional support if needed.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Slush and sleet
January 3, 2022 3:47 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Snow’s gone but today’s weather still has had its challenges.

If your promised one-week-late solid-waste pickup hasn’t happened yet today, that might explain why. Jeremy Barton sent the video, explaining, “The truck was stuck at 51st Ave SW and SW College for about half an hour. Eventually a second, smaller, truck arrived and the driver of that truck (with assistance from other staff on the ground as spotters) was able to get it back up onto a less snowy/icy portion of 51st.”

And that was before this afternoon’s sleet (hail, graupel, ice pellets, etc.) and snow mix:

This unsettled weather is expected to hang around for the next few days – with rain and snow both in the forecast.

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UPDATE: Long lines for COVID-19 testing at two West Seattle middle schools, as superintendent reiterates plan to resume in-person classes Tuesday
January 3, 2022 1:48 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

1:48 PM: That’s just part of the line for this afternoon’s voluntary Seattle Public Schools student COVID-19 testing at Denny International Middle School – it started at 1 pm and when we went by around 1:15, the line had already wrapped through the parking lot and halfway up the block along SW Kenyon. We also got a report that people in line at the other West Seattle site, Madison Middle School, were being told there would be a two-hour wait. To compound matters, though our photo was taken in the sunshine, sleet/snow has since swept through the area, followed by rain. The testing is supposed to continue until at least 4 pm. We’re also awaiting an update from the district on the resumption of classes tomorrow – there was word that superintendent Dr. Brent Jones was expected to speak to staff around 11 am but then that was postponed.

3:39 PM: The district added a brief update to its website, timestamped 3:30 pm – “All SPS COVID testing sites have reached testing capacity and are no longer taking additional guests.” Meantime, a commenter has shared the link of the aforementioned speech from the superintendent – see it here or below:

He reiterates that they’re planning to resume in-person classes tomorrow.

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TERMINAL 5: First cargo-ship call scheduled for this week
January 3, 2022 11:30 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

(Wikimedia file photo of MSC Monterey)

MONDAY MORNING: We’ve been watching for word of the first cargo-ship call at the first modernized berth at West Seattle’s Terminal 5, and it’s just appeared on the newest Northwest Seaport Alliance calendar update: MSC Monterey is due at Terminal 5 on Thursday afternoon (January 6th). The schedule also shows MSC Margarita scheduled for T-5 two weeks later. Monterey, built in 2007, carries up to 5,000 containers (TEU); Margarita is slightly older and slightly larger, with a capacity of up to 6,000 containers. (That’s about a third of the potential capacity the revamped berth was designed to handle.) According to MarineTraffic.com, Monterey’s last port was Manzanillo, Mexico, from which it departed one week ago. We may hear more about T-5 when the Port of Seattle Commission meets online at noon tomorrow; that’ll be the first meeting for its newly elected commissioners Toshiko Grace Hasegawa and Hamdi Mohamed.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: The schedule has changed (as, with ships, it often does) and MSC Monterey is now due in Friday morning.

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WEST SEATTLE MONDAY: Here’s what’s up for the rest of today/tonight
January 3, 2022 10:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Texted photo – a sculpted bit of remaining snow at Lincoln Park this morning)

Back to almost-normal on this first post-holiday Monday. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox, here’s what’s up for the hours ahead:

GOLF COURSE CLOSED: Seattle Parks says the West Seattle Golf Course is closed today, not only to golfing as it has been since the snow started, but also to “snow activities,” since the slushy condition of what’s left is unsafe.

COVID TESTING FOR SPS STUDENTS: As announced last week, two West Seattle sites are offering voluntary testing to all Seattle Public Schools students 1-4 pm today – Denny International Middle School (2601 SW Kenyon)

TRIVIA X 3: Here are tonight’s three options – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Something for our calendar/daily previews? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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NEW YEAR: West Seattle Tae Kwon Do classes start Tuesday
January 3, 2022 9:11 am
|    Comments Off on NEW YEAR: West Seattle Tae Kwon Do classes start Tuesday
 |   High Point | West Seattle news

The new year brings a new season for many West Seattle activities – including Tae Kwon Do. Here’s the announcement:

The West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club is offering in-person classes at High Point Community Center in January. Adults (18 and older) can sign up to learn Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art known for its fast sparring techniques, dynamic forms, and strong kicks. Classes cost only $40/month and meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00-7:30 pm and Saturdays 9:30-11:30 am.

The first class for the new year is on Tuesday, January 4 from 6:00-7:30 pm. We will be wearing face masks and will be appropriately distanced for safety. New students can join at any time and beginners are definitely welcome!

Check out our website at westseattle.choitkd.org, email westseattletkd@gmail.com for questions, or call 206-684-7422 for registration information.

HPCC is at 6920 34th SW.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-snow Monday
January 3, 2022 6:03 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning! Be careful of slippery slush, after a night of heavy rain.

WEATHER

“Rain at times,” breezy forecast for today, and temperatures closer to seasonal normal.

SCHOOL NOTES

Seattle Public Schools aren’t reopening until tomorrow; Highline Public Schools are starting two hours late.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro expected to be back on its regular weekday schedule after ending Emergency Snow Network reductions Sunday. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

650th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Many area traffic cams were down as of early this morning – we’ll keep checking to see if that’s remedied – here are the two we have right now:

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

See all local traffic cams (when they’re working) here; locally relevant cameras are also 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.

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MONDAY SCHOOL NOTES: Reminder – COVID testing instead of classes for SPS tomorrow; Highline delayed; Vashon closed
January 2, 2022 8:45 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle weather

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.

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REMINDER: This week’s garbage/recycling plan, plus what to do with Christmas trees (updated Monday evening
January 2, 2022 7:39 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

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.)

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FOLLOWUP: This may finally be the year for long-delayed Don Armeni Boat Ramp project
January 2, 2022 5:59 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: This may finally be the year for long-delayed Don Armeni Boat Ramp project
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo)

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.”

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Neighbors rescue stuck USPS van
January 2, 2022 4:21 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

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.

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Seattle’s highest tides of the year due this week
January 2, 2022 2:24 pm
|    Comments Off on Seattle’s highest tides of the year due this week
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

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.

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BIZNOTE: New owners, name for gym north of Morgan Junction
January 2, 2022 12:21 pm
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTE: New owners, name for gym north of Morgan Junction
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

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.

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WHALES: Orcas passing West Seattle
January 2, 2022 10:23 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

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).

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: What’s happening post-holiday
January 2, 2022 6:43 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(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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ROAD REMINDER: The Big Melt hasn’t started yet
January 1, 2022 9:15 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

A texter sent that photo from Fairmount Ravine this afternoon and contacted SDOT to suggest this road should be closed. We’re publishing it as a reminder that aside from arterials, streets are still mostly covered in snow/ice and will be for a while longer – significant rain, and above-freezing air, isn’t due in until Sunday pm. SDOT offers this general reminder:

People driving in the city are advised to avoid steep, untreated streets – whether the street has a “road closed” sign or not. If you must drive, please stick to our plowed and treated snow network as much as possible and avoid the steep or challenging areas of the city.

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TRANSIT: Metro ending Emergency Snow Network early Sunday
January 1, 2022 6:34 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo, California/Alaska this afternoon)

As we get closer to thawing, Metro has announced it’ll start getting transit service back to normal:

Metro will deactivate the Emergency Snow Network (ESN) at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 2. All Metro bus routes active on weekends will operate on their regular schedules starting Jan. 2 where road conditions allow.

Metro vehicle maintenance crews have shifted away from chaining and retrieving stuck buses and have started repairs to damaged buses that operated during the winter storm. Metro is assessing the number of available buses and whether any routes may need to remain temporarily suspended on Monday, Jan. 3, as additional repairs are completed.

“Our transit professionals kept the region moving safely during the recent snowstorms,” said King County Metro General Manager Terry White. “Now we turn our attention to repairing buses damaged over the past week and again operating the broader all-day transit network that riders rely on.”

Riders traveling on Saturday, Jan. 1, should review what routes are operating on the Emergency Snow Network before traveling. On Sunday, Jan. 2, online resources will be updated to reflect any lingering snow routes where road conditions continue to be difficult for transit service. Masks are required on all public transportatio

Water taxi, Access and on-demand services

· Water taxi: The West Seattle route is not operating Jan. 1. Service will resume on Sunday, Jan. 2.

· Access paratransit currently provides only lifesaving and emergency trips depending on conditions and availability. Access continues to provide life-sustaining medical transportation. For Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, Access will continue to provide only lifesaving and emergency trips and will increase availability as routes become clear. Some roads in outlying areas of the county might continue to be impassable. Rides requested for riders who are not yet certified by Access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. During this time, customers who are not certified to use Access that need to connect to life-sustaining medical services can call 206-205-5000 to request services between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Access is working closely with bus service to meet the needs of all of our customers.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind Advisory alert for tonight/tomorrow (update: canceled)
January 1, 2022 5:06 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:06 PM SATURDAY: Just when you thought the extreme weather was over, with the snow past and the temperatures rising, there’s a new weather alert for our area – the National Weather Service has a Wind Advisory for 10 pm tonight through 4 pm Sunday. The alert predicts south winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50. Separate from this alert, the forecast calls for rain to return by late Sunday afternoon.

UPDATED SUNDAY MORNING: The alert’s been canceled for the metro area. Breezy weather is expected later today/tonight, but not alert-level wind.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S DAY: Hundreds start 2022 with Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim
January 1, 2022 1:45 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video unless other credited)

Imagining yourself in the tropics is one way to make it through the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim at Alki Beach. Another is to consider that – today, anyway – the water was a lot warmer than the air: 47 degrees and 25 degrees, respectively. Despite the subfreezing air, hundreds were ready to go when organizer Mark Ufkes counted them down at 10 am:

(Photo by Scott Nelson)

While running into the water and immediately running out is the prevalent participation level, some lingered:

This was the first en-masse “swim” since 2020, when the air and water both were warmer – both 50 degrees, we noted that day.

ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Robert Spears for these photos:

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READER REPORTS: Early-morning trouble on the roads, roadside
January 1, 2022 12:57 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks for the updates from the early-morning hours:

That photo is from Kathleen, who says the midsize Seattle Fire callout at 16th/Cambridge just after 5 am was for an RV fire. No medic unit dispatched, which indicates no major injuries, but we are checking with SFD.

From Ann:

3 cars were involved in an accident on the 3000 block of SW Andover last night / early morning 4 AM -ish. The black Kia crashed through a residential fence.

Same Kia is completely blocking the sidewalk. SPD said tow trucks won’t / can’t come until conditions are better so sidewalk is completely blocked for now.

Another great grea example of why steep streets get closed under icy conditions and why it’s a good idea to heed the signs.

No SFD dispatch with this one, which indicates no injuries reported.

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