day : 20/03/2022 8 results

(WSB photos)

Being an astronomer in Seattle means to be ever-hopeful of a break in the clouds, as Alice Enevoldsen observed during her quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch.

She and a handful of hardy skywatchers gathered at Solstice Park, where, if the setting sun had been in view, it would have lined up with this granite marker:

Despite its absence, Alice proceeded with her traditional interactive demonstration of where the Earth and Sun are at during the equinoxes and solstices.

She’s been doing this quarterly for a dozen years, as part of her volunteer role as a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and in the spirit of her career as an educator. It’s always on the first sunset after the equinox/solstice moment, so tonight’s schedule was determined by spring’s arrival at 8:33 this morning. Along with showing participants the solar-system basics, she’s there for Q&A, and in the pre-pandemic days led other out-of-this-world events from eclipse viewing to impromptu aurora-seeking. She’s online at alicesastroinfo.com and @alicesastroinfo on Twitter.

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OPEN AGAIN: Southwest Teen Life Center ‘getting everything back up and running’

March 20, 2022 9:28 pm

| Comments Off on OPEN AGAIN: Southwest Teen Life Center ‘getting everything back up and running’

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Southwest Teen Life Center, adjacent to Southwest Pool at 2801 SW Thistle, wants everyone to know it’s open again for activities. “We are just now getting everything back up and running,” says Trina at SWTLC. She tells WSB that right now it’s open 1:30-8 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 3 pm-midnight Fridays, 6-10 pm Saturdays, and that’ll expand to 6 pm-midnight Saturdays starting in April. And speaking of April – they’re planning something big for spring-break week:

SWTLC is a Seattle Parks and Recreation facility.

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CORONAVIRUS: This week’s check of West Seattle and countywide trends/stats

March 20, 2022 7:02 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

After the first full week of semi-masklessness, here’s our weekly update of key local numbers, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard.

*25 percent fewer cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 170 new daily cases countywide (down from 226 when we checked a week ago)

*53 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 3 new hospitalizations daily (down from 6 a week ago)

*48 percent fewer deaths countywide in the past two weeks than the two weeks before (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 3 deaths daily (down from 4 a week ago)

For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (these are the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge):
*153 cases between 2/28 and 3/14, down from 254 between 2/13 and 2/27
*1 hospitalization between 2/28 and 3/14, down from 6 between 2/13 and 2/27
*No deaths between 2/28 and 3/14, down from 1 between 2/13 and 2/27

And checking vaccination rates:
*80.2 percent of all King County residents have completed the series (up .1% from a week ago)
*84.9 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the series (up .1% from a week ago)

*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (note that 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 87.2% (up .2% from a week earlier)
98116 – 92% (unchanged from a week earlier)
98126 – 82.8% (unchanged from a week earlier)
98136 – 93.1% (up .1% from a week earlier)
98146 – 82% (up .3% from a week earlier)

Although the city’s West Seattle clinic is closed, you can still find vaccination locations via this statewide lookup. Public testing sites include the city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, Mondays-Saturdays), the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, Mondays-Fridays), and the Curative van at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, Mondays-Fridays).

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Hope along Holden

March 20, 2022 4:49 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos)

The coterie of artists and poets who have been creating signboard art installations along SW Holden by Highland Park Improvement Club [map] have done it again. They welcomed spring this morning by placing newly painted boards voicing hope – with the flip sides spelling HPIC via bird portraits:

The bird portraits were inspired by David Allen Sibley‘s book “What It’s Like to Be a Bird.” The creators are, from left below, Monica Cavagnaro (lead painter), Judith Camann (poet), Kay Kirkpatrick (themes), and Kelly Lyles (fonts):

Kirkpatrick says, “We just want people to have a good time while sitting in traffic.” The “hope” expressed by the boards this time has multiple meanings – including hope that the West Seattle Bridge will indeed reopen this year, removing some of the detour traffic that’s filled Holden, and hope of a rebirth for the fire-gutted HPIC building. (Next meeting about the rebuilding project is April 6th – watch HPIC’s website for details on that, as well as for word of a community cleanup on the citywide Day of Service April 23rd.)

P.S. It’s been more than a year and a half since the first HPIC streetside-art boards!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen delivery van recovered

March 20, 2022 3:12 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Pat sent the report:

An Amazon truck and a police car showed up this morning at 51st and Pritchard to recover a stolen delivery van. The stolen van was found empty. Late Saturday afternoon two white delivery vans drove into the residential neighborhood just northwest of Admiral. Delivery boxes were transferred from one to the other. One van was abandoned; the second van left with the stolen packages and the two drivers. The recovery driver said the Amazon delivery van was stolen from Alki when the driver was making a delivery.

We don’t have an incident number for the original theft but the recovery is logged as 22-0069340. We reported last week on another delivery-vehicle theft, with that one resulting in an arrest and felony charge; the suspect in that case remains in jail.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Miles Gosztola of West Seattle HS honored as statewide Athlete of the Week

March 20, 2022 12:29 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Congratulations to West Seattle High School baseball player Miles Gosztola, honored by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association as one of its statewide Athletes of the Week. In announcing the honor, WSHS Athletics noted, “Miles earned a WSHS ‘W’ last Saturday in a 3-1 victory at Meadowdale HS. Miles pitched 5 innings, striking out 8 and allowing 0 runs.” That win was the start to an undefeated first week of the season for the Wildcats.

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Memorial service April 4 for Dr. Susanne Gee, 1952-2022

March 20, 2022 10:14 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Thanks to the reader who sent the link to this remembrance announcing the death of Dr. Susanne Gee, a longtime West Seattle dermatologist who had moved to New Mexico in her retirement. Dr. Gee died this week, not long after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition to her practice, she also was active in the local community over years of involvement with the Rotary Club of West Seattle. Dr. Gee’s memorial is set for April 4th at Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 notes for the start of spring

March 20, 2022 6:34 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 notes for the start of spring

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunset from Beach Drive earlier this week, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Spring arrives at 8:33 this morning. Here’s what else is noteworthy today/tonight:

ROAD-WORK ALERT: Repaving is scheduled to continue today on Marine View Drive between SW 104th and SW 106th, 7:30 am-3:30 pm

CHURCHES: Many West Seattle churches are continuing online services, with most resuming in-person too – here’s our weekly update on 20+ churches.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Last day for sales. Check here to find your nearest cookie-booth times and locations!

LAST DAY OF ONLINE AUCTION: Fauntleroy Children’s Center has one more day of benefit bidding – get started here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – at the weekly WSFM (WSB sponsor). (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

DONATION DRIVE: 11 am-3 pm, drop off food and/or clothing donations at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – our preview has info on what’s needed.

ARTSWEST MATINEE: ArtsWest‘s new play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” continues this afternoon, 3:00 pm, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 3 pm, Lookout Mountain brings its country sound to C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: 5 pm, Aurora Avenue, Okay-ish, School of Rock West Seattle House Band perform at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). All ages. $5 at the door.

NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).

EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH: 6:30-7:30 pm at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), join Alice Enevoldsen for the seasons-change sunset watch, as previewed here.

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: New time, 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Have an event to list on our calendar? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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