As the holiday weekend ends, here’s our weekly check of countywide and West Seattle COVID stats from the past week. Overall, cases are up countywide for a tenth week, but the rate of increase has slowed dramatically; hospitalizations and deaths are down. Here are the numbers, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:

*1 percent more cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 1,244 new daily cases countywide (up from 1,118 when we checked a week ago)

*14 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 15 new hospitalizations daily (same as a week ago)

*16 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 2 deaths daily (same two-week average as last week)

For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (these are the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge):
*1,043 cases between 5/9 and 5/23, up from 730 between 4/24 and 5/8
*8 hospitalizations between 5/9 and 5/23, same as between 4/24 and 5/8
*No deaths between 5/9 and 5/23, same as between 4/24 and 5/8

VACCINATION: Boosters are now recommended for everyone 5 and up. Checking vaccination rates:
*81.2 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*85.9 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (unchanged from a week ago)
*49.4 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .2% from a week ago)

*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (reminder, 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 88.2% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 53.4% have had a booster
98116 – 93,1% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 65.2% have had a booster
98126 – 83.8% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 55.3% have had a booster
98136 – 93.9% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 68.3% have had a booster
98146 – 83.2% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 48.3% have had a booster

VACCINATION AND TESTING, UPDATED HOURS: One pop-up clinic in the week ahead – you can get vaccinated at Loop the ‘Lupe, 10 am-3 pm Saturday (June 4th) at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle) – go here for an appointment, or just walk up. Otherwise, look for vaccination locations via this statewide lookup. … If you want to get tested and don’t have a kit at home, public testing sites include the city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, 9 am-5:30 pm Mondays-Saturdays except holidays) and the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday except holidays). … If you need to report self-test results, that’s explained on this page.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Three cases of confirmed gunfire

May 30, 2022 7:43 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

SPD published a roundup tonight of confirmed gun-involved incidents around the city this weekend. Three cases of confirmed gunfire – no injuries – were in West Seattle:

SATURDAY, 4:21 AM: Officers “found multiple shell casings” after 911 callers said they heard gunfire in the 6900 block of Delridge Way SW [map].

SUNDAY, 1:37 AM: Officers “collected shell casings and documented ballistic damage to a parked car” after getting reports of “two groups … shooting at each other” in the 1000 block of Harbor Avenue SW [map].

SUNDAY, 6:13 AM: Police found “ballistic evidence” after residents in the 8800 block of 9th SW [map] called to report suspected gunfire. Officers were told of “a male suspect chasing another man through back yards, including scaling a shed at one point.”

Share This

MEMORIAL DAY SCENES: ‘Taps’ tribute; flag ceremony

May 30, 2022 7:28 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Two more West Seattle Memorial Day scenes:

‘TAPS’ TRIBUTE: As part of “Taps Across America,” Greg Dirks played “Taps” “from my home next to Lincoln Park in honor of our Dad, Marty, who passed away last year, and in honor of all Veterans.”

FLAG CEREMONY: Many Scouts assisted with tributes this Memorial Day, including BSA Troop 282. Chad sent this photo:

Chad reports, “Troop 282 was on hand to assist Norman from Arrowhead Gardens with the Memorial Day flag ceremony.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Jeep

May 30, 2022 5:03 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Yet another stolen vehicle to watch for. David sent the report and photo:

1998 Jeep Wrangler TJ. Stolen from West Seattle last night on the corner of 24th Ave. SW and Holden. Plate: BPM8757.

Share This

West Seattle’s newest Little Free Art Gallery

May 30, 2022 3:35 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle’s newest Little Free Art Gallery

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos)

West Seattle has another Little Free Art Gallery. This one’s at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), “made by an awesome customer,” explains C & P co-proprietor Cameron Moores.

You’ll find it on C & P’s covered outdoor north-side porch. Cameron adds, “Anyone is welcome to contribute art or take some home.” P.S. If you’re in the mood for beverages and/or art, C & P is open today until 6 pm.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Forester

May 30, 2022 1:35 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Forester

| Crime | West Seattle live

Another stolen vehicle to watch for – Marina sent the photos and report:

My black ‘99 Subaru Forester was stolen near the Farmers’ Market around Genesee and 40th yesterday while I was working. License plate CAU3434.

Share This

UPDATE: Large number of harbor porpoises, northbound; transient orcas too

May 30, 2022 11:33 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

11:33 AM: Per a caller from The Arroyos, hundreds of harbor porpoises, not too far off shore, are headed northbound in Puget Sound off west-facing West Seattle. Let us know if you see them!

11:53 AM: The caller, James, also sent that photo of a few of them, to show how close to shore they were as they passed.

12:23 PM: Thanks to Chris Frankovich and Kersti Muul for word that transient orcas are headed northbound off West Seattle too, not that far behind the porpoises.

Share This

HOLIDAY HELPING: Volunteers line The Junction with Stars & Stripes for Memorial Day

May 30, 2022 11:30 am

| Comments Off on HOLIDAY HELPING: Volunteers line The Junction with Stars & Stripes for Memorial Day

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

American flags line the heart of the West Seattle Junction again this Memorial Day, placed this morning by volunteers of all ages:

In the photo above is the Blunk family, who not only volunteered to help with the flags, but also are among the donors who covered the cost of a flag in the Junction Association‘s flag-funding drive.

Volunteers will gather again at 4 pm to start removing them – if you can help with that, the meeting spot is on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, outside the historic Campbell Building.

Share This

MEMORIAL DAY 2022: West Seattle notes

May 30, 2022 6:21 am

| Comments Off on MEMORIAL DAY 2022: West Seattle notes

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Sunday at Forest Lawn)

Good morning. Notes for the holiday:

TRANSIT

Metro: Sunday schedule

West Seattle Water Taxi: Sunday schedule

Washington State Ferries: See today’s schedules here

Sound Transit: Sunday schedule

TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Our page highlighting local cameras is here

SDOT’s map with cameras and alerts from around the city is here

(added) OPEN/CLOSED

Usually not a big holiday for changed business hours but we’ve heard from two: Circa (2605 California SW) is open for breakfast/lunch today but closed for dinner; C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 7 am-6 pm.

HAPPENING TODAY

Junction flag help – 9 am and/or 4 pm, meet up with volunteers at the northeast corner of California/Alaska to help put up and/or take down the American flags commemorating the holiday.

Memorial Day poppies – Drive, ride, or walk up to American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) 10 am-4 pm for your poppy, by donation, to help veterans.

Outdoor-gear sale – Next door to Post 160, new WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters‘ sale continues today, 11 am-6 pm. (3602 SW Alaska)

Low tide with beach naturalists – Today’s -1.7-foot low tide at 11:39 am is not super-low, but Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be out again today. Find them at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park 10:30 am-12:30 pm.

The Clay Cauldron’s anniversary – 1-4 pm, shop, create, celebrate the pottery studio’s first anniversary! (5214 Delridge Way SW)

(Photo sent by Al)