West Seattle, Washington
19 Saturday
Three notes this afternoon:
TRIANGLE POLICE RESPONSE: Thanks to the reader who sent a tip about that big police response in the alley between Link and Lien Animal Clinic a short time ago. We went over to find out what was going on; police at the scene told us they had detained a suspect they had been seeking in relation to an assault on an officer. No other details so far.
STOLEN ROLLERBLADES: Tracey emailed this report this morning:
Reporting a car prowl at 30th ave SW and Holden evening of 9/13. Hoping readers could keep an eye out for my stolen rollerblades. I imagine they will get dumped. Sunglasses and prescription glasses too.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: From Amy:
I found this ditched bike near my apartment (Alki area) this morning.
Yours? Let us know and we’ll connect you.
Three West Seattle biznotes:
WYATT’S JEWELERS SALE: Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 15th) marks the start of a weeklong end-of-summer sale at longtime WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers in Westwood Village. 10 percent off everything in the store, and higher discounts on some items.
POKE TODAY AT GRILLBIRD: Matt at Grillbird Teriyaki (35th/Morgan) sent word of a one-day poké pop-up:
Starts at 4 pm and goes until we sell out.
Menu includes: garlic shoyu or spicy ahi poké bowls and Poké nachos! We will also be selling grilled Spam musubi’s and ginger pineapple lemonades.
We will also have a live ukulele player welcoming and entertaining guests in the parking lot!
SAMILA & CO. CONTEST & SALE: Bride-to-be? Know one? If you – or they – are working on the front lines of the pandemic, Samila & Co. (4306 SW Walker) is giving away a wedding dress – and today’s the last day to enter. This page explains how. Separate from that, proprietor Yasmin Shirdel adds:
Separately from the giveaway, we are extending an additional discount of 25% off a brand-new dress (not the traditional sample discount structure) – this is an unprecedented discount for a current-season dress – to all brides.
The sale is Friday-Sunday, September 18-20. Samila’s outlet in North Admiral has been open 2 1/2 years.
(Photo by Tony Welch)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As noted here last week, the citywide bridge audit – ordered by City Council Transportation Chair Alex Pedersen after the sudden West Seattle Bridge closure – will be presented to councilmembers this week. In advance of that, the audit document is out today, along with SDOT’s response. We’ve just read it. First, so you can read it too, here it is:
(You can also see it on the city website.)
The audit, by the City Auditor’s Office, counts West Seattle’s city bridges as 20 separate structures (see page 31), 8 rated “good” as of last year, the other 12 (including all sections of the high bridge) rated “fair,” the middle of three categories in the federal rating system. “Fair” is how a majority of the city’s bridges are rated:
But the audit does not dive into specific conditions of specific bridges – it is an overview of the program in general, as explained:
We analyzed 77 vehicle traffic bridges that are owned and maintained by SDOT. These bridges have a median age of 70 years.
According to 2019 Federal Highway Administration pavement and bridge condition performance measures, although Seattle has a high number of poor and fair bridges (based on the federal rating system of good, fair, and poor), this is comparable with peer cities around the country. Nevertheless, even bridges in fair condition, like the West Seattle High Bridge, can require major, unexpected closures.
Over the last decade, a larger percentage of Seattle’s bridges have gotten worse compared to those that have gotten better. Over the past 14 years, the average amount SDOT spent on bridge maintenance was $6.6 million annually. 3 However, according to knowledgeable SDOT officials, the City is not spending enough to keep its bridges in good condition and avoid costly future repairs.
… The number of Seattle’s bridges that are in poor or fair condition is concerning for two reasons. First, several of the largest and busiest bridges that connect communities across Seattle are not in good condition, which means they are at an elevated risk of unexpected closures that could affect thousands of people. For example: the University Bridge on average carries 36,000 vehicles daily and is rated poor; the Magnolia Bridge on average carries\ 20,000 vehicles daily and is rated poor; and before it was closed this year, the West Seattle High Bridge on average carried 108,179 vehicles daily and was in fair condition.
Most of SDOT’s bridges are in fair condition but, over time, the condition of the overall bridge portfolio has gotten worse. During this time, the percent of total bridges in good condition has declined from 38 percent to 29 percent (see Exhibit 5). According to federal guidance, SDOT should be working to preserve good bridges in good condition to maintain the structural reliability of bridges and avoid future costly repairs. SDOT is not meeting this goal and only 22 out of its 77 bridges are in good condition.
The audit also notes that while SDOT should have a higher budget for bridge maintenance, it hasn’t spent what it has:
Since 2006, SDOT has spent 93 percent of its budget for bridge maintenance. From 2006 to 2019, Seattle budgeted $98.5 million for bridge maintenance and spent $91.9 million (see Exhibit 7, dollar amounts have been adjusted for inflation). As Exhibit 7 shows, the budget did not always align with actual expenditures on a year-by-year basis. Some of this is to be expected. For example, in 2008 SDOT underspent their bridge maintenance budget because they were saving funds for a large bridge painting project. This large painting project, the University Bridge, was completed in 2009. This use of funds that carryover from one year to the next occurs when the funding for these projects comes from the City’s Capital Improvement Program budget. SDOT officials told us the reason for the underspend between 2016 and 2018 was primarily because they did not have enough staff to perform planned maintenance activities.
SDOT estimates annual maintenance expenditures should be equivalent to one to three percent of the total replacement cost for the fixed assets being maintained, or, for bridges over 60 years old, a minimum of $34 million per year.
In a response letter that’s also included with the audit document, SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe blames the underspending on “that maintenance program delivery fluctuates based on work accrual and staff capacity.”
The audit also contains a critique of “some legacy practices and information gaps [that] hinder its ability to properly keep the bridge portfolio in a state of good repair,” with a declaration that “SDOT lacks critical information for developing a strategic bridge preservation program, including an assessment of the level and mix of staffing resources needed to maintain their bridges.”
One example reveals that SDOT bridge-maintenance staff doesn’t spend all its time on bridge maintenance:
One such practice is using bridge maintenance workers to perform reimbursable work, unrelated to SDOT bridges, for other agencies. SDOT estimates that 20 percent of their bridge maintenance staff capacity is dedicated to performing reimbursable work for other divisions within SDOT, other City departments, or other local governments. This means that two out of every ten hours of SDOT’s bridge inspection and maintenance crew work are not being used on the upkeep of Seattle’s bridges, but to help supplement the department’s budget. SDOT told us they lack the money to fully fund their bridge maintenance staff without the revenue from\ reimbursable work, which means they would need
to make reductions to stay within budget.
Plus, the audit says, “SDOT does not have information on what staffing levels are needed to support essential bridge maintenance, making it difficult to plan for and complete this work.”
The audit also observes that “SDOT does not currently calculate the useful life of its bridges in a precise way, which hinders its ability to efficiently respond to bridge maintenance needs.”
In SDOT’s reply, director Zimbabwe contends that “the issues that led to the closure of (the West Seattle Bridge) do not appear to be the result of any deficiency in our bridge maintenance program.”
Overall, the SDOT response also says it’ll take three years – until the end of 2023 – to make changes/additions responding to all the audit’s 10 recommendations, 9 of which the department says it fully agrees with.
The presentation of the audit is scheduled for Wednesday morning’s meeting of the council’s Transportation and Utilities Committee, 9:30 am; the agenda includes information on watching the meeting and signing up to comment. Meantime, here’s Councilmember Pedersen’s news release responding to the audit, and here’s the SDOT Blog post with how the department summarizes the audit and its own responses.
(Monday morning photo by Stewart L.)
10:12 AM: Monday morning and still smoky. Two notes for starters, and we’ll add anything else of note related to the smoke in the hours ahead:
SEATTLE PARKS: As first reported here last night, parks, playfields, boat ramps, golf courses remain closed today because of the unhealthy air. (Added: The closures have now been extended through Wednesday.)
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Curbside service is suspended again today.
(added) CITY-RUN COVID-19 TESTING SITES: Closed today, including the one at Southwest Athletic Complex.
(added) MADISON MS TEXTBOOK/MATERIALS PICKUP: Canceled for today.
Other closures/cancellations? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
ADDED 11:36 AM: Though the air-quality alert has expired for now, an update from AlertSeattle notes, “Wildfire smoke making air quality ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ is expected to remain in the area through the middle of this week.”
1:50 PM: The expiration didn’t last long. There’s a new air-quality alert in effect through noon Thursday.
6:25 AM: It’s Monday, the 175th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
FERRIES
The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is back to 2 boats as of early this morning after repairs to MV Issaquah. (Update: The Issaquah broke down again, but has been replaced by the Sealth.)
ROAD WORK, ETC.
*Delridge project: Here’s the latest update, with word of overnight work the next two nights, and closures the next two weekends.
*1st Avenue S. Bridge: One more NB overnight closure for the deck-panel replacement project is planned this Wednesday night (September 16th), WSDOT tells WSB.
*Westwood Village parking lot: Repaving is expected to start this week. The lot section immediately south of the post office appears to be where work will start; we’ll be checking later this morning.
CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU GO
Here’s the 5-way intersection camera (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Here’s the restricted-daytime-access (open to all 9 pm-5 am) low bridge:
The main detour route across the Duwamish River is the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) . Here’s that camera:
The other major bridge across the river is the South Park Bridge (map). Here’s that camera:
Going through South Park? Don’t speed.
Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed for info about any of those bridges opening for marine traffic.
You can see all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.
TRANSIT
Metro – Still reduced service and distancing, with some changes starting this Saturday (September 19th), and the potential return of fares on/around October 1st.
Water Taxi – Still on its “winter” schedule, with the 773 and 775 shuttles running – see the schedule here.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Coming up at online meetings of the Southwest Design Review Board, 2 South Delridge projects less than a block apart:
(Sketch from 9201 Delridge meeting packet by Atelier Drome)
9201 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Four months ago, we reported on the latest changes for this site – a new developer, new architect, and new plan. The current plan, described as “a 5-story, 71-unit apartment building with retail” and no offstreet vehicle parking, will go before the SWDRB at 4 pm Thursday, October 1st. This is the Early Design Guidance phase, so discussion will focus on the “massing” (size/shape) and other basic comments. The meeting packet is already online, here; details on how to attend the meeting (and how to comment) are here.
(Rendering from 9218 18th SW draft meeting packet by Caron Architecture)
9218 18TH SW: Two weeks later – at 4 pm Thursday, October 15th – the board will get its first look at this similar-size project, described as “a 5-story, 59-unit apartment building with [~5.242 square feet of] retail” and 25 offstreet vehicle-parking spaces. We first mentioned the plan for this site six months ago. The draft meeting packet is already online. Connection information for the meeting will appear here within a few weeks.
Heading into mid-September, our nightly virus-crisis update:
KING COUNTY’S NEWEST NUMBERS: First, the cumulative totals from the Public Health daily-summary dashboard:
*20,868 people have tested positive, up 68 from yesterday’s total
*743 people have died, unchanged since Friday
*2,301 people have been hospitalized, up 7 from yesterday’s total
*398,514 people have been tested, up 1,783 from yesterday’s total
One week ago, the totals were 20,264/734/2,260/380.454.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 28.9 million cases and more than 922,000 deaths – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
BACK TO (IN-PERSON) SCHOOL: Seattle Lutheran High School says it’ll start phasing in in-person classes tomorrow.
DONATION DRIVE: Early alert – food and clothing donations will be accepted, drive-up/no-contact style, at Hope Lutheran‘s parking lot next Saturday, 10 am-noon. Full details in our calendar listing.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(One of the sun’s brief appearances this weekend – photo by Ron Creel)
Two notes as this smoky weekend concludes:
CITY PARK CLOSURES: Seattle Parks announced via Twitter tonight:
Due to ongoing poor air quality, we’re extending closure of beaches, boat ramps, parks, & playfields through end of Mon., 9/14. The City is not issuing citations, but all residents are strongly encouraged to avoid outdoor activities & remain inside if able until quality improves.
SO WHEN WILL IT IMPROVE? Maybe not as soon as originally forecast. From the National Weather Service‘s “forecast discussion” tonight:
Stubborn smoke continues to hang on around most of Western Washington with unhealthy air quality expected to linger into Monday. Surface gradients remain light and this will do little to disperse anything across the lowlands. A broad upper trough offshore will send a weakening frontal system into the region Monday night into Tuesday, but models are backing off considerably with precip chances.
Any other changes/closures for Monday? Let us know so we can include in our updates – thank you!
7:13 PM: If you’re heading off-peninsula and northbound soon, you’ll want to be aware of this: A major emergency response for a 3-car crash just north of the 1st Avenue South Bridge is sending everyone off the northbound bridge at Michigan. Here’s the “live” camera’s latest view from the bridge, looking south over the NB lanes:
Updates as we get them.
7:52 PM: This will likely be closed a while – it’s now a fatality investigation. SFD says a man died at the scene; a woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center, in critical condition.
9:29 PM: East Marginal is still closed both ways at the scene.
10:28 PM: Per scanner, they’re “releasing traffic control” at the scene, so the road should be reopening.
6:57 PM: Just in from Washington State Ferries:
The #2 Issaquah is out of service until further notice due to #1 main engine issues. This cancels the 6:30 p.m., 7:25 p.m., 8:25 p.m. from Vashon to Fauntleroy, the 7:00 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:50 p.m. from Fauntleroy to Vashon, the 9:20 p.m. from Vashon to Southworth and the 9:45 p.m. from Southworth to Vashon.
9:34 PM: Still on one boat, and that one’s running behind schedule, WSF says.
12:10 AM: WSF says the Issaquah is fixed, and will be back in service starting at 4:05 am.
While air pollution is on everyone’s minds, remember that while some causes – like the wildfire smoke – are very visible yet very temporary, there are other ongoing, often hard-to-see sources. This weekend there’s an update on an ongoing air- and water-quality situation along the Duwamish River – involving one of the many industrial sites along the waterfront, Seattle Iron & Metals in Georgetown. Puget Soundkeeper sent this update:
Puget Soundkeeper (Soundkeeper) and Seattle Iron & Metals Corp. (SIMC) filed an amended consent decree in the US District Court after SIMC failed to meet pollution-control deadlines established in an initial settlement filed last year.
To protect the health and welfare of Duwamish Valley residents impacted by air and water pollution from SIMC’s operations, Soundkeeper and SIMC negotiated a new agreement which requires SIMC to pay an additional $90,000 to community organizations to fund local restoration and pollution mitigation work. This payment is in addition to the $200,000 SIMC was required to pay under the original consent decree.
“It is important that Seattle Iron and Metals be held accountable for its commitments to control its pollution,” said Josh Osborne-Klein, Puget Soundkeeper Interim Staff Attorney. “For far too long, this facility has been contributing to the disproportionate environmental burden carried by Duwamish Valley residents.”
“Especially today, given the unacceptable levels of air quality in the Duwamish Valley, we are grateful that our Coalition member, Puget Soundkeeper, has ensured that penalties will be placed on Seattle Iron and Metals,” said Robin Schwartz, South Park resident and Advocacy Manager for the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. “Our community, and especially our youth and children, deserve healthy air to breathe. Going forward, it is our hope that SIMC meets its air pollution control deadlines as required, and that people living in the Valley can coexist healthfully with industry.”
While SIMC completed some of the water pollution control measures required in the initial agreement, SIMC failed to apply for permits for the air pollution control equipment needed to decrease its pollution discharges by December 2018. This failure resulted in significant delays in installing the required air pollution control equipment.
Permitting for the new air pollution control equipment is already underway, but is anticipated to take several months to complete. The new agreement imposes the following deadlines for completion of the air pollution controls, tied to the date of permit issuance:
o Trommel enclosure: Within 21 weeks of permit issuance. Estimated completion in April 2021.
o Wind fences: Within 23 weeks of permit issuance. Estimated completion in November 2021.
o Shredder enclosure: Within 63 weeks of permit issuance. Estimated completion in August 2022.
The new agreement also includes significant penalties against SIMC if it fails to comply with the new deadlines.
In addition, the amended consent decree prohibits SIMC from operating its shredder equipment – a major source of air pollution – on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and federal holidays during the dry season until the new air pollution control equipment is operational. SIMC is also obligated to perform continuous dust emissions monitoring under the direction of an air pollution expert for two additional years after the air pollution controls are operational to determine their effectiveness, and take additional corrective actions if the expert determines the controls are not effective in reducing dust concentrations.
The new agreement requires SIMC to continue stormwater monitoring and maintain stormwater treatment facilities implemented under the original consent decree. Other requirements in the original consent decree are still in force. See prior press release for summary.
Immediate and expansive improvements are needed as local residents continue to be disproportionately affected by the pollution from SIMC’s facility, compounded by the impacts of the West Seattle Bridge closure and the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2013 report that examined a range of disproportionate health exposures and impacts affecting people in the Duwamish Valley revealed that the 98108 zip code (where SIMC is located) has some of the worst air quality in the region. Driven by community health concerns, the initial settlement required dust controls intended to reduce the disproportionate burden on residents who rightfully deserve a clean and healthy living space.
The Duwamish River also supports significant wildlife populations, including endangered Chinook salmon.
For backstory, go here – that’s our report from early last year on a community briefing about the settlement.
Two reader reports:
ROCK INCIDENT: We got multiple reports from Gatewood about someone in a car throwing a rock at a letter carrier on Saturday, as shown toward the end of the short video above, sent by Keith. One of the other witnesses, Carter, reported retrieving the rock afterward and saying it “could have done major damage.” So far as we know, the letter carrier was not hurt.
ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE: We’ve received word of two sightings in the past three days of this motorcycle near Longfellow Creek, which suggests it’s been dumped there:
That photo is from Jeff; there’s a plate on the motorcycle, starting with 2E. We’ve already checked with the person who emailed about a similar motorcycle stolen in Top Hat recently; not theirs. Police also have been notified.
Three Port of Seattle notes:
PARK NAMES: After the month-long name-nominating process for its parks on the Duwamish River, the port plans an online event at noon Tuesday (September 15th) to announce the three finalists for each park, and what happens next. Here’s how to watch/listen.
HOW TO REPORT A PARK PROBLEM: Bob recently emailed a photo of extensive tagging at a Jack Block Park restroom building. We checked with the port regarding how to report something like that. Spokesperson Peter McGraw says using the contact form on this webpage is best for vandalism/trash.
MORE CRANES TO BE MOVED: As previously reported, three cranes were recently moved from West Seattle’s Terminal 5 to Tacoma (one on August 26th, two on September 5th). If you’re on the north-facing West Seattle shore, you might see two more cranes go by late in the week – two are being removed from T-46 downtown, to be scrapped. McGraw gave us this schedule:
9/14: Monday…barge arrives and will build temporary rails for transporting the cranes on the barge.
9/16: Wednesday…load first crane on to barge
9/17: Thursday…load second crane into barge
9/18: Friday…barge to sail.
(Not sure where T-46 is? See a port map here.)
(WSB photo)
12:28 PM: Just dispatched: Seattle Fire rescue-extrication response for a crash at 32hd/Trenton [map]. Two vehicles are reported to be involved, one flipped with a person trapped inside. Police are already there and say the trapped passenger is conscious. Updates to come.
12:34 PM: SFD says the trapped passenger has been extricated.
12:43 PM: Photo added. No serious injuries reported so far. Police say they are investigating whether this might be the result of one of the drivers running through a stop sign.
Two weeks into the school year, Seattle Lutheran High School on the north edge of The Junction will be welcoming some of its students back on campus starting tomorrow. From SLHS executive director Dave Meyer:
We are one of very few high schools in the state that are beginning in-building classes. The only independent high school in West Seattle is beginning in-person instruction on Monday, Sept. 14. Our students will be in person on Monday (Sept. 14) and Tuesday (Sept. 15) and then working toward an in-person schedule for 4 days a week.
With our unique size, this is possible, and our families also have the option to stay virtual because each family has a unique story.
Monday (Sept. 14) and Tuesday (Sept. 15)
Arrival times:
Freshmen/Sophomores – 8:15 am-8:30 am
Juniors/ Seniors – 8:30 am-8:45 am
Classes begin at 8:45 am
SLHS has ~130 students.
(Saturday photo by Tami Lenzie)
Another smoky day – with the air-quality alert still in effect – but relief is on the way sometime tomorrow, they say. Meantime, here’s our Sunday list, starting with West Seattle church services (mostly online, with a few in-person additions):
ADMIRAL UCC: The worship service for today is here.
ALKI UCC: 10 am online service via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.
ALL SOULS SEATTLE: Updated worship info is here – today is a drive-thru “Communion Sunday.”
BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming for West Seattle here at 9:30 am.
CALVARY CHAPEL: Today’s service audio is here, plus 10 am in-person service, 6 pm online all-church prayer and 7 pm online evening worship (info on home page).
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: West Seattle Ward has Sunday services via Zoom at 10 am, one hour long, all welcome. They last an hour. Here’s the link.
EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.
FAUNTLEROY UCC: Service will be streamed at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.
GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.
HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.
HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 8:30 am and 10:30 am here. Also, “in-person” attendance by pre-registration for both those Sunday Masses (as well as 5 pm Saturdays); preregister here.
HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, here. (To attend in-person Saturday Masses, register here.)
PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: 9 am, first parking-lot service in church/school lots – decorate your vehicle – bulletin is here, with info including the radio frequency. ONLINE: 10 am Kidz Club, 11:15 am Worship from the Sanctuary, both via YouTube (that bulletin is here).
TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today is here.
TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am. (In-person services too; registration required.)
WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.
WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 11 am.
WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel. (In-person prayer services during the week start Tuesday – info here.)
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming at 10:30 am – information on today’s service is here.
WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online (and in-person) worship at 11 am; info here.
Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Also today/tonight (subject to last-minute change, but this is what we know as of early today):
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, the market says it’s ON despite the smoke. (And did you know they recently got approval to increase the capacity a bit, meaning less waiting in line?) 10 am-2 pm. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska)
DONATION DRIVE: 10 am-3 pm Sunday outside Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds):
Starting this month, Alki UCC is inviting our generous neighbors to bring donations of school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing as well as non-perishable food.
We’re accepting all school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks and colored paper.
Donations of clean, new or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network’s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, tee shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits.
Food donations are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. All contributions benefit our vulnerable neighbors in need.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
(added) CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 2 pm online. If you have questions or concerns about West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, or if you want to hear updates firsthand, be there. Link here; password 9701; access code 858 5523 4269; or, call 253-215-8782.
FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center, SW Roxbury St. & 15th Ave. SW (9600 15th Ave SW)
CLOSURES/CHANGES: West Seattle Nursery planned to be closed today. Marination ma kai‘s outdoor seating is closed. (added) Second Gear Sports is closed again today: “We are remaining closed today, Sunday, due to continued air quality and the inability for customers to safely be outside our store while waiting for reduction in occupancy.” Their anniversary sale will be extended into next week.
Any other closures or changes? Let us know – text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
In the middle of a weekend with two big reasons to stay home, here are tonight’s virus-crisis notes:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*20,800 people have tested positive, 101 more than yesterday
*743 people have died, unchanged from yesterday
*2,294 people have been hospitalized, unchanged from yesterday
*396,731 people have been tested, 7,272 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 20,165/734/2,259/379,793.
WEST SEATTLE TREND: Here’s our weekly check of this stat, with numbers accessible in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard, checking the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas.” In the past 2 weeks, 41 positive test results were reported; 43 in the 2 weeks before that; 62 in the two weeks before that.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 28.7 million people have tested positive, and more than 920,000 have died. Most cases: U.S., India, Brazil, Russia, Peru (India has moved up to #2 in the past week). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
DONATION DRIVE TOMORROW: 10 am-3 pm Sunday outside Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds):
Starting this month, Alki UCC is inviting our generous neighbors to bring donations of school supplies and men’s casual/work clothing as well as non-perishable food.
We’re accepting all school supplies for all grades on behalf of one or more local schools to be distributed when students are back at in-person learning. Suggestions include backpacks, #2 pencils, black and blue ink pens, crayons, lined paper, glue, small scissors, colored pens, writing notebooks and colored paper.
Donations of clean, new or used men’s casual/work clothing are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network’s hot lunch program for people experiencing homelessness, The Welcome Table. There is a constant and growing demand for denim apparel, khaki’s, hoodies, tee shirts, sweatshirts, clean underwear, socks, shoes and all kinds of outerwear for the fall and winter. Please … NO dress shirts, sport coats or suits.
Food donations are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. All contributions benefit our vulnerable neighbors in need.
FIRST DRIVE-IN CHURCH SERVICE TOMORROW: Despite the smoke, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church plans to go ahead with what so far as we know will be West Seattle’s first COVID-era drive-in church service, 9 am tomorrow.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
It’s a night for notes. We have three from the West Seattle food world:
SKYLARK @ THRIFTWAY: The Skylark in North Delridge is one of the restaurants that’s also been selling “provisions.” And now it’s branched out beyond its own premises. You can get The Skylark’s smoked meats at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) – bacon in the store’s Meat & Seafood Department, smoked chicken and porkstrami in the Morgan St. Grill (deli). You can, of course, also still dine in (patio too) at, or take out/get delivery from Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
IL NIDO: The instant-legend restaurant at the Alki Homestead (2717 61st SW) closed in mid-summer after pursuing the provisions/market model for a while. Now it’s planning to reopen, dine-in only, September 22nd. Seattle Met‘s Allecia Vermillion broke the story.
ELLIOTT BAY BREWING: Though you probably won’t want to use it until early next week, EBB in The Junction now has an outdoor seating area!
(Photo via @westseattlejunction on Instagram)
#1 – The one-week-delayed (because of the holiday) Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee meeting is tomorrow (Sunday, September 13th), 2 pm, online. If you have questions or concerns about West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, or if you want to hear updates firsthand, be there. Link here; password 9701; access code 858 5523 4269; or, call 253-215-8782.
#2 – No West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting this month, says WSCPC president Richard Miller, because precinct leaders are unavailable. (The meeting otherwise would be this Tuesday; instead, next meeting is October 20th.)
Thanks to Brenda for sending this:
With all the smoke and people staying inside today, I wanted to share another online event that is happening this evening. The Ethiopian Community in Seattle is having a virtual event tonight to replace their annual gala. Yesterday was Ethiopian New Year; Ethiopians follow the Coptic calendar, which is 7 years behind the Julian calendar, making it the year 2013.
There will be entertainment, and admission to the event is free. We have a sizable Ethiopian population in West Seattle so wanted to pass this along.
The event link is here. If you choose to donate, you can do that here.
Our toplines from the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s monthly meeting this past Tuesday:
BRIDGE DETOUR TRAFFIC: The SW Barton route to/from the Fauntleroy ferry dock is a lot busier since the West Seattle Bridge closed almost six months ago. The FCA is working on a letter to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and SDOT‘s bridge-project leader Heather Marx, asking them to come take a look in person and see what can be done about it. The group is also collecting photos and video to show the problem.
FERRY WATCH: No major news, but anecdotally, long lines are making a comeback in Fauntleroy, though Washington State Ferries says traffic is still off a third from this time last year.
POLICE: Operations Lt. Sina Ebinger from the Southwest Precinct said one of the crime trends they’re keeping a close watch on is gunfire, with several reports in West Seattle so far this month. Regarding the department-wide shift of 100 officers to patrol, she said the SWP will likely lose its Community Police Team members in the redeployment, so the long-running projects/issues they’ve been working on will have to be rethought.
ON THE MOVE: FCA tracks new community arrivals and says 100+ people have moved into Fauntleroy this past quarter.
The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets second Tuesdays, 7 pm; community members are welcome – watch fauntleroy.net for info. And check out the newest quarterly “Neighbors” newsletter!
On a day when you might be looking for diversion … how about some history? Local preservationist/entrepreneur John Bennett texted us that photo, saying he just bought this at an estate sale. So far, we’ve found a bit of information about Helen’s Hol’N One Donuts – while this says 4454 California SW, the city lists the building as 4452 California SW – most recently a real-estate office. The building dates to 1956; this site says the donut shop was there 1957-1960, with proprietor Helen Allen then operating Helen’s Fine Foods with husband Earl.
Young writer(s) in the house? Need college money? This year’s VFW essay competition – three categories, for 3rd graders through high-school seniors – might be of interest:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2713 in West Seattle announces this year’s VFW essay contests:
Voice of Democracy scholarship competition: Students in grades 9-12 must write and record an essay on “Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned?” Each state first-place winner receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance for their share in scholarships. The first-place national winner receives a $30,000 college scholarship. Local Post 2713 awards: $500 – 1st place; $400 – 2nd place; $250 – 3rd place.
Patriot’s Pen is for grades 6-8. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The essay theme is: “What Is Patriotism to Me?” Local Post 2713 awards: $150 – 1st place; $100 – 2nd place; $75 – 3rd place.
Both programs are approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Also: A VFW Washington State Department competition for students in Grades 3-5. The theme is: “Why Should We Honor Veterans?” Local Post 2713 awards: $100 – 1st place; $75 – 2nd place; $50 – 3rd place.
This program is completely voluntary; a student (including homeschooled) does not have to go through their school to participate. Interested students and teachers should contact Bill Dwyer, wcajmg@gmail.com, telephone (206) 419-3998 after 5 pm, or Ben Skwiercz, bens@halcyon.com, telephone (425) 941-4651.
Local Post winners compete at the District level in December, and District winners advance to the state.
All entries must be in to Farwell Roosevelt VFW Post 2713 by Oct. 31, 2019 at 3601 SW Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98126.
Also note that you can get entry forms and rules by following the links above, or find information/links for all three categories here.
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