West Seattle, Washington
31 Monday
9:39 PM: Avoid 8th/Roxbury – a crash is under investigation on the county side, and a reader reports Roxbury is blocked both ways. We’re headed to check.
10:24 PM: Still blocked from the east side of the intersection eastward, taped off, when we were there. Two damaged vehicles were in view. Deputies on the scene aren’t commenting so we’re seeking info from KCSO’s media-relations sergeant.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Sgt. Ryan Abbott of KCSO tells us, “Deputies attempted a traffic stop of a mini-van. It did not stop and instead accelerated away. Deputies pursued the van for a short distance but terminated soon after starting. After the pursuit was terminated. the van crashed. The driver fled from the car but was arrested a short distance away by deputies. The passenger did not get out of the car and was arrested by deputies. The mini-van was taken for a search warrant.”
As we start the 11th week of the COVID-19 outbreak in King County, here’s the nightly roundup:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the county’s data dashboard:
*7,000 people have tested positive, 60 more than yesterday
*490 people have died, 5 more than yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 6,507 and 456.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: More than 4 million people have tested positive, 1.3 million of them in the U.S. See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE THE SIGNS: If the pandemic had an anthem in Seattle, it might be the Five Man Electrical Band‘s 1971 classic. Today, Seattle Parks employees continued putting up the signs noting that Alki and Lincoln Park are closed at 8 pm TFN:
Thanks to David Hutchinson for that photo and this one, just in:
David, an Alki resident, reports, “SPD vehicle made a sweep to the west and back to the east along the walkway and promenade. It’s now about 9 PM and very few people are on the beach in this area but still some extra traffic and some groups on the sidewalks” near the promenade.
ANOTHER SIGN SAGA: Meantime, south of Alki Point, on the new “Stay Healthy Street” stretch of Beach Drive, a resident reports someone stole a “Street Closed” sign and traffic cones around 3:30 am. Signs were back in place later in the day.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET TOMORROW: The market returns for its second Sunday following a two-month mayor-mandated shutdown. While the entrance remains at California/Alaska – with the line stretching alongA Alaska, and north up 42nd if necessary – you will NOT be asked to move one way once inside. Here’s the info on policies and procedures; here’s the vendor list for this week.
BUSINESS SURVEY: If you have a small business or a nonprofit, or if you’re an independent worker, consider taking the 2nd round of a 3-round survey on how the pandemic has affected you.
BE A HELPER: Food drive Sunday, if you can donate.
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
Ann Anderson sent the photo and story of a small act of kindness on this sunny Saturday:
Wanted to send out a big thank you to these West Seattle residents who were taking a row off of Duwamish Head early this morning. Their lifeboat was called into action when a photographer dropped her camera into the water off the small pier near Salty’s. After unsuccessfully attempting to get the attention of nearby scuba divers, the lifeboat rowed over and stood by while the photographer (me) jumped in and dove down retrieve the camera from under the pier. It turns out that the familial group – Hayden, Emily and Katherine – were out celebrating not one, but two birthdays today (in a quiet, isolated, C-19-responsible way) when they so kindly assisted a stranger in distress.
As if it’s not tough enough trying to keep a small independent restaurant afloat right now – Peel & Press proprietor Dan Austin is dealing with cleaning up after a burglary.
Dan told us, “They broke in and mostly caused damage trying to break through my wall in 3 different spots to get into Starbucks as well. Pic is of the person removing the glass panel of my door not to trip the door and glass-break sensor.” On social media, he had a direct message for the burglar”
To the special folks who broke into my restaurant last night, I would have helped you if you need help. We have given away 1400 meals since this pandemic started. We have donated groceries to people. I have even ran tabs for regulars who have lost their jobs but don’t want “anything for free.” Why would you do this to us? What give you the right to violate my hard work and jeopardize my ability to give back to the community? You didn’t just steal from me, you stole from the whole community!!!
If you have any info, the SPD case # is 20-153344. (Thanks to Sandy for the tip on this.)
Tonight’s the night – we’re now less than 2 hours away from the West Seattle Food Bank “Instruments of Change” event to help WSFB continue helping neighbors in need. Here’s the reminder:
There’s still time to register and join us for the first-ever virtual Instruments of Change!
Join us tonight from 5:30 – 6:15 pm. This short virtual event celebrates our community and the merger between the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline and raises funds to support our programs to keep our neighbors safe, fed, housed, and healthy. While short, this online event will include fun games, an exciting auction, and a compelling program.
For more information and to register, visit westseattlefoodbank.ejoinme.org/IOC
WSB is among this year’s community co-sponsors.
In case you missed the announcement earlier this week:
The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, Greater Seattle Partners, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (have) released the second round of the COVID-19 Business Impact Survey.
The first round of the survey was open March 18 – 31 and had over 5,000 total respondents — over 2,000 of which were businesses in Seattle. The first round of the survey established baseline profile data of the businesses, nonprofits and independent workers in the Seattle region, captured the initial impact COVID-19 had on businesses, nonprofits, and independent workers in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, and documented real-time concerns people had in an evolving environment. Round two of the survey will build upon the initial survey questions to measure potential changes over time, seek to further understand operational changes business have implemented since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and evaluate the impact private and public funding have had on businesses’ ability to stay afloat.
… Business owners, nonprofits and independent workers who participated in round one of the survey are encouraged to participate in round two, however, participation in round one is not required to complete the second round. The survey will be open until May 21, with the third and final round set to open by early June. By conducting multiple rounds of the survey, OED will be able to measure impacts over time. The survey will also be made available in the following languages: Amharic, Chinese – Traditional, English, Japanese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Businesses, nonprofits, and interested workers can take the survey here. …
(Photo courtesy Alki UCC)
That’s what generous community members donated in the most-recent in-person food drive outside Alki UCC – and you have another chance to help tomorrow:
Thanks to our community’s continuing generosity, Alki UCC’s next In-Person, Socially Distanced Food Drive is set for this Sunday, May 10 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We will be collecting donations outside our building at 6115 SW Hinds.
Contributions of non-perishable food and other items will be distributed via the White Center Food Bank; top requests include Canned Meat/Soup/Fruit (pop‐top cans preferred), Rice, Noodles, Peanut Butter, Oats, Toilet Paper, Diapers, Similac Formula, Cleaning Supplies, Hand Sanitizer, and Baby Wipes.
The drive will benefit our vulnerable neighbors in need, those who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
The food drives continue every other Sunday (May 24, June 7, etc) until further notice. Tell your friends!
Information at alkiucc.org.
(WSB photo)
That’s the view from the west side of Duwamish Head a little over an hour ago, as we head toward this month’s lowest tide, -2.9 feet at 1:09 pm. If you’re headed out walking/running/rolling, the views are great – and the crowd thinner, at least when we were out – the further east/northeast you are along Alki Avenue (and part of Harbor Avenue as well). Tomorrow brings a low-low tide too, -2.6 feet at 1:46 pm, and then on Monday it’s -2.0 at 2:33 pm. Later this month, the tide will be out to -2.1 feet on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25th). Next month, it gets even lower, with tides out to -3 feet and beyond on June 5, 6, and 7.
P.S. The Alki shore is of course far from the only place to enjoy the low-low tide view. Don Brubeck took this photo at midday Friday along the West Seattle side of the Duwamish River:
12:05 PM: Procrastinating on those Mother’s Day flowers? An update from the Lafayette Elementary PTA benefit-bouquet sale:
We have 20 bouquets left to sell! Call or text Jenny King at (206) 637-1004 to place your order – $30 each, pay here. For every bouquet sold, $5 will be donated back to school.
Your flower bouquets will be ready for pickup Today (May 9, 5-7pm) or Sunday morning (May 10, 8:30-9:30am). Pick-up location: 4224 Beach Drive SW, Seattle. NO CONTACT PICKUP.
2:05 PM: All gone!
If not for COVID-19, today would have been the 16th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, the one event each year that we present/coordinate. But like so many other organizers of the big spring/summer events, we had to cancel or event. Today, like so many WSCGSDs, it’s sunny and warm, perfect day for being outdoors … but we hope you’ll instead enjoy the sun safely – walking, bicycling, running, etc. Garage-sale fans and sellers can look forward to May 8, 2021. Before then – if it’s safe to have sales later THIS summer, remember that you’re welcome to post yours in the WSB Community Forums‘ Freebies/Sales/Trades section. (If you don’t have a log-in for the forums, go here.)
Every Saturday morning – for eight weeks now – we check in on the state of grocery shopping at West Seattle’s standalone stores:
Only one major official change we’ve found, looking around – Trader Joe’s is adding an hour, and will be open until 8 pm starting Monday (May 11th).
West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is still the only late night store, open until midnight. It also remains the only local standalone store telling customers they must wear face coverings. (That topic dominated discussion last Saturday.)
There’s been concern in national news coverage about possible meat shortages because of COVID-19 outbreaks at packing plants, but so far we haven’t heard of anything major at local stores. Let us know if you do!
And if you need to check hours, our original list of those is still up to date.
Another West Seattle food-and-beverage business has launched in defiance of the coronavirus crunch.
Philip Sudore has opened The Spot West Seattle at 2920 SW Avalon Way, where Shack Coffeehouse closed six months ago.
You might know him already for his music, with the band Mercy Parker. Eventually, he hopes you’ll know him for a restaurant with a full bar, once COVID-19 is past – a tapas-style menu with craft cocktails and craft beer. But for now, “We have an amazing, dynamic, and fun waffle menu, plus great coffee and espresso.” (Scroll down this page to see that menu.)
The coffee is from K&F Roasters out of Portland – the award-winning Café Jondo, an organic fair-trade blend of African and South American coffees.
Current hours at The Spot are 6:30 am-4 pm weekdays, 7 am-4 pm Saturdays, 8 am-4 pm Sundays. (Post-pandemic, they’ll have evening hours too.)
Don’t throw caution to the wind – well, the sun – this weekend. That’s the big message as we present the Friday edition of the nightly roundup, exactly 10 weeks after King County’s first confirmed COVID-19 case was announced:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: From the county’s data dashboard:
*6,940 people have tested positive, up 77 from yesterday
*485 people have died, up 5 from yesterday
One week ago, those totals were 6,407 and 449.
ONE MORE LOCAL DEATH: The county’s by-zip-code-breakdown map shows 98126 now has lost 10 people, one more than the Thursday update.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: See them – nation by nation – here.
ONE STAT OF CONCERN: Today’s Seattle-King County Public Health spotlight noted that a key metric – how many additional infections can be expected for each case – may be on the rise again in Western Washington.
SO DON’T STOP NOW: Keep up the distancing so things don’t get worse – that was a key message from the governor at his media briefing this afternoon.
He said this is a dangerous time because people may feel more and more like they can let their guard down, when they absolutely shouldn’t. “With COVID-19 lurking,” he said, you need to protect yourself and loved ones.
REOPENING UPDATE: Meantime, the governor has released safety/health rules for a variety of reopening businesses. The releases include:
Curbside Retail & E-commerce Memo
Curbside Retail Requirements
Pet Walking Memo
Pet Walking Guidance
Landscaping Memo
Landscaping Guidance
Those are all linked here.
TESTING UPDATE: The governor also said the feds have sent 37,000 test swabs, with 60,000 more due next week, and a promise of 100,000 a week after that.
8 PM PARK CLOSURES: Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, and other “major parks” citywide are supposed to be closed by now – we’ll be going out shortly for a look.
We saw that sign on the north gate of Lincoln Park’s north lot; there was one on the west side of the south lot too (which now has spaces open for disabled visitors, and a Parks employee was stationed to watch the lot by the time we went by late in the day).
‘STAY HEALTHY STREETS,’ 3RD ROUND: The signs went up this morning to block off Beach Drive between 63rd and Alki to through traffic, as announced Thursday. That didn’t keep all drivers away, it appeared from our early-evening spot check as well as police-radio dispatches.
On Twitter tonight, a local resident suggested signage belongs at 63rd and Alki, and city traffic engineer Dongho Chang said that’s under consideration:
“Local access” street closure should really be at Cactus restaurant and not lighthouse. Causing a lot of u-turns. Police on bikes agree.
— Lynn Drake (@lynndr3415) May 8, 2020
Thank you! We're hearing that too. We'll consider the revision for updates that we are making next week. Our communication and setup for the weekend with SPD/Parks was for just the Beach section. Let us know any other suggestions/observations. I'll relay this when the team meets
— Dongho Chang (@dongho_chang) May 8, 2020
DE-INTENSIFYING SHELTER SPACE OPENING: A month and a half after the plan was announced, Southwest Teen Life Center in Westwood is now hosting young adults who need shelter, the city announced today.
DON’T GO HUNGRY: This week, KBM Seattle Commissary‘s free-meal distribution is on Sunday – details here.
MORALE FLYOVER: Some West Seattleites got to see the flyover this afternoon:
Flyover of #Seattle by C-17s this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/aXRaVvoX1V
— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) May 8, 2020
GOT INFO? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Two road-work notes tonight:
TWO BLOCKS OF ROXBURY PAVING: From this week’s West Seattle Bridge-related update in City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s weekly newsletter:
SDOT is planning to repave the westbound lanes of Roxbury between 16th and 18th Ave SW as early as mid-May, depending on weather. SDOT indicates they are coordinating with King County, which has jurisdiction over the eastbound lanes. SDOT will be doing outreach in advance.
We’ll be following up on Monday.
35TH/AVALON WRAPUP: From SDOT this afternoon:
• We will begin work to make safety improvements to the northbound bus stop at SW Genesee St as soon as May 11. Please expect:
o No parking signs and traffic control in the work area
o Loud noise and increased truck traffic
o Bike lane shifts as we work at the bus stop
o A temporary closure of the nearby sidewalk with a posted detour route
o A temporary closure of this bus stop• Next, we will continue installing pavement markings on 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way as well as install flex posts for the protected bike lane and complete miscellaneous minor activities
o Please follow any posted no-parking signs on SW Avalon WayWe will take down our no-parking signs where and when they are no longer needed.
Just got word from SDOT today – they’ve added six new publicly viewable traffic cameras, on SW Roxbury and on 35th SW. We’ll be adding them to our traffic-cams page and weekday-morning traffic watch. From east to west and south to north, they are:
15th/Roxbury:
16th/Roxbury:
35th/Roxbury:
35th/Barton:
35th/Holden:
35th/Morgan:
Any more on the way? We’ve asked, and we’ll add the reply when we get it.
P.S. You also can find these cameras, and others around the city, via SDOT’s traffic-info map.
(Seattle Fire Department photo of Ladder 13 in 2010)
Not long after the West Seattle Bridge‘s sudden shutdown, we and others started asking whether West Seattle would get additional SFD resources, as happened during the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project (east half of the bridge) in 2011-2012. The early answer was: It’s being discussed. New answer today: Yes. In addition to West Seattle-based Medic 32, SFD will station Medic 26, staffed with two paramedics, at Station 26 in South Park. And joining WS-based Ladder 11 will be an extra truck, Ladder 13, to be based at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights. The announcement says, “Beginning in June, these units will be in-service for responding to emergencies 24-hours per day, seven days a week.” (Ladder 13 was based at Station 11 in Highland Park during the SSV project.) The SFD announcement adds, “The new medic unit and ladder truck are coming from SFD’s reserve apparatus located at the City’s Fire Garage. The department will continue to have other apparatus on reserve to support scheduled maintenance and for any unforeseen mechanical issues. The funding required for staffing the two new units, apparatus maintenance and fuel, and room accommodations at the fire stations is approximately $2.5 million for the remainder of 2020 and will be covered from existing resources.”
Two updates from the West Seattle Food Bank today: First, WSFB sent photos of a special event today:
The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild is doing “Food Bank Fridays.” This Friday they dropped off over 1,500 pounds of food to the West Seattle Food Bank.
City Councilmember Lisa Herbold volunteers there on Fridays, too – she’s at right in this photo:.
Tomorrow, it’s your turn to help – register today (free!) for the live online edition of Instruments of Change, the annual celebration of WSFB, which this year in turn is celebrating its merger with West Seattle Helpline. The live online event will start at 5:30 pm Saturday, on YouTube; the online auction has already begun.
3:15 PM: From Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner:
In an effort to decrease auto theft incidents, the SW Precinct once again has free steering wheel clubs to give away to our West Seattle and South Park residents!
We have 81 clubs at this time, and we will be giving them out on a first come, first serve basis.
You must email me to reserve your club- I am unfortunately not able to take requests via phone or social media! Please email me at Jennifer.Danner@seattle.gov.
If you are selected to receive a free club- you will get a detailed email from me with instruction for when, where and how to pick up your club.
If you are not selected- you will receive an email from me with an apology and a link for where to purchase a club.
Please be understanding, as we have a limited amount to give away.
4:47 PM: All gone already!
(WSB file photo, Southwest Teen Life Center)
Back in March, the city announced the Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle) had been identified as a site for expanded shelter space. It wasn’t put into use, though – until now. Just received from city spokesperson Will Lemke:
Beginning (today) the City’s Southwest Teen Life Center (SWTLC) will temporarily shelter up to 30 young adults from YouthCare’s Jackson Street overnight shelter. The move provides 24/7 shelter space, supportive services, and more space for social distancing per public health guidance. The program supports youth between the ages of 18 to 24. Youth will be provided access to showers and three meals per day.
This new de-intensifying shelter builds on the City and King County’s effort to reduce density in large, high capacity shelters to slow the spread of COVID-19. While de-intensification efforts have focused on improving health conditions for existing shelter clients, these de-intensifying shelters also offer expanded services for many clients including the provision of meals, hygiene and cleaning services, and 24/7 access to a safe space that they are not required to leave every morning.
Here’s more information on the YouthCare shelter he mentioned. This was one of nine “de-intensiifying” sites announced around the city and county in late March.
The photo is from Kim Mickelson west of The Junction: “Making the best of our son’s 21st birthday in quarantine.” Happy birthday, Tristen!
Our server-management company has been having some trouble today, and WSB was among many websites worldwide briefly out of service as a result. Remember that the first alternate place we post updates if and when that happens is Twitter – twitter.com/westseattleblog. Now, back to what else is up today …
Today we welcome Admiral District restaurant Circa as a new WSB sponsor. When a local business joins the WSB sponsor team, they get the opportunity to let you know what they offer – here’s what Circa wants you to know:
Circa (2605 California SW) has been open for more than 20 years. They’re offering take-out breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 days a week – the first time in the restaurant’s history that they’ve offered breakfast! They explain that instead of offering a more-limited menu for this challenging time, they decided to just go for it – rolling up their sleeves and doing everything they can. And of course they’re offering the favorites that Circa has been serving for years.
Co-proprietors Gretchen and Bill Evans also want to thank everyone for the tremendous support!
If you see this before Mother’s Day, here’s what’s on the brunch menu:
*House-made bagels with lox, herbed cream cheese, capers, red onions, and 2 eggs – $17
*Dungeness crab cakes with dressed greens, fruit, and 2 eggs – $19
*Fruit and yogurt platter with mint and honey – $13
*Regular menu available as well, along with mimosa and Bloody Mary kits
And for dinner:
*Red wine and thyme-braised lamb shank with rainbow carrots and mashers – $40
*Fresh, wild-caught halibut poached with basil lemon butter sauce, rice and veggies – $32
*Regular menu available as well, along with wine, beer, and cocktail kits
For dessert –
*Lemon pudding cake
*Guittard chocolate double-layer cake
Calling ahead is suggested, but not required – 206-923-1102. Hours are on their website.
We thank Circa for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
A variety of efforts to keep people from going hungry during the economic crunch continue. Here are three local reminders/updates:
TODAY & WEEKDAYS, DELIVERY BY SCHOOL BUS: For students/families who can’t get to the Seattle Public Schools locations that are distributing meals 11 am-1 pm on weekdays, there are now school-bus deliveries to set routes. If you are in south West Seattle, here’s the stop list/map/schedule; the one for north and west West Seattle is here.
TODAY, FOOD LIFELINE: As previewed yesterday, you can go to FL’s HQ on the south side of South Park 2-5 pm toaay as they distribute 20+-pound boxes of emergency, shelf-stable food. The only information you’ll be asked to provide is your zip code.
SUNDAY, KBM COMMISSARY: Again this weekend, the kitchen in Delridge is offering free meals to anyone in need. Here’s the weekly update from Keith Mathewson:
I am happy to announce that last week we were able to distribute nearly 1200 meals. Even with that amount demand still exceeded what we were able to provide. As nearly everyone is aware of the supply of meat is scarce as a result this week will be baked vegetarian Ziti with rosemary focaccia. We were fortunate to have Merlino’s Foods partner with us to provide high quality ingredients.
This week, meals were made by West Of Chicago Pizza and Los Panes Bakery with the help of the staff at KBM and will be handed out on Sunday from 4 pm to 6 pm; all who are in need are welcome to come.
KBM is at 5604 Delridge Way SW. Mathewson has been funding the project but help is welcome – here’s the crowdfunding page. And a reminder, some of the KBM-based businesses are also selling from a streetfront window, as noted here, and are part of our ongoing West Seattle list.
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