West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
Two development notes this morning:
6007 CALIFORNIA SW: An early-stage site plan has been filed proposing a “new 4-story mixed use building” for 6007 California SW [map]. currently the site of a preschool/day-care facility and a 4-plex.
No other details, since this is a very early filing; the site-outline document is by the architecture firm Atelier Drome.
4515 44TH SW UPDATE: It’s been almost a year since we first reported a plan for apartments at the former CDE Software site in The Junction, at 4515 44th SW [map].
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
The formal application is now in the comment stage, according to a notice in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, which now describes the project as a “4-story apartment building with 43 small efficiency dwelling units. No parking proposed.” You can comment through March 29th; the notice explains how.
Even through the pandemic, West Seattle’s Endolyne Children’s Choir has continued providing a chance for young singers to harmonize, and a new session of rehearsing and performing is about to begin. Registration is still open – here’s the announcement:
Registration for Endolyne Children’s Choir’s “Songs From The Stage” Spring Session is currently open. Rehearsals will be held virtually on Zoom and will begin tomorrow – Tuesday, March 16th. Singers in kindergarten through 2nd Grade (Debut Choir) rehearse from 5:00 to 5:45 PM, 3rd through 5th graders (Encore Choir) rehearse from 5:45 to 6:45, and singers 6th through 12th grade (Advanced Ensemble) rehearse from 7:00 to 8:30. To register, (updated) email info@endolynechoir.org
Endolyne Children’s Choir Music Director Megan McCormick and Staff Instructor Janelle Maroney have planned an exciting session that will capture the glamour and wonder of movies and musicals, as we present “Songs from the Stage.” In addition to exploring a variety of vocal techniques, students will gain dance and acting skills that showcase their personalities and build their confidence. On June 12, we will close our 2020-21 season with a fabulous virtual celebration and awards ceremony for all our singers and families.
Quality musical education is so important and essential for children, and we want every child to have the opportunity to benefit from our program. One benefit of virtual rehearsals: no commuting, so singers from anywhere in Seattle, the greater Puget Sound region, Washington State, and beyond can join us for this season.
We are also offering several tiers of tuition pricing, from full tuition to full scholarship, so anyone can participate regardless of their financial situation. Simply select your payment tier when registering.
WATCH: “Come Alive” from Advanced Ensemble’s (6th-12th Grade) 2020 Spring Musical
WATCH: “Squirm!” from Debut Choir’s (K-2nd Grade) 2020 Spring Musical
Questions? Find out more about the choir here.
10:44 AM: The 1st Avenue S. lane closures have just ended – but there is one last overnight closure tonight, all southbound lanes closed 9 pm-5 am, to end the project.
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6:07 AM: Good morning! Today’s forecast starts with a chance of rain and even a little snow, then sunshine later, high in the 40s.
ROAD WORK
1st Avenue South Bridge – Southbound lane closures are scheduled to end around noon – we’re checking with WSDOT this morning to confirm.
Delridge project – Here’s the plan for this week, with closures and ongoing paving, sidewalk, utility, and other work.
TRANSIT
Metro and the Water Taxi are on regular schedules.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
357th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Ninth week for automated enforcement cameras, while restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily. Here’s a bridge view:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – with a new left-turn signal for northbound HP Way, turning to westbound Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map) – remember those southbound lane closures are wrapping up:
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
To check for bridges’ marine-traffic openings, see the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown 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.
Tonight’s pandemic news:
NO COUNTY DASHBOARD UPDATE: The King County daily-summary dashboard hasn’t updated today, so no new numbers.
WEST SEATTLE TRENDS: Since this is a weekly check, we can still do it with the latest info in the system (which would be from Saturday). The numbers are shown in two-week increments via the “geography over time” tab on the daily-summary dashboard; to determine WS status, we combine the totals from the West Seattle and Delridge “health reporting areas” (HRAs): For the past two weeks, 80 positive test results; 64 in the 2 weeks before that; 100 in the two weeks before that. … We also are noting WS death totals each week. The total deaths for the entire pandemic in the two HRAs comprising West Seattle: 63, two more since last week.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 119.8 million cases and 2,653,000+ deaths, 534,000+ of them in the U.S. – see the nation-by-nation breakdown here.
VACCINATING EDUCATORS: The city had a special vaccination clinic today at the Rainier Beach “hub” for educators/school staff, child-care providers, and youth-services providers. They planned to inoculate 1,000 people with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, first time the city has used that vaccine.
ELIGIBLE BUT NOT VACCINATED YET? Here’s our list of where to look for an appointment (potentially useful on Wednesday and beyond if you’re among those becoming eligible then):
*For the Lumen Field site as well as the city-run West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites – get on the notification list here; check for West Seattle appointments available in the next few days by going here
*Your health-care provider (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)
*Pharmacy chains big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca, Costco
*Sea Mar clinics
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
(Added: Image from SDOT camera)
10:50 PM: A crash on the West Seattle low bridge right now is blocking eastbound traffic. Police have told dispatch that westbound is getting through. Nonetheless, it’s of extra note since the southbound 1st Avenue South Bridge is closed for overnight work (until 5 am). If you have to head this way soon, you might consider the South Park Bridge instead.
11:02 PM: After a short total closure, they’re reopening the low bridge to westbound traffic.
11:43 PM: And now they’re reopening the low bridge to eastbound traffic.
Last month, we reported twice on a City Council proposal to change the rules for small businesses operating from home, as more have done to stay afloat during the pandemic. Tomorrow afternoon, the council is expected to vote on the proposal. It passed the Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee 4-1. Here’s how the agenda document summarizes the proposed changes:
Specifically, during the COVID-19 civil emergency, the bill would remove the following requirements that currently apply to home occupations:
Customer visits are by appointment only
There shall be no evidence of the home occupation visible from the exterior of the structure
No more than two persons who are not residents of a dwelling unit on the lot may work in a home occupation, regardless of whether the persons work full or part-time or are compensated.
The home occupation shall not cause a substantial increase in on-street parking= congestion or a substantial increase in traffic within the immediate vicinityIn addition, the legislation would (1) allow a home business to operate in a required parking space provided that no changes are made that would prevent the space from being used for parking in the future and (2) allow home businesses to install a nonilluminated sign up to 720 square inches bearing the name of the home occupation.
You can read the full text of the proposal here. To comment during the 2 pm Monday meeting, you can sign up starting at noon by going here; you can comment any time via email at council@seattle.gov.
Looking at the week ahead: Here are the key places where you’ll see crews working on the road/utilities project to prepare Delridge Way for the RapidRide H Line:
Side street closures on Delridge Way SW during demolition and paving
SW Findlay St (east side)
SW Thistle St
21st Ave SW at Delridge Way SW
SW Hudson St (east side full closure happening soon)Zone A (West Seattle Bridge to SW Findlay St)
Demolition and electrical upgrades on SW Hudson St between Delridge Way SW and Puget Blvd SW (east side)Zone B (SW Findlay St to north of SW Orchard St)
Demolition and electrical upgrades between the intersection of SW Findlay St and SW Juneau St began this week and will continue into next week (east side)
Roadway demolition between SW Juneau St and SW Graham St near Louisa Boren STEM K-8 to begin as early as March 15Zone C (SW Orchard St to SW Roxbury St)
Upgrades at 21st Ave SW and Delridge Way SW continue
Intersection upgrades continue at SW Kenyon and SW Holden St
Paving on the east side of Delridge Way SW between SW Thistle St and SW Cloverdale St beginning as early as March 15 (east side)
Full details, zone by zone, are in the project team’s email bulletin for the week ahead (see it here). If you have questions/concerns about the work, the project team promises responses via DelridgeTransit@Seattle.gov or 206-775-8739.
(Today’s sunrise – photo by Jim Borrow)
As springish as the past few days seemed – with Saturday’s temperature hitting 60 – winter isn’t officially over until next Saturday, and the forecast for late tonight/early tomorrow warns we might see a bit of snow. The temperature’s already dropped into the upper 30s by our gauge – official 7 pm temp at Boeing Field is 40. (Forecasters insist, “No snow accumulation.”)
To brighten your drippy Sunday, here are more West Seattle birds, thanks to your neighbors who have been sending in photos! Above, the always festive Northern Flicker, photographed by Michelle Green Arnson. Below, a Dark-eyed Junco, photographed by Mike Russell:
From Mark MacDonald, a Chestnut-backed Chickadee at Lincoln Park:
You can’t miss this orange-and-black bird if it shows up in your yard – a Varied Thrush that Max Welliver reports he was “surprised to see”:
Two leucistic birds showed up at local feeders – Samantha Burton photographed this Goldfinch:
This Hummingbird contribution is by someone who asked to be anonymous:
In the Duwamish Head Greenspace, J. Way encountered two Barred Owls, and caught this one on camera:
Finally, four awesome views of local Bald Eagles. First, from Jim Borrow:
From Danny McMillin:
From Chris Frankovich:
And from Jamie Kinney, an Eagle with an in-flight snack:
(If those photos have you wondering about the ailing, rescued Bald Eagle, we hope to have another update this week!)
Thanks again to everyone sharing photos, from breaking news to cool sightings – westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text 206-293-6302 if it’s happening now!
From the WSB inbox:
TO: Jake, Alex & their German Shepherd Guardian – REWARD*
These are the stellar people who took the time to hear my pleas for someone with jumper cables to help, so I could drive what turned out to be my battery-dead car to an appointment 9 minutes away, with only 20 minutes to spare!
GOOD SAMARITANS
After Jake ran 3 blocks to drive his car to Alaska Junction, and had tried two different methods to give my car a jump, we realized it was useless. With polite caution, he said, “I don’t know how you would feel agreeing, but I am willing to drive you.”Without hesitation, and a good deal of relief, I eagerly nodded yes, and off we went. I arrived at the vaccination tent on Thistle on the dot of my assigned time. Double YES!
So to JAKE, ALEX and their COMPANION, t h a n k y o u , for stopping and offering me a hand. I got a free Lyft home, thanks to the county; and my car will be running for my follow-up vaccination, March 18th!
A Very Grateful Neighbor,
Janette Brown* PS – I have called Husky Deli and arranged a $20 credit for the two humans of your party to go get grilled sandwiches there. I am partial to their veggie option, with yellow mustard & sauerkraut; but you can use the credit for anything from savory to chocolate or homemade ice cream! ; > DO BRING YOUR DOG with, and identify yourselves as THE GOOD SAMARITANS who helped Janette Brown!
Two incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:
BUS-STOP ROBBERY: Just after 9 pm last night, someone was beaten and robbed by a person who followed them off a Metro Route 21 bus around 35th/Juneau. The initial police report says the robber “first approached” the victim on the bus; “a brief conversation ensued, and the victim got off the bus. The (robber) followed … then attacked the victim by punching them several times in the face, body and legs. Victim’s phone was destroyed during the attack, and the (robber) forcibly took the victim’s iPad Pro and ran off.” The victim was checked out by SFD for what the report described as minor injuries. No arrest, and the report does not include a description.
One reader report today:
GARAGE BURGLARY: After an early-morning garage break-in, Hans got some of the stolen items back, but a Santa Cruz mountain bike is still missing (photo and bike details here). His report:
Someone broke into our detached garage near the West Seattle water tower this morning at 5:51:20, and left at 5:56:20. Upon arrival they inspected car windows, then broke into garage – we immediately heard the garage, called the police at 5:52.
The burglars remained in the garage for 5 min, while the police triaged the situation. They biked away down Manning on the stolen bikes with bags of goods (see the list below). Police were able to intercept both of them around 37th and Manning, where they dumped goods and scattered. One ditched a bike (presumably because of flat tires) and went on foot through the Belvedere neighborhood, the other headed for the pedestrian bridge. They left behind several items, including a bike they came with, and items from other house(s) they had broken into. They emptied a hockey bag, (importantly: violating the most sacred of unwritten rules by coming in close contact with a hockey jockstrap/athletic supporter). Police did not fingerprint, but made a report.
Stolen items: Monitor, 2 bikes, Power Tools, hockey bag (with 1 single hockey skate, hockey shin pads, bluetooth speakers) and a couple of jerseys.
Police recovered 1 bike, monitor and tools, hockey gear, but mountain bike is still missing.
There was a Nest camera turned on on the garage (video); both suspects appear to be in t-shirt + sweatshirt combo, beanie hats.
Police report # is 20-062504.
Miss theater? West Seattle’s Twelfth Night Productions plans another online offering later this month. In case you haven’t already seen it in our calendar, here’s the announcement:
Twelfth Night Production is proud to present four one-act plays from “All in the Timing” by David Ives. The four short plays are hilarious and sometimes absurd, providing witty perspectives on life and meaning, with a sometimes-sharp tongue and often uproarious word pay.
The four shorts featured in the live stream include:
· In Sure Thing, a couple on a first date has the opportunity to reset and try again each time they say the wrong thing.
· Words, Words, Words takes the “infinite monkey theorem”– the idea that given enough time, three monkeys in a room could eventually compose any given text, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet — and turns it into reality.
· The Universal Language, a shy young woman places her faith in her fraudulent language tutor, who is changed for the better when he discovers is the language they share: not the made-up “Unamunda” professes to be fluent in, but rather the language of love.
· The Philadelphia, a man discovers that he’s entered a strange pocket of the universe where the only way to get what he wants is to ask for the opposite.
The shorts will be streamed live on March 26 and 27 at 7:30pm and March 28 at 3:00 pm. Tickets are a suggested donation of $15 and can be purchased at http://www.twelfthnightproductions.org/productions/tickets
(Busy bay – Friday photo by Marc Milrod)
Did you spring forward? Daylight Saving Time started early this morning, when 2 am became 3 am. Here’s what’s happening for the rest of the day:
BRIDGE ALERT: The lane closures continue on the southbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, and there’s another full closure of all southbound lanes tonight, 9 pm-5 am. Tip: If you haven’t tried the South Park Bridge, we’re told it’s been a backup-free alternative.
TODAY’S ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES: Here’s our updated list of more than 20 local churches’ online Sunday services (a few offer in-person options too), with the newest links – see it here.
BAR-S CLEANUP: Bring shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows to Bar-S (64th/Admiral) 9 am-noon to help West Seattle Little League get the field ready for baaeball.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, the market’s on – and hot food is back. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska; pickups for online orders are at California/Oregon)
PIZZA FUNDRAISER: Get food from MOD Pizza‘s 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW location 10:30 am-10 pm today and mention Alki Elementary – the Alki PTA will get a share of the proceeds.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)
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. (9600 15th Ave SW)
TONIGHT’S SUNSET: 7:14 pm!
Got something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Last pandemic update before Daylight Saving Time arrives:
NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the cumulative totals from Public Health‘s daily-summary dashboard:
*84,031 people have tested positive, 225 more than yesterday’s total
*1,437 people have died, 2 more than yesterday’s total
*5,175 people have been hospitalized, 9 more than yesterday’s total
*927,326 people have been tested, 398 more than yesterday’s total
ONE WEEK AGO: Last Saturday, those numbers were 82,941/1,415/5,137/914,177.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 119.5 million people have tested positive, and more than 2,648,000 people have died; U.S. deaths exceed 534,000. Most cases: U.S., Brazil, India, Russia, UK (Brazil and India have traded places since last Saturday). See the breakdown, nation by nation, here.
MASS VACCINATION SITE OPENS The mayor returned to the Lumen Field Event Center today as it went into service as a mass vaccination site:
The Seattle Times reports ~2,160 shots were given today. The city says that’s just a fraction of what the site could handle if and when enough vaccine is available.
ELIGIBLE BUT NOT VACCINATED YET? Here’s our list of where to look for an appointment:
*For the Lumen Field site as well as the city-run West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites – get on the notification list here; check for West Seattle appointments available in the next few days by going here
*Your health-care provider (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)
*Pharmacy chains big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca, Costco
*Sea Mar clinics
GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
SOUTH DELRIDGE GUNFIRE: We just got some police info on this late-afternoon incident. It started with 911 calls about possible gunfire around 4:40 pm (the police report mentions 16th/Barton; we heard scanner mentions at the time of 18th/Cambridge/Roxbury). One person told police they saw the shooter, and provided information that helped police find and arrest a suspect. They also found in the suspect’s possession, according to the initial summary, “a firearm (with an obliterated serial number) … as well as a magazine and shell casings).” The report adds, “Two spent shell casings were recovered at the scene as well. We did not locate a victim. The suspect was booked into KCJ as he is a convicted felon.”
One reader report:
ONE CAR PROWLED THREE TIMES: From Derek:
We live on 38th Ave SW, between Edmunds and Hudson. Since last August, we’ve had at least 3 attempted break-ins on our car, a 1999 Audi A4. Break-ins are by a common method for these vehicles; the perp pries a portion of the door handle off and attempts break/force the door to unlock. In the least it results in a broken door handle, dented and gouged door, broken lock cylinder, and a hefty repair bill. Worst case it leads to a stolen car. Attached picture shows the damage.
First attempt was in August, second early December, and third last night. In August we only figured it out after the damage was noted, in December through lucky timing I caught the person in action and was able to follow them until they got in their car and drove off. The third time was last night when we heard the car alarm go off at 9:30 or so. By the time we got outside the perp was gone.
In December when I saw the perp, they drove away in a silver 1995-2001 model year A4. I tried getting a picture of the license plate but came away with a low-light video but was able to remember the first letters of the license plate as BR. Third letter may have been B. Low light gave a pretty bad video but after putting freeze frame of the video through a couple of filters the last two numbers appeared to be 74.
P.S. The third Tuesday of the month is usually the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting a chance to hear from, and ask questions of, local police – no announcement yet but we will publish it if and when we get it.
West Seattle Junction flower shop Our Secret Garden has moved, and is celebrating its new location’s grand opening tomorrow. Formerly at 4730 California SW, Our Secret Garden has moved south to another of the area’s newer mixed-use buildings, The Blake, at 5020 California SW. It’s a bigger space, as you’ll see if you drop by during tomorrow’s celebration, 10 am-5 pm.
4:35 PM: Thanks to Ethan for the tip via Twitter – M/V Kittitas on the Triangle Route is out of service for a while. Email alert from WSF says at least its next four runs are canceled due to a crew shortage – “the 4:30 pm from Southworth to Vashon, the 4:50 pm from Vashon to Fauntleroy, the 5:20 pm from Fauntleroy to Vashon, and the 5:45 pm from Vashon to Southworth.” Ethan says people on board Kittitas now are being dropped off at Southworth to await the arrival of M/V Cathlamet in half an hour.
6:50 PM: WSF’s latest email alert says Kittitas is back in service but still short on crew and “will sail at reduced capacity for the remainder of the service day. This may limit a customer’s ability to sail on the sailing they prefer. Customers are encouraged to arrive early.” Vessel Watch shows it is still at Southworth, while Cathlamet has just left Vashon for Southworth, 30+ minutes late.
7:51 PM: The latest email update from WSF:
Both vessels are an estimated 35-45 minutes behind schedule due to an earlier service disruption. This delays the following sailings:
7:05 p.m., 7:25 p.m., 8:25 p.m. and the 8:40 p.m. from Vashon to Fauntleroy
7:35 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:50 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. from Fauntleroy to Vashon
8:00 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. from Vashon to Southworth
8:20 p.m. from Southworth to Vashon
(J58 and her family, by Mark Sears, NOAA Research Permit 21348. L-R, J51, J22, J41, J58, J19, J37 – thanks to Maya Sears for IDs!)
Like so many things, The Whale Trail‘s annual “Welcome the Orcas” celebration went virtual this year. The announcement we published in December included an invitation to enter a writing contest. Today – news of the winners!
The Whale Trail announces the winners of its first Welcome the Orcas Writing Contest, held in December 2020 to celebrate the seasonal return of the endangered southern resident orcas to central Puget Sound. Writers Andy Havens and Hannah Lindell-Smith, both West Seattleites, took top honors in their age groups.
“We are grateful to everyone who participated, and helped us welcome the southern residents with heart, and art!” said Whale Trail director Donna Sandstrom. “With the recent additions of J57, J58 and L125, there are three new calves to welcome! The southern resident community has grown to 75 individuals — here’s to a new season of hope for the orcas, and the world.”
First Prize
The Librarian, by Andy Havens (Adult Category)
J57, by Hannah Lindell-Smith (9th to 12 grade)Second Prize
Love Them, Protect Them, by Lucy Larkin (Adult Category)
Orca Song, by Hannah Lindell-Smith (9th to 12 grade)Honorable Mention
Welcome Home, Orcas, by Bobbi Fabbelano (Adult Category)
Read all the prize-winning poems on The Whale Trail’s website here; the first-prize winners are below:
The Librarian
by Andy HavensThe orca’s tongue is tattooed in crowblack ink
with the whole history of the Hoh
and the names of Nisqually who breathed the air
in the sacred space between hawk and bear –
hung to cure in a frozen smoke.In the blackfish grin, written on salmon skin,
lives the library of the Lummi
and the forgotten words to S’Klallam songs
sung in the fog from which they’re drawn –
then gone like a dream’s unblooming.But the orca speaks, too, the newer words
of submarine and ferry boat
and the sharp dialect of high skylines
that replace the flesh with the crystalline –
concrete terms being asked to float.A blackfin ripple loops like cursive in the bay
as the orca pens the Pacific tome
and writes Sound verses beneath the surface
in a Salish hand whose arc is perfect –
the scrimshaw line of tooth and bone.*Andy Havens is husband, a father of two, and a US Army veteran living on the ersatz island of West Seattle. He is currently writing poetry focused on Pacific Northwest geography, nature, and history. His poetry has appeared in Fragments Literary Magazine and the online journal Whatever Keeps the Lights On.
(Backlit blows of J pod in Puget Sound. Photo by Mark Sears, NOAA Permit 21348)
J57
by Hannah Lindell-SmithYou are the wind.
You are the Sun and Moon that light the way.
You are the stars in the darkest of nights.
You are the rainbow after the storm.You are the waves you swim through,
the child of the life-giving water and your family’s tears.
You are the blood of a dying universe.You are the fighter and survivor.
You are the salmon that travel hundreds of miles
to give their lives to you.You are the stories your family will tell you.
You are all that they will give to you,
and the love you will give to all.You are everything that has come before.
You are the one we have been waiting for.*Hannah Lindell-Smith is a 14-year-old from Seattle. She is a student, activist, writer, and change-maker, future and present. Watch out, world!
Another reminder so you can get ready this weekend – next weekend starts with the FREE recycling/shredding event presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and WS Chamber of Commerce, 9 am-noon Saturday, March 20th. Different location this year so there’s lots of room to distance – the expansive north parking lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Guidelines for what the event will and won’t take:
ACCEPTED ITEMS INCLUDE:
Styrofoam
Household batteries
Fluorescent tubes and bulbs
Small electronics
Paper for shredding (limit 4 boxes) – you CAN bring confidential documentsNOT-ACCEPTED ITEMS INCLUDE:
Automotive waste
Furniture
Broken household goods
Construction waste
Latex paint
Large appliances
Garbage or yard waste
Hazardous waste
Car seats
Non-recyclable or non-reusable items
Commercial loads
NO clothing/linens (due to capacity)
NO household goods (due to capacity)
Masking/distancing protocol and other info is on the WSJA’s preview page.
P.S. The sponsoring nonprofits run on volunteer power, and a couple spots remain for peoplr to help the event go smoothly. Sign up here!
A West Seattle woman is in the bug business this time of year. Tiny Science proprietor Jen the Entomologist says it’s time for Mantis Madness – science lessons you and your kid(s) can explore at home:
Tiny Science started 5 years ago when Jen brought a praying mantis tank to her kids’ preschool. Visiting to care for the tank, those preschoolers asked some awesome questions. Jen started planning weekly visits to discuss insects with preschoolers and Tiny Science was born. Jen has taught around West Seattle (including WorldKids School, Senior Center of West Seattle, The Tilden School, Gatewood and Arbor Heights Elementaries, Westside, and more).
The praying mantis hatching kit from Tiny Science comes with everything you need for a summer full of fascinating praying mantis encounters. Purchase your hatching kit online at tinyscience.org/mantis-madness
This simple and memorable project includes observing newly hatched mantises, releasing them into your outside space, and encountering them all summer long. Mantises are completely self-sufficient from hatching and require no care. This is an excellent educational experience for all ages, especially wonderful for multi-generational relationships. Kids and grownups spend the summer outside searching for (and finding!) these charismatic arthropod ambassadors of nature as they hunt and grow in your natural space.
Some FAQ include “Is it responsible to release these here?” and “Are they safe to hold?” These are Chinese mantids, a naturalized generalist predator with no direct native competitors. They contribute to their ecology as a prey item for many birds and arthropods and rarely generate offspring in our mild, wet climate. They are safe and fascinating to hold. Find more answers to frequently asked questions on the Tiny Science website.
High-quality ootheca (egg cases) are treated with expert care by Jen the Entomologist, West Seattle mom and small-business owner. We expect high viability from this robust bunch. Tiny Science’s mission is to improve science literacy and learner confidence in science. Contact Jen to learn more about awesome online science “Field Trips” for your class or school. Tiny Science teaches entomology to all ages and groups.
*Purchase your kit online
*Porch pick-up in West Seattle (Seaview, near the Junction) beginning mid-March. Hatching is expected to begin sometime in April with kits available through that month.
Mantis Madness is an annual springtime educational science experience from Tiny Science. Jen the Entomologist is a West Seattle mom and business owner of Tiny Science, a community resource for science education. Tiny Science online classes for early elementary boost learner confidence.
Jen says Tiny Science offers classes, parties, and badges too.
(View from Westcrest Park, photographed by Gill Loring)
Welcome to the last weekend of winter – by this time next Saturday, spring will have officially begun, Here’s what you should know about the rest of today:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Two for today – lane closures on the southbound 1st Avenue South Bridge continue around the clock all weekend, and work is planned all day today at the Delridge/Genesee intersection – but it’s NOT part of the ongoing SDOT/Metro work; SDOT says it’s utility work related to residential development at that corner. ADDED 1:52 PM: Genesee is blocked at Delridge while this work continues. Also – thanks for the tips – the 35th/Roxbury signal is in flashing-red mode.
(Sunny weather also often brings unannounced road work, so if you see anything else major, please let us know – text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!)
BEIGNETS & COFFEE: 8 am-1 pm, Jet City Beignet (WSB sponsor) will be selling their creations at Realfine Coffee in The Triangle (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW).
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM: 1-5 pm, stop by the tasting room (5910 California SW) to sip, and/or buy, Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) wine – you can even pre-order.
DESTINATION DELRIDGE – LIVE FROM THE HEART: Celebrate and support DNDA with an online gala full of art, music, and community, 7 pm online. Our preview includes ticket info.
LIVE FROM HPIC: First livestreamed music presented from Highland Park Improvement Club – Hot Rod, here at 8 pm.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: On sale online this year! Go here for links, including local scouts offering contact-free local delivery.
SPRING FORWARD TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: Tonight’s the night we “spring forward” one hour – 2 am Sunday instantly becomes 3 am Sunday.
(WSB photos)
Friday night brought the fourth consecutive Huling Bowl win for Chief Sealth International High School. The cross-peninsula football faceoff between Sealth and West Seattle High School happens every season – we can’t say “every year” because the pandemic cut 2020 out of the picture. Besides the change of seasons, something else was very different at Southwest Athletic Complex:
Spectators won’t be allowed in the stands until next week. But on the field – a full complement of players and coaches (Daron Camacho for the Seahawks, Jeff Scott for the Wildcats), as Sealth piled up the points for a 40-17 victory. Sealth #4 Quinn Killham scored the first TD, but then #3 Zack Cunningham racked up the TD’s:
#41 Ethan Heathershaw forced a WS fumble, recovered it, and ran it in for Sealth’s last touchdown:
Both of West Seattle’s two touchdowns were by #6 Jimmy Fomby:
The Wildcats’ JP Dufour kicked a field goal:
Without fans, the game was short on the usual celebration and ceremony. We did photograph athletic directors Ernest Policarpio (Sealth) and Corey Sorenson (WSHS) with the trophy pre-game:
The Huling Bowl tradition goes back almost 20 years – here’s the backstory. As for what’s next in this one-of-a-kind season, Sealth (1-1) plays at Ingraham at 7 pm next Friday, same time/day that WSHS (1-1) hosts Lincoln at SWAC
For the second consecutive night, a big announcement from the governor leads the roundup:
GET BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, SAYS GOVERNOR: By mid-April, “every student” must have the option of some in-person learning, by order of the governor. Seattle Public Schools says it’s waiting until the governor puts this all in writing to “analyze” it; no official reaction yet from the Seattle Education Association yet, either. Side note: Oregon’s governor announced a similar order today.
KING COUNTY NUMBERS: Here are the latest stats from the Public Health daily-summary page, cumulative totals:
*83,806 people have tested positive, 153 more than yesterday’s total
*1,435 people have died, 6 more than yesterday’s total
*5,166 people have been hospitalized, 7 more than yesterday’s total
*926,928 people have been tested, 1,867 more than yesterday’s total
Now, our weekly check of key numbers on the COVID Vaccination Among King County Residents dashboard:
*459,191 people have received one dose
*260,713 people have received both doses
*714,115 doses have been allocated to King County
One week ago, the first four totals were 82,818/1,412/5,125/913,804, and the vaccination totals were 393.154/218,184/622,155.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.
WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 119 million cases, 2,639,000+ deaths – see the nation-by-nation numbers here.
STATEWIDE SITUATION REPORT: The newest one was released tonight. Key points:
-Case counts have increased slightly in western Washington and plateaued in eastern Washington as of late February.
-Most counties have seen declines in case counts since the first week of January, but cases have flattened in several counties and are starting to increase again in others.
=Cases are increasing among younger adults aged 20-29 and 30-39. This has previously been an early warning sign of larger surges in the general population.
-We are seeing sharp declines in hospital admission rates among people 70 and older, possibly because those groups are among the first to get vaccinated.
-COVID-19 transmission is continuing at about the same level after declines through January and February.
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-The estimated prevalence (percentage of people with active COVID-19 infections) began to plateau in early February after declines in January.
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER’S BRIEFING: In his weekly briefing, Dr. Jeff Duchin said “The forecast is partly sunny with a chance of rain.’
VACCINATION SITUATION: Dr. Duchin and the county continue warning that supply is far behind demand, and that’s even before the eligibility expansion that kicks in next week. If you’re seeking vaccine:
If you’re eligible now, here are places to look:
*For the city-run West Seattle and Rainier Beach sites and Lumen Field Event Center hub – get on the notification list here; check for West Seattle appointments available in the next few days by going here
*Your health-care provider (particularly bigger ones like UW Medicine, CHI Franciscan, Swedish, Kaiser Permanente, etc.)
*covidwa.com (volunteer-run aggregator)
*Pharmacy chains big and small – Safeway, Rite Aid, QFC, Pharmaca (a reader reports they opened up appointments tonight), Costco
*Sea Mar clinics
IF YOU NEED TESTING SATURDAY: The city’s West Seattle test site (2801 SW Thistle) continues to be open on Saturdays.
GOT INFO OR PHOTOS? westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/voice 206-293-6302 – thank you!
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