February 2022

Eddie Vedder’s Earthling: Sonic balm for the species
The Pearl Jam frontman’s new solo record aims to lift us all; New album features guests including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ringo Starr and Benmont Tench

By Matt Vaughan

Music has healing powers. To me and many people music is your vibration, your frequency, it’s your medicine. We seek music in times of need. We use music in times of celebration and joy. Songs can find their ways into our soul when we least expect it. We can become overwhelmed with emotion or find ourselves in deep reflection. Or it might simply just jack us up. It might even help form our identity. Loved ones grow closer. We find people who might share in our love of a song, a band, an artist, a voice. We merge with others and we emerge empowered and unified. As far as I’m concerned, music is essential. Agree?

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Proclamation declares love for local unreinforced masonry buildings

District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared news about a proclamation issued to preserve Unreinforced Masonry buildings in the West Seattle and South Park neighborhoods

An annual tradition, on Valentine’s Day, the National Trust for Historic Preservation spreads love for historic places through their heart bomb campaign. Heart bombing is the act of showering an older or historic place with tangible expressions of affection and devotion.

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Apartment fire on Barton Street injures two, three others treated at scene

A fire broke out on the third floor of the Westwood Vista apartments on Saturday morning around 10am in the 2200 block of SW Barton Pl.: 

Two adult females were transported to Harborview with injuries sustained from the fire. Three other patients evaluated and did not require transport.

They were given oxygen on the scene.

Those evacuated were being sheltered in a Metro bus. The cause and extent of damages was not known at this time.

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High bridge repair: Continuing interior repair work; exterior epoxy crack injection underway 

 

SDOT GRAPH

information from Seattle Department of Transportation

We had another busy week continuing epoxy crack injection and radar scanning inside the bridge, as well as preparing for future post-tensioning. This prep work involves roughening the concrete surfaces inside the bridge, which strengthens the bond between new and existing concrete. It also includes building the components inside the bridge that anchor the post-tensioning cables spanning the length of the bridge

We also completed setup for the next phase of core drilling this week, which will require drilling through as much as 17 feet of concrete so new post-tensioning cables can pass through the interior of the bridge to provide added strength.  

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SDOT has filled over 7,500 potholes already this year and built over 50 West Seattle safety and mobility improvements

 information from Seattle Department of Transportation

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) works every day to maintain our roads and improve public safety. This week, SDOT announced several recent examples of the progress it is making to improve road conditions throughout Seattle: 

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Laser strikes continue to impact planes near Sea-Tac airport, Port of Seattle asking the public for help identifying culprits

information from the City of SeaTac

Over the last two weeks, there have been at least 45 laser strikes against planes near the Sea-Tac airport. 

The most recent laser strike was Thursday night, with another 12 Tuesday night. Almost all the flights hit by lasers earlier this week were in a 3-mile radius of the airport. 

The FAA reported a 41 percent increase in laser strikes from 2020 to 2021, with Washington ranking eighth for highest number of incidents per capita.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is dangerous and illegal, resulting in an $11,000 fine per incident. Laser strikes can blind and disorient pilots, which is a serious safety issue.

The FAA has a campaign to raise awareness about the danger of laser strikes, which can temporarily blind a pilot. People are encouraged to report these incidences. 

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King County ending vaccine verification requirement as of March 1

information from King County

With new COVID-19 cases and hospitalization decreasing, and over 87% of King County residents over age 12 fully vaccinated, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Public Health – Seattle & King County is lifting the local health order requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for entry into indoor recreational settings, or outdoor events. The vaccination verification policy will no longer be in effect as of March 1.

Businesses and organizations may continue to implement their own vaccination verification rules for their establishments. Additionally, King County and the City of Seattle announced their remote employees would begin returning to offices in March.

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Striking workers block West Marginal Way entrance to CalPortland Cement

#2022-039877/Southwest Precinct/First Watch: 

On 02-16-2022 at 6:08 am SPD received a call about a demonstration located at the 5900 block of W Marginal Way SW.

The callers reported that concrete mixer drivers, dump truck drivers and cement plant employees on strike were blocking the entrance and exit to CalPortland Cement which was causing a significant backup of trucks.

SPD arrived and saw that Teamsters 174 members were blocking the driveway for an extended period of time. The subjects refused to move.

The subjects on strike were advised about blocking the movement of traffic.

A representative from the business was also contacted. Teamsters and the representative from the business were given a case number with a business card.

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