April 2020

By Jean Godden

Washington state, which started out with the first U.S. cases of Covid-19 and the first deaths, has slipped way down the list of impacted states. For that we can thank quick action by Gov. Jay Inslee and our other elected leaders. With closed schools, social distancing and shelter in place orders, we've been flattening the curve and may have passed the outbreak's peak.

A great many of us, those who are not front-line troops, are now housebound, working and learning from home. We're social distancing and learning how to cope with the need to shelter in place for an indeterminate amount of time. Even if we're working from home, many of us have found that social isolation is not without some unexpected benefits.

Update April 12

Numerous readers have reported problems with The Plate Fund and their utilization of a system called STRIPE. Westside Seattle reached out to The Plate Fund sponsors and they replied:

"The Plate Fund is using a third-party called Up Together to process applications which includes synching an applicant's bank account information. Indeed, many users have raised this issue which we are working hard to remedy as soon as possible."

Original Post

The restaurant industry and its workers, among the hardest hit in the coronavirus pandemic just got a helping hand. Launching on April 6 the Plate Fund, 

EDITORS NOTE: It's with sadness but fond memories that we report that long time White Center businessman Hurley Ring has passed away. His son Greg alerted Westside Seattle saying," He passed away on Thursday, April 2. He always spoke very highly of your family and of course was good friends with your Dad. He was 94 and had a long and fulfilling life. He loved his 36 years that he had the Party House in White Center from October 1952 until October 1988. He made many friends along the way and always looked back very fondly on those times. "

Publisher Emeritus Jerry Robinson who passed away himself in 2014 wrote about Hurley in 2012

By Jerry Robinson

Seattle District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared this update on the West Seattle Bridge and related issues via email to constituents on Friday.

With the length of the bridge closure uncertain, but not short, ensuring good access to fire and EMS services in West Seattle is of vital importance.

My office inquired with Fire Chief Scoggins about Fire and EMS response in West Seattle during the closure of the West Seattle Bridge. Chief Scoggins noted in an update,

The Seattle Fire Department is currently conducting a comprehensive GIS analysis of the impacts on fire and EMS response times due to the closure of the West Seattle Bridge. We expect that analysis to be completed by April 17.

The analysis includes a review of response times before and after the bridge closure, how often and when the lower bridge opens for marine traffic as well as the delays caused by rail traffic.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS

Tom Douglas whose 13 restaurants closed in March when the lockdown came has has now opened Serious Takeout in Ballard for takeout, and delivery using DoorDash, Caviar, and ChowNow).