Just got word of another vaccination event in West Seattle this weekend. This one is offering the monkeypox vaccine to those who meet current eligibility criteria, and COVID boosters too. It’s happening at Arthur’s (2311 California SW) 7-10 pm Saturday (October 22). Arthur’s proprietor Rebecca Rice explains, “With the difficulty of finding a COVID booster, combined with the stress and fear in our community surrounding Monkeypox, representatives from King County Public health approached us to organize a safe and private space for vaccinating. This Saturday, we will open our doors to anyone seeking the Monkeypox vaccine. Along with this opportunity, Alki Beach Pride has partnered us with our local Safeway pharmacy to offer Covid boosters to those who choose to receive them. We are really hoping to see a great turnout and have worked diligently with the Admiral Pub, Alki Beach Pride, and King County Public Health to provide a space for individuals that is safe and welcoming.” No appointment needed – just show up. If you can’t get to this, watch here for other vaccination events.

In our photo at right is West Seattle podiatrist Dr. Michael Vickers, who’s about to retire and hand over his patients to Dr. Ryan Schwanke (left). Here’s the announcement from West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic:

fter caring for the West Seattle community for over 33 years, Dr. Michael Vickers of West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic is retiring on October 28. Dr. Ryan Schwanke, a West Seattle resident and an experienced podiatrist and podiatric surgeon, will begin seeing patients at the clinic on October 31.

Here is the letter Dr. Vickers sent to his patients:

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement as of October 28, 2022. Caring for you, my patients, has been the most rewarding part of my 33 years with West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic. I have come to know many of my patients and their families as friends, and I am honored that many of you have asked me to care for two, and even three, generations. I have truly cherished my time as part of the West Seattle community.

I am excited to announce that Dr. Ryan Schwanke will be joining the practice full time this fall and will be assuming care of my patients. Dr. Schwanke is an experienced podiatrist and podiatric surgeon. He has been practicing in the Seattle area since completing his training at one of the top residencies in the country, the Swedish Foot and Ankle Surgery Residency Program at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. During his residency, both Dr. LaBella and I worked closely with Dr. Schwanke as he assisted with our outpatient surgeries and trained in a clinical setting with us here at West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic. I am confident you will welcome Dr. Schwanke and be very pleased with his care.

It has been an extremely rewarding experience to help West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic grow into one of the most respected foot and ankle clinics in the Pacific Northwest. It is a testament to our excellent team that providers from across the Puget Sound frequently refer their patients to us for foot and ankle care. West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic has been serving our community for 43 years and I know that Dr. LaBella, Dr. Schwanke, and our dedicated staff will continue that tradition.

Sincerely,
Michael B. Vickers, DPM

The clinic is in The Junction at 4520 42nd SW.

If you would like to get a flu shot but are having trouble making that happen, maybe this clinic tomorrow night is for you. The Roxbury Safeway pharmacy sent word that they’ve scheduled the clinic for 6-8 pm Tuesday (October 11th) at the store (28th/Roxbury). No appointment needed – just show up. As noted on this flyer for the event, the shot is “free” with most insurance plans, and if you’re doing grocery shopping while you’re there, you’ll be entitled to a 10 percent discount,

Just in from Public Health-Seattle & King County:

A rabid bat was found by the sidewalk adjacent to the Duwamish Head Condominiums (1140 Alki Ave SW [map]) on September 18 – 19, 2022, near Alki Beach Pier [Luna/Anchor Park] in West Seattle.

Anyone who might have had contact with this bat (even if not bitten) could be at risk and should seek medical evaluation immediately or call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine if rabies-preventative treatment is necessary.

Rabies is life-threatening but is treatable if caught early and treated before any symptoms develop.

The bat was first identified the evening of September 18. Seattle Animal Shelter was notified of the bat on September 19, 2022. A Seattle Animal Shelter officer picked up the bat, which was still living, on the same day. The bat was taken to PAWS Animal Shelter in Lynnwood, where it died on September 30. Public Health was notified of the bat on October 5. Public Health tested the bat for rabies and received a positive test on October 6.

To date, Public Health has identified at least four people who may have been exposed to the bat and all are being evaluated by Public Health. Public Health is also working to notify residents of the Duwamish Head Condominiums of the potential risk.

Who is at risk

Any person or animal that touched or had contact with the bat or its saliva could be at risk of getting rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. Fortunately, rabies can be prevented if treatment is given before symptoms appear.

“Rabies is treatable if caught before symptoms appear, so identifying anyone who has had contact with the bat as soon as possible is important,” said Elysia Gonzales, Medical Epidemiologist at Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Contact includes touching a bat, being bitten, scratched, or any other bare skin contact with a bat or its saliva.”

Rabies and pets

If your pet might have been exposed to this bat, contact your veterinarian immediately. Dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses should be current on their rabies vaccine but will need to be revaccinated if they had contact with a bat.

More about rabies

Rabies is dangerous, but treatable if caught early before any symptoms develop:

If someone has had contact with a bat, treatment can prevent infection. This treatment should be given as soon as possible.
Rabies is a viral disease of the central nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
The virus is found in the saliva of an animal with rabies and is usually transmitted by a bite or scratch. Because rabies is a life threatening disease, medical advice must be sought promptly if a bat comes into contact with humans or animals.

If you find a bat:

=If you find a bat inside your house, call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to discuss the situation and to determine whether the bat needs to be tested for rabies. Public Health tests bats for rabies at no charge under certain circumstances.

-Live bats should be captured and might need to be tested for rabies if:

-If the bat had direct contact with a person’s bare skin or with a pet OR

-If a person wakes up to a bat in the room in which they were sleeping

-Use a shovel or gloves to put a dead bat in a box for testing. Do not throw it away!

-Open windows and allow bats to leave your home if they have not come into contact with a person or pets. Close doors to other parts of your home and secure pets away from the location of the bat.

For more information about how to safely capture a bat in your home and how to safely avoid bats, visit: kingcounty.gov/bats

You can also learn more about bats here; that one-sheet says fewer than one in 20,000 bats has rabies.

King County Public Health says a community monkeypox-vaccination event still has doses available for eligible walk-ups – until 6 pm or until they run out – at the Lumber Yard Bar, 9630 16th SW in downtown White Center. Here’s who’s eligible.

Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC, is offering a 12-week intensive therapy program and sponsoring WSB to ensure you know about it. Here’s who it’s for:

You are an adult at a crossroads in your life and are looking for more intensive therapy than is available seeing a therapist once a week or less. You have experienced mis-attunements and/or trauma in your early life and have struggled to untangle the coping mechanisms that no longer work for you. Perhaps you don’t know yourself or even know how to know yourself. Perhaps you just keep ending up in relationships that repeat past patterns no matter how hard you try not to. The idea of spending years in weekly therapy to get anywhere feels like too little. You need a therapist who gets it and has been through it themselves.

I offer a unique intensive 12-week online program for a small group delivered via telehealth for anyone in Washington. Each week will include a Discovery Group focused on exploration of the self and developing skills; an Experience Group focused on practicing and playing with new ways of relating to others; and individual psychotherapy to support you with your individual needs as you move through the program (partial package available if you already have a therapist).

Program Dates: The first group session will be held on 8/16/2022 and the final group session will be on 11/3/2022.

Schedule: Groups will be held via Telehealth on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm.

Details: Visit the Program Details page for more information about the program.

First Step: The first step to register is to schedule a 20-minute consultation with me at thecenterofyou.net/booking.

I specialize in working with adult clients who have experienced complex trauma and mis-attunements in the childhood environment. This could be anyone and specifically includes folks previously diagnosed with PTSD, personality disorders, dissociative disorders and substance use disorders. I welcome neurodivergent and gender diverse clients.

I understand what it’s like to experience complex trauma in the childhood environment, and I am both neurodivergent and gender non-conforming / queer. If you’re looking for a therapist who gets the nuances and experiences of recovery, I may be your person. I welcome you to reach out for a free consultation to see if we’d be a good fit for each other.

I chose to become a clinical social worker because of the values of the profession, the emphasis on deep exploration of the human experience, and the emphasis on the person in their environment. In other words, I see you as an individual who has developed in the context of your family of origin, social, cultural, biological, and environmental factors. Traditional medical model diagnoses are focused on observed behavior of an individual at a particular moment in time, and can devalue your perspective and experience. Therefore, my approach is to empower you to know yourself and support you in tailoring the processes for untangling, reorganizing, and living fulfilling lives that bring you peace.

Reach Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC, via TheCenterOfYou.net and 206-705-3101.

We thank Laura Bruco, MSW, LSWAIC 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.