West Seattle, Washington
02 Thursday
Everything mentioned below unfolded between about 2:30 and 4 pm (see the 911 log):
ORIGINAL 3:43 PM REPORT: Just got e-mail from Megan, a text from Sue and a tweet from Rasmus – a crash at Fauntleroy/Dawson (north of Fairmount Playfield – here’s a map) has closed Fauntleroy in both directions. No other details so far – except that Megan saw no obvious signs anyone was hurt. 3:52 PM: There’s also a “heavy rescue” call – flipped car, according to a comment below this story – at 37th/Juneau. En route to check it out. (added 5:50 pm, Tony Bradley sent a shot of that, no serious injuries reported):
And WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli has checked out an earlier call at 48th/Dakota, which he says is sending at least two people to the hospital (added 5:37 pm, video of that scene):
… should be clearing soon, though. Christopher reports, “SPD tells me that an SUV full of tourists (who only arrived in Seattle today) heading west on Dakota failed to yield and struck another SUV that was crossing on 48th. Two being transported to HMC. Firefighters had to use the jaws of life to extract one of the victims from the black SUV.”
4:26 PM: Just drove through Fauntleroy/Dawson – all clear now. Here’s one of Christopher’s photos, showing the debris in the road just before it was cleared:
We’re heading to doublecheck 37th/Juneau scene. 4:40 PM: The car here is about to be towed – 37th is still blocked (residential street) a few houses south of Juneau but should reopen as soon as the tow truck moves on. 4:48 PM: Tow truck’s headed out, 37th open again. So all three crash scenes are clear for your afternoon drive home. 5:22 PM: One more to add to all that – there was a medic call at 16th/Graham we were going to check out, but the call closed before we got there; KIRO flew its chopper over – says a bike rider suffered minor injuries.
5:43 PM UPDATE: Tony Bradley sent that photo of the 16th/Graham incident and reports, “Talking to witnesses, a male bicyclist in his late teens or early twenties was riding his bicycle southbound on 16th in front of the community college and for some reason rode into the back of a small SUV that was parked on the west side of the street. The witness said there was no other vehicle involved. The bike rider fell off the bike and landed in the middle of the southbound lanes of 16th. His injuries appeared minor and he was transported to the hospital in an AMR.”
(Mid-January photo contributed by anonymous WSB’er)
We already had a request out today to SDOT for an update on the slide aftermath in the 6000 block of Beach Drive (map), when a note came in from Harold saying that crews are drilling in the road’s center line today. While SDOT’s Marybeth Turner is checking on the drilling, she has replied with information about what’s happening overall:
SDOT hired a geotechnical consulting firm to conduct a preliminary study of the slope and recommend a temporary measure that would enable us to reopen the full width of Beach Drive SW. We expect this study to be final within a week. The recommendation will help the city determine a time line for opening the road and for working toward a long term solution for the slope.
(Meantime) DPD and SDOT are working with the property owner to provide a long-term plan for slope mitigation just east of 6033 Beach Drive SW. At this point the City has not received a formal application from the owner of the sloping property, but are hoping to receive one shortly and will work to keep neighbors immediately west of the slope informed throughout the review process.
We first reported the slide early January 13th, after tips about the road closure; it happened sometime the previous evening. After some initial cleanup, the road’s been restricted to one lane at the slide spot.
Received a couple of nice notes today that were really about YOUR response to requests for help, so we didn’t want to keep them all to ourselves. So often, if there’s a fundraiser, we report the money numbers – but we don’t always hear the numbers in terms of people who volunteer their time (among other things). First one is from Kim at Puget Sound Blood Center, re: their Bloodmobile drive outside Admiral Safeway last Saturday (previewed here):
There was a great turnout with 38 people registering to donate. Of these, our staff was able to collect 30 units of volunteered blood. We had 6 first time donors! Since each donation can go to three separate patients, this drive went towards saving or dramatically improving the lives of up to 90 sick patients in the Puget Sound area. In a matter of days/weeks, the volunteered blood will be in a local hospital saving someone’s life.
And from Romina at Neighborhood House, who has just lined up new mentors for local kids (the call went out four weeks ago):
I just wanted to say thank you for helping me make this Recruit-A-Mentor Challenge campaign at Neighborhood House a success. This campaign helped us get 11 new mentors in a span of just one month … The majority of our new mentors came from reading the post on WSB and in turn, we have mentors who live in the very community where our mentees come from. Couldn’t have been any better!
Thank you all for reaching out to help your neighbors in so many ways, big and small. Please keep sharing the requests for what’s needed and how people can help (here’s all the ways to send the info); we’ve got a few more in queue for later today.
We were just going to cobble together a reminder from previous reports, when Seattle Public Library sent its official news release reminding all that tomorrow’s the day schedule changes kick in. For West Seattle, the most dramatic changes are at the High Point and Delridge branches, which will now be closed on Fridays as well as Sundays. Read on for the citywide list, including the new hours of all 4 West Seattle-area branches:Read More
If you haven’t seen it in the SPDBlotter feed on the Crime Watch page already: 
A West Seattle robbery solved by fingerprints on a thrown beer can. The SPDBlotter report says it happened at “a convenience store in the 6300 block of 35th SW” (map) on December 12th; two people who tried to buy beer but were turned away for lack of ID started throwing beer cans at the clerk, then hit him, and one made off with the register in the meantime. They got away but prints were lifted from the beer cans and one was traced about a week ago to a 19-year-old man; turns out he’s i the King County Jail on an unrelated warrant, and has now confessed to this crime; the other suspect’s still being sought. Read the full SPDBlotter story here.
Our clip from July 10, 2009, captured the iconic moment of last year’s West Seattle Summer Fest – Dow Constantine talking about his eventual-landslide King County Executive campaign as he introduced Mudhoney, who performed for thousands in the heart of The Junction. Now the dates are set for this year’s Summer Fest – July 9, 10 and 11. And the five months between now and then will go fast, so Susan Melrose at the West Seattle Junction Association has an announcement to share:
I know it’s early, but we’re already planning for Summer Fest. There has been a steady stream of phone calls all month from regional craft and food vendors wanting to apply to this event. The good news is that West Seattle businesses get top priority!
In order to have a stronger West Seattle event, we are offering West Seattle businesses priority over non-West Seattle businesses if they apply by March 15th. If you’re a West Seattle business and want to apply for Summer Fest, visit www.westseattlefestival.com, download the appropriate application and write “West Seattle Local” in the comment section to be given priority. Applications received after March 15 will be handled like any other applicant.
(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli: Link site with new crane many’ll see today for the 1st time )
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
CONCORD ELEMENTARY OPEN HOUSE: It’s in South Park but aligned with middle and high schools: Concord International Elementary is having an open house tonight including information on its dual-language immersion program and the new Student Assignment Plan. 6:30-8:30 pm, 723 South Concord (map).
SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE: Two series start today – “Painting Poetry,” helping people reveal and express a personal story over the course of four weeks, with its essence becoming a poem and painting. 1-2:30 pm. Same time period today, the Senior Center also will start an 8-week Great Decisions 2010 discussion group. Call (206) 932-4044 for registration information on either one.
KENYON HALL: Tonight and tomorrow, Nigerian-born British actor Tayo Aluko presents “From Africa to the White House: A Journey of Resistance, Triumph and Spirituals…a musically illustrated talk,” with Kenyon Hall’s Lou Magor at the keyboard, 8 pm. More info at kenyonhall.org.
MISSION’S 5TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY: We took a closer look at the Admiral District restaurant/bar in this story published Monday; tonight, help its owners celebrate their milestone 5th anniversary, 7 pm.
OTHER NIGHTLIFE: Open turntables at Skylark Cafe and Club at 6 pm (which is offering special Valentine’s Day deals if you haven’t heard), rock trivia at Feedback Lounge at 8 pm (both are WSB sponsors).
From West Seattle Girls’ Softball president Shawn Herrera:
Spring is just around the corner — that means West Seattle Girls Softball registration has begun. Through February 21st you can sign your daughter up for this year’s season. More details can be found at westseattlegirlssoftball.com The cost of registration includes one ticket for the player to the UW Huskies Softball game on May 2nd, a uniform for your daughter to keep and a trophy at the end of the season. For scholarship details please contact Shawn Herrera at wssshawnp@yahoo.com. See you on the field!
(Photos courtesy Bellavita Photography by Deborah Semer)
Though we do our best to canvass the peninsula for the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, we obviously had one glaring omission this past weekend: The Cock of the Block chicken-wing cookoff Saturday night at Alki Tavern. Didn’t hear about it till we got a Facebook note asking, didn’t they see us there and where’s the coverage? Turns out that Deborah Semer was there taking photos – and sent us the link tonight. Five cooks, and five bucks got you 10 wings. There were even blindfolded judges!
And the winner was …
That’s Alki Tavern’s own “Sweet Lou,” hoisting the ginormous trophy:
His second win in a row, by the way.
That’s a bit of iPhone video from a stroll along Longfellow Creek, south of the West Seattle Golf Course, one recent sunny day. It works nicely to illustrate a few notes we hadn’t shared yet from last Thursday’s Parks Board meeting in the City Council chambers downtown. There was some expectation of an overflow crowd, because of the controversy over the original draft of the proposed code, but in the end, the crowd maxed out around 50, with speakers focused on two issues: the code’s smoking ban (supporters and opponents spoke) and feared persecution of homeless park users. Next step: A vote when the board meets Feb. 11 (here’s the latest on that from the Parkways website). Alki-residing Parks Board Jackie Ramels (from Alki) said they’d received 135+ e-mails/letters about the code as of the meeting. And she asked that people understand the board isn’t proposing the rules – department staff proposes them, the board reviews them.
Specific notes of West Seattle interest: Longfellow Creek was mentioned when board members talked about the naming process for park land along Thornton Creek – to use a protocol such as “(name) Access to Thornton Creek Natural Area” – and said it would be used for other creeks in the city, most likely coming next to Longfellow. (Here’s the briefing paper on the Thornton process plan.) Also: Deputy Superintendent Christopher Williams said Superintendent Tim Gallagher plans a series of meetings at Parks facilities around the city this year, and two were listed in West Seattle – mark your calendars – April 28 at Delridge Community Center, October 7th at Hiawatha Community Center. Williams noted Parks is “developing guidelines” for use of Facebook and Twitter – “looking to have a policy that’s more liberal than a government organization might provide.”
ORIGINAL 8:49 PM REPORT: Just got that photo via Twitter from @sntxrr who says it’s his view of the house burning right now in South Park, 500 block of South Trenton. If you are in eastern West Seattle, you might have heard the sirens – and another engine from central West Seattle (E32 from The Junction) was just called out to join the fight too (some of the responding engines/trucks on the 911 listing are from here too). Scanner hasn’t indicated any injuries so far, but the house was reported “fully involved,” from its garage to its attic. (Looks like this is the Google Street View angle closest to the one the photo shows.)
9:04 PM: At the fire scene is photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux – check his Twitter feed at @despeaux for photo/video links.
9:38 PM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says they don’t know the fire’s cause yet, but it’s out, adding that six people got out of the house safely, no injuries. She says the fire, which started in the garage, was first noticed by someone walking a dog.
1:08 AM: Just checked back with the SFD media hotline and there’s been a major development: Vander Houwen now says they found a body in the burned garage where the fire started. No word on identity or even gender; they also aren’t saying yet how the fire started – more information expected later today.
UPDATE: SFD has not announced a cause yet. Damage totaled $310,000. The victim was a teenage boy.
From tonight’s West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting – Jim Edwards just sent that cameraphone photo of the official drawing for this year’s float. We were there two months ago when the theme was chosen, “Dreams Do Come True” – the drawing shown tonight comes from the concepts displayed that night by young Hi-Yu enthusiasts, including Junior Court members:
Tonight’s meeting also was scheduled to include a decision on this year’s button design – we’ll let you know when we get word of that. You’ll see the finished float in this year’s West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade on July 24 (if you don’t happen to get to one of the earlier parades to which Hi-Yu travels to represent West Seattle, which is the ONLY Seattle neighborhood still to have its own parade float – others have festivals, none have floats). Our archived Hi-Yu coverage is here – including the recent story about the opening of application season for Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu (qualifications, forms and info here).
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Sixty percent of new restaurants fail within three years. But Mission Latin Restaurant & Lounge, 2325 California SW, is about to celebrate completion of year five.
If there’s a secret to Mission’s success, Eric Cozens, who owns the restaurant along with Peter Morse, says he doesn’t know what it is.
“We feel very blessed to have had it work out,” Cozens says. “I don’t know what the formula is. It was a lot of things coming together: the right place, timing, personalities, economics.”
It helps that Cozens and Morse complement each other in skills as well as personality.
From the WSB inbox – two West Seattle homes, next door to each other, burglarized over the weekend – read on for the report, including the unusual choice of loot:Read More
(WSB photo from Race for the Cure, heading north onto The Viaduct, 6/7/2009)
Not West Seattle-specific, but it does affect many people here in many ways — Just got a note that registration is open for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a tradition for your WSB co-publishers and thousands of other Seattleites – and noticed in the fine print, it’s not going to be on The Viaduct this year – the location is instead listed as Seattle Center. Not surprising, since construction in the area is accelerating, but this doesn’t seem to have been reported elsewhere yet, so we thought we’d pass it along, for those who will miss walking with that great view, and for those who will be happy to have one less traffic-closure morning, among others. Here’s the race information; here’s how to register. The date this year: June 6, only four months away. ADDED 1:41 PM: We asked R4TC for the official reason behind the move, and it’s partly as expected – from Danie, “Due to scheduling issues with the Sounders at Qwest field and the viaduct coming down in 2011 a location change was necessary. The route is still TBD, but the venue has great potential and participants will be VERY pleased.” (That’s the SOUTH end of The Viaduct coming down next year, of course, not the central section.)
For those interested in Mayor McGinn’s push for a White Center vote this November on annexing to Seattle (as reported here last Wednesday) – the City Council briefing has wrapped up, and we’re writing up toplines as fast as we can on partner site White Center Now – see the story here. The timeline laid out this morning is: First the council would vote March 8 on indicating an interest in the November vote – but wouldn’t have to commit to it till August; in the meantime, the rest of the process – including the state/county Boundary Review Board – proceeds. Next step, prior to the hoped-for March 8 vote, would be a February 19 hearing before the Development/Sustainability committee chaired by Council President Richard Conlin. ADDED 1:51 PM: Just got the requested copy of the PowerPoint presented at today’s briefing – converted it to PDF and you can see it here.
We’ve mentioned it a couple times in the past week-plus – and now, the main event is under way. Thanks to Gregor for sharing that photo of the 118-foot construction crane going up at Harbor Properties‘ Link site along 38th between SW Alaska and Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle. We’ll check back on it later today. Meantime, over in The Junction business district, construction continues at TrueValue, which remains open during remodeling (“a face lift for a few weeks,” as its website describes the work):
Thanks to Karen for the photo. More morning sights: Not long after sunrise, an impressive fog bank drifted over the Sound:
Dave Gould shared that photo taken south of The Junction. One more eagle-eyed view – Alison spotted this bald eagle on a utility-pole perch near Denny International Middle School‘s playfield in Westwood:
Thanks so much to everyone who shares photos, news tips, and other updates – here are all the ways you can reach WSB 24/7.
After reading the WSB followup Sunday on Neal Chism, who patrols for trash/debris part of the Duwamish shore near the West Seattle Bridge, Jen shared the photo above, explaining:
This photo shows the garbage (including a syringe/needle) picked up (Sunday) afternoon along a short stretch of West Seattle beach, a couple miles south of the Fauntleroy dock. All of this was picked up in the space of about 350 feet of shoreline. The recent super high tides seem to be bringing lots of trash. Imagine how much trash would be collected off local beaches, if all of us who walk the shoreline picked up the garbage as we walked…
I’ll be taking a bigger trash bag with me (today).
If you have the chance to get out on the beach today – the lowest daytime tide is at 12:34 pm (here’s the monthly chart).
WHITE CENTER ANNEXATION VOTE BRIEFING: Seattle City Councilmembers are scheduled to be briefed this morning on Mayor Mike McGinn‘s proposal to have White Center vote on annexation this November (first reported here last Wednesday). The agenda says the briefing should happen around 10:30; you can watch live via the Seattle Channel, cable 21 or online here.
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU FESTIVAL: Summer gets ever closer! Hi-Yu members are scheduled to choose this year’s button design — celebrating this year’s theme, “Dreams Do Come True” — at tonight’s meeting: 6:30 pm in the fellowship hall at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW; the hall is on the east side of the church).
FREE DANCE LESSONS: First Monday of the month means free ballroom/Latin dance lessons with Balorico at Kenyon Hall (35th/Kenyon), 6-7 pm (see the sidebar here).
SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30-8:30 tonight at The Center School, a Seattle Public Schools “all-city draw (option)” high school in Seattle Center‘s Center House. More details in this WSB Forum post.
YMCA ADULT BASKETBALL REGISTRATION: From Matt Schlede, sports director at West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor):
The West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA is now registering for Adult 4v4 Basketball League, season starts February 21. Two leagues: ages 18+ and 40+ (18+ games on Sunday nights at Fauntleroy YMCA, 40+ on Wednesday nights at Fauntleroy YMCA). Register as a team or as individual. For more info and to register visit westseattleymca.org.
Got something for the Events calendar? Here’s the info on how to share it – thanks!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Jimmy Wong visited his dad’s cafe in West Seattle tonight.
He taped a new note to the door of the Jade West Cafe, which has held update notes and get-well cards since Jimmy’s dad Wah, brother Jason and mom Salina were hit by a drunk driver outside their Beacon Hill home:
Jimmy’s note bears a simple request: The Wong family wants to hear from anyone who can write a note of support before the driver who hit the Wongs is sentenced on February 12th.
As reported here Friday, 50-year-old Rodney James has pleaded guilty to vehicular assault. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is recommending 2 1/2 years in prison; when the crash happened Dec. 12, James was on a suspended sentence from a prior case that started with a DUI arrest. Jimmy Wong – who is visiting from California, to help out at home – isn’t sure yet about the proper protocol for making sure the notes get full consideration. That’s why they’ve set up their own e-mail address – asking you just to send a quick note now if you are willing to write a message, and then they will let you know when they get official instructions – case number, address, etc.
Jimmy tells us his family is relieved that the driver pleaded guilty: “It helps us to move closer to closure – if he had pleaded not guilty, this might have gone on for months.”
But there’s no quick resolution for his dad and brother. Jason Wong lost a leg after the crash; his intact leg was injured as well, and Jimmy says it’ll be months before he can put weight on it, so he’s currently “immobilized,” though he’s home from the hospital now.
His dad? “Wah will be OK,” Jimmy smiles. He’s out of a skilled-nursing-care facility. But the restaurant’s future is far from settled.
Right now, it holds a note, and a request. Jimmy wants to get this word to all his dad’s customers, so please share this news: The address is jadewestcafe@gmail.com. Don’t send them the support statement yet- just write and say you’d like to. Do send that 1st e-mail fast – Jimmy says there’s not much time to get the messages to the right people, before James’s sentencing (1 pm 2/12, before King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector).
And in the meantime, he says the family is heartened and encouraged by all the support expressed in comments here, signatures on the get-well cards placed on the door, and in many other ways. “I’ve been away,” he says, for eight years, living in California, “I didn’t really realize” just how many lives his dad’s one-man labor of culinary love has touched.
Wells Fargo is accepting donations for the Save the Jade West Cafe Fund to help the family pay medical bills.
(Photo by Cliff DesPeaux, used by permission of our partners at the Seattle Times)
Ready to roar onto the floor at KeyArena – those are the Throttle Rockets – one of the four Rat City Rollergirls teams who skated into 2010 with their first 2010 bout today (along with Grave Danger, Derby Liberation Front, and Sockit Wenches). Though their name hails from White Center (“Rat City”) and their home rink is downtown (KeyArena), there’s so much West Seattle presence on the RCRG, they’re practically a peninsula story. The teams battled each other to raise money for charities today – Lambert House for SW, Pinup Girls for DLF, Old Dog Haven for GD, Fisher House for TR. Next home appearance: March 6; info and ticket links for that date and the rest of the season are here. (Awaiting today’s bout stats, which should appear here.)
You may remember the request we published from Cathy on Wednesday – a call for crutches that will be shipped to Haiti when two physician friends head there this week. As of late today, not onliy did her driveway had the stack of crutches you see above; we talked to her by phone, and that was just the start of the second round: Cathy and her husband already had taken their friends a pickup jammed with dozens of donated crutches, and after we stopped for the photo, someone else supposedly was on the way with 16 more. Tonight’s the cutoff – if you have crutches to donate, you can drop them off in the driveway; the address is in our original story.
Yet another story of weekend giving: This group gathered at a West Seattle home on Saturday morning:
Those volunteers are from the Young Professionals Society of Rebuilding Together Seattle. Via Twitter, we happened onto word they were going to a West Seattle home on Saturday, helping its resident do some cleaning she can’t handle since she’s been diagnosed with cancer – outdoor work as well as indoors:
(We got to the worksite just as they were packing up, but they kindly shared photos they’d taken earlier.) You can find out more about RTS by going here (they have a “wish list” too).
First – for the second time in nine days, there’s a report of suspected stolen mail found in the Arbor Heights area. Last one was discussed here on January 22nd; the e-mail we received today says:
I was walking my dog in Arbor Heights a short time ago when I noticed a pile of soggy mail behind some shrubs on SW 102nd St. at 38th Ave SW [map]. The mail was unopened, but all of it was financially related: Social Security, tax forms, credit cards. The addresses were all on a single block of 39th Ave SW between 102nd & 104th. I’m speculating that the thief was interrupted somehow and either dumped the evidence, or stashed it for later. This would be prime time for mail theft, with all of the tax forms going out. I re-delivered all of the mail, not thinking until later that perhaps I should have notified police instead.
Mail theft is a federal crime. The US Postal Service has links for reporting it as well as tampering and fraud – go here. Ahead – two break-in reports in other neighborhoods:Read More
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