West Seattle, Washington
14 Friday
Thanks to the person who called a little while earlier to say the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was heading back out of Puget Sound, visible from West Seattle shores. We sent quick word via Twitter and Facebook and rushed down in hopes of a photo – it was too far away when we arrived, but Kyle Braget got the image you see above. After a short visit, Nimitz is heading back south to its current homeport, San Diego (with crew members’ families on board for a “Tiger Cruise”), but will be back here for a longer stay starting in December, when the nuclear-powered carrier returns to Bremerton for maintenance. ADDED 11:16 AM: Two photos from Gary Jones – the second one, explained as being among those watching the Nimitz leave!
ADDED 1:11 PM: Christopher Boffoli shot a bit of video – with a beautiful cloud formation in the frame toward the end:
(Fauntleroy ferry dock, photographed last week)
Two notes in an announcement from Washington State Ferries – first, this Sunday marks the start of the spring schedule, which means Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is back to three boats; second, on that same day, WSF joins the State Patrol’s tipline service, so you can report line-cutters by calling a special hotline. Read on for the official news release with details of both:Read More
(1st of 2 photos from David Hutchinson – know what this is? See photo #2 at the end of this preview)
REMEMBERING MARK HEGGE: Services are at 11 am Our Lady of Guadalupe for well-known service-station owner Mark Hegge, who died last Thursday.
WEST SEATTLE ROTARY BRIEFED ON HAITI: At noon today at Salty’s on Alki, the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s luncheon program is about “Establishing Sustainable Prosthetic Services for Amputees in Haiti.” Winfried Danke, executive director of the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation, discusses the current situation in Haiti and plans for long-term solutions. The public is welcome; buffet lunch is $20 per person.
WALKING ON LOGS: 5:30 tonight at High Point Library is the meeting you’re asked to attend, to help figure out how the community can pitch in to help maintain the area around Walking on Logs on the southwest fork of The Bridge. More details in our original announcement.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP MEETING/FOOD FEST: If you live in Fauntleroy, come be part of your community association – renew your membership, or join now. The Fauntleroy Food Fest and FCA Annual Meeting starts at 6 PM at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
“CLIMB FOR A CURE” FUNDRAISER: 6-9 pm at Talarico’s , David Town‘s fundraiser for a Mount Rainier climb to fight breast cancer. Tons of auction items donated locally – details in this WSB Forums post
TEEN TRIP: Tonight at 7 at the West Seattle High School library, an informational meeting for this summer’s trip to Japan through the YMCA Teen Leadership Institute. Local teens in grades 8-12 can apply; full details in the WSB Events calendar.
LATEST ON THE VIADUCT (AND RELATED PROJECTS): The next meeting of the Alaskan Way Viaduct South Portal Working Group is 4-5:30 pm today at the Puget Sound Regional Council Board Room in Pioneer Square, 1011 Western.
NEED CENSUS FORM HELP? Special Census 2010 information sessions, open to the community, continue today at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – full details here.
(Photo #2 from David Hutchinson – starfish near Alki Point during Monday low tide)
2 short Crime Watch reports to share tonight – one just in from Anne-Marie, reporting car vandalism not far from the car-egging report published here earlier:
We had vandalism done to our car tonight. 39th and Thistle [map]. I saw two young teens in baseball caps run after kicking the side mirror off the car. Police have been called.
And from Joseph:
My son’s Huffy Mongoose kid’s bike (orange/gold) and silver Razor scooter with red handlebars/trim was stolen today from our carport that faces the alley behind the West Seattle Baptist church, right off California and Genesee [map]. It happened between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. Wanted folks to know.
ADDED 1:21 AM: One more Crime Watch report – a phone grab at a West Seattle bus stop – read on:Read More
Two weeks ago, the Burien City Council started the process of considering a resolution to officially indicate interest in moving ahead with annexing northern North Highline – including White Center – once it had 
“successfully incorporated” southern North Highline (which becomes part of Burien next week). At the time, Seattle was looking at a vote in White Center (etc.) this November. Then suddenly last Friday, it was announced that Mayor McGinn no longer wanted to move that fast, since the budget picture wasn’t looking too good – maybe a November 2011 vote. And so tonight, Burien councilmembers decided to cancel their resolution, during a meeting that at one point was standing- and window-sill-sitting (photo right) room only. Here’s our first report on partner site White Center Now. What now? Depends on who decides to make the next move first.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
9:21 PM: Thanks to those who’ve called/texted about this: The “medic response” on the 911 log for the westbound West Seattle Bridge, at the highrise, is reported to be a multiple-vehicle crash. No other details so far. 9:28 PM: Via Twitter, one person stuck in the backup, @bppalmer, says two westbound lanes are blocked. Also, WSB’er JoB relayed via JanS that it’s on the right side “just past the top before the Delridge exit” – at least one car appeared to have serious damage. 10:04 PM: Added photo; things should be clearing up – the fire presence at the scene has ended, according to the 911 log. No info at this point regarding injuries or cause. P.S. Here’s Christopher’s short video view – in the absence of working city traffic cameras – from the same vantage point as the photo above:
(June 2008 Riverview-area photo by Christine – click to see larger version)
We’ve had a few reports in recent years of bee swarms (particularly the summer of 2008), followed by frantic searches for information on who, if anyone, to notify. This year, the experts have reached out first – with this note in the WSB Forums today. Beekeeper Brad Jones writes that if you find a honeybee swarm – he and other local beekeepers (including Sustainable West Seattle president Brian Allen) will help find it a home. Their contact info is in the Forums post – worth bookmarking!
ADMIRAL CRASH VICTIM OFFICIALLY IDENTIFIED: The man killed early Sunday in the 2-car Admiral/37th crash was identified by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office this afternoon as 29-year-old Daniel G. Ramirez. Commenters who identified themselves as relatives posted in the thread following Sunday morning’s coverage, saying he was a father of two and had just bought the silver SUV that day. No final announcement of the crash’s cause is likely for weeks, if not months; the short summary from police on Sunday said only that “speed and alcohol may have been” factors.
FEEDBACK LOUNGE LOSES A FAMILY MEMBER: Around 7 last night, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) announced via Twitter that they were closing for the rest of the night because of a death in the family. They are back open today, explaining on the FL website, “We are sad to announce that we lost a member of our staff. MIKE BLAKEMORE was only 27 and a new employee, but he was an instant and welcome addition to our Feedback family. We will post details for a memorial service shortly. Thank all of your for your calls, e-mails and support.”
This afternoon we welcome one of our newest sponsors, 3 Elements Property Management, and as with all new sponsors, this is their chance to tell you about their business: 3 Elements Property Management is a local company 
with an intimate knowledge of West Seattle. Since half of the office staff (photo, from left, Patricia Shiras, Lisa Merz, Pamela Dundas, Tom O’Boyle) lives in West Seattle , we have a vast network of resources to pull from. With more than 80 years of combined property-management/real estate experience, we can provide accurate and detailed information regarding the area. Our customer service and commitment to serving our clients are our #1 priorities. We go above and beyond to reach our clients’ goals. They seek us out because we rent quality units and are great property managers. Once we have moved a tenant in, we ensure the smooth transition, and we are very timely regarding service requests or needed items. We strive to maintain excellent relations for our tenants and owners. This is a key to successful property management. This is why we have repeat clients. We try to make things move smoothly for tenants and meet business goals of property owners. One client said, “As a landlord, I found 3 Elements to be professional, detail-oriented and able to meet my criteria and goals. I appreciated the time they took to obtain quality tenants and keep me informed of market conditions. My units have remained full and rents are never late because of their thorough screening. My bottom line is strong. Thanks, 3 Elements.” You’ll find 3 Elements Property Management online at 3eam.com, or call 206-619-6630.
We thank 3 Elements Property Management for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
The fabulous folks at Orca Network had passed along news of a few orcas spotted off Carkeek Park in North Seattle earlier today – and now we’ve just heard from Vanessa at Alki that it looks like they’re off Alki Point/Lighthouse as of a few minutes ago, “heading toward the islands.” Let us know if you see them!
One week after our last report, here’s another one – Kate got hit:
Just wanted to let you know my car was hit with eggs last night – near the corner of 35th and Elmgrove [map]. Looks like I was the only one, but not sure if anyone else was targeted. It made a huge mess and after washing it all off, you can see where the egg shells exploded and scratched the paint. Fun!
This falls squarely in the corner of the type of incident police want to make sure you report, even if you think it’s “minor” … as “KBear” wrote in the 20-comment discussion that followed last Monday’s report, “Just because petty crime may be commonplace doesn’t mean we should put up with it in our community.” There’ve been some reports of items thrown at moving vehicles, for example, which can startle a driver and cause a crash. The non-emergency number (which would be appropriate unless you come across someone in the act of throwing something) is 206-625-5011.
Exactly three months from today, June 22 will be the last day of school for Chief Sealth High School in its temporary quarters at the former Boren Junior High on Delridge. In September, after two years away, Sealth moves back into its permanent location – while the new adjacent Denny International Middle School is built. The project team has just provided the latest site aerial:
Compare that shot (taken last week) to a similar view seven months earlier:
Denny isn’t scheduled to move to its new site (the lower left of those photos) till 2011, so Sealth students will still have the campus to themselves when school starts this fall. The project’s official website is here; it includes a webcam, looking currently at the Galleria that both schools will share – see that here.
Sometimes, legislative races in this area feature only one candidate. But this year, in the August primary, the 34th District State House Position 2 race is shaping up to be quite the fight. Joe Fitzgibbon (D) of Burien has just joined Mike Heavey (D), “Mac” McElroy (I) Sabra Schneider (D), and Marcee Stone (D) in the race for the seat that Rep. Sharon Nelson – for whom Fitzgibbon has been working – will leave to run for State Senate. They’ve all been invited to the candidates’ forum at this Wednesday night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting; meantime, read on for Fitzgibbon’s official announcement:Read More
Three West Seattle schools have teams at the citywide Global Reading Challenge finals tomorrow night – and everyone’s invited to go cheer them on – Arbor Heights, Highland Park and Lafayette Elementary Schools are all in the running (as is Concord International School from nearby South Park). Read on for the announcement we just received from the Seattle Public Library:Read More
LANE-REDUCTION REMINDER: As part of ongoing construction in the area, today’s the day the 1st Avenue South eastbound exit from the Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to be reduced to one lane for about five months (details here) (P.S. Remember THIS is the weekend the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes, 6 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday.)
RAISE A PUPPY, CHANGE A LIFE: Can you spend a year raising a puppy that will then move on to guide dog training? Check out West Seattle See Dogs‘ meeting, Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 7 pm – details here
PARKS LEVY COMMITTEE: This happens downtown, but many of the projects affect West Seattle, so in case you’re interested, note that the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meets at Parks HQ downtown, 7 pm.
CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER: It’s not small talk – you might call it big talk. Tonight’s topic, 6:45-9 pm at C & P Coffee “How to creatively improve the quality of life for ourselves, our loved ones and our community?” Register, and preview the “questions for reflection,” online.
Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Lewis is pulling an all-nighter right now – not because she, oh, say, drank too much of her own product, but because she’s got a shop full of special guests:
Those are a few members of the video crew that chose Hotwire as the backdrop for what’s known as a “satellite media tour” – here’s the uplink truck parked in the Hotwire courtyard to facilitate the “satellite” part of the phrase:
So what’s the occasion? On behalf of Norton from Symantec, Los Angeles-based “Internet safety advocate” Marian Merritt will be doing three dozen live interviews with TV stations around the country – including Q13 here in Seattle – to talk about the “Top 10 Riskiest Online Cities” list the company just released. Just so happens, Seattle tops the list. So why do the interviews from Hotwire? A producer explained, “We found them online!” (Of course.) Anyway, they’ve got interviews booked starting at 3:10 am our time and continuing up till 9 am, overlapping with Hotwire operating hours (which start at 6:30 am) – so when you drop by for coffee this morning (maybe a Peeps beverage?) don’t mind the TV crew. And be kind to Lora; she’s been at the shop just after midnight, when the crew needed to start setting up – even on the patio:
(next photo added 9:40 am – the producer with the info sheet as they prepared for the Q13 interview)
P.S. As of this writing, we can’t find Symantec’s “riskiest cities” list online … but the producer gave us a printout, so read on if you’re interested (PLUS, added 11:36 am, our video interview with Lora as this all wrapped up):Read More
Wandering through the public notices that the Daily Journal of Commerce doesn’t have behind a paywall, we spotted this one: Police want to hear from whomever lost something described only as “CASH” that turned up in the 2700 block of 49th SW (map) three months ago. No hint as to how much.
This weekend, like most, West Seattleites have stood up, bent over, dug up, pitched in to pull weeds, pluck trash, plant trees – including the special events in Delridge (WSB coverage here) and Highland Park (WSB coverage here). So tonight we’re reminding you about a chance Tuesday to stand up and say you can help take care of one of the peninsula’s “gateway” areas – the one along the southwest end of 
The Bridge. You’ll be helping pick up the baton from a West Seattle hero – Earl Cruzen, shown at right with Kimberlee Archie as he was honored a year and a half ago, the day of the big “Gateway Cleanup” (proclaimed “Earl Cruzen Day” by the city). The “Walking on Logs” sculpture and Welcome to West Seattle sign area was part of that cleanup, but that was just one, albeit big, event; Cruzen has put in countless hours taking care of the area himself. As Nancy Driver wrote in the announcement we published last month, “The statues and surround have been maintained for the past decade or more by local hero Earl Cruzen. Earl is 89 now and it’s time for others to take over upkeep of the statues and the grounds directly surrounding them.” First step toward getting involved is the Tuesday meeting at High Point Library (35th/Raymond) – 5:30 pm. Even if you’re not 100% sure you want to commit, be there to find out what needs to be done and how to be part of it.
Typical Seattle spring weather – sun, rain, sun, rain … ice pellets? We were off the peninsula for a little while this afternoon but got word from JayDee about (at least some part of) West Seattle getting pelted. Then, the rainbow, as photographed by Leaf from the north end of California SW. The forecast says things will be unsettled through tomorrow – then a steadier dose of sunshine is due in.
(Saturday photo by JanS)
FROM THE WSB FORUMS: Ready for some good news? There’s a heartwarming “rave” in the WSB Forums’ Rants & Raves section – someone thankful for the people who helped an injured dog find its way home. Read it here.
YET MORE HELPFULNESS: Last weekend, Greg Hatcher shared the story of the booth he and his Madison Middle School student artists planned to have at Emerald City Comicon downtown. Today – his mega-report on the convention and the generosity of folks who chipped in to help them raise money to keep the program going (it relies in part on Partners With Youth, for which the West Seattle YMCA [WSB sponsor] is raising money right now). Read his story here.
“NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE WEEK”: Our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times are featuring Genesee Hill as “Neighborhood of the Week” today. They’ve featured West Seattle areas before but we’re noting this (a) because Dale e-mailed us about it and (b) since it’s home to the newly formed Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council (WSB coverage here).
In 1988, the Talking Heads sang, in “(Nothing But) Flowers,” about blacktop turned back into flowers and fields. A little bit of that is going on outside Highland Park Improvement Club right now, as its Spring Clean event continues till 5 pm. Becca Fong (above) and other volunteers are pulling away asphalt put over parking strips long ago, so they can plant trees (a few of which you can see at the left of this next picture):
Inside, Monica Cavagnaro and others are cleaning and sprucing up the historic HPIC building itself (just celebrated its 90th anniversary last November).
And a variety of other tasks are under way – including litter pickup in nearby greenbelt areas. Need incentive to drop by and help? Somebody mentioned “banana bread” while we were shooting pictures. Just show up any time before 5 pm, when this is scheduled to wrap up, at 1116 SW Holden (map). (And note that HPIC has some other cool events coming up too – like Wine For Our Times on April 24; the building’s also the scene of Highland Park Action Committee meetings, next one this Wednesday, March 24, 7 pm, including a candidates’ forum with those running for 34th District State House Position 2.)
(Friday photo by JayDee)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRING CLEAN: 10 am to 5 pm, help Highland Park Improvement Club spring into the new season:
We will be planting street trees, building a new kiosk/sign, cleaning tables and chairs and walls and more, plus we will have equipment and bags for picking up litter in the neighborhood. Please join us! Bring gloves and whatever gear might be appropriate. Refreshments and snacks will be provided.
WSB SPONSOR EVENTS: Both start at 11 – SoundYoga offers free Sunday yoga, 11 am-12:15 pm, and there’s a gold-buying event at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village in partnership with Northwest Gold Exchange/206.938.GOLD, 11 am-5 pm
LOOKING FOR A NEW FURRY COMPANION? A Seattle Humane Society Maxmobile pet adoption event is on the calendar for Next-to-Nature in The Junction, 11 am-3 pm.
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA AND SILENT AUCTION: The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2 pm (more details here).
COMMUNITY ORCHARD MEETING TONIGHT: From Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle:
Planning is continuing on a Community Orchard for West Seattle, and it’s time to get more input from you – the West Seattle Community. We have found a site for our first orchard, have identified a potential funding source, and now we would like to hear your ideas – in person.
Come to a Community Orchard IDEAS meeting:
Sunday, March 21
7-8:30 PM
Duwamish Co-housing Common House, 6000 17th SWThis is an opportunity to learn more about the project (short term and long term) and share your ideas of what sorts of things to include in our plans. We welcome everyone to this meeting.join in the blossoming of ideas for growing an even greater abundance of local fruit.
Even more in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
(cameraphone photo added 2:40 am)
ORIGINAL 2:13 AM REPORT: Thanks to the person who called to be sure we’d seen this on the 911 log – minutes after it appeared: Fire and police crews are working a “heavy rescue” call at 37th/Admiral (map), a crash with two vehicles involved, according to the scanner, with extrication(s) under way. We’re off to the scene to see what we can find out; Admiral is closed at that spot, so stay away.
2:34 AM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick is at the scene and describes it as a “huge” response of police and fire. Meantime, via the scanner here at HQ, we have just heard the first medical report on 2 victims – a 29-year-old man who got out of one of the vehicles on his own, injuries include a fracture. And authorities also have reported one person killed.
2:52 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene confirm that the total is 1 dead, 2 hurt, both going to the hospital. They tell us that it appears so far that the pickup truck was coming up the Admiral Way hill (northbound) while the SUV was going down the hill (southbound), at least one of the vehicles speeding, when the SUV crossed into the truck’s path, and they collided. Admiral is closed from Belvidere to Olga, and since this is a deadly crash, it’s likely to be closed for hours. (The last deadly crash in West Seattle was less than 2 weeks ago, a 1-car crash the night of March 9th on 16th SW.)
3:03 AM UPDATE: Authorities at the scene aren’t saying (and we’re not even certain if they yet know) anything about the gender or age of the person who was killed. Scanner information indicated the 2nd survivor, who like the 1st has been rushed to Harborview Medical Center, was a “middle-aged” man, whose injuries included fractures.
4 AM UPDATE: Adding our clip from the scene – same angle as the photo above, but gives you more context on exactly where it happened. This was shot from behind the yellow-tape line (the only other media photographer there while we were, from KING 5, was immediately to our left):
We’ll check back on Admiral’s status in a few hours; police will likely have an official writeup by then too.
9:40 AM UPDATE: The short item at SPDBlotter has two additional bits of information: The person who died was the SUV’s driver, while the two survivors were the driver and passenger in the pickup; also, police say alcohol may have been a factor as well as speed. No further information has been released about any of the three.
(Photo by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography, as rescuers worked to get one of the survivors out of the pickup)
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