West Seattle, Washington
25 Saturday
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL 7:02 PM REPORT: On the way to check out a crash at California/Alaska – Leighellen reports via Facebook that the medic response has blocked the intersection, so if you’re heading that way, try 42nd or 44th till there’s word the scene’s clear.
7:09 PM UPDATE: We’re getting closer and – as GenHillOne also notes in comments – this apparently is in the block of California between Alaska and Oregon. More shortly.
7:18 PM UPDATE: See comments for an eyewitness report. The wrecked pickup has been cleared now and one lane of traffic is getting through southbound on that block, but half the road between Alaska and Oregon is still blocked by investigating officers (and there’s some cleanup that’ll need to be done on the streets too). Police confirm that the pickup driver has been taken to the hospital to be checked for possible head and back injuries, though they won’t say officially what may have caused him to hit other cars – how many other cars, we don’t have a total, though comments and e-mails have described anything from 5 to 20 – they’re on the east side of California. Thanks again to everyone who has e-mailed, Tweeted, and FB’ed with info about this – as well as those continuing to add eyewitness reports to comments.
7:50 PM: Adding photos above and below from WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli:
The northbound lane is still blocked by the investigation. We also got a call from Amy T, who had an incredibly close call – she was in her just-bought car at the California/Alaska intersection when the driver passed her apparently just before hitting the cars in the next block. In addition to the witness reports in comments below, via e-mail, Karla says, “I can NOT get that noise and smell of the smoke out of my head! It was truly the most incredible accident I have ever witnessed. I’m still shaking!” And we talked at the scene with Friends and Company owner Doris Goulet, whose car was among those hit; she echoes that it’s amazing nobody else was hurt – most stores were still open when this happened, and the pickup could just as easily have plowed into a store.
8:20 PM UPDATE: Yet another eyewitness report from Mark, via FB:
I was just there and saw it right after it happened. It looked like the driver of a Dodge 4X4 lost his right front wheel right just north of the intersection of California & Alaska. The truck kept going north smashing into at least eight cars parked at the curb – some with minor damage, some undriveable. It skipped some and hit others as it apparently swerved right again and again due to the missing wheel. The truck stopped at California & Oregon, where I saw the ambulance workers pull out the driver, who looked to be a middle-aged man, and load him onto a gurney. He was alive and moving when they loaded him into the ambulance.
LATE-NIGHT NOTE: We will check with police first thing in the morning to see what updates are available regarding the driver’s status and the total number of damaged vehicles, among other questions.
TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Official final total from Officer Mark Jamieson in the SPD media unit: 13 vehicles damaged, in addition to the 35-year-old driver’s truck:
(photo by Mark Ammann, added Tuesday)
The official summary of the incident doesn’t mention a possible medical problem as was being investigated at the scene last night as a possible factor, but focuses on suspected “impairment,” for which a blood sample taken last night will be tested. The driver of the first vehicle he hit also was treated at a hospital for possible back pain. As for official charges/citations, the decision on that will come later – once the collision investigators’ report is finished, it’s usually forwarded to prosecutors for that official decision on charges/citations, which might take weeks or months.
TUESDAY MIDDAY: Here’s how the police media unit tells the story at SPDBlotter.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Amy:
We live on 37th Ave SW near the Hanford St intersection [map] and wanted to alert other West Seattle residences that our car was broken into, sometime early this morning, we believe. They stole our Garmin unit as well as an MP3 player.
As we hear time and time again at West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meetings (next one, 3/17, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct), these thieves are particularly keen on GPS’s, so even if you take yours inside at night but leave suction cups visible in the car, your car may be an attractive target.
They save a lot of power – but you can’t just toss ’em. So what if you could take CFL light bulbs to your nearest library for recycling? That’s the idea two city councilmembers are floating – read on:Read More
(new info and photos added below as the afternoon goes on)
Hailing now – the ground is covered. The weather folks say the next round of nasty weather is moving southward toward us – and it’s been seriously wintry up north, as evidenced by this photo Scott C just sent from his workplace in Everett:
1:08 PM: Hailstorm’s over. For now. As noted in a comment on our morning weather post, the afternoon is expected to be unpredictable too; the assessment from Cliff Mass — “If it is going to snow significantly in Seattle … it will be later this afternoon …” Also just in – thanks to Sharonn Meeks for an amazing photographic look from downtown as the storm moved in:
And here’s a few seconds of video from when the hail was falling here:
1:41 PM: Snowing now. Wish we had a time-lapse camera just rolling on the whole day.
2:26 PM: Traffic alert that may or may not be weather related – Sylvan Way through High Point is currently closed at SW Holly, near Forest Lawn (map) – we haven’t heard back from police yet but a nice person at FL tells us it appears to be some kind of accident; nothing on 911 log so we can only hope that means no medics because no injuries.
3:01 PM UPDATE: Police say it’s a jackknifed semi. We’re headed over to check the status of the scene. Meantime, OUTSIDE West Seattle but possibly affecting your commute, Metro is starting to report some bus trouble on the Eastside as well as “hilly areas” in Rainier Beach; here’s the “adverse weather” page.
3:16 PM UPDATE: The truck (photo above) has been pulled off to the side of the road – traffic’s been getting around, albeit slowly. One more update to share: Elementary and middle-school afterschool activities have been canceled for this afternoon/tonight throughout Seattle Public Schools (per schoolreport.org).
4 PM NOTE: Just mentioned this in comments – our Traffic page doesn’t just have the West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras, it also includes two links you can use to check for traffic incidents around the metro area – one goes to Traffic.com’s “latest incidents” for the Seattle area, the other goes to the WSDOT Twitter bulletins about the Seattle area. Both are at the top of this page.
Two West Seattle items in the city’s latest Land Use Information Bulletin: On Alki, immediately south of Cactus on 63th SW, a land-use application has just been filed for two 3-story buildings totaling 7 units. Here’s the notice, which has links for comments to be submitted, through 3/22.
Second: In South Delridge, a decision is in approving a land-use application to build two 4-unit townhouse buildings on a 9,500-square-foot lot at 8605 Delridge (map) that currently holds one house. Read the decision here.
SPEAKING OF TOWNHOUSES: The proposed changes to the Multi-Family Code (zoning), involving townhouse design and more, will be the subject of a briefing this Wednesday, 9:30 am at City Hall, before the City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Neighborhoods Committee. Here’s the committee agenda (which also includes a rezoning request for some High Point Land); here’s our report from January.
Thanks to Bob Loblaw for sending word – and pic – of the notice taped to his trash can after this morning’s pickup: In his Fairmount Park neighborhood, at least, Monday pickup will move to Tuesday as of the week of March 30th. We have Monday pickup here in Upper Fauntleroy too, but have NOT received any such notice, so we’re not assuming everyone with Monday pickup is switching to Tuesday – just wanted to remind you to start checking your receptacles (the city says you should get a notice no later than March 23). This is all part of the package of big changes including weekly yard waste/food waste pickup (other recycling will remain every-other-week), no more glass separation for recycling, additional materials allowed in recycling (like aluminum foil) etc. — all detailed here.
We usually don’t publish exact addresses of crime victims, but in this case, the address matters because it’s part of what was stolen: At 8424 46th SW near Lincoln Park, someone made off with the address sign you see at left AND the mailbox. Chris e-mailed the photo along with the report that the theft happened sometime between noon Saturday and 9 am today, and is most concerned about getting back the mail. The sign is lettered in stainless steel and matches a nearby trellis.
That’s the doorhanger that people living around the Chief Sealth High School (permanent) campus will get this week, according to managers for the project that includes both Sealth renovations and the construction of the new Denny Middle School on the Sealth campus. It includes major digging for gas and water lines. As we reported last week, the district changed its mind about a big “groundbreaking” celebration for this phase, but the work proceeds, with the goal of Sealth moving back in fall of 2010, and Denny opening in 2011.
(newest image from the city’s “live” cam on The Bridge, looking east)
Another round of light snow just started where we are, so it’s time to start a new update. No major problems reported with the commute so far. Countywide, Metro only has one route on the “disrupted” list.
MAKE IT WORKSHOP: A sad note from the sewing-instruction business in The Building, the art/craft studios just west of Seattle International Church in Gatewood (Othello west of California; map), seen here in Google Street View:
Make It Workshop proprietor Joey sent this e-mail announcement headed “Can’t make it work” and asking that it be shared “far and wide”:
As great of an idea as MIW seems to be -So sad to say- I am not attracting enough students to stay in business… Maybe the economy or busy schedules. I dunno?? But for the time being- MIW will have to be on hold…after April maybe..?? If you are signed up for a class, don’t worry, I’ll be here for it- bring a friend if you can!! On another BIG note- I *need *to find an artist or crafter to take/rent my gorgeous space. I ambitiously signed a 2-year lease and cannot get out-until there’s another renter. It’s such an incredible work environment that we put a lot of work into- if you know anyone looking for a space or 2 people?? write me for my landlord’s number/info..
Joey’s contact info is on the Make It Workshop webpage at makeitworkshop.com.
TALK WITH THE TOASTMASTERS: One of the listings for today on our West Seattle-wide WSB Events calendar (which now stretches into fall – is YOUR event on it? editor@westseattleblog.com) is from the Daystar Dialoguers Toastmasters, who invite you to their open house, noon-1 pm today at Daystar (across SW Barton from Westwood Village). Find out more about them online at daystarclub.freetoasthost.us.
RUMMAGE X 2: Early heads-up if you relish rummage sales: Two West Seattle churches have big ones planned this Friday and Saturday. West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW; map) plans theirs 9 am-5 pm Friday, 9 am-2 pm Saturday; Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW; map) is at 9 am-4 pm Friday, 9 am-3 pm Saturday.
SPEAKING OF RUMMAGE SALES: The 5th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, presented again this year by WSB, is two months from today – May 9, 2009. More details on this year’s registration, etc., by this time next week.
(Photo by Susan Grossman, Singing Pixel Photography — Sunday afternoon squall)
(Photo by David Hutchinson, also taken Sunday afternoon)
Regardless of whether we see snow or not, forecasters are adamant it’s going to get cold, with lows in the metro area tonight at freezing or below, for starters. Then here’s what the National Weather Service says about tomorrow:
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH…EXCEPT LOCALLY UP TO 2 INCHES IN HEAVIER SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.
And after THAT – Monday night’s lows are expected in the “teens to low 20s.” Wondering what famous forecaster Cliff Mass says? In a post published less than half an hour ago, he begins, “This is really quite extraordinary. We could actually get more snow tomorrow.” So, facing these prospects, Metro has sent another “here’s what we’re getting ready for” alert — read on:Read More
Sorry, no runway models – instead, a fresh new concept: Real women wearing real clothes! (And, in our short clip, modeling to the fitting tune of “Got to Be Real,” the 1979 disco classic by Cheryl Lynn.) Good turnout this afternoon – we counted at least 50 – for the fashion show/West Seattle Food Bank fundraiser at The Sanctuary at Admiral (the ex-church-turned-event-venue north of Hiawatha):
The fashion show was co-sponsored by Designer Labels Consignment Boutique, Clementine, Elliott Hair Salon, Small Clothes, Coffee to a Tea w/ Sugar, and Herban Feast Catering.
(Scouts from Troop 282 with donations from the 2008 “Scouting for Food”)
Heads-up on door-to-door visitors you DON’T need to be suspicious about – in fact, you’re going to want to welcome them warmly: The folks at West Seattle Boy Scout Troop 282 e-mailed with advance word of Scouting for Food, which will send Scouts into local neighborhoods the next two Saturdays:
Scouting for Food
March 14 and 21For twenty years, the Boy Scouts have worked together with community food banks to collect food for the hungry during the annual Scouting for Food drive. To date, more than 23 million cans of food have been collected for local community food banks. The Boy Scouts of America teaches the value of community service in all of its programs and the importance of helping others. Doing a Good Turn Daily is a cornerstone of the Scouting program.
Scouts from West Seattle Troop 282 will walk our neighborhoods delivering door hangers on Saturday, March 14. The following Saturday, March 21, Scouts will follow-up to collect non-perishable food item donations and deliver them to the West Seattle Food Bank. Emphasis is on food most needed for nutrition such as peanut butter, baby formula, packaged meals and canned goods, especially tuna, soups, stews, meats, fruits and vegetables.
Please help support the hungry in our community. It is more important now than it has been for many decades. Watch for a door hanger on your door and get your donations out early on March 21st, so you can join our Scouts in Doing a Good Turn Daily.
A bonus — donations to West Seattle Food Bank (and also White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle) count extra this month and next because of the Feinstein Challenge (explained here). ADDED 5:09 PM: First word of this came from Troop 282 – thank you! – but we also asked a followup question about other troops participating; we’re told that other area participants will include Troop 284 and Cub Scout Packs 282, 284, 285, 793, and 799. (As always, we really appreciate being able to share news like this with the rest of West Seattle, so whatever you and/or your group are up to, editor@westseattleblog.com – any time!)
She’s a successful enterpreneur and coach, but you may know Sunny Kobe Cook best from her “Sleep Country USA” commercials. Now she’s back onscreen as one of the stars of the 8-minute movie you see above, “A Taboo for Eight,” a creation of her husband and MovieStarNow.com proprietor John Murphy, which premiered with a party Friday night at their West Seattle home. Click ahead to read their news release about it (including the list of cast and crew):Read More
Looking for a little Sunday light reading? If you haven’t already browsed the combined spring brochure for West Seattle’s city-run community centers (Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point, and Southwest) — you can download it here. It lists all the special events, classes, and ongoing features at those facilities (plus South Park) as well as the art programs at Alki Bathhouse and swimming at Southwest Pool.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, The Junction. Here’s this week’s fresh sheet.
WEST SEATTLE FASHION SHOW: Today’s the day, 2 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral – full details here; part of the proceeds benefit West Seattle Food Bank.
JAZZ TO FIGHT LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA: Tonight at Rocksport, 6 pm, live jazz! – with the proceeds going to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Full details here.
Big day for work parties! Thanks to Josh Sutton for the pix and this report:
Rotarians Bill Fazekas (left) and Ryan Reese split firewood today at YMCA Camp Colman, where the weather held out most of the day. Located on Key Peninsula, Camp Colman has an almost-100-year connection to West Seattle, founded by families in the Fauntleroy area.
Ten Rotarians (and three of their kids) joined forty other volunteers who cleaned winter debris, spread woodchips on trails and prepped camp for schoolgroups and spring campouts. YMCA Camp Colman also offers summer camp and is taking signups now @ www.ymcacampcolman.org If you’re a Camp Colman alumni, you can find a group on Facebook. Also, the annual Goop breakfast is coming up on Saturday, March 28 at the Fauntleroy YMCA.
The Fauntleroy Y is part of the West Seattle Family YMCA, which is a WSB sponsor. One more photo, this one of the whole group:
Meantime, we’re proud to be a co-sponsor of the first-ever Winter Movies on the Wall series in The Junction, which kicked off tonight with “The Mummy” – preceded by a race that’s hard to explain – you just have to see it:
The winner took home a gift certificate for Square 1 Books in Jefferson Square. Two more Winter Movies on the Wall, coming up the next two Saturday nights – the original (Gene Wilder) “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” next Saturday 3/14, and “Napoleon Dynamite” on 3/21, showtime at West Seattle Christian Church‘s brand-new activity center at 7 pm, doors open 5:30 pm, bring your own chairs and donations for West Seattle Food Bank.
Received the alert from Shelley via Facebook, police searching for suspected prowlers right now in the 37th/Thistle vicinity (map) – she subsequently talked to one of the officers; read on for what she reports:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The question came about two-thirds of the way through this morning’s design workshop — second in a series of 3 exploring possible changes at tiny California Place Park in North Admiral:
“We wondered what happened to the playspace — it’s gone,” said the spokesperson for one of the tables that had spent the previous half-hour reviewing and chronicling comments on the design proposals with which landscape architect Karen Kiest (photo above) had started the workshop.
That was no small question, for many reasons. The whole idea of possible changes to California Place Park, which currently is a triangle of grass and trees that some thought was part of the property of adjacent Admiral Congregational Church, began with a playground proposal.
It evolved to “natural playscape,” Kiest reminded the gathering of nearly 100 this morning after the “what happened” question, adding: “All of the concepts shown today do show how the park can feel bigger and have more uses … the areas that are called ‘soft spots’ could have a sandbox, a piece of art. We don’t see any play equipment.”
With that, a central part of the big controversy that has hovered over this little park seemed to shrink. But before we finish going down that road, for those who couldn’t make this morning’s workshop – which, as noted in our brief report earlier, was vastly calmer than the first one – we’ll show the three designs (thanks to Kiest for providing digital copies):Read More
“SPRING FORWARD,” ANOTHER REMINDER: At 2 am, it’ll suddenly be 3 am, in the third year of early-arrival Daylight Saving Time. We’ll get the hour of sleep back on Sunday morning, November 1. Did you know Daylight Saving Time isn’t U.S.-only? Here’s a worldwide list.
WEST SEATTLE WEATHER WATCH UPDATE: “Snow showers” are still in the forecast, though things have been pretty calm since that hour or so of snow this morning (WSB coverage, with video, here). Around 6 pm, according to King County’s Twitter feed, Northgate and environs were getting hail. John sent us a note saying he saw SDOT treating The Bridge around 5 pm, he thinks with salt, although our understanding is that only deicer is put down pre-storm – we’ll see if we can find anything out. 8:43 PM UPDATE: Per comments, and Twitter, snow in various West Seattle locations – Morgan Junction, Myrtle Reservoir area, 21st/Juneau, Highland Park, The Junction — not here in Upper Fauntleroy so far, though. 9:01 PM: OK, *now* we have light snow – very fine crystal/flakes.
DOOR-TO-DOOR ALERTS: We’ve received two in less than 24 hours – first, we didn’t get to this one last night because of the Rite-Aid incident, but Renee sent us this note via Facebook (we’re WS Blog):
Twice tonight someone knocked on my door. I asked “who is it?” and got a reply “(inaudible)- glass company”. I replied “no thank you” the first time. (around 8:30pm) The second time someone knocked again around 9:50pm, when I asked who it was I got the same reply as first time along with someone trying my door knob! (and I mean really forcefully trying!) Thankfully I keep my dead bolt locked! Police have been notified.
To make matters scarier, Renee doesn’t live far from last night’s robbery/SWAT scene. Then tonight, we got e-mail from David, who wrote: “A group of young adults is doing the door-to-door subscription sales bit. They just came to our house, we’re on the 3700 block of SW Webster.” He notes that some of those types of sales teams have been known to represent “unscrupulous companies,” as has been discussed here before; we have a followup note to him to ask if this group had a license, as is required by City law.
Lora Lewis from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) sent that photo as screening time draws nigh for the first-ever Junction Winter Movies on the Wall — “The Mummy,” 7 pm, West Seattle Christian Church activity center (on 42nd south of Genesee, around the corner from Hotwire), bring a chair and a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank (which will count extra since the Feinstein Challenge is under way).
Snow? What snow? A few flakes didn’t stop 15 hardy people from volunteering their time this morning for the annual — every year since 1993! — cleanup of Fairmount Ravine, which runs along Fairmount Avenue, including under the Admiral Way bridge. John Lang told WSB they were glad to find less trash this year, and not surprised to find a whole lot of spray-paint cans. (You can see some of the paint vandals’ handiwork in our photos from last year’s cleanup.) They’re also working to clear invasives like ivy from the big trees along the slope.
If you look really closely – that blue jacket is being worn by one of the volunteers who was all the way up the slope under the bridge when we stopped by. Tully’s and Admiral Safeway donated coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts. (Congrats also to everyone who volunteered in today’s other work parties, including Lincoln Park and Camp Long; we include work parties in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup every week – they’re usually on Saturday mornings/middays and a great way to kick off the weekend.)
(WSB photo from Friday)
This was reported in comments on our Friday coverage, and it’s confirmed in this discussion on the Northwest Dive Club forum: The man who suffered some kind of health problem while diving near Seacrest yesterday afternoon — resulting in an emergency medic response that closed Harbor at Fairmount for a while — has died. This post from a friend who was there when it happened tells the whole story. Though the official cause of death is still pending a report from the Medical Examiner, which won’t be out before Monday, all current accounts say it was apparently a sudden health problem, not a diving equipment problem or other accident.
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