SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The monthly meeting moves to neighboring South Park tomorrow for a presentation on “Walkable, Livable Communities,” featuring the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild suggesting “allowing more housing in single-family neighborhoods – done the right way” can create those kinds of communities. Full details are on the SWS website; it starts at 7 pm tomorrow at the South Park Community Center, 8319 8th Ave. South (map).
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: In addition to a crime-trends update from, and Q/A with, Southwest Precinct police, there’s a guest speaker this month from the Department of Planning and Development: Karen White focuses on “code compliance” and will talk about so-called “working with neighborhoods to rid the area of nuisance properties, especially abandoned houses and business buildings.” WSCPC’s website invites questions in advance, in case there are specific situations you want to see addressed – westseattlecpc@gmail.com – check out the website’s new look (blog format so it’s easier to have fresher info). Tomorrow’s meeting is 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room (west side of the building at Delridge/Webster).
Earlier today, we mentioned the West Seattle Helpline‘s “Taste of West Seattle” coming up May 13th, and their call for more local restaurants to be part of it. (Here’s that story.) Right now, news of another tasty West Seattle event for a good cause — the Nature Consortium‘s second annual benefit brunch, noon Sunday, March 14, at The Hall at Fauntleroy. WSB is proud to be among the event sponsors. The Nature Consortium’s main mission is to work in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, along the eastern edge of West Seattle, restoring it to healthy forest-hood. They’re based at Youngstown Arts Center here in WSB. You can go to the NC’s site to find out more about the benefit brunch and how to RSVP.
ORIGINAL 3:02 PM REPORT: On our way to check out another crash. Jill sent first word of this – “a major accident westbound in the bridge just above Admiral/Avalon exit. All lanes blocked by rescue vehicles…” 911 log confirms a “heavy rescue” response to that scene. Via Facebook, Mark describes what he saw: “Two cars, one car upside down, people inside.” 3:12 PM: We’re still working to get a viewpoint of the scene but we can tell you that cars are getting off The Bridge at the Admiral/Avalon exit, so it’s west of there. 3:34 PM: Thanks to commenters for updates, including this from CJZ: “We were driving about 100+ yards behind when the one vehicle suddenly spun and rolled violently. There just happened to be an American Med. Response rig to my right as we were driving across the WS Freeway and they were able to respond within seconds.” 4:13 PM: The traffic cam for the end of The Bridge at Fauntleroy shows traffic, which indicates the scene’s clear.
A commenter in our earlier story has forwarded a letter from Services Group of America confirming the helicopter-crash death of chair/owner Tom Stewart, whose company was headquartered in North Delridge until 2006. The Seattle Times (WSB partner) is now also quoting the company as confirming Mr. Stewart’s death, as well as 4 others who were on board the SGA-owned chopper that went down in Cave Creek, Arizona. Here’s the letter; if you can’t open the PDF, we’ve cut/pasted the text after the jump (added 3:23 pm, here’s the official company news release):Read More
For the second year in a row, West Seattle’s pooch population has produced the Cover Dog Model Search winner for CityDog Magazine (headquartered in West Seattle). CDM’s Brandie Ahlgren sent this sneak peek at the cover with wheaten terrier Murphy, who went to the finals (as noted here in September) after winning the photo shoot held at West Seattle Thriftway. Brandie says the winter issue with Murphy on the cover (photographed by J. Nichole Smith of dane + dane studios will be on sale this Friday, and adds, “This issue also includes ALL of the dogs from the cover dog model search — close to 500 in all! CityDog is sold in West Seattle at Barnes & Noble, Pet Elements and Mud Bay.” (Here’s 2009 cover dog Cohen.)
ORIGINAL 1:16 PM “AVALON BLOCKED AT GENESEE” REPORT : On the scene. Bicyclist took a bad spill. Being taken to hospital. Police say no car was involved. Road should reopen shortly. 1:39 PM: Added photo, taken looking northwestward on Avalon from Genesee corner. Going back to check that the road reopened as expected.
It’s midwinter break, so nobody was at Gatewood Elementary (map) when Jared spotted urban wildlife there this morning:
I’m up early with my dog; out and about in the Fauntleroy Park/Solstice Park/Gatewood Elementary areas quite often. I’ve seen my fair share of our urban Coyotes but never at the school grounds. I just had to send you a quick note. At approximately 8:30 this morning I saw a coyote scampering underneath the large trees just east of the older playground structure. He originated from the dumpster behind the school. The crows that frequent these tress were going crazy; their squawking is what drew my attention to this corner of the field. The coyote spent a couple minutes surveying under the tress and than ran off Northbound to Frontenac St. Doubtful the dog would have been in these parts with school in session, but alarming nonetheless.
(Phoenix TV report this morning on the crash investigation)
The Seattle Times (WSB partner) was first to report this locally last night: A helicopter belonging to Services Group of America, headquartered in West Seattle (in the North Delridge building known for its huge flag) until 2006, crashed in Arizona, killing at least 3 people, who have yet to be publicly, officially identified. The company acknowledged to the Times that the crashed chopper was the personal helicopter of its owner and chair, Tom Stewarthere’s his official bio on the SGA site), and said there were conflicting reports on whether he was aboard. When Stewart’s company was headquartered in the North Delridge building, helicopter-flying was the source of a controversy that spanned almost the entire ’90s decade – in 1991, he sought a permit for a helipad atop the building, and the fight went all the way to the state Supreme Court before a final ruling against it in 1999. This aviation site reported on the crash and pointed to the FAA registration data of the helicopter, which suggests it may have belonged to the company before its move from West Seattle to Arizona. Since Stewart’s company moved, the main headline back here has been the $125,000,000 for-sale listing of his Vashon farm (detailed on this website, video tour and all). The SGA chopper went down in the Cave Creek, AZ, area.
More info this morning about West Seattle student athletes in tournament play starting this week: We mentioned Seattle Lutheran High School over the weekend; this morning, an update on Chief Sealth High School‘s boys’ varsity team from athletic director Sam Reed:
The Chief Sealth boys’ basketball team will begin league play with a semi-final game Wednesday evening, February 17th, versus Seattle Prep High School. Sealth (13-7 overall, 12-3 league) earned the 3rd seed into the tournament and will play Seattle Prep (16-4 overall, 14-2 league) for the right to play for the Metro League title. Rainier Beach and Franklin face off in the other semi-final game. All four teams have already earned a guaranteed berth into next week’s district tournament.
The game will start at 7:00 p.m. at Seattle Prep High School (2400 11th Avenue East) [map]. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 students. The Metro League championship will be determined Friday, February 19th at 6:45 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University.
Also happening today: First, since the libraries are closed, Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) is offering a free hour of Internet surfing to anybody who comes in and mentions they heard it on Twitter, Facebook, or WSB. Another reason to stop in at Hotwire and say hi – proprietor Lora Lewis says barista alum Blayne, who left a few months back to focus on his fashion career, is back Monday-Tuesday this week and next.
Switching gears, a note from “Westseattledood,” who’s been part of a Block Watch discussion in the WSB Forums:
Are you a Block Watch Captain in the SW Precinct or do you know one?
Are you interested in forming a Block Watch Captains’ Network? Do you think efforts to revitalize the Block Watch program in our SW Precinct neighborhoods is an idea worth talking about?
While the city of Seattle is ahead of the country in participation of Block/Neighborhood Watches, citywide there is only about 30% participation. There was a time when 70% of Seattle citizens were affiliated with a Block Watch.
If you are interested in strategies for West Seattle neighbors to revisit and perhaps revitalize this proven, cost-effective model of citizen support of public safety and crime prevention, join your neighbors for discussion today.
(May 2009 photo from the Taste of West Seattle)
The Taste of West Seattle is a major fundraiser each year for West Seattle Helpline, and a showcase for some of our area’s tastiest culinary creations. This year, the date and place are set – three months away, May 13th, at The Hall at Fauntleroy – but the menu of participants is still being cooked up. Helpline executive director Anna Fern says they’re hoping to make it an even-longer list this time! With West Seattle’s restaurant scene growing increasingly delicious by the day, she’s inviting more restaurants and businesses to join the Taste of West Seattle this year – so it can be the biggest and best ever, supporting local families in need. Call her at 206-932-2746 to find out how to be part of it. **NOTE: Since original publication of this item, Helpline has changed the date to 5/20/10.**
(Thanks to Rene for sending photos) ORIGINAL 12:16 AM REPORT: Thanks to everyone who’s phoned/e-mailed/FB’d about this – police are investigating an apparent hit-run crash that we are told has damaged multiple vehicles along 35th near Holly (map). Avoid the area – Ella is telling us via Facebook that utility lines are down too. The truck that hit the other vehicles is still at the scene but its driver apparently fled and has not yet been tracked down. Ella says the driver “was wearing a black puffy jacket and looked to be about in his 30’s” – the truck you see above in Rene’s photo is the one that hit other vehicles, we’re told. Rene’s account: “Hit and run. We heard a loud crash and sparks flying from a moving truck. Truck hit four parked cars, smashed into the light pole right at the southbound bus stop. Truck driver fled the scene.” ADDED 12:51 AM: A photo from Al, showing one of the cars hit by the truck:
From Al’s note … “This time around 11:40 PM … a large cargo truck struck a number of parked cars heading north and then careened across the southbound lanes and went up the curb at Holly St. The driver took off. This picture is of my neighbor’s car that was parked two houses up and ended up on the sidewalk in front of my house. When is SDOT going to (do) something (anything!) about 35th?” We have blurred the license plate in the photo so as to not reveal personal info; however, one resident who tells us his car was “accordioned” by the truck is Sustainable West Seattle president Brian Allen. 2:29 AM: Brian tells the full story as he experienced it in the comment section, here, and shares a photo of his car from another angle:
He also reports that the crash scene hasn’t been fully cleared up – debris, and the truck, remain, while a city crew is dealing with the pole and lines. 4:19 AM: Just drove by the crash scene to see if it was cleared yet. The truck’s still there, with one police car next to it, blocking the outside southbound lane on 35th, just south of Holly. This photo from D. Groves shows the scene clearly (except for the big tag on the truck, which we blurred):
5:19 AM UPDATE: Scott C called a few minutes ago to say a tow truck has arrived at the scene; TV truck, too. 10:18 AM UPDATE: As Mike points out in comments, Q13 reports this morning that Croft Rentals says the truck was stolen (they’re in the 11200 block of 16th SW in White Center). “Whoever was driving rammed two trucks just to get it out of the lot,” reporter Brian Callanan (a West Seattleite) was told. “Threw the registration on the ground.”
From the Hero Memorial Workout at CrossFit West Seattle in the Admiral District on Sunday afternoon: Sometimes, the intensity of an activity is shown most vividly in the moments when participants pause, like this. The workout was in memory of SPD Officer Tim Brenton, murdered in the line of duty on Halloween night, and a fundraiser for the Behind the Badge Foundation. Also from the Admiral District, a sight in the sky:
A Valentine’s rainbow arced in the east (thanks also to “k” for sending a shot of it). One more sighting – “The King” really did materialize at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, as promised by market managers:
Nice jumpsuit! That’s a Twitpic, tweeted by @callingindead.
Right now, news of another tasty West Seattle event for a good cause — the 
A commenter in 
For the second year in a row, West Seattle’s pooch population has produced the Cover Dog Model Search winner for 
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