West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
The Port of Seattle‘s Terminal 5 in West Seattle isn’t usually known as an event venue – but that’s what it’ll be this weekend, for the first-ever Vlogger Fair. “Vlogger” is short for “video blogger”; organizers of Vlogger Fair insist “it’s not a conference, it’s a gathering!” Nationally known Seattle-based online personality/entrepreneur/vlogger Chris Pirillo explains it in this clip published on YouTube (which is sponsoring the event):
If you already know all about vlogging and some of its most famous personalities (besides Chris), check out the list of who’ll be in attendance. It’s happening 9 am-6 pm Saturday and 9-noon Sunday; if you’re interested in going, you can register here.
Once again this year, we’re making a simple last-minute list of West Seattle summer-camp programs that still have room, to help out families who are still looking, with days left till summer vacation begins. We put out the call on the WSB Facebook page earlier today and appreciate the resulting responses; in case you missed that, we’re asking here too. We hope to assemble the list tomorrow, so please e-mail us the info ASAP (include a website link rather than tons of text, as each mention will be brief) – editor@westseattleblog.com. Thanks!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you have been hoping to hear about another restaurant taking over the two-years-closed Charlestown Café – you’re likely out of luck.
While the first post-closure proposal for the site has long since been scrapped, a new one is in play – and it is primarily residential.
City records show that Intracorp – the same developers behind the 3210 California proposal a few blocks north, as well as another proposal across the street from that – is pursuing a plan for six 5-unit townhouse buildings “around a central drive aisle” on the ex-café site.
3:02 PM: We’re at Madison Middle School, where Mayor McGinn will be speaking momentarily as part of an announcement that dental care will be provided for some Seattle Public Schools students starting next year. The news release that’s been provided explains that the money comes from the Families and Education Levy passed by voters in 2011, and Neighborcare Health – whose CEO is also scheduled to speak – will be the provider. Neighborcare already runs clinics at some SPS campuses. We’ll add any West Seattle-specific details that emerge in the briefing.
3:15 PM: “You can’t learn when your teeth hurt,” the mayor noted in the briefing (which we are recording on video). Also speaking: Pat Sander from the school district, who notes, “In recent years, we’ve become much more aware of the importance of dental health, and the toll it may be taking on student attendance.” She says this will be offered at elementary and middle schools. Mark Secord, CEO of Neighborcare, says they are “thrilled” to receive the grant. “We hope to cover at least 11 schools through this grant support.” He says this will particularly benefit some students who otherwise might never get to go to a dental clinic. Speaking next: Neighborcare’s dental director, Dr. Marty Lieberman. They have not yet worked out which schools this will be offered in, for starters.
ADDED: Video of the briefing, above. Afterward, the mayor was taken on a tour of the Madison clinic, including a demonstration of the kind of portable dental equipment that’ll be used in the new program:
Here’s the mayor’s office news release about the event.
The former Chuck and Sally’s Tavern is having a “closing sale,” almost six years after it closed, and a week and a half after we broke the news that the former tavern in Morgan Junction will become the new home of The Bridge (which is being displaced from 35th SW by a future apartment building). We just received this announcement from the C&S building’s owners:
Closing Sale, Everything Goes!
It’s the end of an era. Our family bar Chuck & Sally’s opened in 1943; since then we have enjoined serving the West Seattle Community. Now it’s your chance to take a piece of history home. This Saturday, June 8th, we will be selling everything. Pool tables, dartboards, tables, chairs, stools, “everything beer’. If it was inside, it’s for sale. Maybe you had a beer there once, was a coffee drinker ‘n’ cribbage player, or a regular we saw daily. We would love to see you again.
Come by and see us Saturday 8:30 am-7 pm; we look forward to seeing you. Jim & Denette
C&S is on the southwest corner of California/Graham.
That photo is courtesy of Bill and Margi Beyers, who have been trying to get Seattle Parks to remove those rocks placed in January in front of the damaged north Lincoln Park beach seawall. (Here’s our December coverage of that storm damage.) Last week, they e-mailed us about it, saying the rocks’ size “makes them environmentally unsustainable – the first strong north wind at a high tide will toss these rocks over the beach,” adding that Parks put sand and gravel over the rocks last week, which they didn’t see as a solution. After reading their concerns, we contacted Parks for comment – and today, we’ve learned that Parks is working on a plan that eventually would remove those rocks, but says it’s a “complex” situation – not simply a matter of scooping them up and taking them away. Read on for details of the concerns, and the response:
(Photo by @lolomatic via Twitter)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:50 AM: Emergency crews are on their way to the 2500 block of Harbor Avenue for a “heavy-rescue” call. So are we. More to come.
10:06 AM UPDATE: A car is on its side. Harbor Ave is closed at the bridge.
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
10:33 AM UPDATE: As a WSB commenter notes, at least one parked car was damaged in the crash. Our crew at the scene says it appears at least two people are being transported by private ambulance; we’re checking on the total number of people injured. If you hear/see helicopter(s) in the area, at least one TV helicopter has come over to check out the scene.
11:02 AM UPDATE: Harbor will be closed for at least two hours, per radio communications – the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad has been called out to investigate this crash.
(Photo by Leo Shaw)
11:19 AM UPDATE: As noted in comments, some people ran from the scene after the crash. At least one person was seen in handcuffs at the scene later. SPD can’t confirm for us yet whether anyone has been arrested, but they say one vehicle involved, either the van or a parked car, was confirmed as stolen. We’ll continue to update, once the scene reopens, and once SPD has more information on how this all shakes out.
1:38 PM UPDATE: Police are reopening southbound Harbor Avenue.
4:34 PM UPDATE: Just in case you were still wondering – we’ve verified in person, Harbor has since fully reopened. We also have an update on injuries from Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore: “There were 5 people inside the minivan. All of the patients self-extricated. We treated a 52-year-old male, 21-year-old female, and 17-year-old female. AMR transported all three to HMC. We did not treat the male driver or another male passenger.”
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: A summary is now on SPD Blotter; aside from what we’ve already reported, the only additional note is confirmation the Lexus SUV was indeed the stolen vehicle police mentioned when we first spoke with them.
(Hummingbird with coral honeysuckle in the Arroyos; photo by Sonya Capek)
Another beautiful day! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LUNCH/TALENT SHOW FUNDRAISER: Raise money for Seattle Parks‘ Lifelong Recreation programs through this lunch/talent show event at the Senior Center of West Seattle – lunch 11:45 am, talent show 12:30 pm. More info in the calendar listing. (California/Oregon)
DROP-IN CHESS: Chess players of any age are invited to drop by the Seattle Public Library‘s High Point Branch, 4-5:30 pm. (35th/Raymond)
METRO @ WWRHAH: You don’t have to be a Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights resident to come to the WWRHAH Community Council meeting tonight – all are welcome because it’s a topic of West Seattle-wide interest, Metro Transit. Metro reps will be there to provide updates and answer questions, as detailed on the WWRHAH website. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm, and it’s NOT the usual WWRHAH location – it’s at the Chief Sealth International High School Library. (2600 SW Thistle)
DENNY PTSA MEETING: Last one of the year – details on the Denny International Middle School home page. 7 pm, school library. (2601 SW Kenyon)
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:18 AM: Nothing unusual reported on the West Seattle-and-vicinity routes as we move toward the heart of the commute. Reminder for tonight: The Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council will devote its entire meeting to Metro, 6:30 pm, Chief Sealth International High School Library – details on the WWRHAH website; all welcome.
7:30 AM: The biggest regional problem of the moment isn’t likely to affect anyone outbound from here but if you are heading back this way from points east/northeast – a semitruck has gone sideways across the entirety of southbound I-405 in Renton.
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