day : 05/07/2015 7 results

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:49 PM SUNDAY: Just before our side trip to investigate the no-longer-a-mystery music, we stopped by the latest West Seattle “brush fire” call, 5000 block of Erskine Way, just southwest of The Junction. The top photo was sent by Janet, who said neighbors attacked it even before firefighters could get there. Engine 32 was there and already wrapping up by the time we arrived:

(WSB photo)
While firefighters couldn’t find the source, neighbors believe fireworks were to blame for starting it (around 7:40 pm). The flames swept across a grassy embankment just north of the Erskine roadside. No structures damaged, nobody hurt. But this one brought in several tips – thanks as always (206-293-6302 text/voice any time).

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: We also received this photo from Brandon:

That Sunday fire near 34th/Juneau is blamed on a cigarette. And as we were writing this, a comment came in about a similar situation within the past hour in Morgan Junction. It gets drier by the minute out there, so please be extra-extra-safe.

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If you heard the music but couldn’t figure out the source…

July 5, 2015 9:29 pm

| 67 COMMENTS

| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

In the past couple hours, we started getting questions about music/beats audible in north West Seattle for hours – maybe from the beach. Nothing on the calendar; we finally went down to look, nothing in view, but from the Seacrest vicinity, we could hear the beats in the distance. The answer finally came when we put out the open question on Twitter: @SDOT and @romabit pointed out the Dirtybird BBQ concert event in SODO, which had been under way since early afternoon. Just in case you wondered too … now you know.

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West Seattle 4th of July aftermath: The mess left behind

July 5, 2015 7:06 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| Environment | Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:06 PM SUNDAY: Still a few hours of light left … so if you haven’t been out patroling your neighborhood, and/or your nearest park, consider this:

Karen Allan ~~made~~ sent that, explaining:

When my kiddo was little, I used to say “In this town, what’s on the ground is swept into the Sound.” So if you see bits and pieces of the things that went bang, pop, and KABOOM on your block, please consider sweeping them up. Grab a bucket, broom and perhaps a neighbor and make a little outing out of it.

Here’s some of what Karen found near 29th and Othello:

She added, “Unfortunately, there is a lot more fireworks debris in the storm drains that I can’t
get to. It will all end up in the Sound with the next big rainfall.”

Some of the holiday-leftover trash and debris was already near the Sound in the first place: . We also heard from Chris Porter, who lives near Lincoln Park and spent time there this morning to help clean up. It wasn’t just fireworks debris he found:

The spectacular fireworks last night are only secondary to the enormous disaster of trash left behind the next day. I spent this morning picking up as much fireworks debris and trash as I could. I have forgotten about what happens to parks after summer holidays.

East to west, north to south, many other West Seattle neighbors were also out today, cleaning up the mess somebody else left behind. Travis Houston sent photos from Riverview Playfield:

We also stopped by Riverview before neighbors were done with their herculean cleanup:

Crossing the peninsula over to Alki, Kim sent the next photo, saying this was what just one small part of Bar-S Playfields looked like before she got to it with her broom:

Even in the unincorporated area where fireworks are legal on the 4th of July, the “legal” time period expired 18+ hours ago … but we’re still hearing dispatches on the scanner, including a fireworks call at Highland Park Elementary a short time ago and “brush fire” calls around the city (see photos in earlier reports here, here, and here).

ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Just sent by Chris:

I picked up a box full of spent fireworks debris on the playground at Gatewood Elementary this morning. The haul included one live mortar. Glad I found it and not some kids.

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2 weeks until West Seattle Garden Tour 2015. Get ticketed!

July 5, 2015 5:44 pm

| Comments Off on 2 weeks until West Seattle Garden Tour 2015. Get ticketed!

| Gardening | West Seattle news

(Photo by Clay Swidler)
Exactly two weeks from today, nine local gardens will be open to ticketholders who can wander all they want during the all-day self-guided West Seattle Garden Tour (with co-sponsors including WSB), 9 am-5 pm on Sunday, July 19th. You can take care of the ticketing right now so you’ll be ready to go when tour day arrives. In West Seattle, buy yours at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) or Junction True Value Hardware (44th/Edmunds); online, you can get ticketed at Brown Paper Tickets. Along with admission to all nine gardens, your ticket includes award-winning spotlight lecturer Phil Wood‘s talk about residential-garden design at 12:30 pm on tour day at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Bonus: As always, the tour’s net proceeds help local nonprofits (see this year’s list here).

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Congratulations! West Seattle Little League’s 13-year-old All-Stars win District 7; state tournament is next

July 5, 2015 4:18 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to West Seattle Little League president Michael Grienauer for sharing the photo and the big news:

The 13-year-old team from West Seattle Little League (WSLL) won the District 7 championship. The WSLL team went undefeated in regular-season play and in the All Star tournament as well. They beat the team from South Highline National Little League 6-4 to take the crown. With the win, they earned their place in the Washington State All-Star tournament, which starts next week in Port Orchard.

Players and coaches in the photo above:

(Left to right) Ben Trigg, Coach Mike Messinger, Eli Markham, Konrad Gerhardt, Manager Rick Southall, Dylan Pool, Jackson Grienauer, Isaac Patchen, Dominic Taylor, Will Holmes, Adam Chin, Justin Murphy, Coach Mike Murphy, Cole Stephenson

You can check on the tournament bracket here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Classic rainbow bike stolen by grab-and-go thief

July 5, 2015 11:39 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Be on the lookout for that stolen bike – maybe tossed aside somewhere by now:

July 4th, 11:55 pm. Corner of alley at 59th & Stevens. Devastating theft of 1-of-a-kind 1977 Free Spirit bike. Distinct rainbow colors and banana seat. Male, early 20s, snatched it and took off toward beach. Owner heartbroken, offering reward.

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Here’s what’s up for your post-holiday West Seattle Sunday

July 5, 2015 9:57 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(July 3rd Alki low-tide photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

KITTEN ADOPTIONS: Until about noon, Friends of the Animals Foundation is at Next to Nature in The Junction. (4543 California SW)

FARMERS’ MARKET IN THE STREET: 10 am-2 pm, shop the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on California SW between Oregon and Alaska. Today’s market includes music 10 am-noon (north end) with West Seattleite Brigid Blume of West by Midwest. Also – King County Master Gardeners are there to answer your questions. And of course, fresh, local food. P.S. **Next** week (July 12th), the market will be back in its old 44th/Alaska spot because of West Seattle Summer Fest; then it returns to the street July 19th and beyond.

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Delridge (12-6:30 pm) and Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm) wading pools, Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm) – addresses and full citywide schedule here.

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Open again today, 1 pm-4 pm, with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers to show you around; be there by 3:40 pm for last tour. (3201 Alki SW)

LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Just before 2 pm, the tide’s out to -1.6 feet, and it’s the last chance until mid-month for you to find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists out at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park beaches – 12:45-3:15 pm today.

MUSIC & COFFEE: Becky Shepard performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

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