ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:08 PM SATURDAY: Getting multiple messages about a sight in the sky over West Seattle in the past 15 minutes or so – Jill described it as “an awesome meteor traveling northward, looking east from Admiral/Belvidere.” Anyone else?

10:15 PM: Checking Twitter – still the best place to check real-time reports – we see reports from all over the Northwest – Astoria, OR, to Victoria, B.C., among others.

10:48 PM: Our local sky specialist Alice Enevoldsen points us to the American Meteor Society website, where you can report sightings, and that site in turn reminds us we’re just 2 weeks from the Perseid shower’s peak.

11:05 AM SUNDAY: We don’t know yet if the time frame matches, but the government announced this morning that it conducted a missile-defense test in Alaska overnight – here’s one of the reports, and here’s the government news release. Worth noting that one of the Missile Defense Agency‘s radar vessels, SS Pacific Tracker, was in West Seattle recently; the day it left (July 21st), MarineTraffic.com last showed it headed north, off the west coast of Vancouver Island. The test was preceded by an alert, according to this report that includes video of a test earlier this month.

11:20 AM SUNDAY: Again, we don’t know if this was or wasn’t what was seen here – but the Missile Defense Agency website now has video of the test:

Still haven’t seen any word on exactly when the test happened.

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WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT: Demolition to start next month at ex-and-future PCC site

July 29, 2017 9:45 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Wondering what’s going on with the past and future PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) site at 2749 California SW in Admiral, with building demolition yet to begin, two months after the store closed? A reader called us Friday, saying she was concerned about camping and trash outside the shuttered store. We checked the city permit files, and the demolition permit – applied for in January – is listed as in “reviews completed” stage. We also sent an inquiry to the site’s owner, Madison Development Group, which plans to build a mixed-use building with 112 apartments and a new PCC store. Then this morning, we went by the site, but didn’t see any sign of what the reader had mentioned. And today we received a reply from a PCC spokesperson, who said the inquiry had been forwarded to them by the developer: “Our team is visiting the site regularly until we hand the property off to MDG in mid-August. We also noticed the camp and took steps to clean up the area and tape off all entryways. We’ll be closely watching to ensure no one sets up there again. The plans are to demolish the building in mid-August to begin construction.”

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Northbound Highway 99 open again

July 29, 2017 7:53 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT camera framegrab as the ramp reopened a moment ago)

The northbound Highway 99 closure for the Seafair Torchlight Run is over, and 99 is open again both ways. But if you are headed downtown, remember that the parade is now under way, which means surface-street closures continuing for the next few hours, primarily 4th Avenue – the parade heads southbound on 4th from Seattle Center to the International District.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER ALERT: Heat wave expected, starting Tuesday

July 29, 2017 6:47 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

FIRST REPORT, 6:47 PM SATURDAY: Eight years ago today, Seattle recorded its highest temperature ever – 103 degrees. @WestSeaWx pointed that out on Twitter earlier today with a heads-up that very hot weather is predicted next Tuesday-Thursday. And tonight, the National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement, which warns of exactly that. While we might not crack 100, the NWS says, Thursday might get close.

10 AM SUNDAY: The alert level has been raised to Excessive Heat Watch – same time frame.

7:11 AM MONDAY: The alert level has been raised again. Now it’s an Excessive Heat Warning, for 2 pm Tuesday through 9 pm Friday.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Packages, contents tossed

July 29, 2017 2:20 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

This week’s big West Seattle Crime Watch reader-report topic has been package theft – both the thefts and the discovery of discarded boxes/items. Here are the latest:

PACKAGE FOUND: From Kathrine in The Junction:

I found an open USPS package in a bush while I was out walking my dog today and I would like to return it to its rightful owner. The box was open and the shipping address was torn from the box, other that I can make out “Oregon St.” The return address is from Myrtle Beach, SC. If someone can give me the name of the person who shipped the box, I’d be happy to return the package to its rightful owner. The box contains a rather expensive handbag. Or if someone can describe to me what the handbag looks like, that might work as well……

If it might be yours, let us know.

PACKAGES TRASHED: From Manya in Gatewood:

Came home from work (Thursday) and one of my packages was partially opened almost as if someone saw what was in there was of no interest (curriculum books). Then my downstairs neighbor stopped by and said that they found packages from another neighbor opened and the contents thrown all over the alley and possibly some things stolen. Following that, 3 police cars showed up across the street (the owner of the packages in the alley) and the report is that they saw someone in their backyard and it’s most likely related. Hoping more awareness will help either catch the thief or at least help others be on the watch for their own property.

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HAPPENING NOW: ‘Da Grind’ outrigger-canoe racing off Alki

July 29, 2017 12:01 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

12:01 PM: Sandy beach, blue water, Hawaiian music, outrigger canoes … it’s a little bit of aloha right now on Alki, east of the bathhouse, as the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s “Da Grind” day of racing continues. The men’s long-course racers (to Blake Island and back) are scheduled to head out soon; the women’s long-course racers got going around 9:30 this morning; short-course racers (about 4 miles along Alki and back) are scheduled around 2 pm.

Spectators are welcome and are in fact lining the seawall as the canoes go by; the club has numerous tents on the sand, too.

The racing is scheduled to continue until the awards ceremony around 3:30 this afternoon.

3:31 PM: More photos added.

The races weren’t held last year because of what the club calls a racing-schedule change.

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West Seattle Saturday: Outrigger-canoe racing; outdoor movie; earthquake drill at 3 hubs; Shakespeare at Camp Long; more…

July 29, 2017 6:07 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Western Sandpiper, breeding plumage – photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Busy midsummer Saturday – for reasons including these:

SEAFAIR-RELATED TRAFFIC ALERTS: Two to note – first, you might encounter the annual Torchlight Parade float traffic jam between the Harbor Avenue gate to T-5 and the low bridge at some point this morning, if we’re reading the “no parking” signs properly. Seafair never answered our inquiry about a specific time. But we DO have an official alert about tonight’s Viaduct closure for the pre-parade Torchlight Run (which took last year off but is back this year) – northbound Highway 99 will be closed 5 pm to 7:45 pm; southbound will remain open.

Now, on to the spotlight events for today/tonight in West Seattle:

OUTRIGGER RACING OFF ALKI: Also back after taking a year off, the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s “Da Grind” races from Alki. First races start at 9:30 am – full schedule and details are here. (2600 Alki SW)

HUBS’ EARTHQUAKE DRILL: 9 am-noon, three of West Seattle’s Emergency Communication Hubs are part of a citywide drill simulating what might be happening as neighborhoods try to manage the aftermath of a big earthquake. You’re welcome to observe, or participate as a “citizen actor.” Details (including addresses) in our calendar listing.

DOG ICE-CREAM SOCIAL: Dutchboy Coffee in Highland Park invites you and your canine companion, 10 am-noon. Here’s what they’re offering. (16th SW/SW Holden)

FREE RAINGARDEN WORKSHOP: 10 am-noon, with local raingarden expert and landscape architect Paul Byron Crane, at the Duwamish Cohousing Common House. (6000 17th SW)

GIANNONI’S PIZZA ANNIVERSARY: 11 am-9 pm today, tomorrow, and/or Monday, stop by Giannoni’s Pizza in Westwood Village and wish them a happy 10th anniversary! Here’s how they’re celebrating. (2600 SW Barton)

CHIEF SEALTH CHEER CAR WASH: 11 am-2 pm, support your Chief Sealth International High School Cheer Hawks at their fundraising car wash at Les Schwab in Georgetown.

$5 donation. (6111 4th Ave. S.)

ALKI BEACH LGBTQ PRIDE EVENT: 11 am-7 pm, third annual LGBTQ Pride celebration at Alki Beach – details here. (59th SW/Alki SW)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark are open 11 am-8 pm; Delridge and Hiawatha wading pools are open noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)

BBQ TO BENEFIT WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Super Deli Mart‘s big annual barbecue, noon-5 pm, donations benefit West Seattle Food Bank. (35th SW/SW Barton)

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, tour Alki Point Lighthouse with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary – be there by 3:40 pm for the day’s final tour. (3201 Alki SW)

SALSA ON ALKI: Dance lesson 5-5:45, dancing 6-10 pm. Info including price in our calendar listing. (61st SW/Alki SW)

‘LEGO BATMAN’ @ WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Gates open 6:30 pm, movie at dusk (9-ish) in the SW Snoqualmie Festival Street south of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). See our preview for details. Bring your own chair/blanket; bring $ for nonprofit-benefiting raffles and concessions; movie is free. And tonight, bring diapers for WestSide Baby! (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: GreenStage presents “Richard II,” directed by Susannah Rose Woods, at Camp Long, free, 7 pm. More info in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)

KEVIN KILLMON: “Soulful acoustic rock singer/songwriter” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

THREE BANDS: 9 pm-midnight, Parliament Tavern presents Power Skeleton, Himiko Cloud, Mind Beams. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SEE MORE … on our complete-calendar page!

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