day : 01/07/2013 13 results

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, starting with this one just out of the inbox – Ellie has a warning about package prowlers east of The Junction:

We live on 39th and Oregon and discovered torn-open UPS packages in our front yard this evening, about 9:30 pm. They had not been there a few hours prior. The shipping labels were still intact, so we took the empty boxes and a packing slip that was found further down the sidewalk back to the house the packages were addressed to and gave them to the people who had been expecting their items to arrive safely. Please put a crime watch notice about this on the blog so people in this area can be on the lookout for package prowlers.

This morning, Scott e-mailed word of a theft:

We live on 49th SW between Admiral and Charlestown. Woke up this morning to discover someone took my Yakima roof rack and one bike carrier and fairing. I thought it was locked down but apparently it wasn’t or they broke the locks. The rack and bike carrier were both pretty old and can’t be worth much but I guess desperate people aren’t always rational people. Looking at the crime report on WSB I see there was at least one other vehicle accessory theft last night in the vicinity. Lesson of the day, please lock your cars and make sure accessories are locked down.

And Josh‘s car was prowled near Lincoln Park over the weekend:

I just wanted to let you know that our car was rummaged through (Saturday) night. We live on Kenyon Place by Lincoln Park on a dead-end street. Unfortunately, we forgot to lock the door and they rummaged through and stole our iPod and charger. They left everything else and didn’t do any damage, so that’s a plus.

P.S. Five weeks till this year’s Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th – plan a block party with your neighbors to show solidarity against crime. Register here.

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West Seattle summer: Seafair Pirates Landing this Saturday

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Now that it’s July, the big events of summer are sailing our way at top clip – including this Saturday’s Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki. From today’s Seafair update:

Join Seafair for a Pirate-style party at Alki Beach in West Seattle on July 6. In accordance with the Legend of Seafair, the cutthroat Seafair Pirate crew has made a deal with their new Captain Kidd and is coming to collect the bounty they left behind last year. The Seattle Seafair Pirates will sail in from the seven seas and will storm Alki Beach in West Seattle to kick off the 64th Seafair. Exhibitors and interactive booths will line the beach and participants can shop, eat and dance along with the Pirates throughout the day! The Seattle Seafair Pirates will land at Alki Beach between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The event will feature a music stage with local bands, dancing and storytelling. Kids can play on inflatable rides and participate in a Pirate look-alike contest to win prizes sponsored by the West Seattle Kiwanis. 2012 Miss Seafair Veronica Asence, the Seafair Foundation Scholarship Program for Women participants and the West Seattle Hi-Yu princesses will make appearances! Dress in your favorite pirate costume and meet us out on the beach – Ready, Aim, Fire!

P.S. According to the Pirates’ website, this year’s Captain Kidd is Rusty Harper, whose home (port) is right here in West Seattle.

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Post-Fourth fireworks: ‘Private’ show off Beach Drive on July 20th

July 1, 2013 6:39 pm

| 33 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Heads up, fireworks fans – while we don’t have 4th of July fireworks in Elliott Bay any more, there will be a show off West Seattle’s west-facing shore a few weeks later. Fauntleroy-founded Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering is getting the word out about the show as part of an event it’s producing on July 20th:

On Saturday, July 20, 2013, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering will be producing a one-time special event in the Genesee Hill neighborhood for an anniversary party. The party will be held at a private residence between 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM. At approximately 10:00 PM, a 10-minute professional fireworks display will be held on a barge on Puget Sound off the 4500 block of Beach Drive (just south of Me-Kwa-Mooks; map). Guests will be viewing this display from a private home.

For surrounding businesses or residents: if you have comments that you’d like to make about any impacts this event will have on your home or business, please e-mail our organization and the City of Seattle Special Events Committee at:

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering
4101 Airport Way South
Seattle, WA 98108
info@tuxedosandtennisshoes.com
(206) 932-1059

Chris Swenson, Chair
City of Seattle Special Events Office
Seattle, WA 98124 chris.swenson@seattle.gov

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Happening now: West Seattle bike-counter celebration

July 1, 2013 5:27 pm

| Comments Off on Happening now: West Seattle bike-counter celebration

| Transportation | West Seattle news

A week and a half after Seattle’s second bicycle counter was installed at the east end of the Spokane Street Bascule Bridge – aka the West Seattle “low bridge” – a celebration’s under way till about 6 pm. The Cascade Bicycle Club – one of the private organizations that funded it – and West Seattle Bike Connections are there along with SDOT, and refreshments. It’s a chance for riders to stop by and take a closer look:

Refreshments too, and a bit of shade. P.S. You can check out the bike-counter stats online, by going here.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: A photo taken by WS Bike Connections president Don Brubeck as he headed home a few hours after the event:

P.S. WSBC meets tonight, all welcome – details here.

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Highway 99 traffic alert: Weekend closure north of downtown

July 1, 2013 3:28 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Early reminder in case you’re getting ready for a long holiday weekend-plus: This Friday night (July 5) at 11 pm through next Monday morning (July 8) at5 am, both directions of Highway 99 will be closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street (map), one of two big closures to facilitate work on the West Phase of the Mercer Corridor Project – specifically, demolition of the east side of the Highway 99 bridge over Mercer. If you need to get through the city, you’ll have to take I-5 – alternate routes are suggested on the project website. But if you’re on Northbound 99 and approaching the project zone, you will have to exit at Western.

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Close call at Cone Central! Husky Deli freezer fixed

July 1, 2013 2:14 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

With an official “heat warning” still in effect, news of possible trouble in ice-cream paradise was truly alarming. So WSB’s Katie Meyer went over to Husky Deli to check out a report of freezer trouble. GOOD NEWS – it was only affecting the freezer you see in Katie’s photo, the display case by the front door, and a new replacement motor is already in – Husky’s Jack Miller told Katie it should be cold enough to re-fill within an hour or so. AND they are still scooping cones and cups from ice-cream stock in a different freezer.

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When – or whether – to call 911 about fireworks

July 1, 2013 2:02 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news

Though all fireworks are illegal in Seattle (except for sanctioned displays like the one over Lake Union on the 4th), you’re likely seeing or hearing them every night this time of year. When do you call 911? Do you call at all? In an attempt to answer those questions, the State Fire Marshal shared a media advisory today that included a chart created with input from emergency-dispatch centers around the state. We’ve uploaded the chart here:

When and how to report fireworks violations

Again, ALL fireworks are illegal in Seattle, as well as in nearby cities such as Burien and Tukwila – but some are legal in the adjacent unincorporated areas of King County. Here’s the list of fireworks rules (including when they can be sold and used, in places where they are allowed) statewide.

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Another way to stay cool: Outdoor music at C & P tonight

July 1, 2013 1:22 pm

| Comments Off on Another way to stay cool: Outdoor music at C & P tonight

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Temperatures usually peak in early evening, but you don’t have to swelter in an air-conditioning-less house or apartment – C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) invites you to enjoy free live music in their “backyard” tonight, 5-8 pm. The band is Andé Marimba, which C & P says “offers a fresh and new perspective on the ancient sounds of traditional mbira music from Zimbabwe.” Also: “Highly danceable.” Best of all, while the band’s members are originally from New Mexico, tonight’s show features Jasper T., who grew up in West Seattle.

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West Seattle Monday: Today/tonight highlights & cooling-off spots

July 1, 2013 11:19 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen – looking south on California SW from north of The Junction)
Blue sky, sunshine, very warm temperatures – that’s why we’re splitting the daily highlights into the “keep cool” section and the “what else is happening” section for the third day in a row:

WHERE TO KEEP COOL

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Day FOUR! Hours 11 am-8 pm. (11th SW/SW Cloverdale)

TODAY’S WADING POOL SCHEDULE: Hiawatha and Lincoln Park wading pools are open – see the addresses and hours here.

COLMAN POOL OPEN: See the schedule here. (On the Lincoln Park waterfront – reachable via walking or biking)

SOUTHWEST POOL OPEN: See the schedule here. (2801 SW Thistle)

AIR-CONDITIONED LIBRARIES: Delridge, High Point, and South Park Libraries all have A/C. For addresses and hours, see the Seattle Public Library website.

BOAT RIDE: This is our favorite cooling-off tactic when we can spare the time. Short ride? West Seattle Water Taxi (schedule here). Longer ride? Walk onto a Washington State Ferry from Fauntleroy and ride to Southworth and back (schedule here).

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING

The calendar’s fairly quiet since it’s a holiday week, but here are a few things of note:

PEGASUS ANNIVERSARY: Today is the 20th anniversary for Pegasus Pizza‘s ownership on Alki, and they are offering everybody a 20 percent discount, today/tonight. (

BLOOD DRIVE: 1-7 pm at Peace Lutheran Church – walkups welcome. More info here. (39th/Thistle)

BIKE COUNTER CELEBRATION: The city’s second bicycle counter is up and running on the east side of the West Seattle Bridge, and you’re invited to a celebration during today’s afternoon commute, 4-6 pm; details here.

LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CONTINUES: District 7 9-10 and 11-12 All-Star teams are in tournament play all week at Alki’s Bar-S Playfield all week, hosted by West Seattle Little League. According to the brackets on the WSLL site, tonight’s games start at 6 pm. (6425 SW Admiral Way)

FIGHTING FORECLOSURES: Washington Citizens Action Network is presenting a public forum tonight at Delridge Library “to discuss the foreclosure crisis in our communities.” 6:30-7:30 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

‘DIG INTO MAGIC’: Magician Jeff Evans will “unearth subterranean secrets” for ages 5 and up at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 6:30-7:30 pm tonight. (2306 42nd SW)

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West Seattle 4th of July: Special activity? Hours? Let us know

July 1, 2013 9:49 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle news

We’re working this morning on the annual special West Seattle 4th of July page, a one-stop shop for holiday information from transit schedules to special events like the Kids’ Parade, and wanted to send out a quick “last call” to make sure we’re not missing anything – including special business hours if your business is NOT closed on the holiday. If you have something to include, please comment here or just e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: July begins

July 1, 2013 6:03 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to July, and another hot day; the National Weather Service has an “excessive heat warning” out until 11 pm tonight. No major road work planned this week, but Thursday’s the 4th of July, so we’ll talk about transit-schedule changes (etc.) as the week progresses.

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West Seattle development: 4400 SW Alaska passes Design Review round 1

July 1, 2013 3:01 am

| 39 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

“This building’s going to be very visible,” one Southwest Design Review Board member pointed out during the board’s first look at early-stage plans for 4400 SW Alaska, a 37-unit building kitty corner to the home of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (see the design packet here). It was one of two projects reviewed last Thursday night (we’ll cover the other separately), and that visibility shaped the discussion:

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West Seattle coyotes: Sighting in the alley

July 1, 2013 2:02 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Someone asked us recently about the Schmitz Park coyotes, saying they hadn’t heard (much less seen) them lately. This sighting report received late Sunday night suggests they’re still around

I live near Schmitz Park Elementary on 50th and Spokane St. I was sitting on our patio in the back of our house at about 10:45 pm tonight and saw a single adult coyote heading north in our alley. 50th street “T” ‘s in to Spokane street at the front of Schmitz Park Elementary. Schmitz Park Preserve comes right up to the street in between the school and a residential property. Many homes border the preserve and there are no fences to keep coyotes from coming up to hunt in the neighborhoods. If anyone has pets that go out at night, please consider having them come in at night. I know how much we treasure out pets and I would not want any one to lose one to a coyote or raptor. Domestic pets don’t have a healthy fear of wild animals and large raptors that hunt in the nights and early morning hours. I was stunned to see one out in my neighbor’s yard. I have heard them but never actually seen them. One day they howled at the edge of the park around midnight and then another time at 9:30 in the morning. That was an odd time to hear them. I thought they were nocturnal. Hope this is helpful to those walking with pets in the evening as well.

There’s more you should know about co-existing with coyotes – read the state’s advice here.

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