(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
7:17 PM: The first of more than half a dozen marching bands is on the field right now at Southwest Athletic Complex across from Chief Sealth International High School, for this year’s Band Jam – something the Seattle All-City Band and its director Marcus Pimpleton (photo below; he’s also music leader at Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School) came up as a way for ACB and visiting bands to have fun and tune up the night before the big Seafair Torchlight Parade.

Good crowd already in the stadium stands, but still lots of room for you to drop in – no admission charge, but if you buy concessions/merchandise from ACB volunteers, that’ll benefit their ongoing operations. The Junior All-City Band, which Pimpleton explained as a “two-week camp” – including its performance in last Saturday’s Rotary Kiddie Parade before the West Seattle Grand Parade – is up first. Others to come include not only the ACB but also the Calgary Round-Up Band (seen in the WS Grand Parade as was the ACB), Pacific Northwest Drumline (video below), Sumner High School Marching Band (top photo), and more.

9:07 PM: Over after two high-energy hours.

Surprise of the night, Chaotic Noise Marching Corps (photo above), a self-described ‘renegade marching band’ – wow! (Video added:)

11:05 PM: We’re adding photos and video now, some inline, some in this last section. Here’s our video of how the night ended – with members of all the bands getting back out on the field for what was indeed a band jam:

Aside from that, Calgary put on what was literally the biggest show:

It was a field-wide, theatrical presentation with a circus theme, including acrobatics, and even, as shown in our photo above, a few costumes. Video:

Shadows fell on the field as dusk approached, but spirits and sound blazed brightly:

Some of the hosts’ choreography:

All-City Band has been practicing at SWAC this year instead of their traditional site, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.

ADDED SATURDAY: Thanks to Steve White for the view above of the stands from the field’s south end!

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Community open house tomorrow at West Seattle Fight & Fitness

July 26, 2013 5:06 pm

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| Delridge | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

No big festival or parade in West Seattle tomorrow – but fun events abound just the same. The video’s from the WSB sponsor where you’ll find one of those events – a community open house at West Seattle Fight and Fitness in North Delridge. Tomorrow from 10 am to 3 pm, you’re invited to stop by to tour the facility, where more remodeling is under way, and meet seven community vendors, including Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic (also a WSB sponsor), plus there’s word a food truck will be there too. Here’s the Facebook event page; WSFF is at 5050 Delridge Way SW.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car; stolen GPS; two ‘suspicious’ sightings

July 26, 2013 1:44 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports to share in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with a stolen car to watch for:
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Happening now: From Utah to Las Vegas to Admiral – installation under way for prefab green-built home

July 26, 2013 12:49 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

As mentioned in today’s West Seattle Friday calendar preview, a home-building project in West Seattle is creating a stir today. It’s more like “home-installing.” A North Seattle company called Greenfab built the 2,300-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom house in Utah, trucked it to Las Vegas for a show during which 7,000 people toured it, and then brought it here, where cranes are installing the home in five pieces on a lot in North Admiral.

Go here to see what it will look like – more classic than modern, built to a stringent sustainability standard – “LEED Platinum ready,” according to the official brochure. Greenfab’s Johnny Hartsfield says once it’s installed – the last piece might not be added until Saturday morning – there will be at least a month more work, and then it will go on sale, for a price likely around $785,000.

This is Greenfab’s first project in West Seattle, and might be the last one for a while, with its next few projects slated elsewhere in the city; Hartsfield explained that they acquired this site because of a relationship with its out-of-state (former) owner, who had contacted them about a custom project elsewhere. The previous home on this site was torn down more than a year ago. Greenfab welcomes visitors as this project proceeds today and even has an info tent set up across the street (50th SW, which is closed south of Waite because of the crane and truck activity). Meantime, we’ll be adding a few more photos – and you can see progress reports on Greenfab’s Facebook page; they’re also shooting a time-lapse of the installation and expect to have it done within a week or so.

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West Seattle schools: 2 chances to talk about boundary changes, ‘other big district decisions’

July 26, 2013 11:53 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle’s representative on the Seattle School Board, Marty McLaren, has just announced the dates for the informal meetings she promised to set up over the summer, to get your thoughts on boundary changes and other big district decisions later in the year:

The decisions about Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries in West Seattle will be very important for our community, and I’ve scheduled two informal West Seattle meetings so that community members can gather to discuss the issues:

Saturday, August 3, from 10 to 12 noon at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave SW

Wednesday, August 14, 6 to 7:45 PM at the West Seattle Branch Library, 2306 42nd SW (behind the Metropolitan Market)

Related district documents are linked from this page on her website.

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West Seattle Friday: From Admiralty House to prefab house; Band Jam; more

July 26, 2013 9:29 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Josh for the photo of the line outside the Admiralty House Antiques liquidation sale, one of today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and elsewhere):

SALE STARTS: As noted again yesterday in our story about its now-retired owner Fred Dau, the Admiralty House Antiques liquidation sale is on, until 4 pm today, 9 am-4 pm each of the next two days. Online previews are here. (2141 California SW)

‘LOVE PARKS’ DAY: Big work party at Lincoln Park, 10 am-2 pm. Pre-registration was requested but we suspect they won’t mind if you just show up. Here’s our preview.

HOUSE INSTALLATION: Maybe you’ve seen the trucks in the Admiral area this morning:

Thanks to Dave and Jane for sharing the photo. We just learned about this last night (thanks to a neighbor who visited our table at the first Hiawatha concert) – the North Seattle company Greenfab is installing a three-story pre-built home near 50th and Waite, where some side streets will be closed as a result, and that’s what’s been trucked in.

MARIJUANA POLICIES: The City Council committee briefing we mentioned earlier this week is at 2 pm today. If you can’t be there, Seattle Channel (cable or online) will be live as usual.

BAND JAM: Big show tonight with at least five marching bands at Southwest Athletic Complex, getting ready for tomorrow night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade. Here’s our most recent preview from early today. Free, but bring money for treats and merchandise that’ll support ACB! (2801 SW Thistle)

SHAKESPEARE AT CAMP LONG: Greenstage presents “King Lear” outdoors at Camp Long, 7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)

CHESS AT ARTSWEST: Second and final weekend for the ArtsWest Summer Apprenticeship Program’s presentation of the musical “Chess,” onstage at 7:30 tonight. (4711 California SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates, notes

July 26, 2013 6:01 am

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| Announcements

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:01 AM: We’re starting this report off the main page because of the motorcycle crash we’ve been covering since the 3 am hour; our ongoing coverage is here. Traffic/transit effects because of the investigation:
*California is closed from Genesee south to Alaska
*Oregon is closed between 42nd and 44th
*Four bus routes are detouring around that area – 22, 50, 55, 128

8:21 AM UPDATE: Metro says the area has reopened.

BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: Meantime, we’re going into a busy 3-day weekend of traffic/transit effects around the area – here’s the full roundup from SDOT, including the northbound Highway 99 closure for the Torchlight Run tomorrow night. And here’s the full bus alert related to that:

Riders should plan ahead and prepare for rerouted bus service and potential delays on Saturday, July 27, from about 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., as Metro Transit shifts 35 bus routes in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle and Alaskan Way Viaduct areas for the Seafair Torchlight fun runs and parade. Other transit and traffic delays can be expected Saturday as a major event at Key Arena lets out, the Capitol Hill Block Party rocks on and the Mariners are in town.

Ride transit to Torchlight

While most buses that operate on surface streets in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted, riding transit is still the best way to get to these events, as traffic will be congested and parking downtown will be limited. Rerouted buses go to within one or two blocks of the parade route.

Friday-Sunday: Pine Street weekend bus service revisions

Part of the impacts start Friday evening, July 26, when Pine Street bus service is rerouted until midday Sunday due to the grandstand placement at Fourth Avenue.

Saturday evening bus service revisions
While the parade begins at 7:30 p.m., transit service changes begin earlier. From about 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, until the end of the parade, the entire length of Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at Fourth Avenue. Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a bus’s routing.

Buses with reroutes include RapidRide C and D lines, Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 28, 33, 36, 40, 43, 47, 49, 66, 70, 83, 84, 99, 120, 125, 131, 132, and Sound Transit routes 522, 545 and 554. Refer to the posted information for each route to see what stops might be missed.

During the Seafair Torchlight Run events, starting prior to the parade at about 5:30 p.m., the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about one hour until the runners clear that area. Northbound Viaduct buses will operate via I-5 during this time. The southbound Viaduct is not affected and will remain open.

Starting at 6 p.m., while the Seattle Center area is affected by parade activities, Metro will operate a Route 4 shuttle about every 20 minutes to and from Nob Hill Avenue. At Seattle Center board the Route 4 shuttle northbound on First Avenue North, just south of Republican Street. It will serve all regularly posted bus stops along its route.

Also starting at 6 p.m. – and until traffic and crowds clear afterward – Metro bus routes 120, 124, 125, 131 and 132 will serve a temporary bus stop southbound on Third Avenue between Pike and Union streets, instead of their usual stop between Pine and Pike streets. South of Union Street they will serve their regularly posted stops along Third Avenue.

Most transit service will return to its regular routing and stops at 10:30 p.m., except Pine Street service will remain rerouted until about midday Sunday when the parade grandstand is removed.

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Update: Motorcycle rider killed in West Seattle Junction crash

July 26, 2013 3:40 am

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| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(SCROLL DOWN for newest information)

3:40 AM: We are at California and Oregon, where a motorcycle rider is dead at the scene of a crash that happened just after 3 am. Police at the scene are not able to say much yet, but a Jeep Liberty also was involved in the crash; its driver was not seriously hurt. The intersection is taped off and likely to be closed for hours.

4:10 AM UPDATE: The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad, which investigates crashes with deadly and/or life-threatening injuries, is here. They’re expanding the closure of California northward to Genesee; Oregon is closed between 42nd and 44th. The motorcycle, and victim, are on the west side of the street just north of California, and the collision took out a big planter. SPD describes the victim as a man in his 60s. The SUV driver, also male, had a dog in the vehicle, and someone has come to pick it up. TV stations are here too and gearing up to report on this during morning newscasts.

5:02 AM UPDATE: Metro says Routes 22, 50, 55, 128 are being rerouted around the crash scene until it’s cleared.

6:16 AM UPDATE: We’re checking back at the scene.

Investigators think they will be there a few more hours, so please note that if you go through that area in the morning, you will need to detour.

8:05 AM UPDATE: Open again, per Metro alert that buses have returned to their regular routes.

9:48 AM UPDATE: SPD has just posted this update:

Just shortly after 3:00 a.m.,a patrol officer was stopped facing southbound on California Av Sw at Sw Alaska St. The officer noticed a red Jeep Liberty turn left from SW Alaska onto northbound California Av Sw. Moments later, the officer heard a loud crash behind him; he made a u-turn and came upon that same Jeep Liberty involved in a collision with a motorcycle at the intersection of California Av SW and SW Oregon St. It appears the Harley Davidson motorcycle was travelling west on Sw Oregon St and was struck in the intersection by the northbound Jeep Liberty.

On scene patrol officers initiated CPR on the 62-year-old male motorcycle operator; Seattle Fire resumed life saving efforts when they arrived, the male was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene shortly thereafter. The King County Medical Examiner responded and took custody of the male.

As is routine, a DUI unit responded and evaluated the driver of the Jeep Liberty; no signs of impairment were detected.
The investigation continues.

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