West Seattle, Washington
24 Saturday
11:56 PM: Another fire call – four units are headed for what’s initially listed as a “dumpster fire with exposure” (meaning possible risk to a building nearby) in the 1800 block of SW Roxbury, city side. We’re monitoring.
12:02 AM: The call’s been scaled down.
(Added: Photo by Christopher Zeigler)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:54 PM: SFD is sending a full ‘fire in building’ response to the 4800 block of Delridge Way. More to come.
10:12 PM: Info via scanner was impossible to get, so we’re finally at the scene to see what’s going on. Delridge is blocked off at Hudson.
10:22 PM: The fire was at a house across from Pearls coffee/tea shop. It was caused by a propane BBQ, SFD tells us, NOT fireworks related.
A woman and child got out safely. No injuries.
11:03 PM: Back at HQ and adding photos. The fire damage was largely confined to the front of the house. We won’t be able to go back and check on the road but should be open again, since SFD has closed this call completely, meaning no engines left on scene.
(REPORT #1, published during the parade, is here)
With the anthem by Aine …
And the countdown featuring new parade coordinator Emily Williams (with son Nash) alongside King County Executive Dow Constantine (with toddler daughter Sabrina) and Mayor Ed Murray …
.. after the elected officials’ amazingly abbreviated speeches:
Shortest speech by an elected official ever! @MayorEdMurray before Admiral parade: pic.twitter.com/JbJBlyOeG1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 4, 2016
… this morning’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade was on, with the familiar blue pickup and West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court in the lead:
Everybody left from 44th/Sunset as usual, just south of the mini-stage used for the pre-parade speeches and song, and the crowd stretched for blocks:
This year we didn’t get the entire parade on video … but here’s a spirited stretch toward the California crossing:
So much creativity went into the decorations and costumes:
Plenty of variety in the parade participants’ modes of transportation:
Also on two wheels – these members of the Seattle Police parade-escort contingent:
Yet more bicycling paraders in this added bit of video:
Once the parade arrived at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, it was sack-race time:
Also concession time – while the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s popsicles and bottles of water were mostly sold from a booth, they had roamers too, including ANA past president David Whiting:
And community businesses who sponsored the parade had booths for families to visit – we caught up with three WSB sponsors, A Kids’ Place Too Dentistry:
Mode Music Studios (which offered an art activity at the post-parade festival):
And Second Gear Sports (where you can buy and consign gently used gear):
Also seen at the park – shoutout to the Hinsley Family:
Also seen at the parade: an elected official who didn’t take the stage – King County Council Chair and congressional candidate Joe McDermott:
That’s Betsy Hoffmeister with him. After the parade, he was headed to the new-citizen ceremony downtown – another patriotic 4th of July tradition.
Last but not least, Hamilton Viewpoint sightings that reminded us of what’s yet to come this summer:
That’s West Seattle-based Seafair Clown “Officer Lumpy,” who, with his fellow clowns, has many more parades ahead, including the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 23rd, where you’ll also see this bus that was on display at the park too:
WestSide Baby’s trademark diaper-drive bus was there to collect donations and to remind you this is their big month – culminating in Stuff the Bus day at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction on July 24th. In the meantime – stand by for even more West Seattle summer fun!
Hate to have to remind you, but if you’re driving somewhere to watch fireworks tonight … don’t leave anything in your car. Not even while it’s just parked in front of your house. If you still haven’t gotten that message, we have two more car prowl reports:
FROM FAUNTLEROY: “Seattle Sparkle” posted this in the WSB Forums – a break-in last night in the 9100 block of 45th SW [map], and “they took a quilt gifted to us by a friend and our granddaughter’s favorite Hello Kitty sequin jacket. If you see either of these things tossed please contact me.- the tag on the blanket said Sew Sew Ginger and my granddaughter’s jacket was a 3T. They also took prescription glasses, a Peek 2-4 year green hoodie, a butterfly umbrella, a dry cleaning receipt, and a Boots London canvas bag (presumably to carry everything in). Keep your belongings out of your car and stay safe!”
FROM EAST ADMIRAL: Early Sunday, writes a texter from the 3700 block of Belvidere [map], “there were numerous cars and people enjoying the holiday and the beautiful outside weather. Amongst the noise, around 1 am, we heard a car door opening. Unbeknownst to us, it was our car door and someone was going through our things. Later that morning on our way out, we saw all the items typically in the middle console, haphazardly thrown throughout the car. We accidentally left our car door open, and a very opportunistic criminal went through our car. Please let everyone know to be careful.” The “only thing of value” they’re missing is a checkbook.
WSB crime coverage is archived here. We also keep a link list under the aggregated local Tweets by Beat on our Crime Watch page.
Just under three weeks before you see the West Seattle Hi-Yu float in the WS Grand Parade on July 23rd, here’s a sneak peek, as Seattle’s last traveling neighborhood float carried Hi-Yu royalty in this afternoon’s Burien 4th of July Parade. Thanks to Jim Edwards (longtime co-coordinator of the West Seattle parade and director of the WS Big Band) for the photo!
Minus the float, Hi-Yu also participated in this morning’s Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade (here’s our brief first report published during the parade; we’re putting together video and many more photos right now for report #2 later this evening), and you’ll see them at West Seattle Summer Fest next weekend, including the crowning of new Senior Court Queen Haley Beebe on the main stage at 11:30 am Saturday (July 9th).
After many previews, today was finally the day to party:
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Colman Pool on the shore at Lincoln Park is now three-quarters of a century old. Opening day was July 4th, 1941. Among those who gathered to celebrate the milestone, members of the Sears family, with a third-generation pool operator now on board:
The story is told in detail by Judy Pickens in the newest Fauntleroy Community Association newsletter: Mark Sears is retiring from 43 years at Colman Pool, most of them in the operator/grounds caretaker role previously held by his dad Norm Sears. And his successor is daughter Maya Sears:
She has already been with Seattle Parks for a decade, including as the manager of its wading-pool system (which includes a pool just a short stroll uphill from Colman). This morning’s party celebrated the pool’s present and future, as well as its past, in many ways. More of its history was presented by speakers including Jean Carroll, one of the first two people to swim in Colman Pool, practicing on July 3rd, 1941, to be part of the celebration the next day:
Last weekend, we featured Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals‘s video of her memories.
Also today, a diving demonstration:
A demonstration of “fancy diving” also was part of the 1941 opening celebration, according to a clipping in this KUOW story; another 1941 participant listed in the clipping was Gary Gaffner, that year’s “King Neptune” (and a descendant of a member of the Denny Party), who spoke today as well:
Back in the water, members of the lifeguard staff demonstrated the rescue skills they all have but hope never to have to use:
A lifelong aquatics professional who knows those skills well, Coy Jones, was today’s emcee:
Two “mermaids,” Essie and Cyanea, took a turn performing:
At noon, the party made way for the first swim session of the day, after former lifeguards and current and former pool staffers shared their memories open-microphone style.
There’s so much more to the history of Colman Pool – you can read a bit in Lori Hinton‘s West Seattle 101 essay, and more in HistoryLink.org‘s page about Kenneth Colman, who presented the pool to the city in memory of his father Laurence Colman. Colman Pool is only open part of the year, for obvious reasons – its preseason weekends start before Memorial Day, and by late June it’s operating 7 days a week, until Labor Day, which will be followed by one post-season weekend this year, according to the official brochure. If you’ve never been … don’t miss it.
12:57 PM: One surprise so far today: A GoodYear Blimp flyby:
Thanks to everybody who texted and sent photos! We were at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, covering post-West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade festivities, when someone texted that the blimp had flown over Burien and was headed this way; minutes later, we spotted it over Elliott Bay. While the GoodYear Blimp website includes a comprehensive schedule, it doesn’t mention a Seattle stop during its current Northwest visit – via Twitter, we see it was in Chehalis last night.
GoodYear actually has more than one blimp – this one is the semi-recently-moved-to-California Spirit of Innovation, 10 years old and due to be retired next year.
P.S. If you want to check on its whereabouts, use your favorite flight tracker and look for N4A. We’re seeing it near Whidbey Island right now.
ADDED 1:51 PM: One more photo – while reviewing our photographer’s images from the Colman Pool 75th-anniversary party, we noticed the blimp was overhead while members of the Sears family – longtime pool operators – were at centerstage:
(WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
(A separate story about the pool celebration is coming up.)
10:20 AM: The parade is on! Just started, heading west from 44th and Sunset. The route turns east on Atlantic, which is where SPD will stop traffic so the parade can cross to Hamilton Viewpoint Park.
10:51 AM: The parade has finished crossing California and is headed into the park for sack races.
11:25 AM: The races just started. And the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s concession sales:
Seattle Fire Engine 29, which was part of the parade, is here for tours:
More photos, and some video, later!
(West Seattle Corporate Center flag at Delridge/Andover, photographed by Shmelvin)
As usual, your “what’s happening in West Seattle on Independence Day” is all in one place – our one-page guide, here.
(Bald eagle, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
The slate starts with the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade in Admiral at 10 am (bring diapers for WestSide Baby!). That’s also when Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, until 1 pm, for today’s low-low tide:
(Octopus at Constellation Park, photographed by Vincent Della Pella)
You can also visit Colman Pool without getting in the water.
The 75th anniversary celebration starts at 10:15 am. (It’s open for swimming at noon as usual.) And it’s a bonus day for tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse:
Tours start at 1 pm. Again, these are just part of what’s in our guide, which includes today’s transit changes, fireworks-viewing suggestions, and more. We’ll be out covering the holiday happenings, so check back for updates, and have a great 4th!
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