West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(WSB photo, Summer Fest Eve 2014)
It’s been three years since The Bubbleman whirled and swirled his show in the heart of The Junction on West Seattle Summer Fest Eve. But this year, Junction Association executive director Lora Swift tells us, he’ll be back. Summer Fest Eve is Thursday, July 13th, when the streets shut down for festival setup, and many local businesses start pre-festival fun, so this will be part of it – it’s West Seattle Art Walk night, too, and with the recent additions to Art Walk, you’ll find food and drink specials at many venues as well as art. Lora says Bubbleman will be there 7-8 pm on Summer Fest Eve, exact location TBA (the festival zone is on California between Edmunds and north of Oregon, and Alaska between 44th and 42nd) – and stand by for news of other SF Eve entertainment, too.
(Garlic tops @ Westcrest Park P-Patch – photographed by Ben Harris)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more of what’s going on today/tonight/beyond):
AVALON SUBSTATION @ LANDMARKS BOARD: As announced in May, the city Landmarks Board will consider the former Avalon Substation building at its City Hall meeting today, 3:30 pm. The review is part of the process through which Seattle City Light is seeking to demolish the building as part of a site cleanup. Public comment welcome. (600 4th Avenue)
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: From Kathy Powers:
The WSLL 10/11 year old All Star team has made it to the District 7 championship game!
Come cheer them on (tonight) at Pacwest in SeaTac. Game time is 6 pm. Wear your red to support the team. See you there!
(14653 16th Ave S, SeaTac)
DANCE! 6-8 pm, monthly evening Dance Time with Lauren Petrie at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Details here. (4217 SW Oregon)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: As previewed on Tuesday, the SWDC **does** have a July meeting, and all are welcome. Topics include the Port, paving, and noise. 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building/Senior Center. (4217 SW Oregon)
JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter performing at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
PISTOL SISTERS AND MANNEQUIN BBQ: Performing at 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Plus … our daily aquatics check:
WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK: Open today – Lincoln Park wading pool, until 8 pm; Highland Park spraypark, until 8 pm; Hiawatha wading pool, noon-6:30 pm; EC Hughes wading pool, noon-7 pm. (Addresses are here)
And an advance alert:
COLMAN POOL CLOSURES … While the outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park is open **today** as regularly scheduled, it will be closed to the public the next three days for swim meets, July 6-8 (also July 14-15).
FIRST REPORT, 9:17 AM: Sadly, we’re sure this is only one of many parks left in this condition after another 4th of July night full of illegal fireworks. But James is the first to send photos and a report:
I was going for my usual morning walk and I could not believe the vast amount of garbage that people left/disregarded. Lincoln Park trash cans had bags of trash and styrofoam coolers stacked next to them, but Solstice Park was beyond the pale. It looks like a bomb went off here.
I don’t know if you are collecting readers’ stories about partygoers treating West Seattle like a trash dump, but it’s truly shameful that other people would do this to a community.
Anyone/anyplace else? editor@westseattleblog.com
SECOND REPORT, 9:57 AM: From Jason in Highland Park, a report on Westcrest Park:
Incredibly annoying and sad how people leave the parks after a day of celebration.
We know there are also bighearted neighbors who go out every year and quietly clean up, and welcome photos of them too.
THIRD REPORT, 12:16 PM: From Jenni:
Highland Park Playfield on the baseball field.
11:00 am, July 5th
We’ve also heard from a couple people who didn’t have photos – including one mentioning debris at Sanislo Elementary School.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! Mostly quiet on the routes through and from West Seattle – no incidents reported so far this morning.
Thanks to Chi Krneta for the fireworks photos, looking north from West Seattle toward Lake Union.
If you missed the fireworks – or just can’t get enough – another local show is just two weeks away, White Center Jubilee Days fireworks at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd) on Wednesday, July 19th.
This holiday celebrating our nation’s history is always a day of celebration for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Today, the SWSHS’s annual Independence Day picnic looked ahead and looked back. The former was courtesy of newly hired executive director Jeff McCord, announced last weekend as successor to Clay Eals. He talked about the transition as well as his intent to continue building on Eals’s work:
SWSHS also looked back by paying tribute to Merrilee Hagen (right), who inspired the acquisition of what became its headquarters, the Log House Museum, 20 years ago. She died last spring at 73. McCord read a speech that Hagen had given a few years before the acquisition, in which she had talked about witnessing the “bulldozing” of so many heritage structures she recalled from growing up in the area, and suggesting something needed to be saved before they all were gone.
Also at today’s picnic, music courtesy of the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Brass Sextet:
SWSHS continues to present a busy slate of events year-round – next up, 5-7 pm Friday (July 7th) at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village, see and hear this month’s Words, Writers, West Seattle authors Jeff and Sonja Anderson, with “Mount Rainier’s Historic Inns and Lodges.”
What a parade! It took almost 15 minutes – as you can see in our clips above and below – for all the participants in this morning’s 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade just to walk, roll, and ride from the starting line in North Admiral:
This was the second year that Emily Williams of FIT4MOM West Seattle coordinated the parade. With family and friends at her side, she provided an exuberant welcome:
She then introduced City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, whose two-minute Independence Day speech included a tribute to those celebrating new U.S. citizenship today:
And then – just before the parade began – Kaylen Stancik sang a stirring version of the National Anthem:
Then, after the countdown, West Seattle’s only 4th of July parade hit the road. We featured a few photos earlier, and have more after the jump:
Reader report:
Our car, 2014 Blue Volvo xc90, plates APC 9327, was stolen sometime last night 7-3 from the 4000 block of 59th Ave SW. We have filed a police report.
If you see it, police ask that you call 911.
2:05 PM A Seattle Fire automobile-rescue response is on the way to what is reported to be an on-its-side vehicle at 42nd/Bradford.
2:24 PM: Photo added. Police say the pickup went sideways after colliding with another vehicle. No serious injuries.
Many community groups skip midsummer meetings. Not the Southwest District Council, which invites you to its July meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building:
6:30 P.M. Welcome and Introductions
• Review and approval of previous meetings minutes and summary
• Brief Announcements
• Amendments and overview of the Meeting Agenda6:40 P.M. Port of Seattle – current activities
• Mick Shultz7:10 P.M. West Seattle Noise Survey Results
• Jesse Robbins7:30 P.M. SW Avalon Paving Project
• Dan Andersen, SDOT7:45 P.M. Southwest District Council Business
• CNC Update
• Announcements
• Other business 8:00 P.M. Adjourn Meeting
The Sisson Building is at 4217 SW Oregon.
Seems as if every kid in West Seattle is in today’s 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade!
The hundreds and hundreds of paraders have finished leaving the start line at 44th and Sunset, headed to Hamilton Viewpoint Park (crossing California at Atlantic – so avoid that area for a while longer) for old-fashioned field games, starting soon. SFD and SPD are here too:
We’ll have a second report later with video and more photos.
(Added: Sawyer, 10, and Ella, 7, decorated their house on 41st SW! Photo by Ben Wolters)
As usual, your “what’s happening in West Seattle on Independence Day” information is ALL in one place – our one-page guide, here.
The key events:
(Bald eagle, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
*Help put up/take down flags in The Junction (9 am and 5 pm, NE corner of California/Alaska)
*Participate in or watch the 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade (10 am, 44th/Sunset)
*Meet the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s new executive director Jeff McCord at the SWSHS picnic (noon-3 pm, 61st/Stevens)
*Personal fireworks are illegal but you can see organized shows to the north (Lake Union) and south (3 Tree Point), both after 10 pm
Again, these are just part of what’s in our guide, which includes today’s transit changes, aquatics info, fireworks-viewing suggestions, businesses’ open/closed/changes info, and more. We’ll be out covering holiday happenings as the day/night unfold, so check back here for updates, and have a great 4th!
P.S. We hope you don’t need to use it, but if you lose or find a pet (4th fireworks tend to make this a busier day/night for that), remember that WSB has the only all-West Seattle lost/found pets page. If you need to make a report, send info (including a contact #, and photo if available – detailed description if not) to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you.
Just a week and a half until West Seattle Summer Fest 2017 – the peninsula’s biggest party of the year, in the heart of The Junction. While much of the lineup is locked in – like the main-stage music schedule – some of the fun takes shape during the festival, like the street entertainment, aka busking. Here’s the invitation, from the West Seattle Junction Association:
Summer Fest Dates and Times:
Thursday, July 13: 6 pm – 9 pm (Summer Fest Eve/Art Walk night)
Friday, July 14: 11 am – 6 pm
Saturday, July 15: 11 am – 6 pm
Sunday, July 16: 10 am – 5 pmThe organizers at Summer Fest invite you to join one of Seattle’s most vibrant street parties of the year. Buskers of many types perform at Summer Fest each year. We welcome performances with instruments and tools ranging from acoustic instruments, performance art, odd instruments, puppets, bubblesm to magicians. Buskers enrich the already busy streets at the festival by adding to the overall festive feeling.
There are two locations at Summer Fest where performers can entertain the crowds for 90 minutes at a time. Due to the crowds, amplified music is not permitted. All Summer Fest performers are required to wear a performer’s name tag and log into the official busker book. You may place a tip jar on the street. To perform at Summer Fest, visit the information-booth manager who is located at the info booth. You’ll find the info booth at the cross section of the “Walk All Ways” at California Ave and SW Alaska St.
Busker spots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Any busker who plays outside of the designated spots or performs outside of the rules will be removed by festival staff.
For questions, please email the festival at info [at] wsjunction [dot] com
9:08 PM MONDAY: Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photos (and also thanks to the person who texted a view that we tweeted earlier) – this was seen over Alki around 7 pm.
And so we’re wondering, did Sheila say yes?
P.S. Last airborne Alki proposal we featured was five years ago.
TUESDAY MORNING: See the comment section for Sheila’s answer (and more)!
7:36 PM: Lots of room to stretch out on the grass at Delridge Community Center park as the first of four free Monday night “Music Under the Stars” events gets under way. Until about 8 pm, an ensemble (tonight, the Lenora Duo) is performing live; then the sound system will switch to a live broadcast from the Seattle Chamber Music Society‘s Summer Festival concert at Benaroya Hall. This is the second year the series has included Delridge events! If you can’t make it tonight, the next three dates are July 10th, 17th, and 24th. We’ll add more to this story later when our crew gets back from the park.
7:59 PM: Our crew is back and we’re uploading video fro the duo’s performance. (Added – Here’s the video, featuring Alexander Hawker on violin and Roberta Rominger on cello:)
We expect to get information later this week on who’s performing the rest of the month, and we’ll add that to our calendar listings. Meantime, the program for the Benaroya broadcast that’s about to begin includes a Mozart quartet, and works by Stravinsky and Mendelssohn.
5:30 PM: If you have yet to head this way out of downtown or points north,, don’t take southbound I-5. A crash has closed the two right lanes just before the West Seattle Bridge (including the offramp to the bridge), and according to the State Patrol, it’s a deadly crash involving a motorcycle, so the closures will likely continue for quite some time. No other details yet.
5:51 PM: WSDOT tweets that the ramp has reopened. Still a big backup, though.
6:51 PM: Commenter says the ramp is NOT open. Meantime, the State Patrol says the investigation is continuing:
Troopers are still investigating a fatal collision SB 5 @ WSF. Slow down and be patient. -Trp Yarbrough pic.twitter.com/DmuRPG74EU
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) July 4, 2017
7:18 PM: WSDOT says all lanes are open. If there is any further information about the crash later from the WSP, we’ll add it here.
10:45 PM: WSP says the motorcycle rider, a 45-year-old Bellevue man, was “traveling at a high rate and in and out of traffic” and hit a car driven by a 47-year-old Seattle woman. He died at the scene. She was not hurt.
(WSB photo from flag placement on Memorial Day 2017 in The Junction)
Just out of the WSB inbox:
American Legion Post 160 of West Seattle will be putting up United States Flags in the Alaska Junction in celebration of July 4th.
Community members of all ages are welcome to help put up (9:00 AM) and take down the flags (5:00 PM).
Community members who would like to participate can meet at the northeast corner of California & Alaska 5 minutes prior to the start times.
That’s the corner by the city-landmark Campbell Building.
Several people have asked about this, and we found confirmation on the Seattle Public Utilities website: Yes, if you are a Tuesday customer, there WILL BE regular solid-waste pickup tomorrow. The South Transfer Station is open, too. (Not its counterpart in the north, though – too close to the all-day-and-night Gas Works Park event.) We’ve added this info to our West Seattle 4th of July infopage.
(WSB photo from 2015 parade)
One more reminder – tomorrow brings the 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, starting from 44th and Sunset (map) at 10 am Tuesday. All kids and their families are invited to participate – just show up! As announced by coordinator Emily Williams of FIT4MOM West Seattle, you’ll hear the national anthem from Kaylen Stancik and opening remarks from City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. After the parade winds across a few blocks of North Admiral and crosses California SW, it’s on to Hamilton Viewpoint Park for classic games. (Diaper drive dropoff for WestSide Baby, too!)
The parade is free to participants and spectators but NOT free to coordinators – as participation grows, permit costs and other expenses do too, so if you can spare $ to help this unique tradition continue, please stop by the crowdfunding page. See you at the parade!
No summer slowdown for the Southwest Design Review Board. At its three upcoming meetings, which span the next month, it will consider four projects totaling 460 units as well as some commercial space:
THIS THURSDAY – 3078 SW AVALON WAY, 9049 20TH SW: The July 6th doubleheader for the board starts at 6:30 pm with a site that’s been in play off and on for years, 3078 SW Avalon Way (map; rendering above). As the design packet for this meeting explains, an appeal decision in 2014 sent this back to the board. It’s currently described as “a 7-story structure … 102 residential units (with offstreet) parking for 59 vehicles.” … Thursday night’s second review, at 8 pm, is the board’s first look at 9049 20th SW (map), described as:
… a 2-story addition to existing structure for 27 apartment units (22 apartments and 5 small efficiency dwelling units). Two stories to be demolished. Existing office space and storage to remain.
Parking would be provided in the garage at neighboring BlueStone Apartments. This is an Early Design Guidance meeting, so it’s focused on “massing” (height, shape, placement on the site), as reflected in the design packet.
JULY 20 – 4722 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: As we first reported in May, the entire July 20th time slot (6:30 pm-9:30 pm) will be devoted to the new proposal for 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW (map), which previously had been under consideration as a standalone CVS drugstore until that was quietly scrapped last year. Now, under different developers, this is the two-building plan:
… a 7-story building containing 233 residential units, 17 live-work units, and 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Parking to be provided for 250 vehicles within the structure. Existing structure to be demolished. (And) a four-story building containing one live-work unit and 49 residential units.
The design packet isn’t available yet.
AUGUST 3 – 8854 DELRIDGE WAY SW: Last August, we told you about an early-stage mixed-use proposal for this burned-out ex-auto-shop site (map). Its first Design Review Board appearance is now set for 6:30 pm August 3rd. It’s now described as “a four-story apartment building containing 31 units above retail space. Parking for 15 vehicles to be provided.”
All of the above meetings will be upstairs at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon, and all include opportunities for public comment.
(Black-capped chickadee, photographed in Gatewood by Jeremiah Holt)
On the day before Independence Day, here’s what’s going on:
WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK: Open today are – Highland Park spraypark, 11 am-8 pm; Lincoln Park wading pool, 11 am-8 pm; Delridge wading pool, 12 pm-6:30 pm. (Addresses are here)
GAME-BUILDING SERIES: For ages 10-14 – create a mobile game! 2 pm at High Point Library. Preregistration required – check with the library to see if there’s still room. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING: 6-8 pm, Monday night is Ladies’ Night at Alki Kayak Tours. Details here. (1660 Harbor SW)
FREE CONCERT IN THE PARK: “Music Under the Stars” includes a chamber ensemble performing live at Delridge Community Center park at 7:30 pm followed by a live audio broadcast from Benaroya Hall at 8 pm, as previewed here. (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee)
Looking for West Seattle 4th of July info? Find it here!
(Both “high bridge” cameras are down, according to SDOT’s website)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:33 AM: On to the rest of the commute after the downgraded offshore fire report. No incidents in/from West Seattle as we head into the rest of the pre-holiday commute. If you want a preview of transit changes for tomorrow, see our 4th of July page.
(Added: Photo by Carolyn Newman – firefighters aboard fireboat Leschi, off Seacrest)
7:16 AM: Seattle Fire was sending a big land-and-sea response to a possible tugboat fire off Seacrest but has just canceled the land response – the fire is believed to be out – a fireboat will continue heading that way.
7:23 AM: Per scanner, the tugboat, identified as the Westrac, is actually on the Duwamish River, “near Ash Grove Cement.” (MarineTraffic.com verifies that as well.)
10:24 AM: Once this was all sorted out, it was a shore fire handled BY the tugboat, as explained in comments. (We are also following up with SFD.)
10:41 AM: SFD adds, “The fire boat remained on scene to confirm the location and situation. They found evidence of a small rubbish fire that had occurred on a metal barge.”
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