West Seattle weekend scene: Early solstice-sunset watch with Alice Enevoldsen
(WSB photos)
Though the summer solstice isn’t until Thursday, Solstice Park still provided a sunset show when NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen held her quarterly gathering a few days early.
As Alice explained on Saturday night, the sunset time only varies a few seconds from day to day this time of year, so the special path at the top of the park still lined up with the setting sun. Scott Scowcroft condensed that part of the viewing into this short video:
As shown here last night, though, the most dramatic feature of last night’s sunset was the cloud configuration just afterward:
Summer officially arrives at 3:07 am Thursday (June 21st). Alice had to bump up her quarterly viewing because of a scheduling conflict this time, but watch for word of her next sunset event greeting the arrival of fall!
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Chrysler 300; car prowls
Two Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN CAR: A reward is offered:
I know it’s a long shot but please keep your eyes out- My husband’s car was stolen last night from our street in West Seattle (SW 40th Ave and SW Oregon). It’s a black Chrysler 300 with Iowa plates 599 WWI. Please contact 515-402-9823 with information.
And if you see it, call 911 first.
CAR PROWLS: From Sharon:
> Several cars on 34th Avenue SW, between Findley and Juneau, were broken into sometime between 6pm and midnight (Friday, 6/15). Tools and glove box contents were stolen. Be on the alert for car prowlers in the area. Police report has been filed.
READER REPORT: Close call in Fauntleroy Park
The photo and report are from Mara:
Today my husband and I went into Fauntleroy Park and were enjoying our packed lunch along one of the trails and sat on one of the park-made platforms. There is a breeze going thru the trees and didn’t seem like much wind really. Then we heard cracking start, and lo and behold, a tree top was heading our way! We jumped up and it didn’t get near us thankfully. But the entire top of a tree came down! Be careful – the trees are dry and we saw bigger branches on the trails as we headed back that were not there beforehand.
It indeed doesn’t take a windstorm to bring down a tree limb – hot, dry weather (today got into the upper 80s) can do it too, according to a variety of references we found like this one.
UPDATE: Power outage on west Charlestown Hill
1:28 PM: Thanks for the tip – City Light says more than 80 homes lost power at midmorning on west Charlestown Hill. “Equipment failure” is listed as the cause, and the restoration estimate is 4:18 pm – could be sooner, could be later.
3:10 PM: A few homes have their power back – City Light’s map has downsized the outage to 69, though it’s also changed the cause to “investigating.”
5:48 PM: Outage over since last we checked, per SCL map.
The ‘prank’ that wasn’t so funny: Best of Hands Barrelhouse asking for help after theft left iconic cow damaged
(WSB photo, May)
One month ago, we reassured you that the future Best of Hands Barrelhouse would be keeping the iconic cow atop its building at 35th and Webster, while warning that it might disappear for a while for some sprucing-up. Part of its absence was unplanned, the Best of Hands crew says – it was briefly cownapped last week and taken to Chief Sealth International High School as what they say was a “senior prank.” They got it back but not without complications, according to this open letter they sent us today:
While we appreciate a good senior prank as well as the next person, I’m reaching out to the community here because in the process of stealing the cow, the kids broke one of the legs. Those who were involved with the prank also scaled our brand new electrical install in order to get on the roof (we now need to inspect this for any damage they may have caused). As many in this community know, we have spent over a year and tens of thousands of dollars bringing the iconic building up to code so that it can house a new endeavor. The actions of these individuals is highly disappointing, as it shows a complete disrespect for personal property, private property, and the West Seattle community at large. To add insult to injury, we had just finished cleaning and re-painting the cow the Monday before she was stolen. We will now have to take hours out of our busy schedules to do so again.
We know people have information about who is responsible for the prank, and we are asking them to step forward so we can hold the pranksters to account for their actions. If nobody comes forward, we will be getting the police involved. As for what the consequences should be for damaging our property and our landlord’s property (Clearview Eye & Laser), we have discussed compensation for the broken leg (and anything else that may have been damaged) and community service. We understand that these students will be graduating on Thursday, and would like to have a resolution before then. If college-bound, I don’t think dodging this responsibility will look good to the schools these individuals have applied to/been accepted to, as in this day and age, many colleges will revoke acceptance based on poor 4th quarter performance and extenuating circumstances.
We thank you for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Best of Hands Barrelhouse
info@bestofhandsbarrelhouse.com
YOUTH SPORTS: Registration time for SWAC football, cheer
As families continue planning the summer, the SWAC Cougars youth football and cheer program has opened registration. Gary shared the announcement:
The Southwest Athletic Club (SWAC) is a West Seattle-based non-profit organization with the purpose of teaching youth teamwork, discipline, and self-esteem through participation in youth football and cheer activities. We provide a safe structured and positive environment that stresses dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship, which teaches as much about life as it does football and cheer.
2018 ONLINE REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ALL
$150 for Football – we provide helmets, shoulder pads, and uniforms
$150 for Cheer – we provide uniforms and pom poms
Starts: July 16th 2018
Monday thru Friday 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Location: Southwest Athletic Complex (across from Chief Sealth International High School)
The program serves ages 5-14. You can register online at www.swaccougars.org.
Highlights for your West Seattle Sunday
(Photo by Paul Nicholson. “Bessie on a Barge” is a Washington Dairy Farmers promotion making the seagoing rounds)
Happy Father’s Day! Here are today’s highlights, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
EARLY WORLD CUP VIEWING: Want to watch the Mexico/Germany World Cup match this morning with fellow fans? Prost! (3207 California SW) is opening at 7:30 am, The Westy (7908 35th SW) is opening at 8 am, and West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open too. Anybody else? Text us so we can add – 206-293-6302.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, see what’s fresh this week! And come say hi to opening-soon Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor), which will have a booth this week. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: 11 am-5 pm, vendors, kids’ activities, and more at the shopping center’s annual free family festival. (2600 SW Barton)
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: One more day of low-low tide, -2.6 feet this time at 2:20 pm, with Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists out noon-3:30 pm at Constellation Park (63rd SW and Beach Drive SW) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Should be a beautiful afternoon to tour the historic lighthouse on Alki Point. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts free tours 1-4 pm (don’t arrive later than 3:45 pm). (3201 Alki SW)
JAMTIME: Bluegrass and old-time music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-3 pm. (5612 California SW)
SQUARE DANCE AND POTLUCK: 5 pm at South Park Hall, all ages, all dances taught, $5. (1253 S. Cloverdale)
PREVIEW THE WEEK … with a look at our complete calendar.
UPDATE: Early-morning police activity
12:28 AM: Two things:
*If you heard “gunshots or fireworks?” noise around midnight, according to police radio communication, it was fireworks, 24th/Holden vicinity.
*Thanks for all the tips about a search in northeast Arbor Heights. We know it involves both KCSO and SPD but we’re not sure yet what started it, so we’re heading over to see what we can find out.
1 AM UPDATE: We have found multiple officers on 28th and 30th south of Roxbury. Two said the search was related to a convenience-store robbery but wouldn’t/couldn’t say where. We have gone by several stores, no obvious signs of trouble. A K9 team was out on 28th when we went through. That’s all we have – no descriptions of who’s being sought.
2:50 AM: Unrelated incident, so far as we know, but it’s still early-morning police activity, so we’re adding … the sirens in south West Seattle this time are because police are now looking for a burglary suspect in South Delridge. We missed the exact address but one of the containment points is 18th/Henderson. The description of the suspect so far is black, male, 6’2″, 220 pounds, no shirt, no shoes, possibly bleeding from broken window glass.
3:29 AM: Still searching.
5:34 PM UPDATE: KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott tells us this started as a shoplifting attempt by three juveniles at the 28th/Roxbury 76 station minimart. They tried to steal some candy; “When they were stopped by the clerk, one of them produced a handgun and threatened to shoot the clerk.” The search never did turn them up.
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