West Seattle, Washington

11 Sunday

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month : 07/2023 303 results

WEST SEATTLE THURSDAY: 14 notes
July 6, 2023 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE THURSDAY: 14 notes
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Hazy early morning view, photographed by Ann Anderson)

Here’s what’s on the schedule for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: 11 am presentation at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

SPRAYPARK OPEN: Daily operations continue at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.

HIAWATHA WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-6:30 pm. (2700 California SW)

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO PUBLIC: Swim meet today, so no public sessions.

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.

LOW-LOW TIDE: -3.0 feet at 1:47 pm. Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists are out too.

THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Tacos El Guero will be visiting.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!

DESIGN REVIEW FOR 1116 ALKI: As previewed here, the Southwest Design Review Board meets online at 5 pm to review the proposed 60-unit building at 1116 Alki Avenue SW. Here’s the design packet; the links to attend – and info on commenting – are here.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.

HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: Second week for the return of this hit musical at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.

JOKES AT THE JUNCTION: 8 pm comedy at Great American Diner (4752 California SW) – ticketing and other info in our calendar listing.

There’s even more in our calendar!

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UPDATE: Streets reopen after 8-hour police/SWAT response following carjacking attempt on Puget Ridge
July 6, 2023 9:11 am
|      62 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos)

9:11 AM: Thanks for the tips. Police have closed 18th SW near the 7100 block [vicinity map] as they attempt to arrest someone who we are told is a suspect in a carjacking. The suspect is believed to be armed and at a particular residence. SWAT has been called in. Avoid the area.

9:47 AM: Going back through archived police-radio audio, the original incident was reported around 8:10 am as an attempted armed carjacking, nearby on 18th SW, with the would-be carjacker leaving the scene on foot.

10:25 AM: Not resolved yet. We’re continuing to monitor and will add updates when we have them.

10:54 AM: Just received video from an anonymous resident who says it shows the attempted carjacking – a grocery-delivery driver was dropping off the items when in the background, you see the person run up and get in the car. Though the video cuts off, the resident says the driver subsequently pulled the would-be carjacker out to keep him from stealing the car. (Video removed for now per request of the resident.)

11:10 AM: Police are closing off Dumar as well between 16th/Delridge.

12:43 PM: Still not resolved. Also of note, the road closures are rerouting Metro 128.

2:04 PM: Not resolved yet.

3:09 PM: Seventh hour.

4:14 PM: Eighth hour.

5:22 PM: They’ve declared the house “clear” – we’re going back over to verify. Meantime, what took all this time were the steps it took to get to that point. They had to get a view inside the house, which required breaking windows to get a drone inside. They also used various devices – from flashbangs to “pepper balls” and gas – with the aim of temporarily incapacitating anyone inside. The house has multiple levels, plus an attic/crawl space, so each of those levels took time to investigate. The SPD SWAT team was assisted by K-9s and by equipment from the King County Sheriff’s Office. Another time-consuming component is that a search warrant is required, so they have to get one drawn up and signed by a judge.

5:40 PM: Our crew has verified at the scene that no one was found in the house or its outbuildings. Streets in the area, including Dumar, have reopened.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday begins
July 6, 2023 6:02 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:49 AM: WSP reports the ramp from West Seattle Bridge to northbound I-5 is closed because of someone “throwing debris.” Also, there is a police response in Puget Ridge, on 18th SW – we’re on our way to find out more.

8:58 AM: Update from WSP, the debris suspect is in custody, and they’ll reopen the ramp once it’s cleaned up.

Earlier:

6:02 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Thursday, July 6th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Another hot day: Sunny, hazy, high in the upper 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:19 am; sunset will be at 9:09 pm.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, with trip cancellations and temporary route suspensions possible.

Water Taxi – The West Seattle WT is on its regular schedule. (Here are changes planned for the upcoming All-Star Week.)

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. See Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE LOW TIDE: Four sights from the shore
July 5, 2023 11:47 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Rosalie Miller for sharing four wildlife views from today’s low-low tide. Above, a Blood Star. Below, a Graceful Decorator Crab:

Next, a Lined Chiton:

And a Stiff-footed Sea Cucumber:

Rosalie says she saw them all on Alki today. Tomorrow (Thursday) you have one more chance at a low-low tide, out to -3.0 feet at about quarter till 2 pm; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be out again too.

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READER REPORT: One more ‘brush fire,’ for the record
July 5, 2023 10:11 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Ethan sent the photo and report:

There was a fire at Walt Hundley Playfield this evening, almost certainly caused by fireworks. Saw your coverage of the fire by the pond down the street and figured you should know about this one too.

So far, the Real-Time 911 log for today has, citywide, 22 “brush fire” notations, 6 “rubbish fire” notations, 5 “bark fire” notations, and 2 “dumpster fire” notations. Seattle residential fires believed to have been caused by people using fireworks include the one last night in Arbor Heights as well as one Sunday in the Olympic Hills neighborhood.

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See new design packet for 1116 Alki before Thursday’s review meeting
July 5, 2023 8:02 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Tomorrow (Thursday, July 6th) at 5 pm, the Southwest Design Review Board meets online for its second “early design guidance” look at a residential project planned for 1116 Alki Avenue SW, replacing six standalone houses. The meeting includes a public-comment period; you can preview the new design options by looking at the packet here. Remember that in the “early design” phase, the project team is supposed to offer three options for the “massing” of the building – its size and shape – so these renderings do not show what the building would eventually look like, with materials, colors, etc. The three new options vary slightly but the building is proposed at six stories and around 60 units, with offstreet parking totaling at least the number of spaces required by the Alki Parking Overlay (one and a half spaces per residential unit). The project team’s “preferred option” would remove two trees that were much-discussed at the previous review (WSB coverage here), replacing them with four trees that would anchor two “corner gardens.” If you’re interested in attending Thursday’s meeting and/or commenting, go here to see how.

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BIZNOTE: 2 additions at Admiral Theater
July 5, 2023 6:21 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips – Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) has added two new features:

MOMMY MATINEES: Fridays at 10 am, The Admiral has added special early, less-loud shows of selected movies from their current lineup, with babies and young children welcome. This is actually a comeback for a feature that the theater offered pre-pandemic – not just for mommies but for anybody caring for a very young child. UPDATE: Times vary. Here’s the list for this week (Friday, July 7):

Joy Ride (R)
Fri: 9:30 AM

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (PG-13)
Fri: 9:00 AM

Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (PG)
Fri: 9:20 AM

Asteroid City (PG-13)
Fri: 9:10 AM

R.CUPS: As mentioned on the marquee, The Admiral is now offering beverages in reusable r.Cups – one of the first theaters in the nation to do so: “r.Cups are collected, washed, sanitized, then used again & again & again. r.Cups can be used hundreds of times!”

P.S. If you’re considering a movie to get out of the heat, The Admiral is air-conditioned.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Crane-carrying ship with one more stop
July 5, 2023 5:28 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Mike Y. for the photo of the Zhen Hua 23 as it passed West Seattle, northbound, this afternoon. That’s the ship we showed you June 23rd as it passed, southbound, headed for Tacoma, carrying four new port cranes from ZPMC in China. Two were dropped off at the Washington United Terminal in Tacoma; the other two are now on their way to Los Angeles. We’ll see a similar sight this fall when two new cranes are brought to West Seattle’s Terminal 5 for its second modernized berth.

ADDED: One more photo from today, sent by Jerry Simmons:

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UPDATE: People setting off fireworks blamed for High Point fire that burned close to homes
July 5, 2023 3:25 pm
|      52 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

3:25 PM: Another brush-fire response – and this time it’s big enough that Seattle Fire has just upgraded it to “brush fire major.” It was described as at least 30 feet by 40 feet, in the 5900 block of High Point Drive. It’s near the pond, firefighters are telling dispatch.

3:30 PM: Added the photo above, from Erik O, who says this was sparked by “a large firework.”

3:34 PM: They’re getting a handle on it, so dismissing some of the response. Side note – we covered a similar fire in this spot, this time of year, eight years ago.

3:45 PM: If you’re in the area and noticing a helicopter, that’s just the helicopter that local TV stations share.

4:45 PM: The fire is extinguished but burned perilously close to homes, as photos shared by commenters show. (And the one added above, from Tori.) We’re there checking into the aftermath too.

4:58 PM: The charred slope is extensive – that’s the best we could do to show how extensive.

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UPDATE: Boat mishap on West Seattle low bridge, cleared after 3 1/2 hours
July 5, 2023 2:36 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT camera images except as otherwise credited)

2:36 PM: As the traffic-camera image above shows, the westbound low bridge is blocked right now by a truck that lost control of a boat it was towing/carrying and people who are trying to help remedy the situation.

2:39 PM: Police have arrived at the scene.

2:48 PM: Thanks to Otto for the photo taken around 2:10 pm, showing the boat fell off its trailer.

3:39 PM: Still not cleared, but traffic is getting around.

4:30 PM: Tow rigs have now arrived.

5:03 PM: Eastbound traffic is being held, the live video feed shows, while one rig attempts to lift the boat.

5:37 PM: The boat has been moved – and now the low bridge is opening for maritime traffic.

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WEST SEATTLE SUMMER: Here’s this year’s outdoor-movie plan
July 5, 2023 1:34 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUMMER: Here’s this year’s outdoor-movie plan
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(WSB photo, Camp Long, July 2022)

Several readers have asked recently about this year’s plan for summertime outdoor movies. The West Seattle Junction Association is presenting one movie event this summer, the newest Super Mario Brothers movie, Friday, August 18th, in the meadow at Camp Long (5200 35th SW), same location as last year’s movies. Start time will be “when it’s dark enough” (sunset on that date will be 8:16 pm). It’s free, and you’re encouraged to bring non-perishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank.

Other organizations are planning movies too: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene‘s Movies in the Park continue at Maarten Park next door (42nd/Juneau), with movies on the calendar for this Friday (July 7th) at 9 pm and August 4th at 8:40 pm. And as previously noted, Alki Beach Pride on Sunday, August 20th, also will include an outdoor movie, “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” at Alki Playfield (59th/Lander) around 8 pm.

Anybody else with outdoor-movie plans in West Seattle? Let us know so we can add to the list – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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CONGRATULATIONS! 30-year anniversary for Eva Thomas at Village Green West Seattle
July 5, 2023 11:59 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

The executive director of Village Green Senior Living (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle is celebrating a milestone. Here’s the announcement we received:

Cheers to 30 years! Eva Thomas has been working for Village Green West Seattle, formerly known as Daystar, for 30 years officially as of June 10th; she is pictured here with director of operations Kim Salas and owner Diane Powell. Eva shared her story with her team and mentioned she wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. Eva started as a housekeeper and eventually became the Maintenance Director. She has worked almost each position in the community. In 2021 she became the Executive Director, and our team wouldn’t want any other fearless leader. So again, cheers to 30 years!

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: The list for today/tonight
July 5, 2023 10:30 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mount Rainier view from West Seattle, photographed by Jamie Kinney of jamiekinneyphotos.com)

Quiet morning but most of the usual Wednesday activities are back today/tonight – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open 11 am-8 pm,. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

DELRIDGE WADING POOL: Noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COLMAN POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.

LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.8 feet at 12:59 pm; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out 11 am-3 pm at Constellation (63rd/Alki) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) Parks.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

TRIVIA x 6: Here’s where to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … at 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

‘HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH’ Tonight’s performance of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) is at 7:30 pm – check here for tickets.

KARAOKE AT BENBOW ROOM: 9 pm-2 am – info in our calendar listing. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

If you are planning an event – presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, or … – that could be featured on West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar, tell us about it! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Alki Beach Pride call for volunteers
July 5, 2023 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Alki Beach Pride call for volunteers
 |   How to help | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Many big West Seattle summer events are still to come – and many run on volunteer power. Among them, Alki Beach Pride, which is sending out this call:

Alki Beach Pride is on Sunday, August 20th and volunteers are needed for the day of. Short shifts are available throughout the day for a variety of tasks. Find out more at alkibeachpride.org – here’s where to sign up!

This year’s festival includes activities closing a section of Alki Avenue that afternoon/evening.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Wednesday
July 5, 2023 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Wednesday, July 5th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Sunny, high in the mid-80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:18 am; sunset will be at 9:09 pm.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, with trip cancellations and temporary route suspensions possible.

Water Taxi – The West Seattle WT is on its regular schedule. (Here are changes planned for the upcoming All-Star Week.)

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. See Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:

1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!

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FOURTH OF JULY 2023: Hectic night for emergency responders, including Arbor Heights fire
July 4, 2023 10:44 pm
|      118 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

10:44 PM: Tonight, for SFD, “brush fire” is the catch-all classification for many fireworks-caused (or likely-fireworks-caused) fires. Last year on the 4th of July, the Real-Time 911 log (archived here) had one “brush fire” call. So far today/tonight (live log here), citywide, there are 34. Some were reported as tree fires, some as shrub fires, some as lawn fires. Some are park fires – we’ve heard Hamilton Viewpoint and Westcrest Park mentioned. Firefighters responding to one at 30th/Cambridge pleaded with the dispatcher for police help, saying they were dealing with people “who refuse to stop setting off fireworks.”

Some police are tied up with managing the Alki crowd – we counted 7 cars between the Bathhouse and Don Armeni before sunset, and right now they’re dealing with routing traffic out of Alki, since fireworks-watchers will be leaving, and the beach is technically closed for the night. Expect some temporary road closures if you have to head that way.

More as-it-happens notes as the night goes on.

11:07 PM: Next “brush fire” response – Solstice Park (whether the tennis courts or P-patch, we haven’t heard). … Another frequently used classification on the 4th is “rubbish fire” – 11 so far citywide tonight. One of those is reported right now in a trash receptacle near the Lincoln Park south lot. … Another brush fire at 18th/Henderson.

11:47 PM: Possible residential fire near 35th and 104th in Arbor Heights. … Texter says “mostly garage.” … First firefighters on scene say it’s a car fire “with exposure’ (to a structure) … Adding texted photo from Colby Blanton:

11:56 PM: SFD says the fire is under control. … The response is being reduced. They’re calling in the SFD investigator to determine how it started.

12:46 AM: Dispatchers have been trying for more than half an hour to get an officer to an assault report involving someone “deliberately” injured by fireworks. One officer was just about to go – and then had to be diverted for a report of someone seen firing a gun on 15th SW.

1:02 AM: Somebody finally became available for the assault call. … Fire calls have slowed down but citywide there’s still been nine calls classified brush, rubbish, or dumpster fire.

1:17 AM: Next fire call, a “brush fire” between West Seattle Stadium and the golf course. … A response in Riverview, at 11th/Webster, is NOT for fireworks/fire, but rather a vehicle collision.

1:29 AM: “Brush fire” in the parking lot of Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), “near a light pole.”

2:18 AM: Nothing since then, though we’re still hearing scattered detonations.

2:34 AM: For a different view (literally) of some of tonight’s West Seattle fireworks, check out this drone video that Ken tweeted at us (featuring one serious aerial display starting around 3:30 in).

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: SFD says the fire in Arbor Heights was accidental, “likely caused by fireworks,” with damage estimated at $85,000.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENES: 3 views from the shore
July 4, 2023 10:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to everyone who sent photos of tonight’s smoky dusk – the one above is from Gene Pavola. Air quality is expected to remain “moderate” for the next two days; the National Weather Service says wildfire smoke from Canada remains the primary problem. Earlier, looking north, the air was clear when Jerry Simmons photographed this scene at Anchor/Luna Park:

And Ant sent this view of sea life during summer’s lowest low tide today:

Tomorrow’s low-low tide is almost as low – -3.8 feet just before 1 pm.

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VIDEO: C & P Coffee Company’s 20th-anniversary community party
July 4, 2023 8:00 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Cameron and Pete Moores are the C & P in their C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – but if you’ve seen the online posts for C & P, you know the two initials always stand for a different phrase relevant to the topic of the moment. This afternoon, “community party” would have applied, as that’s why the coffeehouse held a crowd of people, there to celebrate C & P Coffee’s 20th anniversary. (Which actually was on Valentine’s Day, they admit, observing that winter isn’t ideal party weather.) Special guests helping mark the milestone were the poets of PoetryBridge, one of the community groups that calls C & P their home away from home:

They put together commemorative poetry for the occasion, and read it in the garden out back, after a few words from Pete:

(Read the poem here.) C & P – which already has a Peace Pole – also now has a Poetry Tree:

It’s been a little over five years since another big party at C & P, one at which the Moores expressed gratitude for the community campaign that helped them rescue C & P from redevelopment. (PoetryBridge presented a poem for that occasion, too.)

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade 2023
July 4, 2023 3:35 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

That’s the entirety of this year’s West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade, toward the start of its traditional route through North Admiral. Our subjective way of measuring participation each year is the length of our start-to-finish video, and this year was among the longest, at 17+ minutes (2018 was almost 19). It’s an informal, community-supported event, underwritten by local sponsors (this year including WSB), and organized one last time by Megan Erb, who’s turning it over to the Admiral Neighborhood Association for next year. Here’s what Megan told the crowd at 44th/Sunset pre-parade, followed by the national anthem courtesy of education director Jessie Kuehm from Mode Music Studios‘ (parade co-sponsor and a WSB sponsor too) nonprofit sibling Mode Music and Performing Arts:

A few scenes from the parade:

At Hamilton Viewpoint Park, the post-parade festival grows every year – sponsor activity booths included Neighborhood Naturopathic (also a WSB sponsor), teaching about tea:

The Mode booth offered hands-on musical experimentation:

The main event post-parade every year is sack racing, in age groups all the way to adult. Some kids flew down the course:

The grownup round featured two City Council candidates:

Seattle Fire Engine 29 – based blocks from the parade route – wasn’t able to lead off the parade this year as usual, but did make it to the park:

A Seattle Police car was also there for kids to check out:

Food trucks included Lil J’s Super Dawgs:

(One more sponsor shoutout – Potter Construction, another WSB sponsor too, funded the park porta-potties!)

6:56 PM: More photos added above.

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FOURTH OF JULY 2023: Fire danger high
July 4, 2023 11:59 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

As mentioned in our holiday lineup, firefighters have been busy. This morning we received two reader reports – first from Rebecca:

Darwin and I were out early to monitor the Cooper’s Hawks nest in Fauntleroy Park and came upon a fire in the base of a large Douglas Fir tree. We called 911, and firefighters from Station 37 quickly arrived to put out the fire. Initially, they brought in two extinguishers, but detected several hot spots in the trunk, so hauled in nearly 1100 ft of firehose from their rig parked at the southernmost entrance to the park.

We are so thankful for their service. Station 37 rocks! A good reminder to not only stay safe on this Independence Day, but to remain vigilant, and alert to your surroundings. A fire in any one of our parks would be truly devastating.

Whether fireworks were suspected or something else, we don’t know – we were away from the desk at the time of the callout. But the fire that Sky emailed about was definitely fireworks-related, one of the calls we heard dispatched late last night:

Last night around 10:30, we witnessed a group of teenagers aiming fireworks at one another in the street at 11th Ave SW and Austin. Initially I was concerned about the potential for then to injure themselves, but when their fireworks caught the grass on fire next to the home of our elderly neighbors I realized how easily we could see a house fire this week.

My wife and another neighbor used our fire extinguisher to put out the fire while I was on the phone with emergency services.

At the end of the block, Riverview Playfield is a hotspot every year for amateur fireworks. We need a police presence there to deter more of these same problems tonight.

The wind is supposed to pick up a bit later today, so this isn’t just about fireworks safety – be careful with grilling, outdoor fire pits, etc.

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UPDATE: Car-on-side crash on 14th SW
July 4, 2023 9:06 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: Photo sent by John)

9:06 AM: Seattle Fire and Police are responding to 14th/Holden for a report of a flipped-car crash. Updates to come.

9:09 AM: Arriving crews say this is a “small sedan on its side at the top of a stairwell” closer to SW Kenyon. One person is reported to be in the vehicle and firefighters say they do not appear to be seriously hurt.

9:14 AM: The response is being downsized.

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FOURTH OF JULY: West Seattle info for today/tonight
July 4, 2023 6:07 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Alki Point Lighthouse, a U.S. Coast Guard facility, photographed by Jerry Simmons)

The holiday is here! As usual, we’ve assembled a list of potentially helpful information:

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION

Metro buses – Sunday schedules with extra late-night service
Water Taxi – West Seattle route on Sunday schedule; Vashon route not running
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth on weekend/holiday schedule
Sound Transit – Here’s the holiday plan
Parking – No charge for street parking in neighborhoods where the city charges for it
Traffic cameras – Here’s the citywide map; here’s our West Seattle-relevant page

WHAT’S HAPPENING/NOT HAPPENING

West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade – Starts at 10 am – newest info here. (44th/Sunset)

Art on the Corner – Starting at 8:30 am, artist Bonnie Bennedsen sells her work at 39th/Holden to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.

Avalon Glassworks’ Art-Glass Seconds Sale – 10 am-2 pm, info here. (2914 SW Avalon Way)

Summer’s lowest tide – Out to -4.0 feet at 12:11 pm; see when and where to find Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists, here.

Barbecue at the beach – Chef Gino from TheHomeSkillit.com will be grilling, with live music, 1-10 pm near the Alki Bathhouse. (60th/Alki)

C & P Coffee 20th Anniversary Party – 3 pm, celebrate community and coffee! (5612 California SW)

WHAT’S OPEN/CLOSED

Aquatics – Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm), E.C. Hughes and Lincoln Park wading pools (12 pm-7 pm), and Colman Pool (12 pm-7 pm) are all open today.

Other Seattle Parks facilities – here’s the closed/open list

Seattle Public Library – All locations closed

Businesses – We don’t have a full formal list but have heard from a few – Youngstown Coffee (6030 California) wants you to know they’re open 8 am-2 pm; Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) is closed. … (added) Freshy’s is open, 7 am-7 pm (2735 California) … Any other biznotes? Comment below or text us (206-293-6302)!

Post Offices and banks – closed

FIREWORKS

Please don’t DIY. It’s warm, it’s dry, fires start easily – last night in the span of just two hours in West Seattle, SFD was dispatched to half a dozen grass/tree fires. Watch the Lake Union Seafair Summer Fourth fireworks at 10:20 pm instead, either from a north-facing West Seattle spot that’ll get you a good view, or by going there, OR via live video. … No Three Tree Point fireworks again this year … Across the water: Vashon Island‘s fireworks show returns, over Quartermaster Harbor.

LOST/FOUND PET?

Furry friends may bolt on the Fourth if fireworks spook them. If you need it, WSB has the only all-West Seattle lost/found-pets page – email or text info/pic (with your contact #), westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Plea bargain for drunk, speeding driver who killed Arbor Heights couple
July 3, 2023 9:50 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB/WCN photo from April 2021 crash scene)

Thanks for the tip. A South Delridge woman has pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide in the April 2021 crash that killed an Arbor Heights couple in North Burien. Court documents say Irene Plancarte-Bustos, now 28, was driving drunk, going over 60 mph, with her 3-yeqr-old son in her car, when she slammed into the car carrying 35-year-old Lauren Dupuis-Perez and 38-year-old Kamel Dupuis-Perez. The impact pushed their car into the path of a pickup truck whose driver couldn’t stop before also hitting it, and orphaned the Dupuis-Perezes’ two children. After the crash on the Ambaum Boulevard “S” curve, Plancarte-Bustos drove north a short distance to the Rainbow Mini-Mart, where officers found her. She’s been in jail ever since. In the agreement, in addition to the vehicular-homicide pleas, she pleaded guilty to one gross-misdemeanor count of hit-and-run, while two felony hit-run counts were dropped. She has no record and as part of the plea bargain, prosecutors are recommending the low end of the standard sentencing range, 8 1/2 years plus an extra year for the “enhancement” of having a child in the car. The final sentencing decision will be up to King County Superior Court Judge Averil Rothrock on July 14th. Family and friends have created this website as a tribute to the victims, their work, and their legacy.

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