day : 21/07/2024 6 results

Our phone photo doesn’t do it full justice but that was an unmistakably smoke-red sunset just moments ago. We noticed the haze about an hour earlier, as the early evening sunlight was tinted that telltale yellow. Current air-quality readings are not suggesting trouble but there are definitely wildfires both to the north in B.C. and over in Eastern Washington. (added 9:08 pm) The National Weather Service‘s just-posted forecast-discussion update describes it as “some light upper level haze from area fires” and says “stronger westerly winds aloft” will push it away tomorrow.

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2024: Report #4 – ten more sights to show you

July 21, 2024 6:59 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Before the weekend’s out, we have 10 more photos from Saturday’s 90th edition of the West Seattle Grand Parade:

#1: If you watched near California/Alaska, the announcers you heard were Christa and Brian Callanan. Parade organizers presented them with an award for their volunteer service:

#2: We mentioned some first-time participants in our previews. Another sort-of first – this was Rob Saka‘s first Grand Parade as District 1 City Councilmember:

#3: Among this year’s participants were seven WSB sponsors – here’s how they rolled in the parade, from hydro to hearse:

Above, it’s just not a parade without a hydro, and STS Construction Services‘ parade entry included one. Below, Emmick Family Funeral Services had the only hearse in the parade, a classic Cadillac:

We showed you Potter Construction‘s parade preps on Friday night – here’s how the parade sponsor/participants went down the route:

Westside School had a contingent in the parade – showing what you might say was a pride of wolves:

Village Green Retirement Living-West Seattle was one of more than a few parade entries with vans or mini-buses:

Another was The Mount, which added human-powered wheels too:

We showed you some of the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA‘s marchers in our awards gallery; they had this van too!

Finally, one more pre-parade view – at the center of this photo is parade coordinator Michelle Edwards, whose volunteer work organized those 80-plus entries into the 90th West Seattle Grand Parade. This was the moment as she assessed whether it was time to give the Honor Guard the green light to start down the parade route (which is monitored all along the way, Admiral to The Junction, by volunteers including more than a dozen amateur-radio operators):

Watch thewestseattleparade.com for information on how to participate and/or be a sponsor next year!

EARLIER PARADE COVERAGE: Our video and photos of all 42 award-winning entries is here; how the parade began, including the Duwamish blessing and the honorees who rode at the start, is here. For our previews, and coverage of previous years’ parades, scroll through this WSB archive.

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WEEK AHEAD: Closing reception for Log House Museum’s award-winning Longfellow Creek exhibit

July 21, 2024 5:57 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photo by Tom Reese)

As we look at the week ahead, here’s an event to which you’re invited: The closing reception for an award-winning exhibit at the Log House Museum, 6-8 pm this Thursday (July 25). Here’s the announcement:

Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, photographer Tom Reese, the Duwamish Alive Coalition, and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association on Thursday, July 25 to celebrate the success of t?awi Creek of Hope. The exhibit will be closing at the end of the month.

The award-winning exhibit tells the story of West Seattle’s ancient Longfellow Creek from when salmon first chose to make it their home, through intense urbanization in the late 19th and 20th centuries, through today when the creek and its people are beginning to tell a new story – one of renewed hope.

It features photographs of the creek from award-winning photographer and author Tom Reese and is a collaboration between the historical society, the Duwamish Alive Coalition, and the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association.

“The exhibit has provided a unique opportunity to talk about the natural environment in highly urbanized and industrialized areas. The photos by Tom Reese stunningly describe both the power of this creek to support wildlife and persevere, but also how human impact – both negative and positive – can effect change,” says Elizabeth Rudrud, programs and outreach director. Rudrud also acknowledges the leadership of Sharon Leishman, Executive Director at Duwamish Alive Coalition, and Caroline Borsenik, Environmental Programs Director at DNDA, in creating new connections between the historical society and environmental leaders and educators across the region.

This partnership also resulted in extensive community-wide programs including guided hikes led by DNDA Environmental Education Staff and a sold-out panel discussion hosted at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center that featured researchers from the University of Washington Center for Urban Waters and City of Seattle Public Utilities, authors Kelly Brenner, The Naturalist at Home, and Tom Reese, Once and Future River: Reclaiming the Duwamish, and several community partners.

Last month the exhibit won an Award of Excellence in Exhibits from the Washington Museum Association. To register for the free event, go here!

The Log House Museum is at 3003 61st SW.

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WEST SEATTLE COYOTES: Latest sightings

July 21, 2024 3:15 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Two reports from 19th SW this morning top the latest in our periodic roundups of coyote-sighting reports we’ve received:

That photo was texted along with the note, “SW Brandon and 19th SW – hid for a few minutes then ran west toward 21st.” Also this morning, Barb emailed us this report from about a mile south of there:

I’ve seen stories regarding coyote sightings in WS, but don’t recall seeing any mention in this area. Good sized and healthy looking! It went into a yard at the bottom of SW Austin.

We also received two emailed reports of sightings last Sunday in Seaview. This one’s from Lisa:

Just before 9 PM we watched a coyote walk down the alley between 48th/49th ave SW at Juneau St. It went in to a neighbor’s yard and up on front porch. Eventually left the yard and scurried south back down the alley.

And this one from Robin:

Crow mob chased coyote south down 50th Ave SW. Started at Hudson at 6:30 am … this coyote looked healthy. Hopefully catching a lot of rodents.

Our standard disclaimer: We don’t publish coyote reports for alarm, but rather for awareness. Experts say the best way to keep them at a healthy distance is to not supply food, and that means everything from leaving bowls of pet food outside to leaving small domestic animals unattended. As our coverage has shown over the years, they have been seen in most neighborhoods, so you can’t assume yours is coyote-free just because, for example, you’re not near a greenbelt. To learn more about coexisting with coyotes, including what to do if you encounter one, here’s info from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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UPDATE: Shooting at Lincoln Park, under investigation as self-defense

July 21, 2024 10:39 am

| 131 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

10:39 AM: Police and SFD are arriving at Lincoln Park for a “scenes of violence” response. A 27-year-old man is reported to be injured, with a gunshot wound to the hip. Updates to come.

10:53 AM: Our crew has arrived to find out more and reports the police activity is concentrated toward the south end of the main parking lot. They’re focusing on a car parked there.

11 AM: The victim is on the way to Harborview. Police have a person in handcuffs and we’re trying to verify if anyone else is being sought.

11:08 AM: Police tell us at the scene this may be a case of self-defense. Preliminary information indicates that a bystander happened onto a man assaulting a woman, told him to stop, and then was assaulted, and that’s when the bystander, who was armed, fired a shot. The bystander is the person they’re questioning; they’re not looking for anyone else. The assault suspect is the man who was shot – according to a radio transmission, he will be arrested for investigation of domestic-violence assault.

12:50 PM: We just went back to the park; the investigation scene has completely cleared. Meantime, we’re following up on the status of multiple parties to this, including the female assault victim.

1:11 PM: SFD tells us the man who was shot was in critical condition when transported to Harborview. The woman he was reported to have been assaulting is in her mid-30s and reported in stable condition when taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance.

3:01 PM: SPD spokesperson Officer Eric Muñoz says the man who is reported to have shot the assault suspect was still being questioned at last report and “was cooperating with officers.” He also discloses that the man is the son of a Seattle Police lieutenant but says the lieutenant was not involved in the incident.

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Opera in the park, Alki Art Fair, ice cream, music, more for your West Seattle Sunday

July 21, 2024 6:03 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Saturday’s sunset, photographed by Curry Gibson)

ADMIRAL CHURCH FOOD DRIVE: Continues today – drop off nonperishable-food donations at the church (4320 SW Hill) 9 am-noon.

PLUNGE INTO THE SOUND: At 9 am, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).

WESTIES RUN CLUB: 9 am, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for the Sunday run.

(WSB photo: Christopher Allen, displaying and selling his work at this year’s Alki Art Fair)

ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 3: Artists, musicians, and food purveyors await you in booths along the Alki promenade during the Alki Art Fair‘s final day. Artists are there 10 am-6 pm; music is scheduled 11 am-5 pm. (60th-63rd & Alki)

OPERA IN THE PARK: Seattle Opera visits Highland Park Playground (1100 SW Cloverdale) with a special program for youth – 10 am storytime, 11 am performance of a short youth-geared opera, free. Details in our calendar listing.

GRIEF WALK: Join Listening to Grief for this free walk in Schmitz Preserve Park (meet at Hinds entrance), 10 am.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Back to its normal block. after the temporary Summer Fest move. 10 am-2 pm, midsummer produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon.

SMALL BIZ POP-UP: While you’re in The Junction, detour into Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) for a 10 am-2 pm event with small-biz vendors.

LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.1 feet at 11:31 am; 9:30 am-1:30 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.

COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open to the public today, noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the season continues for the 7-days-a-week city wading pool, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.

NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY AT SHUG’S MINI: 1-9 pm, go have ice cream at Shug’s Mini (California/Charlestown) to celebrate Ice Cream Day – and Sizzle the Clown will be there making balloon animals 2-4 pm.

<ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS : Reminder that the historic Alki Point Lighthouse is open to the public today for free tours, 1 pm-3:45 pm, Alki Avenue SW & Point Place SW.

CLEANUP & ICE CREAM WITH WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Meet up with the Timebank 2-4 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #1: GreenStage presents “Twelfth Night,” 3 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), free.

BLACK VIIOLET AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 5 pm EP release show and signing, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #2: GreenStage presents “Henry VI, parts 2 and 3,” 7 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), free.

GONG BATH & NATURE MEDITATION: 7:30 pm at Lowman Beach Park (7017 Beach Drive SW) – ticket link’s in our calendar listing.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.

Organizing and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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