Are you – or do you know – a homeless/at-risk veteran? Help is available at the Seattle Stand Down on the Georgetown campus of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) later this week. The announcement:

Homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families will be offered a “hand up” at the ninth annual Seattle Stand Down on Thursday, Dec. 12 and Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle College (located at 6737 Corson Avenue South). The Seattle Stand Down is a one-stop shop for resources and services available to Veterans who currently lack permanent housing or simply need a “hand up” in order to prevent homelessness.

Representatives from local businesses, non-profits, educational institutions and all levels of government will be on hand with volunteers to provide medical screenings, eye exams, dental services, legal aid, employment opportunities, housing assistance, case management referrals, haircuts, personal hygiene items and meals. Providers offer services specifically for women Veterans including health care, advocacy, counseling, employment and personal care.

Services and resources will be provided on campus at several locations, including the Gene Colin Education Hall – Bldg C, 6737 Corson Avenue South. Parking passes will be made available to veterans receiving services.

The event is put on by The Seattle Stand Down, a volunteer team of veterans dedicated to supporting veterans experiencing homelessness.

There’s more info here, including transportation details – free transit as well as parking.

1:55 PM: If you have to head north of downtown any time in the next few hours, you’ll want to avoid Highway 99. It’s closed north of the Aurora Bridge because of a deadly crash involving a flipped car. Initial emergency-radio reports – and a text from a WSB reader who was there right after it happened – were that one person was dead at the scene, at least one other with life-threatening injuries.

4:09 PM: NB traffic is still being diverted, at last report onto Bridge Way. The Seattle Times reports the incident involved a woman driving onto a sidewalk and hitting 4 pedestrians, one of whom was killed.

6:15 PM: NB Aurora remains closed. SPD has published this update on the case, saying the driver will be booked into jail for investigation of vehicular homicide.

6:27 PM: SDOT has just announced the scene is clear.

(Added: Photos by Monica Zaborac)

11:48 AM: Got a couple questions about this – sorry we didn’t hear about it in advance, but if you too saw it and wondered, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, just arrived in Seattle. They’re visiting the Museum of Flight today. (Thanks to the commenter who saved us research time post-flyover!)

12:03 PM: The Museum of Flight tweeted video of the arrival:

We mentioned this in today’s preview since it was audible here last year too. But in case you missed that: The fireworks you’re hearing are from the Bremerton Bridge Blast show, fired off the Manette Bridge in east Bremerton [map]. P.S. Here’s the full statewide list of who’s having fireworks shows, where, and when.

5:28 PM: From the “in case you wondered too” file – yes, that’s smoke – apparently from a wildfire southwest of here. It’s near Crosby in Kitsap County (here’s a map). The Bear Creek Fire was at 22 acres as of 5 pm – not huge but big enough to be noticeable.

8:20 PM: DNR says it’s made big progress and that it has a line around 90 percent of the fire.

Heads up – the Mariners‘ opening-day game tomorrow will be preceded by a flyover. The M’s media advisory for the game says an EA-18G Growler from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will fly over the stadium at 3:55 pm, and adds, “The flight path will be from south to north.” (Game time vs. the Red Sox is 4:10 pm.)

Just looked it up after questions via text. Fireworks tonight across Puget Sound for the Whaling Days festival in Silverdale. It’s been audible here in the past – next year we need to set a reminder!

(Air Force file photo of C-17 Globemaster III over Joint Base Lewis-McChord)

If you’re among the West Seattleites who are in the flight path and/or line of sight of Boeing Field – you might notice some unusual activity this Thursday. Here’s the announcement:

Two C-17 military aircraft will arrive at Boeing Field at about 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, as part of a drill involving the medical transport of people “injured” in a fictional national disaster. The flights will be met by emergency responders and medical personnel, who will transport the “patients” to area hospitals.

Nearly two dozen local, state, federal, and private organizations, led by Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, have worked together since October to plan the exercise—which is required to maintain the airport’s status as a part of the National Disaster Medical System.

We asked airport spokesperson Brent Champaco if any other aircraft would be participating; he replied that you might see a military helicopter too.

That photo was texted to us by someone wondering what was on fire somewhere beyond Blake Island. We looked around and finally got the answer in a tweet a few minutes ago from South Kitsap Fire and Rescue: “Crews are on the scene of a 2-alarm brush fire in the 2800 block of Long Lake Rd SE. Battalion 8 is advising the fire is out and we are mopping up.” Here’s a map – the fire scene is west of the Southworth ferry dock.

(Added – photo sent by Erin)

8:30 PM: If you’re seeing smoke to the east – Seattle Fire has a big response arriving at what so far is described as a “fully involved” barge fire on the east side of the Duwamish River. Crews are responding to S. Myrtle in Georgetown (here’s a vicinity map).

(Added – photo sent by Hannah)

8:41 PM: Per scanner, the barge is approximately 150′ by 75′ and contains primarily “crushed cars”; SFD says there have been some “minor explosions.”

8:50 PM: Thanks for the video (above, just texted to us) and photos. (added) Here’s one from Seattle Fire front lines:

9:01 PM: SFD continues battling the fire. They’ve called for a foam truck from Boeing Field, too. (added) Here’s a photo from Kay, from the 1st Ave. S. Bridge:

And this view showing the fireboats on scene:

9:18 PM: The fire’s “knocked down,” per SFD radio, and the barge has developed a “slight list.” Thanks again to everyone who has sent video and photos – this next photo is from Angelique in Kitsap County, showing how far and wide the smoke was visible:

9:28 PM: Thanks to John Bennett for this video showing a fireboat in action at the scene:

And the fireboat from another angle, in a photo from Eli:

9:44 PM: Radio activity has slowed. We’re continuing to monitor. Still no reports of any injuries.

7:33 PM: Thanks to those who sent photos (the one above is from Jamie) – the smoke you are (or were) seeing is from what Seattle Fire has initially described as an RV fire that spread to a building at Colorado and Hanford in SODO [map].

7:37 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and no injuries were reported.

8:28 PM: Since we were in the area, headed back from the light-rail meeting, we checked out the aftermath:

The SFD crew that remained on scene confirmed no one hurt and no significant damage to the building, which is open-faced and holds metal materials.

ADDED 11:56 PM: Bill Gobie sent this video:

This was along his route home.

(Added: State Patrol photo)

2:29 PM: Thanks for the tip about a Highway 509 closure – south of here but just in case you’re headed that way: WSDOT says it’s closed in both directions near Sea-Tac; if you’re headed southbound, you’ll be diverted to S. 160th; if northbound, you’ll be diverted to S. 188th. Per King County Sheriff’s Office scanner traffic, they’re investigating gunfire.

2:33 PM: State Patrol says 4 cars were hit, no injuries.

4:32 PM: The search is currently focused at the south end of 509, at 188th, but the backup on 509 is reported to start much further north, so if you have to head south, we’d advise non-509 routes.

6:25 PM: Via Twitter, the State Patrol has just posted this update: “Reopening NB Sr-509 lanes to normal traffic. The right lane of SB Sr-509 will remain closed while WSP K-9’s search the area for possible evidence.”

Heads up for Lander Street users in SODO: The longterm closure of two blocks for the Lander Street Bridge project starts soon, SDOT has announced:

S Lander St will close as early as the evening of May 22, 2018 as part of the Lander St Bridge Project. S Lander St will be closed to traffic from 1st Ave S and to 3rd Ave S through early 2020 while the new bridge is being built. Pedestrian and bicycle rider access will be maintained, as will access to all adjacent businesses along S Lander St.

As an alternative to S Lander St, use S Holgate St or S Spokane street to move east and west across the BNSF railroad tracks.

Access to S Lander St from Occidental Ave S, on both the north and south sides of S Lander St, will be closed. This closure will be in place during bridge construction and made permanent once construction is complete.

A small portion of 3rd Ave S, at the south side of S Lander St, starting at the north driveway at Republic, will also close as early as May 22. This closure will be in place until summer 2019. During the closure use 4th Ave S to move north and south and access businesses on S Lander St.

For more information on this project and to sign up for email updates, please visit: seattle.gov/transportation/lander_bridge.htm

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the outreach team at lander_bridge@seattle.gov or 206-256-5450.

Because of the strong WS/SODO connection, the project had long been of interest to people on this side of the river, including the West Seattle Transportation Coalition; the project achieved full $123 million funding last year.

(Rendering of PCC Burien store, by MG2)

Every time we mention the new PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) store under construction in West Seattle, opening next year, people ask about the opening date for the new one in Burien – and it’s just been announced: May 23rd. For those who plan to travel south to shop until PCC’s new West Seattle store is ready, here’s the full announcement we just received:

PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S., today announced May 23rd as the opening date for its newest location in Burien. The new store is the first for PCC south of Seattle. Located in the Five Corners Shopping Center at 15840 1st Ave. S., the 25,000 square-foot store will become the area’s first certified organic grocery and PCC’s first location slated to operate on 100 percent renewable energy.

With a long-standing commitment to the neighborhoods in which it operates, PCC will bring more than 100 union jobs to the community with its Burien store. PCC also will expand its charitable giving program through community partnerships with the Des Moines Food Bank and the Highline School District. PCC secured a $5,000 grant to Para Los Ninos as well, through the co-op’s partnership with the Paul Newman Foundation.

“We are always excited to join a new community and introduce all that PCC offers to future members and new shoppers — whether that’s our fresh, sustainably sourced organic foods; community support, food donations and giving; or new job opportunities we add to the economy,” said Cate Hardy, PCC Community Markets CEO. “The passion we’ve seen for Burien PCC through letters, emails and social media posts shows the feeling is mutual, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone into the new store.”

As with PCC’s other locations, Burien PCC will celebrate products that are fresh, local, organic, sustainably sourced and seasonal. More than 95 percent of PCC’s produce selection is organic; its meats are 100 percent organic, non-GMO or grass fed; its seafood is sustainably sourced adhering to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch standards; and, whenever possible, the co-op sources its products from local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers. Using those same ingredients, PCC chefs make salads, soups, entrées and side dishes fresh from scratch daily onsite in each store.

Additional highlights of the new store include:

§ New subscription-free, grab-and-go PCC meal kits featuring easy-to-make original recipes — like Sesame-Gochujang Steak with Kimchi Fried Rice & Shirred Egg, and Simple Cassoulet with Chicken and Sausage. Each kit is hand-packed in PCC kitchens and includes fresh, organic produce and non-GMO, locally raised meats along with compostable, recyclable packaging.

§ PCC Pizzeria with fresh-from-the-pizza-oven and take-and-bake pies.

§ PCC Taqueria with pork adobado, beef barbacoa, roasted squash and garbanzos, chicken verde, rice and beans, aguas frescas and freshly prepared salsas.

§ PCC Yogurt Bar featuring PCC Organic Grass-fed Yogurt from Pure Éire Dairy, the only local, organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, animal welfare-certified yogurt of its kind — including the newest flavor on the block: lemon.

§ Handcrafted espresso and tea beverages and freshly baked goods, such as scratch-made breakfast biscuits and the PCC “Crownie,” a chocolate chip cookie, brownie mash-up drizzled with caramel.

§ A carefully curated selection of Pacific Northwest-produced spirits to complement the co-op’s collection of exclusive wines and local beers and ciders.

§ An affordable line of certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified pantry staples from Field Day, including more than 150 items from canned beans and extra virgin olive oil to peanut butter and oatmeal. PCC also offers a wide selection of bulk items, where shoppers can get just the amount they need while reducing packaging.

§ Free cookbooks to borrow from or donate to PCC’s Little Free Cookbook Library, celebrating the joy of cooking in the community.

Burien PCC was thoughtfully designed to deliver on PCC’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and to help reduce PCC’s carbon footprint. Tracking to LEED v4 certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, PCC has put into place systems and features to reduce lighting use by 25 percent and fresh water consumption by 45 percent annually. The store is planning to operate on 100 percent renewable energy through renewable energy credit purchases after the store opens. Seattle-based MG2 is the architect of record for the new Burien PCC store. The developer is Powell Development Company and the general contractor is Woodman Construction, Inc.

The new location is the first for PCC south of Seattle, serving Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Sea-Tac, White Center and all areas in-between, and will act as the interim go-to for West Seattle shoppers until the store reopens in 2019.

Burien PCC’s grand opening celebration will kick off at 8:45 a.m. and feature an official “pineapple cutting”— the fruit is the universal symbol of welcome and hospitality — with fresh, organic pineapple giveaways for the first 112 people in celebration of PCC’s 12th store. The store officially opens at 9 a.m.

If you can’t get to Burien, remember that PCC grocery delivery continues to be available in West Seattle via Instacart.

It’s been almost 10 years since we first published news of a new burger joint headed this way – Zippy’s Giant Burgers, which almost instantly became mega-popular. It outgrew its original Highland Park location, and after almost three years in operation, announced it was moving to a bigger space in White Center. After three more years came news a second Zippy’s would open in Georgetown. Some months back, a few readers pointed out that location was listed for sale. It’s still for sale, Zippy’s announced today … but in the meantime, it will close at the end of this month. Via social media, proprietor Blaine Cook wrote this morning: “I’ve never claimed to be a business man or a restaurateur. Just a simple man that saw an opportunity and went for it. As the years pass it’s become quite apparent that I don’t have the personality or the temperament to oversee the operations of two restaurants.” March 31st is listed as the last day Georgetown (5633 Airport Way S.) will be open; White Center (9614 14th SW) soldiers on.