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    DEADLY SHOOTING: Man killed in Triangle

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    SCHOOL CLOSURES? Big crowd for WS board rep

  • Orcas

    SEE THEM SWIM: Orca mom & baby video!

West Seattleites abuzz over Gary DeBoer’s artful beehive boxes
May 30, 2010 6:25 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | Wildlife

Story, video and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

If the flora south of the Admiral District appears brighter and more productive these days, you can probably thank local artist turned beekeeper Gary DeBoer.

What started back in the summer of 2008 as a curiosity about the lack of honey bees in the his neighborhood has now turned into a passion to inspire others to become “a little more aware of our relationship to this spaceship we are on,” DeBoer explains.

After keeping fairly detailed charts about the insect activity in his yard, he decided to join the Puget Sound Beekeeper Association and quickly launched his hobby with beginner classes and regular monthly meetings.

But it’s not just the beekeeping for which he’s gaining renown – it’s the artful containers in which the bees live:Read More

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West Seattle traffic alert: Highland Park Way closed after crash
May 30, 2010 5:28 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: Highland Park Way closed after crash
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

Thanks to the tipster who let us know that what looked on 911 like a simple “motor vehicle accident” call resulted in a spill that has the Highland Park Way hill (Holden to West Marginal) shut down right now. We just verified at the scene that it’s closed at the top, and people are being turned around. No details on the crash at this point – but the level of call on the 911 log suggests no serious injuries.

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Cancer patient’s “lifeline” stolen car found, minus a few things
May 30, 2010 3:37 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

3 weeks ago, we brought you the report of a car theft that hit a family dealing with cancer, among other difficulties. Many WSB’ers offered help; the outpouring continued as a couple of citywide media outlets picked up the story. But the car remained missing – till this weekend. Just got this followup note from Tina, the patient’s wife, who says it turned up about half a mile (blue marker) from where it was stolen at 44th/Hinds (red marker):


View Stolen car found in a larger map

On Friday May 28 at 4 pm, while driving down 45th Ave SW at SW Dakota Ave, I spotted my car that was stolen sometime on May 8 or early morning on the 9th. It had been ransacked and a few things stolen out of it, but it had not been in an accident looked to be in good shape. One of the windows had been left open; the seat and carpet got wet and the car smells a bit musty. After 2 days of trying to dry it out it looks like I am going to have to replace the seat and carpeting in the car. I am glad to have it back home where it belongs. My three furry babies will now be able to go to the doggie park again and they are very happy about that.

Missing items
New and improved Tow Ready Modulite Module which they cut out and destroyed the wiring from the front to the rear of the car, this is used for our utility trailer lights (was not visible)
Power Supply for my laptop (was not visible)
Prescription Sunglasses
Small air compressor (was not visible)
2 new tarps
Large First Aid kit for both humans and dogs
Coins (not visible)
12 tie downs
Couple of doggie toys
Plastic storage container with miscellaneous items

Thank you for the story you did earlier this month – there were a lot of kind neighbors who wrote to offer help; I even had one offer to give me their car.

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3 days till Fauntleroy Schoolhouse celebration: Updated preview
May 30, 2010 11:47 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

schoolhouse.jpgThree months after the purchase of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse and some of its surrounding land officially became final, the community celebration is just four days away – 6:30 pm Thursday (June 3) – and we have more details of how it will unfold. Kim Sheridan from schoolhouse-headquartered Fauntleroy Children’s Center says it will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring its founder Dr. Jack Pierce as well as Fauntleroy Community Service Agency – the nonprofit purchasing entity- board president Kevin Wooley, and Fauntleroy Community Association president Bruce Butterfield. The West Seattle Big Band is scheduled to perform 7-8 pm. And Kim says they’ve got RSVPs from city/state reps including State Sen. Joe McDermott and Rep. Eileen Cody, Department of Neighborhoods director Stella Chao, and former Mayor Greg Nickels (who has just returned from the East Coast). As noted in our first announcement of the event, schoolhouse-based Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering – which won the vote at the recent Taste of West Seattle – will provide treats. (Here’s the Facebook invite, if you’d like to track this event that way.) P.S. There just might be some other special “guests” nearby – a team of goats is due at the schoolhouse, possibly by midweek, to munch away weeds and invasives. MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Kim Dinsmoor from Seattle Civic Dance Theatre, also headquartered at the schoolhouse, sent a note to make sure you know you’re invited to come downstairs on the building’s north side to see performers preparing for their next production, “The Tea Party” (they’re performing it at 2 pm next Sunday, June 6, at Highline Performing Arts Center).

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Miss Steve Johnston’s humor? West Seattleite has published a book
May 30, 2010 9:45 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

For almost two decades of Sunday mornings, Seattle Times readers had the chance to take a humor break courtesy of columnist Steve Johnston. He’s now a resident of West Seattle – at Park West Skilled Nursing Center, because of health challenges – but has just achieved a milestone, three years after leaving the Times: He’s a published author. Johnston’s family has helped put together a collection of his 1988-2007 columns under the title “Tales of the Truly Unpleasant.” You can read more about it in this Times story; there’s also more info, including how to buy the book, at its official website. (Cover art used with permission)

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West Seattle Sunday: Low tide, Farmers’ Market, ‘Zen Tales’…
May 30, 2010 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Low tide, Farmers’ Market, ‘Zen Tales’…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo taken on Saturday at Alki by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography)
Today’s low tide won’t be as low as the past few days, but it’s still a minus tide, and Seattle Aquarium (WSB sponsor) volunteer beach naturalists will be out at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park to offer information and guidance, noon-3:30 pm. Also at midday, it’s the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm @ 44th/Alaska; note that the Farmers’ Market info table is selling reusable produce bags, $3 each – use less plastic! Then at 3 pm, it’s the second of two “Zen Tales” shows at ArtsWest – family friendly, they promise – by UMO Ensemble. More options? Check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

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Westside Baby’s Nancy Woodland to speak at West Seattle Kiwanis meeting
May 30, 2010 2:10 am
|    Comments Off on Westside Baby’s Nancy Woodland to speak at West Seattle Kiwanis meeting
 |   Announcements

(February 2010 WSB photo)
From the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle:

Nancy Woodland, Executive Director of WestSide Baby, will be the guest speaker at the Noon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle scheduled for Wednesday, June 9. The luncheon gathering will take place in the dining room of BE’s Restaurant, 4509 California Ave. S.W.

WestSide Baby is a nonprofit organization that collects previously owned items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to South King County families in need. They work through local social service agencies already assisting low-income families. Agencies order items from WestSide Baby and deliver them to families who are homeless, living in transitional housing or simply in need of a little help during a difficult time.

The goal of the organization is to reach a day when all babies and young children in our community have their basic physical needs met – enough diapers, food, adequate clothing, appropriate toys, books, and safe equipment for their care.

Since opening in 2001, Westside Baby has distributed over $6 million worth of clothing, toys, baby gear, and other items. In 2009, alone they served more than 15,000 children!

The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, now in its 82nd year, is an affiliate of Kiwanis International, a worldwide organization of men and women dedicated to changing the world one community and one child at a time.

Reservations for the luncheon may be made by calling 06-938-8032. The public is invited.

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Video: Jubilant homecoming for Seattle Lutheran’s baseball champs
May 29, 2010 11:47 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Just a few hours after Seattle Lutheran High School won the state championship in 2B baseball, the jubilant players were welcomed home just after 10:30 tonight – our first clip shows the honks, whoops and cheers as their bus rolled up outside the gym, where they, their coaches, and a spirited group of family and friends celebrated. They beat Colfax 10-6 in a late-afternoon game in Yakima. ADDED 12:51 AM: As the players joined well-wishers and coaches inside the SLHS gym, they first gathered for “one last prayer as a team,” before another burst of exuberance:

And a few words from the coaching/athletics team (Steve Meehan speaking, with – from left – Dan Imori, William Clowney, Mike Hay):

Bil Hood of SLHS tells WSB that two players also won individual sportsmanship awards over the past two days – Jordan Webb on Friday, Mike Register on Saturday. This is the school’s first baseball championship and its first state championship in 12 years – they have a boys’ soccer championship from 1990, boys and girls cross-country championships in 1992, and boys track in 1998.

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High-school track championships: West Seattle boys take #2 in state
May 29, 2010 11:39 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From our regional-news partners at the Seattle Times: West Seattle High School‘s boys’ track team took second in the state championships with 53 points, two behind defending state champ North Central. WSHS won the 400-meter relay, and Markeem Adams won the 100-meter race. (Detailed results here.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: TV stations report Highland Park attack
May 29, 2010 7:12 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Several people have e-mailed to ask about a case that two TV stations are reporting: A 15-year-old says he was beaten up early Tuesday in Highland Park by attackers with a racist motive, near a staircase at 14th/Holden (map). This first appeared last night on Q13 (here’s their story). They reported that the boy was walking home at 2 am Tuesday when someone asked him for a light; he walked toward the person, and was jumped; the reports say the victim said his attackers told them they were beating him because he’s white. We have no independent information on this so far – police reports aren’t available over the weekend, this incident didn’t appear on the SPD Blotter log of noteworthy cases – so the best we can do, until we get more info (and we do have requests out), is point you to the TV stories: Q13 here, KOMO here.

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Seattle Lutheran High School wins state baseball championship
May 29, 2010 6:17 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photo added 8:11 pm, sent by Bil Hood of SLHS)
Congratulations to the Seattle Lutheran High School Saints baseball team – within the past half hour, according to the @seattlelutheran Twitter feed, the team won the 2B state championship, beating Colfax 10-6. The game was played in Yakima. More details later!

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Memorial Day 2010: Flags and crosses at West Seattle’s Forest Lawn
May 29, 2010 6:00 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By early afternoon, the team at Dignity Memorial-Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery (WSB sponsor) had finished the job that volunteer Scouts had helped with the day before – placing about 1,300 flags atop the graves of veterans buried there. Tonight and tomorrow night, starting at 6, a bagpiper will play; we’ll add video of that later. (added 8:41 pm – here’s bagpiper Tyrone Heade)

People who stop by this weekend to honor someone’s memory also will find a hospitality table with coffee/tea, plus maps if they have trouble finding a specific gravesite, and Monday at 2 pm, the annual West Seattle Memorial Day Service, co-presented by American Legion Post 160, will be held near the flagpole on the cemetery’s south-central side.

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Update: New information on Duwamish River oil spill
May 29, 2010 2:52 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | South Park | West Seattle news

2:52 PM ORIGINAL REPORT: From the state Department of Ecology, word of an oil spill in the Duwamish River:

The Washington Department of Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the source of an oil spill on the Duwamish River about one half mile north of the South Park Bridge.

A sheen and diesel odor were reported to Ecology at 8:30 a.m. today and spill responders found an unknown amount of recoverable diesel oil in an inlet on private property at 7400 Eighth Ave. S. next to Boeing property.

A cleanup contractor called by Ecology and the Coast Guard has arrived at the scene and will begin work on recovering the diesel oil this afternoon. Further information will be released when it becomes available.

Here’s a map of the location, which is roughly across the river from the south end of West Marginal Way.

4:12 PM UPDATE: New information from Dan Partridge of Ecology:

There is no cleanup contractor working on site. A contractor hired by the Coast Guard arrived earlier and was about to begin work when the tide shifted. The diesel spill that was thought to be recoverable no longer was recoverable with the shifting of the tide so the contractor has left the site. There’s 100-by-3 foot sheen visible on the water but it’s expected to dissipate with the shifting of the tide. We still have not determined the source of the spill but Ecology will continue to investigate.

5:36 PM: Ecology estimates the spill at no more than 25 gallons. We went looking for, but didn’t find, any publicly visible sign of it.

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Happening now: Family Fest @ Southwest Community Center
May 29, 2010 2:44 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Westwood

Memorial Day weekend means barbecues, clouds or no clouds. They’re grilling at Southwest Community Center right now, as Southwest Family Fest continues till 5 pm. And for another taste of summer – how about palm trees:

A little quiet when we dropped in – c’mon, it’s guaranteed indoor fun if the little ones are bouncing off the walls, bring them down to bounce off the inflatables instead. Outside, some of the car-showcase participants left early, but we caught a few on cam:

Southwest Community Center is at 2801 SW Thistle (map). The festival’s presented by the Late-Night Teen Programs but it’s for all ages.

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West Seattle’s Art Lending Library sets its next opening date
May 29, 2010 2:01 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle’s Art Lending Library sets its next opening date
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s an occasion that only comes around every few months: The Art Lending Library at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center has just announced its next opening:

The Art Lending Library will be open for one night. Come check it out! Thursday, June 10th. 6 pm to 9 pm.

Reminder: The Library is based on a first come first serve basis. The earlier you arrive the more choices you will have. Also, all artwork that is checked out will be delivered at a later date by the Librarians.

Haven’t heard of the Art Lending Library before? It’s explained here; the concept first debuted two years ago during Delridge Day (which is coming up a week from today as part of the ReFRESH Southwest festival; the Art Lending Library opening isn’t till five days after that, though).

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WS Crime Watch: Car-prowler confrontation; suspicious sighting
May 29, 2010 10:08 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

2 reports to share (and a few more are in queue for another report later today): As noted on Twitter during a busy early Friday morning – an Alki resident reported that his car was broken into by someone who then tried to run him over. The victim posted a few details in a comment thread on another Crime Watch story, and we invited him to send more info. It happened around 12:30 am Friday in the Stevens Crest Apartments parking garage (61st/Stevens). He describes the culprits as a black male driving a gray Chevy Malibu, license plate 855-S**, and white male “who was in my car at the time I found them – approximately 5’10”-6′, wearing a white T-shirt, black baseball cap with white pinstriping. Most notable feature were his eyebrows for some reason – they were rather thick. Tattoos (gray and black scale, no colors) on his arms.” He says he confronted the two, and they “tried to run me over in the … garage.” Here’s what he says they stole:

2 Tama Tom drums 12 and 13 inch.
5 Zildjian Cymbals (in a DW bag)
1 Pork Pie metal snare drum
DW Stick bag with multiple sets of sticks
A Camelback bag (backpack) with gym clothes
iPod Video (Black)
Mackie 16 ch Mixing Console
Mixed monitor cables and Guitar cords

Meantime, there’s a long report from Westwood from someone who watched a suspicious pair Friday afternoon – read on:Read More

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Join the food-growing revolution, with Garden Helpers’ assistance
May 29, 2010 9:17 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

Aviva at Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle reports this morning that Garden Helpers training is off and running, and soon the GH volunteers will be ready to help you get going with growing:

Want to grow your own food but don’t know where to start?

We can help!

Garden Helpers is a new program from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle. Experienced gardeners, trained by Seattle Tilth, can provide you with free, in-person advice to design, install, or maintain your own vegetable garden. Whether you have a backyard garden, P-Patch, or container garden, Garden Helpers are mentors who can help you get started on a garden, choose the right plants, and answer all of your questions about growing your own vegetables.

If you live in West Seattle or White Center and would like help from a Garden Helpers volunteer, call us at (206) 762-0604 or send us an e-mail at info@gleanit.org. For more information, here are the Garden Helpers Frequently Asked Questions>. This program is funded by a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

(Photo courtesy CHoSS)

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West Seattle Saturday: A few highlights, rain or no rain
May 29, 2010 8:24 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Weekend Lineup, published last night, has indoor options as well as outdoor, if you just don’t feel like getting a little soggy. But the forecast suggests it might lighten from “showery” to “cloudy” later, so all hope of umbrellalessness is not lost. The annual Family Fest and Car Showcase at Southwest Community Center will run 11 am-5 pm, including a free swim at adjacent Southwest Pool 1-2 pm, and if you like the warm water/brisk air effect, Day 1 at Colman Pool (starting with lap swims at noon) is the place to be. Then tonight, two special entertainment options – final performance of “Once Upon a Mattress” by student actors and musicians at West Seattle High School Theater, and the first of two “Zen Tales” performances by UMO Ensemble at ArtsWest. Also – next door in White Center, there’s an ice-cream social/hip-hop show at Full Tilt, noon-5 pm, with posters promising free scoops (see it on the FT website).

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High Point’s Somali community takes concerns to Housing Authority
May 28, 2010 11:56 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | Safety | West Seattle news

One month after a High Point woman was suddenly attacked and stabbed while walking along the street, she joined a group of about 30 other Somali community members today to face Seattle Housing Authority leaders with their safety concerns.

She was joined by the mother of a Somali boy who was beaten days later, in the April 29 incident that happened hours before hundreds filled a room at Neighborhood Center for a community safety conversation. At that meeting (WSB coverage here), police and Housing Authority leaders heard many of the same concerns brought forward today.

But this time, it was a much smaller forum. The two women were part of a group of about 30, led by the High Point Somali Residents Council (HPSRC).Read More

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High-school baseball: Seattle Lutheran one win from championship
May 28, 2010 10:43 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school baseball: Seattle Lutheran one win from championship
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

As promised, Seattle Lutheran High School sent updates on Twitter all day on how their athletes were faring in big games/meets – and the biggest news of all, the Saints baseball team beat Mossyrock 14-7, advancing to the finals tomorrow. They’ll play Colfax at 4 pm in Yakima. In other sports, the softball team lost its first game of the day but rebounded for a win later and is still alive in the state tournament, and two runners are off to their finals too – check here for all the tweets.

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup, Memorial Day Weekend 2010 edition
May 28, 2010 6:05 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weekend Lineup, Memorial Day Weekend 2010 edition
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

Things are pretty quiet on the event front, since the holiday weekend’s more a time to hang out with friends and family – but if you’re looking for something special to do with them this weekend, you do still have options, such as “Zen Tales,” a family-friendly production at ArtsWest this Saturday night and Sunday afternoon by the UMO Ensemble. And there’s a festival at Southwest Community Center on Saturday, featuring a car show and free swim. Plus Colman Pool opens Saturday for its first preseason weekend! Hey, never mind the rain, you’re going to get wet anyway. The WSWL is sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music, bountiful brunches, plus lunch ‘n’ dinner:Read More

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Dignity Memorial-Forest Lawn: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
May 28, 2010 3:31 pm
|    Comments Off on Dignity Memorial-Forest Lawn: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Memorial Day is a time to remember those you’ve lost. The place in West Seattle where that happens every day is Dignity Memorial-Forest Lawn, the only full-service facility in West Seattle, with a chapel, crematorium, columbarium (above) and mausoleum, as well as a cemetery. We’re welcoming them today as the newest WSB sponsor. Forest Lawn can also make arrangements for other types of final tributes – they can even make arrangements with Argosy Cruises if you want to scatter a loved one’s ashes at sea. General Manager Dave Salove says Forest Lawn is a place to welcome people and engage them in the complete process of arranging an appropriate and memorable celebration of a loved one’s life. Their site stretches across both sides of the winding road between the High Point neighborhood and the West Duwamish Greenbelt (map); on the south side are the buildings, on the north side the sprawling open greenery of the cemetery, site to not only private moments, but also the annual community Easter Sunrise Service and Memorial Day Service (coming up at 2 pm this Monday, as usual in conjunction with American Legion Post 160).
Since Forest Lawn is part of a nationwide company, they also can help you with arrangements in other cities – just call them to see if they have a facility in the area where you need to have the funeral. Here at home, Forest Lawn belongs to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Dave is on the West Seattle Food Bank board, the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council, and The Kenney Foundation. You can reach Dignity Memorial-Forest Lawn by phone at 206-932-0050, or online.

Weather permitting, they plan bagpipe music at 6 pm tonight and Saturday, as part of Memorial Day weekend. We thank Forest Lawn for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

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Update: ‘Soft open’ day begins for Heavenly Pastry in West Seattle
May 28, 2010 1:20 pm
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

That’s Heavenly Pastry‘s Allison Barnes with a basket of her already-legendary pretzels – which they sold at farmers’ markets, among other places, before opening their own retail store at 2604 California SW as of noon today (as previewed here). Again, it’s a “soft opening,” which means they’re not revved up to full production yet – but you will find scones and cookies today as well as those pretzels:

Allison says Heavenly Pastry will be open till 7 tonight, 10 am-7 pm tomorrow, 7 am-3 pm Sunday, then closed Mondays and Tuesdays – which will be their usual days off – before reopening 7 am-7 pm Wednesday.

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