From the ‘in case you wondered too’ file: Camp Long, Beach Drive, Puget Sound sightings

| Seen around town | Seen at sea | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Three sightings of note, in case you wondered too:

CAMP LONG: We received multiple questions late today about a big gathering at Camp Long that has police directing traffic. Hundreds of members of Ethiopian Orthodox churches from around the region are at the park for the annual observance of Meskel (Finding of the True Cross). The city’s Special Events Committee agenda from August notes that this is an annual event that has “grown to require (a) Special Event Permit.” Erika J. Schultz of The Seattle Times photographed the celebration at Camp Long two years ago (scroll down this page).

BEACH DRIVE: Beach Drive Blog noted a sizable turnout of motorcycle riders at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook this morning. The occasion: The local edition of the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, raising money and awareness for men’s health issues.

PUGET SOUND: Thanks to JayDee for this Saturday photo:

That’s the SS Cape Intrepid, a ready-reserve ship long moored in Tacoma, headed out on sea trials, last seen on the MarineTraffic.com tracker as it entered open ocean outside the Strait of Juan de Fuca last night. (JayDee also contributed a photo of this ship almost exactly nine years ago!)

JayDee September 30, 2018 (7:15 pm)

Glad to see I am consistent even if my memory is not. :-)

Peeb September 30, 2018 (7:48 pm)

I just want to say a huge “Thank you” to SPD for helping to direct traffic tonight at Camp Long! I don’t think they’ve ever done that before, but it is so needed for this event. Much appreciated!

Trickycoolj October 1, 2018 (11:00 am)

Camp Long event was a big surprise. Parking from Juneau/Raymond all the way to Edmonds/Alaska all the cross streets people everywhere in the sidewalks and streets. Lots of kiddos which made it scary when families darted through traffic with strollers. Looked like they were having a good time but the 2 SPD cars that were there to handle traffic weren’t even kind of enough. It was like trying to drive through stadium traffic… to the grocery store. Hopefully there’s more event management next year or a better suited location for the large crowd this event draws. Had I been aware I definitely would have avoided it by shopping at WWV and not the junction this week.

WSB October 1, 2018 (11:14 am)

Parks used to have a calendar that listed big special events and that was our failsafe for things like this but it was one of many things lost in their web redesign earlier this year. My search for info turned up the archived agenda for a Special Events Committee meeting so now I’m going to look for early word on THOSE agendas – TR

Peeb October 1, 2018 (4:55 pm)

The event has been held at Camp Long for years. Pretty sure this is the first year there’s been any police involvement at all, so it was a huge improvement.

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