Even though we all are all most certainly chock-full of common sense, sometimes we all need gentle reminders of what stupid decisions can do to a human being, especially on a sunny summer day where there are fireworks, reckless youths and other celebratory elements around us.

Therefore, here is our requisite 4th of July “Safe and Sane” posting, courtesy the Seattle Red Cross, the King County Sheriff’s Department and our own experiences:

“While celebrating Independence Day, burns — superficial or first degree — can result from partaking in any of these celebratory activities; so the American Red Cross offers the following tips to keep this holiday safe and fun-filled:

• Make sure that exposed skin is covered with an appropriate sun block before heading out to the parade, family picnic or other outdoor activity.
• Keep small children a safe distance from hot barbecue grills, outdoor fireplaces, and of course, fireworks.
• Plan to attend a professional fireworks display instead of creating your own. Remember that the setting off of fireworks is illegal in Burien.
• Whether received from cooking at the grill or being careless with fireworks, burns should be treated immediately. We recommend buying an aloe vera plant and having it on hand, ‘cuz nothing’s better for a burn than fresh aloe.
• Stop the burning. Put out the flames or remove the victim from the source of the burn. For example, you may have to put out flames that have caught on to clothing.
• Cool the burn. Use large amounts of water to cool the burned area. DO NOT use ice or ice water other than on small superficial burns; ice causes loss of body heat. Use whatever resources are available — tub, shower or garden hose. You can apply soaked towels, sheets or other wet cloths to a burned face or other areas that cannot be immersed. Be sure to keep cloths cool by adding more water.
• Cover the burn. Use dry, sterile dressings or a clean cloth to cover a burn. Loosely bandage them in place. Covering the burn helps keep air out and reduces pain. Covering the burn also prevents infection. If the burn covers a large area of the body, cover it with clean, dry sheets or other cloth, then get to the hospital.
• For minor burns and burns with open blisters that do not require medical care, wash the areas with soap and water. Keep it clean. Put on an antibiotic ointment (available from any drug store). Watch for signals of infection.
• Critical burns need immediate medical attention. Call 9-1-1 if a burn victim is having difficulty breathing; more than one part of the body is burned; burns are on the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals; a child or an elderly person has been burned; or chemicals, electricity or explosions have caused burns.

From the King County Sheriff’s Department:

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the public that water safety should be of paramount importance over the long, Independence Day weekend.

“The weather will be great, but the rivers of King County are still cold, fast-moving, and extremely dangerous”, said Sheriff Sue Rahr.  “The last thing we want to do this holiday is a rescue or recovery of someone who didn’t heed the warnings”.

Many of the rivers in King County are still clogged with debris and downed trees from last winter’s high water.  That makes those areas impassable to boaters, tubers and swimmers.

Also, fast-moving waters can pull unsuspecting river users under trees and logjams. They won’t come out the other side, and subsequently drown.

Many rivers have areas that are closed due to these hazards.  Recreationists must not disregard the posted closures.

Hypothermia can still be a problem, even in area lakes.  It affects everyone, no matter the age, size, or experience, and will quickly take away a person’s ability to swim or tread water.  Wear thermal protection!

Always swim in an area designated for swimming.  Learn to swim!

Always wear a Coast Guard approved lifejacket while boating.  Remember children under 12 must wear a lifejacket all the time on boats less than 19 feet. All boats must have a life jacket for everyone on board.  “Lifejackets float, you don’t!”

Alcohol does not mix with boating, floating, or swimming.  Boating Under the Influence is a crime!

“We want King County residents to have a great time over the 4th”, said Sheriff Rahr.  “But use common sense and stay safe!”

Our Advice:

• Whatever you do, do NOT look down into a pipe when you’re waiting for a bottle rocket to go off. Just forget it dude.
• Stop pointing fireworks at your friends.
• Stop throwing firecrackers at girls. They don’t dig it dude.
• If you start a fire, put it out right away. Don’t run away laughing, ‘cuz karma will get you back.

The American Red Cross offers many training sessions in First Aid and CPR. For First Aid and CPR classes in King County, please call (206) 726-3534 or visit the web site at www.seattleredcross.org.”

It’s looking like it’s going to be a great, sunny, summery day for this Saturday’s 4th of July, and here’s the schedule for the goings-on down at 3 Tree Point’s annual Independence Day Block Party, courtesy 3treepoint.org:

9am-11: COMMUNITY BREAKFAST on the strip near 3142 SW 172nd with great food prepared by a host of local chefs. Donations appreciated!

10:30am-1pm: FIELD GAMES & INFLATABLE KIDS STUFF will be hosted at 3750 SW 171st.

1:30pm-2pm: FLAG RAISING CEREMONY at 5 SW 3TP Lane with awards, speeches and the annual crowning of the new King and Queen of the Point.

2:30pm-3:30pm: KIDS PARADE & CARNIVAL GAMES after the Flag Raising Ceremony, kids will parade their colorful bicycles, scooters, strollers & whatever else down SW 172nd. Immediately following the parade, there will a Treasure Hunt on the south beach and Carnival Games at 3568 SW 172nd.

3pm-8pm: LIVE BANDS at the South Beach Amphitheater, 3568 SW 172nd, including music from Jack Johnston, Jim Herron, Joe Delgreco, John Brim, and Todd Anderson, as well as Full Force, 3TP Blue Band, Terri Derr and Boomerang Summer (featured here on the BTB on 6/26): with Trevor Ras, Ian McKamey, Ben Johnston, Paul Davis, a four-piece group with Burien roots.

Noon – 5pm: ART SHOW in the historic Three Tree Point Store, 16957 Maplewild Ave SW. Over a dozen local artists will be displaying their works along with contact information for purchase of artwork. Artists will include Mike Reid, Alex Sasonoff, Guy Harper, John Unbehend, Betty Vacca, Pam Harper, Sheila Jeffery, Beth Gasser, Laurel Mercury, Tina Rout, Sheri Brim, and Chris Stiles.

10pm: FIREWORKS! A great, professional, $21,000+ fireworks show from a barge anchored off the Point by Western Fireworks. Thanks to the generous donations of people like you and the 3TP Fireworks Committee.

9am-7pm: BOOK EXCHANGE – bring your books that you’re done with and exchange them for new ones at the Book Swap near 3324 SW 172nd.

*Times, events and weather are subject to change without notice.

Also, if you’re planning on coming down, why not chip in a few bucks at the 3 Tree Point Fireworks Fund website here? It takes a lot of money and volunteer love to make this event happen, and you can donate online in just a few seconds!

The Three Tree Point 4th of July Fireworks Fund drive has a current balance of $17,100 (with a target of $21,000), so we’re tossing out one last pitch to ask for contributions from our BTB Readers.

So if you haven’t already, please make your donation now for Burien’s best barge-based, free fireworks show on a great beach – donate online now! You can donate any amount between $25 and $500, so please lend a hand.

The $21,000 budget covers the cost of the barge, fuel, tug, insurance, permits, fireworks and professionals to run the show, police protection for the area (which is being increased this year) and dumpster rental.

So if you’re interested in sponsoring the fireworks, or giving a donation, please click here – you can donate online or via snailmail. This is an amazing celebration of Americana in a great neighborhood!

Photo by ericagirlwonder

It’s one of the highlights of the Burien area on the 4th of July – the Three Tree Point Fireworks celebration, which is supported entirely by donations from residents in area communities, not just the citizens who live down there.

From personal experience, I can say that these fireworks celebrations are amazing all-day Americana affairs, starting with a community breakfast, a flag-raising ceremony, a children’s parade (with the incentive being a prize of a popsicle at the end) then an evening of outstanding, professional fireworks launched from a barge anchored right off the point.

It’s a crazy block party, with live music, beach parties, insanely huge bonfires and more, and the 10pm display can be seen for miles.

Neighbors have already set up a website for this year’s blast, and they’re seeking donations to help offset the $20k+ cost. For those who donate more than $150, you get invited to a fun neighborhood dinner party.

Here’s some info from the Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund website:

The Three Tree Point Fireworks celebration is supported entirely by donations from the communities of Three Tree Point, Seahurst, Normandy Park, Seola Beach, Arroyo Beach and Arbor Heights.

Our barge based, high-altitude fireworks show has gotten better every year thanks to countless people of have donated time and money.

In 2009, our goal is to keep the fireworks and community celebrations at the same great level that they have been at. This is the first year we are seeking corporate sponsors for our event.

We raise funds in May to ensure we have time to get all the permits, insurance and the best vendors.

Originally started by the Miller family as a gift to The Three Tree Point Community, the firewoks tradition was continued by neighbors when the Millers moved away.

In addition to the fireworks, the neighborhood traditions of pancake breakfast , kids games, flag raising with awards, bike parade and more have been ushering in summer at our great communitnity. What a great place to live!

Donate today on this site, or contact us!

For more information, e-mail us.

To donate online, click here.

If you prefer to snailmail your donation, make a check out to “3TPFF” and mail to:

3TPFF
c/o Murray and Julie Dow
9 Three Tree Point Lane
Burien WA, 98166

Courtesy BTB Reader Greg Rehmke comes this video shot last night at 9:30pm as the 4th celebrations begins at Lake Burien (listen for the apparent air horn coordination signal):

Another photo taken earlier in the day by Greg of activity on the lake – note the floating picnic table-like dock full of folks (what if someone has to, you know…go to the bathroom?):

 

Mother Nature has been putting on quite an excellent (albeit a bit premature) fireworks show for a few days now, and now the showers are moving through.

But will we hearty B-Towners let that stop us from enjoying today’s Farmers Market, or tomorrow’s 4th festivites?

Heck. No.

We’ve got a booth at the Market, and invite everyone to come visit us. Just be sure to stand right at the edge of our tent too – we have a great practical joke where we push the tent up and soak you with all-natural, organic, free-range, shade-grown, fair trade rainwater…you’ll love it!

Here’s what the patented B-Town Blog Weather Rock® says about tomorrow’s weather:

• “Mostly crummy weather with a slight chance of sun.
• Cloudy with a chance of showers.
• Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
• South winds 5 to 15 mph.
• Marine push will come in tonight, bringing in overcast skies, which will linger through most of tomorrow.
• The 4th will start cloudy with areas of light showers, then partial clearing late in the day – maybe enough sunbreaks in the evening to make the wait for the fireworks pleasant, but still a risk of a few light showers or sprinkles roaming around.
• Highs will only reach around 70, with temps at fireworks time around 62 or so.“

Lots of fun celebrations planned around the area for the 4th of July (which just happens to fall on Friday, July 4th this year):

BURIEN:

Noon-3pm: Olde Burien will be hosting a ‘Harley meets Vespa’ BBQ Street Party. The Vespa Club of Seattle will have a large contingency of scooters included in the parade.

3pm: The 85th annual Burien Independence Day parade starts on Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 149th, then turns east on SW 153rd to 2nd SW then loops back to Ambaum on SW 152nd.

Before the parade, hop on your bike and take part in the 33rd annual Joe Matava Classic and Washington State Juniors Criterium bike races along SW 153rd and 152nd streets.

THREE TREE POINT:

1/2pm+: The most charming local neighborhood kids’ parade in the USA happens as kids dress up their trikes, bikes, scooters and pets and parade down SW 172nd to earn the reward of an ice-cold popsicle. Oh yeah, be sure to wear a helmet kids, as about halfway down the street you’re going to be pelted by some wacky neighbors throwing candy! After the parade, be sure to hang out around the corner of SW 172nd and Maplewild where there will be lots of great kids games with prizes.

10pm+: Professional neighborhood Fireworks display blasted off a barge anchored just off the point.

NORMANDY PARK:

10:25am: The celebration begins at Marvista Elementary with the 7th Annual All Downhill Fun Run followed by a parade. The parade leaves the school at 10:30am, traveling north on Marine View Drive to Shorebrook Drive, then west to the Normandy Park Cove. Kids are invited to decorate their bikes, scooters and other modes of transport in the holiday spirit and enter the bike-decorating contest. Prizes will be awarded for the best patriotic decorations.

At the Cove there will be free ice cream, hot dogs, beverages, popcorn, snow-cones, music, car show, inflatable kids toys and more.

Marine View and Shorebrook will be closed to all cars from approximately 9:30am to Noon.

DES MOINES:

6pm: Family events, food, arts, crafts, kids activities, entertainment and more, including singer Joey Jewell, who will do his musical tribute to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin with a backing big band.

DUSK: 7th Annual “Fireworks Over Des Moines” presented by the Des Moines Arts Commission and launched from the marina pier.
For more information, call 206-870-6527 or visit www.desmoineswa.gov.

SEATAC:

5pm: The fun kicks off with a special music performance in the park.

10pm-ish: Fireworks will light up the sky over Angle Lake, which is located at 19408 International Boulevard.

TUKWILA:

2pm+: celebrate Independence Day AND Tuwkila’s Centennial at Tukwila’s “Family 4th at the Fort” at Fort Dent Park, located at 6800 Fort Dent Park Way.

Events include children’s fun, with inflatable bouncers, slides, climbing wall and preschooler’s area. Fireworks go off around 10pm, and there will also be food and entertainment.

For more information, call 206-768-2822 or go to www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/recreation/recevent.html.

MUSEUM OF FLIGHT:

11am & 2pm: Skyway Post 9430 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will present all 27 versions of the American flag’s history in the William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Tukwila.

On Friday July 4th and Saturday July 5th, the museum’s exhibits, galleries and store will remain open until 7pm.

NOTE: If you notice that we’re missing any area events from this listing, please email us!

Every 4th of July, it seems that everyone and their little brother-in-law treks on down Maplewild Ave SW to the cozy little ‘hood of Three Tree Point.

And every 4th, the neighbors of said ‘hood pitch in to fund a spectacular high-altitude fireworks show (these are major, professionally-launched fireworks folks, launched from a barge anchored off the point starting ’round 10pm), visible from all around Puget Sound. The roads get clogged, parking spots are rare, and it’s like one huge rockin’ block party.

In the past, only the neighbors in the area have been able to donate to the Fireworks Fund, but B-Town Blog is here to change that.

Here’s what your generous donation will help provide:

• An outstanding, breath-taking display put on by the pros at Western Fireworks
• Tug, barge and fuel fees
• Insurance and permits
• Police support
• Dumpster rental for July 5th cleanup

The usual cost for all these things has gone up since last year to a projected goal of $21,000, which is why this here B-Town Blog is kindly asking for everyone in the general area who enjoys this show to please donate something to the Fireworks Fund.

And this year, you can even donate online by credit card right here!

Just click on a dollar amount (ranging from $25 to $500), then enter your vitals via a secure website and voila – you won’t feel guilty anymore about “stealing” a great local entertainment tradition!

Please note that if you donate $150 or more, you’ll get an invitation to a special dinner party on Saturday June 28th. These parties are wonderful, with catered food, open bar, live music and great neighbors.

If you’d rather donate by check, send whatever you can afford to:

Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund (or “3TPFF”)
c/o Clark & Liz Mounsey
3721 SW 171st Street
Burien, WA 98166

Now…don’t you feel better by giving something?

Have fun, and as always, stay safe and sane.