According to the King County Sheriff’s Department, a 64-year old SeaTac man was critically injured when homemade fireworks exploded Sunday night (July 4), sending him to Harborview Medical Center.

Police say that a 52 year-old resident of a house in the 2800 block of South 138th Street built a homemade “aerial device” by tying together a bundle of sparklers. He placed the sparklers in a tube, and then into a concrete cinder block to brace it. When the man lit off the “rocket’, it exploded in place, sending pieces of the concrete block in all directions.

The 64-year old victim was standing about 15 to 20 feet away when the device detonated. He was hit in the head by part of the cinder block, causing a serious head injury, which, according to the fire department, was life-threatening.

Other pieces of the block struck a nearby car, denting the door and breaking the window. The house and the garage door were also hit.

Both men live at the residence, as does the victim’s adult daughter. No one else was injured.

The Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Bomb Disposal Unit are investigating.

No arrests have yet been made and the investigation is continuing.

The mailman delivered our latest gizmo gadget (a state of the art Ultra Flip HD Camera) a few weeks back and we thought “what the flip should we do with this ding-dang newfangled thingamabob?”

Out of the red, white and blue, it occurred to us that our third President, one Thomas Jefferson, who loved new gadgets and devices and inventions and discoveries, would have gotten a kick out of this powerful little digital camera, the size of a deck of cards, not much smaller than a hand-held booklet-sized copy of what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

It was 234 years ago right now, that our Founders were “cutting and pasting” their final draft of what became known as that treasured and precious document, the Declaration of Independence, whose primary author was the then 33 year-old future President Jefferson.

So someone said:

“Let’s take our camera around Des Moines and Burien (and Normandy Park and White Center) and ask our fellow neighbors and friends and passersby to read aloud the Declaration into our new little camera, piece the quotes together into one colorful video, and release it to the nation and world on our various neighborhood news blogs.”

And so we did – well actually Mark Neuman did, then Scott Schaefer edited it – see if you can find yourself, or a friend or two:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grzhgTJx_7g[/youtube]

(…at the end of the video, look for some amusing outtakes as well as terrific “Happy Birthday USA!” salutations)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM THE WATERLAND BLOG!

by Dave Markwell

I love the 4th of July. I have loved it forever. I love the explosions and the colorful flashes and the smell. It, like many holidays, has the ability to create new memories and re-create the feelings of times past. The 4th of July’s of my youth were filled with sparklers, firecrackers, ground flowers, lady-fingers, M-80s, pop-its, bottle rockets and stinky growing snakes that disintegrated when the wind blew. The missile battery always sealed the deal and left us breathless and worn out. The street in front of my house as a kid was littered with the neighborhood display leftovers. It was great. The smell of smoke and burned paper lingered for days.

These days the rules have changed and personal use fireworks have diminished to a level un-fun to anyone familiar with the “good old days”. I suppose this is probably ok as a few roofs will, undoubtedly, be saved, not to mention, a few fingers. Though, there seems to me to be something uniquely American about a half-pickled Dad standing in the street holding a Roman Candle while his kids watch in awe and his wife watches with mild to intense trepidation. It is OUR holiday and being able to personally invest in recognizing this has some value to me.

But…so it goes and this year I will stand with my kids at the Marina and watch our local show booming over the water. I will think this is great, too. My kids will tip their heads and stare, unblinking, to the sky and marvel at the spidering webs of smoke trails. They will flinch when the bombs fire and they will have goosebumps during the grand finale. I will, too. I love the grand finale.

Like many things in life, the experience will change for me as it will become more about my kids than me. But, buried not so deep will be the remembrance of warm summer nights coaxing my Dad to “light the big one!!” while sitting on my mom’s lap in our driveway eating popcorn and drinking grape soda, watching the show with the sleepy amazement that only belongs to children. I hope to recognize this in my kids and know that memories are being made for them that will last. These memories detail a life of quality and creating them is my most important job as a Dad.

As life unfolds in its circular fashion, while my kids are watching fireworks on the 4th of July this year, my son will be drinking a grape soda and my daughter will be eating popcorn on her mom’s lap. They will be happy and so will I. Life will be as good as it gets. They will remember it fondly and, in the future, as I look back on this current time, I will be satisfied that I did ok. I cannot and will not ask for anything more than this.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here.]

It just wouldn’t be the Fourth without fireworks! Due to a very generous donation from WLB Advertiser Powell Homes, you and your friends and family will enjoy a spectacular 20-minute firework display over the historic Des Moines waterfront set to begin at 10:15pm on – you guessed it – the 4th of July.

Western Display Fireworks Company will provide a first-class show launching hundreds of mortars from the Marina Pier. The 2009 event drew well over 5,000 to the marina parking lot, with many more spectators watching form the Beach and Overlook parks, residences or other vantage points around town.

And it’s not too late to show your community spirit by donating to the fireworks fund. Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Des Moines will be on hand to collect your donations. A $1 per person donation is requested at marina entry points and throughout the park to help support the event. Gates will open at 7:30pm.

Bring your family, picnic dinner, lawn chairs or blankets and sit back and enjoy the fireworks show. Please do not bring personal fireworks, alcohol, portable BBQs, pets or vehicles inside gated areas at Des Moines Marina north parking lot or Beach Park.

At 5pm sharp, the Beach Park and Marina’s north parking will be open to pedestrians only. Cliff Avenue South between 5th Ave. S. and the waterfront will be closed to all vehicles. After that time, all vehicles will be required to access the marina using S. 227th Street. For information regarding handicapped parking, please call Des Moines Marina at (206) 824-5700.

Please play it safe, expect traffic delays, obey traffic laws and watch for pedestrians when exiting the event.

Due to the tough economic times, the 2010 event will not include entertainment, vendors or other family activities.

Powell Homes is the oldest home-builder in the Seattle area. Started by Cecil Powell 101 years ago, the family building tradition has continued through five generations. The Powells have a long tradition of giving back to their communities. Much of their support goes unmentioned and unnoticed by design. But as other sponsors pulled out of the 2010 Fireworks over Des Moines show, Brooks Powell stepped up to fund this event for the citizens of Des Moines. Powell would also like to thank the Des Moines Marina Association for their generous gift of $1,000.

Going forward, the success of this and future Fireworks Over Des Moines events will depend on community and business donations as well as volunteer support. Soliciting corporate sponsors will start for 2011’s Fireworks over Des Moines immediately after this year’s show. It is Powell’s hope to have 15-20 corporate sponsors in place for next year.

And it’s not to late to show your community support. Please make a tax-deductible donation in any amount to:

Des Moines Legacy Foundation-Fireworks Over Des Moines Fund
c/o 1000 S. 220th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198

Or call (206) 870-6547 for more information. If you’d like to volunteer call Sam at Powell Homes at (206) 824-8001.

WHAT: Powell Homes Fireworks Over Des Moines!

WHEN: Sunday, July 4th, 10:15 p.m.

WHERE: Des Moines Marina.

INFO: Presented by Powell Homes and Rotary Club of Des Moines.

VIDEO: Here are a couple of videos from previous years’ displays:

Des Moines’ annual 4th of July fireworks show was quite a blast, and we just found this great video shot by Pyrotechnician Greg Hughes, who says:

Here’s a video of the fireworks show we operated for the people of Des Moines, Washington this past weekend. It was both Independence Day and the celebration of the city’s 50th anniversary. It took an afternoon plus the better part of a full day to set up, and we shot it off in about 17-18 minutes.

Thanks to everyone who helped out on the crew this year – It was a great team!

The camera angle is a bit of an unusual one. In this video you are looking straight up at the sky, and the camera is fastened to a bench on the pier where we fired the show. The three-inch mortars are just to the left of the camera, so you’ll see smoke and sparks sometimes, as well as glowing materials falling back toward the camera. Enjoy.

July 4th 2009 Fireworks – Des Moines, WA from Greg Hughes on Vimeo.

July 4th 2009 Fireworks – Des Moines, WA from Greg Hughes on Vimeo.

Our nearest neighbor to the north, the beautiful City of Normandy Park, has posted the following schedule for what’s going on there on the 4th of July – everything from a 2.8K Fun Run to a Children’s Parade to a Social at The Cove:

“Join your neighbors and friends at the Normandy Park 4th of July Social sponsored by the Normandy Park Community Club and the City of Normandy Park from 10am until 1pm. All Normandy Park residents are encouraged to join in the fun for these morning and early afternoon festivities:

10:25am: 2.8K Fun Run. It’s free, but pre-registration is highly suggested. The course is from Marvista Elementary to Marine View Drive & Shoremont. Runners be sure to arrive at the starting area before 10:10am as number pick up will close at that time. This year’s custom designed race t-shirt can be ordered in advance by all runners for pick it up at the finish line. Non-runners may purchase any left over shirts at the end of the race. They are only $15 each. Contact the Cove office to register 206-242-3778 or visit www.npcove.org

10:30am: Children’s Parade. Everyone is welcome to join in, either from the start (be at Marvista no later than 10:15!) or from anywhere along the parade route, which ends at the Cove Building. Classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers, horses, marching bands – - all are encouraged to participate. Paint your face, decorate your bike, get out your flags; be festive or plain. Please, however, no campaigning or political signs. The Normandy Park Arts Commission will once again offer children prizes for the best decorated bicycles. Children who participate in the Parade are encouraged to decorate their bikes in the holiday spirit and enter the Bike Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Patriotic decorations

11:15am: Social at the Cove. After the parade everyone is invited for free Ice Cream at the Cove. To satisfy your lunchtime hunger, hot dogs and beverages will be offered. Festivities include Classic Car Show and, Large Blow Up Toys and Temporary Tattoos for youngsters. All of this will be accompanied by Live Patriotic Music on the lawn.

Line the streets, enjoy the parade, and attend the Community Social at the Cove!

Road Closure Information:

• Marine View Drive and Shorebrook Drive will be closed to motor vehicles during the festivites from approx. 9:30am-12:00pm. Please use caution and consider alternate routes.

If you’re considering other local fun on the 4th, here’s a link to our sister site The B-Town Blog’s schedule for 3 Tree Point’s all-day block party.

Celebrate Independence Day this year at the Des Moines Marina with northwest rock legends Jr. Cadillac at “Fireworks Over Des Moines,” which begins at 7pm and runs until 10:30pm on Saturday, July 4th.

The family friendly celebration features a unique vantage point of several Puget Sound fireworks displays.

Entertainment begins at 7pm with a Pacific Island cultural dance performance, followed by the danceable rock mix of Jr. Cadillac from 8-10pm. A 20-minute fireworks display will light up the waterfront at approximately 10pm.

A $1 donation is suggested. Please contribute what you can to help us continue this community event.

To whet your musical appetite for Jr. Cadillac, here’s an MP3 of “Raised On Rock”:

See you at the waterfront this 4th of July!