West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
From the WSB inbox:
SEATTLE HAM RADIO ENTHUSIASTS COMPETE IN NATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO CONTEST & PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Event Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 25th & 26th, 11 am Saturday until 12 pm Sunday.
Location: South Seattle Community College, SE field near Olympic Hall.National Ham Radio Emergency communications exercise draws together five regional amateur radio groups forming one local City team competing with thousands of Amateur Radio operators making radio contacts throughout North America, showing off their emergency capabilities with a public demonstration this weekend hosted by South Seattle Community College, at the West Seattle Campus June 25th and 26th.
Erecting Ham Radio stations in community parks, campground, schools and emergency centers through out the country, radio teams operating their radios off the power grid will join over 35,000 amateur radio enthusiasts demonstrating their emergency wireless communications skills while having fun talking to friend all over the continent with their radios, participating in the national event called “Field Day” that is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio.
This year’s Seattle combined team is comprised from members of the “Auxiliary Communications Service” and “Medical Service Team” that serve the City’s Office of Emergency Management, plus the “West Seattle Amateur Radio Club”. Also participating are members of the Seattle Chapter of the American Red Cross Emergency Radio Unit and colleagues from the Puget Sound Repeater Group.
Seattle’s team will be showing off the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code as they compete in the contest making as many Radio Contacts as possible to other teams through out North America to gather points, operating Ham Radio equipment powered only by batteries, generators, wind turbines and solar arrays.
Field Coordinator for the Seattle site, Tammy Zoch said, “The Public is invited to the site where they can try their hand at Ham Radio with a special radio station set up just to see how much fun it is to operate an amateur radio. During the two day event there will be demonstrations for Satellite Communications, a digital communications workshop and a Ham Licensing Examination Session. This is a chance to see what Ham Radio Emergency Communication is all about”.
Major sponsor for this years Seattle event is the “Seattle Office of Emergency Management” that provides support and training for the Ham Radio “Auxiliary Communication Service” Program that serves the City’s Emergency Operations Center Ham Radio Station W7ACS in times of emergency communications and community needs when all other means of radio and telephone systems fail.
The staging area for the Seattle City Ham Radio Event is provided by South Seattle Community College and is located in a large grass field in the South East Sector of the Campus near Olympic Hall. On-Air operations will start at 11 am Saturday and continue till 12 pm Sunday.
In the past months, the news has had many reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies world-wide. During fires earthquakes, tornadoes and other crises, Amateur Radio was often the only way by which people could communicate. Amateur Radio operators are often the first to provide critical early information and observations to responders in crisis situations.
If you have any questions, contact Dave Mann, ACS PIO at 206 365-9700 or Mark Sheppard, ACS Director, Cell Phone 206 510-7118
For more information about preparedness and amateur radio – please visit:
(CLICK FOR FULL-SIZE VERSION: Top of the rendering is west, left is south, right is north)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For nearby residents, a meeting last night was a chance to voice concerns and ask questions about what will happen over the next six months of demolition and construction, imminent now that Denny International Middle School‘s new building adjacent to nearby Chief Sealth International High School is almost done.
But for a few others at last night’s meeting with members of the project team for the forthcoming transformation of the current Denny site into sports facilities and park space, it was a chance to be sure that the work they had done two years earlier hadn’t somehow changed in the meantime.
Through months of meetings in 2008 and 2009, the original Design Team for the Denny site – including community members as well as school staffers and other stakeholders – had brainstormed, analyzed, and planned. What emerged in 2009, was the final “preferred plan” – see it in our story from its debut.
As you can see if you compare it to the newest graphic, atop this story, what was shown at last night’s meeting was fairly close in its details. But Mary Quackenbush and Sandra Melo, who had been there through the Design Team process, noticed a difference or two.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It’s shaping up to be an action-packed summer schedule for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, based on the full agenda and lively discussions at the group’s meeting Tuesday night at Admiral Congregational Church.
Meeting highlights included a recap of plans for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (lineup here) and Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade (latest update here), a “summer activity” preview from SPD, and discussion about ANA’s new website (latest update here).
Ahead, toplines including what police had to say about the reported child-luring attempt in Admiral, as well as information about events that will interest even those who live outside Admiral:Read More
(From this month’s first low-low tide, by Stephen Elser)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
LOWEST TIDE OF THE ‘SUMMER’: Yes, we use that last word loosely … But the tide is out, no matter what the weather. 11:10 this morning, -3.1 (here’s the chart). On the flip side, the high tide is way up there too – 12.1 at 6:46 pm. Planning on exploring the revealed beach this midday? Volunteer Seattle Aquarium naturalists are on the Lincoln Park and south-of-Alki-Point Beaches 10 am-2 pm.
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS/SURVIVING SPOUSES: See how veterans or surviving spouses can qualify for a tax-free pension; Sean Sullivan and Kevin Sullivan will give a presentation covering long-term-care benefits. Free; RSVP to (206) 938-3964. 3-4 pm, Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor; 2326 California SW).
SUMMER COUNTDOWN PARTY FOR TEENS: Celebrate the last days of school before summer with an outdoor BBQ at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW). Music, dodgeball competition, food, prizes, starts at 2:30 pm.
FAREWELL, MR. WHALEN: Schmitz Park Elementary School families past and present are invited to the SP cafeteria 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 pm to bid teacher Japhy Whalen farewell (here’s our original coverage).
JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT: Community meeting about Oregon 42 development changes (latest WSB coverage here), 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).
FREE WORKSHOP: Savvy Seattle Women workshop on hiring a pro, 6 pm, Prudential NW Realty offices at Jefferson Square, details here.
SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD: Not in West Seattle but of interest citywide, 6 pm at district HQ in SODO (here’s the agenda).
LOWMAN BRAU’S DEBUT: Premiere parties for Löwman Bräu, “West Seattle’s beer,” multiple venues, starting at 7 pm – full list of venues here, and which nonprofits are benefiting, here.
TONIGHT’S GRADUATION: Middle College High School commencement ceremony at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, 7 pm
DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: The council meets at Youngstown Arts Center, 6 pm strategic discussion, 7 pm meeting, with topics including an Alaskan Way Viaduct construction briefing and the just-announced proposal for a 75-unit complex to provide permanent housing for mentally ill homeless people (WSB coverage here).
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
Not only is it the brewery behind the West Seattle-centric Löwman Bräu, launching tonight at venues around the area (here’s our Tuesday update), Big Al Brewing in White Center is also about to make a big change – activating a solar hot-water-heating system that will not only change its carbon footprint, but will also enable it to boost production. Get the full story on our partner site White Center Now.
Katie Parker, gone at just 31, was a longtime West Seattleite, says Matt, who shared her obituary and photo:
Katie Parker, 31, of Arlington, WA, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2011. Katie was born September 22, 1979, the daughter of James and Mary Margaret Parker, in Seattle.
Katie had a warm heart and generous spirit. Katie was an accomplished Irish Step Dancer and won international awards. She loved books, and when not reading, she enjoyed spending time outdoors and visiting with friends and family.
Katie graduated from Our Lady of Guadalupe in West Seattle and went on to graduate from Holy Names Academy in Seattle. She also attended WWU at Bellingham. Katie had an eye for beauty and style, and when she graduated from Gene Juarez Academy, she found her calling.
Katie is preceded in death by her brother Neil Parker, cousin Kevin Monahan, uncles Terry Monahan, John Parker and George Parker, grandparents, George and Victoria Parker, Jack and Veronica Monahan.
Katie is survived by her parents, James and Mary Margaret Parker, her sister Nora Parker and her nephew Riley Parker. Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins survive Katie as well.
Viewing will precede the saying of a Rosary. The Rosary will be on Friday, June 17, 2011, at 10:00 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Arlington, WA. A funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 with internment at Eden’s Cemetery on Guemes Island, WA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to www.nami.org or Catholic Community Services.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. E-mail the text, and a photo if available/desired, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
As West Seattle Little League families look toward the end-of-season barbecue and Snack Shack dedication this Saturday (3 pm, Bar-S Playfield – bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank), they also have just been through the excitement of the championships. Sharon Eldredge shares the top photo with the news that the Blue Jays won the WSLL Minors championship last Sunday and will represent West Seattle this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Normandy Park. (That’s particularly big news around her house, since she’s mom to two of the players!) “They had a pretty young team with amazing positive energy and team spirit,” she says, with words of congratulations for first-year minors coach Stan Debiec. Congratulations to all the WSLL players, and good luck to the Blue Jays as well as everyone else going on to TOC!
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:
‘OUTDOOR SENIOR WELLNESS FACILITY’: Did you know that, among the city’s neighborhoods, West Seattle has the second-highest percentage of over-60 residents? (25 percent, topped only by downtown/First Hill.) 
So said Irene Stewart, briefing the FCA board on a concept she is circulating for an “outdoor senior-wellness facility,” or, put another way, a playground for older adults. She brought a four-page document outlining the proposal – FCA is the first group with which she has discussed it, but many more are on her list. Stewart said the idea is already in action in parts of Canada, Asia, and Europe, with areas set aside for elders to exercise outdoors – a benefit for health, longevity, and fitness. Because of its older population and large number of retirement centers, Stewart said, West Seattle might be just the place to try this. Potential sites are plentiful, both public and private (FCA board members suggested the north end of Lincoln Park, and Stewart said that has potential, also considering The Kenney is nearby). But she can’t serve as the project coordinator, since she works on senior issues for the city – she’s just trying to launch the idea. We’ll be following up on this, to find out more about how you can get involved, if you’re interested.
BREAK-IN UPTICK: The FCA board heard from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who says there’s been more burglaries than usual in the Fauntleroy area lately. Most had something in common, Solomon noted – the burglar(s) got in by using a tool to pry open a back door or sliding-glass door. Then, during our rare bouts of warm weather, there were the crimes of opportunism – getting in through an open window, door, or garage. How to fight back? Besides preventing those opportunities, Solomon said, make sure you know your neighbors, and that you are watching out for each other. He also reminded the FCA board that Night Out is coming up August 2nd (you can register your block party here).
The Fauntleroy Community Association board meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7 pm, at the schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
A bit of rain, but the packaged plastic ponchos didn’t have to come out during tonight’s West Seattle High School Class of 2011 commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium downtown. It happened to be the first WSHS graduation for first-year principal Ruth Medsker, beaming with School Board president Steve Sundquist and assistant principals Jennifer Kniseley and Michael Kelly.
As listed in the program, the graduating class numbered almost 200 this year, including 70 Honor Roll (3.2 GPA or better) students and six valedictorians – Collrane Frivold, Hannah Matalone, Haley Peterson, Andreas Pope, Danielle Tran, and Daisy Zhen.
Collrane also was among the student speakers, in the next photo with Rojine De Las Alas, addressing “Goodbyes Are Not Forever” (photo right, seated, were the students who gave the welcome, Lauren Jeglum and Marielle Reeves).
In the stands, hundreds of cheering parents, relatives, and friends –
(The banner, which you can’t quite read in our photo, said CONGRATULATIONS SANTINO – there’s only one Santino in the list of graduates, so we’re guessing that was Santino Tauiliili). While spectators were mostly under the overhang, the grads were out on the open field, and there was a bit of rain – not enough, though, for the ponchos to have been deployed:
Congratulations, Class of 2011! (The rest of this week’s ceremonies are listed here; first local class to graduate was Seattle Lutheran High School last Friday – WSB coverage here.)
Her name became widely known in 2004, because of a tragedy that led to tougher laws; now, she is in the spotlight again, for a new role at a West Seattle bar. Our friends at KING 5 report that Maria Federici, the woman who lost her sight when an unsecured board flew off a truck and through her windshield, is bartending once a week at The Bridge. If you didn’t see it on TV at 11 pm last night (or shared earlier on Facebook pages including ours), you can watch reporter Joe Fryer‘s story above, or on the KING 5 webpage with full details. Not only did Maria survive against all odds, she and her mother campaigned for a tougher law addressing unsecured loads and victim compensation; it took effect in 2005. The story also is told in a book called “Out of Nowhere,” published last year.
ORIGINAL 8:56 PM REPORT: Out of the WSB inbox, from Jennifer:
Just a quick note to report a stolen package from my home on 31st and Holden [map]. Supposedly delivered and left at the front door on 6/13; it hasn’t yet turned up. Filed a claim and fingers crossed but just wanted to give a heads up, also curious if this has happened to anyone else lately.
ADDED 10:56 PM: One more short Crime Watch report has just come in, so rather than hold it till later, we’re adding it to this one:
I am writing to report a theft and to alert my neighbors so they can protect their property. A lawnmower was stolen from my residence sometime between Sunday evening and Tuesday midday. I live in the vicinity of 17th and Trenton [map] and the lawn mower was in a fenced back yard and was taken from the back patio when we were home.
The nonprofit Delridge Produce Cooperative has been working for the past few years to find ways to get more fresh food to the supermarket-less stretches of eastern West Seattle – affordably! – and they’re inviting you to come on board for their next move: Forming a Buyers’ Club to buy local, organic food, “in bulk from local farms.” Anyone and everyone interested is invited to come to the club’s first meeting, 7 pm next Tuesday (June 21) at Delridge Community Center. Questions before you leap in? delridgeproducecoop@gmail.com or 206.660.8958.
11:15 AM WEDNESDAY: Galena White from the co-op writes to say they have a new website – so we’ve changed the link above: www.delridgeproducecoop.com
Got fans (young or not-quite-that-young) of The Not-Its and/or Recess Monkey in the house? 2 events ahead:
We recorded The Not-Its last year in The Junction – and this weekend, they’ll be back in West Seattle, in The Triangle. You can see them at the grand opening for Bright Horizons-West Seattle, the new child-care center at Link (which along with Bright Horizons is a WSB sponsor), along 38th between Fauntleroy and Alaska. The open-house event is 10 am-1 pm, with The Not-Its scheduled to perform at noon.
Then one week later – WestSide Baby kicks off this year’s Stuff-the-Bus diaper drive – which has expanded to “50 Drives in 50 Days for 50,000 Diapers” – with a benefit concert by Recess Monkey at the WS Baby donation facility, 10027 14th SW in White Center, 1 pm Saturday, June 25th. Bring diapers or money to donate, and you’re in.
They’re also recruiting people/groups to run diaper drives RIGHT NOW – not just for this year’s Stuff the Bus event (which will be on July 24th at Viking Bank in The Junction), but ASAP, because if they gather 50,000 diapers, they get a 2-for-1 match from Huggies, which means 100,000 more. E-mail shana@westsidebaby.org to talk about being a Diaper Driver. And bring what you can to the Recess Monkey concert on June 25th!
Someone tried to lure a child into a car last night, according to this report just in from Sandy, who wanted to “warn parents and schools in the neighborhood about this”:
I just wanted to let you know about something that happened yesterday in the Admiral District.
At approx. 6 pm, my eleven year old nephew and his 9 year old brother were skateboarding and biking around our block (the 1500 block of California ave SW) [map]. They were just going around it in a circle, as they are not allowed to cross the street. For just a brief few minutes, the older boy was out of our sight. He went to the top of the block and was coming down the sidewalk near our home when a man in a black car pulled up and opened his rear passenger door and said, “Get in, I’ve got some licorice for you.”
Thank God this kid was old enough and smart enough to run as fast as he could to get help. The man drove off quickly.
The police did come and take a report and were wonderful with this scared young boy. They assured him that he had done nothing wrong and had in fact done everything right.
We checked the time-lag police-report map, and there is indeed a “suspicious circumstances” call logged for that area for that time last night. We are checking with the Southwest Precinct to see if there have been any other similar reports lately, or if this seems to have been an isolated report.
2:34 PM UPDATE: From the police report, a more detailed description: White man, 30-50, black hair, mustache, medium build, gray shirt, blue jeans, heart-shaped earring, smaller black car.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
An organization that runs eight housing complexes for mentally ill homeless people around the Seattle area, and is soon to break ground on a ninth, wants West Seattle to be home to its tenth.
After first word of the nonprofit Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s proposal for a 75-unit apartment complex near the Delridge Library emerged at last night’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting (WSB coverage here), we contacted DESC to seek details, ahead of its planned June 27th community meeting to outline the project.
Here’s what emerged in our conversation with DESC executive director Bill Hobson:
Still have the Broadway bug after Sunday’s Tony Awards? You can check out the Broadway Bound production of “13, the Musical” this weekend at ACT Theatre downtown.
It stars a West Seattle teenager – Adam Westerman, who’s previously appeared at Book-It, Stone Soup Theater, Drama Dock on Vashon, and Broadway Bound. Proud mom Eddie Westerman tells WSB that Adam is the only West Seattleite in the cast of the show, which she explains “is the only show that was on Broadway starring a cast of teenagers only. … (It’s) a story about a boy who moves from New York City to a town in rural Indiana right before he turns 13. He has to start over negotiating middle school and friends, and he learns some very valuable lessons along the way.” Broadway Bound is presenting “13, the Musical” five times this weekend, 7 pm Friday, 2 pm and 7 pm Saturday, noon and 5 pm Sunday. Tickets are online here – and Eddie says you can e-mail her for a code to get a $2 discount (ewesterman@washingtonea.org).
It’s been more than 2 years since Rancho Bravo Tacos proprietor Freddy Rivas announced he had leased a spot in The Triangle and planned to bring one of his stands there. The plan then went on hold for so long, we stopped checking with him. Then this morning, driving along Fauntleroy Way, we spotted a Rancho Bravo trailer parked way in back of the old West Seattle Motors site (4518 Fauntleroy Way). So we detoured to investigate.
On the site, we found not only the trailer, but Rivas himself. He says he really has been leasing the site all this time – and is now considering opening a sit-down restaurant there. He didn’t want to elaborate on what kind of restaurant – he says it’s a “new concept” he hopes to open first in Wallingford, and then bring to West Seattle. Timetable? Most likely next spring. And if all works well, he might have a Rancho Bravo trailer on the site as well as his “new concept” TBA sit-down restaurant.
While we talked, he brought up another issue: You might be surprised to hear that Rivas has been active in lobbying the City Council regarding proposed rule changes to allow more street-food trucks. He’s not FOR the proposal, but AGAINST it. He says (as he had argued in this PubliCola pro-con) it would enable trucks to take street space at a ridiculously low rate, putting nearby sit-down restaurants at a disadvantage – and also potentially jeopardizing non-restaurant businesses whom, he says, could have line-of-sight blocked by trucks. He’s not against opening the streets to more trucks, he says, but he suggests spaces be made available to the highest bidder. (Read more about the city’s proposed rule changes here.)
The premiere party for “West Seattle’s own beer,” Löwman Bräu, is 7 pm tomorrow night at venues around West Seattle and White Center – and since ringleader Jeff Gilbert of Feedback Lounge had noted that a percentage of LB sales will benefit local organizations, he’s just sent word of which nonprofits will benefit from sales at which venues:
THE BRIDGE: Dogs For Dogs
MISSION: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
SHADOWLAND and COMPANY: WestSide Baby
WEST 5: Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum
LOCOL: Roxhill Elementary
FEEDBACK LOUNGE: West Seattle Helpline
EASY STREET: West Seattle Food Bank
BIG AL BREWING: White Center Food Bank
Miss the original story about Löwman Bräu? Check it out here – and read more on the official LB page on The Feedback’s website.
In honor of Flag Day, we start off with a photo from the American Legion Post 160 Memorial Day commemoration at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) two weeks ago (might substitute a new flag photo later). Here’s what else is happening, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
LOW TIDE AND EXPERT EXPLANATION: 10:25 this morning, the tide will recede to -2.9, the first of three days with the lowest tides of the summer. From 10 am-1 pm, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park and south of Alki Point to assist with low-tide explorers (here’s the full schedule)
WSHS GRADUATION TONIGHT: West Seattle High School‘s grads get their diplomas tonight, 5 pm, at Memorial Stadium (5th and Harrison downtown).
SANISLO POTLUCK: At Sanislo Elementary School, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm: Around the World Potluck and Game Night: Bring a dish from your family’s culture to share. There will be games, raffles, and a free book given to every child. If the weather is nice, we will be outdoors!
DENNY SCHOOL SITE PROJECT MEETING: The community meeting regarding Denny demolition and sports-facilities (etc.) construction is tonight at 6 pm, Southwest Community Center (details here).
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS TONIGHT: Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, Admiral Church lower-level meeting room, 7 pm (as previewed here) … Fauntleroy Community Association board meets 7 pm at the schoolhouse.
TRIVIA TONIGHT: Rock music trivia every Tuesday night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm (and are you ready for tomorrow night’s Lowman Brau debut?)
Tonight’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council was the first of several the group hopes to have outdoors, weather permitting, this summer. A bit chilly – but the group braved the breeze and met in Greg Davis Park, instead of nearby Delridge Library.
The big news – and we’ll be following up on this tomorrow for more details – chair Karrie Kohlhaas reported getting a call from the Downtown Emergency Services Center, which she says is proposing a 75-unit apartment building on a site she described only as near Delridge Library. (We haven’t yet found anything on the city planning website, or elsewhere, that correlates.) DESC’s clients include people facing challenges from homelessness to mental illness to substance abuse, and they operate several buildings in other areas of the city. Karrie said DESC plans an informational meeting (later this month; we’ll verify the date when we speak to DESC), to get community input.
Concerns voiced by those at the NDNC meeting included the fact that Delridge is already short on services and businesses such as a grocery store, and has transportation challenges – particularly between east and west, getting into the rest of West Seattle. They also wanted to know more about the people with whom DESC works, and how their facilities operate. Karrie urged everyone to bring their questions to the meeting. (Tuesday morning note: Pete Spalding from the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council tells WSB this is on their Wednesday agenda as well, 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. And he confirms the community meeting date as 6 pm Monday, June 27, Delridge Library.)
Another major topic: Urban chicken-raising:
Iris, daughter of NDNC’s Holli Margell, got a close-up look at one of the chickens brought by Red Star Urban Farms. They provided general tips on chicken-raising, most notably security. Think cats are the biggest threat to chickens? Think again. Dogs, raccoons, and coyotes, NDNC was told. Also important: Knowing what kind of chicken is right, for what situation you’re bringing them into – for show? to be a pet? to produce eggs? or to be food? You need to make your choice before you move on to building coop.
One last topic of note: A new projected date for Delridge Day/Delridge Skatepark dedication festivities. Now it’s looking like September 17th. NDNC will be looking for food vendors and planning picnic-style games, among other things.
NDNC usually meets the second Monday of the month, 6:30 pm – watch for word on the next outdoor location!
Two notes from the Admiral Neighborhood Association: First, they’re the latest neighborhood group to launch a website – it went live over the weekend; you can see it here. Previously, their main means of communication was a Yahoo! mail group. The website includes information on the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB), which previously had its own site.
Second – tomorrow night is ANA’s monthly meeting, with lots on the agenda, including the concert series and the 4th of July Kids’ Parade (previewed here earlier tonight). 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church, lower meeting room, California/Hill – see the full agenda here.
(WSB photo of 2010 Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade participants)
Start decorating now! Hard to believe – it’s only (exactly) three weeks till the Fourth of July. And yes, once again this year, West Seattle will have its very own unique parade – the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade on Independence Day morning (a Monday this year). Organizer Sherri Chun sent the official word tonight:
The start time is 10:00 am, at the intersection of 44th and Sunset (in front of 1137 Sunset Ave. SW). Kids’ games and treats afterward at Hamilton Viewpoint Park (games are cancelled if it rains). For those who haven’t done this before, it is an easy 1/2-mile walk through the neighborhood, ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Bring your scooters and strollers, and wear your best 4th of July colors! Many thanks to the Admiral Neighborhood Association for providing concessions this year, to Dave Weitzel at Weitzel Construction for providing our port-a-potties, and to Holy Rosary Parish for underwriting our liability insurance, and making our permits possible.
Many people ask if they can help out. There are 2 ways you can help out. One is by bringing a dollar per kid for the donations box. Our permit costs have gone up considerably this year (we have a Parade Permit and a Parks Permit). We need to FILL THE BOX if we are to continue this great tradition. The Admiral Neighborhood Association does not financially support this event – we are community and self-supported. The second way to help out is by bringing a dozen or two water balloons for the annual water balloon toss. Thank you!
It is a BIG, fun parade if you haven’t been part of it before – check the video, and photo gallery, in our 2010 coverage.
A championship weekend for West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball! League president Eric Olson shares the photo and this report:
West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball played their championship games for the Pinto (7-8 year olds) and Mustang (9-10 year olds) on Saturday. Congratulations to the Menashe Pinto and Alki Lumber Mustang teams for their hard-fought wins. The championships were extremely close, requiring a double-header and extra innings in the second game for both divisions.
For more pictures and a complete update on how the championship games went on
Saturday, visit the WSAPWB website, and the West Seattle Association of Pee Wee Baseball Facebook page.
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