West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Hi-Yu chooses its 2011 theme: Sparkling Seattle

Big competition tonight at the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival‘s combined monthly membership meeting and holiday party. Main order of business: Pitches and voting for next year’s float theme. Junior Court Princess Riley Fredericks had the winning idea, and even made a model for her pitch: Sparkling Seattle, celebrating some of the best and brightest in our city.

That was one of six proposed themes, and the competition was so close, three rounds of voting were needed to come up with a winner (and even then, it was close). The others included a space concept, a flight theme, a space-aliens-signifying-everyone’s-welcome-in-WS theme, a circus motif, and the “wild, wild Northwest.” Next step: Sketches by float designer Steve Fisher, who was among the two dozen or so people at the meeting inside the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church Hall. Also tonight, a Hi-Yu tradition: The plaques and trophies from the previous parade season are given to individual royalty members for caretaking; this year, the “Dreams Do Come True” float won five awards, at the

West Seattle holidays: Junction Shop Late Thursdays; Kiwanis; Hi-Yu

FIRST: Yet more holiday news from The Junction – they’ve officially announced Shop Late Thursdays, with 11 merchants participating so far (including 3 from the WSB Holiday Shopping/Business Guide). That means they’ll be open for special evening shopping 6-9 pm Thursdays till Christmas, starting tomorrow and continuing through December 23rd. On Thursday next week, this will coincide with West Seattle Art Walk.

SECOND: Looking ahead to next Saturday, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is issuing daily reminders about its annual Pancake Breakfast – coming up this Saturday morning, 7 am-11 am, at the Alki Masonic Hall, which is in The Junction, not Alki, 40th/Edmunds, just east of Jefferson Square, plenty of parking. In addition to Santa Claus, you’ll get to mingle with West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival royalty, according to Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn, who also just sent this thanks regarding the fundraising ornament sale:

West Seattle Hi-Yu would like to thank the West Seattle Community, Hi-Yu members and friends for their support in out Annual Holiday Ornament Sale! It was a huge success and all ornaments have been sold — we wish you all Happy Holidays!

Just hours after the pancake breakfast, it’ll be time for the West Seattle Junction Community Tree Lighting at 5 pm Saturday in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) – new location this year, now that the long-awaited park is finally open. More holiday events/giving opportunities/info (like Christmas-tree lots and church services) on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page (and thanks to everyone who’s sent new info today – we’ll be adding it tonight!).

West Seattle holidays: Trim the tree, and help Hi-Yu

Once again this holiday season – yes, it’s the holiday season, with Thanksgiving just three weeks from today! – the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival is raising money by selling special ornaments. You can place an order by phone or look for them at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market starting this Sunday, says Hi-Yu Vice President Deena Mahn:

It’s time for West Seattle Hi-Yu’s Annual Ornament Sale!!! This year we have 3 beautiful handmade ornaments to choose from. Each ornament is approximately 7-8 inches long and was designed and created for Hi-Yu by glass artist Zeus Rudner. We met him at this year’s Issaquah Salmon Days parade! The cost of each ornament is $15.00, and will help support this year’s Senior Court Scholarship program, float building and our festival events! They make great gifts for family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, clients and yourself!! Pre-orders are being taken now with our first shipment coming in mid-November; please call (206) 935-6517 to place your order. Ornaments are also available for purchase from any Hi-Yu member and will also be sold at the Farmers’ Market in November. Thanks for your support!

West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival: New fundraiser; float @ Fauntleroy

(WSB video of the Hi-Yu volunteers and float in the July 2009 Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown)
Another award-winning parade season ended recently for West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival leaders, volunteers, and royalty, with their trip to the Issaquah Salmon Days Parade. But the end of summer never means the end of their work – it’s time to start looking ahead to next year – and renewing community support. Here’s one way you can be part of it:

West Seattle Hi-Yu is starting off the Fall season with a fundraiser through PartyLite. Hi-Yu will receive 50% of sales to go toward the expenses of the Summer Festival, including building/transporting/upkeep of the float, and scholarships for young women in our community.

There are 3 products to choose from, which you can view at smithwicks.net. Just click on “fundraisers” and then “fundraiser products.” (However, items need to be ordered through Carol Winston.) There are a variety of wonderful holiday scents and the items make perfect hostess gifts for parties coming up, teacher gifts and all-occasion gifts. Many in the community are already familiar with these candles and know the benefit of non-lead wicks (no black soot), long burn time, and no leftover wax.

Please help support our community festival! Items can be ordered through Carol Winston. Please send an email to winstonfamily@yahoo.com to communicate your interest. Questions about the product can be directed to Cecile Smith 206-730-1202. There is sales tax of 9.5%, but no shipping costs. Orders must be received by October 17th.

That’s this Sunday – the same day as the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, where you can get one more look at the much-honored 2010 Hi-Yu float, “Dreams Do Come True” (full festival schedule here).

West Seattle @ Torchlight Parade: Hi-Yu float award, princess

7 pm and time to start our coverage of the West Seattleites who are in the city’s biggest parade tonight, the Seafair Torchlight Parade. We’re along the parade route downtown. For starters, we just got word from West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival president Tim Winston that the Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True” float has won the Princess Award – same one last year’s float won! Just got one addition to the list of West Seattleites to watch for – Michelle Edwards, former Hi-Yu Queen, is playing cymbals with the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder. 7:54 PM UPDATE: And again this year, the Hi-Yu rep in the Miss Seafair program has been chosen as a princess – Tim just sent word that Margo Femiano was chosen 1st Princess. (Just got a photo of Margo from tonight’s coronation, via text message – thanks! – added it at left.) ADDED 9:54 PM: The Hi-Yu float went by our spot (by City Hall) a short time ago – here’s video:

11:48 PM: Adding some more video, as promised. Here are the Pathfinder K-8 unicyclists flying by:

And here’s new Seafair First Princess Margo Femiano, riding in the parade:

Margo was Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu for 2008-2009; because Miss Seafair candidates have a busy schedule, as do members of Hi-Yu royalty, Miss Hi-Yu isn’t in the Miss Seafair competition until the summer after her reign ends (Margo was crowned in 2008; she crowned her Hi-Yu successor, Georgia Mitchell, in 2009; and Georgia in turn just crowned her successor, Kelsey Bills, last Monday – Georgia will be Hi-Yu’s contender for Miss Seafair next year).

West Seattle Hi-Yu: Miss Seafair rep’s awards; reception thanks

(Margo Femiano in last Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade; photo by Mark Hewitt)
Two West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival updates: First, tomorrow’s the big night for Margo Femiano, who represents Hi-Yu in the Miss Seafair competition, which ends with the coronation along the Torchlight Parade route tomorrow night downtown. (Margo was Miss Hi-Yu 2009; the queen represents the festival in Miss Seafair the summer after her reign, because that program has too many commitments/appearances for concurrent participation.) And even ahead of tomorrow night, she’s a winner, according to info from Tim and Carol Winston of Hi-Yu: Margo won four scholarships at this week’s Seafair Commodores Princess Awards Banquet at Salty’s on Alki: The Commodores/Seattle Kiwanis Interview Award, 25 percent of the Miss Seafair score, $900 scholarship; Commodores Public Speaking Award (10 percent of the score), $400; second place in the Banner Bank Academic Award (20 percent of the score), $900; and – this one doesn’t count toward the title – one of five recipients of $1,000 from the Seattle Jaycees Miss Community Service Awards. Tomorrow night’s coronation will be at the Westlake grandstand for the Torchlight Parade, 7:30 pm – if you don’t happen to be watching from there in person, you can see it on Channel 7 TV (or streamed at kirotv.com), and we’ll publish a quick update too.

Meantime, there’s a followup to the big day last Saturday – with not only Hi-Yu participation in the American Legion Post 160 West Seattle Grand Parade, but also a “visiting court” reception beforehand – read on for Hi-Yu’s public thanks to those who made it possible: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Hi-Yu: Miss Seafair rep’s awards; reception thanks…

Your new Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu, just crowned: Kelsey Bills

(All photos by Cliff DesPeaux; here, Queen Kelsey is in red dress at center, Princess Victoria two to the left of her in blue, Princess Rosemarie two to the right of her in aqua)
ORIGINAL 9:32 PM REPORT: Just crowned onstage at the West Seattle High School Theater: Queen Kelsey Bills and Princesses Victoria Ferrulli and Rosemarie Unite. (added – video of the announcements)

(All video by Tracy Record)
The two-and-a-half-hour pageant was the culmination of several judging sessions – the performance and speaking rounds tonight counted for 25 percent of the score. But the program featured much more, including performances by the outgoing Senior Court and Junior Court members, greetings from visiting past Hi-Yu royalty (including Funky Jane’s owner Angela Nichols, whose daughter Taylor Nichols is the newly crowned Junior Court Queen, 20 years after Angela was on the Senior Court):

The audience also heard from the current Miss Seafair (‘for five more days!” she smiled) and Margo Femiano, the 2008-2009 Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu who’s representing WS in this year’s Miss Seafair program – we’ll find out next Saturday night, before the Torchlight Parade, how she does!

Special scholarship-award winners, revealed just before the Queen and Princesses: Academic Achievement, Community Service, Creative Expression, Miss Congeniality Awards, all went to Victoria Ferrulli; Entrepreneurial and Technology Awards, both to Rosemarie Unite; Director’s Award, Kelsey Porter; Spirit of Hi-Yu and Hi-Yu Alumni Awards, both to Kelsey Bills; Athletic Leadership Award, Melanie Frey.

ADDED: More video, photos and details from the coronation – see it all ahead: Click to read the rest of Your new Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu, just crowned: Kelsey Bills…

Who will be the next Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu? Be there tonight!

(WS Grand Parade photo by Rhonda Porter; Senior Court candidates rode in convertibles)
If you’ve been to any of West Seattle’s big events this summer, you’ve seen them: The five young women vying to be the next Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu, usually in their white-on-red Hi-Yu polo shirts. Since their introduction two and a half months ago, the have been appearing at events, helping raise money by selling Hi-Yu buttons and promoting the festival. Tonight, at the Hi-Yu Senior Court Coronation, we find out which of the five will become the next Queen and Princesses, not only representing Hi-Yu, but also representing West Seattle as the float travels to events around the region. You are invited to the coronation program tonight at West Seattle High School Theater, 7 pm. Click ahead for photos we took of the candidates as they prepared to ride in the West Seattle Grand Parade this past Saturday – and for a bit more info about tonight’s event:

Click to read the rest of Who will be the next Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu? Be there tonight!…

West Seattle Hi-Yu: Community brunch today, 9 am-noon

(West Seattle Grand Parade 2010 photo by Creighton Yost)
ORIGINAL 6:59 AM PREVIEW: At the height of Hi-Yu, the day after the West Seattle festival’s float, royalty and volunteers got to show their stuff for the hometown crowd, they’re inviting you to come have brunch with them today. The annual West Seattle Hi-Yu Community Brunch is 9 am-noon this morning, at a different location this year – Alki UCC Church (6112 SW Hinds; here’s a map) – particularly convenient if you’re going to Day 2 of the Alki Art Fair (10 am-6 pm; live-music schedule here). Brunch is $6 adults/$3 kids. Among other things, the community brunch is your last chance to wish the candidates luck before tomorrow night’s coronation (you’re invited to that too – 7 pm Monday, West Seattle High School Theater – and advance tickets should be on sale at today’s brunch).

10:30 PM UPDATE: We just dropped in to check on how the brunch is going. Hi-Yu’s Carol Winston told us that as of just after 10 am, they’d already served about 50 people!

Video: West Seattle Big Band @ Hi-Yu Concert in the Park 2010

ORIGINAL ‘HAPPENING NOW’ REPORT AT 7:49 PM: We’re at Hiawatha Community Center’s east lawn with a triple-digit crowd for the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park, in what one concertgoer just described as “perfect” weather – not hot, not cool. The West Seattle Big Band is still in the first half of its set, with selections from legendary composers including Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, and vocalist Elizabeth Hott guesting on classics like “When I Fall in Love” and “Fever.” Shortly, the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards will be presented, and the audience will get to hear from West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and candidates too, with more WSBB music after that. (Hi-Yu contingent photo added later – this was just steps away from West Seattle High School, where the new Senior Court will be coronated Monday night)

Still lots of time to wander over here if you have the chance, bring a blanket or chair, there’s lots of room on the lawn – and the show’s free. P.S. One Hi-Yu note – new location for the Community Brunch this Sunday morning, Alki UCC, 9 am-noon. More later on the concert and the awards presentation! ADDED 11:11 PM: One sample of tonight’s great music from the WS Big Band:

You can catch the WS Big Band playing Hiawatha again later this summer – they’re the sixth and final act in the Admiral Neighborhood Association Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB), which starts a week from Thursday (July 29) – the WSBB plays on Sept. 2. Meanwhile, photos of the volunteers honored tonight will be in a separate story.

Tomorrow: Celebrate volunteers during Hi-Yu Concert in the Park

That’s our photo from last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park, featuring not only the fabulous West Seattle Big Band but also the official celebration of the first West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Award winners (WSB July 2009 coverage here). Another group was honored during the West Seattle Junction Tree Lighting last holiday season (WSB December 2009 coverage here), and now the third group of honorees will be celebrated tomorrow night, when it’s Hi-Yu Concert in the Park time again! BYO chairs/blankets to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for great WSBB music and a chance to cheer/applaud superstar volunteers who help keep our community humming. If you missed the announcement last Thursday night, here’s the latest honoree list again:

Community award – Dennis Ross, longtime activist/advocate in the Admiral neighborhood

Youth award – Arthea and Ronda Barber, volunteers at Highland Park Elementary School

Environment award – Scott Blackstock, volunteer caretaker for Roxhill Bog/Park

Group award – Furry Faces Foundation, animal advocates and providers of compassionate assistance for animals’ human companions

The West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards are sponsored by the Delridge and Southwest District Councils and WSB, with nominations by YOU; nominees are reviewed, and winners chosen, by a group of reps from the district councils. Join us all at Hiawatha tomorrow night, 7 pm (the concert, as always, is free).

2010-2011 West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court crowned at Hiawatha

From left, Princess Riley Fredricks, Queen Taylor Nichols, and Princess Kaitlin Lindell – your new West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court, coronated this afternoon during the Fun Fest at Hiawatha Community Center (which continues till 3 pm, by the way – pix of that, later). The new queen is the daughter of Angela Nichols, who runs Funky Jane’s in The Junction:

(With proud mom Angela, that’s Junior Court organizer Diane Szender at left, official Hi-Yu photographer Joanne Murray at right.) Queen Taylor and Princess Kaitlin are both 10-year-old Holy Rosary School students; Princess Riley is 11 and going into Madison Middle School. Today’s event included, as is traditional, greetings from the previous Junior Court – Princess Kaitlin Morgan, Queen Kailin Jo Alexander Spencer, and Princess Isabella Carufel – in the next photo with all eight of today’s candidates (the other contenders were Issabella Brown, Sadie Botuchis, Katie Taisey, Alina Guyon, and Madison Milojevich):

The 2009-2010 Junior Court also performed a short dance routine to the Hall & Oates oldie “You Make My Dreams Come True,” apropos to this year’s Hi-Yu theme, “Dreams Do Come True.” Three of this year’s Senior Court candidates appeared as well – from left, Victoria Ferrulli, Rosemarie Unite and Kelsey Porter:

And from the current Senior Court, from left, Princess Veronica Pupava and Queen Georgia Mitchell:

Afterward, photo op for everyone – today’s emcees, past Hi-Yu royalty, joined them – at left, Veronica Szender; at right, Danica Tongol:

The Senior Court coronation, an evening event, is coming up a week from Monday – 7 pm July 26 at West Seattle High School Theater. But before then, you’ll get to see the Hi-Yu contingent in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade (which many still call the Hi-Yu Parade), which rolls down California SW from SW Lander (Lafayette/Safeway) to Edmunds (south end of the main Junction business district) starting at 11 am Saturday, July 24, just one week from tomorrow – more about the parade in the next few days (we’re excited to be in it again this year too).

Extra time for girls to apply for West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court

A summer day in the life of a West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court queen or princess – On the 4th of July, we photographed Queen Kailin and Princesses Isabella and Kaitlin at the Admiral Kids’ Parade in the morning, and then again at the Burien Independence Day Parade in the afternoon. And that’s just part of the fun. Hi-Yu leaders tell WSB they’ve extended the deadline for girls to apply to be on the next Junior Court: You now have till July 13th – that’s next Tuesday. If you’re interested, you can e-mail Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn at dbmahn@comcast.net and she’ll reply with all the info you need (or if you’re interested in downloading the application right now, you can get it here. Plus, you’ll find application forms at the Hi-Yu booth at West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Qualifications, you ask? Ages 8-11 by September, and must live and/or attend school in West Seattle. Apply by Tuesday, and there won’t be too much suspense – coronation is the following Friday, July 16th.

West Seattleites in Burien parade – but wait! Santa Claus?

We’ve never covered the Burien 4th of July Parade before, but we heard about enough West Seattle participation that we headed down for a few photos. Before we get to the West Seattleites – we had to start this off with the guest appearance by Santa Claus. Who could be more appropriate on a rainy, chilly holiday, summer or not? Now, on with the West Seattleites. First, the much-acclaimed West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float and its entourage:

Then, the political participants – First, the 34th District Democrats (whose turf includes Burien, though the main monthly meetings are usually in WS):

Now, the candidates – in our candid shot from the staging area, that’s State Sen. Joe McDermott (who’s running for County Council) at left, a West Seattleite as is Marcee Stone (running for State House Pos. 2) next to him, and at right, Rep. Sharon Nelson (from Maury Island), who’s running unopposed for the Senate seat McDermott is leaving:

Also from the State House Position 2 race – West Seattleite Mike Heavey:

And Burien resident Joe Fitzgibbon:

We didn’t see the 4th candidate in the race, West Seattle entrepreneur Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy, there (if we missed him – our apologies!). We did see one of McDermott’s three County Council opponents, West Seattleite Diana Toledo — we had a photo of her marching, but her campaign just sent this one with Seafair Pirates right after the parade:

Toledo marched in the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade earlier in the day. If we missed any of the other County Council candidates, Shawn McEvoy or Tim Fahey, again, forgive us. (P.S. With the August 17th election nearing, we start in-depth coverage Tuesday – we’ve sat down recently to talk with each of the four candidates in the House race, for starters, and you’ll see a story a day, Tuesday through Friday.) One more parade participant of West Seattle note:

That’s a RapidRide bus – of the variety we’ll supposedly see here in about two years. In case you want a better look, we’re checking to see if it’ll be part of the big West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on July 24th. ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Thanks to Mark for sharing this photo of another West Seattleite in the parade:

Mark photographed West Seattleite Bruce Hart in wife Stacie’s new MINI Cooper, adding, “Bruce and Stacie are part of the Puget Sound MINI Motoring Club, which participated in the parade for the fourth straight year. The club annually escorts Burien Rotary Club dignitaries. Bruce also has a MINI, which was in the parade and being driven by a relative.”

White Rose night for West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, hopefuls, alumnae

(From the WSB Flickr group: This year’s Hi-Yu Senior Court contenders, photographed by Rhonda)
A special night for the quintet of current West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court candidates, as well as Hi-Yu royalty past and present, as the Order of the White Rose reception filled Fauntleroy Church‘s fellowship hall. Beach Drive Blog was there. This year’s Senior Court coronation is coming up July 26; 10 days before then, the Junior Court is chosen, and there’s still time for interested girls to apply – July 12 is the application deadline, and the forms can be found here.

West Seattle Hi-Yu adds another award to this year’s haul

Yet another award for the West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True” float – the President’s Award in the Port Orchard Fathoms O’ Fun Parade on Saturday, according to Hi-Yu vice president Deena Mahn. (We should have some photos to add soon.) Next up for the float, next Sunday’s Burien 4th of July Parade (time/route info here). And before then, the West Seattle Hi-Yu Order of the White Rose Reception – a women-only event honoring Hi-Yu royalty and hopefuls, past and present – is 7 pm this Tuesday at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall. 8:14 AM: Photos added. In the one below, from left, Senior Court Princess Kelly Nealson, Junior Court Princess Kaitlin Morgan, 2009 Junior Court Princess Anna Fuller, 2009 Junior Court Queen Zoe Mahn, and Queen Georgia are posing with the President’s Award plaque.

You’ll get to see the award-winning Hi-Yu float (and royalty, and volunteers) in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 24, starting at 11 am from California/Lander in the Admiral District and proceeding down California SW to SW Edmunds in The Junction.

West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float brings home another award

First an award in Port Townsend in mid-May, then another one in Shelton two weeks ago, now another award for Seattle’s only traveling neighborhood-based float, the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, living out this year’s theme, “Dreams Do Come True“:

The West Seattle float participated in the Marysville Strawberry Festival Parade on Saturday evening. It fortunately did not rain all day, until the float was on the trailer on the way back to Seattle.

We won the Berrysville award. The crew worked hard to install lights for our first evening parade. However, because of our early position in the parade, it was fully daylight when we were on the route. Everyone will have to wait for Seafair Torchlight Parade to see the float lit up.

The picture shows Junior Court Princess Kaitlin Morgan (left) and Junior Court Queen Kailin Spencer enjoying the strawberry shortcake that the festival provides for royalty and float crews.

Tim Winston
President
West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival

…and that sets the stage for a reminder, applications are being accepted for this year’s Junior Court, whose members will be chosen on July 16 – the info and application-form link are in this story!

West Seattle Hi-Yu invitation to Junior Court hopefuls, and sponsors

(WSB photo from July 2009)
Two announcements tonight from the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival, as their biggest events of the year get closer: First, the photo above is from last year’s Junior Court Coronation – and tonight Hi-Yu is putting out the call for girls who’d like to be considered for Junior Court this year. From Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn:

The Hi-Yu Summer Festival is fast approaching and the float will be traveling to the following communities soon: Marysville, Port Orchard and Burien, to name just a few.

Also, it’s that time of year to look for NEW JUNIOR COURT ROYALTY FOR THE 2010-2011 YEAR. The current court of royalty – Queen Kailin, Princess Isabella and Princess Kaitlin - will be crowning new girls on Friday, July 16th at the Hiawatha Fun Fest.

For an application, click here to open the document, fill it out and mail it in BY MONDAY, JULY 12. ALL INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN THE DOCUMENT. Try out to be part of Hi-Yu royalty and have fun making new friends!

A few things you might want to know before you click – age requirement is “between the ages of 8 and 11 by September 1st.” Also, girls must live or attend school in West Seattle (zip codes 98106, 98116, 98126, 98136, 98146).

LAST CALL FOR SPONSORS! Hi-Yu is putting out one last call for sponsors as they get ready to send the Summer Festival Souvenir Book to the printer. (Supporters are recognized in the front of the book.) Hi-Yu Festival president Tim Winston says, “Due to the economy, our sponsor level is down slightly, while insurance costs for the float, etc. have increased. All sponsorships help with the Float program, the Scholarship Program, and Hi-Yu events.” They’re not looking for a big commitment – the $50 and $100 levels help a lot; e-mail winstonfamily@yahoo.com if you’re interested. They don’t have online donation set up but you can send a check to West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival at P.O. Box 16130, Seattle, WA 98116.

West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival: Another award-winning field trip

(First three photos by Mark and Carrie Hewitt)
How does a queen cross a mud puddle? Very carefully! That’s the current Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu, Georgia Mitchell, leaping over a lingering puddle on Saturday in Shelton, where the Hi-Yu float had another award-winning day:

The “Dreams Do Come True” float was in Shelton for the Mason County Forest Festival Parade, where West Seattle Hi-Yu won the Governor’s Award – here’s your Hi-Yu royalty with the plaque and fellow parade-participant clowns:

Reporting the big win – on the heels of the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival Parade Mayor’s Award last month – Hi-Yu Summer Festival President Tim Winston adds, “The float ran great, the girls did a great job representing West Seattle, and there was SUN!” Also along for the trip, two of the current Miss Hi-Yu candidates, Kelsey Bills and Melanie Frey:

(Photo by Carol Winston)
The candidates have several big events ahead before the July 26 coronation reveals who will be the next Queen and Senior Court – first one, the candidates’ reception at American Legion Post 160 this Wednesday night.

West Seattle Hi-Yu float’s award-winning 2010 debut

Thanks to Kippy Jo for sending photos from the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float’s 2010 debut in the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival Parade. She reports that the new “Dreams Do Come True” float won the Mayor’s Award – following in the tire tracks of its 2009 predecessor, which had an award-winning season.

Might have more “official” photos to add later! Meantime, if you don’t happen to see them in an out-of-town parade sooner, you will see the Hi-Yu float and royalty in the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, which travels its Admiral-to-Edmunds route along California SW on July 24th. ADDED 3:55 PM: Thanks to Carrie for sending a few more photos – first, the Senior and Junior Courts with the trophy for the aforementioned Port Townsend award:

And another look at the new float:

Photos: West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby

Perfect morning at the Seacrest “pond” set up for the annual West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby – sun and fun. After we stopped by for a few photos, Larry Nitkey sent us this next pic, explaining, “Had a lot of fun fishing. My daughter Leilani Nitkey proudly displays her first-ever catch.”

Since it’s a Hi-Yu event, that means royalty – and in this case, would-be royalty – two Miss Hi-Yu candidates stopped for a photo:

That’s Melanie Frey and Victoria Ferrulli; as reported here Tuesday, they are candidates along with Kelsey Bills, Kelsey Porter, and Rosemarie Anne Ko Unite.

Seen at Seacrest: Parking alert; Hi-Yu Fishing Derby preps

Thanks to those who e-mailed about parking restrictions at and around Seacrest tomorrow afternoon-evening – the signs are up throughout the parking lot and along the north side of Harbor for about a block on either side of Seacrest. All of those areas are marked “no parking” for 3-10 pm tomorrow (Saturday). One tipster said it’s for a film crew, though we haven’t confirmed that. (2:55 pm update, SDOT confirms it) Good news, though, that time frame will NOT affect a big event at Seacrest tomorrow morning:

The fish have just arrived for the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Kids’ Fishing Derby. It’s free to the first 150 kids, who will be provided bamboo fishing poles to borrow, and goodie bags to keep:

That’s club recording secretary (and 22-year member) Roz Mascio, part of the crew putting together the goodie bags at the pier right now. Club members will also be keeping round-the-clock watch on the “fish pond” till the derby’s over – it’s scheduled for 8 am to 11 am tomorrow.

Go fish! West Seattle Sportsmen’s Hi-Yu Kids Fishing Derby Saturday

That photo is courtesy of the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club, which wanted to get out one more reminder that it’s kicking off West Seattle Hi-Yu season with the annual, free Kids’ Fishing Derby this Saturday at Seacrest. 8 am-11 am, the first 150 kids ages 12 and under get a chance to catch one of the fish with which a portable pond will be stocked, right on the Seacrest dock. No registration required – just show up. Here’s the official flyer.