Now that it’s mid-January, we can truly see the summer light at the end of the tunnel – and in fact, there are three ways you can get involved with this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival right now:

First, there’s a meeting tonight at Uptown Espresso in The Junction to start planning the 2008 Hi-Yu float — this is the float that not only appears in the West Seattle Hi-Yu Grand Parade, but also represents WS in many other parades throughout the region, including the Seafair Torchlight Parade. Danette Carufel from Hi-Yu tells WSB everyone’s invited to tonight’s meeting at 7 pm; this year’s float theme is “Luna Park,” and she says, “bring any and all ideas.” (Also thinking floats is Jim Edwards, who works on the West Seattle parade, and tells WSB he’s got info on “bed-frame floats” for interested businesses and will be getting out the word soon about that.)

Second way to get involved with Hi-Yu right now: Danette says they’re “presently taking applications for our Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship program for young women ages 17-22 (who will not have turned 23 by 8/1/08).” We don’t have a link to the ’08 application info yet but will add one here as soon as it’s available.

Third way: Buy a ticket now for the Hi-Yu Valentine Tea and Silent Auction, happening noon-3 pm at the Alki Homestead. $25/person; e-mail valentinestea@hotmail.com or call 935-6517.

At least for us, makes it a little easier to cope with the chilly, stormy winter weather by remembering we are more than halfway home to summertime!