(WSB photo of Sherri Chun speaking to participants before last year’s 4th of July parade)
The longtime coordinator of the 4th of July Kids’ Parade, which has grown far beyond its origins as a fun little North Admiral event, is asking the Admiral Neighborhood Association to consider taking it over. At Wednesday night’s ANA meeting (a day later than usual, to avoid a Valentine-night conflict), Sherri Chun came to talk about the parade’s past, present and future. That, and other toplines from the meeting, ahead:

4TH OF JULY PARADE: First a bit of backstory – this is the only 4th of July parade in West Seattle, but it’s not the classic “floats and marching bands” type of parade; hundreds of kids and their families come from all over the peninsula to walk and ride (bicycles, scooters, strollers, wagons) the route through residential streets in North Admiral. No preregistration – they just show up, and everybody gets to be in it. (Here’s our report from last year, with video.)

Chun said it had largely originated with a group of parents who knew each other from Holy Rosary School and had worked with the school to help with underwriting and miscellaneous costs. It’s grown to the point, though – in costs as well as participation – that starting in 2013, a group/organization of some kind will have to be involved; people who contact her about it now have expectations of organization and structure that just didn’t exist when it was a casual little neighborhood event put on by an informal group of parents. With the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s growing prominence in the area – it’s also participated in the after-parade gathering at Hamilton Viewpoint the past few years – Chun thought it might be a natural fit to take over the event.

ANA president Katy Walum agreed that in concept, it seems like a fit, while noting that her group already has one huge public event to manage each summer, the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (which, by the way, has dozens of applicants for this year’s lineup, she said later). Bottom line – ANA isn’t saying “no” to the parade, but needs to discuss the idea further. Meantime, Chun made it clear, the parade is NOT in jeopardy for this year – July 4, 2012, is a go, and she’s set to organize it again – she’s looking to hand it off for 2013 and beyond.

ADMIRAL DISTRICT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: The ANA got this group launched, and now it’s ready to fly solo, Walum reported, after electing its own slate of officers this week:

President – Parris Sadow (Atomic Boys)
Vice President – Kirk Mead (Umpqua Bank)
Treasurer – Jay Wergin (Heartland Café)
Secretary – Krystal Kelley (Mind Unwind)/Eric Renn (West Seattle Crossfit)

The merchants’ group also had a recent networking meet-and-greet at the Benbow Room, with big participation, hailed as a success.

One other note: Mead and ANA’s David Whiting, who has worked for months on helping get the merchants’ group off the ground, talked about an Admiral survey by the city’s Office of Economic Development. Its findings included a conclusion that the two major draws for the business district are its three grocery stores (Metropolitan Market and PCC Natural Markets [WSB sponsors] and the new Admiral Safeway) and its restaurants/bars.

HAMILTON VIEWPOINT CONCERNS: An area resident came to the meeting to bring up concerns about the viewpoint park – including voluminous litter (she brought a sample) and the fact that it’s becoming “Party Central” on weekends. Some others at the meeting suggested it’s more like “Party Central” every day of the week. They subsequently discussed talking with local police about more patrols at the park – and that segued into a discussion of the Block Watch program (got yours yet? info’s here).

Next month, ANA will be back to its regular meeting night, 2nd Tuesday of the month – 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at Admiral Congregational Church, California/Hill.