Video: West Seattle Hi-Yu (and more) at Seafair Torchlight Parade 2012

July 28, 2012 11:07 pm

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| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

In case you were watching the Seafair Torchlight Parade on TV and missed the West Seattle Hi-Yu float because, we’re told, they went to a commercial break – here you go. This year, they were fairly close to the top of the running order, so it wasn’t even dark yet when Queen Kayli, Junior Queen Thea, and Junior Princesses Elena and Amanda passed by our spot in the photography zone close to the TV cameras and bleachers at Westlake.

West Seattle’s neighbor South Park was represented too:

Ahead – the West Seattleite-led All-City Band, for starters:

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Update: Local student soccer players win rematch in Colorado

July 28, 2012 6:25 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo tweeted by Special Olympics Washington – @SO_Washington)
FIRST REPORT, 6:25 PM: In a few hours, after the Sounders–Rapids soccer match in Colorado, West Seattle-area student players and coaches, many from the Seattle Schools Unified Soccer League, will take the field for their own match. Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Sam Reed shared the news that they’re traveling with the Sounders and Special Olympics of Washington. The SO Sounders headed out on Friday. Three weeks ago, a similar delegation came here when the Rapids visited the Sounders; the Seattle team won that game, and is now in the Rockies for the rematch against the Colorado team. Reed explains that “more than half of the SO Sounders team (in) Colorado come from Chief Sealth International and West Seattle High Schools. Chief Sealth Head Coach Andrew Saldana is on the coaching staff, while players Morgan Hegge, Cameron O’Donnell, Christian Freitas, Ben Lee, Sydney Proctor, Karina Silva, Eric Swenson and Xahil McDonald all represent the Seahawks as either athletes or partners. Christian Estaban is on the team representing West Seattle.” Traveling with them is Angie Bounds, who’s been publishing updates at sosounders.blogspot.com; she tells WSB the game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, is around 9:30 Colorado time tonight. We’ll update this story after the game (you can check out the SO-WA Twitter feed, too).

11:16 PM UPDATE: SO Sounders win, 2-0, according to Twitter updates. And someone recorded the entire match on phone video – you can see and hear it here.

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Alki Art Fair 2012, day 1: Sand, sea, creativity…

July 28, 2012 2:15 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

We’re into the second half of day 1 of the 2012 Alki Art Fair – with a growing patch of blue sky overhead, and pale blue water as the backdrop. It’s particularly interesting to see artists who focus on the sea, holding court at booths right on the water:

Patri O’Connor, whose work can be found at nearby Alki Arts (and often on the WSB Facebook page!), has a booth just steps away from where Art Fair volunteers are showing this year’s official T-shirt ($18), featuring her design:

That’s Susan Madrid, who’s in the booth right next to the Bathhouse’s waterfront doors, with all the info you need if you’re looking for something or someone. (Inside the Bathhouse, silent auctions are under way – one just ended, and another one is continuing at least till 5 today.) Back to the vendors: Andy Hill is showing and selling sea creatures in handcrafted metal sculpture:

From North Delridge, “Holli with an I” (Margell) is here with her photography:

And kids will find something to do even if they’re not art lovers yet – there was a big crowd around the Seal Sitters‘ table:

And just west of the Bathhouse, Young at Art is here from The Junction (they are moving soon to Fairmount Springs, at Fauntleroy and Raymond) with activities, too.

On the east side of the Bathhouse, you’ll find the main stage, with music till about 9 tonight (here’s the full schedule). If you come before the vendors close for the day at 6 (and again 10-6 tomorrow), you can take the free shuttle from the West Seattle High School parking lot – we’ve already heard from one rider who says it’s NOT crowded.

One other frequent question – what about food? Besides the numerous year-round beach businesses, we’ve seen two booths – frozen custard (focused on sundaes) from Peak’s, west side of the Bathhouse, and T-CE’s Barbecue further west, toward the picnic shelters.

ADDED 3:55 PM: Earlier this afternoon, the Log House Museum presented a show of vintage bathing fashions; the models posed just before taking the stage:

The museum itself, by the way, is open noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays. And while you’re at Alki tomorrow, the Alki Point Lighthouse is open for tours 1-4 pm (Saturdays and Sundays, through August).

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2012 Olympics: West Seattle woman there to cheer for grandson, swimmer Nick Thoman

July 28, 2012 10:53 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

(MONDAY UPDATE: A medal for Ginger’s grandson! Scroll down …)

26-year-old Olympic athlete Nick Thoman is from Ohio – but you can call him an honorary West Seattleite if you’re looking for specific people to cheer during the 2012 Summer Olympics, since his grandmother Ginger Brewer lives on Alki. She headed to London a few days ago to join other family members there. We’ve heard from Ginger before regarding Nick’s swimming success; a neighbor of hers told us he made it to the Olympics, so we e-mailed her, and heard back from daughter-in-law Lauri, who says Nick’s in the 100m backstroke “and may also swim in the 4x100m medley relay.” Lauri says those competition dates are:

July 29 – 100 m prelims
July 30 – 100 m finals
Aug 3 – 4x100m medley relay prelims
Aug 4 – 4x100m medley relay finals

She adds, “He has the third fastest Olympic qualifying time in the world for the 100m backstroke, so he is definitely in the running to bring home some hardware, although we are just super excited that he is even going! He currently holds the world record in the 100m short-course backstroke. The Olympics is a long-course pool. Short course is a 25 meter pool, long course is a 50 meter pool.” Nick is 26 and has been swimming since he was 4, Lauri says, adding, “Go Team USA!!” (P.S. Nick of course has an official “fan page” on Facebook. Here’s the lineup for his preliminary competition at 11 am Sunday, London time.)

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Nick finished first in his heat very early this morning (results here), and is in the second heat at the semifinals tonight, 8:28 pm London time.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: And … he’s in Monday’s finals!

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Nick scored silver today – here are the results (thanks to Ben for sharing the link in the comment section). He is also scheduled to be part of the USA relay team in competition later this week.

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West Seattle Saturday: Alki Art Fair; ‘Young Frankenstein’ outdoors; Delridge Library’s 10th; Torchlight Parade

July 28, 2012 6:07 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Recent sunrise, from Flickr member t_ravtyler, via the WSB group pool)
The summer fun continues – even before the start of the Alki Art Fair this morning, and even beyond the final credit roll for West Seattle Outdoor Movies‘ showing late tonight. Here’s today’s list:

NORTHBOUND VIADUCT CLOSURE STARTS TONIGHT: 5:30 tonight through 5 am Monday, the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed from the West Seattle Bridge northward. However, after the Seafair Torchlight Run tonight, it will reopen from Royal Brougham Way northward. Still means no access from the eastbound WS Bridge, but you’ll be able to get onto northbound 99 from SODO.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE RUMMAGE/BAKE SALE: 8 am to 6 pm today, thousands of items are on sale (including the ones “under wraps” in the photo above). Treats too – including cinnamon rolls and scones, starting first thing in the morning. Map’s in our calendar listing.

EVEN MORE RUMMAGE/GARAGE/YARD SALES: This must be the peak of the season – the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section is full of listings for this weekend. Including the “best yard sale ever.” See the listings here (and if you’re having one, make sure you’ve posted it too – free!).

WSHS CHEERLEADERS’ CAR WASH: The new school year is five and a half weeks away, and the West Seattle High School Cheerleaders are busy fundraising – today, with a car wash at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor; 35th and Webster), 10 am-3 pm.

ALKI ART FAIR – WITH LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC – AND A SHUTTLE! Art/music/shuttle are the three points you’ll want to remember for the two-day Alki Art Fair, for starters. Of course you’ll find art to enjoy, browse, and purchase (dozens of booths and tents along the boardwalk and by the Bathhouse) – but the live-music lineup is more extensive than ever, and stretches beyond the official Art Fair hours of 10 am-6 pm. Here’s the updated music schedule, starting with Kyle Hough at 10:30 this morning and continuing through Matt the Hoopla at 8 tonight. The free shuttle, meantime, is a yellow school bus running every 15 minutes or so from the West Seattle High School parking lot (3000 California SW) to the Art Fair, between 10 am and 6 pm, both days – great option if you are driving your own vehicle, since Alki parking can get crazy. (No road closures for the street fair, so regular buses serving Alki can get you there too.)

SWAT FOOTBALL AND CHEER BARBECUE: Come enjoy a barbecue and sign up for SWAC Football and Cheer‘s new season, 11 am-2 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Barbecue also welcomes new and returning players. Registration also continues online at SWACcougars.org.

DELRIDGE LIBRARY: A TALE OF TEN YEARS: Celebrate the Delridge Library‘s 10th anniversary 1:30 pm-4 pm today – details here.

‘YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Week two for the free Saturday night movies (co-sponsored by WSB) in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW). The movie, “Young Frankenstein,” is at dusk (9-something); pre-show entertainment is by jump-rope champ Rene Bibaud, 7:30 pm start; tonight’s raffle benefits Seattle Lutheran High School, with the SLHS Key Club providing concessions, cupcakes by Sugar Rush Baking Company, and PB&J Textiles (WSB sponsor) handling the popcorn machine. Come early, BYO chair/blanket, and stake out your spot(s).

GARDEN CONCERT: You’ve heard of house concerts; this one’s billed as a garden concert at a West Seattle home, with three acts – Rebecca Cohen, Matt Price, Robin McGillveray – starting at 7 pm; lineup and map here.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: 7 pm at Camp Long (5200 35th SW), Greenstage presents “Henry VIII.” Free!

SEAFAIR TORCHLIGHT PARADE: Downtown, but featuring West Seattleites – our calendar listing includes the full parade running order, according to what Seafair made public earlier this week. (The West Seattle Hi-Yu float and volunteers appear 28th, according to that lineup. Other entries with West Seattle ties include the Seattle All-City Marching Band, led by Denny/Sealth’s Marcus Pimpleton and featuring numerous local student musicians, and King County Executive Dow Constantine. Plus, when the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women contestants go by, you’ll see Hi-Yu representative Kelsey Bills – she’s one of the contenders up for Queen/Princess honors in the pre-parade coronation. And Mayor McGinn will be driven by West Seattleite Craig Vinton in his electric roadster.) Parade starts from just south of Seattle Center at 7:30 pm and proceeds down 4th Avenue to the International District. If you want to get in the mood earlier, there’s a “Torchlight Spectacular” event at Seattle Center starting at 2 pm, with your chance to preview parade floats, among other things. And before the parade, there’s the Torchlight Run.

NIGHTLIFE: Three bands at Skylark Café and Club at 8 pm … Hondo II plays the Feedback Lounge, 9 pm, with special guest Gypsy Thieves … Three bands at the Benbow Room, 9 pm.

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4 days left to donate to Alki Mail and Dispatch pet-food drive

July 28, 2012 4:00 am

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| How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

With four days left, you can still bring dog or cat food to Alki Mail and Dispatch for their July pet-food drive. The staff tells WSB they’ve collected more than 150 pounds of pet food so far (some of it is shown above in the photo they shared), but are hoping for more. As we mentioned at the beginning of the drive, they are accepting dry or canned food and treats. All cat food will go to Kitty Harbor and all dog food to Dogs Deserve Better, an organization raising awareness for dogs who live chained or tethered outdoors.

The drive goes through Tuesday (July 31st). Check Alki Mail’s hours and location here. And by the way, they’re already thinking about doing it again next year!

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3rd world martial-arts championship for West Seattle’s Tamela Thomas

July 28, 2012 2:32 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy student Tamela Thomas has won her third world championship, reports the academy’s Master Steve Elmore (with her in the photo above). Thomas, 52, is one of nine students who went with Elmore to the World Tang Soo Do Association‘s world championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, last weekend, an every-two-years event at which more than 1,600 people from 34 countries competed. He says Thomas became Senior Female Black Belt World Champion “by winning gold medals in weapons, forms, and free fighting. This was her 3rd consecutive world title but her first in the black belt division.” (Back in 2008, we mentioned this Seattle Weekly story about her first world title.) He also reports that the recent death of the association’s founder, Grandmaster Jae C. Shin (reported here), loomed large over the event, with a memorial service following the ribbon-cutting for a new WTSDA in nearby Burlington, N.C.

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West Seattle scene: ‘He’s 60, for Pete’s sake’

July 28, 2012 2:30 am

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| Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s what it said on longtime community activist/volunteer Pete Spalding‘s birthday cake last night at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), where wife Kerry Hughes organized a surprise party: