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What all those police cars were doing in west Admiral
September 22, 2011 12:47 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Finally got the bottom line on heavy police presence in the 51st/Waite (map) area. After a few calls/texts, we went over to check it out – more than half a dozen SPD cars along a couple of blocks, but no lights or sirens, no visible-from-street sense of urgency, no police tape, no one visible to approach with a question. The mystery was solved by Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams‘ reply to our inquiry: He says they arrested a misdemeanor domestic-violence suspect: “We needed some time to talk the adult male suspect out. He’s in custody.”

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Another round of CSO projects on the way to West Seattle
September 21, 2011 10:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

First of at least three reports we’ll be publishing about tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting:

The acronym CSO – combined-sewer overflow – has loomed large over some western West Seattle neighborhoods in the past couple years, and tonight we learned that the state mandate to reduce CSOs will affect eastern West Seattle too, since the existing storage systems for the overflows “just aren’t enough.”

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Bicycle commuter: ‘Never in my life has any other human being so directly and purposefully threatened my life’
September 21, 2011 9:16 pm
|      180 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Was it part of what some fear is a “war” between drivers and bicyclists? An isolated incident? Or? A commuter who bicycles to his West Seattle workplace says he was almost killed by a truck driver this morning, just before the final leg of his trip, and he believes it was deliberate. He has since written and sent a letter to the mayor, published in its entirety below:

Dear Mayor McGinn,

My name is Kit Newman and I am writing you to inform you about a most outrageous incident I experienced on my bike commute this morning. I have been a resident of the City of Seattle for 21 years now and nothing like this has ever happened to me.

I live in the Central District at 22nd avenue and Yesler Way. I work at a small architecture firm on California Ave. SW in West Seattle. I have been commuting by bike between the CD and West Seattle most days for the past 4 years. My normal route takes me down Jackson street to the water front and then south along East Marginal way to reach Spokane street and thus over the little bridge to West Seattle. This incident happened along the southbound lane of East Marginal way very near the Coast Guard port facility and the US Customs warehouse. Having just crossed the intersection of S. Holgate St. and E. Marginal right in front of the entrance to the Hanjin container port terminal, I proceeded south in the southbound lane of East Marginal. There were many bike commuters from West Seattle coming the northbound direction in the temporary bike lane along the west side of the street. Seeing the southbound lane ahead was clear of any vehicle traffic, I elected to ride in that lane rather than against the opposing bike lane traffic coming northbound. The long line of opposing vehicle traffic in the northbound lane of E. Marginal was stopped at that time because a freight train was using the rail crossing at S. Holgate behind me.

As I proceeded in the clear southbound lane ahead, to my utter astonishment, one of the several 18 wheeler container trucks that were stopped in the traffic of the northbound lane, pulled out of that lane, crossed the double yellow center line between lanes and proceeded to accelerate coming northbound head on to me in the southbound lane!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car found fast; pickpocket victim fights back
September 21, 2011 6:39 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports to share tonight. First, the story of a stolen car found – engine still running! – before its owner knew it was gone; second, a young pickpocket victim fights back. Both ahead:Read More

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West Seattle waters: Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft relaunched
September 21, 2011 3:33 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Almost two years after we first heard the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft‘s story from its namesake’s husband, Guy Smith, he sent this update last night (the “today” references mean Tuesday):

Bird and seal watchers may be interested to know that after a 7-month absence, the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft is back on its anchor by the Alki Lighthouse. After its initial launch in November 2008, the little 24-square-foot refuge has been a lot like the cat with 9 lives. Four times it broke loose and 4 times it was found and retrieved through people finding it, reading the ID tag and then calling with the location. The 4th time it broke loose was caused by the big February storm this year when the anchor line, buoy, and raft all ended up on a rocky stretch of beach about half way to Lincoln Park. Unfortunately, rough water precluded retrieval by sea and steep banks precluded retrieval by land. The frame was cut up and abandoned, but the buoy and flotation were salvaged.

After what seems like too long a delay, the raft was reframed yesterday and launched today. The anchor line was rebuilt with stainless steel cable and hopefully will better withstand the forces of Mother Nature. But we know from experience that something will break loose again; the question is not “if” but “when”. The thing about a raft is that while it’s unmistakably a raft on the water, when it breaks loose and ends up on a rocky beach, it blends in and is not easy to spot. We really appreciate the efforts of those who have spotted our wayward raft in the past and have phoned us with its location.

Today our neighbors helped with the re-launch and now we are all awaiting sea life visitors. A seagull was quick to check it out, but we’re looking for more interesting visitors; visitors like seals with pups, the rare otter during daylight but probably more at night, cormorants that always fish alone but which rest in groups, and the harlequin ducks which always appear in pairs. It’s noteworthy that other diving ducks that winter at Alki Point, like buffleheads, goldeneyes, grebes, guillemots, mergansers and surf scoters, always fish together in groups, diving together and surfacing together, but they never get on the raft.

The wildlife protectors at West Seattle-founded Seal Sitters have said they wish more people would set up rafts like this one – as they are the least-dangerous resting places for seal pups and other marine mammals.

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West Seattle businesses: Sweet Anthem perfume shop to open
September 21, 2011 2:16 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

West Seattle is about to get its second perfume shop. Sweet Anthem Handmade Perfumes will open next month in a Morgan Junction live-work storefront at 6021-B California SW, according to an announcement we just received. The owner and perfumer is Meredith Smith, whose “handmade, ethical (and) vegan” Sweet Anthem line has been available online since 2007. The announcement adds:

Meredith uses natural and synthetic ingredients that are local and sustainable, working with a local, carbon neutral energy company to find petrol-free alternatives to synthetic notes. The Sweet Anthem line includes pure parfum oils, eau de parfums, solid perfumes, soaps, ambient room sprays and bath oils. Meredith produces these products in the shop.

The announcement also says Sweet Anthem will carry “other local indie fragrance lines culled by Meredith,” will have a “custom fragrance bar (where) DIYers can create their own fragrance from a menu of 200+ fragrance notes,” and will offer Perfume Making 101 classes. The grand opening is set for 11 am-8 pm daily, October 12-15, after which the regular hours will be 11 am-6 pm.

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Go back to school – as a volunteer! New WSB feature
September 21, 2011 12:33 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish requests for volunteer help – and over the years, some have asked, what about a regular feature listing such needs? Here’s a start: Fauntleroy resident Judy Pickens (right), who volunteers her time and talent to a variety of endeavors, offered to gather and report information on volunteer needs at local schools where the need is greatest. Here’s her first contribution, with more to come. So – go back to school, as a volunteer!

By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog

With the school year now under way, teachers and support staff are beginning to identify volunteer needs. Those needs are especially acute at area schools where work schedules, child-care responsibilities, and/or language factors greatly affect parents’ availability to help.

Two such schools kick off this occasional column, compiled in cooperation with volunteer coordinators for selected West Seattle and White Center schools. Listings will be for one-time events a few weeks out and for ongoing needs.

To inquire about any of the following opportunities to enrich our public schools, contact the volunteer coordinator noted under the name of each school. Expect to complete a standard security-clearance process – and to know that you have made a difference in the lives of students.

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Followup: West Seattle deck fire brings thanks, and a warning
September 21, 2011 11:11 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

An owner of the Beach Drive-area home where firefighters put out a deck fire (WSB coverage here) yesterday afternoon sent the following e-mail to both warn others, and thank the heroic neighbors who spotted the fire:

I am one of the homeowners who deeply appreciates the help of our neighbors who called 911 yesterday. Here is what appears to have happened: Our deck was being refinished. After the worker (who doesn’t smoke) left, it appears that the rags and cans of deck stain were heated by the sun, burst into flame and ignited the siding and the deck. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire just as the flames broke through the windows and began to reach inside! Now, we are dealing with repair and lots of cleanup. Thanks to our neighbors and our very fast and professional fire department!

The homeowner says it’s worth taking a look around your home/condo/apartment to be sure you don’t have any unattended cans at risk of doing the same thing. If you do – but they’re not in active use, so you just want to get rid of them – here’s how/where to do that.

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WSB on FB: About Facebook’s ‘newsfeed’ change…
September 21, 2011 9:55 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

WSB has been on Facebook and Twitter for nearly four years – long before most other news organizations (among others) hopped on. We’ve rolled through their changes, and hey, the services are free; they have the right to experiment. We made one big mistake ourselves, starting out on FB as “WS Blog” with a personal profile and maxing out on “friends” before realizing several months ago we really were supposed to be “West Seattle Blog” with a no-“fan”-limit page.

But Facebook’s latest change seems to be putting a roadblock in front of people who are just trying to find out “hey, what’s the latest?” …

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West Seattle Wednesday: Preparedness; paving; produce…
September 21, 2011 8:52 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst for photographing and sharing today’s spectacular sunrise. Now, a few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

PRACTICE PREPAREDNESS: It’s Preparedness Month! A drop/cover/hold drill is scheduled for 10:15 am.

PAVING SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION: Pushed back a day, that “spot paving” work on a block of California SW south of Edmunds in The Junction is expected to start this morning. We just drove by and took the photo above – looks like they are on schedule to get going shortly. This is expected to take two days.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUESTIONS/CONCERNS? Community conversation with School Board president Steve Sundquist at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way), 11 am-12:30 pm.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN: High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau, fresh organic produce sold where it’s grown.

SAVVY SEATTLE WOMEN: The next free workshop offered by Savvy Seattle Women: A Homeowners’ Network will be on Wednesday, Sept 21st, 6-7:30PM.
Topic: Community Property: Does it Really Mean 50/50?
Presenter: Sharon E. Best, Attorney at Law
Location: Prudential Northwest Offices, 4700 42nd Av SW, Suite 600
The event is open to the general public and also provides an opportunity for networking among local businesses. Bring your business cards and mingle! Free refreshments and free parking, too!

SPECIAL MIDWEEK WINE TASTING: Bin 41 wine shop has a special tasting with Valerie Aigron of Cave de Rasteau from the Rhone region of France, 6-7:30 pm.

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Tonight’s agenda includes the Fauntleroy Expressway Seismic Retrofit Project briefing – if you’ve missed it at other neighborhood meetings recently, catch it here, as its most-serious traffic effects get closer. 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

LIVE THEATER AT ARTSWEST: “Amy’s View” continues at ArtsWest Playhouse in The Junction, 7:30 pm.

ROLLER PROM! Rat City Roller Prom fundraiser for White Center Food Bank, Southgate Roller Rink, 8-11 pm (tickets and other info on this Facebook page).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Ryan Cox in jail again
September 21, 2011 1:48 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

As noted in our West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting report, Southwest Precinct leadership mentioned noteworthy arrests. But they did not foreshadow an arrest local police would make just a few hours later – the one that has landed 33-year-old Ryan Cox back in jail.

Cox is known mostly for his arrests in 2009 and 2010 following graffiti vandalism all over West Seattle, usually a homophobic slur written in black marker. Three times, he was arrested, found not mentally competent to stand trial, and sent to Western State Hospital for an evaluation. Inbetween the second and third graffiti-vandalism arrests, he was arrested for tire-slashing, and pleaded guilty.

In the year since his last vandalism arrest, we have kept a periodic eye on the King County Jail Register and court records, but hadn’t noticed him turn up. Then a few hours ago, we got a tip that police had just arrested him at West Seattle Thriftway. We checked online records and found Cox had spent almost two weeks in jail last month, arrested for and pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. The details of that case are not available online, so until we can check with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office later this morning, we can’t find out what it’s about, but the Seattle Municipal Court website says a “failure to appear” arrest warrant was issued for Cox a week ago. That’s one of two reasons listed for him being booked into the jail at 11:30 Tuesday night; the second is “violation of a no-contact order.” Total bail: $8,450.

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West Seattle wildlife: Name that shorebird (please)
September 20, 2011 11:57 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

To end the day with one more wildlife visual – after Trileigh‘s owl and Laura‘s jellyfish – we have Bill‘s shorebird. Bill Bacon shared the photo, writing, “I’d really appreciate it if someone could authoritatively tell me what these shorebirds are that frequent our shorelines year-around. This picture was taken near the old Luna Park Natatorium area.”

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: How to avoid ID theft
September 20, 2011 10:06 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

From tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting:

CRIME TRENDS: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis described it as an “up-and-down-type summer,” with burglary “spikes” at times. He said Community Police Team officers (including Ken Mazzuca and Kevin McDaniel, who were also at the meeting) were tasked with helping solve the puzzle, and that led to “very, very favorable arrests” of the “more prolific individuals out there in the West Seattle community” that put a “big dent” in burglaries, car prowls, and similar crimes – including suspects he says were to blame for more than half the burglaries.

He says there were no particular neighborhoods being hit harder than others – it would differ widely “as if a salt shaker were sprinkled all over (the map)” – and so crime analysis was done over and over again, yielding “fantastic arrests.”

As for specific types of crime, Lt. Davis said that car thefts are currently running “a few up from our norm,” which is 10/month, currently running at 13. Burglaries? “They’ve gone way down and we’re particularly happy about that.” Lt. Davis thanked alert community members and advice from Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, “which has paid off greatly … we’ve gotten some fantastic tips” from people who provided helpful information that assisted them in arresting suspects. He says they’re also working to link suspects to more cases, if applicable, so they can be prosecuted under the Repeat Burglary Initiative and potentially get tougher sentences.

IDENTITY THEFT: Angela Kaake, senior deputy prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was the meeting’s special guest, with a presentation featuring lots of data about its prevalence, as well as advice on prevention and protection, plus a window into what it takes for successful prosecution. (She’s also on the Greater Puget Sound Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Task Force.)

Want to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft? She had specific advice – for prevention and for what to do if it happens anyway – read on:Read More

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Admiral businesses look ahead, with Admiral Neighborhood Association, West Seattle Chamber cheering them on
September 20, 2011 9:34 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

To know where you’re going, you have to figure out where you are.

Toward that end, surveys were a big theme of Monday’s Admiral Neighborhood Association– and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce-facilitated meetup for Admiral business owners.

One survey’s already complete – ANA unveiled results of the survey it circulated among more than 100 business owners/merchants in the greater Admiral area, from the northernmost commercial building on California SW, to California/Charlestown.

The second is about to begin – a city rep talked about a new citywide survey launching tomorrow in six business districts, including Admiral – which may find you approached by a survey-taker on the street.

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Followup: Potter Construction’s pencil, permanently poised
September 20, 2011 8:03 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

West Seattle artist Stephen Rock‘s 13 1/2-foot-tall megapencil is now poised right outside the offices of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). We previewed this last night. Check it out next time you’re in the 5600 block of California SW! (The folks at nearby Illusions Hair Design, also a WSB sponsor, tweeted this photo of Gary Potter with his new, artistic addition.)

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Update: ‘Exterior’ fire at home over Beach Drive
September 20, 2011 4:48 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

4:48 PM: A full house-fire response is at a home in the 3800 block of Boyd Place SW. According to scanner traffic, it’s an exterior fire, no one’s home, and some of the initially dispatched units are being dismissed. We’re en route to take a look.

5:08 PM: Our crew is there; this is a few blocks uphill from Cormorant Cove, south of Alki Point. Firefighters are on the deck of the home. Lots of fans are in use – usually used to ventilate after smoky fires. Earlier scanner traffic had said nobody was home.

5:31 PM: Whatever damage was done, wasn’t major, and wasn’t visible from the street. The house is habitable, we’re told. Investigators are working to figure out what started the fire.

7:03 PM: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore says investigators blame the fire on spontaneous combustion of paint rags, with damage totaling $12,000.

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West Seattle businesses: Windermere leaving Morgan Junction
September 20, 2011 4:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

When team members from West Seattle’s two Windermere Real Estate offices join forces to help build High Point’s new playground this Friday, it will be a sort of preview of things to come. The Morgan Junction office (WRE-Fauntleroy; photo above) will soon close, and its staff will move into the office in The Junction. Both branches are owned by Janet Haberbush, with whom we talked today, after a tipster pointed us to this listing showing that the Fauntleroy space (between Abbondanza Pizza and Subway) is up for lease. She says the consolidation is partly driven by the fact their lease was up on the Morgan Junction space, but also will enable operating efficiencies, and will take advantage of some space they added in The Junction a while back. There’s no hard-and-fast date yet for them to be completely moved out of Morgan Junction; right now, according to Haberbush, they’re modifying the Junction space to accommodate the enlarged team, which she says will include more than 60 agents/brokers. (The move is somewhat reminiscent of what another major player in West Seattle real estate, Prudential Northwest, did in 2009, when it closed its Admiral offices and moved everyone into Jefferson Square.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Genesee training; burglary; auto theft
September 20, 2011 3:39 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two notes this afternoon: First, the explanation for an alarming sight at the closed Genesee Hill Elementary campus last night. We got calls, e-mails, and tweets from people who saw police tape, cars, and even what one person thought was a body. Absent any other indications of an actual crime, we were fairly sure it was training, which happens there from time to time, and finally, we got confirmation from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen that it was indeed a “training class.” We’ve received advance alerts before but didn’t this time. Meantime, we have a burglary report today – read on (also, added 4:31 pm, a vehicle-theft report):Read More

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Video: Mid-afternoon wildlife break, from West Seattle waters
September 20, 2011 2:41 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Unless you are jellyfish-phobic, the video is so tranquil, it seems as if it could be a screensaver. Diver/photographer Laura James watched that lion’s-mane jellyfish north of Alki Point last night, and shared the video early today. We recently featured some of her other work – chronicling the outfall pipes off West Seattle shores, which provides a visual reminder of the importance of the runoff-reducing Tox-Ick campaign.

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West Seattle toplines from Viaduct briefing: Early installation of Avalon bus lane; Water Taxi parking; more
September 20, 2011 12:36 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

WSDOT and King County Metro both had news for West Seattle commuters during the “one month till the 9-day closure” briefing that just wrapped up in the shadow of a soon-to-be-demolished Alaskan Way Viaduct section.

The toplines (per executives who happen also to be West Seattleites – Matt Preedy, deputy program director for WSDOT [photo right], and Christina O’Claire, senior transportation planner for Metro):

*The Avalon Way northbound bus lane through the Luna Park business district, expected to be installed sometime in the next few months as the county prepared for next year’s RapidRide debut, may be in place early – before the 9-day Viaduct closure. And that won’t be temporary – that would be permanent, even though RapidRide isn’t scheduled to start in West Seattle until fall of next year.

Seven more key points for West Seattle commuters, ahead:Read More

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West Seattle road work: California, Avalon ‘spot paving’ delayed
September 20, 2011 12:21 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle road work: California, Avalon ‘spot paving’ delayed
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

SDOT has just sent word that the “spot paving” work originally scheduled for the rest of this week on California SW south of The Junction and on Avalon Way through the Luna Park business district is now delayed at least a day from the original schedule because of equipment challenges. So California SW is not expected to start before tomorrow; Avalon, not before Friday.

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Video: Rethinking the economy @ Sustainable West Seattle forum
September 20, 2011 11:22 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

The economy and its troubles affect us all. Will it get fixed? Or should it be radically reinvented? Two hours of wide-ranging discussion comprised last night’s Sustainable West Seattle community forum, titled “Sustainable Alternatives to Growth Economics,” and in case you weren’t able to go, we got it all on video. (That’s SWS’s past president Bill Reiswig with the introduction, as the video begins. Background info is here.)

P.S. Next up for SWS, another round of teaching you to tackle Tox-Ick, this Saturday, with prizes! Details here.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship Program: It’s time to apply!
September 20, 2011 9:31 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu Scholarship Program: It’s time to apply!
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from July 2011 West Seattle Hi-Yu Community Breakfast)
Who will succeed Queen Kelsey and Princesses Victoria and Rosemarie? The first milepost on the newly rescheduled road to the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Senior Court selection is here: It’s application time. Hi-Yu members decided back in May (as reported here) to reboot the calendar and reschedule the process, with applications in the fall and coronation in spring. Now the application is ready to go, and most of the process is online – it starts here. Candidates must be high-school seniors or college students who live, work, and/or attend school in West Seattle. New this year: Hi-Yu has two informational sessions planned during the application process, so that prospective candidates can talk with board members and past royalty. Both have Facebook event pages: 2 pm October 2nd at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and 6:30 pm October 6th at Prudential Northwest Realty. Applications have to be in by November 1st.

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