July 2016

By Pat Cashman

“I love a parade, the tramping of feet,
I love every beat I hear of a drum.
I love a parade, when I hear a band
I just want to stand and cheer as they come.”

The preceding song lyrics have been sung by which of the below performers?

• Bessie Smith
• Maxine Sullivan
• The Lawrence Welk Orchestra

(Three out of three is correct. Incorrect answers not offered include Macklemore, Beyonce and Soundgarden.)

But beyond singing about a parade, being part of one seems like the easiest thing in the world. After all, all you have to do is walk along---or, in the best of circumstances, ride along aboard a car or some sort of platform, right?

But if you want to be truly great there is more required.

And since we are just underway with the year’s summer parade season, this writing space seems like an excellent platform for advice and reflection on the art of processions and marches---be it for celebrating patriotism, Santa Claus, gay pride---or all three.

Month-old crime finally reported

Officers investigated a forced entry burglary on the 9200 block of 2nd Avenue S.W. at 11:20 a.m. on Tues., June 28. The victim said that the crime had occurred earlier in the month but she was not sure which day. The suspect had kicked in the front door or pried it open, damaging the entrance.

The suspect stole a small white pull safe, boxes, and a white Dell printer. Since the crime happened so long ago, officers were not able to record any evidence.

Burglary on California Ave.

Officers responded to a call at 11:43 a.m. on Sun., June 26, reporting a break-in on the 4100 block of California Avenue S.W. The caller was on the scene when police arrived, but the owner of the business was out of town and therefore unable to provide a detailed statement about missing items until she returns.

The suspect had opened a small window just above the main door of the business and climbed inside, stealing all the cash in the register, jewelry and clothing. The suspect then unlocked the front door and walked out.

By Amanda Knox
 
One of the more frustrating questions I’ve been asked as a trauma survivor is whether or not I would have done anything differently. Would I have refused to speak a word to investigators without the presence of a lawyer? Would I have acted more “normal”? Would I have stayed in Seattle rather than study abroad? These questions are frustrating because they ignore or invalidate all my growth in response to suffering.
 
National PTSD Awareness Day was June 27th, and I spent much of the week thinking about PTSD—how complex the condition, how subjective the symptoms, how paradoxical the repercussions. Then I happened to watch Season 10, Episode Six of Doctor Who, “The Girl Who Waited.”
 
For those unfamiliar with the Doctor Who series, the Doctor is an alien time traveler who has a special affection for humanity. He always travels with a human companion or two, and he is frequently rescuing Earth from all manner of terrible catastrophe across all of time and space.
 

Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206.937.7169
July 8–10 Summer Fest at the Junction. Our popular, annual Plant Sale will take place in front of the store and everything is half price inside the store. You know there is merchandise in our shop that you want or need for your home, your garden and yourself so be sure to stop by. Every time you do, you help us meet our goal of helping fund a cure for cancer and pay for related support services for those with cancer. The non profit, all volunteer run American Cancer Society shop is open for Summer Fest Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Our regular hours are Sun. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and all other days 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow our blog at www.discoveryshopwestseattle.org/.

Luna Park Neighborhood Clean-up
Meet at the Luna Park Cafe
parking area
2918 SW Avalon Way

By Chef Jeremy McLachlan

By Chef Jeremy McLachlan

By Kathryn Kingen

My brother Nick is a real honey. He keeps bees. He has stacks and stacks of hives and wears a super cool Buzz Lightyear outfit. (Okay yes, I'm a little jealous.) Every year he pulls the hive trays, decants the drippings and bestows golden bottles of his hallowed Hilger Honey on us. Nick proudly proclaims that his bees are special. "They're all free range, Kath!” he teases with his goofy grin. (Geez, Nick have you ever met a bee that wasn't?) "Best of all they are happy bees,” he says. "Well, actually sometimes they act like cranky little kids but most of the time they're so sweet you just want to hug 'em!" Alrighty then, you go right ahead, all I have to say is, you better keep your "Buzz" suit on brother!

Nick's hobby is an ancient one. In fact archeologists have found petroglyphs in Spain that show beekeeping drawings from 9,000 years ago and fossils of honeybees dating back as far as 150 million years. In Roman times the honey was so treasured that citizens used it to pay their taxes. (Hey, maybe Nick is onto something here.)

By Kathryn Kingen

My brother Nick is a real honey. He keeps bees. He has stacks and stacks of hives and wears a super cool Buzz Lightyear outfit. (Okay yes, I'm a little jealous.) Every year he pulls the hive trays, decants the drippings and bestows golden bottles of his hallowed Hilger Honey on us. Nick proudly proclaims that his bees are special. "They're all free range, Kath!” he teases with his goofy grin. (Geez, Nick have you ever met a bee that wasn't?) "Best of all they are happy bees,” he says. "Well, actually sometimes they act like cranky little kids but most of the time they're so sweet you just want to hug 'em!" Alrighty then, you go right ahead, all I have to say is, you better keep your "Buzz" suit on brother!

Nick's hobby is an ancient one. In fact archeologists have found petroglyphs in Spain that show beekeeping drawings from 9,000 years ago and fossils of honeybees dating back as far as 150 million years. In Roman times the honey was so treasured that citizens used it to pay their taxes. (Hey, maybe Nick is onto something here.)

information from West Seattle Grand Parade

The West Seattle Grand Parade organization has selected the Schmitz Family as the 2016 Grand Marshall of the parade for its generations of public service and generosity to the West Seattle community. Dietrich and Vicki Schmitz will represent the extended family in the parade which steps off on July 23rd at 11:00 AM on California Ave SW from Lander to Edmunds. Dietrich is a great grandson of Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz and the son of Alan (deceased) and Vicki Schmitz.

German immigrants, Ferdinand Schmitz and Emma Althof, married in Seattle just after the Great Fire of 1889. They spent their honeymoon sleeping in a tent like other Seattleites made homeless by the fire. Ferdinand became a successful businessman. He acquired choice shore and timber properties in West Seattle, which contributed to a large, multi-acre family homestead. He served on the city council and on the Park Commission Board.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

West Seattle won its first two games at the District 7 Major Little League baseball all-star tournament it is hosting at its own Bar-S complex.

The Westsiders opened with a 12-2 victory over South Highline National on Saturday and followed it up with an 11-3 win over Rainier on Sunday.

West Seattle will now play Renton in the winners bracket final at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bar-S.

The winner advances to the 6 p.m. Friday provisional championship as the undefeated team needing to be beaten twice to miss out on state.