VIDEO: WestSide Baby’s 16th annual CommuniTea ensured ‘the children are well’
(One of the youngest CommuniTea attendees, Oliver, biting before bidding)
Story and photos by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers
Babies and children are at the heart of everything WestSide Baby does – but more so than ever, during its 16th annual CommuniTea fun(draiser) Sunday afternoon in SeaTac.
For one:
Emcee/auctioneer Ian Lindsay confessed to the crowd at the start that he was onstage even as the birth of his first child was imminent – in Los Angeles. His wife wasn’t in labor yet, he clarified. But if he got a text, he said, he’d wrap up as fast as he could and go catch a plane. The event ran a bit over, and at 4:26 pm, though labor hadn’t yet commenced, Woodland ordered Lindsay offstage to go catch his flight, leaving in less than an hour. (Good thing the venue, the Seattle Airport Hilton Conference Center, is across the street from the airport.)
Some little ones are always in attendance. But this year’s CommuniTea chairs, King County Executive Dow Constantine and wife Shirley Carlson, all but apologized for not bringing their 2-year-old daughter Sabrina.
They took to the stage to talk about the importance of meeting basic needs – something every parent knows, acutely – and how WS Baby helps families in need, “going beyond the basic stuff, too.”
Executive director Nancy Woodland echoed that, as she thanked the 600-plus in attendance for being “here to have tea with me again this year.” Read More
Police search after crash on Delridge Way
Police are still sorting out the circumstances of this crash on Delridge Way near SW Kenyon. It was first reported as a car fire, then a collision in which a parked car was reported to have been hit by a moving car, and police were looking for the person or people involved (sorry, we don’t have any description information). Then came word that one of the cars might have been stolen. We’ll check back tomorrow to see how the final report turned out, but in the meantime, for those wondering what the police response was all about, this is what we have so far. Traffic is getting by.
FOLLOWUP: Gratitude from New Leaf Bistro family for community support
That note is to you, from 10-year-old Angelina, daughter of Shi Qiu Chen and Geoffrey Ly. Last weekend, we brought you the story of the family, owners of New Leaf Bistro – opened in The Admiral District less than a year and a half ago – suddenly reeling from Geoffrey’s untimely death at age 55 shortly after a cancer diagnosis. Customer and friend Suzanne Krom found out about it and worked to organize a donation drive to help Shi Qiu, Angelina, and the family’s youngest child Kelvin as they dealt with funeral costs. Here’s a new photo of mother and daughter:
“Angelina has been a remarkable and steadfast support for her mother during this time,” Suzanne says, reporting that $16,248 has been raised in eight days via the GoFundMe page set up for the family, more than halfway to the goal of $30,000. She also shares this note of gratitude from Shi Qui Chen:
We deeply appreciate the incredible support that West Seattle is giving my children and me. I feel lifted up by all of you with so much generosity. It feels like a miracle to reach the halfway point for paying for his funerals so quickly. Thank you for showing me that you care so much. I have never asked for anything before, and now, being given so much by you, sometimes I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I pour my love for West Seattle into my food and hope that you can receive it as my thank you. We are seeing many new customers in the restaurant, one of the best gifts you can give us. We will thank you every day by making our food with pure love and gratitude.
Suzanne says there is one more thing that could help – “a skilled small business coach who would be willing to volunteer some time to help her navigate being the sole owner of her restaurant.” If you have a suggestion or offer for that, you can contact Suzanne via the e-mail link on the GoFundMe page.
West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2017: 2 months away!
This year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – the biggest one in the city – is on Saturday, May 13th! That’s just two months from tomorrow, so we’re taking the opportunity to mention it today. This will be the 13th annual WSCGSD (tenth one coordinated by us @ WSB). If you’re new to the area, it’s a big day of garage/yard/courtyard/etc. sales all around West Seattle. Our favorite feedback every year is from people who got to meet more of their neighbors face-to-face walking and biking to nearby sales. We have set April 5th as the date for registration to open, so if you’re planning to have a sale, set your calendar … we’ll remind you again before then, of course.
West Seattle schools: Gatewood Elementary’s ‘Green Schoolyard’ continues taking shape
(WSB photo: Volunteer Olivia working in Gatewood’s garden this afternoon)
3:33 PM: The greening of Gatewood Elementary‘s schoolyard continues. This afternoon, volunteers are working to build and install raised garden beds – and Sandy Lennon tells us about two chances for everyone to get a look this week at what else is going on:
We’ve been working hard and are gaining momentum in improving our playground and learning garden at Gatewood Elementary.
*To support our learning garden, our online fundraiser through Seattle Seed Co. continues through this week. Order organic seeds and/or other garden-related goodies here. (See the flyer here.) Gatewood receives 50% of proceeds. Thanks for your support!
*We recently won a $5,000 Small Sparks grant from the City’s Department of Neighborhoods to complete design and construction documents for improvements in the southwest corner of our playground (our playfield).
*We’ve been working this school year to gather information and ideas and confirm the school’s priorities for that space, and we have a few draft design sketches ready for community viewing and feedback. We’ll be posting the sketches at our PTA meeting on Monday night, March 13, 6:30-8 pm in the school library, and at our Art Walk / Open House on Thursday, March 16, 5:30-7 pm on the main floor of the school. Community members are invited to stop by, take a look, and leave comments that will be considered as we finalize the design. For a preview, you can go here.
Gatewood Elementary is at 4320 SW Myrtle.
ADDED 5:55 PM: “Here’s what our group of volunteer students, parents and teachers accomplished today,” Jeannie wrote, sending us this “after” photo:
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Subaru Forester
Auto theft continues to be one of the major current crime problems on the peninsula, police acknowledge, so we’re going to start putting the makes/models in the headlines when we can. Starting with Pat‘s Subaru Forester:
Last night, my car was stolen from in front of my house on 41st Ave SW between Edmunds and Hudson sometime after 6 PM. It is a 2015 blue Subaru Forester; the license plate number is ARP1994. If anyone sees it, please call (911).
Police say more cars are stolen to get from point A to point B than to be resold or stripped, so you really might spot one simply abandoned on the roadside or in a parking lot.
Fauntleroy Church ‘Worship Without Walls’ substitutes service for sermon
Thanks to Judy Pickens for the photo and report:
Some 140 members of Fauntleroy Church, United Church of Christ, left the sanctuary shortly after arriving Sunday morning for the congregation’s first “worship without walls” event.
Adults, children, and youth headed to four service projects: Packaging at Food Lifeline for area food banks, creating art kits for the parent-child home program at Southwest Youth & Family Services, assembling education supplies for distribution by Church World Service to refugee camps [photo], and training for Friend to Friend America’s program linking West Seattle volunteers with lonely elders.
According to education director and event coordinator Karyn Frazier, the morning was “a way to act out our love all at once by engaging in worshipful service in the wider community.”
P.S. In case you’ve been wondering, the church’s next Recycle Roundup is April 23rd – when it’s closer, we’ll publish the list of what will and won’t be accepted.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car prowl, vandalism
Two car break-in reports:
WINDOW SMASHED: From Mark:
Our SUV had its rear window smashed in our driveway last night sometime between 6 pm and 12:30 am. Near California and Webster. Nothing taken, just window smashed, apparently just for “fun.”
CAR PROWLED: From Martine:
(Friday) night, between midnight and 6 am, someone went through my car and took some items like my sunglasses and workout gloves. However, all my music CDs, phone charger, and loose change were NOT taken. My car was parked in front of my house on 34th Ave SW between Andover and Charlestown. I have reported this incident to the police.
Even if little or nothing is taken, you can file a report online here, so police at least have accurate records of where car prowlers are hitting. If the incident is happening now – or just happened (e.g. you just spotted someone leaving the scene) – call 911.
West Seattle Sunday: Music, food, tea, parties, and cleats!
(Rufous hummingbirds are returning to West Seattle! Photo by Mark Wangerin)
First thing – Daylight Saving Time arrived at 2 am, so check to be sure all your clock-equipped devices sprang forward an hour. Now, here’s some of what you’ll want to be on time for:
SECOND GEAR SPORTS CLEAT EXCHANGE: 9 am-noon, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) is open early for youth baseball/softball players and families to come in and get cleats, as explained here. (6529 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm year-round. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
WHILE YOU’RE THERE … stop by Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) for a tasting: “We’ll be sampling Jacobsen Salt Co. treats from 11 am–3 pm. Try salts and candies and catch the buzz about their new Bee Local Smoked Honey Sauce, West Coast Wildflower Honey, and Honey Water.” (4540 California SW)
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY AND LUNCH: 11:30 am-1 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), as previewed here, you’re invited to lunch and craftmaking in the Fellowship Hall. (3940 41st SW)
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY GARDEN PARTY: 1-4 pm work party to build and install raised garden beds at Gatewood Elementary as part of its ongoing project. (4320 SW Myrtle)
WESTSIDE BABY COMMUNITEA: The organization that helps thousands of children each year has its annual gala tea fundraiser 2-4:30 pm at the Hilton Seattle Airport Conference Center. (17620 International Blvd.)
LIVE FOLK MUSIC: Lucas Biespiel and Benny Gilbert, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), folk singers-songwriters. (5612 California SW)
FREE CLASSICAL CONCERT: Ladies’ Musical Club presents French and British Duets of the Late Romantic Period, 3 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. See the program here.
‘PUNK WITH A SIDE OF GARAGE ROCK’: Three bands at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. $6 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
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