West Seattle Blog…

H1N1 flu update from King County Public Health: Fewer cases

If you’ve been worried about H1N1 flu - a bit of good news from King County Public Health - the number of cases is on the decline. KCPH just sent a news release with the newest info - read on: Click to read the rest of H1N1 flu update from King County Public Health: Fewer cases…

H1N1 vaccine: Update from King County Public Health

Just in from James Apa at King County Public Health, at the end of a week in which people lined up to get H1N1 vaccine wherever it was available (above, one of West Seattleite Brandon Nicholson’s photos from the line Wednesday outside a Sand Point pharmacy that briefly was the only one in the county offering vaccine to babies and toddlers):

We wanted to give you a quick update on vaccine availability in King County. Due to the national delay in H1N1 vaccine production, the supplies we have in the community aren’t enough to meet the demand right now, and it’s been a challenge for many to find vaccine. With the latest deliveries this week, King County has received approximately 165,000 doses of vaccine total since shipments began, and approximately 90,000 more doses are in the process of being ordered and shipped to King County.

Given the shortage, our current focus is on getting most of the available supplies to health care providers, so that they can vaccinate patients who are most at risk. As more vaccine becomes available, we’ll continue to provide it to health care providers to vaccinate more of their patients, so we encourage people in the priority groups to continue to stay in touch with their health care providers about vaccine availability.

To provide another option for people prioritized to receive H1N1 vaccine, Public Health is also allocating a limited portion of new vaccine supplies for distribution more widely through public venues. The 15,000 doses of vaccine we made available to pharmacies this week is the beginning of our widening distribution strategy.

He also suggested keeping an eye on the pharmacy list on the King County website - linked from our FLU tab atop all pages. We just checked again, and there’s no new availability listed in the West Seattle/White Center area right now.

H1N1 vaccinations for babies/small children: Sand Point line

If you consulted the county’s list of pharmacies offering vaccine and were thinking of going to Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy in the north end today because they’re offering a “walk-in” clinic for 6 months and up - West Seattle architect Brandon Nicholson sends photos and a warning that the line is already blocks long. 10:27 AM UPDATE: Update from Brandon - they’re out for the day but (as per the county page) planning to do this again tomorrow. Brandon is dad to a 12-month-old and say his West Seattle pediatrician isn’t expecting vaccine till next month, which is why they went to check out the only King County pharmacy offering it now to babies and toddlers.

1:17 PM UPDATE: More info from Brandon for any local families thinking about doing this tomorrow. After five hours, he got an appointment to bring his son back later this afternoon. Katterman’s is not taking appointments for the rest of today but will start the cycle again tomorrow morning. He got there at 7 am today and the line was already longer than a block, but he says you do NOT need to bring your child to stand out in the cold with you to get the appointment - when you get to the head of the line, they’ll give you a one-hour window to come back later and get the vaccine. $20/vaccine and he says cash will move things faster - you can be processed outside rather than going inside to deal with insurance or credit card. Location and contact info for the pharmacy is here (they’re even on Twitter and mentioned they have 700 doses for tomorrow).

West Seattle Walgreens’ H1N1 vaccine clinics draw long lines

You probably won’t be surprised to hear long lines formed quickly at the two West Seattle Walgreens that offered H1N1 clinics with vaccine for high-risk people ages 9 and up starting at 11 this morning for one-day “clinics” - WSB’er Kerry, commenting on our preview from this morning, reported being told 35th (photo below shows the line inside during the first half-hour) is out, but 16th/Roxbury (photo above) reportedly did not run out as fast, and was planning to extend the clinic till 4 pm or till supplies ran out. We’ll stress again, check before you go. We were not allowed to talk with store employees while there.

We’ll continue to report on vaccine availability as we get word from the county and other sources - with stories here on the news page and also adding to the FLU tab below the header as info comes in. 2:38 PM UPDATE: Brooke just e-mailed to say 35th SW has extended its clinic till vaccine runs out and she just got vaccinated with little wait.

Fighting the flu: Update on county’s H1N1 vaccine announcement

New information from King County tonight, after the county’s announcement this afternoon — saying two local drugstores would be offering H1N1 vaccine to some high-risk people — conflicted with what WSBers were told when they called those stores. We inquired immediately with the King County Public Health staffers who sent out the media release - and just received this update from James Apa with King County:

Wanted to get you the latest on the H1N1 vaccination clinics. Our website is updated now, and the two Walgreens in the West Seattle vicinity are hosting flu clinics on Tuesday, November 10th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We have a great relationship with our pharmacy partners and they’re doing a public service in hosting these clinics. In some cases, there was a timing issue with information being communicated to their individual sites, but it’s resolved now. Thanks to everyone for their patience.

Schedules for appointments are already starting to fill up, and we’ll be continuing to update our site over the weekend as availability changes:
www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/locations.aspx

Fighting the flu: Some H1N1 vaccine expected in West Seattle

8:36 PM NOTE: Just received an update from the county - published here - superseding all the earlier stuff here.

3:10 PM NOTE: As pointed out in comments — also in an e-mail and also in a school mailing list we’re on — there appears to be a discrepancy between what the county has sent out - and what the pharmacies are telling callers. King County Public Health spokesperson Matias Valenzuela tells WSB, “We’re looking into it.” So stand by for an update. Meantime, as commenters suggest, DON’T CALL YET - until this is straightened out by the county. Another spokesperson tells us they are “reconnecting with participating pharmacies” to find out what the discrepancy is about.

ORIGINAL 2:27 PM REPORT: An update from King County Public Health today - certain pharmacies around the county are now getting more H1N1 vaccine to make available to “people prioritized to receive” it. The list includes the two Walgreens (6330 35th SW and 9456 16th SW) stores in West Seattle - both by appointment, for ages 9 and up. Read on for the full countywide announcement: Click to read the rest of Fighting the flu: Some H1N1 vaccine expected in West Seattle…

The Little Gym of West Seattle: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, The Little Gym of West Seattle, about to open at California/Myrtle (map). It’s WSB tradition for new sponsors to get the chance to share information about their business, so here’s what The Little Gym wants you to know: When new parents come to us and ask “why should I sign up for a class at The Little Gym?”, we ask them a very important question back- “What are you looking for in a program?” Some parents are looking for their children to learn fundamental motor and gymnastics skills, while other parents are looking for a class that emphasizes structured social interaction for their children. Others might want a place to take a class with friends in an environment that is fun and friendly, where they can connect and interact with other parents who have children of the same age. The reasons that people bring their children to The Little Gym are numerous, but the reasons that they stay with us have to do with both the dynamic teachers and the curriculum of our classes. We strive to create an environment of love, patience, respect, security and fun, while at the same time teaching real gymnastics skills from an early age that will get them started toward a healthy and active life. Our teachers are continually trained in both movement analysis and children¹s developmental milestones. Starting with babies at 4 months, and going through the age of 12 years old, The Little Gym gives children and parents a solid skill foundation that includes gross and fine motor skills, strength, coordination, balance, and a healthy dose of positive self image. We teach children to try their best, and that it is always ok to make a mistake - mistakes are how we learn and improve. We currently have 6 teachers from our other locations coming to teach at The Little Gym of West Seattle (3 are West Seattle residents!), and will continue to add more friendly faces as the program grows. Interested families are always welcome to join our program for a free introductory class, which they can either schedule over the phone at 206-937-0311 or online at www.tlgwestseattlewa.com. Our first week of classes will begin the week of November 9th, and our Open House is scheduled for Saturday, November 21st from 2-5 pm - bring a food donation for West Seattle Food Bank!

On a side note, our computer system had an email address glitch in it for a few weeks in September. We did not receive e-mail inquiries during this time, and were only able to recapture some of the lost e-mails. If you inquired and did not get a response back, we are sincerely sorry for the problem and would love to hear from you again!

We thank The Little Gym of West Seattle for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

North Delridge Neighborhood Council: Traffic projects & produce

From Wednesday night’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting: NDNC has prioritized the traffic projects it hopes the city will fund, and settled on a list to send to the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council for review - here are the top three:

1. Delridge Way SW between Andover and Myrtle: Traffic calming by adding a median with trees and plants - cost between $6.8 and $8.3 million

2. Brandon between 23rd & 30th: Sidewalk to continue across creek and up the hill - cost between $2 and $2.5 million

3. Hudson between 26th and Puget Blvd: Add a sidewalk, as there is a school bus stop that serves 2 school buses — cost between $1.3 & $1.6 million

Before the group voted, discussion centered on a need for sidewalks, especially near bus stops - Metro as well as school buses - and in the areas where new townhouses have brought new density, and more people on foot. Also last night: Though the Delridge Produce Cooperative’s “mobile market” experiment is over, the group is alive, well and looking for help in drawing up a business plan to create a storefront. DPC chief Galena White talked about the 525 surveys filled out during their four-week experiment, indicating high interest in locally grown organic produce being regularly available. The group meets 6 pm every Tuesday at Pearls on Delridge; online, you can find them here. And there was another reminder about Saturday’s Adopt-A-Street cleanup - show up outside Delridge Community Center (map) at 9:45 to get tools, supplies (and coffee!) - Nancy Folsom told the group they’ll have a drawing for a (Heart) Delridge T-shirt (as seen at right) from among those who show up.

H1N1 flu: King County vaccination clinics ran out of vaccine fast

King County Public Health has announced that those special H1N1-flu-shot clinics - including one in White Center - have already run out of vaccine. Here’s the announcement: Click to read the rest of H1N1 flu: King County vaccination clinics ran out of vaccine fast…

Dr. Bill Raleigh, D.D.S.: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, William H. Raleigh, D.D.S. Situated at the corner of California and Genesee (map), Dr. Raleigh’s dental office is becoming a landmark among the new nearby developments full of condos and retail spaces. Dr. Bill Raleigh and his staff believe the comfortable and caring atmosphere of their practice adds a friendly touch that ties in well with Junction families, friends and neighbors. For patients who don’t walk to the office, there is parking available behind Dr. Raleigh’s office with a ramp from the parking lot for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. Please visit them on the web at www.drbillraleigh.com to see if you recognize Dr. Raleigh and his staff from around the community and to learn more about the practice. If you have any questions, their phone number is 206-935-5210, or you can e-mail drbillraleigh@aol.com. We thank William H. Raleigh, D.D.S., for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, with info on joining, is all here.

Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership: Liquor store, and more

From tonight’s Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership meeting at Madison Middle School: First up on the agenda, the future Westwood Village liquor store, and concerns about its proximity to Seattle Public Schools-owned Southwest Athletic Complex (as shown in Google Street View above - field’s south side at left, back side of future store location at right). Westwood Neighborhood Council’s Donn DeVore recapped conversations he’s had with State Liquor Control Board reps and said the location seemed to be a done deal before anyone in the community heard about it. If that’s so, a few attendees suggested, perhaps productive next steps would be to work to keep signage off the stadium-facing side of the building and to talk with police about patroling behind that building (also home to medical offices and Staples); Westwood neighbors say they’d been noticing an increase in empty malt-liquor bottles around 26th/Trenton and fear the liquor-store move could increase that. Delridge District Neighborhood Service Coordinator Ron Angeles offered info about other West Seattle meetings addressing such concerns - like the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council (also held tonight - our report is coming up) and the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition (this Thursday, 6 pm, St. James Place). In other efforts, it’s almost Red Ribbon Week, which will be marked at local high schools, including (as mentioned here this morning) with special decals on helmets during the West Seattle High School-Chief Sealth High School football game Friday night; next week, students at Madison will make posters about positive choices. The Healthy Youth Partnership also is working on arranging a teen-drinking presentation by West Seattle/Vashon addiction/mental-health expert Stephen Brogan. Want to get involved with SWHYP? Contact Renae Gaines - rtgaines@seattleschools.org.

H1N1 flu: County opening 4 clinics for those who most need shots

Just in from King County Public Health: The county will open four clinics to provide H1N1 vaccine to people with “significant health problems” and without health insurance. One of them is in White Center. Read on for the official announcement - which also includes info about a county flu hotline for everyone, starting tomorrow (877-903-KING): Click to read the rest of H1N1 flu: County opening 4 clinics for those who most need shots…

Tonight: Healthy Youth Partnership; Crime Prevention Council

Tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page:

SOUTHWEST HEALTHY YOUTH PARTNERSHIP: As noted in a much-discussed WSB report last week, this group will talk about neighborhood concerns regarding the plan for a state liquor store to move into the side of Westwood Village closest to Southwest Athletic Complex. SWHYP’s fight against underage drinking also will get a big showcase this Friday night at the West Seattle High School-Chief Sealth High School football game, when coordinator Renae Gaines says the players’ helmets all will display red ribbons. Plus - can you help the SWHYP? Here are ways to pitch in. Meeting’s at Madison Middle School (map), 6 pm.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Get the latest crime-trend toplines directly from Southwest Precinct leadership; ask questions, voice concerns, and/or just listen to what’s being done to make the peninsula safer. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (parking lot’s on Webster just west of Delridge, meeting room entrance is right off the parking lot).

Too close for comfort? Liquor store location raises concern

When the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership meets next Tuesday, one of the agenda items centers on the planned new location of a liquor store in Westwood Village (as first reported here a month ago, it’s intended to replace the one that closed in Morgan Junction last year). Donn DeVore of the Westwood Neighborhood Council is concerned about the location’s proximity to Sealth/Denny playfields and the Southwest Athletic Complex, just across SW Trenton from the back of the store, which is supposed to take over part of the Famous Footwear space on the north side of the shopping center - in Google Street View above, you can see the southern stairs from the SWAC field at left, the back of the liquor store’s future home at right. (Coincidentally, info about the Healthy Youth Partnership, which focuses primarily on underage drinking, is to be handed out at SWAC tonight before/during the Sealth homecoming game.) Tuesday night’s meeting is at Madison Middle School, 6 pm.

Eat Local Now! tomorrow night: See who’s exhibiting

Hope we’ll be seeing you tomorrow night at Eat Local Now! - the first year West Seattle is headquarters for this dinner/auction event celebrating the growing (in more ways than one) local-food movement, co-presented by groups including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom, featuring a great lineup of local chefs and other food stars, and with co-sponsors including WSB. We got word a couple days ago that tickets were sold out, so if you don’t have yours, it’s unfortunately too late, but organizers asked to share a list of — and acknowledgment for — exhibitors who will be there (including us) — check it out: Click to read the rest of Eat Local Now! tomorrow night: See who’s exhibiting…

At ex-Huling car showroom, Cycle University is ready to ride

A former West Seattle car lot is now home to a bicycle business. 3 weeks ago, we briefly mentioned the impending move of Cycle U to an ex-Huling site; now, they’re two days away from opening, so here’s a closer look.

Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

After standing vacant for two years, the former home of the Huling (then briefly Gee) Chrysler dealership is getting a new tenant. And this time, it’s all about the bikes. Cycle University will hold its first class this Saturday in the space at 4550 Fauntleroy (map). And according to founder Craig Undem, cycling coach Ed Ewing, and manager Brad Loetel, a former car dealership is the perfect place for bicycle training classes, sales, and repair.

Cycle U’s signature blue and orange now adorn the walls, but the building’s giant windows, offices, and a partial wall down the middle of the main floor all are all intact. In a humorous nod to the former occupants, a sign reading “We Want You Very Satisfied!” has been left above one of the offices – after all, Undem says, Cycle U wants to satisfy their customers, too.

“We’re bicycle coaches first,” says Undem, a professional coach who has raced in the World Championships of Cyclocross, won a World Cup medal in Mountain Bike Racing, and placed second in the US in Elite Criterium Championships. “I think that the advice that people get will set us apart.”

The first phase of West Seattle’s Cycle U will be their trademarked InCycle classes.

Click to read the rest of At ex-Huling car showroom, Cycle University is ready to ride…

Another chance to help breast-cancer patients while “on the move”

Two weeks after the Alki Beach 5K, you’ve got another chance this Sunday to raise $ for Northwest Hope and Healing while you’re “on the move” - it’s the third annual NiaDivas‘ benefit class. Read about the Nia Technique here; the class is 10-11 am Sunday, Youngstown Arts Center, $15 suggested donation, register online here.

Message from a survivor: Team Tracy looks ahead to 3Day 2010

As children of mothers lost to cancer, both of your WSB co-publishers especially appreciate those on the front lines of the fight to vanquish it - including so many in West Seattle, like the well-known West Seattle-based Breast Cancer 3Day group shown above, Team Tracy. The team’s namesake Tracy Dart is a young breast-cancer survivor. She has a challenge for you, and anyone else who sees this:

The 2010 3 Day event in Seattle is one year away. September 24-26th, 2010. I thought, why not start early in recruiting our team. Team Tracy will be back in full force this year. This past year 10 of us raised over $27,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Breast Cancer Trust.

As a whole, the Seattle 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk raised $5.5 million dollars. Not too shabby! BUT, attendance was down this year in Seattle, and we raise $3 Million less than we did in 2008. This year, I want to grow our team…and I’m inviting any West Seattlites (and beyond) to be a part of it! So many times I hear people say that they have always wanted to participate in the event, but they didn’t have anyone to walk with. That excuse can officially be kicked out the door.

So this is my call to action…as a survivor of this nasty disease…I don’t intend on lying down and waiting for someone else to raise the money. If I want to see a cure in my lifetime - I feel like we need to bring out the big guns NOW! The time is NOW - and we will not give up hope that a cure is in sight. I am setting the bar high, and I want Team Tracy to raise $60,000 this year. More importantly I want to get more people involved in this life changing 3 days - men, women, anyone 16 years of age and older, active folks, couch potatoes, vitamen takers, beer drinkers…we don’t discriminate. Here are a few reasons why I think people should get involved…

Washington State has the highest rate of Breast Cancer in the country. 2.4 million women in the United States are currently diagnosed and being treated for Breast Cancer. 40,000 women will die this year from this disease! The recurrence rate of Breast Cancer is high and normally happens within the first 3 to 5 years.

I pray that I won’t be part of that recurrence statistic…but I also know that it is a very real threat! If that day comes, I want to have no doubt in my mind that I did EVERYTHING in my power to make a difference…that I got everyone I know involved in finding a cure…and that we raised as much money as we could…to help my chances of survival - and the chances of survival for thousands of other women and men.

I’m asking for anyone who has thought about walking, to make the commitment. And I know it’s a doozie! 60 miles is a haul…and raising $2300 is no chump change. But you have a year - to train, fundraise and be a part of something HUGE!

To learn more about the Breast Cancer 3 Day, CLICK HERE!
To join TEAM TRACY…CLICK HERE!
If you have questions about the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk and joining Team Tracy - e-mail TEAM TRACY at teamtracy2010@hotmail.com

Side note: Tracy manages the new West Seattle store Cherry Consignment (featured in this WSB story), which is donating 10 percent of sale prices to the 3Day this month (which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) - read more about that on Facebook.

8 days till Eat Local Now! - check out the chef/food lineup now!

Eight days till the October 11th Eat Local Now! dinner/auction/entertainment event at Alki Masonic Hall, with co-presenters including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom, and co-sponsors including WSB. Kate Kaemerle shares the latest on WHOSE food you’ll be eating at Eat Local Now! - check it out:

The featured chefs include many West Seattle favorites, including:

Toby Matasar - Eats Market Cafe
Tony Kurzinski - Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)
Dalis Chea - Fresh Bistro
Hajime Sato – Mashiko
Nance Tourigny
Bill Taylor
Maria Gonzalez
Brad Glaberson

Local food providers include New Roots Organics, 21 Acres Farm, Beechers Handmade Cheese, Boistfort Valley Farm, Field Roast Grain Meats, Full Circle Farm, Helsing Junction Farm, Jubilee Farm, Lazy Locavores, Local Roots Farm, Plum Forest, SPUD! and Theo Chocolates. Local beer, wine and cider will be available at a cash bar from Elliott Bay Brewery, Georgetown Brewery, Bainbridge Winery and Rockridge Cidery.

The evening includes dinner, speakers active in the local-food movement, exhibitors, a silent auction, music and dancing. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a locally produced dinner while celebrating the people who grow, cook and support the local food movement.

Tickets for 2009 Eat Local Now! are available online at eatlocalnow.org or Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com or at the door. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 10.

Alki Masonic Hall is in The Junction, 41st/Edmunds. See you there!

Meet the West Seattle “shop cats” of Providence Mount St. Vincent

Tomorrow at 10:30 am, Providence Mount St. Vincent hosts the first of three “Blessing of the Animals” events scheduled for West Seattle this weekend. In honor of that, our occasional series of stories about West Seattle “shop cats” returns with the tale of the cats at The Mount:

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Fifteen years ago, when the assisted-living (and more) center known to West Seattleites as “The Mount” underwent a major philosophical shift from a “medical model” to a “social model,” it instilled some major changes: Nurses stopped wearing starched uniforms and switched to regular clothes; strict waking and sleeping schedules were abolished; cheerful dayrooms were built — and a cat moved in.

Nurse Manager Brenda Jennings, who has seen many changes at The Mount over the past 30 years, says that the new watermark for staff and clients was to see The Mount as home. Residents are not seen as “sick people” — they are essentially well, but with chronic conditions; they are allowed to direct their own care and be more independent. Cats have become an important part of that home culture.

The Mount has five different units which are known as “neighborhoods” and each neighborhood has its own cat.

Click to read the rest of Meet the West Seattle “shop cats” of Providence Mount St. Vincent…

Followup: Alki Beach 5K - after the race!

First, following up on Sunday’s Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing’s work helping breast-cancer patients (our same-day coverage is here and here), NWHH executive director Shari Sewell has an update:

Nearly 1,400 walkers, runners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters came out on a beautiful morning for the Alki Beach 5k Walk & Run. We are so thrilled at the cooperation we received from the West Seattle community as well as the support of our participants. Our supporters have embraced our mission to help women get through breast cancer, and the event has grossed over $75,000, with donations still coming in. Donations can be made online at www.alkibeachrun.com. Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Dr Glenn Krieger, who has generously supported our annual event over the past few years.

And from NWHH supporter and Alki Beach 5K participant Amy Daly-Donovan, a photo and info from an “afterparty” of sorts:

From left, that’s NWHH founder Christine Smith, Amy and husband Jim, and Shari Sewell. Amy reports $1,800 more was raised at the party, for which she provides the backstory:

I signed up for NWHH’s inaugural run event in 2003 - it was a half marathon and the longest distance I’d ever run. My young & vibrant sister had recently passed away from an aggressive form of breast cancer and I wanted to do something to honor her, and liked the idea of supporting a LOCAL organization that supported LOCAL breast cancer patients. In that first year, NWHH encouraged each participant to raise $500 and I decided to try something different rather than asking for pledges. Jim and I hosted a cocktail party and asked people to come and make a donation to NWHH. That first year we raised nearly $1,400.

We decided to make an annual event of it and have been running & partying every year since. Last year, the total we have raised through the generosity of our friends and family surpassed the $10,000 mark! We are thrilled to be able to support this wonderful and much-needed organization in such a significant way. Two of my sisters and my niece and I also participated in NWHH’s Spring Fashion Show last May and had a blast.

You can find out more about Northwest Hope and Healing at nwhopeandhealing.org. ADDED TUESDAY: We’ve received a followup also from the presenting sponsor, Krieger Dentistry, regarding their ongoing efforts to help fight breast cancer - read on: Click to read the rest of Followup: Alki Beach 5K - after the race!…

New evening “care clinic” at My Family Doctor in West Seattle

A new service from Dr. Terrill Harrington of My Family Doctor (WSB sponsor) - he’s trying the concept of an evening “care clinic” to see if there’s a demand for it. After regular office hours end at 4:30 pm, he’s reopening 6-9 pm for the care clinic. As Dr. Harrington explains it, it’s for people who don’t feel well and want to see a doctor but are having a hard time getting an appointment with their regular doctor or can’t take time off work in the middle of the day. His clinic is a bridge between you and your regular provider - after you see him, he can get in touch with your regular doctor for a full report on what happened, and he’ll check to make sure you connected with your regular provider. For now, he’s staffing the clinic himself, till it’s clear how much need there is; he was inspired to try it after looking at stats regarding why people visit the ER - many, he said, do so not because it’s truly an emergency but because they’re not feeling well and couldn’t get a timely appointment to see their provider, or because they have a sick child who seems to need immediate attention. He stresses this isn’t meant to replace an ER for major problems, and he’ll send you there if it seems more appropriate. His clinic’s at 3623 SW Alaska (map); phone (206) 362-8671 (that’s 206-DOCTOR-1).

Staying healthy: West Seattle Thriftway sets flu-shot schedule

Catching up on more stuff to share: West Seattle Thriftway has announced two flu-shot sessions, October 4 and 17, 11 am-4 pm both days, ages 12+. Other info here.

Day 1 for 2009 Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers

We’ve covered more than a few fundraisers in the past few months - and now, the big event is here: Tonight, the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers have concluded Day 1. Among the West Seattleites on the 60-mile route this time, Tracy Dart - breast-cancer survivor and namesake of Team Tracy - who has posted updates online (with photos!). You can follow along in other ways - we’re seeing some updates from 3-Day walkers on Twitter (here’s the search for updates marked #3day). If you’d like to go cheer the walkers, there are two “cheering stations” in Everett tomorrow - listed here along with one on Capitol Hill, and the closing ceremony downtown, on Sunday. (Photo from twitpic.com via @snelson)

West Nile Virus found - not here, but advice for you anyway

There’s advice for everybody in King County, in the announcement by county Public Health that a dead crow in Laurelhurst tested positive for West Nile Virus - “the first West Nile positive finding in King County in 2009,” they say. The advice: Protect yourself against mosquito bites. And report any dead birds to 206-205-4394, or by sending an online report (scroll down this page). Only one human case of WNV has been reported in our state this year, in Klickitat County; this state report about that case includes symptom info. (Side note - the aforementioned county website section has a handy-for-multiple-purposes bird-ID gallery.)

One last day for Delridge “Mobile Market” - then help plan a party!

(WSB photo from August 17)
The second-to-last day of the Delridge Produce Cooperative’s four-week “Mobile Market” pilot project ended early today because of the stormy weather - but you can check out the (free!) produce stand’s grand finale tomorrow (Monday), south lawn of Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way, where we took the photo you see above; here’s a map), 3:30-7:30 pm. After that, DPC founder Galena White hopes you will help plan an event to celebrate the progress so far and talk about what happens next:

The ‘Mobile Market’ team would like to plan a party at which we will give out the results of the survey, share stories of our experiences at the booth and celebrate the connections we made, and talk about the next step in building our community’s food infrastructure. Everyone and anyone is invited to the party, including the volunteers, produce contributors, people who visited the booth, and anyone who wanted to visit but didn’t get the chance. We need help planning the party and we need volunteers to help make it happen.

We’d like for anyone who wants to help to join us in planning the party this Tuesday, September 8th at Pearls, from 6-8 pm. We’ll make plans for where the party should be held, what kind of refreshments we should have, and what the program will be like; and then we’ll all choose which tasks we want to accomplish. Planning the party should be almost as much fun as the party itself, so we hope that a lot of people come!

Pearls is at 4800 Delridge Way; here’s a map.

Blood drive in West Seattle tomorrow - reserve a spot today

Dawn Jump at Prudential NW Realty in Jefferson Square sent a reminder of tomorrow’s mobile blood drive, just in time to help with potential extra need during a long holiday weekend - 9 am-2 pm tomorrow, in the Safeway parking lot on 42nd Ave SW (map). She adds, “PLEASE DONATE!!!!!!! Please call 206 932-4500 if you’d like to schedule a specific appointment or e-mail DJ at DawnJump@PNWRealty.com with your desired time.”

PCC Natural Markets: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor

(PCC’s West Seattle store staff, photographed by PCC’s Scott Parshall)
Our newest sponsor is celebrating a milestone — PCC Natural Markets opened its West Seattle location (2749 California SW) 20 years ago, and invites you to a big party September 13th with free food, fun, samples, even cooking demonstrations. The full celebration plan is on the PCC website. Here’s what else PCC wants you to know: When you crave all that’s fresh, local and organic, we hope you’ll visit all of us at PCC Natural Markets. We’ve served West Seattle since 1989 and are proud supporters of the West Seattle Food Bank, the Summer Concert Series at Hiawatha and numerous schools and community groups.

We began as a food-buying club of 15 families back in 1953. Today we’re the largest consumer-owned, natural food co-operative in the United States. Co-operative means our nine locations around the Sound are owned by our roughly 45,000 members. Not a member? You’re still plenty welcome to shop with us! But we hope you’ll consider joining the co-op to support sustainable agriculture and our long-running, environmentally friendly, community-based business.

You won’t find high-fructose corn syrup or plastic bags in our stores. Here’s just a sampling of what you will find in West Seattle: Produce, meats, dairy and more that meet our standards for quality, flavor and ethics; award-winning cooking classes through our PCC Cooks program; wine tastings; hundreds of kid-tested-and-approved foods labeled throughout the store via our Kid Picks program and a team that’s glad to answer your questions or give you a sample. Here’s to a lifetime of good eating!

Thanks to PCC Natural Markets - open 7 am-11 pm daily in West Seattle - for supporting neighborhood-based, community-collaborative news/information/discussion by sponsoring WSB. Our current sponsors are all here, with info on how to join them.

West Seattle weekend scenes: Mural; car wash; film crew

Saturday afternoon, we showed you the young artists preparing the south wall of Super 24 (Delridge/Findlay) for a mural - now, here’s the finished artwork. Here’s what Philippia Goldsmith from DNDA added tonight in a comment on our Saturday afternoon update:

This project is part of a larger initiative to transform the local corner stores into destinations where local residents have an ‘option’ to purchase affordable, delicious, and healthy food for their families. We will be having more projects like this in the coming months. If you’d like to volunteer or contribute to this effort. Send me an e-mail: phillippiag@dnda.org

Now to Alki:

Abby Suplizio tipped us to the “Save the Tata’s” Breast Cancer 3Day fundraising car wash at Alki Auto Repair this morning/afternoon. The 3Day route skips West Seattle again this year (it went through here in 2007 - WSB pix here) but more than a few West Seattleites are participating; breast-cancer survivor Diana McCasey organized this fundraiser. (If you missed it, you can donate through her page at the 3Day site.) East from Alki, to Schmitz Park:

That’s about the closest Shauna Causey got to the crew filming the online series “Star Trek: Phoenix” again this weekend in Schmitz Park, which had limited public access as a result (Friday night preview here). Shauna reports:

Entering the park from Admiral (Way), there is a sign that says “no admittance” and explains the filming. We came from the Alki Elementary entrance so we did not see this, or any signs that the film crew was still there until we got to the stream and could clearly hear a generator running not too far away in the park. Walking down the trails, we came upon the filming and saw some alien costumes laying on the trail (black helmets covering the head) and looked over to see a man with moss, sticks and brush covering his entire body. The only thing showing was his face, otherwise he looked like a giant pile of moss. I snapped a photo from fairly far away and they wouldn’t let me take any photos closer up.

More about “Star Trek: Phoenix” - which bills itself as “a not-for-profit Internet series and the largest, all volunteer, consistent film production in the Pacific Northwest” - at stphoenix.com. Posted notices said the crew’s work was to be done by 10 pm tonight, so tomorrow Schmitz should be back to normal.

Return of “the stench”: Advice from Fauntleroy

The notorious “Fauntleroy stench” is back today - blamed on sea lettuce in Fauntleroy Cove generating hydrogen sulfide, according to Judy Pickens from the Fauntleroy Community Association, who offers this advice:

While we were able to secure funding from the 2009 legislative session for research and emergency response, the process of determining how to spend it has barely begun. Consequently, affected residents of Fauntleroy and other shoreline areas on the west side of the peninsula should exercise standard “stench protocol”:

- Note when low tide is, which is when sea lettuce on the beach decomposes and sends off the gas.
- Close all windows and skylights when you first notice the acrid smell.
- Stay indoors until the air seems fresh.
- Use a fan to blow out your bedroom before sleeping; the gas is heavy and needs a push.
- Leave home for awhile if the smell is especially strong.

Remember: It’s not just the smell of saltwater. It’s a noxious gas that can make you sick. Symptoms include eye irritation, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Today/tonight: Natural Mom/Baby Day; Mount concert finale; DPC

The West Seattle Weekend Lineup will be out later this morning, but first a couple quick reminders about three events:

****Pharmaca (WSB sponsor) in The Junction has declared today Natural Mom and Baby Day — with freebies including consultations, samples, and child-health seminars (10-11 am, on immunity-boosting; noon-1 pm, allergy remedies; 3-4 pm, DHA’s and brain health), and special offers; full details on Pharmaca’s West Seattle store page (which also lists other upcoming events, like flu shots).

****The third 4-day run of Delridge Produce Cooperative’s “Mobile Market” free-produce pilot project begins this afternoon - 3:30 to 7:30 at 9050 Delridge (where we visited them on Day 1). Go get free fruit/vegetables and fill out a (fast) survey.

****Tonight at Providence Mount St. Vincent, jazz by Cheryl Serio wraps up this year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount series (WSB sponsor) — you can watch or listen to her music here for a preview. Food and drink are on sale at 5; free concert starts at 6; bring your own chair and/or blanket.