West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
Gatewood Elementary students have just gathered a quarter-ton of pennies — but that’s only half their charitable work. Teacher Darren Radu, who also shared the photo, explains:
Over the past 4 weeks, kids from all classrooms worked together to bring in close to 500 pounds of pennies (and other coins) as part of the 2010 Penny Harvest. The bags of coins were shipped off to the local Penny Harvest offices last Thursday.
The next steps for the kids (in the New Year) will be to convene a Philanthropy Roundtable, where students from each grade will come together to research organizations working for justice in the community, country, and world, and determine which organizations are in most need of support. The Philanthropy Roundtable will then allocate grant funds from the pennies raised to these organizations. One of the Roundtable’s most important criteria is ‘leverage per dollar’ – the Philanthropists use their research to allocate funds in a way that works most effectively to make a positive difference in the world. Last year, Gatewood students awarded Penny Harvest grants to PAWS, Haiti Relief, the Mockingbird Society, and Child Haven. They had some guidance from teachers, but did most of the research and made the final decisions on where to send the money themselves.
The attached photo shows some of our many ‘harvesters’ with a few of the 30-pound bags they filled.
Big gratitude to the Gatewood community, families, and friends, for supporting this worthwhile work!
Darren Radu
4th/5th Teacher at Gatewood Elementary
ADDED 7:12 PM: Via Facebook, Stacey tells us Madison Middle School collected for Penny Harvest too – about 300 pounds.
Many years, a December Saturday spent sampling holiday bazaars might have meant soggy – or even snowy – walks between your car and the front door of the school or church. Not today. The bright smiles inside reflected the bright sunshine outside as we stopped at two of the many West Seattle venues with holiday bazaars/sales today. Above, the Highland Park Elementary PTA presented a bake sale and bazaar to raise money for all the things PTA fundraising covers these days – right now, a big concern at HPE is the playground. Among the participants, a Girl Scout troop that came from outside West Seattle:
They’re raising money for a trip to Japan – in 2013. Their leader says she found an online listing for the bazaar, seeking vendors, so they decided it was the place to be. And in the hallway, a rummage sale to raise money for Highland Park students to go to camp:
HP dad Ryan said they’d already sold an entire table of merchandise earlier in the day and they’ve raised enough for three kids to go to camp – though they have more in need (here’s how to help). Also selling their wares today, artists and craftspeople we found in the social hall at the newly dedicated Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church in Gatewood:
That’s Rose Sheppard, selling some of the pottery she’s made. And Laura Matson told us sales were going great for her handmade shibori cloth works:
Since WSUU just moved into the onetime Gatewood Baptist Church this fall, this is their first holiday bazaar (if you see this shortly after we publish it, they’re there till 4; enter from the church’s north parking lot along California north of Othello). As listed in the morning preview, today had many events like these – but there are still more to come, so keep your eyes on the bazaars/sales/tastings list toward the top of the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports tonight – first one from John in Gatewood:
I live on California Ave near Thistle Street [map]. We had a Christmas gift stolen off our front porch that was ordered off the internet and dropped by common carrier. I’ve heard of this happening but never experienced it until today. Probably happens more frequently than one would suspect. Just be aware there are bad guys out there. If it happened to us probably more will experience it this holiday season. Might want to warn W.S. residents. I’ve heard the crooks follow the trucks. Enjoy the Lego set, is all I can say. Hopefully someone who needs it more than our kids … eventually gets it.
Also tonight, Jen wanted to get the news out about an earlier burglary:
Not sure how to get this out, but our house was broken into today. We live at 32nd and Juneau [map], near High Point. It was between 10 am and 2 pm today. They threw a rock through the window, crawled through, and helped themselves to our electronics, jewelry, gift cards, etc etc etc.
Just want to get the word out and heighten awareness. Maybe it will help someone else going through what we are now.
(Photo courtesy Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts)
A month and a half after the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation moved into its newly renovated church in Gatewood (which by the way will be formally dedicated in a ceremony tomorrow night), they are sharing some of the spacious church campus with Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts, which announced its West Seattle plans earlier this year. This Tuesday night (October 26), Sweet Pea welcomes you to a grand-opening open house, 5:30-7 pm. They’re offering classroom tours, a chance to talk with the teaching staff, plus snacks, music, art projects, and face painting. Sweet Pea Cottage says it’s not just an event for prospective students, but also, “It’s a community celebration – all are welcome to join us. Bring friends, family members, and neighbors, too!” The address is 7141 California.
(Report on Pakistan flood-refugee camp, published last Saturday by The Guardian)
“The largest humanitarian crisis the international community has ever faced” is how Nazleen Ejarque describes the Pakistan flood disaster, in the announcement of a West Seattle benefit to reach out across the globe. Though the flooding happened two months ago, its aftermath continues to affect millions. On October 22nd, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church in Gatewood (7141 California SW), Nazleen is organizing a fundraiser for FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance, which is responding with search/rescue/evacuation as well as distributing food and medical/relief supplies. Food, dance performances, and henna painting are part of the plan; a $5 donation (for adults) is suggested. Nazleen says, “Please join us in this cause to help those in need…no matter their religion, color or class.” Here’s the full flyer for the 10/22 event. Questions? nazpejarque@yahoo.com
We previewed this here yesterday after receiving multiple notes from neighbors – and today, we’ve received more notes and calls now that it’s under way, so we went over to check it out: Scenes for a commercial promoting the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck are being shot today/tonight in the section of Gatewood between SW Morgan and the north side of Myrtle Reservoir. As with any kind of film shoot, there’s plenty of cool gear in use – note the setup atop the Mercedes:
And portable facilities to take care of whatever needs may arise:
Oh, and as for the star(s) of the show:
According to the flyer received by neighbors – who sent us a copy – the commercial will tell a “story played out every day as America goes to work.” Note the wardrobe-in-waiting (with that same man in the background):
The same flyer also makes it clear the neighborhood – near the highest point in Seattle – was chosen in large part for its skyline views, which would figure into the commercial. Neighbors were told the shoot may continue as late as 1 am tonight (tomorrow morning). Thanks again to those who e-mailed/called with tips about this! Shoots like this are coordinated with/through the City Office of Film and Music, whose website has interesting offshoots to explore, like the Insider’s Guide to Seattle Film Locations.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation closed the deal last April to buy the ex-Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church at California/Othello (map) – finally, a home of their own – they knew it was a fixer-upper.
What they didn’t know was just how much fixing up it eventually would need. But it’s almost done – done enough for the congregation to have its first service there tomorrow (Sunday) morning, right after a ribboncutting ceremony – the entire community’s invited – at 10:15 am.
We first toured the site last April with Rev. Peg Morgan, board president Paula vanHaagen, and congregation member Laura Matson, the day WSUU took possession. The same trio met us there this morning for a post-makeover tour, even as work continued inside and out – like final touches on the interior doors that rested atop sawhorses at midday, to be hung by day’s end:
They are taking great pride in the outside work as well as what’s inside – read on as our story continues with more photos:
We’ve received multiple notes from residents of a Gatewood neighborhood who got notices that a film crew is scheduled to be in their neighborhood Sunday afternoon/evening to shoot part of a commercial. No celebrities, apparently – the star of this show will be “the new Chevy Silverado,” according to the notice. They were looking at multiple locations at last word, but in case you see the trucks, lights, cameras – the filming could go as late as 1 am – that’s what it’s all about. The notice text indicates the area was chosen in no small part for its view of the cityscape in the distance.
This Thursday night, dozens of West Seattle venues from Alki to Westwood are open again for the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Some of them are a bit off the proverbial beaten path – but well worth your time – like “The Building” in Gatewood.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“The Building” is a deceptively simple name, given the amount of creativity and art that comes out of this former day-care and school building at 4316 SW Othello (map) in Gatewood. The Building houses a dozen artist studios where the artists produce work from sculpture and oil painting to ceramics and custom guitar-making.
Owner Randy McCoy, who has developed other affordable artist studios in the Seattle area, recalls walking into the building back in 2000 when his daughter attended day care there: “I thought, ‘Man, this would make killer studios!’” The building has soundproof walls, plus a restroom and janitor’s sink on each floor — perfect for artists’ needs. Randy, a West Seattle resident who is an artist specializing in abstract painting and sculpture, recognizes the need for affordable spaces for artists to work; he bought the building in 2008. He says: “Other buildings get converted, but this will be art studios forever.” (The photo above shows Randy getting a drink from an original day-care water fountain.)
The Building is open to the public every second Thursday of the month for the West Seattle Art Walk, providing the community with the opportunity to visit with the artists who work in the studios and to see works of artists featured in the monthly rotating displays. In August, photos by David Blank adorned the walls of the ground floor gallery.
Shaun Doll, owner of Northwest Encaustic, which operates on the ground floor of The Building (photo above), is the curator of the rotating shows. If you’re an artist who would like to have work displayed at The Building, contact Shaun at: shaun@nwencaustic.com.
Touring through the building, you come to appreciate the spaces that have been provided for the artists who create here. They all have high ceilings and natural light, and the upper floors have amazing views of the sound. Oil painter Craig Kosak – shown above with his dog Tucker – paints in one of the upper floor studios. He notes: “Randy’s been a blessing for us all. He makes studios available for a good price.”
Among the painters and sculptors in The Building you also find David Myka, who builds custom guitars. Asked about the market for custom guitars, he notes that not only is this the busiest he’s been in 3-4 years, he’s got a year-long backlog and will be taking on an apprentice at the end of this year. He says: “People are investing in things that will last. In the depression, people started investing in hand-made furniture.” His clients include students in music conservatory and “Weekend Warrior” musicians.
While most of the studios are private, the ceramic studio is available to rent for day use and Shaun’s encaustic painting studio offers classes to the public as well as daily rentals. To learn more about the encaustic studio, visit: nwencaustic.com.
Further, studio space opportunities are coming up for ceramic artists in the Mutablefire Studio. Ceramicist Steve Knipp, pictured above with his kiln, says that they are reorganizing the studio to make room for two other artists. For more information, contact Steve at steve@knippart.com.
There’s a strong sense of community among the artists who work in The Building, including the occasional sharing of materials. Sculptor Shawn McLean, who has rented space here for two years notes that he’s used beeswax with the help of Shaun Doll, and David Myka has provided wood to use as sculpture bases. Randy McCoy adds: “There’s strength in numbers, we’re all supportive and we push each other. It’s really healthy to be around other artists.”
For the full list of participating venues in this Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk – and details on who’s showing what, where – check out the official site at wsartwalk.com; you can also find the official map by going here.
Thanks to the tipsters who phoned in sightings of two unmarked helicopters in the Gatewood area in the last 30 minutes. We’re told they were not news helicopters and we have no word of police activity in that area. At the moment they have flown off as quickly as they appeared. We’ll post an update if we’re able to find out what it was related to. But it is likely unrelated to any kind of law enforcement or rescue activity.
Couple notes tonight about solicitors in Gatewood – whether legit or not, it’s not clear, but those who e-mailed to share the story thought they seemed suspicious – read on:Read More
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Also under way now and continuing till 4 – still time to get your ticket and map and go see the gardens – the 3rd annual West Seattle Edible Garden Tour, raising money for Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle. The photo’s from a Gatewood garden that’s among the stops on the tour. More photos later.
ADDED: In hats, Shawn and Amy Carlson showed off their garden:
From Urban Land Army, Sandy Pederson‘s garden, where you’ll find 28 varieties of heirloom tomatoes.
And next, Lisa Hlavsa, with son Ben (right) in their garden during the tour:
Community Harvest has much more going on, pretty much year-round. Drop-in gardening on Thursday nights, and lots more. Keep in touch at gleanit.org. (And you can find out more about sustainability – including edible gardening – again today during West Seattle Summer Fest, at the GreenLife zone, on the west side of California SW just north of Edmunds.)
From KV:
After reading through the blog it seems like these might be the same people that struck other neighborhoods. I live in the Gatewood neighborhood between Holden and Kenyon. Older model loud blue pickup with two men stopped pickup in alley, one African American male and one Caucasian male, got out and walked into neighbor carport. The whole back of the pickup was full of large metal items and they looked through the neighbors whole carport and stole fencing and other pieces of miscellaneous metal. The pair was stopped by another neighbor further down the block when they were found in the backyard looking around another neighbor’s yard. They said they were looking for scrap metal, but were going to ask permission before they took anything. This time, one of the people was actually around the front and side of the house and it is unclear what they were doing.
Two reader reports to share tonight – first, an encounter near Solstice Park (we received this in e-mail but it’s since turned up in the WSB Forums, where some are wondering if it’s a person who’s been arrested in the area before – read it here); second, a door-to-door alert – read on:Read More
First photo-enhanced coyote report in a while. It’s from K. Parsons in Gatewood:
… in broad day-light after cruising around our front yards on the 7100 block of 39th avenue SW between Myrtle and Orchard, this guy was sunning himself (or herself) in our neighbors’ backyard for about 15 minutes then loped through our back-yard. This pic was taken today about noon. They sure do help with the rodent population but take care of your cats and small dogs!
Three alerts to share in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup tonight. First, Lee reports that his neighborhood e-mail group has word of grounding-wire theft on utility poles in an alley near 39th/Stevens (map). This isn’t just costly to utilities, but also a serious risk to worker safety, so they were expected to get fast repairs, but neighbors say they were told West Seattle has seen a lot of this lately. Second, metal thieves in action again in Seaview; from 44th/Raymond (map), Alison reports the neighborhood e-mail group has shared word of a “dirty, dark blue, older-model Toyota sedan” traveling an alley with someone walking alongside throwing items including bicycles and scrap metal into the trunk. The neighbor who spotted them called 911 and gave chase, but finally called it off at a dispatcher’s advice when high speed and wet streets made it unsafe – not before providing police with the plate and description, though. They’re suggesting area residents check their backyard to see if anything’s missing. Finally, from Greta in Gatewood:
I live on Sw. Rose St. between 35th & 37th [map]. We had a flyer left on our front porch today alerting us to a 3rd burglary on our block. I haven’t talked to our neighbors yet, so I’m not sure the details. Thought I’d share this with others in the neigborhood.
Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow has explained at various public forums that these flyers are left if repeat burglaries happen in neighborhoods without a Block Watch – if you want to set one up, check out the info here, and be sure to join up with the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After 20 years without their own building, the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation finally has one.
Friday was WSUU’s first full day of owning the former Gatewood Baptist/Seattle International Church building at California/Othello (map).
Congregation leaders and members didn’t waste a minute of Day 1. At 9 am Friday, a group was on the site whacking weeds that were starting to get out of control, and when we visited to speak with church leaders between 5 and 6 Friday night, another work party was busy tidying up the church’s side yard along Othello, looking for all the world like they weren’t likely to leave before dark (if then):
The building needs work inside too before the first scheduled service in 4 1/2 months – but the Westside Unitarian Universalists couldn’t be more excited – read on:Read More
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Many schools have Earth Day on the agenda today – among them, Gatewood Elementary, whose 4th and 5th graders made multiple stops this morning. We caught up with them at Lowman Beach Park, where they picked up litter (you’ll note the bag in front of them on the Lowman tennis court). 4th/5th-grade teacher Darren Radu tells WSB that students also went to Pelly Place for invasive-plant removal, stenciled storm drains along the streets near the school, and did litter patrol at other spots including the Lincoln Park P-Patch. (Thanks to Darren for the heads-up – let us know what your school is up to, either with an advance tip, or photos/info afterward, so we can share the news! WSB contact info is here.)
Published late tonight at seattlepi.com: A woman is charged with attempting to promote commercial sexual abuse of a minor, after she was found in a Gatewood apartment where prosecutors say four teenage girls also were living – three of them runaways. The seattlepi.com report says police were tipped by one runaway’s mom, who discovered that the phone number from which her daughter had called her was linked to what the article describes as “a prostitution-oriented Web site.” Police found the 21-year-old suspect, Kendra M. Williams, with two girls in an apartment in the 7100 block of California SW (map), and say she told officers she was setting up an “escort service.” The King County Jail Register shows that Williams has been in jail since March 29, with bail set at $25,000; we’ll check the court documents after the online system reopens in the morning. ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: It has since been pointed out to us that this story originally appeared at SeattleCrime.com yesterday afternoon – with more details – you can see their story here.
Today, Fauntleroy Way got some TLC in the form of dozens of new trees – tomorrow, 35th SW through Westwood, Gatewood and Sunrise Heights needs as many volunteers as can be mustered for a 10 am-1 pm cleanup of sidewalks and planting strips. Westwood Neighborhood Council and Friends of the Southwest Library are co-sponsors (as first reported here); check in at the library (35th/Henderson) at 10 am.
This Saturday, the youth group from Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood hopes you’ll drop by and help them amass a sizable food donation for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. Peace Lutheran youth director Nicole Klinemeier explains, “The food drive is part of an event where we are talking about hunger issues. This is one of our service projects during the event. The event itself lasts for 24 hours, but they commit to not eating for 30 hours, as a taste of what it is like to go hungry.” She says the items food banks need the most include:
Cereal
Dry variety (e.g., Hamburger Helper, Rice a Roni, etc.)
Beans
Rice
Canned meat (anything but tuna)
Canned fruit and vegetables
Diapers (size 4, 5, 6)
You can drop off donations on Saturday between 8 am and 12:30 pm; Peace Lutheran is at 39th and Thistle (map). And remember – because of the Feinstein Challenge (explained here), ANY donation to the local food banks through the end of April counts for extra.
Got a couple notes about a strong chemical-like odor in the Gatewood area at midday. Not an avalanche of reports, so at first we weren’t going to write about it – but it does provide an opportunity to remind you that odor IS an air-quality issue and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency wants to hear about it. So if something is persistent or otherwise worrisome, file a report – at least this will help them track it. The information is on the PSCAA website – you can file online or call during business hours.
While we were at King County Department of Transportation HQ on Thursday afternoon to talk about some of the ongoing routing changes caused by construction, KCDOT’s Linda Thielke mentioned a proposed change was in the works for Route 22 through Gatewood. She didn’t have full details, but they’re out now: Metro wants to take the 22 off about half a mile of residential streets (41st and Ida) and move it to California SW for the full stretch through Gatewood, so that it stays on arterials all the way. Here are the details; note the “online survey” on the right side for comments. If Metro goes through with the change, it’ll take effect in October. (Disclosure, because we always try to let you know when we have skin in the game: WSB HQ is on the proposed new route.)
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