West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle weather: Countywide burn ban going up to Stage 2

As of 2 pm, King County will be under a Stage 2 burn ban, elevated from yesterday’s announcement. Here’s what the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says that means:

*No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.

*No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

*It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

This might not last too long – breezes up to 15 mph are in the forecast for tomorrow, and possible rain on Thursday night.

West Seattle development: New sign of planned memory-care facility on Junction site

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
A sign has just gone up at 4515 41st SW in The Junction, announcing “Quail Park Memory Care Residences of West Seattle” is on the way – here’s a closer look:

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
This is the same long-vacant site (map) mentioned in a WSB report from October 2012, noting that a city Department of Planning and Development webpage featured an early-stage filing “proposing construction of a new 50-60 unit Alzheimer’s care community …” with the would-be applicant inquiring about any similar projects in West Seattle. The North Seattle address on that filing is the same one listed for Living Care Lifestyles, the company on the new sign; its website does not mention the 41st SW plan, nor does the DPD webpage include any new filings, but we have an inquiry out and will update whenever we hear back. The site (which has had multiple previous proposals that didn’t go through) is adjacent to the 41st/Oregon townhouse plan reported here two months ago; at least one other senior-care project is expected to be on the local drawing boards soon, since as we reported last week, Aegis Living is buying the former Life Care Center site at 47th/Admiral.

Holy Rosary gets Franciscan grant for student’s winning billboard

An exciting celebration at Holy Rosary School on Friday – the prize presentation for its winning student billboard artist!

This all goes back to June, when we published the art created by the finalists in the Franciscan Health System (WSB sponsor; formerly Highline) contest after they invited local students to write and illustrate healthy-living tips, with the winner to be put up on a billboard alongside the West Seattle Bridge. The winner was Holy Rosary student Audrey Kline (at center in our photo above, with HR’s Father John Madigan and the other HR finalists in the contest). In case you missed seeing Audrey’s art on the billboard, here it is again:

Audrey’s win was announced in September (WSB coverage here); then on Friday, Franciscan Health System leaders came to Holy Rosary to present the other part of the prize – a $500 grant for health education at the school.

P.S. Back in September, after the event announcing the winning billboard, we had first word of Franciscan’s plan to move its Roxbury clinic to Westwood Village. We learned yesterday that they are aiming for an opening date in mid-December.

Another ‘Team Tracy’: This time, fighting pancreatic cancer

(Click image for larger view; Tracy Burrows is the signholder in the center)
Another cancer-fighting “Team Tracy” has emerged in West Seattle – this time, rallying with the color purple, the official color of the fight against pancreatic cancer. The photo is shared by Madalyn, who explains the photo and its inspiration, as well as the namesake of this “Team Tracy,” who gathered for an event on Sunday:

Hi, my name is Madalyn Mincks and I live in West Seattle and I, like many of you, are friends and acquaintances of West Seattle’s Tracy Burrows. Tracy has been featured in our great West Seattle Blog on many occasions and she is extremely active with West Seattle High School’s PTSA, serving as President this year. In September, Tracy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has recently completed her third round of chemotherapy at SCCA Clinic.

Tracy is one of the most inspiring, intelligent, humorous and positive people most of us have ever met. Our friendships and her courage brought together over 80 participants in support of Team Tracy yesterday morning.

I would like to share a photo from yesterday’s PurpleStride Walk/Run. Magnuson Park was a beautiful location and over $222,000 was raised in the fight against pancreatic cancer. It was a powerful and inspiring day! The event was also a way to to kick off November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month!

When I asked if Tracy would be okay with my posting of the photo, she said yes and further commented that “Hopefully it will be inspiring to other folks who are in this cancer fight along with me.”

The PurpleStride event raised money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). According to the event website’s homepage, Team Tracy was a top-5 fundraiser!

Learn about the ‘Power of Parents’ with WSHS PTSA

As a followup to last month’s community meeting about youth drug/alcohol-use concerns, a special parent workshop is planned during this Wednesday’s West Seattle High School PTSA meeting, and all are welcome. Here’s the announcement:

Join the WSHS PTSA on Wednesday, November 6th, from 7 pm-8:30 pm in the West Seattle High School library. We will be hosting Mike Graham-Squire from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), who will present a “Power of Parents” workshop – a parent guidebook that will help families talk to their kids while using positive parenting techniques that have been proven to help reduce underage drug and alcohol use will be distributed to attendees.

We’ll entice you with tantalizing details of the upcoming Reaching for the Stars auction! Have you donated your item and purchased your ticket? It will be a very fun night – and the best part is that it will benefit the students and staff at the school.

All are welcome. To access the library, enter the building through the side door in front of the visitor parking stalls.

That’s the main lot, at 3000 California SW. P.S. Regarding the WSHS gala – ticket deadline is just one week away; here’s where to get tickets and info.

West Seattle Women’s Health and Midwifery, PLLC: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we welcome West Seattle Women’s Health and Midwifery, PLLC, one of the newest WSB sponsors. As is traditional when a new local sponsor joins the team, we offered Dr. Shari Luchino the opportunity to let you know more about her work:

A Place for Women! Welcome to our lovely location in the West Seattle Junction. Dr. Shari Luchino, DNP, ARNP, CNM, Nurse Practitioner-Certified Nurse Midwife, is providing compassionate, personalized care for all women’s-health (gynecology), pregnancy, homebirth and birth-center needs, caring for women throughout their lives. Easy access, free parking, generous appointment time. Shari has raised her family in West Seattle and is excited to offer the supportive, woman-centered care of a Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwife to her community.

West Seattle Women’s Health and Midwifery, PLLC, is at 4727 44th Ave SW, Suite 207. Call 206-588-2976; online, find out more at westseattlewomenshealth.com.

We thank West Seattle Women’s Health and Midwifery, PLLC, for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

‘Dance MS’: Join West Seattle Big Band tomorrow night for music, dancing, food, and the fight against multiple sclerosis

The West Seattle Big Band is a mainstay at events around the area – from the annual Hi-Yu Concert in the Park to collaborative events with local schools, and more – usually as a guest, but this time they’re organizing an event and personally inviting you to come help support an urgent cause. From WSBB’s Jim Edwards:

From time to time the West Seattle Big Band strays from its mission statement of supporting public-school music programs in West Seattle, and devotes a concert to some other need. A year ago our piano player Brooke was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She asked the band if we would be interested in doing a concert in support of the MS Society. We wholeheartedly agreed.

Thus was born this new event, Dance MS.

On the evening of Saturday, November 2nd, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the West Seattle Senior Center, we will be performing a concert of great swing-band music with our 18 piece band. All proceeds will go to the MS Society. The band will provide food and refreshments. The suggested donation is $15.00.

Since announcing this event, we have been surprised at how many people we have talked to who know at least one person stricken with this disease. MS is an autoimmune disease that damages nerves and can impair vision and mobility. It can also affect thinking and memory. The occurrence of MS in the Pacific Northwest is about triple the level in the Southern United States and many more times higher than elsewhere in the world.

Now you may know MS as that disease that Annette Funicello had, or maybe you read about Ann Romney or Montel Williams living with it. Perhaps you’ve just seen advertising for the annual MS Walk. But when it strikes someone you know, it takes on a bigger meaning. When you read about the disease and it’s effects on the human body, it takes on a new urgency.

Our Brooke has a background in medical sciences and is better suited then most to know what will work to help slow this disease. So we anticipate her being around the band for a long time to come. But she has helped us to appreciate the need to support the MS Society, and to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

So come Dance, or just come watch and listen. We will be playing all your favorite big band hits, including vocals from both our vocalists Jeff Carter and Sarah Ackers. We hope you will come join us Saturday.

RSVP to WSBBdanceMS@gmail.com

Family physician Dr. Sachi Brittin, MD: New WSB sponsor

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, board-certified family-medicine physician Dr. Sachi Brittin, MD, who is now seeing patients in West Seattle. New WSB sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves; here’s what Dr. Brittin would like you to know:

“I am committed to patient-centered care. I believe that the patient and physician can work together as a team to reach goals of healthy living. I am compassionate and strongly believe in taking the time to listen to a patient’s needs and concerns. I have recently traveled overseas to Nepal and India and welcome patients from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“My patients usually say that they appreciate that I take the time to listen. I am interested in them as a whole person and not just as a set of symptoms. I can only hope that our interaction inspires patients to make healthy lifestyle changes and to take control of their health and learn about their ailments. I think patient education is important and I want my patients to have a full understanding of their medical care. I have a background in working with the underserved and feel strongly about promoting patient autonomy. I imagine that patients seek me out because they are interested in having a physician who is caring and supportive. Our office has a fun, warm atmosphere where all patients are made to feel welcomed and cared for.

“I am a board certified member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. I have recently returned to the Pacific Northwest after being away for college and graduate school and am thrilled to be back. I am new to West Seattle and look forward to getting to know the community. I have joined my father’s well-established practice and, to introduce myself to community members, we are planning to give several health lectures at a local senior center. Please feel free to drop by and say hi. I am currently accepting new patients and walk-ins. I am a big film buff and enjoy the outdoors and am always interested in hearing hiking or camping suggestions.”

Find Dr. Sachi Brittin, MD, online at brittinfamilymedicine.com; by phone, 206-937-5356. Her office is in The Junction, at 4744 41st SW, Suite 106.

We thank Dr. Sachi Brittin, MD for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Fight cancer by helping next year’s West Seattle Relay for Life now

(WSB photo from June 2013 Relay for Life)
One of our area’s major cancer-fighting fundraisers, West Seattle Relay for Life, happens every summer – a memorable all-night relay with moments from exuberant to emotional. Like so many excellent events, it doesn’t and can’t happen without major volunteer help, and this is where you come in – maybe your special skills can make a difference:

Right now, the local American Cancer Society signature fundraising event is looking for committee members to help organize the 2013 Relay For Life. With just over nine months left before the Relay, the committee has a place for everyone.

Positions available include:
Sponsorship Chair: Get local businesses involved in this community-based event.
Online Chair: Manage the online fundraising arm of the American Cancer Society’s most successful event!
Team Development Chair: Help teams fundraise and recruit new teams to join the fight.
Many more!

This year’s Relay For Life of West Seattle will take place overnight in July (date TBD) at West Seattle Stadium.

Want to know more, or just go ahead and volunteer? Contact chair Santina, santinarigano@yahoo.com, or ACS staff partner Nici, nici.eaton@cancer.org. An organizational meeting is coming up in early November and they can tell you more.

Local physical-therapy clinics collecting for West Seattle Food Bank

(Thanks to Highline Physical Therapy for the photo!)
October is here and that means six local physical-therapy clinics hope to fill boxes like that one with nonperishable-food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Judi Yazzolino sends the announcement:

Sound Physical Therapy has challenged other participating West Seattle physical-therapy clinics to unite for the month of October in a goodnatured competition to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month with food donations to the West Seattle Food Bank.

The participating PT clinics are:

Biojunction Sports Therapy – 3729 California Ave. SW Ste 1A
Highline Physical Therapy – 4700 42nd SW, Ste 510
Life in Balance Physical Therapy – 5410 California SW, Ste 101
Kinetic Physical Therapy – 4828 California SW
Sound Physical Therapy – 3823 Delridge Way SW
Southwest Hand Therapy – 4621 35th SW

Please stop by one of the above clinics and drop off your donation! The Food Bank will be weighing each clinic’s donations throughout the month and let you know which clinic will be victorious, but we know for sure that our West Seattle neighbors in need will be the real winners!

Find the link to the Food Bank’s “wish list” by going here.

Photos: Sports, medicine, media mix in West Seattle for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ raising breast-cancer awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that’s what brought the “Jocks vs. Docs” event to Admiral Safeway this morning. Above, the overview, as balloons decked the checkstands where sports stars, health experts, and regional-media personalities rallied for a bag-off and photo ops.

Recognize football’s Golden Tate (Seahawks) and Warren Moon (Hall of Fame), Olympic swimming gold medalist Megan Jendrick, and soccer’s Kasey Keller in the lineup? Closeups, and more about the event, ahead:

Click to read the rest of Photos: Sports, medicine, media mix in West Seattle for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ raising breast-cancer awareness…

All-star lineup for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ in Admiral tomorrow morning

Just got this announcement, and we’re told everybody’s welcome, so if you’re looking for autographs or just to cheer the competitors on, be at Admiral Safeway 10 am-11 am tomorrow morning:

“Jocks vs. Docs” will kick off one of the state’s largest and most successful fundraisers for breast-cancer research. A team of professional and retired professional athletes will compete alongside some of the region’s best physicians in a grocery bagging contest for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Following the competition, there will be a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Safeway/SCCA mammography van [photo left], which has been equipped with new, leading-edge tomosynthesis equipment. This new equipment was funded by Safeway’s 2012 campaign, and the Safeway / SCCA MammoVan will be open for screenings at Safeway stores in Western Washington throughout October. (ADDED: Including drop-in appointments at this location on Tuesday)

Jocks:

· Kasey Keller, Seattle Sounders FC alumnus and broadcaster
· Warren Moon, Pro Football Hall of Famer and broadcaster
· Golden Tate, the Seattle Seahawks
· Megan Jendrick, two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer (as Megan Quann) and fitness columnist

The announcement continues ahead: Click to read the rest of All-star lineup for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ in Admiral tomorrow morning…

‘Urgent action meeting’ next week to fight teen alcohol/drug use

We first mentioned this planned meeting in coverage of this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, where community members announced it while asking police for advice. Now, they’ve shared a more detailed announcement and want to reiterate that all community members are welcome to come help talk about the problem and solutions, not just those with direct ties to the schools:

URGENT ACTION MEETING regarding West Seattle youth alcohol and drug abuse

The West Seattle High School PTSA is sponsoring a community meeting with Neighborhood House, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Parks Dept., West Seattle High School, Madison Middle School, along with other community members, to discuss drug and alcohol abuse by youth around West Seattle High School and Madison Middle Schools.

Thursday, October 10th
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
West Seattle High School (meeting in the Library)
3000 California Ave SW

Over the summer 4 young teens were hospitalized after overdosing in our community on cough medicine. Many parents are concerned about the apparent increase in marijuana and alcohol use and sales around Hiawatha Park and the schools.

By working together, we can address these issues and create a safer environment for our kids – but it takes everyone working together.

For questions, or more info please contact: Mike Graham-Squire, Neighborhood House, 206.353.7945, mikegs@nhwa.org

A few years ago, there had been a community group active in tackling these situations, but it went dormant for a variety of reasons. Again, organizers of this meeting stress that everyone’s welcome to come help plan and take action.

‘Footin’ for Frankie’: West Seattleites walk to fight Alzheimer’s

Thanks to Jeralee for sharing the photo. She reports:

33 family members walked in the (Walk to End Alzheimer’s) in Tacoma (Saturday). Walking for my Uncle Frank, who has had Alzheimer for several years, and also in memory of my mother Henrietta Henke and grandparents Ed and Hattie Little. All from West Seattle – we were all FOOTIN’ FOR FRANKIE.

Their team fundraising made the top 5, according to the walk’s official webpage. If you’d like to Walk to End Alzheimer’s, next Saturday (September 21st) there’s a walk in Seattle, at South Lake Union – info here.

Inspire West Seattle: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we welcome Inspire West Seattle, with its studio now open in The Admiral District, as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what Inspire West Seattle would like you to know:

Inspire is the only place in Seattle that offers Lagree Fitness. Lagree Fitness (formerly known as SPX Fitness) fuses key elements of Pilates with the latest in equipment technology and techniques, offering a total body workout in a dynamic class environment. In as little as 40 minutes on the Megaformer, our workout incorporates Pilates, strength training, and cardio to sculpt your body like no other workout.

Clients seek out Inspire Seattle because what we offer is so different from anything they’ve ever tried. It’s not uncommon for clients to say this is the hardest workout that they’ve ever done. It’s a tough workout, but also very safe, as all of our exercises are done using slow and controlled movement. Bottom line: Clients come back because they see results pretty quickly (results vary depending on the number of classes taken per week). Once you start seeing results, it motivates you to keep coming back. Aside from the physical benefits of our workout, clients have also mentioned they really love the sense of community they feel when they come to our studio. Many friendships have been made amongst clients and that’s so nice to see as a business owner. We’re hoping to build the same kind of community at our new West Seattle location.

Inspire‘s studio is located at 2620 California SW; call 206-932-0301. Online, you can find out more here.

We thank Inspire West Seattle for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

West Seattle business: Anytime Fitness moving to ex-Blockbuster

Finally an answer to a question we’re asked relatively frequently – what’s going into the former Blockbuster space in Admiral? You’ll recall it closed a year and a half ago, and then the parking lot became a pay lot three months later, suggesting a new tenant/owner wasn’t expected any time soon. But finally, someone IS getting ready to move in: Anytime Fitness is relocating from Charlestown Center.

We got the tip from WSB’er JayDee, and the move was confirmed today by Jacob Saldana, who bought Anytime Fitness along with his brothers in December of last year. He tells WSB they are starting demolition at the new location this week. “The space will be about double our current size and will give us about 6,500 square feet.” He says they’ve been working on expanding the club since they bought it: “It has always been our intention to provide a more functional, community gym that would fulfill all of the needs of our members and in order to do so we felt that we had to find a new location. We can’t wait for the opportunity to bring some of our programs that we have created at our Capitol Hill location to West Seattle. The new space will have enough room to accommodate showers, group exercise, and a more open free weight area. However, the gym will still be a manageable size that will allow us to provide excellent customer service and build relationships with our members rather than leaving them feeling as if they’re just another number.” They’re hoping to move into the new location (2222 California) by the end of the year

Video: 600+ run, walk Breathe Deep Seattle 2013 at Lincoln Park

After the rain accompanying the overnight thunderstorm cleared the air, more than 600 people participating in this morning’s Breathe Deep Seattle could truly do just that. They ran and walked to raise money for the lung-cancer-fighting LUNGevity Foundation – after warming up in the slightly chilly morning air:

This is the third year for BDS – which had a $15,000 fundraising goal for year one, a goal of five times that this year, and has already exceeded that new goal, passing $88,000 so far for 2013, according to the official website (look for the gauge on the lower-right side of the page).

P.S. For those who ran the race as a timed 5K – results are here.

Fight lung cancer: Walk/run in Breathe Deep Seattle tomorrow

(WSB photo from last year’s Breathe Deep Seattle 5K)
Last reminder – tomorrow’s the next benefit 5K run/walk in our area, Breathe Deep Seattle, benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation, which fights lung cancer. It’s in Lincoln Park, with check-in/last-minute registration starting at 8:30 am Saturday, a program with guest speakers at 9 am, the timed 5K and untimed walk/fun run at 9:30, closing ceremony at 11. If you are already registered and want to pick up your race T-shirt early, you can do that at West Seattle Runner (California/Charlestown; WSB sponsor) between 5-7:30 pm tonight. (P.S. If you missed our recent look ahead to all the 5K’s in West Seattle scheduled before year’s end – five of them including BDS – see it here.)

Happening now: West Seattle Fight and Fitness’s community open house

Driving by West Seattle Fight and Fitness (5050 Delridge Way SW), you might not get much of a hint of its spacious, fitness-friendly inside. But until around 3 this afternoon, you can stop in for a peek. Also meet the health and wellness providers joining in on the community open house, including two other West Seattle businesses that like WSFF are WSB sponsors:

From M3 Bodyworks, offering massage between the Alaska and Morgan Junctions, are Dan and Amber. And from Roxbury Spine and Wellness in the Roxhill/Westwood area, Liz and Mari:

As for WSFF, it prides itself on its “different approach to martial arts,” as noted here.

Southwest Pool closed until tomorrow; city cites ‘contamination’

West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool, Southwest Pool, is closed until tomorrow morning, says Seattle Parks, which just sent this announcement:

Seattle Parks and Recreation has closed Southwest Pool, 2801 SW Thistle St., for the rest of the day because of contamination that could not be contained. In compliance with State of Washington health regulations, Parks is taking these routine steps to ensure the pool water is clean and safe for public use:

· Elevating chlorine levels
· Disinfecting all pool surfaces
· Using the pool’s ultraviolet disinfectant system as a supplemental effort

Parks and Recreation apologizes for the inconvenience to pool users and will reopen the pool at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, July 25.

We have a few followup questions out to Parks; we also asked about a report that Hiawatha wading pool was closed for a while today, and Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter tells WSB that was because of broken glass (second time in less than three weeks), which has been cleaned up, and Hiawatha’s pool reopened at 2:30 pm.

A Kids Place Dentistry for Children: Welcome, new WSB sponsor!

Today we welcome A Kids Place Dentistry as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what Dr. Keith McDonald wants you to know about his practice, which has just expanded to the Admiral District:

“Every parent should take their child to see a dentist that fits within the framework of their parental philosophy. The pediatric dentists in the state of Washington are all excellent, but just like parents, dentists also have varying practice philosophies. In my practice, my associates and I utilize what we call the Parent-Directed Approach during patient examinations. This means that we design the child’s dental treatment around specific parental ideologies about topics such as fluoride, white vs. silver fillings, the child’s medical history, specific oral habits of the child, and familial dietary habits. In that respect, parents are welcomed during the examinations and treatments and are always informed and included in the decision-making process.

“At A Kids Place Dentistry, the most common compliment that we continuously hear from clients is that their child can’t wait to go back to see the dentist and how much fun their child had. The second most common question is usually, ‘How did you make my child so motivated to brush their teeth?’ We work very hard to make the environment at A Kids Place Dentistry comfortable, fun and informative for both the child and the parents. On some days one might think that they’ve entered a carnival or circus with balloon animals, magic tricks and bouncy balls! We’ve had the pleasure of serving the Renton Highlands community for over 7 years with excellent success. That office space is solely a pediatric dental office, so the colors are brighter and the design of the office is tailored specifically for kids. In our new West Seattle location, we share the space with our new partners, Sound Orthodontics, so the office design and colors are little more subdued, though still very comfortable and inviting. Our great ‘A Kids Place’ energy, along with the balloons, magic tricks, and bouncy balls are still in full force; however, and it’s a beautiful space for which we are so privileged with this opportunity to serve the West Seattle community.

“What keeps our patients coming back is the caring and honest approach of our staff and doctors. We change the lives of concerned parents and timid children every day, and it’s a joy to see those families return with smiles on their faces and excitement in their eyes!”

Dr. McDonald believes in community involvement: “Besides working with community groups and schools, I am also very involved in organizations that help strengthen the oral-health safety net in our state. I’ve served three years as a Washington State Dental Association (WSDA) state delegate, I am past president of the Seattle Pediatric Dental study club, and I currently sit on two boards – The Washington Oral Health Foundation (the dental foundation of the WSDA) and the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Executive Board. I also serve as a Seattle-King County Dental Champion for the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry Program, a state program designed to assist the underserved with accessing dental care.”

A Kids Place Dentistry is at 2617 California SW, 206-933-5437, info@akidsplacetoo.com. You can request an appointment online via the A Kids Place Dentistry website, akidsplacedentistry.com.

We thank A Kids Place Dentistry for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Need it? Make it! West Seattle woman creates ‘Pill Holder’

An Admiral resident created something she hopes will help people who, like her, need to carry medication around all the time, but would like to have it in something a little more stylish than the typical plastic box. Chris Boerner contacted WSB to share the story of her creation, called, simply enough, the Pill Holder. She explains why:

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Myasthenia Gravis, 18 years ago. I’m lucky enough to be doing really well, but I have to have my medicine with me all the time. Most of the portable pill containers out there aren’t the greatest quality, and they definitely aren’t beautiful. I use my Pill Holder more than almost anything in my daily life, and I want it to be functional and gorgeous! I’m looking forward to bringing that combination to other people who need their pills with them too.

The Pill Holder is made in the USA from stainless steel and comes in two widths, both about 2″ long, both ready to attach to a keychain; right now, she’s selling them online only. They’re also intended to help raise money to eradicate the reasons they’re needed – Boerner says she is setting aside five percent of the Pill Holder’s sales price to donate to researchers working on autoimmune diseases, which she notes affect 16 million people.

Lincoln Park wading pool closed for ‘extensive cleaning’ after illnesses reported

Seattle Parks has just announced that the Lincoln Park wading pool is closed for the rest of the day and undergoing “extensive cleaning” after a report of kids getting sick after using the pool (which also was discussed in the WSB Forums). Here’s the announcement:

Seattle Parks and Recreation has closed Lincoln Park wading pool today for extensive cleaning after a notification from Public Health – Seattle & King County that a group of children who attend day camp in the park became sick after playing in the pool.

Public Health suspects the children may have contracted norovirus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting. Norovirus is highly contagious, and is spread by getting the vomit or stool of someone who is infected in your mouth. This can happen by swimming in contaminated waters, eating foods that are contaminated, touching surfaces with the norovirus on it, or by having contact with someone who is infected.

Seattle Parks and Recreation received the call from Public Health around 11 a.m. on Friday, July 19 – after the wading pool had opened for the day.

“We immediately closed the pool,” said Aquatics Manager Kathy Whitman, “and began a thorough cleaning process with high concentrations of chlorine. We are disinfecting every possible surface.”

All of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s wading pools are chlorinated, and chemical levels are checked hourly by a trained wading pool attendant. The chemical levels in the pool on Tuesday, July 16 – the day children are suspected to have contracted the virus – were within standards set by the State Health Code.

Seattle Parks and Recreation also cleaned all the play area near the wading pool, as well as picnic tables, garbage cans and bathrooms in the area as an extra precaution. Public Health – Seattle & King County has reviewed and approved Seattle Parks and Recreation’s clean-up plan.

“We are extremely cautious when it comes to water safety,” Whitman said. “If we are aware that a wading pool has become contaminated with stool or vomit, we close the pool, clean it and re-fill it. We had no indication on Tuesday that the wading pool at Lincoln Park had any possible contamination.”

Because of the resilience of the norovirus, Seattle Parks and Recreation will keep the Lincoln Park wading pool closed today so that a thorough cleaning can take place, and will re-open it tomorrow, Saturday, July 20.

Lincoln Park is the only West Seattle-area wading pool that is open seven days a week, weather permitting. Two other wading pools in our area remain open today, EC Hughes (till 7 pm) and Delridge (till 6:45); Highland Park Spraypark is open until 8 pm. Here’s the citywide schedule.

Happening now: West Seattle Relay for Life 2013

At West Seattle Stadium, 200 people are in the early hours of an all-night annual tradition raising money to fight cancer – Relay for Life of West Seattle. It’s running a different schedule this year, but one thing didn’t change – the survivors’ lap (above) to start it off. One of the two-dozen-plus survivors there today was the highlighted speaker for the kickoff, Angela Hurst (in purple, below). It’s been a year since she was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 37 and 16 weeks of pregnancy … a baby she lost from side effects of as she was about to begin chemotherapy that she was assured would be OK:

(added) Here’s video of Angela telling her story:

The stories are everywhere at Relay for Life, without even having to be told aloud:

And while the event itself runs about 18 hours, the fundraising began weeks and months ago. You might remember this mother-daughter team:

We reported on Lauri and Gerry Cunningham‘s take-out spaghetti-dinner fundraiser a week ago. They told us proudly today that they brought in $800!

WHAT’S NEXT: This morning’s daily preview on WSB includes the schedule for this evening, with events open to the public including Bubbleman‘s performance right now and the popular kids-music band Recess Monkey at 6:30, and then the luminaria ceremony at 10 pm, as participants and visitors remember those they’ve lost as well as paying tribute to those who are fighting. The stadium gates will lock at 11, but people will remain on the track all night, with closing ceremonies planned at 7:30 tomorrow morning. If you want to donate, you can do so while visiting the stadium or online, here.

After 3 years, West Seattleite Jan Seeley to get life-saving kidney

Almost three years after she was told she needed a kidney transplant to save her life, longtime West Seattleite Jan Seeley – known for years as “JanS” in the WSB Forum and comments – is finally getting one. She is at Swedish Medical Center now after getting the call tonight for surgery in the morning. Even if you don’t know Jan, a self-employed massage therapist, you might remember reading her story here in 2011, at the start of a community fundraising drive (which has continued online), told by her daughter Jessica Diamant, who had hoped to give a kidney to her mom, until testing showed incompatibility. As Jessica wrote, Jan already had survived serious health challenges, including breast cancer, before being diagnosed with fibrillary glomerulonephritis, which led to kidney failure. The ensuing wait has been nerve-wracking, but now it’s almost over, and we wish Jan good luck with this operation and recovery. For updates, check – of course – the thread in the WSB Forum.

Speaking of Madison MS: Mayor to visit tomorrow

One more news item about Madison Middle School: Mayor McGinn will be visiting after school tomorrow, to join in a media briefing about “new health services” for students around the city. That’s according to a brief announcement we received this afternoon, which says he’ll be joined by representatives of Neighborcare Health (which runs some school-based clinics in West Seattle) and Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic.

‘Be Active Together’: Room in community ‘light activation’ exercise class

If you are looking for a way to get gradually, gently active, health-care worker and neighborhood advocate Miranda Taylor has a recommendation: There’s space in the Saturday morning “Be Active Together” classes at Neighborhood House‘s High Point Center, taught by instructor Calvin Jones from the Austin Foundation. Miranda describes it as “light activation of (the) body, with one or two exercises and stretches for each muscle group, 80 minutes on Saturday AM. Calvin leads a five minute meditation at the end where many of us take a rejuvenating catnap. Calvin learned from the best, our beloved late Willie Austin. If people are athletic types or already taking classes at a health club, this class might seem easy for them. However, many people are intimidated by the intensity of gym classes, and this is the perfect entry into movement from just above the couch.” She says the classes have room for about 10 more people; bring your own yoga mat or use one that’s provided. The classes are 10:30 am-noon on Saturdays, $5, at 6400 Sylvan Way SW – if you have questions, Miranda would be happy to answer them via e-mail at eastasianmedicinepractitioner@gmail.com.