West Seattle Blog…

Life Care Centers of America closing its West Seattle facility

A spokesperson for Life Care Centers of America confirms to WSB that its West Seattle facility (4700 SW Admiral Way; WSB sponsor) is closing, after almost 17 years. After getting a tip about this overnight, we called corporate headquarters in Cleveland to check it out – and they provided this formal announcement:

Life Care Centers of America announced today its plans to close the Life Care Center of West Seattle location on Jan. 31, 2013.

“Life Care has been forced to face a difficult decision,” explained Todd Fletcher, a spokesperson for Life Care’s Northwest Division. “Due to the difficult economic environment and the age and maintenance requirements of the physical building, Life Care is unable to continue operating this facility.”

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has been notified, and Life Care associates are now focused on appropriately placing each of its approximately 70 residents.

Residents and family members received a list of local care facilities, and Life Care is providing clinical social workers to assist with every discharge to ensure residents are secure and comfortable with the changes.

All of the building’s eligible employees will be offered a severance package and the opportunity to possibly obtain work within other Life Care buildings.

“We are a close team, and this is a difficult situation for our tight-knit community,” said Fletcher. “Life Care Centers of America has more than 220 other locations, and if some of our associates have interest in staying with Life Care, we are happy to try and place them in other buildings.”

Life Care Center of West Seattle has been operating since May 5, 1996.

According to the corporate website, there are 17 other Life Care Centers in this state, and the company has home-care services listed too.

Volunteer work that saves lives: Crisis Clinic needs help

We mention them in every WSBeat report, and every time our reporting touches on the issue of suicide. Today, we’ve received an announcement that Crisis Clinic – a life-saving resource for people all over the region – is looking for volunteer help:

Crisis Clinic has been helping individuals and families in need since 1964. From the beginning, volunteers have been the heart of our organization, providing caring and confidential support to callers on the 24-Hour Crisis Line.

Our programs have expanded greatly over the years, increasing our need for community volunteers. We now offer a variety of opportunities for both youth and adults, suited to meet each person’s interests and availability.

New volunteers are currently needed to:

· Answer calls on the 24-Hour Crisis Line or WA Recovery Help Line
· Respond online via Crisis Chat
· Mentor youth volunteers with Teen Link
· Make quality assurance calls for King County 2-1-1

We provide volunteers with professional training and supervision, ensuring they have the knowledge and skill to make a difference in the lives of our callers.

Applications are now being accepted for the next training session starting in January.

To learn more, please call Crisis Clinic at (206) 461-3210 ext. 697 or visit our Volunteer page online at:

crisisclinic.org/get-involved/volunteer.

West Seattle holiday giving: Black Friday blood drive

Out of the WSB inbox this afternoon, from Mike:

As an alternative to getting frustrated by all the Black Friday madness, please consider giving blood. Puget Sound Blood Center will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe on 35th Ave. on Black Friday for blood donations. It’s quick, easy and painless. Donation times are from 10-12 and 1-4 November 23rd, Black Friday. Donations are always needed, but especially this time of year. My father-in-law recently passed from cancer, but before he did, he utilized a substantial number of units of blood. This was made possible by members of the community who took the time to donate.

OLG is at 35th and Myrtle (map).

Vietnamese Cultural Center organizing volunteers again to offer free flu shots, haircuts, food on Thanksgiving

Vietnamese Cultural Center director Lee Bui sends word that the center, along with Puget Sound Pharmacy, will bring flu shots, haircuts, and hot food to Nickelsville tomorrow – as they did last Thanksgiving (WSB coverage here). It’s not only for Nickelsville residents, he says, but for others who are low-income/homeless, too – just show up. Along with pharmacist Rosalie Nguyen and Dr. Khanh H. Tran, volunteers will be there offering the service 11 am-1 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Nickelsville is at West Marginal Way SW/SW Highland Park Way.

Video: Highline Medical’s new West Seattle center dedicated, days before opening

With Fire Station 32 right across the street from the south side of Highline Medical Center‘s brand-new West Seattle facility at 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW, it seemed natural for its crew members to join in the dedication ceremony this evening – and that’s where our video clip begins.

We first told you back in August 2011 about Highline’s plan to take over what was once part of the Huling Brothers automotive sites, then Cycle University (now on Harbor Avenue), and turn it into its new West Seattle offices, which have been located on 41st SW east of Jefferson Square until now.

They’re closing tomorrow afternoon for the move – and referring patients to their Roxbury clinic if care is needed over the weekend. But first, a celebration:

Once the new location opens, the SW Alaska side of the new Highline center will hold the entrance for Highline Urgent Care; the Fauntleroy Way SW side will be where you go in for Highline Family Medicine.

2 more days to help local physical therapists fight hunger!

As of the most-recent official check, local physical-therapy clinics had collected almost HALF A TON OF FOOD in their mega-food drive to help the West Seattle Food Bank – and you only have two more days to pitch in! Sound Physical Therapy issued a friendly challenge to other clinics, in honor of National Physical Therapy Month. You can drop off non-perishable donations (including diapers and formula for the littlest WSFB clients) there or at any of the other participants (we’ve linked the names to the respective clinics’ websites so you can find them): Highline PT, Life in Balance, BioJunction Sports Therapy, Southwest Hand Therapy, Cascade Dizziness and Balance, Kinetic Physical Therapy, West Seattle Rehab Services, and West Seattle Physical Therapy.

West Seattle family’s Halloween hope: ‘Trick or Treat for Transplant’

As Halloween approaches, we’re sharing a special request made on behalf of a local family by the relatives, friends, and volunteers who are working to get the word out about their situation:

A 2-year-old West Seattle girl, Evelyn, will be receiving a much-needed kidney this Halloween. The living donor is her father, Keith, a local small-business owner (he owns Evergreen Window Cleaning).

As you might imagine, this is a real hardship for the family, so a team of volunteers has formed to help the family raise funds for transplant-related expenses through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.

We are asking the community to join us on Transplant Day, Halloween, to put a smile on this family’s face as we “Trick or Treat for Transplant!” People can help by doing any of the following:
-Print Trick or Treat for Transplant flyers (viewable/printable from here) and pass them out with your Halloween candy
-Make a donation to COTA for Evelyn S to help the family with transplant- related expenses (all donations are tax-deductible and can be made via cotaforevelyns.com). Every little bit helps!
- Leave Evelyn a message on her website (www.cotaforevelyns.com) or Facebook page (Friends of Evelyn S)

West Seattle development: New Alzheimer’s care facility?

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
That’s 4515 41st SW, which has gone through several development proposals in recent years, and is now the subject of a new one, according to city online records. The Department of Planning and Development page for the site now has an early-stage filing described as follows:

Proposing construction of a new 50-60 unit Alzheimer’s care community in West Seattle. Questions relative to use in the L3 zone, setbacks, parking requirements, permit timeline, and where any other Alzheimer’s communities have been proposed and or are under development in West Seattle.

The second line appears to be a note about issues brought to the DPD in early discussions; the only date on the DPD page involves a fee payment on September 18th. One contact is listed for the potential project; we tracked down a phone number and have left multiple messages seeking further comment on the proposal and what stage it’s in, and will update whenever we hear back from them. The site is in the process of being sold, according to pages like this; we had reported back in June that it was on the market. Two years ago, it was the subject of a short-lived proposal for a 7-story apartment building; in 2006, it was envisioned as 70 apartments over a park-and-ride.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Heartless theft of heart-restarting defibrillator

We start today’s West Seattle Crime Watch with a theft that puzzles the person who reported it: Darla Varrenti, executive director of the Nick of Time Foundation (which came to Chief Sealth International High School last year for youth heart screenings). She says a defibrillator donated by her organization, like the one at right, has been stolen:

We placed 130 AED’s last year in all the schools in SPS and at the 15 outside sports fields with a program called “The Heart of Seattle Schools.” The one at the (Southwest Athletic Complex) has gone missing and in order to have that complex covered the school district has taken one from the high school [Sealth] to replace it. That leaves a floor at the school not covered as the nearest one is on the 3rd floor.

This machine really has no value to anyone unless you are having a sudden cardiac arrest, then it becomes life-saving! … The school district doesn’t have the money to replace it and I hope the community might rally around and help them out to replace it.

Varrenti says the units cost about $1,200 each. If you have any tips on the theft – call 911. If you are interested in donating to help replace the stolen one, you can do so through Nick of Time (go to nickoftimefoundation.org and click “Donate”; then, she says, “they can put a note in that the donation is for the West Seattle AED and they get a receipt back right away”). P.S. The field from which the AED was stolen is the same one where a coach suffered a fatal heart attack four months ago.

THREE MORE CRIME WATCH NOTES: Ahead, two bike thefts and a followup on a recent theft report, after some of the stolen items were found and returned to their owner!:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Crime Watch: Heartless theft of heart-restarting defibrillator…

West Seattle scene: Off to join Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Though today’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is wrapping up along Lake Union right about now, it had West Seattle representation – this group headed out this morning from The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Participants included residents and staffers. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the walk’s beneficiary, 35 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s worldwide, and this is National Alzheimer’s Month – find out more here.

West Seattle Fight & Fitness: New martial-arts center on Delridge

What had been a boat business at 5050 Delridge Way SW is in the process of conversion to a martial-arts/fitness center. David Stegman from West Seattle Fight & Fitness e-mailed us to share the news of what he and his business partners have in progress there, and shared photos too, saying, “We are very excited to be a part of this growing community of local businesses!” They’ll specialize in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he will teach: “I’m currently one of the highest-ranking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts in the Northwest and the only one that lives and will be teaching in West Seattle!” They’ll have a “full-fitness gym area,” too – here’s where it’ll be:

(More remodeling photos are on their Facebook page.) And they’re planning on classes for children ages 3 and up – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tumbling, and Tae Kwon Do. He’s expecting West Seattle Fight & Fitness to open sometime next month.

Video: Fitness Together creates ‘The Lincoln Park Workout’

Another beautiful evening. And more to come. Going to the park? Thinking about a way? Take it one step further. Or maybe 100 steps further. Longtime WSB sponsor Fitness Together (headquartered in The Junction) came up with “The Lincoln Park Workout” and put it on video, as one way to enjoy the entirety of West Seattle’s biggest park, while getting a sizable amount of exercise. (You can break it down into components, too, if you just want to do part of it.)

Seattle Wellness Programs: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Seattle Wellness Programs. Here’s what they would like you to know about their practice: Dr. Elissa Mullen, a board-certified naturopath, is dedicated to helping patients enhance and improve their health. Her patients appreciate her attention to detail, continuous research for the newest treatment options, and constant monitoring of medical conditions to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Patients rely on Dr. Mullen for her experience and services. She has a consulting practice in several states with nine companies for weight loss and sleep apnea; she has extensive knowledge of the biochemistry of metabolism and weight loss; she is nationally recognized as a specialist in MS and other autoimmune diseases and the use of LDN (low-dose naltrexone); she is contracted with most insurance companies. More than 75 percent of Dr. Mullen’s new patients come from current patient referral – patients tell their friends/colleagues that with her guidance, they have changed their health and their lives.

Over the past 6 years, Dr. Mullen has been actively involved in West Seattle Rotary, actively participating in the Eradicate Polio Campaign, Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree, West Seattle Kiddie Parade and 5K Float Dodger. Dr. Mullen is also an accomplished vocalist performing in Breath of Aire and Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale. You’ll find her online here – you can even book an appointment online! – and on Facebook here, and by phone at 206-388-2929.

We thank Dr. Elissa Mullen of Seattle Wellness Programs 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.

Happening now: Team Tracy’s pre-3-Day T-shirt party

(L-R, Laura Noftsger, Tracy Dart, Janae Landis, posing. Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Next Friday-Saturday-Sunday, they walk … tonight, they party. And, of course, fundraise. You have another hour or so to get over to Angelina’s in the Admiral District if you’d like to join Team Tracy‘s T-Shirt Release Party – where of course you can buy a shirt:

That’s the women’s edition – sported already by Team Tracy’s leader/namesake herself, Tracy Dart (above), longtime breast-cancer-fighting fundraiser and three-time survivor:

The shirts, $20, also come in the meant-for-males edition:

The team is getting ready for the annual Seattle edition of the 3-Day Walk to fight breast cancer, Friday-Saturday-Sunday.

(From left, Samantha Prokopy, Dena Johnson, Vicki Albrecht)
Tonight’s party includes – besides the chance to buy T-shirts – karaoke! P.S. If you don’t see this till the party’s over, you can still donate to Team Tracy members via this webpage.

West Seattle’s police precinct to host special blood drive Tuesday

Holiday weekends are often a perilous time for blood supply – more need, fewer donations. Right after the Labor Day weekend, a one-day drive is planned here in West Seattle, just announced by Seattle Police Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen:

On Tuesday, September 4th, 2012, we will be having a blood drive at the SW Precinct. The Puget Sound Blood Center will be stationed in our parking lot.

We are partnering with King County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Justice, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as a commemoration to honor the victims of 9/11.

The blood drive will be between 10 am and 4 pm. … The donation of blood is something we all can do that is positive as well as its impact in saving lives for all people. We invite our entire West Seattle community to stop by and give a pint!

The precinct is on SW Webster at Delridge Way SW – here’s a map.

Bataan Park Outdoor Fitness Zone: New, and free, in High Point

Thanks to Wendy Hughes-Jelen for that photo of part of a brand-new installation in High Point – the Bataan Park Outdoor Fitness Zone at High Point Drive SW and Bataan Place SW. We got first word from Denise Sharify with Neighborhood House:

Be Active Together (Neighborhood House) and Open Space Association at High Point announces the opening of the Bataan Park Outdoor Fitness Zone

First of a kind in West Seattle, if not Seattle, The Zone offers FREE outdoor exercise equipment to the community 24/7. They are fun to use and accessible for almost everyone.

There are 8 pieces of equipment that make up a medium-sized gym center outdoors in a beautiful setting. A person who works his or her way through the entire circuit will get a high-quality aerobic and strength workout for the whole body.

*Located next to a children’s playground, it promotes family fitness and intergenerational play

*Offers communities a great way to promote wellness and fight obesity.

Join us at the grand opening on Sept. 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and work out with fitness expert Willie Austin. Live Jazz music and refreshments provided.

For more information or to receive training as a Fitness Zone ambassador, call Denise Sharify at 206.571.5070.

The new Fitness Zone was built with the help of a grant from KaBOOM! (previously known around here for the Delridge Playground) and Dr. Pepper/Snapple.

Want to help make it a cancer-free world? Sign up for this

Cancer is a relentless killer that has touched almost everyone’s life – and in addition to its primary effects, it leads to a sense of hopelessness, an agonizing wish for researchers to find a cure, to pinpoint a cause, anything to bring a cancer-free world closer. Next month, you can do something to help, beyond wishing and hoping. The American Cancer Society has launched a new round of its nationwide Cancer Prevention Study, a research program that dates back to the 1950s, to identify risk factors that can aid in prevention. Your participation now may save someone’s life someday. To make it easier to participate, the ACS will have an enrollment site here on September 22nd, 10 am-1:30 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor); they’re getting the word out now so you can make an appointment for that day. Read on to see how: Click to read the rest of Want to help make it a cancer-free world? Sign up for this…

Have blood, need parking: Got a spot for a Puget Sound Blood Center bus?

Krista Fink from Puget Sound Blood Center is hoping you can help them solve a problem – with lives in the balance – someplace for them to park their donation-drive bus. Her e-mail to us tells the story:

In the beginning of September, on Tuesday, September 4th, we have two mobile units that are still open that I need to fill and I just can’t find a location for them. I am hoping that maybe you will put something on your blog and maybe someone will see it and think “hey maybe my church can host a blood drive” or a business, youth group, etc. If we can’t find these mobile teams a ‘home’- a place to go, set up, and serve willing blood donors, then we will be missing out on over 80 donations. Because each blood donation saves 3 lives, those donations would save the lives of up to 240 local patients.

Please allow me to explain. We have a large number of donors in West Seattle. However, we have very few blood drives. Aside from the bi-annual high school blood drives at WSHS, we have a bus that comes to Westwood Village and one that comes to Jefferson Square every month and twice yearly we have a little bus at PCC. I’m looking for groups that might like to host blood drives so that we can provide more convenient opportunities for all of our wonderful West Seattle donors to donate at. Here at PSBC, we don’t necessarily create community- we are a part of it, and we operate for it, but we rely on other communities- groups of people who are already connected together in some way or another- who will support us. Blood Drives are wonderful ways to bring communities together- you never know who receives the blood and it could be your neighbor, your friend, your coworker, or the mysterious woman, a stranger, who is always in the same line as you at the coffee shop.

We have 17 mobile units (teams that go to various locations for mobile blood drives) that need to be scheduled for a blood drive every day in order to simply have the opportunity to collect enough blood to meet the needs of our inventory and provide a stable supply of blood for the community’s needs. Summer is tough- it is full of cancellations and a lack of donations as people are on vacation, the heat, people are busy, etc.

Specifically, we have a big bus and a big inside mobile team. The big inside mobile team requires a space of at least 900 square feet, three electrical outlets, good lighting and restroom access. The bus requires a flat surface and approx. 70 feet of parking lengthways as well as nearby restroom access.

Like I said, blood drives do create value for those who organize them, and the donors themselves. It’s an investment back into the community. There are already so many wonderful, dedicated blood donors in the area and I’m hoping someone can help!

(added) Krista’s office number is 425.462.4384 – her e-mail is KristaF@psbc.org.

Breathe Deep Seattle 5K: On the run, to end lung cancer

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Like so many benefit 5K’s, today’s Breathe Deep Seattle walk/run in Lincoln Park was both a big-group celebration, and an intensely personal event. Breathe Deep benefits the lung-cancer-fighting LUNGevity Foundation, and the tributes to lung-cancer patients past and present were everywhere, like the one D.J. Vallaca wrote before the start:

… and the one worn in support of Ray Flores, whose Team Flores had dozens of members:

Extra inspiration came from survivor Eva Borsi, speaking before the race:

More scenes from today’s Breathe Deep Seattle 5K – including the top finishers, one of whom was half the other one’s age! – ahead:

Click to read the rest of Breathe Deep Seattle 5K: On the run, to end lung cancer…

West Seattle business: Inspire Seattle coming to Admiral District

Another business is joining Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor) and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in the retail building north of Admiral Safeway: The fitness studio Inspire Seattle, based on Queen Anne, is expanding to West Seattle. Thanks to Crys for tipping us to a brief announcement on the Inspire Facebook page; we contacted owner Sue Hahm to find out more. She replied:

We’re expanding to West Seattle because we felt it was the right demographic for our target client base. Queen Anne has been very successful for us so we wanted to open our second studio in a similar neighborhood. We provide an effective and intense workout in 40 minutes, so it’s important that we’re in a neighborhood where clients can take advantage of the quick workout and not have to commute too far to work out… because clients tend to stay more motivated to work out if it’s convenient.

According to its website, Inspire Seattle is the city’s only studio offering the Lagree Fitness system. Hahm says they expect the West Seattle location (2620 California SW) to open late this year or early next.

West Seattle orthodontist Dr. Heidi Horwitz: New WSB sponsor

Today we’re welcoming one of our newest sponsors, West Seattle orthodontist Dr. Heidi Horwitz, DDS. Here’s what she would like you to know:

Just call Dr. Heidi Horwitz “The Tooth Whisperer”! She was in private dental practice for 16 years, including time as a clinic instructor and associate professor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, before selling that practice in 1999 to enter the UW Graduate Orthodontics Program, from which she graduated in 2001. Dr. Horwitz explains, “Most orthodontists go immediately out of dental school into orthodontic training. My 16 years as a general dentist and instructor gave me unique and valuable experience that I apply every minute of every day in my orthodontic practice.”

Dr. Horwitz adds, “I love what I do and I care about delivering the best results possible, and my patients can see that. I believe that our patients deserve my full attention in one convenient location. We are NOT an orthodontic factory cranking out braces in every neighborhood in Seattle; but we ARE a boutique style practice with the skills to develop and deliver treatment that is designed to meet each individual’s needs and level of complexity. I enjoy taking the time to explain recommended treatment and answering questions because I want to educate each patient about their options. I also want to assure that each patient knows that they are heard so that each individual’s concerns and treatment goals are addressed. My staff and I value and enjoy the interactions we have with our patients, their families, and their friends, and those sentiments are reciprocated!”

Dr. Horwitz has long been active with a variety of organizations. In the industry, that includes: the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, Washington State Dental Association, Washington State Society of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, Seattle King County Dental Society, and Northwest Study Club. She currently serves on three boards – on the Seattle King County Dental Foundation Board, on the Dean’s Club Board for the University of Washington School of Dentistry, and as president of the University of Washington Orthodontic Alumni Association.

In the community, she is active with the Rotary Club of West Seattle, including serving as its fundraising chair. Her office is at 4400 California SW in The Junction; you can call for an appointment at 206-938=9380; find her online here, and on Facebook here.

We thank Dr. Heidi Horwitz, DDS 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.

Watch next week for firefighters looking to ‘Fill the Boot’

(WSB photo of SFD Lt. Sue Stangl with Engine 29 during July 2011 “Fill the Boot”)
The annual firefighters’ fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association starts with teams at intersections around the city 2-6 pm next Tuesday-Wednesday (and again during two days in September). The planned intersections in West Seattle are:

*Delridge Way SW/ SW Orchard St
*California/Admiral
*California/Alaska
*Harbor/Spokane
*California/Fauntleroy

More background info from today’s announcement, ahead: Click to read the rest of Watch next week for firefighters looking to ‘Fill the Boot’…

‘People helping people’: West Seattle Eagles’ gift for Team Tracy

West Seattle’s most prolific breast-cancer-fighting fundraiser, Tracy Dart – who as you probably know also is a 3-time survivor – just accepted a big donation from the West Seattle Eagles Auxiliary, as her Team Tracy gets ready for this year’s strong>Breast Cancer 3-Day – the sixth one for her. The Eagles’ Madame Trustee Kristina Todd shared the news, with the photos we’re publishing here: Tracy got a check for $500, she says, explaining: “As part of their charity fundraising efforts, the ladies’ auxiliary had raised the money through benefit dinners and various fundraising activities over the past year. This is a perfect example of the Eagle motto of ‘people helping people’ – in particular, within our neighborhood of West Seattle.”

The Seattle-area 3-Day is less than two months away, September 14-16. If you’d like to donate to it via Team Tracy, just go here.)

Rylee’s Pocket: West Seattleites create a shirt for diabetic kids – and need your help to donate dozens

Sarah Syvertsen of Arbor Heights e-mailed WSB to share the news about her brand-new business, Rylee’s Pocket. She and her aunt are “making tank tops for kids and adults with type 1 diabetes that have a special pocket to hold their insulin pumps. … We just … in the past week have started a partnership with the American Diabetes Association.”

Rylee, the shirt’s namesake, is Sarah’s 8-year-old cousin. She was diagnosed in March of 2011. Since then, Rylee’s mom writes:

Almost a year later to the date, Rylee started using the pump, which has been a suprisingly smooth transition for all of us. With all the things going on with her body, the most important thing to me was that she felt comfortable and confident. She has become so courageous and we can’t help but notice the amount of overwhelming support from family, friends, and most especially her two older sisters.

Obviously with having two older sisters, fashion has become a big deal to Rylee. At this crucial time in her life finding a way for her to fit in not only at school but also with her sisters was a semi big priority. We mulled over some ideas together and have come to find out that a tight fitting cami tank top with a button hole and a pocket with a zipper is the best idea. The zipper is the key piece missing with most “insulin pump wear” because it gives the option to still be active and not worry about the pump ever falling out when bending over (or jumping, skipping, cartwheeling, playing soccer, etc.). And making sure that the tank top was as fashion forward as possible was a bonus.

Seeing the confidence and pride that she has developed since starting on the pump and getting to wear these tank tops, we immediately realized that this was something worth sharing. Rylee is absolutely obsessed with her tank tops; her sisters even wear them to school on their own sometimes, and because of this we solidified our thought to share and have come to a place where we are now able to.

So that’s why they are trying to raise $1,000 to give a Rylee’s Pocket tank top to every one of the 60 kids with Type 1 diabetes who will be attending an ADA camp at Camp Sealth. Sarah says they have to raise the money by July 26th, and didn’t find out that deadline till last night; they may have a fundraising event in the meantime but the efforts are focused right now on getting donations via ChipIn – you can donate by going here. And if you want to buy a Rylee’s Pocket shirt for someone you know – check the links on their website.

Highline Medical Center exploring ‘affiliation’ with Franciscan Health System

Though it’s based in Burien, Highline Medical Center has clinics in West Seattle – where it’s starting work in The Triangle on a new home for its Urgent Care Center – so its announcement this morning is of potential interest to local patients. Highline says it’s looking to join forces with another regional health-care organization:

Highline Medical Center in Burien and the Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System announced today they have agreed to explore a strategic affiliation.

Click to read the rest of Highline Medical Center exploring ‘affiliation’ with Franciscan Health System…

Video: West Seattle Relay for Life – ‘Cancer never sleeps, so for this night, neither will we’

We expect you’ll see that word illuminated if you’re at West Seattle Stadium around 10 tonight, when the West Seattle Relay for Life luminaria ceremony lines the track with glowing tributes to loved ones either lost to, or fighting, cancer. The annual all-night fundraiser-on-foot began just after 6 tonight, first with words of encouragement from guest speaker Tracy Dart, who’s beaten breast cancer three times at just 37 years old:

She and other survivors, in purple T-shirts, walked the track for the first lap.

The rules are that each team must have at least one person walking at all times, through the end of the event at midmorning tomorrow. Right after the survivors’ lap, the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band followed with their own walk around the track:

(added) Video:

About 250 people are participating this year, and they’ve already raised more than $38,000, said chair Jilyan Perry during the opening ceremony, telling them, “Cancer never sleeps, so for this night, neither will we.” The teams have their respective headquarters set up in the stadium infield or off to the side – tents and all:

You’re welcome to go over to the stadium and donate, cheer them on, even participate in the luminaria ceremony (there’s a tent where people are making their own decorated bags for candles anchored in sand). (Or, you can donate online.) When not walking, participants also are playing games – Jilyan mentioned “marshmallow launching”! – and in the morning, they’ll have massages available from longtime WSB sponsor M3 Bodyworks. (WSB is among the Relay for Life co-sponsors again this year.)

ADDED 10:30 AM SATURDAY: Via Facebook, R4LWS just announced their fundraising has passed $50,000, in time for the closing ceremony. We stopped by the stadium early this morning as the fundraising M3 Bodyworks massages were under way:

And, lingering from last night’s luminaria ceremony, reminders like this one, of what, and who, the Relay is all about:

West Seattle’s Relay for Life this Friday; help needed, too

(WSB photo from 2011 Relay for Life, after participants had been going all night)
Just two days now till the cancer-fighting all-night fundraising Relay for Life at West Seattle Stadium. This morning, Jilyan Perry shares a reminder – and also a request for some volunteer help to set up on Friday afternoon, before it all begins:

West Seattle’s Relay for Life is taking place this Friday at the West Seattle Stadium starting at 6 pm. Relay for Life is an overnight, community based fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. West Seattle’s Relay raised nearly $60,000 last year to help in the fight against cancer. Please come join us for an evening of celebration and remembrance.

Remember – we always need day of volunteers and we welcome anyone in the community to come down and help. Committee members will be arriving at the stadium at 12 pm on Friday. Anyone willing to help is encouraged to just show up.

For more information regarding Relay for Life contact Jilyan.Perry@yahoo.com or visit relayforlife.org

The official West Seattle webpage says more than 240 people are signed up to participate this year. Even if you’re not among them, you’re welcome to stop by the stadium and cheer them on; the event always begins with a “survivors’ lap” on Friday night, and a few hours later, around 10 pm, luminarias are lit around the track in honor of both cancer survivors and those who are being remembered.