If you can bring sea monsters and pizza into the Biblical creation story, or turn the tale of Daniel and the lion into “Here, Kitty, Kitty,” you can work your own kind of miracles. And so did Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/kindie-rocker Justin Roberts tonight in the Fauntleroy UCC Church sanctuary, helping Family Promise of Seattle raise more than $1,000. Fauntleroy UCC is one of ten area churches that are in partnership with Family Promise, taking turns providing sleeping quarters, dinner, and breakfast to newly homeless families. But tonight – instead of housing homeless kids, they were accommodating dancing kids.
(Photo courtesy Kathy Ablott)
Before the concert, FP board leader David Jones explained the organization’s mission:
Roberts performed about an hour of songs from his “Why Not Sea Monsters?” album. He’s a one-time divinity student turned singer/songwriter, who played guitar throughout his set, and enticed the audience – all ages – to sing along, sometimes goofily, sometimes quietly, as golden evening sunlight illuminated the evergreens outside the huge window at the front of the sanctuary. Though his songs riffed off Biblical stories – Jonah and the whale, loaves and fishes, walking on water, the burning bush – they were by no means preachy or somber. Just exuberant music. One review quoted on Roberts’ website describes him as the “Paul McCartney of kids’ music”; appropriate, then, that a toddler who joined the dozen or so dancers up front wore a Beatles T-shirt. FP also accepted donations for refreshments afterward; More ways to help them are listed online.
P.S. Roberts is part of the lineup for the Tots ‘n’ Tunes kindie-rock extravaganza at Seattle Center this Sunday, 11 am-5 pm, as is West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants (who is busy this weekend! tomorrow he performs in the Camp Long Lodge at 11 am during the Nature Consortium‘s Arts in Nature Festival).
They are about to bid farewell to another one of the newly homeless families they have helped since reopening their unique community-partnership shelter program two months ago.
This Friday, though, they hope to say “hello” to you – and your family – as Grammy-nominated musician Justin Roberts (with his Not Ready for Naptime Players) comes to West Seattle for a benefit concert. A big fall benefit is on the drawing board, too, we learned in a conversation with FP’s executivedirector Norman Schwamberg, to see how things have been going since they reopened.
Art, history, and generosity will come together Friday night at Alki Arts, on behalf of West Seattle Helpline, during a unique fundraiser, the “Gallery of West Seattle History.” Helpline’s executive director Tara Byrne explains that you’ll be able to enjoy live music, drinks, and food while learning more about West Seattle’s history, courtesy of displays provided by the nearby Log House Museum. Singer/guitarist Sue Quigley, who’s played gigs from Hollywood to SXSW to KeyArena at Storm halftime, will perform. And if you haven’t been to Alki Arts lately – this is also a great chance to see the amazing art they’re displaying and offering for sale. Tara says the money raised will go to help local students through Pencil Me In For Kids, and that donors to make it a great party include Pegasus, Celtic Swell, Elliott Bay Brewery, Bamboo Grill, and Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes – as well as Alki Arts donating the space. You can get your $30 ticket right now online, at westseattlehelpline.org.
Also Friday night – who says you can’t make it to both? – it’s the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party and Auction at West Seattle Nursery. On the website for this area’s largest political organization, you’ll find a list of what’s been donated for the auction so far – a very long list including myriad chances to hang out with local political leaders, plus gift certificates for local faves, and adventurous outings including a visit to an alpaca farm. The auctioneer is West Seattle expat New York Vinnie, visiting his old stomping grounds for the occasion. The night’s theme is Mediterranean, including music from Croatia; the party’s 6-9 pm Friday, $34/ticket or $60/couple.
That video from Wellspring Family Services features West Seattle-residing rocker Chris Ballew, who in his Caspar Babypants kindie-rock mode is once again offering a once-in-a-lifetime prize as part of a fundraising contest that has two weeks to go. It’s the annual “Kids Helping Kids” coin-collecting drive. Wellspring helps homeless kids and families around King County; everybody who turns in donations via “Kids Helping Kids” gets entered in the drawing for Caspar B to write a custom song about them. (In the video, you’ll hear part of “Happy Heart,” inspired by 7-year-old Rena Mateja, who collected more than $500 for Wellspring.) Deadline is September 1st; donations can be turned in to Wellspring directly or via CoinStar machines. Information on how to sign up and how to donate is in the links on the right sidebar of this page.
At West Seattle Nursery, the Dog Days of Summer started with Furry Faces Foundation‘s Teri Ensley and King County’s Rebecca Cleveland-Diel tapping a donated keg of Manny’s. Till 4 pm, it’s a beerfest, with hot dogs, but it’s also a pet-adoption-fest:
That’s volunteer Kory with two dogs hoping their new forever homes might be found today – the little white one he’s holding is a “special needs” pet, with eye trouble. Or if you’re looking to add a kitty to the family, here’s one in classic nonchalant cat mode:
West Seattle Nursery is having a sale, too. Meantime, your dog (leashed) and/or cat (carrier) are welcome to join you at Lien Animal Clinic till 2 pm, for the 60th anniversary open house – we found a few visitors there this morning:
And of course, there’s anniversary cake!
Lien is on SW Alaska between 37th and 38th, in The Triangle.
Two reasons to get to The Junction if you’re not there already:
Outside and inside West 5 till 4 pm, it’s “Brunch for Boobies” fundraiser day for the 3-Day for the Cure walkers who comprise Team Tracy – including namesake Tracy Dart, fourth from left. These women are so busy raising money (and awareness!) before the big event, tirelessly, you might wonder if the inspirational-and-intense walk itself (September 16-18) will feel in comparison a tiny bit like a stroll in the park. Anyway, if you can’t make it to West 5 today, you can donate here.
If you’re not up for three days on your feet, but maybe a little more foot-powered exploring around West Seattle, go to the WS Farmers’ Market before 2 pm:
(August 2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Two weeks from today, Alki Avenue SW will fill with runners and walkers – more than 1,100 last year – for the Alki Beach 5K, raising money for Northwest Hope and Healing‘s work to help breast-cancer patients. Starting at 9 am Sunday, August 28, participants will head east from the Alki Bathhouse vicinity to Anchor Park on Duwamish Head, and back, as detailed on the official website. Something special this year: NWHH director Shari Sewell says participants will hear from “Warrior Marathon Runner” Carol Dellinger, who’s finished 253 marathons – 19 since being diagnosed with breast cancer, including one less than three months after a mastectomy (scroll down this page for her story). You can register for the Alki Beach 5K now – at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) or CAPERS, or online by going here. Click ahead for the official news release with even more info:Read More
Actually “West Seattle and vicinity” scene – the annual 40-mile Water and Spirit Bike Ride starts and finishes in West Seattle, but riders ferry over to Kitsap County along the way, and take the Southworth-to-Fauntleroy ferry back. Krista Livingston shared the photo of one group on Saturday’s ride; she says, “It turned out to be a wonderful day for the 4th Annual Water and Spirit Ride! We had a great showing, beautiful views and a lot of fun. Thank you to all of the volunteers and riders that made this a fantastic event.” It raised money for Scholastic Journey and Family Promise of Seattle (whose next major fundraiser is the Justin Roberts concert on Friday!).
Four more notes about one-time-only events this weekend:
WATER AND SPIRIT BIKE RIDE: Tomorrow’s the 4th annual Water and Spirit Ride, described by organizers as “a 40-mile bike ride with some of the most beautiful scenery in the Pacific Northwest, including three ferry crossings and a farmers market!” You can sign up till 9 tonight by going here, or sign up tomorrow morning at the start/finish line at Salty’s on Alki, starting at 6:15 am (cash/check only). You can depart from there at either 6:30 or 7:30 am (the first leg goes downtown to catch the first ferry of the ride route). Ride proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Seattle and Scholastic Journey.
ENDOLYNE JOE’S PIG ROAST: 5-8 pm Saturday, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy is having a pig roast – second year in a row. Here’s the full menu and pricing.
HUSKY DELI ICE CREAM @ LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: On Sunday afternoon, 1-3 pm, you’ll find Husky Deli’s Jack Miller serving up his famous ice cream for $2/scoop during an ice-cream social at the Log House Museum courtyard (61st/Stevens), celebrating the deli’s 79th anniversary. Live piano music by Verona Morgan Ryan, and coffee by White Center’s Dubsea Coffee.
This arrived in the WSB inbox under the heading, “The Case of the Inadvertently Missing Punchbowl.” Admiral UCC Church hopes you can help solve the “case”:
Here are the facts as we know them:
1. A glass punchbowl set with punch cups and a glass ladle was loaned to the Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ for use during receptions a month or so ago.
2. At some point it was inadvertently placed in a stack of items to be sold at the annual yard sale.
3. On July 30th, at the annual yard sale, it was sold to a lady from West Seattle whom the cashier did not know.
4. There are a number of red faces around our church because this happened, and shouldn’t have.
5. The punchbowl set was sold in a box with the name “Verle Kramer” written on it.
6. While the owner admits that the set has no great monetary value, it belonged to his mother, and therefore has sentimental value.
7. If anyone has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the set, please contact the church at 206 932-2928.
8. The purchase price will be refunded, and there is a reward being offered.
(Photos by Beth Grotelueschen for WSB)
The guest of honor was resplendent in purple, and bathed in love and support, as the “We Heart Tracy Dart” bash filled The Bridge on Sunday night, to rustle up some financial assistance for somebody who has given so much even while fighting a three-round battle against breast cancer. (With Tracy in the top photo are Trudy Muller and Chad Johnson.) Lovely night, so many were out on The Bridge’s spacious patio:
” Also donated: Live music – In Cahoots opened the night (Explone was the other scheduled band):
You can still pitch in to help Tracy, by donating online via PayPal (you don’t need a PP account – you can just use a credit card). As explained on the official We Heart Tracy Dart website, “100% of funds donated go to a trust fund that will be used to directly pay for things like prescriptions, insurance premiums, utilities and rent. Meanwhile, besides going through cancer treatment, Tracy also is preparing for the next 3-Day Walk with her ever-growing “Team Tracy” in mid-September; she’s also chronicling that on her personal website.
ADDED 9:32 AM: Co-organizer Lisa Dawson says as of first thing this morning, the fundraiser had brought in more than $6,300, with online donations still coming in. More than 50 prizes were donated, and an estimated 200+ people attended the party. Lisa’s summary: “It was a great night!”
(Photo courtesy Seattle Chinese Garden)
Hundreds of polished green granite bricks will soon adorn that wall at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus atop Puget Ridge. Yours can be one of them, if you order it by August 25 (provided the remaining allotment doesn’t run out sooner). The bricks will decorate the Friendship Wall, with its first side to be dedicated on October 15th. Even the garden’s own neighbors have secured a spot; the garden says Puget Ridge resident Judy Cashman got 40 families to join in on a specially inscribed brick. A news release from the Chinese Garden quotes her as saying that “… my neighbors describe it as a refuge and a jewel they enjoy visiting, so of course they wanted to support it.” You can find the order form (and see a sample brick) by going here, or call the garden office at 206-934-5219.
Family Promise of Seattle, the only homeless shelter in this area helping families stay together while getting back on their feet, is less than two weeks away from a major benefit – Grammy-nominated family-music performer Justin Roberts in concert. Katy Lloyd, who’s helping publicize the performance, notes, “I recently learned that Family Promise receives 6-8 phone calls/week from case workers looking to place a family in emergency housing. Sadly, Family Promise can only handle two families at a time, and each family can take up to 3 months to place in more permanent housing. Now more than ever Family Promise needs the support of our wonderful community to help families in need. Most other shelters must segregate families by gender. This can make the situation for a family in crisis even worse. The goal of Family Promise is to keep families intact and offer case worker support while helping them locate a more secure footing.” The show is at 6:30 pm August 19th at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California SW). Suggested donation at the door is $5/child, $10/adult, $15/family; cookies and lemonade will be sold afterward, also by donation.
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
It’s not justSeafair weekend – it’s “Oliver!” weekend! Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) will present Lionel Bart‘s musical version of Charles Dickens‘ famous tale for the next three weekends, Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, at the West Seattle High School theater (3000 California SW). TNP’s official announcement notes, “This year’s cast and crew of more than 80 people includes children and adults from all over the Seattle area.” Twelfth Night is donating a portion of the proceeds to Treehouse, which it notes “helps fill the gaps for kids in foster care by providing services overlooked by other agencies. Among other services, they provide money for extra-curricular activities and summer camps, professional educational support services, and clothing and supplies to help kids fit in at school.” If you go, bring along school supplies, backpacks, and new/gently used clothing to donate to Treehouse. Shows are 7:30 pm the next three Fridays/Saturdays, and 3 pm Sundays; tickets are $15 students/seniors, $18 adults, available online or at the WSHS box office on performance nights/days.
Sunday is the big community benefit party that friends are throwing at The Bridge (4439 35th SW) for Tracy Dart, the West Seattleite who is on her third round of fighting breast cancer and has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help researchers make progress that could benefit millions. Tracy has never asked for help for herself – but friends and supporters decided it was time to step in and get her some. Here are the event details (7-10 pm, live music, donation at the door). We checked in with one of the organizers, Lisa Dawson, to ask about last-minute needs; Lisa says they’re still accepting donations for the drawing, and “could also use a few more volunteers to help out that night.” If you can help on either front, e-mail info@wehearttracydart.com. And even if you can’t go, you can donate to help Tracy (who wrote on her own site about the challenges of dealing with everyday life while in a fight for your life) – use the PayPal button on the right side of the We Heart Tracy Dart site.
(“Sparkling Seattle” Hi-Yu float parked alongside Admiral Safeway before West Seattle Grand Parade 7/23/2011)
One of the many unique attributes about our wonderful part of the city is the fact it’s the LAST neighborhood in Seattle with its own traveling parade float. West Seattle Hi-Yu keeps afloat, so to speak, thanks to the hard work of a relatively small group of volunteers, and community support. Today, Hi-Yu has an urgent request for help with something that volunteers can’t just pull out of thin air – someplace to put the float:
West Seattle Hi-Yu has been having an amazing award-winning parade season with our “Sparkling Seattle” parade float and we are very proud that we have been able to represent West Seattle as the last community parade float in Seattle again this year.
All this year, the Bills Family has kindly been parking and storing the float in their yard, Hi-Yu thanks them for graciously providing us with this space. As the parade season draws to a close, it is necessary for us to vacate, and we are again faced with the dilemma of finding a storage location for our float and trailer. To store the float we would require space in the dimensions of 25′ x 10′ and it could be indoor or outdoor. We are pretty desperate, so if you have space, own or work for a company that has a secure parking lot, or know of anyone who may be able to help us, please contact Tim Winston 206-938-2088 as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support and for helping to keep this community tradition going strong!!
Just got a request from the Senior Services Transportation Program to put out a call for volunteers. They have an urgent need for people to drive seniors to health-care appointments – and right now, they’re so short, they say they’re turning away half the seniors who call! You choose the days and times you are available to give someone a ride. Want to know more? Contact Melissa at melissat@seniorservices.org or (206) 748-7588.
(March 2010 ‘Walking on Logs’ photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Volunteers have been doing their best to take care of the West Seattle gateway area along the Fauntleroy Way end of The Bridge for years, particularly the “Walking on Logs” sculpture and its surroundings. They’ve been doing it by scraping together what labor and materials they could get and give. Now, they’ve gotten word of a city matching-funds grant that will help with maintenance as well as an upcoming re-landscaping project. Nancy Driver has been the catalyst for many of the cleanup/restoration efforts as it became clear that longtime volunteer caretaker Earl Cruzen needed help (backstory here). She says they were pleasantly surprised to get news of the $8,163 grant. The budget for re-landscaping is almost that much – $7,900 – but Nancy says they’ve already raised some money, and they’re in line for a share of the West Seattle Garden Tour proceeds, which all means they’ll wind up with some money for ongoing maintenance. She says, “We will do most of the maintenance with volunteers, although we may hire day laborers to weed whack under our supervision on occasion. Our goal is to make the remaining funds last as many years as possible, both to cover maintenance and pay for any plants that may, from time to time, need to be replaced. We’ve already spent part of our funds on purchasing a good string trimmer (weed whacker) which is an absolute necessity for maintaining the site.”
Landscape architect Chuck Warsinske with SBA Landscape Architecture, who has donated his time, has been working with SDOT on the re-landscaping plan; Nancy says the only issue left is whether SDOT will let them add more trees to the site. They’re expecting to do the re-landscaping work this October. Meantime, she says the Landscape Restoration Group will be back out doing “weed-whacking and maintenance” at the site at 9:30 this Tuesday morning. Want to help, or find out more about the restoration group? nldriver@q.com.
Less than two weeks till a brand-new fundraising 5K in West Seattle – Breathe Deep Seattle, the first 5K event benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation, raising money for lung-cancer research. Starting at 9:30 am on Saturday, August 13, participants will run or walk the course through Lincoln Park, both through the forested upper area and along the beachfront lower area. Not signed up yet? Wondering what it’s all about? Organizers have shared a personal story in their latest news release – read on:Read More
The date and location are set for the benefit being organized on behalf of Vera Johnson‘s foreclosure fight to save Village Green Perennial Nursery (as first reported here), and the lineup’s in progress too. Organizer Justin Czapiewski says it’ll be 6-9 pm Tuesday, August 30th, at Big Al Brewing in White Center (9832 14th SW). They’re lining up music – Justin says local faves Rats In The Grass is signed up, for starters. They’ll also show “The American Dream,” and are planning to highlight what Justin describes as “special guest speakers addressing foreclosure prevention techniques and providing resources for home owners to take with them.” And another organizer, Aileen Sison of White Center Business Owners of Sustainable Support, adds that Full Tilt Ice Cream will be there. You can RSVP through Aileen’s Evite, here. P.S. You can contact her with items to donate for a silent auction, or if you’re a musician/singer interested in performing – aileentsison@gmail.com or 206-387-8145.
(Lead investigators Robin Lindsey & Rachel Mayer train Seal Sitters volunteers; photo by David Hutchinson)
Big times for West Seattle-founded Seal Sitters – notice we say “founded,” because their reach now stretches a lot further. This news comes as Seal Sitters gets ready to add volunteers to the fold, following another training session today; Robin Lindsey shares this update:
Seal Sitters conducted an on-the-beach training session at Alki today for 30 new volunteers. This is the second phase of the two-part training provided in preparation for this year’s harbor seal pupping season, currently under way in Puget Sound. Various situations a volunteer might encounter and appropriate responses were discussed. Most of the volunteers had previously attended our intake and orientation session at Camp Long on July 10th.
Seal Sitters, founded in West Seattle in 2007, has recently expanded to become Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We are the primary response team to all marine mammals from Brace Point (south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock) to Kayak Point in Snohomish County (north of Marysville). An additional training session is being scheduled for the 2011 season and new volunteers from all areas are welcome. If you are interested in volunteering, please email sealsitters@me.com. To learn more about the marine mammals of Puget Sound, their marine environment and the stranding network, please visit our website www.sealsitters.org. For what’s happening day-to-day on the beach, visit our blog www.blubberblog.org. If you see a seal pup or other marine mammal on the beach, observe from a distance, keep people and pets away and call the Seal Sitters hotline @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL).
Barton Street P-Patch volunteers are on duty on two sides of SW Barton south of 35th SW (map) right now – Top photo, the group we found at the fundraising bake sale outside the Tony’s Market produce stand, where they’re selling treats till 2 pm (including vegan baked goods, a P-Patcher assured a commenter on the WSB Facebook page). Below, another Saturday work party at the P-Patch site on the south side of the street – 2 1/2 months after groundbreaking, still lots of hard work to get the site ready for planting this fall:
Volunteers are having work parties every Saturday and Sunday TFN, and welcome more help. Best way to connect with what they’re up to is to join their Facebook group – go here.
Art, history, and generosity will come together Friday night at 
Also Friday night – who says you can’t make it to both? – it’s the 
and has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help researchers make progress that could benefit millions. Tracy has never asked for help for herself – but friends and supporters decided it was time to step in and get her some. 
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