West Seattle, Washington
04 Friday
When last we checked in with Family Promise of Seattle, they were planning another “Comfort Food Throwdown” fundraiser – and now it’s just a week and a half away. Family Promise is the only shelter program in our area – and beyond! – to help homeless families while allowing them to stay together. At 6 pm Saturday, November 5th, 10 local restaurants and congregations will offer their favorite “comfort-food” entrees for sampling and judging. For $20, you can try five; for $30, you can try ten. It’ll all happen at Seattle Lutheran High School, and there’s a special guest star – Amy Finley, who won the “Next Food Network Star” TV contest and recently published “How to Eat a Small Country.” She’ll also lead a cooking demonstration at the event. You can buy your ticket online right now by going to this page on the recently remodeled Family Promise of Seattle website.
During our morning-commute coverage today, we reported on what fire department medics described as a “jogger” hit by a semi-truck on the east end of the West Seattle “low bridge.” WSB’ers via e-mail and comments have provided new information on his condition and on plans to raise money to help with his recovery. He is identified by friends as Tim Nelson; he was running to work as a Viaduct alternative, according to Justin Coffey, writing on his website Peanut Butter Coast:
Tim is currently in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center. His back was broken, as well as his right shoulder, right arm and a few ribs. His skull is fractured, a lung punctured and his spleen lacerated. His injuries are severe, but his spirits are high. Whether you know him or not, please keep Tim in your thoughts and prayers.
Justin mentions a benefit planned for Friday, November 11, to help with Tim’s expenses – more information in his post. We don’t have official information from police on the circumstances of the crash. (Photo courtesy Mark)
EDITOR’S NOTE: West Seattle Forum members have taken a special interest in the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville, since its return last May to the West Seattle site where it was founded three years ago, volunteering and donating. Among them are Joanne Brayden and Kevin McClintic, who have reported previously on events at the site. It’s been a while since their last story, so for those who are interested in what’s happening with that site – including two City Council meetings this week that may decide issues of importance to the encampment – here’s their newest contribution.
(One of the new “simple, sturdy structures” at Nickelsville)
Story by Joanne Brayden
Photos by Kevin McClintic
Special to West Seattle Blog
If you have driven by Nickelsville lately, in southeastern West Seattle, you may have noticed some changes. They have added a second gate on West Marginal Way, expanded into a second in-camp “neighborhood,” built a few more living structures, and this week, thanks to generous gravel donations from West Seattle residents, they have begun work on common pathways, to make them safe and as dry as possible this winter.
Like all communities, they are having a few growing pains as they figure out how to make their expanded neighborhoods work, but the contrast between the tents dumped in an open field in May and the community they have created is evidence that their process is producing results.
(Photo of 2009 event, courtesy Eat Local Now!)
If you still haven’t bought a ticket to Eat Local Now! – the annual local-food dinner celebration that also serves as a fundraiser for local groups including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom – here’s one more reason: Getting home from West Seattle tomorrow, the first Viaduct-less weekday, is likely to be more of a challenge than actually getting out of WS in the morning. But if you attend Eat Local Now! at Sodo Park at 6 pm tomorrow (Monday), you should have a much easier time finding your way home in the mid-evening without traffic-jam entanglements (it’s on 1st Avenue South, so you can either head to the “low bridge” afterward or to the 1st Av. S. Bridge). We’re told tickets remain (buy online here) – read on for some highlights!
(WSB photo from 2008 calling-the-salmon-home event)
It is almost time for Fauntleroy Creek‘s volunteer salmon-watchers to start their annual lookout for coho spawners returning home. But first, it’s a tradition for people of all ages to gather to drum and sing, to call the salmon home. You are welcome to join – drums not required, but if you have one, or something makeshift, bring it! – at 5 pm tomorrow, at the Fauntleroy Creek overlook, across the street (and up the embankment) from the ferry terminal (here’s a map). Find more info – as well as details on how to volunteer for salmon-watching next month – at fauntleroy.net.
(GOTR promotional video explaining what “Running Buddies” are all about)
Here’s another situation in which a little bit of your time can make a big difference for local kids: Girls On The Run needs more women to volunteer as “Running Buddies” to mentor the third-through-fifth graders who run their first race as part of the program. We got the word from one of the West Seattle GOTR volunteers, Robbie, who coaches a group at Alki Elementary; she says GOTR is running low on volunteers this year as the sign-up deadline approaches, and is getting out the word in hopes of changing that. “It is a pretty small commitment of time,” says Robbie. “We need them for one practice 5K and then at the race at Seward Park, about 6 hours total.” That race is the 5K in December at Seward Park that’s the culmination of this season – it’s the first-ever 5K for the participating girls. Teen “running buddies” are welcome as well as adults, as long as you’ll be 16 years old by November 14th. Full details on this flyer – and you can sign up through a link you’ll find on this page along with more info on the program.
(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
This weekend’s a great time for activities that don’t require crossing the Duwamish Waterway (and of course we all know why). So here’s one: The encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville,” which has been back at its original Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way Southwest site since mid-May, needs a little help. One of its regular community volunteers explains:
A few anonymous folks had 10 yards of gravel delivered to Nickelsville on Tuesday. By thickly covering common areas and pathways with gravel, the residents and donors, will not have to worry about the slippery mud that comes with our Fall/Winter Rains, plus the residents’ shoes and clothes will stay cleaner, as well as their tents. Another 10 yards (28,000 lbs) is going to be delivered tomorrow and we are hoping we can get some West Seattle Community members to come down to help haul, move, spread, etc., the gravel. If interested folks were able to bring shovels, buckets, a wheelbarrow, rakes for spreading, etc., it would make the project go even faster. And monetary donations to purchase even more gravel are greatly appreciated.
If you can help in person, 1-3 pm Saturday is the time frame. If you’re not sure how to find Nickelsville, or if you have another question, contact Joanne at joanne@brayden.org or 206-938-0361. If you are interested in donating money, there’s a collection box at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW).
This time next Monday night, hundreds of people will be abuzz about another fabulous edition of the annual local-food celebration, Eat Local Now! It’s happening that night, October 24th, at Sodo Park, which is owned by West Seattle-founded Herban Feast, and there are organizers/beneficiaries from this side of the bay, too, including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom. Chef/author Greg Atkinson – acclaimed for his work at Canlis and IslandWood – will speak, and will sign his new book “At the Kitchen Table: The Craft of Cooking at Home.” The cuisine for Eat Local Now! will be prepared by Herban Feast’s award-winning Chef Dalis Chea. There’s lots more to do than just chow down – a cash bar will offer locally/sustainably produced wine, beer, and fresh cider; a silent auction will tempt you with fun things to bid on; and informational displays will share new knowledge about the local-food scene. Buy your ticket on the official Eat Local Now! website, or call 800-838-3006.
Memorial plans are now set for Dr. Ed Kingston, the West Seattle volunteer soccer coach, husband, dad, and sports psychologist who died suddenly at age 38 last weekend. A family friend shared the announcement:
On Saturday, October 8, Ed Kingston died suddenly doing what he loved: spending time with his young son on a soccer field. A memorial Mass for Ed will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at 10 am at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle (4202 SW Genesee; map). After Mass, all are welcome for a reception celebrating Ed’s life in Holy Rosary’s Lanigan Gym.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for the family has been set up at Sound Community Bank. Contributions can be made at edkingston.com.
West Seattle Soccer Club, for whom Dr. Kingston served as a volunteer coach, has a memorial page, here.
That’s no overhead-projector screen with Hope Lutheran School teachers Julie Harley and Kevin Jones and a few of their first-grade students – that’s a “smartboard.” Hope Lutheran has three of them now and is hoping to raise enough money to put them in every classroom. That’s a key “fund-a-need” – along with scholarships – planned for Hope’s upcoming “Light the Night for Our Kids” auction/gala, collaboration with Seattle Lutheran High School. The evening starts at 4:30 pm November 11th with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction at Hope, followed by dinner and a live auction at SLHS (emceed by Alex Meyer, an alum of both schools). And besides selling tickets, both schools also are currently looking to add to the lineup of donated items for the auction. A link to the donation form – plus more info about the big event – can be found here. To buy tickets, contact either school – Hope at 206-935-8500; SLHS at 206-937-7722.
Can you spare a few hours to help make sure your neighborhood is ready for disaster, much as we all hope it’ll never happen? Volunteers are needed to help with the semi-annual Neighborhood Emergency Communications Hubs drill, conducted along with local ham-radio operators, 9 am-noon on Saturday, October 29th. This time, a very timely simulation: They’ll be pretending to deal with “a severe winter storm, code-named ‘Winds of Winter’,” says Cindi Barker, who you can contact if you can help out – even “just” as a “citizen actor” (other roles include message managers/intakers, greeters, radio operators). cbarker@qwest.net if you can help, or have questions.
That’s how the first-ever “Beat the Burn” 5K run/walk began on Alki this morning. The siren you hear, right after the air horn, was from a Port of Seattle fire truck parked yards away – made sense, since the event raising money for the Northwest Burn Foundation was put on by the Port firefighters’ union, IAFF Local 1257. Among those on hand to cheer the 250-plus runners/walkers was Port Commissioner Gael Tarleton (photo center, in red and black):
Participants spanned a wide age range, with youth participating in the 5K though there was a kids’ dash scheduled afterward. Here are the first two finishers – announced as 14 and 57 years old!
Organizers noted the participants’ geographic diversity too – some from the East Coast (we heard a “Silver Springs, Maryland” finisher announcement go by) and, we were told, even a visitor from Croatia! If you missed the event, you can still help the NW Burn Foundation help burn patients … their online-donation link is here.
A local business has announced a special effort to help the family of Dr. Ed Kingston, the 38-year-old volunteer youth-soccer coach who died suddenly last Saturday during a game at Riverview Playfield. A fund has been set up, as reported previously, at edkingston.com; now, we have word that The Wax Bar in The Triangle is going to donate all its proceeds during a four-hour period next Tuesday, to support the family. Wax Bar manager Lynaia tells WSB that her family is involved with youth soccer too and knows the Kingstons, and wanted to do something to help. The benefit event will be 9 am-1 pm on Tuesday (October 18th) and they’re taking appointment calls right now – since they’re closed Sundays/Mondays, you’ll want to call today or tomorrow. 206-935-4990.
Even if you’ve never met her, you may feel like you know longtime WSB’er “JanS.” She has participated in many discussions both here in the news section and in the WSB Forums since their inception almost four years ago. In the community, online and offline, Jan has reached out to help many, both with words and with deeds. And now she needs a little help herself. Her daughter, Jessica Diamant, tells the story, and explains how you can help … in small ways, and maybe even in a big way:
As some of you may know, my mom Jan Seeley (or as you may know her on the WSB forums JanS), was diagnosed with fibrillary glomerulonephritis, a rare form of kidney disease, last year. It was discovered after many months of extreme fatigue and anemia. After her diagnosis, she underwent treatments and chemotherapy for the disease, but unfortunately her kidneys failed, and she is now in end-stage renal failure. After a few more months of rigorous testing, she was approved and added to a kidney transplant list. I was planning on donating one of my kidneys to her, but due to the antibodies in her blood, we found out that I am not a good match. She is now on dialysis, which she goes to three times a week.
My mother is no stranger to struggle and health problems. After my parents’ divorce nearly 20 years ago, she built a home=based massage business from the ground up while raising a wild teenager (me) and trying to make ends meet.
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
“Life is a cabaret, old chums … come to the cabaret!” You can do exactly that this Saturday night, while enjoying not only exceptional entertainment, but also a dessert buffet, and the sweet knowledge you’re helping a local nonprofit performing-arts troupe. Here’s their invitation:
Please join Twelfth Night Productions for our annual Cabaret Fundraiser!
The investment in Twelfth Night Productions from our tremendous donors keeps this volunteer-driven organization alive, enriching the greater community with the gift of the performing arts. Each year we raise nearly a quarter of our annual budget at the Cabaret Fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you there!
The evening will feature light appetizers, a dessert buffet, raffle prizes (including getaways to Lake Chelan and Victoria, B.C.), and fabulous entertainment from Twelfth Night Productions’ seasoned players.
Saturday, October 15th, 2011
The doors open at 7 PMSeattle Lutheran High School Gym
4141 41st Ave SW (enter at Genesee and 41st)
Tickets are $50 per person, or $450 for a table of 10
Purchase your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets or RSVP to Cronin.Anna@gmail.comPlease join us and support your local theater troupe! For questions, please call Anna at 206.937.1394.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We often publish requests for volunteer help – and over the years, some have asked, what about a regular feature listing such needs? Fauntleroy resident Judy Pickens (right), who volunteers her time and talent to a variety of endeavors including local schools, offered to gather and report information on volunteer needs at the schools where the need is greatest. Here’s her second contribution, with more to come!
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Volunteers at any area school with a multi-cultural student body bring more than an extra pair of hands. They bring a perspective on contemporary American culture that can help smooth a difficult transition for recent immigrants.
I experience this value most often when helping a student read. Being in a regular classroom doesn’t mean recent English speakers have a firm grasp on this new language. Many words and concepts are still unfamiliar. What is a “mural”? What is “landscaping”? What does being “perplexed” feel like?
Whether working one-on-one or monitoring a group activity, school volunteers are available to immigrant students in ways that busy staff cannot be – listening, reacting, affirming, reassuring. Give it a try. You’ll be rewarded by knowing you’ve helped new Americans feel more at home.
To inquire about any of the following opportunities to enrich our public schools, contact the volunteer coordinator noted under the name of each school. Expect to complete a standard security-clearance process – and to know that you have made a difference in the lives of students.
From West Seattle Helpline executive director Tara Byrne:
Give the gift of warmth and light this year! We are holding our 14th annual fall fundraiser dinner event for West Seattle families that are facing a one-time emergency. Proceeds will be used to help families that have faced emergency situations with rent and utilities so that they may remain in their homes with heat and water. This mission becomes even more vital as the weather turns colder and the need is especially great this year. Please join us in supporting our fellow West Seattle neighbors that are facing hard times. Our fall fundraiser dinner will be held at the Duwamish Longhouse on Thursday, November 3rd, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased by calling 206-932-2746.
(Photo by Adam Pieratt)
Last Sunday, the Nature Consortium work party at Pigeon Point Park in the West Duwamish Greenbelt got a surprise visit from volunteers aboard the “Do-Good Bus,” which has been along for the ride during the nationwide tour of Foster the People (which subsequently performed at the Showbox downtown). The volunteers pitched in to help the ongoing forest restoration. While the NC – and other groups – have work parties all the time, only twice a year do you get to be part of a mega-work party, multiple sites and hundreds of people. This Saturday is the fall edition of that big event, Duwamish Alive! – and you can sign up to help out at sites including these, listed on the DA! site:
South Park:
Duwamish Waterway Park
River trash cleanup by kayak and canoeGeorgetown:
Gateway Park/8th Avenue SouthWest Seattle:
Alki: Seacrest Park
Roxhill Bog
Westcrest Park
Brandon Street Natural Area
Puget Creek Natural Area
West Duwamish Greenbelt/ Pigeon Point
Herring House Park/T-107Tukwila:
Cecil Moses/NorthWind’s Weir
Duwamish Hill Preserve
Codiga Farm
Many of the sites are mapped here. Interested? Here’s how to RSVP or ask questions – contact@duwamishalive.org / 206-923-0853.
Grad Night is months away but it takes a lot of fundraising to keep the special event affordable, so West Seattle High School seniors and parents are washing cars right now, for donations, at West Seattle Produce‘s lot (Fauntleroy/Alaska).
They’re there till 3. (P.S. If you missed our report on the fall’s first general WSHS PTSA meeting, including other Grad Night fundraising efforts – read it here.)
Four West Seattle restaurants are participating this year in “Dine Out to Remember Our Fallen,” a benefit for Washington State COPS (Concerns Of Police Survivors), supporting families of law enforcers who lost their lives in the line of duty: Puerto Vallarta – where you’ll also find a silent auction – Rocksport, and Talarico’s in The Junction, and Duke’s on Alki. Have dinner at any of those restaurants this Thursday, and proceeds will go toward the cause. More info (and the full list of participants around the region) is online at dineouttoremember.org and on Facebook at facebook.com/rememberourfallen.
HELP MULTIPLE WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: This Wednesday, you are invited to stop into any Starbucks store in King County and get a free $10 gift card for DonorsChoose, provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. You can then take the card and, through the DonorsChoose website, make a $10 donation to any classroom project listed there; organizers say almost 300 Seattle projects are listed, and our quick check revealed multiple West Seattle projects among them. You can add personal donations too, but there’s no obligation. Here’s the link, if you want to check in advance whether there’s anything for which you’d want to use the card.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA TOMORROW NIGHT: The fall round of PTSA/PTA general-membership meetings continues, and tomorrow night, it’s West Seattle High School‘s turn, 7 pm. (Agenda toplines are in the listing on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page.)
WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISER: Also from WSHS – this Saturday, there’s a car wash to raise money for the all-night, alcohol-free, chaperoned Class of 2012 Grad Night party, 11 am-3 pm at West Seattle Produce (Fauntleroy Way just south of SW Alaska). More details on this and other Grad Night fundraisers at facebook.com/pages/WSHS-Grad-Night-2012/234315233286143
ROXHILL TEACHER’S TWO BIG CELEBRATIONS:
That’s Roxhill Elementary fourth-grade teacher Teresa Klein. We reported recently on principal Carmela Dellino‘s announcement that Klein was chosen as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom“; last Thursday, she was officially honored during a special event at Roxhill, and just yesterday, she got special recognition on the field during the Seahawks–Falcons game at CenturyLink Field (hence the jersey in the photo, shared by Symetra). She is one of two dozen K-12 teachers around the region who will be honored by this program before the Seahawks’ season ends. This also puts Roxhill in the running for one of three $10,000 grants that will be announced at season’s end.
‘Tis the season for some holiday planning – and as of today, CoolMom is accepting donations for its 4th annual Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale, with proceeds also benefiting WestSide Baby. The actual event is 9 am-2 pm Saturday, November 12th, at Fauntleroy Church (our photo at right is from last year, same location); donating in advance not only helps CoolMom and WS Baby, it also gets you a $5 credit toward shopping at the sale! Read on for more details and the donation-dropoff spots:Read More
The message of welcome on the sidewalk outside Alki UCC Church this afternoon was a creation of the congregation’s kids, we’re told. It’s in honor of the annual CROP Walk, happening right now along the beach. This one isn’t a giant 5K-run-style event – more of a casual walk, but with a lot of heart and hope:
Once again this year, the walkers got not a pep talk, but a pep concert, you might say, from Rev. Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir:
Notice those signs, about texting a donation? New way to chip in, and it’s an easy way to help, even if you couldn’t participate in the walk. (Or, donate online here.)
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