(EDITOR’S NOTE: Tilden School fifth-graders have contributed to WSB from time to time. Here’s a report about their environmental education in action.)
By Tilden School’s Fifth-Grade Class
Special to West Seattle Blog
If you help the West Duwamish Greenbelt, you also help the Duwamish River and the world. A nonprofit organization called Nature Consortium led us, the Tilden fifth-graders, in the right direction to reforest the West Duwamish Greenbelt, which helps a lot more than just this West Seattle forest.
On October 7, we went to the West Duwamish Greenbelt to spend the day with environmental educators from Nature Consortium. We wanted to learn about the Greenbelt’s ecosystem and work toward improving its health. Our class removed invasive species like Himalayan blackberries, and planted native trees and shrubs.
Did you know that you can never step out of a watershed? Indeed, West Seattle is one big watershed. The point is, all watersheds affect the health of our waterways and oceans. Healthy green space in a watershed controls water yield, sediment levels, and water quality, providing cleaner runoff for nearby waterways. Thus, if more volunteers help reforest the Greenbelt, many unwanted pollutants will be removed.
Save the West Duwamish Greenbelt and get one step closer to saving the world. To volunteer for Nature Consortium, go to www.naturec.org.
WSB SIDE NOTE: One big event ahead for the Nature Consortium – its forest-restoration work party in the College Street Ravine in honor of King County Executive Dow Constantine’s birthday on November 15th from 10 am-2 pm. Volunteers can sign up by calling our office 206.923.0853, e-mailing volunteer@naturec.org or going online, here.
Big fall for Fauntleroy resident Donn Bennett. His eponymous Drum Studio in Bellevue has just been honored as “Best in Western Washington,” for musical instruments. And tomorrow, he’ll rally hundreds of drummers for the annual “Woodstick Big Beat” mega-drum charity-benefit event he organizes – not in West Seattle, but not that far, if you want to go help local children’s charities and see an inspiringly thunderous display of musicians’ teamwork. Donn says, “We’re featuring Danny Seraphine, original drummer from Chicago, and 7 other top pro drummers” – along with hundreds of Northwest drummers, gathering tomorrow at the Juanita Field House in Kirkland. The official announcement explains more:
They’ll join drummers in 15 cities across North America to set 2 new Guinness World Records for drummers playing a song simultaneously. One record for the most drummers playing a song in a single location, the other for the most drummers playing together via live internet connection. The entire international event will be directed from our Kirkland, WA, location.
Drummers in Birmingham England assembled 588 drummers in 2008 to beat our previous record of 533 set at Qwest Field in 2005. On November 6th 2011 we’ll attempt to bring the record back to the Northwest where it all started. All proceeds will go to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to purchase musical instruments for underfunded local schools and to Camp Korey, a camp in Carnation WA for kids battling serious illness.
The event is 2-4 pm tomorrow (Sunday), 10601 NE 32nd; doors open at 10 am. Admission is $12/participant (register online here), $10/spectator, all going to charity. Quite a sight and sound, as you’ll see on the highlight reel from last year (above) – especially once it gets to the overview of the entire Field House.
This fall, the WSB Forums – added 2 years after the site’s debut – turn four. They were created when the requests for local recommendations – “where do I find a …” – started to overwhelm the front-page news stream. That’s a form of “people helping people,” and the Forums also have yielded face-to-face versions of that … as members joined together to reach out to people who need more than information. Sometimes, that’s meant face-to-face events, like the one coming up Sunday at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), a fundraising silent auction for Jan Seeley, a longtime Forums and comment-section participant you’d recognize as “JanS.” But much more than a screen name, she is a West Seattle community member, wearing hats including independent businessperson and mom.
Jan’s had health trouble for a while, and has won some victories, beating breast cancer, among other things. Right now she is in another health battle, waiting for a kidney transplant, because of a rare disease called fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Jan’s daughter Jessica had hoped to be a match, but tests revealed that was not to be, so Jan is still waiting and hoping. But Jessica, friends, and Forums members have done something else to help – organized Sunday’s fundraiser, including rustling up some unique auction items. Drop by The Feedback 2-5 pm Sunday to bid on something and enjoy Happy Hour (with proceeds from a special drink and appetizer going to Jan’s fund), as well as chair massage. Auction items mentioned in the ongoing WSB Forums discussion about the event so far include: great wine, coffee baskets, photographs, art, pest control services, massage gift cards, yard work, bagels from Zatz’s, an Angelina’s gift card, Curves membership, and handblown-glass ornaments. (Tis the season!) The Feedback is at 6451 California SW. By the way, its co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert is also a graphics artist extraordinaire and designed the poster art above (as well as the many others you’ll see on the Feedback’s site regarding the other events it hosts/presents).
Winter’s on the doorstep – and that means West Seattle Helpline will be getting more requests for help from people in difficult circumstances, maybe just for something as basic as staying warm and dry, with a roof over their head. Making sure WS Helpline will be able to offer that help, was the goal of tonight’s gala dinner and auction at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle.
Above are Helpline board members Terry Burns (who emceed) and Rev. Ron Marshall. Ahead – other community leaders/members who attended tonight to show their support:Read More
From the WSB inbox – Holy Rosary 7th grader Kyle Joyce asked for help getting the word out about a service project called “Hoops for Help.” Kyle’s doing it with a friend and says, “All the money we make is going to Saint Vincent de Paul.” Specifics: 3 on 3 tournament atHoly Rosary School on November 12th, up to 4 players per team, $5/person, age groups 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14. “Winners will receive cool NBA prizes,” Kyle says. E-mail hoopsforhelp@gmail.com to sign up, including team name, age group, and contact info.
HELP THE HELPLINE: Tomorrow night at 6 at the Duwamish Longhouse, it’s the fall fundraising gala for West Seattle Helpline. Executive director Tara Byrne says one of the highlights will be “award-winning Native American flutist and storyteller Paul ‘Che oke ten’ Wagner performing.” You can still get a ticket online by going here, no later than tomorrow morning.
KILLER WHALE TALES: Also at the Longhouse, West Seattle-headquartered Killer Whale Tales plans a dinner and auction – with special guest Tucker the whale-research dog! – on Saturday, November 12th, starting with drinks and appetizers at 6 pm. Tickets are available online, here.
‘THE ART OF LOVE’: Furry Faces Foundation‘s silent auction and wine tasting event, featuring Stomani Cellars, is set for Sunday, November 13th, 3-6 pm at Ola Salon. No admission fee; all ages are welcome. Read on for the official news release:Read More
There will be a benefit brunch for the Kingston family on Sunday November 6, 2011 beginning immediately after the 9:30 am Family Mass. Doors will open at 10 am. The benefit will be held at the West Seattle Eagles Aerie #2643. It is located at 4426 California Avenue SW (1 block from the parish). The cost will be $15 per adult and $7 for children under the age of 10 years.
There will be an omelet bar, fresh fruit, waffles, coffee, tea, juice, and hot chocolate. All proceeds will benefit the Kingston Family and all are welcome. In addition, we will be holding a raffle.
If you have any questions, please contact Paul leonardo at 206-250-5213 or Erik Ricard at 206-683-1018.
Dr. Kingston is survived by wife Laura, son Jack, and daughter Reese; his memorial fund also has a webpage, here.
You’re invited “to turn back the clock, dust off those old dresses and tuxes, and enjoy a night of disco balls, punch bowls, shoulder pads and big hair” – at the ’80s Flashback Adult Prom on Saturday, November 19th, a fundraiser for the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2012. That night from 8-10 pm in the CSIHS Galleria, you’ll enjoy music, refreshments, free pictures, and even valet parking – for only $15, and you get to compete for prizes awarded to the “best flashback attire.” (And if you went to your original prom back in the ’80s and happen to have a photo handy, send it to Sealth activities coordinator Sam Reed at sjreed@seattleschools.org – he’ll be printing photos out to display at the Flashback Prom.) Proceeds will benefit the Class of 2012 as it works toward a couple of big parties of its own later this school year – making sure prom and the “safe and sober” Grad Night celebration are affordable for everybody. You can buy tickets online (or donate if you can’t go but want to support the prom/Grad Night fund).
NEW PAVERS AT CHIEF SEALTH: That’s one of the first fundraising pavers to be installed in front of the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium. The photo is courtesy of Friends of Sealth president Debbie Taylor, who explains, “Friends of Sealth is selling these pavers as a perpetual fundraiser to support scholarships for seniors and other activities for the students and alumni of Chief Sealth International High School.” She says they’ve been “endeavoring to get this paver project ‘on the ground’ throughout the Sealth renovation project and are well pleased that our first wave of pavers are ready for public viewing.” Want one (or more) of your own? Order them through the Friends of Sealth website, www.friendsofsealth.org .
LAFAYETTE WALK-A-THON SUCCESS! The recent Lafayette Elementary PTA “Walk It To Win It” Walk-A-Thon was a “huge success,” reports Amy French (who also shared the photo). “Each grade of students had a 45 minute shift to walk and run laps to raise money for the PTA. Staff, teachers, students and parents all put in a great effort with blasting music and crowds cheering them on. A kindergartner ran 21 laps, which is 5 miles, and the most laps ran was 30. This event is special because the students raise the money themselves by getting pledges, and the Walk-A-Thon day is a wonderful demonstration of Lafayette Elementary’s fantastic community of students, parent volunteers and cheerleaders. The donations are still coming in, but we are expecting to reach our goal based on our generous business sponsorships and individual pledges to students. The Lafayette Elementary community would like to thank all the businesses and families who supported this event, as well as all the volunteers who made it happen! A special thank you to West Seattle Runner staff, who spent the entire day handing out water to the kids.”
One day before Halloween, you might get a knock on the door from someone who’ll be looking for a food-drive donation, not a treat. Angel Laycock from the soccer club HPFC Eagles says that 3-5 pm this Sunday (October 30) they’ll be out on what they call “Trick or Can“:
Small groups of our club will be going around house to house to collect canned food and what we will do is send that canned food to three different food drives which include Highline Area Food Bank, White Center Food Bank, and West Seattle Food Bank. We will be in a couple different areas that include Normandy Park, Three Tree Point, North Admiral, and a few other local locations.
Participating players range in age from 10-17, Angel tells us, and he just wants to get the word out so that you’ll consider having a food donation available if you happen to get a visit. (And if nobody comes by, trust us, there are many other drives in the works to which you can contribute.)
From the WSB inbox, two chances to reach out and help – and neither will take much time. First: Natalie Dolci from Hickman House, the Salvation Army’s transitional housing in West Seattle for domestic-violence survivors, says they have a volunteer opportunity coming up:
On December 1st, we have a holiday party for the women and their children. We currently have 10 moms and 18 kids staying with us. We are looking for volunteers who would provide some food and decorations for the party. It seems like a great fit for a group and we welcome creative types who would enjoy set-up and ambience.
We do ask that volunteers maintain the confidentiality of our location and that they not attend the party to respect the privacy of the residents. However, they most certainly will get thank you notes from the kids!
Second – the latest “E-Flash” from WestSide Baby shows a couple of tables of note – one shows the thousands of people they’ve helped – the other, the thousands of items they need – which is where you might be able to step in:
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.
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.
That’s a form of “people helping people,” and the Forums also have yielded face-to-face versions of that … as members joined together to reach out to people who need more than information. Sometimes, that’s meant face-to-face events, like the one coming up Sunday at the 
You’re invited “to turn back the clock, dust off those old dresses and tuxes, and enjoy a night of disco balls, punch bowls, shoulder pads and big hair” – at the ’80s Flashback Adult Prom on Saturday, November 19th, a fundraiser for the 
NEW PAVERS AT CHIEF SEALTH: That’s one of the first fundraising pavers to be installed in front of the 
“Each grade of students had a 45 minute shift to walk and run laps to raise money for the PTA. Staff, teachers, students and parents all put in a great effort with blasting music and crowds cheering them on. A kindergartner ran 21 laps, which is 5 miles, and the most laps ran was 30. This event is special because the students raise the money themselves by getting pledges, and the Walk-A-Thon day is a wonderful demonstration of Lafayette Elementary’s fantastic community of students, parent volunteers and cheerleaders. The donations are still coming in, but we are expecting to reach our goal based on our generous business sponsorships and individual pledges to students. The Lafayette Elementary community would like to thank all the businesses and families who supported this event, as well as all the volunteers who made it happen! A special thank you to West Seattle Runner staff, who spent the entire day handing out water to the kids.”
During 
This time next Monday night, hundreds of people will be abuzz about another fabulous edition of the annual local-food celebration, 
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 
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