West Seattle Blog... » Kiwanis Club of West Seattle

Happening now: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, sun AND shade

WSB — Sun, 05 May 2013 19:01:28 +0000

If you need a little shade while browsing the West Seattle Farmers’ Market till 2 pm today, check out the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tent over on the east side, where we found Patricia, Bob, and Karl. And if you have any no-longer-needed eyeglasses around the house – the Kiwanis booth has a dropbox. Another market sighting today: Don’t know if it’s their first week back, since this was our first visit in a few weeks, but Langley Fine Gardens from Vashon Island is back with a wide variety of plants, unusual flowers, and other ornamentals, as well as vegetable and herb plants. Before or after the market, wander over to Junction businesses (for food and drink, check out Junction-headquartered WSB sponsors Firefly Café and Creperie at California/Genesee – coupon! – plus Hotwire Online Coffeehouse on California a bit south of Genesee, and La Romanza Bistro Italiano – on California midblock south of Oregon)

Chief Sealth Key Club on duty at free Seattle Symphony concert

WSB — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:53:58 +0000

The volunteer power helping with last night’s free Seattle Symphony concert at Chief Sealth International High School included members of the Key Club at Sealth. Second from right in the back row is Shari Sewell from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which presented the concert; Key Club members’ responsibilities last night included assisting concert guests by distributing programs. They’re busy year-round with numerous service projects.

Update: Hundreds enjoy pancakes with West Seattle Kiwanis and Santa!

WSB — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:00:27 +0000

(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB, added 8:41 am: Brian Riggs, right, making pancakes)
ORIGINAL 7 AM REPORT: Don’t cook breakfast this morning – let the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cook it for you! Their annual Community Pancake Breakfast is set to start right about now – 7 am till 11 am, at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (40th and Edmunds, plenty of parking). You’ll see Santa Claus there, as well as dozens of volunteers, and even West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court royalty. In addition to the low, nonprofit-benefiting admission price ($7 adults, $3 kids, if you don’t already have an advance ticket), they’re also collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. More photos later!

ADDED 3:33 PM: The pancake breakfast drew a crowd – all morning long:

That’s Hi-Yu Junior Court Princess Emily Galvin talking with breakfasters about buying one of the Hi-Yu benefit blown-glass ornaments. As always, local Boy Scouts volunteered to help serve:

In a more serious moment, the Scouts gathered onstage for a big “thank you”:

Back to the pancakes:

5-year-old Everett Burdett particularly enjoyed his:

This morning also was a time to give:

Marine Cpl. Justin L. Knox, there for Toys for Tots, shook the hand of Andrew Archide, one of the breakfast attendees who brought a toy to donate. Speaking of toys … we haven’t yet mentioned the most famous toy giver of all:

Santa, of course, held court onstage – where, in our photo, he was joined by Karl de Jong from West Seattle Kiwanis, while the Hi-Yu Junior Court spoke. Kiwanis of Industrial Seattle was on hand too – Angelika Tam showed off a wreath:

This was the 66th annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast; its history is in this preview from last month.

Countdown to West Seattle Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast: Ticket time!

WSB — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:02:11 +0000

(WSB photo: Stephanie Halcomb and Patricia Tempinski @ Kiwanis booth today)
Today and for the next two Sundays, while you’re buying fresh food at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, you can buy something else that represents both a good deed and a good breakfast: The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is boothing at the WSFM, selling tickets to their 66th annual Community Pancake Breakfast on December 1st (at the Masonic Hall, 40th/Edmunds). Only $6 adults, $3 kids – including a free photo with Santa! – and if you just can’t get to the Farmers’ Market, you can buy your tickets online at kiwaniswestseattle.org. Or call 206-938-8032. The adult price is a discount from what you’ll pay that morning at the door ($7). For the story behind the pancake breakfast – including what you get besides pancakes! – read on:

From the official Kiwanis news release:

…The pancakes will be hot off the griddle from 7 am to 11 am, accompanied by orange juice, coffee and a slice of Husky Deli’s premier Canadian ham. As always, the proceeds go toward funding the club’s community-service activities, especially those focused on children and local teens.

It all started 66 years ago when the Kiwanis of West Seattle was seeking funding to support its roster of service projects. The building originally built as a Ford Dealership at 40th SW and Alaska Street was empty, and a grocery store owner from north Seattle moved in with his second market featuring a balcony cafeteria. A Kiwanian himself, he offered use of the cafeteria and its equipment to the local club for a one-morning pancake breakfast.

It was a generous location but had some downsides. The flight of stairs to reach it was a challenge for the handicapped and elderly and the seating capacity was quite limited. So, after two or three years, the breakfast was moved to the newly constructed YWCA building at 40th SW and SW Edmunds. It was more accessible, had a good kitchen and tableware, and three times more seating. Pancakes were served from a counter as patrons arrived through the front door. After several years the building’s use became limited to a pre-school facility and the kitchen, and other facilities, required some heavy cleaning prior to our use.

About that time, Kiwanis chartered its first Key Club at Seattle Lutheran High School, and with the blessing of its administration and the principal who became a Kiwanian; the breakfast was moved into the school’s gym/auditorium, also the site of several Kiwanis dinner-auctions. The room was ample, kitchen well-equipped, but still a bit difficult to get into for wheel chairs, etc.

So, after a few December Breakfasts, a couple of Kiwanis members who also were Masonic Lodge members suggested moving the breakfast to the Alki Masonic Lodge at 4736 40th Ave. SW for use of their ground-level banquet hall.

It proved to be a perfect fit; no steps required, real dishes, cups and silverware, great kitchen and refrigeration, dishwashing equipment and generous seating space. The breakfast event has been held there for over a dozen years on the first Saturday of December. Guests are served at the table.

The Kiwanis has sought each year to improve the event. Scouts of Troop 284, bolstered by an enthusiastic turnout of parents and leaders, are joined by Key Clubbers from local high schools to serve and buss tables and perform other tasks to make the event a success.

Added features include a raffle drawing, vendors selling holiday wares, collection site for new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps’ “Toys for Tots” and free photos with Santa for kids under 12.

“Best of all,” declared club president Mike LaFranchi, “This annual Community Breakfast is a prime opportunity to renew lifelong friendships and get to know newcomers to our historic neighborhood.”

Election 2012 video: West Seattle Kiwanis forum on I-1185

WSB — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:52:43 +0000

As you’ll hear Karl de Jong of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle say at the start of our video – ballots will arrive in the mail next week. So it’s time to start checking out the lesser-discussed issues and races. The Kiwanis hosted a forum at their weekly lunch meeting to take a look at Initiative 1185 (full text here), which would change the requirements for tax/fee approval by legislators. Amber Carter from the Association of Washington Business spoke in favor of it, 36th District State Rep. Reuven Carlyle against it, in a compact half-hour-long discussion all captured on unedited video above. You can see all the statewide ballot measures for this election here.

Ready to vote on I-1185? Kiwanis forum this Wednesday

WSB — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 17:40:23 +0000

Much of this fall’s ballot-measure discussion has focused on the marriage-equality (Referendum 74) and marijuana (I-502) measures – but there’s another statewide initiative of note, I-1185 (read the text here). The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle plans a forum at its lunch meeting this week, and you’re invited:

In an effort to air both positions, Kiwanis of West Seattle will hear arguments on both sides at its noon meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Be’s Restaurant, 4509 California Ave SW.

Initiative Measure 1185 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government. It would require sixty-six percent legislative approval or voter approval to raise taxes; require “fee increases,” as defined, be set by the Legislature; and dedicate collected fees to their identified statutory purposes.

This measure would require that any action by the Legislature that “raises taxes,” as defined, be approved either by at least sixty-six percent of both houses of the Legislature or by the voters. It would require “fee increases,” defined as including new fees and increases in existing fees, to be set by the legislature. It would limit use of fee revenues to the statutory purposes for which the fees were collected under the fee-authorizing statutes.

Amber Carter, Association of Washington Business director of government affairs for tax and fiscal policy will speak as a proponent of the measure. Speaking against Initiative 485 will be Representative Reuven Carlyle (D) of the 36th Legislative District, a member of the House Ways and means Committee.

Members of the public are invited to attend. Please RSVP. Luncheon is $8 including tax and tip; beverages only, $3. Call 206-938-8032 or e-mail warrenlawless@comcast.net. Parking is available behind the marked alley entrance to Be’s.

P.S. You can read about all the November statewide ballot measures via this page of the Secretary of State’s website.

Kiwanis Club of West Seattle honors Warren Lawless for 50 years

WSB — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:44:09 +0000

(Photo courtesy Karl Sutter)
Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s Warren Lawless received a big honor from his club tonight – commemorating his half-century of involvement. The honor was bestowed tonight during the club’s installation banquet at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle. Lawless, 94, has been a community and business leader for even longer; among his more recent awards is the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Community Service Award in 2008 (WSB coverage here).

Menashes honored by West Seattle Kiwanis as ‘Everyday Heroes’

WSB — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:57:15 +0000

Next year, Jack Menashe‘s Junction business, Menashe and Sons Jewelers (WSB sponsor), will mark 40 years in The Junction. Today, as he and his family accepted the “Everyday Hero” award from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, he said he’d learned a lot over the years, and that it’s been a remarkable experience. It hasn’t just been decades of business, but also decades of community support – his wife Linda Menashe described him as the most generous guy she’s ever known, with charity donations, youth-sports sponsorships, and gifts to schools (just last February, the Seattle Lutheran High School gym was formally christened the Menashe Family Gymnasium), as well as their legendary Christmas lights. Linda was there to join in today’s celebration, along with their daughter Joanna and visiting relative Paul from California:

The weekly Kiwanis lunch meeting at Be’s in The Junction, not far from the Menashes’ store, also heard a special presentation on salmon from 11-year-old Alex Lee:

Alex, photographed with the Kiwanis Club’s Dr. Steve Leifheit, is homeschooled but studied salmon through Roxhill Elementary School.

More big events ahead for the Kiwanis include their Charity Motorcycle Poker Run and Classic Car Show on June 23rd and participation in the Seafair Pirates’ Landing activities on July 7th; more info on their website at kiwaniswestseattle.org.

Donated yet? West Seattle Kiwanis food drive till 3 pm

WSB — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:49:53 +0000

You have an hour-plus to join in the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s one-day food drive for the WS Food Bank, if you haven’t already! We stopped by West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), where we found Kiwanis member Linda Cox and two Chief Sealth International High School Key Club members, sophomores Sharon and Kat. You’ll find volunteers at other stores around West Seattle too, including PCC Natural Markets and Metropolitan Market (also WSB sponsors), and remember, your donation (food OR cash) to local food banks counts extra till the end of the month, because of the Feinstein Challenge. (Thriftway also has a raffle raising money for the WS Food Bank, raffling off a $500 shopping spree – details in the WSB Forums.)

West Seattle Kiwanis: Farmers’ Market today, food drive next Saturday

WSB — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:10:44 +0000

At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is back in its booth on the KeyBank side of the market site, getting the word out about two big things – first, the Eliminate Project:

With The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 60,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. … To eliminate MNT from the Earth, more than 100 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. It will take $110 million – and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family.

Members of the West Seattle Kiwanis has pledged support for more than 600 vaccines and will be collecting contributions at the West Seattle Farmers Market to help get closer to the goal to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus.

And they’re also reminding you about their One-Day Food Drive next Saturday to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank – you’ll see Kiwanis and Key Club volunteers at grocery stores around the area 9 am-3 pm on April 21st, including WSB sponsors Metropolitan Market, PCC Natural Markets, and West Seattle Thriftway. Their announcement notes, “These activities are being held as part of Kiwanis ONE Day, a global volunteer action day uniting the entire Kiwanis family, including Kiwanis, Circle K, Key Club, Builder’s Club, Aktion Club, K-Kids and Kiwanis Junior.”

Happening now: West Seattle Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast 2011

WSB — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:14:59 +0000

With a crew of volunteer pancake chefs including Michael LaFranchi (and his holiday-spirit apron), the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is filling the Masonic Hall this morning for its 65th annual Community Pancake Breakfast:

…and that’s only half the room! There’s still time to get there before 11; $6 adults/$3 kids for pancakes, ham, and orange juice, with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including research into childhood cancer. Plus they are collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. In addition to volunteers from the Kiwanis, high-school clubs, and Scouts, West Seattle Hi-Yu volunteers and junior royalty are on hand too, and you can buy one of their gorgeous glass fundraising ornaments:

And a very special guest … in the background of this shot featuring Hi-Yu Junior Princess Amanda, Queen Thea, and Princess Elena … Santa!

40th/Edmunds – the canopies and signs point the way to the entrance.

Flapjacks & fun: West Seattle Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast tomorrow

WSB — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:34:54 +0000

(WSB photo from 2010 Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast)
One more reminder – tomorrow morning the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cooks for you, Santa’s on hand for photos, and lots of other holiday fun will be served up at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds on the east side of The Junction), 7-11 am. Bring new unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots drive – they would love to present a big stack of future gifts when it’s all said, done, and donated. The breakfast itself costs $6 at the door for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under (that includes a Santa photo), with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including children’s-cancer research. It’s a huge day of holiday happening (as listed here) around West Seattle, so get it started right with a good breakfast and a good time. More info here!

At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market: ‘The Sallys,’ and the Kiwanis

WSB — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:15:26 +0000

Though it’s not out of the 30s yet, it’s sunny, and it’s a lively morning at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. Above, City Councilmembers Sally Clark and Sally Bagshaw, making another stop on their citywide conversation tour as “The Sallys.” They’ll pour you a free cup of Rockridge Orchards cider (while supplies last!). As for topics, you don’t have to stick to these, but – Clark chairs the Committee on the Built Environment, which tackles issues like zoning and development, and Bagshaw chairs the Parks Committee. Meantime, you’ll also find the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the market today, promoting their upcoming holiday Pancake Breakfast:

It’s 7-11 am Saturday, December 3rd, at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) and you can buy your tickets at their booth today for the discount price of $5 adults, $3 kids (adults will be $6 at the door). Santa photos are included in the price – and you’re asked to bring new, unwrapped Toys for Tots donations.

Video: Kiwanis Club of West Seattle’s fundraising Poker Run

WSB — Sun, 15 May 2011 06:59:13 +0000

Not only was it a gorgeous day to wander neighborhoods and shop, it was a spectacular day for a ride – particularly if you were helping the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle raise money to benefit cancer research at Children’s Hospital. They gathered at midmorning at 40th/Alaska, to head out on a “poker run”:

The concept was explained in the preview we published – get a card at each checkpoint along the ride, then see what kind of hand you wound up with. The ride was followed by a barbecue, and as you know if you were out and about today, the sun shone all the way through!

Collection success! Kiwanis food drive; Fauntleroy Church recycling

WSB — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:11:50 +0000

Two followups tonight on weekend collection efforts in West Seattle that both proved highly successful:

(WSB photo from Saturday)
On Saturday, we reported on the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle food drive “as it happened.” It was part of the global volunteer-action Kiwanis ONE Day. Tonight, the Kiwanians report that they collected more than 7,000 pounds of food and almost $1,000 in cash at five West Seattle grocery stores Saturday – all going to the West Seattle Food Bank (and remember, this is the time of year when food-bank donations count extra). The club says, “Special thanks goes out to all the members of the community who generously donated to support this worthy cause.” They’re also glad to have had Key Club members join them (note the teens in our photo). West Seattle Kiwanis also wants to remind you that they meet 1st, 3rd, 4th Wednesdays for breakfast, 7 am, and lunch (noon) on the 3rd Wednesday at Be’s Restaurant in The Junction (4509 California SW)

Another event we covered “as it happened” – on Sunday, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee invited the community to another Recycle Roundup:

(WSB photo from Sunday)
Judy Pickens reports that 1 Green Planet filled its trucks with “an estimated 12 to 14 tons of just about everything for free recycling.” The church did accept donations from anyone interested in showing their appreciation – and took in almost $1,000. She says the company’s crew chief Michael Szanyi told them that the “strong support has made Fauntleroy Church one of 1 Green Planet’s favorite places to go!”