BINGO: Derek, who discovered Monday night bingo at Alki UCC Church after the last time we mentioned it here, noticed it had vanished from our events calendar (oops! fixed!) and wanted to remind all would-be players it’s happening weekly – doors open 5:30 pm, games start 6:30 pm. More on this page of the Alki UCC website.

SCOUTS: Just got a note from Suzanne saying that tonight is Recruitment Night for Cub Scout Pack 284 at Gatewood Elementary School library, 6:30 pm: “Some of the Pack’s leadership and parents will be there to answer any questions about joining Cub Scouts. Our first Pack meeting of the school year will be Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe’s cafeteria at 7pm. First – Fifth grade boys are welcome to show up and check out what happens at the Pack meeting and hear about what scouts did over the summer including camp, hiking and the West Seattle Parade.” (ADDED 12:02 PM) Also: John e-mailed to say “Cub Scout pack #285 is having their recruitment night at 6:30 in the community room of St. John’s the Baptist Episcopal Church located (just west of West Seattle High School) at 3050 California Avenue SW. Pack 285 is one of the oldest Cub Scout packs in West Seattle and we are meeting to welcome new Cub Scouts and talk to parents who are interested in scouting. We will also be reviewing this summer’s activities and looking ahead at the fun events we have planned for the year. Boys in the 1st through 5th grade are welcome to join in. Contact Assistant Cubmaster John Woodworth @ 206-265-3295 or Cubmaster John Hoene at 206-372-3153 if you cannot make tonight’s meeting.”

CAR-SEAT RECYCLING: If you have car/booster seat(s) you’re not using – and can get to IKEA in Renton on Wednesday – you can be part of a first-of-its-kind event that WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland just e-mailed to announce – though it’s not in West Seattle, it’s for families here and all over the south King County area. The event also includes safety checks for the car/booster seats you’re using now, and kids’ helmets too; read on for full details:

Here’s the news release:

What: Safe, Sound & Green – A Partnership Preventing Unintentional Injuries Through Education and Access:
• A green recycle of car seats and booster seats
• A chance to pass on usable car seats and booster seats
• A helmet sale
• A car seat inspection station
• A chance to donate “children’s basics” to families in need

Where: IKEA in Renton (601 SW 41st St., Renton, WA 98057)

When: Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 from 9 am to 1 pm

Partners in South King County in a pioneering spirit are hosting this recycling event with the hope of keeping unusable car seats and booster seats out of our landfills. The focus of Safe, Sound & Green is on preventing unintentional injuries that result from using unsafe equipment. Unusable car seats will be collected and transported to a facility where 97% of the gross weight can be recycled back into usable materials. Usable car seats can also be donated to the Pass It program where they will be inspected by a certified passenger safety technician and re-equipped with the necessary registration material, manual and other information to maximize potential for correct use. In addition;

• Families are invited to come and learn if their children are getting the most benefit from their safety equipment. Bring your child along with car seats and helmets for FREE installation and fit checks. If a new helmet is recommended, high quality low cost helmets will be custom fit for your child.

• Event participants will have the opportunity to help keep other children safe by donating car seats, diapers, and other children’s basics items that will be redistributed to families in need.

Together we can make every child’s world a little safer in an environmentally responsible way!

This event is brought to you by SafeKids King County – South, IKEA, WestSide Baby, Pregnancy Aid King County and Bell-Anderson Insurance. >