West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
This month, Rebuilding Together Seattle volunteers are doing work inside and out at a home in the Charlestown/Genesee area, and today about 50 Safeway workers joined the project, as part of their company’s monthlong campaign focusing on disability awareness. They spent the day providing free labor at the home that belongs to Shawn, who is living with multiple sclerosis, and Katy, who works with special-needs students at a Seattle elementary school in addition to being caregiver for Shawn.
RTS describes the work at Shawn and Katy’s home as including “a new stove and range hood, updating the bathtub to a shower, installing grab bars and hand rails, replacing kitchen flooring, repairing and staining the back deck, repairing the fence, painting several rooms, organizing and removing clutter, and completing yard work.” The Seattle affiliate of Rebuilding Together is one of 200 coast-to-coast; its website includes info on how to seek help from, or offer help to, the nonprofit.
West Seattle dad John e-mailed to share the story in hopes it might be “useful” to others – especially other families with children:
My two 8-year-old daughters and I went to Constellation Park this afternoon bringing our lunch and planned on staying for 2 or 3 hours.
Just shortly after we ate our lunch I turned around and saw my one daughter with a syringe in her hands. I told her to immediately put it down and she did. But I asked her if she had poked herself with it and she said yes – in her finger – and it did indeed appear that she had upon closer inspection.
So I grabbed the syringe (it still had its cap with it) and went back home and called the Swedish nurse hotline. They recommended that I take her to the emergency room immediately and bring the syringe with me.
Things will be buzzing at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) tomorrow. Not just because West Seattle beekeeper Brian Allen is leading a seminar at 11 am. Not just because Master Gardener Jeff Daley and colleagues will be on hand for a clinic 10:30 am-1:30 pm. The headliner arrives at 1 pm – 
the man you could call the Northwest’s “laughing gardener,” Ciscoe Morris is headed this way to visit VGPN (10223 26th SW, and proprietor Vera Johnson is excited to play host to a fellow perennials enthusiast (at right is Grevillea we photographed at VG last week – Vera says it’s a Ciscoe fave because it blooms in the cool season). Forecast looks good for tomorrow afternoon, but then again, real gardeners know there’s nothing wrong with a little cloud cover.
If you have been following the saga of the Delridge Supportive Housing building that the Downtown Emergency Service Center plans to build in the 5400 block of Delridge, you know that DESC has committed to include a commercial space on the northwest side of the building, and that the Delridge Produce Cooperative is considered to be the likely tenant for that space, to open a “greengrocer”-type food store, as DPC describes it. But as DPC reps have been saying, it’s going to be a long road between now and the potential opening of that store in early 2014, and they can’t go it alone – they would love to have YOUR help. The community meeting mentioned by a DPC rep at last week’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting (WSB coverage here) is now two nights away, and DPC sent out a reminder about it today, – it’s part of the meeting’s listing on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (see the full announcement here). The DPC has been working for more than 3 years on a mission near and dear to many hearts in eastern West Seattle – more fresh food. They hope to enlist local residents to help toward that goal – from the meeting announcement:
We plan for a large part of our produce purchases to come from the Delridge community itself, and so we have a great need to reach out to neighbors to find and recruit members and growers. If we connect gardeners to the food hub that we are growing, we can all eat healthy, local food without paying the high prices that we are all used to seeing for organic produce at the grocery store.
If you can help with that – or in some other way – or just want to know more, the DPC hopes to see you at 6:30 pm Monday, Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon).
Peeking into the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center at midday today, you might have mistaken the gathering for a religious service – until you heard the auctioneers. (And if you look on the right side of the photo, there are hints alongside the rows of chairs.) This was the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society‘s annual auction – with aquarium hobbyists gathering to auction fish, plants, lights, tanks, anything someone else might be interested in.
They had held the auction at Seattle Pacific University – where the group usually meets – in recent years, but needed someplace bigger, so headed west.
That’s brew, as in coffee – the traditional free espresso at West Seattle Nursery‘s annual spring open house, continuing till 3 pm (California/Brandon). Other treats too:
Bring a tool to donate to the West Seattle Tool Library and you’ll get a discount coupon, according to their flyer; author/photographer David Perry is scheduled to be speaking now, and then at 2 pm, WSN’s Connie Wurm will explain how to turn your yard into a bird sanctuary.
(Photo by Brooke Freed)
Love the sun, but longing for warmer temperatures? Stop by Avalon Glassworks till 4 pm and again 11-4 tomorrow to watch Justin Bagley create glass plant globes – small hanging planters just right for, for example, air plants, as you can see in the photo on the AG website. They’re on Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge.
Still time to go join some of your West Seattle neighbors busy beautifying the North Delridge area right now for the annual Spring Clean. Headquarters is Delridge Community Center, but volunteers (including Jackson the dog!) were planning to fan out to a variety of locations, till noon.
Congratulations to the seven Alki Elementary 4th and 5th graders who comprise George’s Magicians Treasure! As you can see and hear in that celebratory clip, the Alki team that co-won the citywide Global Reading Challenge is now the international champion too, after the final videoconference competition, held on Friday with Alki, co-Seattle winners Adams Elementary, and two schools from Canada! Alki librarian Laurie Iba shared the video and a photo, while telling the final chapter in this exciting tale:
How do you make it to the Video Global Reading Challenge?
You begin by reading 10 books starting in November. You quiz each other on the details of each book. You read the books again and again and again. In February you win your School Challenge by getting all the answers correct. You continue to read and quiz each other.
In March you win the Semi-Final round missing only one question. You continue to read and quiz each other. In April you win the Citywide Challenge by getting all the answers correct. You continue to read and quiz each other. That leads us to (Friday).
Alki’s winning team left school (Friday) morning before school began and boarded a Metro bus bound for the John Stanford Center. Once there we waited for the other Citywide winning team, Adams Elementary. We also waited for the tech guys to get the video conference equipment working so we could see the two British Columbia winning teams.
Finally with everything working, the Challenge began. After each question was read, answers written and turned in, the answer was given and everyone was told who got the questions correct.
In the 1st round Alki and Adams were tied, with both Canadian teams missing at least one question.
In the middle of the 2nd round, Adams missed a question, which gave Alki the edge.
In the third round Adams missed a second question. With two questions left, Alki was getting nervous. Could they pull off another perfect score? Next question correct. Now no matter what, Alki has it clinched! They must have realized it as the last question they answered was not correct, but it didn’t matter. All that hard work had paid off.
Alki’s win brings the Video Conference plaque back to the U. S.. It will reside at Alki Elementary until next year’s Video Global Reading Challenge.
Thanks also to Kathleen for the heads-up last night on the team’s big win – she adds, “Nice job Alex, Alina, Carl, Georgia, Gracie, Jaylen, and Marcus!!”
(Crow and bald eagle at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
Welcome to a sunny Saturday! From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
REBUILDING TOGETHER SEATTLE: All day long, RTS is fixing up the home of a local couple with the help of 50 volunteers from Safeway; you may see them at work at the project site in the Charlestown/Genesee area.
WEST SEATTLE LIONS’ PLANT SALE: Continues 9 am-3 pm today, upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (Our photo is from the sale’s first session last night.)
ALKI BIRD WALK: Who knows, you might see something like the sight in the photo atop this roundup! Free guided walk sponsored by the Audubon Society; meet at the Alki Bathhouse at 10 am.
AQUARIUM SOCIETY AUCTION: For the first time, a regional group of aquarium enthusiasts is having its annual auction at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center. 10 am start time, no official end time – details here.
HELP CLEAN UP NORTH DELRIDGE: Join the Spring Clean event this morning – 10 am-noon, meet at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW; details here).
EUROPAKIDS INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10:30 am-noon, EuropaKids International Preschool (WSB sponsor) welcomes prospective families to their current facility at Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool (with an added area location in the works), 2801 SW Thistle, details here.
WEST SEATTLE NURSERY OPEN HOUSE: “Bees, Birds and Bouquets” is the theme for one of spring’s most popular business open houses – it’s a garden party, really, with free espresso and appetizers, as well as chances to explore and learn. 11 am-3 pm at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon), details here.
TRUNK SHOW AT CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: Sarah Loertscher is back at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) two nights after the West Seattle Art Walk for a trunk show of her jewelry art, 11 am-5 pm (hot off the runway, as explained here!).
OPENING DAY AT PUGET RIDGE GARDEN CENTER: On the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus, the center is open for shoppers/visitors just once or twice a month in spring, and today’s your first chance to stop by, 11 am-3 pm.
GLASS ARTIST CREATES HANGING PLANT GLOBES: All of this weekend’s gardening-related activities might put you in the mood for this unique art demonstration, happening at Avalon Glassworks, 11 am-4 pm (Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge).
MUSICAL STORYTIME: The regular Saturday storytime at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village has special guests today: Katy Webber and Pearl Jenkins of Musikal Magik. 11 am, all welcome.
SPRING BREAK SKATE: Local football/cheer organization SWAC invites you to come skate with them 5-7 pm at Southgate Roller Rink, to help support local kids’ participation by raising money for helmets. If you register for this year, you skate free. Pizza and soda available at the event, too! Details here.
DOG SOCIAL: Saturday night out, with your canine companion! 7-10 pm at Muttley Crew Cuts, and it’s a fun(draiser) – explained here.
CANDYLANDIA: The monthly dance party, 9 pm, Benbow Room (details here).
Even more on the calendar – see for yourself here.
Organizers of this year’s Gathering of Neighbors have a reminder for you this morning – the big event is one week from today at Chief Sealth International High School:
Make connections with dozens of local businesses, community groups, non-profits, and social service providers from across the West Seattle Peninsula, discover hidden resources right in your own neighborhoods, and learn more about how you can get involved in making our community an even better place to live!
The public event kicks off at 11:00 am with our Neighborhood Resource Fair, featuring a special themed area this year on “Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery.” One section of the information tables and vendors will feature children’s activities and prizes, a demonstration hub, and preparedness speakers on how your family and your home can Be Prepared for when disaster strikes.
Hear from the Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs, City of Seattle Office of Emergency Management, King County Public Health Reserve Corps, West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Amateur Radio Club, Seattle Auxiliary Communication Service, Washington State Animal Response Team, and City of Seattle Home Retrofit Program! PLUS, other community groups, government agencies, and local businesses…
The fair continues while we feature local food and entertainment from 1:00-3:00 pm. Come gather with your neighbors and share in food trucks, dessert fundraiser tables, and fine performances you won’t want to miss! Local performers will include a world percussion group, martial-arts demonstration, and students from the Denny/Sealth Music department.
| 5 COMMENTS