Seal Sitters among 5 West Seattle groups receiving city grants

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
That’s Sweet Pea the seal pup, who Seal Sitters kept watch over at Lincoln Park last week – amid recurring problems with off-leash dogs (read the story on Seal Sitters’ site here). The all-volunteer group formally got some good news today – when the city Department of Neighborhoods officially announced the latest round of city grants to community groups, they included a $15,000 “Small and Simple” city grant for an educational program designating 2013 the “Year of the Seal,” culminating in a Harbor Seal Day event with the unveiling of a sculpture at Alki depicting a mom and pup (briefly mentioned at October’s Southwest District Council meeting).

The city’s announcement also included, from the Small and Simple Fund, $20,000 for the Nature Consortium to bring back the Arts in Nature Festival next year (with a $60,000 community match), $20,000 for the High Point Commons Park P-Patch to add “an educational beehive enclosure (apiary) and pollination garden” (with a $28,000 community match), and $5,600 for restoration in Schmitz Park Preserve where help is needed beyond what volunteers can do.

From the Large Projects Fund, $52,200 is being awarded to the North Delridge Neighborhood Council for the Dakota Street End project to enhance Longfellow Creek access, with a $62,000 community match.

Chris W December 3, 2012 (9:02 pm)

Congrats Robin and crew!!!

L.A. December 3, 2012 (9:05 pm)

Congrats to all the fabulous organizations! As a seal sitter I am so pleased because I see every day how extremely hard all the volunteers work to protect all the local beach wildlife. They also field emergency calls from all over pugent sound and coordinate with rescue and protection agencies from all over. Very proud of all of these wonderful folks!

Tuesday December 3, 2012 (9:31 pm)

Though these are all wonderful organizations and ventures, I take exception to the city deciding where I should donate my money. This should NOT be a role the government plays in society. It’s insulting.

miws December 3, 2012 (10:03 pm)

Congrats, Seal Sitters! Well deserved!

Mike

seewhatsealionsstart December 3, 2012 (10:55 pm)

Sweet news! Congrats and thank you Seal Sitters for your every effort on behalf of beautiful & vulnerable seal pups, and all wildlife.
-Alisa

annika December 3, 2012 (11:00 pm)

Wonderful news!

Trileigh December 4, 2012 (8:41 am)

Yay, Seal Sitters and all of those wonderful West Seattle groups working so hard for the natural world! It’s an honor to share this community with you.

Melinda December 4, 2012 (3:02 pm)

Congratulations to Seal Sitters and all the other deserving recipients.

WestSeattle91 December 4, 2012 (4:13 pm)

Re the ongoing problem with off-leash dogs…what is wrong with these dog owners?? After reading the account on the Seal Sitters website, it horrifies me that people continue to think it’s all right to have their dogs off leash where they might maim or kill wildlife as well as other dogs. I have two dogs and when I walk them they are ALWAYS on leash. We continue to have problems with off-leash dogs confronting us at Lincoln Park beach, as these people believe they and their dogs are *special* and their dogs don’t need leashes or collars, and, oops, did my dog chase a goose, or attack a small child or someone else’s dog? It’s all right, because my dog is *special* — get a clue you self-rightous, pompous ass! We want to live in a civilized society, one where we obey the rules…the greater good and all that! So come on and get a clue. You are not special, your dog is not special, you are being a jerk for allowing your dog to be off leash!

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