Till 7:30 tonight, you’ll find the Delridge Produce Cooperative “Mobile Market” – free produce as part of a four-week test – on the lawn south of Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge; map) – that’s where we took the photo a bit earlier. The project’s been getting lots of buzz and an increasing number of visits – even a line when they opened this afternoon! Here’s an update DPC sent before starting up for the day:
Today we have peaches from an organic farm in California, courtesy of Madison Market, and multi-colors of carrots from Full Circle Farm. We expect to get at least fifty visitors today, which is what we’re aiming for. We still need volunteers to fill up the schedules for the next three weeks, and we’re on the lookout for local organic farmers who would like to donate.
We have gotten a lot of calls and personal referrals from people who want the produce from the ‘Mobile Market’ to supplement thier limited food budgets, so we are definitely confirming our suspicions that there is a real need for inexpensive fresh food on Delridge. If things keep going the way they are, we can prove that not only is there a need for produce on Delridge, but also that people can show up at certain locations and times to get it – and that they want it that badly. This demonstrates that a *real* mobile market (in particular) is likely to succeed in Delridge. We’ve also gotten calls from other places than Delridge, asking if you have to show identification that says you’re a Delridge resident to get free produce. I think that this illustrates that if we had the kind of produce co-op that we want, it would bring business into Delridge from other parts of Seattle and therefore be more likely to succeed. There is not a lot of inexpensive organic produce in Seattle in general, so we may become a magnet for those who desire it.
Next week, the tote bags will be ready, and we will have the mulit-language information pamphlets about free and low-cost healthy programs. The tote bags are beautiful, sturdy, washable green polyester that packs down into a key fob the size, shape and color of a big strawberry. They are being silk-screened by local company Heart On My Sleeve with an inspirational logo that was created by a local artist for our ‘Tote Bag Art Contest’ a few months ago. I believe that she found out about the contest by reading about it on the West Seattle Blog.
You’ll remember Heart On My Sleeve – they’re the fashion/art/music team based in Pigeon Point, profiled here earlier this year. Meantime, if you don’t make it to the “Mobile Market” at Youngstown by 7:30 tonight, they’ll repeat the same sequence of four locations next Friday through Monday – all listed here. ADDED 7:20 PM: Thanks to Dina Johnson for this photo of the multiple colors of carrots available at the stand today:
The former Alki Mortgage building at California/Myrtle (map), a few steps south of Caffe Ladro, will soon house The Little Gym of West Seattle. Owner Birgit Obrietan tells WSB, “We can’t wait to become part of the West Seattle community!” She and her husband own The Little Gym operations in Bellevue and Issaquah, and Birgit says that “having a gym in West Seattle has been a dream of ours for many years.” They are hoping to open in early November for regular classes and birthday parties; ultimately, she says, “We will have parent/child classes, preschool gymnastics, grade school gymnastics, birthday parties and summer camps.” Their classes are for ages 4 months to 12 years, and you can find more about what they offer at thelittlegym.com. (They’re also reachable at 206-937-0311.) We asked if they’ll be occupying the entirety of the building; Birgit says no, “there is some back office space that will be rented to another tenant.” Side note — The Bellevue branch that Birgit and her husband own was the very first The Little Gym, opened in 1973; they’ve run it for nine years. (By the way – and thanks to Robert for spotting this – they’re advertising for a director.)
On Friday, we reported on the debut of the “Mobile Market” pilot project that the Delridge Produce Cooperative is trying out over the next four weeks — setting up a mobile produce stand at one of four Delridge locations each Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday in that time frame, to give out free fruit and vegetables and get answers to a survey about the potential market for selling fresh produce in the area. Today, DPC is at the Delridge P-Patch, next to Cottage Grove Park (5206 26th SW; map) till 3 pm, and asked us to:
… let people know that we’ll have peaches, plums, tomatoes, squash, cherries and apples today – lots of them, that we need to get rid of before the end of Monday’s stall. We also have fresh organic carrots from Full Circle Farms today. It’s a smorgasbord!
That’s the team you’ll find at the Delridge Produce Cooperative “Mobile Market” set up outside Watts Electric, east side of Delridge south of Henderson (map), till 7:30 tonight (with different locations along Delridge the next three days, repeating the series of four stops this week and the next three). They’re actually not selling, but rather giving away fresh fruits and vegetables:
Tiny’s donated most of what you see in that photo – except for some vegetables, including chiles, dropped off by someone that DPC president Galena White (right side of the top photo) said read here this morning that they accept produce dropoffs too. This is a pilot project to show how people might respond to a co-op selling fresh produce in Delridge, which has no grocery store of its own, let alone some place to regularly buy fresh, healthy food. So when you pick up your free produce, you’ll be asked to fill out a super-fast four-question survey.
(from left, Seattle Vein Clinic doctors Dr. Dave Omdal, Dr. R. Torrance Andrews, Dr. Manrita Sidhu)
This afternoon we welcome one of our newest sponsors, Seattle Vein Clinic. Here’s what they would like you to know about their practice: Seattle Vein Clinic specializes in the treatment of painful or heavy varicose veins. Varicose vein sufferers are often not aware that varicose veins are a serious medical condition and tend to get worse over time. They also don’t realize that treating this problem is covered by most major medical insurance. Those who suffer from varicose veins are often less apt to exercise and stay active because of the associated pain and discomfort. Once patients have undergone this procedure, they are often able to remain much more active, which contributes positively to their overall health. We’re a division of Seattle Radiologists and are located just a few minutes from West Seattle on First Hill (Broadway and Cherry; map). We’re offering free consultations for anyone who would like to discuss their varicose vein issues. We also have a free information CD available to help potential patients learn about how we treat this problem. Just visit our Web site or call (206) 292-7734 for more information. Thanks to Seattle Vein Clinic for joining the WSB sponsor team, listed here along with info on how to join the team!
Today we welcome a new sponsor, The Subtle Body, a West Seattle Ayurvedic center located on the second floor of 3620 California SW (map). As always, we offer new sponsors the chance to tell you about their businesses, and here’s what The Subtle Body wants you to know: Ayurvedic comes from Ayurveda, which means the “Science of Life,” a 5000-year-old system of health care originating in India. Ayurveda addresses each individual, and seeks to bring you back to your own state of balance. Your consultation will include recommendations on diet, daily routine, herbs, yoga and seasonal cleanses. We also offer a rejuvenation program consisting of Ayurvedic massage, Ayurvedic steams and Shirodhara. The center is run by Nickole Thornton (left) and Bethanie Sand (right). Nickole has practiced Ayurveda since 2000, traveling across the U.S. providing Ayurvedic lectures, Consultations, and Panchakarma Detox Therapy. In addition to her Ayurvedic expertise, she specializes in Deep Tissue Massage and NeuroMuscular Therapy with Therapeutic Stretching. Bethanie has been studying, teaching and working with Ayurveda since 2003. She’s involved in the Washington chapter of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, bringing practitioners of Ayurveda together in community and for the advancement of Ayurveda in Washington. In addition to offering Ayurvedic consultations and treatments, Bethanie specializes in CranioSacral Therapy — a gentle, yet effective way of releasing pain, tension and old holding patterns in the body and nervous system. For an appointment or consultation, you can reach Nickole at 206-799-0718 or Bethanie at 206-949-8442. Thanks to The Subtle Body for choosing to grow their business by sponsoring 24/7 local news, information and discussion on WSB; the entire sponsor team is listed here, with info on how to join!
Today we’re welcoming a new sponsor, Michelle Babb, MS, RD, a Bastyr graduate and adjunct professor who consults on finding optimum health by improving nutrition. New sponsors are always offered the chance to share information with you regarding what they do; Michelle says, “Clients seek me out because they’re looking to change their lifestyle to address their health issues and restore vitality. They’re often very frustrated and worn out with traditional methods for weight loss and disease prevention, and they don’t know where to turn. Most people need a little information and a lot of motivation. I encourage them to make small, but meaningful changes and build up to an optimal diet and I provide support every step of the way. I also use therapeutic diets when warranted, and my patients commonly report feeling better than they have in years. Once they start seeing and feeling the results of restoring balance to the body through good nutrition, exercise and relaxation, that becomes its own motivation.” Michelle says that if you’ve been trying to lose weight or have been diagnosed with a digestive problem, she can work with you to find the right foods. She’s also in touch with naturopaths, medical doctors, acupuncturists and chiropractors to create a whole plan for better nutrition and health. Find Michelle Babb, MS, RD, online at eatplaybe.com. We welcome her to the WSB sponsor lineup, listed in full here along with information on how to become part of it.
We weren’t able to take pix inside the Puget Sound Blood Center bus that’s currently parked outside West Seattle PCC — somebody was there and donating when we stopped by about half an hour ago — but the bus itself is fairly photogenic (go see the skateboarding blood cell on the back). They’re supposed to be on break 3:30-4 pm, but if you can donate, go visit between 4 and 7, to help make sure our regional blood supply can handle whatever the holiday weekend throws at it. It’s in the southeastern section of the parking lot at Stevens/California (map). If you’re on Twitter, follow PSBC at @bloodcenter.
This isn’t on the list of citywide road-closing events – and it’s not in West Seattle – but Admiral resident Dennis Ross suggested more of West Seattle’s 50+ residents might want to know about it, so here’s info he shared about a half-marathon walk around Lake Union this Sunday, part of Seattle Parks’Sound Steps program, the Northwest Senior Games and Seafair:
Sunday, June 28th — 7:00 am arrival and registration, — 7:30 am walk
Event information: — 13.1 mile walk looping twice around Lake Union. Event includes water/snack stations, live music along the way, prizes and special athletic T-shirts (while supplies last). Invite your family and friends to walk with you or to cheer you on.
Location: Start/Finish Gas Works Park on the north side of Lake Union, 2101 N. Northlake Way (map)
Sound Steps is a Seattle Parks and Recreation walking program for adults age 50+. The Sound Steps program includes ongoing weekly walking groups and special events for active older adults.
Northwest Senior Games represents five cities in King County that specialize in recreation and community services for adults 50+.
For months now, Galena White and volunteers have toiled to get the Delridge Produce Cooperative off the ground. As reported previously, they’ve received a city grant for what was first billed as a “mobile produce market” but is really a trial run of a “community-supported produce stand” – which will be handing out free, fresh, healthy produce at various locations this summer. However, that takes people power – as Galena explains:
We’re a group of volunteers in the Delridge Neighborhood of West Seattle who want to open a community-run produce store to provide affordable, sustainably-grown freshfruits and vegetables to the people of Delridge by 2010. Delridge is a healthy food “desert,” and our goal is to increase the health of the residents by increasing the quality of food. This spring, we applied for and received an award of $15,000 from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to put on a series of demonstration booths this summer.
The goal of these demonstrations is to show the residents of Delridge what it would be like to have a community-supported produce stand, to hand out free produce and information about the importance of eating locally and staying healthy, and to build the foundations for improvement of local food systems. Please visit the project page to learn more about the project. We need help to make this project happen. … Please refer anyone who wishes to know to this list of available volunteer positions.
Just before the luminaria ceremony – honoring those lost to cancer – was scheduled to begin at 10 pm, four hours into Relay for Life of West Seattle, rain began to fall. But that didn’t extinguish the bagged candles – spelling out HOPE in the stands at West Seattle Stadium, and lining the field as relay participants walked, and names were read aloud:
The 18-hour event to raise cancer-fighting cash continues till noon tomorrow, and each team has someone walking the track at all times, so you’re welcome to stop by any time and cheer them on; here’s our earlier report.
Cancer survivors always get the honors of the first lap around the West Seattle Stadium track for Relay for Life of West Seattle – which started just after 6 tonight and continues till about noon tomorrow. Teams in the relay event are raising tens of thousands of dollars to fight cancer, and they welcome visitors cheering them on, so you are welcome to drop by the stadium any time as the event continues – particularly tonight at 10, when luminarias will be lit in memory of those lost to cancer – a moving ceremony that is a highlight of Relay for Life. Just before the opening lap, those on hand heard from King County Council chair Dow Constantine, who shared his reason for supporting the event:
You may have noticed, our headline mentioned TWO West Seattle “events to fight cancer.” Here’s the other one, as explained by Sharon:
Just wanted to let you know that from 8 until close tonight (update: and all weekend long) Chelan Cafe is holding a fund raiser for our Breast Cancer 3 Day Team, The Warming Hut Hotties. They will sell hot dogs and Jello shots, with all proceeds being donated to our team’s fund raising goal. Each walker in the Breast Cancer 3-Day has made a fundraising commitment of at least $2300 and our team’s total goal is $100,000.
The net proceeds raised by The 3 Day benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The National Philanthropic Trust’s Breast Cancer Fund.
The Seattle 3-Day is coming up in September; while its route traveled along the West Seattle waterfront two years ago, it will skip the peninsula again this year. Still, we know of more than a few West Seattle participants, so it’s a “local” story just the same. Chelan Cafe, by the way, is right under The Bridge, just north of North Delridge.
That’s our video from the survivors’ lap that started last year’s Relay for Life of West Seattle at WS Stadium — an 18-hour event to raise money (and awareness) to fight cancer. It’s coming up this Friday night-Saturday morning, with dozens of your West Seattle friends and neighbors participating (some listed here, including members of the team from WSB sponsor Sound Yoga). They encourage people to come down and cheer on the walkers – there are people on the track continuously throughout the 18-hour duration, 6 pm Friday till about noon Saturday. You can also make a pledge, to an individual, team, or the event in general, by going here. (For a taste of what it’s like, check out the Seattle PostGlobe story about this past weekend’s Relay for Life in Tacoma.)
If you have an iPhone (or Android), the county Health Department has come up with an app(lication) you can add to it to have handy in case of emergency – apparently it’s been out for a while so you may have it already, but if not, read on for the newly issued reminder:Read More
When a sponsor joins WSB, we traditionally offer them the chance to let you know something about their business: Today we welcome My Family Doctor, Dr. Terrill Harrington, whose office is at 3623 SW Alaska [map] in the Triangle area. Dr. Harrington’s practice is truly for the whole family – children to adults. He’s ready to talk to you about your medical questions, and to provide care that’s open to everyone, regardless of age. Dr. Harrington is proud that some of the babies he’s delivered are still coming to him years later for their regular care. He says that can be attributed to how people feel about the care they receive from him. While there are many options out there, Dr. Harrington believes people want to come to a place that treats them with the respect and dignity they deserve. Dr. Harrington says he has worked for some of the largest medical providers in the area and while he practiced with people who were well-trained and intelligent, he says there’s no substitute for a neighborhood doctor who can provide personal attention, which even includes the occasional house call. Dr. Harrington has had a practice in West Seattle for the past several years; he has served as team doctor for the Seattle Lutheran High School football team, and has provided hearing tests and other medical screening for elementary and middle schools in West Seattle. My Family Doctor is ready to be your family doctor; you can call 206-362-8674, and find out more online at myfamilydoctorws.com. We welcome Dr. Terrill Harrington to the WSB sponsor team; the latest lineup is here along with information on how to join them!
That was the welcome sight and sound this morning at the end of the breast-cancer-fighting Puget Sound Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Walk, which filled the Alaskan Way Viaduct with walkers of all ages. As we’d noted in this story, West Seattle middle-schooler Adam Westerman, 12, was Grand Marshal of the Kids’ Run an hour before the 5K Walk — we missed his moment in the spotlight but you can see him and his mom Eddie interviewed in this KING5 story; there’s also video of Adam with KING5’s Jean Enersen in the second half of this “raw video” from the station’s site. On her website, Eddie wrote earlier this week that their team raised $16,000 (Monday morning update – Eddie says more than $17,600). We took cameraphone photos during the walk for as-it-happened coverage via Twitter (scroll down to Sunday morning “tweets” with photo links), but our favorite shot every year is the one taken as the thousands of walkers enter The Viaduct heading northbound from the stadium zone:
Last year, we wondered if that would be the last time The Viaduct was open to walkers – because of uncertainty over its fate – now we know that it’s likely to remain standing till 2015, but much construction is already happening around it – one view from today:
Congratulations to everyone who walked and ran today, and to all the survivors, those there in spirit as well as those there in person. Many walk in celebration and/or memory of special people; for us, it’s the mother-in-law I never met, the grandmother my son never met, Mildred Hickman Sand, lost to breast cancer in 1972. May the cure be near — TR
Seems to be part of the upshot of the situation on which we reported earlier, but we’ve just confirmed it – since their backup trailer was the problem, they’re taking their main setup to the Mariners’ game instead of bringing it over here. So again, NO Skillet in West Seattle this Sunday; we’ll check on subsequent Sundays later.
The area’s next big 5K takes over The Viaduct next Sunday morning: The annual Race for the Cure, raising money to fight breast cancer. Many West Seattleites are among the thousands of participants (including Team WSB, as we’ve written in the past). And this year, the Kids’ Run Grand Marshal is from West Seattle – read on for his story:
(WSB photo from 2008 Race for the Cure, heading northbound on The Viaduct) By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In 2007, West Seattle resident Eddie Westerman walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for her friend Dottie, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. They called their team “Dottie’s Hotties.”
One year later, her participation was in a different light: In 2008, Eddie herself was diagnosed with breast cancer; they renamed the team “The Fast Eddies.” This year, yet another friend of Eddie’s has been diagnosed with breast cancer and because the list is getting so long, they’re using the first initials of the friends who have been diagnosed and renaming the team “Pledges for EDJS.”
Throughout her journey, Eddie has had a very special partner working with her — her 12-year-old son Adam Westerman.(Photo at left, family-provided, shows Adam and Eddie)
Last year, Eddie and Adam teamed up to raise funds for the 2008 Susan G. Komen race and much to their surprise discovered Adam was the #1 youth fundraiser. This information came to them through a phone call months later from the Susan G. Komen Foundation who called Adam to tell him the good news and said, “We have something for you” — a Nintendo Wii. Says Eddie, “He thought they were joking; that it was something we’d put them up to.”
Adam was then asked by the Komen Foundation to speak to a group of their volunteers. He did such a great job, the Foundation asked him to be the 2009 Kids Run Grand Marshal.
After spending most of the day at the Delridge Day festival, we haven’t been off the peninsula today, so we didn’t cover it in person, but Team Soapbox – a PR firm – sent the above photo of the health-care-reform march from Pratt Park to downtown earlier today. We know some West Seattleites were planning to take part; we previewed it in our coverage of the documentary screening and discussion at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) earlier this week. (West Seattle participants whom we’ve seen mention it on Facebook – where you can friend us as WS Blog – included King County Council Chair Dow Constantine and Brian Allen of Sustainable West Seattle.) More on the march’s purpose, and participants, at its official website, may30thmarch.org.
The hour-long Frontline documentary, hosted by former Washington Post and NPR correspondent T.R. Reid, examines the successes and problems of health care systems in five countries, looking for alternatives to what many see as a failing health-care system in America.
Twenty West Seattle residents attended the event. The discussion afterward hosted by HCFA-WA board member Chuck Rogers and committee chairs Paul and Mary Margaret Pruitt (photo above) stirred up myriad issues and concerns among attendees, ranging from emergency rooms serving as clinics for the uninsured to some residents being disgusted with insurance company’s control over America’s health-care system.
Thanks to Feet First for sharing photos from this morning’s trash pickup involving Sanislo Elementary School students who gathered at the Southwest Precinct for a special-mission walk to school – part of the Go! Project, aSafe Routes to School Program funded by the state Department of Transportation and facilitated by Feet First. We took you along earlier this month during another special Safe Routes to School event with Sanislo families (here’s our coverage) and they’ve been doing something special every week all month long.
Lisa Quinn from Feet First tells WSB they picked up 20 pounds of trash this morning!
Hot topics all over West Seattle (and beyond) today/tonight. First, three events in High Point: 7:30 am, hard-hat/sturdy-shoe construction-site tour of the LEED-Gold-to-be Neighborhood Center (more here); 4 pm, you can tour High Point neighborhoods with a focus on “how green energy initiatives create jobs, better communities, and a safer world.” More here. 6 pm at High Point Library, the King Conservation District wants to hear from you; here’s why. Speaking of libraries, at the big one downtown, the Seattle Library Board considers those behavior-policy changes, 4:30 pm (details here). And at 7 pm, be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) to talk about universal health care after watching the documentary “Sick Around the World.” More events for today/tonight/beyond here.
First Hill (Broadway and Cherry; 
Your consultation will include recommendations on diet, daily routine, herbs, yoga and 
seasonal cleanses. We also offer a rejuvenation program consisting of Ayurvedic massage, Ayurvedic steams and Shirodhara. The center is run by Nickole Thornton (left) and Bethanie Sand (right). Nickole has practiced Ayurveda since 2000, traveling across the U.S. providing Ayurvedic lectures, Consultations, and Panchakarma Detox Therapy. In addition to her Ayurvedic expertise, she specializes in Deep Tissue Massage and NeuroMuscular Therapy with Therapeutic Stretching. Bethanie has been studying, teaching and working with Ayurveda since 2003. She’s involved in the Washington chapter of the 
a 
For months now, Galena White and volunteers have toiled to get the 
Throughout her journey, Eddie has had a very special partner working with her — her 12-year-old son Adam Westerman. (Photo at left, family-provided, shows Adam and Eddie)
| 2 COMMENTS