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REPORT #2: West Seattle Junction tree lighting, plus projected art, at GLOWS festival
December 9, 2023 9:22 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

That’s the official West Seattle Junction Christmas tree, on the south edge of Junction Plaza Park, officially lit during tonight’s GLOWS (Glorious Lights of West Seattle) festival, after a countdown led by Junction entrepreneur (and Christmas-lights enthusiast) Jack Menashe, six of his grandchildren, and Santa Claus:

Once the tree was on …

… it was time to start the projected community-contributed art display on the side of Alaska House on the north side of the park – we recorded some of this first-ever display on video, but you really had to be there to appreciate it:

One more report to come from tonight’s festival – some of the performances from Jay Cates’ All-Star Ensemble of West Seattle musicians! (Here’s our first report, with photos and video from the first two hours.)

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REPORT #1: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market and GLOWS festival, first two hours
December 9, 2023 4:18 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)

4:18 PM: Never mind the rain – the West Seattle Junction’s biggest event of the holiday season is happening now. SW Alaska is closed to vehicle traffic between California and 41st, for the Night Market (vendor list/map here), tree lighting, and Glorious Lights of West Seattle (GLOWS) festival. Here’s the schedule for what’s onstage (42nd/Alaska intersection), following host Marco Collins’ welcome:
4:00-5:00: Costume contestants walk through tunnel of lights [alley west of the park]
4:05: Endolyne Children’s Choir performance
4:30: School of Rock performance
5:00: Host in the Audience with Christmas music
5:15: ArtsWest performance from ‘Snowed In‘
5:30: Light Costume Contest on Stage* [here’s how the contest works]
6:00: The Jay Cates West Seattle All-Star Jazz Ensemble
7:00: Menashe Public Address & Tree Lighting
7:15: West Seattle GLOWS Art Projection Spectacular [on side of Alaska House north of park]
8:00: Close of event

Updates to come!

4:30 PM: Found Santa Claus! Meanwhile, the Endolyne Children’s Choir is just wrapping up its festival-opening performance:

Steps away, the Tunnel of Lights (alley between the park and Panterelli) is open for costume contestants – and photo ops:

Host Marco Collins is sporting an illuminated hat:

The beer/wine garden is open on the southeast corner of 42nd/Alaska, near the stage. More coverage to come!

5 PM: Just concluding the second performance, West Seattle School of Rock:

Costume-contest judging by the crowd is coming up in about half an hour.

5:25 PM: ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) brought a song from “Snowed In”:

The rain’s very light, so no umbrellas needed currently.

6 PM: An hour of music is about to launch – with some surprise All-Stars joining Jay Cates – and then it’s tree time. This past half-hour, the costume competition winners were chosen by audience acclamation. At center below is Archer, who won the “individual” category with her costume of “many jellyfish”:

(added) Closer look:

Archer said she worked for months on the costume! Junction merchants donated the prizes – they’re presenting this whole thing, in fact, as it’s a West Seattle Junction Association production (with community co-sponsors including WSB).

(Added) The “groups” winner was “Santa and Lucy the dog”:

(Photo sent by Amy)

(Added) Three clips from the costume contest – dogs here, individuals here, groups here … Enjoy the break in the rain – the Night Market continues until 8:

And 7:15 pm is when the light projections of community GLOWS contributions are set to start, on the Alaska House wall high above Junction Plaza Park.

8:09 PM: The tree was lit, the community art projected, the serious rain held off … and the All-Stars were so awesome, we’re breaking those videos out into a separate (updated) third report, after Report #2 shows the tree lighting itself … all ahead.

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HOLIDAY GIVING: Two special Sunday events to get ready for
December 9, 2023 11:10 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Here’s an advance reminder about two one-day donation drives on Sunday:

(2020 photo courtesy WSFB, when 500+ coats were donated!)

COCOA AND COAT DRIVE AT WS FARMERS’ MARKET: As the West Seattle Food Bank – which handles much more than food – reminded us earlier this week, warm clothing is a BIG need right now. So Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive event is just in time. Between 10 am to 1:30 pm, bring coats and other warm clothing to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle booth at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) and have a cup of cocoa.

TOYS FOR TOTS AT FIRE STATION 32: The Seattle Fire Department is partnering with Toys For Tots for one-time collection events at five fire stations around the city tomorrow, and Fire Station 32 (38th/Alaska) in The Junction is one of them. On Sunday between 11 am and 1 pm, firefighters will be ready to receive your donation of new, unwrapped toys. This year, they’re collecting nonperishable food, too.

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PREVIEW: West Seattle Toy Exchange on Saturday
December 8, 2023 5:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Holidays | West Seattle news

Among the many holiday events listed in the West Seattle Holiday Guide for this weekend is a one-of-a-kind event we’re previewing for families who might have have heard about it yet – the West Seattle Toy Exchange, 9 am-noon Saturday at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. Here’s how organizers explain it:

What is this event? A sustainable, affordable opportunity to swap out (or donate) the gently-used, no-longer- exciting toys in your home. We will also have a bake sale, coffee and cocoa by donation to support the Louisa Boren STEM K8 PTA

What to exchange: toys! Puzzles, Legos and toys are encouraged, Please do not bring books, clothing or sporting equipment

What are the rules? This event is for anyone looking to trade toys, donate toys, or whowould like to take some toys to gift to kids. You do not need to donate any toys to participate. Please, no resellers.

What happens to unclaimed toys? Any unclaimed toys at the end of the event will be donated to charity

Fauntleroy Schoolhouse is at 9131 California SW. (If you haven’t been there, transportation/parking info is on the event website.)

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PREVIEW: Newest schedule, location info for Saturday’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market, tree lighting, GLOWS
December 8, 2023 1:13 pm
|    Comments Off on PREVIEW: Newest schedule, location info for Saturday’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market, tree lighting, GLOWS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Here’s the newest information for tomorrow night’s big events in The Junction – the Night Market, tree lighting, and GLOWS festival:

That’s the production company’s site map, with WEST at the top. Notice one important update from what we’ve been mentioning – SW Alaska will be closed between California and 41st, stretching one block further east than previous years. The tree is still in Junction Plaza Park as always, but note that the stage is actually in the 42nd/Alaska intersection. Most of Alaska west of 42nd will be filled with Night Market vendors (two shops on that stretch, A la Mode Pies and Panterelli, will be serving from their regular locations). On Alaska east of 42nd, you’ll find two food trucks, Tabassum and BlackStar Kebab, near the beer/wine garden. Here’s the list and locations of Night Market vendors. And here’s the updated schedule of events, 4 pm-8 pm:

4:00: Festival begins. Host Marco Collins introduction. Night Market and Beer & Wine Garden are open.

4:00-5:00: Costume contestants walk through tunnel of lights

4:05: Endolyne Children’s Choir performance

4:30: School of Rock performance

5:00: Host in the Audience with Christmas music

5:15: ArtsWest performance from ‘Snowed In‘

5:30: Light Costume Contest on Stage* (here’s how the contest works)

6:00: The Jay Cates West Seattle All-Star Jazz Ensemble – led by Jay Cates and featuring an all-West Seattle ensemble

7:00: Menashe Public Address & Tree Lighting

7:15: West Seattle GLOWS Art Projection Spectacular

8:00: Close of event

It’s not too late to get a light costume ready for tomorrow’s contest – here are full details on that. See you in The Junction tomorrow night (whatever the weather)!

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HOLIDAY GUIDE REMINDER: Got shows? Songs? Services? Special hours? Shopping specials? Or … ? Send it!
December 8, 2023 9:01 am
|    Comments Off on HOLIDAY GUIDE REMINDER: Got shows? Songs? Services? Special hours? Shopping specials? Or … ? Send it!
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Big thanks to everyone who’s sent info for our West Seattle Holiday Guide so far this season – more than three weeks have passed since we launched it, and we’re updating it every day, but we know there’s even more we don’t have yet – so this is a reminder, if your business, organization, church, school, club has a holiday happening that’s open to community participation, please send us the info so we can add it! That includes donation drives – the Holiday Guide has a list of giving opportunities too. We already have events (etc.) listed all the way through New Year’s Day. All we need is basic information – what, when, where, who – including any relevant web link(s) – then send it to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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COUNTDOWN: Three nights until West Seattle Junction tree lighting, night market, and GLOWS
December 6, 2023 8:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Whatever the weather, Saturday (December 9) is the biggest night on the West Seattle Junction Association‘s Hometown Holidays calendar – with the tree lighting, night market, and Glorious Lights of West Seattle (GLOWS) festival, including a light-costume contest and projected-art display. SW Alaska will be closed between California and 42nd. Here’s the schedule of what’s happening when (updated Friday):

4:00: Festival begins. Host Marco Collins introduction. Night Market and Beer & Wine Garden are open.

4:00-5:00: Costume contestants walk through tunnel of lights

4:05: Endolyne Children’s Choir performance

4:30: School of Rock performance

5:00: Host in the Audience with Christmas music

5:15: ArtsWest performance from ‘Snowed In‘

5:30: Light Costume Contest on Stage* (here’s how the contest works)

6:00: The Jay Cates West Seattle All-Star Jazz Ensemble – led by Jay Cates and featuring an all-West Seattle ensemble

7:00: Menashe Public Address & Tree Lighting

7:15: West Seattle GLOWS Art Projection Spectacular

8:00: Close of event

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HOLIDAY HELP: ‘Every child should have a holiday meal and a present’
December 6, 2023 8:32 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

As we continue sharing community needs this holiday season, Friends of Roxhill Elementary are hopeful you can assist them in brightening the season for some of their school’s families:

Every child should have a holiday meal and present, and parents and caregivers could use less stress this holiday season. You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Roxhill Elementary, our school’s non-profit PTO.

Bring holiday cheer and help families cover basic household needs (e.g., groceries, cleaning supplies, utilities). Our goal is to provide each family with $200 in holiday and household support this year.

While we typically have about 50 families in our community who need support through the holiday season, Roxhill Elementary School’s counselor, Ms. Amber, has shared that the need for assistance has increased this year.

“Roxhill Elementary has the most amazing community of bright, loving kids and caring, generous families,” said Ms. Amber. “I know how hard it is to ask for help, so I honor every parent that has had the courage to let me know they need help right now. This is what community is about.”

Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with approximately 245 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. 60% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Over 72% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our school has a strong sense of community. We come together to celebrate and support each other.

You can help us show every family that they are seen and cared for. Make your gift today. This is a moment when we need to come together.

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HOLIDAY HELPING: West Seattle Runner’s adopt-a-family donation drive
December 5, 2023 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on HOLIDAY HELPING: West Seattle Runner’s adopt-a-family donation drive
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

We’ve been sharing news of many ways to help others this holiday season – and West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) has a very up-close-and-personal drive going on:

West Seattle Runner has adopted a family for the gift giving season. We are helping a family with 3 children and a single mom have a nice holiday. We have a wish list, and if you are interested in donating gifts to help give our family the items they are in need of, please email lori@westseattlerunner.com for what still needs to be purchased. We thank you for your consideration!! The gifts are due at West Seattle Runner by December 15th at 6pm so we can drive it out to the organizer that night after work.

The shop is at 2743 California SW. See our full list of holiday giving opportunities in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!

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VIDEO: West Seattle Big Band’s holiday concert fills Admiral Church with musical cheer
December 3, 2023 5:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It was a full house – more than 100 people of all ages, babies through seniors – when the West Seattle Big Band presented a holiday concert this afternoon at Admiral Church. We recorded three of the Christmas songs for you – first, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”:

Here’s “The Christmas Song”

And “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”:

(Jim Edwards directs the WSBB; Jenaige Lane and Greg Dirks were the vocalists in our clips; Bud Jackson sang later.) The rest of the program included some non-holiday selections too. The band, which spends much of its year donating its time to raise money for school music programs, donated this appearance too so the church could raise money (admission was free but a basket was passed) for its music program.

Watch for more public WSBB performances next year – their calendar is at westseattlebigband.com, along with history on this quarter-century-and-going-strong group!

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PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: Girl Scout Troop 40171 offering holiday help next Saturday
December 3, 2023 4:59 pm
|    Comments Off on PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: Girl Scout Troop 40171 offering holiday help next Saturday
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

With so much going on these holiday-season weekends, perhaps you’re a parent who’d like to take a little time for yourself. How about next Saturday – December 9? This high-school-age West Seattle Girl Scout Troop has an offer:

Parents’ Night Out December 9th, 5-9 pm at Peace Lutheran [39th/Thistle].
Reliable childcare for ages 5-11.

Holiday party to attend? Holiday shopping to do? Need quiet headspace to write your holiday cards? Here’s your opportunity!

Go enjoy yourself knowing your children are in good hands and having a great time with Girl Scout Troop 40171!

We have a full lineup of fun festive winter activities to entertain 5-11 year olds: cookie decorating, festive winter crafts and games, and a pizza dinner!

Our Ambassador level (juniors and seniors in high school) Girl Scout troop is fundraising for our troop to travel to Our Chalet – a Girl Scout world center in Switzerland – as the culmination of our scouting experience.

We are all trained in first aid and have experience babysitting. Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts, stuffies, lovies, and cozy blankets are all welcome! Pricing and registration here.

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HOLIDAY GIVING: Baking cookies? Add extras for The Christmas People
December 3, 2023 10:38 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Many opportunities to give this holiday season – but usually just one asking for homemade Christmas cookies! The Christmas People just sent the announcement asking for cookies again this year; we’re sharing it so bakers can plan ahead:

The Christmas People are once again asking for home-baked cookies for distribution to homeless and other marginalized people in our midst.

Home baked cookies may be brought to West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Ave SW, Friday, Dec. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Cookies may also be dropped off at Artisan Community Kitchen, 10836 E. Marginal Way, S, Tukwila 98168 during the same hours as above.

The Christmas People also need volunteers for food prep and delivery to shelters. Contact Rev. Fred Hutchinson, cofounder, at 206-719-4979 or pialley@jps.net.

Here’s an explanation of what The Christmas People are all about.

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SUNDAY PREVIEW: West Seattle Big Band’s free holiday concert
December 2, 2023 6:46 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s been a big day of event coverage, and it’s not over yet – but we want to give a quick shout-out to one of tomorrow’s biggest events: The West Seattle Big Band‘s free holiday concert at Admiral Church.

If you somehow haven’t seen them, the WSBB – directed by Jim Edwards – is the jazziest show in town, and will be a fun way to play out your weekend. Plus, you can dance if you want to (or just sit and listen)! The show starts at 3 pm, and we’re told cookies are part of the plan. Did we mention, free admission? Admiral Church is at 4320 SW Hill.

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WEEKEND SCENE: Selfies with Santa @ West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays
December 2, 2023 1:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Selfies with Santa are a hot (and free) ticket today! We snapped a pic of Santa between families, with a line forming shortly after he was set up in the Holiday Room at noon. He’s there – in the Junction HQ building at 4210 SW Oregon, immediately east of Shadowland – until 3 pm. The Holiday Room also will be open for Santa-less DIY photos Monday-Friday (December 4-8), 3-7 pm, as featured in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – and if you’re looking for other Santa photo ops, there’s a full-season list in our guide too!

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WEEKEND SCENE: Community teamwork at Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Pancake Breakfast
December 2, 2023 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND SCENE: Community teamwork at Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Pancake Breakfast
 |   Holidays | How to help | Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

Lots of teamwork at today’s Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Community Pancake Breakfast, continuing until 11 am at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds in The Junction). Above – the kitchen crew. Below – Troop 284 Scouts (having breakfast before their volunteer work as servers):

Santa Claus is there too, along with U.S. Marines Gunnery Sgt. Samuel Hernandez and Cpl. Alejandro Cavazos on behalf of Toys For Tots:

If you’re going, you can bring an unwrapped toy to donate – the Kiwanis Club’s been collecting them at their weekly Farmers’ Market booth for weeks.

This is a tradition that goes back decades (prior to the pandemic hiatus) – Joel Draper found the apron he used to wear for the occasion:

The Kiwanis Club raises money for its work with youth, including Key Clubs at local high schools. Price of this morning’s breakfast: $10 at the door, kids under 10 free with a paying adult.

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VIDEO: Our Lady of Guadalupe ‘Light(s) Up the Night’ during a break in the rain
December 1, 2023 10:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

There it is – Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s giant tree, lit tonight just steps from Seattle’s highest point (520’ at Myrtle Reservoir Park). Half its lights went on after the countdown during OLG’s “Light Up the Night” celebration, and the rest soon followed. Our video also includes some of the Christmas songs sung by the Starry Crowns ensemble and OLG student choirs:

Brian Callanan served as emcee. A spirited crowd filled closed-for-the-occasion Myrtle Street:

After the tree lighting and caroling, the volunteer-powered celebration continued inside Walmesley Center, with cookies, cocoa, crafts, and a food drive:

Presiding from the stage – next to a giving tree – was Mr. Claus himself:

You can see the OLG tree – and other lights around the church/school campus – at 35th/Myrtle throughout the season. And the Starry Crowns, who led the caroling tonight, have a Christmas concert at the church one week from tonight, 7 pm Friday, December 8.

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REMINDER: Pancakes and Santa on Saturday morning!
December 1, 2023 8:39 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

One more reminder that a longtime local holiday tradition returns tomorrow morning – the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle looks forward to serving you pancakes on Saturday morning! Their Community Pancake Breakfast is back, 7-11 am at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds), with pancakes, Husky Deli ham, orange juice, coffee, at a bargain price – $8 online (go here), $10 at the door, kids under 10 free when accompanied by a paying adult! Santa will be there for photos, and you can bring Toys For Tots donations if you have new, unwrapped toys to give. It’s a Kiwanis Club fundraiser for their youth programs. They’re also having an online silent auction through Tuesday – items include some cool local business gift cards.

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FRIDAY: First-ever Wine & Chocolate Walk in ‘lower Junction’
November 30, 2023 3:36 pm
|    Comments Off on FRIDAY: First-ever Wine & Chocolate Walk in ‘lower Junction’
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS beverages

The West Seattle Junction Association-presented Wine Walks have been a huge success – and now WSJA is expanding the concept. Tomorrow (Friday, December 1, 5-8 pm) brings the first Wine & Chocolate Walk event, happening in the “lower Junction” area, and we’re told tickets remain!

$20 gets you eight tastings of wine and/or chocolate. Under-21 participants are welcome too (no wine for them, though). Online ticket sales are over but tickets will be available at the check-in location, Bohemian Studios (Fauntleroy/Edmunds) – the official event page lists not only the participating wine and chocolate providers, but also the nearby “lower Junction” businesses where you’ll find them. This is the first event of this year’s Hometown Holidays festivities!

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Designed your costume yet? Be one of the ‘Glorious Lights of West Seattle’ to win prizes during December 9 festival
November 29, 2023 12:46 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Another illuminating holiday event is getting closer – GLOWS (Glorious Lights of West Seattle), including the West Seattle Junction Christmas tree lighting and much more. Again this year, you’re invited to design and wear a costume of light that night (Saturday, December 9) – you can enter the costume contest and win a prize! Here’s the reminder from the West Seattle Junction Association:

The Junction is hosting its second annual Light Costume Contest as part of GLOWS – Glorious Lights of West Seattle. We want you to be a GLOWS! Start getting your costume together now. If you don’t have time, we will have lots of fun lighted apparel for you to purchase on site so don’t hesitate to show up unlit. Costume contest categories:

* Best Individual – $500
* Best Group – $500
* Best Kid – $100
* Best Pet – $100

If you wish to be part of the competition, you will need to walk through the tunnel of lights. Enter from the parking lot on 42nd Ave SW between Oregon and Alaska and go down the stairs towards the back of Menashe & Sons Jewelers. From there you will walk south down the alley through the tunnel of lights. At the end of the tunnel are the judges. All costume contest participants need to move through the tunnel between 4-5 pm. Between 5:00-5:20, the judges will wander the event grounds awarding their favorites for each category with a light wand. If chosen as a favorite, you need to be at the stage on 42nd Ave SW at 5:30 pm. The community will choose the winners of each category at 5:30 pm.

GLOWS is part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays (with community co-sponsors including WSB) – the first HH event is this Friday (December 1st), a chocolate-and-wine tasting event – tickets still available!

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COUNTDOWN: Two nights until West Seattle’s first Christmas tree lighting of the season!
November 29, 2023 11:44 am
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Two nights until West Seattle’s first Christmas tree lighting of the season!
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

A weekend full of holiday options is approaching – and it starts with the lighting of our city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree, first tree lighting of the season in West Seattle. The tall tree outside Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle) starts shining this Friday (December 1) during OLG’s Light Up the Night community event – a short and festive gathering that includes singalongs and a food drive. Myrtle is blocked off between the tree and Walmesley Center (where you can place food donations in the sleigh at the entry, and shop a Holiday Gift Fair too). Bonus: Cookies and cocoa for all. Just be there by 7 pm to enjoy the sights and sounds!

P.S. If you’re wondering about the “highest-elevation Christmas tree” description – Seattle’s peak elevation, 520′, is right across 35th SW at Myrtle Reservoir Park.

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GIVING TUESDAY: Two requests from Puget Ridge, both to invest in the future
November 28, 2023 9:22 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | Holidays | How to help | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Today is the holiday-season occasion known as Giving Tuesday – with the spotlight on donations. We feature giving opportunities year-round on WSB, including the list of donation drives in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. But we received two requests for Giving Tuesday mentions, both coincidentally on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, so we’re sharing them with you:

SANISLO ELEMENTARY: The Sanislo PTA wants you to know that even a little gift will make a big difference for their small-but-mighty school:

Sanislo Elementary School is one of the smallest schools in Seattle Public Schools, and it is right here in the heart of West Seattle. We know our tiny school escaped the chopping block for this next year’s school consolidation push, but we are trying to prove that our tiny school (fewer than 200 students) is an important part of our community.

The Sanislo PTA is doing a GIVING TUESDAY fundraiser, and we are hoping for just $2,000 in donations from at least 30 donors. It’s a modest goal, but these funds go a long way with our small school. Our PTA funds everything from afterschool activities (improv classes, Ultimate Frisbee team, movie nights, and cultural celebrations) to basic classroom necessities (snacks, reading materials, classroom supplies).

We are a Title 1 school, which means a considerable majority of our students are from low-income families. Sanislo is certainly one of the under-resourced schools described by the district, but that doesn’t mean we can’t offer our students the support, community, and education they deserve. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to create, learn, and grow within the community that supports them.

So, help us support them. Anyone can contribute to our fundraiser at our Member Planet Donation site. memberplanet.com/campaign/sanislopta/givingtuesday_34 or through our Venmo Platform — @Sanislo-Pta .

Small schools are on borrowed time in Seattle, and we want to prove that because we have strong roots in our community and are willing to water our potential with our own generosity, our students will grow and thrive without uprooting them and transplanting them somewhere new.

The Sanislo PTA’s gardening analogy fits with the fact that the other fundraiser we were asked to share is for a garden so big it’s a public park – Puget Ridge Edible Park has a donation drive going today:

(WSB file photo)

Our story started with a Seattle City Parks acquisition levy that passed with big voter support. Our Puget Ridge neighborhood organized to apply for a grant to acquire a 3/4 acre parcel that is one of the last standing undeveloped agriculture-based land. For the past 8 years this land has been regenerated through permaculture techniques to provide free, self-harvest food to the public.

We also distribute food through our farmstand and to food banks. It is our goal to share the methods we had set forth to make this project a reality. Organizing the community to have open communications on a variety of topics through an email group was the first step to our success. Finding a few motivated gardeners with some knowledge and background was not hard. Starting awareness events and work parties began to gel a core group capable of making great progress over the years of development. The park has been a learning center for local backyard gardeners as well as schools. We have also seen similar projects started from this project. Our only real financial support has been the Seed Money Campaign.

Donate to PREP here.

Puget Ridge Edible Park is at 18th/Brandon.

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WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: You’re invited to start sending sightings!
November 27, 2023 3:42 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

With all that sunshine over the long holiday weekend, decoration season is on, so we’re again announcing our annual invitation to send photos and tips of notable displays around West Seattle, so we can share them with thousands of your neighbors here on WSB. But “notable” doesn’t just apply to homes with gobs of lights – are your decorations extra-creative, whimsical, unusual, unique, etc.? We’re interested in those too! Email is the best way to let us know – and if you don’t have an exact address, nearest intersection works too – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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FROM THE HOLIDAY GUIDE: Where to buy Christmas trees in West Seattle
November 26, 2023 12:35 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Four weeks until Christmas Eve, and your West Seattle tree sellers are now up and running, as noted in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. Above, that’s the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot, north side of the campus off 42nd SW between SW Dakota and SW Genesee. They’re open daily through December 16th, 4-9 pm weekdays, 9 am-9 pm weekends, and sent a few notes:

Wreaths and cedar garland are also for sale as well as Hope Lutheran’s beautiful poinsettias.

In addition to proceeds benefiting Holy Rosary School and Hope Lutheran (poinsettias only), two local charities will also receive a portion of the proceeds: Salvation Army Hickman House and West Seattle Food Bank. Let’s work together as a community and fill the shelves at the West Seattle Food Bank. Bring 5 Cans of Food, Receive $5 Off Your Purchase!

West Seattle’s northernmost tree lot also opened right after Thanksgiving, Trees By The Sea (2530 Alki Avenue SW), which also sent notes:

We have our amazing weekly fresh cut trees available =and will be open every day from then until we sell out. We also have wreaths, garland and products available from our honey company Shipwreck Apiaries.
Hours are:
Monday-Thursday – 12-7
Friday – 10-8
Saturday – 8-8
Sunday 8-7

Also: In the south end of West Seattle, Tony’s Market (35th/Barton) has made the annual transformation into a tree lot, and in the heart of the peninsula, West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) is stocked with trees, and offers delivery. We also noticed today that trees are available at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (open until 2 pm), from Three Tree Farms in Maple Valley. … Local hardware stores offer trees too: Junction True Value (44th/Edmunds), The Home Depot (Delridge/Orchard), and McLendon in White Center (16th/102nd).

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