(Thriftway electronic sign during the barbecue)
Just got word from the folks at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) that all proceeds from the West Seattle Thriftway barbecues today and next Saturday (11 am-4 pm right out front of the store) will benefit Pencil Me In For Kids. As Heather from Illusions explains, “This organization (PMIFK) began in 1995 and they raise $$$ to purchase school supplies for kids in need at local grade schools (West Seattle to South Park).”
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.
ADMIRAL THEATER: This Saturday night’s “Listening Room” show is also a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank (which serves West Seattle from SW Myrtle southward) — Admiral entertainment director Dinah Brein McClellan says one thing the WCFB really needs, for example, is bathroom tissue! More on what to bring, who’s performing and how to get tickets here. The show’s at 9 pm and includes live painting as well as music – full details here.
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST: We’ve been updating you on all the plans for West Seattle’s huge three-day summer street festival (a WSB sponsor), coming up July 10-11-12 (most recent update here – another big-name addition to the music slate), including the fact that the beer garden at the Junction Plaza Park site will help raise money to finish the park project. Now Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association sends an update on that – the percentage has been finalized: 25 percent of the beer garden’s proceeds will go to the park. She’s also looking for volunteers to help staff the park’s booth at Summer Fest – susan@wsjunction.org if you can help.
That’s Phil and his young sidekick Adam from Longfellow Creek Garden, just after they dropped by the West Seattle Food Bank this afternoon to donate some fresh, clean greens. Their donation happened to come on the same day we got a note about two ways YOU can help WSFB, sent by board president Pete Spalding, who first explains that he and his board colleagues need some reinforcements:
We are looking for new board members for the West Seattle Food Bank’s Board of Directors. Over the course of the last year we have lost some directors due to varying circumstances like moving, job change etc. We know that there are some very dedicated souls out there in West Seattle that are specifically looking for something to do with some spare hours that they have. We know that they may want to do something that is personally fulfilling and this might just be the fit for them.
As most of your readers know the West Seattle Food Bank is committed to eliminating hunger in our area. We try to do this by:
– Securing and distributing quality nutritious food to our clients
– Educating our clients about good nutrition
– Increasing public awareness of hunger in our community
– Coordinating community resources for our clients
– Assuring continuity of services to our clients through a convenient, accessible location
If anyone is interested in finding out more about this volunteer opportunity they can go to our web site www.westseattlefoodbank.org and download the board application, they can call the West Seattle Food Bank office at 206.932.9023 and speak to our Executive Director Fran Yeatts or they can contact me at 206.579.4373.
That is rewarding in its own way. And if you’re also up for prizes – Pete adds that the annual West Seattle Food Bank raffle tickets have just gone on sale today, $5 each, with these prizes:
Grand Prize – Two unrestricted roundtrip Alaska Airlines tickets
1st Prize – Fresh Water Pearl necklace from Menashe & Sons Jewelers
But everyone that buys a ticket is a winner because you can take your ticket stub to:
– Cafe Revo [WSB sponsor]
– Christo’s on Alki
– Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub
– Zeeks Pizza, West Seattle location only
Each of these restaurants will give a 10% discount on your meal and that is probably more than the price of the ticket.
You can contact any West Seattle Food Bank Board of Director, call the food bank or contact me at 206.579.4373 to buy your raffle tickets. We will also be selling them at our booth at the West Seattle Summer Fest in July. There are only 1,000 tickets for sale.
(2007 parade photo courtesy Rhonda Porter from The Mortgage Porter [WSB sponsor])
Just one month till West Seattle’s 76th annual American Legion Grand Parade (July 18). That’s its official name, though you might think of it as the Hi-Yu Parade – it’s presented by American Legion Post 160, and while West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival royalty, volunteers and float are IN it, they don’t present it (they handle enough other events, you can be sure). But that’s not the main reason we’re writing. We just heard from Dave Vague, parade coordinator with Post 160, who says:
We’re in need of finding three convertibles that would like to appear in the parade to drive the American Legion President, our Orville Rummel award winner for community service, and our Grand Marshal – Blayne Walsh from Project Runway.
(And, of course, from Hotwire Coffee [WSB sponsor].) This is the second consecutive year that the Legion’s put out the call for convertibles, since after the Huling/Gee dealership shutdowns in 2007, that put an end to the reliable supply of cars for parade participants to ride in. (Seafair royalty, as shown in the photo above, bring their own cars – but West Seattle’s honorees have to fend for themselves.) If you can help, here’s how to contact Dave: vagued@comcast.net or 206-932-2066.
(Photo courtesy Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle)
It’s this year’s hottest gardening trend – growing your own food – like the arrangement above that lends a new meaning to “salad bowl.” If you have an “edible garden,” you might still have a chance to be part of the 2nd annual West Seattle Edible Garden Tour – the date’s set for August 1st and Aviva from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle says they’re still seeking “one or two more gardens to round out the tour” – if yours might qualify, or you have one to suggest, info@gleanit.org – Meantime, CHoSS is also looking for volunteers to help pick cherries for distribution to local families in need:
With the warm summer weather, fruit harvest season is right around the corner and cherries are ripening. Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle connects volunteers with fruit tree donors, picking surplus fruit for donation to the food bank. Help distribute our local abundance. Want to harvest? Know of a tree? Have a couple of hours to help with some computer/office tasks? Contact
info@gleanit.org
They’re also starting a “Grow Your Own Groceries Project” to help low-income (or recently unemployed) people learn to grow some of their own food; mentors are being sought as well as participants – same e-mail address.
Less than two months ago, 40-year-old Pasha Phares, who lived just across the water in Port Orchard, lost his fight with cancer. This Sunday – Father’s Day – friends and relatives are throwing a party at Alki Bathhouse to help cover his family’s expenses, and you’re invited. Here’s the note shared by Brandon:
Father’s Day Fundraiser Party/Silent Auction on Alki Beach!! From 4 to 7 on June 21st (Father’s Day) at the Alki Bathhouse, bring Dad to raise money for the family of a great Dad who recently passed from cancer.
We are raising money for his 2 young daughters and wife to help pay medical bills that accumulated. We will have bellydancing, tarot card readings, food/beer/wine, and a great silent auction (autographs, events, dinners, etc.). Most of all, it will be a lot of fun for everyone! See the entire story at www.pharesphund.org. Hope to see you there!
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.)
Another weekend in its waning hours — and once again, so much of what happened couldn’t have been done without volunteers – like the many who put on the Morgan Junction Community Festival that we very much enjoyed being part of on Saturday (our reports: here and here). A sign on our table (above) was a reminder about the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition campaign we’re helping promote right now – and you have two more days to nominate someone for recognition. The Southwest and Delridge District Councils, along with WSB, want to shine a spotlight on some of the people whose volunteer efforts make this a great place to be; your role – send in a nomination (or more than one!). Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is Wednesday (June 17); a community panel will review the entries, choosing three for recognition during one of next month’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park. Thanks – to you, and to all of West Seattle’s tireless volunteers!
A grand vision to mark 15 key whale-watching spots on our state’s inland and seacoast shores — The Whale Trail — is coming closer to reality. At one spot set for a marker, Alki, a who’s-who of marine mammal/ecology advocates gathered last night for an open house to show off the plan, including Whale Trail director Donna Sandstrom (seated in the photo below) and Kathy Fletcher from People for Puget Sound:
Sandstrom said orca extinction “will not happen on our watch … it’s not too late.” Fletcher said awareness-raising efforts like The Whale Trail are “part of the overall effort to restore Puget Sound … as an ecosystem.” She also urged people not to be fooled by the Sound’s “extraordinary beauty” — “Puget Sound is in trouble,” all the way down the food chain, which is topped by the orcas.
One of their major sources of food is salmon – Mark Sears, longtime researcher as well as resident operator of West Seattle’s Colman Pool, discussed what’s being learned about the specific salmon they prefer, and why it matters:
The importance of protecting local waterways was hammered home by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, who also digressed into mentioning the status of her tribe’s bid for restoration of its short-lived federal recognition:
The unifying message: It takes not just a village, but a region, to protect its whales. Sandstrom suggested “a clear vision for everyone in the room, that by 2020, we have a thriving orca population here in Puget Sound – The Whale Trail is one way we’re going to do that.” It’s not just a private effort: A state Fish and Wildlife Department rep was there, showing off the designs for new wildlife maps you’ll be able to get starting next month, and also talking with us about the WildWatch Cams (check it out – coolest link we got all weekend). So how can you help The Whale Trail get all 15 markers up by 2013 as hoped? Sandstrom mentioned a $14K state grant has just come in, but it’s matching funds, so they need contributions (including volunteer help). Contact info is on their website, which she told us will have a “donate” link soon too.
Not sure how many were from West Seattle, but kudos to the MANY volunteers (like the green-shirted cheerleaders above) who made the Race for the Cure an incredible event again this year (our photos later, and if you have one of you and/or other West Seattleites in the event, please share – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!) Anyway, seeing them reminded us that we want to update you on the GREAT response so far to the brand-new effort to celebrate West Seattle volunteers, just launched by the Southwest and Delridge District Councils and WSB. We know the peninsula’s home to HUNDREDS of people who really rock the volunteer world to make this a better place, so while we’ve got some fab nominees now, let’s get more — take a second and send in the name(s) of the one(s) you appreciate the most! Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is June 17th; a community panel will review the entries and choose three for recognition during one of the summer’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park.
(February 2008 photo courtesy Jeff Hogan)
Just got word of this (with an eVite) — too late for the original publication of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup but we love orcas so wanted to call special attention to it:
The Whale Trail Open House/Fundraiser
Sunday, June 7th, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Alki Beach Bathhouse
June is orca month in Washington! Help us celebrate by attending an Open House and Fundraiser for The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) at the Alki Beach Bathhouse in Seattle.
Learn more about whales in the Seattle area, and what you can do to help protect them. Mingle with our core team including representatives from NOAA, Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife, People for Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium, the Whale Museum and Coast Watch Society. Celebrate the start of orca month, and support a great cause, too!
The event is open to the public, and will feature light refreshments, educational displays, and a short program. There is no charge but donations to support The Whale Trail are welcome. Please stop by – looking forward to seeing you there!
What’s “The Whale Trail,” you ask? From its website:
Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment by establishing a network of viewing sites along the whales’ trails through Puget Sound and the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest.
P.S. Sounds like some great speakers at the event too, from a phone conversation we just had, including an opening by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen and a presentation by local orca researcher Mark Sears.
Another big weekend ahead – and even before we get to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup tomorrow morning, we want to hit some of the highlights. Here’s one: Want to help clean up West Seattle’s most famous beach? The Alki Volleyball Association‘s inviting everyone – players or not – to join in a big cleanup (AVA photo above is from last year) this Saturday. It’s one of two volunteer beach cleanups the AVA sponsors every year, and Phillip from AVA says: “There will be refreshments and prizes! Free T-Shirts to volunteers. Look for the white tent and AVA blue AVA banner close to the Bathhouse side of the beach on Saturday morning between 9 am and 1 pm.”
Along with members of the Southwest District Council and Delridge District Council, WSB is proud to announce this morning a new way to recognize people who make a difference in West Seattle. If you know someone who is one of those “unsung heroes,” who live, work or serve in our community, we want to hear about them. We’ve set up a simple application form online. You have till June 17th to nominate someone; then, after review by a citizen panel, the top three people will be selected in late June and they will be recognized at the July 14th West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park event. So take a minute and nominate someone – or more than one – by going here! Thanks!
HOOD VS. HOOD: Beth points out that West Seattle is so far “winning” the Hood-to-Hood challenge in the KEXP public-radio pledge drive: “The winning neighborhood will get them delivering some of their shows at a local neighborhood venue for the day as well as bringing in some bands to play at local neighbor hood music venues. Right now West Seattle is in the lead.” Yes, we are beating BALLARD, in fact, with Capitol Hill in third (!?). Check it out here.
GARDEN PARTY: Transitional Resources sends a reminder that its annual Garden Party is coming up this Saturday. It’s a chance to help out in our area’s smallest certified organic garden and also check out noted chef Christine Keff‘s cooking demo, among other fun aspects – full details here.
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.
VYING FOR VOTES: This just might be one of the biggest candidates’ forums of the primary season in West Seattle: Four of the major King County Executive candidates declared so far — Dow Constantine, Ross Hunter, Fred Jarrett, Larry Phillips — will be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm tonight in a forum presented by InSPIRe, all welcome. Audience Q/A for the candidates is part of the plan, and you can even submit a question online right now (via this page).
PICK A PLAYGROUND (DESIGN): 7:30 tonight at Delridge Community Center, come share your thoughts about the three proposed designs for the new DCC playground to be “built in a day” next month — see all three designs here — so the eventual choice will truly be the community’s choice.
BINGO’S BACK: The popular Monday night bingo games at Alki UCC resume tonight after a Memorial Day hiatus. Doors open 5:30 pm, games start at 6:30.
FOOD DRIVE: All Bartell Drugs locations have a food drive this month, starting today – they’ll be collecting nonperishable food items at their stores. Read more here.
TAE KWON DO: The Hiawatha (Community Center) Tae Kwon Do Club is inviting new members (18 and up) to its classes, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays – find out more at (206) 684-7441.
That’s a photo from last year’s Father’s Day Car Show at The Mount. If you’ve got a car to show off, they’d love to have you be part of this year’s show – here’s the announcement we just received:
A Father’s Day tradition at Providence Mount St. Vincent is to host a Classic and Antique Car Show for our residents and for the community. We’re looking for owners of such vehicles to display their cars and chat with folks on Sunday, June 21st from about 11 am until 3:30 pm. It’s always a good time. There’s a small competition for best entry in several categories. And it’s rewarding to see the great pleasure that this brings to our residents, most of whom are in their 80’s and 90’s. If you are interested, please call Eileen at (206) 937-3701, ext 28674 or e-mail eileen.mccloskey@providence.org and let her know that you’ll be coming.
(And let us know too, so we can stop by for a pic or interview while we’re covering the show!)
If you’ve been on Alki tonight, you might have noticed a brightly colored flyer attached to many of the “no parking” signs that are up for the “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” event that’s closing Alki Ave (from Harbor/California Way to Alki/63rd) 9 am-5 pm Sunday. Take a closer look, and it’s a last-minute plea for volunteer help; we got a phone call about it while en route to Alki, where we subsequently saw the flyers. We asked the caller to send us the request so we could share it with you:
NEIGHBORS NEEDED TO VOLUNTEER ON ALKI THIS SUNDAY, MAY 31.
All Volunteers will receive a Summer Streets T Shirt and Eligible to WIN Free REI Gear and a BIG Prize.
Keep the streets safe by being a block watch and letting staff know of any emergencies while you enjoy the sun and meet your neighbors. You are needed for this event to happen.
BE A HERO, BE A NEIGHBOR! SHIFTS: 10:30 am – 2 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington asked if we could help spread the word on this, even though it’s not West Seattle-specific, since the camps start running next month. Scholarships of any kind are always big news, so check this out:
Girl Scouts of Western Washington is offering a scholarship to girls in grades K-12 who are daughters of disabled military personnel. This applies to girls with one parent who is disabled in some way and was or is currently serving in the military. This scholarship covers any of our camps – one or two week programs, day or resident camps. Girls needn’t be a Girl Scout to apply. You can find more details on our website: girlscoutsww.org/news/DisabledMilitaryScholarship
If you know someone who might be interested, please forward – remember that you can use the “Share This” link below any WSB post or page to forward a link in many ways, including e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
One of three major items on the Delridge District Council agenda last night: Presentations by three groups seeking city Neighborhood Matching Fund money for their projects – the final three that the council has forwarded into citywide competition. The presenters — including a Chief Sealth High School group (photo above) had a high-profile audience — not just a good turnout (more than 2 dozen people) for the meeting, but also the president of the City Council, Richard Conlin (who later quipped that he thinks it may be time to allot more money to the NMF – the funding request from these three groups is among $2.5 million total requested citywide, but the available pot of money is less than half that). As Pete Spalding, former council chair sitting in for current chair Pablo Lambinicio, described all three as “pretty remarkable projects” — and that was even before their presentations. Read on to hear more about what’s presented and what happens next:Read More
ADMIRAL THEATER: This Saturday night’s “Listening Room” show is also a benefit for the 
Along with members of the Southwest District Council and Delridge District Council, WSB is proud to announce this morning a new way to recognize people who make a difference in West Seattle. If you know someone who is one of those “unsung heroes,” who live, work or serve in our community, we want to hear about them. We’ve set up 
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)
If you’ve been on Alki tonight, you might have noticed a brightly colored flyer attached to many of the “no parking” signs that are up for the “
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