West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
The photo of Miss Seafair and young fans is shared by Kathryn Bohot of the Seattle Seafair Commodores. They’re inviting you to be part of the Commodores’ 20th annual Bowl-A-Thon, raising scholarship money in West Seattle on St. Patrick’s Day. Kathryn writes:
Once again the Seattle Seafair Commodores will host their Annual Bowl-A-Thon, their largest fundraiser of the year, at West Seattle Bowl. What better way to start your St Patrick’s Day! Come on out and bowl for a cause. The bowl-a-thon begins at 9:30 am on Saturday, March 17th, ending at 11:30 am.
The West Seattle Bowl has supported the Seafair Commodores and the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women for 20 years. Because of their dedication and commitment, we continue to host the Bowl-A-Thon in West Seattle. Ms. Hi-Yu and many young women across the greater Seattle area become participants in the Seafair Scholarship program for women and compete for a chance to be the next Miss Seafair. The Seafair Commodores and the Seafair Foundation together provide over $20,000 in scholarship funds to these young women each year. There was a slogan once that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. We agree and will continue to diligently support and raise funds for the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women.
In the past, they’ve usually had about 14 teams – this year, they’re going for 20. You can sign up as an individual for $50, team of 5 for $250, $20 for kids 12/under. That includes shoes, two games, and a ticket for a prize drawing. Not to mention, says Kathryn, you can compete for the titles of Best Bowler or Worst Bowler. You can register by contacting her at chiefofstaff@seattlecommodores.com – and you can download the registration form here.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Fauntleroy-based writer and community advocate Judy Pickens is not only a local school volunteer, she also kindly gathers information about volunteer help needed at local schools, to share here, in hopes you can pitch in too. Here’s her latest list.)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Because of the generosity of a West Seattle Blog reader, students in after-school reading and math clubs at Highland Park Elementary are receiving extra help that wasn’t available just a few weeks ago. I can guarantee that they are benefiting from the tutoring, enjoying a fresh face, and learning that how well they do at school is important to a total stranger.
Students at other area schools are having a similar experience as ordinary folks volunteer a few hours every week or once in awhile to reinforce classroom teaching. Read on for timely volunteer opportunities at three local schools – ones that would appreciate even a sliver of your time – and it’s not just for tutoring!Read More
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
Being a Seal Sitters volunteer can have its joyful moments – in the photo above, without binoculars, are volunteers Eilene and David Hutchinson, helping people see and learn about marine mammals. But there are also the sorrows – Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey told us today about a way-too-thin pup that died, though they tried to rescue him. The full story’s on Blubberblog, including a reminder that protecting pups on beaches is vital, as they need to be able to rest up between food runs. The protection requires a sizable volunteer corps, and if you would like to be part of it, this Saturday, you are invited to a training session, 10 am till about 12:30 pm, at Camp Long (5200 35th SW).
This will be a special session for those wanting to respond to and protect marine mammals on the beaches of West Seattle and along the Duwamish River.
A multi-media presentation by SS lead investigator Robin Lindsey will illustrate the unique challenges of protecting seals and marine mammals in an urban environment, as well as highlighting our educational work in the community. Zoologist and SS education and science advisor Buzz Shaw will discuss the biology and behavior of seals and other pinnipeds of Puget Sound. A companion followup “on-the-beach” training will be scheduled in the weeks to come. Space permitting, we encourage current volunteers to feel free to come on the 3rd for a “tune-up.”
There will be no training sessions during the summer or height of pupping season (mid-August thru October) due to time and staff constraints. However, there will be a new volunteer training in late May if you can’t make this date. Please contact us if you have any questions. Please RSVP as seating is limited to 60. We look forward to seeing you there!
You can do that by e-mailing sealsitters (at) me (dot) com.
Thanks to Kevin McClintic for that photo from the “Nickelsville” encampment’s pancake-breakfast fundraiser Saturday morning at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene. The fundraising total is in: $1,800 plus a $500 pledge, wrote Peggy Hotes on Facebook, saying about 20 people from the encampment pitched in to make it happen. She also writes that’s two-thirds of their monthly expenses. If you’re interested in helping, ongoing requests for encampment needs are often posted by WSB Forum members who volunteer there.
The encampment has now been at a city-owned site in Highland Park for more than nine months, in a sort of legal limbo – it didn’t ask permission, but the city has said it won’t evict them, nor will it provide utility hookups. The Highland Park Action Committee community council has been pressing the city to take a stand one way or the other, with Nickelsville on the agenda for its last several meetings (including presentations by camp residents); HPAC’s next meeting is this Wednesday, 7 pm, at Highland Park Improvement Club HQ (12th/Holden).
(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Most of the seal-pup photos you see here on WSB are courtesy of Seal Sitters – by “first responder” Robin Lindsey, or sometimes volunteer David Hutchinson. This time, we were lucky to see one ourselves, while out for a walk on the Lincoln Park shore. Two Seal Sitters volunteers were guarding this pup yesterday morning. This morning, we talked with Robin, who tells WSB this was one of SIX seal pups reported on West Seattle beaches yesterday! She also writes about that on the Seal Sitters “Blubberblog” (by the way, the one we photographed is NOT the one she says they’re worried about). Once again, you are reminded to please give them plenty of space – this time of year, they are weaned pups, at least six months old, who catch their own food, and come ashore to rest; off-leash dogs are a threat, as are some well-meaning humans – no, you don’t need to chase the seal back into the water, they’re fine while resting on land! If you see a marine mammal on a local beach, by the way – call Seal Sitters to make sure they know (206-905-7325 – that’s 905-SEAL), and if you would like to join their volunteer corps (big need for it, considering how busy they’ve been), a training session is coming up March 3rd; see how to be part of it, here.
(Photo courtesy Steve Richmond)
A restoration project on the grounds of a local school has just received last-minute district clearance – and so Steve Richmond is putting out a last-minute call for volunteers to work tomorrow on restoring the wetland that’s on the grounds of Sanislo Elementary School:
Puget Creek Watershed Alliance is working to be good upstream neighbors to the Duwamish Tribe to support their efforts to daylight Puget Creek and restore salmon habitat near the Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle. Restoring the watershed with native plants and evergreen trees helps reduce stormwater and sewer overflows into Puget Sound. Help remove blackberry, plant a tree, and build a better community!
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012 (every 4th Saturday)
Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Join for an hour or all day)
Where: Sanislo School Wetland; 1812 SW Myrtle
What to bring: Gloves, shovel, pruners (we’ll have extra, but write your name on your tools), weather-appropriate gear (rain or cold), hat/eye/sun protection, food/water, sturdy shoes/boots. Snacks and water provided.Funded by a grant from King County Wastewater Treatment Division.
Mid-winter break continues all week for Seattle Public Schools students – but they’re not all taking the week to relax. Tomorrow night, for example, students from West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School will be part of the first-ever Youth Venture Community Showcase presented by Ashoka Seattle, whose Chris Kosednar describes it as “more than 30 high-school social-entrepreneur teams … pitching their ideas for a chance to be named ‘Top High School Social Entrepreneur‘ in King County.” Those who attend will vote for teams and their projects by “investing” pretend cash. The WSHS teams’ projects include gaming tournaments to raise money for an orphanage in China and selling bracelets made by LBGTQ youth; the CSIHS teams’ projects include staging plays/skits at assisted-living facilities. You are invited to attend the showcase tomorrow – not in West Seattle, but if you can go (not far – 843 Hiawatha Place South), it’s a chance to cheer on local youth! There’s an online RSVP form here.
Two announcements from organizers of the third annual Chief Sealth International High School dinner/auction benefit, coming up in a week and a half – you can still get tickets, and they’re still rounding up auction items. Here’s an updated announcement:
3rd Annual Seahawk Spirit Dinner & Auction!
Co-Sponsored by Chief Sealth PTSA, Chief Sealth Performing Arts, and Chief Sealth AthleticsSaturday March 3, 2012
Doors Open at 5 pm ~ Hall at Fauntleroy
Tickets are $60 and include sit-down dinner and big fun!Entertainment includes performances by Chief Sealth High School student musicians as well as local group Choro Tocanda, performing Brazilian choro music. Taking elements ranging from European dance forms to African-rooted beats, this popular music was the first to express the many cultures that meet at the crossroads that is Brazil.
We are still gratefully accepting sponsorships from local businesses as well as item donations for both the silent and live auctions. Ticket sales, item or cash donations, and sponsorship opportunities can all be handled online:
https://csptsa.ejoinme.org/?tabid=326316
Contact chiefsealthptsa@gmail.com for more information.
1:52 PM: Jared the cat still looks a little stressed – and who can blame him? When last we saw him, he was wearing a special oxygen mask after being rescued from a fire at the house where local animal advocate Teri Ensley was fostering him. Now he’s ready for adoption, and he’s one of the 70-plus cats/kittens with which Kitty Harbor opened its two-day adopt-a-thon this afternoon. We dropped by early on – and of all the cats we photographed, we just had to share this one too – tailor-made for a caption along the lines of, “I’m ready for my closeup”:
The adopt-a-thon continues till 6 tonight and runs again noon-6 pm tomorrow, with other prospective adoptees including more than a dozen of the Auburn “camper cats.” Kitty Harbor is on Harbor Avenue just north of the West Seattle Bridge.
7:54 PM UPDATE: Delyn from Kitty Harbor told us just before 6 pm that 47 cats had found homes, and via Facebook, Stacey said the final count was 52. (We’re checking on Jared’s status.) That means still more to find homes tomorrow (Sunday), noon-6 pm.
8:33 PM UPDATE: Stacey ups the total to 54. And we’re also told Jared is still looking for a home. But the Siamese “Camper Cats” did. About 20 cats will be there tomorrow, awaiting you.
(Jared the cat with firefighter Jeff Blevins; 1/9/2012 photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Remember Jared, the foster cat rescued from animal advocate Teri Ensley‘s house during a fire last month? He is one of the cats and kittens who will be looking for “forever homes” during a special adopt-a-thon this weekend at West Seattle’s Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor SW). As posted in the WSB Forums, Kitty Harbor will be open noon-6 pm Saturday and Sunday with more than 70 other cats/kittens, including some Siamese cats rescued from a recent hoarding situation – among those nicknamed the “camper cats.” More info (and photos!) on Kitty Harbor’s Facebook page.
Tickets are now on sale for the second annual gala benefiting the West Seattle Community Orchestras. This year, it’ll be at Highland Park Improvement Club, 6:30-9 pm on March 10th. Musicians from all three of WSCO’s orchestras (“all ages and abilities”) will perform, and a silent auction is planned, along with a “smorgasbord dinner.” You can buy tickets online now; they’re $20 till March 1st, when the price goes up to $25. Go here to buy yours (that link is also where you’ll find the form to donate an item to the silent auction).
(West Seattle Helpline photo from a 2009 WSB story)
A local nonprofit that helps people in crisis is now in urgent need of some help – so it can keep providing one of its signature services. West Seattle Helpline executive director Tara Byrne says the Clothesline needs a new place to hang its hat (and coats, and so on), ASAP:
The West Seattle Helpline is looking for a new home for our clothing bank. The building we are currently in is being sold therefore, we must find a new location by the end of February in order to continue serving West Seattle families with clothing during financial hardships. People visiting the Clothesline get 3 outfits, a coat, and a pair of shoes at no cost to them. This free service has been provided by the Helpline for many years and we need help with finding a new location. Ideally, it would be donated or low-cost rental space that is around 800 square feet, on or near a bus line, and located within the West Seattle community. Please contact Tara Byrne at wshelpline@gmail.com with any opportunities.
Read more about Clothesline (and other WS Helpline services) here.
To be able to read well is a gift so many of us take for granted. You can celebrate that gift by sharing it with local students — become a literacy volunteer. Jennie Morrison e-mailed us with news that she is facilitating volunteer training tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon/evening, 3:45-6:15 pm at Concord International School in South Park – part of Seattle Public Schools‘ greater West Seattle service area – along with district literacy coach Dan Coles and Washington Reading Corps member Laura Rodriguez. They’d love to see you too. Jennie explains, “The goal of the training is to support community volunteers at local schools with resources and best practices to use as they work with struggling readers. We are doing outreach to our existing volunteer pool, but would also like to connect with the West Seattle community about this opportunity.” If you have the time and inclination, here’s the flyer with more information, including how to RSVP.
(October 2011 photo courtesy Mike Dady)
What started as a seed of an idea in North Delridge last fall – turning 26th SW into a “neighborhood greenway,” an idea that drew City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw to the bicycle tour in the photo above – is now sprouting into something bigger, involving more of West Seattle, and you’re invited to a gathering this Sunday to help the idea keep growing. The announcement comes from local bicycling activist Stu Hennessey:
The neighborhood greenway movement in Seattle has been gaining a lot of momentum lately. Neighborhood greenways are routes which provide safe connections for bicyclists and pedestrians between neighborhoods, and to schools, parks, shopping and other destinations. Often they are located on quiet streets parallel to busy arterials, and include traffic calming measures, protected crossings, pocket parks, and other elements that make the route safer and more pleasant for everybody.
The city of Seattle has committed to funding eleven miles of greenways in 2012, and twelve new miles per year thereafter. Because of the work of several local advocates, two West Seattle routes are under consideration for 2012: 21st ave SW between the West Seattle Bridge and White Center, and 26th Ave SW along the Longfellow Creek Trail through North Delridge. This is just a beginning: we hope to form a vision of bicycle and pedestrian connectivity through West Seattle as a whole, and prioritize greenway routes for future development.
Please join us at Pearl’s Coffee this Sunday, Feb 19 at 3 pm (Pearl’s is located at 4800 Delridge Way SW). We’ll meet with neighbors from around West Seattle to begin discussing our vision for bicycle and pedestrian routes throughout our part of the city. Hope to see you there!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
WestSide Baby‘s experiment in moving the annual Benefit Tea outside West Seattle/White Center, to enable more to attend (and theoretically, to donate), paid off in a big way:
WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland made that announcement onstage at the Hilton Seattle Airport Conference Center with emcee Ian Lindsay at the end of this afternoon’s event. The preliminary tally of almost $175,000 was 40 percent higher than their goal.
It was facilitated in no small part by a round of raise-the-paddle donations:
They ranged from one teagoer’s pledge of $10,000, to many promising $311 – a number suggested by an anonymous donor who promised to match up to $10,000 worth of individual $311 donations – to smaller sums.
Each one of those is important, declared guest speaker Kathy LeMay, a “philanthropic expert” who said she had come from an upbringing more in a position to need donations than to give them.
Glass-art “babycakes” like that one, created and donated by Avalon Glassworks, will be part of the fundraising fun on Sunday, when WestSide Baby takes its annual Benefit Tea to the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center for the first time. WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland confirms there’s still some room left if you haven’t already procured your ticket – but she also says the expected turnout so far already has made history – more than 500! Want to join them, 2-4:30 pm Sunday, for tea, treats, auction fun, and guest speaker Kathy LeMay? The WestSide Baby website has ticket info. (Never been before? Here’s our coverage, with photos and video, from last year.)
(WSB photo from 2011 ‘Have a Heart Day’)
The annual “Have a Heart Day” benefit at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) has a few new twists this time around. It’s not just haircuts this year – you can book any hair service that day, and half the proceeds will go to Pencil Me In For Kids, providing school supplies to kids in need. They also are taking “Have a Heart Day’ appointments for a full day, noon-8 pm; we talked with Heather from Illusions at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch on Wednesday, and she said there are still some appointments available – call 206-938-3675 to snag yours.
From Sunrise Heights, Laura shared the photo and note:
My daughter, Becca (age 8), is selling homemade mini-donuts to raise money for her favorite charity, WestSide Baby, this morning. We are at 34th and Holden across the street from the 37 fire station. We’ll be here until (at least 1 pm) or until the donuts sell out. 3 donuts for one dollar.
12:44 PM UPDATE: Laura mentioned on the WSB Facebook page that they were almost sold out – so if you haven’t gone, probably too late.
1:10 PM UPDATE: Becca raised almost $59, according to her mom.
(May 2011 photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
Again this year, the West Seattle 5K and “car-free day” Seattle Summer Streets events will be on the same day at Alki – and this year, that day is May 20th. May sound far away, but registration for the fundraising run/walk is open now! Denise Lathrop shares the news:
West Seattle High School PTSA is proud to sponsor the fourth annual West Seattle 5K Run/Walk on May 20, 2012 at Alki Beach. Funds raised from the West Seattle 5K will support music, arts, communications and other emerging needs at West Seattle High School. This is a great community event and provides an opportunity for everyone to participate.
Online registration is now OPEN! For more information or to register for the West Seattle 5K or donate go to: http://westseattle5k.com/
If you are interested in helping to plan or sponsor our event contact Denise Lathrop at: delathrop@comcast.net or 206-941-3924
(WSB is a 5K co-sponsor again this year.)
(June 2011 photo by Jim Clark)
What could be better than walking West Seattle beaches during low-low tides and enjoying sights like that? How about – being there during low-low tides as a volunteer beach naturalist, to help others learn about the beach and how to be careful while on it! Here’s your chance:
Care about beaches? Good with people? Sign up to be a volunteer beach naturalist with the Seattle Aquarium at a Seattle-area beach this summer. Naturalists will attend a program orientation on Tuesday, March 13, and receive training from marine and interpretative experts on five weekday evenings (3/20, 4/4, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1) and three weekend days (3/25, 4/7, 5/6). Once trained, volunteers spend three summer days educating visitors about beach ecology and beach etiquette at Carkeek Park, Constellation Park (Alki), Des Moines Beach Park, Golden Gardens, Lincoln Park, Olympic Sculpture Park Beach, Redondo Beach, Richmond Beach, or Seahurst Park. To sign up or get more information, please e-mail beachnaturalist@seattleaquarium.org or call (206) 386.4365.
Just announced … the date and details for this year’s Chief Sealth International High School benefit dinner/auction:
“Passport to Excellence”
Doors open at 5:00 pm
Festive Attire
Presented by: Chief Sealth PTSA, Chief Sealth Athletics, and Chief Sealth Performing ArtsSeahawk Spirit Auction 2012
Saturday, March 03, 2012Please join us for another fun-filled evening in West Seattle at the Hall of Fauntleroy, on Saturday night, March 3, 2012. Featuring local celebrity auctioneer Brad Goode, this year’s all-school event is our largest and most important fundraiser for academics, athletics, and the performing arts. This exciting evening features multiple silent auctions, a dynamic live auction, dessert dash, raffles, and a fabulous plated dinner from Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and Events!
Menu, ticket info, and other details ahead:Read More
At Beveridge Place Pub and Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) right now, the rescheduled two-site silent auction/raffle/benefit “mini pub-crawl” 
for Teri Ensley and her animal-advocacy/rescue organization Furry Faces Foundation is under way right now. It’s been almost two weeks since a fire damaged Teri’s West Seattle home and killed her beloved cat Pouncer, along with seriously injuring Jared, one of the rescue cats for whom she was caring (he’s the one getting oxygen treatment from a firefighter in a photo we published the day of the fire). A short time ago, we talked with Teri (right) briefly at BPP, where the event continues till 6 (and at FL till 7); she says Jared will eventually be ready to find a forever home. Her home, meantime, has a few months of work ahead before she can move in; she is staying with friends, but recovering from something like this still requires a lot of help, and that’s what tonight’s events are about. Dozens and dozens of auction items are available – we suspect the one on the left below is a hot ticket:
Both locations are on the west side of California SW in the block just north of Fauntleroy.
ADDED: At the Feedback, during hour 2:
From organizers via Facebook, after it was all over: “Thank you so much for everyone that came out tonight!!! The support was amazing!! I will have an official total tomorrow, and let me just tell you it is unbelievably amazing!! Thank you so much!”
Meet the Flying Eagles, who are hoping you can and will help with this tomorrow:
Title: Baby Drive at PCC Sunday 11:00-12:30
Sunday 1/22/12 11:00 am-12:30 pm
West Seattle PCC
Baby DriveThe Flying Eagles Camp Fire Group is doing a Baby Drive collecting items for South Park’s Providence Regina House food bank.
We are collecting:
Infant Food
Formula
Diapers size 1-5We will also accept new or gently used baby clothes, toys & board books. The kids will participate in handing out baby food at the food bank’s monthly Baby Cupboard Day which serves about 130 babies! [Note: We are not collecting any actual babies at this time.]
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