West Seattle, Washington
11 Thursday
Nine days till Thanksgiving, and even fewer days till local food banks’ holiday food pickups – so now’s the time to figure out how to help. The White Center Food Bank, which also serves southern West Seattle, is looking for volunteer helpers as well as food and money – plus, note that there is a turkey-dropoff opportunity in West Seattle this weekend, if you can’t get to White Center:
Do you have time next week to pass out food to clients at the White Center Food Bank at .10829 8th Ave SW. We need volunteers on the following shifts:
Monday, November 19 (9:30 to 12:30)
Tuesday, November 20 (9:30-12:30, 12:30-3:30 & 3:30-6:30)
Wednesday, November 21 (12:30-3:30 & 4:00 to 8:00)
If you can help, contact Audrey Zemke at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848. Families and kids welcome.The Food Bank also needs donations of the following foods or money to buy them.
Turkeys
Canned Pumpkin
Canned Sweet Potatoes or Yams
Pickles
Cake Mixes
CrackersDonations are accepted Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 to 5:00 at 10829 8th Ave SW [map].
WEST SEATTLE DROPOFF: Turkeys can be dropped off on Sunday, November 18, at Fauntleroy UCC [9140 California SW], starting at 11 am. We will be onsite with our refrigerated van to accept donations.
We are checking with the West Seattle Food Bank regarding their holiday needs, and will publish that when we get the info.
(WSB photo from last Wednesday)
After the five days of intensive volunteer work that built the Roxhill Castle play area, volunteer organizer Mat McBride mentioned that a work party would be scheduled for finishing touches. Tonight we just got word of the date – Denise Nelsen writes they are looking for “anyone wanting to help out with the final steps,” particularly “experienced craftspeople and volunteers,” this Tuesday (November 13th), 10 am till dark. “Just show up in warm clothing….they have tools, and gear. It is a great opportunity to help the community and do something different. The kids will love it for years and years!” Scroll through this archive to see previous WSB coverage, including the announcement that the grand opening is expected to be on December 22nd.
Next Thursday, if you can spare a few midday hours, you’re invited to a party of sorts – a work party and birthday commemoration in honor of West Seattle’s highest-ranking elected official. Monica Thomas from the WS-headquartered Nature Consortium explains:
Nature Consortium will once again celebrate (County Executive) Dow Constantine’s birthday by restoring his favorite park. Join us on Thursday, November 15, 10 am-2 pm, at College Street Ravine in West Seattle for a Nature Consortium-style birthday party complete with live music by Dan Pearson.
Dow Constantine is a West Seattle local who got involved in politics through his environmental work with the Friends of the College Street Ravine many years ago. Before becoming King County Executive, Dow worked with his local community to save the 5 acre green space from threats of development. It’s a story that we at Nature Consortium can relate to. (Check out the full story here.)
So to celebrate Dow’s environmental leadership, we’re throwing a party NatureC-style. There will be music, the outdoors, great community, and maybe a few party hats. Rather than giving gifts, we’re giving back. Sometimes that’s the best gift of all.
When Dow took office as County Exec, he asked Nature Consortium to continue the work he started at College Street Ravine. We’re calling on the West Seattle community, especially our neighbors in North Admiral and Alki, to help us fulfill his wish. With enough volunteers, we can clear invasive plants that have encroached on the park and start replanting the next generation of trees and shrubs.
Since 2010, we’ve been celebrating Dow’s birthday, and sometimes half-birthday, this way – with music and community service. In addition to Dow’s birthday, join us at College Street Ravine on the first Tuesday of every month. To sign up to volunteer, visit www.naturec.org.
Want to have your birthday party with Nature Consortium? We’ll provide the eco-volunteering fun and live music, you bring the cake. Contact Lili@NatureC.org to learn more.
Here’s our coverage of last year’s November 15th party.
Some have asked how to help those hit hard by Superstorm Sandy on the East Coast. This is the first West Seattle-organized relief project we’ve heard of. Jen Boyer explains:
I love to knit and have been going to Seattle Yarn for their free Wednesday night knitting sessions. Last Wednesday a group of us decided to do something in response to the devastation of Sandy and then the snowstorms hitting in the aftermath
From now until Nov. 19, Seattle Yarn is accepting any hats, gloves or scarves folks want to make or buy and donate. They don’t have to be knitted. The store will give a $1-off Seattle Yarn certificate for each item donated (a pair of gloves counts as one item) as an incentive to encourage folks to donate.
In addition, the store will host a Knit for the Cause Knit-In on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, folks are welcome to come in and knit, crochet, or sew items for the donation. We’re working with a few local eateries to see if they’d be willing to partner and donate some food and drink for those working that day. Seattle Yarn owners are also welcoming West Seattle Fabric Company to partner with us, so we’ll be able to have folks creating in both the new Stitch & Sew Studio and Seattle Yarn that day.
On Monday, Nov. 19, we’ll be sending the box(es) of donated items to a contact of one of the store customers who has been involved in relief efforts on the East Coast.
Seattle Yarn is at 5633 California SW; Stitch & Sew is at 5910 California SW.
Here’s a different way to raise money while running/jogging – not a 5K, but an ongoing event. West Seattle High School PE teacher Sylvia Hahn explains “Monday Runday”:
Every other Monday, students participate in a twenty-minute jog that serves quite a few purposes. It contributes to the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day for a person. It helps to build upon cardio respiratory endurance, which in turn can create healthy habits for the future and help prevent cardiovascular disease. Yet, in our classes, we have another purpose related to this 20-minute jog.
For each lap that each student runs, they have chosen to fund a non-profit entity within our West Seattle community that helps animals. I have chosen the non-profit Kitty Harbor as our recipient of the funds raised throughout this semester. For each lap I will donate ten (10) cents out of my pocket to Kitty Harbor.
So far, students have raised over $183. I am rounding that number to $200 and will be making our first donation this weekend, November 10th. My hope is that parents/guardians and other community members will be willing to donate, along with these hard working students, to Kitty Harbor. You can do so by visiting their website at www.kittyharborseattle.org. Thank you so much!
Around West Seattle today, there was an unusual number of “arrests” – and an unusual number of smiles associated with them. The occasion: The “lockup” fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Above, environmental health/safety specialist Christa Colouzis getting “arrested” at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) at noontime today. That photo was shared by co-worker Marcia Mitchell; next photo, we went to the lock-up site – Talarico’s in The Junction – to see who we would find “behind bars”:
That’s Lora Swift from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – Lora tweeted the actual “arrest” – and David Groves from Seattle Logo Pro. Firefighters made the “arrests,” and then the “arrestees” were supposed to get MDA donations from friends, family, colleagues, whomever, to make “bail.”
The guy in the navy sweatshirt and blue jeans in the center of that photo from the Roxhill Castle community-build site, about an hour ago, is Barry. He’s from Leathers and Associates, which made the play equipment volunteers are putting up, the replacement for a beloved structure that L&A also made, and that was also community-built back in the mid-’90s. He’s the guy who knows how it’s going, we were told. His summary: “We need more help. Tell people to get down here. One more day.” Volunteers have been working their hearts out, but they’re a cavalry, when this is a big-enough project for an army:
What happens if not enough show up? we asked Barry. “It won’t be as nice as it could be,” he replied, gruffly (his nickname is “Barry the Barracuda,” we learned). So if you can possibly spare some time tomorrow – help make sure it IS as nice as it could be; everybody who is and has been there has labored mightily toward that goal:
The playground is on the 29th SW side of the park, south of Barton, across from the south side of Westwood Village. Just show up – once they’re done for the evening, they’ll be starting up again around 8 am.
It’s that time of year when the kind of needs filled by the West Seattle Helpline are even more urgent – warm clothing, emergency help, and more. But the funding to keep that work going – even to process donated items – doesn’t just flow in automatically. Your help is needed, and here’s the perfect opportunity – Tara at Helpline asked if we’d share this reminder:
Saturday, November 10th at 6:30 pm at the Duwamish Longhouse: Here’s your chance to rejuvenate your soul with an exciting night of fun auction items, a delicious dinner, and heartwarming stories at our annual fall fundraiser. It’s a wonderful chance to learn more about what we do and how your support helps others. Our keynote speaker is Representative and past board member Eileen Cody. For more details and to purchase your $95 ticket online, please visit wshelpline.org. Reserve your seat before it is too late! All proceeds will benefit West Seattle families in need. Thank you, and hope to see you there!
Friends of Lincoln Park sends a public thank-you tonight after a big day. From Lisa McGinty, who also shared the photo:
Thanks to everyone for joining Friends of Lincoln Park during our Green Seattle Day event at Lincoln Park! We had more than 35 volunteers, including lots of young ‘forest stewards’. The rain held out and everyone chipped in and helped find a good home for more than 250 trees and plants at our chosen restoration site. We’ll continue to maintain and manage the site along with all the other great spots that need our help in the park.
If you are interested in joining our efforts, we meet every first Saturday and third Sunday of the month. Visit our site for details: friendsoflincolnpark.org.
Lincoln Park was one of three West Seattle sites during today’s special Green Seattle Day round of work parties.
Thanks to Joe Szilagyi for sending video and photos showing what’s happening today at the Roxhill Castle volunteer-powered construction site at Roxhill Park in Westwood. It’s day 2 of the project – with volunteers working all day (in shifts), rain or shine, for five days, to put up the play structure that replaced its also-community-built predecessor. Still lots of opportunities for YOU to help – this page on the Roxhill Castle website explains how, or just drop by the park (29th SW at Barton) and get going.
5:35 PM UPDATE: Just received photos from Lisa Stencel, who says, “It’s looking great!” as day 2 of (projected) 5 wraps up:
Every volunteer makes a difference!
In case you weren’t keeping track – a skatespot is being built right next to the Roxhill playground (though that one is NOT a volunteer operation), so this is going to be a recreation hotspot more than ever before.
It takes a peninsula to build a playground. That’s Mike Shilley from Highland Park, one of the first volunteers getting to work in Westwood’s Roxhill Park this morning, as the “community build” of the new Roxhill Castle play structure begins.
Over the next several days, hundreds of volunteers will work in shifts – but even if you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late to join them.
You can just show up at the site (across Barton from Westwood Village), or you can check out the newest information at the community site for the project, roxhillcastle.wordpress.com.
Hours from now, the new Roxhill Castle play area starts to go up at Roxhill Park. Tonight, Amanda asked us to share this message to voluneers who have signed up – and to anyone considering joining in at the last minute:
Attention Builders of Roxhill Park!
Tomorrow, November 2, at 8:00 am is go time.
Please dress for the elements, and bring your own drill if you want! We also need extension cords as well as tape measures. Just label everything with your name on it.
Didn’t officially sign up? That’s okay! Come anyway. Build dates are November 2 – 6 from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Project Website: roxhillcastle.wordpress.com
Project Email: roxhillcastle@gmail.com
Amanda adds: “We have a week-long food drive for West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank as well! We will have containers on site that people can bring nonperishable goods for donation.”
Saturday is “Green Seattle Day” – your next chance to spend a few hours taking care of our cherished greenspaces, 10 am-2 pm. Two West Seattle organizations have invitations to share, in case you haven’t already signed up yet. First – the photo above, and the first invite, is from Friends of Lincoln Park:
Join Friends of Lincoln Park for GREEN SEATTLE DAY! Hosted by Green Seattle Partnership, Green Seattle Day is our big planting day of the year. We’ve worked hard to prepare the site and we’ll have about 250 plants, trees and lots of mulch. Starbucks is providing us with coffee and rumor has it Lisa and Sharon are planning to bake, so should be a very fun time! You can register here for this event. Here are the details:
*Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St)
*Dress in NW layers with rain gear and sturdy shoes/boots
*We’ll have tools and gloves, or bring your own
*We’ll be planting on the north side of trail 9 in the middle of the park. If you’re late, check the map in the kiosk to see where we are (we’ll have it marked). Hope you can join us! Please contact us with any questions: Sharon Baker: sabaker41@gmail.com or Lisa McGinty: lmcginty206@gmail.com. Or visit our site: friendsoflincolnpark.org
And the Nature Consortium is getting the word out about its designated site in eastern West Seattle:
Help keep Seattle green! Without a coordinated effort, Seattle is at risk of losing 70% of its forests in just 20 years. The Green Seattle Partnership, along with community members and nonprofits, is rallying volunteers to help save the city’s forests by pitching in on November 3rd.
The biggest forest in the city happens to be right here in West Seattle. At more than 500 acres, the West Duwamish Greenbelt is the largest contiguous forest remaining in Seattle and faces threats from invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry and English ivy. Those wanting to pitch in on Green Seattle Day can join West Seattle nonprofit Nature Consortium in the greenbelt to remove invasive plants and install new trees and shrubs.
In keeping with their mission to connect people, arts, and nature, Nature Consortium hires local musicians to play at their volunteer events. The November 3rd event at the West Duwamish Greenbelt will feature live music by the Rabbit Stew String Band and saxophonist Brian Kent. To volunteer with Nature Consortium on Green Seattle Day, sign up at www.naturec.org/volunteer.
As of the most-recent official check, local physical-therapy clinics had collected almost HALF A TON OF FOOD in their mega-food drive to help the West Seattle Food Bank – and you only have two more days to pitch in! Sound Physical Therapy issued a friendly challenge to other clinics, in honor of National Physical Therapy Month. You can drop off non-perishable donations (including diapers and formula for the littlest WSFB clients) there or at any of the other participants (we’ve linked the names to the respective clinics’ websites so you can find them): Highline PT, Life in Balance, BioJunction Sports Therapy, Southwest Hand Therapy, Cascade Dizziness and Balance, Kinetic Physical Therapy, West Seattle Rehab Services, and West Seattle Physical Therapy.
You’re invited to play poker, enjoy dinner, and vie for prizes this Saturday night, at a fun(draiser) presented by the West Seattle Basketball Boosters. Just announced:
Come join the West Seattle basketball community and friends for a “Texas Hold ’em Poker” fundraiser to sponsor our players and their efforts to travel to a 2012 holiday basketball tournament in Las Vegas in December. All proceeds go to travel costs. Dinner is at 4 pm, and the poker tourney starts at 5 pm. Ticket includes dinner, poker chips, and a chance to win prizes, such as Husky football tickets, Safeway and Starbucks gift cards, and more!
November 3rd (this Saturday) 4 pm-10 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW (map)
For more details, visit our website at wsbasketballboosters.com – buy tickets online there, or at the door for $50
Questions? Please contact our West Seattle Basketball Booster President Pierre Newsome at (206) 227-5386 or e-mail jpnewsome@comcast.net. West Seattle Basketball Booster Club is a Non-Profit 501-c(3)
“Drumming works!” So exhorted Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens late today, one day after leading the annual “drumming to welcome the salmon home” event at the creek overlook. As noted in our coverage of the event (photos and video here), Judy told the gathering that so far, seven spawners had tried to make it up the creek, but all turned into otter chow. However, today was a different story – in the early evening, Judy sent photos by volunteer Dennis Hinton and this report:
It’s dark now but Dennis and a new watcher, a Boy Scout after a merit badge, are still down there, which suggests the fish have continued to come from a late-afternoon high tide.
As of 5:30 PM, we had seen 10 spawners through and above the fish ladder, where they’ll have a chance to spawn and their offspring will have a chance to survive late-winter rains. The fish are a good 18″, robust, and beautiful. I’ve put out the call for watchers to get on the schedule and help document these beautiful fish.
Want to help watch? This story from last week explains how to sign up.
The Roxhill Park playground “community build,” for a new Roxhill Castle, starts Friday. From volunteer organizer Mat McBride, one last call for help (including setup work tomorrow):
We need some tools and supplies
Most of the tools for the build are covered by the West Seattle Tool Library, because they are awesome. They don’t have everything though, and we need some specific tools, lumber, and other building supplies. The Tool Library has a list of what we still need, and you can lend or donate tools, or make a financial gift. Your gift to the library will help build the park, And it will still be at the library after. You might need it for Your next park project. You can email micah@wstools.org to talk about specifics, or just make a 501c3 tax deductible online donation; click here and they can buy it directly. The link to donate is at the bottom of the page, and any amount is welcome. I have tested the theory, it works great.We also need shelter, you know, in case it rains. The West Seattle Junction Association has set us up with a bunch of great pavilions, but we might need more. You know, in case it rains. Do you have a pop-up shelter?
We need help with set-up
Can’t wait to start working on the project? You don’t have to! We need to get the worksite ready for a horde of volunteers. We’re planning on Tuesday, October 30th. If you’d like to help set up, e-mail roxhillcastle@gmail.com. It’s like a VIP pass, no one else will be allowed in early.We still need volunteers
All kinds of tasks – light duty, general labor and technical work. We are building this park from scratch, not a kit. If you know folks who are good at building things from scratch, Well, have we got a deal. Seriously, tell your friends about this page, right here.A huge Thank You to everyone who has signed up for this project
It quite literally would not have happened without you. There’s a new page on the project website dedicated to that. Have a look, Roxstar. Note – this is a large project and some names (individuals are based on the Doodle signup page) may be missing or incorrect. Please update me if so, I think it’s important.
Check out the community website for the project here.
Veterans Day is two weeks away – and this year, it can be more meaningful than ever … if you choose to join in an organized effort to say “thank you” to those who have served. From Andrea Geraghty of West Seattle American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 – and note that you can visit the Auxiliary at the Harvest Festival tomorrow:
Have you wondered how to show your support for Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is November 11th and honors the men and women who have served in the United States armed services.Who is a Veteran?
Veterans are people who served in the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in times of war or peace.Who do you know who is a veteran?
Maybe it is your mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother, cousin, neighbor, or teacher. You can be very proud of them. Many have given much to keep us safe and free.Have you thanked a veteran today?
This year, considered writing a thank-you card to a Veteran thanking them for their service to our country.The West Seattle American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 invites children (and adults) to make a card for a Veteran for Veterans Day. Cards can be dropped off at the American Legion Hall 3618 SW Alaska St (through the mail slot at the front of the building) or if your school is interested in doing it as a school project, we would be happy to pick them up.
**We will also be at the Harvest Festival on October 28th; look for the dark blue canopy, cards can be dropped off there any time between 10:00-2:00 and join us for fun activities.**
Please drop off cards no later than Thursday, November 8, 2012. Contact Andrea Geraghty at alaunit160@gmail.com to make arrangements for pickup from schools by November 1, 2012.
The thank-you cards will be distributed to Veterans currently living in the West Seattle area and Veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
(Cards: Please do not include personal address/contact information; this will not be a pen-pal. Cards should be no larger than one 8 ½ x 12 sheet of paper folded in half (cards may be folded smaller). No envelopes.
Thank you, West Seattle; if you’re interested in learning more about the American Legion Auxiliary, please contact us at alaunit160@gmail.com.
As Halloween approaches, we’re sharing a special request made on behalf of a local family by the relatives, friends, and volunteers who are working to get the word out about their situation:
A 2-year-old West Seattle girl, Evelyn, will be receiving a much-needed kidney this Halloween.
The living donor is her father, Keith, a local small-business owner (he owns Evergreen Window Cleaning).
As you might imagine, this is a real hardship for the family, so a team of volunteers has formed to help the family raise funds for transplant-related expenses through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association.
We are asking the community to join us on Transplant Day, Halloween, to put a smile on this family’s face as we “Trick or Treat for Transplant!” People can help by doing any of the following:
-Print Trick or Treat for Transplant flyers (viewable/printable from here) and pass them out with your Halloween candy
-Make a donation to COTA for Evelyn S to help the family with transplant- related expenses (all donations are tax-deductible and can be made via cotaforevelyns.com). Every little bit helps!
– Leave Evelyn a message on her website (www.cotaforevelyns.com) or Facebook page (Friends of Evelyn S)
(Photo from SW Design Review Board’s 9/27/2012 meeting)
Tonight (6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle), the Southwest Design Review Board convenes again, this time to review 9051 20th SW for what might be the final time. Ever wonder, who’s on the board and how they got there? The city is recruiting right now – for openings citywide including two on the Southwest DRB. See the official announcement to find out how to apply –
(Leathers and Associates rendering of new Roxhill Park play area)
Some volunteers have stepped up since the last announcement seeking volunteers for the “community build” that is required to get Roxhill Park‘s new Castle in place November 2nd through 6th – but there’s still room on the roster, says organizer Mat McBride:
Hey do-gooder, the Roxhill Park Needs You. This park may go unrealized for the lack of a few more folks willing to give just a little more. There are currently about 68,000 people over the age of 18 in West Seattle. To date, this project has about 140 volunteers. A lot, but not nearly enough. If you are one of the 67,860 adults in West Seattle who hasn’t yet signed up, don’t assume someone else will do the good work for you. Trust me, I do a lot of volunteering, I’ve run the numbers, and That isn’t happening.
I am asking you for 4 hours. If you care about parks, kids, social justice and equity, community, or crime – I’m asking you for 4 hours. Give this project 4 hours of your life and you will have made a difference. Sound like a stretch? It isn’t. This park has a direct link to all of these things. This place matters. In return, you’ll get fed by a local joint you love. You’ll get some great exercise (oh, hello calorie-rich holiday season, I wasn’t expecting you so soon). You will get the immense satisfaction of having joined in something larger than yourself and making a difference (I am not exaggerating this).
I’m asking for just 4 hours. Claim your place here: http://doodle.com/gusyyykv9zzrdksy
Can’t do 4 hours, but still want a part of the action? This project has partnered with the West Seattle Tool Library, who will provide some of the tools and supplies that will build this park. We don’t have enough of either right now, and your gift or donation to the Tool Library will help the build the park and the library at the same time (our greatest needs are: ladders, air compressors, sliding compound miter saws, cordless impact drivers, and electric impact wrenches). To make a gift or donation to the West Seattle Library, contact Micah Summers, the Tool Library director – micah@wstools.org.
The community website for the project is here. P.S. Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
That’s photographer David Walega coaxing Evander Holyfield the boxer/mastiff to pose under the portrait tent at West Seattle Nursery this afternoon. Till 4 pm, you can take your dog to see David there – it’s a benefit for Art For Animals’ Sake, as explained in the WSB Forums. P.S. If you don’t see this till later and therefore missed it, David tells us he’ll be doing pet portraits again December 1-2 at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, also for AFAS – more details on the MU calendar.
Also winding down as the school day approaches its end – Schmitz Park Elementary‘s around-the-playground fundraiser, the 2012 Move-A-Thon, is too. This year’s fundraising goal is $30,000. Kids don’t have to collect pledges or bring donations, but they do all get to go out and spend part of their day on the eighth-of-a-mile course. Along with the volunteers and staff, they had an audience – younger kids who might be participating someday:
Schmitz Park also has an online donation option – here.
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