West Seattle, Washington
31 Sunday
Prom season means dress-shopping for hundreds of local girls – and West Seattle’s Cherry Consignment e-mailed us with news of a plan to help more teens dress up for their dance. First, they’re offering “prom gowns in all the hot colors for spring at a fraction of the original price,” according to owner Nyla Bittermann. Second, the proceeds from the sale of those dresses “goes directly to the Ruby Room, an organization that provides free formal wear for low-income teens.” As Bittermann puts it in her news release about the dresses, “Not only will you have the time of your life at your event, but you can help someone else feel the same way.” She also tells WSB that affordable prom dresses are so hard to find, somebody came in recently all the way from Yelm!
Cherry Consignment is on the north end of The Junction (4142 California SW), and you can find out more about the Ruby Room by going here.
2 months ago, West Seattle Helpline put out the call for local restaurants to make this year’s Taste of West Seattle (co-sponsored by WSB) bigger than ever – and as of this morning, 29 have answered that call. They’re all listed here, and organizers say they “still have a couple of restaurant openings” – call Helpline’s Anna Fern, 206-932-2746, if you’re interested. The Taste is 6-8:30 pm May 20th at The Hall at Fauntleroy; you can buy tickets online, or at Hotwire Coffee and Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsors) as well as at Husky Deli and CAPERS.
Maybe you saw that pile of bags by Walking On Logs at the southwest end of The Bridge, and noticed the landscaping around it is suddenly a lot neater? Fairmount Community Association‘s Nancy Driver says it’s the work of a Department of Corrections crew that just came out to cut back the blackberry vines and other overgrowth in the area. They have helped in the past but weren’t originally scheduled to do that kind of work this year; however, the Department of Neighborhoods‘ Southwest District coordinator Stan Lock worked with them to see if it was possible, and DOC’s Jim Thorburn brought a crew out to get it done. So Nancy wanted to send them both a public thank-you, along with one more reminder for you: Anyone interested in involvement with the ongoing citizen effort to keep the area around the structures trimmed and trashless is welcome to come to another meeting about it tonight, 5:30 pm at the High Point Library (here’s our coverage of the 1st meeting).
(WSB photos by Cliff DesPeaux)
That’s Jade West Café fan and West Seattle resident Dave Gross hugging cafe proprietor Wah Wong during Sunday’s fundraising lunch at Wallingford restaurant Perché No Pasta and Vino. Though Wah is using a wheelchair now, the family still hopes they can reopen the treasured West Seattle eatery “soon.” That’s what they told photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux, who covered the event for WSB. A larger-than-expected crowd showed up to offer their support, and to see Wah and son Jason Wong, both badly hurt when a drunk driver hit them in December outside their Beacon Hill home. Jason lost part of a leg:
Monica Tonel, greeting Jason in that photo, is the mother of a basketball player coached by Jason, whose friends organized the fundraiser. More photos ahead:Read More
Kelly from Muttley Crew Cuts just sent that photo from their fundraising event on behalf of the “Trippin’ Ta-Tas” Breast Cancer 3Day team: Bake sale and dog makeovers till 4 pm today. It’s happening at her shop, which moved a few months ago to 42nd just north of Admiral (map). Silent auction, too – check out some of the gift baskets:
(WSB photo from April 2009)
More than half a dozen sites in West Seattle are part of the annual Duwamish Alive! Earth Day work parties next Saturdays – cleanup, restoration, invasive-plant removal, myriad tasks to help our greenspaces and waterways (including the Duwamish itself). Many of them, we’re told, still need more volunteers to sign up – so please set aside some time; it won’t even take the whole day – just 10 am-2 pm so that you can check out the Earth Day Festival 2-4 pm at Pathfinder K-8, adjacent to one of the sites (Pigeon Point Park, also the scene of the 2009 photo shown above). Here’s the list of sites and info on who to contact to sign up.
Another way to have a great time for a good cause is under way right now at Rocksport in The Junction – Friends of the Animals Foundation and Feral Cat Assistance and Trapping are teaming for “Let’s Fix the Problem Together,” a silent auction/raffle event – with chair massages and psychic readings also offered for donation. They’re raising money for pet population control and health care. No cover charge – food and drink are no-host; the event continues till 5.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
Got room in your home and heart for somebody new? Cats and dogs looking for “forever homes” are at Pet Elements until 3 pm, with Furry Faces Foundation (whose Teri Ensley is holding Frosty Mogul, one of their candidates, above) and Animals First Foundation, which brought dogs including 2-year-old Mauser:
His people just gave him up for adoption yesterday, because of family health problems. If you want to go see who’s still in search of that aforementioned “forever home,” Pet Elements is at 6701 California.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
There’s still time to get to West Seattle High School for the Grad Night Fundraiser Car Wash, which is scheduled to continue till 2 pm. As you can see, volunteers of all ages are pitching in to help raise money for the safe, fun celebration that’s become a tradition. Just drive into the school parking lot (3000 California SW, across from PCC [WSB sponsor]). They’ve also got donated coffee from the Triangle Starbucks, latté coupons from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), and raffle items. (And a few other Grad Night fundraisers are listed in the WSB Events calendar.)
It’s in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, even though it’s happening in Wallingford, because it’s for a man who’s meant a lot to many West Seattleites – Jade West Café owner Wah Wong. This Sunday is the first major benefit for Wah and son Jason Wong – both seriously injured when a drunk driver hit them last December – and their family. It involves a three-course lunch at Perché No Pasta and Vino, 1319 North 49th (map), with live music and a silent auction, for $35/person. The driver who hit the Wongs has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced, but the family is left with financial challenges, and particularly for Jason, who lost part of a leg, a long road to recovery. Sunday’s your chance to support them. Here’s a Facebook invite for the event.
The fight to eradicate breast cancer isn’t won yet – but not for lack of fighting – and your help is needed in a big way. Two things to tell you about tonight:
WEST SEATTLE WALK: Evergreen High School student Anastasia is organizing a Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon in West Seattle as her senior project. She says, “I hope to bring awareness to the community and help to fight this battle. I’m honoring my French teacher who passed away and my mom who is still fighting. Come join in the fight!” It starts at 10 am Sunday, April 18, at Keller Williams in The Junction and will end on Harbor SW near Salty’s. $20 to register, which gets you a T-shirt and refreshments. Sign up by e-mailing officer@lifeinbalancept.com or e-mail the registration form, with fee – the address is on the form here.
FASHION SHOW: Northwest Hope and Healing, led by West Seattle’s Shari Sewell, is getting ready for Style ’10, this year’s edition of the fashion show that raises money for NWHH’s work to help newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. The event is April 29 at Showbox SODO, but many West Seattleites are involved, including boutiques Carmilia’s, Coastal and Sweetie. You can buy your tickets here.
ADDED 8:32 PM: Another event that’s coming up this weekend and is also a benefit for breast cancer – Dog Makeovers and Bake Sale for the Cure this Sunday at Muttley Crew Cuts, 9 am-4 pm. Here’s the Facebook event invite.
It’s on the WSB Events calendar but an extra shout-out might give you advance warning to go clean out your tool cabinet/garage/etc. – We last updated you in January about the West Seattle Tool Library, a Sustainable West Seattle project that’s getting close to reality. This Saturday, during West Seattle Nursery‘s 11 am-3 pm open house, you can bring a tool to donate, and get a full-day, 20%-off discount coupon for regularly priced WSN items, as long as the tool meets these qualifications: In working order; not gas-powered. (The Tool Library will open soon on the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] campus.) The WSN open house features guest speakers too, on topics from orchids to chicken-raising – full details here.
Every Saturday morning, volunteers descend on some of West Seattle’s green treasures — for cleanup, for restoration, for a helping hand to make sure natural spaces survive in our city. One of them got some TLC today, and Mike Arizona shared the photo above, with this report:
On any given Saturday along West Seattle’s Longfellow Creek you will find volunteers working to restore the creek and the greens spaces that surround it to a more natural habitat. This Saturday was no exception!
Thanks to a energetic group of volunteers from Seattle Works, 500 square feet of the Delridge Natural Area was freed from invasive blackberry and the entire area was mulched and cleared of trash. Today’s volunteers prepared the site for planting of native plants and trees this fall.
Check out Longfellow Creek at www.longfellowcreek.org and learn how you can help preserve and enjoy a West Seattle treasure.
Most Fridays, our weekend preview features work-party listings around West Seattle for the following day; you can also check ahead for opportunities here and around the city via the Green Seattle Partnership website.
One day after the announcement that Seattle was likely to go without a major fireworks display this 4th of July, a pledge drive rocketed to life – spearheaded by celebrity chef Tom Douglas and KIRO Radio talk-show host Dave Ross. Businesses were invited to chip in, in increments of $1,000 (Douglas and Ross kicked it off with $5,000 and $1,000 respectively). We can’t bear the thought of fireworkslessness on the 4th, so WSB threw in for the minimum. (So did our friends who run neighborhood-news sites in North Seattle, Next Door Media.) And more than 80 other Seattle businesses have chipped in so far, according to the running list on KIRO Radio’s website – but the big mo came late in the day, when Starbucks and Microsoft announced they will contribute $125,000 each, if the donations from the rest of the business community total at least $250,000. As of right now, according to the progress bar on this webpage, there’s only a little more than $50,000 to go. (Want to pledge? Scroll down this page.)
Just in from WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland – who will be honored next week as the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Community Hero of the Year – these photos and the following report came with the subject line, “A good thing happened in White Center today too!”
While helicopters were hovering overhead, WestSide Baby was receiving a generous donation from Huggies! A truck loaded up with 288 bottles of Huggies Body Wash AND 158 New Baby Gift Baskets arrived at our facility this morning. WestSide Baby receives hundreds of requests each week and we can’t wait to provide brand new items to local kids. The Huggies Body Wash is particularly great because the older children we serve (up to size 12), rarely have anything here in that category. The Huggies Gift Baskets have diapers, lotion, wipes and wash too. We were even lucky enough to have a volunteer services offered for the truck!
If you happen to be a family with boys… Our shelves for both Size 8 and Size 10 boys clothes are completely empty for order fillers volunteering tomorrow. We’re open 9-1pm if you have time for a quick cleanout and drop off!!
WestSide Baby is at 10032 15th SW.
The sun’s been making appearances this morning – as it did when we stopped at the Southwest Library about half an hour ago to see the volunteers gathering for the Westwood Neighborhood Council/Friends of Southwest Library community cleanup along 35th SW. They still have supplies for more, so you’re welcome to go check in at the table just north of the library (SW Henderson, east of 35th SW) to pitch in and help, between now and 1 pm. As you can see from the photo, all ages welcome!
Today, Fauntleroy Way got some TLC in the form of dozens of new trees – tomorrow, 35th SW through Westwood, Gatewood and Sunrise Heights needs as many volunteers as can be mustered for a 10 am-1 pm cleanup of sidewalks and planting strips. Westwood Neighborhood Council and Friends of the Southwest Library are co-sponsors (as first reported here); check in at the library (35th/Henderson) at 10 am.
We’ve mentioned this a few times and with Saturday just around the corner, it’s time for another reminder: The Rotary Club of West Seattle is helping lead the way in a big tree-planting project along Fauntleroy Way this Saturday, along with local Boy Scouts and the city – and hopefully, with you too! Just be at Fairmount Playground starting at 9 am Saturday. Meantime, here’s the latest news release – read on:Read More
This Saturday, the youth group from Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood hopes you’ll drop by and help them amass a sizable food donation for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. Peace Lutheran youth director Nicole Klinemeier explains, “The food drive is part of an event where we are talking about hunger issues. This is one of our service projects during the event. The event itself lasts for 24 hours, but they commit to not eating for 30 hours, as a taste of what it is like to go hungry.” She says the items food banks need the most include:
Cereal
Dry variety (e.g., Hamburger Helper, Rice a Roni, etc.)
Beans
Rice
Canned meat (anything but tuna)
Canned fruit and vegetables
Diapers (size 4, 5, 6)
You can drop off donations on Saturday between 8 am and 12:30 pm; Peace Lutheran is at 39th and Thistle (map). And remember – because of the Feinstein Challenge (explained here), ANY donation to the local food banks through the end of April counts for extra.
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Back in January, we first told you about David Town’s decision to participate in Fred Hutchinson’s Climb to Fight Breast Cancer in honor of his wife Lisa, a breast cancer survivor.
Last night, David and Lisa held a fundraiser at Talarico’s in The Junction, to help reach David’s goal of raising $5,000 by June for the summertime climb.
Story and photos by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A small but passionate group of West Seattle citizens met at the High Point Library Tuesday night to discuss ongoing issues with the maintenance and upkeep of what has become an icon at the gateway of West Seattle, the Walking on Logs sculptures.
The meeting was organized by Nancy Driver (2nd from right), who helped to orchestrate a community cleanup at (and beyond) the sculptures’ site two years ago. Driver is seeking to establish a plan for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the site and to relieve the burden on 89-year-old Earl Cruzen (2nd from left), who has been a steward of the site and its sculptures since before their creation.
This weekend, like most, West Seattleites have stood up, bent over, dug up, pitched in to pull weeds, pluck trash, plant trees – including the special events in Delridge (WSB coverage here) and Highland Park (WSB coverage here). So tonight we’re reminding you about a chance Tuesday to stand up and say you can help take care of one of the peninsula’s “gateway” areas – the one along the southwest end of 
The Bridge. You’ll be helping pick up the baton from a West Seattle hero – Earl Cruzen, shown at right with Kimberlee Archie as he was honored a year and a half ago, the day of the big “Gateway Cleanup” (proclaimed “Earl Cruzen Day” by the city). The “Walking on Logs” sculpture and Welcome to West Seattle sign area was part of that cleanup, but that was just one, albeit big, event; Cruzen has put in countless hours taking care of the area himself. As Nancy Driver wrote in the announcement we published last month, “The statues and surround have been maintained for the past decade or more by local hero Earl Cruzen. Earl is 89 now and it’s time for others to take over upkeep of the statues and the grounds directly surrounding them.” First step toward getting involved is the Tuesday meeting at High Point Library (35th/Raymond) – 5:30 pm. Even if you’re not 100% sure you want to commit, be there to find out what needs to be done and how to be part of it.
(Saturday photo by JanS)
FROM THE WSB FORUMS: Ready for some good news? There’s a heartwarming “rave” in the WSB Forums’ Rants & Raves section – someone thankful for the people who helped an injured dog find its way home. Read it here.
YET MORE HELPFULNESS: Last weekend, Greg Hatcher shared the story of the booth he and his Madison Middle School student artists planned to have at Emerald City Comicon downtown. Today – his mega-report on the convention and the generosity of folks who chipped in to help them raise money to keep the program going (it relies in part on Partners With Youth, for which the West Seattle YMCA [WSB sponsor] is raising money right now). Read his story here.
“NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE WEEK”: Our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times are featuring Genesee Hill as “Neighborhood of the Week” today. They’ve featured West Seattle areas before but we’re noting this (a) because Dale e-mailed us about it and (b) since it’s home to the newly formed Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council (WSB coverage here).
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