West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
By Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle Snowsports Council got its official start as an organization tonight with a meeting at Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
The group is the brainchild of Mountain to Sound owner Greg Whittaker, who hopes to provide better access to local skiing and snowboarding areas for area youth by arranging group transportation to the Cascades from West Seattle.
Whitaker introduced himself to about a dozen attendees by saying that his participation in a similar program was a formative experience and that he wanted to assure local youth the same opportunities he had. “I’m pretty passionate about it.”
(May 2009 photo by Eric Bell)
Julian was one of the volunteers that made the Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets (aka “car-free day”) and West Seattle 5K possible last year – and this year, help’s needed again. SDOT and the West Seattle High School PTSA – which is presenting the WS5K again this year on May 23 (with WSB among the co-sponsors) – are putting out the call for volunteers for both of the day’s big events:
The West Seattle 5K Run/Walk is looking for volunteers to act as “Course Monitors” and assist with setting out marker cones before the race; monitor intersections for safety; and guide runners away from traffic and onto the marked 5K course.
Summer Streets is looking for volunteers to act as “Intersection Guardians” and monitor intersections for safety and invite passersby to come and play; help set up/take down barricades for street closure and local access; staff information tables and more.
For early birds, the first shift during the 5K is from 8:00 to 11:30 AM, the second shift is from 10:30AM to 2:00 PM, and the afternoon shift is from 1:30 to 5:00 PM. If you are interested in helping during the 5K, e-mail info@westseattle5k.com; otherwise fill out the online form at www.seattle.gov/transportation/summer_involved.htm.
Greg Whittaker of Mountain to Sound Outfitters (and Alki Kayak Tours) has been leading the charge for creation of a West Seattle Snowsports Council – a community-created nonprofit “with the vision of providing West Seattle youth with safe, reliable access to our local ski areas” – and they’ve set the date for their first meeting: 6 pm this Wednesday (5/12), at M22, 3602 SW Alaska (map). The announcement says, “We will need the support of community members interested in volunteering, every aspect from chaperones to secretary, treasurer, and a steering committee.” If you’ve got questions, call 206/935-SNOW.
There’s an update today regarding an event that’s been on the calendar a while: Walk with Us to Cure Lupus, this Saturday at Alki, now has a celebrity emcee – Seattle Seahawks defensive back Jordan Babineaux (photo courtesy ALR) – who has long been active in the cause. There’s still time to register to be a walker and/or sponsor for the event, which raises money to help the Alliance for Lupus Research; they’re hoping to raise $30,000 with the Seattle walk, and the web page shows pledges just past the halfway mark. The walk starts at the Alki Bathhouse at 10 am Saturday (last-minute signups at 9); here’s our coverage from last year; here’s how to register (or sponsor a walker who’s already signed up!).
West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day was a banner day for the West Seattle Tool Library – Patrick Dunn from Sustainable West Seattle reports they more than doubled their tool stock, with 72 donations and 67 tools purchased by the roving “scavenger teams” (spotlighted in our WSCGSD coverage), for a grand total of 139 tools added to the previous stock of 100, for 239 total (as of this morning). The sewing machine and circular saw in the photo above were part of the haul – and here’s more:
At day’s end, they took everything over to the Tool Library’s headquarters at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) – that’s Patrick Dunn putting stuff away:
Here are the “essentials” they still need:
Electric Pressure Washer
Electric Chipper
Canning Supplies
Bike Repair Stand
Portable Table Saw
Food Dehydrator
Chisels
Large Push Brooms
If you can donate any of the above, contact info is here (note they’re still seeking volunteer help too). Upcoming chances to donate include EVERY Sunday TFN at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market – 10 am to 2 pm – and the Sustainable West Seattle Festival/Delridge Day event at Delridge Community Center on June 5th. One week after that, the lending library will have its Grand Opening – June 12.
West Seattle’s Croft Place Townhomes (map) was one of three hubs on Saturday for the first-ever “Spring Into Bed” – a citywide one-day volunteer work party to build new food gardens all around the city. With Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association leading the charge, the plan was to build 10 gardens – here are the raised beds going up early Saturday afternoon at Croft Place:
After five hours of garden-building, volunteers were invited to South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) for a celebration with food and music. Highlights elsewhere in the city included, according to a news release from Mayor McGinn’s office, an expansion of a container garden on City Hall’s 7th-floor balcony, where 60 pounds of donated tomatoes were grown last year.
Thanks to Vince Stricherz for sharing photos from the Habitat for Humanity Women Build event in High Point today!
Vince reports, “More than 20 women gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day by helping to build a house for Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County. The event was sponsored by Lowe’s.”
The worksite is along SW Morgan, about a block east of 35th SW.
First – a few spots are STILL selling – like the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) – that’s F3’s Teri, photographed earlier today with some of the merchandise. Now, the question of “what to do with unsold stuff?” – a couple options:
NORTHWEST CENTER: This nonprofit has been informally partnered with WSCGSD since even before WSB started coordinating the annual event. From Denise at NW Center:
Consider helping your local community by donating to Northwest Center. The Big Blue Truck will be collecting items at 44th & Edmunds at their donation station drop off. They will be open late on Saturday til 6:30 pm to accommodate donors. All donors will receive a $3 off coupon to Value Village. Regular hours Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Learn more about the programs your donations support at www.nwcenter.org Need to schedule a pickup for next week? Visit www.bigbluetruck.org
WESTSIDE BABY: Got kids’ clothes or other items for little ones? They’ve got a long wish list. They’re accepting dropoffs till 4 pm today – or contact them for dropoff hours Monday and beyond. We published the list on Friday here.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: They’re still accepting donations at 44th/Edmunds – right by the aforementioned NW Center donation site – till 5 pm, so if you have unsold tools (or tools you’d just like to unload), as long as they are in good working order and not gas-powered, take ’em over! They’ve already scored some great additions today, we’re told, including an air compressor and sewing machine.
LOOKING FOR FREEBIES? You could certainly run along the map routes again, since more than a few folks just put out leftovers marked “free” – don’t take anything that’s NOT clearly marked “free,” of course – Cheryl, for example, left this comment earlier:
UPDATE on sale #183 (4018 SW Trenton) — Everything that is left out on my lawn is now FREE, FREE, FREE. Please come and get it. Tools, books, pictures, lamp, magazines, kid costumes, Vornado fan, Zenith 19″ TV with remote, etc. Nothing is broken, just don’t want/need any more.
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE? Feel free to post a comment here or on the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Facebook page – perhaps you can match up with somebody who didn’t sell whatever it is you’re looking for.
Meantime, thanks to everybody who participated in one way or another – we know some sales did very well, others heard crickets, but by most reviews it was another beautiful day to get out and meet friends old and new, face to face.
This summer, high-school girls from Yokohama, Japan, are coming to visit from July 21st-August 10th, and Amy Policarpio is looking for host families – until she finds them, their travel plans are in limbo. She explains:
They will be participating in classes & field trips most weekdays. They are here to experience American culture firsthand by living with an American family. They do not require a room of their own, would be willing to share a room with a child of the same gender. I am still in need of 7 families + 2 backup families.
Can you help? Or, interested in finding out more? More details and contact info can be found here.
We’ve had this in the calendar for a few weeks, but now there’s an update, and in case you’re looking for something special to do this weekend (besides of course West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!), here’s the full updated announcement sent by Erik:
Wild Alaskan Salmon Dinner: 5 pm & 7 pm Saturday (5/8):
West Seattle Boy Scout Troop 284, one of the oldest continuously running troops in the nation, is hosting its 5th annual salmon dinner this Saturday in the Parish Hall of St John’s Episcopal Church – 3050 California Ave SW (park in the West Seattle High School parking lot). The sit-down dinner features wild Alaskan King Salmon and a well-stocked silent auction in two seatings – 5 pm and 7 pm.
This is the perfect opportunity to take Mom out for a great meal, make a deal at the auction and support your local Boy Scouts. Tickets are all-inclusive and are $15/adult and $10/children 10 & under. You can purchase tickets at the door or reserve your spot by buying in advance – call Rich DeVore at 206-550-3969.
With just three days till Mother’s Day, here are two unique West Seattle-inspired Mother’s Day gift ideas – one you don’t even have to “give” till the day itself! That would be the gift of photography – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) has set up a Mother’s Day photo studio on its patio (Hotwire-provided photo at right) so you can bring “mom, dad, kids, pets, husband, wife, or main squeeze,” as Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis puts it. Noon- 4 pm, photographer Wyn Bielaska will be there to photograph whoever you bring. $10 for a digital photo that’ll be e-mailed to you, $20 for one 8×10 and two 5×7 photo prints that you’ll be able to pick up at Hotwire. 25% of the proceeds benefit WestSide Baby.
Now, the other unique Mother’s Day gift: West Seattle-founded CoolMom is suggesting that West Seattle families reach out, in honor of Mother’s Day, to families across the globe, by buying a Yurtcozy. It’s a donation that will reduce coal-burning in Mongolia – saving families energy and money – as explained on the Yurtcozy website. Go here to find out more.
P.S. Hotwire and CoolMom are both among the great businesses/organizations/schools/individuals/blocks/etc. that are part of the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – this Saturday, 9 am-3 pm! Maps here.
That’s one side of the T-shirt that West Seattle student Michelle Baker and her group from Seattle University is selling to raise money for a trip to Nicaragua next month – there, they’ll build safer cooking stoves. Here’s a photo from a student trip last year:
Michelle explains:
This is an amazing opportunity for us as students working towards a just and humane world. Our team is officially named Friends of Nicaragua and we are a student-led group that will go for two weeks at the end of June to work with a local (to Nicaragua) non-profit organization based in Managua. The non-profit is El Porvenir (meaning The Future in Spanish) and rural Nicaraguan communities come to them with proposals for work that needs to be done in their individual community. This can be anything, from building stoves in their houses so they aren’t living in smoke-filled huts when cooking, to wells for water sanitation, to planting trees to make stable ground and to sell the wood ten years later.
They’re running short of money to make the trip, though, and that’s why they’re selling T-shirts, $10 each – send checks to 2731 44th SW, Seattle 98116. If you have questions, you can e-mail her: bakerm1@seattleu.edu
(May 2009 photo by David Hutchinson)
In less than three weeks, one of the big summer kickoff events hits the street at Alki: The second annual West Seattle 5K Run/Walk, benefiting the organizing West Seattle High School PTSA, kicking off this year’s Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” on Alki. (Third year for that – the first year, it was a standalone event, and it happened in early September; last year, it moved to May, following the first-ever WS5K.) WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors of this year’s West Seattle 5K, so we’re reminding you that the early-bird discount is only available through this Thursday (May 6th) – if you’re thinking about participating but haven’t registered yet, this might just be the perfect time. Go here to register; note that kids 6 and under are free! P.S. Got a logistical question about how Alki traffic will be handled that day? SDOT has posted an FAQ.
Most weekends, you have a chance somewhere in West Seattle to adopt a cat – but this weekend, the city’s bringing one of its big adopt-a-thons to Alki Community Center:
As part of its ongoing outreach efforts to find suitable permanent homes for foster animals, the Seattle Animal Shelter hosts a cat adoptathon on Saturday, May 8, 2010, at the Alki Community Center, located at 5817 S.W. Stevens. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous cats of different breeds.
…Adoption prices range from $152-157 and include:
* Initial vaccinations
* Deworming
* Feline Leukemia testing
* Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians
* Spay or neuter
* Microchip
* Seattle Pet License (if applicable)To help reduce the number of animals euthanized, the Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals that would otherwise be euthanized.
Time’s running out to get in on a new Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle program – here are the details from Community Harvest’s Aviva:
Gardeners: Here is a great opportunity to improve your skills in growing vegetables, and help people grow affordable, healthy food!
Garden Helpers: Connecting new gardeners with community mentors
Community Harvest of Southwest and Seattle Tilth are excited to offer a new program to train community members to mentor new gardeners in West Seattle and White Center.
If you would like to help others grow their own food, then consider becoming a Garden Helper! Training will consist of a free 5-week, 30-hour course on organic gardening and teaching adults, Thursday evenings (7 – 9 PM) and Sundays (9:30 AM – 2 PM) from May 20 through June 13. Mentors will then volunteer 30 hours (or more!) and help novice gardeners grow their own food. Volunteers should have some vegetable gardening experience, a desire to work with others, and an encouraging attitude.
We’re also looking for people who want help growing their own food! Mentors will provide free, in-person assistance to help budding gardeners get started in backyard, P-patch, or container gardens.
Community Harvest’s website has more information, applications, and even Frequently Asked Questions, or contact us at info@gleanit.org or 206-762-0604.
This program is funded by a Small and Simple grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.
That’s Terri Glaberson of CoolMom, caught during a moment between meeting and greeting visitors at the Bike Swap they’re sponsoring right now at Cycle University (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW. We were there about an hour after it started, and Cycle U’s Brad Loetel told us they’d already sold 10 bikes:
Part of the proceeds benefit the Major Taylor Project (explained here). You’ll also find activities and clinics (like “learn to ride” for kids) – it’s all under way till 3 pm; here’s the flyer.
(Photo courtesy Kelly from Muttley Crew Cuts)
Also right now, as Brittany reminded us in a comment earlier, a fundraiser in Admiral to help Maddie the rescue dog:
Animals First Foundation is having a fundraiser for one of their rescue dogs- Please help Maddie walk again!! Join us this Sunday, May 2nd from 11am-4pm at the corner of 42nd and Admiral, CrossFit parking lot in West Seattle for a Car Wash & BBQ. All donations go directly to Maddie’s CCL surgery and recovery. For info or to donate: 206.932.6888. Maddie was rescued off the streets by a Good Samaritan. She may have fallen out of a two-story window, or may have been pushed….unfortunately she can’t tell us. She was not able to walk at all and needed surgery on both back legs. Please help us raise the $1600 for her surgery and recovery.
ADDED 3:11 PM: Also got a car-wash photo from Meredith, including Maddie herself up front:
The Hall at Fauntleroy was filled with hundreds of West Seattle Food Bank supporters Friday night, for the food bank’s annual benefit “Instruments of Change.” Among those we saw – Pablo Lambinicio (left) from the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council and Ron Angeles from the Delridge District Neighborhood Services Center:
Besides enjoying a catered banquet by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and inspiration from speaker Robert V. Taylor, the crowd heard world music by the Miho and Diego Duo:
WSB is proud to have been among the sponsors of the event – the full list is here, along with other event details from “Instruments of Change.” You can find out how to help the West Seattle Food Bank and the thousands it serves by going here.
(WSB photo from August 2009)
Many fabulous West Seattle summer events are free to enjoy – but that’s because sponsors and supporters have put up money to cover the costs. One of them, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series- which WSB is co-sponsoring again this year – is seeking community support as well as more business sponsors. Here’s an update from ANA president Katy Walum:
Planning is well underway for the 2nd Summer Concert Series in Hiawatha Park! Last year’s concerts were a huge success and very well attended by the community. This year’s concerts follow a similar format and run for six weeks from July 29th through September 2nd. Again, all concerts are Thursday evenings beginning at 6:30PM and are FREE to the community. You can expect to hear music from local artists that is fun, relaxing and has wide appeal. Pack a picnic, relax on the lawn and listen to some music with your neighbors!
Admiral and West Seattle businesses like PCC, the West Seattle Blog and Weitzel Construction have contributed to help fund this music event. Additional businesses have pledged support but we are still shy of our fundraising goal. We could use your help! If you own a business in the community and would like to contribute to the event, or if you can offer a personal donation, please e-mail Dave Weitzel at dave@weitzelconstruction.com or submit your credit card donation through our website: www.admiralneighborhood.org. All credit card donations are tax deductible and processed through DNDA (Delridge Neighborhood Downtown Association), our fiscal sponsor. Our website will direct you to theirs where you can enter your personal information.
***IMPORTANT***
Please enter “ANA” or “Admiral Concerts” into the comment section after you’ve entered your credit card information. This will insure your donation is directed to the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s (ANA) Summer Concert Series. Thanks so much for your support; we look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood and at the concerts this summer!
Katy also tells us they’re still screening performers – they don’t need any more suggestions/applications, as they had lots of interest, but they haven’t made final decisions just yet.
April showers bring May flowers – and April plant sales can bring April flowers … there’s an example from the Providence Mount St. Vincent (map) plant sale/bake sale/mini-bazaar happening right now, till 4 pm. Arlene Carter from The Mount took photos just as things got under way, and sent them to share. She says, “Lots of home-baked goodies, wonderful bedding plants and fun things to buy. All proceeds benefit the residents and programs of The Mount. Sponsored by the Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation Auxiliary.
Any time you have an event under way, we do our best to get in-progress updates here (and elsewhere, particularly Twitter) but we just can’t be EVERYWHERE, so you are ALWAYS welcome to send a “happening now” photo to anything here that works for you.
(Photo by Dina Johnson)
Two weeks ago, we shared West Seattle High School marketing instructor Martha Tonkin‘s open call for volunteer help to judge student presentations. She reports a great response – and today, the students (above) gave those presentations, with concepts for cause-based marketing campaigns. The photos are courtesy of one of the volunteers, Highland Park’s Dina Johnson, who reports, “It was a lively event – a reminder of those days when we all had more enthusiasm, ambition, and imagination than experience and know-how. Almost all the students planned to have Taylor Swift perform in their benefit concerts. The teacher, Martha, was eager to get judges’ feedback afterward, not only on the presentations, but the concept of the project itself.” Here are the judges – Dina’s second from left.
Now, where YOU might come in – Martha is looking for judges for two other competitions – 8-11 am next Tuesday, May 3, a photography show called “Portraiture” with 60 WSHS students – 12 photography judges are needed; 3:30-8 pm May 20th, eight marketing judges and 12 photography judges are needed to judge “West Seattle Spring Expo 2010,” final marketing-campaign projects by the students. Can you help? Contact Martha: 206.252.8832 office, 206.283.8440 cell, mmtonkin@seattleschools.org
Just two nights till the annual citywide Dining Out for Life fundraiser for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Five West Seattle restaurants are on the list for this Thursday: Abbondanza, Buddha Ruksa, Fresh Bistro, Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), and Talarico’s. Check the Dining Out for Life website to see whether they’re donating part of their proceeds for lunch, dinner or both – and also to see who else is participating around the city.
First, the beer part of Beer Fest – Cole and Tyler from Prost West Seattle are at West Seattle Nursery, where proceeds from their beer sales till 5 pm today will benefit the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project (as will a portion of today’s WSN proceeds). They’re selling pretzels, too, and spreading the word about their upcoming World Cup viewing sessions – if Germany or the USA is playing, you’ll see the game at Prost, starting with USA vs. England (11:30 am June 12), provided the game’s not outside legal serving hours (6 am-2 am). Back to today’s nursery event: If you don’t know every little detail about the WSWHP – Dolly and Grace are there to answer questions:
You can also join the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project group on Facebook to stay connected with this effort to eventually get the entire peninsula certified as wildlife habitat – just like Alki was, last spring (here’s our story about the May 2009 celebration).
Got a note this morning from someone wondering what was happening with all the activity around that Admiral District home. Answer: Green-shirted volunteers from Rebuilding Together Seattle, working as part of the group’s 20th annual Spring Rebuilding Day – one of more than 25 projects around the city, with 1,000+ volunteers (staffers from Greenpoint Technologies in Kirkland supported the West Seattle work). RTS is a group that donates volunteer help for repair/cleanup-type projects so that people dealing with challenges such as disabilities or low income can stay in their homes. You can find out more, including how to volunteer for future events, by going here.
| 1 COMMENT