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Update: Delridge playground breakthrough, and how you can help
April 30, 2009 4:23 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

Yesterday, we brought you North Delridge Neighborhood Council co-vice chair Betsy Hoffmeister‘s report on a proposal that could bring a major improvement to the Delridge Community Center playground for a dramatically reduced cost – if the city would go along with an innovative proposal to get it done. Today, good news from Betsy – one important approval is in – but help is still needed — here’s what she just wrote about what’s happening and how you can pitch in:

We have a commitment from our AMAZING community neighbor, McLaughlin Brothers Construction, to prepare the site at Delridge Community Center for building a new playground – for FREE. This means we could get a new playground at Delridge Community Center on July 17. That’s only 10 weeks away!! Most amazing of all, we got approval from the Parks Department to allow the pro bono work in this special circumstance. One of the least-served communities in the West Seattle Peninsula could get a brand new playground with a less than $11,000 commitment from the community.

Here’s how it works:

a) The Community Center wrote a proposal to KaBOOM! This proposal included a promise of $7,500 in earnest money towards the purchase of playground equipment. With a yard sale, raffle, donations from neighbors from North Delridge, Nucor Steel, BECU, MacMillan Piper, Wick Homes, Cyclops Restaurant, and the Community School of West Seattle, we have raised $6680. The Community Center has come up with some cash of their own, too. So we were able to promise the $7500.

b) KaBOOM! loved the proposal. KaBOOM! then did two screening interviews.

c) The Community Center wrote a Small and Simple proposal to the City for funding for the site preparation. That decision doesn’t come down until mid-May, and KaBOOM! needs to know whether we can get the site prepared way before then, so we hustled out and found our fairy godparents, Paul and Sally of McLaughlin Brother’s Construction (seriously, if you need a hole dug or a driveway made, these folks are the ones for you! Support your neighbors!) So, we hustled REALLY hard and got the City to agree to this pro bono work. You’d be amazed at how much red tape is involved in allowing someone to do something for the City for free.

d) KaBOOM! will now go to its top-secret corporate partner and say “We think the Delridge Community Center is an excellent fit for your corporate dollars, and we think you should build a playground there.” The sponsor will ultimately make that decision.

e) When the corporate sponsor says “YES we want to build a playground at Delridge,” KaBOOM! representatives will come to the Community Center on May 12 to meet with children and their parents about their wishes for the new play space, and other improvements to make to the area as in gardens, painting a mural on the wading pool, planting fruit trees, and anything else that will beautify and improve the area. These are called “side projects.” We also rush and get the soil tested for lead and arsenic. If your business does this and you are on the approved list for the Parks Department, consider donating your services!

f) The designers come up with three proposed designs. After the Parks Department swiftly approves the designs, the community at large, but most especially the kids in the day care, preschool, before and after school, and neighborhood kids, gets to choose its favorite design.

g) McLaughlin Brothers prepares the site. We bake them lots of cookies.

h) We plan a huge party, including food, music, entertainment, and fun, and gather 70 volunteers. On July 17, over 100 volunteers from the corporate sponsor swoop in and we all get to build the playground, plant the trees, paint the wading pool, and have fun together!!

The wish list at this point includes:
1) Laminated sign at the playground saying “here’s what’s coming and here’s how to help.”

2) $4,000 to cover any miscellaneous expenses we haven’t foreseen like renting a Dumpster or putting up safety fencing. Please, keep those pledges coming. Remember, these are PLEDGES. NDNC doesn’t cash the checks until we get the grant from KaBOOM!

3) A city-approved soil testing company to donate their services.

4) Volunteer musicians and performers for the celebration day.

5) Lots of comments on the Blog to show KaBOOM how excited we are.

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Three ways to do a good deed today … and one later
April 30, 2009 6:30 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | West Seattle schools

#1 — Since today is the last day of April, it’s also the last day that your donations – while appreciated any time of the year – pack an extra punch for West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank, because of the Feinstein Challenge (explained here). To donate online to WSFB, go here; to donate online to WCFB, go here.

#2 — Speaking of food, it’s Dining Out for Life day, with participating restaurants around Seattle donating part of the day’s proceeds to Lifelong AIDS Alliance. West Seattle/White Center participants: Skylark Cafe and Club and Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill (WSB sponsors), Coffee at the Heights, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Eats Market Cafe, Abbondanza Pizzeria, Buddha Ruksa. Take note of an extra element: If you donate $25 or more tonight, you get to be in the 20% Off Tuesdays club, which means 20% off your tab at a smaller group of participating restaurants (Skylark and Abbondanza, in West Seattle) throughout the year.

#3 — What to do after you Dine Out for Life? How about – enjoy a fashion show that’s raising money to help breast cancer patients? Tonight is the night West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing (WSB sponsor) presents Style ’09 at Showbox SODO. Ticket info’s here.

#4 — This one’s a couple weeks away but the target audience might want to plan ahead. Cathy Cooper sent this announcement:

The junior-high youth group at Holy Rosary Parish here in West Seattle is planning a “Youth in Action” Benefit Concert for the West Seattle Food Bank. The public is invited, but we’d especially like to encourage junior and senior high school students from West Seattle to join us on Thursday, May 14 at 7 pm at Holy Rosary school.

Dennis Zender, singer/songwriter lead singer for Truce (a local Seattle rock band) will be performing. Dennis is music minister at Holy Cross Parish in Lake Stevens, and has been performing at Catholic high schools and youth groups in the Puget Sound area. You can hear music from his album, Walls, at www.myspace.com/denniszendermusic.

Admission is almost free! We¹re asking folks to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the West Seattle Food Bank to gain entry.

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Lesson in giving: Painters and Allied Trades Union’s gift to SWYFS
April 29, 2009 7:52 am
|    Comments Off on Lesson in giving: Painters and Allied Trades Union’s gift to SWYFS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

That’s Southwest Youth and Family Services director Steve Daschle front and center, with students and staff from one of the high-school re-entry classes in the Southwest Education Center at SWYFS HQ in North Delridge. The photo op was to thank the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades’ regional council for a $10,000 donation to SWYFS. The money was raised by the union’s community-assistance effort PATCH, from the proceeds of an annual golf tournament (the next one’s coming up June 20 at Fort Lewis – contact Cara at SWYFS if you’re interested). SWYFS administers a variety of area programs, and is ramping up with its most high-profile assignment yet, managing this area’s section of the city’s new Youth Violence Prevention Initiative; Daschle says the city money for that work starts coming in July, but SWYFS already is well into its planning and preparation for components such as anger-replacement therapy work.

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Tonight: Endolyne Joe’s fundraiser for Fauntleroy Fall Festival
April 28, 2009 3:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Tonight: Endolyne Joe’s fundraiser for Fauntleroy Fall Festival
 |   Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle restaurants

It’s been on the WSB Events calendar for weeks, but we just got a request for one last reminder: Endolyne Joe’s is donating a portion of its proceeds tonight to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. 10:08 PM UPDATE: Carrie from EJ’s says they “met (their) sales goal” so that means about $1,000 going to the FFF.

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2 West Seattle food notes: Zeeks change; Dining Out for Life
April 28, 2009 12:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

ZEEKS PIZZA: We checked in with Zeeks Pizza‘s Dan Black to see if everything was on track for the grand-opening plan at the new Morgan Junction location (California/Fauntleroy) this Friday – he says yes, with one change: Instead of opening at 11 am, they will open the first day at 4 pm. (Here’s our story from last week about their delivery boundaries.)

DINING OUT FOR LIFE: Last week, we passed on the word from the Lifelong AIDS Alliance that it needed one more restaurant to match last year’s total of 155 participants (food/drink venues that will donate part of their proceeds this Thursday). Just heard back that two local establishments that saw the note here have signed up – and now, citywide, Dining Out for Life has a record 160 participants! The two local additions are Coffee at the Heights (whose proprietors mentioned in comments on that report that they were signing up) and Full Tilt Ice Cream; they join WSB sponsors Skylark Cafe and Club and Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill, as well as Abbondanza Pizzeria, Eats Market Cafe and Buddha Ruksa (full Seattle participant list here).

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Get in pre-Garage Sale Day mood NEXT Saturday: 2 school sales
April 27, 2009 9:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Get in pre-Garage Sale Day mood NEXT Saturday: 2 school sales
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: Dana Varon from the Arbor Heights PTSA e-mailed to announce their fundraiser rummage sale next Saturday (May 2)- and they’re looking for donations. The sale is 9 am-1 pm at the school (map); Dana adds, “We will be accepting donations at the main entrance of the school on Wed April 29th and Thurs April 30 from 3pm to 4:00 pm and on Friday May 1st from 3 pm to 6:30 pm.”

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI: As you may have noticed in the school’s ad on the WSB sidebar, WSMS has a Community Rummage Sale next Saturday, 9 am-3 pm at the American Legion Hall (map).

As for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday 5/9 – the map (180+ sales now!) is in progress, and more updates tomorrow.

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Just days till Style ’09: Fashion and fun for NW Hope and Healing
April 27, 2009 7:08 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(photo from Style ’08, courtesy Northwest Hope and Healing)
Just three nights till Style ’09, the fashion-show fundraiser for West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients all around the area with some of the practicalities of life after they’ve been diagnosed. NWHH rejoined WSB as a sponsor recently to help get the word out about the event, 7 pm Thursday at Showbox SODO with local boutiques and salons among the participants; there are still some tickets left, and since it’s coming up Thursday night, we wanted to make sure you had the full story, so to speak – here’s the official news release:

– NFL veterans Nesby Glasgow and Greg Lewis are among the many celebrity models who will saunter down the fashion runway on April 30 to help raise money for breast cancer patients. “Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good” will feature the hottest spring fashion trends and collections of 10 Seattle boutiques as modeled by local celebrities and community members. All proceeds benefit breast cancer patients at Swedish Medical Center.

Other runway models include Shawn Stewart, radio personality at 103.7 The Mountain; John Maynard, former host of the Robin & Maynard Show; Brian Canlis, third generation visionary of the iconic Canlis Restaurant; and local breast cancer survivors and supporters whose lives have been impacted by this disease.

Participating boutiques include Carmilia’s, Coastal [both in West Seattle], Canopy Blue, Nuvo Moda, The Finerie, Oslo’s, Asher Anson, Lululemon, Clutch, Kick It Boots & Stompwear.

Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Cost
Look Good (general admission): $40
Feel Good (includes VIP reception): $125
Do Good (front row table seating for two): $500
Top Model (Choice of modeling in the show or front row table seating for four): $1,000

Purchase tickets at nwhopeandhealing.org or any of the participating boutiques.
Tickets will also be available at the door.

Feel Good/Do Good VIP Reception: 6 p.m.
Look Good Admission: 7 p.m.
Showbox SODO
1700 First Avenue South, Seattle
Ages 21 and over

Northwest Hope & Healing is a non-profit organization founded by Christine Smith in 2000. Christine created the Foundation while undergoing breast cancer treatment at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Her goal was to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Puget Sound area.

The mission of Northwest Hope & Healing is to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. In addition, our signature “Healing Baskets” are assembled and delivered, at no charge, to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

The goal of Northwest Hope & Healing is to assist women with the healing process so they may begin to feel whole once again. We assist women on their journeys and give them hope for the future.

Again, you can buy tickets online here, or at the West Seattle venues mentioned above – Carmilia’s (in The Junction) and Coastal (on Alki).

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Got an old car seat you’re not using? WestSide Baby can recycle it
April 27, 2009 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on Got an old car seat you’re not using? WestSide Baby can recycle it
 |   How to help | Safety

We first published this at partner site White Center Now, but the invitation goes for West Seattle families too: It involves a car-seat-safety event with which WestSide Baby is involved on Wednesday at IKEA in Renton, but if you have really old car seats (6+ years old) still sitting around, WestSide Baby would love to get them today or tomorrow because of a rare opportunity to recycle most of what’s in them – get the full scoop here.

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Another big May 9 event: Walking on Logs area followup cleanup
April 26, 2009 2:09 pm
|    Comments Off on Another big May 9 event: Walking on Logs area followup cleanup
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

cleanupotherview.jpg

Seven months ago, that was the scene as hundreds of people helped clean up the “Gateway” area from Walking on Logs up to 35th/Fauntleroy. We just got word from that cleanup’s organizer, Nancy Driver of the Fairmount Community Association, that a smaller followup cleanup is planned for 9 am-1 pm Saturday, May 9th (yes, it’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, but if you’re not part of the 170+ sales, you can pitch in before or after you shop!) — and she’d like to hear from anyone who can help. Here’s the announcement:

We are doing a four hour cleanup and blackberry removal on Saturday, May 9, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will only be doing the area from the gates (near the overpass) down to Walking on Logs. Objectives will be to accomplish the following: 1) pick up all trash; 2) weed whack and clean up the “Walking on Logs” area; 3) blackberry removal starting from the blackberry patch nearest to the gates and moving north. I found last fall that the blackberries pulled out of the ground fairly easily – using leather gloves and both hands I was able to rip them out of the ground, roots and all. Our hope is too get at least one large swath of blackberries removed – if we can get more than that done, great. The blackberry removal is a long-term project but this will be a start.

The city will provide canvas gloves, safety vests, bags, and a few shovels and rakes. We will round up at least one gas weed trimmer but if you have one you are willing to bring that would be great. Volunteers are encouraged to come with their own leather gloves if you plan on helping with blackberry removal. The city will also provide us with a water cooler and we’ll have cups – unfortunately, no snacks this time, just water. IMPORTANT: Unlike the September cleanup – no traffic will be closed off next to the area we are working in.

… Whether it’s an hour, two hours or all four, any time you can contribute will be greatly appreciated. Additionally, any time you put in can be used toward matching funds from the city to get needed irrigation and drainage work done at the Walking on Logs that is needed.

Can you help? If so, please e-mail Nancy: ndriver@quidnunc.net

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Happening now: Cove Park, Delridge volunteer cleanups
April 25, 2009 11:19 am
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Cove Park, Delridge volunteer cleanups
 |   Delridge | Environment | Fauntleroy | How to help

The little park north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock sometimes seems like one of West Seattle’s best-kept secrets, but today the sign you’ll see when you click the video is catching some attention – the Fauntleroy Community Association has volunteers out at Cove Park for the spring cleanup. We talked with FCA’s Gary Dawson, who explained the cleanup’s a little more intense than usual because the winter cold and snow killed more of the shrubbery. They’ll be out till noon if you want to go jump in; they’re also adding new wood chips donated by Stonehedge Tree Experts (WSB sponsor) owner Mark Harman, who along with his dad is volunteering today too. Meantime, eastward to Delridge, the quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup is under way today, with the North Delridge Neighborhood Council starting at Delridge Community Center and Chief Sealth High School volunteers starting at the school (Boren campus) – we caught up with a Sealth PTSA trio:

(From left: Janet Hillier, Liann Sundquist, Vanessa Hodges)
Sealth is one of the schools where you’ll find big sales on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day two weeks from today (registration ends at 11:59 pm tonight) – and the PTSA is looking for donations and volunteers; here’s their announcement:

Funds raised will help benefit the Chief Sealth Students participating in a Summer 2009 Study Abroad trip to Japan and the many programs of the Chief Sealth PTSA.

We are joining in with the 5th Annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale sponsored by the West Seattle Blog!

We Want Your Stuff!
Clean out your garage, closets and basement by donating items in good condition. All unsold items will be donated to Northwest Center; therefore we are following their donation guidelines.

Love to Bake?
Please consider donating baked goods we can sell to hungry shoppers. Not time to bake? We would also appreciate your donations of juice boxes and bottled water to be sold to thirsty shoppers. After all shopping at such a great sale is hard work!

Important
Due to extremely limited storage space at the school, we can only accept donations of your items and bake sale goodies the day before the sale or the morning of the sale.

Please bring donations to the school Friday, May 8th from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm or Saturday May 9th from 7:00 am to 9:00 am

We need your help – Just 1 or 2 hours of your time on Friday, May 8th or Saturday, May 9th will make a BIG difference! We have a variety of jobs and time slots.

Contact us at garagesale@chiefsealthptsa.org or leave a message at 206-252-0444 voice mail box 98550. A PTSA member will return your call!

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Happening today: Get out, pitch in, strut, shop …
April 25, 2009 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Get out, pitch in, strut, shop …
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help

(photo added 9:45 am – sent by Doug Baldwin, as the Windermere crew prepped balloons for “Junction Rebellion” sale participants)
So much going on today, the best thing we can do is point you to the direct link to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Lots of chances to have a good time (Snooty Walk, music, theater, more) and/or do a good deed (Delridge and Cove Park cleanups, food drive at Westwood Village QFC) – we’ll be covering some of them throughout the day.

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Remembering J.B. Webster: Fund set up for family
April 24, 2009 11:46 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Since we reported the death of well-known West Seattleite J.B. Webster earlier this week, more than two dozen people have paid tribute to him in comments following our story (see them here). And tonight there’s something new to report: Ian Lurie sends word of a fund set up to help Mr. Webster’s wife Christi and children Tyler, Logan and Eli – he’s created this webpage for it, with information on how to get a check to First Mutual Bank north of The Junction and a link for donating online. Mr. Webster’s memorial is at 11 am next Tuesday, 4/28, at Alki UCC Church (here’s a map).

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1 more restaurant needed! Will anyone else in WS step up?
April 23, 2009 1:19 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle restaurants

Five West Seattle restaurants — including WSB sponsors Skylark Cafe and Club and Ama-Ama Oyster Bar and Grill — already are participating in Dining Out for Life, one week from tonight, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting Lifelong AIDS Alliance – just got word from the organization that they need ONE MORE restaurant somewhere in Seattle to join in, to match last year’s participation. Anyone else in West Seattle want to join in? Read on for the announcement and who to call:Read More

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West Seattle High School marketing students have a pitch for you
April 23, 2009 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle High School marketing students have a pitch for you
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

In that photo are Brittany Dawson, Tyson Kimball and Sumeet Chadha – who with Maggie Oliver form a quartet of West Seattle High School students headed next week to Anaheim, where they’re competing in the Internationals put on by the marketing-student association DECA, with students from all 50 states and various other countries. They’re hoping you’ll cheer them on – and they’re hoping for a little more: They need one last fundraising push to cover the costs of competing and traveling. Here’s a letter from Sumeet:

West Seattle High School is heading to DECA Internationals! This year, four West Seattle students will have the opportunity to compete with students from around the world in the field of business marketing, advertising, and financing! Sumeet Chadha and Tyson Kimball have placed 5th in the State of Washington for “Advertising Campaign.”

DECA gives students hands-on experiences in the fields of marketing, business and entrepreneurship, DECA enhances the classroom experience by providing conferences and competitions that mold high school students into character-driven leaders. Washington DECA currently has over 10,400 members in 144 chapters around the state. DECA is the only student organization operating in 50 states, attracting students for life long careers in marketing, management, and merchandising.

This year, Sumeet Chadha, Tyson Kimball, Brittany Dawson, and Maggie Oliver together will participate in competitions, seminars, and meet with field professionals for summer internships. “This once in a lifetime opportunity will help these students not only mold their resumes, but also provide them lifelong networking opportunities,” aays Michelle Sloan, advisor for DECA at West Seattle.

West Seattle High School started this year with an enormous budget deficit, the Marketing Department being no exception. With the cost per student at about $700 to attend Internationals, estimated total costs are around $2,800. Students have currently raised about half of the costs with fundraising events around West Seattle. We are now looking for the support of local businesses and individuals.

We understand that this is a tough time for many businesses and individuals. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. This is the first time in 10 years that any students in the district have gone to internationals. We also understand that this is short notice however, donations is our last resort for money.

We have attached a donation slip for your convenience. You are always welcome to email or call us with questions or comments. We look forward to working with you. We cannot wait to represent our community at Internationals!

Sincerely,
Sumeet Chadha
(Marketing Student at West Seattle)

To print out the form Sumeet mentioned, just go here.

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Happening tonight: Seacrest on TV; art benefit reminder
April 21, 2009 6:40 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening tonight: Seacrest on TV; art benefit reminder
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | WS miscellaneous

REMEMBER THE SEACREST “CAR BOMB”? Thanks to Jim for the reminder – the show that “explosion” was for, “The Phone,” premieres tonight on MTV, 10 pm. (Here’s our coverage of the Seacrest video shoot, including pictures and video of the fake “car bomb,” back in February.) This also was mentioned earlier today on seattlepi.com‘s Big Blog, whose Monica Guzman will be in West Seattle/White Center tomorrow night for her weekly “meetup” – join her at Cafe Rozella starting at 5:30 pm.

ART BENEFIT REMINDER: Now till 8 pm, for anything you buy at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) or Mission, both on California north of Admiral, 10 percent goes to the Pratt Fine Arts Center, as both establishments display work that West Seattle artists have donated for Pratt’s upcoming fundraising auction.

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Student’s letter: “… so many people desperately in need of food”
April 21, 2009 2:18 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle schools

This came to us recently in our postal mailbox (address here, in case you ever need it). Though it was dated late March, a few weeks before we received it, the timing is still good because of the Feinstein Challenge, in which food-bank contributions through the end of this month are potentially worth more than face value. Anyway, we haven’t contacted the young sender so we’re omitting his surname and phone number … but his request is one that any of us can act on, at any time of the day or night:

Tracy Record, Co-Publisher/Editor
West Seattle Blog

Dear Ms. Record,

There are so many people desperately in need of food. I am Tyler … an 8th grader at Our Lady of Guadalupe School and I am trying to help the West Seattle Food Bank fight against hunger. Every week the West Seattle Food Bank gives food to five hundred hungry families. The people in need are single parents, the working poor, fixed-income seniors, and children. With the decline of the economy this horrible problem is growing right here in our West Seattle neighborhood.

Would you please inform your readers about the West Seattle Food Bank’s need for food and money donations? The West Seattle Food Bank needs canned protein items (tuna, peanut butter); baby food; formula and diapers; fresh produce; fresh milk, cheese and yogurt; and nutritional supplements, such as Ensure. Donated money helps the food bank with operating costs like insurance, rent and helps purchase bulk food items. People need to know how important it is to help their community and the people who live in it. If people are not informed about how important it is to donate food and money many will remain hungry. Please contact me if you have any questions. …

So please inform your readers about the West Seattle Food Bank’s mission to fight against hunger and how important it is to serve your community. The West Seattle Food Bank needs donations and only the community can supply them. If your readers donate food and money to the West Seattle Food Bank they will be helping the community, feeding those in need, and improving lives.

Thank you for your support,
Tyler (…)

And thank YOU, Tyler, for taking the time to write a letter about this. To donate online to West Seattle Food Bank, go here. Also note, May 1st is the WSFB fundraising gala Instruments of Change; ticket info here. Plus: The White Center Food Bank serves West Seattle south of Myrtle; you can donate online to WCFB, too, by going here.

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West Seattle bicycling: 3 notes about 2-wheel-focused events
April 19, 2009 8:32 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | How to help | Transportation | West Seattle history

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE BIKE-A-PALOOZA TOMORROW: Looks like the 70s for Monday. bicyclist35thavalon.jpgSo after work, get on your bike and ride over to Camp Long, where the monthly Sustainable West Seattle meeting at 7 pm tomorrow will feature Bike-A-Palooza, with speakers and exhibits as described here. Even if you’re not riding yet, but maybe mulling the possibility, there’s a lot to see and hear.

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE BICYCLE TRAIL CLEANUP, MAY 23: As the official webpage for this cleanup asks, “Do you ever ride the trail to West Seattle or commute to downtown? It is a mess!” Check out the plan here; maybe you even know a business or group that wants to get involved. bathhousestreettabling.jpgBut even if you can “only” volunteer yourself, go here to sign up.

2ND ANNUAL WEST SEATTLE BIKE TOUR, JUNE 7: Tour “some of West Seattle’s most influential landmarks,” as the Southwest Seattle Historical Society puts it, 12:30 pm-2 pm Sunday 6/7 — going from the Log House Museum to the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, Anchor (Luna) Park, and the Duwamish Longhouse. The tour’s creator, museum assistant Sarah Frederick, says, “Much of the route is a bike path or part of the existing Alki Cultural Trail. Taking the history out of a museum and or standard educational setting is refreshing for the patrons. It’s wonderful to stand on the spot where something actually happened and bring it to life through stories.” To join the tour, it’ll be $5 museum members/$7 non-members – to sign up in advance, call Sarah at 206-938-5293 or e-mail shop@loghousemuseum.org.

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Happening now: Digging in, at Delridge’s Longfellow Creek Garden
April 18, 2009 10:29 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

We first told you last year about Longfellow Creek Garden, an “urban farm” in the Delridge area — with volunteers tending it and reaping the benefit. All day today, its first major work party of the year is under way – getting the rows ready, composting the herb-garden area, tackling a list of tasks that even includes “who brought the beer?” That part of the plan, of course, will be skipped by the youngest members of the team:

And alumni of Minnesota’s St. Olaf College are even pitching in for their day of service – here’s their official check-in station along the nearest road:

The tool table has a pair of guards, brought along by Shannon and Jason from the newly formed Longfellow Creek Garden Board of Stewards:

To get involved with Longfellow Creek Garden, e-mail lazylocavores@me.com – you too can help with this adventure in “urban farming” – LFCG is on Facebook, too. Today’s work party continues till 4 pm.

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So much to do, so little time: Happening in West Seattle today
April 18, 2009 6:21 am
|    Comments Off on So much to do, so little time: Happening in West Seattle today
 |   Environment | Fun stuff to do | How to help | Pigeon Point

That’s just a slice of the 400-strong crowd at the Duwamish Alive! Earth Day mega-work party southeast of Cooper School last year – and a similar crowd is expected today (with at least three political leaders – Mayor Nickels and County Councilmembers/Executive candidates Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips – visiting along the way). It’s part of a HUGE slate of not just Earth Day events, but also fun fundraisers, live music performances, 2 big rummage/garage sales, and a lot more happening today – we’ll just point you directly to the Saturday section of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – click here.

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Tonight: California Place Park, Sunrise Heights, WestSide Baby
April 16, 2009 11:02 am
|    Comments Off on Tonight: California Place Park, Sunrise Heights, WestSide Baby
 |   California Place Park | How to help | Neighborhoods | Sunrise Heights

One last round of reminders about these events, from the WSB Events calendar (where even more events for tonight, and way beyond, are listed):

LAST CALIFORNIA PLACE PARK DESIGN WORKSHOP: 7 pm, Alki Community Center. The first workshop was tumultuous; the second one, at which potential designs for park additions were unveiled, was deemed productive; tonight, something closer to a final proposal is presented for discussion and feedback. After that, an entirely different process would ensue if Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral decides to pursue park additions — the search for funding.

SUNRISE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: If we were to casually define this area, we’d say, between High Point and Gatewood, mostly east of 35th SW. If you live there, you’ve probably received a flyer about this; if not, check out the group’s website, which includes the agenda (plus word of their Poker Tournament this Saturday). Meeting’s at 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (map).

WESTSIDE BABY “SORTING FRENZY”: Hundreds of local families get clothing and other necessities through WestSide Baby, but before donated items can get to recipients, they have to be sorted, and WestSide Baby has monthly “sorting frenzy” parties with volunteer helpers. If you can lend a hand tonight, e-mail sarah@westsidebaby.org.

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Your creativity needed! Hi-Yu program, Produce Co-op tote bag
April 16, 2009 7:06 am
|    Comments Off on Your creativity needed! Hi-Yu program, Produce Co-op tote bag
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

Creative talent? 2 opportunities today, and your work could be seen by thousands!

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SUMMER FESTIVAL NEEDS SOUVENIR BOOKLET HELP: From Deena Mahn:

West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival is looking for help doing the page design & layout for our Summer Festival Souvenir Book. We pass out thousands in West Seattle before our festival in July. The advertising-supported 32-page book contains a thank-you to our business members, events description & schedule, introductions of our Junior and Senior Courts, and information on our sponsoring service clubs. This could be a great way to serve your community while adding to your portfolio. Anyone who might be able to help can look at past years’ books at hiyu.com/booklets – contact us at info@hiyu.com.

DELRIDGE PRODUCE COOPERATIVE TOTE BAG CONTEST: Above, you see Pam, attendee at the recent Delridge Produce Cooperative Produce Partners Potluck, who won that bag full of goodies – now imagine Pam (among others) holding a bag with a design YOU created! Galena White says there’s one entry so far in the tote-bag design contest but they’d love to see more, and ALL AGES are encouraged to give it a try – the deadline’s less than two weeks away:

Just draw a black-and-white picture representing how you feel about having a produce cooperative on Delridge, and what it means to you. If you win first prize, you’ll see your artwork all around Delridge this summer. Delridge Produce Cooperative wants to give away hundreds of reusable, compactible nylon tote bags with artwork on them to help spread the message, “I want a produce cooperative on Delridge!” Reusable totes are environmentally sustainable, and are great for carrying home fresh produce.

1st prize is $48, 2nd prize is $32, and 3rd prize is $16. The design should be a foot square or a little less, and be submitted in a foldable format (on a piece of non-cardstock-weight paper) at the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association office (5411 Delridge Way SW). Put your submission in the “Delridge Produce Co-Op” envelope along with an attached sheet with your full name, address, phone number, and email address. Entry is FREE, and due by April 28th, 2009. The board members of Delridge Produce Cooperative will be the judges, and will inform the winners by May 12th, 2009. All ages are encouraged to participate!

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Fauntleroy Community Assoc.: Schoolhouse-deal meeting set
April 14, 2009 10:27 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news

schoolhouse.jpgFrom tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: FCA board members will meet next week with counterparts from the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency to talk about where FCSA’s plan to buy the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse stands, and where the process goes next. As we reported two weeks ago, a legal challenge to Seattle Public Schools‘ sale of the building could throw a wrinkle in the deal. We’ll find out more about its status when the two groups meet at 6 pm next Tuesday in the schoolhouse building.

ONE MORE NOTE FROM TONIGHT’S FCA MEETING: Two weeks from tonight, Tuesday 4/28, Endolyne Joe’s will donate a portion of the night’s proceeds to benefit the Fauntleroy Fall Festival.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Thieves hit Nature Consortium
April 14, 2009 10:00 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news

We were working on this story before the Fairmount School break-in happened – now that that incident is over, we need to let you know about this:

First the American Legion hall was burglarized – then the Senior Center of West Seattle was broken into and vandalized – now, crooks have hit the Nature Consortium, a WS nonprofit whose major mission is marshaling volunteers to help restore the West Duwamish Greenbelt. This comes from the NC’s newsletter, which arrived in the WSB inbox late today:

We are sad to report that our Restoration Project storage container was vandalized last week and all of the tools stolen. The thieves broke in by damaging the padlock and hasp and emptied out all of the container’s contents. We lost a multitude of tools used for large work parties, including pruners, machetes, a brush cutter, a chainsaw, extra blades, and a pop-up tent used for shelter and sign-in purposes. We calculated the loss to be $1,324.30 worth of materials. The Restoration team is currently working to secure the container and to replace the equipment. If you would like to help us replace these items, donate here.

We followed up with Nature Consortium executive director Nancy Whitlock, who confirms the storage container is the structure that the group maintains along the West Duwamish Greenbelt trail often used for their monthly hikes.

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