West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
Photos and memories are being shared at Pegasus on Alki right now during the event previewed here this morning – West Seattle High School Class of 1988 alums gathering to remember their fellow ’88 alum Officer Tim Brenton, the first Seattle police officer murdered in the line of duty in 15 years. Those at the gathering when we stopped by (along with a couple TV stations) included, from left, Julie Gossard, Pegasus general manager Clara Doray, Rick Antonelli and Eileen de Guzman:
They’re collecting donations for the Brenton Family Assistance Fund (details here) and also have a donation box set up on the Pegasus counter:
Clara said they all used to hang out together in high school, and getting together seemed like a natural thing to do. They’re talking about the possibility of some kind of ongoing memorial, but it’s just in the idea stages right now. Rick told us he first heard the name go by on TV over the weekend – (Officer Brenton was identified at the Sunday afternoon briefing, 17 hours after the shooting) and went online to see if it was the same guy he remembered from high school – finding out it was, they all said, gave them chills. Their gathering is scheduled to continue at Pegasus till 9 tonight.
Meantime, today’s developments in the aftermath of the murder include: The reward is now up to $105,000 (more details on the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild website); the ambush survivor, Officer Britt Sweeney, has asked to return to work (here’s the Central District News story – also, you can join a new Facebook group, Support Officer Britt Sweeney); and, as noted here earlier, the procession route to precede Officer Brenton’s Friday memorial has been announced.
Now that an assistance fund has been set up for the family of murdered Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton, drives are under way to gather donations. And one of them involves Officer Brenton’s classmates in the West Seattle High School Class of 1988. Jay Havner sends word that they’re gathering at Pegasus Pizza on Alki this afternoon/evening and are inviting “any and all” to join them – they’ll be sharing memories and collecting “money to donate to Tim’s family in this time of great need.” 3-9 pm today/tonight, 2770 Alki (map). Meantime, SPD continues planning for the memorial this Friday, 1 pm, KeyArena.
All three of these are coming up this Saturday:
First, that Google Map from greenseattle.org shows the West Seattle spots where you can join in GREEN SEATTLE DAY – which means special Saturday work parties in parks and green spaces all over the city – lots of info here, including how to volunteer! Second, it’s NORTH DELRIDGE ADOPT-A-STREET — meet North Delridge Neighborhood Council reps and neighbors at Delridge Community Center by 10 am Saturday, have a cup of coffee, get equipment and head out to clean up the area. As Nancy Folsom put it, “The city supplies bags, gloves, reachers, and safety vests (very fashionable!), we supply the civic pride.” Third, WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE HABITAT PROJECT fundraising plant sale! 3223 47th Ave SW (map), 10 am-3 pm Saturday, selling native plants to raise money for the project’s demonstration garden at Seacrest. P.S. You can join the WSWHP’s group on Facebook by going here.
Nicky from the Westenders Scooter Club e-mailed to renew the 
invitation to you to join them this Saturday night for “Operation Chano” – a night of fun to benefit the family of Cafe Revo (WSB sponsor) co-founder Chef Sean “Chano” Goff (photo right), who died a month ago at just 43 years old. They’re promising pasta, music, the featurette “Mondo Scooterama” and a raffle with “a treasure trove of prizes” incluing a “rare early painting by Harold Hollingsworth” — full details at westenders.org. 5 pm Saturday, Rainier Yacht Club.
(all photos/video in this report by Christopher Boffoli)
Toward the end of the school day today, just a few blocks south of the city-limits line, the students and staff of White Center Heights Elementary School gathered to celebrate. In part, what they were celebrating was music – which is why they got a guest visit from members of the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drum line:
But they also were celebrating community, and generosity. This is the assembly during which they said thanks for dozens of musical instruments donated through an informal drive announced a few weeks back here on WSB. It was the brainchild of a WCH Elementary librarian Nancy Hallberg and her daughter, Eliza Junkerman, who talked with WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli at today’s event:
By the way, Eliza’s fiancee’ Blake partnered in this enterprise too, collecting the donated instruments:
Eliza tells Christopher it’s not too late to donate yours, if you didn’t see the story the first time around, which is where you will find her contact info. Even if it turns out not to be right for the kids at White Center Heights, they’ll find a place – she says one donated instrument was a beautiful child-sized cello, and while that didn’t work into the music program at WCH, it’s going to an area middle school. ADDED 11:07 PM: More video from Christopher – this includes scenes from the assembly, including Blue Thunder playing:
Tonight, things start getting so wildly Halloweenish, it’s scary. In a good way. From the WSB Halloween page (laden with pre-Halloween events too), the highlight of the night, Nightmare on Morgan Street, benefiting West Seattle Helpline, at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Costume contest – and more. Then Friday night, a different “Nightmare”:
“Nightmare Before Christmas” is the special Indoor Movies on the Wall, Halloween edition, presentation – 7 pm tomorrow at West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (42nd south of Genesee), bring a food donation to get in on the raffle, bring your own chair/blanket, FREE! (Lots of room, so if you’re checking out other Friday afternoon/evening activities first – like Admiral Treats ‘n’ Treasures [map here!] – you should still be able to get a spot even if you show up at the last minute.)
(Photo by Robin Lindsey)
The joys and sorrows of seal-pup season continue on West Seattle shores, according to Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey, who says that while they haven’t seen a live pup on the beach in two weeks, they dealt with two deaths in the past week. “This is the time of year that the pups really struggle to survive.” So Seal Sitters’ work to help the pups continues, and today they’re putting out a call for assistance to help them keep that work going:
As a non-profit organization, Seal Sitters is always looking for creative ways to meet our operating expenses. Through the generous offer of one of our colleagues, Seal Sitters has been presented with a unique opportunity to raise funds to cover a portion of our expenses. There are many costs involved in protecting the seals on our beaches – maintaining our dispatch phone line, website, educational materials, etc – that are currently paid out of pocket by our volunteers.
Seal Sitters is in need of a place to host an estate jewelry sale to raise funds. We are looking for any place that could be open to the public where we could set up two or three small tables to display jewelry. If you, or someone you know, has a facility in a high traffic area, like any listed below, that could be used for a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday prior to the holidays, please contact us at: info@sealsitters.org.
· Restaurant
· Meeting Room
· Office
· Storefront
· Vacant Storefront / building or other optionSeal Sitters welcomes donations of any type – click here. We would like to thank all of West Seattle for providing such a warm welcome for our smallest of marine mammal residents! Please visit our website and blog at www.sealsitters.org.
First – Thanks to Nancy Woodland – who you know from WestSide Baby, but is acting here as an Alki Elementary PTA volunteer, sharing that photo and this report:
This morning more than 100 Alki Elementary kids, teachers and parents were joined by the Seattle Fire Department to celebrate Walk This Way Day. With support from Safe Kids, students were reminded how easy it is to walk or bike to school and how important it is for drivers to use caution when kids are present. Parent drivers were even surprised to be handed a cookie along with information about bus zones, speed limits and drop-off protocol!
Second – The annual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser at Lafayette Elementary is tomorrow, and organizers say it’ll be bigger than ever, in more ways than one. The biggest way: The school has 60 more students — two additional classes (kindergarten and 1st grade). Kids, teachers and other school staffers will be participating, along with community volunteers, between 9 am and 3 pm on the school playground (along Lander, west of California). This year, the Walk-A-Thon has more than 100 business/community sponsors – including WSB; we are proud to be able to co-sponsor community events, so when you go around recruiting sponsors for yours, be sure to contact us too!
How busy is the West Seattle Food Bank these days? Tonight we have new information from Pete Spalding, president of the West Seattle Food Bank board, with numbers from last month, just compiled:
700,000
pounds of food distributed so far this year31%
increase in “unduplicated household visits”30%
increase in visits from children25%
increase in visits from infants25%
increase in visits from adults19%
increase from the same time a year earlier10%
increase in visits from seniors
Pete adds, “As you can see, our numbers continue to grow each month, and we have been very blessed that the West Seattle community has been so generous to those in need. Just wanted your readers to know that because of them we continue to be able to open our doors and have the resources to serve the clients that continue to come our way.” In addition to joining in fundraisers for the West Seattle Food Bank (like the Beer Church‘s Turkey Bowl on Nov. 21, which we’re co-sponsoring), you can also donate through their website – westseattlefoodbank.org.
Tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page:
SOUTHWEST HEALTHY YOUTH PARTNERSHIP: As noted in a much-discussed WSB report last week, this group will talk about neighborhood concerns regarding the plan for a state liquor store to move into the side of Westwood Village closest to Southwest Athletic Complex. SWHYP’s fight against underage drinking also will get a big showcase this Friday night at the West Seattle High School–Chief Sealth High School football game, when coordinator Renae Gaines says the players’ helmets all will display red ribbons. Plus – can you help the SWHYP? Here are ways to pitch in. Meeting’s at Madison Middle School (map), 6 pm.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Get the latest crime-trend toplines directly from Southwest Precinct leadership; ask questions, voice concerns, and/or just listen to what’s being done to make the peninsula safer. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (parking lot’s on Webster just west of Delridge, meeting room entrance is right off the parking lot).
This discussion in the WSB Forums about the 20th anniversary of the big Bay Area quake reminds us that we have news to share about the most recent test of the neighborhood-preparedness radio system, plus a reminder about preparedness information you can access any time. First, the radio test. To recap, the West Seattle Communication Hubs is a project setting up nodes around the peninsula where volunteers will spring into action in case of a disaster that takes out the usual communications channels. In addition to keeping this list of “hubs,” the volunteers also have set up a radio network that would get information to authorities off-peninsula if needed. That’s what was tested again successfully last weekend, with West Seattle volunteers joined by two reps from the Auxiliary Communications Service, which is in turn linked in to the city Emergency Operations Center. One was Curt Black, shown in the photo above, who, as Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker puts it, was “working in true disaster mode off the top of his car. He was specially equipped” with a digital setup, which can transmit data from a computer across the radio frequencies. The city and community reps dealt with a theoretical scenario, and requests for help dealing with potential scenario effects including a car in a sinkhole. So what can YOU do to help? First, familiarize yourself with the nearest Communication Hub location – where you’ll be able to go to get information and relay calls for help, if needed. It’s all on this website – worth a bookmark.
Caption that, The Harpist and The Harvest. Susan McLain played at Brockey Center tonight as the White Center Food Bank‘s annual Harvest Dinner and Auction began with eventgoers browsing the auction items:
Among the items donated for the auction, glass produce from Avalon Glassworks, highlighted on the food bank’s website recently, and artist-decorated chairs (here’s the one made by WSB’er Barb). While visiting for photos, we caught up with the food bank’s Audrey Zemke and tonight’s emcee, North Highline Fire Chief Scott LaVielle:
Local media personality Cindi Rinehart (a West Seattleite) is tonight’s auctioneer. It’s been a busy year for the food bank, one of two that serve West Seattle (along with the WS Food Bank) – and the unmet need in our state is sizable, according to this info published by the WC Food Bank last summer.
One week from today, West Seattle environmental advocates will be part of the 350.org demonstration to call attention to climate change. Two notes about that this morning, regarding ways you can be part of it. First, CoolMom’s Terri Glaberson is about to head to Washington, D.C., to lobby our state’s U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell:
My goal is to get face to face time with both Senators to chat with them about the importance of passing a strong Climate bill THIS year. I am also hoping to take with me 350 letters in honor of that all important number 350, the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
There’s more information about the letter-writing campaign on the CoolMom site. Terri says letters of support also can be directly e-mailed to admin@coolmom.org. Meantime, part of the awareness-raising campaign includes gathering a crowd at Seattle Center next Saturday afternoon to spell out “350” (simulation above) – Sustainable West Seattle is organizing a bike ride from West Seattle to Seattle Center for the event and sends this announcement:
Please join Sustainable West Seattle as we make our voice heard demanding climate action from Washington DC on October 24 at the 350.org International Day of Climate Action at the Seattle Center and in West Seattle. 350.org is trying to bring attention to 350 ppm being the safe limit of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Please be at the Seattle Center Fountain at 3:00 pm …. there will be booths and information as well as speakers for this event that culminates with a “human 350” aerial group photo from the top of the Space Needle. The participants will form the 3 and 5 and the fountain will become the 0.
Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board will be leading a bike ride over to Seattle Center at 12:30pm. Our participation goal will be to bring at least 350 spokes to the event at the Seattle Center (about 6 bikes worth) or 350 tires (you do the math!).
The ride leaves from Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest Marina, 1660 Harbor Ave SW, and end up at the 350.org rally against global warming at the Seattle Center International Fountain.
Ride pace will be a moderate 10-15 mph average using more interesting “alternative routes” from West Seattle to the Seattle Center. We’ll be returning at 4:30 pm. Maps will be provided but it is preferred that we ride together. Helmets and lights are required, locks recommended.
The West Seattle Weekend Lineup is stuffed with possibilities for today/tonight. Among them: See Valentine’s Performing Pigs (featured in the above clip produced a few months ago by our partners at seattletimes.com) at High Point Community Center at 10:30 am … Go dig in to help at the semiannual Duwamish Alive! cleanup/restoration event – your choice of sites, 10 am … Go support local artists/craftspeople by shopping the Homemade Brigade at Freshy’s Coffee, all day (starting @ 10) …. Get fed and help others get fed by attending tonight’s White Center Food Bank Harvest Dinner/Auction, 5:30 pm. Lots more here!
A week and a half ago, Eliza Junkerman, daughter of a staffer at White Center Heights Elementary School, shared the story of her campaign to get more musical instruments donated so more of its students could take music classes from a promising new teacher. Tonight, she shares a followup, and an invitation to those who donated:
We have had an amazing turnout and some extremely generous people from West Seattle, White Center and beyond. I just wanted to give you a quick recap of what we have collected so far (or have set a time to pick up):
26 recorders
1 flute
1 piccolo
2 oboes
1 Cello
4 guitars
1 set of Congo drums
1 Clarinet
1 Alto Saxophone
1 Violin
1 TromboneThis is really way more than we could have ever expected! Thank you to everyone who helped – spreading the word, donating, and just supporting!!
White Center Heights will be holding an Assembly to honor the donors and talk about what encompasses a community, on October 30th from 1:20-1:55. All donors are invited to attend!!
Thank you so much for your help!
White Center Heights Elementary is at 10015 6th Avenue SW; here’s a map.
By Charla Mustard-Foote
Special to West Seattle Blog
More than 60 people braved a damp West Seattle fall evening to attend a benefit to help the family of Café Revo owner and Chef Sean “Chano” Goff – who died a month ago at age 43 – and to help maintain his dream of opening a great Italian restaurant in West Seattle.
At last night’s event at The Sanctuary at Admiral, Sean’s wife, Sofia Zadra Goff (left), and children, Forrest and Maya, mixed with the crowd of friends and family, and never stopped smiling (at least, publicly). The event was the celebration of a life and a dream — it gave people a taste of what drew Sean and Sofia to the town and food and culture of her family’s ancestral home, Revo, Italy.
The menu included a rich creamy Gnocchi (rumored to be a staple of the menu at Café Revo [a WSB sponsor]), Papperdelle (a tangy noodle dish), and topped off by an exquisite tiramisu, and generous amounts of an excellent Café Revo house red wine. The elegant and leisurely meal stretched over 2 hours. (Photos ahead!)
West Seattle Helpline director Anna Fern sends news their Clothesline clothing bank is expanding its services:
The West Seattle Helpline is taking the Clothesline to Seniors. We have partnered with the West Seattle Food Bank to bring some clothing items to their waiting room on Tuesdays just before their distribution. Last Tuesday and yesterday, we gave away sweaters. (Photo above shows Liz, a Helpline volunteer, with the sweaters before we took them down to the Food Bank. Photo below shows a picture of the rack in the Food Bank waiting room after sweaters were selected by Seniors yesterday.)
Then next Tuesday we are going to give away coats. We need extra winter coats in order to have enough for next Tuesday the 20th and the following Tuesday the 27th . … We could use help gathering extra coats. They can drop off coats at the Helpline (6516 35th Ave. SW) during office hours Monday – Friday 7:00 to 8:30 AM or Monday – Thursday 4:30 to 6:30. For other arrangements, call 206.932.4357.
P.S.: As noted earlier today, West Seattle Helpline is the beneficiary of one of the upcoming WS Halloween events – Nightmare on Morgan Street at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) Oct. 29 (here’s the poster).
SANCTUARY AT ADMIRAL BENEFIT FOR CAFE REVO CHEF’S FAMILY: Appetizers, wine, Italian dinner, and the movie “Big Night,” 6 pm tonight to benefit the Sean Goff Memorial Fund. Tickets in advance at Cafe Revo, 2940 SW Avalon Way. Here’s our preview from yesterday.
TRAFFIC JUSTICE SUMMIT: Cascade Bicycle Club and others concerned about small (or nonexistent) penalties for those who hit and kill bicyclists and pedestrians have organized this meeting, Bertha Landes Knight Room at City Hall downtown , 5:30 pm. Details here.
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING: Concerned about libraries – or any other city service? Show up and be heard. Northwest African American Museum (map), 5:30 pm. Details here.
Jennifer Cobb from the High Point Neighborhood Association shared this urgent call for help:
The Youth Tutoring Program provides tutoring for at-risk youth living in the High Point public housing community.
Volunteers are needed to help students achieve academic success!
TUTORS ARE STILL NEEDED for the 2009-2010 school year!
· Tutors volunteer an average of 2 hours a week.
· The school-year program runs from September-June and serves students in grades 1-12.
· New tutor orientations are held twice a month!Tutoring sessions schedule:
Monday & Wednesday 4:20-5:20pm
Monday – Thursday 5:30-7:40pmNeed SERVICE LEARNING HOURS for High School graduation?
High School students with grade averages above 3.0 encouraged to apply!!
VOLUNTEER at High Point TODAY!For more information contact Rebecca at (206) 328-5659 or volunteerytp@ccsww.org
Apply to become a volunteer online at www.ccsww.org/ytp
One more reminder that two benefits are coming up to raise money to help Cafe Revo‘s founding family deal with the medical bills left after the untimely death of co-founder Chef Sean “Chano” Goff last month. The first one is tomorrow night – “dinner and a movie” at The Sanctuary at Admiral – dinner is 4-course Italian, movie is “The Big Night” (trailer above). You can buy tickets in advance at Cafe Revo (WSB sponsor), 2940 SW Avalon Way; here’s the official flyer. The second benefit is the Westenders-presented “Operation Chano” on November 7th; more on that here.
(Pago Pago photo by Telemai via Flickr)
HIGH POINT RELIEF EFFORT: Posted on the High Point Neighborhood Association website – a desperate need for money and various items to be donated to help the High Point Lighthouse Samoan Assembly of God assist people coping with the aftermath of the tsunami/earthquake disaster in the South Pacific. They’re trying to get assistance together no later than October 23rd – so the sooner you can help, the better.
WORLD VISION BENEFIT AT EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL: A disaster-relief event is set for 9 am-1 pm October 24 at Evergreen (map), in conjunction with World Vision. The items they’ll be collecting are listed on the White Center Community Development Association website.
Looking for a way to get more involved with your community? Here are two!
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE BUILDING ADVISORY BOARD: As the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency gets closer to closing the deal to buy the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (here’s our most recent update), it’s forming a Building and Site Development Advisory Board “to oversee the building development and operations within the context of this mission,” according to the official announcement. They’re hoping its members will include (but not be limited to) people with expertise in areas such as real-estate development, building renovation and construction, property management, real-estate negotiations, public/private financing options, familiarity with city/state/school district, connections to local community groups. Interested? Call FCSA president Kevin Wooley, (corrected) 206-933-6410.
SOUTHWEST HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD: SWSHS, which operates The Log House Museum, says it’s “looking for board members who have the skills and enthusiasm to bring to our organization for three-year terms beginning in 2010. Participation in our board will be challenging and rewarding, stretching your skills and abilities. You will also gain experience in the meaningful work of preserving West Seattle history, making new friends in the community and the pride of knowing you’ve contributed to a vital organization.” Interested in helping with historic preservation and running a small museum? E-mail a letter of interest to board member Joey Richesson at EuniceSnit@aol.com, or call her at 206-909-9016, before the end of the month.
3RD ANNUAL NIA CLASS TO BENEFIT NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING: Be at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge) at 10 am to join the NiaDivas in raising $ for NWHH, a West Seattle-founded organization that helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. Find out more about Nia here, and about the NiaDivas here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, as always. Here’s today’s Ripe and Ready fresh list; watch @NFMASeattle on Twitter for pics and sightings.
BOARD GAMES! Today’s the day for the first Board Game Afternoon presented by Friends of Southwest Branch Library — all ages, all skill levels, just come to the meeting room upstairs at the branch (9010 35th SW; Google Street View above) between 1 pm and 4:30 pm. Members of the Friends will bring some games and will teach any you don’t know; you’re welcome to bring your favorite board game(s), too.
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