West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
TRAFFIC ALERTS: All that activity on and around the section of The Bridge between 99 and I-5, known as the Spokane Street Viaduct, starts happening today. The 4th Avenue South offramp from the westbound side closes forever; westbound lower Spokane St. closes from 6th to 1st for many months; the northbound I-5 ramp to The Bridge and the Columbian Way ramp to The Bridge both close around 10 tonight for the entire weekend, till early Monday. Lots of details, detour maps, etc. at seattle.gov/spokane.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY CENTERS: Fun night at three of them – Family Skate Night at 6:45 at Alki CC, an MLK celebration with arts, crafts, music and spoken-word performance at 6 pm at Hiawatha CC, and Leo the Clown at Delridge CC at 7.
PEOPLE’S PLACE FUNDRAISER: Call it a startup for helping the homeless – “communal transitional housing,” founded by two volunteers including West Seattle’s Christi Stapleton. (We wrote about People’s Place here.) 6:30 tonight at El Centro de la Raza on Beacon Hill, they’re having a fundraiser reception and silent auction (items include “lunch, coffee or drinks with Mayor Mike McGinn“).
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL (INCLUDING HAITI FUNDRAISER @ SEALTH): All three high schools in West Seattle are playing host to visiting teams tonight. At West Seattle High School, Cleveland HS is the visitor, girls’ varsity at 6:15 pm, boys’ varsity at 8 pm. At Chief Sealth High School, Nathan Hale is the visitor, same times – note that a bake sale to raise $ for Haiti relief is planned during the Sealth games. At Seattle Lutheran High School, Tacoma Baptist is the visitor, 6:15 girls’ varsity, 7:45 boys’ varsity.
More on the WSB West Seattle Events page.
Two updates tonight on West Seattle help for Haiti. First, artist Todd Martin – shown at left while participating in last November’s West Seattle Art Walk at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – wanted to send out a challenge to his fellow artists:
Hello West Seattle art lovers; with the help of the West Seattle Blog, I am issuing a challenge to all West Seattle Artists.
We have all seen the suffering in Haiti and the lack of medical help and supplies so far in the country. My name is Todd Martin and I am a local Alaska Junction artist and photographer. Since November I have been raising money using my photography. I have raised money for The Woodland Park Zoo and now it’s time to raise funds for Doctors without Borders. Many of you may have seen my work at Hotwire Coffee in November of 2009. My collection was “Head Shots” if animals were celebrities … what it would be like if the paparazzi chased animals instead of people. I will be donating 65 percent of all proceeds to the cause. My website: headshotsifanimalswerecelebritie.shutterfly.com/
If you are interested in knowing more about the challenge or want to buy…call me at 206-817-1784 or chillynhot@msn.com
Everything on the site is available. I have many framed items in stock right now as well as some smaller items and cards. Artists, let’s all join together so we can give weekly updates. My Goal myself is 1000 dollars. I would like to do a lot more. If we could all get together to raise 10,000 dollars in 5 weeks (end of February) It would put us on the art map and also help those less fortunate. I feel so fortunate when I see the news stories of Haiti. I have been unemployed since last May from my full-time job, but I still feel fortunate for all I have and still feel I can afford to give and help out. Please buy some art and encourage your artist friends to join in too. Artists, whatever portion you wish to donate is fine. Let’s just band together and help out our brothers and sisters in Haiti…
Also, an update from West Seattle-based filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin on the ROCK4RELIEF concert coming up January 28 at Showbox SODO (here’s our report from yesterday) – with an art component here too:
Tickets will go on sale tomorrow Friday the 22nd @ www.showboxonline.com and www.ticketmaster.com. 100% of all proceeds from this event will be sent to the American Red Cross.
A raffle is being planned the night of the event to raise additional donations. Laura Boos, a local West Seattle artist, and others will be approaching local businesses for event support.
Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to help, please contact: info.rock4relief@gmail.com
P.S. While at Chief Sealth High School for tonight’s open house, we saw signs for a bake sale during Friday night’s basketball games, raising $ for Haiti relief.
So are you in for this Sunday’s Special Olympics of Washington Polar Plunge at Alki (with WSB among the co-sponsors)? Among those who already are – the man who leads the Seattle Police Department‘s Southwest Precinct here in West Seattle, Capt. Joe Kessler. We were there for the photo op at Alki this morning as he tested the waters, so to speak, for a last-minute promotional push. You can join Captain Kessler and hundreds of others on Sunday morning – 9 am registration (if you haven’t signed up online), 11 am Polar Plunge, festivities afterward. There’s a special connection for law enforcers and Special Olympic – the Law Enforcement Torch Run – so you’ll see other members of the law-enforcement community braving Elliott Bay on Sunday too. So how was the water today, you might ask?
47-degree water today, in case you were wondering.
Laura Bermes at Family Promise shares the photo and this report on another MLK Day of Service project earlier this week in West Seattle:
Thanks goes out to the University of Washington students who stepped up on Monday to help out at West Seattle’s only homeless shelter for families, Family Promise of Seattle (located at 3626 California Ave SW). The students worked alongside shelter guests, and Family Promise’s employee Mark Zimmerman, and Director Elizabeth Heath. The group cleared out the Day Center’s basement, leveled the floor, and put the basement back togehter again. The newly cleaned and organized space will benefit families by allowing them to store their personal belongings as they work their way through homelessness. For those in our West Seattle Community who would like to know more about how to help families going through homelessness, visit the Family Promise website, or give us a call at 937-2703.
We’ve featured Family Promise here before, including this closer look in October 2008.
Several notes we would have passed along sooner if not for the site trouble (again, sorry, seems to be fixed now):
*9:30 tonight, it’s Karaoke Joe’s fundraiser for Officer Jason McKissack (backstory here) during karaoke at Yen Wor in the Admiral District. This is one of two karaoke benefits in the works – West Seattle’s Willie Murderface hosts karaoke at Goldie’s in Georgetown and plans to collect donations this Saturday night, 9 pm, for the injured officer’s medical fund. (You can donate directly too – go here for the latest.)
*Another concert benefit for Haiti was announced today. West Seattle-based filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin put together Rock4Relief, January 28 at the Showbox SODO. Here’s the lineup he sent us:
Rock4Relief
HAITIAN benefit SHOW
The Fixers-
Seattle’s all star Humble Pie cover band.
http://www.myspace.com/fixers
Andrew McKeag- vox/guitar (Presidents of the United States of America)
Ron Heathman- guitar/vox (Supersuckers)
Kurt Bloch- bass/vox (The Fastbacks)
Scott Giampino- drums (Cash Money)Dusty 45’s-
THE DUSTY 45’S were originally formed in 1997. For over a decade, singer/songwriter Billy Joe Huels ande The Dusty 45’s have gained critical praise and delivered countless exciting live performances. Wrapping up the excitement with Billy’s infamous flaming trumpet, leaving the audience in awe and complete satisfaction. The Dusty 45’s which include some of Seattle’s top roots/rockabilly musicians, were voted Best of Seattle by Seattle Weekly readers 3 years in a row. Huels contines to branch out, most recently starring at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre as Buddy Holly.
www.dusty45s.com
www.myspace.com/billyjoeandthedusty45sThee Sgt. Major III
www.myspace.com/theesgtmajoriii
Featuring
Kurt Bloch from the Fastbacks
Mike Musburger from Love Battery and The PosiesBend-
www.myspace.com/bendisyourfriendVillains of Yesterday –
http://www.villainsofyesterday.com/band.aspxGunn and the Damage Done-
www.myspace.com/gunnandthedamagedone
The music of GUNN AND THE DAMAGE DONE encompass the true emotions of life. Gritty and honest. Not always smooth and pretty, but always pure.Leif Totusek
www.myspace.com/leiftotusekJanuary 28th 2010
SHOWBOX SODO LOUNGE
$15—21 over
Doors at 7 pm
More West Seattle help for Haiti can be found here.
Just in from 8 Limbs Yoga in The Junction, a Haiti relief benefit class this Friday, all levels, Flow with Amelia, 5:45-7 pm, all drop-in class payments go to Doctors Without Borders – checks made out to DWB, or cash. Other ongoing fundraisers are listed here (you can find that page any time from the top of the sidebar at right). ADDED 4:28 PM: And we have word that Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) has joined the Jan. 24 Dine Out for Haiti benefit, with a percentage of proceeds to relief efforts; La Rustica is also in on it.
Jennifer Giuffre shared that photo taken today on a West Seattle beach, where a baby harbor seal rested in the sun. After the photo came in, we asked a followup about whether Seal Sitters were notified; we’re awaiting the answer, but in the meantime, we see they have an update on their website tonight about an ailing pup that spent some time today on shore. Whether it’s the same pup or not, it’s another occasion to make note of how to contact Seal Sitters if you spot a pup – all the info’s here (and you can pop their hotline into your phone – 206-905-SEAL). TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Robin Lindsey from Seal Sitters tells WSB this is definitely the same ailing pup they were watching yesterday. She adds:
We are on the lookout today, but two early sweeps have yet to turn up anything. Off on another one here in a minute and are awaiting word from NOAA as to whether the pup would be taken to PAWS for treatment if he shows up. He’s a small pup, but body weight was pretty good. The fact that he is hauling in and out is a good sign.
Monica e-mailed us to say she’s organizing a Dine Around Seattle fundraiser for Haiti citywide next Sunday – in West Seattle, she says, La Rustica is the first one who’s joined, but she’s looking for more participants. Interested restaurants can contact her at tastyfeast@gmail.com – more info online at tastyfeast.com. (Monica also says anyone who’s closed Sundays can choose to donate a portion of proceeds from another night of their choice.)
January 15 – last Friday – was the 81st anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. This Wednesday marks the 24th anniversary of the first time King Day was celebrated as a national holiday (Jan. 20, 1986). Dr. King’s only visit to Seattle happened in November 1961 (here’s the HistoryLink.org story about it). Today (presidential proclamation here), here’s some of what you need to know about the holiday:
WHAT’S DIFFERENT:
Schools are closed
Most government offices are closed
Banks are closed
City-run community centers are closed (Southwest Pool too)
West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) facilities are closed
City and county libraries are closed
Metro Transit is on “reduced weekday” service
No regular-mail delivery
Parking’s free on city streets with pay stations/meters
WHAT’S NOT DIFFERENT:
Trash/recycling/etc. on regular schedule
Sound Transit service on regular schedule (except for Sounder between Everett and Mukilteo because of a mudslide)
State liquor stores are open
HOW TO HELP:
Two MLK Day of Service opportunities for volunteering in West Seattle/White Center:
*Nature Consortium welcomes volunteers for its Pigeon Point Park work party, 9:30 am-3 pm (map; more info here)
*WestSide Baby needs volunteers to help sort, 2-5 pm (full details here)
(Photo courtesy WestSide Baby)
Just in from WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland – another MLK Day of Service opportunity:
WestSide Baby would love extra hands on MLK Day! We’ve received so many donations of clothes since the holidays, we could really use extra teen or adult hands to sort through all the donations. We inspect each article of clothing for cleanliness and condition before we shelve it by size so it’s ready for another volunteer to place it in an order for local children in need.
We will be open extra hours on Monday from 2-5pm for up to 15 volunteers! It’s a great opportunity for high schoolers looking for service hours on their day off. Please let us know you are coming by emailing sarah@westsidebaby.org.
We will also have our regular third Thursday Sorting Frenzy this Thursday evening from 7-9 pm!
WestSide Baby HQ is at 10032 15th SW (map).
Developments since we wrote Friday night about a tv story on Officer Jason McKissack facing the loss of medical benefits because injuries from the attack on him in West Seattle a year and a half ago have left him unable to return to work:
*We’ve heard twice from Renee Maher, executive director of the law-enforcement advocacy group COMPAS and also the widow of Federal Way Police Officer Patrick Maher, killed in the line of duty seven years ago. She had more to say about the legislation mentioned in the story (which stalled last year but has been reintroduced this session):
COMPAS has made HB 1679 our priority for this legislative session. While we fully support and agree with the legislation that helps families of fallen officers, we believe that helping officers like Jason McKissack is just as important. I was part of the effort that got legislation passed in 2006 that provided medical insurance for families of officers killed in the line of duty. Imagine my shock and disgust to learn that financially, an officer’s family is better off if the officer dies in the line of duty (versus being disabled).
HB 1679 will provide medical insurance to Jason and his family. It is very do-able to get this legislation passed this session. We just need to spread the word and have people call their legislators to support this bill.
As discussed in comments following last night’s story, the bill is currently in the Ways and Means Committee of the state House. West Seattle Rep. Eileen Cody is a member of that committee. We e-mailed Rep. Cody to ask about its status and what people could do to voice support. Her reply today:
To move forward we will need to vote it out of the Ways and Means Committee again. I will check with Rep Simpson to see if he is planning on pushing the issue again this year. Interested constituents should contact Ways and Means Committee members to encourage action. We would not have to have another hearing on the bill this year since we had one last year. The chair just has to decide to bring it up for a vote.
The Legislature’s website says the committee is chaired by North Sound Rep. Kelli Linville; she and other members are listed here, and you can follow the links for their contact info. To e-mail Rep. Cody, start here.
*Meantime, our second message from Renee Maher included word that the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild is now able to accept contributions for Officer McKissack’s medical fund:
SPOG
2949 4th Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Subject line: Jason McKissack
There is also a link on the Seattle Police Guild website tonight with more info on the situation. Meantime, Q13 interviewed the McKissacks for a story aired tonight:
WEST SEATTLE FUNDRAISERS TO HELP HAITI: As reported last night, the Keller Williams car-wash fundraiser brought in an estimated $1,500+ in just five hours, according to organizer Michaelle Crovisier. Today’s soup lunch after the West Seattle Unitarian Universalists‘ service raised $800, per a note we just got from Kari Kopnick. And Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s daylong “all profits, all three locations” drive is a hit – more than 2 hours before the scheduled closing time, the White Center location sold out of ice cream, according to this tweet, as the next one commented, “Thanks, everyone that stopped by today. This will be a nice check that we get to send out.” (We subsequently checked directly with FT; they expect that check to be at least $400.) Beveridge Place Pub reports via Facebook that its event tonight raised more than $3,300.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS POLAR PLUNGE: Just one week away. WSB is proud to be co-sponsoring this sure-to-be-invigorating fundraiser at Alki; there’s still time to register – choose the January 24th Alki event on this page – or register the day of the event, starting at 9 am (the Plunge is at 11 am).
WEST SEATTLE RELAY FOR LIFE KICKOFF PARTY AHEAD: The kickoff party for the annual overnight cancer-fighting fundraiser at West Seattle Stadium is a week and a half away. Volunteer Lauren Blair sent the official announcement of the 6 pm January 27th event – and word of a half-price deal to register a West Seattle Relay for Life team between now and party night – read on:Read More
The dogs are on the grill and the silent auction/raffle items are on the tables at Beveridge Place Pub, where Dogs for Docs is raising money right now for Doctors Without Borders‘ work helping Haiti earthquake victims. The benefit’s under way till 7 tonight, 6413 California SW (map). WSB’er “k” (who shared the photos) is there and says the silent auction’s going great; she also points out that since the grill’s set up outside, kids can have food too, since they can participate without going into the pub. All food is offered by donation only. Two more hours! (Also still under way – Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center, Columbia City and U-District, donating all of today’s profits; all three locations are open till 10 pm.) 8:15 PM NOTE: Via Twitter, Full Tilt says it’s sold out of ice cream in White Center.
WEST SEATTLE HELP FOR HAITI: West Seattle Christian Church (42nd/Genesee) is collecting donations for Haiti at its services (9 and 10:45 am) today and next Sunday; West Seattle Unitarian Universalists will raise money with a soup lunch after today’s service (10:30 am, so lunch around 11:45), Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds); in Morgan Junction, Beveridge Place Pub hosts Dogs for Docs, raising money with sausages, hot dogs and veggie dogs plus a silent auction and raffle, benefiting Doctors Without Borders, 4-7 pm, 6413 California SW; in White Center, Full Tilt Ice Cream donates all of today’s profits (Columbia City and U-District locations too). Ongoing drives are listed here (let us know if something’s missing!).
ORCHARD MEETING: As mentioned here yesterday, everyone interested in a potential Community Orchard for West Seattle is invited to a meeting at 4 pm at Duwamish Cohousing, 6000 17th SW.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: A new item debuts today: Wild Alaskan Spot Prawns (frozen) from fishing vessel Hat Trick ($22 for 2 pounds). Market managers say this’ll be offered every other week through the winter. Read on for today’s full Ripe and Ready list of what’s new:Read More
(9/30/09 photo by Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com)
Four months after residents of the homeless camp that called itself “Nickelsville” were ordered out of West Seattle’s T-107 Park, what’s happened to them? A camp still using that name is currently set up at a church southeast of downtown. But another group spun off after the uncertainty that followed the eviction – unable or unwilling, for a host of reasons, to join the others, but just as much in need of help. The spinoff group became part of an effort called People’s Place, co-created by a West Seattle activist, looking ahead to a fundraiser this Friday. Ahead, what they’re about, and how you can help:Read More
A question arrived in e-mail: Where can people go in West Seattle to volunteer for the MLK Day of Service on Monday? We checked a regional database and didn’t turn up anything in West Seattle, except for the Nature Consortium work party mentioned as part of this comment that Monica added to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:
Nature Consortium is holding Restoration Work Parties all weekend long to celebrate MLK Day.
Sunday, January 17th: Highland Park Way SW from 10 am to 2 pm
Monday, January 18th: Pigeon Point Park from 9:30 am to 3 pm
Entertainment and refreshments included!RSVP by calling us at 206-923-0853 or e-mail: volunteer@naturec.org
If you know of any other MLK Day of Service events that could use volunteer help, please share the info – others may be looking for volunteer opportunities too!
Another invitation from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle: Tomorrow night, you’re invited to the first meeting to discuss a potential Community Orchard in West Seattle. Community Harvest’s Aviva says they got about 50 positive responses to the survey they did recently (linked in this WSB story), so they’re moving ahead with pursuing the idea. Bring your ideas – or just come to listen and learn. The meeting’s at 4 pm tomorrow (Sunday) at Duwamish Cohousing, 6000 17th SW (map). Questions in the meantime? info@gleanit.org
(Saturday night note: Michaelle says donations and pledges totaled about $1,500 – about 50% over the goal!)
ORIGINAL 12:38 PM REPORT: When we dropped by Keller Williams‘ back lot in The Junction (4452 California SW), one hour into today’s car wash raising money for Haiti earthquake relief, things were getting really busy – they’d already washed a dozen cars, and have been racking up additional pledges and donations, according to organizer Michaelle Crovisier:
The car wash continues till 3 pm. Then tomorrow, there are several fundraisers, detailed here, including Dogs for Docs – Doctors Without Borders, which is on the ground in Haiti helping already, will be the beneficiary of the event at Beveridge Place Pub, 4-7 pm Sunday – hot dogs, sausages, veggie dogs, silent auction and raffle (official flyer here). They’re still welcoming donations for the silent auction/raffle too – more info in this WSB Forums post.
ADDED 1:07 PM: Also just got word of another West Seattle fundraiser. Maria Groen of Sold Home Décor (WSB sponsor), 9003 35th Ave SW, says her shop “is teaming with artist Linda Thorson to donate 10% of all art sales to Lutheran World Relief for the emergency response to efforts in Haiti. This donation opportunity continues through February 7th.” Find out more about LInda’s work at the Sold Home Décor website.
ADDED 4:25 PM: A challenge to local real-estate agents from local agent Bruce Butterfield, who announced today that he will support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti by donating $100 from each home purchase or sale he completes, now through the end of June 2010, to Doctors Without Borders. Here’s the rest of his announcement:
At left, a sunny scene from last summer – Pete Spalding getting ready to drive the 
We’ve been telling you about the
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