West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
CHIEF SEALTH JAZZ BAND CAR WASH FRIDAY: Just got word that a fundraising car wash for the Chief Sealth High School Jazz Band is happening Friday afternoon. From Monica Kenny:
The forecast for this weekend is sunny, is your car ready? Bring it to the Chief Sealth Jazz Band car wash fundraiser and let us do the dirty work! Friday, September 25th from 3-5PM in the parking lot at Sealth @ Boren (5950 Delridge Way SW).
Here’s the Chief Sealth Music website; here’s a map to the car-wash location.
WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISING BOOKFAIR NEXT 3 DAYS: West Seattle High School Grad Night 2010 will get up to 15 percent of the proceeds of any purchase Friday-Saturday-Sunday at any Barnes and Noble (not online) if you use Voucher 10001295 – this was provided through WSHS but we’re told you can also give the number at the register and it’ll count.
SWINERY FOLLOWUP: Wonder what food writers have to say about The Swinery? Seattle Times (WSB partner) food writer Nancy Leson has a followup on West Seattle’s hottest food news of the week; see it here (she includes WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli‘s video from opening day, too).
DJ’S FOOD DRIVE: Via Twitter, Shawn Stewart from The Mountain radio (@askthemd) wanted to let you know that she’ll be at the new Junction QFC collecting donations for West Seattle Food Bank this Saturday, 1 pm-3 pm, with giveaways including free concert tickets.
BUDGET HEARINGS: The City Council has just announced the dates/times for three budget hearings. If there’s something you want to make sure the city spends $ on – or doesn’t cut – or DOES cut, for that matter – be there. All three hearings start at 5:30 pm; none are in West Seattle: 10/7 at Whitman Middle School (9201 15th NW), 10/14 at NW African American Museum (2300 S. Massachusetts); 10/26 at City Hall downtown.
It’s hard to see the creek for the trees – but it’s there – that’s the view from the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across from the ferry terminal, looking down toward the water. We have two updates to share from Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens – first, the spawners may be getting closer, and that means they need people to sign up to keep watch on the creek:
2009 SALMON WATCH INVITES VOLUNTEERS
Reports of large coho being caught off of Bellingham are encouraging that our coho may have survived warm ocean conditions to return to Puget Sound and Fauntleroy Creek. We’ll know more in a few weeks when fishers off of Colman Pool report what they’re catching.
In anticipation, we’re starting to organize the annual salmon watch, whereby volunteers tally spawners and record their condition. Watchers schedule half-hour shifts immediately after high tide. You’ll be trained during your first shift and can come as little or as much as your calendar permits. The watch will start Oct. 26 and go until Thanksgiving.
For questions or to get on the list, contact Judy Pickens at 938-4203 or judy_pickens@msn.com.
Judy also sends word of the drum event that will precede the creek watch – here’s one of our photos from last year, showing Jamie Shilling, who Judy writes will help lead again this year:
CALLING ALL DRUMMERS!
The annual drumming to call in spawners to Fauntleroy Creek will be at the fish-ladder viewpoint (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW) on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 5 PM. Jamie Shilling will lead the singing and drumming, and Randy Sleight will lend his storytelling skills. Bring any kind of drum you have or can devise and join your neighbors in this spirited event for all ages.
Here’s a map to the creek overlook. P.S. One week before Salmon Watch and drumming, it’s the Fauntleroy Fall Festival – 2-6 pm October 18th – with activities including pony rides, arts and crafts, performances, games, dunk tanks, food, on both sides of the “bend in the road” where you’ll find Fauntleroy Church, YMCA, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
Our video from last September shows the entire 1,000-strong crowd taking off for the first-ever Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run, benefiting West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing (WSB sponsor), which helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. Will this year’s crowd beat that? Still time to help make sure it does – register at alkibeachrun.com. The route starts at Alki Bathhouse and travels along the West Seattle waterfront (here’s a map). Here’s what the $ goes for. See you there (and so far – though it’s early – the weather looks great)!
This past Friday and Saturday, piles of donated items were sold at West Seattle’s Peace Lutheran Church to benefit 1-year-old Maarten (left), who’s been fighting a brain tumor for virtually his entire life. He and his parents had to stay in Boston where he’s being treated and couldn’t make it home in time for the sale, but organizer Claudia Ludwig, a co-worker of Maarten’s mom, tells us they’ve now raised $5,925 – including $3,625 from the sale (the rest is from PayPal and bank account donations). Claudia adds:
Please send a GIANT thank you to everyone who reads the WS blog. Maarten and his parents, Sacha and Francois will be back home in Seattle on Wednesday and they are SO thrilled by all of us coming together to help them in this way. Sacha told me (Sunday) morning when I gave her an approximate total that their 3 trips to Boston AND the 9 weeks lodging expenses are covered by our sale and there will be more left! She and Francois were in awe and so very very grateful. They’ll be updating the helpmaarten.blogspot.com soon and want to send out their thanks to everyone and feel so moved by our support.
Claudia also added a bit more about the treatment that Maarten’s been receiving – how it works and how costly it is – read on:Read More
(Today’s sunrise, from Seacrest, courtesy Chas Redmond, who happens to be an SWS member)
Tonight’s calendar highlight — Sustainable West Seattle‘s monthly meeting, 7 pm, Camp Long Lodge (map), all welcome. This is the group’s last meeting before a big event it’s co-presenting – the Eat Local Now dinner/auction, 5 pm October 11th at Alki Masonic Hall (map) in The Junction. (We’re among the co-sponsors.) Goal: Enjoying, promoting and celebrating locally grown food; tickets are available online.
In our Saturday coverage of the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza time-capsule event, we included part of the speech by former West Seattleite Capt. Gregory Johnson – now an astronaut who piloted Atlantis earlier this year. Above, more of what he had to say – 9 and a half minutes worth – including, at the request of Plaza Project co-chair Libby Carr, his predictions for the future. In the very near future, you can see/hear him in person this Thursday morning at the West Seattle High School Foundation‘s second annual Back To School Breakfast – Foundation president Christy Rowe was a WSHS Class of ’72 classmate of Capt. Johnson, in fact. Others at the breakfast will include WSHS Principal Bruce Bivins, WSHS alum/King County Council Chair/County Executive candidate Dow Constantine and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. Coffee/breakfast at 7:30, program at 8, free/donations accepted. To RSVP, call Dick Lee at 206-252-0476
Just got word of this via Facebook – Kick It With Kenya, which brings health education to Kenyan youth through soccer, is presenting a fundraiser featuring Danny Godinez at Alki Tavern tonight. $10 suggested donation at the door; starts at 8 pm. Find out more about KIWK here.
That trio of volunteers staffed a cheery concession table full of candy inside the gym at Holy Rosary School as the 20th annual Westfest (WSB sponsor) got under way last night. It continues 10 am-10 pm today – lots of outdoor fun, of course, including bouncy rides for kids (and we saw a portable climbing wall too), plus bingo:
We also heard via Twitter from West Seattle-resident TV personality Jim Dever (@jimdever) that the “West Seattle Idol” talent show at Westfest at 4 pm today is not to be missed. Here’s the Westfest map and schedule; here’s a map to Holy Rosary.
Also continuing today, the big sale at Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood (Google Street View above; here’s a map) to help Baby Maarten, a 1-year-old who’s in the fight of his life (chronicled here), getting treatment for a brain tumor. By several accounts, including what organizer Claudia wrote here, Day 1 was terrific, and there’s still lots left for you to shop on Day 2. (Speaking of sales, if you’re going to be out and about, check out the listings for yard/garage sales today in the Freebies/Deals/Sales section of the WSB Forums.)
That’s the biggest of three rooms of donated items going on sale starting at 9 this morning at Peace Lutheran Church (NE corner of Thistle/39th; map), with the proceeds to help Maarten, a 1-year-old fighting a brain tumor. You first saw Maarten’s story here two weeks ago; now the big sale is here, today and tomorrow. Lots more information at the Help Maarten website, including an update on how he’s doing, and how you can help if you can’t make it to the sale – but if you can, not only will you find the giant room of stuff you see in our photo, but also in other rooms, musical instruments, furniture, even artworks – we dropped by as organizer Claudia and other volunteers were working Thursday night to get it all organized. And a bake sale too!
Just in from WestSide Baby, which helps West Seattle, White Center and vicinity families in need – a call for volunteers tonight AND a chance to recycle old carseats:
WestSide Baby After Hours and Carseat Recycling Tonight
WestSide Baby is open tonight, Thursday September 17th from 7-9, for our monthly third Thursday “After Hours” sorting frenzy. Grab a friend and join us for an evening of sorting donations, socializing and making a difference in the community.
Reusing and Recycling Carseats
From now until September 25, WestSide Baby is collecting seats that cannot be reused. We will dismantle them (with volunteer help) and send them to Portland, the nearest facility. You can also bring carseats to donate or recycle during the “After Hours” frenzy tonight. Tonight is your one “after hours” opportunity to donate seats that we can’t use because they are more than 6 years old or have been in a car accident. We will be collecting carseats through September 24 for the Safe Kids of South King County’s car seat recycling event at IKEA on September 30th.
We are open Mondays & Wednesdays from 9-1pm and Saturdays from 10-1pm.
Please bring the unusable carseats directly to us instead of our drop-off locations. (Again, tonight’s hours are 7-9 pm.)
We are located in White Center next to the Dollar Store and on the back side of White Center Chiropractic at 10032 15th Ave. SW.
Here’s a map.
4:23 PM UPDATE: Laura Elfline from CoolMom sends word that they are partnering with WestSide Baby and Safe Kids of South King County in the car-seat-recycling drive. Here’s more information – including word that they’re having another carseat-dismantling session next week if you can’t help out tonight.
ALKI HOMESTEAD’S FUTURE: The landmark’s owner, Tom Lin, is scheduled to be the guest at tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting, to discuss his plans for the historic building, heavily damaged by fire in January. 7 pm, Alki Community Center.
SOUTHWEST LIBRARY LACE: Before Seattle author Heather Barbieri reads from her novel, “The Lace Makers of Glenmara†at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library at 6:30 p.m., Julie Enevoldsen from Friends of Southwest Branch Library will be demonstrating bobbin lace, starting around 5 pm: She’s a member of Lacemakers of Puget Sound and invites you to stop by and see how lace is made by hand, as it is in the book. Also at the reading, Square One Books (WSB sponsor) will be selling books.
COFFEE CINEMA: The documentary “1000 Journals,” about people whose lives are touched by 1000 traveling journals, will be shown at Freshy’s Coffee tonight at 7.
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES DINNER: “An Evening of Inspiration,” benefiting West Seattle-based Transitional Resources, starts at 6 tonight with a silent auction/reception, The Hall at Fauntleroy, $25 for three-course meal, wine/cash bar available, silent auction, entertainment by Garfield Jazz Combo.
Thanks to Rachel Jackson at ArtsWest for the photo from last night’s West Seattle Garden Tour Awards at AW. The WSGT is a fundraiser as well as a great day of garden-wandering, and the photo shows WSGT president Lee Kramer (left) presenting a symbolic check for the fundraising proceeds to this year’s beneficiaries: Junction Plaza Park, Seattle Youth Garden Works, Transitional Resources, Plant Amnesty and ArtsWest (where the second week of AW’s season-opener “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” starts tonight). Jane Watson reports that the total amount raised this year was $22,500, adding:
Begun in 1995 as a fundraising event for the ArtsWest Theatre, the West Seattle
Garden Tour has evolved into an annual fundraising event for a variety of non-profit and educational organizations in West Seattle and surrounding communities. We would like to take this opportunity to thank this year’s sponsors, gardeners, volunteers and the West Seattle community for supporting the Garden Tour and for making the 2009 tour our most successful yet!We would also like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining the WSGT as a volunteer. The WSGT committee meets every second Wednesday of each month at a members home for a group potluck and to plan the upcoming Tour. For additional information, contact us via our website www.westseattlegardentour.com.
Even as signs of economic improvement break through the clouds, local nonprofits that help those in need are still very much in need themselves, of your ongoing support. Latest example: We heard this morning from West Seattle Food Bank board president Pete Spalding. He reports:
At our board meeting of the West Seattle Food Bank last night we were discussing our continuing to see record numbers of clients. I wanted to share with you that in July we served over 3,000 households, which worked out to over 7,600 individuals and we distributed over 100,000 pounds of food. The continuing generosity of the West Seattle community and our very loyal donor base is a never ending wonder to me.
To help all those people, it takes a lot of donations, from a lot of sources. Just this week, we’ve received info on results of a few contribution-yielding efforts – for example, the Holy Rosary Christmas Tree Lot reported its distribution from last season, including $2,057 to the WS Food Bank and two other nonprofits; the Food Bank also was among the beneficiaries from raffles that raised hundreds of dollars before West Seattle Junction Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentations, and from the Paint Ball event that raised $500 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) during last week’s West Seattle Art Walk. And while we were at the new Junction QFC store opening this morning, it was pointed out that they’ll be partnering with WS Food Bank in the “grocery rescue” program, where food that’s about to be “culled” from market stock will instead go to the food bank. You can donate any time online – just go here.
Duwamish Alive! shares an update on its next big volunteer cleanup day, just a month away — October 17 — at sites all over the area, including 4 in West Seattle; they’re even organizing a kayaking cleanup crew. Bottom line: They hope YOU can be part of it, at one of these spots. Read on to see where and how —Read More
That’s how this sunny Saturday started at Seacrest, as photographed by Christopher Boffoli … 
and it just keeps getting better. At right, a little pic sent by West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy, who says they’re washing cars an extra half-hour, till 2:30 pm, and says they’re thankful for everybody supporting Westside volleyball: “This is both a major fundraiser for the program to help offset some budget reductions from the School District, and part of a Team Building weekend. Supporters are asked to make donations. It is going to be an exciting year for the team which features some good young players who should continue to improve through the season.” They’re in the WSHS parking lot. Meantime, remember everything going on today is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (to jump directly to the Saturday section, click here – and if you know of something NOT on the list, please add a mention in comments!).
Accordions doing ABBA? That video is from a California performance last fall by Those Darn Accordions, who are at Admiral Theater tonight, 2343 California SW (map), 8 pm. But first – what to do today? In the shopping mood? Fauntleroy Church‘s Second-Time Sale:
9 am-3 pm, bountiful bargains, 9140 California SW (map). From there, head north to get your car washed for a good cause; you can support the West Seattle High School volleyball team by taking your wheels to their wash in the WSHS parking lot (3000 California SW; map) 10 am-2 pm. Once your car’s clean — how about bringing home a new furry friend?
We saw those cute little guys at a Southwest Community Center foster cat Adopt-A-Thon last fall; today, another group of home-seeking kitties will be at SWCC, noon-3 pm. Then you can do even more to help reduce cat overpopulation by going to a benefit tonight for FCAT, which traps and sterilizes feral cats; Dong Khanh Cafe (9655 16th SW; map) is where you’ll find the fun, food and music, starting at 5 pm. One more event for tonight: West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) wants to show off its brand-new campus and invites you to an open house tonight for tours, free food and fun – 5:30-7:30 pm, 11215 15th SW (map).
More events in the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup!
Whether or not you got to do volunteer work on this Day of Service – or among the thousands whose volunteer work truly keeps West Seattle running, growing, thriving day in, day out – there are two more events tomorrow we wanted to spotlight, since full details came in after we’d published the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (though both are now added, and you’ll find several other work parties listed there too) – they’re work parties at two of West Seattle’s precious natural treasures. First, thanks to Donn for forwarding details of the Roxhill work party:
Roxhill Park Wetland Restoration Work Party
WHEN Saturday, September 12, 2009, 9 am – 1 pm
WHERE Roxhill Park
2850 SW Roxbury St
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION Friends of Roxhill Park
CONTACT Scott Blackstock
CONTACT PHONE 206-938-2144
NOTE We are restoring the headwaters of Longfellow Creek. More than 300,000 native plants have been planted there in the last seven years. There is a parking lot on SW Barton & 29th Ave. SW. [map] We will meet behind the restrooms.
And Philip sent more details on tomorrow’s Alki Beach Volleyball cleanup at Alki (photo at top of this story is an AVA photo from last year’s cleanup):
The AVA (Alki Volleyball Association) is having another beach cleanup on Alki Beach Saturday Sept 12th. Every year the AVA has two volunteer beach cleanups to help keep Alki beach clean. Local residents appreciate the cleanups and volunteer the day off, helping to pick-up cigarette butts, bottle caps, Glass, Charcoal and other things that make Alki beach unsightly. There will be refreshments and juice from (Columbia Gorge Organic) and prizes! Free T-Shirts to volunteers. Look for the white tent and blue AVA banner close to the Bathhouse side of Alki beach [map] on Saturday morning Sept. 12th between 9 am and 1 pm. More about the AVA on their website: www.alkivolleyball.com
For either event – and the other work parties on the Weekend Lineup (and listed way in advance at greenseattle.org) you’re welcome to just show up and pitch in.
All over the country, volunteers are working this Friday on projects that are part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance proclaimed for September 11th. Among them – Microsoft workers sprucing up various spots around Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (map) including the playground and the greenery surrounding the grounds, even along the north-side street:
Thanks to Kim Sheridan at Fauntleroy Children’s Center for mentioning the Day of Service project when we spoke yesterday about schoolhouse-purchase news (here’s our story on that, if you haven’t seen it already). Where else in West Seattle got some Day of Service love? Let us know!
As the new school year continues, there’s word of another big school fundraiser: Chief Sealth High School‘s PTSA and Performing Arts department are presenting the first-ever Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction on November 12th. It’ll be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy on November 12th, with doors opening at 5:30 for a silent auction, buffet dinner at 7, and a live auction at 8. Auction-item donations are being accepted as well as ticket orders – Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0476.
Just back from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch, where Bill Hibler of West Seattle Internet mentioned that the West Seattle Garden Tour – which included his Gatewood home this past July (photo above) – is inviting people to join the committee, and there’s a meeting tonight, which he described as part party (that’s where the food comes in – wine too) and part meeting – as Bill puts it, “One member suggested that the committee was actually a gourmet cooking club masquerading as a garden committee!” If you’d like to investigate the possibility of helping out the WS Garden Tour, be at 1300 SW Webster (map) at 6:30 (phone numbers if you get lost: 206 225-6508, 206 225-4109). If you just can’t make it, but are interested in being on the WSGT committee, contact Clay Swidler at 206-669-4653. (The tour is a nonprofit annual event that raises money for nonprofit and educational organizations in West Seattle and vicinity – more info at westseattlegardentour.com.)
No reason to entirely write off what technically remains of summer – some fun events are coming up later this month (including Holy Rosary’s Westfest Sept. 18-19, the Junction Car Show [co-sponsored by WSB] on Sept. 20, the Alki Beach 5K [WSB sponsor] Sept. 27) – nonetheless, starting tonight, things get serious again. Many community groups skipped August on the meeting calendar, and tonight it’s back to business. Including:
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
7 pm, Admiral Church basement meeting room (4320 SW Hill; map)
****This group scored big over the summer with its first-ever summer concert series.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
7 pm, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW; map)
****Big events ahead this fall including the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (Oct. 18).
JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION
6:30 pm, Ginomai (42nd/Genesee; map)
****The ongoing Junction parking review remains a hot topic, particularly the question of whether it will result in RPZs. Also big: Fundraising completion for Junction Plaza Park.
The White Center Food Bank (which serves part of southern West Seattle, too) has issued a unique “call for artists” – decorate a chair to be auctioned at WCFB’s upcoming Harvest Dinner/Auction. Think you might be able to help? Read on!Read More
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