West Seattle, Washington
01 Wednesday
Another weekend in its waning hours — and once again, so much of what happened couldn’t have been done without volunteers – like the many who put on the Morgan Junction Community Festival that we very much enjoyed being part of on Saturday (our reports: here and here). A sign on our table (above) was a reminder about the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition campaign we’re helping promote right now – and you have two more days to nominate someone for recognition. The Southwest and Delridge District Councils, along with WSB, want to shine a spotlight on some of the people whose volunteer efforts make this a great place to be; your role – send in a nomination (or more than one!). Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is Wednesday (June 17); a community panel will review the entries, choosing three for recognition during one of next month’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park. Thanks – to you, and to all of West Seattle’s tireless volunteers!
WSB Forums member “bsmomma” says it was a last-minute decision, but she and her daughter have joined the nationwide Alex’s Lemonade Stand movement to fight childhood cancer. They’re planning a lemonade stand today, noon-3 pm, 48th SW & SW Waite (map).
A grand vision to mark 15 key whale-watching spots on our state’s inland and seacoast shores — The Whale Trail — is coming closer to reality. At one spot set for a marker, Alki, a who’s-who of marine mammal/ecology advocates gathered last night for an open house to show off the plan, including Whale Trail director Donna Sandstrom (seated in the photo below) and Kathy Fletcher from People for Puget Sound:
Sandstrom said orca extinction “will not happen on our watch … it’s not too late.” Fletcher said awareness-raising efforts like The Whale Trail are “part of the overall effort to restore Puget Sound … as an ecosystem.” She also urged people not to be fooled by the Sound’s “extraordinary beauty” — “Puget Sound is in trouble,” all the way down the food chain, which is topped by the orcas.
One of their major sources of food is salmon – Mark Sears, longtime researcher as well as resident operator of West Seattle’s Colman Pool, discussed what’s being learned about the specific salmon they prefer, and why it matters:
The importance of protecting local waterways was hammered home by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, who also digressed into mentioning the status of her tribe’s bid for restoration of its short-lived federal recognition:
The unifying message: It takes not just a village, but a region, to protect its whales. Sandstrom suggested “a clear vision for everyone in the room, that by 2020, we have a thriving orca population here in Puget Sound – The Whale Trail is one way we’re going to do that.” It’s not just a private effort: A state Fish and Wildlife Department rep was there, showing off the designs for new wildlife maps you’ll be able to get starting next month, and also talking with us about the WildWatch Cams (check it out – coolest link we got all weekend). So how can you help The Whale Trail get all 15 markers up by 2013 as hoped? Sandstrom mentioned a $14K state grant has just come in, but it’s matching funds, so they need contributions (including volunteer help). Contact info is on their website, which she told us will have a “donate” link soon too.
Not sure how many were from West Seattle, but kudos to the MANY volunteers (like the green-shirted cheerleaders above) who made the Race for the Cure an incredible event again this year (our photos later, and if you have one of you and/or other West Seattleites in the event, please share – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!) Anyway, seeing them reminded us that we want to update you on the GREAT response so far to the brand-new effort to celebrate West Seattle volunteers, just launched by the Southwest and Delridge District Councils and WSB. We know the peninsula’s home to HUNDREDS of people who really rock the volunteer world to make this a better place, so while we’ve got some fab nominees now, let’s get more — take a second and send in the name(s) of the one(s) you appreciate the most! Here’s the quick ‘n’ easy online nomination form – deadline is June 17th; a community panel will review the entries and choose three for recognition during one of the summer’s big events, the July 14th Hi-Yu Concert in the Park.
(February 2008 photo courtesy Jeff Hogan)
Just got word of this (with an eVite) — too late for the original publication of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup but we love orcas so wanted to call special attention to it:
The Whale Trail Open House/Fundraiser
Sunday, June 7th, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Alki Beach BathhouseJune is orca month in Washington! Help us celebrate by attending an Open House and Fundraiser for The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) at the Alki Beach Bathhouse in Seattle.
Learn more about whales in the Seattle area, and what you can do to help protect them. Mingle with our core team including representatives from NOAA, Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife, People for Puget Sound, the Seattle Aquarium, the Whale Museum and Coast Watch Society. Celebrate the start of orca month, and support a great cause, too!
The event is open to the public, and will feature light refreshments, educational displays, and a short program. There is no charge but donations to support The Whale Trail are welcome. Please stop by – looking forward to seeing you there!
What’s “The Whale Trail,” you ask? From its website:
Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment by establishing a network of viewing sites along the whales’ trails through Puget Sound and the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest.
P.S. Sounds like some great speakers at the event too, from a phone conversation we just had, including an opening by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen and a presentation by local orca researcher Mark Sears.
Another big weekend ahead – and even before we get to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup tomorrow morning, we want to hit some of the highlights. Here’s one: Want to help clean up West Seattle’s most famous beach? The Alki Volleyball Association‘s inviting everyone – players or not – to join in a big cleanup (AVA photo above is from last year) this Saturday. It’s one of two volunteer beach cleanups the AVA sponsors every year, and Phillip from AVA says: “There will be refreshments and prizes! Free T-Shirts to volunteers. Look for the white tent and AVA blue AVA banner close to the Bathhouse side of the beach on Saturday morning between 9 am and 1 pm.”
Along with members of the Southwest District Council and Delridge District Council, WSB is proud to announce this morning a new way to recognize people who make a difference in West Seattle. If you know someone who is one of those “unsung heroes,” who live, work or serve in our community, we want to hear about them. We’ve set up a simple application form online. You have till June 17th to nominate someone; then, after review by a citizen panel, the top three people will be selected in late June and they will be recognized at the July 14th West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park event. So take a minute and nominate someone – or more than one – by going here! Thanks!
RACE RESULTS: If you were among the 1,000-plus participants in Sunday’s first-ever West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage, with video of the entire start and the top finisher, here), you can now see the results (and photos) online.
HOOD VS. HOOD: Beth points out that West Seattle is so far “winning” the Hood-to-Hood challenge in the KEXP public-radio pledge drive: “The winning neighborhood will get them delivering some of their shows at a local neighborhood venue for the day as well as bringing in some bands to play at local neighbor hood music venues. Right now West Seattle is in the lead.” Yes, we are beating BALLARD, in fact, with Capitol Hill in third (!?). Check it out here.
GARDEN PARTY: Transitional Resources sends a reminder that its annual Garden Party is coming up this Saturday. It’s a chance to help out in our area’s smallest certified organic garden and also check out noted chef Christine Keff‘s cooking demo, among other fun aspects – full details here.
The area’s next big 5K takes over The Viaduct next Sunday morning: The annual Race for the Cure, raising money to fight breast cancer. Many West Seattleites are among the thousands of participants (including Team WSB, as we’ve written in the past). And this year, the Kids’ Run Grand Marshal is from West Seattle – read on for his story:
(WSB photo from 2008 Race for the Cure, heading northbound on The Viaduct)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
In 2007, West Seattle resident Eddie Westerman walked in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for her friend Dottie, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. They called their team “Dottie’s Hotties.”
One year later, her participation was in a different light: In 2008, Eddie herself was diagnosed with breast cancer; they renamed the team “The Fast Eddies.” This year, yet another friend of Eddie’s has been diagnosed with breast cancer and because the list is getting so long, they’re using the first initials of the friends who have been diagnosed and renaming the team “Pledges for EDJS.”
Throughout her journey, Eddie has had a very special partner working with her — her 12-year-old son Adam Westerman. (Photo at left, family-provided, shows Adam and Eddie)
Last year, Eddie and Adam teamed up to raise funds for the 2008 Susan G. Komen race and much to their surprise discovered Adam was the #1 youth fundraiser. This information came to them through a phone call months later from the Susan G. Komen Foundation who called Adam to tell him the good news and said, “We have something for you” — a Nintendo Wii. Says Eddie, “He thought they were joking; that it was something we’d put them up to.”
Adam was then asked by the Komen Foundation to speak to a group of their volunteers. He did such a great job, the Foundation asked him to be the 2009 Kids Run Grand Marshal.
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, for today/tonight:
VYING FOR VOTES: This just might be one of the biggest candidates’ forums of the primary season in West Seattle: Four of the major King County Executive candidates declared so far — Dow Constantine, Ross Hunter, Fred Jarrett, Larry Phillips — will be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm tonight in a forum presented by InSPIRe, all welcome. Audience Q/A for the candidates is part of the plan, and you can even submit a question online right now (via this page).
PICK A PLAYGROUND (DESIGN): 7:30 tonight at Delridge Community Center, come share your thoughts about the three proposed designs for the new DCC playground to be “built in a day” next month — see all three designs here — so the eventual choice will truly be the community’s choice.
BINGO’S BACK: The popular Monday night bingo games at Alki UCC resume tonight after a Memorial Day hiatus. Doors open 5:30 pm, games start at 6:30.
FOOD DRIVE: All Bartell Drugs locations have a food drive this month, starting today – they’ll be collecting nonperishable food items at their stores. Read more here.
TAE KWON DO: The Hiawatha (Community Center) Tae Kwon Do Club is inviting new members (18 and up) to its classes, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays – find out more at (206) 684-7441.
That’s a photo from last year’s Father’s Day Car Show at The Mount. If you’ve got a car to show off, they’d love to have you be part of this year’s show – here’s the announcement we just received:
A Father’s Day tradition at Providence Mount St. Vincent is to host a Classic and Antique Car Show for our residents and for the community. We’re looking for owners of such vehicles to display their cars and chat with folks on Sunday, June 21st from about 11 am until 3:30 pm. It’s always a good time. There’s a small competition for best entry in several categories. And it’s rewarding to see the great pleasure that this brings to our residents, most of whom are in their 80’s and 90’s. If you are interested, please call Eileen at (206) 937-3701, ext 28674 or e-mail eileen.mccloskey@providence.org and let her know that you’ll be coming.
(And let us know too, so we can stop by for a pic or interview while we’re covering the show!)
If you’ve been on Alki tonight, you might have noticed a brightly colored flyer attached to many of the “no parking” signs that are up for the “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” event that’s closing Alki Ave (from Harbor/California Way to Alki/63rd) 9 am-5 pm Sunday. Take a closer look, and it’s a last-minute plea for volunteer help; we got a phone call about it while en route to Alki, where we subsequently saw the flyers. We asked the caller to send us the request so we could share it with you:
NEIGHBORS NEEDED TO VOLUNTEER ON ALKI THIS SUNDAY, MAY 31.
All Volunteers will receive a Summer Streets T Shirt and Eligible to WIN Free REI Gear and a BIG Prize.Keep the streets safe by being a block watch and letting staff know of any emergencies while you enjoy the sun and meet your neighbors. You are needed for this event to happen.
BE A HERO, BE A NEIGHBOR! SHIFTS: 10:30 am – 2 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm.
Contact:
Kerry Bischoff
kerrybischoff@yahoo.com
425-248-9193
Here’s the city’s official page about the event; here’s our report from last night with more details on the activities and performances planned during the day, which kicks off with the first-ever West Seattle 5K Walk/Run (WSB sponsor; tomorrow’s your last chance to register online – but there’ll be registration in person Saturday and Sunday).
Girl Scouts of Western Washington asked if we could help spread the word on this, even though it’s not West Seattle-specific, since the camps start running next month. Scholarships of any kind are always big news, so check this out:
Girl Scouts of Western Washington is offering a scholarship to girls in grades K-12 who are daughters of disabled military personnel. This applies to girls with one parent who is disabled in some way and was or is currently serving in the military. This scholarship covers any of our camps – one or two week programs, day or resident camps. Girls needn’t be a Girl Scout to apply. You can find more details on our website: girlscoutsww.org/news/DisabledMilitaryScholarship
If you know someone who might be interested, please forward – remember that you can use the “Share This” link below any WSB post or page to forward a link in many ways, including e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
One of three major items on the Delridge District Council agenda last night: Presentations by three groups seeking city Neighborhood Matching Fund money for their projects – the final three that the council has forwarded into citywide competition. The presenters — including a Chief Sealth High School group (photo above) had a high-profile audience — not just a good turnout (more than 2 dozen people) for the meeting, but also the president of the City Council, Richard Conlin (who later quipped that he thinks it may be time to allot more money to the NMF – the funding request from these three groups is among $2.5 million total requested citywide, but the available pot of money is less than half that). As Pete Spalding, former council chair sitting in for current chair Pablo Lambinicio, described all three as “pretty remarkable projects” — and that was even before their presentations. Read on to hear more about what’s presented and what happens next:Read More
Happening right now, the crew in the background of that photo is hard at work in The Junction — and has been since about 5:30 this morning! — hanging baskets of summer flowers (like the ones in the foreground). Here’s some of what else is happening today/tonight (in addition to the poetry slam and Pier 66 EPA hearing/rally we re-mentioned last night):
TODAY: Next step toward the Delridge Skatepark (most recent WSB coverage here)- its schematic design goes before the Seattle Design Commission at City Hall, 2 pm today.
TODAY: Great weather for a car wash, and SafeFutures Youth Center will clean yours in the U-Haul parking lot at the northwest corner of 35th/Morgan (map), 4-7 pm.
TONIGHT: At 5:30 pm, Seattle Public Schools is holding a public hearing at Gatewood Elementary about the proposed sale of part of the property it owns at Jefferson Square. The hearing has only been announced in a fine-print public notice, but we reported details of the proposed deal (which involved a legal fight) two weeks ago; if you have anything to say about it, be at tonight’s hearing.
TONIGHT: Also at 5:30, a potluck kicks off the rescheduled Pathfinder K-8 Multi-Cultural Night (full details here), with performances starting an hour later.
TONIGHT: 7 pm at Alki Community Center, the Alki Community Council meets with two big items on the agenda: Crime concerns in the wake of the May 1st shooting (and looking ahead to summer), and this Saturday’s Alki Community Wildlife Habitat celebration.
TONIGHT: Do a good deed while having a good time — at 7 pm, lend a hand (or two) for WestSide Baby‘s monthly “sorting frenzy”; details here (including how to RSVP).
That photo is from eight days ago, when dozens of kids — and grownups — gathered at Delridge Community Center to sketch out and discuss their dreams for the center’s new playground, scheduled to be built in July, with the help of KaBOOM!, which works on projects like this nationwide. (Here’s our story from that day.) While costs will be dramatically lower than usual because of KaBOOM! and sponsors, the community still needs to chip in, and a major fundraiser has just been announced for the May 30th Delridge Day festival at Youngstown Arts Center – Lisa is circulating this message far and wide, and please note there’s a call for volunteers to step forward NOW:
On May 30th, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council will have a booth to promote the project at Delridge Day … We’ll have a display to raise awareness of the need for volunteers to help build the playground, take volunteer sign-ups, and have a donations jar & plant sale to raise a little “seed” money for project incidentals. We’ll also have a free activity where kids can plant seeds to take home.
Here comes the “ask” part–we need:
* volunteers to staff the booth on May 30th
* donations of plants or starts
* people to come by our booth and support our cause!
Should be a fun and an easy event to staff. I can see our sign now: “KaBOOM! and the North Delridge Neighborhood Council: Growing healthy kids and healthy communities.”If you would like to participate by donating plants or starts, or by staffing the booth, contact me at granolagulch[at]earthlink[dot]net or 937-1522.
The event in this announcement (forwarded to us by several people – thank you!) isn’t in West Seattle, but in light of the gang-linked May 1 shooting on Alki (which has now resulted in an arrest – here’s the report we published last night), it’s more than relevant – read on for details:Read More
We told you last month about the DECA Marketing students from West Seattle High School headed to Internationals competition. Now their teacher Michelle Sloan has a request for the community, to help with some more-local judging:
Every few months, students in the marketing class make projects and compete with other teams in the class.
This time our project consists of creating a hotel and marketing it. At this time we are looking for judges who would be available Friday May 22nd from 11:00-12:00.
The judges can be community members, business owners, people with backgrounds in advertising, graphic design, and marketing.
Thanks!
They can reach me at masloan@seattleschools.org
The photo at left is from a recent Green Seattle Partnership-affiliated work party at Lincoln Park, exactly the kind of work party that Green Seattle’s Joanna Nelson evangelized at tonight’s Highland Park Action Committee, saying “If everyone in Seattle volunteered (in forest restoration) once every five years, we’d be done.” She talked about the organization’s hopes of having “all the forested areas in Seattle in restoration by 2025” — bringing back conifers, which live for hundreds of years, instead of the relatively short-lived trees like alder and maple that sprung up after the native conifers were cleared. But it’s all about volunteer help, she stressed. HPAC is having a Westcrest Park “mini-summit” at next month’s meeting, according to HPAC chair Dan Mullins, who is proposing that a committee be formed to oversee restoration work at that park, which is part of the West Duwamish Greenbelt; Nelson mentioned a small pilot project expected to start soon. (As she also noted, restoration work is done elsewhere in the WDG by the Nature Consortium.) Green Seattle is one of three environmentally oriented organizations appearing at tonight’s HPAC meeting; more coverage to come. (P.S. Green Seattle’s website has a list of work parties happening here and elsewhere in the city, and we include West Seattle events in the WS Weekend Lineup every Friday.)
Update on the adoptable dogs and cats at the Furry Faces Foundation plant sale/pet adoption event running through 4 pm today (3809 46th SW; map) – Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor)’s Lora Lewis is there and sends pix of some of the pets who just might be looking for YOU – that’s Rambo in the photo above – and following the nameless but cute kittens, it’s Griswold:
Griswold’s a Rottweiler mix, 18 months old, available through King County Animal Services – Lora says the fees are $75 dogs, $35 for cats, $75 kittens. And as she adds, “Lots of plants too, of course!”
Among today’s highlights:
We got that video at a cheering station along Alki Ave during last year’s Walk with Us to Cure Lupus 5K — today, another sunny day for the fundraising walk, which starts from the Alki Bathhouse at 10, after check-in at 9 (more info here).
Also at 10, Furry Faces Foundation‘s plant sale/pet adoption event starts its second day at 3809 46th SW (map), continuing till 4 pm. Even more pets today, dogs and cats, and as of our visit around 2 pm yesterday, Riley (shown above with the Animals First Foundation folks) hadn’t found her permanent home yet. As for the plants? Vegetable starts and flowers, sun and shade, and if you’ve got questions, some great folks are there to help – like F3 leader Teri Ensley‘s mom Lila:
Gardeners who also enjoy beer and art have an event tailor-made for them at West Seattle Nursery – joining forces with Prost and Twilight for its first “Beer Fest” 1-5 pm, combining beer, gardening and art. Pretzels too, according to the WSN website. Part of today’s sales go to West Seattle Helpline in honor of the occasion.
Also today: In The Junction, as always, 10 am-2 pm is West Seattle Farmers’ Market time – here’s the link to today’s list of what’s fresh.
One more event of note: Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrating its new Pastoral Center with an Open House, all welcome, 9:30 am-1 pm (more info here; the new center’s on 35th just north of Myrtle – here’s a map).
Another update this morning as 16-year-old Chief Sealth High School student Coreena Wolford 
continues her fight to recover from major injuries suffered in a crash 9 days ago. As reported previously (last week’s story here, Monday update here), Coreena collided with another driver the afternoon of May 6th, while she was driving to South Park’s Concord Elementary for her volunteer work with the Team READ tutoring program. She has been in the hospital ever since, and her family is now approving updates to a Caring Bridge website set up to provide information on her recovery (that’s where the photo at left is from). This morning, there’s a new post – a fund is finally set up for those who want to donate to help with Coreena’s expenses:
Bank: BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union)
Account Name: Benevolent Account for Coreena Wolford
Account Number: 3583245599 (checking)
BECU Routing Number: 325081403
You can donate at any BECU branch, or use that information for a transfer from your own account at any bank. Meantime, a short update on Coreena’s condition accompanies that information, saying she is “doing much better.” You can sign her online guestbook here.
Since Furry Faces Foundation‘s big plant sale this weekend is all about raising money to help animals, a bonus event on Saturday fits right in: West Seattle author Val Mallinson will be signing and selling copies of her books “The Dog Lover’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest” and “The Dog Lover’s Guide to Seattle” for the first four hours of the first sale day, donating $1 from each book sale to F3. As F3’s announcement puts it, “Together with her faithful companions Cooper and Isis—also known as “The Wonder Wieners”—Val reveals the best dog-friendly romps, digs, and eats in the Pacific Northwest in these two new guidebooks.” She’ll be there 10 am-2 pm tomorrow (Saturday); the plant sale is 10 am-4 pm Saturday and Sunday; the location both days is 3809 46th Ave SW (map). And did we mention the plant sale also will offer pet-adoption opportunties? in addition to the “1,200+ healthy, nursery quality plants at reasonable prices, beautifully suited for Pacific NW gardens” – even more details here.
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