West Seattle, Washington
28 Monday
From the Chief Sealth PTSA, a confluence of events this Saturday that they’d like you to know about:
• Our adoption of Delridge Way SW, from Orchard to Brandon, through the Seattle Public Utitlies Adopt-A-Street program, which is part of our outreach efforts to the North Delrdge community while Sealth is located at Boren. In addition, we will plan to pick up litter on the school grounds and on other neighborhood streets within a 1-2 block radius of the school
• Make a Difference Day – We would like this to be a new PTSA tradition that we participate in each year
• The Teacher & Staff Wishlist program that we launched this school year. We are midway through fulfilling their request to make the teacher & staff lounge at Boren more friendly. Phase 1 was a furniture placement re-design in the space; Phase 2 is painting the walls (part of our event on 10/25); Phase 3 is decoration & finishing touches. We are working with a wonderful West Seattle designer, Gwen Williams of Space Transform
Volunteers are still needed for the Saturday 10/25 event, which starts at 10 am and finishes with a free lunch for volunteers when the work is done (around 1 pm). Chief Sealth students who participate will earn service learning hours. All materials and equipment will be provided. Contact PTSA president Leslie
Menstell: president@chiefsealthptsa.org
See the flyer here. Side note: Friday night is the big annual Chief Sealth vs. West Seattle HS “Huling Bowl” football game; we’ll be live-tweeting it (and reporting afterward) as we did with WSHS-Rainier Beach last week.
That unassuming 65-year-old fourplex in the 3600 block of California SW (map) probably doesn’t catch your eye when you drive by. From the outside, it looks a lot like countless similar-vintage West Seattle multiplexes that have been torn down and replaced with townhouses or taller apartment buildings. But inside, it’s bright and comfortable – partly renovated to serve as the day center for Family Promise of Seattle, a project that started as an idea involving several West Seattle churches, and grew from there, as a way to help newly homeless families. Back during the “Nickelsville” hubbub last month, many asked “who in West Seattle is helping the homeless?”; this is one of the answers. You can get a closer look this Thursday, when Family Promise invites you to an open house to come see the day center and find out more about what the program and its volunteers are up to. We stopped by for a sneak peek – and to see if there was any help they needed from you right now (the answer: yes!) – read on:Read More
Terri from West Seattle’s CoolMom.org chapter sends that photo of one of the big white barrels to look for at seven West Seattle locations: Any time from now through 3 pm November 14th, you can leave a bag of used toys/kids’ gear (no clothing or car seats) in one of those barrels, and as long as it contains a slip of paper with your name/phone number, you’ll be on the list of donors to get a $5 credit at the group’s Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale the next day. You don’t have to donate ahead of time, of course, to shop at the sale, which will happen 9 am-1 pm 11/15 at the Camp Long Lodge, but the CoolMoms are hoping it’ll be a nice incentive. Not only will the sale work toward “saving money while saving the planet,” to paraphrase the sign on the barrel, it’s also a fundraiser for CoolMom.org, WestSide Baby, and the West Seattle Food Bank. Here are the seven locations with barrels where you can drop off that bag of stuff for the sale – PCC, West Seattle Thriftway, Coffee to a Tea, Gatewood Elementary, Expedition Trips, Community School of West Seattle, and Allstar Fitness Kids’ Club (members only). Here’s the official flyer.
Saturday morning at Camp Long, Chas Redmond (right) led the kickoff event for the West Seattle Wayfinding and Kiosk Development program. There’s no denying West Seattle is a great place to walk; the goal of this program – which has received a $100,000 matching-funds city grant — is to make it better, with kiosks and signs to help guide the way. Exactly where they should go — that’s part of the job that starts now; attendees focused in on the south side of western WS, perhaps Fauntleroy. Another meeting is expected in November, no date set up, but even if you couldn’t make it to Saturday’s kickoff, you can still jump in to help; e-mail Chas at credmond@mac.com. Speaking of helping – that’s what hundreds of people did by showing up at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center for the White Center Food Bank‘s annual Harvest Dinner and Auction, with donated auction items like these:
Fundraisers like this have never been more important — just a few weeks ago, WCFB executive director Rick Jump told us the number of people served this September was up 50% from a year earlier. If you couldn’t make it to the event, you can still help the White Center Food Bank — which also serves part of West Seattle — by donating online here. (The West Seattle Food Bank accepts online donations too – start here.)
Just about every time we talk here about West Seattle’s growth and current/future changes, somebody voices worries about losing our sense of history. There’s something you can do right now to help make sure local history’s not lost: Get involved with the Log House Museum and its parent organization, which work to celebrate, caretake, and even unearth it. Here’s the scoop from Judy Bentley:
Are you new to Seattle and curious about its past? Are you a native who would like to brush up on local history? Are you interested in serving an organization that needs your financial, fundraising, community organizing and management skills?
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which operates The Log House Museum on Alki, is looking for volunteers, committee members, and board members. 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 the history of Southwest Seattle, making new friends in the community and the pride of knowing you’ve contributed to a vital organization.
Board member terms are for three years, beginning in 2009. Volunteer and committee work begins at any time. If you are up for the fun and challenge, please send a letter of interest.
The postal-mail and e-mail addresses for the Log House Museum can be found on this page of its website. Also note two big events coming up, and there’s time for you to be part of them: The annual membership meeting of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is coming up at 10 am November 15th at Youngstown Arts Center – join now and you can join in that important event; a week later, it’s the Anniversary Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, 5 pm November 22 at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (more info here).
(October 2007 Lafayette Walk-A-Thon photo courtesy of Luckie)
THIS MORNING: Lafayette Elementary School‘s annual Walk-A-Thon – you can cheer the kids on between 9 am and 3 pm as they circle the recreation areas on the west side of the school (map). This year they’re hoping to raise $38,000 for enrichment programs the district doesn’t fund; the $55K raised in last year’s Walk-A-Thon paid for a tutor program, Accelerated Reader tests, school computers, and a science enrichment program, as well as adding to a fund for playground updates.
TONIGHT: That’s our video (it’s better than the automated thumbnail implies) from the end of the thrilling West Seattle High School victory over O’Dea last month. Tonight, the undefeated Wildcats play their homecoming game, facing Rainier Beach at Southwest Athletic Complex (7 pm) – and before the game, you’re invited to a pep rally and barbecue (hot dogs and hamburgers!) at the WSHS Commons, 4:30-5:30. For anyone who can’t be at the game, but will be online somewhere, we’re planning updates via Twitter (if you have or get a Twitter account, follow us at westseattleblog; or you can see our Twitter updates on the web at twitter.com/westseattleblog).
Congratulations to Redmond’s Mike Town, who won the webpoll portion of the “Cox Conserves Heroes” competition in which Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens was also among five people in Western Washington honored for their work to lend nature a helping hand. Thanks to everybody who voted for Judy, not just because she does great work, but also in hopes her chosen nonprofit, EarthCorps, would get the $5K donation in the winner’s name; you can still help EarthCorps right this second with an online donation. And you can help Judy and the Fauntleroy Creek coho by being at the creek overlook (across from the ferry dock) later this month for a special event – here’s her latest update:
The annual drumming to call the salmon home to Fauntleroy Creek needs a lead drummer or two. The event will be Sunday, Oct. 26, 5-6 p.m. at the fish-ladder viewpoint (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW) and typically draws 40-60 people of all ages to sing, act out salmon stories, and enjoy spirited drumming. If you’d like to set the beat, e-mail Judy_Pickens@msn.com. In case of rain, instruments will have canopy cover.
That’s a spot along the West Duwamish Greenbelt trail where the Nature Consortium leads free monthly hikes – and the next one is tomorrow afternoon, 1 pm, 14th/Holly trailhead (directions here). RSVP today by calling 206-923-0853 or e-mail lisa@naturec.org. (Here’s our report from taking that same hike last May.) The forecast for tomorrow is already better than it looked yesterday, so you might as well take a chance if you have the opportunity to check it out. (NC executive director Nancy Whitlock, who leads the hike as shown in our photo, notes that “extreme rain cancels.”)
WEST SEATTLE TRAILS KICKOFF: Chas Redmond mentioned this again at last night’s Morgan Community Association meeting – he and Feet First have been working on the West Seattle Trails project, with a free map available all over WS, and now a $100,000 city grant for signage along the routes of what’s envisioned as the West Seattle Trail Network. This will include 60 signposts and 10 kiosks (above, a rendering from the design process). Where, you ask? That’s where you come in – join the kickoff event Saturday morning, 10 am-noon, Camp Long Lodge.
Six chances ahead for you to dine while helping, and/or finding out about, more of the people who make West Seattle a better place – and there’s a deadline TODAY to sign up for one:
RESERVATION DEADLINE IS 5 PM TODAY, EVENT IS SATURDAY: The White Center Food Bank‘s Harvest Dinner and Auction is Saturday night – starting with the silent auction @ 5:30 pm, SSCC’s Brockey Center. Full details here; $60/person, 206/762-2848, or rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org. We just talked with Audrey at WCFB and she says they need reservations by 5 PM TODAY so they can get the catering order in. (Remember, as we often mention, WCFB serves a sizable chunk of West Seattle too.)
THURSDAY: Got an hour to spare before you go to work? Safe Futures invites you to a free breakfast to find out more about how they help local kids. It’s at their HQ, 6337 35th SW (map), 8 am. RSVP: 206/235-8892.
NOVEMBER 1: Hope Lutheran School Dinner and Auction, 5:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. $50/person for early-bird bookings through tomorrow; full details here.
NOVEMBER 4: Endolyne Joe’s is donating part of today’s proceeds to Arbor Heights Elementary‘s fundraising efforts for replacing basketball hoops that had to be removed because of lead levels.
NOVEMBER 7: Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s annual “Links to the Community” fundraising dinner, starts with 6 pm happy hour, SSCC’s Brockey Center. By donation, suggested $100/person.
NOVEMBER 22: Log House Museum: Preserving Heritage Gala and Silent Auction, SSCC’s Brockey Center, 5-9 pm: Live jazz trio with wine, appetizers, jewelry appraising, gourmet dinner, $75/person, call 206/938-5293 or e-mail loghousemuseum@comcast.net
And browse the WSB Events calendar to see what else is coming up – all the way through next spring; if you have something to add, please e-mail us!
It’s not entirely clear how many days remain for voting in the Cox Conserves Heroes competition so we’re operating as if it could close at any time — just checked the results; Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens is a VERY close second! If you or anyone you know hasn’t voted yet, vote now! Not just because of all the work Judy has done for helping bring Fauntleroy Creek back to life, but also because if she wins, EarthCorps gets $5K. Vote here. 9:02 PM UPDATE: Watch the comments – now a tie for first – keep it up! TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Just received word that the voting ends tomorrow (Wednesday 10/15) morning, 8 am.
Four major neighborhood/community group meetings this week, and really, it’s a huge first step to helping your neighborhood when you just show up. We go to as many of these meetings as we can every month and that’s what the groups’ leaders are dying to see (they’re all volunteers, by the way) … the more people the merrier. And you’d be surprised what you find out. Here’s your chances this week: TONIGHT – The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council is having what’s been billed as its “most important meeting of the year,” 6:30 pm, Cooper Elementary (map). TOMORROW (TUESDAY): Admiral Neighborhood Association, 7 pm, Admiral Church basement meeting room (map); Fauntleroy Community Association, 7 pm, The Hall @ Fauntleroy (in the old schoolhouse, which itself is on the agenda, after last week’s big news). WEDNESDAY: Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, 7 pm, The Kenney; Delridge District Council (wireps from eastern West Seattle’s community groups and other organizations), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room. See our right sidebar, under WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GROUPS, for a list of other neighborhood associations who’d be thrilled to see/hear from you. MONDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: One more neighborhood event this week where you would be more than welcome – the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s quarterly cleanup (free treats!) is this Saturday morning. Help get the streets in shape before winter barrels into us. E-mail JuNO prez Erica Karlovits – erica@wsjuno.com – if you can help (or have a Q). TUESDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: JuNO’s cleanup has been postponed – but e-mail Erica to get you on the list for helping when it’s rescheduled!
Have you voted yet in the “Cox Conserves Heroes” competition? Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens is now in second, and there are just a few days left to vote — if she wins, EarthCorps (which works on greenspace restoration in West Seattle and elsewhere) gets a $5,000 donation. Judy is shown at left in the photo above with some of the many visitors young and old who come to Fauntleroy Creek, for which she has worked tirelessly (we won’t soon forget spending some time with her by the creek in March, when a few tiny salmon fry were clearly visible, fighting the current). Take a minute – go here to vote – tell your friends. Two weeks from today, by the way, you can join Judy and other friends of Fauntleroy Creek, drumming to call the salmon home, 5 pm 10/26 at the overlook across from the ferry dock. P.S. There’s a new creek update on fauntleroy.net – a grant application to restore “the last degraded reach of the creek” – read about it here.
One week from tonight, at Brockey Center at South Seattle Community College, you can multitask in the best of ways: Have fun, and help a West Seattle/White Center nonprofit that’s busier than ever these days: 
The White Center Food Bank. Despite its name, it’s important to note, the White Center Food Bank serves a big chunk of West Seattle as well – food banks have service boundaries; if somebody shows up at a food bank but lives outside its service area, they’ll get some one-time emergency help and directions to the appropriate location. So to help fight hunger in West Seattle, it’s important to help the White Center Food Bank as well as the West Seattle Food Bank. Earlier this year, WSFB had great success with its “Instruments of Change” event, and now it’s the WCFB’s turn — the fourth annual Harvest Dinner and Auction starts with a silent auction at 5:30 pm next Saturday (10/18) and dinner at 7:15 pm. WCFB has taken out space on WSB this week to thank its major sponsors and remind you about the event. See the invitation here; for $60/person, you can enjoy a steak/salmon entree or pasta option; call or e-mail for reservations ASAP since the event is only a week away — 206/762-2848, or rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org.
That video zooms in on a well-gnawed tree that we learned about while talking to volunteer forest steward Mike Arizona near one of the beaver ponds in Delridge Natural Area. Mike agreed to meet us there to preview two major work parties he’s organizing, one for tomorrow (Saturday 10/11), one for next month (Saturday 11/8) – steps away from busy Delridge Way, but a world away – read on to find out more about them, and about those beavers:Read More
Want to help organize an “Eat Local Now!” dinner to raise awareness and $? Tonight, you are invited to join the first organizing meeting for what will be the first such dinner in West Seattle. Read on:Read More
That’s the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival‘s 2008 float making its last parade appearance of the year, this weekend in Issaquah. The float’s had its ups and downs this year, and we asked Hi-Yu president Tim Winston to let us know when it was time to ask for your help — now’s the time, as he writes in this update about the 2008 float’s finale:
We had a successful day at Issaquah Salmon Days yesterday. The float ran great, thanks to Tim Szender of Quality Auto Electric in Des Moines and Al Glencross of the West Seattle Eagles. Tim replaced the entire ignition system of our 1967 Roadmaster with an electronic system. Al funded the repair.
The day started when we left the old Huling Garage (thank you, Harbor Properties) @ 4:30 am so the float could be ready for judging in Issaquah by 7:30. There was moderate rain for set up and staging; however, it stopped for the 10 am parade. Unfortunately, we had to trailer and cover the float in a steady, drenching rain:
This completes the 2008 parade season, so what’s next? The engine repairs will make it possible to keep the float running for the next 2 years while we raise funds and build a new float platform. With a few repairs to the frame and an upgrade to the sound system, it will be ready for 2009.
However, next year’s parade season depends on obtaining a covered car trailer for the float. Our existing flatbed trailer has become too demanding and dangerous for the volunteers. We are consistently the last crew to leave a parade. Getting the float on the trailer requires a carefully followed procedure for bracing the trailer, driving the float up steep ramps, and securing it. Then the unwieldy tarp must be pulled over the float and secured for freeway-speed winds. This whole process takes about 1 ½ to 2 hours a on sunny day. At midnight and/or in the rain, it can take substantially longer. Our peers with covered vehicle trailers, drive in the float, secure it with a built-in system, shut the door & leave. Unless we happen to have volunteers with trucking or equipment hauling experience, people have to be trained each year. The unpleasant hours that volunteers spend at this reduces the hours that we have available for coordinating community events.
Additionally, when Harbor Properties begins construction on the site where we are currently storing the float, which they have graciously provided for us, we will once again need a storage location. A covered trailer will provide many more storage options in, or close to, West Seattle.
We are planning to buy a new trailer similar to the one that the Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival purchased this year. Photo shows the trailer at the Seafair Torchlight Parade:
This 30’ extra-height vehicle trailer will cost about $12,000 and should last at least 20 years. We believe that is an obtainable goal this Fall and Winter, in addition to the annual memberships that we depend on for the festival’s annual scholarships and events.
We are offering both perpetual and annual logo placement on the sides and back of the trailer:
This is very good exposure, since the float travels to about 10 parades throughout the area. Depending on where the trailer is stored, there may be year-around exposure. Anyone who would like information about sponsorship should e-mail me at info@hiyu.com
Thanks,
Tim Winston
President
West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival
Last year, we caught up with the Seattle CROP Walk-ers as they strolled around Alki Point on a gray afternoon; for the ’08 Seattle CROP Walk today, the weather’s the same, but we found them heading east along Alki Beach instead, including the group shown above. The 3-mile walk raised money to fight hunger, with beneficiaries including the West Seattle Food Bank, the White Center Food Bank, and Northwest Harvest. Meantime, this may be a sign you could have a few more pennies in your pocket soon:
That’s the first sighting of $3.40-something gas in West Seattle this fall, found at Gasco (35th/Henderson). We believe it’s the lowest posted West Seattle gas price as of this moment, since the usual lowest-price spot, Arco, was at $3.53 when we drove by a bit earlier. Last but not least in this trio of WS Weekend Scenes, we wanted to share this photo by Steve Heck – click it to open a full-size version:
Steve’s wife Michelle Heck sent the photo with the explanation that it’s a “circumhorizontal arc,” photographed over Alki, looking southwest, Saturday morning.
We got late word that the West Seattle High School Swim Team’s having a fundraising car wash right now – till 4 this afternoon – if you drive toward the school on California, you’ll see signs like the one in our quick pic above. Sure, it’s cloudy, but you have to get the car washed SOMETIME …
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Sunday morning means the weekly link to the Ripe ‘n’ Ready fresh sheet listing some of what you can expect to find at WSFM, 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska. Here’s the link.
ANIMAL BLESSING #2: First one happened Saturday at The Mount; today, a big outdoor event at the West Seattle High School parking lot, starting at noon, presented by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and featuring the Humane Society MaxMobile with adoptable pets.
MORE: Here’s the direct link to our West Seattle Weekend Lineup Sunday list – with info on today’s other highlights (including Holy Rosary’s annual Alumni Sunday, the Seattle CROP Walk, Ciderpress in Delridge, and a Music Northwest concert).
At Thriftway in Morgan Junction, that’s (from left) Jake Webley, Gini Johnson, and Greg Ross, collecting food and money for local food banks as part of a drive presented by local Prudential realtors. They have the north door covered; another team has the south door; and you’ll also find Prudential folks at West Seattle PCC. This is happening till 2 pm today – and not only can you help by giving food items and/or money, Gini told us that if you present them with your receipt, they’re doing a one percent match. If you don’t see this till after 2, you can also drop off food bank donations at Prudential’s West Seattle offices through the end of the year. Meantime, at another grocery store — QFC in Westwood Village — these folks are “shopping for help” too:
The smiling folks you see in that photo include local fire cadets, currently based at the Joint Training Facility on the southeast edge of West Seattle, and today they’re asking you to help “Give Burns the Boot” by collecting $ on behalf of the Northwest Burn Foundation. You’ll find them at QFC — and others at Metropolitan Market in Admiral — till 4 pm today. (If you miss this event, you can donate to NW Burn Foundation online by going here.)
VIADUCT CLOSURE: Reminder, the Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed till 11 am this morning because of the Puget Sound Heart Walk. (Its next weekend inspection closure is in two weeks, 6 am-6 pm Saturday 10/18 and the same hours Sunday 10/19.)
FOOD DRIVE: Heard late last night from local Prudential realtors Debbie Rutledge (via Facebook) and Alice Kuder that they and others are collecting food and money for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks at two locations 10 am-2 pm today: Thriftway and PCC.
BURN FUNDRAISER: Around the region, it’s “Give Burns the Boot” day with local firefighters teaming up to help the Northwest Burn Foundation. Look for them at Metropolitan Market and Westwood Village QFC.
VOTER SIGNUP: Last reminder – today’s your last chance to register. Look for registration drives almost everywhere, or register online RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: First of two this weekend – today, it’s indoors, 10:45 am, front lobby of Providence Mount St. Vincent (map), everyone’s welcome to bring their animals; Father Lyle Konen will perform the blessing.
MUCH MORE: Check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup; here’s the direct link to today’s list.
Two days after we brought you the urgent call for help from White Center Food Bank, which also serves southern West Seattle, we stopped by for an update; you can see that report here – executive director Rick Jump says thanks to those who have stepped up, and shared new numbers showing how the help is needed more than ever. (And if you missed it, we also checked with West Seattle Food Bank and published an update on their current needs earlier this morning. Both food banks now accept online $ donations – just click their names in this post to go to their websites. One more way you can help – the WCFB annual fundraising auction/dinner is coming up October 18th, 5:30 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center; this event raises up to half the WCFB’s annual budget funds – check out the invitation here and RSVP by October 10th.)
Two days ago, we brought you first word of an urgent call for help from the White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of West Seattle. We’re visiting WCFB later today to see how people have responded and what’s still needed; meantime, we’d inquired with West Seattle Food Bank whether it also happened to have any urgent needs, and now we’ve heard back from executive director Fran Yeatts, who tells WSB: “We have been purchasing food at a furious rate to keep up with demand. Our numbers are about 20% higher than what they were one year ago and it is very difficult to keep the shelves stocked. We have been especially short on baby diapers and formula, but we are also very low on canned soups, fruits and protein items.” You can find out how to help WSFB by going to this page; the left sidebar has the hours for accepting donation dropoffs, plus a link to donate $ online.
| Comments Off on Big day Saturday @ Chief Sealth High School: You can help