West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
West Seattle mom of three Anita Mitchell is not just fighting colon cancer, she’s fighting to help other people who are battling it. And that’s why she took time to talk with WSB about how she’s doing and about a celebrity-led event in Seattle this Saturday that’s a must-attend for not just patients, but also their family and friends — an event that wouldn’t be happening if she hadn’t pushed for it:Read More
On the 14th anniversary of the day when millions were shaken to learn Seattle grunge-rock megastar Kurt Cobain had ended years of substance abuse by committing suicide, an earnest group gathered tonight at South Seattle Community College in hopes of strategizing how to save today’s young people from getting anywhere near that kind of lethal low point. You probably heard about the anti-underage-drinking town-hall meeting ahead of time; organizer Renae Gaines from Madison Middle School worked hard to get the word out.Read More
Carol Viger, one of the parents who helped organize this weekend’s successful West Seattle High School Grad Night car wash fundraiser (WSB coverage here), sent this to us today to share — a heartfelt tale she titled “Miracle on California Avenue.” For the thousands of volunteers who make the wheels of West Seattle (and so many other communities) turn — this one’s for you … and for everyone who doubted whether joining the volunteer ranks would truly make a difference:
In a secular (public) school miracles happen. Maybe it was the recent Christmas-like snowfall that spurred this realization.
I’m talking about genuine acts of faith and spirituality, and they have for years. We might think that public school is fueled by public servants and funds; a non-religious environment where overt acts of faith are scorned. However, when you stop to think about the acts of faith that happen every day in public school, it is encouraging and heartwarming, and this article intends to acknowledge what is amazing about our community, and especially about our public West Seattle High School, which we should be proud of.
It is a miracle that parents step forward to volunteer in public school. As parents, our kids, and circumstances wear us out often, and yet some of us volunteer for activities that require more energy. Is this insanity? It is not, contrary to one’s first thought. What happens when parents step out the door to volunteer, in this case in public school, is that they discover that their efforts towards the greater good catch fire. It can take a daunting amount of starter fluid and in the beginning a disappointing amount of matches, but when the fire takes hold everyone enjoys the flame and the satisfaction is multiplied due to the mutual benefit reaped by everyone. Along the way, others learn how to build the fire. It is perhaps relevant that the current “Seeds of Compassion†event is being planned in Seattle. We can learn to be good volunteers, to enjoy it and to teach it to our children, much as the current research regarding compassion is proving that the brain is plastic and we can continue to develop and optimize our abilities throughout our life.
The miracles at WSHS are numerous; it is a miracle that any auction happens at a public school. In the last several years I have lost count how many I have attended, but the last few at WSHS have been impressive. The amount of work that goes into them, not to mention the commitment of the people who attend, is inexplicable from the standpoint of a consumer. How does it all comes together seemingly flawlessly, year after year, not to mention the Staff Appreciation Day? The countless hours the numerous good staff basically donate as volunteers outside of their contract, simply because they believe in kids (God Bless Ms Jewell, Ms. Sugden, Ms. Berenter, and so many others!) And then there is Grad Night…yet another miracle.
Many years ago, an individual organized a celebration that would be safe and sane for high school seniors on graduation night. His volunteer effort caught fire and became an occupation, and is now a popular professionally planned and common occurrence among high schools. However, the volunteer flame is still being nurtured, as to make the event affordable for all public school students requires much volunteer and financial support in a public school.
In the case of West Seattle High School, four years ago a group of parents embarked on the first organized “Grad Night,†and bravely plunged forward. This being the fourth year, again a (new) group of parents signed the contracts, proceeding on faith that somehow, some way, they would figure out how to organize for more than 100 kids, the funds would be raised, the students would come, parents would volunteer as well as the students, lives might be saved and memories made. Lending proof to the “Build It and They Will Come†tenant of faith, the amazing WSHS PTSA once again stood behind them, on a limb albeit, but with smiling faces and encouragement. Talk about faith…the PTSA runs the church.
So, the Grad Night Committee just held their second car wash fundraiser April 5th. Again, proceeding on faith that the endeavor would get volunteers (they did! The students were amazing; single working moms, and dads were out there for all they were worth!), and that they would get support (they did! Starbucks‘ 35th drive-through provided coffee and cocoa, and generous bakery donations were given with goodwill from The Original Bakery, Little Rae’s, Salvadorean Bakery, and PCC, which kept the volunteers going and helped us raise probably an additional $350). The community at large was present in the 34th Democratic Caucus and was promising heartily to support Grad Night at Barnes and Noble on the coming weekend’s book fair. At the end of the event, exhausted, one mom volunteer’s last patrons drove up and were about to be informed the car wash ended long ago, when the patrons donated handsomely, committed to chaperoning at the event, and even promising a sponsorship to Grad Night..
It will be interesting to see how the membership of the famous and historically notable WS Alumni membership fares in future years in correlation to Grad Night engagement with our recent four years of graduates. And will they be volunteers? My money is on them.
If you haven’t been a volunteer before, or haven’t volunteered recently, maybe you should reconsider. It really is a lot more enjoyable than watching “America’s Next Top Modelâ€Â, and it certainly is a real slice of life. Don’t underestimate yourself. Volunteer…somewhere. If it’s for Grad Night, you could be saving a life. You likely will never know, but it will be good leadership on your part, appreciated and more than likely, a lot of fun satisfaction. If you don’t think you are good enough, just hang around the amazing principal at WSHS, Bruce Bivins for a while. You will be convinced that you, and all of us, can do more, and be better individuals than we think we can. If you live in West Seattle you shouldn’t miss out on the rare opportunity to work with a good leader, because the flame is irresistible.
That’s how one parent volunteer describes the feeling now that construction of Gatewood Elementary‘s playground project is getting closer, after 3-plus years of hard work. What you see above was part of that hard work — the well-attended “Kids for Kids” event featuring ivy-munching goats (WSB video coverage here) last October. The next step in the work comes this Wednesday night — a community meeting at 6:30 pm in the Gatewood cafeteria. White says, “The purpose of this meeting is to make final decisions on the new play structure! We are now down to picking individual elements that will make up the toy, colors, extra features, etc. so that we can get our order placed and get this project done!” He also points out that not only has this resulted from endless hours of volunteer work but also from a $90,000 grant from the city Department of Neighborhoods and a $30,000 grant from the county Parks Department. So it’s truly a community project — even if you don’t have a child at Gatewood, the playground is a neighborhood resource/attraction, so you’re welcome to be there Wednesday night and have a say. (See the Gatewood site master plan here.)
This new P-I story is a good – if scary – preview of the anti-youth-drinking town-hall event tomorrow night at South Seattle Community College, coordinated by Madison Middle School‘s Renae Gaines, who says the event is an “opportunity to come together to learn more about the new research on underage drinking and its impact on both individuals and the community, and to discuss how our community can implement the recommendations in The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to prevent underage alcohol use.” That’s 6 pm tomorrow @ SSCC. (More helpful info here at the Start Talking Before They Start Drinking site.)
(2007 parade photo courtesy Rhonda Porter from The Mortgage Porter)
As first mentioned last month, the official West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival schedule is out, including the American Legion Grand Parade on July 19. The parade is part of the reason we started WSB – as a way to get the word out frequently, repeatedly, and in real-time, about West Seattle events, needs, celebrations, people, and we love it to bits (see last year’s photo coverage here). Even in a time of dramatic change in the way West Seattle looks — taking care of traditions like Hi-Yu is a way to preserve and nurture some of the small-town feel that so many people are so worried about losing. That said, here’s what’s up: First, the parade needs convertibles. The Huling/Gee dealership provided them in the past. Now, of course, that’s all gone. Second, the parade needs financial backing for bands that can’t all cover their own expenses any more. Read ahead for full details on both, and the simple steps the Parade Committee hopes you can take to help:Read More
Just got word from West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction that today’s barbecue lunch to raise money for employee Julie Lynch and her family raised $3,000! That includes donations as well as food sales. Julie is fighting breast cancer and her co-workers wanted to do something to help make sure she could focus more on recovery and less on finances. They’re thankful for everybody who chipped in.
That’s Longfellow Creek Farm — a quarter-acre at 2311 SW Myrtle (just off Delridge; map) where Growing Washington is inviting you to a “community-garden restoration work party” noon-4 pm April 19. Help is needed raking leaves, clipping brambles, spreading mulch, weed-whacking, and painting. The goal is to restore the site into a “functioning, food-producing garden,” and volunteers will be first in line for free organic produce — once it’s grown. They’d like you to let them know you’ll be there; register during the next week by using the contact info here.
You’ll find the full list of today’s West Seattle events in our West Seattle Weekend Lineup, but we wanted to call your attention to these highlights one more time:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL EVENT #1 – 34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS: Sign-ins start at WSHS at 9 am, caucusing at 10 am, for delegates and alternates chosen at Feb. 9 caucuses. More info here.
WEST SEATTLE HS EVENT #2 – “GRAD NIGHT” CAR WASH FUNDRAISER: The Class of 2008 is raising money for a safe, fun Grad Night celebration, and today’s 9 am-2 pm car wash is a big part of it. Free coffee, cocoa, and baked goods while your car is washed at WSHS! Suggested donation $10 or whatever you can give; vouchers also will be available for April 12 shopping at Barnes and Noble to benefit the same cause. (By the way, they’re also still taking volunteers, even last-minute ones, and students can get community-service credit for it; call 206/718-2442.)
GROUP GARAGE SALE: All day at Alki Community Center. (And by the way, registration opens Thursday if you want to have a sale May 10 as part of the annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, presented this year by WSB; the latest info is on our special WSCGSD website.)
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY BENEFIT BARBECUE LUNCH: 11 am-4 pm, go have a freshly barbecued burger, plus chips and soda, at West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction for $7, all proceeds going to employee Julie Lynch and her family as Julie fights breast cancer.
GET INVOLVED WITH WSB FORUM COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR ARSON VICTIM: Planning is going full-speed ahead for the April 19 (6 pm, Admiral Pub) fundraiser for Puget Sound Key and Lock, closed since the still-unsolved arson two weeks ago. Planning and organizing help is still welcome; join WSB Forum Community members at Admiral Pub at 2 pm today (you can also sign up for the mailing list here).
Again, that’s just part of lots happening today and tonight; find more WS events here.
That’s 20-year-old Adrianna “Addie” Killam, who grew up in West Seattle — graduating from Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2002, Holy Names Academy in 2006, then heading to Arizona to go to college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical and Engineering University. Today, she traveled home to Seattle on a plane from Maui – but it was no tourism flight – it was a “medical lift” so that Addie could be admitted to the University of Washington Medical Center for therapy and rehab after a spring-break surfing jaunt left her with a spinal-cord injury. Family friend Maureen Emerson e-mailed WSB to help get the word out about Addie’s injury — which didn’t happen the way you might think after hearing the phrase “surfing injury” — and her fight to recover, which she’s chronicling online:Read More
FROM THE WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: Remember the Bruce Springsteen ticket auction to benefit WSFB? Eve Holt from the Food Bank e-mailed to say each pair of auctioned tickets went for $800! And when The Boss played KeyArena, a donation bin set up by WSFB volunteers collected more than $1,000 in cash and checks. You’ve got another chance to help WSFB this Saturday — we’ve mentioned before that because of the Feinstein Challenge, donations made now to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks help them qualify for matching funds — this Saturday at Metropolitan Market in Admiral, WSFB will be accepting food and $ donations (the weight of food figures into a calculation for matching funds, too). And don’t forget, tickets are on sale for WSFB’s “Instruments of Change” fundraising dinner 6 pm May 1, with music, a Dessert Dash, and more (full details here, including reservation info).
FROM THE MARINERS, ON BEHALF OF WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: West Seattle High School is playing at The Safe this Thursday night as part of the High School Baseball Classic — 7 pm, facing Kennedy High School. Admission is free and you’ll be able to park in the Safeco garage for $5 (and if you want to come early, it’s a doubleheader starting with Lakeside vs. Mercer Island at 4 pm). In order to participate, teams have to commit to a fundraising campaign involving selling tickets to a future M’s game, and as part of that, you can buy tickets for the June 3rd M’s-Angels game HALF PRICE! by going to this page – $10 for “view reserved” tickets that are usually $20, and $2 of the price goes to WSHS.
From today through Mother’s Day (5/11), C & P Coffee is offering you a free coffee drink if you bring in a package of diapers – which will be donated to WestSide Baby. Maybe tonight, when C & P is hosting a talent show. Or tomorrow night, when the first meeting of West Seattle CoolMoms happens at C & P (watch for our in-depth story on them later today).
(left to right, as they’re known in the WSB Forums, JanS, NewResident [Molly], Beachdrivegirl [Megan])
Those are some of the WSB Forum Community members who gathered this morning at Uptown Espresso in The Junction for their second meeting to plan the April 19 fundraiser for Puget Sound Key and Lock, which lost everything in the still-unsolved arson attack that gutted the business eight days ago. The event will be at Admiral Pub, whose owner Eric joined the group this morning:
There’s still lots you can do to help. The group’s meeting again at Admiral Pub next Saturday at noon. In the meantime, much of the brainstorming is happening on a mailing list the group has set up – they invite you to join by following the instructions on this page. Meantime, mark your calendar for 6 pm April 19 at Admiral Pub (latest details and forum discussion here)! And you can donate any time to the Puget Sound Key and Lock account, through any Wells Fargo branch.
(Also from this morning’s meeting: To the right of Beachdrivegirl [Megan] are Alkiguy [Steve L], Kathy, Steve Sindiong from the Morgan Community Association, and JoB.)
Those are some of the folks who, as we showed you last Saturday, thronged West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction exactly a week ago for its annual kids’ egg hunt. Thriftway has just posted dozens of its own pix online and is inviting families who participated to come have a look and send them a note if you want a copy (find the Easter pix here). In the same e-mail, Thriftway also asked us to share news of a benefit barbecue coming up next Saturday (4/5): Thriftway employee Julie Lynch is battling breast cancer — a cause that the Thriftway team has long been active in (see this page) — and the store’s going to cook up burgers next Saturday (April 5) to offer a burger/chips/soda lunch for $7, all proceeds to Julie and her family. (In case you lose track of that event or anything else going on in West Seattle, just keep a daily eye on our Events list page, updated multiple times daily.)
As we first showed you yesterday, that’s the banner inspired by the efforts of WSB Forum members who quickly and intensively launched a campaign to help Puget Sound Key and Lock rebuild from last Friday’s arson – and tonight, less than a week after the still-unsolved fire, following hours of collaboration and brainstorming plus lots of community help, they’ve set the date and place for a fundraising event: Saturday, April 19, Admiral Pub. Mark your calendar; more details to come. They’re also still soliciting auction items; please check out this forum thread if you can help with that. (Also, as the banner says, you can donate to the Puget Sound Key and Lock account at any Wells Fargo branch.)
As reported here Monday night, Puget Sound Key and Lock owner Michael Dein said at the fundraiser organizing meeting that he would affirm his rebuilding promise by putting up this banner – and today, we got the photographic proof. (If the text isn’t entirely clear on your browser, it says “Thank you, West Seattle, for your love and support/WE ARE REBUILDING/Donations can be made at Wells Fargo Bank to Puget Sound Key and Lock Fund.” That, of course, is the donation account set up by the WSB Forum members who are planning the fundraiser – date and place still being worked out – if you want to get involved, check out this forum thread – organizers also are looking for auction items. Meantime, still no word from police on arrests or big breaks in last Friday morning’s arson, but it’s a priority for the Arson and Bomb unit; if you have any information, call 911 or the arson hotline (800-55-ARSON).
First, The Boss – it’s been mentioned here before but time’s almost up: Bid on two tickets to see Bruce Springsteen Saturday and get into the E Street Lounge – proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Bidding ends 6 pm tomorrow (Wednesday); place your bid here. Second, the other food bank that serves WS, the White Center Food Bank, has a sudden need for a nutritionist – WCFB boss Rick Jump e-mailed WSB looking for one who can volunteer Wednesday mornings:
I have just learned that our current nutritionists are unable to continue the cooking classes at the WCFB. … Cooking demos are held Wednesday mornings from spproximately 10 am to 11 am. Volunteers take product from the food bank, develop a nutritious recipe & type it out, demonstrate how to prepare it and then offer clients a sample to taste. This program has been extremely popular with our clients. A current food-handlers permit is required. Volunteers may volunteer one or more days per month. Interested persons should contact Rick Jump at 206.762.2848 or by e-mail at rjump_wcfb (at) yahoo.com.
When we interviewed Jump for this video feature on WCFB, he told a great success story about those recipe demonstrations — how the nutritionists managed to take an unpopular donation of figs and turn it into a smash hit by creating a granola recipe. You can be the next creative chef to follow in their food-steps.
We first told you one month ago about the West Seattle Walking Trails project, as the map was made public for comment — now, Chas Redmond e-mails to say it’s time for the next step, development of wayfinding kiosks — and today, there’s a call for artists. Read on:Read More
Starting at 4 pm, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy donates part of tonight’s proceeds to the Denny Middle School music program (featured here with video during its first-ever midwinter-break camp). Choir and band performances are promised, to serenade you during supper!
So vowed Puget Sound Key and Lock owner Michael Dein when we talked with him briefly during the WSB Forum members’ gathering tonight at Beveridge Place Pub to plan a fundraiser. That’s him at left:
He says they’re going to hang a banner outside the store marking their promise to return, though it may take a couple months – he says the building owner promises to rebuild the interior, but they need to replace a lot of equipment and other supplies that “melted” in the fire, and as we first reported hours after the Friday morning arson, they have no fire insurance. That’s why WSB’ers are organizing a benefit – below, a different angle of part of the group – that’s “JoB” second from right (forgive us for not gathering everyone’s names; we had to rush off to check out the outage that someone had just texted us about) – the group was about a dozen strong when we stopped by:
JoB reports:
The consensus of the meeting is that we will have a combination raffle/social event sometime mid-April. The time and date will be determined by space availability … Our first choice is a tournament at West Seattle Bowl… But we will have to see what we can make work.
Next meeting is 10 am Saturday at Uptown Espresso, and even if you weren’t there tonight, you’re invited to pitch in and help. (Follow the discussion here.) Meantime, the Seattle Police Arson and Bomb Squad is still working to solve the firebombing; we talked with police spokesperson Mark Jamieson this evening and he had nothing new to report, just reiterating that the case is “a priority” and police want to hear from anyone with tips (call 911 or the arson hotline @ 800/55-ARSON).
WSB’ers have opened their hearts and wallets for the local food banks, which certainly need help year-round — now, here’s another way you can keep somebody from going to bed hungry — Donna sends this (we mentioned the church shelter in question last month):
I’d like to let everyone know about a situation in our community that gives us an opportunity to serve some folks in need.
From February 2008 until mid-February 2009, West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is hosting a SHARE-run shelter for 20 homeless men each evening. Guests are on-site from 7 pm to 7 am, 7 nights a week.
Many of the shelter guests work and have little more than a roll for breakfast and a cup of soup for dinner at night. They need adequate nourishment in order to work, address their housing and health needs, and regain self-sufficiency.
Please consider providing meals for these folks, and please let your family and friends, church, local business, school, gym, etc., know about the need for help in providing breakfasts and dinners at the shelter during this year. Once, once in awhile, or a regular commitmentâ€â€all offers are gratefully appreciated.
Please see our very humble website (westseattlemeals.airset.com) for more information and for open dates on the calendar. (They’re ALL open right now!) Folks who want to provide a meal should then contact me with:
· the date(s)
· plans for delivery
· any questions
· phone number and email addressThank you for your generosity and willingness to help others at a difficult time in their lives.
Thanks to Arbor Heights Elementary School teacher Mark Ahlness for these photos from last night’s Art Fair and Auction (silent-auction participants shown below) — he says it was an “incredible success”! More fundraisers are on our Events page (including tomorrow night’s Chief Sealth Tamale Dinner for music $).
When we mentioned The Tap Project the other day, a few commenters mentioned they were offended by a particular radio commercial they had heard. They’ve received a response from someone local who worked on a different part of the Tap Project publicity campaign, and since the item’s a few days old, we wanted to spotlight that new comment here:
I work at the ad agency Publicis West in Seattle. I am the Creative director and copywriter of the local public service campaign for the Tap Project Seattle. I did indeed write a radio spot which is airing, but it doesn’t mention anything about a waitress. I am not sure where the radio spot you’re talking about came from.
Please know that the Seattle restaurant community are our best friends in this project and we have been working hand-in-hand with restaurants to support this great cause. I was a waitress myself all through college and would NEVER suggest that a food server not be tipped. In fact, I had lunch today at Le Pichet and we gave both a big tip to the waitress and a $75 donation to TAP!
Perhaps the radio spot is part of the national public service campaign. If so, they are definitely utilizing a tongue and cheek tone and probably didn’t have the intention of offending the very people who are supporting the TAP Project.
Below is the script for the radio spot currently airing in Seattle:
ANNC: This morning when you woke up there was a 65% chance it was falling from the sky. You turned on a tap and bathed in it. You turned on another tap and brushed your teeth in it. You put on clothes that were washed in it. You flushed a gallon and a half of it down the toilet. You got in your car and crossed large bodies of it. You drank a latte steamed with it. You gossiped next to a cooler of it. And you haven’t given it a second thought. You haven’t had to. Because in Seattle we’ve got plenty of water. But not everyone in the world is so lucky. The fact is, 5000 children die every day from a lack of safe water. During world water week, we can help change that. Dine out March 16th through the 22nd and donate a dollar for a glass of tap water. That dollar will provide 40 children with safe drinking water for one day. And because you thought about water for a change, someone else won’t have to. For participating restaurants or to donate online, go to tapproject.org/Seattle
Doesn’t solve the mystery of that other commercial, but just wanted to share this with anyone concerned there was some local snarking going on.
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