West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
(WSB photos)
Ten months have passed since most in-person learning was suspended, and getting online – reliably and affordably – is still a challenge for some students. Help is on the way to hundreds more, thanks to HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor). More than 220 laptops that HomeStreet no longer needed have just been given to InterConnection, a Seattle nonprofit that will refurbish them for reuse.
After HomeStreet’s IT team extensively prepared the computers for the donation, InterConnection visited the bank’s operations center Wednesday morning to pick them up. (Here’s how their donation process works.) HomeStreet also gave InterConnection $1,000; that’ll help with InterConnection’s costs to prepare the laptops for their new owners.
From left in the photo above are HomeStreet’s Vicki Foege, Mickey Pierce and Abraham Mears from InterConnection, Bob Livingston from HomeStreet, InterConnection president Cheryl Roe, Caly Jellum and Jay Bhuller from HomeStreet, a Puget Sound-based bank whose branches include one in the West Seattle Junction (4022 SW Alaska).
The holiday season is over, but community needs – and giving opportunities – are not. Here’s a way you can help – the annual Combat Arts Academy donation drive for the West Seattle Food Bank and its Clothesline, which help thousands of your neighbors in need.
From the CAA announcement:
In the early years, CAA collected about 1,500 pounds of food each food drive; in 2020, we collected 6,000 lbs of food! In light of the pandemic and all of the challenges it has posed, we want to encourage donations of any kind, instead of setting a specific weight goal. Currently, financial contributions are highly encouraged by the WSFB due to the pandemic, but we (CAA) will collect any of the following items:
Clothesline – Gently used or new items for any age (infants, kids, teens, adults), including:
Underwear (New only)
Gloves, Coats, Scarves (think Seattle winter-wear)
Blankets, Sleeping Bags, Linens
Diapers & Formula
Any clothing
Visit https://westseattlefoodbank.org/clothesline/ to find more requested items.WSFB – any non-perishable, canned, or packaged item is welcome
Shelf-stable milk
Juice (individual servings)
Canned Meals (soup, chili, Mac and Cheese, etc.)
Healthy snacks (granola bars, raisins, fruit leather, dried fruit, etc.)
Individual Snack packs (peanut butter, tuna, etc.)
Applesauce/fruit cups
Visit westseattlefoodbank.org/donate-food to find more requested food items.Financial Donations:
– Drop off a check (made payable to the West Seattle Food Bank) at the front desk for the drive, or contribute online at westseattlefoodbank.org/donate-money. If you choose to contribute online, please add a note that it’s on behalf of the CAA Drive.
The amazing thing about the WSFB is how they strengthen the West Seattle community through the power of neighbors helping neighbors; their mission is so important in this current time of need.
Donations accepted at Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW), Monday-Friday 8 am-8 pm. For questions or comments, contact us at welcome@caaseattle.com or 206-420-1834
One of many New Year’s Eve traditions … nonprofits inviting you to donate one more time before the calendar turns. If you still have giving capacity, the West Seattle Junction Association is inviting you to consider the Small Business Relief Fund, It was launched last spring, and donations through the fund have brought more than $120,000 in support to local independent businesses working to keep serving the community safely. The WSJA explains that “you can make a donation through the Junction (501c3) directly to your favorite business or to the Junction fund where the money is used for special programs and grants that support the small-business engine. It’s kind of a perfect note to end the year.” Scroll down this page for the donation form.
Earlier this year, we introduced you to Jessica, who was organizing a monthly volunteer cleanup at Alki. She’s renewing her call for volunteers as 2021 starts, with the first cleanup set for this Saturday (January 2nd):
ALKI BEACH AND NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP
1st Saturday of every month, 10 AM to 2 PMPick sticks and buckets provided – RSVP to reserve one. Feel free to bring your own. Supervised kids welcome. Behaved dogs welcome off beach. We spread out to cover most surface. Stay as long as you desire; go as far as you would like. The goal is to collect the garbage before it enters the beach and ocean. We can gather after for a distancing coffee if time allows. We meet at 10 am outside, between Blue Moon Burgers and 56th on Alki Ave SW
If you can’t make it Saturdays, consider starting your own group that meets another day. Looking forward to meeting you.
To RSVP or ask a question, text Jessica at 206.769.6330.
(Photo by Stewart L.)
Two weeks after launching a crowdfunding campaign, Save The Stone Cottage is almost halfway to its fundraising goal. The group of local preservation advocates and volunteers is aiming to raise $110,000 to move the stone-studded beach bungalow off its site at 1123 Harbor SW before a redevelopment project starts construction. As of today, the campaign has passed $47,000. Save The Stone Cottage is working with building-moving experts Nickel Bros to move the century-old structure to a temporary site next month – likely storage at a Port of Seattle site nearby – until a new permanent site is found. More backstory is in our previous coverage here and here; donations are welcome here.
(December 17th)
Earlier this month, as reported here, an overnight windstorm destroyed the canopies that Arthur’s in The Admiral District had put up to facilitate outdoor dining. Some asked how they could help the restaurant recover. Rosemary Orr, mom of Arthur’s proprietor Rebecca Rice, has set up a crowdfunding account to facilitate that. Rosemary tells WSB, “She has worked so hard since Spring to keep her business open and viable, and the windstorm and destruction of the canopies was just the worst in a string of challenges. She will need new covers to make enough money to survive another few months.” The GoFundMe page is here.
(WSB photo, Summer Fest Eve 2017)
This year without events and live performances has left many performers struggling. Among them, a West Seattle festival fixture – The Bubbleman. Among the countless cancellations this year were events presented by the Morgan Community Association and West Seattle Junction Association, which want you to know about crowdfunding for him, writes Phil Tavel, vice president of MoCA:
The Morgan Community Association and the Junction Association want to say THANK YOU to the Bubbleman for all of the good cheer that he has brought to West Seattle over the years.
This is a year when those in the crowd can give back a little something to help the performers who have given so much to us.
Here is a link to give whatever you can to the man with the purple beard, the rainbow car and a million bubbles and a million and one bubble jokes.
Happy Holidays to Everyone!
MoCA and the Junction Association!
This is a big week for the volunteer organization known as The Christmas People. They’re planning to feed hundreds around the area for the holiday. They’re now stocked up with volunteer help, but they need two things:
HOMEMADE COOKIES: Bake them and drop them off in boxes or carefully placed in bags. Volunteers will take it from there. Dropoff times and location – 9 am-4 pm each of the next five days, Wednesday through Sunday – Christmas Day included – at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th SW. (Use the Dining Room entrance that faces the parking lot.)
NEED A HOLIDAY MEAL? Call or email The Christmas People by Thursday (Christmas Eve) to order free meals if you’re in need – “shut-ins, seniors, veterans … people who need a nice meal at Christmas.” Call Fred at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net.
With three days to go until Christmas, maybe you’ve already heard the Mariah Carey version of “All I Want for Christmas” a hundred times. Here’s an alternative: Listen to the Leyva Family Band version! Michelle Leyva emailed to tell us about their downloadable Christmas music album, fundraising for Keep Music Live Washington, an advocacy group fighting for the future of live-music venues shuttered during the pandemic. Proceeds will go to that group; the Leyvas are offering their Christmas collection for $5, or anything more you want to pay, explaining, “We miss live music and so look forward to hearing it again soon with all of YOU.” You can find the album, and preview it, by going here.
If you can give blood, now’s the time. You can do it right here in West Seattle. Here’s what we just received from Bloodworks Northwest:
Bloodworks Northwest is back at The Sanctuary in West Seattle (2656 42nd Ave SW) next week!
The Sanctuary will host its 2nd pop-up donor center in the Grand Room on December 23, 26, 28 & 29.
All donors will automatically be tested for covid-19 antibodies through (at least) Dec 31. Result mailed within 2 weeks of your donation. More info here.
Give the best gift of all this holiday season – the gift of life! We have lots of open slots! Please sign up here.
Donation is by appointment only. Masks required. Questions? E-mail schedule@bloodworksnw.org or call 800-398-7888.
(WSB file photo)
From Matt at Grillbird Teriyaki (35th/Morgan):
Every day we are giving out a gift card to a random customer; however, the gift card is not for them to use but for them to pass on to an individual or family in need of a hot meal. We hope to extend the generosity of our customers outward to our community so that no one goes hungry this winter. Many have asked us how they can contribute as well, so we have also come up with a way for customers to add a “Pay It Forward” gift card to their order online. The response has already been incredible.
Here’s how you can contribute.
Again this year, The Christmas People are offering a free holiday meal – portable this time – while seeking cookies and volunteers to help make it happen. Here’s the announcement:
In our 22nd year, The Christmas People need 3,000 homemade cookies for homeless people. Drop off Wednesday, Dec.23 through Saturday, Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW. Use Dining Room entrance that faces the parking lot.
We need a driver from Thursday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Dec. 27 at 10:30 a.m. to pick up 80 meals and 80 snacks at Alki Masonic Center and drive immediately to Catholic Community Services on Dexter Ave in Seattle
We need two drivers from Thursday the 24th through Sunday the 27th at 4:30 p.m.to help deliver individual boxed meals to four shelters in Seattle.
On December 25, we are offering complimentary holiday meals to shut-ins, veterans, homeless from noon to 4 p.m., until food runs out. Call Rev. Fred Hutchinson to reserve at 206-719-4979.
We are limiting the number of essential volunteer workers in the building at any one time. Visit SeattleWorks.org to volunteer or call 206-719-4979.
If you missed today’s donation drives – you have a chance to give tomorrow, too. From Alki UCC:
Sunday, December 13, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Holiday Food and Sock Drive
Front courtyard, 6115 SW HindsNon-perishable holiday food, personal-care items, and clearly labeled pet food donations are distributed through the White Center Food Bank. Donations of Men’s Casual/Work Clothes are also welcome for distribution through Westside Interfaith Network’s Welcome Table. There is a special need for SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS.
Alki UCC reminds donors – masks and distancing, please.
(WSB photo)
Atticus is an eighth-grader at Hope Lutheran School and that’s where he’s spending his Saturday, collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. His no-contact (drive up/ride up) food drive – mentioned in our calendar and daily preview – is on until 3 pm in the church/school parking lot off SW Oregon, east of 42nd SW. Here’s the WSFB “wish list” for food donations. (Monetary donations are appreciated, too.)
(Photo by Stewart L.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The family whose members lived at 1123 Harbor Avenue SW for decades called it the “Rock House.”
Now, as the “Stone Cottage,” the quirky little unofficial landmark has inspired a fight for its future..
We’ve been reporting for almost two years on local preservation advocates’ hopes of saving it, now that a redevelopment project on its site is about to begin.
Today, the West Seattleites leading the Save The Stone Cottage campaign formally launched a crowdfunding effort to cover the cost of moving it twice – first to a holding site, then to its yet-to-be-determined permanent new home.
They held two media briefings for the launch – one outside the 90+-year-old Stone Cottage, one online.
We continue highlighting ways to help those in need – this Saturday in The Junction, you have two opportunities:
DRIVE-UP FOOD DRIVE: Atticus, an 8th-grade student at Hope Lutheran, is hosting this 10 am-3 pm Saturday in the Hope lot off SW Oregon east of 42nd SW:
I am doing a Covid-safe food drive to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank during the holiday season. Just drive up and pop your trunk! Monetary donations are also appreciated. Thank you for helping me support the members of our community during these times.
Also on Saturday:
FOOD/BOOK DRIVE FOR FARMWORKERS: ArtsWest Playhouse & Gallery is “accepting masked, contactless drop-offs at both the front and back entrances of our building from 12 pm-5 pm Saturday” for this drive:
Since launching in May, WashMasks has collected more than 17,600 masks, over $10,000 in school supplies, 20 full shipments of food, bedding, infant care, and paper goods; and $1,000 in cash donations for farm-working communities affected by Covid-19 and this summer’s wildfires.
This December we are having the Heart of Washington Drive: Food & Books for Washington Farm Workers. The food drive shall address the food scarcity that many of these communities face, while the books shall be an expression of love and support to migrant youth, reminding them that they matter. We have a specific book list (all with BIPOC protagonists and many bilingual or in Spanish) set up through the Bookshop website so all proceeds can benefit an independent bookstore (we are encouraging people to buy through Estrelita’s Library so it also benefits a Black-owned bookstore).
The food list is here. ArtsWest is at 4711 California; its back entrance is in the 44th/Alaska parking lot just south of KeyBank.
(Photo by Stewart L.)
We’ve been reporting for almost two years on advocates’ hopes of saving “Eva’s Stone Cottage,” the little rock-covered house across from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, on a site set for redevelopment. Today, they have launched a community campaign – here’s the announcement:
The stone-studded cottage at 1123 Harbor Ave SW has been a beloved and legendary landmark in West Seattle for 90 years. The wrecking ball is looming and we need help to save this piece of Seattle history.
(Stone Cottage, circa 1940s)
Eva Falk built the cottage in the 1930’s and her children came up with its unique façade of more than 15,000 beach stones. The stones were carried from the beach near the Alki Lighthouse, and each stone was thoughtfully placed by hand on the exterior of the building. Eva told her daughter Carmecita Munoz that “This house is for giving shelter to anybody and anything.” For good reason, one stone placed prominently near the cottage’s front door bears the shape of a heart, welcoming all who entered. Eva passed away in 1997 at age 92.
The Stone Cottage is now surrounded by condos and townhouses and is slated for demolition in January. For more than two years, a group of West Seattle neighbors, Save The Stone Cottage LLC, has joined forces with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Historic Seattle, to develop a plan to save the 90-year-old beach home. These community volunteers, working in conjunction with the new property owner, Chainqui Development, have developed a three-phase, adaptive-reuse plan, and have until mid-January 2021 to move the house off the site before the wrecking ball arrives.
The plan involves securing and transporting the structure into temporary storage, siting and selecting its final location, and eventual site placement and structure restoration. Our vision is to preserve the cottage and keep it in the immediate Alki neighborhood, as a place for the community to gather. “Old buildings matter because they tell the story of the city. Once they’re gone, that’s it. You can’t build an old building,” says John Bennett, owner of Bennett Properties and historic-building consultant.
Save The Stone Cottage LLC seeks to raise $110,000 in donations to execute the plan to rescue, relocate, and restore the Stone Cottage. Donations are being accepted through the website www.savethestonecottage.org and a GoFundMe charity account. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is serving as the fiscal sponsor of the Save the Stone Cottage Project, and has no operational role in this project.
Save The Stone Cottage plans Friday media briefings at which volunteers will talk more about the plan. (That’s also when they expect to launch the crowdfunding page.)
They’re back! West Seattle’s most famous handmade wreaths have returned in the heart of the holiday season. The announcement and photo are from the Pathfinder K-8 Wreath Team:
For the past fifteen years, Pathfinder PTSA has sold homemade holiday wreaths at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. In recent years we have been in front of Key Bank with our smiling kids, and we know that some community members and parent alumni return each year to purchase one.
Due to the pandemic, we are not at the Farmers’ Market this season, but we are carrying on with the tradition and are wreaths in a socially-distanced way. Each wreath is 100% unique and made from foraged materials from our yards and tree lots. This year’s wreaths are some of our finest!
We’ve set up a Wreath Store online where you can choose your own beautiful wreath. Once purchased, we are asking folks to do a contactless pickup at one of our five mini-workshops in West Seattle.
We thank you for your support! All proceeds will benefit the students at Pathfinder K-8 school.
Adding to the trees/wreaths section in our West Seattle Holiday Guide! westseattleblog@gmail.com if you have holiday info to add.
Spend local! Not only can you support local independent businesses that way, you can also support local students, families, and PTAs with your holiday-shopping dollars:
HOLIDAY EMPORIUM: The Alki Elementary PTA is offering online opportunities to support area businesses AND local students – plus drive-thru Santa photos:
Alki Elementary PTA is dedicated to partnering with local businesses during these unprecedented times, while offering community members the option to shop from the safety and comfort of their own homes, with no-contact pick-up and delivery available. Priority Mail Shipping available for the “Best of Seattle” curated gift pack. Order here. (That’s where you will see what’s offered – candy, coffee, candles, more.)
In addition to no-contact pick-up offered in West Seattle (Genesee & 54th), we are offering photos with Santa Claus! Santa will be taking holiday photos with families at the North Pole Express FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18th! (Kids/families in car windows, Santa outside.) Santa’s bright red mailbox will also be available for drive-thru letter dropoff for all. Please do not hesitate to reach out to info@alkipta.com with any questions.
Our Holiday Shop is currently open and runs through December 13th! Shop at >alkipta.square.site.
Quantities are limited, so make sure to shop early while supporting locally!Alki Elementary is also offering a way for individuals to sponsor local families in need this holiday season through purchasing a gift card with our Giving Garland at alkipta.square.site/giving-garland. Gift cards will be provided to families in need to help supply groceries, household items and toys.
VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR: Lafayette Elementary‘s PTA just launched this opportunity to buy books online. Through December 21st, you can shop here and support the PTA. As with all online shopping/shipping, the sooner you do it, the better the chance your order will arrive in time for holiday gift-giving.
One item for tonight on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar that we want to remind you about – it’s free, and all are welcome: The Westside School Parent Association is presenting “Coping with Uncertainty,” so parents/guardians can learn “how to manage stress and anxiety for you and your child” in these deeply uncertain times. It’s a live online presentation followed by Q&A, with featured guest Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, who the WSPA says “has worked with youth and families for nearly 15 years in community mental health, crisis outreach, school-based mental health, private practice, as well as residential treatment.” Adults and students of all ages are invited to attend. Contact Dorothy Lemoult at dorothy.lemoult at gmail dot com ASAP for the Zoom link and questions.
If you can give this holiday season, here are three ways to do that for people served by Navos, which sent this announcement:
During this unprecedented time, Navos Behavioral Health services are more critical than ever. Help make the holidays brighter for some of the most vulnerable children, youth, and adults in our community with a gift of gift cards (grocery stores, VISA or Target preferred), or new hats and gloves (for all ages). Financial donations (tax-deductible) also make a big difference!
-To make a secure donation to our holiday gift card drive, click here.
-Donations may be dropped off at Navos’ West Seattle campus at 2600 SW Holden Street through Friday, December 18th at noon. To arrange a dropoff, please email development@navos.org
-Donations may be mailed to Navos’ West Seattle campus:
2600 SW Holden Street
Attn: Alice Braverman
Seattle, WA 98126Together we can help hundreds of vulnerable children, youth, adults and families living in poverty have a happy holiday! For questions regarding Navos’ holiday drive, please call 206-933-7196, or email development@navos.org.
The Navos West Seattle campus has inpatient and outpatient behavioral-health care as well as housing.
We continue spotlighting holiday-helping opportunities all season long – you can also check the list any time in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
If not for the pandemic, this coming Saturday would be the day that Rotary Club of West Seattle members and hundreds of other volunteers join forces for the Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree, providing fun and necessities to kids from local schools. Not this year – but the Rotary has five other ways to support kids. with your assistance:
On November 6th, The Rotary Club of West Seattle celebrated 73 years of service to the community. Through our Service Foundation, we address many critical needs of Southwest Seattle kids, from those in elementary school to those graduating from high school or a GED-granting organization.
For over 50 years, we had our Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree at Sears on the 1st Saturday in December with the goal of taking 100 children shopping to be sure they have warm winter clothing, good footwear and essentials.
Due to current and long-term uncertainties with conducting such an event at a large mall, and school counselors identifying a need for a springtime event, we have come up with “Spring for Kids”, a program offering a shopping spree, brunch, and other fun treats at a safe West Seattle location.
“Spring for Kids” is one of five major local area service programs for kids that the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation supports through donations that come to us through our Club’s members, friends, family, and the West Seattle community:
Spring for Kids – provides high-needs elementary school kids with a springtime clothing shopping spree and a free brunch
Pencil Me In For Kids — provides elementary schools and their kids with supplementary supplies they need and can’t afford.
Youth Life Prep — Through Southwest Youth and Family Services, provides a job-seeking GED graduate with the clothing, resume, and interview skills required to find a job.
Student of the Year – provides a high-needs graduating senior with funds supplementing college/community college tuition for books, food, or housing.
Inspire Kids — Through Southwest Youth and Family Services, provides for underserved elementary school kids and their parents/guardians with extensive social-emotional health services – inspired to say “yes” to healthy behavior.
We have launched a virtual fundraising campaign to help us raise money to support these five important local programs. Please consider a gift to the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation through our Happy, Hopeful, Kids Campaign: give.westseattlerotary.org/campaign/happy-hopeful-kids/c308750
Questions? Contact Amy Lee Derenthal at amyleed@soundgenerations.org or 206-932-4044 ext. 5.
Yet another option for online holiday shopping – the Delridge Grocery Co-op, working toward a food store in the heart of Delridge, is taking orders for gift baskets through December 11th. You can support the co-op and local producers by buying one (or more)! If you haven’t already seen it in our Holiday Guide, here’s the announcement:
The Delridge Grocery Co-op is now selling its first Holiday Gift Basket in addition to its weekly DGC Essentials produce box. Packed full of sweet, savory, spicy, and soft local delights, the DGC Holiday Gift Basket is great for sharing with friends and neighbors, sending as a gift to work colleagues, or treating yourself. Priced at $60 for pickup or delivery, it includes a specially curated selection of delightful foods from local businesses around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest plus a hand-dyed tea towel — all in a reusable wooden half-bushel basket.
You can order the DGC Holiday Gift Basket now through December 11, and it will be available for pickup or delivery on December 19. You can get a box delivered to your home, or specify another West Seattle address to receive the box. (Deliveries are limited to the West Seattle peninsula, as far south as Roxbury.)
Here’s what you’ll get in the DGC Holiday Gift Basket:
Vanilla Salted Caramel Gourmet Popcorn (Cobb’s)
Preserved Lemons (Villa Jerada)
Pickled Green Beans. (Seattle Pickle Co.)
Black Truffle Mustard (Mustard and Co.)
Everything on Everything, Classic Blend (Stocked Kitchen)
Haxan Hot Sauce, Various Flavors (Haxan Ferments)
San Juan Sea Salt Chocolate Bar (Patty Pan Cooperative)
Blueberry Jam (Sidhu Farms)
Shibori-Dyed Indigo Tea Towel (hand-dyed in West Seattle by DGC board member)Get details on all the Holiday Gift Basket contents at the DGC website.
As for the DCG’s ongoing Essentials Boxes – see our story from earlier this fall.
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