West Seattle, Washington
09 Thursday
So it goes in the social-media sphere sometimes – we found out about that YouTube stream via an Instagram post: North Delridge’s Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) noted that its Mode Music and Performing Arts space next door is hosting the 3rd annual 24-hour livestream-a-thon by General Mojo’s. We remember the group from its 2018 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. General Mojo’s and special guests are performing to raise money for NAMI Seattle, explaining that it’s “the only organization in the Seattle area working specifically to fill the gaps in our local mental health system through peer-led education, referrals, and support.” Go to the event’s YouTube page for a donation list and specific instructions on how to be sure your donation is linked to the fundraiser.
(Photo courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered Wednesday night for an update about the Dakota Homestead fundraising campaign to purchase the former Seattle City Light substation at 50th and Dakota (just north of Genesee Hill Elementary).
The campaign was launched three and a half years ago by the Urban Homestead Foundation, with a goal of buying the Dakota site (most recently appraised in 2017 at a value of $650,000) and preserving it as a neighborhood greenspace, meeting hub, urban garden and environmental education center. The site is one of the six former substations in West Seattle that Seattle City Light had determined were no longer needed, which started a process to sell or otherwise dispose of the properties.
Urban Homestead president Rich Sheibley said that since 2016, the group has successfully secured community donations and grant funding to help support the project, but things really accelerated earlier this year when the project was earmarked for $155,000 in funding in the state capital budget as part of the state’s community projects program (more on that below).
Feel like baking cookies, but don’t have anyone to bake for, and/or can’t eat them yourself? Or … baking cookies and have the bandwidth for an extra batch you could donate? Now’s the time to bake for The Christmas People, who again are putting out the call for thousands of homemade cookies that they can include with holiday meals to be delivered to people in need. You can drop off cookies 9 am-5 pm Monday or Tuesday, and starting at 9 am on Christmas Day, at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW). They’re also asking for volunteers to help prepare meal trays those days – and if you know someone in need of a no-cost holiday dinner, they’ll offer a full buffet, same location, noon-4 pm on Christmas Day. (Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay)
The photo and report are from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:
Dan Austin, owner of Peel and Press, is a generous supporter of the West Seattle Food Bank. For the last 5 years Dan has done a percent-of-sales fundraiser for the food bank on Peel and Press’ anniversary in November and then buys turkeys or hams (whatever we need) for the holidays. Today Dan delivered $1,300 worth of hams just in time for our holiday distribution! Thank you, Dan, for helping those we serve have a wonderful holiday meal with their friends and families.
If you would like to help our families with food or cash, we will be open Wed. 9am – 7pm or Thurs. & Fri. 9 am – 3 pm or you can donate at westseattlefoodbank.org or mail to 3419 SW Morgan St., Seattle, WA. 98126.
The rain’s stopped, the game’s over – so here’s where to go: Now until 4 pm at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW), it’s the one-of-a-kind St. Nicholas Faire. This combination holiday shopping event/fundraiser features dozens of custom-made gift baskets with themes – cooking, sports, gardening, toys, picnic gear, barbecue accessories, much more – and gift certificates/cards for local businesses.
Art too:
You bid for them, silent-auction-style, while also enjoying sips (wine tasting!) and snacks. There’s a small admission charge, raising money for the West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank (which also benefit from the overall proceeds); a longtime supporter of both, the church’s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall, is emceeing:
Bring a nonperishable food donation too.
P.S. If you’re driving, there’s a big parking lot behind the church, at 44th/Dakota.
Good news if you don’t make it to Good Day Donuts (9823 15th SW) by 1 pm for Chief Sealth IHS senior Emily Un‘s “Bringing Warmth” caat/blanket collection – the folks at the shop say they’ll keep a bin throughout the holidays so you can drop off a donation some other day. GDD is open 7 am-2 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 am-2 pm Saturdays, 9 am-1 pm Sundays.
(Photos courtesy Urban Homestead Foundation)
We haven’t heard much about the Dakota Homestead campaign, raising money to buy the ex-substation at 50th/Dakota (across from Genesee Hill Elementary), but it’s still alive, supporters say, and they’re inviting you to an informational event next week. It’s been three and a half years since the campaign launched; along the way, organizers have amassed some donations as well as grant money, but they have further to go to achieve their dream of buying the site to turn it into a neighborhood preserve and gathering space, a hub for urban gardening and environmental education. Board members of the Urban Homestead Foundation will host an informal meeting and Q&A session 6-7 pm Wednesday (December 18th) at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW. Board member Rich Sheibley tells WSB, “We are also using this time to ask for volunteers to help us on this project, and provide an overview of where we plan to go from here.”
(WSB photo from 2018 St. Nicholas Faire)
One of this weekend’s big events is the St. Nicholas Faire, a one-of-a-kind holiday shopping event and nonprofit benefit, with one major change this year: It’s happening on Sunday afternoon instead of evening. The Faire is at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, just north of The Junction at 4105 California SW, 1-4 pm Sunday (December 15th). Its central event is a silent auction of a huge variety of custom-made gift baskets with themes including:
Children’s Books
Air Fryer
Children’s Science Gear
Beer & Wine
Gardening
Baked Goods
Seahawks Gear
Olive Oil/Vinegar
Framed Photos
Kitchen Gadgets
Tools
U of W Gear
Holiday Items
Barware
Baking Tools
Storage Containers
Art Supplies
Tea & Coffee Items
Also gift certificates/cards for local businesses. The St. Nicholas Faire has a small admission fee that benefits local nonprofits, and it’s less if you bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. P.S. If you’ll be driving to get there, the church has a big parking lot in back.
That’s Chief Sealth International High SchooL senior Emily Un, and Good Day Donuts in White Center is where she’ll be 10 am-1 pm Sunday (December 15th) awaiting your donation of coat(s) and/or blanket(s).
During the month of November when I was busy with college apps, I needed a break from just constantly focusing on school work. Ever since I was a young kid, I always wanted to help them homeless in any type of way.
I thought about the things I could do. My friend told me that he saw a homeless man and felt bad for him because it is freezing in Seattle, especially at night. So, this led me to wanting to do a clothing drive. I am in contact with homeless shelters like YWCA and DESC. All of the clothes/blankets will be going back to them, and maybe a few other shelters, depending on how much gets donated.
She chose White Center as the site for the drive because that’s where she lives, but lots of West Seattleites visit there too, so we’re sharing the word here as well as on our WC site. Good Day Donuts is at 9823 15th SW.
The best way to end homelessness is to prevent it from happening. One of the agencies devoted to doing that in our area is the West Seattle Helpline. They’ve asked us to let you know they’re seeking help with what they describe as an “urgent need”:
Requests for emergency financial assistance are at an all-time high, up roughly 30% compared to this time last year — that’s an extra 32 families who need help each month. For the first time in four years, we may not be able to support all of our neighbors seeking assistance. We need YOU now more than ever to ensure we can continue to help ALL our neighbors. This season we ask that you join us in stretching yourself to help stop homelessness before it starts.
The assistance provided by the Helpline covers one-time needs, preventing eviction and/or utility shutoffs. These are not giant grants – an average of $281 can keep a family from losing their home, the Helpline says. If you can help with any amount, donate online, or send a check to West Seattle Helpline, 6516 35th Ave SW #204, Seattle, WA 98126.
That’s the booth to look for at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, where the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive is headquartered. Generous folks had already filled the bin just half an hour into it – when we stopped by, the bin had been emptied once, and more donations had started to fill it again:
Bring gently used coat(s), scarves, and other keeping-warm clothing items before 2 pm – you’re helping the West Seattle Helpline and the neighbors it assists! You’ll be offered a hearty thanks as well as cocoa or coffee.
Just added to the “Giving Opportunities” section in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
John L Scott Westwood has teamed up with the Southwest Boys and Girls Club of King County to ensure 100 in need teenagers will have a Happy Holiday.
Join John L Scott Westwood in helping make the holiday season brighter for this often forgotten age group. Visit John L Scott Westwood (2600 SW Barton St., Suite A6), between NOW and December 18. Take a wish from a needy teenager and deliver your unwrapped gift back to John L Scott Westwood, no later than Wednesday, December 19.
Our teenagers have dreamed big; however, we ask that you keep your gift to $40-$75.
The John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor) office is in the Westwood Village breezeway, across from 24 Hour Fitness.
P.S. Got a “giving tree” or other community-giving drive too? Send us the info so we can include it in the Holiday Guide!
(Photo courtesy Healthy Lands Project)
While next weekend jingles with many possibilities for holiday fun, there’s also an opportunity for giving that won’t cost you anything but a little time: Saturday will bring a volunteer planting party to Seola Pond (30th SW/SW 105th; map), in support of the long-running community-led work to restore it. The Healthy Lands Project invites you to “come and get hands-on experience planting native shrubs and trees and removing weeds with your neighbors to help make the green space a better place for people and nature.” It’s happening 10 am-1 pm Saturday (December 7th). You’ll get lunch and “warm beverages”; you’ll also get a free native plant to take home. RSVP here if you think you can help!
Again this year, The Christmas People are planning to make the holiday merrier, with your help – especially if you can bake and donate cookies. We just received the announcement:
The Christmas People will gather again at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW, on Monday, Dec. 23, Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, December 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen during those hours; also needed, 3,000 homemade cookies, which may be dropped off.
Each day we will prepare 350 meals in full-size aluminum trays for women’s shelters in downtown Seattle. On Christmas Day we will host homeless, veterans, seniors, and those who need a meal. From noon to 4 p.m. there will be a full complimentary holiday buffet in Alki Masonic Center Dining Room. This is our 21st year. For further information, contact Fred Hutchinson at 206-719-4979 or pialley@jps.net
Until 4:30 pm, you can visit the Discovery Shop in the West Seattle Junction and wish its volunteer staff – including Julia Jech and Midori Morgan-Gaide, in our photo above – a happy 29th anniversary! Proceeds from the shop at 4535 California SW benefit the American Cancer Society. There’s an anniversary deal for you if you visit today – 40 percent off one non-sale item. Even if you don’t want to shop, you can help the American Cancer Society by donating items for sale, Julia and Midori reminded us – nothing too big, no electronics, but they welcome “upscale resale merchandise.” You can be a volunteer too; stop in any time and find out how.
(WSB file photo: Some of what was raffled off at a past Turkey Bowl)
‘Tis the season to give. The West Seattle-based Beer Church has done that every holiday season for more than 20 years via its beer-and-bowling benefit, the Turkey Bowl, and you’re invited to the party Saturday night at West Seattle Bowl. The lanes are sold out, but, Kim Sharpe Jones of the Beer Church says:
We encourage the community to come join the fun.
– enter to win target raffle prizes (tickets are $5, must be present to win; drawing will be around 7:15 pm)
– bring non-perishable food donations or monetary donations for the food bank
– try a Beer Church IPA – a collaboration beer by Two Beers Brewing, Georgetown Brewing and Airways Brewing to benefit Northwest Harvest
Stop by WS Bowl (39th/Oregon) between 5:30 pm and 8 pm tomorrow and be part of it.
(Photo courtesy Roxhill Park Champions: The park’s longtime steward Scott Blackstock supervising Saturday’s work party)
Fall is an ideal time to plant, and that’s why it was so important for volunteers to step up and dig in at Roxhill Park this past Saturday. As noted here, at least 20 volunteers were needed; Roxhill Park Champions got 26! Supervised by longtime steward Scott Blackstock, they got 300 plants in the ground in Peat Cell 3 of the park’s bog, site of an underground fire two years ago. Read more about their success here – and see how to be part of ongoing efforts to care for this unique place.
For the first time, West Seattle Bike Connections organized local riders for what’s become a holiday tradition in many places over the past 20 years – a food-drive-on-wheels dubbed Cranksgiving. West Seattle Food Bank was the beneficiary, and development director Judi Yazzolino sent the photos and report:
All I can say is “WOW”! The first annual West Seattle Cranksgiving was a huge success in our book!
The pedal-powered food drive organized by West Seattle Bike Connections brought bikers to the West Seattle Food Bank last Saturday.
They met up with their teams, got their food list and instructions, and using their load hauling accessories took off, coming back a couple of hours later with a total of 1,195 pounds of food.
In the last 7 years that I have been here, this is definitely the largest food drive in the shortest amount of time. And such variety, culturally diverse food, food for the kids Backpack program, diapers & wipes for the Baby Corner and fresh produce.
Thank you to the organizers for wanting to have their own West Seattle Cranksgiving for the West Seattle Food Bank and most importantly to the enthusiastic riders.
You will make the 12,700 individuals that we serve extremely happy this holiday season.
Having a donation drive this holiday season? Let us know so we can include it in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(October photo by John McIntyre)
Longfellow Creek … home to salmon … and pollution. The creek runs almost the entire length of eastern West Seattle, from Westwood (where it’s undergrounded) to the Duwamish River. Seattle Public Utilities is planning a water-quality project that would focus on reducing polluted stormwater overflows in the creek during heavy rain. But the project isn’t just about some big public-works facility – it’s also about other potential neighborhood benefits, as detailed here. So right now, they’re recruiting community members for an “Innovation Team,” explained as:
We are building an Innovation Team of nine, paid, community co-creators that reflect the diversity in South Delridge. The Innovation Team will guide and work with the Project Team. Team members will attend up to 8, 2-hour meetings this winter and next spring. The Innovation Team will help us:
• Create innovative solutions to achieve community goals
• Build relationships and community partnerships
• Understand risks when deciding where to make investmentsSome examples of people we are looking for:
• A high school student engaged in design, poetry, filmmaking, or engineering
• A person for whom English is a second language
• Someone who leads an informal group like a women’s group, soccer team, or book club
• Someone who builds things or helps organize activities in the neighborhood
More details here. The original deadline to apply was today, but it’s just been extended through Sunday. Here’s how to apply.
As the holidays approach, the season for community giving is under way. Want to help ensure it’s a happy holiday season for local kids? John Moore at Northwest Insurance Group (WSB sponsor) sends word that his office is once again a collection site for Toys for Tots. Just bring your donation of new, unwrapped toys to the Northwest Insurance Group office at 5431 California Ave SW during business hours.
This and other holiday-giving opportunities will be part of our soon-to-launch West Seattle Holiday Guide – still time to let us know about yours, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Gratitude was on the menu tonight, along with spaghetti, at the annual pre-Veterans Day dinner at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. On the stage – an empty table and chair in honor of POWs and MIAs:
Post 160 commander Keith Hughes talked about it, after a few words about the national organization’s new membership rules:
The free dinner is an annual tradition, free to all veterans and their families. Two more notes:
JUNCTION FLAGS ON MONDAY: Post 160 will lead volunteers putting up and taking down the Stars and Stripes in The Junction on Monday. Help is appreciated – you can meet up with them on the northeast corner of California/Alaska at 9 am and/or 4 pm. All ages welcome.
FERRY FLAGS, MOMENT OF SILENCE: Also on Monday, Washington State Ferries will fly the POW-MIA flag on all operating vessels, as well as observing two minutes of silence aboard each one at 11:11 am. After that, the ferries’ whistles will blow in tribute to all who have served.
(WSB photo, October 2017)
One week from today, you can help Roxhill Park continue healing from the underground peat fire two years ago. Here’s how:
20 Volunteers needed for Roxhill Park: Replanting Fire-Damaged Peat Cell 3
Saturday, November 16th starting at 10 am, rain or shineTwo years after the underground peat fire in Roxhill Park, the community has successfully organized, with the Green Seattle Partnership, the delivery of 300 native grasses, ferns and perennial plants to restore the damaged area.
RoxhillPark.org is seeking at least 20 volunteers to assist with planting on Saturday, November 16th. Bring gardening gloves and wear warm outdoor clothing. Shovels, warm drinks and snacks will be provided.
(Roxhill Park Champions photo: Prepping Peat Cell 3 for next Saturday’s planting)
We’ll meet near the restroom and parking lot along 29th Ave SW, across the street from 9227 29th Ave SW. If you arrive a little later, the planting site can easily be found looking directly east from the playground and parking lot.
Register here for more details about the location. If you need additional information, contact: RoxhillParkCommons@gmail.com
Roxhill Park Champions meets every (corrected) second Saturday to clean litter and remove invasive plants along the park’s trails.
(2018 donations)>
You can help neighbors stay warm by donating coats and other winter wear at the Dave Newman State Farm Insurance (WSB sponsor) office. Here’s this year’s announcement:
West Seattle residents give generously with donations of clothes, coats, and shoes during the Holiday season.
Week one of our annual clothing drive in support of the West Seattle Helpline is now under way. So far we have one full barrel of much-needed winter clothing to help our less fortunate friends and neighbors.
Dave Newman State Farm Insurance agency will continue to collect clean donations of clothes, coats and shoes until January 1st. The drop-off location is the State Farm office at 3435 California Ave SW.
Pickup may be available for those who have donations but are unable to transport their clothes, coats and shoes to the donation location.For further information, contact the State Farm office at 206-932-1878.
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