West Seattle, Washington
25 Saturday
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.
Here’s a unique West Seattle volunteer opportunity:
Do you have a baby who was born in July or August? Would you like to volunteer with your baby to help nurture empathy in children? Highland Park Elementary is looking for parents with infants who are between 2-4 months old to volunteer about once per month during the school year.
What is Roots of Empathy?
Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. The program has been widely evaluated across three continents for two decades and is proven to result in improved empathy, increased emotional understanding, decreased aggression and bullying and improved pro-social behavior among participating students. Research also demonstrates that these improvements are sustained and even strengthened over time.Above is a brief introductory video that explains how Roots of Empathy works and why a baby is such a powerful teacher of empathy. Roots of Empathy was also recently featured on NBC’s Today – you can view that segment here.
If you would like to volunteer as a Roots of Empathy Family, please contact the Roots of Empathy Program Manager, Melissa Soltani, at msoltani@rootsofempathy.org
Early Sunday, someone fired a gun outside a home in South Park. A man in his 50s who had lived there for 19 years was hit and killed. He lived there with his wife, daughter, son, and 13-year-old grandson. Your South Park neighbors are circulating word of crowdfunding to help the family. If you would consider helping, the page is here.
(WSB photo from last June’s CSIHS commencement)
Getting to the goal of high school – graduation – isn’t just a long haul for the students. It takes a lot of work from everyone supporting them – teachers, family, and the community. Yes, fall is fundraising season and generous community members might have a bit of donor fatigue. But if you can sign up for one more good time for a good cause, the Chief Sealth InternationaL High School PTSA president Nicole Sipila has a message for you, looking ahead to their November 16th dinner/auction (5 pm at Brockey Center):
This is it. We are down to two weeks before the auction and we NEED YOU!
I’m going to be FRANK, we need 6-8 more tables of (10) to make this event pay for itself and raise $30,000, money enough for each group, Denny Sealth Performing Arts, Athletics and PTSA to have $10,000 to cover their year’s budgets.
This can seem like a lot of money, I know. But when you’re talking about 1150 students it doesn’t go very far. Did you know that we currently have 80 identified homeless students in our school? These are just the students who the administration knows about. It doesn’t count the others who are scraping by, surfing on friends and family’s couches. PTSA supports these students with our $10,000. Operating the Closet and food pantry. Giving money to teachers and department heads to buy supplies and other items that students need for success. Also, PTSA provides access to funds for ASB/Student groups and clubs that are also trying to make a difference in our school.
The Athletic department is always having to replace uniforms and equipment. Our scholar athletes use these things, hard! Five days a week with practices and games. Balls, bats, swimsuits, gym matts, uniforms don’t last forever, they must be replaced. And I hope you can understand how embarrassing it is for our kids to show up at events with mismatched uniforms. They work their tails off, and we need to support them. There is evidence that kids who participate in sports and other outside school activities do better in school, are more likely stay out of gangs and are less likely to use drugs & alcohol AND most importantly, more likely to graduate! Sports and activities are an important part of the high school experience. Athletics needs our support.
Music and Arts! This is what makes us truly human! The DSPA is an amazing organization that supports all the various music and performing groups at Denny & Sealth. Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Choir, Mariachi and hopefully soon, Theatre. These groups have excelled at Sealth and Denny. Winning numerous awards and traveling around the PNW to further the notoriety of our programs. And like sports equipment, music instruments need to be replaced and maintained. Hours of practice and performances take a toll. DSPA strives to offer scholarships to students who would not otherwise be able to afford an instrument, travel and perform. Because what is music & art if there is no audience to appreciate it?
So, this is it, Sealth. You’ve heard it, as plainly as I can state it. Please, please, please, show up for our kids. We are sweetening the pot so to speak. If you buy a table of ten, starting tonight, Friday Nov. 1st through Sunday, Nov. 10, you’ll get the early bird prices for your table and a bottle of red and white wine waiting for you and your guests.
This is really a fun event. Come in costume or not. It’s for the children but the adults get a great night out. Watch our amazing students perform and get to know other Denny and Sealth Parents.
(WSB photo: Ellen McMillin, Alberto Navarro, Naby Camara, Susan Hunt Navarro)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One fun night in West Seattle can ensure countless safe nights for students on the other side of the planet.
November 10th at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), JUNO Award-winning musician Naby Camara headlines the event to raise money to build a school dormitory in Karatu, Tanzania.
We talked with the musician – a West Seattleite – and event organizers Susan Hunt Navarro, Alberto Navarro, and Ellen McMillin at C & P earlier this week. Susan is a board member for the Karatu Education Fund. She and Alberto first learned about the area while traveling in Africa more than a decade ago. Alberto wanted to build a library in memory of his parents, and they looked for a non-governmental organization to partner with. They found the Karatu Education Fund – and learned it already had a connection to the Northwest – a board member from Bellingham. It’s a small organization, they explain, taking on just a few projects a year, so the assistance goes a long way.
When they first visited the school in Karatu, it was lunchtime, and the students were just sitting under a tree, Alberto said – they had no food, no kitchen, no time to walk the long distance back to their homes. By the time they reached secondary-school age, only six percent of the girls were still in school. Read More
Last weekend, we noted that Arbor Heights teen Joseph Meats was collecting drop-off donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. Now, the results! From Judi Yazzolino at WSFB:
Joey & his Dad, Tony, delivered all the food Tuesday for a total of 565 pounds of food & pet food. He also did a fundraiser on Facebook & our website for a total of $305. We love Joey and his parents; they have been incredible supporters of the West Seattle Food Bank for many years and now that Joey is a teenager, he has started volunteering here at the food bank as well.
Missed the chance to donate? At least two local Halloween attractions in our guide (the Meeds Haunted House and Nightfall Orphanage) are collecting nonperishable food, so take some with you when you head out!
Five years ago, we told you about then-8-year-old Joseph Meats going door to door collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. Now he’s a teenager and still working to stop hunger – and this weekend, you can help. His family sent the photo and word that he’s set up outside 9910 34th SW in Arbor Heights [map] collecting drop-off donations of food for people and pets. Here’s the list of what’s most needed:
The photo and announcement are from Taproot School:
To raise money and support Immigrant Families Together, students and parents from the Taproot School will be in costumes, selling Hot Cider (by donation) to ferry travelers and park goers from 4-5:30 pm tomorrow, Friday October 25th, in front of the southern Lincoln Park parking lot, with mobile sellers to catch those in line. All proceeds will go to Immigrant Families Together and all supplies have been donated or created by the students and families.
Earlier this year (Aug 9th), the Taproot school sold lemonade for the cause, raising $1,000 from generous West Seattle/Vashon/Southworth travelers. We are hoping the warm fall cider and excited kids in Halloween costumes will raise spirits and funds once again and encourage people to turn out to support the school’s efforts.
Immigrant Families Together is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization working to keep families together by providing bond money for parents, legal services, safe housing, clothing, food, cellphones among other vital services to help families have the best possible chance at receiving asylum. For more information about how to help immigrant families stay together or to donate directly, please go (here).
Just two days until this opportunity to give your time along with volunteers from the Delridge Grocery Co-op:
Join our merry band of volunteers as we take it to the streets (well, Delridge Way SW) the weekend before for our Community Adopt-A-Street Trash Pick-Up event on Saturday, October 26. Trash bags, gloves, pickers, and other supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own gloves and bags as well. This is a great family activity (as well as a great way for middle and high schoolers to get some community service time), and you can participate for as little or as much time as you have to spare.
*Meet at Youngstown Coffee Company starting at 9:30 am (5214 Delridge Way SW)
*Saturday, October 26, 10am to 12pm
*RSVP: See this Signup Genius page
The co-op will celebrate its grocery-store groundbreaking just one week later!
Easy Street Records owner Matt Vaughan has some amazing tales to tell and you can hear for yourself at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Brunch on November 2nd. Just days left to reserve your ticket – here’s what SWSHS wants you to know about this year’s brunch:
Guests at the Champagne Gala Brunch will witness West Seattle history in the making. Guest speakers Matt Vaughan (Music Historian and owner of Easy Street Records), Peder Nelson (Co-Curator of the Sound Spots exhibit at the Log House Museum) will be interviewed by John Maynard, (Robin and Maynard Show on KNXX).
They will speak to the importance of recognizing the music history of the Duwamish Peninsula. Matt will tell the stories of the great musicians who have passed through West Seattle, resulting in a unique intersection of music and culture. A limited edition Eddie Vedder poster from his first solo concert (at Kenyon Hall) will be auctioned.
After a meal at Salty’s overlooking Elliott Bay (vegetarian options available), there will be a live one-of-a-kind West Seattle-themed auction. Some of the auction items include:
Become the “Man or Woman of the Hour” with a collectable Eddie Vedder Poster: Vedder’s first solo concert took place in West Seattle’s Kenyon Hall. You could become the owner of the iconic limited-edition poster (with guitar pick) from that 2008 semi-secret show, billed as a “Into the Wild” screening. In addition, there will be a variety of collectible show posters from other bands available in this music-themed event of the year.
Becoming a Master of Mural Art in the Junction: Assist mural restoration artist Bob Henry in painting one of the beloved Junction murals. Then, learn about these amazing public art pieces with 20 of your closest friends. Historian Clay Eals will host this unique walking tour. Also includes a framed limited-edition poster of the West Seattle murals.
Ice Scream, You Scream, We All Scream Your Own Husky Deli Ice Cream: Create your very own ice cream flavor at Husky Deli. Not only will you get to create the flavor, you get to name it and be available for purchase in store! Celebrate with an ice cream launch party with 20 of your closest friends at this iconic West Seattle location.
Light Up the Night with the Menashes: The Menashe family’s Christmas lights (over 350,000 of them!) are unforgettable. Offering an exclusive party of four to attend a Menashe family Christmas party, this package includes a family photo.
Lastly, there’s a chance to win the Golden Ticket – a Holland America cruise. Purchase the Golden Ticket at the Log House Museum or at the Gala.
Admission: Gala ticket price is $95 and space is limited! If you would like to purchase tickets online: loghousemuseum.org/blog/2019-champagne-gala-brunch To purchase your tickets in person or over the phone, please contact the Log House Museum at: museum@loghousemuseum.org or 206-350-0999.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
They’re already headquartered in the same building.
Early next year, the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline will become one organization.
We talked this morning with the organizations’ executive directors, Fran Yeatts of WSFB and Erin Dury Moore of WSH, about what’s ahead.
First thing you should know: Don’t stop giving to either one in the months ahead! Their distinct missions will continue – food and more (as currently provided by WSFB), emergency financial aid and clothing (as currently provided by WSH). The merger won’t result in any cutting of services.
So how did the merger decision come about?
From the United Way of King County, now recruiting for volunteers to help with tax prep in our area (and elsewhere):
Every year in Washington State, low- and middle-income families and individuals struggle to pay the bills and keep food on the table. During tax time, it can make an unstable situation even worse. Not only is Washington’s tax system the most regressive in the nation, but predatory tax preparers could charge upwards of $300 for a tax return, and may not tell their clients about certain credits or saving opportunities they might qualify for.
Clare visited one of our United Way tax sites. She was a single mother of two making $30,000 a year. She struggled to pay her housing and grocery expenses. During her time with our Free Tax Campaign volunteers, she received a $3,000 refund at absolutely no cost. This meant that she was able to meet some of her basic needs to support her two children.
In 2019, our amazing volunteers helped 21,975 people by bringing back $30.1 million in tax refunds and credits in the process. For many of our clients, this helps them to cover the cost of basic needs like food and shelter. For this upcoming tax season, we’re hoping to make an even bigger impact in our community. To do this, we need your help.
We rely on our talented team of volunteers to make this possible. Join us and fight against poverty. We provide free comprehensive training that will boost your skills, and help reach the people who need it most. No prior tax experience needed!
Find a Free Tax Prep location near you and get involved (here).
West Seattle Community Orchestras invite you to a night full of great music as well as food, fun, and fundraising:
Sassy, Brassy, Classy; A bountiful harvest dinner & auction: October 26, 2019
Join the West Seattle Community Orchestra (WSCO) on Saturday, October 26th for WSCO’s biggest event and fundraiser of the year! The evening will include chamber music performed by WSCO members, a performance by the West Seattle Big Band, and a silent auction featuring experiences from the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Teatro Zinzanni, and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra to name a few. There will also be a chance to win a $400 gift certificate to Canlis. Support WSCO programs while having a blast at our 2019 Gala event!
WSCO provides community musicians of all ages and abilities with opportunities for performance and growth. Join them for an evening of fun as you support them in continuing to provide FREE TUITION to all K-12 students!
Tickets are available online.
Saturday, October 26, 2019 | Alki Masonic Hall
6:00 PM Doors Open
7:00 PM Dinner
8:00 PM Dessert Dash & Raise the Paddle
That’s St. Bernadette Parish School in north Burien, hit earlier this week by arson which, according to this KING5 report, forced the cancellation of some classes. We’ve heard this morning from several readers who suggest that West Seattleites might want to help the school recover from the damage. Holy Rosary School has sent out this call for support:
One of our fellow Catholic schools has experienced a tragic fire that is impacting their ability to have their school open. We are sharing their information with you in hopes you will pray for their community. If you would like to support them with a donation of money or supplies, information can be found below.
The school (at Ambaum/128th) has about 200 students.
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