West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
The patio at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) is a nice place to be on a quiet Sunday afternoon … especially when you have the chance to do a good deed:
Those are some of the donated items up for silent-auction bids this afternoon in a fundraiser organized by Jilyan Perry, to help with earthquake relief through volunteer-run Changing Lives Nepal, as previewed here earlier this week. Stop by until 7 pm, have some coffee, beer or wine, enjoy some music. C & P is at 5612 California SW.
It’s been one of our favorite stories to cover every year we’ve done this – but next Friday will be our last chance to report on another round of “Laps With Lou“: Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler is retiring. For 12 years now, on a day close to his birthday, he has been joined by students and other members of the Pathfinder community in running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet, with pledges for Make-A-Wish, the nonprofit for which he’s spent almost 20 years volunteering. This year, Lou and friends will run 64 laps around the field. You’re invited to cheer him on, one last time, starting at 8:45 am next Friday (May 29th) on the field at Pathfinder (1901 SW Genesee on Pigeon Point). You can pledge/donate in advance, too – just go here.
This weekend, a silent auction and fundraising party is planned at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), to help quake survivors in Nepal. More than 8,000 people are dead, and millions of homes need to be rebuilt, along with hundreds of schools. Organizer Jilyan Perry says many of the homes are “in rural areas that have yet to receive aid, just before the country’s monsoon season begins.” Come to C & P to help, on Sunday (May 24th), 3-7 pm:
Money raised from the event will support ‘Changing Lives Nepal’, a nonprofit organization, entirely volunteer run. When the earthquake hit, ‘Changing Lives Nepal’ founder Deana Zabaldo and assistant leader, West Seattle resident Stewart Wolfe, were guiding their team to Everest Base Camp for West Seattle-based company Mountain Madness. The entire team is safe, and without injury. ‘Changing Lives Nepal’ has many programs to help the people of Nepal, which now includes the rebuilding and reconstruction of the homes and schools that need attention.
Come spend the evening with us, as we do our part to help make a difference. The auction items are rolling in from businesses such as Mountain to Sound Outfitters, Thunder Road Guitars, Alki Bike and Board, West Side Music Academy, 8 Bit Arcade, original artwork, and so much more! There will be live music, beer and wine, and some surprises!
Contact Jilyan with questions, donations, or if you would like to volunteer: Jilyan.Perry@yahoo.com
C & P is at 5612 California SW.
Just last night, a humpback whale surprised some lucky onlookers along the West Seattle shore. No photos, but we did get one when orcas made a similarly unexpected pass-by in the Wednesday mist. Just two reminders that marine mammals are all around us – and you can do a lot to help them survive their travels through these busy, also-much-used-by-humans waters. That’s the theme of a new event coming up two weeks from today, as announced by Seal Sitters, which is presenting it along with more than a dozen other organizations/groups:
Did you know that a record number of humpback and gray whales – at least 30 – were entangled in fishing gear, mostly for crabbing, in 2014?
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network will host “Flipper Fest,” a free educational outreach event, on Sunday, May 31st, at the Alki Bathhouse (2701 Alki Ave SW) from 1-5 pm. Make sure to stop by and learn from the experts about the marine mammals of Washington – from tiny harbor-seal pups to giant humpback whales.
The event will feature 15 organizations with interactive exhibits on pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), and invertebrates (sea stars, sea snails, etc). Meet the biologists, researchers, educators, and volunteers who protect marine life.
Importantly, there will be displays on the devastating effects of marine debris and pollution in our waters. Did you know that a record number of humpback and gray whales – at least 30 – were entangled in fishing gear, mostly for crabbing, in 2014? Already, in 2015, we are on a tragic record-setting pace. As of April, at least 25 entanglements had been reported off California alone. The line securing crab traps to buoys cuts deep through a whale’s blubber, causing serious injury or death.
At Flipper Fest, you’ll learn how to secure your crab pot to lessen drifting, derelict pots that endanger whales and often entrap and kill other sea life. It’s just one of the many ways we can keep our waters safer for those who call Puget Sound home. Visit the “Marine Debris and Pollution” exhibits at Flipper Fest to find out how you can help. At the “Cetacean Station” exhibits, you can talk to Cascadia Research about their first-hand, dangerous – and, often, lifesaving – whale disentanglements over the past years. For a photo, go to our blubberblog post.
You’ll find out why you need to be extra careful exploring the beach rocks at low tide, so you don’t destroy habitat for invertebrates like hermit crabs – or accidentally scrunch them or their young. Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalists will be at the event all afternoon to answer your questions about this fascinating miniature world. You’ll leave knowing why it’s never a good idea to pick up or relocate these extraordinary critters.
Local businesses have donated some fantastic raffle prizes – everything from food to kayaking to area attractions. Whale-sized thanks to these businesses for their generosity! Tickets are $1 and will benefit Seal Sitters’ educational outreach and marine mammal stranding work. Drawings will be held at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 (you need not be present to win). There will be a special free drawing for kids attending Flipper Fest, with a chance to win a “Share the Shore” t-shirt, seal boogie board or ocean backpack.
Kids will enjoy lots of art activities, including the creation of marine-themed artwork from plastic bottle caps collected by our volunteers. There will be a face painter and, weather permitting, a life-size inflatable orca on site.
We hope to see you and your friends there! Not only is there a lot to learn, we predict you’ll have some fun doing so and leave “Flipper Fest” empowered with ways you, too, can help protect marine life.
For more information, including a complete listing of participants, raffle prizes and weekly features on the upcoming event, visit Seal Sitters’ blubberblog.
Just nine nights until the next Taste of West Seattle, Thursday, May 21st, at The Hall at Fauntleroy. It’s a benefit for the West Seattle Helpline, and they’ve now exceeded their sponsorship goal to the point where all expenses are covered, says new WSH executive director Chris Langeler, “so all proceeds from admission and raffle ticket sales will go directly to WS Helpline’s programs to help our neighbors in need.” If you don’t have tickets, you need to buy them fast! More on that in a moment – first, we asked Langeler for the lineup of participating food/drink establishments:
One week from tonight, the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) expansion project will benefit from a unique fundraiser aimed at superfans of the Seahawks and Sounders. Here’s what it’s all about, 5-8 pm Tuesday, May 19th, at The Hall at Fauntleroy:
Seahawks and Sounders FC team up for the Y with stars Steven Hauschka and Zach Scott to benefit the West Seattle YMCA expansion!
Your up-close-and-personal experience is guaranteed because we are limiting the guest list to 50 superfans!
As a superfan, you will have the opportunity to:
· Bring an item to be autographed by Steven and Zach, and talk to them one on one!
· Have your photo taken with Steven and Zach and take it home framed with their signatures.
· Hear stories from the sidelines and locker rooms about Steven’s and Zach’s unique experiences in professional sports.
· Bid on exclusive items including:
*Two Seahawks club level tickets & two field passes to the Panthers game on October 18th.
*#12 Fan jersey signed by Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin, and others (top photo).
*Sounders FC jersey signed by Zach Scott (top photo)
*Sounders FC field passes for the Kansas City game on May 23rd (top photo)*Game-worn cleat signed by Steven Hauscka (photo above)
*Plus other autographed items.· Enjoy drinks and appetizers with like-minded die-hard 12s and Sounders FC supporters.
We’re now offering a limited number of tickets for $100 each, plus ticket processing fees. (VIP tickets are $250.00 plus fees.) Purchase tickets online at WestSeattleYMCA.eventbrite.com. When 50 tickets are sold, that’s it — there will be no additions! Proceeds benefit the expansion of the West Seattle YMCA. The YMCA of Greater Seattle is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization registered with the IRS. For this event, $50 of the ticket price may be considered a charitable donation. Learn more at www.OurNewY.org
Lots of kindhearted people out and about on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with benefit sales and post-sale donations. The generosity includes what these kids did, setting up shop along California SW in Gatewood to sell lemonade and treats to help earthquake survivors in Nepal!
They were only out for three hours this morning but they were able to raise $180 for Nepal SEEDS, according to Sandy, who shared the photos afterward, explaining that their friend Cris Miller, a West Seattleite, is on the group’s board, and that Nepal SEEDS is “in major fundraising mode to assist in earthquake relief and re-building in the villages they work in.”
The forecast for Saturday – the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with 340+ sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle – just keeps getting better; now it’s sunny with a high in the upper 70s or maybe even 80. (Good thing we have multiple spots offering drinks – lemonade and coffee, in particular.)
Both forms of the sale map are now available – the clickable, searchable online version, which you’ll find here, and the printable sale list/guide/map, a 21-page PDF you’ll find here.
If you have a minute to print out a poster for sale day and stick it on the bulletin board at your workplace, school, favorite coffee shop – here’s one (one-page PDF, 8 1/2 x 11).
Today’s highlights – benefit sales listed in the registrations!
#1 – proceeds to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
#15 – proceeds to NW Parkinson’s Foundation
#27 – benefit for West Seattle Food Bank
#46 – at and benefiting Dance! West Seattle
#69 – benefiting Delta Kappa Gamma
#79 – stop by and donate at this “un-garage sale”
#132 – benefiting Chamwino Connect in Tanzania
#200 – Girl Scout Troop 41989
#228 – benefiting AAU JV basketball team
#229 – portion of proceeds to Providence Portland Cancer Center
#233 – benefiting Evergreen Homeschool Science Olympiad team
#251 – Girl Scout Troop 44028, helping Tent City
#270 – benefiting West Seattle High School Grad Night
#272 – benefiting Beat The Bridge team
#300 – Amethyst Chapter #138, Order of the Eastern Star
And there are sales AT nonprofits/volunteer-run efforts:
#33 – Solstice Park P-Patch
#52 – WSUU
#109 – West Seattle Veteran Center
#182 – West Seattle Eagles
#192 – Log House Museum
#335 – West Seattle Tool Library
Any fundraiser/benefits we missed in the list? garagesale@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Again this year, dozens of local nonprofits are participating in today’s GiveBIG one-day donate-a-thon coordinated by the Seattle Foundation. The money you give TODAY ONLY to any or all of the participating nonprofits goes beyond face value – it boosts their eligibility for a “stretch pool” of partial matching funds, to be distributed proportionately depending on how much each participating organization raises during GiveBIG, by 11:59 pm tonight.
MEGA-IMPORTANT: You **must** donate through the special pages all participants have on the GiveBIG website, NOT via the organizations’ own websites. So here’s our list of those special pages for participating West Seattle, White Center, and South Park-based or -founded/-connected nonprofits. The special links take you to pages on the Seattle Foundation website with background information, as well as the donation links to use for this one-day event. Please also note that some organizations require an extra step – the “go here” link takes you to their “fiscal sponsor” or parent organization and then you MUST write the local org’s name in the “comments” area. (P.S. Please let us know if we missed a WS, WC, or SP-based organization – post a comment or e-mail us ASAP at editor@westseattleblog.com so we can check it out – thanks!)
ART FOR ANIMALS’ SAKE – go here
ARTS CORPS – go here
ARTSWEST – go here
CITIZENS FOR OFF-LEASH AREAS – go here
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
DENNY-SEALTH PERFORMING ARTS – go here
DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON – go here
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION/TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP– go here
DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB – go here
DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES – go here
EARTH MINISTRY – go here
EMPOWER MENTORING PROGRAM – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF SOUTH SEATTLE – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER – go here
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL – go here
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER – go here
FEEST – go here
FREE2LUV – go here
FRIENDS OF SEALTH – IB SCHOLARSHIP FUND– go here
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION – go here
HIGHLINE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE – go here
HOLY ROSARY PARISH SCHOOL – go here
INVEST IN YOUTH – go here
K-5 STEM PTA – go here
KILLER WHALE TALES – go here
KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION – go here
KOL HANESHAMAH – go here
LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN – go here
MARRA FARM COALITION – go here
MULTI-COMMUNITIES (M.I.C.) – go here
NATURE CONSORTIUM – go here
NAVOS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKETS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – go here
NONFICTION MEDIA– go here
NORTHWEST CENTER – go here
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL – go here
PLUMBERS WITHOUT BORDERS – go here
PONGO PUBLISHING – go here
PROVIDENCE MOUNT ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION – go here
PUGET SOUNDKEEPER ALLIANCE – go here
REEL GRRLS – go here
ROOTS OF EMPATHY USA – go here
SAFE FUTURES YOUTH CENTER – go here
SCHOOL OF ACROBATICS AND NEW CIRCUS ARTS – go here
SEAL SITTERS – go here and in the comments area, write that you’re donating for Seal Sitters
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – go here
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN SOCIETY – go here
SEATTLE GLEE CLUBS – go here
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE SINGLE PARENT ADVOCACY COUNSELING ENRICHMENT – go here
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS – go here
SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE – go here and write “Senior Center of West Seattle” in the “comments” area
SOUTH PARK AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – go here
SOUTH PARK INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – go here
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION – go here
SOUTH PARK SENIOR CITIZENS – go here
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION – go here
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – go here
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES – go here
SPORTS IN SCHOOLS – go here
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOUNDATION – go here
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES CORPS – go here
THE CABIRI – go here
THE ILLUMINATIO PROJECT – go here and specify in the comments area that it’s for The Illuminatio Project
THE MISSION TO SEAFARERS – go here
THE SALVATION ARMY – KING COUNTY – go here
THE SERVICE BOARD – go here
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE – go here
THE WHALE TRAIL – go here
THEATER SIMPLE – go here
TOTEM STAR – go here
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES – go here (TR’s board is matching the first $2,500 donated)
TWELFTH NIGHT PRODUCTIONS – go here
VIVACE CHAMBER PLAYERS – go here
WEST SEATTLE BE PREPARED – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK – go here
WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE – go here
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION – go here
WESTSIDE BABY – go here
WESTSIDE SCHOOL – go here
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION – go here
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK – go here – and again this year, WCFB has an added event on GiveBIG day, Dine Out For Hunger:
Dine out on May 5, 2015, and these restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the White Center Food Bank!
Company Bar
Full Tilt Ice Cream (White Center location)
Mac’s Triangle Pub
Meander’s
Proletariat Pizza
Zippy’s Giant Burgers (White Center AND Georgetown locations)These wonderful restaurants will donate to us through giveBIG, so their donations will be stretched and matched, too!
WHIT PRESS – go here
YES FOUNDATION OF WHITE CENTER – go here
WEST SEATTLE/FAUNTLEROY YMCA – go to the YMCA of Greater Seattle donation page and write in the comments that it’s for the West Seattle YMCA
YOUTH FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE – go here
YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE – go here
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK – go here
YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING COUNTY – go here
That’s the flyer for a benefit tomorrow to help the three families whose homes burned last Thursday – Peel and Press, The Bridge, and Beveridge Place Pub have announced that they will donate part of Tuesday’s proceeds to help them with short-term expenses. The fire Thursday afternoon (WSB coverage here) tore through three houses on 46th SW in the Pelly Place area, which is between Morgan Junction and Lincoln Park. No human injuries, but at least one pet was lost. Seattle Fire investigators determined Friday that it was sparked by an improperly installed heater, estimating $2.7 million damage to all three homes and their contents. Crowdfunding accounts also have been set up for the families – here, and here, and here.
ADDED: Feedback Lounge is reported to be in as well.
More of your neighbors reaching out across the globe to help survivors of the 7.8-magnitude Nepal quake that killed more than 7,000 people. Just got word of this:
7-11 at Admiral Junction started a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to be assured that timely help is reached to Earthquake victims in remote villages far away from Kathmandu City. We are requesting our community to donate as little or much they are able to. This store has already collected over $800 from its customers in the last few days and hopes to raise more to buy basic food and tents to victims in the rural areas where time is running out and no aid has yet reached. The money raised is wired daily to the volunteers in Kathmandu who will deliver directly to the victims in need at the earliest possible time. If you want to know more about this, please feel free to contact Kap at 7-11 at the Admiral Junction, West Seattle. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
The store is at 4312 SW Admiral Way.
Simple ways to do a good deed today:
TREAT STAND FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF: Yma shares the photo of the treat stand that’s up at California and Portland in Gatewood (map) until 2 pm, raising money to help the earthquake survivors in Nepal.
REMINDER – TENT/TARP/DUFFEL COLLECTION: Also for Nepal quake relief, at a dropoff near Madison Middle School. Details in our Friday story.
FUNDRAISERS FOR FIRE VICTIMS: There are now online donation drives for all three of the families affected by Thursday’s fire, plus a restaurant/bar fundraiser planned for Tuesday.
(WSB photo, Saturday morning)
Details here.
(UPDATED FRIDAY NIGHT with fire’s cause, more fundraisers)
(Photo from this morning, by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL 1:10 PM REPORT: No announcement yet from Seattle Fire regarding what caused the 2-alarm, 3-house fire in the Pelly Place area southwest of Morgan Junction on Thursday afternoon. We went back this morning, and the investigation was still under way. If that information emerges today, we’ll add it to this followup.
7:45 PM UPDATE: SFD announced the cause this evening: “Improperly installed heater on a back porch.” Damage estimate for all three houses and their contents: $2.7 million. (That same link is to the SFD story including more details on the firefight.)
Two other updates:
HOW YOU CAN HELP: So many people have asked how they can help the fire victims. Today, two crowdfunding campaigns have emerged, one for each of two households affected – the links are here and here. We know others are working on finding out if the affected families have any immediate material needs, and we will update.
(7:45 pm update) Three Morgan Junction food/beverage establishments – Peel & Press, The Bridge, Beveridge Place Pub – will be donating a percentage of proceeds on Tuesday, according to Dan from P & P.
(9:36 pm update) Another fund has just been set up for the third family involved.
ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY: In discussions both here on WSB and on the WSB Facebook page, concerns have arisen about reports that firefighters apparently had some initial challenges. Here’s what we’ve found out so far.
(This photo and next: Thursday photos by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB:
Because we had multiple hose lines running off one hydrant, we asked SPU to boost water pressure on the Fauntleroy hydrant. When we have a multi-alarm fire, its standard procedure for SPU to respond to monitor water pressure. An example was the Christmas Eve multi-alarm fire in the International District 2 years ago when SPU made sure we had enough water pressure to charge multiple hose lines.
It was a long hose lay and we had 2 engines maintaining water pressure. It’s called relay pumping. Firefighters train on this type of pumping.
The hydrants are actually owned/maintained by Seattle Public Utilities, so we are following up with them as well. You might recall the hydrant issues that followed the 2011 Arbor Heights house fire – new hydrants and lines were installed in parts of AH; then in 2013, there was another round of hydrant discussion, including a map of remaining lower-flow hydrants in West Seattle. You can also check the location of hydrants (or at least the proximity) near your residence by zooming in via the city’s MyNeighborhood map.
ADDED 2:45 PM: SPU has sent these responses to our questions, which included an invitation to include any other information that might help people understand how the system works:
1. How far apart are hydrants spaced in the City of Seattle?
Most hydrants are spaced between 300 and 500 feet apart. The closest hydrant in yesterday’s fire was 400 feet away.2. What is the standard size for a fire hydrant?
Standard-sized hydrants range from 5 to 6 inches in diameter.3. Is there a standard sized water main for residential areas?
Water mains that are eight inches in diameter are the standard size for new development in residential areas. The nearby water mains in yesterday’s fire were 8-inches and 16-inches in diameter.4. Were there any low-flow hydrants in the area?
No5. Is there a performance level for fire flow?
For single-family, residential homes, spacing and flow performance developed in partnership with the Seattle Fire Department include:
• Minimum fire flow at hydrants of 1,000 gallons per minute
• Hydrants within 1,000 feet of fire hose length from any home6. What can you say about the performance of the water system in yesterday’s fire?
While we are still reviewing, our initial indication is that the water system operated as expected and there is no indication of restrictions in water flow. The water mains and hydrants in this area meet hydrant spacing and flow performance developed in partnership between Seattle Public Utilities and the Seattle Fire Department.7. Why were Seattle Public Utilities water crew called to respond to the fire?
It is standard practice for SPU crews to respond to large fires. They are available to support the fire department and operate the water system if additional water flow can be achieved. They also act as a liaison between Fire and SPU’s Water Control Center.
While many people’s minds are on helping the Pelly Place fire victims (here’s the latest on that), there’s one other donation drive, involving different kinds of items, that we wanted to tell you about quickly, as it’s time-sensitive. West Seattleite Chris Mackay is collecting tents, tarps, and duffels for the earthquake survivors in Nepal, to be shipped out on Monday. If you have a tent or tarp in good condition, you can drop it under the canopy (WSB photo above) at 3250 46th SW, which is two houses north of the north side of Madison Middle School.
P.S. Here’s more about the overall relief effort in which Chris is involved.
With less than a month and a half to go in this school year, it’s time to look ahead to 2015-2016 – and as part of that, Chief Sealth International High School is seeking volunteers to help with a new class as part of the Technology Education And Literacy in Schools program. CSIHS principal Aida Fraser-Hammer explains:
Starting in the fall, Chief Sealth International High School will be participating in the Technology Education And Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program as we pilot a semester-long programming class officially titled Introduction to Computer Science. We are in search of volunteer software engineers/programmers willing to team-teach programming in the classroom 2 days per week for the next school year. No teaching experience is necessary; all training and additional supports will be provided by the TEALS program as we begin planning for team-teaching the course in September.
TEALS has already partnered with the other SPS high schools and the program has been
extremely successful in getting students hooked into computer programming and interested in pursuing higher education in the field of computer science. The implementation of this new class at CSIHS will mean that all SPS comprehensive high schools will now have a strong partnership with TEALS, and Sealth’s students will also be exposed to a challenging class to ignite the quest for further educational pursuits in computer science. Below are a few other miscellaneous facts which may help potential software engineers consider volunteering their time to teach introductory programming to students at Sealth:
(Photo courtesy Seattle Dining Out for Life)
Buddha Ruksa is one of five West Seattle restaurants donating part of their proceeds to Lifelong on Thursday as part of the annual Dining Out For Life benefit. According to the Seattle DOFL website, they’re donating 30 percent of dinner proceeds. Also participating on Thursday: Talarico’s in The Junction is donating 30 percent of its lunch, dinner, and late night proceeds; same percentage for El Chupacabra on Alki at lunch, Luna Park Café at dinner, and Locöl at dinner and late night.
For the fourth consecutive year, we’re planning to create and publish a page of links to West Seattle/White Center/South Park nonprofits that are participating in the GiveBIG donate-a-thon, so that readers of West Seattle Blog, White Center Now, and The South Park News will have a one-stop cheat-sheet for where to donate. This year, GiveBIG is May 5th, one week from today. So if you are associated with a nonprofit in WS, WC, and/or SP, that’ll be participating, please let us know (some already have!) and send us the link to your GiveBIG donation page, ASAP. Best way to get us this info: editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
Let somebody else do the cooking tomorrow morning: West Seattle Baseball‘s first-ever Pancake Breakfast benefit is happening 9 am-noon Sunday at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ in The Junction (4426 California SW): “Everyone is welcome to join in the fun as we raffle items, eat pancakes, and raise funds to help maintain our fields. … We look forward to a successful start of a tradition that will support WS Baseball for decades.” Full details are on the flyer embedded above (or viewable as a PDF here).
Love wine? Love sidewalks? Love solar power? Support all of the above – and then some – by attending and/or sponsoring Highland Park Uncorked. It’s happening three weeks from tonight (Saturday, May 16th) at Highland Park Improvement Club. Here’s how it works:
Each person brings a bottle of their favorite wine, priced at $15 or less. You are assigned a table. The bottle is placed in a brown paper bag, given a number and eventually placed somewhere on your assigned table. You don’t worry about that, as you relax with the wines from the award-winning Northwest Wine Academy, mingle with your neighbors, and munch on a wonderful spread of food prepared by our talented gastronomes.
When the tasting starts, you will go to your assigned table and your table captain will walk you through the process. Everybody tastes the wines that each person at their table brought and end up voting for the best. The winning wine from your table progresses to the finals where they are all tasted and the top three are chosen. There is still lots of wine at your table to further “examine” and enjoy with your tablemates.
Raffles too, and something new – the “Wine Aroma Challenge“! Find more details about Highland Park Uncorked here. Oh, and about the sidewalks? HPIC is raising money not just to support its ongoing operations as a community hub and event venue, but also to help with grounds improvements for its almost-century-old site at 12th/Holden. It’s received grants and donations for raingardens, a cistern, a courtyard, and future solar panels – but it’s also (as explained and shown here) had to spend more than $15,000 to fix broken sections of sidewalk and to replace part of its roof. Every bit of fundraising helps, HPIC says. So:
*Want to be a sponsor? (WSB is signed up to co-sponsor again this year.) Go here.
*Just want to save a spot at the table? Go here – HP Uncorked has sold out in advance in previous years, so don’t gamble on just showing up at the door.
The place to go if you’re looking for kid stuff today – the West Seattle Co-op Preschools‘ benefit consignment sale, raising money for the schools’ scholarship fund. If you haven’t already been, you have until 1 pm, at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska), to find clothes, toys, and more, big and small:
Find out more about the Co-op Preschools program, which serves kids from infancy through kindergarten, by going here.
(WSB photos)
Volunteer power and donations are getting WestSide Baby through its current crisis requiring an emergency move … and helping keep its family-assisting work on track. We stopped by on Wednesday, when a round of Earth Day recycling was under way at the new donation/volunteer center WS Baby is moving into … car-seat recycling.
Volunteers including staffers from Titan 360 were helping break down no-longer-usable car seats turned in to WS Baby. Meantime, the organization is having to more or less break down its entire center for the move across 14th SW in White Center, two weeks after the fire that cut power to their current center:
To get ready for the move, executive director Nancy Woodland brought in a generator so they could at least run a few things.
Saturday’s the day for the big move, something that was in the plans anyway, just accelerated by the problem. That requires more volunteer power, which WS Baby can also use tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, 3-6 pm, to help with shelving. Other needs – donated time, materials, money – are in our story from earlier this week.
Earlier this month, we reported on a small fire with a big effect on WestSide Baby‘s operations – shutting down the WS Baby volunteer/donation center in White Center, from which the nonprofit serves thousands of families around the area. The resulting power outage isn’t fixed yet and so WS Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland sends word they’re making an emergency move – and in need of multiple types of help:
On April 9, WestSide Baby’s main facility in White Center experienced a small electrical fire that eliminated power for our donation and volunteer center. This means we’ve been unable to fill orders for 350 children per week as the building is completely dark, cold and unsafe. Because this is not the first time this building has had major maintenance issues, we have decided to take a brave step and move our entire operation within the next week because leaving children in the lurch is unacceptable to us.
To get up and running as soon as possible, over the next 10 days we are moving our main donation and volunteer operations across the street into a warehouse where we have been storing diapers! We plan to open our doors at 10002 14th Ave SW by April 27.
This is a plan we have been working on for some time and had actually hoped to execute this summer. Because of the fire and resulting urgency, we have now divided it into Phases and we’ll start a little earlier than we expected by moving one component of our organization now. We’re excited to share updates on Phase 2 and 3 soon. It’s going to be great and we hope you will be excited to participate in our growth!
We have a list of opportunities for you to support this effort with your time or treasure. Both are critical at this point in order for us to be able to get back up and running and filling orders as soon as possible.
You can donate now at WestSideBaby.org to help us with the following things to get set up quickly:
Critical for Phase 1:
Shelving – $5000 Total ($300/each)
Signage – $2000
Pallet Stacker – Rent or Purchase
Canvas Bins – $1000 Total ($250 each)
Moving and Storage Expenses – $10,000Things we’ll need for Phase 2 -3:
Moving Expenses – $15k
Industrial Carpet/Flooring
Painting help
LumberWe will also have Volunteer Opportunities:
Tuesday, April 21 6-7 pm Car Seat moving
Friday, April 24 3-6 pm Shelf Assembly
Saturday, April 25 10 – 5 Moving!!
Sunday, April 26 9 – 5 Deconstruction of old facilty and clean up
Soon after – a small masonry and curb installation project needs a skilled professionalContact Volunteer Manager, Shana Allen (shana@westsidebaby.org), if you are interested! We have some flexibility with this schedule and we anticipate more things unfolding this week. These are all physical projects.
To help us with backlog – we anticipate announcing additional Sorting Frenzies and Order Filling Opportunities the week of April 27. Let Shana know if you want to be on the lists to receive those updates!!
The Relay for Life-West Seattle team Smiles for Miles is offering “Grab and Go” dinners as a fundraiser again, on two upcoming dates:
*Next Tuesday, April 21st, they’re offering ravioli (with marinara), Caesar salad, green beans, and garlic bread. $10 adult dinner, $5 child-size. Pickup (cash, or check made to American Cancer Society) is 5-6 pm Tuesday at the Fauntleroy Children’s Center kitchen (north side of Fauntleroy Schoolhouse). E-mail your order by Monday (April 20th) to fauntleroychildrenscenter@yahoo.com.
*On Wednesday, May 13th, they’re fixing Grab-and-Go spaghetti dinners (meat sauce or marinara), Caesar salad, corn, garlic bread, Same prices, payment options, pickup time/place, e-mail address; order by May 12th.
Questions before you place an order? Call Lauri Cunningham @ 206-932-9590, extension 302, or ask via the same e-mail address.
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