MORE West Seattle student helpers: Sanislo’s food-drive success
Really, there’s nothing like a ton of good news going into a weekend, especially before a holiday. Here’s more. Earlier we reported the success of Lafayette Elementary‘s food drive for the White Center Food Bank. Now we have a report from Sanislo Elementary, which also wrapped up a food drive today – Lisa K shared the photos and the report below this next pic:
WOW! The Sanislo community once again demonstrated their tremendous generosity during our annual winter food drive. Our 300 students blew away our goal of 1000 lbs of nonperishable food, toiletries and cleaning supplies with donations totaling 2912 pounds! In full disclosure, one of our truly big-hearted dads once again donated hundreds of pounds of food to help his son’s class win the class competition. However, even without his amazing generosity, our kids still topped a ton (!!) of donations. There were more than enough donations this year to provide for our own school families needing extra help AND to share with the greater community through the food bank. Given the current economy and the fact that approximately half our students qualify for free or reduced meals, this is certainly an example of the kids’ and teachers’ care for one another.
Representatives from Mr. Apostol’s 5th grade class accepted the trophy as this year’s winners, and their class leads off the initial engraved plate on our new plaque that will commemorate each year’s “Annual Sanislo Food Drive Superstars.” Mrs. Goethe’s kindergarten class and Mr. Simmons’ 4th graders (woo hoo FIRE MONKEYS!) also deserve mention for their efforts. Since the entire school did such a great job showing us just what outstanding citizens they are, EVERY class won ice cream. Congratulations to you all!
All the best,
Lisa K. for the Sanislo PTA
High Point toy drive update: “Goal exceeded”
First, WSB’er Celeste called us a little while ago with word that the Marines had landed at High Point Community Center with toys for the toy drive mentioned here earlier this week. Then High Point CC’s Rebecca Hall sent us the photo you see above, with word that they now officially have exceeded the goal of 400 toys for the families who were disappointed on what was supposed to be the distribution day last Monday. So they’ve got everything they need, and then some – if you’ve bought toys to donate, please check out some of the many Giving Trees and other donation drives (we have some listed on our Holidays page and will check around to see if there are any other urgent needs). By the way, High Point CC will be happy to see you and the kids in your life tomorrow morning – they’re making gingerbread houses, 10:30-11:30 am, $5 admission.
West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 break-ins; school scare
4 Crime Watch notes: 1st, we checked with the precinct regarding a report published this morning at SeattleCrime.com regarding an incident last week on the grounds of Madison Middle School. Police confirm that “a bottle filled with flammable fluid was thrown on the roof of the school” around 5 pm 12/12 and that nobody’s been arrested.
Also in Crime Watch, three break-in reports. First one is from a WSB’er near 38th/Dakota (map) who says a neighbor’s home was broken into around 12:30 pm Wednesday – while someone was home. The burglar, they tell us, started knocking on the front door; the person at home decided to ignore the knocking – but shortly thereafter, the burglar went around back and kicked in the door. Our tipster adds:
… thankfully the person ran off when they realized someone was home. The police told our neighbor our block would be put on the watch list for extra patrols. It is scary — we live high up on a hill and it is not easy for people to come up all the stairs to knock to begin with — then to go through a gated privacy fence to kick in a back door? Really disturbing.
Two other break-in reports ahead:Read More
West Seattle students’ good deeds: Lafayette food drive success
We’re just back from Lafayette Elementary School in Admiral, where White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump and volunteer Beth Grieser came to pick up a huge donation of food gathered by Lafayette students. We’ll add photos of the handoff later; first, here are a few of the student heroes with the massive pile of food (in a photo taken by Lafayette leadership this morning), and the story told by school administrators:
For the second year in a row, the Lafayette Elementary community used some friendly competition to amass donations for the school’s annual food drive. The charitable event was fueled by a contest to see which class could collect the most items and donations by teacher were tracked on a bulletin board in the front lobby. Over the next couple of weeks, the collected food almost overtook the school’s front lobby.
All of the classes participated, but two classes led the competition: Ms. Rollins’ class collected the most items (525) and Mr. Beal’s class (497) came in second place. Mrs. Bell’s kindergarten class sorted their 297 items alphabetically so that the collection effort also became a learning opportunity. Over 3,300 items total were collected school-wide, which is up dramatically from 2,100 last year. Today the White Center Food Bank team (came) to start transporting all of the collected food down to their facility in White Center.
Lafayette’s student council sponsors two community service projects a year–one in winter and one in spring. We would like to thank the Lafayette’s student council leaders for putting together the food drive, faculty/staff for keeping students motivated and to all the generous Lafayette families who donated food.
Congratulations to all the generous youngsters and their families, and to everyone in West Seattle who’s reached out so generously to make sure fewer people will be in need. We published a story earlier today about the WC Food Bank as the holiday approaches and how you can help – read it here; and our earlier story about the West Seattle Food Bank can be seen here.
Update: More charges, higher bail for vandalism suspect Ryan Cox
Thanks to “Born to be Mild” for catching this in the King County Jail Register database first: New information regarding bail and charges for Ryan Joshua Cox, arrested yesterday for the second time this year and accused of multiple instances of vandalizing West Seattle homes, businesses and public facilities, usually with a profane three-word anti-gay slur. The register now says he’s charged with 10 counts of property destruction, as well as graffiti and having a dangerous weapon – as police told us yesterday, they found a fixed-blade knife on him when he was arrested in The Junction. Bail is now up to $20,000. We’re looking for more details on the latest developments in the case and will add whatever more we find.
West Seattle Whale Watch: Gray-whale sightings reported
Only one report so far but you know how we are about sharing whale reports, in case you want to keep an eye out: “Cloudbreak” shared e-mail from a friend who e-mailed an hour ago, “OK, a few minutes ago a gray whale cruised by Alki, turned East at the lighthouse.” (Maybe it was this one.) ADDED 11:57 AM: Now a second report, closer to downtown – from Zack:
I’m down at Argosy Cruises and we had a gray whale pass us and head into the east waterway…last view I got was about 10 ago and it was surfacing inbetween the cargo ships. Looks like it’s still heading south.
Congratulations! Honors for 13 local teachers, 1 local business
First – the teachers. Seattle Public Schools (where winter break starts after classes let out an hour early today) announced 57 teachers in the district have just received Board Certification – explained here – including these teachers from West Seattle-area schools:
Alki Elementary
Kristine McChesney
Arbor Heights Elementary
Susan Crooke
Concord International
Tom Ly
Linda Martinez
Kathryn Sperling
Gatewood Elementary
Darren Radu
Highland Park Elementary
Laura Drake
Madison Middle
Kathleen Myers
Karen Nixon
Pathfinder K-8 @ Cooper
Ami Pendley
Roxhill Elementary
Jenny Dew
Teresa Klein
Sanislo Elementary
Carolyn Autenrieth
Second … congratulations to Morgan Junction-based Alki Tours, which sent word it’s received the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Sightseeing tour companies category by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA). The accompanying news release says, “The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. … The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports.” This time of year, Alki Tours is best known for its Leavenworth Snow Train excursions.
What the White Center Food Bank needs before (& after) Christmas
(Editor’s note: We’re spotlighting some of West Seattle’s nonprofits in the Christmas countdown, to help with the final push to make sure the people they assist get what they need for the holidays. Wednesday we focused on the West Seattle Food Bank; this morning, it’s the White Center Food Bank, which helps people in part of West Seattle too.)
By Lauri Hennessey
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The White Center Food Bank has taken a hit over the last year. Its executive director says the need for its services has increased up to 80 percent over the last 18 months. Still, Rick Jump says the food bank is surviving the economic downtown in some pretty creative ways — in no small part due to the local community stepping up.
Examples? This fall West Seattle’s Avalon Glassworks produced beautiful red glass apples as part of a WC Food Bank fundraiser. The apples are gorgeous — just $80 each (and there are still some left). Half of the proceeds from each apple goes to the food bank.
Plus, the food bank has received a donation of Christmas trees from IKEA and Evergreen High School. And, food bank board member Gary Fasso joined with the local Carpenters Union to create a new “carport style” produce shed. Now volunteers and customers can be protected from the rain as they look through produce.
Jump says the changes are all part of the food bank’s efforts to make it a bit more pleasant experience for those who come in for help. Just coming in for food is hard enough, he says, without having to stand out in the cold.
(Read on for what you can do NOW to help WC Food Bank before Christmas – and more)Read More
West Seattle Holidays: You bring a toy, Hiawatha shares the feast
Long list of awesome holiday events for The Weekend Before Christmas – and here’s one where you can combine giving and receiving: The Holiday Giving Tree and Feast event 6-8 pm tomorrow (Friday) at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW; map). Bring a toy to donate, and you get dinner for free. Rebecca from sister community center High Point CC found out the Hiawatha menu for us – she says it’s the work of a professional chef:
Roasted Turkey
Gourmet Macaroni & Cheese w/6 different cheeses
Sweet Potato and Red Potato Rosemary Olive Oil Dish
Corn
Rolls
Green Salad
Various Pies for Dessert
Hot Apple Cider & Cran-Raspberry Juice
Satsumas
Fruit Cocktail
That’s at Hiawatha, 6-8 pm tomorrow. Meantime Rebecca’s checking on progress for the HP toy drive we told you about yesterday. She also says ALL community centers have been collecting toys – the next few days are the time to make sure all toy bins and giving trees are taken care of!
Design Review report #1: Admiral Safeway, Transitional Resources
Just back from the two-part Southwest Design Review Board meeting at Youngstown Arts Center. The easy part is the report on the Transitional Resources residential expansion on Avalon: It was approved to move along out of the DR process, with just a few concerns, such as a suggestion that the upper floor plan from the alternative option – including a different alignment for the elevator tower – be incorporated into the recommended plan. Not much controversy, no public opposition, the meeting didn’t even take the full potential hour-and-a-half timeslot. The second part – the fourth Design Review meeting on the Admiral Safeway project – was more contentious and complicated. Bottom line, the project is not done with Design Review yet – it will have to come back for a fifth meeting – but just specifically for another look at the west side of the store along California SW – the biggest concern, board members want to see more entrances on that side; it originally had none between the store’s main entrance and a door at California/Lander, then one was added for the Starbucks stand midway down California, but board members say that’s not enough. Full details, including other concerns they want the final design to address, in our second report, later Friday.
West Seattle Christmas lights: Decorations, with a twist
We featured this display last year – who could forget the distinctive Christmas cocktail on the roof? Now, its proud creators have shared a few new photos, with a change or two, so they’re back for an encore: It’s the Radas’ home in Westwood. Michael Rada says, “We moved the martini glass a little farther up the roof” for this year:
They’re at 8615 32nd SW — here’s a map. For the archive of other light displays we’ve featured so far this season, go here – and please let us know about the best and the brightest you’ve seen (or maybe you’ve put them up yourself!) addresses, with or without photos, are welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com.
Alaskan Way Viaduct’s future: New tunnel alignment unveiled
From the just-concluded last 2009 meeting of the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project’s South Portal Working Group – with three West Seattle members on hand – the big news is the new proposed alignment for the tunnel. (Click the graphic above to see it full-size on the Viaduct project website.) The south end of this one runs further west than the original proposal, which is good news for the Pioneer Square area in particular, where some historic buildings might have needed reinforcement work, among other impacts. There are a few other changes of interest to West Seattleites – we’ll add those shortly (in the meantime, all the documents and graphics shown at the meeting are now available online – find the links here). The working group is expected to meet again next month, though the date has not yet been announced. FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: More toplines from the meeting:Read More
Yet more West Seattle giving: Nucor’s two-ton food gift
More updates on how West Seattleites are reaching out to help their neighbors: The nearly 300 employees of Nucor have just sent two tons of food to the West Seattle Food Bank. Thanks to Tricia at Nucor for sharing the news:
Each year Nucor Steel Seattle holds a food drive to support the West Seattle Food Bank. We ask our employees to donate food or cash to help others in our community. This year we were facing a down economy and employees whose hours and pay were cut by 33% or more – but they still came through.
Donations from employees totaled $3,083 in cash plus 4,400lbs of food! Nucor matched $2 per $1 donated and $2 per pound of food donated, totaling $14,966. The total donation to the West Seattle Food Bank was $18,049 in cash plus 4,400lbs of food!
On top of the donations to the Food Bank, some staff also collected jackets, coats, and sweaters to donate to West Seattle Helpline‘s Clothesline. These coats will be given away to West Seattle residents to help keep warm over the holiday season and into 2010. We think this is a testament to everyone’s generous spirit even in a down economy.
Happy Holidays from everyone at Nucor Steel Seattle.
We have updates coming up about both Helpline and our area’s other food bank, White Center FB. P.S. WS Food Bank president Pete Spalding told WSB a little while earlier – we’re both at the Alaskan Way Viaduct South Portal Working Group meeting downtown – that the agency is SO grateful for EVERYONE who’s reached out to help.
West Seattle students’ help: Toys from Westside, food from Madison
We told you yesterday about the urgent need for toy donations at High Point Community Center, to fulfill the holiday wishes of families who were left empty-handed when a toy-drive delivery for distribution this past Monday didn’t come through. Among those who have stepped up to the plate, students from Westside School – Rebecca Hall from HPCC sent that photo with this update:
Westside School hosted a toy drive and brought all of the toys and dropped them off at High Point CC this morning.
We’re awaiting a progress report on how far donations have gotten toward the request for 400 toys, for kids 3-18; HPCC says you can drop off donations through Saturday afternoon – their hours and location are here. Meantime, word of other local kids doing good deeds:
From Jeanne Merritt at Madison Middle School, that photo and report on results of a recent food drive:
Madison Middle School’s students showed a great spirit of generosity with their recent food drive. Science teachers arranged a competition between all the science classes. Alisha Taylor’s class, the winners, brought in over 700 pounds of food. All in all students gathered 1800 pounds of food! (School nurse Sami Hoag weighed it all.) The food was distributed to Madison families in 41 Thanksgiving food baskets.
Last night, we published an update on what West Seattle Food Bank needs for the holiday; coming up in the next few hours, our update on how you can help White Center Food Bank. (Lots of additional ideas for how to help, including Giving Trees and donation drives, can be found on the West Seattle Holidays page.)
Bulletin: West Seattle graffiti-vandalism suspect Ryan Cox arrested
(scroll down for latest information, added to the original report)
ORIGINAL 10:16 AM REPORT: Just announced by Seattle Police at SPDBlotter:
Ryan Cox was arrested this morning by Southwest Precinct detectives near the intersection of 44th Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street. Cox was taken into custody without incident at around 8:30 a.m. He will be booked into King County Jail. The Seattle Police Department appreciates all of the public assistance in this matter.
The arrest comes less than 24 hours after police released photos of Cox, including three like the one above, in which they say he was caught in the act of marking/painting the same three-word anti-gay slur that reappeared on businesses and homes around West Seattle repeatedly over the past three months (here’s the report we published Sept. 9), after incidences in the spring that led to his previous arrest. 10:44 AM UPDATE: We just checked with Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen, with whom we have talked about the case multiple times in recent months (including yesterday, after we got three more reports, at which time he told us about the arrest warrant). Regarding more details on this morning’s arrest, he says Detective Nick Bauer spotted Cox at California and Erskine on the south end of The Junction, called for backup, and “several patrol units assisted in the arrest” two blocks north. 11:48 AM UPDATE: The King County Jail Register shows Cox was booked about an hour ago, and the charges are listed as property destruction and “dangerous weapon” – we’re checking on more information regarding that last one. 11:57 AM: Lt. Paulsen explains it: He says Cox was found carrying a “fixed-blade knife.” He’s scheduled to answer the charges in a hearing tomorrow; bail currently totals $1,330.
Also today/tonight: WS Democratic Women; Sealth concert; more
2 more event reminders have arrived since our earlier item about today/tonight highlights. First, the West Seattle Democratic Women are lunching today, with guests including two of the local leaders who remain finalists for West Seattle’s open King County Council seat after the long no-decision night the other night (here’s our play-by-play if you missed it):
The West Seattle Democratic Women are having their annual fundraiser/auction at the West Seattle Golf Course today at 11:30. Come on down if you are in the area. Lunch is $10, but you can just come and hang out with us if you like. We have some great auction items and Sen. Joe McDermott and Rep. Sharon Nelson will be attending.
Here’s a map to the golf course. Meantime, Lynn sends word of the Chief Sealth HS winter concert – happening outside WS:
Due to lack of a performance space at Boren, Chief Sealth High School Music Department will be presenting their winter concert tonight at Mercer Middle School Auditorium (1600 S. Columbian Way) at 7PM. Admission is free and following groups will be performing.
Jazz Band
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Mariachi band
Intermediate and Honor Choirs
Men’s Vocal Ensemble
Here’s a map to Mercer Middle School. Also today/tonight, some holiday-shopping special events – more on those next.
ADDED 11:07 AM: Since the Ryan Cox arrest will be atop the home page here for a while, here are a few of the shopping notes we wanted to share: First, tonight 5-9 pm, longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in the Admiral District is having its “Wrap It Up” party, 5-9 pm, with 15 percent off purchases over $100. (While you’re in the Admiral area, check out the other local businesses that have joined Click! in sponsoring WSB this season to encourage you to “Shop Local” in their district too – they’re listed on this page, with a map and even coupons [yet more coupons here].) On Alki, Coastal Boutique is having a sale event noon-7 pm today with 40 percent savings. And looking ahead to this weekend, six Junction businesses have joined forces to offer free “stocking stuffers” with purchases, including WSB sponsor Brunette Mix – another participant, Clementine, has the full list here.
Update on West Seattle’s stolen totem pole: No fast re-install
That totem pole is back in its place outside the Redmond Library, where a Seattle company called Artech reinstalled it – along with another large work of native-inspired carved-wood art – on Tuesday. We were there that day to talk with Artech, after the Seattle Parks Department told us the company had expressed potential interest in doing some work on the West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole before it’s put back in place. First, a recap of where the stolen-then-found totem pole saga stands: Still awaiting word of charges against the suspect, a 69-year-old West Seattle man arrested eight days ago. The pole, found in Oregon a week ago after, police say, he told them where to find it, remains at a Seattle Parks facility (as we showed you Monday):
The pole found with it in Oregon has been identified as one stolen from outside the Renton Fred Meyer (as we reported Tuesday). Now the question is how long till the West Seattle pole can be returned to its home at the viewpoint alongside 35th at Alaska. The Rotary Club of West Seattle, which donated the park and the pole – carved by Native American artist Robin Young – in 1976, is taking a major role in sorting that all out, and has created a task force that will start meeting after the holidays, while raising money now for restoration/reinstallation. The Parks Department says it’s connecting Artech with the Rotarians. We got in touch with Artech to find out more about their interest, and what they’re all about – read on:Read More
West Seattle Hi-Yu: First the theme, now the button contest!
A week and a half ago, we brought you first word of the theme chosen for next year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, “Dreams Do Come True.” (The art above is from the winning presentation, details here.) Tonight, Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn sends word of the next step: You’re invited to enter the contest to turn the new theme into next year’s fundraising Hi-Yu button! Here’s the official announcement:
Looking for an easy and creative way to show your community pride? A fun winter break project for the kids?
West Seattle Hi-Yu is kicking off the annual button design contest. This year’s theme is West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True.” This year’s float design will depict a fanciful fairy-tale theme; think castles, rainbows and unicorns. The winning button will be chosen at the general membership meeting by popular vote on January 4, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at St John the Baptist Church Hall. Previous years’ buttons may be viewed at
www.hiyu.com/all_buttons.asp.
All button designs should be in final size, which is 2 ½”. Hi-Yu welcomes entries from all ages!
The winner receives a $25.00 check and will ride in the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade in July. Please send entries by mail to West Seattle Hi-Yu, PO Box 16130, Seattle, WA 98116. Deadline is January 2nd, 2010.
THANK YOU for supporting your community festival.
Deena also shared a photo of last year’s winner, Kyle Jonson, riding in the July 2008 parade, along with the image of his winning button design:
By the way, if you’re ever looking for a WSB Hi-Yu story, look for the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival coverage category in the list toward the bottom of the sidebar, or bookmark this link (newest story will always come up first)
Seattle City Light confirms power outage in northwest West Seattle
Thanks to the WSB’er who called a few minutes ago with word of a power outage in the Charlestown Hill area [map]. Seattle City Light hadn’t confirmed it at that time, but has now: 68 customers; a crew is on the way, no word yet what caused it; they’re not promising restoration before 3 am. While the boundaries listed by SCL are not usually precise, here’s what they’re listing – between SW Spokane and SW Andover, and between 51st SW and 59th SW. 4:29 AM UPDATE: Just checked the City Light hotline again and there’s no longer an “outage message” recording, which should mean everybody’s back on.
Update: Search for stabbing suspect in 5200 block of Delridge
Police and fire have responded to an “assault with weapons/aid” call in the 5200 block of Delridge [map]. We’re on our way to the area to check; scanner traffic indicates a search is on, no word who was hurt, how, or how badly, yet. 6:03 PM UPDATE: Also from the scanner, sounds like a stabbing incident – the victim is on the way to Harborview Medical Center; there was a question about whether the suspect also “was cut.” 6:25 PM UPDATE: The search is centering on the building that used to house a much-scrutinized “used goods” business that cleared out a few months ago. No indication yet of an arrest, or of specific circumstances. Adding a photo. Delridge traffic is NOT blocked at the scene but IS moving slowly, as you might expect. 6:30 PM UPDATE: Just spoke with an SPD sergeant at the scene; he summarized this as one male stabbing another in an argument over a female. They’re not sure yet what the weapon was, but they continue looking for the suspect – who, per the scanner, indeed apparently was also wounded. The victim, we’re told, was stabbed in the arm – not a life-threatening injury. 6:57 PM UPDATE: Don’t know how soon we will be able to confirm but scanner traffic indicates an arrest.
What West Seattle Food Bank needs before Christmas
(Photo provided by West Seattle Food Bank, as Admiral Co-Op Preschool students celebrate recent donation drive)
By Lauri Hennessey
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With just over a week to go till Christmas, the West Seattle Food Bank is finding plenty of need in the community, and supplies are dwindling. In fact, the food bank has seen a 27 percent increase in the number of households served over a year ago.
The food bank has also seen an increase in the number of times individual families need the food bank, with a 17 percent increase in the number of times households are coming to the food bank.
Still, Executive Director Fran Yeatts is hopefuly the food bank will continue to weather the storm, to a large degree because of the ongoing generosity of the West Seattle community.
We asked what they need for Christmas – read on for the answer, as the story continues:Read More
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