West Seattle, Washington
01 Saturday
We’re often asked, “When’s the next benefit car wash?” This weekend’s answer – Sunday (July 13th)! 10 am-2 pm at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), the West Seattle High School softball team will wash cars, by donation, to help pay for a trip next year to play in France, according to WSHS athletic director Trevor Leopold (who shared the photo – and who was honored as All-Metro Softball Coach of the Year this past spring). WS Autoworks is at 35th/Webster.
After multiple reports of this dog wandering Lincoln Park, possibly for days, we mentioned it on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, and after no owners stepped forward, animal rescuers got involved. The dog has just been humanely trapped and is in rescuers’ care, and we’re helping cast a wide net to see if anyone has any idea who it belongs to. Here’s who to contact: Jim at Useless Bay Sanctuary, 206-552-0304 or uselessbaysanctuary@gmail.com, who says so far it’s believed to be female, about 55 pounds, no chip detected yet. For more of the backstory, see the Pets page item and its comment section. Thanks!
It began with a lap around the West Seattle Stadium track featuring the participants hailed as heroes – cancer survivors and their caregivers. And with that, this year’s West Seattle Relay for Life was underway as of about an hour ago. More than 20 teams are there for the all-night relay-style walkathon/campout.
They’re raising money for the American Cancer Society, with a goal of $50,000. Some teams and participants have been raising money all year, like tonight’s greeters, the mother-and-daughter team of Gerry and Lauri Cunningham:
Again this year, they made and sold spaghetti dinners to go, and told us tonight that they raised more than a thousand dollars. Just before the kickoff lap by survivors and caregivers, participants heard from organizers including Sarah, who identified herself as a survivor – diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 3, now cancer-free 20 years later: “The money you raise is saving someone’s life,” she said. “It saved mine.” As the night goes on, a long list of activities awaits participants – from the reflective luminaria ceremony at 10 pm (you are welcome to go make your own luminaria in honor of someone fighting cancer or someone who has passed) …
… to lighthearted activities like balloon ping-pong, hula-hooping, and midnight bowling, plus music by “DJ Gary.” It’s participants only from 11 pm to 5 am (some will walk, some will sleep, some will even watch movies) but visitors are welcome the rest of the time. At the heart of it is the walking, whether you’re in costume (like team Answers for Cancers, below) or not:
Tomorrow morning’s schedule includes 8 am yoga and stretches, a fire truck visit at 9 am, the kids’ parade at 10 am, and closing ceremony at 11:30 am. It’s not too soon to start thinking about getting involved next year, either by organizing a team or volunteering to help behind the scenes – more info (and donation links) can be found on the official WSR4L page.
It’s been a year since Massage Envy of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opened at Westwood Village, and the anniversary celebration included tonight’s WS Chamber of Commerce After Hours event (in a tent just outside ME, to enjoy the summer night without disrupting the massages inside). Every month, a different local business hosts Chamber members for mingling and refreshments. At right below is Massage Envy proprietor Jennifer McCollum with Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis:
As part of the festivities, ME has a food drive all week – just come in and drop off donations in the barrel for the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Judy Yazzolino was there during tonight’s event:
Massage Envy also will be at the cancer-fighting West Seattle Relay for Life during its first few hours tomorrow night at West Seattle Stadium, 7:30-9:30 pm.
P.S. One more big benefit drive mentioned tonight – Stuff the Bus, the summertime diaper drive for WestSide Baby, whose executive director Nancy Woodland is president of the West Seattle Chamber Board. July 20th is the big day, in the parking lot of the Junction branch of HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) at 41st and Alaska, but as mentioned here previously, you can start bringing in diaper donations now!
Nine days until West Seattle’s 4th of July Kids’ Parade … 20th annual parade, this time! And it’s the second year for current coordinators Jackie Clough and Allyson Schreck; Jackie shares the new flyer with everything you need to know, embedded atop this story (if you don’t see it there, please click here), and says they have a very specific volunteer request for parade day (one week from Friday):
We could use 4-6 adults to help us at the beginning of the parade, helping us get started.
Can you help? Once the parade gets going, Jackie promises, you’ll be able to move on and join in with the morning’s events. E-mail her at jackie@alkipartytreasures.com. Meantime, for the pre-parade ceremonies, she adds: “We have a fantastic National Anthem singer this year: Leilani Nitkey, a 6th grader at Madison Middle School this fall.” Haven’t been to the parade before and wondering what it’s like? Here’s our coverage from last year.
Even as the school year ends today, planning is under way for the next one starting in September – and that’s what this call for volunteers is all about: Girls on the Run is on its way to Highland Park Elementary for 2014-2015.
HPE is starting Girls on the Run at our school starting in the fall. Girls on the Run is an after-school program that uses the power of running to give girls the tools to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, recognize their gifts, and activate their power!
The program is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls. Both girls from HPE and from the surrounding community who do not have GOTR at their home school are encouraged to join. We are looking for volunteers to coach our girls. The commitment would be one or two times a week Starting September 29th and running through December 8th. Minimum age is 16. If interested please contact Holly Briscoe, the site liaison for HPE. hollybriscoe@hotmail.com
A week and a half until West Seattle Relay for Life – and teams continue fundraising, including this one:
Help us support a great cause!
Fauntleroy Children’s Center – West Seattle Relay for Life!
‘Dinner to Go’ Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser – all funds go to The American Cancer Society – Relay for Life.
Taking orders for dinner (Wednesday, 6/18) fauntleroychildrenscenter@yahoo.com
Dinners can be picked up between 5-6 pm
The dinner includes; Spaghetti (with meat sauce or marinara), Caesar Salad, Corn, & Garlic Bread. $10 Adult & $5 Child
FCC is in the old schoolhouse at 9131 California SW. R4LWS, meantime, is June 27-28 at West Seattle Stadium.
That’s just part of what’s been donated already during the clothing/textiles (towels, sheets, etc.) dropoff drive that culminates today outside Denny International Middle School – along with a canopied stack of bags that have been dropped off, a room inside the school is full of what students and their families brought before today’s big finale. (It’s a fundraiser; the recycler pays them by the pound.) You are invited to bag up whatever you can donate and drop it off outside Denny (2601 SW Kenyon) before 4 pm. Our original preview includes a link with full details on what they can and can’t accept.
Last year, the signal boxes – this year, the retaining wall. The newest newsletter from Youngstown Cultural Arts Center notes that the arrival of summer means a new public-art project involving local youth in the Work Readiness Arts Program, which last year resulted in colorful sea-life designs on otherwise drab and vandal-targeted signal boxes (see video above):
This year, volunteers and students will work with artists Louis Chinn and Tess Gamez to design and paint the 210-foot retaining wall across from the Delridge Skatepark, adding depth, color and art along the busy thoroughfare. The goal is to create a mural that honors the rich history of the Delridge area, and celebrates the bright future being created as a community.
Youngstown has launched an online survey asking for suggested themes and elements for the mural – you can share your ideas here.
Melodie VanHouten and her team at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction are hosting WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” event this summer (Sunday, July 20th) but you don’t have to wait that long to donate diapers for WS Baby – the need is great year-round, and they’re accepting diaper donations at the branch right now. Drop ’em off Mondays-Saturdays at 41st/Alaska.
P.S. According to the WS Baby online wish list, newborn-size diapers and pullups 3T-4T and 4T-5T are what they need most right now.
Old clothing/towels/other textile items you don’t want/need? Bag them up and get ready to drop them off outside Denny International Middle School next Friday. From the Denny PTSA:
Denny IMS will host its first clothing drive as a fundraiser next Friday, June 13th, with drop off for tied garbage bags of dry items at the main entrance of the school, from 7 am to 4 pm. We are accepting sheets, towels, rags, shoes, purses, throw rugs and any clothing. We will be paid by the pound, so please do your spring cleaning and bring the goods to Denny! Thank you for your support!
This doorhanger lists more of what they’ll take (and won’t). Denny is at 2601 SW Kenyon.
(WSB photo from Monday’s fire)
After Monday’s deadly fire in South Delridge – taking the lives of one resident of the house and four puppies – people asked if there was any way to help the survivors. Now there is. Friends have set up an online fundraising page for Stefan and Stephanie, who lost not only their friend Lester and four puppies, but also most of what they owned. Stefan, says the gofundme.com page, is the drummer for the band Smashie Smashie (whose Facebook page includes a tribute to Lester), and lost “a lot” of equipment in the fire, which was ruled accidental and started in the kitchen. A benefit show is in the works, friends say, but in the meantime, anyone who wants to make a donation can do it by going here.
If you want to close out the night on a hopeful note – and/or to hear about an easy way to do some good in the world – listen to this: 5-7 pm tomorrow, in White Center, you can help hundreds of schoolchildren reach out across the miles to help other kids. The helpers are not necessarily so well-off themselves, but one of their teachers explains that when they learned how much better they have it than some others, they had to do something. The event has been in our calendar a while but we didn’t have all the details Shoshanna Cohen shares:
I’m a 2nd grade teacher at Mount View Elementary, next to White Center, and I’m planning our school’s carnival this year. … It is not any regular carnival. Our school has a 87% free and reduced population, yet my 6th-grade carnival leadership team has learned about children in Honduras who are not as fortunate as us. For instance, education is only free until 6th grade in Honduras. From 7th grade on, you have to pay $500 tuition to attend school. The vast majority of the rural Honduran population does not have that kind of money. As part of our WE Day participation, we are raising $1000 to send to the non-profit Light of Esperanza, to help two deserving students in Vega Redonda, Honduras, attend 7th grade. The rest of the money raised will go to our PTA so that the school can afford field trips, special events, and sports for the 2014-2015 school year.
Again, this is happening 5-7 pm tomorrow (Friday, June 6th) at Mount View Elementary, 10811 12th Ave SW (map). The official invitation: “Come and celebrate the end of the school year with us with food, fun, bouncy houses, games, and GREAT prizes! Learn about our sister school in Vega Redonda, Honduras and how we are helping other children around the world! There will be free face painting and art projects too! This event is free to get in.”
9:09 AM: The sun’s out and they’re off – Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler and hundreds of students, as Lou’s annual Make-A-Wish birthday run began minutes ago on Pigeon Point. He runs a lap for every year of his life – and he’s about to celebrate his 63rd birthday, so it’ll be 63 laps this year.
Students from the school join him throughout the morning, and were the first ones out of the gate (short video clip here, if you can’t see it below):
They started the run before 9 am to inspirational songs including Macklemore‘s “Can’t Hold Us” and “Gonna Fly Now” (the “Rocky” theme).
Even if you can’t go cheer on Lou and friends in person (every lap, he stops at an easel on the sidelines to mark it off, as shown in the photo above), you can donate online. We’ll be checking back!
12:26 PM: He’s still going – about a mile’s worth of laps to go. (The entire 63-lap distance this year comprises more than 10 miles, Lou said toward the start.)
1 PM: He did it!
ADDED: The group photo is a post-run tradition:
Lou’s way in the back. The blue slips show how many laps were run by each participant – up to 63.
ADDED: Pathfinder parent and photographer Holli Margell shares two photos – first, one that shows how much the kids stake in their support of Lou – her son Cooper, exuberant over 27 laps:
And Lou with Teacher Andy, not only a one-man cheer squad but also emcee of the event, with his bullhorn:
(WSB photo of Lou Cutler during his 2013 Make-A-Wish run)
For the 11th year, Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler will take to the school’s playfield tomorrow and run one lap for every year of his age. It’s a celebration of his birthday – later this month, he turns 63, so this year it’s 63 laps – and a benefit for the organization with which he’s volunteered for more than 15 years: Make-A-Wish. Pledged/donated dollars go to the organization’s work helping dreams come true for seriously ill children (besides the annual run, Lou also volunteers during the actual wish-granting – he talked with us about that for this story in 2011). Lou doesn’t run alone; it’s a schoolwide celebration by the time the morning’s over. It starts at 8:45 and Lou tells us he’ll likely be on the run until about 12:20 pm. Spectators welcome; you can also donate online whether you’ll be able to join him or not – go here.
Exactly four weeks from now, participants in this year’s Relay for Life-West Seattle will have just finished their intense overnight event at WS Stadium (7:30 pm June 27-11:30 am June 28), one of hundreds of similar events across the country raising money for the American Cancer Society. Right now, it’s full-on advance-fundraising mode, and one of the local teams, “Answers for Cancers,” is doing just that with this car wash at West Seattle Autoworks (35th/Webster; WSB sponsor). By donation, they’re cleaning up cars until 2 pm today. If you can’t make it today, you can also donate to Relay for Life-WS by using the link you’ll find here, and by visiting the stadium during the public Relay for Life events next month.
This year’s Seattle Works Day – volunteer work parties around the city – is set for June 7th, and open to participation by anyone who’s interested. After getting the announcement, we asked about specific West Seattle locations – here are three:
*Brandon Street Natural Area (SW Brandon/29th SW): Join Gorilla FC (described by SW as “the Sounders’ civically minded fan base”) in maintenance of newly planted areas.
*Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW): Forest restoration led by AmeriCorps.
*The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW): Assisting the nonprofit retirement center’s gardener in garden weeding and mulching, plus stairwell sweeping
There’s a $30 registration fee to support Seattle Works, and it gets you into two after-parties 3:30-7:30 pm – details and signups here.
For the sixth year in a row, Lucas Engles-Klann of West Seattle is celebrating his birthday by raising money for animals … and he’s all of 8 years old. You’re invited to the party, this Sunday at Woodland Park Zoo – his mom Jen Engles-Klann shared the announcement:
The 6th annual Auction for Animals will be taking place on Sunday, June 1st at Woodland Park Zoo from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Auction for Animals was started by Lucas Engles-Klann in 2008 amidst plans for his 3rd birthday party. When asked how he wanted to celebrate, his reply was “I want to save all the animals,” and his annual fundraiser was born. The event has taken many different forms over the years, including benefit dinners, raffles, and auctions, and has raised over $15,000 to support the Woodland Park Zoo, the National Audubon Society, and Point Defiance Zoo. Money raised this year will go toward preservation of Woodland Park Zoo’s gorillas, snow leopards, and jaguars.
Special features at this year’s event will include a bake sale, games, a live auction (hosted by Lucas) for kids, and a silent auction for the grown-ups. Items up for grabs this year include unique pieces from local artists and amazing wines.
Now eight years old, Lucas’ passion for animal preservation has grown with him, and he now assumes much of the responsibility for planning and overseeing every aspect of the event. His excitement has not gone unnoticed – more than 150 people attended last year’s event and raised more than $3,200.
This years’ Auction for Animals event is free and open to the public (zoo admission is not required, but may be purchased separately) and will be held in the Education Center at the South (Hippo) Gate, 750 N 50th Street.
(In the photo, that’s Lucas presenting a check for last year’s proceeds to WPZ’s Sarah Valentine.)
At left, that’s Raindrops the cat. She is the inspiration for a benefit show at Skylark Café and Club this Friday night – the return of the West Side Glory variety show, which in turn was an evening spinoff from Seattle’s original drag brunch. West Seattleite Jeffrey Robert is hosting and producing, and proceeds benefit West Seattle’s Kitty Harbor cat/kitten shelter, which saved Raindrops after Jeffrey rescued her from a local road. So here’s how the story goes:
Back in December, Raindrops made an appearance on the WSB Lost/Found Pets Page, described as having been found on the bridge, though that wasn’t quite right, it turns out – Jeffrey says she was on the top of the overpass bridge connecting the West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99.
She was badly hurt, too – including a broken leg. Jeffrey (photo at right) says she didn’t look like she was going to survive. He contacted Kitty Harbor, who arranged for surgery, and eventually she found a forever home. He plans to tell the entire story during West Side Glory on Friday night. They still don’t know how Raindrops ended up on that busy road – whether she was dumped, or maybe fell from a car she climbed into. But there she was.
Even if you’re not interested in a tale about a kitty – you might want to see the all-star lineup taking the stage starting at 9 pm Friday, including West Seattle’s rising-star comic Mona Concepcion and local burlesque performer Sibyl Darling. Along with the aforementioned performers, the lineup includes David Johnson, Emmett Montgomery, Beka Barry, Olivia LaGarce, Cherry Tart, Cherry Sur Bête, Honey Bucket, Abbey Drake, Deb Seymour, Peggy Platt, Sylvia O’Stayformore, Bella Luna & Michelle Pannell, SuperNova-Majesty, Matt Clear, “and more TBA” – plus a prize raffle.
It’s 21+ – Jeffrey allows, “We get a little bit naughty” – suggested donation $15. If you need a reminder, here’s the Facebook event page. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
West Seattle High School senior or Madison Middle School 8th grader in the family? Just two days to get in on this fundraiser:
Pre-order a lovely flower lei that is created and shipped directly from Hawaii for your graduate and help support West Seattle High School Music Department. We are also offering candy leis made in Westside and Madison colors! Both will be available to pick up right before the ceremony at the SW Athletic Complex before the seniors line up for commencement on June 14th, and for the Madison promotion at WSHS on June 18th. Below are the options available:
*Single Purple Orchid Lei -$22*
*Single White Orchid Lei – $22*
*Single fragrant Tuberose and Purple Orchid Lei -$25*
*Candy Lei made in WSHS Wildcat colors – $8*You can view pictures of each, and place your order (here).
All leis must be *pre ordered and paid* for by Wednesday, May 28th. There may be a limited number of extras at the event. If you have any questions, please email Cathy at wshsptsavparts@gmail.com
Following up on the American Legion Post 160/Auxiliary Unit 160 announcement of Memorial Day weekend poppy availability, we stopped by West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) at noontime. There we found, above, two veterans who just wanted to be identified as Mac and Bob offering poppies and accepting donations. Mac served in the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps; Bob, in the Army. The poppies, each labeled as “handmade by veterans,” both “honor the dead and help the living,” as explained here. Volunteers will be back outside Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan) 10 am-3 pm tomorrow. You can also honor a Memorial Day tradition by attending the 2 pm Monday ceremony at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) – details here; Mac and Bob promise you’ll see them there.
Two ways you can help West Seattle wildlife via Seal Sitters:
(WSB file photo from one of the previous Seal Sitters-co-sponsored cleanups)
JUNE 14 CLEANUP: Get trash off Alki Beach, before it gets into the water and into/onto seals and other marine life. Join Seal Sitters and co-sponsors for a beach cleanup 9:30 am-12:30 pm three weeks from today, Saturday, June 14th. One of the co-sponsors, PAWS Wildlife Center, will talk about the threat wildlife faces from beach debris, and the difficulty of rehab for rescued wildlife. This cleanup is in honor of Sandy the seal pup, rescued and rehabbed by PAWS and then found dead in abandoned netting, and of the gray whale that died in The Arroyos, then was found to have a stomach full of plastic debris. Bring your own gloves if you can, and meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki Ave SW) at 9:30 am June 14th – RSVP via the link in this announcement on Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog.
HOIST A MUG WITH A HELPING HAND: Seal Sitters has also announced that Rock Bottom Brewery downtown (1333 5th Avenue) has offered to raise money via donating all proceeds from $2 pints of a specific ale fold next Tuesday night (May 27th), 5-8 pm – if you’re downtown, stop by! Details on Blubberblog.
Tomorrow and Sunday, you can honor the meaning of Memorial Day by accepting a poppy from representatives of American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160, who will be distributing them at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). Post 160’s Kyle Geraghty explains:
The traditional poppy distributed Memorial Day weekend signifies “honor the dead and help the living.”
The poppy as the memorial flower for the American war dead is a tradition which began in the years following World War I. Veterans remembered the bright red, wild poppies which grew and bloomed on the battle fields and graves of those men buried in the sacred plots of French soil, which was Flanders’ Field. Soldiers of all nations came to look upon this flower as a living symbol of their dead comrades’ sacrifice and a sign of hope and renewal for those who lived to remember.
Today, the poppies distributed Memorial Day weekend are made by hospitalized veterans in V.A. hospitals or nursing homes and thousands are ready for a big distribution in May.
West Seattle American Legion Post 160 and the Unit 160 Auxiliary will be continuing the annual tradition of offering poppies this Memorial Day weekend. All money received during the distribution of these poppies is returned to the veterans through service programs of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.
When you see someone offering a poppy, know that your donation helps veterans and wearing the poppy shows your support for those veterans.
Post 160 and Unit 160 plan to be at Thriftway 10 am-3 pm both days.
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