West Seattle, Washington
03 Friday
Lauri and Gerry Cunningham – daughter and mother, respectively – don’t even look one bit tired, though they certainly have the right to. In the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse kitchen tonight, they made and sold about 100 spaghetti dinners as a benefit for the upcoming Relay for Life of West Seattle, an American Cancer Society fundraiser that they’ve been involved with for more than a decade. They cooked, dinner purchasers picked up, and by the time we saw Gerry and Lauri around 6:30, they were sold out. Relay for Life, by the way, is coming up in less than a week and a half – Saturday, June 29, at West Seattle Stadium; even if you are not part of a team, you can support the cause by visiting during the all-night event, and by donating online.
One month ago, volunteers organized by Sustainable West Seattle planted a “Presto Garden” to grow food for those in need (WSB coverage here). Today – the first harvest! The photo and update are from SWS’s Stu Hennessey:
The “Presto Garden” was created at a four hour work party a little more than 4 weeks ago as a final to a community forum series presented by Sustainable West Seattle. The garden was built at the Westcrest P-Patch and is a designated food bank garden for the White Center Food Bank. The forum series focused on gardening with a permaculture technique referred to as lasagna gardening. The different layers of the garden foundation were built up from the existing ground and were layered much like compost layering, green brown, green brown. You can see the results.
The first Harvest today 6/20 netted 15 pounds of lettuce and spinach to the White Center Food Bank.
That’s Ola Salon proprietor Rachel Karlin and Furry Faces Foundation‘s Teri Ensley at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor), where you still have time to go join the benefit to help make up for what the Luna Park salon lost in last month’s burglary. Appetizers, soft drinks, a silent auction, and good company are part of the event, explained in detail on Salty’s website – lots of cool things on which you can bid.
The salon itself has been the host of countless benefits – less than two weeks before the burglary, in fact, Ola had hosted a benefit sale during West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, raising money for Transitional Resources, whose organization helping people with mental-health challenges is located just up Avalon Way. Get over to Salty’s by 9:30 pm to be part of this chance to give back.
Meet Sophie. We found out about her from Michele at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor):
This is such a touching story that I wanted to share it with you.
This young lady’s name is Sophie in the photo attached. She and her mom Tami stopped by our BBQ for the West Seattle Food Bank on Saturday. On West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, Sophie had a lemonade stand that was for charity. She wished for her proceeds to help the food bank and donated them to us.
I remember when I was that age… $20 may as well be $100! I wanted to commend Sophie’s thoughtfulness and say thank you again.
It’s nice to see young people with such a good spirit – not to mention the parents that instill such good morals in ther kids. Good job, Tami!
The proud mom adds, “Sophie’s Girl Scout Troop #45180 is looking forward to doing great community service this year.”
SIDE NOTE: Thriftway has regular summertime Saturday barbecues raising money for charities – the Food Bank was last Saturday’s beneficiary; this Saturday, they’ll be raising money for the Morgan Community Association while MoCA presents its free annual Community Festival nearby. (Festival details here – see you there!)
The West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is cooking up brats ($5, includes chips and drink) to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank, till 4 pm, and also collecting food. As Thriftway’s master barbecuer Michele (at left, with co-worker Reid and Franz Bakery’s Anna) reminds us, now that it’s summertime, kids are especially vulnerable to hunger – no school breakfast/lunch – so be sure to donate food they’d like and need. Just look for the tent in front of the store (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan).
Also from today’s calendar highlights, we stopped by Delridge Community Center‘s early Father’s Day barbecue:
There’s a bake sale as well as grilled burgers and hot dogs – don’t miss the piña colada cupcakes, with which Fran and Alice posed! This barbecue is on till 3 pm at 4501 Delridge Way SW, right in front of the community center; the money raised goes toward scholarships so more youth can join in programs at the center.
Just out of the WSB inbox, from West Seattle Food Bank volunteer Eve:
The West Seattle Food Bank distributes books of all kinds to their clients. Children’s picture books and toddler board books are especially needed right now. If you have books in good condition, please consider donating them to the Food Bank. You can drop them off Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm, or Wednesday until 7pm (Monday and Wednesday are the best drop-off times) The Food Bank is on the corner of 35th Avenue SW and SW Morgan St. (enter through the garage on Morgan). Cookbooks and adult fiction and non-fiction are also welcomed. YOUR DONATIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
(WSB photo from Saturday morning)
Two days after two West Seattle women found a fellow runner unconscious, badly hurt, along the road through Fairmount Ravine, three updates, including an event planned to show support for the victim and for residents who have long been concerned about safety in that area:
THE VICTIM: The 54-year-old victim remains in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center, where she has been since Saturday; Harborview says she is in serious condition. As we first reported that morning, she was found on Fairmount Avenue, near the underside of the Admiral Way Bridge, around 7 am. Police suspect she was hit by a vehicle, or someone in or on a vehicle, but one thing known for sure – whomever did it, just left her there.
THE INVESTIGATION: We checked with SPD a short time ago; nothing new to announce, they tell us, but they want to renew this call:
Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect, or if you saw any vehicle in that area between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. [Saturday 6/8] please call Detective Korner at (206) 684-8927. Anonymous tips are welcome.
You also can call 911 with any information.
THE RUN: The two Good Samaritans who found the victim have organized a community gathering and run for this Saturday morning to show support. Here’s the announcement from Athena Frederick and Julie Ambrose:
In light of the horrific event on Saturday, June 8th, we are hosting a Run to REFLECT….
We will meet at the bottom of Fairmount (on the Alki Beach side near Salty’s) starting at 6:30 am. Please bring some type of reflective gear, object, caution cone, etc. to donate (you may be able to retrieve it after Saturday, but not guaranteed). We will be placing these reflective items along the side of the road going up through Fairmount. Please feel free to bring them even earlier than 6:30am. Businesses that would like to donate any reflective type gear, please contact us. We are doing this to raise awareness over the weekend for drivers to SLOW DOWN on that stretch of road.
Starting at 7 am, we will run a 5K on Alki to show our support of the 54-year-old woman and her family. Please invite friends, family and join us to either “light up Fairmount” OR for the 5K run or walk. Hope to see you there and my thoughts & prayers go out to the victim and her family!!
Here’s the Facebook event page, which you can use to contact them if you’re a business interested in donating the items mentioned above, or if you have questions, or just to RSVP (though that’s not required).
That little video clip made mostly on Alki this weekend is part of a local show of support for families caught up in a bureaucratic crisis in Bosnia. We heard about it from Boris Popovic, who describes himself as a longtime Seattle resident previously from Bosnia, and shared the clip. In a nutshell, there’s a Bosnian government impasse over new rules for issuing official ID numbers – JMBG (the acronym you see in the clip) – and babies born in the months since this impasse began can’t get ID documents, which even kept one family from taking their baby out of Bosnia for an urgently needed operation.
This all reached a head with a blockade of the parliament building in Sarajevo – this New York Times story explains it all. So around the world, Bosnian expatriates and others who support them are making videos and photos, like Boris and his friends, usually featuring that acronym JMBG. We asked Boris how people could show support, and he replied: “Pictures of non-Bosnians with the initials would be priceless, as people don’t expect it (“Another American for JMBG” could be the caption they make). They could post them at one of the many FB pages being born as we speak. Here is one I think that has done a very nice job growing and keeping folks together and keeping what they do practical:
https://www.facebook.com/Ja.BiH.JMBG“
(Photo courtesy Sharonn Meeks)
Interspersed among the sculpture children of “Walking on Logs” today were real live volunteers, tidying up the overgrown-during-the-winter bridge-side area. By the time they were done, there was a sizable stack of sacks. As noted in the daily preview, this was one of at least four community cleanups – anybody else with a photo to share? Let your neighbors know you took the time to help beautify our community.
Nothing big on your calendar tomorrow? Here are four ways you can make a difference with just a few hours on Saturday morning:
WALKING ON LOGS: This 9 am-noon cleanup is happening alongside the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge, as previewed here last Monday. Site access requires directions – e-mail Nancy ASAP at nldriver@q.com.
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET: Admiral Neighborhood Association president David Whiting e-mailed us today with an invitation for you to join their quarterly cleanup – 9 am-noon, meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), with treats before and after, tools provided. (42nd/Admiral)
DELRIDGE WAY: 10 am-noon, North Delridge Neighborhood Council Beautification Committee chair Lisa Taylor Whitley invites you to be part of the crew – meet at Delridge Community Center bags, gloves, and trash pickers will be provided. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
FRIENDS OF MORGAN JUNCTION PARKS: 10 am-noon, as previewed here yesterday – be part of this group’s first-ever cleanup event at Morgan Junction Park, tools provided. (California SW & SW Beveridge)
(April 2012 photo)
It’s volunteer work that will be seen and appreciated by thousands. This Saturday morning, Nancy Driver says, cleanup help is needed for the landscaping by the Walking on Logs sculpture installation along the Fauntleroy end of the bridge – any and all helps is appreciated, though Nancy notes those who have used the area for promotional purposes might be particularly interested in helping:
The Walking on Logs Landscape Group is looking for volunteers to help with a clean up of the Walking on Logs site on Saturday, June 8th from 9:00 am to noon. We will be weed whacking, weeding, and taking out the small trees that didn’t make it through the winter. Volunteers should wear good shoes (parts of the site are muddy) and bring their own gloves, although we will have some gloves on site. Water will be provided. Please contact Nancy at nldriver@q.com for details on where to meet for entry to the site.
If you love the Walking on Logs statues and love seeing them dressed up, please consider giving a few hours of your time to upkeep of the site. We’d particularly appreciate seeing volunteers from the various groups that make use of the site. Thanks.
If you’re interested, here’s some background on volunteer efforts to help maintain the site.
(1975 trailer for “Jaws”)
Three more big-screen special events have been announced for the Admiral Theater – this time, movies and more, presented as benefits, explained by Mind Unwind‘s Krystal Kelley:
I am happy to announce a series of Art events that we are doing this summer at the Admiral Theater. This is a fundraiser to raise money for both the Admiral Theater’s renovations and for supporting Arts in Education through the Mind Unwind Foundation. It also helps support local artists!
Tickets for the first two events go on sale June 7th. First one:
JUNE 21
Late-night showing of JAWS at 11:00 pm
Join us for a late showing of a classic movie, including intermission, wine/beer, silent auction and unique mixed media exhibit “Lost At Sea” by J. Conrad Nivens. 21+over event. Guests are encouraged to wear their finest DENIM!
Second event:
JULY 27
Monty Python & The Holy Grail at 11:00 pm
Join us for some friendly medieval fun. Late night showing of Monty Python & The Holy Grail at 11:00 pm, intermission, beer/wine, silent auction and original exhibit, “Holy Grail” by Dave Ryan of Manticore Stencil Art. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as medieval knights & wenches.
The third event will be a group art show with a showing of “The Big Lebowski” on August 24th. Krystal says that along with ticket sales, they’ll also be raising money by selling sponsorships; any businesses/organizations interested in sponsoring the series can sign up by going here.
P.S. If you missed our recent story about the Admiral’s renovation hopes, read it here. And to find out more about the Mind Unwind Foundation, go here. Related to its work, you’ll see a summer-long art-supply drive in The Admiral’s lobby, too.
Three months ago, lifelong West Seattleite Mark “Waz” Wasielewski died too soon, at 52. His friends are carrying on with his annual golf tournament to help Make-A-Wish, and wanted to share the invitation here too. The tournament is set for Friday, June 14th, at Foster Golf Links in Tukwila, “2 pm shotgun start/scramble format,” according to the announcement, which lists the entry fee as “$80-$120 – You decide; remember, it’s for Waz’s Make-A-Wish kids.” For registration information, e-mail jim@jwsales.com.
Thanks to both Schmitz Park Elementary teacher Alison Aylesworth and West Seattle Food Bank operations manager Steve Curry for sharing the word of a cool event at SP today. First, from Ms. Aylesworth, who also shared the photos:
The second grade team at Schmitz Park: Ms. Noreng, Mr. Wuth, Ms. Veling and Ms. Aylesworth’s classes participated in a food packaging service project for the West Seattle food bank. Each class packaged bags of rice that were labeled and signed by each child participating.
The team bagged 150 pounds of rice!
The students in Ms. Aylesworth’s class were inspired to donate more food in the future, donate hair to agencies like Locks of Love and instead of presents at their birthday parties they would gladly take donations for the food bank!
Way to go, Schmitz Park second graders!
Steve Curry adds, “This event was developed in conversations between the school and WSFB after the wonderful 100-day food drive initiated earlier in the year,” and also notes that the aforementioned “food-drive-related birthday parties are becoming very popular in our community and serve a wonderful dual purpose of teaching positive values to youth while assisting the food bank’s mission.”
One of the most joyful annual fundraisers in West Seattle is happening right now on the playfield at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. Today marks the 10th time Pathfinder PE teacher Lou Cutler has, in honor of his upcoming birthday, run one lap for each year of his age.
Today, that means 62 laps with Lou, who does not run alone – Pathfinder students and staff join him on the field too, and track the laps (above); students track their own laps too:
This is a fundraiser for the regional branch of Make-A-Wish, for which Lou has volunteered more than a decade (we talked to him about it in-depth before his birthday run in 2011), helping make dreams come true for children living with life-threatening medical conditions. Lou started around 8:45 this morning and hit the halfway point while we were there an hour ago, so he likely has less than an hour to go. You can cheer him on, wherever you are, with an online pledge via his Make-A-Wish page.
At the time of last year’s Furry Faces Foundation plant sale, F3 leader and plant-raiser Teri Ensley‘s house still had damage to fix from a fire a few months earlier. Now – as the 2013 plant sale begins – Teri is back in her house after rehab and repairs by Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), work she is so proud of that she’s even incorporated Ventana’s name into the plant sale:
The shelving holding plants on the south side of Teri’s house is dubbed “Ventana Terrace” now, signage and all. Today is the first of four days of the sale – till 4 pm, then again tomorrow 10 am-4 pm, and the weekend of June 1-2, 3809 46th SW. It all started with more than 1,000 plants on “Ventana Terrace” and in the front yard, including herbs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, more – and the F3 “Tag Your Pet” campaign is happening there; read about it all in this WSB Forums post.
We found Ann Martin at 16th and Barton – one of the graffiti/tagging-beset spots that local volunteers are tackling right now with the graffiti-paintout project that set out after gathering at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center this morning:
This is just the first in a series of events – so if you weren’t able to help today, there’ll be other chances – e-mail Youngstown’s David Bestock to get in the loop – david@youngstownarts.org.
Before we get to the big list of what’s up today, one more reminder of two community projects in which your participation, giving just a little time, can make a big difference – one starting this morning, one this afternoon:
PAINT IT OUT: A new graffiti-fighting effort gets going today and volunteer power is vital. Meet at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center at 10 am. Here’s our preview with more details. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
‘PRESTO GARDEN’: Also previewed here earlier in the week, this Sustainable West Seattle-led project will create a garden growing fresh food for people served by the White Center Food Bank. Today from 1 pm to 5 pm, they would love your help at the planting party for the garden, which is at Westcrest Park. (From the park entrance at 8th and Henderson, head up the road to the right to the parking area; you’ll find the garden in the P-Patch next to the play area at the top of the hill.)
GIVEBIG 2013, FINAL HOUR: You have till midnight to give to participating nonprofits and have your money go farther because of the Seattle Foundation‘s “stretch” – here one more time is our list of West Seattle, White Center, and South Park participants, and their special GiveBIG donation links. At midnight, this donate-a-thon is over until next year.
TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: Last few hours to buy tickets online to enjoy your favorite West Seattle/White Center food/drink places – current favorites and future favorites – all in ONE place, tomorrow (Thursday) night. The Taste of West Seattle brings them all together at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), on behalf of West Seattle Helpline, which helps people who find themselves in need of emergency assistance. Get your ticket(s) here.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BENEFIT: Tuesday night, as previewed here, Abbondanza Pizzeria and volunteers from the Rotary Club of West Seattle teamed up for a dining-out benefit on behalf of the West Seattle High School music program. Tonight, Rotary member Sue Lindblom from Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) tells us it was a busy, busy night, raising $900 for WSHS music!
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK GALA: The final tally is in for this year’s recent Instruments of Change – almost $100,000, the Food Bank reports, with 200 guests there for auction bidding, dining, and inspirational speeches.
(WSB video from the end of Lou’s run last year)
This year, Pathfinder K-8 teacher Lou Cutler turns 62 – and for Lou, that number carries extra meaning: It means he’ll travel 62 laps around the school playfield to raise money for Make-A-Wish, for which he’s been volunteering since way back in his forties. He doesn’t do it alone – hundreds of Pathfinder students and staffers join him along the way. And they’re all gearing up for next Monday (May 20th), when Lou is scheduled to start his 62 laps around 8:45 am. You can pledge/donate now by going here – and read on to see the official announcement from Make-A-Wish:
Again this year, dozens of local nonprofits are participating in today’s GiveBIG one-day donation drive coordinated by the Seattle Foundation. The money you give to any or all of the participating nonprofits helps them be eligible for a “stretch pool” of partial matching funds, to be distributed proportionately depending on how much each participating nonprofit raises during GiveBIG, by 11:59 pm tonight. The BIG catch: You **must** donate through the special pages that participants have on the foundation’s website, NOT via theirs own websites. So again this year, we have made a list of all those special pages for participating West Seattle, White Center, and South Park-based or -founded nonprofits (and a couple parent organizations). The special links take you to pages on the Seattle Foundation website with background information and links to the organizations’ own sites, as well as the donation links to use for this one-day event. (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 – thanks!)
ART FOR ANIMALS’ SAKE – go here
ARTS CORPS – go here
ARTSWEST – go here
COOLMOM – go here
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
DENNY-SEALTH PERFORMING ARTS – go here
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION/TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP– go here
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF SOUTH SEATTLE – go here
FRIENDS OF SEALTH – IB SCHOLARSHIP FUND– go here
HIGHLINE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION – go here
HIGHLINE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE – go here
INVEST IN YOUTH – go here
KILLER WHALE TALES – go here
KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION – go here
KOL HANESHAMAH – go here
LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION – go here (offering a cupcake incentive for donations over $40)
MARRA FARM COALITION – go here
MULTI-COMMUNITIES – 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
NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING – 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
SAFE FUTURES YOUTH CENTER – go here
SEAL SITTERS – This is an unusual path; you need to go to the Associated Recreational Council GiveBIG page, click donate, and then in COMMENTS, write Seal Sitters – ARC is its fiscal sponsor
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – go here
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN SOCIETY – go here
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS – go here
SENIOR SERVICES – go here
SOUTH PARK AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – go here
SOUTH PARK INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – go here
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY 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
THE ANUNNAKI PROJECT – 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
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES – go here
TWELFTH NIGHT PRODUCTIONS – go here
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
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK – go here – and note, again this year, WCFB has added events on GiveBIG day, including a portion of proceeds donated this morning if you have breakfast at Meander’s Kitchen, and tonight if you dine at Proletariat Pizza, Zippy’s Giant Burgers, or Company in WC. Caffé Delia (WSB sponsor) and Dubsea Coffee also will have “donation stations” set up in the morning.
WHIT PRESS – go here
YES FOUNDATION OF WHITE CENTER – go here
YMCA OF GREATER SEATTLE – go here
YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE – go here
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK – go here
YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING COUNTY – go here
Graffiti/tagging vandals strike anywhere and everywhere – the photo above is a blurred version of a defaced wall back in 2009 at a local school that was getting hit over and over again. Parents fought back there. Wherever you are, you can challenge this kind of vandalism – as long as there’s help. That’s where you come in. You can join a community cleanup this Saturday to paint out graffiti/tagging vandalism in the Delridge area (and if you don’t feel like painting, trash-pickup help is needed in the area too). Meet at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, at 10 am Saturday (May 18th). This is the start of a graffiti-fighting campaign that organizers expect will also eventually include mural-painting to protect and beautify targeted areas. Questions? Contact David Bestock at Youngstown, david@youngstownarts.org or 206-935-2999.
The Walking on Logs sculpture by the pullout near the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge is decked out in advance of the fifth annual West Seattle 5K, coming up this Sunday (May 19th). Thanks to race director Jeff Mensing for the photo! Three timeline points ahead for WS5K, which is organized by and benefits the West Seattle High School PTSA in its work to help the school and its students:
ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW: You can sign up until Wednesday at westseattle5k.com.
PACKET PICKUP/IN-PERSON REGISTRATION SATURDAY: Noon-6 pm (May 18th) at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) at California/Charlestown.
RACE DAY SUNDAY: The race starts just after 9 am. Alki and Harbor Avenues will be closed along the usual WS5K footprint, to Don Armeni; then most of the waterfront roadway will reopen around 11, except for the stretch that will be closed until 5 pm for the Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets (aka “car-free day”), 56th to 63rd. Here’s the map:
WSB is co-sponsoring West Seattle 5K again this year as we have since the start, and will be an on-site participant in Summer Streets, which features some big fun this year highlighted by the Alki Beach Creeps’ Costumed Bike Parade at 1 pm – see you there!
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