And our second West Seattle Food Bank update this afternoon:

That’s John Moore of Morgan Junction-headquartered Northwest Insurance Group (longtime WSB sponsor) in our photo with Fran Yeatts, executive director of the West Seattle Food Bank. John went to the food bank Monday afternoon with a check for $1,000 – explained in his latest newsletter:

It’s time to give back. I want to thank our wonderful clients and friends that have been so generous in their support of our business. Throughout the year, as we receive valuable referrals from our clients and friends, we will match the $10 referral-reward gift toward a contribution to a local charity. This year, the lucky gift of $1,000 goes to our own West Seattle Food Bank!

And in case you forgot – this month and next, gifts to local food banks are good for more than face value, because of the Feinstein Challenge – explained here by WS and White Center Food Bank – so if you can give, now’s a great time to do it.

Two West Seattle Food Bank updates to share this afternoon. This story is the first one:

(Photos courtesy King County Executive’s Office)
County Executive Dow Constantine visited the WS Food Bank this morning as part of his participation in the United Way of King County‘s Hunger Action Week, calling attention to the fact that 1 in 7 people in King County deal with hunger – 1 in 6, nationwide. Via his Facebook page, he wrote:

The helpful volunteers and staff showed me the real challenges people face to get access to nutritious food. Working families, kids, and seniors rely on this valuable community asset, and I am thankful for their good work.

Today’s breakfast as part of the Food Stamp Challenge – three meals on just $7/day:

1/2 cup cereal: 20¢
2 oz soy milk: 22¢
Banana: 19¢
Coffee: 38¢
Total: 99¢

Here’s more information on the Food Stamp Challenge.

Two ways to help fight hunger, through food drives this month:

WASHINGTON FEDERAL FOOD DRIVE: The photo shows Lisa Raymond setting up the food-collection spot at Washington Federal‘s Dakota/California branch north of The Junction. There and in Morgan Junction, they are part of the “Bankers Care” food drive through April 5th, collecting food for Northwest Harvest, which supplies local food banks. Just bring in non-perishable food to donate.

And tomorrow – watch for a notice on your door, about a different food drive:

SCOUTING FOR FOOD: West Seattle’s Troop 282 sends word that they and other Scouts “will be dropping off door tags to homes in the West Seattle area this Saturday, March 23rd, 8:30-10:30 am. They will come back the following Saturday, March 30th to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank, 9 am-11 am. If you would like to donate and need a pick up, contact R Schulz, 206-890-2237.”

(added) Also collecting, West Seattle Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs 284, 289, 793, and 799, according to a separate notice we received, which reminds us, “Remember (that food bank) donations made in March will go further because of the Feinstein Challenge. For the 16th consecutive year, Alan Shawn Feinstein will contribute $1 Million to help end hunger. So the more you contribute to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, the more he will match.” (That goes for April, too; here’s our original announcement.)

And see this comment about two area supermarkets where you can donate food tomorrow!

(March 10 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
Can you help Fairmount Ravine neighbors finish what they started almost two weeks ago? As you might have seen in our coverage of their annual cleanup, they had so much to handle, from encampments to weeds, that they decided to follow up – so at 8:30 am this Saturday (March 23), they and anyone else who cares to help will meet again at Fairmount and Forest south of the ravine (map) for another couple hours of cleanup. John Lang tells WSB, “If enough people show up, we will clean the Admiral bridge sidewalk too. We did this 2 years ago and cleared off decades of leaf mulch and garbage. This is a heavily used pedestrian walkway to Admiral Junction.”

Thanks to Sheryl Guyon for sharing the photo of stalwart cookie-sellers from Troop 40766 – pointing out that today is the last sales day for 2013 Girl Scout Cookies. They’re outside KeyBank in The Junction until 2 pm. Using the Cookie Locator, we found the full list of today’s West Seattle sellers and locations here, going all the way till 8 tonight at some locations. (Sheryl also points out: “Thin Mints are excellent frozen!”)

Right after the spring equinox, you can start getting in the summertime mood with the Seafair Commodores – without leaving West Seattle! Their 21st annual Bowl-A-Thon is a week and a half away at West Seattle Bowl, and there’s still time for you to sign up. From chief of staff Kathryn Bohot:

SAVE THE DATE! And join the Seafair Commodores and friends at West Seattle Bowl on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10 am until noon as they host the 21st Annual Seafair Commodores Bowl-A-Thon. The event is held as the primary fundraiser for the Commodores. The proceeds go to the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women. Each year we work diligently to support Ms. Seafair and the Princess Court as they represent Seattle and Seafair at events across the Pacific Northwest.

Young women from the greater Seattle Communities apply for scholarship funds as well as the honor of representing Seattle and Seafair as Ms. Seafair. All candidates are judged on their academic abilities and must support a volunteer platform and be active throughout the year.

Mark your calendars and come out for a day of fun activities; make new friends, and support education.

Where: West Seattle Bowl, 4505 39th SW
When: Saturday, March 23rd
Time: 10 am sharp until Noon

Contributions: $50 per bowler or $250 for a team. Children under 12 bowl for $20 each

To register a team today or questions e-mail Kathryn Bohot, Chief of Staff at chiefofstaff@seattlecommodores.com.

For more information on the Seattle Seafair Commodores and the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women, go the www.seafaircommodores.com

The Commodores have many other Seafair duties too – they assist with a variety of events including the Seafair-sanctioned West Seattle Grand Parade (July 20th this year, by the way).

Every quarter, the Admiral Neighborhood Association marshals an Adopt-A-Street cleanup – and this sunny Saturday was the day. In the photo is ANA’s new president David Whiting, photographed at the Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) staging area by ANA member Karl de Jong, who co-chairs the Southwest District Council. Want to get involved next time? Keep an eye on the ANA’s e-mail list and/or Facebook page.

It’s been a turbulent week. Maybe you’d like to get out and do some good in the world tomorrow – bring your neighbors and friends! Here are four chances (and the weather’s looking good):

ANNUAL FAIRMOUNT RAVINE CLEANUP: 8:30-10:30 am, meet at Fairmount and Forest to help intrepid ravine cleaners (and invasive-pullers) with their quest to spring-clean one of West Seattle’s most majestic and mysterious sites. Full details in the calendar listing, and as noted in our preview story – treats!

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: Join the ANA’s quarterly patrol of Admiral District streets, which also includes treats before and after. 9 am-noon – meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 42nd/Admiral.

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ENCORE CLEANUP: Following up on last Saturday, NDNC needs a little more person-power to finish tidying up Greg Davis Park, 26th/Brandon, 10 am-noon, “meet at the 3 large rocks.”

ROTARY BOOK DRIVE: Members of the Rotary Club of West Seattle will be at 40th and Alaska (southeast corner) to accept your donations, 10 am-1 pm; info in our preview story.

Were you part of – or at least, inspired by – local schools’ special food drives last month? Or, are you ready (for any other reason) to help local food banks keep people from going hungry? It’s the perfect time for generosity, as you’ll see in this announcement:

The White Center Food Bank and the West Seattle Food Bank are excited to announce the start of the 16th annual Feinstein $1,000,000 Challenge! The need for your support has never been higher and this is a great way to help your neighbors in need and make your donation go even further during the months of March and April!

For the 16th consecutive year, Allan Shawn Feinstein will divide $1,000,000 among hunger relief agencies nationwide through his Feinstein Challenge. All donations made between March 1 and April 30th, 2013, and that are specifically designated “Feinstein Challenge,” will count towards the challenge total and help these agencies receive a larger percentage of the million dollars.

For the White Center Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 10829 8th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98146. To make a donation online or to get information about the White Center Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit whitecenterfoodbank.org or contact Rick Jump at (206) 762-2848, or e-mail rick@whitecenterfoodbank.org.

For the West Seattle Food Bank, donations may be mailed to 3419 SW Morgan, Seattle, WA 98126. To make a donation online or to get information about the West Seattle Food Bank’s programs benefited by the $1 Million Challenge, visit westseattlefoodbank.org or contact Fran Yeatts at (206) 932-9023, or e-mail fran@westseattlefoodbank.org.

For information about the Feinstein Foundation and the $1 Million Challenge, visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org

Both agencies thank you for your efforts in helping us fight hunger in our community.

Photographed outside West Seattle Thriftway this morning, that’s broker Chris Hanley and granddaughter Enna Ernst, volunteering for the Prudential Northwest Realty Food Drive, which continues till 2 pm outside Thriftway and Metropolitan Market-Admiral. At either store, you can drop off donations of nonperishable food, money, or other essentials (like diapers!) to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. (Our standard disclosure, when mentioning sponsors: Prudential NW Realty, West Seattle Thriftway, and Metropolitan Market are all WSB sponsors.)

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Big day ahead – with three road closures to remember, and a multitude of reasons to stay on the peninsula and avoid two of them! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: Three closures today you need to know about: Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 both ways between the bridge and Battery Street Tunnel, till 5 pm (and again 6 am-noon Sunday); eastbound bridge ramp to southbound I-5, all weekend; Delridge/Trenton intersection, all weekend.

LINCOLN PARK INVASIVES CLEANUP: 9 am to noon, Friends of Lincoln Park will be clearing blackberry canes, ivy, maybe even holly and laurel. Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot, Fauntleroy and Rose – if you get there late, “check the kiosk map (in the North lot) to see where we are working. … Dress in NW layers for warmth and dryness with sturdy shoes or boots. Long sleeves are recommended. Bring gloves and hand clippers if you have them, but we have extras. Bring a water bottle.”

REALTORS’ FOOD DRIVE: West Seattle’s Prudential Northwest Realty (WSB sponsor) team members are holding their annual food drive, 10 am-2 pm, at West Seattle Thriftway and Metropolitan Market-Admiral (both also WSB sponsors), accepting food and cash donations for the West Seattle Food Bank.

NORTH DELRIDGE BEAUTIFICATION: Join the North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s March cleanup at Greg Davis Park, 10 am-noon. Just wear comfortable clothes – everything you need will be provided.

FOREST RESTORATION: First of three chances to join the SSCC Ecological Restoration class and others in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, 10 am-2 pm, details here.

HOMEMADE BRIGADE: At Freshy’s Coffee in the Admiral District, arts and crafts bazaar, 10 am-4 pm.

CLEAN UP CONSTELLATION PARK WITH THE ALKI BEACH CREEPS: Today’s the day, noon-3 pm (or join the Beach Creeps Bicycle Club in a ride from El Chupacabra on Alki at 11:30 to get to the cleanup site, 63rd SW and Beach Drive) – details in our final preview from yesterday.

CRAB FEED: Alki Masonic Lodge 152 is raising money for outreach with a crab feed tonight, 5-8 pm, 40th/Edmunds; see the calendar listing for contact info to check if tickets are still available!

EAGLES’ FOOD BANK BENEFIT: Dinner at 5:30, live music at 7:30, at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ in The Junction, to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Details in this Facebook invite.

YOUTH ARTS SHOWCASE: Original songs by young artists, 6 pm at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), details here.

FOLK MUSIC MARATHON … of live performances to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), details here.

GUITAR MASTER SERIES: Joel Tipke with special guest Ben Arthur, 9:30 pm at Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor).

‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’: The classic midnight movie is screened at midnight, first Saturday night of just about every month, at Admiral Theater.

… lots more for today/tonight; just browse the calendar!