West Seattle, Washington
19 Thursday
Father’s Day is coming up this weekend – and the night before, a new event will raise money for local families! Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby explains:
Two great guys are holding a fantastic fundraiser for WestSide Baby this weekend and you should be there! Early this year two of our favorite supporters approached us with the idea to hold a Guys Night fundraiser. WestSide Baby provides essential items to local children in need and we think men care about this need too! Because our biggest event of the year is an afternoon Tea, we jumped on the idea to share WestSide Baby’s mission and impact with men in our community who care about kids. Providing adequate diapers and safe carseats and portable cribs should matter to everyone.
Guys’ Night Out will be at the White Center Eagles‘ HQ, 10452 15th SW (map), Saturday 5 pm-10 pm. Click ahead for full details:Read More
Two women running across America in a novel way – running in each of 50 states (often with local runners joining in), but not all the way across them – will be on the run in West Seattle tomorrow. John Wallace, the guy who made news here for a running milestone last December, is spreading the word about Running Hope Through America. He’s helping Lisa Smith Batchen (who’s been averaging 50 miles a state) and Sister Mary-Beth Lloyd (averaging about 20) on their quest to raise money to help orphans; Washington is their 46th state, and they’ll start the local leg from Salty’s on Alki at 6 am tomorrow. Here’s the Facebook event page. You’re welcome to join them at 6 tomorrow morning – to run part or all of the way, or “just” to cheer them on – and/or you can donate to the cause right now.
They put the “fun” in “fundraising,” as the saying goes. Which is the case for the photo above, shared by Sarah Airhart of the Community School of West Seattle, who reports that their Saturday night auction …
… was a huge success and we raised over $22,000 for our new floors.
I have attached a picture-because our auction, like our school, is always a little different! This is Jenna Lutton, one of our preschool teachers, doing her ‘other job’ at our event. In the background is the Village we built with last year’s Fund A Need money rasied at the auction. This year our Fund A Need was for an interactive wall mural outside that the children and families will work on throughout the year. A huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers who out on this event-and just a heads up that next year, June 2011, we will be having an Olympic Special….with lodging AND tickets to at least ONE event. London 2012…….
Next photo was shared by Lisa Myers from CAPERS, after Elise and Claire set up shop outside her Junction store:
According to Lisa, the girls were raising money for the upcoming Relay for Life of West Seattle – this Friday night/Saturday morning at West Seattle Stadium – because they have a teenage cousin who’s surviving bone cancer. We didn’t get word of their efforts soon enough to go see them to find out more, and Lisa didn’t have contact info, but if anybody does – or at least knows which R4LoWS team they’re affiliated with – please post a comment or e-mail us!
P.S. Quick update on a fundraiser we covered last week – Pathfinder K-8 teacher Lou Cutler‘s Make-A-Wish fundraising birthday run (here’s our report, with video as he and young helpers crossed the finish line) set a new record – $4,244 as of Friday – well above his $3,000 goal – and you can still chip in, to make sick kids’ wishes come true – here’s the link.
Take a close look – those aren’t mosaic stepping stones, but instead, decorated shovels – one example of “garden art,” which is what Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is hoping to harvest for its upcoming Garden Art Auction. Aviva from CHoSS sent the photo and the request:
Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle is looking for interesting pieces for its Garden Art Auction, July 10th. Do you have ideas for turning a rusty old shovel into a work of art? Mosaic, welding, paint – only your imagination is the limit. We are looking for all sorts of garden art, not limited to shovels. Whether you are a professional or amateur, we would be happy to accept your donation for our auction. Last year Community Harvest provided more than 6,500 pounds of surplus local fruit to the food banks. This year we have started a Garden Helper program to mentor new vegetable growers. Contact Aviva at info@gleanit.org for information.
Tonight we’re midway through the open-nomination period for the next round of West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards. It’s a simple way to call attention to folks who work hard, for free, to make our community such an amazing place. WSB co-sponsors these awards with the Southwest and Delridge District Councils; volunteers from those two groups review the nominees and choose the winners. This is the third round since last spring; here’s who won the first time around; here’s the second group of winners. June 21 is the deadline, but take a few minutes to use this form to send in a nomination (if it’s not working, here’s a direct link). There are four categories: 3 individual volunteers in community, environment, or youth work; the fourth is a group award. Winners will be honored during the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park at Hiawatha on July 20th.
Welcome to what promises to be a spectacular sunny Saturday – so far this year, we’re 3 for 3 on sunshine for festival Saturdays (Westwood Village, ReFRESH Southwest, and now Morgan Junction) – but today ALSO offers a unique chance to pitch in with volunteer efforts before hanging out in Morgan (and/or elsewhere). The West Seattle Weekend Lineup page has the full rundown on events including:
*Junction Plaza Park planting party, 8:30 am – about 1,000 native plants going in at the almost-complete park
*Westcrest Off-Leash Area bag dispensers and brush removal, 9 am – show up and help the West Seattle Kiwanis at our area’s only official off-leash park
*West Seattle Tool Library grand opening, 9 am – you can borrow tools (bring 2 forms of ID) and donate them too, north end of South Seattle Community College
*Rally Around the Alley, 10 am – North Delridge neighbors welcome your help in the alley behind the Delridge Library
You also have the chance to do some good at:
*Westwood Village blood drive, 9 am
*Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraising lemonade and yard sale, 9 am
*Chief Sealth cheerleaders’ car wash, 10 am-4 pm at 5242 California SW (late add)
*Pawty with a Purpose for author Val Mallinson, 6:30 pm
*Community School of West Seattle auction, 6:30 pm
As for the fun stuff: Morgan Junction Community Festival starts at 11 am, with events in Morgan Junction Park (map) and behind the neighboring Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)/Zeeks Pizza building. Music and other entertainment plus family activities are in the park; the Bite of Morgan free tastes from local restaurants are at multiple area locations (but you need to get the free coupon book at the festival); booths with local groups and businesses (including us – we’re a co-sponsor, too) are behind Feedback/Zeeks. We will be reporting “live” all day so check back here for highlights once things get going.
Complete locations/times for all of the above and MUCH more, in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
Early warning: About 3,000 homes in West Seattle will get something special on their doorsteps next week, and it’s something that local Windermere Real Estate agents hope you will use. Next Wednesday (6/16), they will distribute bags for a food-donation drive that’s part of their annual Community Service Day; then next Friday (6/18), they will return to the 3,000 or so homes where they left bags, hoping to find them filled with nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank. If you get one of the bags on your doorstep – point person Doug Baldwin says the volunteers will be hitting various neighborhoods – here’s the flyer you’ll find with it.
Kitty Harbor, a nonprofit shelter and adoption facility on the south end of Harbor Avenue just before The Bridge, is open again for the summer, and getting ready to go into its second weekend. Jess Cliffe e-mailed WSB to share photos and this report :
It was a really successful weekend – we adopted out nearly 30 cats and kittens, all to great homes. … On top of all of our adoptions, we had a number of people from West Seattle come in to drop off donations, and offer to volunteer or be foster homes. It’s great to see the community coming together to help out animals in our area.
In fact, just today, we received a Facebook message from Melissa, telling us about three kittens she’s been fostering at her West Seattle home (photos here) – with adoption available through Kitty Harbor, which incidentally has a new website this year, as mentioned in previews last weekend – see it here. They’re open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-6 pm.
(WSB photo from June 2009)
Just nine days till a unique all-night cancer-fighting event takes over West Seattle Stadium – Relay for Life of West Seattle. Rebecca sent this announcement to be sure your calendar’s marked:
The West Seattle Relay for Life is just around the corner and we hope you all can make it! Whether you are part of a team or just interested in checking out what is going on – all are welcome. 20 teams made up of more than 200 participants plan to join the festivities – why don’t you!
Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society held in communities around the nation and the world. The event runs from 6pm on Friday June 18th through 12 noon on Saturday and our teams have a member on the track at all times because just like us… Cancer never sleeps either. There will be activities and games for all ages going on all throughout the event, and lots of prizes to win and donations to pick up from some of West Seattle’s greatest supporters!
Have you heard of Relay before but been too intimidated to dive head in? This is your perfect opportunity to come and check it out without any reservations! Join us for our opening ceremony on Friday night at 6 pm where King County Executive Dow Constantine will give an opening address, followed by our Survivor Celebration.
Come out and help us celebrate, remember and fight back! We have raised more than $21,000 toward our goal of $75,000 so far – we hope you will come out and join us and help us reach our target! www.relayforlife.org/westseattlewa Any questions, contact Rebecca Polivy (bec@busstop.org).
(WSB photo from January 2009)
We reported twice last year on the Gatewood Elementary robotics club, coached by volunteer adviser Erik Christensen. He’s got an even bigger dream now, for students all over West Seattle, so he’s entered Pepsi’s dream-funding “Refresh Everything” contest, asking for your vote. We asked about the pitch he’d make for your vote, and here’s what he wrote back:
I have a chance to make an educational change here in West Seattle.
I am a five-year volunteer at Gatewood Elementary. For the last three years I have run a robotics club that is VERY popular. This year I have expanded into Denny Middle school and want to do more. The schools I have spoken to want me to do more.
Pepsi is offering grants every month…I have asked for $250,000. If I get the grant I can install a robotics club in all of the schools in West Seattle.
I could even work to have robotics incorporated into the class, which really increases class interest and promotes the sciences.
Cast your vote at refresheverything.com (type in gatewood in the search box if you have trouble finding the page) and vote for my idea. [Direct link here]
Each elementary school and middle school could have two clubs and incorporate 16 students…possibly more.
(3 WSB links he included) West Seattle students at FIRST Robotics
Gatewood’s first team
One of the many field trips for the studentsI could write a long and poetic piece about how it would be good for the kids…etc…etc. I choose to just state it in a simple way.
Thats all there is! Help me get this grant and help me give good opportunities to the students of West Seattle. Vote daily, vote frequently, vote often…please vote!
Here again is the direct link. This round of voting ends June 30th.
(Photo provided by The Whale Trail; photographer: Todd Chandler of Cascadia Research)
A local whale expert who recently made worldwide news is speaking next week at the Duwamish Longhouse. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail sends word that her organization is presenting Cascadia Research founder John Calambokidis‘ talk “Gray Whales and Other Large Whales of the Pacific Northwest” Thursday, June 17th, at 7 pm. Calambokidis led the necropsy on the gray whale that stranded and died at Arroyo Beach in April – that’s the necropsy that made international headlines because of the plastic trash found inside the whale. He will discuss grays as well as humpbacks and other large whales found in NW waters, with an introduction by People for Puget Sound‘s Kathy Fletcher, providing an update on “the health of Puget Sound and efforts toward its recovery,” according to the announcement. Tickets are $5 (suggested donation) and on sale online right now – go here. (And find out more about The Whale Trail by going here.)
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
“Imagine the worst flu you’ve ever had — aches, fever, stomach illness, and feeling like you want to die. Now imagine that lasting for a year.”
This is how Val Mallinson, author of “The Dog Lover’s Companion…” books for the Pacific Northwest, describes the effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which she has been struggling with since 1987. Val’s particular type of CFS comes in waves of relapse and remission, and it was during times of remission that she and the “Wonder Wieners” (Cooper and Isis, her rescued miniature Dachshunds) did the research for her travel books.
Her most recent relapse began in March of 2009; as of July, she says, her part-time employer, PCC in West Seattle (WSB sponsor), found her an easier job to do while she dealt with the effects of CFS. However, the physical impact of this particular relapse has continued so long and so severely, that she hasn’t been able to work since December.
Unable to continue in her job at PCC — Val and her husband Steve are quick to note that PCC was very supportive of Val and provided her with medical benefits for as long as they could — Val applied for disability benefits through her insurance company. Her application was denied, she says, because many insurance companies don’t recognize CFS as a legitimate disability.
Her disability claim is being appealed with the help of a lawyer through the organization Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, but in the meantime, the medical bills are accumulating. Friends suggested a fundraising party, which Val initially balked at – but now, it’s on.
Will June showers mean July flowers? If so, it’ll be the best year yet for the West Seattle Garden Tour. Just might be, no matter what! WSB is pleased to be among the West Seattle Garden Tour sponsors this year for the first time; 
we just got word from organizers that the $15 tickets (kids under 12 are free) go on sale this week at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Nursery, ArtsWest and Junction TrueValue – or you can buy yours online right now. The tour is on July 18th. Organizers hope to sell 1,000 tickets this year to match what they’ve received in sponsorships – the proceeds this year will benefit Highland Park Elementary, the Duwamish Longhouse‘s Rain Gardens, Seattle Tilth, the ArtsWest education program, and the South Seattle Community College Arboretum (WSGT photo at left), which this year is one of 8 WSGT stops. SSCC is also where ticketholders will see a noon edible-gardening lecture by West Seattle’s own Willi Galloway of DigginFood.com, followed by wine, cheese and confections tasting courtesy of SSCC. The July 18 tour is self-guided, 9 am-5 pm.
(Photo courtesy West Niver)
Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area is the only off-leash park in West Seattle, and the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is going to make it an even better place for dogs and their people – with your help. 9 am to noon next Saturday, June 12th, they’ll be there for a community-service project – installing hand-built (see photo!) cedar dispensers for “doggy bags,” and clearing overgrown vegetation. Want to help? Just show up! Got questions? E-mail West Niver at westseattlekiwanis@live.com.
When the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure hits Seattle streets this Sunday, it’ll be a new location – around Seattle Center, instead of on the Alaskan Way Viaduct – but some things will be the same: The love, emotion, and determination, of those who both are there to support a cure for breast cancer, and those who have survived it. One special story has come to our attention, thanks to Komen volunteer Meg Paynor, who shared a letter written by an 8-year-old Holy Rosary School second-grader:
My name is Anne-Louise Lorentz. I am 8 years old and attend 2nd grade at Holy Rosary School in West Seattle. Recently, my teacher, Karen Robel was diagnosed with breast cancer. She will not be able to finish the school year with us because she will be undergoing surgery. My classmates and I are running to support my teacher and help raise funds and awareness for this disease. Your support and contributions are a blessing. If you are not able to make a monetary donation, I ask that you please say a prayer for our beloved teacher, Karen Robel.
Meg says, “Cherie Skager, the director of communications at Komen, who reads all the
story submissions, was so moved she contacted Anne-Louise¹s mother and asked
her if Anne-Louise would be the ‘Official Starter’ of the 1k Kids Race on Sunday. Anne-Louise was so thrilled, she asked if her entire class could lead the Kids’ Race. On Sunday at 8 am, the 20+ students of
Karen Robel will start the Kids’ Race, with Anne-Louise leading the group.” Meg adds that they will be obtaining a group photo to frame as a “Get Well” gift for their teacher, who had her surgery this week. They will all be
wearing t-shirts that say “Running for Robel.”Last year, the Kids’ Race also had a West Seattle flavor – Adam Westerman was grand marshal, after helping raise thousands in honor of his mom, breast-cancer survivor Eddie Westerman. Even if you’re not planning to join Sunday’s Race for the Cure, you can donate online here.
That’s the promotional video for this year’s Lunafest – a one-night film festival of sorts – featuring short films by and about women. It’s been making its way around the country, and Thursday night, it’s in West Seattle at Admiral Theater, co-hosted by Stroller Strides of Seattle (which offers fitness classes in locations including West Seattle). Every place it goes, Lunafest is also a benefit for a local nonprofit, and as noted online, the West Seattle showing is benefiting the Salvation Army’s domestic-violence programs, as well as the Breast Cancer Fund, a Lunafest beneficiary nationwide. The 90-minute showing of short films (all described here) will be preceded at 6:30 pm Thursday with a silent auction and reception; more info on The Admiral’s website; tickets are available online here.
That photo was taken two years ago, overlooking what was then the Pathfinder K-8 schoolyard atop Genesee Hill, while P-E teacher Lou Cutler led students on his annual birthday run to raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, as Pathfinder gets close to wrapping up its first year at its new campus on Pigeon Point, Lou’s getting ready to run again. June 7 is the day – one week from tomorrow – and he’s put up a link for pledges (go here – you can donate one flat sum or make a pledge for each lap). Lou traditionally runs one lap for every year he’s been around, so this year that means 59, according to the Facebook invite for his birthday run (you can also find more info on the school website).
Another request tonight for help finding families who have room for a visiting international student this summer. From Andrew Ward, a teacher who lives in West Seattle:
There will be 17 students flying to Seattle from Spain this summer for the month of July, but I have yet to secure sponsor homes for FOUR of the incoming students. The other kids have already been matched with host‐families. I am looking for four more homes where they can learn more about life in America and practice their English. They have their own insurance and spending money. They just need to have their own bed to sleep in and a place at the dinner table.
Host families will need to complete an application packet. It’s pretty easy, and it’s a FUN way to get to know another culture and potentially make life‐long international friends!!! If you are interested in participating, please e-mail Mr. Andrew Ward at senorward@yahoo.com as soon as possible.
Time is of the essence in getting everything set up in time for them to be able to come to the US. It would be such a shame to have these few kids miss out. To have more of your questions answered, the following websites will help (too): www.nacelopendoor.org or www.nacel.net.
Local moms who are also entrepreneurs are invited to an event tonight at WestSide Baby, 5:30-7:30 pm, in conjunction with Help A Mother Out, described by WestSide Baby as “an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers, children and families in need one diaper at at time.” This event is a run-up to a big event coming up at The Little Gym in West Seattle (WSB sponsor) on June 5th (2-4 pm) as part of HAMO’s diaper drive to collect 20,000 diapers. So tonight, bring a box of diapers and/or products that you’d want to offer as a door prize at the June 5th event.
West Seattle Soccer Club players at Hughes Playfield in Sunrise Heights got to meet a pro this afternoon – that’s Seattle Sounders FC defender Zach Scott and son Kalei, who visited as WSSC’s spring season wrapped up. (WSSC’s Tim McMonigle previewed the visit and fall registration – which starts June 1 – in this WSB report on Saturday.) Also from this afternoon:
That’s part of the mini-bazaar set up inside the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ in The Junction, for the season’s first big Pencil Me In For Kids‘ fundraiser. Creative Memories, Party Lites and Tupperware purveyors all were on hand, donating part of their proceeds to the nonprofit that raises money to buy school supplies for kids in need. Find out more about PMIFK here. Meantime, one last Sunday afternoon view:
If you were outside – perhaps at Seattle Summer Streets on Alki, as we were (here’s our afternoon coverage) – you probably got caught in the 4 pm-ish drizzle. It was a classic sun-rain mix, and as shown in Max’s photo, it brought along a rainbow. (The forecast for next week looks fairly mixed, so far, too.)
A few more things happening in addition to Summer Streets (car-free day) on Alki, which began with the West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage here) — Just after 11, we stopped by Holy Rosary Church, to check on Bicycles for Humanity – volunteer Karin Goncalves said they were accepting donated bikes till about 12:30, but if you missed the window, as noted here earlier, a few other churches are part of the effort till late today (see the list here). Also right now, a couple of big fundraising sales, including plants from Furry Faces Foundation:
They’re raising money for animal advocacy (including spaying/neutering) with plant sales till 4 pm at 3809 46th SW (map) – adoptable pets are there today too! Also from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:
*PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS’ FIRST FUNDRAISER OF THE SEASON: 3-5 pm at West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW) – Creative Memories, Party Lights, Tupperware with 10%-50% of proceeds going to Pencil Me In For Kids (mission explained here).
*SALES AT COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE AND SHOREWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: Both have rummage sales. CSWS (22nd/Roxbury) till 4 pm, Shorewood (on 28th SW just south of Safeway) till 5 pm.
*FINAL PERFORMANCE OF “TELL ME ON A SUNDAY”: 3 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.
Today’s the day for the Bicycles for Humanity donation drive, collecting bikes for South African villages where they’re urgently needed – and dropoffs start even earlier than the original announcement we published earlier this month. 7:30 am-noon, you can take a bicycle to West Seattle’s Holy Rosary Church to donate. (Other churches in Seattle are collecting later, in case you miss that window.) If you missed the explanation of what it’s about, the news release is ahead:Read More
Online ticket sales are closed but a few tickets remain to be bought at the door for tonight’s Taste of West Seattle, 6-8:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, raising money for West Seattle Helpline, co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB – and best of all, featuring 30+ local food/beverage purveyors, including Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), whose bartender Roger and proprietors Jessie and Charlie are shown above, photographed about 45 minutes ago during setup, with (at left) ToWS promoter Brooks. Skylark’s “taste” tonight is toasted ravioli, by the way. And remember that it’s not just a chance to eat and drink – there’s also a silent auction – lots of cool stuff to bid on:
We’ll be heading back down after it starts at 6, for coverage of the event as it happens. And if you want to know more about the nonprofit you’re supporting – West Seattle Helpline’s mission is explained here.
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