West Seattle, Washington
04 Saturday
First – Thanks to Nancy Woodland – who you know from WestSide Baby, but is acting here as an Alki Elementary PTA volunteer, sharing that photo and this report:
This morning more than 100 Alki Elementary kids, teachers and parents were joined by the Seattle Fire Department to celebrate Walk This Way Day. With support from Safe Kids, students were reminded how easy it is to walk or bike to school and how important it is for drivers to use caution when kids are present. Parent drivers were even surprised to be handed a cookie along with information about bus zones, speed limits and drop-off protocol!
Second – The annual Walk-A-Thon fundraiser at Lafayette Elementary is tomorrow, and organizers say it’ll be bigger than ever, in more ways than one. The biggest way: The school has 60 more students — two additional classes (kindergarten and 1st grade). Kids, teachers and other school staffers will be participating, along with community volunteers, between 9 am and 3 pm on the school playground (along Lander, west of California). This year, the Walk-A-Thon has more than 100 business/community sponsors – including WSB; we are proud to be able to co-sponsor community events, so when you go around recruiting sponsors for yours, be sure to contact us too!
How busy is the West Seattle Food Bank these days? Tonight we have new information from Pete Spalding, president of the West Seattle Food Bank board, with numbers from last month, just compiled:
700,000
pounds of food distributed so far this year31%
increase in “unduplicated household visits”30%
increase in visits from children25%
increase in visits from infants25%
increase in visits from adults19%
increase from the same time a year earlier10%
increase in visits from seniors
Pete adds, “As you can see, our numbers continue to grow each month, and we have been very blessed that the West Seattle community has been so generous to those in need. Just wanted your readers to know that because of them we continue to be able to open our doors and have the resources to serve the clients that continue to come our way.” In addition to joining in fundraisers for the West Seattle Food Bank (like the Beer Church‘s Turkey Bowl on Nov. 21, which we’re co-sponsoring), you can also donate through their website – westseattlefoodbank.org.
Tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page:
SOUTHWEST HEALTHY YOUTH PARTNERSHIP: As noted in a much-discussed WSB report last week, this group will talk about neighborhood concerns regarding the plan for a state liquor store to move into the side of Westwood Village closest to Southwest Athletic Complex. SWHYP’s fight against underage drinking also will get a big showcase this Friday night at the West Seattle High School–Chief Sealth High School football game, when coordinator Renae Gaines says the players’ helmets all will display red ribbons. Plus – can you help the SWHYP? Here are ways to pitch in. Meeting’s at Madison Middle School (map), 6 pm.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Get the latest crime-trend toplines directly from Southwest Precinct leadership; ask questions, voice concerns, and/or just listen to what’s being done to make the peninsula safer. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (parking lot’s on Webster just west of Delridge, meeting room entrance is right off the parking lot).
This discussion in the WSB Forums about the 20th anniversary of the big Bay Area quake reminds us that we have news to share about the most recent test of the neighborhood-preparedness radio system, plus a reminder about preparedness information you can access any time. First, the radio test. To recap, the West Seattle Communication Hubs is a project setting up nodes around the peninsula where volunteers will spring into action in case of a disaster that takes out the usual communications channels. In addition to keeping this list of “hubs,” the volunteers also have set up a radio network that would get information to authorities off-peninsula if needed. That’s what was tested again successfully last weekend, with West Seattle volunteers joined by two reps from the Auxiliary Communications Service, which is in turn linked in to the city Emergency Operations Center. One was Curt Black, shown in the photo above, who, as Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker puts it, was “working in true disaster mode off the top of his car. He was specially equipped” with a digital setup, which can transmit data from a computer across the radio frequencies. The city and community reps dealt with a theoretical scenario, and requests for help dealing with potential scenario effects including a car in a sinkhole. So what can YOU do to help? First, familiarize yourself with the nearest Communication Hub location – where you’ll be able to go to get information and relay calls for help, if needed. It’s all on this website – worth a bookmark.
Caption that, The Harpist and The Harvest. Susan McLain played at Brockey Center tonight as the White Center Food Bank‘s annual Harvest Dinner and Auction began with eventgoers browsing the auction items:
Among the items donated for the auction, glass produce from Avalon Glassworks, highlighted on the food bank’s website recently, and artist-decorated chairs (here’s the one made by WSB’er Barb). While visiting for photos, we caught up with the food bank’s Audrey Zemke and tonight’s emcee, North Highline Fire Chief Scott LaVielle:
Local media personality Cindi Rinehart (a West Seattleite) is tonight’s auctioneer. It’s been a busy year for the food bank, one of two that serve West Seattle (along with the WS Food Bank) – and the unmet need in our state is sizable, according to this info published by the WC Food Bank last summer.
One week from today, West Seattle environmental advocates will be part of the 350.org demonstration to call attention to climate change. Two notes about that this morning, regarding ways you can be part of it. First, CoolMom’s Terri Glaberson is about to head to Washington, D.C., to lobby our state’s U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell:
My goal is to get face to face time with both Senators to chat with them about the importance of passing a strong Climate bill THIS year. I am also hoping to take with me 350 letters in honor of that all important number 350, the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
There’s more information about the letter-writing campaign on the CoolMom site. Terri says letters of support also can be directly e-mailed to admin@coolmom.org. Meantime, part of the awareness-raising campaign includes gathering a crowd at Seattle Center next Saturday afternoon to spell out “350” (simulation above) – Sustainable West Seattle is organizing a bike ride from West Seattle to Seattle Center for the event and sends this announcement:
Please join Sustainable West Seattle as we make our voice heard demanding climate action from Washington DC on October 24 at the 350.org International Day of Climate Action at the Seattle Center and in West Seattle. 350.org is trying to bring attention to 350 ppm being the safe limit of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Please be at the Seattle Center Fountain at 3:00 pm …. there will be booths and information as well as speakers for this event that culminates with a “human 350” aerial group photo from the top of the Space Needle. The participants will form the 3 and 5 and the fountain will become the 0.
Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board will be leading a bike ride over to Seattle Center at 12:30pm. Our participation goal will be to bring at least 350 spokes to the event at the Seattle Center (about 6 bikes worth) or 350 tires (you do the math!).
The ride leaves from Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest Marina, 1660 Harbor Ave SW, and end up at the 350.org rally against global warming at the Seattle Center International Fountain.
Ride pace will be a moderate 10-15 mph average using more interesting “alternative routes” from West Seattle to the Seattle Center. We’ll be returning at 4:30 pm. Maps will be provided but it is preferred that we ride together. Helmets and lights are required, locks recommended.
The West Seattle Weekend Lineup is stuffed with possibilities for today/tonight. Among them: See Valentine’s Performing Pigs (featured in the above clip produced a few months ago by our partners at seattletimes.com) at High Point Community Center at 10:30 am … Go dig in to help at the semiannual Duwamish Alive! cleanup/restoration event – your choice of sites, 10 am … Go support local artists/craftspeople by shopping the Homemade Brigade at Freshy’s Coffee, all day (starting @ 10) …. Get fed and help others get fed by attending tonight’s White Center Food Bank Harvest Dinner/Auction, 5:30 pm. Lots more here!
A week and a half ago, Eliza Junkerman, daughter of a staffer at White Center Heights Elementary School, shared the story of her campaign to get more musical instruments donated so more of its students could take music classes from a promising new teacher. Tonight, she shares a followup, and an invitation to those who donated:
We have had an amazing turnout and some extremely generous people from West Seattle, White Center and beyond. I just wanted to give you a quick recap of what we have collected so far (or have set a time to pick up):
26 recorders
1 flute
1 piccolo
2 oboes
1 Cello
4 guitars
1 set of Congo drums
1 Clarinet
1 Alto Saxophone
1 Violin
1 TromboneThis is really way more than we could have ever expected! Thank you to everyone who helped – spreading the word, donating, and just supporting!!
White Center Heights will be holding an Assembly to honor the donors and talk about what encompasses a community, on October 30th from 1:20-1:55. All donors are invited to attend!!
Thank you so much for your help!
White Center Heights Elementary is at 10015 6th Avenue SW; here’s a map.
By Charla Mustard-Foote
Special to West Seattle Blog
More than 60 people braved a damp West Seattle fall evening to attend a benefit to help the family of Café Revo owner and Chef Sean “Chano” Goff – who died a month ago at age 43 – and to help maintain his dream of opening a great Italian restaurant in West Seattle.
At last night’s event at The Sanctuary at Admiral, Sean’s wife, Sofia Zadra Goff (left), and children, Forrest and Maya, mixed with the crowd of friends and family, and never stopped smiling (at least, publicly). The event was the celebration of a life and a dream — it gave people a taste of what drew Sean and Sofia to the town and food and culture of her family’s ancestral home, Revo, Italy.
The menu included a rich creamy Gnocchi (rumored to be a staple of the menu at Café Revo [a WSB sponsor]), Papperdelle (a tangy noodle dish), and topped off by an exquisite tiramisu, and generous amounts of an excellent Café Revo house red wine. The elegant and leisurely meal stretched over 2 hours. (Photos ahead!)
West Seattle Helpline director Anna Fern sends news their Clothesline clothing bank is expanding its services:
The West Seattle Helpline is taking the Clothesline to Seniors. We have partnered with the West Seattle Food Bank to bring some clothing items to their waiting room on Tuesdays just before their distribution. Last Tuesday and yesterday, we gave away sweaters. (Photo above shows Liz, a Helpline volunteer, with the sweaters before we took them down to the Food Bank. Photo below shows a picture of the rack in the Food Bank waiting room after sweaters were selected by Seniors yesterday.)
Then next Tuesday we are going to give away coats. We need extra winter coats in order to have enough for next Tuesday the 20th and the following Tuesday the 27th . … We could use help gathering extra coats. They can drop off coats at the Helpline (6516 35th Ave. SW) during office hours Monday – Friday 7:00 to 8:30 AM or Monday – Thursday 4:30 to 6:30. For other arrangements, call 206.932.4357.
P.S.: As noted earlier today, West Seattle Helpline is the beneficiary of one of the upcoming WS Halloween events – Nightmare on Morgan Street at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) Oct. 29 (here’s the poster).
SANCTUARY AT ADMIRAL BENEFIT FOR CAFE REVO CHEF’S FAMILY: Appetizers, wine, Italian dinner, and the movie “Big Night,” 6 pm tonight to benefit the Sean Goff Memorial Fund. Tickets in advance at Cafe Revo, 2940 SW Avalon Way. Here’s our preview from yesterday.
TRAFFIC JUSTICE SUMMIT: Cascade Bicycle Club and others concerned about small (or nonexistent) penalties for those who hit and kill bicyclists and pedestrians have organized this meeting, Bertha Landes Knight Room at City Hall downtown , 5:30 pm. Details here.
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING: Concerned about libraries – or any other city service? Show up and be heard. Northwest African American Museum (map), 5:30 pm. Details here.
Jennifer Cobb from the High Point Neighborhood Association shared this urgent call for help:
The Youth Tutoring Program provides tutoring for at-risk youth living in the High Point public housing community.
Volunteers are needed to help students achieve academic success!
TUTORS ARE STILL NEEDED for the 2009-2010 school year!
· Tutors volunteer an average of 2 hours a week.
· The school-year program runs from September-June and serves students in grades 1-12.
· New tutor orientations are held twice a month!Tutoring sessions schedule:
Monday & Wednesday 4:20-5:20pm
Monday – Thursday 5:30-7:40pmNeed SERVICE LEARNING HOURS for High School graduation?
High School students with grade averages above 3.0 encouraged to apply!!
VOLUNTEER at High Point TODAY!For more information contact Rebecca at (206) 328-5659 or volunteerytp@ccsww.org
Apply to become a volunteer online at www.ccsww.org/ytp
One more reminder that two benefits are coming up to raise money to help Cafe Revo‘s founding family deal with the medical bills left after the untimely death of co-founder Chef Sean “Chano” Goff last month. The first one is tomorrow night – “dinner and a movie” at The Sanctuary at Admiral – dinner is 4-course Italian, movie is “The Big Night” (trailer above). You can buy tickets in advance at Cafe Revo (WSB sponsor), 2940 SW Avalon Way; here’s the official flyer. The second benefit is the Westenders-presented “Operation Chano” on November 7th; more on that here.
(Pago Pago photo by Telemai via Flickr)
HIGH POINT RELIEF EFFORT: Posted on the High Point Neighborhood Association website – a desperate need for money and various items to be donated to help the High Point Lighthouse Samoan Assembly of God assist people coping with the aftermath of the tsunami/earthquake disaster in the South Pacific. They’re trying to get assistance together no later than October 23rd – so the sooner you can help, the better.
WORLD VISION BENEFIT AT EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL: A disaster-relief event is set for 9 am-1 pm October 24 at Evergreen (map), in conjunction with World Vision. The items they’ll be collecting are listed on the White Center Community Development Association website.
Looking for a way to get more involved with your community? Here are two!
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE BUILDING ADVISORY BOARD: As the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency gets closer to closing the deal to buy the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (here’s our most recent update), it’s forming a Building and Site Development Advisory Board “to oversee the building development and operations within the context of this mission,” according to the official announcement. They’re hoping its members will include (but not be limited to) people with expertise in areas such as real-estate development, building renovation and construction, property management, real-estate negotiations, public/private financing options, familiarity with city/state/school district, connections to local community groups. Interested? Call FCSA president Kevin Wooley, (corrected) 206-933-6410.
SOUTHWEST HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD: SWSHS, which operates The Log House Museum, says it’s “looking for board members who have the skills and enthusiasm to bring to our organization for three-year terms beginning in 2010. Participation in our board will be challenging and rewarding, stretching your skills and abilities. You will also gain experience in the meaningful work of preserving West Seattle history, making new friends in the community and the pride of knowing you’ve contributed to a vital organization.” Interested in helping with historic preservation and running a small museum? E-mail a letter of interest to board member Joey Richesson at EuniceSnit@aol.com, or call her at 206-909-9016, before the end of the month.
3RD ANNUAL NIA CLASS TO BENEFIT NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING: Be at Youngstown Arts Center (4408 Delridge) at 10 am to join the NiaDivas in raising $ for NWHH, a West Seattle-founded organization that helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. Find out more about Nia here, and about the NiaDivas here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, as always. Here’s today’s Ripe and Ready fresh list; watch @NFMASeattle on Twitter for pics and sightings.
BOARD GAMES! Today’s the day for the first Board Game Afternoon presented by Friends of Southwest Branch Library — all ages, all skill levels, just come to the meeting room upstairs at the branch (9010 35th SW; Google Street View above) between 1 pm and 4:30 pm. Members of the Friends will bring some games and will teach any you don’t know; you’re welcome to bring your favorite board game(s), too.
More dog news: When the Seattle Humane Society‘s big yellow MaxMobile was at West Seattle Thriftway the other day, Michele sent a photo of a German Shepherd named Baron who was there awaiting his “forever home.” Tonight, we got a note confirming he did – Brent wrote in to say thanks for the news about Baron, with the photo above:
Baron (was a name given by the shelter) now going by “Payton” has a new family and a new buddy “Indy,” a 5 year old German Shepherd, and is doing well very well in his new surroundings. Baron is wearing the harness.
Got room to give somebody a new forever home? The MaxMobile calendar shows it’s coming back to West Seattle twice in the next eight days – Pet Pros in Westwood Village next Friday, then Next to Nature in The Junction two days later.
Often, the morning preview includes highlights from all dayparts. Today’s got so much going on, we’re just going to start with the morning. 
First: Pancakes! Alki Lodge #152 presents a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall (4736 40th SW), 8 am-11 am, sausage, eggs, pancakes, coffee, OJ, adults $5/kids $4. 9 am is when the Tibbetts United Methodist Church mega-rummage sale kicks off day 2, 3940 41st SW, till 3 pm; and there are four fundraising car washes today – this preview details the 3 for West Seattle’s three high schools; this one is for a Burien car wash (in case you’re headed that way) benefiting a teacher fighting cancer. MUCH more going on, of course – see it all in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
We’re adding two more high-school benefit car washes to tomorrow’s calendar – which means all three of West Seattle’s high schools are offering you the chance tomorrow to help out AND get a cleaner car (sunny forecast!):
WEST SEATTLE HS GRAD NIGHT: Putting on the stay-safe-while-having-fun event takes a lot of fundraising throughout the year, and tomorrow’s 10 am-2 pm car wash at the WSHS parking lot (3000 California SW) is the next event.
CHIEF SEALTH MUSIC: Washing cars at the school parking lot (5950 Delridge) 9 am-3 pm tomorrow. The Sealth music program is raising $ for tuxedos and travel expenses. Monica Kenny writes, “We are hoping that once again our fellow West Seattleites would like to liberate themselves of car-wash duty and help out a great bunch of musicians at the same time.”
SEATTLE LUTHERAN FOOTBALL: 10 am-1 pm at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor; 7501 35th SW). They’re raising money to help with travel expenses – particularly in the league in which they play, they have to go to a lot of farther-flung spots (Concrete, Naselle, etc.).
FIRST: One week from tomorrow, the White Center Food Bank presents its annual Harvest Dinner/Auction – a key fundraiser for an agency that serves people in the city limits (as well as WC) but doesn’t get city funding. The auction will include chairs hand-decorated by local artists – among them, WSB’er Babs, who just finished and turned in the one you see above, and shared its story:
Discarded and found in a local Goodwill, this lonely chair cried out for a new beginning. It started life over 80 years ago in a Tacoma woodworking shop and since then only we can be the judge of the many dining tables it has graced. Time gave it life scars but it remained sturdy and strong – awaiting placement at a new table to oversee more stories from life shared over meals.
To get tickets for the White Center Food Bank Harvest and Auction (5:30 pm October 17 @ Brockey Center), call 206-762-2848.
SECOND: The West Seattle Food Bank needs plenty of help too – business is booming there too. WSB has just signed up to be one of the sponsors of an annual event that’s all about collecting $ (as well as food) for the WS Food Bank – the Beer Church‘s 11th annual Turkey Bowl. It’s not till November 21st, 5:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, but tickets just went on sale online, and an early purchase is the best way to guarantee you’ll be part of the fun. Go here to buy in (you can even buy your own lane!), and find out more.
Two weeks after the Alki Beach 5K, you’ve got another chance this Sunday to raise $ for Northwest Hope and Healing while you’re “on the move” – it’s the third annual NiaDivas‘ benefit class. Read about the Nia Technique here; the class is 10-11 am Sunday, Youngstown Arts Center, $15 suggested donation, register online here.
Wood chips await helping hands to move them into place for a new feature at Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area in Highland Park, West Seattle’s only official off-leash area: Westcrest steward Steve McElhenney tells WSB that this will be “a new “special needs” area of the park. I pitched my idea to Seattle Parks a few weeks ago to clear out an area right inside the offleash area north parking lot to create access for the elderly and disabled folks with dogs that had a hard time getting to the upper area.” Steve says that, thanks to Dennis Dylan and crew at the tree-service company JTS, they have lots of chips waiting to be spread – volunteers are welcome to join in and help 6-8 pm tomorrow night and 10 am-noon Saturday.
If you have an instrument gathering dust in the closet or on a shelf, here’s a chance to 
get it into the hands of someone who can put it to good use: WSB’er Eliza is organizing a music-instrument-donation drive for White Center Heights Elementary (just a few blocks over the line from WS – here’s a map). Eliza says the school (where her mom works) “just got a really amazing music teacher” but doesn’t have enough instruments to accommodate all the kids now interested in studying with her. Eliza explains, “The school doesn’t have the budget to buy new instruments and the parents can’t afford to rent them or buy them for the kids.” So, she says, “If you have any old/used/formerly loved instruments you could donate that would be so much appreciated!! I will pick them up, I will come to you, I would just like to get these kids a chance to learn a skill they might otherwise miss out on. Please feel free to e-mail me at egjunkerman@yahoo.com or give me a call, 206.818.7376.”
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