West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
(Black-Headed Grosbeak, a migrant this time of year – photographed in 2021 by Mark Wangerin)
Thanks to community naturalist Kersti Muul for the tip on this. She says we’re going into a high-migration time for birds – and you can help them by turning off or dimming your outdoor lighting. The Audubon program Lights Out is explained here – its main advice:
*Turn off exterior decorative lighting
*Extinguish pot and flood-lights
*Reduce atrium lighting wherever possible
*Turn off interior lighting especially on higher stories
*Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late or pull window coverings
*Down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and all light directed upward
*Install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible
*When converting to new lighting assess quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology
BirdCast tracks migration; here’s what happened last night – check the site tonight to see what’s happening. (Kersti also tells us that the week of October 2nd has been declared Bird-Safe Week in Seattle,)
(Afternoon note: Adding photos when/if received)
This is the third day of picketing for striking Seattle Education Association members. In West Seattle, teachers and other SEA members have an announcement and invitation:
While bargaining continues between the Seattle School District and Seattle Education Association bargaining teams, Seattle education employees will continue to participate in strike actions on Friday, September 9. In appreciation of, and solidarity with our West Seattle students and families, local educators are planning several public-service events and activities for Friday afternoon. Community members are invited to participate with us!
Here is a partial list of what some West Seattle school staffs are planning for this afternoon. Community members may also want to stop by their local schools in the morning, to visit with us, and get clarification of afternoon plans.
—Pathfinder K-8 School will be cleaning the area around the Duwamish Longhouse, the park across the street, and along Marginal Way. The Pathfinder community has had a long-standing partnership with the Duwamish Tribe, and staff feels that this service project will be a good way to give back.
—West Seattle Elementary School will be having community-building activities Friday afternoon. Staff will be outside at the neighborhood Park by the Bee Garden from 1:00 – 3:00. There will be board games, arts and crafts, sports, running, movement, sidewalk chalk fun, children’s books, and a community clean up! West Seattle Elementary educators request that everyone pass the word about their community building. “Everyone is welcome to come, show support, and build community with us!”
—Genesee Hill Elementary School educators warmly invite community members to join their line any time before 11:00. Help these fine educators build community presence, and then… “Come march with us to the Junction at 12!” They will be at the Key Bank near Alaska junction, collecting donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items for the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle High School Food Pantry, and they will be participating in a community clean-up at the Junction.
(Thanks to Jennifer for the WSHS photo)
—West Seattle High School staff will also be hosting a non-perishable food and hygiene item drive, at their strike tables, for the school’s food pantry. Items in the pantry are freely given to our students and families who are faced with food and income insecurity. West Seattle High School educators will also be cleaning Hiawatha Park, next to the school (see Donation Request list).
—Alki Elementary educators plan to participate in a beach clean-up from noon to 2:00 PM, and invite community members meet us at the Statue of Liberty at noon!
—Madison Middle School educators will be at school in the morning, and then participating in a clean-up on California Avenue in the afternoon.
—Lafayette Elementary educators will be cleaning the public park adjacent to the school that serves as the Lafayette playground when school is in session. You can stop by the line in the morning to ask about particulars.
—Gatewood Elementary School will be participating in a clean-up at Lincoln Park in the afternoon. Want to join? Stop by the line in the AM, and get some specifics.
—Arbor Heights Elementary educators will be participating in a Lincoln Park cleanup.
(Photo sent by Emily – Roxhill cleanup at Lincoln Park)
(added) Roxhill Elementary educators will be cleaning up Lincoln Park 1-3 pm.
(added) Fairmount Park Elementary educators plan to be out on Fauntleroy from 1:00-3:00pm at the Fairmount Park field picking up trash and waving to all our wonderful community supporters. “We will still have some teachers in the front of our school and invite families and friends to stop by and give us their support!”
(added) Highland Park Elementary – From 1:00-3:00, our staff will be cleaning up around the community. Our staff will pick up trash along 8th Ave, 9th Ave, Roxbury, and Henderson. All who are available in the community are welcome to join!
(added) Sanislo Elementary: service projects near school
(added) Denny International MS: Community Clean-up along Delridge (Roxbury to Juneau)
(added) Chief Sealth International HS: Community Clean-up at Westwood Village
(added) Concord International Elementary – some people will picket while others clear blackberries and clean around the school area
(Thanks to Rachel for the STEM crew photo)
(added) Louisa Boren STEM K-8: Community Clean-up Delridge / Longfellow Creek (south of Juneau); weeding and garden maintenance at Delridge P-Patch Community Garden
These are some, but not all, of the community service events being planned in West Seattle! Local educators, still on strike, miss our students and families. We can’t wait to work with you when our strike is settled, and we have a new contract. In the meantime, please stop by our schools, build community, talk with us, walk with us, and participate in our service activities, if you have the time and energy to do so. Your West Seattle educators appreciate any and all efforts! Thank you so very much!
Anything to add? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.
We told you last week about local service clubs’ West Seattle-wide food drive coming up Saturday, September 10th. Now we know where you’ll be able to donate food that day.
Your donations will be collected by volunteers from the Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary and the Kiwanis-supported Key Clubs at Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS. They’ll be outside these stores 9 am-1 pm Saturday:
Metropolitan Market (41st/Admiral)
PCC (California/Stevens)
QFC in The Junction (42nd/Alaska)
QFC at Westwood Village
West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy)
Trader Joe’s (4545 Fauntleroy Way SW)
Donated items go to the West Seattle Food Bank; see this list of what they most need (including some non-food items)
Thanks to the reader who called to tell us about this so we could go get a photo: Avery, Maisi, and Bailey are running a lemonade-stand fundraiser right now at 36th/Holden in Gatewood. There with them is Shadow the cat – fittingly, as they’re raising money for Emerald City Pet Rescue. They told us they’ll be there until 4:30 or so.
The Senior Center of West Seattle is bringing back its in-person benefit breakfast. The event is September 20th but this Friday is the deadline for RSVPs – so if you’re not already signed up, here’s the announcement:
The community is invited to attend the Senior Center of West Seattle‘s annual Fundraising Breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Alki Masonic Hall.
The event is the Senior Center’s largest annual fundraiser and will feature live music, stories and highlights from the Senior Center’s programs, and an opportunity to give. All funds raised support the fun, engaging programs and critical services the Senior Center provides West Seattle residents as they age.
Attend:
Advance RSVP is required. RSVP by Friday, Sept. 9: fundraise.givesmart.com/form/NGMyzA?vid=twoy5
Tuesday, Sept. 20; Doors open 7:30 am. Program 8-9 am.
Alki Masonic Hall is located at 4736 40th Ave SW.Donate:
Can’t make it to the in-person event but want to support the community’s seniors? The Senior Center is accepting online donations before the event to help reach its goal to raise $75,000 through September.
Your gift supports:
$2,500 = Funds 800 hot, nutritious lunches open to the community
$1,000 = Supports 33 home visits to vulnerable seniors by our social workers
$500 = Covers one month of digital equity classes and services to all seniors who need technology help
$250 = Funds fitness classes for one month to help seniors stay active
$100 = Sponsors two memberships for seniors who can’t afford to payMore event info:
Thank you to our sponsors. See our business supporters on our event website. sc-ws.org/2022-annual-breakfast
Seattle Police are convening community conversations with recruits as a new part of their training, and one of the events is planned in our area. Here’s the announcement:
Calling all who live and/or work in Seattle – Sign up to participate in the new “Before the Badge” Community-Police Dialogues!
The dialogues are part of the new “Before the Badge” 45-day training program that all new Seattle Police Department recruits complete prior to entering the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy. The purpose of the dialogues is to give community members an opportunity to engage with new Seattle Police recruits to help them learn about Seattle community concerns at the precinct/neighborhood level as part of the Seattle Police Department’s Micro-Community Policing Plans.
Two Southwest Precinct-specific events are planned: 5:30-7:30 pm September 26th and November 14th. They’re hosted in partnership with Seattle University, so that’s whose website you’re going to if you’re interested in signing up.
A beautiful afternoon in the garden at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), all for a good cause – benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Hosts Pete and Cameron Moores open their coffeehouse for countless community events and organized this one to help the WSFB’s mission to keep people fed and housed.
If you missed today’s party, you have another special chance to help the food bank next week – as previewed here, local service clubs will collect nonperishable food Saturday (September 10th) at local grocery stores.
Just got belated word that Chief Sealth International High School‘s cheerleaders are having another fundraising car wash right now. Until 3 pm, you can take your vehicle to Les Schwab-West Seattle (Fauntleroy/Alaska) and get it washed, by donation. They’re accepting cash, Venmo, or donations online via SchoolPay – here’s the team link; here’s the link to support an individual cheerleader, if you know one – to buy new uniforms and other equipment.
Tomorrow’s the day and tickets are still available, so we are reminding you about the Sunday afternoon garden party at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank. WSFB’s work helps people stay housed as well as fed. The “We Love West Seattle” party is set for 3 pm to 6 pm Sunday. $45 gets you a sandwich from food truck Now Make Me A Sandwich plus a drink. Live music too! You can get your ticket(s) here while they last.
(WSB photo from last week’s media tour of bridge)
16 days until the scheduled reopening of the West Seattle Bridge on September 18th, two and a half years after its sudden shutdown. As previously noted, no giant party – but the reconnection will be celebrated and commemorated in other ways. This one has a role for you, if you’re interested: The “West Seattle Best Seattle” community coalition would like to invite you to be part of a video shoot. Here’s the announcement:
It’s a casting call! We’d like to invite any and all West Seattleites to be the stars of a video we’re putting together to spread the excitement about the reopening. It’s purely for entertainment, but we hope to create something fun and interesting that people inside and outside West Seattle will watch and engage with. The basic idea is to celebrate the reopening, attract people back to West Seattle, and help support neighborhoods/businesses that have suffered through 900+ days of the bridge closure.
We’re working with local filmmaker Ryan Cory to shoot a short video on Wednesday, September 14th. We’ll be shooting clips at four locations through the day, with a culminating group shot on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge (which we’ve cleared with SDOT). We’re asking people to come as they are (no clothing with profanity allowed), and we can’t provide transportation or guarantee parking. The optimal number of people in the first three locations would be 100 (though we’d happily take more), with a special focus on having at least 200 (or more!) for the final bridge shot (big drone camera finish). We’ll do our best to include everyone who shows up. We’re working with the visual concept of, “Wow, I just got a message that the bridge is going to reopen, and I’m so excited, I’m going to meet up with others and celebrate,” and so having people bring their phones would be great.
Here’s the schedule for September 14th, and showing up a bit early is encouraged, because we’re on a tight timeline:
11:45 am Alki Beach by the Statue of Liberty
12:45 pm Admiral Theater
1:45 pm Alaska Junction by Easy Street
2:45 pm at the bridge’s west entranceThe video would be used across all social media platforms and websites affiliated with West Seattle, and will be sent to as many media outlets as possible. We’re working on releasing short clips before/during the reopening, with a longer version, about two minutes long, available by September 30th. Participants must be able to follow directions onsite and be quiet and respectful when the director is speaking through the megaphone. There may be some hurry-up-and-wait type of moments, so we’re asking for some patience, too. There will be no payment, in-kind gifts, or actor credits given.
The link for you to register for one or all of the locations is here. Questions about the project can be directed to wsbestseattle@gmail.com.
(WSB photo, October 2021)
Head coach Jeff Scott and the West Seattle High School Wildcats are getting ready for football season, with the home opener against Renton at 7 pm Friday (September 2nd) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Before they take the field, the team is hoping for an assist from you – they’re fundraising for costs beyond what basic funding covers: Uniforms, equipment, training for coaches. If you can contribute, here’s the link.
It’s a celebration of community, and teamwork to get help to people who need it. On Saturday, September 10th, three West Seattle service clubs – the Kiwanis, Lions, and Rotary – will lead a community-wide food drive to collect donations for the West Seattle Food Bank.
On that day from 9 am to 1 pm, at most if not all local grocery stores, you’ll find volunteers from the clubs, as well as youth from the Kiwanis-supported Key Clubs at Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS, ready to receive your donations. The final list of participating stores will be available in a few days – we’ll add that to our calendar listing and subsequent previews/reminders. Meantime, here’s what the WSFB needs most (including a few non-food items).
One more back-to-school note: The Roots of Empathy program is looking for new parents in West Seattle with babies born this summer. Here’s what it’s about:
Do you have a baby who was born in July or August? Would you like to volunteer with your baby to help nurture empathy in children? Arbor Heights Elementary is looking for parents with infants who are between 2-4 months old in October to volunteer about once per month during the school year.
What is Roots of Empathy?
Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. The program has been widely evaluated across three continents for two decades and is proven to result in improved empathy, increased emotional understanding, decreased aggression and bullying and improved pro-social behavior among participating students. Research also demonstrates that these improvements are sustained and even strengthened over time.Above is a brief introductory video that explains how Roots of Empathy works and why a baby is such a powerful teacher of empathy. Roots of Empathy was also recently featured on NBC’s Today – you can view that segment here.
If you would like to volunteer as a Roots of Empathy Family, please contact the Roots of Empathy Program Manager, Suz Fix, at sfix@rootsofempathy.org
If you’re anywhere near Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW), you have until 6 pm to go paint and sing with Furry Faces Foundation and your furry friend(s) – we got late word that today was the rescheduled date for the fun(draiser):
Get to Beveridge Place Pub to sing your heart out and paint with your pups suring Furry Faces Foundation’s Paws ‘n Paint Karaoke event from until 6 pm.
While here, take the time to meet Drew Bensen, owner of Close To Home Pet Services.
One of the biggest West Seattle events of fall is still two months away – but your next to chance to support the volunteer-organized, donation-funded Fauntleroy Fall Festival is tomorrow. Here’s the announcement:
We are hosting a Fundraiser Tuesday night (August 23rd) from 3-8 pm at Wildwood Market. The event is 21 & over and all beer & wine proceeds go to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. Our goal this year is to keep the festival fun and free for the kids in the neighborhood, just as it has been for the last 20 years. Wildwood Market will be open for food service during the event. Live music.
The market is at 9214 Fauntleroy Way SW. And for your longer-range calendar – the Fauntleroy Fall Festival itself is on Sunday, October 23rd, this year. As we’ve mentioned previously, after a modified drive-up/ride-up event last year, this year organizers are planning a full-fledged festival.
Some have asked if there is anything they can do to help the woman who was attacked and raped in Delridge this past Monday evening, beyond joining neighbors in their awareness campaign (covered here Friday night). Now there is. We’ve heard from Melissa, a friend of the victim, who says they have just set up a GoFundMe page if people are interested in donating to help with her expenses as she recovers. Friends say she is an immigrant who had been working as a nanny and planning to start college this fall as an international student. Meantime, the 18-year-old suspect arrested Friday is expected to have a probable-cause/bail hearing tomorrow.
Want to get your car washed while supporting students? Tomorrow (Sunday, August 21st) Chief Sealth International High School cheerleaders will be at Les Schwab West Seattle (SW Alaska and Fauntleroy Way SW) to raise money by washing cars. The fundraiser is set for 10:30 am to 3 pm Sunday. They’ll accept cash, Venmo, or donations online via SchoolPay – here’s the team link; here’s the link to support individual cheerleaders, if you know one. They’re fundraising for new uniforms and other equipment.
Today is the last day of “participatory budgeting” voting for $3.6 million that King County has set aside for projects in unincorporated White Center/North Highline. You don’t have to live in that area to vote – it’s open to anyone 12 and older who “lives/plays/works/worships” there. It’s a two-part vote – ranking proposals for $3.1 million in spending here, and ranking proposals for $540,000 in cannabis-tax revenue here. Some of the money could wind up in West Seattle – the first list includes money for the impending move of the White Center Food Bank (which also serves south WS) and the second list includes the Nepantla Cultural Arts Center, which is based in South Delridge.
10-year-old Nathan Tavel spent an hour this afternoon at West Seattle Bowl, knocking down pins as fast as he could – he was a young man on a mission: The start of a month-long fundraising challenge to help the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work knocking down hunger and homelessness. Just take a look at a moment of the pace he kept up for an hour:
In his hour of bowling, Nathan knocked down 2,116 pins. (He’s been bowling since he was 4.) Now it’s your turn. Any time between now and Labor Day, go to West Seattle Bowl and lay out $25 for the challenge. $15 of that goes to WSFB, $10 to WS Bowl. You get an hour to try to top Nathan’s pin total. If you don’t, you donate an additional $25 to the food bank; if you do, WS Bowl will donate an additional $25 to the food bank on your behalf. And if you do top Nathan’s pin total, you’ll be entered into a drawing for $100 at a local restaurant. This isn’t Nathan’s first bowling benefit – whose proud dad Phil was there today to cheer him on:
Two and a half years ago, we covered Nathan’s real-time bowling challenge – he invited teams to try to beat his pin total in two hours. That raised more than $900! P.S. If you haven’t been to West Seattle Bowl, it’s at 39th/Oregon on the east edge of The Junction.
Love wildlife? Plants? Parks? Here’s a volunteer opportunity we’ve been asked to let you know about:
Become a SUNGuide!
Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote and foster appreciation of nature by connecting families, students and the community with their Seattle parklands, and provide educational opportunities for all.
As a SUNGuide, you will:
● Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
● Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
● Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental-education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences, and equity concepts
● Lead hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to beaches
● Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s diverse parklands while helping others do the sameApplication deadline is Saturday, August 20th; training begins Saturday, August 27th. To apply please visit our website:
Environmental Education Volunteering – Parks | seattle.govQuestions? Contact Penny Rose at penny.rose@seattle.gov
Also happening today in addition to what’s on our preview list: A dine-out fundraiser at Lady Jaye in The Junction for the Seattle Badgers D-division team’s trip to the 2022 Gay Softball World Series.
The team has five players and two coaches who live in West Seattle. The GSWS is in Dallas this year, starting later this month, and the Badgers are fundraising to help cover travel costs. Lady Jaye is one of their sponsors and today the restaurant/bar is donating a percentage of proceeds to the Badgers. Dining hours are 2-8 pm but you can also buy gift cards or meat-shop merchandise at LJ now through 8 pm to be part of the fundraiser. Lady Jaye is at 4523 California SW. The Badgers play in the Emerald City Softball league.
Not too much going on around the city aside from Seafair this weekend – so if you love live music, you might consider sailing over to Vashon Island for a benefit show tomorrow (Saturday, August 6th) to boost youth music education via West Seattle’s own nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts. Here’s the announcement:
Bric/Brac Fest and Mode Music and Performing Arts are so excited to bring this event to Vashon Island and help create ongoing opportunities for youth music education!
Join us Saturday, Aug. 6th for a benefit for youth music education on Vashon with generous partners and sponsorships by Mode Music Studios, Open Space for Arts & Community, Orbit at Open Space and The Vera Project.
Secure your space on the green for an evening of food, drink, and amazing bands for a great cause. Bring your chairs and blankets for:
NAKED GIANTS
CAITLIN SHERMAN
JULIA SHAPIRO (CHASTITY BELT)
IT’S ALL HAPPENINGOpen Space For Arts & Community
18870 103rd Ave SW, Vashon [map]4 pm doors
Suggested donation:
$20 Adult
$10 under 18
No one turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF)
You might have seen Naked Giants and/or Caitlin Sherman at West Seattle Summer Fest just three weeks ago.
Four weeks ago, we noted the Pencil Me In For Kids school-supply drive was collecting donations. The item collection is over, but there’s still a way you can help. Here’s an update from Pencil Me In For Kids volunteers:
Fourth-grade teacher Angela de Ita knows that her students at Sanislo Elementary will be happy to have their share of the supplies collected during West Seattle Rotary‘s annual Pencil Me In For Kids drive. The project endeavors to equip every student in area elementary schools with the supplies needed for success – an especially challenging goal this year as families cope with record inflation.
(Photo by Phil Sweetland: Fauntleroy Church member Judy Pickens led the effort to collect this truckload of school supplies in her neighborhood, all destined for West Seattle American Legion Post 160’s Pershing Hall for sorting out to schools)
Fauntleroy Church spearheaded the drive in its neighborhood, with the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA, Canine Casa, Treo Organic Salon, Wildwood Market, and Keller Williams Seattle also hosting donation boxes. The drive continues to welcome cash donations (here) to purchase high-demand items in bulk.
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