West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
Three ways to help local schools this week:
THE BRIDGE SCHOOL: This cooperative elementary school (a WSB sponsor) is not only taking bids in an online auction all week, it’s inviting you to a live online auction at 6 pm Saturday, with a costume contest (prizes!) as well as bidding. The Bridge School promises, “Our auction includes a wonderful mix of items and experiences. You can bid on: gift certificates, homemade items, themed baskets, unique experiences, fantastic getaways, and more!” Get going right now by starting here.
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER: Through Sunday, another online auction is supporting Fauntleroy Children’s Center. More than 160 items are up for bidding, thanks to FCC families and community. businesses. It’s the 35th annual auction for FCC and you can go here right now to be part of it.
KRISPY KREMES FOR MADISON MS: The Madison Middle School PTSA is raising money by selling Krispy Kreme donuts. Two ways to get in on it:
1. Pre-order a dozen freshly-baked, glazed doughnuts for $13, to be picked up in front of Madison Middle School on Friday, March 25, between 8:15-9:00 am and 3:45-4:30 pm.
2. Buy a “Digital Dozen” for $13. Digital gift cards will be delivered via email after the fundraiser ends to be redeemed ANY time at ANY Krispy Kreme location.
They’re taking orders through next Tuesday (March 22nd) – go here.
Three weeks into the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian people continue to fight. A West Seattle woman and her sister, who made it out just as the fighting began, are hoping you can help their homeland.
Kateryna Bakay is proprietor of Bend & Stretch Physical Therapy. She came to the U.S. as an exchange student in 2000 and has been in Seattle since 2010, West Seattle since 2015. Her sister Daria lived in Kyiv, the besieged Ukrainian capital, but has been here since March 1st. Katerina explains that her sister arrived “after 6 days of driving through bombings and artillery shootings. She crossed the Hungarian border by foot (could not take her car) and then her friends drove her to Poland, from where she flew to Seattle.”
They are staying in close touch with family and friends in Kyiv, as circumstances there became increasingly desperate, with food and supply shortages: “Some homes have lost heat so people are bundled up with blankets as it’s cold in Ukraine right now. Children are crying as they don’t understand what’s happening and parents are trying to normalize the situation by taking kids outside during non-curfew hours.”
They are raising money to get help to people back home: “The money we are raising will be used to sponsor local volunteer organizations that are on the ground in major cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, where people are distributing food and water to old folks who are not able to leave their houses. Another organization is helping local military personnel with basic medical supplies, such as tourniquets and bulletproof vests.” If you can donate, they have a crowdfunding page here.
Last month, we told you about West Seattleite-owned Cascadia Produce deciding to buy Girl Scout Cookies to include in the emergency food boxes they distribute with public funding. That was good news both for the Scouts and for people experiencing food insecurity. Today, we have an update on the effort, from one of the participating troops, 40171, via Holly Rikhof:
Way back in February – the beginning of Girl Scout cookie season – there was no doubt that we would be able to fulfill Cascadia Produce’s generous order of 2,000 boxes from all over Washington to be distributed via their Emergency Food Boxes.
Our troop (40171) was responsible for delivering 400 boxes of the 2,000 box order.
Of course, now we are feeling the crunch of the supply-chain shortages and shipping irregularities. Through perseverance and creative problem solving by the council product team and our local service unit, we were able to scrounge together the inventory necessary to fulfill the order. Despite the challenges, the final delivery happened Friday!
I’m attaching some pictures of our troop’s contribution, as well as the whole mountain of cookies Cascadia Produce purchased to support Girl Scouts while offering a sweet treat to clients.
Cookies are arriving in West Seattle (Samoas not until next week), and booths are open around West Seattle this weekend. Please support these kids that are working hard to reach their fundraising goals! Ask me what a cookie can do!
As we’ve been reminding you in our daily “what’s happening today” lists, you can find the locations and times of cookie booths by using this lookup. Sales are scheduled to continue through next weekend.
In three months, the Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2022 will graduate, as will their counterparts elsewhere, after spending more than half their time in high school living through a pandemic. The CSIHS senior class will be allowed to have a Senior Prom but needs some assistance because the pandemic has constrained their fundraising opportunities. Joselyn Panganiban, a CSIHS Senior Class ASB officer, emailed us to ask for community support. The seniors have worked hard to trim costs – for example, while Seattle Center is offering schools a reduced rate for prom space, she says, that’s still $2,000 – half their budget – so they’re cutting venue costs for starters:
Due to our current circumstances concerning finances, we at Chief Sealth High School have decided to hold prom on school grounds. While we no longer have to pay the $2,000+ fee or other costs that a venue would have required, there are still many obstacles that we are currently trying to overcome in planning a prom during a pandemic. Our ASB officers have been trying to find various ways to fundraise from selling merchandise, seasonal gift packages, creating direct donation links. and more. While we are beyond grateful for the opportunity to even have a Prom, this does not change the fact that we have lost years worth of fundraising to have the Prom that we at Chief Sealth had imagined.
The prom is set for June 4th. They also plan to welcome Sealth alumni from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 who want to attend since they didn’t get to have proms. If you’d like to contribute, here’s how.
10:57 AM: In the mood for cookies? We just received this from Ryan:
You may have already seen them around. Girl Scout cookie sales have begun. This year the girls are allowed to do booth sales again. This Gatewood/Seaview-based little Daisys are selling at Thriftway today until Noon.
Although booth sales have returned, it’s been a really difficult year for the girls to sell cookies. They are getting to learn all about the global supply chain distribution.
Sales for local delivery via the Digital Cookie sites have already been shut down because we can get the supply. We also lost a bunch of cookies in our first delivery was a truck overturned and the cookies were destroyed.
Anybody else with local cookie booths? Let us know!
12:19 PM: Another troop selling right now:
Our girls are selling cookies at the Highland Park Corner Store with some creative advertising! Here until 1 pm!
Angela – Troop 41169
The store’s at 7789 Highland Park Way.
P.S. If you missed the lookup link above, here it is again – use it to see where else Girl Scouts planned to be out this afternoon.
(February photos courtesy Camp Long)
That’s the view from Schurman Rock at Camp Long. After a long period of pandemic closure, the 68-acre park at 5200 35th SW has “soft-reopened,” and that opens opportunities not only for visiting, but also for helping guide its future. First, here’s what we’ve learned from Camp Long supervisor Matt Kostle:
Camp Long Park is open, hours as follows:
Tuesday through Sunday – Gates are open from 10 am-6 pm
(Comfort Stations may close slightly earlier to allow staff time to close the whole facility)
We are now accepting rentals at full capacity for the following:
-Main Lodge rooms (upstairs room, basement, kitchen)
-Outside shelters
-Outside large fire ringWe are planning to open rentals to our cabins soon
Our Challenge Course and Rock Wall are also available for groups to register for programming!
For rental and general park information, contact Nancy Mitchell 206-684-7434 camp.long@seattle.gov
For Educational Challenge Course Programs, contact: Maggie Riederer maggie.riederer@seattle.gov
Kostle adds, “We are transitioning to these new hours and rentals and with limited staff on hand so we may not have as much availability for rentals and park opening and closure may not be at exact times published but we are making every effort to move to these times and availabilities to keep the park open and rentals available to use.”
He also told us, “During the pandemic we have also been able to make some major upgrades to the facilities, the biggest of which is the addition of WIFI now available at the main lodge in addition to some large Smart TVs so folks can host meetings, conferences, presentations, etc. here and still reach a wider digital audience!”
Now, here’s where you come in. Camp Long is revitalizing its Advisory Council and would love to hear from prospective members. Here’s that announcement:
Help Make Camp Long an Epic Destination – Become an Advisory Council Member:
Represent and engage the community
Advocate on behalf of the community
Advise on programs and activities that meet community needs
Assist with fundraising and promotions
Event planning and volunteer participationRSVP today to join us for a virtual information and interest session on Tuesday, March 15th at 6:30 pm
Or contact sebastian.wilson@seattle.gov – 206-265-1378
Just in from the White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of West Seattle:
CALL FOR BABY FORMULA DONATIONS!
There was a recall of formula, and White Center Food Bank is running extremely low on supplies for our baby pantry.
We could use our community’s help to restock the shelves!
Here are the recall guidelines so you can check before you buy.
Donation hours at the food bank are 8-3:30 Mondays-Fridays (10829 8th Ave SW)
If those hours or location are not convenient, we have donation barrels located at:
– BECU in Roxbury Safeway
– Burien Press
– Moonshot Coffee
– Good Day Donuts
– Future Primitive Beer
– White Center and Fauntleroy Starbucks locationsYou can also donate online at: whitecenterfoodbank.networkforgood.com
Another local school invites you to support them via a dine-out fundraiser. This Thursday (March 3), between 4 pm and 9 pm, part of the proceeds at Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW, White Center) will support Friends of Roxhill Elementary, if you mention that you’re supporting the school. You can dine in or get take-out or delivery. You can even order online, or by phone (206-432-9765). The Proletariat menu included vegan and gluten-free options too.
(WSB photos)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Pandemic-related shutdowns had a bit of a silver lining for some businesses and institutions who were able to use the time to step back and reinvent.
Among them, the culinary program at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), which has remodeled and reopened its coffee-and-more Alki Café (no relation to the restaurant at the beach), and is cooking up plans for more changes and improvements.
West Seattle resident Christi came up with an idea for a community-wide cleanup beyond the usual site-specific group gatherings. She’s circulated the idea on social media but wanted to be sure WSB readers knew about it too:
Let’s clean up YOUR neighborhood! Do what you can, with what you have, where you are~
What: Neighborhood Litter pickup
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 9-11 [or a time of your choosing]
Where: YOU CHOOSE!This is a community litter pickup event. Everyone that wants to participate is encouraged to spend two hours on Saturday, Feb. 26 picking up litter in your neighborhood, a block up, a block over, or wherever you feel the need.
No time, but want to participate? Just clean up in front of your house and against the sidewalk. Maybe extend it to the older neighbor next door. Your neighborhood is already clean, but you want to participate? Select your favorite restaurant or shopping area, go to their parking lot and pick up litter there. I am sure the business owners and employees would be thrilled! Your street is good (not two hours worth of picking), but your route to work always breaks your heart? Pick there! Everyone wants to live in a clean community.
I do firmly suggest you only go to sidewalk neighborhoods. It’s pretty dangerous otherwise. Meeting a friend for coffee then? Great! Enjoy your coffee and then stroll and pick up litter in that area. Kids have events at that time? Pick up the ball field – I bet others would join you as you set an example of responsibility; especially younger siblings of those playing. Dog needs a walk? They will enjoy a stroll and a sniff here and there while you pick up litter.
WARNING: You will feel good and will feel so happy when you next drive through that area! You may even want to pick up litter again!
If you decide to do this, consider sending us a pic so we can celebrate your efforts – thanks!
(Shelter/center lobby, WSB photo from December)
Below-freezing nights are in the forecast all week, so West Seattle’s only emergency shelter has reopened its doors. It’s in the Veterans Center/American Legion Post 160 building in The Triangle, operated with volunteer help and donations, so center manager Keith Hughes emailed us with some requests for anyone who can help:
The Warm-Up Center and Cold Weather Overnight Shelter will be open this week and possibly into next week. We could really use the community’s support again, with men’s-size socks, gloves, stocking caps, T-shirts, and underwear. We have plenty of cots and blankets now, and we thank you all for those.
In the food department, our needs are: Coffee, creamer, pancake mix, instant oatmeal, instant hot-chocolate mix, granola bars, and grocery-store gift cards so we can get milk, eggs, and other fresh items. Thank you so much for your kind and generous support.
The center/shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska, 206-932-9696.
On this last winter holiday of the year, we’re looking ahead to spring. One local community group is hoping to line up some help with a spring celebration. Here’s the announcement/request:
The Fauntleroy Community Association would like to announce its annual Spring Community Egg Hunt. One person left a note last year saying, “My grandkids and neighborhood kids enjoyed finding all the Easter eggs that were hidden around the area. Hope you do it again next year.”
This is a ‘no-candy’ event using non-perishable eggs, with surprises hidden inside, around the greater Fauntleroy area. This will occur the week of April 11 through April 16. Closer to the event, we will announce the boundaries where the eggs may be found. (Any plastic eggs you can’t reuse may be dropped off in bins that will be located at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.)
REQUEST: We would love volunteers to help stuff and/or hide the eggs. We’ll be doing this in a fun atmosphere. If interested, call or email Candace Blue, 209-401-8406, leeblue2 (at) hotmail.com.
That’s the entrance courtyard at Lafayette Elementary (California/Lander), meeting place tomorrow morning (Sunday, February 20th) for a community cleanup. Organizer Erik Bell says it’ll be “family-friendly,” heading around the block, onto the playground, over to Hiawatha, and around Safeway, further if time/turnout allow. Logistics: “Vests, gloves , buckets, and pickup sticks will be provided and we’ll transfer all the trash into Seattle Public Utilities bags for pickup.” Erik notes that this is also a great opportunity if a teen in your household needs service hours. Official time is 10 am to noon, but if you can’t spare all two hours, no problem, show up for what you can – supplies will await you in the aforementioned courtyard if you can’t get there right at the start. Erik’s contact number is in our calendar listing.
One more way you can help over the three-day holiday weekend – Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) is hosting another donation drive this Sunday, with very specific items requested:
Alki UCC Food/Men’s Casual Clothing/Winter Gear Donations Drive
Sunday, February 20
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Front CourtyardThe Westside Interfaith Network, our donations-drive partner, is especially low on blankets, backpacks and sleeping bags to help keep our unsheltered neighbors warm and dry. We also welcome donations of clean men’s casual/work clothing and new men’s socks.
Non-perishable food donations are distributed by the White Center Food Bank. Priority items are:
Soup (pop top)
Broth
Peanut Butter
Rice
Sugar (in a box)
Condiments (BBQ, mustard, mayo)
Oil
Flour
Coffee & Tea
Soy Sauce
Mac and Cheese
Ramen Noodles
Salt
Black PepperThank you!
(WSB file photo)
Off on Monday for the Presidents Day holiday? Looking for something you can do with your out-of-school kid(s)? The West Seattle Junction Association is still recruiting volunteers to assist with placing and removing dozens of American flags in the heart of The Junction. Two time slots – 9 to 10 am and/or 4-5 pm. Volunteers will meet Tom in front of Cupcake Royale on the northeast corner of California/Alaska. Sign up online here!
Can you spare some time to help a student read better? One West Seattle school has an “very high need,” according to Reading Partners, which sent this request:
Volunteers needed at Sanislo Elementary (1812 SW Myrtle St)! Reading Partners is an education nonprofit that partners with schools and communities to provide elementary-aged students with the foundational literacy skills they need to read at grade level by the fourth grade. We currently have a very high need for volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with students.
Reading Partners tutors work one-on-one with the same K-4th grade student for a minimum of one hour per week until June. More than simply reading with a child, our volunteers follow a proven, structured curriculum to help students learn specific skills necessary to become proficient readers. It’s simple, and it works. Each lesson comes with step-by-step instructions and materials. A trained program coordinator is always available to answer questions, assist with the materials, and solve problems.
We offer flexible Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday volunteer times between 8 AM-2:30 PM. No experience is required, as we provide volunteers with a structured curriculum, training, and ongoing support to help you and your student succeed. Online tutoring opportunities are available, but our highest current need is for in-person volunteers. Want to learn more and sign up? Visit our website here, or contact volunteerSEA@readingpartners.org or 206-992-4484.
Before you sit in front of the screen for hours tomorrow (Sunday, February 13th) – get out! Erik Bell has an invitation:
Here’s a community cleanup opportunity before the Super Bowl tomorrow. Family friendly, all are welcome.
This is a last-minute pop-up clean on Super Bowl Sunday but early enough to catch the game if that’s your plan.
Similar to let month’s cleanup at West Seattle HS, this will be a leisurely clean-up starting in the Chief Sealth parking lot (2600 SW Thistle St.); from there we’ll canvas out around the Sealth and Denny campus, perimeter streets, and anywhere else we can cover in the neighborhood.
Vests, gloves, and pickup sticks will be provided; bring a bucket for easier trash collection before transferring to SPU bags. Come for as little or as much as you’d like; invite your family and friends as we make this a safer environment for our students and teachers.
Parking: We’ll meet in Sealth parking lot on Thistle St, I’ll be walking & cleaning too so if I miss you at the 11 am start I’ll leave the supplies out next to my car, a black Honda Pilot. I can be reached at 206-852-9552.
Support your local musicians! Here’s one way to do it – Easy Street Records in The Junction is hosting the Rain City Relief record-release party Saturday night, with performers including Beverly Crusher (above). Here’s the announcement:
Easy Street Records is hosting a release party for Rain City Relief’s vinyl compilation record at their West Seattle store on Saturday, Feb 12, 2022 starting at 5.00 PM. This limited edition one-of-a-kind collector’s vinyl album features 10 of Seattle’s best and brightest rising artists including Chong the Nomad, The Black Tones and Shaina Shepherd. Ariana DeBoo, Beverly Crusher, and All Star Opera will perform during the party. Smokey Brights will be in attendance and other artists featured on the album may also be present. The event is free and open to the public with ID and proof of vaccination.
The album was recorded as part of Rain City Relief’s effort to raise $100,000 to provide direct financial support to Seattle artists who continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rain City Relief is produced by The Reef and Seattle Would Tour Foundation with generous support from Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, and iconic Seattle businesses including Caffe Vita, Rudy’s, The Edgewater Hotel, Li’l Woody’s, Arvin Goods, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, The Derschang Group, Alaska Air, Georgetown Brewery, PAX®, Weedmaps, House of Cultivar, Heylo, and Moxie’s Mints.
Seattle music lovers are invited to support local artists on Rain City Relief’s website. Supporters who contribute a minimum of $25, will receive a copy of the limited edition vinyl album. The vinyl record will also be available to contributors at Easy Street Records on February 12 and starting February 14, at Sonic Boom Records, Silver Platters locations, Light in the Attic Records, and Royal Records; as well as at select locations of The Edgewater, Rudy’s, Caffe Vita, and The Reef Cannabis’ Mercantile Shop.
Saturday Schedule:
5:00-5:15 PM: Performance by RCR artist All Star Opera
5:15 PM: Welcome and update on Rain City Relief’s fundraising efforts
5:35-5:50 PM: Performance by RCR artist Ariana DeBoo
6:00 PM: Rain City Relief will hand checks to artists
6:10-6:30 PM: Performance by RCR artist Beverly Crusher
(WSB file photo)
Monday, February 21st, is Presidents Day – the next holiday for which dozens of American flags will be placed around the West Seattle Junction, If you can help – all ages welcome! – in the morning placement and/or afternoon removal, Chris Mackay from the Junction Association is recruiting volunteers right now:
Two shifts: 9-10 or 4-5. Fun for families.
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn’t work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering!
(2017 Alki Art Fair from above, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen)
Many beloved spring and summer events are planning for a comeback this year. Among them, the Alki Art Fair, set for July 23-24 along the promenade at Alki Beach Park. As with all big events, planning has to start months in advance, so the Alki Art Fair is sending out the call for help now!
The Alki Art Fair is a beach-side festival that brings people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds together to celebrate local arts and music. Our goal is to promote art education and appreciation by creating opportunities for community involvement and cultural diversity through the arts.
The Alki Art Fair began under the guidance of the Alki Community Center and its advisory council in 1997. In the fall of 2011, a group of artists and other community members transformed the Alki Art Fair into a Washington State nonprofit organization. The Fair continues to be produced with the leadership and guidance of its all-volunteer Board of Directors and thanks to many active volunteers.
Seeking Volunteers & Board Members
As the Alki Art Fair ramps up for our return to the Alki Promenade this summer, we are seeking community members who are looking for a way to get involved and lend their ideas and talents to the organization and the West Seattle community.
We are currently seeking a Treasurer, Fundraising Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, as well as volunteers who can help with everything from marketing, outreach, and general assistance during the event. We have numerous opportunities and will help you find or craft a role that is perfect for you.
If you are interested in supporting the Alki Art Fair, please email (corrected) info@alkiartfair.org or visit alkiartfair.org/volunteer.
Friends of Jon Boudreau are sharing news of his passing along with a way to assist his family:
It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Jon Boudreau, a beloved member of our West Seattle community and the spouse of Odetta Owen Boudreau. After a glioblastoma diagnosis, Jon focused on healing his body and soul by focusing his energy on his love of family, friends, music, and gardening.
In addition to giving support and care to Jon, Odetta has given so much to our community in times of need, including organizing a food distribution center at Highland Park Improvement Club at the beginning of the pandemic that operated for 2 years.
To honor Jon’s memory, we are posting Odetta’s tribute to him and a link to the GoFundMe page set up in his name to help the family during this difficult time.
“With a heavy heart I share with you that my beloved Jon passed quietly and without pain (January 30). Over two years ago he was given the fatal diagnosis of brain cancer, glioblastoma. At the time he never wanted that information on social media. He did not feel that it would be helpful to anyone and he was in this diagnosis, as in his entire life, determined to live.
When you think of Jon and this period of his life, I hope you will as I am today remembering this beautiful quote.
‘The body of a starving horse does not forget the size it was born to.’
-Jane HirshfieldJon knew the eventual outcome of his diagnosis. In spite of that he never forgot the size he was born to.
Although we here still tethered to the planet, did not get what we wanted in outcomes for our dear, sweet husband, father, son, brother and friend, we must always honor the path he took. We feel deeply a loss, and we tend to talk about disease, especially cancer in terms of winning and losing.
Sweet friends, such language diminishes the size Jon was born to. Simply, and truthfully, God chose to heal him in a way that was different than what we wanted.”
The CleanUpSEA coalition has an invitation for you, to start what’s expected to be a rainless weekend:
Join Jess at her monthly 10 am cleanup from Alki Beach to Constellation Park, and neighboring streets in between — the first Saturday of every month!
We’ll meet outside 2452 Alki Ave SW (brick apartment building across from new bathrooms on the beach) and spread out from there. We have pickup sticks & buckets you can use, or bring your own.
Friendly doggies and supervised children of all ages are welcome. Please, no dogs on the beach. Dress for the weather and bring gloves if you’d like your hands covered.
Early Riser? Meet Erik & Garet at 7 am every Saturday to clean up starting at the Statue of Liberty.
No RSVP needed – just show up!
The White Center Food Bank, which also serves south West Seattle, needs your help, if you can donate food. Here’s the announcement we received:
Soup (pop top)
Broth
Peanut Butter
Rice
Sugar (in a box)
Condiments (BBQ, mustard, mayo)
Oil
Flour
Coffee & Tea
Soy Sauce
Mac and Cheese
Ramen Noodles
Salt
Black PepperDonation hours at the food bank are 8 am-3:30 pm M-F, 10829 8th Ave SW.
Please get in touch with a staff member when you arrive and they can help load in.
If those hours or location are not convenient, we have donation barrels located at:
– BECU in Roxbury Safeway
– Moonshot Coffee (White Center)
– Good Day Donuts (White Center)
– Future Primitive Beer (White Center)
– White Center and Fauntleroy Starbucks locations
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