West Seattle, Washington
26 Tuesday
The West Seattle Food Bank has been busier than ever during this past pandemic year, not only fighting hunger, but also providing emergency assistance to keep people from becoming homeless. You can be part of a fun online event in a week and a half to support WSFB – if you’re not already registered for “Instruments of Change,” here’s what it’s all about:
Online Event and Auction
This virtual celebration will include a silent and live auction, fun activities, and an informative program about the impact your donations have made. Share an evening with your neighbors from the comfort of your own home!Why?
To celebrate our community, and raise funds to continue keeping our neighbors safe, fed, healthy, and housed during these challenging times.When?
May 15, 2021. This online event will begin at 5:30 pm.Where?
Online, of course! This will be a live-stream event. You will receive a YouTube link after registration.Participate
Join the fun! All you need to do is register below. Spread the word, invite your friends, and make it (virtual) party.Dinner
Skip the cooking and cleaning! Enjoy dinner from Lady Jaye during the night of the event and a portion of take out sales will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank.
Community co-sponsors for Instruments of Change include WSB.
The latest local troop to complete a Scouting for Food door-to-door donation drive is BSA Troop 284. The troop’s Scouting for Food coordinator Jennifer Dempsey – who sent the photo – reports that their collection last weekend totaled more than 1,600 pounds for the West Seattle Food Bank! They had put out flyers the week before in an area bounded by 27th SW, 34th SW, SW Myrtle, and SW Henderson, and then returned to collect. (Even if you weren’t part of it, you can help the WSFB any time – here’s how.)
(Rendering identifying ‘opportunity areas’ at existing HPE playground)
If you can spare an hour Thursday afternoon, the parent/community coalition Highland Park Plays would love to hear what you think about three design concepts for the next stage of HP Elementary playground improvements, aimed at adding more play equipment and more play opportunities. It’s an online meeting at 4 pm Thursday (May 6th). You can register, and get more background on the project, by going here.
We continue spotlighting school (and other) fundraisers – here’s one from the Lafayette Elementary PTA:
Treat the special someone in your life to a beautiful Mother’s Day flower bouquet from a local farmer. In addition to helping a local flower grower, a portion of your purchase will support Lafayette Elementary PTA. For every bouquet sold, $5 will be donated back to school. For this fundraiser, we have partnered with a local Title 1 school and will be sharing our fundraising from this event.
Pick up location: 4224 Beach Drive SW. NO-CONTACT PICKUP.
PLACE YOUR ORDER BY THURSDAY, MAY 6, 3:30 pm.
PICK UP SUNDAY, MAY 9, 8:30-9:30 am
(Aeroecolab image)
Thanks to the texter who pointed this out: Tonight millions of migrating birds are expected to fly over our state – thousands over Seattle – and you can help them by turning off your outdoor lights. This Audubon webpage explains:
Every year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall, the majority of them flying at night, navigating with the night sky. However, as they pass over big cities on their way, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and skyglow, often causing them to collide with buildings or windows. While lights can throw birds off their migration paths, bird fatalities are more directly caused by the amount of energy the birds waste flying around and calling out in confusion. The exhaustion can then leave them vulnerable to other urban threats.
Here’s more about what you can do. Tonight’s not the only night for migrating – you can check on other upcoming nights here.
As noted here, longtime local insurance agent Terry Gangon is retiring after today. As part of the celebration, from now through about 4:30 pm, he’s hosting a drive-up food-and-funds drive to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank, outside his office at 4727 44th SW in The Junction, If you donate money for WSFB, he’s matching donations up to $1,000. They’re also grilling and offering free hot dogs to donors (and clients) – that’s drive-up too. (If you haven’t met Terry, that’s him in the red shirt near the center of the photo, with wife Julia Gangon and colleagues past and present who were at the office for a send-off today.)
The intrepid fundraisers of the Alki Elementary PTA have a Mother’s Day plan, open now for online shopping:
Mother’s Day is coming and it is time to honor those amazing women in our lives who are our ultimate nurturers.
A day of rest, mollycoddling and appreciation for the best.But what does one do for the one who does it all?
ALKI ELEMENTARY PTA PRE-SALE TO THE RESCUE!
We are here to help you make her day nothing short of magnificent (foot rub not included).
Shop our curated collection of local goods to save time, support local, and make mother feel superior.Our Mother’s Day Shop is open – get your orders in by May 2nd!
alkipta.square.siteEverything from Breakfast in Bed bagels from Eltana, Fresh Market Flowers from Lee Lor Gardens, Decadent Chocolate from Joe Chocolate Co., Seattle Candle Company Candles, Brush + Mallet Mother’s Day Cards, And Beautiful Hand-Crafted Remembrances!
Curbside pickup offered Saturday, May 8th (bonus points for being prepared!) from:
ALAIR GIFT SHOP, 3270 California SW, from 1-3 pm
So if you support a PTA fundraiser, where does the money go? We asked Alki PTA; here’s the reply:
When the pandemic hit, Alki PTA moved swiftly, creatively, and with great purpose to help our Alki community. We have fed those on the front lines, raised money to feed and care for our families at Alki, partnered with small local businesses prioritizing support of our greater local community, brought forward a legislative initiative to increase awareness and funding around mental health services within schools, provided Alki families with multiple opportunities for family engagement, connected parents to other parents for conversation and support, encouraged healthy habits and activity through virtual events and a season-long Alki-a-thon, and provided funding to Alki Elementary for much needed support staff including a half-time social worker, academic interventionist and additional nurse staff hours.
We are extremely proud of our efforts and the people behind them. We value and appreciative all who have supported our fundraising efforts during the most challenging year we have all known in our lifetimes.
You can find fundraisers we’ve spotlighted – school and otherwise – in this WSB archive. Got an announcement? westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to get it to us – thank you!
In case you haven’t seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar yet, an event next Tuesday morning offers you the opportunity to both boost your own mental health, and help local nonprofit Transitional Resources. Here’s the announcement for the 8 am live event on May 4th:
Since we cannot celebrate in person, our 2021 Toast to TR spring fundraiser will take place virtually, over toast! Start your day with us for our live morning event, or stream it later at your convenience. Grab your laptop and a cup of coffee and learn how you can create habits and rituals that will improve your day – and your mental health. Plus, you’ll hear about how some of our clients have been able to create positive routines in their own life thanks to the TR community and have the opportunity to support our work!
We have a generous matching pool from our presenting sponsor, Verity Credit Union, and our Board of Directors to help your gift go further. We are excited to partner with Live Oak AV and Caffe Ladro for this event.
Live stream participants will receive a digital goodie bag with printable materials and an ebook from our speaker, specialized recommendations for further reading/listening/watching on our topic, and a coupon from our partner, Caffe Ladro, for a discounted beverage and a free cookie to use at the West Seattle and Capitol Hill locations on the day of the event!
Registration: Advance registration required to participate in the livestream and receive event materials, including the Caffe Ladro coupon. Tickets are $10 and will be available until 5/3/2021. Register at Fresh Starts: Morning Habits for Better Mental Health Tickets, Tue, May 4, 2021 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite.
Full Tilt Ice Cream is offering a tasty way to help the White Center Cooperative Preschool:
We need you to eat ice cream, cookie dough, and cotton candy for a great cause!
The past year has brought all sorts of challenges for schools. Our local preschool, the White Center Co-Op Preschool (part of the larger South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools) has seen a huge increase in financial assistance requests, and outdoor classes and remote learning has meant new demands for class materials. But through it all, the school has kept kids learning and playing, and given families invaluable support through community and the parent education program. Now we are offering our newest and most sugary Covid Pack ever to help raise money for this incredible school.
The Sugar Rush Covid Pack includes a pint of ice cream, a pint of vegan chocolate chip edible cookie dough, and a quart of cotton candy. You’ll also get a one of kind piece of art from one of the kids you are supporting. The cost is $30, with half going straight to the school.
Order online now through Thursday, April 29 and pick up starting Friday, April 30th at Full Tilt in White Center
Full Tilt is at 9629 16th SW.
Puget Park got some TLC on this soggy Saturday – and you can help next time. The photos and report are from Matthew J. Clark (thank you!):
Amidst the towering cedars, hemlock, and alder, with a slight drizzle, a small group of volunteers worked in Puget Park today clearing brush and invasive species to make way for a new trail. The Forest Steward for Puget Park, Christine Clark (below right), led the group as they methodically worked through the process of clipping, digging, pulling, and cutting debris.
The goal of today’s work is to reroute the existing trail to avoid a muddy section. Clark was happily surprised by the turnout. “I was worried that the little bit of rain would scare people away from showing up.” But eight volunteers did show up, and the group made quick work of clearing over 140’ of new trail.
The trail improvements in Puget Park have been on going for the last 4-5 years. Through volunteer work, partnerships with Green Seattle and guidance by Seattle Parks, the trail has taken shape to be a draw for the neighborhood and the broader West Seattle Community affording a great path for walking and running.
The Puget Park trail connects with trails between Pathfinder K-8 to the north and Highland Park to the south. You can easily stitch together an 8-mile round-trip walk in the woods and never cross a road.
What are the next steps for the Puget Park trail? Clark says they’ll work on drainage along the new path, then add a top layer of gravel. There will be work parties throughout the summer.
Check with the Green Seattle website for future volunteer opportunities. “You don’t need any experience or tools,” Clark say. “Just show up and we’ll help you learn the ropes. It is so much fun meeting new people from around the neighborhood and from around the community.”
The next event on the schedule for the greater Duwamish Greenbelt, which Puget Park is a part of, will be on Sunday, May 2nd. This will be a fun trail-cleanup work party. The group will meet up at 14th Ave SW and SW Holly.
Bloodworks Northwest has sent out a “red alert” for blood donations. Here’s why:
A “perfect storm” of unforeseen events continues to impact local and nationwide blood availability leading Bloodworks Northwest to declare a code-red for alert for donors to book appointments. As detailed by Bloodworks CEO Curt Bailey in recent outreach to Pacific Northwest community leaders:
“Confusion over eligibility to donate after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (vaccinated people can still donate!), record-high patient usage (up to 118% above normal), warm spring weather (when donors tend to skip appointments), and a national blood shortage (help from other parts of the country is limited or uncertain) [are contributing to] the biggest shortage since the pandemic began a year ago, with less than a 24-hour supply of blood on the shelves.”
You can make an appointment to donate by going here.
P.S. If you can’t donate right now, Bloodworks NW plans pop-up donation opportunities at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) May 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11 – you can make an appointment for one of those dates now too.
Up for a little late-night bidding? Just 26 hours to go in this online silent auction for two local nonprofit preschools. We just found out about it toaay in this note from Areli Enriquez:
Our annual silent auction is underway, and virtual for the first time due to the pandemic! For the past thirteen years, Refugee and Immigrant Family Center & SouthWest Early Learning Bilingual Preschools have provided high-quality, culturally enriching preschools, serving families in and around our West Seattle/White Center and Burien community.
Many of the children we serve come from lower-income families that do not have the resources to go on field trips, learn a second language, explore hands-on interests, or be provided a high-quality preschool education for free or low cost. The money we raise through this Silent Auction will significantly benefit the children, our classrooms, and teachers alike.
Our goal is $30,000 and with only one day left in the auction. we really need the community support to help reach our goal!! We have plenty of items to bid on and if nothing catches your fancy, donations are also highly welcomed! Our auction website is charityauction.bid/swelrifcauction and to learn more about RIFC, go here: refugeeandimmigrantfamilycenter.org and to learn more about SWEL, go here: southwestearlylearning.org.
RIFC is in Delridge and has had a few mayoral visits in recent years.
If you can give, your next chance to help fight hunger is this weekend. C & P Coffee Company (#SB sponsor) is hosting a pop-up food drive for Washmasks, described as “a Mutual Aid organization supporting migrant & indigenous farmworkers through PPE Aid, Food Aid, & Financial Aid.” Here are the food items that would be most helpful:
Donations collected by WashMasks this month will help “Mabton’s community distribute 250 Week-of-Eats Food-Boxes during their socially distanced Food & Art Community Day.” Mabton is in the Yakima Valley. C & P is at 5612 California SW and will accept donations noon-4 pm both Saturday and Sunday (April 24-25).
Mother’s Day is less than three weeks away. If you’re interested in buying flowers and candy, you can help a local school-support group – here’s the announcement:
H.U.G.S. for Mothers & Special Others
Seattle Lutheran High School – Parent Association Fundraiser
Hope. Unity. Gratitude. Saints.Seattle Lutheran High School Parent Association is partnering with Bakery Nouveau and Moua Floral Designs to offer chocolates and flowers for Mother’s Day weekend.
We cannot embrace everyone we love with a giant hug just yet, but that does not stop us from showing them how much we care. Funds raised go toward science-lab improvements, teacher grants, and student scholarships.
ORDER HERE by Thursday, April 29th
Contactless curbside pickup or local delivery to limited zip codes on Saturday, May 8th.
See school website HERE for more information.
The Alki Elementary PTA has a triple invitation for you – involving entertainment, flowers, and treats. Here’s the announcement:
Broadway has been dark for over a year… But the lights are bright at Alki Elementary! Alki PTA is thrilled to announce the 10th anniversary of their musical theater enrichment program with this year’s musical, Super Happy Awesome News! Thursday, April 22nd (Super Cast!) and Friday, April 23rd (Awesome Cast!) at 6:30 PM.
We’d like to extend the invitation to our surrounding West Seattle schools and community to get on the guest list at Alkimusical.square.site for a fun family night joining our Zoom viewing parties to watch our pre-recorded shows! You won’t want to miss 29 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Alki performers bringing you this totally new musical from Beat by Beat Press, written during quarantine about kids in quarantine! In this crazy year, we all need a little Super Happy Awesome News!
In Alki PTA Musical tradition, we will be having a Flower & Bake Sale – ONLINE NOW through Sunday, April 18th at midnight – where all proceeds benefit Alki PTA and our community partners: Admiral Theatre, Jones Soda, Cupcake Royale, Alm Hill Gardens, Treat Cookies, Franz Bakery and more! Pre-order beautiful spring flower bouquets for your home, popcorn buckets for your viewing parties, tasty treats, and cupcakes to celebrate the night! And don’t forget your PBJGBCSWC Sandwich Kit! (Trust us, after watching Chef make this tasty treat during the production, every kid will want to make their own!) Pick up your goods near Alki Elementary April 22nd and 23rd 3:30 – 5:30 PM.
Your $5 suggested donation and/or purchase from the Super Happy Awesome Flower + Bake Sale at Alkimusical.square.site will ensure you are on the Guest List to receive both of the Premiere Viewing Party Zoom links in your inbox the week of the show!
On behalf of the cast and crew of Super Happy Awesome News and Alki PTA, we thank you for your support! For more information please visit alkipta.com
If you can give, your next opportunity is Sunday, as announced by Alki UCC:
Alki UCC Food/Men’s Casual Clothes Drive and Call for Socks
Sunday, April 18, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Outside our main entrance at 6115 SW HindsWhile ALL nonperishable food donations are welcome for distribution through the White Center Food Bank, a food bank volunteer shared the following insights:
Sugar and Flour are treats.
Boxed milk is a treasure.
Canned foods should be pop-top OR donate a can opener.
Cooking oil is a luxury and much appreciated.
Spices, salt and pepper are a real gift.
Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
Don’t forget the sandwich bread and jelly for PBB&J’s.
Pet food should be in clearly-marked containers.
Essential supplies include:
• Toilet Paper
• Diapers/Similac Formula/Baby Wipes
• Can Openers
• Personal hygiene items
• Hand Sanitizer
Donations of Men’s Casual/Work Clothes are also being taken, as well as NEW socks — the clothing item most requested by our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
(WSB file photo: Stack of donated car seats from past WS Baby drive)
With community help, local nonprofit WestSide Baby works to help families keep babies safe, warm, clean, and dry. One important component of that: Car/booster seats for wee ones to ride in. This Saturday, WestSide Baby’s collecting them – and you can help even if you don’t have one to donate:
Donate your new or used car seat
Saturday, April 17, from 11 am-2 pm
White Center Hub & South Lake Union Branch
(or)
Purchase car seats to ship to us directly through our Amazon WishlistCar Seat Details
Donated seats MUST meet the following requirements:For Infant Car Seats: Donated items must be at least 6 months from the expiration date. Expiration dates are typically 6 years after the manufacture date. This date is often located on either side or under the car seat on a sticker.
For Convertible/Combination/ Booster Car Seats: Donated items must be at least 1 year from the expiration date. Expiration dates are typically 6 years after the manufacture date. This date is often located on either side or under the car seat on a sticker.
Have not been in an accident. You will be asked to sign a waiver stating that this car seat has not been involved in a vehicle accident.
Have not been washed with harsh chemicals, like bleach. Although we love to receive clean items, bleaching the straps impacts the webbing, as it easily frays, allowing children to come out of the seat in a crash.
In addition, whenever possible, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov to quickly review whether your seat has been recalled. You may be surprised. Many issues can be addressed by ordering a part (usually free of charge from the manufacturer). This individual effort on your part allows us to move items safely and quickly.
Other info about donating to WestSide Baby is here.
(WSB photo from spring 2018 Duwamish Alive!)
The twice-annual Duwamish Alive! event is back, and you have two ways to be part of it this Saturday (April 17th):
This Saturday, communities in the Green-Duwamish watershed will be celebrating Earth Month by participating in restoring habitat along the Green-Duwamish River and offering the self guided Green-Duwamish Journey. Several volunteer opportunities are still available, including the Heron’s Nest site:
Volunteer at Heron’s Nest restoration site in West Seattle, stewarded by the Duwamish Tribe and Shared Spaces as they restore native habitat on this site along with additional activities. Volunteers will be weeding, mulching, planting, and helping Seattle Tool Library build needed items. Email: heronsnestoutdoor@gmail.com
2021 Green-Duwamish Self Guided Journey
Community members are also encouraged to learn more about the Green-Duwamish River by visiting many of its environmental, historical and culturally significant sites on the Green-Duwamish Journey, provided in a booklet with activities families can enjoy while visiting the sites. The booklet can be downloaded from DuwamishAlive.org, with coordinating learning packets from Nature Vision for grades K-12.
3:47 PM: On Tuesday afternoon, two people were killed in a crash on Ambaum Boulevard in North Burien. We covered the crash on partner site White Center Now. The victims are now identified as a West Seattle couple, 35-year-old Lauren Dupuis-Perez and 38-year-old Kamel Dupuis-Perez, who lived with their two elementary-age children in Arbor Heights. A friend asked us to publish the link to the crowdfunding page set up for their family, which says in part:
We know they touched so many lives with their spirit for adventure, photography, their love for their children, travelling, and community. This tragic loss is incredibly sad for all of us and we send our love to you as you grieve the unimaginable. The brilliant energy and love that they infused into all of our lives is what motivates us now to continue their legacy of creating a safe, beautiful, and rich life for their children.
The page also has information on donating directly to their children’s school.
The 26-year-old suspected drunk driver accused of causing the crash is also a West Seattle resident. She remains in King County Jail, bail set at a quarter-million dollars. We’re expecting word on charges this afternoon from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
4:56 PM: Five felony charges have just been filed against Irene Plancarte-Bustos of South Delridge – two counts of vehicular homicide, two of hit-run, one of negligent driving. The charging documents say her 3 1/2-year-old son was in her car when she hit the victims’ car in the 11800 block of Ambaum, going about 60 mph in a 35 mph zone. He was not hurt. Deputies found her in a nearby mini-mart parking lot; she had not called 911 nor attempted to return to the crash scene. She has no known criminal record.
Three years ago, we reported on the completion of a first phase of playground improvements at Highland Park Elementary. It took years of community work just to get to that point, but it’s now time for the next phase, and time for your thoughts! Here’s the announcement:
Who: A community-led project, partners include the Highland Park Elementary Parent Teacher Association, Seattle Public Schools, and the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods.
What: We are seeking community input to inform and influence the play area layout and play equipment options at Highland Park Elementary School:
When: Throughout the spring, we will be hosting three virtual design workshops and distributing questionnaires to gather feedback.
Open now: People can learn more about the project and fill out the questionnaire here: hpeplayarea.infocommunity.org.
Coming up: The first virtual workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7 from 3:00 – 4:30, and folks can register here. There will be interpretation in Spanish and Vietnamese. This workshop is open to the public and children are welcome!
This round of planning is happening with the help of a $49,500 matching-fund grant announced last November.
Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) describes itself as “the original meal kit” – they do the prep, you do the final step – curbside pickup and cooking (or freezing) at home – and dinner’s on the table when you’re ready. They’re partnering with the Lafayette Elementary PTA for a fundraiser, and advance orders are open now – you order three ready-to-cook family-size dinners for $50, and $10 of that gets donated. This fundraiser has three times you can choose from for curbside pickup of your three dinners – 6:30-7:30 pm April 28th or 29th, or 10:30-11:30 am May 1st, at Dream Dinners-West Seattle (on the outer east side of Jefferson Square, 4701 41st SW). To see your menu choices and place orders, go here for April 28th, go here for April 29th, or go here for May 1st. The PTA has a matching donor for whatever money is raised from this, so that’s an extra stretch for your donation!
(Photo from seattleschools.org)
Friends of Roxhill Elementary is hoping you can help with this:
TODAY, teachers are walking back into their classrooms—many for the first time in a year—preparing for the physical return of their students. And we want to make sure they have everything they need to keep themselves and our children safe.
We are launching an emergency fundraiser to make sure the school has the support and supplies they need not provided by the district; such as classroom air purifiers, extra masks, thermometers, buckets to keep coats and clothing from touching, and so much more. We are facing new challenges daily and know we will need to be able to respond to these evolving needs and costs quickly.
Our immediate goal is $4,500. Will you help us today?
Here’s the link if you’re able to donate.
We asked the district what PPE they’re providing; the response just pointed us to this webpage, which says “Seattle Public Schools will provide staff with PPE in accordance with Labor & Industries safety and health rules and guidance” and also notes that masks are available for students who don’t already have them.
(February photo, sent by Conrad)
That photo is from the last community cleanup that Conrad organized under and around the West Seattle Bridge last month. He tells WSB, “I got so many requests to hold another event that I’m hosting a second one – people felt such a pleasant sense of community and neighborliness at the last event,” It’s happening next Saturday afternoon (April 3rd), 1-3 pm, and you’re invited to join – here qre the basics:
Once again, we’ll meet at the cul-de-sac on SW Marginal Place. This project will focus on litter abatement, and it will have a larger focus on removing invasive and overgrown vegetation. Our work on vegetation will make the highly trafficked area safer for pedestrians and allow us to remove trash that’s currently covered in blackberries. We’ll also send people to the nearby Riverside Memorial Plaza to rake leaves.
P.S. If you’ve been participating in Jessica‘s monthly first-Saturday Alki cleanups – she’s joining this one for April, but will be back hosting Alki events in May and beyond.
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