West Seattle, Washington
05 Friday
(Parent-and-child volunteer team, October 2017 Duwamish Alive! – photographed by Leda Costa for WSB)
Just received tonight from the Duwamish Alive! Coalition – official word of the fall event on Saturday, October 21st, with opportunities for volunteers at multiple spots along the Duwamish River and in its watershed:
The salmon are running and leaves are brilliant with fall colors – it’s time for our annual Duwamish Alive! fall event throughout West Seattle. Join us in improving the health of our green spaces, creeks and especially our Duwamish River as we celebrate these special community places! Volunteers are needed at many local sites which provide critical habitat for our community and our river.
Duwamish Alive! celebrates the connection of our urban parks and open spaces to our river, wildlife and community. Starting at 10:00 am, volunteers of all ages – at multiple Duwamish sites throughout the watershed from river to forest – will participate in a day of major cleanup and habitat restoration in the ongoing effort to keep our river alive and healthy for our communities, salmon, and Puget Sound.
A special opening ceremony will be held at T-107 Park, across from the Duwamish Longhouse, at 10:00 with special guest Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold opening the day along with Duwamish Tribe members and the Port of Seattle. Included is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Washington Environmental Council’s work in restoring and protecting both our Duwamish watershed and Puget Sound. . The community is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Duwamish Alive! is a collaborative stewardship effort of conservation groups, businesses, and government entities, recognizing that our collective efforts are needed to make lasting, positive improvements in the health and vitality of the Green-Duwamish Watershed. Twice a year, these events organize hundreds of volunteers to work at 14 sites in the river’s watershed, connecting the efforts of Seattle and Tukwila communities.
To volunteer, visit DuwamishAlive.org to see the different volunteer opportunities and to the contact for the site of your choice, or email info@duwamishalive.org – this is a family-friendly event for all ages — tools, instruction and snacks are provided.
Direct link to see the list of where you can volunteer, and to sign up, is here.
As announced last week, this Wednesday, October 11th, is a multiple-venue fundraiser for hurricane and earthquake victims, West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief, organized by three local service clubs – the West Seattle Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. Five restaurants are donating part of their proceeds, 5-9 pm, according to organizers:
Be’s Restaurant (4509 California SW; checking on hours, since it usually closes earlier)
Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW)
Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya (4203 SW Alaska)
Puerto Vallarta (4727 California SW)
Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta (3401 California SW)
At those venues, you also can drop off checks for direct donations to disaster relief – made out to the Rotary Service Foundation with the specific codes and designations mentioned on this page. We’ll have another update tomorrow.
(WSB photo from September 29th)
More than a week after the fire at the Green Acres apartment complex north of Morgan Junction, Jilyan at nearby C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) has continued coordinating efforts to help those who were affected, and says one person still needs help in two ways – urgently:
Urgent help needed!!! Please bring packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap etc) to C & P Coffee between now and Sunday night.
Some of you may have seen the fundraising that’s been organized for Green Acres. Everyone seems to have the help they need with the exception of one resident. I have been meeting with her, and the apartment manager to try to figure out how best to help her.
Joanie is still living in her apartment, with no electricity, because she has nowhere to go (and is not able to tackle this task on her own). Seattle Housing Authority will pay her rent and utilities once she finds a place but offers no assistance with moving or the cost to move/store belongings (understandable).
On Monday, a group of amazing C&P community members will be moving her belongings out and setting up a storage unit for her. This is how the money raised from GoFundMe and cash donations will be used.
We need boxes, Rubbermaid tubs you’re willing to part with, anything to pack up an apartment. If you are available Monday to help us move stuff with a truck, please contact me as soon as possible. If you know of an apartment Joanie can rent (section 8), please contact me. jilyanmp@gmail.com
West Seattle, you’re amazing! I know this community can help one of our own that is so unexpectedly displaced.
C & P is at 5612 California SW and is open until 9 tonight, and 7 am-7 pm on Sunday.
Going grocery shopping? And/or, have some non-perishable food already on hand that you can donate? Until 2:30 pm, you can help the West Seattle Food Bank at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) during the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (also a WSB sponsor) “Give a Day Away” food drive. In our photo above are Debbie Kerns and Michael Mallagh, two of the BHHS NW agents who are outside the store volunteering – pick up the WSFB needs list on your way in!
(WSB photos. Above, Dazor and Sophie)
No matter how dirty your car gets, you’re probably not going to find someone cheering when you wash it – unless it happens to be a car wash by and for cheerleaders. That’s exactly what’s happening right now at West Seattle Autoworks (35th SW/SW Webster; WSB sponsor), where Seattle Lutheran High School cheerleaders are raising money by washing cars:
Stop by before 3 pm. No set price – whatever you can donate.
(“Wally,” a 2016 Fauntleroy Creek coho photographed by Mark Ahlness)
Another call today for salmon-creek volunteers in West Seattle – this time, it’s Fauntleroy Creek that can use your help watching for spawners starting later this month. From creek steward Judy Pickens:
Salmon Watch 2017 will start on Sunday, October 15, on Fauntleroy Creek and new volunteers are welcome. Watchers monitor the lower creek after daytime high tide to record any spawner activity. Sign up as often as you want, with training during your first watch. Contact Judy Pickens at judy_pickens@msn.com for details.
Seven coho were counted last year – which was seven more than the year before.
P.S. Whether or not you plan to volunteer as a watcher, you’re invited to the fish-ladder overlook (upper Fauntleroy Way and Director, across from the ferry dock) for drumming to welcome the salmon home at 5 pm October 22nd.
After IAFF Local 27 – the Seattle firefighters’ union – sent word of seven firefighters starting a fundraising long-distance bicycle ride tomorrow, we asked if any of the firefighters on the ride are based in West Seattle, and found out that one is! First, the announcement:
Fire fighters from all over Washington State are helping actor Gary Sinise, (Lt. Dan Taylor from the movie Forrest Gump), raise funds and awareness for the Gary Sinise Foundation. One of the foundation’s programs, known as “R.I.S.E.,” builds “smart homes” that accommodate the specific injuries of severely wounded military service men and women returning from war.
This team of fire fighters would like to announce their “Fire Fighter’s Ride 4 R.I.S.E.” bicycle benefit ride starting prior to the Seattle Fire Department annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony on October 6th at 08:00 AM located at Occidental Park near Pioneer Square in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles on October 29th. This event will include 24 stops at predetermined cities in WA, OR, and CA, where they will participate in dinners and benefit auctions to raise additional funds and awareness for the program.
To date, the Gary Sinise Foundation has built 39 “smart” homes for Veterans and will have 60 homes completed by the end of the year. Two of the veterans receiving “Smart Homes” from the Gary Sinise Foundation are from the state of Washington.
There are 7 fire fighters riding the entire 1500+ miles from Seattle to Los Angeles with additional riders joining them along the route to support our severely wounded veterans in their quest to have a normal lifestyle.
Check out the foundation and donate (here).
IAFF Local 27’s Tina Clere responded to our followup inquiry and tells WSB that one of the seven firefighters is based at Station 29 in North Admiral, Tim O’Mahony.
Back on Monday, we told you about local service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions) joining forces to organize West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief, 5-9 pm Wednesday, October 11th. Participating restaurants and other businesses will donate part of their proceeds to help relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the Mexico City earthquake. They’ll also accept checks for direct donations – more details on that as it gets closer. With exactly one week to go, the first restaurant to sign up, we’re told, is Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction (4752 California SW). Service-club volunteers are continuing to contact other businesses directly – we’ll update the list as we get word of more.
Everybody loves a discount. If you buy your ticket(s) for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Brunch before Thursday night (October 5th), you save more than 25 percent … $95 now, $125 starting Friday. This year’s brunch is at 11 am Saturday, November 4th, at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor). The theme is “The Power of Community” and along with the live auction, golden-ticket drawing, and more, the event will feature one West Seattle legend – broadcast journalist Connie Thompson – in conversation with another – Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller. This celebration is always sold out before the event day arrives, so you get a guaranteed seat along with a discount if you buy now – you can do that online, here.
(Photo courtesy Invest in Youth)
The nonprofit Invest in Youth just sent this, saying it’s urgent:
Looking for a way to give back to your community?
Invest in Youth is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that provides free tutoring to local elementary students across the city.
Become a tutor this fall! We are looking to pair volunteers with struggling learners in the community. We have a very high need for volunteer tutors at Roxhill Elementary, here in West Seattle.
Tutoring begins in late October, runs through May, and takes place once every week at each school.
Each tutor is matched with the same student for the whole school year, and the pair works together on things like playing math games, reading stories or working on homework, for one hour each week. Educational materials and activities, training and support, and heartfelt appreciation are provided at every session.
For more information or to apply to be a tutor, please contact Alison Allen at aallen@investinyouth.org or visit our website: investinyouth.org
Can’t commit to the full school year? Become a substitute tutor or share this with your friends who might be interested.
The international Plant for the Planet youth movement is having its next daylong Plant for the Planet Academy for interested kids this Saturday (October 7th), 8:30 am-3:30 pm, at Puget Ridge Cohousing (7020 18th SW). The flyer above explains, including how to register – it’s free but your interested 8- to 14-year-old needs to sign up ahead of time (here’s the direct link). It’s a day-long workshop to find out “how they can take action to protect and heal our environment, as part of Plant For The Planet – an international group of 63,000+ young people worldwide who are planting trees and leading communities to solve the climate crisis now.” As explained on the flyer, there’s an optional 2-hour parent workshop too. (If you can’t see the flyer embedded above, here’s a PDF version.)
Set your calendar for 5-9 pm Wednesday, October 11th – West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief. Three local service organizations – the Rotary Club of West Seattle, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, and Lions Club of West Seattle – are organizing this as “a community response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the Mexico City earthquake.” On that night, the announcement explains, participating restaurants and businesses “will accept donations and donate a percentage of your bill to disaster relief.” More information – including the list of participants – to come.
(WSB photo from early Friday)
For those asking how to help residents of the units burned in the Green Acres apartment complex fire (WSB coverage here) early Friday – a crowdfunding campaign has just launched. Jilyan Perry, who works less than a block away at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), has organized fundraisers before – two years ago, for Nepal earthquake relief, and she’s in our archives before that as a leader of the cancer-fighting annual Relay for Life. Jilyan tells WSB she’s working on planning a benefit event but wanted “to get the ball rolling” by setting up a GoFundMe page. As reported in our Friday coverage, SFD investigators ruled the fire of “undetermined cause” and estimated damage to units and their contents at half a million dollars.
Westwood-area community advocates are ramping up their campaign to get the city to restore what it cut out of the Chief Sealth Walkways Improvement Project earlier this year. And they need your help.
As reported here in August, the city cut the community-proposed, grant-funded project in half because a development plan along 25th SW is expected and the developer would be expected to pay for similar improvements. The city acknowledged, though, that the improvements could be “several years” away, but in the meantime, they say, they’re only going to build the 26th SW path.
Community members say the idea of a developer maybe eventually building the 25th SW path is too uncertain and too far off, and want SDOT to recommit to the full project. They are concerned about safety of those who use the undeveloped path – not just nearby students – and the area’s status as a long-running eyesore (as noted on the Find It Fix It Walk last year).
The walkway-project status is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting, and Marianne McCord – who shared the photos – says they are hoping for a show of support (6:15 pm October 3rd, Southwest Library, 9010 35th SW). If you can’t be there, e-mail NSFChiefSealthWalkway@seattle.gov – or, even if you can.
The West Seattle family that’s collecting donations to help hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico will do it again tomorrow (Thursday). In case you missed Jessica Delgado‘s update in this comment on one of our previous reports, here’s the announcement:
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the donation event on Monday. It was a huge success thanks to the generous community of West Seattle!
We have gotten a lot of interest and will be having one more donation pick-up event this Thursday from 3-7 pm, again at Hiawatha Playfield.
Rey is leaving on Monday 10/2 and will be documenting his trip on his Facebook page so please stay tuned to see the neighborhoods he visits and the people our West Seattle community will be able to directly help in this great time of need. When he arrives in PR he will be working with a local group to go into elderly communities and low-income neighborhoods to hand out all of the donations we have collected. Any cash donations received will be used to buy water for distribution, people are standing in line for hours to buy 2 bags of ice in the hot sun!
Thank you again to everyone who has reached out and helped,
Jessica Jaksich Delgado & Rey Delgado
You can reach Rey directly on his email reydelgadobaseball@gmail.com or text him at 206-380-2710
Here is Rey’s Facebook page where he will be documenting his trip.
As announced before the family’s Monday collection event, they’re requesting batteries, flashlights, manual/crank chargers, small-denomination gift cards for Home Depot, Walgreens, and Walmart, and water-purification tablets.
If you don’t already have tickets for Friday night’s “Grand Affair“ cocktails-and-games party to help the West Seattle Food Bank – you still have time!
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Food Bank)
TIckets are available online through Thursday night – just go here. Or, if you can’t commit until the last minute, they’ll be available at the door, too. The party’s at Westland Distillery in SODO (2931 1st Ave. S.). Your $75 ticket gets you hosted wine and beer and “heavy hors d’oeuvres,” and casino-style gaming with prizes; you’ll also find a photo booth, whiskey tasting, themed cocktails, and a live auction (preview the items here and decide what you might bid on!). It all starts at 6 pm Friday (September 29th) – a cool way to begin your weekend.
(Photo courtesy Chief Sealth International High School Photography Club)
With so many talented photographers contributing to WSB, maybe there is one with the very specific skillset that the Chief Sealth International High School Photography Club needs, and some time to volunteer. From Zhen Williams:
The Photography Club is looking for someone with darkroom experience! One main goal Chief Sealth Photography Club has this year is to start up the Sealth Darkroom again. However, we would need an adult supervisor who knows how to work a darkroom. It would be once or twice a month for a couple of hours. You must be willing to go through the Seattle Public Schools background check.
If interested, please email Zhen Williams: williams.zhen@gmail.com
(WSB photo)
At right is Rey Delgado, with brother Mato at left and son Diego at center. Look for them until about 7 pm on the baseball field at Hiawatha Playfield in the Admiral District, and bring donations for Puerto Rico survivors of Hurricane Maria. As mentioned here this morning, Rey is headed there next week and looking for:
*Batteries
*Flashlights
*Manual/crank chargers
*Small-denomination gift cards for Home Depot, Walgreens and Walmart
*Water purification tablets
If you don’t see this in time, or can’t get there by 7, but still want to help, contact Rey via the e-mail link on his business website (lower right).
As you might – or might not – have heard, Hurricane Maria has left Puerto Rico ravaged. You can help. Here’s one way: A West Seattle man who is from Puerto Rico is collecting supplies today for a trip there next week. Here’s the announcement:
Rey Delgado, a West Seattle resident and local baseball/softball coach, will be collecting Puerto Rico Relief Supply Donations today, Monday 9/25, at Hiawatha Playfield from 3-7 pm.
We are collecting batteries, flashlights, manual/crank chargers, small-denomination gift cards for Home Depot, Walgreens and Walmart, and water purification tablets to take to Puerto Rico and hand out to the hardest hit of the population.
He is scheduled on a flight on Monday 10/2 and will be traveling to Puerto Rico to assist with the relief effort. He will be working with local Puerto Rican agencies to help distribute the donated supplies to low income areas hard hit by Hurricane Maria.
Rey is from Carolina, Puerto Rico and all of his family is there.
The announcement is from Rey’s wife Jessica; she is a lifelong West Seattle resident and explains that Rey moved here when they got married 15 years ago. Hiawatha Playfield is at 2700 California SW, just north of West Seattle High School.
Want to get your weekend off to a rewarding start? Be at Highland Park Elementary School tomorrow (Saturday) morning to help the PTA clean up the playground!
We’ll meet on the blacktop at 9 am for coffee, treats, good work, and good fun! We’ll be tending our school grounds until 12 pm. See you there!
The school is at 1012 SW Trenton [map]. Even if you can’t spend three hours there, the PTA would appreciate any time you can give.
The photo and reminder are from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters:
Seal Sitters’ “Shore the Shore” banners have recently been installed by Seattle Parks & Recreation along a section of Alki Avenue. Just a reminder that we are now entering what traditionally has been the busiest months for harbor seal pups to rest and warm up on West Seattle beaches. For those of you who have recently moved to this area, Seal Sitters is part of NOAA’s West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We respond to reports of any marine mammal, alive or dead, on the beaches of West Seattle from Brace Point through the Duwamish River, including Harbor Island.
If you come across a marine mammal on our local beaches, please keep back, keep people and pets away, and call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-7325.
You can also remember that number as 206-905-SEAL.
(WSB photo from 2016’s Orca Half)
We’ve been lucky enough to be able to share news, and photos/video, of recent orca sightings. Now, you can do something for the whales – by volunteering to help with the Orca Half Marathon next Sunday (September 24th):
Volunteers Needed!
Do you have a few hours to spare Sunday morning? Are you concerned about our endangered southern resident orcas and do you want to promote shore-based whale-watching? The Whale Trail needs your help!
The Orca Half Marathon will be held this Sunday 9/24 in West Seattle from 9 to 1. The Whale Trail is the charity partner for this event for the second year in a row.
The course follows the West Seattle shoreline, passing four Whale Trail sites along the way.
450 race participants are running for individual orcas. Race bibs are customized with the ID and life histories of specific whales!
Mike, the inflatable orca modeled after J-26, will greet runners, their friends and supporters at the finish line.
L-pod was in the area yesterday, making an early and unexpected return to our waters. Maybe they were checking out the course – or looking for Mike?
You Can Help! We need 10 to 15 volunteers to help to staff an aid station for the marathon (passing out water to runners).
Sign up NOW at the Orca Running website here, and be sure to tell them you’re with The Whale Trail! (Write it in the registration form.)
Once the marathon slots are filled, we also need help with Whale Trail activities, especially tending Mike. He eats a lot of inflatable salmon. ;)
Setup starts at 8:30 and we’ll close down at 1. Come for a few hours or stay all day!
Please email donna@thewhaletrail.org and let me know what hours you can be there.The need to protect the southern resident orcas has never been more clear or urgent.
There are 77 individuals in the population – 7 fewer than this time last year.
If the current population trend continues or worsens, J, K and L pods could go extinct in less than 100 years (WDFW 2005)
Join us on Sunday and become part of the solution for the southern residents. Meet your neighbors, have fun, and maybe we’ll see some whales!
About The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is a series of sites where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. Our overarching goal is to ensure the southern resident orcas recover from the threat of extinction.
Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is currently adding new sites along the west coast, from California to British Columbia, throughout the southern resident orcas’ range and beyond.
The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners that include NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Aquarium, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the Whale Museum. The Whale Trail BC is spearheaded by the BC Cetacean Sighting Network.
Many members of The Whale Trail teams met when they worked together to return Springer, the orphaned orca, to her pod. This summer we celebrated the 15th anniversary of Springer’s homecoming, coinciding with a confirmed sighting of her second calf!
The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, headquartered in Seattle. Donna Sandstrom is its Founder and Executive Director.
(September 2016 WSB photo)
You’ll see firefighters out in West Seattle and four other parts of the city next week for the annual Fill the Boot drive. Here’s the announcement:
Next week Seattle Firefighters will take to the streets with boots in hand to collect donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s (MDA) Fill-the-Boot campaign. The collections will take place at the below locations across the City from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, 19, 20 and 21:
15th Ave. NW and NW Market St.
Rainier Ave. S. and S. Ferdinand St.
Roosevelt Way NE and NE 50th St.
California Ave. SW and SW Alaska St.
4th Ave. and Pine St.The Local 27 Seattle Fire Fighters Union is partnering with the Muscular Dystrophy Association on this campaign – a more than 60 year tradition. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds to free kids and adults from the harm of muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that take away physical strength, independence and life.
In 2016, the generous community members of Seattle helped the Local 27 Seattle Fire Fighters Union raise more than $22,000. This has helped contribute to the more than $600 million that the International Association of Fire Fighters has raised for MDA since 1954.
The campaign has been successful over the years because of the support from community members. There is also an option to donate online.
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