West Seattle, Washington
06 Saturday
We’re spotlighting two ways you can be helpful for a few hours tomorrow:
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY PAINTING PARTY: That photo shows one of the spots at Gatewood Elementary where volunteers will be painting tomorrow. The paint’s been donated; all that’s needed are hands to wield the brushes. The school is 107 years old, a city landmark, and in need of TLC. Volunteers can join one or both of two sessions tomorrow; 9 am-12 pm for setup and prep, 12:30 pm-3 pm for painting and cleanup. Can you help? E-mail Amanda at amandalee_14@yahoo.com – more info here.
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET: As mentioned in our report about this week’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, tomorrow brings the quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup, for anyone and everyone who can give some time between 9 am and noon. Meet up at Metropolitan Market (42nd/Admiral; WSB sponsor), where you’ll get pre-cleanup treats and post-cleanup lunch. All ages welcome.
(WSB photo: Jessica, Nancy, Hannah, and Beth @ WestSide Baby HQ)
It’s “Stuff the Bus” season at WestSide Baby – time for diaper drives big and small, to help families in need. On Tuesday, the WS Baby team welcomed a big diaper donation from Les Schwab Tires stores around King County – $2,500 worth of dryness and comfort for your littlest neighbors. This is their third year of in-store drives, and it’s one of more than 100 business and individual drives that will help WestSide Baby meet a goal of more than 300,000 donated diapers through June and July. Though diapers are a necessity, they’re not covered by government-aid programs, and so organizations like WS Baby step up to help the thousands of kids under three years old living in poverty in King County. You can help too, by hosting a drive – here’s how.
(Colman Estate photo provided by ArtsWest)
It’s a one-of-a-kind volunteer opportunity, at a one-of-a-kind home in West Seattle – here’s the announcement from Michael Wallenfels at ArtsWest:
ArtsWest is looking for additional volunteers to help with our upcoming Gala on Saturday, June 17. We’ve got lots of different kinds of roles that can be filled (see a whole list here: iamiandiamhere.com/volunteers) so there’s something for everybody. It’s located at the historic Colman Estate, and volunteers would have a chance to see this incredible property and its gardens up close, and help out a local arts nonprofit all the while.
The photo is from Christine Deppe, volunteer Green Seattle Partnership forest steward for the greenbelt at Fairmount Playfield, where she’s hoping for a few others to join work parties today and tomorrow. They’re mostly working through the summer to remove invasive plants such as ivy and blackberry in the north end of the greenbelt, Christine says, “so the site is ready for the 450 native plants (lots of berries, ferns, flowers, trees, pollinator-friendly brushes) to be planted at work parties in October and November, which is actually the best planting season for Seattle.” She would love to see you there today, 4-6:30 pm (more info here) and/or tomorrow (Saturday), 3:30-6 pm (more info here).
(WSB photo from past West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade)
Less than four weeks until the 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Children’s Parade, and besides making sure you’re set to participate (or watch), Emily Williams from coordinating sponsor FIT4MOM West Seattle says they need community contributions, since increased participation means increased permit costs.
Last year’s event far exceeded our planned number of attendees and we’ve had to connect with Seattle Parks and Rec and the City of Seattle as we hop up to the next tier of permits, police presence and insurance, trash receptacles, etc. – all in all, our costs have nearly doubled! So we’re absolutely looking to the community to help cover the costs of the Parade!
To participate: Show up and you’re in the P A R A D E! The kids and their families ARE the Parade. Decorate those strollers and wagons and don’t forget yourselves! Show your spirit and have fun!
Old fashioned gunny-sack races, arts and crafts and various activities presented by local businesses at Hamilton ViewPoint Park after the Parade. This is the very best way to start your 4th of July celebration!
FIT4MOM West Seattle and many other local businesses and community members come together each year to keep this long standing West Seattle tradition alive. The Children’s Parade is truly an event for and by the West Seattle community.
WestSide Baby will be on site collecting diapers and wipes for Stuff the Bus; bring a package and help local babies in need!
But again, there are a lot of costs to cover, so here’s where you can donate. Williams concludes, “FIT4MOM West Seattle is so excited to partner with other local businesses and community members again this year to bring this special children’s event to the families of West Seattle. We appreciate everyone’s support in making it happen! Thank you in advance for your donation.” The parade starts at 10 am Tuesday, July 4th, and winds along several blocks from 44th/Sunset to Hamilton Viewpoint Park.
That’s a scene that one local teacher hopes to see outside the classroom this summer. And she needs your help. Here’s the announcement:
Roxhill Elementary teacher Neysa Turner aims to keep kids reading this summer. Students need continuous exposure to high-quality books to accelerate growth and continue reaching for new adventures in life and literature. We are looking for book donations to build a mobile lending library for K-12 South Sound students.
Book donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
1. Roxhill Elementary: 9430 30th Ave SW, M-F 7:30 am-3 pm
2. Also at local business Flourish Beauty Salon and Spa, 5962 Fauntleroy Way SW, M-F 10 am- 7 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am- 4 pm
If you have memories of “Mr. Herk” to share – that can help with a special sendoff that’s in the works! Here’s the announcement:
Please help us in honoring a special teacher who has served our local community.
After 34 years of teaching, Jim Herk, kindergarten teacher at Genesee Hill Elementary, is retiring this June.
“Mr. Herk” taught for 14 years at MLK, Jr. Elementary in Seattle before switching to Schmitz Park Elementary where he has been teaching kindergarteners for 20 years (this year at the new Genesee Hill Elementary). Acknowledged by many as the “Kindergarten Whisperer,” Mr. Herk is known for his calm and unruffled demeanor. He has helped more than 700 youngsters successfully acclimate to their first year of elementary school, from the most rowdy to the most timid of children. Mr. Herk is known for leading the traditional school Halloween parade, the annual Kindergarten Pumpkin Patch trip, and the annual Kindergarten Graduation BBQ and low-tide party.
We need your help! Please send photos, well wishes, and stories to HerkRetirement@gmail.com by Monday, June 12th. These will be organized into a Memory/Retirement Book for Mr. Herk. We can also include notes posted to this blog post. Photos do not have to include Mr. Herk. We also want photos of your child in Kindergarten or photos that highlight the school Halloween Parade or Low-Tide Graduation BBQ.
Please also spread the word to parents and students who may have had Mr. Herk as a teacher years ago. Help us fill the book and send off Mr. Herk with great memories and appreciation.
Didn’t register in advance for the first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe tomorrow (Sunday, June 4th)? No worries – you can sign up starting at 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW/SW Myrtle), just east of Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center, home of numerous community-assisting programs and beneficiary of Loop the ‘Lupe.
It’s a four-event extravaganza, with the following starting times: Senior Saunter at 1 pm, Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K at 1:45 pm, Obstacle Course at 2:10 pm; all four events are explained here.
Looks like comfortable weather for walking/running/dodging!
1 lap down, 65 to go for Lou, who is a retired, beloved PE teacher here. pic.twitter.com/bS8QGQpQKa
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 2, 2017
9:40 AM: That’s Lou Cutler finishing his first lap a short time ago at Pathfinder K-8, where the retired PE teacher celebrates his birthday every year by running one lap for each year of his age, as a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish.
(Lou and chief cheerleader/wrangler Teacher Andy, pre-run)
This morning, speaking to students and others just before starting his 66-lap day, Lou declared it “the greatest day of the year”:
We’ll be checking back at Pathfinder (1901 SW Genesee if you want to stop by and join in – and here’s his donation-drive link).
12:51 PM: We’re back at Pathfinder. After a little more than three hours, Lou’s finishing Lap 53 of 66.
Students filter in and out throughout the day – while Lou and teacher Andy were close to alone on the field, we’re told a couple of Pathfinder grades are about to rejoin them. The laps so far total 9 miles, we’re told.
1:42 PM: Minutes ago, Lou finished the 66th lap:
Lou did it again! Lap 66 just completed pic.twitter.com/NmbvQJAmdM
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 2, 2017
Loud cheers and chants of LOU! LOU! LOU! echoed around the field. And then, the victory photo:
Lou’s been a “wish-granting” volunteer for MAW for more than 20 years, even longer than he’s been doing this run. His actual birthday is later this month, so he’s still only 65, and as he started the second-to-last lap, with that number, he hollered, “A great year to be alive!”
P.S. And yes, he says he plans to do it again next year.
So many things that should be basics for students are now “extras.” So, along with raising and educating kids, parents and teachers have to be crowdfunders and event planners, among other things. Some schools’ core communities have resources to draw on … some don’t. In the latter category is the little elementary school in a wooded corner of Puget Ridge, Sanislo. Its longtime tagline has been “the small school with big ideas.” One big idea: Ask the wider community for support. Rebecca Evans hopes you’ll answer the call:
Sanislo Elementary’s Tropical Nights annual auction is next Friday, June 9th at 6 pm. WE HAVE ONLY SOLD 40 out of 200 tickets! While desperation is not really my thing, I’m afraid we will really let the students down if I don’t make a serious call for help.
We are a Title I school and are already limited on financially capable parents, community support and attendees to combat this. Other neighborhood schools in the area have the capability to raise anywhere between 80-120k at their auctions…we have a goal of 5k.
Underserved students have a much higher chance of resorting to unhealthy activity in life like violence, crime, and drugs when not supported otherwise. With 70% of our students receiving free or reduced lunch, a high percentage of refugee families trying to assimilate to a new environment, and an 18% homeless rate, our students are, statistically, primary targets for these outcomes.
Through your support, we have the ability to re-direct mindsets, perceptions and natural barriers to success by providing educational and enrichment EQUITY to help ALL our students become contributing community members by way of support services and enrichment programs.
Please consider supporting the youth in your community by purchasing a ticket and joining us for a night of great fun, food, and music.
We have Two Story Zori, a popular Island band who will be performing and lots of fantastic items for bidding!
You can purchase tickets at www.sanislo.org, where you can also donate to the school’s efforts, even if you aren’t able to make the event!
Please please please consider being a part of changing the narrative! The difference you can make through this small contribution could be life-lasting for our students.
Tickets are only $10 online in advance, including a drink, and the party’s at the legendary Highland Park Improvement Club.
(WSB file photo)
Showers or shine, this year’s edition of Laps with Lou is on for Friday! That’s the latest from retired Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler, who will return to the Pathfinder field on Pigeon Point this Friday for his annual Make-A-Wish fundraising run. It’s linked to his birthday, so every year he runs one lap for every year he’s celebrating, and this year that’ll be 66 laps! Students and staff join Lou throughout the day, and you’re invited to come to Pathfinder to be part of it too. He plans to get started at 8:45 am this Friday (June 2nd). He’s been doing this for 18 years, and pledges have raised more than $66,000 to grant wishes for local children with life-threatening medical conditions. Lou himself has not only been raising money for Make-A-Wish but has also been a volunteer wish-granter for 21 years. Whether or not you can be at Pathfinder (1901 SW Genesee) Friday to cheer him on and/or run a lap yourself, you can donate to Make-A-Wish in his honor by going here.
Honor those who served this Memorial Day weekend by getting a poppy from American Legion Post 160. Post members will be outside West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) until 4 pm today and again 10 am-4 pm tomorrow. We stopped by a short time ago and photographed Ron Wright, who served in the U.S. Army, and Walton Delong, a U.S. Navy veteran and former Post 160 commander. The poppy tradition is almost a century old – read about it here.
Also – as noted in our preview earlier this week – you are invited on Monday to join Post 160 in putting up and/or taking down the Memorial Day flags in The Junction, and to attend the traditional 2 pm holiday ceremony at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor), followed by a community cookout at Post 160 headquarters in The Triangle (3618 SW Alaska).
Reminder if you haven’t seen it in the calendar yet – you’re invited to start your weekend by helping clean up the Luna Park area tomorrow with neighbors, businesses, and city Tree Ambassadors. Organizer Roxane Rusch says it’s “another in a series of work parties to ready the site for the receipt of a Neighborhood Street and Park fund grant that your neighborhood councils, associations, and groups have generously endorsed. We are working with SDOT on final plans.” As the flyer says, meet at Luna Park Café (2918 SW Avalon Way) at 9 am Saturday. The work party is scheduled until noon, but even if you can just give an hour or two, your help will be welcomed.
Springtime’s most delicious event is just a few nights away … and we’re told a few tickets remain for the Taste of West Seattle. It’s Thursday night (May 25th) at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 6 pm for VIP admission, 6:30 pm for general admission, 40+ food/drink purveyors with fabulous things for you to enjoy (see the list in our previous update). 21+ – IDs will be checked at the door – and the proceeds go to West Seattle Helpline programs that prevent people from becoming homeless. Get your ticket(s) here ASAP!
After today’s West Seattle 5K (coverage to come), it’s just two weeks until our area’s next 5K – part of the first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe, on Sunday, June 4th at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, kitty corner from Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is presenting what’s basically four events in one – fun run, Youth Dash, Senior Saunter, and obstacle course! Here’s the course map:
It’ll be an all-afternoon extravaganza – as detailed here, the quarter-mile Senior Saunter starts at 1 pm, quarter-mile Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K Family Fun Run/Walk at 1:45 pm, and the obstacle course loop – five times around for a full 5K – starting at 2:10 pm. Here’s how to register. Proceeds benefit OLG’s Walmesley Center, which, OLG explains, “hosts numerous athletic events and social outreach programs that benefit all of our West Seattle neighbors, whether they’re members of the parish or not,” hosting more than 20,000 participants in those programs since it opened.
(WSB photo from Taste of West Seattle 2016)
With less than one week left to buy tickets for West Seattle’s biggest annual celebration of food and drink, the Taste of West Seattle‘s lineup has been revealed.
Backstory: The Taste of West Seattle benefits West Seattle Helpline, whose work basically comes down to preventing people from becoming homeless, by providing emergency help. It’s happening 6 pm Thursday, May 25th, at The Hall at Fauntleroy, and you have to buy your ticket(s) by next Tuesday (May 23rd). From Helpline:
The Taste of West Seattle is a local, community-based food fair and is the largest event of its kind in West Seattle. This year’s Taste will feature food and drink from 40 different restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, chocolatiers, and more – all from right here in West Seattle! Check out the restaurant lineup below:
BAKED. Custom Cakes
Bakery Nouveau
The Beer Junction
Beveridge Place Pub
The Bridge
Brookdale Admiral Heights/WS
Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe
Circa
Coastline Burgers
Copper Coin
Coral Wines
Dream Dinners, West Seattle
Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
Doolie’s Food
Duos Catering
Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
Endolyne Joe’s
Fresh Bistro
Harry’s Chicken Joint
Husky Deli
The Lodge Sports Grille
Locöl Barley and Vine
Metropolitan Market
McCrea Cellars
Mioposto
Mission Cantina
Pecado Bueno
Phoenecia
Pecos Pit-West Seattle
Pizzeria 22
Prost! West Seattle
Salty’s on Alki
Schooner EXACT Brewing Co.
Stuffed Cakes
T2 Cellars
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes-Catering and Events
Viscon Cellars
West Seattle Cellars
The Westy
Zeeks PizzaAll proceeds from the event go directly to the West Seattle Helpline’s emergency assistance and homelessness prevention programs. These services stabilize and support individuals and families in West Seattle who are recovering from a crisis or unexpected hardship.
Buy your tickets online right now – go here
For more information – go here
(Eight of the participating venues – Dream Dinners, Endolyne Joe’s, Metropolitan Market, Pecos Pit, Salty’s on Alki, Viscon Cellars, The Westy, and Zeeks Pizza – are WSB sponsors.)
(WSB photo from Relay for Life West Seattle 2016)
Continuing to count down to summer events, we are now exactly one month away from this year’s Relay for Life West Seattle, raising money to fight cancer. This year, the overnight event will be at Hiawatha Playfield instead of West Seattle Stadium (which has a resurfacing project coming up), starting at 6 pm Friday, June 16th. Even if you’re not participating, you can stop by to cheer for the teams and/or donate – the Survivors’ Lap at 6:30 pm and the luminarias at 10 pm are two reasons to visit. Find out more here.
Spring is really and truly finally arriving. and on Saturday, you can be out enjoying the weather and enjoying the satisfaction of doing a good deed. Start the day by being part of the team for Spring Clean in The Junction. You’ll get coffee, breakfast, and a limited-edition tote bag, as well as a fun time with West Seattle neighbors. Here’s all you have to do:
*Show up at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) at 9 am Saturday (May 20th)
If you want to preview what needs to be done before you sign up – see the list here – you have many options! You don’t have to bring anything – it’s all provided.
Two local schools are inviting you to help them help homeless children and teens whose families are at the new Mary’s Place-operated shelter in White Center:
Lafayette and Genesee Hill Elementary Schools are doing a book drive this month to collect books for children and teens who are guests at Mary’s Place in White Center. We have collected over 1200 books already!
We are still on the lookout for books that are in languages other than English and ones that feature characters and themes that are historically underrepresented in children’s books and reflect the population Mary’s Place serves (diverse ethnic and socioeconomic narrative settings, immigrants, nontraditional family units, etc.). If people have books of this sort that are new or gently used, they are welcome to drop them off at Lafayette from today through Friday May 19th.
There will be a box outside of the school’s front doors where books can be dropped off.
Lafayette is at 2645 California SW in The Admiral District.
A West Seattle man who was looking forward to his wedding is instead engrossed in helping his fiancée recover from a crash, thousands of miles away, and raising money to cover her medical bills. We received first word of this from several people who said that Matthias Bakken, a South Delridge resident and small-business owner, is one of the best neighbors they’ve ever had, and they wanted to get wider word out to the community. Stephanie, for one, explained, “He is a great guy always willing to help others and is now in a terrible time of need.” Eventually, we connected directly with Matthias. So here’s the summary:
He and his fiancée Goi, who is from Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand, had just spoken by phone to set the date for their wedding when less than an hour later she was in a motorcycle crash that left her with major injuries. He traveled to Thailand, frantic to find out what had happened and where she was being cared for. She had suffered life-threatening injuries and along with being treated for those will require reconstructive surgery for her teeth and face. He says that at first he “was sleeping out in front of the hospital because I didn’t want to waste money that I knew I would need to use” for her bills. She is close to stable, he says, but her surgeries will cost more than her insurance covers, and she is from an impoverished farming family. “I need to make my soon to be wife whole again and I need the kindness of strangers to make this happen,” he told us.
We mentioned that Matthias is an entrepreneur; he says his business, Leaf Natural Products, donates all its profits to charity. Matthias’s medical-costs fundraiser for Goi is on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe.
If you’ve been procrastinating about signing up for this year’s West Seattle 5K run/walk – time’s running out. Online registration ends on Thursday (May 18th); after that, you’ll have to sign up during packet pickups at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) next Saturday, or right before the race. It starts from 61st SW/Alki SW at the beach on Sunday, May 21st, at 9:20 am. WSB is a sponsor again this year, as we’ve been every year since the first WS5K in 2009. You can sign up right now by going here, and that also guarantees you a T-shirt with the cool new logo (note that kids 6 and under are free, but no T-shirt), and get ready for a fun morning at the beach, benefiting West Seattle High School!
3:10 PM: Here’s who’s welcoming donations in the West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day aftermath:
STUFF THE TRUCK AT HOLY ROSARY: Until 5 pm, a truck is on the north side of Holy Rosary School, off 42nd SW north of SW Genesee, collecting donations for St. Vincent de Paul. Here’s what they’re taking.
Meantime, Alki Elementary’s PTA fundraiser is continuing all weekend:
CLOTHES FOR THE CAUSE: Any time through tomorrow, you can drop items off at the Clothes for the Cause trailer on the southwest side of Alki Elementary, off 59th SW. They’re collecting mostly textile items, as listed here.
Also:
STOP ‘N’ SHOP THRIFT STORE: The thrift store at the Senior Center of West Seattle has extended its donation-acceptance hours until 6 pm tonight – just pull up in the alley behind the center (4217 SW Oregon). What they accept is “reusable items, i.e. kitchenware, tools, knickknacks, jewelry, linens, furniture, home decorations, clothing & accessories.”
BOOK DRIVE FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS: No rush for this one – you have almost two weeks to contribute. Details are here. But if you’d like to move those books along today, a truck will be in The Junction until 6 pm, near the Northwest Center truck along the east side of 44th SW between Alaska and Edmunds.
PLANT STARTS: Any seller with leftover peppers, summer squash, tomatoes, cucumber starts can donate them to Solid Ground for local community gardens (including Marra Farm in South Park) – contact racheld@solid-ground.org.
ADDED 7:57 PM: One more place accepting leftovers – Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. “Second Gear Sports is happy to give second life to any sports-related gear/apparel/bikes that did not sell. Money can still be made… open 11 am to 5 pm tomorrow and 10 am – 6 pm Monday.” SGS is at 6529 California SW.
The annual GiveBIG one-day mega-donation drive, coordinated by the Seattle Foundation, has begun. Again this year, we’ve put together a local list, with each organization name linked to its GiveBIG info/donation page – starting with the people who sent info when we put out a call for it earlier this week, followed by other organizations in local zips:
West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network (the link goes to the Seattle Neighborhood Group – in “comments,” specifically mention that it’s for WSBWCN so they will receive the $)
Friends of the Animals Foundation
West Seattle Community Orchestras
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group
Also:
Alki Co-Op Preschool
Arts Corps
ArtsEd Washington
ArtsWest
Concord International School Greening Project
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association
Duwamish Rowing Club
Duwamish Tribal Services
Education First
Empower Mentoring Program
Fauntleroy Children’s Center
FEEST
Free2Luv
Furry Faces Foundation
Gender Diversity
Holy Rosary School
Khambatta Dance Company
Kol HaNeshamah
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
Navos
Opera On Tap
Orca Conservancy
Plumbers Without Borders
Pongo Publishing
Reel Grrls
SafeFutures Youth Center
Seal Sitters (link takes you to ARC; write Seal Sitters in “comments” field so they’re credited)
Seattle Chinese Garden Society
Seattle Green Spaces Coalition
Seattle People of Color Salon
Seniors Creating Art
Somali Family Safety Task Force
South Seattle College Foundation
Southwest Seattle Historical Society
Southwest Youth and Family Services
Technology Access Foundation
The Kenney Foundation
The Service Board
The Village of Hope
Totem Star
Transitional Resources
Twelfth Night Productions
Urban Homestead Foundation
West Seattle Food Bank
West Seattle Helpline
Westside Baby
Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Wheelchairs For Nigeria
White Center Community Development Association
White Center Food Bank
White Center Library Guild
Whit Press
YES Foundation of White Center
The donate-a-thon is on until 11:59 pm tonight. While the Seattle Foundation is not offering a “stretch pool” this year – as explained in its FAQ for donors – it’s offering other incentives.
P.S. If we missed a local organization – please e-mail us, including your GiveBIG link, and we’ll add!
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