Category Archives: Volunteering and Giving

Local Events, Meetings, Volunteering and Giving

Today and this week: Events on Beacon Hill

Don’t forget to keep your eye on the BHB Events page to see what’s coming up on the Hill. We’d like to draw your attention to a few of this week’s events listed there.

Tonight is El Centro de la Raza’s Día de los Muertos Opening Ceremony. This year’s theme is “A Tribute to Las Adelitas: Revolutionary Women of Strength and Courage.” Dinner is served at 5:30 pm, and the reception ceremony begins at 6:30. Admission and food are free. The Ofrenda exhibit will continue from November 2 through November 19, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on Wednesday from noon to 8:00 pm. El Centro is located at 2524 16th Avenue South.

At 6:00 pm tonight, Asa Mercer Middle School is hosting a School Superintendent Coffee Chat, one of a series of chats with Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, open to all parents, grandparents and caregivers of Seattle Public Schools students. Mercer is located at 1600 South Columbian Way.

Splinter Dance Company performed at Beacon Rocks! this summer, an event organized by Beacon Hill Music. Photo by Erika Warner-Court in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Then at 7:00 pm, Beacon Hill Music is holding an organizing meeting. They say “There are a lot of possibilities for music on Beacon Hill, including the brand new Jefferson Park with a beautiful amphitheater just waiting for musicians, possibly a beat walk, possibly almost anything. During the next few months Beacon Hill Music will need to pick what opportunities to pursue and determine the steps to turn those ideas into actual events. We are asking you to join in and make stuff happen on Beacon Hill.” The meeting is at 2900 22nd Avenue South (the green house on the corner of 22nd and Forest). For more information email beaconrocks@gmail.com or call Paul at 206-658-3622.

Later this week the monthly Café con El Centro returns on Thursday morning, November 4, from 8:00 – 9:00 am. Meet at El Centro for café, pan dulce, and a tour of the El Centro building and programs to learn more about the “Beloved Community.” RSVP by calling 206-957-4652, or email donor@elcentrodelaraza.org.

On Thursday evening at 5:00 pm, there is an Art in International Education fundraising event at Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison Street (Seattle Center), for Beacon Hill International School and the four other International Schools in the city. The event will feature silent and live auctions, as well as a dinner prepared by chef Kaspar Donier. Tickets start at $35; for more information, contact Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org or 206-252-0476.

Also Thursday night is North Beacon Hill Council‘s monthly meeting at the Beacon Hill Library. Watch this blog for the agenda when we have it.

The Beacon Hill Merchants group will meet on Friday morning, November 5, at 10:00 am at Inay’s, 2503 Beacon Avenue South. The group reports:

“At our last meeting we approved our bylaws, and as we approach the end of the year we must complete the work that is being paid for by our city grant. One large part of this is being primarily done by our graphic designer Nityia Przewlocki, as she finishes the logo design we’ll continue with the development of a brochure with a walking map, and then a website as well. Another portion of our grant is going for board development and training, and our board trainer Angela Powell should be attending this meeting. While we do have the minimum of five committed potential board members, having seven (or more!) would put us in a stronger position, so please step forward if you think could bring skills or resources to the table and help the Beacon Hill business community. The bylaws and some of the bios are up on the Google group site here. Anyone can join the Google group right now and we encourage members to do just that.”

Friday night the musical group Don’t Ask plays at Tasha’s Bistro Café, 2524 Beacon Avenue South, at 7:30 pm. Families are welcome. There is no cover charge.

Finally, Saturday is the Fifth Annual Green Seattle Day. Three forest restoration sites on the Hill will be hosting work parties that day from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: Lewis Park, Cheasty Greenspace, and the Maple School Ravine. Register at the greenseattle.org website.

Volunteering and Giving

Your new baby can help kids at BHIS

Neighbor Shelly Bates sent us a plea from Beacon Hill International School. Are you the parent of a new baby? Then read on for a way to help the kids at BHIS by being part of the Roots of Empathy program:

Are you a proud parent with a new baby?

Will your baby be 2-4 months old in October?

You and your baby could be a “Roots of Empathy Family”!

“Roots of Empathy” is a program that we are using for the 3rd year at BHIS. This year it will be in the 3rd grade.

The program’s aim is to increase a child’s ability to understand another person’s feelings (increasing empathy). This helps children learn to care and respect each other and contributes to less bullying and aggression.

What does a Roots of Empathy Family do?

  • A mother and/or father visits a classroom about 30-40 minutes each month until June (9 times).
  • The program helps children to learn about a baby’s needs and how babies develop. It lets children observe the loving relationship between a parent and baby.
  • Roots of Empathy families are volunteers.
  • The instructor will explain to parents what the class will be talking about each month and will lead all the lessons.
  • Parents are asked to talk about the baby and answer any questions the students may have.
  • Families are asked to make a commitment for the whole school year.
  • Only a parent can bring their baby to a classroom visit.

For more information, contact Markos Weiss, BHIS counselor, at 206-252-2702. You can also find out more about the Roots of Empathy program here and here. Here is a set of photos of the parents and babies in the program in 2009.

Clean and Green, Getting Around, Meetings, Volunteering and Giving

Beacon BIKES! update

2 Comments
Photo by Two Ladies & Two Cats.
Ryan Harrison sent this announcement with information and an invitation from Beacon BIKES!:

As many of you know, there is a growing movement among Beacon Hill residents interested in safely getting people of all ages and abilities around and to destinations within our neighborhood on foot and bicycle.  This propelled Beacon BIKES!, a growing group of community members, to obtain the knowledge and expertise of a consultant to bring our collective vision to fruition.  (Links available describing some of our ideas can be found on the September 3rd posting on this blog.)

Friday, we chose Alta Planning + Design as our consultant from among three enthusiastic applicants.  Beacon BIKES! believes that pedestrians and cyclists encounter similar obstacles in getting around our neighborhood and that facilities that address both modes make the most sense.  This philosophy is in line with Alta’s belief in “integrating all modes of travel (including walking and bicycling) into the daily lives of residents and creating healthy, safe, and sustainable communities.”  Most importantly, they offer an interactive approach geared to keeping the neighborhood informed and involved throughout the process.

All this is great news, but in order for this to work, we’ll need anyone and everyone to chime in at our monthly Beacon BIKES! meetings to make this a uniquely Beacon Hill plan. The next meeting will be held at the community room of the Library at 6:30 PM on Monday, September 13th.  SDOT representatives will be in attendance, so the more Beaconites there, the more seriously our work will be taken.  If you’re not involved already, you will want to be after this meeting!

In addition, there will be opportunities to participate through community forums, walks and other interactive outings to make this circulation plan for us and by us.

As always, you can prepare for the next Beacon BIKES! Family Bike and Pedestrian Circulation Plan meeting by visiting our Facebook page: Beacon BIKES!

You may also contact Sandra Woods or Brian Dougherty of SDOT and our City Council members to let them know you are a participant in and support our Family Bike and Pedestrian Circulation Plan.

Be sure to check back to the blog for updates.  We hope to see many of you at the meeting.

Thanks Beacon Hill!

Volunteering and Giving

KCIA, TAF seek community volunteers

King County International Airport (the one we usually call Boeing Field) is accepting applications from community members to fill the role of a “community representative living in the Beacon Hill/Rainier Valley neighborhood” on the King County International Airport Roundtable.

The Roundtable acts a bridge between King County government officials, Airport management, aviation organizations and businesses, and the communities such as Beacon Hill which surround the airport. Find out more about the Airport Roundtable at the King County website.

The position is a volunteer, unpaid position, appointed by the King County Executive and the King County Council. Terms are three years in length, with a two-term maximum. Please contact Leslie Barstow at 206-296-7431 for an application or additional information.

Another organization currently seeking volunteers is the Technology Access Foundation, located on Rainier Avenue South. Their mission is “to prepare underserved children of color for higher education and professional success by providing a rigorous and relevant K-12 curriculum.”

TAF tells us,

We are currently accepting applications for classroom assistants for our TechStart afterschool program. Volunteers support the teacher by answering questions, keeping students on task and determining which students need extra support in the areas of Science, Technology, math and reading. TechStart is a free after-school academic enrichment program that uses technology to improve math, science and language literacy for students in grades K-9. TechStart students use technology tools in project-based learning experiences. While working on their projects, students gain valuable computer knowledge and communication skills, as well as other essential life skills such as time management, teamwork, fulfilling goals, and presenting information to audiences.

This opportunity is great experience for those seeking a career in teaching. Also this position is ideal for volunteers who enjoy working with younger children, are passionate about technology, and are looking to be part of a dynamic and diverse learning community.

They have other volunteer opportunities as well. See their website for further information.

Education, Volunteering and Giving

Clearwire volunteers brighten up Mercer Middle School

Volunteers busy painting a mural. Photo courtesy of Clearwire.
Last week over 100 Clearwire employees participated in a volunteer project at Asa Mercer Middle School. They painted a mural and some walls of the portable classrooms, built benches and planters, planted flowers, and put together new backpacks with donated school supplies—one for each of Mercer’s 850 students. Clearwire also donated 34 Lenovo laptop computers for Mercer’s new mobile computer lab.

The project was part of Clearwire’s service program, “Connecting with Communities.” Thanks to Clearwire for volunteering on Beacon Hill and helping the kids in our community!

Volunteering and Giving

How you can help neighbors who lost everything in yesterday’s fire

1 Comment

The Urrea family, whose 17th Avenue South rental house burned down on Wednesday morning, lost everything they had in the flames including their clothes and their savings. KOMONews.com has a follow-up article that discusses the family’s circumstances, and mentions that you can help the Urreas by donating to the Problem Solvers’ Fund or to a fund at Chase Bank. When you give, please note that your donation is for the Alexandra Urrea family.

More information about yesterday’s fire:

Volunteering and Giving

You can help Beacon Hill rock

Jessie McKenna of ROCKiT space and Beacon Hill Music, at the first Beacon Rocks! show on June 13. Photo by Julia Cheng in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Paul Ray of Beacon Hill Music writes, “Now that we’ve had our first successful Beacon Rocks! event, we are ready to fine tune things for the July 11th event and those to follow. Beacon Hill Music could use some help to build on what we’ve started.” Anyone who is interested in helping out with the Beacon Rocks! music series is invited to the organizational meeting tonight at 5:30 pm at The Station coffee house, 2533 16th Avenue South (just north of Beacon Hill Station and across from El Centro). If you can’t make it tonight, email beaconrocks@gmail.com to find out about other ways you can help the event.

Clean and Green, Volunteering and Giving

Lewis Park continues to improve

Flowers blooming in Lewis Park last year. Photo by Wendi.
Dee Dunbar and Vinh Nguyen sent along some information about recent activities in Lewis Park at the north tip of Beacon Hill:

Hi Everyone,

Here is an update of activities at Lewis Park:

The Lewis Park Steering Committee applied for, and was awarded a Department of Neighborhoods Small and Simple Neighborhood Matching Grant to hire a geotechnical firm to do an analysis of the steep slope areas in Lewis Park. The North Beacon Hill Council served as Fiscal Sponsor for the grant. Geotechnical firms were researched and a Request for Qualifications was prepared and submitted. A committee was formed to review proposals and select the best-qualified firm. A contract was signed with Terra Associates, Inc. who performed the geological study. The study included a visual site reconnaissance, on-site exploration, and review of all available geologic documentation. The study concluded the steep slope areas of Lewis Park are stable enough to perform site activities associated with native plant restoration, however, it cautioned that erosion-control measures be conducted concurrently with the restoration. Parks and Recreation reviewed the report and will incorporate the results in restoration plans for Lewis Park. Please let us know if you would like an electronic copy of the full report.

In addition to the geological study, the DON grant also paid for several crew days from Earthcorps and the King County Corrections Work Program. These crews worked in areas to support and supplement the volunteer activity occurring on the level areas of Lewis Park.. During the grant period, volunteers contributed over 1,400 hours at Lewis Park. These volunteers planted 1,124 native shrubs, groundcover and trees, and maintained the newly restored areas by watering, weeding, and applying erosion control and mulch. Volunteers continue to restore the more level areas of Lewis Park each Sunday from February through November. Gloves, tools, water and light snacks are provided and volunteers can participate any time between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm for as long as they want. Kids are welcome!

Friends of Lewis Park want to thank all the volunteers and community support that has made this spot on North Beacon Hill a much safer and beautiful place. We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the restored areas of Lewis Park and are excited about the future when all 4.5 acres will be restored back to a Natural Area for our community to enjoy a peaceful urban forest of native plants and wildlife.

Dee and Vinh
Lewis Park Forest Stewards

Lewis Park is located at 1120 15th Avenue South, near the Amazon/PacMed building.

Volunteering and Giving

Work party Saturday to spruce up Maple School Natural Area

Environmental Outreach and Stewardship (EOS) Alliance members and other volunteers will be working together at a community work party at the Maple School Natural Area this Saturday, June 19, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

According to the EOS website, the “plan of action will be mulching around native plants that were planted this past winter and doing some quality control by removing invasive plants such as English Ivy and Himalayan Blackberry. EOS Alliance team members will also be offering information on the natural history of the area and about habitat restoration efforts in Seattle. Gloves, tools and refreshments will be provided. Just bring yourselves and a reusable cup for refreshments, and get ready to get in touch with nature!”

To join the work party on Saturday morning, meet at 20th Avenue South and South Lucile Street, at the top of the stairs, at 10:00 am. Please RSVP to Ben Kantner at bkantner@eosalliance.org. Don’t forget to dress for the weather and for nature, and bring a reusable cup for refreshments.

Uncategorized, Volunteering and Giving

Park and P-Patch volunteers needed Saturday

Beacon Bluff P-Patch. Photo by Melissa Jonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Your volunteer labor is needed to help at a couple of work parties at Dr. Jose Rizal Park and the Beacon Bluff P-Patch on Saturday, June 12.

Craig Thompson writes to tell us that The Filipino-American Association of CPAs will have a work party in Rizal Park on Saturday at 9:00 am. They will be working in the upper area of the park. Neighbors are welcome to pitch in.

Neighbors are also welcome to help at 10:00 am or so on the same day, when volunteers will create a new planting bed at the nearby Beacon Bluff P-Patch. The P-Patch is located at South Massachusetts between 14th and 15th Avenues South.