Whittier Kids School Age Program offers before and after school childcare on site at Whittier Elementary. Through child-centered experiential learning and play, we bolster education, promote new ways of learning, and allow kids to develop social skills in a safe environment.

This Whittier Kids Substitute Teacher position is a year-round, part-time,on-call position responsible for coordinating with the Whittier Kids teaching staff in education and general supervision of children enrolled in Whittier Kids. Our program currently serves school age children in three classroom spaces at Whittier Elementary in Ballard. (1320 NW 75th Street)

Through August 2021, a Substitute Teacher may be called upon to work a 3 to 7.5 hour shift between the hours of 8:00 –5:45pm in K-1st, 2nd-3rd, or 4th-5th grade classrooms. Whittier Kids Preschool re-opens in September 2021, which will provide opportunities for working with 3 –5 year-olds. School age care for kindergarten through fifth grader will also continue. Top candidates will have experience with a range of age groups and have a flexible schedule.

You can read more about the position and how to apply here.

This is a monthly contribution to the Blog by local realtor Doron Weisbarth.

The real estate spring sale is just beginning, and the market seems to be gaining even more speed. This is evident both in our region as a whole, as well as in our Phinneywood neighborhood. The sample size for our neighborhood may be small, but don’t let some of these number fool you! While there were nearly 60% fewer new listings in March, there were also 65%more homes that received offers and went ‘pending’. That means that nearly every home out there – new or old, good or bad – is being‘devoured’ by the buyers. This is true for both single family homes (SFH) as well as condos. In fact, in some ways the condo market is more robust than the SFH market, possibly because, in real numbers, condos are still affordable.

Look for these market trends to continue into spring and probably into summer. Despite the pandemic still causing havoc in many ways – and perhaps because of the pandemic – demand is still extra strong, supply is still extra weak, and neither seem to have reason to change any time soon. Until at least one of these economic forces changes direction in any significant way, we’re gong to continue experiencing the strong sellers’ market.

Check out the entire April Report here.

Do you have boxes of receipts and sensitive documents that you’ve been wanting to get rid of in an ecological fashion? How about that old printer in the closet and box of TV cables from the 90’s? If so, your ship has come in, as you can bring is all and more to this Saturday’s Free Shredding & Electronics Recycling event at Windermere Greenwood.

Come on down on April 17th from 10:30-1:00 to the parking lot just south of the office at 311 N 85th Street to participate. Accepted Items include:

• Desktops & Monitors
• Laptops
• Printers
• Mobile Phones & Tablets
• Servers
• Cables
• Software
• Modems & Routers
• Telecom Systems
• Printers Ink & Toners
• Small Power Tools
• Auto Batteries.

Not Accepted: TV’s, DVD’s, VCR’s, Light Bulbs, and Appliances

Looking for a high-quality, play-based program for your three to five-year-old? Whittier Kids Preschool is now enrolling for the 2021-22 school year. 2021 Whittier Kids is located in Whittier Elementary School, and the weekday schooling runs from 8 am to 2 pm. Program Highlights include:

• School year program from Sept-June, 8 am-2 pm onsite at Whittier Elementary, follows the Seattle Public Schools calendar
• Our classroom is a mixed-age class of 3-5-year-olds. Children must be fully potty-trained
• Low staff to child ratio
• Schedule options are: Monday-Friday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday,  or Tuesday/Thursday
• Participant in Washington Early Achievers Program
• 2021-22 Program Info including, sample schedule, calendar and fees

The Whittier Kids Preschool program is currently closed through the end of the current school year (June 2021) as they are still providing onsite care to Elementary aged students during their remote school day. Whittier is planning to re-open their in-person preschool in September 2021 for the 2021-22 school year and will begin enrolling in early Spring 2021 off of their waitlist. If you’d like to add your child to the current waitlist, please submit a Preschool Waitlist Form by email: whittierkids@phinneycenter.org.

Tours are typically offered the 2nd Wednesday of every month, but during Covid they are not offering these regular monthly group tours. Whittier is happy to schedule individual tours to fill current openings. Please email lorie@phinneycenter.org to sign up for a tour and get more information.

2020’s Art Sale & Stroll was such a smash hit, so the Phinney Neighborhood Association decided to do another one. This neighborhood event is an opportunity for artists, crafters, and makers to display their wares for gazing and purchase, and a chance for appreciators to collect some new art, jewelry, or other handmade treasures.

Using a Google map as your guide, take a stroll or drive around PhinneyWood and visit yards on Saturday, June 12 from 12-4pm (masks and 6-feet physical distancing required). Contactless payment is highly encouraged, so get your PayPal and Venmo accounts ready. A link to the map and participating artists will be on the event website in the weeks leading up to the stroll.

Artists & makers click here to register to participate, with the deadline to sign up is Friday, June 4. The cost is $20 to be listed on the map and $50 for a space in the Phinney Center lower parking lot (limited availability – so reserve yours now).

There is a DIY tool the PNA has created to match artists without outdoor spaces with neighborhood residents with yards or driveways that would enjoy hosting them. Follow this link to access the tool and follow the directions.

The PNA would also love to have artists and makers aware of their email list for their annual Winter Festival & Crafts Fair, for which all PNW makers are invited to apply. If you’d like to get on the list to be informed of the next one (which may or may not happen virtually this year; the PNA is working on that), please email Jessie at jessieh@phinneycenter.org.

The Greenwood Senior Center is hosting an online Medical Marijuana and Seniors Talk this Monday, April 12. Dr. Katrina Iiams-Hauser will discuss medicinal uses for marijuana, with an emphasis on senior care. Get your questions answered about how marijuana relates to a variety of ailments, therapy methods, interactions and whether it is a good fit for you.

Dr. Iiams-Hauser is a Washington-licensed naturopathic physician and graduate of Bastyr University. Her interest in the healing power of nature was established in the lab, where she researched the immunological effects of medicinal plants. She practices in Fife, WA at Qwibil, a specialty, medical cannabis-focused clinic owned by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

Medical Marijuana and Seniors Talk
Monday April 12, 1 – 2pm
RSVP: arielb@phinneycenter.org

Yonder Cider, which has had quite a couple months in briefly closing and then re-opening their neighborhood bar, has created a fun collaboration with Phinneywood and Ken’s Market.

Per Ken’s: We are very excited to announce our collaboration cider with Yonder Cider! Named for the beloved neighborhood that we both call home “Phinneywood”. This cider features bright lemon and a hint of strawberry with subtle notes of basil creating a cider that tastes just as bright and sunny as spring! Come by and grab some while supplies last.

Per Yonder: Named after our two neighborhoods, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood, Phinneywood is a dedication to this amazing place we call home. Ken’s Market, located just four blocks from Yonder Bar, has been our top account and biggest supporter from the very beginning. We can’t thank them and our Phinneywood neighbors enough for their ongoing support of @yondercider. Pick up your four-pack at any location while supplies last!

Calling all new PhinneyWood pets!

Did you welcome a new furry, feathered, or scaly friend into your home in the past year? Do you live in Phinney Ridge or Greenwood? The folks at our partner publication, The Review newspaper, would love to hear from you! They are writing an article about PhinneyWood pets who were adopted or acquired during the pandemic, and they would love for you to take a 5-minute survey about your new family member. There’s even an option to upload a photo of your pet, which mean you could see your new pal in print!

If you’d like to help out, please go to https://bit.ly/pw-pets to take the survey by Thursday, April 15.

Look for the article in the summer issue of The Review, which will be out the first week of June (watch your snail mail if you live in the neighborhood, your email if you subscribe, PNA’s social media, and website).