Jordan Taylor writes:

We at Calvary Wallingford Church would like to introduce ourselves to you. We are a church of 50+ people who desire active interaction within the Wallingford community on both a practical and spiritual level. [...]

This holiday season our church is putting on a Christmas Concert at the Good Shepherd Center. We invite the neighborhood to join us for a night of festive singing and reflection of the Christmas Holiday.  Join us for a joyful celebration of peace on earth which will be fun for the whole family.

Admission is free and concert would be enjoyable for children ages 5-up. 7 pm Wednesday, December 11th at the Good Shepherd Performance Chapel.

Don’t forget, today is the last day of Scarecrow’s 25th Anniversary Sale, which includes a free rental for all customers and 50% off their used titles.

Perhaps the largest independent video store in the country, they’re feeling the effects of Netflix, iTunes and Amazon and could use your support. Stop by and say hi!

(Scarecrow is a long-time Wallyhood sponsor.)

Another month, another $2,000 for non-profits in the neighborhood, thanks to the Waste Management Think Green Recycling Challenge. You and your neighbors took part in eight outreach activities in November which earned the Friday North route* the cash award for completing the most outreach activities in November.

You may have heard about the Recycling Challenge at the Wallingford Community Council meeting, at the Meaningful Movies, or at a recycled crafts party at Mosaic. Perhaps you were one of the 200+ folks to have recycling information attached to your garbage can. Or maybe you were one of the deep green neighbors who donated newspaper bags for the cause. You all helped us meet the Challenge.

Friday North not only won the $2,000 this month, but continues to be in first place in reducing pounds of garbage per household. Take a look here for the current neighborhood standings in the Recycling Challenge.

Wallingford Community Council, sponsor of the Challenge in our neighborhood, will award the money to selected non-profits based on proposals received after the contest ends in April 2014.

So, to keep our prize-winning momentum, check out the Waste Management waste reduction tips for December. And if you recently found holiday light strings that no longer light up your life, don’t throw them in the garbage! Support the Recycling Challenge and take them here for recycling:

Maple Leaf Ace Hardware:  9000 Roosevelt Way NE  206-522-3324

Girl Scouts of Western WA:  601 Valley Street, just west of Aurora

Barb writes:

We live in Wallingford and are putting out a plea for gently used adult coats, gloves, hats, scarves and/or anything to keep folks warm in cold weather. Looking for new adult socks too. We’ll be collecting these until December 20th. Then on Saturday, 12/21, Steve and I will distribute them around to homeless folks, living on the streets, in the Seattle area. If we have anything left (and we doubt we will), we’ll drop them at the usual spot which is the office of “Real Change” in Seattle, to be given to their street vendors. In past years, we’ve taken all to Real Change but now want to try and get some coats and gloves directly on those folks that are out in the cold.

This is a great opportunity to clean/clear out gently used winter items to make room if you are expecting or giving these items for Christmas.

In the past, I’ve put out a box in my office at work to collect, but I recently change my work structure and now I’m a traveling consultant, without an office. So, now just posting where we can and asking for help. I posted on facebook last night and got a response from a lady in sunny California who is sending a box to us!

It’s not a charity, so no tax deduction, but come on, that’s not why you’re donating right? Barb says to call if you have any questions. She can be reached at 425-344-5383 or bparnell3@comcast.net and is happy to pick up if needed.

Apropos of nothing, it’s suppposed to drop to 23° tonight and snow on Monday.

(Photo by André Kongevold)

“Something sad has happened,” I told my five-year-old son yesterday morning.

I hiked him up on my lap, he leaned into my chest, and we spent the next hour slowly tapping through the New York Times’ photo essay on Nelson Mandela on my iPad.

As I’ve mentioned, we named our boy, Zevin Rolihlahla Schwartz, after Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in the hopes that Mandela’s legacy might inspire and guide him. Rolihlahla was the name given Mandela at birth and means “tree shaker” or “he who bends the branch” in Xhosa. And so, our house felt Mandela’s death more so than we might have otherwise.

There’s lots of room for debate between the “Great Man Theory” of history versus the notion that the general course and trajectory of culture is guided by inevitable sequences and diffuse causes. But when you look across the many, many nations in the world riven and decimated by civil war, it’s hard to imagine how the relative peaceful transfer of power in South Africa could have been achieved without the singular influence of Mandela. A nation of millions saved from bloody massacre by one man’s studied dedication to justice.

How do you explain apartheid to a five year old? How do you explain non-violent resistance? How do you explain 25 years in prison?

We looked at the pictures, and read the stories that went with them, and I answered his questions as best I could. It’s a day I hope he’ll remember when he’s older, and always.

The world is less one great man today, but I believe that the greatest contribution anyone can make is to inspire those who come after them. His greatness lives on in all those who aspire to live by his example.

Let’s shake some trees.

Steven from Wally Pets (4411 Wallingford Ave N) writes:

Santa will be at Wally Pets on Sunday, December 8th for free photos of your four pawed buds with Mr Claus and a stocking stuffer full of treats to boot 11 am to 4 pm.

This will be a memory your pet will treasure forever.

(Photo by KatieBread)

Continuing the parade of options for interesting holiday shopping in the ‘hood, Om Culture (2210 Pacific Ave) will be hosting the Bizarre Bazaar this Sunday from 1 – 5:30 pm, and featuring the work of 26 local artists and artisans.