Lake City Neighborhood Service Center
Email Newsletter – June 2003 (issue #5)

 

Contents at a Glance:

Community Calendar

 

Community Items

Thornton Creek Garden Tour  on June 7

Small Sparkers to Convene in Lake City on June 21

Race Relations/Social Justice Project Applications Due On July 3

Sign Up for Free Street Trees

Lake City Summer Festival Looking for Volunteers

Kris Effertz, Business/Non-Profit Advocate and Community Resource

Want a Natural Drainage System in Your Neighborhood?

Energy and Home Repair Help for Low-Income Families

Would You Like to Help Clean Up Your Neighborhood?

New Bicycling and Hiking in Washington Websites

 

This electronic newsletter serves the communities of Cedar Park, Haller Lake (east of I-5), Lake City, Maple Leaf, Meadowbrook, Northgate, Olympic Hills, Pinehurst, and Victory Heights.

 

Feel free to forward this newsletter to others who may be interested.  Anyone may choose to receive it by writing me at ed.pottharst@seattle.gov .

 

I welcome comments, suggestions, and items for future issues.  Please submit any items for the July issue to ed.pottharst@seattle.gov by Tuesday, June 24.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ed Pottharst

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

North District Coordinator

12707 30th Ave. NE

Seattle, WA  98125

 

 

 

Community Calendar

 

Friends of Annie’s Playground meeting, Mon., June 2, 6:00 p.m., Meadowbrook Community Center, upstairs in the Family Center.  Topic:  new design for playground.  Bring kids; pizza provided.  Info:  Lauren Yasuda, 587-6994.

 

“Lake City and 125th”, Scottish native Jeff Wilson shows watercolors of local landmarks, month of June at Soma Café, 3010 NE 125th St., Reception:  Tues., June 3, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..  Info:  364-1835.

 

North Precinct Advisory Committee, Wed., June 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m., North Precinct,

10049 College Way N., Topic:  Seattle Police Department’s School Emphasis Team,

Info:  Jane Mensoff, 684-0799.

 

Mayor’s Youth Town Hall, Thurs., June 5, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., ACT Theatre, 700 Union St.  All youth are invited to come ask questions of Mayor Nickels in an open question & answer forum.  Info:  Seattle Youth Involvement Network, 325-7922.

 

Lake City Chamber of Commerce paint party, Sat. June 7, 9:00 a.m., Chamber office, 12345 30th Ave. NE, Suites F & G.  Call ahead:  363-3287.

 

Historic preservation workshop, Sat., June 7, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford, 4649 Sunnyside Ave., $10.  Presented by Historic Seattle and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.  Topic:  Seattle landmarks process.  Info & registration:  Becky Davis, 622-5444, ext. 234 (you can register on the workshop day).

 

Thornton Creek Garden Tour, Sat., June 7, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., start at Meadowbrook Community Center parking lot, 10515 35th Ave. NE.  View natural approaches to yard and garden maintenance; native and drought-tolerant plans for sale.  More detail in article in this newsletter.  Info:  367-4635.

 

North District Neighborhoods Stewardship Group, Mon., June 9, 7 p.m., Lake City Presbyterian Church, 3841 NE 123rd St.  Topics:  Comprehensive Plan drainage provisions; community policing issues; and follow up on NE 120th sidewalk project.  Info:  367-4635.

 

Seattle City Council public hearing on Mayor Nickels’ Northgate proposal, Tues., June 10, 6 p.m., Nathan Hale High School, 10750 30th Ave. NE.  Info:  Phyllis Shulman, 684-8805.

 

Meadowbrook Community Council, Tues., June 10, 7 p.m., Meadowbrook Comm. Center (main meeting room), 10517 35th Ave. NE.  Topics;  Maple Leaf School site; Meadowbrook athletic fields; organizational issues.  Info:  363-2206.

 

North District Council, Wed., June 11, 7 p.m., Lake City Neighborhood Service Center, City Councilmember Jim Compton on fire stations and emergency preparedness; also, rating of Meadowbrook playfield renovation project grant application.  Info:  684-7526.

 

Lake City Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Thur., June 19, noon to 1:30 p.m., Lake City Elks Club, 14540 Bothell Way NE, presentation on results of Lake City graffiti survey and information on graffiti removal, $10, RSVP:  363-3287.

 

Small Sparks Summer Celebration and Workshop, Sat., June 21, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lake City House, 12546 33rd Ave. NE, community room A.  More detail in article in this newsletter.  Info:  684-0464.

 

Seattle Department of Transportation community meeting on the Lake City Way Multi Modal Project, Tues., June 24, time and place to be determined.  Info:  Peg Nielsen, SDOT, 684-8114.

 

Lake City Farmer’s Market, second season, Thursdays through October 16, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Info:  547-2278.

 

Community Items

 

Thornton Creek Garden Tour on June 7

 

Thornton Creek Alliance extends an invitation to take a Garden Tour in the Thornton Creek Watershed on June 7th between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  We have arranged to have experts from Seattle Tilth, the Master Gardener program, Seattle Audubon, Seattle Native Plant Society and Seattle Public Utilities available with the owners of these gardens to answer your questions and demonstrate more natural approaches to yard

care and design.  Start at Meadowbrook Community Center parking lot at 10517 35th Avenue NE anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., view displays and demonstrations, purchase native and drought tolerant plants from local nurseries, and pick up a map.  Then visit two, three, or all of the gardens located between NE 73rd and NE 145th.   Some of the different types of gardens you can view are a vegetable garden, a

wildlife garden, native plants used as ornamentals, a small patio garden, reuse and retention of storm water, a creek ravine landscape, and a garden that uses the space above as well as on the ground.  Alternatives demonstrated will include plant selection, sheet mulching, native plants, drought tolerant plants, on-site composting and worm

bins, grasscycling, recycled materials, natural pest barriers and integrated pest management. They will be marked with sign-boards and volunteers will help you find a place to park.  Gardens will be closed to visitors after 3:00 pm.  For more details, contact Cheryl Klinker at 367-4635 or visit the TCA website at www.scn.org/earth/tca/index.htm.

 

Small Sparkers to Convene in Lake City on June 21

 

Save the morning of Saturday, June 21 for an exciting Small Sparks workshop in at the Lake City House in Lake City.  Small Sparks is a City program providing up to $250 for events that bring people together.  The workshop will celebrate Small Sparks projects and provide people with ideas for more projects.  Two recent Sparks events in Northeast Seattle were a kimchee festival and a community garden at a housing project.  If you would like to take this workshop, please sign up by calling 684-0464 or by emailing Thomas Whittemore at thomas.whittemore@seattle.gov .

 

Race Relations/Social Justice Project Applications Due on July 3

 

The City Department of Neighborhoods has approximately $150,000 available to fund up to ten projects that:

 

-         Improve awareness, understanding, and relations among different racial or ethnic groups and foster positive interaction between groups OR

-         Raise awareness and attempt to address issues such as equity, fairness, and access to education, health care, employment, job training, housing, public health, and the environment.

 

Submittals are due by noon on Thursday, July 3, 2003, at the Department of Neighborhoods, 700 Third Ave Suite 400, Seattle WA  98104 or at the Lake City Neighborhood Service Center.

 

Please see http://www.cityofseattle.net/neighborhoods/nmf for more information and the Request for Proposals document.  If you have any questions or ideas about possible projects in the Lake City/North District area, please contact Ed Pottharst, ed.pottharst@seattle.gov .

 

Sign Up for Free Street Trees

 

This fall, the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods will provide free trees for residential streets in Seattle.  Applications are accepted from groups of neighbors, and are due on Friday, August 22, 2003.  Each application must have at least 5 households, and the street must have a sidewalk and a 5-foot-wide planting strip. 

 

For an application or more information:  www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/treefund.htm or phone 684-0719.

 

Lake City Summer Festival Looking for Volunteers

 

This year’s Lake City Summer Festival will be on August 2, 2003, and the Lake City Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers in all areas of the festival.  Contact JoEllen Merry, 363-3287, lakecitychamber@lakecitychamber.org .

 

Kris Effertz, Business/Non-Profit Advocate and Community Resource

 

The City of Seattle now has a new advocate and community resource in the person of Kris Effertz at the City Office of Economic Development.  Ms. Effertz works with businesses (and non-profits) on a case-by-case basis to troubleshoot concerns and resolve problems, particularly ones that have been longstanding or become especially thorny.  She can be the extra push that sometimes is needed to pave the way toward a solution.  She has years of experience within City government, and has for the last several years been involved in working through the challenges of coordinating the schedules of several major construction projects in the same area.

 

Ms. Effertz would be happy to come talk to groups such as chambers of commerce and other business groups, as well as gatherings of non-profits.  Her phone is 684-2499, and her email is kris.effertz@seattle.gov .   If you have any questions about using her office as a resource, please contact Ed Pottharst at ed.pottharst@seattle.gov.

 

Want a Natural Drainage System in Your Neighborhood?

 

Seattle Public Utilities is encouraging interested neighborhoods to consider natural drainage systems.  These systems offer more ecologically sustainable means of dealing with water run-off.  Seattle Public Utilities is doing field investigations of the Pinehurst neighborhood to see if it might be a candidate for a natural drainage system.

 

Seattle Public Utilities has created a new web site with lots of detail about natural drainage systems:  http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/NaturalSystems/default.htm

 

You and your neighbors may find the web site helpful.  For more information, contact Seattle Public Utilities’ Gavin Patterson at 684-0126 or gavin.patterson@seattle.gov .

 

Energy and Home Repair Help for Low-Income Families

 

The City of Seattle Office of Housing's HomeWise program has 3% interest home improvement loans and free weatherization grants available to lower-income homeowners. To qualify, the home must be located within Seattle city limits and participants must meet certain income guidelines (under $52,000 a year for a family of four).

 

The low-interest Home Improvement Loan can be used to replace old plumbing, wiring and furnaces; replace kitchen and bath; address deferred maintenance needs; increase accessibility for disabled residents; paint or side your home; and make other qualified repairs and additions. The free weatherization grants can make your home more energy efficient, to save money and energy, and keep warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

 

To find out more about these programs or to see if you qualify, please call (206) 684-0244 or www.cityofseattle.gov/housing/HomeWise.htm .  Brochures about the program will soon be available at the Lake City Neighborhood Service Center.

 

Would You Like to Help Clean Up Your Neighborhood?

 

Seattle Public Utilities’ Adopt-A-Street program can help you to clean up litter, paint out graffiti, plant trees and flowers along roads, and much more.  We provide our volunteers with tools and supplies to spruce up their neighborhoods, along with free garbage disposal and street signs recognizing the work of our volunteers.  For more information about the Adopt-A-Street program, visit www.cityofseattle.net/util/aastreet, or call (206) 684-7647.

 

New Bicycling and Hiking in Washington Websites


The Washington State Dept. of Transportation has set up two new websites to provide easy access to route and trail map information for the entire state. The sites have resources for planning cycling and hiking trips, including bike shops, local organizations, health information, and technical assistance. Visit these sites at:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk

 

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If you would like to be removed from the mailing list for this newsletter, please contact me with your name and email address,
and I will make sure you are removed from the list.

 

Ed Pottharst

Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

North District Coordinator

12707 30th Ave. NE

Seattle, WA  98125

ed.pottharst@seattle.gov