09/07/04

The Roosevelt Neighbors' Alliance
Community E-nouncements

"The RNA Neighborhood"

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The Roosevelt Neighbors’ Alliance's (RNA) mission is to advocate for and inform the community within the RNA boundaries. This is a community-based alliance of residents, local businesses and institutions whose aim is to preserve and enhance the quality of life and to help shape the future of the neighborhood.


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Announcements for September 7, 2004

1. RNA's Board Meeting Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 8th

2. Master Use Permit: Project 2405728, 5521 12th Ave NE – Short Subdivision in Single Family Zone

3. Landmark Fence Update - Soon Out to Bid!

4. Use Those Foundation Stone Brochures! Send in your donation SOON!

5. Northeast Seattle To Be Featured In History House's Neighborhood Community Focus Series -
Participants Sought.

6. ARSON WATCH - How You Can Help & Steps You Can Take


Scroll down for details & More (Items 7- 9)


Note: You may receive additional RNA email this month.

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Notice: New in 2004, RNA considers all within our boundaries as non-paying, non-voting "Neighborhood members". To be a voting member, please scroll down to item # 6. Everyone is welcome to our meetings and events! We encourage your involvement!

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1. RNA's August Board Meeting is Tomorrow, September 8th

The second Wednesday of September, not the typical first.

When: Wednesday, September 8th
Time: 7 - 9 PM
Where: YMCA Child Care Room, at 12th Ave NE and NE 50th

Agenda:
Park update
Proposal to increase neighborhood involvement via web
A discussion of Mayor's land use proposals - trading of increased building height for affordable units.
Master Use Permit: Project 2405728, 5521 12th Ave NE – Short Subdivision of Single Family Zoned lot.

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2. Master Use Permit: Project 2405728, 5521 12th Ave NE – Short Subdivision in Single Family Zone

The RNA has a new land use "development" on its radar. There is a proposal in to the Department of Planning and Design (DPD) to subdivide a single family zoned lot on 12th Ave NE. The existing 4,400 sq ft lot would be split into two parcels; one is proposed to be 1,047 sq ft and the second 3,373 sq ft. The comment notice is on the DPD website here: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/notices/gmr/2004-08-19.asp#2405728

Some neighbors are concerned about splitting parcels in the few single family zoned pockets remaining in the U-District, and are encouraging
residents to send public comments in to the DPD before the extended September 15th deadline for this project. If you are interested in learning more about this, you can contact Paul Willard at 729-0400 or paulewillard@yahoo.com.

If you are interested in sending in comments, you might like to read the DPD's suggestions regarding comments here:
http://www.seattle.gov/dclu/publications/landusenotices.htm

Then mail or fax your comment letters regarding Project # 2405728,
5521 12th Ave NE – Short Subdivision, to:
Department of Planning and Development
ATTN: Christopher Ndifon, Planner
700 5TH Ave, Ste 2000
PO Box 34019
Seattle, Washington 98124-4019
FAX (206) 233-7901

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3. Landmark Fence Update - Soon Out to Bid!


We are going to bid! We are in the last stages of finalizing the specifications manual through Parks Department review and anticipating placing the ad very soon. Through the Spring and Summer, Daniel Winterbottom, RNA's project manager (and landscape designer of the project), has worked with Nancy Bocek and Mary Hausladen, University Playground Park Committee Co-Chairs, to prepare the specifications and plans for Parks Department approval. The committee had great hopes that the Landmark Fence Project would have been out to bid several weeks ago, however, a hitch has been getting the specifications and plans through final review at the Parks Department. This review is to our benefit and helps avoid problems with the contracting and construction. Park's final approval is required before we can advertise for bids.


Here are the "going out to bid" logistics:

> We will get a Parks Department official signature and stamp on the plans and specifications before placing the ad in the Daily Journal of Commerce for a two week period.

> There is a 14 - 17 day "sealed" bid cycle including a walk-through at the park and a public bid opening.

> The bids are to be handed in and the bids opened at the YMCA, who are generous in their participation. (Thank you, Y!)

> Upon opening of the sealed bids, we will take the lowest bidder (by City requirement) of the bid option we can afford and check out the contractor's credentials before an award is granted. After this process, RNA will move into the final stages to prepare for contruction:

> RNA has taken on several part of the project and expenses to help to reduce the over all project cost. These are the purchase of the stone, the demolition and debris removal and rental and set up of the safety fencing.
Explanation:
~ Seattle Conservation Corp will be doing the demolition and debris removal as part of a Federal Block grant budget, so RNA will be responsible for procuring the safety fencing rental and (possibly) for setting it up with volunteer help.
~ Lakeview Stone is donating Lightening Creek river rock from Idaho for 20% less contractor's price. Therefore, we will purchase and pay for delivery of the stone. (Thank you, Lakeview Stone!)
~ RNA will provide the Foundation Stones to the contractor and delivery/pickup of stone to Mammoth Stoneworks, the engraver, and painting the lettering.
~ Other RNA budget items include the project manager, Artifacts artworks, copying and postage, etc.

Other news:

> If you know of a contractor that might be interested in bidding, please send their name, address and phone # so that they can be notified that we're out to bid. (reply to this email)

> There are now three construction options based upon advice given by the Parks Department engineer. They are structured as "Additives".

> The "Base Bid" must be, by law, the option we can afford. ~ The Base Bid is to be the main gateway with 6 river rock piers, two lanterns, 2' low wall with river rock veneer between piers & 4' fence panels and electrical connections. If there is money available we'll increase the fence panel height to 6' at gateway.

> The adjusted estimates based on Parks Department figures are:
Base Bid: $ 52,310.08 ~ outlined above.
Additive #1: $128,590.13 ~ Additive 1 includes the Base Bid (gateway) and additional piers on 50th Street with 6' fence panels and no 2' high wall between the piers.
Additive #2: $131,417.41 ~ Additive 2 includes the Base Bid (gateway) and additional piers on 50th St with 4' fence panels above a 2' high wall with no stone veneer (to be added in a later phase if community desires to do so).

> Tracy Hager and Bill Woods have completed the Artifacts and they look fantastic!! Tracy will create an organization for the pieces for each river rock pier for the contractor to follow. We are very excited to see the final product!

> The Foundation Stone fundraiser is still ongoing, but we need to collect any and all contributions ASAP in order to know how much money we have in the bank for selecting the appropriate bid option.

> If the bids come in low enough, a few extra $1000's could mean the difference between the Base bid and Additive #2! Ideas?

> Let us know if you are able to help with getting the stones for the engraving to and from Mammoth Stoneworks and/or have a truck we can borrow. We will have approximately 60 stones. This should happen during this month.

Nancy Bocek and Mary Hausladen
University Playground Park Committee

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4. Use Those Foundation Stone Brochures!

If you have been intending to send your donation in, please do so now so that we know the dollar amount we can afford for awarding one of the three bid options.

We are getting down to the wire for the Landmark Fence Project at University Playground Park. The Foundation Stones are due to be engraved September. So, please use those brochures that came with your last newsletter, or contact Nancy for one. Learn about the project on www.scn.org/rna .

Your contribution to the “Foundation Stone” fundraiser is needed soon!

~ Join those dedicated to preserving and enhancing our neighborhood.
~ Take time to support your organization and its goals.
~ Make your donation to the Landmark Fence Project.
~ Contact Nancy for a brochure at 632-7760 or at nancybocek@att.net.

Your contribution will place a personalized, engraved natural river rocks into the fence, to be enjoyed and explored for years to come. The RNA is a 501(c)(3) corporation and contributions are tax-deductible.

Thank YOU!

Foundation Stones Messages:

HOMER, VERA, PAUL & TOM SOULES
LIVED WORKED SAVED & INVESTED
IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
SINCE 1912


COUNCILMEMBER
RICHARD CONLIN


Drawing of A Heart with “PETEY" written inside

Drawing of a Bee in a tutu dancing on a flower

Thank you to all contributors for supporting this community park project!


Major contributors to date are Lakeview Stone, SAFECO Insurance, Starbucks Coffee Company, The Seattle Foundation, Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust "B", King County Special Program Grants (through King County Councilmember Cynthia Sullivan), Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods, University Child Development School and UCDS Parent Association, plus many other contributors and volunteers.


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5. Northeast Seattle To Be Featured In History House's Neighborhood Community Focus Series

Seattle Neighborhood Community Focus: Northeast Seattle

History House of Greater Seattle is looking for participants from Northeast Seattle neighborhoods to share their rich and textured history with the city's community-at-large. For more information, contact History House Project Manager John Nordstrand at 206 675-8875, email hhouse@scn.org or mail to: 790 N 34th St, Seattle, WA. Additional information will also be found on our website www.historyhouse.org.

November 6th, 2004 through January 30th, 2005. Wed-Sun from Noon to 5pm
At History House of Greater Seattle

History House of Greater Seattle is pleased to announce that the neighborhoods of Northeast Seattle will be the next in a series of communities whose history will be extensively explored in our Neighborhood Community Focus Program. We hope the neighborhoods of Lake City, Belvedere Terrace, Cedar Park, Hawthorne Hills, Matthews Beach, Meadowbrook, Olympic Hills, Victory Heights, Bryant, Laurelhurst, Ravenna, Roosevelt, Sand Point, View Ridge, Wedgwood, Inverness, Windermere and the University District will all be represented.

Previous participants include the Central Area, North Central Seattle and Southwest Seattle, our current exhibit. We have had from 30 to 50+ participants for these exhibitions.

This is a collaborative effort. History House, located in Fremont, intends to bring together a mixture of Northeast Seattle participants representing neighborhood individuals or business, church, school and community organizations. They will assemble and present their individual stories for an exhibit in the warm, family atmosphere of the Neighborhood Hall at History House. Northeast Seattle's contributions to the city in categories such as art, music, sports and politics should be included. Captioned photos, electronic slide shows, and vhs and dvd video presentations are all possible methods of presentation.

To launch this three-month exhibition, an Open House is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th from 2pm to 4pm with a short ceremony at 2:30pm. The program will include a brief history of Northeast Seattle, an introduction of the displays, recognition of participating groups and individuals, refreshments and live music. The event will be open to the public and free of charge.

Northeast Seattle we need your help. Representatives from History House are available to help guide you through the process of telling YOUR story YOUR way. We have a participant's packet that includes lots of ideas and information about creating a display. Please contact us so we can get started on the fun and satisfying experience of telling Northeast Seattle's story.

History House of Greater Seattle is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. It is supported by the Burke Foundation, Grants from the City of Seattle and King County and tax-deductible donations from the public.

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6. ARSON WATCH

How You Can Help & Steps You Can Take

An arson has occurred in our community. The Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department are actively investigating the crime. Please report any information you believe may be related to arson on the ARSON ALARM HOTLINE at 1-800-55-ARSON. A reward may be provided for information resulting in an arson conviction. Persons providing information may remain anonymous. If you see any suspicious activity taking place, please call 911 immediately.

Arson is a crime that can happen at any time, any day of the year. Individuals can make a difference in protecting their home or business. The Seattle Fire Department urges you to take the following steps.


OUTSIDE
Lock doors and windows of your home and garage. Clear carport areas of anything that could fuel a fire. Clean up wastepaper, long grass, weeds, litter, or anything that can burn from around buildings. Do not allow dumpsters to become overfilled. Arrange for additional dumpsters or take refuse to transfer stations, if required. Locate commercial dumpsters and recycling bins at least five feet away from combustible walls and openings of roof eave lines. Use only metal or metal lined receptacles. Place locks on commercial dumpsters, if possible. Trim shrubbery away from doors and windows to improve visibility. Leave your indoor and outdoor lighting on during hours of darkness. Consider installing devices that automatically turn on outdoor lights when they sense darkness or movement outside the home.


INSIDE
Test your smoke detectors once a month to make sure they will work in a fire. Plan and practice a home fire drill. Make a map showing two exits from every room. Obtain an escape ladder for bedrooms located on the second floor. Make sure windows and screens can be opened easily from the inside if needed for escape.

For Fire Safety Information Public Education Office
206-386-1337
www.cityofseattle.gov/fire

Seattle Fire Department Fire Prevention Division, 220 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104 www.cityofseattle.net/fire

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More:

7. Yes, Join!
8. Websites
9. The 2004 RNA Organization


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7. Yes, Join!

The RNA's name says it all - we're an "alliance" of neighbors, grass roots and community lead. RNA is as strong as its membership, so help us achieve our goals by being an active member: come to our meetings and take part in making positive changes to improve our community.

RNA isn't about money, everyone in our community matters. But dues-paying members are the ones that are tallied as RNA "members", which is important for validating our organization to the city, other organizations and grant makers. Due-paying members get the newsletter out, pay for stamps, support RNA organizational expenses.

Dues range from a welcomed $10 to a more generous contribution of $30 (or more).

To join: Send in the membership form!
To renew: Are you current? Please check your last/next newsletter mailing label for the due date!

Its easy....

1. Print this email and clip the form. Or copy and paste onto a document.
(To print this email message and avoid printing entire message - on the print menu select one of the pages! I.e. # 2 out of 1 - 4. "Print preview"shows the page organization, if you have that option.)

2. Mail to:

The Roosevelt Neighbors’ Alliance
C/o University Neighborhood Service Center
4534 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105

Or, log on to RNA's on-line membership form:http://www.scn.org/rna/forms/mem_form.htm

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RNA 2004 Membership Form

Please print and mail your membership today - Don’t Delay!

Name _______________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________

City __________________________________________________________________ Zip ___________________

Phone ______________________________________ E-mail _______________________________________

"I would like to join the Roosevelt Neighbors’ Alliance with a one year, tax-deductible membership":

Single $25 ____ Family $30 ____ Limited Inc. $10 ____ Contributing $50 ____ Business $50____ Benefactor $100 ____

Volunteers are crucial to the vitality of our organization - so please say "Yes, I would like to volunteer some of my time to help RNA serve our neighborhood!":

Mailings _________ Special Projects ________ Telephone _______ Short Duration Tasks_______

"I would like to donate additional funds towards":
University Playground Park Fund and the Landmark Fence project (artwork fence, new perimeter fence, ball field and tennis court improvements). Please inform us if your employer will match your donation.
Land use - Your direct support will assist us in our endeavors towards a livable community.
(Please write the dollar amount and "Park Fund" or "Land Use Fund" in memo - Otherwise donation will go into the 'general fund'.)

Membership forms are also in all RNA newsletters. Newsletters can be found at the University Branch Library, University Neighborhood Service Center, University Heights Center for the Community and the University Family YMCA. Or newsletters are available by mail; for these please reply to this message, call Nancy Bocek 632-7760, or write Nancy Bocek 5011 9th Ave NE, 98105. Newsletters are provided with your membership.


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8. Websites

Visit RNA's website: http://www.scn.org/rna

Website for Northeast Seattle calendar and news: Northeast Seattle is a web source for community news, events and information. http://www.northeastseattle.com/home.htm

Maple Leaf Neighborhood bulletin board: http://www.MapleLeafNeighborhood.org

Daylighting Ravenna Creek in Cowen Park:
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/proparks/projects/RavennaCreekatCowen.htm

City Council Website http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/council This is a link to the City Council homepage through which you can visit each individual councilmember's site. You can also choose to go to the mayor's, which is hyperlinked to the above web site.

Citywide Directory http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/directory/ This is a great resource for looking up city employees, departments and services.

Access Washington http://access.wa.gov/ State government and services information and links.

Metropolitan King County Council homepage http://www.metrokc.gov/mkcc/members/members.htm Links and information for King County Council.
Panorama showing 95 years of change in our beautiful city: http://www.kokogiak.com/projects/seawft/reveal_3a.html .

One especially good site is History Link: http://www.historylink.org/ This site is great for student research. It includes very good short "Magic Lantern Tours" (several by Paul Dorpat) and a personal file for keeping essays, images, links and notes.

Historic Seattle: Historic Seattle, founded in 1974, is the only city-wide nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of Seattle's architectural legacy. www.historicseattle.org

A great resource is the Seattle Times "150 Years: Seattle By and By"/"Seattle Through the Years" from November 13, 2001: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/local/seattle_history/articles/timeline.html . This site has good links to other history sites as well. You can spend hours looking through them. (As I have!)

Another Seattle Times resource of Census 2000 data in "Your Neighborhood": I especially like the maps showing income distribution, growth and population density. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/census2000/yncharts/nw/map/newzip_dbf61_m10000.html

More details on the Census 2000 can be researched at: http://www.census.gov/main/www/cen2000.html

Powers of Ten View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Just to get a more universal perspective! http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

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9. The 2004 RNA Organization

Officers:
Karen Schmidt, President
Nancy Bocek, Vice President
Tina Roush, Treasurer
Angela Storey*, Secretary

Members-at-Large:
Susan Coleman
Carmen Cook*
Mark Gardner
Mary Hausladen
Paul Willard*

*New to the Board in 2004

Also:

Arn Slettebak, Daylighting Ravenna Creek Representative
Eric Larson, CUCAC Representative, Land Use Advisor
Mary Hausladen, University Playground Park Committee Co-Chair
Mark Gardner, Land Use Committee
Nancy Bocek, Newsletter editor and University Playground Park Committee Co-Chair
Phillip Thiel, Land Use Advisor
Susan Coleman, NEDC Representative, Ave Group and U-D Arts and Heritage Committee Representative
Kate Campbell, NEDC Alternate Representative
Paul Willard, UDCC representative (and Board member)

Many other volunteers have given much appreciated help in 2003-4 to deliver newsletters and leaflets, help produce the newsletter and website, volunteered to do project outreach, decision-making and more :

(Including) Mark Bocek, Lyla Ciardi, Carmen Cook, Bartley Dobb, Sharon Dunn, Betsy Friedland, Darcey Harding, Ylva Hernlund, Tracy Hager, Catherine Hinrichsen, Joan Horn, Patricia and Patrick Keenan, Jennifer Kuhn, Sarah Larson (and friends), Susan MacKenzie, Bob Martin, Nick DiMartino, Valerie Mehring, Jennifer Peterson, Bill Purdy, Jay Regenstreif, Jane Rowley, Arn and Kathy Slettebak, Lucy Sloman, Julian Wheeler, Mary Wills, Mina Wirth, Corinne Cook, and Steve Wirbilowicz.

Volunteer opportunities include: Board of Directors, land use, transportation, University Playground Park, U-D open space, membership, grant writing, newsletter and website. Your participation is welcomed.

The RNA is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.


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You are welcome to contribute to this "e-nouncement". Please submit your announcement or other information in ready-to-go paragraph form, either in an email message or as a Word document to nancybocek@att.net . The Editor and the RNA Board reserve the right to accept or deny materials submitted and otherwise edit to suit "e-nouncement" format.

Information presented in this e-mail newsletter is not necessarily the position, policy or activity of the Roosevelt Neighbors' Alliance. The Editor and the RNA Board may choose to post information of an educational or informative nature that might be of interest to the community in compliance with the purpose of the RNA organization to inform and educate the community on all issues that pertain to the quality of life in our neighborhood.

To request to be removed from this list please email nancybocek@att.net .

--- Nancy Bocek, Newsletter Editor