Seattle Weekly Best of Seattle: Vote Today

It is Best of Seattle voting time again. Categories include:

Best Challenger to Greg Nickels
Best 2009 Campaign Logo/Button/Poster/Slogan
Best Way to Celebrate the Fall of the Viaduct
Best Future Career for Peter Steinbrueck
Best Phrase to Spray-Paint on the Side of a Light-Rail Car

Vote today: http://polls.seattleweekly.com/polls/sew/bestof09/

Save neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle funding

You may have heard about discussions that are happening in Seattle regarding the possible repeal of the Employee Hours Tax that is also known as the "Head Tax". This is a $25 per employee per year tax to employers for each employee who drives alone to work. The "Head Tax" does not apply for employees who ride transit, bike, walk, car pool or ride share to work. Also, businesses with two or fewer employees and those with under $80,000 in revenues per year are also exempt.

Funds from the "Head Tax" support transportation projects in Seattle, including pedestrian and bicycle programs.

The Downtown Seattle Association and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce have been lobbying Seattle City Council and candidates for Council and mayoral office to eliminate the "Head Tax".

Recently, City Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Richard Conlin and Mayor Greg Nickels announced their plans to rescind the "Head Tax" without a guarantee of replacement funds for pedestrian and bicycle. Last week in the Council Transportation Committee meeting (watch it here), Jan Drago and Nick Licata expressed their commitment to pedestrian and bicycle programs and recommended that Council wait until budget sessions to discuss the "Head Tax" issue. Their leadership on this was greatly appreciated but may not be enough to hold off the pressure from the Downtown Seattle Association and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce to remove the tax ASAP.

Neighborhood, pedestrian, bicycle and sustainability advocates are uniting in an effort to ask Council and the Mayor to retain the "Head Tax". And, we are asking that if Council and the Mayor eliminate this tax, that replacement funds be bindingly committed for bike and pedestrian projects and that a similar incentive for reducing vehicle miles traveled be found. Most of the bike and pedestrian projects are capital in nature and bring much-needed jobs to our city in this challenging economic time. And, they help our community to do the right thing in biking and using transit and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

If funding for neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle programs are important to you, please contact Council and the Mayor this week before they make a decision to repeal the "Head Tax" without replacing funding for pedestrian and bicycle programs.

Councilmember's and Mayor's e-mail addresses

Tim.Burgess@seattle.gov
Sally.Clark@seattle.gov
Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov
Jan.Drago@seattle.gov
Jean.Godden@seattle.gov
Bruce.Harrell@seattle.gov
Nick.Licata@seattle.gov
Richard.McIver@seattle.gov
Tom.Rasmussen@seattle.gov

Citizens are directed to the following website to complete a form to
send an email to the Mayor's Office.
http://www.cityofseattle.net/mayor/citizen_response.htm

We have also started a Facebook group: Don't lose your head tax.

Pets of Pinehurst: Pollock and Rothko

Heather B. sent me these photos and shared this about her cats, Pollock and Rothko:

POLLOCK

"Pollock is my gorgeous four year-old Russian Blue Mix. Named after the artist Jackson Pollock, he was adopted from the Eastside Humane Society in Bellevue. He's very sleek and trim (he stays that way by jumping over the fence many times a day) - solid grey through and through with big greenish yellow eyes. He has a thick, beautiful coat. He likes to wake his human up every morning right around dawn to be let outside. He spends his days solo, roaming the backyards of 14th Avenue folks or hanging out on the chair - HIS chair - on the porch watching the world go by or curled in a catnap ball. Even when it's raining, Pollock likes to be outside viewing the weather from undercover...just when it gets windy, very cold or snowy does he spend more time indoors with his family. When inside, he loves attention from his human, especially right before bedtime, when he's at his cuddliest. He likes to snuggle up real close, even if it means on your chest with his head under your chin - purring loudly and marching up a storm. His little brother, Rothko misses him desperately when he's out all day, so he gets neverendingly chased around the house in vain attempts at play. Pollock is a pretty laid back, calm cat who enjoys his solo time. Every once and a while the two of them will play up a storm, though and their human catches them giving each other baths and lots of love on occasion, too! Pollock also knows when his human's car has pulled into the underground garage and she can hear him meowing loudly for her before she even turns off the engine.

ROTHKO

Rothko, named after the artist Mark Rothko, is the baby of the family - and spoiled to prove it! He is the sweetest, most adorable little tabby cat you ever did see! At nearly three years old, he still is chocked full of kitten. Adopted from the Seattle Animal Shelter after my beloved Costello cat died, Rothko brought life, love and furry cuddles to our house! Rothko is full of personality. With his tufted ears, short little legs and round face, his human smiles every time she looks at him. He has thick, very soft fur that contains almost every pattern and color known to cats. His mission in life is to get his brother Pollock to play with him. He succeeds a couple times a week. Rothko stays inside 99% of the time but loves to hang out on the window sills, especially breathing in the fresh air and hearing the noises from outside through the screens, when he chatters at the birds and squirrels.

His human especially adores that Rothko knows when she is home. He greets her from the bedroom window and then races to the living room and rolls over for her, looking at her from upside down as if to say, "I'm SO glad you are home!" Sometimes Rothko "goes crazy," racing back and forth over every surface of the small 537 square foot condo, literally bouncing off the walls as he goes! He gets that look in his eye, makes some strange combination of meowing / purring - "murring" - and just takes off! He seems to wear himself out after just a few minutes of this. However, Rothko's real claim to fame is his powerful, purposeful and intent head butts. Rothko loves to head butt anyone and anything sometimes hard enough to make you think it could leave a bruise! It is his main form of communication. When Rothko crawls out from under the bed to check out visitors, if he head butts you, it means he thinks you're A-OK."

If you would like to see your pet featured in the Pinehurst Pet of the Week column, please send a photo and a few stories about your pet to Erica at ehas2dogs@gmail.com -- I'm always looking for new pets to include on the blog.

FYI: The Great Dog Shoppe is deeply committed to building community in Pinehurst. Please mention that you read the Pinehurst Pet of the Week in the blog and get a free treat for your pet!

July Greendrinks will be in Northgate hosted by Thornton Place

Greendrinks
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Hosted by Thornton Place
301 NE 103rd Street in Northgate

Learn more here.

Volunteers needed for Pinehurstfest

We need volunteers on the day of Pinehurstfest to help make it a success.

Please call (366-9472) or e-mail me if you can help in one of the following roles:

• Photographer
• Welcomer at park entrance
• info/First Aid booth
• Children's bouncy house
• Games facilitator
• Event set-up
• Clean-up

Live Music at Pinehursfest

We are very fortunate to have a number of wonderful, neighborhood musicians perform at this year's Pinehurstfest. Many thanks to Eric Madis who has worked very hard to bring this all together!

2nd Annual Pinehurstfest
July 18 (Saturday)
2-5:40 PM
Pinehurst Playfield
12025 - 14th Ave NE, Seattle

Black Math Quartet 2:00-2:30
Jillian & Jim Graham's Q 2:40-3:10
Brian Butler Blues Band 3:20-3:50 *
Nancy Dillon Group 4:00-4:30 *
420 Flight (w/Jack Cook) 4:40-5:10 *
Pinehurst P-Patch Allstars (w/ Alika Madis & Eric Madis) *

* The last four groups will be backed by bassist Garey Shelton and drummer Chris Leighton.

*Pinehurst Residential Burglary Report: June 2009

If you have any questions on crime prevention or if you would like to form a block watch, please contact Diane Horswill (diane.horswill@seattle.gov or at (206) 684-7711) at the North Precinct. Also, there is some good information on crime prevention here.

6/03 12500blk 8th Ave NE, reported at 1:10PM, the resident arrived home to see a strange car with the engine running and a driver at the wheel in his driveway, he then saw a male crouched down at his front door knob, when the suspect was confronted by the resident he made an excuse about looking for someone who lived there and then took off and jumped into the car which sped away, the resident then noticed pry marks on the door and the wood around the deadbolt cracked, he described the suspects as Asian males 18-25years of age, the resident was able to get a license number but the plate came back to a leasing agency

6/08 11300blk 3rd NE reported at 1:39PM, the apt mgr went to check on a vacant unit and found a window open and the bathroom sink stopped up, the water was left running which flooded the apt with about 50 gallons of water, there was no sign of forced entry

6/10 11300blk 3rd NE reported at 6:01PM, the resident of this apt. said he allowed a transient male to live with him, he said that during that time property and over $900.00 in cash were stolen, the transient man had his own key, there was no sign of forced entry

6/19 11200blk 24th Ave NE reported at 8:15PM the resident was away for the afternoon, when he arrived home he saw that his front door had been kicked in and his laptop stolen

6/27 11300blk 23rd Ave NE reported at 2:42PM, officers responded to a burglar alarm at this house, they found the rear door ajar, they checked the house and it appeared that the suspect fled when the alarm sounded

6/28 1600blk NE 117th reported at 3:07PM the resident was gone for a short time during the afternoon, when he returned he found his front door open, the possible entry point was a small side window, two laptops were stolen

*unofficial stats

Seattle Night Out 2009

Every year on the first Tuesday of August, the Seattle Police Department sponsors the Seattle Night Out event focused on bringing neighbors together and on fostering a community approach to crime prevention.

You can learn more and register at: www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout

Your block will need to provide your own street closure barriers, if you choose to block off your street (and if you do not live on an arterial or emergency route street). Most people use sawhorses, chairs or recycling containers. If you have any questions please email or call Diane Horswill at diane.horswill@seattle.gov or 684-7711.

Great City’s Summer Street Scene - July 16th

Mark you calendars for Great City’s Summer Street Scene on July 16th from 5-8 pm on Bell St. between 2nd Ave. and 3rd Ave.

Please join Great City as we celebrate our progress this year, honor our amazing volunteers, and embrace summer in Seattle as a community!

Festivities will include live music with Orkestrar Zirkonium, drinks, and of course, good company.

In the spirit of our work, teams are invited to transform ordinary parking spaces along Bell St. into innovative, sustainable, and inviting places for people as a harbinger of the new Bell St. Boulevard.

Come view the results, learn more about Great City, and enjoy the party - new faces are always welcome!

Thursday, July 16th from 5-8 pm. Belltown on Bell St. between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave.

Help needed delivering Pinehurstfest fliers

We have Pinehurstfest fliers (designed by Pinehurst media wiz Karla) that we are trying to get out to all of our neighbors. If you can share the fliers with neighbors on your street or in your building, or if you could forward details on the event to your Block Watch or street e-mail list, we would really appreciate your help.

Please call (366-9472) or e-mail at me and I will get you fliers to distribute.

7/8 - Lake City Neighborhood Status Check (this plan includes the eastern half of Pinehurst)

Please join members of the Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee in the first of a series of two important community meetings.

These two citizen groups want to hear your thoughts. Come and tell us how your neighborhood has changed since your neighborhood plan was adopted. Your comments and input at this meeting will help the City of Seattle complete a status report that will look at how well your neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.

This first series of meetings will provide an opportunity to learn about your neighborhood plan, the projects that have been implemented, and growth and changes that have occurred since the plan was written in the late 90's. We will explore issues such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, and other issues.

The second meeting series, tentatively scheduled for October, will be an opportunity to review the status report.

July 8th
For Lake City, Aurora/Licton Springs, Broadview - Bitter Lake - Haller Lake, University Community
6-8 p.m.
Northgate Community Center 10510 5th Ave. NE

To learn more information and to view materials for this meeting, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Neighborhood_Planning/StatusReports/

With questions please contact Planning Commission staff at (206) 684-8694 or katie.sheehy@seattle.gov

For those who cannot attend check out our virtual on-line meeting and take our quick questionnaire to make sure your voice is heard. Click here to watch a brief video, view your neighborhood summary and take the questionnaire!!! http://www.cityofseattle.net/planningcommission/

2009 Tanabata Festival at the Seattle Japanese Garden

2009 Tanabata Festival at the Seattle Japanese Garden July 5, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

You are invited to join the traditional practice of writing poetry and wishes on paper strips (tanzaku) and tying them to the trees.

Throughout the Festival:

• Shoseian Tea House
• Mitsuko Soko Gale and Shoseikai will present a Tanabata Chakai,
• or Star Festival Tea Gathering, at 1 and 2 p.m.
• Reservations are available at the Ticket Booth.

Performances
11 a.m. Presentation Japanese Poetry by Micheal Dylan Welch
11:30 a.m. Telling of the Tanabata Tale in Azumaya
12:30 p.m. Chiyo Sanada Demonstrates ‘Sho’ Calligraphy on the Moon Viewing Platform.
1 p.m. Poetry Reading by Micheal Dylan Welch: A selection of love poems from his translation of the Ogura Hyakuin Isshu: 100 Poems by 100 Poets
1:30 p.m. Telling of the Tanabata Tale in Azumaya
2 p.m. Miho and Diego Duo will perform in a fusion of Latin, Japanese, African and American music, employing the Andean Flute and Marimba in the entry courtyard.

• Tours of the Japanese Garden are conducted by Unit 86 Guides. Meet a guide at the entry gate at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. for a 45-minute tour.
• The Tanabata Display in the Garden Entryway is by Unit-86 Volunteers.
• The display of Artwork is by Unit-86 Photo Art Group in the Tateuchi Community Room.
• The Textile Display is presented by Sumie Yasuda & Ayako Yamada in the Interpretive Foyer.
• Ikebana arrangements are provided by Ikebana International in the Tateuchi Community Room.
• Enjoy hands on Tanabata Paper Craft, Calligraphy in the Orchard with our Unit-86 Volunteers.

The legend of Tanabata
Long ago, on the west bank of the Milky Way, there lived a beautiful princess, Orihime. She was a skilled weaver of beautiful kimonos. Tentei, the Emperor of the sky, was very happy with her diligence and married her to a hard working herdsman Kengyu from across the Milky Way.

Kengyu and Orihime fell in love. But they spent so much time together that Orihime neglected her weaving and Kengyu allowed the livestock to stray and become frail. The emperor ordered that they be separated by the Heavenly River, the milky way.. They were allowed to meet one day a year, the 7th day of the 7th month, provided they had worked hard.

Celebrate the tradition by writing poems and wishes on paper strips (tanzanku) and tying on branches to be carried on the wind to heaven.

The Tanabata stars, Vega (weaving princess star) and Altair (sheepherder star) are visible in the night sky during the time of the Tanabata festival.

The Seattle "Head Tax" and bike/pedestrian infrastructure

Sustainability advocates in Seattle have been uniting in an effort to ask Council and the Mayor to retain the "head tax", a $25 per employee per year tax on employees who drive alone to work. The Downtown Seattle Association and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce have been lobbying Council for the past few years to eliminate this tax that funds bike and pedestrian and other transportation infrastructure.

Advocates are asking that if Council and the Mayor eliminate this tax, that replacement funds be found for bike and pedestrian projects and that a similar incentive for reducing vehicle miles traveled be found. Most of the bike and pedestrian projects are capital in nature and bring much need jobs to our city in this challenging economic time. And, they help our community to do the right thing in biking and using transit and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Here is the text of the letter sent to Council and the Mayor and signed by members of the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group, the Advocacy Director of Cascade Bicycle Club, the Executive Director of Great City, the President of Friends of Seattle and by Safe Walks:

Dear Councilmembers and Mayor Nickels,

Funding from the Head Tax (also called the Business Transportation Tax), a tax which is relatively insignificant for individual business, is an important source of funding for transportation improvements that help to promote more responsible forms of transportation, such as biking and walking. While $4.7 million is not much of SDOT’s budget, it makes up a large percentage of total funding for pedestrian and bicycling projects in Seattle. Because of the incredible infrastructure deficit, especially in the Southeast and North parts of the city, and the fact that a prioritized project list has been identified through the draft Pedestrian Master Plan, it seems clear that there is a use and a specific need for these funds.

In fact, there is a clear use and a specific need for funding much greater than this, which is why Seattle needs all it can get for transportation projects. In turn, those transportation projects create much-needed construction jobs. At the same time, because so little in taxes are paid for each business, it is unlikely that repealing this tax will result in more jobs.

We also know that reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is a key step in the City of Seattle’s goal to mitigate Climate Change. Recent studies have shown that policies that discourage driving downtown by removing parking subsidies have a beneficial effect on VMT. Fifty- three percent of climate changing emissions come from the transportation sector. Reducing VMT means reducing emissions.

The Head Tax is one tool this city has to reduce VMT by creating an incentive for people who work downtown to use alternative modes of transportation to get to work and creating a revenue source for pedestrian improvements. The Head Tax prices parking appropriately and creates funding for responsible forms of transportation. It is good policy to support a sustainable transportation policy for Seattle.

While this tax may not be perfect, we feel that it could be strengthened by improving paperwork and linking it to a more effective VMT-reduction process. As tax experts and business owners would tell you, this tax is not a significant financial burden and requires only a small amount of time to complete the paper work. Washington State has the 12th most favorable business tax climate in the US according to The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan and highly respected tax policy organization.

We recognize your interest in making a statement that supports businesses as they struggle in these difficult economic times. But this is not a symbolic gesture. It has serious consequences for the broader agenda of making our city more sustainable.

It is for these reasons – the tax’s use as a VMT-reduction tool, the fact that the tax is not a financial burden on businesses, and the funding for responsible forms of transportation that will be lacking – that we do not support the proposal to repeal the Business Transportation Tax.

Hugeasscity post on Northgate

I recently wrote a post about my thoughts on Northgate for the blog Hugeasscity. You can see the post here.

Pinehurst Pet of the Week: Smokey the Boat Dog

This is Smokey. He is a 12 year old Pomerian/Cocker spaniel who owns Julie. Julie writes, "we've had Smokey since he was really small. He has always looked like a puppy. We used to take him through the Ballard Locks on our boat and everyone would say, "OH LOOK AT THE PUPPY!" and take many pictures of him on the bow of our boat with his yellow life jacket on.....

He is a great family dog and getting old. Just recently he started loosing his hearing. It is very sad. My daughter is going off to college and will miss him every day. He has always been a big part of our family."


To calculate the age of your dog in human years click HERE.
To learn more about caring for your aging dog, take a look HERE.

If you would like to see your pet featured in the Pinehurst Pet of the Week column, please send a photo and a few stories about your pet to Erica at ehas2dogs@gmail.com -- I'm always looking for new pets to include.

FYI: The Great Dog Shoppe is deeply committed to building community in Pinehurst. Please mention that you read the Pinehurst Pet of the Week in the blog and get a free treat for your pet!

Pinehurstfest! July 18th from 2 to 5 PM

Celebrate your neighborhood at Pinehurstfest - the Pinehurst neighborhood summer social event!

Pinehurstfest is a FREE outdoor celebration for everyone in our neighborhood.

Join us on Saturday, July 18th from 2 to 5 PM at Pinehurst Playfield (12029 - 14th Ave NE)

click on the image below to enlarge

July 4th Ride and other cycling news and events from Spokespeople

This Saturday, July 4 at 2 p.m. SPOKESPEOPLE will be declaring independence from our cars as we ride in a circle around Lake Union! It will be a fun ride as we see all of the places and people setting up for fireworks. We’ll stop at the south end of Lake Union at the Center for Wooden Boats (they have a weekend festival) and then visit our friends at the Fremont PCC to get something natural, fresh, low-waste to eat.

We’ll start, as usual, at the south end of Wallingford Playfield, 4219 Wallingford Ave N (Densmore & 42nd) at 2 p.m. If this is your first Spokespeople ride or if you are new or returning road rider, please come at 1:45 so we can make sure your helmet and bike are adjusted to fit and you can review road-riding skills with our commuting experts. You can buy a good helmet from us for $10. Expert cyclists, we welcome you to come along to help inspire new on-street riders. We'll finish the ride around Lake Union at 4 p.m. – in plenty of time for you to get to the place you want to watch fireworks from.

If you want more information about this ride or about SPOKESPEOPLE, please contact info@spokespeople.us or 206-547-9569 (206-713-6269 on the day of the ride).

These are the rides we are planning for the next three months:

Saturday July 4. Circle around Lake Union and see all of the places and people setting up for fireworks. Stop at the Center for Wooden Boats during their festival and the PCC for a healthy treat!

Saturday August 1. We’ll take a round trip to Salmon Bay between Fremont and Ballard and find a place to dangle our feet in the water. We’ll stop for a free treat provided by the Fremont PCC before heading back to Wallingford.

Saturday September 5. Climb to Woodland Park Zoo Park on Phinney Ridge. We'll find a little used trail through the park that ends in the Woodland Park Rose Garden. Then we’ll head out to enjoy the view from Fremont Peak Park before heading back to Wallingford.

Other notes:

A community-based summer-long bicycle program and great calendar of community rides is offered by Cascade Bicycle Club. The program is called Summer Bike League and the idea is to bring more bicycling to our communities and more communities bicycling: www.cbcef.org/sbl/summer-bike-league.html

Kidical Mass does monthly family-friendly rides with really little kids. They have a great links page as well as great rides for beginners: http://totcycle.com/links/

Fixing Townhouses (and more)

Troubled with the way some townhomes impact the character of your neighborhood? Are you ready to see improvements in townhomes? Ready to contribute your ideas? If so, check out the Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee (PLUNC) quarterly neighborhood session:

Multifamily Code Update – Chapter 1
Fixing the Lowrise Zones
(including Townhomes)

June 30 - 6 p.m. - ** Special South-end Evening Meeting **
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center auditorium in Delridge/West Seattle
(4408 Delridge Way SW)

July 14 - 6 p.m. - ** Special North-end Evening Meeting **
University Heights Community Center in the University District
(5031 University Way NE, Room 209)

The evening begins with a committee work session reviewing code issues related to townhouses and other lowrise housing. This will be a working meeting, similar to what occurs at Council committee meetings in City Hall. The second half of the evening will be dedicated to hearing from you, the attendees. Townhomes are just one issue among many in the multifamily code update. These forums are prime opportunities to weigh in on changes, and a great chance to talk proactively about housing choices, affordability and neighborhood-friendly design.

For more information about the multi-family code update, including links to previous meetings go to http://seattle.gov/council/clark/2009townhomes.htm . Contact Legislative Aide Dan Nolte with questions at dan.nolte@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8802. Interpreters available with advance request.

Been traveling...

I have been on vacation for the past two weeks and just returned. There are many updates and upcoming events that need to be posted and I will get them up as fast as I can. Stay tuned!

Pinehurst Pet of the Week: Merlin Kids are Hopping and Running

This week I'm passing on a message and sharing a photo from Barb Deihl. She writes,



Hi Merlin Fans,
Just a quick note that the kids are hopping and running and bouncing about up in the nest tree and changing clothes as well, all very quickly. Some are taking short flight-hops and they are running and hopping back to the nest for almost constant feedings by both Spike and Thor. We are now hearing a softish chorus of ki-ki-ki-ki-ki's quite frequently, most often associated with a desire for or excitement over an imminent feeding!

Hope you can join in on the fun - the nest is near the corner of 113th and 23rd. Don't forget to bring binoculars, if you have them.
Barb

If you would like to see your pet featured in the Pinehurst Pet of the Week column, please send a photo and a few stories about your pet to Erica at ehas2dogs@gmail.com -- I'm always looking for new pets to include.

FYI: The Great Dog Shoppe is deeply committed to building community in Pinehurst. Please mention that you read the Pinehurst Pet of the Week in the blog and get a free treat for your pet!

Northgate Community Center's 3rd birthday celebration

On Wednesday, July 15, it’s the Northgate Community Center's 3rd birthday….and you are invited to the party!

Listen to the music of Route 66 and eat birthday cake and popcorn. Join Northgate Community Center for a fun night of friends, food, and music. The Teen Advisory Council will have a food tent available with hot dogs, potato salad, chips, and pop for sale.

Wed. July 15
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Free

Northgate Community Center
10510 – 5th Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98125
206-386-4283 www.seattle.gov/parks/centers/northgate.htm

Northgate’s Summer Concerts on the Lawn Series (free!)

Northgate Community Center will have free music for you and your family and friends to enjoy on (mostly) Thursdays on warm summer evenings. Concerts start the first Thursday in July and end on the last Thursday of August.

Thur. July 2 – Jeffrey Mitchell, vocalist
Thur. July 9 – LizKelly McGinn Quartet, Jazz standards and Bossa Nova
Wed. July 15 – Route 66, NGCC 3rd Birthday Celebration
Thur. July 23 – Bonnie Birch, International Accordion Night
Thur. July 30 - Zael Zura, acoustic music
Thur. Aug 6 – Soultronic, top 40, pop
Thur. Aug 13 – Brain Heaner, Jazz Fusion
Thur. Aug 20 – The Usual Suspects
Thur. Aug 27 – The Mediocres

Free
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Northgate Community Center
10510 – 5th Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98125
206-386-4283 www.seattle.gov/parks/centers/northgate.htm

Free Family Fun - this Friday evening in Lake City

click on the image below to enlarge

Follow-up to the Pinehurst Safeway rezone hearing

I am still following up to learn what I can about the outcome of the Pinehurst Safeway rezone hearing yesterday. But, what I have heard so far from Brad Green, who spoke on behalf of the Pinehurst Community in support of the rezone, is very positive. I will post more as soon as I learn it. And, many thanks to Brad for speaking on our behalf!

Statement sent to the Seattle Hearing Examiner regarding the Pinehurst Safeway rezone hearing

Ms. Tanner -

I am writing as the main Pinehurst community representative who has worked with Pinehurst neighbors, Safeway and the City of Seattle over the past three years to negotiate what nearly all Pinehurst neighbors view as an extremely favorable and desirable store design and proposal for rezoning the Safeway Pinehurst property in order to build a new store. I cannot attend the hearing tomorrow due to the fact that I am traveling on vacation with my family. However, in my absence, I have asked Brad Green, a long time (20+ year) Pinehurst neighbor, who lives next to the Safeway site and who has been involved in the negotiations with Safeway since the beginning of the process to speak on behalf of the community.

Pinehurst neighbors have been meeting and discussing this project with Safeway for over three years. From the very beginning, Safeway has cooperated with the neighborhood and made significant concessions. It is striking to look back at the notes from our first community meeting in the summer of 2006 that was attended by over 100 neighbors and to see that the most significant requests and concerns have been addressed by Safeway:

* Green elements throughout (including energy efficient, reduced emission elements, local materials, low water landscaping)
* An attractive and warm mission/craftsman design
* A covered outdoor seating area with an indoor/outdoor fireplace off of a coffee shop - on 15th
* A noise reducing barrier near loading dock
* Varied roof shapes - not completely flat
* Trellises and other design elements to reduce a "boxy" feel
* New sidewalks on 123rd and 16th (possibly permeable surfaces - depending on results of soil study)
* New rubbish bins that are attached to a septic system - to minimize (eliminate?) odor that currently exists

The Pinehurst community overwhelmingly supports this project and we are grateful for all the cooperation and concessions Safeway has made. We fully support this rezone and ask that you recommend to Seattle City Council that Safeway's request be approved.

Thank you so much for considering the opinions of the Pinehurst neighbors most impacted by this project. If you have any questions at all, please contact me at the phone numbers or e-mail address below.

Renee