Volunteers are needed on Saturday afternoon to help improve the Dr. Jose Rizal Park off-leash area. Craig Thompson writes with the details:
Saturday, May 22, a Seattle Works team will help construct a barricade around the wet spot downhill from the spigot in the Dr. Jose Rizal Park off-leash area. This is the fourth year in a row that a team has celebrated Seattle Works Day at the park.
We chose this project as we learned from several people that they don’t bring dogs to the OLA because of the wet spot—dogs roll in the mud, have to be washed, etc.
The event Saturday starts at noon and lasts till 4:00 pm, with setup beginning around 11:00 am. We have all tools we need, but we could use more people, as we’ll be moving a brush pile from the bench/view area to the wet spot. We’ll also be planting salmon berries within the barrier, as they’ll provide a natural barrier to the site once the brush decomposes in a few years, plus salmon berries are heavenly. There’s a huge party after the event—details and location are at the Seattle Works website.
Could this empty lot next to Beacon Hill Station become a parking lot? Photo by Wendi.The next meeting of the North Beacon Hill Council is Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 pm in the Beacon Hill Library meeting room, 2821 Beacon Avenue South. The meeting is starting 30 minutes earlier than usual, and the Friends of Lewis Park are providing pizza and enchiladas. As always, all are welcome to attend; you are part of the council when you attend your first meeting, and you have voting privileges when you attend your second.
A representative from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) will be at the meeting to discuss the possibility of allowing temporary surface parking lots near Link light rail stations.
Additionally, the council is seeking four new board members and will be voting on these positions at the meeting. Council Chairperson Judith Edwards writes:
It takes the entire community to make North Beacon the neighborhood we want to live, grow and thrive in. Many of your fellow neighbors are, and have been, serving on the Board of Directors for the North Beacon Hill Council, working to further your visions for our neighborhood. The council has openings for four new Board members. These positions are being created in order to help expand the board and increase its ability to serve the neighborhood in the many areas that are important to you.
What does a Board member do? Board members contribute to the community and our Community Council by being involved in an area that interests them. One of our members monitors and coordinates with the police on issues of Public Safety. We have board members who maintain governmental relationships and another that acts as Treasurer. We have a web guru, and another is currently looking over our bylaws, with an eye to revising that which is outdated. And then there are city committees which originated with the Neighborhood Planning process. They include housing close to the light rail station, a strong neighborhood commercial district, a vibrant Town Center—with El Centro as part of it, and a neighborhood with parks and open spaces that serve its diverse community.
So the question we have for you is, what would you like to contribute to your community? What is it that you want to see happen in our neighborhood? What is the special expertise you might lend the Board? Grant writing? Acting as Secretary? Being involved in bike/pedestrian activities? Parks development? Mixed use housing? Developing a Town Center? Helping to establish a business association? Music and the arts? Whatever your interest might be we want you!
We request that those interested in running please prepare a one paragraph bio sharing with us what you’re interested in, and what you might bring to the Board. Please submit the bio to Matthew Stubbs via email (Matthew.T.Stubbs@gmail.com) These bios will be compiled and presented to the Members at our June meeting, at which time the greater membership of the North Beacon Hill Council will vote on these new board seats.
These steps, which once led to Culinary Communion, will soon lead to Tasha's Bistro Café. Photo by Wendi.The population of North Beacon just went up by one — Beacon Hill Blog contributor Melissa Jonas brought a new Beacon Hill neighbor into the world on Friday. Congratulations to Melissa and Shane, and welcome to baby Sylvia Grace!
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Tasha’s Bistro Café in the old Culinary Communion space, scheduled to open late this month or early next, is hiring servers. Tasha’s has also applied for a liquor license in the category of restaurant (beer and wine) and direct shipment receiver, with a catering endorsement.
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Need to train your dog? Today is your lucky day. A dog training class, Dog Training: The Pet Adult Dog, starts tonight from 7:45 to 8:45 at the Jefferson Community Center, 3801 Beacon Avenue South. The class is for dogs over five months of age (and their humans, aged 15 and up) and will include basic obedience, loose leash walking, polite greetings, handling, solving in-home behavioral problems, and impulse control. The class fee is $78.
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The Transportation Choices Coalition is sponsoring On The Move, an incentive program to get Southeast Seattle residents out of their cars and onto buses, trains, bicycles, or feet. Participants who commit to riding transit, walking or biking 2 days a week this summer may receive prizes, discounts to local businesses, and free ORCA cards. For more information, sign up here or call 206-329-2336.
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Northwest Kidney Centers will hold its 8th annual Kidney Health Fest for African American Families on Saturday, June 5, featuring free health screenings, entertainment and healthy food samples made by local celebrity chefs. The free event, open to all, runs from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at Van Asselt Elementary (formerly the African American Academy), 8311 Beacon Avenue South. The event is co-hosted by Mount Zion Baptist Church and the First AME Church.
Cesar Chavez Demonstration Garden is having an heirloom vegetable plant sale at 2524 16th Avenue South (El Centro de la Raza) this Saturday, May 22, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Wednesday, May 26, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; and Saturday, May 29, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
(Editors’ note — The correct date of the third sale is Saturday, May 29, not May 30 as reported earlier.)
The garden is located just north of Beacon Hill Station and is run by the Master Gardeners of King County. They will be selling heirloom vegetable starts, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, melons, onions, and leeks.
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North Beacon’s “larcenous landscaper” appears to be back for another season of plant thievery. Neighbors on the BAN mailing list are reporting new plant thefts, and one witness on 13th Avenue South reports that the thief appears to be the same one as was caught on this video last May. The witness describes him as “an older Asian gentleman, dressed in sport coat and slacks, smoking a cigarette,” and saw him return to a silver Toyota SUV — with the irises he’d just taken from someone’s yard.
If you too have had plants stolen, or if you see the plant thief, contact the police. The SPD case number is 2010-161547.
Drivers traveling east from South Seattle on I-90 tonight should be prepared for delays and detours. From 11:00 am tonight until 5:00 am tomorrow morning, eastbound I-90 will be closed between I-5 and I-405, with traffic detoured to the I-90 express lanes. Ramps to eastbound I-90 from northbound I-5 and Rainier Avenue South will be closed, as well as ramps on Mercer Island and further east to I-405. There will be other eastbound closures on the East Side on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
The closures are for the installation of new electronic signs as part of the Smarter Highways project. The Smarter Highways traffic management system will feature a network of sensors and electronic signs to provide drivers with information. A WSDOT video here shows how it will work. These signs have already been installed on northbound I-5 in South Seattle and will be activated there later this summer.
Neighbors discuss the future of North Beacon Hill at Mercer Middle School. Photo by Wendi.The North Beacon Hill Neighborhood Plan Update Action Team Kick-Off meeting last night drew an enthusiastic group of more than fifty neighbors to Asa Mercer Middle School to express their thoughts about the future of North Beacon. Idea boards were set up around the room and people were given stickers to apply to the boards to choose which proposals to prioritize.
One concern expressed by several people was that the ideas on the boards seemed to be poorly chosen, including some projects that were already built or being built. (For example, one of the ideas was to put lids on the reservoirs at Jefferson Park, a project which has already happened.) Many people were choosing to use their stickers to prioritize projects that have already been done, instead of prioritizing new potential ideas for the Hill.
Other ideas on the boards were vague, such as “Supporting a safe and healthy community,” which received a large number of support stickers from neighbors at the event. However, many other concepts on the boards were more specific, such as “SDOT Street Use will review and approve permits for benches and banners.”
If you could not make it to the meeting last night, you can participate online by filling out an online survey. City Council member Mike O'Brien listens to neighbors' comments. Photo by Wendi.Neighbors were given stickers to place on various boards to give their opinions or demographic info. Photo by Wendi.Frederica Merrell points out some concerns with the idea boards. Photo by Wendi.Deciding how to prioritize one's stickers. Photo by Wendi.
Click for the full-size version with contact information for foreign language speakers.A reminder: Tonight is the North Beacon Hill Neighborhood Plan Update Action Team Kick-Off meetingannounced previously in this blog. The meeting is tonight from 6:00 to 7:45 pm at Asa Mercer Middle School, 1600 S Columbian Way.
There will be childcare and refreshments. If you’re not already familiar with the neighborhood planning situation, you’re welcome to arrive early; a special orientation will be given at 5:00 pm.
The Columbian Way paving and improvement project that we wrote about last November will begin next Wednesday, May 19. The construction will begin with sidewalk replacement on the north side of Columbian Way between Beacon Avenue South and the VA Hospital.
The project will alter Columbian Way between Beacon and 15th Avenue South to have one travel lane in each direction with a new center left turn lane, along with new sidewalks, street trees, bike lanes, and other improvements.
There will be parking and lane restrictions in the area during the project, though one traffic lane in each direction will remain open at all times. The project is expected to be completed in September. For further information, see the project website.
There are currently three open spots for the May 15 tamale-making class at El Centro. The class is $50 and you get to take home some delicious work along with your newfound skill and knowledge. Contact Ashley Haugen at 206-957-4611 or e-mail development@elcentrodelaraza.org for more information or to sign up. Proceeds benefit El Centro’s senior programs.Thanks, Elliott!
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The Seattle Department of Transportation continues to work on the West Seattle viaduct construction project, as well as other construction and changes in the Sodo area and the overpasses from Beacon Hill to Sodo. Particularly of note: the First Avenue South on-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge will close permanently on May 17, and there will be lane closures on the Holgate Street overpass on May 17-18, and on the Columbian Way overpass on May 19-20. See the latest planned construction notices here.
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The Seattle Public Library wants to know what you think about library services and priorities. Help plan our local library’s future by filling out their survey — it’s available through May 16.
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The Jun Hong Kung Fu and Sports Association is sponsoring a Beacon Hill Health Walk as a fundraiser for China earthquake relief on Saturday May 22, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. The starting location is 4878 Beacon Avenue South, and the walk is three miles, with a turnaround/water break at Van Asselt Community Center. There will be a team flag competition, and t-shirts for adult registrants.
Pat McGannon is organizing a neighborhood clean-up to collect litter from the streets and public stairs.
The clean-up is Saturday, May 15, at 10:30 am, and will will include Dawson (between MLK and 30th Avenue South), 30th Avenue South (between Dawson and South Edmunds), South Edmunds (between 30th Avenue South and Mount View Drive), Mount View Drive (between South Edmunds and Alaska), and the stairs that connect 30th Avenue South to South Ferdinand below. (See the map to the left.)
Gloves, grabber tools, orange safety vests, and garbage bags will be provided to make litter collection safer. Volunteers should meet at the top of the South Ferdinand stairs (on 30th Avenue South) at 10:30 am. For more information, please contact Pat at pmcgannonmail-cleanup@yahoo.com.
Photo by ephemera assemblyman via Creative Commons.If you’ve lived on North Beacon Hill for more than a decade, you may recall the smell of brewing beer that used to waft over the Hill every day from the Rainier Brewery next to the freeway on Airport Way South. The brewery closed 10 years ago, but brewing is returning to the historic old brewery building this summer in the form of the Emerald City Beer Company. Washington Beer Blog reports that Emerald City will have a brewery and tasting room/“beer lab,” and they are hoping to have their first batch of beer ready next month. Their flagship brew will be “Dottie’s Seattle Lager,” quite suitable for a building that that produced a lot of lager over the years. See more details at the Washington Beer Blog.
Mayor Mike McGinn will be on Beacon Hill this coming Tuesday, May 11, at 2:00 pm for the announcement of the “Walk Bike Ride” Initiative supporting improved pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities and services “to make walking, biking, and riding transit the easiest ways to get around in Seattle.”
