Tag Archives: summer

Kids eat free at Beacon Hill Playground this summer

Seattle summer food service program(This post was promoted from The Commons. Thanks, Melissa, for contributing to the BHB in The Commons!)

Seattle Parks will offer free lunches for kids aged 18 and under from noon-1 p.m., Monday through Friday, from now until August 14 at Beacon Hill Playground, 1902 13th Ave. S. Dates and locations are subject to change. Call 206-615-0303 for more information.

The free lunch program is a partnership between Seattle Parks and the Seattle Human Services Department’s Summer Food Services Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Find out more here.

A look back at summer on Beacon Hill

Though summer technically continues for a few more weeks (and we hope the weather does too), Labor Day is the traditional end of summer around here. Kids are going back to school, the sun is setting earlier, and that long, gray winter is just around the corner. Here’s a look back at this summer on the Hill, with photos from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Your photos are always welcome in the pool — please join!

Garrett Doherty, winner of the adobo contest at AdoboFest on August 18, shows off his winner’s trophy. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
A panoramic view of one of the Beacon Hill Night Out block parties on August 6. Click the image to see a larger version. Photo by Bridget Christian.
Enjoying performing at Beacon Rocks! in June. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
These scarlet runner beans on 16th Avenue South are part of the “Beacon: A Hill of Beans” project this year. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Dancers entertain at a Beacon Hill Night Out event on August 6. Photo by Bridget Christian.
Dancing at Beacon Rocks! on June 30. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Neighbors enjoy a shady spot in front of The Station at AdoboFest. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
A change to a local business: Dragon Auto Repair moves in to the old Chin Auto site across from the Beacon Hill Library. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Finally, building begins on part of the Beacon Hill Station block. This will soon be an apartment building with retail. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
NewHolly neighbors enjoy the Gathering Place Family Fest. Photo by Rob Ketcherside, who reports there was a “huge line for BBQ!”
Further north, a crowd enjoys AdoboFest on North Beacon Hill. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Sushi prepared at Beacon Rocks! Photo by Wendi.
Riding into the clouds on the Chief Sealth Trail. Photo by Rob Ketcherside.

Neighbors reaching out to teens

Jennifer Jukanovich spoke last night at the North Beacon Hill Council meeting. She described something she and her husband Dano had been a part of over the past several years. As the frequent summertime congregation of teens around the C&C Valero station on Beacon Ave. began to become an issue with neighbors, they decided to do something: Thursday evening BBQs. All teens invited. Free burgers and hotdogs. Sometimes movies projected onto the fence around their home at 18th & Stevens. It was declared a safe corner– one where personal (or gang-related) altercations were not allowed, but where everyone was welcome. Including, recently, a uniformed police officer, Eric Sano. His presence was initially quite controversial, but he’s become inspirational to some teens who previously didn’t know what they wanted to do.

The Jukanoviches have provided a place for these kids where they’re wanted, where they’re included, a place where they can feel safe. However, Dano and Jennifer may be moving away very soon, for three years, to Rwanda. She came to the NBHC meeting to let other people know what can be done, and share one way they’ve done it. And to encourage the BBQs to continue next summer, possibly without them.

And she stressed one piece of advice for people concerned about the teens encountered in their neighborhood: “Learn their names.”

Similar sentiments on a larger youth-involvement scale were expressed by the second guest speaker, Mariana Quarnstrom, president of the Southeast Seattle Crime Prevention Council (and yes, Mrs. Dr. Quarnstrom!). She shared her stories with several teen and youth programs out there, and the difficulties many of them struggle with to stay in operation.

She offered similar advice: Don’t drop your head and race past as if they didn’t exist. Disarm them with a “hello.”

Both firmly agreed: Get involved with teens. Let them know that someone cares.

Update: Amie of North Beacon Hill just posted a notice for the March For Youth planning meeting to be held tonight at 7:00 pm in the Rainier Vista Neighborhood House Paul Allen Room (4410 29th Ave S).