All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
Local Events

Dance your way through the Hill today

Stuff is happening this weekend! There’s art, music, dancing, and more happening on (or even through) the Hill today. Here are a few of the things you might want to check out.

First, get out of bed and get over to the Maple School Natural Area work party at 10 a.m. today. This is a monthly event, held every first Saturday. Volunteers will help improve the parkland, then have a community potluck. More info here.

After the hard work, it’s time to enjoy some art, music, or dance. You have several choices tonight.

NEPO Little Treats presents Trotter, an exhibition of works by Amanda Manitach. The opening is tonight, Saturday March 5, from 6 until 8 p.m. Bacon-wrapped dates will be served, and there will be a screening of Cremaster 4 at 8 p.m.

Klara Glosova of NEPO House, smiling at last month's NEPO opening while holding a gun-shaped glass bottle. Photo by Dan Bennett in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
NEPO Little Treats is a series of monthly shows that focus on presenting new work by individual artists and small groups at NEPO House, 1723 South Lander. Regular open hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 12 to 2 p.m. and by appointment. More information about NEPO House and the show here. Some photos from last month’s opening are here.

If a musical trip is more your speed, Light Rail, Dark Rail is for you. Live performers including the Beaconettes, Cafe Racer Sessions, Jordan O’ Jordan, Tahoe Jackson, and more will liven up Link Light Rail trains.

Start at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the International District/Chinatown Station for a “summoning performance” by Prawnyxx. Then at 6 p.m., enjoy a “Musical Tour Guide and Overture” on southbound trains to SeaTac. At SeaTac, you’ll deboard, then board a northbound train. One is Dark Rail, and the other is Light Rail—you don’t know which you’ll get. Head to Sodo Station for the after party at Radar Hair + Records, 2721 First Avenue South, at 7:30 p.m.

If you prefer swing dancing, stay up on top of the Hill for the Beacon Rocks! swing dancing fundraiser, from 8 until 11 p.m. tonight at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave South. There will be a live swing dancing performance and swing-dance lesson by Savoy Swing at 8:15 p.m., a live cake raffle, and more. Suggested donations start at $10.

On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., visit our neighbors in Mount Baker to see the Medieval Women’s Choir perform a short concert at Mount Baker Community Clubhouse, 2811 Mount Rainier Drive South. The choir will sing medieval music with soloist Linda Strandberg, accompanied by period instruments played by percussionist Peggy Monroe and harpist Bill McJohn.

After the weekend’s over, don’t forget the UPTUN quarterly meeting, Nightmares and Opportunities: Broadstripe and City Underserving Neighbors on Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at Beacon Lutheran Church, 1720 Forest Street South. See our earlier post for more info.

Clean and Green

Jefferson Park Food Forest project progressing

Glenn Herlihy sent a report from the Jefferson Park Food Forest project:

Hello all,

Photo courtesy of Glenn Herlihy.
In late 2010 we received a grant from the Department of Neighborhoods to select a Design Team to create a schematic design for a Food Forest in Jefferson Park. The Friends of Jefferson Park Food Forest formed a Selection Committee with eight members for the purpose of interviewing and hiring as much talent as possible. After publicly posting our Request for Qualification (RFQ) we received seven highly qualified Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from design teams in the western Washington area. From there we narrowed it down to four design teams to interview.

This week the selection committee is pleased to announce a final decision to hire Harrison Design Team to facilitate and create a schematic design for the Jefferson Park Food Forest.

We chose this design team for not only their past work experience but their outstanding ability to engage, educate and facilitate the public in a design process. They are fun people with multiple talents for landscape design, permaculture food systems, ethnobotany and the facilitation process.

Briefly the team consists of:

  • Margarett Harrison is Principal of Harrison Design. She has over 25 years of experience in planning, designing, and managing landscape projects in both public and private sectors. She has worked for several local design firms including Mithun.
  • Jenny Pell is Owner of Permaculture Now. Her experience covers all aspects of permaculture consulting, design, site assessment, managing installations, and budgets. Fluent in Spanish, she has worked and taught around the globe.
  • Dave Boehnlein is a Principal at Terra Phoenix Design and is the eduction director at Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead on Orcas Island. Among several of his memberships is the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild and the Northern Nut Growers Association. He lives in Columbia City.
  • Kris Pendleton is the Owner and Principal of Sound Urban Edibles, based in Seattle. He has traveled the world studying temperate agriculture landscapes.

Now we need you more than ever.

In late March, date yet to be announced, we will be holding the first of several design parties. They will be festive and educational workshops for the whole family. We plan on offering an ethnically diverse spread of food because food and nutrition is what we are all about. This project offers you the seeds to positive action, the seeds for a future with affordable nutrition for our community. Please join us; everyone is welcome.

Long live your Mother,

Glenn Herlihy
Friends of the Jefferson Park Food Forest

Getting Around

Bus stop spacing to increase on Routes 36 and 60

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This Route 60 stop at 15th and Hanford is safe, but the stop just to the south at Hinds is proposed for closure. Photo by l0st2 in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Metro Transit has announced that they will be reducing the number of stops on Routes 36 and 60 to improve the speed and reliability of the buses on those routes and also reduce costs, energy consumption, and emissions. The planned removals will increase the average spacing between stops to about 1,150 feet from the current 920 feet.

The two routes currently have a combined total of 137 stops south of South Jackson Street (including Route 60’s trips through Georgetown and West Seattle); 28 of these would be removed, including 20 stops on Beacon Hill. One new stop would be added, on 14th Avenue South at South Walker Street, where it would replace the current stops at South Hill and South College streets.

According to Metro, 11 percent of Route 36 and 60 riders who board south of Jackson will have to catch their buses at a different stop.

You can see an interactive map and a list of all the stop closures on Metro’s website. The page also contains a list of options for sending Metro your feedback about these changes.

Meetings

Internet and cable problems to be discussed at UPTUN meeting 3/7

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City Councilmember Bruce Harrell is one of the panelists at next week's UPTUN meeting at Beacon Lutheran Church. Photo courtesy of Seattle City Council.
Next Monday, March 7, UPTUN (Upgrading Technology for Underserved Neighbors) holds their quarterly meeting on Beacon Hill, “Nightmares and Opportunities: Broadstripe and City Underserving Neighbors.” UPTUN is a group of Seattle neighbors who are working on improving internet and cable service in underserved areas such as Beacon Hill, the Central District, Leschi, and parts of Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and Pioneer Square.

Panelists at the meeting will include Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council; Bill Schrier, Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle; and Henry W. McGee, Jr., Seattle University School of Law. Neighbors in underserved neighborhoods are urged to attend, and the public is welcome. Citizens will be able to submit concerns during the meeting as well as on the UPTUN website.

The meeting is on Monday, March 7, from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at Beacon Lutheran Church, 1720 South Forest Street.

Getting Around

Spokane Street Viaduct to be closed for 3 nights

Beaconians heading west from the Hill take note—The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close the Spokane Street viaduct (formerly known as the West Seattle Freeway) overnight for three nights for work related to the Spokane Viaduct widening project.

Eastbound lanes of the viaduct will be closed from 11 p.m. tonight, February 25, until 5 a.m. on Saturday, February 26. The westbound lanes of the viaduct will be closed overnight on February 27 and 28 from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day to remove portions of the old structure. During this closure, southbound I-5 traffic will be directed to the Forest Street exit to access surface streets. Northbound I-5 traffic and westbound traffic from Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at 6th Avenue South.

You can see more information about the project at the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project page.

Meetings

Public safety topic of next NBHC meeting

Public safety on Beacon Hill is the focus of next week’s North Beacon Hill Council meeting, Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m.

Here is the planned agenda as forwarded by Judith Edwards:

  • 7:00 Hellos and Agenda
  • 7:05 Public Safety on Beacon Hill
    (10 minutes each)

    • Sgt. Ann Martin, South Precinct, Seattle Police Department
    • Lt. Fowler, new South Precinct Lieutenant
    • Craig Thompson, Community Leaders for Public Safety Committee Member
  • 7:35 Q and A
  • 8:00 Other Community Reports and Announcements
    • Food Forest at Jefferson Park
    • Community Planting on Beacon and Forest, March 20
    • Advisory vote from Council on supporting parking at El Centro for 80 vehicles, and acting on discussion at our last meeting there will be no fencing around the parking lot.
  • Announcements and upcoming events
  • 8:15 Executive Board Meeting – Vote on parking at El Centro, approval of meeting minutes from previous months.

The meeting is at the Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Avenue South. All are welcome.

Weather

Snow day?

There’s only a tiny bit of snow on the Hill right now, left over from last night. Like everyone else in Seattle, we are waiting to see if today’s promised snow day arrives. (KIRO’s Sam Argier just tweeted “Latest computer model coming in much more aggressive with Wednesday’s snow” and showed a 1″-4″ predicted snowfall for the city.) A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Keep your eyes on School Report for any potential closures, and be aware that the snow may hit us during the evening commute as it did during the November storm—consider leaving your car home, if possible.

We probably won't get this much snow today -- we hope. Photo from the December 2008 snowstorm, by Wendi.
Arts, Local Events

Beacon Rocks! fundraising swings into gear; ROCKiT settles into new space

Neighbors enjoyed a Beacon Rocks! performer in August last year. Photo by Erika Warner-Court in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
The first Beacon Rocks! fundraiser of 2011 swings into the Garden Club Headquarters House on Saturday, March 5 from 8 to 11 p.m. The event, billed as An Evening of Swing Dancing and Swing Era Fun, will include a live swing dancing performance and swing-dance lesson by Savoy Swing Club, a live cake raffle, and more. Hors d’ oeuvres will be free, beverages will not be—but the proceeds will go to the cause.

Swing Era costumes are encouraged. Suggested donations start at $10. The Garden Club House is at 2336 15th Avenue South.

The first Beacon Rocks! series was held last summer on Lander Festival Street next to Beacon Hill Station. For four afternoons, Beacon Hill performers entertained folks from the neighborhood and beyond with music and dance. Scheduled dates for the second Beacon Rocks! this summer are June 26, July 31, and August 28—plan ahead!

Beacon Hill Music and ROCKiT Space are hosting the fundraiser, and the Savoy Swing Club Performance Troupe are donating their time as well.

Speaking of ROCKit Space, the organization has relocated to the Garden Club House, and the new regular office hours are Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m.

Other news from ROCKiT Space:

  • Shunpike Arts Collective has accepted ROCKiT Space as an associate program, providing them with their 501c3 umbrella. Donations will now be fully tax deductible.
  • There will be no open mic on March 5. Open mic at Kusina Filipina will resume the third Saturday in March on its regular schedule.
  • Beacon Idol auditions for Beacon Rocks! will be held during Open mic nights on March 19, April 2, and April 16. Contact beaconrocks@gmail.com to schedule your audition or submit a recording for consideration. Open mics are held at Kusina Filipina, 3201 Beacon Avenue South.
Meetings, Urban Planning

El Centro seeking community feedback

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El Centro de la Raza is hosting a community meeting on Saturday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss ideas and planning for the development of the El Centro south lot. All are welcome, and food will be provided. Please RSVP to Miguel Maestas at 206-957-4650 or at associate@elcentrodelaraza.org.

The meeting will be held at the Cocina located on the first floor of the north end of the El Centro de la Raza building, 2524 16th Avenue South.

El Centro is also working with a group of business students from the University of Washington to develop recommendations for the future mixed-use, transit-oriented development on the south lot. The students have created an online survey, to gather Beacon Hill residents’ opinions about the small businesses they would like to see in the development. Here’s a link to the survey.

What will this bleak lot become? Photo by Joel Lee in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool.