It’s midway through KEXP’s summer membership drive and Fifth Annual Hood-to-Hood Challenge, in which Seattle neighborhoods are pitted against each other to see which neighborhood can win bragging rights by contributing the most support to the non-profit, independent radio station.
Currently, Capitol Hill/First Hill/Madison Park are in first place with $19,305 in pledges, while Beacon Hill/Georgetown/South Park/Sodo are in a weak 14th place with only $1,815. Rainier Valley/Mount Baker/Columbia City/Rainier Beach/Skyway have nearly twice the pledges, with $3,420 — but they had to combine five neighborhoods to do it. (We have four, but one of them is a neighborhood no one lives in!)
If you’re a KEXP listener and want to show some neighborhood pride while supporting independent radio, go here.
Thanks to Matthew McDonald for reminding us to mention this!
The first free Beacon Rocks! show featuring Beacon Hill musicians is coming up on next Sunday, June 13, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm, with scheduled performances from Lion Dance, Unite One/Traq Essentials, Robert Hinrix and Angela Castaneda, Octothorpe, Beacon Rockits, Better World, and Zumba. There are three more shows to follow on July 11, August 8, and August 29, all held at the new Lander Festival Street at Beacon and Lander, next to Beacon Hill Station.
Beacon Rocks! t-shirts to help support the event will be available at the Beacon Bazaar at Beacon Hill International School on June 12, as well as on the day of the event.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed to help set up and run the first day of Beacon Rocks! on June 13. Setup will start around 9:00 am and cleanup will run to 6:00 or 7:00 pm. If you can’t help on June 13, volunteers are also needed for the other events in July and August. If you can help out on June 13, please respond by today, June 7.
Jobs include but are not limited to:
Hanging up balloons, signs, arrows in the morning
Setting up equipment
Shifts as crossing guards on Beacon Avenue
Setting up/running T-shirt stand/sales
Helping attendees park in designated lots
Setting up/maintaining stage area
Post-event clean-up
Assisting kids at the etching area
All volunteers will be provided with water, snacks, and sunblock, and the opportunity to buy shirts at cost (about $7 vs. $15 regularly).
If you are interested in helping out, please email beaconrocks@gmail.com with what dates and times you are available, and any preferred jobs or jobs you have experience with.
The Beacon Hill Music folks want you to know: “We would appreciate it so much if you could spare just a few hours in the morning or afternoon on any of the event days to come help out. Thanks!” You can join these Beacon Rocks! volunteers and help put on this Sunday's event at Lander Festival Street. Photo by Jason.Octothorpe performed at Rockit Space a couple of weeks ago, auditioning for Beacon Rocks! Photo by Joel Lee in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
This is the structure that we built on Saturday down at Jose Rizal Park. At its center is the pond, then a ring of concrete blocks, then a band of salmon berries, then the corral of wood. It stands 4-5 feet high, and measures about 25 feet across and 3 feet thick. It incorporates only objects from the site.
When I do work like this, I have Andy Goldsworthy in mind. This is a multigenerational piece. The corral will be taken by the elements. The band will fill in quickly, protecting the pool from those of the canine persuasion while providing berries for birds and neighborhood pies. The ring will stabilize the pool, and should the pool become a sustainable pond, it can be stocked with the lowland Pacific tree frog. The drainage should work to prevent mosquitoes and other blood suckers, though a woman did comment today that it made her wonder if it would be used for sacrifices. People will play with it—repairs should be easy. It will be interactive—might make a nice bonfire, too.
There’s a shortage of mid-level brush to host songbirds in Seattle Parks and woodlands generally, so this installation will likely draw them. Dogs can’t get all muddy there anymore.
Besides building the corral, we also repaired the fence just east of it. Most of the wood came from a pile that was near the view area of the lower meadow, so that area now looks more open, too. We also improved the drainage in the meadow – that is a much bigger task. We had over 40 Seattle Works volunteers, plus five neighbors. I divided them into three teams—one of the pix shows about a third of the group.
All in all, a darn fun project. Check it out if you have a moment—looks medieval!
Alleycat Acres, a volunteer-driven urban farming collective is hosting a fundraiser tonight from 6:00 – 10:00 pm at Grey Gallery, 1512 11th Avenue on Capitol Hill. The suggested donation is $5-20 at the door.
Music for the event will be provided by DJ Colby B. and Brett Law, and there will be a raffle with prizes from local businesses. See more details at the website.
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.
Photo by Invisible Hour, via Creative Commons.When I was cruising the internet 10 years ago searching for the perfect canine companion, I looked forward to having a fuzzy head keep my feet warm on the couch and planned the cool tricks I would teach my new pal. I also started jogging a few weeks in advance, so that I would be in better shape to tire out an energetic young dog (ha!). Â I researched food, off-leash areas, doggy daycares and dog walkers.
What I didn’t realize was that over the years, I would get to know every tree and front flower garden in the neighborhood. Â I’ve learned where the dogs live and where the cats like to hide. Â While Tica sniffs, I read the “for sale” and “lost bike” signs on the telephone poles. Â We’ve watched babies grow into kindergardeners. Walking with Tica has shaped the way I interact with my community.
I enjoy casual (and sometimes lengthier) conversations with neighbors—mostly those who spend a lot of time outside, like the dog owners and avid gardeners. Walking with a dog provides an opening for conversation, sort of a secret handshake. Â People stop and smile and start conversations. Â People reach into their pockets (or go into their houses) to share a treat with Tica. Â We exchange cookies during the holidays and keep an eye on each other’s homes on vacation.
It shouldn’t have surprised me that growing a baby brings out the same responses in people. Â I’m getting to know an entirely different group of neighbors—the grandmas, the moms without dogs, older kids who feel safe making eye contact with a mom-to-be. Â The always friendly library staff and Red Apple cashiers are absolutely bubbly. Â People who usually walk quickly from their car to the front door linger on the sidewalk to say hello, ask how I’m doing, or offer baby items. Â I’m amazed by the generosity of our neighborhood. Â Thank you to all the neighbors who’ve shared baby items, support, and yummy snacks!
Here are some Beacon Hill area parenting resources and places to donate or sell your baby/kid gear. Â More experienced parents, please add your suggestions in the comments.
Have you ever searched “Beacon Hill” on craigslist? Â I’ve gotten several baby items in perfect condition at a great price. Best of all, I got to meet new neighbors with kids, within walking distance of home!
Baby food, formula, and diapers are always welcome at both of our neighborhood food banks:
If you’d like to donate children’s items or know a family in need, Wellspring Family Services operates the Baby Boutique. Â Their “urgent needs” wishlist includes: carseats, maternity clothes, shoes, and personal care items (shampoo, lotion, etc). Â The Baby Boutique serves kids of all ages, from newborn to teenager. Â Baby Boutique accepts donations on the following days and times: Tuesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm; Wednesday thru Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm; 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; or call 206-902-4270 to set up an appointment. Due to limited space, they cannot accept items larger than cribs or toddler beds.
I’m just getting started with the North Beacon Hill Parents yahoo group. Â It seems to be a good place to give away/sell kid items and post questions about everything from preschools to replacing old wood windows. I’m looking forward to interacting more with this group.
If you have pet items you’d like to donate, consider these resources:
Photo by go-team from the Beacon Hill Blog pool on Flickr.
The 17th annual Beacon Hill Festival is coming Saturday, June 5th to the Jefferson Community Center at 3801 Beacon Ave S. Applications for vendors are being accepted now and must be submitted by May 7th. Donations for the silent auction fundraiser are sought, and tax-deductible donations and sponsorships are also welcomed.
Are you a retired teacher? Are you currently pursuing a degree in education and would like to increase your teaching experience in a culturally diverse setting? Are you a previous camp counselor or someone who has worked with elementary-school students and knows how to effectively work with them? An hour a week could do wonders for our local students and their academic success.
Neighborhood House has an immediate need for reliable, patient volunteer after-school tutors at Aki Kurose Middle School (3928 South Graham Street). You’ll be working with middle-school students helping them finish their homework as well as improve their academic skills. Orientation and training will be provided.
We’re looking for people who are available from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. once a week for at least three months.
If you (or anyone you know) are interested in becoming an after-school tutor, please e-mail RominaR@nhwa.org for more information on how to get started as an after-school tutor.
Update: This becomes even more timely and relevant with Google’s announced gigabit fiber-to-the-home trial plans announced today. Some additional coverage at Ars Technica. Please visit Google’s Request for information site and nominate Beacon Hill, specifically, and southeast Seattle generally, for this project. Thanks to Yifan for pointing to this in the comments!
Do you have substandard internet service from Broadstripe and want to help steer the development of our internet infrastructure? Tracy Bier contacted us hoping to find some folks from Beacon Hill to join a coalition of neighbors from several south-and-central Seattle neighborhoods working to move our access options forward:
Neighbors from Capitol Hill, Central District and Leschi have formed a group to advocate for improved internet and cable service in areas bound by a many-year-old franchise agreement between the Broadstripe company and the City of Seattle.
To balance the geographic representation of our team of volunteers, we urgently seek a neighbor from the Beacon Hill area who experiences the negative effects of below standard service from Broadstripe. We are also seeking a volunteer with legal experience in the technology field or a person familiar with fiber optic technology.
We know you are busy, nobody needs another volunteer pursuit but you might get some satisfaction from working with us. We are moving quickly on this, especially with the new mayor in place.
If you are interested in lending a hand, contact Tracy via email at atbier@msn.com or telephone: 206-322-8613.
