The Montlake Flyer

Natural Wonders

Neighbors in the vicinity of 19th & Calhoun report multiple sightings of a crow with white “wing bars”, and white feathers on the underside of the tail. The otherwise-normal crow has been nicknamed “Mr. Johnson”, but nobody seems to know why. Staff at the Seattle Audubon Society report having seen the occasional “coffee-colored” crow in town, but that can hardly compare.

Give us a little sign

Feeling a bit anonymous? It may be time for a neighborhood slogan! Fremont is “The Center of the Universe”—or could claim to be before Ballard became so hip. First Hill has “Right Above Downtown”—at least unofficially. But Montlake is undistinguished by a catchy moniker. A neighborhood wag enjoying the taps at Grady’s suggested “Montlake Has No Terrace.” Surely we can do better than that! What does Montlake have that makes it so special? Drop us an e-mail c/o the editor with your neighborhood slogan. It may appear on a sign one day!

Daytime assault points up need for Block Watch vigilance

A longtime resident of Montlake reports being robbed in the front yard of her house. At around 5:00pm, she had just walked home from a neighborhood grocery a few blocks away. She had stopped to push the refuse container back from the curb, when a man came from behind her and demanded her purse, forcibly removing the strap from her shoulder. She cried out for help and the man fled in a car that had been parked nearby. The woman’s neighbors later told her that they had either not heard her cries or had dismissed them as within the realm of sounds normally heard from the street. The police were notified and the operator of the market where she had shopped was informed of the incident.

To Do in Montlake in December

TODAY—Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra concert at MOHAI

The Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 2001-2002 season with music by Dvorak, Brahms and Grieg, Saturday, December 1 at 7:30pm at MOHAI.

Composed of 50 talented artists, the non-profit orchestra begins its 3rd season. This season PSSO continues following “national” themes for its three concerts: Bohemian, Russian and American. The December 1 concert includes “Academic Festival Overture” by Brahms, “Peer Gynt Suite #1” by Grieg, and “Symphony #7” by Dvorak.

Ticket prices are kept low to allow more people in the community to experience live orchestral music. General admission tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.00 for seniors, students and children. For future performances, advanced tickets may be ordered at reduced prices ($5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students, and children) through the PSSO website at www.psso.org or by mail (PSSO, 4511 36th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105).

Holiday programs at MOHAI

In addition to trees, antique toys and Frederick & Nelson memorabilia, several very special events will take place during Home For The Holidays.

Hidden Treasures: Antique Appraisals Bring your favorite toys, dolls, teddy bears, furniture and other objects from any era for an expert appraisal. Find out what you have and what it may be worth! Saturday, December 1, 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Northwest TV Holiday Reunion Join local TV legends JP Patches, Gertrude, Stan Boreson, Brakeman Bill, Romper Room’s Miss Marilyn, Mrs. Captain Puget, Rosco the Raccoon and Engineer Walt for a festive holiday program for the whole family! Come early to get a good seat at this rare group appearance by these local stars! Saturday, December 8, 1:00pm.

Holiday Radio Show: A Homefront Christmas Come to a live taping of a nostalgic radio drama specially written and produced by MOHAI and recorded for broadcast by KIXI AM 880. Visit Seattle of days-gone-by, when the US had just entered World War II and the homefront geared up for a holiday celebration. Guest stars include Chris Wedes (better known as JP Patches), Bob Newman (better known as Gertrude), Tracey Conway and Dave Dolacky. Saturday, December 15, 11:00am.

Model Railroad Extravaganza It’s all aboard for MOHAI's galleries, which will be filled with model trains and intricate layouts just in time for the holidays! Saturday and Sunday, December 15 and 16, 10:00am to 5:00pm.

FREE ADMISSION Sunday, courtesy of the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS.

Sandy Bradley’s POTLUCK! Holiday Reunion Live Broadcast Join Sandy Bradley and the whole POTLUCK! gang for two holiday shows featuring traditional old-time American music, ragtime, blues, novelty songs and humor. From 1984 until the mid 1990s, POTLUCK! was a fixture of public radio stations nationwide, and now it’s back for these special shows. Tickets available from MOHAI or Ticketwindowonline.com ($13.50 advance, $15 door, $10 advance for MOHAI members). Saturday, December 22, 11:00am and 1:00pm.

Also on display at MOHAI during Home For The Holidays is METROPOLIS 150, an exhibit marking 15 decades of Seattle and King County history. Museum and Book Store hours are every day from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Admission. For information call 206-324-1126 or visit www.seattlehistory.org.

Local author announces new book

Probing old newspapers, public and private archives, and the memories of the people who lived there, Jacqueline Williams traces the history of that perfect Capitol Hill in her book, The Hill With A Future: Seattle’s Capitol Hill 1900-1946. Covering the years from 1856, when the US Government awarded 160 acres of land that would be Capitol Hill to Selim Woodworth, an officer in the Navy during the Mexican-American War, to the closing of Broadway High School in 1946, the book is illustrated with over 100 historical images and sketches of the businesses,

churches, clubs, libraries, hospitals, and schools that have called Capitol Hill home.

Jacqueline Williams is author of: Wagon Wheel Kitchens: Food on the Oregon Trail and The Way We Ate: Pacific Northwest Cooking 1843-1900 as well as numerous articles on early Northwest history. She may be reached at jbwill2@mindspring.com or 322 4197.

NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Blanket Drive for Seattle Needy

Zak Rosencrantz, a resident of Montlake and a 7th grader at Washington Middle School, is collecting new and gently used blankets for people in need in Seattle. If you would like to donate blankets, you may contact Zak at 322-7673. You may also bring blankets to collection bins at Washington Middle School or Montlake School. Thank you for your support.

Montlake Elementary tours
Parents of prospective students invited

Every Wednesday in January and February, visitations for prospective school parents will be held at Montlake Elementary School. You’ll have a chance to meet Claudia Allan, the principal, who will make a brief presentation, followed by parent/docent-led tours. To register for a visit, please call the school office at 726-6680. And you can always find more info at the school website: www.seattleschools.org/schools/montlake.

NEDC Meeting Report

By Paul Gibson

October 2001: The November meeting of the Northeast District Council included reports and discussions about Magnuson Park, the “Ave Project”, a plan to revitalize the University commercial district, and a planned expansion of the Ronald McDonald House near Children’s Hospital. Of closer interest to Montlake were a report on the University Transportation Study and a petition from the Hamlin-Shelby neighbors pertaining to SR 520. The 520 petition, which was the same as that adopted by the MCC at its November meeting, was endorsed by the NEDC. The University Transportation Study presentation was also made at the MCC meeting and is reported on in those minutes.

Each month somewhat more than two pages of written announcements are passed out at the NEDC. They are generally out of date by the time this newsletter is distributed and therefore they are not included in this space. Beginning in December the NEDC announcements will be posted on the MCC web site shortly after the first Thursday of each month. Interested readers are encouraged to check the Montlake Forum to keep abreast of events and information about Montlake and the Northeast District. Though most of the November announcements are now obsolete, the most poignant is worth special attention. A four year old child from the Bryant neighborhood is in need of a bone marrow transplant due to leukemia. Because she is of Asian/Caucasian ancestry, potential donors are scarce, even on a national level. Anyone who is willing to be tested for bone marrow compatibility with this youngster should call 367-5433 or write to HELP NICOLE, 2400 NW 80^th St. # 311, Seattle 98117.

Board Meeting Minutes

November 7, 2001 Meeting called to order at 7:40pm. In attendance were: Clarissa Easton, President; Jonathan Dubman, Vice President; Mike Storie, Secretary; and Board Members Don Argus, Jeannine Jacobson, Shane Doran, Neil Weschler, Scott Coughlin and Doug Forbes.

New Board member Doug Forbes was welcomed to the meeting.

Don Argus will be calling a meeting of his committee to look into modifications to the by-laws regarding the resolution process.

A group consisting of Shane Doran, Scott Coughlin, and Editor Jeff Wood have been meeting to discuss ways to improve the newsletter. In addition to making it look more interesting, they are looking for new types of content. These changes will occur over a period of time. A column written by the Principal of Montlake School has already started. They are also considering input from students in Montlake including artwork from the annual Montlake “Artwalk.”

A former Montlake resident named Bill Bellman who lived here between 1912 and 1937 at 2021 E. Lynn, has written a book about the neighborhood in those early days, called Montlake—2021 and Way Beyond. It is hoped that parts of his book can be serialized as a regular component of The Montlake Flyer.

There was a discussion of the progress of the Emergency Preparedness program in Montlake. There are already two groups set up in the neighborhood. Clarissa asked that maps be prepared showing the locations of each group and their relationship to the existing Block Watch program. These would be computerized maps from the city data base.

Jonathan Dubman announced that a meeting of the University Area Transportation Study (UATS) will be held at Gould Hall at 8pm on November 15.

There was a discussion of the need for more inter-neighborhood coordination to avoid the "Balkanization" of Montlake. This has to do with the fact that the needs, interest and energy of Montlake residents tend to focus on the problems of their immediate locals, while Montlake covers a rather large area.

The meeting was adjourned at 9pm.

Next MCC Board meeting: Wednesday, December 5, 7:30pm in the west, modular building at Montlake Community Center.

General Meeting Minutes

November 14, 2001 The meeting was called to order by President Clarissa Easton at 7:45 in the modular building at Montlake Community Center. A quorum was present.

Announcements:

The Beautification Committee, headed by Mimi De Burle got a grant of $2,000 to help landscape a very steep area at 22nd and Newton, as a “pocket park.” The $2,000 matched the labor and other materials donated by Montlake residents. Mimi was thanked for her efforts in doing this.

Jonathan Dubman announced that the Transportation Committee is meeting monthly, to discuss a number of issues such as Trans Lake Washington, Metro Service and safe pedestrian crossings. The next meeting was scheduled for November 28th at 7:30 PM in the Modular Building at the Montlake Community Center. There is also an online forum at the Montlake web site montlake.net.

Jonathan also announced the serialization of a book by longtime Montlake resident Bill Bellman. Bill lived in Montlake between 1912 and 1937 at 2021 E. Lynn Street. The name of his book is Montlake—2021 and Way Beyond. Inclusion of installments of the book in The Montlake Flyer are being investigated.

Our guests were State Senator Pat Thibaudeau and Representative Ed Murray who engaged in a lively discussion of transportation issues.

Kristine Forbes introduced the topic of the resolution that was passed by the Montlake Community Club at the September meeting that asked the Mayor and the City Council to immediately reaffirm the positions stated in the Seattle Trans-Lake Resolution in 1997.

In addition, the Montlake Community Club Resolution states that all alternatives should be confined to the existing SR-520 right-of-way; That current project alternative proposing a second crossing of the Montlake Cut are unacceptable to the Club; that no alternative shall result in increased vehicular congestion on Seattle streets; that each alternative shall include a clear and enforceable program of transportation demand management (TDM) as an integral element; and that the City promptly embark on a legislative program to initiate TDM measures in the City of Seattle.

Kristine stated that the present alternatives called for a widening of SR-520.

Response: Both Senator Thibaudeau and Representative Murray emphasized that there was presently NO money in the budget to do anything with the 520 corridor. The first priority is the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the second is work on I-405.

Mr. Murray stated that there is the possibility of a regional gas or sales tax covering the three counties that could raise the money but the political climate is not conducive to any new taxes. He stated that even if the state had the funds, it cannot build a highway into a city without the city's permission.

They both mentioned that communities such as Montlake have considerable power but that we must keep at it and remain engaged.

Mr. Murray stated that some of the alternatives being proposed were required by law, but that some of them were outright red herrings. There are also some BAD proposals pushed by Eastside business interests.

He also stated that some changes do need to be made to SR-520. An example was the lack of breakdown lanes. Mr. Murray asked if we had talked to the City Council Members about the resolution and it's expanded form “The Seattle Plan.”

Peter Staten responded, “Sort of. The City seems to be causing congestion problems without providing any sort of solutions.”

Earl Wheatley suggested that the problem of congestion on Montlake Boulevard could be alleviated by a ramp from SR-520 to the UW side of the cut, contrary to the resolution. He also suggested reducing the speed limit on SR-520, close the Montlake Bridge to boat traffic and providing continuous HOV lanes on SR-520.

Representative Murray felt that some sort of regional entity will put a plan to the voters. The bridge must be rebuilt due to its age. “If it were to sink, it would be a catastrophe for the surrounding neighborhoods because the political pressure would be so great to rebuild it in a bigger and better form that most of our resolutions would be ignored.”

Other remarks brought out that the Trans-Lake Project has Environmental Impact Study (EIS) funding through June, 2002. The hearings have been postponed until next year due to lack of funding. Senator Thibaudeau mentioned that the State is anticipating a $1 billion deficit this year and perhaps as much as $3 billion in deficits in the next biennium. This is bound to affect any large projects such as SR-520.

At the close of the session with the elected officials, Chris Grady, owner of Grady’s Grillhouse, requested that since we are now truly in a depression, would they consider the problems of small businesses, particularly the problems with labor costs, energy costs and health care costs.

The next speaker was Jon Layzer from the Strategic Planning Office of the City of Seattle. He has been heavily involved in the University Area Transportation Study (UATS). This study includes Montlake Blvd. and the Montlake Bridge.

They have looked at over 100 possible transportation improvements and will present them early next year. He had handouts describing the details of many of the changes still under consideration. Eleven of them are concerned with the Montlake Blvd/Pacific Street Corridors.

If you want details of these plans or have questions, he can be reached at 206-684-8084, or jonathan.layzer@ci.seattle.wa.us.

Kristine Forbes then made a Motion that the meeting approve “The Seattle Alternative” as proposed by the Hamlin-Shelby group. This is an expansion of the resolution passed by the Club in September. As a motion, the passage reflects the feelings of those attending the meeting as opposed to a resolution which would reflect the feelings of the entire Montlake Community.

The motion was seconded and passed with no nay votes.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15.

Submissions for the January issue of The Montlake Flyer are due by Friday, December 15, 2001. Email to montlakeflyer@hotmail.com —OR— Mail to: Editor, The Montlake Flyer, 4756 U. Village Pl. NE #446 Seattle, WA 98105. Include name, address, and telephone number. Letters to the editor may be edited for length.