On Wednesday December 7th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Graham Visitors Center (2300 Arboretum Drive East), the Washington State Dept of Transportation will hold another public meeting to discuss the “Montlake Phase” of the 520 bridge construction which is expected to begin in 2018. Topics will include the West Approach Bridge North (WABN), the West Approach Bridge South (WABS), the Montlake lid and land bridge, and a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan. I urge all concerned residents to turn out for this meeting because we are running out of time to have an impact on the design of this project. WSDOT also indicates they still plan on taking the Montlake Blvd Market and 76 gas station through purchase or by eminent domain so please speak up and let them know this is unacceptable and alternatives to this plan must be part of the discussion. Let’s keep up the fight and I hope to see you there!
-Bryan Haworth, Montlake Community Club President
WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) is having a 520 West Approach Bridge North construction update on Wednesday, Oct 5th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Graham Visitors Center in the Arboretum.
Time once again to dust off the lawn chairs and slice up the watermelon because the National Night Out is Tuesday August 2nd and block parties will be popping up all over the city. National Night Out is an annual crime prevention event designed to heighten crime awareness and increase neighborhood support for anti-crime efforts. Some gatherings are just a few households while others are large multi-block parties with lots of great food and even live entertainment. Get involved in an existing one or start your own. The Montlake Community Club is again offering to reimburse each organized block party in Montlake up to $75 for party expenses, just provide copies of receipts (sorry alcohol is not included). For more information along with instructions on how to close a street or register an event go to www.seattle.gov/police/nightout/. Receipts and/or questions can be emailed to 
Please join us Monday, March 7th from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Montlake Public Library Branch meeting room for a Block Watch presentation by Seattle PD Crime Prevention Coordinator, Terrie Johnston.
Montlake traffic is in the news again. Yesterday, the new west bound 520 off-ramp opened and, based on all of the press coverage, it does not appear the first day went very well. TV news cameras captured several cars running the newly installed stop signs at the intersection of Lake Washington Blvd and 24th Ave E likely because it was dark and the new signs are a major change.
I spoke to a KIRO news reporter who witnessed several close calls between cars and pedestrians so caution is advised. The problem is so bad the State Patrol temporarily posted officers at the intersection to help bring attention to the new four way stop. Another problem is the high volume of traffic using the exit during the afternoon rush hour resulted in cars being backed down the ramp and onto 520. This new off-ramp is just one one of many changes Montlake will experience as construction of 520 continues so please try and be patient. The Montlake Community Club along with other “safe streets” advocates will continue working with WSDOT and SDOT to try and resolve these and other problems because keeping our neighborhood a safe place is our number one goal.
Last Sunday night, 
The Montlake Community Club would like to thank everyone who attended the event, the businesses and their amazing generosity, and those that donated their time, money, and effort to help make it a very enjoyable and successful evening. Photos provided by Jonathan Phillips.
Please join us this Sunday, December 6th, between 5-9 pm for a special Montlake Holiday Light Fundraising Party at Cafe Lago. There will be free hot apple cider for the kids, a free glass of Prosecco for the adults, festive music, a raffle, and of course, fabulous food!
The holiday season is upon us and the Montlake Community Club wants our neighborhood, like many others, to have an inviting festive atmosphere, so the beautiful white holiday lights are once again up in downtown Montlake and on the Montlake Boulevard Market. Cafe Lago has generously offered to sponsor this fundraising event and will contribute 10% of their proceeds for the night toward the cost of the lights.
Okay everyone, time to put down the iPad, whip up a batch of deviled eggs and throw some “cold ones” on ice because this years national “Night Out” will be on Tuesday August 4th. Call your neighbors, bang on their door, throw a rock through their window (metaphorically of course), just do whatever it takes to get them off the sofa and outside for some summertime block party fun. National “Night Out” is an annual Crime Prevention event designed to heighten crime prevention, awareness, and increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts. Some gatherings are just a few households while others expand into large multi-block parties. Also, as a special incentive, the Montlake Community Club is once again offering to reimburse each organized block party in Montlake up to $75 for party expenses, just provide copies of receipts (sorry, alcohol not included). For more information along with instructions on how to close a street or register an event, go to www.seattle.gov/police/nightout/. Receipts and/or questions can be emailed to bryanhaworth@comcast.net. Cheers!
The Seattle Office of Emergency Management will be having a special Neighborhood Emergency Planning meeting at the Montlake Community Center on Tuesday March 24 from 6pm – 8pm. Topics will include: How to become part of a SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) group, the Block Watch Program, and getting involved in a Community Hub. Hubs are Seattle neighborhood groups that work together to share information and help each other in a major emergency.