WSDOT is re-applying to the City of Seattle for a shoreline permit as part of the SR520 bridge replacement. South Portage Bay was once a pristine urban recreation area. 

Join us in requiring WSDOT to honor conditions from the 2012 Shoreline Permit Decision, to provide environmental and recreation access in South Portage Bay, and walkability nearby.  WSDOT now plans to reapply for the Shoreline Permit. Since 1962 water runoff from 520 has drained directly into Portage Bay resulting in silt build-up from vehicles that limits public access, and impacts habitat for 85 bird species, and beavers. We ask the City to ensure WSDOT compliance with requirements in the 2012 permit decision to mitigate the impacts of the bridge replacement in South Portage Bay.

Follow this link to sign the petition  — https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BKMYYFW

We petition WSDOT to fund past commitments from the 2012 permit, for WSDOT/ SR520 project to create an improved urban waterfront public access experience, with habitat preservation and enhancements. These commitments were made during planning for the Portage Bay bridge replacement and were formulated in response to overwhelming community input and support.

WSDOT’s permit reapplication should include and fund past commitments:

• Create water access points for boaters and walkers
• Expand the shoreline trail system to reconnect Montlake Park/Playfield
  • east to the Montlake Cut;
  • west to Interlaken Park, transit, businesses, and the new Delmar Lid
• Enhance shoreline habitat planting
• Mitigate past siltation and pollution

If we don’t stand up for the environment and wildlife, who will?  Please show your support by adding your name to this petition.
Follow this link to sign the petition
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BKMYYFW

A message from Graham construction:

In response to public feedback, we’re hosting our next monthly Montlake Project update meeting online rather than in person. This means you can join from the comfort of your own home, during a lunch break, or even while adventuring outdoors. You’ll just need an internet connection!

We’ll start the online meeting at noon Wednesday, March 4 with a short presentation by Graham’s director of construction, followed by a Q&A session. You will hear the presenter during the meeting, and you can send in questions directly to the team. The online meeting room will be available 10 minutes before the start of the presentation to allow people time to join and get acquainted with the platform. We’ll also have a staff member ready on our 24-hour hotline, 206-775-8885, for technical support.

Registration: http://bit.ly/520online

We will send confirmation and reminder emails as the event nears. 

You can join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Access to the internet will be required to view the presentation, and your device speakers must be enabled.

Moving forward, we will host a mix of in-person and online monthly meetings.

Click here for most up to date weather forecast SDOT’s Winter Weather Route Map National Weather Service  OEM TrainingCalendar OEM Training Request FormKing County Metro Snow Guide Garbage Collection There may be some delays in residential garbage, recycling, food, and yard waste pickups due to winter weather.   Click here for up to date details on garbage collection! Happy New Year! For those familiar with Lunar New Year, 2020 is the year of the Rat! A characteristic of the animal is strong adaptability to their environments! Here are 5 suggestions from the Office of Emergency Management that will encourage you to be more ADAPTABLE in the event of a disaster or emergency! 1. Attend a class preparedness class offered by OEM! (see below) 2. Get to know your neighbor! 3. Store water and food! 4. Sign up for Alert Seattle! (see below) 5. Have a shovel for potential snow!  FEMA YOUTH PREPAREDNESS CAMP APPLICATIONS DUE JAN 19th! This July FEMA will bring 40 students to our six-day, five-night preparedness camp just outside Anchorage, Alaska. Students ages 14 to 17 in our Region 10 states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are eligible to apply for the all-expense-paid camp.FEMA urges students who may be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to check out the application information and requirements now at www.fema.gov/YouthPrep Don’t wait until it’s too late! Upcoming classes and fairs! The  Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) is hosting the Seattle Home Fair in your community. There will be information for renters, homeowners, and landlords with experts on rental housing rules, coaching on obtaining permits for renovations, and breakout sessions on topics including landslide prevention, earthquake retrofits, and backyard cottages. North Seattle Home Fair  – Jan 25 Click here to sign up! South Seattle Home Fair – Feb 1 Click here to sign up!  Office of Emergency Management Classes Disaster Skills – February 4th, March 4th  Stop the Bleed – February 4th,  Feb 26th, March 5th, March 18th  Click Here to sign up Youth Urban Survival Skills Fair Build lifelong skills at this fun and interactive event designed for kids – adults will learn, too!  Ever put out a  fire with a common household extinguisher?  It’s not as easy as you think. Practice on our simulator.  Could your kids identify a dangerous natural gas leak?  Scratch-and-sniff stickers.  Turn off the gas if needed?  Practice on a real gas meter.  Much more to experience!  Kids can build and take home practical items like a “get home” bag for the caretakers in their lives or an emergency toilet.  Why an emergency toilet?  They will learn!  Knowledge is power.  Increase your child’s resiliency and get them excited about thinking ahead.  Lifelong skills! Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125 – Feb 8th, 2:00-5:00 PM Find out more info here!  HUB 101 Training Two identical sessions where you will learn the basics of hub operations, how a hub can be set up to aid in information sharing and what the different volunteers would do. We will also have time for hands-on practice.  No registration needed, just show up! Beacon United Methodist Church, 7301 Beacon Ave S, Seattle 98108 – Feb 24, 6:30 – 8:30 PM.Beacon United Methodist Church, 7301 Beacon Ave S, Seattle 98108 – Feb 29, 10:00 am-noon. Media Spotlight  If you missed the housing recovery seminar that the Office of Emergency Management hosted in August 2019, we now have it uploaded on our YouTube Channel! Watch Post Disaster Housing Recovery Seminar Seattle Public Utilities Winter Weather Information If Pipes Break or Freeze If a water pipe breaks, immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop flooding. The shut-off valve can be indoors or outdoors – usually in a basement, crawlspace or garage. If you cannot turn off the main shut-off valve, SPU customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a service charge. This phone number is staffed 24/7. Call a plumber to repair or replace the damaged section of the pipe as soon as possible. Click here to learn more about thawing frozen pipes

There’s a new way to track the spread of flu in Seattle neighborhoods. The Seattle Flu study has created a new interactive map that shows flu circulation in specific neighborhoods. The tool is designed to help people that live in neighborhoods like Montlake fight the flu with a real-time view of flu circulation.

Now in its second year, the Seattle Flu Study (SFS) is recruiting residents of Montlake and beyond to help researchers better understand the flu and how we can keep our city safer. Participants of all ages can sign up to take part in the study by visiting www.seattleflu.org, or by stopping by one of seven study kiosks located across the city— including those placed throughout the University of Washington.

About the study: Led by the Brotman Baty Institute—which combines the research strengths and capabilities of UW Medicine, Fred Hutch and Seattle Children’s—SFS collects nasal swabs from both healthy people and those with colds to tests for flu. This data is then analyzed to examine how flu viruses and other pathogens are impacting our community. The SFS returns swab results to participants, telling them whether they have the flu and which strain.

Please join the Montlake Community Club for their annual LIGHT UP THE NIGHT fundraiser Sunday, December 8th at Cafe Lago anytime between 5:00 and 9:00. Along with the special treats Cage Lago has in store for you, the MCC will be raffling off some pretty amazing items – just in time for the holidays. Raffle tickets $5 or 5 for $20! To make dinner reservations, visit cafelago.com and note LIGHT UP THE NIGHT fundraiser in the notes section so the staff will be sure to treat to some extra holiday cheer! We can’t wait to see you!

Please join the Montlake Community Club for their annual LIGHT UP THE NIGHT fundraiser Sunday, December 8th at Cafe Lago anytime between 5:00 and 9:00. Along with the special treats Cage Lago has in store for you, the MCC will be raffling off some pretty amazing items – just in time for the holidays. Raffle tickets $5 or 5 for $20!
To make dinner reservations, visit cafelago.com and note LIGHT UP THE NIGHT fundraiser in the notes section so the staff will be sure to treat to some extra holiday cheer! We can’t wait to see you!

SR 520 Montlake Project construction is in full swing in the Montlake neighborhood. Recognizing that this large construction project requires the closure of the Montlake Market at the end of the year, WSDOT is seeking your input about a potential temporary market or food service that could operate during the three to four years of Montlake Project construction.

Your input will assist WSDOT in implementing a directive the Legislature placed in the 2019-2021 state transportation budget. In response to the directive, WSDOT talked with the Montlake Market’s owners about operating a temporary market or food service, but after consideration, the owners declined the opportunity. So we’re now seeking your feedback on possible options for using a portion of the current market property for a small business or pop-up operation to serve the neighborhood during Montlake Project construction. Your feedback will help inform WSDOT’s process for soliciting interest from potential business operators.

This survey should take only about 3 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Survey responses can be submitted through Nov. 13.

Note: We recommend using the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Internet Explorer for the speediest experience using the SurveyGizmo application. Older browsers may not support full functionality of the survey application.

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact SR520Bridge@WSDOT.wa.gov or call 206-770-3554.

A message from the Seattle Department of Transportation: Join us at our upcoming open house at the Montlake Community Center on Tuesday, October 29. The open house is a good opportunity to learn more about the 23rd Ave E Vision Zero Project and to talk to the project team. We’ll share information about the updated design based on what we heard from the community, as well as answer questions people have about the new design. We will be sharing details on our website next week. Montlake Community Center 1618 E Calhoun St, 98112 Tuesday, October 29 5 – 7 PM

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 29, for an open house on all four SR 520 “Rest of the West” projects in Seattle. Our staff will be on hand to share the latest project designs and construction plans, address your questions and capture your feedback. Your input provides WSDOT a valuable community perspective as we move forward with design and construction in the corridor.

Open house topics include:

• Refined design concepts for the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid Project, including refinements to the bridge design, Roanoke lid, and bicycle/pedestrian connections in the area.
• Montlake Project design progress updates from the Graham team, in collaboration with WSDOT, the Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Seattle Design Commission.
• A public survey on a temporary market or food service in Montlake after the current Montlake Market closes by year’s end.
• A draft Community Construction Management Plan for the SR 520/I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project that outlines how our future contractor will work to minimize construction effects in the community.
• Speak with staff regarding the Montlake Cut Bascule Bridge Project and sign up for future public engagement opportunities. 

Meeting details:

• Date/Time: Tuesday, Oct. 29; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Montlake Community Center, Multipurpose Room; 1618 E. Calhoun St., Seattle
• Transit: Bus routes 43 and 49 stop approximately a half-mile away; the UW Link light rail station is approximately one mile away
• Parking: Limited free parking available on site

If you have any questions, please send us an email at sr520bridge@wsdot.wa.gov. Thanks, and we hope to see you on the 29th!

Bring your cameras and capture the breathtaking sight of Japanese maple trees ablaze in fall color at the annual Maple Festival,

Oct. 3 – 13, at the Seattle Japanese Garden.

To celebrate the start of this popular festival, and as part of Free First Thursday on Thursday, Oct. 3, the Seattle Japanese Garden will host the opening reception for a watercolor collection by a group of artists from Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Dementia-Friendly Recreation program. The opening reception will run from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Tateuchi Community Room on Oct. 3 and the exhibit will be on display through the end of Oct. On Free First Thursdays, admission to the garden is free after 1 p.m.

The Maple Festival is a family-friendly event features nature-inspired art, maple tree scavenger hunts for the kids, live performances and other cultural activities. Self-guided Maple Tour Brochures will be available on most days. See full event schedule here.

The event is free with garden admission, no advance tickets necessary. Garden admission prices: Adults, $8; City of Seattle residents with ID, $6; Youth 6 -17, students with ID, and seniors 65 and over, $4. Children 5 and under are free. Family and Individual memberships are accepted at this event. On the First Thursdays of the month, admission is free for all visitors from 1 p.m. until closing.

Seattle Japanese Garden is located at 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E. The hours in October are Monday, noon – 5 p.m. and Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. For more information, visit www.seattlejapanesegarden.org.