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Volunteer at the Yard Sale tent

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IT’S ALMOST HERE …

The All-Montlake Yard Sale is this Saturday, September 15 between 9 am and 3 pm. So far 80 people have signed up to sell things from their yards. We hope that many other neighbors will become shoppers that day! Maps and lists of items will be posted online at www.montlake.net/events by Friday.

Also, we are seeking three more volunteers (ages 14 and up) for a two-hour stint at the MYS Information Tent to greet newcomers who aren’t familiar with our neighborhood and would like some assistance in finding their way around. You will distribute printed copies of the map of sale sites and the list of what they are selling. The Tent will at Montlake Community Center (1618 E. Calhoun St.). If you’re interested in volunteering, please call Jean Leed at 206-329-9208 before Saturday morning. Thanks a bunch!

Turkey Trot Returns – Save the Date!

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The Montlake Community Club’s 5K Turkey Trot & Kids Run is back! On Thanksgiving morning, before you dive into the turkey, bring your kids,  relatives, and friends to join this Montlake tradition, now in its third year. Last year, thanks to people like you, we raised over $23,000 for the University District Food Bank. This year, net proceeds will again go to the food bank. More info about the race will be posted on Montlake.net later this month.

Running not your thing? We invite you to join our Volunteer Team to give back and feel good on Turkey Day. To learn more email Jamie Cobb at jamieccobb@gmail.com. We welcome high school students looking for service learning hours. Want to be a sponsor? Contact Chris Cumming at chris@motofish.com.

3 Ways to Celebrate Freeway Revolt Anniversary in September

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s Freeway Revolt and you are invited to join us in celebrating.  Seattle ARCH (Activists Remembered, Celebrated and Honored) and six community councils (including your Montlake Community Club) are co-sponsoring a community open house on Sunday, September 23, from 3-6 p.m.  Two other events on September 19 and 26 will also showcase this important time in Seattle history.  
 
Freeway Revolt 50th Anniversary Open House
Sunday, September 23, 3-6 pm
Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave S, Seattle 98144
 
In1968, two grassroots organizations – Citizens Against the R.H. Thomson and Citizens Against Freeways – formed to challenge plans for a dense network of freeways in Seattle.  These and other groups helped build a diverse, citywide coalition that took on powerful pro-highway forces and kept Seattle from becoming “the Los Angeles of the North.”   
 
Learn about the dense network of freeways planned for Seattle and view flyers, letters and other materials from the citizens’ resistance at this free public event.  Former activists will be on hand to share their experiences.  Light refreshments will be served and visitors may drop in at any time.  
Schedule: 
3:00  pm:   Doors open
3:30  pm:   Welcoming remarks 
3:45  pm:   “Open mike” – reflections and recollections 
4:30  pm:    Excerpts from freeway revolt documentary 
 

The open house is co-sponsored by the Laurelhurst Community Club, Leschi Community Council, Montlake Community Club, Mt. Baker Community Club, Portage Bay/Roanoke Park Community Council, and Ravenna-Bryant Community Association.

MOHAI History Café on Seattle’s Freeway Revolt

Wednesday, September 19, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Museum of History & Industry, 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle 98109 
 
Former anti-freeway activists Donald Gibbs, Jean Godden, Larry Gossett and Junius Rochester will share personal stories from their involvement in Seattle’s Freeway Revolt.  Priscilla Arsove, who co-founded Seattle ARCH (Activists Remembered, Celebrated and Honored), will provide a brief overview of the movement.  Held in the Museum’s cafe, this is a popular, free event that often draws a large crowd.  See the MOHAI.org website for visitor information.
 
“Ramps to Nowhere” Documentary Film
Wednesday, September 26, 7:15 pm
Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Seattle 98122
 
“Ramps to Nowhere,” an experimental documentary by filmmaker Minda Martin, will be shown at the Northwest Film Forum’s “Local Sightings” film festival.  The film highlights the coalition of communities that participated in Seattle’s freeway revolt, interweaving archival information from the 1960s and 70s with Martin’s personal narrative about living next to freeways.  Contemporary interviews with former activists are also featured.   Check the Local Sightings website for ticket information.

Community Club President’s letter

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Last day to sign up for Yard Sale is Sept. 11th

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The All-Montlake Yard Sale on Saturday, September 15th is fast approaching! The deadline for signing up to sell things you no longer want or need is just a week away, at midnight on September 11. If you haven’t yet signed up, talk to your neighbors and see if they would like to join together. Each person should click to register the designated site here.

This year we will have a booth at the Montlake Community Center between 9:00 and 3:00 for people to stop by and ask questions. We’ll also distribute free maps of sale sites and lists of the types of items for sale. If you’re willing to put in a two-hour shift at the booth or have questions about the Yard Sale, please contact our coordinator at montlakejean@gmail.com.

Secret Paths

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When I was a kid I knew how to get around my neighborhood. I was certain I had the fastest way to school, the shortest trips to my friends’ houses or the quickest route to the candy store.  This expediency was accomplished by many ‘cut-throughs’ I had mapped out and much like Ferris Bueller many of my routes took me through neighbor’s backyards. When you’re a kid, relying on your own two feet to walk or pedal a bicycle or ride a skateboard gives you a perspective and a sense of your neighborhood that adults don’t get.

After having lived in Montlake for a number of years and used modes of transportation other than a car to get around it has dawned on me that we have many beautiful and public cut-throughs.  These cut-throughs probably see more traffic now than they have in the past as we all try and reduce our use of our cars.  Some of these cut-throughs will also vanish or be changed as the 520 project continues its inevitable westward roll.  While the Bill Dawson Trail may be dangerous and slightly seedy, I will miss the mood of it.  Some of what makes these paths so appealing is that they are unvarnished and they feel like a neighborhood secret.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling like a kid again so I encourage you to get out and walk, run or ride through all these paths and see how much faster they get you to where you’re going.

– 15th Ave to E. Calhoun

 

– Bill Dawson Trail under 520 off ramp

 

– path from 19th Ave E to the Montlake Community Center

 

– 19th Ave E cut through

 

– 22nd Ave E stairs from E Blaine St

 

– stairs to the cut on the east side of Montlake Blvd E

 

– path under Montlake Blvd E on the south side of the cut

Montlake Yard Sale is coming up

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By now, you have likely seen the large yellow “All Montlake Yard Sale” signs in and around the neighborhood.  The Yard Sale is September 15th, between 9am and 3pm. As of today, we have more than 40 households signed up. If you’re thinking about it, commit now so that you can prepare in plenty of time. The deadline for registering is Tuesday, September 11 at midnight.  Click here to sign up.

This year we will have a canopy and table at the Montlake Community Center during the Yard Sale. Residents and visitors can stop by and ask questions. We’ll also distribute a free map of sale sites and a list of the types of items for sale. If you’re willing to put in a two-hour shift or have questions about the Yard Sale, please contact our coordinator at montlakejean@gmail.com.

Sign up for the Montlake Yard Sale

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As summer draws to a close, it’s time to sign up to participate in the sixth annual ALL-MONTLAKE YARD SALE, organized by the Montlake Community Club. The sale takes place on Saturday, September 15 between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.

The MCC handles much of the publicity for this event: signage, ad placements, and an online interactive map with sale sites for buyers.

Click here to sign up now.

The sign up deadline to be included on the interactive map is  Tuesday, September 11.

For questions, or if you’d like to volunteer to help distribute flyers or put up signs, please email yardsale@montlake.net.

 

23rd Avenue E Vision Zero Project

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Work is expected to begin in August on 23rd Avenue E, between Boyer Avenue E and E John Street. The work should take about two weeks and will address speeding, pedestrian safety, bicycling safety and collision reduction.

This is the 3rd phase of the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvement Project which began in 2015.  It focuses on calming speeds to the posted speed limit of 30 MPH. Around E Highland Drive and 23rd Avenue E, the average northbound speed people are traveling is 39 MPH. Here’s why speed matters:

This stage of the project includes lane restriping, and skid-resistant surface treatment at E Louisa Street, E Lynn Street, and E Helen Street/Turner Way.  It maintains two southbound lanes and replaces one northbound lane between Boyer Avenue E and E John Sreet with a center turn lane.

More details on this project are here: http://www.seattle.gov/visionzero/projects/23rd-ave-e

More details on all three phases:  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/maintenance-and-paving/current-paving-projects/23rd-ave-corridor-improvements

This fall SDOT will begin public discussion about a new stop light at 24th Ave E and Lynn.  The purpose will be to determine design of the new traffic signal, potential curb ramps, parking, and where bus stops and bus lanes might be installed.  The Community Council is currently working with SDOT on how to best get feedback.

One of the primary topics will be limiting left turns at 24th and Lynn.  SDOT will work closely with the residents and businesses who will be most impacted. These changes will likely happen in 2019 and be coordinated with SR 520 construction.

Unfortunately, funds are not available for the vision established in the Montlake Community Business District Improvement Project.  http://montlake.net/neighborhood/montlake-business-district.  SDOT is not moving forward with it at this time due to concerns about congestion, and the need for future RapidRide lanes on the corridor.  Once the Montlake and 520 interchange begins construction and the impact of this project is felt in Montlake, this topic can be raised again.

General inquiries about traffic should be directed to: Montlake.Traffic@seattle.gov and 23rdAveCorridor3@Seattle.gov

 

 

Sept. 23 Event To Celebrate Seattle’s Freeway Revolt

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A community-wide open house celebrating the 50th anniversary of Seattle’s Freeway Revolt will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, September 23, at the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Avenue South, Seattle. Community members are invited to attend.

The Montlake Community Club is one of six Seattle community councils co-sponsoring the event along with Seattle ARCH (Activists Remembered, Celebrated and Honored). According to organizers Anna Rudd and Allan Davis, the open house aims to inform current residents about the citywide movement that helped quash plans for a dense network of freeways in Seattle. Rudd and Davis are among several former activists who will be on-hand to talk with visitors.

The free event will feature information on the planned freeway grid as well as materials from the citizens’ resistance, including, including maps, flyers, letters and more.  A special preview of the forthcoming documentary by filmmaker Minda Martin will also be shown.  Light refreshments will be served.

Visitors are welcome to stop by any time between 3 and 6 p.m.   The program schedule includes:

3:00 p.m.        Doors open, displays and information available

3:30 p.m.        Welcoming remarks

3:45 p.m.        “Open Mike” – former activists and others are invited to share their recollections and    thoughts about the freeway revolt

4:30 p.m.        Preview of “The Ramps to Nowhere” freeway revolt documentary

Communities across Seattle can be proud of their role in helping Seattle remain the vibrant, livable city it is today, say Rudd and Davis.  “We wanted to create an opportunity to celebrate this amazing grassroots movement and honor those who did so much to save the city,” says Rudd.  “We hope their actions will be a source of inspiration to current and future generations.”

Anti-freeway activists helped to defeat or dramatically reduce three planned freeways:  the RH Thomson Expressway, a major north-south freeway parallel to I-5; the Bay Freeway, which would have connected I-5 to the Seattle Center along South Union; and a massive,14-lane I-90 bridge (downsized to 8-lanes with two earmarked for transit).

Participants included communities from Mt. Baker to Lake City and organizations ranging from Allied Arts to the Citizens Planning Council, League of Women Voters and Black Panthers.

The Montlake community took an early role in opposing freeway plans.  In June 1968, then Montlake Community Club President Maynard Arsove became president of the newly formed “Citizens Against the RH Thomson” (CARHT). That same year the MCC joined six other Seattle community councils in endorsing a CARHT resolution opposing the RH Thomson Expressway and third and forth Lake Washington bridges.  In 1969, the MCC was among twelve community councils that signed a letter protesting the “slumlording “ of Highway Department-owned homes in the RH Thomson Corridor.

Citizen opposition culminated in Seattle voters’ defeat of the RH Thomson and Bay Freeways in 1972 referendums.  Battles over I-90 continued into the decade, as citizens successfully fought for design modifications that dramatically reduced its scope and impact.

Other sponsors of the September 23 open house include the Laurelhurst Community Club, Leschi Community Council, Mt. Baker Community Club, Ravenna-Bryant Community Association, and the Portage Bay/Roanoke Park Community Council.

More information on the freeway revolt is available in an online publication, Seattle’s Freeway Revolt: A Directory of Historical Resources, hosted on the Seattle Public Library’s special collections online.  The directory was funded by a grant from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax Fund.