The juvenile Bald Eagle’s from the nest on Montlake Cut are both encountering significant challenges. Charlie, the one who fell, is trying to recover at PAWS. Lucy, the one left behind, is trying to survive in a rapidly disintegrating nest. Read the progress reports regarding Monty and Marsha’s offspring in this week’s post on:
Have a great day on Union Bay…where nature lives in the city!
Larry
Say hooray for our neighbors who rallied Saturday to support our beloved Montlake Boulevard Market in their clash with Washington’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Saturday afternoon, Montlake elders, “middlers” and youngsters–nearly 50 strong–gathered to protest and parade at the Market corner near the bridge. They waved, held homemade signs high, chanted “Save Our Market”, and “12-Year Dirt Pile, No! No! No!” Hundreds of cars and pedestrians passed (slowly, of course– it was game day). Everyone took a look. How could they help it? Got some honks! Some shouts! Some thumbs up!
Our BLVD Market-WSDOT confrontation and rally caught media attention too. Friday, KIRO Radio featured an interview with Montlake activist, Kathy Laughman. She told how WSDOT provoked the planned rally by a surprise summer pronouncement that the Market & gas station land was needed for 520 replacement work. Montlake objected immediately. (*Hear Kathy’s interview at one of these sites below.)
Kiro Radio
My Northwest
On game day afternoon, KJR Sports Radio’s Softy Mahler, broadcasting from the Montlake Blvd Market parking-lot-turned-tailgating space, gave MCC President Bryan Haworth time to put in a plug for the cause. A tad later, KIRO TV news reporter Deborah Home & video crew swooped in and stayed around to capture the protest rally issue in time for broadcast Saturday evening.
Our David and Goliath clash is getting some City-wide notice. We may even be seeing some WSDOT reps’ willingness to negotiate. In the interest of the Boulevard Market, of Montlake, and of the principle of “fairness to the little guy,” we need to keep up our support effort.
Be ready for future opportunities to show your backing for our Montlake Blvd Market neighbors.
“Like” the Montlake Community Club on Facebook.
“Like” and see 15 more photos of the rally on Montlake Boulevard Market’s Facebook page.
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.
The WSDOT project team for the “Montlake Phase” will provide a short presentation with key project updates. Attendees will be also able to share thoughts regarding this next phase of SR 520 construction.
This is an opportunity to let them know how we feel about the proposed taking of the Montlake Boulevard Market and the gas station so please try to attend this important meeting.
Photo @KaraKostanich Twitter
Via KOMO News
By Kara Kostanich
SEATTLE — Metro Transit bus service could be changing around the University of Washington and Capitol Hill in preparation for two new Link light rail stations that will open next year.
Metro Bus route 25 and route 43 are lifelines for some longtime Montlake neighbors, but with Link light rail service coming to UW and Capitol Hill in March, seven bus routes are now on the chopping block.
“It is a problem for us,” said Linnea Hirst.
Metro Transit says the purposed cuts will restructure the transit network around the new light rail stops, ultimately providing more service to more riders on designated corridors.
“There are some routes that are being purposed for elimination,” said Jeremy Fichter with Metro Transit. “Most of the rides on those routes will continue to have other options available with fixed route transit routes.”
But that’s the problem for neighbors Kathy Smith-DiJulio and Hirst.
Click Here to View Video and Continue Reading.
UPDATE: If you were unable to attend the Sept 16th meeting and have comments to share, please email City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen at tom.
The Seattle City Council is seeking testimonies today, Wednesday, Sept 16th at 5:30pm to help finalize the SR-520 resolution. Show up at the University Christian Church at 4731 15th Ave. NE. and tell the Seattle City Council we need to get this right at a public hearing.
While in person testimony is more impactful, if you can’t make the meeting, you can email, or better yet call, the City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen directly at 206-684-8808 or tom.
This week’s post contains a variety of Union Bay updates regarding the owls, osprey, eagles, hawks and even a mallard trying to steal a crabapple. Please visit:
Photo: KING
Via KING 5:
SEATTLE — Residents in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood complain of a parking invasion. They say hide and parkers are capitalizing on their free street parking, leaving little room for the people who live there.
“All of a sudden there was this wave of people commuting in for the day by four or five in the morning,” said resident Greg…
This message sign is on NE 45th St. near the University Village Shopping Center.(Photo: Josh Green, KING 5)
Via King 5 News – Josh Green
SEATTLE – Homeowners in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood aren’t happy about a city proposal to put up a message sign along 24th Avenue E. near Lee Street.
Dynamic Message Signs are large overhead message boards that recommend different routes, limit travel speeds and warn of any other traffic problems. The signs are about 17 feet wide, seven feet tall and stand about 19 feet above the road.
“We’re appalled it’s being considered for a residential area,” said Seattle resident Heather Lowe. “It has no place and it shouldn’t be put up in that neighborhood, but only in industrial areas.
Scott Kubly, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, told council members Tuesday the location is important for the sign because of Boyer Avenue E, a minor arterial, is the only arterial street in the area with a direct connection to an alternate crossing of the Ship Canal, the University Bridge.
Complete story & video available on King5.com
Residents of Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood complain that the city’s plan for a big driver-information sign will only encourage side-street traffic.
Via Mike Lindblom, Seattle Times Transportation Reporter
In its fervor to use technology to give drivers better information, the Seattle Department of Transportation has stirred a hornet’s nest in the Montlake neighborhood.
Residents are annoyed by the city’s plan to erect an overhead, real-time traffic message sign at 24th Avenue East and East Lee Street, where northbound traffic flows downhill toward Highway 520 and the University of Washington.
For only the second time, the city would be putting one of these steel-supported structures next to single-family homes.
Read the complete story HERE
Montlake neighbors have been collecting signatures for a petition against the sign. An online petition has also been created for those who wish to show their support against the sign. Click HERE or copy and paste this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/
If you were in the Montlake area just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday you no doubt saw the flash, heard the thunder and felt the impact when lightning hit in the Arboretum. Luckily, the destructive force focused on a tall Grand Fir tree, instead of one of our homes. See the photos and read the story on:
Have a safe day near Union Bay…where nature goes wild in the city!
Larry
