Montlake Community Club

You are here: Home / Archives for Page Two

Fred Hutch’s Obliteride Rolls through Montlake Aug. 13

by Leave a Comment

Nearly 2,000 Obliteride riders will be spinning through Montlake via Boyer Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 13, raising funds to help Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center obliterate cancer. 

Fred Hutch’s Obliteride is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year and organizers expect to blow past the $11 million fundraising mark and bring in more new community supporters than ever before. 

Organizers say no roads will be closed but they ask motorists to look out for riders, and are hoping residents will come out and cheer on riders.

All routes start at the Fred Hutch campus at 1100 Fairview Ave N and end at Gas Works Park.

Maps of each route can be found here. 

The weekend schedule can be found here.  

“Obliteride combines the deep passion of our supporters with the drive and urgency of Fred Hutch research in a powerful and meaningful way,” said Kelly O’Brien, Fred Hutch’s vice president for Philanthropy. “It’s not too late sign up to ride, volunteer or donate to this year’s event.”

Obliteride kicks off on Friday, Aug. 11, with a party at Seattle’s Gas Works Park. The rides range from 25 to 150 miles, so everyone can participate. They start at Fred Hutch’s Seattle campus and wind through the Puget Sound region.

“We’re excited to have so many new riders this year, and we’re encouraging people to come out and cheer them on,” said Andrea Gomes Morrison, director of Obliteride. “People in many communities we pass through make signs with loved ones’ names or encouraging words for the riders. It’s a fun way for people to get involved, and it means so much to our riders.”

People can also sign up to ride or volunteer. Online registration closes at midnight on Friday, August 4. Onsite registration will be available until 30 minutes before the start of each route.

One-hundred percent of every rider-raised dollar goes to cancer research at Fred Hutch.

Obliteride 2017

Obliteride is fun, focused and full of energy! It’s so much more than a bike ride. Riders are treated to a first-class weekend of fun parties, live entertainment and fantastic food from Tom Douglas Catering. For more information on how to be part of this exciting event August 11-13, 2017, visit Obliteride.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.

SaveSave

Mr Johnson’s Antiques presents an ESTATE SALE at 3211 Fuhrman Ave E

by Leave a Comment

Portage Bay Estate Sale with lots of German Literature, Art & Furniture

This Weekend, July 28 – 30th

Fri 8-4, Sat 8-4, and Sun 9-5

This beautiful craftsman home in the Portage Bay/Eastlake neighborhood was home to German immigrant Ms. Else Sherwin. The estate includes many high quality leather bound German books, art (both of German origin and also from local NW artists), and early 20th century German objects. Ms Sherwin and her son Peter were friends of many NW artists and their collection includes work by Richard S. Breyer (sculptor best known for Fremont’s ‘Waiting for the Interurban’), Oregon metal sculptor John Richen, and German expressionist H. Gortz to name a few.

From Mr. Johnson, “It is my sincere hope that all those academics and bibliophiles who can read German in the new and old (Fraktur) script please attend this sale. I would estimate well over 2000 books (leather bound, hardbacks & paperbacks) comprises Else’s collection and the majority of antique books are in German.”

There will be an “offer list” used to help sell some of the bigger ticket items. If one chooses to make an offer and leaves good contact info, they may receive notice on Saturday evening or on Sunday that their offer has been accepted, unless the item sells of course.

Sale Details

3211 Fuhrman Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112

All major credit cards & personal checks with photo identification will be accepted.
Please remember on Sunday the price of ALL items will be marked down 50%
There is so much here and EVERYTHING MUST GO.
***Please note that Sales Tax will be charged unless a valid reseller’s number is presented.
***The Portage Bay neighborhood has No Parking Signs out but these are not in effect until July 31.

Art: 

  • Several carvings by Seattle sculptor Richard S. Breyer (best known for Fremont’s ‘Waiting for the Interurban‘)
  • Paintings and a small bronze sculpture by German artist H. Gortz.
  • Two framed acrylic on paper paintings of Cataques Spain by Seattle artist Lynn Robert Votaw

Literature:

  • INCREDIBLE and VAST lifetime collection of rare German antique & contemporary books! Many are ornately leather bound and come in sets.
  • There is a large selection of reference books, art books, fiction & non-fiction in English.
  • This estate is packed with ephemera, including: brochures, manuals, magazines, post cards, posters, loose art, scrap books, and a great collection of early photos and photo albums.

Furniture: 

  • Hobart M. Cable upright (1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition (AYPE) Gold Medal award-winning) mahogany piano circa 1916
  • hand-made 19th century cobblers bench with axe handle legs
  • BAUHAUS-era daybed with original label & upholstery, ca. 1930.

…

VIEW THE COMPLETE LISTING WITH ALL 191 PHOTOS HERE:

https://estatesales.org/sale/1318325

 

Windermere Cup this Saturday

by Leave a Comment

Rain or shine, the Windermere Cup returns to the Montlake Cut for the 31st time this Saturday, May 6, with races starting at 10:20 a.m. PT.

The annual spring rowing event is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club’s Opening Day parade, which signals the beginning of boating season in Seattle.

Washington Rowing will play host to the Shanghai men’s and women’s High-Performance Rowing teams from China in the feature race this Saturday.

It’s a great community event!

More info here.

And in case you  missed it – read about the first ever Windermere “Cut” Cinco de Mayo party on Friday night.

Note from the Montlake Flyer Editor: The Montlake bridge is closed on May 6 to vehicular traffic at 10am so that people can watch the crew races. The bridge is closed to automobile traffic, but open to bicycles and pedestrians. Just before noon, the bridge is raised for the boat parade, and remains raised until 2:30-3pm (depending on the size of the parade). After this, the bridge is lowered to allow vehicle traffic with only limited openings for vessels, and should return to normal operations by 5pm.

KPG Presents Design Report To Business Owners

by 4 Comments

Paul Fuesel (KPG principal planner) , Liz Gibson (KPG landscape architect), and Neil Wechsler (Montlake Bicycle Shop owner)

Design consultants are now sharing their final report on Montlake’s business district as the city-funded planning grant draws to a close. Business owners and Montlake Community Club project leaders gathered April 12 at Glam & Tonics Aveda Salon to receive the report and talk one more time with Paul Fuesel and Liz Gibson of Studio KPG. They viewed, commented and praised the report’s drawings, photos, and explanatory text illuminating a conceptual plan for Montlake’s “downtown.” The plan aims to create a distinctive identity, revitalize the 24th Avenue business district, and calm the street for accessibility and safety. With an eye toward both functional and aesthetic goals, the proposed plan from KPG includes street and sidewalk reconfiguration, traffic signals, wayfinding signage, plantings, public art, and amenities. (You can view/download a copy of the final report here.)

Now that the Montlake Business District conceptual design has been created, it will become one of several tools that SDOT traffic planners and engineers can use as they continue with the 23rd/24th Avenue Traffic Corridor Improvement Project construction. Montlake is part of that project’s Phase 3. The plan will also provide input to the City’s Vision Zero efforts to increase driver, pedestrian and cyclist safety on Seattle streets. MCC project leaders also hope that it will give an encouraging boost to the Montlake business district building owners to do their part in making upgrades to their properties as well.

Kathy Laughman (MCC board member) and Liz Gibson

MCC Project leaders, Kathy Laughman and Bryan Haworth, soon will be submitting a follow-up grant proposal to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to follow through on parts of the conceptual design that are within neighborhood control, especially the public arts and beautification aspects. You’ll be hearing more about this follow-up effort over the next few months.

Juan Lopez (Glam & Tonics owner & MCC Board member), Matt Johnson (Mr Johnson’s Antiques owner) and Carla Leonardi (Cafe Lago and Little Lago owner)

Of course there are still unanswered questions about Montlake’s business district future. Some were voiced by the business owners as they reviewed the conceptual plan from KPG and generally gave it praise. Questions focused not so much on the design itself, but on procedures, for example: What is SDOT’s timeline for any decisions and implementation of Vision Zero improvements and Phase 3 of the Traffic Corridor Improvement Project? How long will construction through Montlake last, once it’s begun? And, what kind of mitigation/support will be given to the businesses and residents (including the Montlake Blvd Market) as all of the work impacts them, including the seemingly endless Hwy 520 project? Finally, how can the Montlake community continue to have a positive effect on the decisions and actions taken by the City and State toward shaping our future as a livable, friendly, safe, and beautiful neighborhood? We can be pretty sure that nothing will happen in a hurry. We can also be quite sure that something will happen—eventually.

 

Montlake Business District Development Final Concept Plan (pdf)

Windermere “Cut” Cinco de Mayo Party

by 1 Comment

17222-wreCut-Party-QtrPage-PSBJ-0421-FMontlake residents are invited to the first-ever Windermere “Cut” Party on Friday evening, May 5, from 6-10 pm on the Montlake Cut.

Billed as Seattle’s biggest Cinco De Mayo Party, this is a festive and exciting way to kick off Windermere Cup weekend featuring live bands, The Lovejacks and Spike and the Impalers, and will include Mexican food trucks. Since it is Cinco de Mayo—beer and pre-mixed margaritas will be available.

Get your tickets ($20) and more information here. 

WASHINGTON ROWING WELCOMES CHINA FOR WINDERMERE CUP ON MAY 6

Washington Rowing, along with Windermere Real Estate, welcomes the Shanghai men’s and women’s High-Performance Rowing teams from China as the headlining opponent for the 31st annual Windermere Cup, on Saturday, May 6, 2017.

The annual spring rowing event on the Montlake Cut is held in conjunction with the Seattle Yacht Club’s Opening Day parade which signals the beginning of boating season in Seattle. It’s a great community event and fun for the whole family.

Windermere Cup details here.

Note from the Montlake Flyer Editor: The Montlake bridge is closed on May 6 to vehicular traffic at 10am so that people can watch the crew races. The bridge is closed to automobile traffic, but open to bicycles and pedestrians. Just before noon, the bridge is raised for the boat parade, and remains raised until 2:30-3pm (depending on the size of the parade). After this, the bridge is lowered to allow vehicle traffic with only limited openings for vessels, and should return to normal operations by 5pm.

WindermereCup

Coordinated Response To Traffic Concerns—AT LAST!

by 5 Comments

WSDOT/SDOT Reps Talk Montlake Traffic Issues

WSDOT/SDOT Reps Talk Montlake Traffic Issues

Montlakers were once again drawn in for an update from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). This time the event (Wed, March 22) featured posters with “explainers” and a presentation/Q&A format. Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Metro/King County representatives were also on hand with information. Present too, were consultants from KPG explaining the Montlake Business District Improvement Plan, an effort led by the Montlake Community Club. Whew! A little confusing with all those presenters! Unfortunately, a query about the future of the Montlake Blvd Market and gas station brought a response that “The matter was under negotiation, so could not be addressed at this time.”  BUT there is reason for optimism, because Montlake finally appears to be getting a coordinated response to its traffic concerns.

Canon Pictures 042 The WSDOT spokesperson provided a brief overview of the newly posted Update on the SR 520 Montlake Phase**, with a focus on the Neighborhood Traffic Management plan.

This Update includes a look, not just at what is happening on SR 520 as reconstruction gets to Montlake, but also a first look at WSDOT & SDOT’s combined ideas for “potential local street measures” right here in Montlake. (Chapter 4 Potential Local Street Measures, pp 24-31).

We are encouraged by this evidence that WSDOT has been listening to us, and has actually been working with the City of Seattle Department of Transportation to respond to the traffic problems we’ve all been telling them about. This could mean genuine mitigation, folks! Please check out the report.

Be sure to leave your comments below once you’ve read the report.

Canon Pictures 034

**The SR 520 Montlake Phase includes the construction of the West Approach Bridge South, Montlake lid and interchange, and a bicycle and pedestrian land bridge. Construction of the Montlake Phase is expected to begin in 2018.

Weekly Morning Bird Walks With Montlake Resident Bird Expert

by 8 Comments

PIWOI have been a resident of Montlake since 1987. After 38+ years, I recently retired from the Bird Department at Woodland Park Zoo. I plan on doing short bird walks around South Portage Bay and the Montlake Playfields every Wednesday. If you would like to join me, let’s meet in the parking lot of the Montlake Community Center at 9AM (times will change as spring approaches). Beginners and all are welcome. Walks will be about 1 hour. The first bird walk will take place on Wednesday, March 15. Please bring binoculars and weather appropriate clothing. Let’s make this into the beginning of something fun! If you have any questions, you can contact me at cassidix2005@gmail.com. Thank you, Eric Kowalczyk

Laughman Adds French Touch To Development Project

by 2 Comments

IMG_2215Kathy Laughman believes in community. That’s not just your TV sitcom version, however. She’s committed to an older, more deeply rooted communal idea–where people living and working in a neighborhood share resources, and support the success and the very survival of each other. Kathy is inspired by the years she spent in southern France where she was taken into membership in such a community. We’re fortunate to have her back home and leading the Montlake Business District Development project, for she is bringing that classic concept of community with a French touch to her role.

Kathy first came to live in Seattle in 1970, found a staff position at the UW, and bought a home in Montlake for proximity to her work, and for love of the drawbridge, the beautiful parks, and the architectural details of the homes. Later, after gaining an advanced degree in design and working in the local garment industry, she was wisely hired by Nordstrom to work on the Fauçonnable product line. Following much travel to France, Europe and Asia on Nordstrom’s business, Kathy rented out her house and was on her way to Nice, France to oversee creative design for the company for seven years. It was in Nice that she first experienced what she perceives as real community.

Kathy explains: “People there had a sense that it was their responsibility to take care of each other. Here, there was a tendency to see that as butting into other people’s business, but over there, they see themselves as responsible for each other. It’s simple things, like I would leave for work in winter … and I wouldn’t have my neck scarf on. The concierge would notice it and remind me that I should go back up and put my neck scarf on so I wouldn’t catch a cold.” She goes on, “The local businesses, many of which have been in their location for generations, believe that it is their obligation to see that their customers are happy.” This commitment, she says, extended to such actions as a shop owner accompanying her home, carrying her newly purchased floor lamp up the stairs, unpacking it, placing it, and making sure it worked. Kathy laughingly offers that: “This is a level of service that not even Nordstrom will give you!” She doesn’t see this as “just about customer satisfaction, but about a sense of community. He wanted to make sure that I was being taken care of….Their idea is that if an individual succeeds, it is good for the community, so its really not so much being generous and self-sacrificing, it’s in everybody’s interest to take care of everybody because then the group prospers….”

Responsibility for enhancing the community within neighborhoods extends to City governmental bodies as well. Laughman recounts, “Nice is definitely organized into neighborhoods and the City spend its tax dollars on landscaping, seasonal decorations, repairing the roads, keeping the sidewalks clean, with proper crosswalk signage and street lights. They take safety and welfare of the people in each community very, very seriously. And they put their money where their mouth is!”

Kathy Laughman thus sees the need in Montlake for the same reciprocity among business owners, residents, and City government. That general principle shows up in how she’s led the Montlake Business District Development Project. For example, she’s engaged the Montlake Business Association (MBA) in a series of meetings to gather the business owners’ ideas for development of downtown and uptown Montlake. Business owners have had roles on the project committee including meetings with the City and hiring the project consultant. Juan Lopez of Glam & Tonics and Carla Leonardi of Café Lago have been particularly active.

In the same spirit, Laughman has made sure that the project engages Montlake residents in the business district development plans and in support of its business owners. She has sought to provide the community with regular project-related information and progress reports via the Montlake Flyer Intrepid Reporter postings. She has assured opportunities to gather concerns and design ideas from residents through community meetings and comment options on Montlake.net. Further. She has helped lead the residents’ efforts to support our Montlake businesses– the Blvd Market & Service Station that have been seriously threatened by WSDOT’s late-declared needs for 520 bridge reconstruction. As Kathy declares: “We support them—they support us.”

Then there is, finally, the reciprocity with that important third party—the City within which our neighborhood exists. Here Kathy Laughman becomes mildly militant. She says, “We pay taxes to support City services; they provide us with the services our businesses and residents need.” Sometimes, of course, “they” needed to be reminded. As project lead, Kathy has assured that Montlake has made and maintained strong connections with representatives of SDOT, City planners, and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods that funds the project. It’s no accident that we’ve had the opportunity to explore ideas for the future of our business district and neighborhood, tell our side of the story about what’s happening to Montlake and just possibly persuade the City representatives to be our champions. Laughman makes sure those representatives are at the table and quickly informed of what’s happening, what outcomes the community wants, and what’s needed from them.

Yes, we’re lucky to have Kathy Laughman in Montlake. She is helping us live into a model of community like the one she first experienced in southern France. It calls each of us to get engaged; to support and look out for each other, whether business owner or resident; to expect a fair share of service from the City government commensurate with the taxes we contribute. Kathy’s seven years abroad enriched her life and deepened her understanding of community, no question. We in Montlake are the lucky beneficiaries. Thanks Kathy.

*8th report of the Montlake Business District Development Project
**Coming soon, an update on the Montlake Business District Development Project –what’s happening, and what’s known and unknown about what’s coming.
IMG_0262-copyVersion 2

Open House This Saturday for Lake Washington Loop Bicycling Greenway

by 1 Comment

IMG_8692 (1)If you’re interested in traffic safety improvements and potential routes for a neighborhood greenway connecting the Montlake and Madison Valley neighborhoods, don’t miss an important open house this Saturday, February 18. The meeting takes place at the Bush School Community Room from 10:30 AM to noon, 3400 E Harrison St, Seattle WA 98112.

Montlake and Madison Greenways logosSeattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) through the Neighborhood Park and Street Fund are partnering with the Arboretum Neighbors for Safe Streets and Madison Valley Greenways neighborhood groups to study traffic safety improvements and routes for a neighborhood greenway connecting the Montlake and Madison Valley neighborhoods. Join us at our second open house to share you ideas for this route on Saturday, February 18th. We are eager to hear more from our fellow neighbors who live, work, shop and play along these streets.

The Seattle Bicycle Master Plan recommends a neighborhood greenway along the Lake Washington Loop in the vicinity of 26th Ave E and 28th Ave E, between East Harrison and Boyer Ave E. We studied potential neighborhood greenway routes, identifying traffic safety improvements and developing a conceptual design. This is a neighborhood-led study.

This is the second of two meetings on the neighborhood greenway. The first meeting shared traffic data and helped us understand where people want to walk and bike and barriers to doing so. At this meeting we will share the results of technical analysis and public comment and the most promising route with recommended safety improvements, including the intersection of 26th Avenue East and Boyer Avenue East.

Project Website: www.seattle.gov/transportation/lakewashingtonloopgreenway.htm

Arboretum Neighbors for Safer Streets: https://arboretum.nextdoor.com/groups/724004/

Madison Park Greenways:

http://seattlegreenways.org/neighborhoods/madison-park/

Department of Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Park and Street Fund:  http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/programs-and-services/neighborhood-park

 

 

 

 

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs)

by 6 Comments

Montlake-CSO-locationsFrom the late 1800s through the 1940s, engineers designed sewers to carry sewage and stormwater to the nearest body of water. At that time, planners believed that diluted pollution would not harm the water bodies. The system took care of horse manure and garbage on the streets along with human waste.  Today, cities in King County build separate pipes; one to carry sewage to a treatment plant and another to carry stormwater to the nearest water body. However, there are still combined sewers in the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle. (source: King County website)

In Montlake, there are four CSO locations that spill combined sewage and stormwater during heavy rains.  Here is a link to a map of CSO locations that also shows the current status of each site.  This combined sewer overflow status page is provided and maintained by King County. 

Typical overflow contents include approximately 10% sewage and 90% stormwater.  While discharging untreated sewage into our public waters is certainly gross, the water temperatures are generally too cold for most bacteria in sewage to survive for very long.  However, due to health concerns (contact with polluted water can make you sick), King County recommends that people stay out of the water for 48 hours after a combined sewer overflow event.