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Three Ways to Help Montlake Elementary

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Auction-Logo-Procurement-FINALHello Montlake Neighbors,

Montlake Elementary will hold our annual auction on March 18 to raise critical funds to help reduce class sizes, provide extra reading and tutoring support, and ensure a full range of specialists including art, health and fitness, vocal music, instrumental music, library and technology, and greenhouse education.

Here are 3 ways you can help the auction:

DONATE AN ITEM

Airline miles, hotel points, vacation homes, a cool product from your company, experiences, sports tickets (Procurement form on website.)

BE A SPONSOR

Are you looking for more visibility for your business? We are looking for sponsors to help underwrite the auction. In return we will make you look like a rock – err disco – star! (Sponsorship packages on website.)

BAKE A DESSERT

Calling all bakers and dessert makers! This year’s auction will once again feature the much-anticipated Dessert Dash and we need your help! We anticipate needing around 30 desserts for the event. Yummy ideas from past events include Port and a selection of gourmet cheeses, a salted caramel chocolate ding dong cake, and a gingerbread stack cake, just to name a few. If you are willing to make (or procure from a local retailer, friend or relative) a scrumptious dessert, please reach out to Meredith Helmick @ meredith.helmick@gmail.com.

Thank you for supporting our wonderful public elementary school in the heart of Montlake.

Please feel free to reach out to auction chair, Amy Anderson, at amygeoff@comcast.net with questions.

WSDOT 520 Bridge Construction Meeting Wed Dec 7th

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MontlakeOn 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

 

 

“Right Size 24th” Says SDOT’s Jim Curtin

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As leader of Seattle’s Vision Zero road safety initiative, Senior Traffic Planner Jim Curtin has a lot to say about how to make 24th Avenue in Montlake’s Business District safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. At the November MCC Board meeting, he and those present discussed “right sizing” as part of the SDOT plans for Aloha Street to SR520 –Phase 3 of the 23rd Ave Traffic Corridor Improvement Project.Curtin, MCC Board members, and concerned community members offered information, raised questions, and shared concerns. An hour passed quickly with upbeat, civil discussion about what may result when Phase 3 of the traffic safety project reaches Montlake.

“Right sizing,” Jim Curtin explained, is shaping streets not just to efficiently move vehicles and bicycles, but also:
* to save lives;
* reduce collisions;
* improve pedestrian mobility along and across streets;
* and raise awareness about the neighborhoods and businesses.

Right sizing can mean altering the number of lanes devoted to moving vehicles forward, and changing some lanes into turn lanes, or into transit only lanes. It can mean adding stop lights, reducing right turns on red lights, reducing speed limits, and/or installing traffic calming measures of various kinds. Choosing from all these methods of moving vehicle traffic while keeping everyone safe is just what professionals like Jim Curtin are tasked with doing on our behalf.

It’s fantastic, but no surprise, that these methods and outcomes mesh with the design being created through the MIMG_2721ontlake Business District Development Project. Jim Curtin was at the table representing SDOT when your Montlake Community Club planning team first met with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods representatives back in May. Even at that City Hall session, he was enthusiastically seconding the ideas the MCC planning team and consultants were expressing about our main street.

Jim Curtin has led a wide range of transportation projects for municipalities in Washington State over the past 15 years. He created SDOT’s Safe Routes to School program, and headed up the Aurora Traffic Safety Project that reduced serious and fatal collisions by 28 percent. Public education and engagement were critical to the success of those projects, says Jim, and they are standard elements in his Vision Zero approach. That’s welcome news here in Montlake, where we’ve often felt engaged in a token manner as City and State projects pushed through our neighborhood.

You can expect to be talking with Jim Curtin in a Montlake Community meeting in the not too distant future—as Phase three of the Corridor Project becomes a reality.

For more on Vision Zero in Seattle, see Josh Cohen’s Feb 12, 2015 article for Crosscut.
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Montlake Elementary Evergreen Sale – Act Fast Orders Due Nov 18th

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While you are finalizing your Thanksgiving menu, don’t forget to pre-order your Christmas tree from Montlake Elementary by Friday, November 18th!

For those new to the Montlake Elementary Evergreen Sale, here are some details:

  • You order your a beautiful tree in time for Christmas and support the local community at the same time
  • Stop by the school on Saturday, December 3rd 11am-2pm for the big, fun, festive pick up day to pick up your tree

All proceeds go to support our local elementary school; a fundamental element of the Montlake community.

Once again, three choices of Christmas trees are being offered; sheared Douglas Fir, Natural Noble, and Natural Grand Fir, along with Noble Fir wreaths, swag and Cedar garlands.  The latter make excellent gifts that last well into the New Year.

You can order these online at http://montlakepta.org/evergreens (just don’t use a Chrome browser as there is a known issue) or download and print out this order form.

Act fast as this Friday, November 18 is the final date for Evergreen orders.  All trees and decorations are pre-sold only.

Thank you for all your support of Montlake!

Questions: email evergreens@montlakepta.org.

Happy Holidays

 

Market Rally Gets Media Attention

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IMG_3970Say 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.
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Save the Montlake Blvd Market

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MBM-store-frontCome show your support for our Montlake Market this Saturday, November 12 from 2pm-3pm at the store.

As you’ve heard, the Market could be demolished under WSDOT’s current construction plans. We can’t let that happen.

Let’s rally to show our community support to SAVE MONTLAKE MARKET–and let’s do it while we have lots of fun prepping to cheer on the UW Huskies before the big football game.

Bring a homemade “Save Montlake Market” sign**. Join your neighbors, enjoy complimentary coffee, and have fun waving, chanting, and basically getting attention.

**For the super supporters, come to the Blvd Market at 5:00 Friday eve. (the 11th) to make some signs—we’ll have supplies.

GO MONTLAKE! GO DAWGS! #savemontlakemarket

Montlake Business Leader Imagines Public Art

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Juan Lopez, owner of Glam and Tonics Aveda Salon, imagines a Montlake with beautiful public art. Juan has worked for nearly a decade to make Montlake a better place. Now you can join residents like him in envisioning how art can improve Montlake.

Juan represents our neighborhood business owners on the Montlake Community Club’s project committee for the Business District Development Plan. To this important project, he brings business acumen developed first in L.A. and then here in Montlake for the past 11 years. Juan also offers an educated design sensibility, natural friendliness and finely honed listening skills. A most interesting man, indeed, but there’s more, as your intrepid reporter discovered recently.

Step into Juan Lopez’s domain, Glam & Tonics Aveda Concepts Salon in Downtown Montlake, and you’re welcomed by cheerful hellos, laughing conversation, your new-favorite musical tracks—and, of course, superb styling service. On a rainy fall day, add a cup of tea and a comfy chair pulled up to the warmth of the flickering fireplace (above which is mounted an eye-catching ceramic moose head).This convivial place feels like a boutique clubhouse—Montlake’s 21st century answer to the iconic neighborhood barbershop. Presiding over the hospitable scene is, of course, Juan Lopez, community service activist, Montlake Community Club Board member, and our own “most interesting man.”

Lopez has made a habit of giving back to the community since he started work at Salon Blast in Montlake in 2007. He became that salon’s owner in 2013. Not long after, he moved to open Glam & Tonics Aveda just two doors down. How many Montlake residents remember the Locks ofIMG_2568 Love event, when Mr. Johnson’s Antiques owner, Matt, sacrificed his lengthy locks to Juan’s scissors for the non-profit that provides hairpieces for children in need? And how about the Paws fundraisers that he and his salon colleagues have supported? Then there’s the salon art gallery space provided for Montlake artists throughout the Montlake Unabridged Arts & Music summer of 2015? Ah, now we get to arts advocacy.

As a downtown Montlake business owner, Juan is well aware of the traffic issues that bedevil our community and is highly supportive of practical fixes. After all, his clients—40% Montlakers, 60% from beyond—all have to cope with the traffic challenges just to get to his salon. But his special interest as a project committee member is also in creating a new unique identity for Montlake that incorporates rich artistic expression. Juan gets animated when he talks of public artworks enticing residents and visitors alike to stroll the streets, shop, sip, dine, take advantage of services, and hang out. He already imagines murals, sculptures, archways, plantings, and lighting, all in service of that unique community identity. It’s easy to be drawn into Juan’s creative thought experiments about Montlake’s future as you join him for a cup of tea by the fireplace.

The Montlake CIMG_1776-2ommunity Club will soon be forming a Public Arts committee to organize the addition of public art in our business district. That new group will establish guidelines & procedures, identify potential sites, and manage the art acquisition process. You can well imagine Juan Lopez, Montlake’s most interesting man, serving on that Public Arts committee. Can you imagine yourself giving back to your community by serving too? Interested residents are encouraged to contact Kathy Laughman, the project lead (kathleenlaughman@gmail.com).

Halloween Carnival

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halloween-flyerJoin neighbors for a bewitching night at Montlake Community Center’s the annual Halloween Carnival!  The fun night will be filler with music, carnival games, face painting and plenty of tricks & treats for the whole family. Costumes are encouraged but not required. The Center will be accepting canned food to donate to a local food bank. Contact the center for more information.

Friday, October 28th
5:30-8:30pm
$3 per person, $10 per family of 4

Montlake Community Center
1618 E Calhoun St
Seattle, WA 98112
206-684-4736
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Montlake Community Center Cooking Class

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2016-Fall-Cooking-from-around-the-worldJoin our one day sessions of cooking with Kay Kim, Kay Catering, at the Montlake Community Center.  Take home leftovers or stay and eat your finished product with the class at the end.

Korean Night: Thursday, Nov 3rd 6:00 – 8:30pm
Mmmmm….. The smell of cooking Kalbi (marinated short rib beef) will make your mouth water as you learn how to cook Jap Chae (vermicelli noodles with sautéed vegetable) and make your very own Cucumber Kimchee.

Thai Night: Thursday, Dec 1st 6:00 – 8:30pm
Learn the secrets of Thai papaya salad, the perfect mix of ingredients for Panang curry and a sweet rice mango dessert.

$45 per class
All Classes held at Montlake Community Center
Call 206-684-4736 to register

 

SR 520 Update Meeting Wed Oct 5th

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SR520WSDOT (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.MBM