Dear Hauntlake Neighbors,

What would have been the 19th Annual Trick or Treat House Display & Halloween Food Drive, as well as Halloween Night Trick or Treating on East Blaine Street, have been canceled this year due to COVID -19.

The Skeletons at Trick or Treat House will rest their bones this year. So there will be no display.

We will not be collecting Canned Food Donations this year. Please consider making a donation to Lifelong /Chicken Soup Brigade through their website donation page: here

Phil Angeez & Skull (James & Don) and their Trick or Treat Street neighbors will miss seeing you all this year. But hopefully, by Halloween 2021 there can be a safe return to Trick or Treating fun.

Be sure to check out the Trick Or Treat House website for info and images of past displays at www.trickortreathouse.com

Wishing you all a Safe & Happy Halloween, and Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

From Seattle Learning Center:

A Kindergarten Program at SLC for Fall 2020

Having lived on East Calhoun street in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle for the past twenty years, I was curious whether my street was named after a racist Vice President of the United States. If it was, I planned to see if we could resolve this without actually changing the street name—similar to what the King County Council did in 1986 with regard to changing the namesake of our county from William Rufus de Vane King to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After some research, it turns out this may be unnecessary.

Minneapolis, the city where George Floyd’s recent death by a white police officer, was in the process last year of changing street names around Lake Calhoun to no longer honor the racist politician they were originally named after.

John C. Calhoun was a South Carolina Senator and served as Vice President from 1825 to 1832. He opposed abolition and efforts to prevent slavery from taking hold in the western territories and states. He supported the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law and insisted that slavery was a “positive good” during an 1837 Senate floor speech. He died in 1850, some 40 years before the Montlake neighborhood was developed.

Calhoun street is more likely named after Dr. George Calhoun, who owned the Marine Hospital in Port Townsend. At the time, this was the largest hospital in the Northwest. Turns out Dr. Calhoun was a good friend and mentor of Dr. Thomas T. Minor, who was elected Mayor of Seattle in 1887. Mayor Minor was a prominent civic and political leader in Port Townsend and Seattle—the only person to have been elected mayor of both cities.

According to History Link, it appears that since Calhoun street was named around the end of the 1880s, it could be it was likely named as a tribute to the Mayor’s friend. Though I don’t have certainty around this, I am more at ease knowing the street on which I live is likely named after a man of honor rather than a confirmed racist.

Mark Craemer

Spending more time at home these days?  Why not fill your space with beautiful peonies and support the Hmong farmers of Pike Place Market and Montlake Elementary- ALL AT ONCE!  Each peony bouquet is $30.  Montlake Elementary will receive $10 for each bouquet sold.

Order by May 25th for pick up on May 29th.  Send your order to coxelisabeth@hotmail.com and direct any questions to courtneyawilliams@gmail.com

The Montlake Elementary PTA needs your help to virtually “Raise the Paddle” for Montlake Elementary and donate funds that are so critical to our neighborhood school.  Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the annual auction was cancelled and now the PTA needs to raise $94,000 more before the end of June in order to keep supporting Montlake at the current level.  That number is daunting, especially with so many facing economic hardships.  Please consider giving what you can.  The revenue from fundraising is critical in supporting fundamental programs like art, science, math and reading – as well as school counseling, tutoring and scholarships for enrichment. If these dollars are not raised, these things will be reduced or cut for the 2020-21 school year.

These are the staffing positions that the $185,000 PTA staffing grant will fund in 20-21.

• • Counselor (fully funded by PTA; 0.5 of a full-time salary).  We will not have a counselor without this money.

• • Art Teacher (Half is funded by PTA and half by the district to make up a full-time position.  Montlake’s art teacher, Jennifer Lundgren has won the Washington State Teacher of the Year and is a valued treasure to the school.

• • Library/Academic Interventionist/Tech Teacher (0.3 funded by PTA; combines with school funding for 0.8)

• • Elementary Assistant (0.3 funded by PTA; combines with school funding for 0.8)

• • Tutors (1.0 funded by PTA + school funding for 2.0 = 3 total)

Please don’t delay in your donations. While donations will be accepted through end of June, the PTA is hoping to reach their goal by May 15, so they can accurately forecast the budget for 20-21. To date, they have raised $27,750, 30% of the goal.

This is a hard request for the PTA to make as they know that many in our community are dealing with economic hardships – and many causes are vying for your attention and support at this challenging time. They thank you in advance for any support you can provide.

Good day and Happy New Year friends, families and neighbors of Montlake Elementary!

[Read more…]

The Montlake Community Club’s Turkey Trot happens because of our generous sponsors!  We are lucky to have partners who are excited to support our community.  This year we have broken a record with sponsorship – including over $5,000 in prizes.  You don’t have to be a runner or even be present to win, you can enter here today and the proceeds go to the University District Food Bank.  For every $10 donation, you get one entry into the raffle.  See all the prizes listed below!

Prizes:

• 1 Dinner at Café Lago for 10 Guests | Café Lago
• 4 Lasagne Dinners | Café Lago
• 2 Custom One Month Training Plan | Tyler Mangum, Endurance Coach
• 1 Night with Carla at Little Lago (apps, wine and pizza for up to 6) | Little Lago
• 1 $100 Gift Card for any Service, 1L Aveda Cherry Almond Shampoo & Conditioner, 250ML Body Wash, 250 ML Body Lotion | Glam & Tonics
• 1 $100 Gift Card for any Service, 1L Shampure Shampoo, 1L Conditioner, 1 250ML Body Wash, 1 250ML Body Lotion | Glam & Tonics
• 1 $100 Gift Card for any Service, 1L Rosemary Mint Shampoo, 1L Conditioner, 1 250ML Body Wash, 1 250ML Body Lotion | Glam & Tonics
• 1 Pop Funko Dolls Mystery Gift | Glam & Tonics
• 1 Hello Kitty Mystery Gift | Glam & Tonics
• 1 Yoga Kick-Start Package (one month unlimited yoga, hoodie, tank top, yoga towel & Manduka Eco Lite mat | Earth, Wind & Fire Yoga
• 3 One Month Unlimited Monthly Passes | Earth, Wind & Fire Yoga
• 2 Bike Tune Ups (Full Bike Adjustment and External Lube) | Montlake Bicycle Shop
• 2 One Day-Full Suspension Mountain Bike Rental | Montlake Bicycle Shop
• 2 One Day E-Bike Rental | Montlake Bicycle Shop
• 1 Bottle of Wine | Mont’s Market

 Thanks to all of these amazing sponsors for their support.

Signature Sponsors ($2,500 in cash or donation): Bad Cat Events | Café Lago | Glam & Tonics | Sound Community Bank | Wise Patient Internal Medicine

Premium Sponsors ($1,000 in cash or donations): Bushwick Real Estate Services | Earth, Wind, and Fire Yoga | Graham Construction | Tyler Mangum (Endurance Coach)

Turkey Trotter ($500 in cash or donations): Allen Murray CPA with Edward Jones | Little Lago | Maider & Knowles Real Estate | Montlake Bicycle Shop | Redfin | Stokes Lawrence | Montlake Market | Molly Moon’s

Valued Sponsor: HomeLight | Mont’s Market 

The artful Megan Mary Olander (MMO) floral shop on Aloha is a neighborhood treasure: the front entrance is often strewn with rose petals.

Sadly the store was recently robbed for the 5th time. Please lend your voice to bring increased City attention to this issue (the police have been notified):

Jenny: 206-684-4000; jenny.durkan@seattle.gov.

Kshama: 206-684-8016; kshama.sawant@seattle.gov

Today, Tuesday, November 5th is the last day for the Montlake Turkey Trot Early Bird Registration and the last chance to order Turkey Trot technical t-shirt!  Sign up today for this fun event, benefiting the University District Food Bank. The 5K and kids run is happening on Thanksgiving morning and is always a fun community event!

Thank you to our sponsors: Café Lago, Bad Cat Events, Glam & Tonics, Sound Community Bank, Wise Patient Internal Medicine, Graham Construction, Bushwick Real Estate Services, Mangum Fitness, Little Lago, Stokes Lawrence, Edward Jones, Maider & Knowles & Earth Wind Fire Yoga.

Don’t forget to join Tyler Mangum on November 3 at the Montlake Community Center track for a prep workout, 12:00 – 1:00.  Get some helpful running insight on how to prepare! 

Sign up for the Montlake Community Club’s 5K Turkey Trot & Kids Run by November 5 for early bird pricing.  Early-birds also get the option to upgrade to a long-sleeve technical t-shirt with the Turkey Trot logo ($15 for adults, $10 for kids).    

Join the flock of Montlakers, and folks from all over the Seattle area, who have already signed up for this Thanksgiving morning tradition. Kids, walkers, strollers, and serious runners are all welcome and part of the fun. Visit the RunSignUp page to register.