Miller Park Neighborhood Association

Seattle Marathon Street closures: how to escape Capitol Hill

2009-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

On Sunday November 29th, 2009 the Seattle Marathon encircles Capitol Hill, with various streets closed. Races start at ~ 7 AM; I-90 reopens at ~ 11 AM; all roads reopen by 2:15 PM. Going north on 23rd to the University District or getting to I-5 via the Roanoke onramps won't work. Accessing I-5 via Madison, Denny-Steward-Yale (southbound) or Olive (northbound) will work. (link to maps on Marathon website). Note that the I5 off-ramp at Olive is closed for light rail construction.

Neighborhood Plan Status "Checks"

2009-11-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

Below is the City's official attempt to interest you in Tuesday's Neighborhood Plan meeting.

For a much more palatable invitation, try the version from the chair of the Capitol Hill Community Council.

Status Check – Seattle Citizens Assess Their Neighborhood Plans

There are now TWO more options to participate. Join us at the November 10th meeting (see below) , or complete an on-line questionnaire.

For More Information about these meetings contact David Goldberg:
davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1447

During June and July, many neighbors joined in meetings and many other hundreds participated in on line questionnaires to review the Draft Neighborhood Status Reports and comment on changes— good, bad, and unexpected —that have occurred since Seattle’s Neighborhood Plans were written in the late 90's. We explored growth, transportation, housing, economic development, utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety. The Planning Commission’s reports on comments can be reviewed at http://www.seattle.gov/planningcommission/

The Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC) and the Seattle Planning Commission want to report back to you on the trends that emerged so far and to get your help to identify the continuing priorities and new issues that should be emphasized in the final Status Reports and a State of the Neighborhood Report that will be presented to the City Council and Mayor. These reports will contribute to policy decisions including decisions about whether or how to updates neighborhood plans. Your input will also be important as NPAC shapes its recommendations on conducting, prioritizing and funding updates to the neighborhood plans listed below.

6-8 pm,Tuesday, November 10^th Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway – Room BE 1110/11

Directions http://seattlecentral.edu/maps/

Areas to be discussed: Queen Anne / Uptown, Belltown, Pike/Pine, First Hill, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, Central Area

Hosts: Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee and the Seattle Planning Commission

NPAC http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/npac.htm
Seattle Planning Commission http://www.seattlegov/planningcommission/
More info on Status Reports and Neighborhood Planning can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning /Neighborhood_Planning/Overview/

Seattle Comprehensive Plan overview: 2030 and beyond

2009-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

Join former Mayor Norm Rice for the kick-off of a major update of

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan – “Seattle 2030 and Beyond”

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Presentation at 6:30 pm

Miller Community Center

330 19th Ave E (served by Metro Routes 8, 10, 11, 12 and 43)

Seattle 2030 and Beyond … meeting the challenges and opportunities of a new world

· 20 years ago we adopted the state Growth Management Act

· 15 years ago we adopted Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan … Toward a Sustainable Seattle

· As we move into the 21^st century, our population continues to grow and becomes more diverse

· Since 2005, Seattle and over 1000 other American cities have pledged to meet or beat the goals of the Kyoto Treaty

· Seattle now has more renters than home-owners

· We have more public transportation options … light rail, street car, and pedestrian and bicycle friendly streets

· We are known as a green/sustainable city

· We are known as a creative city, an innovative city

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1994, sets policies and goals for a full range of elements that affect how a city will grow, including land use, transportation, housing, capital facilities, utilities, economic development, neighborhood planning, human development, cultural resources and the environment.

Help shape Seattle’s future – join us as we take these important steps to guide Seattle through the 21^st century.

How will we meet the growing climate challenges? How can we retain and improve our truly great neighborhoods? How can we accommodate new residential and employment growth? How will we continue to be inclusive and caring? How do we stay competitive and entrepreneurial in the world marketplace?

Our challenge to you - In 150 words or less, describe your Seattle 2030 or Seattle 2050.

Send your comments to Kristian.kofoed@seattle.gov

The best place for you to learn more and get involved is through DPD’s web page

www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/compplan

You may also contact Tom Hauger (206 684 8380) or Kristian Kofoed (206 233 7191).

Dark and dreary: time for action

2009-11-08T18:00:00.002-08:00

(reposted from last year: it's wet and windy and Fall again)

1) The City invites you to Adopt A Drain and keep it clear of leaves and debris. I told you of this program two years ago, and applied for a set of tools to share with the neighborhood......still waiting!

Ann Donovan noted (Capitol Hill Yahoo Group):

With the leaves falling in mass and the rains starting storm drains
start to clog. It is a great time for volunteers to help out by taking
a few minutes to remove any debris blocking the drains.

If you find a drain in need of further servicing (I found one yesterday
blocked with dirt) then use the form on the Seattle Public Utilities
site to report it in for service -- noting location of the problem.

http://web1.seattle.gov/spu/CRMIQ/ContactSPU.aspx

2) City Light tells us:

City Light is launching a new streetlight maintenance program. Instead of relying on streetlight trouble reports, crews will replace, clean and adjust lamps for maximum illumination every four years to ensure proper maintenance. With a regular replacement schedule, repair times will improve for most problems individually reported by customers.

and then in the next paragraph tells us how to report burnt out bulbs:

To report a burned out or flickering streetlight, call (206) 684-7056 or go online to www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight. Please be prepared to provide the pole number (yellow numbers 6 to 15 feet above the ground) and the nearest address.

A while ago I suggested that we share in the task of noting and reporting burnt out streetlights, via a sort of "Adopt a Streetlight" program. Now that the dark is upon us again, perhaps it's time to revisit that idea and to get more of our neighbors to take part.

See map below, which shows which streets have been adopted, and see the original post for instructions.

View Larger Map

Congratulations, Captain Meehan

2009-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

Captain Mike Meehan was the commander of the East Precinct from 2004 to 2006ish and was very helpful in our ongoing struggles with the street crimes that emanated from Deano's Bar / Club Chocolate City.

Since then he's been in charge of many SPD divisions, as summarized in this SPD Blotter posting from July:

Captain Mike Meehan, a 23-year veteran, is leaving the Narcotics Section to take over the Violent Crimes Section, which consists of overseeing the Homicide, Robbery, CSI, Gang, Polygraph, Bias Crimes and Fugitive Units. Captain Meehan has previously commanded East Precinct, Narcotics, Vice, Field Training and Audit, Accreditation and Policy.

Yesterday I was contacted by a reporter from the Berkeley Daily Planet (a free twice-weekly paper): their paper had just broken the story that Captain Meehan will (assuming he's OK'd by their City Council on Tuesday) be the next Police Chief in Berkeley, California.

I hope you will join me in congratulating Captain Meehan on his promotion. I note that (while the East Precinct has had many commanders in my time here), quite a few of them have gone on to more senior positions: John Diaz (SPD Interim Chief), Nick Metz (SPD Assistant Chief), Landy Black (Davis, CA Police Chief), and now Captain Meehan.

More details of Mike's promotion may be found on Capitol Hill Seattle and on the Seattle PI blog, or by a quick Googling:

By the way, I noted that the Berkeley paper, the SPD Blog, the above Google search, and many of the other sources were using the same photo, which seemed strangely familiar to me. I eventually realized that it was one I had taken, in March 2004 at an East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting, and posted on the old Miller website. The PI had obtained it from the SPD media relations office, who are apparently using it as their standard picture of Mike. I'm flattered!

By way of thanking Mike, and sending him on his way, here is that photo, together with one from his 3 hour fact-finding tour of our neighborhood. His (solo) visit with our neighbors, his ready ability to communicate, and his frank, honest appraisal of what SPD could and could not do to help us, was what really impressed me about him, and made it so easy for me to recommend him to the Berkeley people when asked.

PS: One way to follow Captain Meehan's progress in Berkeley will be via the Berkeley Daily Planet's reporter's tweets, which of course remind Seattleites of this song.

From the Friends of the Library

2009-11-04T21:26:00.000-08:00

(FWIW I've E-mailed the Council, suspecting that the cuts would be made, and suggested that the Monday to Thursday hours all be 1 - 8 PM, to allow people to go after work)

My name is Jennifer Johnson-Fong, I volunteer as the Vice President on the board of Friends of The Seattle Public Library. If you have reported about The Seattle Public Library budget in the past thank you and I hope you can support the Friends again as Seattle City Council makes their final decisions on the proposed 2010 Library budget. If you haven’t reported before or the Friends haven’t contacted you in the past, I hope you’ll help get an important message out to your neighborhood.

The Friends of The Seattle Public Library want to see Option A pass by the Seattle City Council. I would so appreciate your support in this email campaign.

Here is the message:

TO: sally.clark@seattle.gov; jan.drago@seattle.gov; tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov ; richard.conlin@seattle.gov ; jean.godden@seattle.gov

CC: tim.burgess@seattle.gov; bruce.harrell@seattle.gov; nick.licata@seattle.gov

SUBJECT: 1.2 M Restoration of Library Funds

TEXT: Dear Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden, and Rasmussen

Please join fellow Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata and vote for Option A– restoring the 330 weekly service hours to keep our libraries open normal hours in 2010.

OPTIONAL: I use the XYZ neighborhood branch for XYZ. OR Share a more personal message about why your neighborhood branch is important to you.

The email message is simple and straightforward, but needs to reach as many in your neighborhood as possible. Any additional support you can give to the email campaign beyond your news service either by emailing list servs, posting on Facebook, Twittering, or just emailing Seattle friends and family would be greatly appreciated.

As you may know your neighborhood branch Library’s hours will drastically change if the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget passes. The proposed budget eliminates 17,160 public service hours per year and would impact your neighborhood directly with the closure of your neighborhood branch on Friday and Sunday plus a reduction in hours – all year round. Your neighborhood branch would be open after six only twice a week. Among many other services, hour changes will impact story times, nighttime classes, community meeting room availability and homework help programs. Your neighborhood’s access to The Library’s free public computers and free Wi-Fi will be another lost resource that many community members without a computer or internet access depend on.

The good news is that Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata are committed to preserving the hours of operations at all neighborhood branches of The Seattle Public Library. On November 2^ndSeattle City Councimembers began discussing four options to partially restore the 5% reduction in the endorsed library budget. None of the options will prevent another one week furlough in 2010, but the best choice, Option A, does preserve Library hours in your neighborhood branch at their current level and prevents the loss of 27 library staff positions. The Friends have launched this final email campaign targeted at Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden and Rasmussen to urge them to join Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata in preserving our present neighborhood Library hours.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any other information. I have included additional background information below on the proposed 2010 budget’s impact on The Seattle Public Library and neighborhood branches.

Thank you,

Jennifer Johnson-Fong

Vice President, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Member, Advocacy Committee

Email: advocacy@friendsofspl.org

Blog: http://friendsofspl.wordpress.com
Web: http://www.friendsofspl.org
Facebook: http://www.causes.com/friendsoftheseattlepubliclibrary

Survey: Friends Neighborhood Library Usage survey

Sarel Rowe
Advocacy Chair, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Background Information

The Seattle Public Library is a City Department with an Operations Budget funded by the City of Seattle’s General Fund and a Capital Budget funded by the Real Estate Excise Tax or REET. The operations budget funds collections and staff, while the capital budget funds building maintenance. This year Seattle City Council specifically asked Mayor Nickels to preserve funding for The Seattle Public Library Collections budget and thus the collections budget is not decreasing or increasing this year.

The Seattle Public Library hours at 21 neighborhood branches are going to change drastically if the proposed budget is approved. The City Council is now reviewing Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed 2010 budget, which includes $2.8 million in cuts to the Library budget. Proposed cuts include a reduction in branch operating hours and a one-week closure of the entire Library system. The proposed hours reduction would mean that 21 Library locations would be closed on Fridays and Sundays, plus operate on reduced hours - all year. A proposed change to the hours at Central Library, Douglass-Truth, Lake City, Ballard, Rainier Beach and Southwest branches attempts to compensate the displaced patrons who use the 21 neighborhood branches impacted by the proposed 2010 City Budget. Overall, the Library would lose about 23 percent of its open hours compared with 2009.

The 21 neighborhood branches are Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Columbia. Delridge, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, High Point, International District / Chinatown, Madrona-Sally Goldmark,Magnolia, Montlake, NewHolly, Northeast, Northgate, Queen Anne, South Park, University, Wallingford and West Seattle. If the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget is adopted the hours for these branches would be:

Monday, Tuesday:
1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED FRIDAY

Saturday:
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED SUNDAY

The proposed budget will impact all of our communities and neighbors who are relying on our libraries for computer access, job search resources, educational support, gathering spaces, and librarian assistance. In 2008, more than 13 million customers visited the Library and so far this year, visits are up another 8 percent. Circulation of books and other items was up 20 percent in 2008; this year it is up an additional 11 percent.

2010 Proposed Budget Information about the Operations Budget (collections and hours) and Capital (major building maintenance) on The Seattle Public Library’s website: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=about_history

Vote as you please, but please vote (better do it now)

2009-11-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Your ballot's around the house somewhere. Remember that it has to be postmarked by TUESDAY (good luck finding a pickup after 6 PM). A stamp (remember stamps?) is 44 cents. Safeway has 'em.
Voters' pamphlets, locations of 24 hour drop boxes, etc is all right here.
Nearest drop box: Central Area Neighborhood Service Center, 2301 S. Jackson

Ballot drop boxes will close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.

You all did so well last November. Please get out those ballots and make us all proud.
Thank you.

PS: You really will MAKE A DIFFERENCE

PPS: Running late? Latest mailbox pickup I could find was 7:30 PM. You're better off going to the drop box at 23rd & Jackson. BE THERE BEFORE 8PM!

A good walk (not) ruined. Hear about an amazing journey!

2009-10-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

I've know Erin since she was about 6: she's the daughter of a former colleague at the Hutch, and she was (rather more recently) a graduate student in a lab down the hall. Erin and Hig really did walk and paddle all the way from Seattle to the end of the Aleutian peninsula, blogging as they went! You can read their adventures on the blog, or you can read the book and/or come to the slide show. Erin will be interviewed on KING5 at 8AM on the 29th, and by KUOW at 9AM on the 30th.

We also go to the same dentist. At one point their inflatable raft was ripped apart by a bear. The thing that impressed our dentist most was that they were carrying enough dental floss to sew raft (and tent) back together again.

It's a great story. See you there.

Halloween at the Bottleneck Lounge

2009-10-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Present the Third Annual Hillside Harvest Feast

On Halloween!!

Date: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Time: 3:00 PM - close

Where: The Bottleneck Lounge

2328 E. Madison St. (between John and 23^rd on Capitol Hill)

www.bottlenecklounge.com (206.323.1098)

www.skilletstreetfood.com

Charge: No cover

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Street Food combine forces on October 31^st to present the best Halloween Party this side of Transylvania. Skillet’s Airstream will be parked directly in front of the newly-expanded BottleNeck Lounge, located at 2328 E. Madison St. on the backside of Capitol Hill. Doors open at 3 PM and Skillet begins service at 4PM. We’re bringing in some great seasonals, including Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale and Spire Mountain Dark and Dry Cider. Enjoy with a tasty burger smothered in bacon jam (and yes, veggie fare will be available too). Load up for your night on the town or hunker down with us for a spooktacular event!

Skillet will stop serving when the food runs out (hard to guess) but the party goes all night! Prizes for best costume awarded at 6 PM and midnight and toasty drink specials created with Amarula Cream Liqueur until close. Great food, great company – a ghoulishly good time!

The BottleNeck Lounge is a 21+ venue.

Halloween in the Arboretum!

2009-10-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

(click image for readable version)

Miller Halloween Carnival (and toddler pumpkin patch)

2009-10-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

(Reminder) The staff at Miller will be happy to see you and your children. They will be equally happy if you can volunteer to help at the event - contact Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753. (click on image for legible version)

Miller Community Center Preschool

2009-10-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

Miller Community Center is starting a half-day preschool for 3 to 5 year olds, starting November 2nd. For further details see the brochure, available on paper at the Center, or right here (via the miracle of electrons). For more details contact Center Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753 or the preschool: miller.preschool@seattle.gov

Community Council Election Forum

2009-10-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Capitol Hill Community Council is proud to present a forum featuring candidates for Seattle Mayor. The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods to meet the candidates and learn more about them. More specifically, the Council will engage the candidates in dialogue concerning their vision for the city and how they will seek to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Seattle. We will discuss topics such as the relationship of city government to its residents & neighborhoods, city planning in regard to open space & land use, and transportation. We hope you can join us for this exciting event!

Date:                    Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Time:                   4-6pm
Location:            Pigott Auditorium, Albers School of Business & Economics - Seattle University

If you have questions pertaining to the topics above that you would like posed to the candidates, please send them to us at chcc.officers@gmail.com. Please note that there will also be time for general audience Q&A. This is an event sponsored by the Capitol Hill Community Council with the gracious donation of space from Seattle University.

************* informal notes****************

The format will go something like this

4pm Welcome, introductions, CHCC announcements

4:15 Mallahan question round

5pm Short Break

5:15 McGinn question round

6pm End

Our innovative format allows the Council to get into issues one-on-one with each candidate - it's a dialogue between each candidate and the community rather than an argument between opponents.

We're also encouraging folks to attend the A&A Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Seattle University right before the mayoral candidate forum from 3-4pm. The A&A Building is lovely, and this event is also a celebration of SU's commitment to community.

Seattle University map: http://tinyurl.com/forum-map

More info at CHS blog:

Chicks Play Hard 2009

2009-10-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let you know that Chicks Play Hard 2009 is coming up in a few weeks. We are looking for both volunteers and participants.

We are pleased to once again partner with Seattle Parks & Recreation/ Miller Community Center to provide this event free for the community. Cappy's boxing returns this year to Chicks, as well as belly dancing, double dutch and fencing.

Chicks Play Hard will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at Miller Community Center from 11 am to 4 pm. Participants should be ages 9 to 13.

Each year we rely on volunteers to serve girls in the community and provide them with a great day. Volunteers should send an email to chicksplayhard@gmail.com and let us know if you can volunteer for part of the day, or the entire time.

Registration and more information at www.chicksplayhard.com

Thank you for helping us spread the word, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Sincerely,

Mary Guiden
Chicks Play Hard volunteer

Saturday: Capitol Hill Park Groundbreaking

2009-10-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

Miller Playfield Inauguration Update: field users to be told about parking lot

2009-09-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Many Nova and SBOC families and students, and a few Miller

residents, gathered at Miller on Saturday Sept. 19th, and enjoyed watching lacrosse and soccer demonstrations while dining on the remarkable and delicious selection of potluck dishes that they had brought. The meal finished with a variety of flavors of ice-cream donated by Bluebird Ice Cream and Tearoom (I'm still not convinced by the beer-flavored ice-cream, even if it is Elysian Porter).

A note from (guest of honor) Councilmember Rasmussen, to the Parks Department:

Saturday evening I attend the celebration of the completion of the Miller Playfield. It was well attended and the community is very happy with the results. Several people wanted me to know how helpful Karen O'Connor was in the success of the event.

One area where they need help is with the amount of on street parking that impacts the neighborhood. They asked if the Parks Department would encourage the teams and other people or groups who use the community center and especially the athletic fields to use the parking lot that is between the school and the community center.

Would you be able to develop signs or provide notice to people that the parking is available and encouraged there?

Thanks very much.
Tom Rasmussen

I replied:

I second Councilmember Rasmussen's thanks to Karen O' Conner and would add that Ted Holden, the projec
t manager for th e field replacement, was a joy to work with and was very diligent.

Directing field patrons to the lower parking lot: I attach a specimen map I made a while ago (at end). I'd be happy to aid
in the design of an official map to distribute to teams and post on Parks websites, and would suggest that Parks require teams to distribute either the maps or
links to a Parks website.

I would further suggest that SDOT post brown directional signs to point out the way to the parking lot: the attached map makes good locations obvious.
Many thanks again, both for the lovely new playfield, and for last Saturday's celebration.

And many thanks to Councilmember Rasmussen for taking the time on a Saturday evening to attend the event.

The Parks Department has agreed to implement many of our suggestions:

September 23, 2009

Dear Mr. Taylor and Councilmember Rasmussen:

Superintendent Gallagher asked me to respond to your email about the parking impact at Miller Playfield. It is exciting to hear that Miller Playfield Project was such a great success and I thank you for your continued support for Miller Community Center and Playfield.

I have asked Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, to compose a letter to be sent immediately to current Miller Playfield users to direct them to the parking lot off 20th and E Republican St., adjacent to the west of Meany Middle School and east of Miller Community Center. That letter will also be sent with all new field permits so field users know in advance where to park to help mitigate the parking impacts. Also, we will ask the larger athletic organizations to post the Miller Playfield parking instructions on their websites. Dennis will work with the Athletic Field Coordinators to plan regular meetings with user groups to explain
to them the importance of parking in the assigned parking lot. We will also look into possibly developing signs or maps to help direct Miller Playfield users know where to park.

Other athletic fields have experienced similar parking problems and we have, working with the user groups, gotten the parking situation under control. It will take the support of all involved to make the parking a success, but I am confident the field users want to be good neighbors

If you have further questions or concerns please contact me at christopher.williams@seattle.gov or 206-684-4136.
Sincerely,
Christopher Williams
Deputy Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

cc: John Bates, Athletic Field Scheduler, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Dennis Cook, Citywide Athletics Manager, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Sue Goodwin, Recreation Division Director, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Raft Hollingsworth, Athletic Field Coordinator, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Christopher M. Williams
Deputy Superintendent/Chief of StaffSeattle Parks and Recreation
(206) 684-4136 Office
(206) 233-7023 Fax
christopher.williams@seattle.gov

I'm sure you'll join me in thanking the Parks Department for the elegant new playfield, and for the ongoing efforts to make it work for everyone.

Granite Falls Railroad Days Parade

2009-09-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

(reposted, yet again, to remind you that the parade is Saturday October 3rd, noon in Granite Falls. Weather looks good for another viewing of the Shriners' waterproof fez covers).

I've been to the Granite Falls Parade (Railroad Days, 1st Saturday in October) several times: it's the classic small town parade (class of 2009, 2010, 2011 etc, assorted kids' floats) but also Seafair Pirates, multiple Shriners' groups and lots more local fun. Don't miss the BBQ sandwich at the Fire Hall afterwards!
Still pictures of a moving (OK, slowly moving) parade can't capture the essence of the event, so here are a few little movies. (you might need to install the Flash Player to see them)

Yes, it was drizzling: note the transparent fez covers!

Washington Ensemble Theatre on 19th

2009-09-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's Mary Bliss from the Washington Ensemble Theatre (corner of Roy and 19th next to Kingfish). Would you mind passing on our press release for our season opening show to the MPNA list? It's a community event and we'd love to see our friends and neighbors there!

Thanks!

Mary Bliss Mather
Actress-Coach-Event Planner-General Superstar
Co-Artistic Director, Washington Ensemble Theatre
www.washingtonensemble.org

www.geocities.com/maryblissmather

WASHINGTON ENSEMBLE THEATRE is Showing:
The WEST COAST Premiere of
NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM
Written by Jennifer Haley
Directed by Makaela Pollock

WHAT:
NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM

There’s something in the neighborhood. Something’s coming....

WHO:

Written by Jennifer Haley

Directed by Makaela Pollock

WHEN:

September 25 - October 26, 2009

Thursdays through Mondays, at 7:30PM.

Sneak Peak Thursday Preview, September 24th at 7:30PM.

Opening Night Gala, Friday, September 25 at 7:30PM.

WHERE:

608 19th Avenue East, at The Little Theatre in Capitol Hill (between Mercer & Roy)

Visit www.washingtonensemble.org for directions.

TICKETS:

$12-$18. Available through Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006 or

www.brownpapertickets.com.

ABOUT THE PLAY:

Something sinister is coming to the subdivision. Lurking on the hard-drive of every teenager in suburbia, “Neighborhood 3” is a video game that allows kids to fight zombies in a virtual reality that looks strangely familiar.

Parents grow increasingly frantic as players descend deeper into the game-world. Playwright Jennifer Haley invites us to examine the veneer of control that shrouds the world of identical houses and exposes a suburban dystopia. As the boundaries crumble between our world and its virtual mirror, what happens when we replace interaction with interface? Panic pervades this compelling zombie thriller and fear takes on a life of its own.

Featuring: Josh Aaseng, Patrick Allcorn, Natalie Breitmeyer, Kelly Hyde

With designs by: Andrea Bryn Bush, Ben Zamora, Brendan Patrick Hogan, Pete Rush, Amiya Brown

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are $12-18, available at the door or in advance through Brown Paper Tickets. Students and seniors $12. The Washington Ensemble Theatre box office opens one hour prior to performance for walk-up sales. For advance ticket orders call 800-838-3006 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com

INDUSTRY NIGHT

Theatre artists and TPS members are offered $12 tickets at every Monday evening performance (discount applies to walk-up sales only).

PREVIEWS:

$10 preview tickets are offered at 7:30PM on the Thursday before Opening Night of each production. There are no advance sales for previews; walk-up sales only.

* * * *

“The Ensemble [has an] exceptional history of challenging and genuinely innovative new plays and imaginative productions. This little theater on the backside of Capitol Hill is the most reliable place in town to find the best of truly modern theatre.”

- Jerry Kraft, SeattleActor.com

“Washington Ensemble Theatre is among the most artistically daring theatres in town.”

- Inside Encore Magazine

“This is ensemble work at its best.”

- Brendan Kiley, The Stranger

“Washington Ensemble Theatre is known for edgy, poetic, eerie scripts that challenge and linger on in thoughts days after attending the show. […] The Ensemble often seems more able than many theaters to appeal to the young adults who crave something different.”

- Miryam Gordon, Seattle Gay News

Saturday Miller Playfield Celebration: final details

2009-09-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

In brief:

6:30 PM: Meet at Miller Community Center / Playfield to celebrate our new field
Watch Seattle University soccer clinic
Watch Lacrosse demonstrations
Participate (if you wish) in potluck organized by NOVA High School Students
Enjoy FREE ice-cream, courtesy of Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room
7 PM: brief ceremony, speech by Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of Parks Committee
watch NOVA students demonstrate "3 way soccer"
field available for pick-up games till 10 PM
Weather looks OK for Saturday evening (Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east southeast. )

By the way, a few volunteers would be appreciated to help set-up, serve ice-cream, help tidy up afterwards. Please E-mail Andrew (tayles@jps.net) if interested.

The details:

Saturday, September 19th, 6:30 PM we celebrate the inauguration of our new playfield at Miller (330 - 19th Avenue East): here's a poster to share/print.

The Capitol Hill Times has an article about the field and the event.

Here's the City Press Release.

The students of NOVA alternative High School, which shares the Meany School building with the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center (SBOC) have embraced the event, and are holding a potluck as part of the celebration, and invite you to bring a potluck dish to share (and suggest that it be an ample size, as the SBOC families who have been invited may be unfamiliar with the potluck concept!).

Parks Department translated the invitation into 5 languages for the SBOC familes (Oromo, Chinese, Amheric, Spanish and Vietnamese), and we hope that some of them will be able to attend, and that their tournament-winning soccer team will play on the field.

The evening will include:

A welcome by Councilmember Rasmussen, chair of the Council Parks Committee

The potluck!

Ice-Cream, donated by Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room

a soccer clinic presented by Seattle University Men’s Soccer. You can cheer the SU Redhawks on against Oregon State at 12:30 on Saturday at SU Championship Field located on the corner of E. Jefferson St and 13th Ave.

a lacrosse demonstration presented by Northwest Women’s Lacrosse Association (NWWLA)

It will be a great chance for the neighborhood to meet the students, staff and parents of both schools, and members of the sports groups who share our playfield.

But wait, there's more!

Later in the evening (about 8:30?):

NOVA students will demonstrate their unique collaborative sport: Three-Way Soccer . (pictures)

SBOC teams will (we hope) demonstrate their soccer skills

The playfield will be available till 10 PM for your pickup soccer games, frisbee or (presumably) lacrosse use!

(Project details, history of Miller, Field Scheduling)

Capitol Hill Times article about Miller Playfield

2009-09-16T21:52:00.001-07:00

The 9/16/09 Capitol Hill Times has a long article about our new playfield and the new schools at Meany, together with a picture of Nova students practicing "Three Way Soccer".

(BTW here are ALL the details of Saturday's playfield celebration)

You can read the article:

the old-fashioned way by picking up a copy of the paper
the fancy modern way by visiting their website
by clicking on this scan of the article, to make it big enough to read.

Miller Playfield Inauguration: Saturday Sept. 19th

2009-09-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

Save the date (Sat. Sept. 19th, 6:30 PM) for a neighborhood gathering to celebrate the completion of our lovely all weather Miller Playfield. We'll have ice cream, chat, watch soccer and lacrosse demonstrations, and then will all get to use the field till the lights go off at 10 PM.

Seattle University Men's Soccer is organizing the soccer clinic for the Miller Playfield inauguration. If you want to see their skills in action earlier in the day, please come cheer the SU Redhawks on against Oregon State at 12:30 on SU Championship Field located on the corner of E. Jefferson St and 13th Ave.

We'll also meet people from the two schools that have just moved into the Meany School building next door (Nova High School and the Secondary Bilingual Orientation Center). They're still frantically moving into the school: let's hope we can contact and invite them!

The event is sponsored by:

Seattle Parks and Recreation
Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream and Tearoom
Capitol Hill Seattle blog
Design Kompany, a (very) local small business that made the lovely poster.

Please click on the poster to admire and read it, print it, share it, and please tell your friends about this neighborhood gathering.

Neighborhood Plan Status Report Meeting — in person!

2009-08-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

(preamble: YES I did encourage you to submit your thoughts online, and YES, many of us did do so, but the City has relented and offered us an in-person make-up session, to make up for the very slim attendance at the earlier meetings. The City is promoting the meeting for the Central Area, which includes Madison-Miller, but will bring left-over handouts for the nearby areas: Capitol Hill, Pike-Pine, 12th Avenue. Should be a good chance to discuss ideas of joint interest.

BTW: note that after the meeting we can all retire to the nearby Bottleneck Lounge to celebrate their expansion and continue the discussion.)

Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E 98112, 6 - 8 PM, Thursday, September 3rd.
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Please join members of the Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee on for an important community meeting.
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These two citizen groups want to hear your thoughts. Come and tell us how the Central Area, Pike/Pine and Capitol Hill has changed since the creation of their Neighborhood Plans. Your comments and input at this meeting will help the City of Seattle complete a status report that will look at how well your neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.
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This meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about your neighborhood plan, the projects that have been implemented, and growth and changes that have occurred since your plan was written in the late 90's. We will explore issues such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, and other issues.
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It would also be helpful to know your Neighborhood Plan and to bring it with you, so you can reference to them when needed. So, here are the links to your Neighborhood Plans:

Madison-Miller Neighborhood Plan:

http://millerparkseattle.blogspot.com/2007/05/neighborhood-plans-miller-plan-now.html
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Central Area:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/central/
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Pike/Pine:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/ppine/
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Capitol Hill:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/npi/plans/CAPHILL/
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You can review draft status reports on-line at:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/Neighborhood_Planning/StatusReports/default.asp
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The follow up series of meetings, tentatively scheduled for late October, will be an opportunity to review the final status report.

Thursday: Bottleneck Lounge Expansion Celebration

2009-08-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

(click to expand to legible size)

Shopping & amenities map

2009-08-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

A couple of sets of visitors, in different parts of Capitol Hill, inspired me to make this Google map. I invite you to add to it. I think you'll need to be signed in to your Google account to edit/add to the map.

View Capitol Hill attractions and amenities in a larger map

Assorted Notes

2009-08-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Time to vote

Chance to provide feedback on neighborhood plans.

Need a low-interest home repair loan?

Have a lovely summer,

Andrew