Pinehurst Seattle

Treehouse Coffee breakfast special this weekend (October 30-31)

From Michele: “This weekend we are serving Pumpkin waffles and hot cider!”

Read more about Treehouse Coffee here and here.

Remember to Vote!

The election is November 2nd and the ballot is massive. There’s a dizzying array of items but the impact of the results will be dramatic. Please vote ASAP if you haven’t already. I copied most of this from the State website (which is why it’s not including all the local info) but you can get your own personalized voting info (including the voter’s pamphlet) on the state’s website using MyVote. (http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/OSOS/VoterVault/Pages/MyVote.aspx)

Ballot measures:

I-1053 would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval.
I-1082 would authorize employers to purchase private industrial insurance beginning July 1, 2012.
I-1098 would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and $400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health.
I-1100 would close state liquor stores; authorize sale, distribution, and importation of spirits by private parties;
I-1105, the second liquor privatization proposal, would close all state liquor stores and license private parties to sell or distribute spirits.
I-1107 would end sales tax on candy; end temporary sales tax on some bottled water; end temporary excise taxes on carbonated beverages; and reduce tax rates for certain food processors.
Referendum 52 would authorize bonds to finance construction and repair projects increasing energy effciency in public schools and higher education buildings, and continue the sales tax on bottled water otherwise expiring in 2013.
House Joint Resolution 4220 would authorize courts to deny bail for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison, on clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that would likely endanger persons.
Senate Joint Resolution 8225 would require the state to reduce the interest accounted for in calculating the constitutional debt limit, by the amount of federal payments scheduled to be received to offset that interest.

Key races:

U.S. Senate
All nine congressional races
All 98 state House races and 25 state Senate races
Three state Supreme Court races
Many local races and propositions

Some of the more local items:

Sales and Use Tax for Criminal Justice, Fire Protection, and Other Government Purposes
Seattle School District No. 1 Supplemental Operations Levy

Long-Awaited Pinehurst Safeway Re-Opening Is Here

Renee sent this out to the list but it’s so exciting I wanted to make sure everybody saw it. I can’t even describe how much I’m looking forward to only walking 2 blocks to the store again…

Please Save the Date and join us for a sneak peek celebration as we open Seattle’s first “green” Safeway, as designated by the U.S. Green Building Council through its LEED-designation program.

When: Thursday, November 11, 2010 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: Pinehurst Safeway 12318 15th Avenue Northeast Seattle, Washington 98125

There will be live music and food sampling stations throughout the store.

Join Tom Rasmussen for Community Discussions

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has some upcoming community discussions. Many of the scheduled events have passed but there are two upcoming ones near our neighborhood. The northeast one is is tomorrow afternoon though so sorry for the late notice.

From his blog post:

I will spend several upcoming Saturdays in the community at Seattle Public Library locations, listening to residents. These informal conversations will take many different directions, with all topics on the table.

I sincerely hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to have informal yet meaningful conversations about our City. I’d like to hear your thoughts regarding next year’s budget, transportation issues, as well as other topics relevant to Seattleites.

I will be available at the following times and locations:

Saturday, October 30
noon – 2 p.m.
Northeast Library, 6801 35th Ave. N.E., 98115

Saturday, November 6
10 a.m. – noon
Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., 98103

IBS Treatment Center Hosts an Open House

I talked about this event last time with VERY short notice but hopefully more people will get to see it now.

IBS Treatment Center Hosts an Open House
Friday, November 5
3:30-7:00 p.m

Come see our new clinic space in the Northgate area, and join us in celebrating the IBS Treament Center’s 5th anniversary. Allergen free foods and drinks will be served. Everyone is invited and welcome!

11300 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, 98125
Entrance at 11301 Pinehurst Way NE (just north of Roosevelt and Pinehurst in the Northgate Pointe Building)

http://www.IBSTreatmentCenter.com

Also, the Innate Health Foundation sponsors the Central Seattle GIG and Food Allergy/Intolerance Support Group in the IBS Treatment Center on Tuesday, November 2nd from 6:30 to 8 PM. RSVP to 206-264-1111 or email info@ibstreatmentcenter.com. Special Guest Speaker Sharon Gray MS Lac. who will talk about methods to relieve digestive symptoms.

Pinehurst Playfield Shelterhouse Renovation Update

You may remember that Lorna Mrachek has been working with the community and Seattle Parks and Recreation on a redesign of the Pinehurst Playfield Shelterhouse.

We are nearing the finish line! The remaining schedule is:

Oct 27 – Nov 3 – Daily Journal of Commerce advertisement for bids

Nov 4 – pre-bid inspection at the shelterhouse

Nov 12 – bids due

Nov 15 – selected contractor notice to proceed

Dec 31 – project complete

Ron B. Reed Architects completed the architectural plans gratis for this project. Big thanks to them!

Halloween Deadline for the Tree Ordinance Proposal

Ruth Williams (ruthalice@comcast.net) sent the following information on the Tree Ordinance Proposal and offerered to answer any questions people have one the issues involved. The deadline is coming up soon so get your comments in ASAP.

Please be sure you can type through that goblin sheet! October 31, 2010 is the last day to send in comments about the DPD new tree ordinance proposal. Please don’t miss this deadline! Keeping Seattle’s forest infrastructure in balance with urban density needs is an important part of our legacy to future generations. While the proposal in its current form has some useful ideas for tree protections during construction, it removes all protections from trees and groves outside of construction.

Here is the DPD proposal, “City of Seattle Proposed Tree Regulations” from the DPD’s website.

Comments should be sent to DPD’s Brennon Staley (brennon.staley@seattle.gov).

Please also send a copy of your comments to the Mayor and City Council.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (mike.mcginn@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin(richard.conlin@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata(nick.licata@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Clark(sally.clark@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw(sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien (mike.obrien@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden(jean.godden@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess(tim.burgess@seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen(Tom.Rasmussen@Seattle.gov)
Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell(bruce.harrell@seattle.gov)

Richard Conlin has made it clear he is interested in incentives to plant trees. If you have any ideas along those lines they are certainly welcome.

Save Our Urban Forest Infrastructure (SOUFI) is a coalition of concerned citizens that has drafted a list of ideas we would like to see as part of the ordinance, as follows:

Maintain and expand protection for exceptional trees and tree groves
Expand current SDOT permit system for street trees to include all trees over 6 inches in diameter on public and private property; two week posting of permits on internet and visible sign on site; appeals process
Comprehensive regulations that cover both public and private sectors
Consolidate oversight, regulation and enforcement in an independent department other than DPD, that does not have a conflict of interest
License and train all arborists and tree cutting operations; with fines and suspension for violations of law
Give priority to native trees and vegetation to help preserve native plants and animals
Emphasis on habitat and ecological processes and soil as part of urban forestry
All real estate sales to require disclosure of exceptional trees on property or all trees requiring a permit to remove
Define canopy cover in terms of volume and area
Rebate on utility bills based on exceptional trees (or all trees over 6 inches in diameter) on property; property owners file to get rebate like file for seniors property tax exemption
Meaningful and descriptive site plans that show existing and proposed trees to scale

Thornton Creek Park Six Funding

Thornton Creek Park Six is in the final round for obtaining 2008 Parks and Open Space Opportunity Fund money. Our urban, seven-acre natural area, just two blocks east of Northgate Mall and home to beavers, kingfishers, pileated woodpeckers, and much more, is this close to receiving $500,000.00 from the fund.

The Thornton Creek Alliance sponsored the application, and the money will be used to establish a formal park entrance at the corner of NE 103rd St. and 5th Ave. NE, complete all the creek channel work necessary for a healthy riparian environment, and replace rampant invasives with native plants. This is one of only two NE Seattle projects to get this far in the process.

There was an October 25th meeting to show support (which I unfortunately missed getting the post up in time for) but testimonial e-mails are also accepted until Nov. 17th. They should go to susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov. The tracking number for our project, Naturalizing Northgate, is 35D-2010.

Contacting the Police

I was at the North Precinct today. The front desk officer said many citizens call the North Precinct when they should call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency police number. He gave me this information to pass along:

If it’s an emergency, call 9-1-1.

If it’s a non-emergency,

Call 206-625-5011
Select “2” at the first selection tree
Select “8” at the second selection tree
You will be connected to a call-taker who will ask you questions about your complaint or concerns

How do you know if it is an emergency or a non-emergency? See: http://www.seattle.gov/police/contact/911/default.htm

9-1-1 is for emergencies only, and the SPD non-emergency number is for events that may require police response, such as a nuisance or a crime that did not just occur and the suspects are not in the immediate neighborhood.
If you have a general question about city departments or services, contact the City of Seattle
Customer Service Bureau 206-684-CITY (2489).

Successful Street Cleanup Event Held October 16th

A big thanks to Josh, Kathy and George for teaming up with me for our first of four Pinehurst Community Council street cleanups. It was a nice sunny morning. We donned fashionable green vests, pulled on gloves, grabbed our nifty grabbers and went to work, our big yellow plastic bags billowing behind us.

It took two hours for two teams of two to split up and cover the territory. We were surprised at how clean the streets looked, but we still collected 1 1/2 big bags of trash, including a dead crow, a dead rat, broken glass, plastic bottles, stray papers, lots of cigarette trash, and a nickel.

A high point was the appreciation we got from a couple passersby. A low point was a car running over and cremating our dustpan when it fell out of Josh’s pocket. 🙂

I’ll schedule a winter cleanup in a couple months; stay tuned!

Pinehurst Seattle

Categories

Archives