The proposed service change includes a modification of Route 16, which connects downtown Seattle to the Northgate neighborhood via east Green Lake.

If the current proposal is adopted, trips would be added to Route 16, and the north part of the route would be moved to N 92nd St and 1st Ave NE. Currently, the route travels via College Way N, Meridian Avenue N and NE Northgate Way between North Seattle Community College and the Northgate Transit Center.

Map, via Metro, of proposed changes to Route 16. Click to enlarge.

Several residents of The Hearthstone, a continuing care retirement community in east Green Lake, are unhappy with Metro’s proposal.

One Hearthstone resident, Lynn Burnett, describes the impact to herself and her neighbors this way:

Our concerns about the suggested changes are the elimination of access to NSCC, NW Hospital Annex, Polyclinic on Meridian; mall entrance, Target, Key Bank, Chase Bank, Bank of America and the new BECU Service Center on Northgate Way; then 5th Ave Professional Center,  entrance to the mall, Community Center, Pac-Med, the medical building at 5th Ave NE and 103rd and the short distance to Group Health.

Route 16 stops directly behind The Hearthstone on Woodlawn Ave NE

Jack Whisner, Transportation Planner at the King County Department of Transportation, will be at The Hearthstone (6720 E Green Lake Way N) on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

The public is invited to the meeting, which will be about the proposed changes to Metro, with a special focus on Route 16.

The community can provide feedback about the Metro’s proposal via an online survey or at one of six open houses, 14 information tables, and more than a dozen presentations being offered during the month of February. Check this online calendar for a list of these events.

Feedback collected during this round of public review will help shape final September service recommendations that will be forwarded to the King County Council for action this spring.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: metro, northgate, the hearthstone

The proposed service change includes a new route, Route 63, which would replace Route 26. We took a close look at this possible new route here.

Metro is also proposing changes to Route 16, which connects downtown Seattle to the Northgate neighborhood via east Green Lake.

Under the proposed service change, trips would be added Route 16, and the north part of the route would be moved to N 92nd St and 1st Ave NE. Currently, the route travels via College Way N, Meridian Avenue N and NE Northgate Way between North Seattle Community College and the Northgate Transit Center.

Map, via Metro, of proposed changes to Route 16. Click to enlarge.

One Green Lake resident says that she is very unhappy with Metro’s proposal.

Route 16, she says, is heavily used by herself and her neighbors at The Hearthstone, a continuing care retirement community in east Green Lake (6720 E Green Lake Way N).

The resident, who asked that we not use her name, says that she has mobilized several other Hearthstone residents to communicate their concerns with Metro. She has also expressed her thoughts directly to Metro.

Here is the text of her written complaint:

I have completed the survey twice, once before I read the proposed changes to Route 16 and just now when I am madder than a wet hen. What are you thinking?

You are removing the vital part of the north portion of route 16. We need to get to doctors (Polyclinic, NW Hospital Annex) the college, the mall and soon BECU’s new service center.

People at the Hearthstone, University House and Green Lake Plaza are either old and/or impaired and we all use Route 16. Many of us walk with canes or even walkers. NSCC students have heavy backpacks. Again, what are you thinking?! Are you nuts?

You tried this a few years ago and came to your senses after the uproar — ask Jack Whisner, Metro planner, if he’s still around. We put petitions on his desk, signed by almost 200 residents at the Hearthstone, a retirement community at Green Lake.

Chances are we won’t get to the meeting at the Greenwood Sr Center tonight [Nov. 14] because we don’t get out at night and it is two buses away. Can you hear me now?

To provide your own feedback to Metro, use this online survey.

The Hearthstone is a My Green Lake advertiser.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: metro, northgate, the hearthstone

The early childhood music classes are the most popular offering at the Green Lake Community Center (7201 E Green Lake Dr N), according to Jeff Skinner, the facility’s former Coordinator.

Green Lake classes include Infant Music Development, Toddler Music Development, Preschool Music Development, World Music Appreciation for Kids, Spanish Music with ASL, and Musical Sign in ASL. The program’s second winter session begins this week. Class information and registration details can be found on Katy’s website.

In addition to Green Lake classes, you can find the program at the Phinney Neighborhood Center (6532 Phinney Ave N), the Ballard Community Center (6020 28th Ave NW), and the Northgate Community Center (10510 5th Ave NE).

Green Lake mom and marketing professional Cat Burns is a fan of Katy’s Musikal Magik.  She shared the following video with us, as well as a short interview she did with teacher Katy Webber.

*What started your career teaching children?

In my senior year at Cornish College of the Arts I answered an ad posted on the job board at school for a music club teacher at First Place School in the Central District. My contact was Gretta Harley, now a friend of mine, and she walked me through my first experiences of putting a music class together. She also introduced me to Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a type of early childhood music education, and I ended up interning for a couple of workshops. It was amazing watching the teachers work with toddlers teaching them the fundamentals of music through dance and song using classical music! I had to have more!

Immediately after graduation I began teaching toddler music class at the North Kirkland Community Center and became a visitor service coordinator at the Seattle Symphony’s, Soundbridge, Music Discovery Center. The first day I was there I had a crash course in Musical Storytelling where I learned about 3 or 4 never heard before songs in 5 minutes. Taking me on this adventure was Bryan Stratton, the lead music teacher there at the time, my mentor, and one of the best early childhood music teachers I know. He encouraged me to pick up my guitar after not playing for 10 years and I haven’t put it down since. Now all of my classes have live guitar and piano!

*What do you love most about your classes?

The people! Everyone is there for one purpose, to enhance their child’s musical experience. Since I’m there to do the same thing we have a wonderfully instant connection.

*What makes your classes stand out from other children music classes?

Live instruments and a professional musician. It’s rare, but not impossible, to find a music class that doesn’t relay heaviliy on recorded music and a person who is not only a early childhood music teacher but a working artist with a degree in Jazz Performance.

Also, the Spanish Music classes are not only rich in vocabulary but include ASL so one is really learning two new languages for the price of one. :) These classes are taught by myself along with Betsy Dischel, a fluent Spanish speaker and ASL interpreter who formally worked with children with special needs in Southern California.

*How many years have been teaching/working with children?

I’m going on my 8th year.

*Whats your favorite musical instrument?

The human voice.

For more information, contact Katy Webber at katywebber [at] gmail.com or (206) 729-3412.

Thank you, Cat and Katy!

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: ballard, kids, music, northgate, parks and rec, phinney

The vigil will mark the first anniversary of the deaths of Andis Petersons and Franklin Wood.

Petersons and Wood died in a Northgate home invasion.  Casey McNerthney wrote about the double homicide here.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: crime, memorial, northgate

McGinn invited attendees to pose their ideas and questions to him either by speaking directly at the town hall or tweeting their thoughts using the hashtag #newseattle.  Tweets were projected onto a large screen for all to see in real-time.

While at the event we asked Green Lakers to send their thoughts our way so that we could then retweet them.  It was pretty cool to see these projected on the screen for all (including McGinn) to see:

RT @eye_shuh: #greenlake q for transition team: any plans to increase foot patrols in our area/u-dist to stop the car prowls? #newseattle

RT @tackyspoons: #greenlake q for #newseattle transition team: Does McGinn have plans to fix flooding problem on Ravenna Blvd. and 9th NE?

RT @LaniBrooke: #newseattle comment from #greenlake: on chapin & 65th, cars parked on side need 2 be further up: lots of almost accidents

In addition, two audience members stated requests which related to Green Lake.  One asked for an express bus from the 65th St Park and Ride to downtown and one shared the need for a stoplight at NE 80th St & Banner Way NE.

While McGinn did not address any of these suggestions directly at the town hall, they are now formally a part of the record, and they have been added to the transition team’s collection of community input.

Have something else you would like McGinn to know about or consider?  You can submit your ideas (and/or vote on others’) at IdeasforSeattle.org.

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: crime, local politics, metro, northgate, traffic

Getting There: When will I-5 project in North Seattle be complete?

By SCOTT GUTIERREZ
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Question:

Misty Willits asks when the DOT is planning to complete the repaving project on Interstate 5 north of Seattle. “The grooves in the pavement actually cause the wheels on my car to jog side-to-side to such a degree that it is difficult to steer. It feels very similar to hydroplaning, which leads me to believe this will be incredibly dangerous when the rains start. What is the ETA?” she asks.

Answer:

Bronlea Miller, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Transportation, has the most recent update (seattlepi.com wrote about the project earlier this year and the noise complaints it was drawing from North Seattle residents who live close to the freeway):

“We are on track to finish the Seattle to Shoreline pavement repair project by the end of December. There are a few areas along southbound I-5 between Northgate Way and the Ship Canal Bridge that have not yet been ground down across all lanes. In these areas, vehicles slightly shift, especially when crossing over into a lane that has not yet been fully ground down,” she says.

“These ridges will be removed as the grinding in each section is completed. In addition, whenever crews working for WSDOT finish grinding a section of I-5, they measure the pavement roughness to make sure there are no remaining bumps. If one is found, they then grind it down,” she says.

“Grinding down the lanes on I-5 extends the life of the freeway by smoothing out the ruts. Grinding also helps prevent skidding by adding texture to the roadway. The textured, longitudinal grooves help drain water, preventing it from pooling on the surface. Less water on the surface actually increases safety for all drivers by helping to prevent hydroplaning,” she says.

[seattlepi.com]

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: I-5, noise, northgate, shoreline, traffic

Nearby events:

Wallingford:  This year the Argosy Christmas Ship™ will stop just offshore at Gasworks Park on two separate occasions:  Tuesday, December 1st,  the Snohomish County Windjammers will be serenading Lower Wallingford from 8:20-8:40pm.  Wednesday, December 23rd is the Finale concert, sung by the Seattle Girls’ Choir.

Wallingford: Wallyhood’s Wallingford Senior Center Auction on-line fundraiser auction is closing tonight (Sunday) at midnight.

Wallingford: On Saturday, December 5, Caspar Babypants will be performing at Alphabet Soup Books.

Shoreline:  The Jillian Graham Band will be playing at the Laughing Ladies Cafe on December 12th at 7:30 p.m.

Public art:

Wallingford:  Wallyhood spotted some excellent yard art in front of a house on Latona Ave NE, between 40th and 42nd.

New businesses:

Wallingford: Paron’s Closet, the new kids’ consignment boutique in Wallingford Center, will be holding a “Grand Opening” on Saturday, December 5th with freshly baked cookies and sparkling juice.

Eastlake: Serafina’s new restaurant space, Cicchetti, opened on Tuesday at 121 E. Boston St.

Bargain alert:

Northgate: On Wednesday, December 2nd at the Northgate Community Center there will be a free Fraud Protection program for people over the age of 50.

Crime watch:

Wallingford: The Tully’s at 2100 N 45th St was, rumor has it, robbed at gunpoint last weekend.

Wallingford: More details are available about last Saturday morning’s robbery at Verity Credit Union, located at 4545 Stone Way N.

Wallingford: There were two reports of robberies and attempted robberies last weekend.

Crown Hill: A woman was stabbed last Sunday near Holman Road and 90th.

Kinda Crazy:

Wallingford: Lots of people were asking strangers for cell phones in lower Wallingford yesterday.

Wallingford: At least two different women are going door-to-door in Wallingford with a suspicious spiel.

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: northgate, shoreline, wallingford

Also, the date and time of McGinn’s North Seattle town hall has been announced:

Monday November 30th
7 to 9 pm
Northgate Community Center
10510 – 5th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98125

My Green Lake plans to be there.  If you are going too and want to meet us there, let us know at mygreenlake@mygreenlake.com!  Green Lake Represent!  (ha.)

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: building community, local politics, northgate

Local Politics:

Wallingford: The North End Candidate Debate, held at Lincoln High School on October 13, is now available online.

Wallingford: Wallyhood has created a handy Voter Guide Round-Up.

Queen Anne: Susan Hutchison, candidate for King County Executive, speaks about Boeing’s exit from Seattle.

Nearby events:

Wallingford: Ivar’s Fall Cider Celebration is on November 12th.

Greenwood: The “Aurora Elephant” will be raised at Aurora Rents around 8:30 or 9 on Monday morning.

Greenwood: The Greenwood Wing Dome will be donating a portion of their sales today, until 9 p.m., to the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund.

Lake City: The Seattle Mennonite Church is holding an international gift sale on November 13th and 14th to support Ten Thousand Villages.

Pinehurst: Everyone is welcome at Victory Creek on Sunday, November 8th.  Neighbors will be removing invasive plants, mulching, planting native species, and cleaning up the litter in the park.

Maple Leaf: Attend a presentation on Thornton Creek Watershed history on November 12th.

New and expanded businesses:

Wallingford: Izilla Toys, the well-known Capitol Hill toy shop, will be opening a “Holiday Annex” in Wallingford Center starting November 2nd.

Greenwood: Couth Buzzard Books is reopening at a new location: 8310 Greenwood Ave.

Greenwood: Discussion continues in the community about Fred Meyer’s plans to rebuild.

Northgate: New Japanese restaurant Setsuna has opened.

Closed business:

Queen Anne: Opal Bistro closed yesterday.

Bargain alerts:

Queen Anne: Free basketball referee clinics are being offered by Seattle Parks & Recreation the week of November 2 and December 7.  Trained students and adults can earn $20 per game, accrue high school community service hours and support youth basketball at Queen Anne Community Center.

Wedgewood: Visit Wedgwood Elementary this week for it’s annual used book sale.

Crime watch:

Wallingford: A bunch of oxycotin was stolen from Bartell Drugs by a guy in wrap-around sunglasses.

Wallingford: A dude in a bathrobe has been seen peering (that’s peering, not peeing) into houses.

Greenwood: The Seattle Fire Department has determined that the fire that took out four businesses on N 85th St was arson.

Maple Leaf: Three kids rob a man at gunpoint.

Kinda crazy:

Eastlake: A pizza shop owner apologizes to the Eastlake community for his role in importing Canadian marijuana into the U.S.

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: greenwood, lake city, maple leaf, northgate, pinehurst, queen anne, wallingford, wedgwood

A Fire Strikes Four Greenwood Businesses:  Phinneywood did an amazing job covering the horrible fire that hit Greenwood early Friday morning.  Their coverage began with breaking news updates and video of the fire, and they continue to cover the effects of the fire on the Taproot Theatre, Green Bean Coffeehouse, PAWS Cat City and the community as a whole, as well as to explain the cleanup and wall-stabilization processes.  Information about a relief fund can be found here.  What caused the blaze?  Phinney Ridge Seattle speculates that arson was at play.  Lastly, we direct you to this heartfelt post from Aurora|Seattle.

Halloween activities: 10/30: Northgate, Lake City, Meadowbrook (Lake City), Magnolia, and Ballard and Loyal Heights. 10/31: Sandpoint and Ballard. (Also: Day of the Dead at the Phinney Neighborhood Association, 11/6).

New businesses, expanded businesses, and closed businesses: LTD Bar + Grill (a sports bar) and Finch & Sparrow (a clothing boutique) are newly open in Fremont.  Paron’s Closet (a children’s consignment boutique) is opening soon in Wallingford, and the Wallingford QFC is still undergoing renovations.  Blue Sky Bridal (an eco-friendly bridal boutique) has recently opened in Phinney Ridge.  Tara Academy of Irish Dancing and Sandra Coan Photography have set up shop in Greenwood, and the Pig ‘n Whistle has new owners.  In Ballard, a new bar called Shelter has opened and the EZ Wash Coin Laundry has closed.

Bargain alert: Check out a series of free children’s concerts in Northgate and a free workshop on home insulation in Wallingford.

Crime watch: There have been a series of break-ins at medical and dental buildings across North Seattle, including in the neighborhoods of  Greenwood, Queen Anne, and Eastlake.  In addition, Jupiter Recording and  Julia’s in Wallingford were robbed.  A 19-year-old man was stabbed in the neck in Maple Leaf and two neighbors came to blows (and then brought out a knife and handgun) in Queen Anne.  A car was broken into in  Greenwood, and a man tried to break Greenwood Hardware‘s window with a beer bottle and a garden pot.

Kinda crazy: A peek into the mind of an Aurora pimp, and the awesome Greenwood Reaper strikes again.

© for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2009.

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Post tags: aurora, ballard, greenwood, lake city, magnolia, northgate, phinney, queen anne, sand point, wallingford