Kate Martin is running against District 2 incumbent Sherry Carr in the  November 8, 2011 General Election. District 2 covers the Green Lake area and represents Bagley, B.F. Day, Green Lake, Greenwood, Hamilton International Middle School, McDonald Elementary, Middle College @ Wilson Pacific, Olympic View, Sacajawea, Seattle Evening School, Stanford International School and Whittier.

Both candidates provided statements to us before the Primary Election. You can read their statements here.

Earlier today, Jesse Baumgartner sent us the following press release on behalf of Sherry Carr:

Kate Martin’s Record of Insults and Outbursts Would Be a Step Backward for Seattle School Board

Candidate has received police escorts from Roosevelt High, insulted Special Education, Advanced Placement and other students, raising questions about her fitness to govern the state’s largest school district

SEATTLE – After a string of campaign trail tirades by challenger Kate Martin, including insensitive remarks about special education, non-English speaking and other student populations burdening the overall student body in Seattle Schools, School Board Director Sherry Carr says her opponent has gone too far.  Carr today noted a pattern of divisive and angry behavior by Martin that she believes will be detrimental to a district in need of collaborative, civil leadership in challenging economic times.

“Enough is enough,” said Carr, a former Seattle PTSA President and longtime neighborhood schools leader who works at Boeing.  “These actions from Kate Martin during the past four years show an insensitivity to the needs of Seattle students and are completely out of line for someone running for our district’s school board.”

• This September, Martin sent a statement to a local Democratic group containing a very insensitive remark that “ELL, Special Ed, and an assortment of behavioral problems are mainstreamed on the backs of average students.”
 (PDF attached)

• Additionally, the Seattle Times reported in August that Martin had to be escorted by Seattle Police out of Roosevelt High School in 2009 because she became so adamant that the school assign her son a new math teacher. The school’s security “asked that Martin be permanently barred from the building.”
 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015801694_schoolboard03m.html

• In December 2007, Martin sent a letter to the Seattle Times calling Advanced Placement classes “another club for white, affluent families,” and also stating that “given that apparently everyone cannot be served, I’ll help the most vulnerable first and leave the affluent kids ‘behind.’ We all know they’ll do just fine.” 
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004069763_frilets14.html

• In 2010, Martin filed a recall against several Board members because she disagreed with a policy decision.  The effort cost the District tens of thousands of dollars in outside legal fees and was thrown out by King County Superior Court. Link to court case search King County Superior Court, Case No. 10-2-38755-2 (PDF of Martin statement also attached)

“Representing our city’s children requires a level head, an ability to look out for every student’s interest, and a willingness to create a welcoming environment for all students,” said Carr. “Serving on a School Board involves working with others even when you disagree on matters of policy. Throughout my time on the School Board, I’ve made a concerted effort to partner with organizations and individuals to make a positive impact for Seattle students.”

Shortly after the above email was sent, we received this statement from Kate Martin:

What you see is what you get from me. I’m not hiding anything, protecting anybody or corroborating cover ups behind the scenes. I’m honest.

To be clear to voters and to my incumbent opponent, the things she criticized me for today are things directly in my crosshairs at the district.

Those things include: principals that suck, the untenable conditions in the “general education” classrooms and the curriculum and contracting incompetence down at central.

I’m super proud of what I’ve learned and accomplished while navigating the education landscape with my sons. I’m going to take all of that with me to the John Stanford Center.

I’m not going to be more of the same. We need a reset.

The judge at the hearing where I tried to recall several directors said she could identify with the frustrations I communicated about Seattle Public Schools and suggested I focus my discontent into a run for school board. I’m doing just that.

Disclosure: Kate Martin for School Board is a My Green Lake advertiser.

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

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Post tags: daniel bagley elementary, fremont, greenwood, hamilton middle school, kids, local politics, maple leaf, mcdonald school, phinney, roosevelt high school, schools, wallingford

Photo courtesy Kate Martin

Kate Martin, a candidate for Seattle School Board District 2, is holding a Meet and Greet at Green Lake’s Urban Bakery (7850 East Green Lake Dr N) on Saturday October 15, 2011, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

District 2 represents Bagley, B.F. Day, Green Lake, Greenwood, Hamilton International Middle School, McDonald Elementary, Middle College @ Wilson Pacific, Olympic View, Sacajawea, Seattle Evening School, Stanford International School and Whittier.

Kate Marin is running against District 2 incumbent Sherry Carr in the  November 8, 2011 General Election.

Both candidates provided statements to us before the Primary Election. You can read their statements here.

Disclosure update: As of Saturday, October 8, Kate Martin for School Board is a My Green Lake advertiser.

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

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Post tags: daniel bagley elementary, fremont, greenwood, hamilton middle school, kids, local politics, maple leaf, mcdonald school, phinney, schools, wallingford

Roxy went missing this afternoon (Monday, Sept. 19, 2011) from the west Green Lake / east Phinney Ridge area.

Roxy is a nine-year-old, medium-sized, black German Shepherd. She is wearing a blue collar and has a microchip in her ear.

Have you seen Roxy? Please call Chrystal at (206) 931-3024.

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

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Post tags: dogs, lost and found, phinney

In May, Kerry Fowler put together a poll to gauge the community’s opinions about the N 63rd St underpass mural.

“It’s amazing that the mural at 63rd Street and Aurora lasted as long as it did without vandalism. But now it’s an eyesore and it’s time to reclaim that space for our community,” the introduction to the poll read.

Kari Boiter, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, has signed on to help with the effort and is organizing a community meeting to discuss securing funding for the refurbishment of the murals.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 in Room 3 of the Phinney Neighborhood Association‘s Phinney Center (6532 Phinney Ave N).

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

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Post tags: aurora, painting, phinney, public art

The president of the North Central Little League is retiring and the league is looking for someone to fill the position. NCLL covers parts of Ballard, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Greenwood, Green Lake and Wallingford.

Tom D’Angelo has been a part of NCLL for more than a decade but now that his kids are older, he believes it is time for him to move on.

A week ago he sent this letter to families involved in NCLL:

Dear North Central Community,

Eleven years ago I began my North Central journey as a father, a coach, and a league “helper”. Over the course of those years I filled many positions and am finishing this chapter of my journey as President of this great organization. My kids and I have moved on to other pursuits (www.shrimpskateboarding.com) and I simply cannot be an effective leader for our league moving forward. I announced my “retirement” several months ago but to date, we do not have any candidates to fill the President position.

On September 13th we will be having our annual Membership Meeting at 7 p.m. at the Phinney Neighborhood Center. All league parents are invited to this meeting and we appreciate your attendance. There are three key components of this meeting: a “state of the league”, elections, and the start of our organization for the 2012 season. It is very important that we have at least one person willing to assume the role of President by this time.

North Central is a vibrant and healthy league that contributes positive energy into our community. It has been a big part of my family’s life and it has been rewarding and fun. In some ways I probably “over did it” and that may have some people a little concerned they cannot commit to the job of being President. I believe you can. The great Board of Directors, coaches, and volunteers have elevated North Central organizationally and are always there to help. I believe the key quality for the President is keeping an eye on “the whole” and keeping things in motion. Most of this is by e-mail and/or phone. I will help you.

As a league we have grown from about 350 kids just a few years ago to over 630 in 2011. We have held by our commitment to offer our kids a positive experience, invested in our coaches, umpires, and fields. The kids and the families are having fun and enjoying the game of baseball. It’s a good situation and it needs good leadership to continue our great tradition.

Please let us know about your interest in being President, serving on the Board of Directors, or in any other league-level role by e-mail at ncll.baseball@comcast.net.

I appreciate everything that all our great families have put into North Central. Thank you for helping us build and sustain a great Little League.

Sincerely,
Tom D’Angelo

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

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Post tags: ballard, baseball and softball, fremont, greenwood, kids, phinney, wallingford

King County is holding an all-mail Primary and Special Election on August 16, 2011. Ballots have now arrived at most Green Lake homes.

Green Lake residents will see School Board candidates on their ballots. The top two candidates in the Primary race will be on all Seattle ballots in November.

There are four contenders for Seattle School Director for District No. 2, which represents Bagley, B.F. Day, Green Lake, Greenwood, Hamilton International Middle School, McDonald Elementary, Middle College @ Wilson Pacific, Olympic View, Sacajawea, Seattle Evening School, Stanford International School and Whittier.

The incumbent for School Board, District 2 is Sherry Carr. Her challengers are Jack Whelan, Kate Martin and Mark T. Webber. A fourth challenger, Terrence J. Menage, has suspended his campaign.

We asked for statements from the four candidates currently running in the Primary race for School District No. 2.

From Sherry Carr:

Four years ago, I ran successfully for School Board energized by the belief that quality schools change lives and transform communities.  That belief has driven my decision making on behalf of our city’s 47,000 students.  In every decision, I have leaned on valuable lessons learned from my years as President of the Daniel Bagley PTA – I have rolled up my sleeves and put what is best for students first.

Our School Board has laid a strong foundation for accomplishing our primary goal of improving academic outcomes for all students.  We implemented a new neighborhood-based student assignment plan in response to parent demand.  We secured landmark agreements with our teachers’ and principals’ unions that drive increased accountability for student achievement.  Major curriculum changes have been made to ensure that every student has more equitable access to a high quality education.  And our students are now benefiting from the first nearly complete purchase of new textbooks in decades.  These milestones benefit all students and are fundamental to closing the achievement gap.

As Audit & Finance Committee Chair, I provided key leadership aimed at driving significant structural change to our District.  This work included a major overhaul of Board policies, ethics program improvements, and stronger financial controls.  These changes will result in a strong governance structure for Seattle Public Schools.  Despite four consecutive years of budget gaps, we worked together to prioritize funding for our classrooms first, reducing central administration while investing in changes necessary to improve academic outcomes for students.

In the Green Lake neighborhood, McDonald School has re-opened at Lincoln and will move ‘home’ in fall 2012.  The 1913 building is currently undergoing a $15M renovation. This fall a language immersion program will be added including both Spanish and Japanese tracks.  Green Lake School continues to be a thriving school community with a new leader and a strong academic program.  Daniel Bagley School, once the repeated target of closure threats, has grown to nearly 400 students with waitlists for both Montessori and Contemporary programs.  Through it all, I have been responsive to families through email and in person to address their concerns.

I have lived in the Green Lake neighborhood for nearly 30 years with my husband, Bill and our two daughters both of whom attended Daniel Bagley.  At soccer games at Green Lake fields, Girl Scout troop meetings at the Hearthstone, or PTA meetings at Bagley, I have met my Green Lake neighbors.  I am honored to serve this community and feel a strong sense of accountability to its residents.  There is still work to do.

Student achievement must improve, and we must close the achievement gap.  We aren’t there yet – but we are moving aggressively forward.  I assure you that our progress, while sometimes challenging to achieve, is both steady and substantial.  I’m confident we are moving in the right direction; now is not the time to reverse course.  My sleeves are rolled up.  I ask for your vote in the August 16^th primary election.  Thank you!

From Jack Whelan:

My name is Jack Whelan, and I am running for School Board, District 2.  I have lived in the Green Lake neighborhood for twenty-three years in three houses: one on Canfield Place in the old Honey Bear days, then over in the Green Lake Elementary neighborhood near 65th, and since 2004 just north of Blanchet H.S. on Burke Ave.

My son, Luke, went to Green Lake Elementary where he graduated in 2002, and he graduated from Ingraham H.S. in 2009. My wife has taught in Seattle Public Schools since 1992, and taught one year at Green Lake Elementary.  I was the parent chess coordinator/coach at Green Lake Elementary from 1998 to 2002, and I was a Little League coach for the Roosevelt-University District-Greenlake (RUG) League Minors and Majors teams from 1999-2003. I was named All-Star coach for the Majors in 2003.

I have degrees from Boston College and Yale University, and I have been on the faculty of the UW’s Foster School where I have taught a strategic business communications since 1986. I am an educator married to an educator, and I understand that you can only be good at what you love to do, and you cannot learn if you do not love to learn. Everything in a school system has relevance only insofar as it supports the love of learning in our kids, teachers, and parents.

If elected, I will work hard to restore stability and good order to an otherwise dysfunctional school system. You cannot build stability from the top down, and you cannot build on a flawed foundation.  The district suffers from both problems.

I want a return to site-based collaborative management, in which parents have a role in choosing principals, where principals and parents evaluate teachers, and parents and teachers evaluate principals. I want to see the district structured in such a way that principals understand that their first responsibility is to serve the needs of their learning community, not a top-down agendas dictated by the people downtown.

I could go on, but please check out my campaign blog for more about my campaign and my ideas.

I am endorsed by King County Democrats, the 43rd District Democrats, and Where’s the Math.

From Mark T. Webber:

The change we need. The voice we deserve.

I grew up in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle and spent many days with my brothers and sisters swimming and playing at Greenlake.  We would walk to the lake for the 4th of July fireworks, and watch the outboard hydroplane race there during the summer.  The house I live in now is in Maple Leaf and I am able to look down the hill to the lake from my deck.  It is a view that brings back good and pleasant memories from my childhood.  I attended John Marshall when it was a Junior High School and graduated from Roosevelt High School.

As a practicing architect, contractor and business owner, I learned the importance of long-range planning, fiscal responsibility and integrity. I just completed my Masters of Arts in Education degree and I am overseeing the construction of the community garden at Harbor Church in Crown Hill.

As a volunteer, I taught under-represented youth entrepreneurship skills and have been a mentor for young men and women.  Since its inception, I have been active in Harbor Church in Crown Hill and supported its efforts to improve the quality of life in the Crown Hill neighborhood.

I believe short-sighted solutions are not the answer to our school district’s problems.

The Seattle Public Schools needs a ten-year plan to ensure that every school is striving to be a Twenty-first Century school. This means that students must attain high standards of knowledge through a balanced curriculum which encompasses the eight key learning areas with an emphasis on math and science:

The arts (including drama and music),
English,
health and physical education,
languages other than English,
mathematics,
science,
studies of society and environment,
technology.

Schools must fully develop the talents and capacities of all students including:

analytical, communication and organizational skills,
self-confidence and high self-esteem,
responsibility and decision-making skills,
employment-related skills,
the skills to confidently use new technologies.

In addition, students should have the skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They should have an understanding of the natural environment, and the knowledge to contribute to ecologically sustainable development.

Our schools didn’t get where they are overnight and positive change will not come overnight.  Short-sighted plans bring short-sighted and short-lived results.  We need to start looking down the road into the future.  We need to decide where we want our school system to be in ten years and start developing the plans and strategies necessary to get us there.  We need someone with the vision, courage, and the drive to make the Seattle Public Schools world-class schools again.

From Kate Martin:

Hello.  My name is Kate Martin and I am a candidate for School Board in District 2.

My husband, José Chavez, and our two sons, Emilio and Esteban (Steb), live in South Greenwood in the home that José and I have lived in since 1985.  We have just finished navigating our sons, 18 and 20, through Seattle Public Schools and I am ready to put that knowledge to work for other students and families.

All kids need and deserve to be challenged and inspired continuously. I believe that every single student needs the kind of attention in the classroom that celebrates and amplifies their gifts while recognizing and mitigating their deficits.  The “one-size-fits-all” approach to preK-12 public education in Seattle combined with endless ineffective strategies for addressing the achievement gap is leaving vast groups of students short of reaching their personal best.

Families must work in close continuous collaboration with schools to insure the full and complete educate of the students.  Academics, social skills and emotional competencies are the essential building blocks for a successful life, so a focus on all three is essential.  I will advocate for each student and family to work together with Success Coordinators to craft Personal Learning Plans with customized pathways for each of them to realize their goals.

I also believe that the role of a school board director is to oversee, not overlook.  We have been plagued by conflicts of interest, cronyism and corruption which have become a significant distraction that fails to focus on the task at hand which is serving students and families.   My tagline is “Kate does her homework” and I assure you that I will do just that.  The rubberstamping of bad ideas robs all of us, especially the students, of the resources needed for successful schools.  I believe Seattle can and should have the best schools in the country, but that takes diligence and research-based information, not ideas that don’t work from special interests.

I am a concerned parent and a professional planner ready to serve our schools.  Please contact me anytime to discuss your ideas or concerns about public education in Seattle.  I am on Facebook (search Kate Martin Seattle).  My website is katemartinforschoolboard.com.  You can find out more about my platform there.   I also have an on-line magazine, theseattlejournal.com where I have been writing and publishing articles by others about Seattle issues including many articles about education.  I have been endorsed by King County Democrats, The Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle and the Save Seattle Schools Community Blog and I would honored by your vote.    Don’t forget that ballots are due back by August 16.   Thank you.

Who are you voting for in the Primary election for School Board, District 2, and why? Leave your comments below.

The Primary and Special Election ballot also includes a question, Referendum 1, which relates to the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement. You can read about Referendum 1 as it relates to the Green Lake neighborhood here.

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

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Post tags: daniel bagley elementary, fremont, greenwood, hamilton middle school, kids, local politics, maple leaf, mcdonald school, phinney, schools, wallingford

Photo courtesy PhinneyWood

Police helicopters could be seen over the west Green Lake area earlier this afternoon (Tuesday, July 5, 2011).

According to our news partner PhinneyWood, a SWAT team surrounded a home near Dayton Ave N and N 83rd St after a report of a landlord pulling a shotgun on a tenant while serving an eviction notice. As of 2:45 p.m., the suspect was in custody.

Update – More information is now available via the Seattle Police Department:

On July 5th at approximately 1:07 p.m. officers responded to the 500 block of North 84th Street for a report of a man with a gun.  Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect and victim (both adult males) are known to each other via a landlord/tenant relationship.  The victim was renting space in the suspect’s home and was being evicted.  The victim arrived at the house to pick up some of his belongings.  The suspect called the victim on his cell phone and asked the victim to come to an area in the the suspect’s portion of the house.

The victim appeared in the suspect’s portion of the house at which point the suspect pointed a shotgun at the victim and threatened him.  The victim pleaded with the suspect not to shoot him as he backed out of the house.  Once outside, the victim called 911.

Responding patrol officers surrounded the house and were quickly joined by on-duty SWAT team officers.  They called the suspect on his phone and convinced him to surrender peacefully.  The suspect exited the residence unarmed and was taken into custody.

No shots were fired and nobody was injured throughout the incident.  A loaded .410 shotgun and a .22 caliber rifle were recovered from the house and booked into evidence.

The suspect was subsequently booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Assault.

On July 6th at approximately 10:31 p.m. officers were again called to this same residence in response to a 911 call of a disturbance.  Preliminary investigation indicates that a lawful tenant of the house was attempting to enter his leased unit when he got into a physical altercation with the suspect (the landlord).  There were no injuries and no arrests however, the tenant voluntarily went to Harborview Medical Center via ambulance due to taking an unknown quantity of pills.

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

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Post tags: crime, phinney

Photo courtesy PhinneyWood

The fire was called in shortly before 5 p.m. and firefighters quickly put it out, according to our news partner PhinneyWood.

“The home’s occupants were not home at the time,” reports PhinneyWood, “but they did come running around the corner at about 5:35 p.m., and were relieved when firefighters told them their dog was safe at a neighbor’s house. They told firefighters they also had a cat, but they didn’t know if it was inside at the time of the fire.”

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

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Post tags: fire, phinney

This story comes to us via our news partner PhinneyWood.

Businesses and residents along 85th Street from Green Lake to Greenwood and Ballard will have some major disruptions to deal with beginning this fall, when the Seattle Department of Transportation begins a yearlong project to repave 85th Street all the way from Interstate 5 to 15th Avenue NW.

Traffic will be severely impacted along 85th Street during a yearlong paving project.

But, in the end, that street will not only be easier to drive on, there will be new curb ramps, bus stop improvements, repaired sidewalks, new underground drainage and environmentally friendly storm water facilities.

Work is scheduled to begin in October and last about one year. The $12.5 million project is being paid for with funds from the 2006 Bridging the Gap Levy.

Another $2 million repaving project, along Greenwood Avenue North from North 85th Street to North 73rd Street, will happen at about the same time, in conjunction with the first two of the 85th Street project’s five phases.

“It’s the single largest paving project in the nine-year history of Bridging the Gap,” SDOT Project Manager Jessica Murphy explained to the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce on Friday afternoon.

On 85th Street, SDOT will pour new concrete pavement in the curb lanes, where heavier traffic such as buses and trucks usually travel. The inside lanes in each direction will mostly be resurfaced with asphalt, with a few exceptions.

Three intersections along 85th Street will be completely rebuilt with all concrete because of heavy use: 8th Avenue NW, Greenwood Avenue North and Aurora Avenue North.

Murphy called the Greenwood Avenue resurfacing a “preservation project,” explaining that it’s much easier and cheaper to fix pavement now before it needs a complete re-do, like on 85th Street. However, the entire intersection at Greenwood Avenue North and North 80th Street will be rebuilt with concrete.

SDOT will upgrade curb ramps at all corners for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. Storm water retention pipes will be installed on 85th Street to reduce peak flows, as well as storm water filtering devices to remove most of the sediment before it reaches the creeks.

Most areas will get repaired and improvement sidewalks, but SDOT will completely replace the sidewalks on 85th Street between Wallingford and Aurora avenues.

85th Street will be narrowed to one lane in each direction sometimes, and complete detours will be in place at other times.

“The construction impacts are going to be significant on 85th. Obviously every business that has a driveway on 85th will be impacted at some point several times,” Murphy said, adding that driveway closures would be limited to a few days here and there for each business.

SDOT has been conducting surveys of businesses along 85th.

“We try to support the businesses by trying to work within what their operational needs are,” she said.

SDOT is still finishing design work and figuring out all the details. A likely candidate for detours would be 80th Street. Murphy said the agency will conduct a full traffic signal analysis of detour routes so they can retime traffic lights for maximum efficiency.

While the project starts in October, SDOT will not put in place any detours until January, after the holiday shopping season.

Work on 85th Street will happen in five phases, starting at 15th Avenue NW and moving east.

• Phase 1 – 15th Avenue NW to 8th Avenue NW
• Phase 2 – 8th Avenue NW to Greenwood Avenue North
• Phase 3 – Greenwood Avenue North to Aurora Avenue North
• Phase 4 – Aurora Avenue North to Wallingford Avenue North
• Phase 5 – Wallingford Avenue North to I-5.

SDOT hopes to finish the first two phases by spring of 2012. Work will primarily happen during the day, except work on the major intersections will happen at night on a 24-hour schedule.

“We’re really going to need the community’s help and support to get through it,” Murphy said. “It’s going to be a challenge for everyone.”

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

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Post tags: ballard, construction, greenwood, phinney, traffic

1,100 kids and teens participate every year on WSC’s recreation soccer teams.

The organization serves families in Green Lake, Wallingford, Fremont, and Phinney Ridge. The boundaries are N and NW 85th St to the north, the Lake Washington Ship Canal to the south, I-5 to the east, and 8th Ave NW to the west.

Games take place at Green Lake Park and Wallingford Park.

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

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Post tags: fremont, kids, phinney, soccer, teens, wallingford