The new Seattle Greyhound Group is meeting on Saturday morning (Saturday, Jan 14 2012) at 11 a.m. for a walk around Green Lake.

The pack of greyhounds and their owners will be meeting at the southwest corner of Green Lake, by the trees near the Aqua Theater.

From the group’s meetup page:

Have a retired, rescued Ex-Racer, or have 2, 3 or 4? Come and meet others with lovely 4 legged couch potatoes. We will meet up regularly for walks in the park, have fun raisers, picnics, barbecues, and outings to local greyhound friendly locations. Group benefits of sharing dog sitting and letting your hounds meet other packs.

Due to the nature of greyhounds, this group is intended just for greyhounds and Lurchers.

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

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Post tags: animals, dogs, walking

Here’s a group shot, courtesy of Marlow Harris:

Thanks, Marlow!

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

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Post tags: fashion, new year's day, walking

Here are some scenes from the 2011 walk, courtesy of Marlow Harris:

The walk starts at the Green Lake wading pool, which is located on the north end of Green Lake Park at Wallingford Ave N & East Green Lake Dr N.

For more information, contact Marlow Harris at marlowharris [at] msn.com.

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

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Post tags: fashion, new year's day, walking

photo credit: bitmask

From the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT):

The Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members to help make walking in Seattle safer and easier. The volunteer board, which was created by Seattle City Council in 1993, plays an influential role in implementing Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan. The board advises the Mayor and City Council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies and makes recommendations to all city departments including the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

Board members serve a two‐year term, with an opportunity to serve a second term. They are frequent walkers of a variety of ages, levels of mobility, and walks of life, and from areas throughout the city. Members must be Seattle residents, and may not be city employees. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall on Fifth Avenue between James and Cherry.

According to Jon Morgan, chair of the Pedestrian Advisory Board “”Everyone is a pedestrian, and serving on the Pedestrian Advisory Board is a great way to make a difference in Seattle’s walkability. Members have a chance to learn a lot about walking and what’s going on in the city, and to apply that knowledge working with other smart, dedicated, interesting pedestrian advocates.”

Mayor McGinn and City Council are committed to promoting diversity in the City’s boards and

commissions. Women, youth, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, and persons of color are encouraged to apply. Interested persons should submit a resume and cover letter explaining their interest via email by January 20, 2012 to Brian Dougherty at brian.dougherty [at] seattle.gov.

For more information, call Brian Dougherty at (206) 684‐5124, or send e‐mail to the address above.

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

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Post tags: local politics, volunteer, walking

The music, prayer and song outdoor gathering will begin at 3:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve (Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011), near the Green Lake Community Center (7201 E Green Lake Dr N). A walking meditation around Green Lake will follow.

Nine different faith and spiritual traditions will be represented.

Click to enlarge

Thanks for the tip, Lila Rapcewicz.

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

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Post tags: new year's eve, spiritual, walking

photo credit: stevevoght

An informal group of birders is meeting for two walks around Green Lake. The walks will be at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 and Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. They will last about 2-3 hours and may include a coffee stop.

Walkers will meet at West Green Lake Beach (7312 West Green Lake Dr N) and will walk counterclockwise around Green Lake. Anyone who wants to learn about the birds at Green Lake is welcome. Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars and a field guide if they have them.

More information from Gayle Garman of the Friends of Green Lake (FOGL):

Winter is the best time to bird at Green Lake because of the many winter migrants. Green Lake’s also a great place for beginning birders because water birds are easier to see than “twit” birds that flit about in the trees, and the Lake is small, so you’re always close enough to see the birds with binoculars.

I envision the birdwalks as a group of interested people getting together and helping each other identify and learn about the birds we see at Green Lake.

We don’t have a formal leader. No sign-ups. No attendance. But FOGL is getting it started because the birdwalks led by Martin Muller are always so popular and we see numerous people walking the Lake wearing binoculars.

For more information, contact Gayle Garman at friendsofgl [at] gmail.com.

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

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Post tags: birds, friends of green lake, walking

Staff at the Green Lake Community Center continue preparations for the 35th Pathway of Lights, the annual lighting of the path around Green Lake.

The luminary walk is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, 5-8 p.m., rain or shine.  Details are available here, a facebook page for the event is here and the following poster will soon be printed:

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

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Post tags: parks and rec, walking

The event begins at 9:10 a.m. with a free Kids Dash, followed by a 5K run/walk at 9:30 a.m. The race course can be viewed here.

Runners will have the opportunity to “Burn the Turkeys” by racing against one male and one female running the event in turkey costumes. All the runners who finish the 5K before the turkey of their gender will automatically qualify to win a range of random prizes. There will also be a costume contest.

Eight contestants will compete in the Mashed Potato Munch Off. The competitive eating contest is four minutes long. The prize is “instant glory, some hard earned cash, a crown and a life-time entry into the 5K run/walk portion of the event.”

The 2009 Mashed Potato Munch Off can be viewed here:

Partial proceeds from the event, as well as canned food collected onsite, will be donated to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission.

For more information, contact Promotion Events at info [at] promotionevents.com or (206) 729-9972.

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

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Post tags: contest, food, fundraiser, running, thanksgiving, walking

Photo credit: McDonald Elementary School PTA

McDonald Elementary School is preparing for their biggest annual fundraiser.

On Friday, October 21, 2011 McDonald students will participate in the school’s second annual Move-a-Thon. The children – most in kindergarten or first grade – will walk or run laps at Wallingford Playfield to raise money for the school, while parents, friends, and neighbors cheer them on. This year, the Mariner Moose will also be on hand.

“This is our budding new school’s major fall fundraiser. We hope to be able to fund programs that will greatly enhance our children’s scholastic experience,” said Move-a-Thon organizer Jennifer Sill-Reichert in a press release from the school. “We are coming together as a community to make a difference. And the kids get to play a role in all this and have fun at the same time!”

McDonald Elementary, which opened just last year in the Lincoln High School building (4400 Interlake Ave N), has tripled in size this year to 190 students and serves children in grades K-5 from Wallingford, Green Lake, and the University District.

This year McDonald was designated an international school; its curriculum is modeled on that of nearby John Stanford International School.  The school will move to its permanent location at 114 NE 54th St in fall 2012, after renovation of the building is complete.

The McDonald PTA has a Move-a-Thon fundraising goal of $40,000, which will support programs that more-established schools already have, while keeping true to the values at McDonald: EDUCATION, TEAMWORK, HEALTH, COMMUNITY.

The PTA also is seeking local businesses to sponsor the Move-a-Thon. The many benefits for sponsors are listed on the McDonald PTA website.

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

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Post tags: fundraiser, kids, mcdonald school, running, schools, walking, wallingford

The MVP Challenge 5K will raise funds for Andrew Moritz, former University of Washington Men’s Basketball player and former Seattle Storm practice squad player. Andrew has a desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor.

“It is a very rare form of cancer,” reads the event’s website. “There are only two hospitals in the U.S. that staff specialists to treat this cancer. Funds raised via the event will support Andrew’s medical bills as well as the out of pocket travel expenses Andrew and his family incur.”

Andrew Moritz. Photo credit: Sid Hastings. Photo courtesy our news partner seattlepi.com.

The event starts and finishes near the Green Lake Community Center basketball courts (7201 E Green Lake Dr N).

DAY OF RACE SCHEDULE

8:30 am: Registration, bib and chip pick up
10:00 am: 5K Run & Walk Start
10:30 am: Start of the Post-race Celebration
10:45 am: Start of the Free Kids Dash
11:15 am: Awards Ceremony

According to the races’s registration page, “local celebrities including NBA legend Shawn Kemp and former WNBA world champion Storm player Adia Barnes” will be at the event.

The MVP Challenge 5K is hosted by the Adia Barnes Foundation and the Marvin Thomas Memorial Fund.

Thanks for the tip, Heidi!

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

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Post tags: basketball, celebrities, fundraiser, running, walking