Rains Don't Deter Carolers

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Ryan

caroling2014Despite steady rain Tuesday night, the annual Victory Heights caroling party went ahead. Fourteen people (plus a few infants) met up at Monica Harris’s house at 6:30 for cookies, apple cider, and a quick rehearsal. Then, umbrellas deployed, they headed out into the streets, this time along NE 107th Street going east, and a section of 23rd Avenue NE. They chose houses to sing for on the basis of how many Christmas lights were on display and the likelihood that someone was home. In a few cases, the carolers sang to a closed door, only to have someone appear after they were finished! At the houses where the residents answered the door there was surprise and joy, and it was nice to hear applause. The worst thing about the rain was it resulted in soggy song sheets, but next year Monica says she’ll have them laminated! Thanks to everyone who participated.

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Trash Pickups On Friday Over Holidays

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Ryan

As residents of Victory Heights are used to every Thanksgiving, we will have trash pickup this week and next done on Friday, December 26th and January 2nd respectively, due to the holidays falling on Thursdays this year. Put your cans out by Friday morning. And when it’s time to finally get rid of that tree, the city says:

Free Holiday Tree Composting: Seattle residents who subscribe to curbside food and yard waste collection can put their trees and greens out on their regular collection day at no extra charge from Dec. 26, 2014 through Jan. 1, 2015.
Multi-family buildings can put out one tree next to each food and yard waste cart per collection day at no extra charge during this time.

Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or non-plastic twine. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed.

Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Each unit of extra garbage costs $10.20. Plastic trees are not compostable.

Seattle residents can also drop off holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ South Recycling and Disposal station from Dec. 26, 2014 through Jan. 11, 2015. The tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees and wreaths without flocking or decoration may be composted free of charge.

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Caroling, Crime and Elections at Community Meeting

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Ryan

Last night’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council was a mixed bag of different topics, including a presentation by Alex Vallandry of Seattle Neighborhood Group.
Read the complete minutes of the December meeting.
Alex spoke about the recent spate of car prowls and thefts and what can be done to reduce them (don’t keep anything valuable–or frankly stealable–in your car, park in well-lit areas, don’t drive 1990s era Hondas). But the silver lining if your car is stolen is it’s usually opportunists looking for a quick trip somewhere, 86% of cars are recovered, most within 12 blocks from where they were stolen. Mail theft came up, definitely a hot topic at this time of year (in fact, I found stolen mail alongside the road today and returned it to the owners, the packages had all been torn open and the contents stolen. The mail had been removed from unlocked mailboxes). Possible deterrents include finding a neighbor who stays home and having packages delivered to them instead of sitting on your doorstep, getting them delivered at work, or going in with neighbors to buy a group locking mailbox.
Caroling will return to Victory Heights again this year, starting at 6:30 PM next Tuesday, December 23rd.  Meet up at the Harris house, 10512 17th Avenue NE (enter on the NE 106th side), where music sheets, cookies, and hot cider will be offered before everyone heads out into the streets. Read about last year’s caroling event.
Finally, elections are coming for the board members and officers of the Victory Heights Community Council. These two year positions include the search for a new President and Vice-President. You might think this sounds like a lot of work, but mostly the President delegates the work to someone else and just has to run the meetings once a month, which pretty much run themselves. Interested in running or being on the council’s executive board? Write to Ardith Lupton.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 20th, 2015 at 7 PM in the usual location at the preschool building in Victory Heights Park. Happy holidays, everyone!

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"Temporary" Fencing Going In At Knickerbocker Site

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Ryan

fenceSeattle Public Utilities (SPU) began erecting “temporary” fencing around the Knickerbocker Thornton Creek site today in order to keep out “people and dogs” to allow the young vegetation a chance to grow. When construction was completed in October for the floodplain project and the construction fencing was removed it was assumed the site would remain open with clear sight lines to the newly restored creek. Alas, worries about foot traffic (both human and canine) around the sensitive new tree plantings on either side of the creek has altered plans, and new fencing will be erected around the entire site except for a gap to allow access to the pedestrian bridge. The fencing will probably remain through the winter and possibly be replaced by trees or some other type of wood barrier eventually.
UPDATE Dec. 10th: John Crawford-Gallagher, SPU’s Community Outreach Specialist, responds:

  1. The fencing will be around portions of the site, rather than the whole thing. There will be fence along NE 100th and a small section of fence on the south side of the creek.
  2. When we remove the fence will depend on how quickly the plants become established. It may be at the end of winter, but it may be longer.
  3. We don’t plan to replace the temporary fencing with trees or another type of wood barrier.
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December Events Calendar

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Ryan

Here are activities happening around the area that might be of interest to Victory Heights residents:
Wednesday, December 3rd: Tree Lighting Ceremony, Lake City Community Center, 7 PM. Caroling, cider, and Santa.
Saturday, December 6th: Tree Walk, Lake City Library, 10 AM – Noon. Walking tour of Lake City’s interesting evergreen trees. You can RSVP Here.
Sunday, December 7th: Free screening of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Northgate Library, 1 PM.
Sunday, December 14th: Nathan Hale Urban Farm First Design Meeting, Jane Addams Middle School & Nathan Hale High School, 9 AM – 2 PM. RSVP here.
Sunday, December 14th: “It’s a Wonderful, Improvised Life,” Lake City Community Center, 7PM. Taproot Theatre’s own version of the holiday classic. Tickets available here ($10 adults, kids under 12 are free).
Tuesday, December 16th: Victory Heights Community Council Meeting, Pre-School Building in Victory Heights Park, 7 PM.
Sunday, December 21st: Free screening of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Northgate Library, 1 PM.
Plus neighborhood caroling will happen again this year (read about last year’s event), stay tuned for details!

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No Trash Pickup On Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Ryan

Residents in Victory Heights who normally have their trash, yard waste and recycling picked up on Thursdays will instead have it picked up on Friday, November 28th due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday this week. Everything is pushed back a day, so those with normal Friday pickups will have it done Saturday.  Have your cans out by 7 AM on Friday.
With Christmas Day and New Years Day on Thursdays this year, the same situation will occur, pickups in Victory Heights will be December 26 and January 2nd respectively.
 

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Burglary Rate Falls But Residents Worry About Crime

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Ryan

At last night’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council, residents heard a presentation by Elizabeth Scott, the Crime Prevention Coordinator from the North Precinct of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), who said that compared with a similar period last year, burglaries are down in the Lincoln 2 sector that Victory Heights is part of.
Read the entire minutes of last night’s meeting.
However this did not assuage the concerns of some residents who, citing personal experience (and recent articles in The Seattle Times), felt SPD was not treating property crime seriously. Even though her job is helping residents with crime preventation, and not being a spokesman for the department, she said dispatchers have to prioritize cases and burglaries can be a lower priority at times depending on what other calls are coming in. “There are limitations to what we can do.”
Given the recent publicity in The Times, the new police chief, Kathleen O’Toole, said they would be reviewing police procedures. It is still important to report any robberies because it does provide data to the police department of what is happening where and how resources are allocated. On the prevention front, Elizabeth reminded us to lock your doors, make sure your house looks occupied even when it’s not, and store and lock up any ladders or tools that are outside that could be used to enter your house.
Meanwhile, if you need to report a non-emergency such as a homeless encampment or abandoned car, you can call 684-CITY, or use the new Find It Fix It app for your Android or iPhone. For added safety, you can register your mobile phone at Smart911.com with your personal information which would then be displayed if you ever call 911 to let them know who you are and your home address, which might be invaluable during an emergency.
And while burglaries are down, car thefts are up, particularly if you drive a 1990s Honda, Toyota or Subaru. Very often these cars are used by joy riders who leave them on the side of the road afterwards. Lock your cars, use a Club, and never leave valuables inside.
The next meeting of the community council is Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 at the Co-Op Preschool building in Victory Heights Park starting at 7 PM.
 

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SPD Neighborhood Safety Rep To Speak Tuesday

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Ryan

The November meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council will include an appearance by Elizabeth Scott, the Neighborhood Safety Representative from the North Precinct of the Seattle Police Department. Come and hear what she has to say about the current policing situation in our neighborhood.
It meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 18th starting at 7 PM at UPDATED:  the usual location, the pre-school building in Victory Heights Park.  Remember to bring a chair if you want an adult-sized one.
We hope to see you there.

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SPU Knickerbocker Construction Video

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Ryan

The Seattle Public Utility (SPU) department has posted a video on YouTube about the recently completed Knickerbocker Floodplain Project on Thornton Creek.

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Fire Department Burning House on 15th Avenue NE

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Ryan

Pa280727The Seattle Fire Department has been performing training exercises for new recruits all week on a house at 10720 15th Avenue NE with controlled fires and then putting them out. Neighbors and passers by  have noticed the presence of many fire trucks on 15th Avenue NE which have been part of the drills. The house was scheduled for demolition anyway, which made it perfect for the fire department to use.  After a series of smaller fires this week, the entire structure will be burned to the ground sometime on Friday, probably by noon. There are obstructed views available from the street if you want to watch.
Pa280728Earlier the carport (right) was torched and then put out, as part of the ongoing exercises which are done each year for as part of firefighting training for a new class of recruits.

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