Victory Heights Community Council Meeting October 15

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Ryan

The October meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council will be held at our usual stomping grounds of the Co-Op Preschool building in Victory Heights Park at 7 PM on Tuesday, October 15th.  Everyone in the community is invited to come and participate as issues relevant to our neighborhood are discussed. [UPDATE:] The scheduled speaker from the City’s Office of Emergency Management won’t be able to attend after all, but Susan Causin, head of the Emergency Planning Committee, will instead do an update to our preparation plans for Victory Heights. (You might recall we have organized Victory Heights into blocks with captains to work with their neighbors to be ready in case of a catastrophic emergency.)
Don’t forget all the chairs at the school are meant for children, so if you want a grown-up sized chair to sit in, bring your own. See you there!
Please take a moment to “Like” the Victory Heights Blog Facebook page.

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SPU Installing New Water Line On NE 103rd Street

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Ryan

If you’ve been wondering what all the construction activity has been around the 1700 block of NE 103rd Street, it’s Seattle Public Utilities installing a new 2″ water line at the west end of the street just above Thornton Creek.

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Seattle Disabled Commission Meets at Northgate Oct. 1

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Ryan

In partnership, the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities and the Seattle Police Department invite everyone to attend a community meeting and discussion with the Commissioners and Police Chief Jim Pugel on issues important to the disability community. It will be held at the Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Avenue NE, at 6 PM on Tuesday, October 1st.
Everyone is Welcome!  This is the first of four meetings that will occur in different areas of the city. This is a great opportunity to engage with Commissioners and the Chief of Police.
ASL interpreter and CART services will be provided, and attendees are asked to please refrain from using heavy fragrance.
Other accommodations please contact: Ronald Ramp ronald.ramp@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-0390
 

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Community Council Discusses Elections, Little Free Libraries

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Ryan

The September 17th meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council had 21 people crammed into a neighbor’s house when the Co-Op Pre-school building proved unavailable at the last minute (but we’ll be back! See below). With some yummy fresh-made chocolate cookies as treats, a number of newcomers introduced themselves, as well as the usual board members and interested members of the community.
Read the complete minutes of the September meeting.
Speakers included Alice Woldt, of Fair Elections Seattle, who spoke in favor of Proposition 1 on the ballot this fall to publicly finance elections in the city of Seattle. Kate Waterous gave a recap of the highly successful Neighborhood Night Out last month, and solicited ideas for improving it next year. Brad Cummings summarized the recent North District Council meeting, and a resident described the break-in at her place earlier in the day (read more about it here).
Good news from the Victory Heights Co-Operative Preschool is that we can use the building for all of our meetings going forward through May next year. Remember to bring your own chairs if you don’t want to sit in the tiny children’s ones.
And Bob, a local resident, has volunteered to construct TWO Little Free Libraries to be located in Victory Heights. With help from a SPARKS grant from the city, we hope to do this with no cost to the Council. Expect to see these deployed soon!
The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 15th, 7 PM at the Pre-School building in the park.  We hope to see you there!
Please take a moment to “Like” the Victory Heights Blog Facebook page.

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Kingfisher Work Party On Sept. 25

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Ryan

Lynnette Spear helps pull invasive ivy around Thornton Creek

Lynnette Spear helps pull invasive ivy around Thornton Creek


Green City Partnerships announces an “early dismissal” volunteer work party at the Kingfisher Natural Area (aka Thornton Creek at 17th Avenue NE) on Wednesday, September 25th from 1 PM to 3 PM.

We’re kicking off our Fall Service calendar with this fast, high-energy work party.
For two hours, we are going to bust some dragon piles (break them down to more discrete mulch piles and trail logs), battle bindweed, and pull ivy along the lower 17th Avenue trail from access road to rock-hop.
You’ll get a quick lesson in invasive removal and urban forestry safety, so be ready to work at 1pm. This will be your chance to wear your branch-breaking boots and collect some service hours.

Sign up to volunteer on their website. It’s a great chance to meet and interact with the folks who help keep Thorton Creek a special place in Victory Heights.

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Crime Wave Strikes 17th Avenue NE

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Ryan

On Tuesday, a resident on 17th Avenue NE saw two black men in the 20s approach her neighbor’s house around 10 AM, knock on the door, determine nobody was home and then left. About 15 minutes later, the neighbor’s burglar alarm went off when intruders broke a window on the side of the house (away from the watchful resident) and quickly stole an iPod and laptop and got away before police arrived. Moral of the story: if you see suspicious activity, call the police. Other residents reported seeing the two men knock on other doors along 17th Avenue.

Have you seen me? Last spotted on the traffic circle at 17th Ave NE & NE 107th Street.

Have you seen me? Last spotted on the traffic circle at 17th Ave NE & NE 107th Street.


Also, one of the sandwich-board yard signs used by the Victory Heights Community Council has gone missing. It was last seen on the traffic circle on 17th Avenue NE and NE 106th Street until it disappeared sometime before Tuesday evening. Any information about where it might be would be appreciated, contact the blog: victoryheights@aol.com.

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Victory Heights Community Council Meeting Sept. 17th

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Ryan

Hi, Victory Heights, we’re all back from our summer holidays and ready to resume monthly meetings of the Community Council after our very successful Neighborhood Night Out last month. The next meeting (and you’re all invited) will be held at 7 PM on Tuesday, September 17th at [UPDATE]: Monica’s house, 10512 17th Ave NE, on the corner of 17th and NE 106th (just down the road from the park). Get news and information about what’s going on in our neighborhood as well as discuss future plans for the organization. We hope to see you there!

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Northgate 'Hidden Treasures' Walking Tour Saturday

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Ryan

This Saturday, August 17th, join Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassador Karen Meadows as she shares 43 years of Northgate’s hidden treasures.
Karen will introduce you to Jaeger, the Dahlia Man and the local landmark Golden Chain tree with an amazing Wisteria Vine growing in her yard. You’ll stroll by the Idriis Mosque, the biggest mosque in Seattle and learn more about Victory Creek Park. At the Northgate Mall, the first covered mall in the country, you will discover what happened to the Northgate Totem Pole. Beyond the covered asphalt, enjoy the walk in the woods by the Northgate library and to see the famous Thornton Creek. Karen will also provide you an overview of the proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge across I-5 from the Northgate Link Light Rail station to the community college and what this means for the neighborhood.
Stay charged up during the walk, bring your mug! Free coffee will be available for all participants.
The walk starts at 10 AM and ends around 11:45. For more information, visit the Feet First Meetup site: http://www.meetup.com/Feet-First-Walks/events/132773622/

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Jokumfest This Saturday Features 10 Hours Of Blues Music

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Ryan

Jokumfest 2012

Jokumfest 2012


Jokumfest, the annual free blues festival held in the backyard of Victory Heights’ resident Gary Shudie’s house, returns for its 11th year this Saturday, August 17th with a full day of entertainment.
Related: Scenes from the 2012 Jokumfest
Things get started at noon with three hours of acoustic music. At 3 PM the scheduled acts begin including:
3:00 – 3:50 – Paul Knight (old time banjo & guitar)
4:10 – 5:00 – Papa Bear Band w/ Shawn Stecker, Billy Reed, Jack Cook,  Matt Fogdall & Don “Papa Bear” Buss
5:20 – 6:10 – Reggie Miles (songster/blues on guitars & musical saw)
6:30 – 7:30 – Hughs Blues   Rhythm & Blues extravaganza  w/G W Levell, Al Farlow, Steve Branca & Bert DeCoy
7:50 – 8:40 – Eric Madis with John Marshall, Hugh Sutton, Guy Quintino & Dave Hudson
9:00 – 9:50 – Greg Roberts & Blues of the Past
In addition to the live music, there will be Papa Bear’s deep fried turkey, and a number of ales including a special Jokumfest Pale Ale. It’s all free, and side dishes are welcomed.  Gary’s house is 2021 NE Northgate Way, parking is recommended on 23rd Avenue NE. Just follow the sound of the music to the backyard!
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Victory Heights Neighborhood Night Out Attracts Over 100

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Ryan

nightout01Tuesday night’s Neighborhood Night Out in Victory Heights, held on NE 106th Street next to the park, was a huge success with over 100 attendees. The street was closed off by 6 PM and the tables were set up as people began arriving with their amazing potluck dishes. Kids were given free toys and everyone got to eat the vast supplies of ice cream provided for free (thanks to a city matching grant).
Attendees included a woman who just moved in across from the park four weeks ago; a couple who have lived in Victory Heights for 30 years; and a man now living in the house his parents purchased in 1955 who remembers attending the co-op pre-school in the park that year! He also told a great story about how NE Elshin Place was named (a Russian named Elshin was living there and agreed to pay to have the dirt road paved if they named it after him!).
nightout03Five long tables were covered with food that included salads, chili, chicken, and even some desserts. Most of it was gone by the time things began to be packed up around 8 PM. There were display tables for the Thornton Creek Alliance, petition drives, the Victory Heights Community Council, and for emergency preparedness. Thomas Whittemore from the city’s Department of Neighborhoods dropped by for a while, as well as someone from the city’s Emergency Preparedness division. I also spoke to several residents who said some variation on, “We have a blog?” (I hope you found us!)
nightout02The kids especially loved the ice cream and took great delight in adding their own toppings including chocolate syrup and M&Ms. We still had three large tubs leftover by the end of the evening, but better that than running out early!
Everyone had a great time, talking and meeting with each other. Hopefully some new folks will come to the next Community Council meeting (September 17th), keep visiting the blog, or join our Facebook group. We’ll definitely be doing this again next year, thanks for the great turn-out, everyone!
Please take a moment to “Like” the Victory Heights Blog Facebook page.

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