Victory Heights Blog

Natural Area Restoration, Volunteers, Crime & Personal Safety

Bring your ideas to an open discussion! Participate in brainstorming sessions with neighbors and community leaders. Hear from others working to create better neighborhoods by integrating community interests.
January 26th Thursday 7pm – 9pm
Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave. NE, Seattle 98125
ATTENDING:
Sally Bagshaw, Seattle City Council Chair of Parks Committee
Terrie Johnston, SPD Community Liaison
Joanna Nelson de Flores, Green Seattle Partnership Project Manager
Chris Saleeba, Seattle Greenways
Emily Lofstedt, Seattle Parks and Recreation
ALSO PARTICIPATING:
Blockwatch + Educators + Park Stewards + Parks Department + Tree Ambassador Program + Community Activists: Maple Leaf, Pinehurst, Shoreline,..
AND
Anyone who wants to explore how we nurture our natural areas while enhancing our personal safety in and around them.
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Agenda for Jan 26, 2012, General Meeting
Meadowbrook Community Center
10517 35th Ave. NE, Seattle 98125
7 to 9 p.m.
7:00 1. Announcements
7:04 2. Agenda Review
7:05 3. Program: Greenways & Urban Forests – Natural Area Restoration, Volunteers, Crime and Personal Safety
City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Seattle Parks’ Emily Lofstedt
Seattle Greenways Rep Chris Saleeba
SPD Community Liaison Terrie Johnston
Green Seattle Partnership’s Joanna Nelson de Flores
–Judy Olson, Program Vice President
8:40 4. Business meeting
Review minutes – Tom Cunningham
Membership report – Ruth Williams
Web Page update – Dan Mahler/Doug Bostrom
Facebook update – Brad Johnson
Treasurer’s report – Gary Olson
Other issues as time allows
8:55 5. A 9:55 5. Adjourn
9:00 6. Room is empty!

Woodsmoke is the prime culprit driving spikes in sooty, toxic air that is leaving Seattle and Tacoma residents gasping for breath. The health costs associated with burning wood may make you think twice about how you heat your home.
Program: KCTS 9 Connects
Episode: December 16, 2011
To view, click this link:
http://video.kcts9.org/video/2177584752/

We have a few events to share with you today. Seattle Parks has set the two
dates for the Beaver Pond Natural Area Opportunity Fund grant community
meetings. (As you may know, Thornton Creek Alliance has obtained a $500K
grant for this natural area east of Northgate Mall.) These meetings will be
your opportunity learn all about the plans so far and share your vision for
the park and what you would like to see improved. Please come if you can.
The more ideas we have on the table the better our project will be, and the
more valuable the park will be to the community! For more information about
the grant you can click here
Beaver Pond Natural Area Naturalizing Northgate Project Information
1) Jan. 11, 1012 (Wed.); 7:00pm-9:00pm; Northgate Community Center
2) Mar. 14, 2012 (Wed.); 7:00pm-9:00pm; Northgate Community Center
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Nathan Hale High School riparian restoration work party: December 10th,
Sat., 1:30pm – The task will be weeding out invasive weeds from among the
newly planted natives. The meeting place is the south parking lot of the
school, off of 30th Ave NE and 110th Ave, the parking lot by the tennis
courts and ball fields. Some tools will be available, but if you have your
own, please bring them. Also your water bottle. Please RSVP to Mary Sue
Walker (mswalker1@seattleschools.org) if you can attend.
And please keep your gloves out for two work parties at Beaver Pond NA
Northgate Mall. We have plants to put in the ground!
December 11th, Sun., 10:00-1:00 – We’ll meet on the north side of the beaver
pond (8th Ave. NE & NE 106th St.)
January 8th, Sun., 10:00-1:00 – We’ll meet on the south side of the beaver
pond (8th Ave. NE & NE 105th St.)
As usual: tools, gloves, snacks, and hot beverages will be provided. Watch
for the Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers in breeding plumage! Please bring
your water bottle, dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Questions:
E-mail ruthalice@comcast.net or phone 206-930-8965.
See you soon!
Ruth Williams

Neighbors can join to save energy, save money, and reduce their carbon footprint


North Seattle residents have the opportunity to participate in SustainableWorks, a Puget Sound based non-profit, that is offering reduced costs energy audits and retrofits. SustainableWorks is partnering with Seattle City Light, WSU Energy Management, and Puget Sound Energy to bring this energy saving opportunity to the community. The purpose of this program is to help homeowners and renters (with landlord approval) make home improvements that reduce their energy use and energy bills. Participants can save on items like furnaces, air sealing, insulation, and hot water heaters, and reduce their energy costs by 20-40%. To learn more about the program, or to sign-up, please visit www.sustainableworks.com, or call the SustainableWorks office at 206-575-2252.
The process begins with a pre-audit to determine eligibility followed by a professional energy audit. Worth approximately $600, the cost of the audit to the homeowner is $95. An energy consultant then explains to the homeowner where they are losing energy and suggests the most cost effective energy saving improvements. Contractors managed by SustainableWorks then complete the energy saving measures chosen by the homeowner. SustainableWorks bundles projects within neighbors to maximize efficiency and reduce the project cost. SustainableWorks also has a loan program with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union that can help homeowners finance improvements at low to zero percent interest rates.

About SustainableWorks
SustainableWorks is a non-profit focused on creating quality jobs and improving the environment with residential and small commercial energy retrofit projects facilitated through community engagement and participation. SustainableWorks has utilized a $4 million Community Energy Efficiency Program Grant to retrofit close to 400 homes in moderate-income neighborhoods in Spokane, Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties over the last 2 years.