Department of Neighborhoods Survey

I recently received an email from Stella Chao, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ director, asking me to complete a survey. I pass this onto you.

By answering these questions about your experiences with the department, you will help them understand what you value most, and increase their positive impact on our shared community.

To participate, please click here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bVy_2b31mcihsxbxw_2fCr_2bc4g_3d_3d

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers and your responses are completely anonymous so please be candid.



Andrew

Reason for lack of blog posts

http://meg-holmes.blogspot.com/

Miller holiday party reminder (for guests and volunteers)

1) The holiday party for disadvantaged families will be on Saturday, 10 - 2 PM at Miller Community Center. Go here for details and go here to volunteer for the event.

2) An article in Thursday's Seattle Times notes the dwindling supplies of toys for tots, and reports that one neighboring community center (Yesler) will  not be distributing toys this year. This could result in even larger crowds at Miller than last year, and an even greater need for your volunteer efforts.

The article notes this unfortunate reality of such holiday parties, but puts it in the right perspective:
Brown said he was never aware of anyone who abused the program. But he has encountered individuals that bounce from church to agency to organization, gathering all the holiday freebies they can.

"You have those people," he said, "but then you have the people who are really struggling, and that's who we're trying to help."

Care to volunteer at the December 12th Miller Community Center Holiday Party?

(Click here to volunteer right now, or read on for details)

The Miller Community Center and The Country Doctor's Holiday Party (for the clinic's patient families and other underprivileged Seattleites) is Saturday, December 12th from 10 AM to 2 PM.

This year we are expecting an attendance of about 1,200 people of many ethnic backgrounds. We have many activities for kids including  a visit (with pictures) with Santa, games, two bouncy toys, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, and of course Christmas presents. Click here for a slide show from a couple of years ago, to get an idea of what goes on.

From Miller Holiday Party 12/15/07

Lake Street Catering is again providing a free lunch for families and volunteers.

To volunteer to help at this wonderful event, please go to this Surveymonkey survey, where you can leave contact details, and choose when and what you'd like to do to help. Many thanks,

Andrew Taylor, on behalf of the Miller Community Center Advisory Council.

For any questions, please email Community Center Director jeremy.doane@seattle.gov or call  the Community Center 206-684-4753.

Nova School Craft Fair: Tuesday Dec. 8

Nova Craft Fair
Tuesday, Dec 8, 6-8:30p
Onsite at Nova- 300 20th Ave E


(Nova is an alternative high school which was relocated from the Horace Mann building near Garfield to the Meany School building this Fall. Entrance is on the west side of the school, NOT the main Meany entrance on 21st).

Admission is free, donations of non-perishable foods welcome.


WHAT: An "open house" style Craft Fair featuring make-and-take projects and ready-made crafts and arts shared by the Nova community. Crafts for all ages and interests starting at $1. Nothing over $10!  Cider and treats too!

WHO: Nova community, family, friends, neighbors...

WHY: A fun celebration of community skills and inspiration to benefit the Nova Family Support program.



Or check their E-vite.

Friday: Parade, Lights, Fireworks

(from Macy's press release)

Macy’s Holiday Parade: Friday, November 27 Seattle, 8:45 a.m. Start 7th and Pine, west to 5th Avenue, south on 5th Avenue to University Street, west on University Street to 4th Avenue, and north on 4th Avenue, where it will deliver Santa to Macy’s.

Twenty balloon floats and inflatables, local high school marching bands, over 500 costumed characters, and community drill teams. The parade concludes with Santa’s arrival at Macy’s on a festive balloon float under a dramatic confetti snowstorm.   Other floats feature a giant gingerbread house, sponsored by The Sheraton Hotel, a larger than life inflatable Frango™ and Ukranian Nesting Dolls.

Macy’s Star Lighting & Fireworks Show

At 5:00 p.m. on the corner of 4th and Pine street, Macy’s will light its famous, 161-foot high, 3,600-bulb Holiday Star in conjunction with the Westlake Tree Lighting Ceremony. The star lighting will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display, weather permitting.

Got a project you'd like done?

Our City's Department of Neighborhoods sponsors the Neighborhood Matching Fund, which helps neighborhood groups fund and administer public service projects, large and small. Our neighborhood has benefitted in larger (Miller Fountain) and smaller (traffic circles) ways from this innovative way to get neighborhood projects accomplished. (Go here and search for Miller Park to see a list).

A recent letter from the Department Director, Stella Chao, lists recent changes in the program to make it even easier to use. Maybe this will prompt some Miller denizens to leap into action. Stella notes:

Over its 21 years, the Neighborhood Matching Fund team has made continuous improvements to the program. Following up from a formal assessment in which several of you participated, we have identified improvements, and I’m pleased to announce the following changes to the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) beginning in January 2010.

NMF Guidelines: 
·         The NMF guidelines are now clearer and easier to navigate.  In fact, all four NMF funding programs are covered under the same guidelines document.    
·         The value of volunteer time has increased to $20 per hour keeping up with Independent Sector research on average volunteer time value.
Fund Category and Dollar Limit Changes: 
·         The Outreach Fund is now combined with the Small Sparks Fund, which will continue to provide support for community building projects with small funding needs, along with the enhancement of more flexible guidelines. 
·         To keep up with rising costs, fund request limits have increased for the Small Sparks Fund up to $1,000 and the Small and Simple Fund up to $20,000 per project.


Application Forms: 
·         The forms have been redesigned to be easier to use, along with simplified questions, fill-in electronic formatting, and simpler work plan and budget forms.  
·         Signatures documenting community match pledges are no longer required for the application stage.
Technical Assistance:
·         To increase our outreach and assistance to projects, the Neighborhood Matching Fund staff will hold one to two technical assistance workshops every month at various locations around the city. 
·         Our website has been revamped to ease navigation and provide clearer information with the inclusion of a “Frequently Asked Questions” section.  Watch for the launch of our new webpages on December 1.  Our website will continue to expand, allowing community members access to NMF advice and technical assistance – any time, any day. 
As mentioned earlier, our team is continuously looking at ways to enhance our program.  We are excited about these improvements and trust you will find them helpful as you, your organization or your neighborhood participate in the NMF.   

Regards,

Stella Chao, Director
Department of Neighborhoods
PO BOX 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649
T: (206) 684-0465

Dark and dreary: time for action

(reposted from last year: it's wet and windy and Fall again)

1) The City invites you to Adopt A Drain and keep it clear of leaves and debris. I told you of this program two years ago, and applied for a set of tools to share with the neighborhood......still waiting!

Ann Donovan noted (Capitol Hill Yahoo Group):

With the leaves falling in mass and the rains starting storm drains 
start to clog. It is a great time for volunteers to help out by taking 
a few minutes to remove any debris blocking the drains.

If you find a drain in need of further servicing (I found one yesterday 
blocked with dirt) then use the form on the Seattle Public Utilities 
site to report it in for service -- noting location of the problem.

http://web1.seattle.gov/spu/CRMIQ/ContactSPU.aspx


2) City Light tells us:

City Light is launching a new streetlight maintenance program. Instead of relying on streetlight trouble reports, crews will replace, clean and adjust lamps for maximum illumination every four years to ensure proper maintenance. With a regular replacement schedule, repair times will improve for most problems individually reported by customers.

and then in the next paragraph tells us how to report burnt out bulbs:

To report a burned out or flickering streetlight, call (206) 684-7056 or go online to www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight. Please be prepared to provide the pole number (yellow numbers 6 to 15 feet above the ground) and the nearest address.

A while ago I suggested that we share in the task of noting and reporting burnt out streetlights, via a sort of "Adopt a Streetlight" program. Now that the dark is upon us again, perhaps it's time to revisit that idea and to get more of our neighbors to take part.

See map below, which shows which streets have been adopted, and see the original post for instructions.


View Larger Map

Seattle Marathon Street closures: how to escape Capitol Hill

On Sunday November 29th, 2009 the Seattle Marathon encircles Capitol Hill, with various streets closed. Races start at ~ 7 AM; I-90 reopens at ~ 11 AM; all roads reopen by 2:15 PM. Going north on 23rd to the University District or getting to I-5 via the Roanoke onramps won't work. Accessing I-5 via Madison, Denny-Steward-Yale (southbound) or Olive (northbound) will work. (link to maps on Marathon website). Note that the I5 off-ramp at Olive is closed for light rail construction.

Who will do what in the City Council

(from a press release)

Seattle – Today, Council President Richard Conlin officially announced the Councilmember committee assignments for the 2010-2011 cycle.

Keeping most of her current assignment is Councilmember Sally J. Clark, who will chair the Committee of the Built Environment. In January the committee will focus on the review of Children’s Hospitals’ Major Institution Master Plan.

Councilmember Tim Burgess will continue chairing the Public Safety and Education Committee while relinquishing Human Services.

The Energy and Technology Committee maintains its chair as well, with Councilmember Bruce Harrell taking the committee for a second term, and adding Civil Rights to the committee work.

Councilmember Jean Godden is the fourth Councilmember who will not change assignments, maintaining her role as chair of the Finance and Budget Committee.

New/revised assignments include:

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – will chair the Transportation Committee.

Councilmember Nick Licata – will chair Human Services and Culture along with a new committee covering Housing.

Council President Richard Conlin – will chair the Sustainability and Regional Development Committee, continuing his responsibility of Open Government, Emergency Management, Sustainability and Intergovernmental Relations, while adding Economic Development and Libraries, and turning over Public Utilities.

Incoming Councilmember Sally Bagshaw – will chair the Parks and Seattle Center Committee.

Incoming Councilmember Mike O’Brien – will chair a new committee covering Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods.

New Councilmembers will be sworn in on Jan. 4, 2010 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers, marking the official start of the 2010-2011 Council year. The first committee meetings will be held the following week

Letter to neighborhood from Police Department

Neighborhood Plan Status "Checks"

(click on image to enlarge/read)

Below is the City's official attempt to interest you in Tuesday's Neighborhood Plan meeting.

For a much more palatable invitation, try the version from the chair of the Capitol Hill Community Council.  

Status Check – Seattle Citizens Assess Their Neighborhood Plans

There are now TWO more options to participate.  Join us at the November 10th meeting (see below) , or complete an on-line questionnaire.


(There's more! click on title of post to see it all)

Seattle Comprehensive Plan overview: 2030 and beyond

Join former Mayor Norm Rice for the kick-off of a major update of

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan – “Seattle 2030 and Beyond”

  

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Presentation at 6:30 pm

Miller Community Center

330 19th Ave E (served by Metro Routes 8, 10, 11, 12 and 43)

 Seattle 2030 and Beyond … meeting the challenges and opportunities of a new world

·         20 years ago we adopted the state Growth Management Act

·         15 years ago we adopted Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan … Toward a Sustainable Seattle

·         As we move into the 21^st century, our population continues to grow and becomes more diverse

·         Since 2005, Seattle and over 1000 other American cities have pledged to meet or beat the goals of the Kyoto Treaty

·         Seattle now has more renters than home-owners

·         We have more public transportation options … light rail, street car, and pedestrian and bicycle friendly streets

·         We are known as a green/sustainable city

·         We are known as a creative city, an innovative city

Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1994, sets policies and goals for a full range of elements that affect how a city will grow, including land use, transportation, housing, capital facilities, utilities, economic development, neighborhood planning, human development, cultural resources and the environment. 

Help shape Seattle’s future – join us as we take these important steps to guide Seattle through the 21^st century. 

How will we meet the growing climate challenges? How can we retain and improve our truly great neighborhoods? How can we accommodate new residential and employment growth? How will we continue to be inclusive and caring?  How do we stay competitive and entrepreneurial in the world marketplace?

Our challenge to you - In 150 words or less, describe your Seattle 2030 or Seattle 2050.

Send your comments to Kristian.kofoed@seattle.gov

The best place for you to learn more and get involved is through DPD’s web page

www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/compplan 

You may also contact Tom Hauger (206 684 8380) or Kristian Kofoed (206 233 7191).

Congratulations, Captain Meehan: updated

Captain Mike Meehan was the commander of the East Precinct from 2004 to 2006ish and was very helpful in our ongoing struggles with the street crimes that emanated from Deano's Bar / Club Chocolate City.

Since then he's been in charge of many SPD divisions, as summarized in this SPD Blotter posting from July:

Captain Mike Meehan, a 23-year veteran, is leaving the Narcotics Section to take over the Violent Crimes Section, which consists of overseeing the Homicide, Robbery, CSI, Gang, Polygraph, Bias Crimes and Fugitive Units.  Captain Meehan has previously commanded East Precinct, Narcotics, Vice, Field Training and Audit, Accreditation and Policy.

Yesterday I was contacted by a reporter from the Berkeley Daily Planet (a free twice-weekly paper): their paper had just broken the story that Captain Meehan will (assuming he's OK'd by their City Council on Tuesday) be the next Police Chief in Berkeley, California.


I hope you will join me in congratulating Captain Meehan on his promotion. I note that (while the East Precinct has had many commanders in my time here), quite a few of them have gone on to more senior positions: John Diaz (SPD Interim Chief), Nick Metz (SPD Assistant Chief), Landy Black (Davis, CA Police Chief), and now Captain Meehan.


More details of Mike's promotion may be found on Capitol Hill Seattle and on the Seattle PI blog, or by a quick Googling:

By the way, I noted that the Berkeley paper, the SPD Blog, the above Google search,  and many of the other sources were using the same photo, which seemed strangely familiar to me. I eventually realized that it was one I had taken, in March 2004 at an East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting, and posted on the old Miller website.  The PI had obtained it from the SPD media relations office, who are apparently using it as their standard picture of Mike. I'm flattered!

By way of thanking Mike, and sending him on his way, here is that photo, together with one from his 3 hour fact-finding tour of our neighborhood.  His (solo) visit with our neighbors, his ready ability to communicate, and his frank, honest appraisal of what SPD could and could not do to help us, was what really impressed me about him, and made it so easy for me to recommend him to the Berkeley people when asked.

PS: One way to follow Captain Meehan's progress in Berkeley will be via the Berkeley Daily Planet's reporter's tweets, which of course remind Seattleites of this song.


Update (11/20/09): The Berkeley university newspaper, the Daily Cal, has an article about Captain Meehan, with quotes from me and from Stephanie Tschida, chair of the East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition.


The Berkeley Daily Planet has another article about Captain Meehan, with quotes from me and from Dominic Holden of the Stranger.

From the Friends of the Library

(FWIW I've E-mailed the Council, suspecting that the cuts would be made, and suggested that the Monday to Thursday hours all be 1 - 8 PM, to allow people to go after work)

My name is Jennifer Johnson-Fong, I volunteer as the Vice President on the board of Friends of The Seattle Public Library.  If you have reported about The Seattle Public Library budget in the past thank you and I hope you can support the Friends again as Seattle City Council makes their final decisions on the proposed 2010 Library budget.  If you haven’t reported before or the Friends haven’t contacted you in the past, I hope you’ll help get an important message out to your neighborhood.

 The Friends of The Seattle Public Library want to see Option A pass by the Seattle City Council.  I would so appreciate your support in this email campaign. 

 Here is the message:

TO:  sally.clark@seattle.gov; jan.drago@seattle.gov; tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov ; richard.conlin@seattle.gov ; jean.godden@seattle.gov

 CC:  tim.burgess@seattle.gov; bruce.harrell@seattle.gov; nick.licata@seattle.gov

 SUBJECT:  1.2 M Restoration of Library Funds

TEXT: Dear Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden, and Rasmussen

Please join fellow Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata and vote for Option A– restoring the 330 weekly service hours to keep our libraries open normal hours in 2010.

 OPTIONAL:  I use the XYZ neighborhood branch for XYZ. OR Share a more personal message about why your neighborhood branch is important to you.

The email message is simple and straightforward, but needs to reach as many in your neighborhood as possible.  Any additional support you can give to the email campaign beyond your news service either by emailing list servs, posting on Facebook, Twittering, or just emailing Seattle friends and family would be greatly appreciated.

 As you may know your neighborhood branch Library’s hours will drastically change if the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget passes.  The proposed budget eliminates 17,160 public service hours per year and would impact your neighborhood directly with the closure of your neighborhood branch on Friday and Sunday plus a reduction in hours – all year round.  Your neighborhood branch would be open after six only twice a week.  Among many other services, hour changes will impact story times, nighttime classes, community meeting room availability and homework help programs.  Your neighborhood’s access to The Library’s free public computers and free Wi-Fi will be another lost resource that many community members without a computer or internet access depend on.

The good news is that Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata are committed to preserving the hours of operations at all neighborhood branches of The Seattle Public Library.  On November 2^ndSeattle City Councimembers began discussing four options to partially restore the 5% reduction in the endorsed library budget.  None of the options will prevent another one week furlough in 2010, but the best choice, Option A, does preserve Library hours in your neighborhood branch at their current level and prevents the loss of 27 library staff positions.  The Friends have launched this final email campaign targeted at Councilmembers Clark, Conlin, Drago, Godden and Rasmussen to urge them to join Councilmembers Burgess, Harrell and Licata in preserving our present neighborhood Library hours.

Please let me know if I can provide you with any other information.  I have included additional background information below on the proposed 2010 budget’s impact on The Seattle Public Library and neighborhood branches.

Thank you,

Jennifer Johnson-Fong

Vice President, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Member, Advocacy Committee

Email: advocacy@friendsofspl.org

Blog: http://friendsofspl.wordpress.com
Web: http://www.friendsofspl.org
Facebook: http://www.causes.com/friendsoftheseattlepubliclibrary

Survey:  Friends Neighborhood Library Usage survey

CC

Sarel Rowe
Advocacy Chair, Friends of The Seattle Public Library

Background Information

 The Seattle Public Library is a City Department with an Operations Budget funded by the City of Seattle’s General Fund and a Capital Budget funded by the Real Estate Excise Tax or REET.  The operations budget funds collections and staff, while the capital budget funds building maintenance.  This year Seattle City Council specifically asked Mayor Nickels to preserve funding for The Seattle Public Library Collections budget and thus the collections budget is not decreasing or increasing this year.

 The Seattle Public Library hours at 21 neighborhood branches are going to change drastically if the proposed budget is approved.  The City Council is now reviewing Mayor Greg Nickels' proposed 2010 budget, which includes $2.8 million in cuts to the Library budget. Proposed cuts include a reduction in branch operating hours and a one-week closure of the entire Library system. The proposed hours reduction would mean that 21 Library locations would be closed on Fridays and Sundays, plus operate on reduced hours - all year. A proposed change to the hours at Central Library, Douglass-Truth, Lake City, Ballard, Rainier Beach and Southwest branches attempts to compensate the displaced patrons who use the 21 neighborhood branches impacted by the proposed 2010 City Budget.  Overall, the Library would lose about 23 percent of its open hours compared with 2009. 

The 21 neighborhood branches are Beacon Hill, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Columbia. Delridge, Fremont, Green Lake, Greenwood, High Point, International District / Chinatown, Madrona-Sally Goldmark,Magnolia, Montlake, NewHolly, Northeast, Northgate, Queen Anne, South Park, University, Wallingford and West Seattle.  If the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget is adopted the hours for these branches would be:

Monday, Tuesday:
 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday:
 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED FRIDAY

Saturday:
 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLOSED SUNDAY

  The proposed budget will impact all of our communities and neighbors who are relying on our libraries for computer access, job search resources, educational support, gathering spaces, and librarian assistance. In 2008, more than 13 million customers visited the Library and so far this year, visits are up another 8 percent. Circulation of books and other items was up 20 percent in 2008; this year it is up an additional 11 percent.

  2010 Proposed Budget Information about the Operations Budget (collections and hours) and Capital (major building maintenance) on The Seattle Public Library’s website: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=about_history

Vote as you please, but please vote (better do it now)

Your ballot's around the house somewhere.  Remember that it has to be postmarked by TUESDAY (good luck finding a pickup after 6 PM). A stamp (remember stamps?) is 44 cents. Safeway has 'em.
Voters' pamphlets, locations of 24 hour drop boxes, etc is all right here.
Nearest drop box: Central Area Neighborhood Service Center, 2301 S. Jackson



Ballot drop boxes will  close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3.


You all did so well last November. Please get out those ballots and make us all proud.
Thank you.

PS: You really will MAKE A DIFFERENCE

PPS: Running late? Latest mailbox pickup I could find was 7:30 PM. You're better off going to the drop box at 23rd & Jackson. BE THERE BEFORE 8PM!

A good walk (not) ruined. Hear about an amazing journey!

I've know Erin since she was about 6: she's the daughter of a former colleague at the Hutch, and she was (rather more recently) a graduate student in a lab down the hall. Erin and Hig really did walk and paddle all the way from Seattle to the end of the Aleutian peninsula, blogging as they went! You can read their adventures on the blog, or you can read the book and/or come to the slide show. Erin will be interviewed on KING5 at 8AM on the 29th, and by KUOW at 9AM on the 30th.

We also go to the same dentist. At one point their inflatable raft was ripped apart by a bear. The thing that impressed our dentist most was that they were carrying enough dental floss to sew raft (and tent) back together again.

It's a great story. See you there.

Halloween at the Bottleneck Lounge

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Present the Third Annual Hillside Harvest Feast

On Halloween!!

Date:                          Saturday, October 31, 2009

Time:              3:00 PM - close

Where:              The Bottleneck Lounge

                          2328 E. Madison St. (between John and 23^rd on Capitol Hill)

www.bottlenecklounge.com    (206.323.1098)

www.skilletstreetfood.com

Charge:              No cover

The BottleNeck Lounge and Skillet Street Food combine forces on October 31^st to present the best Halloween Party this side of Transylvania.  Skillet’s Airstream will be parked directly in front of the newly-expanded BottleNeck Lounge, located at 2328 E. Madison St. on the backside of Capitol Hill.  Doors open at 3 PM and Skillet begins service at 4PM.  We’re bringing in some great seasonals, including Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale and Spire Mountain Dark and Dry Cider.  Enjoy with a tasty burger smothered in bacon jam (and yes, veggie fare will be available too).  Load up for your night on the town or hunker down with us for a spooktacular event!

Skillet will stop serving when the food runs out (hard to guess) but the party goes all night!  Prizes for best costume awarded at 6 PM and midnight and toasty drink specials created with Amarula Cream Liqueur until close.  Great food, great company – a ghoulishly good time!

The BottleNeck Lounge is a 21+ venue.

Halloween in the Arboretum!

(click image for readable version)

Miller Halloween Carnival (and toddler pumpkin patch)

(Reminder) The staff at Miller will be happy to see you and your children. They will be equally happy if you can volunteer to help at the event - contact Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753. (click on image for legible version)

Miller Community Center Preschool

Miller Community Center is starting a  half-day preschool for 3 to 5 year olds, starting November 2nd. For further details see the brochure, available on paper at the Center, or right here (via the miracle of electrons). For more details contact Center Director Jeremy Doane at 684-4753  or the preschool: miller.preschool@seattle.gov

Community Council Election Forum

The Capitol Hill Community Council is proud to present a forum featuring candidates for Seattle Mayor. The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for residents and other stakeholders on Capitol Hill and the surrounding neighborhoods to meet the candidates and learn more about them.  More specifically, the Council will engage the candidates in dialogue concerning their vision for the city and how they will seek to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Seattle. We will discuss topics such as the relationship of city government to its residents & neighborhoods, city planning in regard to open space & land use, and transportation. We hope you can join us for this exciting event!

Date:                    Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Time:                   4-6pm
Location:            Pigott Auditorium, Albers School of Business & Economics - Seattle University

If you have questions pertaining to the topics above that you would like posed to the candidates, please send them to us at chcc.officers@gmail.com. Please note that there will also be time for general audience Q&A.  This is an event sponsored by the Capitol Hill Community Council with the gracious donation of space from Seattle University.

************* informal notes****************

The format will go something like this

4pm Welcome, introductions, CHCC announcements

4:15 Mallahan question round

5pm Short Break

5:15 McGinn question round

6pm End

Our innovative format allows the Council to get into issues one-on-one with each candidate - it's a dialogue between each candidate and the community rather than an argument between opponents. 

We're also encouraging folks to attend the A&A Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Seattle University right before the mayoral candidate forum from 3-4pm.  The A&A Building is lovely, and this event is also a celebration of SU's commitment to community.

Seattle University map:  http://tinyurl.com/forum-map

More info at CHS blog:

• about the A & A building
• about the candidate forum

Chicks Play Hard 2009

I wanted to let you know that Chicks Play Hard 2009 is coming up in a few weeks.  We are looking for both volunteers and participants.

We are pleased to once again partner with Seattle Parks & Recreation/ Miller Community Center to provide this event free for the community.  Cappy's boxing returns this year to Chicks, as well as belly dancing, double dutch and fencing.

Chicks Play Hard will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at Miller Community Center from 11 am to 4 pm.  Participants should be ages 9 to 13.

Each year we rely on volunteers to serve girls in the community and provide them with a great day. Volunteers should send an email to chicksplayhard@gmail.com and let us know if you can volunteer for part of the day, or the entire time.

Registration and more information at www.chicksplayhard.com

Thank you for helping us spread the word, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Sincerely,

Mary Guiden
Chicks Play Hard volunteer