I would like to buy some people tickets to this free event:

Public Discourse and Civic Intelligence
Gift of Grace at 2102 N. 40th St. is hosting and inviting you to a presentation and discussion with our Wallingford neighbor, Dr. Douglas Schuler, Professor at Evergreen College. The discussion will take place after GraceFeast (12:15ish) on Sunday, March 9 and will be held in the sanctuary. Dr Schuler has compelling ideas for improving public discourse and helping people gain what he calls, civic intelligence.

“Civic Intelligence is the generally unacknowledged and unnamed but indispensable aspect of living together on the planet — the ability of people to come together to address common issues. All societies and groups have some degree of civic intelligence; the question is whether we have enough — and what, if anything — should we do about it.”

Before Dr. Douglas Schuler’s presentation, all are welcome to GraceFeast Sunday Dinner (Lone Star Chili and Fresh Cornbread) hosted at 11:30AM each week by Gift of Grace as a service to the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. We gather in the lobby and then head to the dining hall together. We hope you’ll join us!

Thanks to Vivian Little for forwarding.

There’s a play area just to the south of the barn in Gas Works. No, not the barn itself, the building with all the colorful equipment, but the desolate, sandy area just to the south of it, with virtually no play equipment.

Fortunately, when the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces levy passed, it included $1.4 million in renovation funds for planning, design and construction of the Gas Works Park Play Area. The Parks Department will be kicking off their design process with a public meeting Tuesday March 11 at the Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N), Room 202 , from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The meeting is an opportunity for the community to hear about the upcoming project and offer input on the play area renovation. Seattle Parks staff will be at the meeting to discuss the project and answer questions. The community is encouraged to participate and all are welcome.

The project schedule is:

For more information about the project visit the project web site, or, better yet, attend the meeting!

(Photo by Eric Willhite)

Reminder: if you’re interested in sending your child to the John Stanford or McDonald schools next year (or to any public school except the one they would otherwise be automatically assigned), forms must be received (not just submitted, but actually received) by the city by 4:00 pm this Friday, March 7th.

More details in the Public School Open Enrollment Begins Tomorrow post from February 23rd.

Vivian Little sent along this announcement for an open house this Saturday at a new preschool located in the Gift of Grace Church (2102 N. 40th St):

Huckleberry Forest preschool, which used to be at the same location, has moved elsewhere.

The Wallingford Community Council will meet Wednesday, March 5^th , 2014, 7:00 PM at the Good Shepherd Center. A number of items will be discussed including:

• 3500 Interlake Site: Proposals and Plans for use of Public Property near Skanska Project.
• Community response to Avtech site project, including comment and appeal periods.
• Gas Works Park Phytoremediation
• Major pedestrian improvements at Stone Way and Northlake Way through WCC Grant
• Waterway projects.
• Community grants and recycling challenge participation
• Updates on land use and other neighborhood issues.

WCC March 2014 Agenda

Everyone is welcome.

Lunarmodule spotted this story from the Seattle Police Blotter, and posted to the Wallyhood Forums:

On March 1st at approximately 3:17 a.m. officers responded to Latona Avenue NE and NE 43rd Street for the report of an armed robbery. Preliminary investigation indicates that the adult male victim had been walking to a friend’s house from a Wallingford area gas station/convenience store when two unknown male suspects approached in a black Toyota Tundra pickup truck and called out to the victim to stop. The victim did not comply. The suspects then got out of their vehicle both armed with handguns. They pistol-whipped the victim on the head and robbed him of his money. The suspects then fled the area northbound on Latona Avenue NE in their truck and remain at large. The victim sustained a laceration to his head.

The suspects were described as a white male and a Native American male, both about 5’8″ tall and both with medium builds. The suspect’s vehicle was a black Toyota Tundra pickup truck with a black canopy.

This area, close to the I-5 entrance ramp, has been the source of complaints from residents for years now, with reports of drive-by drug sale activity. Note Mandy’s comment from two years ago on the “Incident outside JSIS” story, for example:

I think the bigger question is: What is going on right near us on Latona street? Another JSIS parent said there is a group of parents very concerned. There is a “drug house” on Latona near 42nd, there have been parents witnessing drug deals en route to school in the morning, etc. Yes, we all signed up for urban living by living in a Seattle (as suburban as it can feel at times), but we don’t need to tolerate this crap right near our school. Or do we?

I’ve heard from several people that they have seen at least one of the ostensibly homeless panhandlers near I-5 trading something out of their backpacks for cash, and manipulating large wads of bills in the process.

Sean Richarz sent along this announcement for a show at Om Culture:

On March 15th, two Seattle bands will join forces with a concert celebrating British Prog Rock of the 70′s. Green Floyd will be playing the music of Pink Floyd, and In Stone Circles will perform Jethro Tull‘s music.

Gary Stroutsous, nationally known for his presentations on Native American flute music, heads in a different direction leading In Stone Circles as they interpret Tull’s music. Green Floyd is made up of four teachers from Bishop Blanchet High School, one from Meadowdale Middle School, a former BBHS student and teacher, and a female vocalist.

Gary and Sean Richarz of Green Floyd had the idea to do a joint show as a fun way of keeping this great music alive. Last year, Green Floyd played the entire “Dark Side of the Moon” album to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that seminal rock album. Based on the success of that show, returning to the OM Culture Center this year for the dual concert is the perfect move for all the Prog Rock fans, giving them a great show to enjoy this timeless music.

We hope to see everyone on March 15th, 7 p.m. at the OM Culture Center, 2210 N Pacific St. (north Lake Union area in Wallingford). It is an all ages show, tickets are available at the door for $15 adults and $5 for students.