Hey readers, want be writers?

We sometimes get asked why we cover this or that, and don’t cover something else on Wallyhood. Well, want to know Wallyhood’s dirty little secret? This blog is nobody’s full-time job. Yep, writing this blog and keeping up with the news around Wallingford is not the full-time occupation of Margaret, me (Jordan) or anyone else who’s writing you see here. It’s something more than a hobby, much less than a job, and definitely a labor of love. We do it because we think keeping the community engaged and informed about who our neighbors are, what they’re doing and what important events are going on around us is aWorthy Goal, fighting the good fight.

So do you have something you think your neighbors should hear about? There are two great ways to get the word out through Wallyhood:

• Write a article and send it to us! Did you see Greg Flood’s article earlier this week about the Wallingford wading pool? It’s something he was passionate about, so he shared what he knew. How about Lisa de Alva’s article about the issues she and her neighbors are facing due to the sale of cheap alcohol at the 7-Eleven and the 50th Street Market? Same thing! Do you have something on your mind? Type something up and send it in, we’d be happy to share it with your neighbors.
• Don’t feel like you’ve got the chops to write something up yourself. Feel free to send us a “tip” to blog@wallyhood.org. Remember, the more information you provide, the more likely it is we’ll be able to pull together a story. Bonus points for photos!

Don’t be shy, now!

While more than 95% of the readership of this blog lives in Wallingford, and the majority of the remaining 5% live north of the ship canal, we do enjoy a small readership as far away as Connecticut, where I was born. So, to our Connecticut reader, I say: thanks for reading, Mom, and happy Mother’s Day.

As my local family drove home last night, my wife Michelle tried to explain to our three-year-old son that, although he may want to spend every waking moment with her now, some day he would be happy to be away from her for a while. Yes, he would still love her just as much, he would always love her just as much, but he would be happy to be on his own.

He wasn’t buying it, but it’s true. He will always love her just as much, just as I will always love her just as much. Happy Mother’s Day to the patient, warm and joyful mother of my child.

And to Margaret and all the mothers of Wallingford, thank you! Enjoy this beautiful day.

Farrah writes:

I am writing because I had a package stolen off my porch that was very, very dear to me. It apparently happened on either May 3 or 4th. Unfortunately, I did not know when to expect the package and didn’t realize it was missing right away.

It was a Fed Ex package containing a big stack of loose leaf papers with handwritten notes. The person that sent them back to me forgot to require a signature upon delivery, and so it was left on the porch apparently in plain sight of the street. I live at the corner of 46th and Eastern.

As soon as someone opened it, they must have decided that it was of no value to them and tossed it somewhere. Maybe it was tossed in a garbage can. Well, garbage pick up has come and gone. But I am writing this on the slim chance that maybe it was tossed on the side of the road, or someone saw it in their garbage can and took it out.

Please, please, please if you know anything at all about this, or have any advice at how I may ever see these papers again, let me know!

And, lesson learned, packages cannot be left on the porch!

Galium Odoratum - Sweet Woodruff Photo by Paige Embry

Have you taken walks around the neighborhood and admired other neighbors’ vibrant, colorful groundcovers? Garden blogger Paige Embry has a post on her blog, A Year in Seattle’s Gardens, that explores some of the groundcover in Tangletown through description and photography. Paige explains her gardening know-how and the reason behind the blog:

I used to run a garden design/coaching business and have just set up a blog, www.ayearinseattlegardens.com. The focus of the blog is pretty obvious from the name. It looks at plants not only when they are at their best but also in other seasons (the times when no one takes pictures for gardening magazines) so people really can make an educated decision before buying a plant.

 
As part of the blog, and just to inform people who are passing by, I’ve put together a self-guided groundcover walk down Keystone Ave N (between 51st and 56th) with some of the groundcovers labeled. Hopefully, I’ll put together different walks every few months that focus on different kinds of plants.

One of Wallingford's new greenway signs

Just in time for a weekend of perfect bike riding weather, SDOT rolled out its new online bike map which you can find here. The online map features citywide routes that you can view via street map or aerial view; and this is the best feature: you can narrow your search by what kind of rider you are. Here’s an explanation from the SDOT Blog:

The first thing you’ll want to do is choose whether you are a frequent, average or occasional rider. This narrows or expands the routes you might want to use based on their difficulty. From there you can select ‘points of interest’ (coffee shops, bike shops, libraries, etc.), events that might impact the ‘right-of-way’ and your ride (such as construction) and ‘other transportation’ which shows where the Streetcar operates and direction of one-way streets.  Use the Legend button at the top of the page to find out what the map symbols stand for.  Don’t forget to zoom in—some of the data is not visible if you don’t.

I love, too, that the map points out bike racks and lockers (oh, and bakeries! Ha!) Happy riding!

This year’s event features over 40 exhibitors and free food and drink samples – including wine tasting.This is a great opportunity to meet local business owners and mingle in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.

What: Cheers to Wallingford Business Expo
When: Wednesday, May 16, from 4-7pm
Where: Wine World Warehouse and Spirits, just off I-5 at 400 NE 45th St
Cost: Nada, zilch, free!

Come to Wine World Warehouse and Spirits, and raise a glass to your neighbors and our wonderful Wallingford businesses!

Parking is limited on the Wine World lot, so you might want to consider street parking, carpooling or busing to the event!

The first graders at John Stanford International School are hosting their annual plant sale to raise money for their sister school Juan de la Barrera in Puerta Vallarta. The sale will be on the playground (on 4th Ave. NE, above 40th St. NE) near the basketball court on Saturday, May 12 from 10-1 pm.  We’re told there will be lots of heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Perfect timing for Mother’s Day!

The first graders have been planting and tending seedlings for over month now in anticipation of the annual plant sale. All of the seeds this year came from the Seed Savers Exchange which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to conserving and promoting heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Supporting the sale this year will not only help their sister school, but will also promote plant diversity.

The plants are mostly organic and they will have varieties chosen to do well in our climate.