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Big Turnaround in 2012 for the Wallingford Housing Market

What a difference a year makes. Record low interest rates, a significant shortage of inventory, continued strong hiring by Amazon, Microsoft and a slew of smaller to midsize companies and a general belief that the market has hit bottom has resulted in strong appreciation for most Seattle home owners and sellers in 2012. For the 11th consecutive month the median sale price for single-family homes sold in Northwest Seattle, including Wallingford, met or exceeded the sale price for the same period…

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Seattle Schools Capacity Issues Affect Hamilton

It seems that the Seattle Public Schools in the north end of Seattle has had its share of capacity issues -- including here in Wallingford where John Stanford International School has had its boundaries resized twice since the New Student Assignment Plan. Now a capacity issue looms large over the middle schools in the north end -- particularly with the influx of kids planning to attend sixth grade in the fall (2013-14 school year). Back in December, the School Board looked at…

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Burn Ban

Cold enough for you? Ha ha ha. Yeah, I never really got that joke, either. Well, it is cold (by Seattle standards) and promises to stay that way for the next little while. Shelly Rae Clifton tweeted at us "Hummingbird feeder is frozen but 2 hummers buzz busily around & stop to drink. Seattle clean & refill your hummer feeders!" and the PSCAA let us know there's a burn ban in effect: The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage…

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Fremont Changes

Yes, yes, occasionally even we neighborhood bloggers wander outside our neighborhood, and a recent ramble through Fremont had some surprising changes. Just a few that we know of: Maria Hines (of Wallingford's Tilth and Ballard's Golden Beetle has opened a new restaurant in the spot where 35th Street Bistro stood (and, more dear to our hearts, where Still Life in Fremont used to be). According to their press release, Agrodolce will rely on local products that are sustainable and organic. Maria will import a…

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Come Wassail Away

Used to be, when I thought of wassailing, I’d picture Christmas carolers in full Victorian-era costume, going door-to-door to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. But in reality, as I’ve come to learn, wassailing is a centuries-old English tradition, with one form that’s deeply-rooted in apple trees. Apple Wassailing dates back to the 16th century, though some may believe the tradition began as a Pagan ritual. This type of wassailing is to pay homage to apple trees and scare off the…

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Traffic signal top priority for Lake Union District Council

Thanks to Greenways Guru, Cathy Tuttle, for providing us with an update to the N. 40th traffic signal project:  The Lake Union District Council AND the Wallingford Community Council chose the N 40th St signal as their number one first choice for City funding – making the street more compatible for people who walk and bike including transit users, kids walking to school, and dog walkers.   Thank you to the eight of you who wrote letters in support of traffic signal on 40th in…

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Girl Scouts: Molly Moon Wants Your Thin Mints

It's that time of the year when Girl Scouts (and their parents) begin their annual cookie push. And this year, local ice cream purveyor and lifetime Girl Scout, Molly Moon, is calling out to all local Girl Scouts for her annual purchase of 84,000 Thin Mint Cookies. This Friday (January 11) after 3:00pm, if you bring your Girl Scout to Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream (1622 1/2  N. 45th St.), she and her staff will be ready to hear each enterprising…

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