Happy 2019! We are on target to experience a magnificent year! The opportunities to embrace change always create many feelings: excitement, fear, joy, insecurity, etc. I ask you to stretch, explore, revise and expand your lives. This year is primed for lots of growth and partnerships not even explored yet. How fortunate we are to have the freedom of discovery at our fingertips. Our community council has informative, interesting and engaging programs planned in 2019. Our first event will be a wine tasting on February 9: a pre-Valentine’s Day event. Steve from Grocery Outlet will be offering great discounts for purchases of six bottles or more. It will be held in the dining room at the The Central Area Senior Center. We look forward to connecting with you this year and invite you to participate. As a reminder, make sure you have a communication system to keep track of your neighbors. We are a small but mighty community bonded by friendships, neighbors, similar interests, hopes and dreams. Warm wishes, Janice Merrill Brown Leschi Community Council President

The String of Pearls refers to the street end mini-parks along Lake Washington. The funds in this account come from donations and are used primarily for plants. Our Parks Chair, John Barber, is the go-to person for questions about funds. Maintenance is done by volunteer work parties; brush and weeds are carted away by SDOT crews in accordance with original agreement.

November 12, 2018 Treasury Janet shared the October report and said that a recent deposit will greatly increase the numbers. She and Diane are checking out a recent charge by WIX on our credit card. Janice said she would follow up on this. Janet will leave in about 10 days for her annual trek to warmer climes; she will return in March. Thanks to the Internet, she is able to pay bills and provide us with reports during her absence. Janice Senior Center Holiday table: it was agreed the LCC would purchase a table for eight at the fundraising gala. Janice asked for a task list and delegation of tasks for the upcoming events: Holiday and Valentines’ Wine Tasting. Discussion held for Diane’s turn as she has list of tasks. John He expressed concern for the ongoing draping of the condominiums that are awaiting some repair. He wants to send letters to both marina management and the condominiums. Janice gave John the name of the condominium manager and the contractor who will be working on the project. Tracy thanked John for his article listing the issues with Parks. Diane Deadline for Dec. newsletter is Nov. 19. Dec./January programs (Holiday party in Dec; no meeting in January) Holiday Party needs Diane will get food; Janice will help set up before the music program; John will pick up the wine from Leschi Market, Trevor will act as bartender and Tracy will help with cleanup. Wine Tasting Brown Paper Tickets Diane will set this up Publicity No actual assignment; need website, NextDoor and poster publicity Food & Music Need munchies; enthusiasm over music; Diane will ask The Rio Thing. We probably need to rent wine glasses. Set-up Not sure what is involved here; need to check with Steve and the Center Ticket takers at Center Janice and Diane volunteered Clean up Everybody should be involved in this so we get out more quickly. Tracy CANDC is choosing a new name. Tracy is still not getting their emails. Diane said she would email someone that she felt could handle the fix on that. She is planning a program on Emergency management with Madrona. Diane suggested she contact Kathryn Keller in Madison Valley who attended our program and has expressed interest. ~Respectfully submitted, Diane Snell

I knew this place was small, based on its previous life as Atlantic so suggested, that we needed to get there early: as close to 5pm as possible. We walked in at about 5:10 and every table was full! The owner spotted a couple making motions to leave and suggested we wait for that table which they cleared, cleaned and reset very quickly. This process was repeated every 5 to 10 minutes of our stay. Except for the larger groups deep in conversation, folks didn’t linger unnecessarily, sensitive to the need to open up tables for more diners. It was still Happy Hour so we had a glass of house red (me) and a tall glass of new porter (he). My spouse chose the Curry Vermicelli Bowl with beef ($15) and I chose the Sea Scallops. At $21, it is one of the more expensive dishes and although the scallops were cooked to perfection (not tough), it was hardly as filling as the Vermicelli Bowl. There were three large sea scallops with bits of roasted cauliflower; the thin sauce was very good and enhanced rather than overwhelmed the scallops. This dish is not on the website menu but then scallops are not always available. My better half pronounced the Bowl perfect for a brisk evening as he slurped up noodles and even ate a sprig of cilantro without complaining. At home, we cook stealthily with cilantro, which is dicey because he can smell it the minute he walks into the house. For an adventurous eater who dislikes hardly anything, I have concluded he must be one of those folks with an anti-cilantro gene. Ambiance? You’ll find mood lighting with booths and tall stools at a long tall table plus seats at the bar. As for noise, many wall attachments (shark jawbones) help diffuse the sound. With music a little on the loud side and a full house of chatter, we could still hear each other across the table. Service is good which helps with the turnover and the owner is attentive. I asked about the “Reckless” name. He said he and his partner indulge in risky pastimes like rock climbing, snow boarding, etc., and the name just reflects their life style. I would say this venture into the restaurant business was not reckless; they have a prosperous business in that difficult spot. I say difficult due to the size. The constant turnover is key to keeping it profitable. There seemed to be no vacant tables the entire time we were there. Caution: Do not be tempted to park in the parking lot on the east side of the building; it is employee parking for several businesses and you will be towed. Two difficulties here: parking and getting a table—but worth it. Reckless Noodle House 2519 S Jackson, 206-329-5494, recklessnoodles.com Mon–Thurs 4pm–12am; Fri 4pm–2am; Sat 11:30am–2am; Sun 11:30am–10pm ~Diane Snell

We have Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter’s in Mill Creek and it is usually a gourmet treat, but my daughter was worried this year as they were beginning an extensive kitchen remodel and she wasn’t sure she had the oven space needed. Leschi Market to the rescue with their smoked roasted turkey, stuffing and gravy! Rave reviews from the gathered crowd that seems to get bigger each year. The turkey was moist and delicious, and with someone else doing the turkey work, my daughter concentrated on her spectacular desserts: French apple tart, Pumpkin cheesecake and Chocolate Pecan Pie! There are times I wish we ate dessert first! ~Diane Snell

Happy Holiday Season Leschi! Giving the gift of wine can be equally as fun for the gift giver as it is for the recipient. When choosing a bottle of wine (or two) to gift, keep a few basic ideas in mind. Know what they tend to like, and have a rough estimate of what you would like to spend. Many great wines can be found across all ranges of price points. When in doubt, ask an expert, like US! Leschi Market will be well staffed with wine experts throughout the month to assist you with all of your wine questions. One of my first holiday seasons at the Market, I heard a comment that I will never forget: “Giving wine just seems so last minute.” We have discussed the art of gift giving many times before. As we embark on the biggest gifting season of the year, let me offer some ideas on putting a little meaning behind those gifts. Trust me, in general, everyone loves to receive wine as a gift and if you put just a tiny amount of thought into it, it won’t seem so last minute at all. We’ve explored several options in the past of theme based wine gifts. These definitely show some amount of thought was taken into account. They are just as fun to assemble, as they are to receive. All you need to do is choose your price point and choose your theme. Here are some of my favorites from over the years. For the bicyclist on the list, for example, a “Tour de France” package can include a wine from several different regions in France: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chateauneuf du Pape, Gascogne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire, and Rhône are great starting points. These regions are so diverse themselves that you could easily choose a few wines from within each region. “Around the World” packages are great for those fresh off a journey, or for those about to embark on one in the coming year. Focusing on one country, or several, is easy enough to do. Rieslings from Germany, Barberas from Italy, Tempranillos from Spain, Cabernet Sauvignons from South Africa, Malbecs from Argentina or Carmeneres from Chile. Domestic sets can be great too. Walla Walla, Yakima, Columbia Valley, Willamette Valley and Napa all provide great themed packages. The possibilities and spin-offs are endless. From an “Italian Getaway,” to an all organic grouping, from all under $10 wine, to an all animal themed label, use your imagination and creativity, and most of all, have fun with it. This brings me to Champagnes and Ports. These are ultimate gift wines, if not for the sole fact that people rarely buy them for themselves. Who knows why, but I’ve seen the trend that we tend to put off splurging for these special wines for ourselves, yet are ecstatic when we are gifted them. When in doubt, look to the Port and Champagne sections. Many of these wines are discounted during holiday months, and great finds can be had for under $30. Vintage Champagnes and Vintage Ports are more expensive and harder to find, however “Colheita” Ports (years of ports not designated as “vintage”) can be found for a lesser dollar amount and for nearly every year; a great idea when trying to match birth years, anniversary years, and other significant dates in one’s life. Finally, let’s conclude with highly sought after wines that are in limited supply. Collectors, cellar builders and new winos alike will appreciate getting their hands on some of these rarities! 2013 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla ($112) 96-points, Wine Advocate 2015 Dominus Napanook Vineyard Red Napa Valley ($67) 96-points, James Suckling 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Rabaja’ Barbaresco Riserva ($58) 96-points, Wine Spectator, Top-100 #13 Pol Roger Brut Champagne Reserve ($45) 93-points, Decanter 2016 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay Willamette Valley ($40) 93-points, Wine Spectator 2016 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 375 ml ($38) 95-points, Wine Spectator, Top-100 #8 2013 Carpineto Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva ($28) 95-points, Wine Spectator, Top-100 #11 Are you still unsure what gift to give the wine lover on your list? One of my favorite reminders is that accessories like wine glasses and decanters rarely need a gift receipt! Have a safe and memorable holiday season and we’ll see you next year! CHEERS! ENJOY! Kenneth Benner, a Seattle area native, is a trained chef and has worked in such restaurants as Barbacoa, B.O.K.A. Kitchen + Bar, and Dahlia Lounge. Ken is the wine buyer at Leschi Market. He has a passion for learning, a meticulous palate, and a tenacity for searching out the best for his customers while offering some of the most highly coveted wines in the area. His wine column is intended to inspire and explore new choices in wine, learn about wine with his readers, and share his knowledge and experiences in the wine world. Check out the latest at www.LeschiMarket.com or request to be added to email updates or send questions, comments, or suggestions to ken@leschimarket.com and follow the wine department directly on twitter at twitter.com/leschimarket .

The recent centennial of the end of World War I got me to wondering how the war effort affected our region. It was, of course, the impetus for the Boeing Airplane Company, which started in 1916 and by 1918 was building airplanes for the military. Few appreciated that air power would prove instrumental in ending the war that, unfortunately, didn’t end all wars. But one man did, and he set out to show all of Seattle, back in the day before the FAA. What follows is an abridged account from HistoryLink.org : July 18, 1914 [Silas] Christofferson took John Evans, a reporter for The Seattle Times, on the ride of a lifetime. War had just broken out in Europe, and aircraft (a relatively new phenomenon) would soon redefine the way wars would be fought. To illustrate this, the two men spent an hour bombing Seattle. They did not want to use explosives, of course, so they used flour bags instead. The nice white impact bursts would be visible from the air, indicating the accuracy of their bombing raids. They loaded up the plane [a Model D biplane] with 21 three-ounce flour sacks, with which to rain terror on the city below. Taking off from Lake Union, Evans dropped a few test bombs over the water in order to gauge how far the bags would drift due to the wind. Throughout the flight, Evans acted as bombardier, while Christofferson pointed out targets. Once Evans was comfortable estimating where the sacks would land, the junior birdmen bore down on the city. Bombs Away The first bomb was dropped over a vacant lot, but forward thrust carried it a half-block further where it burst open in the doorway of a home. Evans mentally added 150 feet to his calculations as the plane moved closer to downtown. Flying over the regrade area, they spotted a carnival. They deployed another bomb and it hurtled to the ground, exploding very near to a Ferris wheel. Christofferson grinned fiendishly as they flew on towards the Washington Hotel. They dropped another bomb, but this one hit a vacant lot behind the hotel. From there, they deviated off course a bit and flew out over Elliott Bay. Evans tried bombing a passing ship, but the bag hit the water. Next, they flew over the old mill at the end of Harbor Island, and Evans scored a direct hit, leaving a white smear on the building’s roof. City Under Siege The airship headed straight for downtown, as groups of people stared up and pointed at the marvelous craft above. Realizing that even a small flour sack dropped from 1,000 feet would not have a pleasant effect on a pedestrian’s noggin, Evans had the presence of mind not to pelt the streets. He zeroed in on buildings instead. First up was the Rainier-Grand Hotel, upon which Evans found great pleasure in scoring a direct hit…. After blitzing the Lincoln Hotel, the plane headed toward the waterfront. Attempting to plop a sack onto the Grand Trunk dock, Evans overshot, just missing the Admiral Farragut, which was moored to the north. Instead, the bag burst aboard the fireboat Duwamish much to the consternation of Acting Chief Engineer Charles Well, who preferred to keep his craft clean. A few more bombs were tossed out of the plane. An attempt was made to “blow up” Fischer Brothers grocery, but the package caromed off Star Carriage instead. Following that, a perfect strike was made on Diamond Ice and Storage. Their ordnance now depleted, the men headed back to base. Keep Watching the Skies! In all, the bombers had hit their targets 20 percent of the time, which they considered a success. “If an inexperienced man with nothing better than three-ounce packets of flour can score 20 percent of hits in guesswork throwing,” asked Christofferson, “what could be achieved by an airman with a compressed air weapon properly sighted and in a plane with range finding instruments?” “Six aeroplanes can reduce Seattle to rubble or surrender,” he continued. “Five years more and ships of war will be obsolete. The dirigible balloons will be antiquated. There will be nothing left but the aeroplane, armored, equipped with guns, and manned by a crew of absolute scientists. Then must come peace, for an aeroplane war would be too awful to contemplate.” For the complete story by Alan J Stein, go to: historylink.org/File/3478 . Thanks to Anne Depue, our book critic, for sleuthing out this piece of Seattle history.

In these dark days, both literally, the depths of December, and in our political climate, the Alfredo Arreguín exhibition at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art will brighten your day, lift your spirits, and soothe your soul. It may also inspire you to activism as well as introduce you to Mexican mythology and spirituality. Alfredo Arreguín’s paintings immerse us in a wonderland of jungle and seascape, populated by animals, fish, insects and birds. But the jungle and its creatures are more than the sum of their parts: they represent Nagual, guardian creatures of the spirit world who can transform themselves and lead us to alternative views of the world. Zapata’s Messenger (detail), 1997; oil on canvas, 60 x 48”. Collection of the Artist, photo courtesy Robert Vinnedge The artist embedded in this wonderland (sometimes almost invisibly), the faces of well known political activists, writers, poets, friends, and occasionally, the artist himself. The faces deeply disguised within the vast details of the paintings, point to Arreguín’s belief in the harmony of nature, the balance of life, and the crucial place that we have within it, rather than outside it. His work has never been more timely or important, as we all despair with the election of a president in Brazil intent on destroying the entire rainforest there for economic profit. Nothing less than the lungs of the planet are at stake. So plunge into one of his paintings and look at it for a long time, and still come back for more. Explore the dazzling overall intricacy, the detailed patterns, the accomplished linear relationships, the subtle command of color that changes in each work. Then as you visually wander through the paintings, join the butterflies, the birds and the animals in the depths of the jungle. Arreguín’s several themes, nature, Madonnas, and portraiture overlap and intersect. In every detail of these intricate works, he contradicts the angry rhetoric of racists creating arbitrary divisions in our beautiful world. Salish Sea 2017; oil on canvas 48 x 60; BIMA Permanent Art Collection; Gift of Cynthia Sears; photo courtesy the artist Leaping salmon and whales remind us that the survival of the Southern Resident pod of orca is uncertain. As the whales dwindle in response to environmental degradation, and the salmon fail to complete their migration upstream because of dams, Arreguín’s paintings celebrate natural processes and inspire us to protect our Salish Sea. Arreguín’s life story is unusual. He was born in Morelia, Michoacán Mexico, as an illegitimate child, and passed from one relative to another. On a few occasions, he had the opportunity to be immersed in the jungle, experiences that made a deep and permanent impression on him. He also had enough educational opportunities to learn art as he moved from Morelia to Mexico City. But by extraordinary serendipity, he was invited to live in Seattle by a family he met when they were lost as tourists in Chapultepec Park. As a result, he came to the US in January 1956, and gained citizenship with their sponsorship. After serving in the army, he attended the University of Washington, earning two degrees, then found his way as an artist by the mid 1970s in the style that he still practices. He began to appear in major exhibitions almost immediately. The National Museum of American Art acquired his work in the early 1990s. One has to ask why, as yet, the Seattle Art Museum has not given him an exhibition and does not seem to even own his work (I have not been able to verify that). This exhibition includes works from BIMA’s permanent collection, promised gifts, and loans from private collections and the artist himself, totaling almost fifty works for this 50-year retrospective. Arreguín began honoring Frida Kahlo even in his early work, many years before she became a pop icon. They share a love of folk art, peasant expressions, nature, music, and the sensuality of life. Arreguín transmits folk art patterns and their motifs in one layer of his dense jungle tapestries, but more than that Frida as well as Arreguín embraced the spiritual significance of the people’s beliefs in Mexico, beliefs that survive transformed to this day. Likewise, Arreguín’s love of literature and language pervades his paintings, sometimes literally in his homages to his Seattle friends Raymond Carver and Tess Gallagher, other times more subtly as in his homage to Pablo Neruda. Also, look for his portraits of indigenous environmentalists, well-known activists and historical revolutionaries. Don’t miss this special opportunity to see almost fifty of his works. Make it a day trip to the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. It is open seven days a week and it is free! Bainbridge Island Museum of Art October 13, 2018–February 3, 2019 ~Susan Noyes Platt www.artandpoliticsnow.com

After such a horrendous fire season this summer for much of western North America, many Pacific Northwesterners welcomed the onset of autumn with open arms. But unfortunately, as bad as the fires were all this summer throughout the West, the worst fires of the year would flare up in California during the second week of November. Two fires in particular—the Woolsey Fire near Los Angeles and the Camp Fire in Butte County in Northern California—collectively scorched 250,000 acres, incinerated almost 19,000 buildings, and caused billions of dollars in damage this past month. With 83 confirmed fatalities and around 600 people still missing as of 11/21/2018, the Camp Fire is the deadliest fire in the U.S. since the Cloquet Fire in Northern Minnesota of October 1918 The Woolsey Fire was fanned by the “Santa Ana” winds that are notorious for bringing abnormally warm temperatures, very low dew points and very high fire danger to Southern California. The Camp Fire was spread by the lesser-known “Diablo Wind” that flows down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada into the Sacramento Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. Both the Santa Ana and Diablo Winds are specific examples of “foehn” winds: strong, warm, dry downslope winds on the lee side of a mountain range. The term originates from the warm, dry wind in the leeside of the Alps that warmed Central Europe while the windward sides of the Alps experienced the brunt of powerful extra-tropical cyclones coming off the Atlantic into the region. Even before these fires, California had seen a much more active-than-normal fire season. Fires ravaged the state in July and August as dry, hot weather persisted throughout the West, creating tinder-dry fuels and extreme fire danger. The combination of dry fuel and strong Santa Ana and Diablo winds led to exceptionally high fire danger that allowed these blazes to grow in size. The Camp Fire began when a transmission line owned by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), a California Utility, collapsed in the strong winds. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but given the critical fire danger, PG&E should have de-energized these lines. The cause of the Woolsey Fire is still unknown. Santa Ana and Diablo winds are much more common in the autumn than the summer. This is because you need high pressure over the Great Basin to drive these offshore winds, and the summertime heat over the Great Basin and Desert Southwest tends to create a thermally induced area of low pressure over the Intermountain West, resulting in onshore flow for most of coastal California. Though you can still get devastating Santa Ana and Diablo winds in the winter (December 2017 saw strong Santa Ana winds and numerous fires over Southern California), fire danger is generally much less due to decreasing temperatures and increasing precipitation over the area. Whatever happens this month, let’s hope for fewer fires in 2019! ~Charlie Phillips Charlie Phillips, a Madrona resident, received his B.S. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington and works in Portland as a meteorologist. Check out his weather website at charlie.weathertogether.net .

We received a thank you for our donations to Leschi School last holiday season. And this means YOUR donations! The money we have to give to worthy causes is from the fund that you keep filled when you add an additional amount to your dues. “Dear members of the Leschi Community Council: A belated but heartfelt thank you for your generous support of Leschi School and the Giving Garland last year! With your help, we were able to give 36 families of 110 children a happy holiday season with gift cards and gifts. Families had more to eat, toys to play with and clothing to wear! We gave them more than $10,000 in gift cards and almost $600 for groceries. We also thank you for the chance to ask for more help and share our good news through the Leschi News. Being connected to our community is so important and we couldn’t do it without you! With the warmest regards and appreciation of your continued generosity as we move into the coming holiday season, Jennifer Marquardt, the Leschi PTA, students, teachers and staff."

Tis the season to give and there are so many worthy causes. I like to start at home, i.e. my community. That means Leschi Elementary School, which still has a number of homeless students who depend on backpacks of food to make it through the weekends and extra resources for the holidays when school is not in session. This is a long stretch as school is closed from Dec. 24 to January 7. Each year, Leschi has a Giving Tree with ideas for gifts to students and families. The school also gives grocery cards for food during the winter break. Last year, the Leschi CC Board voted to give some of your donations throughout the year to the school in the form of gift cards to Grocery Outlet. The Leschi Mason Bee Project had an abundant harvest and was able to give $225 as well. (This year’s harvest was poor and will not result in any gifts so we hope residents will make up the difference. There are many needs in our greater community as well. Despite the homeless emergency, resources are still limited. The Low Income Housing Institute’s program of Walls for Good is a good organization to consider. Instead of building walls to keep folks out, they are asking that we help build walls to house homeless families at the Tiny House Villages. These temporary shelters are much safer than a tent under a highway, and residents are entitled to services to help them find jobs and permanent housing. The children are able to attend school regularly. In addition to walls, these villages are always in need of food and at this time of year, warm clothing. We have two tiny house villages close to us: one at Yesler & 18th and the other behind the Lutheran church at 22nd & Union. Donations made be made on their website at https://lihi.org/donate/ . Real Change is another to consider. Their paper is worth reading and the vendors are personable. Friendly exchanges with folks who buy the paper and the opportunity to earn money give hope. Warm socks are a welcome gift! Go to http://main.realchangenews.org/support for more information. And food! Even those who have shelter find it difficult to purchase enough food to last a month. We have two food banks reasonably close: St. Mary’s on 20th and the Rainier Valley Food Bank. Leschi Market has a program of giving hams which they obtain at a lower price and use your donations to purchase and give to the Rainier Valley Food Bank. I once took a crate of apples to St. Mary’s before the food bank actually opened. A line was already forming, and standing in the rain waiting patiently were many elderly people, many with walkers and a few with wheelchairs. Having worked with homebound seniors in the past, I knew that their pensions did not meet their expenses throughout the entire month. Once the rent and utilities were paid, it was often touch and go. Do I refill this prescription or buy food? Food banks cover that end-of-month gap. Our local Edward Jones office on Lakeside is accepting new toys for needy children—the Toys for Tots drive ends on December 13. The office is open 8:30am–5pm, Monday through Friday. Thank you for thinking of others during the holidays when we are often stressed with our own family’s obligations. And thank you for VOTING! We forgot to urge folks to vote in the November issue as we had a few internal crises with the newsletter, but you’re a hero! You went out and did it anyway! ~Diane Snell Be the change you want to see in the world…

Happy Holidays to our Leschi Community This time of year, we reflect on what has happened in our lives and look ahead to the year to come. Laughter, tears, happiness, heartache, high achievements, simple joys and moments of intense love...such a variety of feelings can happen, even in a day’s time. We cannot control our surroundings, Mother Nature, others’ choices, but we can control our minds. Gratitude for where you are today is a personal way we can manifest change in a positive way. It can be so easy to fall into the frustrations of the outer world. Begin your day with gratitude of the life that is only in your hands: your own. Be easy on yourself. Sometimes we can be our own worst critics. The air you breathe each day, the friendships you savor, the warmth of your home—no matter how large or small are some of the gifts we sometimes take for granted. Our Senior Center is filled with a variety of activities and delicious lunches prepared Monday–Friday. You only have to step outside, view Mt. Rainier and the lake, and contemplate the beauty all around us to appreciate life here. Our Holiday Party is on December 5, at 7:30pm. We invite you to enjoy the Violet Light String Quartet from Garfield High. Last year’s student musicians were a delightful addition to our annual party. Please come to the Central Area Community Center on 30th Ave. S. We will have refreshments, including both wine and non-alcoholic beverages and other edible treats for your enjoyment. Please come and mingle with your neighbors, make new friends and take a moment out of your schedule to simply be appreciated for coming. Looking forward to 2019, we have some exciting programs ahead. Due to the holidays, we will not have a program in January. In February we are going to have a wine tasting/festive pre-Valentine’s Day program. It will be held on Saturday, February 9 in the large meeting room at the Community Center. This will replace our first of the month meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. Steve Mullen from Grocery Outlet will be presenting wines and will be offering a 20% discount off already amazing prices, for a purchase of six bottles or more. Then in the spring, we will be offering another earthquake preparedness program in conjunction with other neighboring communities. To all of you, I wish you a year ending with peace and a New Year filled with hope, dreams, new friendships, renewed energy and a heart filled with great love. Warm regards, Janice Merrill Brown President, Leschi Community Council