This is the time of year when we reflect, consider our families and friends and often become a little kinder to each other. Sometimes the energy is festive and sometimes hectic, but generally joyful. It is a time we let our hearts open a little more. This December we have many opportunities for festivities! The Central Area Senior Center Annual Gala is being held at our own Center on 30th Ave. S. There is still time to purchase a ticket or perhaps even a table to join in a fabulous holiday celebration! It promises to be as grand as in the past and an opportunity to connect with your neighbors—maybe even kick up those dancing shoes and dust off your tux. Call the Center for ticket prices and further information. Our own Leschi Community Council is having our annual holiday party at our first-Wednesday-of-the-month gathering at 7pm on Wednesday, December 6. All residents are welcome and what a great opportunity for new Leschi dwellers to see what we are all about. In the spirit of reaching out with a helping hand, you need look no further than The Giving Garland at Leschi Elementary. (Sponsored by the Leschi PTA for the past 7 years.) The Leschi homeless student population is one of the highest in the Seattle Public Schools. The Giving Garland is an opportunity to assist our own with gift cards to stores like Target, Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Old Navy, Wal-Mart and a wide variety of additional gifting options—one can give a little or a lot. Go to wish lists on Amazon, and search for “Giving Garland.” We will post the full information on the LCC website. We are a community and we want to always reach out to those who may be too shy to ask for a helping hand or someone to rake leaves or shovel snow. Be Kind. Be Aware. Be Generous. Be Brave. Be Safe. Happy Holidays! ~Janice Merrill Brown LCC President

Over the next few months, we’ll look at this Restricted Funds category and try to understand where the funds come from and who is responsible for spending them. ArtWalk: this event was the creative idea of Kim Murillo 6 years ago, who felt that our small business district was pretty much unknown to up-the-hill folks and she felt that we could do two things at once: provide a venue for local artists and crafts persons and do it in front of the businesses. We weren’t able to use the west side of the street, as it we needed to make sure that at least 6 feet of sidewalk was left untouched for pedestrian traffic. The west side of Lakeside Ave has a sloping sidewalk that dips back to the properties which makes it more difficult. A committee was formed and merchants invited to join along with a few representatives from the Leschi CC, as we would be the fiscal agent for the group. We have been able to get a small grant from the city for a few years. Last year was pretty much self-supported, although there were some surprises from the city along the way. A change had been made and although the memo was sent to two folks, it did not reach the committee as a whole so we were shocked to receive a large bill from Special Events. This group is now under OED, the Office of Economic Development and although that was our goal (development of our business community) in creating this event, we were shocked to discover that the biggest bill went to that office. We began to wonder who we were supporting: our merchants or the Office of Economic Development, which does have a very large work force to feed. It quickly became apparent that the usual funding was not going to cut it. We will probably end up in the red this year due to this change and it forces us to look into other ways to get funds. Cara Ross, massage therapist with the Blue Heron Healing Arts, has agreed to submit a grant application, which could provide some funds for the next two years. And we will ask the merchants to step up and contribute to this event. Tom Leavitt has been a sweetheart in underwriting the cost of musicians, but this too has increased over the years and we’d like to find other underwriters. The money that has gone into this fund has been those kinds of donations and the modest fee that artists pay for their booth ($20 or $25 if they don’t have a current Seattle business license.)

October 9, 2017—Attending: Trevor Menagh, Diane Snell, Janet Oliver, John Barber, Tracy Bier. Old Business Not discussed due to Janice’s absence. New Business General meeting discussion re: comments on public ability to have input on Board decisions. Trevor to set up a forum as a Google group where folks can comment on Board decisions that don’t allow time to set a meeting for discussion. John Barber Meeting on street ends set for later this month; trying to get dialogue with Vaughn family regarding printing of Leschi Diary and possible update. Work party scheduled for Oct. 21 at Dearborn street end again. A Parks employee has once again whacked the volunteer plantings (including a dogwood tree) at Frink Park and the Boulevard. Parks said they have no money for repairs or replacement. This is the second time that Parks has caused a loss in both plants and volunteer efforts; very discouraging especially when they can’t recognize a dogwood tree. Diane November newsletter deadline is Oct. 16. Staci Smith to edit this issue as well. We have lost two advertisers and need to replace to pay for newsletter. If we are doing the Spooktacular tent, we need four volunteers to take it down at 6pm on Oct. 31. Next general meeting Nov. 1 Felicia Cross, Crime Prevention Coordinator. 7pm. Next Board meeting Nov. 6 at 7pm in Technology room. ~Respectfully submitted by Diane Snell

There are more than a few good BBQ places in Seattle (Chuck’s Hole in the Wall, Jack’s, and Emma’s to name a few), but the recently opened Wood Shop BBQ brings amazing BBQ directly to Leschi and the Central District! Originally (and still) a food truck, Wood Shop BBQ set up shop in the CD and brings a warm family atmosphere with their large patio area and frequent live music. The bar sports a fine selection of cocktails and beer as well, but the shining jewel of the place is the BBQ itself. The brisket is especially good, and the smoked jalapeño mac and cheese is a must try, although I would love it if they made a non-spicy version for the kiddos. And just in case you are in the mood to go vegetarian at a BBQ joint, the Kale Caesar Salad is a surprisingly filling and delicious meal! It is obvious that the owners care about their customers. Go a few times and they will start to remember your name and your orders. I love seeing places like Wood Shop BBQ crop up in the neighborhood. Gathering places with good food, good music and great people are always welcome here! Wood Shop BBQ 2513 S. Jackson, 206-485-7381 Hours: Mondays, 4pm–12am; Tue–Fri, 11am–12am; Sat–Sun, 9am–12am www.thewoodshopbbq.com ~Trevor Lalish-Menagh

Can it be? The holiday season is really upon us once again? Thanksgiving is a week filled with sights, scents, and memories that take us back in time. Grandma’s traditional stuffing and sweet candied yams, Auntie’s addictive pistachio-marshmallow salad, wondering which family member will be caught tearing a piece of crispy buttery skin off the turkey before dinner, and hoping someone remembered Dad’s mustard. New dishes infiltrate the tradition like warm Brie with herbed cranberry sauce and cheesy shredded potatoes. Is it time to set the table yet? It is truly a meal focused on everyone’s favorite flavors while at the same time having little focus at all. What I mean by that, solely from a culinary standpoint, is that the dishes run the gamut of palate emotions, usually all at the same time: sweet, salty, rich, creamy, light, heavy, briny, herby, tangy and so forth. The most common question I get this time of year: “How could I possibly pair wine with everything that’s going on?” The easy answer is: “Well, you can’t.” But that just wouldn’t be accurate (or fun) at all! In fact, certain wines pair perfectly with a Thanksgiving feast. Whether you are playing host or a visiting guest, following are a few tips and suggestions to keep in mind. Generally speaking, I first recommend that you drink what you and your guests like. If you prefer Old World style of wines, let’s find a French that will work. Only satiated by Washington reds or California whites? No problem. When pairing reds or whites to specific foods, you will want to remember to try to match acidic foods with acidic wines, creamier and richer foods with weightier and richer wines. Let’s get more specific. In the realm of white wines, Chablis, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay will be your best options. Chablis (northern Burgundy) is crisp, lean, complex, and loaded with an unmistakably delicious minerality. Pinot Gris, especially those from Oregon, exude a touch of creaminess while maintaining a dry lightness on the palate. Chardonnays with a kiss of oak enhance buttery and roasted notes in everything from the turkey to the mashers. Red wine options include the light to medium bodied Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Burgundy, and Beaujolais. Pinot Noirs and one of my personal favorite varietals, Gamay Noir, are great matches for lighter, leaner fare. Pinots have more of an earthy-mushroomy characteristic (think roasted root vegetables!) while Gamays are bright with flavors of black cherry and raspberry with a touch of spice. Red Burgundy is primarily made from Pinot Noir, exhibiting solid raspberry and strawberry notes, good earthiness with great balance and complexity. Beaujolais (technically the southern region of Burgundy) is made from Gamay Noir. They offer a light and refreshing, more fruit forward style. These four red wines, by and large, are higher in acid and lower in tannin, creating perfectly balanced wines for food. Full bodied, bold Cabernet Sauvignons or red blends from Walla Walla or Napa are also sure to be big time crowd pleasers too. Save room for dessert? Finish dinner off with a Sauterne or Port. Both pair well with the tartness of a freshly baked apple pie and the spiciness of pumpkin chiffon pie, while not being too overpoweringly sweet or syrupy. A delicious way to end a hopefully delicious meal. Some of Our Favorites Chablis 2015 Albert Bichot Chablis, $20 Pinot Gris 2016 Elk Cove Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, $17 Chardonnay 2015 Leschi Cellars Chardonnay Columbia Valley, $17 Gamay Noir 2015 Cedergreen Cellars Columbia Valley, $17 Pinot Noir 2016 Nicolas Idiart Loire Valley, $10 Pinot Noir 2015 Illahe Estate Willamette Valley, $21 Jura 2015 Domaine Pecheur Poulsard Cotes du Jura, $25 Beaujolais 2016 Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois, $15 Red Blend 2014 Leschi Cellars Reserve Walla Walla, $20 Rosé 2016 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem, $13 Dessert 2010 Chateau Lamourette Sauterne, Vin de Bordeaux, $20 ENJOY! CHEERS! 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 monthly 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 .

Editor's Note: This month our usual book critic, Anne Depue, is off enjoying warmer climes: Italy! To appease your search for mental stimulation this month, we’ve received permission from the League of Women Voters to reprint this great book review, which ran in the October issue of its newsletter The Voter. BOOK REVIEW A Fine Mess: A Global Quest for a Simpler, Fairer, and More Efficient Tax System, By T. R. Reid Our federal tax system is “a fine mess,” but in straightforward and friendly prose, Reid describes our absurdly complex system and several ways to make it simpler, fairer, and more effective. The main problem is that our tax code has become jam-packed with loopholes. “Each year, hundreds of contributors, each with his own pet cause, manage to persuade Congress to insert a particular loophole or exclusion into the Internal Revenue Code.” Mostly it’s the wealthy that can lobby Congress, so it’s no surprise the changes tend to benefit the already well to do. What kind of tax code would be better? The formula for good taxation is a “four-letter word: ‘BBLR,’” standing for “broad base, low rates.” The idea is that “the total amount of income, or sales or property that can be taxed—is kept as large as possible; then the tax rate . . . can be kept very low.” Reid says, “Virtually all economists and tax experts agree that this is the best way to run a tax regime.” I was surprised to learn that one popular loophole, the mortgage interest deduction, would no longer exist in a BBLR code. However, Canada and many other countries don’t have a mortgage deduction, yet that seems to have no impact on home ownership. In the US, that one deduction reduces tax revenue by about $100 billion each year. The tax code therefore has to find that much money somewhere else. Meanwhile, Reid shows us how the mortgage tax deduction helps a couple earning $200,000 but only modestly helps a couple earning $20,000 and helps a couple earning $10,000 not at all! In effect, this is a tax cut that helps those who are already well off. He also shows us how the current code has a high (35 percent) corporate tax, which virtually chases both US businesses and jobs offshore to countries with lower rates. He states, “The US corporate income tax is not working,” and therefore suggests Congress lower the rate. If we had a BBLR tax code, we could almost certainly lower the rate of corporate tax without a loss of revenue. Reid shows us how other countries have taxed their citizens, and what works well and what doesn’t. Regarding a flat tax, he writes, “In practice, you can’t find a single tax rate that is high enough to raise the revenues you need but low enough for average working people to afford.” One tax that does work is the Value Added Tax, “a levy that is applied to virtually every business transaction but [is easy] to track and hard for taxpayers to duck.” This requires a tax at every stage of production: such as growing wheat, grinding seed into flour, making bread, packaging and selling to the public. When a customer pays the sales tax, it is smaller than the consumer tax paid today. This tax is much admired by economists, who report that the VAT “would increase the fairness and efficiency of our system and reduce its mind-boggling complexity.” Shockingly, Reid suggests we copy other countries where tax preparation takes only minutes. In those countries, the revenue authorities send you a short note telling you what you owe. If it seems reasonable, you merely pay the amount owed. If not, you discuss the issue with the authorities. My family did this in Japan and found it worked well. When should we make these changes? Reid points out that every 32 years the US completely changes its tax system. The last time we did so was in 1986. It is time to do so again, and this book tells us it is best to start from scratch. Now is the time. ~Vicky Downs

It may be too late for you to see the wonderful plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, but the eight-hour drive or 90-minute flight is worth the trip. (I saw eight of the eleven plays but did not see Merry Wives of Windsor and Unison which I expect to come to Seattle soon because its subject is the late August Wilson.) All the plays end October 28th or 29th. This year, like each of the forty-seven seasons I have attended, has much to say to us despite the dates the plays were written The oldest play is The Odyssey , written by Homer somewhere between 750 and 800 BC—that’s almost 3,000 years ago! In Odysseus’s attempt to return to his wife and son after fighting in the Trojan War, he leads us from one adventure to another in his ten-year journey where he must wage yet another battle to claim his home. Throughout history men, and more recently women, have made journeys but without so many deterrents as Odysseus who is indeed clever but does not always tell the truth. In addition to the Greek play, OSF continues its promise to present all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in a ten-year span. The histories Henry IV, Part I (1597), and Henry IV, Part II (between1596 and 1599) and Julius Caesar (1599) are three of the four plays this year. (I missed the comedy Merry Wives of Windsor but would love to have seen Falstaff played by a woman dressed as a man.) Not one of the histories is on the Elizabethan stage! As is with so much of Shakespeare, murder, intrigue, mendacity, and hypocrisy are at the forefront. Julius Caesar, says Cassius, is a threat to the republic. In little time, a group of men who supposedly care for the state conclude that Caesar must die. Only after the deed does the noble Brutus realize his conclusion may be wrong. Despite the divine right of kings, Henry IV knows he did not fairly get the crown; therefore, he is in a never-ending battle to keep it so that he can pass it to his son Hal. Hanging out with friends not the least bit courtly, Hal in no sense acts like a prince in Part I. However, in Henry IV, Part II, Prince Hal makes it clear that he is responsible when he needs to be. In all of the plays, especially Caesar, listeners can’t help recognizing actions and lines that are permanent stays in the English language. Almost 500 years lapse before we get to the next three plays. Though Beast is a fairy tale written in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, the Disney version is “a tale as old as time” filmed in animation in 1991 and live action in 2017 is probably most familiar because millions saw and purchased it. Since the coming of artistic director Bill Rauch in 2007, festival-goers can usually count on a musical in the repertoire. Playgoers should not be surprised that Walt Disney and OSF founder Angus Bowmer, two visionaries primarily responsible for contributing forever-gifts to the public, finally meet. With little prodding, most of us can point out those we see as beauty-and-beast couples. The mismatch is not always physical but may be spiritual or mental. Shakespeare in Love (movie 1998), screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, is almost as fanciful as Beauty and the Beast . Perhaps Shakespeare could have had such an affair, not telling his beloved soul mate that he is married. However, the idea for this play could have originated from Shakespeare’s will bequeathing his “second best bed” to his wife. In the play, Shakespeare has writer’s block, can’t complete his play Romeo and Ethel. His new love provides all the inspiration he needs as audiences see the cleverness of the writers’ use of many lines in Romeo and Juliet. Hannah and the Dread Gazebo (2012) by Jiehae Park, set in New York City and Korea, covers far more territory: family and culture, the one members know and the one members do not know; understanding/misunderstanding each other, perhaps an inability to understand each other; a Korean American and Koreans, thus immigration; suicide and its effects on the living, those who choose to endure despite the pain; the results of war—and its ever-present collateral damage; a gamut of the emotions that “normal” humans endure; success and how the successful seem never able to wholly enjoy this hard-earned success; love. Perusal of Seattle Times reporter Ellen Banner’s article of the Tacoma Korean Women’s Association (September 28, 2017) is reminiscent of the play. You can always see classics and world premieres in Ashland. You can always count on seeing Shakespeare at its best. Julius Caesar or Casca may be a woman; real twins may be the Antipholuses; women may play male roles. Now you can expect a musical. The backgrounds of company members span the gamut. OSF is for the novice and the veteran theatergoer, teacher and student. A sample of visitors makes plain that most of us go to Ashland for Shakespeare. After seeing a drawing of the Elizabethan Theater anytime I was exposed to a Shakespeare play, I never imagined that I would one day see plays performed on an Elizabethan stage. But thanks to theater and scenic designer Richard L. Hay who has worked at the Festival for 60 seasons, this is the case! Members have received information about ordering next year’s plays: Othello , Sense and Sensibility , Destiny of Desire , Oklahoma , Snow in Midsummer , Manahatta , Henry V, The Way the Mountain Moved, Romeo and Juliet, The Book of Will, and Love’s Labor’s Lost . Next season runs February 23 – October 28, 2018. ~Georgia S. McDade, Ph. D.

Any tried and true Seattleite knows that November and December are the stormiest months of the year for the Pacific Northwest. There are exceptions of course – the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was by far the most powerful windstorm on record to hit the Pacific Northwest, and we’ll occasionally even see a significant windstorm in April. But if mammoth waves on the coast, major flooding on our rivers, and giant puddles throughout the Arboretum are your thing, you will be in for a treat during the next two months. When you think about it, it’s amazing how quickly we transition from the calm and sunny weather of early September to the downright nasty weather we see during these two infamous months. Our beautiful summers are caused by the North Pacific High, a large, semi-permanent ridge of high pressure between California and Hawaii that shunts the jet stream well north into Alaska. But as summer transitions into autumn and autumn transitions into winter, the North Pacific High weakens and moves to the south. In contrast, the Aleutian Low, a semi-permanent low-pressure system that splits its time between the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, awakes from its summer slumber and strengthens dramatically. The rapid rise of the Aleutian Low creates a very strong north-south pressure gradient across the Pacific, and this gradient increases the strength of the jet stream and the storms that come with it. And since the North Pacific High has not only weakened but moved further south, the jet stream moves further south as well. More often than not during these two months, this jet stream is pointed directly at the Pacific Northwest. And to make matters even more interesting, the Western Tropical Pacific is still very active into November and December. On occasion, moisture from typhoons originating over the Western Tropical Pacific can be entrained in this strong jet stream, adding some extra “oomph” to any storms that form along it. Some of the Pacific Northwest’s most memorable storms – the Great Coastal Gale of 2007, the Columbus Day Storm of 1962, and even the “Ides of October” forecast bust of 2016 – all had tropical origins. Though the change to a more active regime is always fun for me as a meteorologist, it presents some dangers as well. First and foremost, the Seattle metropolitan area is highly susceptible to windstorms due to how many large trees reside in the city. Several deaths have occurred over the past few years due to falling trees and branches hitting both pedestrians and drivers, so please steer clear of trees when the wind starts howling. Additionally, here in the Leschi neighborhood, we also have to be cognizant of landslides when soils become saturated from all the rain, especially on East Alder St./Lake Dell Ave. One of my favorite storm season traditions is a trip to see Snoqualmie Falls when the Snoqualmie River is overflowing its banks. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen half a million gallons of water flowing over a 269’ drop every second. I hope ya’ll are as excited for storm season as I am! ~Charlie Phillips Charlie, a Madrona resident, received his B.S. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington and works in Portland as a meteorologist forecasting wind energy along the Columbia River Gorge. Check out his weather website at weathertogether.net.

Imagine a quiet time on a small piece of green space next to Lake Washington. The Leschi neighborhood has five of these unique green spaces — public street ends that terminate on the shore of Lake Washington: running along Lakeside Avenue South from the south to the north are the shoreline street ends at South Judkins Street, S Norman St., S Charles St., S Dearborn St., and S King St. — also known as the “Leschi String of Pearls”. They enliven the walk along the Lake from Leschi Park south to I-90. These street ends are maintained mostly by neighborhood volunteers, with some help from neighbors’ gardeners and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) landscape crews. Each street end has individual character ranging from almost formal to almost nature. South Judkins shoreline street end is a popular fishing and swimming spot due to its concrete ledge at the water. Unique to S. Judkins is a view of Mt. Baker on a clear day. It has a large soft gravel plaza that makes it attractive for larger groups, and maintenance is currently coordinated by Joyce Moty and Karen Daubert, from the Mt. Baker neighborhood, which worked jointly with Leschi to develop and maintain the area. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) provides additional maintenance. South Norman shoreline street end is another popular swimming spot for young visitors. It is maintained mostly by the gardener of the neighbor to the north, but requires occasional care by volunteer neighborhood stewards. South Charles shoreline street end wins the award for charm with its bench in the middle next to shore surrounded by some fine landscape plants. Adjacent neighbors mow the grass, as an obligation for using part of the right-of-way property. Earlier this year, neighborhood volunteers combined with volunteers from Tree Ambassadors (a program sponsored by the City) cleared the areas of overgrowth, blackberries, and ivy. South Dearborn shoreline street end has been most demanding of volunteer cleanup efforts this year. This street end is a broad grassy area with two benches, but it has a problem with a neglected sector at the north end that was taken over by blackberries. So far, neighborhood volunteers have had three work parties. This overgrowth will take concerted effort to reclaim and replant. South King shoreline street end is the nature green space. It surrounds visitors with beds of plants native to the Northwest and is much loved by birds. Neighbors use this street end as a nature retreat, a kayak launch, and occasionally for swimming. This street end has two benches and is maintained by volunteers. All of these street ends, except South Judkins, have good views of Mt. Rainier, when is it not hazy. A potential future shoreline street end is South Jackson Street, which is currently a large asphalt parking lot. There is a corner at the northeast that could be made into a small sitting area to enjoy the view of Mt. Rainier. Most of the neighborhood work parties are coordinated by the Leschi Community Council and are announced in the back page calendar of the Leschi News. It should be noted that two of the original volunteer sponsors of these street ends, Karen Daubert (Mt. Baker neighborhood) and John Barber, (Leschi) have led a city-wide group to promote the improvement and maintenance of Seattle’s 150 shoreline street ends, called “Friends of Street Ends”. Friends of Street Ends meets quarterly and works closely with SDOT. With the help of Leschi neighbor, Adam Tycaster, Friends of Street Ends is developing a website.

Hand Drumming classes coming back in November: Nov. 6 and 13 at 10:30 in the Dining Hall. Cost: $4 per class for members; $6 per class for non-members. Sign up at front desk. Shiba volunteer Judy Ellis is available for appointments to discuss and compare the various health plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment period. Save the Date: December 2 The Center is planning another Black Tie event for the holiday season: Save December 2 for a catered dinner, music by C T Thompson and 5 x 7 portraits by Keith Williams. Members pay $65; non-members $75. ~Diane Snell

The LCC Executive Board was very frustrated that the proposed moorage contract was not brought to the wider community in outreach meetings. Instead, it seemed to have been hustled through the City Council process and voted on without much public input. We had no time to hold a meeting and no venue to collect public comment. The best we could do is for each person on the Board, who could make it, to show up to the Council hearing and request a public meeting in the community BEFORE taking a vote. And of course, that did not happen. Therefore, the next best thing was to ask the parties (Parks and Marina Maintenance) to come to our regular meeting and tell us what the contract does and does not do. There was a good turnout, but of course influencing something that has already been accepted is not an easy thing to do. At our October meeting, some residents brought this up and felt we needed to provide some way for their voice to be heard. We took this to the Board meeting and our Vice-President Trevor Menagh felt that he could develop a Google group, which would meet the needs. And Trevor is here to introduce his plan: Trevor here, your friendly Leschi Community Council Vice President! At the last LCC meeting, we got a comment that it would be nice for folks to have a place to communicate about official LCC positions on activity in the community and discuss how we should react to situations in our neighborhood. So, the LCC Executive Board has created the Leschi Community Council Public Forum for just that purpose! Sign up for the Leschi Community Council Public Forum at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/leschi-community-council -public-forum! This is a public forum to discuss Leschi Community Council positions and sign up for notifications about upcoming events. This is also a place to bring together people in the community to unite around causes we care about. After signing up, please send an email to the group introducing yourself, including where you live and how you want to get involved in the community! CODE OF CONDUCT The Leschi Community Council Public Forum is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. This code of conduct applies to all Leschi Community Council Public Forum spaces, both online and off. Anyone who violates this code of conduct may be sanctioned or expelled from these spaces at the discretion of the Leschi Community Council Executive Board. Some Leschi Community Council Public Forum spaces may have additional rules in place, which will be made clearly available to participants. Participants are responsible for knowing and abiding by these rules. ~Trevor Menagh and Diane Snell

November is the beginning of the holiday season and excitement fills the air with anticipation of great food, truly decadent desserts, catching up with family and friends and being grateful for all we treasure. As promised, this month, Wednesday, November 1st at 7:00p we are delighted to have Felicia J. Cross, the Crime Prevention Coordinator, East Precinct, Seattle Police Department. A long time resident of our neighborhood, Felicia will be speaking on what has been accomplished in preventing crime in Leschi and the challenges facing our neighborhood. Please join us to learn what services are available to us through the Seattle Police Department, and how to form a Block Watch. She will also be providing the latest crime statistics for Leschi. Please join us on Wednesday, November 1 at the at The Central, aka the Senior Center at 500 30th Ave. S. One of my missions in this post as your President of the LCC is continued community building. A way we all can contribute to each of our immediate neighborhoods is to create an old-fashioned telephone tree. We have residents who may live alone and it would be wonderful if they knew they could contact a close neighbor if needed. Certainly most of us are already doing this, but as a reminder, get to know your neighbors. Also, if you see suspicious activity, I am certain Felicia will let us know the most effective way to handle it. Our thanks to Jeff Floor for our enlightening Land Use 102 presentation last month. His knowledge and participation in the Leschi Community Council is very appreciated. As of this publishing deadline, our Halloween Spooktacular has not taken place, but chances are it will be a stunning success as it has been in the past. Thank you! Janice Merrill Brown President, Leschi Community Council janicemb@comcast.net