While Foss and Parks are getting closer in agreement, a contract will probably not go to the City Council for approval until after the first of the year, possibly February. The Council is deep into budget negotiations currently, so even if the contract arrived on their desks tomorrow, there would be no time to look at it. Meanwhile Parks is applying for a Federal grant to replace the wave attenuator at the South Marina. The grant is due November 17 and qualifying applicants will be asked to make a presentation in January. ~Diane Snell

In the last 12 months, Seattle voters have approved bills that have considerably increased property taxes. In Nov. 2015, we voted to fund the $930 million levy to Move Seattle. In August, we approved $290 million for a levy to help provide low-income housing. And the Nov. 2016 ballot seeks approval for yet another levy—this time for Sound Transit 3, which would add 62 miles of light rail to Everett, Tacoma, Redmond, Ballard and West Seattle, and would expand bus rapid transit on the I-405 corridor, plus other projects. Previous Sound Transit packages, which paid for light rail to Lynnwood, Overlake and Des Moines and Kent and other projects, cost about $330 per household; those do not expire. The $54 billion Sound Transit 3 package adds an annual property tax of $25 per $100,000 of assessed value, a sales-tax increase of 50 cents per $100 purchase and an annual car-tab tax of $80 per $10,000 of vehicle value. In July, the Seattle Times ran an article titled “What’s Hiding in your Property-Tax Bill?” that provides a breakdown for where property taxes go. As the article notes, while some property taxes result from voter approvals, others do not require a direct public vote but are instead approved by state and local legislative bodies. According to that report, voter levies for housing, schools, transportation, parks and open spaces, library services, and many more amount to about $2,000 in property taxes on Seattle’s median assessed value home of $480,000. Approval of ST3 in Nov. would add $120 more per year to property taxes. Additional property taxes approved by state and local legislative bodies amount to about $2,609 on that same $480,000 home. The latter taxes fund state schools, the county government, Seattle’s general fund, emergency medical service, the Port of Seattle, the County flood zone, transportation, conservation and ferries. So, in total, property taxes today are roughly $4,614 (not counting the ST3 levy if it passes) for the median assessed house. What is worth noting is that very few Leschi homes currently are assessed at a median $480,000. According to Zillow, in Sept. the median home value in Leschi was $780,500. For details see www.zillow.com/madrona-seattle-wa/home-values . What does it all mean? Well, if you own a house in Leschi or Madrona or Garfield or Madison Valley, your home is probably assessed far higher than the $480,000 median value home. And that means your property taxes will be higher as well. To make that calculation, divide your home’s assessed value (found on the Official Property Value Notice you received earlier this year from the King Count Assessor) by the median value of $480,000. Then multiply that number by median taxes of $4,614. For example, if your home is assessed at Leschi’s $780,500, the result of dividing that number by the median of $480,000 is 1.626. Multiply 1.626 by $4,614 to arrive at your pre ST3 property taxes of $7502.56. To calculate the additional property tax ST3 would add to your home’s assessed value, visit http://projects.seattletimes.com/2016/local/st3-calculator/ . ~Barbara Parker, Madrona News Editor

The Department of Arts & Culture selected Martha Jackson Jarvis of Washington, DC, to design the new art installation at 23rd & Union. The following description of the work comes from a fact sheet prepared by the City’s Department of Art & Culture: “Martha Jackson Jarvis’ artwork is a sculptural seating arrangement with forms based on West African and Native American symbols. Multi-color mosaic covers the sculpture’s base and seating elements. The artwork is located in a new curb bulb on the SE corner of 23rd Avenue and Union Street, providing a marker for entry in the neighborhood. SDOT considerations regarding sight-lines and pedestrian and vehicular visibility rendered this the most appropriate location. The funding for this project comes from Seattle Department of Transportation 1% for Art funds.” Meanwhile the fate of the James Washington, Jr. Fountain at this site is still undecided. This summer Barbara Parker, Madrona News Editor, wrote a beautiful application for consideration of historical preservation of the fountain. However, only works 25 years or older are considered and the Washington fountain is 22 years old— despite the fact that James Washington Jr.’s artistic reputation was well established 22 years again. The spokesperson was very rigid about the rules but on further questioning, I discovered that the “immutable rules” were laid down by a City Council some years ago. I pointed out that what the City Council decrees, the City Council could also undo. I think there is a letter-writing project in my future. ~Diane Snell

October 12, 2016—Attending: Yousef Shulman, Yuki Igarashi, Amy Fink, John Barber, Jeff Floor and Tracy Bier. Treasury report After the rest of the checks from Art Walk are sorted out, Amy will send out this month’s treasury report. Still waiting on IRS response on EO status. If IRS.gov hasn’t updated by next week Amy will call the IRS Exempt Org. Dept. There are some questions about current CASC rates. Diane will discuss with CASC when she returns. Frisbee fundraiser In light of this weekend’s weather forecast, we may need to call off the game. Jeff and Yuki will decide one hour before the game on go/no-go. All participants will be contacted via email or text to let them know if the game is cancelled. If no email is sent out one hour prior, the game is still on. We confirmed that game supplies and potluck food are covered. Parks Reviewed John’s email. John has shared it with Darcy Thompson, steward at Frink Park. Her communication skills and experience are believed to be valuable input for parks as part of the LCC. John will refine the draft and get it to City Council. Mayor has expressed that he is against it, but 7/9 Council members are believed to be in support. Due to heavy responses against the proposal, the Council vote is postponed until December. The way the proposal is written, it is expected to push the homeless into the smaller neighborhood parks and scatter them, as parks such as Volunteer Park and Cal Anderson are excluded. Neighborhoods will respond with a narrowed down list of parks they deem appropriate for camping. There is a lot of concern around this proposal for wide variety of reasons. Some feedback was expressed on the current email to focus more on the fact that parks are not structured or built to withstand the wear and tear of people living in them rather than on assumptions about the homeless campers’ potential activities in the parks. Marketing Received a quote for purchasing a list of new movers to the area, and the cost of purchasing that list + mailing to everyone on that list is more expensive than doing a mailing 1-2x per year to everyone in the neighborhood instead. The list of new movers that would be purchased is only available covering all of 98122 and 98144, which includes a large area outside of Leschi, and we would need to manually sort out the areas ourselves. Website Kirsten is working on incorporating our feedback. Yousef will follow up on questions regarding Wix vs. Squarespace or Word Press. Halloween Board approved paying for permits for the Spooktacular event; Diane will work on this when she returns. Programs Vulcan will be at the November community meeting, and high attendance is expected. Board approved to spend to reserve the larger room at CASC. Before Someone Dies Project Momentum has dropped a bit. Expecting callback from Paul McDonough this week. Tracy will continue to work on it. Land Use Update Jeff recently met with the group in charge of the mixed use building development project across from the Goodwill near the Dearborn/Rainier S. intersection. Will have an update tomorrow on Liberty Bank project with Capitol Hill Housing. Project for creating design guidelines specific to the Central Area is still in progress (note, this is solely part of the Design Review process, which does not address land use and zoning issues). ~Respectfully submitted by Yuki Igarashi

October 2, 2016 TOPIC: Pro and con discussion re: Proposition I on Sound Transit expansion. The Membership did not endorse either position. These discussions are for educational purposes. LCC business: The LCC Executive Board held a vote to amend LCC bylaws to add the executive board secretary as one of the signers on LCC financial accounts, and to add ‘as the interest rate environment permits’ to the requirement that LCC funds be held in interest bearing accounts. Both amendments were passed unanimously. It has become apparent that the community would like to have more input on the other proposed bylaw changes, so we’ve postponed the votes on those items to allow more time to gather feedback. Specifically, the board is proposing two additional amendments: 1) requiring the LCC to seek a CPA’s advice annually on any Exempt Organization changes to the IRC, and 2) updating the bylaws to reflect current spending authorization limits. We anticipate voting on these amendments by the February general meeting. For questions, specific wording of the amendments, or to give feedback on these items please email us at leschitreasurer@gmail.com. ~Respectfully submitted by Diane Snell

After receiving an email tip on this event, I brought my husband to Leschi Market to taste the gumbo for me (I don’t eat meat and was glad to hear that they plan to have a seafood gumbo soon!) Jim (my spouse) was very complimentary; he likes garlic and he likes spice and this gumbo had both. He was a little disappointed that I had brought him to a tasting as he had misunderstood and thought I was taking him out for a gumbo dinner. But you can serve it at home. It’s called Glo’s Gumbo. The original recipe was her father’s, but this has been a family favorite for both generations and Glo (Gloria) does the cooking now. Packages of Glo’s Gumbo are in the freezer section of Leschi Market…enjoy! And watch for Seafood Gumbo—I’ll be there! ~Diane Snell

November! Here are 10 great wines to pair with the turkey celebration later this month! RED WINE 2010 Château Pédesclaux Pauillac Bordeaux ($55) 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. “Very pretty with currants, chocolate and hints of cappuccino. Full body, with velvety tannins and a long delicious finish. This the best wine in years from here. Better in 2017.” -James Suckling, 93-points. 2013 Jean-Louis Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur ($23) “A much more accessible path to the heroic king of Hermitage is through the Jean-Louis Chave Sélections, his négociant line which sources grapes from various areas in the northern Rhône. (Mon Coeur Côtes du Rhône is a blend of excellent plots.) As with all things Chave, quality is eminent even at the entry level.” –Winemaker notes. 2014 Kerloo Cellars Majestic Red Wine Columbia Valley ($19) “A blend of 54% Grenache, 38% Mourvèdre and 8% Syrah, with the fruit coming from some of the state’s top sites. What’s most striking about the wine–other than its exceptional price–is the aromatic purity, with notes of herbs, flowers, raspberry, orange peel and plum. The palate meanwhile puts a premium on texture, with a stretched out finish. It’s a one wine primer on what’s exciting about Rhône-style blends in Washington. Drink up! Editors’ Choice.” –Sean Sullivan, 92-points. 2014 Domaine Pascal Aufranc Chénas Beaujolais ($14) “Outstanding. Just as the name indicates, this comes from vines planted in 1939. It has lots of vibrant red berry, autumn spice and floral scents, followed by dark soil and mineral nuances. On the palate, this is juicy and precise. The finish is smooth and elegant, with a lingering floral note and silky tannins. Drink now through 2021.” -International Wine Report, 90-points. 2015 Guilhem Moulin de Gassac Rouge Languedoc ($13) A blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 30% Carignan. It’s aged for six to seven months in stainless steel tanks. The wine is very fresh on the nose, showing dusted cherry, strawberry, a bit of raspberry, and a nice bit of spice. Very approachable with soft tannins and fresh fruit notes similar to the nose, the palate shows its Languedoc ‘terroir’ with a spicy, rustic finish. 2014 Hahn GSM Central Coast California ($11) “Offers plenty of personality, with aromas of cherry, white pepper and smoky herb leading to zesty flavors of raspberry and licorice. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2022. Smart Buy.” –Wine Spectator, 90-points. WHITE WINE 2013 Lad oucette Sauvignon Blanc Pouilly-Fume Loire Valley ($32) “Vivid yellow with a greenish tinge. Inviting aromas of lime zest, pink grapefruit and pear. Firm and stony on the attack, with tangy citrus flavors vying with weightier orchard fruits on the middle palate. Nicely focused sauvignon blanc, with a stony persistence reminiscent of talc and white pepper.” - International Wine Cellar, 90-points. 2014 J.J. Vincent Bourgogne Blanc ($18) “Clean pale yellow color and green reflections. A nice brilliance. The nose is fresh and fruity, ripe and round with discrete vanilla and brioche scents. On the mouth, the wine is dense and rich, fresh and subtle with a good length and finesse. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced, fresh, and elegant with a long finish.” –Winemaker notes. 2015 Elk Cove Pinot Gris Willamette Valley ($17) “Vivid and expansive, with tangy pear and cantaloupe flavors that play against hints of lime, finishing with polish. Smart Buy. Drink now through 2019.” –Wine Spectator, 90-points. 2014 Heinz Eifel Riesling Kabinett Mosel Germany ($12) Heinz Eifel Riesling Kabinett is made from very ripe Riesling grapes from the middle Mosel Valley of Germany. These grapes are allowed to hang longer, earning the designation of ‘Kabinett’ because that is where these wines were stored for special occasions. Exudes flavors and aromas of peaches and citrus. A well-balanced young, fresh and fruity wine with crisp acidity. 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 .

(Editor’s note: We were delighted to receive this review of the new National Museum of African-American History and Culture by Georgia McDade. This sensitive approach to the exhibits and the overall idea of such a museum is eloquently related.) I was well pleased the night Barack Obama accepted the nomination to run for President; I was there in Denver, Colorado. I was calm the night President Obama was elected. I was calm at the second election—very happy, but calm. I attended both inaugurations. I never shed a tear. But this National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC) has almost made me cry, more than once. Never had I seen so much history including African Americans in one place, so many items, so many descriptions, so many persons. There is so much with which I can relate, I know, I understand. And there were so many people—30,000 in two days I’m told—who with a look, a nod, a touch said, “I know what you are feeling.” From timber from the sunken slave ship São José where 212 Mozambican slaves drowned to today’s celebrities and countless persons and events between, the NMAAHC (National Museum of African American History and Culture) covers American History, specifically that American History that does not always get covered. Whether pride or humiliation, good or bad, the emphasis is placed on African Americans, our stories told by us. To be able to see so much history at one site was never something I could have imagined. And yet, Mr. Lonnie Bunch III and his amazing crew managed to create a site for the ages, a monument for the world but of particular significance to African Americans. The building itself, designed by Ghanaian British David Adjaye is striking in so many ways. Most obvious to me was its not being the white marble so prevalent on the National Mall. The brown/bronze itself, the ironwork, the corona shape—all make a statement. Says Mr. Bunch, “… much of African American history is hidden in plain sight, unacknowledged, and often unappreciated.” This Museum may honor more individuals still alive than any other museum anywhere! The triumphs in every area, each era are there: Jessie Owens, Jack Johnson, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Brown vs. Board of Education, Voting Acts of 1964 and 1965, Oprah Winfrey, Venus and Serena Williams, Madame C. J. Walker, Thurgood Marshall, boycotts, Michael Jackson, Gloria Hayes Richardson, Gabby Douglas, Freedom Riders, sit-ins, Michael Jordan, Colin Powell, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Lorraine Hansberry, Zora Neale Hurston, a huge photograph taken at the 2009 inauguration. Many of the people at the Museum those first few days were persons who had braved the crowds and cold to view the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama, the forty-fourth president of the United States, 390 years after the first Africans arrived in the “new world.” Of course, he has a section—magazines, photographs, buttons—I have more buttons than the number displayed. The pride exhibited on that occasion is the pride exhibited at the Museum. The tragedies are there: attacks and murders be they lynchings or shootings, destruction of our property, denial of our rights, the utter anathema of slavery, all are there. So often viewers remembered well the event depicted and conversed with others whose connection was simply the color of their skin. Sometimes introducing ourselves and other times not, we recoiled at facts we didn’t know as often as we did about facts we know. Depending on a person’s age, places serve as mantras: Scottsboro and Tuskegee, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan; Rosewood, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Philadelphia, Mississippi. References to recent tragedies are also there: Black Lives Matter. More painful reminders are there: shackles, a slave cabin from South Carolina, the original coffin of Emmett Till, a Pullman car, a diner counter, a guard house from the still functioning, notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana. So many whose names we may never have known are there: politicians, midwives, demonstrators, educators, painters, judges, educators, ministers, writers, some of whom I had had the opportunity to teach in institutions where little attention was given to African-American literature. Women who organized and supported, typed and made copies, prepared food are there: community groups that raised money for scholarships for children whose farthest trip from home was that first day at college. Organizations such as The Black Church with its gospels and spirituals, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), sororities and fraternities, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are there. Artifacts line cases and walls; videos and clips are on every floor. There had to have been folks—other than the slaves themselves—who knew slavery was wrong from the very beginning. I have to believe that some people saw the auctions and decided slavery was bad, inhuman—human beings being examined as if they were farm animals, human beings, families separated and sold. There were folks who helped slaves escape, so they saw slavery was wrong. There were people who fought for abolition; there were always slaves trying to free themselves and their families. There were people who saw the horror of lynching and decided against slavery. Some folks must have come to our side when they saw towns destroyed, churches bombed, children killed, civil rights workers assassinated. Some people had to come to our defense when they saw young people sprayed with water from fire hoses, dogs and police attack people, pictures of Emmett Till’s body or the murders of Goodman, Schwerner and Cheney. The election of President Obama and what he has endured as President have served to open many eyes. Others joined the cause with Black Lives Matter. I have to believe more than ever before more persons will see via the Museum this horrific part of American history and realize the racism must stop, we’re all diminished by it. The Museum should expose more people than ever before to our history. I continue to have hope. The presence of the Museum increases that hope. En route to Dulles Airport I listened to the cabbie’s radio—Steve Harvey interviewing President Obama who was encouraging people to vote. The President said, “History does not always go forward; sometimes it goes sideways and backwards.” Regardless of the way our history went/goes, the Smithsonian National African-American Museum of History and Culture covers it. Perhaps best of all, the Museum does not relinquish the space after eight years. ~Georgia S. McDade, Ph. D. Georgia Stewart McDade, Ph. D has written plays, stories, essays, and poems. She is a charter member of the African-American Writers’ Alliance (AAWA) and an expert on William Shakespeare. She has published three collections of poetry called Outside the Cave ; the fourth collection of poetry is at the publisher’s now!

Senior Center member Joan Ervin sent us this heart-warming story. She and other Senior Center members decided to make bookmarks to welcome the students back to school; they ended up making 500 bookmarks. When they went to deliver the bookmarks, they found something very interesting going on and Joan asked Leschi Volunteer Dexter Mitchell to write up the following story: “Several Leschi Elementary students were all smiles after attending the 1st Annual Haircut Day at their school on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. Paul Gray and Eric Clark from Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge showed up at 7am and did not leave until 2:30pm, after giving free haircuts and transforming 26 young men! Haircut Day was the brainchild of Dexter Mitchell, a real estate broker at Coldwell Banker, a volunteer at Leschi School, and writer of this article. The concept came about during a meeting with Gerald Donaldson, the family support worker at the school. During the meeting, I was seeing boys and girls come into Mr. D’s office, who looked like they hadn’t had a haircut in months. It just hit me right then and there. Naturally, I asked Eric, my personal barber and Paul, the shop owner if they would be interested in donating their time and they didn’t hesitate! In the interest of fairness, the participating students were all discreetly selected by individual teaching staff, but unfortunately, there were a few students who missed out. Next Year! A huge thank you goes out to Paul and Eric at Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge for putting in valuable time in the community where they both live AND work. Please support them when considering your future barbering needs. They are located at 1123 34th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, 206-860-0497, or online at pgbarberlounge.com. Eric can be reached at 206-9473420. Text for immediate response/scheduling. An additional huge thank you goes out to the women who graciously volunteered their time and effort to the eight girls who showed up for their “do’s”, in particular Edy Redmond and Roberta Harris who came in and worked tirelessly to get the girls ready for their close-ups. They were supported by Leschi staff members, Brittany Sampson, Irma Nickles and Reiko Dabney. A charitable donation will be made to the Family Support Program at Leschi School, in the name of Paul Gray’s Barber Lounge.” ~Dexter Mitchell, dexter.mitchell@comcast.net

Please join us for a discussion of the plans for the former Red Apple site. Red Apple goes away at the end of December; where will residents without cars get fresh foods? What can the community do to help? Leschi Community Council meeting, November 2 at 7pm Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave S.

Happy November everyone! Unfortunately due to very WET weather, we are rescheduling the Ultimate Frisbee event. Please stay tuned for the new date and time. This event was going to help support a Ham Drive that the Leschi Business Association & Leschi Market put on every year. I am asking all of you to please make a monetary donation of any kind that you can to this cause. No amount is too small. These four-pound boneless hams go a long way for a needy family. You can donate by sending money to the Leschi Community Council and stating it is for the Ham Drive or by stopping by the Leschi Market and making your donation at the cash registers. The October meeting was very lively and thank you to all who attended. Proposition I is involved and difficult to absorb. While we all want better transportation options, it is good to know the details of this levy. Please read the article on page 4 of this newsletter, which explains the effect of levies on property taxes so everyone understands how this works. This month’s meeting we have Vulcan coming to talk about the Promenade project. I urge everyone to come and express your concerns. The impending two-year food desert will hurt some of our most vulnerable residents. Bring any ideas you might have on how to make fresh foods available to those who have mobility issues or no longer drive. During the two year period that the Red Apple site is being redone, SDOT will begin work on 23rd Ave going south from Jackson so we will face some of the same issues we had with all the 23rd construction from Jackson north to Union…like increased traffic delays. Due to increased production costs for the newsletter, I am encouraging everyone to please check their mailing labels to see if you are current on your dues. We depend on LCC dues and ad revenue to pay for the newsletter expenses and mailing costs. The new LCC website is scheduled to launch in the beginning of November. Lots of improvements are in the works, including the ability to update the site easily with our events (especially cancellations!) and any urgent notices from the city and county. This is the most critical issue for us, as the newsletter is only monthly and not everyone uses Facebook to see urgent updates. Other niceties will be the ability to donate directly through the website and to purchase advertising space, both for the paper Leschi News and for ad space on the website itself. And we want to make sure that we won’t have problems with our new hosting service, as our current one has been unreliable. Thank you and here’s to the beginning of the holiday season! ~Yousef Shulman

The Leschi Business Association and the Leschi Community Council are collaborating on a food drive for the Holiday season. Sam Osborne, Director of the Rainier Valley food bank, came to our November meeting to describe the needs in this area. The food bank is small but serves 17,000 person per month and 155 homebound persons. They cover the area from the Central District to Skyway. The Bank is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30-2pm and they hand out 100,000 lbs. of food per month. The population they serve is largely Southeast Asian and so their food needs are different from the usual. The top five nonperishable food items desired are rice (white or brown), Asian noodles (rice, soba, somen), protein items (such as canned tuna, salmon, chicken, SPAM), soups (canned or boxed; ramen), mung beans and the last item is actually perishables: fruit and vegetables. Perishable items can be taken to Leschi Market, as they will deliver to the food bank; cash donations are also accepted at Leschi Market and McKinstry Corp. has offered to match our donations. Kids like peanut butter and those boxes of Mac'n cheese. Asked about the homeless, Mr. Osborne said they are seeing more new faces among the homeless who frequent the food bank. Items for homeless people should have a pop-top or be in an easily opened package and eaten without cooking or adding additional ingredients. (Fruit cups, granola bars, some lunch size packs of tuna with crackers, SPAM that can be opened with a key.) Small toiletries such as the travel sizes of toothpaste, shampoo, soap are also needed by the homeless; small is better because they have no storage and must use pockets, backpacks, or the handy wheeled luggage. Look for the barrels at participating businesses—the drive will run from December 1-December 20. ~Diane Snell