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Recently retired from the Seattle City Council after 18 years, Nick Licata will discuss his new book: Becoming a Citizen Activist. “Licata explains how to get organized, congregate power, and master the tactics for change. He is insightful in comparing effective communication with methods that just don’t work. Licata’s observations on the intricacies of power will empower any activist who wants to make a difference in today’s world.” March 2 — book signing: 7-7:30pm, talk: 7:30-8:30pm Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave. S

The bee shelters are in place at the homes of the bee stewards. The bee cocoons will be placed in the shelters when the appropriate plants and trees begin to bloom.

At the EastPAC Meeting on January 18, 2016, Lt Bryan Grenon reported on crime statistics in the Central Area; residential burglaries are down, but car prowls are up, particularly in secure parking garages. A perpetrator will follow a resident’s car into the garage and proceed to take the contents of all the cars parked there. It is lucrative as these secure garages are usually associated with higher end apartments and condos. Police are notifying the residents and asking them to make sure no one has come into the garage while the door is open. Lt. Grenon said that gang feuds were related to the shooting at Pratt Park. Police responded within a minute and 2 suspects were arrested; a gun (previously stolen) was retrieved. One suspect had a long history of violent behavior. Gangs from Kent and Tukwila are mixing it up with south end gangs and local gang members. Grenon responded to a question about the Jungle shooting and said it was drug related. Scales were found at the site and 15 bicycles, when there were only half that number of temporary tenters. The Jungle is on state land adjacent to I-5, but local police handle any issues. The area abuts 3 different jurisdictions. The encampment was swept a few days later with case workers helping folks to find shelter. Stolen bikes are a big business; they are taken apart and reassembled with higher quality (stolen) parts and can be sold on the street for $100. Lt. Grenon recommended the Bike.index.org for registering your bike; it makes it easier to return property to its rightful owner.

We did not have a representative at this meeting; it conflicted with the CANDC meeting. Troy Meyers, EastPAC Chair, did report at the January CANDC meeting that violent crimes and robberies were down, but car prowls are up. One can see evidence of this in the posts on NextDoor Leschi. SPD advises never leave anything of value in your car.

Our February program features David B. Williams, a freelance writer focused on the intersection of people and the natural world. This talk is based on his recently published book, Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Landscape (University of Washington Press). Previous books include Stories in Stone: Travels Through Urban Geology and The Seattle Street-Smart Naturalist: Field Notes from the City. Williams also works at the Burke Museum and maintains the website GeologyWriter.com. Williams spoke to us several years ago on his book The Seattle Street -Smart Naturalist. I have to recommend this book to anyone with children who have an interest in the outdoors; I took my grandson downtown with this book and we inspected the buildings to find the encrusted fossils. And his chapter on crows revised my opinion on these sometimes quarrelsome birds. Come and learn a little bit new about the history of this area and the gutsy folks who changed what was! There will be time for book signing. David B. Williams event February 3, 7pm Central Area Senior Center

Editor’s note: Last month we printed John Barber’s op-ed piece on dogs and parks, hoping to stimulate a conversation. We had one letter in favor of John’s views and one opposing view. Just a short message to say I completely agree with the opinions expressed by John Barber in his ‘Dogs in Parks’ editorial (January 2016). As a frequent walker through all the Leschi Parks, and someone who actually LIKES dogs, I do find off-leash canines a problem. On roughly half of my walks (including last Sunday), I find myself charged by barking dogs, often accompanied by owners saying things like “he/she’s actually very friendly”, or “he/she won’t bother you”...too late, the adrenaline rush that accompanies a charging-barking dog has already ‘bothered me’ and DISRUPTED an otherwise endorphin-filled exercise excursion. Stepping in waste, especially in Frink and upper Leschi areas, is another common mess that some dog owner has left for me to clean up. John sums things up succinctly in the last paragraph of the editorial when he states, “I believe that dogs outside should always be leashed”. Our “limited urban park lands” should be for the enjoyment of all - those with and without canine companions. ~Sue Moore, Leschi resident It was your editor who disagreed (to some extent) with John. I do agree that dogs should be on leash in public spaces, which solves most of the problems that John brings up; but I felt John was not in favor of more off-leash areas and I found that troubling. We take our two rescue dogs to the Genesee off-leash area and have found that many other users of this area have also rescued dogs. When one rescues a dog, you get what you get and they are not always as well trained as one you raised yourself. We rescued two older dogs, well set in their ways, and they do need a fenced off-leash area. I also disagreed with his last idea: “Public policy should encourage residents to choose small, less needy of exercise, pets…” As an owner of two medium-sized dogs, I found this insulting. We tend to adopt breeds we are familiar with and understand their quirks to some extent. Should we only rescue small dogs? What does this do to the no-kill policy at shelters? Will they need bigger and bigger facilities to house the larger dogs as policy encourages urban dwellers to adopt only the small dogs that get their exercise walking to the food bowl? As for the off-leash areas, I love the camaraderie, as these folks are all dog lovers. It is good to see the rescued greyhound standing regally and watching the other dogs running madly around; one can imagine him saying to himself: “Been there, done that.” It’s also a good way to get one’s puppy socialized to other dogs. Dog ownership is emotional; some of us empty nesters have found these furry creatures to be comforting companions. I think public policy should be directed to responsible dog ownership (leashed in public spaces and all poop scooped) and not toward limiting one’s choice of breed and limiting the all-important off-leash areas. ~Diane Snell, Leschi resident And this letter appeared on NextDoor Leschi: With all the changes proposed for neighborhoods throughout the city, ours included, it is important for all Leschi neighbors, renters and owners, to not only join the Leschi Community Council, but be an active participant in protecting this very special community. If you are not already a member or know someone who is not, I encourage you to join today! Ballard, West Seattle, Capitol Hill and neighborhoods throughout the city waited too long to organize. Let’s not be the next community to be “involuntarily urbanized.” ~Dianne Ramsey, Leschi

Join us for a look at Seattle’s early history as David B. Williams talks about his book, Too High & Too Steep: Reshaping the Seattle Landscape. Since settlers first arrived in Seattle, the city’s citizens have altered the landscape with an unrivaled zeal. We have regraded hills, reengineered tideflats, and replumbed lakes to provide better locations for business and easier ways to move through the challenging topography. And we are still at it, though now we also understand that earthquakes and rising sea levels have the potential to change us as much as we have changed the land. February 3, 7pm Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave. S.

Leschi Natural Area We are pleased to report that the Leschi Natural Area (LNA) has made considerable progress this year. We’ve especially benefited from the help of a group of a dozen or more UW international students, who often join us at our regular 1st Saturday of the month work parties. Additionally, park steward Rich Appleton’s almost daily visits have provided a tremendous boost forward in the park’s improvement. Sadly, we were unsuccessful in our grant submission to Patagonia this year, but they have encouraged us to apply again for next October’s decision. In the meantime, we will begin another fund raising project within the Leschi neighborhood in early 2016. Work completed this year includes mulching of both the upper and lower areas of the park, clean-up and trimming of many overgrown trees and bushes and planting of more than 200 native plants. These plants are provided by the Parks Department and Forterra, the state’s largest land conservation, stewardship, and community-building organization and without their help we could not afford them. A major change this year was the removal of the residential structure in the property formerly located between two LNA green spaces. We now have a fully contiguous, larger area of open space. Still to be done is the removal of the cement walkway and other architectural features from the residence. We have been in contact with the Parks Department regarding this matter and they have provided us with the following information: Seattle Parks and Recreation will complete the demolition work at 319 36th Avenue in late February to mid-March, after the heavy winter rains decrease. This work will be completed by the Seattle Conservation Corps. The scope of work includes removal of the remaining hardscape walkways, the paver terrace, the graffiti, the water fountain as well as the concrete wall at the SE corner of the property. Erosion control measures will also be installed along these disturbed areas, consisting of grass seed and jute matting. Fencing will remain in its current location with Parks property and plant restoration signage. Restoration planting will occur in the fall of 2016 and the fences will remain to aid plant establishment. For additional information or questions please contact Katie Bang at 206-684-9286 or at katie.bang@seattle.gov. Parks will hold a community meeting on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the park site at 10:00am for individuals interested in attending. Regrettably, vandalism remains an on-going issue in our park, with graffiti, drugs, and the breaking and burning of fence posts. We remind all those using this beautiful area to report acts of vandalism or other illegal activities immediately to the police. They will respond to calls made to 911 as quickly as possible, and have made it a practice to drive by frequently for walk-throughs as time allows. We are hopeful that the removal of the walkway and restoration of native plants will deter some of this activity but we need your help to prevent it and to maintain this open space for all to enjoy. While working in and enjoying the LNA, we have spoken to several people who noted that they used to come to this park regularly, but have stopped doing so because of the groups ‘hanging out, smoking marijuana or using drugs.’ These issues need to be addressed by everyone - the small dedicated group of volunteers trying to maintain this space cannot do it alone. It is a task that we all need to participate in to keep this unique space - please do your part if you enjoy this area as much as we do. If you witness activities that are harmful to the area (trash thrown on the ground, standing/sitting on the fences, etc.) please remind the individuals that a very small group of volunteers spends countless hours maintaining the property for everyone to enjoy, and littering or vandalizing will only result in its deterioration. Alternatively, please call the police to describe the issue, the people, cars and license plates involved. We appreciate your involvement and active support in maintaining this area. ~Friends of the Leschi Natural Area Steering Committee Leschi Park We tend to think of Leschi Park as a stately turn-of-the-last-century park, designed for a quiet stroll, and we don’t expect much in the way of change…some gentle pruning and the weeding of flowerbeds. (Damage from bicycles in Leschi Park) Unfortunately, the changes being seen in Leschi Park are changes we would rather not see. Leschi resident Carlos Arriola reported the following on Saturday morning 12/19, 10:00am: A group of 10-12 “mountain bikers” tore up the grass/sod in Leschi Park. Carlos reported that a course had been laid out ON the wet grass. He deplored the “poor judgement and inconsiderate actions.” Your editor leans toward the view that this was a deliberately aggressive act as the mountain bikers try to expand their turf. Leschi Park is not a park that is conducive to this type of activity. As Carlos points out: “Bicycles are prohibited on lawns and field areas of park. Please stick to roadways and marked trails and paths.” Carlos also reported that a group of folks with metal detectors periodically walk over the grassy areas and dig at a spot where the metal detector indicates something metal might be lurking. Unfortunately, the person wielding the metal detector doesn’t bother to replace the turned over sod, leaving the park looking like it has been attacked by giant gophers. All this and the unleashed (big) dogs deplored by John Barber are wreaking havoc on a lovely Olmstead-created park. ~Carlos Arriola and Diane Snell Frink Park The Friends of Frink Park are about halfway through a $45,000 King Conservation District (KCD) Grant down in the heart of the Park. We are restoring and enhancing the Park’s largest wetland and its buffers just above Lake Washington Blvd. The benefits of wetlands include: water purification, groundwater recharge and stream flow maintenance/protection. Wetlands also provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including threatened species. Take a look just past the Bridge on the west side of the Boulevard. We have about 1,250 plants installed and more are on their way! If you would enjoy getting out for some planting, just us give a call. ~Darrell Howe & Darcy Thompson Powell Barnett Park You may have noticed the chain link fencing blocking off a portion of the center of the park; this is intended to be the area for installation of the adult exercise equipment. A successful grant was submitted by The Trust for Public Land. The intention is that parents/caregivers can exercise while keeping their eyes on their children in the playground. John Barber did a lot of the original marketing and found a receptive group of park users. The installation has been somewhat delayed; we had been hoping for a September kickoff, but it now seems to be a reality. ~Diane Snell

What Lies in the Future for Leschi’s Public Marinas?​ The Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation has announced its intent to turn over the renovation and operations of the North Leschi Moorage and the South Leschi Moorage to private developers and is preparing a competition for the contract. This means the rents must provide payback to the developers, and that seems guaranteed if the public marinas are increasingly occupied by large luxury craft and speedboats. So, why is a parks and recreation agency providing space for luxury craft and speedboats, when recreation is the mission, not public parking? Speedboats are a hazard to swimmers and anyone in a small boat. Speedboats also create wakes that cause the shore to erode. Luxury craft are often the places of partying — not much positive recreation — and are a source of lake pollution. To support these kinds of boats, the Parks Department uses park land to accommodate parking spaces exclusively for the boaters. We can have greatly scaled-down marinas that serve small boaters — sails or paddles — in a much less costly way; in fact, the costs are such that they could be affordable with the public funds that the Parks Department has access to. Why bring in the developers? This process will play out over the next couple of months. Let’s make sure that the public is involved in decision making, not just well-placed (politically astute) insiders who have a special interest to protect. There. I said it!

April 2015 Update The “big” post office closed and moved to a smaller space on the other side of the coffee kiosk. It is staffed by only two persons and the wait is every bit as long as it was in the old post office. This post office has no postal boxes; the boxes were moved to the Broadway facility. We have to believe this location is short term as the entire complex on this corner of 23rd & Union is for sale and the existing buildings will be razed for a large retail/residential complex at some point in the future. Perhaps there will be space for a new location in the new building, but that remains to be seen. A closer alternative for a postal box is a private box at Park Postal, the new facility at 140 Lakeside in the lakefront business district of Leschi.

The roadway on the waterfront along the west shore of Lake Washington through Leschi is very scenic, and relatively flat for several miles and provides a bicycle friendly route for leisure bicycling. Riding north from Leschi takes you through Madrona, and then the Arboretum, and over the Montlake Bridge to the University District. There you can connect up with the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. The Burke Gilman Trail goes most of the way around Lake Washington, almost 30 miles, so you can ride as little or as much as you like. Riding to the south has several options, including taking the road along the lake all the way to Seward Park, and then on to Renton, or you can get on the I-90 bridge bike trail and ride east to Mercer Island and beyond to Bellevue. There are also routes through the forests of Frink Park, and Coleman Park a wee bit to the south. So when the weather is good, pack a light lunch and spend a few hours exploring the neighborhood by bicycle. There are many parks along the lake very suitable for picnics. Race Training In good weather or bad, if you spend any time on the Leschi waterfront it will not take long for you to be passed by bicycle racing teams in their sponsor's colorful uniforms, riding past in groups, both large and small. Leschi's geographic features provide both long flat stretches of road as well as hills through the neighborhood that are just great for bicycle race training. Teams work on speed, endurance and team racing skills on the roads and bike paths in Leschi. It is a common sight at the market, the deli and the coffee shops to see several bicycles parked on the sidewalk and riders getting a snack or "carb-ing up" before taking on the I-90 bridge bike path, or heading north around the lake. Bike Race Events There are a few formal bike races that take advantage of the Leschi waterfront and surrounding areas. One is the Danskin Triathlon in the summer. If you are interested in more information about bicycle teams in Leschi and Seattle, you can check out the Washington State Bicycle Association. Trail Access North: Burke Gilman This trail is great because it used to be a railroad line, so it is mostly flat with very gradual shallow hills. There are no motor vehicles allowed so it is great for biking, even with children along. From the Leschi waterfront, take Lake Washington Boulevard north all the way through the Arboretum. Go across the Montlake bridge to the University District and continue north on Montlake Boulevard to the big Y in the road at NW Pacific Street. Take the left turn of the Y and go a few hundred yards and you will see the trail on the right side of the road. University Hospital is across the street. You can take the trail either direction. If you continue west, it will go around the University District along Lake Union. If you go north, it will go most of the way around Lake Washington. East: I-90 Bike Trail There are many people that ride this bridge trail both directions as part of their daily commute between Seattle and Bellevue. To get to the I-90 bridge bike path from Leschi, take Lake Washington Boulevard South. Wind your way through the forest of Frink park, making your way up the hill. It is a little over a mile to Irving Street which is a steep hill that leads down to the trail. You can head east, across the lake, or you can head west through the Mount Baker Tunnel and continue west through Sam Smith Park. There is a concrete barrier between the bike path and the auto traffic for the length of the bridge but that is not to say the ride is not without its dangers. Take note that the traffic on I-90 bridge is freeway traffic and can be quite loud during peak hours. Also the weather can be wet and windy at times during the winter months, and in high winds you may find yourself hit not only by rain but by waves crashing against the bridge. Also beware of ice on the bridge deck on winter mornings. There is also a lot of dust and debris kicked up by trucks so be careful to not get something in your eyes. The trail along the water feels VERY narrow when you are riding along and get a fleck of something in your eye. Protective eye wear is not necessary but could be a good idea if you bike the trail during rush hour regularly. There is a restroom along the trail at the ball field on "the LID" which is the park that is over the freeway tunnels on Mercer Island. Mercer Island has several coffee shops, restaurants and grocery stores if you want to detour for a snack or even make Mercer Island your destination for a weekend bike ride with a lunch stop. The bike trail follows the freeway so it does not go into downtown Bellevue but you can get off the trail near 109th/110th in Bellevue near the Mercer Island Bridge, and ride into downtown along Bellevue Way. Bellevue Way can be tricky with busy traffic so you may want to work your way through the neighborhood on side streets instead. 108th can be a good choice for that but has some daunting hills. South: Seward Park The trail around the Seward Park peninsula is entirely away from the street, so it is completely free of auto traffic. This makes it very good for families to bike together because it is very safe there. There is also a lot of wildlife lurking in the forest so it can be interesting to see what you can discover as you ride by. And don't forget to look up -- you may find you are being watched by a hawk or bald eagle. To get there, just head south from Leschi on Lakeside Avenue South for about five miles. You can ride the five miles to the park or put your bikes on the bike rack of your car and drive them there, and park your car in the parking lot. The trail is about 2.7 miles in a loop around the peninsula. There are mile markers every half mile along the paved trail if you want to do laps and keep track of your distance. There are also restrooms along the trail, which can be very convenient. Sharing the Road The width of the streets in Leschi is fairly wide and all, but when riding a bike there is a tendency to move out into the center of the road. That is often a good idea, especially when passing parked cars to avoid getting tangled up in a car door opening up in front of you. When driving a car it can be a challenge to pass a team of bike riders that are either riding "two abreast" or worse "three abreast" rather than single file. Or when they spread out with a couple car lengths between them so passing them means crossing the center line for several blocks at a time. All of this happening at once can cause road rage, both on the bike and in the car. Pretty soon everyone is swearing at everyone. There are times when a bicyclist NEEDS more room to be safe. There are also times when a car NEEDS to cross the centerline to be safe. It often takes some judgement to know when being safer in one way makes you much less safe in other ways. There are several days during the summer when the roads close for bike day. But that also means people in cars cannot get where they need to go without detours.If you are biking that day, it is very cool. If you are driving that day, you find yourself swearing at the detour signs. With all the bike riding in Leschi it takes a spirit of cooperation from both bikers and drivers to make it work. So be safe out there, AND be considerate.

The String of Pearls refers to a series of mini parks along Lake Washington at the end of east/west streets that run right to the lake. This project was the dream of a small group of residents who thought these areas would make great viewing and or/resting spots for walkers, runners and cyclists. It was public land but initial attempts to get permission to open them up to the public met with contention; many adjacent homeowners had begun using this land and didn't feel comfortable having it open to the public. Finally after a decision by the Washington State Supreme Court, the Appeals Board unanimously upheld the project in May 1995 and granted the permits. Work began on the sites that fall. Since Leschi developed its street ends, other communities in Seattle and Mercer Island have taken advantage of the law and developed their street ends. These mini-parks are called Shoreline Street Ends and a map of all the developed sites can be seen on the Seattle Dept. of Transportation's website. Even with the proliferation of these developed street ends, SDOT estimates that 2/3 of the potential shoreline Street Ends are still overgrown, encroached and undeveloped for public use. Leschi's Shoreline Street Ends are not parks in the usual sense; there are no picnic facilities, restrooms or parking access. They are considered accessible by foot or bicycle and meant for brief respites of viewing or resting. Leschi's Shoreline Street Ends are at Jackson, King, Dearborn, Charles and Norman. The Charles site has a bench and is one of the nicer sites with landscaping and upkeep provided by one of the adjacent homeowners. Mini park locations along Lake Washington South Main Street South Jackson Street South King Street South Dearborn Street South Charles Street South Norman Street South Judkins Street