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BOOK REVIEW Neil Barofsky’s book Bailout: An Inside Account of How Washington Abandoned Main Street While Rescuing Wall Street says it all in the title. A lot of us have already come to the opinion expressed in Barofsky’s title, just based on our observation of our landscape, littered as it is with bankrupt businesses and lost homes; but few, not being inside the D.C. beltway, would believe that the atmosphere in Washington could be as arrogant and dismissive of the interests of the rest of the country as Barofsky details it. His perspective on the scene is from a perfect vantage point: that of the Special Inspector General of TARP, the fund created to save us from financial meltdown in 2008. He, a true outsider, was appointed by President Bush through an unusual agreement between Democrats and Republicans who were both fearful of the potential vulnerability to fraud that TARP represented, perhaps sensitized to this by the Iraq experience. Barofsky was a relatively young (38) very hard-hitting Federal prosecutor from the New York Southern District office. His appointment was a surprise to many due to his age and experience. His experience was in prosecuting fraud cases and drug kingpins from Columbia. Apparently what they wanted was an extremely bright, industrious, fearless, prosecutor, and it appears, from this story as it unfolds, that is what they got. I will not try to relate the complex financial details or the highly charged personal interchanges. I will just say that if the reader wants to learn how the world of power politics really works, instead of reading a Baldacci thriller, this is the book. The war stories he tells as he confronts the Washington top bureaucracy of Justice, Treasury and White House, both Democrat and Republican, are tales of regulatory capture. Here is just a normal person, wanting some of the vast sum of taxpayers’ money going out the door to efficiently fulfill the purpose, stated in the TARP statute and proclaimed by the White House. It was supposed, in part, to relieve the millions of homeowners in danger of losing their homes. Very early, he is invited out to lunch and told that if he wants to survive and have a career in his chosen profession, he needs to moderate his positions. This is the polite approach. Later, it gets really vicious. Refreshingly, he names names. In 2011 after accomplishing as much as he believed he could, primarily by appealing to bipartisan supporters in Congress, getting some attention in the press and some educational criminal prosecutions, he resigns. A measure of the respect Barofsky has garnered is reflected in the prominent mention of him recently as a potential nominee for the Chairmanship of the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Oh, memories of Ferdinand Pecora. If that name and the “Hellhound” moniker puzzles the reader, my book review of “Hellhound” can be found on the leschinews’ website.) One of those recommending him was M.I.T.’s Simon Johnson, late of the IMF. The book, in 2012, got the usual cool treatment for such works. The thrust of the reviews was that TARP prevented total meltdown and we should be thankful for that, and that the sums that went to the banks had to stay there to preserve the financial system. There was little acknowledgement of Barofsky’s claim that the failure to reform big banks sets us up for an even worse meltdown in the future. A notable exception at the time was a detailed review by the esteemed financial editor of the New York Times, Gretchen Morgenson. But this year, as the paperback edition is being brought out, there seems to be a much more serious consideration of the book’s position in the great wave of bailout books. Perhaps a widespread awareness of the disastrous performance of the mortgage adjustment program which Barofsky criticized has set in. Peter Osnos said in the Atlantic Monthly, the book “deserves a place in the judgment of history”. Jon Stewart said he had read ten books on the subject, and if he had read this one first he could have skipped the rest. My sentiments exactly. This book tells one all that needs to be told of the mindset of Washington versus the interests of the rest of us. If only Barofsky had had the bipartisan Senate and Presidential support that was given Pecora in 1933. After reading and listening to these accounts, one is left with the distinct feeling that priorities are out of whack, not only on Wall Street, but in the political parties, universities, the Federal Reserve, the Congress, and the White House. America’s great pride was that its system worked reasonably well for everyone. What has happened? I say a first necessary step is to change the way we finance elections. Petitions have been started around the country. Our Senator Adam Kline has introduced SJM 8002 requesting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to allow the Congress and the States to regulate election finance. Many professionals say “no chance.” But history shows amendments can pass quickly when there is enough demand for them from below. The Nineteenth Amendment, giving women the right to vote, was ratified in a little more than a year, despite great resistance. ~Jim Snell

BOOK REVIEW Here, five years after the Great Recession began, we seem to be mired in a jobless recovery. What happened? Plenty of books have been written about it. I have read a few. Michael Lewis’ The Big Short is an easy and entertaining read which gives a good description of CDO’s (collateralized debt obligations). However, he perpetuates the self-excusing notion that only exceptional people could have foreseen the disaster. He, in fact, was one of those writers who had denied the danger of the oncoming bubble. A good book, looking at one of the really big operators who made enormous profits during the crash, is Gregory Zuckerman’s The Greatest Trade Ever . It tells the riveting story of John Paulson’s enormous bet against the housing bubble. There were others, who made great sums but who were also involved in the purposeful construction of these dangerous CDO’s while betting against them. An instructive view of this strand of the story and its seamy political aspect can be read at a Wikipedia article on the hedge fund, Magnetar. Yves Smith’s book, Econned , asserts that the economics profession has been co-opted by the same incentives that have corrupted the corporate world. She, a Wall Street expert, is disturbed that leading economists take the view that the economy is self-correcting and so we just need to sit back and wait. The prominent economist Joseph Stiglitz is a very distinct exception. In his latest book he views the mess we are in from the 50,000-foot perspective of a top insider ( World Bank and White House ), yet with the sympathy of a small “d” democrat for the workingman. If you have the stamina to plough through even a part of The Price of Inequality, you will feel you have gained a sense of what is really going on here. There are lots of holds on it at the library, but not on his DVD kitchen table talk. Neal Barofsky has written of his experiences as Special Inspector General for the TARP Fund that was voted by Congress. The Fund was not only to prevent a melt-down of the economy but deal with the millions of homes subject to foreclosure. He feels the provisions of the law that called for adjustment of mortgages were not followed by a Treasury too beholden to the banks. His revealing talk on KUOW’s Weekday for March 15 can be replayed on your computer or smartphone. I highly recommend it for an up-to-date sense of the priorities felt at the Treasury Department. Jon Talton writes of the dismal prospects for a vibrant job recovery due to robotization. See his Seattle Times column of February 28th. And now there is talk of our being inflicted with another questionable presidential election outcome because of changes in various states’ election procedures for selecting their representatives to the College of Electors. As a result, we could have a president chosen by a minority of the voters, a sure prescription for big trouble. And then there is global warming. Bill Moyers dedicated a program to that, mid-month on PBS. Listen to his expert interviewee and lose more sleep. ~Jim Snell

When I moved back to Seattle Aug. 2014, I drove around Leschi and Mt. Baker looking at yards. I was pleasantly surprised to see many new, more sustainable yards and gardens. Those yards that may look a little disheveled and unkempt are actually the types of yards that pollinators love. Well-manicured lawns are a thing of the past, although it is sometimes difficult to convince our families and loved ones of that. As a compromise I’m leaving my front yard as is (for now), but the backyard is mine to do as I please. And I plan to let it get a little wild with plants that attract pollinators, especially our native bees. These little guys need our help! They are losing their homes and their food supply is getting scarce. They are disappearing. This is due to many factors, including commercial and residential development, pesticide use, use of non-native plants, which our pollinators won’t eat, and which further destroy habitat by crowding out the native plants that have evolved with native pollinators. Why do we care? These insects pollinate many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat. Without bees, there would be no apples, pumpkins, strawberries, or many other fruits and vegetables that we love. Canada and the U.S alone grow more than 100 crops that need pollination. How can we help? The solution is easy. Plant flowers. Plant flowers that are native to your region and that attract pollinators. A small sunny spot in your backyard or front yard is all that you need. Plant a large variety of nectar and pollen-rich flowers. Color matters; bees like bright blue and violet. Planting large groups of flowers of the same color or kind attracts bees much better than single, individual flowers scattered throughout the garden. Include a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the season. The flowers of certain trees, vines, shrubs and herbs attract pollinators. Plants for bees When choosing plants to attract bees, the first choice is native plants. Native wildlife and native plants are adapted to each other and to our climate. Also native plant species from local gene stock are adapted to our summer drought conditions and can thrive without fertilizer, pesticides (a no-no), pruning and other maintenance. When you buy native plants, ask for local stock. Some native plants to consider: Aster, Goldenrod, Penstemon, Sunflower, Rose, Clarkia, Nootka Lupine, Thrift, Yarrow, Common Camas, Columbia Lewisia, Trillium, Wood Sorrel. These are only a few. Other garden plants and non-natives that attract bees: English Lavender, Blue Columbine, Hellebore, Purple Coneflower, “Autumn Joy” Sedum, Bee Balm, Sea Holly, Globe Thistle, Russian Sage, Daffodil, Crocus, Cosmos, and many more. Herbs that bees love: Thyme, Borage, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Lemon Balm, Mint. Helpful resources Real Gardens Grow Natives, by Eileen Stark Attracting Native Pollinators, by the Xerces Society ( www.xerces.org ) The Pollinator Partnership ( www.pollinator.org ) The Washington Native Plant Society (www.wnps.org) Urban Bee Project ( www.urbanbeeprojectseattle.com ) This is truly gardening to save a planet, one backyard, one container, one p-patch and one community at a time. ~Ruby Holland

While we informed you that June 1 was the planned operations transition day, Schober disputed Parks’ termination of the lease and requested an extended termination date. While we disagree with Schober’s legal position, we are currently in discussions to see if there is a way to give Schober a little more time for transition in a way that recognizes the value of Schober’s experience with the moorages and avoids legal action. In the meantime, Schober will continue on for at least one more month, and you should continue to make any payments that are due under your moorage rental agreement in June directly to Schober. We realize this impacts you, the tenants, and will update you as soon as more information is available. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns for Seattle Parks and Recreation, or just want to reach Peggy Tosdal, the incoming moorage manager, she can be reached at 206 708-4619, or via email at peggy.tosdal@seattle.gov . We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. Paula Hoff Strategic Advisor, Superintendent’s Office Seattle Parks and Recreation 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle WA 98109 206-615-0368, www.seattle.gov/parks

Editor’s Note: We wrote about this plan in the November issue of the Leschi News; the tiny homes have come together quickly. A new Tiny House Village will be opening at 22nd Ave and E Union St. in Seattle’s Central Area at the end of December. Property owner, the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, in partnership with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and Nickelsville will host the tiny house community on church-owned land. The village will contain 15 tiny houses, a toilet pavilion, a shower pavilion, a kitchen/dining tent and a donation tent to be located at 1419-22nd Avenue. The village provides safe housing for individuals and families currently experiencing homelessness. The village will be managed by Nickelsville, a self managed community, in partnership with LIHI, who will provide social workers and assistance to move the residents into permanent housing. The village was developed as an innovative crisis response to homelessness by moving people into tiny houses instead of tents. Nickelsville will still maintain its two tent encampments, currently located at 1010 S. Dearborn St. and 2826 NW Market Street. “Joining hands with the homeless is a vital part of our mission of reaching out to ALL of our neighbors,” says Pastor Steven Olsen. “Our congregation has cherished its partnership with Nickelsville over the past six years, especially as we have been privileged to welcome the camp to our property for a year, and to continue as their church host in their present location. We are overjoyed to see that partnership expand to include LIHI, Sawhorse Revolution, the Tulalip Tribes and many others who are working together to create this beautiful new village. To us it is a powerful sign of justice, community and healing in a city where the harmful effects of gentrification have largely been allowed to continue unchecked and unchallenged.” ~Melinda Nichols, Low Income Housing Institute

Now that Peppi's Woods has become an easier area to navigate, the children who frequent the woods daily after school wander about looking for sticks or digging for treasures such as old pieces of pipe. They discuss the rules for stick fighting and express great joy when they discover an old bottle that was discarded there many years ago. The woods for them represent adventure and opportunity. Parents appreciate being able to view their children as they run through the woods. The adults have also developed a community as they watch their children play. The adults support each other as they help their children RESOLVE conflicts. Volunteers continue to to be drawn to Peppi's Woods. A group of 20 Seattle University students cleared ivy and spread mulch on Earth Day on April. The following week, neighbors and parents of Leschi students continued to eradicate ivy, particularly at the south end of the park along the road. Kudos go to Hank Stephens and John Barber for their diligent work on the old growth ivy. Jana Robbins, parent of Leschi students, and Liz Ohlson are currently taking Forest Steward training classes through Seattle Parks Department and Darrell Howe, Forest Steward at Frink Park, will be their mentor. We now have our own job box at Peppi's Park filled with tools from work parties. You will notice it chained to a tree near the brick building. Our next work party will be Saturday, June 22, 2014 from 9:30 to 12:30. Tools, gloves and snacks are provided. Join us for the last work party of this school year. Use it as an opportunity to get to know the woods more intimately and help us continue to remove the invasive plants so we can add to our plant collection next November. ~Liz Ohlson

One of the highlights of the month was our Holiday concert on December 2. Four awesomely talented Garfield students played for an hour in the Senior Center Solarium and what an hour it was! Adrian Steele played a very long solo piece from memory: no music sheets to guide him. And Riley Calcagno switched quickly from classical mode to use his violin as a fiddle and perform a plaintive Appalachian song. After that, the talented Riley picked up a banjo for a fast paced number that left Dueling Banjos in the dust! Thanks to Adrian, Riley, Alexandria Chuang and Sophie Morada for an evening we will long remember. A group of concerned folks met on December 5 to review the Park’s RFP (Request for Proposal) to privatize the moorages. We compiled our concerns and a letter was sent from LCC and Leschi Market to the current manager of the Parks’ moorage. See the update on page 4. Our December Board meeting was cancelled by an unscheduled power outage that kept the area in the dark for many hours; we went out at noon and came back on shortly after midnight. We completed council business by email after the power was restored and voted unanimously to endorse a of support letter that the Central Area Neighborhood District Council was sending to the Housing office for the Capitol Hill Housing project on Union where the Key Bank was formerly located. This project would provide some much needed low income housing to an area that is rapidly being gentrified and forcing out lower income folks. CHH has worked with the neighborhood to incorporate some of the history of this site where the first black-owned bank once stood: Liberty Bank. In January, we like to print updates of our parks and it is usually good news: what has been accomplished by volunteers and the occasional grant, but this year except for the Leschi Natural Area, there are more concerns than victories. Usually our nemesis is a bureaucrat, but this time it is anonymous members of the public wreaking havoc on our parks. See the update in the following pages. One of your presidents, Diane Snell, met with our Art Critic, Susan Platt and Carolyn Walden who was once known as the “Fountain Lady” to strategize for the preservation of the neglected fountain in the plaza at 23rd & Union (site of the old big post office and now the new tiny post office.) See the story on page 4. We suppose our next concern will be the site of the post office as that large corner property is sold to a new developer. We hear that Vulcan is interested in the Promenade property; change seems to be constant. And speaking of change, we have reluctantly given up our attempts to alert residents to the traffic issues on our website as SDOT plans and then cancels intersection closings. It is better to go to their website or just Google 23rd Ave. construction to see the latest news before you leave the driveway. Be the change you want to see in the world. ~Gandhi ~Diane Morris & ~Diane Snell

Black Friday concert Owuor Arunga “The Sultan of Swag,” a world famous trumpet player, organized an astonishing Black Friday concert at the Langston Hughes Cultural Center. As he explained to us, almost all the now successful performers who shared their talents with us that night got their start as youth who first performed on the very stage where the concert took place. It was a moving evening, as we watched old friends greet each other, mentors give short presentations, and singers, rappers and musicians give extraordinary performances. Owuor Arunga spoke of his own mentors in the Central District and at Garfield High School, and he, in turn, is mentoring many others. Some of the incredible performers with a wide range of ages, included singers Marissa Garret, Dadabass, Adra Boo, Otieno Terry, Black Stax (four musicians, with a political and avant-garde edge) , rapper Yirim Sec, and the distinguished Josephine Howell. Owuor believes that music can “heal the world.” Several of the musicians are part of the One Vibe Africa’s Music and Art Program, based in Kisumu, Kenya. Each performance was punctuated by astonishing solo trumpet playing by Owuor along with his friends on trumpet, guitar, drums and keyboard. The importance of the Central District as an epicenter of Black culture in Seattle for decades disappears more rapidly every day as gentrification ravages the neighborhood. Wyking Garrett spoke of current efforts to save African American culture and businesses. One critical location is the block at 23rd and Union. The UmojaFest Peace Center is located on the Southeast corner at 24th and Spring Street. At the Black Dot Cultural Innovation Space on the other side of the block, participants are working on solutions to keep affordable rentals and businesses in the Central District. Fountain of Triumph In front of Black Dot on 23rd Ave., stands the 1995 Fountain of Triumph by famous sculptor James W. Washington, Jr., owned by the family that is selling the block. We must stay vigilant to make sure it survives any new development. Washington’s vision of it as a community gathering place with a message of struggle and determination, signified by the swimming salmon plunging toward the pool at the bottom, could not be more appropriate today. Actually, the City of Seattle as part of the 23rd Avenue “improvement project” has already commissioned a sculpture by prominent Washington DC based African American sculptor Martha Jackson-Jarvis for the corner of 23rd and Union. Her work is described as follows: “The artwork will include historically relevant narratives of the neighborhood and stories of the people who have lived or created significant impact in the neighborhood, as well as address the changing and widening demographics of this area of the city.” I don’t see any conflict with having both public sculptures! James W. Washington, Jr. came to the Central District in 1944 and lived in the same house until his death in 2000. That house today is a Foundation and Cultural Center thanks to his scrupulous planning. Hopefully, his example can be followed for preserving the cultural significance of the Central District. The Mayor has recently declared the “Historic Central Area Arts and Cultural District.” Hopefully this will connect to the local activists at Black Dot as well as to funding to make it happen. The Survival of Culture Troy Gua’s “Orange Dust” at the Bonfire Gallery, a new art and design space in the Panama Hotel, addresses the survival of culture from a different perspective. Bonfire director Bill Gaylord believes that “community engagement is the wellspring of civic vitality.” (By the way, the Panama Hotel itself is also up for sale) Troy, a delightfully smart, but straightforward, person, explained to me that he believes the “idea of America is falling away.” This is even before the recent Islamophobia hysteria. He has always been fascinated with King Tut and Egypt (coincidentally resonating with the recent announcement that the tomb of Nefertiti may have been discovered). But what will be discovered in an archeological dig in America, at some unspecified time in the future? Troy suggests some “fictional, metaphorical artifacts unearthed from America’s impending tomb.” Take the pyramid: he made it with a Dorito and photographed it so that it looks monumental. “Orange Dust” means Dorito color and texture echoed in dozens of cast plaster orange pyramids ($40, a great Christmas present!), but the pyramid also refers to the US (take a look at your dollar bill). Cleopatra with Marge Simpson’s hair in glossy gold, a plate of gold coated bullets, a giant knife and fork crossed in the position of the symbols held by ancient Egyptian kings, “emoji cartouches,” from the iPhone 6, “American pie” of gold plated bullets, sugar plastic caskets, Mt Rushmore heads as stoppers for canopics holding oil, blood, sugar, and bullets. You get the idea. Gua plays games and actually makes us laugh, even as he gets his more serious point across: what survives into the future reflects our values, and in the case of the US right now, they are pretty disturbing. Also related: Martha Rosler, renowned social critic artist, and a personal hero of mine, received $100,000 from the New Foundation in Seattle! Rosler’s “Housing Is a Human Right” could not be a better fit for Seattle right now, and it will have various permutations all over the city for the next year. Already on view at the Seattle Art Museum is “Martha Rosler: Below the Surface” two series: House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home (1967-72) and House Beautiful: Bringing the War Home, New Series (2004-2008). The titles speak for themselves! by Susan Noyes Platt, www.artandpoliticsnow.com

Our February speaker, David Williams, was captivating as he explained how Seattle was reshaped to improve trade and transit. He spoke at length about reclaiming the Duwamish mudflats south of town (stadium area), and you don’t want to know what is under there, but some day archaeologists might enjoy the multi-layers. The second area of reshaping was the Denny Regrade, which was a monumental task with the removed dirt being transported to Elliott Bay and dumped there. David had many old photos which he projected, and there seemed to be a constant stream of onlookers watching the leveling of Denny Hill. The third reshaping was the Montlake cut and the Locks; the original thought seemed to be that large ships would enter Lake Washington, but that didn’t happen. More shoreline was exposed as the lake level dropped and Leschi’s lakeside businesses benefitted. David graciously signed copies of his book for us after the meeting. LURC (Land Use Review Committee) has been a big boon to the Central Area; they tackle projects early and give community input. Without this group, big projects would just occur and we would wish that we had been able to give some input before the project was completed. The value of the LURC process was apparent in the early review of the Promenade redo by Vulcan. Jeff Floor (LCC Board) is co-chair of LURC and brings us up to date on this impressive project (see page 4). A big concern in this area is the fate of the small businesses along 23rd. The original agreement with SDOT was that the work would be confined to the stretch between Jackson and Cherry and once completed, they would move on to the next phase, Cherry to Union. Before we realized what was happening, it seems everything was torn up and even extending past Union, which should have been Phase 3. So two years of community meetings and agreements were for naught. Please read Barbara Parker’s (Madrona News editor) article on this problem on the following page, and please try to patronize these struggling businesses while the construction work is going on. We attended a meeting on 2/6/16 of business owners and Kshama Sawant at the 701 Coffee Shop (NW corner of Cherry & 23rd) and ordered a Mocha Latte; it was delicious! Neighbors said the bagel sandwich is also a treat with the owner’s own cashew butter spread. We have begun planning for our annual Art Walk and invite interested persons to join the group as we want to expand into the park this year and we can use creative ideas! We are meeting on the 4th Thursday of each month at 3pm. at BluWater Bistro. Please join us! Please note the article on the LCC elections (see page 6), which are held in May. Officers are term-limited, and as we step down, we need some new energy in these positions. We would also like to identify someone who is interested in helping with the newsletter as an associate editor. If you are interested, please email leschinews@comcast.net . Be the change you want to see in the world. ~Gandhi ~Diane Morris & Diane Snell

Leschi Elementary’s school garden is ready for spring planting! On Sunday February 15th, we had a wonderful group of parent volunteers and two Leschi Community Council (LCC) members come together to prepare the garden for student education. Work included building a beautiful spiral herb garden, mixing in donated compost (from Cedar Grove) into soil, digging up existing lilac tree to create more room for planting, putting plastic cloches back up, transplanting herbs and cleaning up existing compost bin. The highlight of the work party was installing our “irrigation system” ollas. Here’s a picture of these beautiful urns. What a successful day! Thank you to all the parents and LCC for being there. Outdoor Education will start back up the first week of March. With this warm winter upon us, spring feels like it’s already here. The other wonderful news is that Leschi Elementary has been awarded a $2000 grant from Whole Kids Foundation; $1500 of this will be used to fund a garden educator. The educator has already been “hired” and will start the first week of March and continue through August. Thank you, LCC, for being our community partner on the grant. Other collaborations include Green Plate Special and IslandWood. Both nonprofits will be providing volunteer outdoor educators to help teach garden and forestry to students of Leschi. Since we are gearing up for planting, we could always use starts to help us get going. If you have any strawberries, herbs, kale and any other good spring season starts, please contact parent volunteer garden coordinator Kim Blakemore at kblakemo@uw.edu . We could always use volunteers interested in assisting our educators. Contact Kim if interested. Thank you to our parents, school staff and teachers and to our surrounding community for making outdoor education possible at Leschi Elementary. ~Kim Blakemore

Editor's note: our art critic Susan Platt has taken a different slant on culture this month. She looks at the spa culture as experienced at the Central Area Senior Center. And now for a different kind of culture column!! On a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, I joined the Pampering Spa Day at the Central Area Senior Center. I arrived with the ladies of Hearts for Humanity who were donating their talents as beauticians to the Senior Center for that afternoon. They were a cheery, beautiful group. As I walked in with them, carrying the tools of their trade, I felt my spirits rise already. They set up their various skills, haircuts, facials, manicures, hair braiding. We each chose two services for our contribution. Not only were the Hearts for Humanity women incredibly uplifting to just be around, all the people waiting for services were also delightful. And the Senior Center put out a big spread of food that kept us all busy while we waited for our turn. But, the spa service was definitely more than the nails, hair and facials that they offered to people who were on the down side of society. They offered a sense of joy! As I sat with the masque over my face and the cucumbers on my eyes, the low hum of conversation around me was soothing. When I left with my renewed and refreshed face, people bid me farewell as though we were old friends. I had come with low spirits and left with a sense of community and contentment. And of course, the Central Area Senior Center view over the water on that beautiful day was an added bonus. Here is the vision of Hearts for Humanity Social Services: “We want to bring our Self- esteem and Therapeutic Salon package to as many needy people that utilize shelters, convalescent homes, and schools as we can. We are interested in touching the lives of the people that are overlooked by society and often taken for granted by most people; the broken, the weary, the abused and the forgotten.” When I inquired who came to the Senior Center, they sent me this statement: “Our names are Gina Vaughns, McKenzie Brown, Corin Brown, Queenie Bradford, Zonie Brown, Lucretia, Jackie Juarez and Virginia. We are Case Managers, Chemical Dependency Professionals, Medical Assistants, Domestic Violence Advocates and Licensed Hair Stylists. The Director, Corin Brown, also works at the Downtown Seattle YWCA and Catholic Housing Services. We all have many years of volunteering for food banks, shelters, schools and convalescent homes. Our “Grooming for Success Program” builds self-esteem inside and out for those in educational training programs and low income elementary and junior high students. We cater to all individuals and families that reside/utilize drop in centers, shelters of all types, the mentally/physically ill, etc. We love our work and our 100 volunteers.” Hearts for Humanity is truly generous spirited. The people on the margins do not have luxury in their lives in any form. This offers them an opportunity to feel special for an afternoon. ~Susan Noyes Platt, www.artandpoliticsnow.com

I have met the moon and it was a good experience. I had a breakfast meeting with our website guru, Allan, and we both enjoyed our breakfast entrees. Allan chose the Classic Breakfast and commented on how nicely spiced the sausage patty was. I fully indulged and ordered the Crispy French Toast, which was served with a healthy dose of black raspberries and an embarrassing dollop of whipped cream. I quickly spread the dollop over all the French toast so it didn’t look like I was eating my way though a whipped cream Mt. Rainier. It was delicious; the crispy toast held up nicely to the berries (no sogginess at all). I can’t resist berries in any form and these berries were delicately flavored with some kind of liqueur. Our meeting lasted longer than our food, but our waitperson was very gracious. No one was waiting for a table. Service was excellent and although the décor is very modern with a black and chrome look, it still felt cozy. Both of us felt guilty about returning home empty-handed, so I took a huge chunk of sour cream coffee cake for my spouse and Allan took a blueberry muffin to his wife. Jim said he had planned to save half the chunk of coffee cake, but it was so good, he just kept eating. The Classic Breakfast was $12 and the French toast was $14 (but it was breakfast and dessert combined!). I want to go back for lunch and for dinner; stay tuned. Meet the Moon 120 Lakeside Ave., 206-707-9370 Hours vary–check website. No Reservations. ~Diane Snell