I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that it is time to retire the caucus system and go to a primary. I did like the caucus when it was manageable. My first caucus upon moving to this state in 1978 was in a neighbor’s living room and there were eight of us. We had the opportunity to actually discuss issues as well as vote our candidate preferences; a kind of mini-town hall. The caucus meetings later moved to publicly accessible places and became larger in attendance. Accessibility seems negotiable; in 2008, our precinct caucus was held at Nova High School, which has a number of steps leading up to the front doors. We had a voter in a wheelchair who was understandably upset. With no accessible entrance to the main building, we were moved to a portable on the school grounds. The portable held about a dozen people, and our leader had to stand at the door to the portable to address the large crowd that could not get in. Fortunately, it was a warm day; if it had been raining, there might have been a revolution. At some point, we lost the ability to discuss any issues due to the large numbers of attendees. In retrospect, we probably should have gone to the primary system then, as we had lost the “town hall’ aspect of the meetings. But with a primary, we stand to lose the democratic electing of delegates to the next level. If the choice of delegates is transferred to the party “bosses,” the average person has no chance of becoming a delegate. It will always fall to the long-time party members who have paid their dues (both financially and in time, attending endless meetings). It is this piece that needs to be looked at; many young people were able to be delegates in this current caucus system, flawed as it is. Those who had to work or had physical issues in getting to the caucus were able to vote on “surrogate” forms, IF they applied a week ahead. This was an improvement over past caucuses. Our lower Leschi precincts met at Leschi School, and it was crowded with not enough seats, and the available seats were designed for little bodies. I felt sorry for those holding small children and for the older folks who find it difficult to stand for long periods or to bend their bodies into the shape of a “little person.” Resolutions were collected, but not discussed. Hearing instructions must have been difficult with at least five precincts convening in one large room. I felt bad for the handful of folks who came after it was all over, not understanding that it was different from a “voting” day. The 37th District caucus had its own problems. With hundreds of folks lined up outside to sign in (it was sunny and 80 degrees!) one would hope that signing in was all they had to do, but NO! Someone decided to add several demographic questions to the form, which took time and even raised concerns. Some folks felt that adding their birthdate opened themselves to identity theft. The sign–in table should have been streamlined to add some semblance of efficiency to an impossible situation. Obviously, a limited number of folks are willing to subject themselves to this system, but how do we fare in a primary? It’s easier to mail in a ballot, but in King County, the August 2015 primary brought in 295,067 ballots from a total of 1,183,771 registered voters (25 %). In our own District 3, we fared somewhat better: 23,275 ballots were submitted for 62,821 registered voters (37 %). Pathetic. And what about these Super-delegates? I understand that the party powers-that-be don’t really trust the electorate to make a wise (read ”winning”) choice, but this is truly undemocratic. The Democratic super-delegates in Washington are not voting for the person who “won” in the caucus system; they all support the candidate with the smaller number of votes. So, is this the choice of the people? I also don’t understand why voting rules and regulations aren’t consistent across the country. When you move to a different state, you have to learn the new rules and if you don’t learn them, you may find yourself unable to vote in a closed primary. The idea of Federal voting rules probably makes the states’ righters livid, but we are one country and supposedly we each get a vote (except for super-delegates who get more than one vote) so why make it so hard? Why not make it easy for folks by adopting the best, most inclusive rules from across the country and adopt them for all 50 states. And make it impossible to purge folks from the voter rolls without advance notice and the chance to appeal. We have seen this in Florida in 2004 and again this year in New York for 165,000 voters. That’s enough votes to turn an election. Maybe our elections need an international team of observers. ~Diane Snell

Having gone through several phases of grieving over the pending loss of a beloved institution, central Seattle must now come to grips with what will take the place of City People’s Garden Store in Madison Valley. With a portion of the nursery’s ownership group having determined it’s time to move on and not renew the lease to the business that calls it home, the end of 2016 will bring an end to 28 years of peddling greenery, and will usher in a new mixed-use building on this oddly shaped, complex site. Preliminary documents filed with the city to initiate the permitting process identify the proposal as “New construction of a 165,570 so mixed use building with 75 proposed units and 164 parking spaces.” Given the current setting of the site not only as home to a landmark business, but also a simple one-story building with a footprint covering barely one-half of the property, the dry description alone of that level of pending change is enough to give nearby residents the willies. Layer on top of that the bit of harrowing recent history where a resident, one Kate Fleming, in a property just downhill from the site drowned in her own house from raging overflow storm water an aging and overmatched storm system simply couldn’t handle, and you have the makings of genuine development drama. As concerned citizens listened to an April 9 meeting convened by a newly formed group with the torch-and-pitchfork moniker, “Save Madison Valley”, issues not only of stormwater, but of parking, traffic, seismic safety, green preservation and community character were all raised. To be sure, this is a complicated site, even without the background of tragedy and loss. Despite the expansiveness one might feel when plying the current rows of potted trees and shrubs, the property is not large by commercial standards, especially considering the sharp taper the lot lines follow at the eastern edge of the site. Also impinging on the buildable area is the steep drop- off down to Dewey Place to the southeast, which at greater than 40% grade, is automatically considered an environmental critical area by City regulations, which triggers a host of constraints on what can be done with a new structure. To tread near or in that slope will cost the developer dearly in terms of high-priced foundation work that will actually stabilize the hillside far more than it currently is today. Current stormwater management regulations will force any development here to provide detention structures (commonly this means massive below-grade vaults) to hold rainwater on site and only allow it to enter the existing system and a controlled outflow. This should actually provide some peace of mind to those living below, as this will lessen the risk of a repeat of the tragic flash flood of 2006. The building height issue, as the speaker at the April 9 event alluded, will be complicated. The maximum allowable height in this zone is 40 feet, but when a commercial property abuts a single-family zone as this one does, the building must step back and away. Calculating where that 40’ actually occurs is based on existing grades, meaning that as grades drop, so does the maximum height along with it. Couple that with the trapezoidal lot shape, and the architects will have their hands full attempting to hit a maximum buildable envelope with anything rational and useable toward the narrow east end. This observer holds out hope that the solution the design team comes up with is skillful and sensitive enough to work with the opportunities as well as all the complexities of the site. The curious little holler that is Dewey Place below the lot to the southeast is quiet and subdued, but oddly disconnected from the heart of Madison Valley thrumming just above. A humble pedestrian connection up to Madison Street, constructed by this project at its own expense, could be a sweet addition, and undeniably a benefit for the overall public good. And while the shoes of City People’s will be impossible to fill, the new tenant – which the City People’s website guarantees will “not (be) a Walgreens or any other pharmacy” – may, who knows, grow to be an institution the community adores. ~Jeff Floor, Co-Chair of the Land Use Review Committee

April 12, 2016—Attending: Janet Oliver, Amy Fink, Kim Murillo, Tracy Bier, Yousef Shulman, Jeff Floor, John Barber, Diane Morris and Diane Snell. Flo Ware Park: Diane Morris reported for Christine Miller. The annual Flo Ware event will be held June 11 from 1-4. It will again be a collaboration with Leschi Elementary PTA. Treasury: Kim submitted the treasurer’s report; only unusual expenses were the posters and flyers for the Powell Barnett celebration and the purchase of the awards for Leschi Stars. Parks: John Barber urged everyone to attend the April 30 event at Powell Barnett. The fence around the exercise equipment has come down and folks are trying out their skills. Colman Park: following the presentation at our April meeting, John formed a committee to be involved in reviewing this project. He thinks that the Bigleaf Maple trees can be saved by saving the strongest trunk and cutting back the other sprouts. It was pointed out that the Olmsted brothers had viewed this area after a long period of heavy clear cutting to produce the wood that built Seattle. Marinas: Steve Wilson had brought up the fact that the North Marina had been a bequest with the stipulation that it be used only for sailing. That historical piece will be researched. Earth Day: planned for April 22 at Frink Park from 10am-1pm. Meet at caretaker’s cottage. There will be food!! Wading Pools: John and Diane S. have decided to bring in other communities on the wading pool issue. Madrona is on board as is Squire Park; question on whom to contact for Garfield CC. It was decided that John Stewart would be the appropriate person. TreePAC has an April 27 event to draw together like-minded groups to push for more effective tree protection regulations. Stairway: Diane Morris is suggesting the Randolph stairs (from East Alder up to Terrace) for our May project. Moss has gathered. LURC: Jeff reported: LURC will host a meeting at Douglass-Truth (April 20, 6-7:30) on the Liberty Bank site at Union and 24th. A committee with representative from Historic Central Area Arts and Culture District (HCAACD), 23rd Avenue Action Community Team (ACT), The Central Area Collaborative and LURC is forming to look into creating Design Guidelines that would be specifically tailored to the CD. The City People’s site is a hot topic; concerns range from too much parking to not enough parking and great concerns about the size of the project on what is a sensitive slope with an underground stream. Jeff stressed that “saving” City People’s is NOT an option; they will leave by the end of the year Website: Yousef reported that we had met with Kirsten and she will be organizing the website material to move to another site (without hopping ads) and will put the document into WordPress for easy maintenance. The Technology grant did not work out as the City’s primary focus is teaching underprivileged groups to use computers. Elections in May: LCC Executive Board elections are in May. Positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary are term limited. Let Diane S. know if you are interested in running. Leschi Star Awards: The board gives Leschi Star awards to individuals who made a positive impact on the neighborhood during the year. The awards are traditionally given at the May meeting. The ‘star’ ornament we’ve given in the past is no longer available, so Diane found a similar ornament and ordered enough units to get a cost reduction. Diane asked for award nominations; several names were considered. Yousef suggested Diane Snell win this year’s award. The entire board applauded Yousef’s suggestion. ~Submitted by Amy Fink

The Leschi Community meeting on April 6 at 7pm, is the last time for a public meeting for Leschi as a neighborhood to decide what we think is important to the future of the Leschi Marinas. Park property is on the edge of being turned over to a private firm, Foss Waterway Management, to take over the development of improving the marinas and managing them for 30 years or more. The Leschi North and South Marinas are owned by the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation. The marinas are public park space. Do we, the public, want free access to use the docks and enjoy the close views of the water and the boats? Or, should the space be locked for use only by private tenants, the boat owners? Do we want to save Leschi Dock where the Christmas boats tie up and people sunbathe in the summer? Do we want to save the floating “Police Dock,” which the Leschi Community Council partnered with Washington Water Trails Association to build for use by kayakers and canoers? Do we want to permit renting marina space to jet skiers and speedboats, considering that these boats endanger swimmers, paddle boarders and small sailboats, as well as creating wakes that erode the shorelines? Do we want park space being taken for a meeting room for the boaters? Do we want to continue to provide exclusive parking spaces next to the Lake on park property for the boaters? These are all public policy questions that pertain to use of public lands and waters and to the concept of parks and recreation and what makes sense as healthful recreation that is safe and builds community. On April 6, we hope to have a meaningful public discussion. On hand will be representatives of the Parks Department and a member of the Public Advisory Team to explain the project and introduce some of the issues. It is expected that after our meeting, Parks Department staff will negotiate a contract with Foss Waterway Management and make a proposal about approving the contract to Seattle City Council by September 2016. ~John Barber

From Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation: Dear Moorage Tenants and Project Advisory Team Members, This is the first in a series of regular updates we are starting to keep tenants informed of upcoming operational changes, project updates and future improvements to the Leschi and Lakewood Moorages. (The background was noted; this information is on our website.) Parks developed the following overarching goals to guide recommendations for the PATs and form the basis for our path forward: Maintain public ownership of the moorages; Provide safe, accessible and affordable moorage for Seattle residents; Protect shoreline habitat; Improve public access and community benefit without compromising security; Create quality facilities that are competitive in the marketplace; Enhance the sailing heritage at Leschi; Make moorages self-sustaining for ongoing capital upkeep and maintenance; and Ensure concessionaire quality with performance measures and regular auditing of the new concessionaire contract. Upcoming Operational Changes Last week, we gave 30-day notice to the current concessionaire that we will be terminating their contract. Parks will be taking over management, operations and maintenance of both the Lakewood and Leschi moorages beginning June 1, 2015. Once we get closer to the date we will provide you with contact information for the Parks staff in charge of operating these facilities. This management structure will be in place until we select a long-term concessionaire to make capital improvements and operate the moorage facilities. Future Plans for the Moorage Facilities Parks has determined that our goals can be best achieved by a private partner with the expertise and capital to make the marinas economically sustainable. Moorage operations are not a core line of business for Seattle Parks and Recreation and proceeding with a private investor, who has experience in this field, makes the most sense. We explored a number of options and a private/public partnership is the best option. It makes sense not only financially, but also from a customer service perspective. As you know, the condition of our moorages is getting worse by the day. Parks will issue a new RFP for a concessionaire to take over operations of the marinas, make the necessary capital improvements and perform ongoing major maintenance. Parks will continue to involve the community in the planned RFP process and ongoing operation. The new RFP will incorporate input from the PAT processes and at least one PAT member will be directly involved with its development. Once we have selected the Operator/Developer we will work hand in hand with them from start to finish and set up a process for continual evaluation of the contract, as well as opportunities for continual check-ins with the tenant community and surrounding neighborhood. In addition, we will work together to ensure that tenants and the community are up to date on construction timelines and moorage/neighborhood impacts. We are committed to ensure that the new RFP will address the individual needs at both facilities through one concessionaire, while recognizing that the space and surrounding neighborhood of the Lakewood Moorage is different from the Leschi neighborhood. Much of what we heard from the PATs will be included in the RFP process, both through the RFP and through the agreement with the successful operator. Project Updates In the last year and a half, there have been a number of urgent repairs that have occurred at South Leschi: Removed outer slips from service due to structural issues. Modified decking on all walkways including: Provided slip resistant (painted with granular material) high-density plywood overlay of existing decks. Mechanically fastened overlay to existing deck sub structure. Modified all connecting joints to include metal bottom plate to more strongly hold sections in place. Longitudinal thread rods reattached under deck to strengthen structures to resist twisting motion. Replaced main electrical circuit breaker panel and all breakers. Replaced service wire and individual receptacles at each slip. Repaired and remounted each light station at each slip. Sincerely, Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Coming soon to a backyard near you: a cottage…if certain changes to Seattle’s land use code go through. Proposed as a means to address the city’s increasingly unaffordable housing costs, the rules governing backyard cottages are being reexamined, in an effort to bring to market an increase in the number of this humble housing type. In the early ‘90s, state law was revised, obligating municipalities with over 20,000 residents to allow attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs, or what most people know as a mother-in-law apartment). Since 2010, Seattle has allowed property owners in single-family zones to build a second, separate residential structure on their property, a detached accessory unit or DADU, or in the more heartwarming parlance, backyard cottage. The target in large part for both of these modifications was affordability, while at the same time giving homeowners the opportunity for bolstering their long-term financial security, a means for getting something out of home equity without having to sell their home. The sticking point ever since has been one of implementation: remarkably few people in Seattle have pursued establishing a backyard cottage. The overheated housing market of recent years has brought the issue of affordability into sharp relief, renewing interest in the potential of DADUs to bring housing costs down and raising the question of why so little activity has occurred in the arena. Those familiar with the process began to point to a litany of rules that have likely been suppressing the backyard cottage appetite. Led in part by councilmember Mike O’Brien, the city has been looking into the specific impacts of certain regulations, while taking the temperature of the citizenry in public meetings and written testimony, testing our tolerance for change. One of the chief impediments identified has been reticence on the part of banks to loan for DADU projects. The culprit it would seem is the draconian penalty for violating city ordinance which, rather than just levying a simple fine, could result in the wholesale demolition of the structure. Considering that the DADU is likely the collateral for a construction loan, it’s easy to imagine that a bank might hesitate to take the risk. One of the avenues that could lead to this extreme scenario is the requirement that the property owner live on site (in either the primary or accessory unit), with no more than six months spent living elsewhere in any 12-month period. Seems harmless enough, and those arguing for keeping the ownership rule intact feel that without this rule, the DADU market will become a bonanza for developers, rather than a route to affordability for potential renters, and lead to instability and excessive transience in the neighborhoods. Others point out that the six-month limit becomes a serious problem for anyone who receives a job assignment that could take them out of town for more than a year. Moreover, if the homeowner decides to sell, the buyer must either abide by the same rule or tear the DADU down. Lending institutions are not fond of this level of uncertainty. That combined with the apparent majority of respondents coming down on the side of change would indicate a likely loosening of this regulation. ~Jeff Floor, Leschi CC Board Member and Co-Chair of the Land Use Review Committee

A public meeting convened this past March 5 at Centerstone (18th Avenue & Cherry) brought people out to brainstorm the possibilities for marking the history of the site at 24th and Union, most recently occupied by Key Bank, and currently under consideration simultaneously for a low-income housing project and for historic landmark designation. Background The phenomenon of “redlining” is neither pretty nor flattering for our country’s history. The Central District was one of the many urban neighborhoods in the US where banks were reluctant to conduct business, including locating branches there or, most significantly, not lending for any properties within zones identified as too risky for investment. Drawn out on maps, the zones coincided with predominantly African American neighborhoods and paralleled the similar reluctance – whether by explicit policy or otherwise – to lend to people of color, regardless of their neighborhood or economic status. Combined with the covenants in some private developments that barred minority buyers, the net effect led to economic depression, a lack of infrastructure upkeep and dwindling property values within minority neighborhoods. In 1968 a group of Central Area African American residents took matters in their own hands and formed Liberty Bank, with a branch at Union Street and 24th Avenue. Liberty served the community for 20 years before hitting hard times and reorganizing in 1988 as Emerald City Bank, which lasted for another five years until being bought out by Key Bank, which maintained a branch there for another 20 years. At that point, Key’s management determined the continual losses from operating a brick & mortar branch at this location had become excessive and approached Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) to gauge interest in developing a low-income housing project on the property. Not wanting to step on any toes of other organizations more active in this part of town, CHH in turn approached Central Area Development (CADA), who declined involvement in favor of focusing on their already full slate of programs. CHH has since carried the effort further and is looking to build a project that would have a mix of two- and three-bedroom units, along with some one-bedroom and studios, and all well below market rate, available to qualifying renters earning less than 40% of the area median income. Meeting Proceedings The assembled group of around 20 people came up with a variety of thoughtful ideas, including parameters for any art that is incorporated (i.e., it be publicly visible at all times); that there be an educational component regarding redlining; salvage material from the existing building for re-use in a new one; naming the new building after Liberty Bank; and contracting with minority firms for construction. CHH representative Katie Porter indicated that they will be forming an advisory group for gathering community input throughout the design and construction process, and have been actively engaging NAAM for input on the historic narrative. The mood in the room was serious and committed, with a distinct majority of attendees expressing some degree of support for the project and a hopeful sense that a meaningful gesture could be made with the new work to keep the memory of what had happened here alive for future generations. Despite the obvious need for this type of housing in our time of gentrification and escalating housing prices in the Central Area however, the proposed project is not without its controversy. One person present, Omari Garrett, declared extreme misgivings, claiming that his family still has legal right to the property. He has submitted the property to the city’s Landmark and Preservation board for historic designation, for which it has passed the first hurdle. A subsequent public meeting will be held at Seattle Municipal Tower on March 19 (after this story has gone to press) for consideration of the Landmark proposal. Ms. Porter of CHH made it clear that if the existing building is maintained, the proposed project cannot happen. ~Jeff Floor

Some of the fog that has hung over the Promenade 23 site in recent years has lifted somewhat. At a February 4 community meeting hosted by the Central Area Land Use Review Committee (LURC – full disclosure: the author is a co-chair), Vulcan’s design team led by Rundberg Architecture Group presented their early thinking for the shape of the re-development of the commercial land south of Jackson Street, east of 23rd Avenue. Using photographs and hand-drawn sketches, they walked the assembled crowd of over 100 interested residents through a vision of accommodating a new grocer, additional small retail, and over 500 apartments. Many of the design moves are an undeniable improvement over the current state of affairs for this block, which by any definition is a strip mall, turning its big blank back to the residential blocks behind. The team’s treatment of the exterior spaces shows a pleasing series of outdoor spaces – one at the corner, one at the current crosswalk from Walgreen’s, and most significantly, a pedestrian route right through the heart of the site to the neighborhood to the south. At 60-feet wide, the path is the equivalent of a full city street and in fact recaptures the alignment of 24th Avenue that at one time connected the neighborhood to Jackson Street. Currently, 24th dies into a two-story block wall, the backside of Red Apple. Giving this route back to public access is serious commitment to the public good, and assuming there is adequate activity in the adjoining retail spaces, the whole ensemble of exterior plazas can contribute quite well to the community. A trickier aspect of the redevelopment is foremost in the minds of the majority of attendees, however: affordability in the rising tide of gentrification and increased housing costs in this part of town. To many of the vocal residents assembled in the lobby of Ernestine Anderson Place, what the project looks like architecturally, or how it engages the public realm, pales in comparison to what a new development like this might do to rents throughout the area. Vulcan has offered their participation in the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program as one gesture toward this concern. The MFTE commits a project to providing at least 20% of the units at rates affordable to a person making less than 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for 12 years. Unfortunately, that income figure is based not on just the immediate environs, but the whole of King County, and many gathered contended that this skews the rents upward. This issue raises an interesting conundrum: is it even possible for-profit developer – a well-meaning, locally based one, with a dedicated team of caring professionals even – meet that need for affordability within a capitalist context? The answer will be a fascinating one to follow over the next year, as this project moves through design and permitting, with a construction start slated for late 2017. On February 17, Vulcan moved one step closer along that time line when it announced it had purchased the land straddling Jackson Street, for an announced sale price of $30.9 million. ~Jeff Floor, Leschi CC Board member and Co-Chair, Land Use Review Committee Note: Vulcan will be making a presentation on this project at the next Central Area Neighborhood District Council meeting on March 10 at 6pm. at the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave. S.

Bike shops are all about bikes, gear and service. But...What if your bicycling was the priority? At The Bicycling Store, customers are invited to learn about their bike and bicycling. Like checking your bike for safety and maintenance and making adjustments and repairs. And riding your bike from learning to balance for the first time to emergency maneuvers like quick stopping and turning. And most important: learning to drive with the traffic, confidently and safely. Ever tried that through a bike shop? Why are essential traffic skills missing? Bicycling is becoming popular through a political process rather than a process of personal responsibility and riding competency. Advocates spend their time promoting bike facilities rather than the driving skills bicyclists need to ride with traffic. Our brain is the most sophisticated and complicated entity in the known universe, and the flood of new brain research and powerful behavior studies are revealing the importance of managing our thoughts for curiosity, learning, change and growth. That’s what’s necessary for successful outcomes in our lives...and I believe, our bicycling. At The Bicycling Store, conversation and coaching encourage learning about our options, how to evaluate them and make decisions. Often people are busy and focussed on resolving their bike issues through traditional services, but if you are open to learning and interesting conversation, you could leave with something far more meaningful. ~David Smith

At the March meeting of the East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC), a meeting of citizens and authorities of the Seattle Police Department, members and officers spoke on crime activity and block watches. EastPAC is a monthly forum of those who live, work or have some other tie to Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct. Block watches have been around in Seattle since the 1970s when they were established to deal with the heavy crime problem. Block watches are programs based on the idea that neighbors collaborating can be the first and best line of defense to prevent and react to crime. The neighbors organize themselves to watch for crime in their area so they are better prepared to contact the police and be witnesses in the event of a crime. Block watch captains work with the police and each other to remain as current as possible on crime patterns. West Seattle block watch captains network have utilized technology to help block watch captains and police work together as efficiently as possible. Organizers use Facebook and email to get information and newsletters out to members as fast as possible. Social media can also be used to get people involved by informing them of the existence of block watches and the possibilities in their areas. Even one meeting for a neighborhood to get to know each other can make neighbors more inclined to contact the police if they witness a crime being committed. Petty crimes that are prevented with the help of block watches have gone down in Seattle, but lately there have been many instances of gang activity according to Lt. Dan Whelan of the Seattle Police Department. Many of the same individuals have started violent altercations in Seattle and as far south as Renton, Kent, and Tukwila. The 12 gang detectives of the Seattle Police Force have good leads on many of these young men, most younger than 20. Captain Davis expressed his support for block watches in Seattle. He stated that motor vehicle thefts and car prowls are down and stressed the importance of the police force working with block watches in order to continue to suppress crime. Many of the speakers suggested that citizens attend a block watch meeting and look into the possibility of starting a block watch in their neighborhood. It is also greatly beneficial to know who the local Community Police Team officers are. To start a block watch in the East Precinct, call Terrie Johnston, (206)-233-0015. The phone number for the East Precinct CPT is 684-4370. ~Kai Griem (Editor: Kai is a student at Garfield High School. He attended this meeting with our Public Health & Safety Chair, Tracy Bier and wrote this article for the Leschi News. East Precinct is one of the categories now listed on our website; the EastPAC meetings occur in the last week of the month after our Leschi News deadline so the notes have always been late. This way we can put the latest information on the website in a more timely manner, but this does not mean we will be following daily crime news. We don’t have the staff for that; we refer you to the East Precinct blog.)

May has arrived! If those 80-degree days last month were any indication of the summer that lies ahead, then we’ll need to be well stocked in rosé! It’s never too early to get into the rosé spirit. Here is the pre-summer Top-10 Best Rosé List! 1) 2015 Domaine de Triennes Rosé Vin de Pays de Méditerranée ($13.99) Always one of Leschi Market’s best sellers. “Pale pink. Red fruit and notes of citrus contribute to the aromatic complexity. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned worldwide appreciation of the rosés of Provence. Principally Cinsault, blended with Grenache, Syrah and Merlot.” –Winery notes. 2) 2015 Tranche Cellars Pink Pape Blackrock Vineyard Yakima ($14.99) One of the absolute best domestic pinks around! Consists of 31% Cinsault and 23% Counoise and 46% Grenache. “Pale salmon in color with light pink hue. Delicate aromas of rose petal, honeydew melon and white peach, with lifted notes of sweet pink grapefruit and lemon peel. The wine is fresh and lively with bright stone fruit and mountain berry flavors complemented by wet river rock minerality. Driving acidity and citrus qualities provide focus and direction, drawing out the palate to a mouthwatering finish. 637 cases made.” –Winemaker notes. 3) 2015 Gerard Bertrand Gris Blanc Rosé Pays d’Oc Languedoc Roussillon ($13.99) “A very pale pink color plus grey and almost white tints. Grenache is the king of grape varieties when it comes to making light, racy, fruity rosés in contemporary style. Grenache reveals all its suppleness and cherry aromas. Its fig and sometimes cocoa flavors, coupled with rounded sensations on the palate, make Grenache one of the great varieties of the south of France.” –Winemaker notes. 4) 2015 Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé Pfalz Germany ($10.29) “Is made with fruit from vineyards farmed expressly for the purpose of producing a rosé. Upon harvest, the fruit is given a brief maceration to extract a lovely salmon color from the Pinot Noir grapes. The resulting wine is light and refreshing, with deliciously bright fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish. It’s perfect for holiday meals, especially when ham is involved.” –Winemaker notes. 5) 2015 Vidal-Fleury Rosé Côtes du Rhône ($14.99) “Pale pink with salmon reflection. On the nose, delicate, based on a floral expression (peony) and fresh fruit (raspberry, strawberry). On the palate refreshing, fruity (raspberry). Mineral on the finish. A blend of 50% Cinsault, 30% Syrah and 20% Grenache.” -Winery notes. 6) 2015 Mr. Pink Rosé of Sangiovese Underground Wine Project Columbia Valley ($11.19) The first release of this all-Sangiovese Rosé from the Underground Wine Project, the collaboration of Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan and Trey Busch of Sleight of Hand! Bright strawberry and watermelon fruit with spicy notes and a refreshing acidity make this a perfect go-to rosé. 7) 2015 Syncline Rosé McKinley Springs Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills ($18.69) “Our creation of this wine is in direct response to our love of crisp, dry Rosé. The color is a striking pale salmon pink with aromas and flavors of tart strawberries and melon skin. Finishing completely dry, this is as serious as Rosé gets. 39% Cinsault, 36% Carignan and 25% Grenache. 595 cases produced.” –Winemaker notes. 8) 2015 Château de Campuget Rosé Costières de Nîmes ($9.39) 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre. “This wine is an intense peony pink color. Its bouquet is very aromatic, exhaling scents of small red fruits such as raspberries or black currants. In the mouth, there is a perfect balance between vivacity and mellowness. The final taste is very long, leaving a delicate impression of fruitiness.” -Winemaker notes 9) 2015 Château Beaulieu Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence ($13.99) “This traditional dry Provençal Rosé is bright and fruit-forward with exotic fruits of guava and papaya, and white floral aromas on the nose. It has body and structure, yet is fresh on the palate with beautiful minerality. A versatile wine that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of seafood.” –Winemaker notes. 10) 2015 AIX Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence ($13.99) A Leschi Market staple, the Aix Rosé is a bright, pale pink in color and offers soft, ripe summer fruit character with delicate balance and crisp acidity. Aix is perfect for an aperitif and a great match with light salads, grilled fish, white meats and Asian food. 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 .

Director Dian Ferguson updated the members on the pursuit of buying the building from the city. The Mayor’s Office is supportive and wants a low income housing component for seniors. The recent grant application for a feasibility study will determine whether this is even possible on the site. The Memory Lane documentary film in the works has attracted about 50 persons who have lived in the area for many years; the film covers the period from 1920-1945. Dr. Perkins (our grant writer) is researching this period. Dr. Quintard Taylor, historian, will speak at the Center on June 29 as will UW historian Connie Soo. The big event for the summer is the annual SeaFair Patio Party on August 2 and this year it will be a fundraiser. There will be a band, catered food, raffles, and kids activities: magician and clown. The cost for adults is $50. Kids under 12 will pay $1 per year of age and those 13-18 years old pay $20. Table reservations are $500. Tables on the patio are by reservation only. Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole will speak at the Center on July 23 at 10 AM. The popular SPA day will be repeated on Sunday, July 26 from 3-6pm. There is a charge of $10 for each service (pedicure, facial, etc.) Maintenance issues: A local designer is taking on the project of updating the hallway, entry and dining room. September 26-October 4 has been set aside for the work. The Children’s summer program that was previously scheduled has been cancelled as the funding for the program was cut. The Center wants to use the lower level for classes and is looking at building an outside ramp to reach this level on the northeast side of the building. The elevator is a lost cause; it has surpassed its usual life expectancy and the city will not fund a new elevator. In July there will be class for a maximum of 4 or 5 which will focus on researching one’s ancestry. This is a 4 week class. Call the Center for more information: 206 726-4926. Senior Trips A trip to Diablo Lake and Ross Dam is planned for July 27. One will learn about the history of the dam and participate in a boat tour on the lake from 11 to 2:30pm. An organic lunch is served. The cost for the tour is $38 and there is a maximum of 40 folks. As the lake is close to 3 hours from Seattle, there will be a van charge of $10 per person. Van leaves the Center at 8:30 and returns at 5pm. The Center has tickets for the Chihuly Glass museum at Seattle Center. Watch for new classes coming in the Fall: An 8 week mixed media art class which will focus on collage and print making. Begins in September on Mondays from 1:30-3:30. Maximum: 15 people. The popular A Matter of Balance class starts again in September on Fridays 10-12. This exercise program has a focus on preventing falls. Maximum: 18. Tai Chi: Monday 10:30-11:30 ~Diane Snell