The FIFA World Cup came to Seattle this summer and one of the popular spots for a watch party was Leschi’s Bluwater Bistro. There were TVs outside on the patio and an 85-inch screen indoors with additional TVs set up indoors. And the crowds poured in. Owner Bart Evans said that for the final game between Argentina and Spain there were as many patrons as for the Seahawks Superbowl last January. Bartender Fran Martin researched drinks to match the competing countries. If you were a French fan you could order the Serendipity, an iconic apple-and-champagne cocktail created by head bartender Colin Field at the Bar Hemingway at the Ritz Paris. It wasn’t enough to get the French to the final, but Kylian Mbappe did come away with the Golden Boot for his ten goals when Lionel Messi failed to score against Spain in the final. Ingredients 3 sprigs of fresh mint 1 oz Calvados (apple brandy) 1.75 oz fresh apple juice Ice cubes 4 to 6 oz Brut Champagne And of course they served the World Cup traditional Goal-ito with Vodka, Thai basil, lime juice, and soda water. For the July 6 Belgium v US game, owner Bart Evans placed a Las Vegas wager predicting that the United States would defeat Belgium in a penalty shootout. If that unlikely finish happened, every guest at the bistro would have their tab paid in full—on the spot—using the bet winnings. It didn’t come to pass [pun], as Belgium took the victory 4-1, but the marketing ploy did draw in the crowds, and the hoots and hollering could be heard up and down Lakeside Ave. ~Anne Depue

Buster Simpson’s Plantings First in a series of occasional photo essays As we slide out of summer, let’s have a look at some of Leschi’s distinguished trees. Seattle has about 730 different kinds of street trees, which is to say, trees planted along a street right-of-way. This does not include trees in parks or on private property, categories we’ll also look at in coming articles. And I write “planted” advisedly: the last remaining original tree downtown was cut in 1879, and most of the city eventually followed, excepting parts of Schmitz and Seward parks, and very few other scattered locations. By 1910, the lumber and sawmill industries provided about 2/3 of the state’s jobs. Reforesting the city has been the work of over a century, but we are not keeping up. In the 1970s, 40 percent of Seattle was forested. By the 2010s that coverage had shrunk to 28 percent. The ongoing rush to build big Manhattan-style housing complexes, with 100 percent lot coverage, results in further loss. Even when there are statutory tree protections, they don’t seem to be taken seriously by either developers or those in the city government who are supposed to be enforcing them. The final story in this series will be a case in point. The question of the conflict between tree preservation and housing development is a fraught one. A couple of local stories have at least scratched the surface of this conversation: “Housing Versus Trees — Can We Have Both?“ Post Alley, August 13, 2023 postalley.org/2023/08/13/housing-versus-trees-can-we-have-both/ “In Seattle, preserving trees while increasing housing supply is a climate solution.” NPR, June 15, 2025 opb.org/article/2025/06/15/tree-preservation-housing-demand-climate-solution/ *** American Liberty Elm An American Liberty Elm was planted in 1996 in the traffic circle at 28th and Dearborn by long-time Leschi artist Buster Simpson and others. This variety is thought to be resistant to Dutch Elm disease, which, between 1930 and 1990, wiped out 75 percent of the iconic trees across the US. The elm specimen and three others started as young saplings from a 1989 installation done by the artist at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum. Simpson brought the four cuttings to Seattle after the DC show. Three were planted in Belltown as part of the “Urban Arboretum” project initiated in the 1980s. Two of those were destroyed when condominiums were under construction there. The third one lives to this day at First Avenue and Denny Way, and the fourth (above) is thriving here in Leschi. The Elms as youngsters *** On Charles Street just west of Yakima Avenue are four Douglas Fir trees. Not too hefty, the firs are unremarkable but for their number and their provenance. When less than a foot tall, they were part of the 1991 Buster Simpson exhibit “Effluence of Affluence” at the old Seattle Art Museum in Volunteer Park (now the Asian Art Museum). After that show, he planted and nurtured them in Leschi. For some other tree stories, see: “Secret Seattle” by Susanna Ryan, chapter on “Deep Roots: Trees of Seattle,” 2021 The encyclopedic “Trees of Seattle,” by Arthur Lee Jacobson, 1989, 2006 “Street Trees of Seattle”, by Taha Ebrahim, 2024. It has the advantage of being organized by neighborhood; none of us, however, would agree with the author’s definition of Leschi’s boundaries. To be continued Special thanks to Buster Simpson for his guidance on this article. Here he is with two of his Douglas Firs. ~Roger Lippman The author writes monthly about Leschi history and his experiences over more than 50 years in the neighborhood.

On July 19, neighbors, friends, and volunteers gathered at Powell Barnett Park for a community work party led by Maisha Barnett, continuing the shared commitment to caring for one of Leschi’s treasured neighborhood parks. Approximately 17 volunteers spent the morning pulling weeds, spreading mulch around trees, and patrolling the park for litter. The event brought together a wonderful mix of community members, including a Garfield High School student volunteer, descendants of the Barnett family, and members of the Seattle Daddy Stroller Social Club. A highlight of the day was the return of the Seattle Daddy Stroller Social Club to Powell Barnett Park to celebrate the group's one-year anniversary. The celebration included Molly Moon’s ice cream, Brooks giveaways, and a special appearance by the Buffalo Soldiers on horseback. Barnett extended a special thank you to Keenan Allen Ladd for helping bring the group back to the park for the occasion. The work party was also supported by Seattle Parks and Recreation crew members DeWright, Junior, and Justin, along with the Leschi Community Council. “I deeply value your continued support and our partnership,” Barnett said in thanking everyone who helped make the event a success. Community work parties like this one not only improve neighborhood parks but also strengthen the connections that make Leschi such a vibrant place to live. Thank you to all of the volunteers who gave their time and energy to help care for Powell Barnett Park! ~Maisha Barnett

After years of planning, construction on the South Leschi Moorage Improvement Project is expected to begin after Labor Day. The project, led by Seattle Parks and Recreation, will replace the aging dock and improve accessibility, helping preserve this important community asset for years to come. Construction was originally scheduled to begin in early May but was postponed in response to concerns raised by nearby businesses about the impact on their busy summer season. Since then, Parks has continued meeting with local businesses, community representatives, and City Council President Joy Hollingsworth's office to identify additional ways to minimize construction impacts while keeping the project moving forward. At a recent meeting, Parks staff outlined which aspects of the project are fixed due to engineering, permitting, and construction requirements, as well as the areas where adjustments could be made. Discussions focused on parking, pedestrian access, construction hours, and other ways to reduce impacts on nearby businesses during the approximately three-month construction period. In response to concerns raised by businesses, construction was shifted to begin after Labor Day and will include nighttime work to help lessen daytime impacts on businesses. Parks staff noted these changes have extended the construction schedule as well as the length of time it will take to complete the project. The change to fall and the nighttime work will also likely lead to further delays with weather challenges such as the impact on asphalting and the need for dewatering. Some of the construction cannot be completed in rain. Delayed construction has already significantly increased project costs, not including additional expenses associated with revised work hours and scheduling changes. To mitigate the impact to residents, the contractor will be required to follow extensive noise mitigation measures, including limiting overnight noise, reducing equipment impacts where possible, minimizing truck idling, and providing advance notice to nearby residents before construction begins. Nearby businesses expressed concern about the temporary closure of the adjacent parking lot during construction. The lot is owned by Parks and was built to serve park visitors. While state law does not allow the use of park parking for business purposes, Parks has, for decades, allowed customers of nearby businesses to use the lot to support the neighborhood business district. Parks said it will continue working to minimize impacts on local businesses while also meeting project requirements, maintaining public access, and completing the long-planned improvements safely. Businesses asked whether the parking lot could remain open by covering construction trenches with steel plates at the end of each workday. Parks staff explained that the project requires multiple utility trenches throughout the parking lot, making that approach infeasible from both a construction and safety standpoint. The South Leschi Moorage has long been a valued neighborhood destination, serving boaters, paddlers, park visitors, and the surrounding community. While construction will bring temporary inconveniences, the completed improvements will provide a safer, more accessible waterfront for everyone who enjoys this special part of Leschi. Please Support Our Local Businesses Construction projects can be challenging for everyone involved. During the construction period, we encourage neighbors to continue supporting BluWater Bistro, Leschi Market, and other nearby businesses. Your continued patronage will help these valued local businesses remain strong while the neighborhood works through this temporary disruption together. Once Parks has received a final plan of construction sequencing and parking changes, they will send updated plans and diagrams to relevant stakeholders including the Leschi Community Council. We will continue sharing project updates as construction progresses. What to Expect Construction begins after Labor Day Work is expected to last approximately three months Some parking and access changes are expected during construction Nighttime work will be used to reduce daytime impacts on nearby businesses The contractor must follow noise mitigation requirements The Leschi Community Council will continue to share project updates ~Nikola Davidson

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Vision Zero team has developed a first version of an improvement plan for Lakeside Avenue. This project aims to enhance safety and accessibility along this important corridor. Funded by the Transportation Levy and the District 3 Project Fund, the plan focuses on reducing traffic violations and pedestrian risks and improving the experience for all. The Leschi Community Council is gathering community feedback to shape the final design. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to share their thoughts by Tuesday, August 25th. The SDOT Vision Zero team will participate in a Leschi Community Council meeting on September 2nd at 7pm at Grace United Methodist Church to discuss the plan in detail. Overview of the Lakeside Ave Improvement Plan The Lakeside Avenue corridor serves a diverse group of users including pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and public transit riders. The Vision Zero team’s plan targets key safety issues identified through data analysis and community input. The plan proposes specific changes such as curb extensions, improved crosswalks, and traffic calming measures. These improvements aim to create a safer, more comfortable environment for everyone using Lakeside Avenue. How the Community Can Provide Feedback Community input is crucial to ensure the plan meets local needs and concerns. The Leschi Community Council has set up a feedback form where residents can share their opinions on the proposed changes. Filling out the feedback form is simple and takes only a few minutes. The deadline to submit responses is Tuesday, August 25th. This timeline allows the Vision Zero team to review comments and incorporate them into the plan before the September 2nd community meeting. Submit your feedback here (Link to the feedback form) What to Expect at the September 2nd Community Meeting The SDOT Vision Zero team will join the Leschi Community Council’s meeting on September 2nd to present the updated plan. This session will provide: A detailed explanation of the proposed improvements Responses to community feedback received by August 25th An opportunity for residents to ask questions and discuss concerns Information on the next steps and project timeline Attending this meeting will help community members stay informed and involved in the decision-making process. It also offers a chance to hear directly from the experts behind the plan. How to Submit Your Feedback To provide your feedback on the Lakeside Avenue improvement plan, please use the following link: Submit your feedback here (Link to the feedback form) Remember, the deadline is Tuesday, August 25th. Don’t miss this chance to contribute to a safer community.

As I sat down to talk with Inye Wokoma about the multimedia art center Wa Na Wari, I asked him what I thought was a simple question: how did you get the idea to start a multimedia art center here? The answer took an hour and a half. The story is fascinating. It begins in Arkansas where Inye’s grandparents and his seven siblings worked as tenant farmers. But then World War II came and his grandfather, Frank Green, served in the military in the South Pacific . As soon as he returned he decided to “get out of the South”: he moved to Seattle where his sister was working at Boeing as a result of desegregation to expand the work force during the war. He got work at a naval shipyard and bought his first house in the Central District for $7800. with owner financing. He bought a second house in1952 for $10,000 and rented it. He bought a third house in 1960s which he moved to and moved Inye’s great aunt into the first house. And so it went, he bought two more houses. The houses were “distressed,” but Frank Green knew how to fix them up. He moved his extended family into the four houses on 24 th ave. Inye’s great uncle lived nearby with his family. Meanwhile Inye, who was born in 1969 , spent a lot of time with his extended family and his grandfather, learning how to fix up the houses. As time went on gentrification threatened black home ownership in the neighborhood. Black owners were vulnerable because they were systemically underpaid and couldn’t get loans. When he died in 2010, banks, as guardians of the Green estate, began selling off the family homes. Luckily the bank decided to “offload” the loans in 2016 and Inye was named guardian by his family. He spent three years restructuring his grandmother’s finances. By now, the houses were down to two, the one in which Inye lived, and the house next door, what is now Wa Na Wari. Both were in terrible condition, but with the skills he learned from his grandfather he was able to do most of the work himself. Inye sees it as his life mission to save what his grandfather wanted, his vision of an extended family in the spirit of a community. At this point he was about to rent the house that would become the future Wa Na Wari in order to produce income to sustain his grandmother. But another path opened for him. During those years Inye worked as a freelance film and video photographer creating public information media for the government and social justice communities, He had many connections in the community. He was a founding board member at Langston Hughes Cultural Center and then its volunteer operating director He was also creating media for other non-profits. Then something else came together: the idea of a community art space as a result of working on a 1% for art project and the idea of community input in public art. Elisheba Johnson was a key inspiration for the project. She ran a café which included art exhibitions, music shows, poetry readings and creative gatherings. Elisheba was already deeply invested in the idea of collective creative work and as Inye said her “vision for cultural placemaking drives our growth as a cultural institution.” Jill Friedberg, co director of Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute, and Rachel Kessler, a writer, cartoonist, multi-disciplinary collaborator and educator who explores landscape and community also helped to put together a Creative Capitol grant to create a multimedia art space. Although they did not get it, the idea was born. Inye and Elisheba put together enough money to cover his grandmother’s expenses and formally rented the space under Elisheba’s non profit. So WaNaWari came into existence on a wish and a promise with the four friends as founding board members. They began Go Fund Me campaigns, asked for door donations, writing grants . But Inye emphasized that “nothing that happens here doesn’t connect to family.” It was the model of his grandparents’ generation, a large family supporting each other and creating community that motivates the interactions at WaNaWari. Since it its founding in 2019 it has expanded to include free meals, a program to help black people keep their homes, an oral black history program, an artist residence program, and a community garden. Many of these programs are in collaboration with local groups such as the Bloom Social Justice group, The Central Area Cultural EcoSystem, 21st Century (CACE 21), and the Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute. Elisheba organizes performances of music and poetry as well as art exhibitions. She invites local artists and established international artists in order to give visibility to artists here. She is deeply engaged with the idea of a collective creative community. Inye is realizing his grandfather’s dream of an interconnected community offering mutual support. Today it is not his family, but a wide network of like-minded people that is ever expanding. As is stated on their website : “The name Wa Na Wari evokes a sense of purpose and intention to remain present in a place we consider home. Wa Na Wari creates space for Black ownership, possibility, & belonging through art, historic preservation, & connection.”

Thank you to the many residents who have shared concerns and attended the recent meeting on this issue on Wednesday, May 27th. Many Leschi residents have expressed concern about recurring late-night gatherings in the South Leschi Moorage parking lot during warm-weather weekends. These events involve dozens of vehicles, amplified music, and large crowds. In addition to significant noise impacts on nearby residents, community members have raised concerns about reckless driving, racing, drunk driving, and other disruptive behavior occurring before and after the gatherings. Challenges Representatives from the Seattle Police Department (SPD), Seattle Parks & Recreation, Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth's office, and community members met on Wed. May 27th to discuss the issue and identify possible solutions. SPD emphasized that it takes these concerns seriously but faces significant staffing challenges. The East Precinct is currently short 17 officers. On weekend evenings, available resources are often prioritized to locations experiencing violence or other immediate public safety threats. Officers also face legal limitations: enforcement actions generally require officers to personally witness violations, and disruptive behavior often stops when police arrive. Seattle Parks & Recreation faces similar resource constraints, with responsibility for 485 parks citywide and approximately 20 Park Rangers available to cover them. One identified solution is that BluWater Bistro and nearby neighbors are pooling resources to hire an off-duty police officer during select weekend days in June. What the City Is Doing City departments are pursuing a coordinated, multi-pronged approach to address the issue: SPD command staff have elevated awareness of the problem among East Precinct leadership and night-shift supervisors. SPD is exploring whether support from the South Precinct may be available during peak times. Officers have been asked to provide additional attention to the area when staffing allows. SPD leadership will continue outreach to known car clubs and encourage alternative gathering locations away from residential areas. SPD parking enforcement options are also being evaluated where feasible. Long-term traffic calming measures intended to reduce speeding and racing activity are progressing and appear promising for implementation over the next year. Seattle Parks & Recreation has added the location to its Summer of Safety review process and will work with Park Rangers to gather additional information. Parks staff will review parking signage, environmental design improvements, and other prevention strategies that may discourage problematic activity. City representatives have committed to reconvening with community members in early July to assess progress and next steps. What Leschi Residents Can Do The most important thing residents can do is help document the scope and frequency of the problem. When these gatherings are occurring, call 911 and report the activity. While non-emergency reporting is often appropriate for noise complaints, City representatives advised that 911 calls help create the data needed to demonstrate the extent of the issue and inform resource allocation decisions. When calling, provide the location as: 201 Lakeside Ave S, Seattle, 98144 (marina parking lot). Multiple calls from different residents are helpful and help establish the scale of the impact. Consider participating in a neighborhood phone tree so residents can quickly alert one another when gatherings begin and ensure reports are made consistently. Businesses and residents with security cameras may consider participating in SPD's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) program, which allows camera feeds to assist investigators in identifying vehicles, license plates, and unlawful activity. Participation is voluntary, and access levels can be tailored to individual comfort levels. Continue supporting and communicating through the Leschi Community Council so the neighborhood can present a coordinated voice when working with City departments and elected officials. While there is no single solution, City departments and community members agree that early intervention, consistent reporting, and coordinated action offer the best opportunity to prevent these gatherings from becoming a larger long-term problem.

My husband and I have lived in and around the Leschi neighborhood for 18 years. When our son started kindergarten at Leschi Elementary in 2024, we felt connected to our community in new and exciting ways. And we knew how lucky we were to be a part of Leschi Elementary! Part of the magic that happens at Leschi is thanks to the funds the PTA is able to raise every year. As a mom of a now 2nd grader at Leschi and someone new to the PTA this year, I have seen the variety of ways this funding is thoughtfully and strategically used to support Leschi students and families. Money raised in this campaign not only enriches the school in the ways listed below, but it also directly supports Leschi families experiencing food and housing insecurity. As a Title I School, every dollar helps. We invite you to help us reach our goal of $100,000 for the 2026-27 school year to fund: Reading and math tutors, library, art, and physical education resources Recess aides Writers In The Schools program Community events Professional development and classroom reimbursement Scholarships for field trips and after-school enrichment Social-emotional learning programs The Leschi PTA Annual Giving Campaign (https://leschies.seattleschools.org/get-involved/fundraising/) is the largest and most important fundraiser of the year. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a big difference for the Leschi school community. Also, please consider taking advantage of any employer match opportunities. Leschi PTA is a nonprofit organization, and is eligible for the match that some employers offer. We asked a few Leschi leaders to let you know what the PTA funds mean to them: Alisa Rodgers-Taylor, Kindergarten Teacher, Leschi Elementary: Having funds from the PTA has made such a positive difference in our classroom! I use the money to buy supplies and materials to make our classroom an inclusive and accessible place for all students that the school doesn’t have the budget to buy. I use PTA funds for things like left-handed scissors, fidgets, weighted blankets for the calming corner, art materials, adaptive materials to support OT needs, basic hygiene materials (hair ties, bobby pins, wipes, etc. to help students do their hair), bins for our library, and diverse books. I also use the money to purchase materials to send home with students who might not have school supplies at home. Another way we use the PTA money is to support staff on long workdays like conferences. I’ve used PTA funds to make breakfast for the staff so we can enjoy a meal together and build community. This is one of our favorite conference traditions and it is thanks to the PTA that we can continue to do it! Genevieve Ramsey, Principal, Leschi Elementary: As Leschi’s principal I rely on the financial support of the PTA to ensure students receive a quality education in a safe and welcoming environment. The PTA support greatly enhances Leschi students learning experiences and provides needed enrichment beyond what the district provides. Several examples of critical PTA financial support: Arts Partnerships: PTA supports a partnership with local musician/drummer Aaron Walker Loud and Big World Breaks for 4th and 5th graders. Leschi does not have a music teacher. This partnership provides access to music and opportunities for future participation in drumlines in middle and high school. With additional funding, the PTA has supported primary partnerships with JazzEd and other music organizations. Writing Opportunities: PTA supports Writers in the Schools, a program that involves published authors teaching writing once a week for 11 weeks. Students create poetry and zines and have been invited to read their poetry at Seattle Arts and Lecture Events. 5th grade camp: The PTA supports outdoor education for our 5th graders, continuing a long tradition of providing this experience to all students at no cost. A state grant was cut and PTA support is the only way the experience of going to Islandwood, an outdoor education camp, is available to Leschi students. Recess supervision: Seattle Public Schools provides no additional funds for supervising the lunchroom and recess. Buildings must use their limited budgets to hire hourly employees. Having PTA funds allows us to provide adequate supervision for lunch and recess, which greatly supports teachers and students. Academic tutors: Leschi has a diverse range of learning needs. PTA funds pay for hourly tutors to provide both tutoring and enrichment to students across the learning spectrum. Field Trips: Many Leschi students have limited opportunities to explore the region. Field trips are a wonderful opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom. Field trip buses and entry fees can be significant and PTA financial support for field trips means extended learning is available to all Leschi students. Accessibility tools: Leschi has a large number of students who receive special education services. These students benefit from tools and sensory supports beyond what their special education programs provide. PTA has supported targeted materials like adaptive bikes and sensory supports that support engagement and inclusion at school. Classroom supplies: Building budgets for supplies are greatly limited. PTA provides grants to all staff, certificated and classified, to buy materials that support student learning in the classroom. As an elementary principal, I believe that the education of our young is greatly benefited by support from the wider community. Please join Leschi in supporting the Annual Give! We also welcome community members interested in volunteering on a regular basis. The Leschi PTA is excited to strengthen our partnership with the Leschi Community Council. Thank you for considering how you can support Leschi PTA this year and, we hope, for many years to come. ~Lynda Petersen

For more than 25 years, the Seattle SAKE Paddling Club has been a familiar sight on Lake Washington, with brightly colored dragon boats launching from Leschi’s south marina and paddlers training year-round on the water. Founded as Seattle’s oldest dragon boat club, Seattle SAKE has grown into a thriving nonprofit organization with nearly 200 members and programs that include dragon boating and outrigger canoeing. But ask members what keeps them coming back, and most will tell you it is about far more than competition. Paddlers often describe the combination of a great workout, the beauty of being out on the water, and the remarkable sense of community and teamwork that defines the club. Seattle SAKE welcomes paddlers of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels, with members ranging in age from their 20s into their 80s. Whether someone is a seasoned athlete or stepping into a boat for the very first time, the club emphasizes inclusion, encouragement, and camaraderie. While the club includes highly competitive teams, participation is not limited to experienced racers. Recreational paddlers are equally welcome, and the club regularly hosts “Dragon Boat 101” sessions on Saturdays for newcomers interested in trying the sport. Dragon boating itself is a fast-paced team paddling sport with deep cultural roots. Traditional dragon boats include 20 paddlers, along with a steersperson at the back of the boat and a drummer during races to help maintain rhythm and pace. Smaller competition boats include 10 paddlers and a steersperson. Seattle SAKE trains together as one club but competes in multiple divisions and age categories. The club’s accomplishments this year have been especially impressive. Seattle SAKE currently includes five paddlers from the USA elite national dragon boat team. Earlier this year, club teams traveled to Florida for the national competition, where two Seattle SAKE teams qualified for the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships taking place this August in Taiwan. Among those headed to Taiwan is the club’s inspiring Seattle SAKE Survivors team, made up entirely of cancer survivors. The mixed men’s and women’s team competes internationally and demonstrates the physical, emotional, and social benefits that paddling can provide. Also qualifying for Taiwan is the club’s C Class team, featuring paddlers age 60 and older. The club’s senior women continue to prove that age is no barrier to elite athletic achievement. Seattle SAKE’s D Class women’s team—composed of paddlers over age 70—took home gold at the national competition in Florida and will also compete on the world stage in Taiwan later this year. Beyond competition, Seattle SAKE is deeply rooted in community service. The all-volunteer nonprofit organization supports local social service agencies, participates in blood drives, and regularly joins volunteer efforts throughout Seattle, including shoreline work parties with the Leschi Community Council. Members say the club’s spirit of mutual support extends both on and off the water. The organization is also continuing to grow and evolve. In addition to its dragon boat and outrigger canoe programs, Seattle SAKE is currently working to develop a para-athlete boat, further expanding opportunities for participation in paddle sports. For anyone curious about joining, club members are quick to extend an invitation. In fact, many say if you stop to watch practice from the shore, chances are someone will encourage you to give it a try. For more information, visit clubsake.com. Paddles up! ~Nikola Davidson

March 28th was the first day that light rail transit began public service. It also was a day that cleared up a major life history issue for me. In 1980, a group of activists that opposed the official design of the expansion of the I-90 crossing of Lake Washington submitted over 27,000 petition signatures (we only needed 19,000 to qualify) for Seattle Initiative 21—which provided for a way to build transit and have fewer car lanes across the bridge through a federal highway provision called, "Withdrawal-and-Substitution." The method had already worked for Portland's Banfield Expressway Project—fewer highway lanes, coupled with the first link of Max light rail. The Seattle initiative would provide a way for the regional partners including Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and King County to agree to a better design of the highway project. Powerful interests challenged our Initiative in court. Astoundingly, our Initiative was nullified. For me, as leader of the volunteer signature-gathering effort, this virtually erased our work. Forty-six years later, I rode the first public light rail crossing. I slipped into the VIP line and onto the train. I was in the same car as Senator Cantwell. It was a glorious trip across the Lake. Moreover, I resolved a dark area in my personal memory. Here are some reflections on the history and issues of this project: The initiative did not propose a design; we proposed a process, as the initiative was a City of Seattle initiative but the design had to be based on regional agreement between Bellevue, Mercer Island, King County, and Seattle. We were encouraged that Mayor Charles Royer had already proposed a toned-down highway—six highway lanes, as opposed to eight, with light rail in the center. Did I get exactly what I wanted with today's freeway? No, I wanted fewer highway lanes. But, because of delays, some good elements were added: bicycle lanes and a lidded park in Seattle's Central Area. The key dream for me is there: the light rail line, and it appears to be well-designed (quiet and smooth). A missing part of the end result is public restrooms at the transit stations. In some ways, our initiative effort was a blip in the history, because the chief causes of the delay were a lawsuit by neighbors of the Seattle portion of the freeway expansion that was based on the State Highway Department trying to build the project without an environmental impact (EIS) plan. The Leschi Improvement Council (now Leschi Community Council) joined the lawsuit as a complainant. Our community council joining the suit was a "first"—the first time a community council was recognized as an affected party by federal courts. It took the Highway Department twelve years to establish an EIS that was satisfactory to the Federal District Court. For many years, we citizen activists were labeled as "obstructionists" who delayed and increased the costs of public projects; but the true villain of the delay in my mind was our own highway department which scoffed at the federal environmental protection act, then had to deliver. The highway was built with 90 percent federal funding, and provided rail tracks buried in the bridge. When years later, regional voters approved bond issues for the light rail system, the costs had to be paid mainly by regional citizens, though some funding was federal. I'll have to research how that worked but I think the federal involvement only supported planning costs. Our Initiative 21 helped in the sense that minds had to be changed. We were a car-based culture. Over time, we regional citizens became more open about and ultimately supportive of more efficient transit. My hope is that the debate about our initiative helped change minds. There is another complexity to the history—did we achieve the most efficient result? More costly heavy rail would provide more carrying capacity but it would be confined like light rail to a limited transportation corridor. Alternatively, a regional bus system would provide more immediate service in a broader area at lower cost but with less comfort and less attractive to commuters. Looking back, I would favor a regional bus system if we had more attractive buses (more like Microsoft's commuter buses) together with better cleaning and ventilation. Overall, I was blown away at how smooth, quiet, and visually stunning the ride on light rail across the Lake is. The ample view due to tall spacious windows made me forget the hard seats. Even hard seats were a plus by making cleaning easier. The experience of riding light rail across Lake Washington helps make this region an exceptionally beautiful place to be and there's the treasure. I recommend the trip to all. Pick a sunny day. ~John Barber

SDOT Presents Lakeside Ave Safety Plan to Leschi Community, Residents Push for Faster Action Seattle Department of Transportation officials outlined traffic calming plans for Lakeside Avenue South at the April 1st Leschi Community Council meeting, while residents voiced frustration over the pace of safety improvements in the neighborhood. David Burgesser from SDOT’s Vision Zero department and Adonis Ducksworth, Senior Transportation Policy and Operations Manager, led the presentation, which covered ongoing speed studies, upcoming project timelines, and broader funding context for safety improvements in the Leschi area. Funding and the Vision Zero Program The presentation opened with an overview of Seattle’s 2024 Transportation Levy, which allocates $70 million over eight years to support the Vision Zero initiative — the city’s effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The program funds safety redesigns on high-injury corridors, responsive safety projects at high-collision locations, leading pedestrian intervals at intersections, and traffic calming measures across the city. For Lakeside Avenue South specifically, Vision Zero has earmarked $300,000 for traffic calming and safety upgrades. What the Community Walk Revealed SDOT staff joined community members on a walk of the Lakeside Avenue South corridor in February to observe conditions firsthand. What they saw aligned closely with what residents had long been raising: drivers failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, speeding — particularly near the retaining wall by South King Street — and a complicated and confusing intersection at 35th Ave S, South Lane Street, and South Dearborn Street. Community members also expressed a desire for wider sidewalks, more and safer crossings, and stronger traffic calming measures overall. Speed Study Results Paint a Mixed Picture Two rounds of speed studies were conducted along the corridor. Data collected in November 2025 between East Yesler Way and South Leschi Place showed that 26% of drivers were exceeding the 25-mph speed limit, with the 85th percentile speed — a standard measure of prevailing free-flow speed — recorded at 26.8 mph. However, a follow-up study conducted in March 2026 at the same location told a more concerning story: nearly 66% of drivers were exceeding the speed limit, with the 85th percentile speed climbing to 28.9 mph and southbound drivers traveling noticeably faster than northbound. A separate March 2026 study between Lake Washington Boulevard and East Yesler Way showed 29% of drivers exceeding the limit, with an 85th percentile speed of 27.1 mph. A Long-Term Plan for Lakeside Avenue With $300,000 earmarked from the Transportation Levy, SDOT presented a project timeline for the comprehensive Lakeside Avenue South safety improvements targeting planning completion in 2026, design through mid-2027, and construction beginning in late 2027 and extending into 2028. A Parallel Path for Smaller Improvements While the comprehensive Lakeside Avenue South project works through the planning and design process, the District Project Fund offers a potential avenue for getting smaller-scale safety improvements — such as new crosswalks or intersection changes — implemented sooner. The Leschi Community Council has been working with Councilmember Hollingsworth’s staff to prioritize improving the cross walk between BluWater Grill and Leschi Market. Final project selections are expected by June 1st, with construction planned for 2027 and 2028. For residents frustrated by the long timeline on larger projects, the District Project Fund represents a meaningful opportunity to see tangible changes in the neighborhood on a shorter horizon. Progress Near Leschi Elementary Community member Emma Nowinski, a parent and PTA member at Leschi Elementary School, provided an encouraging update on school-area safety efforts. All-way stops and marked crosswalks have been installed at 31st and Spruce and 32nd and Spruce — improvements aimed at making drop-off and pick-up times safer and more orderly for students and families. Community Frustration Over the Pace of Change While attendees acknowledged the work SDOT is doing, the Q&A session surfaced a recurring tension: residents feel the city moves too slowly in responding to community requests for safety improvements, whether that means adding a crosswalk or evaluating an intersection for stop signs. SDOT panelists encouraged residents to continue channeling requests through the Leschi Community Council, which can consolidate concerns and bring them to the appropriate departments more effectively than individual submissions. However, the panel did not offer a clear explanation of how projects are prioritized once concerns are received — a gap that left a number of attendees unsatisfied. Ongoing engagement For street issues that need immediate attention, SDOT reminded residents that the Find It Fix It app and the city’s dedicated road line at (206) 684-7623 are available resources, with potholes typically repaired within 72 hours of being reported. Beyond those issues the Leschi Community Council will continue to work with SDOT to address traffic safety concerns of the community. We collect them, consolidate them and therefore can advocate more effectively than individuals reaching out SDOT. If you would like to raise a traffic safety concern, please fill out our feedback form, or email us at leschicouncil@gmail.com.

A. McLean Emenegger! That is the name of the dynamic director of the unusually titled AMcE Creative Arts gallery located at 612 19th Ave East. As I walked along 19th Street, its small storefront popped out with the ceramics by Sonja Peterson. The director herself was explaining the significance of several offbeat cookie jars by Ryan Kelly. It was clear that this dynamic woman was articulate! She told me she came from Los Angeles and had worked in all aspects of art for over 20 years. She began in television, ran a gallery, curated, career coached artists, edited an art magazine, worked in marketing, and makes art. And writes about it. Whew. Her goal is to bring people together for a shared human experience. The current exhibition is edgy, although its title would not suggest that. “Sacred” includes five artists: painter Niki Keenan, painter and ceramic artist Kendra Larson, ceramic artist Holly Hudson, experimental mixed media photographer Christine Nguyen, and mixed media artist Io Palmer. The theme of the exhibition is the intersection of humans and nature, but more than that the idea of sublime, the sense that nature is overwhelming and uplifting. The paintings in the exhibition seem to most directly express the sublime. Kendra Larson’s Tree of Knowledge and Niki Keenan’s Sunbeam Marsh are both landscapes, emphasizing trees with strange colors and light. Keenan’s painting emphasizes the sun breaking through a forest that is dense with tangled trees. Larson’s Astral Slugs feels more like swamp trees. In the sky are “astral slugs”—large slugs curling around the blue sky. I just came from the new exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum “Mystic Modern” which suggests the intersection of especially surrealism with the earlier well known “mystics” like Mark Tobey and Kenneth Callahan. I see the same intersection here, only more removed from classical surrealism. These artists are surreal in their own original way. Christine Nguygen’s “Deer Spirit.” Archival pigment ink on Entrada Moab paper with salt crystals, 40” x 33” Christine Nguyen creates magic with a unique technique. She draws and paints on both sides of a negative (her background is in photography). She overlays the two sides and photographs them, then prints it. She then immerses it in a salt bath which adheres serendipitously to the surface. The result is a sparkling image. My favorite is Deer Spirit in which the deer’s antlers become a tree and echo the tree-like form nearby. As articulately explained on the website: “The pieces fluctuate between the micro and macro-worlds while connecting the flora and fauna to the celestial heavens of stars and planets as part of her ongoing investigations of our connection to the natural world” (AMcE Creative Arts). Holly Hudson is a bigger stretch to connect to “the Sacred” or the sublime. Her ceramics are pure fantasy, though: Jerome’s Lion is a young lion covered in flowers. Rooted features a ceramic foot with a thick tangle of roots growing out of its sole. Green Man has a face half covered in flowers, and The Seer is a large eye surrounded by flowers. What these ceramics have in common (they are both glazed and unglazed) is a sense of eerie fantasy. Io Palmer’s “The Cut Through,” 2026 – installation view detail. Ceramic, glaze, painted wood, metal brace, wire, plexiglass, size variable (installed 43 x 81 x 12 in.) Io Palmer’s work achieves the “sacred” in an entirely different way. She creates a combination of glazed ceramic shapes that become clusters of organic forms as they seem to move in clusters across a wall. She has spoken of her open, winding forms as transforming and liberating, overcoming the restrictions she has experienced as a woman of color. The work speaks of flowering branches that are clustered in segments. They do not relate to a specific natural form, but to a sense of nature as freeing. She lives in the Palouse and teaches as a Professor of Art at Washington State University where the landscape is open and has few trees or shrubs. She seems to be creating that in her work as well. To return to the gallery and its director, the location of AMcE Creative Arts, far from other galleries, seems to liberate the owner to pursue her own path. She said people drop in all the time—her neighbors are her friends, but she does not participate in art walks. You are in for a treat when you visit this gallery. The next exhibition is a selection of her gallery artists. You can preview them on the gallery website. I am not familiar with most of them but it is clear that A. McLean Emenegger is bringing an entirely new vibe to our small Seattle art scene. ~Susan Noyes Platt, PhD. Art Historian and Art Critic artandpoliticsnow.com