Check Out Neighbor's Extensive Holiday Lights Display At Corner Of NE 41st Street And 42nd Avenue NE

4103 42nd Avenue NE

            

Don't miss checking out the holiday lights and displays at the corner of of 42nd Avenue NE and NE 41st Street, home of the Rupps.

Jim Rupp was born and raised in Laurelhurst. His parents lived in the neighborhood from 1938 to 1986. Jim bought the house in 1983 and lives there with his wife, Susan.

The Rupps told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that the work to decorate the house begins around Thanksgiving when Jim starts assembling everything in the garage and testing lights. It takes about three weekends to get everything prepared, up and working.

The display includes: Icicle lights along the gutters, 3 deer, 3 snowmen, two stars, a shooting star, 3 wreaths, 3 Christmas trees, a little moose, 2 polar bears, lighted candy canes, a Santa, a collection of net lights, and lots of other lights.

"Jim stays off the roof, so no decorations there, and we don’t include inflatables," the Rupps said.

The tradition of decorating the house started before  their kids were born, prior to 1996, when they had just a few outdoor lights.

"Then Jim inherited a long ladder from his parents, and in 2000 when we remodeled the house got longer and we added more outdoor outlets and built the raised garden. The display gradually grew and grew," the Rupps said.

The display has evolved over the years and a basic plan is drawn out on a set of house drawings left over from the construction of a new addition.

"Every year the arrangement changes a little, mostly on a whim or because older pieces no longer work. In many years we’ve added a new piece. Last year it was a snowman. This year it’s a new deer. In many cases pieces have been early Christmas gifts from Susan’s mom," the Rupps added.

The Rupps also told the Laurelhurst Blog staff :

People always ask how it affects our electric bill. We don’t pay any attention to that. It would take some of the fun out of it. We enjoy looking out the window and seeing cars slow down as they pass.  

When the kids were young we’d invite a group of friends and their kids over for the first lighting. Jim would turn on the lights, then the kids would all come outside and see them for the first time. Many children remember the display from the year before and can point out what’s new or what we’ve done differently.  

Many times at neighborhood parties when we talk with people we don’t know, they ask where we live. Once we say it’s on the corner at the bottom of the hill, many say, “Oh, you’re the house with the Christmas lights!” At one party a dad called his little boy over to meet Jim. The kid was impressed. It was pretty cute.

The Rupps don't decorate for other holidays "except for a seasonal flag."

The house is located at 4103 42nd Avenue NE.

If you know of other houses in the neighborhood that neighbors would enjoy seeing, please send the information to laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com

Roosevelt High School Jazz Nutcracker Tickets On Sale

Tickets are on sale now for Roosevelt High School Jazz Nutcracker held on December 3rd and 4th.

The Roosevelt Jazz Nutcracker is based on the Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, a 1960's take on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, who reworked the Tchaikovsky tunes into swinging versions, such as "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" becomes "Sugar Rum Cherry" and the "Arabian Dance" transforms into "Arabesque Cookie."  The award-winning Roosevelt Jazz Band is fortunate to have the rights to perform this arrangement.

A Roosevelt Jazz Parent told the Laurelhurst Blog that several of the students in this band  participated in music at Laurelhurst Elementary School level. The Laurelhurst Elementary band contingency includes on trumpet, seniors, Ben Sahlin, and Thomas Hinds, and sophomore, Carter Eng  and playing the saxophone, Junior, Xander Johns, along with Juniors Jonah Harper and Cormac Liotta, who both play bass in the band, and Nick Swedin on guitar.  

The band travelled to Europe last summer performing in France and Italy, the latter playing in the  Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia.  Last month the band opened for the Jazz at
Lincoln Center Orchestra at The Paramount. Students had the opportunity to talk with Wynton Marsalis, as well Walter Blanding, Vincent Gradner, and many other exceptional jazz musicians. The Band will travel to New York in the spring to compete in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and hope to see Marsalis and his band.  The band also played with Roosevelt Alum drummer, D’vonne Lewis, as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival.  And later this month, a “Combo” made up of Roosevelt Jazz students will perform with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra at Benaroya Hall.

"We hope you will make the Roosevelt Jazz Nutcracker part of your holiday tradition. They are excited to perform this show, a great Seattle holiday tradition," one of the event coordinators said.

Performances are held at the Roosevelt High School performing Arts Theatre(1410 NE 66th Street) on Saturday, December 3rd at 7:30pm and Sunday, December 4th at 2pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for seniors and students.

For more information and to purchase tickets go here.

Special Invitation To Neighborhood Children To Be In St. Stephen's Christmas Play

pageant last year

 

 

Anna Kinney, a Laurelhurst mom who attends St. Stephens Church (4806 NE 45th Street), invites children to partipate in the church's pageant on Christmas Eve at 4pm. 

She writes:

A special invitation is extended to all neighborhood children, regardless of faith, to be in the pagent which will re-enact the story of the first Christmas and the congregation will join in singing favorite carols. 

Casting is for cherubs, sheep, manger animals and more. Casting and a short rehearsal will be on December 22nd.

Email Anna by December 8th if you have a pre-k through 5th Grader who would like to participate at annakinney@live.com.

City Yard Waste Christmas Tree Pick-Up Through Sunday

 

 

Seattle food and yard waste subscribers can leave Christmas trees and greens curbside to be picked up through Sunday. The trees will be turned into wood chips or compost.
 

The trees need to be cut into sections of six feet or shorter with branches trimmed to less than four feet to be able to fit into the collection trucks.
 

Each section should be bundled with sisal string or twine, not plastic
 

Decorated, flocked and plastic trees are not recyclable, and will be charged as extra garbage. 
 

Trees not higher than eight feet long and free of decorations, can also be taken to the North Recycling and Disposal Station (1350 North 34th Street). The station is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Five Laurelhurst Residents Perfoming In The Nutcracker

Eleanor pictured in green at left

We have learned that five girls from Laurelhurst are currently performing in the Nutcracker  at McCaw Hall. Two attend Laurelhurst Elementary, one is at Seattle Prep, and the other two are at Hamlin Robinson and UCDS.

One of the dancers, Eleanor Pearson, who is a student at Villa Academy,  sent us her interesting account of performing in the Nutcracker:

This year, I am so excited because I am in PNB's production of 'The Nutcracker' again.  I have loved every minute of the audition, the rehearsals and the performances. 

I am cast as one of the two teenagers this year - we are Clara's friends in the Party Scene, and we dance with her as well as with the other party guests.  My dress is green, my shoes are green (they have to be specially dyed to match the dress) - and my headpiece is green too.  My hair is in ringlets: I won't let my mom do it of me because she always hurts me when she does it, so some of her friends had to learn how to do it so they can do it instead!  We use loads of really strong hairspray, which keeps the curls in, but makes your hair feel like straw. 

The 'Nutcracker' is a great show for all ages - the scenery, costumes, music and (of course) the dancing are all beautiful.  I guarantee you will love it.  

Eleanor is performing in one of 200 roles danced by students and professionals in the annual show created by Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell with sets and costumes by internationally famous author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. 

(Photo courtesy of Angela Sterling) 

Holiday Recycling And Garbage Tips From Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities posted some holiday recyling tips for customers:

Seattle residents can always recycle as much as they want at no extra charge. Simply put additional recyclables in sturdy bins or boxes next to your recycling cart on your regular collection day.

Remember to flatten empty cardboard boxes and do not put recyclables inside of bags.

Carts need to be put out by 7 am on collection day.

Common holiday items that go in Recycling:
• Clean pie tins, plastic deli/veggie trays and lids (wider than 3 inches), empty eggnog cartons, paper, plastic and metal cups, bottles, cans, jars, and tubs; catalogs, greeting cards, envelopes, cardboard, clean aluminum foil, gift wrap, plastic grocery bags (bundle and tie together) and glossy/shiny shopping bags (reduce waste and bring your own reusable shopping bag instead).

All food scraps and yard clippings can go in your Food and Yard cart, including:
• Figgy pudding, fruitcake, mistletoe, wreaths, bones, meat, cheese, seafood, fruit and vegetables. Paper bags and napkins can also be composted, as well as greasy cardboard pizza boxes.

For  Drop-off Recycling Locations for hard-to-recycle items go here  and click on “How do I dispose of this?
Items include:
• TVs, cell phones and other electronics, as well as Styrofoam, batteries and other items.

Holiday items that go in the Garbage include:
• Ribbons and bows, burned out holiday lights, alkaline batteries and Styrofoam packaging.
• Fats, oil and grease should be placed in a lidded container and placed in the garbage.

Community Carol Sing A Long On Sunday At St. Stephens Church

Les Martin, Director of Music, as well as organist and choirmaster, at St. Stephens Church (4805 NE 45th Street) would like to invite the Laurelhurst community to their annual old-fashioned carol sing around the organ at 4pm on Sunday followed by refreshments.

He says "We hope that many of our neighbors will come and enjoy being in each others' company as we sing traditional seasonal carols, and adjourn for refreshments and conversation following."

Les will also play some short improvisations on carols and talk about how the mechanical-action pipe
organ works.

Another Package Taken From Porch Near Laurelhurst Elementary School

A reader sent us email that a package, delivered by FedEx, that was left at his house in the 4700 block of 46th Avenue NE near Laurelhurst Elementary School  was apparently taken from the porch on Saturday the 18th. 

The reader verified with the vendor that the package had indeed been delivered to his porch.  Fortunately the vendor agreed to send a replacement though it won't arrive by Christmas. 

The reader added "We wanted folks to know there is, perhaps, a problem with packages on porches."

As we posted last Wednesday, Laurelhurst Community Club Crime Prevention, has received several reports of UPS packages taken from porches. The persons alledgedly taking the packages are believed to also be taking large items, so they may not be on bike but perhaps using a car or larger vehicle.

LCC suggest that if you will not be home to have a neighbor immediately bring the package to their house.  And always report suspicious behaviour immediately to 911.

Join In Neighborhood Caroling Tomorrow Night

Several readers have volunteered to organize a neighborhood caroling at 6:30pm tomorrow night for some fun holiday cheer.

Meet in front of Laurelhurst Elementary School and join neighbors for some caroling around our neighborhood streets of favorite holiday songs. Kids especially welcome.

If you will be there please let us know at laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com or just show up.

(Clipart courtesy of clipartheaven.com)

Holiday Art Fair and Winter Festival Friday and Saturday With Special Visit From Santa at the Community Center

This Friday and Saturday is the Laurelhurst Holiday Art Fair and Winter Festival at the Laurelhurst Community Center.

There will be artwork by local artists, several who live in Laurelhurst, live music including jazz, classical, and holiday, holiday crafts for kids, refreshments, and a silent auction to support Laurelhurst’s pottery classes for kids with disabilities.

There will be two special events as well:

· A luminary walk and marshmallow roast (Friday, 6-8 p.m.)

· A visit from Santa (Sat. 11 a.m.- Noon)

For a listing of the featured artists and schedule for live music, go here and click on the flier.

The hours are Friday from 1- 8:30pm and Saturday from 10-3pm.

Admission is free and a canned food donation for a local food bank is appreciated.

UW Forest Club Selling Organic Christmas Trees

This in from one of our readers....

"Organic Christmas trees are hard to find, and the UW School of Forest Resources is having their annual fundraiser selling cut trees from a “small family owned christmas tree farm. The trees are grown using no pesticides and other chemicals, but are not certified organic," reader Lara tells us.

The trees are Noble firs and are 6-8 feet tall for $45.

This Friday, December 4th is the order deadline and the trees will be cut on the following day, Saturday, the 5th.

Your tree can be picked up on Sunday, December 6th from 8am to 3pm at the Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH) 3501 NE 41st street. Seattle, WA.

All proceeds will benefit the University of Washington Forest Club, The Society of American Foresters UW chapter, and the Dead Elk Society.

Here is the information and order form.