Reader Frustrated Over Neighbor's Gardener Blowing Leaves Into His Yard

After our post last week about keeping sidewalks clear of wet leaves, we received this email from a reader:

On the topic of leaves, I also wanted to mention my "annual pet peeve". 

Just Thursday, I racked and swept all the leaves from our front and rear yard. Today one of our neighbor's had their lawn service attend to their yard.  

You can probably see this coming, but the yard service pulled out their blowers, and blew all their client's leaves into our front and back yard. 

Of course, I would be the bad guy if I returned the favor and blew the leaves back, so I will again be picking up all the leaves in my yard this weekend. 

So I would request that you do an article about picking up your leaves, and not just blowing them into your neighbors yard. 

 

Viva Farms Produce Delivery Starting In Laurelhurst Tomorrow

Siri, who lives in Laurelhurst told us about a produce delivery organization, Viva Farms, that will begin delivery service to the neighborhood starting tomorrow through the end of the year. She has enjoyed their door to door service and program that allows customers to choose their produce each week.

The pick-ups will be on 52nd Avenue NE as well as one on 40th Avenue NE for the weekly produce box where everything in it is grown in Washington State without the use of chemical-based fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides and delivered within 24 hours of being picked.

Viva Farms, located in Mount Vernon, is one of the nonprofit organizations that is part of  the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program,.

She told us that she is a volunteer with the CSA and also is involved in helping with a special program Viva Farms has launched in creating an incubator just north of Seattle where they have developed a bilingual program to train the next generation of farmers and to assist them in the transition to ownership of their own land to farm. 

This program focuses on providing future farmers with the ability to produce healthy, local produce on a small scale, which benefits our community, while also providing a program for small business owners for individuals who may otherwise be unemployed due to our current economic situation.

Siri told us that what makes Viva Farms' program unique is that it doesn't only focus just on a CSA program, but it is a nonprofit that provides training to members of our community that are looking for new sources of long-term employment. 

She adds, that in addition, they are fulfilling a need that is emerging as many farmers are reaching retirement and a large percentage of their family members are not in a position to take over for their parents.  By training new farmers to replace those that are retiring, Viva Farms is ensuring that local, secure sources of food are available in the community.

For more information about the program contact Gabrielle Santerre, Viva Farms Local Choice Food Box Program Manager, at 206-458-0264 or at gabrielle@growingwashington.org.

Viva Farms produce delivery display

Are You Interested In Hosting A French Foreign Exchange Student?

Arden, a Laurelhurst resident and Blog reader, sent us email that she is working on placing some French teenage students for 3 weeks in July with families in NE Seattle, specifically Laurelhurst.

She told us that she and her family hosted a student last year, through Connections, a Woodinville based International Homestay and Educational Exchange Organization, and enjoyed it and is now helping the group place the students this year. 

Connections, based in Woodinville, is currently placing students for the dates between July 12th and August 2nd. 

Arden  said logistically it makes a lot of sense to have all the kids in the same general area of Seattle, as the kids regularly gather to do excursions, and other outing and events, from the neighborhood. 

Arden said hosting a foreign exchange student is a great chance to experience another culture being a host. And the students look forward to practicing English that they have been learning the last few years as well as experiecing the American culture.

For more information Arden can be reached at erickson95@comcast.net or 206-650-6912.

Meditation Classes Offered At Union Bay Place

A reader sent us this email about regular Buddhist meetings nearby.


Here is the information:

Seattle Meditation Group Meeting, led by Rev Master Basil Singer, a senior Soto Zen monk for the past 21 years, meets every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30pm at the Ayurvedic Health and Massage Center (4516 Union Bay Place NE).


"He will show folks how to do Soto Zen meditation and how to live a daily practice that manifests this meditation," the website says.


All are welcome.  For more information  contact Rev. Master Basil Singer at 206-441-2934 (home) or 360-349-8025 (mobile) or call Geoff, the coordinator, at 360-556-1093 or email portybeach@hotmail.com.

Have You Seen This Lost Cat?

A reader sent us email that his cat, Roscoe, is lost. He was last seen on 41st Avenue NE and NE 45th Street near the park.

Roscoe is a black and white tuxedo cat who is about one years old. The owner describes him as "very playful and rambunctious."

A reward is being offered for finding the cat.

Please call  206-659-2098 if you have information.

Eaglet In Snowy Tree On East Laurelhurst Drive

A reader sent us this picture of an eaglet yesterday commenting: "This young eagle was perched on East Laurelhurst Drive. We have had lots of eagle action here, lately."

Digital Camera Found Yesterday Near Battelle

A reader let us know that she found a digital camera yesterday near Battelle.

It has pictures of 2 children and a golden retriever playing in the snow. 

Contact 524-1928 if it is yours.

Readers Past Memories of Buses and Cars Stalling On NE 45th Every December

Picture from Wednesday of this week

A reader sent us an interesting account of her memories of steep NE 45th every winter:

Some things never change!  I have always remembered being at Children's Hospital as a pediatric resident, when there was a big snow storm at the end of December/first of January. 

Several of us stood at the windows of the 0 - 6 months ward, which looked out onto NE 45th. 

The buses got stuck going up the hill or slid around coming down, as did most cars which tried it. 

So the blog brought back lots of memories! 

Middle School Age Boys in Laurelhurst Park Endangering Motorists Reader Reports

We received this email from a reader recently on the dangers of middle schoolers throwing snowballs at passing motorists:

I just came home from walking my dog in Laurelhurst Park between 1:30 and 2pm today (Tuesday). There was a group of 7 middle school (my estimate) boys throwing snowballs at vehicles passing between the park and Laurelhurst Elementary.

As I passed, I casually mentioned to them that that's not a good idea as there are little ones on the sidewalks just getting out of school and they could cause an accident where someone would get hurt. I continued on a little bit and they just pressed on. So I went back to them and very pointedly told them they must stop. I asked them if any of them were drivers (blank looks) and told them that that kind of distraction could easily cause an accident. I suggested that I was pretty sure their parents would not approve.

Most stepped back. One argued incoherently. They stopped momentarily. Then restarted awhile later. Saw me again. Then stopped. And then as soon as I left the park started up again. I called 911 amd made a report. But I'm pretty sure the cops have better things to attend to today. Seriously -- what a waste of resources.

Please talk to your kids. I get that they think throwing snowballs is harmless but in the wildly variable and changinge road conditions with people rushing around to get ready for snowpocalypse the consequences of such a simple action could be unexpected and tragic

Surber Drive Closed For Sewer Line Repair Until Tomorrow

A reader sent us email that Surber Drive is closed entirely and detour signs are posted due to repairs going on to a broken sewer line that has collapsed. .

The work is taking place specifically from NE 41st Street to Belvoir Place.

Seattle Public Utilities is replacing a 15-foot pipe and digging 14-feet deep. The reader told us that the site supervisor estimates that the street will be open by noon tomorrow, Saturday. 

"There are trucks all over the street and the workers are in the process of digging up the street.  They will replace the asphalt after completing the repair," the reader added.

Reader's Home Egged On Wednesday Night

We received this email from a reader:

I would like to report an incident in the Laurelhurst neighborhood.

On the evening of 08/10/2011, after 11 PM, in the vicinity of Surber Drive NE and Belvoir Drive a person or persons egged our home. The eggs landed on patio furniture, planter and window.

This incident has been reported to the Seattle Police Department. If you know any information that might help the police please call the non emergency number at 206 625-5011.

In sharing this info with family and friends it is important to emphasis that raw eggs can be very corrosive and cause damage to paint including cars, house and metal furniture.

Thank you for passing this on.

Reader's Email A Reminder To "Be Good Neighbors" After Incident Of Elderly Man Falling

We received this email from a reader who asked that it be posted to the blog as a reminder to be aware when others might need help in the neighborhood:

Last week a longtime elderly neighbor tripped on the sidewalk on N.E. 41st  and 42nd N.E. about 7:30 in the evening.  He blacked out, and received some cuts and bruises from this fall. After coming to, he was able to stumble home before calling another neighbor to take him to the emergency room at U of W.

Let’s remember to be good neighbors, and not make assumptions when we see someone who is “behaving in a unusual manner, or a manner not typical”. 

Best to call 911 and report a concern if you are wary of stopping or calling out…not just drive on by.  Parents might want to talk to their kids about the appropriate reaction and response to this type of situation. 

What makes this neighborhood so wonderful are the relationships that we have with  all of our neighbors. 

P.S. The neighbor who escorted him to the hospital stayed with him into the wee hours of the morning while his hand was stitched.

Reader Reports Ongoing Fireworks, Garbage, Drugs Going On At The Park

A reader sent us the below email voicing frustration over the lack of respect to the park as well as those living nearby,  presumabley highschool students are engaging in, at our neighborhood park.

We have done previous posts on this, one just last month about late night partying at the firepit, drinking and garbage left behind. The firepit signs are covered in graffiti.

The Park closes at 10pm daily and everyone is required to leave at that time.  Residents are enouraged to call 911 to report disturbances, especially those after 10pm in the Park.

Here is the reader's email:
I wanted to get the word out that we’ve found a bunch of lighters (like the longer BBQ type) as well as beer bottles in the park next to the power station. 

We regularly smell cigarette and marijuana smoke coming from that direction and have seen kids (only boys although that doesn’t mean girls haven’t been there) running up there with backpacks on (often coming on bike or scooter and even out walking their dog in daylight).  They tuck deep in the corner and have complete coverage. 

Currently there are broken beer bottles, in-tact bottles as well as a strong smell of urine. 

We also have had fireworks going off in the street intersection of 41st Street and 45th avenue regularly since before the 4th.  One night they set up a street cone and the fireworks woke most of my neighbors up at 1am while they went on and on.  We jumped out of bed but didn’t see anyone. 

If people are missing their junior high boys, I suspect they’d find them here… I’d guess these kids are junior high or early high school. 

List of Addresses For This Week-end's Neighborhood Garage Sale

This week-end is the first annual LaurelhurstNeighborhood Garage Sale on Saturday and Sunday from 9-2pm.

If you would still like to participate, just put some signs up directing people to your house.

Here is the list Katie, the neighborhood coordinator, sent to us and she said probably about 10 more houses will just be joining in:

• 4531 46th Ave NE
• 4411 55th Ave NE
• 4822 NE 41st St
• 4525 NE 41st St
• 4905 NE 40th St
• 4723 NE 54th St
• 3919 48th Ave NE
• 51st Ave NE/NE 44th St

Katie told us that she's posted signs in the neighborhoods surrounding Laurelhurst, as well as at Tully's, Starbucks, QFC and Metropolitan Market. She also requested the information be posted in various neighborhood blogs. She submitted an ad on Craigslist and she also paid for ads on Seattle Weekly and GarageSalesTracker.com.

Katie has also put large posters at the entrances to the neighhood listing all the addresses she's received so far as well as an arrow sign at the end of each person's street.

If people feel like they want or need more signage, then Katie said they are of course free to add, to ensure customers are able to find their homes easily (especially if they are on a 'hidden street').

Thanks to Katie for coordinating this big neighborhood garage sale. Hopefully there will be lots of shoppers and no rain.

Reader Recommeds Opening Your Door To An Interesting Solicitor

We received this email from a reader about Andrew, the knife sharpener, making the door to door rounds in the neighborhood:

After reading about so many posts on blog about people coming to the door soliciting was a little hesitant to open the door when this guy came, turned out to be a great decision!



Andrew, aka "Your Knife Guy", sharpens any/all knives, lawn blades, saws, axes while he sits on the front porch--totally convenient and the price can't be beat ($3/knife)!

He uses Japanese cutting stones, was trained by a master sharpener, very professional, and gives you an info paper so you can look online at reviews of his work.


Definitely open your door to Andrew when he comes knocking!

Laurelhurst Neighborhood Garage Sale Set For Week-end Of July 16th and 17th

Laurelhurst is having its first all neighborhood garage sale, thanks to reader Katie, whose idea we posted about a couple of weeks ago.

Several interested people contacted Katie followig the post and Katie has now set a date for the sale.

Katie writes "We are going ahead with the throw open the garage doors and see what happens!"

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just let Katie know your addreess and before the dale, put out some directional signs along with your for sale items at your home on the specific days of the sale, July 16 9am-4pm and Sunday, July 17 9am-2pm.

Katie and helpers may also put out additional directional signs around the neighborhood to help shoppers navigate between the garage sales at the various homes.

She says "I am hopeful that most people will be able to follow signs around the neighborhood and locate homes that are participating."

Katie's informational email being circulated says:

Start sorting your 'treasures' and use this as an opportunity to purge your home!


Great way for the kids to make a little spending money of their own for the summer--I tell my own kids that any old toys they sell, they get to keep the $$ (you'd be surprised how many old toys go out the door!).


Feel free to tell your friends and neighbors--everyone is invited to join in!

If you would like to participate please send us email at laurelhursblogger@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with Katie.

Neighborhood Garage Sale Anyone?

We recently received this email from a reader:

I'm newer to the neighborhood--wondering if Laurelhurst does a "Neighborhood Garage Sale" like many of the surrounding areas. 

I've got lots of things I need to purge and was wondering if any other people wanted to throw open their garages on the same weekend.

Please email us at laurelhurstblogger@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the reader.

Update On Post About Dangerous Intersection On Mary Gates Drive

Last month we did a post on drivers rolling through the stop sign on Mary Gates Drive and 48th Avenue NE, a key corner for the neighborhood.

A reader had sent in email alerting us to the many cars driven by fellow neighbors not adhering to the stop sign and causing a hazard for children walking to school, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Several readers left comments after the post:

"I couldn't agree more and I even have something to add. Crosswalks - drivers in our neighborhood seem to think that they only have to stop at a crosswalk when safety patrols are present both at Laurelhurst Elementary and at the Villa Academy. At other crosswalks around the park and schools drivers rarely stop. That is plainly dangerous for pedestrians, joggers and children using the crosswalks outside of school hours."

"Our prior neighbor's daughters car was totaled at this intersection due to this exact problem - the person literally didn't even slow down!"

"I thought your piece on driver behavior at the NE 41st /48NE intersection was good. I walk through that intersection every day on my morning walk and have noticed for years that most folks seldom come to a complete stop…..many don’t even slow down. So I watched with some interest this morning, after your blog, how things were going. Of seven cars I observed going through the intersection…………not one made a complete stop. Most drove through the intersection as if there were no stop sign. We have our work cut out for us."

Our staff emailed Peg Nielsen with the City of Seattle Communications Office about this intersection and who to contact and what could be done and she responded:

Given that there aren’t any visibility concerns with the stop signs and no reported collisions have been documented in the past three years, the intersection appears to be operating reasonably safely. However, we will ask SPD to consider conducting enforcement at the intersection, but absent a documented safety concern in addition to current budget limitations, they may not be able to accommodate the request at this time.

It is a four-way stop, so it’s important for both drivers and pedestrians, even when they clearly have the right-of-way, to not make assumptions about the other drivers’ behavior.  In particular, pedestrians crossing the street in any situation should seek to make eye contact with the approaching driver and to also assess what the vehicle is doing.  Are they very clearly slowing down for the stop?  Are they maintaining speed?  Has the driver seen them?  That’s the best way to avoid near misses.  This is a good habit for drivers, as well, before entering the intersection at either four-way stops or signalized intersections.

A few days later she emailed again saying:
According to Luke Korpi, Neighborhood Traffic Manager for the Seattle Department of Transportation, “It’s unfortunate people aren’t coming to a complete stop, but that’s strictly a behavioral issue that could be partly mitigated with additional enforcement. That said, we will pass on your concerns to the Enforcement section of the Seattle Police Department.”

Our staff also emailed SDOT and here is their response:

It is a four-way stop, so it’s important for both drivers and pedestrians, even when they clearly have the right-of-way, to not make assumptions about the other drivers’ behavior.  In particular, pedestrians crossing the street in any situation should seek to make eye contact with the approaching driver and to also assess what the vehicle is doing.  Are they very clearly slowing down for the stop?  Are they maintaining speed?  Has the driver seen them?  That’s the best way to avoid near misses.  This is a good habit for drivers, as well, before entering the intersection at either four-way stops or signalized intersections.

Reader Advises To Be Cautious About Air Pollution From Construction Projects

We received this email from an MD in the neighborhood:

The diesel fumes from the Children's Hospital construction equipment, combined with the air pollution coming out of the U District projects, is adversely impacting my health. My asthma is flaring, and my chronic illness is worsening for the first time in a year.

I would try to keep up the pretense that Laurelhurst has healthy air, but I don't want to become a shut in, or disregard everything I learned as a doctor, a specialist in public health and preventive medicine, a research epidemiologist, and a patient.


Which brings me to the topic of greatest importance. If you have small children, please consider driving them out of the neighborhood to play on days when the air looks or smells bad. Sulfur dioxide and other products of combustion synergize with allergens to cause asthma in children. I realize that driving away to play only adds to our pollution, but the air is already bad enough to cause health problems, even in adults, especially on sunny, breezeless days.

Drivers Rolling Through Stop Sign On Mary Gates Drive Posing Dangerous Hazard

A reader sent us an email regarding drivers on Mary Gates Drive not stopping completely at the stop sign posing a significant hazard to children, the elderly, joggers and all those on foot as well as bicyclists.

The reader strongly urges everyone to come to a complete stop so that there is not potentially an unfortunate accident at that intersection.


Here is the email:

I live on NE 39th Street and everyday I witness cars driving right through the 4-way stop at NE 41st (Mary Gates Memorial Drive) and 48th Ave NE. This is a key corner for our neighborhood. Many children walk to school and cross at this intersection. Children and their families make their way to Laurehurst Park via this spot. Neighborhood runners, bikers and walkers cross at this intersection morning, noon and night.


Despite the obvious high traffic, each day I witness people run their cars and trucks through the stop signs at each corner. Many people will do a "rolling stop" but more often, I have seen drivers simply not stop at all. What is so distressing is that those who don't make the stop are our very own neighbors. Yes, there are contractors and vendors who also decide to ignore the signs, but I have seen neighbors I know run right through as if the signs are optional.

On more than one occasion, I have very politely asked neighbors to make a full stop. On at least two occasions I have seen parents with children in strollers almost hit by their very own neighbors who ignore the stops. One day I followed a neighbor, driving a van full of children, and asked her why she hadn't stopped. She explained that she didn't even realize that she hadn't stopped. Not only had she put her own car full of children in danger, she also was a danger to those neighbors making use of the crossing.

Will it take a child, runner, adult or elderly neighbor to be injured, or even worse, before this trend changes?

Please, I implore our neighbors and friends to heed - really heed - the stop signs throughout our beautiful neighborhood. But, especially as you take the hills on 41st.