Volunteer On Green Seattle Day Tomorrow



The annual "Green Seattle Day"is happening at 17 parks City-wide in an effort for the public to help restore the parks on Saturday from 10-2pm by planing native trees and shrubs and removing invasive species.

The closest get together to Laurelhurst is an area of the Burke-Gilman trail across 6501 58th Ave NE.

The information says:

Without a coordinated effort, Seattle is at risk of losing 70% of its forests in just 20 years. 

Green Seattle Day is a celebration of Seattle’s 2500 acres of forested parks, the committed neighbors who care for them, and the kick-off event for the 2012-2013 restoration planting season. We supply all tools and supplies. So, grab a water bottle, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to have fun in the forest!

 

 

For more information and complete list of participating parks go here. 

Large Group Of Parent Volunteers Install New Addition At Laurelhurst Elementary's North Playground

Parent volunteers at work on Saturday

Thanks to the nineteen parent volunteers who worked for 5 hours on Saturday installing a new ADA compliant addition to the north playground as part of the North Playground renovation going on this summer.  Also installed last week was an ADA ramp and ADA chips have been delivered to be put down.   

Catty, with the Laurelhurst Elementary School Playground Renovation Committee, told us that the playground will also receive a new asphalt surface as well as lines on the entire grounds sometime in early August.

Catty told us in a previous post that "We are fortunate to have received a Department of Neighborhoods Matching Funds Grant to help us with our project."  Seattle Children’s Hospital made a donation of $5,000 to the renovation.

Fundraising for the north playground has been ongoing for several years, with previous ice-cream fundraisers, a golf tournament last fall and the year before, both at the Sand Point Country Club, and a gear sale held last spring.

The south playground renovation was completed 2 years ago and has been enjoyed not only by students, but also by the community with its new equipment and re-surfacing.

North playground currently under renovation

Candy, Prizes And Volunteers Needed For Upcoming April Egg Hunt At Community Center

Coming in just a few weeks, on April 7th at 10am, will be the very popular Spring Egg Hunt at Laurelhurst park for ages 12 and under.

And to make it as successful as past years, Cara Brown, the new Recreation Coordinator, is soliciting donations of candy to fill the eggs and and small items for the prize baskets. Cara also is looking for volunteers to help during the event.  Interested high School students will get volunteer credit.

Last year's hunt was a huge success thanks to the many volunteers who contributed candy and their own time in helping to organize and staff the event.  Over 200 eager kids filled their baskets with candy and small toys.

Cara told us that candy donations should be individually wrapped and fit in the plastic eggs.   Items for the prize baskets for ages 3 and under should not pose a choking hazard and for ages 4-10 could be such items as chocolate bunnies, sidewalk chalk, stuffed bunnies, any leftover birthday party prizes that people may have around the house such as bubbles, etc. 

Candy can be dropped off at the Community Center  Monday – Friday between 9-2pm by March 26th and prize items until a few days before the event.

Cara says "Thank you to those in the community who have helped this event be successful in the past.We cannot do it without you and appreciate your continued support!"

To sign up to volunteer and for more information contact Cara at 684-7529 or cara.brown@seattle.gov.

Volunteer Naturalists Needed For Seattle Parks

Volunteer Naturalist helping a young volunteer plant a tree.

The City is looking for volunteers to join the Seattle Volunteer Naturalist Program  to "share their love and knowledge of urban nature with park visitors."

The program consists of 10 weeks of training and a commitment to providing 12 programs a year at Environmental Learning Centers and in parklands near schools throughout Seattle. 

The information says:

Are you interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of Seattle’s many public green spaces and parks? If so, you are the perfect candidate for the Seattle Volunteer Naturalist program. Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Volunteer Naturalists provide hands-on learning opportunities for school groups and nature programs for families and adults at Discovery Stations, destination locations throughout parks that present visitors with a theme and natural objects that help them discover their backyard parks.

For example, volunteers would have a spotting scope at Bald Eagle nest locations and at Green Lake Park so visitors could follow the nesting cycle of Bald Eagles or Pied Billed Grebes. Another is a station at Me Kwa Mooks Beach or Discovery Park Beach with shells and information about intertidal creatures. One could be a Forest Station to introduce people to the many plants, mammals and birds that make the forested parklands home.  

Volunteers’ backgrounds are as varied as the students they teach - the common thread is their desire to share nature with the greater Seattle community.

The goal of the Seattle Volunteer Naturalist Program is to enhance, promote and foster appreciation of nature by connecting citizens and students with their Seattle parklands, by providing educational opportunities for all. 

Deadline for applications is tomorrow and training begins on March 8th.

For more information and application go here or email Penny Rose at penny.rose@seattle.gov or call 206-386-4250. 

(photo courtesy of Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Tonight: Volunteers Needed For Heavy Lifting At Salmon Bake

Kathleen, with the Laurelhurst Community Center Advisory Council, asked us to put out a call for  "2-4 strong older teens or adults to help lift the large grills covered with salmon off of the fire" at tonight's Salmon Bake at Laurelhurst Park.

Kathleen told us that the volunteers will be needed from about 4:30 or 5:00 PM, until about 7 or 7:15pm.

If you can help, contact David Jensen 206-214-6145 or by email (David.jensen@seattle.gov).

Easter Egg Hunt A Big Success Thanks To Neighborhood Volunteers and Now Time To Volunteer For Putting On The Summer Salmon Bake

It was a big turnout for the popular neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. Kids gathered by age group to find the many, many eggs that the Easter Bunny had hid in the park.

Many lucky kids found a paper with "prize" or "basket" written on it in their eggs and exchanged those papers for cool prizes and colorful baskets filled with toys and goodies. Kids squealed with excitement opening each and every egg and being suprised by what was in there.

The Easter Bunny walked around shaking hands with kids and was in many a picture.

Thanks to Cheryl and David, with the Seattle Parks Department, for coordinating the Egg Hunt. And to the many neighbors who dropped off candy and toys to fill the eggs with and also to the 12 or so volunteers who showed up early that morning to make the event such a great community event for the neighborhood.

Inside the Community Center was a letter from the Community Center Staff saying "We are pleased to offer the egg hunt this year and could not have one it without the community support and donations. Thank you to all who contributed and to the volunteers who stepped up."

Despite the budget cuts to the Community Center the neighborhood rallied and made it just as fun as ever.

David's next big project is gaining support to continue the annual summer Salmon Bake "with some new twists"the letteer said. And to do it, community involvement will again be needed, starting with putting together a planning group right away.

Regarding what the status of the Community Center, the letter said "The staff of Laurelhurst Community Center wants to let you know that we are still open and programming and activites are still happening. We need the community to check us out."

"There is also availabe space and time for more programs too but we need your support, input and involvement. We need community members to participate on the Laurelhurst Advisory Council."

Contact David at david.jensen@seattle.gov if you'd like to discuss how to get involved, call 615-0140 or sign up at the Community Center.

 Cheryl Brown and David Jenson, coordinators of the Egg Hunt, with Seattle Parks and Recreation

Kids gathering in groups by age

 Preschoolers ready for Egg Hunt (photo courtesy of reader, Nina)

Very young ones ready for egg hunt (photo coutesy of reader, Nina)

 Looking for eggs!

 Kids turning in prize papers found in eggs for cool prizes and baskets

 Full playground after the Egg Hunt

UDistrict Food Bank Sets Up Unique Program To Include Nearby Neighborhoods

Evan, from the University District Food Bank, sent us email about a new grocery delivery program launched last month, for surrounding neighborhoods, including Laurelhurst. 

This goal of this program is "to reach homebound seniors who are in need of food with groceries delivered to their door," Evan says.

He says they are in the process of trying to get the word out to the community about this new opportunity, not only to take on new clients but also to find volunteer drivers to help make the deliveries, which go out on Wednesdays.

If you are interested or would like more information, contact Evan at 206-523-7060 or evan@udistrictfoodbank.org.

NE Design Review Board Seeking Two New Members

A reader sent this into us about another interesting volunteer opportunity in our area.....

Members are being sought for City Design Review Boards, which are administered by the City of Seattle's Department of Planning and Development.

The deadline for applications is December 10, 2009. Applications can be downloaded here.

The Northeast Design Review Board has openings for two representatives: a design professional and a development interests representative.

Board positions will open on April 4, 2010 when retiring board members’ terms expire. Each 5 person Design Review Board holds public meetings twice a month during the evenings to evaluate development projects based on the City’s design guidelines.

"The City of Seattle's Design Review Program provides a forum for citizens, developers and the City to review and guide the design of qualifying commercial and multifamily development projects." the City website says.

The board reviews mixed-use developments, multifamily housing and commercial projects of varying sizes.

Serving on one of Seattle’s Design Review Boards offers an opportunity to provide guidance to the design of lots and lots of individual projects in the city and to also stay on top of and be aware of development activity in the neighborhood.

Contact Tom Iurino, DPD Planner, at 206-615-1457 or tom.iurino@seattle.gov for more information.

Thanks to one of our readers for the notice.

Looking for Long-Term Volunteer Opportunity?

Are you looking for a way to volunteer?

The Mayor is looking for three new volunteers for the city’s Pedestrian Advisory Board. The Board has 11 regular members and was started in 1993 by a temporary resolution and plays an influential role in implementing Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan.

The board advises the mayor and City Council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies and makes recommendations among many other tasks and goals listed here.

Board members serve a two-year term, with an opportunity to serve a second term. The volunteers are usually frequent walkers of all ages, various levels of mobility and from many neighborhoods throughout the city. Board members must live in Seattle and can't be City employees.

The PAB meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., James and Cherry streets.

If you’re interested, submit your resume and cover letter explaining your interest by December 16th to: Brian Dougherty, Seattle Department of Transportation, 700 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3900, P.O. Box 34996, Seattle Washington, 98124-4996, or via e-mail to brian.dougherty@seattle.gov.

For more information call Brian Dougherty can be reached at (206) 684-5124 or by e-mail.

Good luck!