Friday Neighborhood Business Holding Holiday Donation Drive

Summit Capital Partners, a Real Estate investment and Development company, owned by Laurelhurst resident, Jim Thorpe, is having a Holiday Donation Drive on Friday at their office, formerly Pro Robics (3803 NE 45th Street), from 8am-6pm.

Donations for new toys and outerwear will be accepted to benefit the patients and families of Seattle Children’s Hospital. Those that donate will be entered into a raffle to twin 2 VIP Glass Seats to a Seattle Kraken game in 2022. The winner will be announced on Monday.

The community can also donate online.  Go here for more information. 

Thorpe purchased the Pro Robics building in November of 2019 for $7.6 million, according to King County records for his headquarters. The seller was Aerobics Building LLC, which acquired the corner property in 2004 for $3.1 million.

ProRobics closed last year after 30 years in that location.

Jim Thorpe told the Laurelhurst Blog that his company purchased the building to renovate and have their corporate headquarters and it will be fully occupied for commercial use. The space underwent some remodeling. Approximately 30 staff are working in the offices of the real estate investment company.

Annual NeighborhoodTurkey Trot Fundraiser

The 9th Annual Laurelhurst Turkey Trot, open to all ages, is happening on Thanksgiving Day. 

Here is information provided by the Larsons, who plan the even every year:

It’s become a neighborhood tradition and gets bigger every year. Last year we had over 300 runners and walkers take part in the Laurelhurst Turkey Trot!  

And this year we’re keeping the Laurelhurst Turkey Trot tradition alive, but adjusting the format a bit due to the pandemic.   

This year, we will conduct the Turkey Trot in an “open house” style, where participants can show up and start the Trot anytime between 9-11am.   A course of of the  5K Fun Run/Walk that zig zags through Laurelhurst will be handed out as well as a raffle ticket for one of 10 pies donated by Metropolitan Market.  

The Turkey Trot begins and ends at the NE corner of Laurelhurst Park by the overpass.  Bring your family, dog, or pet turkey and be prepared to burn some calories and have good time before the Thanksgiving stuffing.  

We ask that everyone wear masks if in crowds and maintain 6 feet or more distance from those not in your immediate family.  There will not be a mass group start or gathering at the end.

We will collect non-perishable food or cash/check donations for the University District Food Bank.  

Hope to see you Thanksgiving morning!

For questions, contact Brian Larson at brianjonlarson@me.com

Donate Now To Laurelhurst Elementary Funding Futures Annual Campaign

The Laurelhurst Elementary Annual Giving Campaign to fund the PTA’s operating budget, is underway and runs through tomorrow. 100% of the contributions go directly to the students and staff.

The PTA told the Laurelhurst Blog:

We would like to spread awareness to the larger Laurelhurst community of all that the PTA fundraises and supplements to Laurelhurst Elementary School students, $750 per student., which ultimately contributes to it's strength in NE Seattle.  

We would also like to rally our neighborhood for donations and support. Ideally we think that there are many former LES students and neighbors who would be happy to contribute the success of our neighborhood public school.  

We also think it would be interesting for the community to know that as our school boarders have grown, our demographics have shifted. We now have a small population of homeless students as well as 25% on free and reduced lunch, and every year there's a smaller subset of families who are giving more to maintain the same high level of educational and tutoring assistance.  

As a neighborhood, we all have a vested interest in the success of our neighborhood school. We are hoping to raise $200,000.

For more information and how to donate, go here.

Saturday Monster Bash At St. Stephens Church To Benefit Children's Hospital

Three Feet of Sunshine's 10th Annual Monster Bash, benefitting Seattle Children's Pediatric Palliative Care, is happening on Saturday from 3-7pm at St. Stephen's Church (4805 NE 45th Street). The cost for the event is $13 and will be held rain or shine.

The event will have a variety of activities for all ages, including a haunted house, pony rides, Dracula’s dance-off, ghoulish games and prizes, creepy crafts, the Phantom Photo Booth, costume contest and parade, haunted house, pumpkin painting, Seattle Fire truck visit, kid's dj and dancing, crafts, popcorn, cotton candy, cauldron of prizes and the Yummy Mummy Cupcake Walk.

The popular kids band, Recess Monkey, will perform two shows at 4 and 5pm. Every guest will receive a Halloween themed cupcakes, donated by Trophy Cupcakes. And Craven Farm is donating pumpkins for each child to take home. Guests will also be treated to re-usable Trick-OR-Treat totes.

Also available will be the card signing station, where giant cards will be signed and sent to Seattle Children’s patients who are spending Halloween in the hospital. Bring a new, unused costume for a Seattle Children's Hospital patient and receive an extra special trick-or-treat.

Three Feet of Sunshine was established by Amy and Klane White in July 2009 in memory of their daughter, Susannah, who spent the last year of her life at Seattle Children's Hospital, in the care of the palliative and nursing teams at Children's Hospital.

The logo was designed by Susannah at 8 years old. And the name, Three Feet of Sunshine, came from a friend of Susannah's who wrote a tribute to Susannah with that title, about about their friendship, as an assignment in 9th grade.

Three Feet of Sunshine, a Seattle Children's Guild, "is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and families who bear the weight of potentially life-threatening illnesses, by sharing the ever-sunny disposition and steadfast spirit of sweet Susannah - a little girl, despite spending the last year of her life in the hospital, always had a smile to give and a hug to share. We raise awareness and funds aimed at providing opportunities and extending support programs devoted to enhancing quality of life for pediatric patients and their families."


For more information go here or visit Facebook. Or contact threefeetofsunshine.org or info@threefeetofsunshine.org.

Recess Monkey performing

…

Dog Wash Fundraiser Saturday For Special Books To Be Donated To Children's Hospital

Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital (4020 NE 55th Street) is hosting its 7th annual dog wash fundraiser on Saturday from 1-3pm in the Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital parking lot, to raise money to purchase books for Seattle Children's Hospital.

Nicole, with Hawthorne Hills Veterinary Hospital, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff:

The dog wash is free. There is a suggested donation of $15 that goes towards purchasing Josh and Friends "I'll Be O.K" books that will be donated to Seattle Children's Hospital. Developed by a veterinarian, Josh and Friends is a well-established program that provides an easy to read children’s book to children facing surgery for the first time.  

The purchase of this book helps to support children and is part of the Children's Miracle Network, however we are not donating to that entity. 

It is a fun filled afternoon with dog washes, free refreshments and prizes. Bring by your furry family member to get cleaned up by our hospital staff. It will be a good way for them to socialize and cool down from this summer heat.  

For more information go here.

Fifth Annual Neighborhood Turkey Trot Fundraiser Tomorrow

The 5th Annual Laurelhurst Turkey Trot,open to all ages, is happening tomorrow morning at 8:45am at the NE corner of Laurelhurst Park, by the overpass.  

Brian and Kate, the organizers told the Blog staff

It’s become a neighborhood tradition and gets bigger every year. Last year we had over 300 runners and walkers take part.  The Turkey Trot meanders through the neighborhood, including our glorious hills.   

Come out and have fun with your neighbors as we do the 5K Fun Run/Walk through the neighborhood, and support the University Food Bank by bringing a non-perishable food or cash/check donations for the University Food Bank.    

And be Pie Worthy! Everybody that finishes within 45 minutes gets a raffle ticket for the pie raffle, with Thanksgiving pies donated by Metropolitan Market.  

Bring your family, dog, or pet turkey and be prepared to burn some calories and have good time before the Thanksgiving stuffing! 

We are looking for volunteers! If you do not want to do the Turkey Trot, but interested in volunteering to help coordinate or direct traffic, please contact Brian Larson at 206-681-0826, or e-mail at brianjonlarson@me.com.

Katie, a Laurelhurst native, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staff that she got the idea for a Turkey Trot from when she lived in Glen Ellyn, a small town, outside of Chicago for a few years before returning to the neighborhood. The town has of local events, including their Annual Turkey Trot.

And four years ago, Kate's husband, Brian, suggested they host a fun run, which they mirrored after the Glen Ellyn event. The first Laurelhurst Turkey Trot was on a beautiful fall morning and there were about 100 participants, and an SUV full of food donations for the Food Bank, Katie added.

Laurelhurst Elementary School On-Line Auction Open For Bidding



Laurelhurst Elementary School's annual on-line auction, the largest fundraiser of the year put on by the PTA,  is open for bidding until March 10th. 

The eBay style online auction s open to all friends, neighbors and family. One-hundred percent of auction proceeds are reinvested back into the school to support programs including music, art, technology, tutors and more.

One of the coordinators told the Blog Staff:

We invite the community to participate in our annual on-line auction which is investment in our school's art and music programs for students.  

For over 15 years, the auction has raised funds to support reading, technology and math tutors for our students, provide classroom supplies, and invest in educational programming designed to enrich the experience of each student who walks through the doors of our public elementary school.  

Each year, parents, community members and local businesses come together to donate and purchase unique items and experiences to raise over 70% of the PTA's operating budget which flows directly to the students at Laurelhurst Elementary in the form of tutors, programs and supplies. 

The benefits to our students and our community can't be defined simply by a dollar amount raised or the number of programs funded. The involvement of our community in this important fundraiser creates greater, long-term benefits for our neighborhood and our schools.

The items offered for purchase at the auction include a wide array of finds from eclectic oddities to time-honored traditions and everything in between. Maybe you're interested in a Whidbey Island getaway or a kayaking experience on Lake Union. How about dinner at your favorite local restaurant or tickets to see your favorite team play? There's even a guided mushroom walk in the Cascades for fungi enthusiasts. 

Great neighbors and local businesses coming together to generously donate their time, talent and treasures instilling a sense of close-knit community that is truly unique to our neighborhood and a big part of what makes this corner of Seattle so special. With your bid, not only do you have the chance of winning some great items, but you are also helping Laurelhurst Elementary School to continue to provide so many opportunities that make Laurelhurst so great. 

 

Over 300 items are available to bid on, many donated from local, neighborhood businesses including:

 

• Spa and beauty treatments
• Sports Memorabilia, included signed Russell Wilson, Dwaine Wade, and Reggie Bush jerseys 
• Gift certificates for lots of great restaurants 
• Gift certificates for many local retailers 
• Deals on many summer camps 
• Lots of gym memberships & personal trainers 
• Tickets to popular sports & entertainments events
• Trips to Mexico, Seabrook, Snowbird, Whistler, and Vashon Island 

 

 

Fourth Annual Turkey Trot Fundraiser On Thanksgiving

Start of the Turkey Trot last year

The fourth Annual Laurelhurst Turkey 5k Trot, open to all ages, is happening next Thursday, Thanksgiving day, November 27th, at 9am. Participants should show up at 8:45am at the northeast corner of Laurelhurst Park, by the overpass.

Brian and Kate, the organizers told the Blog staff

We are collecting donations of non perishable food for the University Food Bank.  

Join your family  friends and neighbors for a very casual and informal 5K Fun Run/Walk that zig zags through Laurelhurst following a course map given at the start.   

The Turkey Trot meanders through the neighborhood, including our glorious hills.

There is no entry fee and no need to register.  At the start of the race you predict what your time will be and at the end, the person most closely matching their time will be in a drawing for a prize. And your finish time is based on an honor system.  

Bring your family, dog, or pet turkey and be prepared to burn some calories and have good time before the Thanksgiving stuffing!

Katie, a Laurelhurst native, told the Laurelhurst Blog Staffus that she got the idea for a Turkey Trot from when she lived in Glen Ellyn, a small town, outside of Chicago for a few years before returning to the neighborhood. The town has of local events, including their Annual Turkey Trot.

And three years ago, Kate's husband, Brian, suggested they host a fun run, which they mirrored after the Glen Ellyn event. The first Laurelhurst Turkey Trot was on a beautiful fall morning and there were about 100 participants, and an SUV full of food donations for the Food Bank, Katie added.

For questions or if you are not able to do the Turkey Trot, but are interested in volunteering to help coordinate or direct traffic, please contact Brian Larson at 206-681-0826, or e-mail at brianjonlarson@me.com.

"Crowdfunding"House Under Construction On NE 45th Street Near St. Stephens

 home under construction

 

 front of house from NE 45th Street

west side of house



Another home is under construction in the neighborhood a few doors down from St. Stephens Church at 4847 NE 45th Street.

Seattle Curbed wrote this about the house:

Crowdfunded Seattle 4-BR House Fully Funded in Six Days

In case you were wondering if crowdfunding real estate could work here in Seattle, well, how could it not? That kind of thing is right up our alley (perhaps literally...).  

Real estate crowdfunding company Fundrise took that bet and ended up seeing their upscale single family home project at 4847 NE 45th St. in Laurelhurst get fully funded in six days.  

The $250K raised will be turned into a newly-constructed 3,300 sq. ft. 4-BR/3.5-bath built by local developer Build Urban with an expectation to be 5 Star Built Green.  

So what will the investors get? Fundrise expects investments to return 16% annual (8% paid current & 8% accrued) once the project is completed and sold.

 

 

The Laurelhurst Blog Staff contacted, Jeff Weggener, with Build Urban, who confirmed that they  "utilized the Fundrise platform to crowdfund $250,000 for the project."

In December, neighbors reported a fire at the house, which the Blog Staff asked Jeff about and he said:

We allowed the SFD to use the home for what they call "destructive training".  The firefighters tore into the old home and practiced accessing rooms as if they were on fire.   

We also allowed them to do this on another home we're building in Laurelhurst at 5126 45th Ave NE. Both homes were vacant before this training occurred.

 

Jeff said the home will have the original carport tucked behind the home, so the home will be not as elevated as most new construction homes with the garages typically built below the home.  Jeff said the front door and front porch are  approximately three feet above the ground. 

"This design concept is to highlight the porch and entry details and minimize the presence of the garage at the public edge," he added.   

 

The new home, which will be 3,512 square feet, will "maintain a traditional form," Jeff said.

He added "we are excited to design and build a quality home in this great neighborhood."

The home is scheduled for completion in late July.

 

Bidding Starts Monday For Laurelhurst Elementary School Auction



Laurelhurst Elementary School's annual on-line auction, the largest fundraiser of the year put on by the PTA,  opens for bidding on Monday and is live until Friday, March 13 at 1am.  

The eBay style online auction s open to all friends, neighbors and family. One-hundred percent of auction proceeds are reinvested back into the school to support programs including music, art, technology, tutors and more.

We'd love to invite your subscribers to check it out," Bev, one of the coordinators told us.

She added:

As a fellow subscriber, I think your audience will find the online auction of interest due to the large variety of items we'll have to bid on.  Furthermore, so many Laurelhurst residents have some relationship to the school - past or present - and I think the auction is a great way to support the kids, teachers and staff, while bidding on some exciting items.  

With your bid, not only do you have the chance of winning some great items, but you are also helping Laurelhurst Elementary School to continue to provide so many opportunities that make Laurelhurst so great. 

The money earned is used to provide the students at our neighborhood public school with both critical staffing and exciting enrichment programs that make our school great.

The Laurelhurst PTA financially supports many programs that would not be provided at our school otherwise including an Art Program, Full Day Instrumental Music, Vocal/General Music, and even basics for classroom supplies, library books and technology support. 

 

 

Over 300 items are available to bid on, many donated from local, neighborhood businesses including:

 

• Spa and beauty treatments
• Sports Memorabilia, included signed Russell Wilson, Dwaine Wade, and Reggie Bush jerseys 
• Gift certificates for lots of great restaurants 
• Gift certificates for many local retailers 
• Deals on many summer camps 
• Lots of gym memberships & personal trainers 
• Tickets to popular sports & entertainments events
• Trips to Mexico, Seabrook, Snowbird, Whistler, and Vashon Island 

Go here to sign in  to start bidding on Monday.

 

 

.

Epic Barber Shop Offering Discounted Kids Haircuts With Food Donation

Epic Barber Shop (3517 NE 45th Street) and the Food Driving Box program are partnering to raise awareness and solicit donations of bright red food this month for the 2nd annual "Fill Your Heart and Food Driving Box Campaign" to restock Seattle’s 27 Food Banks.

Epic Barber Ship is offering $2 off kids haircuts as well as a Valentine's Day treat bag, when a can, box, or carton of non-perishable food is brought in. 

Free Food Driving Boxes can be picked up at the Laurelhurst Community Center on Mondays 9-2pm or at any of Seattle’s 27 Food Banks.

Once the box is filled with red packaged non-perishable food, it can also be dropped off to the University District Food Bank or any food bank in the area.

Laurelhurst Resident And Food Drive Box Founder Urges Neighbors To Donate Red-Packaged Foods This Month



 

 

Jennifer,  a Laurelhurst resident and Food Driving Box Founder, would like to share that "the 2nd annual "Fill Your Heart and Food Driving Box Campaign" is happening now to restock Seattle’s 27 Food Banks with bright red food this month. 

Free Food Driving Boxes can be picked up at the Laurelhurst Community Center on Mondays 9-2pm or at any of Seattle’s 27 Food Banks.

Once the box is filled with red packaged non-perishable food, it can be dropped off to the University District Food Bank or any food bank in the area.

 

This is a really fun and safe way to get kids thinking about giving in our community," Jennifer told us.

She added "fill your box with non-perishable foods and help make this Valentine’s sweeter for our neighbors in need."

 

 

 

Epic Barber Collecting Donations For Westside Baby

Epic Barber Shop Collecting Diapers, Clothes, Toys All Week For "Joy Drive"



Epic Barber Shop (3517 NE 45th Street) is hosting a " Joy Drive" for WestSide Baby, a nonprofit organization that collects diapers and gently used items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to families in the Seattle area until December 21.

Heather and Rob, the owners of Epic, the popular neighborhood family barber shop, told us that they are collecting toys, diapers, car seats, strollers, and clothes (newborn through 12).  A full list of most needed items is on their website.

The owners told us that they have been supporting WestSide Baby for over six years because they provide children with a healthy supply of diapers, warm clothes, and safe equipment to grow up strong.  Diapers are not covered by food stamps, WIC, or any other government assistance and one in three families struggle to afford an adequate supply of diapers.

WestSide Baby, founded in 2001, has distributed over $10.25 million in essential items to children in King County and  serve more than 22,000 children annually.  Last year WestSide baby helped over 24,000 children in Seattle

"With so many families struggling to make ends meet a toy for Christmas is not high on the list of necessities.  We really appreciate all the donations we've received over the last few years from the Laurelhurst community," the owners told us.

 

 

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot A Success

The coordinators of the third annual Laurelhurst Turkey Trot, sent the Blog staff this information:



 

The 2014 Turkey Trot was an overwhelming success.  We had over 225 trotters, an SUV full of canned goods and over $150.00 in cash donations!   

The weather broke and we had clear skies as we rounded the neighborhood. We raffled off 5 pies from Metropolitan Market and crowned our top runners with festive hats.  

Thank you to all our Laurelhurst residents, guests and family for making this a wonderful annual tradition.

 

Don't Miss Annual Neighborhood Thanksgiving Turkey Trot



Start of the Turkey Trot last year

The third Annual Laurelhurst Turkey 5k Trot, open to all ages, is happening next Thursday, Thanksgiving day, November 27th, at 9am. Participants should show up at 8:45am at the northeast corner of Laurelhurst Park, by the overpass.

Brian and Kate, the organizers told us:

Join your family  friends and neighbors for a very casual and informal 5K Fun Run/Walk that zig zags through Laurelhurst following a course map given at the start.   

The Turkey Trot meanders through the neighborhood, and the route is new and improved this year with fewer hills.

 

There is no entry fee and no need to register.  At the start of the race you predict what your time will be and at the end, the person most closely matching their time wins a prize. And your finish time is based on an honor system.  

Bring your family, dog, or pet turkey and be prepared to burn some calories and have good time before the Thanksgiving stuffing! We are collecting donations of non perishable food for the University Food Bank. 

Katie, a Laurelhurst native, told us that she got the idea for a Turkey Trot from when she lived in Glen Ellyn, a small town, outside of Chicago for a few years before returning to the neighborhood. The town has of local events, including their Annual Turkey Trot.

And two years ago, Kate's husband, Brian, suggested they host a fun run, which they mirrored after the Glen Ellyn event. The first Laurelhurst Turkey Trot was on a beautiful fall morning and there were about 100 participants, and an SUV full of food donations for the Food Bank, Katie added.

For questions or if you are not able to do the Turkey Trot, but are interested in volunteering to help coordinate or direct traffic, please contact Brian Larson at 206-681-0826, or e-mail at brianjonlarson@me.com.

 

Seattle Police's Holiday Sock Drive Now Accepting Donations

The annual Seattle Police North Precinct Holiday Sock Drive is underway until December 16. 

 Every year the Seattle Police collects new gloves, hats and socks to distribute at family shelters and give to homeless people living on the streets.

Over the last few years, a group of Laurelhurst knitters has donated beautiful, handmade hats and scarves that were then given as gifts to foster children during the holidays.

"Neighbors were unbelievably generous and creative - someone even added packages of hand warmers," a neighbor said last year.

 Donations can be dropped off at Windermere Real Estate (5424 Sand Point Way) or Flooring America (3605 NE 45th Street).

Laurelhurst Resident Coordinating 21st Annual Neighborhood Food Drive For Northwest Harvest

 

Betsy Kirby, a Laurelhurst resident, would like to let the community know about the Northwest Harvest Food Drive she is coordinating starting Saturday, November 1, until November 8th. 

Betsy has been involved with the food drive for twenty one years. She told us that in the last 20 years, the neighborhood has donated 11,720 pounds of food and $106,627.00.

Northwest Harvest's website says:

Northwest Harvest is Washington's own statewide hunger relief agency. Our mission is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while fighting to eliminate hunger.  

Our vision is that ample nutritious food is available to everyone in Washington State.

 

This year, Betsy is collecting checks on behalf of Northwest Harvest which they will use to purchase food in bulk.

Checks should be made out to:
Northwest Harvest
or c/o Betsy Kirby
3155 W. Laurelhurst Dr. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98105