Next Saturday, February 9th, is Seattle’s 19th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day. The day originated in 1995 when a Phinney Ridge resident asked the city to designate “a special day to celebrate the goodness in those around us” – then-Mayor Norm Rice designated the Saturday before Valentine’s Day “Neighbor Appreciation Day”.

What happens on this particular day? Well, it’s up to you – the day is set-aside to reach out to neighbors, meet new neighbors, and thank people, businesses, and organizations that make our Queen Anne neighborhood special and a great place to live.

If you don’t already have plans, the city has resources to help get Neighbor Appreciation Day kicked off. Suggested activities include block parties, potlucks, coffee, e-cards, neighborhood clean-up projects, Block Watch meetings, hosting a SNAP Preparedness meeting or just sharing stories about great neighbors.

The current list on the Neighbor Appreciation Day calendar for Queen Anne only lists the sold-out Stairway Walk and a Ballard Pool event – but there’s more:

• Queen Anne Neighbor Appreciation Day Clean Up: The Scientology Environmental Task Force, Uptown Alliance and Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce will lead a community cleanup, 9am – noon, starting at Counterbalance Park. Tools and gloves will be available and maps with projects will be provided. For more information contact Ann at 206.284.0604.
• Queen Anne Fire Station 20: Visit your local fire station on Saturday February 9, 2013 for the 19th Annual Neighbor Appreciation Day Celebration. Open from 11am-1pm.

Let us know if you have any additional Queen Anne Neighbor Appreciation Day events planned – or are planning one – for next Saturday.

If you’re like me, you walk… a lot. If not, maybe you have a reason? Lack of sidewalks, poorly-marked crosswalks, or inadequate lighting? Remedying these issues would make it safer to walk around the neighborhood, especially with our short, dark winter days ahead. Increased walkability also supports our local businesses and community services, and there’s nothing more invigorating than taking a walk and seeing the vibrancy of our neighborhood!

Well, now there are two new opportunities for you to share your opinion on Queen Anne walkability:

Queen Anne Greenways: this grassroots, neighbor-driven group is looking to springboard into an official voice for Queen Anne walkability. The group is meeting next Tuesday and Friday for meet-and-greets. The conversation starting point will be the Crown of Queen Anne and pedestrian safety. The first meetings are informal opportunities to start the discussion on how Queen Anne residents view the safety and accessibility of our primary pedestrian routes. Input gathered and interested residents’ participation will lead to the formation of a formal Queen Anne Greenways Group.

Key Details:

• Meetings: Tuesday, Nov 27, 7-8:30pm or Friday, Nov 30, 3-4:30pm
• Where: 2572 – 10th Ave W
• RSVP via email to Jody Lemke

Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board: SPAB is accepting applications for new members to help make walking safer and easier.  The volunteer board advises the mayor and city council, participates in planning and project development, evaluates policies and makes recommendations to city departments. Board members serve a two-year term, with an opportunity to serve a second term. Applicants must be Seattle residents (city employees are not eligible) and should be frequent walkers. SPAB is looking for a board that represents of a variety of ages, mobility levels, and neighborhoods.

Key Details:

• Meetings: SPAB meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at City Hall
• Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter explaining your interest
• Deadline: apply via email by 5pm on December 17 to Howard Wu

For its 2013 Shrinking Bigfoot calendar, Seattle City Light held an art contest for elementary students, with the winners’ artwork featured in the calendar – and three John Hay students were among the 13 winners. The students created artwork to illustrate ways to shrink one’s carbon footprint, with all proceeds of the calendar going to Project Share, an emergency fund that helps City Light customers who need one-time financial assistance with their electricity bills.

Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco congratulated the 13 calendar contest winners at a reception this past Wednesday:

According to Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco:

Our local Queen Anne winners are Lola, Maren, and Josie, all 3rd graders at John Hay – click their drawings to enlarge:

Lola	Maren
Josie

Calendars are available for $10 and may be purchased online or at Seattle City Light’s service centers.

Katie Udycz, age 7, is this year’s Queen Anne Library 2012 Breakfast of Champions winner. The Seattle Public Library hosts the annual Breakfast of Champions celebration to recognize the summer reading accomplishments of kids throughout Seattle.

The breakfast for the 27 Seattle neighborhood winners was held last Thursday, August 23 at the Space Needle. Katie was recognized on stage as an outstanding reader by the City of Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, City Librarian Marcellus Turner and KING-5 News’ Dennis Bounds, the emcee for the event.

Congratulations, Katie, keep reading!

Whenever someone sends me a tip with a link to their web site, if I have a few minutes, I’ll click through. Such was the case with Jason Nolte, recent Seattle Pacific University graduate, who sent in a tip about the new SPU president.

Usually, the web sites have pictures of cats, or an idea for a really awesome app if they only knew how to program, or a dead link. But occasionally, I click through and see something like this.

Says Mr. Nolte: “I’m just chilling on top of Macau Tower on spring break.” Indeed. The tower measures 338 m (1,109 ft) in height from ground level to the highest point.

Mr. Nolte is a recent graduate of Seattle Pacific University.