The crime rates in Queen Anne remain relatively low, said Kessler.

“Overall Queen Anne is one of the safest areas around,” said Kessler.

Violent crime rates are down only a little from the same time last year, but Kessler said they weren’t that high to begin with. Car prowls and car thefts are down significantly from the same time last year. Burglaries, however, are up slightly.

“Burglaries are one of those tough ones for us,” said Kessler. “Personally, I hate burglaries. Short of a violent crime, I think one of the worst things that can happen to you as a citizen is to have a burglary.”

Burglaries tend to come in bunches and are often perpetrated by the same individuals, so that once a burglar is caught it often brings the number of burglaries down, said Kessler. The SPD has been working with the prosecutor’s office extensively to  target repeat burglars under the Repeat Burglary Initiative.

“We’re concentrating on the prolific guys that need to be in jail for a substantive period of time,” said Kessler.

Concerns over budget cuts and staffing were also discussed. The number of department staff is expected to remain stable despite budget cuts, said Kessler. SPD is firm on not cutting any of their patrol officers, and the current numbers are the highest they’ve ever been, said Kessler. However, increases in overall officers, like they’ve seen in previous years, is likely to stop.

The Crime Prevention Coordinators, who coordinate block watches and other neighborhood actions, may be phased out at the end of this year, said Kessler. It hinges on what the budget looks like for mid-year, but those positions will probably disappear, Kessler said.

“They do an incredible service, and they help the officers out tremendously,” said Kessler. “It’ll be a difficult thing for us to replace that … I don’t know how we will.”

It was encouraged by Kessler and Gracy that residents take advantage of the SPD’s online resources, in particular the SPD Crime Blotter for the West Precinct and the crime statistics on My Neighborhood Map. The King County online sex offender search was also mentioned.

Council Chair Ellen Monrad brought up the issue of the 7-Eleven the sells high-octane alcohol drinks on the hill. Gracy said officers have met with owner to discuss the problem, as well as notify the liquor control board. Stings to try to catch staff selling alcohol to minors have been performed, and they are working on an operation to address homeless buying alcohol for minors, said Gracy.

A few councilmembers discussed the problem of car speeding and drag racing along 10^th Avenue West late at night. Gracy said they would make local patrol officers aware of the situation, and it was recommended that residents petition SDOT for a mobile speed monitor.

After the talk by Kessler and Gracy, the council discussed briefly the elections coming up in September, and Councilmember Nicole Pastarnack volunteered to be chair of the elections committee.

The committee reports followed, including:

The market, which has always been under the wing of Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth (QANRG), is under new management this year after a disagreement arose between the QANRG and the market’s former director Julie Whitehorn, who has managed the market for the past two years. After many months of uncertainty, Whitehorn and the QANRG were unable to resolve the dispute and opted instead to go their separate ways rather than see the market suffer. Read Whitehorn’s resignation letter here (.pdf), and the QANRG’s press release introducing the market’s new staff team here (.pdf).

Still despite the changing of the guard, QANRG says the market will maintain many of the same staff members, volunteers and vendors from prior seasons, keeping consistent with the community that has grown around the market over the last four years.

“This year’s market builds on a successful 2010 season that saw customer attendance increase by 94 percent and the growth of a dynamic vendor roster of 64 farmers and prepared food vendors. In its fifth year as the fiscal sponsor, QANRG remains steadfastly committed to creating a sustainable market that can continue to serve the community for years to come,” QANRG President Scott Smith said in a statement released last month.

The market’s new manager, Jamie Collado, brings with her more than nine years of experience working in the local food scene managing restaurant operations, and has a particular interest in health and nutrition. While completing her preceptorship with Seattle Nutrition Action Consortium, Seattle and King County Public Health, she taught healthy eating classes for local teens, putting her undergraduate and graduate education in nutrition and exercise to work.

In addition to adding some new faces, this year’s market will also report to the QAFM Steering Committee, a group made up of former market staff, volunteers, and community members who will be charged with the task of overseeing market operations, community outreach and planning for the market’s long-term sustainability. (Read more about the steering committee in the QANRG press release linked above).

The new market also has a brand new website to match, but ther than that, very little will be changing at the market itself. Held at its usual spot on West Crockett Street between Queen Anne Ave N and 1st Ave W, the market will be extending its hours by a half-hour, going from 3 to 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. every Thursday through October 6. And each week the market will still be packed with great local vendors, live music, cooking demos, book signings, and more fun events. Check out the list of vendors scheduled to appear at the market this year here.

Want to get involved in the QAFM? Information on how to become a market sponsor by making a tex-deductible donation can be found here.

The QAFM is also still looking for volunteers for the upcoming season for everything from staffing the information table, to donating professional services such as web design or photography. If you’ve got a skill you’d like to share with the market, or would simply like to donate your time, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Decker at 206-854-0143 or YouMakeQAFMGreat@qafma.net.

We’ll give you the sneak peek at what’s on the agenda for the market’s grand opening next week, but in the meantime don’t forget to ‘like’ the market on its new Facebook page, and follow it on its new Twitter account.

The Seattle Farmers Market Association, which includes the popular Ballard Sunday Farmers Market has teamed up with Whole Foods to make this happen. “SFMA believes that this type of business partnership will allow the farmers market to become more sustainable while providing a rich experience for the entire community,” according to the press release.

The hope is to start with 30 vendors and expand to 40 or more during peak harvest season. The market will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 9th, timed for commuters heading home from work. This is the same time slot as the Queen Anne Farmers Market, which will be running from 3 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 2 to October 6 at the corner of W Crockett Street and Queen Anne Ave N.

“This new farmers market will provide the best of both worlds for convenient midweek shopping, fresh picked seasonal produce from local farms and food producers, and the in-depth selection of the Whole Foods Market experience,” the press release states.

With the goal of re-kindling Puget Sound’s historic maritime delivery routes, the FarmBoat folks set off to build a year-round “transient floating farmers market fleet that visits public docks in many Puget Sound waterfront communities selling fresh produce and other local products right off the boat just as it was a century ago.” From the FarmBoat website:

This is how farm goods were sold in port communities a century ago. It was more than just sustainable. People flourished here and the Northwest became what it is today. FarmBoat is about turning the clocks back and sharing a traditional and colorful maritime heritage. Back to a time when fruits and vegetables where picked at the peak of perfection and transported over the cool waters of Puget Sound to the cupboards of northwest families.

Small family farms still exist among the islands and near port towns all throughout the Puget Sound region. We connect growers and producers with consumers in a venue that is enjoyable, educational, conducive and commensurate with the superior quality of their products.

FarmBoat’s winter floating market is kicking off this Thursday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. aboard Seattle’s historic steamship “Virginia V” docked at Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N. (moored at the park’s Historic Boat Wharf), and will continue every Thursday through December 23, (except for Thanksgiving).

Check out the FarmBoat’s list of vendors here. Interested in signing up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) produce delivery? The FarmBoat has one of those too—check out the CSA program here.

While FarmBoat is just getting its start, it has some pretty ambitious plans. Take a look at the market’s proposed delivery routes, which it plans to use to facilitate trade across the Puget Sound region, from Bellingham, to the San Juan Islands, and all the way down to Olympia. Happy farmers marketing!

Next week is Wellness Week at the market.  Check their website for updates.

Monteillet’s Larzac, photo by David Blaine

What’s new: Boulangerie Nantaise makes their QAFM debut withorganic artisan French breads and pastries (their almond croissant is beyond-the-beyond). Alvarez farms will have first-of-the-season Supersweet corn and fresh garbanzos. Local Roots is bringing their first Treviso, the “milder radicchio” and Sungold tomatoes. Grateful Bread is introducingChallah to their baked goods lineup. Tiny’s Organics will bring Lapins cherries and Flavorosa apriums. The Signature is adding a fresh coconut drink to their Vietnamese street food menu. Getting hungry yet?  Check out their website for more information!

The Signature, located on lower Queen Anne, is excited to announce that it will be joining the Queen Anne Farmer’s Market this Thursday, July 2, 2009.

“As a member of the Queen Anne community, we are excited to join the Queen Anne Farmer’s Market and become a part of something that supports vendors and farmers in our local area,” said Tony Ly, the General Manager at The Signature.  “We look forward to incorporating fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from our neighbors at the farmer’s market into our signature Vietnamese dishes.”

The Signature will feature a rotating menu at the farmer’s market, with items such as: Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches with BBQ pork, tofu or chicken;Bubble Tea; Grilled Chicken and Pork Skewers; and Spring Rolls with tofu or shrimp and homemade peanut sauce.

The Queen Anne Farmers Market Association (QAFMA) is a group of neighbors who are committed to working with the community, vendors and the City ofSeattle to support Washington State farmers and producers.  The Queen Anne Farmer’s Market takes place every Thursday till October 1.  It is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and can be found at West Crockett Street and Queen Anne Avenue North near Pasta & Co. more information on QAFMA can be found on their website.

The Signature is located at 530 1st Avenue North, nestled in the heart of Lower Queen Anne.  The restaurant is open every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the bar open till 3:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night.  Happy hour is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and all day on Monday.  For more information or to order take-out, please call (206) 283-6614 or visit www.thesignaturerestaurant.com.

Bringing the market back this summer is a huge challenge,” admits Julie Whitehorn, chair of the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association (QAFMA). Given the late notice, alternate management teams were not available, but we have a commitment of financial assistance from the city, we have great vendors, and we have solid interest from the neighborhood.

The market will be managed this summer by the nonprofit QAFMA, which is racing against the clock to prepare the groundwork, from obtaining insurance to procuring vendors.  Queen Anne Neighbors for Responsible Growth, QAFMA’s parent organization, is supportive of the plan according to its chair, Scott Smith.

“The farmers market is an incredible asset,” said Smith. “We are committed to helping QAFMA with this temporary solution, and in securing management for 2010 and beyond.”

A recent issue was whether the market should remain on Thursday. According to Whitehorn, the former managers planned last fall to move the market to Saturdays. After surveying vendors, however, QAFMA discovered that many of them were already committed on Saturdays, and Queen Anne would be competing with Magnolia and University markets for both vendors and customers. 

While the City of Seattle has offered financial assistance to move the market to its new location, additional funds must be raised to cover expenses, including labor, permits, insurance, signage, and marketing. QAFMA seeks to raise $10,000 through a “Friend of the Market” program geared to business sponsors and “The Beet Goes On” fundraiser (reusable tote bags, offered as gifts with $15 minimum donations at local retailers, including A&J’s, Eat Local, Video Isle, Hilltop Yarn, and Pasta & Co).  

Queen Anne residents make up the QAFMA steering committee: Kimberly McKittrick, Maria College, Erica Peters, Jenny Wilkson, Sarah Holt, Heather Hughes, Laura Levy, Nancie Kosnoff, and John Rashby-Pollock. A volunteer manager and traffic monitors for the 15-week market are being actively sought, as are local chefs for demonstrations, and local musicians for busking. Those interested in volunteering, vending or performing at the market are encouraged to visit the website at www.qafma.org. Donations are accepted at the website via Paypal.