Neighborhood retirement community Merrill Gardens, located at 800 4th Ave N in Lower Queen Anne, celebrated the completion of a brand new and long sought-after crosswalk on Thursday, June 9 with a ribbon cutting with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.

Merrill Garden’s Lower Queen Anne location is home to around 190 senior citizens who live in two buildings on either side of 4th Ave, a busy street which has been a safety concern for the many residents who cross it frequently.

The seniors living at Merrill Gardens and its administrative staff have been trying to get the City to approve a new crosswalk in the middle of 4th Ave since 2006, only to be met with repeated denials. In September they reached out to Councilmember Rasmussen, who got involved and helped bring the project about. From the press release:

He [Rasmussen] convinced the Seattle Department of Transportation to take another look at the request and upon review, SDOT approved plans for a crosswalk with curb cuts and signage. The crossing now provides residents with easier access between buildings, and Thursday’s ceremony will celebrate the retirement community’s victory.

“I’m so glad that Merrill Gardens brought this issue to my attention,” Rasmussen said in a statement. “It’s important that our City responds to requests from its residents. I am thrilled that we were able to get the plans approved.”

After almost a year of uncertainty, followed by fundraising for the July 4th fireworks at Gas Works Park, event organizer One Reel today announced the $500,000 goal has been reached and Family 4th fireworks show and celebration will go on.

Interesting note: It wasn’t a Northwest company or person who got One Reel to the goal; instead support bubbled up from Coca-Cola Refreshments – Northwest Region, based in Bellevue. Other supporters include Microsoft, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Talking Rain, BECU, Charlie’s Produce, Merrill Gardens, Taco Time and Smith Brothers Farms.

From the press release:

“Fundraising for the 2011 event began in July of last year, and contributions have come from supporters throughout our region, all with inspiring stories and memories of this Northwest family tradition,” says One Reel Executive Director, Jon Stone. “With true appreciation for the partnership and dedication of the Greater Seattle Chamber, we are glad to put this year’s budget to bed, and look forward to putting on one heck of an Independence Day party for Seattle.”

Family 4th at Lake Union starts at noon at Gas Works Park (2101 N. Northlake Way) on Monday, July 4. The fireworks show begins at 10 p.m. See all our 2010 fireworks coverage here.

Merrill Gardens is hosting a Super Spring Spectacular for the community from 4 to 6 p.m. this Thursday, May 27.

Join us as we open our beautiful, blossoming courtyard for the upcoming season of sun!  Sip bellinis and enjoy scrumptious appetizers cooked on our BBQ.  Stroll through the gardens of our courtyard while you enjoy the music of a local marching band.

In addition to drinks, food and musical festivities, Merrill Gardens will also be offering tours throughout the evening. Contact Community Relations Director Kelly McBride at (206) 284-0055 for more information.

A couple of weeks ago we reported that Merrill Gardens was named the winner of the 2009 Large Business Award by the Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce at their 4th annual awards luncheon on April 22. But Merrill Gardens wasn’t he only neighborhood business to be honored.

(Photo courtesy of the QA Chamber. Left to right: Evan Perrollaz, General Manager, Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne; R.W. Clay, newly retired Executive Director, Swedish Cultural Center; Craig Wilson, owner of Video Isle; Ann Pearce, Church of Scientology).

In fact, annual awards were handed out to four “businesses and organizations that have supported both the Chamber and the greater Queen Anne Community during the past year.”

In addition to Merrill Gardens’ award, the Swedish Cultural Center received the President’s Award, Video Isle received the Small Business Award and the Church of Scientology of Washington State was given the Community Service Award.

“We are pleased to honor the recipients of this year’s Chamber awards for their outstanding contributions to the Chamber and to the greater Queen Anne community,” said Chamber president Dave Peterson.

Congratulations to the winners!

The Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce awarded Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne the 2009 Large Business Award for the neighborhood this week.

“We are pleased to be a part of the vibrant Queen Anne business community and honored to accept this award on behalf of the seniors that live at Merrill Gardens,” said Evan Perrollaz, General Manager at Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne (pictured above), in a press release published yesterday.

Merrill Gardens first joined the chamber in 2006, and has since been a very active member, hosting four events from the chamber in 2009, including the annual Chamber BBQ and Christmas party, the Fundraiser for Fallen Officers Dinner, and fundraisers benefiting both the Queen Anne Helpline and Northwest Harvest.

The Queen Anne Merrill Gardens is hosting a Family Support discussion group this Saturday, March 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at 805 4th Ave N. Social Worker Cynthia Nava will be leading the talk, covering topics regarding aging, dementia and other family and senior issues. For more information, contact Kelly McBride at 206-284-0055.

Dana Quade, the debut author of “Doing the Thing” will be doing a reading at the Queen Anne Merrill Gardens this Thursday, March 4 at 1 p.m. The Amazon description reads:

Doing The Thing is a call to action, enticing you to fall in love with yourself. As you build on this relationship and fill yourself with love, it spills over to the rest of us, inadvertently making the world a better place.

Doing The Thing is here to remind you of your magnificence and stimulate the awakening of your true essence / the REAL you. This book encourages you to engage in a vibrant new relationship with yourself. Doing The Thing stands firm in its bold conviction that doing so will not only benefit you greatly, but also save the day for everyone!

Merrill Gardens invites community members to “find out how finding your
shine will brighten our world,” at the reading tomorrow, located at 805 4th Ave N.

At a pasta dinner/fundraiser last night the Merrill Gardens retirement community on Queen Anne raised over $1,100 for the four Lakewood police officers who were tragically killed a few weeks ago.

Pictured above (right to left): Merrill Gardens General Manager Karen Gorsuch and Community Relations Director Staci Titus pose with a donation bowl.

All 22 Merrill Gardens locations statewide held parallel fundraisers for the officers last night, raising an estimated $20,000 for the Lakewood Independent Guild Charity Fund.

The Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce is having a Holiday Party tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Merrill Gardens, located at 805 4th Ave N. They will have wine, food, deserts and holiday fun! Anyone interested in the chamber is invited to attend this festive networking event.

This week Queen Anne retirement community Merrill Gardens will be hosting a fundraiser for the four fallen Lakewood police officers. The event will be held from 5 to 7p.m. on Wednesday, December 9 at all of the 22 Merrill Gardens communities in the state.

The folks at the Queen Anne location, at 805 4th Ave. N., have planned a big pasta dinner, including fixings from baked ziti with Italian sausage and fennel, to Caesar salad and garlic bread, topped off with red velvet cupcakes for dessert. The suggested donation is $10, and all of the proceeds will be donated to the Lakewood Independent Guild Charity Fund.

For more information, or to see the other Merrill Gardens locations, see the attached media release (.pdf).