Friday, October 26, 2012

PHOTOS: Fright Night comes to Lake City

Fright Night came to Lake City on Friday night. And along with it came plenty of zombies, unicorns and princesses.

The 20th annual event, organized by the Lake City Lions, Children's Home Society and the North Seattle Family Center saw a significant turnout. The Lions reported that they served pizza to over 500 people

Below are photos from the fun annual event.

Snow White, Strawberry Shortcake

"Braiiiiiinnnnsss"

Lake City Lions serving up slices of pizza with a side of fun!

The haunted house. Terrifying.

Mini golf and games

A cute little pumpkin

Mario Brothers

Candy, yum.

Darth Maul shows off the Dark Side of the Force

Michael Jackson and a cheetah

The craft table

A king cobra

Entrance to the haunted house

A cute mouse

Don't cast a spell on us!

The Beetles live!

Daughter, dad

Cutie pie

Trying to escape the haunted house

Face painting

Toy Story

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Brainstorming: Lake City Community Center re-imagined

One idea suggested at the meeting was to add security lighting and make the Albert Davis Park courtyard the front entrance of the Lake City Community Center. Better, more modern signage on the building was also suggested.

Wednesday night, and again on Thursday, residents of our community gathered to talk about the future of the Lake City Community Center.

Operation of the facility is shifting from Lake City LLC, which has operated the aging building for nearly 50 years. The newly renamed North Seattle Chamber of Commerce is taking over operation after the Chamber's Request For Proposal to operate the center was approved by the Seattle Parks Department. They take over in 2013.

During the meetings people brought with them ideas for the future of the facility. They suggested new programming, emphasis on already successful programming, building updates and modifications and more efficient communication with the community about events hosted there.

Below is the list of suggestions from the meeting brainstorm session. Some of these programs are already available but many in attendance did not know about them. Some are also expensive, which was acknowledged. But many are simple and would just require effort and community involvement. At this point nothing is off the table as the North Seattle Chamber makes plans for the future of the center.

If you were unable to attend one of the brainstorming sessions please add your own suggestions in the comments below, on our Facebook page or email them to douglasparkcooperative@gmail.com and we will make sure those comments are included in the Community Center discussion.

  • Provide rotating art display space
  • Weekday, a.m. tot play time with toys
  • Expand dance facility reputation, install mirrors on west interior wall, ballet bar
  • Install gas insert in fireplace and use as a gathering space for story time, gathering space
  • Request City of Seattle assistance with a remodel of the facility
  • Remove uninviting bars on windows
  • Maintain an advisory council of community members
  • Remove 'smoke eaters' hanging from ceiling
  • Digital reader-board to advertise events on 125th Street
  • Post events on an online calendar that people can subscribe to (Google calendar)
  • Construct a modular, portable and removable stage for performances
  • Honor Lake City Lions contribution to our community
  • Continue and expand flea market and coordinate with neighborhood garage sales
  • Look into a Microsoft-sponsored game room for kids, teens
  • Community classes offered such as SAT prep, ESL, etc.
  • Host game nights
  • Create space for Lake City visioning project, ideas
  • Use Albert Davis Park courtyard entrance as front entrance of building
  • Security lighting, safety enhancements
  • Create a community chorus
  • More international and inclusive programming for our diverse community
  • Integration with Farmers Market and possible use of commercial kitchen
  • Host gardening events and team up with Seattle Tilth
  • Provide church meeting space
  • Explore income options such as memberships, sponsorship
  • Inter-generational programs that bring seniors and kids together
  • Make building sustainable
  • Host a mini home show
  • Form corporate sponsors
  • Host community concerts
  • Audio-visual equipment for rent
  • Cooking classes
  • Poetry slams, hip-hop performances
  • Upgrade rooms so businesses will rent them
  • Tax assistance program
  • Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Campfire programming at Center
  • Tai-Chi, Kung Fu classes
  • Continue and enhance movie nights
  • Community kiosk
  • Integrate more with nearby senior housing
  • Add a sidewalk on 28th Avenue
  • Keep center affordable
  • Maintain large space
  • City provided part-time staff
  • Improved signage
  • Paint and graphics on the interior and exterior
  • More natural lighting
  • Safety bollards in parking area
  • Team up with organizations to produce teen dances
  • Install a disco ball 
Again, if you were unable to attend one of the sessions please add your own suggestions in the comments below, on our Facebook page or email them to douglasparkcooperative@gmail.com and we will make sure those comments are included in the Community Center discussion.

For regular updates please follow Douglas Park Cooperative on Facebook by going here.


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

20th annual Fright Night Trick-or-Treat walk, party Friday night!

A scene from the terrifying Haunted House at the Community Center
Lake City's annual Fright Night Trick-or-Treat Walk is slowly creeping upon us.

This Friday night, the lights will go out, goblins, ghosts, princesses and superheroes will take to the spooky streets of Lake City for the fun annual event.

Click on the flyer for a larger view
The Trick-or-Treat walk begins Friday (October 26th) at 5:15 and continues until 6:15. Treat bags and maps are available at the North Seattle Family Center (3200NE 125th Street) and the Lake City Court Computer Lab (12536 33rd Ave. NE)

After the little monsters and fairies gather treats from businesses in the Lake City business core, the festivities continue with the Lake City Lions' popular annual Fright Night Party at the Community Center. The party starts at 6:30 and continues until 8:30.

The Fright Night party features games, food, a costume contest and of course the Lake City Vigilantes absolutely terrifying Haunted House.

Th event is organized by the North Seattle Family Center. This years celebration marks Fright Night's 20th anniversary.

If you would like to volunteer please call 206-364-7930.
Costumed kiddos wait to play a game during the Fright Night Party.



Re-imagine Lake City Community Center meeting Wednesday night, Thursday at noon

UPDATE:  A second meeting will be held on Thursday, October 25th at noon in the Community Center. The format will be the same as the Wednesday night meeting. The meeting will be for folks that were unable to attend the previous meeting.

On Wednesday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m., the North Seattle Chamber of Commerce is hosting a public event to encourage our community to be actively involved in re-imagining the Lake City Community Center.

It was announced in late August that the North Seattle Chamber of Commerce will take over operation of the Lake City Community Center after the Chamber's Request For Proposal to operate the center was approved by the Seattle Parks Department. They will take over operation in 2013.


The meeting will be held at the Community Center, 12531 28th Ave NE.

Please stop by and provide some input on what kind of programming you would like to see in our Community Center.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Wells Fargo bank on Lake City Way robbed

The bank on LCW and NE 130th Street (Google)
The Seattle Police Department responded to a robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank on Lake City Way Monday morning.

The department reported that shortly after 10 a.m. three men dressed in black walked into the bank. One of the men climbed on the counter and demanded money from the cash drawers.

The report said that none of the men flashed a weapon but witnesses reported seeing a gun tucked in one of the suspect's coats.

The suspects were seeing fleeing the scene in a red jeep. They ditched the car a few blocks away from the scene near NE 130th Street and Lake City Way.

The car was impounded by police. No other description of the suspects was available from Seattle Police.

Here is the original dispatch call for the burglary.

Four hours later, and just three blocks from the bank heist scene, Seattle Police responded to reports of an armed robbery. You can see the dispatch call for that incident here.

If you have any information about the incident please call 911.

Monday, October 22, 2012

* reposted from Families for Lake City

Come and learn what’s happening at your neighborhood school. This Wednesday, Oct. 24th Olympic Hills Elementary will host Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess.

Olympic Hills was recently awarded a large grant from the Family and Education Levy. Councilmember Tim Burgess, who chairs the oversight committee for that levy, will be on hand to discuss the levy and its positive impact on Olympic Hills’ students. All families and neighbors are encouraged to attend – a great way to meet your neighbors and school community!





Olympic Hills Elementary Cafeteria

13018 20th Ave NE

Wednesday Oct 24th, 6:30pm