From the President

Groundswell NW Events

Tue, 02/17: East Ballard Community Association February Night Out

The East Ballard Community Association has invited King County Metro to discuss the latest proposals for Rapid Ride bus transit in Ballard. We've all received the surveys in the mail and if your like me, you have lots of question. This will be a great opportunity to get those questions answered and to have a voice in helping Metro make their decision.

We will also have an open forum for East Ballard neighbors to propose projects to be submitted for Neighborhood Projects Funds Grants. These applications are due Feb 27th.  Examples of projects funded last year include traffic circles, sidewalk repair and construction, signage, green streets, etc. Check out this link for the full list: http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf/pubs/07_08_funded_projects.pdf. This will be a great oppportunity for you to get the funding for that project you've always wanted to get done in your neighborhood, but didn't know how to get started!

Sat, 02/21: Friends of 9th Ave. NW Neighborhood Work Party

We will work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. An orientation will be held at 11 a.m. for interested volunteers who wish to garden outside of work parties for ongoing individual volunteers!

Beverages and snacks provided. Bring your favorite non power gardening tool, or borrow from our supply.

Sponsor: Friends of 9th Ave. NW Park

Sun, 03/08: Ballard Corners Planting Party

We need lots of volunteers for this event.  There will be many more plants this time; we have to the plant the raingardens and the parking strips all the way around the park.  We need lots of people to come help install hundreds (yes, 100s!) of plants; no experience is needed.

Mon, 03/09: Groundswell NW Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars to join us and featured speaker Tim Gallagher (Parks Superintendent) for a dessert potluck, election of new officers and recognition of Local Heroes. The event is a dessert potluck - bring something if you wish, but don't sweat it - there's always plenty to go around!

Other Events

Fri, 02/06: Ballard Community Center 19th Annual Daddy-Daughter Dinner

We really need volunteers for our Daddy-Daughter Dinner!  Volunteers are needed on Feb. 6 for preparing and set up and Feb. 7 for setup- to get things ready, during the event-running the activities, and take down/clean up!
Times Shifts on Feb. 6 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. and set up on the day of- Feb. 7- volunteers needed 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Meet at Ballard Community Center- 6020 28th Ave. NW
Contact Patricia TomiJo McCarrier Ballard Community Center at 206-684-4093 or

Patricia.McCarrier@seattle.gov

Sat, 02/07: Clean & Green Seattle Initiative

Tools will be provided. Refreshments provided!

Mayor's office- Clean & Green Seattle - Seattle CAN.org
9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Christa.dumpys@Seattle.gov or 206 684 4812

Thu, 02/12: Streets for People Kick-off Forum

James Irwin: Organizing in the Obama era.  Learn how to tap into community values and leadership to create change.  James was trained on organizing by the same team that trained the Obama Campaign organizers, and was the lead organizer on the Sierra Club’s successful 2007-2008 campaigns, including NoRTID, No on 985, Mass Transit Now and Cool State.
Renee Espiau: New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign. Hear about the amazing changes occurring in New York as local advocates come together to work for change. Discuss how Seattle can create its own campaign to revive great public spaces and lively streets.
Michael McGinn: Director of Seattle Great City Initiative
The Streets for People Campaign is dedicated to building a community movement that enhances our quality of life by improving our streets as public places, and prioritizing walking, biking and transit as the “new normal.”  This campaign is based on the successful community coalition that passed the Seattle Parks for All Levy.  
Event Host: Seattle Great City Initiative.  Great City brings together organizations and individuals committed to making positive, lasting change by breaking down traditional barriers that can get in the way of smart planning and helping Seattle grow and thrive as a truly great city.
Event Sponsors: Cascade Bicycle Club, Feet First, and the Sierra Club.
CoSponsors: GroundswellNW, UrbanSparks, Sustainable Ballard, Friends of Seattle, Spokespeople, Sustainable NE Seattle, Sustainable Seattle, Sustainable Green Lake, and the SafeWalks Coalition.

*We’d love it if you’d like to work with us by presenting display at the event, being a cosponsor, and/or joining the campaign.  Please let us know if you have any questions and if you would like to participate.

Sun, 02/15: Llandover Woods Sunday Bird Walk & Work Party

We'll warm up with nature walk and will focus the work on removal of invasive PLANTS. Volunteers should wear protective clothing including sturdy shoes and preferably long pants and sleeves. They should also bring drinking water. We will provide gloves and tools.

This event is teen friendly.

Sponsored by Friends of Llandover Woods and Green Seattle Partnership
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Meet at Llandover Woods 3rd Ave NW & 145th go to trail head between the two columns.
Contact: Glenn Austin 206-364-9252 gaustin@path.org

Sat, 02/21: Carkeek Park STARS Work Party

Sat, 02/21: Golden Gardens Off Leash Work Party

10:00 am to 1 pm. General cleanup, chip, put gravel around the watering holes, remove chips from around fence line- fill in holes.

Sat, 02/21: Greenwood Park Work Party

Contribute to this newly refinished park: weed, groom, & mulch landscape beds.
Sponsor: Friends of Greenwood Park Every
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Meet at North pergola, Evanston Ave N & N 87th St
Contact: Beth Pflug at 206 684 4096 or beth.pflug@seattle.gov

Sat, 02/28: Carkeek Park Fruit Tree Pruning Class

Ages 18 and older. Workshop #37181. Activity Fee $35
(This is before the free pruning work party.)
Professional horticulturists will share their expertise in basic pruning techniques in the classroom followed by hands on practice in Carkeek Park's Piper Orchard.
Time: Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a. m.
Meet at Carkeek ELC Meeting Room
Contact RSVP Please register one week in advance.
Call Carkeek Park to register at (206) 684-0877
or email for more information: carkeek.park@seattle.gov
Questions? Brian Gay Naturalist, Carkeek Park brian.gay@seattle.gov

Sat, 02/28: Llandover Woods Sunday Bird Walk & Work Party

We'll warm up with nature walk and will focus the work on removal of invasive PLANTS. Volunteers should wear protective clothing including sturdy shoes and preferably long pants and sleeves. They should also bring drinking water. We will provide gloves and tools.

This event is teen friendly.

Sponsored by Friends of Llandover Woods and Green Seattle Partnership
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Meet at Llandover Woods 3rd Ave NW & 145th go to trail head between the two columns.
Contact: Glenn Austin 206-364-9252 gaustin@path.org

Sat, 02/28: Carkeek Park Pipers Orchard Pruning Work Party

Sun, 03/08: Llandover Woods Sunday Open Space Bird Walk & Work Party

We'll warm up with nature walk and focus on removal of invasive plants. Volunteers, please wear protective clothing,sturdy shoes, preferably long pants and long sleeves. Please bring drinking water. Gloves and tools provided.

Sat, 03/21: Carkeek STARS Volunteer Work Party

Join other enthusiastic volunteers for a fun morning of forest restoration and trails maintenance. We have a wide variety of tasks you can help with. We provide gloves and water. Please wear sturdy shoes. Follow the STARS signs to our meeting place. We're here the third Saturday of every month. Welcome!

Saturday, March 21, 2009, 9am – 12pm

Sat, 03/28: Llandover Woods Trails Restoration Project

Tools and gloves provided, Please bring a lunch and water. Wear comfortable work clothes. Ages 11 & up please. we will work in a light rain.

Saturday, March 28, 2009, 10am – 3pm

Contact Jacobo Jimenez, 206-684-0598, jacobo.jimenez@seattle.gov