From Andrea Faste, Board President

Groundswell NW Events

Sat, 06/05: Salmon Bay Natural Area Workparty

Join us to keep this natural area a viable habitat for wildlife and beautiful resource for the community to enjoy. Help Salmon Bay Natural Area by volunteering on Saturday, June 5 from 9am to noon. Volunteering is a great opportunity to make new friends while beautifying the neighborhood.

Come learn about the unveiling of a 17-foot-tall statue that commemorates the transformative powers of the salmon life cycle. The unveiling will be celebrated during a dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 12 from 9am to noon. Read more about the event in this Ballard News Tribune article.

Wed, 06/16: Friends of 9th Ave NW Park Meeting

Location: 1006 NW 70th Street.

We hope to have updates on development of the park.

Sat, 06/19: Summer Solstice Celebration

Join Sunset Hill Community Association's Annual Potluck Picnic and see the final product of our joint project to develop plans for a community gathering space under a solar canopy at the abandoned Sunset Substation. SHCA will supply hamburgers and hotdogs, updates on future programs, music, kazoos and a fun time! More details to come . . .

Sat, 06/26: 2nd Annual Edible Garden Tour

The 2nd Annual Edible Garden Tour will be on June 26th, from 10a-3p, so save the date!  The theme this year is "Start with a Pot, or Start with your Lot!" This inspirational and educational self-guided tour will focus on East Ballard, from 65th to Market and 14th to 3rd. This year's tour will feature gardens with espaliered fruit trees, vegetables growing in small pots, and edible curbstrips that look good and can feed your family. We'll start with a look at the school yard garden being grown by the children at St. Alphonsus Church and School.

On the day of the event, pick up your map/walking guide for a $10 donation at the little parking lot on NW 59th off 15th NW on the NORTH side of St. Alphonsus Church. Hope to see you there!!! Kids under 18 free. Carpool or bike encouraged.

Sat, 07/10: Artwalk Nite @ The Fence

ON THE FENCE - a summer art installation. Come and meet the artists: Pam Gray & Anne Baumgartner - as part of Ballard's 2nd Saturday ARTWALK. There will be snacks and cool drinks along with music as you view the ART on the FENCE along 14th Ave NW and NW Market Streets. Come and celebrate the amazing power of art and community. http://onthefence2010.blogspot.com.

Fri, 07/16: Friends of 9th Ave NW Park Work Party

Friends of 9th Ave NW Park (between 70th and 73rd) will be having a work party on Friday, July 16, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. We will provide water, tools, and something to eat.  We will be tidying the park and cutting back the hedges bordering the sidewalk.

Sat, 07/17: SBNA Welcome Figure Dedication

Please join us and Duwamish tribal leader Cecile Hansen to celebrate "A Salish Welcome" - the installation of a major new artwork by Marvin Oliver at the Salmon Bay Natural Area.

Groundswell NW spearheaded this project in partnership with the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Commissioned with Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Arts Funds and the Department of Neighborhoods' Neighborhood Matching Fund.

Other Events

Sat, 06/05: Ballard Corners Workparty

Please join us for a work party at Ballard Corners Park (at 17th Ave NW & NW 63rd St) on Saturday, June 5, beginning at 9am. We could really use help this month with weeding and spreading wood chip mulch. The Parks Dept will be delivering a big pile of wood chips and we need to spread them in all the beds. There will be a lot to do and many hands make light work!

Some tools will be provided, but if you have them, please bring gloves, weeding tools, a pitchfork, a wheel barrow, and buckets/containers for collecting weeds and trash.

Sat, 06/19: 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 (we encourage you to bring your own bottle of water, to reduce plastic waste). Please wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for teens and older. Follow the STARS signs to our meeting place. We're here the third Saturday of every month. Welcome!

If you are a group of more than 5 persons contact Dale Johnson at 206-362-2980 to plan logistics.

Sat, 06/19: Golden Gardens - Green Seattle Partnership Work Party

Join us for a restoration work party at Golden Gardens - See website for important details on what to bring and where to meet. greenseattle.org

Sat, 07/17: 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 (we encourage you to bring your own bottle of water, to reduce plastic waste). Please wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for teens and older. Follow the STARS signs to our meeting place. We're marking 10 years of the trails program on July 17. Welcome!

Mon, 07/26: Parks Levy Oversight Committee

The next meeting of the Oversight Committee will be Monday, July 26. The meeting is from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will be held at the Parks Administration Building at 100 Dexter N. (Map It)

We encourage the public to attend Committee meetings and invite you to comment on issues during the public comment period at each meeting. Your written comments are also welcome.