Pinehurst Seattle

Kids’ Art in Pinehurst Pocket Park

This month two brothers: 6 year old Porter, a Hazel Wolf student, and 4 year old Declan made a poster for the kiosk. They want to thank all the essential workers helping us during the coronavirus Stay Home, Stay Healthy period. Thank YOU, Declan and Porter, for making this beautiful heart and listing many of the professions helping us right now. Below are a couple photos so you can see clearly. But even better, do stop by the pocket park at NE 117th St & 19th Ave NE to see the boys’ work up close!

If you would like to submit your child’s artwork (or yours!) for the Pocket Park, please email nancy@pinehurstseattle.org.

Sidewalk Art in the Time of Coronavirus

Neighbors are stepping up to give us some fun diversions while we’re following the governor’s Stay at Home Stay Healthy directive. Many have put teddy bears in their windows for parents and children to ‘hunt’ on their walks. Here is some fun chalk art on NE 113th St & 20th Ave NE.

Document These Stay at Home Stay Healthy Times

TIME TO WRITE YOUR STORY

Each of us is affected differently during the Stay At Home restrictions for coronavirus. Write your thoughts on paper, as to how you are adjusting to remaining in your homes. You may not think that anyone is interested, but we are living in an historical moment and your thoughts and feelings are important.

Be sure to place the date on your writing as well as sign your name. Later your family will enjoy reading your little memoir of the 2020 COVID-19 Stay at Home Stay Healthy sheltering in place.

This is also a time to add an additional paragraph or more, about the other important moments in your life. Your military service, your wedding day, escapades during a vacation – it is your moment to share memories and history. Grasp the moment, your family will love reading these in the years to come.

Northgate Pedestrian Bridge Update – April 2020

Northgate Ped/Bike Bridge construction update

Work is continuing during the current coronavirus restrictions. Here is a statement from SDOT:

At the City of Seattle, we are continuing to follow guidance from federal, state, and local leaders and our public health partners regarding COVID-19. State officials have determined that work on public works projects can continue during the Governor’s stay-at-home order provided that appropriate safety measures are in place.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is continuing with essential transportation (public works) projects to the greatest extent practicable during these times. The health and safety of our workers and the public is our first priority. Our contractors have updated their Health and Safety Plans to incorporate best management practices with respect to COVID-19 throughout our construction work sites. If a situation arises where a contractor is unable to maintain these practices on a work site, or the Governor orders that work on public works projects must stop, the contractor shall temporarily suspend work until the work can be performed safely and legally.

We will notify you if there are any changes to the project schedule or planned work.

You can learn more about COVID-19 at www.kingcounty.gov/covid.
————————————————————

The following activities will be taking place over the next several weeks:

Upcoming April and May northbound I-5 express lane nighttime work

Beginning as soon as April 13 and throughout the month of May, they’ll be working in the median near the northbound I-5 express lane off-ramp at 1st Ave NE and NE 103rd St. Work will take between 11 PM to 5 AM and is within the regularly scheduled express lane closure hours. During this time, they’ll be installing temporary concrete barriers, clearing and grubbing vegetation, working on drainage, and installing a block wall system.

Alternate route: Exit 174 NE 130th St/Roosevelt Way NE (the next exit open past the closed express lane off-ramp)

East side of I-5 (1st Ave NE between NE 100th St and NE 103rd St)
From March 30 until April 3, the shoulder of northbound I-5 will be closed from 7 AM to 3:30 PM while work on below-ground support for bridge columns takes place.

Additional work in this area includes the following:

Ongoing intermittent lane closures, with northbound and southbound traffic maintained
Utility and signal work
Installation of storm-water collection system

West side of I-5 (north side of North Seattle College and along N 100th St)

Clearing and grubbing of vegetation
Utility and drainage work
Stonework for construction access road
Grading of bridge approach
Retaining wall installation

What to expect during construction

Some noise and construction vehicle activity, including cranes
Some nighttime and weekend work
Detours for people walking and biking
Lane reductions on Northgate express lane on- and off-ramp
2 freeway closures and detours on weekends and at night only, as soon as March 2021
Construction staging and parking impacts near the construction sites, including at the northern side of North Seattle College along N 100th St and on NE 100th St at 1st Ave NE
Closure of the North Seattle Park & Ride on 1st Ave NE

Questions during construction? Contact:

Darrell Bulmer
Communications and Outreach Lead
Northgate Bridge Construction Project
NorthgateBridge@seattle.gov
(206) 905-3620
www.seattle.gov/transportation/NorthgatePedBridge.htm

Message from SPD Captain Sano, North Precinct

A message from our Seattle Police Department North Precinct’s Captain Eric Sano dated March 30, 2020:

“To all North Precinct residents, business owners and workers, this COVID-19 pandemic has really changed the way we all live and interact. We are definitely in unprecedented times and unchartered waters! I understand the fear and apprehension you all are feeling. I get it, I really do.

But, please know this: the Seattle Police Department continues to patrol our streets and respond to calls as we have always done. While we are encouraging our citizens to utilize CopLogic or the telephone reporting to minimize face-to-face contact, that doesn’t mean we’re not responding to priority calls or other calls for service. We are still getting dispatched to calls all over the North Precinct.

The good news is, year-to-date, our calls for service are down almost 5%. Our overall crime is down 10%.

In the last 28-days, our calls for service are down almost 9%, despite a number of people being at home. In that same time period, overall crime has been down 34%! Burglaries are down 20% and larcenies are down 48%!

Still, be vigilant and report suspicious activity. Call 9-1-1 if you truly believe there is a crime about to occur or is occurring. Our Communications Section is still fully staffed and answering all of the calls coming their way!

Most importantly, stay home unless you have to go to the doctor, the pharmacy or the store. Take care of one another and know we’re going to get through this.

Captain Eric Sano

Seattle Police Department

North Precinct”

KCTS-9 Decorating Challenge

Here’s a movement KCTS 9 is starting – to decorate our homes’ outward facing spaces to bring joy to our neighbors. Here’s the message:

“At KCTS 9, we believe that our COMMUNITY is our greatest strength in times of adversity. The novel coronavirus has significantly changed the ways we interact with our family, friends and neighbors. In an effort to spread some joy during the difficult moment we’re all living in, we’re launching the OUR HEARTS LIVE HERE initiative. In the coming weeks, we’ll seek out and promote ways to safely bring our community together, something that’s core to our mission.

This weekend, we challenge you to decorate your outdoor space – front porch, patio, windows, etc. – to bring joy to your neighbors as they walk by. This could be fun or silly set-ups using whatever holiday decorations you have on hand, words of encouragement to those working on the front lines of the pandemic, or whatever inspires you during this time of social distancing.

Show off your work by using #Ourheartslivehere and tagging @KCTS9. Beginning next week, we’ll select some of our favorite submissions to be featured in segments that will air on KCTS 9 and shared out with our social media channels.

Finally, please share this with your family, friends and neighbors! The more people who participate the more we show we’re all in this together.

Here’s how to participate:

1) To be officially considered, visit our website (https://www.kcts9.org/ourheartslivehere) where you’ll find a link to the submission form. Include your name, e-mail and photo of your display. Use the hashtag #Ourheartslivehere to share your work with the community.

2) Use materials that you already have at home. Holiday decorations, sidewalk chalk, recycled materials cardboard, etc. The more sustainable the better!

3) Post the KCTS 9 flyer with your display so people passing by know that you are participating and where to get more information. Don’t have a printer at home? No problem. Just hand-write a sign that says “We’re participating in #Ourheartslivehere with KCTS 9!”

4) All residential spaces are permitted including porches, balconies, windows, etc.

5) Follow all social distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live in your residence.

Our favorite submissions will be featured in spots aired on KCTS 9. Celebrity and/or staff judges will determine those selected. We may send a producer to your house to take some video of your display. Those selected will be contacted via e-mail by Monday, April 13, 2020.”

Pinehurst Picks

During our ‘stay home’ order for virus safety, we can still take walks for exercise. It’s really nice to see people out walking, respectfully keeping a good 6 feet from each other, and saying Hi. We’re seeing fun ephemeral things on our walks such as the stuffed bears in windows so kids can have a treasure hunt, and chalk drawings on the sidewalks and driveways. But Pinehurst Picks is about more long-lived objects, so here’s a cute stone arch. Where is it?

2020 Tax Filing Resources

While in-person tax preparation locations are now closed due to COVID-19, United Way of King County is offering free online tax preparation services. There are two convenient free web-based filing options available to you, your family members, and your community.

United Way is offering free online tax preparation services through the end of tax season.

Self-filing Online for Free:

File your taxes online for free with United Way’s www.MyFreeTaxes.com platform or find other free filing options available to you at IRS.gov/FreeFile.

Need help navigating MyFreeTaxes? Call our toll-free hotline, 1-833-540-0800, for assistance 10AM-8PM Monday to Friday and 10AM-1:30PM Saturday and Sunday.

Virtual Tax Preparation Service:

United Way is now offering a virtual tax preparation option that allows clients to securely upload tax documents and get connected to United Way’s tax experts to remotely prepare tax returns.

Visit www.FreeTaxExperts.org to begin the process.

Visit www.FreeTaxExperts.org to learn more about these new options and consider taking advantage of these free services to maximize your refund.

Thanks for 2020 Pocket Park Cleanup Work

About 10 neighborhood volunteers came out on sunny Sunday March 15 for the annual Pinehurst Pocket Park cleanup. We spent a couple hours weeding and mulching and the park is looking good for another year!

Thanks to all who came out,

Garth Ferber

Road Rules – Tanking Up

Maybe you’ve seen people do it – put the fuel nozzle in their gas tank and get back inside their car to wait. Is that OK? While you’re not legally obligated to stand at the pump as you fill, you might want to think twice about hopping back in your car.

Exiting and re-entering a car can build up a static charge (not unlike shuffling across a carpet in socks), potentially creating a dangerous spark that could ignite fuel vapors during refueling. Although very rare, fires have started when drivers fail to discharge static by touching a metal part of the car (ideally the hood or driver’s door) before inserting or removing the nozzle from their gas tank. Risks are higher in cold, dry weather.

You’ll also want to follow these fuel-smart tips:

Don’t top off to get a few extra miles or round up to an even dollar amount. Not only do you risk a spill, but you could damage your car’s vapor recovery system, causing your Check Engine light to come on and, perhaps, setting yourself up for costly repairs.
Keep your passenger door locked. We’ve received reports of stealthy thieves who wait until your attention is focused on the pump to quietly open the door and help themselves to whatever’s on the front seat (often a purse).
Don’t leave the pump unattended. As tempting as it might be to run inside the convenience store or use the restroom as your tank fills, stay with your car. If the pump malfunctions, you’ll be there to correct it. Plus, you avoid the risk of “pump rage” if your car fills faster than you expected and you block a line of people waiting for their turn to fill.
Obey posted rules. At minimum, that’s turning off your engine and not smoking.
Keep portable containers on the ground when you fill them. A spill is much more likely if you’re holding both the gas can and the pump nozzle. Always use an approved portable container.

These tips are from the March 2020 Pemco Perspective Newsletter.

Pinehurst Seattle

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