GAIN News – August 5, 2010
Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors


Welcome to GAIN News, the email newsletter for Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (GAIN).

Provide Input for Mural - Aug 10
Want more art on Aurora? GAIN is a partner with the Aurora Mural Project and has hired a team of artists from Seattle Mural Art to paint a second mural for Aurora! Join us for an informal public meeting with the artists Tuesday, August 10, 7:00-8:00pm. Meet at 10510 Stone Ave N (Epic Life Church's classroom - across from the Northgate fire station). The artists will be painting an exterior wall at 10217 Aurora Ave N (North Park Grocery). The theme will focus on traffic safety and healthy communities. Funding comes from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and GAIN.

The first mural was installed temporarily in an empty storefront at 7615 Aurora and within 3 weeks the place was leased! The team is currently seeking a new location on Aurora for the mural. For information about the first mural, see the North Seattle Herald article and Seattle Sketcher article about mural.

GAIN Endorses Ed McKenna for Judge
GAIN recently endorsed Ed McKenna for Seattle Municipal Court Judge. GAIN has never before endorsed a political candidate. The GAIN Executive Team made an exception because Ed McKenna has worked directly with our group for five years. As the North Precinct Police Department's liaison to the city attorney's office, he works on creative solutions to improve public safety in our neighborhoods. Ed’s opponent, Edsonya Charles, was rated by the King County Bar Association as the very lowest, #47 of 47 judges. Look for Ed to be in the November ballot. You can meet Ed August 7 at a BBQ fundraiser being held at Sweet Lou's, 820 N 85th St. For more information about Ed McKenna: www.edmckennaforjudge.com.

Greenwood Summer Streets - Aug 13
Walk. Bike. Shop. Play. Breathe. On Friday, August 13 Greenwood Avenue from N 87th Street to N 65th Street is being opened up from 6:00-9:00pm. The Greenwood/Phinney Chamber of Commerce has partnered with SDOT to make this a great event. It event is being held during the monthly Art Up Art Walk. Come out and enjoy great food, mingle with your neighbors, look at great art and support local businesses. The Gumshoe 5K starts the same day and Seattle Children’s is sponsoring a kid’s obstacle course and there will be skateboard demos with free helmet give-aways. Everyone is invited.

Next Cleanup - Sep 11
Mark your calendar for the next GAIN neighborhood cleanup, to be held Saturday, September 11th leaving from the new Green Bean Coffeehouse at 8533 Greenwood Ave (the old McDonalds)! The Green Bean has generously offered free coffee and pastries 9:30-10:00am and then we'll do the cleanup 10:00-11:30am. Meet at the picnic tables outside the Green Bean. Come join us!
Food Drive for Food Bank
Greenwood Christian Church (8018 Fremont Ave N) is conducting a food drive for the Greenwood Food Bank for July, August and September. Drop off your non-perishable donations at the church during office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday between 9am-3pm, Sundays between 9am-noon, or leave your bagged, donated items on the porch. They are particularly interested in toddler and kid friendly, non-perishable food items (for example: tuna, mac & cheese, canned fruit, peanut butter, juice boxes).

Stone Ave Street Painting
The Green Lake Blog reports that the final design has been chosen by Sustainable Green Lake for the street painting on Stone Avenue between 80th and 81st Streets. You can participate in painting the mural on September 26th, 12-5pm.

Supportive Housing to Cyndy's
On June 9th, the Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) held a meeting at Cyndy's Pancake House about their intention to purchase the property at 105th and Aurora and build supportive housing for 80-90 homeless adults with severe mental illness. For more information, see DESC website.

Farmer's Market on Aurora?!
We hear a sale is possible for the former Half Price Pots property at 81st and Aurora. The prospective owner is a Wenatchee farmer who participates in numerous farmer's markets in Western Washington. If the sale goes through, he expects to keep the buildings as they are except to add refrigeration to one building. He hopes to rent space to farmers to sell their produce. Workers appear to be testing the property for possible contamination before any sale.

On-Line Crime Reporting
The Seattle Police Department just announced a new system for on-line reporting of certain crimes. No waiting for a police officer to show up! Crimes included are property destruction, car prowls, auto accessories, theft of property (under $500) and identity theft.

Timely News from Aurora Blog
Anyone living or working in the Aurora corridor should check out the new neighborhood blog, www.auroraseattle.com. This is the quickest way to get your news, including projects from GAIN (in a MUCH more timely manner than waiting for our occasional newsletter)! Want Aurora|Seattle updates each time something is posted? 1. Click the RSS feed icon next to "Featured Stories." 2. Select "Subscribe."3. Determine which folder in your "Inbox" you want to direct the feed.
That's it!

GAIN Mission
Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors (GAIN) is a group of active neighbors who are working to enhance community and decrease crime in the Aurora corridor north of Woodland Park and south of 95th. GAIN's vision is to bring permanent changes resulting in a safe and involved neighborhood. For more information visit www.gainseattle.com or email gaingroup@gmail.com.