Personal Safety Nets

Personal Safety Nets – Because There Should Always Be a Plan!
Thurs, Oct 13 & Nov 3, 7:30 – 9 pm
Phinney Neighborhood Center
FREE
To register call 206.783.2244

Interdependence and community are stronger than isolated independence. This free workshop teaches you, and the groups you're connected with, how to find the tools, knowledge & resources which will prepare and organize you for life's upcoming challenges and changes.

Whether you're dealing with a child leaving home, military deployment, operating a family business, child birth, a medical emergency, a dysfunctional workplace, or hundreds of other challenges, the end result is a more safe, secure, and satisfying life. With your plans, resources and people identified and informed, your whole life is more secure and connected, replacing fear and isolation with security and community

This interactive class helps you assess and build your personal & community safety nets. Gain valuable insights. Get better at asking for help, and increase your ability to deal with life’s twists and turns.

For more information about Personal Safety Nets, go to http://www.personalsafetynets.com/

Celebrate 30 Years with Fun and Laughter

Where were you 30 years ago? In October 1981, the Phinney Neighborhood Center and the Phinney Neighborhood Preschool Co-op opened their doors in a recently closed elementary school. Today, 30 years later, both the Center and the preschool are integral to the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood. Many of us couldn’t imagine the neighborhood without them.

On Oct. 1 and 2, we’re celebrating that fact . It'l be weekend of celebration for both the Center and the preschool with activities for both young and old:

Ridge Romp – Saturday, Oct 1, at 10:30 am

This popular children’s entertainment series was started by preschool parents several years ago. This celebration show features Johnny Bregar who creates “music for kids that parents will love.” Tickets to the show are $3/person. Doors open at 10 am and organizers recommend that you arrive early; shows often sell out.

Phinney Center Stage – Saturday, Oct. 1, at 7 pm

The fun continues with Phinney Center Stage, an evening of improv comedy featuring the touring company from Taproot Theatre.

Doors will open at 7 pm for a social hour with an opportunity to catch up with old friends. Community members and current and past PNA members are all invited to attend but Board members, preschool families and PNA volunteers are particularly encouraged. The event will include designated “hospitality rooms” in the Center for both Board and preschool to “increase the odds” of seeing former classmates and Boardmates.

At 8 pm, the party moves to a tent in the Phinney Center upper parking lot where, by using suggestions from the audience, the quick witted actors of Taproot Theatre’s Improvisational Comedy Team will create, on the spot, scene after comedic scene filled with fun and laughs. Intermission includes an array of desserts and then it’s back to the improv.

Tickets for this night of fun and laughter are $30/person and include dessert and drinks. Purchase tickets online at www.phinneycenter.org or in person at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N.

But the celebration doesn’t end there.

Ridge Rumpus, Sunday, Oct. 2, from 12 – 4 pm, upper parking lot

Kids should have a blast at this neighborhood carnival featuring bouncy toys, rides, games, carnival food AND aerialists from Versatile Arts. Admission is $10/child or $25/family (adults are free) for unlimited access to games and rides.

Want to be part of the action? We’re still looking for volunteers to help put on these events. Have you always wanted to be part of a carnival? Can you paint faces or juggle? Want to help serve desserts or work the bar on Saturday; grill hot dogs or make sno-cones on Sunday? Maybe you’d like to take tickets? And there’s always room for more volunteers to help with set up and clean up. Interested? Contact Ali Saperstein at alis@phinneycenter.org.

More Auction Stuff

Just posted more Hot Auction Items for the PNA's upcoming Moulin Rouge Auction, May 5th. One of the items is a ride on a B-17! Yep Boeing's legendary Flying Fortress!

Details about this, and other items are here.

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Poisson = Fish

One of our volunteer photographers, Cheryl Klotz, recently did a photo shoot of one of the “Foreign Language Classes for Little Ones” held at the PNA. She got some great photos of the kids and their parents hard at work having fun learning, from the looks of it, French. Here’s a sample of some of the photos Cheryl took that day. Find out more about these classes here.

Thanks to all concerned for helping us photo-document what the PNA is all about. There are several volunteer photographers who are helping to gather photos showing all the aspects of the PNA. I’ll include samples of their work here from time to time.

Meanwhile, you can see more pictures here:







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The School of Essential Ingredients

Here's an item you might find interesting by way of Judith Wood, PNA's Volunteer Coordinator:

"This is pretty cool - Erica has been a PNA member and volunteer instructor in our education program and she's published a new book and is doing a reading at Ballard Library. Maybe something for the blog? Sounds like a neat book!"

The book is titled "The School of Essential Ingredients." Follow the link for more information.


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Lots of Art! Lots of Walk!

Here's an upcoming event produced by our friends at the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce that sounds like fun:

"Friday, April 10 is a party - a twenty-two block long street party in Phinney Ridge and Greenwood! For three hours from 6 to 9 p.m., Greenwood Avenue N is being opened up from N 65th to N 87th Street* so that pedestrians and bicyclists can come out to play and explore local businesses. This event builds on the Chamber’s successful monthly art walk Art Up/Open Up. It offers residents a cheap way to do family activities and reconnect with neighbors." More Here.

Here's a list of the Art Walk participants for April 10.

And remember that the annual Greenwood-Phinney ArtWalk will be Friday evening, May 8, from 6-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, from 12 - 5 p.m.


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SNOW?!!? April Fool's NOT!!

And I thought I was just kidding in the posts below when I said:

"… the way the weather’s been I wouldn’t be surprised if it snows a few more times between now and then…" (Auction post)

and

"People got tired of trying to sell old family heirlooms in the rain, sleet and snow." (Garage Sale post)

Have you looked outside!??


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PNA Moulin Rouge Auction

The PNA Auction is scheduled for Saturday, May 2.

I know May seems like a long way away… the way the weather’s been I wouldn’t be surprised if it snows a few more times between now and then… BUT, the auction items are rolling in, the invitations have been mailed out and we have the first draft of the event web pages up and running. Plan on visiting our auction web pages frequently between now and May 2 as we update it with more new and exciting auction items.

Already the list of donors is long and getting longer, and the HOT ITEMS page has already been updated once! We will add new Hot Items at the top of this list as they arrive.

So dust off your black beret, start practicing your Apache Dancing moves and be ready for the PNA Moulin Rouge Auction!

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Creating a Vibrant Elderculture

In 1969 Theodore Roszak defined baby boomers in The Making of a Counter Culture. Now he’s done it again, outlining in The Making of an Elder Culture the possibilities for boomers as they age and reclaim their Sixties values. How can boomers create vital lives for themselves as well as bring significant change to the whole society? Join us to envision a new Elder Culture.

Wednesday, April 1
7-9 pm
Free

At the Greenwood Senior Center
525 N. 85th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 297-0875

More here


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"Oh, the weather outside is frightful...."

...Well, at least it has been the last three times we've held our Annual Greenwood Garage Sale Day. That was in April. People got tired of trying to sell old family heirlooms in the rain, sleet and snow. Not funny.

SO... we're moving the big day from the third weekend in April to Saturday, September 12.

Frankly, I think this is perfect as it is only two days away from my sister's birthday and I'm sure I can find something appropriate at one of the 100 or more sales all over the neighborhood or at the on-site flea market.

How about you? Is September 12 the perfect day for a neighborhood garage sale or what?

Hey! We aren't gonna know what you think unless you tell us, so gather up your courage and write a response to this post...


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"What's written on the Web STAYS on the Web!"

As proof of the old adage this chestnut from 1997 turned up today in my Google Blogs Alert for: phinney neighborhood.

Phinney Ridge: Neighborhood's sense of spirit helps make it a family favorite.
Through Phinney's Neighborhood Association, residents host a huge annual garage sale, seasonal wine- and beer-tasting parties, a spring home tour, ...

Yep. Still here. Now would be a good time to join the PNA.


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Office Space Available

Beginning in April the PNA will have office space available on the top floor of the Brick Building. The office (Room 33) is 280 square feet, with built in cabinets and shelves along one wall. With tax, it will lease for $569. It’s perfect for someone in the neighborhood who would like to have an office near home. Call (206) 783-2244 for more information.


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Record turnout for legislative town hall

March 14th, 2009 by Geeky Swedes

About one hundred people attended a Saturday morning town hall at the Phinney Ridge [sic] Neighborhood Association with Representatives Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle. “We haven’t seen a turnout for a town hall like this in… forever,” Dickerson said to the crowd.

Read More



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ART WALK FRIDAY THE 13th

Flowers bloom as our city tries to shake off winter - just one week before the official start of spring, Art Up Greenwood-Phinney offers an exciting art walk evening including live art, live music and some things filthy and others fresh for spring. Some of the March 13th highlights will include:

"Bound in Color": A collection of mannequins and paper flowers by Ariel Neidhardt & Dashel Milligan will be on display at Olivers Twist.

"Filthy”: Edgy, urban photography exploring the multi-faceted definition of Filthy will include a three gallery exhibition at the Greenwood Collective.

Francine Seders Gallery will feature husband and wife Michael Spafford and Elizabeth Sandvig, with several pieces inspired by swimming with turtles in Hawaii.

SPACE Design Center will feature Dorian Dyer. Dorian produces life-enhancing art of inspiration and beauty, picturing the vibrant depth of soul and spirit he intuits in all of life.

Taking place on the 2nd Friday of each month between 6:00 – 9:00pm, the new neighborhood art walk embraces a thriving art community and invites local residents to enjoy special discounts and promotions from local restaurants, bars and shops.

WHEN:Friday, March 13, 2009 from 6:00 – 9:00pm
Art Up Greenwood-Phinney takes place on the 2nd Friday of each month
WHERE: Greenwood Avenue North/Phinney Avenue North
Between 65th street and 87th street
Print an art walk map here

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First Fridays at the Phinney Art Gallery

As I drive, bus, walk or bike by the PNA I often glance in the windows to see what's going on in there. A friend and I set off last Friday to see what this month's First Friday art opening was all about. We wondered if we had the date right, the building looked dark, but as we rounded the corner to the packed parking lot, we knew there was yet another happening at the PNA. We clomped upstairs to a packed landing filled with regular people sipping wine, and munching snacks while perusing the exhibit, entitled SALON NO. 4. The exhibit is a showing of artists, from the Seattle Print Arts group and includes Maggie Booth, Betsy Best, Spadaro, Laurie D. Brown, Susan Gans, Judy Gregory, Toni Santos, and Kathryn Trigg. I am a huge fan of block prints and one of my favorite pieces is called 24/7, a true to life saga in black and white.

Big Blue

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce "Building Green" blog has dubbed the PNA's Blue Building: "everyone’s favorite giant blue building"!

Thanks DJC! That's kinda like winning an Oscar! Kinda.

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It’s official!

Final closing papers were signed and filed on February 27 and the Phinney Neighborhood Association now owns the Phinney Neighborhood Center site.

Thank you to the City of Seattle and the State of Washington for providing the funding for the purchase.

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Greenwood Art Walk This Friday

Sponsored by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, the Greenwood Art Walk is happening this Friday evening. For a list of participating business click on www.greenwood-phinney.com One highlight is Greenwoods's very own art cat, Cooper.
The article about Cooper is below.
View One of Cooper’s Nine Lives
Ever wonder what your pet is up to while you’re away? Greenwood residents and filmmakers, Michael and Deirdre Cross, were curious as to how their orange tabby, Cooper, filled his days. So, they fitted his collar with a special camera set to snap a photo every two minutes. The resulting photos prove to be surprisingly interesting, although thinking of my own feline, I wondered how many shots ended up being edited. The fact that Cooper is both an indoor and outdoor cat lends variety to his photos, all from a cat’s eye point of view. Cooper seems unphased by both the camera and his sudden fame as both a photographer and featured cat on an episode of the Animal Planet show Cats101.
Is it art? Well, the photos have a certain detached beauty and the images are a reflection of life in a 21st century urban neighborhood. Decide for yourself at the Greenwood Art Walk, February 13, 2009, 6:00 – 9:00pm. Exhibit running at URBAN LIGHT STUDIOS through March 10 URBAN LIGHT STUDIOS, 
8537 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103.

Taproot Theater Presents "Gee’s Bend"

Normally, this article would run in our newspaper, the Phinney Ridge Review, but the play will have completed its run at Taproot before the next edition comes out in early March. Here's what our Arts Coorespondent, Laura Genoves, has to say about the play "Gee's Bend".

The setting is intimate, the stage is minimalist, and the production of Gee’s Bend is superb. Taproot Theater has once again delivered a story of hope and courage to the stage. Based on the actual small town of Gee’s (pronounced geez) Bend, Alabama, this beautifully written play, by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder shares the story of three generations of a poor African American family working their land and making the most of what is available to them. The women in the family learn the art of quilting and incorporate scraps of their well-worn clothing into imaginative, yet functional designs. The main character, Sadie, played by Samantha Rund, becomes inspired by listening to a lecture by Martin Luther King in Selma. Sadie and her sister Nella then get their own voter’s registration cards, and Sadie joins a march and protests. Sadie is determined to fight for equality, and Sadie and her husband Macon, are in disagreement as to how to bring equality to Gee’s Bend.

Each scene begins with a short acapella rendition of a traditional African American spiritual, and the brief transitions between scenes allow the audience to absorb the profundity of the story and share the struggles of the Pettway women. As their struggles evolve, we share the triumphs of the women when their quilts are lovingly displayed in a museum as works of art. Many in the audience were brought to tears; director Karen Lund has created a genuinely moving production.

Join the discussion with some of the real quilters of Gee’s Bend, February 18, at 9 p.m. or February 21 after the matinee showing. If you have already seen the play, but want to be involved in the conversation, bring your tickets for admission. There will also be and post-play appearances by the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters (Wednesdays, February 4-25).

At Taproot Theatre – January 28-February 28


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CALL FOR ARTISTS

Farmers Market T-shirt Design Competition
Click here for details


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