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September Vuecrest View Newsletter

DP
David Pitkethly
Fri, Sep 2, 2016 10:47 PM
                              Vuecrest View Newsletter       September -

2016

October Board Meeting

Many thanks to Steve and Vonne Soriano for offering their home to host

the October meeting! It will be on Thursday, October 6th, beginning at 7 pm.
The address is 9829 Hilltop Road. All are welcome to come and witness our
Directors in action!

Annual Membership Meeting

The Vuecrest Homeowners will be held at the Bellevue Library in room #1
on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 9. Please save the date. More details to
follow.

Summer Picnic a Huge Success

Blue grass music by the Cascade Mountain Boys, tasty food treats by Tacos
Los “Koras” Express, ice cream by Sweet Treats, plus the petting zoo…what
could be better. Even the weather cooperated after a few early sprinkles.
New innovations this year were a welcome desk, name tags, and wonderful
group of Vuecrest Junior Volunteers - you are the best! Two of our Bellevue
City Council members, our newly appointed police captain, and a fire truck
with three Bellevue firefighters participated in the festivities.

Many thanks to the Hambletons, Kadavys and Coes for lending their homes and
yards to our party revelers!

Bellevue Main Post Office

We Vuecresters have been used to the convenience of having our post
office practically around the corner. Well, those days are gone forever
beginning September 10th. On that day the old post office will close. But,
do not despair. On September 12th you will be able to enjoy the new post
office at 12224 Bel-Red Road.

DTP


Book Re-Vues!

I have just finished an absolutely breathtaking new novel:  To The

Bright Edge Of The World, by Eowyn Ivey.  WOW!!  A couple years ago, I
devoured her debut novel, The Snow Child, which was a finalist for the
Pulitzer Prize.  (Always so nice to have my book choices approved by higher
authorities!)  It was a marvelous, old-as-the-hills story of a lonely
couple, in remote Alaska, who yearned for a child; magically, a little girl
does appear, and the characters, and the reader, wandered through the
wintry, wondrous, shadowy fairy tale of a novel.  I highly recommend that
book, too.

As wonderful as Snow Child is, I couldn’t imagine that Ivey’s new book

could top it.  Oh, my goodness!!!!  To The Bright Edge Of The World is one
of those all-too-few-and-far-between books that you ‘can’t put down, but you
don’t want to EVER end books!  An epistolary novel, it consists of letters,
journal entries, photographs and articles.  I really enjoy that format; in
good hands, ‘working’ to discover the depths of a story is so rewarding.

Set in 1885, the story is quite simple:  a decorated Civil War veteran is
assigned to venture up the Wolverine Valley, to map the interior of the
Alaskan Territory, while his pregnant wife waits for him to return to Fort
Vancouver.  You will be swept off your feet and into his expedition, at the
same time you sit impatiently and wait with her. Combining history, thrills,
geography, Native American lore, photography, and – oh, yes!  - a beautiful
love story, Ivey has pulled so many elements into one book and produced a
fabulous read!  Her writing shimmers with beauty, but, at the same time,
remains compulsively readable.  To The Bright Edge Of The World is a new
book, just out in hardback.  I’m sure that the library stocks it; otherwise,
all the usual sources work just fine.  Enjoy!!!

 Last month, I suggested that we start a Vuecrest Book Club, and was

delighted to hear back from some of our local readers!  Although I could
‘assign’ a book, let’s get together for a quick chat, just to see what type
of format works best for most of us.  On Wednesday, September 7, I’d love to
have anyone who is interested drop by my house for an informal get-together,
at 10:30AM.  Let me know if that works!  I’m so looking forward to getting
to know more of you better!  E-mail me: Melissa Hambleton /
mailto:mhambleton@comcast.net mhambleton@comcast.net.


The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

There are many books that are forgettable. Then there are those few books
that one never forgets. For me, The Devil in the White City is one of those
unforgettable books. I first read the book in 2005, and it is near the very
top of my all-time favorites; so much so that I am reading it again at this
time. Erik Larson is an undisputed master of storytelling, and this book is
certainly one of his best.

The setting is Chicago in 1889. The 400th anniversary of the discovery of
America by Columbus is approaching and the city fathers are contemplating a
massive exposition to celebrate the occasion. Quickly, New York, St. Louis
and Washington D.C. vie for the same event. The U.S. Congress awarded the
prize to Chicago, and that’s when this story begins in earnest. Daniel
Hudson Burnham, America’s most accomplished architect, took charge of the
huge project. Problems abound from the beginning, and the struggle to
complete the venture and open on time was immense.  Dr. Henry H. Holmes, a
serial killer (and physician) begins his rampage of brutal murders in the
Chicago area, taking advantage of this major attraction to lure his prey,
mostly women, to their deaths. He concealed his macabre house of horrors for
years; its discovery was his denouement, of course; and for that he paid the
ultimate price.

The Devil in the White City is a true story, thoroughly researched and
well documented with quotes, letters and legal footnotes. Erik Larson
skillfully weaves this spine-chilling tale of the World’s Columbian
Exposition and the crimes of Henry Holmes in a precise and methodical
manner, almost as if he were following in the footsteps of this brilliant
but ghoulish man of gore. As in all extremes, the counterpoint of hate and
darkness is goodness and light, equally well presented by Mr. Larson as he
masterfully recounts the challenges of the fine citizens who made this fair
a true success.  The Devil in the White City is a NY Times bestseller and is
available at the Bellevue Public Library.

Point of interest: Erik Larson maintains a home in Seattle but there is
another interesting Seattle connection. The landscape architect for the
Exposition of 1893 was Fredrick Law Olmsted, the acknowledged founder of the
science of landscape architecture. His two sons, John Charles and Fredrick
Jr., continued the Olmsted business and designed many of the parks that we
enjoy today. These include Greenlake, Woodland, Ravenna, Volunteer and
Seward Parks; as well as others around Seattle.                  David
Pitkethly

                ********************************************************

Tid-bits!

“School days, school days, dear old golden rule days, readin’ and ‘ritin’
and ‘rithmatic, all to the tune of a hickory stick (“When We Were A Couple
of Kids” : Will Cobb/Gus Edwards/ 1907). That’s right, those big yellow
buses are back on the highways and it never hurts to review the laws. I am
always astonished to read that anyone! anywhere! would actually pass a
school bus during pick-up or discharge of students, but it does happen
(though certainly not to us wise and savvy Vuecresters!). So, here are the
rules: a school bus can only stop at pre-determined locations, so if you
don’t want to wait behind it, and you’re familiar with its route, pass it
well before it gets to its next stop. Once you see those yellow lights
blinking, that means a stop is imminent and IT IS TOO LATE TO PASS! The
yellow lights will blink for several seconds, as a warning to drivers, and
then the alternating blinking red lights turn on or a “stop” sign is
extended by the bus driver. Now, everyone, both behind and facing the bus,
must STOP. Failure to do so will result in a $394. fine which cannot be
waived, suspended or reduced; you’ll just have to pay it (and you deserve
to!) That part is clear, but there are exceptions. It drives me batty at
Crossroads when 156th just seems to close down because some people don’t
understand the rules, and horns start blasting! To wit, Washington state law
allows that when a highway has 3 or more marked traffic lanes, drivers
coming from the opposite direction of the school bus are not required to
stop (the reason being, that children are expected to walk on the sidewalk
until they reach the next intersection with a traffic light or crosswalk).
Also, if a highway is divided by a median (such as a grassy or concrete
area) or barrier, and you are approaching the school bus from the opposite
direction, you again, are not required to stop. A school bus driver is
allowed to pull over and stop completely off the roadway for the purpose of
picking up or discharging children, and may do this when he/she knows that
none of the students will be crossing the street. At that time, only the
yellow hazard lights will have been activated and you can pass, cautiously.
Relatively new are “school speed zones” which are marked with signs. When
these roadside or overhead yellow lights are blinking, all traffic must
reduce its speed to 20MPH. Be aware, many of these are now monitored by
security cameras and failure to obey will result in a ticket in the mail and
a not-so-pretty photo of you and your car. For Garmin users: you’ll hear 2
bongs at beginning and end of zone. Other school zone areas may be marked
with a “When children are present” sign so take a good look around.

I remember starting 1st grade and being very excited about riding the
school bus! There was one bus that went right by my house but was not
allowed to stop; its first pick-up was to be 3 miles from the school and we
lived only 1½ miles away. The bus I had been assigned to had its first
pick-up about ¼ mile from our home and then drove, and drove and drove for
almost 40 minutes thru farm country on the outskirts of town. I thought it
would be fun to watch the cows and count the hay bales. But I found out very
quickly that the farm kids who boarded smelled like manure, were bigger and
huskier than most of my little friends and used words that, though I didn’t
know what they meant, I knew I wasn’t supposed to hear or ever repeat them.
However, the ride back at the end of the school day was quick, no more than
10 minutes, since I got off at that first stop. After several days, those 40
minutes seemed endless and everyone on the bus seemed frightening to me. I
told my parents, and my dear daddy quickly gave me a hug and said that from
that day on, he would drive me to school every morning – and so he did! For
the next 8 years, until I attended an out-of-state school, he and I were
morning buddies. The most wonderful part was that my father and I grew very
close; we had breakfast together, he checked over my homework and we shared
daddy-daughter conversations while my mother slept. The early morning car
rides created a special bond between us. We remained close all of our lives
until he passed away at age 85 – and just maybe it was all thanks to that
old yellow bus.

Vintage Vuecrest

What good fortune that David and I were doing our “walk-around” just as
Jim Dunnam was picking up his mother’s mail at the mailbox. We introduced
ourselves and were readily welcomed into Nancy Dunnam’s lovely home at 909
Evergreen Drive. She and her husband moved to Vuecrest in 1950 after having
their custom home built for $37,500. Her son Jim shared some delightful
memories from his youth, such as playing baseball on the many empty
neighboring lots, or sledding down “Daredevil”, as he and his buddies called
Sunset Way below the intersection with Evergreen Drive, during the winter
months. There were times when they could glide themselves all the way to the
Smoke House (now, known as the Pancake Corral). He recalled a local Vuecrest
gal who was his baby-sitter, Jennifer Blackburn, and how he recognized her
years later at a political gathering.  He approached her and said “I
remember you, you’re Jennifer Blackburn!” ”Not any more” she replied, with a
big smile, “I’m Jennifer Dunn now! ” (This name may sound familiar to you,
as Jennifer Blackburn Dunn was a congresswoman from Washington state and
served in the U.S House of Representatives from 1995-2003).

Nancy Dunnam has a great deal of her own remarkable history. Her
grandfather Edward Nordoff founded the “Nordoff-Bon Marche” in 1889 in
Seattle, which was the first store west of the Mississippi to provide
European goods to this west coast area. Her father, Arthur Nordoff purchased
a large tract of land by Eastgate (south Bellevue) and established the
Bellevue Air Field in 1941, which he owned and operated until its sale in
the mid-80’s. (Yes, I remember it, do you? I still see that big wind sock
catching the cross-winds!).

Nancy grew up in aviation and started flying at the age of 16 with her
father, and earned her pilots license when she was 18. She dropped out of UW
in her junior year to become a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot). In 1944,
when men were needed for combat duty, women pilots were enlisted to their
place. Each time they would ferry planes, tow targets, or transport cargo,
another man was made available to fight in the war effort. (We all know that
days are different now, and women fly all missions alongside their male
counterparts, but certainly not so 70 years ago). In 2009 Nancy was invited
to Washington D.C. to receive the Congressional Gold medal, honoring the
1,900 WASP women. “These brave pilots have empowered and inspired decades of
women service members who have followed in their footsteps” said Senator
Patty Murray. “They took flight at a time when the idea of women aviators
was thought not only improbably, but impossible”.

Nancy is 93 years old now, quite hard of hearing but very personable. She
described Vuecrest to me at the time her home was built: “It was all fields,
the hills were bare of houses, everywhere I looked, there was open land”.

Nancy has been honored with a plaque at the Museum of Flight in Seattle,
and her original WASP uniform is on display; a reminder of her early years
when she showed great courage and patriotism on behalf of all Americans -
and American women, in particular. Thank you for your service, Nancy.

New to the Vue

We welcome Audra and Wayne Tucker to 930 Sunset Way. Wayne is still
residing in Dallas, with their 2 furry “children; Lilly is a boxer and
Murphey is a lab/Australian shepherd mix, until their home sells. Both pups
are very friendly and enjoy spending time chasing squirrels, snoozing in the
sun and going for walks. Audra works for T-Mobile and Wayne is considering a
career change and may be returning to school. They love the proximity to
Bellevue, and the neighborhood. They both enjoy hiking, mountain biking,
kayaking, skiing, reading and just about everything our great Pacific
Northwest has to offer.


 So, have we all been HAPPY CAMPERS? It is now September, summer is

clearly over, but let’s stay hopeful that a few warm and sunny days might
ease us gently into autumn. Did you find time to crawl into a hammock or
chaise-longue for some quiet moments of relax-o-time? Or pick those tangy
fresh juicy blackberries on the side of the road? Or sprinkle fresh herbs
from your garden onto summer greens? or quench your thirst with a glass of
cold lemonade or a big chunk of sweet watermelon? Summer brings us back to
our childhood. The rays of the hot sun beseech our thoughts to relive those
old almost-forgotten days when we did little more than languish with our
best friends and banish all thoughts of school work. Alas, then, as now,
summer comes to a close and we must roll up our sleeves because “there’s
work to be done”.  But there’s still a little fun to be had and I’ll tell
you all about it!

Our KCLS (Library) at Crossroads is once again, seeing our needs and
helping us to manage them. They are offering 1-on-1 time with a computer
coach every Monday evening thru September designed for those 50 and over
(ie, us dinosaurs still struggling to catch up with the tech world). Would
you like to be better at handling email?  Or talk to your grandkids on
Facebook? The Crossroads Library will show you how. Call for an appointment
(425-450-1778) and they will set you up for a 30 min or 60 min apt. all for
free! ***** Thursday, Sept 8, enjoy South Asian film/art/culture and
discussion at Tasveer’s 11h annual Film Festival at the Bellevue Arts
Museum. Samosas and chai available for purchase. Call 425-519-0770 for more
info; event includes film and gallery admission. *****  HEEEE-Haw!
“Whoopie ti-yi-yo, git along little dogies, it’s your misfortune and none of
my own, whoopee ti-yi-yo, git along little dogies, you know that Wyoming
will be your new home” (John Lomax / 1910). It’s time for the Western Block
Party at the Redmond Town Center on Saturday, September 10 from 12-5PM.
So…slowdown! Here’s the lowdown on the hoedown: Dig out those chaps, a snap
shirt and your old red bandana and visit the farm animal petting zoo, you
can mine for gold, tap your cowboy boots to country music, get your picture
taken in the haystack photo booth and quench your thirst at the Root Beer
Saloon. Sounds like quite a shindig, you won’t want to miss it – great fun
for all ages! And remember this bit of cowboy wisdom: Don’t squat with your
spurs on!  http://www.redmondtowncenter.com www.redmondtowncenter.com
***** Hurry up and catch it!!! The Museum of Flight is featuring its amazing
production “Above and Beyond”, and…it’s OUT OF THIS WORLD (especially when
viewed in its 180 degree immersive theater!) Show runs only through Sept.
10. Museum is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S. and is open every day from
10AM -5PM. Free parking. For more info call 206-764-5720 or visit
http://www.museumofflight.org www.museumofflight.org. ***** Whodathunk
there would ever be a grocery store in the Bel-Sq. mall…but here it comes!
Whole Foods is set to open a less expensive and smaller format store, known
as “365” (do they really think any Bellevue housewife plans to actually cook
that number of days every year??!). Ok, so who needs to cook…just peruse the
aisles filled with fresh greens, crunchy crackers and kitchen essentials
that make us wonder how we could have felt fulfilled before we found a
certain miracle gadget (I must confess…it has happened to me! I came upon a
lucite tube + inner razor section that halves 8-10 cherry tomatoes with one
fell swoop. I gave it to my husband for his birthday and now he zealously
waits for his fan-fare moment…and then “VOILA!” he exclaims as those little
red morsels tumble into the salad bowl. It’s done wonders for his
self-confidence as a sous-chef!). This is the 3rd “365” store for Whole
Foods and they’re expecting it to be a great success. ***** Sept 16, Friday
evening, Key Arena presents The Tour of Gymnastics Champions 2016, featuring
the World Champions Gold Medal Team. This crew of 7 lithe and limber (and
young and lovely!) performers will tumble their way through their
Olympic-caliber performances. It is guaranteed to be an evening of superb
talent. We all know Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles from the recent Olympics
and there’s barely enough time for those muscles to recover before they do
it all over again, right here in Seattle. Tickets avbl. at
www.ticketmaster.com http://www.ticketmaster.com

. ***** Perhaps you have heard of Jeffrey Toobin. He is one of our favorite
commentators and writers. Mr.Toobin is a Harvard law school grad; his
articles appear in New Yorker and he is frequently seen on ABC as a legal
analyst and correspondent. He is author of the best-selling book : ”The
Nine: Inside the Supreme Court”. He will be speaking on Sept 17 at Seattle
Town Hall, 2PM. Free event; details at  http://www.townhallseattle.org
www.townhallseattle.org *****  “Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon,
all I want is having you and music, music music…”  (Teresa Brewer/1950).
Music Works at 1331 118th Ave SE in Bellevue (just past Greenbaum’s
Furniture Gallery) offers music lessons, classes and ensembles for all ages
and abilities. Don’t know what you want to play? Here’s a chance to feel
like a kid in a musical candy-store! Go to their FREE Instrument Discovery
Day on Sunday, September 18, 1PM-3PM and try a variety of instruments:
Violin! Piano! Guitar! Trombone! Drums! Flute! And more! All ages welcome!
(I think I’ll sign up for the TRIANGLE…that’s just the right match with my
musical ability.) ***** Sept. 21-25 is Fashion Week in Bellevue and lots of
premier events for those who want to be “a la mode” (no, that does not mean
with ice cream on your head!) See the new trends for fall/ winter 2017;
Vogue says the “new” styles can be captured in one word: “Audacity!” So, be
audacious! Imagine yourself in electro-furs, glitter lurex or corseted
waists (I’ve got a  great imagination but it’s still quite a stretch -).
Update your closet with some of the new trendy colors: Lush meadow! Ochre
(also called “ochrere”, which means, not just ochre but even more ochre?)!
Sharkskin! Riverside! And Dust (now THAT’S a color I have PLENTY of in my
closet!). So if you’re ready to ditch those stirrup pants (leave them for
the jockeys) or skorts (Hello Serena? Venus? Are you there?), this is the
week for YOU!  http://www.fashionweekbellevue.com
www.fashionweekbellevue.com. ***** Sept. 22, Thursday, the Bellevue
Botanical Gardens is offering a free seminar about pruning basics. We all
want our plants to be happy, to have a quiet and fallow winter so they can
madly flourish again for us in spring, with vibrant colors and never-ending
blooms. Here is where you can learn how to make it happen! 12001 Main St.
6:30-8:30PM, free. ***** Sept. 23-25…YIPPEE!! It’s the Grand Opening
Celebration of the new REI, 116th Ave NE & NE 4th St. in Bellevue! Learn
about their many outdoor classes and activities for all ages! Enjoy music,
food and beverages and be in the drawing to win a door prize (WOW! Does that
mean I may get to take home a DOOR??). The first 200 people each day will
receive a limited edition CamelBac water bottle with a $10, $50, or $100 REI
promo card inside. (Sure sounds better than Lotto). Doors open at 10AM of
Friday, 9AM on Saturday and 10AM on Sunday. So put on your crampons and hike
on over! ***** It’s  Playtime!!! Can you remember some of your first and
favorite old friends? How you thought you’d love them forever, and just a
short time later they were relegated to the bottom of the toy-chest as they
waited for you to come back and play…but you had moved on…. Here’s your
chance to visit them again (and tell them how much you had truly loved them
so many years ago…but then you just grew up and found “real” friends
instead.) Let’s see…who’s in the toy chest…There’s Mr. Potato-Head putting
the moves on Barbie, and I see sneaky Slinky reminiscing about your old
staircase, the Lionel train is holding an open seat for Strawberry
Shortcake, GI Joe has marching orders to find the Cabbage Patch doll and one
pet rock is looking to schmooz up another pet rock (and maybe make some
pebbles together). It was sooo long ago, but it needn’t be forgotten. MOHAI
(Museum of History and Industry) has an on-going exhibit of popular toys
from the 1950’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Enjoy the trip down Memory Lane, you’re
never too old to be young again! And you’ll never be as young again as you
are today!  http://www.mohai.org/exhibits/ www.mohai.org/exhibits/ *****
Sept 28, Wednesday, the Tateuchi Center is holding an informative discussion
about their present and future plans, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue
Auditorium, 3rd level, with free hors d’oeuvres, camaraderie and a chance to
hear about exciting updates. For those of you not familiar with this
ambitious project, Tateuchi is a philanthropist whose Foundation has pledged
$25 million to build a Performing Arts Center of the Eastside (PACE) in the
heart of downtown Bellevue, on land donated by Kemper Freeman. Its campaign
fund-raising goal is $170 million. By 2002 it had raised $55 million in
corporate and private donations and the Bellevue City Council agreed to
assist in raising the remaining $115 million. The plans are to have a 2,000
seat auditorium as well as multi-venue/ multi-disciplinary options for
smaller musical and art ensembles, such as classical quartets, ballet, etc.
The Tateuchi Center has been in the planning stages for 20 years now; has
survived the low tides of recession and is now experiencing a resurgence of
interest as our community burgeons out on its own, no longer the “little
sister” of Seattle. Learn more at  http://www.tateuchicenter.org
www.tateuchicenter.org. ***** “Just tea for two and two for tea, me for you
and you for me…” (written by Youmans and Caesar for the musical “No, No
Nanette”/ 1925). It’s the Northwest Tea Festival, on October 1-2 at Seattle
Center’s Fisher Pavilion. Celebrating its 9th year, this fun, educational
and charismatic event features experts, artists, authors and of course,
samples galore. Learn more about new and ancient methods of tea fabrication
and check out all the essential accoutrements to brew some tea for you …and
some for me. It will, no doubt, suit you to a “Tea”!

QUIRKLES!

   Logophiles! New word for you!  “SEAGAN”; it’s a vegan who eats

seafood (yes, we all remember that old joke: ”Do you eat seafood?” “Of
course! I eat all the food I see!” haha !) The new “seagan” diet ensures
that you aren’t missing out on those all-important Omega-3 fatty acids found
in fish. ***** Amazon must be bowled over with orders for its new line of
non-alcoholic “wine”, especially designed for your pooch or kitty-kat. Just
uncork and gently pour over even the lowliest of kibbles for a fresh new
taste! Don’t keep Fido waiting! Is he ready for a soupson from his
“Char-dog-nay”, or perhaps, would he prefer “Bark-deau”? And for Miss
Fluffy-pants, your resident cat-osseur, please consider a bottle of
“Mos-cat-to”. Time to share a toast with your little furry loved ones! All
choices available thru Yappy Hour Vineyards at Amazon. ***** Got a little
fashionista in your home? Here’s a chance for him/her to become a dress
designer!  A new website, “Picture This” creates clothing as designed by
your child, and turns it into wearable “couture”. Try it!
http://www.picturethisclothing.com www.picturethisclothing.com (You can
relax, they don’t carry adult sizes.)

New Medical Condition Alert! I’m calling it “orange-barrel-itis”. It is an
inflammatory process that continues to inflame me on a daily basis whenever
I drive around town! If you suffer from the same malady, then perhaps a
little information about its prognosis might soothe your suffering. It is a
long-term condition but it will improve. Be aware, however, there may be
remissions and exacerbations depending on the whim of our city planners. I
wrote the city about some “sore” spots, and in red is the response by
Matthews Jackson, the Neighborhood Development Planning Manager.

  1.  450 110th: is this to be the Eastlink Bellevue DT Transit station?
    

If so, when is the (hopeful) date for opening? The station will run from the
Northwest corner of the city hall campus to 112th.  Fare operation is
estimated for 2023 with testing beginning one year earlier.

  1. At 120 Bellevue Way, just north of “Garlic Crush” restaurant, there
    

is something being built that is identified as BOSA. What does this acronym
mean? Pls. tell me in just several sentences about this project, and
expected completion date. BOSA is the development company for a proposed new
21 story residential mixed use project with 3 levels of underground parking.
The project includes 142 units and is 252,560 square feet in size.  The
project is currently still under design review and they have not applied for
any construction permits.

  1.  Old JC Penneys parking lot/ Bel-Sq SE corner. Are there some plans
    

for this area? The design review application for the SE corner was canceled
at the applicant’s request.  They are still working with the city and are
working on design and programming options.

  1.  116th and 4th, west side (old Ford dealership), what will happen
    

here? Autonation has applied for clearing and grading and building permits
to rebuild a new Ford dealership at this existing location.

  1.  Sports Authority has closed/bankrupt…any idea about that space? No
    

applications have been submitted for this site.  There are a couple of
interested parties who have approached the city but nothing is public at
this point.

  1.  DT Bellevue Park/extreme renovation. What are plans? This is part of
    

the complete the circle and inspiration playground project which is part of
the original master plan that was not completed earlier.

Oh, my…will our streets every be clear again so we can drive in the lanes
we’re supposed to drive in? I’m hopeful there will be a day when those
flaggers will be needed elsewhere - like a 3rd world country- and when just
getting to the grocery store doesn’t require the attention of an Indie 500
driver! Instead of calling it CON-struction, let’s think of it as
PRO-struction, that is, it is PROgress, it is PROductive and it will help
keep our city PROsperous! (at least, that’s what they PRO-mise!)

That’s my latest scoop, from my desk to yours! Got some ideas? Questions?
Comments? Just scoot me an email (dtpit@uw.edu mailto:dtpit@uw.edu ).

Have a terrific September!  Mara

Vuecrest View Newsletter September - 2016 October Board Meeting Many thanks to Steve and Vonne Soriano for offering their home to host the October meeting! It will be on Thursday, October 6th, beginning at 7 pm. The address is 9829 Hilltop Road. All are welcome to come and witness our Directors in action! Annual Membership Meeting The Vuecrest Homeowners will be held at the Bellevue Library in room #1 on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 9. Please save the date. More details to follow. Summer Picnic a Huge Success Blue grass music by the Cascade Mountain Boys, tasty food treats by Tacos Los “Koras” Express, ice cream by Sweet Treats, plus the petting zoo…what could be better. Even the weather cooperated after a few early sprinkles. New innovations this year were a welcome desk, name tags, and wonderful group of Vuecrest Junior Volunteers - you are the best! Two of our Bellevue City Council members, our newly appointed police captain, and a fire truck with three Bellevue firefighters participated in the festivities. Many thanks to the Hambletons, Kadavys and Coes for lending their homes and yards to our party revelers! Bellevue Main Post Office We Vuecresters have been used to the convenience of having our post office practically around the corner. Well, those days are gone forever beginning September 10th. On that day the old post office will close. But, do not despair. On September 12th you will be able to enjoy the new post office at 12224 Bel-Red Road. DTP ******************************************************************* Book Re-Vues! I have just finished an absolutely breathtaking new novel: To The Bright Edge Of The World, by Eowyn Ivey. WOW!! A couple years ago, I devoured her debut novel, The Snow Child, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. (Always so nice to have my book choices approved by higher authorities!) It was a marvelous, old-as-the-hills story of a lonely couple, in remote Alaska, who yearned for a child; magically, a little girl does appear, and the characters, and the reader, wandered through the wintry, wondrous, shadowy fairy tale of a novel. I highly recommend that book, too. As wonderful as Snow Child is, I couldn’t imagine that Ivey’s new book could top it. Oh, my goodness!!!! To The Bright Edge Of The World is one of those all-too-few-and-far-between books that you ‘can’t put down, but you don’t want to EVER end books! An epistolary novel, it consists of letters, journal entries, photographs and articles. I really enjoy that format; in good hands, ‘working’ to discover the depths of a story is so rewarding. Set in 1885, the story is quite simple: a decorated Civil War veteran is assigned to venture up the Wolverine Valley, to map the interior of the Alaskan Territory, while his pregnant wife waits for him to return to Fort Vancouver. You will be swept off your feet and into his expedition, at the same time you sit impatiently and wait with her. Combining history, thrills, geography, Native American lore, photography, and – oh, yes! - a beautiful love story, Ivey has pulled so many elements into one book and produced a fabulous read! Her writing shimmers with beauty, but, at the same time, remains compulsively readable. To The Bright Edge Of The World is a new book, just out in hardback. I’m sure that the library stocks it; otherwise, all the usual sources work just fine. Enjoy!!! Last month, I suggested that we start a Vuecrest Book Club, and was delighted to hear back from some of our local readers! Although I could ‘assign’ a book, let’s get together for a quick chat, just to see what type of format works best for most of us. On Wednesday, September 7, I’d love to have anyone who is interested drop by my house for an informal get-together, at 10:30AM. Let me know if that works! I’m so looking forward to getting to know more of you better! E-mail me: Melissa Hambleton / <mailto:mhambleton@comcast.net> mhambleton@comcast.net. *********************************************** The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson There are many books that are forgettable. Then there are those few books that one never forgets. For me, The Devil in the White City is one of those unforgettable books. I first read the book in 2005, and it is near the very top of my all-time favorites; so much so that I am reading it again at this time. Erik Larson is an undisputed master of storytelling, and this book is certainly one of his best. The setting is Chicago in 1889. The 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus is approaching and the city fathers are contemplating a massive exposition to celebrate the occasion. Quickly, New York, St. Louis and Washington D.C. vie for the same event. The U.S. Congress awarded the prize to Chicago, and that’s when this story begins in earnest. Daniel Hudson Burnham, America’s most accomplished architect, took charge of the huge project. Problems abound from the beginning, and the struggle to complete the venture and open on time was immense. Dr. Henry H. Holmes, a serial killer (and physician) begins his rampage of brutal murders in the Chicago area, taking advantage of this major attraction to lure his prey, mostly women, to their deaths. He concealed his macabre house of horrors for years; its discovery was his denouement, of course; and for that he paid the ultimate price. The Devil in the White City is a true story, thoroughly researched and well documented with quotes, letters and legal footnotes. Erik Larson skillfully weaves this spine-chilling tale of the World’s Columbian Exposition and the crimes of Henry Holmes in a precise and methodical manner, almost as if he were following in the footsteps of this brilliant but ghoulish man of gore. As in all extremes, the counterpoint of hate and darkness is goodness and light, equally well presented by Mr. Larson as he masterfully recounts the challenges of the fine citizens who made this fair a true success. The Devil in the White City is a NY Times bestseller and is available at the Bellevue Public Library. Point of interest: Erik Larson maintains a home in Seattle but there is another interesting Seattle connection. The landscape architect for the Exposition of 1893 was Fredrick Law Olmsted, the acknowledged founder of the science of landscape architecture. His two sons, John Charles and Fredrick Jr., continued the Olmsted business and designed many of the parks that we enjoy today. These include Greenlake, Woodland, Ravenna, Volunteer and Seward Parks; as well as others around Seattle. David Pitkethly ******************************************************** Tid-bits! “School days, school days, dear old golden rule days, readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmatic, all to the tune of a hickory stick (“When We Were A Couple of Kids” : Will Cobb/Gus Edwards/ 1907). That’s right, those big yellow buses are back on the highways and it never hurts to review the laws. I am always astonished to read that anyone! anywhere! would actually pass a school bus during pick-up or discharge of students, but it does happen (though certainly not to us wise and savvy Vuecresters!). So, here are the rules: a school bus can only stop at pre-determined locations, so if you don’t want to wait behind it, and you’re familiar with its route, pass it well before it gets to its next stop. Once you see those yellow lights blinking, that means a stop is imminent and IT IS TOO LATE TO PASS! The yellow lights will blink for several seconds, as a warning to drivers, and then the alternating blinking red lights turn on or a “stop” sign is extended by the bus driver. Now, everyone, both behind and facing the bus, must STOP. Failure to do so will result in a $394. fine which cannot be waived, suspended or reduced; you’ll just have to pay it (and you deserve to!) That part is clear, but there are exceptions. It drives me batty at Crossroads when 156th just seems to close down because some people don’t understand the rules, and horns start blasting! To wit, Washington state law allows that when a highway has 3 or more marked traffic lanes, drivers coming from the opposite direction of the school bus are not required to stop (the reason being, that children are expected to walk on the sidewalk until they reach the next intersection with a traffic light or crosswalk). Also, if a highway is divided by a median (such as a grassy or concrete area) or barrier, and you are approaching the school bus from the opposite direction, you again, are not required to stop. A school bus driver is allowed to pull over and stop completely off the roadway for the purpose of picking up or discharging children, and may do this when he/she knows that none of the students will be crossing the street. At that time, only the yellow hazard lights will have been activated and you can pass, cautiously. Relatively new are “school speed zones” which are marked with signs. When these roadside or overhead yellow lights are blinking, all traffic must reduce its speed to 20MPH. Be aware, many of these are now monitored by security cameras and failure to obey will result in a ticket in the mail and a not-so-pretty photo of you and your car. For Garmin users: you’ll hear 2 bongs at beginning and end of zone. Other school zone areas may be marked with a “When children are present” sign so take a good look around. I remember starting 1st grade and being very excited about riding the school bus! There was one bus that went right by my house but was not allowed to stop; its first pick-up was to be 3 miles from the school and we lived only 1½ miles away. The bus I had been assigned to had its first pick-up about ¼ mile from our home and then drove, and drove and drove for almost 40 minutes thru farm country on the outskirts of town. I thought it would be fun to watch the cows and count the hay bales. But I found out very quickly that the farm kids who boarded smelled like manure, were bigger and huskier than most of my little friends and used words that, though I didn’t know what they meant, I knew I wasn’t supposed to hear or ever repeat them. However, the ride back at the end of the school day was quick, no more than 10 minutes, since I got off at that first stop. After several days, those 40 minutes seemed endless and everyone on the bus seemed frightening to me. I told my parents, and my dear daddy quickly gave me a hug and said that from that day on, he would drive me to school every morning – and so he did! For the next 8 years, until I attended an out-of-state school, he and I were morning buddies. The most wonderful part was that my father and I grew very close; we had breakfast together, he checked over my homework and we shared daddy-daughter conversations while my mother slept. The early morning car rides created a special bond between us. We remained close all of our lives until he passed away at age 85 – and just maybe it was all thanks to that old yellow bus. Vintage Vuecrest What good fortune that David and I were doing our “walk-around” just as Jim Dunnam was picking up his mother’s mail at the mailbox. We introduced ourselves and were readily welcomed into Nancy Dunnam’s lovely home at 909 Evergreen Drive. She and her husband moved to Vuecrest in 1950 after having their custom home built for $37,500. Her son Jim shared some delightful memories from his youth, such as playing baseball on the many empty neighboring lots, or sledding down “Daredevil”, as he and his buddies called Sunset Way below the intersection with Evergreen Drive, during the winter months. There were times when they could glide themselves all the way to the Smoke House (now, known as the Pancake Corral). He recalled a local Vuecrest gal who was his baby-sitter, Jennifer Blackburn, and how he recognized her years later at a political gathering. He approached her and said “I remember you, you’re Jennifer Blackburn!” ”Not any more” she replied, with a big smile, “I’m Jennifer Dunn now! ” (This name may sound familiar to you, as Jennifer Blackburn Dunn was a congresswoman from Washington state and served in the U.S House of Representatives from 1995-2003). Nancy Dunnam has a great deal of her own remarkable history. Her grandfather Edward Nordoff founded the “Nordoff-Bon Marche” in 1889 in Seattle, which was the first store west of the Mississippi to provide European goods to this west coast area. Her father, Arthur Nordoff purchased a large tract of land by Eastgate (south Bellevue) and established the Bellevue Air Field in 1941, which he owned and operated until its sale in the mid-80’s. (Yes, I remember it, do you? I still see that big wind sock catching the cross-winds!). Nancy grew up in aviation and started flying at the age of 16 with her father, and earned her pilots license when she was 18. She dropped out of UW in her junior year to become a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot). In 1944, when men were needed for combat duty, women pilots were enlisted to their place. Each time they would ferry planes, tow targets, or transport cargo, another man was made available to fight in the war effort. (We all know that days are different now, and women fly all missions alongside their male counterparts, but certainly not so 70 years ago). In 2009 Nancy was invited to Washington D.C. to receive the Congressional Gold medal, honoring the 1,900 WASP women. “These brave pilots have empowered and inspired decades of women service members who have followed in their footsteps” said Senator Patty Murray. “They took flight at a time when the idea of women aviators was thought not only improbably, but impossible”. Nancy is 93 years old now, quite hard of hearing but very personable. She described Vuecrest to me at the time her home was built: “It was all fields, the hills were bare of houses, everywhere I looked, there was open land”. Nancy has been honored with a plaque at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, and her original WASP uniform is on display; a reminder of her early years when she showed great courage and patriotism on behalf of all Americans - and American women, in particular. Thank you for your service, Nancy. New to the Vue We welcome Audra and Wayne Tucker to 930 Sunset Way. Wayne is still residing in Dallas, with their 2 furry “children; Lilly is a boxer and Murphey is a lab/Australian shepherd mix, until their home sells. Both pups are very friendly and enjoy spending time chasing squirrels, snoozing in the sun and going for walks. Audra works for T-Mobile and Wayne is considering a career change and may be returning to school. They love the proximity to Bellevue, and the neighborhood. They both enjoy hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, reading and just about everything our great Pacific Northwest has to offer. ********************************************************** So, have we all been HAPPY CAMPERS? It is now September, summer is clearly over, but let’s stay hopeful that a few warm and sunny days might ease us gently into autumn. Did you find time to crawl into a hammock or chaise-longue for some quiet moments of relax-o-time? Or pick those tangy fresh juicy blackberries on the side of the road? Or sprinkle fresh herbs from your garden onto summer greens? or quench your thirst with a glass of cold lemonade or a big chunk of sweet watermelon? Summer brings us back to our childhood. The rays of the hot sun beseech our thoughts to relive those old almost-forgotten days when we did little more than languish with our best friends and banish all thoughts of school work. Alas, then, as now, summer comes to a close and we must roll up our sleeves because “there’s work to be done”. But there’s still a little fun to be had and I’ll tell you all about it! Our KCLS (Library) at Crossroads is once again, seeing our needs and helping us to manage them. They are offering 1-on-1 time with a computer coach every Monday evening thru September designed for those 50 and over (ie, us dinosaurs still struggling to catch up with the tech world). Would you like to be better at handling email? Or talk to your grandkids on Facebook? The Crossroads Library will show you how. Call for an appointment (425-450-1778) and they will set you up for a 30 min or 60 min apt. all for free! ***** Thursday, Sept 8, enjoy South Asian film/art/culture and discussion at Tasveer’s 11h annual Film Festival at the Bellevue Arts Museum. Samosas and chai available for purchase. Call 425-519-0770 for more info; event includes film and gallery admission. ***** HEEEE-Haw! “Whoopie ti-yi-yo, git along little dogies, it’s your misfortune and none of my own, whoopee ti-yi-yo, git along little dogies, you know that Wyoming will be your new home” (John Lomax / 1910). It’s time for the Western Block Party at the Redmond Town Center on Saturday, September 10 from 12-5PM. So…slowdown! Here’s the lowdown on the hoedown: Dig out those chaps, a snap shirt and your old red bandana and visit the farm animal petting zoo, you can mine for gold, tap your cowboy boots to country music, get your picture taken in the haystack photo booth and quench your thirst at the Root Beer Saloon. Sounds like quite a shindig, you won’t want to miss it – great fun for all ages! And remember this bit of cowboy wisdom: Don’t squat with your spurs on! <http://www.redmondtowncenter.com> www.redmondtowncenter.com ***** Hurry up and catch it!!! The Museum of Flight is featuring its amazing production “Above and Beyond”, and…it’s OUT OF THIS WORLD (especially when viewed in its 180 degree immersive theater!) Show runs only through Sept. 10. Museum is located at 9404 E. Marginal Way S. and is open every day from 10AM -5PM. Free parking. For more info call 206-764-5720 or visit <http://www.museumofflight.org> www.museumofflight.org. ***** Whodathunk there would ever be a grocery store in the Bel-Sq. mall…but here it comes! Whole Foods is set to open a less expensive and smaller format store, known as “365” (do they really think any Bellevue housewife plans to actually cook that number of days every year??!). Ok, so who needs to cook…just peruse the aisles filled with fresh greens, crunchy crackers and kitchen essentials that make us wonder how we could have felt fulfilled before we found a certain miracle gadget (I must confess…it has happened to me! I came upon a lucite tube + inner razor section that halves 8-10 cherry tomatoes with one fell swoop. I gave it to my husband for his birthday and now he zealously waits for his fan-fare moment…and then “VOILA!” he exclaims as those little red morsels tumble into the salad bowl. It’s done wonders for his self-confidence as a sous-chef!). This is the 3rd “365” store for Whole Foods and they’re expecting it to be a great success. ***** Sept 16, Friday evening, Key Arena presents The Tour of Gymnastics Champions 2016, featuring the World Champions Gold Medal Team. This crew of 7 lithe and limber (and young and lovely!) performers will tumble their way through their Olympic-caliber performances. It is guaranteed to be an evening of superb talent. We all know Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles from the recent Olympics and there’s barely enough time for those muscles to recover before they do it all over again, right here in Seattle. Tickets avbl. at www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com> . ***** Perhaps you have heard of Jeffrey Toobin. He is one of our favorite commentators and writers. Mr.Toobin is a Harvard law school grad; his articles appear in New Yorker and he is frequently seen on ABC as a legal analyst and correspondent. He is author of the best-selling book : ”The Nine: Inside the Supreme Court”. He will be speaking on Sept 17 at Seattle Town Hall, 2PM. Free event; details at <http://www.townhallseattle.org> www.townhallseattle.org ***** “Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon, all I want is having you and music, music music…” (Teresa Brewer/1950). Music Works at 1331 118th Ave SE in Bellevue (just past Greenbaum’s Furniture Gallery) offers music lessons, classes and ensembles for all ages and abilities. Don’t know what you want to play? Here’s a chance to feel like a kid in a musical candy-store! Go to their FREE Instrument Discovery Day on Sunday, September 18, 1PM-3PM and try a variety of instruments: Violin! Piano! Guitar! Trombone! Drums! Flute! And more! All ages welcome! (I think I’ll sign up for the TRIANGLE…that’s just the right match with my musical ability.) ***** Sept. 21-25 is Fashion Week in Bellevue and lots of premier events for those who want to be “a la mode” (no, that does not mean with ice cream on your head!) See the new trends for fall/ winter 2017; Vogue says the “new” styles can be captured in one word: “Audacity!” So, be audacious! Imagine yourself in electro-furs, glitter lurex or corseted waists (I’ve got a great imagination but it’s still quite a stretch -). Update your closet with some of the new trendy colors: Lush meadow! Ochre (also called “ochrere”, which means, not just ochre but even more ochre?)! Sharkskin! Riverside! And Dust (now THAT’S a color I have PLENTY of in my closet!). So if you’re ready to ditch those stirrup pants (leave them for the jockeys) or skorts (Hello Serena? Venus? Are you there?), this is the week for YOU! <http://www.fashionweekbellevue.com> www.fashionweekbellevue.com. ***** Sept. 22, Thursday, the Bellevue Botanical Gardens is offering a free seminar about pruning basics. We all want our plants to be happy, to have a quiet and fallow winter so they can madly flourish again for us in spring, with vibrant colors and never-ending blooms. Here is where you can learn how to make it happen! 12001 Main St. 6:30-8:30PM, free. ***** Sept. 23-25…YIPPEE!! It’s the Grand Opening Celebration of the new REI, 116th Ave NE & NE 4th St. in Bellevue! Learn about their many outdoor classes and activities for all ages! Enjoy music, food and beverages and be in the drawing to win a door prize (WOW! Does that mean I may get to take home a DOOR??). The first 200 people each day will receive a limited edition CamelBac water bottle with a $10, $50, or $100 REI promo card inside. (Sure sounds better than Lotto). Doors open at 10AM of Friday, 9AM on Saturday and 10AM on Sunday. So put on your crampons and hike on over! ***** It’s Playtime!!! Can you remember some of your first and favorite old friends? How you thought you’d love them forever, and just a short time later they were relegated to the bottom of the toy-chest as they waited for you to come back and play…but you had moved on…. Here’s your chance to visit them again (and tell them how much you had truly loved them so many years ago…but then you just grew up and found “real” friends instead.) Let’s see…who’s in the toy chest…There’s Mr. Potato-Head putting the moves on Barbie, and I see sneaky Slinky reminiscing about your old staircase, the Lionel train is holding an open seat for Strawberry Shortcake, GI Joe has marching orders to find the Cabbage Patch doll and one pet rock is looking to schmooz up another pet rock (and maybe make some pebbles together). It was sooo long ago, but it needn’t be forgotten. MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry) has an on-going exhibit of popular toys from the 1950’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Enjoy the trip down Memory Lane, you’re never too old to be young again! And you’ll never be as young again as you are today! <http://www.mohai.org/exhibits/> www.mohai.org/exhibits/ ***** Sept 28, Wednesday, the Tateuchi Center is holding an informative discussion about their present and future plans, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue Auditorium, 3rd level, with free hors d’oeuvres, camaraderie and a chance to hear about exciting updates. For those of you not familiar with this ambitious project, Tateuchi is a philanthropist whose Foundation has pledged $25 million to build a Performing Arts Center of the Eastside (PACE) in the heart of downtown Bellevue, on land donated by Kemper Freeman. Its campaign fund-raising goal is $170 million. By 2002 it had raised $55 million in corporate and private donations and the Bellevue City Council agreed to assist in raising the remaining $115 million. The plans are to have a 2,000 seat auditorium as well as multi-venue/ multi-disciplinary options for smaller musical and art ensembles, such as classical quartets, ballet, etc. The Tateuchi Center has been in the planning stages for 20 years now; has survived the low tides of recession and is now experiencing a resurgence of interest as our community burgeons out on its own, no longer the “little sister” of Seattle. Learn more at <http://www.tateuchicenter.org> www.tateuchicenter.org. ***** “Just tea for two and two for tea, me for you and you for me…” (written by Youmans and Caesar for the musical “No, No Nanette”/ 1925). It’s the Northwest Tea Festival, on October 1-2 at Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion. Celebrating its 9th year, this fun, educational and charismatic event features experts, artists, authors and of course, samples galore. Learn more about new and ancient methods of tea fabrication and check out all the essential accoutrements to brew some tea for you …and some for me. It will, no doubt, suit you to a “Tea”! QUIRKLES! Logophiles! New word for you! “SEAGAN”; it’s a vegan who eats seafood (yes, we all remember that old joke: ”Do you eat seafood?” “Of course! I eat all the food I see!” haha !) The new “seagan” diet ensures that you aren’t missing out on those all-important Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. ***** Amazon must be bowled over with orders for its new line of non-alcoholic “wine”, especially designed for your pooch or kitty-kat. Just uncork and gently pour over even the lowliest of kibbles for a fresh new taste! Don’t keep Fido waiting! Is he ready for a soupson from his “Char-dog-nay”, or perhaps, would he prefer “Bark-deau”? And for Miss Fluffy-pants, your resident cat-osseur, please consider a bottle of “Mos-cat-to”. Time to share a toast with your little furry loved ones! All choices available thru Yappy Hour Vineyards at Amazon. ***** Got a little fashionista in your home? Here’s a chance for him/her to become a dress designer! A new website, “Picture This” creates clothing as designed by your child, and turns it into wearable “couture”. Try it! <http://www.picturethisclothing.com> www.picturethisclothing.com (You can relax, they don’t carry adult sizes.) New Medical Condition Alert! I’m calling it “orange-barrel-itis”. It is an inflammatory process that continues to inflame me on a daily basis whenever I drive around town! If you suffer from the same malady, then perhaps a little information about its prognosis might soothe your suffering. It is a long-term condition but it will improve. Be aware, however, there may be remissions and exacerbations depending on the whim of our city planners. I wrote the city about some “sore” spots, and in red is the response by Matthews Jackson, the Neighborhood Development Planning Manager. 1. 450 110th: is this to be the Eastlink Bellevue DT Transit station? If so, when is the (hopeful) date for opening? The station will run from the Northwest corner of the city hall campus to 112th. Fare operation is estimated for 2023 with testing beginning one year earlier. 2. At 120 Bellevue Way, just north of “Garlic Crush” restaurant, there is something being built that is identified as BOSA. What does this acronym mean? Pls. tell me in just several sentences about this project, and expected completion date. BOSA is the development company for a proposed new 21 story residential mixed use project with 3 levels of underground parking. The project includes 142 units and is 252,560 square feet in size. The project is currently still under design review and they have not applied for any construction permits. 3. Old JC Penneys parking lot/ Bel-Sq SE corner. Are there some plans for this area? The design review application for the SE corner was canceled at the applicant’s request. They are still working with the city and are working on design and programming options. 4. 116th and 4th, west side (old Ford dealership), what will happen here? Autonation has applied for clearing and grading and building permits to rebuild a new Ford dealership at this existing location. 5. Sports Authority has closed/bankrupt…any idea about that space? No applications have been submitted for this site. There are a couple of interested parties who have approached the city but nothing is public at this point. 6. DT Bellevue Park/extreme renovation. What are plans? This is part of the complete the circle and inspiration playground project which is part of the original master plan that was not completed earlier. Oh, my…will our streets every be clear again so we can drive in the lanes we’re supposed to drive in? I’m hopeful there will be a day when those flaggers will be needed elsewhere - like a 3rd world country- and when just getting to the grocery store doesn’t require the attention of an Indie 500 driver! Instead of calling it CON-struction, let’s think of it as PRO-struction, that is, it is PROgress, it is PROductive and it will help keep our city PROsperous! (at least, that’s what they PRO-mise!) That’s my latest scoop, from my desk to yours! Got some ideas? Questions? Comments? Just scoot me an email (dtpit@uw.edu <mailto:dtpit@uw.edu> ). Have a terrific September! Mara