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Author: Emerson Garfield

Electronic Speed Limit Signs Appear

Electronic Speed Limit Signs Appear

Electronic speed limit signs like the one below have appeared on the 1200/1300 blocks of W Mansfield and W Montgomery.

Electronic speed limit sign on Mansfield

They don’t seem to have been put into operation since they were first spotted on Friday, August 31, but the ID tags certainly indicate that they’re there on behalf of the City of Spokane. We’re assuming that they mark the first step of a traffic-calming study for these two busy cut-throughs, although we won’t be certain until we receive official word from the city (and that likely won’t come until after Labor Day).

Have you recently seen one of these (or something like it) on your block in Emerson-Garfield?

In what might be related news, someone in a DayGlo orange vest with a clipboard has been seen counting trees that fall within the city right-of-way in the southwest corner of our neighborhood. It seems to be just an administrative procedure, and not because there are plans to claim the right-of-way for development.

Please get in touch or leave a comment if you have any additional information on either of these matters.

Community Garden Harvest, Aug 31

Community Garden Harvest, Aug 31

It’s harvest time! Come learn about Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood’s new community garden.

Emerson Community Garden was started this year with the vision of fostering neighborhood relationships and providing wholesome fresh produce to garden members and neighbors.

The garden members are hosting a free neighborhood corn feed this Friday, August 31 at 6pm in Emerson Park. Chicken and corn will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. All are welcome.

Instead of each person gardening their own rented plot, Emerson Community Garden is a shared gardening experience where members share in the work and in the harvest from the garden as a whole. There are opportunities for involvement at various levels. It is a great way to meet neighbors, learn about gardening, and enjoy the fruits of gardening!

For more information contact Paul and Sara Kimball at kimballs09@gmail.com.

(This post was written by Sara Kimball, who heads the Emerson Community Garden and also serves as the community development representative for the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council.)

Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

Tracking Crime in Emerson-Garfield

At the neighborhood potluck at the beginning of this month, we were pleased to be told by our resident Spokane Police officer that Emerson-Garfield had one of the city’s lowest neighborhood crime rates this summer.

But that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t happen here. The image below shows crimes that have taken place in the last month in the general area of our neighborhood. Darker areas = higher reported crimes.

Crime Map

This isn’t top-secret information — it comes from City of Spokane’s very useful, interactive, up-to-date crime map. You can find it here. (And, by the way, many more informative maps can be found on the city’s GIS page.)

On the crime map, you can view a street or satellite map of the entire city with colored overlays that represent the relative number of reported — and the key word is reported — crimes. You can view problem areas (i.e., hot spots) within the past month or the past year. You can also view crimes according to category: assault, burglary, drugs, malicious mischief, robbery, theft, vehicle prowling, and vehicle theft.

If you’re experiencing problems with crime, we encourage you to call the police and report it, regardless of whether or not you think they will do anything about it. As we are often reminded, the police can’t address crimes that we don’t report.

Once you’ve reported your crime, make a point of attending the next Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting (as of this posting, the next one is scheduled for September 12). That’s where we can come together as a neighborhood — and likewise rise to any trending problems as a neighborhood too.

N. Monroe Business Meeting, Aug 29

N. Monroe Business Meeting, Aug 29

This month’s North Monroe Business District meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, August 29 at 6pm. It will be held at Petunia’s Marketplace [map].

Prior to the meeting, the NMBD is asking business owners to take the following short multiple-choice survey that will help focus their efforts.

1. What is your business focus?

  1. Customer service
  2. Community outreach
  3. Public service
  4. Retail
  5. Other: ___________

2. What is your primary business goal?

  1. Increase revenue
  2. Increase public awareness
  3. Generate interest from the city/state
  4. Other: ___________

3. What are your concerns about the N. Monroe Business District?

  1. More foot traffic
  2. Better signage
  3. Better pedestrian access
  4. Easier parking (on-street or off-site)
  5. More events that promote the business district
  6. Other: ___________

You can e-mail your survey answers to petuniasmarketplace@yahoo.com, fax them to (509) 328-4259, or better yet, bring them to the meeting.

Depending on turnout, they’re hoping to plan some upcoming autumn events and think of ways to make the holiday shopping season even more successful.

Questions? Connect with Petunia’s on Facebook or call Stacy Blowers on (509) 328-4257.

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

Christ Our Hope Bible Church (COHBC for short) will be hosting a party in their parking lot [map] on Sunday, August 26 from 6 to 8:30pm. It’s the church’s first event of this kind. And if it goes well, it’s possible that there will be many more.

There will be live entertainment, fun activity booths, and food. Singer/songwriter Eric E will be laying down electro-acoustic grooves, and magician — sorry, illusionist— Matthew Light will amaze and astound with his legerdemain.

You don’t have to be a member of the church to take part. In fact, you can come from any religious or nonreligious background. The point of this Parking Lot Party is to give people in the neighborhood a place to come together and socialize. COHBC has already become a big supporter of Emerson-Garfield by hosting garage sales and events like this one, as well as taking part in other neighborhood-wide events.

COHBC could use more volunteer help for this parking lot party. If you’d like to offer a hand, please contact Bob DeLateur via e-mail or at (509) 893-8644.