Tree Planting on Maple Street

Tree Planting on Maple Street

Thanks to the legwork and support of engaged residents, one of the corners of our neighborhood that has become a priority for the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council is the Maple Street area — specifically, the two-block stretch where it curves and splits into a residential/arterial street.

The oddly shaped (shoestring-thin in the middle, bulbed at either end) piece of land that divides the residential stretch from the arterial is a problem for a number of reasons. It’s untended and generates dust. It doesn’t offer a contiguous pedestrian pathway. It is a frequent accident site on account of speeding and adverse weather conditions. And it’s ugly as sin.

The proposed tree-planting site.
The proposed tree-planting site in all its dusty glory.

To start addressing some of those problems immediately, we’ve recently arranged to have street trees planted on the strip. The proposed locations and tree varieties (e.g., ponderosa pine, lilac, wireless Zelkova, tuliptree) are pictured below. These will help root some of the dust and provide a natural sound and sight buffer between traffic and the nearby homes.

Proposed varieties and locations for street tree planting on Maple Street. Click for a larger view.
Proposed varieties and locations for street tree planting on Maple Street. Click for a larger view.

The next step will be to have some native grasses or flowers planted and sidewalks installed. Later we’d like to see a pedestrian crosswalk across Maple and Ash in line with Euclid. This is a tricky spot, though, so we have met with city engineers and are working with them to figure out the optimal solution for vehicles, residents and pedestrians.

It’s taken the involvement of quite a few organizations and individuals just to get this far: Maple Street residents, the EGNC, Spokane Urban Forestry, the city traffic department and the Office of Neighborhood Services. The EGNC alone is contributing about $3500 from its Community Development Block Grant street-tree fund to help things along. The reassuring news is that, ever since the project gathered steam, it has seen very rapid progress.

As things stand, the site will be prepped for planting on April 17 or 18, and then the trees will be planted by neighborhood volunteers on Saturday, April 19 under the supervision of a certified arborist. This will be kinda sorta part of the wider Spokane Gives initiative.

If you’re interested in learning more about this neighborhood improvement or you’d like to lend a hand during tree planting, please leave a comment below or attend the next Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting on Wednesday, April 9. And we not only welcome but encourage similar proposals from residents all over Emerson-Garfield.

Korean Food Event (Mar 15)

Korean Food Event (Mar 15)

Spokane Hope Christian Reformed Church (스포켄 소망교회) is holding one of its Korean food sales tomorrow (Saturday, March 15) from 11am to 2pm.

SHCRC shares a building with Knox Presbyterian Church (806 W Knox), which, as you might already know, is where the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market is held during market season.

2014 Korean Food Sale (March)

This food event is held about twice a year and is a great chance to pick up some tasty and authentic Korean food — some of which is pictured above. The kimchi they sell is amazing. And all proceeds benefit the SHCRC.

For more info, call them on (509) 720-9646 or e-mail James at shinejds@gmail.com.

Materials for the March 12 EGNC Meeting

Materials for the March 12 EGNC Meeting

As another Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council meeting nears, the snow has given way to rain. At least it’s some sort of seasonal progress. And it’s reason enough to join the EGNC on Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm in the Corbin Senior Center (827 W Cleveland) as we begin preparing in earnest for the exciting year ahead.

And that’s not just feel-good inspirational fluff. There really is some exciting stuff going on.

This EGNC meeting brings five guest speakers — all of whom have been limited in advance to ten minutes or less. That means you’ll get your informational fix but it won’t eat up your entire evening. Most of the speakers have agreed to hang around after the meeting so you can pose your questions on an informal, one-on-one basis.

Dom Felix will be talking about the Spokane Police Accountability and Reform Coalition (SPARC). Kim Ferraro will be giving a preview of what’s happening at the West Central Community Center. Buzz Bellessa of North Hill Neighborhood Council will be proposing a developer agreement for the city-owned property on the corner of Cora and N. Monroe. Angel Spell of Spokane Urban Forestry will address everything to do with street trees. And a representative of the Spokane Human Rights Commission will explain what their organization has been up to.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Karen Cornwell of Avista will not be presenting. We hope she’ll be able to reschedule for April’s meeting.

Also on the agenda is the scheduling of mobile speed signs (for traffic-calming analysis), preparation for next month’s EGNC elections, discussion about the proposed Summer Parkways event in Emerson-Garfield, Neighborhood Planning updates, and lots more.

Download the March 12 meeting materials here:

We look forward to seeing you there!

Help Us Find a Rocking Chair for K

Help Us Find a Rocking Chair for K

[UPDATE: K got the furniture she was after. Thanks to all those who considered donating.]

A longtime resident of Emerson-Garfield is leaving the neighborhood after nearly half a century.

Kizuyo — who acquired the nickname “K” many years ago because her name was too difficult for her employer to pronounce — first made her home in this neighborhood in 1968. She’s a former librarian, a cancer survivor, and a woman who’s proud of the independence she’s maintained into her ninth decade.

If you live near the southwest corner of the neighborhood, you will probably have seen her walking to and from Safeway on a regular basis. If you ever visited the Corbin Senior Center, there’s a good chance she was there doing puzzles.

As she prepares to move into a smaller apartment across town, she mentioned that she’s looking for a sofa or a rocking chair “with big arms” to replace the furniture she can’t take with her.

If anyone from Emerson-Garfield has any items along these lines to offer K, please leave a comment below or get in touch. It would be nice to see her leave with something from Emerson-Garfield beyond her forty-six years of memories.

Corbin Senior Center Movin’ & Groovin’ Fair (Mar 8)

Corbin Senior Center Movin’ & Groovin’ Fair (Mar 8)

The Corbin Senior Center (827 W Cleveland) will be holding its tenth annual Movin’ and Groovin’ Fair on Saturday, March 8 from 8am to 2pm.

Admission is free to this all-ages event, which offers free health screenings, seminars and giveaways in addition to a raffle and an affordable ($6) lunch.

2014 Movin' & Groovin' Fair Flyer

This fair isn’t a small-scale event. The vendor booths generally wind through the whole first floor and lower level of the Corbin Senior Center, and they represent services and businesses from all fields: healthcare, real-estate, utilities, legal and financial planning, and lots more.

Though some of the offerings are naturally geared toward the Corbin Senior Center’s clientele, there’s useful information, fun activities and swag for the whole family.