Sehome Hill view restoration proposal

Board seeks input 

The Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors is seeking comment on a proposal to remove some trees and branches that are blocking views from the observation tower on top of Sehome Hill.

A public open house to review the view restoration proposal is planned for Nov. 8. Comments on the proposal may be submitted through Nov. 15.

Samish Crest Trail Update

The map shows two dashed lines.

The yellow dashed line indicates an existing foot path where we plan to place gravel as a maintenance activity. We plan to do this maintenance later this year (2012 or early 2013).

The magenta dashed line indicates a section of existing trail we are planning to improve. Construction is anticipated to begin May 2013, and we expect the work to take a month to complete.

Are you ready?

Those of us on the West Coast have received a strong reminder from the East Coast this past week of the importance of preparations in case of emergencies and disasters.

What if disaster struck us here? What would you do? What would your family do?

Now is a good time to get prepared. See below for easy steps.

Mayor's 2013 Budget

From the City of Bellingham:
Mayor's proposed budget based on Council direction, sound financial principles

Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville presented the Preliminary 2013 Budget to the Bellingham City Council tonight (Oct. 8, 2012), a proposed two-year financial plan guided by direction from the City Council and principles she developed with her leadership team.

Call for Artists - Downtown visions

Artists invited to imagine the future of downtown for City Hall exhibit

The City of Bellingham is seeking submissions for a temporary two-dimensional art show highlighting downtown Bellingham as imagined in the future.

In conjunction with the downtown planning effort that is currently underway, the Bellingham Arts Commission is seeking paintings, drawings, illustrations, renderings, manipulated photographs, two-dimensional collage, or any other two-dimensional art form depicting an imagined downtown. The intent of the show is to assist the community in picturing what downtown -- everybody's neighborhood -- could look like when human ingenuity, creativity and imagination are unrestrained.

Rain Gardens - Free Consultation Site Visits & Party Invite

 One of 12,000 Rain Gardens!

Rain gardens can prevent flooding, filter pollution and add beauty to your yard.

Working in collaboration with Stewardship Partners, WSU Master Gardener Rain Garden Mentors are available to provide FREE site visits and help you consider how a rain garden might fit into your yard.

Attempted Theft - Century Link on Fraser St.

From the Bellingham Herald:

Man allegedly tried to steal wire from Bellingham CenturyLink (on Fraser Street)

Permit Applications - Fred Meyer

Several  recent filings reported in the Bellingham Herald business blog are in or near the Puget Neighborhood:

Filed
- Lakeway Fred Meyer, a permit was filed to do $4 million in remodeling work.

Videos - State Candidate Debates

TVW has videos of statewide candidate debates.  

Follow these links for direct connections:

Bus Route Changes in Puget Neighborhood

Service Changes Start Sun, 9/23

Beginning Sunday, September 23, WTA will extend its service hours on existing Sunday routes. WTA will also increase evening frequency on two routes. Expanded service will be funded by the City of Bellingham’s Transportation Benefit District. 

Renovation at Poppe's - Lakeway Inn

The Bellingham Herald has reported:
"A $300,000 renovation was recently completed at Poppe's 360 Neighborhood Pub at Best Western Lakeway Inn in Bellingham."

Who Actually Votes?

Who actually votes in America? (via Votifi) There are less than 60 days until November 6th. Here is a snapshot of who actually votes in elections.

September's PNA Meeting -- City Scorecards

Tuesday, September 18
7:00 Neighborhood Meeting, 6:30 Social
Community Room at Moles Funeral Home
(corner of Lakeway & Woburn/Yew)

Nicole Oliver, I.T. Project and Training Manager at the City of Bellingham, will provide an interactive demonstration of the City of Bellingham's Performance Measures.  This vast database of 85 community and city metrics can be used in many ways to track over time how well the City, as well as the community, is doing at accomplishing the City Council-approved Legacies and Strategic Commitments.  These long-range goals include things like Clean Drinking Water, Safe and Prepared Community, and Access to Quality of Life Amenities.  

The Performance Measures, also called scorecards, are available to everyone on the City of Bellingham website at www.cob.org/metrics. Take a look in advance of her presentation and come with your questions.

Sexual assault suspect arrested

Bellingham Police asked for the public’s help last week in locating a suspect responsible for the sexual assault of a 25 year old Barista. On 8.25.12 at about 4:20 a.m, the victim was working at Cruisin Coffee located in the 1000 block of Lakeway Drive when the suspect entered the business and sexually assaulted her. The victim was able to fight off the attacker who was last seen walking across Lakeway Drive.

Celebrate Whatcom Water Weeks

Celebrate local water resources with Whatcom Water Weeks September 8-22. Through workshops, lectures, demonstrations, movies, parties, and tours, the two-week long event focuses on education and information about local Whatcom water resources. 

The City is sponsoring the following programs and events:

Over 1,000 boaters surveyed in effort to ward off invasive species

Since July 14, 2012, City and County staff have conducted over 1,000 boater surveys and visual boat inspections at the Bloedel Donovan Boat Launch in an effort to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to and from Lake Whatcom.

Bellingham Pedestrian Master Plan Approved

City Council approved the Bellingham Pedestrian Master Plan at their August 6 meeting in a 7-0 vote.

Send your ideas to the PNA Board

What topics would you like addressed at the next PNA General Meetings?

September 18^th & November 15^th

The PNA Board will meet August 26^th to plan the September meeting.

Send an email to info@pugetneighborhood.org with your ideas.

Car Prowl & Robberies

Neighborhood Alert

Downtown Planning - Public Workshops start August 14

Activities, workshops and tours continue during the coming months for people throughout Bellingham to shape the future of downtown. Eight events planned as part of the City's myDowntown planning process are designed to have community members identify actions for how the City and others should further invest in a vibrant, thriving downtown.

Upcoming events include creating recreational spaces using "parklets" and plazas, discussions on what it would take to open a downtown grocery or department store, "Placemaking" workshops (based on concepts developed by the Project for Public Spaces), and more!