The Seattle Department of Transportation wants community feedback on how best to protect and preserve street trees, usually found in the “sidewalk strip” between the street and your home (which is actually a city right-of-way, but must be maintained by the homeowner).

The city’s Urban Forest Management Plan set a goal of 30 percent tree canopy cover by 2037. The proposed Street Tree Ordinance will address tree protection and preservation; restrictions on tree removal; requirements for replacements; new requirements for private tree companies; and will strengthen penalties for violations.

SDOT has already held two community meetings, and has scheduled three more, including one from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 11, at the Ballard Community Center, 6020 28th Ave. NW.

Neighbors on North/NW 84th Street have been putting up a luminaria display on the sidewalk for several years now. This year it’s expanding from about six blocks long to cover the length of 84th Street from Aurora Avenue North to 8th Avenue NW.

The lights will be out starting at about 5 p.m. Saturday.

We’d love to have other neighbors come enjoy the display. Got party plans? Not a problem; walk the blocks on your way to or from your festivities.

Here’s a scene from three years ago when it snowed.

The Greenwood Community Council will not hold its monthly meeting in December. All outstanding discussion items will be moved to the next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Greenwood Library, 8016 Greenwood Ave. N.

Here’s the 2012 GCC meeting schedule:

• Jan. 17 2012
• Feb. 21 2012
• March 20 2012
• April 17 2012
• May 15 2012
• June 19 2012
• July 17 2012
• Aug. 21 2012
• Sept. 18 2012
• Oct. 16 2012
• Nov. 20 2012
• Dec. 18 2012

Agenda items and ideas can be submitted online at the GCC website.

Here’s a roundup of news you might want to know about.

Bartell Drugs and the Salvation Army have extended their “Toy ‘N’ Joy” drive through this Friday. Bring in a new, unwrapped toy for a needy child and drop it in the bin at any of the 58 Bartell stores, including Greenwood at 120 N. 85th St.

Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. (the front for nonprofit writing and tutoring center 826 Seattle) has a new and improved shopping website, where you can order intergalactic gifts for your loved ones. Between now and Dec. 25, save 10 percent by entering the code “Saturn” at checkout. You can also stop by the store at 8414 Greenwood Ave. N. from 12-6 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m – 6 p.m. Saturday.

The new Made Sewing Studio at 8408 Greenwood Ave. N. is hosting “Kid Made: Friday Night Holiday Shopping” from 5-7 p.m. this Friday. For $30 you can drop off your child for two hours while you finish your Christmas shopping, and your kids will get to do some crafting and sewing.

And don’t forget that Made is hosting a whole series of “Kid Made” crafting and sewing classes over winter break, including how to make your own messenger bag, yoga pants and leggings, wallets, and stuffed animals. See the website for the full class list.

A reminder that all City of Seattle Recycling and Disposal Stations will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (both Sundays). But solid waste collection will be on normal schedule both weeks. Remember that you can put your holiday greens in your food and yard waste bins, and you can put your tree out for pickup at no extra charge from Dec. 26 through Jan. 8.

Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or twine. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed.

Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Starting January 1, each unit of extra garbage will cost $8.60. Plastic trees are not recyclable.

Seattle residents can also drop off their holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ North and South Recycling and Disposal stations between Dec. 26, 2011 and Jan. 8, 2012. The tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees and wreaths without flocking or decoration may be disposed free of charge.

A new medical marijuana dispensary is opening at 7601 Greenwood Ave. N., Suite 100, where Pelayo Antiques used to be. We’ve tried to get a hold of the dispensary’s owner, but he hasn’t yet returned our messages.

According to an ad in The Stranger today, the dispensary will be called The High Class, and opening day is this Saturday. The phone number is 206-695-2130.

The High Class is located between Stillwell Hanson Architects and John Walker’s Workshop.

This will be Phinney-Greenwood’s fourth fifth medical marijuana dispensary. Seattle Patient Resource Center (SPaRC) opened last year at 7200 Greenwood Ave. N.; The Healing Center Organization (THCO) opened at 511 N. 85th St. in February; and we recently noticed a sign for Green Relief at 145 NW 85th St. near the intersection of 85th and 3rd.

And just a block away at 315-B NW 85th St. is Cosmic Dragon.

The Greenwood Arts Council is about to print its monthly Art Up Artwalk maps for 2012, but first they want to know of any more businesses who would like to join and be included on the map. This includes any business that plans to offer an Artwalk special (such as discounted dinner or drinks, or a percentage off certain items in your store during Artwalk hours), even if that business won’t be hosting any artists or artwork.

The cost to be included is $25 for the year. That gets your business an informational blurb and link on the Art Up website, plus 100 printed maps to give to customers, and a poster for your window.

The deadline to be included in the 2012 printed maps is Friday, Dec. 16.

Make your $25 check out to the Phinney Neighborhood Association (which is the Greenwood Arts Council’s fiscal agent), but mail to Sheri Hauser at Tasty, 7513 Greenwood Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103, so she can get your info on the map right away. She will deliver the checks to the PNA.

Questions? Email artup@greenwood-phinney.com.

Seattle Police are investigating after a motorcycle and car collided at the intersection of 6th Avenue NW and NW 88th Street in Greenwood yesterday afternoon.

From the SPD Blotter:

On December 12th, at approximately 2:05 pm, a Kawasaki motorcycle was travelling northbound on 6th Avenue NW approaching NW 88th Street. A Honda CRV was travelling westbound on NW 88th Street when the two vehicles collided in the intersection.

The 21 year old male motorcyclist was treated at the scene by Seattle Fire Medics and transported to Harborview Medical Center. The 69 year driver of the Honda was evaluated at the scene and it was determined that neither alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this collision.

Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) responded to the scene and began their investigation. This reamains an active and ongoing investigation.

Seattle Police say a Parking Enforcement Officer was instrumental in helping them find a woman with dementia who left her care facility. She was found Monday afternoon at Woodland Park Zoo.

From the SPD Blotter:

On December 12th, at about 5:40 pm, a call from another agency came into dispatch indicating that a woman with dementia had left her care facility and was possibly lost in Seattle, most likely near the Woodland Park Zoo. A family member had spoken with the woman about an hour before hand, and had reason to believe she might be at the zoo, although by the conversation, sounded as though she might be confused as to her whereabouts.

The call was broadcast and a number of officers responded to assist. It was dark, and the temperature was dropping. One of the Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) heard the broadcast call and volunteered herself and the other PEOs working in North Seattle to assist with the search. Approximately 45 minutes after the initial call, the Parking Enforcement Officer located the missing woman in the lower parking lot of the zoo. She was later transported to an area hospital for observation. She has since been reunited with her family. This was a fantastic resolution and a great effort by the Parking Enforcement Officer!

The North Seattle Boys & Girls Club, in Greenwood at 8635 Fremont Ave. NE, asked us to tell the community about two of their upcoming programs.

Their Pre-school Rainy Day Gym will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, from Jan. 4 – April 25. Cost to drop in is a donation of $3-$6. The gym will be filled with age-appropriate toys, including mats, balls, trikes, blocks, etc.

The Club’s Winter Basketball Program for kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade starts in January.

• K-1st grade: Mondays from 5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m.; Jan. 23 – March 19. Cost is $30 for the season.
• 2nd-3rd grade: Practices are Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. or 6-7 p.m.; games are on Saturdays. Jan. 25 – March 24. $40 for the season.
• 4th-5th grade: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. or 6-7: p.m.; Jan. 5 – March 8. $55 for the season.

Register online at www.ns.positiveplace.org.

Gainsbourg restaurant and bar at 8550 Greenwood Ave. N. was damaged in a fire Saturday afternoon and will be closed for several days for professional cleaning and damage repair.

From Owner JJ Wandler:

(W)e had a kitchen fire which has caused us to have to shut down for a few days while we have the restaurant professionally cleaned, replace some of our damaged kitchen equipment, and in the process, remodel our bar. We are happy that no one was injured in the fire as it happened before we were set to open on Saturday night. We are also pleased that there was no structural damage to our building. We are looking forward to reopening as soon as possible!

Wandler tells me that three employees were in the restaurant at the time. Gainsbourg hopes to reopen within 10 days. We will keep you posted.

Update 11:15 a.m.: Wandler just sent photos of the damage.

And a closeup of the stove:

The Phinney Neighborhood Center tried to raise $30,000 from the community to help pay for an elevator to make the building more accessible – and ended up raising $40,161.

Those funds come from 249 households and businesses, 11 company matches, 33 Beer Taste patrons, a generous donation from the Phinney Neighborhood Preschool Co-op and $2,443 worth of potholder sales at the Winter Festival. Thank you for all you’ve done to help put an elevator in the Blue Building.

We expect to start construction of the Blue Building elevator by July 2012. In addition to the elevator, we also plan to do seismic retrofitting on the building, an improved entryway and a small community plaza. Barring any unforeseen complications we hope to complete the project by late fall. In the meantime, thanks to a grant from 4Culture, brickwork on the two small outbuildings on Dayton Avenue – the former fan building and the boiler room – is being restored and both buildings will be reroofed.

For a quarter of a century, the PNA has had a vision to create a living, enduring place that allows people of all ages and abilities to gather together and share their lives, ideas and experiences, creating a sense of belonging and a deeper commitment to our community. Our Community Begins Here Campaign has successfully raised $5.3 million in a very difficult economy, allowing us to purchase the Phinney Neighborhood Center campus from the School District, preserving a neighborhood landmark, and ensuring its ability to serve our extended community for generations to come. We are proud of our accomplishments to date!

So, so, so much going on in the neighborhood and nearby this weekend! Here’s a sampling. Check out our Events calendar any time form more.

Greenwood-Phinney monthly Art Up Artwalk is from 6-9 p.m. Friday at dozens of neighborhood businesses. Check out the Artwalk website for a full list of participating businesses and artists.

Open Mic night at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N. 70th St., from 6:15-10:15 p.m. Friday.

The Pacific NW Folklore Society presents Lindsay Street at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. And the Gloria Darlings perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Free; food, wine and beer available.

St. John’s School is hosting its Holiday Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Egan Hall, 120 N. 79th St. All proceeds benefit the Scouting program at St John.

Photo courtesy of St. John’s School.

The Salvation Army and locations of Bartell Drugs, including the Greenwood store at 120 N. 85th St., are collecting new, unwrapped toys for its “Toy ‘n’ Joy” program through this Sunday.

Emerald City Orchilds, 716 NW 65th St., is hosting an open house at 3 p.m. Saturday. Its new coffee and lunch café opens soon.

The Shop Agora, at 6417-A Phinney Ave. N., is hosting a wine tasting from 1-5 p.m. Saturday.

Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park at 11111 Aurora Ave. N. is having its second annual Wreaths Across America at 8:45 a.m. Saturday at its Veterans’ Cemetery section. There will be a brief ceremony, then volunteers will lay donated wreaths at graves.

“A Rose in Winter” Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, 7500 Greenwood Ave. N.

Heidi Muller CD release concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the PNA, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., in Community Hall.

The Chocolate Shoe Box, 7410 Greenwood Ave. N., is holding a pet food drive through December. Bring in a can or bag of cat or dog food, and get 15 percent off any pair of shoes or boots. Donations will go to local animal shelters and sanctuaries.

The Wing Dome is offering a discount to customers who donate to a local food bank. Just bring in a receipt from your food bank donation and they’ll give you half-off a burger. The Phinney Wing Dome is at 7818 Greenwood Ave. N.

Nearby, the Green Lake Library is hosting Family Fun Day from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, where kids can make stick puppets and put on a show and learn folk dancing; Seattle Public Theater at the Green Lake Bathhouse Theater presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” from Dec. 9-24; and the Green Lake Pathway of Lights is from 5-8 p.m. Saturday.

Looking ahead to next week, Taproot Theatre is offering $20 Tuesdays for “Beasley’s Christmas Party,” and the Phinney Neighborhood Association is hosting a class on “Rainwater Harvesting, Catchment & Management” from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14. Cost is $20 for PNA members, $25 general.To register call 206-783-2244.