Cecile Andrews, Phinney Ridge resident and author of “Less Is More,” “Slow Is Beautiful” and “Circle of Simplicity,” is organizing a “community happiness circle” on Thursday nights at the Green Bean Coffeehouse.
We all know that happiness is our basic goal in life. The problem is that we’re confused about what will make us happy. We think that being rich or famous will do it, so we focus on ambition and achievement. But the research is clear: After a certain point, more money does not make us happier. In fact, money can get in the way of happiness because the pursuit of money can undermine caring and social ties — the true determinants of happiness. Money becomes more important than relationships and destroys happiness.
So our first step is to begin to build community. We need to get to know our neighbors and join with them on projects to improve our lives because we’re also happier when we find a way to contribute to society. Most of us search for our calling, something that brings us energy and enthusiasm and makes a difference.
Finally, we need a new orientation toward life. Our Puritan heritage has influenced us to focus on work and getting ahead, and we forget to enjoy ourselves along the way. We look around and all we see makes us bitter and angry. Instead of conversing, we rant and rave about how horrible everything is. We need to learn to approach life with joie de vivre, the French word for “joy of living.” We need to learn how to cultivate the emotions that give us energy and joy. Yes, there’s a lot that needs fixing, but we need to begin to focus on positive ways to change things.
The Community Happiness Circle meets from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursdays at the Green Bean Coffeehouse, 8533 Greenwood Ave. N., through April 14. For more information, contact Cecile at cecile@cecileandrews.com.
A recent Pew Research Center survey finds a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government – a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.
CityClub is hosting a series of free community dialogues on the issue, and it’s looking for community groups to host up to 20 people for each 60-minute dialogue, from Sept. 21 – Nov. 2. CityClub will provide trained facilitators and informational materials. Hosts provide space, participants, and refreshments.
CityClub will disseminate the ideas and outcomes generated in the dialogues to community leaders, elected officials, and policymakers. These strategies will inform our People’s Choice Awards, highlighting great work being done in our community on these issues at a finale celebration in November. All participants are invited to the Finale.
For more information, or to sign up to host a dialogue, email Paula Rhyne at prhyne@seattlecityclub.org.
Taking full advantage of an opportunity to build community and create safer neighborhoods, people took to the streets tonight to renew acquaintances and meet neighbors for the first time during National Night Out.
Greenwoodstock, one of the bigger events in the area, drew a steady crowd of people who played in the park…
and listened to three bands…
as they munched on grilled pizza margherita.
Here’s video of the event, featuring the Bubble Man and Jeff Fielder and Black Market, as well as shots of the the pizza. Mmmmmm, pizza….
Send in your pictures and we’ll post the best here.
Andy sent us this photo from 68th and Greenwood Avenue North, where Mayor Mike McGinn stopped in for the festivities, as did the Engine 21 firefighters, who are new neighbors.
Here’s a picture from Tom on 2nd Avenue, NW, where it looks like there was food aplenty for the 40 people and six canines attending.
Dan P. sent in this photo of the scene at 89th and Linden where more than 50 people showed up and they had a badminton net stretched across the street:
Here’s a sharp pic from Christy taken on 79th between Linden and Fremont avenues.
Thanks to audience feedback, we’re expanding what started out as a graffiti reporting map to now include the opportunity for you to report potholes, burned out streetlights, problems with signs, broken sidewalks and other public infrastructure issues that the city of Seattle says can be fixed in short order.
Report issues to the city using the links and phone numbers you’ll find on the map page. Then tag the map with your report. When the issue is resolved, update it on the map. The aim of this tool is to highlight local issues and the city’s responsiveness in addressing these concerns.
According to the city, it’s their goal to have potholes repaired in two business days, burned out streetlights fixed in 10 business days and graffiti removed from private property in 10 days after the owner has been contacted. The map can be used to see how well the city is doing at meeting those goals.
If you have any feedback on the map, post a comment, or send us a note at tips@phinneywood.com. We’re also looking for a more catchy name for this service, so share your ideas.
PCC Natural Markets and KCTS have joined up to collect new or gently used sweaters, coats and other cold weather gear at all PCC locations, including the Greenlake PCC at 7504 Aurora Ave. N, from Monday through Feb. 7.
A recent story about a start-up called SeeClickFix.com got us thinking about how we could use a service like theirs as a catalyst to help highlight and address community issues.
The recent spate of graffiti sparked the idea of creating a map that could be used to report graffiti sightings. If we can get decent information here, perhaps city officials and property owners will be motivated to more quickly take steps to clean up these signs of vandalism.
You can see the map here. If you see graffiti, mark down the address and enter it on the map. If you have a photo, even better. You’ll also find information on the page for reporting graffiti to the city, which we encourage you to do as well to be proactive and ensure the city is aware of it.
You can comment on reports, or mark them as closed once the graffiti is removed.
If you’re so motivated, please check it out. While this isn’t the biggest issue facing our neighborhoods, do you think this approach is at least worth trying? Have any ideas for improving on it, or for other ways we might be able to use something like this? You can post comments below, or you can always send us e-mail at tips@phinneywood.com. Thanks for being a part of PhinneyWood!
A decent crowd turned out at Upper Crust Catering for the silent auction benefiting the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund that helps businesses affected by the Greenwood arsons.
Over the course of a couple hours, people put down bids on dozens of items donated by local businesses.
Singer-songwriter Ali Marcus performed a soulful set. A recent transplant to the neighborhood, she donated her performance, as well as all of the proceeds from sales of her CDs last night.
We’ll report the totals when we get them.
In related news, our media partner, The Seattle Times, has a story and video (which you can see below) about the street artist mural going in on 85th just west of Greenwood Avenue.
The North Seattle Boys & Girls Club in Greenwood is receiving an $80,000 neighborhood grant from Mayor Greg Nickels at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The club applied to the Neighborhood Matching Funds for Large Projects for a new car-free entry and community plaza.
The project aims to create a gathering space for neighbors of all ages and backgrounds to connect and a process in which they can participate directly in planning, design & implementation. In anticipation of this project which will kickoff this fall, the design & engineering process for the Neighborhood Street Fund sidewalk project reconfigured the street so that when the new entry and plaza is developed, they will work perfectly together. Service vehicles, club vans and other limited vehicular circulation is now via the alley just west of the club. The new curbs and sidewalks along Fremont Ave provide ample on-street parking with several short term spots just south of the corner of N 87th St.So please join us on August 29th at 11am for the festivities that will include neighborhood food, beverages and good company. We’re very proud and excited about the award and would love it if you could make it to the event.
Sustainable Greenwood and Greenwood SAGE (Seniors Actively Giving & Engaged) are hosting a Sustainable Community Potluck this Wednesday at the Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N. 85th St.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m., followed by a sing-along with local troubadour Gary Paine at 7 p.m.
The organizers ask that if you are able, to bring something to the potluck using one or more local ingredients, as well as your own plates and utensils.
Even if you can’t make this one, Karen Schneider and Anne Engstrom promise more activities and events aimed at making our neighborhoods more sustainable.
Yes, our neighborhoods got the short end of the stick on the timing, the forecast and the pre-8 p.m. sunset, but if you’re at all interested in the Summer Streets program, be there from 6-9 p.m. tonight on our main drag from 65th and Phinney Avenue North, to 87th and Greenwood Avenue North to show your neighborhood spirit.
As we’ve written before, there are several planned Summer Streets activities, along with an expanded offering of monthly Art Walk offerings, including:
A wiffleball game near the intersection of Greenwood and 72nd St.
Painting in the stret outside Bherd Studios at 8537 Greenwood Ave. N.
The Bubble Man will be in front of Metropolis from 6-7 p.m.
Live music at several businesses.
2-for-1 tickets to tonight’s 8 p.m. performance of “Tuesdays with Morrie” at Taproot Theatre for anyone living in the 98103, 98107 and 98117 zip codes. Just ask for your “Art Walk 2-for-1″ ticket when calling the box office at 206-781-9707.
Viking Bank’s bike check in the 8500 block of Greenwood Ave N. from 6-9 p.m.
TwigChildren’s Boutique at 8317 Greenwood Ave. N reopening for the evening as a gallery space with original artist screens on children’s T-shirts and other items for little ones.
More than 30 businesses turning into gallery and play spaces for the evening. Check out the official Art Up website for a complete list.
Heck, Strange dancer is doing a “rain rain go away” dance. But if that’s not enough to inspire you against the weather and timing odds, let John Belushi motivate you (warning: For all of you too young to remember this scene, the mascot in this was not in the original).
Bring your ideas of what would make our community better to the Seattle Neighborhood Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 6-9 p.m., at City Hall, at 601 5th Ave.
Express your ideas and meet with others who care about Seattle and its neighborhoods. Come as early as 5:15 p.m. to informally network with other volunteers and City officials. After a keynote address by the mayor, get down to business by attending any of the 14 focus groups, to discuss issues such as community-building, neighborhood economic development, public safety, parks and community centers, health and housing, roads and sidewalks, transit, schools, and historic preservation.
The summit ends with a City Council panel discussing issues and questions from the focus groups.
Can’t come? Send ideas or questions to the City Neighborhood Council, c/o Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle 98124-4649 or cleman@oo.net (206) 322-5463. Free parking, for this event only, is available after 5 p.m. in the commuter lot under I-5 just north of Cherry Street (must enter southbound on 6th Avenue-left turn just before Cherry).
Kendyl is asking for your help to assist Jenna Helm in her battle against breast cancer.
In May, Jenna was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and immediately began treatment. She is a talented artist, musician and a wonderful mother to five year-old Kara, Jenna tells us.
There will be a silent auction of art bras, along with refreshments and the opportunity to meet Jenna and her family. The event will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11 at Whole Life Yoga, 8551 Greenwood Ave. N. If you’d like to attend, contact Kendyl at (206) 240-2931 or linnstar1@yahoo.com.
Kendyl is asking for your help to assist Jenna Helm in her battle against breast cancer.