Buy a latte today and feed the homeless this Thanksgiving

Today only - Cafe Lati will be donating all sales (and tips!) to the Lake City Food Bank. Located across the street from Nathan Hale High School, this small coffee shop is a great example of locally-owned businesses giving back to the community. Yesterday they posted this on their Facebook page:

The Food Bank had to refuse many families during last thanksgiving due to limited budget. We'll donate our time, sales, and tips, but we can't do much without you. We would love if you stopped by and purchased a cup of coffee tomorrow. Feel free to share this message. Seri, Maria, and I really hope to see you on Sunday!

So even though there is talk of snow, venture over to to Cafe Lati (11003 35th Ave NE ) for your cup of coffee and help others get a Thanksgiving meal at the same time.

Farmers Market season has started!

After months of anticipation, the Lake City Farmers Market opened yesterday to excited crowds and an even more rare occurrence these days - no rain! I couldn't wait to get out of my Pioneer Square office and on the bus home so I could check out what opening day farmers had to offer.

Despite the winter-like weather we've been having, the start of the Farmers Market season signals that, indeed, summer really is here. I had to buy a couple beautiful heirloom tomatoes from Kittitas Valley Tomatoes since my own plants have yet to even send out a single flower and I couldn't pass up the Alm Hills pea vines.

Next week I definitely plan on sampling one of the newest additions to the market this year- Pan Africa. The deliciously intoxicating smell of African food followed me from from stand to stand and haunted me as I went home to a much more boring dinner. I will not pass that up again!

To get your farm fix, the Lake City market runs every Thursday from 3-7pm from now through October 7th. It's located next to the Library at NE 125th and 28th Ave NE. There is a free underground parking garage right next to the market on 28th Ave NE, and plenty of street parking on the surrounding streets.

If Thursday isn't a good day for you, try the Meadowbrook Farmers Market. Starting this Sunday, June 6th, and running until October 31st from 11am-3pm at the Seattle Waldorf School (2728 NE 100th St).

Support Your Parks Tonight

I posted this over on Lake City Live but I think it's applies to everyone in NE Seattle so I'm posting here as well!

With the City of Seattle facing a $50 million dollar budget shortfall this year, it's highly likely the Parks and Recreation Department will have to share in the budget cuts needed to make up for the huge loss. This is just one reason why it's really important to attend the Community Open House this Wednesday, April 7th from 6:30 to 8pm at the Lake City Community Center.

Easter Egg Hunts and More This Weekend

For those in need of some last minute Easter ideas for the kiddies, here is a list of the big Easter egg hunts and other holiday happenings this weekend in NE Seattle:

The Seattle Parks Dept. is holding "Spring Egg Hunts" all across the city this Saturday at 10am. Best of all, the cost is free! NE Seattle locations include:

• Meadowbrook Community Center (Nathan Hale track - 10750 30th Ave NE)
• Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center (6335 Ravenna Ave NE)
• Laurelhurst Community Center (4554 NE 41st) 

Cafe Lati Celebrates its First Anniversary

If there's one thing Meadowbrook/Lake City needs, it's more coffee shops.  How can it be, in a city obsessed with coffee, that there are two adjacent neighborhoods with only two non-Starbucks coffee shops? And for those waving your Starbucks loyalty flags, there are only two Starbucks in that same area; bringing up the total to a whopping four establishments.

One clue into this lack of coffee might be found over on the Lake City Live blog.  There's a  lively discussion about the challenges of running a business in that neighborhood. From reading the comments, it definitely seems like it is a difficult section of Seattle to maintain a thriving business. 

With all the challenges, I'm happy to announce that Cafe Lati - the only coffee shop in Meadowbrook - is celebrating it's one year anniversary.  Starting today they will have daily drink specials until Sunday, April 4th.  Become a fan of their Facebook page to find out all the deals.

More importantly, when you are about to take that quick run to the Starbucks on Lake City, why don't you head over to Cafe Lati on110th and 35th instead. Supporting your local businesses is the best way to get even more opening.

46th District Meeting This Morning at Meadowbrook CC

A quick reminder that the 46th Legislative District community meeting is being held in about an hour - from 10am to 12pm at Meadowbrook Community College.  Sen. Ken Jacobsen, Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, and Rep. Scott White will all be attending. 

Currently, the Legislature is working on finalizing the budget in the remaining weeks left before the session closes on March 11th.  46th District lawmakers are seeking input from North Seattle residents regarding education, public safety and transportation, among other issues.

For more information, go to the House Democrats website.  Thanks to the Laurelhurst Blog for posting this announcement!

Serious Car Accident by Nathan Hale High School

At 6:58am this morning, a 61 year-old male driving a 1981 Ford Explorer sideswiped two cars on the 11000 of 35th Avenue NE, in the Meadowbrook Neighborhood.  Luckily, the other cars were unoccupied at the time of the accident; however the second car knocked down a tree upon impact.

Seattle Fire Department paramedics found the driver unconscious at the scene.  He was transferred to Harborview Medical Center for treatment.  Although it was initially believed alcohol may have been a factor, Seattle Police officers determined that was not the case.

Hopefully the driver is okay!  If any reader has updated information on this accident, please email: northesea@gmail.com.

Teacher Assaulted at Nathan Hale High School

Nathan Hale High School staff reported that a student assaulted a teacher, as well as another student, last week.  According to the Seattle-PI, the teacher was meeting with a 14 year old student about his grades when she saw a large group of students congregating in the hallway.  Suspicious of what was going on, the teacher went out to see what was happening.  When she returned, two students had entered the classroom and would not leave.  One of them then struck the student she had been meeting with in the face.  When the teacher intervened she was struck in the arm.  Luckily, that was the extent of her injuries.

Schools officials explained that the student fled the grounds when the incident happened; since it was the end of the day they did not immediately report the crime to the police.  The following day, officers were contacted and led to the suspect where he was positively identified by both the teacher and the 14 year old victim.

For more information about this incident, as well as a teacher assault on the same day at Cleveland High School, read Casey McNerthney's story on the Seattle-PI website.

Meadowbrook Community Center Jazz Festival Tonight

Tonight Meadowbrook Community Center will be putting on a jazz festival for the whole neighborhood.  Live music performed by the Meadowbrook Jazz Ensemble, starting at 6:00pm, is sure to be fun for the whole family.  Best of all is the price tag; FREE.

Details:
Meadowbrook Community Center
10517 35th Ave NE
6:00-7:00pm