Category: Feature

News from Lake City
Residents, business owners, and organizations working together.

The Backstory

Posted on by Ann Fuller, Outreach Committee

The Backstory

They’re easy to miss if you don’t already know they’re there, embedded in the sidewalk next to the Seattle Mennonite Church. Thirty-two bronze leaves which, depending on the season and the time of day, can fade barely noticed into the background of the sidewalk, or shine as brightly as stars.

 This is The Backstory on:

The Leaves of Remembrance

Thirty-two Leaves of Remembrance are located in Lake City in front of the Seattle Mennonite Church, each one engraved with a name and year of birth and death, commemorating a life once lived in our community.

These Leaves are part of the Tree of Life project developed by WHEEL, a homeless women’s organizing effort. The Tree of Life sculpture in Victor Steinbrueck Park is the only permanent homeless memorial in the world.

The Tree of Life in Victor Steinbrueck Park near Pike Place Market.

 

The tree has two large branches with leaf-shaped holes stamped out of the iron. The fallen bronze Leaves of Remembrance symbolized by these holes are scattered throughout the City near places that people have felt connected to, including the Seattle Mennonite Church in Lake City.

The Mennonite Church became one of the first installation sites in 2012 when Sally Kinney, a member of WHEEL and founding member of the Lake City Taskforce on Homelessness, approached pastors Melanie and Jonathan Neufeld to ask for support for the project. Sally recently explained why she took her request to the Neufelds. “I have great admiration for Melanie and Jonathan and their work in Lake City”, she said.

“Over more than a decade, they have gathered the un-housed people in our area together, given them a home in God’s Little Acre, the Mennonites’ drop-in center, started first a night shelter in the church which graduated to a roving shelter in many different area churches, and perhaps most importantly, given them a voice in our community.”

“When I mentioned the Leaves project to them, it was with the intention of them adding another symbol of love they show to our outside neighbors: a place to permanently honor the fallen with these Leaves.”

Continue reading “The Backstory” →

Shakespeare in the Park Comes to Lake City

Posted on by Director

Lake City Mini Park Treated to Shakespearean Comedy

On Thursday, August 9th, LCFF partnered with Randy Wiger from the Seattle Parks Department and Greenstage theater company to bring the first ever “Shakespeare in the Lake City Mini Park” to about 30 audience members who seemed thoroughly entertained. Greenstage actors and audience members were real troopers as the first 20 minutes of the production were challenged by the urban sounds of asphalt repaving in the parking lot adjacent to the park. In true professional form, the show went on, and Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona” was enjoyed by all. Based on this initial effort, LCFF is committed to bringing it back. It was a special event for Lake City and one we hope you will strongly consider joining us for in the future. Thank you to all that came out to support.

Lake City Summer Festival

Posted on by Director

Salmon Bake and World Stage a Big Success for Lake City Summer Festival

Urvasi Dance Ensemble

A huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers and all those who worked tirelessly to bring the Lake City Summer Festival back to the Community. LCFF was thrilled to host hundreds of families in Albert Davis Park to enjoy family activities and an incredible line up of performers.

While the people that contributed to the success of the event are too numerous to mention here we would like to give a shout out to a few superstars.

  • Monica Sweet (sound for the world music stage)

  • TomiJo McCarrier – Seattle Parks and Rec

  • LCFF Board Members – Annie Stocker (head of salmon bake), Ray Robinson, Molly Burke (children’s area lead) and Robin Crowder

  • Chuck Schultz (grill master extraordinaire)

  • Executive Chef’s Jak and Asoka from 21 Acres

  • Furtuna Telke – Grand Marshal of the Parade and and inspiration to us all

  • Kym Smith, Lake City Fred Meyer

  • Manila Manila, Auto Shine, Urban Heron Painting, Two Dog Yoga, Beer Authority, Grocery Outlet and the Friendly Foam Shop

  • Nancy (AND pAT) Pew, Lake City Children’s Librarian

  • Pierre Family for the awesome mustang for the parade

Jump Ensemble
Melody Institute

Lake City Summer Festival

Posted on by Director

August 4th from 10:30-4 with Parade Activities Starting at 6pm

In Imogene Inglet’s book, Lil’ Ol’ Lake City, the opening to her chapter on “Pioneer Days” starts with the following: “What keeps a tradition alive? People! And, in the case of Lake City, a community spirit that never dies.” Imogene goes on to talk about the beginnings of the “Lake City Summer Festival” that in 1947, became known as “Pioneer Days”.

It was Ethel and Albert Davis (for whom Albert Davis Park behind the Lake City Community Center is named) that started the tradition of the Salmon Bake in 1950 after taking it upon themselves to research methods of cooking salmon by traveling to salmon bakes around the region.

For over 70 years the Salmon Bake has gone on in Lake City as part of the community’s largest celebration. Imogene’s words continue to ring true as neighbors and community members come together, working hard to create a festival and parade that is reflective of our changing and growing  Lake City.

Continue reading “Lake City Summer Festival” →