Help Design the Sound Transit Pictograms

No, the pictures above aren't Houses from Game of Thrones.

Rather, they are the fun, sometimes confusing pictograms that Sound Transit chose to represent the neighborhoods it serves. That dragon? The International District. The anvil? The industrious SoDo area. The one for SeaTac is strangely a magic carpet. As Sound Transit's astrologically inclined “Stellar guide to the the pictograms explains: "Nothing evokes the magic, mystery and delight of flight quite like a magic carpet. SeaTac is the “Hospitality City” and has rolled out the carpet in welcome.”

Sound Transit uses "pictograms" to identify transit stations for people who don't read languages that use the Roman alphabet. They're also easier to recall even if you do read printed station names, according to the agency. Oh, and state law requires them.

Sound Transit plans to start service in 2016 to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington, in Seattle, and Angle Lake Station, in Sea-Tac; and in 2021 to the U District, Roosevelt and Northgate. So now, apparently, is the time to start figuring out pictograms for these stations, and the agency wants your help.

From now until April 14, people can fill out an online questionnaire, listing up to three adjectives to describe each station area, up to three landmarks that represent the areas and, cutting to the chase, describing what image would make a good pictogram for the stations and why.

"Public input and comments will be collected and will be used to help guide the development and creation of the new pictograms," the agency said. "Once developed, pictograms will be available for public viewing and comment."

For some additional background regarding the history behind the existing pictograms in operation today, refer to the Stellar Connections Flyer for complete details.

Next Generation P Patch

Not your grandparent's P-Patch but is still a collective cooperative approach to local farming.

A P-Patch is a parcel of property used for gardening allotments. The term is specific to Seattle, where the Picardo family ran a truck farm in the earlier part of the 1900s in the Wedgwood neighborhood. The farm was acquired by the City of Seattle and became part of the original P-Patch program initiated in 1973. The 'P' was taken to commemorate the Picardo family. Through the decades folk etymology attributes it to be "pea patch" and soon the ‘P’ is expected to stand for “pot” within the city of SeaTac!

State law regarding medical cannabis (RCW: 69.51A) already contain provisions for P-Patch-type gardens for up to 15 marijuana plants per patient, where sick people may grow affordable, high-quality cannabis, free from black market and legal hazards (RCW: 69.51A.085). With the passage of I-502 in November 2012 and the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Washington State, SeaTac residents Bud Green and Mary Jayne have taken the position that the provisions of RCW 69.51A.085 now apply to all citizen’s age 21 and older. Both Green and Jayne have been lobbying the SeaTac City Council for an approval to begin operating a ‘P-Patch’ garden at the vacant Hughes Property located on the southwestern shores of Angle Lake. Backers of this initiative insist that this underutilized public property is a perfect choice for the garden due to abundant availability to water that can be drawn from the lake and naturally heightened security due to visibility from the heavy volume of traffic that travels International Boulevard (State Route 99).

After a year long debate, the City Council had finally reached a determination that supporting this ‘grass’ roots initiative is the right thing to do and have since authorized that a portion of the Hughes Property be allocated for such use.  A plan to prepare the land through a partnership program agreement between the WA State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the City of SeaTac was made through a Press Release announcement on March 21st. The $19,000 project will fund work to rid the property of the invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry bushes that occupy much of the space.  A crew for the Puget SoundCorps will work from 7:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Thursday.  The work will start Monday, April 7th and will finish by Thursday, May 1st in time for local and state officials to gather for formal presentation of the ‘keys’ of the garden to Herb Cheeba, President of Peacebloom, the registered organization representing the collective gardener association.

“What a perfect world it will be when our citizens can simply cultivate this fertile land and ask Mother Nature to bestow her favor upon them in the bold sunlight of a more progressive era!” envisions Mary Jayne. 

In anticipation of this ceremonious event, a request by the Peacebloom organization to the Washington State Department of Transportation has been submitted asking that the 5 block span of International Blvd between South 200th Street and the entrance of Angle Lake Park at So 195th Street be recognized and relabeled as “Highway 420” in commemorative recognition of the nation’s first marijuana co-operative ‘P-Patch’.

The deadline for public comment is Sunday, April 20th and may be submitted here.

(Postscript:  This is an April Fools Joke)

Neighborhood Grants Available

The City of SeaTac 2014 “Pilot to Try It” Neighborhood Grant Program deadline has been extended.  Applications will be accepted through March 31.

The City of SeaTac has created a program that it hopes to promote resident involvement and encourage the formation of neighborhood groups that work together to enhance their individual neighborhood identity through collaborative projects. The goal of the Neighborhood Grant Program is to build viable partnerships between the City and its residents. 

The total funds available for the 2014 Neighborhood Grant Program are $5,000. Only qualified applications will be considered. Amount of award for each project will be determined by the amount of qualified applications the City receives and is limited to how many projects can be accommodated within the $5,000 program budget. 

Examples of qualifying projects include: installing secure mailboxes, street lights (non-arterial), neighborhood identity (signage, kiosks), community gardens, play areas, neighborhood events (Block Watch, Map Your Neighborhood), public amenity (bench, sculpture), neighborhood clean-up, youth projects, artwork/neighborhood beautification, or other similar improvements. 

For information and application please contact the City of SeaTac Resource Conservation/Neighborhood Programs Coordinator Trudy Olson at 973.4763. Neighborhood Grant Applications are also available on the City’s website. 

Local Girl Makes Good

Angle Lake Neighbor and Shore Club Member Julia Patterson, former Metropolitan King County Councilmember, will be honored in April as the 2014 Public Official of the Year by the Municipal League of King County.

Julia Patterson originally became involved in local politics when she felt that the County was ignoring the needs of her community. Together with other citizens, Julia led the city of SeaTac incorporation effort. In 1989, she was elected as a founding member of the new City Council. Patterson went on to serve in the state House and Senate, and served for 12 years on the King County Council.

During her career, Patterson served in leadership positions on a number of boards in the region including Chair of the King County Board of Health, Chair of the King County Council and Vice Chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors. She is a current board member on the Valley Medical Board of Trustees and the Matt Griffin YMCA Board of Directors. Patterson also served as a member of the Health Steering Committee and as a representative on the Large Urban Counties Caucus for the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Patterson will officially receive the 2014 Public Official of the Year award during the Municipal League’s April 3 Civics Awards dinner. For more information about the Civics award recipients please visit Municipal League Foundation Civic Awards Page.

Congratulations Julia on receiving this esteemed award in recognition of your career achievements.

Strike Against Hunger

Can you SPARE some time to FRAME up a team to STRIKE against hunger? 

The Tukwila Rotary Club is looking for bowlers and event sponsors for its annual fundraiser supporting the Tukwila Pantry. 

The "Let's Strike Out Hunger" bowlathon is March 29th at ACME Bowl at Southcenter raising funds to help cover the annual operating costs of the Tukwila Pantry, a food bank that provides food and other essentials to several thousand individuals in need in the Tukwila/SeaTac area. Entry fee minimum for teams is $200 (4 bowlers). All bowlers names will be entered into a raffle drawing for fabulous door prizes!  Entry deadline is March 15th or until full. Event information, bowler registration for teams or individuals and sponsorship forms can be found on the Tukwila Rotary Website.

• What: “Strike against Hunger” Bowlathon
• Where: ACME Bowl, Southcenter
• Date: Saturday, March 29th
• Time: 10:00 AM – Noon

Those unable to participate as sponsors or bowlers can support the event by making an online donation directly to the Tukwila Pantry Website. Donations by check can be sent to P.O. Box 3118 S. 140th St., Tukwila 98168. Checks should be made payable to Tukwila Pantry.