Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw visits SLU Community Council as it honors outgoing board members Pearl Leung, Dan Foltz, elects new board members

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Council Group PictureThe South Lake Union Community Council was joined by Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw as it honored the long-time service of outgoing board members Pearl Leung and Dan Foltz and elected new board members at its June monthly meeting, Tuesday, at the Museum of History and Industry at Lake Union Park. During the meeting, Leung and Foltz, who had complete their two full terms on the board, were recognized for their service to the community by SLU Community Council president Mike McQuaid who presented them with original framed art work by noted Seattle "Northwest School" artist William Lee Cumming, the late husband of SLU Community Council board member Dena Lee, as a token of the community’s appreciation.

In his remarks, McQuaid thanked Leung and Foltz for their dedication to the South Lake Union and Cascade neighborhoods quoting author CS Lewis;  “If you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.”

In its annual elections, the South Lake Union Community Council voted Lloyd Douglas, a Cascade neighborhood resident and long-time SLU volunteer along with Ben Grace of Hines on behalf of Amazon.com and former Seattle Deputy Mayor now with Vulcan, Inc., Phil Fujii to board positions.

Photo (left to right):  South Lake Union Community Council president Mike McQuaid, outgoing board members Pearl Leung and Dan Foltz, along with board member Dena Lee and Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw.

SLU Community Council Elects Starbucks' Josh Barrows, Amazon.com's Ben Grace

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SOUTH LAKE UNION -- South Lake Union stakeholders Josh Barrows and Ben Grace have been elected to board positions on the South Lake Union Community Council. Barrows manages the Starbucks Coffee shop at Terry and Republican in the heart of South Lake Union and is a longtime community volunteer, while Grace oversees community engagement for Amazon.com, South Lake Union's largest employer, through Hines.

Starbucks' Josh Barrows (left) and Amazon.com's Ben Grace share a hand-shake at MOHAI after being elected to the South Lake Union Community Council.

"Josh Barrows and Ben Grace bring to our community council a diversity of experience and innovative culture that South Lake Union is known for," said South Lake Union Community Council President, Mike McQuaid. "Josh and Ben have strong histories of service and mindful engagement of their communities.  We're thrilled to have them in leadership roles."

Along with serving up delicious coffee and overseeing a staff of 18, Barrows, 31, is a passionate artist and active volunteer with his community, including volunteerism at Adams and Muir Elementary Schools, Seattle Pacific University and Umojafest, a Seattle African Heritage Festival & Parade that dates to the 1940s.

For Starbucks, Barrows has also participated in a number of high profile appearances including the NASDAQ opening bell ceremony for the company's 40th anniversary and being interviewed for the coffee culture documentary "Caffeinated."

Barrows, who lives in West Seattle, is a Redmond native who grew up in Kennewick. He is a graduate of Columbia Basin College.

Grace, 34, is a Bellevue native and resident of West Seattle's Westwood neighborhood. He has a long history of public engagement including work on community initiatives in the Chinatown-International District, Columbia City, and Downtown neighborhoods.

He previously worked for the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area with responsibility for overseeing a wide scope of programs including the expansion of the City of Seattle's Clear Alley initiative, the installation of the city's first neighborhood-wide translated street sign program and the creation of the city's second urban parklet.

Throughout his career, Grace has maintained strong working relationships with the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, Department of Neighborhoods and other city departments. He is also involved in a number of boards and commissions including the International Special Review District (the Chinatown-ID Historic Board), Seattle Public Utilities Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund Advisory Committee, and the board of Urban Artworks. Grace is a graduate of the University of Washington.

Barrows was elected at the February South Lake Union Community Council meeting, while Grace was elected in March.

The South Lake Union Community Council will hold its annual elections at its annual meeting, Tuesday, June 2 at the Museum of History and Industry.  For more information visit SLUCommunityCouncil.org.

About The South Lake Union Community Council

The recognized South Lake Union neighborhood leadership organization by the City of Seattle, the South Lake Union Community Council is the steward of the SLU neighborhood plan and collaboratively with community stakeholders authored the SLU Urban Design Framework and the SLU/Uptown Mobility Plan. The South Lake Union Community Council meets monthly (4 – 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month) at the Museum of History and Industry in South Lake Union. To learn more visit SLUCommunityCouncil.org.

Food Trucks Serve Up Help for Kids in South Lake Union

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SOUTH LAKE UNION – Seattle's food trucks are getting behind underserved kids and families in the South Lake Union and Cascade neighborhoods, dishing up a helping of much-needed support for an after-school education and homework program. Throughout February, residents, employees and others in Seattle's burgeoning global technology and health sciences research hub who visit participating food trucks for lunch can make a donation to the SLU-Cascade Youth Enrichment Program, a program of the South Lake Union Community Council.

Hot Dog Kings Jessica Hovater (left) and Salvator Savago rallied South Lake Union's food trucks in support of a youth education program in the neighborhood. Photo: Mike McQuaid

"It's really important that kids have an opportunity to have access to help with school and a safe and nurturing environment to be in after school," said Jessica Hovater, who along with her partner Salvatore Savago serve up everything from Polish sausage to Louisiana hot links to the on-the-go lunch crowd at The Hot Dog King on the corner of Westlake and Harrison Streets.

With a clear need for programs typically found through elementary schools and community centers – both absent in South Lake Union, Hovater and Savago rallied the neighborhood’s food trucks behind the effort.

"Just the idea that there isn't anything available in South Lake Union breaks my heart. I've run into that trying to bring our own kids down to work," Hovater said.

Filling an important education-gap for families and elementary school-aged kids 3–13, primarily in neighboring Cascade, the community program will offer structured homework help, education materials and nutritious meals to kids between school hours and when their parents arrive home from work.

"The food truck community and a local mother in South Lake Union approached the community council with the idea of helping the neighborhood. Quite frankly we were hungry for the enthusiasm behind educational support in South Lake Union," said Mike McQuaid, president of the South Lake Union Community Council which unanimously endorsed the project at its February meeting. "The idea is as innovative as the neighborhood that it serves."

With a modest goal of $500, donations will help the effort qualify for matching grants from the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods and others to fund the program that will kick-off this spring.

"This is our neighborhood," Hovater said. "We've watched the first Amazon buildings go up. We've watched the neighborhood grow. It's important for us as a community to help fill the gaps and participate in the growth of our city.”

To find your favorite food truck in Seattle or to learn more about this growing segment of the hospitality industry visit SeattleFoodTruck.com.

About The South Lake Union Community Council

The recognized South Lake Union neighborhood leadership organization by the City of Seattle, the South Lake Union Community Council is the steward of the SLU neighborhood plan and collaboratively with community stakeholders authored the SLU Urban Design Framework and the SLU / Uptown Mobility Plan. The South Lake Union Community Council meets monthly (4 – 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month) at the Museum of History and Industry in South Lake Union. To learn more visit SLUCommunityCouncil.org.

Participating South Lake Union Food Trucks

The Hot Dog King Open: Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Location: Corner of Westlake and Harrison (next to Firestone)

Now Make Me A Sandwich Open:  Mon., Wed., Fri. (11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.) Location:  Corner of Terry and Thomas Streets

Caravan Crepes Open:  Fri. (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Location:  Corner of Westlake and Harrison (in front of the Aveda)

Buddha Bruddah Open:  Mon., Tues., Thurs. (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Location:  Monday, Friday:  Corner of Westlake and Harrison Tuesday, Thursday:  219 Terry Ave. North

Lumpia World Open:  Tues. (11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.) Location:  Corner of Westlake and Harrison

Join Us Tues. at MOHAI for our February Meeting

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Bus PictureJoin the South Lake Union Community Council on Tuesday, February 3 (4 p.m.) at MOHAI as representatives from Seattle Department of Transportation and King County METRO will answer your questions on the impact of voter-approved funding on bus routes and service in the neighborhood. The monthly meeting will also include an update from SDOT on its Construction Hub program in the neighborhood while a representative from our local Terry & Republican Starbucks will share his company’s programs that are available to support SLU non-profits and community events.

Coffee and baked goods will be served.   Join us and bring a friend or colleague!

WHAT: South Lake Union Community Council Monthly Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 3 (4 p.m.)

WHERE: Museum of History and Industry (860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109)

WHY: Meet your neighbors and learn about bus service and non-profit and event support by local companies

AGENDA: Click Here

LEARN MORE: SLUCommunityCouncil.org

Large South Lake Union Crowd Welcomes SPD Chief Kathleen O'Toole

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KOTSOUTH LAKE UNION -- Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole joined in a community conversation with over 60 neighbors at the South Lake Union Community Council's monthly meeting, Tuesday, January 6 at the The Museum of History and Industry. The gathering was the best-attended meeting in the history of the South Lake Union Community Council. Make plans to join the Community Council on Tuesday, February 3 as representatives from Seattle Department of Transportation and King County METRO will answer your questions on the impact of voter-approved funding on bus routes and service in the neighborhood. The monthly meeting will also include an update from SDOT on its Construction Hub program in the neighborhood while a representative from our local Terry & Republican Starbucks, will share his company's programs that are available to support SLU non-profits and community events. Coffee and baked goods will be served. Join us!

WHAT: South Lake Union Community Council Monthly Meeting WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 3 (4 p.m.) WHERE: Museum of History and Industry (860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109) WHY: Meet your neighbors and learn about bus service and non-profit and event support by local companies LEARN MORE: SLUCommunityCouncil.org

Photo Credit: Aaron Briggs / SLU Chamber of Commerce