Columbia Citizens

Live locally.

Consult your community calendar.

• Hillman City Business Assn (Wed),
• farmers market (Wed),
• two concurrent book groups (Wed),
• a bilingual play group (Thu),
• a community kitchen (Thu),
• library story time (Fri),
• a running group (Sat),
• two concurrent park work parties (Sat),
• Vietnamese story time (Sat),
• neighbors envision Columbia School's future (Sun),
• 37th Dist democrats (Mon),
• a school district candidates' forum (Tue),
• a quigong class (Tue),
• a community choir (Wed),
• and Citizens post more events all the time!

In the calendar, you can click through to each event's online information. If a local event is missing, please send a Citizen's alert.

• Have you ever tried a local kiwi? Mini hardy kiwis are back this Wednesday!
• Come and sample a variety of our delicious fall apples at our Annual Apple Tasting!
• Plus fresh roasted peppers from Billy's Organic Farm and Chanterelle mushrooms from Stoney Plains Organic Farm.

There are only three more market days left, so please come out and support the farmers while you can. The last day of the 2009 season will be on October 21st.

See you at the Market!

First of all, I want to thank everyone who came out and enjoyed BeatWalk this year. We had a good season, and great attendance in August and September. The dance instruction at CC Theater was well-received, and we managed to book some amazing bands that represent a very diverse range of musical styles.

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BeatWalk will return in 2010, and continue to run first Fridays, May through September. I know some people are wondering why we're not doing it in the fall any more. We had to shorten the season due to financial constraints - we've lost money every October and November for the past few years. But some of the restaurants are continuing to have live music through the winter - such as Kallaloo, who's got a Brazilian duo tonight AND has recently added a late-night happy hour from 10-midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Thanks again, everyone. See you next year.

Homework Help Volunteers will assist students with homework on a drop in basis on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm.

Play and Learn Thursday October 8th from 10:30am to 12pm. Grupo Bilingüe de juegos para padres y cuidadores con niños entre las edades de nacimiento hasta 5 años. / Bilingual play group for ages birth to 5.

Preschool storytime Friday October 9th from 10:30 to 11am. Bring your preschoolers to enjoy stories, rhymes, songs and fun with our children's librarian.

Giờ đọc truyện tiếng Việt! (Vietnamese Story Time) Saturday October 10th from 3:30 to 4 pm. Thư viện công cộng Seattle tổ chức giờ đọc truyện bằng tiếng việt cho trẻ em! (The Seattle Public Library is hosting Vietnamese Story Times for young children!)

Library programs are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to attend.

What can you envision for Columbia School?

Momentum seems to be building to do some community visioning for the Columbia School site. We're meeting to strategize & plan a charrette; if you'd like to get involved please join us.

Sunday, October 11th
4 - 5pm
DESC Conference Room
5270 Rainier Ave S

Join the CCity Runners for a lovely fall run

The weather is changing and there's nothing better than getting in a fabulous run alongside friendly neighbors while taking in the fall foliage. We welcome runners of all levels and provide a variety of routes that will satisfy the seasoned or beginner runner. Come join us every Saturday at 8:30 AM for a morning run, then stay for a coffee and a pastry in Columbia City. We meet in front of KC Flowers every Saturday at 8:30 AM. Learn more at www.ccityrunners.com.

Arts Gumbo 2009

Asian Tales of Shadow & Light
Saturday, Oct 24 (6 - 9pm) @ Rainier Valley Cultural Center, presented by Eth-Noh-Tec, San Francisco's acclaimed Asian American Kinetic Story Theater.

• 6pm — Dramatized traditional and modern ghost tales from the dark side and audience-involved story workshop
• 7:30 — Pan Asian hors d'oeuvres from Kawali Grill
• 8pm — Mask-making workshop with Saya Moriyasu

Tickets: $10 for general, $7 for students and seniors, $5 for children (ages 8-18), children 7 and under are free, $25 for families of up to 4 people. Purchase tickets online or at the door. (Admission includes food and workshop)

Coming in November: Odunde Festival...

Arts Gumbo Film Discussion Group

Thursday, October 22 - 6:30pm @ Rainier Valley Cultural Center
Kwaidan, Ghost Stories from Japan. Discussion following movie. This event is free and we encourage the public to attend.

Columbia City Community Choir

Looking for a way to have fun, connect with your neighbors and make a joyful noise? Then come and help launch the Columbia City Community Choir (CCCC) on Tues., Oct. 13, directed by longtime Rainier Valley neighbor Kathleen Tracy.

The Columbia City Community Choir welcomes people of all ages and cultures to come together in a fun, inclusive and spirited singing community. There is no audition, and no singing experience is required, just a desire to sing in harmony with others. No music reading ability is necessary as much of the music is learned in the oral tradition. The repertoire includes a rich variety of songs and chants from many different cultures and singing traditions.

The Columbia City Community Choir's first month of rehearsals take place on Tuesdays 7:30-9pm Oct 13, 20, 27 & Nov 3 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (S Angeline St) in Columbia City ($10 suggested donation per rehearsal).

read more...

Salon Vibe Recession Days

Call and book an appointment this Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, October 6 through October 8 and pay what you want for your haircut! Call 722-VIBE (8423) to book your appointment. Check us out and support a local business. We are located in the bright red building at 4547 Rainier Ave S next to Columbia Funeral Home.

Learn about Social Networking

Social Networking and How Technology Connects us, Thurs, Oct 8 (8-9am) @ Rainier Chamber Office (5290 Rainier Ave S)

Rainier Chamber members, Abbey Norris and Pat Carr, present on how to set up Facebook and use technology to promote your business. Join us to create your own social network. Bring your laptop. Registration for visitors: $20. Register now

Hitt's Hill Work Party

Hello everyone, This is your friendly reminder that we will be having our monthly work party for the Friends of Hitt's Hill this Saturday, October 10th, from 10 am until 1 pm. The weather should be beautiful so join us for work, socializing and refreshment. I hope to see you Saturday.

Full Tilt fall activities

Full Tilt Columbia City is moving into the cooler months with an eye toward community building though gaming and music!

We've become an official Pokemon League, and will be having free league games every Tuesday after school, from 3:30 to 7pm. Come by for fun friendly play and free prizes!

If hacking up bugbears is more your cup of tea, join us on Thursday nights from 8 to 11pm for Dungeons and Dragons as a spectator sport! We will be featuring DM Kenn Denk running the game from South Carolina via Scryng Screen, several regular player-adventurers, and room for jump-in play.

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Thanks Columbia City, for the warm welcome you have given us over that last three months!

Touch: 4th Annual Juried Exhibit at Columbia City Gallery

Sept 27 - Nov 15: Juried by Suzanne Beal (independent visual arts writer/curator), Lisa Harris (Director, Lisa Harris Gallery) and Jeffry Mitchell (artist), this exhibit includes the work of 18 regional artists: Caroline Albert, Julie Alexander, Nola Avienne, Matt Barton, Sharon Birzer, Josh Burbank, Deb Casso, Alexandra Chaney, Lisa Conway, Eric Edgerton, Michael D. Frey, Sarah Musser Froyland, Susan Gans, Geoffrey Garza, Carol Gouthro, Emily Hannan, Pamm Hanson, Mary Elizabeth Hubbard, Patti King, Tom Koontz, Rachel Kotkin & Phoebe Rohrbacher, Julia Lowther, Bill Mohr, Christie Motley, Richard Nicol, Maylee Noah, Sandra Jo Palm, Emily Ann Pothast, Stan Raucher, Joan Schlichting, M. Bozorovich Sobir, Anita West, & Ellen Ziegler.

The Columbia City Gallery is an artists' cooperative and a program of SEEDArts.
Gallery Hours: Wed - Sat (12 to 8pm), Sun (10-6pm)
Contact: Kathy Fowells, Gallery Manager, 760-9843

King County Council

King County hears from Southeast Seattle residents about coordination of transit service with light rail.

An audience of nearly 300 people, many of whom depend on public transit for transportation, met with members of the Metropolitan King County Council at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club Sept. 30. The Council hosted a community Town Hall meeting on the changing face of public transportation with the arrival of Link light rail and the fiscal challenges facing Metro.

“This meeting is an opportunity for you to get involved,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, who represents the Central District, Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill on the County Council. “We need to hear from you about how these changes impact your lives.”

read more...

Columbia City in the news

• The P-I covers the lawsuit stemming from 2-yr-old Honor Callandret's death.
• The Weekly discusses the problem with farmers markets.
• The Medium announces a Roast and Toast for Councilmember McIver.

Hillman City Posts