May 14th – Call for Volunteers – Gardening at Genesee Hill School

genesseschmitz — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 15:54:34 +0000

Warmth = Gardening Time. And that includes neighbors working together to beautify the school grounds of the vacated Genesee Hill School. Join us!

When: Saturday, May 14, 9am to 1pm

Where: SW Dakota Ave and 51^st Ave SW, North Playground

What: Tend the beds, distribute wood chips, pull ivy, etc.

Tools, gloves (and the weed wrench) are provided.

Thank you for supporting our Genesee Schmitz Neighborhood!

A Community of Dancers

genesseschmitz — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:58:26 +0000

On May 31, neighbors joined to meet and dance. Fun was had by all ages. Dina Blade and the Canote Brothers kept everyone moving and smiling. And thanks to local businesses who donated treats and gift certificates: Metropolitan Market, Starbucks, Curious Kidstuff, Coffee to a Tea with Sugar, Capers, NW Art and Frame, Suite Arrangements, and Sound Yoga. And a special thanks to West Side Christian Church who generously gave us the use of their Activity Center. Photos courtesy of the West Seattle Herald. Find more pictures in their article. Click here.

March 31 – Neighborhood Hoedown

genesseschmitz — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 03:49:29 +0000

Neighborhood Gathering and Family Hoedown

Join us for an evening of family fun on March 31 at 6:30 PM!

To kick off spring, the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council is hosting a neighborhood gathering.

6:30 – 7:00 PM – Meet and Greet and Open Mic. Tell us your issues.

7:00 to 8:30 PM – Music and Dancing featuring Dina Blade and the Canote Brothers.

Invite your neighbors! This is an event to build community, so please invite to your neighbors and encourage them to join us!

See you on May 31!

6:30 to 8:30 PM

West Seattle Christian Church

4400 42nd Ave SW

$3 donation per family suggested.

Refreshments and Door Prizes

Block Watch Captains

genesseschmitz — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:05:57 +0000

Are you a block watch captain or interested in becoming one? We are working to improve communications and expand the Genesee-Schmitz neighborhood block watch network. Please email your name and location to gsncouncil@gmail.com.

Block Watch Captain Meeting – March 8

genesseschmitz — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:46:04 +0000

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 6:00-7:30 PM

In cooperation with the Seattle Police Department, the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council invites all Block Watch Captains and interested neighbors from the Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood to a Block Watch Meeting.

One of the Council’s goals is to have an active Block Watch on every block. We are requesting the help of the Block Watch Captains in identifying which blocks they work with, and the help of all neighbors in working toward improving and expanding the Block Watch in our neighborhood over time.

We are also interested in exploring the pros and cons of using the Block Watch system as the basis for future emergency preparedness and community-building efforts within the neighborhood.

Please join your neighbors, Officer Ken Mazzuca, Benjamin Kinlow, Crime Prevention Coordinator, and Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood representatives. The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network will be there to help.

Southwest Precinct,

2300 SW Webster St

If you are a Captain but can’t attend this meeting, please let us know. Email your contact information and location of your Block Watch to gsncouncil@gmail.com.

March 31st – Meet and Dance

genesseschmitz — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:14:58 +0000

You’re invited to a Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Event!

Join us for the year two kick-off for our Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council (GSNC).

6:30 to 7PM – Town Hall Meeting – What are your neighborhood concerns and interests?

7PM – 8:30PM – Family fun with a hoedown led by popular instructor Dina Blade and live music from the Canote Brothers.

Location: West Seattle Christian Church – Activity Center/4400 42nd Avenue Southwest

$3 per family donation requested. Please bring cookies to share.

Any questions, please email us at gsncouncil@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Summary of October 21 General Meeting

genesseschmitz — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:57:24 +0000

In case you didn’t get to attend, here is a summary of the information presented. You can also read about the meeting at the West Seattle Herald website and on the West Seattle Blog.

To give the executive committee feedback and to get on the email list, contact Carol Vincent at carol.vincent@comcast.net.

Neighborhood Safety – Crime Prevention and Emergency Communications. At our first meeting many attendees requested Neighborhood Safety as a focus of work for the GSNC. In answer to that request, the 10/21 meeting featured two speakers who offered important tips for what each one of us can do for ourselves and who encouraged neighbors to give more time to neighborhood projects such as Block Watches and the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs. More information is available online:

Crime Prevention and Block Watches

Emergency Communication Hubs

Police_And_School_Info 10-22

Genesee Hill School

Chairwomen of both the shorter term and long range Genesee Hill School committees reported on progress and next steps. The school is currently classified by the Seattle Public Schools as “inventoried” – awaiting potential school needs. It is available for lease.

The Genesee Garden Group in partnership with Seattle Public Schools is keeping the outside of Genesee Hill School vibrant and a positive place for community activities. Five garden clean-ups have improved the grounds over the summer. Local arborist wood chip and zoo doo donations have been key to the projects’ success. Nine garden plots on the north playground are ready to be allocated to neighbors for gardening. Plans for 2011 include a similar schedule of garden clean-ups starting early spring. Ideas for 2011 projects include improving the asphalt, murals brighten the boarded over windows, a Sustainable West Seattle Tool Library Annex. In 2011 the Genesee Garden Group will seek assistance from other community resources. Please scroll down to see multiple reports and pictures about what has been accomplished.

The long range planning group has been gathering important information. They have met with various city and school district officials, talking with neighborhood groups around the city who have re-purposed older school buildings for community use, and toured the inside of the school to better understand the potential. They will spend the next 6 to 8 months getting more input from the neighborhood and developing ideas for what could happen with the property. Their goal is to have a plan by June 2011. In particular, they are looking for volunteers to join the committee who have strategic planning and community organizing experience. If you are interested, please contact
lizviv@gmail.com at 206-940-3369.

We’d love to have more volunteers! It is all about neighbors helping neighbors. See the “Call for Volunteers” post below to choose an activity that interests you.

October 21 – General GSNC Council Meeting – Everyone Welcome!

genesseschmitz — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:51:48 +0000

Join us from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California Ave. SW.

Safety is the hot topic for the 2^nd general meeting for the Genesee Schmitz Neighborhood Council (GSNC). Find out what other neighborhoods are doing and how we can work together to prevent crime and be prepared for emergencies. Hear from the experts on the subjects:

Benjamin Kinlow, Community Crime Prevention Coordinator, Seattle Police Department
Cindi Barker, West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs Coordinator for the Southwest and Delridge District Councils.

Also, get an update on all the work of the GSNC since last June’s general meeting. One of the focuses of discussion will be a priority project – influencing short-term and long-term options for the Genesee Hill School property.

October 16, Genesee School Grounds Clean-Up

genesseschmitz — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:32:54 +0000

Join us 9AM to 1PM for this last chance for the year to complete the great work to enhance the general look and feel of the grounds of the vacated Genesee School.

Available school funding limits the amount Seattle Public School can do. So neighborhood volunteers have been helping to clean-up the school yard, trim bushes, take out weeds, and build up public garden spaces. All to help increase positive uses and general appearance of the school grounds.

Call for Volunteers!

genesseschmitz — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:10:09 +0000

Lisa Reager is organizing volunteers for reaching out to more neighbors and to work on specific Working Groups. The main focus is to help make the Genesee School a positive community asset. Details on volunteer needs are below. Let her know what you are interested in helping with at lisareager@yahoo.com.

One way to participate is to talk to your neighbors and gather names, addresses, and best contact information (email &/or phone/text) of people on your block who are interested. Since we have a wide variety of preferred communication methods it might be nice to have one person every block or so who is willing to make sure the folks who aren’t on a contact list know the important information (community safety info, upcoming meetings, block parties, etc). If you have more time and would like to be involved with planning or organizing projects, there are currently 6 working groups that can use your help and participation:

1. The Neighborhood Engagement Team to establish contact with everyone who expresses an interest in GSNC and getting the word out that we exist. This may include delivering fliers, calling neighbors, and generally talking up the GSNC.

2. The Communication Team to develop efficient methods of communication and information sharing within the tasks groups of GSNC (Executive Committee, Long Range Planning Group, Gardening and Clean-up, Crime Prevention and Emergency Preparedness, and Events) using email, google docs, or virtual meetings, etc.; to develop and maintain effective communication links to the larger GS Neighborhood and to our West Seattle neighbors using the website, media, and possibly a newsletter.

3. Gardening and Clean-up to maintain and improve the Genesee School Property and grounds while the building is closed. Eventually, this group may expand its role to include neighborhood wide improvements in landscaping, parks, playgrounds, and traffic flow.

4. Crime Prevention and Emergency Preparedness to coordinate the city’s efforts at Crime Prevention, especially the Block Watch Program and the Emergency Preparedness efforts with our GS neighborhoods. Ideally, every household would be linked and informed.

5. Long Range Planning to develop plans to lease all or part of the Genesee School building over the indeterminate time interval (3-10 years) while the School District considers re-opening the school, and to develop a plan for the sale and development of the property which adds the most value to our community if and when the District decides on selling the property.

6. Events to coordinate various activities and programs involving our neighborhood (e.g. general membership meetings, social events like a potluck or picnic, bonfire and marshmallow roast, Halloween party, or community wide yard sale) any of which develop a sense of neighborhood and community.